RTHK: South African police probe deaths of 21 teenagers At least 21 teenagers died over the weekend after a night out at a township tavern in South Africa, officials said on Sunday. Although the cause of the deaths is still unclear, local officials and politicians said they feared this might have been a case of under-age drinking that went tragically wrong. The provincial government of the Eastern Cape said eight girls and 13 boys had died at the tavern, in a residential area called Scenery Park. Seventeen were found dead at the scene, while the others died in hospital. Empty bottles of alcohol, wigs and even a pastel purple "Happy Birthday" sash were found strewn on the dusty street outside the double-storey Enyobeni Tavern, according to Unathi Binqose, a safety government official who arrived at the scene at dawn. Many of the victims are thought to have been students celebrating the end of their high-school exams on Saturday night, officials said. There were no visible wounds on the bodies, but autopsies would determine if the deaths could be linked to poisoning, they added. Among the senior government officials who rushed to the southern city was Police Minister Bheki Cele. He broke down in tears after emerging from a morgue where the bodies were being stored. "It's a terrible scene," he told reporters. "They are pretty young. When you are told they are 13 years, 14 years and you go there and you see them. It breaks (you)." (AFP) This story has been published on: 2022-06-26. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Top Vietnamese legislators visit to deepen strategic partnership with UK The visit to the UK by National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue will deepen the strategic partnership between the two nations, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Long said in a recent media interview on the significance of the visit as well as future bilateral cooperation. National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue NA Chairman Hue will lead a high-ranking delegation of the NA on an official visit to the UK from June 28 to June 30. The NAs Committee for External Relations said the visit comes following an invitation given by Lord Speaker of the House of Lords John McFall and Speaker of the House of Commons Linsay Hoyle. According to Ambassador Long, the relationship between Vietnam and the UK is moving into its best ever development stage. The visit by the leading Vietnamese legislator comes at a particularly crucial time for relations between the two countries as both sides prepare for activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties which will take place in 2023. Furthermore, the UK has also been celebrating the Platinum Anniversary to mark the 70th year of Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Recent years have seen both sides come together to sign a bilateral free trade agreement, with the UK also becoming a dialogue partner of ASEAN, with it also set to join the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The visit by the Vietnamese NA leader will primarily focus on promoting all six pillars of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership, including political diplomacy, economy, trade and investment, education, defence-security, science and technology, as well as the Vietnamese community in the UK. Regarding activities which will take place during the visit, the Vietnamese diplomat said the visit by NA Chairman Hue will include a range of event related to parliaments and governments, both nations economic ties, trade, investment, education, and community related activities. According to the schedule, NA Chairman Hue will hold talks with both the Lord Speaker of the House of Lords and the Speaker of the House of Commons, in addition to attending forums on economic, trade, investment co-operation, education, and training with the participation of a large number of British partners. He will also participate in a host of meetings and work event with leading partners, businesses, economic groups, financial institutions, and banks of the UK in Londons financial district, one of the largest financial institutions in the world. The Vietnamese NA leader is set to meet with British Deputy Prime Minister Dominic Raab in order to discuss issues on bilateral co-operation and will hold working sessions with several leading British ministers and politicians to bolster co-operation in areas such as security, services, economics, and education As part of the occasion, the two sides will also compare notes on a number of important co-operation agreements such as a memorandum of understanding on anti-money laundering co-operation which is an important basis for strengthening ties in the financial and banking fields between the two countries. NA Chairman Hue will also spend time meeting the Vietnamese community residing and working in the UK, as well as political and social organisations and British and traditional friends. Along with the high-level activities of NA Chairman Hue, members of the high-level Vietnamese delegation will also hold working sessions and bilateral meetings with partners from the UK. Representatives of localities participating in the delegation will also hold talks and meetings in order to connect and co-operate with the Scottish region of the United Kingdom. The parliaments of both sides have made strides in co-operation ties over recent times. They have maintained delegation exchanges at all levels, including visits by Vietnams NA Chairman Nong Duc Manh in 1994, Nguyen Van An in March, 2005, and Nguyen Sinh Hung in December, 2011, along with the trip by Deputy Speaker of the UK House of Commons Eleanor Laing in October, 2016. The two sides have also frequently held mutual visits between their parliaments committees as well as by the British All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Vietnam and the Vietnam - UK Parliamentary Friendship Group. Most recently, an NA delegation led by Le Quang Huy, chairman of the Committee for Science, Technology and the Environment, attended the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU)s pre-COP26 parliamentary meeting and met with the head of the British parliamentary delegation. Back in October, 2020, the Communist Party of Vietnam and the APPG held the ever first virtual dialogue on co-operation for developing a green economy in the post-pandemic period. Both sides have also maintained contact and consultations at multilateral parliamentary forums, particularly the IPU and the Asia - Europe Parliamentary Partnership (ASEP) meetings. The fruitful co-operation ties that exist between the two parliaments is believed to be an important factor in reinforcing the joing strategic partnership. Vu Hai Ha, chairman of the NAs Committee for External Relations, said the visit by the high-ranking NA delegation led by NA Chairman Hue aims to continue implementing the foreign policy set at the 13th National Party Congress. This will seek to intensify bilateral ties, strengthen mutual trust with partner countries, and affirm the importance the nation places on the strategic partnership with the UK. It also hopes to accelerate the implementation of the UK - Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), as well as creating a new impulse for the countries relations in politics, diplomacy, economics, trade, security, defence, education and training, climate change response, as well as other potential areas. He added that as part of the visit, a forum on educational co-operation will also be held with the participation of leading universities, businesses, and organisations from both sides. This will contribute to bolstering collaboration in education and training, particularly in training high-quality human resources to help with Vietnamese development and international integration. For his part, UK Ambassador to Vietnam Gareth Ward said the countries strategic partnership remains solid, with plenty of potential ahead to expand ties. In short, the official visit to the UK by NA Chairman Hue will see a range of activities held covering various field, not only including activities in parliamentary co-operation. The visit will certainly made an important contribution to promoting the strong, effective, and substantive development of the Vietnam-UK strategic partnership moving forward. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The recent visit of the UN rights chief Michelle Bachelet to China could be a golden chance to investigate the human rights situation in areas like Xinjiang and Tibet and to hold Beijing accountable for its abuses against Uyghurs and Tibetans, but it seems that the first visit of the right body chief turned out to be a "wasted historic opportunity". The first visit of a UN Chief in 17 years to China has made the world question the role of the United Nations in this era and the extent of influence China holds in twisting opinions and moulding narratives. The Global Times reported that the statement by the UN rights chief at the end of her trip stressed that her trip was not an "investigation" and that this was "an opportunity to hold direct discussions - with China's most senior leaders" on areas including "human rights" is "was a slap to the Western countries". Another Chinese media CGTN stated that the visit provided "a chance to clarify the situation and dispel a lot of misinformation and other things that have been put out". After the six-day trip to China, Bachelet provided no transparency about the trip and that a prison visit in Xinjiang was a "Potemkin-style sham," Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported citing the Washington-based Campaign for Uyghurs. "The high commissioner has disgraced herself and her office by refusing to investigate China's genocide and adopting, repeating the Chinese regime's narrative, further cementing their propaganda in the UN," Rushan Abbas, the organization's executive director, told RFA on Tuesday. "Her comments seem custom-made for Beijing's propaganda machine, and she neglects the duties of her office and the founding principle of the UN," she said. Abbas called on Bachelet to step down from her post. Following Bachelet's highly disappointing visit, the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) strongly urged her office to release her independent assessment of the situation in East Turkistan, as a show of willingness to hold the Chinese government accountable for crimes against humanity and genocide being committed. The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT) has expressed disappointment with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet's visit to China, saying this trip has given a "political victory" to the Communist regime. According to the Tibetan group, the UN Rights chief adopted the Chinese Communist Party's framing of policies, domestically and internationally. "The Saturday statement dismissed the rampant disinformation on the Xinjiang region and was also a slap to the US and some Western countries, their media and anti-China forces," said Chinese state media while reporting on the high commissioner's press conference.Bachelet did not visit Tibet and referred only marginally to the situation in the region, which is regularly ranked as one of the least-free in the world, the group added. Dozens of rights groups say the Chinese government has committed widespread and systematic policies of mass detention, torture, cultural persecution, and other offences against Uyghurs and members of other Turkic groups in Xinjiang that amount to crimes against humanity. (ANI) Reeling under economic crisis, Sri Lanka has finally run out of fuel as only 1,100 tonnes of petrol and 7,500 tonnes of diesel are left, which are not sufficient to last for a day, Daily Mirror reported on Monday citing sources from Sri Lanka's Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) Trade Union. According to Daily Mirror, the sources with CPC said that the token system announced by the Minister of Power and Energy, Kanchana Wijesekera on Sunday for fuel rationing to the public will also prove to be futile as first preference will be given to essential services for the little stocks of fuel that are left. The minister who had been assuring the public of the arrival of a fuel vessel last week admitted that the date of the arrival of the next fuel shipments in the county was unsure. Speaking of it, the sources said, "No vessels were on their way to Sri Lanka last week as Sri Lanka had failed to make the payments required and give the international bank guarantees and even to date has not made any payment for fresh shipments," as the Daily Mirror quoted. "Sri Lanka has also been blacklisted by international companies as it has defaulted on its debts and companies now require international bank guarantees for fresh orders," the media added citing the sources. With no fuel shipment in sight any time soon, the country will come to a complete standstill from this week, as even public transportation will come to a grinding halt. Not only this, but lengthened power cuts will also come into effect soon as the required stocks of fuel will not be supplied to the power plants, the sources said. This comes after Wijesekera on Saturday said that suppliers have informed state-owned fuel importer and distributor Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) that they will not make the deliveries of petrol, diesel and crude oil, scheduled for this week and next week due to banking and logistic reasons. He added that public transportation, power generation and industries would be given priority until the next shipments arrive. Therefore, limited stocks of diesel and petrol will be distributed to a few gas stations throughout next week. Further, on Sunday the minister announced that the fuel stations across the country will issue tokens for consumers from today, as only limited stocks of fuel were available. He said that the government has sought assistance from Sri Lankan army and police to issue token numbers to the public to fill petrol and diesel. The public was requested to register their mobile numbers at their nearest filling stations and once their numbers were issued, they would be notified, Wijesekera added. The minister who had been assuring the public of the arrival of a fuel vessel last week also admitted that the date of the arrival of the next fuel shipments in the county was unsure and apologized for the delay. "We are working with all new and existing suppliers. I apologize for the delay and inconvenience," he said. Notably, Sri Lanka has been facing the worst economic crisis since independence in 1948, leading to an acute shortage of essential items like food, medicine, cooking gas and fuel across the island nation. The nearly-bankrupt country, with an acute foreign currency crisis that resulted in foreign debt default, had announced in April that it is suspending nearly USD 7 billion foreign debt repayment due for this year out of about USD 25 billion due through 2026. Sri Lanka's total foreign debt. The economic crisis has particularly impacted food security, agriculture, livelihoods, and access to health services. Food production in the last harvest season was 40 - 50 per cent lower than last year, and the current agricultural season is at risk, with seeds, fertilizers, fuel and credit shortages. Sri Lanka is one of the few nations named by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) which is expected to go without food due to the global food shortage expected this year. (ANI) The Free Balochistan Movement organised anti-Pakistan protests in Germany and the United Kingdom to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The protesters informed the people of Germany and the rest of Europe about the ongoing state brutalities of Pakistan against the Baloch people. The protest in Germany was held on June 25 in Dusseldorf old city region and in the UK on June 26 outside the Amnesty International UK human rights action centre in London. The Free Balochistan Movement said, "It's not only Balochistan but the whole world is currently affected by the extremism of Pakistan. "The Free Balochistan Movement has never accepted the illegal and forcible occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan." The Baloch nation, despite being weak, is the only force that is resisting its occupier. "The world powers are acting improperly and instead of helping the Baloch people, they have left Balochistan at mercy of these fundamentalist states which is reprehensible and worrisome", it said in a statement. The Baloch people are currently fighting not only for their national survival but also for the survival of humanity because Pakistan and Iran's alliance with China in no way can be considered a good omen for the region. Balochistan and the Baloch people have paid a heavy price for the resistance and they are still paying the price for upholding their culture of resistance. "The inhumane methods being used to deter the Baloch national struggle are becoming a dark chapter in the history of humanity. Pakistani and Iranian state violence, carnage, enforced disappearances, military aggression, mass executions, in-custody killings and recovery of mutilated dead bodies of previously disappeared Baloch, mass graves, and deliberate demographic changes are just some of the atrocities that one cannot even imagine in the 21st Century but the Baloch are victims of such crimes," said the Free Balochistan Movement. The international institutions which were established to prevent such crimes by hostile states are also unable to fulfil their responsibilities when it comes to Balochistan. It said, "Tens of thousands of Baloch are currently enduring inhuman torture, mistreatment, humiliation and starvation in torture cells of Iranian and Pakistani savage security agencies and military". "The mutilated bodies of thousands of Baloch disappeared persons have been found, and hundreds have been extra judicially killed and executed on trumped-up charges by Iran. In the past two months, Iran has executed more than 25 Baloch including the mass execution of 12 Baloch including a woman in one day," said the FBM statement. The Free Balochistan Movement has announced these protests on International Day in Support of Torture victims to inform the world about states' atrocities against the Baloch nation and to highlight the dangers that the Baloch nation is facing under Iran and Pakistan's occupation. (ANI) The recent attack at Gurdwara Karte Parwan in the capital city of Afghanistan once again showed how the minority Sikh community in the country remains a soft target for terrorists. At least two people were killed in what is the latest in a line of targeted attacks on minorities in Islamic Afghanistan. An explosive-laden vehicle detonated just a few metres away from the temple gates. Had it passed the barrier, the damage and casualties would have been exponentially greater. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has called for the protection of all minorities in Afghanistan, including Sikhs, Hazaras and Sufis. The attacks however persist. In addition to receiving widespread international criticism, the Taliban was also asked by several countries including India-- home to the Sikhs --- to assertively act towards the protection of minorities. India called the attack on the Gurdwara in Kabul a "cowardly" act. The Taliban, which rose to power in August 2021 claims to have secured the country but repeated terrorist attacks not only contradict those claims but also give weight to the international community's concerns of a potential risk of militancy resurgence. Observers believe that such attacks could set off a new wave of terrorism in the country with smaller groups receiving tacit support from insiders. And this they believe, has been the primary reason behind the US and the West not involving themselves in rebuilding the war-torn country. Also, the United States has not released Afghan funds frozen by it earlier this year, fearing its use by the Taliban to fund terror activities. The Taliban, however, say that they can still fight all forms of attacks on its sovereignty and its people. The international community does not think so. Prior to the Taliban's takeover last year, Hindus and Sikhs in Afghanistan numbered only approximately 600. Reports indicate that that number has dramatically decreased. Those remaining have been the subject of targeted attacks predominantly by Sunni radical groups. The targeted attacks have driven Sikhs and Hindus out of the country, especially those with the economic and social resources to relocate. (ANI) Moscow [Russia], June 27 (ANI/Sputnik): The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned Greek Ambassador Ekaterini Nassika because of the confrontational course of her country's authorities towards Moscow and informed the official about eight Greek diplomats being declared personae non gratae in Russia. "On June 27, the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned Greek Ambassador to Russia E. Nassika, to whom it expressed a strong protest against the confrontational course of the Greek authorities towards Russia, including supplies of weapons and military equipment to the Kiev regime and the declaration of a group of Russian diplomats in Greece personae non gratae," the ministry said in a statement. The ambassador was given a note informing that eight Greek diplomats in Russia were declared personae non gratae and had, therefore, to leave the country within eight days, the ministry added. "It's about direct consequences of the unfriendly actions initiated by the Greek authorities. Full responsibility for this lies solely with Athens. It is indicated that if the anti-Russian policy continues, we reserve the right to respond," the statement read. (ANI/Sputnik) During a video conference, Rajnath Singh congratulated Dato 'Seri HishammuddinTun Hussein for assuming the office of the Senior Defence Minister in August last year, an official statement issued by the Ministry of Defence read. Both Ministers expressed the intent to further boost the already strong India-Malaysia Defence cooperation. The two Ministers discussed the existing defence cooperation activities and framework, and ways to further enhance them under the existing Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Meeting (MIDCOM) framework. According to the statement, the next MIDCOM is scheduled to be held in July this year, and it was decided to use this platform for a deeper engagement in defence. Rajnath Singh during the video conference highlighted the areas in which Indian Defence industries could assist Malaysia. He suggested a visit of senior officers from Malaysia to India to get a first-hand experience of the facilities and products of Indian Defence industry. The Malaysian Senior Defence Minister expressed the need for inducting women personnel in peace keeping missions. Both sides agreed to engage each other on this issue. It was also agreed to upgrade capability for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations. Defence Minister also invited Senior Defence Minister of Malaysia to visit India at an early convenient date to discuss closer and strategic defence ties, as per the statement. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday congratulated his Djibouti counterpart Mahmoud Ali Youssouf on the occasion of the 45th Independence Day. "Congratulate FM @ymahmoudali and the Government & people of Djibouti on the 45th anniversary of their Independence," he tweeted. President Ram Nath Kovind also sent greetings to President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh on the day. "On behalf of the Government and the people of India, and on my own behalf, I extend warm greetings and sincere felicitations to Your Excellency, the Government and the people of the Republic of Djibouti on the occasion of your Independence Day," President said in a statement. "I convey my best wishes for Your Excellency's personal well-being and health and for the continued progress and prosperity of the friendly people of Djibouti," it added. India and Djibouti share warm and friendly relations based on historical and cultural linkages. As Djibouti continues to achieve greater success in all the areas, India remains committed to be its trusted development partner, the statement read. India and Djibouti share various fields including defence cooperation. Last month, INS Kolkata visited Djibouti from May 4-7, as part of the anti-piracy patrol being undertaken by the Indian Navy to ensure safe transit of merchant vessels in the Gulf of Aden. As per a press release from the Ministry of Defence, Captain Prashant Handu, the Commanding Officer had called on Colonel Ahmed Daher Djama, Commander of the National Navy of Djibouti and Colonel Wais Omar Bogoreh, Commander-in-Chief of Djibouti Coast Guard during the visit. "Both dignitaries also visited INS Kolkata, along with personnel from the Djibouti Navy and Coast Guard. The courtesy and camaraderie exhibited by the Djibouti Coast Guard and Navy to INS Kolkata reflects the strong friendship they share with the Indian Navy," the release added. "Indian Navy warships have been deployed in the Gulf of Aden since Oct 2008 for anti-piracy patrol to ensure safe transit of merchant vessels," tweeted the Navy spokesperson. (ANI) Director-General of IAEA, Rafael Mariano Grossi said, "In the latest shelling, Ukraine told the IAEA that the facility's infrastructure, including the cooling system and the diesel generator building, had been damaged. However, the diesel generator remained available if needed." He added that the radiation levels at the site remained normal, as measured by the dosimeter on the same day. "Based on the nature of the installation and these measurements, the IAEA assessed that there was no significant implication for its safety," Grossi said. DG Grossi expressed concern about the potential severe risks for nuclear facilities where such missiles go astray as he said that Ukraine informed the IAEA on Sunday that the flight path of a missile had again passed over the South Ukraine Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), the latest such incident during the conflict. The facility is designed to conduct research - in areas such as nuclear physics, radiation materials science, biology and chemistry - and radioisotope production for medical applications. Its nuclear assembly is subcritical, and the radioactive inventory is low. Before the conflict, the facility was under commissioning, but it is not currently operating. The facility has been hit previously during the conflict and it lost its external power supply in March. Notably, the Russian forces launched military operations in Ukraine on February 24, three days after Moscow recognized Ukraine's breakaway regions - Donetsk and Luhansk - as independent entities. (ANI) A civic group, Rastriya Ekata Abhiyan has staged a protest against China for expanding the wire fence within no-man's land in Gorkha and encroaching into Nepali territory in the north. Dozens of protestors who marched towards the parliament decried Beijing's move of erecting illegal structure at Ruila border of Chumanubri Rural Municipality-1 in Gorkha district. Slogans were chanted during the protest such as "Go back China", "Put an end to Chinese expansionism", "Return encroached land", "Halt Chinese intervention", and "End the undeclared blockade against Nepal". Vinay Yadav, Chairperson of Rastriya Ekata Abhiyan told ANI that China has been encroaching into Nepali territories time and again. "It always has been violating the agreement that has been sealed in between the two nations. China always has been going against the agreement by building 12 buildings in Humla District in Nepali territory," he said. Furthermore, he said that just two-three days before, China wired the no-man's land in the Northern side of Gorkha. "They came and captured no-man's land. This step is reprehensible, China should return back our land and we are hitting the road against the encroachment. It is requested with Chinese side as well as Nepali side that, this issue should be resolved as early as possible and free the Nepali territories captured by China," Vinay Yadav said. According to the local media, the fence has been built without abiding by any of the criteria to be followed while constructing the structure at the border. Gorkha Chief District Officer Shankar Hari Acharya expressed ignorance about the fencing at the border. According to the international norms, no structure or fences can be built in no man's land. Such action requires bilateral consensus. However, locals have claimed that China put up a fence at Ruila border within the no-man's land area without following international norms. With the Chinese illegal occupation of erecting fence, local's movement across the border has come to a halt, Khabar Hub reported Locals have complained that they faced problems in bringing daily necessities. (ANI) "Useful exchange between PM @narendramodi and Canadian PM @JustinTrudeau at Schloss Elmau. Leaders discussed bilateral ties and agreed to expand trade and economic linkages, cooperation in security and counter-terrorism, as well as P2P ties," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said. The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) said both leaders took stock of the India-Canada friendship and discussed ways to further strengthen it across various sectors. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @JustinTrudeau meet on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Germany. They took stock of the India-Canada friendship and discussed ways to further strengthen it across various sectors," PMO tweeted. This is the first meeting following the diplomatic row over the Canadian PM's remarks on farm laws protests in New Delhi. India had taken up this matter with the Canadian authorities and conveyed that the comments pertaining to the internal affairs of India were unwarranted and would damage bilateral relations. This is their first meeting after Trudeau's 2018 India visit. Back in September 2021, the Prime Minister congratulated Trudeau on his victory in the elections. In a tweet, the Prime Minister said, "Congratulations Prime Minister @JustinTrudeau on your victory in the elections! I look forward to continue working with you to further strengthen India-Canada relations, as well as our cooperation on global and multilateral issues." Recently, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar met his Canadian counterpart Melanie Joly, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda. This was their first in-person meeting after Joly assumed charge following the September 2021 general elections in Canada. Jaishankar described the conversation as "open and productive". They exchanged views on international issues including the Commonwealth, Ukraine conflict and the Indo-Pacific. (ANI) (En francais) BAMAKO, MALI The Carter Center, which serves as the Independent Observer of Malis 2015 peace agreement, today released a report describing the current, unprecedented impasse in the implementation process. The report stresses that since October 2021, dialogue between the signatories of the agreement the government, the Coordination of Azawad Movements, and the Platform has grown increasingly difficult and there has been little progress in implementing the agreement. The blockage in the implementation process coincides with a surge in military activism and other challenges in Mali, such as tensions between the transitional government and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), including sanctions imposed by ECOWAS; the withdrawal of support to stabilization by some of Malis traditional international partners; and a major rise in conflict and the number of civilian victims in central and northern Mali. While numerous factors contributed to the current situation, the Independent Observers report focuses on the controversy over revising the agreement (relecture in French) as a significant factor in producing the impasse. The concept of revision increased uncertainty about the peace process and impeded a sustained relaunch of implementation. It has also fed skepticism among many Malians about the agreement, which has been long growing along with the lack of concrete results from the implementation process. Despite these developments, the report notes that the Malian parties continue reiterating their commitment to the agreement. The report mainly highlights that the debates and tensions around the idea of a revision of the agreement are, in many senses, unnecessary and unconstructive. In reality, over seven years of implementation, the parties have regularly and consensually adapted provisions of the agreement to their needs and changing circumstances. To move forward, the signatories need to refocus on strengthening their dialogue and taking pragmatic steps while, at the same time, reengaging with the Malian public to restore hope in the peace process and building nationwide buy-in to the agreement. From September 2021 to June 2022, the Independent Observer took several steps to encourage dialogue between the parties and progress on implementation. The seminar organized by the Independent Observer in February 2022 was a significant attempt to aid progress in implementation, based on discussions of the Independent Observers reports and recommendations. The parties representatives and other stakeholders formulated consensual proposals to relaunch the implementation process. Few, however, have to date been taken up by the parties, although both they and international mediation have lauded the seminar as a positive step. In addition, in May 2022, Jason Carter, chairman of the Board of Trustees of The Carter Center and the grandson of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, led a delegation that visited Mali. The delegation met with President of the Transition Assimi Goita as well as other stakeholders in the implementation process and reaffirmed the Carter Centers continuing support to peace and reconciliation in Mali. Read the full report Background: The Carter Center was designated as the Independent Observer in late 2017. According to Article 63 of the 2015 agreement, the Independent Observer's job is to impartially identify blockages in the implementation process and recommend steps for enhancing implementation. The United Nations Security Council recognized the Centers role as the Independent Observer in Resolutions 2391 (December 2017), 2423 (June 2018), 2480 (June 2019), 2541(June 2020), and 2584 (June 2021), and it assumed its role in January 2018. This report, intended for the Malian parties, the international community, and the public, is the 10th from the Independent Observer. Translations L'Observateur independant pour la mise en uvre de lAccord au Mali : La mise en uvre dans une situation de blocage sans precedent nourrie par les debats sur la relecture de l'Accord Contact: In Atlanta, Soyia Ellison, soyia.ellison@cartercenter.org In Bamako, Deo Mbuto, deo.mbuto@cartercenter.org, +223.72.35.57.43. Waging Peace. Fighting Disease. Building Hope. A not-for-profit, nongovernmental organization, The Carter Center has helped to improve life for people in over 80 countries by resolving conflicts; advancing democracy, human rights, and economic opportunity; preventing diseases; and improving mental health care. The Carter Center was founded in 1982 by former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter, in partnership with Emory University, to advance peace and health worldwide. The United Nations has launched an emergency appeal following last week's earthquake in Afghanistan, calling for USD 110 million. "Our teams in the country today launched an emergency appeal following last week's earthquake. The appeal calls for $110 million to urgently help 362,000 people for the next three months in the hardest-hit areas," UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said at a press briefing. The UN and the Afghan government have been largely involved in the operations to save civilians. However, the United Nations said it does not have heavy machines and equipment and relies on the Afghan authorities to provide it. The United Nations has allocated USD 10 million from the UN Central Emergency Response Funds (UNCERF) on Sunday to support the people of Afghanistan affected by the earthquake that struck this week in the eastern part of the country. Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator stated that the UN has released USD 10 million from UNCERF for the affected people of Afghanistan to help with the immediate response. "Hundreds of people killed. Many more injured. Homes destroyed. Children buried in the rubble. The #AfghanistanEarthquake is the latest tragedy to befall the country. I released USD 10 million from @UNCERF to help with the immediate response," Griffiths said in a tweet. UN's assistance comes as several organisations from all over the world have been supporting the people badly affected by the earthquake by providing large sums of money, The Khaama Press reported. On Wednesday, a 5.9-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Afghanistan including the capital city Kabul. At present, over 1000 people are estimated to have been killed across Barmal and Giyan districts in Paktika province, and Spera district in Khost province. In addition, at least 1,455 people have been injured across three of the six most affected districts of Barmal, Giyan, and Spera - many of them seriously. Over 10,000 houses have been destroyed. In wake of this, India handed over the second batch of humanitarian assistance to Afghanistan on Friday in the presence of Taliban officials. The relief assistance handed over by the Ministry of External Affairs Joint Secretary (PAI), JP Singh consisted of essential items including family ridge tents, sleeping bags, blankets, sleeping mats, etc to support the people of Afghanistan in quake-affected regions. The first consignment from India was handed over on Thursday. India also deployed a team to the Embassy in Kabul to coordinate the efforts of stakeholders for the delivery of humanitarian aid. The Taliban welcomed India's decision to return its technical team to continue humanitarian assistance in Afghanistan. Earlier, the European Commission also announced 1 million euros in humanitarian funding for an estimated 270,000 people living in the affected areas requiring emergency assistance. Immediate humanitarian assistance was dispatched to affected areas on June 22, including 10 tons of medical supplies sufficient for 5,400 surgeries and medical treatments covering 36,000 people for three months by WHO. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen on Monday and held productive discussions on the sidelines of the Group of Seven (G7) Summit. Both leaders reviewed India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, climate action and welcomed the resumption of negotiations on the Trade, Investment and GI Agreements. "Productive discussions held between PM @narendramodi and President @EU_Commission @vonderleyen on the margins of G7. Reviewed India-EU cooperation in trade, investment, technology, and climate action. Welcomed resumption of negotiations on the Trade, Investment and GI Agreements," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) tweeted. The Prime Minister held an "outstanding" meeting with the EU chief during which they discussed important issues including efforts to combat climate change and ways to boost digital cooperation. "President @EU_Commission @vonderleyen and I had an outstanding meeting earlier today. We discussed ways to deepen investment linkages, efforts to combat climate change, boosting digital cooperation and other important issues," PM Modi tweeted. Earlier, PM Modi and President von der Leyen agreed to launch the India-EU Trade and Technology Council at their meeting in New Delhi on April 25. During the bilateral talks, both sides reviewed the progress in implementing the India-EU Roadmap 2025 and the outcomes of the India-EU Leaders' Meeting in May 2021. They welcomed the recent decision to formally restart negotiations on India-EU Trade and Investment Agreements by June 2022. Both sides expressed hope in the early conclusion of negotiations for unlocking the full potential of bilateral trade and economic relations. Both sides have since noted the strong synergies between India-EU Connectivity Partnership announced last year and EU's new Global Gateway strategy and agreed to fast-track its implementation. Emphasizing the need for closer cooperation on strategic aspects of emerging technologies and building trusted partnerships, Prime Minister Modi and President Von Der Leyen in April announced the establishment of an India-EU Trade and Technology Council. According to MEA, this new mechanism will bring about high-level coordination on the intersecting aspects of trade, technology and security and provide the political steer needed for in-depth strategic engagement. They had appreciated the ongoing cooperation in the digital sector including in areas such as Artificial Intelligence & 5G and welcomed the finalization of the Letter of Intent on High-Performance Computing in COVID-19 drug research and climate modeling. India and the EU are increasing policy convergences on the Indo-Pacific region, according to MEA. They also exchanged views on other regional and global issues of mutual interest including cooperation in WTO, G20, Afghanistan and Myanmar. Both sides have expressed concern on the humanitarian situation in Ukraine and they have called for an immediate end to violence. In the April meeting, Prime Minister Modi stressed the importance of giving peace a chance and the need to return to dialogue and diplomacy as the only way to achieve peace. India and the EU are also discussing the strcooperationtion on climate and clean energy between the two sides. Earlier in April, the Prime Minister had invited the EU's increased participation in the green energy sector in India with a focus on green hydrogen. (ANI) Twitter in India banned official accounts of Pakistan Embassies in UN, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. Earlier, Twitter also withheld the account of the national public broadcaster in Pakistan - Radio Pakistan. Twitter blocks the account of Pakistani Embassy in UN. Account of Pakistani Embassy in Turkey is also withheld by Twitter in India. Moreover, Twitter in India also blocked account of Pakistani Embassy in Iran and Egypt. Twitter in India, earlier also blocked the account of Pakistani national radio broadcaster - Radio Pakistan. After Twitter in India withheld these official accounts the Pakistani Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged Twitter to restore these accounts with immediate access. This development comes at a time when the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting earlier blocked 16 YouTube news channels including 6 Pakistan-based channels for spreading disinformation related to India's national security, foreign relations, and public order. According to the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, YouTube channels were spreading false, unverified information to create panic, incite communal disharmony, and disturb public order in India. The blocked social media accounts include six Pakistan-based and 10 India-based YouTube news channels, having a cumulative viewership of over 68 crore. None of the digital news publishers had furnished information to the Ministry as required under rule 18 of the IT Rules, 2021, the government said. YouTube channels based in Pakistan were found to have been used in a coordinated manner to post fake news about India on various subjects such as the Indian Army, Jammu, and Kashmir, and India's foreign relations in the light of the situation in Ukraine among others, it said. The content of these channels was observed to be completely false, and sensitive from the perspective of national security, sovereignty, and integrity of India, and India's friendly relations with foreign States. Moreover, India has earlier called out Pakistan for propagating fake news through social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. Pakistan is frequently lambasted by the global community due to its violation of human rights. The country also has unstable politics which is gripped by constant protests and demonstrations. And yet, as per the reports by digital forensics, Pakistan carries on with its propaganda to diminish India at world stage. Apart from the government accounts in Pakistan, in a report by Digital Forensics, Research, and Analytics Center (DFRAC), it was revealed that many fake accounts created by Pakistanis are hiding behind the screens and running hashtags with an agenda to target India's prestigious institutions. These Pakistani accounts blatantly spread disinformation. The crucial thing to note here is that some of these accounts were created for the sole purpose of defaming India. After pushing the agenda they changed their username. All behind the screen who were fuelling this agenda campaign seemed to be copying each others' content to escalate the fake narrative. (ANI) Author and political commentator Arif Jamal said that Pakistan commits human rights violations with the help of terrorism and militancy and later glorifies these abuses in the name of Islam. Jamal made these remarks while speaking in a podcast show "Human Rights Sentinel" hosted by Musaffa Akhawan and Senge Sering. He is a journalist, author and political commentator from Pakistan's Punjab province and has written many books. Replying to a question by one of the hosts on Pakistan's strategic paradigm focused on infiltration in Kashmir, Jamal said, "Human rights violations are associated with militancy and terrorism which are often ignored because Pakistan tries to glorify these in the name of Islam and service to Islam." Jamal highlighted that there is a spike in "religious virus" in Pakistan. He noted that the Pakistani media turns a blind eye to the issues that are critical to Kashmir. "I realized that no Pakistani media to discuss these subjects and publish my articles the way I wanted them to be published," he said adding that this is one of the main inspirations that drove him into writing his researched articles and unearthing the truth about Pakistan in front of others. "I realized that I should do deep research on these subjects. I also published my findings to the extent they (Pakistani media) could take it," he continued. He said that Pakistan tries to promote jihadist ideology in the valley of Kashmir and the country's media suppresses the voices of those who try to unveil these untold stories. Two of his books "Shadow war: the untold story of Jihad in Kashmir" and "call for transnational Jihad: Lashkar-e-Taiba of Pakistan" have received global recognition. "Pakistani military is also waging jihad in the region and helping the terrorist groups in the country," Jamal noted. The hosts of the podcast admired the work of the authors and said that these issues would never come to the forefront if people like you (Jamal) were not there to research these issues. Furthermore, commenting on Pakistan's actions in Kashmir to promote its strategic interests, Jamal said that after the 1987 Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly elections Pakistan tried to promote violence in the region and eyed to attract international attention to Kashmir. "They recruited disgruntled youth from the valley. The initial plan was that 50-100 young people from the valley would be trained in PoK and would be sent back." He commented that this is how Pakistan started its jihadist agenda in Kashmir. Jamal said that this is how the struggle of Pakistan for an independent Kashmir turned into a jihadist movement. Author Jamal stressed that money is also one of the ways that Pakistan tries to promote jihad. Notably, Jamal has remained associated with Harvard University, New York University and University College of London as a visiting fellow. He has written more than 200 investigative articles on political Islam including Shia genocide. He appeared on C-SPAN, a US cable network, to discuss Pakistan-American relations. Arif has contributed to New York Times and writes regularly on strategic affairs for several Pakistani newspapers. (ANI) DNY59 / Getty Images/iStockphoto Social Security benefits are paid out through a complex formula that factors in how much a taxpayer earned during their working career and at which age they file for benefits. When taken en masse, the average Social Security retirement payout for all retired workers as of January 2022 was $1,657, but the maximum possible benefit reached $4,194. See: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security Early Check Out: 13 Best Places on the West Coast for Couples To Live on Only a Social Security Check To determine which states received the most Social Security, GOBankingRates accessed data from the Social Security Administration regarding the total benefits paid by state, along with the number of Social Security beneficiaries in each state. For purposes of this analysis, only Old-Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance, or OASDI, was included. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) was not considered. States are ranked in reverse order, with the state receiving the most Social Security ranked No. 1. Take a look at the 10 states that receive the most. Sean Pavone / Shutterstock.com 10. Georgia Total Social Security Received: $2.65 billion Total Number of Recipients: 1,902,790 POLL: Have You Skipped Any of These Essential Expenses Due to Rising Prices? Mark Howard / Getty Images/iStockphoto 9. North Carolina Total Social Security Received : $3.12 billion Total Number of Recipients: 2,183,353 Mlenny / Getty Images 8. Illinois Total Social Security Received : $3.32 billion Total Number of Recipients: 2,274,372 Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto 7. Michigan Total Social Security Received : $3.36 billion Total Number of Recipients: 2,250,141 Kenneth Sponsler / Shutterstock.com 6. Ohio Total Social Security Received : $3.34 billion Total Number of Recipients: 2,405,217 benedek / Getty Images 5. Pennsylvania Total Social Security Received : $4.25 billion Total Number of Recipients: 2,877,728 OlegAlbinsky / iStock.com 4. New York Total Social Security Received : $5.40 billion Total Number of Recipients: 3,680,264 Ron and Patty Thomas / Getty Images/iStockphoto 3. Texas Total Social Security Received : $6.11 billion Total Number of Recipients: 4,421,803 Richard Cavalleri / Shutterstock.com 2. Florida Total Social Security Received : $6.94 billion Total Number of Recipients: 4,840,275 Story continues Shutterstock.com 1. California Total Social Security Received : $8.66 billion Total Number of Recipients: 6,150,009 More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 10 States That Receive the Most Social Security Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto As of March, the average monthly Social Security benefit is $1,618.29 for an individual, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). Doubling up for a couple, that's $3,236.58. Not a bad haul, if it's supplementing other income or padding a nice, big nest egg. If Social Security is all you're living on, however, you're going to have to pick your retirement city very carefully to stretch those dollars to their absolute limit -- particularly on the notoriously expensive West Coast, which, for the purposes of this study, includes Alaska. See: How Biden Is Impacting Social Security in 2022 Learn: 10 Reasons You Should Claim Social Security Early To determine the best places for couples to live on the West Coast on only their combined Social Security checks, GOBankingRates used cost-of-living data from Sperling's Best Places. The ranking also includes ApartmentList data on the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment, as well as each city's livability score, sourced from AreaVibes. Each city was then given a combined score -- which represents a summation of all those factors -- with lower scores being better. The list is ranked in order of the worst score to the best. Read on to learn about the West Coast spots that are most welcoming to retirees living on Social Security. jared ropelato / Shutterstock.com Vallejo, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,607 Vallejo has a lousy livability score of 56 -- livability scores are calculated by algorithms that factor in dozens of variables like proximity to amenities, crime and schools. The cost-of-living index is a high 131.3, with 100 representing the national average. The average one-bedroom apartment will run you $1,607 per month, the highest on this list. Jon Bilous / Shutterstock.com Riverside, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,508 At 133.1, Riverside's cost-of-living index is even higher than even Vallejo's -- a full one-third more than the national average. The town's livability score is an unimpressive 59, mostly because of its relatively high crime rate. The average rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,508, one of the three highest on the list. Story continues Small Business Spotlight 2022: Nominate Your Favorite Small Biz Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto Seattle 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,596 Moving up the coast to Washington is Seattle, a pricey city where the average one-bedroom costs $1,596. That contributes to a bruising 172.3 cost-of-living index -- the highest on this list, by far -- which means that daily living in Seattle is 72.3% more expensive than the national average. All in all, its livability score is an underwhelming 65 thanks to high crime rates, high housing costs and, of course, a high cost of living. Manny Chavez / Getty Images/iStockphoto Sacramento, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,432 The capital city of California, Sacramento has a below-average livability score of 62, mostly because of its crime statistics and relatively high prices. The cost-of-living index there is 118.2, making the city nearly 20% costlier to live in than the national average. The typical renter will shell out $1,432 for a one-bedroom. JMcQ / Shutterstock.com Anchorage, Alaska 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,176 In Anchorage, crime and real estate prices are high even by Alaska standards, both of which contribute to the city's drab livability score of 60. Although the average one-bedroom there costs $1,176 per month, one of the least expensive on this list, Anchorage residents still struggle with a rough cost-of-living index of 123.5. Spondylolithesis / Getty Images Napa, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,522 Known for its legendary vineyards, daily life in Napa is nearly as pricey as its wine -- the cost-of-living index is 162.1, second only to Seattle. With an average monthly rent of $1,522, it's one of only four cities on this list where the typical one-bedroom costs more than $1,500. Overall, its livability score is a middling 70. Kyle Sprague / Shutterstock.com Portland, Oregon 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,344 The cost of living in Portland is 30.8% higher than the national average. Although its $1,344 average rent makes it one of just five cities on this list where a one-bedroom goes for less than $1,400, its very high crime rate contributes to a dreary livability score of 65. DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com Fresno, California 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,025 Just two cities on this list are less expensive than Fresno, which boasts a forgiving cost-of-living index of 102.6. With an average monthly rent of $1,025.00, a one-bedroom is cheaper in just thee other cities. Unfortunately, high crime contributes to a subpar livability score of 58. Ceri Breeze / Shutterstock.com Bremerton, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,440 Bremerton comes up with an average livability score of 70. With a cost-of-living index of 108.9 and an average rent of $1,440 for a one-bedroom, it's certainly one of the more affordable cities to make the cut. GarysFRP / Getty Images Eugene, Oregon 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $928 With a cost-of-living index of 105.3, Eugene is even more affordable than Bremerton. A lot of that has to do with the fact that it's one of only three cities on the list with a three-figure monthly rent -- $928 per month, to be exact, which makes it the cheapest on the entire list. Thanks to its high crime rate, however, Eugene earns a meh livability score of 65. John T Callery / Shutterstock.com Olympia, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $1,436 The capital city of Washington has a cost-of-living index of 106.1, which puts it on the lower side of this list. Olympia's livability score is 74 -- the highest of any city profiled here -- and a $1,436 average monthly rent. benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto Spokane, Washington 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $947 Just one city on this list is cheaper to live in than the national average -- Spokane, whose cost-of-living index is an impressive 92.3. Although the city's paltry livability score of 67 leaves plenty to be desired, its $947 monthly rent makes it the No. 2 least expensive place to rent an apartment. Shutterstock.com Salem, Oregon 2022 average 1-bedroom rent: $979 With a cost-of-living index of 101.8, Salem is less expensive to live in than any city on this list except for Spokane. One of just three cities with a sub-$1,000 average rent, a one-bedroom goes for just $979 per month. That's all good news, despite Salem's low livability score of 69. More From GOBankingRates Methodology: GOBankingRates determined the best places for a couple to live on the West Coast on only their combined Social Security checks based on the (1) average monthly benefit for retired workers, $1,618.29, sourced from the Social Security Administration, and doubled ($3,236.58); (2) the overall cost of living in each city, sourced from Sperling's Best Places; (3) average 2022 rent for a one-bedroom apartment as sourced from ApartmentList; and (4) livability scores sourced from AreaVibes. Factors (2) through (4) were scored and combined, with the lowest score being the best. Factor (4) was weighted double in final calculations. All data was collected and is up to date as of April 22, 2022. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 13 Best Places on the West Coast for Couples To Live on Only a Social Security Check Our team is dedicated to finding and telling you more about the products and deals we love. If you love them too and decide to purchase through the links below, we may receive a commission. Pricing and availability are subject to change. It seems like every day, theres a new scandal surrounding the British monarchy but whats real, and whats just rumor? These books about the royal family offer inside opinions on the gossip and provide new revelations about Prince William and Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle and the Queen herself. There are probably hundreds of books about the royal family, but these five are by true insiders, from long-time reporters to Princess Dianas former protection officer. If you want the real facts about the royals (or as close as you can get to the truth), these Amazon best sellers are your best bet. 1. The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsorthe Truth and the Turmoil by Tina Brown Buy Now The Palace Papers is the latest bombshell book to reveal whats going on inside the royal family in 2022. Tina Brown has written about the British monarchy for nearly three decades (this is her third book). In this one, she reveals how the Windsor family has tried to reinvent itself after the death of Princess Diana and the celebrity-like status she brought to the palace. 2. Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand Credit: Amazon Buy Now Finding Freedom is an international best seller from two top royal reporters who had behind-the-scenes access to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This book reveals why the royal couple chose to leave the firm and pursue their own path outside of the British monarchy and outside of the United Kingdom. Some of the best and juiciest revelations include the fact that Harry and Meghan were secretly engaged for months, and someone on the inside tipped off the press. Of course, you can also read about why Harry and Williams relationship first strained. Story continues Credit: Amazon Buy Now Christopher Andersen previously wrote Dianas Boys, an intimate look into Prince William and Prince Harrys upbringing and relationship. Now, this book picks up in their adult lives and explores how their relationship has infamously changed with marriage and fatherhood. The book also looks at the headline-making scandals, including allegations of bullying, betrayal and racism, and the effects on more than one royal family member. 4. Diana: Closely Guarded Secret by Ken Wharfe and Robert Jobson Credit: Amazon Buy Now When Diana: Closely Guarded Secret was first published in 2002, it was written by a former member of the Royalty Protection Branch, and it was the subject of criticism and controversy. But in 2016, ahead of the 20th anniversary of Dianas death, a revised and updated version was released (this one) with insight provided by former Metropolitan Police Royalty Protection Branch Officer Ken Wharfe. Wharfe was Dianas close protection officer for more than six years. The book reveals an inside look at the Princess of Waless personal life, including her relationship with Oliver Hoare, her brief 1992 disappearance on a cruise ship in the Mediterranean and her attempts to save her marriage. 5. Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke & Duchess of Windsor by Andrew Lownie Credit: Amazon Buy Now Prince Harry wasnt the first monarch to step down from his royal duties. In 1936, King Edward VIII left the throne and was re-named the Duke of Windsor. His reason for leaving? He fell in love with an American woman who was twice divorced. It sounds like a familiar story, but Edward had many more scandals surrounding him than the Duke of Sussex. This soon-to-be-published book reveals the Duke and Duchess of Windsors lives post-abdication and their obsession with money, status and gaining power. You can pre-order it before its release on July 5, 2022. If you liked this article, check out the affordable Amazon skin care product that Meghan Markle reportedly uses and shoppers say is better than Botox. The post 5 of the best books about the royal family that give an inside look at the worlds most famous monarchy appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Prime Day is July 12, but don't wait until then to grab these 8 deals on Amazon prices won't get much lower than this TikTok discovered a genius product on Amazon that keeps your toiletries from leaking when you're traveling Don't wait until Prime Day these 9 Amazon deals are worth shopping right now If you want seriously soft and smooth skin, try this 'fantastic' moisturizer that Nordstrom shoppers love MEXICO CITY (AP) Six police officers were killed and four others wounded Sunday in the northern Mexico border state of Nuevo Leon after they were ambushed by a presumed drug gang equipped with 10 home-made armored cars and heavy weaponry. Nuevo Leon state police said the patrol was outnumbered in the pre-dawn attack on a highway leading to the Colombia border crossing. The force said the officers performed heroically in the attack. State prosecutors said the dead included one female officer. There was no immediate information on the identity of the attackers. But the nearby city of Nuevo Laredo has long been dominated by the violent Northeast cartel. Nuevo Leon suffered heavy violence under the old Zetas cartel in the last decade. After quieting somewhat, it has seen an uptick in killings so far this year. Reuters Three people were killed and several more were wounded in a shooting at a shopping centre in Copenhagen on Sunday, Danish police said, adding they had arrested a 22-year-old Danish man and charged him with manslaughter. The attack rocked Denmark at the end of an otherwise joyful week, just after it hosted the first three stages of the Tour de France cycle race. Copenhagen police said armed officers were sent to Field's mall in the capital late on Sunday afternoon after reports of a shooting, and had told people inside to stay put and await assistance. South African police were on Monday combing a township tavern where 21 teenagers mysteriously died as survivors described a battle to escape the jam-packed premises and one reported a suffocating smell. Officials have ruled out a stampede as the cause of the deaths. Most of the victims, some as young as 13, were found dead inside a popular bar in the southern city of East London. Seventeen died inside the bar, while four died in hospital. Thirty-one others were hospitalised with symptoms including backache, tight chests, vomiting and headache, officials said. Most were discharged on Sunday, leaving two in hospital, they said. The fatalities bore no visible signs of injury, sparking initial speculation among local officials and politicians that this was a case of under-age drinking that went tragically wrong. "But the suspicion is that it is something either they ingested through drinks, food, or something they inhaled," Unathi Binqose, a government official on safety, told AFP. New details also emerged Monday as survivors spoke of a strong and suffocating smell in the jam-packed double-storey building. Sinovuyo Monyane, 19, who was hired by the bar to promote an alcohol brand, said she was still "confused" but felt lucky to be alive. She said she struggled to escape through a door gridlocked with people. "We tried moving through the crowd, shouting 'please let us through,' and others were shouting 'we are dying, guys,' and 'we are suffocating' and 'there are people who can't breathe'," she told AFP. "I passed out at that moment. I was running out of breath and there was a strong smell of some type of spray on in the air. We thought it was pepper spray," she said. She later regained consciousness after someone sprayed water on her. "I got up and realised that there were bodies lying around. I saw people being poured water, but those people did not even move," she said in a phone interview. Story continues "I could have died." Special investigators from Pretoria have been rushed to the scene. "The investigators continue to search for possible clues and answers at Enyobeni Tavern," regional police spokesman Thembinkosi Kinana said. - 'Traumatised' - Many of the victims are thought to have been students celebrating the end of their high-school exams, officials said. Autopsies are being conducted to see if the deaths could be linked to poisoning. "Post-mortems (were) completed by last night and the bodies will be released to their families today," said Yonela Dekeda, provincial spokeswoman for the health department. Forensic analysis will be conducted this week. "Samples were taken and were on (the) first flight today to Cape Town, where the tests will be conducted," said Binqose. Drinking in South Africa is permitted for over-18s. But in township taverns which are often located cheek-by-jowl with family homes, safety regulations and drinking-age laws are not always enforced. President Cyril Ramaphosa is among those who have voiced concern. The teenagers reportedly "gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off-limits to persons under the age of 18", he said. A resident DJ, Luhlemela Ulana, who was also celebrating his birthday on the night, spoke of a rush of revellers who forced their way into an already packed venue. "We tried to close the door but people kept pushing. The bouncers could not handle the crowd that was pushing from outside the entrance door. There were so many people," the DJ said. He turned off the music to try to discourage the revellers, but to no avail. The crowd was just "unruly and could not be managed", he said, adding he was "traumatised". About 100 mourners attended an emotional prayer service at the Assemblies of God church in the Scenery Park township where a local municipal councillor Monica Goci broke down on the pulpit with a microphone in her hand. str-sn-ten/imm Police in South Africa were combing a township tavern for evidence on Monday after the mysterious death of 21 teenagers after a night out. Most of the victims, some as young as 13 years, were found dead inside a popular bar in the southern city of East London. Some died later in hospital. They bore no visible signs of injury, sparking speculation among local officials and politicians that this was a case of under-age drinking that went tragically wrong. Special investigators from Pretoria have been rushed to the scene. "The detectives will be resuming their work at the crime scene today," regional police spokesman Thembinkosi Kinana told AFP. Many of the victims are thought to have been students celebrating the end of their high-school exams, officials said. Autopsies are being conducted to see if the deaths could be linked to poisoning. "Post-mortems (were) completed by last night and the bodies will be released to their families today," said Yonela Dekeda, provincial spokeswoman for the health department. Forensic analysis will be conducted this week. "Samples were taken and were on first flight today to Cape Town, where the tests will be conducted," said Unathi Binqose, a government official on safety. Drinking in South Africa is permitted for over-18s. But in township taverns which are often located cheek-by-jowl with family homes, safety regulations and drinking-age laws are not always enforced. President Cyril Ramaphosa is among those who have voiced concern. The teenagers reportedly "gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off-limits to persons under the age of 18," he said. sn/ri Antigen rapid test (ART) kits for self-testing. (PHOTO: Reuters/Edgar Su) SINGAPORE All households in Singapore will receive 10 antigen rapid test kits amid a spike in COVID-19 infections. The Straits Times reported Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong making the announcement after touring a mobile vaccination centre in Yishun on Monday (27 June). Distribution of the kits will begin some time next month. Wong, who is the co-chairman of the multi-ministry taskforce for COVID-19, also told reporters that there is no need to tighter safe management measures for now. However, this cannot be ruled out, as cases are expected to continue to rise. The Straits Times reported him as saying that the uptick in the number of infections is driven by the newer BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron sub-variants. The Ministry of Health had said on 21 June that the two variants accounted for around 30 per cent of all virus cases in the past week, up from 17 per cent the week before. Wong, who was with Health Minister and MTF co-chairman Ong Ye Kung during the tour, told reporters that there is no evidence yet that current infections are more severe. With hospitals still able to cope with the situation, Wong said that Singapore should be able to "ride through this wave" without having to tighten existing measures. However, he stressed that the situation is fluid, and urged Singaporeans to be vigilant and do testing. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray announce abortion rights legislation on 15 June (REUTERS) The end of federal protections for abortion access could trigger laws in more than a dozen states criminalising abortion care, with lengthy prison sentences and heavy fines aimed at providers and others who aid and abet an abortion, in some cases. A looming decision from the US Supreme Court on whether to overturn the 1973 ruling in Roe v Wade could have far-reaching consequences including how law enforcement agencies use surveillance and sensitive personal data to identify and prosecute criminal anti-abortion cases. Vice President Kamala Harris said she fears states that want to criminalise abortion care could subpoena patients personal data, including menstrual-tracking apps and search engine results for abortion clinics. In a meeting with legal experts about threats to privacy protections in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling, the vice president said she fears the vulnerability of women who are using menstrual-tracking apps, those who use a search engine to find certain locations or certain help and how vulnerable those searches will be to bad actors attempting to track their history, much less any government forces that may be interested in investigating that for whatever purpose. Legislation in Congress would block intimate data gathered on smartphones including, more broadly, location data from getting into the hands of the companies that collect them and the companies that want to buy them. A bill from California Congresswoman Sara Jacobs would strictly limit the sexual health data that companies can collect, retain and disclose, while a sweeping proposal from Senator Elizabeth Warren would ban data brokers from selling or transferring location and health data. Last month, Senator Warren and a group of 13 senators criticised two data brokers for collecting and selling phone-based location data from people who traveled to abortion clinics. One of those firms, Placer.ai, offered access to reams of data on its website showing approximately where people who have visited Planned Parenthood clinics live. The firms cache and related data only was removed after an inquiry from Motherboard. Story continues Another location data company, SafeGraph, also blocked the sale of its data after reporting from Motherboard revealed that the company sold aggregated location data from people who visited Planned Parenthood facilities. Anti-abortion activists have already relied on surveillance methods to track patients and providers, using methods like license-plate tracking and cameras outside clinics. At least one state also has reviewed sensitive patient information gathered from clinics; in 2019, Missouris top health official testified that the state mined detailed personal information from Planned Parenthood including reviewing patients menstrual cycles, medical identification numbers, dates of procedures and the gestational ages of fetuses. Patient names were not included. Legal analysts and abortion rights advocates have warned that the availability of location data harvested from smartphones could be exploited by anti-abortion activists and law enforcement. The group of senators warned that such data could be used to pursue so-called bounties in states that have effectively deputised citizens to sue abortion providers, with cash judgments awarding plaintiffs thousands of dollars plus legal fees. These and other practices targeting women seeking necessary health care services are almost certain to escalate if Roe v Wade is gutted and abortion is criminalised instantly in states across the nation, the senators wrote to data firms. Under these circumstances, [your companys] decision to sell data that allowed any buying customer to determine the locations of people seeking abortion services was simply unconscionable, risking the safety and security of women everywhere. US Senators Elizabeth Warren and Patty Murray speak at a news conference about legislation to protect abortion rights on 15 June. (REUTERS) A group of Democratic senators also wrote to Googles chief executive officer Sundar Pichai, urging the company to stop unnecessarily collecting and retaining customer location data, to prevent that information from being used by right-wing prosecutors to identify people who have obtained abortions. Law enforcement routinely has relied on location data for criminal investigations; in 2020, the company received nearly 12,000 requests from law enforcement agencies seeking so-called geofence data that reveals location data at a given time, according to reports published by Google and reviewed by senators. Googles decision to maintain location data is creating a new digital divide, in which privacy and security are made a luxury, according to the senators, pointing to Apples data restrictions. Americans who can afford an iPhone have greater privacy from government surveillance of their movements than the tens of millions Americans using Android devices. An investigation by Reveal from The Center for Investigative Reporting and The Markup also found that Facebook has collected data from people who visit the websites of so-called crisis pregnancy centres, nonmedical facilities intended to dissaude people seeking an abortion. Meta, Facebooks parent company, prohibits websites and apps that use the companys advertising tools from sending Facebook sexual and reproductive health user data, but the investigation found that Facebooks code was discovered on the websites of hundreds of anti-abortion clinics. Several district attorneys have told The Independent that they will not prosecute people seeking abortion care or who provide abortions, should state laws criminalising care go into effect without Roe, let alone issue subpoenas for sensitive data in anti-abortion cases. It doesnt make sense to spend our time and energy thinking about how one might do that, Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza told The Independent. But I think those fears and concerns are incredibly legitimate, he said. I think the implications for law enforcement, using their authority, in that way would deeply undermine core democratic principles. Senator Warren and a group of senators proposed sweeping legislation that would ban firms from selling or transferring location and health data, warning that the sale of such data poses serious risks to Americans everywhere. With this extremist Supreme Court poised to overturn Roe v Wade and states seeking to criminalise essential health care, it is more crucial than ever for Congress to protect consumers sensitive data, she said in a statement on 15 June. The Health and Location Protection Act would be enforced by the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general, as well as people impacted by the sale of such data, who would be empowered to sue companies who violated the law. Health and location data are incredibly sensitive and can be used for a range of harms, from profiling and exploiting consumers to spying on citizens without warrants to carrying out stalking and violence, said Justin Sherman, a researcher with the Data Brokerage Project at Duke Universitys Sanford School of Public Policy. The My Body My Data Act from US Rep Sara Jacobs would strictly limit which sexual health data can be collected, retained, used, or disclosed to only what is necessary to use the product. It also aims to protect such data that is not currently covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, a federal law protecting sensitive patient information from being disclosed without the patients consent. Since the Supreme Court leak, Ive heard from so many people who are panicked about their personal reproductive health data falling into the wrong hands, the congresswoman said in a statement. The bill would protect that information, protect our privacy, and reaffirm our rights to make our own decisions about our bodies, she said. As a young woman, reproductive health care is my health care. And like tens of millions of Americans, Ive used period-tracking apps to help manage my reproductive health. Its unconscionable that information could be turned over to the government or sold to the highest bidder and weaponised against us. "Full House" star Jodie Sweetin was pushed from an embankment down to the concrete ground by an officer with the Los Angeles Police Department while protesting the Supreme Court Roe v. Wade ruling in Los Angeles on Saturday. In a video captured by photographer Michael Ade, the 40-year-old actress appeared to be thrown to the ground while leading a "group of peaceful protestors away from the freeway" as she gathered with a number of activists in the downtown area of the city. Sweetin was seen wearing a black T-shirt and black leggings with a black backpack and a megaphone attached to her arm. At one point in the video, Sweetin seemed to be pushed from a dirt hill down to the ground. She skidded across the ground and her hat flew back on her head. A crowd gathered to help her stand up again. Jodie Sweetin attends Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries 2019 Winter TCA Tour in Pasadena, California. Rachel Luna OLIVIA RODRIGO DEDICATES F--- YOU TO SUPREME COURT JUSTICES IN DUET WITH LILY ALLEN AT GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL One protester could be heard screaming, "What the f--- is wrong with you guys?" Another asked, "Jodi, are you good?" Sweetin almost immediately stood up again, fixed her hat and joined in the chants with other protesters near the 101 Freeway: "No justice, no peace." "Im extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court," Sweetin told Fox News Digital. "Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free." HOLLYWOOD REACTS TO ROE V WADE BEING OVERTURNED: ABSOLUTELY TERRIFIED Fox News Digital contacted the Los Angeles Police Department for comment. Sweetin later shared a few words written by ScottyJohns @highroadsaloon on Instagram, which were posted by @saadia_mirza. The post said: "I said to my wife 'Do you think anyone will commit suicide because they could not get an abortion?" Story continues "She instantly replied 'yes.' "Then she added there will be all those boyfriends and husbands that murder them because they couldnt get one too and that shook my f---ing world." Sweetin wrote, "True and tragic." She used a hashtag to spell out, "youre not pro life, youre just pro birth." Sweetin is known for playing beloved middle daughter Stephanie Tanner on "Full House" and the most recent reboot, "Fuller House." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The decision made by SCOTUS on Friday effectively ended recognition of a constitutional right to abortion which has been in place since 1973, and gives individual states the power to allow, limit or ban the practice altogether. Jodie Sweetin starred as middle daughter Stephanie Tanner on the beloved family sitcom "Full House." ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content Supreme Court justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Amy Coney Barrett, and Brett Kavanaugh voted in favor of ending the landmark federal abortion protection. Chief Justice John Roberts did not approve of ending Roe. "The majority has overruled Roe and Casey for one and only one reason: because it has always despised them, and now it has the votes to discard them," wrote Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan in a joint, 59-page dissent. "In overruling Roe and Casey, this Court betrays its guiding principles. With sorrow for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection we dissent." Apple and Qualcomm may have ended most of their feuding in 2019, but the fight might not be over just yet. The Verge reports that the Supreme Court has denied Apple's request for a hearing to potentially invalidate two Qualcomm patents that played key roles in 2017 attempts to ban Apple Watch, iPad and iPhone sales over allegedly infringing modem technology. The court didn't explain why it rejected the request, but a Justice Department amicus brief from May argued that there was no evidence to indicate the patents were harming Apple's business. While the companies struck a six-year licensing deal to settle their main dispute, the agreement let a US Patent and Trademark Office case continue involving the two patents. Apple lost an attempt to invalidate the patents with the USPTO's Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and again failed when a Federal Circuit court tossed out Apple's appeal request based on the settlement. When Apple went to the Supreme Court, the Justice Department filed its supporting brief opposing the request. Apple claimed in its request that Qualcomm might use the patents to sue again once the licensing deal expires in 2025 or (if extended) 2027. It's not certain what either company will do next. We've asked both Apple and Qualcomm for comment. The landscape may change significantly within the next few years, however. Apple is rumored to be ditching Qualcomm in favor of using its own 5G modems as soon as 2023, and it's not yet clear how that might affect the current truce. PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A special Southeast Asian envoy for the crisis in Myanmar on Monday urged its military rulers not to hold deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi in prison, appealing for leniency ahead of a visit later this week. Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn will make his second trip to Myanmar from Wednesday, a spokesperson for his ministry said, as part of the junta's peace commitment with the 10-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Suu Kyi, who has been on trial accused of at least 20 crimes since a coup against her elected government last year, has been moved to a prison in the capital Naypyitaw and kept in solitary confinement. She denies all charges. The 77-year-old had until last week been spared jail and was held in an undisclosed location, despite having several convictions for relatively minor offences. Prak Sokhonn in a letter to the junta urged compassion. "Aung San Suu Kyi is regarded internationally and by many in Myanmar as having a critical role in your country's return to normalcy and national reconciliation through a peaceful political solution," he wrote, according to a statement. Activists denounced Prak Sokhonn's last visit in March as a failure that favoured the junta and overlooked its opponents, criticism that he said he understood. In his letter, he said a successful peace process was impossible with one side excluded. "A peaceful political resolution to a conflict, no matter how complex it is, must involve the sharing of political space by all involved," he added. (Reporting by Prak Chan Thul; Editing by Martin Petty) President Biden on Monday signed a national security memo aimed at addressing illegal fishing in international waters. The memo seeks to increase international coordination to address labor issues in the fishing industry and remove labor abuses from the supply chain, according to a White House fact sheet. It also aims to restrict the market for the products of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and forced labor. During this weeks United Nations (U.N.) Ocean Conference, the Biden administration is also poised to announce an alliance with the United Kingdom and Canada to combat fishing that is illegal or goes unreported. In conjunction with the memo, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Monday issued a proposed rule to address forced labor and other labor rights issues in the seafood industry. Under the new rule, we are making our definition of IUU fishing consistent with that of the [U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization], a National Security Council official told reporters on a press call Monday. This proposal will allow U.S. officials to craft definitions that incorporate both the use of forced labor and comparable fishing laws between the U.S. and other nations, an official said. Meanwhile, a U.S. interagency working group comprised of 21 federal agencies is currently finalizing a five-year plan to address IUU fishing, officials said on the call. The group will work with Ecuador, Panama, Senegal, Taiwan and Vietnam, according to the official, who said each of them has expressed a willingness to work with the United States to combat IUU fishing in their countries. The plan is set for release by the end of July. Industry and lawmakers have long pushed the Biden administration to take action on illegal fishing, calling it a national security and economic issue. Earlier this month, Reps. Jared Huffman (D-Calif.) and Garret Graves (R-La.) urged Biden to send a clear message on the world stage that the U.S. is a leader in addressing illegal fishing and forced labor by announcing new regulations for illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing ahead of the conference. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday signed a national security memorandum to fight illegal fishing, part of pledged efforts to help countries combat alleged violations by fishing fleets, including those of China. The White House said in a statement that it would also launch an alliance with Canada and the United Kingdom to "take urgent action" to improve monitoring, control, and surveillance in the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. U.S. officials have vowed to introduce policies to better battle illegal fishing, particularly in the Indo-Pacific, as part of stepped up engagement with the region to counter China's growing influence. Some countries in the region chafe at China's vast fishing fleet, arguing its vessels often violate their 200-nautical-mile exclusive economic zones (EEZ) and cause environmental damage and economic losses. Senior U.S. administration officials told reporters in a briefing that the memorandum directs agencies to work toward "ending human trafficking, including forced labor ... while promoting safe, sustainable use of the ocean." The Department of Labor, the Department of Defense, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other enforcement agencies would engage with private and foreign partners to "investigate fishing vessels and operators expected to be harvesting seafood with forced labor," the official said. The effort was not targeted at any specific country, but the official said China was one of the largest violators. "The PRC (People's Republic of China) is a leading contributor to IUU fishing worldwide, and has impeded progress on the development of measures to combat IUU fishing and overfishing in international organizations," the official said. "The PRC has a responsibility to uphold these commitments as a flag state and actively monitor and correct ... fishing fleet activities in other countries' waters," she said. Story continues China says it is a responsible fishing country that has been cooperating internationally to clamp down on illegal fishing, and that it fishes in relevant EEZs according to bilateral agreements. "The U.S. accusation is completely untrue and does nothing to protect the marine environment and promote international cooperation in sustainable fishery," Liu Pengyu, spokesman for China's embassy in Washington, said in a statement. Earlier in June, the Philippines accused China of illegal fishing in its EEZ, a complaint backed by the U.S. State Department. The U.S. Coast Guard has said illegal fishing has outpaced piracy as the top global maritime security threat, and risks heightening tensions among countries vying for overexploited fishing stocks. U.S. Indo-Pacific policy coordinator Kurt Campbell said in May that countries in the region were cooperating to step up patrolling and training efforts, as well as sharing technologies to track vessels engaged in illegal fishing that turn off electronic transponders. (Reporting by Michael Martina, David Brunnstrom and Kanishka Singh; Editing by Sandra Maler) Amid a heavy sell-off in cryptocurrencies in recent weeks, firms are running into trouble and some of the industrys biggest players have stepped in to offer support. Were seeing that a number of firms are insolvent, but it's a small number in the grand scheme of things, Changpeng Zhao, founder and chief operating officer of crypto exchange Binance told Yahoo Finance Live. Zhao, known as 'CZ' by the industry, said Binance is currently looking at 50 to 100 deals. But in CZ's view, these transactions arent necessarily bailouts, calling this an "overloaded word." We do look at stressed assets, companies that are insolvent and wed like to help them either with loans, minority investments or even with majority acquisitions," CZ said. "All of those things are on the table." CZ added that Binance has already done "quite a few" deals. Zhao Changpeng, founder and chief executive officer of Binance attends the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France June 16, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier The firm is seeing a lot of opportunities in the market on the hiring front, M&A, and is also exploring lowered trading fees with its U.S. subsidiary offering zero-fee bitcoin trading last week. In recent weeks, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried has arisen as the industrys most active player offering financial relief to embattled firms. Some have likened his actions to the crypto equivalent of Warren Buffetts actions during the Financial Crisis back in 2008. FTX has offered crypto lender BlockFi a $250 million line of credit. Meanwhile, Canadian crypto broker has signed a term sheet with Bankman-Frieds trading firm Alameda Research for a revolving credit line of $200 million in cash/USDC and 15,000 in BTC, a total of $519 million based on bitcoin's current value. As of the time of this writing, Voyager had accessed $75 million of the credit and issued a notice of default to crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital, which is said to be facing insolvency. The default does not break Voyager's terms with Alameda according to a release from Voyager. Sam Bankman-Fried speaks onstage on June 23, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Craig Barritt/Getty Images for CARE For Special Children) Cryptos total market capitalization has dropped by more than $1 trillion in the last three months, standing at $956 billion as of Monday morning, according to Coinmarketcap. In the last month alone, bitcoin (BTC-USD) is down more than 25% and currently trades at $21,296. Ether (ETH-USD), the second largest cryptocurrency, has sold off worse, taking a 29% loss and now changing hands at $1,222 per unit. Story continues After a year of unprecedented growth, a number of crypto firms have cut growth projections and laid off workers including Robinhood, Gemini, BlockFi, Crypto.com, Coinbase and Bitpanda. More worrisome still, some are limiting withdrawals or outright freezing customer accounts of including Babel Finance, Coinflex, Voyager Digital, and most notably the crypto lender Celsius. Unlike FTX, Binance hasnt yet shared the details of any deals the company has done, with CZ telling Yahoo Finance some of those firms may or may not want to admit that they are close to bankruptcy. Everybody knows we have the largest cash reserve in the industry, CZ added, we dont need to advertise. Click here for the latest crypto news, updates, values, prices, and more related to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, DeFi and NFTs Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Download the Yahoo Finance app for Apple or Android Follow Yahoo Finance on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Flipboard, LinkedIn, and YouTube Cryptocurrency Mining Moratorium (Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Bitcoins energy consumption has plummetted to levels not seen in over a year following the latest price collapse. Figures from Digiconomist, a site tracking bitcoins electricity use, show that the cryptocurrency saw its consumption drop by around a third within the space of a week in June. During that same time, bitcoins price fell from just above $30,000 to around $20,000, further compounding a months-long crash that began after hitting a new record high of close to $69,000 last November. Separate figures from the Cambridge Bitcoin Electricity Consumption Index estimate a 25 per cent decline in energy use, putting it on a par with levels seen last August. Bitcoin has faced severe criticism from climate activists and environmentalists for the amount of power that its network requires to operate. Recent studies put bitcoins energy use on a par with South Africa, however the new levels make it comparable to a country the size of Norway. Bitcoins electricity consumption typically follows the trajectory of its price, as the mining process becomes more competitive as its value rises. The environmental impact is also made worse by miners seeking out the cheapest power sources, which are often fossil fuel-based. Bitcoin energy consumption is at its lowest level since mid 2021 (Digiconomist) A 2020 study from the University of Cambridge found that 76 per cent of cryptocurrency miners use electricity from renewable sources, with projections from the International Renewable Energy Agency suggesting that this will improve as renewable energy becomes increasingly more cost-efficient compared to more polluting alternatives. In April, a Greenpeace-backed campaign called for bitcoin to switch from a proof-of-work system to a proof-of-stake mining method in order to improve it environmental credentials. A PoS protocol would abandon the complex mathematical puzzles required to secure bitcoins network and generate new units of the cryptocurrency a process known as mining however critics of the Change the Code Not the Climate campaign argued that it would be impossible to implement such a massive change to bitcoins underlying code. VALENTYNA ROMANENKO MONDAY, 27 JUNE 2022, 08:51 Over 100 bodies of civilians killed in a Russian bombardment have been found in the temporarily occupied city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast. Source: Petro Andriushchenko, advisor to the mayor of Mariupol, on Telegram Quote: "New, devastating discoveries. During the inspection of buildings in the Livoberezhnyi [Left Bank] neighbourhood, over 100 bodies of civilians killed in a bombardment were found in a building on the junction of Peremohy Avenue and Meotydy Boulevard that was hit in an airstrike. The occupiers have made no plans to retrieve and bury the bodies. [City-wide] exhumation efforts continue. We are prioritising the yards of schools and kindergartens. After exhumations, the pits are treated to get rid of the smell. Exhumation sites found on the streets and in courtyards [that are not school or kindergarten courtyards - ed.] are not treated." Bridgerton actor Simone Ashley opened up about studying the slow mating process of snails to prepare for her love scenes with co-star Jonathan Bailey. The regency-era drama actor featured on a 55-minute episode of the Los Angeles Times podcast The Envelope on June 21 to discuss her lead role in the Netflix sensation. In the interview, she shared that while she is a fan of movies such as Pride and Prejudice, she never imagined someone who looked like her would be in a period drama. Bridgerton is based on author Julia Quinns bestselling series, which follows each of the eight Bridgerton siblings searches for love. More from NextShark: NY magazine podcaster faces backlash for giving Fire Island film F- on the Bechdel test The first season of Netflixs TV adaptation was centered around the familys eldest daughter Daphne, played by Phoebe Dynevor, and her journey to the altar with the seemingly unattainable Duke of Hastings, played by Rege-Jean Page. The second season of the show, based on Quinns novel The Viscount Who Loved Me, focuses on the love story between a headstrong Kate Sharma, played by Ashley, and an equally headstrong Viscount Anthony Bridgerton, played by Bailey. Known for its erotic lovemaking scenes, the show begs the question of how one even begins to prepare for such an intimate form of acting. More from NextShark: Grab em by theballs? 'Squid Game' director compares VIP character to Donald Trump Ashley explained that she explored the movement of different animal mating practices to study how sensual or non-sensual different paces could be. For example, we look to how snails mate, and when snails mate, they actually produce a plasma that intertwines, she said. So if it was a really sensual, slow kind of scene, wed be like, oh, its like the snail. And its super like the plasma, like falling honey. In contrast, dogs and chimpanzees have a very like fast-paced and a different kind of style, giving off a less sensual vibe, according to Ashley. The actor stated she and her co-star Bailey would approach such scenes by saying, So this kind of scene, were going to make it very funny and quirky and just like silly and like, lets think of like, this animal. Story continues More from NextShark: Henry Golding to Star in Netflix Adaptation of Jane Austen's 'Persuasion' The second season surprised audiences with the inclusion of Ashleys Indian background into the character, incorporating traditional Hindu customs into certain scenes. While the sight of a traditional Haldi scene was likely unthinkable for a regency-era drama prior to Bridgerton, Ashley expressed confidence that this may very well be just the beginning of a new standard in Hollywood. It was just a lot of joy, Ashley previously said about sharing her Indian heritage in an interview with NextShark. I felt really proud, and even more proud to receive such a warm reception, especially from South Asian women. More from NextShark: Immortal Studios Virtual Summit to Uplift AAPI Representation in Entertainment and Media Featured Image via The Sunday Times Style (right) and Gene (left) OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada on Monday announced more measures in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, including additional sanctions and a ban on the export of technologies that could help improve Russia's defense manufacturing capability. The new sanctions would target six individuals and 46 entities linked to the Russian defence sectors, 15 Ukrainians supporting Russia, and 13 individuals and two entities in Belarus, according to a statement from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office. Canada also intends to introduce sanctions against Russian state-sponsored disinformation and propaganda agents and entities, according to the statement. (Reporting by Ismail Shakil in Ottawa) Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will continue working to support women from out of state who are seeking legal abortions and took aim at Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for a concurring opinion in which he urged colleagues to overturn various cases, including the landmark ruling establishing same-sex marriage. Lightfoot appeared on a CBS morning show Monday to talk about the court overturning Roe v. Wade and reiterated her administrations plan to spend $500,000 on supporting travelers seeking abortions in the city from states where its illegal. Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. We shouldnt be in this circumstance but this is a reality give what the Supreme Court did to American women on Friday, Lightfoot said. The mayor also took aim at Thomas over the weekend, criticizing his dissent for questioning the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage. Lightfoot has warned for months that the court may go after LGBTQ rights and was discussing Thomas dissent at a Pride event when someone in the audience shouted, F- Clarence Thomas. F- Clarence Thomas, Lightfoot responded, drawing cheers from the crowd, according to a video on social media. The comment is likely to be well received in Democratic Chicago but has received criticism from conservatives. BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Clover Biopharmaceuticals said on Monday a booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate significantly increased antibody response against the Omicron coronavirus variant from levels seen after two primary shots. A third dose of its vaccine candidate SCB-2019 resulted in a 19-fold increase in neutralising antibody levels against the Omicron BA.2 subvariant from pre-booster levels, Clover said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The booster shot also elicited a 12-fold rise in the neutralising antibody level against the BA.1 subvariant, the company said, citing preliminary analysis without providing detailed readings. The results came from a cohort of participants, who had no natural infection of the coronavirus and showed waning antibodies before the booster, in a clinical trial that has enrolled 3,755 participants in Brazil, the Philippines and Columbia, Clover said. SCB-2019, which is backed by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), has yet to be approved for commercial use. Antibody-based readings differ from a vaccine's efficacy, a rate that reflects how well it could lower the risk of COVID disease or death. Data from a large clinical trial conducted before the spread of Omicron showed SCB-2019 was 67% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 of any degree of severity and 79% against the Delta variant. Clover did not discuss cell-based responses elicited by the booster, another important part of human immune system different from antibody-based responses. Clover is also testing a separate candidate SCB-2020S in an early stage trial and working on a bivalent vaccine candidate targeting variants of concern including Omicron. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Miyoung Kim, Robert Birsel) The Daily Beast D.C. Police DepartmentWASHINGTON, D.C. At least two people were killed Saturday when a car careened into a fireworks stand in the northeast of the city. Police say they believe the driver of the vehicle had suffered a medical emergency, though they stressed that the major crash was still under investigation. Assistant Metro D.C. Police Chief Wilfredo Manlapaz told reporters at an evening press conference that both victims were adult males. He said the fatal crash transpired after a truck ran The Daily Beast YouTube/Akron PDPolice in Akron, Ohio, have released disturbing body-camera footage showing the moment cops shot an unarmed 25-year-old Black man dozens of times as he fled.I wont mince words, the video you are about to watch is heartbreaking, Akron Mayor Dan Horrigan warned at a press conference Sunday. I am urging all of our residents to please reserve your full judgment until our investigation is complete.The body-cam videos begin with officers pursuing Jayland Walker in their squad cars The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall on Thursday for the 10-foot SunVilla Solar LED Market Umbrella after the agency said theyd received reports that lithium-ion batteries in the umbrellas solar panel can overheat and potentially catch fire (SunVilla/United States Consumer Product Safety Commission) More than 400,000 solar-powered patio umbrellas sold at Costco have been recalled by authorities after it was announced that the product can overheat and potentially burst into flames. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a recall for 400,000 units of the 10-ft SunVilla Solar LED Market Umbrella on Thursday, alongside Health Canada who issued their own release for 33,000 of the products. The item is sold in both countries at Costco. The product is described on its website as providing protection shade during the day, while offering beautiful ambiance on your patio at nighttime when the 56 LED lights, charged by the suns rays, light up at night time. Batteries used in the umbrella to create that sought after ambiance are what the agency believes to be causing trouble. They received six reports of the lithium-ion batteries overheating, with three of those reports resulting in solar panels catching fire while charging via the AC adapter indoors while two other incidents ended with the umbrella itself becoming ablaze when the solar panel puck overheated and caught fire while attached to the umbrella. There has been on smoke inhalation injury reported, the agency noted in the Thursday recall. The SunVilla Solar LED Market Umbrella has been recalled because lithium-ion batteries pose a risk of overheating, which could lead to the umbrella catching fire or causing a burn (SunVilla/United States Consumer Product Safety Commission) The solar panel pucks have a mark that reads YEEZE 1 or YEEZE and the affected umbrellas were sold in a variety of colours between December 2020 and May 2022. Customers are instructed to immediately stop using the umbrellas, and to then remove the solar panel puck containing a lithium-ion battery from the top of the umbrella, store it in a safe place away from the sun and any combustible material and to no longer charge the puck with the AC adapter. Full refunds are available to any customer who purchased one of the recalled umbrellas and can be returned to any Costco Warehouse across the country. SunVilla asks that any customer who is unable to return the product in-person to a Costco location to call by phone at 866-600-3133 or contact the business by email at LEDrecall@sunvilla.com. VALENTYNA ROMANENKO MONDAY, 27 JUNE 2022, 16:00 The military say that high expectations and premature reports on the Defence Forces progress are harming the operation to liberate Kherson Oblast from the occupiers. Source: Natalia Humeniuk, the head of the united coordinating press centre of the Defence Forces of the South of Ukraine, at a briefing at Media Centre Ukraine - Ukrinfrom Details: Humeniuk reminded the public that the operation to liberate the Kherson region is taking place in the steppe zone, where open combat is extremely difficult. Moreover, the artillery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is not as long-range as that of the Russians. Humeniuk asked the public to be less expressive and emotional [when discussing the operation in the South] and let the military forces finish what they had planned. Quote: "Unfortunately, certain elements of the expectations, which tend to be highly emotional, have considerably harmed our progress. So these overly joyous premature reports are highly inappropriate at a time when a military operation is ongoing. We will only be able to report significant achievements if we manage to drive off the enemy so far that they cant attack our positions. This is why Im once again asking all government officials and all public figures not to get ahead of the military command and to please let the military do their job. Nobody will take the credit away from you. Well do it, report it then youre welcome to indulge in media hype." WASHINGTON A panel of independent experts advising the Food and Drug Administration is set to recommend Tuesday whether to update existing COVID-19 vaccines to target a newer version of the coronavirus in a booster shot that Americans could get in the fall. The federal government is hoping to improve the vaccine to better boost peoples immunity before a likely resurgence of the virus this winter. But in order to move that quickly, it may need to abandon the lengthy human trials that have been used to test coronavirus vaccines over the past two years in favor of a faster process that relies more on laboratory tests and animal trials. Advertisement The most recent trials with human volunteers have taken five months, even using relatively small groups. But the virus is evolving so quickly that new vaccine formulations are out of date before such trials are even finished. Pfizer and Moderna, the two major vaccine manufacturers, have been studying an updated vaccine that targets the omicron variant that became dominant last winter. Both companies took a financial risk and started manufacturing doses, betting that the government would pick it to be the fall booster. Advertisement But omicron itself was overtaken by a succession of subvariants starting nearly three months ago, and many scientists argue that it is a bygone threat. Omicron is clearly in the rearview mirror, said Dr. Peter J. Hotez, a vaccine expert with Baylor College of Medicine. A booster that targets omicron makes no sense, he said, unless it also works against the latest subvariants, adding, I havent seen evidence of that. At a meeting Tuesday, the FDA will ask the advisory panel whether a retooled vaccine should aim at a version of the virus in the omicron family. That would leave it to federal regulators to decide exactly which formulation to use in the fall. Scientists initially had high hopes for a so-called bivalent vaccine that would combine the existing formulation with one that targeted omicron itself. Clinical trial results released this month by Moderna and Pfizer, with its partner BioNTech, found that it triggered higher levels of antibodies against omicron than existing vaccines do. But while the companies heralded the findings, outside scientists were not impressed by the less-than-twofold increase. Dr. Dan H. Barouch, a virus expert at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston, described it as relatively modest. And the FDA, in a new briefing document for the advisory committee, said that a bivalent targeting omicron is already somewhat outdated. Federal health officials may instead push for a bivalent vaccine that would target BA.4 and BA.5, two subvariants of omicron. They now account for more than one-third of the infections in the United States and might be more akin to whatever incarnation of the virus is circulating in the fall. But a bivalent that targets those subvariants would also be problematic. Neither Pfizer nor Moderna has concentrated on developing one, and no one knows for sure how well it would work. At this late point in the year, using human trials to test such a vaccine, followed by the two months that would be required to manufacture doses, could push the release of any new vaccine well into the next wave of the virus. That suggests that officials would have to base their judgments largely on animal trials and laboratory tests. Advertisement Dr. Kelly L. Moore, president of Immunize.org, a nonprofit group that works to increase immunization rates, said that such an accelerated process is already used to update the flu vaccine each year. While this is the nations first stab at the next generation of COVID-19 vaccines, she said, the existing ones have been safely given to hundreds of millions of people. Updating them might call for very well-educated guesswork, she said, but such deductions are appropriate for the circumstances. If the government ends up going for a booster shot that targets BA.4 and BA.5, it will still be a race to produce the doses by fall, even with accelerated testing. Pfizer may be able to meet an October deadline, according to two people familiar with the companys operations. But Dr. Paul Burton, Modernas medical director, said last week that its unlikely that the company could deliver doses until very late this year, or even early next year. I dont think we would be in a position to be prepared to support the fall booster campaign, he said. There is also the chance that the virus will evolve yet again and render the updated vaccine ineffective. Advertisement Do we target BA.4 and 5? They will probably peak somewhere in the next month or two, said Dr. John Beigel, a clinical research director at the National Institutes of Health who has conducted multiple coronavirus vaccine studies. They may be old news by the time the fall comes. Beigel said one option is to simply stick with the existing vaccines, which continue to provide robust protection against severe disease but very little against infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has estimated that as of February, 60% of Americans had already been infected with the virus, providing them with at least some temporary immunity. While breakthrough infections among vaccinated individuals are now common, many of the cases are mild. Still, the World Health Organization said this month that updated versions of the vaccines should be studied because of the rapid deterioration in protection against symptomatic illness. Beigel and other public health officials say the virus is ever more agile at evading the antibodies that provide the first line of defense against infection. Studies show the existing booster shots trigger significantly lower level of neutralizing antibodies against BA.4 and BA.5 than they do against omicron. On average, 255 Americans still die of COVID-19 daily, and about 4,400 are hospitalized. The FDA briefing document said the risk of another major COVID-19 outbreak will rise later this year due to the combination of waning immunity, further evolution of variants, and increased indoor activity. Advertisement The advisory panel will likely split between those who believe a fall booster will be broadly necessary and those who would limit additional shots to high-risk individuals. Dr. Arnold Monto, a public health professor at the University of Michigan who chairs the panel, predicted that a broad swath of the population will be offered booster shots. We know theres waning, he said. We have to boost, and its better to boost with something more relevant than the existing vaccines. On the other side is Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. Hospitalizations are down. Deaths are way down because we are protected against serious illness, he said. Thats what matters. He said only people older than 70 and those older than 50 with serious underlying conditions will likely need a fall booster shot, because COVID-19 infections in those groups could have serious consequences. In the end, just how much the government has available to spend could determine the scale of a new booster campaign. Congress rebuffed a White House request for $22.5 billion in emergency coronavirus funds, and a compromise plan to spend $10 billion has been stalled since April. The government has shifted $5 billion in funds for coronavirus tests and protective equipment to buy new vaccines. Advertisement With the resources that weve been able to pull together, cull together for vaccines for the fall, its very clear were not going to have enough vaccines for every adult who wants one, Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House coordinator for the pandemic response, said at a briefing last week. c.2022 The New York Times Company Counties across Pennsylvania will receive some funding as part of a national opioid settlement. All counties in Pennsylvania are expected to receive funding as a result of a national opioid settlement agreement. In January, it was announced that all 67 counties, plus 241 local governments with a population of 10,000 or more, had signed on for the settlement against drug manufacturer Johnson & Johnson, and three major pharmaceutical distributors AmerisourceBergen, McKesson, and Cardinal Health, for their role in the ongoing national opioid epidemic. More: States detail $26B settlement to resolve opioid lawsuits with Johnson & Johnson, drug distributors In April, it was announced that Pennsylvania is slated to receive a maximum of $1.07 billion from the $26 billion agreement. More: Department Of Drug And Alcohol Programs, Attorney General Shapiro Discuss Opioid Settlement Funding In Pennsylvania The amount given to the counties and local communities, as well as the specific uses for the settlement funding, will be determined in the future. As far as Pennsylvanias total allocation, 70% will be given to the counties based on a combined metric of overdose deaths, opioid disorder hospitalizations, Naloxone administrations, and percentage of opioid shipments. A total of 15% will be given to litigating counties, subdivisions, district attorneys, and special districts, while 15% will be given to the Commonwealth as a whole to be appropriated by the legislature. Beaver County District Attorney David Lozier said there will be specific guidelines on how the counties and local communities will be allowed to spend the settlement dollars, such as for new or continuing programming for drug treatment. More: Gateway Rehab opens on-campus transitional home Tom Rutter House He said he expects Beaver County to receive over $7 million from this settlement, and said the county could use the funding to expand drug treatment and mental health programs, and get more detox beds and mental health beds, for example. However, Lozier said he is upset because early indication states the settlement funding would not be allowed to be used to reimburse or invest in law enforcement. Story continues He said law enforcement over the course of the opioid epidemic has spent a lot of time and resources. Lozier and Chief County Det. Andrew Gall said they support the current drug programs, but feels like law enforcement is being left out, as they would like to expand law enforcement in the county to better combat drugs and opioids. Lawrence County Commissioner Loretta Spielvogel said county leaders are currently meeting with a variety of agencies and county departments to determine the best use of the settlement funding, once it arrives. More: Aliquippa facility named Center of Excellence for addiction treatment Beaver County 'flattenscurve' on opioid deaths Lozier said for almost every county in Pennsylvania, there has been an increase in opioid overdoses and deaths, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. He said Beaver County has been one of the few counties where overdose deaths have remained flat over the last couple years. More: Overdose numbers showing trends improving in Beaver County, fentanyl still leading to deaths Beaver County fatal overdoses each year There were 61 overdose deaths in the county in 2019, 64 in 2020, and 62 in 2021, with there being around 700 overdoses a year in the county. Lozier said he contributes these numbers to all of the necessary steps taken by law enforcement and other emergency personnel, such as more Narcan, better mental health/treatment response, and investigating overdose deaths criminally when applicable. More: Electrostimulation device shown to aid in pain relief, keep students away from opioids On Thursday, Beaver County Commissioners agreed to allow Lozier to join the lawsuit/settlement with PA v. Sackler, which is against the Sackler family of the former pharmaceutical company Purdue Pharma. More: Sackler family to give $6 billion more in opioid crisis settlement between Purdue Pharma, US states The company settled on a $8.3 billion settlement in 2020, for their role in the opioid epidemic, after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2019. More: 'One Pill Can Kill': Two local families share the unexpected loss of their sons Nicholas Vercilla is a staff reporter for the Beaver County Times. He can be reached at nvercilla@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Counties to receive funding from national opioid settlement A student at South Carolinas Citadel military college who was charged in the Jan. 6 mob attack on the U.S. Capitol will get to study for three weeks this summer in Estonia after all. In May, a federal judge overseeing the case of rising Citadel junior Elias Irizarry refused to let him go on a Citadel study abroad program in Estonia this summer and raised security concerns about his request. Estonia is a NATO country on Russias border, and the trip includes visits to sensitive installations. He is facing federal charges in one of the most serious and consequential actions in this country over 100 years, U.S. Judge Tanya Chutkan said of Irizarry in a May hearing. Im not going to allow him unsupervised to go off for three weeks to visit NATO cybersecurity sites. The Capitol riot was the equivalent of an attempt to overthrow the government, she said. But two judges on a three-judge panel for the District of Columbia Court of Appeals disagreed Friday with Chutkans decision and ruled he could go. In their reversal, Judges Karen Henderson and Gergory Katsas noted that Chutkans ruling did not find that Irizarry was even a flight risk or dangerous. ... The court instead based its ruling on global judgments about all defendants charged with offenses related to Jan. 6, rather than on an individualized assessment of safety concerns or flight risks presented by Irizarry himself. That was error. The two majority judges also noted that Irizarry, who has been out on bond since his arrest in early 2021, had so far complied with all conditions of the court and is an honors student at The Citadel. Moreover, they wrote, prosecutors did not initially oppose Irizarrys trip or propose any conditions be attached to his movements. Irizarry has a school scholarship to help him pay for the trip, which takes place from July 11-31. In a dissent, Judge Robert Wilkins wrote that instead of granting Irizarrys request to travel abroad, the majority judges should have sent the case back to Chutkan for a determination on what conditions, if any, should be attached to Irizarrys foreign travel. Story continues Once Irizarry leaves the country, Wilkins noted, the District Court, the Pretrial Services Agency, and U.S. law enforcement lose jurisdiction over him. Irizarry, who is charged with four misdemeanor charges, each of which carries up to a year in prison, could choose not to return to the United States and not have to worry about being extradited, Wilkins wrote. Extradition is possible only when charges have a punishment that exceeds a year in prison. Irizarry is charged with one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; one count of disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and one count of parading or demonstrating in a Capitol building. He has pleaded not guilty and said he wants a trial. Chutkan has set a Jan. 3 trial date. Irizarry traveled to Washington on Jan. 6 2021 with a friend, Elliott Bishai, who faced the same charges as Irizarry. Bishai agreed to plead guilty to one of the charges, and he will be sentenced July 29. Court testimony and records said prosecutors say Bishai and Irizarry took photos and videos inside the Capitol and sat atop statues after entering with hundreds of others through a broken window. They are among some 840 people charged in what the Department of Justice has called the largest criminal investigation in its history. Irizarry and Bishai attended Nation Ford High School in Fort Mill. In high school, both were members of the Marine Corps JROTC and the Gastonia, North Carolina, Civil Air Patrol unit. Rock Hill Herald reporter Andrew Dys contributed to this story. JAKARTA (Reuters) - A court overseeing airline Garuda Indonesia's debt restructuring negotiations on Monday ratified a deal with creditors to repackage more than $9 billion of the carrier's debt, a court administrator told Reuters. The deal, which the state-carrier secured after most creditors backed its restructuring proposal on June 17, was due to be ratified last week, but was delayed after objections by two lessors on claims. Under the deal, most of the creditors will have to take a debt haircut, or write-down, and have the remainder of their debt repackaged into new bonds and shares, while some others will see their loan tenure extended without any haircut. Like most airlines in the world, Garuda's revenues were battered by the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing the company to enter a debt restructuring process in December 2021. (This story corrects to creditors in paragraph 3, not debtors) (Reporting by Stefanno Sulaiman; Editing by Gayatri Suroyo and Ed Davies) Credit Suisse, Switzerland's second-biggest bank, which has been rocked by a series of scandals, was slapped with a $2-million-fine Monday in a money laundering case linked to a Bulgarian cocaine network. Switzerland's Federal Criminal Court found that the bank failed to take steps to prevent money laundering by the criminal organisation, deeming it guilty of breaching its corporate responsibility. Credit Suisse was fined two million Swiss francs ($2.1 million). The Zurich-based bank intends to appeal. It was faulted for the failure up through its hierarchy and by its legal and compliance departments to monitor "banking relations" linked to the criminal gang, and to ensure their "compliance with anti-money laundering rules". A former employee was found guilty of aggravated money laundering over a number of transactions she had conducted or ordered to be conducted between July 2007 and December 2008, despite firm indications that the funds had criminal origins. Her actions allowed the criminal gang to stash more than 19 million Swiss francs out of reach of the authorities. She was given a 20-month prison sentence and a fine, both of which were suspended. In a brief statement, Credit Suisse said it noted the court's decision and that it intended to appeal. Two Bulgarians were also found guilty of participating in a criminal organisation and aggravated money laundering. The court also ordered the confiscation of a sum equivalent to more than 12 million francs concerning funds deposited with Credit Suisse by the criminal organisation. Furthermore the bank will have to compensate the more than 19 million francs in assets belonging to the criminal organisation, "which could not be confiscated due to the bank's internal failures", the court statement said. The Daily Beast CNNRepublican Gov. Kristi Noem ducked and dodged Sunday morning when asked if South Dakota would force a raped 10-year-old to give birtheventually suggesting that tragic situation shouldnt change her states restrictive abortion laws. The law today is that abortions are illegal except to save the life of the mother, Noem told anchor Dana Bash on CNNs State of the Union.Bash had pressed Noem about the case of a 10-year-old girl in Ohio who was denied an abortion because she was three days A Netflix stars three-week stay in a South Carolina jail is coming to an end with the help of his TikTok influencer son. A federal judge granted Bhagavan Doc Antle bond Monday while he awaits trial on federal money laundering charges. The $250,000 secured bond must be formally executed tomorrow, meaning he will have to wait until Tuesday to be released from J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake. Antle, owner of Myrtle Beach Safari and one of the stars of the Netflix series Tiger King, has been in jail since June 3, when he was arrested by the Federal Bureau of Investigations. Prosecutors argued to keep Antle detained because he is a flight risk with connections overseas, access to a private plane and large amounts of cash at his disposal, but defense attorneys successfully made the case that Antle has significant ties to the area and no prior criminal convictions on his record. Ryan Beasley, one of Antles attorneys, wrote in a statement to The Sun News that his client is looking forward to reuniting with his animals and ensuring their proper care. ... (M)ost importantly, he looks forward to reuniting with his children and grandchildren, he wrote. Finally, Doc looks forward to his day in Court where he will be able to fully challenge the Governments allegations. Kody Antle, Bhagavans son and a star in his own right with more than 28 million TikTok followers, will be responsible for ensuring his dad makes future court appearances and complies with his bond conditions, according to Shoemake. Those conditions include location monitoring he will be confined to his 50-acre preserve in the Socastee area and not violating any state or federal laws. Money laundering and animal trafficking charges Antle and one of his employees are facing up to 20 years in federal prison on money laundering charges that stem from a sting operation involving a confidential informant, who told them the money they were helping to launder came from an illegal immigrant smuggling operation. Story continues Antle and his co-defendant, Andrew Jon Omar Sawyer, took $505,000 from the informant and gave him checks in return for fake business reasons while keeping about 15%, or $73,500, as a fee, according to the complaint. Sawyer was released June 17 on $100,000 unsecured bond, according to online court and detention records. Antle is also facing animal cruelty and trafficking charges in Virginia. Prosecutors in the federal case had said they expected him to be extradited to Virginia for violating his bond conditions if he was released, but a judge there instead gave him a $100,000 surety bond and ordered him to hand over his passport, according to WBTW. Antle is also expected to soon face federal wildlife trafficking charges from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, according to prosecutors. A spokesman for the agency told The Sun News they cant comment about an ongoing investigation. After a Duke University police officer fatally shot an armed man in Duke University Hospital emergency room this year, the Durham district attorney strongly suggests a way to prevent it from happening again. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry said Duke University Medical Center and Duke University Police should consider a policy that requires officers to secure their weapons before entering emergency departments. She made the suggestion in her analysis of the shooting from Jan. 14. In her report, issued June 6, she said the officer wont face charges. The shooting was one of three fatal shootings by Durham law enforcement in which Deberry said there wasnt evidence needed for criminal charges. On Jan. 14, a campus police officer shot and killed Raishawn Steven Jones in Duke University Hospital emergency room after officials said Jones grabbed a city police officers gun when he was not restrained. Deberry wrote that the campus police officer followed his departments procedures on using deadly force against suspects who are armed and are endangering lives. Evidence suggests that a reasonable officer would have believed the city officer and others in the hospital were in danger of imminent deadly physical force from Jones. However, it is worth noting that the presence of guns in the Emergency Department dramatically increased the level of risk of harm to others that night, she wrote in a letter to the Duke University Police Department Current policies at the Duke, UNC and WakeMed hospital systems permit armed law enforcement officers in hospital emergency rooms. A spokeswoman for Dukes communications department told The N&O that the hospital is reviewing its firearm policies but did not answer questions about Deberrys recommendation. What happened at Duke Hospital Jones, 38, had been taken to the hospital for a medical evaluation after police say he crashed into a car and hit a pedestrian, Deberry wrote in her decision. Story continues The fatal scuffle occurred after the city police officer removed Jones restraints so he could use the restroom. Jones became agitated and uncooperative when medical personnel evaluated him to be discharged. An autopsy found Jones had at least 0.57 milligrams of Phencyclidine, commonly known as PCP or angel dust, in his body at the time of his death. The illegal substance can cause hallucinations, distort the senses and cause violent behavior. It can also induce psychosis. Jones had already grabbed the city officers gun and fired a round in the emergency room after campus officer Sgt. Lex Allan Popovich arrived. Hospital staff called the Behavior Emergency Response team when the altercation started between Jones and the officer and sent out a Red BET alert, meaning someone is violent or assaulted someone. This alerted two Duke campus officers to respond to the scene. We have a patient that took a gun from a cop, and hes shooting, a 911 caller told a police dispatcher, The N&O previously reported. Deberry notes that the Duke officer reported having 18 rounds in his service weapon and an additional 36 rounds in his duty belt. If the officer had been required to secure his weapon when entering the ED, the physical altercation between the two very large men would have little risk of injuring other people in the area that night, Deberry wrote. Hospital shootings Data shows that what happened at Duke isnt an anomaly in American hospitals. A Johns Hopkins University study showed that nearly 1 in 4 emergency department shootings from 2000 to 2011 involved someone attempting to take a weapon from an armed officer. There were 154 hospital-related shootings identified with 235 injured or dead victims, the study said. In some major U.S. hospital systems, security personnel dont carry guns. At Massachusetts General Hospital, the largest teaching hospital for Harvard Medical School, security personnel must undergo extra training and carry only pepper spray, which was only used 11 times from 2006 to 2016, The New York Times reported. Security officers in public New York City emergency departments can only use plastic wrist restraints. Medical experts say that uniforms and weapons can exacerbate delusions in psychotic or paranoid patients, The New York Times reported. Patients ... shouldnt be hauled into weaponized environments in times of crisis, where the visibility of armed guards may very well intensify the paranoia and distress for which they need urgent medical treatment, wrote Jennifer Tsai, a Yale emergency doctor, in an op-ed against armed police in emergency rooms. The arresting Durham officer attempted to handcuff Jones again after he was released from the restroom and had become agitated. As the officer attempted to restrain him, Jones stared at the officers gun and mumbled Glock. Glock, followed by the officer yelling Dont go for my gun! according to body camera footage reviewed by Deberry. Duke, WakeMed, UNC hospital gun policies Jason Zivica, Duke University Hospital Assistant Vice President of Emergency Services, previously told WRAL in June that all Duke Health facilities are gun-free zones and that emergency rooms are equipped with metal detectors. Zivica referred The N&Os questions to Dukes communications department. Researchers at the Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics at the University of Pennsylvania recommend that law enforcement officers not be allowed to interview patients until they are considered to be mentally and medically stable by hospital staff. Law enforcement officers should not interview patients until they are mentally ready to understand and participate, the researchers said in a 2018 report. That includes patients not being sedated or narcotized, or under the influence of drugs. At Duke, law enforcement didnt interview Jones. Medical personnel were evaluating him to determine if he could be discharged. The campus officer was not present during this step, Deberry wrote. During this evaluation, Jones became increasingly agitated and indicated that he wanted to leave the hospital, Deberry wrote. As Jones began to leave the room, medical personnel motioned for Officer Stone to enter the exam room. At UNC hospitals, police officers and security personnel are allowed to remain armed while on duty and are required to go through rigorous training, said UNC spokesman Alan Wolf. WakeMed Campus Police and local law enforcement are allowed to enter emergency departments and other WakeMed facilities with their service weapons when on duty, according to Kristin Kelly, a spokeswoman for WakeMed facilities in Wake County. When these types of tragedies occur on hospital campuses, it hits close to home for us, Kelly said in an email. We are taking this feedback to develop an action plan to see what improvements may be needed. WakeMeds Workplace Violence Prevention Committee reviews hospital security efforts. In the past month, there have been other hospital-connected shootings that have garnered national attention, though neither occurred in the emergency department. In Goldsboro, a man accidentally fired a shot at Wayne UNC Hospital that injured his sister. Police said he did not intend to discharge his weapon, WRAL reported, but it spurred a hospital lockdown and the man was charged with carrying a concealed weapon. On June 2, there was a mass shooting in Tulsa, Okla., where a man killed two doctors and two other people after going into a medical building on the Saint Francis Hospital campus, CNN reports. The man blamed his surgeon for pain following surgery, the police chief said, CNN reports. Read the Durham DAs findings on fatal shooting in Duke Hospital emergency room By Alexandra Valencia QUITO (Reuters) -Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso said on Sunday he would cut prices for gasoline and diesel by 10 cents a gallon, the latest concession to try to end nearly two weeks of anti-government protests in which at least six people have died. The sometimes-violent demonstrations by largely indigenous protesters demanding lower fuel and food prices, among other things, began on June 13 and have slashed Ecuador's oil production. Lasso, whose adversarial relationship with the national assembly has worsened during the protests, had already withdrawn security measures and announced subsidized fertilizers and debt forgiveness, and his government met this weekend with indigenous groups. The leader of the CONAIE indigenous organization, Leonidas Iza, had flagged gasoline prices and other issues as still outstanding earlier on Sunday, promising to keep up the demonstrations until they were settled. "Everyone considers that gas prices have become the cornerstone of maintaining the conflict and though we as a government are very clear that this factor isn't the origin of Ecuadoreans' problems, we must think of the common good and citizens' peace," Lasso said. "I have decided to reduce the price of gasoline extra and Ecopais (gasoline) by 10 cents per gallon and also diesel by 10 cents per gallon," Lasso said. Lasso froze prices for gasoline extra at $2.55 a gallon and diesel at $1.90 a gallon in October last year, setting off an initial series of protests. Gasoline extra will now cost $2.45 per gallon, while diesel will cost $1.80, both still higher than CONAIE had requested. Ecuador's oil production has fallen by more than half because of road blockades and vandalism linked to the protests, the energy ministry said earlier. "Oil production is at a critical level. Today the figures show a reduction of more than 50%," the ministry said in a statement. "In 14 days of demonstrations, the Ecuadorean state has stopped receiving around $120 million." Story continues Vandalism, the takeover of oil wells and road closures have prevented transport of necessary supplies, the ministry said. Before the protests, oil production was about 520,000 barrels per day. The public oil sector, private producers of flowers and dairy products, tourism and other businesses have lost about $500 million, the ministry of production said. Residents of Quito have complained of product shortages and Lasso said earlier on Sunday hospitals in the city of Cuenca were suffering an oxygen shortage. CONAIE has tallied five protester deaths, while the government says four civilians have died during protests and two died in ambulances delayed by blockades. Lawmakers continued debate on Sunday on an effort to remove Lasso from office, though it appears opposition groups do not have the necessary support to do that. (Reporting by Alexandra ValenciaWriting by Julia Symmes CobbEditing by Nick Zieminski, Robert Birsel) Ideally, your overall portfolio should beat the market average. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. So we wouldn't blame long term Las Vegas Sands Corp. (NYSE:LVS) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 48% over a half decade. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 37% in the last year. The falls have accelerated recently, with the share price down 14% in the last three months. However, one could argue that the price has been influenced by the general market, which is down 15% in the same timeframe. Although the past week has been more reassuring for shareholders, they're still in the red over the last five years, so let's see if the underlying business has been responsible for the decline. Check out our latest analysis for Las Vegas Sands Las Vegas Sands isn't currently profitable, so most analysts would look to revenue growth to get an idea of how fast the underlying business is growing. Shareholders of unprofitable companies usually expect strong revenue growth. That's because it's hard to be confident a company will be sustainable if revenue growth is negligible, and it never makes a profit. Over half a decade Las Vegas Sands reduced its trailing twelve month revenue by 23% for each year. That's definitely a weaker result than most pre-profit companies report. It seems pretty reasonable to us that the share price dipped 8% per year in that time. This loss means the stock shareholders are probably pretty annoyed. Risk averse investors probably wouldn't like this one much. You can see how earnings and revenue have changed over time in the image below (click on the chart to see the exact values). Las Vegas Sands is well known by investors, and plenty of clever analysts have tried to predict the future profit levels. You can see what analysts are predicting for Las Vegas Sands in this interactive graph of future profit estimates. Story continues What about the Total Shareholder Return (TSR)? Investors should note that there's a difference between Las Vegas Sands' total shareholder return (TSR) and its share price change, which we've covered above. Arguably the TSR is a more complete return calculation because it accounts for the value of dividends (as if they were reinvested), along with the hypothetical value of any discounted capital that have been offered to shareholders. Las Vegas Sands' TSR of was a loss of 40% for the 5 years. That wasn't as bad as its share price return, because it has paid dividends. A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 17% in the twelve months, Las Vegas Sands shareholders did even worse, losing 37%. Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 7% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Las Vegas Sands better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Las Vegas Sands you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. 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. Three people were wounded in a Lakeview East shooting early Monday, according to Chicago police, as celebrations following the Pride Parade were winding down. Officers responded to the shooting in the 3100 block of North Clark Street about 1:30 a.m. A group of people had been standing outside when multiple shots were fired, police said. The area of Clark where the shooting occurred was near the intersection of North Halsted Street and West Belmont Avenue, which was part of the Chicago Pride Parade route. Advertisement A 46-year-old woman suffered a gunshot wound to the abdomen and paramedics took her to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in critical condition. A 30-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to the knee and paramedics took him to Illinois Masonic in good condition. Another man, 37, suffered a leg wound and paramedics took him to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in good condition. Advertisement According to police, the people who were shot were unable to provide additional details about the circumstances of the shooting. No arrests have been made and detectives continue to investigate. By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Google faces an antitrust complaint on Monday by Danish online job-search rival Jobindex, which told European Union regulators the Alphabet-owned business had allegedly unfairly favoured its own job-search service. The complaint could reinvigorate EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager's scrutiny of the service, Google for Jobs. Three years ago, Vestager said she was looking into the issue but she has yet to take any action. The European Commission said it would assess the complaint according to the standard procedures. Jobindex's action comes four years after German media group Axel Springer's jobs portal Stepstone filed a similar complaint against Google. Google, which has been fined more than 8 billion euros ($8.4 billion) by Vestager in recent years for various anti-competitive practices, says it partners with job providers to direct people to websites with job listings relevant to them. "Any jobs provider, big or small, is able to take part and companies are seeing increased traffic and job matches as a result of this feature," a Google spokesperson said. Launched in Europe in 2018, Google for Jobs triggered criticism from 23 online job-search websites in 2019. They said they had lost market share after the online search giant had allegedly used its market power to push its new service. Big technology companies use their market dominance to push their own products, getting an unfair advantage over smaller European rivals and spurring antitrust complaints. Google's service links to postings aggregated from many employers, allowing candidates to filter, save and get alerts about openings, though they must go elsewhere to apply. Google places a large widget for the tool at the top of results for ordinary web searches. SKEWING THE MARKET Jobindex, one of the 23 critics three years ago, said Google had skewed what had been a highly competitive Danish market towards itself via anticompetitive means. Story continues Founder and CEO Kaare Danielsen said Jobindex had built up the largest jobs database in Denmark by the time Google for Jobs entered the local market last year. "Nevertheless, in the short time following the introduction of Google for Jobs in Denmark, Jobindex lost 20% of search traffic to Google's inferior service," Danielsen told Reuters. "By putting its own inferior service at the top of results pages, Google in effect hides some of the most relevant job offerings from job seekers. Recruiters in turn may no longer reach all job seekers, unless they use Google's job service," he said. "This does not just stifle competition amongst recruitment services but directly impairs labour markets, which are central to any economy," Danielsen said. He urged the Commission to order Google to stop the alleged anti-competitive practices, fine the company and impose periodic payments to ensure compliance. 'FREE RIDING' Jobindex said it had seen examples of free-riding, with some of its own job ads copied without its permission and marketed through Google for Jobs on behalf of Jobindex's business partners. It also cited privacy risks to job applicants and its clients. Jobindex's complaint could gather momentum among peers, much like UK price comparison website Foundem, whose complaint against Google spurred scores of rivals to come forward and triggered a decade-long investigation which ended with a hefty fine for Google. Google has been sued several times for a range of issues from pushing mobile phone makers to favour its own apps to distorting internet search results to favour its shopping service. In February, Swedish price comparison firm PriceRunner sued Google for about 2.1 billion euros, saying nothing had changed even after Google was fined 2.42 billion euros in 2017 for favouring its own price comparison shopping service. ($1 = 0.9475 euros) (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; additional reporting by Supantha Mukherjee in Stockholm; editing by Mark Potter and Bernadette Baum) Experts are warning that President Bidens proposed gas tax holiday would do little to defray pain at the pump and actively take a toll on infrastructure and the environment. The 18-cent federal tax, which Biden has said should be suspended for three months amid steep gas prices, is very little money for individuals, said Beverly Moran, professor of law emerita at Vanderbilt Law School. It just doesnt make any sense. If the government wants to do something to help people who are having problems with their, you know, the cost of gas, they can send out another check to people, Moran told The Hill in an interview. They arent even considering how theyre going to stop companies from just eating up the difference keeping the same price and just pocketing the tax. Modeling by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania indicates that a gas tax suspension from July to September would only mean a per capita spending reduction of $4.79 to $14.31, depending on location, but would reduce overall government revenues by about $6 billion. Progressive Democrats in Congress, meanwhile, are doubling down on their push for a windfall profits tax on oil companies which would be returned to consumers, arguing this would provide the greatest relief. I think the gas tax is a smaller, somewhat half measure, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), the sponsor of one of two oil windfall profits tax bills, told The Hill. Decreasing the amount of taxes that fossil fuel or fossil fuel companies have to pay doesnt necessarily mean that thats going to lower costs. And it doesnt mean its going to lower costs as much as we need to lower costs. Moran agreed that the idea would be more effective than a break in the gas tax. Last time there was a windfall profits tax, it was [the presidency of] Richard Nixon, and that says a whole lot, that now Richard Nixon is a liberal in United States politics, she said. Story continues Yeah, there should be a windfall profits tax. On a Tuesday night call announcing the presidents official backing of a gas tax holiday, White House officials were noncommittal on the prospect of Biden also supporting a windfall profits tax. Ahead of Bidens announcement, congressional proponents of such a tax, including Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) had expressed hope that Biden, who has sharply criticized oil companies for posting record profits amid the price surge, was on their wavelength. The problem with repealing an 18 cents gas tax is it feeds into a far right narrative that the problem is government, not Big Oil gouging consumers, Khanna tweeted Wednesday after Biden came out in favor of the suspension. Meanwhile, the idea of a gas tax pause has also drawn criticism over its potential effects on infrastructure and the environment. In a letter last week, before Biden announced his support, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) wrote that the revenues lost could threaten the goals of the bipartisan infrastructure bill Biden signed last year. Delaying, or cancelling outright, the projects this legislation makes possible will waste a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rebuild and renew America, and leave future generations holding the bag for long overdue repairs and improvements, he wrote. A suspension could also have environmental implications, according to Beia Spiller, transportation program director and fellow at Resources for the Future. Theres a lot of evidence out there that shows that when gasoline prices increase, people choose to buy a more fuel-efficient vehicle than they had, Spiller told The Hill in an interview. Even if a suspension was short-lived and had little effect on what consumers actually pay, she said, you will have a short-run, change in demand relative to [if there was] no gasoline tax holiday so if you didnt have the gasoline tax holiday, we would see better changes and changes in driving patterns. A further complication is the potential political hurdle of restoring the tax after suspending it, said Robert Weiner, a professor of international finance, economics and strategy at George Washington University. If you have a gas tax holiday, it might be hard to put the gas tax [back] once the crisis has receded, Weiner told The Hill in an interview. In general, gas taxes are very unpopular. I think theres a real risk that we will end up with a permanent holiday on the gas tax, and the roads wont be as well-maintained as they are now because its not clear where the money will come from. The gas tax holiday appears to stand little chance of passing Congress, where members on both sides have expressed skepticism. The administration has taken several other steps aimed at reducing gas prices, including removing seasonal restrictions on the sale of higher-ethanol fuel blends and the largest-ever release of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Ultimately, Weiner said, the only thing that may stabilize prices in the long term is a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. The genie is basically out of the bottle, he said, The only way to put the genie back in the bottle is to have an end to the Ukraine conflict. Gas prices are high because theres much less gasoline available, Weiner added. Theres less gasoline available because theres an embargo on Russian oil, and its kind of as simple as that. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. MOSCOW (Reuters) - A move by Britain, the United States, Japan and Canada to ban new imports of Russian gold is being seen as largely symbolic within the global gold market as Russian exports to the West have already dried up. Britain said on Sunday the ban was intended to limit Russia's ability to fund its military operation in Ukraine. It was not clear whether there was a consensus within the Group of Seven wealthy democracies on the plan, with European Council President Charles Michel and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz saying it needed to be discussed further. Gold prices were up 0.5% at around $1,835 an ounce on Monday. HOW MUCH GOLD DOES RUSSIA PRODUCE? Russia is one of the world's largest producers of gold, along with China and Australia. Last year, it mined 314 tonnes of gold, according to the Russian finance ministry, accounting for nearly 10% of the metal dug up globally. That gold is worth around $19 billion at current prices. Polyus is the country's largest gold producer, followed by Polymetal. WHERE DID RUSSIAN GOLD EXPORTS GO BEFORE THE CONFLICT? Russian gold miners mainly sold their gold to Russian commercial banks, which typically either sold to the Russian central bank or exported it. In recent years, the vast majority of Russia's gold was sent to Britain, the world's biggest bullion trade and storage centre. Britain imported $15.2 billion worth of Russian gold last year, UK customs data show. From there, it can be re-exported to other markets. Russia also sent some gold in recent years to countries including Switzerland, Turkey and Kazakhstan, according to Russian customs data. WHAT HAPPENED AFTER RUSSIA SENT TROOPS INTO UKRAINE? Since Feb. 24, Russian gold exports to the West have largely stopped. Western governments sanctioned Russia's main gold-trading banks, including VTB, Otkritie, and Sberbank, and many international banks, refiners and shippers stopped dealing with Russian bullion. On March 7, the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) suspended its accreditation of Russian precious metals refiners, barring them from selling new production in London. Story continues Britain imported 29 tonnes of gold worth $1.7 billion from Russia in February, UK customs data on the U.N. Comtrade database show. In March, the last month for which data was available, Britain imported just 26 kilograms from Russia. WHERE DOES RUSSIAN GOLD GO NOW? Russia's customs service and central bank have suspended publication of import and export data and information about state gold holdings. Buyers for Russia's gold now include the country's central bank, people inside Russia who want a safe investment and buyers in Asia, where most countries have not sanctioned Russia, Russian miners, bankers and analysts say. "[Russia's] gold exports have already been rerouted since the start of the war, flowing eastwards rather than westwards, reflecting self-sanctioning from Western world gold market participants," said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke. "The implications of a ban on the gold market are likely very limited," he said. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Mark Potter) Nate holding a red flash drive in the season two finale of "Euphoria." HBO A flash drive containing sensitive data about a Japanese city's residents was briefly lost last week. A city contractor reported the drive missing after he went for drinks and fell asleep in the street. He later found his bag with the drive after returning to the area where it had gone missing. What once was lost has now been found. Last week, a contractor working for the Japanese city of Amagasaki, near Osaka, told authorities that he had misplaced a USB flash drive containing sensitive details about the city's 460,000 residents following a night of drinking, according to NHK News. The worker was employed at a company that was helping the city pay out pandemic aid to hard-hit residents. NHK reported the data was copied without permission and included names, addresses, birthdates, taxes, and welfare benefits information of all the city's residents. The worker reportedly put the drive containing the data in his bag and went to a restaurant Tuesday evening where he had an unspecified amount of alcohol. He then fell asleep in the street and woke to find his bag and the drive were missing. After searching on Wednesday, he filed a missing property report and his employer notified authorities about the loss, CNN reported, citing an official statement. At a press conference Thursday, the city's mayor and other representatives apologized to residents for the breach, CNN reported. Later that day, the employee returned with police to the area where he thought he lost the bag, and the bag was found, NHK reported Friday. Read the original article on Business Insider A Loveland man says a Fort Collins police officer wrongly arrested him for driving under the influence in April while he was sober. Derrick Groves, 36, was driving to his Loveland home from a friends house in Fort Collins about 9:30 p.m. April 7 when he drove off the road down a steep embankment just south of the intersection of Taft Hill and Trilby roads, according to the arrest affidavit in the case. The arresting officer, Jason Haferman, wrote in the arrest affidavit that Groves had blood shot, glassy eyes, and his pupils appeared to be different sizes. Haferman said Groves also pointed in the wrong direction when asked where he was coming from. Groves denied consuming any drugs or alcohol prior to driving. He said he was driving his Tesla with autosteer activated, and when he looked down at his phone, he took one hand off the wheel, which caused the car to overcorrect and sent him into the ditch, Groves' attorney Matthew Haltzman said in an interview with the Coloradoan. "It was an overcorrection, that's all it was," Haltzman said. "... The minute Jason Haferman got on scene, it was a DUI investigation." Groves participated in the eye portion of the roadside test, according to the arrest documents, and Haferman claimed he did not complete them as a sober person would. Groves was arrested and consented to a blood test. Two months later, the results backed up what Groves said he repeatedly told Haferman the night of his arrest: He was sober. There were no drugs or alcohol found in his bloodstream. The district attorneys office dismissed the DUI charge in this case June 14, according to court documents. Groves still faces a traffic offense charge of careless driving. "He has been extremely traumatized by this," Haltzman said of Groves. "There's a real weight that he carried from this that I think he'll live with for the rest of his life." 'An alarming pattern' Now Groves intends to sue Fort Collins Police Services and Haferman for wrongfully arresting him for DUI, claiming that Haferman had no evidence Groves was under the influence that night and that Haferman has a history of embellishing facts when making DUI arrests, Haltzman said. Story continues A lawsuit hasn't been filed yet because they are still gathering information, Haltzman said. Since he was made aware of Groves' case, Haltzman said several other similar incidents involving Haferman have come to light. The 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office and Fort Collins Police Services both say they are investigating other cases in which Haferman's credibility has been questioned. The police department has identified nine other cases involving Haferman with blood tests that came back with no alcohol or drugs present in the suspect's blood, according to a social media post from Fort Collins police. Five of those cases involved crashes with injuries and/or property damage, according to police. Fort Collins Police Services officers made 504 DUI arrests in 2021, and 11 of those cases 2.2% had blood test results come back with no drugs or alcohol found, spokesperson Kate Kimble said. Haferman was involved with 191 of the DUI arrests last year, either as the primary arresting officer or supporting the DUI investigation. Of the 11 Fort Collins police cases where blood test results came back with no alcohol or drugs detected, Haferman was involved in eight, Kimble said. "This is not the first case, and it probably isn't the last case if Haferman is allowed to continue," Haltzman said, adding that Groves' case is part of "an alarming pattern." The 8th Judicial District Attorney's Office said in a statement they are reviewing several recent DUI cases Haferman was involved with where no alcohol or drugs were detected in blood tests. In a ruling in a separate DUI case made by Judge Sarah Cure in March, Cure determined Haferman "lacks credibility" because "his testimony was inconsistent" and was "not supported by the evidence." While this ruling did not meet the criteria for issuance of a Brady notification which is required when a law enforcement official has a sustained record for knowingly lying in an official capacity spokesperson Jodi Lacey shared in a statement that the district attorney's office did notify all defense attorneys of Cure's finding. "We also became aware of several recent cases in which Officer Haferman was the primary officer where the toxicology results did not support charges of driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs and began immediate review of those cases," the statement said. Fort Collins Police Services was made aware of these cases, and Kimble confirmed that an internal investigation is ongoing. "We look at each and every one of those cases (where the blood test comes back negative for drugs and alcohol) to make sure we're out there operating appropriately," Chief Jeff Swoboda said in a video statement posted on the department's Facebook page June 15. The district attorney's office stated that Haferman's conduct must improve in order for their office to continue filing charges in cases he is involved in. "An unnecessary arrest is simply unacceptable," the district attorney's office said in its statement. "The District Attorneys office will closely scrutinize every case in which Officer Haferman was involved to provide a check on his investigations. While we do not believe these cases are reflective of FCPS as a whole, we have communicated our disappointment to FCPS with the specific cases here where some arrests may have been unwarranted and our concern about the impact to the community." The challenges with DUI testing Both the district attorney's office and Fort Collins police stated that it is still possible someone may have been under the influence of some substance even if the blood test comes back negative. Blood tests taken in DUI cases are analyzed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation, but that test does not screen for every impairing substance, police say. The test, which screens 14 categories of common drugs, can't screen for for example aerosol inhalants, which are metabolized quickly. Some synthetic street drugs may also not appear on these tests, according to police. Over-the-counter and prescription drugs also aren't detected in the basic blood tests, Swoboda said in a video statement shared on social media. A more in-depth drug and alcohol screen is done in the most serious suspected DUI cases like vehicular assault or vehicular homicide investigations but this specialized testing is too expensive to do in every DUI investigation, police said in a social media post. Each of these tests costs $400 to $700, which would mean up to $250,000 annually, depending on the number of drugs being tested in each case, police say. Blood test results from CBI can take weeks or months to come back, police said. Breath or blood tests aren't done until after someone is arrested on suspicion of DUI, which means officers have to determine probable cause for a DUI-related arrest before those tests are done. Fort Collins Police Services said their officers are trained to identify other indications someone is impaired based on their driving behaviors, physical indications of impairment and field sobriety test completion if the driver chooses to participate because the test is voluntary. Swoboda said in a video statement that just because a blood test result in a suspected DUI case comes back negative for drugs or alcohol, that doesn't mean it was "bad policing." "Our officers are routinely interacting with people that are on drugs or misusing drugs that don't show up on those panels," Swoboda said. The district attorney's office stated that despite the possibility of someone being under the influence of an undetectable substance they dismiss the charges because, without a positive blood test result, the case would unlikely result in a conviction. Dismissing charges that lack evidence is also important to protect innocent individuals, the statement read. Kimble said it is possible for someone to be convicted of DUI or driving while ability impaired if their blood test result comes back negative because some substances aren't screened in that test. But Haltzman said it's not the test that's the problem and the department should take accountability. "The first thing they're doing is to blame the test," Haltzman said. "... That's not the accountability we've been promised in this community." All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in court. Arrests and charges are merely accusations by law enforcement until, and unless, a suspect is convicted of a crime. All individuals accused of misconduct are considered innocent until the conclusion of any internal investigations. Sady Swanson covers public safety, criminal justice, Larimer County government and more throughout Northern Colorado. You can send your story ideas to her at sswanson@coloradoan.com or on Twitter at @sadyswan. Support her work and that of other Coloradoan journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today. This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Fort Collins police officer accused of false DUI arrest A Taiwanese filmmaker has made his short film inspired by Hong Kongs pro-democracy protests available online for free after it failed to get approval from the citys censorship authorities. Wu Zi-en, director of Islander, has uploaded the full 25-minute film noir to online platform Vimeo last week, after it became the third film in a month to have been censored by Hong Kong authorities. More from Variety The city last year changed censorship regulations to effectively ban any film that is politically sensitive or poses a threat to national security. Islander follows a man and his grandsons journey to visit the son, who has been placed behind bars as a political prisoner in Taipei. The film was selected as part of the Fresh Wave International Short Film Festival in Hong Kong, but its public screening was canceled because the film did not receive the approval in time. Fresh Wave organizers did not respond to Varietys request for comment. Wu told media that he chose to set the film in Taiwan and during the islands own White Terror period, as he is worried that Taiwan may fall under the Communist Party rule. He described it as a fable about Taiwans imagined future. Islander is an imagined future [of Taiwan] under authoritarian rule. People cannot speak and think freely. Even their memories are under control, Wu said on his Facebook page. And now this is really happening. This film cannot be shown at Hong Kongs Fresh Wave Film Festival. The Hong Kong government has deliberately delayed the release of the approval document. This, by default, deprived audiences opportunity to watch and discuss the film. But one should be allowed to think freely, so as film viewing, Wu said, followed by a Vimeo link to his film, which was originally featured as part of the film festivals highlights from Taiwans Golden Horse Film Festival. The other four Taiwanese shorts featured in this program were screened as scheduled. Story continues Another short film Time, and Time Again did not meet Hong Kong censors approval either. The Hong Kong short directed by Asgard Wong tells the story about a detective haunted by the case of a missing girl. The film was inspired by cult activities following the Sewol ferry disaster in South Korea in 2014, the director told the local media, but it still did not get the green lights from the censors. Yin Lam, the name of the missing girl in the film shares the same pronunciation as that of a girl who went missing during the 2019 Hong Kong protests and whose body was later found dead in the sea. Does it mean you cannot name a character Yin Lam anymore, Wong asked, saying that he could not understand why the censors did not approve the film. Fresh Wave runs until July 17. Another film that was banned by the censors was The Dancing Voice of Youth featured in the Hong Kong Arts Centres ifva (Independent Film and Video Awards). The films director Erica Kwok decided to pull the film from a July screening after she was asked by the censors to remove the English subtitlesincluding the part that spells resist unjust rulesthat were allegedly seditious and incited peoples hatred against the government. The film had already received approval under the previous version of the censorship regulations and had screened in the city in March 2021. At the time, authorities did not ask the filmmaker to make any changes. Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said nothing was found after it investigated a reported bomb threat at Florida State College at Jacksonvilles South Campus off Beach Boulevard. FSCJ said JSO gave the all clear to resume activities; earlier Monday afternoon, all classes and events at South Campus were canceled for the rest of Monday. Just before 4 p.m., FSCJ said students and faculty still on campus should evacuate immediately. JSO was dispatched at around 4:30 p.m. in response to a call about a suspicious backpack on FSCJs campus. Officers canvassed the area and found no such package. JSO says that although the bomb threat was a false alarm, calling in a false threat is a crime, and the matter will be investigated. Information on the call was received from Atlantic Beach Police and the St. Johns County Sheriffs Office, who transferred the caller to JSO. FSCJ said classes and activities at its South Campus will resume as regularly scheduled on Tuesday. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. SCHLOSS ELMAU, Germany (Reuters) - The leaders of the Group of Seven leading industrial democracies, gathered for their annual summit in southern Germany, condemned Russia's "abominable" missile attack on a shopping mall in the Ukraine town of Kremenchuk. "We stand united with Ukraine in mourning the innocent victims of this brutal attack," they wrote in a joint statement tweeted by the German government spokesperson. "Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians contribute to a war crime," they added. "Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account." (Reporting by Thomas Escritt; Editing by Chris Reese) Gareth Bale could join Cardiff after playing for Los Angeles FC, Bluebirds owner Vincent Tan has suggested (Zac Goodwin/PA) (PA Wire) Cardiff City owner Vincent Tan has suggested Gareth Bale could join his hometown club next year after revealing how close he came to signing for the Bluebirds before moving to Los Angeles FC. Wales captain Bale revealed on Saturday he had agreed to join the Major League Soccer club following his release by Real Madrid. Bale had spoken to Cardiff about playing in the Championship ahead of Novembers World Cup but ultimately signed a 12-month deal at LAFC. It is understood Bale, who turns 33 next month, has an option to extend his LAFC deal beyond 2023, but Tan has not dismissed the idea of the forward joining Cardiff next summer. Tan told Talksport: His contract is for 12 months, lets see what happens. Maybe Gareth, by then, will probably want to come back and come home and serve his country, serve Cardiff, his hometown. He has never played in Cardiff, he and his family are fans of the club. So, hopefully, in 12 months time, he is still young, he will only be 34, some players come back and play until they are 40 years old. So he has still got a few years he can play and hopefully he will come and play for Cardiff after this (contract with LAFC finishes). Playing in the second tier of English football was considered an improbable choice for a five-time Champions League winner who was on a reported salary of 600,000 per week in Spain. But Bales primary focus has been on what serves him best ahead of Wales first World Cup since 1958, and Cardiff share their facilities with the Football Association of Wales medical staff in the Vale of Glamorgan. We were very, very keen, he would have been a big coup for us, Tan said. It would have been great for Gareth to play for his hometown, all the Welsh would be very happy if Gareth returned home and played for Cardiff. Personally, I think LAFCs offer was too attractive for him to turn down. But originally he really wanted to come, the money wasnt the matter. We came up with what we thought was a good offer to him, but finally it was very hard to compete when there is a lot of big American advertisers, a lot of commercial deals which were very good for Gareth. Story continues (PA Archive) Initially with Gareth, it wasnt really the money, he just wanted to help Cardiff and help Wales. Thats why we could negotiate with him. He tried his best to join us but eventually I think the offer from LAFC was just too big to turn down. We tried our best but we failed. LAFC co-president John Thorrington said on Sunday that the Californian club are hopeful of forming a long-term partnership with Bale. It was never about six months just for the World Cup, Thorrington said. We were always talking about longer term than that. That was very clear from Gareth and his representative. Bale is due to arrive in Los Angeles in the coming weeks and has been pencilled in for a potential debut against city rivals LA Galaxy on 8 July. (Bloomberg) -- European natural gas prices rose as Russias deep supply cuts are slowing the pace of refilling storage sites, threatening to fall short of the levels required to keep homes warm in the coming winter. Most Read from Bloomberg Buyers have found it more difficult to replace Russian gas from elsewhere after flows through a major route to the European Union were cut by 60% earlier this month. Germany is warning of rationing, while EU Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said Monday there may not be enough supply worldwide to fully replace Russian flows. Theres the threat of a scenario where gas would have to be rationed which, in my view, would lead to a severe economic crisis in Germany and Europe, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said before a meeting of European Union energy ministers in Luxembourg. A supply crisis in one member state will lead to an economic crisis in another. Also read: EU Confronts Low Gas Storage Risk in Test of Unity on Russia Full storages are critical for Europe to get through winter when demand for heating peaks. Stock levels are currently more than half full, but still below the average of the last five years. A cut-off in Russian supplies could mean EU inventories are less than 75% full by Nov. 1, Simson said, below the 80% target. High gas prices are already forcing industries to cut demand and putting further pressure on the European economy thats struggling with surging inflation and meager growth. Sufficient reserves are also key to allowing members nations to help each other out by sending supplies to countries with shortages. Scarce stocks this winter could challenge that unity. Story continues Calls to cut consumption are growing in order to avoid such a situation. Chief executives of French energy companies urged consumers to immediately conserve electricity, gas and oil. The German government has already unveiled a package of measures that includes incentives for industry to reduce demand. The situation is serious, Simson said. Russian flows might fall even further. We have to step up our response to this Russian action. Russia has chosen a tactic of blackmail. We have to ensure we are prepared for any scenario. Dutch front-month gas futures, the European benchmark, settled 0.7% higher at 129.46 euros per megawatt-hour, after increasing 9.1% last week. The UK equivalent gained 1.3% to 171.91 pence a therm. LNG Imports European companies have boosted imports of liquefied natural gas, and have secured more deals for longer-term supply mainly from US providers. However, incremental purchases are set to reach 80-100 billion cubic meters by 2026, or about 60% of the volume imported from Russia in 2021, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. At the same time, northeast Asian spot LNG prices were set to head higher on unusually hot weather in Japan, which may further intensify competition for the tanker-borne fuel. If gas prices do not reflect reality, we should intervene to give a clear signal that we will not accept any price and that we will cut in the margins by traders and so on, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo said. I think it is the right thing to do. We are all just collectively ruining ourselves. (An earlier version of this story corrected the rate of cut and removed erroneous inventory data from the 2nd paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Fox News analyst Gianno Caldwell took to social media to share news that his 18-year-old brother Christian Beamons had been shot dead in Morgan Park on the South Side early Friday. Yesterday was legitimately the worst day of my existence, Caldwell wrote on his social media platforms Saturday. After all the things my family has been through never could I have imagined my baby brothers life would be stolen from him. Advertisement According to police, Beamons and another man and woman were outside in a group when a man shot at them and then got into a black sedan to flee the scene, heading east. Police were called to the 11400 block of South Vincennes Avenue on Friday shortly after 2 a.m. where they found Beamons had suffered a gunshot wound to the torso, according to an online statement. Paramedics rushed him to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where he was pronounced dead at 2:46 a.m. Advertisement The cause of death was multiple gunshot wounds, according to the Cook County medical examiners office, and the manner of death was determined to be a homicide. Yesterday was the worst day of my existence. I received a call informing me that my teenage baby brother was murdered on the south side of Chicago. Never could I have imagined my baby brothers life would be stolen from him . Please keep my family in your prayers. pic.twitter.com/vtbU7qzcUa Gianno Caldwell (@GiannoCaldwell) June 25, 2022 The other victims, a 25-year-old woman and a 31-year-old man, suffered gunshot wounds to the leg and torso, respectively. Both were also taken to Christ Medical Center. The woman was listed in fair condition while the man was in critical condition. No arrests have been made and police are investigating. Gov. Brian P. Kemp announced on Thursday that Okabashi Brands Inc., a Georgia-based shoe company, will create 340 new jobs as it reinvests in and grows its facility in Gwinnett County. Okabashi Brands will invest over $20 million over the next five years, and the renovations will add new manufacturing lines and increase production by 100%. Okabashi is hiring for positions in manufacturing and distribution. Okabashi Brands, a family-owned and women-led shoe company based in Buford, Georgia, was established in 1984. The Georgia Made-certified company has sold over 35 million pairs of shoes directly to major retailers and major contract manufacturing customers. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The company is one of the 1% of footwear manufacturers operating in the U.S. today. The brand aims to be environmentally friendly with its recycled shoes. Okabashi sandals are 100% recyclable and contain an average 25% of recycled content. They are recognized by the USDA BioPreferred Program and are made of 45% soy by weight. Okabashi Brands CEO, Sara Irvani, said the brand dates back to the 1980s. Okabashi Brands commitment to our community and its people is one that dates back to the 1980s, when my grandfather chose to bring his footwear manufacturing background to Georgia, said Irvani. Irvani added that the company is thrilled to be contributing to the local economy through this expansion. TRENDING STORIES: Gov. Kemp said that Georgias leaders are proud that Okabashi calls the Peach State home. Were proud Okabashi calls the Peach State home, and we look forward to their continued growth, said Kemp. As part of its long history of philanthropy, Okabashi Brands has donated over 100,000 pairs of shoes both directly and through a partnership with nonprofit Soles4Souls. Story continues Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners Chairwoman Nicole Love Hendrickson said the brand represents the Gwinnett standard. Okabashi Brands epitomizes the Gwinnett Standard, excelling in integrity, service, and stewardship, said Hendrickson. Okabashi is part of the states Georgia Made program. The program was created in 2019 to celebrate the people and industries that manufacture a wide variety of products across the state. To learn more and apply, click here. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: BERLIN (AP) German officials said Monday that numerous priceless artifacts taken from African nations during colonial times will be permanently returned. Among the artifacts is a shell-studded statue of the mother goddess Ngonnso', which holds great spiritual significance for the Nso' people of northwest Cameroon, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation said. The statue has been part of the collection of Berlin's Ethnological Museum since 1903, after it was donated by a German colonial officer who had taken it from the Nso' by force. The foundation said its board recommended the statue be returned following lengthy talks between museum representatives and delegations from Cameroon. The board also approved the permanent return of 23 artifacts, including jewelry, tools and fashion items, to Namibia. The objects, also stolen during the colonial period from 1884 to 1919, were sent to Namibia last month for research purposes and will now remain there. The foundation said that its president has also been authorized by the board to sign an agreement on the return of objects Germany looted from Tanzania during the Maji Maji Rebellion and other conflicts during the early 20th century colonial rule. BERLIN (AP) German officials say airlines could help ease the c urrent chaos seen at airports due to staff shortages by ending the privileged treatment some travelers enjoy. Passengers at German airports, like elsewhere in Europe, have endured long waits at check-in and numerous cancellations in recent weeks, prompting calls for government intervention. Germany is currently considering bringing in more temporary workers from abroad amid a shortage of security and baggage-handling staff during the peak holiday travel season. But the country's interior ministry said security checks for the temporary workers would take about two weeks, and airlines could do their bit too in the mean time. For example they could open fast lanes for all travelers and end the privileged treatment a few passengers get, ministry spokesman Maximilian Kall said Monday. They could smooth out their flight schedules and prevent peak loads. So there are also measures that companies, that bear some of the responsibility for their own staffing shortages, can take. Airlines and airports across Europe had cut jobs during the pandemic, and many are now struggling to find staff as travel rebounds. BERLIN (Reuters) - Discussions on an import ban on Russian gold are ongoing and need to be held with European Union partners, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told broadcaster ZDF on Monday. The European Union gave a cautious response on Sunday to a plan from Britain, the United States, Japan and Canada to ban imports of newly mined or refined Russian gold. (Reporting by Miranda Murray, editing by Rachel More) SCHLOSS ELMAU, Germany (Reuters) - German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Monday he would take a decision nearer to the time whether to attend the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia in November if Russian President Vladimir Putin also attends. Scholz, speaking to German television from the G7 summit he is hosting in the Bavarian Alps, said it was important not to "torpedo" the G20 summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will address the G7 leaders on Monday on a video call. (Reporting by Matthias Williams and Miranda Murray) President Bidens nominee to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), Ed Gonzalez, said Monday that he was withdrawing himself from consideration after his nomination hit roadblocks. Gonzalezs nomination had languished in the Senate for more than a year and faced delays due to unsubstantiated domestic violence allegations. Gonzalez, who serves as sheriff in Harris County, Texas, said he made the decision after prayerfully considering whats best for our nation, my family, and the people of Harris County who elected me to serve a second term as Sheriff. I am grateful to President Biden for the honor of nominating me, and I wish this administration well as it strives to overcome the paralyzing political gridlock that threatens far more than our nations border. Frankly, the dysfunction threatens Americas heart and soul, Gonzalez said in a series of tweets. The White House did not immediately return a request for comment on Gonzalezs decision to drop out of consideration for the Senate-confirmed position. The allegations came from an unrelated years-old suit at Houston Community College (HCC) that included an affidavit from an HCC officer alleging he was called to a domestic dispute at Gonzalezs home. Melissa Gonzalez, Ed Gonzalezs wife, who previously served as vice chancellor of HCC, has said she never made any such complaint against her husband. Any suggestion that I filed or made a complaint against my husband is false and defamatory, Melissa Gonzalez wrote in a March letter. To be clear, the assertions referenced in the affidavit, as they relate to me, my husband, or my marriage, are completely false. Democrats on the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee canceled plans to vote on Ed Gonzalezs nomination in March after a Republican on the committee, Sen. James Lankford (Okla.), raised concerns about the old allegations. Biden first nominated Ed Gonzalez to the post last April and was forced to renominate him at the start of this year because the Senate didnt confirm him by the end of last year. Story continues Biden has faced challenges getting some of his nominees confirmed due to the 50-50 makeup of the Senate, where Vice President Harris casts a tie-breaking vote. Ed Gonzalez said Monday that he informed the president of his decision to withdraw himself from consideration on Sunday. ICE has not had a confirmed leader since the beginning of 2017. During his time as sheriff, Ed Gonzalez was a vocal critic of the Trump administrations immigration policy and in 2017 terminated his countys agreement with ICE for local officers to carry out some immigration enforcement. He also declined to participate in a 2019 ICE raid, according to reporting by the Houston Chronicle, arguing it would drive undocumented families further into the shadows. It silences witnesses & victims & (would) further worsen the challenges law enforcement officials face, he tweeted. Updated 7 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Jim Risch (Idaho), the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, making a surprise visit to the country. The senators office said Monday that Risch went to see firsthand the destruction caused by Russia. Risch also traveled outside Kyiv to the suburb of Irpin and the small city of Hostomel, both sites where Ukrainian forces fought pitched battles to oust Russian troops and where evidence of atrocities against civilians, including evidence of torture and extrajudicial killings, were discovered in the wake of the Russian retreat. I was taken aback by the atrocities I saw firsthand in Irpin and Hostomel, and we cannot stand by and watch these happen again, Risch said in a statement. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure the Biden Administration uses the authorities Congress has given to provide President Zelenskyy and Ukrainian defense forces exactly what they need to end this conflict. Ukraine must win this fight. Zelensky on Monday posted a video on Instagram of his meeting with the senator, and in a statement said they discussed the situation on the frontline of the war against Russia, deepening bilateral defense cooperation, strengthening sanctions and to finally recognize Russia as a sponsor of terrorism. Oleksii Kuleba, the head of Kyiv regional military administration, tweeted on Monday photos with the senator and said he was grateful to international partners for their strong support. Its unclear which days Risch visited the country. Russia launched missile attacks on Kyiv on Sunday, killing at least one person and wounding six more, according to local officials. The missile attacks marked a renewed targeting of the capital city as President Biden and world leaders from the Group of 7 nations are meeting in the Bavarian alps in Germany to address the fallout from Russias more than five-month assault on Ukraine and reaffirm solidarity to the Ukrainian government. Story continues The president will then travel to Madrid for the NATO-summit, where the 30-member alliance is also set to reaffirm support for Ukraine, condemn Russias invasion, pursue the accession of Finland and Sweden to the alliance and expand its mandate to confront security challenges posed by China. Biden, ahead of his trip to Europe, announced a $450 million military package for Ukraine that included advanced rocket systems, patrol boats and ammunition. It brings the total U.S. assistance to Ukraine since February to $6.1 billion. Still, Ukrainian officials and its supporters have called for the U.S. and allies to go even farther on their military assistance, to include fighter jets and more advanced weaponry and long-range missile launchers. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani. Facebook/Rudy Giuliani The ShopRite worker accused of attacking Rudy Giuliani has been "suspended pending termination," Wakefern Food Corporation, ShopRite's parent company, said. Daniel Gill, a store associate at a Staten Island ShopRite, was arrested in connection with the Sunday incident. "We have zero tolerance for aggression toward anyone," Wakefern said in a statement to Insider. The ShopRite grocery store worker who has been accused of attacking former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani has been "suspended pending termination," Wakefern Food Corporation, ShopRite's parent company, told Insider on Monday. Daniel Gill, 39, a store associate at a ShopRite in Staten Island, New York, was arrested on a felony charge of assault in the second degree in connection to the Sunday afternoon incident involving Giuliani at the grocery store, according to the New York Police Department. Giuliani was at the ShopRite campaigning for his son Andrew, a Republican candidate for New York governor, when Giuliani said the worker whacked him on his back at around 3:20 p.m. "I got hit on the back as if a boulder hit me," Giuliani said in a Monday morning video posted on his Facebook page. "It knocked me forward a step or two. It didn't knock me down, but it hurt tremendously." Giuliani, a 78-year-old Republican, said the man who struck him shouted "dirty curse words" at him and called him a "woman killer" whose "party kills women." Video footage captured the incident, which shows a man slapping Giuliani on the back before walking away. The NYPD told Insider that Gill slapped Giuliani on the mid-back while stating, "What's up, scumbag?" Giuliani previously said the incident could have resulted in him falling, cracking his skull and dying. "I mean, suppose I was a weaker 78-year-old and I hit the ground, cracked my skull, and died," said Giuliani, who was former President Donald Trump's personal attorney. Story continues In a statement to Insider, Wakefern Food Corporation said, "We are aware that an incident instigated by a store associate involving former Mayor Rudy Giuliani took place at our store on Staten Island on Sunday. Store security observed the incident, reacted swiftly and the police were notified." The company added, "We have zero tolerance for aggression toward anyone." The suspect, who has worked at the Staten Island ShopRite since 2017, was "suspended pending termination," according to the company. Gill, a Staten Island resident, was taken into custody after the incident and Giuliani refused medical attention at the scene, the NYPD said. Meanwhile, prosecutors downgraded the charges against Gill, who the NYPD told Insider has no other prior arrests on his record. He was arraigned in Staten Island Criminal Court on Monday on misdemeanor charges of assault in the third-degree, menancing in the third-degree and harrassment in the second-degree. A judge released Gill without bail. Giuliani told investigators that the impact from the slap caused him to "stumble forward," resulting in pain and swelling to his back, according to a criminal complaint. Gill is being represented by the Legal Aid Society in the case, which said on Monday that Giuliani had exaggerated the incident. Read the original article on Business Insider A 22-year-old woman was fatally stabbed during a fight in the Back of the Yards Sunday night, according to Chicago police. Police were called to the 5200 block of Carpenter Street about 10:25 p.m. to investigate a report of the stabbing, according to an online media notification. They found the woman had suffered multiple stab wounds to her chest and arms, and paramedics rushed her to University of Chicago Medical Center in critical condition. Advertisement Amy Brown, 22, who lived on the same block of Carpenter where she was attacked, was pronounced dead at 11:12 p.m., according to information from the Cook County medical examiners office. Police said they have a person in custody in connection with the fatal stabbing and detectives are investigating. Advertisement About an hour later, in an unrelated incident, an argument led to three people being stabbed in Lakeview East, according to Chicago police. In that case, a 28-year-old woman was in serious condition with stab wounds to the chest, arm and back and she was hospitalized at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Mayor Ed Gainey and other city leaders called on state legislators Monday to implement common-sense gun control legislation. Gainey said that if legislators are not going to implement such legislation at the state level, then he and city leaders want the power to do it locally. We are begging our legislators in Harrisburg. Give us the right to fight for the lives of our children. Give us that right, Gainey said. The mayor, along with city council members and other local leaders, came together this morning outside the City-County Building. Gainey had one demand. Give us the right to ban military-style assault weapons in our streets. Give us a right to deal with our children getting these guns. 15, 16, 17-year-olds getting guns, Gainey said. Dwan Walker, the mayor of Aliquippa, also attended this event. He said that local problems require local solutions. Were not alone. We still need the state, federal. We still need everyone. All hands on deck for it to get down to the municipalities like Pittsburgh and Aliquippa and Beaver Falls and Midland and Homewood. It needs to make sense that way and then we can work this thing together. No ones asking to be alone in this thing. We cant do this alone, Walker said. On Saturday, President Joe Biden signed a gun violence compromise bill passed by Congress, the most significant legislation lawmakers have passed in decades. The legislation contains enhanced background checks and closes the boyfriend loophole, which allowed dating partners of people convicted of domestic violence to still purchase or possess firearms. The legislation also pours federal money into mental health resources and schools. Today President Biden signed into law the first federal gun control legislation in over two decades. Expanding background checks, strengthening red flag laws, and finally closing the domestic violence loophole are a good start in helping to end the epidemic of gun violence. pic.twitter.com/6TF6XIbGWE Ed Gainey (@gainey_ed) June 25, 2022 In the beginning of June, Gainey announced his Plan for Peace. It treats gun violence in the city as a public health issue. One part of this includes making police more visible in areas where violent crime is most prevalent, such as the South Side. Story continues The city of Pittsburgh experienced more gun violence over the weekend. Surveillance video captured the sound of gunshots and a car speeding off in the South Side around 3:30 a.m. Saturday. Pittsburgh police said three women were shot on 12th Street between Carson and Sarah streets. All three were taken to the hospital. Also on Saturday, a bulletproof vest likely saved a Pittsburgh police officers life when he was shot. A Pittsburgh officer responded to a shooting on Brownsville Road. Police chased an armed suspect into Mount Oliver, and that was where county police said the suspect fired and hit the officer in the chest. Police Chief Scott Schubert said the officer is out of the hospital and doing OK. Julian Reese-Krasausky, 21, was arrested. Police said he was shot as well, but it appears it happened during the initial call for a shooting on Brownsville Road. Police said this shooting happened at an after-hours club, where a man and a woman were also both shot in the legs. Allegheny County police have taken over this investigation. On Sunday, two men showed up to the hospital with gunshot wounds. One of them died. He has been identified as 39-year-old Joseph Mitchell. Detectives are still working to determine where this shooting happened. TRENDING NOW: Police: Multiple people injured after overnight shooting at Belle Vernon steakhouse 1 person hospitalized after shooting in Wilkinsburg Guess: Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, wife Brittany reveal gender of second baby VIDEO:Protesters gather in Sewickley against Roe v. Wade overturn, line up near Route 65 for hours DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts The big shareholder groups in Ashtead Group plc (LON:AHT) have power over the company. Institutions will often hold stock in bigger companies, and we expect to see insiders owning a noticeable percentage of the smaller ones. We also tend to see lower insider ownership in companies that were previously publicly owned. Ashtead Group is a pretty big company. It has a market capitalization of UK16b. Normally institutions would own a significant portion of a company this size. In the chart below, we can see that institutional investors have bought into the company. Let's take a closer look to see what the different types of shareholders can tell us about Ashtead Group. View our latest analysis for Ashtead Group What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Ashtead Group? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in Ashtead Group. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Ashtead Group's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Institutional investors own over 50% of the company, so together than can probably strongly influence board decisions. Ashtead Group is not owned by hedge funds. Looking at our data, we can see that the largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc. with 8.8% of shares outstanding. Meanwhile, the second and third largest shareholders, hold 4.1% and 3.4%, of the shares outstanding, respectively. A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority. Story continues While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. Quite a few analysts cover the stock, so you could look into forecast growth quite easily. Insider Ownership Of Ashtead Group The definition of an insider can differ slightly between different countries, but members of the board of directors always count. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of Ashtead Group plc. However, it's possible that insiders might have an indirect interest through a more complex structure. Being so large, we would not expect insiders to own a large proportion of the stock. Collectively, they own UK32m of stock. Arguably recent buying and selling is just as important to consider. You can click here to see if insiders have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public-- including retail investors -- own 10% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Ashtead Group you should know about. If you are like me, you may want to think about whether this company will grow or shrink. Luckily, you can check this free report showing analyst forecasts for its future. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. 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. A 71-year old Iowa City, Iowa, man was fined $855 for shooting and injuring a U.S. Marine with an air rifle in October 2021. In April, Philip Olson, who claimed he was hunting a squirrel, pleaded guilty to the misdemeanor crime after turning himself in to the police, violating a local ordinance prohibiting the discharge of toy guns and slingshots, according to the Iowa City Press-Citizen. He accidentally shot 20-year-old Lance Cpl. Gabe Heefner in the head while the Marine was driving by, leaving the Marine severely injured. Heefner was in town on leave seeing grandparents and friends when he decided to go out and grab Panda Express for dinner. He was due for his first deployment to Okinawa, Japan, one week after the incident, the outlet reported. Olsons air rifle ammo struck Heefner, who was driving on Highway 6. He crashed his car into the median, where police found him. The errant pellet struck Heefner in the temple, leaving him in critical condition. Doctors had to remove a portion of his skull. Marine vet pleads guilty to cyberstalking, sextortion while on active duty Its a tragedy in that he joined the Marines to serve his country, and instead of being in a foreign country and being shot, instead he comes to his hometown and is shot by a stray bullet, his father told local KCRG. Olson apologized to Heefners family during court, saying he had made a waste of my life and the life of an innocent young man. Heefners father, according to The Associated Press, said the Marine experiences memory loss, is unable to walk unassisted, and can no longer use his left arm. DUBAI (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia wants to resume diplomatic talks with Tehran, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told a news conference on Monday a day after Iraq's prime minister pushed for a revival of talks between the regional rivals. Iran and Saudi Arabia, the leading Shi'ite and Sunni Muslim powers in the Middle East, severed ties in 2016, with both parties backing allies fighting proxy wars across the region, from Yemen to Syria and elsewhere. The fifth round of talks between the regional rivals were held in April. (The story corrects headline and lead to say Saudi Arabia wants to resume 'talks', not 'relations' with Tehran.) (Reporting by Parisa Hafezi and Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Toby Chopra) Aquaman star Jason Momoa has been named an Advocate for Life Below Water by the United Nations as a global oceans summit gets underway this week. The actor, a native Hawaiian with Polynesian roots, has long been involved in ocean conservation work. With this designation, I hope to continue my own journey to protect and conserve the ocean and all living things on our beautiful blue planet, for our generation and the generations to come, Momoa said, as he received the title from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at the UN Ocean Conference in Portugal. He spoke of how growing up on in one of the worlds most beautiful archipelagos has given him a reverence for the ocean and nature. For me, the ocean is an ancient teacher, a guide and a muse. It is also existential. Without a healthy ocean, life on our planet as we know it would not exist, he added. The five-day summit in Lisbon, Portugal, has attracted hundreds of government officials, scientists and activists from more than 120 countries in a bid to better protect the ocean from impacts of the climate crisis, biodiversity loss and runaway pollution. UNEPs Executive Director, Inger Andersen, welcome Momoa to the UN family and noted that he had a strong track record in advocating for ocean issues. In 2021, the 4 primary measures of climate change greenhouse gas concentrations, sea level rise, ocean temperatures and ocean acidification all hit record highs. This means the time for action is now, she added. The ocean absorbs over 90 per cent of excess heat caused by greenhouse gas emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, and millions of tons of plastic ends up in waters every year. The industrial fishing practice of bottom trawlingis estimated to emit more CO2 than global aviation, according to activist group Ocean Rebellion. Ocean Rebellion activists hold banners reading As the sea dies we die and No more fish in the sea as they stage a protest in Terreiro do Paco, Lisbon on June 27, 2022, before the UN Ocean Conference (AFP via Getty Images) Andersens remarks were echoed by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres who told attendees that the world has taken the ocean for granted and was facing an Ocean Emergency. Story continues Sea levels are rising. Low-lying island nations face inundation, as do many major coastal cities in the world. The climate crisis is also making the ocean more acidic, which is disrupting the marine food chain. Ever more coral reefs are bleaching and dying, he said. Nearly 80 per cent of wastewater is discharged into the sea without treatment. And some 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the oceans ever year. Without drastic action, this plastic could outweigh all the fish in the oceans by 2050. The UN chief stressed the importance of more science and innovation to build ocean resilience. So far at the summit, the US and the European Commission pledged to join UNEPs Clean Seas Campaign devoted to ending marine litter and plastic pollution. The initiative, which Tanzania, Uganda, Cabo Verde, Rwanda and Portugal also joined, now represents 75 per cent of the worlds coastline. The need to restore and protect coral reefs is also a priority. It is expected that countries will adopt a declaration later this week that could help protect and conserve the ocean, the UN said, although the pact will not be binding. What remains to be seen, however, is if global agreement can be reached on whats known as the Treaty of the High Seas, to govern human maritime activities. The pact has been under discussion for ten years, and a fourth round of negotiations earlier this year failed to produce a result. As the seas die, we die, and the seas are dying, Roc Sandford with the activist group Ocean Rebellion, wrote in a statement. If the collapse of marine biodiversity is not halted immediately, release of blue carbon currently sequestered in the oceans will accelerate climate breakdown and condemn countless people to an agonising death. We must rush reforms of the existing UN ocean-focussed structures, currently criminally unfit for purpose, whilst simultaneously building a new and effective ocean governance body to take their place. Its now or never. I dont understand why everyone isnt screaming, given what we know about what is happening in the Ocean. A Louisiana judge in New Orleans issued a temporary restraining order Monday blocking officials from enforcing the states newly activated abortion ban, restoring access to the procedure until further notice. New Orleans Civil District Judge Robin Giarrusso put a hold on the ban while she weighs a lawsuit brought by a group of abortion providers and reproductive rights organizations fighting Louisianas new abortion crackdown, which went into effect after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last week. Mondays ruling means abortions may resume at Louisianas three last abortion clinics, which had been forced to immediately cease providing the procedure when the Supreme Court issued its ruling on Friday. Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport is one of the plaintiffs that sued to block Louisiana's abortion ban. (Photo: via Associated Press) Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport is one of the plaintiffs that sued to block Louisiana's abortion ban. (Photo: via Associated Press) People who need an abortion right now are in a state of panic, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, one of the plaintiffs, said in a statement. We will be fighting to restore access in Louisiana and other states for as long as we can. Every day that a clinic is open and providing abortion services can make a difference in a persons life. Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of the Hope Medical Group for Women, another plaintiff, added: We are committed to this monumental legal challenge not to perpetuate an endless political battle, but to ensure our patients wellbeing and so that they may draw strength from our dedication to this fight. Hope Medical Group for Women in Shreveport is one of Louisianas three remaining abortion clinics. The others are located in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The judge has set another hearing for July 8. Louisianas Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry did not immediately return a request for comment. In remarks last week, he vowed that anyone attempting to overturn the states abortion ban will be in for a rough fight. Story continues More on the Supreme Court abortion ruling: This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated. Related... Marissa Callaghan (left) has been named in Northern Irelands squad for Euro 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Wire) Kenny Shiels has urged his Northern Ireland Women squad to relish their status as massive underdogs heading into next months European Championship finals. Shiels has confirmed his 23-strong squad for the tournament, which will see Northern Ireland face daunting group matches against England, Norway and Austria. Shiels said: Our first priority is to try and win a game it is not beyond the realms of possibility but we are massive underdogs. I will speak with them about these three big matches and I will say: Dont miss it, enjoy it. This is not something that will make or break us. As long as we give our best and are totally committed to representing our country, then we can walk away with our heads held high. Captain Marissa Callaghan has been named in the squad despite missing last weeks warm-up game against Belgium due to a foot injury. Defender Ashley Hutton is also in the squad after recovering from knee surgery, while sisters Caitlin and Kirsty McGuinness are also involved. Kenny Shiels has named a 23-woman squad for Euro 2022 (Liam McBurney/PA) (PA Wire) Shiels admitted the experienced 36-year-old Callaghan, who could surpass 50 international caps at the tournament, remains crucial to his sides success. Marissa is so important to our progress she is like a machine, added Shiels. When she gets knocked over she gets up again, and she gets on with it. She fractured a bone in her small toe but shes come through that and shes pretty much ready to go again. A Kentucky man faces a felony charge after sexually assaulting a minor between the ages of 14 and 16 years old in Bluffton in 2020, according to police. Stanley Pendergrass, 69, of Ashland, Kentucky, was charged Friday with third-degree criminal sexual conduct, jail records show. The assault was reported in 2020 and is believed to have taken place in June or July of that year, according to Lt. Christian Gonzales, a spokesperson for the Bluffton Police Department. Police accused Pendergrass of abusing the minor, who is a relative, while visiting the area before returning home to Kentucky. Pendergrass was extradited from Kentucky to Beaufort County, Gonzales said. If convicted of the felony, Pendergrass could face up to 15 years in prison, according to the S.C. Code of Laws. An attorney for Pendergrass has not been identified yet, court records show. As of Monday, he was in custody at the detention center in Beaufort. If you or someone you know has been affected by sexual assault, support can be found at Hopeful Horizons or by calling 843-770-1070. A woman who slipped 900 feet down Mount Hood and fell into a crevasse was rescued with help from a Kirkland charity organization that witnessed the fall, according to several accounts of the incident. Jeremy Vallerand was among those on the mountain that rushed to her aid. She hits the rocks, what appeared to be head-first, said Vallerand. Flips over and then straight down into a fumarole. A fumarole is a volcanic steam vent that emits poisonous sulfuric gas. Vallerand and other witnesses assumed if the fall didnt kill her, the toxic fumes certainly would. Vallerand is the founder of Rescue: Freedom International. He says, over the last 14 years, the nonprofit has raised over $2 million to fight human trafficking. A large portion of that money is generated during their Climb for Captives events. They were on Mount Hood, nearing the end of one of those fundraising climbs, when the woman lost her footing. According to Michael McAnally Baum, who summited with the group, the climbers were roping up for the final push when they saw a black dot sliding down the summit. Baum posted online that after the woman lost her footing and her ice ax, she slid 900 feet, picking up speed and flipping, eventually crashing into rocks and into a fumarole. According to Dan Lao, who was also with the group, the woman fell and tumbled for about 25 seconds. Climber and Rescue: Freedom International employee, Josh Hebert says they were in a particularly treacherous part of the climb called The Hogsback. Theres a ridge that runs through these rocks you have to climb through to get to the summit, said Hebert. The climbers that witnessed the woman fall into the fumarole immediately sprang into action. According to Lao, several climbers made their way toward the fumarole with the uncomfortable feeling that what they witnessed was fatal. According to Baum, the group approached the vent and after calling out for a few minutes, they heard a small voice calling out from the darkness. Story continues According to Lao, he couldnt understand the words, but all he knew was the sound meant life. Baum posted that the group assembled an elaborate pulley system with their ropes to pull her up. They slowly pulled her out of the abyss, where she sustained only minor injuries. For us, it was an insane series of miracles, said Vallerand. According to the Clackamas County Sheriffs Office, the climbers called 911, and the climbers provided medical care until rescue crews sent an Oregon Army National Guard helicopter to airlift her from the mountain. The 31-year-old woman was airlifted to a Portland-area hospital. As of Monday afternoon, the Mount Hoods Climb for Captives fundraiser has raised $147,100 of its $200,000 goal. Donations are still being accepted here. A doctor who was climbing with Rescue: Freedom International sent KIRO 7 this exclusive first-hand experience of the incident: Friday, June 24, 2022. Its a day I will never forget. My day started at midnight, which actually still felt similar to the previous two days. Two nights prior, I had spent the entire night in the operating room providing anesthesia for appendicitis patients and a man whose ear needed to be sewn back on. But on Friday at midnight, I woke up in a bunk bed that was about the same length as me, in the rustic Silcox Hut on the side of Mount Hood. At this point, I had slept about three hours, which was the same as the rest of our 12-person crew. We had decided to climb Mount. Hood for a cause, a cause that is prevalent in every society but something that most of us tend to either be naive about or ignore, a cause called human trafficking. Climb for Captives was founded in 2008 after a man named Jeremy Vallerand, the CEO of Rescue: Freedom International, took a trip to India and was exposed for the first time to the shocking realities of modern-day slavery. He had plans after his return home to climb Mount Rainier and was overwhelmed with the desire to use the climb as a way to raise funds for the victims of human trafficking. Vallerand, his climbing partner Josh Hebert, and a group of friends then founded Climb for Captives. That Rainier climb was the first of many Climb for Captives fundraisers. Fast forward to 2022 I am part of a team of climbers who have been raising funds and awareness of this worldwide tragedy on human life. On the day of the climb, we are all exhausted but full of anticipation. Some of this anticipation is nervousness, alongside doubts of, Can I make it up this mountain? Will I be the weak link that makes us turn back? For the women in the group, many were thinking, How many times am I going to have to drop my pants and pee on the mountain? At midnight, we had about an hour to get ready. We put on our layers and our stiff climbing boots, followed by a harness, crampons, ice axe, and a pack. After a small breakfast, we made our way out of the hut into the darkness, biting wind, and hard-packed snow. At this time, the group was checking harnesses and crampons when we noticed two other climbers, one of whom was a woman who was asking if she could use our bathroom in the hut. The women in our group understood and said, Of course! Then suddenly, we were ready to go we said a quick prayer as a group and the climb commenced. Starting the climb at midnight meant hard-packed snow that is easier to walk on but it also means no light. Thus, each climber was equipped with a headlight. For the first few hours, we focused on simply moving one foot in front of the other. This meant a monotonous, continuous plodding up a steep hill with only the noise of the crampons crunching and our own thoughts to keep us company. After about a 1500-foot elevation gain, we reached the end of a ski chair lift which we werent allowed to ride up, unfortunately. At that point, it was our second very long and unexpected pit stop in order to address some already forming blisters on a climbers feet. This was precious time that can sometimes be dangerous to climbers once you stop moving, it is very easy to get cold! Additionally, while we were fixing the climbers blisters, the climbers who had stopped to use our bathroom passed us, a fact that I assume was very frustrating to our team leaders. With the blisters bandaged, we continued our journey step-by-step up the steep mountain in the dark. Im not sure what the other climbers were thinking about during that time. But I am absolutely positive that nobody was mulling over the same thoughts as I was was. Being an anesthesiologist is all about being prepared for any patient, at any time, with any existing medical condition, with any trauma or new medical problem literally anybody can walk through the door and need a breathing tube or a surgery. So during our slow step-by-step climb, I was legitimately thinking about what could go wrong at that moment and what I was going to be able to do about it! My thoughts rambled over accidental ice axe stabbing scenarios, crampons slicing through someones artery, tourniquets, zip ties, among other scenarios, and how I was going to get help to us as quickly as possible. Thankfully, none of these so-called plans in my head were necessary and we simply continued to climb. At about 5:30 a.m., after 4.5 hours of climbing, we ascended to Hogsback, a point on the mountain that is about 900 feet below the summit and at the bottom of a steep stretch called the Pearly Gates. It was here that we paused to prepare our ropes and pickets for the final ascent (pickets are devices that you hammer into the snow and clip your rope into in case of a fall). Mount Hood can be an interesting mountain for alpine climbers because it can be quite deceiving. Up until this point, all we needed to get to our location was some winter clothing, some crampons, and enough muscle to propel us up a steep mountain. If we compare this to many other alpine climbing experiences, climbers would have required harnesses and be roped to their teammates for the entire climb. It was at this point this very steep point where we were all gazing almost straight up toward the summit, that it became clear to me that, Yes, ropes would be very nice at this moment. So we paused at Hogsback to get the ropes out; our Climb for Captives team leaders Jeremy Vallerand, Josh Hebert, and Dan Lao tied the knots and we started to clip in. And then it happened. We saw a person, a human, falling from just below the summit! At first, she was just sliding down the mountain path, slowly and more than 900 feet from us so it was difficult to gauge her speed. But then she started to go faster! She swept past the other climbers and then she fell off the path. It was at this point, on snow that was smooth, very steep, and not packed by crampon prints, that she gained speed to an unstoppable point. Some of us tried to shout helpful instructions but most of us held our breath in shock it was in a surreal moment that we thought could not be happening in front of us. As the anatomy of the mountain funneled her toward certain doom, she ended her fall with a tumble onto a snow ledge, then a rock wall, and then down into a massive fumarole (anywhere from 20-50 feet down)! For those who dont know, a fumarole is a volcano vent, similar to a crevasse, but frequently lined with rock or snow AND with noxious sulfuric gas constantly pumping out. At this moment, there was no question about what we had to do we had to rescue her! There was zero hesitation from our leaders our climb to the top was over and this was our new priority. Jeremy quickly called everyone off the ropes except for himself, Josh, Dan and the doctor me! We rushed down to the left side of the hole, climbed up onto some exposed rock and called out for the climber, Can you hear us? Are you there? There was no response. At this moment, I was sure that the climber was already deceased or had disappeared, meaning she could have continued down under the snow bank and deeper down the mountain, deeper than we could ever see or go. In our positions, we could not see the climber, or even into the hole, so we started to move around to the other side. When we were about halfway around, we suddenly heard a womans voice saying, Can you hear me? She was alive! Even the rest of our team over 100 feet away could hear that still small voice. Yes, we can hear you! we called out. Against all odds and all of our fears, the climber was alive. We quickly completed our traverse to the other side of the fumarole and began setting up both an anchor system for Jeremy in case he needed to rappel into the fumarole as well as a z-pulley system for hoisting out the injured climber. Throughout this time, we continued to talk to the climber. At some point, Jeremy asked, are you injured and she replied yes, to which I shouted are there any bones sticking out, but this question got no response. Eventually, our team grew to include some other climbers from our group, as well as a climber named Mike who also had some search and rescue training. After getting the equipment set up, the team had Jeremy anchored and perched across a crevasse and on the side of the snow ledge that was leading into the fumarole. However, it was not possible to see the climber and her injuries. It is worth mentioning that this action was definitely not without risk! At this moment, Jeremy was being belayed by Josh but he was perched on the side of a potentially unstable snow ledge above a hole that was emanating noxious gases (in previous rescue attempts, some rescuers had passed out from the gases, which then lead to two people needing to be rescued). At this point, Jeremy threw a rope blindly down into the hole. Miraculously, the rope was dangled only a few feet above the injured climber. Only a few more feet and I will be able to reach it, she said. A sling was lowered and she was physically able to get the sling over her shoulders and around under her armpits. Then a z-pulley was used Mike and my husband Brendan used the pulley system to start hoisting her out of the hole. Once she was at the edge of the hole, Jeremy was able to grab her and her backpack but then one of her arms slipped out of the sling, resulting in a very precarious situation that could have led to another fall. Jeremy was able to clip an additional line into her backpack and around her waist. With assistance from Brendan on the pulley and Dan also at the edge, the team was able to safely pull the climber out of the fumarole! Ultimately, the climbers extraction from the hole took about 45 minutes from the time of the fall. During this time, I was roped into the extraction team and sat off to the edge of the fumarole, in theory out of harms way but immediately available to help. Once it was clear that we would be able to get the climber out of the hole, I climbed down about 100 feet off the steep slope to a flat area about 15 feet wide (with another steep slope below leading into yet another fumarole). Once the climber was out of the hole, four people helped carry her down the steep slope to where I was waiting to examine her. Our team has had so many conversations about this event and I definitely cannot speak to the emotions of everyone involved. However, I can say that even after pulling her out of the hole, some of us thought the climber was still going to die on that mountain, and that unfortunately, we were all going to sit there and watch that happen. Yet for some reason when I personally saw her come out of that hole, I had hope! Out of everyone on that mountain, I probably should have been the biggest pessimist (or realist as my husband would say) due to my experience in medicine and trauma. Yet I had hope! As I watched her being brought down the mountain toward me, I began my initial assessment. She was still wearing a backpack and a helmet but was missing her gloves and her left boot. Thankfully, I saw no bones sticking out and that she was not bleeding significantly. Once she arrived, I introduced myself and told her I was going to examine her for any injuries. I started by looking at her arms, one of which had her sleeve rolled up and a large road rash-type abrasion. But there were no broken bones. I moved to her legs and felt each leg for any injuries still no broken bones. We removed her wet sock on her left foot and wrapped it in a hat and a down jacket. I moved on to her abdomen and asked her if she had any pain with the pressure of my hands nothing. We took off the helmet and I examined her head no bleeding, no pain. I asked her to open her eyes and examined her face there was some minor areas of dried blood and a swollen lip. Then I paused, almost in stunned amazement that I had not found anything significant. Finally, I asked her skeptically, do you have any pain? Yes, she said. Where is your pain? I asked. Just my left foot, it is very cold, she responded. And that was it. At that point, I remember looking around at the team and thinking, This is impossible. I informed the team that I had found nothing serious and everyone else was equally taken aback. There was seemingly no way that we had witnessed someone tumble 900 feet through the snow, hit a rock wall, bounce into a huge hole and not come out seriously harmed. I then told the team that our job now was to keep her as warm as possible and to get help as fast as possible! By this time, it was about 6:30 a.m. and the sun had still not hit the south side of the mountain. I do not know what temperature it was but it was definitely cold! As I mentioned before, it is very easy for climbers to get cold when they stop moving on the mountain, and our injured climber had spent 45 minutes with no left boot and was now lying on the cold snow. Throughout this process, the rescue team grew and eventually comprised many individuals who were not a part of our Climb for Captives group. The team included Mike (mentioned before he helped with the rescue, as well as with communicating with the sheriff and search and rescue); two ER nurses, Alicia and Nathan (who provided invaluable help in taking intermittent vitals and also communicating with search and rescue); her two climbing partners (her boyfriend and another friend); and multiple individual climbers who just wanted to help. These climbers included some people who had witnessed the injured climber sliding past them during her fall they had turned around to help, even though they were only a mere 200-300 feet beneath the summit! All of these individuals were gathered around when I declared the climber relatively injury-free and noted that our new goal was to keep her warm. One of the ER nurses, Alicia, had two disposable bivvy sacks (basically foil-lined sacks intended to keep you warm) that we placed the patient inside of, like a sleeping bag. Multiple people gave up hats, gloves, and down jackets that we put inside of her coat and inside the bivvy sacks. We put new gloves on her hands with new hand warmers inside. Two people then snuggled up beside her at all times for additional body heat. And then we waited... We waited for about four hours before the search-and-rescue team was able to mobilize and climb up the mountain to our location. This was definitely not an unreasonable time and in no way implies that they did not move efficiently. We were at 10,600 feet of elevation and that is difficult to get to quickly! Throughout the waiting, two people constantly laid next to the climber, to provide additional body heat, and another individual sat by the climbers feet, holding down additional foil-lined warmers to keep her feet warm in the wind. We also were in constant communication with the sheriff, who was relaying medical information to the rescue team. Unfortunately, the location of the rescue occurred in a bowl between multiple peaks and so cell service was not achievable at the site. To enable communication, multiple team members (mainly Mike, Brendan, Alicia, and Nathan) had to hike in and out of the bowl to communicate with ground crew on the rescue effort. At around 8 a.m., the sun finally hit our location on the snowy ground and with it came warmth and comfort. The injured climber finally started to feel warmth in both her feet and hands. The color in her face returned and she no longer looked pale or in shock. Eventually, her sense of humor shone brightly when I asked, how are you doing and she said, I think Im ready to summit! Throughout the entire time that we waited, I regularly asked her whether she had any new pain and the answer was always miraculously, no! Eventually, search and rescue joined us, provided additional warming blankets, and also found no serious injuries after they examined the climber. After returning most of the coats and hats and gloves to those around us, our entire team was dispersed so the team could prepare for a helicopter evacuation. It was now about 11 a.m. and the climber was finally on her way to the hospital. At that moment, there was some relief however, our team had now been up since midnight, climbing since 1 a.m., and standing still in the cold since 6 a.m.. And now we still had to climb back down another 3500 feet. Im not going to lie I was really hoping to get a ride on that helicopter! To cut a very long story short, I believe we all witnessed a miracle that day. Not only did the climber survive without serious injury, but our team was in exactly the right place, at the right time, AND also had the right equipment and skills to rescue her. Had our team not made the multiple stops for blisters, we would have been too high on the mountain to even see her fall! Even more amazing, the injured climber is the woman whom we met at the beginning of our day, who asked to use our bathroom! We started ahead of her on the mountain and ended up behind her just enough to be in the perfect place, at the perfect time. At our team dinner the night before our climb, we had discussed as a group what this climb meant to us and the many reasons that had brought us together as a group. My favorite reason was this we are choosing to do a hard thing, this difficult thing of climbing a mountain. But our pain and our suffering is temporary. And more importantly, it is voluntary! We are doing this because there are human trafficking victims out there who do much more difficult things than this every single minute and every single day of their lives. And the fact is, those things are NOT voluntary they are forced into it, often with no way out, and that is not OK. And that was what we meant to declare with our climb up a mountain. So we definitely did something hard that day. But we also saved someones life. It may be hard to have conversations about human trafficking and hard to make choices that dont support the industry, but is it worth it if it saves someones life? And what if that life youve saved goes on to save another? Ultimately, the climber whom we saved from a toxic volcano vent, went home from the hospital that same day. She left the hospital with a minor pelvic fracture that did not need surgery and she walked out of the hospital on her own two feet. Let this be a metaphor for the work that Rescue: Freedom International is doing. We can play a part in helping women and children walk away from human trafficking and modern-day slavery. Please consider being a part of this movement that is literally saving lives, both on and off the mountain. Devonte Brown and Corey Sartin were charged with trafficking guns from Indianapolis to Chicago, including these 10 firearms that were allegedly sold to an undercover informant on June 24, 2022. (U.S. District Court) Two Indianapolis men have been arrested on federal charges alleging they trafficked an arsenal of weapons into Chicago that they thought was being used to fuel gang violence, including assault rifles, Uzi-style pistols and several untraceable ghost guns. Trust me we gone keep you with all the artillery, one of the defendants, Devante Brown, allegedly texted to the buyer, who turned out to be an undercover agent. I come across guns all day long. Advertisement Earlier this month, Brown texted the agent a video of a grenade launcher and asked if he was interested, according to a criminal complaint made public in U.S. District Court on Monday. U could get grenade launchers?? Thats crazy, the agent responded. Advertisement Hell yeaa, Brown replied, according to the complaint. They could be useful for tactical missions ... nobody expecting this type of (expletive) in the streets. Brown, 27, and his co-defendant, Corey Sartin, 19 were each charged with conspiracy and willfully dealing firearms without a license. Brown is also charged with illegally possessing firearms as a previously convicted felon. The pair were arrested Friday as they met with the undercover agent at a storage facility in Calumet City, where they had agreed to sell their most recent haul of 10 weapons for a total of $16,500, according to the complaint. Among the arsenal were four semiautomatic handguns, four semiautomatic rifles, and two privately made ghost guns, which are firearms manufactured from kits or parts bought over the internet that contain no serial numbers, making them virtually untraceable. In addition to the 10 firearms allegedly trafficked from Indiana, the complaint also alleged Sartin and Brown sold four other guns to an undercover officer on May 31 in a store parking lot on Chicagos Far South Side. Sartin also allegedly sold another firearm to an undercover officer in April in south suburban Lynwood, the charges allege. Both Brown and Sartin were scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Chicago on Monday afternoon. No attorneys were immediately listed on the case docket. The 34-page complaint does not state exactly where or how Brown and Sartin were getting the firearms in Indiana. Advertisement The charges, however, contained details of conversations between the defendants and the undercover officers in which they allegedly haggle over the price of some of the firearms and chat about the effectiveness of certain weapons in different situations, such as riding around in a car or defending a drug stash house. During the May 31 transaction in the Pullman neighborhood on the South Side, talk turned to a .308 long rifle the pair had with them for sale, according to the charges. As the undercover officer examined it, Brown said it was possible to take off the stock to make it shorter. Afternoon Briefing Daily Chicago Tribune editors' top story picks, delivered to your inbox each afternoon. > You aint just riding around with that though, Brown said about the rifle. Thats some (expletive) you keep in the trap. In a text conversation on June 14, the undercover agent referred to a .22-caliber Uzi-style pistol as kinda weak, according to the complaint. Yeaaa .22 weak but they deadly, Brown allegedly responded, telling the agent he should act fast because they were a hot item. Dont sleep on em ... and Im sure you can sell it to the lil homies. A few days later, after the undercover officer balked at the price of an AK-47, Brown texted him back saying that while buying guns in Indiana was legal, it wasnt cheap. Advertisement He also said that he was taking a big legal risk because this (expletive) Im doin is federal, according to the complaint. When I hit the city I got mfs lined up for what yall dont get, Brown texted June 18, according to the complaint. Make it make sense for me. jmeisner@chicagotribune.com When she was filming her movie debut, A Bill of Divorcement, in 1932, Katharine Hepburn wrote her mother a letter: This is such a scream. ... Im gathering so many interesting and amusing facts about this business that I can hardly wait to get back to make you all pass out with hysterics. As the world knows, Hepburn made that interesting and amusing profession her lifes work, starring in more than 50 films and earning a still-record four best actress Oscars. The Hartford native, whose family spent summers in the Fenwick section of Old Saybrook, is the subject of a museum that opened Monday in Old Saybrook. That letter is on exhibit in the Katharine Hepburn Museum, which is a new addition onto the Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center performance venue. Lots of letters are on exhibit, as well as photos, film clips, posters, some of Hepburns outfits many, many pairs of pants and even a bathtub salvaged from the wreck of the Hepburns summer home after the hurricane of 1938. The ribbon cutting Monday was attended by local and national dignitaries including U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who said the museum is preserving and enhancing a Connecticut icon, not just the person Katharine Hepburn, but the values, the tradition, the heritage. The funny, frank letters to her adored mother suffragist and Planned Parenthood co-founder Katharine Houghton Hepburn are the heart of the exhibits. The handwritten missives give complexity and depth to the visually flashier elements in the show. In that 1932 letter, Katharine tells her mom that Barrymore was very pleased with me mentally physically and actingly. Her co-star Billie Burke best known to todays audiences as Glinda, the Good Witch of the North is very, very pretty and I hope she will be a success tho she cant act at all. While making Little Women in 1933, Hepburn complains about a crew strike that caused production to be going on forever. She praised the other Little Women, played by Joan Bennett, Frances Dee and Jean Parker, but was less impressed by the very dull Douglass Montgomery, who portrayed the heartthrob Laurie. [Director George] Cukor ... says to me quite often, well, hes not as offensive as I feared. Story continues In 1935, after she made Alice Adams, Hepburn wrote The director George Stevens, was excellent. This was his first full-length picture and lots of people thought we were crazy to have him do it. The doubters were wrong and Hepburn was right. Stevens went on to direct the legendary films A Place in the Sun, Shane and Giant. The gossipy tone is shared by Hepburns sisters. In 1937, when fan magazines speculated that Hepburn might marry Howard Hughes, Margaret wrote to Marion. The hotel lobby was jammed with reporters so she had to escape down a fire escape. ... Six armed policemen had to come to keep the corridors clear. ... Katy seems to be enjoying it immensely! Despite her annoyance at the union woes during Little Women, Hepburn in 1947 appeared at a political rally of the Progressive Citizens of America, a pro-union organization. At that rally, she said I speak because I am an American and as an American, I shall always resist any attempt at the abridgement of freedom. Built during COVID The 1,150-square-feet gallery space was built with about $500,000 in donations, The Kates Executive Director Brett Elliott said. Previously, there were offices and storage areas in that space, with a few movie posters and pictures on exhibit. Newly hired Museum Coordinator Elise Maragliano has worked at the American Museum of Natural History and taught anthropology at Southern Connecticut State University. I have always been a Katharine Hepburn fan. I remember seeing The African Queen when I was sick. I was 10 or 11, she said. For me, she was a different representation of women, strong and independent, not just a wife and mother but her own person. Construction on the museum space began in 2021, when the Kate was still shuttered due to the pandemic. We took lemons and made lemonade, Maragliano said. We never would have been able to do this while there were people walking around, because this area leads right to the restrooms. People would have been walking through a construction area. Maragliano said she hoped that future exhibits would feature loans from other institutions with Hepburn memorabilia. The Katharine Hepburn Museum, 300 Main St., is open Tuesday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. In July and August, it also will be open weekends noon to 4 p.m. It also is open before shows, for people with show tickets. Admission is free but a $5 suggested donation is requested. thekate.org. Susan Dunne can be reached at sdunne@courant.com. UPDATE This story was updated to include additional information from the Army on savings expected as the result of the multi-year deal. WASHINGTON Lockheed Martins Sikorsky unit won its 10th five-year contract worth $2.3 billion for 120 H-60 Mike-model Black Hawk utility helicopters with options for an additional 135 aircraft for both the Army and other customers through Foreign Military Sales, the Pentagon said. Should all options be exercised, the contract could be worth a total of $4.4 billion, the Army said in a June 27 statement. The Army told Defense News in a June 28 statement that it expects to save roughly $387 million which equates to 14.5% for the base quantity, when compared to total anticipated costs of carrying out the program through annual contracts. Deliveries under the contract are set to begin in July and continue through 2027. This Multi-Year agreement allows the Army to meet current and future capability needs through upgrades, remanufacturing, replacement, and technology insertions, said Col. Calvin Lane, the Armys utility helicopters project manager, in the statement. The efficiencies of this contract make the best use of limited resources and result in direct savings to the Army and to taxpayers. The Army and Sikorsky did not disclose how much savings would be generated through the five-year deal. While the Army is gearing up to award a contract to either Bell or a Sikorsky-Boeing team to build the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft intended to replace the Black Hawk, the service has said the UH-60 will remain in the force for years to come and will be phased out slowly over time as FLRAA comes online in the 2030s. Mike-model Black Hawks were first fielded in 2007. The Alpha-model was fielded in 1978. The M-model is the latest variant of the helicopter and provides additional capabilities such as increased situational awareness and more payload capacity. Black Hawks are set to receive the Armys Improved Turbine Engine Program engine developed by General Electric Aviation as one upgrade that will keep the Armys work horse flying for several more decades. The first engine is in government testing. Story continues Decades of Black Hawk production and enhancements, strong program execution and close partnership with the Army has kept the program thriving, and this contract is a testament to that success, Nathalie Previte, vice president of Sikorskys Army and Air Force programs, said in the statement. Additionally, we continue to see strong international interest in the Black Hawk due to its versatility and proven record of providing unwavering support to the U.S. and nations around the globe, she added. Sikorsky is investing in the Black Hawk platform from sustainment to digital transformation and modernization in order to provide our customers with the competitive edge they require, Previte said. We have aligned our investments with the Armys technology roadmap, while leveraging Future Vertical Lift technologies to ensure the Black Hawk will be a key player in the Joint All-Domain Operations environment and FVL ecosystem. The Army is also nearing an agreement with Boeing on its second multiyear contract for the AH-64 Echo-model Apache attack helicopter. Alec Baldwin has announced he will be interviewing director Woody Allen in an Instagram Live on Tuesday (28 June). Baldwin told his fans about the interview on Sunday night (26 June). He could be seen laughing in an Instagram video and saying: This coming Tuesday Im gonna be doing an Instagram Live at 10.30 Eastern Time with Woody Allen, who I love. I love you, Woody. The interview will stream at 3.30pm BST in the UK. In the caption, Baldwin wrote: Let me preface this by stating that I have ZERO INTEREST in anyones judgments and sanctimonious posts here. I am OBVIOUSLY someone who has my own set of beliefs and COULD NOT CARE LESS about anyone elses speculation. If you believe that a trial should be conducted by way of an HBO documentary, thats your issue. Baldwin was referring to the Allen v Farrow documentary that came out on HBO in February last year. It includes a never-before-seen home video of Allens adopted daughter Dylan Farrow when she was seven years old, talking about Allen allegedly sexually abusing her. Allen has denied the allegations, calling them untrue and disgraceful. Baldwin, himself, has been at the centre of controversy in recent months after a gun held by the actor on the set of Rust went off in October 2021, killing cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. The movies director Joel DSouza was also injured in the shooting, which sparked widespread scrutiny over gun safety protocols on Hollywood film sets. Madonna had a great time celebrating New York Pride at Terminal 5 Thursday night (June 23), but was horrified the next day when she saw the news that the U.S. Supreme Court had overturned Roe v. Wade. I woke up to the terrifying news that Roe V Wade had been overturned and that legislation has decided that We no longer have rights as women over our bodies, she wrote in a note posted Sunday (June 26) on Instagram, where she shared a slideshow of new photos. This decision Has plunged me And every other woman in this country into deep despair. More from Billboard Madonna continued: Now the Supreme Court has decided that Womens rights are no longer constitutional rights. In fact we have less rights then a gun. I am scared For my daughters, the star said. Im scared for all women in America. I am just plain scared. I Guess God Put this on our shoulders right now because he knew that we were strong enough To bear the weight, wrote Madonna. Strong enough to FIGHT! Strong enough to overcome. And so We Shall Overcome! We will find a way to make It A Federal Law to Protect Abortion Rights! Ladies are you ready..,. To Fight? Madonna is among a list of countless artists who have voiced their opinions about the Supreme Courts troubling decision on social media since Friday. On the stage, musicians including Olivia Rodrigo, Megan Thee Stallion, Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Joe Armstrong and Billie Eilish addressed audiences at live shows in the U.K. over the weekend: Rodrigo dedicated the Lily Allen tune F You to the Supreme Court, while Armstrong renounced his U.S. citizenship. See Madonnas full post on Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Ricky Allen Juvie Dubose, who on June 16 was sentenced to death by lethal injection for murdering two correctional officers five years ago during an escape from a Georgia prison transport bus, committed suicide Sunday in his cell on death row at the state prison near Jackson, officials said. Details of how Dubose, 29, from northeast Georgia, killed himself were not immediately clear, said Putnam County Sheriff Howard Sills, who confirmed Duboses death to The Telegraph. Sills said Dubose apparently hanged himself. The GBI has been called in to investigate the incident. Ocmulgee Judicial Circuit DIstrict Attorney T. Wright Barksdale III, whose office prosecuted Dubose and his accomplice in the killings, Donnie Rowe, who was sentenced to life without parole in the murders last year, said Sunday evening that he didnt really have an opinion either way when asked for a comment on Duboses death. What happened this afternoon ... is done in his hands, Barksdale said. Sills, the Putnam sheriff who was the lead investigator in the murders of the slain officers, Curtis Billue and Christopher Monica, said of Dubose, I feel sorry for his family, I do. ... At least some of his family. Just like I did when we arrested him. Sills, who has overseen investigations of seven other death penalty cases in which six of the killers have since been executed one was sentenced to life without parole said that in his experience an inmate who is determined to take his own life can be difficult to deter. The sheriff said Duboses case would likely have run a 20-year course through the court system, adding matter-of-factly that his death Sunday sure saves the taxpayers of Georgia a lot of money on appeals. Lawyers who represented Dubose at trial could not immediately be reached for comment. This breaking story will be updated. A man is accused of targeting Hispanic victims and renting them vacant homes he didnt own, according to North Carolina police. Officers arrested 29-year-old Khalil Rynes in August 2020, after receiving a report that he entered into a false housing rental agreement with a victim, who is Hispanic, according to a June 23 news release from the Winston-Salem Police Department. In April 2021, officers received a second, similar report about Rynes renting a vacant home to another Hispanic victim. Police opened an investigation into Rynes and found that, between December 2019 and February 2022, he entered into fraudulent housing rental or rent-to-own agreements with six victims, all of whom are Hispanic, the release says. Police believe there may be more victims who have not come forward. In each case, the houses being rented to the victims were vacant homes and not owned or controlled by Mr. Rynes, the release says. Information regarding a defense attorney for Rynes was not available. Winston-Salem is about 100 miles west of Raleigh. Rynes collected around $54,830 in monthly rental payments from the victims and also allowed them to spend $63,200 on renovations to the properties that he did not own, according to police. As a result of this investigation, detectives were able to determine Mr. Rynes was specifically targeting Hispanic individuals as part of his rental scams, the release says. Rynes faces six counts of obtaining property by false pretense and one count of breaking and entering, according to police. Rynes was taken to jail and given a bond of $102,500 for his release. He will appear in court on July 7. Man accused of planning to go human hunting is arrested in Texas, police say Man said stealing buses to offer charter trips was better than selling drugs, feds say He convinced veteran they were friends but it was ploy to steal over $50K, feds say Two incumbent congressional Democrats are vying for one district in Illinois on Tuesday. Rep. Marie Newman, who previously represented the 3rd District, is now running in the 6th District against Rep. Sean Casten. Its the only race in Illinois where two incumbent Democrats are running against each other, and the Chicago-area district is expected to be one of the closest races in the general election. Midterm races:Here are ten House races to watch in 2022 About Illinois' 3rd Congressional District Newman first ran for office in 2018 against 3rd District Democratic incumbent Dan Lipinski. Lipinski defeated her with 51.2% compared to her 48.8%. Newman defeated Lipinski in the Democratic primary in 2020, receiving national progressive endorsements like Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. She received 47% of the vote, with Lipinski just shy of 45%. Lipinski had held the seat since 2005, and before that, his father William Lipinski had held it for 22 years. Following a 2021 investigation by the House Ethics Committee, the Office of Congressional Ethics unanimously voted that there was reason to believe Newman bribed a potential primary candidate into not running against her by offering him a position in her office. Marie Newman, 3rd district Democratic candidate, waits to greet voters outside Kolmar Elementary School in Oak Lawn, Ill., on Tuesday, March 20, 2018. Newman admitted to signing a contract promising Iymen Chehade a job in her congressional office in exchange for not running against her in the 2020 primary, paying him twice as much as similar jobs were paid. Chehade said his decision not to run against Newman was based on her promise of a job. More: Ill. Rep. Marie Newman's alleged political bribe is focus of Ethics Committee investigation The 6th District includes parts of Chicago suburban areas like Downers Grove and Lombard, but it now includes parts of the 3rd District in southwestern Cook County. Newmans home was drawn into the 4th District, but a majority of her 3rd District constituents now live in the 6th. More: Who will control Congress for the next 10 years? It could come down to state supreme courts Story continues Who is running against Marie Newman? In the Democratic primary, Newman faces off against Casten. Casten has represented the 6th District since 2019. While his home is in the district, now only 23% of his constituents live there now due to redistricting. This gives Newman an advantage, as 41% of her former 3rd District constituents are now in the 6th. Who is Sean Casten?: Who is Sean Casten? Illinois congressman faces another Democratic incumbent in redrawn district FILE - In this Aug. 23, 2021 file photo, Rep. Sean Casten, D-Ill., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Democratic incumbents, Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman, are facing off for a Chicago-area seat in the Democratic primary Tuesday, June 28. Newman is positioning herself as the more progressive opponent to Casten, as she supports the Green New Deal and a $15 minimum wage. Thats the same strategy she used against Lipinski, one of the most conservative Democrats in Congress. Casten is more to the left than Lipinski was, though, as he has voted with President Joe Biden 97% of the time. Casten has outraised and outspent Newman by a wide margin. According to FEC filing, Casten has spent $3.1 million and has over $886,000 on hand, while Newman has spent $1.4 million and has over $394,000 on hand. Operation mechanic and former precinct captain Charles Hughes is also running against Newman and Casten. He ran against Newman in the 3rd District in 2020 and received 2% of the vote. Whoever wins the primary race will have a Republican challenger looking to flip the redrawn districts, expected to be one of the closest races in the state. Six Republicans are running in the primary. Where does Marie Newman live? She lives in La Grange. The town was part of the former 3rd District, which she represented. But after redistricting, her home is now in the newly-drawn 4th District with a heavily Hispanic population. While Newman does not live in the 6th, 41% of her former 3rd District constituents are now in the 6th, which is what prompted her to run there against Casten. Who is Marie Newman's family? Newman and her husband Jim have been married since 1996 and have two children. Newmans daughter Evie came out as transgender in 2014. After Evie faced bullying in school, she and another mom established a framework for school districts to address bullying that was adopted by former Gov. Pat Quinn, according to Newmans campaign website. Newman also founded the nonprofit Team Up To Stop Bullying. What is Marie Newman's platform? Newman is a progressive Democrat and is part of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. She supports the Green New Deal, the Equality Act and Medicare for All. Newman is outspoken on Israeli/Palestinian issues and was one of eight Democrats to vote against funding the Iron Dome defense system. On gun control, Newman supports reinstating an assault weapons ban and instituting red flag laws that would deny guns to people who are deemed dangerous. Gun reform: One month after Uvalde massacre, Biden signs most significant gun control bill in nearly 30 years Who has endorsed Marie Newman? Progressive lawmakers including Pramila Jayapal, Rashida Tlaib and Ro Khanna have endorsed Newman. Newman also has endorsements from organizations including Emilys List, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Everytown for Gun Safety, Sunrise Chicago and Our Revolution Illinois. Marie Newman campaigns in the Archer Heights neighborhood of Chicago. She represents Illinois' 3rd District, and is running now in the 6th District after redistricting. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Democrats Marie Newman, Sean Casten face off in Illinois primary HTC is expected to launch a new mobile phone with metaverse features on Tuesday, as the virtual reality (VR) gear and smartphone maker continues its Web3 expansion. See related article: Smartphone giant Huawei doubles down on blockchain technology Fast facts In a tweet earlier in June, HTCs VR and metaverse arm Viverse teased a phone-shaped graphic without disclosing additional details or specifications. HTC hasnt responded to Forkasts request for comment by press time. The Taiwanese consumer electronics firm has shifted its focus to VR gear production, with its latest phone release dating back to January 2021. Chaoying Huang, HTCs general manager for APAC, said in March that the company intends to roll out a metaverse-related phone in 2022, clarifying HTC was not ditching the smartphone business, Taiwanese tech media Business Next reported. In 2017, Google bought a US$1.1 billion slice of HTCs smartphone hardware business. HTC is among the early phone makers to experiment with blockchain technology. See related article: Samsung joins South Korean pilot to test CBDC on Galaxy smartphone Michael Vaughan has been part of the BBCs commentary team for the third Test between England and New Zealand ( Mike Egerton/PA) Members of BBC staff have written a letter condemning the broadcasters decision to stand by Michael Vaughan in the wake of the Yorkshire racism scandal. The letter, written by the BBC Sport BAME Advisory Group and 5 Live Diversity Group, strongly criticises the BBCs handling of Vaughan and brands the call to employ the former England cricket captain for coverage of the current series with New Zealand as totally inexcusable and a shocking miscalculation. Earlier this month the England and Wales Cricket Board announced that Yorkshire and a number of individuals had been charged over an investigation into allegations of racism at the county, and how the club had handled those allegations. As detailed in the letter and widely reported at the time, Vaughan is among those charged by the ECB. Former Yorkshire bowler Azeem Rafiq has previously alleged that Vaughan said to a group of players of Asian ethnicity in 2009 that there were too many of your lot at the county and that we need to do something about it. Vaughan has categorically denied making such a comment. He was dropped by the BBC in November but returned to its TMS team following the Ashes series. Yorkshire and England spinner Adil Rashid has corroborated Rafiqs allegation, as did former Pakistan cricketer Rana Naved-ul-Hasan. A fourth player, Ajmal Shahzad, has said he had no recollection of such a comment being made. As revealed by The Cricketer, the letter reads: With Michael Vaughan implicated in this scandal and now understood to be charged by the ECB, it feels totally inexcusable that he should continue to appear, as a representative of BBC Sport. We appreciate that there are elements of detail that cant be shared about Michael Vaughans reinstatement and that he is innocent until proven guilty. But surely, on a human level, it must be acknowledged how damaging, embarrassing and unsettling this is to many colleagues across BBC Sport, BBC Radio 5 Live, and the wider BBC as a whole. Story continues The depth of feeling (both personal and professional) and outpouring of emotion towards this decision is excruciating, overwhelming and unbearable. Colleagues from all backgrounds from across the BBC have been in touch to share their disbelief and dismay, with some moved to tears because of the apparent lack of empathy, understanding and leadership over this. What support is in place for colleagues deeply affected by this, but actually still having to work with Michael Vaughan? This really is a shocking miscalculation. More to follow... Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the city will continue working to support women from out of state who are seeking legal abortions and took aim at Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas for a concurring opinion in which he urged colleagues to overturn various cases, including the landmark ruling establishing same-sex marriage. Lightfoot appeared on a CBS morning show Monday to talk about the court overturning Roe v. Wade and reiterated her administrations plan to spend $500,000 on supporting travelers seeking abortions in the city from states where its illegal. Advertisement Sign up for The Spin to get the top stories in politics delivered to your inbox weekday afternoons. We shouldnt be in this circumstance but this is a reality given what the Supreme Court did to American women on Friday, Lightfoot said. Advertisement Mayor Lori Lightfoot, left, and her wife, Amy Eshleman, wave to people in the crowd during the Pride Parade on Chicago's North Side on Sunday. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) The mayor also took aim at Thomas over the weekend, criticizing his dissent for questioning the Supreme Court case that legalized same-sex marriage. Lightfoot has warned for months that the court may go after LGBTQ rights and was discussing Thomas dissent at a Pride event when she thanked a member of the audience and said, F--- Clarence Thomas, drawing cheers from the crowd, according to a video on social media. Its unclear if someone shouted the comment or she simply noticed a man in the front row wearing a shirt with the phrase. But hours after the video posted on social media, Lightfoots political account uploaded a photo of herself posing as a man in the front row wears a shirt expressing disregard for the Supreme Court justice. I said what I said, she wrote. The comment is likely to be well received in Democratic Chicago but has received criticism from conservatives. Thomas sided with the majority in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the decision that removed the 50-year-old constitutional protections for abortion. Though that ruling applies only to abortion, in a concurring opinion Thomas wrote that other cases stemming from the Constitutions due process clause should be reconsidered as well. Because any substantive due process decision is demonstrably erroneous we have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents, he wrote. He cited three specific cases: one that overturned a ban on contraception, one that decriminalized sex between same-sex couples and the 2015 decision that legalized same-sex marriage. After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday, Michigan's largest health care system said that it would discontinue abortion services except for when a woman's life is in danger, but the health care system said in an update Sunday that it had "evolved" its approach and "will continue our practice of providing abortions when medically necessary." "We continue to believe that these decisions are both personal and private and best made between a woman and her physician," Beaumont-Spectrum Health said Sunday. "We continue to provide care for womens health, including reproductive needs." Health care providers throughout Michigan are grappling with the new legal landscape following the Supreme Court's decision to return the issue of abortion to the states. A 1931 law, which became dormant after Roe v. Wade in 1973, makes it a felony in Michigan to perform an abortion. Court of Claims Judge Elizabeth Gleicher issued a preliminary injunction last month, temporarily blocking the ban by ruling that it likely violates the Michigan Constitution. SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS ROE V. WADE IN LANDMARK OPINION: LIVE UPDATES The temporary injunction will stay in place until Gleicher makes a final ruling or a higher court intervenes. "We are aware of the 1931 Michigan law. However, given the uncertainties and confusion surrounding its enforcement, until there is clarity, we will continue our practice of providing abortions when medically necessary," Beaumont-Spectrum Health said. "We urge Michigan courts to bring clarity as quickly as possible." The health system did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Sunday about how "medically necessary" is defined. The University of Michigan Health System said it will continue providing abortion services "while challenges to various state-law criminal statutes" make their way through the courts. Story continues Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, a Democrat, has urged the Michigan Supreme Court to intervene and rule on the issue. "We need to clarify that under Michigan law, access to abortion is not only legal, but constitutionally protected," Whitmer said in a statement Friday. "If the 1931 law goes into effect, it will punish women and strip away their right to make decisions about their own bodies." Whitmer is up for reelection in November. Both chambers of Michigan's legislature are controlled by Republicans, who want to enforce the 1931 law. When Microsoft announced last week it will remove several features from its facial recognition technology that deal with emotion, the head of its responsible artificial intelligence efforts included a warning: The science of emotion is far from settled. Experts inside and outside the company have highlighted the lack of scientific consensus on the definition of 'emotions,' the challenges in how inferences generalize across use cases, regions, and demographics, and the heightened privacy concerns around this type of capability, Natasha Crampton, Microsofts chief responsible AI officer, wrote in a blog post. Microsofts move, which came as part of a broader announcement about its Responsible AI Standard initiative, immediately became the most high-profile example of a company moving away from emotion recognition AI, a relatively small piece of technology that has been the focus of intense criticism, particularly in the academic community. Emotion recognition technology typically relies on software to look at any number of qualities facial expressions, tone of voice or word choice in an effort to automatically detect emotional state. Many technology companies have released software that claims to be able to read, recognize or measure emotions for use in business, education and customer service. One such system claims to provide live analysis of the emotions of callers to customer service lines, so that employees in call centers can alter their behavior accordingly. Another service tracks the emotions of students during classroom video calls so that teachers can measure their performance, interest and engagement. The technology has drawn skepticism for several reasons, not least of which is its disputed efficacy. Sandra Wachter, an associate professor and senior research fellow at the University of Oxford, said that emotion AI has at its best no proven basis in science and at its worst is absolute pseudoscience. Its application in the private sector, she said, is deeply troubling. Story continues Like Crampton, she emphasized that the inaccuracy of emotion AI is far from its only issue. Even if we were to find evidence that AI is reliably able to infer emotions, that alone would still not justify its use, she said. Our thoughts and emotions are the most intimate parts of our personality and are protected by human rights such as the right to privacy. Its not entirely clear just how many major tech companies are using systems meant to read human emotions. In May, more than 25 human rights groups published a letter urging Zoom CEO Eric Yuan not to employ emotion AI technology. The letter came after a report from the tech news website Protocol indicated that Zoom may be adopting such technology because of its recent research into the area. Zoom has not responded to a request for comment. In addition to critiquing the scientific basis of emotion AI, the human rights groups also asserted that emotion AI is manipulative and discriminatory. A study by Lauren Rhue, an assistant professor of information systems at the University of Marylands Robert H. Smith School of Business, found that across two different facial recognition softwares (including Microsofts), emotion AI consistently interpreted Black subjects as having more negative emotions than white subjects. One AI read Black subjects as angrier than white subjects, while Microsofts AI read Black subjects as portraying more contempt. Microsofts policy changes are primarily targeted at Azure, its cloud platform that markets software and other services to businesses and organizations. Azures emotion recognition AI was announced in 2016, and was purported to detect emotions such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, and more. Microsoft has also made promises to reassess emotion recognition AI across all its systems to determine the risks and benefits of the technology in different areas. One usage of emotion-detecting AI that Microsoft hopes to continue is its use in Seeing AI, which assists vision-impaired people through verbal descriptions of the surrounding world. Andrew McStay, professor of digital life at Bangor University and leader of the Emotional AI Lab, said in a written statement that he would have rather seen Microsoft stop all development of emotion AI. Because emotion AI is known to be dysfunctional, he said he sees no point in continuing to use it in products. I would be very interested to know whether Microsoft will pull all forms of emotion and related psycho-physiological sensing from their entire suite of operations, he wrote. This would be a slam-dunk. Other changes in the new standards include a commitment to create fairness in speech-to-text technology, which one study has shown has nearly twice the error rate for Black users as white users. Microsoft has also restricted the use of its Custom Neural Voice, which allows for the nearly exact impersonation of a users voice, due to concerns about its potential use as a tool for deception. Crampton noted the changes were necessary in part because there is little government oversight of AI systems. AI is becoming more and more a part of our lives, and yet, our laws are lagging behind, she said. They have not caught up with AIs unique risks or societys needs. While we see signs that government action on AI is expanding, we also recognize our responsibility to act. We believe that we need to work towards ensuring AI systems are responsible by design. "The Young and the Restless" star Mishael Morgan attends the 2022 Daytime Emmy Awards in Pasadena. (Jordan Strauss / Invision / Associated Press) "The Young and the Restless" star Mishael Morgan made history on Friday night as the first Black lead to win a Daytime Emmy Award. At the ceremony in Pasadena, the 35-year-old actor from Trinidad and Tobago said she was "so honored to be a vessel and experience this moment." Morgan, who plays Amanda Sinclair on the CBS soap opera, claimed the prize for lead actress in a drama. She was previously nominated for supporting actress. I am being honored regardless of the color of my skin, regardless of my passport, for being the best at what I do, Morgan said during her acceptance speech, according to the Associated Press. Now there are little girls all around the world and theyre seeing another step forward and they know that no matter their industry, no matter their vocation, no matter what, they can strive to be the best at what they do. Not only can they achieve it, but they will be celebrated. From 2013 to 2018, Morgan portrayed Hilary Curtis Hamilton (formerly Winters) in "The Young and the Restless." However, after Hilary was written off the show, Morgan returned in 2019 as her twin sister, Amanda. "The Young and the Restless" was nominated Friday for 18 Daytime Emmy Awards, including lead actor in a drama, supporting actress in a drama, supporting actor in a drama and drama series. I am so immensely proud of our generation," Morgan said. "We are breaking glass ceilings left, right and center. ... Its because of everybody who is out there today who is proving to the world that we can and we will do this thing called equality and unity together. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. AP There is no panacea for high gas prices, though President Bidens push to lift the gas tax may not do much. Well also look at a potential price cap on Russian oil and more legal trouble for former President Trumps social media network. But first, a look at five under-the-radar 2024 potential Democratic presidential candidates. Welcome to On The Money, your nightly guide to everything affecting your bills, bank account and bottom line. For The Hill, were Sylvan Lane, Aris Folley and Karl Evers-Hillstrom. Someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here. Experts see risk with little upside in gas tax break Experts are warning that President Bidens proposed gas tax holiday would do little to defray pain at the pump and actively take a toll on infrastructure and the environment. The 18-cent federal tax, which Biden has said should be suspended for three months amid steep gas prices, is very little money for individuals, said Beverly Moran, professor of law emerita at Vanderbilt Law School. It just doesnt make any sense. If the government wants to do something to help people who are having problems with their, you know, the cost of gas, they can send out another check to people, Moran told The Hill in an interview. They arent even considering how theyre going to stop companies from just eating up the difference keeping the same price and just pocketing the tax. The breakdown: Modeling by the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania indicates that a gas tax suspension from July to September would only mean a per capita spending reduction of $4.79 to $14.31, depending on location, but would reduce overall government revenues by about $6 billion. The Hills Zack Budryk has more here. OIL CHANGE G-7 moves closer to backing price cap on Russian oil The Group of Seven (G-7) countries are moving closer to endorsing a price cap on Russian oil an untested plan that would seek to limit the Kremlins profits from selling the commodity worldwide. Story continues The idea has been floated in recent weeks as the United States and its allies search for ways to further squeeze the Russian economy to punish President Vladimir Putin for the war in Ukraine. Energy exports are the leading source of revenue for the Russian economy. The price cap has been a source of discussion during the G-7 summit in Germany over the past two days, where President Biden is huddling with counterparts from Germany, France, Italy, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen first said last week that the U.S. was discussing the idea of a price cap with its allies. The Hills Morgan Chalfant and Rachel Frazin have the latest here. BAD VIBES Americans views of economy, finances worsen: poll Three-quarters of Americans rate the current condition of the economy as fairly bad or very bad, and a majority are concerned about their ability to afford day-to-day expenses, according to a new CBS News-YouGov poll. The proportion of Americans who view the state of the economy as fairly bad or worse has grown for each of the past two months, rising from 63 percent in April to 75 percent in the latest poll. Republicans were more likely to have a negative view of the national economy, with just nine percent saying it is at least fairly good. Thirty-six percent of Democrats and 20 percent of independents viewed the economy as at least fairly good. Heres more from The Hills Zach Schonfeld. SPAC FLAK Federal grand jury subpoenas firm that merged with Trump social network The firm that merged with former President Trumps social media company received federal grand jury subpoenas last week, the company disclosed in a Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing Monday. A grand jury in the Southern District of New York issued subpoenas to each member of the board of directors of the special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that merged with the Trump Media and Technology Group. The latest subpoenas add to growing scrutiny of the deal. Federal regulators launched investigations into the merger between Trumps company and Digital World Acquisition Corp, the SPAC, in December, just weeks after the merger was announced. The Hills Rebecca Klar explains here. Good to Know President Biden on Monday signed a national security memo aimed at addressing illegal fishing in international waters. The memo seeks to increase international coordination to address labor issues in the fishing industry and remove labor abuses from the supply chain, according to a White House fact sheet. Heres what else we have our eye on: Inadequate access to nutrition has become a threat to public health in the U.S., amplifying existing food insecurity and social issues, the American College of Physicians declared on Monday. Top Biden administration officials met with health insurance industry executives Monday to ensure that their plan members have access to contraceptive services at no cost. Thats it for today. Thanks for reading and check out The Hills Finance page for the latest news and coverage. Well see you tomorrow. VIEW FULL VERSION HERE For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Photo Illustration by Thomas Levinson/The Daily Beast/Getty AKAMKPA, NigeriaThe two sons of Destiny, a 48-year-old Nigerian businessman whose nephew had recently contracted the monkeypox virus, are already showing similar symptoms. They have swollen lymph nodes, which started a couple of days after they developed a fever. Despite the rash on their bodies morphing into pus-filled pimples that have scabbed over, Destiny believes his sons are only feeling the effect of the heat wave sweeping Nigerias southeastern Cross River State, where they live. He has prevented his sonsboth in their early twentiesfrom visiting the hospital, believing that the rash will go away after some time. In less than a week, everything will be gone, Destiny told The Daily Beast just outside his home in the town of Akamkpa in the southern region of Cross River. Weve started applying calamine lotion [a medication commonly used to treat mild itchiness] on it and well soon start seeing results. Monkeypox, a viral zoonotic disease caused by a virus transmitted from animals to humans, was first discovered among monkeys kept for research in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) back in 1958, and later in humans in the same country in 1970. The disease is currently endemic in rodent and monkey populations in West and Central Africa, including in Nigeria, where cases are surging and causing flu-like symptoms and rashes in infected people. Recently, the virus has cropped up in Europe and the U.S., raising alarm that the illness could soon spiral into a pandemic. Few around Destinys compound seem to believe the disease really exists. As was the case with some COVID-19 conspiracy theorists, many believe it's another so-called illness conceived by the West for the purpose of introducing vaccines that will reduce the population in Africa. Its the kind of belief that is already hampering coronavirus vaccination in Nigeria, with only close to 17 million in a country of 200 million people fully inoculated. Influencers Are Running Wild With Monkeypox Conspiracy Theories Story continues America has started again with another talk of infectious disease outbreak, one of Destinys neighbors murmured as he heard Destiny speaking to The Daily Beast. They [Americans] saw that Africans didnt buy into their COVID scam and so introduced this one [monkeypox] to scare people. But as many very close to Destiny live in denial, signs that the disease lives very close to them are glaring. A woman who developed a rash and swollen lymph nodes on her body blamed the occurrence on a spiritual attack by her enemies, according to her younger sister, and had to run to the home of a traditional medicine practitioner about 200km (120 miles) away for treatment. No one, her sibling said, has seen or heard from her since. Another 80-year-old man who died a week ago was said to have had symptoms of monkeypox, but did not seek medical attention. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Many people are scared that if they come to hospitals and are diagnosed with the disease, they could be separated from their families and quarantined for a long time, Dr. Collins Anyachi of the Department of Family Medicine at the university teaching hospital (UCTH) in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, told The Daily Beast. Theyd rather prefer to patronize patent medicine dealers or traditional medicine practitioners whod only prescribe medicines or herbs and tell them that theyll get well in a few days. Cases like those in Akamkpa show that Nigeria is almost certainly failing to document many monkeypox cases, especially in rural areas, where surveillance has been very poor. Unlike in the West, the outbreak of the disease in Nigeria, where the illness is endemic, didnt begin this year. It started in 2017. Between then and now, there have been more than 650 suspected cases with over 260 confirmed, one-seventh of which were recorded in the first half of this year. But government records in Nigeria, where monkeypox cases are on the rise, dont tell the true story of the disease that has spiked in Europe and the United States. Officially, Nigeria has announced 141 suspected cases and 36 confirmed cases from 12 states between January 1 and June 12. But as seen in Cross River State, where official records show only two cases have been confirmed, many who likely have the disease are refusing to seek medical check. Theres also the fear of stigmatization, said Anyachi. When people are officially diagnosed with monkeypox, there is a tendency that the society will treat them with disdain. Weve seen that happen a lot with people who suffered from leprosy. Lagos, Nigeria. Getty But beyond the peoples reluctance to visit hospitals, authorities have had challenges monitoring the outbreak of monkeypox. To start with, disease surveillance in Nigeria was generally hampered by the outbreak of COVID-19. In the case of Lassa fever for example, there were nearly 1,200 confirmed cases recorded in the year 2020 when the novel coronavirus emerged. That number came down to 510 in 2021, as overstretched health authorities paid more attention to the more contagious COVID-19. But with COVID no longer as dominant, the number of Lassa fever infections confirmed in the first quarter of 2022 alone rose to 751. Like Lassa fever, there was inadequate attention paid to monkeypox in 2021, meaning many infections went unnoticed. To make matters worse, countries like the U.S. and U.K. are offering a vaccine produced by Bavarian Nordicone that was approved for monkeypox by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in 2019to high-risk contacts, Nigeria has been unable to obtain vaccines or medicines to prevent and treat monkeypox, a virus the World Health Organization (WHO) says is transmitted from one person to another by close contact with lesions, body fluids, respiratory droplets and contaminated materials such as bedding. In a country where there are only 40,000 doctors for 200 million people theres genuine concern that if monkeypox cases expand in poor rural neighborhoods, where theres over overcrowding and miserable sanitation, Nigerias health sector will be unable to handle it. The major fear is the possibility of misdiagnosis at primary health-care facilities, which is whats available to people in rural communities, Dr. Elijah Akpe Orim, who has worked in community health for many years in Cross River State, told The Daily Beast. The people you often find in these health centers are community health extension workers who are not professionally trained on how to deal with such cases. Because of similarities in symptoms, according to Dr. Orim, who now works at the UCTH pharmacology department, patients who may be suffering from monkeypox may be erroneously told theyve been infected with a disease like measles and that doesnt help in any way. As for Destiny, he says that he will only seek treatment in a hospital when his sons ailments get out of their control. At this stage, we cannot begin to spend so much money [in a hospital] when it isnt life-threatening, said Destiny. It is too early to waste money. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. House speaker Nancy Pelosi recently called for the elimination of the legislative filibuster so that we can restore womens fundamental rights after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, though Vice President Kamala Harris said she would not endorse such a move. Pelosi laid out several steps that Democrats should take in response to the Courts decision, which returns the question of abortion to the states, in a Dear Colleague letter. PELOSI now details potential legislative responses to the Dobbs decision. Also: Pelosi says the Senate should eliminate the filibuster. she typically does not go that far, and says its up to the Senate. pic.twitter.com/IwlXB7CAHD Jake Sherman (@JakeSherman) June 27, 2022 Pelosi wrote that the Democratic caucus has been exploring avenues to protect the health and freedom of American women, including legislation that protects womens most intimate and personal data stored in reproductive health apps and makes clear that Americans have the Constitutional right to travel freely and voluntarily throughout the United States. She added that the House must once again pass the Womens Health Protection Act to enshrine Roe v. Wade in to the law of the land. It is clear from how Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the Supreme Court that elections have ramifications, Pelosi added. It is essential that we protect and expand our pro-choice Majorities in the House and Senate in November so that we can eliminate the filibuster so that we can restore womens fundamental rights and freedom for every American. Meanwhile, CNNs Dana Bash said she asked the vice president if she would support a carve-out from the filibuster to codify Roe, but Harris said she wouldnt go there because Democrats do not have the votes. Story continues The vice president told Bash in an interview on Monday that she couldnt believe the Court actually took a Constitutional right that has been recognized for half a century and took it from the women of America, calling the decision shocking. Bash asked Harris if the Biden administration will actively challenge state laws that make it a crime to help a woman travel to another state for abortion. Harris noted that President Biden indicated quite unambiguously that we will do everything within our power as an administration through the executive branch to ensure that women have access to the medication that they need and that they will have freedom of travel. She later added that if a woman is prescribed pills for a chemical abortion, she should be able to have access to it unfettered. Asked if the attorney general can expand abortion services on federal land that is in and around states that ban abortion, Harris said that is not an option currently being discussed within the administration. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) reportedly told a Washington Post reporter that the Biden administration should establish Planned Parenthood outposts on the edges of national parks. I just spoke with @ewarren, who suggested the Biden administration establish Planned Parenthood outposts on the edges of national parks. "They could put up tents, have trained personnel and be there to help people who need it." "It's time to declare a medical emergency." Caroline Kitchener (@CAKitchener) June 27, 2022 Harris on Monday said that everybody has something at risk now that the Court has overturned Roe and encouraged people who are parents to sons to think about what this means for the life of your son and what this will mean in terms of the choices he will have. She continued: Think about it in the context that they wrote this decision including a concurring opinion that suggests that other rights, such as the freedom to make decisions . . . about when you are going to start a family, the freedom and the right to make decisions about contraception, IUDs. What this is going to mean in terms of in-vitro fertilization. In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the Court should reconsider its decisions in Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas, and Obergefell v. Hodges, which established a right to contraception, privacy in the bedroom, and same-sex marriage, respectively. Thomass reasoning was that the Courts majority found that a right to abortion was not a form of liberty protected by the due-process clause of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. He said the Court therefore had a duty to correct the error in the other three precedents, which relied upon the same legal reasoning as Roe. He wrote that after overruling these demonstrably erroneous decisions, the question would remain whether other constitutional provisions protected the rights established in the three cases. Bash asked Harris if she believes the Supreme Court is on a path to reverse those three precedents as well. I definitely believe this is not over, Harris replied. I think he just said the quiet part out loud, and I think that this is why we all must really understand the significance of what just happened. Pelosi wrote in her Dear Colleague letter that legislation is being introduced to further codify freedoms which Americans currently enjoy and called Thomass concurrence disturbing. Like Pelosi, Harris underscored the importance of voting in the upcoming midterm elections to change the balance and have pro-choice legislators who have the power to make decisions about whether this constitutional right will be in law. More from National Review An unassuming patch of red dirt in remote Australia has made history as the site of Nasa's first rocket launch from a commercial spaceport outside the US. The sub-orbital rocket blasted off from the tiny site early on Monday local time. It will enable astrophysics studies that can only be undertaken in the Southern Hemisphere, Nasa says. The launch was also the first in Australia in more than 25 years. The rocket is Nasa's first of three to blast off from the newly constructed Arnhem Space Centre on the edge of the Northern Territory. Scientists hope it will help them study the impact of a star's light on the habitability of nearby planets. Onlookers who travelled to the remote site glimpsed the rocket for only about 10 seconds before it shot out of view. "It was in the blink of an eye, but to me, it was like it was in slow motion because the whole area just lit up," Yirrkala School co-principal Merrkiyawuy Ganambarr-Stubbs told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "It went up, and then the sound, it was just like a rumbling boom, like nothing I've ever heard. And I just shook with amazement." Map The sounding rocket's tenure in space was similarly short - the 13m-long projectile fell back to Earth after a planned 15 minutes. But the data gathered by the mission's X-ray camera in that time will help illuminate the secrets of Alpha Centauri A and B, the closest double-star system to Earth that is located just 4.3 light-years away. Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles hailed the launch as an "extremely proud" moment for Australia, adding it was conducted with the blessing of the region's Aboriginal traditional owners. "Here on Yolngu land, young Territorians can look up at the sky and know what can be done," Ms Fyles said. "When we see the oldest living culture combining with the science of space, as we have here, it's something we can all reflect on and be very proud." Nasa consulted with Aboriginal custodians of the land before the launch Australia has stepped up its space efforts in recent times, unveiling a defence agency focused on countering Russia and China's ambitions in space. Story continues The Arnhem Space Centre is the first and only commercially owned and run equatorial launch site in the world. "We have achieved a remarkable feat and made a huge mark in the history of Australia's journey in space," Mr Jones said in a statement. "[It] confirms that we and Australia can provide access to space and this is just the beginning for us." The next launch is expected to take place on 4 July. Nasa has pledged to collect all material and debris and return them to the US. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced Monday, ahead of of a gathering of NATO leaders in Madrid on Tuesday, that the alliance's high-readiness forces will significantly increase to over 300,000 from 40,000, and that more troops will be sent to the member countries bordering Russia. The nearly eightfold increase comes amid Moscow's continuing invasion of Ukraine, where Russian forces have pushed deeper into the eastern Donbas region and are poised to make additional gains. Over the weekend, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed Western leaders who had gathered for the G7 summit in Munich, Germany, renewing requests for heavier weaponry to confront Russia's forces, including anti-aircraft defense systems. In a virtual address, Zelenskyy said he wanted to end the war by the end of 2022. Briefing reporters after the address, national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Zelenskyy told the summit the Ukrainian leader believed a "grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people." Of the NATO's priorities set to be outlined in the Strategic Concept, a document seeing its first update since 2010 Stoltenberg said Russia will no longer be characterized as a strategic partner, but as "the most significant and direct threat to our security." For the first time, China will be addressed as a challenger to the alliance's security interests. The document will "also cover our evolving approach to...terrorism, cyber and hybrid" threats, Stoltenberg said. He outlined forthcoming changes to the alliance's capabilities, including more pre-positioned equipment and supplies. "Together, this constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective deterrence and defense since the Cold War," the NATO chief said, adding that NATO investments are set to increase across its membership for the eighth consecutive year. Allies will agree on an additional comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine and put in place a plan to transition its forces from Soviet-era equipment to "modern NATO equipment," he said. Story continues Zelenskyy, along with representatives from Australia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Georgia and the EU will participate in the summit. And senior officials from Finland, Sweden are meeting with Turkey in Brussels for continued talks Monday about accession to NATO; the leaders of all three will meet in Madrid Tuesday, although no breakthrough is expected before the summit. Brittney Griner's trial in Russia set to begin July 1 Millions face hunger in South Sudan as Ukraine war hinders aid Russian missile strike hits shopping center in Ukraine STUTTGART, Germany NATO plans to approve increased readiness objectives and provide more support to Ukraine, as well as formalize a key strategic document at its annual summit this week, alliance Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Monday. At the summit held Tuesday and Wednesday in Madrid member nations will agree to increase the number of high-readiness forces to well over 300,000 troops, in what Stoltenberg called the biggest overhaul of the alliances collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War. The alliance plans to enhance many of its forward-deployed battlegroups currently stationed in its eastern member countries up to brigade levels, he noted in a press conference broadcast online from Brussels. The readiness increase will be matched with more prepositioned equipment and supplies stockpiles, notably air defense capabilities, he added. NATO is also planning to upgrade its defense plans, and pre-assign troops to defend specific allies. These troops will exercise together with home defense forces, and they will become familiar with local terrain facilities and our new prepositioned stocks, so that they can respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency, Stoltenberg said. The ongoing war in Ukraine will be at the top of the summits program, particularly as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to attend. NATO plans to approve a new comprehensive aid package for Kiev, to include partial deliveries of capabilities like secure communications, unmanned systems and fuel, per Stoltenberg. NATOs identification of Russia as its most significant threat will be reflected in the ongoing deliberations over whether Finland and Sweden will become the alliances newest members. While Stoltenberg and other stakeholders have called for the two partner nations to join NATO as quickly as possible, member Turkey has promised to veto their accession, claiming Sweden has harbored members of the Kurdish Workers Party (PKK), which Ankara considers a terrorist organization. Story continues On Monday, Stoltenberg reasserted the need to take into account concerns expressed by allies and said that the leaders of Finland, Sweden, and Turkey would meet at NATO headquarters in Brussels later that day, as well as on the sidelines of the Madrid summit this week. I will not make any promises, but I can just assure you that we are working actively to ensure progress, because the applications of Finland and Sweden to join NATO they are historic, Stoltenberg said. It will strengthen the security of Finland and Sweden, it will strengthen NATO, and it will be something that will contribute to stability across the Euro-Atlantic area, Europe and North America. NATO member nations are also expected to formally approve the new Strategic Concept document which lays out the alliances defense and security vision. Members tasked NATO to update the Strategic Concept document at the 2021 summit. Per the alliance, the document has been updated about once every 10 years to reflect the current security environment. This latest concept will reflect a fundamental shift in NATOs deterrence and defense and will focus on NATOs evolving approach to current and new threats and challenges, to include terrorism, cyber attacks, and hybrid warfare, Stoltenberg said Monday. I expect it will make clear that allies consider Russia as the most significant and direct threat to our security, he said, noting that this document will be the first to address China and the challenges that Beijing poses to our security interests and values. Stoltenberg placed the blame on Moscow for walking away from the partnership and the dialogue that NATO has tried to establish for many years. They have chosen confrontation instead of dialogue. We regret that, he told reporters. But of course, then we need to respond to that reality. Stoltenberg lauded the fact that NATO members have increased defense spending for the eighth consecutive year. By the end of the year, they will have invested well over $350 billion extra since we agreed on our defense investment plan in 2014, he noted. Nine member-nations are now spending 2 percent or more of the GDP on defense expenditures, and 19 allies expect to meet the threshold by 2024, Stoltenberg said. Those nine nations include: Greece; the United States; Poland; Lithuania; Estonia; the United Kingdom; Latvia; Croatia; and the Slovak Republic. France and Romania are spending 1.9 percent and 1.99 percent of their GDP on defense, per data provided by NATO. Nation set to better nurture high-caliber professionals 08:14, June 27, 2022 By ZHANG ZHIHAO ( China Daily Scientists monitor the operation of China's Hard X-ray Modulation Telescope (HXMT) at the Institute of High Energy Physics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, Feb 18, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] Human resources in science key to China's innovative capability, potential China has the world's largest human resources pool in science and technology, with 112 million trained professionals by the end of 2020, according to a report published by the National Academy of Innovation Strategy of the China Association for Science and Technology on Saturday. However, experts said that the country still has a shortage of highly trained professionals who can make original breakthroughs and support the country's development in becoming a global science and technology powerhouse. To solve this issue, China will need better science education at an early age, optimizing the evaluation and appraisal process for such people, providing more opportunities for career mobility and progression, and more investment in research and development from the public and private sectors. The term human resources in science and technology refers to people who have completed their higher education, but also those who are employed in sci-tech related occupations without holding an academic degree. The size, structure and efficiency of a country's human resources in science and technology is a key indicator of the nation's innovative capability and potential. In April, President Xi Jinping replied to a letter from senior professors at the University of Science and Technology Beijing, writing of the importance of nurturing more high-caliber professionals committed to the country's development. The rejuvenation of the Chinese nation urgently needs a great number of talented people with moral integrity and professional competence, Xi stressed in the letter. According to the report, the structure of China's sci-tech talent pool has become more balanced in recent years, with 73.9 percent of them at age 39 or younger at the end of 2019.The ratio of female professionals rose from around 33 percent in 2005 to 40.1 percent in 2019. As for their level of education, by the end of 2019 over 93 percent had undergraduate or specialist degrees, but only 6 percent held a master's degree and 0.9 percent had a doctoral degree. The report includes scientists and engineers, as well as professionals working in agriculture, medicine, law, economics, education, management as human resources in science and technology. Engineering professionals make up the largest proportion of the talent pool, accounting for 55.8 percent in 2019, followed by medicine at 13.1 percent. However, the education level of China's human resources in science and technology is structured like a pyramid, with a strong base of bachelor's degree holders and a shortage of PhDs and high-quality professionals at the top, the report said. As a result, the report suggests more reforms to optimize the China's talent structure, attract international professionals, and promote an academic environment conducive for science and technology development. Xu Junhai, an expert on human resources policy at the Jiangsu Provincial Federation of Philosophy and Social Sciences, said China is still working on its national talent development plan for 2021 to 2025 to cultivate a range of high caliber professionals, from industry leading scientists to outstanding engineers. "The report has shown that China lacks top quality professionals. This is why we need to build world-class research facilities and regions that can foster high-caliber talents," he said. Moreover, China needs to launch an initiative pressing for innovative research projects that can attract and train strong professionals to make original breakthroughs. Another key question is how to better serve, manage and incentivize China's massive professional talent pool, Xu said. Universities, national laboratories, industries and companies should engage in a collaborative effort to train new professionals and unleash their innovative potential. Local governments should also be encouraged to explore and reform training programs suitable for their conditions and resources, he added. Wang Hongwei, a researcher at the Institute of Quantitative and Technological Economics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said China should invest more in chip manufacturing, operating systems, industrial software and other key fields crucial for socioeconomic development. While it is important to encourage the career mobility of quality professionals, it is also imperative to set up mechanisms to prevent cutthroat competition among employers to secure these people, Wang said. Zheng Yonghe, a professor of science education at Beijing Normal University, said last year that teachers with a background in science and engineering made up of 27.5 percent of all elementary school teachers in China, while 32.3 percent had liberal arts backgrounds. Many of the rest had studied education. Science education in Chinese elementary and middle schools currently lacks a related academic underpinning and a supporting policy, he said. "Cultivating scientific interest should start young, and we need to have a solid science education system, if our country wishes to prosper in science, technology and innovation for the next three decades." Zhu Youfang in Changsha contributed to this story. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) In the final weekend before Tuesdays primary election, the disparity in campaigning between Republicans running for governor and the Democratic incumbent they hope to replace foreshadows a fall general election campaign in which culture wars will likely take center stage. On Sunday, first-term Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Democrats seeking statewide office joined in the celebration of Chicagos Pride Parade and took the opportunity to warn that the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling overturning national abortion protections could extend to eliminating other rights. Advertisement Before stepping onto the parade route, Pritzker said he and supporters would be marching for pride, marching for LGBTQ rights, for choice and for making sure that were fighting back against the Supreme Court thats trying to take away peoples rights. Gov. J.B. Pritzker waves to people in the crowd during the Pride Parade on Chicago's North Side on June 26, 2022. (Chris Sweda / Chicago Tribune) Therell be some celebrating and, of course, some protests as a result of what happened on Friday, the Democratic governor said of the parade. Advertisement Nearly 250 miles to the southwest in Quincy, state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia celebrated Saturdays endorsement for the GOP nomination for governor from former President Donald Trump by saying he planned to visit a nearby church. We are astray and its because weve allowed career politicians to deceive us, to misguide us and to take us to places where we should never have gone, Bailey told his followers on Facebook. The people are just getting sick and tired of being burdened by a failed government, especially a woke liberal government, that seeks to just indoctrinate our children, that seeks to let criminals go scot-free, that seeks to just push people who dream and want to work hard in this state, push them out. Pritzker, his renomination as the Democratic nominee for governor virtually assured against nominal opposition, has made the courts ruling overturning Roe v. Wade a top issue heading into the fall. It is also representative, hes indicated, of the need for protections for LGBTQ people and other groups after Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion that the court should revisit same-sex marriage and contraception rights. A leading national abortion rights advocate, Pritzker has moved to enshrine a womans right to an abortion in state law and end restrictions such as parental notification while vowing to do even more in a planned special legislative session next month as other GOP-controlled states look to quickly restrict access to abortion. Bailey is the most conservative among six contenders for the Republican nomination for governor. Hes been endorsed by leading state organizations that oppose abortion rights. Bailey is opposed to abortion except to save the life of the mother and has said he would seek to roll back taxpayer-funded abortion for poor women and reinstate parental notification. A voter holds a sign supporting Darren Bailey on June 26, 2022, in the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival parade. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) As a member of the legislature, Bailey also has opposed LGBTQ rights, most recently contending that teaching children about the role the community has played in history in state-approved textbooks is sexualizing kids and forces schools to indoctrinate our kids with their far-left ideology. Bailey also has spoken in biblical terms of the decline of the family unit and the role of women and has called transgender rights the moral rot that is destroying society. God, in His creation, He intended, you know, the family unit to be headed by the dad. The dad is supposed to be out, you know, teaching his children hard work, ethics, honesty and integrity, Bailey said in an April 4 interview on Outside the Beltway. Advertisement Running what began as an evangelical populist campaign based in the states rural, heavily Republican Downstate, Bailey has since seen his support rise across Illinois in line with an increasing rightward movement of GOP voters accelerated by their loyalty to Trump. He has called Pritzker a tyrant for the governors pandemic mitigation orders and has seized on a long-standing political tactic of regionalism that relies on the stereotype that those outside Chicago are shortchanged compared with Chicago residents over how tax dollars are shared. Thats despite studies that have shown counties outside the Chicago region receive twice as much a return on state money as their residents pay in, largely at the expense of suburban taxpayers. Bailey has even sponsored legislation calling for Chicago to be split from the rest of Illinois, arguing the states largest city and economic engine forces its liberal urban values on conservatives in rural Illinois. During recent debates, he repeatedly referred to Chicago as a hellhole. Baileys road to potential victory was paved in part by tens of millions of dollars in advertising and mailers spent by Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association because Bailey is viewed as an easier challenger for Pritzker to defeat in November. The ads have attacked rival Republican candidate Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and portrayed Bailey as too conservative for Illinois a backhanded way of encouraging Bailey support among the GOP base. The Illinois Democratic Party has made a similar effort in recent days with mailers labeling Republican attorney general candidate Thomas DeVore of Sorrento as too conservative. Steve Kim, a GOP candidate for attorney general, speaks before marching on June 26, 2022, in the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival parade. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) DeVore is in a contest with Deerfield attorney Steve Kim, part of a statewide candidate slate with Irvin. Orland Park attorney David Shestokas is also in the GOP contest. Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul faces no primary opposition. Advertisement DeVore is a Downstate ally of Bailey and served as Baileys lawyer in lawsuits eventually unsuccessful that sought to challenge Pritzkers COVID-19 mitigation orders. Baileys campaign also has benefited from ultraconservative billionaire megadonor Richard Uihlein, who has contributed $17 million to the candidate as well as an independent expenditure group allied with Bailey. But Baileys camp viewed Trumps long-sought endorsement as a key to victory on Tuesday, a development that sent Baileys GOP rivals arguing the state senator will not be electable in the fall. One candidate, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg, said that unfortunately, the endorsement that has mattered most in this primary has been J.B. Pritzkers, with tens of millions of dollars spent to fool Republican voters and hand-pick the weakest opponent in November, Darren Bailey. Former President Donald Trump, right, ushers gubernatorial candidate and state Sen. Darren Bailey to the podium at a rally at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon, Illinois, on June 25, 2022. (Mike Sorensen / AP) Irvin, whose bid was backed by $50 million from hedge-fund CEO Ken Griffin, who announced last week he was moving his Citadel investment firm out of Chicago and to Miami, also contended Bailey could not defeat Pritzker in the fall. The only endorsement thats important in this race is the endorsement of the residents of the state of Illinois, Irvin said before stepping off at the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival parade. Advertisement Youre going to need Republican votes. Youre going to need independent votes. And youre going to need Democratic crossover votes out of Chicago to win in the fall, he said. The purpose of the Republican primary is to pick the Republican opponent that is capable enough, prepared enough, to actually beat Pritzker. Rival candidate Gary Rabine of Bull Valley said he was disappointed in Trumps endorsement of Bailey. Rabine had hosted a fundraiser for Trump and cultivated ties with loyalists of the former president. Our state is in a crisis and nothing will change unless J.B. Pritzker loses in November, Rabine said. Richard Irvin, the mayor of Aurora and a GOP gubernatorial candidate, greets voters while marching on June 26, 2022, in the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival parade. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune) For his part, Pritzker said Baileys acceptance of Trumps endorsement seems to me an acknowledgment on his part that hes willing to go down a terrible rabbit hole that will sink the Republican Party. All I can say is that Darren Baileys too conservative for Illinois and he proved it. The other two Republicans running for the nomination are former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of Waterloo and Hazel Crest attorney Max Solomon. As candidates for federal, state and local nominations prepared their final day get-out-the-vote strategies, a late endorsement from President Joe Biden was announced in the new West Side and west suburban 7th Congressional District, with Biden backing veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, who is facing a challenge from progressive activist Kina Collins. Advertisement U.S. Rep. Danny K. Davis of Illinois' 7th Congressional District, addresses the congregation at New Galilee Baptist Church during a campaign stop on May 29, 2022, in the Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) With her manager Isabel Alter, left, candidate for Illinois' 7th Congressional District Kina Collins canvasses for her campaign on May 29, 2022, in the Galewood neighborhood of Chicago. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Representative Danny Davis has always been an effective leader and lawmaker who is deeply rooted in his community. He serves with passion and integrity, and thats why Im endorsing him in his upcoming primary, Biden said in a statement released by Davis campaign. So much is at stake, and we have more work to do to bring costs down for families and keep our communities safe. I know Rep. Davis will continue to be an essential partner in getting it done. Davis said he was grateful for President Bidens support in this race and for his partnership in Washington, as we work to solve the pressing problems that families in Chicagoland face each and every day. But Collins said the endorsement was an example of Davis, who has served in Congress since 1997, using his resources to call in favors to save himself rather than assisting the districts residents. He knows that voters are ready for a new generation of people-powered leadership, unbought by corporate PAC dollars, that will put our community above everything else. Times up on self-serving absentee leadership, Collins said in a statement. rap30@aol.com dpetrella@chicagotribune.com Advertisement jgorner@chicagotribune.com Nato is to boost the number of its forces to be on high-alert amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine from 40,000 to more than 300,000. The seven-fold increase was announced by the military alliances secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg ahead of a summit in Madrid this week. Its the biggest overhaul of collective defence since the Cold War, he said. We will transform the Nato response force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000. Mr Stoltenberg also confirmed that Nato will expand troop deployments in its European member countries that are closest to Russia. The Western allies will also strengthen their air defences and increase their stockpiles of military supplies, he said. The Nato Response Force (NRF) currently has around 40,000 personnel. The name is also set to be changed to the Allied Reaction Force, Sky News reported. Nato will also change its language on Russia, which in the alliances last strategy in 2010 was still described as a strategic partner. The alliance said it will also make clear that Russia is now considered the most significant and direct threat to our security. Mr Stoltenberg said: I expect that allies will state clearly that Russia poses a direct threat to our security, to our values, to the rules-based international order. Outlining further support for Ukraine, he said: Their courage and commitment are an inspiration. And I welcome that President Zelensky will join us at the Nato Summit. At the Nato summit, which starts on Tuesday, the allies are expected to agree to a strengthened comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine, with deliveries of secure communications, anti-drone systems and fuel. It will also consider Sweden and Finlands bids to join the alliance after applications were made in response to the increased threat posed by Russia. The announcement came as Russias invasion of Ukraine dominated proceedings at the G7 summit where world leaders emphasised their commitment to Ukraine in the ongoing war. Tents set up at Nepal's Everest Base camp on Khumbu Glacier, Mount Everest, on September 15, 2019. Frank Bienewald/LightRocket via Getty Images Nepal's base camp on Mount Everest is being moved further down the mountain, due to climate change. The site is located on top of the thinning Khumbu Glacier, which has become hazardous for climbers. The gateway to the world's tallest mountain is used by around 1,500 climbers every year. In order to ascend Mount Everest, climbers have to pass through one of two starting points. But the southern site in Nepal the most popular starting point to summit the world's tallest mountain is located on top of a thinning glacier that's becoming increasingly unsafe amid climate change. As ice on the glacier close to the base camp slowly melts, Nepal is preparing to move the campsite down the mountain. Glaciers and ice sheets are melting at accelerated rates because of human-caused climate change: As temperatures rise, the glacier on the world's highest mountain, like other glaciers around the world, is retreating rapidly. "We are now preparing for the relocation and we will soon begin consultation with all stakeholders," Taranath Adhikari, director general of Nepal's tourism department, told the BBC. "It is basically about adapting to the changes we are seeing at the base camp and it has become essential for the sustainability of the mountaineering business itself." The potential relocation follows recommendations from a committee set up by the government, which oversees mountaineering at Everest. A 2018 study found that the Khumbu Glacier close to the base camp was thinning at a rate of 1 meter or 3 feet per year. Now, according to Nepalese authorities, it's unsafe. Where the base camp currently stands, mountain climbers contend with cracks on the ice, erosion, and growing streams of water due to ice melt. "We see increased rock falls and movement of meltwater on the surface of the glaciers that can be hazardous," Scott Watson, a researcher at the University of Leeds, told the BBC. A line of trekkers walk through fresh snow beside the Khumbu Glacier, near the base of Mount Everest and Everest base camp, on February 13, 2015. Ed Giles/Getty Images The sheer number of people passing through the camp, and the footprints, debris, and waste left on the mountain are a concern. The camp is used by around 1,500 climbers every year. People urinating at the camp, to the tune of 4,000 liters of pee every day during in peak season, along with runoff from kerosene and other waste products, also impact the glacier. The base camp currently sits at an altitude of 5,364 meters (17,600 feet) above the mountain's snowline. Plans could shift it as much as 400 meters (1,310 feet) lower, to an ice-free area. A final decision has not been made, nor has a new base been identified, according to Nepalese authorities. Once plans are finalized, the relocation could come as soon as 2024. Read the original article on Business Insider By Gwladys Fouche OSLO (Reuters) -Norwegian police said on Monday all Pride events across the country should be delayed, citing security concerns after a deadly weekend rampage by a gunman at a gay bar in Oslo. Police had initially approved a planned gathering outside Oslo Town Hall on Monday by the city's LGBTQ community to honour the victims of the attack. But they later advised organisers to cancel the event, which was expected to draw a large gathering. Norway raised its terrorism threat assessment to its highest level after Saturday's attack, which left two dead and 21 wounded. Police also urged Pride events nationwide to be cancelled, citing information from Norway's police intelligence service, PST, without giving details. Pride events should be delayed "until further notice", since the queer community is considered part of the "enemy" by extremist Islamists, National Police Chief Benedicte Bjoernland said in a statement. Oslo Pride, one of the backers of Monday's demonstration and the organiser of annual Pride celebrations that had been due to take place on Saturday, confirmed it would cancel the gathering. "We are sorry that once again we have to say that a Pride event must be cancelled," it said in a statement. "It is wrong, as the police claim, that this was meant to be a small event. We understand that people are now frustrated and still want to gather." DETENTION Oslo's district court on Monday named the suspect in the attack as Zaniar Matapour, a 43-year-old Norwegian citizen of Iranian origin. Police described him as a radicalised Islamist with a history of mental illness. The court ruled that Matapour could be detained for up to four weeks - a period that can be extended - during the investigation into the mass shooting. He will undergo a psychiatric evaluation as part of that, police said. He was apprehended by passers-by who chased him down the street. Police arrived at the scene five minutes after receiving the first emergency calls and took him into custody. Story continues Intelligence services said they knew of Matapour since 2015 and that he had been part of a network of Islamist extremists in Norway. "Around 2015 we were worried about this person," Roger Berg, acting head of PST, told private broadcaster TV2 on Saturday. "We have followed him, to a degree. In more recent times, he was not one of the people we were the most worried about." His lawyer, John Christian Elden, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. He told TV2 it was not possible to draw any conclusions about the motives or reasons for the attack. "It is far too early to do so," he said. Matapour is accused of murder, attempted murder and terrorism. His response to the accusations is not known. He moved to Norway as a child with his parents, became a father and for several years lived mainly off benefits, tabloid VG reported. (Reporting by Gwladys Fouche in Oslo; editing by John Stonestreet and Deepa Babington) LISBON (Reuters) - Concerned about the potential impacts of deep-sea mining on ocean biodiversity, the Pacific islands of Palau and Fiji on Monday launched an "alliance" to call for a moratorium of the nascent industry. The backing of a moratorium comes amid a wave of global interest in deep-sea mining but also growing pressure from some environmental groups and governments to either ban it or ensure it only goes ahead if appropriate regulations are in place. Deep-sea mining uses heavy machinery to suck up off the ocean floor potato-sized rocks or nodules that contain cobalt, manganese, and other rare metals mostly used in batteries. Speaking to a packed room at the United Nations Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Palau President Surangel Whipps asked: "How can we in our right minds say 'let's go mining' without knowing what the risks are?" "We believe it is not worth the risk," he said. "We ask all of you to support that... deep-sea mining increases the vulnerability of the seabed floor and marine life." The International Seabed Authority (ISA), a U.N. body, is drawing up regulations governing seabed mining in the high seas - areas outside any national jurisdiction. Until global rules are in place, seabed mining is not allowed. The Deep Sea Conservation Coalition, which also supports a moratorium, said the ISA would meet in July and August to try to push through draft regulations that, if adopted, would see mining licensed to begin in the deep ocean as soon as July 2023. Earlier this month, Chile also called for a 15-year moratorium on adopting regulations, citing environmental concerns and a lack of sufficient scientific data. G7 countries last month agreed stringent environmental controls should govern deep-sea mining and that they would consent to such mining projects only if they did not seriously harm the marine environment. But not all nations are against it. China is a major proponent and even smaller nations like the tiny Pacific island of Naru, for instance, asked the ISA last year to fast-track the adoption of seabed mining regulations. Story continues Companies such as Google, BMW and Samsung were the first globally to sign up to a World Wildlife Fund call for a moratorium on deep-sea mining. "The costs outweigh the short-term benefits," said renowned oceanographer Sylvia Earle. "We need to hit the stop button." (Reporting by Catarina Demony and Sergio Goncalves in Lisbon and Helen Reid in Johannesburg; Editing by Sandra Maler) Barbara Nitke/Hulu According to absurd theater director-turned-murder podcaster Oliver Putnam (Martin Short), memory is equal parts objective reality and subjective perception, and the great second season of Only Murders in the Building (June 28) proves that both can be relied upon to assess Short and Steve Martins hit Hulu series. As clever, charming and funny as anything on television, the duos sophomore outingspearheaded by co-creator/director John Hoffman, and co-starring Selena Gomezisnt as playfully meta as its predecessor. Yet in every other way, its as mysterious and witty as before. A fast-paced whodunit that captures the spirit of New York City and its colorful denizens and diverse communities, its a pure delight, led by a Short performance that reconfirms his standing as the funniest person alive. Last years finale concluded on a cliffhanger with Oliver, former TV actor Charles-Haden Savage (Martin) and aspiring artist Mabel Mora (Gomez) having solved the slaying of Mabels long-time friend Tim Kona and become national podcasting celebrities in the process, only to then find themselves in hot water when, during a night of celebration, Charles and Oliver discovered a blood-soaked Mabel kneeling over the corpse of Bunny (Jayne Houdyshell), the president of their Arconia apartment buildings housing board. Thats precisely where this second go-round picks up, with the trio questioned by Detective Williams (DaVine Joy Randolph) and her new partner Detective Kreps (Michael Rappaport) about their involvement in yet another death. Fortunately, theres no evidence definitively pinning the crime on our heroes, and theyre allowed to walk freealbeit not before Kreps makes clear that he hates their Only Murders in the Building podcast, preferring the raunchy stylings of old-school Howard Stern broadcasts. The Best TV Performances of the Year So Far Charles, Oliver and Mabel are thus tasked with clearing their names by figuring out whos trying to frame them for Bunnys murder. Their sleuthing immediately leads to a host of clues, the first of which is a pornographic painting owned by Bunny that goes missingand, weirder still, features the nude image of Charles father, who we subsequently learn was taken away in handcuffs from the Arconia when Charles was a young boy. This oil-on-canvas work turns out to be wanted by more than just the amateur detectives, as Bunnys imperious and cutting mother (Shirley MacLaine) and new Arconia resident Amy Schumerwhos taken over the penthouse from prior inhabitant Stingvie for possession of the piece. For the latter, however, the real prize are the rights to the Only Murders in the Building podcast, which she wants Oliver to sign over to her so she can adapt it into a 10-part dramatic miniseries focused on first-season killer Jan (Amy Ryan), whom she plans to play. Story continues Schumers designs are the most cheerily self-referential element of Only Murders in the Buildings return engagement, which also continues to poke loving fun at podcasting via the efforts of Cindy Canning (Tina Fey) to make a podcast about Charles, Oliver and Mabels current murderous predicament, and the trios attempt to counter that damning show with their own exculpatory audio series. Still, Hoffmans episodes dont mirror and toy with podcasting structures and devices as heavily as they did in the first season; this time around, the action expends most of its energy simply tying its main characters in knots courtesy of various developments that complicate their search for answers regarding Bunnys demise. The ensuing investigation results in encounters with familiar faces like cat-lover Howard (Michael Cyril Creighton), Bunnys grumpy friend Uma (Jackie Hoffman) and dip mogul/grave-robber Teddy Dimas (Nathan Lane) and his deaf son Theo (James Caverly), as well as novel potential suspects like Bunnys board-president successor Nina Lin (Christine Ko) and art collective leader Alice (Cara Delevingne), with whom Mable falls into a romance. The gang of die-hard Only Murders in the Building fans additionally factor into the equation, as does Charles teenage stepdaughter Lucy (Zoe Colletti), begetting a bustling and vibrant narrative populated by all sorts of idiosyncratic New Yorkers with the types of gripes, dreams, motives and attitudes that make the city a uniquely lively place. Thats most true of Bunny, an Upper West Side lifer who knows everyone and grumbles about everything, and whom Houdyshell compassionately embodies as more than just the caricature she initially appears to be. There are consistent twists, cameos and jaw-dropping bombshells strewn throughout Only Murders in the Building, whose rat-a-tat-tat pacing is jaunty without ever being frantic. The true draw of the series, however, remains the peerless interplay between Martin and Short, the former doling out droll remarks as nominal straight man Charles, and the latter turning the gleefully narcissistic, dip-loving Oliver into a fount of uproarious one-liners. Martin gets tremendous mileage out of a variety of hair styles (including those employed for his ridiculous new acting gig on the reboot of Brazzos!) and subtle reaction shots and gestures, the best of which finds him responding to a knock on the door by yelling that hes putting on a sweaterand then pretending to do so, even though no one can see him. Short, meanwhile, elicits more audible laughs than would seem possible in a half hour, whether hes referring to the painted testicles of Charles father as your dads Jiminy sack (and then wondering, Did I just make that up?), or seriously referring to sex with the word penetrata. Considering the assured naturalness of Martin and Shorts rapport, its amazing Gomez fits seamlessly into their back-and-forths, electrifying the proceedings central dynamic with a dose of sarcasm, skepticism, and eye-rolling generational tension. Only Murders in the Building knows its numerous players so well that it can segue on a dime between Agatha Christie-style snooping, jokes about TikTok, flashbacks to 1970s card games, and jabs at New York Knicks owner James Dolan without ever feeling scatterbrained. Martin and Shorts comedy is a love letter to its urban milieu and its beloved homicidal genre that doubles as an infectious showcase for its leads first-class chemistry. They may uncover a culprit by the conclusion of their latest odyssey, but given how wonderful it is to spend time in their bickering-and-bantering company, one hopes Martin and Shorts nonprofessional Sherlock Holmeses have many more mysteries to solve in the future. Only Murders in the Building Season 2 streams on Hulu from June 28. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A new low-cost airline is adding Orlando to its list of destinations. READ: OIA passenger numbers continue to rebound for fourth consecutive month of 2022 Breeze Airways has debuted in Orlando, and is offering daily nonstop flights to and from Charleston, South Carolina. Orlando is the 20th nonstop destination Breeze offers from Charleston. Photos: Orlando International Airport welcomes new low-fare airline Breeze Airways Were excited to connect our largest base, Charleston, with our newest destination, Orlando, said Danny Cox, Breezes vice president of guest empowerment and airport operations. WATCH: Waited a long time for this: 109 veterans participate in Floridas 1st all-female honor flight Officials said the tickets from Charleston to Orlando start as low as $39 each way. One of our most important goals is increasing access to the most visited region in the nation, and offering our residents a multitude of travel options. This new service to explore the charms of Charleston provides that experience, said Kevin Thibault, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority. We are pleased to welcome a brand-new airline like Breeze, which expands opportunities for business and leisure travelers to connect to the many assets Central Florida offers. WATCH: Were getting real close: New terminal at Orlando International Airport nearing completion Breeze Airways says it offers seamless booking, no change or cancellation fees, up to 24 months of reusable flight credit and customized flight features delivered via a sleek and simple app. More information about Breeze Airlines can be found here. Click here to download the free WFTV news and weather apps, and click here to watch the latest news on your Smart TV. Jennifer Crumbley and James Crumbley, parents of the alleged Oxford High School shooter who is charged with killing four people and wounding seven others, in court for their pretrial hearing on March 22, 2022. Bill Pugliano/Getty Images The Oxford school shooting suspect's parents want their son to take the witness stand at their trial. James and Jennifer Crumbley face involuntary manslaughter charges after their son was accused of killing four students at his high school. Prosecutors have alleged that James bought his son the gun used in the shooting last November. The parents of the Oxford school shooting suspect want their son to testify as a witness in their criminal trial, lawyers announced during a Thursday hearing, the Detroit Free Press reported. "We need him as a witness in this trial," defense attorney Shannon Smith said in court, the Detroit Free Press reported. Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald questioned the request, and asked how using their son would "somehow highlight his role" in the case to help them, according to the Detroit Free Press. "This is not about the defendants wanting to throw their son under the bus, or making him look bad," Smith said, according to the Detroit Free Press. "When the prosecution criticizes the defense of being selfish we are going to be selfish all day ... Selfishly, we have to protect their rights." Smith declined to comment when contacted by Insider. Judge Cheryl Matthews ultimately agreed and gave the okay for their son to take the witness stand. She said "that they have a right to call him," the Detroit Free Press reported. But if he takes the stand, Matthews said he cannot invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to the Detroit Free Press. The trial is set to examine the role played by James and Jennifer Crumbley in the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School, which their son was attending. Prosecutors allege their son opened fire at his school, killing four students. Authorities later alleged that his father had purchased the gun used in the shooting for him on Black Friday and that his mother was called into the school to discuss her son's behavior on the day of the shooting, but didn't take him out of school. Story continues The prosecution has alleged that the couple failed to help their "troubled son" by purchasing him a gun instead of getting him medical help or therapy. The Crumbleys are charged with involuntary manslaughter in the case and have pleaded not guilty in the case. The trial is scheduled for October 24. Their son's trial will take place in January 2023. Karen McDonald did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Insider P-Valley season 2, episode 4 spoilers follow. P-Valley season 2, episode 4 continues to tell the story of the pandemic through the lens of the strip club and after the much-anticipated re-re-reopening of The Pynk, the club is swiftly closed down again by club goer and inspector Lauren Hawkins for COVID-19 health and safety violations. With that, and a fight between strippers Roulette and Brazil, the episode takes a turn when an unarmed Black man is killed by a white cop, igniting protests in and around Chucalissa. Speaking exclusively to Digital Spy, Brandee Evans explains what it meant to her to shed light on police brutality in America. "Oh my gosh. I'm so glad Katori [Hall] added this to the storyline, because unfortunately, that's just one story, [there are] so many stories like that throughout the country and throughout the world," she said. Photo credit: Curtis Baker - STARZ Related: Brandee Evans discusses how P-Valley goes against stripper stereotypes Discussing the importance of the episode, Evans added: "I think it was very important, and it was a reminder of some of the things that were happening heavily during the pandemic as well beyond the public. "But especially during the pandemic, there was so much happening during that time." On bringing the conversation back to the mainstream, the actress continued: "So I'm just so glad that Katori is making that very difficult conversation be brought back to the forefront because sometimes, you know, when it's not hot news anymore, people like to try to forget that it happened. "And so Katori is reminding you of what's really happening, and the things that we should remember." P-Valley season 2 airs every Sunday on STARZ in the US and Starzplay (also available through Amazon Prime Video) in the UK. You Might Also Like CALLAWAY A 51-year-old Panama City Beach woman was killed in a Sunday evening crash when the car she was driving struck a utility pole and overturned, troopers say. Another Callaway crash: Man struck by SUV while crossing State 22 in Callaway taken to hospital in critical condition New signs in PCB: More flashing pedestrian signs go up in Panama City Beach after 3 people hit days apart She was driving north on County 2297 and rounding a curve near Alvie Holmes Road about 6:45 p.m. when she ran off the right side of the road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The car struck a pole and overturned, coming to rest upside-down in a ditch. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Panama City Beach woman killed in single-car crash in Callaway KYIV, Ukraine (AP) In one of the combat zones against Russia, the supply chief for a Ukrainian fighting brigade places his online order for war supplies a long list ranging from drones, trucks and thermal sights to batteries, generators and tape. They are needed, he writes, to equip two new battalions and combat against armed aggression. In a makeshift supply depot in the capital, Kyiv, crowd-funders start busying themselves with his request. Their bustle will get the equipment to the 72nd Brigade within days, all paid for with public donations. In their ramshackle office, a poster with the Vietnam-era peace slogan exhorts: Drop acid, Not bombs. With attritional combat devouring soldiers and resources, Ukraine is waging a people's war, fought away from front lines by self-starting networks of donors and volunteers. Tech-savvy systems they've thrown together convert millions of dollars in donations into swift Amazon-like deliveries of war gear direct to the battlefields. They're helping keep Ukraine in the fight at a critical juncture of the Russian invasion, as its better-supplied aggressor applies tremendous, grinding pressure on battlefields to the east and south. Civilian volunteering is also boosting morale, providing tangible proof to Ukrainians that they're together in their battle for survival, even if they don't have guns in their hands. From grandmothers cutting old clothes into strips to make camouflage netting to the bereaved girlfriend of a slain soldier who walked into the supply depot after his burial saying she wanted to help, most everyone seems to be doing their bit, big and small or by direct debit. Civilian assistance for the military effort has been a feature of Ukrainian resistance from Day 1 of the Feb. 24 invasion, as ordinary folk dropped everything to help and raided their bank accounts to equip hastily assembled new units. From modest beginnings, including telephone hotlines for donations that were immediately overwhelmed with calls, crowd-funding initiatives have matured into well-oiled machines. They have online payment systems and slick websites explaining their needs, and volunteers applying their expertise in civilian fields logistics, technology, purchasing, electronics to help get supplies into troops' hands. Story continues Five months into the invasion, creative fund-raising is also keeping money flowing in belying the notion that Ukrainians are losing interest and feeling less imperiled in the uneasy peace that has returned to Kyiv and other cities since badly mauled Russian forces withdrew from the north in April, refocusing on capturing Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. An appeal last week by Ukrainian television personality and politician Serhiy Prytula for $15 million in donations to buy three Turkish-made Bayraktar combat drones went viral. He subsequently announced that he'd surged past the target, raising $20 million enough for four Bayraktars in under three days. His foundation is one of the biggest crowd-funding initiatives. Among other, more unusual ones are women and men who send erotic photos of themselves as a reward to donors who can prove, with a receipt, that they gave to a war-support fund. Teronlyfans says its aim is to incentivize donations for the needs of Ukraine and thereby bring our victory closer. The volunteers say they've helped raise $750,000 by baring all. We make sure that the photos are not pornographic. This is beautiful, aesthetic erotica, said Nastya Kuchmenko, one of the group's co-founders. Its not about objectifying the body, its about the freedom to use your body as you want. "People want to be useful," she said. On the opposing side, some Russians, including soldiers' mothers, also are getting supplies to troops. But the Russian effort isn't as organized, massive and spontaneous, in part because the Kremlin is downplaying the scale, reach and cost of its invasion, insisting that it's a mere military operation. The United Peoples Front, a Kremlin-created effort to foster public support for the government, launched a crowd-funding campaign in early June, under the slogan All for Victory! The guys on the front line who are dying for the right to be Russians, who are fighting for our common freedom, will greatly appreciate any help you can offer, Mikhail Kuznetsov, a United Peoples Front executive, said of the drive for front-line gear and medicines. They will win in any case, but they will win faster and with smaller casualties if we help them. On the Ukrainian side, victory is the goal, too. The foundation run by Prytula, the TV personality, prioritizes its aid for units in combat hot spots. Unit commanders list their needs and locations on an online form. That's how Tokha the nom de guerre of the quartermaster for the 72nd Brigade submitted his order. Gear on his wish-list hinted at the ferocity of the fighting around his location in the east, with requests for 100 periscopes for peering from trenches, a dozen tablets pre-loaded with software to correct artillery fire, and even wire presumably for use as tripwires. Bigger-ticket items included six vans and pick-up trucks. Convoys of vans, trucks and other vehicles, sourced second-hand from elsewhere in Europe, set off loaded with gear every week from the foundation's depot in Kyiv. Some vehicles are repainted in army green to make them battle-ready. Their front-line lives can be short: Two recently delivered ambulances lasted just two days before Russian bombs destroyed them. The foundation says it has raised more than $34 million since the invasion began, mostly as donations ranging from pennies to a businessman's gift in cryptocurrency of $1.3 million. The foundation also auctioned the Eurovision Song Contest trophy won and then donated by Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra and raffled the bright bucket hat worn by its frontman. Together, they fetched $1.25 million. The foundation says it has fulfilled 2,200 orders from units in just the last two months. On the receiving end, the troops or volunteers who make the deliveries take photos to prove that aid is being used as intended. Ukrainians are a nation of volunteers and we can do unimaginable things together, said Maria Pysarenko, who works with Prytula. It's also about not just the fundraising but community-building and showing that, Yes, we can." - Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed. __ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine PETERSBURG A few more details have been released about the Saturday night shooting that killed a Richmond man and wounded a woman, and they include possible descriptions of a vehicle and persons of interest that were seen in the neighborhood just before the shots rang out. Sunday night, Petersburg Police released a photo of a vehicle that resembles one that witnesses told them were in the area of Savage and Hamilton streets. The make and model of the car was not immediately known, but witnesses described it as a dark four-door sedan. Police also said two men and a woman were in that car. Keon Moore, 20, of Richmond, was killed and an unidentified woman injured when shots were fired around 7:30 p.m. Saturday in the 1100 block of Savage Street between Bland and Hamilton streets. Moore died upon arrival at a local hospital. The woman was also rushed to the hospital but her wounds were not considered life-threatening. Police said both victims had been shot multiple times. A Petersburg Police statement referred to the occupants of the car as "persons of interest" in the shooting and asked the public for help locating them and the car. Anyone with that information should contact Petersburg Police Detective K. Royster at (804) 479-6255 or anonymously through Crime Solvers at (804) 861-1212. Saturday's homicide is the ninth in Petersburg this year, two more than at this same time last year. Teens found shot to death on railroad tracks in Hopewell; two other juveniles injured This article originally appeared on The Progress-Index: Petersburg Police share details of car, persons of interest in murder GREEN BAY - Police have released the names of the estranged couple who died in a murder-suicide in April. Police were called to the home April 25 and found Melissa Lemerond Gray and husband Walter Gray were dead in a home the couple had once shared in the 800 block of Third Street on the city's west side. Melissa Gray had continued to live in the home, with the couple's sons, after the Grays separated. Police said Walter Gray shot and killed his wife. Both died of gunshot wounds. RELATED: Estranged Green Bay couple found dead in west-side home; 2 others inside house are unhurt RELATED: Karissa Peronto took steps to get away from her stalking ex-boyfriend. It wasn't enough to prevent a murder Police Chief Chris Davis said the afternoon of the shooting that it appeared to be a case of domestic violence. "No one should have to live in fear for their safety," Davis said at the time, reminding residents that there are resources in the community for victims of domestic violence. He encouraged domestic violence survivors to take advantage of those resources. Police said the couple's children, 6 and 2 at the time, were not injured in the shooting. The family of Melissa Gray has raised roughly $8,200 of its $10,000 goal through a "GoFundMe" set up by her mother. The fundraiser is still open for donations. Contact Doug Schneider at (920) 431-8333, or DSchneid@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PGDougSchneider. This article originally appeared on Green Bay Press-Gazette: Police identify Green Bay couple who died in April 25 murder-suicide BuzzFeed "I fumbled a move one night dancing with a friend. I thought he was going to dip me, but he spun me instead. Still, my mistake was enough for him to notice, so he dipped me and said, 'There, I've got you this time.'"View Entire Post A man wanted in connection with an alleged assault of a police officer was arrested after officials say he smacked another man with a sneaker at an MBTA station on Sunday night. Officers responding to a report of an assault at Back Bay station around 7 p.m. spoke with a 58-year-old man who said he was sitting on a bench when he was attacked without provocation, according to Transit police. An investigation revealed that Oscar Lyle, 55, of Mattapan had punched the victim in the face before he removed one of his sneakers and hit him with, police said. The victim suffered swelling on his face and an arm laceration. Lyle is said to have had several warrants for disorderly conduct, trespassing, resisting arrest, and assault and battery on a police officer. An investigation remains ongoing. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Pope Francis, seated in a wheelchair following knee treatment, presides over The Pope has issued some tough love-style parenting advice for frustrated, but overprotective mothers with adult sons who simply wont leave the nest. Pope Francis told Catholic mothers during a Mass service to mark the end of the 10th World Meeting of Families that they should stop ironing their sons shirts and encourage them to go and get married. He also urged adult men not to take the easy road and return to their mothers in moments of difficulty. The 85-year-old head of the Catholic Church, who has never been married and has no children, said: We see so many young men who dont have the courage to get married and mothers often say to me, Do something, speak to my son, who is not getting married and is 37-years-old. But Signora, dont iron his shirts, make the first move by sending him out, let him leave the nest. At the service, which took place at the Vatican in Rome over the weekend, the Pope said that familial love is not possessive, its for freedom always. And then, in the moments of difficulty, in crises all families have them please dont take the easy road: Im going back to Mum, he added, addressing adult men. No, move ahead with this courageous gamble. There will be difficult moments, hard moments, but move ahead, always. As the US Supreme Court overturned constitutional protections for abortion last week, the Pope also used his platform to condemn selfish decisions that thwart the desire to bring new lives in the world. Although he did not explicitly mention abortion or the ruling in his homily, the Pope said: Let us not allow the family to be poisoned by the toxins of selfishness, individualism, todays culture of indifference and waste, and as a result lose its very DNA, which is the spirit of welcoming and service. The Pope has consistently opposed abortion, previously equating the life-saving procedure as hiring a hitman to solve a problem. Reuters The U.S. Supreme Courts top security officer has asked Maryland Governor Larry Hogan to enforce laws barring picketing outside the Maryland homes of high court justices, saying protests and threatening activity have increased. Supreme Court Marshal Gail Curley made the request in a July 1 letter to Hogan, noting that Maryland law prohibits people from intentionally assembling in a manner that disrupts a persons right to tranquility in the persons home. I am writing to request that the Maryland State Police, in conjunction with local authorities as appropriate, enforce laws prohibiting picketing outside the homes of Supreme Court justices who live in Maryland, Curley told Hogan, according to a copy of the letter posted on the Fox News website. Prince Charles is in the hot seat once again over donations to his charities. The royal, 73, reportedly accepted almost $3 million in cash, which was handed to him at his office in bags, from Sheikh Hamad bin Jasseim bin Jaber Al Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar, according to The Sunday Times. The money was a donation to Charles' Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, which gives grants to other non-profit groups that reflect the prince's interests. The sheikh gave Charles three separate donations totaling $3.1 million over a period between 2011 and 2015, The Sunday Times reports. One bundle of cash was given during a private meeting between Charles and Sheikh Hamad. The money was then counted by two aides at the palace and passed along to royal bank Coutts for deposit in the fund. There is "no suggestion that the payments were illegal," the Times added. Charles's office at Clarence House said in a statement on Monday: "Charitable donations received from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim were passed immediately to one of the Prince's charities who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed." Prince Charles, Prince of Wales smiles as he departs the CHOGM opening ceremony at Kigali Convention Centre Chris Jackson - Pool/Getty Images Prince Charles at CHOGM on Friday Sheikh Hamad has not commented. Charles now faces the possibility of an investigation by The Charity Commission the governing body of the charity world in Britain. A spokesman for the Charity Commission confirms in a statement: "We are aware of reports about donations received by The Prince of Wales's Charitable Foundation. We will review the information to determine whether there is any role for the Commission in this matter." Prince Charles - CHOGM Opening Ceremony at Kigali Convention Centre Tim Rooke/Shutterstock It is not illegal for charities to accept donations in cash, however, the regulator of non-profits in the U.K. recommends that a series of checks for due diligence is carried out when accepting donations. RELATED: Prince Charles' 'Future Role as King' Was 'Visible' During Platinum Jubilee, Says Royal Historian An expert on royal finances said that Charles' behavior was "grubby." Norman Baker told The Times on Monday: "A million euros in cash stuffed into bags, or shoved into a holdall or a suitcase, and handed over behind closed doors is what you might expect from a South American drug baron, not the heir to the British throne. This is grubby, scuzzy behavior, which reinforces the view many are reaching, that Charles is not fit to be king." Story continues Prince Charles Tim Rooke/Shutterstock The furor comes just months after another one of Charles's charities, The Prince's Foundation which is not connected to his Charitable Fund was caught up in cash for official honors allegations. The Metropolitan Police has launched an investigation and the head of the Foundation, Michael Fawcett, stepped down in November amid the inquiry. Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more! The Sunday Times and The Mail on Sunday reported allegations that Fawcett helped support a campaign for official honors for Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz. A letter from Fawcett to an aide to Mahfouz in August 2018, published by the Mail on Sunday, reportedly said, "In light of the ongoing and most recent generosity of His Excellency ... I am happy to confirm to you, in confidence, that we are willing and happy to support and contribute to the application for Citizenship." Charles's office responded at the time, saying, "The Prince of Wales has no knowledge of the alleged offer of honours or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities and fully supports the investigation now underway by The Prince's Foundation." Prince Charles. Tim P. Whitby - WPA Pool/Getty Images Prince Charles reportedly accepted over $3 million in cash from the former prime minister of Qatar. While he denies wrongdoing, an inquiry led by a UK charity regulator is reviewing the exchange. Charles' latest donor controversy exposes a gray area in royal rules about accepting cash gifts. Prince Charles denies he did anything wrong by reportedly accepting over $3 million in cash from a Qatari politician for charity, but the fallout exposes a gray area in rules about royals accepting gifts of money. On Sunday, the Times of London reported that between 2011 and 2015, the Prince of Wales personally accepted three bundles of cash, one of which amounted to just over $1 million, that was stuffed into a suitcase. The donation was reportedly deposited into accounts of the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund (PWCF), which awards annual grants to a range of charities. According to The Times of London, the entire donation of 3 million, or around $3.1 million, was given in 500 notes by Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani. Al Thani is a controversial former prime minister of Qatar who has had involvement with several offshore companies, according to The Guardian. The Times of London added in its report that on one occasion, Al Thani gave Charles what amounted to around $1.05 million, "which was reportedly stuffed into carrier bags from Fortnum & Mason, the luxury department store that has a royal charter to provide the prince's groceries and tea." In a statement to Insider on Monday, Clarence House denied any wrongdoing. "Charitable donations received from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim were passed immediately to one of the Prince's charities who carried out the appropriate governance and have assured us that all the correct processes were followed," the statement read. When it comes to cash donations, royal rules are vague Per the gift guidelines and procedures outlined on the official royal website, members of the royal family "are allowed to accept a cheque as a patron of, or on behalf of a charity with which they are associated with (often for publicity purposes)." Story continues It makes no mention of cash donations, including large sums like those reportedly given to Charles by Al Thani. Prince Charles, Prince of Wales, arrives for the National Service of Thanksgiving to Celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty the Queen at St Paul's Cathedral. Henry Nicholls - WPA Pool/Getty Images The website adds that members of the royal family "should never accept gifts of money, or money equivalent, in connection with an official engagement or duty. If not capable of being returned, money should be donated directly to a charity nominated by the Member of The Royal Family." A possible new inquiry into donations to Charles' charitable foundation A spokesperson for the Charity Commission, a UK government regulator, told Insider via email that it is "aware of reports about donations received by The Prince of Wales's Charitable Foundation." They also said: "We will review the information to determine whether there is any role for the Commission in this matter." The Charity Commission provides guidance for trustees to consider when accepting donations, to determine "whether it appears to have any suspicious characteristics." It encourages trustees to question the form in which the donation is received, whether there is any public concern about the donor or their activities, and whether the donations come with any conditions attached. If the commission finds it has a further role in the matter, it will be the second time the Prince of Wales has found himself and his charitable endeavors facing questions and a possible inquiry about charitable donations. Prince Charles and his former aide, Michael Fawcett. Chris Jackson/Getty Images, Max Mumby/Getty Images British police announced in February it'd launched an investigation into Charles' charity, The Prince's Foundation, over accusations a close aide offered a Saudi tycoon knighthood in exchange for $2 million in donations. The Sunday Times' Gabriel Pogrund and Valentine Low reported in September that one of Prince Charles' closest aides and former valet, Michael Fawcett, had stepped down from his role as the chief executive of The Prince's Foundation after it published a report accusing him of misconduct. The publication reported that Saudi businessman Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz paid tens of thousands of dollars "to fixers with links to the prince" who told him they could award him an honorary CBE, the highest-ranking Order of the British Empire award for those who are not British citizens. A spokesperson for Prince Charles told The Mirror last year: "The Prince of Wales had no knowledge of the alleged offer of honors or British citizenship on the basis of donation to his charities." Read the original article on Insider Elvis Presley always insisted on looking his best, even in the privacy of his own home. Even at Graceland, he would be dressed up coming down the staircase. No pajamas, Priscilla Presley, 77, recalled about her late ex-husband in a recent Vogue video. The Dallas star, who was married to Elvis from 1967 to 1973, shared some intimate anecdotes about the King of Rock n Roll as she reflected on her own looks through the years. For Elvis, she said, looking put-together at all times was a way of keeping the spark alive. We always dressed up. Elvis never liked that feeling or look of being too relaxed, she said. Elvis had this idea (of) always looking good for each other, always making sure that that never lapsed. The fact is, we cared for each other, loved each other, had fun with each other, but never to get so relaxed that it was kind of sloppy. She also shared some details about her early relationship with the singer, whom she met in Germany when she was just 14. Elvis had been stationed in Germany during his Army career, and when it came time for him to return to the U.S. in 1960, Presley recalled wondering if their romance would continue. I dreaded this day very much because I didnt know, actually, if I was ever going to see him again, she said, looking back at a photo of herself in a belted dress and headscarf and she waved goodbye to him. She recalled the sadness of saying goodbye to Elvis in Germany as a teenager. (ullstein bild / Getty Images) One request that he asked that I not be teary eyed, so you see me smiling here, she said. There are other pictures where I am down, looking away, and knowing that I may never see him again. So that was the beginning. Their relationship, of course, did survive the distance, and they eventually tied the knot in Las Vegas in 1967. Even before they married, the couple was being tracked by paparazzi, and Presley recalled the challenges of shopping for a wedding dress without tipping off the press. I would go into stores, people would recognize me and of course then know there was a wedding ahead, she told Vogue. This was such a well-kept secret because we wanted it to be our wedding with our friends and not loaded with paparazzi. Story continues Presley revealed that she went under cover to buy her wedding dress so that paparazzi would not be alerted to her upcoming marriage. (Frank Edwards / Fotos International / Getty Images) She explained that she asked a male friend to come wedding dress shopping with her and pose as her future groom, and said she wore sunglasses to avoid being recognized. Presley also revealed how she achieved the iconic bouffant she rocked in the 60s. Thats a pretty big hairdo I have. This was the style, she said of one particularly gravity-defying look. That was my hair. Not all of itI had a little bump underneath and my hair went on top of it, she explained. And I did this especially for Elvis. He had gone away to do a movie and I wanted to surprise him. There was a lot of teasing in this hair, a lot of teasing. That was huge in the 60s. She added that the look took about an hour and a half to achieve. The problem was trying to keep it that way for a week because we just got our hair done once a week, that was the deal! she said, laughing. She was still rocking a sky-high bouffant when she and Elvis welcomed their daughter, Lisa Marie Presley, in 1968. Presley looked back on a photo of herself as a new mom sporting a pink dress, an outfit that was re-created in Baz Luhrmanns new Elvis biopic. Elvis and Priscilla Presley cradled their newborn daughter, Lisa Marie, in February 1968. (Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images) She also shared Elviss sweet reaction to becoming a dad. He was looking at her like, Oh my gosh, I have a child. What do I do? He was so afraid to hold her, she said. I think a lot of men feel that way. He was so frightened that he would drop her. The actor also reflected on how her style changed through the years. Presley rocked a denim outfit as she posed outside her clothing shop, Bis & Beau Boutique, in Beverly Hills, California. (Ron Galella / Getty Images) After her split with Elvis, she co-founded a clothing boutique in Los Angeles, Bis & Beau Boutique, that attracted celebrity clients including Cher and Barbra Streisand. Different eyebrows, wearing lashesIm starting to free up a little bit, feeling more sure of myself, she said of her style during that time. She then looked back on her style in the 80s and beyond, including her fabulous, sequined outfits on Dallas and one dress she particularly loved when she competed on Dancing With the Stars in 2008. Kelsey McNeal (Disney Entertainment / Getty Images) She ended with a shout-out to an earth-toned dress she wore to the premiere of Elvis at Cannes earlier this year. Presley attended the Cannes premiere of I like this dress because it kind of matched the color of my hair, she said. She also gushed about Austin Butlers portrayal of Elvis in the 2022 biopic, calling his performance so unbelievable, its frightening. AfricaImages / Getty Images Proposals to privatize Social Security are not new. Theyve been around for at least 30 years, when politicians and think tanks suggested private investment accounts as an option to address the programs financial problems. Those problems are still around and so are calls in some quarters to privatize it. See: 27 Ugly Truths About Retirement Find: Best Cities To Retire on a Budget of $1,500 a Month Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters is the latest politician to press the issue, Business Insider reported. At a recent primary debate, Masters voiced doubts that he would ever receive Social Security himself, being a millennial. We need fresh and innovative thinking, maybe we should privatize Social Security, he said. Private retirement accounts, get the government out of it. His concerns likely stem from a 2021 report from the Social Security board of trustees saying that the programs cash reserves will be fully depleted by 2034. Annual taxes are expected to cover only about 78% of the benefits each year after that. But previous efforts to privatize Social Security have run into a wall of opposition especially from retirees who depend on the benefits. In 2004, then-President George W. Bush unveiled a plan for people to open their own private retirement accounts and provide the option to redirect payroll taxes into them. But the plan was doomed by resistance by both Democrats and some Republicans. Nearly two decades years later, the debate still hasnt gone away. As the Britannica Pro/Con website noted, proponents and opponents of privatization can both trot out several reasons to support their positions. POLL: Are You Concerned That Social Security Benefits Will Be Reduced During Your Lifetime? Pros Here are three reasons why privatizing Social Security might be a good idea. 1. The current Social Security program will become insolvent by 2035, so a better system is needed. The CATO Institutes Project on Social Security stated that moving to personal retirement accounts can reduce Social Securitys debt and bring the system back into solvency. Story continues 2. With private personal accounts, retirees will get higher returns on their investments because of consistent growth in the stock market (the current bear market notwithstanding). The year-over-year growth rate for private investments has historically been much higher than the return gained by retired workers in the current Social Security program, according to research cited by Britannica Pro/Con. 3. Private accounts give people more control over their retirement decisions because they can choose their own investments instead of having the money sit in a government-controlled entity. Explore: Social Security Changes That May Be Coming for 2023 Cons Privatizing Social Security could also have adverse consequences. 1. Privatizing Social Security will actually do nothing to address its impending insolvency and maybe even make it worse. The reason Social Security trust funds are running out of money is because the programs cost is increasing at a faster rate than its revenue from payroll taxes. That will only worsen if a portion of payroll taxes are diverted away from the Social Security trust funds and into private retirement accounts. A 1997 Brookings Institution analysis found that if just 1% of payroll taxes had been diverted to private accounts in 1998, the trust funds would have been insolvent by 2015. 2. Americans retirement money will be vulnerable to stock market volatility. Because of the normal up-and-down stock market cycles, those who retire during a selloff would be a lot worse off than those who retire during a boom. Even diversified mutual and bond funds carry risk and are not guaranteed or insured by the government. Economist Dean Baker estimated that average 15-year-olds in 2005 who retire in 2055 would lose more than $160,000 of their scheduled benefits under Bushs plan and gain less than a third of that back from private account investments. 3. Privatizing Social Security would dramatically increase the national debt by transitioning to private accounts while also continuing to provide benefits to current Social Security beneficiaries. MIT economist Peter A. Diamond estimated that such a transfer of funds would add $1 trillion to $2 trillion to the countrys national debt and potentially trigger an economic crisis. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Privatizing Social Security Has Proven a Tough Pill To Swallow What Are the Pros and Cons? Hundreds took to the streets on Sunday in Sewickley to show their opposition to the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Pretty upset that I have to come and, you know, spend half my day out here with my children to, you know, protect their future and protect other peoples future to make our voices heard, said Meredith Johnson, a protester. After marching, protesters lined up along route 65 just past the Sewickley Bridge for hours as some drivers honked in support. As soon as I got here, I just burst into tears because its just, you know, you feel so alone, and then when you see that there are so many people, you know, on the same page to you, it just feels really good, said Kate Csallner, the organizer of the event. Children and men were also in attendance to stand with the women supporting what they believe in. I have two daughters, my mom. Just all the women in my life. This is really unfair and threatens the rights of everybody, said Tyler Sachs. TRENDING NOW: Police: Multiple people injured after overnight shooting at Belle Vernon steakhouse Missing West Mifflin girl found, police say mother was arrested Frozen baby woolly mammoth remains found in Yukon Territory VIDEO: Protesters in Pittsburgh push for feminist policy discussion after Roe v. Wade overturn DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Indigenous protesters in Ecuador met with the government on Monday in an attempt to end nationwide demonstrations against high living costs that have rocked the country for two weeks. The meeting came after protesters rejected a fuel price cut announced by the government as insufficient and vowed to continue demonstrations. President Guillermo Lasso on Sunday announced a 10-cents-per-gallon reduction to the fast-rising diesel and gasoline prices that sparked the uprising, now in its fifteenth day and severely hampering the oil-dependent economy. The cut was not nearly as much as protesters had demanded and the powerful Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (Conaie), which has been blockading roads and occupying oil wells since June 13, said the gesture was "not enough, it is insensitive." It showed, said a statement signed by Conaie leader Leonidas Iza, that the government "does not sympathize with the situation of poverty faced by millions of families." "Our struggle is not over," the group added. But later on Monday, Conaie met with the government in a meeting that was broadcast online. Iza said the group's aim was to agree "a policy that can benefit the poorest," while reiterating that Indigenous people had been "insulted" by Lasso's gesture. Indigenous people make up more than a million of the South American nation's 17.7 million people, and Conaie is credited with unseating three presidents between 1997 and 2005. Fuel prices, which are subsidized in oil-producing Ecuador, have risen sharply since 2020, almost doubling for diesel from $1 to $1.90 per gallon and swelling from $1.75 to $2.55 for gasoline. Conaie wants the price to be lowered to $1.50 per gallon for diesel and $2.10 for gasoline. - 'Critical' level - An estimated 14,000 protesters are taking part in a nationwide show of discontent against rising hardship in an economy dealt a serious blow by the coronavirus pandemic. Most of the ire is concentrated in the capital Quito, where some 10,000 people are gathered, mainly from other parts of the country. Story continues Other than fuel price cuts, the protesters also want jobs, food price controls, and more public spending on healthcare and education. The action has been costly, with losses of some $50 million per day to the economy, and production of fuel -- Ecuador's biggest export -- halved from about 520,000 barrels per day, according to the energy ministry. Hundreds of wells are besieged. On Sunday, the ministry said oil production had reached a "critical" level and could be halted entirely within 48 hours if the protests continued. Ecuador's economy is highly dependent on oil revenues, with 65 percent of output exported in the first four months of 2022. The demonstrations have also crippled transportation, with roadblocks set up in 19 of the country's 24 provinces, blocking the delivery of food and flowers -- another key export -- and dealing a blow to tourism. Shortages are already being reported in the capital, where prices have soared and irate workers and shop owners have launched counter-protests against the disruption of their lives and livelihoods. - 'Full force' - Lasso, an ex-banker who took office last year, finds himself in a tough spot between the protesters and politicians who blame him for the drawn-out standoff. At the request of opposition parties, parliament started an impeachment hearing for the president over the weekend, suspended until Tuesday. Once the hearings conclude, lawmakers will have 72 hours to vote. Impeachment would require 92 of the 137 possible votes in the National Assembly, where the opposition holds a fragmented majority. Seeking to appease protesters, Lasso on Saturday lifted a state of emergency that had been in place in six provinces, with Quito under a night-time curfew. There was also a first meeting between protesters and the government, although no details emerged of what was discussed. In two weeks of protests to date, five people have died in clashes with police, and hundreds have been injured on both sides. International organizations and rights bodies have called for an end to the violence, while Pope Francis on Sunday urged "dialogue." Both sides have accused each other of intransigence. Lasso insisted Sunday that those seeking a peaceful settlement would find an "outstretched hand," adding, however, that "those who seek chaos, violence and terrorism will face the full force of the law." lv-sp/dga/mlr-bc/sw Queen Elizabeth was ready for her close-up when a nervous photographer, known for mingling with the stars, walked into Buckingham Palace. It was 2002 and Rankin, whose full name is John Rankin Waddell, was one of 10 photographers chosen to photograph the reigning monarch for her Golden Jubilee that year. The Scottish-born photographer and co-founder of the magazine Dazed + Confused had collaborated with some of the biggest names in Hollywood and fashion but nothing could prepare him for Her Majesty. "I was probably more nervous than Ive ever been in my life," he admitted to Fox News Digital. "I think the only other person who ever made me quite nervous was Madonna. But I was also super excited because as head of state, she has been a part of my life since I was born. If you were brought up in the U.K., she becomes like an extended member of your family." Photographer Rankin, who has worked with some of Hollywood and fashion's top stars, said photographing Queen Elizabeth II was the highlight of his decades-long career. Matthias Nareyek/Getty Images "It was an absolute honor," he continued. "Ive always been in awe of her as a human because she had made so many sacrifices in her life. And even though I grew up with her, I didnt know very much about her. So, it was fascinating to have a brief moment where I could see who she really was as a person. But this was also the most famous woman in the world. So there was, of course, a lot of pressure to get it right. And I wasnt scared of taking her photo. I just wanted to make sure it perfectly represented her." QUEEN ELIZABETH SPORTS POST-PLATINUM JUBILEE HAIRCUT, GOES WITHOUT CANE AT WINDSOR CASTLE Rankin, a nervous wreck, arrived at Buckingham Palace wearing a suit and carrying his equipment. With bated breath, he waited for the queen, now 96, in a room with about three palace aides. He suddenly heard a persistent tap from a seemingly never-ending corridor. There was Elizabeth, walking alongside a towering footman who was at least 6 feet, 2 inches. "Here I was, wondering how I should greet her I had done so much research before but here she was just joking and laughing with her footman as they were walking toward me," he explained. "I just thought, Oh my God, shes got this great sense of humor. And when she walked in, there was this wave of power that took over me. And its interesting because shes not a tall person at all. But she walked in with this incredible power that takes over a room. Its almost as if its washing over you, this feeling. But seeing her walk in with laughter also put me at ease. In my research, I read she had this wicked, very cheeky sense of humor. And it clearly showed." Story continues According to the 56-year-old, Elizabeth happily chatted with Rankin and even made several jokes during their brief conversation. But Rankin, who was anxious at the time, admitted he couldnt remember the exact quips the queen made. "I do remember her being funny and engaging," he said. "I hadnt realized how funny she would be." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The photo shoot, which took place in the ballroom, went smoothly at first. But suddenly, a piece of Rankins camera fell to the ground during their session. Queen Elizabeth is introduced to Ozzy Osbourne and Kermit the Frog on stage during "Party at the Palace" in 2002 as part of her Golden Jubilee celebrations. Adrian Dennis/AFP via Getty Images "It was a part of my camera that made the flash work," said Rankin. "She just laughed. It broke this kind of spell that was going on. She humanized in front of me. I wanted to capture that feeling with my camera. Once I saw that laugh, I thought, Thats it, Im gonna get her smiling. When my assistant eventually got that piece back in, I said, Maam, could you just smile, please? I got one where she gave this really massive smile. And in the end, I got this one smile that was the shot." According to Rankin, he shot 100 frames in four minutes. But it was the three photos where the queen was smiling that he said truly captured her spirit. He sent versions of the portrait to the palace. In one version, he put the Union Jack behind her. He soon received a note stating that Elizabeth liked the stitching on that one photo, which he said was the closest thing to her saying she liked that image of herself. The photo went on to be displayed at Windsor Castle and the National Portrait Gallery. HOW THE YOUNG ROYALS HAVE BEEN SCENE STEALERS AND ARE MODERNIZING THE MONARCHY: EXPERT Photographer Rankin works with Prince William for the "A Positive View" exhibition at Somerset House in March 2010. A..G. Carrick/Chris Jackson via Getty Images "It was truly the honor of a lifetime," said Rankin. "This is a woman who never strived for fame. And if you look at history, she wasnt even supposed to be the queen. If her uncle hadnt abdicated, she could have had a completely different life. But her life has always been about sacrifice and service. And here I was photographing not only the queen but the person behind this great image that I grew up with. I left feeling with so much love and respect for her." It wouldn't be the last time Rankin encountered royalty. In 2010, he worked with Elizabeths grandson Prince William. "He exemplifies the word charming hes such a charming man," said Rankin. "I loved him so much. It was for a charity project to raise awareness of homelessness, a cause thats extremely important to him. Even that early on, he already immersed himself in charity work. I think Britain is going to really benefit from his leadership. He does so much work that doesnt get publicized. I have a lot of love for him and the queen." Queen Elizabeth II has tea with Paddington Bear on a big screen during the "Platinum Party at the Palace" stage in front of Buckingham Palace, London, on June 4, 2022. Victoria Jones/PA Images via Getty Images Recently, the queen celebrated the Platinum Jubilee, which marked her 70 years on the throne. Rankin said his favorite moment from the four days of festivities was when Elizabeth appeared in a humorous sketch with British national treasure Paddington Bear at Buckingham Palace. Her performance with the animated bear drew laughter and roaring applause from the crowd outside the palace where it premiered. QUEEN ELIZABETH II BECOMES WORLD'S SECOND-LONGEST REIGNING MONARCH OF ALL TIME "When that happened, I just screamed," Rankin chuckled. "Paddington Bear is part of our childhoods. He was my absolute favorite. So when that sketch happened, it felt like a dream come true. And it was just brilliant because it truly displayed her sense of humor." These days, Rankin is reflecting on how his work could make a difference. He recently teamed up with global biotherapeutics leader CSL Behring to launch "Portraits of Progress," an exhibition showcasing the stories and experiences of people living with hemophilia from the mid-20th century to today. It also explores the ongoing research being made to focus on gene therapies for the medical condition where blood cant clot properly, causing excessive bleeding after any injury. "I knew very little about hemophilia before I was approached," said Rankin. "When I learned about it, I realized how important it is to educate others about this condition and how it impacts others. This campaign is a representation of the progress that has been made since the 40s to treat this debilitating disease. Weve taken portraits of health care workers in the community, doctors, scientists, as well as patients. Many of them wouldnt be alive if there wasnt medical support." "I think it was about 30 years ago when I made a decision that I wanted my projects to have more depth," he reflected. "I wanted my photos to have storytelling potential, to have more of an influence on our daily lives. I think, of course, people will always be drawn to fame. But I also want to uplift the many figures who are making a difference in our lives. And as a photographer, its been a real privilege to share their stories." In a Gettr post, Steve Bannon urged "patriots" to take advantage of the "Roe momentum" to win the MAGA movement a "massive victory" at the midterm elections. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Steve Bannon has called for an "army of the awakened" to rise in post-Roe America. Bannon posted on Gettr touting the SCOTUS ruling as a victory over the "pro-abortion movement." He called on the MAGA movement to capitalize on the situation to win big at the midterm elections. Right-wing figure Steve Bannon has called for an "army of the awakened" to "shatter" the Democratic party in post-Roe America. Bannon made a post on Gettr on Saturday lauding the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, a controversial decision that has led to abortion being halted in some states. In his post, Bannon called on "the army of the awakened" to rally and capitalize on the verdict. "This is the key take-away for MAGA the pro-abortion movement is shattered and is now turning in on itself because for 50 years they didn't have to work the Courts and Regime Media covered for them now The Abyss," Bannon wrote. "That's the Democratic Party in November we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to shatter it into a million small pieces," Bannon added, referring to the upcoming midterm elections. In another post on Sunday, Bannon urged "patriots" to take advantage of the "Roe momentum" and "flood the zone" to win the MAGA movement a "massive victory" in the midterms. The Gettr posts were not the first occasion that Bannon, a former Trump strategist, has alluded to a MAGA "army" of some sort taking over the government. In a December 2021 episode of his podcast, "War Room: Pandemic," Bannon and Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz floated the possibility of an "army of patriots" and "shock troops" taking over the US government. Bannon was also seen ranting outside a courthouse in Washington, D.C., in June, claiming that MAGA will "destroy the Democratic Party" and "govern for 100 years." "We will govern for a hundred years after we win a hundred seats," Bannon said, baselessly claiming that MAGA candidates will sweep wins in the Senate, school boards, and state legislatures and take the seats for "all the Secretaries of State." Bannon's comments, however, come at a tense moment in the political landscape. Protests have erupted across the US over Roe v. Wade, at times culminating in tense and violent confrontations. Read the original article on Business Insider FIRST ON FOX: Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., is demanding answers from the Biden administration over its reported plans to fund the transportation of migrants across the country. American taxpayer money shouldn't be used to "further exacerbate" the border crisis by facilitating migrant travel in the U.S., Johnson wrote to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas in a June 22 letter first obtained by Fox News Digital. ICE AGENTS FORCED TO COORDINATE TRAVEL FOR ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, SOME WITH CRIMINAL RECORDS: SOURCE Johnson, the top Republican on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, noted a recent NBC News report that the federal government would begin paying for migrants' travel from the U.S.-Mexico border to various shelters located in Texas, New Mexico and California. "It appears that a recently leaked DHS plan doubles down on this administrations efforts to charge taxpayers for illegal aliens travel," he wrote to Mayorkas. "According to this plan, DHS would pay to transport aliens away from the border and deeper into the U.S." "Under DHSs plan, taxpayers would foot the bill to send aliens to cities such as Los Angeles, California; Albuquerque, New Mexico; and Houston and Dallas, Texas," Johnson continued. "Taxpayer dollars should be used to secure our border not further exacerbate the Biden border crisis." The Wisconsin senator also highlighted a Fox News Digital report from January that Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials had coordinated migrant travel and accommodations with non-governmental organizations. Johnson's letter included a list of more than two dozen NGOs the Biden administration has worked with on the border that his staff obtained from DHS in April. "That enclosed list potentially shows only a fraction of the NGOs DHS and its components utilize," he wrote. SENATE REPUBLICANS DEMAND ANSWERS FROM MAYORKAS ON SCOPE OF DISINFORMATION BOARD, 'MISLEADING' TESTIMONY Story continues Johnson asked whether the DHS provides "any funding, financial support, or reimbursement to any NGOs" for migrant travel. He also asked for a list of organizations that receive such funds and for all records related to the leaked memo highlighted in the NBC News report. The number of border apprehensions has increased sharply under the Biden administration, according to government data. More than 1.95 million migrants were encountered crossing the border in fiscal year 2021 and about 1.75 million have been encountered in fiscal year 2022 which ends in late September. By comparison, an average of 751,231 migrants were encountered per year between 2017-2020. The DHS didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reuters) - Russia sanctioned 43 Canadian citizens on Monday, barring them from entering the country in a tit-for-tat response to Western sanctions on Moscow. The list, published by the foreign ministry, included the chairperson of Canada's governing Liberal Party, Suzanne Cowan, and the former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, Mark Carney. In April, Moscow sanctioned 61 Canadian officials and journalists. It has barred dozens of other Western politicians, journalists and business figures from entering Russia. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Gareth Jones) Circuit Court Judge Charles Williams has ruled in favor of the Sarasota Herald-Tribune to dissolve the injunction against allowing the news organization to publish the names of the Sheriff's deputies involved in a fatal shooting. A Sarasota judge ruled Monday in favor of dissolving an injunction that prevented the Sarasota Herald-Tribune from publishing information regarding the sheriff's deputies involved in a fatal shooting. Circuit Judge Charles Williams said he will stay the ruling until 4 p.m. Tuesday to allow for the attorneys representing the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office, the 12th Judicial Circuit State Attorney's Office, and the two deputies time to file an appeal. "A fatal shooting by law enforcement officers is a matter of enormous public concern. The Herald-Tribune fought to share this information with its readers, and we are glad todays ruling will clear the way for that," said James Lake, an attorney representing the Herald-Tribune. "The Sheriffs Office and State Attorneys Office should never have asked for an injunction in the first place. If the First Amendment means anything, it means the government doesnt have authority to censor the news." Prior coverage: Sarasota judge to rule within a week on injunction barring Herald-Tribune from ID'ing deputies Related: Herald-Tribune challenges order against identifying deputies in fatal shooting Read the story: Sarasota County deputy fatally shoots armed man during eviction, sheriff says The emergency injunction, granted June 10, barred the Herald-Tribune from publishing the names of two deputies involved in the fatal shooting of Jeremiah Evans during an eviction on April 1 from Palm Place Condominium in Sarasota. The last names of the deputies were released to the news organization after a public records request for a letter signed by Chief Assistant State Attorney Craig Schaeffer ruling the shooting justified. The deputies invoked Marsy's Law, saying they were crime victims after Evans had come at them with a knife. Judge Charles Williams listens to arguments June 21, 2022, during a hearing at the Silvertooth Judicial Center in Sarasota. The Herald-Tribune was able to identify the full name of the deputy who fired their gun using publicly available information. Story continues Attorney Morgan Bentley, who represented the two deputies, said during a June 21 hearing that Circuit Judge Charles E. Roberts, who issued the injunction, had taken appropriate action governed by the Florida Constitution to protect the crime victims' information. Bentley on Monday said he was disappointed with the ruling but thinks the order raises bigger issues regarding the interpretation of Marsy's Law and law enforcement which would need to be clarified. Bentley added his clients will decide Tuesday if they would like to move forward with an appeal. Dig deeper: Supreme Court agrees to consider Marsy's Law dispute between city of Tallahassee and police union Attorneys for the deputies and Sheriff's Office also argued it was vital to keep the names of deputies involved in situations where deadly force is used secret to avoid threats and harassment. "I greatly respect Judge Williams, and we will abide by his ruling," Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman said. "Although two organizations reported our action in this case indicated a lack of transparency, it was instead based on a good faith belief that the Florida Constitution protected all victims of crime, regardless of an inadvertent disclosure by a third party. While I have my personal opinion about the application of Marsys Law to law enforcement officers who are victims of crime, we believed, based on the plain reading, that we needed to proceed forward and get this issue resolved." The State Attorney's Office did not respond to requests for comment. Hoffman added his office is now waiting for the pending Florida Supreme Court case and any legislative action determining how Marsy's Law will apply to law enforcement crime victims. Lake argued that the temporary injunction hadn't met any of the tests required for such an injunction and was a "prior restraint" against the press. Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Judge grants Herald-Tribune right to name deputies in shooting case A bipartisan group of senators, including the chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, on Monday announced plans to block the veterans Asset and Infrastructure Review Commission, saying the process is flawed and unneeded. The move all but ends more than five years of efforts to significantly cut back the Department of Veterans Affairs footprint across America, and throws into question the long-term plans for what new facilities should be built to provide medical care to veterans. But the opponents of the AIR Commission efforts led by Jon Tester, D-Mont., chairman of the veterans committee and one of the chambers most influential voices on veterans policy decisions said the slow pace of the work thus far coupled with the controversial recommendations put out by VA leaders earlier this year have made the process unworkable. Dozens of VA medical centers slated for closure, total rebuilds under new infrastructure plan As senators, we share a commitment to expanding and strengthening modern VA infrastructure in a way that upholds our obligations to Americas veterans. We believe the recommendations put forth to the AIR Commission are not reflective of that goal, and would put veterans in both rural and urban areas at a disadvantage, the group said in a statement. That is why we are announcing that this process does not have our support and will not move forward. The commission is not necessary for our continued push to invest in VA health infrastructure. The group includes Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Martin Heinrich, D-N.M.; Mike Rounds, R-S.D.; and Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va. Those four last month introduced legislation to completely eliminate the commission, saying the recommendations offered by VA leaders were too flawed to try and salvage. In addition to those senators, seven more senators also signed on to the new pledge to block the commission: Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Patty Murray, D-Wash.; Steve Daines, R-Mont.; Rob Portman, R-Ohio; and Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M. Story continues The AIR Commission has been compared to the Defense Departments Base Closure and Realignment Commission, designed to reduce the militarys footprint across America and return public land to local communities for new use. But the VA asset review is more complicated. Congress passed language in 2018 mandating the commission meet, review thousands of VA facilities across the country and come up with a list of changes in the future. VA officials have said they have nearly 1,000 non-vacant but underused facilities spread across the country, creating a significant drain on department resources. Closing many of them would require an act of Congress. When the law creating the commission was adopted, conservatives hyped the effort as a way to reduce wasteful spending on VA facilities and push more veterans services into private-sector care. But Democratic leaders insisted the language was written broadly enough so that VA could either reduce or increase the number of VA medical sites across the country, with the goal of better aligning facilities with veterans needs. In March, VA Secretary Denis McDonough unveiled his recommendations to the commission, which included hundreds of changes to facilities in every state. Thirty-five Veterans Affairs Medical Centers in 21 different states would be closed or completely reconstructed under the nearly $2 trillion infrastructure overhaul. Fourteen new major VA hospitals would be built along with 140 multi-specialty community-based outpatient clinics. The plan in total would add 80 new medical buildings to the departments existing inventory of more than 1,200 across the country. Many lawmakers and outside advocates hated it Conservatives said the Democratic administrations goals didnt go far enough to reduce VAs landholdings. Democratic lawmakers noted that many of the health care market assessments used in crafting the plan relied on pre-pandemic data, making them outdated. Officials from rural areas said the recommendations cut off services for too many veterans not living close to major U.S. cities. Staff in hospitals in New York and Ohio scheduled for eventual closure held rallies to protest the decisions. Since March, the process has been stalled over commission nominees. The first eight were announced in the spring. The ninth, Thomas Harvey, wasnt announced until Wednesday. That delayed confirmation work on the whole group by months. The delay is particularly problematic because commission members by law only have until early 2023 to present any revisions to the secretarys plan. With less than a year left to complete site visits, new market assessments and staff interviews, the commissions workload appeared unrealistic. Sweeping changes to VAs medical facilities across America on hold due to missing nominee Now, with 10 key senators promising to block those confirmations, the work may be impossible. Tester would be the one to schedule and lead confirmation hearings for the nominees, and he has no intention to do so. The group said their decision is not an attack on the nominees but instead on the process itself. We remain dedicated to providing the department with the resources and tools it needs to continue delivering quality care and earned services to veterans in 21st century facilities, now and into the future, the group said in a statement. Last week, when asked whether the delay of the commission nominees would make the work on the AIR Commission thus far worthless, McDonough insisted that the framework behind the recommendations could form the basis of future planning discussions by the department. I define the entire project that the AIR Commission is designed around to be modernization, he said. We are bound and determined to do right by our veterans, and that means upgrading our physical infrastructure. We will not be deterred from that. In a statement Monday, VA officials said they will continue that work. President Biden has insisted that our weterans in the 21st century should not be forced to receive care in early 20th century buildings, said Melissa Bryant, acting Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs. The median age of VAs hospitals is nearly 60 years old, and thats why the president requested nearly $20 billion in new VA infrastructure spending last year and it is why he has requested the largest ever investment in VA infrastructure in his FY23 budget. Whatever Congress decides to do with the AIR Commission which was called for in the 2018 Mission Act we will continue to fight for the funding and modernization that our veterans deserve. The Senate opponents said they are confident those kinds of changes can still be made without the AIR Commission itself moving ahead. The ranking members of the Senate and House Veterans Affairs Committee condemned the announcement. I am astonished by the announcement today that several senators, including the Chairman of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, are refusing the fulfill their responsibility under the law to confirm members of the AIR Commission, said Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill.. The MISSION Act was signed into law with broad support from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle and every major veterans service organization. It established an Asset and Infrastructure Review process ... [that is vital] for the future of modern, state-of-the-art VA care. This decision does an immense disservice to veterans and VA staff who will feel its repercussions for years to come. Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kansas, echoed that sentiment. I am disappointed that after more than a year delay, the committee will not be holding a confirmation hearing on the commissioners, he said in a statement. This commission was designed to assess the 7,500 buildings the VA owns, leases and operates to determine how the buildings are utilized, whether facilities need updating, the funding necessary to upgrade facilities, and how efficiently health care is being delivered to our veterans. Many of the VAs facilities are empty, underutilized and severely outdated. We passed the VA Mission Act to address these issues but by refusing to confirm commissioners, we are essentially shutting down the work of the AIR Commission and possibly our only opportunity to fix this long-standing issue. Generally speaking long term investing is the way to go. But unfortunately, some companies simply don't succeed. Zooming in on an example, the Westwood Holdings Group, Inc. (NYSE:WHG) share price dropped 75% in the last half decade. We certainly feel for shareholders who bought near the top. And it's not just long term holders hurting, because the stock is down 36% in the last year. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. View our latest analysis for Westwood Holdings Group While the efficient markets hypothesis continues to be taught by some, it has been proven that markets are over-reactive dynamic systems, and investors are not always rational. One way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During five years of share price growth, Westwood Holdings Group moved from a loss to profitability. That would generally be considered a positive, so we are surprised to see the share price is down. Other metrics might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. The most recent dividend was actually lower than it was in the past, so that may have sent the share price lower. On top of that, revenue has declined by 17% per year over the half decade; that could be a red flag for some investors. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We consider it positive that insiders have made significant purchases in the last year. Even so, future earnings will be far more important to whether current shareholders make money. Dive deeper into the earnings by checking this interactive graph of Westwood Holdings Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). Whereas the share price return only reflects the change in the share price, the TSR includes the value of dividends (assuming they were reinvested) and the benefit of any discounted capital raising or spin-off. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Westwood Holdings Group's TSR for the last 5 years was -66%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 17% in the twelve months, Westwood Holdings Group shareholders did even worse, losing 27% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 11% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Westwood Holdings Group (1 can't be ignored) that you should be aware of. 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. Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on US exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Supreme Court on Monday sided with two doctors challenging their convictions on drug distribution charges for over-prescribing opioid medications in a decision that could make it harder for federal prosecutors to prove such cases against licensed physicians. The court was unanimous in ruling for the two doctors but split 6-3 on narrower legal issues in the decision. The justices stopped short of overturning the convictions, instead sending them back to the lower courts to reexamine the legal challenge in light of Mondays decision. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote the decision for the majority, ruling that in cases where someone who is authorized to prescribe medication is being prosecuted under the Controlled Substances Act, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner. We normally would not view such dispensations as inherently illegitimate; we expect, and indeed usually want, doctors to prescribe the medications that their patients need, Breyer wrote. In 841 prosecutions, then, it is the fact that the doctor issued an unauthorized prescription that renders his or her conduct wrongful, not the fact of the dispensation itself. In other words, authorization plays a crucial role in separating innocent conductand, in the case of doctors, socially beneficial conductfrom wrongful conduct. Breyer was joined in the opinion by Chief Justice John Roberts as well as Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Prosecutors alleged that the two doctors Xiulu Ruan and Shakeel Kahn, who were tried separately ran lucrative pill mills, flooding their patients with prescriptions for fentanyl and other serious pain management medications. Ruan and Khan were convicted by juries and each received sentences of more than 20 years in prison. They challenged their convictions, arguing that the instructions the juries received risked criminalizing standard medical and prescription practices. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Jun. 27A Luzerne County man who was linked to a 2019 bank robbery in West Scranton through DNA recovered from the holdup note he handed to a teller pleaded guilty Monday in Lackawanna County Court. Vasiliy Chinikaylo, 32, Swoyersville, entered the plea to one felony count of robbery during a brief remote appearance before Judge Michael J. Barrasse. The charge carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison and a $25,000 fine. Scranton police detectives charged Chinikaylo in January with holding up the Wells Fargo Bank branch office at 101 N. Main Ave. on Dec. 30, 2019. Deputy District Attorney Brian Gallagher told Barrasse that investigators allege Chinikaylo entered the bank and handed a teller a note saying he had a bomb and demanding that the teller calmly give him money. "No ink or trackers or else," Gallagher said the note continued. The robber got away with $8,105, the prosecutor said. "Sir, did you commit that crime?" Barrasse asked Chinikaylo. "Yes, your honor," he replied. Chinikaylo's attorney, Demetrius Fannick, told Barrasse his client understands what the guilty plea entails and that it is in his best interests. During the robbery investigation, detectives collected DNA from the holdup note, which was written on a business envelope, and submitted the samples to a state police laboratory for analysis, according to the arrest affidavit. After the lab found the DNA on the note preliminarily matched known DNA samples belonging to Chinikaylo, investigators obtained a new DNA sample from the defendant last September that confirmed the match, the affidavit said. Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9132 By Emily Chan TAIPEI (Reuters) - Some Taiwanese holders of Russian Eurobonds have not received interest due on May 27 after a grace period expired on Sunday evening, two sources said, potentially setting Moscow on track for its first major external sovereign default in over a century. Russia was due to make $100 million in coupon payments on two Eurobonds on May 27 - $29 million on a euro-denominated 2036 bond and $71 million on a dollar-denominated 2026 bond. Sweeping sanctions imposed by Western capitals on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 as well as counter measures by Moscow have all but severed the country from the global financial ecosystem. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a "special operation". Despite the plethora of curbs, Russia had managed to make payments on seven bonds since its invasion of Ukraine before the latest interest payments. Moscow has scrambled in recent days to find ways of dealing with upcoming payments and avoid a default. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last Wednesday to launch temporary procedures and give the government 10 days to choose banks to handle payments under a new scheme, suggesting Russia will consider its debt obligations fulfilled when it pays bondholders in roubles. One of the Taiwanese sources told Reuters that with the two Eurobonds in question there was "no rouble clause attached". "The coupon cannot be paid in roubles instead," the source added. Russian debt makes up less than half a percent of Taiwanese bond holdings. Moscow has been at risk of a default since its invasion of Ukraine saw Western powers freeze hundreds of billions of dollars of its currency reserves it held abroad and cut off large parts of its banking system from world markets. The Kremlin has repeatedly said there are no grounds for Russia to default but is unable to send money to bondholders because of sanctions, accusing the West of trying to drive it into an artificial default. Story continues While a formal default would be largely symbolic given Russia cannot borrow internationally at the moment and doesn't need to thanks to rich oil and gas revenue, the stigma would probably raise its borrowing costs in future. The country's efforts to swerve what would be its first major default on international bonds since the Bolshevik revolution more than a century ago hit an insurmountable roadblock when the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) effectively blocked Moscow from making payments in late May. Countries usually stop servicing their debt when they have little or no money left in international reserves and lack market access. But this case is different: A Russia default was unthinkable until recently with the country rated investment grade prior to the Ukraine invasion. Russia has not had a default of any kind since a financial crash in 1998 and has not seen a major international or 'external' market default since the aftermath of the 1917 Bolshevik revolution. Russia has some $40 billion of international bonds outstanding, around half of which are held by foreign investors. (Reporting by Emily Chan; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Christopher Cushing) TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan and the United States will hold trade talks on Monday under a newly agreed framework, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative said. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi will meet the island's top trade negotiator, John Deng, to discuss an initiative on 21st-century trade, her office said, without providing details. The initiative was unveiled this month, just days after the Biden administration excluded the Chinese-claimed island from its Asia-focused economic plan designed to counter China's growing influence, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF. Taiwan still hopes to eventually seal a free trade deal with the United States, Deng told Reuters. The United States does not have official ties with Taiwan, a major producer of semiconductors, but has been stepping up engagement as China seeks to isolate it from global institutions. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Time hasnt healed Maria Romero. Almost three years after her sons life was taken when a driver high on fentanyl and cocaine crashed into her car at almost twice the speed limit, Romero hasnt come close to forgiveness. I wish for you to live out your sentence, only to be let out old and dilapidated, Romero said in Miami-Dade Circuit Court Monday, anger dripping from her mouth as she spoke directly to Catherine Capozzi, 62, who pleaded guilty to the crime. The only satisfying moment [Ive had since the accident] was when you asked for a furlough to see your 90-year-old mother and the judge denied it. Romero lashed out at Capozzi Monday morning during an impact statement that capped off an emotional 33 months for friends and family since the death of her 15-year-old son, Joel Josue Romero. Romero, who drove the car struck by Capozzi, survived after a three-week medically induced coma. She didnt learn of her sons death until she was awakened. You decided to get high and get behind the wheel of a car. No matter what we do today, hes not coming back, Joels grandmother Nancy Albear said during the hearing. I hope you deal with this for the rest of your life. Capozzi agreed to a 15-year prison sentence with additional community service and seven years of probation. She was convicted of reckless vehicular homicide, DUI with serious bodily injury and DUI manslaughter. Capozzi, who was seated in a corner of the courtroom in a wheelchair, didnt utter a word as she was led away from the hearing. She was already wearing an orange jumpsuit, having spent the better part of a year behind bars after violating the terms of her house arrest before an agreement was reached. Mondays testimony brought some relief to Joels family, who also endured Capozzi moving onto the same floor in the same Sunny Isles Beach building where they lived, after the crash, but before the sentencing. Romero was so distraught, she told the court, that the family moved to another apartment in Miami Beach. Story continues On the afternoon of Sept. 18, 2019, Romero had pulled her black Nissan onto the median of I-95 South, near the 95th Street exit. She said she was taking her son to see her sister-in-law, who is a hair stylist when the car was rear-ended, but she cant recall why she stopped on the median. Joel wanted curly hair just like his father, Romero said. The black box recovered from the Capozzis Dodge Challenger showed she hit the brakes less than a second before the crash and that she was traveling at 90 miles per hour, police determined. When police arrived the crash so severe it hurled one vehicle across seven lanes of traffic and another onto the grass alongside the highway they found Capozzi on the ground twitching like a zombie, they said. A subsequent toxicology test showed she was under the influence of fentanyl and cocaine at the time of the crash. Miami-Dade Fire Rescue gave her Narcan to survive. Her arrest warrant wasnt issued until Feb. 12, 2020. A week later and almost five full months after the crash, Capozzi was charged with several felonies including DUI manslaughter. She eventually agreed to the 15-year sentence. Roseline DeLeon, a school friend of Joels, also addressed Capozzi during Mondays hearing. She told the woman that despite the accident, Joel remained with her. He is with us right now, DeLeon said. While your consequences are coming your way. Arizona Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters released a video on Monday showing him alongside former President Trump, who repeatedly praised Masterss candidacy. Trump endorsed Masters earlier this month in his August primary race against four other Republicans, with the winner facing incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) in November in what is expected to be a close race. Blake Masters is an incredible person, a very smart guy and an America First fighter, Trump said in the video. I endorse Blake because he will protect our border, he stands for life and hes strong on election fraud. Frankly, hes strong on everything needed to keep Arizona first. Trumps mention of Masterss anti-abortion stance comes in the wake of the Supreme Courts ruling on Friday that overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion. In Arizona, providers have stopped providing abortions since the landmark case was struck down, citing a pre-Roe law still on the books that bans most abortions. A separate Arizona law that bans abortions at 15 weeks is set to soon go into effect. Trump in the video took aim at two of Masterss most formidable opponents, businessman Jim Lamon and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Mark Brnovich and Jim Lamon on the other hand will only let you down, Trump said. Blake Masters has my complete and total endorsement. The former president had previously torn into Brnovich for not alleging that mass fraud took place in Arizonas election in 2020, when President Biden won the state. Brnovich said in a report this spring that Maricopa Countys 2020 election results had serious vulnerabilities but did not allege mass fraud. Masters, meanwhile, has aligned himself with Trumps false claim of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. With just more than a month until the primary election on Aug. 2, the Republican campaigns have gone scorched-earth, with millions of dollars having been poured into the race. Story continues Masters is backed by PayPal founder and early Facebook investor Peter Thiel, who has pumped more than $13 million into the race. Lamon had already loaned his campaign $13 million as of the end of the first quarter of 2022. Whoever wins the primary will face a tough general election campaign, challenging an incumbent who flipped the seat blue in 2020. Democrats are hoping to hold the seat in November as the party seeks to maintain its razor-thin majority in the Senate. The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rates the contest as a toss up. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Lucy Craymer WELLINGTON (Reuters) -The foreign minister of Tuvalu pulled out of the United Nations Ocean Conference opening in Portugal on Monday after China blocked the participation of three Taiwanese included in the tiny Pacific island nation's delegation list, according to Radio New Zealand. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory, is not a member of the United Nations and its citizens are unable to attend U.N. events as representatives of Taiwan. Tuvalu Foreign Minister Simon Kofe withdrew from the conference after China challenged the accreditation of three Taiwanese delegates included in Tuvalu's delegation, Radio New Zealand reported on Monday. The nation of 12,000 people has had diplomatic ties with Taiwan since 1979, and is one of 14 countries that continues to have diplomatic relations with Taiwan rather than China. Taiwan is largely excluded from international organisations that have China as a member. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry thanked Tuvalu for its support, and expressed condemnation of China. "China's arbitrary pressure on (U.N.) member states has only once again revealed its nasty nature," the ministry said. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian reiterated Beijing's stance that Taiwan is part of China. "The Taiwan authorities' attempts to squeeze into the United Nations Conference on the Oceans and the Law of the Sea by engaging in petty manoeuvres in the international arena or acting as followers of other countries will only demean themselves," he told a daily media briefing in Beijing. Kofe captured the world's attention for his nation last year when he addressed a global climate conference standing ankle deep in the sea to illustrate that Tuvalu was "sinking". Forty percent of the capital district is under water at high tide, and the country is forecast to be submerged by the end of the century. (nL3N2X411U) Around 7,000 people, from heads of state to environmental activists, are expected to attend the conference. (Reporting by Lucy Craymer; additional reporting by Martin Quin Pollard in Beijing and Ben Blanchard in Taipei; Editing by Angus MacSwan and Bernadette Baum) The U.S. Supreme Court recently tossed California employers a litigation lifeline. The state Legislature should not yank it back. The case, Viking River Cruises v. Moriana, concerns the states Private Attorneys General Act, which gives employees the states power to sue their boss for any violation of the states 1,100-plus-page Labor Code. Signed into law in 2003 by then-Gov. Gray Davis, PAGA lawsuits were modest at first, with just 700 filed in the laws first year. That changed starting in 2014, after the state Supreme Court ruled in a case known as Iskanian that PAGA lawsuits could not be waived in an arbitration agreement. (Arbitration is a process whereby an individual employee agrees to settle a grievance with an employer through a third-party arbitrator, rather than the courts.) Plaintiff lawyers sensed an easy pay day the scale of a class-action lawsuit without the work required to certify a class. By fiscal year 2019, nearly 7,000 PAGA lawsuits had been filed, with countless more threatened via extortionate letters warning employers to settle lest they too receive a dreaded PAGA notice and risk a multimillion-dollar liability. The Viking case challenged the Iskanian decision directly, arguing that the PAGA waiver prohibition was a violation of the federal Arbitration Act. In a nuanced decision, the court agreed with Viking, making clear that PAGA can be waived through an arbitration agreement with a class-action waiver. This outcome is a win for employers and employees neither of whom is well-served by the status quo. In an amicus brief to the court, one of us (CABIA) cited state data showing that PAGA-decided cases cost employers $1.1 million on average, versus $790,000 for a case decided by the Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA). The difference in cost? Attorneys fees, which average $372,000 per case across hundreds of PAGA settlements analyzed. Employees also fare worse under PAGA: The average per-employee award in a PAGA case is $1,300, compared to $5,700 per employee in an LWDA-decided case. Workers also get their money quicker: LWDA cases result in payments nearly a year sooner than those pursued via a PAGA lawsuit. Following the Viking decision, aggrieved employees should similarly be able to enjoy a quicker resolution (and quicker payment) through an arbitration proceeding instead of a PAGA complaint. (Employers who need an arbitration agreement can obtain one for free at CABIA.org/arbitration.) Story continues The Supreme Courts ruling does not fully relieve California employers of the PAGA threat. Labor Fed chief (and former legislator) Lorena Gonzalez tweeted after the courts announcement that the Legislature should modify the scope of statutory standing to retain PAGAs power. She may mean lifting the laws current requirement that PAGA complaints can only be brought by employees. This could create a perverse situation where anyone can file a claim under PAGA, regardless if theyre an employee. California voters have already given thumbs-down to such a scheme. In 2004, California voters approved Proposition 64, which ended bounty-hunter lawsuits where lawyers regularly filed complaints under the states unfair competition law even if they had suffered no harm. Similarly, the legislative history of PAGA shows that the states powers were deliberately given to employees, rather than third-parties, to reduce the risk of profit-seeking lawsuits. In the months ahead, thoughtful legislators should use this opportunity to improve and refine PAGA, rather than make it worse. And further reforms may wait: A measure seeking qualification for the 2024 ballot would replace the PAGA process with a new one through the LWDA. For today, California employers can rest easy; tomorrow, the fight continues. Scott Miller is CEO of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce. Genelle Taylor Kumpe is CEO San Joaquin Valley Manufacturing Alliance. Tom Manzo is president of the California Business and Industrial Alliance. Five emerging powers have become the object of the G7 industrialised powers' charm offensive, as the club of rich nations seeks broader support in their backing for Kyiv. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is hosting the G7 summit of advanced economies in the Bavarian Alps, said the invitation to Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa signalled that the community of democracies is not limited to the West or to countries in the northern hemisphere. "The democracies of the future are to be found in Asia and Africa," said the German leader. On the eve of the guest nations joining the summit, the G7 rolled out a $600-billion global infrastructure programme for the developing world. But belying the invitation and the altruistic programme are fears that a blowback over the West's support for Ukraine is building around the globe. Western allies are battling to counter the rhetoric fanned by Moscow that it is the sanctions against Russia rather than Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine that are causing the multitude of crises rocking the world. "Russia is responsible for this dramatic crisis, not international sanctions," German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock insisted at a recent international food security conference. "We know about indirect negative sanctions effects and we acknowledge them. However, they are much smaller than the brutal actions of Russia, which uses hunger as a weapon," she said. - Sceptical - Three of the five guest countries -- India, Senegal and South Africa -- failed to condemn Russia over its assault of Ukraine, although Argentina and Indonesia did. All five have been hit hard by the economic fallout from the war. Thorsten Brenner, director of the Global Public Policy Institute, noted that "a crucial task" facing the G7 "is convincing many non-Western countries who are sceptical of sanctions that the West is mindful of their concern about rising energy prices when designing sanctions". The emerging powers have underlined the hunger crisis threatening their countries as Russia's blockade of Ukrainian grain exports sends wheat prices soaring. Story continues But other essentials such as sunflower oil and fertilisers essential for planting were also becoming scarcer, as both Ukraine and Russia are large producers. And a scramble for energy by Western powers seeking to wean themselves off Russian energy has further pushed up power prices -- once again hitting the poorest hardest. Statements by Senegal President Macky Sall following his recent visit to Moscow for talks with Putin over the food crisis alarmed Western officials. Sall had said he was "reassured" by Putin and had instead called on Ukraine to demine waters around its Odessa port to allow grain exports out. At the same time, Western allies are seeking to ensure that the developing giants refrain from taking action that could worsen the crisis. India's decision to halt wheat exports and Indonesia's move to stop palm oil exports have sparked shockwaves in the commodities markets. Argentina has also lowered its quota of wheat exports. South Africa meanwhile is suffering from the soaring oil prices. A G7 official said Monday's talks had shown that there was work to be done to convince the emerging giants about their action. - 'Don't torpedo' - Putin too is jostling to broaden his backing, trying to hammer home his message that Western sanctions were to blame. During a summit of Brazil, China, India and South Africa, calling on them to cooperate in the face of "selfish actions" from the West. Amid fears of a growing gulf between the West and the rest, European leaders were tempering their tone. While calls had been made earlier for G20 host nation Indonesia to exclude Putin from this November's summit, European leaders now appear to have distanced themselves from that stance. A Kremlin advisor said Monday that Putin planned to attend the summit, having received the official invitation. Jakarta has also invited Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky. Scholz said the group of major developed and developing economies would continue to play a "big role" and cooperation was key. Germany would therefore "not torpedo" the G20's work, Scholz told ZDF public television. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Sunday that she did not rule out sitting at the same table with Putin at the G20. "It is also important to tell him to his face what we think of him," she said. "And we must carefully consider whether we want to paralyse the whole G20," she said, warning that the bloc, which makes up 80 percent of total world economic output, is "too important a platform" to undermine. hmn/mfp/jj OLHA HLUSHCHENKO - MONDAY, 27 JUNE 2022, 07:07 Ukrainian defenders have repelled assaults and halted the Russian advance near Marinka, as well as on the Bakhmut and Donetsk fronts. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, information as of 06:00 on 27 June Details: On the Sivershchyna front, Russian forces continue to provide enhanced protection of the Ukrainian-Russian border section. In addition, they continued shelling civilian and military infrastructure in the areas of Khrinivka and Yanzhulivka, Chernihiv Oblast. They also carried out air strikes on the town of Slavhorod in Sumy Oblast. On the Slobozhanshchyna front, the Russians fired on defence units, and conducted radio reconnaissance and radio-electronic warfare. On the Kharkiv front, Russian forces used tanks, mortars, cannon and rocket artillery near settlements in Kharkiv, Shevelivka, Pishchane, Chuhuiv, Shestakove, Zamulivka and Ruska Lozova. Russian assault actions near the settlements of Dementiivka and Pytomnyk were unsuccessful. They skirted around the area near Fedorivka, Ukrainka, Zamulivka, Shestakove and Peremoha. On the Sloviansk front, Russia's main efforts were concentrated towards the village of Dolyna. Fire from gun and rocket artillery was recorded in the areas near Bohorodychne, Adamivka, Khrestyshche, Hrushuvakha, Svitlychne and Kurulka. Russian forces also carried out an airstrike near Dovhenke. In order to improve their tactical position, Russian troops are conducting an offensive towards the settlement of Mazanivka. The fighting is ongoing. On the Donetsk front, with the support of artillery, the Russians are attempting to blockade the town of Lysychansk from the south. They are firing at civilian and military infrastructure in the areas of Lysychansk, Vovchoiarivka, Loskutivka and Verkhnokamianka. Russian attack aircraft carried out an airstrike near the town of Lysychansk. Fighting continues near Vovchoiarivka. Near Verkhnokamianka, Ukrainian Defence Forces inflicted significant losses on Russian troops and forced them to retreat. Story continues The Russians did not continue active combat operations on the Kramatorsk front but fired on the districts of Raihorodka and Maiaky using artillery. On the Bakhmut front, Russian forces fired at Ukrainian positions with mortars, gun and rocket artillery in the areas near Spirne, Berestove, Bilohorivka, Klynove and Zaitseve. An airstrike was reported near Pokrovske. Our [Ukrainian - ed.] soldiers detected and disabled sabotage and reconnaissance groups near Spirne and Yakovlivka, and also repulsed an assault towards Klynove. The Russian offensive in the areas near the settlements of Berestove and Vershyna has been stopped. The Russians have retreated. They are establishing new positions, including roadblocks in the Mykolaivka area. On the Avdiivka, Kurakhove, Novopavlivka and Zaporizhzhia fronts, Russian troops fired using gun and rocket artillery at Ukrainian Armed Forces positions along the line of contact. Airstrikes were carried out near the settlements of Krasnohorivka, Vesele, Vuhledar, Shevchenko, Prychystivka, Marinka and Pavlivka. Russian missile and airstrikes were reported in Avdiivka. Near Marinka, Ukrainian soldiers again nipped the Russians' attempt to advance in the bud. On the Pivdennyi Buh front, Russia's main efforts are focused on maintaining the occupied positions. They conducted reconnaissance and improved their positions' engineering equipment. Russian forces fired on civilian and military infrastructure using mortar and rocket artillery in the areas near the settlements of Velyka Kostromka, Potomkyne, Kniazivka, Partyzanske, Kvitneve and Stepova Dolyna. Ukrainian aircraft carried out several successful airstrikes on concentrations of Russian troops. Ukrainian forces struck more than 10 strikes on Snake Island at night Nataliya Gumenyuk, the spokeswoman for Operational Command South, described the attack during a news briefing, Kyiv-based Ukrainian news agency Interfax-Ukraine reported on June 27. Read also: Moscow might target Kyiv with missiles in response to Ukraines attack on Black Sea gas rigs We are continuing our operation on Snake Island, Gumenyuk said. This past night, our army hit the island with 10 high-precision strikes, and now were looking into the degree of damage (to the Russian forces). We have an initial report on this that says a Russian Pantsir-S1 air defense system was hit. According to Gumenyuk, Ukraines military operation to liberate Snake Island is a long-term one and wont end until the territory comes back under full Ukrainian control. This operation has been going on for some time. On June 20, media reports described heavy explosions on Snake Island that led to the fire spreading across its territory. Evidence suggested that Ukrainian missiles or rockets had produced the explosions. On the next day, Operational Command South confirmed it had carried out a rocket attack on Snake Island. After this, satellite data provided by Maxar Technologies, a U.S. aerospace company, showed images of the damage done to Russian positions on the small Black Sea island. Read also: Fighting continues at Ukraine's strategic Zmiinyi Island, says UK intelligence In the Black Sea region, Russia controls several Ukrainian territories, including Crimea and Snake Island. The Russian military fleet stationed in the Black Sea is blocking Ukrainian exports by sea, causing a decline in the commercial activity of the ports of Odesa, Illichivsk, Mykolayiv, and Kherson the latter city now occupied by the Russian army. While Crimea remains an important military reserve base for the Russian operation in Ukraines south, Snake Island is a strategic point in the western part of the Black Sea. Read also: Ukraine confirms it struck Russian-occupied Snake Island in Black Sea Tension in the Black Sea is widely condemned by democratic countries, as this used to be an important maritime environment for commercial activity. Rinat Akhmetov System Capital Management or SCM, which was founded and is owned by Akhmetov, is suing Russia for gross violations of its property rights during the war. Evil cannot go unpunished, said Akhmetov. Read also: U.S. court approves seizure of two of Abramovichs private jets Russias crimes against Ukraine and our people are egregious, and those guilty of them must be held liable. With the help of the best Ukrainian and American lawyers, I have lodged an application with the European Court of Human Rights for damages. This lawsuit is one of the first international legal steps against Russia to stop their ongoing crimes, destruction of the Ukrainian economy, and the plundering of Ukrainian assets. Additionally, Akhmetov filed a request for interim measures that would prevent Russia from further blocking, looting, and destroying grain and steel produced by SCM. Mr. Akhmetov asks the court to send a clear message to Russia that its contributions to the food security crisis and its steps to further cripple Ukraines economy will not be tolerated, SCM said in a message on its website. The businessman asked the case to be prioritized, given the urgency of the matter. He also requested the European court to apply its pilot procedure to his case, as Russias aggression is damaging private enterprises across the whole of Ukraine. Read also: Rinat Akhmetov to sue Kremlin for $10 billion for ruining his assets The looting of Ukraines export commodities, including grain and steel, has already resulted in higher prices and people dying of hunger worldwide, Akhmetov said. These barbaric actions must be stopped, and Russia must pay in full. I believe in justice, and Im fighting for it. International law firm Covington & Burling LLP will be representing Akhmetov in this case. Akhmetov is seeking damages for the violation of his property rights. While the precise amount cannot yet be assessed given the ongoing war, it is anticipated that Mr. Akhmetov is due billions of dollars from the Russian Federation for its violation of his human rights, the company statement said. Story continues Read also: Ukraine needs external financial assistance now Akhmetov is a Ukrainian entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Born in Donetsk, he has managed to amass a vast industrial empire in Ukraine, with most of his assets being folded into SCM. Akhmetov also owns Shakhtar football club, and is the founder of The Rinat Akhmetov Foundation. Established in 2000, SCM Group is an investor in sectoral sub-holdings and production assets under its umbrella. SCMs largest investees include Metinvest, DTEK, Media Group Ukraine, ESTA Holding, UMG, Lemtrans, and HarvEast Holding. Operating companies of SCM are located in Ukraine, the European Union, and North America. Before the Russian aggression against Ukraine, SCMs sub-holdings and production assets employed nearly 200,000 people. The US Supreme Court has officially overturned Roe v Wade, issuing a ruling in the Mississippi case challenging a state law banning most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy on Friday. The landmark precedent established in the 1973 ruling in Roe, which enshrined consititutional protections for the procedure, is now dead. Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization marked the first major abortion rights challenge in front of the new conservative supermajority on the court with its three newest justices, all conservatives appointed by former president Donald Trump. The court heard oral arguments in the case on 1 December 2022. A leak of a draft opinion in the case suggests that justices are prepared to overturn Roe. The Roe ruling effectively repealed laws that banned the procedure outright and sparked decades of religious and moral conflict over womens bodies. The precedent established by Roe and reaffirmed by 1992s Planned Parenthood v Casey, now rejected by the Supreme Court, effectively eliminates abortion access across more than half the US and forces many pregnant women to carry their pregnancies to term unless they can travel to a handful of states with abortion protections in place. In 2022, a wave of anti-abortion legislation in Republican-led states, emboldened by the Supreme Courts forthcoming decision, proposed eliminating abortion access in most cases and criminalising abortion care. What is Roe v Wade? The case revolved around Norma McCorvey known for the purposes of the proceedings as Jane Roe who became pregnant with her third child in Texas in 1969 but was unable to access abortion care after it was banned in her state in all cases but to save a womans life. She was supported by lawyers Sarah Weddington and Linda Coffee, who filed a lawsuit on her behalf in federal court against her local district attorney, Henry Wade, alleging that the states abortion laws were unconstitutional. The US District Court for the Northern District of Texas ruled in her favour, which was kicked up to the Supreme Court following an appeal from Texas. Story continues The Supreme Courts 7-2 decision in Ms McCorveys favour was based partly on the 14th Amendments right to privacy that protects a womans right to access abortion. Ms McCorvey, who was unable to access a legal abortion, gave birth before the case was heard and the baby was put up for adoption. She said at the time that she did it on behalf of herself and all other women in the same situation. The decision also set a legal precedent that affected more than 30 subsequent Supreme Court cases involving restrictions on access to abortion. Conservative Christian movements and politically powerful right-wing legal groups have committed for decades to overturning Roe. The most recent addition to the Supreme Court, Justice Amy Coney Barrett, brought the high courts conservative makeup to six against three liberal-leaning justices. During his term in office, Mr Trump appointed two other conservative judges, Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh. Is Roe v Wade constitutional? The ruling determines that the US Constitution protects a womans right to an abortion without excessive government intervention. A 1992 Supreme Court ruling in Planned Parenthood v Casey upheld the essential holding in the Roe ruling and prohibited legal constrictions that constitute an undue burden on abortion access. On 20 January, the high court declined abortion providers request to intervene in an ongoing legal challenge to a Texas law banning most abortions at six weeks or pregnancy, before most women know they are prenant. Abortion rights advocates hoped that the Supreme Court would direct the case to federal district court, where a previous ruling had blocked the law. Following the courts decline to intervene in the challenge to the Texas law, which undercuts Roe protections, Republican legislators in states like Oklahoma introduced several restrictive bills that mirror the Texas law or eliminate access entirely. As of Friday, Roe has now been deemed unconstitutional and ends 50 years of federal protections for abortion access. States now have the power to determine whether to ban the procedure. What did Roe v Wade establish? The ruling from Roe v Wade established federal protections for women who wish to have an abortion. The decision ultimately gave women total autonomy to terminate a pregnancy during the first trimester, and allowed some state influence over abortions in the second and third trimesters, though a series of restrictions imposed on the state level many of which have been challenged in courts have sought to undermine abortion care. The courts opinion in Roe v Wade established that choosing to have an abortion is ultimately an issue of Americans right to privacy, which they ruled was an element of the liberty guaranteed by the 14 Amendment of the US Constitution. That right to privacy is not absolute; the court established the differences in abortion rights based on trimesters to assure states could maintain medical standards and safeguard health. Then as now, advocates opposing abortion attempted to argue that life begins at conception. The court disagrees, ultimately saying that the US Constitutions use of person in establishing inalienable rights did not represent fetuses. Was Roe v Wade overturned? Yes. After an unprecedented leaked draft opinion from conservative Justice Samuel Alito first reported by Politico indicated that the courts conservative majority will vote to overturn Roe and Casey, the courts decision on Friday was effectively the same opinion from the draft. We hold that Roe and Casey must be overruled, he wrote in a draft of an opinion dated 10 February. It is time to heed the Constitution and return the issue of abortion to the peoples elected representatives. There are at least 13 states with so-called trigger laws that have now banned abortion with Roe getting overturned. At least 26 states are likely to ban abortion quickly now that power has returned to states. Oklahomas Republican Governor Kevin Stitt, who has pledged to outlaw abortion in the state, has signed several restrictive bills into law, including bans on abortion at six weeks of pregnancy and a ban on all abortions after fertilisation, the nations most severe law, effectively banning all abortions in the state. In Idaho, the first state to approve an abortion ban mirroring the Texas law, the states Supreme Court temporarily blocked it following a legal challenge from Planned Parenthood. Both Idahos governor and the states attorney general have suggested that the ban is unconstitutional. A sweeping anti-abortion law in Kentucky also is facing legal challenges that have temporarily blocked its enforcement. U.S. health authorities are facing a critical decision: whether to offer new COVID-19 booster shots this fall that are modified to better match recent changes of the shape-shifting coronavirus. Moderna and Pfizer have tested updated shots against the super-contagious omicron variant, and advisers to the Food and Drug Administration will debate Tuesday if its time to make a switch setting the stage for similar moves by other countries. This is science at its toughest, FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press, adding that a final decision is expected within days of the advisory panel's recommendation. Current COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives around the world in just their first year of use. And the Moderna and Pfizer shots still offer strong protection against the worst outcomes -- severe illness and death especially after a booster dose. But those vaccines target the original coronavirus strain and between waning immunity and a relentless barrage of variants, protection against infections has dropped markedly. The challenge is deciding if tweaked boosters offer a good chance of blunting another surge when there's no way to predict which mutant will be the main threat. In an analysis prepared for Tuesday's meeting, FDA officials acknowledged targeting last winter's version of omicron is somewhat outdated" since it already has been replaced by its even more contagious relatives. We would obviously like to get it right enough," Marks said, so that with one more shot we get a full season of protection. Many experts say updated boosters promise at least a little more benefit. It is more likely to be helpful than simply giving additional doses of todays vaccine, said epidemiologist William Hanage of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Thats assuming the virus doesnt throw another curve ball. Were following rather than getting ahead which is so vexing -- that we havent come up with a better variant-proof vaccine, said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who has urged a major government push for next-generation immunizations. Story continues Adding to concern about a winter COVID-19 wave is that about half of Americans eligible for that all-important first booster dose never got it. An updated version might entice some of them. But we do need to change our expectations, said Dr. William Moss of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who noted that studies early in the pandemic raised unrealistic hopes of blocking even the mildest infections. Our strategy cant be booster doses every couple of months, even every six months, to prevent infections. The top candidates are what scientists call bivalent shots a combination of the original vaccine plus omicron protection. Thats because the original vaccines do spur production of at least some virus-fighting antibodies strong enough to cross-react with newer mutants -- in addition to their proven benefits against severe disease, said University of Pennsylvania immunologist E. John Wherry. Being able to push the boost response a little bit in one direction or the other without losing the core is really important, he said. Moderna and Pfizer found their combo shots substantially boosted levels of omicron-fighting antibodies in adults who'd already had three vaccinations, more than simply giving another regular dose. Recipients also developed antibodies that could fight omicrons newest relatives named BA.4 and BA.5, although not nearly as many. It's not clear how much protection that will translate into, and for how long. Antibodies are a key first layer of defense that form after vaccination or a prior infection. They can prevent infection by recognizing the outer coating of the coronavirus -- the spike protein -- and blocking it from entering your cells. But antibodies naturally wane and each new variant comes with a different-looking spike protein, giving it a better chance of evading detection by remaining antibodies. Separate studies published this month in Nature and the New England Journal of Medicine show the newest omicron relatives are even better at dodging antibodies both in the vaccinated and in people who recovered from the original omicron. That first booster people were supposed to get strengthened immune memory, helping explain why protection against hospitalization and death is proving more durable. If the virus sneaks past antibodies, different defenders called T cells spring into action, attacking infected cells to curb illness. T cells recognize the virus in a fundamentally different way, not hunting for disguised spike protein but for parts of the virus that so far haven't been altered as much, said Penns Wherry. Still, as people get older, all parts of their immune system gradually weaken. Theres little data on how long T cell protection against COVID-19 lasts or how it varies with different mutations or vaccines. Wherry and dozens of other scientists recently petitioned the FDA to quit focusing solely on antibodies and start measuring T cells as it decides vaccination strategy. The Biden administration has made clear that it needs Congress to provide more money so that if the FDA clears updated boosters, the government can buy enough for every American who wants one. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, told Congress last week more research funding also is critical to create better next-generation vaccines, such as nasal versions that might better block infection in the nose or more variant-proof shots. The virus is changing and we need to keep up with it, Fauci, said. ___ 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. (Bloomberg) -- Negotiations between the US and Iran to revive the 2015 nuclear deal will restart in the coming days, according to the European Unions chief diplomat. Most Read from Bloomberg The coming days mean coming days, Josep Borrell said on Saturday during a press conference in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart. I mean quickly, immediately. The talks will be indirect, with the EU acting as a mediator, and take place in a Persian Gulf country, Iranian media quoted Borrell as saying later the same day. Qatars capital of Doha is the most likely venue, according to Irans state-run Nour News. Talks between Iran and world powers stalled in March after about a year of discussions in Vienna, where the original accord was sealed. The pact, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, curbed Tehrans atomic activities in exchange for the easing of some economic sanctions, including on energy exports. Then-President Donald Trump withdrew the US from the agreement in 2018. Reviving it may lead to more Iranian oil sales and help lower crude prices, which have surged 45% this year to around $110 a barrel. The talks have to be finished, three months have passed, Borrell said. A key sticking point has been Irans demand for Washington to stop classifying the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a military organization blamed for numerous attacks on the US and its allies, as a terrorist organization. Irans Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian reiterated his call for US President Joe Biden to take a realistic and fair approach to help reach an agreement. Many members of Congress and Israel oppose a return of the JCPOA, arguing it could hand Iran an oil windfall and lead it to rearm its proxies in the Middle East. Story continues Read More: How an Iran Nuclear Deal Could Affect Oil, Trade and Security Still, many world powers say a deal is the best way to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. The country has increased its enrichment of uranium since Trump exited the JCPOA. Iran has always maintained its atomic program is peaceful. (Updates with details about location in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Award-winning composer Tan Dun has made a unique mark on the world music scene with creative works bridging Eastern and Western traditions as well as pushing the boundaries of classical music, traditional Chinese operas, and multimedia. The composer released an album on June 10, titled Eight Memories in Watercolor, by leading classical music label Naxos. Featuring six piano works composed by Tan, the album is performed by Dutch pianist Ralph van Raat. Missing Moon is the first piece of Tan's Eight Memories in Watercolor, which he wrote when he left his hometown in Hunan province to study at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing in 1978. He longed for folksongs and savored the memories of his childhood. Therefore, he wrote the first piano work as a diary of longing. The work Eight Memories in Watercolor is divided into eight short pieces. The Daily Beast Christopher Furlong - WPA Pool/Getty ImagesWelcome to this weeks edition of Royalist, The Daily Beasts newsletter for all things royal and Royal Family. Subscribe here to get it in your inbox every Sunday.Andrew and Ghislaine were in some sort of relationshipGhislaine Maxwell had unrestricted access at Buckingham Palace, and a former royal policeman claims he and other colleagues thought she and Prince Andrew had an intimate relationship that went beyond friendship.Paul Page, who served Austrian novelist and playwright Thomas Bernhard in 1976. (Votava / picture alliance via Getty Images) The name Thomas Bernhard appears in the jacket copy and pre-publication reviews of three novels out this summer, and its not a coincidence. Within the Bernhardian universe, one jacket opines; narrated by the love child of Thomas Bernhard and Lydia Davis, reads another. An early review of the third calls it a straight-up approximation of the style associated with the Austrian writer Thomas Bernhard. Its an odd selling point, only more so in our attention-deficit era. Bernhard was a monologist fueled by energetic misanthropy, disgust and vitriol. Sentences go on for pages. The narrators of his novels usually describe the plight of a close friend who, after laboring on an artistic endeavor for years, has recently ended it all. Bernhard, who was disgusted by his native countrys hypocrisy and its complicity in the Holocaust, died in 1989 at age 58; his will forbade stagings of his plays or publication of his work in Austria. Despite his difficulty in text and in life, we find ourselves in the summer of Bernhard. Jordan Castros debut novel, The Novelist , published two weeks ago, not only mentions Bernhard on its jacket but also references one of his books in the text. Mark Habers second novel, Saint Sebastians Abyss , out last month, is the closest to a straightforward homage. Emily Halls debut, The Longcut , also published in May, follows an artist who wonders what my work was on a meandering walk to visit a gallerist. Each of the three books could be described as a Bernhardian rant, or in some cases a diatribe, centered on the creation and purpose of art. Marked by lengthy monologues, emphatic hatefulness and a disgust with modern life, they pay implicit tribute to a writer whose influence seems only to grow with the decades. Bernhard himself would have hated an investigation into his effect on contemporary fiction. Thanks to several Twitter accounts that post Bernhard quotations daily, I am reminded that he wrote: I hated literary theories more than anything in my life, but most of all I hated so-called theories about the novel. Story continues His closest modern-day adherents share some of that aversion to the bland and condescending formulas taught in many writing graduate programs. I had come out of an MFA program, and it felt very much like this is what you have to do, Hall told me from her home in Queens, New York. So Hall cast about for other ideas. I was bored out of my mind, she recalls. I was in Three Lives bookstore in New York, and I picked Bernhards Concrete off a table. Right, I thought, the guy with no paragraph breaks. But when I read it, I realized all the things I thought were my flaws the digressing, the self-contradiction in Bernhard that was the writing. I got very excited. The Bernhard vogue likely traces back to the early 2000s, when Viking reissued a number of his books, sparking interest among Anglophone readers especially in his later novel The Loser. Though all 13 of his novels have now been released in English, there is still plenty of untranslated material among his countless plays, novellas, stories and memoirs. In October, Seagull Press will publish The Rest Is Slander , a collection of five previously untranslated stories. Years later, Hall is so inspired by his work that she has been trying to learn German. I wonder what is lost in translation, she said. Her admiration has drawn her into a cohort of like-minded writers. Hall has spoken about the influence of Jen Craig, who is frequently compared to Bernhard. Reached by video in Australia, Craig said that following Bernhard means learning to break the rules. He gives you the plot on the first page, Craig said. Once thats out of the way, you can write everything else, everything that cant be described by plot. Craig is the author of Since the Accident and Panthers and the Museum of Fire . Since the Accident is out of print, and Panthers was published by a small press, so Craigs work is shamefully under the radar. I discovered Panthers at my local bookstore on the shelf of staff recommendations. The little note under the book read, for fans of Thomas Bernhard. At first, I was a bit self-conscious at there being a link between me and this obscure, possibly misogynist, excessive writer, Craig said, of the frequent comparisons to Bernhard. But now I dont care. Im glad. For me, Bernhard is all about realism. I dont think many think of him as a realist, but coming out of graduate school, so much of the idea of writing was about theme and plot and content. That stuff is so bogus. The ranting ... thats reality to me. Because Bernhards style is so uniquely his, I wondered whether being associated with him was anxiety-inducing to these writers. One of the things Im interested in is dispelling the myth of spontaneous creation, Castro said. We learn through imitation, and we have this myth of the self-made artist. Im always wearing my influences on the proverbial sleeve. Theres a part in my book when the narrator says you learn guitar by playing other peoples songs. Castros book is about a novelist who sits down to write and does anything but. Finally, veering off into a rant about a frenemy propels him to write: I suddenly felt an exhilarating burst of energy ... I could write a novel where I just talked s about Eric; I could write my own version of [Bernhards] Woodcutters. Castros novel is the only one of this summers Bernhardian books that mentions the author explicitly, but all bear his stamp even as they vary widely in subject and tone. Habers Saint Sebastians Abyss, is narrated by a man on his way to visit friend and colleague Schmidt on his deathbed; the two have made their careers obsessing over a single work by a fictional Syphilitic painter, Count Hugo Beckenbauer. The style, the myopic sentences: I realized I could use those to tell the stories I wanted to tell, said Haber, speaking from Houstons Brazos Bookstore, where he is the operations manager. His ghost is ever present, but I dont think Ill ever get to the quality of his sentences. I like to think that my books are sillier; I don't think Bernhard would write a holy donkey. Many other writers have been compared to Bernhard or spoken about his influence on their work, including Mauro Javier Cardenas, Claudia Pineiro and the late Rafael Chirbes. But Bernhards influence, though wide-ranging, is still a bit of a secret. For fun, I entered Bernhards The Loser into the generator website, What Should I Read Next? The answer was more Bernhard. Perhaps its a good thing we havent yet made too much of the Bernhard boom. The prospect of his style being too widely (and inevitably poorly) imitated is grotesque. How far and how bad does this go? Hall asked. Does Bernhards style become an MFA staple? This summers writers have learned from Bernhards ruthless approach to plot and to what the novel can be without losing their own voices in the process; thats a much better legacy than a flotilla of junky imitators. Influences are a series of permissions, Craig said. I felt relief when I realized Bernhard was always writing about the same thing, Hall said. Theres always this idea that you have to do something different with each book, reinvent the wheel. Craig said something analogous: Popular novels now are more about something: a historical period or figure: Today, as a novelist you have to become an expert rather than a writer. All four writers were thrilled to get a chance to talk not only about their work but also Bernhards; our conversations felt like the tail end of an Irish wake. Haber and I reveled in the abundant contradictions within even a single Bernhard sentence. His novel pays tribute to this in the letter Schmidt sends to his friend, reading all nine pages of his relatively terse email. Castro and I laughed over the episode of Schopenhauers dog in Concrete, a passage so funny we had to interrupt our partners bedtime routines to read it to them. Theres such a glee there, Castro said. Its not being straightforwardly pessimistic. This appears to be the key to understanding Bernhard: Not his depressiveness but his joy. He wrote, Everything is ridiculous when one thinks of death, Hall said. If you start there, everything is funny. The warmth in annihilation isnt lost on Haber, either. To write, you have to have some sense of hope, otherwise why would you write? There are dark ideas in Bernhard, but his writing is energetic and life-affirming. It comes from a place of deep affection. Above all, this distinctive crop of summer reads is Bernhardian in its focus on the struggle to create art, which is for the artist an existential question. I thought I would choke on the error of believing that literature was my hope, Bernhard writes in My Prizes: An Accounting. That choking is prolific. But the heart of that statement is what makes his work, for all its nihilism, continually galvanizing in itself and in its acolytes. Ferris most recent book is Silent Cities: New York. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The state of Georgia is putting former President Trumps grip on the Republican Party to the test. Trump-backed candidates have faced a handful of setbacks in recent primary races, but nowhere has that been as evident as Georgia. Trumps revenge-driven push to take down Gov. Brian Kemp (R) and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) fell short, and his preferred congressional candidates failed to win their runoff races this week. Overall, six of the presidents eight endorsed candidates in competitive races lost their primaries, with the two exceptions being Senate candidate Herschel Walker and Burt Jones, who is running for lieutenant governor. Experts say Trump remains popular in the state, and his backing of Walker in particular made a difference in that race, but that his primary setbacks show the limits of his endorsement power and of his singular focus on relitigating the 2020 election. The big takeaway of all of this is that we should be skeptical of any proposition that suggests an endorsement from Donald Trump is the be all end all of winning a race, said Andrea Gillespie, an associate professor of political science at Emory University in Atlanta. Endorsements are important, but you need more than endorsements to be able to win an election. Trumps struggles in Georgia date back to the 2020 election, when he lost to President Biden by roughly 11,000 votes in a state that had not gone Democratic in a presidential race since 1992. Republicans then lost both Senate seats in the states January 2021 runoff elections after Trump used a campaign rally in the state to repeat false claims of fraud. Georgia is also home to the two officials Trump perhaps blames most for his inability to keep the White House: Raffensperger, who resisted relentless pressure from Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 election and has since become a key GOP voice against the former presidents claims of fraud, and Kemp, who certified the states election results despite Trumps efforts. Story continues Both cruised to double-digit primary victories last month. Kemp defeated former Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), whom Trump had persuaded to run, by more than 50 points. Raffensperger came out about 19 points ahead of Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.). The former presidents bid to unseat Kemp was flawed from the start, experts said. Kemp, who won a first term in 2018 with Trumps backing, is a popular incumbent who delivered on key conservative promises by enacting a restrictive abortion law, giving parents more control over their childrens education, raising teacher salaries and approving new voting laws. Notably, some high-profile Republicans felt comfortable bucking Trump and throwing their support behind Kemp during the gubernatorial primary, including former Vice President Mike Pence, who is believed to be eyeing a 2024 presidential campaign of his own. Raffensperger focused on outreach to Republicans and played a role in passing the new voting laws, which critics have said will make it harder for minorities to vote in certain areas. As incumbents, both men also had the benefit of name recognition, campaign resources and the backing of other Republicans in the state. Perdue and Hice were running exclusively on the stolen election and nothing else, said Alan Abramowitz, a political scientist at Emory University. In two down-ballot races, Trump-backed candidates also came up short in statewide primaries for insurance commissioner and attorney general. In both cases, the former president had endorsed challengers to allies of Kemp. On Tuesday, Trumps difficulties in Georgia continued. Vernon Jones, a former Democrat who fully embraced Trump two years ago, lost by 20,000 votes in a runoff in the 10th Congressional District, while Jake Evans lost by nearly 14,000 votes in the 6th Congressional District. In those cases, experts said Trumps preferred candidates were up against better-known and better-funded candidates. In Joness case, he did not have ties to the district and was encouraged by Trump to run there instead of in the governors race. Taken together, experts and strategists said the underwhelming performances of Trumps preferred candidates in Georgia underscore the risks of his often emotional endorsements and reflect how the former presidents stamp of approval is often not enough to carry a lesser-known candidate over the finish line. Charles Bullock, a political science professor at the University of Georgia, chalked it up to a combination of bad candidates and not being willing to put money behind them. But Bullock and others cautioned against assuming Trumps poor track record in Georgia meant voters in the state were ready to move on from him entirely. Bullock recounted seeing scores of Trump-Pence yard signs still visible in the northwest corner of the state, and polls have shown a significant number of Georgia Republicans still believe the 2020 election was stolen. Seth Weathers, a Georgia Republican strategist, said he believes there is some fatigue with Trump among voters who likely didnt support him in 2016 but then got on board once he was in office. But I think if he were to be on the ballot today in Georgia he would win by a pretty large majority, Weathers said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. WARSAW (Reuters) - Two Russian tanks destroyed on the battlefields of northern Ukraine went on display in Warsaw on Monday, in what the Polish prime minister's senior aide said provided evidence that Kyiv could win the war. Long suspicious of Russia's intentions in central and eastern Europe, Poland has emerged as one of neighbouring Ukraine's staunchest allies since President Vladimir Putin's forces launched what the Kremlin calls its "special military operation". "This exhibition proves that Russians can be defeated," aide Michal Dworczyk told reporters. "Many groups of people, mainly in Europe, said that the Russian army is invincible... This destroyed Russian equipment proves that determination and courage help in defeating the Russian army." Dworczyk spoke as Russian forces bombarded Lysychansk, the last big city still held by Ukrainian troops in the eastern Luhansk province. "We saw and destroyed many of those tanks," said James, a 56-year old lawyer from Oregon in the United States who fought with the Ukrainian army before coming to Poland. "Fortunately, the Ukrainian army is highly motivated, very well equipped, fighting on (their) own soil, fighting for their homes, their women and children." The tanks are also booked to go on show in Madrid and Lisbon, organisers of the display said. (Reporting by Kuba Stezycki and Pawel Florkiewicz, writing by Alan Charlish; editing by John Stonestreet) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a direct appeal to Belarus soldiers, who recently joined the war in support of Russia, telling them plainly that they will not live if they continue to fight against Ukraine. "Firstly, all pilots, dispatchers, mechanics, and other people who ensure the launch of missiles at Ukraine must understand: We will find you all," Zelenskyy said during an address on Sunday night. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks during a press conference in Kyiv on June 21, 2022. Sergei Supinsky/AFP via Getty Images Belarus is Ukraine's northern neighbor. "Each of you will be responsible for these strikes," he added. "And if someone thinks that he will evade responsibility by saying that such was the order, you are mistaken." BLINKEN SAYS PUTIN HAS ALREADY FAILED IN STRATEGIC OBJECTIVE TO END UKRAINE'S INDEPENDENCE The threatening words came as a Russian missile strike from Belarus hit a Ukrainian kindergarten and an apartment building, killing a 37-year-old man and injuring the mans 7-year-old daughter and wife. "When your missiles hit residential buildings, these are war crimes," the Ukrainian president said. "Trial is what awaits you all. And there will be nowhere to hide for you - neither on the shores of the Caspian Sea, over which your missiles are launched nor in Belarus... Nowhere." Damaged cars are seen after shelling in the Nemyshlyanskyi district of Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine on June 26, 2022. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images Zelenskyy said Belarusians do not have to die, however. He said both Belarusian soldiers and civilians can choose life by not "being drawn into the war." REPORTERS NOTEBOOK: WITNESSING RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR, RECALLING PAST HORRORS "You do not have to die. And you can prevent anyone from deciding for you what awaits you next," he said. A State Emergency Service employee joins the response effort after the shelling of a northern neighborhood by Russian troops with a BM-30 Smerch multiple rocket launcher, Kharkiv, northeastern Ukraine. Vyacheslav Madiyevskyy/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images "Your lives belong only to you, not to someone in the Kremlin," the Ukrainian president added. Zelenskyy said the Belarusian people should "refuse to participate in this war" as "Ukraine will defend itself from strikes from any direction and from any weapon." Volodymyr Zelenskyy records a message during the Glastonbury Festival on June 24, 2022, in Glastonbury, England. Jim Dyson/Getty Images Kyiv claims Russia has lost about 35,000 troops since the country first invaded on Feb. 24. This figure is more than double the number of military combatants Russia lost during its nine-year war in Afghanistan. Zelenskyy's Sunday address came just hours before he joined G-7 leaders virtually during the summit in the Bavarian Alps. The group has been discussing the war in Ukraine, plans to adopt new sanctions against Moscow and an infrastructure project to challenge China. Lynchburg-based Craft Automotive Group announced it has agreed to sell its three vehicle dealerships to the Charlottesville-based Carter Myers Automotive dealership group. Craft Automotive Groups dealerships include Billy Craft Honda, Billy Craft Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, and Craft Hyundai. Founder Billy Craft started the automotive business 50 years ago, in 1972, with Village Motors, Inc., which now does business as Billy Craft Honda. Craft Automotive Group President Kendall Craft said in a news release Friday that by joining CMA, Craft associates will have ownership of the company. With the sale to CMA, together we will be able to continue to serve the families in the Lynchburg community, carrying on the Craft family legacy for many years to come, the release states. Rachael Smith The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Eight people were shot one fatally at a large party early Sunday morning in the Sutherlin community of Pittsylvania County, authorities report. It was about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when the 911 center in Pittsylvania County received a call that rescue and law enforcement were needed at 1220 Kerns Church Road in reference to multiple people shot, Devin Taylor, an investigator with the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release. When officers arrive on scene, they found eight gunshot victims. Jerome Jahiem White, 20, of Danville, died from the shooting, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor announced at a Sunday evening news conference. The body will be taken to the medical examiners office for an autopsy to determine a cause and manner of death. All victims were transported to the hospital. Two remained in the unidentified hospital Sunday afternoon, Taylor said, listed in stable condition. The others received injuries that werent life-threatening, Taylor said. The victims were in their late teens to early 20s. Its devastating to the families and its devastating to us, he said when asked about younger people falling victim to gun crimes like this. Some people just dont seem to have a regard to human life anymore. The incident occurred at a party with more than 100 people on Kerns Church Road. Taylor described that as a common practice these days, noting its happened since COVID-19. We do not have a motive at this time, Taylor said. No arrests have been made, but Taylor said authorities believe multiple shooters were involved. Each one of these victims will be its own separate case, he said of the process to file charges, unless they determine it to be a conspiracy. Each one of the victims will have their day in court. Law enforcement officers from the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, the Virginia State Police, the Danville Police Department, the FBI, the ATF and United States Attorneys Office in the Western District of Virginia are investigating. Investigators are looking through phone records and social media to try to identify any partygoers, Taylor said. Taylor said they are still trying to figure out what type of gun was used and he wasnt sure if more than one weapon was involved. Dont assume we already know something, he said at the conference, in a plea to have people share any details they may have on the incident. Taylor asks anyone with information to call 434-432-7715 or email digital information including screenshots to sar@pittgov.org. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced additional sanctions against Russia, including a ban on imports of Russian gold. Kishida and other Group of Seven leaders discussed diplomatic and security issues at their summit in southern Germany's Schloss Elmau on Sunday. Kishida touched on the situation in Ukraine and said the world stands at a crossroads in history and is being tested on whether it can maintain international order based on rules. He noted that frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council have not been able to deal with the current situation sufficiently. The additional sanctions he announced include a ban on imports of Russian gold and on providing accounting, trust and some other services to Russia. Kishida also said Japan will expand its asset freeze measures to cover an additional 70 Russian individuals and organizations and will implement a ban on exports to 90 military-related organizations. Apparently with China in mind, Kishida said that Japan rejects a world in which any unilateral change to the status quo by force, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is tolerated. He pledged commitment to strengthening international order based on the rule of law. He said other countries must not learn the wrong lessons from the Ukraine crisis. Kishida also mentioned a series of intrusions by Chinese government ships into Japanese waters and a unilateral gas field development in the East China Sea. He reiterated that any attempt to unilaterally change the status quo by force cannot be accepted. Kishida pointed out the importance of peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, and expressed hope to strengthen security cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region. The prime minister also referred to North Korea's nuclear and missile development programs. He said the world must not allow the North to misunderstand that a window for further advancing the programs has opened as the international community is focusing on the Ukraine crisis. He stressed the need to realize the North's complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of all weapons of mass destruction. Paul Walker's daughter has revealed she had an abortion in the wake of the Roe v Wade overturning. Model Meadow Rain Walker, 23, joined the army of other females sharing personal stories and outrage at the Supreme Court's rejection of the landmark 1973 ruling, leaving terminations illegal for millions of women in America. She branded the decision "a huge setback in history" and "a profound injustice to women across the United States", before revealing she had an abortion. Walker added: "There are countless women who have struggled with making the decision to have an abortion. "I too battled with the choice in 2020, when the world was collapsing during the pandemic, I sought an abortion. It is a very private and personal experience - the way it should be." Walker, who runs her late 'Fast and Furious' actor father's foundation set up after his 2013 death in a fiery car crash following a fiery car crash, said she had been "lucky enough to have a great doctor" who "supported" her through the "debilitating process", which has left her "able to be the happy and healthy person" she is today. But she warned Friday's ruling will have tragic and disastrous consequences for other women. She hit out in a lengthy Instagram post: "Now, knowing even more women won't have the opportunity to seek safe termination and choose their bodies first is absolutely heartbreaking. "In a world that constantly marginalises females, this feels like the biggest assault of them all. Banning abortion doesn't prevent abortions, it prevents safe abortions." It comes after 'Dancing with the Stars' pro Cheryl Burke, 38, opened up about having an abortion aged 18. She said on TikTok: "I am saddened by the news this morning, and it weighs heavy in my heart because I had an abortion when I was 18 years old. "If it wasn't for places like 'Planned Parenthood', I would be a mother I got an abortion while I was going through a really huge transition in my life. "I was practicing safe sex, I was using protection, and I was on birth control, but s*** happens." We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. The output of China's major dairy companies rose 2.9 percent year on year in May, bucking the trend of decline in April, according to the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. These enterprises, each with annual operating revenue of at least 20 million yuan (2.99 million U.S. dollars), produced about 2.76 million tonnes of dairy products last month, data from the ministry showed. In the January-May period, the dairy output of these firms climbed 0.9 percent year on year to nearly 12.43 million tonnes, a pace quicker than the 0.5-percent yearly growth in the first four months of the year. Household dairy consumption jumped in China during the past two years, with per capita consumption rising 11.8 percent year on year to 42.3 kg in 2021, said Yang Zhenni, a researcher with an institute under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs. The country's output of dairy products is expected to reach nearly 54 million tonnes in 2031, Yang added. Elements of the Tetouan prefecture police, in coordination with the services of the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), have foiled, Sunday morning, an attempt by scores of illegal migrants to storm and climb the metal fence between Tetuan and Sebta, a Spanish occupied enclave in Northern Morocco. The pre-emptive security operations resulted in the arrest of 59 candidates for illegal migration, all from sub-Saharan Africa, in Tetuan and in the area of Belyounech (a suburb of Fnideq) said a statement from the National Police, the DGSN. Some of these illegal migrants were arrested in possession of objects and iron equipment specially designed to be used for forced entry and climbing in the context of illegal migration operations, said the statement. All those arrested were subjected to a judicial investigation under the supervision of the competent prosecutors office, to identify all the ramifications and possible links of this criminal act. All individuals involved in the organization of illegal migration operations, in this case, were also apprehended, the statement said. Early on Friday June 24, more than 2000 Sub-Saharan migrants marched violently with sticks, acid, bladed weapons and stones attacking Moroccan security forces as they stormed the fence of Melilla, another Spanish occupied enclave in Northern Morocco. Moroccan and Spanish security forces tried to stop the storming of the fence, but the unprecedented violence shown by the migrants on their way to the fence triggered clashes with Moroccan and Spanish forces causing the death of 23 migrants while dozens were injured. At least 140 Moroccan security forces members were injured while trying to stop the migrants. African ambassadors in Rabat rejected the violent attack on Moroccan security forces by Sub-Saharan migrants as they attempted to cross into Spanish-ruled Melilla. Early on Friday, nearly 2000 Sub-Saharan migrants armed with sticks, bladed weapons and even acid attacked Moroccan security forces at a border passage with the Spanish occupied city of Melilla. Their violent rush triggered a stampede as many fell from the 12-meter-high fence causing the death toll to rise to 23 with dozens injured. Some 130 migrants made it to the other side of the fence. At least 140 Moroccan security forces members were injured while trying to stop migrants, who have shown unprecedented violence on their way to the fence, triggering clashes with Moroccan and Spanish forces. In the wake of this tragic crossing, Moroccos foreign ministry and interior ministry officials briefed African ambassadors and projected videos showing violent attacks by the illegal migrants. They showed us videos of horrific violence, Camerouns ambassador to Rabat Mohammadou Youssifo said. After acknowledging the humanitarian approach permeating Moroccos migration policy, Youssifo said the migrants attacked a narrow passage in which people go one by one using wooden and iron sticks as well as bladed weapons. Chads ambassador said what social media has shown does not reflect what really happened. Now we better understand what happened and we will inform our governments, he said. Gabons ambassador said Morocco only protected its borders adding that we will never encourage illegal migration. Spanish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have both paid tribute to Moroccan security forces for their steady efforts to put an end to illegal migration and the exploitation of migrants by trafficking networks and gangs. Morocco was the only country in Africa to adopt a humanitarian approach regarding migrants offering more than 55,000 residency cards to mostly Sub-Saharan nationals. The Energy Committee of the House of Representatives (HoR) has cautioned against any step that could obstruct the work of the National Oil Corporation (NOC) and called for keeping the company away from the ongoing political strife and conflicts, reports say. The reaction came few days after Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah agreed to discuss the proposal of the Minister of Oil and Gas, Mohamed Aoun, to revamp the board of directors of the company. Dbeibeh had demanded that Aoun present candidates to lead the company and replace Mustapha Sanalla. The Energy Committee argued that the move would disturb the flow of oil and its production, and could harm the public interests, especially in light of the political division, underscoring that it would not recognize any hasty decisions. It called also on the NOC to take the necessary measures to transfer its headquarters to Benghazi. The strife between Oil Minister Aoun and Sanalla has been going on for years, Aoun complaining that the NOC chief refuses to release information to the oil ministry has instructed the heads of the companys subsidiaries to not share data with the Oil Ministry. In August 2021, Aoun suspended Sanalla, referred him to administrative investigation and appointed his temporary replacement. Sanalla refused to move, and his replacement refused to take over this position anyway. In October 2021, Aoun again suspended Sanalla and referred him to administrative investigation. In September Prime Minister Dbeibeh held a meeting with Aoun and Sanalla after the major public fallout between the two. However, after administering what seemed like a slap on the wrists, Dbeibeh took no further action. Both men kept their posts. Club de Madrid, the largest non-profit organization made of former Presidents and Heads of States, has urged Tunisias President Kais Saied to liberate ex-Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali and respect the rule of law in the North African country. Jebali was detained last Thursday by security police for the second time in less than two months without an immediate official comment and on suspicion of money laundering. Club de Madrid, in a statement Twitted on Sunday, said Jebali has urgently been transferred to the intensive care unit of Habib Thamer Hospital in Tunis, in seriously deteriorated health condition. The head of government Hamadi Jebali began a hunger strike, claiming that his arrest was politically motivated and not related to money laundering. This has severely affected his health, the statement said. Political tensions and human rights concerns have been rising in Tunisia since July 2021, but also the implementation of exceptional measures imposed by President Kais Saied, including the dissolution of the Parliament, the Higher Council of the Judiciary and the Higher Independent Electoral Body. This process is considered a creeping dictatorship in Tunisia, the statement added. The Tunisian interior ministry indirectly accuses the former Prime Minister of dubious foreign financing scheme after he allegedly received multiple money transfers for an organization. Jebali, Prime Minister between December 2011 and February 2013, is member of the organization founded in 2011 and which promotes democracy and change in the international community. A senior delegation of the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the US Army visited Monday, the surgical field hospital deployed in the commune of Taliouine (province of Taroudant), on the sidelines of the ongoing African Lion 2022 exercise. Upon arrival at the hospital site, the delegation led by Lieutenant General Belkhir El Farouk, Inspector General of the FAR and Commander of the Southern Zone, and US Major General Michael J. Turley were briefed on the objectives of this medical initiative, the human resources mobilized for the success of the operation, the type of services provided to the local population, and the number of beneficiaries. The deployment of this hospital, which mobilizes medical teams from the FAR and the US Army, is part of the side humanitarian activities of the joint Moroccan-US exercise African Lion 2022. The field hospital, operational from June 13 to June 30, provides medical and surgical services to the local population. Medicines and corrective glasses are offered to patients free of charge. The field hospital, which provides services to the local and neighboring population, is supervised by 151 Moroccan and US medical staff, 110 supporting staff, and 11 social workers of the FAR, who offer services related to education and mother and child health. African Lion 2022 is a combined joint exercise held each year by the FAR and the US Armed Forces. This years edition (June 20-30) sees the participation of 10 African and international countries, including Morocco and the United States, as well as some 20 military observers from partner countries. The exercise is taking place in the regions of Agadir, Benguerir, Kenitra, Mahbes, Taroudant and Tantan. The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez, praised again this Monday Moroccos efforts in the fight against illegal immigration, noting that the Kingdom is a strategic partner, which struggles against the violent actions of migrants orchestrated by international mafias. Morocco is a strategic partner for Spain, not only in terms of monitoring illegal immigration () Morocco is also important for Spain in the fight against terrorism, Sanchez pointed out in an interview with Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia, published this Monday. Morocco is also fighting and suffering from the violent actions of migrants, the President of the Spanish government said, stressing that the main culprits for the tragedy that took place (Friday) and the regrettable loss of human life are the international mafias which organize violent attacks. Regarding the attempted assault on the metal fence in the province of Nador, Sanchez said he was grateful for the work done by the Moroccan public forces. Early on Friday, nearly 2000 Sub-Saharan migrants armed with sticks, bladed weapons and even acid attacked Moroccan security forces at a border passage with the Spanish occupied city of Melilla. Their violent rush triggered a stampede as many fell from the 12-meter-high fence causing the death of 23 migrants and injuring dozens. Some 130 migrants made it to the other side of the fence. At least 140 members of the Moroccan security forces were injured while trying to stop migrants, who have shown unprecedented violence on their way to the fence, triggering clashes with Moroccan and Spanish forces. We regret the loss of human lives, in this case of desperate people who were looking for a better life and who are the victims and instruments of the mafias and criminals who organize violent actions, Pedro Sanchez added. Spanish Foreign Minister has also paid tribute to Moroccan security forces for their steady efforts to put an end to illegal migration and the exploitation of migrants by trafficking networks and gangs. In the wake of this tragic crossing, Moroccos foreign ministry and interior ministry officials briefed, at a meeting in Rabat Sunday, African ambassadors accredited to Morocco, and projected videos showing violent attacks by the illegal migrants. The African diplomats commended the humanitarian approach permeating Moroccos migration policy and expressed their readiness to collaborate with the Moroccan authorities on this issue. They also rejected illegal migration and human beings trafficking. Morocco was the only country in Africa to adopt a humanitarian approach regarding migrants offering more than 55,000 residency cards to mostly Sub-Saharan nationals. Morocco took part Monday in Manama in the first meeting of the Negev Forum Steering Committee which brought together senior Foreign Affairs officials from United States, Israel, Bahrain, Egypt and United Arab Emirates. The gathering, which focused on regional security, energy, water and food, comes ahead of the first visit planned by U.S. President Joe Biden to the Middle East. It is building on the Negev Summit held in March with the participation of Foreign ministers of the four Arab countries, Israel and the USA, broker of the Abraham Accords. The six countries had pledged to set up six working groups on regional security, energy, food and water security, health, education and tolerance, and tourism. Morocco was represented in the Manama meeting by Fouad Yazourh, Director of Political affairs at the Foreign Department. The other participants were U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Yael Lempert, Israeli Foreign Ministry Director-General Alon Ushpiz and Bahraini Undersecretary for Political Affairs Sheikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa. UAE was represented by Abdulrahman Al Neyadi, director of Policy Planning at the foreign ministry, was present, while Egypt was represented Mohamed Tharwat Selim, deputy assistant foreign minister. In a joint statement, the six countries said the Manama meeting demonstrates the strength of our relations, our shared commitment to cooperation, and the important opportunities unlocked by improved relations between Israel and its neighbors, showing what can be achieved by working together to overcome shared challenges. Participants agreed to strengthen multilateral cooperation and hold an annual ministerial meeting to counter common regional security and global economic challenges. A 19-year-old Brady man is charged with a felony after he allegedly had sex with a teenage girl on multiple occasions over a four-month period. Hunter D. Lovitt made an initial appearance in Lincoln County Court on Monday afternoon. He is charged with first-degree sexual assault of a minor. The Class 2 felony carries a 50-year maximum sentence in Nebraska. Bail was set at 10% of $50,000 and a preliminary hearing was scheduled for July 21. Lovitt, who was arrested Friday, remains detained at the Lincoln County Detention Center. The charges stem from Lovitt being involved in a sexual relationship with the girl that began last November when she was 14-years-old and continued into February. The Lincoln County Sheriffs Office began an investigation into the case on June 18. Photo: Hesther Ng/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images Big Thief, a popular indie-rock band, recently announced a pair of concerts in Tel Aviv, Israel, where one of the band members is originally from. Shortly afterward, the band was roundly condemned by fans and activists who support the Boycott, Divest, and Sanctions movement, which seeks to isolate Israel economically over its history of violence against the Palestinian people. In a statement defending its decision, the band said it was well aware of the cultural aspect of the BDS movement and the desperate reality of the Palestinian people and couldnt claim to know where the moral high ground lies and we want to remain open to other peoples perspectives and to love beyond disagreement. The rage against Big Thief only intensified. Leftist publication Mondoweiss accused the band of violent complicity with the Israeli government. Some fans of the band flooded it with furious comments online. Days later, Big Thief canceled the shows and apologized for the recklessness and naivete of their prior statement. We oppose the illegal occupation and the systematic oppression of the Palestinian people, the band said. Palestinian activists welcomed the decision, and the firestorm died down. It was, in every sense, a victory for BDS advocates. Yet Big Thiefs reversal raised uncomfortable questions that leftist activists will soon have to reckon with, as Israel itself shows no signs of giving ground in its decades-long oppression of Palestinians. While BDS has undoubtedly made striking gains in U.S. and global left-wing spaces earning the sort of acceptance that was unimaginable even a decade ago it is not close to achieving its ultimate aim of Palestinian liberation. Backers of BDS point to the example of the boycotts against South Africa that drove the collapse of the apartheid regime, but the racist white minority there enjoyed far less global support than Israel does today. If BDS, founded in 2005, exists in the spirit of the movement against South Africa, it cannot claim such a level of influence. It may never be able to. Meanwhile, its unclear if conventional liberals and moderates have been persuaded to join a cause that associates Zionism with genocide. To dramatically change Israeli politics, where reactionary right-wing lawmakers hold great power, it will take the U.S. government, Israels greatest patron, to force that change. BDS risks being too alienating, tactically and rhetorically, to make that happen. While two pro-BDS politicians, Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, have been elected to Congress, there is no substantial alliance between leftists and more liberal Zionists that could alter the U.S. governments staunchly pro-Israel bent. The greatest sea change in U.S. foreign policy toward Israel in the last decade actually came before the BDS movement entered the political mainstream and the Democratic Socialists of America, the strongest electoral vehicle for BDS-backed politicians, rose to power. In the mid-2010s, Barack Obama, who supported Israel (like other U.S. presidents), brokered the Iran nuclear deal over furious opposition from the entire Republican Party, many Democrats, and the united front of the Israel lobby. Donald Trump would later shred the agreement, but it was a remarkable achievement in the short term. Many liberals in the U.S. have soured on Israel for obvious reasons. Until recently, Benjamin Netanyahu, a corrupt conservative ideologue, was the nations inordinately powerful prime minister. He lashed out at Democrats and pulled closer to Trump, who grew into a virulent Israel hawk. There is no longer a viable leftist or even left-of-center movement in Israel, a nation where socialism once had purchase and a young Bernie Sanders could credibly live on a kibbutz. Netanyahu veered to the right to keep power, as ultra-Orthodox politicians gained clout. A centrist government that came together to oust him is now collapsing. After snap elections, Netanyahu could be back in the fall. The question becomes how supporters of BDS, in this daunting environment, will conceivably achieve their aims. The goals of BDS are a blend of the pragmatic (Israels withdrawal from the occupied territories in compliance with international law) and the radical (gaining the right of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to return and claim the property they lost during the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and 1967 Six-Day War). The radicalism of the latter goal lies not in whether its just believers in pluralist, U.S.-style democracy should welcome the idea of a binational state that treats Palestinians and Israelis equally but in the cataclysm it would likely unleash. Israel, a parliamentary democracy that was founded to be a Jewish state and safe haven for those facing antisemitic violence across the world, will never accept a nation that is not fundamentally Jewish in character. It doesnt matter that democracy and theocracy should be incompatible. No major western nation would accede to an Israel with a Jewish minority. A civil war of the likes that killed more than 100,000 people in Lebanon during the 1970s and 1980s could be the darkest outcome of the one-state solution if it ever came to fruition, though more optimistic scenarios might come to pass. The trouble, of course, is that increasingly conservative Israeli governments have continually violated international law and failed to uphold the terms of the two-state solution, which would grant Palestinians their own country. Illegal West Bank settlements are roadblocks to peace. BDS proponents and other progressives are right to be disillusioned over the two-state solution, and it is understandable to demand more. What needs to be questioned, in the activist spaces beyond the Middle East, is whether the strategies embraced by the BDS movement really work. Is Israel facing substantial external pressure or merely hardening against cultural boycotts that are often portrayed, fairly or not, as antisemitic? Does barring an Israeli food truck from a street fair or asking rock icons to avoid Israel further the cause? For activists who view Israel as the equivalent of apartheid South Africa, its a necessary gesture. Build enough cultural pressure, and the diplomatic answers will somehow follow. For most mainstream voters in the U.S. and elsewhere, Israel represents a more complex case. A cultural boycott of one particular nation invites comparisons that have to be accounted for politically at least. Other democracies, including the U.S., are complicit in horrific crimes. BDS exists as a social-justice movement for Palestinians; it is wrong to ask it to suddenly have answers on all thorny international matters. But the average person who needs to be persuaded may ask BDS proponents in the U.S. why so much energy is expended against Israel and so little on other destructive nations like China or Saudi Arabia. If Big Thief endorses Palestinian oppression by playing in Israel, it can be argued that a U.S. tour through any number of towns and cities would constitute a show of support for the U.S. military, and its crimes, as well as the systemic racism that still plagues the nation. Why not consign shows to Canada, a country that, on the balance, may have less slaughter to answer for? If the question seems disingenuous, its one activists have forced into the arena. To actually win, proponents of BDS will have to build a coalition with organizations they have contempt for like the liberal Zionist group J Street and moderates who dont share their politics but could be open to embracing the natural cause of solidarity with an oppressed minority. BDS must focus on tangible goals. For example, Andy Levin, a Jewish congressman from Michigan, has proposed legislation that would bar U.S. military aid from being used in the occupied territories. Rather than focus on cultural boycotts, activists could attempt to build a much larger grassroots base for that bill and elect more Democrats who could push it through Congress. The idea of conditioning military aid has gained some steam with Bernie Sanders embracing it in the Senate. While the political terrain may seem friendlier for BDS than it did four or five years ago, the Israel lobby has quietly regrouped. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee and the Democratic Majority for Israel have spent heavily in recent years to help elect Democratic Israel hawks over progressive challengers to Congress. Twice, DMFI has aided Shontel Brown in defeating Sanders acolyte Nina Turner in Ohio. In North Carolina, Israel hawks helped Valerie Foushee beat Nida Allam, a progressive critic of Israel. Other congressional proxy wars loom: Levin must defeat Haley Stevens, a fellow representative heavily funded by AIPAC bundlers, and Donna Edwards is trying to fend off an AIPAC-backed challenger in Maryland. Neither Edwards nor Levin hold any serious appeal for the BDS movement. Their defeats, however, would further set back an activist class that must find a way to win over Washington in the next generation. Israel cannot change from the inside: The far right is too influential and will sway elections there for years to come. Only the U.S., through diplomatic and military pressure, can bring these forces to heel. To change U.S. policy, pro-BDS activists and other advocates for the Palestinian people need to compete aggressively in elections, joining J Street in heavily fundraising for candidates that will be of help to them in Congress. There is enough progressive money now sloshing through Washington, from small donors and wealthy individuals alike, to finance super-PAC efforts to counter AIPAC and DMFI. Winning will mean compromise. If activists long for a one-state solution, they should take a page from the populists and talk about it less and, instead, channel their rhetoric toward more palatable positions like ending the occupation and imposing conditions on U.S. military aid. Generally, there should be fewer demands that will only satiate the most ardent believers while driving away those who dont know the intricacies of Israeli-Palestinian relations like exhausting debates over whether Zionists can be feminists. A band with a bassist from Israel wants to return to the city where the musician grew up. Stopping the group from playing at a Tel Aviv club will not save the Palestinian people; the innocent civilians dodging Israeli rockets do not care where Big Thief plays its music. Playworld Playworld announces the official opening of the Hufnagle Park Kidsburg Playground in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The sprawling, world-class playground, which includes Playworlds latest innovations, was built to honor first responders and the spirit of volunteerism. LEWISBURG, Pa., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Playworld , a leading commercial playground equipment manufacturer, today announced the official opening of the Hufnagle Park Kidsburg Playground in its hometown of Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The sprawling, world-class playground, which includes Playworlds latest innovations, was built to honor first responders and the spirit of volunteerism. Lewisburg Borough officials were joined by other local dignitaries and leadership of PlayPower, Playworlds parent company, at a dedication ceremony held last Friday at Hufnagle Park, part of the Bull Run Greenway. Playworld officially welcomes the people of central Pennsylvania to the Hufnagle Park Kidsburg Playground, said David Sheedy, vice president of global sales for Playworld. We could not be more proud of our community, and are thrilled to introduce this new play space as a local destination that challenges kids through unstructured, outdoor play, while celebrating the first responders who keep us safe. On May 4, 2021, firefighters from Lewisburgs William Cameron Engine Company and 12 other fire departments from the surrounding region extinguished a fire on Playworlds Buffalo Road campus, ensuring the safety of Playworld employees and the productivity of its factory. Playworld donated the Kidsburg playground equipment to express its appreciation of those individuals, to honor anyone who volunteers to make the world a better place, and to create an innovative play destination that unites the local community. Spanning 8,500 square feet of unitary safety surfacing by No Fault Surfaces, Kidsburg includes many new playground elements in climbers, slides, swings, and shade for people ages 2 and up. PlaySoleil solar-powered lighting will illuminate the playground after-hours, shining light in a downward trajectory from atop the equipment. Story continues Kidsburg marks the first-ever installation of the Quito freestanding climber, a geometric-shaped net named after the high-altitude capital of Ecuador. Quito allows children to scale, balance and teeter on the net, promoting physical and cognitive development such as motor skills and coordination as well as problem-solving and critical thinking skills. It also includes an easier passage to the center of the structure. Swings include the Swing Along , a multigenerational face-to-face swing seat, as well as early childhood tot seats and an accessible swing seat. The Mighty Descent Slide with Prism Pass is the largest single-piece, rotationally molded slide in the world and allows for multiple children at a time. The play space also includes PlayTown playhouses designed for children 2-to-5 years old. We thank the local leaders for embracing Playworlds vision for Kidsburg, which we expect to serve as an important community resource and gathering place for years and years to come, said Bryan Yeazel, CEO of PlayPower, parent company of Playworld. Its time to play. About Playworld Playworld exists to unite communities through innovative and authentic play, creating equal play opportunities for all. A division of PlayPower, Inc., Playworld dedicates itself to craftsmanship, innovation and inclusive design, instilling optimism that unites communities on common ground -the playground. To learn more, visit Playworld.com. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/737f4c28-41be-4add-866e-eb632c0f40cc CONTACT: Media contact Jennifer Leckstrom RoseComm for Playworld jleckstrom@rosecomm.com 215-681-0770 China will strengthen policy support for the automobile industry in an effort to release auto consumption potential, the State Council said at a meeting on Wednesday. Implementation of these policies is expected to stimulate vehicle and related sales by about 200 billion yuan ($29.83 billion) this year. Measures will be taken to promote the sales of used cars. From Aug 1, China will remove restrictions on the cross-regional transfer of secondhand vehicles that meet national emission standard V. Auto sales companies that apply for transfer registration will be managed separately and issued temporary license plates starting from Oct 1. With a series of new policies for used vehicles in recent years, the circulation of such vehicles has been improved and the market has maintained a growth trend. Last year, sales of used vehicles reached 17.59 million units, up 22.6 percent year-on-year, according to statistics from the China Passenger Car Association. While compared with European countries, the used vehicle market in China is still fledgling. With more measures being taken in the used car sector, the market is expected to usher in new opportunities, the China Automotive Technology and Research Center Company said in a report. Purchases of new energy vehicles will be supported. An extension of the purchase tax exemption policy for NEVs, which is to expire by the end of the year, will be explored considering current conditions, the State Council said. The purchase tax accounts for 10 percent of the selling price of vehicles. China rolled out the tax incentive in 2014 and extended it twice to stimulate the sales of NEVs. As an eco-friendly product, the NEV is expected to help China achieve its dual carbon goalspeaking carbon emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. In addition to an extension of the tax exemption, China is launching a campaign to promote NEVs in its vast countryside. The "going to the countryside "campaign for NEVs has attracted more than 20 Chinese and international carmakers to offer more than 70 models for car buyers in rural areas. Last year, about 1.07 million NEVs were sold as a result of the campaign, a year-on-year rise of nearly 170 percent, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers. In the first five months of this year, 2 million NEVs were delivered in China, a rise of 111.2 percent from the same period last year, despite a 12.2 percent year-on-year fall in sales in the overall vehicle market, according to CAAM. In addition, China will also improve the policies of imported vehicles and support the consumption of parallel imports, which refer to automobiles imported by merchants who are not authorized dealers. Since the State Council launched the vehicle parallel import pilot in 2014, the imported vehicle volume has increased, meeting the diversified demands of consumers. Cui Dongshu, secretary-general of the CPCA, said without dealers, parallel imported vehicles have price advantages and can help realize the synchronous launch of overseas products in China without a complicated process. With further policy support, vehicle parallel imports are expected to remove complications, such as the domestic and foreign standards differences, and expand the pilots. Up to now, of the 29 vehicle import areas nationwide, 22 have launched parallel import businesses. FACT.MR Manufacturers need to focus on the introduction of supreme quality ductile iron pipes that provide strength and durability for life, says a Fact.MR analyst. Dublin, Ireland, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Europe ductile iron pipes market witnessed 2.1% CAGR during the years 2017-2021. According to the detailed analysis done by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the market is projected to expand at 3.4% CAGR to surpass a valuation of US$ 1.63 billion by the end of 2032. Water transportation and natural gas are some of the major industries using industrial pipelines to supply water and gas to the population. Rapid urbanization and growing infrastructural development are leading to enhanced demand for natural resources and purified water . As a result, the oil & natural gas industry is improving its infrastructure and replacing old ductile iron pipes with new ones owing to their corrosion properties. In addition, rapid urbanization is resulting in augmented demand for purified and hygienic water . The need to build underground infrastructure is also rising for upgrading PVC, HDPE, etc., to be replaced with ductile pipes. As such, varied applications of ductile iron pipes and the retrofitting rate of existing pipelines are likely to provide huge opportunities to ductile iron pipe suppliers in the European region. For more insights into the Market, Get A Sample of this Report! https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7424 Key Takeaways from Market Study The ductile iron pipes market in Europe is currently valued at US$ 1.16 billion. During the 2017-2021 historical years, the market witnessed a CAGR of 2.1%. DN 350-DN1000 diameter pipes hold a market share of 27.6%, while DN 80-DN 300 diameter pipes account for 21.2% share. Under the application segment, portable water distribution accounts for 38.4% market share. Germany leads the European market with 24.8% market share and this market is projected to rise at 4.4% CAGR through 2032. Together, Russia and Italy are likely to represent 46.8% of the overall market share in 2022. Story continues Development of Market Focus on strategies such as acquisitions, divestments, and capacity expansion is emerging as a winning strategy for prominent ductile iron pipe manufacturers in the European region. Prominent players in the market are focusing on introducing fire-resistant pipes and also those that are resistant to other seismic movements, along with supreme quality pipes that are long-lasting. For Comprehensive Insights Ask An Analyst Here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=7424 Manufacturers have developed an efficient way of protecting ductile iron pipes against microbean action, strengthening the self-protection qualities of ductile iron, and enabling these pipes to withstand aggressive conditions. For instance : Saint-Gobain PAM signed an agreement to divest its pipe business in China in 2021. The group is likely to sell around 67% of its Chinese pipe business to a consortium. Svobodny Sokol LLC began ductile iron pipe production for Hungary in 2020, for water supply. Segmentation of Europe Ductile Iron Pipes Industry Research Europe Ductile Iron Pipes Market by Diameter : DN 80 DN 300 Ductile Iron Pipes DN 350 DN 1000 Ductile Iron Pipes DN 1100 DN 1200 Ductile Iron Pipes DN 1400 & DN 2000 Ductile Iron Pipes DN 2000 and Above Ductile Iron Pipes Europe Ductile Iron Pipes Market by Application : Ductile Iron Pipes for Potable Water Distribution Ductile Iron Pipes for Sewage & Wastewater Ductile Iron Pipes for Irrigation Ductile Iron Pipes for Mining Others Europe Ductile Iron Pipes Market by External Protection : Zn/Zn-Al + Bitumen/Epoxy Ductile Iron Pipes PE Ductile Iron Pipes PU Ductile Iron Pipes Ceramic Epoxy Ductile Iron Pipes Europe Ductile Iron Pipes Market by Sales Channel : Direct Sales of Ductile Iron Pipes Indirect Sales of Ductile Iron Pipes Europe Ductile Iron Pipes Market by Country : Germany Italy France Spain U.K. Russia BENELUX Rest of Europe Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7424 More Valuable Insights Available Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the Europe ductile iron pipes market, presenting historical market data (2017-2021) and forecast statistics for the period of 2022-2032. The study reveals essential insights by diameter (DN 80 DN 300, DN 350 DN 1000, DN 1100 DN 1200, DN 1400 & DN 2000, DN 2000 & above), application (ductile iron pipes for potable water distribution, ductile iron pipes for sewage & wastewater, ductile iron pipes for irrigation, ductile iron pipes for mining, others), external protection (Zn/Zn-Al + bitumen/epoxy ductile iron pipes, PE ductile iron pipes, PU ductile iron pipes, ceramic epoxy ductile iron pipes), and sales channel (direct sales, indirect sales), across major countries of Europe (Germany, Italy, France, Spain, U.K., Russia, BENELUX, and the Rest of Europe). Fact.MRs Domain Knowledge in Chemicals and Materials Division Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations of the highly seasoned chemicals and materials team at Fact.MR helps clients from across the globe with their unique business intelligence needs. With a repertoire of over a thousand reports and 1 Million-plus data points, the team has analysed the chemicals and materials division across 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides unmatched end-to-end research and consulting services. 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Thats why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Our sales offices in United States and Dublin, Ireland. Headquarter based in Dubai, UAE. Reach out to us with your goals, and well be an able research partner. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 Email: sales@factmr.com Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 The Alabama Republican Party Candidate Committee has declared the State Senate District 27 election between Jay Hovey and incumbent Tom Whatley a tie. The winner will be decided by lot, according to state code. Hovey clung to a four-vote lead over Whatley on election night after all the votes were tallied from the polling places in Lee, Russell and Tallapoosa counties. After the provisional ballots were counted on May 31, Hovey remained in the lead by just one vote. Shortly afterward, the election was contested by Whatleys father, Charles Whatley, and Dr. Gary Hunt, a campaign contributor from Opelika. On Saturday in Birmingham, the committee held hearings for the contested Senate District 27 race, as well as for contested three election contests that were filed after the Alabama Republican Primary Election in May, including Senate District 27, House District 28 and House District 29. Hovey and Whatley each had the opportunity to present his case for or against the election results and answered questions from the committee. Afterward, they were allowed to make a closing statement, and then the committee declared the race for State Senate District 27 a tie. The party did not release a reason for its decision. Hovey in a message to The Montgomery Advertiser on Saturday night accused the party of counting an unregistered voter to bring the race to a tie. Certainly every vote is important and its unfortunate if anyone is mistaken that they are registered to vote, Hovey wrote. It was unclear if he would challenge the decision. A release from the Alabama Republican Party stated that the tie will be broken in the same manner established for general elections set forth in Alabama Code 17-12-23. The code, according to the Alabama Secretary of State website, states: In all elections where there is a tie between the two highest candidates for the same office, for all county or precinct offices, it shall be decided by lot by the judge of probate of the county in the presence of the candidates; and in the case of the office of circuit judge, senator, representative, or any state officer not otherwise provided for, the Secretary of State shall, in the presence of the Governor, and such other electors as may choose to be present, decide the tie by lot. One method of deciding a tie by lot is to have the candidates draw slips of paper with one of them being marked as the winner. According to Probate Judge Bill English of Lee County, at least one past race that ended in a tie was decided by a coin flip. It could be a roll of a dice, high card or rock-paper-scissors, Secretary of State John Merrill told AL.com. The GOP news release did not provide details on when the winner would be selected or the method to be used. The winner of this race will run against Democrat candidate Sherri Reese of Opelika in the general election in November. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A state official has confirmed the reason for the Alabama Republican Partys decision that the State Senate District 27 race between Jay Hovey and incumbent Tom Whatley ended in a tie. Cameron Mixon, director of external affairs for the Alabama Secretary of State Office, confirmed Monday that during a hearing on Saturday in Birmingham, the party committee chose to recognize a provisional ballot that previously wasnt counted. Meanwhile, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency released a statement questioning the validity of the provisional ballot cast. Yellowhammer News, a conservative news website in Alabama, reported that the provisional vote in question was cast by a resident from Tallapoosa County who recently moved to Dadeville. On Sunday, after the tie vote was declared a day earlier, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency released a statement disputing the account of the voter, whom it said was claiming to be wrongly excluded from the polls due to a driver license error. According to the statement, ALEA discovered that the voter still has a driver license issued by the State of Georgia. She did visit the ALEA Driver License Office in Opelika to apply for an Alabama Drivers License, but did not complete an issuance transaction and was never issued an Alabama Driver License. Voter registration information from ALEAs Driver License Division is only sent after the credential is issued and the customer signs the required voter declaration, which did not occur in this specific incident, the release said. Voter registration information is filed nightly by ALEAs Driver License Division to the Secretary of States Office to ensure each citizens voter registration is up to date. On Saturday night, after the partys decision, Hovey sent a message to The Montgomery Advertiser on Saturday night, saying, Certainly every vote is important and its unfortunate if anyone is mistaken that they are registered to vote. It was unclear if Hovey would challenge the decision. According to state code, the winner will now be decided by lot, which could be by coin toss, high card, rock-paper-scissors or another quick game of chance.The tie-breaker will likely be conducted by ALGOP Chairman John Wahl, but the GOP has not provided details on when the winner will be selected or the method that will be used. The winner of this race will run against Democrat candidate Sherri Reese of Opelika in the general election in November. After 18 months of preparation and a meticulous on-site review, East Alabama Medical Center is now stroke-certified, and its leader calls the achievement a dream come true. Having a certified stroke program is something we have dreamed about for years, said Laura Grill, president and CEO of East Alabama Health, in a press release. We want to be the provider of choice for our community and achieving this designation means fewer patients have to go outside of this region to receive top-notch stroke care. The Joint Commission, a nonprofit organization that accredits more than 22,000 U.S. health care organizations and programs, found EAMC compliant with its standards for the delivery of stroke patient care, timeliness of stroke-specific patient care and utilization of current evidence-based guidelines of stroke care, according to a press release from East Alabama Health After the evaluation, EAMC was awarded The Joint Commissions Gold Seal of Approval and the American Stroke Associations Heart-Check mark for Primary Stroke Center Certification. This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients, said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Stroke Association in a press release. Receiving the Gold Seal of Approval means the organization exceeds and maintains quality benchmarks and patient outcomes, according to The Joint Commissions website. This certification reflects its commitment to providing the highest quality of care for stroke patients, said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer of the American Stroke Association, in a press release. We congratulate EAMC for this outstanding achievement. More achievements The accreditation comes after Laura Grill was elected to serve on the executive committee of the Alabama Hospital Association as the secretary-treasurer. Grill was also selected as president to lead the Associations Central Alabama Regional Hospital Council. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. This better not be a both sides documentary. He needs to go down in flames. Reply Thread Link His side consists of I apologise if I molested you when you were a child, but I cannot remember if Im guilty or not. I hope that response is mentioned in this. Reply Parent Thread Link that was my first thought Reply Parent Thread Link I hope this doesnt humanize him in any way. Its still scary and sad that 3(?) of his accusers ended up dead. They all deserve justice. Reply Thread Link Eviscerate him Edited at 2022-06-27 12:21 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in Hello! Your entry got to top-25 of the most popular entries in LiveJournal!Learn more about LiveJournal Ratings in FAQ Reply Thread Link At least its not a French documentary I guess? Reply Thread Link "Le Fabuleux Destin de Kevin" Reply Parent Thread Link Ooh, I love a Channel 4 doc Reply Thread Link During his attempted comeback era? We love to see it!! Reply Thread Link The two-part series will investigate Spaceys conduct, how it affected others and the reasons why they have only decided to speak out now. Oh.. Reply Thread Link Roast Beef Productions, which was behind docs such as Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, is producing in association with All3Media International. Kira Phillips, who directed Channel 4s doc Jeremy Kyle: Death on Daytime is directing, while Kathy Haywood is producer and former Channel 4 news chief Dorothy Byrne is executive producer alongside Mike Lerner. This is such a salad of people so Ive no idea how this documentary will turn out. Pussy Riot was largely reporting in PRs favour; Death on Daytime still provided opposing views; Channel 4 News generally doesnt play the two sides game. This documentary could be anything. Reply Thread Link Won't be watching anything to do with that creep. Reply Thread Link Didnt like a bunch of his accusers die mysteriously? This dude has ALWAYS freaked me out, there was always something weird about him. Reply Thread Link hope they include dumbass ian mckellen saying spacey and singer were driven to be rapists because they were closeted Reply Thread Link Excuse me!!!??? He said that? Reply Parent Thread Link Well, frankly, Im waiting for someone to accuse me of something, McKellen joked to the crowd at the taping. And me wondering whether theyre not telling the truth, and me having forgotten . . . But with the couple of names you mentioned, of people Ive worked with, most of them were in the closethence all their problems as people, and their relationship with other people. If they had been able to be open about themselves and their desires, they wouldnt have started abusing people in the way theyre being accused. ( x Reply Parent Thread Link I've been waiting for Ian to have his call out too, but I think people are too attached to him for that to happen. The rumors + these comments + plus his long-term association with Singer... Reply Parent Thread Link "they wouldnt have started abusing people in the way theyre being accused" What the fucking fuck?! Reply Parent Thread Link why are men Reply Parent Thread Link rip him to shreds Reply Thread Link the reasons why they have only decided to speak out now Not loving that "only." People have spoken out before Anthony Rapp (though I give him major props for his bravery), they were just silenced and ignored. Reply Thread Link Also, 'now' is a really funny way of saying 'five and a half years ago'... Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2022-06-27 02:40 pm (UTC) Anthony Rapp out here like Reply Thread Link and the reasons why they have only decided to speak out now i really dont like how that part sounds. i dont plan on watching, but im hoping that they dont try to excuse or justify his actions and they treat his victims with the respect they deserve, specially the ones that cant defend themselves anymore. Reply Thread Link I hope the documentary recognizes Anthony Rapps Dakota Johnson-like take down powers. Reply Thread Link Oil well re-fracking is on the rise in the United States as shale producers seek to boost production without making significant investments in new wells, Reuters has reported. Re-fracking appears to be a way to reconcile shareholder insistence on higher returns and calls from the federal government to increase oil production at a time of tight supply, which has led to higher prices for both crude oil and refined products, chiefly fuels. According to the report, re-fracking of existing shale wells can cost up to 40 percent less than drilling a new well. It can also double or triple the output of an existing well, one fracking industry executive told Reuters. Economy has become important for shale drillers despite much higher benchmark oil prices because of widespread shortages of equipment, workforce, and raw materials that have increased production costs. These are up about 20 percent from a year ago, according to Callon Petroleum, a Texas-based company, as cited by Reuters. Re-fracking could also help U.S. shale drillers boost their cash flow further, which would make their shareholders even happier than higher dividends. According to a recent report by Saudi bank Al Rahji Capital, cash per well for U.S. shale producers rose to $34 per barrel in the first quarter of this year, from $23 per barrel in the last quarter of 2021. This is still much lower than the $51 per barrel that shale drillers got in the first quarter of 2020, the report noted, but added that it is still providing enough cushion to boost the production levels amid higher oil prices. U.S. crude oil prices have gained some 40 percent over the past 12 months, but domestic oil production remains about a million barrels daily below the record 12.8 million bpd the U.S. produced in early 2020. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The efficacy of western sanctions hitting the Russian economy has been watered down as Europe continues to buy Russian energy. Putins invasion of Ukraine has sparked retaliation in the form of economic sanctions, weighing on Russias ability to pay foreign investors. Russia has just defaulted on foreign debt obligations for the first time in over a century. Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt obligations for the first time since the Bolshevik revolution in 1918. Sanctions launched by an alliance of western nations in response to president Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine have hobbled the Kremlins access to its assets, meaning it has been unable to pay foreign investors. Moscow missed a grace period deadline today on a $100m interest payment that was originally due on 27 May, tipping the country into default for the first time in over a century. A US official said at todays G7 summit that the default shows just how strong the actions are that the U.S, along with allies and partners have taken, as well as how dramatic the impact has been on Russias economy. Russia insisted it has the means to fulfill its foreign debt obligations and blamed sanctions for leaving creditors out of pocket. The Bolsheviks stopped paying foreign investors in the early 1900s amid the Russian civil war to keep assets in the country to strengthen the economy. Related: New EV Battery Boasts 1,000km Range Americas Treasury department blocked Russia from making payments last May, effectively sealing its fate of falling into default. Earlier this year, the worlds top rating agencies downgraded Russian debt to among the lowest wrongs on their debt safety ladder. The efficacy of western sanctions hitting the Russian economy has been watered down by European countries continuing to send money to the country in exchange for Russian energy. Persistently high demand for Russian gas has lifted the rouble after it initially plunged against the worlds leading currencies following Moscows invasion. However, US president Joe Biden, UK prime minister Boris Johnson and other leaders of G7 countries over the weekend said they are pursuing a cap on Russian energy prices to curb revenues flowing into Moscow. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Three events occurred in the last week or so involving either Iran or Iraq separately, or both together, that put Russia back front and centre in the Middle East, to the detriment of the U.S. In order of timing, these events were: a series of meetings between Russias veteran foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, and Irans senior political and military figures, including President, Ebrahim Raisi; the withdrawal from the Iraqi parliament of the countrys long-time de facto leader, Moqtada al-Sadr, and his 73-member political bloc, the largest group in the legislative body; and, the agreement of a new cooperative roadmap between Iran and Iraq. On the first point, relating to Russia, prior to the unilateral withdrawal of the U.S. from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA, or colloquially the nuclear deal) in May 2018, the Kremlin had used the loosening up of restrictions in the run up to that agreement being made in 2015 to dramatically increase its presence in Iran, as analysed in depth in my new book on the global oil markets. In the energy sector alone, before 2018 initial field exploration and development agreements were signed by GazpromNeft for the Changouleh and Cheshmeh-Khosh oilfields, Zarubezhneft for the Aban and Paydar Gharb fields, and Tatneft for the Dehloran field. These were on top of the previous memoranda of understanding (MoU) signed by Lukoil and the National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) for studies of the Ab Teymour and Mansouri oil fields. Even more significant was the concomitant signing of a 22-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) by Irans deputy petroleum minister, Amir-Hossein Zamaninia, and Russias deputy energy minister, Kirill Molodtsov, which included not just the studies and plans for exploration and extraction of oil but also for the transfer of gas, petrochemical swap operations, research on the supply and marketing of petrochemical products, the manufacture of oil equipment together with local Iranian engineering firms, and technology transfer in the refinery sector. Discussions by early 2018 were also underway for adjunct developments to this 22-point MoU that included the dual use of Iranian seaports and airports by Russia for both civilian and military purposes. These adjunct plans, however, were suspended due to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA in May of that year, and were later rolled into the same concept of dual use contained in the landmark 25-year agreement between Iran and China, first reported anywhere by this author on 3 September 2019. At the most recent meeting in the last week or so, OilPrice.com understands from sources close to Irans Petroleum Ministry that: Lavrov and Raisi discussed expanding cooperation across all fields, in line with the original [22-point] MoU. He added: This also included logistical cooperation for the movement of goods, including where necessary oil and gas and related products, both from Iran to Russia and Russia to Iran, and also elements of the special [dual use civilian and military] cooperation that had been agreed four years ago. Irans foreign ministry itself noted that Lavrovs visit was aimed at: Expanding cooperation with the Eurasian region and the Caucasus. At the 19 January meeting between Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and his Iranian counterpart, Raisi, added the Iran source, there was extensive discussion on Russia finally providing Iran with the S-400 missile defence system and Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets that it has been promising for several years. Russia has perennially linked these military hardware requests from Iran to other of its own security concerns across the Middle East, with Syria, in particular, an area in which Iran and Russia had long sought to come to a decisive working arrangement. On the second point, relating to Iraqs al-Sadr, the radical cleric had long seen the notion of bringing together all of Iraq, including the semi-autonomous region of Kurdistan in the north, and keeping foreign influence including Irans at a minimum as his principal political philosophy. In the lead-up to his withdrawal from Iraqs parliament, and the subsequent withdrawal of the 73 members of his faction from it, al-Sadr had been looking to create the countrys first true majority government since the fall of Saddam Hussein in 2003. This was to have been done through an alliance struck with the bloc of Iraqs Speaker of Parliament, Mohamed al-Halbousi, and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The key problem for al-Sadr was that if this were successful, it would have excluded the [Iran-controlled] Coordination Framework from any legitimate power, and Russia too, given al-Sadrs extreme dislike of any foreign interference in Iraqi affairs, the Iran source exclusively told OilPrice.com last week. Russia has basically controlled [Iraq] Kurdistans oil sector since 2017, and looked to build on that to extend its influence in the south of the country, to form effectively one client state of Iran-Iraq, and al-Sadrs plan if it had succeeded would have destroyed that, he said. It was the Kurdish grouping [the KDP] that stopped al-Sadrs plan, as it side-stepped the usual convention relating to distributing political positions [that would have seen the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan present the presidential candidate] by just presenting its own guy, he added. So, now we are back where we were, with no clear power figure in Iraq, which is exactly the way Iran and Russia want it, he concluded. On the third, and final, point, relating to the new cooperative roadmap between Iran and Iraq, with no clear leader in sight in Baghdad, Tehran was quick to announce several major initiatives between the two countries. As OilPrice.com has been highlighting for several years now, one of the most important methods of securing power across the Middle East is to consolidate control of the energy distribution grid not just the movement of electricity but of oil and gas too - and this has been the focus of all of Irans latest plans, backed fully by the Kremlin. Russia has already seen in Europe the power that comes from making countries reliant on its oil and gas exports, and the U.S. also knows full well the power that Iran has over Iraq by dint of its ongoing supply of electricity and gas to Iraq, which has been the cause of intense debate between Washington and Baghdad for years. Last week, Iraqs Deputy Minister of Oil for Exploration, Bassem Mohammad Khazir, stated that a roadmap should be prepared for the future steps and goals of Iraq and Iran, adding: Another important issue is Iranian technology and productsFor example, this country already has a high capacity in many sectors such as power cables, pipes and fittings and up-to-date technologies that can be transmitted to us. He added: The CEO [chief executive officer] of the National Iranian Oil Company emphasised the issue of training and transfer of technology and technical equipment in his remarksThe issue of transfer of expertise and technology is very important and we should be able to cooperate in this field. This new roadmap also has obvious synergies with the range of deals discussed between [Russian Deputy Prime Minister] Alexander Novak and senior Iranians at the end of May, which includes energy, agricultural, and transport projects and further cooperation in the financial and banking sector, oil, gas, petrochemicals, and nuclear energy, said the Iran source. By Simon Watkins for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The bidding process for the UKs seventh biggest energy firm has narrowed down to two suppliers, amid reports British Gas owner Centrica has opted against a final offer for the collapsed supplier. City A.M. understands from industry sources two energy firms remain in the running to acquire Bulb Energy (Bulb) and its 1.5m customers, Octopus Energy (Octopus) and Masdar Energy (Masdar). There is also the possibility the two suppliers could present a joint offer for Bulb, as first reported in The Financial Times, with Masdar providing funds and Octopus overseeing Bulbs customers. A decision is expected by the end of the month, with the sales process being handled by US investment group Lazard. There are multiple media reports suggesting Ovo Energy is still weighing up an eleventh-hour bid, but that it would need to raise finances amid thousands of redundancies and market volatility. The supplier refused to comment when approached by City A.M. Bulbs troubled financial state exposed Bulb became the first energy firm to drop into special administration last November, with the supplier deemed to big to enter the supplier of last resort process used by 28 other collapsed suppliers. It has remained on life support ever since, propped up by regular transfusions of public money, which could total 3bn making it the biggest state bailout since Royal Bank of Scotland in 2008. Bulb remains in a perilous financial state, with the details of its losses and financial difficulties exposed in an administrator report last week. Teneo revealed that Bulb has racked up an 886m loss in the six months since nationalisation and had a cash balance of 96m. This would mean it has reported a loss of nearly 600 for every household it provides energy, with firm having spent over 1.5bn on power and gas, while it has taken just under 1.2bn in customer receipts between November and May. The energy firm has been unable to hedge properly and has instead been required to buy gas at premium rates a somewhat ironic situation, considering the firms insufficient hedging strategy was a key contributor to its demise. Its chief executive Hayden Wood, is also still being paid his 250,000 per year in taxpayer funds, despite steering the firm into administration. Meanwhile, multiple creditors, are owed 585m although it is unclear how or if they will be paid. However, Sequoia, an infrastructure fund s guaranteed to receive its original 55mn investment and has earned a 10mn dividend since November. It swooped into court proceedings last November to prevent AlixPartners becoming administrator of Bulbs parent company, Simple Energy. Instead, Interpath Advisory took on the role, and has charged 3.7m, or 800 an hour for 4,646 hours, since Bulb collapsed. A further 2.5mn in legal fees, mostly to law firm Freshfields, has been partially paid and Lazard which is handling the sale, is expected to receive 1.5m. The Financial Times has reported that Teneo is expected to receive tens of millions of pounds for its services. Octopus, Masdar and Teneo declined to comment. By CityAM More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Ecuador could be forced to suspend all oil production within 48 hours as anti-government protests in the country intensify, the Ecuadorian energy ministry warned. The production suspension was to be "due to the acts of vandalism, takeover of wells and closing of roads, supplies and diesel necessary to maintain operations has not been possible," the ministry said, as cited by Bloomberg. Protests erupted in the Andean country earlier this month against the economic policies being implemented by the government of President Guillermo Lasso, chiefly among the indigenous population. They quickly spread and escalated to roadblocks and oil well vandalism, as the protesters demanded cheaper fuel and food price controls, among other things. This Sunday, Lasso announced that he would institute fuel price controls in an effort to appease the protesters. "Everyone considers that gas prices have become the cornerstone of maintaining the conflict and though we as a government are very clear that this factor isn't the origin of Ecuadoreans' problems, we must think of the common good and citizens' peace," he said. Among the other concessions made to protesters were debt forgiveness and subsidies for fertilizers, all agreed this last weekend. However, the protests continue and earlier caused Petroecuador, the state oil company, to announce force majeure across its operations. Ecuador has proven reserves of some 8.273 billion barrels of crude oil but is producing only about 400,000 bpd. Petroecuador, however, has the ambition to double this output level over the next five years and is looking for private sector investments of up to $12 billion to do it. Ecuador is a former member of OPEC. However, if the government satisfies all of the protesters' demands, this increased output may never come into being: one of the demands is a moratorium on all new oil and mining projects in the Andean country. By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: You are here: China Nearly 2.05 million residents have been affected by heavy downpours in east China's Jiangxi Province as of 4:30 p.m. Saturday, local authorities said. The latest round of rainfall between June 16 and 21 has wreaked havoc in 74 counties of the province, forcing 302,000 residents to relocate, according to the provincial flood control and drought relief headquarters. The heavy precipitation damaged about 150,000 hectares of cropland and caused direct economic losses of 6.79 billion yuan (about 1.01 billion U.S. dollars). Authorities have distributed 71,000 pieces of relief supplies including tents, folding beds, towels and clothes to people in the affected areas. The province upgraded the flood control emergency response to level II at 10 a.m. Saturday. In a marked departure from the official G7 position on new fossil fuel investments in third countries, Germany and Italy have voiced support for a reconsideration of this position. Bloomberg first reported last weekend that Germany had suggested G7 countries lift their self-imposed ban on investments in fossil fuels in non-G7 countries at the meeting of the seven countries that began in Germany on Sunday. A draft of the proposal cited by Bloomberg said that G7 had to "acknowledge that publicly supported investment in the gas sector is necessary as a temporary response to the current energy crisis." The draft added that this should be done "in a manner consistent with our climate objectives and without creating lock-in effects." Reuters then reported that Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi had also spoken in favor of such an acknowledgment, adding that the meeting's delegates were debating whether the self-imposed ban could be lifted without compromising net-zero commitments. "(It is) possible that there will be wording in the declaration that investment for fossil energy should be possible for a certain time," one European Union diplomat said, as quoted by Reuters. The proposal is being put forward as European economies are urgently looking to replace Russian hydrocarbons with alternative sources in order to keep functioning. Environmentalists immediately hit back at the suggestion, however. "This would be a huge setback from the progress we made last month at the G-7 energy and environment ministers when we finally brought Japan, the last G-7 holdout, into the commitment to end such financial support for fossil fuels," Alden Meyer, senior associate at climate think tank E3G told Bloomberg. "Where we saw Chancellor Merkel being the climate chancellor at the last G-7 summit Germany hosted, Scholz could go down in history as the climate backtracking Chancellor, which I think would be a real mark on his record, and we don't need to do this," he also said. By Irina Slav for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Libyas National Oil Corporation (NOC) could declare force majeure on oil exports from several key export terminals in the Gulf of Sirte amid continued blockades and closures of oil-producing and export infrastructure, the corporation said on Monday as Libyas political crisis continues. NOC is currently considering declaring force majeure within the next 72 hours unless production and shipment of oil resume in the Gulf of Sirte, Libyas state-owned oil company said in a statement. The Gulf of Sirte hosts the oil export terminals Zueitina, Brega, Ras Lanuf, and Es Sider. The government is responsible for the sovereignty of its institutions, and no individual, minister, or entity should be allowed to politicize the oil sector to use it as a bargaining chip in any negotiations, bargaining, or settlements, NOC chairman Mustafa Sanalla said. The possible force majeure would come after weeks of protests and closures amid the new rift in Libyas political class over who should be governing the country. The most recent rivalry is between Fathi Bashaga, the Prime Minister appointed by the parliament earlier this year, and Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, who was appointed last year through a process backed by the United Nations. Dbeibah refuses to cede power. Bashaga is now based in Sirte in the east of Libya, while Dbeibah is based in Tripoli. The most recent blockades of oil ports have been mostly instigated by factions in the east, including such allied with eastern strongman Khalifa Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA) he leads. Libyas oil production has suffered since April, with output estimated at below 1 million barrels per day (bpd), with some reports suggesting it may have been as low as 100,000 bpd two weeks ago. Amid the political instability, Libyan oil production is also unstable, and shutdowns of exports could occur at any time, further tightening the global oil market, which is already tight on supply. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: OPEC+ is slimming down its projections for an oil market surplus this year, according to a report seen by Reuters. The report, which was prepared ahead of the OPEC+ JTC meeting that will take place on Tuesday, showed that the OPEC+ group now sees the oil market surplus at 1 million bpd this yeardown from their previous estimates of 1.4 million bpd. The lowering of crude oil surplus projections comes as the OPEC+ group continues to produce under its quota. OPEC+ agreed to increase its production in May by 432,000 bpd. The group was unable to reach this target, undershooting it by 2.7 million bpd. For June, the OPEC+ group again agreed to lift its production by another 432,000 bpd, but the general consensus in the industry is that they will be unable to meet that quota too. For July and August, the OPEC+ group got even more ambitious, raising their output targets by an even greater extent, essentially rolling the September increase that they had planned into July and August. But OPEC+s continued underproduction will shrink any anticipated market surplus, if indeed OPEC+ is using these production figures in their estimates. One of the biggest OPEC laggards in the production cut deal all along has been Nigeria, which actually had its production decrease in May instead of increase per the quota. The result was a half a million barrel a day shortfall in its actual production vs. its quota. But Nigerias oil minister last week said that it would be able to meet its OPEC production quota by the end of August. If Nigeria manages to reach its production quota by the end of August when the OPEC+ quotas have been fully rolled back, it would go a long way to adding to that market surplus that the OPEC+ group sees. By Julianne Geiger for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russia has improved the quality of its flagship Urals crude grade in the past two months, making it lighter and sweeter, and even more attractive for buyers in Asia who arent shunning Russian oil, Reuters reported on Monday, citing data obtained by industry sources. Urals was a key grade for export from Russias ports on the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea, and a lot of the volumes were going to Europe before the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Now Russias oil exports are geared toward China and India, as Western buyers are shinning and sanctioning Russian crude oil and refined products, ahead of an EU embargo on seaborne Russian oil imports, set to kick in within eight months. According to the data seen by Reuters, Russias Urals has become slightly sweeterwith lower sulfur contentand lighter, with higher API gravity numbers, over the past two months. Lower Russian demand for low-sulfur crude and reduced operations at southern Russian refineries relatively close to Ukraine could be two of the reasons for sweeter and lighter Urals being shipped for Asian exports from Russia now, according to Reuters sources. Moreover, some fields producing heavier and higher-sulfur oil have curbed production following the sanctions on Russia, which could have also contributed to the sweeter and lighter Urals export grade, a trader told Reuters. Improved Urals quality could be a further incentive for China and India to buy Russian oil, on top of the steep discount at which the Russian grade is being offered. As of June 23, the price of Urals was at a $35-a-barrel discount to the international benchmark, Brent. Meanwhile, Russia is shipping increased volumes of its crude to China and India as the West shuns, bans, and sanctions Russian oil and products. Just a few months ago, India was a small and insignificant buyer of Russian oil. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the steep discounts have attracted many Indian buyers. Since April, Indias imports of crude oil from Russia have jumped by more than 50 times, to the point of representing 10 percent of all Indian imports, a senior government official told Business Standard last week. By Michael Kern for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: What this does is formalize what the gold industry has already done anyway, said Adrian Ash, head of research at brokerage BullionVault. The G7 is ramping up its efforts to punish Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. On Sunday the Biden admin alongside the G7 announced that they will ban Russian gold imports to "further impose financial costs on Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine." The import ban will apply to gold leaving Russia for G7 countries for the first time, and will be codified by the US Treasury Department on Tuesday. The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine, Biden tweeted on Sunday, the first day of a G7 meeting in Germany; a formal announcement is expected later on during the summit. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia he added. While Western sanctions to punish Russia have largely closed European and US markets to gold from the worlds second-biggest bullion miner, the G7 pledge would mark a total severance between Russia and the worlds top two trading centers, London and New York. What this does is formalize what the gold industry has already done anyway, said Adrian Ash, head of research at brokerage BullionVault. As a reminder, back in March the LBMA, or London Bullion Market Association, removed Russian gold refineries from its accredited list. As a result, shipments between Russia and London have collapsed to almost zero since the invasion of Ukraine. Furthermore, an executive order signed by Biden on April 15 explicitly prohibits U.S. persons from engaging in gold-related transactions involving Russias central bank, the countrys National Wealth Fund or its finance ministry. While refineries in theory could still import Russian gold directly, most of have sworn off doing so. The association for Swiss refiners, which dominate the industry, denied that its members bought gold from Russia after trade data indicated the nations bullion had entered the country. The official talking point here, encapsulated by the pro-Biden outlet, The Hill, is that "while it does not bring in as much money as energy, gold is a major source of revenue for the Russian economy. Restricting exports to G7 economies will cause more financial strain to Russia as it wages the war in." That, of course, is incorrect: the biggest buyers of gold in recent years have not been G7 countries (United States, France, Canada, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy), many of whom naively sold much if not all their gold in the recent past and have refused or simply don't have the funds to restock; instead purchases have all been by developing nation central banks (like India and Turkey, and of course China which however has a habit of only revealing its true gold inventory every decade or so) who have been quietly preparing to do what Russia is doing by dedollarizing and instead allocating capital into a counterparty-free asset. As for Russia, its central bank has been an aggressive buyer of gold, not seller, and if anything Biden's decision will only make the gold market the latest to follow the example of oil and bifurcate: cheaper for Russian-friends and much more expensive for Russian enemies. Still, the Hill is right in that the U.S. and its allies have been searching for more and creative ways to punish Russia for the Ukraine war that recently entered its fifth month. And whereas Biden has announced waves of penalties coordinated with allies that range from sanctions on Russian officials and oligarchs to export controls to sanctions on major Russian banks, so far the Russian ruble, which Biden gladly mocked back in February as "rubble", has since risen to a seven-year high against the euro. Meanwhile, Europeans are also limited in what they can do because of their dependence on Russian energy imports. European countries have vowed to phase out Russian oil but have not taken steps like the U.S. to do so immediately because they simply can't. And the ironic think is that while European should be buying more gold to protect the purchasing power of their currencies ahead of the mass printing tsunami that is coming when the next recession begins, they are now voluntarily barring themselves from doing so. As for "punishing" Russia, here is a chart of the US vs Russian current account balance: guess who is at a record surplus and who is at a record deficit. Biden administration officials also teased new announcements to squeeze Russia ahead of Bidens trip to Europe and its possible there will be more announcements beyond the plan to ban Russian gold imports. We expect all of them to backfire, especially if Biden decides to also target other Russian metals exports. As a reminder, unlike gold, flows of other metals from Russia such as copper, nickel and palladium have continued uninterrupted as Russia is simply irreplaceable in those supply chains and the commodities industry grapples with managing a long-held relationship with a major supplier of the worlds raw materials. As for the price of gold, what happens when the second biggest gold mining nation in the world and a major source of supply is cut off from the western market... ... even if it is still allowed to transact freely with the "rest of the world" which accounts for roughly 80% of the population, and will most likely simply boost sales to China and the Middle East, both of whom will be happy to continue purchasing Russian gold? We'll find out in a few hours. By Zerohedge.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Abortion foes, supporters map next moves after Roe reversal CHARLESTON, W. Va. (AP) A Texas group that helps women pay for abortions halted its efforts Saturday while evaluating its legal risk under a strict state ban. Mississippi's only abortion clinic continued to see patients while awaiting a 10-day notice that will trigger a ban. Elected officials across the country vowed to take action to protect women's access to reproductive health care, and abortion foes promised to take the fight to new arenas. A day after the Supreme Court's bombshell ruling overturning Roe v. Wade ended the constitutional right to abortion, emotional protests and prayer vigils turned to resolve as several states enacted bans and both supporters and opponents of abortion rights mapped out their next moves. In Texas, Cathy Torres, organizing manager for Frontera Fund, a group that helps pay for abortions, said there is a lot of fear and confusion in the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border, where many people are in the country without legal permission. That includes how the state's abortion law, which bans the procedure from conception, will be enforced. Under the law, people who help patients get abortions can be fined and doctors who perform them could face life in prison. We are a fund led by people of color, who will be criminalized first, Torres said, adding that abortion funds like hers that have paused operations hope to find a way to safely restart. We just really need to keep that in mind and understand the risk. Supreme Court conservatives flex muscle in sweeping rulings WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court's sweeping rulings on guns and abortion sent an unmistakable message. Conservative justices hold the power and they are not afraid to use it to make transformative changes in the law, none more so than taking away a woman's right to abortion that had stood for nearly 50 years. No more half measures, they declared Friday in overturning Roe v. Wade and allowing states to outlaw abortion. And the day before, in ruling for the first time that Americans the right to carry handguns in public for self-defense, they said the Constitution is clear. A restless and newly constituted Court, is how Justice Sonia Sotomayor, one of three liberals on the nine-member court, described her colleagues earlier in June. The abortion case in particular was a repudiation of the more incremental approach favored by Chief Justice John Roberts. The decisions in the blockbuster cases on consecutive days were the latest and perhaps clearest manifestation of how the court has evolved over the past six years a product of historical accident and Republican political brute force from an institution that leaned right, but produced some notable liberal victories, to one with an aggressive, 6-3 conservative majority. Biden signs landmark gun measure, says 'lives will be saved' WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden on Saturday signed the most sweeping gun violence bill in decades, a bipartisan compromise that seemed unimaginable until a recent series of mass shootings, including the massacre of 19 students and two teachers at a Texas elementary school. "Time is of the essence. Lives will be saved, he said in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. Citing the families of shooting victims he has met, the president said, "Their message to us was, Do something. How many times did we hear that? Just do something. For Gods sake, just do something. Today we did. The House gave final approval Friday, following Senate passage Thursday, and Biden acted just before leaving Washington for two summits in Europe. Today we say, More than enough, Biden said. Its time, when it seems impossible to get anything done in Washington, we are doing something consequential." The legislation will toughen background checks for the youngest gun buyers, keep firearms from more domestic violence offenders and help states put in place red flag laws that make it easier for authorities to take weapons from people adjudged to be dangerous. Russia fires missiles across Ukraine, cements gains in east KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russian forces were seeking to swallow up the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk region, pressing their momentum after taking full control Saturday of the charred ruins of Sievierodonetsk and the chemical plant where hundreds of Ukrainian troops and civilians had been holed up. Russia also launched dozens of missiles on several areas across the country far from the heart of the eastern battles. Some of the missiles were fired from Russian long-range Tu-22 bombers deployed from Belarus for the first time, Ukraine's air command said. The bombardment preceded a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, during which Putin announced that Russia planned to supply Belarus with the Iskander-M missile system. Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said late Saturday that Russian and Moscow-backed separatist forces now control Sievierodonetsk and the villages surrounding it. He said the attempt by Ukrainian forces to turn the Azot plant into a stubborn center of resistance had been thwarted. Serhiy Haidai, the governor of the Luhansk province, said Friday that Ukrainian troops were retreating from Sievierodonetsk after weeks of bombardment and house-to-house fighting. He confirmed Saturday that the city had fallen to Russian and separatist fighters, who he said were now trying to blockade Lysychansk from the south. The city lies across the river just to the west of Sievierodonetsk. 'Mitt Romney Republican' is now a potent GOP primary attack SALT LAKE CITY (AP) Mitt Romney isn't up for reelection this year. But Trump-aligned Republicans hostile toward the Utah senator have made his name a recurring theme in this year's primaries, using him as a foil and derisively branding their rivals Mitt Romney Republicans." Republicans have used the concept to frame their primary opponents as enemies of the Trump-era GOP in southeast Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania. The anti-tax group Club For Growth, among the most active super PACs in this year's primaries, used Mitt Romney Republican as the central premise of an attack ad in North Carolina's Senate primary. But nowhere are references to Romney Republicanism as common as they are in Utah. Despite his popularity with many residents here, candidates are repeatedly deploying Mitt Romney Republican as a campaign trail attack in the lead-up to Tuesdays Republican primary. There are two different wings in the Republican Party, Chris Herrod, a former state lawmaker running in suburban Utahs 3rd Congressional District, said in a debate last month. If youre more aligned with Mitt Romney and Spencer Cox, he added, referring to Utahs governor, then Im probably not your guy. Pope hails families, blasts 'culture of waste' after Roe ROME (AP) Pope Francis celebrated families Saturday and urged them to shun selfish decisions that are indifferent to life as he closed out a big Vatican rally a day after the U.S. Supreme Court ended constitutional protections for abortion. Francis didnt refer to the ruling or explicitly mention abortion in his homily. But he used the buzzwords he has throughout his papacy about the need to defend families and to condemn a culture of waste that he believes is behind the societal acceptance of abortion. Let us not allow the family to be poisoned by the toxins of selfishness, individualism, today's culture of indifference and waste, and as a result lose its very DNA, which is the spirit of welcoming and service, he said. The pope, noting that some couples allow their fears and anxieties to thwart the desire to bring new lives in the world, called for them not to cling to selfish desires. You have been asked to not have other priorities, not to look back to miss your former life, your former freedom, with its deceptive illusions, he said. Guns and abortion: Contradictory decisions, or consistent? They are the most fiercely polarizing issues in American life: abortion and guns. And two momentous decisions by the Supreme Court in two days have done anything but resolve them, firing up debate about whether the courts conservative justices are being faithful and consistent to history and the Constitution or citing them to justify political preferences. To some critics, the rulings represent an obvious, deeply damaging contradiction. How can the court justify restricting the ability of states to regulate guns while expanding the right of states to regulate abortion? The hypocrisy is raging, but the harm is endless, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Friday after the court released its decision on abortion. To supporters, the courts conservatives are staying true to the countrys founding principles and undoing errors of the past. The court corrected a historic wrong when it voided a right to abortion that has stood for nearly 50 years, former Vice President Mike Pence said Friday. On Twitter, he said the decision returned to Americans the power to govern themselves at the state level in a manner consistent with their values and aspirations. Guns in paradise: Ruling could undo strict Hawaii carry law HONOLULU (AP) Megan Kau takes occasional weeklong hunting trips to the Hawaiian island of Lanai, where she enjoys watching the sunrise and hearing the distant rustle of deer and mouflon sheep in the tropical wilderness, a rifle ready at her side. As a gun owner, she also goes to shooting ranges several times a year. Those outings are the only times the attorney and Oahu native sees others with guns in this tourist mecca where strict laws make it harder to purchase firearms and restrict carrying loaded guns in public. Thursdays U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning New York's concealed weapon law will likely change things in Hawaii, too, where it's now highly unusual to see people carrying loaded weapons in public. Some say the change will lead to more gun violence in a state that traditionally sees very little. In 2020, Hawaii had the nation's lowest rate for gun deaths, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Were culturally accepting, were racially accepting, Kau said. But within our culture, were fighters. We have passion. WHO panel: Monkeypox not a global emergency 'at this stage' LONDON (AP) The World Health Organization said the escalating monkeypox outbreak in more than 50 countries should be closely monitored but does not warrant being declared a global health emergency. In a statement Saturday, a WHO emergency committee said many aspects of the outbreak were unusual and acknowledged that monkeypox which is endemic in some African countries has been neglected for years. While a few members expressed differing views, the committee resolved by consensus to advise the WHO director-general that at this stage the outbreak should be determined to not constitute a global health emergency, WHO said in a statement. WHO nevertheless pointed to the emergency nature of the outbreak and said controlling its spread requires an "intense" response. The committee said the outbreak should be closely monitored and reviewed after a few weeks." But it would recommend a re-assessment before then if certain new developments emerge such as cases among sex workers; spread to other countries or within countries that have already had cases; increased severity of cases; or an increasing rate of spread. Norway shaken by attack that kills 2 during Pride festival OSLO, Norway (AP) A gunman opened fire in Oslos nightlife district early Saturday, killing two people and leaving more than 20 wounded in what the Norwegian security service called an "Islamist terror act" during the capitals annual LGBTQ Pride festival. Investigators said the suspect, identified as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested after opening fire at three locations in downtown Oslo. Police said two men, one in his 50s and and the other his 60s, died in the shootings. Ten people were treated for serious injuries, but none of them was believed to be in life-threatening condition. Eleven others had minor injuries. The Norwegian Police Security Service raised its terror alert level from "moderate" to extraordinary the highest level after the attack, which sent panicked revelers fleeing into the streets or trying to hide from the gunman. The service's acting chief, Roger Berg, called the attack an extreme Islamist terror act and said the suspect had a long history of violence and threats, as well as mental health issues. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (AP) The boat of a North Carolina man missing for seven months has washed ashore in the Azores Islands, thousands of miles from the marina where it was last seen, officials announced Monday. Joseph Matthew Johnson has not been found, but Carolina Beach police said that authorities in the Azores said a boat registered to his name washed up last week on the small island of Sao Jorge, some 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers) across the ocean. Johnson was last seen leaving Federal Point Yacht Club marina on Nov. 22 on his boat, police said. The 44-year-old Carolina Beach resident was reported missing five days later by a friend who arrived in town for a previously arranged fishing trip, police said. Video surveillance from Nov. 22 shows the boat leaving the marina where he lived and the last ping from Johnson's cellphone was from off the coast of Bald Head Island at 5:17 p.m. that same day, Sgt. Colby Edens said by telephone Monday. The U.S. Coast Guards search for Johnson in November covered nearly 7,500 square miles (19,425 square kilometers), but it was suspended when no new information was found, news outlets reported. When the boat was found June 21, it had a heavy buildup of barnacles and algae, indicating that it had been capsized at sea for quite some time, Edens said. Portuguese authorities are helping the Carolina Beach police department as they gather evidence and continue their search for Johnson. Johnsons mother, Mary Kay Anderson, said his family is confident he will be found alive, The StarNews reported. The retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier served for 24 years with tours in Afghanistan and South America, so Anderson believes he has skills to survive in dangerous conditions and elements. Its not just hope, Anderson said. We know hes alive and are praying for his miraculous rescue. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MADRID (AP) U.S. first lady Jill Biden has some company on a trip to Spain: two of her granddaughters. Biden opened the visit to Madrid on Monday by meeting with Queen Letizia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. They later toured the headquarters of the Spanish Association Against Cancer. The first lady is an advocate for research into a cancer cure. She lost her adult son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015. Several of her girlfriends also succumbed to breast cancer. She arrived in Madrid on Sunday, before President Joe Biden, who is set to arrive Tuesday to attend the annual NATO summit. I brought my two granddaughters, the first lady told Letizia as they chatted at the palace. We stayed up and, you know, had a glass of wine. Her adult granddaughters Maisy and Finnegan Finnegan was already in Spain when the first lady arrived did not join her palace visit. They were at the U.S. Embassy visiting with Ambassador Julissa Reynoso, formerly the first lady's chief of staff, Biden said. The first lady also paid a courtesy call on Begona Gomez, the wife of President Pedro Sanchez. On Tuesday, Jill Biden and Letizia will visit a greeting center in Madrid for Ukrainian refugees taken in by Spain and meet with Ukrainian families in Madrid. She and the president will attend a NATO dinner on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the first lady will participate in the agenda for spouses of the NATO country leaders, including visits to Madrids Prado and Reina Sofia museums, before she flies back to Washington. President Biden will depart for Washington on Thursday after the NATO summit ends. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan lawmakers approved a $101 million incentive package for Ford Motor Co. for a planned project that will create 3,030 jobs and $1.16 billion in manufacturing facility investments throughout the state. The tax-funded incentive will be paid in increments and is contingent on Ford hitting promised employment targets. The state Senate Appropriations Committees approval last week was the final step for the funds to start being distributed to Ford. It comes just weeks after the company announced plans to add 6,300 new jobs in the Midwest and invest $3.7 billion in manufacturing facilities across Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. Gabby Bruno, director of economic development for Ford, said the new investments will allow for the automaker to nearly double the production of Fords all-electric truck, the F-150 Lightning, in Dearborn. Public-private partnerships like the one that were discussing here today are important to keep Michigan at the forefront of automotive manufacturing, Bruno said at the committee meeting. The money will come from the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, which was created in December to attract and retain businesses in the state. Lawmakers approved a $666 million transfer from the fund to General Motors earlier this year. The creation of the fund followed an announcement from Ford that it was planning to invest $11.4 billion in Tennessee and Kentucky to build an electric truck plant, three battery plants and a supplier park. State Rep. Jim Yaroch, a Richmond Republican, expressed his concern about the large packages being given to motor companies during a House Appropriations Committee meeting on June 15. The House committee approved the package prior to the Senates approval. Theres been multiple offers to Ford, GM, Chrysler to stay in Michigan and we pay the big fish to stay, Yaroch said. Is this what were left with? That were going to have to pay companies to stay? Joey Cappelletti 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. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Flash Cameroon is overhauling its military strategy against insecurity in the mountainous region of Adamawa after renewed deadly attacks in the region, the country's defense minister Joseph Beti Assomo said on Friday. "We have taken appropriate measures and prescribed adjustments to the actions of the defence and security forces to better ensure security of people and property," Assomo said after meeting with top military officials in the region. The defense minister flew to the region following rampant cross-border criminality, kidnapping for ransom, cattle theft, and illegal exploitation of resources. He said troops were on the alert to secure the region and restore peace and stability. Fleeing rebels from the neighboring Central African Republic regularly cross over to the region to kill and abduct civilians for ransom, according to security reports. Troops were particularly in search of a serial killer who has "killed so many civilians" and continued to terrorize villagers in the region, officials told reporters in Adamawa regional chief town of Ngaoundere where the meeting took place. The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday struck down a New York state law that had restricted who could obtain a permit to carry a gun in public. Under the law in place since 1913, New York residents needed to show proper cause, or an actual need, to carry a concealed handgun in public for self-defense.. The justices said that law conflicts with the Second Amendment's right to bear arms. It drew swift reaction from New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat who called the decision reckless and said she was prepared to call the Legislature back into session to form a response. We do not need people entering our subways, our restaurants and movie theaters with concealed weapons," she said. "We dont need more guns on our streets. New York and a half a dozen other states with similar laws now must decide their next steps. As with New York, California, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Rhode Island all have legislatures controlled by Democrats who could propose measures to ensure that guns will not be allowed in certain places. Gun rights groups in those states have vowed to continue pushing back against what they view as restrictive gun control laws. Some of those cases eventually could make their way to the nation's high court. A rundown of the similar laws in the other states, reaction to the Supreme Court ruling and what could happen next: CALIFORNIA The courts ruling will likely affect Californias strict permitting laws, said Californias attorney general and gun owners rights organizations. Attorney General Rob Bonta told California law enforcement agencies in a letter earlier this month that given Californias similar, good cause standard, the decision may impact California laws regarding the carrying of firearms in public places. He said many aspects of Californias law might remain untouched, despite the ruling. Nearly two-thirds of Californias 58 counties already eased their standards for granting concealed weapons permits after a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals struck down the states concealed carry standard in 2014, said attorney Chuck Michel, president of the California Rifle and Pistol Association. They kept the more permissive standard even after a larger appellate panel reversed the decision two years later, said Michel, who wrote a book on Californias strict gun laws. At issue is the standard that local officials usually sheriffs, but sometimes police chiefs use when considering who should be allowed to carry a concealed weapon outside the house. Gun rights advocates say the court overturning the New York law means California must join the 43 states that have what are considered shall issue standards. Those generally require officials to issue permits unless there is some reason that an individual should be denied. Of Californias 58 counties, 37 already grant permits if an applicant requests it for self defense. That effectively makes them shall issue counties, advocates said. The other 21 counties have tighter standards, for example requiring applicants to demonstrate that they have business-related or professional risks that justify them being armed. The Supreme Court decision not only affirms that laws prohibiting licensed public concealed carry of firearms for self-defense violates the Constitution, but also that courts have been applying the wrong approach to evaluating the constitutionality of gun control laws, Michel said. Michels organization plans to immediately send the 21 counties legal notices that they must ease their standards in light of the Supreme Courts decision. He also plans to ask the 9th Circuit to rule on his latest legal challenge to Californias good cause standard, a decision that has been on hold awaiting the U. S. Supreme Courts decision in the New York case. Sam Paredes, executive director of Gun Owners of California, said his organization expects to quickly sue California to force it to adopt the standard set in the New York decision, and to sue local jurisdictions if they dont adopt the high courts ruling. HAWAII Hawaii has among the strictest gun laws in the nation. So strict, said attorney Alan Beck, that Hawaii essentially bans carrying guns outside the home. It has been practically impossible to get a permit to carry a loaded gun in public, he said. In the past 22 years, there have been four permits issued in Hawaii, said Beck, who represents various residents challenging Hawaii gun laws. The state attorney generals office has argued that its not a flat-out ban because people can carry firearms if they have good cause. County police chiefs in Hawaii have had the discretion in determining whether to issue a carry permit, something the Supreme Court now says is too restrictive. Without a carry permit, people have been allowed to keep firearms in the home and can transport them unloaded and locked up to firing ranges and other limited locations such as for repairs. One of Becks clients is George Young, a Big Island resident who wants to carry a gun for self-defense. Young doesnt care if its concealed or open carry. The favorable ruling in the New York case means Youngs lawsuit would prevail, Beck said. The Hawaii Rifle Association anticipates that lawmakers now will work to make it difficult to obtain permits, whether its outrageous training requirements or exorbitant fees, said Kainoa Kaku, the associations president. Were prepared to train potential concealed carry permit holders for whatever ridiculous requirements the state is going to ask of them, Kaku said. State Sen. Chris Lee said lawmakers have been getting ready by introducing bills in the last couple of years that would establish training for those who are licensed to carry weapons. He called Thursday's ruling frustrating. I think theres going to be a rush to figure out how states can intervene and ensure public safety, he said, adding that lawmakers will be looking at screening, training requirements and ways to keep guns out of public spaces. Chris Marvin, a Hawaii resident with Everytown for Gun Safety, said lawmakers also could consider legislation that carefully vets applicants for a carry permit and rules to keep guns out of locations such as protests, polling places, state land and schools. Allowing nearly all civilians to carry guns would be a big cultural shift for Hawaii, Marvin said. We live in a place that a lot of people call paradise, and theyre usually talking about the weather. But from a safety standpoint and violence standpoint, we live in a place that is a relative paradise to the rest of the country," he said. "We are not perfect and we certainly have our share of violent incidences, but it would be really strange to be walking down Waikiki Beach and see someone with a side arm visibly on their hip. MARYLAND Under current law, a gun owner in Maryland has to show a good or substantial reason to carry a concealed gun. That could include showing a persons life is in danger from threats or that they work in a job that could put them in contact with people who are dangerous. Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh said the laws are similar to New York's, but they take different approaches. He said he was examining today's ruling to determine its impact on the state. Todays decision means more deaths and more pain in a country already awash in gun violence," Frosh said in a statement. "If the norm is that people can carry firearms, our neighborhoods, our streets and other public places will become more dangerous. It will make the lives of law enforcement more difficult and more perilous. The epidemic of gun violence sweeping our nation demonstrates daily the folly of introducing more guns into this boiling cauldron. Opponents to the law in Maryland already have sued, in a case that has been on hold in the U.S. 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, pending the ruling in the New York case. Mark Pennak, president of Maryland Shall Issue, a gun-rights group that is challenging the Maryland law, said the group is absolutely ecstatic about the courts ruling. It confirms what weve always believed that the right of self-defense extends outside the home, he said. Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson and House Speaker Adrienne Jones, who are both Democrats, said they will review the ruling and pass new gun control legislation if necessary. More guns in public means more violence, and more violence means more death and heartache everywhere. This is the wrong answer," they said in a joint statement. The Second Amendment permits reasonable restrictions on the right to carry a firearm. MASSACHUSETTS Massachusetts law had given local police chiefs the power to decide whether someone is suitable to have a license to carry a handgun. Police chiefs have been able to deny applicants if they determine that the person would pose a risk to public safety, for reasons such as a history of domestic violence. Those who are denied can appeal to their local district court. The law says those deemed suitable can get a license to carry if they show good reason to fear injury to themselves or their property or for any other reason, including for use in sport or target practice only. Whats considered a good reason has been up to police chiefs, who vary in what they require of applicants to meet that standard. Some demand that applicants show they have a reason to fear injury that distinguishes them from the general population in order to get an unrestricted license. Massachusetts courts have ruled that if someone cant show a good reason to fear injury, police chiefs can put restrictions on licenses that limit when someone can carry a firearm. State Attorney General Maura Healey said Thursday that she stands by the states commonsense gun laws and will continue to vigorously defend and enforce them. The office has not responded to questions from The Associated Press about to what extent Massachusetts law will be affected by the ruling. Jason Guida, former director of the Massachusetts Firearms Records Bureau who now works as a lawyer representing gun owners, said he expects to see a flurry of challenges to gun licensing restrictions in certain communities, like Boston, that courts have upheld in the past. Communities that restrict gun owners licenses for certain purposes unless applicants show a special need for self-defense will need to rewrite their policies: Otherwise, theres a strong likelihood in the very near future that these communities will find themselves in federal court, he said. State Rep. David Linksy, a Democrat who has advocated for gun control measures, said he is still examining the ruling but is deeply concerned about its potential effect on police chiefs ability to use their discretion when issuing gun licenses. The end result is there will be an increase in gun violence," he said. There will be people killed, there will be people injured, and we will all be less safe. A federal judge wrote in a 2017 case that Massachusetts law is in some respects less restrictive than New Yorks because Massachusetts allows but doesnt demand that police chiefs require applicants to demonstrate a special need for self-defense before being issued an unrestricted license. Democratic state Rep. Michael Day, House chair of the Legislatures Judiciary Committee, said that lawmakers are trying to sort out what actions they will take in response to the ruling. Were taking a look at that to see exactly what it means and what it doesnt, but anything thats been loosened up were confident we will be able to tighten back up, he said. NEW JERSEY New Jersey residents no longer must prove justifiable need to carry a handgun in light of the Supreme Courts decision Thursday, but permits are still required, the states top law enforcement officer said. Acting Attorney General Matthew Platkin said in a phone interview that the high courts ruling in the New York state case effectively struck down New Jerseys requirement that residents seeking carry permits show they face significant threats and have a justifiable need to get a carry permit. But, he added, the other requirements under New Jersey law still stand. Among them is safety training and a prohibition against certain convicts. As for how soon the change goes into effect, Platkin said he will issue guidance imminently. New Jerseys gun laws are among the tightest in the nation and got even stricter after former Republican Gov. Chris Christie left office in 2018. He was succeeded by Democrat Phil Murphy, who signed a handful of new bills into law. Among them were magazine size restrictions and a red flag law. Getting a carry permit in New Jersey is widely considered difficult, and the states justifiable need requirement paralleled New Yorks proper cause provision that was just thrown out by the high court. On Thursday, Murphy called the Supreme Court decision tragic. Based on a deeply flawed constitutional methodology, a right-wing majority on the United States Supreme Court has just said that states can no longer decide for ourselves how best to limit the proliferation of firearms in the public sphere," he said. Gun rights advocates in New Jersey hailed the ruling. Scott Bach, executive director of the Association of New Jersey Rifle & Pistol Clubs, said it spells the end for New Jerseys decades-long interference with the peoples fundamental right of self-defense with a firearm outside the home. Gun rights groups already are challenging New Jerseys right-to-carry laws in courts, as well as the magazine limit. Those cases are pending. ___ NEW YORK The New York law struck down Thursday, in place since 1913, said that to carry a handgun outside the home, a person applying for a license had to demonstrate proper cause, an actual need to carry the weapon. The law doesnt define what proper cause means and gave local officials often a police department or town justice discretion when deciding whether to issue licenses. In practice, it meant most applicants had to show a need that went beyond routine public safety concerns, like being in a profession that put them at special risk. Lawmakers could add new permitting conditions now that the court has ruled, such as requiring firearm training or a mental health evaluation, or disqualifying applicants with certain types of criminal convictions. Lawmakers also could pass a law specifying where people cant carry concealed weapons a list that could include public transit systems, school zones, bars, parks, government offices or polling places. Supporters of New Yorks handgun limits have said one of their fears is that by creating a marketplace for handguns that now barely exists in the state, it will lead to more pistols getting into the hands of prohibited buyers. RHODE ISLAND The state attorney generals office said there are similarities between Rhode Island's law and the one in New York that was struck down, but also important differences between the two states statutory schemes for concealed carry permits. Rhode Island has separate laws dealing with permits issued from municipalities and permits issued from the state attorney generals office. In 2018, the office filed an amicus brief in a case to defend the constitutionality of a Massachusetts gun law, noting that Rhode Islands concealed carry permit has been upheld by the Rhode Island Supreme Court. The court found that the state constitutional right to keep and bear arms is an individual right, subject to reasonable regulation by the state. The attorney general and governors offices said they would review the Supreme Court decision for its impacts on the state. The Rhode Island 2nd Amendment Coalition did not immediately respond to requests for comment about whether it would seek to challenge the permitting process in Rhode Island. Any response from the legislature would likely have to wait until next year, but Democratic state Rep. Robert Craven said Thursday he wasnt surprised by the ruling. I see the court headed in that direction, he said. Its taking a stricter interpretation that the Second Amendment is absolute -- It says what it says, you have a right to bear arms. Craven, an attorney and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, questioned whether the court will now use that same thought process for cases about banning military-style weapons. Associated Press writers Mike Catalini in Trenton, New Jersey; Jennifer Kelleher in Honolulu; Jennifer McDermott in Providence, Rhode Island; Alanna Durkin Richer and Steve LeBlanc in Boston; Don Thompson in Sacramento, California; Marina Villeneuve in Albany, New York; and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Maryland, contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. NEW YORK (AP) Two of four women who testified at Ghislaine Maxwells trial that she had a role in their sexual abuse at the hands of financier Jeffrey Epstein may be speaking at her sentencing or have their statements read aloud, court filings Friday show. Prosecutors told a federal judge in a letter that two of six women who testified or were mentioned during a December trial plan to attend the Tuesday sentencing of the 60-year-old British socialite and may speak. They are Kate, an ex-model from Great Britain, and Annie Farmer, who identified herself in court by name after speaking out publicly. Maxwells lawyer in a separate submission to the judge said other women wanted to speak, or have statements read at the hearing, who were not directly part of the case. The lawyer, Bobbi Sternheim, said the hearing should not a bully pulpit for anyone who was not identified as a victim of the charged federal offenses and does not qualify as such. Those individuals not among the six people who prosecutors have formally identified as victims in the case should not be permitted to give oral testimony or have their written victim impact statements read during sentencing, she said. Sternheim also objected to written statements by Farmer or Kate being read at sentencing, saying they raise issues that were not disclosed by the government or revealed during their testimony. The Associated Press does not typically name people alleging sexual abuse unless they agree to be identified publicly, as Farmer has done. Sternheim included letters from women as exhibits in her submission Friday, though portions were heavily redacted. Prosecutors, in their letter to the judge, argued against the redactions, saying: To the extent there is a privacy interest at stake in these documents, it belongs to the victims, who are not seeking to file these letters under seal. Maxwell was convicted of conspiracy and sex trafficking charges in December after a monthlong trial. Her lawyers have asked that she serve no more than five years in prison. Prosecutors, though, say she should spend 30 to 55 years behind bars for recruiting and grooming teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein from 1994 to 2004. Epstein, 66, took his own life in August 2019 in a Manhattan federal jail as he awaited a sex trafficking trial. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. For the second time since the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, protesters gathered at Memorial Park Sunday to call for access to safe and legal abortions. Though Sunday's crowd of a few hundred was smaller than Friday's protest, which drew more than 1,000 people to the park, the energy was much the same. Chants of "my body my choice," "hey hey, ho ho, abortion ban has got to go," and "f--- Pete Ricketts" echoed across Dodge Street as passing cars honked and motorcyclists revved engines seemingly in support. The rally began at 6 p.m., and the group initially marched on the sidewalk from Memorial Park to 52nd Street before returning to the park. Around 7:45 p.m., they headed toward 72nd and Dodge Streets. The Supreme Court in an opinion published Friday struck down Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that solidified abortion as a constitutional right nearly 50 years ago. Friday's decision leaves regulating abortion up to individuals states. In Nebraska, abortion is still legal up to 20 weeks after fertilization. A draft opinion leaked and published in early May signaled the court was prepared to undo Roe. But even with the forewarning, protesters said the news still felt shocking. "We knew it was coming, but still, it's exhausting," said Jen McEvoy, 52, who attended the protest with her daughter Lillian. "There is overwhelming support in this country for abortion rights, and yet it's been taken away by this false court that was picked specifically to overturn this issue." Others said that their initial reaction was despair. "I found out at work," said 19-year-old Nicole Sandquist. "We cried together in solidarity, all of the women in my workplace. It was a very solemn day." Some gathered Sunday stressed the importance of voting and electing lawmakers who support abortion rights in Nebraska and nationally. Abortion opponents, including Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, heralded the Supreme Court's decision, saying it correctly returned the matter to the states. The Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe is an answer to millions of prayers on behalf of the unborn and a victory for human life," Ricketts said in a statement Friday. Ricketts and Hilgers said they would work together on a possible special session this summer to consider abortion restrictions. Earlier this year, the Legislature narrowly failed to pass a so-called trigger ban, which would have banned abortion in the event Roe v. Wade was overturned. Abortion-rights protests are scheduled to continue this week, with planned rallies in Omaha and Lincoln on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Alex Bazer, 19, said that she thinks people gathering to show support is important. "We will not take this lying down," she said. "We will not stand here and let them take this away, especially with how long we've been fighting just to have basic human rights like everyone else." Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ISTANBUL (AP) Turkish security forces have detained a Greek citizen accused of spying for Athens intelligence service, the state-run Anadolu news agency said Saturday. The man, identified as Muhammed Amar Ampara, was allegedly involved in gathering information about the deployment of Turkish military border units, as well as information on Turkeys Syrian population and Turks who fled to Greece after a 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Anadolu, which cited unnamed security sources, published a photograph of a bearded, balding man in handcuffs. He appeared to be in his 50s or 60s. He was captured as a result of an investigation by Turkeys National Intelligence Organization (MIT), the news agency reported, without giving any information about where or when he was detained. An official from the Greek Embassy in Ankara declined to comment on the allegations. The arrest comes amid renewed tensions between Turkey and Greece. The neighbors and NATO allies have a history of disputes over a range of issues, such as mineral exploration in the eastern Mediterranean and rival claims in the Aegean Sea. Recent quarrels have focused on the Greek islands off Turkeys Aegean coast, with Ankara accusing Athens of building a military presence in breach of treaties. Greece maintains it is acting according to international law and is defending the islands in the face of Turkish hostility. Turkey hosts the worlds largest refugee population, including some 3.7 million Syrians. Their presence has become a major political issue in the lead-up to national elections due over the next 12 months. Following a failed coup in July 2016, some members of a group tied to a U.S.-based cleric whom Ankara accuses of organizing the attempt to overthrow President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fled abroad, including to Greece. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Xinjiang farmers indignant about being labeled by U.S. lies Xinhua) 08:16, June 27, 2022 * Xinjiang is the largest production area for processing tomatoes in China, with over 80 percent of its output exported every year. * Currently, over 300,000 Xinjiang farmers work to provide high-quality processing tomatoes as raw materials for ketchup for the global market. URUMQI, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Against a glowing summer sunset, Bai Jingui drives to his tomato farm. "In about 90 days, these yellow flowers will turn into nearly 10 tonnes of red tomatoes per mu (about 0.07 hectares)," he said. The farmer, from the Hui ethnic group in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, planted 520 mu of "processing tomatoes," which are smaller in size and have thicker skin than ordinary tomatoes. Xinjiang is the largest production area for these tomatoes in China, with over 80 percent of its output exported every year. Currently, over 300,000 Xinjiang farmers like Bai work to provide high-quality processing tomatoes as raw materials for ketchup for the global market. When touching on the United States' so-called "Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act," which just took effect and absurdly presumes that all goods from Xinjiang are produced through "forced labor," Bai became serious. The 54-year-old farmer, who started planting tomatoes 26 years ago and has had his fair share of rollercoaster experiences with the small round fruit, shook his head with incomprehension and indignation -- How could an honest and hardworking farmer like him be labeled a human rights abuser? Bai Jingui talks with agricultural technicians in the fields at a tomato farm in Xingfu Village in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaolong) TOMATOES FOR A BETTER LIFE Bai lives in Xingfu Village in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji. Both names of "Xingfu" and "Changji" convey the wish for prosperity in the Chinese language. "Xingfu Village is mainly populated by Hui and Han people. We are all farmers," said Bai, who began farming in the 1980s. "Over 40 years ago, people lived off their land and struggled to sustain themselves. Only the occasional surplus would be sold for some extra money." At that time, Bai did not realize that his home was located in the world's tomato production belt. Close to the 42nd parallel north, Changji, along with other locations on the belt such as the Mediterranean coast and California, provides appropriate light and geothermal energy for tomato growth. Like other local farmers, Bai used to plant wheat or corn. "From seeds to green fodder, we bent over the crops countless times. Almost every day I had to work with a sickle and shovel," he said. In 1996, Bai heard that someone was planting tomatoes in his village. "Not grown for daily consumption, these tomatoes were sold abroad. We were given the know-how and the companies came by our door to buy them." He plucked up his courage and planted 10 mu of tomatoes in his field. In those days, the farmland in Xingfu Village was watered with broad irrigation through earthen canals. The outdated system resulted in overall yields between 2 and 3 tonnes per mu, with the maximum yield at no more than 5 tonnes. "Every single mu of corn can earn 100 to 200 yuan (about 30 U.S. dollars) at most, and I heard that the profit from 1 mu of tomatoes could surpass that of more than 5 mu of corn." Bai saw hope to change his family's life once again. Bai Jingui (2nd R) talks with agricultural technicians in the fields at a tomato farm in Xingfu Village in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaolong) OVERSUPPLY AND WASTAGE Twenty-six years ago, tomato planting was still a laborious job. From spring to autumn, Bai and his wife worked from dawn to sunset. In Xingfu Village, which is adjacent to the Gurbantunggut Desert, the temperature difference on a summer day is huge. At noon, the temperature could peak at 35 degrees Celsius, and at night, Bai would have to wrap himself in a thick cotton coat when patrolling and watering his fields. Growing tomatoes also requires certain technology. The EU and other markets have strict regulations on pesticide residue, the heavy metal content of soil, and so on. Bai must choose specific pesticides and control the proportion of fertilization precisely. Under the guidance of technicians sent by tomato processing companies, he and his wife began to learn how to plant high-standard processing tomatoes. "If we worked more, we could hire less people. But during the transplant and harvest days, you still had to find some helpers," Bai said. Moreover, frost and heavy rainfall are common on the northern slope of the Tianshan Mountains, where Xingfu Village is located, when summer turns to autumn. "If the ripe tomatoes were not picked in time, they would end up being wasted. The whole year's hard work would be in vain," he said. To motivate workers during the harvest days, Bai paid them in cash daily, and his wife prepared steamed bread buns, pickles and water for them free of charge. Due to their hard work, the couple saw their income increase year by year, which in turn encouraged them to invest more in tomato planting. In 2004, Bai planted all 40 mu of his land with tomatoes and contracted another 10 mu to expand production. "A disastrous decline in the tomato business was the last thing we expected," Bai said. That autumn, Bai experienced the "darkest hour of his life": Ripe tomatoes were left to rot as there was no one to buy them. It took Bai a long time to understand that in 2004, many farmers switched to planting tomatoes, surpassing the capacity of tomato-processing factories. Eventually, it led to oversupply and turbulence in the market. Bai Jingui (L) talks with his son Bai Yang at home in Xingfu Village in the Hui Autonomous Prefecture of Changji, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, June 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Zhang Xiaolong) U.S. SMEAR CAMPAIGN MARRING HONEST WORK After 12 years, Bai Yang, Bai's younger son, went to his father and proposed they plant tomatoes again. This suggestion was immediately rejected by Bai Jingui, who had still not recovered from 2004. But Bai Yang had not been careless in making his proposal. In 2015, drip irrigation was widely applied across Xinjiang and had become popular in their village. And by then, tomato transplanting, insecticide spraying and harvesting could all be completed with machines. The technological revolution boosted the industry, with the tomato yield per mu rising from 5 to nearly 10 tonnes, and with mechanized harvesting by then costing less than half the price of manual harvesting. "There were several tomato millionaires in our village," Bai Yang said. In the spring of 2020, Bai Yang finally persuaded his father. "We borrowed about 600,000 yuan from the bank and contracted more than 300 mu of land to plant tomatoes. I was under high pressure," Bai Yang said. Bai Yang's first production year was bumpy as the purchase price dropped due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Fortunately, he had signed an order contract with a tomato processing company to ensure a reasonable price. In the autumn that year, his harvest was a success and he gained his father's trust. "Last year, the market price was much higher than our order price, but I didn't break the contract as I wanted to have long-term cooperation with the tomato processing company," Bai Yang said. This year, the family's tomato planting area reached 520 mu. To meet the strict food safety standards of Europe and other overseas markets, tomato seeds, pesticides and other materials are provided by the tomato enterprises themselves. "Growing tomatoes is easier now, but it has also become more complicated," Bai Jingui said, referring to the uncertainties created by the United States' smear campaign and sanctions against Xinjiang. What insulted him most was that farmers like him were stigmatized by certain politicians as human rights abusers. "We cook free lunches for those who help us because we were all hardworking farmers, and no one should mistreat another. I think people should be kind to each other, and that is what we are doing," he said. "Xinjiang produces the world's best tomatoes, so it's a blessing for us and the whole world. Anyone slandering that is ruining this blessing," he said. "But we farmers won't give up creating better lives for our families. That is what we want to do, and we are not forced to do that by anyone," he said. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) Flash California Governor Gavin Newsom on Friday criticized the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, saying the ruling showed that "women are not equal" in the United States. As an immediate action in response to Roe v. Wade overturning, Newsom has signed a bill to protect patients and health providers in California from civil lawsuits based on other states' laws. The AB1666 bill protects doctors from legal and financial penalties if they travel to other states to perform abortions or treat out-of-state patients. Newsom made the remarks at a press conference with local political leaders to announce the urgent action to protect women from other states seeking abortion services in the Golden State, the most populous state in the United States. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland noted Friday that the ruling does not restrict states from keeping abortion legal or prevent women from travelling to states with access, but the fears have been piling up that more abortion bans in conservative states after the latest ruling would trigger problems in judicial system between them and states where abortion is legal. As dozens of conservative states have passed abortion bans or could implement the measures following the Supreme Court's decision, California has been scrambling to build a bulwark for reproductive rights and accommodate a potential influx of patients from beyond its borders. With Roe toppled, California has become the nearest state with abortion access for approximately 1.3 million out-of-state women of reproductive age, according to the Guttmacher Institute, an abortion rights think tank. Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the governor's wife, said the ruling "will have grave consequences for women's health, safety, economic security and our ability to thrive in the United States of America." She drew parallels between the two different Supreme Court decisions made this week. On Thursday, the court expanded gun rights in a ruling that will likely lead to more people legally armed in cities and beyond. "In just one week the court has proven that it believes guns should have more rights than women. This is insane," Siebel Newsom said. Other state leaders also condemned the ruling. "This is a dark day for our little girls and all our children," Califronia Attorney General Rob Bonta said. "That is not progress." "It made my stomach drop. I have been sick to my stomach all morning," California Senate president pro tempore Toni Atkins said. "We are here to further rights, not take them away." DES MOINES Unemployed workers in Iowa will be eligible to receive state unemployment benefits for 10 fewer weeks under legislation signed into law Thursday by Gov. Kim Reynolds. The new law reduces the length of state unemployment benefits from 26 weeks to 16. Iowa becomes just the fourth state with 16 weeks or fewer of state unemployment benefits. It was one of three workforce-related bills that Reynolds signed into law Thursday. Reynolds in a press release said the new laws modernize Iowas unemployment system and will attract new workers to Iowa businesses. Its no secret that Iowa, like the rest of the country, is facing a critical workforce shortage. But we cannot stand idle and allow employable Iowans to sit on the sidelines and we must implement practical and efficient changes that cut through bureaucratic red tape and assist employers with filling their critical vacancies, Reynolds said in the press release. Im confident these changes will encourage more Iowans to join the workforce and find a rewarding career while contributing to our economy. The new law also changes the requirements for taking a job that pays less than the unemployed Iowans previous job. Previously, a person receiving unemployment benefits had six weeks before having to accept a lower-paying job. The new law shortens that time frame. After one week, a person on unemployment will have to accept a job offering 90% of that persons previous wages. That threshold would drop to 80% after three weeks, 75% after five weeks and 60% after eight weeks. The legislation, House File 2355, passed the Iowa Legislature with only Republican support. The progressive advocacy group Progress Iowa issued a statement Thursday critical of the reduction in unemployment benefits, saying it will hurt laid-off workers, suppress wages and make Iowa an unwelcoming state. As Iowans, we value hard work and know good paying jobs help Iowa grow. But now, Iowa Republicans are doing all they can to force workers to take jobs that dont pay enough, Progress Iowa executive director Matt Sinovic said in a press release. We know that taking away our hard-earned benefits wont solve the Reynolds workforce crisis. We need our lawmakers to invest in working families and make corporations pay what they owe. Reynolds on Thursday also signed into law legislation that allows 16- and 17-year-olds to work unsupervised at child care centers. The new law also allows child care centers to operate with one worker for every seven 2-year-olds and one worker for every 10 3-year-olds. Supporters of the new law have said it will help with shortages of staffing and available slots at child care centers. Critics have said it does not go far enough to properly address those issues, and note that it does not contain any provision that would help address child care workers low wages or money designed to entice the creation of more child care centers. House File 2198 passed the Iowa Legislature largely along party lines, with Republicans supporting and Democrats opposing. NORMAL Illinois State University is working to address several potential cybersecurity weaknesses identified in its most recent state audit. The changes come as universities across the country are working in a constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape. The audit from the Illinois Auditor General identified weakness associated with the formal information technology policies as well as more specific issues around the management of application accounts. Released May 26, the report covers the period from June 30, 2020, to June 30, 2021. Dan Taube, chief information security officer for the university, said ISU staff members are working to address the issues brought up in the audit, and to make continual efforts toward keeping the universitys networks safe. Those efforts include formalizing updated IT policies, which are central to making sure all 60,000 accounts that interact with the ISU network are not becoming vulnerabilities, Taube said. The truth about cybersecurity is its everyone, he said. Other steps ISU has taken to address weaknesses include improving communication to delete accounts from some applications soon after an employee leaves the university or changes jobs. Managing what accounts have access to certain data can help address the issue with measures such as limitations on what student accounts can access, FBI Springfield Computer Scientist Justin Harris said. Regular audits and control of accounts is vital, as is training the people using those accounts. I would say one of the most important things comes down to end-user training, he said. Improper management can result in accounts having access to data they should not be able to see, or accounts becoming avenues into the system for outside actors. Harris said he has heard of malicious actors using improperly privileged accounts to create new accounts that are harder to detect. Having account control management is essential, said Maurice Dawson, assistant professor and director of the Center for Cyber Security and Forensics Education at Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago. A national problem Regina Burris, FBI Springfield supervisory special agent for cyber, said the cyberthreat landscape in Central Illinois mirrors that of the country. Higher education presents a special target because research and development requires a collaborative environment, but also makes the schools attractive targets. From Nov. 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2021, educational organizations made up 1,241, or 5.2%, of incidents where actors may have had access to internal information, according to the Verizon Data Breach Incident Report 2022. Education organizations made up 282, or 5.5%, of breaches where it was confirmed data had been accessed. Ransomware represents an increasing percentage of attacks. Illinois Wesleyan University Chief Information Officer Leon Lewis has seen the same thing in his time working in higher education IT. In the last four years, higher ed and medical have become the new preferred targets. Colleges are taking it on the chin every day, he said. In Central Illinois, that impact can be seen in the cyberattack on Heartland Community College in fall 2020 and an attack on Lincoln College in December 2021. Lincoln College officials said the ransomware was partly to blame for its sudden closure, saying the lack of access to systems prevented the college from knowing enrollment projections for the fall. Colleges collect a lot of information from students that is kept long after they graduate, making the institutions profitable targets for hackers, Lewis said. The whole profile of who a person is, is sitting here (in the network), he said. Cybersecurity firm Emisoft publishes a yearly State of Ransomware in the US: Report and Statistics. Its publication for 2021 said 62 school districts and 26 colleges and universities were hit by ransomware last year. Furthermore, there's also a shortage of people working specifically in cybersecurity, and educational institutions cannot compete with private sector salaries, Dawson said. He tracks openings using cyberseek.org, which shows more than 714,000 cybersecurity job openings and 1.1 million people employed in the field. "Even universities are struggling to keep cybersecurity professors," Dawson said. A changing landscape The biggest change to ransomware attacks in recent years has been that actors now sometimes steal data and then threaten to release it unless they are paid, so they still profit if the victim uses backed-up data to avoid the ransom, Harris said. As businesses and academia adjusted to the ransomware threat, (malicious actors) adapted their business model, Harris said. Higher education institutions can prove enticing targets for malicious actors who are willing to bide their time, Lewis said. College students may not have much, or any, credit history in school, but are likely to have good credit after leaving school so hackers will hold onto their information for years. Faculty and staff information can be valuable in a shorter timeframe, though. The source of the attacks has changed as well. State-sponsored actors, including in Russia, Iran and China, have expanded the types of of targets they attack, Taube said. Before this year, you rarely saw them go after just anybody, he said. () Its like a fire-sale. In response to these changes, ISU has changed how it stores its backups, including using off-site storage and backups that cannot be changed once they are created, Taube said. Globally, some recent ransomware attacks have infected not just the network, but backups as well, Taube said. The immutable backups keep that from happening, meaning the school's cybersecurity insurance could then go toward backup restoration rather than the ransom. Besides being actively put onto backups, ransomware can also find its way there if it is already present when the system is backed up, Harris said. Spending a couple weeks in the system gives the actors more time to explore the network and find the potentially valuable information. Phishing emails also have gotten more sophisticated, Dawson said. Phishers try to make their emails look like they came from inside the organization, even changing the grammar of their emails to fit local dialect. COVID has changed the landscape, too, with more employees using remote access to work from home. Home networks rarely have the same level of protection that institutions have, Dawson said. Eastern Illinois University declined to provide details about its cybersecurity approach and systems. However, a statement from spokesman Josh Reinhart highlighted how the changing threat landscape makes addressing the issue more complicated. Eastern Illinois University is proactive in defending against cyber attacks. Because of the dynamic and evolving nature of cyber threats and EIU's ongoing cyber security initiatives, the University is unable to share further details on any of its specific approaches, he said. Unique challenges The nature of information technology at ISU also makes it difficult to manage and to make changes in cybersecurity practices, Taube said. There is a central IT office along with various IT departments at the school's colleges and departments. His challenge is to make sure all of the colleges, departments and users are following best practices for cybersecurity. Its one network, it is a risk to our systems, our network, our data, Taube said. Recent steps taken at IWU include improving security for network access devices, adding multi-factor authentication for all university applications and updating the schools IT standards, Lewis said. IWU has implemented a university IT governance committee, which includes faculty, staff and students, to get feedback on the school's rollout of the new policies, Lewis said. The committee will allow IT staff to better communicate why they might need to limit certain applications or parts of the network, and other things that might bump shoulders with traditional approaches to academic freedom. Overall, as long as his office explains the "why" behind the changes, faculty have been willing to go along with them, Lewis said. Nobody likes rules, but at least everybodys informed about whats happening, he said. Responding to the threat Over the past two years, ISU has made cybersecurity more visible on campus. The chief information security officer position and office as a whole were created in 2020, with Taube stepping into the CISO role on an interim basis. He was hired to the permanent position earlier this year. When he started, he had three full-time staff members and no student workers. He now has five full-time staff and 12 student workers, with plans to hire two more full-time staff soon. Its expensive to invest in resources, whether staff or tools, and the university has done that, he said. ISU does not have a defined cybersecurity budget, but spends around $1.5 million for technology and staff, while also using no-cost services through state and local entities, Taube said. At IWU, Lewis estimated the university spends around $800,000 a year on cybersecurity, which includes insurance. Heartland dedicated $1 million to cybersecurity in June 2021. At the Heartland boards monthly meeting on Tuesday, Chief Information Officer Scott Bross gave an update on the effort so far. Part of the response has been to separate parts of the network that contain confidential information from the more readily accessible parts of the network. Bross connected this to the need to balance cybersecurity while avoiding undue limitations on academic freedom. Were an educational institution; we really want a campus that is open and active and people are using all sorts of different software on campus () In order to provide that sort of openness, we need to segregate our data center, Bross said. Law enforcement involvement The best time to involve the FBI in cybersecurity is before an attack happens, Burris said. She encourages institutions to sit down with the office to discuss best practices and the resources the FBI can offer ahead of time. The public can file complaints of internet crimes and follow consumer and industry alerts at ic3.gov, Burris said. Each alert includes steps that people can take to protect themselves and their network. The FBI does offer another selective service for industry professionals that goes more in-depth, but it requires vetting before people can join. FBI Springfield Special Agent in Charge David Nanz also emphasized that the best thing institutions can do is engage with the FBI beforehand and build relationships that will help if the institution is hit by a cyberattack. Another cybersecurity tool that schools are considering is insurance, and it's something each institution needs to decide on its own, Harris added. Those considerations should include how the insurance will work with law enforcement. ISU did not see its cybersecurity insurance costs skyrocket this year, in part due to steps it had already taken, Taube said. IWUs cyberinsurance costs have gone up around threefold, Lewis said. But going without it could be disastrous, he said. Paying ransom should be less of a consideration, Nanz said. The FBI recommends victims do not pay ransom in a ransomware attack. The fact of the matter is ransomware would not exist if victims did not pay, he said. There also is no guarantee that if victims pay, the actors will actually release the system, he said. Contact Connor Wood at (309)820-3240. Follow Connor on Twitter:@connorkwood Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. 100 years ago June 27, 1922: Funeral services are to be held for Mrs. Hester Ann Harmon, one of the pioneer residents of Logan County, at the M.E. Church at Beason. Harmon, who came to the county with her parents in 1841 when she was 4, died away at her Beason home at the age of 83. She was a native of Lee County, West Virginia. 75 years ago June 27, 1947: A plywood mural, 5 foot 9 inches high and 35 feet long, has been completed by 11 Illinois State Normal University art students and is on display before being sent to Springfield to be shown at the state fair. The mural, telling in text and illustration the "Progress in Education in Illinois," was made by art students at the request of Vernon C. Nickell, state superintendent of public instruction. 50 years ago June 27, 1972: There will be sidewalks on the east side of Towanda Avenue and south side of Empire Street from Cherrywood Lane to the Bloomington High School drive. Near-unanimous protest by property owners affected was in vain as the city council voted 3-2 to proceed. Opponents believe the walk should go on the west side of the street or down Radliff Road. 25 years ago June 27, 1997: An anti-tax group thinks Unit 5 taxpayers will feel like Titanic passengers when they realize the danger lurking below an iceberg tip. For members of Tax Reform in McLean County, that tip is Unit 5's proposed $15 million plan to build a grade school and add classrooms at several others. The hidden danger, TRIM President Dick White said, is post-construction costs the district will incur. Compiled by Pantagraph staff A prohibition in the suburban City of Evanston's public nudity ordinance that disallows the exposure of female breasts maybe be dropped after discussions had during a recent meeting of the city's Human Services Committee. The possibility of dropping the prohibition was discussed during the June 7 meeting of the city's Human Services Committee after 8th Ward council member Devon Reid cited the state's adoption of the an equal rights amendment to the Illinois Constitution in 1970. Upon studying the amendment, Reid said that as it bars discrimination on the basis of gender, that this could apply to women being topless in the same way that men can be in public. He further said that by making this change it could afford greater liberties to those in the transgender or nonbinary communities who don't necessarily fall into the cisgender male or female mold. "I don't think our current ordinance is narrowly tailored because what is so inherently sexualized about the female body that is not inherently sexualized about the male body," said Reid. "I think we just really need to get clear on what this law is." If the change were adopted, the topless prohibition would lift throughout the city, not just on beaches to allow topless sunbathing. 5th Ward council member Bobby Burns stated that the term "indecent" would have to be specifically defined in order to interpret the law properly. His greatest concern was that the city's ordinance not be in conflict with the state constitution. "I have no issue with this. I want to hear what other people have to think," said Burns. 7th Ward council member Eleanor Revelle explained that laws similar to the current one in other municipalities have been upheld as constitutional. She went on to say it is based on the "local community standard" and that a federal appeals court in New Jersey ruled that as long as laws don't place artificial constraints on women that the physical differences between genders can be acknowledged. "The question is, men and women are not the same with respect to the traditional understanding of what constitutes nudity," said Revelle. "I'm not willing to approve this until I know that we've got community support for what this could mean." Burns backed Revelle's desire for community feedback on the issue. In a call with Pioneer Press, Revelle stated she hopes the change does not pass, saying she has not had any residents come to her and say they wanted to see this happen. "I'd like people to come to our beaches because they want to enjoy our beaches for the natural resource that it is rather than coming because it's a topless beach," said Revelle. Reid has not returned request for comment. Reid later pointed out that New Jersey differs from Illinois as it does not have an equal rights amendment on its books. The court that oversaw the mentioned case also does not have jurisdiction over Evanston according to Reid. He did mention the case of Tagami vs. City of Chicago, where topless activist Sonoku Tagami sued the city in 2014 after being cited for violating the city's public nudity policy. However, her case did not reference Illinois' equal rights amendment, instead citing the United States Constitution's 14th Amendment. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Russian state television reported on Sunday, in what would be the Russian leader's first known trip abroad since ordering the invasion of Ukraine. Russia's Feb. 24 invasion has killed thousands of people, displaced millions more and led to severe financial sanctions from the West, which Putin says are a reason to build stronger trade ties with other powers such as China, India and Iran. Pavel Zarubin, the Kremlin correspondent of the Rossiya 1 state television station, said Putin would visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and then meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks in Moscow. In Dushanbe, Putin will meet Tajik President Imomali Rakhmon, a close Russian ally and the longest-serving ruler of a former Soviet state. In Ashgabat, he will attend a summit of Caspian nations including the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan, Zarubin said. Putin also plans to visit the Belarus city of Grodno on June 30 and July 1 to take part in a forum with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, RIA news agency citedValentina Matviyenko, the speaker of Russia's upper chamber of parliament, as telling Belarus television on Sunday. Putin's last known trip outside Russia was a visit to Beijing in early February, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a "no limits" friendship treaty hours before both attended the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games. Russia says it sent troops into Ukraine on Feb. 24 to degrade its neighbour's military capabilities, keep it from being used by the West to threaten Russia, root out nationalists and defend Russian speakers in eastern regions. Ukraine calls the invasion an imperial-style land grab. Source: Reuters Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Alternative Employment and Livelihood Programme (NAELP), under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, has paid a courtesy call on the Paramount Chief of Akyem Abuakwa traditional area, His Majesty Osagyefo Nana Amoatia Ofori Panin II, to put him in the know of the commencement of the national land reclamation programme in the Eastern Region and also to seek his involvement and support. The King, in his submission applauded Government and NAELP for the initiative which he said was in line with his mission to protect the environment for the sake of future generations, while reminding the team and all gathered that "it is usual practice to protect for ourselves what we have today, but added that protecting for the future is equally important". He also lauded the government for the introduction of land reclamation as he compared it to other similar programmes such as the Free Senior High School, planting for food and jobs and several others from which the nation would reap immense future benefits. His Majesty also spoke on the recognition of Governments authority as being entrusted with all mineral resources of the nation on behalf of the people of Ghana. As such, individuals who say mineral resources belong to them do so out of ignorance. The King also touched on the importance of making sure that development was for the whole and not part of Ghana, indicating that "the majority of Ghanaians still lived in poor and rural Ghana and for most of such persons, land was their only inheritance and so such initiatives which seek to restore lands and protect the environment are very commendable" He disclosed that It is also his wish that the lands when restored are protected such that they will not be destroyed again while cautioning the team to work hard and dedicatedly and not to place wealth and profit ahead of service and hard work. In a short introduction, the Regional Minister, Honourable Seth Acheampong, who led the delegation to call on the King on Friday 24th June, 2022 at the Palace, introduced the reclamation team and provided a brief explanation of the purpose of the call to His Majesty, saying that "this call was to pay homage and recognize the important role of His Majesty Osagyefo as the custodian of the lands selected in the Eastern Region for reclamation soon to begin in July". The National Coordinator of NAELP, Dr. Louise Carol Donkor on her part, gave His Majesty a summary of the establishment of NAELP under the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources which she said is to execute land reclamation and several other key interventions in the fight against illegal mining, under the leadership of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Dr. Donkor explained that the reclamation and restoration was a gradual process involving several processes which takes time and considerable resources, adding that another very important intervention under NAELP is to provide alternative employment opportunities for illegal miners. On behalf of the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources, Dr. Donkor asked for His Majestys support and blessings for the Team to undertake the exercise in the region and also presented souvenirs marked with the Ministrys crest and NAELP logo as a symbolic sign of appreciation for His Majestys support for the programme. Also with the delegation on this call was Honourable Akosua Asabea Annor who is the Municipal Chief Executive of Abuakwa South and Mr. Thomas Jojo Tsiboe-Darko the Ministrys Consultant on reclamation and restoration of degraded mined out lands. A total of about 1,000 hectares of degraded mined out lands is to be reclaimed and restored this year in the five mining regions of Ghana. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A year ago, the Mastercard Foundation and Africa CDC launched the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative a now $1.5 billion partnership with four key objectives: 1. To purchase COVID-19 vaccines for at least 65 million people 2. To drive millions more vaccinations by enabling the delivery and administration of vaccines. 3. To lay the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing by focusing on human capital development. 4. 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 Foundations 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 Swahili word 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. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Parliament has passed the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) (Amendment) Bill, 2021. The purpose of the bill would be to amend the Criminal and Other Offences (Procedure) Act, 1960 (Act 30) and to provide for plea bargaining in the administration of criminal justice. Act 30, originally enacted as the Criminal Procedure Code, came into force on January 12, 1961. Moving the motion for the third reading on the floor of Parliament on Friday, Mr Godfred Yeboah Dame, Attorney-General and the Minister of Justice, told Parliament that, it was the first the plea bargaining arrangements were comprehensively being introduced in Ghanas criminal jurisprudence. "Mr Speaker, if indeed we are proceeding on this experiment for the first time as a nation, there is a need for us to tread cautiously. "Mr Speaker, before the preparation of this bill, there were wide stakeholder consultations and the preponderance of views was to the effect that there ought to be an exception to plea bargaining agreement we ought to strike certain exceptions to plea bargaining negotiations," he said. Mr Dame said those exceptions needed to be informed by strong policy considerations of the interest of the nation and the revulsion of the public for certain classes of offences including very violent crimes, sexual offences and offences that generally the nation appalls and that was why violence was involved in elections. Mr Andrew Amoako Asiamah, the Second Deputy Speaker of Parliament, presiding over the proceedings took a voice vote for the passage of the bill into law by Parliament. It is for the expectation of the bill, therefore, to amend Act 30 to specifically recognise plea bargaining to apply to all offences except the offences of treason and high treason. The exclusion of treason and high treason from plea bargaining aligns with clause (3) Of article 140 of the the1992 Constitution which prevents the court from convicting a person being tried for treason or high treason for any offence other than treason or high treason. The bill also excludes from plea bargaining the offences of rape, defilement, genocide, robbery, kidnapping, attempted murder, abduction, piracy, hijacking and an offence related to public elections. A memorandum supporting the bill said Act 30 had been in existence for almost six decades and that national and international criminal justice systems had undergone several changes during that period the Act had been in force. "As society changes and criminal jurisprudence evolves, there is the need to amend Act 30 to meet the needs of the society and to bring it in tune with international best practices. "One of such evolving best practices is plea bargaining," it said. Plea bargaining is a process in the criminal justice system where an accused person relinquishes the right of the accused person to go to full trial in exchange for some other benefit. Such benefits may include a reduction of the offence charged to a lesser offence, a reduction in punishment for an offence charged or a withdrawal of some of the charges against the accused person, the memorandum clarified. It said while plea bargaining may result in the withdrawal of charges entirely, in exchange for a promise to assist in the prosecution of others, most plea bargains end in a conviction either for one or more of the offences charged or for a lesser offence for which the accused could have been convicted of at mal. The memorandum listed the benefits of plea bargaining to include a reduction in the caseloads of the courts and prosecutors, saving the state time and money by avoiding protracted trials, decongestion of the prisons due to reduced sentencing and aiding in the reform of accused persons. "It also oversees the satisfaction of victims of offences through compensation and restitution in addition to the punishment of the accused," it said. "Due to the enormous benefits of plea bargaining, plea bargaining has been adopted as part of the criminal justice system in both civil law and common law jurisdictions," the memorandum added. According to the memorandum, some form of plea bargaining already existed in Ghanas criminal justice system. It said Subsections (2) and (3) of section 239 of Act 30, for example, provided for some limited plea bargaining in respect of indictable offences while section 35 of the Courts Act, 1993 (Act 459) provided for plea bargaining in respect of offences which resulted in economic loss, harm or damage to the state or an agency of the state. It added that recent enactments like the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017 (Act 959) and the Narcotics Control Commission Act, 2020 (Act 1019) also made provision for some form of plea bargaining in respect of corruption and corruption-related offences and narcotic offences respectively. "The majority of offences under Ghana's criminal jurisprudence are however generally excluded from plea bargaining," it said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Executive Chairman and CEO of Trasacco Group, Ernesto Taricone has admitted that he has no Court Order over Pantang Lands and hence, it is believed that the demolition exercise he carried out on the land was in Contempt of the Court process. It would be recalled that Ernesto Taricone and Trasacco Group were suits for Contempt for setting into motion a fraudulent scheme purporting to execute a Ruling of the Court of Appeal, without serving the Applicant by notice of entry of judgment over parcel of land at Pantang in the Adentan municipality in Accra. Jeleel Company Ghana Limited filed the said Motion indicating that the Company has vast land at Pantang and has valid land certificate issued by the Lands Commission covering the said land. According to the Applicant there are valid and still subsisting judgement of the High Court declaring title on the land in favour of Jeleel Company Ghana limited for another portion of the land pursuant to which the Applicant was placed in possession of the land. Meanwhile, the said judgement of the High Court has not been set aside, hence the Applicant has been in peaceful possession of the said parcel of land and erected numerous residential buildings on the land. That after the Applicant was placed on the land pursuant to a writ of Possession, 2nd Respondent (Trasacco Furniture Ghana Limited) claiming that it owns portions of the land of the Applicant, applied to the High Court, Accra to set aside the writ of possession issued in favour of the Applicant, but this Application was refused by the High Court. Moreso, the Respondents did not file and serve the Applicant any notice of entry of judgment of the Supreme Court which is a mandatory pre-requisite for the execution of any judgement of the court. Meanwhile on May 27, 2022, Ernesto Taricone, without any order of recovery of possession of a specific land and without serving on the Applicant a notice of entry of judgement, led a team of thugs onto the land and demolished some structures on the land purporting to be executing the judgement of the Supreme Court. In view of that, the Applicant filed a Motion in Court to commit the Respondents for contempt of Court. Meanwhile, in his Affidavit in Opposition to the Motion filed against him, and his company, he indicated in Paragraph 10 that, he has not executed any Supreme Court Order which makes his action on the land illegal. He stated that, That the Respondent admits paragraphs 10 & 11 of the Affidavit in Support and say in response thereto that the 2nd Respondent has not executed any judgement of any of the Superior Court as being alleged. The Respondent (Ernesto Taricone) however claimed that even though the Applicant was aware of the 2nd Defendant/Respondents (Trasacco) occupancy of the disputed land, went ahead to secure a default judgement dated 15th October 2019, and issued a writ of possession over the same property. Source: newsgh 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 Flash Thousands of protesters took to the streets in central Madrid on Sunday in an anti-NATO march. It was timed ahead of the military alliance's summit, which starts on Wednesday in the Spanish capital. Many of the groups involved took part in a "Summit for Peace" over the last two days, debating the world order and the future of security for different countries worldwide. Some large Spanish unions also joined pressure groups such as Ecologists in Action and Fridays for Future. "We think NATO is a criminal organization that doesn't help the working classes," protest organizer Javier Martorell told CGTN Europe. "With them it's just war and misery. So we don't want NATO in our country that's why we are protesting." The hugely anticipated NATO summit will follow the G7 leaders' meeting currently taking place in Germany. Finland and Sweden have applied for NATO membership and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is also expected to address the organization via video link. Tight security A second protest on Wednesday was due to coincide with a "working lunch" of NATO's leaders and heads of state, close to the Prado Museum. The Spanish government decided to ban that for security reasons. Sunday's protest is therefore the only chance for those against the alliance to make their voices heard. "We are protesting against the policies of NATO and we are against them giving weapons to Ukraine," one male protester told CGTN Europe. A female protestor added that NATO had "been causing genocide and wars for 40 years all financed by capitalism so we are here to protest against that." World leaders are expected to fly in on Tuesday ahead of what many experts believe could be the most significant NATO summit since the Cold War. No doubt the protesters here and many around the world will follow the event closely, to see what decisions are made over the next few days. The presidency has again responded to some claims made by the Member of Parliament for North Tongu with regards to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos current trip to Belgium and Rwanda. According to the Director of Communications, Eugene Arhin, the NDC lawmaker is only trying to score political points with his series of lies. He noted in a lengthy statement that, the president left the country with a chartered flight for a good reason. In his statement, the MP conveniently avoids the issue of President Akufo-Addo having to arrive from Brussels to Kigali on time to participate in the commencement of the Pan-African Vaccine Manufacturing Project, a project which is a collaboration between Ghana, Rwanda, and Senegal." This event and the President's participation was one of the reasons for which the decision was taken to charter a flight for the President, so he could arrive on time, demonstrate Ghana's solidarity, and deliver his far-reaching remarks at the start of this strategic Pan-African project. "I am sure that the people of Ghana will recognize this as a good reason for the President to travel. Undoubtedly, the Hon. MP's motives are not well-intentioned, as he is merely seeking to score cheap political points to incite public disaffection against the President," part of the statement read. Read full statement Your browser does not support iframes. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Chairman of the Progressive People's Party (PPP), Nana Ofori Owusu, has called on President Nana Akufo-Addo to reduce the size of his government and also empower institutions with the requisite tools to effectively do their work to the benefit of Ghanaians. Nana Ofori Owusu, making his submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, was disgusted by the way the economy is being run by the President. To him, a contributory factor to the bad governance under the Akufo-Addo administration, is the fact that the government is unable to monitor her expenditure and other relevant economic indicators. Nana Ofori asked the President to be up and doing and come out with measures to relieve Ghanaians of their economic burdens. "We want a partnership with our government. It is us; it is a reflection of us as a people and we need to be successful, and in difficult times we want to come out. But we want to make sure that governments are taking stringent measures in terms of the size of government and the way that they operate . . . There is too much redundancy in the system," he clamored. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A clergyman has said that a popular South African dance, Umlando, was created by demons. In a viral video, the clergyman while speaking to members of his church, said the Lord took him to the marine spirit where he saw that the demons manufacture seductive dance steps and unleashed into the earth. He said he was in the marine world where he saw the demons manufacture the popular South African dance step, Umlando, and the dance step was "unleashed" to the earth. He said right now so many girls have hosted the demon by dancing Umlando. Watch a video of him speaking as well as the dance move below... Source: youtube 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 Actress turned politician, Tonto Dikeh has said that she believes that she will succeed as Deputy Governor of Rivers State. Speaking of her candidacy under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in an interview with Channels Television, Tonto Dikeh noted that despite being a subject of controversy, the decision to join politics was well thought out and is one she has worked towards for at least three years. She also reiterated that she has never failed at leadership. The actress said; I am prepared for anything, truthfully. I have had three years to work on this, its not something that I just came out or emerged with. Weve had a lot of time to work on this and for this. Criticism, I am ready, non-criticism I am ready. So, it doesnt matter where the questions are coming from. I have failed in my life and Im not denying that. Everyone has seen that. But am I going to fail with leadership? Have I failed in leadership? Start from motherhood, have I ever failed in motherhood, talk about my foundation. I think it was one of the foundations that stood up for this country, in the time of the pandemic, with no assistance whatsoever. I did even more than the government. Recall that the ADC governorship candidate in Rivers state, Tonte Ibraye, had presented Dikeh as his running mate on Friday ahead of the 2023 elections. Later the same day, the actress confirmed the nomination via her social media handles. 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 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. Story continues 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 Large-scale agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon. Credit: Erika Berenguer A major study into landscape changes in the Brazilian Amazon sheds new light on the many environmental threats the biome facesbut also offers encouraging opportunities for ecological sustainability in the world's most biodiverse tropical forest. The study's findings are critical because as the Amazon moves closer towards a 'tipping point', they provide a robust evidence base to inform urgently needed conservation and regeneration priorities in the forest. They show that gains can be achieved through a range of actionsincluding, but not limited to, halting deforestation. The research, which is published today in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, was conducted by an international team of scientists from Brazil and the UK. They examined the ecological impacts caused by changes people are making to forest landscapes in two regions of the Brazilian State of ParaSantarem and Paragominas. "While the focus to date has been on deforestation, we know tropical forests landscapes are being altered by a much broader range of human activities," said lead researcher Dr. Cassio Alencar Nunes from Universidade Federal de Lavras in Brazil and Lancaster University in the United Kingdom. "These modifications include deforestation and degradation of primary forest, for example through selective logging and fires, but even deforested landscapes are changing as agricultural abandonment leads to secondary forest regrowth. As a result, many tropical landscapes are now a mosaic of non-forest land uses, regenerating secondary forests, and degraded primary forests." By investigating the rate of transformation between different land-uses and their impacts on the ecological condition, the researchers identified the transitions that are common and have high ecological impacts, as well as those that have large impacts but occur less frequently. "Our results have revealed a richer understanding of how people are affecting the Amazon and its ecosystem," said Dr. Alencar Nunes. Mosaic of forests, pastures, and agriculture in the Brazilian Amazon. Credit: Marizilda Cruppe / Rede Amazonia Sustentavel Collecting data from 310 plots, the researchers looked how changes affect biodiversity, examining more than 2,000 species of trees, lianas, birds and insects. They also looked at carbon and soil properties. The researchers also used published data from 2006-2019 about how quickly the landscape has changed over the past decade. Their results show that transitions from primary and secondary forests to pasture through deforestation amounted to 24,000 km a year. They found that species richness of almost all biodiversity groups declined by between 18 and 100 percent across plots where primary or secondary forest had been converted to pasture or mechanized agriculture. Transitions from forest to mechanized agriculture had the most ecological impact but occurred less frequently than conversion of forests to pasture. "Deforestation of primary forests to create pasture is the most damaging land-use change in the Brazilian Amazon," said Dr. Alencar Nunes. "Our results show that transitions from primary forests to pasture were always classed as 'high impact, high rate' for biodiversity, carbon storage and soil properties. This underlines the critical and urgent importance of combating deforestation, which has been increasing in the past few years." However, the study also revealed opportunities for positive action, for example highlighting the importance of protecting secondary forests and allowing them to mature. They found that the diversity of large trees doubled and small tree diversity increased by 55 percent when young secondary forests became older than 20 yearsbringing biodiversity and carbon storage gains. Other results revealed less obvious forms of degradation that are affecting the Amazon's ecology. They found that changing between types of farming, from cattle pasture to more intensive mechanized agriculture, also diminishes biodiversity, with the diversity of ants and birds decreasing by 30 percent and 59 percent respectively. Dusky-capped Woodcreeper (Lepidocolaptes fuscicapillus layardi) is a bird that is sensitive to forest degradation. Credit: Alexander Lees Dr. Alencar Nunes said: "These are important findings as they show that there are a multitude of actions that can be taken to protect and improve the ecology of the Amazon. When farmers switch land from pasture to growing crops using mechanized agricultural methods, that is also impacting on biodiversity, but it is a process that is largely hidden when compared to deforestation. "By reducing the amount of land that is converted to mechanical farming, and by allowing secondary forests to regrow, we can deliver significant ecological restoration gains in the Amazon. "Our analysis helps to define and prioritize the local and regional actions required to stimulate a better Amazonia." Co-author Jos Barlow, Professor of Conservation Science at the Lancaster Environment Center of the Lancaster University, highlighted that the study has further implications for conservation and policy. He said: "Our results emphasize yet again the importance of tackling deforestation, as well as the additional benefits of avoiding degradation and enhancing the permanence of secondary forests. However, achieving this will require transforming the way the Amazon is currently being managed, including a much better integration of science, policy and local practices. "We also highlight the need to focus on biodiversity as well as carbon in tropical forestsof the three ecosystem components that we analyzed, biodiversity was the most affected by all the land-use changes. We hope that biodiversity can be included in climate change mitigation actions, and that this will be emphasized in the upcoming COP15 on Biodiversity. Explore further Secondary forests provide deforestation buffer for old-growth primary forests More information: Linking land-use and land-cover transitions to their ecological impact in the Amazon, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Linking land-use and land-cover transitions to their ecological impact in the Amazon,(2022). DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202310119 African white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus). Credit: Leibniz-IZW/Jan Zwilling Vultures perform important ecosystem functions as they clean the landscape by eating carcasses and thus limit the spread of wildlife diseases. Yet, vulture populations are rapidly declining, mainly owing to intentional and unintentional poisoning. Against this background, an international team of scientists performed the first comprehensive comparative analysis of movement data of three species of threatened Gyps vultures across Africa. They found that individual home ranges can be as large as 75,000 km and thus significantly exceed existing protected areas. These results are published in the journal Biological Conservation. Clearly, larger Vulture Safe Zones need to be established to safeguard vulture populations. A new project at the Leibniz Institute for Zoo- and Wildlife Research (Leibniz-IZW) aims to further advance scientific evidence for vulture conservation through newly developed tags equipped with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of things (IoT) communication technology in satellite networks. The paper presents the first comparative analysis of the movement ecology of three vulture species in Africa, the African white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus), Ruppell's vulture (Gyps rueppelli)both are listed as critically endangered by the IUCNand the Cape vulture (Gyps coprotheres), listed as vulnerable. Across two regions in eastern and southern Africa, the scientists analyzed a large set of telemetry data from individuals captured and tagged in 18 countries over 15 years (2004 to 2019), and set them in relation to data on species, age, breeding status, season and region. They evaluated the overlap between identified home ranges and existing protected areas which covered a wide range from National Parks to game-controlled areas and community conservation areas. "Our analysis shows that African Gyps vultures have some of the largest home ranges of any terrestrial, non-migratory species in the world, enabled by their energetically efficient soaring flight and required for their use of a dispersed and ephemeral food source: carrion," say authors Corinne J. Kendall (North Carolina State University and North Carolina Zoo). For example, adult white-backed vultures have average home ranges of about 24,000 km in east Africa and 31,500 km in southern Africa. Cape Vultures and Ruppell's vultures soar over even larger areas, averaging 36,000 km and 75,000 km, respectively. "We also see that immature birds cover significantly larger areas than adults," adds Ortwin Aschenborn (University of Namibia and Leibniz-IZW). "For example, immature white-backed vultures in southern Africa have average home ranges of just shy of 100,000 km with a maximum of almost 300,000 km in one individual in our dataset." Adult birds can compete better for the scarce food resources and therefore need smaller ranges. Additionally, breeding birds are bound to a much smaller operating radius. The scientists also identified seasonal variations in home range sizes, for example with Ruppell's vultures covering larger areas during wet season months in East Africa, a time period with limited food supply. In the light of these movements it is inevitable that vultures spend a significant amount of time soaring above non-protected areas. Cape vulture home ranges had the least annual average overlap with protected areas, 34% for adults and only 16% for immature birds. This dramatically increases their exposure to and use of human-related food sources from livestock farms and meat processing sites. It also increases the risk of being exposed to environmental toxins such as agricultural pesticides and poisoned baits for carnivore control, a technique still widely practiced in southern and eastern Africa. "While protected areas are a common and successful conservation tool for safeguarding various components of biodiversity, these findings show that their utility is limited for species with large individual home ranges or migrating species," conclude Aschenborn and lead author Adam Kane (University College Dublin). "Protected areas usually minimize land use conversion, habitat degradation and the use of environmental toxins or pollutants such as pesticides or poisons targeting conflict species. Yet, vultures do not know these boundaries and evidence-based conservation action needs to address challenges outside these areas." Globally, vultures are one of the fastest declining groups of birds, even of vertebrates. Populations of the three species included in these analyses are estimated to have declined by more than 90% over the last three generations. The conservation status of the African white-backed vulture was reassessed from "least concern" to "near threatened" in the 2007 IUCN Red List. Only five years later, the species was further "upgraded" to "endangered" and in October 2015, its status was changed to "critically endangered" as the actual ongoing decline was more severe than previously expected. In Southeast Asia, Vulture Safe Zones (VSZ) have been set up in unprotected areas to reduce the influx of environmental pollutants such as diclofenac, a non-steroidal, anti-inflammatory drug. VSZ have been an effective strategy for vulture conservation in places or regions where diclofenac bans across large areas are operable because this type of poisoning is unintentional. Vultures, just like other birds of prey, are long-lived species at the top of their food chains, which means that they are vulnerable to accumulating toxins in their bodies through their food. "For VSZ to be successful in an African context, it requires vast areas to be nearly poison-free," says Aschenborn. "The sizes of such areas need to be much larger than Etosha National Park (~23,000 km2) in Namibia, for example. If we consider the average range of an immature Ruppell's vulture of about 175,000 km, we can clearly see the challenges associated with this concept." During periods of limited food availability, for example in wet seasons, vulture restaurants with supplementary feeding at pivotal locations may be an additional tool for conservation to reduce the risk of poisoning. "Our findings show how important it is for international collaboration to protect wide-ranging species such as vultures," Adam Kane says. "It is challenging but can foster meaningful research and conservation projects by unifying people to a collective purpose." Since the beginning of 2022, Ortwin Aschenborn has been part of a new and ambitious research project at the Leibniz-IZW that aims to further advance scientific evidence for vulture conservation. As part of the project, the two research subprojects GAIA-Sat-IoT and SyNaKI will develop a new generation of tags for vulture research. The tags will be a combination of sensors (GPS locations and acceleration data for example) and an on-board camera with on-board artificial intelligence algorithms that decode data and images of the movements and behavior of individuals to facilitate the automatic classification of behaviors. This allows for a real-time uplink to a satellite network specially developed for the purpose of seeing and analyzing the world of vultures through their very own eyes. Additionally, the subprojects will develop decentralized, AI-based data analyses on various tags on vultures and lions to unravel the movements and behaviors within bird flocks, and the carnivore and scavenger communities. "The high-tech approach will facilitate new insights into the behavior of individuals and the dynamics of their ecosystem," says Dr. Jorg Melzheimer, head of the project at the Leibniz-IZW. "We will not only better understand vultures and how they tackle the challenges to survival and reproduction, we will also learn about it faster. The intention of our project is to link human, animal and artificial intelligence for watching the ecosystem in real time, for example detecting disease outbreaks or hotspots of poisoning immediately." Explore further How are environmental chemicals affecting vultures? More information: Adam Kane et al, Understanding continent-wide variation in vulture ranging behavior to assess feasibility of Vulture Safe Zones in Africa: Challenges and possibilities, Biological Conservation (2022). Journal information: Biological Conservation Adam Kane et al, Understanding continent-wide variation in vulture ranging behavior to assess feasibility of Vulture Safe Zones in Africa: Challenges and possibilities,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109516 Forestry PhD candidate Melanie Sifton examines soil recovered from the Port Lands construction site. Credit: Geoffrey Vendeville, University of Toronto At a Toronto Port Lands construction site on the city's waterfront, keen-eyed workers recently spotted plants that had sprouted from soil recently exposed by the removal of tons of earth. The plants were hard stem bulrush and cattails, which are commonly found in freshwater marshes. Because the plants grew from a patch of ground that had been seven meters below the surface for a century, conservationists concluded that they had grown from seeds buried when Ashbridges Bay Marsh at the mouth of the Don River was covered with landfill in the early 1900s. Now, a team of University of Toronto researchers including Sarah Finkelstein and Shelby Riskin is studying the soil removed from the site for a better understanding of the long-lost natural habitat. Finkelstein, a paleontologist and associate professor who is chair of the Faculty of Arts & Science's department of Earth sciences, studies paleoenvironmental records to better understand past climates and how ecosystems respond to environmental change. Mrinmayee Sengupta, an undergraduate geography student and University College member, will be helping her analyze the Port Lands soil. "Our first goal is to understand what the marsh looked like back then," Finkelstein says. "We'll try to answer questions like: What was the plant community like? What were the food webs like? What role did this marsh play ecologically on a local and regional scale?" Meanwhile, Riskin, an assistant professor, teaching stream, in the department of ecology and evolutionary biology in the Faculty of Arts & Science, will study how changes in land use impact ecosystems and how those ecosystems can continue to function in the face of change. Stuart Ralston, an undergraduate student studying environmental science and a member of Victoria College, will be working with Riskin on the project. "We'll look for evidence of the life in the marshshells, seeds, pollenand hopefully get an idea of the biodiversity of those soils from 100 years ago and compare it to what we find in the wetland soils in the area today," Riskin says. "I'm quite curious as to what we will find. If there is going to be a viable seed bank of native plants in those soils, or if there's evidence that it was already a degraded ecosystem 100 years ago." Ashbridges Bay Marsh was once a thriving natural ecosystem. But by the end of the 1800s it was suffering from sewage and pollution from Toronto's waterfront cattle yards, among other sources. As the city grew in the early 20th century, it was covered over and more industry moved onto the new land. Today, the Port Lands is undergoing major redevelopment to reduce flooding at the mouth of the Don River and to create parks and new wetlands. As workers dig, they are uncovering the city's recent history like urban archeologists. The researchers will also measure the carbon content of the soil to understand whether it came from a natural source or human activity, and how well the marsh served to absorb and store carbon. "Right now, my research group is working a lot on carbon uptake and sequestration in wetlands, which is an important research focus in Ontario given our abundance of wetlands and their potential role in mitigating climate change," Finkelstein says. "This work could tell us how well this wetland functioned as a carbon sink. It will also help us learn more about wetland restoration and what we may be able to recreate on the Toronto waterfront." Explore further New paper shows benefits of Louisiana coastal restoration to soil carbon sequestration In their experiments, the Oldenburg physicists directed laser light onto samples of extremely thin semiconductors with various optical components. Credit: University of Oldenburg Whether or not a solid can emit light, for instance as a light-emitting diode (LED), depends on the energy levels of the electrons in its crystalline lattice. An international team of researchers led by University of Oldenburg physicists Dr. Hangyong Shan and Prof. Dr. Christian Schneider has succeeded in manipulating the energy-levels in an ultra-thin sample of the semiconductor tungsten diselenide in such a way that this material, which normally has a low luminescence yield, began to glow. The team has now published an article on its research in the science journal Nature Communications. According to the researchers, their findings constitute a first step towards controlling the properties of matter through light fields. "The idea has been discussed for years, but had not yet been convincingly implemented," said Schneider. The light effect could be used to optimize the optical properties of semiconductors and thus contribute to the development of innovative LEDs, solar cells, optical components and other applications. In particular the optical properties of organic semiconductorsplastics with semiconducting properties that are used in flexible displays and solar cells or as sensors in textilescould be enhanced in this way. Tungsten diselenide belongs to an unusual class of semiconductors consisting of a transition metal and one of the three elements sulfur, selenium or tellurium. For their experiments the researchers used a sample that consisted of a single crystalline layer of tungsten and selenium atoms with a sandwich-like structure. In physics, such materials, which are only a few atoms thick, are also known as two-dimensional (2D) materials. They often have unusual properties because the charge carriers they contain behave in a completely different manner to those in thicker solids and are sometimes referred to as "quantum materials." The team led by Shan and Schneider placed the tungsten diselenide sample between two specially prepared mirrors and used a laser to excite the material. With this method they were able to create a coupling between light particles (photons) and excited electrons. "In our study, we demonstrate that via this coupling the structure of the electronic transitions can be rearranged such that a dark material effectively behaves like a bright one," Schneider explained. "The effect in our experiment is so strong that the lower state of tungsten diselenide becomes optically active." The team was also able to show that the experimental results matched the predictions of a theoretical model to a high degree. Explore further Solving the mystery of quantum light in thin layers More information: Hangyong Shan et al, Brightening of a dark monolayer semiconductor via strong light-matter coupling in a cavity, Nature Communications (2022). Journal information: Nature Communications Hangyong Shan et al, Brightening of a dark monolayer semiconductor via strong light-matter coupling in a cavity,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30645-5 Provided by University of Oldenburg Paloma: power spectra obtained from NuSTAR-FPMA using Lomb-scargle algorithm (top figure), and CLEAN algorithm (bottom figure). We have identified the two fundamental peaks, and , along with the location of few sideband and harmonics. Credit: Dutta and Rana, 2022. Using data from ESA's XMM-Newton satellite and NASA's NuSTAR space observatory, Indian astronomers have performed a broadband X-ray analysis of a unique intermediate polar known as Paloma. Results of the study, published June 17 on arXiv.org, shed more light on the properties of this object. Cataclysmic variables (CVs) are binary star systems consisting of a white dwarf accreting material from a normal star companion. They irregularly increase in brightness by a large factor, then drop back down to a quiescent state. Polars are a subclass of cataclysmic variables distinguished from other CVs by the presence of a very strong magnetic field in their white dwarfs. In some CVs, accretion occurs through a truncated accretion disk when the white dwarf is moderately magnetic. These systems are known as intermediate polars (IPs). Observations have shown that in IPs, the magnetic white dwarf (WD) spins asynchronously with the orbital period of the system and therefore produces a rapid oscillation with the spin period. Therefore, determining precise spin period and precise oscillation ephemeris could be the key to reveal the IP nature of some CVs. Paloma (other designations: RX J0524+42 and 1RXS J052430.2+424449) is a unique intermediate polar in which this WD asynchronism is much less (at a level of 14%) compared to other IPs (typically about 90%). Therefore, in order to gain more insights into this peculiarity and to reveal the general properties of Palomar, Anirban Dutta and Vikram Rana of Raman Research Institute in Bangalore, India, investigated this source. "Using the broadband X-ray data, simultaneously obtained from XMM-Newton and NuSTAR, we tried to give an overall description of the spectral properties of the system, along with the temporal behavior of the system extending all the way up to 40 keV," the researchers wrote in the paper. The observations found that orbit-folded light curves exhibit a single broad hump-like structure with strong dips for soft to medium X-rays (0.310.0 keV). The astronomers assume that this is due to emission seen from at least one pole at any point of time during the orbital motion of the white dwarf in Paloma. It was added that these dips arise due to the presence of a complex inhomogeneous absorber. According to the paper, this absorber showcases a signicant variation with orbital phase. Its maximum contribution during the orbital phase was estimated to be between 0.1 and 0.22. The researchers suppose that this absorber is presumably contributed from accretion curtain or stream, including the pre-shock ow. Furthermore, the collected data allowed the researchers to measure the mass and radius of Paloma's white dwarf. They found that its mass is about 0.74 solar masses, while its radius is estimated to be approximately 7,400 kilometers. The authors of the study also detected ionized emission lines in the soft X-rays of Paloma and a neutral iron K-alpha line, which is weaker than the ionized lines. More information: Anirban Dutta, Vikram Rana, Study of Complex Absorption and Reflection in a Unique Intermediate Polar Paloma. arXiv:2206.08635v1 [astro-ph.HE], Anirban Dutta, Vikram Rana, Study of Complex Absorption and Reflection in a Unique Intermediate Polar Paloma. arXiv:2206.08635v1 [astro-ph.HE], arxiv.org/abs/2206.08635 2022 Science X Network Flash The 10th Asia-Pacific Translation and Interpreting Forum (APTIF) concluded in Beijing on Sunday, pooling wisdom and insights of world-renowned experts under the theme of "Collaboration in the World of Translation and Interpreting: New Changes, New Models in the New Era." Gao Anming, chair of the APTIF Joint Committee, executive vice president and secretary general of the Translators Association of China (TAC), vice president and editor-in-chief of China International Communications Group (CICG) and council member of the International Federation of Translators (FIT), and Sun Youzhong, vice president of Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), attended the closing session, at which several professionals delivered closing remarks. Yu Tao, vice president of CICG and director of the China National Committee for Translation and Interpreting Education, spoke highly of the forum for creating a new vision and injecting new impetus into the development of translation and interpreting in the Asia-Pacific region. "At a time when regional cooperation and integration are speeding up, the translation community in the Asia-Pacific region needs to strengthen solidarity, build consensus and seek common development. At the same time, it is necessary to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the international translation community to jointly promote the global advancement of translation and interpreting culture and industry," Yu said. Zhao Gang, vice president of BFSU, underscored the historical role of translation and interpreting in enhancing mutual learning and cultural exchanges among civilizations. He also pointed out that as China is getting closer to the center of the world stage, the country's translation cause is facing new opportunities and new challenges, shouldering great responsibilities and missions. How to build up the national translation capacity and enhance the international influence of Chinese culture is a vital task in the development of translation and interpreting in the new era, Zhao added. During the closing session, the 10th Asia-Pacific Translation and Interpreting Forum Initiative was launched and read out by Yang Ping, vice president of the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies and executive council member of the TAC. The initiative calls on the Asia-Pacific region to give full play to the role of translation and interpreting as a bridge in cultural exchanges, to innovate cooperation models and to work together to form synergy in the region. Before the closing session, several experts and scholars delivered keynote speeches at the forum. Xu Jun, former executive vice president of the TAC and professor at Zhejiang University, pointed out that translation as a cross-cultural communication activity stems from differences. He advocated that translation should play a role in protecting cultural diversity and promoting exchanges and mutual learning between China and the rest of the world. Mona Baker, professor at the University of Oslo of Norway and director of the Baker Centre for Translation and Intercultural Studies at Shanghai International Studies University, looked back at the development of corpus-based research in translation. Her speech focused on collaboration between the disciplines of translation and the medical humanities. She also stressed the important role that translation plays in medical health and policy making. Gary Massey, director of the Institute of Translation and Interpreting at the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and vice president of International Standing Conference of University Institutes of Translators and Interpreters (CIUTI), explored the issues of collaborative competence development among the various actors engaged in translator education, offering his insights into translator education for teachers, students and people engaged in the language service industry. Sharon O'Brien, professor at Dublin City University in Ireland, stressed the importance of translation in crisis settings. She said that collaboration in crisis translation would not only improve outcomes for those affected by crises but is essential for achieving better results. Lawrence Wang-chi Wong, director of the Research Centre for Translation at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, China, emphasized the importance of professionalism for translators and interpreters as well as information synchronization and updating in the process of cooperative translation and interpreting. The APTIF has been held every three years since 1995. The current 10th session comprised of 10 keynote speeches and 16 parallel sub-forums held over two days and was organized by BFSU under the aegis of the FIT and the TAC. Ural scientists have been working on the synthesis of fluorophores for more than six years. Credit: Credit: UrFU Scientists from the Ural Federal University and the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences have created new fluorescent chemical compounds (fluorophores) for photodynamic therapy of cancerous tumors, the latest method of treating cancer. The compound is suitable simultaneously for the diagnosis of tumor processes by staining the affected tissues and their further treatment by destroying tumor cells without harm to healthy ones. The results of the primary studies were published in the Dyes and Pigments journal. The synthesis of these fluorophores is characterized by low cost, due to the availability of all derivatives in the composition, as well as the absence of impurities that could lead to side effects. The effectiveness of the fluorophore was tested on HeLa cells used as a model of cervical cancer. Now scientists are testing how the new compound interacts with other types of cancer cells. Fluorophores are chemical compounds that emit visible light (photoluminescence) when exposed to ultraviolet or visible light. They are able to spread through biological tissues and stain cells prone to inflammatory processes. Thus, a new compound interacts with biomolecules of body tissues and, under UV or visible irradiation, stains areas in which the process of tumor growth is taking place. This makes it possible to determine the size of the tumor in the body and outline its boundaries. During the experiments, scientists found that the new fluorophore performs a dual function: it not only stains diseased areas, but also begins to destroy them. New compound interacts with biomolecules of body tissues. Credit: Credit: UrFU "Initially, we investigated only the dyeing properties of the compound," says Grigory Zyryanov, co-author of the study and Professor of the Department of Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry at UrFU. "The compound is able to accumulate in certain areas of the cellthe cell membrane and reticulum (an intracellular organelle responsible for protein folding), and under ultraviolet or visible irradiation, highlight the infected areas in bright green. However, it turned out that the fluorophore then functions as a photosensitizer. "That is, under the influence of optical irradiation, it begins to interact with the surrounding cellular environment (oxygen, water, etc.) and generates free radicals, the so-called reactive oxygen species. These active particles enter into chemical interactions with affected cells, starting their destruction, while practically not affecting healthy ones. This is called photodynamic therapy, it is a new promising method of cancer treatment with high efficiency and minimum side effects." Scientists using the methods of heterocyclic chemistry created two experimental samples. Chemists synthesized a fluorophore based on naphthoxazole, an oxazole derivative used in the synthesis of medicinal and biochemical preparations, and a naphthalene fragment used as a platform and so-called antenna for more efficient perception of optical irradiation by a molecule. In addition, chemists added fragments of pyrene and anthracene, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons with a high fluorescent response, that is, a bright glow, to the compound. The compound containing pyrene showed the highest fluorescent and anticancer activity. "Pyrenes are very commonly used for bioimaging, anthracenes are less common," says Grigory Zyryanov. "These compounds are promising for many reasons, including we were able to show that the pyrene-containing compound begins to glow even when irradiated with visible light, and this is visible even to the naked eye. This is very convenient, including, for example, for surgical interventions, when it is still necessary in the treatment." Explore further Chemists create a sensor that accurately detects the saliva pH of humans More information: Nataliya V. Slovesnova et al, Synthesis of new water-soluble polyarene-substituted naphtho[1,2-d]oxazole-based fluorophores as fluorescent dyes and biological photosensitizers, Dyes and Pigments (2022). Nataliya V. Slovesnova et al, Synthesis of new water-soluble polyarene-substituted naphtho[1,2-d]oxazole-based fluorophores as fluorescent dyes and biological photosensitizers,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.dyepig.2022.110410 Four different Australopithecus crania that were found in the Sterkfontein caves, South Africa. The Sterkfontein cave fill containing this and other Australopithecus fossils was dated to 3.4 to 3.6 million years ago, far older than previously thought. The new date overturns the long-held concept that South African Australopithecus is a younger offshoot of East African Australopithecus afarensis. Credit: Jason Heaton and Ronald Clarke, in cooperation with the Ditsong Museum of Natural History. The earth doesn't give up its secrets easilynot even in the "Cradle of Humankind" in South Africa, where a wealth of fossils relating to human evolution have been found. For decades, scientists have studied these fossils of early human ancestors and their long-lost relatives. Now, a dating method developed by a Purdue University geologist just pushed the age of some of these fossils found at the site of Sterkfontein Caves back more than a million years. This would make them older than Dinkinesh, also called Lucy, the world's most famous Australopithecus fossil. The "Cradle of Humankind" is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in South Africa that comprises a variety of fossil-bearing cave deposits, including at Sterkfontein Caves. Sterkfontein was made famous by the discovery of the first adult Australopithecus, an ancient hominin, in 1936. Hominins includes humans and our ancestral relatives, but not the other great apes. Since then, hundreds of Australopithecus fossils have been found there, including the well-known Mrs. Ples, and the nearly complete skeleton known as Little Foot. Paleoanthropologists and other scientists have studied Sterkfontein and other cave sites in the Cradle of Humankind for decades to shed light on human and environmental evolution over the past 4 million years. Darryl Granger, a professor of earth, atmospheric, and planetary sciences in Purdue University's College of Science, is one of those scientists, working as part of an international team. Granger specializes in dating geologic deposits, including those in caves. As a doctoral student, he devised a method for dating buried cave sediments that is now used by researchers all over the world. His previous work at Sterkfontein dated the Little Foot skeleton to about 3.7 million years old, but scientists are still debating the age of other fossils at the site. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Granger and a team of scientists including researchers from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa and the University Toulouse Jean Jaures in France, have discovered that not only Little Foot, but all of the Australopithecus-bearing cave sediments date from about 3.4 to 3.7 million years old, rather than 2-2.5 million years old as scientists previously theorized. That age places these fossils toward the beginning of the Australopithecus era, rather than near the end. Dinkinesh, who hails from Ethiopia, is 3.2 million years old, and her species, Australopithecus africanus, hails back to about 3.9 million years old. Darryl Granger of Purdue University developed the technology that updated the age of an Australopithecus found in Sterkfontein Cave. New data pushes its age back more than a million years, to 3.67 million years old. Credit: Purdue University photo/Lena Kovalenko Sterkfontein is a deep and complex cave system that preserves a long history of hominin occupation of the area. Understanding the dates of the fossils here can be tricky, as rocks and bones tumbled to the bottom of a deep hole in the ground, and there are few ways to date cave sediments. In East Africa, where many hominin fossils have been found, the Great Rift Valley volcanoes lay down layers of ash that can be dated. Researchers use those layers to estimate how old a fossil is. In South Africaespecially in a cavethe scientists don't have that luxury. They typically use other animal fossils found around the bones to estimate their age or calcite flowstone deposited in the cave. But bones can shift in the cave, and young flowstone can be deposited in old sediment, making those methods potentially incorrect. A more accurate method is to date the actual rocks in which the fossils were found. The concrete-like matrix that embeds the fossil, called breccia, is the material Granger and his team analyze. "Sterkfontein has more Australopithecus fossils than anywhere else in the world," Granger said. "But it's hard to get a good date on them. People have looked at the animal fossils found near them and compared the ages of cave features like flowstones and gotten a range of different dates. What our data does is resolve these controversies. It shows that these fossils are oldmuch older than we originally thought." Granger and the team used accelerator mass spectrometry to measure radioactive nuclides in the rocks, as well as geologic mapping and an intimate understanding of how cave sediments accumulate to determine the age of the Australopithecus-bearing sediments at Sterkfontein, Granger and the research group at the Purdue Rare Isotope Measurement Laboratory (PRIME Lab) study so-called cosmogenic nuclides and what they can reveal about the history of fossils, geological features and rock. Cosmogenic nuclides are extremely rare isotopes produced by cosmic rays high-energy particles that constantly bombard the earth. These incoming cosmic rays have enough energy to cause nuclear reactions inside rocks at the ground surface, creating new, radioactive isotopes within the mineral crystals. An example is aluminum-26: aluminum that is missing a neutron and slowly decays to turn into magnesium over a period of millions of years. Since aluminum-26 is formed when a rock is exposed at the surface, but not after it has been deeply buried in a cave, PRIME lab researchers can date cave sediments (and the fossils within them) by measuring levels of aluminum-26 in tandem with another cosmogenic nuclide, beryllium-10. In addition to the new dates at Sterkfontein based on cosmogenic nuclides, the research team made careful maps of the cave deposits and showed how animal fossils of different ages would have been mixed together during excavations in the 1930s and 1940s, leading to decades of confusion with the previous ages. "What I hope is that this convinces people that this dating method gives reliable results," Granger said. "Using this method, we can more accurately place ancient humans and their relatives in the correct time periods, in Africa, and elsewhere across the world." The age of the fossils matters because it influences scientists' understanding of the living landscape of the time. How and where humans evolved, how they fit into the ecosystem, and who their closest relatives are and were, are pressing and complex questions. Putting the fossils at Sterkfontein into their proper context is one step towards solving the entire puzzle. Explore further How we calculated the age of caves in the Cradle of Humankindand why it matters Pipelines to dynamically detect fusion genes across phylogeny. Credit: KIB Events of gene fusion have been reported in several organisms. However, the role of gene fusion as part of new gene origination remains unknown. Evolutionary new genes, fused from more than two parental genes, can duck out of the detrimental step of tardy point mutation evolution and have been shown to be critical in the understanding of phenotypic evolution. It is not possible to distinguish gene fusion events from fission events without out-group support, so researchers led by Prof. Zhang Chengjun from the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (KIB/CAS) designed and created new pipelines to dynamically detect fusion genes across phylogeny, and they conducted genome-wide interrogations of four Oryza genomes. They detected 310 fusion genes across four young diploid genome Oryza species. The estimated rate of origination of fusion genes in the Oryza genus is as high as 63 fusion genes per species per million years by average, and fixes at 16 fusion genes per species per million years by Single Nucleotide Polymorphism calling in genomic population. Both speeds are much higher than that found in flies. The researchers discovered that more than 44% of the fusion genes were expressed, and 90% of gene pairs showed strong signals of purifying selection, suggesting potential bio-function of these expressed fusion genes. Sub-functionalized and neo-functionalized fusion genes were obtained based on the correlation between the expression of fusion genes and parental genes in different tissues. CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines indicates that two newly formed fusion genes regulate phenotype traits. Credit: KIB Furthermore, CRISPR/Cas9 knockout lines indicated that two newly formed fusion genes regulated phenotype traits including seed germination, shoot length and root length, and both of them were best responsive to drought stress, suggesting that these genes have adaptive significance in phenotypic evolution. Conclusively, this study offers a creative way to understand new genes and provides a method and theoretical basis in the new era of big data. The results of the study were published in the Genome Biology, titled "Gene fusion as an important mechanism to generate new genes in the genus Oryza." More information: Yanli Zhou et al, Gene fusion as an important mechanism to generate new genes in the genus Oryza, Genome Biology (2022). Yanli Zhou et al, Gene fusion as an important mechanism to generate new genes in the genus Oryza,(2022). DOI: 10.1186/s13059-022-02696-w Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Even gift cards aren't immune from America's sharp political divisions. When liberals and conservatives receive gift cards for politicized brands that clash with their own views, they are less appreciative of the gift-giver's gesture, new research indicates. "When we started this work we wondered, 'Does it matter? After all, it's just a Starbucks card or a Chick-fil-A card,'" said Jeff Joireman, a marketing professor at Washington State University's Carson College of Business, who coauthored the research. As it turns out, it does. While people still liked getting gift cards for brands representing political viewpoints they disagreed with, their level of appreciation dropped, according to research published in the Journal of the Association for Consumer Research. For their research, the study's authors first asked people to describe the political orientations of 12 brands. Starbucks emerged as the most liberal brand, while Chick-fil-A was seen as the most conservative. Both were familiar brands people liked, which was important for comparison purposes, researchers said. More than 500 U.S. residents were then asked to imagine receiving a Starbucks or Chick-fil-A card from a friend. People who strongly identified as "politically liberal" or "politically conservative" reported the strongest declines in appreciation when they received a gift card from a brand with clashing political views. The survey participants were recruited through the crowdsourcing site Amazon Mechanical Turk. "Let's say I'm a liberal, and my friend gives me a Chick-fil-A card," Joireman said. "I like the Chick-fil-A card; it's a nice gift. But I'd be more appreciative if I got a card for Starbucks, which is known for its progressive policy positions." Perceptions of the gift-givers' motives also mattered. If the recipient thought the gift card was an attempt to influence their political beliefs, their appreciation dropped sharply. Researchers tested the effect of motives by asking participants to imagine one of two scenarios: Getting the politically incompatible gift card through a gift exchange at an office party or directly from a friend who knew their political affiliation. "If it's just a random gift, the brand's political orientation doesn't matter much," Joireman said. "But if there's an inferred persuasion attempt, appreciation takes a big hit." Exchanging gifts is a common way people bond, he added. "So, if you're buying a present for someone else, you might want to consider the brand's political orientation." The researchers' findings also offer a partial solution to the dilemma. Embedding symbols on gift cards that support the recipient's political identity reduced the drop in appreciation for incompatible brands. Conservatives, for instance, liked getting Starbucks gift cards better when the cards had an American flag image. "Adding the flaga symbol of patriotismincreased the conservatives' gift appreciation, and we didn't get negative backlash from the liberals," Joireman said. "You probably could do something similar with a conservative brand, though that's an open question," he added. "It probably would depend on the symbol and the brand." The journal article's corresponding author was William Ding, assistant marketing professor at Southern Connecticut State University, who started the research during his doctoral studies at WSU. David Sprott, marketing professor and dean at Claremont Graduate University, also collaborated on the research. Explore further Researchers find the worst reason to give a gift More information: William Ding et al, Under a Political Cloud: How Politicized Brands Shape Gift Appreciation, Journal of the Association for Consumer Research (2022). William Ding et al, Under a Political Cloud: How Politicized Brands Shape Gift Appreciation,(2022). DOI: 10.1086/719587 Two angles of the crystalline structure GLUT1 (magenta) glucose transporter protein superposed with the AlphaFold2 computer-predicted water-soluble variant of the same protein (cyan) demonstrate that the crystalline protein and its water-soluble QTY variant share remarkable structural similarity. Credit: Shuguang Zhang Laboratory, MIT All cell membranes in the human body have embedded proteins that serve as sensors, messengers or as a means of transporting and regulating substances going in and out of the cell. Transport proteins in particular are poorly understood because of their structural complexity and their hydrophobic nature that makes them resistant to study. At the same time, these transport proteins, especially those that regulate glucose, play a vital role in the growth of cancerous tumors. In a new study, scientists led by Dr. Shuguang Zhang, Ph.D. of the MIT Media Lab, demonstrate a method for quickly predicting the design of hydrophilic variant structures of the 14 glucose transport membrane proteins in cells. This will allow researchers to more easily study the proteins in water. The scientists confirm the accuracy of the predicted structures by comparing them to pre-existing crystallographic images of two of the proteins. They hope that an enhanced understanding of these glucose transport proteins will hasten development of therapeutic monoclonal antibodies to treat cancer metastasis. This would essentially starve cancer cells by blocking glucose transporters. "Most cancer cells significantly increase their expression and production of glucose transporters, called GLUTs, for their insatiable energy demand," says Eva Smorodina, an undergraduate intern-student in structural biology at the Greiff Lab, University of Oslo, who is first author of a paper on the study published June 27 in QRB Discovery. "Currently there are almost no effective drugs to block GLUTs, since they have a challenging structure." The GLUTs' complex structures comprise 12 transmembrane hydrophobic helices embedded in the membrane. In their native or crystalline state, the hydrophobic structures must be placed in a special detergent or reagent for lab study, or they lose their structure. And with proteins, structure and function are indelibly related. "Studying these proteins in detergent is like wearing heavy gloves to assemble an expensive watch or play a violin," says Dr. Zhang, one of the few biomedical scientists for whom the study of membrane proteins is as compelling as it is vital to our understanding of cancer cells. He first began working on membrane proteins in the early 2000s. "Few people were studying these membrane proteins," says Dr. Zhang. "They're like a hot potato," he says, because of their inherent resistance to study. The new work is based on Dr. Zhang's success four years ago, when he and a team accomplished what Dr. Zhang had been working on for nearly a decade: They designed a beautifully simple method called the QTY code for transforming a hydrophobic cell membrane protein into a hydrophilic protein by substituting many hydrophobic amino acids. The QTY code is named for the symbols of the three amino acidsglutamine (Q), threonine (T) and tyrosine (Y)that are substituted for four hydrophobic amino acids: leucine (L), isoleucine (I), valine (V) and phenylalanine (F). None of these amino acids carries a charge, which makes the substitution benign. Structure is essential to the functioning of the proteins, and the substitution doesn't alter the structure. In the latest study, Dr. Zhang and team apply the QTY code to the 14 glucose transport membrane proteins that transport sugar to cells. They used the new AlphaFold2 program, an artificial-intelligence based computational program developed by the company DeepMind, that can accurately and quickly predict how proteins fold. Dr. Zhang and team used the QTY code with the open-source AlphaFold2 to predict the alpha helical shapes of the 14 GLUT proteins in both their natural hydrophobic shapes and their QTY-code altered water-soluble shapes. The crystalline or native state structures of two of the GLUTs1 and 3had been revealed previously by other researchers using X-ray crystallography. To substantiate their own methodology, Dr. Zhang's team first predicted the hydrophilic structure of those two GLUTs by applying the QTY code's amino acid replacements and letting AlphaFold2 predict the proteins' shapes. It did so with great accuracy. The superposed hydrophobic and hydrophilic images are nearly identical. The team followed up this confirmation by combining QTY code and AlphaFold2 to predict the hydrophilic structures of the 12 other GLUTsin record time. "In 2018, it took four to five weeks using a high-speed computer cluster to simulate any protein structure," says Dr. Zhang. "Now with AlphaFold2 we can use a Google computer for free, and it simulates the transmembrane proteins in hours. Some small proteins took less than an hour." "This study on human membrane glucose transporters and their water-soluble QTY variants from the Zhang laboratory at MIT is fascinating," says Professor Joel Sussman of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, Israel, who was not involved in the work. "It provides experimental visualization via X-ray crystallography and AI prediction using AlphaFold2 to see, for the first time, at atomic resolution, the differences between hydrophobic 'water-hating' helices and hydrophilic 'water-loving' helices. It is a critical step in using the QTY code method to study multispan transmembrane proteins and other aggregated proteins through their water-soluble variants, and is likely to have an enormous impact in the field of biotechnology." MIT Professor Robert Langer, whose work in biomedical engineering is highly celebrated, says, "The [QRB Discovery] paper is excellent, and I believe has the potential to help a lot of cancer patients." Professor Langer was not involved in the research. Authors of the QRB Discovery paper are Dr. Zhang and Smorodina; Fei Tao and Rui Qing of Shanghai Jiaotong University (Dr. Qing was previously a postdoctoral researcher in the MIT Media Lab and later a research scientist at the Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research at MIT); Dr. Steve Yang an MIT alumnus now at PT Metiska Farma in Indonesia; and Dr. David Jin, M.D., Ph.D. of Avalon GloboCare Corp., who stimulated Dr. Zhang to apply the QTY code to the study of cancer cells. Avalon GloboCare also funded the research. Dr. Jin says he hopesbut this is not part of the current studythat future research will be able to genetically alter the glucose passage membranes to develop novel therapeutic targets. "Now our only choices for cancer treatment are surgery, chemo or small-molecule therapy," says Dr. Jin. "In future, it may be possible to take a patient's T-cell, a component of the immune system, and genetically modify it in the lab so that it can work almost like a cancer-searching GPS system with a tumor-attacking capability." Explore further Scientists alter membrane proteins to make them easier to study More information: Eva Smorodina et al, Comparing 2 crystal structures and 12 AlphaFold2-predicted human membrane glucose transporters and their water-soluble glutamine, threonine and tyrosine variants, QRB Discovery (2022). Eva Smorodina et al, Comparing 2 crystal structures and 12 AlphaFold2-predicted human membrane glucose transporters and their water-soluble glutamine, threonine and tyrosine variants,(2022). DOI: 10.1017/qrd.2022.6 Google searches proved to be an effective tool to predict a surge in calls to domestic violence helplines in Italy at any time and a good predictor of calls to emergency numbers in time of crisis, according to new research by Selin Koksal (Bocconi University, Milan) and colleagues. Credit: Weiwei Chen, Bocconi University When the COVID pandemic broke out and Italy experienced a strict lockdown, news stories started reporting anecdotal evidence about women forced to live under the same roof with abusive partners. However, scholars such as Selin Koksal, a Ph.D. Candidate in Public Policy at Bocconi University in Milan specializing in population and gender, lacked reliable data sources to track the phenomenon. A couple of years later, a study just published in the European Journal of Population finds that Google searches are an effective tool to track and predict domestic violence, especially in times of crisis, such as the period that followed the COVID-19 outbreak. And policymakers could use these results to better devise surveillance/monitoring systems to contain, minimize, and even anticipate surges in domestic violence. Koksal teamed up with former Ph.D. colleague Ebru Sanliturk (Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research) and consulted former Bocconi scholar Valentina Rotondi (SUPSI and University of Oxford), who was working on a similar topic with former Bocconi student Luca Maria Pesando (McGill University). They joined forces and analyzed the relations between Google searches for nine domestic violence-related keywords on one hand, and calls to the Italian domestic violence helpline 1522 and to the emergency number 112 in Lombardy on the other. The selected keywords were: 1522 (the domestic violence helpline number in Italy), abuse (abuso), home & abuse (casa & abuso), home & rape (casa & stupro), feminicide (femminicidio), rape (stupro), domestic violence (violenza domestica), gender-based violence (violenza di genere), and sexual violence (violenza sessuale). The idea underlying the study is that the Internetand Google in particularmay offer a medium to anonymously voice concerns about abusive partners and collect relevant information. Calls to the helpline (1522) measure potential risk of experiencing domestic violence, while calls to the emergency number measure actual violence. The frequency of queries for keywords 1522, feminicide, domestic violence, and gender-based violence are consistently positively and significantly correlated with helpline calls across the whole investigated time period (2013-2020), with a time lag between search and call of around one week. Their predictive power increases after the COVID-19 outbreak, when traditional help mechanisms became harder to reach. Online searches help predict actual violence only in crisis scenarios. Only after the COVID-19 outbreak, in fact, there is a positive and significant correlation between searches for four keywords (1522, abuse, domestic violence and sexual violence) and calls to the emergency number. Finally, the authors observed a worrying socio-economic divide. "Forecasts proved more reliable among high socio-economic status population," Koksal said, "because they are better than other socioeconomic strata at googling effectively in this context. It may be the case that individuals with lower socio-economic status use dialect or less targeted keywords, which could prevent them from reaching accurate online resources for seeking help." The authors advise policymakers to track domestic violence-related searches and to accordingly intensify their support activities, both reinforcing services where and when searches become more frequent and raising awareness through the media. "They could also intervene in favor of disadvantaged people," Koksal concluded, "by promoting internet literacy and, in the short run, convincing Google to show domestic violence support services among the top results, as it has done in the US." Explore further New academic algorithm identifies elevated domestic violence levels during lockdown More information: Selin Koksal et al, Harnessing the Potential of Google Searches for Understanding Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence Before and After the COVID-19 Outbreak, European Journal of Population (2022). Selin Koksal et al, Harnessing the Potential of Google Searches for Understanding Dynamics of Intimate Partner Violence Before and After the COVID-19 Outbreak,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s10680-022-09619-2 Provided by Bocconi University Seismogram being recorded by a seismograph at the Weston Observatory in Massachusetts, USA. Credit: Wikipedia Using a method that works backward from a set of observed earthquakes to test seismic models that fit those observations, researchers working in the Delaware Basin were able to determine whether earthquakes in the region since 2017 were caused by oil and gas operations. The new study published in Seismological Research Letters also indicates whether seismic activity in a specific part or "block" of the basin, which stretches through West Texas and New Mexico, was caused by hydraulic fracturing or shallow or deep wastewater disposal. Iason Grigoratos of ETH Zurich, Swiss Seismological Service and colleagues from The University of Texas at Austin calculated how likely one or both of these processes caused seismic activity in each block, finding that at least 68% of the Delaware Basin earthquakes in their study occurred in blocks where oil and gas activities were the likely cause at a 95 percent confidence interval. Grigoratos conducted the study when he was a postdoctoral researcher at UT's Jackson School of Geosciences. The SRL study found that hydraulic fracturing was related to more seismic events than was previously suspected, especially within Texas' Reeves County. However, shallow (roughly one to two kilometers below ground level) wastewater disposal is linked to more earthquakes overall, Grigoratos and colleagues conclude. Seismicity around the city of Pecos appears to be affected by both hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal, the researchers found. Within Texas' Culberson County, and around the epicenter of the 2020 magnitude 5.0 earthquake in Mentone, Texas, the triggering mechanism appears to be wastewater disposal from deep wells. Historically, the Delaware Basin has experienced very low seismicity, with only three events above magnitude 4.8 within the past 100 years. But rates of seismicity have been rising gradually in the area since 2009, and further accelerating after 2013. These changes are correlated with an increase in injection volume in both hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal wells in the area since 2013. In their paper, Grigoratos and colleagues "hindcast" the rates of magnitude 1.5 and larger earthquakes that occurred in the Delaware Basin after 2017, using data on hydraulic fracturing or wastewater disposal in the region as the input for their prediction model. They compared these rates to those expected under regular tectonic conditions in the region. The hindcasting method works well in untangling the potential causes of seismicity in areas where there are multiple types of overlapping oil and gas operations, Grigoratos said. Looking at changes in well operations over a specific time and space interval can be useful in studying "isolated bursts of seismicity in areas with low well density, as in hydraulic fracturing-induced earthquakes in areas with non-overlapping oil and gas operations," he noted, but "they are not well suited to deal with wastewater disposal, which often exhibits multiyear delays until the onset of distant and gradual seismicity." Hindcasting seismicity rates over time within specific spatial blocks can take into account changes in injection rates as well as how pore pressure changes caused by injection diffuse through underground formations over time and space, he added. In places where both hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal took place, the method does not identify which one might be more important in causing earthquakes, Grigoratos said. "The seismicity in areas affected by both hydraulic fracturing and wastewater disposal is in the 'shallow' sedimentary layers and has since 2017 not reached magnitudes above magnitude 3.8," he explained. "Therefore, as long as the earthquake ruptures do not grow larger and are not migrating very close to exposed assets of critical importance or high vulnerability, restrictions from the regulator do not seem very likely." The block map of the region could help oil and gas operators and regulators identify places where future earthquake mitigation or monitoring measures should be put in place, the researchers noted. Explore further Study maps stress changes around fault activated by hydraulic fracturing More information: Iason Grigoratos et al, Distinguishing the Causal Factors of Induced Seismicity in the Delaware Basin: Hydraulic Fracturing or Wastewater Disposal?, Seismological Research Letters (2022). Journal information: Seismological Research Letters Iason Grigoratos et al, Distinguishing the Causal Factors of Induced Seismicity in the Delaware Basin: Hydraulic Fracturing or Wastewater Disposal?,(2022). DOI: 10.1785/0220210320 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Though it's early in the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season, the number of storms is tracking behind the frenetic pace of 2021 and 2020. But stay vigilant, forecasters say: The U.S. is likely to see above-average activity. By this time in 2020 and 2021, there had already been four named storms in the Atlanticup to the "D" names. There has been one named storm this year, according to Alan Reppert, senior meteorologist at Accuweather. The hurricane season officially began June 1 and will end Nov. 30. This year, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has predicted that 14 to 21 named storms will develop during the Atlantic hurricane season, including tropical storms and hurricanes. Of the predicted hurricanes, three to six could be major hurricanes, with wind speeds beginning at 111 mph. Those estimates are lower than the final numbers for the 2021 and 2020 storm seasons: 2021 saw 21 named storms, and 2020 had a record-setting 30 named storms, according to NOAA. The National Hurricane Center ran out of names for Atlantic storms in each of the past two years. The estimates for 2022 and a relatively quiet start to this year's season indicate lower tallies than the past two years, but totals will still probably land above-average overall, Reppert told U.S. TODAY. "Even though we may have more storms than an average season, we are looking at less direct impacts to the U.S. than we had 2020 and 2021, but still about what an average year would be for the Atlantic basin," Reppert said. Meteorologists at the National Hurricane Center watched two areas of disturbed weather Sunday: a tropical wave aimed to cross the tropical Atlantic toward the Windward Islands and an area of low pressure from southeastern Louisiana across the northeastern Gulf of Mexico and into south Florida. The former is unlikely to affect the U.S. as it passes toward the Caribbean sea, but the latter has the possibility of developing by the middle of the week and could lead to rainfall in parts of Texas, according to Reppert. This season's single named system in the Atlantic, Tropical Storm Alex, brought flooding rainfall across South Florida and the Bahamas. In Cuba, the storm killed three people, damaged dozens of homes and knocked out electricity in some areas. As in any storm season, Reppert recommends residents in areas projected to be affected by hurricanes and tropical storms to take a better-safe-than-sorry approach. "It's always best to be prepared for storms to affect somewhere, and to always have a game plan for what to do if a storm is approaching the area or even several days out forecasting," he said. (c)2022 USA Today. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain They are loyal companions to thousands of people. Now, research shows the lockdown experience of Britain's favorite dog breed affected their lifestyles and veterinary care. Labradors had similar levels of illness overall but went to the vet less often during the early months of the pandemic, according to a new study. This highlights that dogs might not have received their usual veterinary care when they were ill. It is possible owners had difficulties accessing veterinary services or that they perceived their dogs' ailments as too minor to treat in the circumstances, say researchers. The number of Labradors being vaccinated was down too as a result of there being fewer vet visits. Experts say the findings should prompt owners to speak to their vet and make sure any gaps in their dog's vaccination history are addressed. Exercise However, not all impacts of lockdown were negative. Just as some people stepped up their fitness routines, Labradors enjoyed an increase in exercise and they were less likely to be given treats by their owners. Labrador owners also reported less coughing by their dogs, which might have included infectious causes like kennel cougha perennial ailment in dogs. A reduction in dogs' social interactions may have stemmed the spread of bugs, the team says. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh gathered data from more than 4,000 Labrador owners in England between March and July 2020. The team also found that, compared with previous years, Labradors were less likely to be insured, which may have been linked to the uncertain financial situation of many owners. Dogs in the study sample were, however, more likely to be wormedmost probably because owners were spending more time with their pets and less likely to forget. Future pandemics Researchers say the findings can inform owners and vets of the best practices for keeping dogs healthy during future pandemics. Future studies should aim to help veterinary professionals and owners minimize the negative impacts of a pandemic on dogs, the research team says. The study is published in the journal BMC Veterinary Research, and was supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council. Research was carried out as part of the Dogslife project, which is based at the University's Roslin Institute and investigates the genetic and environmental factors that keep dogs healthy. Dogslife has collected information from the owners of Kennel Club-registered Labradors since 2010. "Lockdown restrictions had a significant impact on Labrador retrievers. The implications of the changes are complex and further research should aim to shed light on how negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions on dogs can be minimized," said Charlotte Woolley, lead author and a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Edinburgh's Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies. More information: Charlotte S. C. Woolley et al, The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a cohort of Labrador retrievers in England, BMC Veterinary Research (2022). Charlotte S. C. Woolley et al, The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on a cohort of Labrador retrievers in England,(2022). DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03319-z Low-mass planets with a primordial atmosphere of hydrogen and helium might have the temperatures and pressures that allow water in the liquid phase. The presence of liquid water is favorable for life, so that these planets potentially harbour exotic habitats for billions of years. Credit: (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) - Thibaut Roger - Universitat Bern - Universitat Zurich. Life on Earth began in the oceans. In the search for life on other planets, the potential for liquid water is therefore a key ingredient. To find it, scientists have traditionally looked for planets similar to our own. Yet, long-term liquid water does not necessarily have to occur under similar circumstances as on Earth. Researchers of the University of Bern and the University of Zurich, who are members of the National Centre of Competence in Research (NCCR) PlanetS, report in a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, that favorable conditions might even occur for billions of years on planets that barely resemble our home planet at all. Primordial greenhouses "One of the reasons that water can be liquid on Earth is its atmosphere," study co-author Ravit Helled, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Zurich and a member of the NCCR PlanetS explains. "With its natural greenhouse effect, it traps just the right amount of heat to create the right conditions for oceans, rivers and rain," says the researcher. Earth's atmosphere used to be very different in its ancient history, however. "When the planet first formed out of cosmic gas and dust, it collected an atmosphere consisting mostly of Hydrogen and Heliuma so-called primordial atmosphere," Helled points out. Over the course of its development, however, Earth lost this primordial atmosphere. Duration of liquid water conditions for planets at a wide range of semi-major axes (1 au to 100 au) and envelope masses (101.8 to 106 M ). Planets receive insolation based on the luminosity evolution of a Sun-like star. ac, Core masses of 1.5 (a), 3 (b) and 8 M (c). The duration of the total evolution is 8 Gyr. The color of a grid point indicates how long there were continuous surface pressures and temperatures allowing liquid water, lqw . These range from 10 Myr (purple) to over 5 Gyr (yellow). Gray crosses correspond to cases with no liquid water conditions lasting longer than 10 Myr. Atmospheric loss is not considered in these simulations. d, Results for planets with a core mass of 3 M , but including the constraint that the surface temperature must remain between 270 and 400 K. Every panel contains an 'unbound' case where the distance is set to 106 au and solar insolation has become negligible. Credit: Nature Astronomy (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01699-8 Other, more massive planets can collect much larger primordial atmospheres, which they can keep indefinitely in some cases. "Such massive primordial atmospheres can also induce a greenhouse effectmuch like Earth's atmosphere today. We therefore wanted to find out if these atmospheres can help to create the necessary conditions for liquid water," Helled says. Liquid water for billions of years To do so, the team thoroughly modeled countless planets and simulated their development over billions of years. They accounted not only for properties of the planets' atmospheres but also the intensity of the radiation of their respective stars as well as the planets' internal heat radiating outward. While on Earth, this geothermal heat plays only a minor role for the conditions on the surface, it can contribute more significantly on planets with massive primordial atmospheres. "What we found is that in many cases, primordial atmospheres were lost due to intense radiation from stars, especially on planets that are close to their star. But in the cases where the atmospheres remain, the right conditions for liquid water can occur," reports Marit Mol Lous, Ph.D. student and lead author of the study. According to the researcher at the University of Bern and the University of Zurich, "in cases where sufficient geothermal heat reaches the surface, radiation from a star like the sun is not even necessary so that conditions prevail at the surface that allow the existence of liquid water." "Perhaps most importantly, our results show that these conditions can persist for very long periods of timeup to tens of billions of years," points out the researcher, who is also a member of the NCCR PlanetS. Planets with a primordial hydrogen-helium atmosphere display a wide range of conditions enabling liquid water. Credit: (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0) - Thibaut Roger - Universitat Bern - Universitat Zurich. Broadening the horizon for the search for extraterrestrial life "To many, this may come as a surprise. Astronomers typically expect liquid water to occur in regions around stars that receive just the right amount of radiation: not too much, so that the water does not evaporate, and not too little, so that it does not all freeze," study co-author Christoph Mordasini, Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Bern and member of the NCCR PlanetS explains. "Since the availability of liquid water is a likely prerequisite for life, and life probably took many millions of years to emerge on Earth, this could greatly expand the horizon for the search for alien lifeforms. Based on our results, it could even emerge on so-called free-floating planets, that do not orbit around a star," Mordasini says. Duration of liquid water conditions on unbound planets. The planets are simulated with different core masses and envelope masses. Grid point colors indicate how long there were continuous surface pressures and temperatures allowing liquid water, lqw. The longest duration simulated was 84 billion years for a 10 M core and a 0.01 M envelope. If planets with a primordial atmosphere can host liquid water, the duration can be much longer on unbound planets since the internal heat source can evolve slower than the host star. Contour lines indicate the start of liquid water conditions for planets with lqw > 100 Myr. Credit: Nature Astronomy (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01699-8 Yet the researcher remains cautious: "While our results are exciting, they should be considered with a grain of salt. For such planets to have liquid water for a long time, they have to have the right amount of atmosphere. We do not know how common that is." "And even under the right conditions, it is unclear how likely it is for life to emerge in such an exotic potential habitat. That is a question for astrobiologists. Still, with our work we showed that our Earth-centered idea of a life-friendly planet might be too narrow," Mordasini concludes. Explore further How the habitability of exoplanets is influenced by their rocks More information: Marit Mol Lous, Potential long-term habitable conditions on planets with primordial HHe atmospheres, Nature Astronomy (2022). www.nature.com/articles/s41550-022-01699-8 Journal information: Nature Astronomy Marit Mol Lous, Potential long-term habitable conditions on planets with primordial HHe atmospheres,(2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41550-022-01699-8 Hypothetical example of possible rock art image detection on an image from Kakadu National Park, Australia. Credit: Griffith University Researchers have developed a way to detect the presence of rock art in remote, hard-to-reach areas in Australia's rugged landscapes using Machine Learning (ML) methods. Co-led by Dr. Andrea Jalandoni, a digital archaeologist from Griffith University's Center for Social and Cultural Research, the study used hundreds of images of rock art found within Kakadu National Park to train a ML model to detect whether painted rock art was present within the image. The model achieved an 89% success rate, meaning it determined which images contained rock art the vast majority of times. "Some of these sites are not easily accessible, so alleviating some of the time, effort and expense to mount some explorative missions is of huge value to this type of archaeological research in some of the most remote areas of Australia," Dr. Jalandoni said. "Once our ML model picks up whether an area photographed potentially contains previously undiscovered rock art, scientists can then go in and ground-truth the site to verify if there is rock art present and report on it further." Dr. Jalandoni and co-lead author Dr. Nayyar Zaidi from Deakin University worked closely with the traditional elders of Kakadu National Park on the study. Dr. Zaidi said "the work demonstrated the power that ML and AI brings to archaeological research, and paves the way towards ground-breaking research with a significant impact in the coming yearswe are excited about the second phase of our study." In areas where numerous rock art sites exist, much of the rock art is unidentified and therefore remains unrecorded and unresearched. Automating the many processes in rock art research could greatly facilitate rock art research in many ways, such as through Object Recognition and Detection, Motif Extraction, Object Reconstruction, Image Knowledge Graphs and Representations, the research team said. Dr. Jalandoni said with the efficacy of the ML model used in this study, the method could be used to train models that were specific to the rock art found in different regions around the world. She said the findings could also be useful in the development of an app that tourists could use to upload images of potentially undiscovered rock art examples for further analysis. "If you are a tourist in an area that could potentially have rock art within it and you're taking pictures, one of the future goals is for us to develop an app where you can add your image to the collection to see if it's been documented or if it could be undiscovered rock art that needs to be examined," Dr. Jalandoni said. "So it would allow citizen scientists on the ground to take part in important archaeological research." The findings, "On the use of Machine Learning Methods in Rock Art Research with Application to Automatic Painted Rock Art Identification," have been published in the Journal of Archaeological Science. Explore further Philippines cave art becomes first directly dated in Southeast Asia More information: Andrea Jalandoni et al, On the use of Machine Learning methods in rock art research with application to automatic painted rock art identification, Journal of Archaeological Science (2022). Andrea Jalandoni et al, On the use of Machine Learning methods in rock art research with application to automatic painted rock art identification,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2022.105629 Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain NASA's first-ever launch from a commercial site outside of the United States blasted off from Australia's Outback late Sunday, in a "historic" moment for the country's space industry. In the first of three planned launches from the Arnhem Space Center, the rocket, carrying technology likened to a "mini Hubble" telescope, lifted offblasted about 350 kilometers (218 miles) into the night sky. "It is a momentous occasion for us as a company in particular, but it's historic for Australia," Equatorial Launch Australia CEO Michael Jones told AFP ahead of the lift-off. Jones, whose company owns and operates the launch site in the far north of Australia, described it as a "coming out" party for the country's space industry and said the chance to work with NASA was a milestone for commercial space firms in the country. After a series of rain and wind delays, the suborbital sounding rocket soared into the sky to study X-rays emanating from the Alpha Centauri A and B systems. After reaching its apogee, the rocket's payload was to capture data on the star systems before parachuting back to earth. According to NASA, the launch offers a unique glimpse of the distant systems and unlocked fresh possibilities for scientists. "We're excited to be able to launch important science missions from the Southern Hemisphere and see targets that we can't from the United States," Nicky Fox, NASA's Heliophysics Division director in Washington, said on announcing the mission. Jones said the unique location had made preparations hard, with years of work to get regulatory approval and the need to haul rockets on barges to the launch siteabout 28 hours drive from Darwin in northern Australia. "I think for the team, it's gonna be, you know, a huge relief that it's done," he said. But with the next launch already looming on July 4, the break would be short-lived. "We need to, you know, dust ourselves off, take a day off and then get back into it in readiness for the next launch because it's just as important." It is the first NASA rocket to launch from Australia since 1995, and the project was hailed as the start of a "new era" for the country's space industry by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Explore further NASA to launch 3 rockets from private Australian space port 2022 AFP NASA's Curiosity Mars rover took this selfie at a location nicknamed "Mary Anning" after a 19th century English paleontologist. Curiosity snagged three samples of drilled rock at this site on its way out of the Glen Torridon region, which scientists believe was a site where ancient conditions would have been favorable to supporting life, if it ever was present. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS According to a new NASA laboratory experiment, rovers may have to dig about 6.6 feet (two meters) or more under the Martian surface to find signs of ancient life because ionizing radiation from space degrades small molecules such as amino acids relatively quickly. Amino acids can be created by life and by non-biological chemistry. However, finding certain amino acids on Mars would be considered a potential sign of ancient Martian life because they are widely used by terrestrial life as a component to build proteins. Proteins are essential to life, as they are used to make enzymes that speed up or regulate chemical reactions, and to make structures. "Our results suggest that amino acids are destroyed by cosmic rays in the Martian surface rocks and regolith at much faster rates than previously thought," said Alexander Pavlov of NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland. "Current Mars rover missions drill down to about two inches (around five centimeters). At those depths, it would take only 20 million years to destroy amino acids completely. The addition of perchlorates and water increases the rate of amino acid destruction even further." A period of 20 million years is a relatively brief amount of time because scientists are looking for evidence of ancient life on the surface that would have been present billions of years ago when Mars was more like Earth. These three movies are made by NASAs Curiosity Mars rover: 1) NASAs Curiosity Mars rover used one of its Hazard-Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams) to catch this dusty wind gust blowing overhead on March 18, 2022, the 3,418th Martian day, or sol, of the mission. 2) Clouds can be seen drifting across the Martian sky in an 8-frame movie made using images from a navigation camera aboard NASAs Curiosity rover. 3) A second 8-frame movie, taken using the same navigation camera. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/York University This result suggests a new search strategy for missions that are limited to sampling at shallow depths. "Missions with shallow drill sampling have to seek recently exposed outcropse.g., recent microcraters with ages less than 10 million years or the material ejected from such craters," said Pavlov, lead author of a paper on this research published June 24 in Astrobiology. Cosmic rays are high-energy particles (mostly protons and helium ions) generated by powerful events on the sun and in deep space, such as solar flares and exploding stars. They can degrade or destroy organic molecules when they penetrate yards (meters) into a solid rock, ionizing and destroying everything in their path. Earth's thick atmosphere and global magnetic field shields the surface from most cosmic rays. In its youth, Mars had these features also, but lost this protection as it aged. However, there's evidence that billions of years ago, the thicker atmosphere allowed liquid water to persist on the surface of the Red Planet. Since liquid water is essential for life, scientists want to know if life emerged on Mars, and search for evidence of ancient Martian life by examining Mars rocks for organic molecules such as amino acids. The team mixed several types of amino acids in silica, hydrated silica, or silica and perchlorate to simulate conditions in Martian soil and sealed the samples in test tubes under vacuum conditions to simulate the thin Martian air. Some samples were kept at room temperature, about the warmest it ever gets on the surface of Mars, while others were chilled to a more typical minus 67 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 55 degrees Celsius). The samples were blasted with various levels of gamma radiationa type of highly energetic lightto simulate cosmic-ray doses up to that received from about 80 million years of exposure in the Martian surface rocks. The experiment is the first to mix amino acids with simulated Martian soil. Previous experiments tested gamma radiation on pure amino acid samples, but it's highly unlikely to find a large cluster of a single amino acid in a billion-year-old rock. "Our work is the first comprehensive study where the destruction (radiolysis) of a broad range of amino acids was studied under a variety of Mars-relevant factors (temperature, water content, perchlorate abundance) and the rates of radiolysis were compared," said Pavlov. "It turns out that the addition of silicates and particularly silicates with perchlorates greatly increases the destruction rates of amino acids." While amino acids haven't been found on Mars yet, they have been discovered in meteorites, including one from Mars. "We did identify several straight-chain amino acids in the Antarctic Martian meteorite RBT 04262 in the Astrobiology Analytical Lab at Goddard that we believe originated on Mars (not contamination from terrestrial biology), although the mechanism of formation of these amino acids in RBT 04262 remains unclear," said Danny Glavin, a co-author of the paper at NASA Goddard. "Since meteorites from Mars typically get ejected from depths of at least 3.3 feet (one meter) or more, it is possible that the amino acids in RBT 04262 were protected from cosmic radiation." Organic matter has been found on Mars by NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers; however, it is not a conclusive sign of life since it could have been created by non-biological chemistry. Also, the results of the experiment imply that it is likely that the organic material observed by these rovers has been altered over time by radiation and therefore not as it was when formed. More information: Alexander A. Pavlov et al, Rapid Radiolytic Degradation of Amino Acids in the Martian Shallow Subsurface: Implications for the Search for Extinct Life, Astrobiology (2022). Journal information: Astrobiology Alexander A. Pavlov et al, Rapid Radiolytic Degradation of Amino Acids in the Martian Shallow Subsurface: Implications for the Search for Extinct Life,(2022). DOI: 10.1089/ast.2021.0166 When two male Japanese scorpionflies fight, the loser males among scorpionflies must employ alternate tactics in order to mate with a female. Researchers from Okayama University, Japan, report the variations in alternate mating tactics employed by males in two regionally different populations of the same species of scorpionfly. Credit: Ryo Ishihara from Okayama University Owing to the high competition and the prevalence of natural selection, many male insects must develop alternative tactics to mate with a female. Weaker males who lose in a competition (or loser males) may resort to hovering or sneaking around in order to find a mate. Recent studies have also shown that alternative mating behavior is influenced by environmental factors such as food availability, predation, and population density. For example, scorpionflieswhich are often used to study the mating behavior of insectsuse three alternative mating tacticsgifting nutritious saliva, gifting food, and forced matingto obtain a mate. Male Japanese scorpionflies also employ feeding mating (i.e., mating while females feed without gifting them anything or releasing pheromones). Previous studies looking at alternative mating tactics in scorpionflies have shown that the weaker males of closely-related species employ varying methods to procreate, however no research has been done to find the alternative mating tactics of males within the same species from different geographical locations. To this end, Dr. Ryo Ishihara (who is affiliated to the School of Agriculture and a recipient of the Special Educational and Research Fellowship) and Professor Takahisa Miyatake (from the Faculty of Environmental and Life Science) of Okayama University, Japan, published a study in the Journal of Ethology on 15 June 2022. This study details the differences in alternative mating tactics of Japanese scorpionflies hailing from two different placesthe Aichi and Okayama prefectures in Japan. "A recent study among scorpionflies from Okayama reported their mating behavior and I noticed the results were very different from those reported in previous studies among scorpionflies from Aichi. This piqued my curiosity, and I wanted to verify whether behavioral differences were really occurring between the two regions," said Dr. Ishihara, who takes an avid interest in entomology. The researchers observed mating behaviors in a total of 25 males in Aichi, and 30 males almost 300 km away in Okayama, over a period of six hours in designated feeding areas. They noticed that one of the first behaviors in both the populations of loser males was waiting. The loser males of Okayama resorted to "sneaking" back into the feeding area, where they positioned themselves near the food offered by the winner male as a nuptial gift and waited until another female arrived. They would then present the food as a nuptial gift and attempt to mate with this female. Of the 28 loser males who employing this tactic, 24 successfully mated. On the other hand, 17 males among the scorpionflies in Aichi ran away, seven were found "sneaking" (though even these scorpionflies left after one or two failed attempts at mating), and one attempted to forcefully mate with visiting females. A significant number of defeated male scorpionflies from the Aichi population, the researchers concluded, chose to leave the feeding area while a majority of Okayama males preferred "sneaking" and trying to mate again. It was also noticed that the defeated males from Okayama waited longer than the ones from Aichi. Why was this so? "Well, there are certain factors that are thought to influence alternative mating in Japanese scorpionflies. One of these is the frequency and number of females visiting the feeding areas," Dr. Ishihara explains. Females in Okayama appeared more frequently and in greater numbers in feeding areas. As a result, defeated males waited longer and used "sneaking" tactics for successful mating with visiting females. The females in Aichi visited the feeding areas less frequently, leading to defeated males who looked for other feeding areas, or resorted to attempts at forceful mating. The findings in the wild were corroborated with laboratory experiments. From these results, the researchers inferred that there is also a genetic component that influences alternative mating and courtship habits. Dr. Ishihara emphasized the importance of the study and said, "This is the first example of two regionally different populations of the same species of scorpionfly showing variations in alternative mating tactics. Our research may be used to understand the long-term environmental indicators of habitat, predict the strength and direction of sexual selection, and identify early factors in the evolution of mating tactics." Explore further Young male fruit flies make females fight each other more More information: Ryo Ishihara et al, Differences in mating tactics performed by males of two local populations of the Japanese scorpionfly Panorpa japonica, Journal of Ethology (2022). Ryo Ishihara et al, Differences in mating tactics performed by males of two local populations of the Japanese scorpionfly Panorpa japonica,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s10164-022-00753-2 This is a test detector image from the NIRISS instrument operated in its single-object slitless spectroscopy (SOSS) mode while pointing at a bright star. Each color seen in the image corresponds to a specific infrared wavelength between 0.6 and 2.8 microns. The black lines seen on the spectra are the telltale signature of hydrogen atoms present in the star. NIRISS is a contribution from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) to the Webb project that provides unique observational capabilities that complement its other onboard instruments. Credit: NASA, CSA, and NIRISS team/Loic Albert, University of Montreal One of the James Webb Space Telescope's four primary scientific instruments, known as the Near-Infrared Imager and Slitless Spectrograph instrument (NIRISS) has concluded its post-launch preparations and is now ready for science. The last NIRISS mode to be checked off before the instrument was declared ready to begin scientific operations was the Single Object Slitless Spectroscopy (SOSS) capability. The heart of the SOSS mode is a specialized prism assembly that disperses the light of a cosmic source to create three distinctive spectra (rainbows), revealing the hues of more than 2,000 infrared colors collected simultaneously in a single observation. This mode will be specifically used to probe the atmospheres of transiting exoplanets, i.e., planets that happen to eclipse their star periodically, momentarily dimming the star's brightness for a period of time. By comparing the spectra collected during and before or after a transit event with great precision, one can determine not only whether or not the exoplanet has an atmosphere, but also what atoms and molecules are in it. Artist's concept of NASA's James Webb Space Telescope. Credit: NASA "I'm so excited and thrilled to think that we've finally reached the end of this two-decade-long journey of Canada's contribution to the mission. All four NIRISS modes are not only ready, but the instrument as a whole is performing significantly better than we predicted. I am pinching myself at the thought that we are just days away from the start of science operations, and in particular from NIRISS probing its first exoplanet atmospheres," said Rene Doyon, principal investigator for NIRISS, as well as Webb's Fine Guidance Sensor, at the University of Montreal. With NIRISS postlaunch commissioning activities concluded, the Webb team will continue to focus on checking off the remaining five modes on its other instruments. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, a partnership with ESA (European Space Agency) and CSA, will release its first full-color images and spectroscopic data on July 12, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court repeal of Roe v. Wade will be a defining issue in the closely contested 44th Senate District race between Republican James Tedisco and Democrat Michelle Ostrelich, predicted Robert Turner, a political science professor at Skidmore College. The marches are getting planned now, and the Democratic voters are going to be mobilized around that, Turner said in a telephone interview on Friday about the race in general. Turner said reproductive rights have been a signature issue for Ostrelich, a Schenectady County legislator from Niskayuna, and that Democrats, which have an enrollment advantage in the new 44th District, will use abortion, gun rights and other national issues to turn out voters. Former Warren County Republican Chairman Michael Grasso, a longtime Tedisco friend, however, downplayed the role abortion rights will play in the Senate race. Grasso said women still have a right to an abortion in New York, and that does not appear likely to change. That (Roe v. Wade decision) really shouldnt be an issue in this race, he said. The race between Tedisco, a 32-year state legislator, and Ostrelitch, a somewhat political newcomer, is expected to be closely watched, in part because it is uncharted territory in state Senate district geography. Certainly, its going to be one of the most hard-fought and contentious (Senate) races in the state, Turner said. Turner said he cant recall Tedisco facing a tough re-election challenge before. Senator Tedisco has not faced a serious challenge or a close race in like ever? he asked. In state Senate races, Tedisco won with 63.5 percent of the vote in 2020, 59.3 percentage of the vote in 2018, and 66.8 percent of the vote in 2016. He served 13 terms in the state Assembly before that. Ostrelich was his re-election opponent in 2018, the year with his lowest margin of victory. The partisan enrollment pendulum has swung with redistricting. Democrats have a 3,956-voter enrollment advantage in the new district, compared with a 33,962-Republican advantage in the old 49th District, where Tedisco won re-election in 2020. A court-appointed expert dramatically altered Saratoga Countys geographic representation when he drew the new 44th Senate District map, which includes all of Saratoga County and the city of Schenectady and town of Niskayuna in Schenectady County. Saratoga County had been split into two separate Senate districts, each linked with more heavily Republican territory that is not part of the new district. Democratic enrollment has been on an upswing in Saratoga County, and Schenectady and Niskayuna remain strong Democratic territories. Over the past five years, Democratic enrollment in Saratoga County has increased by 9,128 active registered voters, while Republican enrollment has increased by 911 active enrolled voters, although Republicans still hold an enrollment advantage in the county. Democrats hold a slight enrollment advantage over Republicans in the new district, but about one-third of registered voters are either independents or registered with third parties. There are 73,321 active enrolled Democrats in the new district, or 33.85%, and 69,365 Republicans, or 32%. There were 53,235 active enrolled Democrats in the old 49th district, or 25.7%, as of Feb. 21, and 87,197 Republicans, or 42.1%. From an enrollment perspective, it arguably may be the second-toughest race in Tediscos 32-year political career. The toughest was the 2009 special election in the 20th Congressional District, which Tedisco lost to Democrat Scott Murphy of Glens Falls. Tedisco appeals to people of all political persuasions as someone who makes good common sense, said Grasso, the former Warren County Republican chairman who previously lived in Schenectady. Hes conservative, but yet hes got a soft side and hes very caring, Grasso said. Tedisco is noted for his advocacy on animal rights and government efficiency issues, such as passing legislation to reduce the volume of paper documents the state Legislature distributes. Theyve seen him on the news, Turner agreed. Theyve seen him debating on issues from animal rights to nursing homes. Constituent service that Tediscos Senate and, before that, Assembly offices have handled over the years place him in a favorable light with many voters, said Turner, the Skidmore professor. Hes a tremendous retail politician, Turner said. Yet, state legislative races in recent years have become more focused on national issues, he continued. Ostrelich, in her campaign so far, has emphasized abortion rights, health care access, her local government experience, and her community advocacy regarding the planned merger of Ellis Hospital and Trinity Health. Tedisco has emphasized his reputation as being a vocal critic of former Govs. Eliot Spitzer and Andrew Cuomo. Tedisco faces a dual challenge of unifying his own party while running in a district with a Democratic enrollment advantage. Tedisco won the GOP endorsement in the new district over Daphne Jordan, a two-term Republican incumbent from Halfmoon, who has represented a portion of Saratoga County, among other counties. Jordan dropped out of the race, although her name will still remain on the ballot in the Aug. 23 Republican and Conservative primaries. Jordan ended her campaign with a bitter press release, saying later in a telephone interview she would urge her supporters to vote Republican, but would not specifically endorse Tedisco by name. Jordan blistered Tedisco for creating a circus atmosphere by moving into the new Senate district to set up the short-lived primary battle between the two incumbent Republicans. Tedisco has lived in Glenville, just outside the new 44th District, but is relocating into the new district. On the Democratic side, in contrast, there was a public display of unity when would-be candidates rallied around Ostrelich. Departing candidate Thearse McCalmon and Joanne Yepsen, who decided not to enter the race, held a joint press conference with Ostrelich, pledging to work together for her election. 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. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 ATLANTIC CITY City Council will consider at a special meeting Thursday an ordinance to lease the historic Carnegie Library for five years to a nonprofit organization for $1 per year. Ordinance sponsor City Council Vice President and 3rd ward Councilman Kaleem Shabazz said the National Action Networks NAN Newark Tech World would provide job training, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) training and post-educational career training at the site. I have knowledge of what they do, and I am impressed with what they do, Shabazz said Monday. Council will also vote on passing the $235 million 2022 city budget at the meeting, which starts at 5 p.m. and will be held in person with an online option. Click on the event on the city calendar for online information. The lease ordinance does not specify what the nonprofit must provide at the site. On its website, the group says it has positioned itself as the go-to organization to aid in the preparation of hard-to-serve Newarkers in receiving the 21st century IT skills to secure jobs. Shabazz said NAN has been involved in the LIT (Leaders in Training) Program in conjunction with Second Baptist Church, which is also in his district, as is the Carnegie Center. LIT pays the citys youth a stipend to do things such as cleaning up the streets, making meals for the elderly and homeless and tending to the needs of the Second Baptist Church building, where the program is based. They have a track record in Atlantic City, Shabazz said. The ordinance says all residents of the city would be able to benefit from the groups services and that the group must provide annual reports to the city on how it uses the building. Those uses must meet requirements of the group maintaining its nonprofit status, according to the ordinance. The historic Carnegie Library was run for many years by Stockton University as the Carnegie Center, but the school turned ownership over to the city in April. According to Stockton, the building was no longer needed for educational purposes, as it has transferred all of its programs to its city campus. The ordinance will be up for its first reading Thursday. A second reading will happen at a later meeting, and it will include a public hearing. The ordinance provides for a five-year lease of all of the first floor of the Carnegie Center on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to NAN Newark Tech World, as well as half of the second floor. The Carnegie Library was built in 1904 on what is now Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and served as the citys library until 1985, when the current Free Public Library was built. According to Stockton, the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority acquired the building in the 1990s after it had been abandoned and spent several million dollars restoring it before giving it to Stockton in 2009. But CRDA put restrictions on Stocktons use of the building, limiting it to business-related academics and a few other uses, and required the university to return it to the city if such use stopped. When the Stockton Atlantic City campus opened in fall 2018, the university began moving programs from the Carnegie Center to the new Academic Center. In 2019, Stockton and the Atlantic City school board began negotiating the possible trade of buildings. Stockton offered the school district the renovated Carnegie Center in exchange for the districts boathouse on Arctic Avenue near the Albany Avenue bridge. But the swap never happened. The building was closed during the pandemic, and Stockton then decided not to reopen it but instead to give it back to the city. The citys budgetCity Council introduced its $235 million 2022 budget April 20 and held a budget hearing May 18, but it delayed a final vote until it could get more detailed information about how each department plans to spend its money. Council members received an itemized budget about two weeks ago. The budget as introduced raises $38.6 million from local taxpayers, down 3.7% from the $40 million collected from property taxes last year, resulting in a 2.9% tax rate decrease. It uses $15 million in surplus to increase spending on city employee salaries by 10% and on debt service by 7%, even as the state will provide $5.7 million less in aid. The basic budget is posted at on the citys website. The tax rate will decrease to $1.5997 per $100 of assessed property value, down 2.9% from last year. For the owner of the average home assessed at $125,000, the local government tax bill will fall from $2,060 to about $2,000. The total tax bill including school, library and county taxes will fall from $3.901 to $3.792 per $100 valuation. The average homeowner will pay $4,740 in total property taxes in 2022, down from $4,876.25 last year. REPORTER: Michelle Brunetti Post609-841-2895 mpost@pressofac.com Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Union negotiators and casino management are trying to reach new contracts that would avoid a costly and disruptive strike during one of Atlantic Citys busiest weekends. Local 54 of the Unite Here union has set a 12:01 a.m. Friday deadline to reach a new agreement with the Borgata, Caesars, Harrahs and Tropicana. If not, it has authorized a strike against those properties. And a fifth casino, the Hard Rock, faces a similar deadline early Sunday. The union is due to resume negotiations with Borgata owner MGM Resorts International Thursday morning. A judge on Monday sentenced a Moline man in relation to a fatal 2021 hit-and-run crash. The Rock Island County States Attorneys Office charged Jayden M. Jackson, 19, with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death. The charge resulted from the death of Dawn White, who was killed on Nov. 6 at 60th Street and John Deere Road. Authorities stated White, 43, of Moline, was a pedestrian struck by a dark-colored Ford passenger car. The car did not stop after the collision. Prosecutors accused Jackson, driving the Ford Fusion, of leaving the scene and not contacting the authorities about the collision within a half hour. During a morning hearing, Rock Island County Chief Circuit Judge Frank Fuhr sentenced Jackson to four years in an Illinois Department of Corrections prison, according to court records. Once his term is complete, he must also serve two years of mandatory supervised release. Jackson will get credit for the time he served and is eligible for day-for-day credit depending on his behavior in prison, according to court records. These credits could mean he serves about half of the four years. He pleaded guilty to the charge in May after negotiations with prosecutors, according to court records. Before deciding the sentence, Fuhr also heard arguments from the prosecution and defense about what they thought the sentence should be and victim impact statements from Whites loved ones, court records state. Officials also developed a presentence investigation report ahead of Mondays hearing, court records state. Such reports provide background about a defendant that a judge can use to help determine the appropriate sentence. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Illinois primary election is one day away. Winners of the 2022 Illinois primary election will appear on the ballot as the partys nominee for the Nov. 8 general election. From voting places to knowing who is on the ballot and races to watch, here is a guide for the Illinois June 28 primary: When and where to vote Polls will open statewide at 6 a.m. and remain open through 7 p.m. For those who are in line when polls close, you are still allowed to vote as long as you remain in line. A full list of voting centers for Moline, South Moline, Rock Island, South Rock Island and the rest of Rock Island County can be found online. Those living in Moline can vote at five different locations: residents living in precincts 1, 2 and 6 will vote at the First Lutheran Church, voting for those in 3, 7, 8 and 11 will take place at Sacred City Church, voting at the Quad City Music Guild will be for those in living in 4, 9, 12 and 13, voters in 10, 14, 15, 16 will be at Christ Anglican Church, and voters in precincts 17, 18, 19 will vote at Western Illinois University. Other voting centers throughout Moline include Christ the King Catholic Church, Pathway Church, South Moline Township Center, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, First Baptist Church, Bethany Baptist Church, First Covenant Church. First Christian Church, First Presbyterian Church and Calvary Church of the QC. Rock Island will have eight places for residents to vote at. Residents in precincts 1, 2, 3 and 5 will vote at the Martin Luther King Center, voting for precincts 4, 6, 7 and 8 will be at Two River United Methodist Church, voting for precincts 9, 11 and 14 will be at Rock Island Township Hall, and voting for precincts 10, 12, 13 and 15 will be at South Park Presbyterian Church. Residents in South Rock Island can vote at precincts one, two 15 and 16 will vote at Teamsters Local 371, residents in three, four, five and 14 will vote at Immanuel Lutheran Church, residents in six, 11, 12, and 13 will vote at First Church of the Nazarene and residents in seven, eight, nine, and 10 will vote at Edgewood Baptist Church. A map of Rock Island County precincts can be found online. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked by June 28 and and received at least 14 days after Election day. 17th Congressional race There are eight candidates running for the 17th Congressional seat that is soon to be vacated by outgoing U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-Moline, who announced in April 2021 that she would not seek a sixth term. The six Democratic candidates who will face off in the primary are Rock Island County board member Angie Normoyle, former WQAD meteorologist Eric Sorensen, Rockford resident and former Illinois state Rep. Litesa Wallace, Rockford Alderman Jonathan Logemann, Marsha Williams of Channahon and cannabis lobbyist Jacqueline McGowan. The Republican primary will be between attorney Esther Joy King and insurance broker Charlie Helmick, both of East Moline. State races Democratic candidates running for Illinois 72nd House District are Thurgood Brooks, Jeff Deppe and Gregg Johnson. Tom Martens is the only Republican candidate in the race and running unopposed in the primary election. Current state Rep. Mike Halpin, D-Rock Island, is running for the 36th State Senate District. Halpin is running unopposed in the Democratic primary. Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms will face former state Rep. candidate Glen Evans in the Republican Primary. Other races to watch Six republican candidates are vying to unseat incumbent Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The GOP candidates running for governor are current state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia, Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, Jesse Sullivan who is the founder and CEO of venture capital firm Alter Global, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf, founder and owner of Rabine Group Gary Rabine, and Max Solomon, who is a Hazel Crest attorney. After 22 years as the state secretary, Jesse White is not seeking reelection but six candidates four Democrats and two Republicans are vying to succeed White. Democrats running for state secretary are former state treasurer Alexi Giannoulias, Chicago Alderman David Moore, City Clerk of Chicago Anna Valencia and Sidney Moore. Republican candidates are state Rep. Dan Brady of Bloomington and John Milhiser of Springfield, who served as the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of Illinois and was a former prosecutor in Sangamon County States Attorneys office. Sample Democratic and Republican ballots and a full candidate list can be found on the Rock Island County website under County Clerk. Reporter Sarah Hayden contributed to this story. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The pedestrian and bike path on the I-74 bridge was built without restrictions against motor-vehicle access because it was deemed safer to go without, state transportation officials said Monday. A woman is accused of drunken driving and entering the pedestrian path of the Interstate 74 bridge in Bettendorf in a Cadillac Escalade around 2 a.m. on May 22. She continued into Moline, police said, striking three young men who were walking near the Illinois-side entrance.Ethan Gonzalez, 21, and Anthony Castaneda, 18, both of Moline, died as a result. Charles Bowen, 22, was seriously injured. Chhabria Harris, 46, of East Moline, is charged with two counts of reckless homicide, three counts of aggravated DUI and three counts of failing to stop after the crash, among other charges. Neither of the path entrances had concrete barriers, also called bollards, or any type of barrier to prevent vehicles from driving onto it. It is connected to the Illinois-bound span of I-74. Officials from the Iowa Department of Transportation, IDOT, which was the lead agency for the new bridge and related construction, said Moline and Bettendorf didn't want any barriers to block the paths. "The communities expressed their desire for a path that allows easy access for maintenance and emergency vehicles so they may respond swiftly to weather conditions and emergency situations on the mile-long path," IDOT officials said Monday. After the fatal crash, barriers were placed on both ends of the path, despite warnings by a national transportation group that urged IDOT against them. "Bollards are not standard practice on bike and pedestrian paths in the U.S. and are discouraged by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)," according to IDOT's explanation for failing to add barriers at I-74. However, ASSHTO acknowledged in guidance supplied by the Iowa DOT that bollards are "routine." In many locations along Quad-City bike paths, bollards are used to prevent vehicles from entering. "The routine use of bollards and other similar barriers to restrict motor vehicle traffic is not recommended," according to ASSHTO guidelines. "Bollards should not be used unless there is a documented history of unauthorized intrusion by motor vehicles." Officials from IDOT were asked whether bollards will be added, given the now-documented history of "unauthorized intrusion," but they did not immediately respond. Both sides of the I-74 path now are blocked by large planters and/or cones. A fence was added to a neighboring city-owned property in Moline. "Barriers such as bollards, fences, or other similar devices create permanent obstacles to path users," ASSHTO warns. "Bollards on pathways may be struck by bicyclists and other path users and can cause serious injury. Approaching riders may shield even a conspicuous bollard from a following riders view until a point where the rider lacks sufficient time to react. "Furthermore, physical barriers are often ineffective at the job they were intended for keeping out motorized traffic. People who are determined to use the path illegally will often find a way around the physical barrier, damaging path structures and adjacent vegetation. Barrier features can also slow access for emergency responders." The family of Anthony Castaneda has filed a lawsuit in federal court against the City of Bettendorf, saying his death was the result of the citys negligence. They are seeking damages in excess of $75,000, according to court records. Lawyer for man struck, killed on I-74 pedestrian path says case is 'in the early days' The attorney who has filed a lawsuit against the City of Bettendorf in connection with the SUV-pedestrian crash on the I-74 pedestrian and bike path said the trio of young men who were walking on the path on May 22 had every right to be there. He declined to say whether more defendants will be named. The city spent municipal funds to design, build and open the walkway, the suit states. Bettendorf participated in the design and construction and controlled the entrance and opening date of the walkway. On Monday, the Iowa DOT reiterated their position that the path, "meets all federal and state requirements for safety and separation from traffic, including at the entrances where the path is separated from traffic with a curb and gutter." In other legal action, Harris, the accused driver, has filed a motion seeking to keep news cameras out of the courtroom during proceedings related to her case. No ruling has yet been entered. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DES MOINES The Iowa Supreme Courts next justice will be one of three finalists announced Monday by the states judicial nominating commission. Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will choose from among the three finalists, who are, according to a news release from the state court system: Alan Heavens, a Northeast Iowa judge from the 1st District, from Garnavillo, and a former Clayton County Attorney. David May, an Iowa Court of Appeals judge from Polk City and a finalist for an Iowa Supreme Court vacancy in 2020. William Miller, a lawyer with Dorsey & Whitney in Des Moines and a previous applicant for an Iowa Supreme Court opening. Reynolds has 30 days until July 27 to choose the next Iowa Supreme Court justice. Once she does, five of the high courts seven justices will have been picked by Reynolds. The latest opening is being created by the retirement of Justice Brent Appel, who is the courts last remaining member appointed by a Democratic governor Tom Vilsack in 2006. Appel was also 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. Five candidates applied for the opening; all were interviewed Monday by the 17-member state judicial nominating commission, which is comprised of eight lawyers and nine members appointed by Reynolds. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 GRUNDY CENTER A Grundy Center man has been sentenced to life in prison for killing an Iowa State Patrol trooper during a 2021 standoff. Under Iowa law, Michael Thomas Lang, 42, will not be eligible for parole on a charge of first-degree murder. He was also sentenced to a consecutive 30 years for attempted murder and assault on an officer. He was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to the estate of Sgt. Jim Smith. Judge Joel Dalrymple handed down the sentence Monday morning in Grundy County District Court. It came after the judge dismissed a defense motion for a new trial. In May, a jury found Lang guilty of first-degree murder in Smiths death as well as attempted murder for shooting at another trooper who was driving an armored vehicle at the end of the standoff and assault on an officer for fighting with a Grundy Center police officer during a traffic stop that sparked the incident. Eluding charges were dismissed. Authorities said Lang refused to pull over for an April 9, 2021, speeding stop and instead lured the police officer into a rural area where he knocked away his Taser and began struggling with him. A passerby and a sheriffs deputy intervened, and Lang drove home and refused to come out for police. Smith was shot in the chest and leg with slugs from a shotgun when he and others attempted to enter the kitchen to apprehend Lang. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Five of the 10 members of the Class of 2022 South Dakota Hall of Fame are from western South Dakota. We are so proud of all of our inductees. The South Dakota Hall of Fame is a statewide organization representing all parts of our state, but we are especially blessed with our West River inductees, said Laurie Becvar, CEO of the South Dakota Hall of Fame. Becvar, who became CEO about six weeks ago, said she is excited to be part of championing excellence in the state of South Dakota and promoting rich South Dakota history. The Class of 2022 will be celebrated at an honors ceremony Sept. 9 and 10 in Chamberlain and Oacoma. One aspect of the South Dakota Hall of Fame Becvar hopes to expand is its inclusion in education. She said South Dakota Hall of Fame inductees stories are part of fourth grade curriculum now, and she hopes to further develop the Hall of Fames role in education. Whats exciting to me is sharing stories with youth and inspiring youth," Becvar said. These inductees are champions of excellence and they are our dream chasers." Beverly Stabber Warne Throughout a career spanning more than 50 years, Beverly Stabber Warne of Rapid City consistently held increasing roles of responsibility in several South Dakota establishments. Warne is recognized locally, regionally, nationally and internationally as a leader in the advancement of the ever-expanding nursing profession. She is employed as an instructor, mentor and coordinator of the Native American Nursing Education Center in Rapid City at the South Dakota State University College of Nursing. The centers goal is to increase and diversify the nursing work force in South Dakota. Warne has worked to prepare advanced practice nurses at the professional doctorate level, focused on preventative care in rural, underserved and Indigenous populations. Warne was honored in 2018 with the Spirit of Dakota Award for her role in transforming health care during her career as a nurse and educator. She is featured in the documentary 7th Generation that examines history from a Lakota perspective, encourages healing of past wounds, and focuses on a positive future for Native American youth in mainstream culture. Warne is a Lakota elder and a board member of OneHeart: A Place for Hope & Healing in Rapid City. I have a deep commitment to this community, in different ways, and I get saddened when I hear about the sad things that happen. The harmful ways. The hateful words," Warne said at a July 4, 2021 rally calling for peace before a planned rally and protest march against the Rapid City Police Department. We need to acknowledge our history, yes, but we also need to move forward as a people. As human beings working with each other." Charles Hart Charles Hart, MD, MS, practiced Family Practice and Emergency Medicine and later in his career became CEO of Regional Health, which has subsequently become Monument Health. Hart was instrumental in developing healthcare systems that address the multiple needs of communities. Throughout his career, Hart was very active in and provided leadership to community, state, and national organizations in the healthcare and business sectors. His major focus was on population health and improving communities. His impact can best be measured by the breadth of these efforts which focused on the needs of specific disadvantaged populations that in many cases are overlooked. Hart played a major role in providing leadership for the growth and development of Regional Health, the major healthcare provider within a 300-mile radius. Paul Gnirk Dr. Paul Gnirk of Rapid City was a founding member of RESPEC, Inc. and served as its president from 1969 to 1991. RESPEC is a global leader in geoscience, engineering, data, and integrated technology solutions for major industry sectors. The company now is working on some of South Dakotas most challenging problems, including creating a model for managing flooding along the Big Sioux River from Watertown to Sioux Falls and Sioux City. For the past 13 years, Gnirk has served as a South Dakota Board of Water and Natural Resources member, where he has used his geological expertise to creatively extend drinking water to communities and ranches. He has provided employment for many Ph.D. engineers and scientists and has advocated scholarship opportunities for students. A former South Dakota Mines alumni president, Gnirk was awarded the universitys March Medal, which exemplifies a caring spirit for students. Grace Martin Highley (18951985) Grace Martin Highley was born in 1895 on her family's homestead near Hot Springs. She had no graduate training in welfare services, but instead, gained her training through first-hand experience. In 1939, she became director of South Dakota Child Welfare. For 21 years, she built a nationally recognized program based on the needs of children, and on goals and professional training that did not exist in 1939. She became a skilled practitioner who knew social work theory well. In 1978, Augustana College awarded Highley an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters for her leadership and service in helping those in need. She continued into her 80s to mentor and serve as an unofficial advisor to agencies and individuals, all while keeping an eye on the child. Ronald Reed The impact of Dr. Ronald Reeds work can be felt all across the state, from Vermillion to Pierre to the Black Hills. For more than five decades, Reed has worked tirelessly and behind the scenes to enrich the lives of individuals with special needs and all South Dakotans. Former South Dakota Governor Richard Kneip described Reed as a visionary in terms of identifying and dealing with the challenges and problems in education. He served at a pivotal moment in the national fight for disability rights as he advocated for and led the states implementation of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the first disability civil rights law to be enacted in the United States. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SIOUX FALLS | Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, in his first public comments since being removed from office last week, appeared before a state ethics board Monday to press for an investigation of fellow Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, the person he blames for his impeachment over his conduct surrounding a 2020 fatal car crash. As attorney general, Ravnsborg last year filed a pair of complaints against Noem to the state's Government Accountability Board alleging she abused the powers of her office by interfering in a state agency as it evaluated her daughters application for a real estate appraiser license and by misusing state airplanes. The board, which is comprised of retired judges, has not decided whether to investigate Noem and is working with an attorney to evaluate the merits of the complaints. Ravnsborg appeared at the Government Accountability Boards meeting for the first time since he initiated the complaints last year and said he was ready to provide additional information. He made it clear he thinks an investigation could have far-reaching consequences for Noem, who is running for reelection after a first term that vaulted her to national prominence. She's widely considered to be a White House aspirant in 2024. Im not going to let this just drop. I think that they should pursue it and I do believe that, ultimately, the House will pursue it, Ravnsborg told The Associated Press, suggesting that Noem could also face impeachment for her actions. The former attorney general denied that he was out for revenge against Noem, although he blames her for his removal. Noem and Ravnsborg became political enemies after he struck and killed a pedestrian in 2020. Noem publicly called for Ravnsborg to resign and later pressed the Legislature to impeach him. The House eventually did, and the Senate last week convicted him of two charges: committing a crime that caused someones death and malfeasance for misleading investigators and misusing his office. Ravnsborg blamed emotion and political pressure for tilting the Republican-controlled Senate against him and said Noem sought his removal because he had filed the complaints to the Government Accountability Board. I think that among these two complaints and theres other scandals that shes involved in that she did not want the information to come to light," he said. Noem's spokesman Tony Mangan declined to comment on the board's proceedings or Ravnsborg's remarks. The board has tapped Sioux Falls attorney Mark Haigh, who primarily specializes in business and health care law, to help evaluate Ravnsborg's complaints. Haigh also has experience arguing before juries, administrative boards and licensing agencies. The Associated Press reported last year that the governor held a meeting in July 2020 that included her daughter and key decision-makers in her application for an appraiser license just days after the agency moved to deny the license. A Republican-controlled legislative committee concluded that Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, got preferential treatment. Noem has rejected that finding, saying her daughter followed the same process as other applicants. But the agencys former director, Sherry Bren, told the legislative committee last year that she felt intimidated at the July 2020 meeting, where she said Peters unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was formed to give her an unprecedented, additional chance to show she could meet federal standards. Noems office has said the plan was in the works before the meeting. Peters got her license four months later. Shortly after that, Bren retired under pressure from Noem's cabinet secretary. She eventually received a $200,000 settlement to withdraw an age discrimination complaint. Ravnsborg's other complaint was sparked by a report from Raw Story, a news website. Noem in 2019 used state airplanes to travel to events held by political organizations including the National Rifle Association and the Republican Jewish Coalition, even though South Dakota law bars their use for anything other than state business. Noem defended the trips as part of her work as an ambassador for the state. The boards consideration of the complaints began last year and has happened entirely in private meetings. It could either investigate the complaints and potentially hold hearings or dismiss them entirely. The judges will meet next on Aug. 3. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 3 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Lowell Davis watched as a crew with Rosenbaums Signs hung a banner with his portrait near the corner of Fifth and Main streets in Rapid City Monday. Davis and his wife Jan looked at his likeness and took photos beneath it. Daviss banner is one of 300 hanging throughout Rapid City for the Veterans Honor Banner project. I think its a wonderful thing to have, Davis said Monday morning. I was unaware of this until my wife decided to do this for my birthday, and so then I got more involved because Bill (Casper) got me more involved. Im glad to see him doing it. Casper brought the banner project to Rapid City in 2017 with 18 banners that hung from light poles along downtown streets. Casper said the project has now grown and become a logistical nightmare to plan the route. Banners began going up around 5:30 a.m. Monday along St. Joseph Street and Main Street. Casper said there will be 66 on Canyon Lake Drive from Jackson Boulevard to Mountain View, and some on LaCrosse Street from Omaha Street to Eglin Street. We sneak them in wherever we can, he said. Casper said this year the banners are going up earlier to get them up before Independence Day. They typically go up around August or September and are present through Veterans Day. He said this year they decided to honor and feature Davis for his service and decoration. Daviss wife Jan said she got the banner for him for his 92nd birthday. Davis will celebrate his 93rd in August. Davis, originally from Lemmon, graduated from South Dakota State College in 1951 and was commissioned as a second lieutenant from the Reserved Officer Training Corps. He left for the military June 4, 1951. He then served in Fort Benning, Georgia, and was called to Korea in September 1952. They took a ship out of Seattle and went to Japan, then flew into Korea. Davis was assigned to the Third Infantry Division and was in the the 65th Infantry Regiment from Puerto Rico. He was then assigned to G Company of the 65th and was with them until the end of the war. In that time, he was put on detail to go to an outpost two miles forward of the frontlines, called the mainline of resistance. That was on the outpost and they nicknamed it Jackson Heights because our company commander was Captain Jackson, Davis said. On Oct. 27, 1952, Davis said the Chinese attacked. He said it was about battalion-size compared to their one company. During that period of time, I was knocked unconscious, and so theres a period of time that I didnt know what was going on, he said. When I came to, we had a machine gun crew that was there and was wounded, and I went and got the machine gun back in place and got the crew back on that. Davis said the commander decided to pull them off of the hill. He said he had a wounded officer with him and they were the last two to get off the hill. It took us, I would say four or five hours to get back to the mainline of resistance, he said. Later, he became the company commander of G Company and placed at Outpost Harry, forward of the frontline. He said it was about a half-mile forward. May 16, 1953, the Chinese attacked again and Davis was awarded the Silver Star. Davis said he didnt come home until November 1953. Contact Siandhara Bonnet at siandhara.bonnet@rapidcityjournal.com You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Russias State Duma proposes to tighten responsibility for display of Nazi symbols MOSCOW, June 27 (RAPSI) Propaganda or public display of Nazi symbols or paraphernalia may be punished with imprisonment for up to four years, according to an amendment to the national law on treason, introduced earlier to the lower house of the Russian Parliament. The State Duma Committee on Legislation and State Building recommended the document for adoption in the second reading. Propaganda or public demonstration of Nazi paraphernalia or symbols, paraphernalia or symbols similar to Nazi, or paraphernalia or symbols of extremist organizations, according to the amendment, is to be punishable by a fine in the amount of 600,000 to 1 million rubles (about $11,250 to $18,700 at the current exchange rate), or by corrective labor for a term of one to two years, or forced labor for a term of up to four years, or imprisonment for the same term. It is also proposed that persons found guilty by courts of manufacture, sale or purchase of Nazi paraphernalia for propaganda purposes are to be punished similarly, the document reads. The amendment envisages that defection to the enemy during an armed conflict or hostilities is be recognized as treason. Corsicana Mattress Company announced plans to close a production plant in Chesterfield, just two days before the company filed for bankruptcy protection on Saturday. The factory at 2001 Bellwood Road will shutter in August, and 54 factory employees will be laid off, according to the company. Factories in Newington, Conn. and Greensboro, N.C. will absorb production. Corsicana acquired Richmond-based Symbol Mattress company in April 2021, and took over the Chesterfield plant. Employees who worked at the Chesterfield plant stayed there and worked for the new company Corsicana, which is based in Texas. The closure announcement came one month after Corsicana announced the closure of its LaPorte, Ind. facility. This consolidation, along with the recent LaPorte closure, is another necessary step in our drive to return as the industrys leader in value-priced bedding, said Corsicana Mattress CEO Eric Rhea in a statement. In the announcement, Corsicana said the closure of its Chesterfield plant is part of the companys strategy to re-examine the efficiency of its national manufacturing and distribution footprint. Corsicanas Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing shows that the companys leadership intends to use new financing to continue usual operations, upon court approval. The company is seeking approval to pay its employees during restructuring, according to court documents. This consolidation is necessary to continue streamlining our manufacturing footprint, to drive efficiencies and effectiveness. Our Newington and Greensboro plants have the expertise and capacity to effectively service our customers in the mid-Atlantic region, Rhea said in a statement. We are grateful to the local community and employees for their support and expect a smooth transition. Corsicana operates 10 factories in the U.S. and is one of the mattress industrys largest manufacturers. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The United Arab Emirates on Monday banned the upcoming Pixar animated feature "Lightyear" from showing in movie theaters after its inclusion of a kiss between two lesbian characters. The decision by the UAE comes as Malaysia also reportedly will ban the film, raising the possibility other Muslim-majority nations could follow suit on one of Disney's biggest animated films of the year as the film industry comes out of the depths of the coronavirus pandemic. The Emirates, home to Abu Dhabi and Dubai, announced through its Media Regulatory Office of the country's Ministry of Youth and Culture that the film would not be opening in the country this Thursday. The film "is not licensed for public screening in all cinemas in the UAE, due to its violation of the country's media content standards," the office said in a tweet. "The office confirms that all films screened in cinemas across the country are subject to follow-up and evaluation before the date of screening to the public, to ensure the safety of the circulated content according to the appropriate age classification." This browser does not support the video element. The office did not elaborate on the tweet and did not immediately respond to questions from The Associated Press. The tweet included an image of the film's poster, with the profile image of its main character Buzz Lightyear with a "no" symbol over it in red. Movie theaters in the UAE, a federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula, had already advertised showtimes for the film. But over the weekend, a social media campaign with the Arabic hashtag "Ban Showing Lightyear in the Emirates," caught the attention of conservative Emiratis. They described showing a lesbian couple on screen as being against their culture and religion. The movie, with actor Chris Evans voicing the inspiration for the Buzz Lightyear action figure from the "Toy Story" films, includes a female character voiced by actress Uzo Aduba kissing her female partner. The UAE, many other countries in the wider Mideast, is a Muslim-led nation that criminalizes same-sex relationships. The U.S. State Department warns that Islamic, or Shariah, law in the UAE can include the death penalty for same-sex conduct, while Dubai can levy a 10-year prison sentence and Abu Dhabi allows for up to 14 years. However, such prosecutions are rarely reported and LGBTQ individuals do live in the skyscraper-studded city-state of Dubai, home to the long-haul carrier Emirates. The $200 million "Lightyear" is expected to be a major draw for Disney, with analysts estimating it could gross over $100 million in its first weekend. Studios have allowed censors to cut films in global distribution for content in the past, including in the Mideast market. Recently, Disney has faced protests from activists and its own staff over what they described as CEO Bob Chapek's slow response in publicly criticizing Florida legislation that opponents dubbed the "Don't Say Gay" bill. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis in late March signed the bill, which forbids instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The moment had been earlier cut from the film but was restored after Pixar employees protested Disney's response to Florida's bill. The movie also may be banned in Malaysia as well. The Star, the country's top English-language newspaper, cited an anonymous, nongovernment source as saying that Lightyear will not be shown in Malaysian cinemas. No reasons were given. A newspaper in the Persian Gulf island kingdom of Bahrain similarly has speculated the film wouldn't be shown there. Officials from Malaysia's Film Censorship Board and the Home Affairs Ministry, as well as The Walt Disney Co., could not be immediately reached for comment. (RNS) On Tuesday (June 21), the Je Khenpo, the senior Buddhist authority in Bhutan, began ordaining a group of 144 women as bhikshunis, or female monks, at the Ramthangkha monastery in the tiny Himalayan country. The ceremony is of historical importance for all women in Buddhism and brings Tibetan Buddhism into the 21st century, said Bhikshuni Jampa Tsedroen, a German Tibetan author. For these nuns, it is a major opportunity to demonstrate their abilities to contribute to Buddhism. This content is written and produced by Religion News Service and distributed by The Associated Press. RNS and AP partner on some religion news content. RNS is solely responsible for this story. Many of the new bhikshunis are Bhutanese, but some came to Bhutan from other countries in Asia. They are all being ordained in the Tibetan lineage. A Facebook post on the central monastic body of Bhutan page posted the news, which was confirmed by Damcho Diana Finnegan, an ordained Buddhist nun and co-founder of the Dharmadatta Nuns Community in Virginia. Asked about the ceremony, Finnegan called it a major step towards ending the institutionalized inequality between men and women in Tibetan Buddhism. The ceremony is the culmination of a decades-long movement for full ordination for women in the Tibetan lineage, which has faced heavy resistance from top-level monks, scholars and political leaders across Asia. The bhikshuni movement has picked up steam in recent years as women worldwide have sought to restore a practice of ordaining women established, they say, by the Buddha himself, but which slowly disappeared from much of the Buddhist world until now. After the death of the Buddha, female monks were commonly considered one of the key elements of the four-pronged ideal Buddhist community, consisting of lay men, lay women, male monks and female monks. However, over time, war, famine and disease took the lives of bhikshunis across Southeast Asia and Tibet. Women have continued to live ascetic lives as nuns but have been barred from taking the next step to full ordination. Officially their status was held back by rules of the monastic code that require bhikshunis to be ordained by other bhikshunis, who didnt exist. To break this bind, some women have taken other routes to full ordination. In 1996, a group of Sri Lankan nuns was ordained with help from Korean bhikshunis of the Mahayana lineage, which has never been broken. Since then, hundreds of bhikshunis have been ordained in Sri Lanka, in what Tsedroen describes as an ecumenical ceremony, essentially reviving the population. But in Bhutan, a handful of monks have taken ordination into their own hands and provided ordination to nuns without the presence of bhikshunis. Typically, this ceremony is only granted to a small number of women, and never on the scale seen on Tuesday. According to Finnegan, an ordination this large guarantees a sangha, or bhikshuni community, that will persist well into the future. All other lineages of Buddhism have had sanghas of women fully ordain as monks. This is the first time Tibetan Buddhist women are given that opportunity, she said. The current Dalai Lama has long encouraged bhikshuni ordination vows, and Bhikkhu Bodhi, a prominent monk in the Theravada lineage, practiced across India and Southeast Asia, has appealed to his legion of supporters to advocate for the bhikshuni movement. Influential Tibetan scholar-monk Geshe Lharampa Bhikshu Rinchen Ngudrup made a strong case for bhikshuni ordination in 2007 during a talk at the first International Congress on Buddhist Womens Role in the Sangha after years of research. In addition, lay people across Asia have called attention to the excellent behavior of nuns in comparison with male religious leaders. Scandals, such as fraud at Wat Dhammakaya in Thailand and an uptick in sexual assault charges against Tibetan lamas, have been rocking Buddhist communities around the world. Thai journalist Sanitsuda Ekachai called attention to this dichotomy in her book Keeping the Faith: Thai Buddhism at the Crossroads, encouraging lay people to consider the future of the monastic order and how female monks could improve it. Even with powerful voices and a clean track record behind the movement, gender equity in the Tibetan monastic order had yet to take off on the large scale that occurred today in Bhutan. This historic ordination ceremony may well create further pressure on other Buddhist communities in different countries to make full ordination available to nuns within Tibetan Buddhism, said Susanne Mrozik, associate professor of religion at Mount Holyoke College. For some Buddhists, the fact that the ordinations began on the summer solstice is an auspicious sign, as are, according to the Facebook announcement, the appearance in Bhutan of rainbows encircling the sun. A wave of retirements is rearranging Virginia's public finance agencies, taking decades of institutional knowledge from one of the most stable, least conspicuous operating arms of state government. Last week, Treasurer Manju Ganeriwala retired after more than 13 years in the job under five governors overseeing investment of public funds and managing debt and more than than 30 years in state government. John Layman, chief economist and director of revenue forecasting at the Department of Taxation, will retire on Aug. 1 after 33 years in state government. The department already has lost Bill White, its assistant commissioner for tax policy, to retirement this year, and the leaders of the Department of Planning and Budget and the Department of Accounts also retired earlier this year after long careers in state government. Those four agencies - Treasury, Tax, Planning and Budget, and Accounts - have been the cornerstones of Virginia's government finances, guiding elected and appointed officials through the ups and downs of the economy, public revenues, tax policy and budget choices. "The continuity within state government itself has been key over the years," said Emily Walker, vice president of advocacy at the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants, which advocates on tax policy in the General Assembly. Gov. Glenn Youngkin has moved quickly to replace leaders at the finance agencies, which are central to his political agenda of reducing taxes and controlling government spending. He replaced Ganeriwala as state treasurer this month with David L. Richardson, who had retired after nearly 44 years at McGuireWoods law firm in Richmond, specializing in tax-exempt bond financing for public entities and nonprofit organizations. "Manju was a dedicated public servant and the governor thanks her for her service," spokesperson Macaulay Porter said last week. "Virginia's state treasurer plays a critical role in providing statewide finance services." When Comptroller David Von Moll retired in April after 21 years leading the Department of Accounts, Youngkin appointed Deputy Comptroller Randy McCabe to the top job. Longtime budget analyst Michael Maul replaced Dan Timberlake as director of the Department of Planning and Budget. Kirstin Collins, who had been director of policy development at the tax department and its public face in dealing with General Assembly money committees, is replacing White as assistant commissioner for tax policy. Youngkin reappointed Craig Burns as tax commissioner, a job he has held for 12 years. Only Layman, whose economic analyses were critical to charting state budget revenues, has not yet been replaced. Burns will appoint replacements for Layman and White. "We tend to lose some institutional knowledge from time to time, but we've got some very fast learners," said House Appropriations Chairman Barry Knight, R-Virginia Beach. Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings has reshaped his own office with the recent retirement of Deputy Secretary June Jennings, an accountant who had served in state government for more than 30 years. Youngkin recently appointed John Markowitz as deputy finance secretary. Markowitz previously had worked for Transurban North America, a private transportation company that partners with Virginia and other states on public-private transportation partnerships. The governor also appointed Dan Kowalski, a former official in the U.S. Treasury Department under then-President Donald Trump, as a special adviser to Cummings. The wave of retirements comes in the first six months of a new administration under Youngkin, the first Republican to serve as Virginia's governor since Bob McDonnell left office at the beginning of 2014, but Knight said, "I think a lot of it is generational." Former Secretary of Finance Aubrey Layne, a retired CPA who oversaw all of the finance agencies under then-Gov. Ralph Northam, said he probably would have had to cope with the retirements if he were still secretary. "I think it's just going to be a time for a reset," Layne said. Enjoy Tuesday. Compared to the increasingly humid weather ahead of the Independence Day holiday weekend, Tuesday will feel like an early summer gift. Much less humid air holds on Tuesday night and early Wednesday, with temperatures just a shade below normal. Highs will still be in the 80s, but Tuesday night will be pleasantly cool, as low temperatures by daybreak on Wednesday finish in the lower 60s. But it is the end of June, and that type of weather cannot last. Those who have followed weather in Virginia a long time know about the Bermuda High, and what it means for summers in the Southeast. It is a broad area of high pressure that meanders in the western Atlantic for much of the summer, driving Virginia's fundamental summer weather pattern. Because the Earth is round and spins on its axis, the wind flow around a high pressure area in the northern hemisphere is clockwise. In the broadest sense, the position of the high means that wind in Virginia usually comes from the south or southwest during the summer months. Those are winds originating from the very warm Gulf of Mexico, Caribbean, or the Bahamas. And that means high humidity gets sent into the Old Dominion. The Bermuda High is not static, it does ebb and flow during the summer, both in its strength and precise location. Those smaller fluctuations during the summer will help drive the frequency of high humidity air into Virginia and impact the track of individual storms coming out of the tropics. Summer is the dominant time for the Bermuda High due to the temperature difference between the continent of North America and the Atlantic Ocean. Over the course of a summer, the land warms more than the ocean. As a result, air over the western Atlantic Ocean tends to be cooler than the air immediately over the North American landmass. Air pressure is directly related to temperature, with cool surfaces having relatively higher pressure. Consequently, a broad area of high pressure will set up for much of the summer in the western Atlantic. By later in the fall, as the continent cools, the regularity of the Bermuda High gradually fades, allowing cooler and drier air to start making its way into Virginia more often. But as this weekend nears, the Bermuda High will flex its might, and send some especially humid air into Virginia. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday will be muggy with afternoon temperatures in the lower to middle 90s, with the nights staying in the 70s. Not coincidentally, the strength of the high will keep the winds from the east in the deeper tropics, keeping the current topical system (to be called Bonnie) on track to cross the Caribbean and avoid turning north into the Gulf of Mexico. Humidity will be high enough in Richmond to generate scattered afternoon thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday, so keep those in the back of your mind as you start putting together your weekend plans. Independence Day brings an even better chance of showers and thunderstorms, but that is several days away, so its probably too early to be canceling any specific plans for the Fourth. (Image: Bernama) Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob has commented that the growing number of bankrupts among Malaysian youths is a major cause for concern for the nation. I am concerned when looking at the latest statistics on bankruptcy among youths, and I am also concerned that the numbers will rise further, said Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri, referring to a recent report by the Malaysian Department of Insolvency (MDI). According to the report, almost 60% of the 46,132 Malaysians who have been declared bankrupt from 2018 to May this year are between 25 and 44 years old. In light of the situation, the prime minister said that he will discuss measures to address the issue with Bank Negara Malaysia governor, Tan Sri Nor Shamsiah Mohd Yunus. He will also hold discussions with the Minister in the Prime Ministers Department (Parliament and Law), Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to review the relevant legislation. (Image: Malay Mail/Shafwan Zaidon) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri further stated that the government may also reintroduce its previous approach of increasing the bankruptcy threshold to assist with the matter. For context, the MDI had previously raised the bankruptcy threshold in 2020, from RM50,000 to RM100,000, to help the people cope with financial difficulties during the Covid-19 pandemic. Aside from voicing his concerns regarding youth bankruptcies, the prime minister also noted that Malaysias unemployment rate has decreased following the countrys transition to the endemic phase since 1 April 2022. As indicated by the latest labour report by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), the countrys unemployment rate has declined to 3.9% in April 2022. This is the first time the unemployment rate has dropped below 4% since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the number of unemployed remaining on a downward trend for nine consecutive months, the prime minister remarked. (Source: The Edge Markets) 5 1 vote Article Rating SHARE A $3.5 million gift to Roanoke College from one of its past presidents will support a student research endowment and a planned science center, according to an announcement Monday. The colleges ninth president and first lady, David and Susan Gring, made the donation, bringing the school to $50 million out of $70 million raised for the construction of the new center. David Gring said in the announcement he wanted to see the science center built during his own tenure as president, but it was not to be. Im a scientist. All of my degrees are in biology and genetics, so theres a warm spot in my heart for the place of science in a premier liberal arts college where students and faculty are engaged in the excitement of co-inquiry, David Gring said. When built, the Science Center will provide a facility that matches the quality of the faculty and students who will teach, research and learn there. Plans for the center include state-of-the-art teaching and learning spaces, and a complete renovation of the Life Sciences and Trexler buildings on campus, according to the announcement. One-third of all courses on campus will be taught in the Science Center. In the announcement, college President Michael Maxey said Gring essentially formalized and extended undergraduate research at Roanoke College during his tenure, and noted the immensity of the former presidents contribution. The new Science Center will impact every student at Roanoke College, and the Grings donation gets us that much closer to making the Science Center a reality, Maxey said. Science has been an important part of both of their lives, and we are thrilled that they have directed their gift in a way that will bolster the sciences at Roanoke College for future students. Every student at Roanoke takes at least three courses from the programs that will be housed in the Science Center, the announcement said. Most student research will take place there, and it will house three of Roanoke Colleges 10 most popular majors: psychology, biology and environmental studies. The plaza of the Science Center will be named the Dr. David M. and Susan D. Gring Plaza. The pair presided at Roanoke College from 1989 to 2004, and David Gring had a career as a college biology and genetics professor and administrator prior to his role leading Roanoke College. Susan Gring was the first Roanoke College first lady to have a full-time day job, the announcement said. She served as executive director of Carilion Foundation, working to raise money for programs that improve health and welfare of communities in Western Virginia. The College today is a place with significant momentum, with excellent faculty and limitless opportunities for students, Susan Gring said. Dedicated faculty and a community that cares, those are two of the reasons we are contributing to Roanoke College we decided to contribute to something we love. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHRISTIANSBURG Members of the Montgomery County Republican Committee are again pushing for the availability of school vouchers the provision of money to families who wish to move their students from public to either a private or homeschool. Party members, including its new chairwoman, recently put together and presented cases for the vouchers to the county Board of Supervisors. Then, the party hosted a small town hall-style event last week, inviting a number of residents to speak about their issues with county schools. County GOP Chairwoman Jo Anne Price said the event was recorded and that there are plans to show the comments to supervisors at their June 27 meeting. The continued call for vouchers bears similarities to other debates in the country, state and Southwest Virginia, where largely conservative parents and community members have gone to various lengths to push for policy changes within school systems they argue arent upholding their values. The Roanoke County School Board this week unanimously approved a library policy that creates a more stringent process for adding new books to the systems collection. The move by the Roanoke County board followed the controversial removal last year of When Aidan Became a Brother from Herman L. Horn Elementary. School system documents show that the books addressing of gender identity led to a complaint from a parent, ultimately resulting in its removal following a lengthy appeals process. Criticism of policies intended to support students who are part of the LGBTQ community has not been uncommon in the school debates, including the ones in Montgomery County. As part of her presentation to the supervisors, Price used a graphic titled The Slippery Slope, the content of which she argued is being pushed in the schools. The graphic takes aim at subjects such as same-sex marriages and the correct use of gender pronouns. That is not education. That is indoctrination, Price said in comments that concluded with a call in support of vouchers. This slippery slope is a threat to safety and emotional well being, and it comes from the school board. And the board of supervisors because you have oversight. Price continued, calling on supervisors to stand with parents and even consider taking actions against funding measures. We expect you as elected officials to do the job we elected you to do, she said. That is, stand strong, be bold and be courageous against this agenda. Reject all federal and state funding with these programs attached. Stop bringing destructive value into the lives of the most vulnerable citizens, our children. Other local GOP members who spoke echoed some of Prices comments, but also took aim at other topics such as ongoing efforts within Montgomery County Public Schools to allow collective bargaining and whether students are learning correct history and are knowledgeable about subjects such as the Constitution. The topic of vouchers isnt new: the supervisors last fall debated the issue during the elected bodys review of its legislative priorities, a list of measures assembled and sent to state lawmakers each year in hopes of eventual approval. One of the items included in the boards most recent list called on the General Assembly to approve the availability of vouchers to public school students. Although the board approved its listalbeit narrowly in a decision split along partisan linesthe discussion drew much debate locally from people on either side of the issue. It was also one of the rare times that the usually conflict-free review of the legislative priorities sparked that level of controversy. The inclusion of the vouchers measure in the legislative priorities drew condemnation from several members of the Montgomery County School Board, as well as organizations such as the Christiansburg Institute and the Montgomery County-Radford-Floyd County Branch of the NAACP. Criticism of vouchers have included concerns that such measures effectively take away money from public schools due to drops in enrollment by instead directing funds to private schools. The critics have also called into question the accountability of private schools, which they have said are held to different legal standards. Voucher supporters have argued that the drop in funding would even out with a drop in costs, but school board members and district officials have said that wouldnt necessarily be the case due to factors such as costs associated with facilities that wouldnt see reductions in size as well as maintenance needs. And despite some strong pushback in the county against policies on LGBTQ issues, there have been many calls for stronger support and protection for students in that group. Supervisor Mary Biggs, a long-time former teacher, said she remains against vouchers. The supervisor formed part of the boards Democratic minority that voted against the legislative priorities due to the inclusion of the controversial item. Im a big proponent of public education because its a leveling field for all, Biggs said. For me personally, its been something in my being, heart, soul and mind because I was raised to really value what an education can do for an individual. And a public education, its something everyone can go to. I just feel really strongly thats where our public funds need to go. Biggs, however, said the subject is something that still needs to be decided at the state level and that supporters of it really should be directing their messages to state lawmakers. Additionally, she said she feels much of the points raised by the speakers at the recent meeting were issues that are really more for the school board than supervisors. On the other hand, Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Sherri Blevins said her stance on the subject of vouchers remains the same. Blevins forms part of her boards 4-3 GOP majority that was enough to pass the legislative priorities with the vouchers item included. I believe that families should be the ones to make the best decision for their children. I believe the money should go with their child, said Blevins, who reiterated that shes heard much dissatisfaction from parents. Parents are frustrated and this is an option for them. Again, it goes back to my belief that parents are the ones to make the best decisions for their own children. School board Chairwoman Sue Kass, who attended the most recent supervisors meeting, spoke after the voucher supporters and pushed back against several of their comments. Among other points, Kass questioned the basis for the indoctrination argument she heard. Indoctrination is bad. Its really bad. How do you define that? How have you identified thats happening in our schools? the school board member said. Thats not a fact. That is an opinion, and its an opinion of a small group of people who come to our school board meetings. Kass continued: I hope you realize no one is trying to lower expectations of our children. Nothing is more important to us but the students of our county. Every decision we make has to do with our students. No one is trying to indoctrinate. No one is trying to take away. We are trying to provide something to all of our children, a good education and a safe environment. I cant help but be insulted by the many statements that have been made here this evening. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Roanoke physician remains hospitalized from injuries sustained Friday when the antique aircraft he was piloting crashed at a Kentucky airfield. Local news outlets have reported that James T. Tim Callis single-engine Bucker Bu-133C Jungmeister biplane had just taken on fuel when it began circling back toward Ohio County Airport in rural western Kentucky. An eyewitness was quoted as saying the plane nosedived and crashed in a grassy area about 100 yards from the airfields runway. A post on the Caring Bridge website cited mechanical failure as the crashs cause and said Callis was airlifted to the University of Louisville Hospital, where he is being treated for head trauma. The Federal Aviation Administration classified the plane crash cause as unknown and reported that the pilot suffered serious injuries. The plane was listed by the FAA as destroyed. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DANVILLE Eight people were shot one fatally at a large party early Sunday morning in the Sutherlin community of Pittsylvania County, authorities report. It was about 1:30 a.m. Sunday when the 911 center in Pittsylvania County received a call that rescue and law enforcement were needed at 1220 Kerns Church Road in reference to multiple people shot, Devin Taylor, an investigator with the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release. When officers arrive on scene, they found eight gunshot victims. Jerome Jahiem White, 20, of Danville, died from the shooting, Pittsylvania County Sheriff Mike Taylor announced at a Sunday evening news conference. The body will be taken to the medical examiners office for an autopsy to determine a cause and manner of death. All victims were transported to the hospital. Two remained in the unidentified hospital Sunday afternoon, Taylor said, listed in stable condition. The others received injuries that werent life-threatening, Taylor said. The victims were in their late teens to early 20s. Its devastating to the families and its devastating to us, he said when asked about younger people falling victim to gun crimes like this. Some people just dont seem to have a regard to human life anymore. The incident occurred at a party with more than 100 people on Kerns Church Road. Taylor described that as a common practice these days, noting its happened since COVID-19. We do not have a motive at this time, Taylor said. No arrests have been made, but Taylor said authorities believe multiple shooters were involved. Each one of these victims will be its own separate case, he said of the process to file charges, unless they determine it to be a conspiracy. Each one of the victims will have their day in court. Law enforcement officers from the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office, the Virginia State Police, the Danville Police Department, the FBI, the ATF and United States Attorneys Office in the Western District of Virginia are investigating. Investigators are looking through phone records and social media to try to identify any partygoers, Taylor said. Taylor said they are still trying to figure out what type of gun was used and he wasnt sure if more than one weapon was involved. Dont assume we already know something, he said at the conference, in a plea to have people share any details they may have on the incident. Taylor asks anyone with information to call 434-432-7715 or email digital information including screenshots to sar@pittgov.org. BRISTOL, Va. What has been called one of the most important guitars in the history of American music is now on display at the citys Birthplace of Country Music Museum. Museum officials unveiled the famous guitar of Bristol Session artist and the Father of Country Music Jimmie Rodgers last week. Known as the Blue Yodel, the custom Martin 000-45 guitar is easily recognizable with the name Jimmie Rodgers in pearl inlay on the neck and the word Thanks engraved in large capital letters on the back. Although the guitar was not with Rodgers during the 1927 Bristol Sessions, it is one of the guitars most commonly associated with the artist. Few guitars that were owned by Jimmie Rodgers have been authenticated, Rene Rodgers, head curator of the Birthplace of Country Music Museum, said. He was known for buying them and selling them regularly when dealing with financial hardships, but this is one he performed with regularly and kept throughout his career. The guitar was given to Rodgers in 1928 by the companys founder, C. Frederick Martin. Premier Guitar magazine has listed the Blue Yodel guitar as the most important guitar in American music history, Rogers said. After the unveiling, Rodgers talked about how the guitar made its way to the museum. She said the Blue Yodel has been on display at the Jimmie Rodgers Museum in Meridian Museum for some time. Its been our dream to be able to have this one on display at some point at the museum, Rodgers said explaining the museum reached out to all the family members in preparation for the 95th anniversary of the Bristol Sessions asking if they would be willing to contribute anything for a display. The Jimmie Rodgers family got in touch with us in the spring. It was a wonderful surprise, Rodgers said. We didnt realize this was a possibility, but they were very kind and generous enough to facilitate that with the museum down in Meridian and bring it up to us. The guitar was originally intended to display Rodgers nickname of the Blue Yodeler, but there was not room for the last two letters, so the instrument took on the name. This is the one (guitar) that he regularly performed with, Rodgers said. Rodgers explained the reason the guitar was engraved with large letters on the back spelling out, THANKS. He would flip it over so it would say thanks to his audience when he was done, Rodgers said. A handwritten note to Rodgers from guitar maker C.F. Martin can still be seen through the sound hole of the instrument. After Rodgers died, his widow loaned the guitar to Ernest Tubbs who played it for more than 40 years before the guitar was put on in Mississippi. The guitar will be on display on the second floor of the 24,000-square-foot museum on the corner of Moore and Cumberland streets until March 2023. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Reproductive freedom was one of the key goals of the feminism of the 1960s and 1970s " " The old Soviet temporary base at the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility featured a bust of Vladimir Lenin, installed in the 1950s. Wikimedia Commons (CC By SA 3.0) You might think of the South Pole as perhaps the most remote spot on Earth. In reality, it's not even the most remote spot in Antarctica. That distinction actually would belong to a spot called the Southern Pole of Inaccessibilty, about 546 miles (878 kilometers) away from the South Pole, an ice-covered patch of earth that happens to be the most distant spot from the Southern Ocean on the Antarctic continent. It's so remote, in fact, that humans have only visited it a few times (more on that later), according to Smithsonian Magazine. That obscure location in Antarctica is one of the planet's numerous Poles of Inaccessibility, a term used for the most remote spot on a particular continent or an ocean. If we're talking about land, the Pole of Inaccessibility is located at the most remote spot from the ocean, while if the pole is in an ocean, it's the spot that's farthest away from land, as this article from the Australian publication Traveller details. A paper published in Scottish Geographic Journal in 2008 included an algorithm that can be used to calculate the most remote places on Earth. Even so, it's also possible for geographers to come up with more than one location on a continent that seems to fit the distinction of being the farthest away from everything. Here are some of the recognized Poles of Inaccessibility: Advertisement Eurasia's Pole of Inaccessibility " " There are several candidates for Eurasia's true Pole of Inaccessibility. Howstuffworks/Google Earth This one gets a little complicated, as Atlas Obscura explains, because of contention about what exactly constitutes coastline, for purposes of calculating the most distant spot from the ocean. That's because of the Gulf of Ob, a bay at the mouth of the Ob River in northern Russia. Traditionally, the gulf was considered part of the river, but more recently, it's been reinterpreted by at least one study as being part of the Arctic Ocean. As a result, there are three different candidates for the Pole of Inaccessibility in the Gurbantunggut Desert of western China, near the border of Kazakhstan. In addition to this spot 1,644 miles (2,645 kilometers) inland, which is based upon the Gulf of Ob being part of the river, there also is this site and a third site. The last two are about 1,553 miles (2,500 kilometers) from the water. Urumqi, a city of 1.5 million people, is located about 435 miles (706 kilometers) away. Africa's Pole of Inaccessibility " " Africa's Pole of Inaccessibility is in the middle of a dense forest in the center of the African continent. Howstuffworks/Google Earth This pole is in the middle of a dense forest in the Central African Republic near the border of Democratic Republic of the Congo and South Sudan, 1,127 miles (1,814 kilometers) from the coast. The pole is near the town of Obo, whose inhabitants suffered during the long, brutal insurgency involving the Lord's Resistance Army and its leader Joseph Kony, according to this 2017 article from Reliefweb. Australia's Pole of Inaccessibility " " Australia's Pole of Inaccessibility is one you might actually like to visit, as it's not too terribly difficult to find. Howstuffworks/Google Earth Both Atlas Obscura and Traveller describe the Australian pole, located near Mount Zeil in the Northern Territory, about 572 miles (920 kilometers) from the coast, as perhaps the easiest one in the world to reach. It's not quite 19 miles (30 kilometers) from Papunya, an settlement known for the collective of Aboriginal artists who paint traditional designs on boards using acrylic paint. Northern Pole of Inaccessibility " " The exact location of the Northern Pole of Inaccessibility is becoming more imprecise than ever because of the melting of the polar ice sheet. Howstuffworks/Google Earth This one isn't easy to determine, because there's no land near the North Pole and the ice sheet is rapidly vanishing. The most likely location is about 280 miles (450 kilometers) from the geographical North Pole, according to Traveller, while Smithsonian puts it around 400 miles (644 kilometers) from the North Pole. Advertisement Southern Pole of Inaccessibility " " The Southern Pole of Inaccessibility was first reached in 1958 by Soviet researchers. Howstuffworks/Google Earth There's also some contention about the precise location of the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility these days, due to changes in the ice sheets that have altered the Antarctic coastline, as this 2021 article in the journal Polar Record describes. The site was first reached by Soviet researchers, who set up a small temporary base there in December 1958. Since then, American and British teams have reached the spot as well, according to Atlas Obscura. North American Pole of Inaccessibility This spot, 1,018 miles (1,639 kilometers) from the Pacific Ocean, is located in a canyon lined with pine trees and native grasses not far from the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. The closest inhabited area is Allen, South Dakota, a tiny town with fewer than 500 residents, which is located about 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) away. Jerry Penry, a surveyor who visited the location for a 2015 American Surveyor article, wrote that buffalo belonging to the Oglala Sioux still roam the tribal-controlled land, as they have been doing for centuries. South American Pole of Inaccessibility This location, 943 miles (1,517 kilometers) from the South Pacific Ocean, is in the Brazilian forest near the town of Arenapolis. It is also the closest Pole of Inaccessibility to Point Nemo, the next pole we'll discuss. Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility/Point Nemo " " If you are at Point Nemo, you're in the middle of the South Pacific ocean and you'd better start swimming. Howstuffworks/Google Earth Point Nemo, in the South Pacific, aka the Oceanic Pole of Inaccessibility, is 1,451 nautical miles (2,688 kilometers) from the closest islands (Ducie Island, Maher Island and Motu Nui, one of the Easter Islands). It's named after the captain of the mysterious submarine Nautilus in Jules Verne's novel "Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea," according to the National Ocean Service. Now That's Interesting The short-lived Soviet base at the Southern Pole of Inaccessibility featured a bust of Lenin on its rooftop, according to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station website by Bill Spindler, an engineer who worked at South Pole Station. From some of the largest jellyfish in the world in Japan to the tiny venomous Irukandji in Australia, UBC doctoral student Jessica Schaub is about to set off on an international tour of jellyfish. A doctoral student in the department of earth, ocean and atmospheric sciences and the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, Schaub will explore jellyfish blooms, huge groups of the floating 'medusae' in Japan, France, Argentina, and Australia, thanks to a Hugh Morris Fellowship. An Indigenous scientist, Schaub hopes her trip will inspire Indigenous youth to consider careers in science. What's a 'medusa'? Jellyfish actually have two forms. One is the floating, pulsating creature that everyone knows, called a medusa. The other is a tiny polyp that lives attached to the ground. Medusae and polyps have the same DNA, so they're effectively clones. Large groups of medusae are known as blooms, which occur seasonally along the world's coastlines. These blooms can cause economic and ecological hardships, including when fishers catch jellyfish instead of fish. Interestingly, polyps determine the success of blooms, such as their size, but research into these tiny creatures is scarce. During my journey, I will travel to France and Argentina, to learn about polyp research from some of the few existing specialists, while also experiencing some of the impacts of blooms in Japan and Australia. My travels are funded by a Hugh Morris Fellowship, administered by the Kimberley Foundation, which allows Canadian graduate students researching a priority area related to earth sciences to "undertake a program of self-guided travel and experiential learning." What are you doing with mucus, tourists, and venomous jellyfish in Australia? I'll be observing a project on the Ningaloo Reef in Exmouth, Australia. This reef attracts about 40,000 tourists each year during the whale shark migration, which unfortunately often coincides with the appearance of dangerous Irukandji jellyfish. These jellyfish are tiny and difficult to see, but their sting is very powerful and has been fatal in some cases. To protect tourists, researchers from the Government of Western Australia and Griffith University's Sea Jellies Research Lab are working together to develop a type of rapid test using environmental DNA (eDNA) to sample the water prior to sending tourists out for swims. This rapid test would determine if Irukandji jellyfish are present based on the mucus they release into the water that could be detected via DNA. The higher the level of mucus, the more Irukandji are in the water, and the more dangerous it is for tourists to swim. What do you hope the trip will mean to Indigenous youth? Indigenous people are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM)-related fields due to many barriers, both historical and contemporary. For example, Indigenous methodologies are often disregarded as rigorous science, despite offering alternative and often complementary approaches to tackle joint issues. These Indigenous perspectives, like many other perspectives, are very important in STEM since they offer new ways to approach problems. I think representation is one of the key ways that we can shift the narrative and encourage Indigenous youth to pursue STEM careers, so I try to be open and honest about the positive and negative aspects of my journey as a scientist. I hope that by sharing my story, young people can relate and see themselves as scientists too. This journey will allow me to highlight many of the things I like about sciencelearning, collaboration, travel, and new experiencesand I hope this will be appealing to those considering a career in STEM. Provided by University of British Columbia FLORENCE, S.C. The new Florence School District 1 will be born Friday when Florence 4 schools consolidate with FS1 schools. The South Carolina Department of Education seized control of Florence County School District 4 in Timmonsville in May 2018 because of financial problems in the district. This March, South Carolina Superintendent of Education Molly Spearman announced the school district would consolidate with FS1 July 1. Spearman said the Florence 4 School District didnt have the resources to be able to operate on its own. The South Carolina General Assembly stepped into the consolidation scenario in May. Consolidations bills were introduced in the House on May 3 and the Senate on May 5. The bills were passed by the General Assembly May 10 and signed by Gov. Henry McMaster May 18. The legislation provides the framework for consolidation, and established a new, nine-member school board with members to be selected by the Florence County legislative delegation. Board members eventually will be elected to their positions in nonpartisan elections. The new board will take office Friday. Beginning in November 2022, board districts 4, 6, 8 and 9 will be up for election. The board members will be elected to four-year terms, according to the legislation. Beginning with the 2024 school district elections, board districts 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 representatives will be elected in the November general election. The election will be nonpartisan. The representatives will serve four-year terms. Another election will be held in 2028, according to the legislation. Members of the board of trustee must live in the school district and the district they will represent on the board. The filing period for the November 2022 school board election will be Aug. 1-15, according to the legislation. The legislation also retired Timmonsville High School and Johnson Middle School. Brockington Elementary School will remain open as an arts magnet school for kindergarten through fifth-grade students. Wanda Williams-Parrott has been named principal at Brockington Elementary School. Timmonsville High School and Johnson Middle School students were allowed to choose either Wilson High School, West Florence High School, South Florence High School or Moore Middle School, Sneed Middle School, Southside Middle School or Williams Middle School. Florence 1 School District already has approved its 2022-23 fiscal year budget, which includes additional state funding for the Florence 4 school district students. Florence School District 1 Superintendent Richard OMalley discussed consolidation efforts with Morning News Managing Editor Chris Day on Thursday. Here are highlights of the interview. Readers can watch the video of the entire interview on www.scnow.com. Q. What are the details of the consolidation because July 1 is coming up quickly? A. Brockington Elementary School, which will have about 300 students, will remain. That school Brockington will become a magnet arts school. We did get some additional funding from Superintendent Spearman to start that being instruments, providing technology and a lot of opportunities that those students havent had in the past. We will be really focused around the arts. That program will move forward starting Aug. 1. The middle school and high school students way back probably in February were given the choice to pick what middle school, what high school they would like to attend. Once those selections were done, we sent our guidance counselors down to Timmonsville to meet with the students and the parents to begin the selection of their courses. We had a pretty diverse range of where they choose to go. Both in high school and middle school, that was the same process. We are set to go. Those students are set to go. Some are already participating in and getting ready for fall sports. Come July 1, thats how Florence 4 will be divided up into our Florence 1 schools. Q. Is the magnet arts school at Brockington for elementary-school students? A. Yes, that will be for all the students in kindergarten through fifth grade at Brockington Elementary School. Q. Can anyone from the Florence 1 School District attend the magnet arts program at Brockington? A. In the first year, the answer will be no. We hope if we develop a strong enough arts program, that it will be like our other magnet schools Immersion and Montessori that there will be a choice to go to Brockington Elementary School as well. That will probably be after the first year. Q. What changes will the students at Brockington Elementary notice? A. It will be probably a whole new school that weve been working on from technology in the classroom that they didnt have to the one-on-one and being able to bring the laptops home. They werent receiving any types of electives or specials. They were getting maybe once a week from a foundation in Columbia the arts and the music. They are going to have more than theyve ever had as far as arts electives with the new arts magnet. Arts, dance, instruments and other opportunities that they have never had before. They are going to have the same curriculum we have all of our new textbooks and all of our new curriculum. Just about everything other than the physical building, which we have made renovations too and added some things, will be new. Q. What sort of renovations have been made at Brockington Elementary? A. HVAC had to be replaced. Weve had to fix some leaks in the roof and in the gymnasium. They havent had any technology in the classrooms. We have had to take out old televisions and put our smartboards in there. Those are a lot of the renovations that have taken place inside or on the exterior of the structure. Q. What will happen to the Timmonsville High School and Johnson Middle School buildings? A. Currently, we dont have any plans right now, but we have several options that we would like to see and several partnerships that we are working on for the future. For this school year, those two wings of that school will not be functioning as any kind of educational facility. We will spend the year trying to develop some partnerships and working with some groups like Florence-Darlington Tech to enhance what we want to provide in those facilities. Q. You are making plans to use those facilities at some point? A. We want to try to maximize the educational facility as well as the entire city of Timmonsville might want to see in those facilities. Q. Will absorbing Timmonsville High School and Johnson Middle School students into the FS1 schools cause any problems with classroom sizes or the need to hire additional teachers? A. No, actually, we have been planning for this for a while. As you are probably aware, we are adding 32 classrooms to West Florence. So, the mobiles will go away, but that will be 10 additional classrooms. I think we have approximately 80 students that chose to go to West Florence. In a school of 1,800 students, we can absorb that along with any others. In South Florence with the new Southside, we are going to shift the ninth-grade academy to the old Southside. That gives us a capacity of somewhere between 2,300 and 2,400 students. So, capacity-wise, we are pretty good at both those schools. Q. Obviously, you are going to have to add some teachers. Will those teachers be ones who served at Florence 4 Schools? A. In high school because there are so many offerings, its easier to disperse 80 students without adding teachers. We have hired about 90 percent of the staff that was at Florence 4 to our staff. That includes bus drivers, assistants and teachers. Q. How will be Timmonsville-area public be involved in Florence School District 1? A. Just like our public, the input really starts at the local school level, regarding their teacher or the organization of the school. Curriculum questions can come to the district office. With the legislation, there is now a board seat that represents Timmonsville. So, they have someone representing the entire city of Timmonsville on the board of trustees. That representation is at every different level. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine. High 99F. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Generally fair. Low near 75F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph. SCOTUS ruling in Concepcion, while addressing crack cases, should also resolve circuit split on compassionate release factors | Main | Ghislaine Maxwell given 20-year federal sentence for sex trafficking for Jeffrey Epstein June 27, 2022 Ohio Gov extends state's unofficial moratorium on executions Not all that long ago, Ohio was one of the busiest states not named Texas when it came to carrying out executions. Specifically, between 2002 and 2013, the Buckeye State carried out 50 executions. Ohio was also innovative in this era, pioneering in 2009 a new one-drug execution protocol that had not previously been used in the state. But, due in part to some execution problems and in part to some effective litigation, times have really chanced. Only four executions have been carried out in Ohio over the last eight years, and an unofficial moratorium now looks poised to extend at least into 2023. This new AP article, headlined "Ohio Governor Postpones Last Scheduled 2022 Execution," explains: Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has postponed the last execution that was scheduled for this year, pushing the October date for Quisi Bryan, convicted of killing a Cleveland police officer, to early in 2026. The move once again called into question the functionality of capital punishment in the state. With an unofficial moratorium in place, a veteran defense attorney recently argued there's no point in holding a death penalty trial for his client, accused in the 2016 massacre of a southern Ohio family. Why should we have to go through a death penalty trial when Ohio doesnt have the death penalty? attorney John Parker said June 21 at a hearing for George Wagner IV, charged in the killing of eight members of the Rhoden family.... DeWine's decision Friday to postpose Bryan's execution was one of several reprieves the governor has issued in recent years as the state struggles to find an adequate supply of drugs for lethal injection. DeWine, a Republican, has attributed the need for the reprieves to the states ongoing inability to obtain drugs from pharmaceutical companies. DeWine has said he is concerned that drug companies which oppose the use of their drugs in executions could pull pharmaceuticals from state hospitals to punish Ohio if it did secure their drugs and use them for lethal injection. Currently, 11 men are scheduled for execution next year. But it's likely that, should DeWine be reelected, those would also be postponed.... The states last execution was July 18, 2018, when Ohio put to death Robert Van Hook for killing a man he met in a bar in Cincinnati in 1985. June 27, 2022 at 07:11 PM | Permalink Comments Post a comment Via 5-4 ruling, Supreme Court stresses broad sentencing discretion in crack resentencing case Concepcion | Main | US Sentencing Commission releases another recidivism report examining "status points" in criminal history calculations June 27, 2022 SCOTUS unanimously rejects federal convictions for opioid docs in Ruan, with majority stressing mens rea requirement Every member of the Supreme Court agreed this morning in Xiulu Ruan v. US, No. 20-1410 (S. Ct. June 27, 2022) (available here), decided that the federal drug distribution convictions of two doctors who prescribed opioids was problematic. But the Court divided on the rationale, with Justice Breyer writing the opinion for the majority that starts this way: A provision of the Controlled Substances Act, codified at 21 U.S.C. 841, makes it a federal crime, [e]xcept as authorized[,] . . . for any person knowingly or intentionally . . . to manufacture, distribute, or dispense . . . a controlled substance, such as opioids. 84 Stat. 1260, 21 U.S.C. 841(a) (emphasis added). Registered doctors may prescribe these substances to their patients. But, as provided by regulation, a prescription is only authorized when a doctor issues it for a legitimate medical purpose . . . acting in the usual course of his professional practice. 21 CFR 1306.04(a) (2021). In each of these two consolidated cases, a doctor was convicted under 841 for dispensing controlled substances not as authorized. The question before us concerns the state of mind that the Government must prove to convict these doctors of violating the statute. We hold that the statutes knowingly or intentionally mens rea applies to authorization. After a defendant produces evidence that he or she was authorized to dispense controlled substances, the Government must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knew that he or she was acting in an unauthorized manner, or intended to do so. Justice Alito authored a lengthy opinion to concur in the judgment which was joined in full by Justice Thomas and partially by Justice Barrett. Here is how it begins: In criminal law, the distinction between the elements of an offense and an affirmative defense is well-known and important. In these cases, however, the Court recognizes a new hybrid that has some characteristics of an element and some characteristics of an affirmative defense. The consequences of this innovation are hard to foresee, but the result may well be confusion and disruption. That risk is entirely unnecessary. We granted certiorari in these cases to decide whether a physician may be convicted of dispensing or distributing drugs by prescription under a provision of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA), 21 U.S.C. 841(a), if he or she believed in good faith that the prescription was within the course of professional practice. In my view, there is a straightforward answer to this question. The CSA contains an exception for prescriptions issued in the course of professional practice, and this exception is a carry-over from the CSAs predecessor, the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914, 38 Stat. 785. In interpreting the Harrison Act, this Court held that a registered physician acts in the course of his professional practice when the physician writes prescriptions in good faith. Linder v. United States, 268 U.S. 5, 1718 (1925). I would hold that this rule applies under the CSA and would therefore vacate the judgments below and remand for further proceedings. June 27, 2022 at 10:47 AM | Permalink Comments Post a comment To graduate to the next tier of prosperous economies, Malaysia must staunch the flow of talented citizens abroad. (PHOTO: REUTERS/Caroline Chia) By Daniel Moss (Bloomberg Opinion) Malaysias economy is cranking up after the pandemic. Land borders with Singapore have reopened, bringing in millions of visitors. Kuala Lumpurs notorious traffic jams are back and shoppers are flocking to malls. The revival also has a rich irony: So many workers have left for better-paid jobs in the countrys wealthy southern neighbour that businesses are struggling to meet demand. From tourism to agriculture, an absence of staff is constraining the recovery. Its also adding to deeper strains in an upper middle-income economy that was once a model for the developing world but has since suffered from a long-term slowdown in growth one that started well before Covid-19. To graduate to the next tier of prosperous economies, Malaysia must staunch the flow of talented citizens abroad. The nations ambition is to escape a middle income trap, where it is less affluent than Singapore, but doing better than neighbours like Indonesia and the Philippines. Its one thing to bring in labor for agriculture, construction and low-to-mid-tier manufacturing. But Malaysia faces a double whammy: The low-skilled workforce is depleted because of a hiring freeze and border closures during Covid-19, but high-skilled people are likely to resume their exodus. Malaysia is slowly starting to ease its restraints on hiring. To offset the crunch in the meantime, employers have been engaging locals in work they often shunned: 3D jobs that are dirty, dangerous and difficult. In the Cameron Highlands, where trucks wait to drive to Singapore with tomatoes, peppers, onions and cucumbers, farmer Louis Lau is using Malaysians for labor once sought by foreigners. We are facing a big problem, he told me. Other sectors dont have the same flexibility. In Penang on the northwest coast, scores of ships that would normally be put to sea for at least a week sit dockside, thanks to a dearth of migrant workers. At the other end of the country, hoteliers in Johor bemoan the gravitational pull of Singapore. The Star newspaper highlighted the saga on its front page recently, with complaints from executives about the scarcity of foreign labor needed to clean rooms, handle check-ins and keep the lights on. It is challenging for hotels here to compete with employers in Singapore as locals can be paid three times higher for doing similar jobs, Suhairi Hashim, director of Tourism Johor, told The Star. Story continues After lobbying hard for the bridge links with Singapore to reopen, Johor businesses now find they barely have enough people to unbolt the latch. While Malaysian employers claim the city-state where GDP per person is among the highest in the world is sucking in talent, Singapore is suffering a shortfall of its own that sent the unemployment rate to 2.2%. The Singapore government, which also imposed tough border controls during Covid, is trying to ease the backlog. Ministers are urging businesses to hire locals. Dependence on imported labor has become a touchy subject over the past decade, especially after a deep recession in 2020 led to a rare electoral setback for the ruling party. While the foreign workforce has receded over the past two years, it represents more than 20% of the population. Malaysia and Singapore, joined for two tumultuous years in the 1960s, will always be linked economically. Both, in their own way, are increasingly ambivalent about foreign workers. That does little to diminish their need. An aging Malaysia risks stagnating before growing rich. It needs a vibrant employment scene to avoid that fate. Singapore, for all its prowess as a global business center, still needs contractors, bus drivers, construction workers and nurses. Of the two nations, Malaysias challenges appear greater. It faces a brain and brawn drain, driven by hard-to-extinguish racial preferences that favour ethnic Malays at the expense of minorities. A significant share of the countrys most educated and skilled citizens leave the country for lack of opportunities, according to a World Bank report last year that scrutinised the countrys progress toward becoming a high-income country, a goal considered likely to be attained between 2024 and 2028. One-third of emigrants were highly skilled, accounting for about 20% of the college-educated domestic population. Encouraging people to stay will require Malaysia loosen some of the rigidities that have stymied business activity. A plethora of state-backed firms and nominally private companies run by people close to the government have tentacles in almost every sector, which mitigates against competition. State enterprises tend to be used as national piggy banks to finance politically desirable projects and undertakings that contribute little to the economys overall dynamism. Suffice it to say, not exactly aspirational for young graduates. Foreign workers in Malaysia tend to be low-skilled; relatively few have finished high school. They began filling gaps that opened up in the labor market decades ago, especially manufacturing, and comprised about 15% of the workforce prior to the pandemic, according to the Bank. (Theres also a large, but hard to quantify, population of undocumented labourers.) Malaysia has long aspired to join the ranks of advanced economies and proudly paraded some of the baubles of such status: a domestic auto industry, the worlds tallest building and so on. It would do well to focus on less jazzy but vital components of success, like a labor market that can drive development in coming decades, not a relic of the go-go years of the late twentieth century. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously, he was executive editor of Bloomberg News for economics. 2022 Bloomberg L.P. ELMAU, Germany (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday underscored the urgency of helping his countrys military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Zelenskyy addressed the delicacy of the moment for Ukraine in its war with Russia to the Group of Seven summit as the leaders of the major economies prepared to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putins aggression, a day after Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks and as its military continued a full-on assault on the last remaining Ukrainian redoubt in the Luhansk region in the east. The new aid and efforts by the G-7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The Ukrainian leader discussed his strategy for the course of the war, which has transformed into a bloody artillery battle in the country's west and east. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Zelenskyys top request was for further air defense systems, followed by economic support to help his government meet its financial obligations. Sullivan said most of the conversation was about the way forward and how President Zelenskyy sees the course of the war. Zelenskyy also briefed the G7 leaders on how his administration is using the assistance hes received to date to maximize Ukraines capacity both to resist Russian advances, and to pursue counter attacks where possible, Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible in coming months because he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people. Zelenskyy also told the leaders that he needs to be in stronger position before engaging in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior French diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidencys customary practices. After hearing from Zelenskyy, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They said it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. Leaders were also finalizing the deal to seek a price cap. G-7 finance ministers will resolve details of how it would work, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview announcements from the summit. Some market analysts doubt how effective a price cap on Russian oil would be, as enforcement by the G-7 would likely depend on cooperation from India and China. It is questionable whether countries like India and China will agree to cease purchasing Russian oil, especially as it is trading at a significant discount on the global market price, said Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. President Joe Biden is expected to soon announce the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to help counter the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraine's government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is hosting the summit in the German Alps, said after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help ... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. Britain's Boris Johnson said that, under the circumstances, the G-7 has to "continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy, to get their grain out, to export their grain, and, of course, we have to help them to protect themselves. And thats what were going to continue to do. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance will increase the size of its rapid reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of its response to an era of strategic competition. The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers, which can deploy quickly when needed. Stoltenberg commented before he opens a NATO summit Tuesday in Madrid. The organization's 30 member countries are expected to also agree on further support for Ukraine. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs and plans support to rebuild its economy long term. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and continue its defense against Russian forces. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations among G-7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if the nature of their outreach differs. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have held active conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia. Moulson reported from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Superville reported from Telfs, Austria. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, and Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Talking about vaccines with trusted health care providers and with family can help wade through the sea of information and misinformation. Morsa Images/DigitalVison via Getty Images When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention endorsed both the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for all children ages 6 months to 5 years on June 18, 2022, it opened the door for nearly 20 million children to get vaccinated. While this news comes as a relief to many parents who have been anxiously waiting to get their young children vaccinated, a May 2022 survey found that the majority of parents with children under 5 feel they dont have enough information about the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines for this age group. About 40% also said that information from federal health agencies, such as the CDC and the Food and Drug Administration, about vaccines for this age group was confusing. This is particularly concerning because confusing messaging from public health agencies opens the door for anti-vaccine activities on social media that target vulnerable parents. Through this work, we have seen and studied the ways that anti-vaccine activists on social media target vulnerable parents who are trying to navigate the challenges of digesting health information to make appropriate choices for their children. Social media and vaccine misinformation When it comes to COVID-19 shots, as of May 2022 about 20% of parents with children ages 6 months to 5 years said they would get their child vaccinated right away. Another 25% said they would wait to see how the vaccine is working, and 35% said they would definitely not get their child vaccinated. It can be difficult for parents to sort through the large amount of information available about COVID-19 vaccines both true and untrue. In their search for answers, some parents turn to social media platforms. The problem is, these parents are often targeted by anti-vaccine activists who are better organized and more skilled at tailoring their messages to the varied concerns of people who are vaccine hesitant than are pro-vaccine activists. Social media, in particular, has been a primary vehicle for the spread of misinformation. Although sometimes misinformation is blatantly false, other times it is more like a game of telephone. A kernel of truth gets modified slightly as it is retold, which ends up becoming something untrue. Unfortunately, exposure to COVID-19 misinformation has been shown to reduce peoples intent to get vaccinated. Addressing parents vaccine concerns So how can pediatricians and other health care professionals empower parents to feel confident in the choice to get their children vaccinated for COVID-19? The answer may lie in working with communities to promote the vaccine as trustworthy instead of simply asking communities to trust it. We are part of the Pittsburgh Community Vaccine Collaborative, which is a community-academic partnership that seeks to ensure equitable access to the COVID-19 vaccines. Through that effort, we have focused on building trustworthiness of the vaccines and of the providers and health systems that are offering the vaccines in their communities. Health care providers are a trusted source of information for COVID-19 vaccine information, but they are not the only sources. Research has found that it is important to lean on the expertise and voices of community partners, community health workers and religious leaders. Our research suggests that pediatricians and public health professionals can effectively use social media to promote vaccination and provide families with reputable scientific information to address their questions and concerns. Results of a survey that was published in Academic Pediatrics found that 96% of parents used social media. Of those, 68% reported using it for health information. For example, a pediatric group we partner with uses comedy combined with information to combat myths and answer questions about the COVID-19 vaccines. Research shows that parents who report high COVID-19 vaccine intention for themselves also report high COVID-19 vaccine intention for their children. Therefore, talking about vaccines as a family may be helpful in combating misinformation around the COVID-19 vaccine. In addition, parents who have had their children vaccinated can use social media to share their experiences and make it feel more normal and accepted among their peers. We have also learned that promoting media literacy, which encourages people to question the media information they come into contact with, can empower parents to sift through the infodemic of COVID-19 vaccine information. While social media platforms have announced policies of removing vaccine misinformation, research suggests this is not always effective at reducing the influence of such misinformation. Learning how to find the source of a piece of information and thinking about who are the intended targets may help people determine whether the information is true or distorted. Next steps Addressing COVID-19 vaccine misinformation can feel overwhelming. The American Academy of Pediatrics has helpful information for parents to support making decisions around the COVID-19 vaccine. Parents can also have conversations with their children about media literacy and evaluating information. And they can talk to their children especially adolescent-age children about how getting the COVID-19 vaccine can protect them and others. For questions around COVID-19 vaccines for children of all ages, we recommend you talk with your pediatrician or another health care provider. During that visit, you can also make sure your child is up to date on other vaccines, as studies have shown that vaccine rates for routine childhood vaccines have decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Increasing COVID-19 vaccine rates for children is important to promote their health and wellness, as well as to move closer to ending the pandemic. ___ This is an updated version of an article originally published on Dec. 15, 2021. Jaime Sidani receives funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation, the American Heart Association, and the National Institutes of Health. Beth Hoffman receives funding from the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the National Institutes of Health Maya Ragavan currently received funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. She received funding from a National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences KL2 and an Allegheny County Health Department grant. ___ SIOUX CITY -- For more than 25 years, Blane Bourgeois has make the trek between his hometown of Lake Charles, Louisiana, to its "sister city" of Sioux City, which is a little more than 1,000 miles away. However, this year, the professional photographer will be making the trip by car. "I'll be going with a buddy and we'll eat at as many small-town diners as possible," Bourgeoise explained. "After a stopover in Kansas City, we'll be in Sioux City in about 18 hours." This gives Bourgeoise enough time to enjoy Sioux City's Mardi Gras Parade, which will returns at 6 p.m. Friday. The route begins at the Tyson Events Center, 401 Gordon Dr., before making a turn out of the parking lot on Pierce Street to Fourth Street ending on Iowa Street. In 1995, Lake Charles became Sioux City's "sister city," allowing the two similarly sized communities the chance to exchange cultures and traditions. Except for the pandemic year of 2020, the Big Parade and Mardi Gras Festivale costume show have been summertime mainstays for Sioux City. While the Crewe De Charlie Sioux Mardi Gras Parade made a comeback in the summer of 2021, the costume show did not. Similarly, this year's event will consist solely of the parade. "Sadly, I think the costume show may be a thing of the past," Bourgeoise said. "While we will have six to eight Lake Charles people in town, they won't be bringing all of the costumes like before." Indeed, much of the elaborate costuming and displays had been damaged after Lake Charles experienced unprecedented flooding in 2021. More significantly, many of Lake Charles' party of representatives are getting older. "When I started coming to Sioux City, I was considered the 'kid' of the crew," Bourgeois explained with a laugh. "The 'kid' is now in his 60s." Which doesn't mean that Bourgeois would ever give up partying with his "sister city" friends. "I'm not a Facebook-er, myself, but I know many Lake Charles people stay in contact with Sioux Cityans on both Mardi Gras and non-Mardi Gras activities throughout the year," he said. "An annual trip to Sioux City has become a favorite tradition for them." That is a sentiment shared by many Siouxland residents, according to Tyson Events Center's Enzo Carannante. "Since the Mardi Gras Parade takes place the day before Saturday in the Park, it also serves as a kickoff for a long weekend of fun events in Sioux City," he explained. Which is more important this year than ever before. "With the high price of gasoline, people are looking for ways to have fun locally," Carannante said. "The Mardi Gras parade and Saturday in the Park are great 'staycation' opportunities." For Bourgeois, the Mardi Gras parade is a way to bring a bit of Louisiana culture to the Midwest. "When we first started coming to the Sioux City parade, I'm sure a lot of people thought we were crazy," he said with a chuckle. "Why are those Lake Charles people throwing beads as us instead of candy." Despite that, Sioux Cityans quickly caught on to the charms of Mardi Gras. Bourgeois said he and his fellow Lake Charles-ers were similar impressed by Siouxland. "Between their Mardi Gras parade and Saturday in the Park, Sioux Cityans like to have fun," he said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ESTHERVILLE, Iowa -- The city of Estherville came together Monday to rescue a bulldog from a sinkhole. Estherville police officers responded to a report of a missing elderly bulldog named Tupelo at 3:10 a.m. According to a statement from the police department, the caller said she could hear her dog barking in a ravine behind a house in the 20th block of Orchard Lane. The officers and the dog owner searched the area and eventually found Tupelo in a cement drainage tile. The area around the tile had created a sinkhole approximately 3 feet in diameter and about 3 feet deep. The statement said the dog was wedged into the cement tile. Estherville Fire Chief and Emergency Management Coordinator Travis Sheridan, Estherville firemen, the City of Estherville's electricians and street department, Emmet County's secondary roads department, Dr. Arlen Omtevdt from the Estherville Veterinary Clinic, and neighbors assisted in the efforts to dig around the tile to free Tupelo. At 6:24 a.m., Tupelo was successfully removed from the tile and found to be in "great condition." He was returned to his very happy owners, according to the statement. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SIOUX CITY -- A Le Mars man who illegally possessed firearms, stored them for a convicted felon, and provided a false statement to a firearms dealer was sentence, June 24, to more than three years in federal prison. Jason Blau, 46, pled guilty to being a drug user in possession of firearms and providing a false statement to a federal firearms dealer. Law enforcement executed a search warrant at Blau's home in January 2021. They seized drug paraphernalia, methamphetamine, thousands of rounds of ammunition and 17 guns, including rifles shotguns and handguns. Blau had obtained and stored guns and ammunition from Robert Hansen, a convicted felon. Blau had previously purchased (with a false statement) two AR-15 rifles for Hansen, who was prohibited due to criminal history. U.S. District Court Judge Leonard T. Strand sentenced Blau to 45 months in federal prison in which he must three years before being released. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. SIOUX CITY -- The Sioux City Council unanimously voted Monday to adopt an ordinance that will require after-hours clubs within city limits to be licensed. Over the past several years, these types of clubs, which operate between 2 and 6 a.m., have been the site of multiple shootings and other criminal activity. Under the ordinance, after-hours club owners will be required to pay $175 to apply for or renew a license, which will be valid for one year. As a condition of the application, owners will consent to allowing the city's inspection services and fire departments to inspect the premises to confirm compliance with city code standards. Police officers will be allowed to enter the clubs during operating hours to confirm that alcoholic beverage laws are being complied with. "This shows that you prioritize our citizens' safety. That's something that's truly important," Councilman Matthew O'Kane told Sioux City Police Chief Rex Mueller and Assistant City Attorney Steven Postolka before the vote. O'Kane asked Postolka how many clubs are currently operating in the city and if they will be notified about the ordinance. "To my knowledge, there's one after-hours club currently operating. I suppose we could send them a notification sometime," said Postolka, who noted that clubs have 180 days after the ordinance goes into effect before needing to be in compliance with it. No one under 21 will be permitted in an after-hours club during hours of operation. The clubs can not be located in areas of the city that are zoned residential or operate within any premises that has a liquor license. Under the city code, consumption of alcoholic beverages on premises accessible to the public is prohibited from 2 to 6 a.m. on weekdays and Saturdays, and from 2 to 8 a.m. on Sundays. An after-hours club in violation of the ordinance will be declared a "nuisance," and the owner of the premises at which it operates at will be guilty of a municipal infraction, according to the proposed ordinance. Its license will be suspended if the licensee or the licensee's employee, agent or contractor committed a "specific criminal incident" at the club or "recklessly allowed" one to occur there, or was ordered to abate a nuisance at the club. An after-hours club's license will be revoked if the licensee or the licensee's employee, agent or contractor committed or knowingly allowed another to commit murder or voluntary manslaughter. The license will also be terminated if the club's license had been suspended within the previous 12 months and the licensee or the licensee's employee, agent or contractor once again committed a criminal incident or knowingly allowed one to occur there. The city manager will issue a letter of intent to deny, suspend or revoke an after-hours club's license. Licensees will be allowed to request a hearing to contest any denial, suspension or revocation within 20 days of the date of the letter. In the early morning hours of Oct. 10, officers were dispatched to a shots fired call at an after-hours club at 427 Pierce St., where they found a male victim with a life-threatening gunshot wound to his upper body. A short time later, three other victims arrived at hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The shooting was the result of a dispute between two groups of people at the club, which has since closed, according to police. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MENDON, Mo. (AP) An Amtrak passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck Monday in a remote area of Missouri, killing three people and injuring dozens more as rail cars tumbled off the tracks and landed on their sides, officials said. Two of those killed were on the train and one was in the truck, Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Justin Dunn said. It was not immediately clear exactly how many people were hurt, the patrol said, but hospitals reported receiving more than 40 patients from the crash and were expecting more. Amtrak's Southwest Chief was carrying about 207 passengers and crew members when the collision happened near Mendon at a rural intersection on a gravel road with no lights or electronic controls, according to the highway patrol. Officials were still trying to determine the exact number of people aboard. Seven cars derailed, the patrol said. Rob Nightingale said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth. It was like slow motion. Then all of a sudden I felt it tip my way. I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust, Nightingale told The Associated Press. Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didnt hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying. Nightingale was unhurt and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window. The collision broke the dump truck apart, he said. It was all over the tracks, said Nightingale, an art gallery owner from Taos, New Mexico, who said he rides Amtrak regularly to Chicago. It's too early to speculate on why the truck was on the tracks, said National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. A team of NTSB investigators will arrive Tuesday, she said. Trains won't be able to run on the track for a matter of days while they gather evidence, she added. At one point, KMBC-TV helicopter video showed rail cars on their side as emergency responders used ladders to climb into one of them. Six medical helicopters parked nearby were waiting to transport patients. Close to 20 local and state law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, fire department and medical helicopter services responded, Dunn said. The first emergency responders arrived within 20 minutes of receiving a 911 call, he said. Passenger Dian Couture was in the dining car with her husband celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when she heard a loud noise and the train wobbled and then crashed onto its side. The people on our left-hand side flew across and hit us, and then we were standing on the windows on the right-hand side of the car," Couture told WDAF-TV. Two gentlemen in the front came up, stacked a bunch of things and popped out the window and literally pulled us out by our hands." Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. No one in the group was seriously injured, said Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations for the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouts administered first aid to several injured passengers, including the driver of the dump truck, Armstrong said. High school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago, were also aboard, Superintendent Tim Beying told The Kansas City Star. Cheryl Benjamin was on her way home to East Lansing, Michigan, after an Alasksan cruise and a trip to Disneyland. She said she felt a bump, then heard a squeal, then looked out the window and saw the cars in front of her falling to the right. Then her car fell, the last to derail. It all took about 45 seconds. Benjamin told The Associated Press that the passengers organized themselves to escape the cars. Some of the Boy Scouts on board helped her climb out of the train and onto the ground. She was spending Monday evening in a local high school gym, where community members had brought in food for the passengers as they waited for buses to take them to hotels. Republican state Rep. Peggy McGaugh was at the high school. She said locals heard about the crash and started frying chicken, making sandwiches and delivering pallets of water. Being the small community this is, nobody wants to be the hero but everyone wants to help," McGaugh said. Mike Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on the land surrounding the intersection where the crash occurred, said everyone in Mendon understands that the intersection is dangerous, especially for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment. The approach to the tracks is on an inclining gravel road and its difficult to see trains coming in either direction, he said. Spencer said he had contacted state transportation officials, Chariton County commissioners and BNSF Railway, which owns the track, about the potential danger. Spencer, who is on the board of a local levy district, said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levy on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple days. Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. It was the second Amtrak collision in as many days. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between. Mendon, with a population of about 160, is about 84 miles (135 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City. Associated Press reporters Margaret Stafford in Liberty, Mo., Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, S.D., Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb., and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report. This story has been corrected to show that the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Israels parliament has voted to dissolve itself, triggering the countrys fifth election in just over three years. The vote Thursday thrusts veteran politician Yair Lapid into the role of interim prime minister. He will try to persuade a deeply polarized nation to embrace his centrist vision. Polls indicate it will be a difficult road for Lapid to defeat his main rival, former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Netanyahu is a divisive figure who is at the heart of Israels protracted political crisis. Lapid is a former author, newspaper columnist and TV host, and was the architect of the outgoing coalition government. As with the previous four elections, the upcoming vote promises to be another referendum on Netanyahu. The election is set for Nov. 1. RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) North Carolina Republican legislative leaders have reached an agreement on adjustments to the second year of the two-year state government budget approved last fall, officials said Monday. House Speaker Tim Moore and Lauren Horsch, a spokesperson for Senate leader Phil Berger, confirmed the agreement separately, but neither provided details about it, saying they'd likely come on Tuesday. Moore said the actual legislation would be filed by Tuesday night, with two affirmative votes in the House and Senate required by the end of the week before it could head to the desk of Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper. The new fiscal year starts Friday. Berger and Moore began meeting late last week to hash out differences that their respective budget and tax-law writing lieutenants could not. Horsch said the two chamber leaders spoke on Sunday with Cooper who would be asked to sign any budget legislation into law on Medicaid and the budget. Cooper spokesperson Ford Porter made a similar comment, writing in an email Monday that the governor is having discussions with House and Senate leaders about budget and health care issues. Last November, Cooper signed his first comprehensive state budget into law since getting sworn in 5 1/2 years ago, saying the good inside of it outweighed the bad. The measure in part included a multi-year plan to reduce the personal income tax from 5.25% to 3.99% and eliminate the corporate income tax, currently at 2.5%. The General Assembly's annual work session began in mid-May. The chief challenge for GOP legislators who control the General Assembly has been to figure out what to do with an additional $6.2 billion in projected revenues above and beyond what they anticipated state government would receive this fiscal year and the next year that begins July 1. The enacted budget already tells state government how to spend about $27 billion for the next 12 months. Negotiators this month have been working through differences on additional tax cuts and pay raises beyond what is in the already-approved budget law. The possibility of expanding Medicaid coverage to hundreds of thousands of additional low-income adults in North Carolina surfaced again as negotiations near their end although under different dynamics than in previous years. Berger, a longtime expansion opponent, has changed his mind. He embraced legislation this spring that would expand Medicaid while making several other changes to nursing licensure and hospital construction that he said would help increase both health care access and professionals. The bill passed the Senate in early June, but House Republicans were cool to the measure. Moore pitched a competing expansion bill last week that would direct Cooper's administration to develop an expansion plan by mid-December after which legislators would take an up or down vote on all or parts of it Berger dismissed the House measure as essentially another expansion study. As in previous years, Cooper proposed expansion in his budget proposal in May. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 MOSCOW (AP) President Vladimir Putin is making his first public foreign trip since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, heading for two former Soviet republics and meetings likely to be friendly. Ahead of the trip beginning Tuesday to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, there were no expectations of significant developments. But the visit gives Putin the opportunity to show that he is not isolated despite widespread sanctions and denunciations from the West because of the Ukraine operation. At the first stop in Tajikistan, Putin is to meet with authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon, who has been in office since 1994 and kept his country close to Russia. Tajikistan hosts some 7,000 Russian troops, Moscow's largest base abroad. Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said Monday that a key part of the talks with Rahmon will be discussing measures to improve security along Tajikistan's porous, 1,357-kilometer (843-mile) border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan, where a 1990s civil war that included Islamist insurgents killed as many as 100,000 people, is wary of Islamic radicalism spilling over from Afghanistan. It also is a main route for heroin and opium smuggling from Afghanistan. Russia is following a narrow path with Afghanistan although it officially designates the ruling Taliban as a terrorist group, the Taliban also have a representation in Moscow and one of the movement's officials was invited to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. The Kremlin encourages the new Afghan authorities to form an ethnically and politically balanced government and intensify actions for combatting terrorist and drug threats, Ushakov said. Putin on Wednesday is to be in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which largely seals itself off from the world. The purpose is to attend a summit of Caspian Sea littoral states, which also include Azerbaijan, Iran and Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev raised eyebrows at the St. Petersburg forum when, while appearing on stage with Putin, he firmly stated that Kazakhstan would not recognize the two separatist Ukrainian regions that Russia has declared to be sovereign states. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A customer who reportedly was upset because his sandwich contained too much mayonnaise opened fire and killed a Subway employee on Sunday in Atlanta, Georgia. Fox5 Atlanta reported that police said the shooting happened around 6:30 p.m. at a Subway located at a gas station on Northside Drive Southwest. The owner of the Subway says the reason for the shooting was something small: a customer was mad about mayo. Believe it or not, it was about too much mayonnaise on his sandwich, owner Willie Glenn said. Police reported another employee also was shot and being treated at a hospital. The store manager reportedly fired back at the customer but did not hit the person. Glenn told Fox5 that the dead womans son was in the store at the time of the shooting. The owner told 13NewsNow that he and his partners are evaluating whether the Subway there will remain open. Because of what happened tonight, my partners and I are reevaluating whether or not were going to continue to do this, in this neighborhood anyways, the store owner said. The victims have not been identified. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit pennlive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 WASHINGTON South Dakotas Republican governor pledged on Sunday to bar mail-order abortion pills but said women should not face prosecution for seeking them. In apparent defiance of legal guidance by the Justice Department after the Supreme Court last week stripped away women's constitutional protections for abortion, Kristi Noem indicated in national television interviews that she would put in place a plan approved by state lawmakers to restrict the pills. The majority ruling Friday by the court's conservative justices triggered abortion bans in South Dakota and elsewhere. But Noem said doctors, not their patients, would likely be prosecuted for knowing violations of what would be one of the strictest laws on abortion pills in the United States. I dont believe women should ever be prosecuted," she said. I dont believe there should be any punishment for women, ever, that are in a crisis situation or have an unplanned pregnancy." At issue is mail-order or so-called telemedicine abortion pills, which have been on the rise in the country since 2000 when the Food and Drug Administration approved mifepristone the main drug used in medication abortions. More than 90% of abortions take place in the first 13 weeks of pregnancy, and more than half are now done with pills, not surgery, according to data compiled by the Guttmacher Institute, a research group that supports abortion rights. Abortion pills are expected to become in higher demand as over half the states are likely to move to ban abortions following the Supreme Court's decision. Noem, a strong opponent of abortion rights who faces reelection in November and is mentioned as a possible 2024 presidential contender, cast the distribution of abortion pills as unsafe and has called a special session to craft new laws. These are very dangerous medical procedures, said Noem, referring to abortion pills. We dont believe it should be available, because it is a dangerous situation for those individuals without being medically supervised by a physician. In a state where Republicans hold super-majorities in both statehouse chambers, South Dakota lawmakers have been floating proposals that also would make it more difficult for women to seek an abortion out of state. South Dakota voters rejected outright bans in 2006 and 2008, and abortion rights advocates are preparing for a similar referendum on abortion access. In a statement Friday, President Joe Biden's attorney general, Merrick Garland, said the Justice Department will protect abortion providers and those seeking abortions in states where it is legal and will work with other arms of the federal government that seek to use their lawful authorities to protect and preserve access to reproductive care. "In particular, the FDA has approved the use of the medication mifepristone," he added. States may not ban mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDAs expert judgment about its safety and efficacy. The South Dakota law, passed in March, requires women seeking an abortion to make three separate trips to a doctor in order to take abortion pills and makes it clear that women in the state cannot get the pills through a telemedicine consultation. The law has been on hold after a federal judge in February ruled it likely imposes an undue burden on a persons right to seek an abortion." Two drugs are required. The first, mifepristone, blocks a hormone needed to maintain a pregnancy. A second drug, misoprostol, taken one to two days later, empties the uterus. Both drugs are available as generics and are also used to treat other conditions. The FDA last year lifted a long-standing requirement that women pick up abortion pills in person. Federal regulations now also allow mail delivery nationwide. Even so, roughly 19 states have passed laws requiring a medical clinician to be physically present when abortion pills are administered to a patient. South Dakota is among them, joining several states, including Texas, Kentucky, Arkansas, Ohio, Tennessee and Oklahoma, where Republicans have moved to further restrict access to abortion pills in recent months. One portion of the South Dakota law, which will take effect in July, contains a section that does not hinge on the federal courts: increasing to a felony the punishment for anyone who prescribes medication for an abortion without a license from the South Dakota Board of Medical and Osteopathic Examiners. A broader court decision is pending in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. Noem spoke on ABC's This Week and CBS' Face the Nation. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 4 For the second time since the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, protesters gathered at Memorial Park Sunday to call for access to safe and legal abortions. Though Sunday's crowd of a few hundred was smaller than Friday's protest, which drew more than 1,000 people to the park, the energy was much the same. Chants of "my body my choice," "hey hey, ho ho, abortion ban has got to go," and "f--- Pete Ricketts" echoed across Dodge Street as passing cars honked and motorcyclists revved engines seemingly in support. The rally began at 6 p.m., and the group initially marched on the sidewalk from Memorial Park to 52nd Street before returning to the park. Around 7:45 p.m., they headed toward 72nd and Dodge Streets. The Supreme Court in an opinion published Friday struck down Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that solidified abortion as a constitutional right nearly 50 years ago. Friday's decision leaves regulating abortion up to individuals states. In Nebraska, abortion is still legal up to 20 weeks after fertilization. A draft opinion leaked and published in early May signaled the court was prepared to undo Roe. But even with the forewarning, protesters said the news still felt shocking. "We knew it was coming, but still, it's exhausting," said Jen McEvoy, 52, who attended the protest with her daughter Lillian. "There is overwhelming support in this country for abortion rights, and yet it's been taken away by this false court that was picked specifically to overturn this issue." Others said that their initial reaction was despair. "I found out at work," said 19-year-old Nicole Sandquist. "We cried together in solidarity, all of the women in my workplace. It was a very solemn day." Some gathered Sunday stressed the importance of voting and electing lawmakers who support abortion rights in Nebraska and nationally. Abortion opponents, including Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts and Speaker of the Legislature Mike Hilgers of Lincoln, heralded the Supreme Court's decision, saying it correctly returned the matter to the states. The Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe is an answer to millions of prayers on behalf of the unborn and a victory for human life," Ricketts said in a statement Friday. Ricketts and Hilgers said they would work together on a possible special session this summer to consider abortion restrictions. Earlier this year, the Legislature narrowly failed to pass a so-called trigger ban, which would have banned abortion in the event Roe v. Wade was overturned. Abortion-rights protests are scheduled to continue this week, with planned rallies in Omaha and Lincoln on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. Alex Bazer, 19, said that she thinks people gathering to show support is important. "We will not take this lying down," she said. "We will not stand here and let them take this away, especially with how long we've been fighting just to have basic human rights like everyone else." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Last week, the Supreme Court handed down two decisions indicating radical new directions for American law. This may be obvious when it comes to Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, which extinguished womens constitutional rights to choose abortion. After all, in his concurrence Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly called for the reconsideration of all of the Supreme Courts substantive due process precedents. The other case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, is a gun control case in which Thomas wrote for the majority, striking down a state law constraining who could carry guns in public. Advertisement The majority opinion does not suggest comprehensive reconsideration of existing Supreme Court case law, though it clearly paves the way for judicial decisions invalidating all sorts of statutes regulating access to firearms. Bruen is the harbinger of an even more drastic shift. It signals the current Supreme Courts receptivity to the idea that the Constitution directly eliminates avenues of civil accountability for gun makers and sellers, even when a makers or sellers conduct plays a close causal role in excessive gun violence. Currently, state and federal statutes are the legal mechanism for insulating gun makers and sellers from civil damage actions. If gun industry actors succeed in convincing the Supreme Court that the Constitution itself gives them immunity from civil liability under state law, these statutes will become superfluous. Even if the statutes were repealed, gun industry immunity from civil lawsuits would survive. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Sign Up for the Surge The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. At the federal level, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act grants sweeping immunity from civil lawsuits to gun makers and gun sellers when their wares are used in criminal shootings, regardless of the causal part played by the maker and seller of the gun. PLCAA includes some exceptions, and at least one, the predicate exception, has gained some measure of traction. This exception allows a victim to bring a civil damages action for injuries involving criminal use of a gun against the guns maker or seller if the maker or seller has violated any other statute regulating the manufacture or sale of guns. For example, this exception supplied the basis for the suit brought by the Sandy Hook families against Remington, the manufacturer of the AR-15 used to kill 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut elementary school in 2012. The families ultimately achieved a settlement from Remington by successfully arguing that they could use the companys violation of Connecticuts consumer protection laws to ground their case. Advertisement New York has recently passed a statute specifically designed to bring certain lawsuits within the same exception. The New York law identifies the making, marketing, or selling of guns excessively appealing to criminals as a legal wrong called a public nuisance. If a plaintiff can show that a gun industry defendant engaged in the statutorily designated conduct, the plaintiffs suit will fall within the predicate exception to PLCAAs general bar. Advertisement As cases brought under the predicate exception to PLCAA proliferate, I expect gun makers and sellers eventually to defend against them by arguing that the Second Amendment itselfseparately from the terms of PLCAAinsulates them from civil liability. They will rely on Bruen to do so. The majority opinion in Bruen insists that the constitutional right to bear arms in public for self-defense is not a second-class right, subject to an entirely different body of rules than the other Bill of Rights guarantees. A primary example of a right the majority says has received appropriate respect is the right to free speech. Throughout the opinion, Thomas says that the Second Amendment must receive the same due as the First. Thomas knows that the First Amendment does not provide unlimited protection to speech, that the state may regulate speech in all sorts of ways. So, he is not referencing First Amendment law to suggest that there are no limits on the right to keep and carry arms. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement First Amendment law does, however, insulate the press from some civil accountability. In a line of cases dating back to 1964, the Supreme Court constitutionalized first the law of defamation and later the law of intentional infliction of emotional distress, overturning jury awards of damages to plaintiffs because, according to the court, the awards rested on liability rules that ran afoul of the First Amendment. Advertisement Advertisement The basic idea in support of this reasoning is that the First Amendment is meant to yield a marketplace of ideas, in which there is a free flow of thoughts and opinions on matters of public interest. To adequately promote this metaphorical market, the First Amendment protects some tortious speech, such as speech that would traditionally be deemed libelous or intentionally injurious to emotional well-being. In place of the usual liability rules for these torts, the Supreme Court crafted a different standard, requiring public figures seeking damages due to speech published in newspapers and magazines to prove that the media defendant actually knew or recklessly disregarded the falsity of the statements in question. Interestingly, Thomas and Neil Gorsuch have critiqued the courts adoption of this actual malice standard, on the ground that it is neither rooted in nor required by the text or history of the First Amendment. Just on Monday, Thomas reiterated his hostility to the specifics of the actual malice standard as applied to media defendants. Advertisement Nevertheless, the constitutionalization of libel law supplies a model for gun makers and sellers to use to get courts to give them constitutional protection from civil damages actions. Rather than appeal to a metaphorical marketplace of ideas, the gun makers and sellers will point to the actual market for firearms. They will say that just as tortious speech must be given breathing room so as to ensure the free flow of opinions and ideas, so too must the manufacture and sale of guns especially appealing to criminals be tolerated so as to ensure a steady supply of arms to those who want them for self-defense. Whether grounded in negligence law, the law of public nuisance, consumer protection law, or any other liability regime, suits brought by victims of gun violence will tend to increase the costs of guns or limit the variety of guns available in the marketplace or both. Thus, the argument concludes, by the same logic that shields the press from civil liability per the First Amendment, gun makers and sellers must be shielded from civil liability per the Second Amendment so as not to cramp the exercise of the right to keep and bear arms. Advertisement Advertisement Ill name only a few of the many weaknesses in this argument. Unlike press speakers, gun makers and sellers are not themselves exercising the underlying right recognized in the Bill of Rights. Gun industry actors are commercial entities seeking to profit from consumer demand for guns. This makes the manufacture and sale of guns more like the sale of commercial advertising. Commercial speech is ineligible for the same protection accorded to noncommercial speech on matters of public interest. More specifically, the Supreme Court has permitted traditional tort recovery when a magazine published an advertisement that led directly to a criminal killing. When the magazine directly facilitated murder, it could be held liable for wrongful death just like any other tortfeasor. This, not a comparison to press speech, is the analog to gun makers and sellers producing, promoting, and selling weapons with the sort of easy or high-volume human lethality attractive to criminals. Advertisement I could go on but, as last weeks Supreme Court decisions show, pinpointing flaws in legal arguments is not enough to stop the current extremists on the Supreme Court from reaching unprecedented legal conclusions or overturning established precedents. It makes more sense to take seriously the Bruen majoritys rhetoric insisting that that it is merely treating Second Amendment rights with the same judicial regard given First Amendment ones and to gird ourselves for defense arguments claiming that gun industry actors must be protected from civil liability so as not to chill gun possession and carry. We cannot rely on the justices in the Bruen majority to reject such arguments. If we are ever to secure the right of shooting victims to seek civil justice from gun manufacturers and sellers, we must work to change who controls the Supreme Court. Justice Samuel Alitos opinion for a bare majority of the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, which ended constitutionally protected abortion rights in America, seemed to delight in invoking professor John Hart Elys memorable criticism of Roe v. Wade. In 1973, the same year the Roe opinion came out, Ely wrote that the courts decision to protect a constitutional right to abortion is not constitutional law and gives almost no sense of an obligation to try to be. Advertisement Ely meant that he thought the Roe opinion, rather than being a principled interpretation of the Constitution, was more like a statute that a legislature would pass. The irony was apparently lost on Alito as well as Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrettthe other members of the majority in Dobbsbecause Alitos majority opinion is not in fact constitutional law, and betrays little sense of a felt obligation to attempt to be. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why is Dobbs not just wrong, but lawless? Because it is utterly unprincipled. It articulates a reason for overruling Roe out of one side of its mouth, then repeatedly protests that it will not be bound by this reason out of the other side of its mouth. The courts opinion is now the law, but this is not legal reasoning that can or should be respected. Advertisement Advertisement Sign Up for the Surge The most important political nonsense of the week, delivered to your inbox every Saturday. We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. The most important aspect of the majoritys reasoning in Dobbs is its argument that the Constitution does not protect a right to abortion because the abortion right is not deeply rooted in this Nations history and tradition. To establish this rule, the majority quotes its 1997 decision in Washington v. Glucksberg, which declined to recognize a constitutional right to physician-assisted suicide (note: not a case about abortion) on those groundsthat the right was not deeply rooted in history. The court in Dobbs makes use of what has become known as the Glucksberg test to deny the right to abortion, but at the same time it insists that nothing in this opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion. Its reason for the distinction is that only abortion involves what the Roe decision called potential life. (The Roe decision referred to the fetus as potential life and not human life because, as even the Dobbs court agreed in sending the issue of abortion back to the political process, it is completely untenable to view the fetus as a person in the eyes of the Constitution.) But whether an asserted right is deeply rooted in American history and tradition has nothing to do with whether the claim involves a fetus. Advertisement Advertisement Many constitutional rights that Americans now possess cannot be said to be any more deeply rooted in American history and tradition than abortion can. These rights include protection from involuntary sterilization, which the court upheld in 1927 during the eugenics movement; the freedom to access and use contraceptives, which was widely banned in the late 19th century and which the court did not begin to protect until 1965; the right of a nonwhite American to marry a white American, which was prohibited going back to the days of slavery and which the court did not safeguard as part of the fundamental right to marry until 1967; sexual intimacy between consenting adults in private, including same-sex intimacy, which was long regulated in American law and which the court did not protect until 2003; and the right to marry someone of the same sex, which existed as a matter of positive law in the United States beginning in 2003 and which the court did not vindicate until 2015. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If, going forward, the court were to apply the Glucksberg test in a principled fashion and so apply it to all these cases, the consequences would be draconian. And draconian consequences are an indication that the court has gotten the law wrong. That helps explain why, in Obergefell v. Hodgesthe 2015 decision declaring that the fundamental right to marry includes same-sex marriagethe court expressly rejected the Glucksberg test, writing that the Glucksberg test is inconsistent with the approach this Court has used in discussing other fundamental rights, including marriage and intimacy. The Glucksberg test, if applied to those other rights, would revoke them. In Glucksberg itself, a majority of the justices even indicated that they might not be bound by the Glucksberg test even in the context of physician-assisted suicide, if death were near and the dying individual could not obtain sufficient relief from excruciating pain via palliative care. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, even the Glucksberg court conceded that the Glucksberg test is not a tenable legal means to determine which liberty rights are protected. Because it is a constitutional wrecking ball. The test, by its own terms, is substantively biased against historically subordinated groups precisely becauseas noted in the joint dissent by Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor, and Elena Kaganthe men who ratified the Fourteenth Amendment and wrote the state laws of the time did not view women as full and equal citizens. Reva Siegel, a professor at Yale Law School, amplifies that observation, writing that the opinion rests upon a body of decisions and laws written by White men [that] was presented as representing Americas history and traditions, without a single womans voice represented; and which claimed those traditions were sufficient to justify stripping of women today of a half century of constitutional rights. Advertisement Advertisement The Glucksburg test can be used, devastatingly, to stymie any reasonable modern constitutional conception of liberty, equality, dignity, and moral progress with the conversation-stopping claim that such rights are too new to matter. Under the banner of originalism and conservative traditionalism, the majority can claim that a test that is inherently biased against women, Black people, and LGBTQ people, is neutral. This move cynically weaponizes a deeply rooted history and tradition of little protected liberty and vast inequality to eradicate the modern jurisprudence of American liberty and equality. It deploys constitutional provisions giving women and minorities rights as full and equal citizens to render them second-class citizens, all while professing to view them as full and equal citizens. Advertisement Advertisement Justice Clarence Thomas concurring opinion in Dobbs evinces at least the candor to call this what it is. In his Dobbs concurrence, he writes that the courts contraception, same-sex intimacy, and same-sex marriage decisions are demonstrably erroneous and that we have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents. Unlike the majority, which pretends that this project stops at abortion, he acknowledges that the project merely begins there. By firing this Glucksberg bazooka, the court is blowing up 49 years of constitutional law, which logically leads to consequences so obviously extreme that the court seeks to run away from them in the very opinion announcing those reasons. Justice Brett Kavanaughs concurrence attempts the same sleight of hand, asserting that overruling Roe does not mean the overruling of those precedents, and does not threaten or cast doubt on those precedents, without even attempting to explain why. If, going forward, the only liberty rights to be robustly protected are those that were privileged in 1788 or 1868, women and minorities will lose, every time. Advertisement The joint dissent makes this point, explaining that, as a matter of logic and reason, the courts mission doesnt end because of a professed interest in potential life. As those justices write: Either the mass of the majoritys opinion is hypocrisy, or additional constitutional rights are under threat. It is one or the other. The dissent also underscores the majority opinions bias: When the majority says that we must read our foundational charter as viewed at the time of ratification (except that we may also check it against the Dark Ages), it consigns women to second-class citizenship. This is not constitutional law. It is certainly not neutral. It is not even trying to be either. Read more of Slates coverage on abortion rights here. The day after Roe v. Wade was struck down, hundreds of people rallied in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington. A small number of anti-abortion protesters were there to celebrate, but mostly the crowd was protesting the choice, by the Supreme Court, to summarily strip Americans of reproductive rights. One of the speakers, her voice amplified over the heads of onlookers, expressed her frustration with Congress, saying there was little reason to hope that elected Democrats would do anything to help protect reproductive rights. So she had come with a different message. Advertisement Repeat after me, she said into a microphone. Misoprostol. The crowd yelled the medication name back at her. We sometimes call it mEYE-so, or miso, like the soup, she added. Its safer than Tylenol. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Step by step, she told the crowd exactly how to end a pregnancy with medication, explaining how many pills a person needing an abortion should take, how to let the medication dissolve in your cheeks slowly, and what to expect after that. The crowd roared its approval. Over the course of the afternoon, in 90-degree heat, protesters who were for the most part young and female trickled in and out of a barricaded area across the street from the Supreme Court building. They wore stickers that called for abortion on demand and held signs saying abort SCOTUS. Some women in white had painted red streaks down their thighs. They were packed in tight, listening to a rotating list of speakers who sobbed as they spoke of their fears, of their own abortion stories. Advertisement Advertisement The anger was clearly visible from every sign and chantFuck the church, fuck the state. Women will decide their fatebut the mood at the protest seemed more defiant than anguished. People delighted in clever signs or vented their outrage with each other about the ruling. At one point, a cheer went up for the abortion providers among the crowd. One woman I spoke with guessed that the positivity had something to do with the welcoming nature of the people present, of the relief of finding yourself surrounded by others willing to share in grief. I witnessed one tearful woman thank a supportive man for being there and ask to give him a hug. Advertisement That is not to say there werent mournful moments. A woman from San Antonio stood in front of the assembled protesters and described being raped during college, a story she said she had never told before. The pregnancy had ended her dreams of a career as a scientist. She broke down, sobbing, and people in the crowd screamed, We love you, we stand with you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Anger was most often directed at the conservative justicesKavanaugh, in particular, seemed to attract irebut President Joe Biden and the Democrats in Congress also received some boos. Democrats never voted to codify Roe into law, one speaker yelled. Fuck them. The crowd cheered. Part of this was facilitated by the Democrats, another speaker said. Safe, legal, and rare. Fuck that shit. On demand, without apology. People cheered. Where is Joe Biden, by the way? she continued. We cant depend on anyone in this buildingshe pointed to the Supreme Courtor that buildingshe pointed to the U.S. Capitolto protect our rights. It was a note that was somewhat at odds with pleas from other speakers to get out and vote in the next elections. The tensionbetween releasing anger and looking for hope, between facing the hard reality of the situation and warding off defeatismwas palpable. One minute, there was a practical call for organizing at the local level. The next, a speaker led the crowd in a primal scream. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Among the protesters themselves, there was a general feeling that something had to be done, but few seemed sure they knew what that was. (Some of the solutions speakers proposed included packing the court; voting in Congressional elections; voting in local elections; demanding Biden use executive orders to have the Centers for Disease Control provide abortion drugs; and marching in the streets.) More, anything, said one protester, named Megan, when asked what she thought Democrats should do. Something is better than nothing, which is what theyre doing right now. Pessimistically, I dont know. But at this point, giving up hope and optimism seems more dangerous than anything. She wasnt alone in her misgivings. We do, unfortunately, have some very inept Democrats in Congress right now, said a protester named Dana Bubka. I feel like what we can do is limited because of them. So I implore voters to get out in November and hopefully allow other Democrats in Congress to overcome their votes in the Senate and stop their ability to prevent us from passing laws that would strengthen abortion rights in the country. Advertisement Advertisement Another protester summed up many others sentiments: We know theyre not done, said Melissa Jensen. Clarence Thomas said theyre going to come for contraceptive rights. Theyre going to come for marital rights. Im a gay woman. The thought that I could lose my right to get married again in my lifetime is really heartbreaking. On top of being a woman whos lost rights today. So lets get to work. If we have control of multiple branches of the government right now, lets pass some fucking laws. For more on the aftermath of the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, listen to this recent episode of The Waves. Elephants have been in the news lately, and not just because one named Happy lost her court case (sad!). Over the past two weeks, a video of an elephant killing a woman in India and then returning to trample her corpse at the funeral went viral. In the wake of this, others have shared videos of their own violent elephant encounters, leaving the impression that, contrary to their gentle-giant reputation, elephants are quite violent. But as elephant experts will tell you, these sorts of instances are not as common as Twitter users might lead you to believe. According to Caitlin OConnell-Rodwell, an instructor at Harvard Medical School who has been studying elephant communities and elephant societies for 30 years, the elephant behavior thats making the news is quite bizarre. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I spoke to OConnell-Rodwell about what it means when an elephant displays aggressive behavior, what precautions people should take in their vicinity and the ways that elephants are quite similar to humans. Our interview has been condensed and lightly edited for clarity. Hannah Docter-Loeb: As someone who has studied elephants, what was your initial reaction to the video of the elephant crashing the womans funeral? Caitlin OConnell-Rodwell: Oh my God. It was so horrific. It was just so awful. I feel terrible for those people, for the family. And I also feel terrible for this elephant that is holding so much anger. Ive done some work with Indian elephants in Nagarhole National Park in Karnataka. Beautiful place and beautiful environment and elephants, but, oh my gosh, they are so aggressive. Theyre much more so than Ive experienced in Africa and I really think its due to the compression of theres so little land left for elephants and there are farms coming up against parks and elephants feel threatened. I think in India, the conflict is heightened by the fact that elephants are being compressed into smaller spaces and that they tend to be more aggressive along these interfaces between parks and human-dominated landscapes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement And this one particular incident, I mean, its just so bizarre. This is not normal behavior, by any stretch. Its not normal behavior, but in order to try and understand this, I would say that I view myself almost like an anthropologist. Im learning about a different culture of another social animal that has so many similarities to ourselves that you can have these psychologically maladaptive behaviors when you feel threatened, you feel like you have very few resources and somebody else has a lot more than you do. And you feel like theyre taking them from you. Advertisement Advertisement These are very complicated intellectual thoughts, but elephants have those thoughts. They are that smart. And they do have those feelings of being threatened by known individuals. I mean, even crows can tell whether a persons good or bad. Advertisement Im not saying that elephant thought that person was bad. Theres some strange bizarre thing that happened there. And without knowing the specifics, I couldnt say why this elephant did it, but I think that they feel they definitely are in a situation of extreme pressure up against this elephant-human landscape. And its like a war zone, unfortunately. Advertisement Advertisement Elephants are actually pretty peaceful creatures, except when theyre in danger, right? Yes, absolutely. They are very gentle and very cognizant of their interactions with others. And theres some writings of elephants being used in war and generals trying to get them to step on heads and crush heads and elephants didnt want to do it. Theyre very sensitive. There are many stories in Africa of an elephant coming across an injured person and trying to protect and like putting branches over them. I have been in villages where somebody was walking home at night and bumped into an elephant and the elephant was startled and killed the person. Thats just not normal behavior, but they do feel threatened by people and people in the wrong place, in the middle of the forest where the elephant views it as their safe zone. Elephants have families, they have close friends, they have a sense of justice, a sense of reconciliation. Advertisement Advertisement So for this kind of very bizarre thing to happen, yes, its not a one-off thing. Elephants, when they feel threatened, theyre going to get aggressive. And when we feel threatened, we get aggressive. We start looking for weapons and going on the attack. Advertisement Advertisement Unfortunately, elephants dont stand back if theyre trying to protect their family. If the elephant is in the hormonal state of musth, male elephants can get erratic and if you dont back down, they feel that youre threatening them. They will go on the attack and for many people, they dont understand how to read elephant body language and they can make mistakes that way. Do you hear about people having injuries in your line of work a lot, or is it more of a rare occurrence? Advertisement Its definitely a rare thing, but for people who live in the same habitat and coexist with elephants, there are more encounters with elephants. So youre likely to have more negative interactions. Just like if humans are in the compressed area, youre going to get people having fights more than if you didnt interact and were in a less populated situation. Its more like that. But when elephants come up against humans in a threatening situation, theres more likely to be aggressive behavior than if it was a passive [situation where] you see an elephant in the forest, in the distance and they see you and then pass by, then its just a curiosity for both of you. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What precautions should people take when theyre around elephants? If you are a tourist in the car, you want to give the elephant a wide berth and let them know that youre there. And if they hold their ears out to you, theyre telling you youre too close. You should back off. If they shake their head at youre especially too close and you really need to give them some distance. The bulls are more likely to give you some warning, but females feel like they need to protect their young. Some of them will be more aggressive than others and not give you some kind of warning. Advertisement Advertisement I work with farmers in the Zambezi region of Namibia and every year, you have to think of new solutions to try and mitigate elephants going into crops and how to minimize this. Its a challenge because as human populations grow and use more of the land that used to be occupied by elephants, they feel like their land is being taken away and corridors are shrinking. Its a really hard situation for both elephants and people. And its hard for local people to think, oh, heres international people coming and telling us, we have to keep all this land for elephants. Well, what about us? And its really a challenging situation to make sure that both humans and elephants are being heard and accounted for, and policies in place to make sure that everybody is having a fair shake of it. Advertisement What else do people get wrong about elephants? They are definitely gentle giants, but people often think that they can just approach them, but they want you to respect their space and they dont want you to get very close to them. Its sometimes similar to people when they come to Africa and they see lions. They think, oh, Ill go stand next to the lion and get a picture. But theyre part of a landscape where social animals, whether theyre herbivores or carnivores, theyre going to defend themselves. And elephants, they dont necessarily want to be aggressive, but if they feel threatened, they will be aggressive. And just appreciating them from some distance is a way of honoring them and getting to know them by watching them and not feeling like you should necessarily interact with them because theyre wild animals and interacting with them is not going to be good for either the elephant or the person. Advertisement Advertisement If you added up all the terrible videos of human violence or lion aggression or gorilla aggression, youd think, oh my gosh, all of these species are monsters. So taking those videos out of context and adding them all up is like one in a thousand or some cases of this happening. But its justifiable that they would want to defend themselves against a situation where they feel threatened. And in this one horrible situation in India, elephants do recognize people and remember bad things and associate those bad things with certain people because theyve had bad experiences. And its a reality of intelligent social animals that they have the same conflicts, emotions that we do. Fridays SCOTUS ruling in Dobbs is devastating news. Yes, it denies women and girls reproductive autonomy, but it also augurs a future where no aspect of our intimate life is ours, where even the most private spaces or relationships are ripe for surveillance, where every detail about our bodies, health, and relationships is amassed and sold. Everyones life opportunities are on the line in a world without intimate privacy. With the evisceration of Roe and the triggering of state laws criminalizing abortion, police can access the evidence they need to pursue investigations. Our fertility, dating, and health apps, digital assistants, and cellphones track our every move, doctor visit, health condition, prescription, and search; the details of our intimate lives are sold to advertisers, marketers, and data brokers. Law enforcers can purchase or subpoena data about womens missed periods, health clinic visits, and resumed menstruation. Prosecutors with an eye to higher office will use that data to make cases against women and girls, especially those who come from marginalized backgrounds. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Data brokers arent just handmaidens to law enforcement. Angry exes and pro-life activists can purchase location information to identify anyone who helped facilitate an abortion, including ride-share drivers, parents, and friends who drove women to appointments. State laws, like the one passed in Texas, put a bounty on their heads; thousands of dollars in civil penalties will tempt many to sue. Be on guard for cyber mobs: They will exploit data broker dossiers in order to dox, threaten, and terrorize everyone involved. In the late 1990s, when women enjoyed a constitutional right to pre-viability abortion, websites like the Nuremberg Files doxed abortionists and called for their murder. With the demise of Roe and the rise of state bounty laws, we may see the emergence of sites devoted to outing a far wider swath of targets. We may see sites crowdsourcing information about women and girls who obtained abortions. This would take a page from the thousands of sites devoted to humiliating women and LGBTQ individuals with nonconsensual pornography, deepfake sex videos, and other violations of intimate privacy. Thanks to a federal law passed in 1996, websites hosting doxing and threats, like those devoted to nonconsensual porn, will be immune from any legal responsibility unless they were found to have a hand in creating the threatening content themselves, as was true for the Nuremberg Files. Thats why I have been working with federal lawmakers to reform that lawto ensure that sites earn that immunity by taking reasonable steps to address illegality that causes serious harm. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is already a bounty on everyones intimate privacy. Today, and every day, our intimate datadata about our bodies, health, sex, gender, sexual orientation, close relationships, online searches, reading habits, and private communicationsis being collected, mined, and sold. As I have written elsewhere, Intimate life is under constant surveillance. Crucial aspects of our lives and livelihoods are on the line. Life insurance companies can raise peoples premiums if health app data suggests theyre at increased risk of chronic disease. Employment services can exclude people for interviews if their online activities suggest that they have bad habits. Some employers have access to employees period- and fertility-tracking apps, which could enable them to use womens intimate information to raise the cost of employer-provided health insurance, adjust wages, or scale back employment benefits. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Right now, we view the handling of our intimate data as a matter of profits, efficiency, and consumer protection. That must change. Our data is ours. It reflects who we are and want to become, what turns us on, and where our hopes and dreams lie. Intimate data reveals our vulnerabilitiesthings that leave us open to coercion, manipulation, and discrimination. It should be vigorously protected, not collected in case it might be valuable someday or sold in the here and now. We cannot develop authentic identities, form close relationships, or engage as citizens without intimate privacy. We should be able to wear health bands, talk to digital home assistants, search adult sites, and message dates without worrying about being surveilled. We should be able to enjoy the opportunities that digital tools and services offer without worrying that the details will count against us. We should be able to share experiences, feelings, and thoughts on- and offline, expose our bodies and selves with trusted friends, and learn about our health and identities with the reassurance that the firms facilitating our activities and interactions are also protecting them. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement We need to treat intimate privacy as a civil right. Civil rights are legal and moral rights whose protection is essential for human beings to flourish, enjoy respect, and feel that they belong. Civil rights guarantee our participation in a democratic society. They are moral rights: They cannot be traded away or denied without a good reason. Civil rights are fundamental entitlements owed to everyone, but they also require protection against discrimination given the bigoted stereotypes and attitudes that vulnerable groups face. Civil rights are guaranteed to all, but too often and in too many ways are denied to people who arent white, women, and LGBTQ individuals (and, most of all, to people with more than one marginalized identity). Advertisement Advertisement Treating intimate privacy as a civil right would require comprehensive privacy legislation. We can find inspiration in modern civil rights laws that require entities with control over important rights to act as the caretakers of those rights. For example, the Americans With Disabilities Act mandates that employers, schools, and public transportation systems provide reasonable accommodations to disabled individuals. Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 obligates employers to act as the caretakers of their workplaces so that employees enjoy equal opportunities. Federal and state lawmakers can build on that tradition in protecting intimate privacy. Advertisement Comprehensive privacy legislation would require entities handling intimate data to act as data guardians. That might mean they could not collect it in the first place. If a business has no legitimate reason to collect intimate data, or if the risk to intimate privacy outweighs the benefits of collection, then that data should not be collected. Under the limited circumstances when businesses could collect it, they would have duties of nondiscrimination and loyalty. Once intimate data is collected, it should be used, shared, and stored in ways that serve peoples best interests. Companies would not be permitted to handle intimate data to advantage themselves and to disadvantage us. Crucially, a civil right to intimate privacy would prohibit the sale of intimate data to third parties. Full stop, end of story. Businesses with which we have relationshipsthe sites we visit, the apps we use, the companies that sell us home devicesare our data guardians. They should not share or sell our intimate data to businesses with which we have no relationship. And they should not be able to ask us for permission to do so. Courts enforcing this legislation should be granted the power to order companies to halt the collection, use, or sharing of intimate data until they comply with the law. If businesses fail to heed these orders, then courts should be able to impose what I have described as a data death penalty, an order to permanently stop a business from handling intimate data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I have been working with lawmakers to make these protections a reality. Recent bills proposed by Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Sara Jacobs reflect these commitments. The Health and Location Data Protection Act, introduced by Warren and cosponsored with Sens. Ron Wyden, Sheldon Whitehouse, Patty Murray, and Bernie Sanders, would ban data brokers from selling or transferring location or health data and require the FTC to promulgate rules to implement the law. It would empower the FTC, state attorneys general, and private individuals to sue to enforce provisions of the law and to seek injunctive relief to stop companies from selling intimate data. Jacobs My Body, My Data Act would minimize the extent to which companies could collect and retain reproductive health data, and prohibit such data from being disclosed or misused. Advertisement No doubt, companies will do everything that they can to defeat these proposals. They dont want any friction between us and their data grabs and profits. I will try to convince these companies that these rules are not the end of the worldthat indeed they are the beginning of a new compact for intimate privacy, one based on trust and a commitment to our civil rights. Smart privacy scholars and advocates argue that strong privacy rules benefit companies in the long run by naturally enhancing the trust that we as consumers place in our commercial transactions and relationships. As Ryan Calo astutely puts it, privacy and markets are a love story. Taking the long view, companies might reap financial benefits of earning peoples trust, like having loyal customers. But even if collection restrictions and sale prohibitions just reduce corporate profits with no benefit whatsoever to companies, a civil right to intimate privacy is more important. Companies must adhere to these rules for the good of all of us. The Dobbs ruling should shake us from our complacency. We want, expect, and deserve privacy for our intimate lives, yet we do not have it. The privacy of our intimate lives is under assault, and we need to fight to get it back. We need legislation that makes clear that intimate privacy must be protected and prioritized rather than destroyed or ignored. We need a civil right to intimate privacy now. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. A few months before COVID shut the world down in 2020, I published a book called The Future of Another Timeline. Set in 2022, its about a group of time travelers who live in an alternate United States where abortion was never legalized. Working in secret, they travel 130 years back to the 19th century to foment protests against the anti-abortion crusader Anthony Comstock. Their goal is to change the course of history. Spoilers: They succeedsort of. When they return to 2022, abortion is legal in a few states, though it remains illegal in the majority of them. Advertisement It is not a good feeling to live through a version of the dark timeline I imagined in my fiction. As I wrote my novel, the Brett Kavanaugh hearings were spawning new memes about the joy of beer and the worthlessness of womens bodily autonomy. And as I write this, the new conservative-majority Supreme Court has turned 2022 into the year when the universal right to an abortion in the United States became a dream as impossible as time travel. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But I am not here to say I told you so. I did not magically predict this turn of events, nor did I write my novel as a warning about what might happen. Thats because I was writing about the present as I observed it, where many states, like Ohio, Kentucky, and Louisiana, have only one abortion clinic. In recent years, states like Texas have made it so difficult for people to get abortions that the procedure is effectively out of reach. Advertisement Advertisement This isnt a new situation, either. In the 1980s, the Hyde Amendment made it unlawful to use federal funds for abortions. That means Indigenous people living on reservations, where clinics are federally funded, have not been able to terminate pregnancies lawfully for decadesunless they drive to the nearest hospital offering abortions, which might be hundreds of miles away from home. The alternate timeline I imagined in my novel was already unfolding within Americas official story of abortion access for everyone. Many people did not have access. Clinic workers were murdered for providing abortions, and many others were systematically harassed. All I had to do was describe what was actually happening around me. In some ways, the only difference between my novel and many Americans reality is that my activists have access to some really cool time machines. Advertisement Advertisement For me, the interesting question to ask about science fiction that appears to predict the future is not how did you ever see that coming? but instead, why did you decide to describe reality using an unrealistic science fiction trope? The answer is that sometimes metaphors can help us see the truth more clearly than an investigative report. And the beauty of time machines is that they are the perfect vehicles for telling stories about how precarious and contingent our rights are. In Ray Bradburys classic story A Sound of Thunder, for example, a time traveler steps on a butterfly 65 million years ago, and returns to the present to discover a fascist has taken over the United States. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put in real-life terms: One slight shift in our historical circumstances, and we wake up in a new nation where access to abortion has been lost with a court decision signed by just six people. In a similarly abrupt way, our leaders empowered border patrols to imprison refugees. Our membership in the Paris Climate Agreement evaporated overnight., Its all so surreal it seems like were in an alternate timeline, but maybe thats simply the way bog-standard historical change always feels. Advertisement Advertisement One of the questions that plagues my time travelers in The Future of Another Timeline is whether history is driven by a few powerful individuals (so-called Great Men), or by collective social action. Believing fiercely in the latter, they team up with 19th-century activists who are challenging the nascent Comstock laws with creative protests, pamphlets about how to terminate a pregnancy, and public lectures about anarchy. Advertisement This, too, was my effort to describe our lives in the present. Though todays Supreme Court decision is new, the movement for reproductive freedom is not. Feminists like Ida Craddock and Emma Goldman fought hard to change our free speech laws so that it would be legal for people to publish information about birth control. (Yes, publications about birth control and abortion were once categorized as obscene and therefore except from First Amendment protections.) We may not be able to travel back in time to hear the words of 19th-century activists like Lucy Parsons and Harriet Tubman, but we live in the timeline they built for us. Their hard-won victories eventually gave us the vote, and with it more control over our bodies, our futures, and our nation. We live in the world they made possible. Advertisement Advertisement Every struggle for freedom is a generational struggle, where millions of people contribute. Its true that sometimes a few powerful people like the Supreme Court justices can change our destinies. And once in a while, a political operator like Anthony Comstock can ignite a moral panic that burns for decades. But the real power comes from collective action, the words and deeds of everyone who struggles for justice, over hundreds of years. We are ultimately the ones who give those Great Men their power, and we can take it away. Advertisement But we cannot accomplish anything without recognizing our current timeline for what it is. The Roe v. Wade decision made abortion technically legal in 1973, but millions of people have been denied abortions since that time. In the Turnaway Study, a group of researchers chronicled the lives of 1,000 women turned away from terminating their pregnancies in states with restrictive laws during 2008 and 2010. Forced to remain pregnant against their will, these women reported dramatic changes in their life courses. Compared with women who received abortions, these turnaways dropped out of school more often, made less money, stayed in abusive relationships for longer, and experienced more depressive episodes. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This would all be so much easier to explain if we could hop between timelines. Then I could take your hand and show you how the same person might lead very different lives with and without access to abortion. Theres a reason why the multiverse movie Everything Everywhere All at Once has become an unexpected hit in 2022. It helps us to understand that the present is a complicated place, with many conflicting narratives that constantly crash into one another. The alternate timeline metaphor also gives us a way to maintain hope in the face of disaster. It reminds us that we have allies we may never meet, who are so far removed from us that they might as well live in another dimension. These allies are our elders, the activists who fought for our reproductive rights and bodily autonomy for the past 200 years. They are also the distant strangers who are struggling with us toward a common goal, all across the country, in clinics and classrooms, public parks and nightclubs, coffee shops and places of worship. When we resist, when we protest and push back, we can almost feel them through the veils of time and space. This Supreme Court decision is not a final defeat, nor is it an end to our power. As a 19th-century feminist says to the time travelers in my novel: We have always been on this path together. We can change the future. But first, we must recognize whats happening in the present, and figure out who is here struggling alongside us. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. Welcome to State of Mind, a new section from Slate and Arizona State University dedicated to exploring mental health. Follow us on Twitter. For a while, says Jeff Guenther, a licensed professional counselor with a warm, affirming demeanor who shares mental health information on TikTok, I was in it for the likes and views. And he certainly got them: @Therapyjeff has amassed 1.1 million followers and more than 22 million likes. Then, another TikTok therapist posted a video expressing frustration with trauma-dumping clients. (Trauma dumping is sharing traumatic experiences, often unexpectedly, with someone who hasnt agreed to hear them; the TikToker later explained shed been using the term colloquially, to connect with people and be cute.) Therapists across the internet quickly rejected the idea that you can trauma-dump on someone whose job is to help you manage trauma. The therapist deleted her account and told BuzzFeed News shed lost two clients over the debacle. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement That really shook me, in a good way, says Guenther. The very public incident made him rethink his approach to mental health content creation and the kind of information he chose to share. Guenthers not alone. Since the dawn of the pandemic, mental health content creators have flourished across social media, especially TikTok and Instagram. But they arent all equal. Creators with questionable qualifications and intentions have proliferated too, sharing dubious information, outlining symptoms, suggesting that various behaviors indicate all manner of DSM diagnoses, and at times even proffering treatments. Experts advise people to avoid mental health mis- and disinformation by seeking out credible sources. But those credible sources face their own challenges. Therapists are trying to share information widely without compromising their professional ethics, and the questions they encounter arent easy to answer. How much should they reveal about themselves? Should they try to be trendy, or stick to basics? Would dancing to Lizzos About Damn Time diminish their credibility? And how do they handle people reaching out for help via DM or comment section? Advertisement Advertisement There are as many approaches to these quandaries as there are kinds of mental health practitioners on social media. Some avoid trends like dances and viral sounds, while others lean into memes and the opportunity they provide for exposure. Some eschew direct interaction or stick to answering follower questions, while others go viral weighing in on current events, as is most recently exemplified by TikTok therapist participation in the inexorable wave of contentmuch of it highly misogynistrelated to the Depp v. Heard trial. Therapists find themselves searching for the best trends to hop on to discuss trauma, puzzling through creating pastel Canva carousels outlining anxiety-management tips, and learning to stitch and duet, all with varying levels of enthusiasm and skepticism. It takes a toll, says Guenther. There have been a dozen times where Ive been like, Fuck this, Im not doing this anymore. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many say that, one way or another, they have a mandate to figure it out. Ben Miller, a psychologist and the president of Well Being Trust, feels therapists have an obligation to evolve and meet people where they are.* (He once organized trainings for practitioners on the benefits of using platforms like Facebook but admits hes spent little time on Instagram and TikTok,) Psychologist and Hopelab chief science officer Jana Haritatos says mental health content on social media is particularly key for helping young people. Conversations about the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues often point to increased awareness, including on social platforms, as a key piece of the puzzle. Considering the inaccessibility of traditional mental health care, especially for members of marginalized communities, this perspective makes sense. Trauma therapist and licensed professional counselor Yolanda Renteria (@thisisyolandarenteria on TikTok and Instagram, whose combined follower count is more than 250,000) is galvanized by the size of the audience she can reach. Shes especially interested in connecting with Latino communities, where therapy is often particularly stigmatized, and assisting others in breaking out of the same generational cycles of trauma she openly discusses working to overcome herself. At the same time, she is careful to ensure that when she does choose to share her own experiences, its beneficial for her client. As she explains, they should never feel like they have to carry your emotions. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Research demonstrates that social media encourages self-disclosure, and this is as true for therapists as for anyone, particularly as they deal with the isolation of the pandemic and the sense of loneliness thats common among private-practice mental health professionals. At the same time, staying quiet and leaving the talking to your client is practically Therapy 101. Classic practice advises mental health professionals to be a blank slate, to prevent specific details from muddying the clients ability to share with and project onto their therapist. However, many of todays practitionersparticularly those creating content for social media Advertisement feel modernity demands a degree of self-disclosure. Wale Okerayi, a licensed mental health counselor who shares some content on Instagram at @becomingselfish but is wary of TikTok, credits the shift to the pandemic. Our realities are correlating with our clients realities, she says, leading to a greater sense of shared experience that creates opportunities for mutual disclosure. Advertisement Many also feel the blank slate standard prevents potential clients from seeking help, by making therapists appear unapproachable. Divija Bhasin, who shares mental health content on Instagram at @awkwardgoat3, is a licensed counselor in Delhi, where therapy is particularly taboo,. Her page is frequently funny, sad, and personalwith the goal of making therapy appear more accessible, and therapists more human. Advertisement And when theyre seen as humans, theyre able to address the full spectrum of humanity. A listing in a therapist directory can capture only so much, while social media paints a fuller picture. Jayne Mattingly, founder and CEO of eating disorder and body image practice Recovery Love and Care, shares her expertise and personal experience with ED recovery, disability, and chronic illness on Instagram at @recoveryloveandcare, which has more than 19,000 followers. Advertisement The boundaries that are put upon helping professionals to be a blank slate are very racist, fatphobic, and ableist in nature, says Mattingly. They assume that marginalized communities dont care about what kind of helping professionals they see, and what life experiences they have. She says many of her clients who found her through social media say the way her page highlighted the facets of her identity they related tosuch as her disability and her experience with EDmade them feel safer reaching out. But while some boundaries are being broken for the better, other changes are less positive. Mattingly says her clients following her online has at times affected the therapeutic relationship: Theyve told her that after learning via her posts that she was in the hospital or experiencing other personal issues, they refrained from reaching out when they otherwise would have. In these cases, despite the pains shes taken to curate her page, shes had to recommend they unfollow. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement She also fields countless DMs asking for resources and sharing painful personal experiences that can catch her off guard: If I hear about trauma out of a clinical setting, my mind reacts differently. Im human, and my brain is a brain. She has prepared a template of sorts for responding in such situations, both offering resources and reasserting boundaries. Guenther receives frequent messages and comments too. At times theyre inflammatory or hurtful and come from people who seem to feel he is obligated to engage because hes a therapist. Usually, he does his best to ignore the vitriol. But turning the other cheek can be a challenge. Therapists making health content are subject to the same bewitching algorithmic forces and brain chemistry manipulation that keep other influencersand the rest of uschasing the rush of engagement. Mattingly has begun expanding to TikTok but has found it hard to avoid being swept up in engagement with the more hostile users frequenting the mental health hashtag, or having her purpose in posting eclipsed by the drive to chase virality. Advertisement The pressure is always there. Even long after the trauma dumping therapist exited TikTok and explanations of the true meaning of trauma dumping had caught fire across the internet, videos dissecting the incident and the term proliferated. It was a hot topic, and the promise of engagement made the trend enticing. Advertisement Bhasin corroborates the push to stay on trend. Whenever something related to mental health or therapy is brought up in the news, she says, my audience definitely urges me to talk about it. Its no surprise that the new digital frontier of mental health is fraught. For those seeking help, it can be an accessible blessing and a minefield of misleading information. For therapists, its blurring boundaries for better or for worse, and challenging the fundamental tenets of the therapeutic relationship. In October, the American Psychological Association released general guidelines asserting that the benefits of using social media to share mental health information can hardly be overstated. Yet the guidelines contain more outdated references than they do actionable advice (and dont even mention Instagram or TikTok). For now, it seems that, except for their followers, therapists on social media are on their own. Correction, June 27, 2022: This article originally misidentified Ben Millers role with Well Being Trust. State of Mind is a partnership of Slate and Arizona State University that offers a practical look at our mental health systemand how to make it better. Brit, 25, killed in Spain after plummeting from Devil Pass mountain The limestone peak draws daring mountaineers from all across Spain A young British man has been killed while attempting to climb the notorious Devils Pass, or Paso del Diablo, a 4,367-metre limestone mountain in the Basque area of Anboto. The 25-year-olds body was found by a rescue team on Friday morning, June 24. According to official reports, the Briton began the difficult climb with a pal the previous day and decided to try and reach the top by himself after his friend turned back. The mountain is usually tackled by experienced mountaineers, but initial information suggests that both men worked as delivery drivers, and were staying at a hotel in Eibar, an industrial town located in the province of Gipuzkoa. A spokesperson for the regional police confirmed: Emergency services have located the lifeless body of the mountaineer who we had been searching for since Thursday evening. See also: British former boxer arrested in Mallorca for assaulting his girlfriend The alarm was raised around 8.30pm, saying the 25-year-old had gone missing near to the Alluitz mountain summit. A police helicopter found his body in a place called the canal de Infernu Zubi, near to the Alluitz peak, where it appears he could have suffered a fall. It is believed that the young Brit may have been trying to descend from Devils Pass when a storm hit, making the way treacherous. Speaking about the climb after another mountaineer lost his life a few years ago, the president of the Basque Countrys mountain federation said: Its not a difficult pass to cross but it is dangerous. Its not for mountaineers who suffer from vertigo. Also of interest: British Airways ground staff vote for strikes at Heathrow this summer Image: Wikimedia Commons ARCHIVED - Mixed weather across Spain in the coming days: forecast June 27-30 The rain continues in the north of Spain while sunny skies prevail in the south As Spain enters the last week of June the unexpected heatwave earlier in the month has given way to rather more unsettled weather, and the coming days will continue to be mixed, with abundant rainfall in the north of the country and rising temperatures to the south. On Monday June 27, no fewer than eight provinces across the Valencian Community, Aragon, Catalonia and Navarra are on alert for storms and heavy rain, while cloudy intervals are expected for most of the south of Spain. Temperatures are on the increase along the west coast, declining slightly in the rest of the country. Murcia will experience highs of 33C on Monday and Malaga will top out at a sweltering 35C, while Alicante will remain at a comfortable 28C. Tuesday June 28 will be a more stable day with sunny skies across the board, although in the south of the Valencian Community, the Region of Murcia and Almeria an easterly wind will likely bring stifling humidity and even some light rain in the afternoon. Showers are also forecast in the Bay of Biscay and the Pyrenees, while there is a yellow alert in place for strong winds in the Balearic Islands and Catalonia. The mercury will climb a little higher in Alicante to reach 29C while thermometers plummet in Malaga to 25C. Temperatures are once again on the rise on Wednesday June 29, with records above 35C forecast in most southern regions. The mercury will dip a little by Thursday June 30, although the Guadalquivir valley and Mallorca will easily remain above 35C. Night-time temperatures will also take a welcome dive across Spain to the high teens. Image: Aemet A new player has entered Slovak market. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Slovaks now have another opportunity to watch movies and series. From June 14, they can subscribe to the new Disney+ streaming service. The newest player is entering a market that has for many years have been occupied by Netflix, HBO Max (until recently HBO Go), Apple TV+, and Amazon Prime Video. When choosing a platform, the content is not the only important aspect, but also subtitles, ideally in Slovak. Related article Related article How much will people in Slovakia pay for Disney Plus? Read more Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement For the last ten years, Michal Mojzis has made a living by translating films and series. He started in a Slovak agency that worked with Netflix. Today he is at his most busy with contracts for Disney+, but he will also get to work on movie blockbusters. "I made subtitles for Top Gun: Maverick last June, they gave me a month. That was a luxury. I was able to take my time with them, take a closer look at the military aircraft terminology mentioned in the film, and consult it with experts," says Mojzis in an interview with INDEX magazine. Related article Related article Computer scientist explains how robots see and translators translate Read more Before Netflix, many Slovaks downloaded movies and series via torrents and searched for Slovak subtitles on the web. Were you among the volunteers making the subtitles? Yes, that's how I started with subtitles. I'm a big film and TV series enthusiast and I volunteered to translate subtitles while studying at university in Banska Bystrica. I studied English language and culture, specifically translation and interpreting. For me, creating subtitles was a combination of something pleasant and useful. Upon graduation eight years ago, I got a job in a Slovak agency that supplied Slovak subtitles to Netflix. But it didn't take long for Netflix to decide that Slovak subtitles were not necessary, and turned to Czech. I lost my income, so I looked for new ways to make a living. I started working with foreign agencies and did everything, including subtitles for movie trailers, Blu-Ray media, and the proofreading of finished subtitles. Did you ever return to a Slovak agency? No, because financially it was not worth it. They would pay half of what agencies abroad offered. Currently, I work with only one Slovak company, CinemArt, which provides subtitles to Slovak cinemas and distributes films from studios such as Universal or Paramount. This is how I got to work on subtitles for the movie Top Gun: Maverick. Movie subtitles have the advantage of being adequately worth the money, and I usually have enough time for translation. Commissions from agencies working with streaming platforms are not paid as well and the pressure is relatively high. What are the conditions if you want to translate subtitles for an agency? Bratislava offers significant savings. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Toblerone, the well-known Swiss chocolate, is moving part of its production from Bern, Switzerland to Slovakia. The triangular bar has been manufactured in Bern for more than a hundred years and so far has been the only Tobleron factory in the world. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Next year, part of production should move to the Figaro chocolate factory in Bratislava, which today bears the name of its global owner Mondelez. In addition to traditional Figaro products and well-known Tatiana chocolate-boxes, the factory also produces products from brands such as Milka, Cadbury, Cote d'Or, Marabou, and Suchard. Toblerone will be another well-known brand in the portfolio of the factory. Related article Related article Famous Slovak wafer came about by accident Read more Significant savings on salaries The management of the company informed the employees of the Bern-Brunnen factory about the move earlier last week. Activists have said the ruling confirms the state's fatal failure in protecting Slovak nature. News: Receive notifications about new articles by email. Try the new feature and turn on the subscription. In 2017, there were less than 900 capercaillies in Slovakia. (Source: Facebook/My Sme Les) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled The European Union Court of Justice has ruled that Slovakia failed to adhere to EU directives with regards to the protection of the capercailllie. Explaining that the country infringed the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive, the court decided to uphold the European Commissions action against Slovakia in its entirety. Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryt Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement The Environment Ministry said that it regrets the courts decision and went on to blame the previous governments. The ministry added that the population of the protected bird species fell by 42.5 percent between 2004 and 2015 because of excessive logging. The June 22 ruling comes five years after the Commission received the first complaints that claimed forests in Slovakia were being overexploited in twelve areas where the capercaillie lived. For example, in 2017 timber was logged close to Muranska Planina, a national park. The capercailllie lives in this area, which is one of 41 protected bird areas in Slovakia. Changes arrived late The court found that Slovakia had not assessed its forest maintenance programmes properly since January 2015, pointing out that the country exempted emergency felling and the use of harmful agents from these assessments. Moreover, the court said that the country had failed to adopt appropriate measures that would prevent damaging forest management activities from occurring, like excessive logging. As a result, the countrys reluctant approach to the protection of capercaillie habitats led to the deterioration of the bird's life. The habitats of the protected species were severely affected especially in the Low Tatras. Today, the Environment Ministry claims that new forest management programmes have to be approved by state conservationists. Furthermore, it is currently working on the new zoning of Muranska Planina National Park, which is still seen as an important habitat of the capercaillie. Simultaneously, the ministry is hoping that measures adopted in the past two years will help Slovakia avoid a fine, which the court may still impose. Fatal failure In reaction to the ruling, the My Sme Les (We Are The Forest) initiative said that various organisations had called for the better protection of forests for a long time. It is sad that we are unable to protect our nature on our own, and the European Union must do it for us, Karol Kalisky of the initiative wrote on Facebook. He added that the decision unveiled a fatal failure of the state. In 2017, there were less than 900 capercaillies in Slovakia; 40 years ago, there were more than 3,500 in the country. US Supreme Court's abortion ruling decried as 'historical regression' (Global Times) 08:26, June 27, 2022 Following the controversial ruling on gun control, the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn the half-century-old Roe v. Wade precedent serves as a new lead that pushes the US much closer to a critical divide resulting from the melee between conservative and liberal forces. Chinese observers believe such a "regression" in the country that claims itself as "beacon of freedom" also sheds light on the twisted nature of US politics. As fissures grow deeper in the US, experts said the country is already experiencing a "war" on a cultural and political level, and the US, a "master of creating external conflict to give vent to its internal contradictions," may be prone to meddling in the affairs of more countries, and the experts warned that the US could take more risky moves to contain China, the top rival it deems, to divert attention from its domestic troubles. Soon after the US Supreme Court abolished the constitutional right to abortion more than 50 years after it was established, 26 states have established laws that indicate they could outlaw or set extreme limits on abortions, effectively banning abortion in those states, according to the Guttmacher Institute, CNN reported on Sunday. On Saturday, hundreds of protesters descended on the US Supreme Court to denounce the justices' decision, according to Reuters. It reported that crowds carried posters with slogans such as "Abort SCOTUS." One protester carried a placard that said "Limit guns, not women" in reference to another Supreme Court decision this week expanding gun rights. President Joe Biden, who on Friday expressed his deep disappointment with the court ruling on abortion, said on Saturday that the White House will monitor how states enforce bans, with administration officials having already signaled that they plan to fight attempts to prohibit a pill used for medication abortion. At a rally in western Illinois on Saturday, former President Donald Trump praised the Supreme Court ruling, calling it "a victory for the Constitution, a victory for the rule of law and above all a victory for life." The Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Roe v. Wade precedent in essence gives conservative states more legal basis to limit abortion, and is a great denial of American people's basic human rights, said Diao Daming, associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing. He called the move a huge step forward toward polarized politics, as it has put basic human rights issues into a debate between two parties. "It is clearly a historical regression." The reversal came a day after another divisive decision in which the court struck down a century-old New York state law requiring an individual to show "proper cause" to carry a concealed gun in public, deeming the statute unconstitutional. The rulings together shed light on the strong momentum of conservative power within the court, cemented by Trump's three appointments, a professor from the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University in Beijing told the Global Times on condition of anonymity, noting that the growing antagonism between conservatism and liberalism and the irreconcilable contradictions between Democrats and Republicans are the driving force tearing the country apart. One example of the increasingly irreconcilable contradictions is that Biden previously said, "I do not view abortion as a choice and a right. I think it's always a tragedy," in a videotaped interview with Texas Monthly in 2006 broadcast by CNN on Thursday. His old remarks stand in contrast with his current strong stance, vowing to try to preserve access to abortion after the Supreme Court's decision. The expert also said that the embarrassing fact the self-professed "beacon of freedom" took away the right to abortion in 2022 gives the world a peek into the US' twisted politics, where fierce bipartisan struggle is leading the country into a deeper chasm. A user of China's Twitter-like platform Sina Weibo said that the Supreme Court's decision has made the divided US more dangerous, "I say without exaggeration, maybe the US will see the coming of a civil war." "Hard to say if a civil war will really come to the US, but it's safe to say that the US has already been in a civil war situation on cultural and political fronts," said the anonymous professor, noting that there more complicated, dramatic conflicts are yet to come in the US. Furthermore, Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas suggested the court's reasoning could also lead it to reconsider past rulings protecting the right to contraception, legalizing gay marriage nationwide, and invalidating state laws banning gay sex, according to Reuters. Stimulus of hostility Faced with the simmering internal conflict, the US is likely to seek to ease it by creating conflicts overseas to give vent to the pressure, build unity inside and win time for a longer term solution to be found, said the anonymous expert, pointing out that upping the ante in pressuring China, its biggest imaginary enemy, may be an option. This view was echoed by Wei Nanzhi, a research fellow of the American Institute from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing. She told the Global Times that US politics has flexibility, and when its national strength is waning and domestic conflict is being ramped up, it tends to concentrate on targeting its major "opponents," as it did when it confronted the USSR. The Democrats and Republicans, despite their many irreconcilable differences, share a similar stance and interest in foreign expansion, according to Wei. In an exclusive interviewwith the Global Times, Zheng Yongnian, professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and president of the Institute for International Affairs, Qianhai, told the Global Times that historically, when the US was doing well at home, its diplomacy tended to be rational. When it faced a lot of domestic problems, it [the US] would divert its conflicts to international relations. The present China-US relationship is such a victim, said Zheng. He noted that US elites are also aware that the deterioration in China-US relations and the trade war it launched against China have failed to solve the US' domestic problems to any extent. Even if the US fully decouples from China, as the Biden administration has planned, its problems will only worsen rather than improve. The anonymous expert added that the US may be cautious in using overseas conflicts as a "buffer board' for its internal problems, as any crisis it creates outside its borders may backfire and add fuel to its domestic conflicts. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) After beating a tornado, Rock It Out is back to defeating horses. Rock It Out, a five-year-old female pacer, last week won a $22,000 Fillies and Mares Open at Oak Grove Racing in a career-best 1:49.4 for owner/trainer Donna Holt. The triumph came six months after the mare was one of six horses to survive a devastating tornado that passed through western Kentucky on Dec. 10 and destroyed Holts house and barn. The six horses in the barn at the time of the storm suffered varying injuries, mostly cuts and abrasions, as a result of the tornado. Rock It Out and pacing mare Tropical Tracey took the brunt of the impact and were trapped under rubble in the collapsed barn. Tropical Tracey will not return to racing but is ready to begin a new chapter as a broodmare. Rock It Out, after a couple months of care with veterinarian Dr. Kim Abernathy, returned to action. Rock It Out, who had raced just five days prior to the tornado, came back in early May in the Fillies and Mares open at Oak Grove. She had two third-place finishes among her first four races this season but has since won consecutive starts. After everything shes been through, shes done real good, said Holt, who resides in Benton, Kentucky. Im not going to lie, I had doubts. I thought she might come back but she might not be her old self. But she has come back with a vengeance, like Im not going to be beat. This storm is not going to beat me. The storm might have given her extra determination. Rock It Out, a daughter of Rockin Image-Musette Mindale, has won 21 of 67 career races and earned $175,285. At age three, she was a winner on the Indiana Sire Stakes circuit. She is a true, honest mare, said Holt. When she goes out there, she will give you everything she can give you; shes going to give it all. When she comes in, she knows shes done her best. She is one of the best horses Ive ever had. She is my first horse as a trainer or owner to go in [1]:49.4. I sold some that went on and took marks like that, but not training or still owned by me. I do have her spoiled, but she is a well-mannered sweet mare. My grandkids mess with her. I can put one of my grandbabies on her and she will just trot so slow. But when its time to go, shes going to go. On the same day that Rock It Out won in 1:49.4, Holt-trained Ashlees Joy, another pacing mare who was in the barn at the time of the tornado, won a conditioned race over male rivals in a career-best 1:51.4. Shes really turned it on too, said Holt. It was a big day for me. Holt is still putting her life back together following last years storm, but she is grateful for the outpouring of support shown to her and her father, Junior, who also lost his house and workshop on a bordering property. Im getting along, said Holt. Everything is going real slow. But I was fortunate to have some real good horsemen friends and family that have gone above and beyond. I wish I could thank each and every one of them personally. Some of them I dont even know, but theyve helped me out a lot. I cant express how much I appreciate what they did for me. (USTA) A 32-year-old Elk Creek man was arrested south of Lincoln on Sunday after he forced his girlfriend to drive along Nebraska 2 before assaulting her in a ditch after she tried to escape, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Cody Ringle had forced his 37-year-old girlfriend to drive a vehicle from Elk Creek toward Lincoln, Sheriff Terry Wagner said, and the woman stopped the car near 120th Street and Nebraska 2, where another man was changing his tire. After pulling over, Ringle went to help the man with his tire, Wagner said, and the woman took off running. Wagner said Ringle chased her down and was seen punching her in the face several times in the ditch near 120th and Nebraska 2. Another motorist stopped and gave the woman a ride to the nearby Sam's Club, where she called police, as Ringle fled the area on foot. He was arrested north of the area on suspicion of false imprisonment and third-degree domestic assault, along with an active Johnson County warrant, Wagner said. Ringle is being held at the Lancaster County jail. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Game-changer? That's what Sen. Patty Pansing Brooks of Lincoln, the Democratic nominee in Tuesday's special election to fill the eastern Nebraska House seat vacated by the resignation of former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, is hoping. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to end abortion rights previously guaranteed by its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade means that the Tuesday election in Nebraska provides the first opportunity in the country to "fight back at the ballot box," Pansing Brooks said at a hastily arranged news conference. "I'm angry, sad, mostly angry," she said. "Now we need to channel our anger into votes." The two-term state senator appeared at her downtown Lincoln campaign headquarters dressed in white, which she said represented an expression of hope. The court's decision, which she described as Draconian, transports women "back to the world where we were chattel," or property, second-class citizens, Pansing Brooks said. "It means safe abortions will not happen. "Many women will now die," she said. "It's a sad day." The court's decision has the effect of "push(ing) women back into the Dark Ages," she said. The news conference attracted the kind of intense media coverage that will give her targeted message wide distribution as voters in the 1st Congressional District prepare to go the polls Tuesday in a battleground that structurally favors Republicans. Flood praised the court's decision to "return abortion-related policy decisions back to the states and the people where they belong." Noting that he sponsored "the nation's first pain-capable unborn child protection act" as a state senator, a bill that has banned abortion in Nebraska after 20 weeks, Flood said "we helped pave the way for this landmark decision." Later, during an interview in the Capitol Rotunda, Flood said he believes the court ruling can spark decisions in the states that "create a culture of life," which includes support for prenatal care, adequate nutrition and a determination to "make sure pregnant women have the support they need." "Not in the last 50 years have Nebraskans had the opportunity to have such a discussion," Flood said. "This begins a journey and we need to listen to both sides." Flood recalled the political criticism he encountered in 2012 when he supported legislation that included prenatal care benefits for illegal immigrants living in Nebraska. "I chose the pro-life path," he said. "And I stand by that as part of a bigger discussion about providing women the resources they need to be able to deliver a healthy child. "My position is that life begins at conception," Flood said. "My pro-life record is clear. I believe the state has an obligation to help children who may not be wanted." Flood said he encourages a big voter turnout next week. Republicans hold a voter registration advantage over Democrats that tops 67,000 and have recorded 27 straight victories in the district, although it has been reshaped every decade to reflect changes dictated by U.S. census figures. Pansing Brooks said she is reaching out to moderate Republicans and independent voters, as well as members of her own party. Lincoln is the district's largest city and viewed in Nebraska's political terms as moderate, and it presumably would need to be a key element in shaping a potential upset. The district is composed of 10 counties and parts of two other counties and includes Bellevue, Norfolk, Fremont and Columbus in addition to Lincoln. Reach the writer at 402-473-7248 or dwalton@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSdon Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Tesla owners traveling across Nebraska on Interstate 80 will soon be able to charge their cars while grabbing a meal at the south Runza in North Platte. Josh Catlett, whose family has owned the south Runza on Dewey and Leota streets for 21 years, said he reached out to Tesla about three years ago. It took some time, but Tesla decided to install a supercharger station at the south Runza and two other Runza locations in Nebraska as well. There are going to be eight superchargers, Catlett said. From what Im hearing from Tesla is this is the fastest setup theyve done so far. Installation of the superchargers began June 14 and Catlett said they will go online in a couple of days. The city of North Platte has been super good about having everything ready, Catlett said. Tesla just reached out to Runza and had a couple locations they thought were good traffic areas, and we were one. Three or four years ago Catlett sent an email to Tesla suggesting the partnership. I said, hey, Ive think Ive got a good spot, Catlett said. I didnt know what the whole process was and it took awhile, but its happening. Catlett said he was told the supercharger should fully charge a Tesla in 30 minutes or less. Its a perfect time to charge a car, grab a burger and fries, and enjoy being out of the car for a little bit and then go cruising again wherever the next destination is, Catlett said. Its going to be great. Down the road Ill see if I can get a good deal on a Tesla, but right now well just go with this. Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Mindy Rush-Chipman doesnt remember the attorneys name, cant picture her clearly all these years later. But she's come to realize, in the 25 years since she was a 17-year-old girl on her own, barely making ends meet, in a relationship she knew wasnt healthy what an impact that woman had on her life. The attorney, working as a volunteer, met a young, scared Rush-Chipman at the courthouse, accompanied her to a district judges chambers and helped her walk through intensely personal details of her life shed never disclosed to anyone, that she was now telling a stranger in a black robe weighing her fate. Nebraska law requires anyone under 18 who doesn't have their parent's consent to get a judge's permission before getting an abortion, a process called judicial bypass. Rush-Chipman left the judges chambers that day able to access abortion care, something she knew she needed to do as soon as she realized she was pregnant. That she was in an abusive relationship was just one factor. I was barely supporting myself. I didnt have access to traditional health care or health insurance. I wanted to further my education. I needed to continue to work the survival job just to survive, she said. Ultimately, it was just my decision that I needed to make for myself. That decision and the role that attorney played in the process helped set her life on a different trajectory, away from her abuser and poverty to a husband, four kids and a successful legal career. Years later, she told her husband and children shed had an abortion, and about the abuse and addiction in her family, but shed never told anyone else. Until she did. Shed thought for months about how important it is, in the fight for reproductive freedom, for women to tell their stories, and for others to hear them. On her first day as legal director of ACLU Nebraska in March surrounded by supportive and receptive colleagues a 42-year-old Rush-Chipman decided it was time to tell her story. Maybe she could change someones perspective. Maybe it would encourage others to tell their stories. The rights that I utilized 20 years ago are under attack right now, she said. And so were in this unprecedented time where the decisions that I was able to make for myself and my future and my family might not be there moving forward. She wrote a column for the Journal Stars opinion page. She agreed to talk to a reporter. Friday morning, the U.S. Supreme Court as expected overturned Roe v. Wade, eliminating the constitutional right to abortion after almost 50 years. Rush-Chipman was in a meeting when the decision came down. Her team had spent weeks planning its response and next steps top among them to remind Nebraskans that abortion is still legal here, to contact their senators, to get involved. She spent the day finalizing and sending out news releases, executing social media pushes, giving a pre-planned presentation on employment law, attending a rally at the County-City Building. Although we had the leaked decision and we tried to be as prepared as possible, it was still shocking, disappointing, frustrating, heart-wrenching. All the emotions, she said. And always, on the periphery, forcing its way into the whirlwind of a day, was the memory of her own experience years ago. * * * Rush-Chipman was born in Minnesota and her childhood was marked by domestic abuse and her fathers addiction an addiction that sent him to prison or jail several times and ultimately led to his death by overdose four years ago. Her parents divorced when she was young, her mom remarried and the family traveled around a lot before landing in Lincoln, where Rush-Chipman went to Randolph Elementary School, Lefler Junior High and Lincoln High. In high school, she was active on student council, a cheerleader, in gymnastics. She liked school, but a chaotic home life led her to decide to graduate a year early and move out. It was not a supportive or happy environment in my home at that time, she said. And so I moved out, kind of flailing, not having a solid place to land and what ultimately happened is a person who was abusive took advantage of that situation. Rush-Chipman met her abuser when she was staying at a friends house, sleeping on the couch. She thought he could offer her stability. She was wrong. Now that Rush-Chipman understands more about the dynamics of power and control, she understands just how abusive he was, but even at 16, she knew it wasnt a good situation. She always intended to go to college she wasnt sure what she wanted to do, but she was convinced education was the path out of poverty. It was a goal, but that was about it. A very far-fetched, unclear goal, she said. The road was very bumpy and it wasnt perfect and I had to stop and start, but I always started again. It stopped for a while, when she moved away from home, and in with the man she'd met at her friend's house. Shed started working at Amigos when she was 14 and she stuck with that job. A good friend there had once mentioned abortion during a casual conversation the first time Rush-Chipman had ever heard the subject mentioned. When she suspected she was pregnant she turned to that friend. Shes still grateful for her support. The friend took Rush-Chipman to Planned Parenthood, where staffers confirmed the pregnancy and connected her with an attorney. She stayed with the friend for a short time afterward. Though she returned to her abuser, she eventually left him for good. Breaking the cycle of domestic abuse was hard, she said, and several factors played into her eventually getting out of the situation. She called the police more than once. The support she got when she was pregnant was part of it. Now, looking back, I think one of the things, knowing that there were support systems I could rely on, was very powerful, she said. You know, there was this pro bono attorney who didnt know me that was helping me, and my friend, the folks at Planned Parenthood. Getting a better-paying job as a correctional officer at the Nebraska Department of Corrections was another factor, she said, because it allowed her to be more financially independent. There was another, unintended benefit: it helped set her on a path to becoming a lawyer. She started working at what was then the Diagnostic and Evaluation Center, then got a promotion to work in the prison library, which was also a law library. She saw so many prisoners, she said, still working through the appeals process. She was struck by how different the sentences were for the same crime, how some inmates had no access to attorneys. She thought about the attorney whod helped her. And something sparked. She wasnt aspiring to be a lawyer just yet, but maybe, she thought, a legal assistant. She started attending the Lincoln School of Commerce, where she earned a paralegal degree, then got a job at an attorneys office and went to Doane College, where she earned a bachelors degree in paralegal studies. She took the law school entrance exam, and when she got a scholarship, started law school at the University of Nebraska. After her first year, she worked at the Lancaster County Public Defenders office as a clerk. By that time, she had a young daughter. Shed been in a relationship with the father when her daughter was born, but the relationship ended. She met her husband in law school he was in the Air Force at the time, a year ahead of her. They got married during her last year of law school. She did a short stint in private practice once she graduated, but she was drawn to work that involved helping those who couldnt afford it, who needed someone to advocate for them. She worked for Legal Aid of Nebraska and the Immigration Legal Center, then became director of the Lincoln Human Rights Commission. She started work at ACLU Nebraska this spring. And she has realized, she said, just how much that pro bono lawyer impacted the trajectory of her career and her life. I mean, that was my first experience with a lawyer, right? * * * Today, Rush-Chipman and her husband have a blended family: her daughter, two of his children from a previous relationship, and a 15-year-old son together. Two of their oldest children are in college, one is joining the military. For the last decade, theyve lived on an acreage with a pot-bellied pig named Penelope and a fainting goat. In a nearby small town, they own a junk/antique store they recently converted to an Airbnb. She knows trauma is part of her story, including the death by suicide of her brother 15 years ago, but that's not the only justification for women making the same choice because all women's stories are valid. Stigma made it feel impossible for me to share (my story) for 25 years, she said. And that shouldnt be the case. The reason somebody decides to access abortion care is the only reason that matters. To me, anyone else's expectation is inappropriate. Rush-Chipman hopes to find the attorney who helped her all those years ago. She wants to thank her. She would tell her how what she did might have seemed a small thing, but it helped put a 17-year-old girls life on a different path. She doesnt know where shed be now had she not had access to those services, certainly not legal director of the ACLU. She would tell that attorney that she's the reason she does pro bono work, why she encourages other lawyers to do the same. You just never know how that one pro bono act could have an amazing ripple effect in (someones) life, she said. Reach the writer at 402-473-7226 or mreist@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LJSreist Submit Your News We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Mitchell Community College recently celebrated the following Crosby Scholars who are recipients of a 2022 Mitchell-Crosby Scholarship: Ava Akdamar (Lake Norman), Bryce Mostert (Langtree Charter Academy), Juan Carlos Sanchez (Mooresville), Haley Duncan (North Iredell), Kelly Estevez (South Iredell), James Parlier (Statesville), and Angiela Abrogena (West Iredell). These recipients were honored at a luncheon hosted on Mitchells campus where students participated in networking opportunities and icebreaker activities while learning more about the college itself. Students families were present at the luncheon in addition to Mitchell staff, who conversed with the scholarship recipients about college expectations, resources and advice. Students then took part in a campus tour. We are excited to welcome the first Mitchell-Crosby Scholarship cohort to campus! These students are receiving a life-changing opportunity to receive two years of higher education completely free, said Tamara Watkins, director of strategic enrollment management. We are thankful for our partnership and continued collaboration with Crosby Scholars to promote affordable college access for students in Iredell County. The 2022 Mitchell-Crosby Scholarship is presented to graduating Iredell County Crosby Scholars to cover tuition, fees and books for full-time students pursuing a degree at Mitchell Community College. This scholarship was formed from a collaboration between Mitchell Community College and Iredell Crosby Scholars to promote college access and provide affordable opportunities for students to obtain educational credentials while also finding personal success in achieving their educational, personal and professional goals. The energy inside and outside of the CATS campus in Troutman where the Rockets, Rovers, and Robots Camp was contemplative as much as it was frenzied excitement. While some were quietly working away designing rockets, greenhouses and other projects, others were flying down the halls on a leaf blower-powered hovercraft or chasing those rockets as they fell back to earth. In a way, thats exactly what Dr. Debra Lester with Iredell-Statesville Schools wants as students show an eagerness to learn while having fun at the camp. We sneak that in on them, Lester said with a laugh. Its bait and switch, we bait them in with the cool little things, and we give them a lot of knowledge and skills along the way, and they dont always notice it, but we do. Students like Hans Vink did notice, but thats both part of the fun and part of the learning process. I thought it would be fun to launch some rockets and play with some robots, Vink said. By doing stuff with your hands, it is more fun to do it, because when you make something, you can see the result, and youre learning while you work on it. The camp was offered to 40 students, rising sixth- and ninth-graders, as a chance to learn a number of science, technology, engineering and mathematics skills. And while the gains the students make in those areas are the focus of the camp, Lester said she has been proud to see the students improve a number of their soft skills as well. In just two weeks time, Ive seen a huge improvement in their communication, their collaboration, how they interact with one another, their problem-solving. Theyre more brave and tend to step out versus waiting to be told. They talk with their peer groups and share and respect one anothers ideas. To me, thats the biggest piece. Lester said with in-person interaction being cut back during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeing the students pick up or simply re-acquire those skills during that camp has been encouraging. The three-week camp is in its second year and doing well, but Lester also hopes to encourage more girls to take part in the future. Along with encouraging them, she said the camp gives some students an opportunity to engage with projects that they may not have available to them elsewhere. My hope is the girls that are in the camp, it inspires them to step out and do more science, math, STEM-related activities, and bring their friends next year, Lester said. In addition to that, were serving students that just dont get this opportunity just give them experience with stuff that they wouldnt have on a regular basis. That is evident as the students dont seem ready to go home as theyre learning as much as theyre having fun. She said the teachers at the camp are having as much fun, as Lester said theyre already volunteering to come back next year. A day at camp The following is a press release from the camp: R3 (Rockets, Rovers, and Robots) Camp is a 3-week summer camp available to 40 rising 6th and rising 9th grade students enrolled in Iredell-Statesville Schools. The camp runs June 13th-June 30th from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is located on the Career Academy & Technical School (CATS) campus. Each day students rotate through 4 different NASA inspired stations. In the Apollo station, teachers Olivia Atchley, Kensley Dalton, and Wendy Santorum teach students to program and code various robots and rovers like the popular EV3 LEGO Mindstorms, various Sphero brand robots, indoor drones, and more. The NAO robots are wildly popular among the students. NAOs are toddler-sized, interactive robots that have the brain of a genius and the behavior of a toddler. FUN! Students have programmed the wayward bots to do Tai Chi, play a pretend saxophone, and even dance. With the help of the CTE department, students also get the opportunity to use Virtual Reality (VR) goggles with special job simulator software. Students virtually learn how to change oil in a car, do some basic welding, and even put out fires using a fire extinguisher. Megan Collins and Matt Miller operate the Discovery and Challenger stations. The teachers issue extensive tasks that not only offer students a chance to be creative but also encourage them to solve real-world problems both as individuals and as a group. Peer group interaction promotes soft skills like effective communication, respecting others opinions, team support, and a host of other skills necessary for workforce success. Tasks in these stations include building model airplanes, creating a wearable space helmet, and even build a rideable hovercraft powered by a leaf blower. Artemis is the final station and is a camp favorite. Here, April Smith, Chaz Boller, and CJ Flay guide students through the building and launching of solid fuel rockets. Seeing the looks on the students faces and hearing the squeals of delight feels exhilarating for the teachers. Camp coordinator, Dr. Debra Lester, explains that camp preparation began in December with researching fun and engaging activities, formulating supply lists, and recruiting teachers. Dr. Lester attributes the camps popularity and success to the wonderfully talented and gifted teachers and the helpful staff at CATS. Follow Ben Gibson on Facebook and Twitter at @BenGibsonSRL Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SLOVIANSK, Ukraine (AP) Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian rocket strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was "unimaginable," citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress. Ukraine's state emergency service said at least 20 civilians had been wounded, and two of them died. Zelenskyy said the target presented "no threat to the Russian army" and had "no strategic value." He accused of Russia of sabotaging "people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry." The alleged Russian missile strike carried echoes of attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. "Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part," Zelenskyy said. Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the rocket attack "hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces." The attack came as Russia was mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, "pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. Russian forces appeared to step up longer-range strikes on the country after forcing Ukrainian troops out of the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. Western leaders, meanwhile, pledged steadfast and continued support for Kyiv. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit, according to the military alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg. The battle for Sievierodonetsk and and Lysychansk is part of a stepped-up Russian offensive to wrest the broader Donbas region from Ukraine. Meanwhile to the west, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions on the city after dawn, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of dead and wounded had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A man's body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. "Everything is now destroyed. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power," said local resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. "I can't even call to tell others what had happened to us." Overall, Zelenskyy's office said at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the country's south and east, but not counting the attack in Kremenchuk. It said Russian forces fired rockets that killed two people and wounded five overnight in and near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and continued to target the key southern port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, it said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings in the city and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, the regional governor said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable by shelling. The city had a prewar population of around 100,000, approximately one-tenth of whom remain. Analysts say that Lysychansk's location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to the city's Ukrainian defenders. "It's a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk," said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, leaders of the Group of Seven countries pledged to continue supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes." In a joint statement on Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their "unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The U.S., meanwhile, appeared ready to respond to Zelenskyy's call for more air defense systems after Russian troops hit Kyiv with long-range missiles on Sunday. Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. Britian's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks of the war. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with political consequences for President Vladimir Putin's government. Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 You can have a hands-free chatting experience while sending long messages on WhatsApp without the need to type a single word! Here's how to send WhatsApp messages without typing. Are you tired of typing long messages on WhatsApp? Well, you don't have to do that as there are several ways to convey your message. The trick is that you must love talking and also remembering names as well as phone numbers. Yes, WhatsApp's own voice message feature allows you to record your voice and send it to your contacts. But to send it as a text, you will need this trick. Wondering what it is? The hack i is available on your Android smartphone - the Google Assistant! Yes, you just need to ask the virtual assistant to send a WhatsApp message and Google Assistant will do the rest of the work for you without worrying about typing a single word! Such a blessing, isnt it? Well, you need to activate your Google Assistant to make this trick work. Before doing anything else, make sure that your Google Assistant can recognise your voice. You can even place the app on your Home Screen for quick access. Once you are done, lets start the process to send WhatsApp messages without typing. Know here in simple steps. NASA CAPSTONE mission was set to launch today, but got delayed. Here's what NASA said about the CAPSTONE launch to the Moon. Bad news. NASA's CAPSTONE mission just got delayed! According to the schedule, the CAPSTONE mission was slated to launch today, June 27. It was planned to board a Rocket Lab Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in Mahia, New Zealand. The launch has been delayed to allow more time to check its Rocket Lab booster for flight. The mission has been delayed a couple of times since 2021. Earlier, it was due to COVID-19 pandemic issues and now, NASA delayed it due to the need for more checks on the Rocket Lab booster. "NASA, Rocket Lab, and Advanced Space are standing down from the June 27 launch attempt for the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon to allow Rocket Lab to perform final systems checks," NASA said in its latest statement. However, it is also mentioned that the teams are evaluating the weather and other factors to determine the date of the next launch attempt. Within the current period, the next launch opportunity is expected on June 28. What is the NASA CAPSTONE mission? CAPSTONE (Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment) is a small 25kg spacecraft that is designed to test a path around the Moon called a near rectilinear halo orbit, and has never been flown before. NASA explained that "the destination for this microwave oven-size CubeSat is a near rectilinear halo orbit (NRHO). That same orbit is planned for Gateway, a multipurpose outpost for long-term lunar missions as part of the agencys Artemis program." If everything goes well, then after the six days of launch, the Photon upper stage will release CAPSTONE into space for the first portion of the spacecrafts solo flight over four months. Then, CAPSTONE will test the dynamics of the NRHO for at least six months while performing navigation and communications experiments to reduce the risk for future spacecraft. The mission will also establish innovative spacecraft-to-spacecraft navigation technology and one-way ranging capabilities. This could help future spacecraft to fly near the Moon without the need for communication with Earth. The launch has been delayed, but NASA confirmed that the spacecraft will arrive at its lunar orbit on 13th November 2022, regardless of the launch date within the current period. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 A 20000 km high solar tornado has been spotted by an astrophotographer rising above our Sun. Earth would be destroyed if it was any closer to it. A giant swirling solar tornado consisting of plasma particles has been captured by an astrophotographer shooting from the surface of the Sun. This is called a Solar Tornado. It was massive and reached as high as 20000 km (12000 miles) above the Sun. A video by astrophotographer Apollo Laski of Naperville, Illinois, USA, captured the deadly moment. The video of this astonishing solar tornado shows the solar tornado rising from the surface of the Sun in a terrifying manner. According to Spaceweather.com, astrophotographer Lasky recorded the incident on June 21. This plasma ejection from the surface of the Sun is part of a 'solar storm system'. This was such a huge solar tornado that if Earth was nearer to it, then it would have been destroyed in seconds! Thankfully, the solar plasma ejection was not directed towards the Earth. Lasky used a backyard solar telescope to capture this solar flare event, SpaceWeather.com report mentioned. How do Solar tornadoes occur? Solar tornadoes are basically due to the spiral-shaped magnetic structures that rise from the surface of the Sun and are rooted to the Suns surface at both ends which makes it swirl like a tornado. When a series of plasma shorts inside this structure, it moves along with the structure's helical magnetic field. This is what causes the plasma to rotate and form a twister. Just days ago, a giant sunspot AR3038 has been found on the surface of the Sun which has increased the concern of scientists. Scientists of the US space agency NASA are closely monitoring it because it faces directly towards the Earth. Not just that, scientists are also concerned about its constantly growing size. Due to the this sunspot directly facing earth, there is a possibility that it can send solar flares shooting toward us. New Zealand is trumpeting its role in a plan to return humans to the Moon, saying it is set to star in NASAs Capstone mission that will test the orbit for a lunar space station. New Zealand is trumpeting its role in a plan to return humans to the Moon, saying it is set to star in NASAs Capstone mission that will test the orbit for a lunar space station. Rocket Lab has announced it will launch a satellite from Mahia, New Zealand, to test the lunar orbit for Gateway, a planned Moon-orbiting outpost that will provide astronauts with access to the lunar surface. Separately, New Zealands government said Monday it has signed an agreement with NASA to conduct new research to track spacecraft approaching and orbiting the Moon. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: The New Zealand space sector is set to star in NASAs Capstone Moon mission, said Andrew Johnson, manager of the New Zealand Space Agency. Launching into lunar orbit from New Zealand is a significant milestone, while the new research will be increasingly important as more countries and private actors send spacecraft to the Moon, he said. NASAs Artemis Program plans to return humans to the lunar surface as early as 2025, renewing human exploration of the Moon and progressing toward the exploration of Mars. It plans to land the first woman and first person of color on the Moon and explore more of the lunar surface than ever before. Rocket Lab said it could launch the CubeSat satellite as soon as Tuesday, with the launch window open through July 27. The announcement comes the day after NASA launched the first of three sounding rockets from a facility in Australias Northern Territory, the first time the space agency has used a commercial launchpad outside of the US in its more than 50-year history. The three rocket launches will take place between June 26 and July 12 from the Arnhem Space Centre, a site which is privately-owned and run by Equatorial Launch Australia. Space is really going through a renaissance, Enrico Palermo, the head of the Australian Space Agency, told Bloomberg Television Monday. Weve seen entities like SpaceX rapidly drop the cost of getting technology to space. The barriers to do stuff in space are so, so much lower. New Zealands agreement with NASA will see a University of Canterbury-led research team, which includes contributors from the University of Auckland and the University of New South Wales in Australia, attempt to track spacecraft from observatories in Tekapo and Canberra. The scientists intend to validate their observations and algorithms to predict spacecraft trajectories enroute to the Moon and within their lunar orbits against NASAs Capstone mission data. If you have a BSNL SIM card, you can get it recharged with Rs. 107 prepaid plan to enjoy several benefits. Check details here. Which company's mobile SIM do you use? BSNL, Jio, Airtel, or Vodafone Idea? Telecom companies have a long list of recharge plans which will not cost your pocket much. If you are a BSNL user, you should be aware of the Rs. 107 prepaid plan. Under this prepaid plan, you are provided with several facilities like free calling, messaging, data and more. For the uninitiated, prepaid refers to the connection for which one makes the payment in advance to purchase the SIM card and it can be used till its call value or validity period are not exhausted. BSNL Mobile - prepaid, provides services like mobile to mobile voice calls, mobile to land line voice calls, various supplementary services like- CLIP (Calling Line Identification Presentation), SMS (Short Messaging Service), call forwarding, call wait, voice mail among others. Looking for a smartphone? To check mobile finder click here. Also read: Also Read: Now, use Gmail without internet! Yes, send email offline, just follow these steps Here is all you need to know about Rs. 107 prepaid recharge plan details below. About BSNL Rs. 107 prepaid recharge plan BSNL has placed the recharge of Rs.107 in the category of plan extension on its website. The plan offers you a validity period of 50 days. It can be known that the validity period is the period during which you are allowed to make or receive the calls and start with the date of activation of your SIM card. If you recharge your number with this plan, you will get 3GB data for the internet and 200 minutes for calling. Apart from this, the facility of BSNL Tunes will also be available for free for 50 days, according to a report by Live Hindustan. If you are a BSNL user and are not aware of how to check the account balance on prepaid then you can know that you will have to dial 123 and follow the IVRS instructions. Also Read: Poco F4 5G, Realme C30 to go on sale today; Check price, offers and more BSNL Rs. 107 plan vs Jio Rs. 155 plan BSNL is providing the cheapest prepaid recharge plan compared to other telecom companies. If we talk about Reliance Jio, then there is a plan of Rs. 155 which offers 2 GB data and comes for a validity period of 28 days. The Rs. 155 recharge plan of Jio also offers unlimited voice calling and 300 SMS. In addition, you are given a free subscription to Jio apps. Today, Razer released a new gaming keyboard and this time it's the third-gen Ornata V3. Accompanied by Razer Chroma RGB, there are actually two variants which are the aforementioned V3 and the Ornata V3 X. Both models are priced at RM329 and RM195 respectively. As the third-gen, the new Orvata V3 series is slimmer than before with more durable keycaps and unique mecha-membrane switches. According to Razer, the keycaps are more durable thanks to the UV-coated painting that improves the fade and scratch resistance. Not only that, there are additional backlit dedicated media keys too such as play, pause, skip and volume controls. On top of that, the gaming keyboard still comes with the traditional magnetic soft-touch wrist rest which is great for work and play. Also, Razer has upgraded the Razer Chroma RGB lighting zones with up to 16.8 million colours and a variety of RGB effects to choose from. As usual, gamers can customise the RGB to their preference in the settings. To read more about it, you can head over to the Razer Malaysia page here to check it out. Stay tuned for more local trending tech gadget deals at TechNave.com. Credit: CC0 Public Domain One of Iran's major steel companies said Monday it was forced to halt production after being hit by a cyberattack that also targeted two other plants, apparently marking one of the biggest such assaults on the country's strategic industrial sector in recent memory. The Iranian government did not acknowledge the disruption or blame any specific group for the assault on the state-owned Khuzestan Steel Co. and Iran's two other major steel producers, which constitutes just the latest example of an attack crippling the country's services in recent months amid heightened tensions in the region. An anonymous hacking group claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it targeted Iran's three biggest steel companies in response to the "aggression of the Islamic Republic." The group, calling itself "Gonjeshke Darande," shared what purported to be closed-circuit footage from the Khuzestan Steel Co. factory floor that showed a piece of heavy machinery on a steel billet production line malfunction and cause a massive fire. "These companies are subject to international sanctions and continue their operations despite the restrictions," the group said, citing their links to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. A steel mill in the central Iranian town of Mobarakeh said that its system was struck too, while the the state-run IRAN newspaper reported that another factory in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas was targeted in the cyberattack. Neither plant acknowledged any damage or work stoppage as a result. Khuzestan Steel Co., meanwhile, said the factory had to stop work until further notice "due to technical problems" following "cyberattacks." The company's website was down on Monday. However, CEO Amin Ebrahimi, claimed that Khuzestan Steel managed to thwart the cyberattack and prevent damage to production that would impact supply chains and customers. He said nothing of the explosion shown in the hacker group's footage. "Fortunately with time and awareness, the attack was unsuccessful," the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Ebrahimi as saying, adding that he expected the company's website to be restored and everything to return to "normal" by the end of Monday. A local news channel, Jamaran, meanwhile reported that the attack failed because the factory happened to be non-operational at the time due to an electricity outage. Cyberattacks have become increasingly common in Iran in recent years. The country, long sanctioned by the West, has been slow to update its networks to counter the rising use of ransomware by criminals, as well as intrusions by state actors. In a major incident last year, a cyberattack on Iran's fuel distribution system paralyzed gas stations across the country, leading to long lines of angry motorists. The same anonymous hacking group, Gonjeshke Darande, claimed responsibility for the attack on fuel pumps. Train stations in Iran have been hit with fake delay messages. Surveillance cameras in the country have been hacked. State-run websites have been disrupted. Footage showing abuse in the country's notorious Evin prison has leaked out. Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a principal threat researcher at SentinelOne, said it's still unclear who is behind the recent cyberattacks against Iran. But he said it's an escalation if the same groups are behind the alleged attack on the steel plants' industrial control system. "Something has changed in the tone of these attacks," he said. Lior Tabansky, a cybersecurity expert at Israel's Tel Aviv University, said that in the murky world of cybersecurity, it's often difficult to separate genuine claims of responsibility from false flags. If it was indeed a cyberattack, suspicion would likely fall on Israel or the United States, he said. "However, if I were an Iranian senior official and I had problems in my ministry of steel or whatever, the best way out is to say well, the Zionists or American imperialists are cyber-attacking me." Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have impaired the country's infrastructure. Iran disconnected much of its government infrastructure from the internet after the Stuxnet computer viruswidely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creationdisrupted thousands of Iranian centrifuges in the country's nuclear sites in the late 2000s. Khuzestan Steel Co., based in Ahvaz in the oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province, has a monopoly on steel production in Iran along with two other major state-owned firms. Founded before Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the company for decades afterward had some production lines supplied by German, Italian and Japanese companies. Service has been continuous except during the catastrophic Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sent his army across the border. However, crushing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program have forced the company to reduce its dependence on foreign parts. The government considers steel a crucial sector. Iran is the leading producer of steel in the Middle East and among the top 10 in the world, according to the World Steel Association. Its iron ore mines provide raw materials for domestic production and are exported to dozens of countries, including Italy, China and the United Arab Emirates. Iran's crude steel production, however, was only 2.3 million tons last month, the WSA said. Its concurrent drop in exports has been largely attributed to sanctions-hit Russia flooding Iran's Chinese buyers with discounted steel after losing access to Western markets amid the war on Ukraine. Explore further Hackers disrupt Iran's rail service with fake delay messages 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Microscope image of the polyurethane foam, taken right after the formation of bacterial biofilm; the upper, darker half of this snapshot is oxygen-rich, clearly distinguished from the brighter bottom, which lacks oxygen. Credit: Bruno Garcia Silva A new type of biofilm reactor adapted to Brazilian conditions and using polyurethane foam to lower costs can reduce the amount of nitrogen compounds in wastewater by as much as 70%, according to an article in. The researchers who conducted the study developed a mathematical model to analyze and predict the nitrogen removal mechanism. The biofilm comprised bacteria that converted nitrogen compounds into nitrogen gas, which is environmentally harmless. The study was led by Bruno Garcia Silva during his doctoral research in hydraulic engineering and sanitation at the University Sao Paulo (USP) in Brazil, with Eugenio Foresti as thesis advisor. Foresti is a professor at the Sao Carlos School of Engineering (EESC-USP). The study was supported by FAPESP. Researchers at the Federal University of Sao Carlos (UFSCar) and Maua Institute of Technology (IMT) collaborated. "Nitrogen removal is still achieved by only a few wastewater treatment plants in Brazil, whereas it's regularly performed in Europe and the United States," Garcia told Agencia FAPESP. "The idea is to adapt [the necessary infrastructure] to our reality. The usual method here is based on anaerobic reactors, which produce effluent with low levels of organic matter, making nitrogen removal difficult." Removal of nitrogen compounds (nitrite, nitrate and ammonia, among others) from both domestic sewage and industrial wastewater is essential because they contaminate surface water (lakes, reservoirs and streams) as well as aquifers and other ground water, letting the growth of bacteria, algae and plants spiral out of control in a process known as eutrophication. Furthermore, consumption of water contaminated by nitrate can lead to diseases such as infant methemoglobinemia (blue baby syndrome), which causes headache, dizziness, fatigue, lethargy, breathlessness, and neurological alterations such as seizures and coma in severe cases. "When algal blooms proliferate, as seen in reservoirs like Billings (one of the main water sources for Sao Paulo), for example, lack of oxygen in the water leads to the death of fish and loss of water supply as well as leisure areas. It's very hard to remove algae from reservoirs," said Foresti, who leads the group. Differentiators One of the key differentiators of this new reactor model is the biofilm formed by a biological process in which bacteria create a film on the polyurethane foam. Another is the configuration of the equipment to permit what the researchers call counterdiffusion, where oxygen is introduced on the opposite side to the contaminants. "Oxygen is transported into the foam because this ensures that it remains only where it's needed for the reaction to occur," Garcia explained. "We don't want oxygen to come into contact with organic matter all the time. If it did, the bacteria would use up all the oxygen to break it down and nothing would be left over to consume the nitrite and nitrate. So we insert the oxygen on the other side of the biofilm. The goal is for the organic matter that reaches the biofilm on the opposite side to be oxidized not just by oxygen but also by nitrite and nitrate." When oxygen does not enter the reactor, the ammonia remains unchanged. When ammonia enters the site of the reactor with oxygen input, however, it is converted into nitrite and nitrate. "The only way out is via the biofilm, and the compounds cross this barrier by diffusion in the opposite direction to the organic matter. Their collision with organic matter in contraflow creates optimal conditions for nitrite and nitrate removal because there's no longer any oxygen and there's enough organic matter for denitrification," Garcia said. Foresti explained that in Brazil, anaerobic reactors (which break down organic matter using bacteria that do not require oxygen to survive) are increasingly being used by municipal wastewater treatment companies because of the predominant climate, which is warmer than that of the northern hemisphere. Bacteria decompose organic matter faster in warm weather. In Europe and the U.S., where mean temperatures are lower, the process is different. The organic matter present in the liquid phase after sludge removal is oxidized aerobically (by oxygen). In Brazil, however, nitrogen compounds are not completely removed for cost reasons and are directly released into nature. The new type of reactor developed by the researchers is designed to add a second, easier and cheaper, stage to wastewater treatment, for development with future technologies and partnerships. Scholarship for research in the US Researchers who work at the laboratory of Robert Nerenberg, a professor at the University of Notre Dame in the U.S., collaborated with Garcia, who was there as a visiting researcher in 201920 with FAPESP's support. "The difference between my project and theirs is that instead of polyurethane foam they use a semipermeable membrane, which resembles a drinking straw full of air. When this capillary comes into contact with water, it lets through oxygen but not water, so that the biofilm sticks to the surface and grows on it. In other words, oxygen is supplied to the bacteria through the walls of this thin tube. The oxygen comes out, and the water provides ammonia and organic matter. It's the same system as counterdiffusion, except that the material we use is simpler and cheaper," Garcia said. "The bacteria grow on the surface to form a biofilm, but it's not a filter properly speaking because it doesn't offer mechanical resistance to the passage of particles. What the reactor does in fact is serve as a support for the bacteria to grow and consume soluble organic matter and nitrogen compounds." Next steps According to Foresti, the new configuration of the reactor is inspiring further research by the group. In a program of cooperation between the Sao Paulo State Basic Sanitation Corporation (SABESP) and FAPESP, the researchers plan to test the new model with real sewage that has been through an aerobic reactor in the treatment plant operated by SAAE, the municipal sanitation service in Sao Carlos. Researchers at UFSCar and IMT are also part of the program and will develop other systems to be tested. "Bruno's research is the first to use counterdiffusion in this way here in Brazil," Foresti said. "It's proof of concept for synthetic wastewater. The efficiency found in this reactor configuration was greatly superior to that observed in previous research, but we still need to evaluate several factors." The new configuration has been tested in the laboratory. Efficiency will be measured in further projects, as it is not possible to predict how the equipment will behave when processing large volumes of effluent, and the system needs to be tested with actual domestic sewage and industrial wastewater. Hitherto it has been tested only on samples of synthetic waste prepared by the researchers themselves. "We may have to improve the design and geometry," Garcia said. "How can the design be optimized to obtain the largest optimal surface area per reactor volume so as to lower the cost? The study provides a basis, a foundation on which we can go on thinking about the process and the mathematical tool." Explore further Wastewater treatment at one-third the size and cost More information: Bruno Garcia Silva et al, Unique biofilm structure and mass transfer mechanisms in the foam aerated biofilm reactor (FABR), Environmental Technology (2022). Bruno Garcia Silva et al, Unique biofilm structure and mass transfer mechanisms in the foam aerated biofilm reactor (FABR),(2022). DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2022.2058422 A county burn ban may be on the way as local drought conditions are unlikely to improve before the Fourth of July. While the drought monitor indicates Brazos County is doing the best in the state, drought conditions are steadily getting worse with the absence of much-needed rain, or rainfall scattered throughout periods of time, according to KBTX chief meteorologist Shel Winkley. Despite a decent amount of rainfall over the course of the spring, vegetation has begun drying up in the drier, hotter conditions, Winkley said. As conditions continue to get drier without any significant rainfall in sight, extreme temperatures are more likely during the summer, Winkley said. This is the third consecutive year a La Nina has occurred, a weather event that brings those drier and hotter conditions, Winkley said. In terms of just weathermakers and rain and thunderstorms, on their own the outlook does not look great, Winkley said. It really comes down to whether or not there is going to be a tropical system. That is going to be our best chance of getting significant rain. Sure the rain is great, but what else does that come with. Last week, the Brazos County Commissioners Court tabled a potential burn ban until Tuesday in a 4-1 vote after reviewing a fire report by Jason Ware, fire chief for Brazos County Precinct 3 Volunteer Fire Department and the deputy emergency management coordinator for Brazos County. I think its very important and I think were close, but if you look at the KBDI numbers (drought index) were still not quite there yet, Russ Ford, Brazos County Precinct 2 commissioner, said during the meeting. I think were about a week away with no rain and I think Tuesday we would probably be ready to take action. Steve Aldrich, Brazos County Precinct 1 commissioner, was the sole vote against tabling the ban. Aldrich said he had spoken with South Brazos County Fire Department Chief Harvie Cheshire prior to the meeting and believed it shouldnt have been delayed. Its pretty much unpredictable, everything changes if wind velocities go above 10 miles per hour and once you get something started from a spark then it goes a long way, Aldrich said regarding potential fires. I voiced my perspective based off of what Ive heard from the professionals of South Brazos County Fire Department. Ware said current KBDI numbers are high, and with high temperatures and little to no rainfall the fire departments emergency management is becoming concerned. Low humidity levels also could make a potential fire more problematic. A number of small fires cropped up along Texas 6 on Saturday. Fortunately we havent seen a significant increase in the number of grass fires that are being responded to by the volunteer department, but it only takes one, so we definitely try to get ahead of it, but it is totally up to the Commissioners Court whether they pass the burn ban or not, Ware said. Joseph Boyd, Brazos County District 2 Volunteer Fire Department fire chief, said his department has not seen a substantial increase in call volume, the drought index thats monitored daily is still in a good range and moisture context has been up despite the heat. One of the biggest things that indicates that we need to stop burning is when we start to see extreme behavior, Boyd said. When we see fires spotting, jumping ahead by an ember 20-100 feet. We havent seen that. Weve seen slow growth and very consistent and predictable growth for the most part which makes the fires relatively easy to manage. Boyd said a burn ban may need to be implemented as soon as Tuesday if temperatures continue to increase with little to no rain. Well have to evaluate what the fuel moisture looks like after that because things start to dry out as temperatures continue to get up that high, and along with the temperatures going up were going to be seeing lower humidity just based on that high-pressure system we have coming in, Boyd said. There are a handful of surrounding counties under a burn ban and with Fourth of July approaching those looking to launch fireworks may have to change their plans if the burn ban is passed. Were in a delicate situation with the dry weather and dry vegetation, so whatever you do on the Fourth of July you need to be very careful with it, have a bucket of water or a water hose nearby, Ware said. Winkley said if there isnt a burn ban by the Fourth anyone interested in setting off fireworks needs to make sure they have multiple ways of taking care of any situation that gets out of control. I never want to be the guy who says dont celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks, but I think with the heat were expecting this weekend its going to get worse very rapidly, Winkley said. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. I watched one of my favorite movies the other night, Quo Vadis. Despite the cheesy costumes and over the top acting, it has important historical value, in that it describes a critical but faded episode of inhumanity: The persecution of Christians. We know about it, we have some vague memories of the people who had to dance around the lions in the Colosseum, but the events are generally filed under news too old to care about. Except, the news too old to care about is todays headline. No lions, no Colosseum, just the massacre of Nigerian Catholics in a church on Pentecost Sunday 2022. Nigeria is a country whose Christians have been under assault for more than a decade. According to the website Genocide Watch, more than 45,000 Christians have been assassinated in the past 13 years, making that country the most dangerous in Africa for members of the faith. Catholics are in particular danger, because we represent a large percentage of Christians in the country and attract most of the attention. This time, they waited until the worshippers entered St. Francis Church in Owo, Ondo State, and then started shooting at them from both inside and outside of the building. Reports state that some of the attackers were disguised as parishioners. Some have attributed the assault to random violence. But dont be misled. The history of anti-Christian violence in Nigeria is a part of the fabric of the nation, something that mirrors a similar wave of persecution that has engulfed much of Africa, the Middle East, South Asia and Central America. A lot of it is fueled by a particularly extreme and virulent form of Islam, such as that practiced by the Boko Haram in Nigeria and ISIS in the Middle East. Some of it is rooted in hostility toward the social justice mission of many Christian churches, such as those who evangelize against gang violence in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Guatemala. In my 25 years practicing immigration law, Ive handled a lot of asylum cases. But the ones that cause me the largest number of sleepless nights are the ones that involve religious persecution. Just this past week we were successful in obtaining asylum for a Catholic youth leader from El Salvador who had a gun held to his head as he was counseling young boys in church. He was told that if he didnt stop trying to keep the boys from joining Mara Salvatrucha, the most violent gang in that country, he would end up like Romero. That was a clear reference to the assassination of Archbishop Oscar Romero who was assassinated at the altar while celebrating Mass in San Salvador more than 40 years ago. Ive also represented Protestant preachers whove been kidnapped, threatened and in one case orphaned (mother and father murdered) because of their ministries in Honduras and China. The most heart-wrenching case was that of a young Salvadoran woman who was raped by her boyfriend, a police officer, and became pregnant. When he demanded that she abort the child, she refused because of her Catholic beliefs, at which point he beat her so severely that she miscarried. And when she tried to report him to his fellow police officers, she was told that she should have gotten an abortion (this, in a country that sacrificed martyrs for the church). Somehow, these stories rarely make it up through the media magma, the dense layers of preferences that the people who run the newspapers and cable networks impose on the rest of us. The fact that someone thinks she was assaulted by Bill Cosby in 1975 is more interesting, they think, than the stories of missionaries being kidnapped in Haiti. People Magazine will give its cover over to the juicy details of Meghan Markles latest grievance, while the massacred bodies of churchgoers will make it to page 5 of The Washington Post. The truth is uncomfortable, but its still the truth. The vast majority of Christians persecuted for religious reasons are killed by non-Christians, including Muslims, Hindus and Chinese atheists. The statistics are quite clear on this, even though Amnesty International (which thinks that abortion is a human right) will try and avoid naming names. And Ill go even further. The last acceptable prejudice in America is anti-Catholicism. Its not persecution, but the level to which it infects our current society is insidious. Instead of cracking jokes about how misogynistic, bigoted and backwards Christians are, it might be a better idea to notice the bleeding bodies. Christine Flowers is an attorney and a columnist for the Delaware County Daily Times, and can be reached at cflowers1961@gmail.com. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Following the footsteps of Austria and France, the Italian Data Protection Authority has become the latest regulator to find the use of Google Analytics to be non-compliant with E.U. data protection regulations. The Garante per la Protezione dei Dati Personali, in a press release published last week, called out a local web publisher for using the widely used analytics tool in a manner that allowed key bits of users' personal data to be illegally transferred to the U.S. without necessary safeguards. This includes interactions of users with the websites, the individual pages visited, IP addresses of the devices used to access the websites, browser specifics, details related to the device's operating system, screen resolution, and the selected language, as well as the date and time of the visits. The Italian supervisory authority (SA) said that it arrived at this conclusion following a "complex fact-finding exercise" it commenced in collaboration with other E.U. data protection authorities. The agency said the transfer of personal information violates the data protection legislation because the U.S. is a "country without an adequate level of protection," while highlighting the "possibility for U.S. government authorities and intelligence agencies to access personal data transferred without due guarantees." The website in question, Caffeina Media SRL, has been given a period of 90 days to move away from Google Analytics to ensure compliance with GDPR. In addition, the Garante drew webmasters' attention to the unlawfulness of data transfers to the U.S. stemming from the use of Google Analytics, recommending that site owners switch to alternative audience measurement tools that meet GDPR requirements. "Upon expiry of the 90-day deadline set out in its decision, the Italian SA will check that the data transfers at issue are compliant with the E.U. GDPR, including by way of ad-hoc inspections," it stated. Earlier this month, the French data protection watchdog, the CNIL, issued updated guidance over the use of Google Analytics, reiterating the practice as illegal under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws and giving affected organizations a period of one month to comply. "The implementation of data encryption by Google has proven to be an insufficient technical measure because Google LLC encrypts the data itself and has the obligation to grant access or provide the imported data which is in its possession, including the encryption keys necessary to make the data intelligible," the regulator said. Google told TechCrunch that it's reviewing the latest decision. In January 2022, the tech giant stressed that Google Analytics "does not track people or profile people across the internet" and that organizations can control the data gathered through the service. The Mountain View-based firm, which hosts all the data collected through the analytics platform in the U.S., also said it offers an IP address masking function that, when enabled, anonymizes the information in local servers before it's transferred to any servers outside the E.U. It's worth noting that this feature is enabled by default with Google Analytics 4. Grand Island Public Library is one step closer to going fine-free. The GIPL Board approved at their Monday meeting going fine-free in October. The recommendation will be brought to the Grand Island City Council for action in July, at which time the community can speak for or against the proposed change. The entire board made the decision after consultation with (Library Director Celine Swan) and doing our own research on going fine free, said Board President Tanya Hansen. The board felt it was in the best interest of the library to go fine free beginning on Oct. 1. The decision falls in line with the librarys new strategic plan and its mission, said Hansen. We believe that the library is a library for all people and we want to ensure that people have the access to the materials that they need to better themselves, she said. City Councilman Vaughn Minton, who serves as the board liaison, said he is in support of the library going fine-free. Other libraries throughout the state have gone fine free. Were just kind of following that status quo, Minton told The Independent. This is one way for us to show the public that we want them in the library. Were not going to penalize them for a late book. If the book is destroyed or never returned, thats a different situation, but just being late by a few days theres not going to be any fees or fines, and Im okay with that. The revenue generated by these fees is negligible, said Hansen. We felt that in the cost-benefit analysis of it, the amount of fines we were collecting versus the time the librarians were having to spend to research if someone had met the threshold to send out a letter, then collecting the fines, there just wasnt a benefit for it, she said. The direction is not something that came about lightly, emphasized Minton. The library board and library director put a lot of thought and energy into this. They studied this. They went through policies. They went back in past years to see how much money was generated in fines, he said. This is not some decision they made overnight. They have thoroughly investigated this. turn to FINES, page 2A Some consequences will remain, though, said Hansen. Our policy is now and going to remain that if you fail to return a book within 21 days of its due date, you will be assessed a lost or damaged fee. Thats not going away, she said. Going fine-free is something other Nebraska libraries are doing, including Omaha, Hastings and Kearney, Library Director Celine Swan told The Independent. Only a very, very small percent of the librarys budget is from such fees, said Swan. Nationally, libraries have started to go fine-free to bring people back into the library who maybe might not use it because they might have a fine from a long time ago and theyre afraid to come back, said Swan. The library wants to work with people to help them get their fines off, if we can. GIPL has been forgiving late fees since the start of the coronavirus pandemic in March 2020. Weve been trying to just help people out, because they dont need one more thing to worry about, said Swan. We tried to work with people if they couldnt come back in because they were sick, or even if they needed to quarantine their books we gave them extra time and didnt charge any fines. To learn more about GIPL services, visit www.gilibrary.org or call 308-385-5333. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Following the pandemic, free summer lunches at Grand Island Public Schools remain popular and needed, say GIPS food service employees. A few years before COVID-19 hit, over 1,000 kids were being served, said Kris Spellman, director of GIPS Nutrition Services. Now they are feeding about 600. Spellman said GIPS Nutrition Services Summer Food Services are bolstered by support from USDA and the Nebraska Department of Education, who want every school to do a foodservice operation in the summer. There are a lot of kiddos out there that eat school lunch during the school year and then dont have access in the summer. The program is federally reimbursed, similar to the school lunch program, but with more stringent rules and regulations. Deb Hopkins, head server at Lincoln Elementary School, does headcounts in the cafeteria. The summer meal program is a guessing game, she said. We dont know what were having, Hopkins said, penciling numbers on a clipboard. Today is a good day. Weve already had 46 kids and we still have 35 minutes left to go. The free meals are not simply for GIPS students; they are for anyone in Grand Island ages 1-18. There are no questions asked, Spellman said. They just come to the door and go to the serving line, and we serve them a lunch or breakfast. Adults pay $4 for their meal, and a significant number of parents take advantage of the low-cost, nutritious meal. Some of them are familiar faces in the school, former students now a bit older, Hopkins said. They bring along their little kiddos like Destiny, for one, Hopkins said, pointing out a young mother helping her child sip from a milk carton. She came to school here, and now shes got her little one that she brings in to eat lunch. Her brother and sister came to school here and they come in and eat lunch. Therein lies a complication, Spellman said. Because this summer the sites have been pared down (there are five) children sometimes dont have means to get to the sites. Since we only have five sites, were not able to cover the whole geographic area of Grand Island. If kiddos are at home by themselves, they might not be able to get to a site, which is really unfortunate. Spellman indicated she wished there were more GIPS buildings serving summer meals, but it wasnt plausible. We just we dont have the people to staff our sites. Weve got as many sites as we can handle. For about 25 years, Hopkins has been handling her Lincoln Elementary site while school is in or out of session. By all indications, shes doing it well. The kids giggle and laugh, and parents get together bring all their kids in here to eat all at once, Hopkins said. Look at the happy faces, all the kids. We have a lot of hungry kids. Their parents are working that need this food. It gets me right here, Hopkins said, tearing up. I go home with a happy heart knowing that I did something good to feed the kids. Jessica Votipka is the education reporter at the Grand Island Independent. She can be reached at 308-381-5420. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. YORK Southeast Community Colleges Learning Center at York will be calling downtown York home when it moves into its new location at 401 North Lincoln Avenue, on July 1. For the past six years, its been at the Holthus Convention Center. The new location will provide more space for classes, computer labs and meeting rooms. The new location will provide opportunity to serve more students to access lifelong educational course offerings, said Cinda Konken, Dean of Extended Learning. SCCs new location will better serve the city of York and surrounding communities by having a presence to be able to meet local business and industry needs. Diane Houdek of Dorchester is the new coordinator of the Learning Center in York. She brings with her a vast background in education, most recently as the school counselor at Dorchester Public School. She has a bachelors degree in Education and a masters degree in School Counseling, both from the University of Nebraska Kearney. Southeast Community College has a lot to offer to students and businesses, Houdek said. I want to increase our outreach to let people know that whatever stage in life they are at, Southeast Community College can provide opportunities for them to learn, whether it be for a degree, certificate or just for fun. The Learning Center will continue to renovate and unpack this summer until classes start in August. Houdek can be reached at dhoudek@southeast.edu or 402-323-3634. The other learning centers are in Falls City, Hebron, Nebraska City, Plattsmouth and Wahoo. TEHRAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- "Indirect" talks between Iran and the United States aimed at removing U.S. sanctions will resume this week, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said here Monday. "The time and place of the talks are not certain, but the talks will take place this week and in one of the regional countries," Khatibzadeh said during his weekly press conference. "I confirm that there has been an agreement in content, form and subject matter" of the next round of negotiations between Iran and the United States, which are the extension of previous talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, he said. The nuclear deal is formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Concerning the recent visit by the EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell to the Iranian capital of Tehran, Khatibzadeh said, "we hope that Borrell's messages (from the United States) will be implemented in practice as well," while expressing Iran's "distrust" of the United States. He said that Iran is waiting to see whether the Americans will drop the "legacy" of former U.S. President Donald Trump. "What we will do in the next round of talks is not about the nuclear dimensions, but about a few issues concerning the lifting of sanctions," he said. Khatibzadeh said nothing would be added to the already-agreed-upon points in the Vienna talks. Negotiations will be held "indirectly" with the United States over differences. Now the "ball is in Washington's court, and if they come with a reply, an agreement is available," he noted. Trump pulled Washington out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact. Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Vienna between Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA to revive the deal, but the talks have been suspended since March over "political" differences between Tehran and Washington. At a joint televised press conference on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Borrell announced that the talks would resume in the coming days to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal. On Sunday, Iran's Nour News, affiliated with the country's Supreme National Security Council, reported that the new round of nuclear talks would likely be held in Qatar's capital Doha. Paulette Curkin has been called a champion of the LGBTQ community in Southern Illinois. While she may be retired, the impact she has made throughout the region has been long-lasting. Curkin, who is a lesbian, said she knew about her sexuality early in her life and despite hating sports, she went on to receive her undergraduate degree in physical education. At that time I thought, well I knew I was lesbian, so I thought I had to be a gym teacher, she said. When looking at attending Southern Illinois University Carbondale for graduate school, Curkin said she didnt think there was going to be much of a gay and lesbian community because the rural school seemed more Southern-oriented than where she grew up on the East Coast. Shortly after arriving in Carbondale in the early 70s, Curkin pulled a professor aside and told him: Im gay, but thats not a problem. My problem is where do I find my people? Her assumptions about a thin lesbian, gay, bisexual, transexual and questioning community were quickly broken. She found there was a very strong community and activism amid the womens liberation movement a social movement that sought equal rights, opportunities and greater personal freedom for women. After being put in touch with another lesbian woman, she was invited to a house party with members of the LGBTQ community. At the time, there wasnt a gay bar or other local way to socialize with the queer community aside from those social gatherings. Thats where I first met other gay people in Southern Illinois, she said. SIU approved the first gay and lesbian student organization in April 1971 the Gay Liberation Organization and while the group has evolved through the years, it remains one of the oldest gay and lesbian student groups in the country. After graduating with her masters degree in higher education, Curkin went back to Connecticut, but had a difficult time finding a job. She knew she wanted to come back to Carbondale as quickly as she could. Who wouldve thought coming from New England that I would fall in love with Southern Illinois, she said in a July 2020 interview. Curkin was hired by her mentor in New Haven as the associate director of housing at Southern Connecticut State University, but picked up some experience working at new lesbian bar in New Haven. I started out as a bouncer and I was good because Im Jewish and Im really good at guilt, she said. During her stint at the bar, Curkin learned how to serve and bartend. She eventually decided to return to Carbondale. While pursuing a doctoral degree at SIU, she decided to drop out of the program and start a new chapter. I couldnt find a job, so I created my own I opened a gay bar, she said. In 1982, Curkin and her business partner, Paul, bought a bar in town that had fallen on tough times and turned it into Mainstreet East. She admits they didnt know what they were doing when they opened it, but were lucky there was an abundance of community support. Billy Rogers worked as a bartender at Mainstreet East and said he remembers the day the bar opened, they didnt have their liquor license, which couldve caused delays. He said he jumped in Curkins yellow Datsun station wagon and drove to Springfield to get the license, then drove to Belleville to be able to buy the alcohol for the bar. I remember loading the back of that little station wagon and just going pedal to the metal, getting to the bar, unloading and getting dressed it was just amazing, he said. That night was just purely magical. Despite the time crunch, Mainstreet East opened as planned and hundreds packed into the bar on East Main Street in Carbondale. Once we got the liquor and we opened the doors, everything just became magic from that moment on, Rogers said. Curkin added that when they opened the bar, she and Paul had about $800 left in their bank account and found it cost $3,500 a week to operate, but the pair was successful. It was a good bar, I think people felt comfortable there people felt welcome, she said. The work at the bar came naturally to Curkin especially through her background in working with students in the world of higher education. What it seemed to me ... was that I was doing student personnel work with a liquor license, she said. While Carbondale boasted a robust activist community, the gay community has trekked a tumultuous road both in Southern Illinois and throughout the country as the LGBTQ community searched for equality and acceptance. Curkin said during the 1980s you could be fired for being gay and the police would cruise the parking lot (of the bar) and write down peoples licenses. People were afraid that they would contact their employers and get them fired. She added there were a number of her customers who were local business professionals and would call her to be let in through the back door to avoid the possibility of being identified going into the bar. Reminiscing on the times, Blanche DuBois, who has been a female impersonator for over 30 years and who performed at Mainstreet East, said she remembered similar scenarios. I can remember people parking in the main parking lot and hiding in the bushes until traffic stopped so they could run in (to the bar) because it was a taboo thing you hid, she said. You couldnt be gay because it was looked down upon. I always said that's the thing now that I like, because they're going to be teaching that in schools. Youre treated better now than you were years ago." Navigating the landscape of the times wasnt always an easy task, but Curkin said they did so through building relationships with the city and police department. She said she remembers a time when there was a problem with cars being broken into. Curkin allowed the police to use the bars second floor for surveillance. I would bring them sodas and stuff like that so we created a nice relationship, Curkin said.When you create familiarity, its harder for them to hate you. Curkin said there was a lack of understanding in Southern Illinois about the gay community. In response to the gruesome murder of a gay man from Murphysboro in the late 80s, local law enforcement questioned Curkin, and while looking for suspects in the gay community, asked if there couldve been some kind of satanic ritual associated with the death. The bar occasionally saw protestors picketing outside around the time of the rise of the Christian right, Curkin said, but she said her tactic in combating their rhetoric was sending the drag queens out to talk to them. Blanche (DuBois) went out there and said girl, youre working my corner and they got so scared, they left, she said. DuBois said Curkin has always been a leader within the community. She was always there for us and the gay bar gave us a place to be ourselves when years ago we werent accepted, she said. Being a leader and opening a gay establishment was a great feeling we had a place to do our art and our craft. Rogers said it is hard to sum up Curkins contributions, career and character in one word other than being a heroine, and while she is well-known for running Mainstreet East, she is more than a bar owner. It was about community, in every sense of the word, he said. It was for the LGBTQ community and anyone that supported it. Curkins bar branched out to serve more than just the LGBTQ community through events like their new wave music night and through their drag shows, which brought people of all genders and sexual orientations to the venue. Curkin then co-sponsored drag shows on campus alongside the SIU Student Center, and said the event grew to be the largest program on campus other than a sporting event. After five and a half years at the bar, in 1987, Curkin decided to step away because the cost of the bar against the income was getting really bad due to increasing costs, she said. An opportunity to work in housing opened up at SIU, and she went for it. While at the university, she was an advocate for solutions for LGBTQ disparities and increased education. Paulette was the ... most influential LGBTQ early leader who, up until retirement and beyond, helped the university and the Carbondale community, said Carmen Suarez, former coordinator of diversity and equity at SIU. She said Curkin embodies the characteristics of a servant leader and saw the need to work through and make sure services were provided to the LGBTQ community. Curkin became the adviser for the gay student group which later became the Saluki Rainbow Network and became a mentor to countless students on campus, helping them with advice and support when it was needed. Through the student group, a faculty and community group the Triangle Coalition was formed to recruit diverse staff to SIU and give additional support to LGBTQ faculty and staff at the university. Rogers said hospitality was regularly extended to those within the community, whether through introductory picnics or happy hour events at The Grotto in Carbondale. She just has a way of bringing everybody together and anybody that supported the community, he said. The faculty and staff group fought for improved work benefits for the LGBTQ community, such as improved health care and recognition of domestic partners. The group was able to secure the recognition of domestic partners in the early 90s, but attempts to obtain health insurance for same-sex couples clashed with the ideologies of former SIU Carbondale Chancellor Walter Wendler. In 2004, Wendler publicly criticized a decision by the SIU Board of Trustees to extend partial health benefits to the partners of gay and lesbian employees working for SIU. Wendler, quoted in a July 2004 article of The Southern Illinoisan, said he opposed the policy because it was "encouraging sinful behavior." The university launched a campus climate survey following the incident with Wendler and eventually created the first-ever LGBTQ Resource Center in 2007 nearly 20 years after Curkin started working at the university. She was named director of the center after its opening, but retired shortly after, having served the university for 21 years. The impact Curkin has made for the LGBTQ community has been resounding, but she said she is standing on the shoulders of the people that came before her. Her career did not come without recognition. Curkin received the 2002 Lindell W. Sturgis Memorial Public Service Award, given annually by the SIU Board of Trustees. The award recognizes university employees for public service outside of their jobs. Curkin also received SIUs Administrative/Professional Staff Outstanding Service Award for 2005-2006 and earned a Gold Award designation within the diversity category from the National Association for Student Personnel Administrators for her student leadership program What I Want You to Know About Me. In the nomination for the AP staff recognition, Suarez wrote that Curkin has served the university in many key capacities beyond her assigned duties through the years. She also noted Curkins work in the community through her service with the Carbondale Womens Center Board, the Carbondale Liquor Advisory Board and the local American Cancer Society Regional Board of Directors. To this day, Curkin continues to serve the community she currently is on the Jackson County Board of Review, which oversees the review of local property taxes. Throughout her career, Curkin has had a robust interest in the community and has had a significant and substantial impact within Carbondale while making change in very tangible ways, Suarez said. She really is a legend and (just) a really nice and kind person. When reflecting on her career, Curkin said she has always taken pride in working toward goals in her career, but the thing she is proudest of is her work with students. The thing Im the proudest of are the students that I worked with, and those were gay students and straight students, she said. Just being open and out and hopefully impacting their lives in a positive way. Many have described Curkin as a bridge-builder and have commended the seeds of progress she has sown at the university and in the community. She said she wouldnt have been able to succeed in her endeavors without the support of the community and countless friends. Since her time at university, the landscape of the LGBTQ community has changed drastically throughout the state and country a new Illinois law requires schools to teach about the contributions of LGBTQ+ pioneers, gay marriage was legalized across the country in 2015, and national discrimination protections now include gay and transgender people. The progress throughout the country has made Curkin feel hopeful for the future, and the overarching effort to (break) through biases (and) stereotypes. In retirement, Curkin continues living life to the fullest at her lakefront home in Murphysboro alongside her 11-year-old chocolate lab, Sadie. She continues to host her weekly poker night with friends, which has been running for over 30 years, but the greasy food and alcohol has turned into water and fresh fruit. Love 36 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 8 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MARION A Williamson County restaurant just east of the Carterville city limits - Lord of the Wings - came under fire from a neighbor at Monday afternoon's county board of commissioners meeting. Julie Griffin resides near the establishment in question, which once housed a strip club - Stephanie's Cabaret. Griffin, who addressed the board Monday, alleges that excessive noise from the business keeps her and family members up long after midnight practically every weekend and that there has been lewd dancing by patrons in the parking lot outside the business. Additionally, she said, some patrons had driven through her property and shouted vulgarities at her. The property today is owned by Jim Richert and managed by Sierra Anderton, who describes herself as "a young businesswoman who is being unfairly targeted by her neighbors and the police." Anderton said she has tried repeatedly to work out any differences with Griffin, but said her neighbor isn't willing to listen. According to board chair Jim Marlo, who also serves as the county's liquor commissioner, the liquor license for Lord of the Wings was revoked last month with $2,000 in fines assessed to the establishment. "I have done my job," Marlo told the board and those who attended the meeting. "I made my call to the Illinois Liquor Commission. As long as I am liquor commissioner, I will never renew their license." Marlo added that Anderton not only let her liquor license lapse, but also her business license. Anderton explained that the reason her licenses lapsed was because the renewal notices were sent to an incorrect address. She said she has since renewed her business license with the Secretary of State's office in Springfield. Anderton said that because she has no county liquor license, she is no longer selling alcohol on the premises. It's more of a bring your own beer arrangement. "I rent out for private parties (fee ranges from $1,000 to $1,200) and I provide the DJ and security. We have done kids' parties with inflatables, wedding receptions and adult parties." Marlo said the sheriff's office has issued more than a dozen misdemeanor citations to the business, but said the state's attorney's office has yet to follow up and prosecute. "State's Attorney Brandon Zanotti is the chief law enforcement official for the county," Marlo said. "Any answers must come from his office." Zanotti was out of town Monday and did not attend Monday's meeting. His office was represented by Rhett Barkey, who generally serves the county as labor attorney. "I met with Mr. Marlo about the liquor license issue and he's not willing to overlook the mistake (the alleged incorrect address). I've also met with Sheriff Bennie Vick and several of his officers. I have nothing to hide," Anderton said. "I've been very friendly. They've been very friendly, too, but this is harassment. They're doing a walkthrough every weekend. We are a licensed restaurant, which allows patrons to book out our establishment as a venue for private events. "As far as the noise complaints go, I have had a sound-testing professional in here to check out our noise levels and was told that we are not excessively loud despite what is being said about us," Anderton said. Anderton added that there have been no major incidents at her establishment. "Nobody has been shot. No knife incidents. No fights. You won't find any violence here," she said. "I have hired a well-trained staff here to address any potential problems before they happen. I just feel we're being targeted unfairly." County commissioner Brent Gentry, who resides in Carterville, said he sympathizes with Griffin and said the business is troublesome for the county. He said the state's attorney's office does need to address the number of citations that have been assessed by the sheriff's office. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 PORTER A man who entered Lake Michigan on Monday morning to help a teen swimmer in distress died, Indiana Department of Natural Resources said. Thomas Kenning, 38, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was visiting with family and observed the teen swimmer in distress. He reached the teen and helped her to safety before going underwater and not resurfacing. Kenning was transported to Northwest Health Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy will determine an exact cause. Porter and Chesterton firefighters were called out to the beach at 10:28 a.m. for swimmers in distress. "A female teen in the water was in distress and the gentleman went into the water and attempted to rescue her," Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig said. "She made it out with the assistance of lifeguards from (Indiana) Dunes State Park, but he got sucked under," Craig said. "Once they got her out they went back looking for the man." Chesterton Fire Chief Eric Camel estimated the man may have been in the water 15 minutes before the lifeguards found him in the waves approximately 20 to 30 feet from shore, just west of the Indiana Dunes State Park beach. "The man was brought on shore and CPR immediately begun," officials said. "The lifeguards were the true miracle workers today," Craig said. "They did the best job they could under difficult conditions. They never gave up. They did a phenomenal job." At the time of the incident, the Indiana Dunes State Park beach, immediately east of Porter Beach, was closed to swimming because of dangerous conditions, he said. Craig estimated Monday's waves to be 3 to 5 feet. Porter Beach is an unguarded beach and is considered "swim at your own risk." Staff Writer Annie Mattea contributed to reporting. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Parents and guardians of Indiana children with disabilities can take advantage of a new state program giving them total control over their child's education funding. The Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program offers maximum flexibility to families who choose to opt out of traditional schooling in favor of finding their own appropriate education programs and services for their eligible child. The program provides tax-free funds to eligible students for pre-approved education expenses, including tuition, therapies, assessments and fee-for-service transportation at pre-approved education service providers. Students participating in the program receive 90% of their basic state tuition support as well as 100% of the special education dollars allotted to their student. The total amount varies by local school district. The funds will be deposited directly into each students Indiana ESA account in quarterly payments. This account will be available to parents via a secure online portal, which they'll use to make payments directly to providers from the students account. Debit cards are not available, and funds are not deposited directly into personal bank accounts. Scholarship recipients cannot be enrolled in a public or charter school, or receive a state voucher for private school tuition. But they can use their scholarship funds to purchase services from a public or private school if the school participates in the program. The Indiana ESA application window for the 2022-23 school year runs from Monday through Aug. 5. The application and more information about the program are available online through the state treasurer's office: in.gov/tos/inesa. To be eligible, a student must be a resident of Indiana; between 5 and 22 years old; require special education services and have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Service Plan (SP), or Choice Special Education Plan (CSEP); and a family income less than $101,000 for a family of two, $127,000 for a family of three, $154,000 for a family of four or $180,000 for a family of five. "After so much preparation, input, and study, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Indiana ESA Program," said State Treasurer Kelly Mitchell. "Families will have more opportunities to meet their child's individual education needs by taking control of the resources they are entitled to through an Indiana ESA account. I encourage all eligible Hoosiers to consider applying." The 2023 General Assembly is expected to consider expanding the Indiana ESA program to all students in the state. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Tuesdays runoffs are unlikely to attract as many voters as the June 14 primaries. History tells us that but the 2022 situation make that nearly inevitable. There are no local runoffs in Orangeburg, Calhoun and Bamberg counties, meaning Democratic primary voters on June 14 will have only one statewide race on the runoff ballot, U.S. Senate. Republican voters from June 14 also will have only one race: superintendent of education. In the Democratic race for U.S. Senate, the runoff is between author and preservationist Catherine Fleming Bruce and state Rep. Krystle Matthews. The winner will face Republican incumbent Tim Scott in the general election. In the Republican race for superintendent of education, Ellen Weaver of Greenville will face Kathy Maness of Lexington. The winner faces Democrat Lisa Ellis in November. Runoffs are necessitated when no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote in the primary election. The top two vote-getters face off two weeks later in a runoff. Voters who cast ballots in the June 14 primaries are limited to voting in the same partys runoff. Voters who did not vote on June 14 can choose to vote in either partys runoff. Another factor in turnout in the runoff races will be early voting. Early voting for the runoffs was open for just three days from June 21-23. Compare that to nine days for the June 14 primaries. Some will argue again that the turnout shows the need for a different system other than runoffs, such as ranked-choice voting. Well stick by support of runoffs, pointing to the need for candidates to get out their voters as a key strategy for winning. Against that backdrop, its clear that South Carolinas move to a permanent early-voting period for primary and general elections is a success. More than 100,000 South Carolinians cast early ballots in the primaries even though the time to get the word out about early voting was short. Gov. Henry McMaster signed the law OKing early voting into effect just two weeks prior to May 31. We were concerned about getting out the word and making sure everybody knew about it, being able to conduct early voting at all, S.C. Election Commission Deputy Executive Director Chris Whitmire told Charlestons WCSC-TV. We had to get a lot of work done in those two weeks, which we did, and I would call it an unequivocal success. The number of South Carolinians casting their ballots in person rose every day of the two-week early-voting period, with the 21,303 people voting on the final day being more than triple the first days total of 6,032. Whitmire attributed the increase to a combination of voters becoming more aware of the new option and getting more tuned into the primary races themselves as they got closer to election day. But put into perspective, there is a need to make early voting even more a priority because too few South Carolinians are bothering to participate at all. Final turnout for the June 14 primaries was about 17% of registered voters, or 564,000 ballots cast out of 3.3 million registered voters in South Carolina. About the same number of people voted in the Republican primary as voted in the last midterm primary in 2018. But Democrats had about 60,000 fewer voters in their primary this year, according to State Election Commission data. While primaries historically have low turnout compared to general elections, the level of public interest in the races is as much a factor as whether the election is a primary or a general. For example, compare the 17% turnout June 14 to 72% of South Carolinians 2.5 million people voting in November when the president and other candidates were on the ballot. What can further promote turnout is expanding the number of sites for early voting. While three locations were in place in Orangeburg (still not many for the county with the second-largest land area in the state), counties such as Charleston had only one location for early voting. As Whitmire told WCSC: I think as we go forward in the future and theres more time to plan, I think well see more early-voting locations in the future, in November of this year and other statewide elections, and I think youll see the early voting numbers continue to rise. You see that if you build it, they will come, right, and the more locations you open, the more options you give voters, the more voters will take advantage of that and vote before election day. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 According to the latest emergency service reports, one person was injured during a kitchen fire on Sunday evening. At 9.15pm on Sunday, a kitchen fire broke out on Avenue de Luxembourg in Bascharage, leaving one person injured. Emergency services from Bascharage, Petange, and Kayl were deployed. Aroung 9.45pm, a motorist crashed his vehicle into a pole on Rue de Neudorf in Luxembourg City. Only material damage occurred in this accident. The price of regular gasoline in Wyoming on Monday did not, for once, break the record set the day before. It went down less than a cent, from a little above $4.86 per gallon to just barely below. But after weeks of near-constant climbing, even a slight decline is notable. Gasoline prices have eased across the country as the price of oil the biggest influence on the cost of gas dropped by about 10% over the last two weeks amid recession fears. Theyve stayed high, in part, because oil is still a lot more expensive than it was before Russia invaded Ukraine and the U.S. and its allies sanctioned Russian energy exports. Globally, oil production remains below pre-pandemic levels, largely due to factors beyond U.S. control. Oil cartel OPEC contributed about one-third of the worlds crude oil in 2021. Only about 12% came from the U.S., where, unlike in many other oil-producing countries, drilling decisions are made by individual companies, and where supply chain issues and labor shortages continue to hinder new development. Pete Obermueller, president of the Petroleum Association of Wyoming, told the Joint Minerals, Business and Economic Development Committee on Monday that the states drilling rig count is slowly increasing and reached 21 this week. (Baker Hughes, which tracks rigs differently, reported Friday that Wyoming had 18.) The current rig count obviously is better, Obermueller said. Still not where wed like to be, but were moving in the right direction. Meanwhile, the U.S. has also lost several refineries facilities that convert crude oil into other products, including gasoline since the start of the pandemic. The resulting decline in refining capacity has added to the strain on the gasoline supply, further driving up its price. Refineries have been a source of worry for months. I think theres a lot of panic-buying going on in crude markets, Chuck Mason, an economics professor at the University of Wyoming, told the Star-Tribune in early March, shortly after the invasion. And thats really undermining kind of the stability of refining interests. Frank Macchiarola, a senior vice president at the American Petroleum Institute, pointed a day later to the fact that the U.S. has not built a major new refinery since the 1970s. Wyoming lost nearly 27% of its crude oil refining capacity when the HollyFrontier refinery was converted to a renewable diesel facility, Obermueller said. Its four remaining refineries can process roughly 126,000 barrels of crude oil per day less than 1% of the countrys total capacity, which is concentrated in Texas, Louisiana, and California. About 1.1 million barrels per day of U.S. refining capacity went offline during the pandemic, Obermueller said. The Biden administration has considered restarting some of those facilities, a process that could take months, and pushed for those still operating to increase their fuel output. The countrys surviving refineries are currently running at about 93% capacity, Obermueller said. In Wyoming, that number is closer to 99%. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Photo taken on June 26, 2022 shows food aid donated by a Chinese firm in Khost province, Afghanistan. The first batch of food aid donated by a Chinese firm has reached the earthquake-hit region in eastern Afghanistan, an Afghan disaster management official said on Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) KHOST, Afghanistan, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The first batch of food aid donated by a Chinese firm has reached the earthquake-hit region in eastern Afghanistan, an Afghan disaster management official said on Monday. The food aid donated by MCC-JCL Aynak Minerals Company Ltd. (MJAM) reached Khost city, capital of the eastern Khost province on Sunday, Mohammad Salim Haqqani, an official responsible for planning and policy at the office of the state minister for disaster management and humanitarian affairs, told Xinhua. "We are thankful to all aid agencies, domestic and international organizations which provided aid to us at this difficult time when we are facing an emergency situation, we are grateful as they delivered a lot of assistance," Haqqani said. The 5.9-magnitude earthquake that struck Afghanistan Wednesday is the deadliest in more than 20 years, causing at least 1,500 deaths and more than 2,000 injuries while destroying more than 3,000 houses. Haqqani noted that in order to help the calamity-affected people, the disaster management authorities need more relief items and supplies including tents, carpets, mats, tarpaulin, blankets, medicine, foodstuff as well as medical equipment. Haqqani said the aid will be transported to communities in worst-hit remote districts in Khost and neighboring Paktika provinces at the earliest time. The food aid included 800 sacks of flour, 800 sacks of rice, 800 bottles of cooking oil, and 800 packages of tea, according to Ahmad Jawad Saleh from the Chinese company MJAM. China has pledged to provide 7.5 million U.S. dollars in emergency humanitarian aid for victims of the deadly earthquake in Paktika and Khost provinces. A flight carrying the first shipment of the aid including tents and folding beds would reach Afghanistan on Monday. Photo taken on June 26, 2022 shows food aid donated by a Chinese firm in Khost province, Afghanistan. The first batch of food aid donated by a Chinese firm has reached the earthquake-hit region in eastern Afghanistan, an Afghan disaster management official said on Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) Photo taken on June 26, 2022 shows food aid donated by a Chinese firm in Khost province, Afghanistan. The first batch of food aid donated by a Chinese firm has reached the earthquake-hit region in eastern Afghanistan, an Afghan disaster management official said on Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) People receive food aid donated by a Chinese firm in Khost province, Afghanistan, June 26, 2022. The first batch of food aid donated by a Chinese firm has reached the earthquake-hit region in eastern Afghanistan, an Afghan disaster management official said on Monday. (Photo by Saifurahman Safi/Xinhua) The drug take-back box at the Casper Police Department is temporarily closed, but residents have a few other options for disposing of medication. Police said in a statement Wednesday that Wyoming Medical Center, the departments partner for the take-back program, is pausing part of its drug take back operations for the time being. Its unclear why the program has been paused or how long the closure will last. A spokesperson for the Casper Police Department did not respond to requests for comment Thursday. WMC spokesperson Mandy Cepeda said in an email that the hospital used to incinerate medical waste on-site at the police department, but are now shipping it to a third-party and may not be able to take on the police departments waste materials. Resident Bob Dundas said his wife tried to dispose of some old medication at the police department earlier this week, but found the box locked. Its such a great service, Dundas said. Its a benefit to the community to have a safe way to get rid of our old prescriptions, or over the counter, or whatever they may be, instead of having them lay around your house where problems can occur. Properly disposing of medication means it doesnt end up in the wrong hands and reduces the risk of accidental poisoning and abuse, according to the Wyoming Department of Health. Thats particularly important if you have young kids in the house. It also keeps the drugs out of Wyomings waterways and landfills, reducing pollution. Most places that accept medications for disposal incinerate them. Since 2007, the health department has run a medication donation program that accepts donations from around the state. Some drop-off locations are listed below, as well as an address where you can mail medication if you arent near any of them. If you work in a doctors office or pharmacy in Wyoming, you can also apply to have your office become a drop-off site by emailing wdh-rxdonationinfo@wyo.gov. The department can re-dispense unopened medication that isnt close to expiring, in a program that serves lower-income and unhoused people in the state. It covers people making less than 200% of the federal poverty line $27,180 for one person, $36,620 for a two-person household and so on. To apply to receive medication through the program, you can fill out a form on the health departments website. According to the department, more than 88,000 pounds of medications and medical supplies have been processed for redistribution since July 2008. More than 150,000 prescriptions, worth a total of over $25 million, have reportedly been filled through the program since it began in 2007. Casper-area medication disposal sites: Walmart Pharmacies at both Casper Walmarts accept old medication for disposal. Just take your meds to the counter and they will handle it unopened pills can be donated to Healthcare for the Homeless, and opened or expired meds will be disposed of. Community Health Centers of Central Wyoming The community health center on Blackmore Road can accept unopened medication thats six months or more from expiring. Donations can be dropped off at the pharmacy between 8:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The clinic works with the department of health to contribute to its donation and re-dispensal program. Glenrock Police Department Glenrock police have a disposal box in their lobby on Third Street, which is open 24/7. It cannot accept liquid medication or other forms including patches, but can take any pills, opened or unopened, for disposal. Other Wyoming sites You can use tools on the health department and DEAs website to find disposal and donation locations around the state. You can also text your county name to (307) 370-2086 to get a list of nearby locations. Some may be out-of-date, so call ahead to make sure they can accept what youre looking to get rid of. If youre too far from a donation site, you can mail medications to the health department, Wyoming Medication Donation Program, 401 Hathaway Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002. The DEA also regularly holds drug take-back events around the country. The next one will likely take place in October. Home disposal Though its the least preferred option, the health department has DEA-approved guidelines for disposing of medication yourself (its still better than flushing it, or just tossing it in the trash unaltered). They recommend mixing pills with another undesirable substance, like cat litter or coffee grounds, in a disposable container before throwing it away. You should also remove or cover any personal information on prescription containers before getting rid of those. At-home products like Deterra, DisposeRx or Rx Destroyer can also be used to deactivate medication before disposing. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. After a particularly harsh winter 175 years ago, Mormons began their trek along the Mormon Trail from Winters Quarters (Omaha) to Salt Lake City. Joe Blythe, his wife Marcyne Blythe and Brett Woodrow Durant are following his ancestors footsteps as they retrace the route in Blythes yellow-wheeled covered wagon. Not all of (the Mormon pioneers wrote journals), but some of them did, the Utah man said. If you know what wagon train your family traveled in, Blythe said, it is easy to find information on those specific trains. There are databases now that you can find even if your family didnt write anything where you can read what others have written about that wagon train. Theres quite a bit of information on the internet, he said. Part of this years trip will be trying to spot the graves of family members who didnt finish the trip. All the way along this trail, Ive got family members who didnt make it. When youre crossing Iowa, theyre in cemeteries, but once you get on the west side of Omaha all you have is a description of, you know, so many days past Chimney Rock or we buried so and so a day after you cross this river. So, theyre in unmarked graves somewhere, he said. The trip started last September when Blythe and crew traveled by wagon from Nauvoo, Illinois, to Omaha. I was looking back into my familys history, they all started in Nauvoo and they all experienced this Mormon Trail, Blythe said. Thats what inspired me five years ago. I asked my friend Woodrow if he would go with me. He said, Yes. So, here we are. Blythe said he immediately began planning the trip, which meant finding a covered wagon for the trek. That proved to be no easy feat. (It was hard at) least finding one that was in decent shape. If somebody had one that was in decent shape, it was terribly expensive, he said. Blythe decided to build his own wagon. I found a Studebaker running gear thats the axles and the wheels. A guy found it in a barn, so I bought that from him, and then I built the rest of the wagon from there up, he said. Mine would be considered a wide track, which are typically four inches wider and about six inches longer than your normal Prairie Schooner that went across the plains. Without plans to build such a vehicle, Blythe said it took some trial and error to get it just right. You know, by the time I got done, I probably would have been better off with time and money just to have went and bought one, he said jokingly. On Tuesday, the group traveled through Scotts Bluff County before camping overnight at the Goshen County Fairgrounds in Torrington. Blythe said the nature of the trek has changed a bit since entering western Nebraska. The farther west we go, the more we are forced to be on highways. In eastern Nebraska, not so much. In western Nebraska, we spent quite a bit of time on highways, and well have the same thing going through Wyoming. A large part of it will be on the highway, he said. Blythe said the most surprising part of his journey has been the people. It very quickly became about meeting the people, specifically across Iowa and eastern Nebraska, he said. Youre pretty much forced to be on somebodys private ground. You know, theres not a lot of public ground back there. At the end of the day, you know, you knock on the door. Theyre very accommodating. So it really, really has been amazing. People have been so gracious. Blythe said he and his crew have also been greeted by Pony Express reenactment riders since reaching Gothenburg. They say, Hey, were with the Pony Express. Can we do anything for you?, he said. The attention, though, caught Blythe by surprise. I guess its just different than I thought. I really didnt expect the attention that Im getting. I just thought Id slide through a town, no big deal, he said. Going through a town, its almost like a parade. Youre waving at everybody. Everybody has lots of smiles and want to know what youre doing. After having dinner with Alicia Goulart and her family in Lingle, Blythe and crew camped in Fort Laramie Wednesday to begin another grueling day of traveling Thursday. Its really long days. I mean, were up at 4 a.m., because the animals need time to eat. By the time, you get on the trail, it is still early because youre trying to beat the heat. Youre cooking in the sun all day long, and at the end of the day, theres still a lot of work to be done. So, its just really long days, he said. If all goes as planned, Blythe said he hopes they will get into Salt Lake City by July 22. The 24th of July is Pioneer Day in Salt Lake City, Utah. Big holiday, big celebration. Thats when the pioneers originally came into the valley. However, this year, that happens to be a Sunday. So we thought well, lets get there on the 23rd which is a Saturday, he said. Since that plan, weve been invited to the Pioneer Days Rodeo and the Parade, so were going to probably try to get there on the 22nd of July if we can get there that fast. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 ENERGY Minister Stuart Young told a conference in Suriname last week that Trinidad and Tobago will be able to increase its production of LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) and fertilisers if the United States were to ease its sanctions on Venezuela. Speaking at the second Suriname Energy, Oil and Gas Summit & Exhibition (SEOGS) in Paramaribo on Tuesday, Young did not mention either the US or Venezuela by name, but he was clearly referring to the Dragon field between that is located in Venezuelan waters to the north of Trinidad. The office of the Attorney General gave advice to the police during the criminal investigation into the Christian Chandler matter without any involvement, input or consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). This was confirmed by DPP Roger Gaspard, SC, in an affidavit dated June 28, 2022, which was submitted to the High Court in a case arising out of an application for information from the DPP on this matter filed by social activist Ravi Balgobin Maharaj, who was represented by former AG Anand Ramlogan, SC. The Prime Ministers shutdown of journalist Darren Bahaw at Saturdays news conference was misguided, based on factual errors, intemperate and unbefitting the leader of a democratic country. In a scene straight out of the Trump playbook for handling challenging media questions, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley shouted down the journalist as he attempted to question him about his due diligence prior to appointing Reginald Armour as Attorney General, saying I advise you, dont go any further. BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Profits of China's major industrial companies saw a narrower decline in May as factories have restarted production lines amid improving business activities, official data showed Monday. Major industrial firms, each with business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.99 million U.S. dollars), saw their profits decline 6.5 percent from a year earlier last month, narrowing from 8.5-percent contraction in April, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. Zhu Hong, a senior statistician with the NBS, attributed the slower contraction to effective epidemic control, recovering business activities and progress achieved in smoothing logistics in the country. In May, revenues of these major firms went up 6.8 percent year on year, a faster growth pace compared with April, laying a solid foundation for profit improvements. During the January-May period, these industrial firms raked in around 3.44 trillion yuan in total profits, up 1 percent year on year, NBS data showed. The revenues of these major firms went up 9.1 percent year on year to 53.16 trillion yuan during the first five months. An 18-year-old man was shot and killed early Sunday following a fight at an apartment complex on Tucson's west side, police say. Officers went to an apartment complex near West Broadway and South Shannon Road about 1:45 a.m. following calls about gunfire at a large gathering, Tucson police said in a news release. Officers found Nathan Callahan suffering from gunshot wounds. He died at the scene. A male companion was treated at the scene for gunshot wound. Police say Callahan was involved in a fight with several people, until his companion took him away from the brawl. While there, a man started another fight with Callahan during which we was shot, police say. Potential suspects and witnesses fled before police arrived. Anyone with information is asked to call 88-CRIME, the anonymous tipster line. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. PHOENIX Some Arizona doctors are seeking an emergency order blocking the state from enforcing a provision of a 2021 law that purports to give the same legal rights to a fetus as anyone else. In legal papers filed Sunday, attorneys for the Arizona Medical Association and others contend that the provision could subject doctors to criminal prosecution for performing abortions that remain legal even after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. In fact, attorney Jessica Sklarsky of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said it even could be read to allow criminal charges, such as aggravated assault, to be filed against not just a doctor but a woman who gets an abortion. So she wants U.S. District Court Judge Douglas Rayes to enjoin the state from applying whats called the Interpretation Policy to abortion cases here. A group of attorneys who represent doctors who perform abortions had asked Rayes to rule on the legality of the provision last year. But the judge sidestepped the question, saying there was no evidence at the time that, given abortion was legal, it would lead to anyone being prosecuted. But Sklarsky said that is no longer the case now that the legal landscape has changed after the Supreme Court decision. In a separate development, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian law firm based in Scottsdale, told Capitol Media Services on Monday she now believes that Arizona is not yet free to start enforcing the law that was on the books before the historic 1973 ruling despite Fridays ruling. Denise Harle pointed out that the state Court of Appeals issued its own injunction that year blocking the law that allows doctors to be prosecuted, with mandatory prison terms, for terminating a pregnancy. And what that means, she said, is someone would need get that injunction lifted, regardless of Fridays U.S. Supreme Court ruling. At the same time, petitions continue to be circulated to put a specific right to abortion in the Arizona Constitution, a provision, if approved by voters, that would keep the procedure legal here. Shasta McManus, treasurer of Arizonans for Reproductive Freedom, said there has been an explosive response since the Friday ruling. McManus said just the organizations own volunteers collected more than 15,000 signatures over the weekend. And she said that does not include those being collected by outside volunteers as they first have to get their forms notarized before turning them in ahead of the July 7 deadline. But she said that in the 72 hours following Fridays ruling, the organization collected more than $50,000 in donations. And there is a Rock for Roe fundraiser Tuesday night at the Hotel Congress in Tucson that she said already has more reservations than capacity. McManus acknowledged that her organization, which got started only last month, needs 356,467 valid signatures on petitions by that July 7 deadline. And given the error rate for such drives, the true goal may be closer to 450,000. She said, though, that even if the group cannot get on the 2022 ballot, it will start over, with more time, to put the issue to voters in 2024. Meanwhile, it may still be possible for some women to get an abortion in Arizona. The pre-1973 law does have an exception to save the life of the woman. Based on the Friday ruling, Planned Parenthood Arizona immediately announced it would cease all abortions including those to save a patients life while it studies the legal implications. But Banner Health, the states largest hospital network, said Monday it has paused some medical and surgical procedures that procure the miscarriage of a pregnant woman while continuing with others that are still compliant with state law. Spokeswoman Becky Armenariz said the hospital chain is giving guidance to our providers and pharmacists based on state laws. All that, however, could depend on the issue that Sklarsky is now raising. The new legal filing pertains to a provision in a 2021 state law that made it illegal to perform abortions if the doctor knows the womans reason is a genetic fetal defect. In a ruling last year, Judge Rayes barred enforcement, saying the law imposes an undue burden on women. And he said that outweighs any interest the state claims in promoting life. But the judge declined to enjoin a separate section that says the laws of this state shall be interpreted and construed to acknowledge, on behalf of an unborn child at every stage of development, all rights, privileges and immunities available to other persons, citizens and residents of this state, subject only to the Constitution of the United States and decisional interpretations by the United States Supreme Court. Rayes said there was no danger that those words would or could be used to prosecute doctors. If a particular application of the Interpretation Policy restricts plaintiffs activities in some concrete way, the federal courts stand ready to address any constitutional challenges as to that specific application, the judge wrote. But Rayes said that, for the moment, he was unwilling to decide abstract propositions or address issues that might arise only in the future. Sklarsky said that, with Fridays Supreme Court ruling, the time has come for Rayes to decide the issue. It is entirely unclear whether the Interpretation Policys requirement that all Arizona statutes be interpreted and construed to acknowledge the rights of fertilized eggs, embryos and fetus at any stage of development can be used to criminalize abortion care under several Arizona statutes, she told Rayes. And Sklarsky specifically cited laws against aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, child endangerment and child abuse. Given the uncertainty and the threat of severe criminal, civil and professional penalties, plaintiffs have accordingly stopped provision abortion care in Arizona because they are afraid the Interpretation Policy will be used to prosecute them and potentially their patients for the provision or receipt of any abortion care, Sklarsky wrote. Put simply, the vagueness doctrine prohibits the state from forcing plaintiffs, their members and their patients to guess whether or not the Interpretation Policy can be used to criminalize the receipt and provision of abortion care, she said. Yet that is exactly what the state is doing. Brittni Thomason, press aide to Attorney General Mark Brnovich, said she had no immediate answers, either to the question of whether the 1973 Court of Appeals injunction was still in effect or the issues raised by Sklarsky. But Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell told Capitol Media Services she doubts whether the language in the 2021 law about the rights of a fetus actually could be used to bring criminal charges against anyone, particularly against a woman who chooses to terminate her pregnancy. Howard Fischer is a veteran journalist who has been reporting since 1970 and covering state politics and the Legislature since 1982. Follow him on Twitter at @azcapmedia or email azcapmedia@gmail.com . Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Current and future undergraduate students who are members of one of Arizonas 22 federally recognized Native American tribes wont have to pay tuition or mandatory fees to attend the states flagship university. On Monday, the University of Arizona announced the creation of the Arizona Native Scholars Grant Program. It launches this fall and is open to eligible full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate students. According to Kasey Urquidez, vice president of enrollment management and dean of undergraduate admissions at the UA, its been a long time coming. For many years, weve been trying to figure out how we can do this, said Urquidez, who added that after working with the provosts office to assess feasibility, the UA was able to move forward with the program this summer. As (Arizonas) Land Grant institution, its important to be able to offer this to our Native Students. Like many public colleges and universities, the University of Arizona which was founded in 1885 at the height of the federal governments violent takeover of tribal lands in the West sits on Indigenous land. In 2021, the UA crafted a statement in consultation with the Tucson-area Pascua Yaqui Tribe and Tohono Oodham Nation, acknowledging that fact. But the new grant program aimed at making college more affordable for Arizonas Native students goes beyond words, and puts substance behind the UAs spoken commitment to equity. We recognize and acknowledge the history that there is. We want to make sure that because of that were really providing that access and support for our Native students to become an Arizona Wildcat, Urquidez said. Finances are a hard thing to deal with when going to college. By eliminating a little bit of that barrier education costs can include more than tuition and fees well be able to help serve our Native students in a much broader way. While the UA is the first school in Arizona to unroll a grant program aimed at significantly reducing the financial barriers for Native students who want to pursue higher education, its not the first in the country. The University of California System announced a similar program for Native students in its state in April, and in Oregon, the state has allocated funding to cover the majority of costs for in-state tribal students for at least the 2022-23 school year. Nationwide, Indigenous populations have historically experienced lower college enrollment and completion rates than peer demographics. Seventeen percent of Native students attended college after high school, compared to 60% of the total U.S. population, according to a 2019 report from the Postsecondary National Policy Institute. Of those Native students who did attend college, 41% graduated within six years compared to 63% of white students. Efforts like the UAs grant program is one potential solution to help alleviate the financial obstacles partially driving those gaps. During the 2021 school year, 3.2% of the 38,528 total undergraduates enrolled at the UA identified as American Indian or Alaska Native; About 400 UA students would have been eligible for the grant program based on last years student demographics, according to a UA news release. Funded through a reallocation of financial aid money, the UAs program will provide up to $13,200 in value thats the cost of one year of tuition and fees for in-state students to each eligible student. If students receive a federal Pell Grant or other scholarships to help pay for tuition, the grant program would cover the remaining balance. Our Yaqui students and families will benefit greatly, especially given the rising cost of rent, tuition, food, and gas, Peter Yucupicio, chairman of the Pascua Yaqui Tribe, said in the email about the program. This will enable us to ensure more tribal members have a shot at higher education. The program is to be funded indefinitely, according to the UA. Native students who want to receive the grant must establish their eligibility by submitting an application for federal financial aid and provide tribal identification. For now, the grant is only available to full-time undergraduate, degree-seeking students attending the UAs main campus in Tucson, though it has potential for expansion. We wanted to focus on our main campus students where we have all of the support in place, and well do a review to see if we could support more students graduate students, distance learners and Arizona Online students in the future, Despite its current limits, the announcement of this benefit, Urquidez added, may also allow some part-time students to become full-time, and therefore eligible in the fall. We knew we didnt want to wait until we had every single thing in place for every student, she said. We just wanted to get started with what we knew we could do for our main campus, full-time students which is our largest population. The new grant program is one of several initiatives the UA has launched in an effort to support Arizonas indigenous students and their communities. Others include the Indigenous Peoples Law and Policy Program, the Indigenous Resilience Center and the Indigenous Teacher Education Program. These initiatives arent checkmarks; they represent the University of Arizonas commitment and continued drive to be the leading institution serving Native Americans, Levi Esquerra, the UAs senior vice president for Native American advancement and tribal engagement, said. This is a very exciting time, and were going to continue our work with tribes to make great things happen. Kathryn Palmer covers higher education for the Arizona Daily Star. Contact her via e-mail at kpalmer@tucson.com or her new phone number, 520-496-9010. To apply Visit http://tucne.ws/1ku8 to learn more about how to apply for this grant. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SLOVIANSK, Ukraine (AP) Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian rocket strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was "unimaginable," citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress. Ukraine's state emergency service said at least 20 civilians had been wounded, and two of them died. Zelenskyy said the target presented "no threat to the Russian army" and had "no strategic value." He accused of Russia of sabotaging "people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry." The alleged Russian missile strike carried echoes of attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. "Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part," Zelenskyy said. Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the rocket attack "hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces." The attack came as Russia was mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, "pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. Russian forces appeared to step up longer-range strikes on the country after forcing Ukrainian troops out of the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. Western leaders, meanwhile, pledged steadfast and continued support for Kyiv. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit, according to the military alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg. The battle for Sievierodonetsk and and Lysychansk is part of a stepped-up Russian offensive to wrest the broader Donbas region from Ukraine. Meanwhile to the west, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions on the city after dawn, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of dead and wounded had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A man's body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. "Everything is now destroyed. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power," said local resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. "I can't even call to tell others what had happened to us." Overall, Zelenskyy's office said at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the country's south and east, but not counting the attack in Kremenchuk. It said Russian forces fired rockets that killed two people and wounded five overnight in and near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and continued to target the key southern port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, it said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings in the city and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, the regional governor said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable by shelling. The city had a prewar population of around 100,000, approximately one-tenth of whom remain. Analysts say that Lysychansk's location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to the city's Ukrainian defenders. "It's a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk," said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, leaders of the Group of Seven countries pledged to continue supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes." In a joint statement on Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their "unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The U.S., meanwhile, appeared ready to respond to Zelenskyy's call for more air defense systems after Russian troops hit Kyiv with long-range missiles on Sunday. Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. Britian's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks of the war. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with political consequences for President Vladimir Putin's government. Photos: In the midst of war, life goes on in Ukraine Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Getting a COVID-19 booster shot can significantly increase an at-risk person's immunity and protect against the contagious Omicron variant. New research focusing on nursing home residents and their caregivers found a third dose of vaccine boosted antibodies by more than 85%, with high levels of Omicron-specific immunity. The study authors said the results underscore the importance of boosters for all older adults. "There are tens of millions of community-dwelling older adults similar to the nursing home population but are living at home," said lead author Dr. David Canaday, a professor of infectious diseases at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. "This data shows this group of frail, older adults with similar clinical and functional limitations would benefit immensely from a booster vaccination," he said in a university news release. Canaday noted that the data also shows that health care workers received a significant surge in antibody levels after a booster. Many are healthy, middle-aged adults similar to the general population. While nursing homes have been severely affected by the pandemic, about 1 in 8 of residents and 1 in 9 staffers had not been fully vaccinated, according to the AARP. This study included 85 nursing home residents and 48 health care workers in Ohio. They were tested after their initial vaccine series, as well as just before and two weeks after their booster shots. The findings build upon previous research published last fall that found nursing home residents and health care workers lost more than 80% of their immunity about six months after the two-dose vaccine series. Current vaccination recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say people age 5 and older should get a booster, and those 50 and older should get a second. Those who are 12 and up and are moderately or severely immunocompromised should also get a second booster. Researchers continue to study responses to the second booster shot in nursing home residents. The findings were recently published in the journal eBio Medicine. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information on COVID-19 booster shots. SOURCE: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, news release, June 22, 2022 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Gaza's Hamas rulers on Monday said the condition of one of the Israelis it is holding captive has deteriorated. The announcement marked a rare piece of information about the Israelis in Hamas captivity. The Islamic militant group has given no details on the conditions or whereabouts of its prisoners, and it has never allowed the Red Cross to visit them. Hamas is believed to be holding the remains of two soldiers killed during a 2014 war. Israel has pronounced the soldiers dead, though Hamas has never confirmed this. Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israeli civilians who wandered across the frontier into Gaza, and who rights groups say suffer from mental illness. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said the latest announcement proved that Hamas is a cynical and criminal terrorist organization that holds mentally ill civilians in violation of all international conventions and laws." Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including people convicted in deadly attacks, in exchange for the captive Israelis. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, announced a deterioration in the health of one of the enemy prisoners. He said more details were expected to be released later Monday. Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies that have fought four wars and dozens of smaller skirmishes since Hamas seized control of Gaza 15 years ago. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory throughout that time. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas from building up its military capabilities, while critics say the policy amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's 2 million Palestinian residents. Israel says there can be no major moves toward lifting the blockade until the soldiers' remains and captive civilians are released. The prime minister's office said Israel would continue working through Egyptian mediation to bring about the release of the captives. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Tom Gilbert Chief Photographer I joined the Tulsa World in 1988 after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma. I lived in Saudi Arabia before graduating from Broken Arrow High School. I'm married to Karen Gilbert and have three grown children. Phone: 918-581-8349 Follow Tom Gilbert Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Jonathan Neff, founder of NEFF Brewing, tells us about one of his year-round beers for Beer of the Week. Raspberry Pride is a kettle sour beer that comes in at 5% ABV. The beer was originally released in the summer of 2019 as a small pilot batch during a Pride weekend. It sold quickly, so the brewery made it a year-round release. "It was one of our fastest-selling beers ever," Neff said. "And we're really proud of it. It's one of our top-selling brands, and we feel it really matches well with our brand identity of being brewed for everyone. For me, as a celiac and Type 1 diabetic, it's my representation in craft beer. It's really hard to feel included in that scene. And I want to make sure that everyone can feel included in the craft beer scene. And that's why we do Raspberry Pride year-round." Just because it is a kettle sour doesn't mean you have to pucker up with every sip. Some sours are that way, but not this one. "This beer is just a perfect summer quencher, and it's only 5% alcohol made with real raspberries," he said. "It's nice, tart and refreshing. It is a sour, but don't think of it as something that's really gonna pucker your lips. It's more of a nice, tart, fresh raspberry flavor." NEFF Brewing, 321 S. Frankfort Ave., is a gluten-free brewery. It uses some nontraditional ingredients, such as buckwheat and millet, instead of grains such as barley and wheat. Neff says when he was diagnosed with celiac disease, he felt left out when he wasn't able to drink with friends, so he started making gluten-free beers. He then opened a gluten-free brewery with a gluten-free restaurant, hence his slogan "Brewed for Everyone." Located near the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center, NEFF Brewing is for everyone. "This is always a really fun time of the year for us," he said. "We love Pride. We love Pride month. We sell Raspberry Pride year-round. We think it's important for everyone to feel represented all year long. So we want to make sure that the LGBTQ-plus community of Oklahoma is represented on the shelf." NEFF Brewing is also releasing two other beverages this week. It has a pilot batch of a hazy double IPA called Love and Thunder that uses only New Zealand hops. Also new is a non-alcoholic hopped seltzer water that is only offered in the taproom. "Here in our tap room, we've got like 20 different beers on tap," Neff said. "We've also got a full kitchen on site. We do brunch on the weekends in the morning. Stop by and grab a bite if you need a little pick-me-up, and Sunday, we do all-day brunch. So if you like chicken waffles or pancakes, come and try and pair 'em with one of our stouts." Past Beers of the Week: Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Federal funding discussion: Tulsa Public Schools is hosting a feedback session at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at its Education Service Center to solicit input on federal grant applications and federally funded programs during the 2022-23 school year. Among the TPS programs receiving federal funding are Indian Education, Homeless Education, Exceptional Student Services, language instruction for English language learners and immigrant students, and Title I, which under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act is allocated based on the percentage of students who are financially eligible for free or reduced price school meals. Emergency certification numbers: Without discussion or debate, the State Board of Education approved 419 emergency teaching certification applications at its Thursday meeting, including 231 renewals. A State Department of Education spokesman said all of them were for the upcoming 2022-23 school year. Of those 419 applications, 98 were from Tulsa Public Schools, six were from Union, five each were from Broken Arrow and Glenpool, two from Sand Springs, and one each from Bixby and Skiatook. Scholarship announcement: The Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Society is awarding nine scholarships to Tulsa-area students ranging from $1,000 to $3,500, it announced Monday. Students were selected based on their academic achievement, work and volunteer experience, community involvement, extracurricular activities and awards, plus an essay on their perceptions on Kings legacy. Recipients include Ryan Anderson, LeQuincia Brown and Marina Katoh from Tulsas Booker T. Washington High School; Kaleb Quince from Jenks High School; Isaiah Sells from Owasso High School; and Kaiden Ivey, Ankit Jallipalli, Keirsten Metcalfe and Reeya Ramasamy from Union High School. Help wanted: Jenks Public Schools is offering a $2,000 sign-on bonus for speech language pathologists and special education, math and forensic science teachers. New leadership: At its June 20 meeting, Owasso Public Schools Board of Education voted to name Tiffani Cooper the new principal of Owasso High School. Formerly the principal at Morrow Elementary School, Cooper previously had a four-year stint as an assistant principal at Owasso High School. She succeeds Mark Officer, who moved into an assistant superintendent position with the district earlier in June. Professional development: Registration for the Eva Unterman Conference for Holocaust Educators is open through July 26 at jewishtulsa.org/holocausteducators. Scheduled for July 28-29 at the Jewish Federation of Tulsa, the event is free, but with space limited to 50 teachers, advanced registration is required. Participants can earn up to 14 hours of professional development credit. School board calendar: The boards of education for Anderson, Berryhill, Broken Arrow, Collinsville, Prue and Verdigris all have meetings scheduled on Monday. The Board of Education for Keystone Public School is scheduled to meet on Tuesday. Bartlesville Public Schools board meets Wednesday. Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. People visit the Wedding Expo in Windhoek, Namibia, on June 26, 2022. Namibia's first wedding expo since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak was held here from June 25 to June 26. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua) WINDHOEK, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The Namibian Wedding Expo has offered optimism for growth for local enterprises bruised by COVID-19 impacts. The southwestern African nation hosted its first Wedding Expo since the pandemic outbreak from June 25 to 26 at the Safari Hotel Conference Centre in Windhoek. Booths at the expo showcasing wedding outfits, decor, legal services, and flowers, among others, attracted a continuous stream of more than 500 visitors. Akirina Malunga, the founder of Elements by Akirina, an enterprise specializing in jewelry and customized accessories, used the expo as a platform to market her products. "I specialize in making accessories, which clients often like to view before committing payment. Thus, I decided to exhibit my products. I am hopeful that my products will enjoy success through this exposure," Malunga said on Sunday. Malunga's optimism is warranted. Entrepreneurs said business dwindled under lockdown and COVID-19 measures over the last two years. At the time, the government restricted celebratory gatherings such as weddings to a small number of people. "This meant less demand for our products. But before that (COVID-19), we could supply custom-made accessories to more people. So you can imagine the impact. But business is gradually picking up," she said. She is not the only entrepreneur that benefited from the Wedding Expo, as more businesses maximized the available platform to reach new clientele. Maria Uushona, who runs Isabella's Bridal Boutique, was swamped with clients inquiring about her bridal dress rentals services. "Coming here presented a great networking opportunity. I came here with over a hundred business cards but ran out. I am optimistic about business growth," she said, adding that forming strategic partnerships with other enterprises in the same industry will help catapult the small venture into a big business. Selma Titus, who exhibited events and decor services, said the expo was an excellent platform for negotiating business deals. "COVID-19 halted event management companies' activities due to low demand and low-budget events. Through this expo, we secured new business, which will catapult us into prosperity," added Titus. Exhibitors meanwhile also sought to establish new partnerships to reinvigorate their businesses. Shavonne Burger, the wedding expo organizer, said that the event aimed to serve as a one-stop shop for people planning to get married, making it easier for couples to organize their weddings and for businesses to showcase their products. "The wedding business is now at a turning point as it is recovering, attributed to the relaxed COVID-19 measures. Weddings and functions resumed, resulting in the growing demand for products," Burger concluded. An exhibitor arranges wedding dresses at the Wedding Expo in Windhoek, Namibia, on June 26, 2022. Namibia's first wedding expo since the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak was held here from June 25 to June 26. (Photo by Ndalimpinga Iita/Xinhua) Voting precinct boundaries and polling stations may have changed. Many Tulsa County residents might find different information on newly distributed voter registration cards whether it be a precinct number, a polling location or a legislative district even if they havent moved in the past decade. To view the specific sample ballot for your election precinct, go to the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Voters' actual ballots will differ depending on their party affiliation and where they live (which dictates which candidates will appear on the ballot). To find your precinct and view a sample ballot, go to the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp. Previews of state and local races Meet the three Republicans challenging Gov. Kevin Stitt in the primary race for governor: Joel Kintsel, Mark Sherwood and Moira McCabe. In the Democratic primary for governor, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister (who recently swapped parties) and will challenge former state Sen. Connie Johnson. Tulsa attorney Gentner Drummond is making his second attempt for the office, running against Tulsa attorney John OConnor, who is seeking his first full term in the office. The winner will face a Libertarian in the general election. The primary races for the seat currently held by U.S. Sen. James Lankford have several candidates of both parties vying for the seat in Congress. Republicans John Cox, William Crozier, April Grace and Ryan Walters are on the state superintendent primary ballot, with the winner to face off with Democrat Jena Nelson. Republican voters in southeast Tulsas House District 79 will choose among two former local politicians and a retired engineer to challenge incumbent Democrat Melissa Provenzano. House District 76 incumbent Ross Ford will face off against Flippo Insurance agency partner Timothy Brooks on June 28 in the Republican race to represent parts of Broken Arrow and Tulsa. A former mayor, a business owner, a nurse and a former medical sales worker are competing for the House District 66 Republican nomination to represent the district in Osage County and northwestern Tulsa County. With Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, term-limited and now running for Congress, the race for Senate District 2 will come down to one of four Republicans from Claremore up against Democrat Jennifer A. Esau in November. House District 24 incumbent Logan Phillips faces Air Force veteran Chris Banning and Metropolitan Environmental Trusts Executive Director Bobby Schultz in the Republican primary to represent parts of Beggs, Bixby, Glenpool, Jenks, Liberty, Mounds, Sapulpa and Winchester. State Sen. John Haste, a vice president for a home furnishings company, is seeking a second term in Senate District 36. His opponent David Dambroso, 34, is a consultant, also from Broken Arrow. Previewing down-ballot state offices Other statewide offices besides the governor's race may be contested just as fiercely, usually with less money and more difficult explanations of what it is they do. Besides governor, Oklahoma elects 10 statewide officials: lieutenant governor, attorney general, auditor and inspector, superintendent of public instruction, treasurer, insurance commissioner, labor commissioner, and three corporation commissioners. Another election cycle shows 'party switching' in Oklahoma holds little sway Every recent election cycle brings speculation that frustrated Democrats (or independents) in large numbers are migrating to the Republican Party in order to influence the GOP primary. With every election cycle comes scant evidence that that has happened. 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 political science professor says. Featured news video: Epic Charter School co-founders face criminal charges Just a few weeks ago, Tulsa County Election Board Secretary Gwen Freeman was fretting over the number of new voter identification cards that had been returned to her office as undeliverable. More than 1 in 10, or approximately 50,000, of the ID cards sent out came back. That was 50,000 registered voters who had not received their updated cards modified to reflect 2020 U.S. Census data showing their polling place, precinct number and election districts. Freemans concern has subsided a bit, but with federal, state, county and judicial primaries set for Tuesday, shes still urging voters to check their new voter ID cards to be sure they know where they need to go to cast their ballots. The information also is available on the OK Voter Portal at oklahoma.gov/elections/ovp or by calling the Election Board at 918-596-5771. We have done everything we can do from this end to make sure that everyone has been notified, Freeman said. Even those that have been returned, weve tried to reach out through public discourse, through media and that sort of thing, to encourage them to call us. Freeman said its important for the public to understand that the Election Board didnt arbitrarily decide to change residents polling places, precincts and other voter information. After the 10-year redistricting, we are required by law to locate our precincts within those new boundaries. And so for some of the voters, they are still going to vote at their usual polling place, but for others it will mean a change in where they vote, Freeman said. Oklahomans registered as independents can vote in Democratic primaries but not Republican primaries rules established by the respective state parties. If you want that Democratic ballot, by law, you have to specifically ask for it, Freeman said. On the ballot Tuesday are party primaries for governor, the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Congress, as well as candidates for the state Legislature and other statewide offices. County elected officers and judges also are on the ballot. The polls on Election Day will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no voting at the Tulsa County Election Board that day. If the lines are a little bit longer or the wait is a little bit longer, please be patient with our precinct officials while they process the voters, Freeman said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ELMAU, Germany (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday underscored the urgency of helping his countrys military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Zelenskyy addressed the delicacy of the moment for Ukraine in its war with Russia to the Group of Seven summit as the leaders of the major economies prepared to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putins aggression, a day after Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks and as its military continued a full-on assault on the last remaining Ukrainian redoubt in the Luhansk region in the east. The new aid and efforts by the G-7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The Ukrainian leader discussed his strategy for the course of the war, which has transformed into a bloody artillery battle in the country's west and east. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Zelenskyys top request was for further air defense systems, followed by economic support to help his government meet its financial obligations. Sullivan said most of the conversation was about the way forward and how President Zelenskyy sees the course of the war. Zelenskyy also briefed the G7 leaders on how his administration is using the assistance hes received to date to maximize Ukraines capacity both to resist Russian advances, and to pursue counter attacks where possible, Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible in coming months because he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people. Zelenskyy also told the leaders that he needs to be in stronger position before engaging in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior French diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidencys customary practices. After hearing from Zelenskyy, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They said it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. Leaders were also finalizing the deal to seek a price cap. G-7 finance ministers will resolve details of how it would work, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview announcements from the summit. Some market analysts doubt how effective a price cap on Russian oil would be, as enforcement by the G-7 would likely depend on cooperation from India and China. It is questionable whether countries like India and China will agree to cease purchasing Russian oil, especially as it is trading at a significant discount on the global market price, said Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. President Joe Biden is expected to soon announce the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to help counter the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraine's government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is hosting the summit in the German Alps, said after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help ... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. Britain's Boris Johnson said that, under the circumstances, the G-7 has to "continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy, to get their grain out, to export their grain, and, of course, we have to help them to protect themselves. And thats what were going to continue to do. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance will increase the size of its rapid reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of its response to an era of strategic competition. The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers, which can deploy quickly when needed. Stoltenberg commented before he opens a NATO summit Tuesday in Madrid. The organization's 30 member countries are expected to also agree on further support for Ukraine. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs and plans support to rebuild its economy long term. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and continue its defense against Russian forces. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations among G-7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if the nature of their outreach differs. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have held active conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia. Moulson reported from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Superville reported from Telfs, Austria. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, and Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. NEW YORK (AP) Seven states are set to host primary elections Tuesday as the nation comes to terms with last week's stunning Supreme Court ruling eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion. This week's nominating contests could offer the first clues as to whether the political landscape has shifted. Abortion is particularly relevant in Colorado, where GOP voters are deciding whether to nominate a rare abortion-rights-supporting Republican for U.S. Senate. And in Illinois, a Donald Trump-backed congresswoman ignited a political firestorm over the weekend by celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life, phrasing that her spokesman later called a stumble and was meant to be right to life. The primaries will also offer new insight about the state of the Republican Party, with the central issue in virtually every GOP contest being fealty to Trump and his baseless conspiracy theories. Those Republicans who have pushed back at all, including a senator in Oklahoma and a congressman in Mississippi, are facing fierce challenges. Democrats have their own challenges. Illinois voters will decide a rare incumbent-on-incumbent primary for a House seat, while in South Carolina, Democrats are picking which candidate will take on South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott this fall. In all, primary elections are playing out across Colorado, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah on Tuesday. Nebraska is holding a special election. What to watch: COLORADO GOP businessman Joe ODea, who has spoken publicly about his support for abortion rights, is running for the nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet this fall. O'Dea's top rival is state Rep. Ron Hanks, who opposes abortion in all circumstances and attended the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. O'Dea said he backs a ban on late-term abortions and government funding of abortions, but the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the initial months is between a person and their God. While Colorado has trended Democratic over the past decade, Tuesdays top Republican primary contests will show whether far-right candidates are making progress in their quest to take on uncontested Democrats like Bennet, Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jena Griswold, whos led the national fight against 2020 election deniers. One of them is Republican Tina Peters, a conspiracy-theorist county elections clerk whos been indicted for tampering with voting equipment and posting data online. Peters wants to unseat Griswold as Colorados top elections official despite calls from the state GOP for Peters to suspend her campaign. She's running against Republican Pam Anderson, a former head of the states clerks association and defender of Colorados mail-in elections system. Colorados congressional primaries will measure the staying power of first-term GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert in a sprawling western Colorado district that leans more Republican after redistricting. Shes up against state Sen. Don Coram, a hemp farmer and GOP moderate. In the Republican race to take on Polis, a former suburban Denver mayor, Greg Lopez, is facing Heidi Ganahl, the lone statewide-elected Republican as a University of Colorado regent. ILLINOIS As he is in most GOP contests, Trump is a central issue in Illinois' Republican primary for governor. Darren Bailey, a conservative farmer who earned Trump's endorsement over the weekend and often reads from the Bible in campaign videos, is part of a six-candidate Republican field. His rivals include Richard Irvin, the first Black mayor of Aurora, Illinois second-largest city, who had $50 million in support from billionaire Ken Griffin but was heavily targeted by Democrats who see Bailey as an easier matchup for Pritzker. While Trump endorsed Bailey, he also campaigned alongside first-term Rep. Mary Miller, who is challenging five-term Rep. Rodney Davis in one of the state's two incumbent-on-incumbent primaries. But at Saturday's rally, Miller described the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life. A spokesperson later said she had intended to say the decision was a victory for a right to life. But the Illinois congresswoman is no stranger to provocative statements. Soon after joining the House, Miller quoted Adolf Hitler, saying he was right to say that whoever has the youth has the future. Davis is a powerful, more moderate lawmaker who is the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, which deals with election legislation and the Capitol complex. Meanwhile, two Democratic incumbents Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman are facing off for a Chicago-area seat. Also on the Democratic side, about two dozen candidates are fighting to succeed Rep. Bobby Rush, the only lawmaker to ever defeat Barack Obama. They include John Jackson, son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Karin Norington-Reaves, who has Rushs endorsement. NEW YORK Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was vaulted into office last fall when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, is trying to hold on to her job. Hochul, a Democrat from western New York, is facing challenges from New York Citys elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate congressman from Long Island. Tuesdays elections cover New York's statewide offices and state assembly races, but primary elections for U.S. House seats and the state Senate will be held Aug. 23. Those elections were delayed because of a redistricting lawsuit that led a court to throw out new political maps. Hochul, who was Cuomo's lieutenant governor for six years, promised to restore New Yorkers' faith in its government after stepping into the office last summer, but she hit a major stumbling block in April, when her handpicked lieutenant governor was arrested in a federal corruption probe. Williams, a progressive running to Hochuls left, said Hochul is either consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction. Suozzi, running to Hochul's right, says she's not being tough enough on crime, suggesting she should have gone further to harden the states bail law. On the Republican side, Rep. Lee Zeldin is considered the front-runner in a crowded field that features Andrew Giuliani, the son of New York Citys former mayor Rudy Giuliani; Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; and businessman Harry Wilson. Former Vice President Mike Pence has endorsed Zeldin, who also enjoys the backing of the state GOP and Conservative Party, but Trump has stayed out of the race. UTAH The Republican primary for U.S. Senate pits one of Trumps closest allies, GOP incumbent Sen. Mike Lee, against two challengers who have spent months questioning if Lees loyalty to the former president will hurt Utah residents. Former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political operative Ally Isom have attacked Lee as a divisive politician who cares less about governing than about television appearances and winning Trump's favor. Unlike Lee, neither voted for Trump in 2020. Both Republican challengers have highlighted the post-election text messages Lee sent to Trumps chief of staff, which show his early involvement in efforts to overturn the election. Edwards has also stood out by saying she disagreed with the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to revisit Roe v. Wade. The Senate primary is testing whether Trump's brand of divisive politics and conspiracy theories resonates with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who make up a majority of Utahs population. In November, the winner will take on independent Evan McMullin, a former Republican who won backing from the state Democratic Party in April. MISSISSIPPI Congressional primary runoffs are rare in Mississippi, but on Tuesday, two of the states Republican incumbents are fighting to keep their jobs in runoffs against challengers from their own party. Rep. Steven Palazzo is seeking a seventh term and was considered vulnerable after being accused in a 2021 congressional ethics report of abusing his office by misspending campaign funds. Rep. Michael Guest is seeking a third term. He voted to create an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and was forced into a runoff amid criticism that he was disloyal to Trump. Both Palazzo and Guest failed to cross the 50% threshold to win outright in their June 7 primaries. Palazzo is facing Mike Ezell, the sheriff of a coastal county, while Guest is going up against Michael Cassidy, a former Navy fighter pilot who has highlighted his allegiance to Trump. OKLAHOMA Republicans are picking two U.S. Senate nominees on Tuesday. A crowd of high-profile GOP contenders is vying to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe, including Trump's former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, who resigned from his Washington post under a cloud of ethics scandals. Other candidates include Rep. Markwayne Mullin; T.W. Shannon, the state legislature's first Black House speaker; and Luke Holland, Inhofe's longtime chief of staff. Republican Sen. James Lankford is facing a primary test of his own that centers on Trump. Lankford, among the Senate's most conservative members, has faced backlash from Trump loyalists for not embracing the former president's lies about election fraud. Lankford is facing Tulsa evangelical pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, a political newcomer endorsed by Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser. NEBRASKA A judge on Tuesday will sentence longtime Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry on campaign contribution charges on the same day voters will decide who should serve out the Republicans term. Fortenberry resigned in March. Republican Mike Flood will be favored to win the election in the Republican-leaning district over Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks. Both are state legislators. Regardless of who wins the special election, Flood and Pansing Brooks will face off again in the November general election. The eastern Nebraska district includes Lincoln and parts of suburban Omaha as well as rural area. Associated Press writers Michelle Price in New York; Sara Burnett in Chicago; Sam Metz in Salt Lake City; Jim Anderson in Denver; Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb.; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report. This story has been corrected to show that Irvin represents Illinois' second-largest city, not Illinois' second-largest suburb. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. MUSKOGEE Opponents of the possible closure of a longtime hospital for veterans are hoping the 15,000 signatures theyve collected so far send a message. The people, the general public, are awful wise. And they all say closing it is the stupidest idea theyve ever heard of. Those are the words they use, said Don Nichols, whos spearheading the petition drive to keep the Jack C. Montgomery Veterans Affairs Medical Center open. Nichols, whos been gathering signatures for the past few weeks, said hes overwhelmed by the support from his fellow Oklahomans. Theres still work to be done, he said. But hes optimistic that the effort will succeed and wants to pause now to thank supporters. A special thank you concert has been set for 5:30 p.m. July 1 outside the Muskogee Civic Center, 435 Boston St. Nichols said the event is free and that food trucks will be on site. Its just a way to celebrate all the people who have gotten behind this, Nichols said. Its time to say thank you. The petition drive was launched following the news in March that a VA reorganization study was recommending closure of the nearly 100-year-old hospital when a new VA hospital planned for downtown Tulsa opens in a few years. Muskogee instead would get a new VA clinic. The recommendation caught local leaders and congressional members by surprise, but they were assured that the center would remain open as an in-patient mental health treatment facility. Working with U.S. Rep. Markwayne Mullins office, Nichols recently submitted a letter to the secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs asking that the hospital be exempted from closure. The VA secretary (Denis McDonough) said if hospitals are serving underserved populations, they will not be closed, Nichols said. He believes that Muskogee should qualify, with many of its patients being American Indian and/or African American, rural and low income. At a rally in May, several veterans gave testimonials about the importance of the Muskogee hospital to them, with some predicting that veterans from southeastern Oklahoma would not travel to Tulsa for medical care. Nichols said he is also working with Mullins office to have the hospital designated an official historical site. Nichols, a retired VA employee and Vietnam veteran, said he has traveled all over the eastern part of the state to spread the word about the planned closure and collect signatures. Going in, he didnt know what to expect, he said. Ive never tried to save a hospital before. But I did know I needed to get the pulse of the people of eastern Oklahoma, he said. The response has really restored my faith in the American people, he said. Oklahoma people are amazing. Just good, good people. October 2021 video: Veterans Hospital in Tulsa groundbreaking Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Fifteen airlines are expected to operate international flights connecting numerous destinations with Da Nang from now until the end of the year, promising ample opportunities for the promotion and development of local tourism. These airlines will operate international routes from such countries as South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, and Malaysia, among others, to Da Nang with a total frequency of up to 90 flights per week, Ho Ky Minh, vice-chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said on Monday. The Vietnamese coastal city recently collaborated with budget carrier Vietjet Air in opening five air routes to major cities in India and Singapore. In the first six months of this year, Da Nang has welcomed 286 international flights carrying 35,000 passengers, according to vice-chairman Minh. On June 24, the city received a record of 120 domestic and international flights, the official added. The local tourism sector has had a positive and breakthrough recovery with a series of products, services, and festivals since the end of the first quarter. Many tourist areas and attractions have received a large number of visitors, Minh continued, adding that the average occupancy rate of local hotels reached up to 70-75 percent on weekends. The citys tourism revenue in the first six months of this year has increased 41 percent compared to the same period in 2021. These are good signs for Da Nangs tourism after being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic for two years, the vice-chairman assessed, noting that the city now needs to renew itself in order to take advantage of every opportunity for tourism recovery and development. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Cashless Ride program, as a part of this years Cashless Day, organized a fair in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Sunday to introduce digital payment methods to local residents. The event attracted many residents and tourists, especially young people. Participants had an opportunity to experience cashless payment technologies as well as play games and win prizes offered by the programs partners, namely NAPAS, Sacombank, MBBank, HDBank, VNPT Money, SHB, and Nam A Bank. The fair was an activity organized by the Cashless Ride, one of the programs within the framework of this years Cashless Day. The day has been marked annually on June 16 since 2019 by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and the State Bank of Vietnam. Cashless payments are a mainstream trend in many countries nowadays, said Vo Minh, director of the State Bank of Vietnam's Da Nang branch. Digital payments in Da Nang have grown strongly in recent years, with a variety of payment methods including bank cards, Internet banking, mobile banking, and QR codes widely used by local residents, Minh elaborated. The citys cashless payment value was estimated at VND416 trillion (US$17.8 billion) in 2021, up 61 percent compared to 2020. There are many technologies and services supporting digital payment in the country, but programs such as the Cashless Ride are necessary to help change the payment habit of local residents, Minh stated. Lam Huu Tien, deputy director of Sacombank's Da Nang branch, said that the lender has coordinated with several local schools, allowing them to accept tuition payments via cashless methods. Representatives from Military Bank (MB) and Nam A Bank also introduced several cashless payment utilities for local residents and merchants. The Cashless Ride, consisting of three vehicles, departed from Hanoi on June 19 and was set make stops in multiple localities in the country, including north-central Nghe An Province on June 21, Da Nang on June 26, and south-central Khanh Hoa Province on June 29, before concluding its journey in Ho Chi Minh City on July 3. The convoy promotes existing payment technologies in Vietnam and lets people try them out to help spread the message of the digital transformation process in the field of payment. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Four people were killed and about 70 injured on Sunday when part of a stand collapsed at a bullring in the town of El Espinal, Colombia, provincial officials said. Videos posted on social media showed the section of the stand toppling forward into the ring, where locals were participating in a bull-running event tied to the feast day of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. "There are four dead at this moment - two women, a man and a minor," Tolima provincial governor Jose Ricardo Orozco told local Blu Radio. People gather near the rubble of a grandstand that collapsed in a bullring during the celebrations of the San Pedro festivities, in El Espinal, Colombia June 26, 2022. Photo: Reuters No one remained trapped in the wreckage, Major Luis Fernando Velez, director of civil defense in the province, told local Caracol television, and several people reported as missing have been found. "The emergency has been overcome at the site of the incident. More or less 70 people were injured," Velez said. Ambulances were sent from the nearby cities of Ibague and Melgar to help the injured, who have overwhelmed El Espinal's hospital, Velez said, adding he did not know exactly what the stand was constructed with but it appeared to be wooden boards. Residents gather near the rubble of some stands that collapsed in a bullring during the celebrations of the San Pedro festivities, in El Espinal, Colombia June 26, 2022. Photo: Reuters Residents are seen near the rubble of some stands that collapsed in a bullring during the celebrations of the San Pedro festivities, in El Espinal, Colombia June 26, 2022. Photo: Reuters Media watchdog the Australian Communications and Media Authority is stepping up its monitoring of closed captions, following recent viewer complaints. The Australian reports ACMA has announced plans to do spot audits of TV broadcasts to check for the accuracy of closed captions, after years of complaints from deaf and hearing impaired viewers. ACMA chairwoman Nerida OLoughlin said the regulator had long received complaints about the quality of captioning, which many networks outsource to third party operators. Networks are bound by the statutory requirement to ensure the accuracy of those captions, she said. They could face enforcement action if they fail to lift the quality of the captioning, Ms OLoughlin said. Last October ACMA uncovered problems with the positioning of the captions against displayed graphics made them difficult to read in one segment, whilst others were out of sync with the visual displays, not displayed for a sufficient length of time or did not clearly identify different speakers. Recent breaches over closed captioning include Seven, WIN TV, 10 and Fetch TV. China ships 17.74 mln 5G phones in May Xinhua) 08:46, June 27, 2022 BEIJING, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Shipments of 5G phones in China rose 6 percent year on year to about 17.74 million units in May this year, data from the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology (CAICT) showed. The volume accounted for 85.3 percent of the country's total mobile phone shipments during the period, said the CAICT, a research institute under the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. In the first five months of the year, China's mobile phone shipments dropped 27.1 percent year on year to 108 million units, of which 79.7 percent were 5G phones. China shipped 106 million smartphones in the January-May period, accounting for 98.2 percent of its total mobile phone shipments in the first five months. During the same period, domestic brands also took the lion's share of the Chinese mobile phone market, which contributed to 83.8 percent of the total domestic mobile phone shipments. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) Li Zhanshu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, addresses an event celebrating the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the National Assembly of Thailand via video on June 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Tao) BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- China's top legislator Li Zhanshu on Monday addressed an event celebrating the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the National Assembly of Thailand via video, calling for enhanced relations between the two countries. Li, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, extended sincere congratulations on the 90th anniversary of the establishment of the National Assembly of Thailand on behalf of the NPC. He said the Thai National Assembly has long been making positive contributions to maintaining social justice and promoting economic development in Thailand. The legislatures of China and Thailand have maintained friendly exchanges, and have played positive roles in promoting China-Thailand cooperation in various fields and enhancing the friendship between the two peoples. Noting that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Li said China is willing to make joint efforts with Thailand to implement the important consensus reached by the high-level leaders of the two countries, push forward the development of bilateral relations, and bring more benefits to the two countries and two peoples. The Global Development Initiative and the Global Security Initiative have contributed Chinese solutions to promoting sustainable world development and addressing global security governance challenges, Li said. He said China stands ready to work with Thailand to safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and international order based on international law, safeguard the common interests of developing countries, and contribute to world peace and development. Nine and 10 have issued mid year report cards with the Calendar Year approaching the half-way point this week * Nine is claiming number one network in all key demos, citing successes such as the Australian Open, Married At First Sight, Underbelly: Vanishing Act. Across the calendar year, Nine is number one in 25-54s, 16-39s and Total People. This lead extends in the BVOD space, with 9Now dominating with over 50% share in demos across the commercial FTAs and 49.7 in Total People. Hamish Turner, Director 9Now and Programming, said yesterday: We are proud to be the home of unique, genre-defining content that challenges, excites and engages millions of Australians. 2022 delivered Ash Bartys historic win at Rod Laver Arena. With 3.835 million viewers it is the highest rating program of the year and the highest rating Australian Open Womens Final of all time. Nine is home to the most watched series in the country in Married At First Sight and the most popular reality series in Lego Masters. And we have only just begun, with family favourite Australian Ninja Warrior launching tomorrow night and The Block: Tree Change set to air in the coming months. Not to mention two more exclusive State of Origin matches and the NRL Grand Final. Table supplied by Nine: Source: OzTAM Metro 5 City, 2022 Survey YTD (up to Sat 25/06/2022), Share to FTA, S-S Primetime 1800-2359, Key Demos and TP, Consolidated 28. Meanwhile Network 10 has also trumpeted its achievements, citing five of the top 10 shows in 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s and key shows attracting a 62% lift in Total TV from five city metro overnight data. 10 Play is also having its biggest year ever, up 23% year-on-year, now ar more than 5.6 million registered users. Network 10 is also home to the #1 multi-channel group in under 40s and kids. In key demographics Network 10s audience average age is up to five years younger than its commercial competitors. Daniel Monaghan, SVP Content and Programming, Paramount ANZ, said: Australians are consuming more content than ever before, across a plethora of platform. Our continued focus on the under 50s and key age groups is also reaping benefits with 10 securing five of the top 10 shows in under 50s, 25 to 54s and 16 to 39s so far this year more than any other commercial network. 10 hits have included Im A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here!, Gogglebox, Australian Survivor, Have You Been Paying Attention?, The Cheap Seats, and MasterChef Australia. Still to come in 2022 are Hunted, Shaun Micallefs Brain Eisteddfod, Traitors Australia, The Real Love Boat Australia, The Challenge Australia, The First Inventors, The Masked Singer, The Bachelors, The Amazing Race Australia, 2022 Melbourne Cup Carnival, Australian MotoGP, A-Leagues, Socceroos and Matildas. Seven announced mid year highlights last week. * Survey year reaches mid-year on July 9. As the United States loses a five-decade-old right to abortion, Chile -- long one of Latin America's most conservative countries -- is gearing up to enshrine the same right in its constitution. It is a guarantee hard fought for by supporters of abortion rights, but a final hurdle remains: Chile's first post-dictatorship constitution will be put to a referendum on September 4. If approved, Chile will become one of few countries in the world, and the first in majority Catholic Latin America, to guarantee the right to "voluntary termination of pregnancy" in its founding law. Until 2017, Chile had an outright ban on the procedure, and today allows it only in cases of rape, or if there is a threat to the life of the woman or fetus. The issue is still divisive in Chile, but much less so since the Catholic Church's sway over lawmakers has weakened in recent years. A recent Ipsos poll found 41 percent of Chileans in favor of elective abortion. Another 32 percent approve of it conditionally, such as cases of pregnancy due to rape. Seven percent are against it altogether. - 'Call things by their name' - Even among the 154 members of the Constitutional Convention elected to draft a new founding law for Chile -- half of them women -- there was no consensus on including an explicit mention of abortion in the clause on sexual and reproductive rights. Some feared adding it would generate controversy that could lead to the document being rejected altogether. But Chile's influential feminist movement forced its inclusion, obtaining the 15,000 signatures required for a proposal to be considered by the drafting convention. "It is necessary to call things by their name," said convention member Alondra Carrillo, an activist who fought for stipulating an abortion right in the constitution "without any euphemism." As it stands now, Article 16 of the draft document outlines a right of access to "services" required for "voluntary termination of pregnancy." Story continues Chile is not the only country in Latin America that is moving in the opposite direction as the United States on abortion rights. In February, the constitutional court of Colombia -- another conservative nation -- decriminalized abortion for up to 24 weeks of pregnancy, joining Uruguay, Cuba, Guyana and Argentina in allowing the procedure. It is the latest cutoff for abortion in Latin America, and went against the wishes of President Ivan Duque, who described the move as "heinous." The procedure is also legal in Mexico City and eight more of Mexico's 32 states. US women had already turned to services in Mexico for abortion care, often due to high healthcare costs in the United States, but demand is expected to increase in light of new restrictions. Most countries in Latin America allow abortion for medical reasons or in cases of rape, but an outright ban remains in place in El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and Haiti. - 'Life must be defended' - Chile's constitutional draft has been criticized by some for not determining a gestational cutoff, which opponents have argued will allow abortions to happen "until nine months" of pregnancy. Such a conclusion would be "completely false," said Janise Meneses, a human rights expert and Constitutional Assembly member. "The deadline is not mentioned because it is not a constitutional matter" but rather one for the law, she told AFP. Anti-abortionists in Chile are looking to the US Supreme Court ruling that "the Constitution does not confer a right to abortion" but was rather a political decision. "We must not approve a Constitution that establishes the right to abortion," said Bernardita Silva of the Chile Siempre "pro-life" group, calling the US ruling a "very encouraging" legal example. "Life must be defended," she added. Even after the fall of the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet in 1990, Chile continued to lag behind on civil rights under the influence of powerful ultra-conservative Catholic groups such as Opus Dei. Same-sex relations between men were criminalized until 1999 and divorce allowed only in 2004. In 2017, by which time the Church was severely weakened by a series of pedophilia scandals, Chile allowed abortion for medical reasons and in cases of rape. Two years later, the country erupted in anti-establishment anger with deadly mass protests to demand a more equitable society -- including civil and reproductive rights. Same-sex marriage was legalized last year. In December, Chileans elected President Gabriel Boric, who came to power with a leftist program that includes defending the right to abortion, opposed by his conservative rival. pb/pa/msa/gm/mlr/sw Swedish actor Dolph Lundgren (2nd L) and family attend the Fans Premiere of Illumination and Universal Pictures' "Minions: The Rise of Gru" on June 25, 2022, in Hollywood, California. (Photo by VALERIE MACON / AFP) (Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images) VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Dolph Lundgren is making his family movie genre debut with the whole brood. The Rocky IV star, 64, spoke to PEOPLE as he enjoyed a family outing at Saturday's Minions: The Rise of Gru premiere in Los Angeles, where he was accompanied by fiancee Emma Krokdal for her first time at an event like this. "She's loving it. I took them out and got these yellow outfits last week," Lundgren said. "I met her three years ago and she hasn't been to a premiere yet because of COVID, so we're really enjoying it." RELATED: Dolph Lundgren Had 'Great Experience' Working with Aquaman Costar Amber Heard: She's 'Down-to-Earth' He and Krokdal, 25, color coordinated in matching yellow looks with his daughters Ida, 26, and Greta, 20, who were also in attendance. "Yellow squad to see the Minions," Krokdal captioned photos from the premiere, where she and her future stepdaughters sat in seats decorated as Minions. Lundgren explained that he's taking care of the wedding planning, which was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "It's just because we lost two years," he said. "So hopefully next year, we're gonna go to Scandinavia, and you can't do it in the winter or you'll be in the middle of a snowstorm," Lundgren added. "So hopefully we'll do it maybe next spring or something in Norway or Sweden." The Aquaman actor got engaged to Krokdal, a Norwegian personal trainer, in June 2020, sharing the news on Instagram with a photo of his bride-to-be showing off her engagement ring. "Something very special happened here in Sweden," Lundgren wrote in the caption. He was married to Annette Qviberg from 1994 to 2011. RELATED VIDEO: Kids Interview Steve Carell Lundgren voices Svengeance, a roller-skating member of the villainous Vicious 6, in Minions: The Rise of Gru. He told PEOPLE about his decision to take on a more family-friendly role than what he's become known for. "I think being relevant, as you get older in this business can be difficult. Obviously, doing this certainly helps," Lundgren said. "And also it's fun to be able to take my daughter's over there and see this film because it's very different than my usual films." Minions: The Rise of Gru premieres Friday, July 1 in theaters. Lloyd Isgrove and Josh Sheehan are on their way back from injury WANDERERS boss Ian Evatt cant wait to have Lloyd Isgrove and Josh Sheehan back in contention this season. Both players joined the squad at their pre-season training base in Portugal and are well on in their recovery from long-term injury. Sheehan ruptured his cruciate ligament playing against Stockport County in the FA Cup in November, whereas Isgrove tore his hamstring for the second time in a reserve team game against Fleetwood in March. Wanderers have not yet put a timeframe on either players return although the start of the League One season is considered too soon. But after seeing Sheehan and Isgrove involved in the gym and training pitches at the base in Lagos, Evatt is relishing the prospect of having them fit and available once again. Izzy is not quite ready to join in the sessions yet but it is good to have him out here with the group and doing certain things, he explained. Josh has been in and out, not able to fully join in yet but he isnt far away. He has done great and it is like having a new signing. Josh, in particular, is a player I think can have a huge impact this season. It is great to have them both back. Kieran Lee missed the Portugal trip to be at home with his partner during the birth of their third child, which has now arrived safe and sound. Family always comes first and always will, said the Bolton boss. He has been training back home with the B Team to keep up his strength and I wish them good luck. It has been a really good week, and I have really enjoyed having them here 24-seven. They will say it is hard work, they will say it has been tough, but we are actually being paid to be here. It was a great opportunity. Social, newsletters, subscriptions and getting in touch... You can follow the Bolton News on social media, by joining us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram We also have dedicated Facebook groups on Crime & Court, Traffic & Travel, Nostalgia and our Camera Club page If you want to make sure you don't miss the most important news stories every day, sign up to one of our free e-mail newsletters Gain unlimited access to the Bolton News website with a premium digital subscription - we are running a 2 for two months special offer Or if you want the Bolton News newspaper delivered to your door, get in touch with our home delivery team or call us on 0800 953 0227 NATO to pledge aid to Baltics and Ukraine, urge Turkey to let in Nordics FILE PHOTO: Meeting to prepare the upcoming Madrid summit of the alliance, in The Hague By Robin Emmott and Humeyra Pamuk MADRID (Reuters) - NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve. Taking place in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Madrid gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic bond after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the nuclear alliance. Negotiations among an often-fractious organisation are still under way, diplomats said, but leaders also hope to agree to provide more military aid to Ukraine, increase joint defence spending, cement a new resolve to tackle China's military rise and put more troops on stand-by to defend the Baltics. Spain, whose king will host a dinner for leaders, is also pushing for more NATO focus on the southern flank to address migration and militant groups in the Sahel region of Africa. The leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea are expected to attend part of the summit, part of a broader U.S. strategy for a more assertive Western presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China. "We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of allied territory, at all times and against any threat," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech last week. Although British and U.S. officials have advised against a Baltic request for permanent multinational forces in the region, the summit is likely to settle on a compromise of promising rapid reinforcements. Germany has already said it will put more troops at the ready to defend Lithuania should Russia seek to seize NATO territory and Britain is expected to do the same for Estonia, while Latvia is looking to Canada to pledge more troops there. TURKEY VETO NATO - created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat - is under no treaty obligation to defend Ukraine, as the former Soviet republic is not a NATO member. Story continues But Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion has sparked a geopolitical shift as once neutral countries Finland and Sweden seek to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Ukraine has formally become a candidate to join the European Union. If accepted, Finland and Sweden's inclusion into NATO would bring about the expansion of the alliance that the Russian leader aimed to prevent. "I think it sends an important message to Putin. And I think it would actually significantly strengthen the alliance," U.S. Senator Angus King said of Finland and Sweden, following a trip to Finland, Latvia and Turkey. However, Turkey is also testing that unity, angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara. A Turkish government official involved in the talks between the three countries and NATO's Stoltenberg told Reuters it would be difficult to reach a deal at the summit, saying that Sweden and Finland must first address Turkish concerns. "There were meetings, but unfortunately steps we expected are not being taken," the official said. Sweden has set up a process for ongoing consultations, diplomats said. But two senior NATO diplomats said the dispute was less about technical benchmarks and more about politics. Erdogan's stance has proved popular at home before a June 2023 presidential election as he seeks to challenge U.S. and European priorities. In recent weeks, he has threatened more military operations in northern Syria, stoked tensions with fellow NATO member Greece and declined to join Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war. "I think there's nearly zero chance that this issue will be resolved at the Madrid summit," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey analyst at the Washington Institute, a U.S. think-tank. U.S. President Joe Biden could hold a meeting with Erdogan in the margins of the NATO summit to push for progress with Finland and Sweden, whose leaders will be in Madrid. But Cagaptay added that Erdogan could try to use the situation to boost his popularity and call a possible snap election in November ahead of the official June 2023 vote. (Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal and Belen Carreno in Madrid and Jonathan Spicer and Orhan Coskun in Ankara; Editing by Nick Macfie) High-voltage power lines and an electricity pylon next to a group of wind turbines are pictured, in Barranco de Tirajana By Isla Binnie MADRID (Reuters) - Groups representing some of Europe's biggest energy companies have asked the European Union to intervene over Spain's plan to take profits from carbon-free power plants that are deemed to have benefited from a rally linked to fossil fuel, a letter seen by Reuters showed. Spain says older emissions-free plants have received a profits boost from high power prices in the broader market that has been increased because they are exempt from paying for pollution permits needed to burn fossil fuels such as gas and coal. It is working on a law to oblige the companies that operate them to make payments to the state to reflect this. Power prices have soared across Europe as energy deliveries from Russia became less predictable following the major oil and gas supplier's invasion of its neighbour Ukraine, prompting governments to step in. Industry groups AELEC, Eurelectric, the European Federation of Energy Traders, Wind Europe and the Global Infrastructure Investor Association objected to Spain's proposed law in a letter to European Commission officials dated June 20. "The draft law seriously undermines investment incentives for decarbonised electricity generation," it said. Companies are worried about measures governments are taking in other countries including Britain, where Germany's RWE has said a windfall tax would make it reconsider its investments. Spain says the money should be reinvested in the electricity system to benefit consumers. It calculates the measure could make available 1.6 billion euros ($1.7 billion) per year. The industry groups, whose members include Europe's biggest utility Iberdrola, Denmark's Orsted and France's Engie said the Spanish plan ran counter to the European Union's carbon market structure. They also said it should exclude energy sold under long-term fixed-price contracts, and does not. "We urge the Commission to enter in a dialogue with the Spanish Government and to express its concerns over a draft law that is contrary to the EU framework," the groups said. Story continues The law would cover nuclear and hydroelectric plants and some wind and solar farms built before 2003, when the European Union agreed to create a system of permits for power plants, factories and airlines to cover the planet-warming emissions they produce. ($1 = 0.9451 euros) (Reporting by Isla Binnie; editing by Barbara Lewis) GAZA/JERUSALEM, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The armed wing of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) on Monday said that the health condition of an Israeli captive in Gaza has recently deteriorated. Abu Obeida, the spokesman of Al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas armed wing, said in a short tweet that the health of one of their Israeli hostages has deteriorated. The tweet did not give further details, but said evidence would be published in the coming hours. On Monday night, Israeli Prime Minister's office blamed Hamas for the state of the captured civilians, saying "Israel will continue its efforts, mediated by Egypt, to bring home the captives and the missing, with responsibility and determination." An Israeli security official told Israel Radio that Hamas' announcement "appears to be an attempt to pressure Israel within the framework of negotiations for a prisoner swap deal." The Spokesperson's Unit of the Israel Defense Forces was not immediately available to comment for Xinhua. Israel believes that Hamas, an Islamist Palestinian group that runs the coastal Palestinian enclave, holds the remains of Oron Shaul and Hadar Goldin, two soldiers that were killed in Gaza during Israel's military offensive in 2014, as well as two civilians who are believed to be alive, Avera Mengistu and Hisham al-Sayed. In 2016, the military wing of Hamas announced for the first time that it keeps four Israeli soldiers in its captivity, without specifying their fate. Hamas has sought to trade the prisoners in exchange for relief in the blockade on Gaza that Israel has imposed since 2007. Israel maintains it will not lift the blockade until the prisoners are freed and the Gaza Strip is demilitarized. The University of North Georgia's (UNG) economic impact totaled more than $755 million on northeast Georgia during fiscal year 2021, a 4.4% increase from the previous year. The impact includes $722.8 million in spending and jobs and an additional $32.4 million impact attributed to capital construction projects. The annual study of the University System of Georgia's (USG) economic impact measures direct and indirect spending that contributes to the university's service region. "UNG is deeply committed to the success of our students and the strength and prosperity of the communities we serve. This report shows that UNG continues to be a positive catalyst for economic growth and community development across the northeast Georgia region and beyond," UNG President Bonita C. Jacobs said.Included in UNG's economic impact is $278.5 million in spending by about 19,000 students, which alone created 3,003 jobs in the area. On average, for every dollar spent by the university, an additional 47 cents is generated for the region.The study area for UNG was Barrow, Clarke, Dawson, Fannin, Forsyth, Gilmer, Gwinnett, Hall, Jackson, Lumpkin, Madison, Oconee, Union, and White counties. These counties are where UNG campuses are located and contiguous communities. Study areas for each school in the report were defined based on the Residence County to Workplace County Flows for Georgia, 2009-2013 from the U.S. Census Bureau. CAIRO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- At least nine people were killed and four others injured on Monday after a lorry collided with a microbus in northeastern Egypt, state-run Ahram newspaper reported. Initial investigations showed that the accident took place when the driver of the microbus, which was carrying 14 passengers, attempted to take a U-turn while travelling at high speed on the Cairo-Ain Sokhna highway and was hit by a lorry, according to the report. Road accidents are common in Egypt because of shoddy road maintenance and lax enforcement of traffic laws. In order to lower the number of traffic accidents, Egypt has been upgrading its road network over the past few years by building new roads and bridges and repairing existing ones. Frances premier air show is held each year at Cerny aerodrome, close to the picturesque town of La Ferte-Alais, just a short distance from Paris. On clear days you can see the Eiffel tower from the plateau where this French vintage aviation haven lies. The event itself takes place during the weekend of Pentecost, fifty days after Easter, and thus the date for any given year varies between mid-May and mid-June. This year the Le temps des helices, or The time of propellers as the show is affectionately known, took place over the weekend of Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th of June 2022. Fames aviation photographer Peter Steehouwer was there to capture the best moments. The airfield is also home to the Amicale Jean Baptiste Salis collection which showcased an impressive number of pre-World War I up to present aircraft. During the show, dozens of vintage aircraft are assembled from Europe and the US for display and flight demonstrations. The French Air Force usually demonstrates some new air capacity (paratroops, etc.) as well as overflight by the Patrouille de France Also, Airbus or other aircraft manufacturers flew their latest commercial aircraft, such as the A-300 series of jetliners. Even this year La Ferte air show lived up to its grand expectations. Although missing some aircraft, organizers made up for it with an exciting mix of different aircraft and air show acts. Great food and shopping possibilities further added a great air show weekend. Thanks to Peter Steehouwer for his photos, visit www.steehouwer.com to learn more about his work. WATERLOO John Deere will begin producing a self-propelled, driverless autonomous tractor in Waterloo before the end of 2022, company officials here have confirmed. Deere officials unveiled the tractor at the annual Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January. The vehicle will be part of the companys 8R tractor series, which is made in Waterloo. We can confirm that the tractor will be made in Waterloo with limited availability this year, said Kelly Henderson, a spokesperson at Deeres Waterloo operations. The head of a local economic development organization welcomed the news. We couldnt be more thrilled, said Cary Darrah, executive director of Grow Cedar Valley. And its not surprising, since Deeres always been on the cutting edge. We will work with Deere and other manufacturers to help prepare a workforce to help with these visions, and these successes. She also said the new product should benefit Deeres local suppliers. Deere officials at the Las Vegas show indicated the development is as historically significant to the company and the industry as when company namesake John Deere himself inventing the self-cleaning steelcast plow 165 years ago in 1837; and when Deere entered the tractor business in 1918 with its acquisition of the Waterloo Gasoline Traction Engine Co. in Waterloo, manufacturers of the famous Waterloo Boy two-cylinder tractor. The company has been adding automated improvements to its machinery for 20 years, including its GreenStar global positioning system technology and its AutoTrac assisted steering system. In August, Deere announced it had acquired the four-year-old Silicon Valley company Bear Flag Robotics, a software firm based in Newark, Calif., for $250 million. At the time of that acquisition, Bear Flag Robotics hailed itself as being committed to developing the most advanced autonomous tractors possible. The firm said it became involved with Deere in 2019 in Deeres startup collaborator program, enabling Deere to deepen its connection with startup companies whose technology has the potential to add value for their customers. Since the completion of the program, we have successfully deployed autonomous tractors solutions at multiple farms across the United States, Bear Flag Robotics officials said. Pilot experiments with autonomous tractors could be seen in some farm fields in Northeast Iowa in recent years. The autonomous tractor serves a specific purpose: feeding the world, Deere officials said at the Las Vegas unveiling. The global population is expected to grow from about 8 billion to nearly 10 billion people by 2050, increasing the global food demand by 50 percent. Furthermore, farmers must feed this growing population with less available land and skilled labor, in addition to perennial challenges like climate changes and pest control. To use the autonomous tractor, farmers only need to transport the machine to a field and configure it for autonomous operation, Deere officials said. Using John Deere Operations Center Mobile, a computer application downloaded to a phone, tablet or other computerized mobile device, they can swipe from left to right to start the machine. The autonomous tractor has six pairs of stereo cameras, which enables 360-degree obstacle detection and the calculation of distance ensuring it is operating where it is supposed to, and is within less than an inch of accuracy, the Deere announcement explained. Camera images are projected through a neural network, a computer system that operates similar to the human brain and its nervous system. While the machine is working, the farmer can leave the field to focus on other tasks, while monitoring the machines status from their mobile device, company officials said. The several facilities making up Deeres Waterloo operations constitute the Moline, Ill., companys largest manufacturing complex in North America. The companys large row-crop tractors are made here. Additionally, Deeres Product Engineering Center in Cedar Falls is the hub of the companys new product research and development efforts. Over the past couple of years, Deere reconfigured its assembly operations and was able to roll out a new 8R tractor product line here in 2020 with extensive precautions in the middle of the coronavirus pandemic to strong product acceptance and ongoing heightened market demand. The company is coming off a record earnings year and is predicting another for 2022. Grow Cedar Valley works closely with local schools and postsecondary institutions on workforce development. Darrah indicated the new autonomous tractor should generate interest for prospective workers to get the training they need to produce such products. Were committed to helping relay this information and these opportunities to the workforce that we will need to get it done, she said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 GRUNDY CENTER Relatives of Sgt. Jim Smith let his killer know what kind of a man he was during a sentencing hearing on Monday. Michael Thomas Lang, 42, was sentenced to life in prison without parole for first-degree murder in the Iowa state troopers slaying during an April 2021 standoff at Langs Grundy Center home. Judge Joel Dalrymple symbolically added another 30 years to the sentence for charges of attempted murder for shooting at an armored vehicle driver during the end of the standoff and assault on an officer for disarming and choking a Grundy Center police officer during the traffic stop that started it. Lang declined to comment to the court during the hearing, which was held in Grundy County District Court. More than two dozen uniformed state troopers attended the hearing, lining the walls of the courtroom. Family members wore T-shirts with 462, Smiths trooper number, inside a Batman logo. The world lost a true hero, Michelle Suchomel, Jim Smiths sister, said recounting how they grew up playing Star Wars, Star Trek and super heroes, and how Jim Smith followed his dream of entering law enforcement. She talked about how her brothers faith in God and how he would impress upon others especially those he arrested to turn their lives around. Jim was great at his job and loved being a part of the Iowa State Patrol and tactical team, the sister said. She said he was usually the first to go through a door and wanted his team behind him to protect them as much as possible. That is exactly what he was doing that fateful day, and he would not have had it any other way, she said. Katherine Smith, Jim Smiths wife, said Langs actions ripped her family apart. I didnt blame God for what happened. Evil people do evil things. I only blame this man, she said looking at Lang seated at the defense table. I am thankful he will spend the rest of his life in prison. This man who clearly hates law enforcement, who laughed about killing my husband, wont be able to hurt anyone else, and for that I am grateful. Lang was also ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to Smiths estate. The sentence came after the judge dismissed a defense motion for a new trial, arguing the court should have allowed self-defense and stand-your-ground language in the jury instructions. Authorities said Lang refused to pull over for an April 9, 2021, speeding stop and instead lured the police officer into a rural area where he knocked away his Taser and began struggling with him. A passerby and a sheriffs deputy intervened, and Lang drove home and refused to come out for police. Smith was shot in the chest and leg with slugs from a shotgun when he and others attempted to enter the kitchen to apprehend Lang. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO Trial has been set for August for Waterloos former recreation superintendent who has been accused of stealing from the city. Mark Joseph Gallagher, 52, last week pleaded not guilty to one count of second-degree theft in Black Hawk County District Court. He also waived his right to a speedy trial. Gallagher had managed the citys SportsPlex fitness center, and authorities allege he falsified hours for workers at the facility. Court records allege he made entries claiming hours they didnt actually work. He then collected the checks for himself. The scheme made $7,766, court records state. City officials became aware of the allegations Feb. 1. Gallagher was placed on administrative leave Feb. 3 and he resigned from his position as recreation superintendent Feb. 11, around the time police were alerted to the allegations. The Iowa State Auditors Office was notified of the allegations. Gallagher was arrested in May, and he was released on a promise to appear for court, records state. Love 0 Funny 5 Wow 2 Sad 1 Angry 7 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. NAIROBI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The fourth meeting of the open-ended working group on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework has ended in the Kenyan capital, Nairobi, with a pledge to fast-track agreement on a new decades-long deal to re-energize the conservation of iconic species. Delegates who attended the June 21-26 forum, convened by the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), vowed to speed up the establishment of a landmark framework to guide enhanced protection of habitats amid mounting threats. CBD Executive Secretary Elizabeth Maruma Mrema said the spirit of consensus combined with political commitment will be key to developing an ambitious and transformative post-2020 global biodiversity framework. "I call upon the Parties in the next months to vigorously engage with the text, to listen to each other and seek consensus, and to prepare the final text for adoption," she said. More than 1,000 in-person and virtual participants, including policymakers, representatives of multilateral agencies, industry, academia, and civil society, attended the six-day meeting to negotiate a framework to guide the future conservation of natural habitats. The refined post-2020 global biodiversity framework is expected to be adopted at the second and final edition of the 15th conference of parties (COP15) to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity meeting, slated for Dec. 5-17 in Montreal, Canada. During the Nairobi meeting, delegates agreed on the broader objectives of the envisaged global pact to revitalize species conservation as a means to attain sustainable development. Other topics discussed at the meeting included resource mobilization to hasten the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and strengthening the role of women, youth, and indigenous people in the protection of habitats. The delegates agreed on the need to entrench benefit-sharing, digital mapping of genetic resources, and a rights and people-centered approach to conserving biodiversity hotspots that sustain livelihoods. Mrema said she was optimistic a new roadmap for conserving species is in sight, adding that it will transform livelihoods at the grassroots level besides enhancing climate resilience. Francis Ogwal, a co-chair of the open-ended working group on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, said negotiators will refine the draft text to ensure it captures the interests and aspirations of all stakeholders before its adoption in December. A landmark pact to re-invigorate the conservation of habitats is long overdue in the light of existential threats fueled by climate change, poor land-use practices, invasive species, and pollution, Ogwal said. Basile van Havre, another co-chair of the working group, said the Nairobi meeting covered a significant milestone in attempts to come up with a new vision for saving planetary resources. CEDAR FALLS Nikki Britzman decided to home-school her oldest daughter when Lillia was in kindergarten. She and her family have never looked back. While the decision was made primarily for religious reasons, Britzman said the move has paid off in the quality of her childrens learning experience. Lillia struggled with subtraction at the start, but home-schooling let the family focus on the issue. After finishing her junior year this spring, shes a year ahead in math. Britzmans younger daughter had difficulty reading early on in her education. As she prepares to start high school in the fall, though, shes become a bookworm with an interest in adoption law. It has been a blessing to our family, Britzman said. The variety of the educational opportunities that you have theres so much flexibility our choice was totally affirmed. The Britzman family isnt alone. In the years since it became legal in Iowa in 1991, home-schooling has seen steady annual growth, though U.S. Census Bureau surveys showed a slight dip of 0.6% in the early months of the pandemic. According to Jill Oppman, regional representative for Homeschool Iowa, the pandemic gave parents a glimpse of what homeschooling would look like as they shifted to remote learning. It also showed many of them that they may be more capable of taking their childrens education into their own hands than theyd previously thought. Thats the message Oppman and her peers are trying to promote. Obviously were promoting home education, Oppman said. We think its a great option for schooling our children and we think its the best, of course but anyway it definitely is a viable type of education, and so we promote that. Joyce Pierpont, support representative for Classical Conversations-Cedar Falls, said the global, Christian home-school organization has seen growth at the national level during the pandemic thanks to its model of connecting families using the curriculum. Those who home-school, she explained, are still looking for community something Classical Conversations is able to offer. During the pandemic, nobody could see each other, and we were all separate and socially distancing, and so people realized how important real relationships with one another were in general, Pierpont said. And so weve seen a lot of people come and be able to have that community aspect back into their lives and to be doing school together. Lillia Britzman said her experience has resulted in a greater range of social interactions and friends. She attributes it to the networking shes done through Classical Conversations, which has resulted in an environment without cliques or in groups. Weve got a 16-year-old in my class whos 64, an 18-year-old whos not even five feet and they love making fun of each other, Lillia said. One of the kids went to the worlds robotics competition in Houston, one kid wants to be an English teacher in Japan. Just stuff all the way across the spectrum. In particular, home-schooling has been widely sought out and utilized in evangelical Christian families. The home-schooling option, supporters argue, offers them the opportunity for greater religious freedom in addition to a quality education. However, families arent home-schooling solely for religious reasons. As Oppman pointed out, many families also see the benefit it has in bonding as a family. That is what she has experienced with her children. I home-schooled my kids theyre all adults now, but one thing I noticed is the closeness it brought to our family, Oppman said. My children love their siblings theyre best friends and we just really enjoyed that aspect of it. Theyre night-and-day different. One says, yes, the other will say, no, every single time, Britzman said about her daughters. But because theyve had so much time together, theyve had to learn to get along with each other, and a friendship has been born out of it that I dont think wouldve been there otherwise, at least to the same degree. Additionally, the pandemic has seen home-schooling expand in other demographics. Its become heavily adopted by Black families. According to a survey by the U.S. Census Bureau, home-schooling among Black households jumped from 3.3% early in 2020 to 16.1% later that year. Home-schooling isnt in the best interest of every family. The education of ones own children is a full-time job, requiring a parent to dedicate their full attention to the educational pursuits of their children. Its something that may not be possible for dual-income homes. But for those who swear by home-schooling, the rewards outweigh the downsides and the burden is worthwhile. Its a juggling act, Britzman said. Its one Im really thankful Ive gotten to do. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WATERLOO The Waterloo Public Library has announced activities happening for the week starting June 26: Tuesday, 10 a.m.-11 a.m., STEM Activities by AmeriCorps for second- to fourth-graders in Meeting Room AB, part of the Youth Summer Library Program. Tuesday, 2-3 p.m. Lego Lab @ the Library, back after a two-year hiatus. Gather in Meeting Room AB to build with supplied Legos, part of the Youth Summer Library Program. This will also take place Wednesday from 10-11 a.m. and 2-3 p.m. Tuesday, 5-7 p.m. Board Game Night, Meeting Room AB. Teens and adults can stop by to play old classics or new favorites. People can bring their own or check out the librarys growing list of games. Thursday, 5-6:30 p.m. Canvas & Cookies, an evening of snacking and painting for teens with Cedar Valley Art & Wines Kim Blakesley, part of the Teen Summer Library Program. Cookies and an 11x14 canvas will be provided for the event in Meeting Room AB. Registration is required and space is limited to 20 participants. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Des Moines Register. June 26, 2022. Editorial: Domestic violence ruins too many lives in Iowa to shrug it off without acting Legislation doesnt need to have definitive answers for every tragedy, but policies can effect change cumulatively to avert one tragedy here and another there. When a man shot his ex-girlfriend and her friend to death and then killed himself in Ames this month, the only thing out of the ordinary was where he found the victims in a church parking lot. Had a fatal attack occurred at, say, the home of one of the women, attention probably would have lasted a few days before the case fell out of public consciousness and showed up in a tally of domestic violence deaths. That kind of grim, implicit acceptance shouldnt be so. We ought to be at least as discomfited hearing about the murders of any intimate partner and any bystander as we are learning that lives were cut short just outside a worship service in a crowded auditorium. Iowa recorded 106 homicides in 2020; 18 of them were linked to domestic violence, according to the state attorney generals office. Last year, there were 20 such deaths. Tens of thousands more Iowans, predominantly adult women, receive services after suffering domestic abuse every year. Governments at all levels have tools to protect adults and children from domestic violence, even though they cant identify in advance every single person who is a threat to partners or former partners. Governments can help social service agencies make temporary and permanent shelter easier to find. They can help survivors achieve economic independence and remove that motivation for returning to an abuser. They can craft narrowly targeted restrictions on firearms, a primary implement of domestic violence deaths. Survivors tell us time and again, if they can access the practical foundations of living, they have the ability to be safer, said Lindsay Pingel, director of community engagement for the Iowa Coalition Against Domestic Violence, in a written statement. In Iowa, these tools are used too little. The most recent legislative session took us backward, highlighted by a reduction in how long Iowans can receive unemployment benefits in most circumstances. That revision was counterproductive in other respects, but its easy to imagine scenarios where tension in a family spikes earlier, or where a person leaves an abuser, loses benefits and is buried in debt months earlier than under previous law. Of course, any present debate involving economic independence or gun violence must acknowledge a one-two punch of devastating U.S. Supreme Court rulings at the end of last week. On Thursday, justices dismissed the relevance of contemporary considerations in assessing gun laws, and on Friday, they threw out 49 years of jurisprudence protecting womens right to choose whether to end a pregnancy. Preventing a partner from having an abortion is abuse, and forcing a partner to stay pregnant is, unfortunately, an effective way of keeping them dependent and trapped in the relationship itself, the National Network to End Domestic Violence wrote in May. Of course, children born into such a dynamic are very likely to endure hardship as result. The precise practical effect of the abortion ruling in Iowa is complicated and not yet determined, but the decision is unequivocally bad news for abortion rights. When it comes to guns, the problem is less the specific New York state law that six justices invalidated and more their justification for doing so. In 14 years since another landmark Second Amendment decision, the court ruled, most courts have wrongly assessed whether regulations are an appropriate means to achieve an important public interest. Instead, the only thing that matters is looking back to the adoption of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. Put another way, even the gun-friendly standard that Iowa Republicans are trying to add to the state constitution might actually be less permissive than the U.S. Constitution now requires. Congress, for its part, passed substantive restrictions on gun access for the first time in decades late last week. The law will give states incentives to enact red flag laws that let judges order weapons taken away from people deemed to be threats to others or themselves. And it closes the so-called boyfriend loophole, which barred domestic violence offenders from buying guns only if theyd been married to or had children with their victims. The laws provisions arent so obviously on point to the Ames case that they would clearly save lives in a similar case. Allegations against Johnathan Whitlatch over the course of at least six years suggest, in hindsight, a pattern of mistreating women. But that history wasnt taken into account in setting bond, when, two days before he killed the women, Whitlatch was arrested, the Ames Tribunes Phillip Sitter reported. Whitlatch was suspected of harassing one of the women, his former girlfriend Eden Montang. A friend told Sitter that Whitlatch had sometimes discussed suicide; court records also mention a suicide concern in 2017. Maybe a judge, under a red-flag provision with more teeth than current Iowa law, could have been persuaded to order Whitlatch to give up his weapons. Maybe that would have made it harder to kill Montang and Vivian Flores. Maybe enacting new laws to make housing and child care more affordable would help keep another survivor out of a would-be killers orbit. Legislation doesnt need to have definitive answers for every tragedy, but policies can effect change cumulatively to avert one tragedy here and another there. The question is what our state values most. Do we most value attempting to preserve life, and improving environments for survivors and children through investments in social safety nets and an equitable economy? Or do we most value removing every inconvenience associated with buying and carrying guns and enshrining the lowest possible tax rates for the privileged? END Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In view of numerous appeals sent to Russian Defence Ministry by citizens who have expressed their desire to help servicemen involved in special military operation for liberating Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics, Shield charity fund has been established. The fund is aimed at providing comprehensive specific assistance and additional social support measures to servicemen and members of their families. Servicemen are to be supported by voluntary donations from individuals and legal entities Bank accounts in Promsvyazbank, Sberbank and VTB Bank were for the transferring funds. Contact telephone numbers: +7 (495) 198-04-45 +7 (800) 600-19-45 #MoD @mod_russia_enjoy WtR Top news today Russian Defence Minister General of the Army Sergei Shoigu inspects Russian group of troops (forces) involved in special military operation On June 25, the cities of Severodonetsk and Borovskoye, the settlements of Voronovo and Sirotino passed under control of the Lugansk Peoples Republic. The localities liberated from the Kiev regime are inhabited by about 108,000 people. Total area of the liberated territory is about 145 square kilometres. Success of the Russian army and the units of people militia of the Donetsk and Lugansk peoples republics considerably diminishes moral and psychological condition of the Ukrainian army personnel. High-precision attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces and Kalibr missiles were launched at 169th Army Training Centre near Desna (Chernigov region), 199th Air Assault Troops Training Centre near Teterevka (Zhitomir region), as well as at 184th Training Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Starichi (Lvov region). Russian Armed Forces detect abandoned foreign-manufactured armament and AFU fighters residence in liberated settlement of Kharkov region Central MD servicemen deliver humanitarian aid to residents of liberated settlement in Lugansk Peoples Republic #MoD #TopNews #Russia #Ukraine @mod_russia_enjoy WtR Part 1 (read part 2) The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine. On June 26, Russian Aerospace Forces launched 4 high-precision air-based missiles at the workshops of Artyom missile corporation located in Shevchenkovsky district of Kiev. This enterprise produced ordnance for Ukrainian multiple rocket-launching systems (MRLS). According to live recording data, all of the 4 missiles have reached the target. The facility has been neutralised. Civilian infrastructure of Kiev has not been affected by high-precision armament. Kiev regime attempted to intercept Russian high-precision missiles by the means of air defence deployed in the city. Ukrainian S-300 and Buk-M1 air defence system crews had launched over 10 air defence missiles. Due to lack of interoperability between the launching ramps of the air defence systems and electronic facilities deployed in residential areas, 2 S-300 air defence missiles have been intercepted by Ukrainian Buk systems. One of the intercepted air defence missiles has presumably fallen down to a residential building. Ukrainian command is trying to stop the chaotic escape of Ukrainian servicemen near Lisichansk amid the success of Russian army within liberating Donbass. A Right Sector Nazi barrier unit was sent to hold the personnel of the first battalion from 72nd mechanised brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Volcheyarovka. Russian artillery has eliminated this unit. The Ukrainian troops involved in operation towards Lisichansk are no longer controlled. Commander of 115th Independent Mechanised Brigade of the AFU who deployed its command post in the rear area has lost control over his units that caused losing 80 percent of manpower and about 70 percent of equipment of 138th Battalion from this brigade during operations. On June 26, Russian units eliminated 2 sabotage and reconnaissance groups of mercenaries formed by 14 militants during the combats that took place 3 km from Lisichansk oil refinery (Lugansk Peoples Republic). The first group was international and consisted of citizens from various European countries. The second was formed by mercenaries only from Georgia who were parts of the so-called Georgian Legion. This armed group is mostly composed of criminals. The eliminated Georgian mercenaries were involved in the brutal torture and murder of Russian servicemen near Kiev in March this year. Russian Defence Ministry has information about each mercenary involved in torturing and murdering out servicemen. We have found and punished them. Part 2 (read part 1) Russian Federation Armed Forces continue launching attacks at military facilities located in Ukraine. High-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has neutralised the base of 106th Battalion from 63rd Mechanised Infantry Brigade of the AFU near Visunsk (Nikolayev region). Over 40 Ukrainian servicemen and 12 units of military equipment have been eliminated. Attacks have also resulted in the elimination of AFU manpower and military equipment in 27 areas, including those that formed part of the Right Sector near Lisichansk, as well as those of Azov and Kraken near Kharkov. 5 AFU command posts and 3 munitions, missile and artillery armament depots have been neutralised near Bereznegovatoye (Nikolayev region) and Novodruzhesk (Lugansk Peoples Republic). Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery have neutralised: 24 command posts, artillery and mortar units in 58 areas, as well as manpower and military equipment in 304 areas. Within the counter-battery warfare towards Donetsk, high-precision armament of Russian Aerospace Forces has neutralised: 3 Grad MRLS plattoons near Avdeyevka and Dzerzhinsk, a plattoon of M-777 155-mm howitzers near Konstantinovka, 2 Giatsint 152-mm howitzer plattoons near Kalinov and Artyomovo, as well as 2 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system plattoons near Ocheretino and Novolugansk that had been launching attacks at Donetsk and othe cities of the Donetsk Peoples Republic. Russian air defence means have destroyed 10 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Noviy Burluk, Arkushino, Kurulka, Semyonovka, Chervoniy Shakhtyor, Ternovaya (Kharkov region), Chernobayevka (Kherson region), Shcherbakovo (Zaporozhye region) and Petrovenki (Lugansk Peoples Republic). 2 Tochka-U tactical missiles have been intercepted near Kakhovka (Kherson region), as well as 1 MRLS rocket over Snake Island. In total, 215 airplanes and 132 helicopters, 1,373 unmanned aerial vehicles, 350 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,830 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 684 combat vehicles equipped with multiple rocket-launching systems, 3,025 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 3,870 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. MoD #Russia #Ukraine @mod_russia_en WtR We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form monkeybusinessimages/Getty Images En espanol | Nearly 11.2 million Americans serve as unpaid caregivers for people with Alzheimer's disease or other forms of dementia, and 57 percent have been doing so for at least four years, according to the Alzheimer's Association's 2021 statistical report. These family members and friends face the normal stresses of caregiving plus other, unique challenges. Most distressing can be having to learn how to interact with a loved one whose cognitive decline results in erratic behavior and personality changes. In the early stages of the disease, the impairments may be relatively minor. Make the most of that time together, and encourage your loved one to join you in developing a care plan. These steps and tips can help you adapt to your role as a care partner. Clarify the diagnosis Someone who appears to have memory and thinking problems should see their primary care physician about the symptoms. The doctor may refer the patient to a specialist, such as a neurologist, neuropsychologist, geriatrician or geriatric psychiatrist, for a comprehensive medical workup, including brain imaging. While no single test exists for the most common form of dementia, Alzheimer's, doctors are able to rule out many other causes of memory problems, including depression, alcohol abuse or side effects from medications. Alzheimer's is a life-changing diagnosis; you want to be sure it's accurate. Recognize warning signs . These can include misplacement of items, confusion with time or place, mood or personality changes and unwise financial decisions odd or extravagant purchases or donations, for instance. These can include misplacement of items, confusion with time or place, mood or personality changes and unwise financial decisions odd or extravagant purchases or donations, for instance. Record the facts. Your loved one might not remember key points discussed during medical appointments. If you can't be there, suggest the patient bring along a digital recorder or a friend to take notes. Your loved one might not remember key points discussed during medical appointments. If you can't be there, suggest the patient bring along a digital recorder or a friend to take notes. Stay positive. While no treatments can stop Alzheimer's, some medications can address its symptoms. And a healthy lifestyle, including staying active and socially connected, can allow someone with dementia to maintain a meaningful and vibrant life for many years. Focus on finances On average, individuals with Alzheimer's live for four to eight years after their diagnosis, but some live as long as 20 years, according to the Alzheimer's Association. That can mean high health care and caregiving costs over the long term. You and your loved one will need to develop a strategy for how you might afford it. It's also crucial for someone with signs of dementia to shelter their assets they're extremely vulnerable to exploitation and to give someone they trust access to financial information and the legal authority to make decisions when they become incapable of doing so themselves. Start the discussion. It's often difficult to talk about money, but if you are the primary caregiver, you need to get the lay of the land. Respectfully ask your loved one for access to bank accounts and health insurance policies so you can see how much is available to cover potential costs. It's often difficult to talk about money, but if you are the primary caregiver, you need to get the lay of the land. Respectfully ask your loved one for access to bank accounts and health insurance policies so you can see how much is available to cover potential costs. Secure official permission to share information. Ask if your loved one is comfortable with doctors, hospitals and insurance companies sharing information with you. If still capable of making this decision, the person can sign the papers or make the calls necessary to give you or another trusted party access. Don't forget things like banks and utilities; you may end up becoming the bill payer. Ask if your loved one is comfortable with doctors, hospitals and insurance companies sharing information with you. If still capable of making this decision, the person can sign the papers or make the calls necessary to give you or another trusted party access. Don't forget things like banks and utilities; you may end up becoming the bill payer. Address legal issues. If no durable power of attorney for health care and financial decisions has been designated, ask whether your loved one would like you or someone else the care recipient unequivocally trusts to take on that role. If your loved one doesn't designate a power of attorney and later becomes incapable of choosing one, the courts will have to step in. If no durable power of attorney for health care and financial decisions has been designated, ask whether your loved one would like you or someone else the care recipient unequivocally trusts to take on that role. If your loved one doesn't designate a power of attorney and later becomes incapable of choosing one, the courts will have to step in. Stay alert to abuse. Note financial abnormalities, such as unpaid bills or unexplained bank withdrawals, or unusual visitors. Be especially cautious if your loved one mentions someone you've never met who's been particularly helpful." Make a plan As Alzheimer's progresses, you may need more caregiving help, so it's good to start out thinking long term. You can't anticipate every situation, but being forward-thinking now will help you respond more quickly and effectively in an emergency. It's also key to spread caregiving tasks around your team from the get-go. You can't do it all. Build your team. Beyond medical professionals, reach out to friends, family and community resources to form a larger network of caregiving helpmates. Beyond medical professionals, reach out to friends, family and community resources to form a larger network of caregiving helpmates. Determine tasks. Ask team members what they're willing to do to contribute to your loved one's care. Is someone available to travel to medical appointments? Prepare meals a few times a week? Even if team members live far away, they can handle jobs like ordering prescriptions or paying bills. Encourage them to stay connected to your loved one; dementia can be extremely isolating. Ask team members what they're willing to do to contribute to your loved one's care. Is someone available to travel to medical appointments? Prepare meals a few times a week? Even if team members live far away, they can handle jobs like ordering prescriptions or paying bills. Encourage them to stay connected to your loved one; dementia can be extremely isolating. Listen to your loved one. To the extent possible, the person you're caring for should always participate in discussions about needs and plans. Consider the recipient of your care the most important member of your caregiving team. Address safety concerns You'll need to consider a range of potential hazards, and they'll change over time. Is it safe for your loved one to drive? Is the recipient of your care prone to falling, or at risk of wandering and getting lost? You eventually may need to make home modifications and acquire special equipment such as a hospital bed or lift chair. Useful tools also can help prevent wandering and other safety issues common to dementia patients. Prevent falls . Some basic, low-cost changes include removing trip hazards such as throw rugs, making sure the home is well lit (use automatic nightlights) and installing safety features such as handrails, grab bars and adjustable shower seats. Some basic, low-cost changes include removing trip hazards such as throw rugs, making sure the home is well lit (use automatic nightlights) and installing safety features such as handrails, grab bars and adjustable shower seats. Stop them from wandering. Six out of 10 people with dementia wander from home at least once, and many do so repeatedly, according to the Alzheimer's Association. A predictable routine can help avoid disorientation and subsequent excursions. You might also consider installing remote door locks or alarms, or locks far above or below eye level. The Alzheimer's Association offers a 24-hour nationwide emergency response system, MedicAlert with Wandering Support, for an annual subscription fee. Six out of 10 people with dementia wander from home at least once, and many do so repeatedly, according to the Alzheimer's Association. A predictable routine can help avoid disorientation and subsequent excursions. You might also consider installing remote door locks or alarms, or locks far above or below eye level. The Alzheimer's Association offers a 24-hour nationwide emergency response system, MedicAlert with Wandering Support, for an annual subscription fee. Anticipate other risks. Dementia brings with it particular worries about self-injury. To lower the risk, keep medications in a locked drawer or cabinet, disable the stove when not in use and lower the water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Dementia brings with it particular worries about self-injury. To lower the risk, keep medications in a locked drawer or cabinet, disable the stove when not in use and lower the water heater temperature to 120 degrees Fahrenheit or less. Recognize driving dangers. Impaired driving isn't only a danger to the driver. It can and does harm others. Discuss your concerns with your loved one. If the person is resistant to giving up the car keys, consider asking a physician to weigh in. Be empathetic about the loss of freedom, a common fear. Care for yourself Caring for someone with dementia can be a long, difficult journey that takes a heavy toll on the caregiver, raising your risk of depression and other health problems. Spouses of people with Alzheimer's often find themselves socially isolated as friends may grow distant. It's imperative that you find some form of support and set aside time to address your own health issues, both mental and physical. You can't care well for others if you don't care for yourself. Join a support group. Even when you love the person you're caring for, you also may feel anger, resentment or grief. Many caregivers find great relief in sharing their feelings with other caregivers who've felt much the same way. Even when you love the person you're caring for, you also may feel anger, resentment or grief. Many caregivers find great relief in sharing their feelings with other caregivers who've felt much the same way. Address depression. If you feel sadness and anxiety that lasts for weeks at a time, are sleeping too little or too much or have other symptoms of depression, talk to your primary care doctor. He or she may suggest you see a mental health professional. Depression is treatable; you needn't suffer through it. If you feel sadness and anxiety that lasts for weeks at a time, are sleeping too little or too much or have other symptoms of depression, talk to your primary care doctor. He or she may suggest you see a mental health professional. Depression is treatable; you needn't suffer through it. Take time out. Don't neglect exercise, sleep, healthy eating and activities that bring you pleasure. Maybe find a relative who can fill in to allow you a vacation, or even a quiet staycation. Look into other options for respite care in your area. Editor's note: This article was published on October 31, 2019. It has been updated with data from the "2021 Alzheimer's Disease Facts and Figures" report by the Alzheimer's Association. Aerial photo taken on June 25, 2022 shows a view of the Misurata Free Zone, some 250 km east of the capital Tripoli, Libya. Libya on Saturday celebrated the completion of the infrastructure works of the Misurata Free Zone. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Libya on Saturday celebrated the completion of the infrastructure works of the Misurata Free Zone. In a speech during the celebration, Libyan Prime Minister Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah stressed the importance of the role of the private sector, particularly free zones, in promoting the national economy, according to a statement from the prime minister's office. The celebration detailed the future plan of the free zone and its most important objective of linking with other African countries to make the port of Misurata their waterfront, the statement said. The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy for Free Zones Affairs Nuri Gattati said the ministry is working to link other free zones in Libya to Africa. Aerial photo taken on June 25, 2022 shows a view of the Misurata Free Zone, some 250 km east of the capital Tripoli, Libya. Libya on Saturday celebrated the completion of the infrastructure works of the Misurata Free Zone. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Aerial photo taken on June 25, 2022 shows a view of the Misurata Free Zone, some 250 km east of the capital Tripoli, Libya. Libya on Saturday celebrated the completion of the infrastructure works of the Misurata Free Zone. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) Aerial photo taken on June 25, 2022 shows a view of the Misurata Free Zone, some 250 km east of the capital Tripoli, Libya. Libya on Saturday celebrated the completion of the infrastructure works of the Misurata Free Zone. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) IGO Farm-In JV/Placement Bridgetown Greenbushes Exploration Perth, June 27, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Venus Metals Corporation Limited ( ASX:VMC ) is pleased to announce that its subsidiary ("Venus Subsidiary") has entered a binding transaction with a subsidiary ("IGO Subsidiary") of IGO Limited ( ASX:IGO ) regarding exploration and, if warranted, development and mining at its Bridgetown Greenbushes Exploration Project ("Project"). IGO holds a 49% interest in a global joint venture with Tianqi Lithium Corporation. The joint venture has a 51% interest in the Greenbushes Lithium Mine.HIGHLIGHTS:- Farm-in and Joint venture in which IGO Subsidiary can progressively acquire up to a 70% interest in the Bridgetown Greenbushes Exploration Project by incurring A$6,000,000 of exploration expenditure on the Project.- IGO Subsidiary will sole fund all Joint Venture expenditure until the completion of a pre-feasibility study in relation to the Project.- If IGO Subsidiary completes a pre-feasibility study it has the right to acquire Venus Subsidiary's 30% interest in the Project for a price based on fair market value.- Should IGO Subsidiary elect not to acquire the 30% interest, the parties will continue to be associated in an unincorporated joint venture under which the IGO Subsidiary must use reasonable endeavours to market and process all Joint Venture product, including Venus Subsidiary's share.- IGO Limited subscribing for 9,000,000 fully paid ordinary shares in VMC at $0.23c per share.Matthew Hogan, VMC's Managing Director, commented:"We are delighted to welcome IGO Limited as a substantial shareholder of the Company. IGO Limited's knowledge and technical expertise regarding LCT pegmatites and Ni-Cu-PGE Sulphide exploration, and development is invaluable for the highly prospective tenement package held by VMC at Bridgetown-Greenbushes next to the World's lowest cost and highest grade hard rock lithium mine."PROJECT BACKGROUND:VMC's Greenbushes East Lithium and Bridgetown East Ni-Cu-PGE Projects comprise four granted tenements held by Venus Subsidiary, E70/5315, E70/5316, E 70/5620 and E70/5712, and two exploration applications, E 70/6009 (Venus Subsidiary), and E 70/5675 (VMC) outside of map area of Figure 1*.GREENBUSHES EAST LITHIUM PROJECTTargets for potential LCT - rare metal pegmatitesThe western boundary of the VMC and Venus Subsidiary tenure abuts the Greenbushes mining leases (Figure 1*). Geological mapping and reconnaissance surface sampling by VMC within an area of potassic alteration (>9 km2) (Figure 2*) located pegmatite outcrops with one pegmatite sample returning 0.28% Li2O (refer ASX release 26 June 2017). Systematic geochemical surveys across the western part of E 70/5315 are planned to identify potential LCT targets under soil cover.*To view tables and figures, please visit:About Venus Metals Corporation Limited Venus Metals Corporation Limited (ASX:VMC) is a West Australian based Company with a focus on gold, base metals, vanadium and lithium exploration projects. The Company aims to increase shareholder value through targeted exploration success on its projects. The Company's major gold project is the Youanmi Gold Mine, located 500km north-east of Perth. The Youanmi Gold Mine is now jointly owned by Venus Metals (30%) and Rox Resources Limited (70%); Indicated and Inferred Resource of the mine is in excess of 3 million ounces of gold. Change of Management Brisbane, June 27, 2022 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Copper producer Austral Resources Australia Ltd ( ASX:AR1 ) ("Austral" or the "Company") would like to advise that the Company's CEO, Steve Tambanis, and the Company, have mutually decided to not renew their consulting contract that expires on 31 July 2022. Mr Tambanis joined the Company in July 2021 and has made a significant and valuable contribution to the commencement of mining at Anthill and initiation of Austral's exploration and development strategy.Dan Jauncey will remain as Executive Director and take on the CEO role as of 1 August 2022. Mr Jauncey has prior experience in this role and will be responsible for the business as a principal executive officer.Austral's Executive Director, Dan Jauncey, commended Mr Tambanis' tenure as CEO, saying: "Steve's record as Chief Executive Officer of Austral Resources during the period has been exemplary.The aggressive commitment to mine life extension with over $10m dedicated to an extensive exploration and the drilling program is a testament to his work with the team. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank him for his contribution and wish him well."Austral's CEO, Steve Tambanis said:"Austral has all but achieved its objective of producing 10,000 tonnes per year of copper cathode for four years from mid this year, being a huge endorsement of Austral's team and management capabilities. The Company is progressing an excellent portfolio of exploration and development opportunities that will continue to add value to the organisation. I wish the team at Austral continued success."Mr. Tambanis will assist the business to ensure a smooth transition prior to the conclusion of his contract.About Austral Resources Australia Ltd Austral Resources Australia Ltd (ASX:AR1) is a copper cathode producer operating in the Mt Isa region, Queensland, Australia. Its Mt Kelly copper oxide heap leach and solvent extraction/electrowinning (SXEW) plant has a nameplate capacity of 30,000tpa of copper cathode. Austral is developing its Anthill oxide copper mine which has an Ore Reserve of 5.06Mt at 0.94% Cu. The Company expects to produce 40,000t of copper cathode over a four-year period from mid-2022. Austral owns a significant copper inventory with a JORC compliant Mineral Resource Estimate of 60Mt at 0.7% Cu and 1,940km2 of highly prospective exploration tenure in the heart of the Mt Isa district, a world class copper and base metals province. The Company is implementing an intensive exploration and development programme designed to extend the life of mine and increase then review options to commercialise its copper resources. New Mexicos new Healthy Workplaces Act takes effect July 1 and will impact thousands of businesses and employees around the state. Here are answers to some basic questions. Q: What type of employees are covered by the law? A: All employees who work for private employers in New Mexico, regardless of an employers size. Employees covered include part-time and seasonal workers, along with those who perform jobs in peoples homes (unless they are independent contractors). Remote workers and telecommuters are also covered in most cases, as long as they are physically within New Mexicos borders. Q: Do independent contractors qualify under the law? A: They do not. But the law prohibits employers from reclassifying their workers as independent contractors as a way to get around the law. Q: Does the new law also apply to state and local government employers? A: No. The law only applies to private employers. An amendment in the bill that would have expanded it to include New Mexico state and local governments was stripped out on the Senate floor before the bill won final approval. Q: When do I start earning paid sick time? A: Paid sick leave begins to accrue immediately starting July 1, or whenever after that date an employee begins a job. Employees accrue one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked. Q: Under what circumstances can employees take paid sick leave they have accrued? A: The allowable situations for paid sick leave include mental or physical injury or illness, medical treatment and preventive medical care. The law also allows employees to take paid time off for family members with one of those afflictions. It also covers work absences connected directly to responding to situations of domestic abuse and sexual assault. Q: Does unused paid sick leave roll over into the next year? A: Yes, it can carry over from year to year. But employers are not required to permit an employee to take more than 64 hours of paid leave in a given year. Q: Does paid sick leave have to be paid at an employees usual salary rate? A: Yes. They should be compensated at the same hourly rate, including benefits, they usually make. Tipped employees, like servers, must be paid the full state or local minimum wage, whichever is higher. Q: How can employees file complaints? A: Employees can file complaints with the state Department of Workforce Solutions within three years of an alleged violation of the Act. A form for filing complaints electronically can be found at www.dws.state.nm.us/NMPaidSickLeave. Q: Can an employer require an employee who is taking paid sick leave to find a replacement? A: No. It is up to the employer to find a replacement for the employee who is using his or her paid sick leave. Q: Can an employer force an employee to use other leave before using paid sick leave? A: No. That is not allowed. Q: Can employers provide paid time off (PTO) instead of sick leave? A: The act says an employer can offer a more generous paid time off policy, but it must allow employees to at least as much time off as they would have accrued under the law. The PTO policy must allow employees to use the paid time off for all of the reasons covered by the act and under the same terms and conditions. Q: Can an employer require notice for paid sick leave? A: No. But an employee should give a written or oral notice as soon as possible before taking paid sick leave. Q: Can an employer require a note from a doctor for consecutive days off by an employee who is using their paid sick leave? A: Documentation isnt required for two consecutive days of paid sick leave, but an employer can require it for additional days. Documentation can mean a note signed by a health care professional. In the case of domestic violence or assault, it can include a police report, a court-issued document or a signed statement from a victim services organization, a clergy member, an attorney, an advocate, the employee or a family member of the employee. Q: What record keeping is required of employers? A: An employer should keep a 48-month record of employees worked hours and earned sick leave taken by employees. Q: If a temporary employee comes to work a couple weeks, leaves, and then comes back the next year does that work count for accruing time for sick leave or does the clock start ticking again each year? A: If an employee separates from their employment, and that employee is rehired within 12 months, the accrued leave will be reinstated and is available for immediate use. Q: Do employers need to let employees know about paid sick leave that is or will be available to them? A: Yes. Businesses must, at the beginning of employment, give written or electronic notice of an employees right to paid sick leave, let them know how it is accrued and calculated and let them know the terms of the Healthy Workplaces Act. Businesses must also display a poster that contains all of that information in a conspicuous and accessible place in the place of work. And the poster that is displayed should be in English, Spanish and any language that is the first language spoken by at least 10% of employees of the business. ELMAU, Germany Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday underscored the urgency of helping his countrys military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Zelenskyy addressed the delicacy of the moment for Ukraine in its war with Russia to the Group of Seven summit as the leaders of the major economies prepared to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putins aggression. The official announcement would come shortly after Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks and as the Russian military has continued a full-on assault on the last remaining Ukrainian redoubt in the Luhansk province in order to take control of the eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian officials stressed the need for more air-defense systems on Monday after Russia launched a missile attack on a crowded shopping center in the central city of Kremenchuk. Officials said 1,000 civilians were in the mall with at least twenty injured and two dead. The new aid and efforts by the G-7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The Ukrainian leader discussed his strategy for the course of the war, which has transformed into a bloody artillery battle in the countrys west and east. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Zelenskyys top request was for further air defense systems, followed by economic support to help his government meet its financial obligations. Zelenskyy also briefed the G7 leaders on how his administration is using the assistance hes received to date to maximize Ukraines capacity both to resist Russian advances, and to pursue counter attacks where possible, Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible in coming months because he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people. Zelenskyy also told the leaders that he needs to be in stronger position before engaging in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior French diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidencys customary practices. After hearing from Zelenskyy, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They said it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. Leaders were also finalizing the deal to seek a price cap. G-7 finance ministers will resolve details of how it would work, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview announcements from the summit. Some market analysts doubt how effective a price cap on Russian oil would be, as enforcement by the G-7 would likely depend on cooperation from India and China. It is questionable whether countries like India and China will agree to cease purchasing Russian oil, especially as it is trading at a significant discount on the global market price, said Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. President Joe Biden on Tuesday increased the tax to 35% on certain Russian-made goods. Biden is expected to soon announce the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to help counter the Russian assault in Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraines government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is hosting the summit in the German Alps, said after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. Britains Boris Johnson said that, under the circumstances, the G-7 has to continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy, to get their grain out, to export their grain, and, of course, we have to help them to protect themselves. And thats what were going to continue to do. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance will increase the size of its rapid reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of its response to an era of strategic competition. The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers, which can deploy quickly when needed. Stoltenberg commented before he opens a NATO summit Tuesday in Madrid. The organizations 30 member countries are expected to also agree on further support for Ukraine. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraines immediate needs and plans support to rebuild its economy long term. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and continue its defense against Russian forces. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations among G-7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if the nature of their outreach differs. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have held active conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia. ___ Moulson reported from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Superville reported from Telfs, Austria. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, and Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine BRUSSELS NATO allies will decide at a summit this week to increase the strength of their rapid reaction force nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of their response to an era of strategic competition, the military alliances secretary-general said Monday. The NATO response force (NRF) currently numbers around 40,000 soldiers which can deploy quickly when needed. Coupled with other measures including the deployment of forces to defend specific allies, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the move is part of the biggest overhaul of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War. These troops will exercise together with home defense forces, Stoltenberg said. And they will become familiar with local terrain, facilities, and our new pre-positioned stocks. So that they can respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency. In response to the Kremlins decision to start the war, U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts agreed in February to send thousands of troops, backed by air and naval support, to protect allies near Russia and Ukraine. The 30-nation organization decided at the time to send parts of the NRF and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank, marking the first time the force had been used in a defense role. Stoltenberg made the remarks at a press conference ahead of a NATO summit this week in Madrid when the 30 allies are expected to also agree on further support to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Stoltenberg said he expects allies to make clear they consider Russia as the most significant and direct threat to our security. At the summit, allies will also decide to strengthen their battlegroups on NATOs eastern flanks, he said. In NATOs new strategic concept, the alliance is also set to address for the first time the security challenges posed by China, Stoltenberg said. In Madrid, allies will discuss how to respond to the growing influence of Russia and China in their southern neighborhood, he added. Stoltenberg said allies will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine when they convene in Spain, with NATO members set to adopt a strengthened comprehensive assistance package, including deliveries of secure communication and anti-drone systems. Over the long term, Stoltenberg said allies aim to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era armaments to modern NATO equipment. The worlds seven leading economic powers underscored Monday their commitment to Ukraine for as long as it takes. Another central theme at the NATO summit will be the possibility for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance following Russias invasion of Ukraine. NATO member Turkey has so far blocked the applications, citing what it considers to be the two countries soft approach to organizations Turkey considers to be terrorist, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. Stoltenberg said that Turkish president Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson have agreed to meet Tuesday on the sidelines of the summit. Officials from the three countries have stepped up talks ahead of the NATO gathering in a bid to break the deadlock. My strong hope is that this dialogue can be successful and concluded in the near future, ideally before the summit, Andersson said after talks with Stoltenberg in Brussels. Turkey is demanding that Sweden and Finland grant extradition requests for individuals who are wanted by Turkish authorities. Ankara claims the countries are harboring PKK members as well people it says are linked to a failed 2016 coup. Turkey also wants assurances that arms restrictions imposed by the two countries over Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northern Syria will be removed. I will not make any promises, but I can assure you that we are working actively to ensure progress because the application of Finland and Sweden to join NATO, they are historic, Stoltenberg said. Andersson said Swedens stance toward the PKK is crystal clear and that her country considers the organization as a terror group. She added that Swedens anti-terror legislation is undergoing its most comprehensive overhaul in 30 years. Moreover, constitutional amendments are being prepared, which would help pave the way for criminalization or participation in terrorist organizations, she said. NATO released new defense spending figures showing that U.S. allies in Europe as well as Canada have increased defense spending for an eighth consecutive year. By the end of the year, they will have invested well over 350 billion US dollars extra since we agreed our defense investment pledge in 2014, Stoltenberg said. NATO countries slashed their military budgets in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War, but upped spending when Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. In that year, NATO allies also pledged to reach a defense budget target of 2% of their gross domestic product by 2024. Nine allies now reach or exceed the 2% target. Nineteen allies have clear plans to reach it by 2024, Stoltenberg said. Two percent is increasingly considered a floor, not a ceiling. We will also agree to invest more together in NATO. ___ Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine NEW ORLEANS Judges temporarily blocked abortion bans Monday in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law sharply restricting the procedure would take effect there immediately as the battle over whether women may end pregnancies shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. The U.S. Supreme Courts decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation. One side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect, and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. Much of Mondays court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last weeks ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old anti-abortion laws that were left on the books in some states and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Well be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said Friday. Rulings to put trigger laws on hold came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana. A Utah judge blocked that states near-total abortion ban from going into effect for 14 days, to allow time for the court to hear challenges to the states trigger law. Planned Parenthood had challenged the law, which contains narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the mothers health, saying the law violates the equal protection and privacy provisions in the state constitution. I think the immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions, Utah Judge Andrew Stone said. In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of that states trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the states three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures on Tuesday. Were going to do what we can, said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. It could all come to a screeching halt. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judges ruling and enforce the law. We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, Landry tweeted Monday. In South Carolina, a federal court lifted its prior hold on an abortion restriction there, allowing the state to ban abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. There are exceptions if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood said after the ruling that it will continue to perform abortions at its South Carolina clinics within the parameters of the new law. Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions to save a mothers life or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. A ruling on that is expected Thursday a day before the law is scheduled to take effect. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Fridays ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges, said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. Thats likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court dont deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law. They also argue that state law is unclear on whether it bans an abortion prior to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. And while the law provides an exception for medically futile pregnancies in cases of fetuses with lethal abnormalities, the plaintiffs noted the law gives no definition of the term. Now that the high court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights groups are seeking protection under state constitutions. Challenges to trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the wave of suits from abortion rights advocates is not surprising. We know that the abortion industry has basically unlimited funds, and its allies have basically unlimited funds, and of course theyre fanatical about abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Bopp said in an interview. But he said that that the Supreme Court ruling should preclude abortion rights supporters from prevailing in any federal challenges. And he called efforts based on state constitutions fanciful. Still other cases could be filed as states try to sort out whether abortion bans in place before Roe was decided sometimes referred to as zombie laws apply now that there is no federal protection for abortion. For instance, Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe it is enforceable. Abortion opponents have called on lawmakers to impose a new ban. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it immediately suspended all abortions. In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last weeks Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the states constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have adopted laws that allow people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. It is an open question as to whether that means people can be pursued across state lines, and legal challenges over the issue are likely to come up in cases of both surgical abortions and those involving medicine mailed to patients. The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to shield abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments imposed by other states. In liberal Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits state agencies from assisting other states investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he would sign a similar order. ___ Forliti reported from Minneapolis and Mulvihill from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Samuel Metz in Salt Lake City; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and other AP reporters throughout the U.S. contributed to this report. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion. NEW YORK Seven states are set to host primary elections Tuesday as the nation comes to terms with last weeks stunning Supreme Court ruling eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion. This weeks nominating contests could offer the first clues as to whether the political landscape has shifted. Abortion is particularly relevant in Colorado, where GOP voters are deciding whether to nominate a rare abortion-rights-supporting Republican for U.S. Senate. And in Illinois, a Donald Trump-backed congresswoman ignited a political firestorm over the weekend by celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life, phrasing that her spokesman later called a stumble and was meant to be right to life. The primaries will also offer new insight about the state of the Republican Party, with the central issue in virtually every GOP contest being fealty to Trump and his baseless conspiracy theories. Those Republicans who have pushed back at all, including a senator in Oklahoma and a congressman in Mississippi, are facing fierce challenges. Democrats have their own challenges. Illinois voters will decide a rare incumbent-on-incumbent primary for a House seat, while in South Carolina, Democrats are picking which candidate will take on South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott this fall. In all, primary elections are playing out across Colorado, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah on Tuesday. Nebraska is holding a special election. What to watch: COLORADO GOP businessman Joe ODea, who has spoken publicly about his support for abortion rights, is running for the nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet this fall. ODeas top rival is state Rep. Ron Hanks, who opposes abortion in all circumstances and attended the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. ODea said he backs a ban on late-term abortions and government funding of abortions, but the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the initial months is between a person and their God. While Colorado has trended Democratic over the past decade, Tuesdays top Republican primary contests will show whether far-right candidates are making progress in their quest to take on uncontested Democrats like Bennet, Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jena Griswold, whos led the national fight against 2020 election deniers. One of them is Republican Tina Peters, a conspiracy-theorist county elections clerk whos been indicted for tampering with voting equipment and posting data online. Peters wants to unseat Griswold as Colorados top elections official despite calls from the state GOP for Peters to suspend her campaign. Shes running against Republican Pam Anderson, a former head of the states clerks association and defender of Colorados mail-in elections system. Colorados congressional primaries will measure the staying power of first-term GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert in a sprawling western Colorado district that leans more Republican after redistricting. Shes up against state Sen. Don Coram, a hemp farmer and GOP moderate. In the Republican race to take on Polis, a former suburban Denver mayor, Greg Lopez, is facing Heidi Ganahl, the lone statewide-elected Republican as a University of Colorado regent. ILLINOIS As he is in most GOP contests, Trump is a central issue in Illinois Republican primary for governor. Darren Bailey, a conservative farmer who earned Trumps endorsement over the weekend and often reads from the Bible in campaign videos, is part of a six-candidate Republican field. His rivals include Richard Irvin, the first Black mayor of Aurora, Illinois second-largest city, who had $50 million in support from billionaire Ken Griffin but was heavily targeted by Democrats who see Bailey as an easier matchup for Pritzker. While Trump endorsed Bailey, he also campaigned alongside first-term Rep. Mary Miller, who is challenging five-term Rep. Rodney Davis in one of the states two incumbent-on-incumbent primaries. But at Saturdays rally, Miller described the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life. A spokesperson later said she had intended to say the decision was a victory for a right to life. But the Illinois congresswoman is no stranger to provocative statements. Soon after joining the House, Miller quoted Adolf Hitler, saying he was right to say that whoever has the youth has the future. Davis is a powerful, more moderate lawmaker who is the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, which deals with election legislation and the Capitol complex. Meanwhile, two Democratic incumbents Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman are facing off for a Chicago-area seat. Also on the Democratic side, about two dozen candidates are fighting to succeed Rep. Bobby Rush, the only lawmaker to ever defeat Barack Obama. They include John Jackson, son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Karin Norington-Reaves, who has Rushs endorsement. NEW YORK Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was vaulted into office last fall when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, is trying to hold on to her job. Hochul, a Democrat from western New York, is facing challenges from New York Citys elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate congressman from Long Island. Tuesdays elections cover New Yorks statewide offices and state assembly races, but primary elections for U.S. House seats and the state Senate will be held Aug. 23. Those elections were delayed because of a redistricting lawsuit that led a court to throw out new political maps. Hochul, who was Cuomos lieutenant governor for six years, promised to restore New Yorkers faith in its government after stepping into the office last summer, but she hit a major stumbling block in April, when her handpicked lieutenant governor was arrested in a federal corruption probe. Williams, a progressive running to Hochuls left, said Hochul is either consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction. Suozzi, running to Hochuls right, says shes not being tough enough on crime, suggesting she should have gone further to harden the states bail law. On the Republican side, Rep. Lee Zeldin is considered the front-runner in a crowded field that features Andrew Giuliani, the son of New York Citys former mayor Rudy Giuliani; Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; and businessman Harry Wilson. Former Vice President Mike Pence has endorsed Zeldin, who also enjoys the backing of the state GOP and Conservative Party, but Trump has stayed out of the race. UTAH The Republican primary for U.S. Senate pits one of Trumps closest allies, GOP incumbent Sen. Mike Lee, against two challengers who have spent months questioning if Lees loyalty to the former president will hurt Utah residents. Former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political operative Ally Isom have attacked Lee as a divisive politician who cares less about governing than about television appearances and winning Trumps favor. Unlike Lee, neither voted for Trump in 2020. Both Republican challengers have highlighted the post-election text messages Lee sent to Trumps chief of staff, which show his early involvement in efforts to overturn the election. Edwards has also stood out by saying she disagreed with the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to revisit Roe v. Wade. The Senate primary is testing whether Trumps brand of divisive politics and conspiracy theories resonates with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who make up a majority of Utahs population. In November, the winner will take on independent Evan McMullin, a former Republican who won backing from the state Democratic Party in April. MISSISSIPPI Congressional primary runoffs are rare in Mississippi, but on Tuesday, two of the states Republican incumbents are fighting to keep their jobs in runoffs against challengers from their own party. Rep. Steven Palazzo is seeking a seventh term and was considered vulnerable after being accused in a 2021 congressional ethics report of abusing his office by misspending campaign funds. Rep. Michael Guest is seeking a third term. He voted to create an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and was forced into a runoff amid criticism that he was disloyal to Trump. Both Palazzo and Guest failed to cross the 50% threshold to win outright in their June 7 primaries. Palazzo is facing Mike Ezell, the sheriff of a coastal county, while Guest is going up against Michael Cassidy, a former Navy fighter pilot who has highlighted his allegiance to Trump. OKLAHOMA Republicans are picking two U.S. Senate nominees on Tuesday. A crowd of high-profile GOP contenders is vying to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe, including Trumps former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, who resigned from his Washington post under a cloud of ethics scandals. Other candidates include Rep. Markwayne Mullin; T.W. Shannon, the state legislatures first Black House speaker; and Luke Holland, Inhofes longtime chief of staff. Republican Sen. James Lankford is facing a primary test of his own that centers on Trump. Lankford, among the Senates most conservative members, has faced backlash from Trump loyalists for not embracing the former presidents lies about election fraud. Lankford is facing Tulsa evangelical pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, a political newcomer endorsed by Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser. NEBRASKA A judge on Tuesday will sentence longtime Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry on campaign contribution charges on the same day voters will decide who should serve out the Republicans term. Fortenberry resigned in March. Republican Mike Flood will be favored to win the election in the Republican-leaning district over Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks. Both are state legislators. Regardless of who wins the special election, Flood and Pansing Brooks will face off again in the November general election. The eastern Nebraska district includes Lincoln and parts of suburban Omaha as well as rural area. ___ Associated Press writers Michelle Price in New York; Sara Burnett in Chicago; Sam Metz in Salt Lake City; Jim Anderson in Denver; Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb.; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Irvin represents Illinois second-largest city, not Illinois second-largest suburb. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal Four Veterans Affairs clinics in rural New Mexico are no longer at risk of closing, which would have forced veterans to travel hundreds of miles to seek care. The Department of Veterans Affairs had recommended that VA community-based outpatient clinics in Las Vegas, Raton, Espanola and Gallup be closed, in part, because of a decline in patient volume in the last five years and projected declines for the rest of the decade. The recommendation came as part of a process aimed at modernizing Veterans Affairs clinics, which could include closing and relocating services. Ive been hell bent on saving these clinics so vets in rural areas can get quality health care close to home, Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said on Twitter. Today, I joined (Sen. Jon Tester, D-Montana) and a bipartisan group of senators to end the (Asset and Infrastructure Review) commission process (and) keep these clinics open. A spokesman for Heinrich, who is the chair of the of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee that oversees funding for the VA, said a bipartisan group of senators was able to essentially eliminate the commission that would have reviewed the recommendation to close the clinics. Senators refused to seat any members on the review commission. The AIR commission had been created by the VA MISSION Act, which was signed by former President Donald Trump in 2018. The act created a process to try to modernize the VA through a mixture of expanding, closing, relocating and changing the types of services the VA provides. Heinrich, who in April traveled to Las Vegas and spoke with veterans who would have been affected by the closures, talked about the importance of the rural clinics in Albuquerque on Monday alongside Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough at the Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center. McDonough also has events in New Mexico on Tuesday. McDonough said that the VA still has to modernize its facilities. But he was critical of the process that led to the recommendation to close the New Mexico clinics. I think that a well-functioning process to modernize our health care facilities will be one that is carried out more publicly, one that is carried out in greater consultation with our stakeholders, one thats carried out in a way that doesnt surprise people who rely on our services, he said. And even though the clinics are staying open, he said the VA will face challenges in trying to improve its facilities. Even as there are fewer vets in the country, health care costs for veterans, as health care costs for all Americans can continue to go up, he said. And so I think a reasonable question is, how can we manage those costs over time? The four clinics that were in danger of being shut down each served between 816 and 1,495 patients in fiscal year 2019. If they would have closed, the veterans in those communities likely would have had to travel to Albuquerque to seek care. In New Mexico, we have hours and hours on the road to be able to come to a facility like this one, Heinrich said. Its that really frontier type of rural setting that is particularly challenging for a lot of our older veterans. The rest of New Mexicos Democratic congressional delegation Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, and Reps. Teresa Leger Fernandez and Melanie Stansbury had also spoken against the recommended closures. From day one, Ive been clear that the process to close (four) veteran health clinics in NM didnt have my support, Lujan said on Twitter. Its not whats best for our veterans or those who support them. Im proud to announce the Senate wont be moving forward with the process. WINDHOEK, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Namibia as the host of the 4th Africa Youth in Tourism Innovation Summit and Challenge 2022 has called on African youth to register for the event scheduled for July 27-29 in the capital city Windhoek. According to a statement by the Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, the event is the only pan-African youth and start-up tourism summit on the continent and will host 500 physical and over 1,000 virtual attendees. "This is an exclusive platform being provided to the innovative African youth in travel and tourism looking for funding, partnership, and mentorship opportunities to present their project to the global marketplace to find the required support for their program," the statement said. Interested individuals and professionals should register for free to attend the conference at www.youthtourismsummit.com, the statement said. The summit is open to interested youth, start-ups, and professionals in the tourism, travel, hospitality, aviation, academia, technology sectors, and all related industries to connect, engage, learn, innovate and grow, the statement said. CAPE TOWN, South Africa South African authorities were seeking answers Monday, a day after 21 underage teenagers partying after the end of school exams died in a mysterious incident at a nightclub. The bodies of many of the victims, the youngest a 13-year-old girl, were discovered by police lying on tables, slumped in chairs and couches, and sprawled on the dancefloor of the club in the early hours of Sunday morning. They died as they danced, Police Minister Bheki Cele said. They dance, fall, and die. Literally. Others would just feel dizzy, sleep on the sofa, (and) die. It tells you the story that they were all kids because somebody should have taken note. Speculation has swirled over the cause of the tragedy, starting with a stampede that has now been ruled out to a possible gas leak. Police have sent forensic samples from the victims to a toxicology laboratory to investigate if the teens ingested poison or a toxin at the party. Police said they were called to the Enyobeni Tavern in the city of East London in Eastern Cape province at around 4 a.m. Sunday morning after receiving a report that there were lifeless bodies there. Officers responding to the call walked in on a grim scene: 17 of the teenagers were found dead in the nightclub. Two more died at a local clinic, one died on the way to another hospital and one at that hospital. Their ages were between 13 and 17, police said. Police spokeswoman Col. Athlenda Mathe said an investigation was ongoing and no cause of death had yet been established. But Cele said forensic samples were being sent to an advanced toxicology laboratory in Cape Town, indicating that police were looking at the possibility that poison or a toxin was involved. Cele said the toxicology tests might take a lot of time. Provincial safety official Unathi Binqose told the Daily Maverick newspaper that the victims may have ingested a toxic substance through alcohol they were drinking or through hookah pipes, which were being smoked at the party. Initial reports speculated that the victims 12 boys and nine girls may have died in a crush because of overcrowding at the party, but authorities found no visible signs of injuries on the bodies and police have now ruled that out. The teenagers were reportedly celebrating the end of mid-year exams, a local DJs birthday and the relaxing of some of the last COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa, which was announced earlier in the week. Parents were asked to come to a mortuary to identify their children. The Eastern Cape health department said there were survivors being treated in the hospital for backache, tight chests, vomiting and headaches. Police Minister Cele said the teenagers died between 2 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. Sunday morning. He had also visited the nightclub and the mortuary on Sunday and choked back tears as he spoke to reporters outside the mortuary. The sight of those bodies sleeping there when you look at their faces you realize that youre dealing with kids, kids, kids, Cele said. Youve heard the story that they are young but when you see them you realize that its a disaster. Twenty-one of them. Too many. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in Germany for the G-7 summit, offered condolences to the families of the victims in a statement but also said he was concerned why such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off limits to persons under the age of 18. Its illegal for anyone under 18 to consume or buy alcohol in South Africa and the Eastern Cape Liquor Board said it was revoking the nightclubs liquor license and would pursue criminal charges against the clubs license holder. The tragedy will put renewed scrutiny on the many bars and nightclubs operating in the backstreets of poor neighborhoods in South Africa and which are often criticized for not abiding by liquor laws. Copyright 2022 Albuquerque Journal SANTA FE Three days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a landmark abortion ruling, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Monday signed an executive order aimed at protecting abortion patients and providers in New Mexico. The executive order, which drew Republican criticism and could be repealed by a future governor, comes as New Mexico is bracing for an influx of patients from neighboring states that have banned abortion. Specifically, it seeks to shield health care professionals targeted by lawsuits from losing their licenses or being disciplined for providing abortion services, while also asserting the state will not comply with abortion-related arrest warrants or extradition requests from other states. We will not further imperil the rights and access points of anyone in New Mexico, Lujan Grisham said at a Monday news conference at the state Capitol. Abortion is and will continue to be legal, safe and accessible, period. The Democratic governor, who was flanked by abortion rights advocates, also said other steps such as codifying abortion rights in state statute and providing additional public health funding could be pursued during the 60-day legislative session that starts in January. I would expect those things would all be in the mix, said Lujan Grisham, who said she did not plan to call a special session focused on abortion before then. The executive order signed Monday aligns New Mexico with other states including Massachusetts and Minnesota that have also moved quickly to protect access to abortion in the wake of Fridays U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned nearly 50 years of legal precedent. With abortion clinics in other states closing their doors due to bans that took effect upon the Supreme Court ruling, Lujan Grisham said the nation was in a national battle over reproductive rights. Already, roughly 1,700 patients from Texas have traveled to New Mexico for abortion services since a law restricting abortion was enacted in that state in September 2021, according to Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains. We know that other states will be trying their hardest to criminalize abortion, said Senate Majority Whip Linda Lopez, D-Albuquerque, who also attended Mondays news conference. While the Supreme Courts ruling could have a significant ripple effect in New Mexico, it isnt expected to curtail abortion rights in the state. Thats because state legislators last year following the election defeat of some anti-abortion Democrats repealed a 1969 abortion ban that had been unenforceable because of the Supreme Courts 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. But some Democratic legislative leaders have now said more should be done. In addition to possibly enshrining abortion rights directly in state law, other legislative changes could include helping women from out of state who travel to New Mexico to seek an abortion and providing incentives to health care clinics that provide abortion services. Such proposals would likely draw fierce opposition from Republican lawmakers, however, as Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, predicted the governors order would exacerbate health care shortages and long waiting times in New Mexico. Thousands will now flock to our state for abortions at a time when we are already struggling to provide care to those who need it most, Diamond said in a statement. It is time for the governor to stop pandering to donors and out of state interests, and put the needs of New Mexicans first. Meanwhile, the issue of abortion access could also emerge as a political lightning-rod in this years race for governor, along with other electoral contests. Republican Mark Ronchetti, who won a five-way GOP primary race for governor, said Friday he would support legislation banning abortion after 15 weeks, with exceptions for rape, incest and when a mothers life is in jeopardy. When asked about her opponents stance, Lujan Grisham accused Ronchetti on Monday of having extreme views on the issue and said his position on abortion shifted after the primary election. Ive been consistent on my record here, said Lujan Grisham, who opposes any restrictions on abortion and volunteered for several years for the New Mexico Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice before being elected to Congress in 2012. In response, a Ronchetti campaign spokesman said the Republican nominee has been clear about his anti-abortion views and laid out his legislative position on the same day the Supreme Court released its ruling. The governor supports abortion up to birth and is doubling down on making New Mexico the countrys leading late term abortion destination, Ronchetti spokesman Enrique Knell told the Journal. For her part, Lopez said Ronchettis proposal would be a non-starter in the Democratic-controlled Legislature, though some Democrats have in recent years voted in favor of abortion restrictions. SANTA FE Peter Mantos, who has had a 30-year career in software development and technical management, is joining Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams administration as secretary of information technology. He holds graduate degrees in computer science and business administration from the University of New Mexico, and he has worked for Siemens, Intel and other global companies. Peter Mantos is eminently qualified to lead the state agency tasked with deploying broadband resources and arming our state against cyber-attacks, Lujan Grisham said in a written statement. He will also be critical in our efforts to continue to modernize our technology for both state workers and the public we serve. The appointment comes as New Mexico pushes to expand broadband access, especially in rural areas. In 2021, about 13% to 20% of homes and businesses didnt have broadband internet available, according to state documents. Mantos said he was honored to help New Mexico better secure and expand our I.T. infrastructure. I am excited to help bring fast and affordable broadband statewide. He replaces acting Secretary Raja Sambandam, who will return to his regular job as chief information security officer. Mantos will make about $163,000 a year, the typical salary for a Cabinet secretary. Oracle has commissioned a new research report, The Happiness Report, in association with Gretchen Rubin, five-time New York Times bestselling author and podcaster and includes insights from more than 12,000 consumers and business leaders across 14 countries, including 1,012 from India. The study defines that over the past two years, stress, fear, and anxiety have been at the forefront of peoples minds, but were also seeking happiness and want to laugh. Click here to attend DATAMATIXX 2022 The Survey clearly demonstrates how consumer behaviour has changed since the pandemic. The pandemic-induced restrictions and lack of human connections have prompted consumers to reconsider the meaning of true happiness. Consumer behaviour has certainly changed, and they expect brands to respond to these changing needs for them to engage with them in the future. The survey emphasises that an overwhelming 96% of Indians are looking for new experiences to make them smile and 80% would choose a brand that uses humour over the competition. In a free-wheeling chat with Adgully, Deepa Param Singhal, Vice President, Applications, Oracle India, speaks in depth about the findings of The Happiness Report, how consumer perceptions of happiness is changing, why business leaders in India are hesitant to use humour in customer interactions, and more. What is the objective behind this research which is addressing the Happiness quotient? What are the key highlights in context of the India market? Oracle collaborates with organisations all over the world to create positive customer experiences. However, events around the world have dramatically changed the way consumers think, feel, and act in the last two years. The customer experience has evolved, but it all boils down to one thing making the customer happy. We conducted a global study of more than 12,000 consumers and business leaders to investigate what it means to be happy and the role of humour in advertising, marketing, sales, and service. The research helps us better understand changing consumer needs, particularly in the last two years, so that we can assist our customers in providing the best possible experience for their customers. One of the surveys key findings is that consumer perceptions of happiness are changing. 96% of Indian respondents are looking for new experiences that will make them smile and laugh. In this context, 93% of Indians prefer brands with a sense of humour. The survey further finds that while consumers are looking at humour, yet Indian business leaders are a little reluctant to use it, with 83% of business leaders in India fearing to use humour in customer interactions. The study also emphasises the role of technology in assisting business leaders in identifying and implementing the best approach for incorporating humour into their interactions. According to the findings, 94% of business leaders in India do not have the data insights or tools to successfully deliver humour. Business leaders would be more confident using humour when engaging with customers if they had better customer visibility (61%) and access to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (57%). What kind of methodology was adopted and what was the profile of the audience with regard to the India market? How often do you plan to conduct this research and when was the last that such kind of research was conducted? Research findings are based on a survey conducted by Savanta, Inc. across the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, China, Singapore, India, Australia, Mexico, Brazil, and Columbia between January 3 and 27, 2022. For this report commissioned by Oracle in partnership with Gretchen Rubin, five-time New York Times bestselling author and podcaster, we surveyed 12,183 consumers, including 3,125 business leaders across marketing, sales, and customer service, who were asked general questions about the impact of the pandemic on happiness and openness to seeing an emotion like humour inserted into advertising, marketing, sales, and customer service activities as part of the overall customer experience. The study targeted consumers and full-time business leaders who are 21 years of age or older. With regards to the Indian audience, The Happiness Report includes insights from 1,012 respondents from India. We conducted this research for the first time, and we intend to conduct this annually to study changing consumer behaviour, marketing dynamics, and the evolving role of technology in supporting customer satisfaction. Today, technology and data are great enablers, provided you can leverage them smartly. In your research, where did technology figure and how important is technology in todays digital world for successful customer engagement? In the face of changing customer dynamics, technology and data can be a huge enabler by providing retailers with the necessary statistics and means. These can provide retailers with improved consumer visibility as well as platforms for engaging customers more deeply on a personal level. The Oracle Happiness report also revealed some interesting facts about the use of technology to enhance customer experiences. The poll highlighted that in India, 83% would prefer to engage with a chatbot/ digital assistant that is funny, while customers are keen on engaging with automated bots backed by sophisticated technologies. The survey also revealed that there is slight reluctance on business leaders end regarding using bots. It highlighted that only 9% of Indian business leaders said their brands actively incorporate humour into bot communications. Additionally, the survey also emphasised the need for smart technologies that provide data-led insights. In India, 94% business leaders state that they do not have the data insights or tools to successfully deliver humour. Business leaders would be more confident using humour when engaging with customers if they had better customer visibility (61%) and access to advanced technologies like artificial intelligence (57%). Hence, from the findings, we can summarise technology continues to be a key ask on the consumer and marketer fronts as a source of happiness. Happiness and Smile are the two key words that stood high in your research findings. According to you how brands should capitalise to build in their strategy to have a strong customer engagement program on an ongoing basis? Our survey revealed that customers are looking for brands that engage with them on a more personal level and give them a sense of joy and happiness. The poll found that in India, 64% of people dont believe they have a relationship with a brand unless it makes them smile or laugh and 56% would walk away from a brand if it didnt make them laugh or smile regularly. To capitalise on these shifting dynamics, brands must devise marketing strategies that meet the needs of customers through a more personalized approach. Brands should indeed understand their customers preferences, and one method is to map their behaviour. A strong customer engagement program requires two critical components: a data-driven approach and a dynamic approach that adapts to changing customer needs. Smart technology is the enabler that allows business leaders to make data-driven decisions in both cases. Has the research thrown up any findings in terms of learnings post the pandemic for brands and is there any shift or change in the consumer behaviour? The Survey clearly demonstrates how consumer behaviour has changed since the pandemic. The pandemic-induced restrictions and lack of human connections have prompted consumers to reconsider the meaning of true happiness. As revealed by the poll, in India, 47% of respondents said they have not felt true happiness for more than two years. Furthermore, 96% of Indian respondents are looking for new experiences to make them smile and laugh. These shifting aspirations have also influenced consumer expectations of brands. As highlighted by the 92% of respondents from India believe brands can do more to deliver happiness to their customers. Consumer behaviour has certainly changed, and they expect brands to respond to these changing needs for them to engage with them in the future. The survey emphasises that an overwhelming 96% of Indians are looking for new experiences to make them smile and 80% would choose a brand that uses humour over the competition. When you opt for a horror film, 4 out of 5 times, all you expect to get are cliched sequences clubbed together. Well, hold that thought because Sony MAX is here with an unconventional thriller that is sure to make a lasting impression on you! Durgamati: The Myth featuring Bhumi Pednekar in a dual role is truly the perfect dose of adrenaline you would require to amp up your otherwise not-so-interesting Tuesday. If you are not convinced already, here are a few reasons that are sure to make you change your mind: A female-powered film- If you enjoy films showcasing powerful female leads then you will thoroughly appreciate Durgamati: The Myth. From Bhumis high octane performance of transitioning from Chanchal Chauhan to Durgamati, to Mahie Gill essaying the role of a CBI joint director with her oh-so-cute Bengali accent- the film is truly blessed with female protagonists like no other! Genre breaking movie - With an awe-striking blend of unconventionality, horror and drama, this conspiracy thriller is indeed a genre breaking film. G.Ashoks great direction coupled with power packed performances by Bhumi Pednekar, Arshad Warsi, Jisshu Sengupta and Mahie Gill makes it a must watch! Seamlessly crafted storyline - Unpredictability in a horror-thriller movie is literally what makes or breaks a film, doesnt it? Well, Durgamati: The Myth is one such film where youd find yourself biting your nails, wanting to know whats next! The narrative slowly develops as the movie proceeds, making it an effortless yet visually engaging tale of the Hindu Queen, whose spirit takes possession of Bhumi in the film. A horror film with the perfect comic timing? - That is pretty surprising, isnt it? The film is quite a visual feast of Horror, Comedy, and Mythology. It does a wonderful job at easing the audience in with its cleverly timed comical references. Not to forget, the way the film manages to add the perfect bit of comedy without deviating from the plot is Parfait! You surely do not need to order extra food because you are in for a platter with this one. NAIROBI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's newly-built Nairobi Expressway has been nominated for the "transportation infrastructure of the year award" at the inaugural Afrika Mashariki Awards, the Moja Expressway Company that manages the road said on Monday in a statement. The nomination comes a few weeks after the 27km road was put on trial before its official launch by President Uhuru Kenyatta. Its use has brought new opportunities to commuter bus operators in Kenya, who have started new routes, while motorists are enjoying shorter travel time. The inaugural Afrika Mashariki Transport Awards is the first of its kind in East Africa and it aims to celebrate excellence in the transport industry, according to organizers who include private firms as well as various government agencies in the sector, among them the National Transport and Safety Authority, Kenya Ports Authority and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority. The award ceremony will be preceded by a nomination night and a three-day transport expo. "Transport is one of the most important aspects of our daily lives, whether it's arriving at work or school on time or receiving vital deliveries," the organizers said in a brief. Reckitt, worlds leading consumer health and hygiene company, under its flagship campaign Dettol Banega Swasth India launched Diarrhoea Net Zero with support from the Government of Uttar Pradesh in Lucknow today. In the next 3 years, the program will directly impact 10 million people across Uttar Pradesh addressing 26% of the burden of diarrhoea. Diarrhoea Net Zero was launched by Sh. Brajesh Pathak, Deputy Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Sh. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director, External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia and other dignitaries with an aim to achieve net zero Diarrhoeal deaths among under-5 children in Uttar Pradesh. The program will follow the WHO-7-point plan for preventing and treating diarrhoea in 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh namely- Bahraich, Bulandshahar, Firozabad, Ghazipur, Gorakhpur, Jaunpur, Kushinagar, Maharajganj, Mathura, Mirzapur, Muzaffarnagar, Shravasti and Sitapur. The vision is to take this initiative to 75 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Sh. Gaurav Jain, Senior Vice President, Reckitt - South Asia said, Uttar Pradesh is doing phenomenal work for the upliftment of its economy and for its people. We are truly proud to have worked closely with the State Government towards creating a Swachh and Swasth India with our programs. In the last 7 years we have touched the lives of over 10 million children in Uttar Pradesh. To further strengthen this relationship, we have launched Indias first Diarrhoea Net Zero program with the support of the Government of Uttar Pradesh. Our vision with this program is to ensure that there are Net Zero Diarrheal deaths among Under 5 children in Uttar Pradesh. Sh. Ravi Bhatnagar, Director- External Affairs and Partnerships, Reckitt- South Asia said, Uttar Pradesh has shown tremendous improvement in several health indicators and has been recognized as the top-ranking state in incremental growth on health by NITI Aayog. Dettol Banega Swasth India, Reckitt Indias flagship purpose programme has been a partner to the states development journey for the past 7 years in the fields of hygiene, health and sanitation. Recognizing the role of health as a foundation for development, the programme further aims to increase its depth and breadth of engagement in the state in the next 3 years by rolling out initiatives like Dettol Diarrhoea Net Zero, which will focus on preventing under 5 mortalities due to diarrhoea by following the WHO 7-point plan. Dettol Banega Swasth India has been consistently working to improve child health standards in India with specialized programs that address health, hygiene, and sanitation. To support Uttar Pradesh in its fight against diarrhoea, Dettol Diarrhoea Net Zero supports the WHO 7-point plan for preventing and treating diarrhoea, which comprises of a prevention package and a treatment package. As a part of the programme, Reckitt will create a scalable and replicable model to: Build capacity amongst frontline workers (Asha workers, anganwadi workers etc), Indian Medical Associations (IMA) and Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) aligned with WHO 7-point plan Advocacy, communication and social mobilization around Diarrhoea prevention, health promotion and treatment through on-ground engagement Assessing supply chain to ensure availability of Zinc and ORS across government health facilities Monetary support for outpatient and inpatient treatment through Diarrhoea Net Zero voucher scheme to complement AYUSHMAN BHARAT The initiative will help improve the quality of care by addressing emergency cases faster, increase focus on complete immunization coverage and improve overall public healthcare systems responsiveness to diarrhoea care. Dettol Banega Swasth India has been working with the Government of Uttar Pradesh since 2015 to improve the knowledge, attitude and behaviour of children and community and ensure better hygiene and health outcomes. Dettol and its partners have reached over 10.8 million children with its School Hygiene Education Programme leading to a reduction in diarrhoea cases in school children and a reduction of nearly 39% in school absenteeism due to health issues. Reckitts various interventions across the state, include supporting villages to become Open Defecation Free, promoting hygiene and sanitation at Indias biggest religious gathering Kumbh Mela, receiving multiple accolades and appreciation from the Government of India for its initiatives. With the launch of Diarrhoea Net Zero programme in partnership with Uttar Pradesh government, Dettol Banega Swasth India will continue to bring positive change in the lives of children and reduce the prevalence of Diarrhoea in the state through a scalable and replicable model. Havells India Limited, a leading Fast-Moving Electrical Goods (FMEG) company, today announced its association with 'Kon Honar Crorepati' on Sony Marathi, one of Maharashtra's most popular impact shows hosted by actor Sachin Khedekar. The collaboration is part of the brand's innovative concept, with the primary goal of establishing a local connection with the audience in their native language. The theme for the show is meaning Ab Hawa Badlegi which has been conceptualized from Havells Fans tagline Hawa Badlegi. The tagline will be subtly integrated in the program across touchpoints like the journey of the contestant from fastest-finger-first to the hot seat. The Havells lighting category will also be integrated showcasing that the set has been Lit Up By Havells Lighting. Further integrations like change of lighting whenever a contestant crosses a Padaav will be showcased for deeper brand connect. Additionally, there would be a special Karamveer episode that would be aired every Saturday, inviting personalities who are working towards the welfare of society. Havells as a brand is motivated by the belief that small steps lead to meaningful change in peoples lives. Aligning to this vision, Havells has taken various initiatives in areas including, conserving national heritage, societal infrastructure, education, meals distribution, hygiene, and sanitation. Speaking on the association, Rohit Kapoor, Executive Vice President, Marketing Communication said We are delighted to partner with a renowned show like 'Kon Honar Crorepati aligning with Havells vision of Making a difference in the lives of people. Havells is a prominent brand in the FMEG segment, we aim to capitalise on the aspirational customers with our quality products. Therefore, our collaboration with the show will further help us establish a deeper relationship with the regional audience not only in terms of viewership but also for the intriguing native language content that the format offers. This partnership will help create an impactful presence of the brand through different integrations showcasing fan, lighting, and Lloyd categories in every episode and will further enhance top of mind recall. We will continue to synergise and explore similar possibilities going forward that will help us strengthen our presence in the Maharashtra region. Commenting on the association Ajay Bhalwankar, Business Head, Sony Marathi said We are delighted to have one of the national brands like Havells as our partner right from the launch of Kon Honaar Crorepati. This stands testimony to the credibility that this show offers to brands and Sony Marathis reach in the urban affluent audience pool of Maharashtra. Havells team and our brand solutions team came together and seamlessly weaved the brand message in the content to make Havells positioning impactful and relevant to the audience. We are sure this will not just aid brand recall and have tangible impact on sales but also set benchmark for subliminal advertising in regional space The One Club for Creativity has opened the call for entries for the One Asia Creative Awards 2022, and announced the show will now be included as part of the clubs Global Creative Rankings. Entry fees increase after each deadline period. Early entry deadline is July 15, 2022, with the regular deadline August 19, 2022, and the final deadline September 16, 2022. Click here to attend DATAMATIXX 2022 After years of running The One Show Greater China, the club expanded the scope of the awards last year to include all of Asia Pacific as the One Asia Creative Awards. Entries were received from 17 countries and regions in APAC, with winners representing 14. Among the big winners last year was Ogilvy Pakistan Islamabad, which was named One Asia Agency of the Year and took home Best of Show for Naming the Invisible by Digital Birth Registration on behalf of Telenor Pakistan, who was named Client of the Year and picked up the CMO Award for the work. Other One Asia 2021 special awards winners included: Independent Agency of the Year: Special Group New Zealand Auckland Auckland Network of the Year: Ogilvy Group Production Company of the Year: Sweetshop Auckland Auckland Green Award: LIFULL Tokyo for its own Bamboo Sweets Some changes were made to this years awards, most significant being inclusion of One Asia as part of The One Clubs renowned Global Creative Rankings for 2023. One Asia awards won by agencies and brands will now gain them international recognition in their own right, and contribute as appropriate to network and holding company global rankings totals. Specific points for each win will be announced shortly. Also new this year: Brand-Side, Experiential & Immersive, and Gaming have been added as disciplines. Interactive & Online and Mobile disciplines are now merged as Interactive, Online & Mobile. Brand Partnership sub category is expanded into more categories. Metaverse is now a category in three disciplines: Experiential & Immersive, Gaming, and Interactive, Online & Mobile. Cultural Driver Award, recognizing influential ideas and executions which created new trends and transformed mainstream culture Sustainable Development Goals Award, honoring the team who chose to utilize their creative talents and resources to better the world we live in, and contribute to securing a sustainable future for all. Juries for One Asia Creative Awards 2022 will be announced shortly. Online judging will take place in October, with finalists announced in November. Gold, Silver and Bronze winners will be announced in late November. Eligible countries and regions for One Asia are Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Brunei, Cambodia, Mainland China, East Timor, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Laos, Macau, Malaysia, Maldives, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam. The call for entries is supported by a campaign using the theme Creativity without borders, in recognition of how agencies and brands have overcome the challenges of the pandemic to create powerful work. One Asia 2022 is also the chance for creatives all across APAC to come together and celebrate creative excellence from the region. The One Show Greater China Awards grew significantly in stature since starting in 2014, and we were excited last year to transform it into the One Asia Creative Awards, said Kevin Swanepoel, CEO, The One Club. The region is responsible for some amazing creative work, and a unique passion for innovation. One Asia recognizes the best creatives, designers and innovators in all of APAC, and serves as a great fusion of cultures that brings the creativity of the region to the global stage. After expanding The One Show Greater China Program to the whole Asia Pacific region with The One Show Asia Showcase in 2020, we launched One Asia Creative Awards last year to elevate the work of unique Asian cultures, said Ma Chao, Chief Representative, The One Club Asia office. Using The One Shows best-in-class judging standards and platform, One Asia inspired the industry by showcasing the best creative works in Asia Pacific on the global stage. The One Club Greater China office was founded in 2000, hosting a series of youth events in China, and added The One Show Greater China Awards and related Creative Week program eight years ago. In the past 20 years, the team has focused on promoting creativity in the APAC region, and greater communications between Greater China and the global industry. This expanded focus prompted the office to rebrand this year as The One Club Asia. Entries are now being accepted via One Asia Online System. The One Club for Creativity, producer of The One Show, ADC Annual Awards, Type Directors Club Communication Design and Typeface Design awards, Young Guns and Creative Week, is the world's foremost non-profit organization whose mission is to support and celebrate the global creative community. The One Show is a top global awards show for advertising, design and digital marketing, focusing on the creativity of ideas and quality of execution. Established in 1921, the global ADC Annual Awards is the worlds longest continuously running creative award for advertising and design, honoring excellence in craft, design and innovation. Creative Week takes place in May, and is the preeminent festival celebrating the intersection of advertising and the arts. Teads, The Global Media Platform, is advancing its leadership in attention measurement by launching the Teads Attention Program that will be available in key markets in APAC . The program will arm brands with optimal multi-screen reporting of attention metrics within Teads Ad Manager. Through Teads global scale within quality publishers and connected TV providers, and integrations with industry-leading attention measurement partners, this pioneering program will accelerate the understanding of attention for media buyers and media owners allowing them to plan, buy, optimize and report on attention to ultimately drive a better return on media investment for brands. Attention is proven to be 3x more effective at predicting outcomes than viewability with the key drivers identified as Creative, Quality of Media, Relevancy and Ad Experience. As digital investments are fluidly allocated across channels, brands are looking for better ways to measure this new metric across every screen. We are proud to be stewarding the evolution of attention measurement with the launch of our attention program as we know the differentiated impact attention has on campaign outcomes and in turn, a brands business. said Caroline Hugonenc, SVP Research & Insights at Teads, This is a huge step forward for the industry, and well continue working with all of our publisher, agency and advertiser partners to guide them on how to work with this new metric and align it to their business goals. Now, omnichannel attention measurement will be made possible with Teads in conjunction with Adelaide and Realeyes. With more than 2,000 creatives measured, Teads long-standing facial coding measurement with Realeyes means the platform can combine both creative and media quality metrics from Adelaide to provide sophisticated solutions for brands. This partnership will enable brands to pre-test creative by screen type to capture attention levels ahead of campaign launch. Advertisers can leverage these unified attention insights to optimize live campaigns, connecting the right creative with the right screen resulting in greater impact, higher outcomes and increased efficiency. Were excited to partner with Teads to deploy attention metrics on a global scale for better planning, optimization, and most importantly, advertiser outcomes, said Marc Guldimann, Co-founder & CEO of Adelaide. Teads rigorous approach to attention metrics is exemplified by their work to understand the nuances of how media and creative influence attention. In addition, Teads is breaking new grounds in partnership with Lumen by now offering native reporting of attention metrics within Teads Ad Manager, alongside in-context creative testing tools, which allow advertisers to optimize their asset. It is the first time a 3rd party attention company integrates with a technology platform, enabling brands to more accurately and robustly report on the level of attention their ads have received for a campaign. By connecting Lumen attention data with Brand Pulse, Teads in-house brand lift solution, Teads will also be able to advise brands on the level of attention they require for a specific campaign. Mike Follett, Managing Director, Lumen Research added; We're really excited to extend our relationship with the Teads team. Teads and Lumen have led the debate around the Attention Economy, so it's great to see how initial research projects have now turned into business tools. By integrating with leading attention measurement vendors, Lumen and Adelaide, and ad-testing leader Realeyes, Teads is building out a robust set of tools enabling brands to drive greater media effectiveness and business results. As the program evolves, Teads will integrate additional local partners and capabilities. Were excited to expand our longstanding partnership with Teads and other best-in-class partners to advance the advertising industrys adoption of attention metrics, said Mihkel Jaatma, co-founder and CEO, Realeyes. The advertising industry is moving from tonnage to quality, bringing together creative and media attention metrics to make smarter decisioning, drive higher ROI and create better consumer experiences. The pioneering program will be available in Beta mode in July, and released later in 2022. There is no doubt that Marvel Cinematic Universe has a huge fan base in India, but with the return of Stephen Strange in Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness on Disney+ Hotstar, a new Bollywood superfan has emerged. After Kartik Aaryan poured love for the film, actor Vicky Kaushal, who recently watched the Benedict Cumberbatch starrer film, is mind-blown with terrific interpretations about the film. Elaborating on his views on the movie, Kaushal said, "Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness is a real madness of multiple genres, fan theories and interpretation, it is a multiverse of movies! Every time you watch it, a new fascinating theory emerges, and it is an eye-opener. Its my favourite Marvel movie. I also really like Benedict Cumberbatch and his work. To play so many versions of the character Doctor Strange in one movie is remarkable and every superhero fan is bound to be amazed by this MCU masterpiece." Urging fans and new viewers to watch the latest Marvel film, Kaushal said that he is going to watch it for the second time. Available in English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, and Malayalam on Disney+Hotstar, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness, directed by Sam Raimi is a sequel to 2016's Doctor Strange, which introduced Benedict Cumberbatch as Stephen Strange, aka Doctor Strange. In the film, Doctor Strange's new adventure begins when Cumberbatch meets America Chavez (Xochitl Gomez), a unique teenager who can open doorways from one universe to the other. What follows is a wild, mind-blowing adventure that sends Doctor Strange and his allies on a dangerous journey to alternate universes in the Multiverse. Along with Benedict Cumberbatch and Xochitl Gomez, Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness features an ensemble cast including Elizabeth Olsen, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Benedict Wong, Sheila Atim, Adam Hugill with Michael Stuhlbarg and Rachel McAdams. ~ Witness the mind-blowing adventure of Doctor Strange in his journey to an alternate universe in the Multiverse ~ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Belarus is being drawn into Russia's ongoing war against Kiev more actively than at the beginning, and that the Kremlin has already "decided everything" for Minsk. In his nightly video address on Sunday, the President said: "I want to address today particularly the citizens of Belarus, to people, both in uniform and civilians. You are being drawn into the war. And even more actively than in February and spring. "The Kremlin has already decided everything for you. Your lives are worthless to them. But you are not slaves and not cannon fodder, you should not die. And you can not let anyone decide what awaits you next". Zelensky however, expressed confidence that the people of Belarus support Ukraine, not the war, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. "And that is why the Russian leadership wants to involve you, all Belarusians, in the war. It wants to sow hatred between us. A lot depends on the common people of Belarus now. I know that you may not take part in this war. Your lives belong only to you, and not to someone in the Kremlin," he added. Speaking in Russian, Zelensky further addressed the forces from Moscow who are conducting missile strikes on Ukrainian territory, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. "We will find all of you, each of you will be responsible for these strikes. And if someone thinks he will evade responsibility by saying that this was an order, you are wrong. "When your missiles hit residential buildings, it is a war crime. The court will be waiting for you. And you will not hide anywhere, neither on the shores of the Caspian Sea, over which your missiles are launched, nor in Belarus," the President said. The Ukrainian leader's remarks came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that Moscow will supply Iskander-M nuclear capable missiles to Minsk in the coming months. According to Putin, the Iskander-M tactical missile systems "can use both ballistic and cruise missiles both in the standard and nuclear modifications". As the two Presidents held their meeting, Russian forces fired up to 50 missiles at targets across Ukraine on Saturday night, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. Most of these missiles were fired by Russian aircraft from Belarus. Russian planes entered Belarusian airspace, approached the border with Ukraine and conducted airstrikes. Ukraine's Chief Intelligence Directorate believes that the Kremlin wants to use the missile strikes to draw Belarus into the war. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse (2nd L) and Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan (2nd R) sign documents during a handover ceremony of the Chinsese COVID-19 vaccine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 27, 2022. The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. The latest batch of the 10 million COVID-19 vaccine doses is expected to further boost Ethiopia's anti-COVID-19 vaccination efforts while playing a crucial role in combating the socioeconomic impacts of the pandemic. The handover ceremony was attended by senior Ethiopian government officials and members of the Chinese diplomatic mission in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse said during the handover ceremony that the latest donation, which is the seventh batch of vaccine donations from China to Ethiopia, would propel Ethiopia's anti-pandemic efforts. "Including today's donation the government of China has donated a total of 14 million doses of vaccines to Ethiopia to fight the virus, restore the economy and protect people's health," Tadesse said. "Where there is unity and cooperation there is always victory. I hope Ethiopia, China and the rest of the world will fight the pandemic in a solidarity mindset to beat the virus." According to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, China has to date been committed to donating 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia, while facilitating Ethiopia's procurement of vaccines from China. Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan said since the start of the pandemic, Ethiopia and China have continued to provide mutual support, adding a new chapter to the China-Ethiopia friendship. "China and Ethiopia are good friends and good partners with a shared future," the Chinese ambassador said. He said China stands ready to promote the China-Ethiopia comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership to an even higher level. "The Chinese side stands ready to work with Ethiopia to make good use of vaccines as a powerful weapon, and jointly defeat the pandemic through closer health cooperation, so as to truly make contributions for the health and wellbeing of our peoples and for the friendship between our two countries," Zhao said. According to the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, the latest arrival of 10 million vaccine doses demonstrates that China is turning its commitments into visible and tangible outcomes. Throughout the fight against COVID-19, China, Ethiopia and many African countries have consistently put life first and worked in solidarity. Ethiopian Minister of Health Lia Tadesse (L) and Chinese Ambassador to Ethiopia Zhao Zhiyuan exchange documents during a handover ceremony of the Chinese COVID-19 vaccine in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on June 27, 2022. The Chinese government on Monday handed over an additional 10 million Sinopharm COVID-19 vaccine doses to Ethiopia. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ISLAMABAD, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's security forces have killed seven terrorists in the tribal district of North Waziristan in the northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said in a statement. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan army, said on Sunday that a fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists in the Ghulam Khan KaIle area of North Waziristan, a district bordering Afghanistan. "Troops effectively engaged the terrorists and seven of them were killed," said the ISPR, adding that two soldiers embraced martyrdom during the intense exchange of fire. The ISPR claimed to have confiscated weapons and ammunition from the killed terrorists who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces. It also announced that a clearance operation was being carried out to eliminate other terrorists in the vicinity. No sooner had the Supreme Court issued its Dobbs opinion then West Virginias sometimes-rational-Democrat senator Joe Manchin and senior Maine-Squish-Republican, senator Susan Collins, came out expressing their combined horror and indignation over the decision. They both went to say they were aghast that both Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch had apparently misrepresented to them, both in private meetings and during their hearings, that they would respect established precedent. The senators felt betrayed by the pair. Manchin was quoted as saying, I trusted Justice Gorsuch and Justice Kavanaugh when they testified under oath that they also believed Roe v. Wade was settled legal precedent and I am alarmed they chose to reject the stability the ruling has provided for two generations of Americans. Collins in her statement said, This decision is inconsistent with what Justices Gorsuch and Kavanaugh said in their testimony and their meetings with me, where they both were insistent on the importance of supporting long-standing precedents that the country has relied upon. What each of these senators statement reveals, without saying it out loud, was they thought they had a deal. What sort of deal? If you promise not to touch Roe, I will vote for your nomination. In short, the classic quid pro quo. By their comments it was obvious that both senators felt they had been double-crossed and they were none too happy about it. Until Senator Ted Kennedy and his merry band of Democrats on the Judiciary Committee, which included the current occupant of the White House, decided, beginning with Robert Bork, then continuing with Clarence Thomas and most recently Brett Kavanaugh, that it was acceptable to try and totally destroy a nominee to prevent the confirmation, the hearings were a fairly humdrum affair. There would be focus on previous opinions, judicial philosophy, etc., but overall, the hearings were, by and large, rather mundane. Since Roe was issued, things changed. As the years after Roe wore on, it seemed Democrats and their leftist constituency became increasingly more concerned about the long-term viability of Roe, which they all knew was grounded on precarious, if not outright specious jurisprudence. The pro-abortion cabal could also see that American attitudes towards abortion were changing, thanks, in large part, to significant advances in neonatal medical science and technology made in the succeeding years. What Americans understood about developing babies when Roe was decided was nowhere near as much as the extensive knowledge gained in the decades following the decision, because of such things as ultrasounds. Further, thanks to other advances in medicine, the age of viability was lowering and there was now the ability to perform intra-uterine surgery to correct defects. If only to make matters worse, Republican after Republican won the presidency, and more conservative justices were being confirmed. As the number of left-leaning justices declined, and the balance on the Court began to shift, the more exercised the Left, their Democrat minions, and the increasingly corrupt media became about the possibility Roe might be severely curtailed or even outright overruled in the future. And so, a litmus test was needed for Republican nominees, except that senators could not directly ask a nominee to state in advance how they would decide a theoretical case involving abortion. In fact, none other than former left-wing icon, the late Justice Ruth Notorious RBG Bader Ginsburg, set the standard by successfully dodging all such hypothetical questions at her confirmation hearing. As a result, Democrat senators and Republicans like Collins were reduced to asking nominees indirectly about their thoughts on such topics as long-standing precedents, etc., but which, in their mind, meant overruling Roe. So, in the end, Manchin and Collins thought they had their bargained-for-exchange with Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. When the two did not hold up their end of the perceived bargain, the senators clearly felt they had been had and so issued their respective petulant statements. It is, after all, easy to understand their ire, because never before in U.S. history had a Supreme Court nominee ever not ruled the way the president who nominated him wanted him to, or even the senators who confirmed them had hoped. Well, okay, almost never. In last 75 years, there have been well-known examples of nominees (always appointed by Republicans, it seems) who unexpectedly veered off in the opposite direction from where it was predicted they would be philosophically. Among the more famous, or infamous, depending on ones perspective, was Chief Justice Earl Warren. Nominated in 1954 by President Eisenhower, a Republican, for the position of Chief Justice, once confirmed, Warren went on to establish a legacy as one of the most left-leaning justices in history. How much did Warren fail to live up to Eisenhowers expectations? Ike later lamented that nominating Warren was the biggest damned-fool mistake I ever made." More recently, Justice David Souter turned out to be a huge disappointment to conservatives and Republicans. A relatively unknown judicial quantity, he was nominated by President George H.W. Bush with the expectation that he would be a conservative-minded justice. Unfortunately, Bush got the just the opposite result with Souter. Within a few years of taking the bench, Souter drifted towards the center and by the end, voted reliably with the Court's liberal wing. Even Justice Anthony Kennedy, appointed by President Reagan, who generally sided with the conservative wing of the Court did, at critical times, side with the left wing on major social issues cases, earning much derision from conservatives and Republicans. Currently, Chief Justice John Roberts, appointed by President George W. Bush, often sides with the conservatives on the Court; however, on one of the most consequential cases to come before the Court, ObamaCare, he pivoted 180 degrees from his initial position to, in the end, vote to uphold it. The disgust of conservatives and Republicans was palpable. So, Manchin and Collins feel like they got ripped off and now they want a refund. Well, too bad. As the old saying goes, politics aint beanbag and all sales here are final. Image: West Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church/Gage Skidmore The Supreme Court has just released two monumental decisions. Predictable responses have ensued from the expected interested parties. And the widely publicized legal analysis goes something like this.... Bruen overturned New Yorks century-old Sullivan Law. The Court held that the Second Amendment requires that states must allow law-abiding citizens to carry firearms, with the possible exception of courthouses and other sensitive locations. High population density does not make Manhattan a sensitive location. Thus, New York can ban either open or concealed carry, but not both. And New York (and DC, HI, MD, MA, NJ, etc.) cannot demand that a citizen demonstrate proper cause. Carrying arms is a right, not a privilege. Dobbs overturned Roe v Wade. Basically, there is no right to abortion in the Constitution. Never was. Its an issue for the states to handle. Beyond these bare declarations of final conclusions lies a cornucopia of incredibly important legal foundations. And those foundations may, once and for all (near future) time, severely restrict the various federal District Courts of Appeals from twisting into pretzels to avoid the plain meaning of the Constitution. The first is a direct slap in the face of the Ninth Circus, the Amber Alert poster child for Missing Legal Reasoning. Leftist Courts (yes, Justice Roberts, they do exist) typically do a legal two-step dance to get to the decisions they want. First, (see McDougall v. County of Ventura) they happily admit that the particular law is contrary to the Constitution. Then, contrary to Heller, they adopt a second step that balances the interests of the state against the rights of the citizen. This balancing act is infinitely malleable and provides no prior standard for what the state can and cannot do. In short, it becomes a way for tyrants to pass legal muster. Bruen shuts this door: Courts of Appeals have coalesced around a two-step framework for analyzing Second Amendment challenges that combines history with means-end scrutiny. Today, we decline to adopt that two-part approach. In keeping with Heller, we hold that when the Second Amendments plain text covers an individuals conduct, the Constitution presumptively protects that conduct. In plain English, if the Constitution protects a right, thats the end of the discussion. The only thing a state can do to limit that right must be a limitation that is parallel to one that was in existence at and around the time the rate was ratified in the Constitution. Bruen notes that arms were not allowed into sensitive places like courthouses. Such isolated and carefully identified sensitive places may be similarly restricted. This has immense implications. For example, the First Amendment guarantees the free exercise of religion. At the time of its adoption, the US was a highly religious country. Thus, the proper historical analysis leads to a conclusion that the Amendment guarantees freedom of religion, not freedom from religion. Image: Signing the American Constitution by Henry (or John Henry) Hintermeister. Public domain. Thus Carson v. Makin gives us a hint that the Supreme Court is likely to re-establish protections for religious observance. Should another pandemic lead Governor Hair Gel to shutter churches as non-essential, a federal challenge should reach the conclusion that the First Amendment protects church services, and thats the end of the process. Summary judgment for the church! A deeper dive into the decisions sheds more light on the radical reorientation of the judicial process they represent. Beginning with Heller, the Court began a careful process of examining what the Constitution meant to the people who wrote it. It begins with simple words. Shall not be infringed means shall not be infringed. The process then continues into the published arguments for and against the item in question. Opponents of a Bill of Rights once thought that it would limit the number of rights of the citizens. Proponents said that if there was no Bill of Rights, the citizens wouldnt have any rights. There was almost no historical support for major restrictions on ownership and carriage of firearms but every state outlawed abortion. And the history of both for centuries before the Bill of Rights simply reinforces these conclusions. Working through Heller, McDonald, Bruen, and Dobbs, the Court has made it painfully clear that the Constitution must be understood as it was understood by its framers. This is called Originalism. Further, because the Court denied lower courts access to a second stage of legal balancing of interests in evaluating the impact of a restriction on Constitutional rights, this is Textualism. What the text says about a right in plain language is what it says. No more, and no less. No court gets to change this. Under Originalism, a court must research the pertinent historical documents, preferably referenced in briefs. It is not allowed to use secondary sources that support a preferred conclusion as the Left wing of SCOTUS does. In both Bruen and Dobbs, their dissents demonstrate a view long on policy verbiage but devoid of substantive legal analysis. Courts wont be allowed to do this anymore. They must be courts of law, not another legislature. We cannot allow the words to change in meaning over time. The Living Constitution approach is over. Im sure some lower courts will continue to ply their trade, and SCOTUS cant review every decision. But the cases that do get reviewed will be judged by their fidelity to the law as enacted. Courts will not be allowed to be policy bodies. That role is reserved for the legislature. Bruen and Dobbs are monumental victories for freedom and federalism. Anyone who attempts to minimize that is missing something. But they are also monumental victories for the fundamental rule of law. Any law that changes in meaning is no law at all. Its an excuse for courts to legislate, and the Constitution does not allow that. Any changes to the Constitution must follow the approach found in Article V, and thats designed to be very difficult. The Left wants to sidestep the law in its rush for power. We see that mindset on daily display from virtually every Democrat near a microphone. SCOTUS has begun to step on the brakes of that runaway train. The Justices who stood up to protect America owe their majority to Donald Trump. The rest of us should say a very loud, Thank you. Ted Noel MD is a retired Anesthesiologist/Intensivist who podcasts and posts on social media as DoctorTed and @vidzette. His DoctorTed podcasts are available on many podcast channels. Diana Ross and the Supremes were one of the biggest Motown musical groups in the 1960s. By 1970 they went their separate ways, but this past week, their informal namesakes scored a mega-hit. Not singing catchy pop tunes, but by dancing in their black robes, singing glory and praise to the United States Constitution, making it great again. I speak of the US Supreme Court, finding their constitutional voices on two major issues that have polarized and divided Americans for decades. SCOTUS was not created to make law or decide controversial social or policy issues. In a constitutional republic, those issues are decided by the people, or their elected representatives, not by unelected, lifetime appointed judges. Instead, SCOTUSs role is to determine whether laws passed by the legislative branch or administrative decisions emanating from the executive branch are constitutional. From the SCOTUS website, The Court is the highest tribunal in the Nation for all cases and controversies arising under the Constitution or the laws of the United States. As the final arbiter of the law, the Court is charged with ensuring the American people the promise of equal justice under law and, thereby, also functions as guardian and interpreter of the Constitution. While Diana Ross and her Supremes sang, Stop in the name of love, Clarence Thomas and his Supremes did a remake, Stop in the name of law, specifically the US Constitution. Two big decisions in two days. Was this The Storm that President Trump once predicted? Or just a boom-boom end to a week where we saw another two booms -- the President falling off his bicycle then showing off his cue card telling him, as one would a young distractible child, where to sit, as in YOU take YOUR seat and when to get up and leave as in YOU depart. YouTube screen grab The first boom decision was to affirm that Americans have a right to carry firearms in public for self-defense. Why is this controversial? The Second Amendment to the Constitution states clearly, The right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed. This decision went beyond the Heller case of 2008, where SCOTUS affirmed the right to possess a gun for self-defense in the home. Now Americans can defend themselves outside the home as well, a necessary clarification as the Second Amendment did not add specific locations to their keep and bear arms proclamation, as many people need to protect themselves outside of their homes too. Arms does not refer only to muskets and cannons, as the New York Governor and US President believe, but modern-day versions of these 250-year-old arms. There is a commonsense element here that arms dont include thermonuclear bombs, machine guns, or ballistic missiles which ordinary Americans cannot and should not possess, but instead the arms of the day including handguns and even scary looking rifles. If we followed the logic of the musket and cannon arguers, the First Amendment protections of free speech should not protect radio, television, internet, or social media as these forms of speech did not exist when the Bill of Rights was drafted, just as Glocks and AR-15s were not on the minds of the framers at that time either. In their wisdom, they simply used the term arms just as the First Amendment used vague terms speech and press, allowing for future variations and inventions. The second boom ruling overturned the controversial Roe v. Wade decision from 1973 which legalized abortion, although with some limits. It took almost 50 years for SCOTUS to get the Constitution straight. As Diana Ross and her Supremes sang, You cant hurry love, SCOTUS has been singing, since 1973, a remake called, You cant hurry law. Even liberal former SCOTUS Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg acknowledged that Roe was structured badly, focusing on privacy, of which there is no specific right to privacy in the Constitution, rather than the equal protection provision of the Constitution. Even that argument falls flat based on the Tenth Amendment, The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. For non-lawyers, such as myself, this is a no-brainer. Any right or power not in the Constitution should be decided by the individual states and the people in those states. This includes not only the right to abortion, but also same-sex marriage, prostitution, recreational marijuana, gambling, driving age, all of these now, turned over to the states to decide. Same-sex marriage was a state issue until the 2015 Obergefell vs Hodges SCOTUS decision. States can sort these issues through a ballot referendum or through their legislatures, elected by and representing the people in those states. Each state can decide whether to and how to allow or restrict these and many other activities not expressly mentioned in the Constitution. Again, this reflects the genius of the framers, leaving a mechanism for future issues to be adjudicated. Perhaps in the future, when robots and artificial intelligence are the norm, there will be new concerns, things we cannot envision now, but if America is still functioning as a constitutional republic, there will be a mechanism to handle these new issues. CNN reports, Half of US states could ban abortion as Roe v Wade overturned. As virtual all abortions are elective, the urgent ones characterized as miscarriages, one could travel to a state where abortion is legal and have it performed. People travel frequently for medical care, many visiting Mayo or Cleveland Clinics for their experience and expertise in neuro or cardiac surgery that might not be available in their home states. If residents of Utah or Idaho wants to gamble or visit a prostitute, and cannot in their own state, their neighboring state of Nevada allows both. They could do the same for an abortion. Interestingly, woke employers are eager to foot the bill for employees to travel out of state for an abortion. Do the corporations revere abortion? Or would they prefer to pay for an abortion rather than childbirth, months of maternity leave, and another covered life on their insurance plan? Follow the money. My state of Colorado was the first to legalize recreational marijuana and Americans from all 49 other states visited so they could partake in an activity not legal in their states. Colorado, aside from marijuana tourism, is well positioned for abortion tourism as the state passed a law this year placing no limits on abortion, Colorados law protects the right to have an abortion and does not make distinctions or regulations around a time or stage during pregnancy. Colorados permissive law means that a woman, 40 weeks pregnant, can walk up one street to the hospital to deliver a healthy full-term baby, or down another to a Planned Parenthood clinic to abort that same healthy full-term baby. This is what must be meant by a womans right to choose. Some choice. Its ironic that the same woman may have no right to choose whether or not to be COVID vaccinated, depending on her employer. It seems my body, my choice is situational. But now each state can decide what they will allow or not allow, and Americans can choose to move to or leave states based on these state laws. This is the ultimate in pro-choice. Justice Kavanaugh wrote in his opinion, That issue will be resolved by the people and their representatives in the democratic process in the States or Congress. As it should be. Finally, SCOTUS is finally following the US Constitution, exactly their mission, restoring the Second and Tenth Amendments. Too bad many cannot seem to understand this concept, including many lawyers, who presumably studied constitutional law in law school, and are now gracing the halls of Congress or cable news studios. Like energy, constitutional rights can neither be created nor destroyed. Congress can pass laws and the states can amend the Constitution. Its been almost 50 years since the Roe decision, and neither of these remedies has been applied to make abortion a constitutional right, leaving it up the states to decide, as it should be for a self-governing country. Left-wing Newsweek noted this, Barack Obama blasted for not codifying Roe v Wade: Dem failure. He had a veto proof majority in Congress and squandered to opportunity to fix this issue legislatively. Perhaps Democrats dont care about abortion per se, instead preferring it as a campaign issue. This is an educational moment where schools can teach kids about the Bill of Rights and Constitution rather than drag queen story hour, so decisions such as the Roe overturning isnt such a surprise or controversy. Then Samuel Alito and his Supremes can do another remake of Someday well be together rather than Where did our law go. Brian C Joondeph, MD, is a physician and writer. Follow me on Twitter @retinaldoctor. And on Truth Social @BrianJoondeph. ISLAMABAD, June 27 (Xinhua) -- The extreme weather conditions in Pakistan including this month's pre-monsoon rains, abrupt snowfall and melting of glaciers have already started taking a toll on the lives of the people. To mitigate the adverse effects of the changing weather patterns in Pakistan, one of the 10 most vulnerable countries affected by climate change in the world, the Pakistani government is taking action. The measures include massive tree plantations, a policy to start operations of electric vehicles, and shifting the energy load from fossil fuels to hydro and renewable energy. "Karot Hydropower Plant, one of the major clean energy projects in Pakistan under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), is ready to provide clean electricity to Pakistan," said Muhammad Ali Mahmood, an assistant manager at the plant. Located 55 km away from Islamabad, the project is constructed by China Three Gorges Corporation, with an installed capacity of 720,000 kilowatts, a total reservoir capacity of about 150 million cubic meters, and an average annual power generation of about 3.2 billion kilowatt-hours once put into operation. The plant will reduce an equivalent of 3.5 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, and meet the power demand of about 5 million local population. Pakistan has great potential for hydro energy, as the east Punjab province alone has five major rivers, but the potential was not tapped due to complicated mountainous terrain that needed a lot of investment and expertise to construct and operate a hydropower plant. "CPEC opted to take the challenging task of building the power plant. It not only used cutting-edge technology, but also gave utmost importance to the safety of the employees during the construction phase and the protection of the environment to achieve 'no net loss' policy," Ali told Xinhua. Calling the project an embodiment of China's technological excellence and its commitment to giving preference to health, safety and environmental project, Ali said that even during the labor-intensive construction phase of the project, the construction team ensured that neither human nor aquatic life was affected. "Modern technology was used in the project to treat the construction site's wastewater, and the solid waste was disposed of properly. The major water resources of Punjab province remain clean despite the construction of a mega project," he added. Talking about the project's role to meet Pakistan's electricity needs, Zhang Xiangjun, the chief safety engineer at the project, said the project will help Pakistan meet its electricity demand for domestic and industrial needs and have a positive impact on the country's power energy structure and reduction of power generation costs. He said the project has actively fulfilled international responsibilities such as addressing climate change, with its ecological and environmental protection plans covering water quality, air quality, waste management, noise and vibration management, water and soil conservation and ecological restoration. The project strictly implemented Pakistan's relevant environmental laws and regulations and the International Finance Corporation's environmental and social performance standards, said Zhang. During a visit to the project last month, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said the project would not only improve Pakistan's energy structure but also boost the country's sustainable development. "The project shows the China-Pakistan friendship and iron brotherhood ... Pakistan should emulate the Chinese model of development," said the prime minister. Project Veritas has done it again, this time with a video of a South Carolina Democrat candidate for the United States Senate strategizing with a prisoner to put Democrat sleepers into the Republican line-up as fifth columnist candidates. Mixed in with whining, incoherence, and obscenities (often racial ones), Matthews articulates a foul plan for destroying democracy in a fight she feels is impossible to win by fair means. If you go to Krystle Matthews's campaign website, you'll see that this Democrat party candidate for the U.S. Senate (who's now in a run-off with Catherine Fleming Bruce) presents herself as the all-American Black candidate for the little people: she's a single mom of five, the daughter of a Vietnam vet, and the granddaughter of a sharecropper. Her roots in America run deep. She makes no secret about the racist core of her campaign, although it's phrased tactfully: "She was inspired to run for office in 2018 because she believed that people who look like her and come from backgrounds like hers are often affected the most and heard the least." Matthews also explains that she wants to change the "toxic politics that rob our most vulnerable communities of their power." It turns out, though, that Matthews isn't above "toxic politics" when it comes to plotting a Democrat takeover of South Carolina's strong Republican leanings. We know that because Project Veritas Action obtained a recording of a February 15, 2022 phone call that Matthews had with David Solomon Ballard, an inmate at Perry Correctional Institution. Image: Krystle Matthews recording. YouTube screen grab. Just to be clear, according to a report from 2018, Matthews was talking to a dangerous man. Already in jail for threatening a sheriff's life, Ballard was also arrested for assaulting a State Law Enforcement Division agent. The first infraction could lead to five years in jail; the second could lead to 20 years. Presumably, given that he's in jail now, he was convicted on one or both charges. It's unclear why Ballard was offering to help Matthews or why she was using him as a sounding board. It's also unclear how Project Veritas Action got the recording. What is clear is that Matthews felt comfortable enough to make all sorts of disturbing statements about South Carolina politics. In addition to complaining that Blacks were failing to fund her campaign, Matthews was generally dismayed with the fact that South Carolina voters aren't warming to Democrats. The only way to change that, she said, is to have "sleeper" candidates pretend to be Republicans so they can get elected and then implement Democrat action items. Throughout, she uses racially charged terms and endless, mindless obscenities: We need some secret sleepers. Like you need, we need them to run as the other side, even though they for our side. We need people to run as Republicans in these local elections. This is the only way you're going to change the dynamics in South Carolina. Honestly, these ain't the same type of black people that I grew up around. I don't recognize these black people. So, I black because I don't understand the type of black that they are. Now, can I talk intelligently? Can I I could be. Listen, I can move in all kind of circles, but I'm a n at heart. I love black people. I feel safest around my people. We need some folks that can wear all black at night and take they f yard signs down when they when they sleeping. I still got to struggle to raise money for my campaign? Where the f is my black people with money? I don't care about no dope money! Give me that dope boy money! S, where the f dope? Where the duffle bag boys? Get you find me somebody from your family that don't even know you donating to my campaign and put that s under they names. South Carolina, so far, has avoided toxic racial politics. After Dylann Roof went to Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston and, after being invited to join their prayer circle, murdered nine people, Black Lives Matter prepared to descend on Charleston. While young firebrands fresh from Ferguson were desperate to bring BLM's riots to Charleston, the city's Black religious leaders rejected BLM's approach, opting to show dignity and love. Matthews wants nothing to do with a Black community that embraces core American values and aspires to racial harmony. Moreover, she's explicit: if she cannot change that attitude through persuasion, she'll do what leftists always do when nobody wants what they're selling: cheat. Conservative communities across America need to understand that Matthews is not alone. Whether it's mail-only voting, ballot-harvesting, or fifth columnists, Democrats are happy to attain by foul means that which they cannot earn through fair ones. The last thing any nation wants to see is the decline of its safety (think: an empire losing strength as barbarians are set to storm the gates). In our case, the signs of decay are there for anyone to see. But of course, there are none so blind as those who will not see. Here are four examples of troubling trends: Leadership: With Biden, America has a chief executive who must resort to cue cards to know how to enter a room, sit down, and give preapproved and scripted answers to reporters' questions while acting as if his answers sprang spontaneously from some depth of understanding. He is also a shallow president who seems to relish his power and doesn't shy from insulting and alienating half the country with pugilistic threats. The scary part to me is that the president of the Russian Federation, Putin, can present an in-depth and even professorial speech to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Plenary that expresses in fine detail his government's position on the changing world economics and the war in Ukraine. Whether his assertions are valid or not, the message follows a certain logical progression. The difference the two leaders show in intellectual capacity is scary. Image by Andrea Widburg. Fascistic protesters. The New Testament states that a house divided cannot stand. Is America that house? A second Civil War may already be underway and we don't realize it yet. After all, Marxist extremists identifying as Antifa are physically assaulting Americans who participate in pro-America demonstrations. In the cases of Portland's Aaron Danielson and Denver's Lee Keltner, Trump-supporters are getting murdered, and Lee Keltner's killer walked away. How ironic that the so-called antifascist group Antifa is acting very much like how the Nazi Brownshirts in Germany did in the 1930s. Moreover, this violence occurs in regions of America where courts and law enforcement are lenient, and even sympathetic to their cause. I fear that this will only grow stronger with time as it did in Nazi Germany, aided by a media establishment that constantly promotes divisiveness over race, sexuality, and core constitutional rights and limitations. The war on masculinity. The push to shame so-called "toxic masculinity" is a dangerous trend. In the 1950s, fresh from WWII, our young men grew up in an environment of extreme patriotism. The motion picture industry "projected" a culture of the American warrior, whether physical or when showing personal integrity against injustice. By the 1970s, following the American collapse in Vietnam, the media and popular culture favored male physical beauty (male models) and even hairstyling for men that went beyond the crew cut. Today's media culture brands a male with any kind of assertiveness as "toxic." Hollywood's top male stars are pretty boys, pouting and preening even when in "action" roles. War by nature is brutal. How can we find soldiers among a population of coddled teenagers? Most recently, as the war in Ukraine has shown us, violence and brutality are still with us. We haven't escaped them yet. Vanishing American credibility. In the world's eyes, our national credibility is gone. Who can forget secretary of state Colin Powell's shameful testimony in front of the United Nations when seeking support for our resolution to initiate a war with Iraq? Powell cited the proof that he had of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. When we never found the weapons, whether they hadn't existed or were spirited away, we looked painfully unreliable. That image was cemented with the disgraceful, bloody retreat from Afghanistan. As our competitors increasingly challenge us, what is our leadership doing? How can we start coming together? How will we be surviving a decade from now? Amid all the partying and gladhanding and making Vladimir Putin a figure of fun, the G-7 summit in Germany managed to avoid the important topics, such as where the hell greenie Germany is going to get energy from and just what it means when it says it's going to support Ukraine forever. Instead, it moved into its comfort zone, which was "infrastructure" and greenie energy for the Third World, as if the Third World needed more corruption and energy shortages, as greenie Germany is experiencing. Naturally, its idea was to throw money mostly American money at the problem. Doddering Joe Biden was all in for this idiocy and has touted this bad idea as some kind of success story. According to Fox News: The United States is pledging $200 billion to a G7 infrastructure project intended to counter's China's multi trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative. The "Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment" was relaunched by President Biden and other Group of Seven leaders on Sunday at their annual gathering being held this year at Schloss Elmau in Southern Germany. Altogether the G7 leaders pledged to raise $600 billion in private and public funds over five years to finance needed infrastructure in developing countries. The U.S.' $200 billion portion will come from grants, federal funds, and private investment over that time period to support projects are intended to tackle climate change, improve global health, gender equity and digital infrastructure. Biden went at lengths to insist the money was not "aid or charity." "It's an investment that will deliver returns for everyone," he said, adding that it will allow countries to "see the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies." Ostensibly, it's to provide an alternative to third-world countries finding themselves in a pickle for taking China's money in its Belt and Road Initiative and finding themselves unable to repay China for its infrastructure investments, leaving China free to expropriate critical infrastructure such as ports as the world's greediest repo man. I wrote about one example of that in 2018 here: If there was ever an example for nations worldwide of What Not To Do, take a look at what socialist Ecuador has done to itself in dumping the U.S. and turning to align its interests to China. The New York Times has a superb (albeit stomach-churning) report about how Ecuador sold itself out as a vassal of China, getting for itself a junk dam that is already collapsing, and turning over 80% of its oil production to the communist behemoth in order to pay its massive, massive debts from it. That, in exchange for scrapping its military ties to the U.S. and skipping out on its tab with western banks. ...and several other places in the same predicament here. There's no doubt that this is a problem, given that China is using these expropriations to extend its strategic influence, the carrot from hell, to reel in one militarily useful lily pad after another (to mix a lot of metaphors). But instead of discouraging third-world countries from allowing themselves to get into these situations, and encouraging them to reform their crony capitalist systems for authentic economic growth, the G-7 is offering these places that can't attract investment the normal way a second credit card, hoping theirs will undercut China's. What they will end up with is these places defaulting to the West instead of China, since there isn't a lot of capitalism going on with all these infrastructure projects. Worse still, a lot of them billed as "infrastructure" aren't infrastructure projects at all, but greenie boondoggles. Consultant contract bait. Solyndras, with a side of third-world corruption. You know, like the kind of Full Greenieism that Sri Lanka embraced, prompting the entire country to collapse. More like that, right? Greenie energy is a farce. It's not sustainable. Not even an advanced country like Germany can make it work its insane devotion to greenie-ism prompted it to shut down its very emissions-friendly nuclear power plants in favor of unreliable trash like wind and solar power, pockmarking its landscape with ugly whirring windmills, and, worse still, left it dependent on Russia to power its batteries and true energy necessities. Now it's looking at natural gas shortages and economic ruin as a result, and...all Germany and Joe Biden want to do...is export this failed model to the Third World, shelling out $200 billion to do it. Joe Biden's stupid statement about this not being "charity" is nonsense. If third-world countries could make greenie energy work better than fossil fuels, you can bet they would have been investing in it themselves. But they can't they can't any more than Germany can. Biden justified the claim that this cash shell-out from the West was an "investment," but that calls to mind that investments can fail and given that they haven't been done already by people with real money in the private sector, they probably will, by the guys who rely on the printing press for their big-government cash-shovelings. It's obnoxious stuff, given that the G-7 has some serious issues to look at right now the failed unsustainability of green policies that have left Europe bereft of energy, and the even bigger failure of the shutdowns of authentic fossil fuel industries that have left the big Western powers in debt to petrotyrants, including one who is blowing up apartment buildings in a European capital, and did a demonstration for the G-7 over the weekend, with a renewed attack on civilian housing in Kiev. Neither of those problems is being seriously looked at by the G-7. All they are trying to do is make the Third World as failed an area as the West in its still religiously bizarre greenie obsession. What a spectacular load of trouble this is. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau (neither of whom is a stranger to ridicule) will join Joe Biden in trying to laugh at Vlad Putin. Hard reality here: It's Putin who will have the last laugh. Image: Screen shot from CBC video via YouTube. One would assume that after more than 100 years of practice, a federal agency would be able to do its job correctly. However, that is not the case with the U.S. Forest Service. At least in New Mexico, it has been unable to consistently prevent its prescribed burns from escaping and becoming raging wildfires. New Mexico is a nearly ideal location for wildfires. It is high and dry to begin with and is in the midst of a mega-drought, making it even drier than usual. Additionally, the Forest Service's fire suppression model for nearly a century has been to try to extinguish almost all fires instead of permitting frequent low-intensity burns which were the historic norm. Even when the Forest Service has attempted to thin forests by mechanical means, it has often faced intense opposition from various environmental groups impairing its ability to do so. As a result of all of these factors, forests are much denser than they used to be. A study has estimated that California forests are between 80% and 600% denser than they were 150 years ago. With denser forests, there is more fuel for a fire to consume, causing more severe fires. The original Smokey Bear is a survivor of a New Mexico fire. As recently as 2000, Los Alamos, New Mexico was nearly burned down by a controlled burn that wasn't. The cerro grande fire, started by park employees as a prescribed burn at Bandelier National Monument, began in early May, which is the second windiest month in New Mexico. Before it was put out, it had consumed 47,000 acres and caused over one billion dollars in property damage. One would have assumed that the Forest Service would have learned from the cerro grande fire that it's a bad idea to start a controlled burn in New Mexico in April, the windiest month of the year but it didn't. Here's how the Forest Service started the largest wildfire in the state's history this year. On April 4, 2022 at 11:34, controlled burns were begun at various points in an area of the Santa Fe National Forest called las dispensas. The fires grew out of control and, at 16:34, they were declared a wildfire. A request for contingency resources was then made. The fire would continue to grow and would become the Hermit's Peak fire. In late January of 2022, the Forest Service started a pile burn fire in another section of the Santa Fe National Forest called Calf Canyon. Calf Canyon is to the west of las dispensas. The Forest Service thought it had fully extinguished the pile burn in January. However, on April 8, the pile burn showed a heat signature. It was discovered that the pile was still smoldering more than 2 months after it had supposedly been put out. A fire line was placed around the pile on April 9. On April 19, the pile re-ignited. On April 22, the Calf Canyon fire merged with the Hermit's Peak fire and eventually grew to 340,000 acres 531 square miles. The Forest Service has admitted responsibility for the Calf Canyon fire. The Forest Service has released a preliminary report of what went wrong with the las dispensas fire. Here are some of the findings: 1. The crew did not stop ignitions despite clear indications of high fire intensity and receptive fuels. 2. Insufficient back-up in the event something went wrong. When the call was made for contingency resources at 16:21, the support crew was at a training session in Taos, many hours away. 3. Underestimating the fuel available for a fire. The area was heavily forested, with 700 to 1,000 trees per acre consisting of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and white fir. 4. Insufficient local weather info. The crew was using NWS weather data from the Albuquerque station instead of data from a local remote area weather station (RAWS). During the day, relative humidity in the area sometimes fell below 12% the cut-off limit for a prescribed burn. 5. Communications problems. Not all crew members were using the same comm equipment and were sometimes unable to communicate with other crew members So what should New Mexico do about this disaster? I think a case can be made that the Forest Service has been so incompetent for so many years with its stewardship of the national forests in New Mexico that it has forfeited its right to management. How about having our congressional delegation pressure Washington to have a test program giving the state and Indian tribes primary management control of the national forests in the state for the next ten years? Could the state and tribes possibly do a worse job than the Forest Service? As an example, it is my understanding that the Mescalero Apache have done a much better job of managing and maintaining their portion of the Lincoln National Forest than the Forest Service, which is next door. Mainstream media bloviators have increasingly begun to state that Republicans do not deserve equal coverage alongside their Democrat counterparts. These figures often falsely claim that Republicans seek to "end our democracy" and that they routinely traffic in falsehoods. Ergo, there's no need to be fair and balanced. For example, on a recent edition of MSNBC's The ReidOut, Joy Reid and her guest, political analyst Mathew Dowd (Bush-Cheney 2004 chief strategist turned Democrat), preposterously asserted that media outlets in general were too neutral in their reporting on the Republican Party and should instead ramp up the hostility. Reid also urged reporters to "tell voters" that the GOP is a "threat" to freedom. Remarkably, Reid queried Dowd on how the media might "get out" of this ill advised "'both sides' trajectory." Dowd replied that the media should start acting as if they were living in a society that isn't free and treat Republicans accordingly. Like state-run mouthpieces in Russia, China, and North Korea? Great idea! A week prior to the Reid-Dowd fiasco, CNN primetime host Don Lemon stated that journalists no longer live in a "Walter Cronkite society" and that he should therefore be able to "state [his] truth." During a recent discussion with Los Angeles Times columnist Jackie Calmes (on her piece condemning "both-siderism"), CNN host Brian Stelter also questioned whether Republicans should be given the same coverage as Democrats. He asked, "Is it that we're treating Democrats and Republicans equally and ignoring GOP radicalism? Is that the heart of the problem?" No, quite the opposite, Brian. Hence your network's plummeting ratings. By way of illustration, one Harvard study found that CNN's coverage of President Trump during his first 100 days in office was 93% negative versus just 7% positive. The same study found that CBS's coverage was 91% negative and The New York Times' 87%. By contrast, mainstream media outlets slobbered all over themselves in incessantly praising Barack Obama. That is not treating Democrats and Republicans too "equally." And that cannot be good for our representative republic. And, last March, NBC News anchor Lester Holt actually said, "I think it's become clear that fairness is overrated[.] ... [T]he idea that we should always give two sides equal weight and merit does not reflect the world we find ourselves in." It certainly doesn't, Lester. Why give your news audience both sides of the story when you can just tell them what the "truth" is? This acknowledgment and encouragement of the end of an objective "mainstream" media/free and fair press is unprecedented and surreal, at least in the modern era. Is it a good idea for those in the media to tell everyone that they are no longer even going to pretend to treat the two parties equally, while they otherwise blather on about "inclusion," "fairness," "justice," and "saving our democracy"? Yet this has not stopped them from blasting Fox News and the few other right-of-center media outlets as being "biased." In fact, they will probably double down now and increasingly label them as "far-right extremist" organizations. Henceforth, it will be considered fair and objective to blast any entity that doesn't share your views...as long as you are "progressive," and they are not. And those in the media wonder why so few people trust them now? Journalism isn't what it used to be. Maybe it never was. And that's the way it is in 2022. Graphic credit: Sean McMenemy, CC BY 2.0 license. While President Biden was recently praising his government for trying to ensure that kids as young as six months old get injected with an experimental mRNA "vaccine" that doesn't work and has proven to be dangerous, he also flatly stated that "there's going to be another pandemic." Maybe Democrats will get "lucky," and one will break out in the weeks leading up to the November 8 election. But hey, many "experts" are predicting an increase in outbreaks of pestilence and disease. To wit: According to a recent report on France 24, the World Health Organization (WHO)'s emergencies director, Michael Ryan, said, "The number of times that these diseases cross into humans is increasing. Then our ability to amplify that disease and move it on within our communities is increasing." Stated Greg Albery, a disease ecologist at Georgetown University, "We need improved surveillance both in urban and wild animals so that we can identify when a pathogen has jumped from one species to another." Ah, more surveillance. Albery added, "And if the receiving host is urban or in close proximity to humans, we should get particularly concerned." Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children's Hospital, noted a number of potential reasons for an increase in outbreaks. He declared: "Several epidemiological drivers have been identified that make bacteria and viruses from animal populations suitable to emerge in a susceptible population. These drivers include climate change, industrial development, ecosystem change and social inequality." Okay. Of course. Humans are bad, humans are bad, humans are bad, and humans are bad. Especially those who happen to be white, male, and American. I was under the impression that plagues and diseases were much more prevalent in the past and have been largely controlled or eliminated in recent decades due to advances in knowledge, effective vaccines, and better sanitation. So what about plagues in the Middle Ages, such as the "Black Death," which killed between 75 million and 200 million people from 1346 to 1353? Everything I have previously read attributes that plague to fleas found on rodents, but perhaps it was really the fault of climate change, industrial development, ecosystem change, or early MAGA Republicans. The politicization of, well, everything, and the hostile and nearly complete takeover of medicine, academia, the media, and other institutions by far-left ideologues is much more dangerous to America than any possible future pandemic. Graphic credit: Vincent Le Moign, CC BY 4.0 license. It happens every time or Portland burns. Yes, there were problems across the country, such as the "insurrection" in Arizona, but Portland always leads the way. Let's check the story: A large group of rioters was seen in downtown Portland, Oregon smashing windows and vandalizing several buildings Saturday night. The group also graffitied messages targeting the U.S. Supreme Court. The group, made of about 100 people, were yelling and chanting as they marched down the streets and would periodically stop to destroy and graffiti objects. "Death to SCOTUS," one black spray-painted message said. Members of the group smashed several windows of a Starbucks Coffee building and others were seen destroying a Tesla car. So much for Tesla or Starbucks paying for abortions. I guess that the rioters didn't get that memo. What we saw in Portland was another episode in the continuing story of lawlessness. Portland is now exhibit A for what happens when a local government or an impotent governor decides that people can destroy property or burn buildings in the name of something. Of course, all of this will drive more business out of the city or make it more difficult to recruit police officers. But who cares about that? It's all about social justice, reproductive rights, or something like that. Do you understand now why so many in Oregon want to break away from Portland? Do you blame them? PS: Check out my videos and posts. Image: Montecrus Foto. Sensible men, who value domestic tranquility, defer to their wives on abortion. Men like Ronald Reagan and Ron DeSantis look to the mother of their children for guidance, and Nancy Davis and Casey DeSantis had and have knowledge and insight on pregnancy, babies, and motherhood that their husbands lack. So it is that both California governor Reagan and Florida governor DeSantis adopted reasonable positions on this vexing issue. In 1967 Reagan signed the California Therapeutic Abortion Act, which allowed abortions when there was a grave threat to the mother's health, or in cases of rape or incest. Earlier this year DeSantis signed legislation that allows abortion until the 16th week of pregnancy, or when there is a credible threat to the mother's health. The law of Florida satisfies neither the pro-abortion zealots on the one hand, nor the pro-life absolutists on the other. It represents the middle ground, where most American women, particularly married women, are found. The Democrats placed abortion front and center in our politics, but they have come to rue the day that happened. The Democratic Party is in thrall to the rabid progressive left, which accepts no limits, however reasonable, on a womans right to choose. The Florida law, a compromise which takes effect next week, doesn't satisfy them. It will soon dawn on Democrats that they need not look to the Supreme Court for the abortion protections they demand. All they need to do is pass a law. They control Congress and the presidency. Nancy Pelosi probably has the votes right now to pass a law legalizing abortion in all 50 states. It's doubtful the Senate would go along, but this only sets the stage to make the election of 2022 a referendum on abortion. Democrats will lose that election, and they will lose on the issue of abortion. After the Dobbs decision, as Americans are finally allowed to vote on this question, most voters are conflicted. They don't like abortion, but they also understand it's necessary under certain circumstances. The new Florida law is as close to a consensus position as is possible. In practice, Florida will soon become a sanctuary state for women in the deep South who live in states with draconian restrictions on abortion. From Mississippi, Alabama, Louisiana, and Texas, women who want an abortion in the first 15 weeks of pregnancy will be able to drive to Florida for the procedure. This will horrify some in the pro-life community, who will criticize DeSantis for signing a law allowing it. He will be criticized by both extremes, which is precisely where a smart politician wants to be as he contemplates a run for the White House. Most Republicans believe in tolerance, diversity, and the federalism which promotes it. Once they again control Congress and the presidency, they will not pass a federal law taking the issue away from the states and the people. Thats where the issue should be decided, in conformity with the wishes of a majority of each state. That's how democracy works. Republicans are comfortable with that. Democrats aren't. Fritz Pettyjohn has been married for 50 years to the mother of his three children. Image: M.Bitton Ted Dwyer in "Spectator Australia" has asked why Australia has bet the house on the U.S./NATO involvement in Ukraine. There are few innocent parties in Ukraine today an undeclared civil war has been simmering for this whole century. Since the Mongol destruction of Kiev in 1240, almost everyone has invaded Ukraine its flat fertile lands and mineral resources attract plunderers. Russia's Catherine the Great annexed the Crimea in 1783 and established the Black Sea Fleet. Ukraine was one of the founding Soviet Republics in 1922, and Russian is the mother tongue for several areas of Ukraine. Modern Ukraine was founded in 1992, when the Soviet Union collapsed, but Russian areas like Luhansk and Donetsk refused to be a part of Ukraine. They said they "were and always would be Russian." Russia has seen NATO as a threat for decades it has expanded from its 12 founders in 1949 to 30 members plus 40 "Security Partners" today always creeping closer to Russia. Australia has no vital interests in Ukraine and should not get embroiled in a messy foreign quarrel. Sending Australian bushmasters into Ukraine will prove as futile as sending the British Light Brigade into Crimea against Russia in 1854. What is happening in Ukraine today is absolutely awful, but it will not be helped by sending more weapons. There are only two possible solutions total defeat of one side, or separation of the warring parties. We need to remember the lessons of the two Koreas, the two Irelands, the two Chinas, and India and the two Pakistans partition may be the only humane way of bringing peace to Ukraine. Tit-for-tat harassment of "oligarchs" on both sides helps nothing just sells newspapers. Australian politicians have made enemies of two very powerful nations, one of whom is our biggest customer. These two Eurasian giants, Russia and China, control all the vast resource-rich lands from the Black Sea to the Sea of Japan. They have entered a formal alliance, and they have potent allies. And unlike the green-power warriors "defending" Australia, they have nuclear weapons and use powerful and reliable nuclear energy. Both Russia and China are key members of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) and of the new G8, which comprises China, India, Russia, Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico, Iran, and Turkey. Australia, USA, and the U.K. have always been friends and allies, and this will continue. But sometimes friends do foolish things, and they should be warned. Getting involved in a complex and largely domestic dispute in Ukraine is one of those times. As Ted Dwyer says, "Australia now has a target on its back." While Aukus is distracted by Ukraine, China is making no secret of its aggressive intentions to invade peaceful, democratic, and united Taiwan. Their treatment of dissidents in Hong Kong shows what they plan for Taiwan. Taiwan deserves Australia's support. Ukraine is an ocean too far. And unless we dump Net Zero Nonsense, we will soon be defenseless in a hostile world. Image: Publicdomainvectors.org. Image: Publicdomainvectors.org. During the cold December days of 1900, three men disappeared off a remote island in the Outer Hebrides. They left no trace or trail, save for a chunk of unusual sights: a set yet untouched dinner, an oilskin left behind amid the stormy gale of the Atlantic and a log book recording some strange happenings. These men were the keepers of the lighthouse of Eleanor Mor, a tiny speck in the Flannan Isles near Scotland. Over a century has passed, and no one knows what could have taken away three men in a go. The lighthouse on Flannan Isles. Photo: XopherD/Flickr Where It All Began In 1895 the Flannan Isles lighthouse was erected atop a 150ft high cliffthe first to light up the torrential seas around the islands. The region was inhospitable, but four men managed to station themselves as the watch guards for the tower. These were Joseph Moore, Thomas Marshall, James Ducat, and Donald MacArthur. As the system went, three men always remained at the lighthouse, while one went on a weekly leave on a rotational basis. All was going well, and a feat was being achieved on a daily basis, until one day there was no light in the sky to mark the success of daily routine. A ship passing by noticed this anomaly on 15 December, and five days later, a boat called Hesperus made its way to the island to deliver supplies and the fourth guard to head back on dutyJoseph Moore. However, the crew was met with an eerie silence in the atmosphere, and the feeling that something was amiss. There was no guard to meet Moore at the shore, and no reaction from the lighthouse that welcomed the docking of the ship. The missing lighthouse keepers. Photo colourized by Grant Kemp. The clocks were stopped and other signs indicated that the accident must have happened about a week ago, read a telegram from the Captain at the Hesperus. Within the lighthouse, Moore had also found that the oil lamp was clean and ready for lighting, but no one had lit it for days. A table lay set for dinner that was never eaten. Two of the three oilskins were missing, which meant that one of the three guards had set out without his skin in the volatile climate of the Flannan Islands. Why? Upon a closer look the men realised that something had been brewing for days, if not weeks, on the island. They found the log book that the guards maintained, and it revealed some strange entries. According to Marshall, the island had been under stress from a violent storm unlike any other. He had also logged that during this time Ducat and McArthur were displaying some strange emotional behaviours: while Ducat had been quiet, and the usually tough McArthur had been crying. The final entry of 9am suggested that the storm had ended on 15 December. How It All Happened From the date of the last logging it was apparent that the disappearance had occurred on 15 December some time during the day. Moore soon set out to scan the surroundings. The ropes and gear on the East landing were intact, and there was no clue to their disappearance across the length or breadth of the island. On the West landing though, the perplexed crew found that the box that held ropes and moores had vanished. The iron railings along the passage connecting railway with footpath to landing and started from their foundation and broken in several places, also railing round crane, and handrail for making mooring rope fast for boat, is entirely carried away. Now there is nothing to give us an indication that it was there the poor men lost their lives, only that Mr Marshall has his seaboots on and oilskins, also Mr Ducat has his seaboots on, wrote Moore in a letter two days later. Robert Muirhead, who conducted his own investigation on the island later, reported that the lifeboat for emergencies had disappeared, but the untouched ropes suggested that the buoy had been torn apart from its tether by the choppy waves, and not undone to be used by men. He also suggested that the men themselves were blown off the cliff by violent winds. But the counter to that argument was the question as to why they would have set out into an angry tempest in the first place. Moreover, the log book suggested that the situation was calm on 15 December, the day the light stopped flickering in the sky. Some suggested that a fight broke out, likely triggered by Ducat for being the querulous one. Could it be murder? But that would inevitably have led to at least one suicide. For locals of the archipelago, it was a supernatural force, probably a sea monster, that took the men away. For their inaccessibility and unforgiving terrain, the Isles were considered otherworldly by many. Martin had recorded that the men of Lewis who visited Eilean Mor often observed peculiar customs among themselves. Despite the mystery, Moore gathered three volunteers and went back to his duties on the island. While maintaining the lighthouse he continued to search for clues about the disappearance. For him, it was hard to fathom how three seasoned seamen who had been maneuvering the cliffs for a year suddenly vanished without a trace. The lighthouse keepers were meant to be tough and experienced, for this particular beacon was among the most uninhabitable, and also the newest. The Flannans were known for their notorious weather, and among them, this lighthouse stood at one of the highest points. And yet, a hundred and twenty years later, there is still no concrete answer to the mystery. References: # Mental Floss # The Vanishing Lighthousemen of Eilean Mor # Vice # Web Archive # Pan Macmillan Chinese aid gives a lift to Pacific island countries By KARL WILSON in Sydney (China Daily) 10:24, June 27, 2022 China hands over a new hospital in the province of Enga to the government of Papua New Guinea on June 20. [Photo/pg.china-embassy.gov.cn] China has always been supportive of Pacific island countries, serving as an important development partner for their needs, experts say. China handed over a new hospital in the province of Enga to the government of Papua New Guinea on June 20 which will help improve medical services for local people. China's Belt and Road Initiative programs have brought varied tangible fruits to people on these islands. Addressing the handover ceremony in the Engan capital, Wabag, PNG Prime Minister James Marape thanked China for its support for the high-quality project, saying the PNG government is willing to deepen collaboration with China in all areas, according to a report by Xinhua. Peter Ipatas, governor of Enga Province, said it was a dream for the people of Enga and PNG to have a medical center with advanced technologies, and thanks to China's help the dream had come true. China's ambassador to PNG, Zeng Fanhua, called the project the latest outcome of bilateral collaboration in health and said such collaboration demonstrates friendship as well as mutual support and trust. Inia Batikoto Seruiratu, Fiji's minister for defense, national security and policing, said recently that China is a "key development partner" in the Pacific. Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, he said: "That is a known fact, and that is accepted as well in the region." The Pacific islands region respects what China has done in terms of cooperation. Speaking of the creation of fear about the region through disinformation and misinformation, Seruiratu said: "We all have the sovereign right to make our own decisions." Bringing prosperity China is bringing prosperity to some of the world's most disadvantaged people, be it through providing scholarships, building hospitals and schools, or other vital infrastructure, observers say. Leon Perera, chairman of Spire Research and Consulting in Singapore, said Pacific island states are benefiting from closer relations with China. "A point of reference would be how China has deepened ties with African states; Central Asian states through the Belt and Road Initiative; and other regional states such as Laos," he told China Daily. Ying Zhu, director of the Australian Centre for Asian Business at the University of South Australia, said China wants to help Pacific island countries to develop their economies. "This means building the infrastructure needed to bring goods to markets and offering loans. China also helps in social development such as education and health. This is where the Belt and Road Initiative is so important." Perera said one area of infrastructure "clearly on the minds of Pacific island leaders" involves coastal defenses against sea-level rise due to climate change. Chinese tourists have been a boon to many countries worldwide, he said, and China has provided COVID-19 support such as vaccines. Among other areas, China can help provide financial support and expertise to Pacific island governments in the field of security, as was seen in the recently announced China-Solomon Islands security pact, he said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) SYDNEY, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Commuters across Sydney and parts of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have been warned to expect delays on public transport due to a strike planned throughout the week. The industrial action, decided on by the nation's peak transport union, the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU), would see peak-hour services reduced by 50 percent from Tuesday ramping up to up to 75 percent by the end of the week. The strike came following a dispute over a new fleet of trains to be rolled out across Sydney's train network, which the RTBU has raised concerns about their safety. "The sticking point for us is and always will be the safety of the rail network ... And unfortunately, what they've done is they've offered us a bribe to run the new intercity fleet the way it is without modifications," said RTBU State Secretary Alex Claassens on Friday after the union was unable to come to an agreement with the government. NSW Transport Minister David Elliott told local radio 2GB on Monday morning that he was disappointed with the union's decision. "These are negotiations, and I am more disappointed they are taking actions whilst an offer is before them." In February, Sydney's entire rail network was shut down due to a dispute between the union and the NSW government. ISLAMABAD, June 27 (Xinhua) -- At least two political workers were killed and around 20 others injured on Sunday during local bodies elections in Pakistan's southern Sindh province, local media reported. According to the reports, violent clashes broke out between political workers of rival political parties in different polling stations of Panu Aqil and Rohri cities in Sukkur district of the province, resulting in the injuries of over 15 political workers. In Union Council-10 Jonas polling station, four workers were injured in a clash, local media said, adding that one of them later succumbed to his injuries. The workers had made the polling staff and the police personnel hostage inside the polling station, said the local media. Later, a police force reached the site and saved the hostages, it added. Meanwhile, another political worker was killed in a clash between two rival political parties at a polling station in Tando Adam city in Sanghar district of the province, according to the local media. The polling was stopped at the polling station, said the local media. The CZUR Book & Document Scanner can help you digitize your documents and turn them into searchable PDFs, editable in the powerful software. With CZUR, you can do a lot of work in a short amount of time. It provides a sleek, user-friendly interface, allows you to quickly digitize all your documents, and to store them on your computer. It is a great way to organize files, make them easily accessible, and share with others. The CZUR Book & Document Scanner is an easy-to-use scanner for all your books, documents and photos. Easy to use and can digitize up to 17 x 12 inch format, which can cover most document. It is also compatible with both PCs and Macs. It can scan documents full of important information, or digitize old photos that are no longer readable. This innovative portable document scanner allows you to scan and store documents in a digital format. It can be used to digitize, organize, share, and backup your documents. 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Conclusion CZUR Book & Document Scanner is a great tool for students, teachers, or any other person who may need to digitize documents. It can be used to scan a wide variety of documents and books with ease. Just get one and explore its functions! Google Analytics is reportedly facing a ban in some EU countries over violating the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) rules. The European Union and Google have been at the heart of many conflicts in recent years. The EU wants to regulate Googles activities in the continent and crack down on its monopoly. In one of the recent cases, Italy is telling its webmasters to ditch Google Analytics and switch to other services. Google Analytics allows webmasters to track and analyze their websites traffic, and its the worlds most popular service for this purpose. Italy says the way Google Analytics processes the data violates GDPR. Advertisement The government claims Analytics collects and transmits users data, including IP addresses, to hometown United States. Since the data of European users is transmitted to the US, this data can be seen by the government or other third parties involved. This could be an example of violating GDPR. Italys competition authority announced a 90-day time frame for domestic web services provider Caffeina Media to ditch its relationship with Google Analytics. EU raises concerns about Google Analytics data processing methods Of course, Italy is not the first European country to blame Google and ask its webmaster to switch from it. Previously, Austria and France raised similar concerns about Analytics. Advertisement Dates back to February, Frances national commission on the freedom of liberation (CNIL) warned about the Google Analytics data practices, saying using the tool could breach the EU laws. Austrias Data Protection Authority also announced a similar decision in January. Googles efforts to challenge and revise these rulings have also been unsuccessful. Google could not show EU officials that European user data was anonymized before it was transferred to servers in the United States. Also, Google itself holds the encryption keys. To gain the publics trust, Google decided to shut down its Universal Analytics platform. Also, the company tried to develop new web trackers. In Google Analytics 4, Google even tried to limit tracking activities. But its methods still heavily rely on collecting data from users, and its unlikely to gain EU officials trust. Advertisement Even in the United States, many concerns exist about Googles data practices. The US senators recently asked the FTC to investigate Google and Apples activities in collecting users data. Android launcher apps have been around for a long time. Launcher apps offer a great way for you to customize your Android experience, without the need to root or anything of the sort. They can offer you a ton of new features, both for your home screen, and app drawer. For example, some launchers offer you a chance to change the grid size, icon size, include custom icons, swipe across icons for secondary functions, and so on. Each launcher app has something different to offer, and there are plenty to choose from. To be quite honest, there are tons of great launcher apps available in the Play Store. I personally have tried out tons over the years, and its really hard to choose between them. We had to trim that list down to only 11, though, for the purpose of this article. Now, even though these are our favorites, there are many other launcher apps worth your attention. So if you do prefer something else, thats perfectly fine. Choices are good, and there are a lot available on Android. Do note that launchers that are listed down below, are not listed in any specific order. Each of them shines at something, but theyre aimed at different types of users. So, if youre interested, read on. Advertisement Top 10 best launcher Android apps 2022 Below is a quick overview of the top 10 best launcher Android apps for 2022, including any download and in-app purchase costs. Download Cost In-app cost (per item) Nova Launcher Smart Launcher 5 $0.99-$16.99 Microsoft Launcher Lawnchair 2 POCO Launcher 2.0 Action Launcher $4.99-$12 Total Launcher $1.99-$4.99 ADW Launcher 2 $3.49 Apex Launcher $1.99-$28.99 Niagara Launcher $0.99-$14.99 Top 10 best launcher Android apps 2022 downloads Below is a little more information on each app, and a direct link for easy downloading. All download links go to the apps Google Play Store listing. Users are always recommended to download apps from Google Play or an authorized app store. Advertisement Nova Launcher Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Nova Launcher is probably both the most obvious, and best choice for the vast majority of people. This is one of the most stable launchers for Android, and it has been around for ages. The developer keeps the app updated, and it has always been smooth. Nova Launcher not only runs great, but it offers tons of customization features. It is one of the most customizable launchers available. This app comes in both free and paid versions. You wont be forced to get the Prime variant, though. The vast majority of features are available in the free version, but the Prime license can offer you some extra gestures, and so on. If youre planning to run Nova Launcher on your phone all the time, its more than worth it. Advertisement As already mentioned, this app is filled with customization options. You can change icons size, grid size, utilize various gestures, create swipe-able icons, utilize both light and dark modes, and so much more. You can even hide apps you dont use, and create tabs and folders in your app drawer, if you want. Disabling animations is also a possibility in Nova Launcher, and you can even back up and restore your setups. Download Nova Launcher Smart Launcher 6 Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $0.99-$16.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 3.9 out of 5 stars Smart Launcher 6 is a bit different than most other launchers out there. It is trying to be more efficient than most. It automatically sorts your apps into categories, and integrates various other options to help you use your phone. This launcher is definitely not for everyone, but its one of the best launchers for Android. You dont have to use all those smart features, if you dont want to, as this launcher is great on its own, and packed with features. Advertisement This launcher comes with the ambient theme feature. In other words, it can change its theme colors based on the wallpaper youre using. Adaptive icons feature is also a part of the package, while this launcher is designed to be used with one hand. You can also hide the navigation bar in this launcher if you want, to maximize screen real-estate. Smart Launcher 6 also comes with smart search. That feature allows you to quickly find contacts and application, and also perform various actions as well. This app has a built-in clock widget with weather, and various gestures and hotkeys are also available. There are tons of themes that you can utilize here, and so on. Download Smart Launcher 6 Advertisement Microsoft Launcher Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Microsoft Launcher is Microsofts very own offering for Android. This is a very compelling launcher, and it has come a long way in the last year or so. It is definitely the best pick for PC users, as it allows you to continue viewing photos or documents on your PC without a problem. This launcher is also highly customizable. You can customize your feed in this launcher to see the latest news, calendar events, documents, or contacts at a glance. In Microsoft Launcher, you can choose between light, dark, and transparent themes. You can even set it up so that it changes your wallpaper daily, as it can pull those from Bing, or you can use your very own photos. Advertisement This launcher also comes with a universal search bar. You can use it to search the web, your files, applications, documents, and messages. Various gestures are available in this launcher as well. You can use double tap, swipe, and much more. This launcher is completely free to use, and it does not come with ads. Download Microsoft Launcher Lawnchair 2 Advertisement Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars Lawnchair Launcher became instantly popular due to its extreme customizability, and great performance. The Lawnchair 2 is its successor, and its even better than the original. This app is basically the main competitor to Nova Launcher, and the best Pixel Launcher alternative in our opinion. Its basically a Pixel Launcher with tons more options. Its difficult to explain how many options are available here. Nova Launcher still has the edge in terms of the sheer number of customization options, but Lawnchair 2 is close. This app offers an automatic dark mode features, while it also pulls contextual data in At a Glance. Notification Dots are available in this launcher, while it comes with integration with Android Recents. You can customize grid sizes, icons sizes, and even change app icons if you want. There are a ton of options for the app drawer as well, as you can create folders, and so much more. Hiding apps is also not a problem in this app. Download Lawnchair 2 POCO Launcher 2.0 Price: Free to download In-app purchases: No Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.6 out of 5 stars POCO Launcher 2.0 is a launcher that youd find on POCO-branded devices. Those are phones that come with Xiaomis MIUI installed on top of Android, and this POCO launcher is applied to that. It comes with an app drawer, if thats what you want to use, while it has some other interesting features as well. This launcher will probably be most appealing to Xiaomi users, though everyone can install and use it. This app is extremely lightweight, and it offers a decent number of personalization options. You can change the home screen layout, and app icons. Themes are available, while you have some control over animations as well. A general search option is available in this launcher. You can search for app suggestions, icon color categories, and various other things. You can even group apps by category, or let the launcher do that automatically for you. Keep some apps private as well, if you want, as you can hide their icons from the app drawer. The dark mode is available in this launcher as well, and much more. Download POCO Launcher 2.0 Action Launcher Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $4.99-$12 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 3.8 out of 5 stars Action Launcher has been around for a long time at this point, and it came in several iterations. The latest is called Action Launcher: Pixel Edition, and it really is great. This launcher comes with a ton of features, some of which are even exclusive to it. Some of the features this launcher offers were picked by others, but they started here. First and foremost, youre getting all Pixel Launcher features here. In addition to that, you get a fully customizable dock search box, and At a Glance widget is also included. This launcher has support for adaptive icons, and app shortcuts are available as well. On top of all that, a weather widget is baked into the app as well. Action Launcher comes with a Google Discover integration, and it has full notifications dots support as well. The Quicktheme option is really interesting, so are Shutters that allow you to attach a widget to an app icon, and launch it by swiping up. Covers are also a part of the offering, its basically a new take on folders. You can create a folder and then set a tap action to open the first app in that folder, while the folder itself will open once you swipe up. Its really a nice feature to have. There are mare more features included in this launcher. Download Action Launcher Total Launcher Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $1.99-$4.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.4 out of 5 stars Total Launcher offers a ton of customization. it not only allows you to completely change your homescreen, but it can do the same for your lockscreen as well. This launcher is based on themes. There are tons of themes available for you to use, and most of them are quite unique, and different to everything youre used to. You can use this app to create a home screen setup that looks nothing like a regular Android setup would. This launcher basically allows you to imagine something completely different, and make it. If you dont feel like doing that, there are tons of already finished and available themes to choose from. Checking out the image provided above will get you a good idea of what Im talking about. If you feel like many of the currently-available launchers look the same, and you really dont want to use them because of it, try Total Launcher. This app is completely free, and it may appeal to you. Download Total Launcher ADW Launcher 2 Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $3.49 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars ADW Launcher was one of the most popular launchers in the early days of Android. It was one of the first launchers that arrived, and one of the first extremely-popular ones that were available. The first iteration of this launcher offered tons of customization options, the most at the time. Well, ADW Launcher 2 arrived some time ago, and its a complete redesign of the original app. This application does offer tons of customization options as well, though, while it has been modernized as well. The developer says that there are endless features available in this launcher, and while that may not be possible, it sure does feel like it. This launcher is probably the best for fine-tuning your experience, as there are so many small tweaks that you can do in it, its crazy. This launcher is on par with Nova Launcher, and some other launchers when it comes to customization, while it also adds those small tweaks that are not available elsewhere. From fine-tuning your grid size, home screen, to animations, and various other aspects. Download ADW Launcher 2 Apex Launcher Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $1.99-$28.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars The Apex Launcher has also been around for a long time. It stood right beside Nova Launcher and ADW Launcher in the early days of Android. This app has lost its way in the past, but then got revived in a way, and its now great once again. This launcher wont stray away from the Android experience youre used to, while it will offer you a ton of features. It comes with the advanced theme engine, as the developer refers to it. You can teme icon packs, skins, and so much more. You can edit your grid size, change icons, enlarge icons, and so on. Gestures are available in this app as well, from double-tap, to swipe up and down gestures. You can tweak animations in Apex Launcher, while its also possible to lock some apps via this launcher, if you want. You can even hide particular elements of your UI if you want, like the status bar, dock, and so on. If you get the Pro version, youll get even more customization options, more gestures, animations, enhanced folder support, and so on. Download Apex Launcher Niagara Launcher Price: Free to download In-app purchases: $0.99-$14.99 Size: Varies with device Google Play rating: 4.7 out of 5 stars Niagara Launcher is kind of unique. This app has been in development for a long time, but it entered the stable phase not long ago. The app has been great for quite some time now, and it offers a unique way of using a launcher. When you fire up the app, youll notice a list of your apps in a vertical format. You can select your favorite apps in the settings, and theyll appear above all others, which is a good idea for the apps you use often. The thing is, you can quickly find whatever app you want by sliding your finger at the left or right edge of the display. Once you find it, simply drag your finger over to it and launch it. You can also add a really useful weather widget on the screen, above the list of your apps, and the same goes for music controls. In fact, you can even allow the app to show you your notifications next to an app a specific notification is for, on the list itself, which can also be useful. This app has several other tricks up its sleeve. For example, you can enable a double-tap to sleep option. If you double tap the list of letters on the right side of the display, the phones display will turn off. There are more features available, and some of this apps features are hidden behind a paywall, some are not. The whole premise of the app is to allow you to find the app you need as fast as possible, and it does that job with perfection. It also runs beautifully, even on lower-end phones. Download Niagara Launcher (ANSA) - BRUSSELS, JUN 27 - Many European States temporarily closed their borders to combat the COVID-19 pandemic and imposed restrictive measures on passenger traffic, only allowing commuters through. As a result, the residents of frontier areas found themselves suddenly unable to access a series of retail, educational, health and cultural facilities on the other side of the border. The was a shock for suppliers of services, who saw demand for their products and services plummet. Not all of Europe's border areas, however, were hit in the same way by the frontier closures and the restrictive measures. According to a study by the ESPON research programme specialising in regional-policy analysis, the border regions of the Benelux countries, of Germany, those on the east of Austria and those along the Spanish- Portuguese border experienced the biggest impacts. The intensity of the effects in central-eastern Europe and among the Baltic States was different, although sporadically so. There was almost no impact, on the other hand, between the Nordic countries, and along the borders in the Alps and the Pyrenees. According to the researchers, the impact of the restrictive measures depended on various factors, such as the number of border crossings, the quality of the road network and the distribution (and sometimes asymmetry) of the service facilities in the border areas. Furthermore, the whole of these factors generated different perceptions of the border closures among the peoples on either side of the frontier. There are border areas in Europe that depend to a large degree on the structures on the other side, the researchers observed, recommending political decision-makers to see crossings and services as strategic elements, especially for these frontier zones. On this front, trans-frontier measures could contribute in a significant way to guaranteeing these services, for example, under the form of cross-border public services, in order to make them accessible to users on the other side in all circumstances. The researchers concluded that greater permeability between borders in relation to services of general interest would benefit the interested countries. On one hand, it would increase (potential) demand and, in the cases of public structures such as schools. nurseries and hospitals, it could also generate economies of scale and contribute to ensuring long-term provision. On the other hand, it would improve the accessibility of the services and, therefore, supply. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUN 27 - Lombardy Governor Attilio Fontana said Monday that Italy's severe, ongoing drought, which is hitting the north especially hard and causing huge problems for agriculture, is the worst his region has ever experienced. "A water crisis like this has never occurred in the history of Lombardy," said Fontana after Lombardy declared a drought state of emergency on Friday. The Lombardy decree, in force until September 30, urges all citizens to "use water in an extremely parsimonious, sustainable and effective way, limiting its consumption to the minimum indispensable". Related to the move, Milan said at the weekend that it was turning off its fountains, although not its drinking-water fountains. Civil Protection Department Head Fabrizio Curcio told Sky Tg24 on Monday that the volume of water in the Po, Italy's longest river, was up to 80% lower than usual. He put this down to recent rainfall levels being 40-50% lower than the average for recent years and winter snowfall being 70% down. He said the central government was working on the criteria and the related measures for the state of emergency set to apply in Lombardy and other regions where it will be declared due to the drought. Curcio added that it was not possible to rule out water rationing during the day. The drought alert has spread from the Po valley 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 recently. The Po drought threatens over 30% of the national farm output. Farmers association Coldiretti said last week that the damage is currently estimated at over three 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. In some, water is being closed off completely at night. More frequent and intense droughts are among the consequences of human-caused climate change, scientists say. (ANSA). (ANSA) - ROME, JUN 27 - Premier Mario Draghi said during the G7 session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Monday that "we are united with Ukraine, because if Ukraine loses (the war with Russia), all the democracies lose. "If Ukraine loses, it will more difficult to maintain that democracy is an effective model of government." Draghi thanked Zelensky for his "exceptional welcome" to Kyiv when the Italian premier visited the Ukrainian capital with his French and German counterparts recently. "Putin must not win. We remain united in support of Ukraine," Draghi stressed. The Italian premier also reiterated the importance of continuing to work on a gas price cap after securing a promise of a report to be examined in October at last week's EU summit. "We must continue to work on how to impose a cap on the price of gas", said the Italian premier. The two-day G7 summit took place Sunday and Monday at Elmau Castle in Germany. Zelensky asked the G7 leaders to give Kyiv more arms to help it end the war against Russia by the end of this year. (ANSA). Lithuania says hit by cyberattack, Russia probably to blame Last week Vilnius imposed restrictions on the rail transit (ANSA-AFP) - VILNIUS, JUN 27 - Lithuania was hit Monday by an "intense" cyberattack, which Russia was "probably" behind, said Jonas Skardinskas, the head of the National Cybersecurity Center. The attack comes as Russia ratchets up threats against the Baltic nation after last week Vilnius imposed restrictions on the rail transit of certain goods to Kaliningrad that were affected by European Union sanctions against Moscow. (ANSA-AFP). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Ukraine: from EU protection equipment for CBRN threats In response to a request made by Ukraine (ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 27 - The European Commission has activated its new rescEU emergency reserves in response to a request from the Government of Ukraine for medical supplies, protective gear, and specialised equipment for public health concerns like chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) threats. Among the supplies provided by the EU are 300,000 protective suits, 5,600 litres of decontaminants, and 850 pieces of equipment for decontamination operations. The EU is also giving patient monitors, infusion pumps, and ventilators, along with safety gear for the medical staff, like masks and gowns, because hospitals in Ukraine urgently require medical equipment. This aid will be given to Ukraine from the EU's emergency stockpiles located in Romania, Hungary, Sweden, Germany, Greece, and Denmark and have a total financial value of 11.3 million. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved BUDAPEST, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Air China will resume direct flights between Beijing and Budapest on July 7, the company's Budapest office said here on Monday. In early 2020, China Eastern Airlines, Hainan Airlines, Air China and other airlines flying the China-Hungary route all suspended their passenger services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Hungary's Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called the decision "a real milestone." "The announcement is also of great importance for Hungary's economy as tourism and trade will both receive a huge boost from the fact that Budapest will once again be directly accessible from the Chinese capital," Szijjarto said. Air China launched its first direct flight between the two capitals on May 1, 2015. G7 vows solidarity with Ukraine 'as long as it takes' FInancial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support (ANSA-AFP) - ELMAU, JUN 27 - The Group of Seven rich nations vowed enduring support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, in a statement from its summit in Germany on Monday. "We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," the G7 said. G7 leaders on Monday expressed "serious concern" over Russia's plans to deliver missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus in the coming months. "We urge Russia to behave responsibly and exercise restraint," the leaders of the world's top industrialised nations said in a statement. "In this regard we express serious concern after the announcement by Russia that it could transfer missiles with nuclear capabilities to Belarus." The Group of Seven rich nations told Russia on Monday it must allow grain shipments to leave Ukraine to avoid exacerbating a global food crisis. "We urgently call on Russia to cease, without condition, its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and enable free passage of agricultural shipping from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea," G7 leaders said in a joint statement at a summit in Germany. Italian Premier Mario Draghi said during the G7 session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Monday that "we are united with Ukraine, because if Ukraine loses, all the democracies lose. "If Ukraine loses, it will more difficult to maintain that democracy is an effective model of government. (ANSA-AFP). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved Slovenia: high rating for new Golob's government Almost a third of respondents oppose it (ANSA) - BELGRADE, JUN 27 - The new Slovenian government led by Robert Golob has the approval of 53.1% of Slovenians, about eight points more than the rating of the previous Jansa's government when it took office, the Slovenian news agency STA reported, quoting a POP TV poll. Almost a third of respondents oppose the current government. (ANSA). Copyright ANSA - All rights reserved BRUSSELS - "The violence and the victims" registered so far at the border of Melilla "are the object of serious concern" for the EU, European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali said on Monday. "The security of migrants and abstaining from the excessive use of force and the respect of human rights remain a priority". The spokesperson added that "we are in contact with Moroccan authorities to understand clearly the circumstances of the situation", she added. Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez has expresses grief for last Friday's assault last Friday in which at least 23 migrants died, according to an official toll released by Morocco, as some media outlets have reported as many as 37 victims. "We are pained by the loss of human lives, in this case of desperate (people) looking for a better life", said Sanchez in an interview to the newspaper La Vanguardia. "They are victims and tools of mafias and criminals who organize violent actions against our border", added the prime minister, stressing again a concept already expressed last Saturday during a press conference. MARSEILLE - Migrant-rescue vessel Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranee, rescued at sea on Sunday night a total of 75 migrants, the passengers of an "overcrowded rubber dinghy in difficulty" off Libya's coast, bringing to 90 the number of survivors on board, the NGO said in a statement. Among those rescued were 34 unaccompanied minors, four pregnant women, eight children and a nine-month-old boy, said the Marseille-based NGO, adding that "nobody was wearing a life vest". The Ocean Viking had already rescued 15 people "who were on a boat in fiberglass in danger in international waters off Libya" and that in that case as well nobody was wearing a life jacket, the organization said. In collaboration with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in May during its latest mission in the central Mediterranean, the Ocean Viking rescued some 300 people, including a three-month-old child and six pregnant women, who had to wait for 10 days before being taken to a safe port, in Sicily. MADRID - Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez has expresses grief for the victims of an assault last Friday at the enclave of Melilla in which at least 23 migrants died, according to an official toll released by Morocco. However, some media outlets have reported as many as 37 victims. "We are pained by the loss of human lives, in this case of desperate (people) looking for a better life", said Sanchez in an interview to the newspaper La Vanguardia. "They are victims and tools of mafias and criminals who organize violent actions against our border", added the prime minister, stressing again a concept already expressed last Saturday during a press conference. 'I made a mistake, I'm not a killer', Abdeslam at Bataclan trial Maxi-trial ends; verdict expected on Wednesday (ANSAmed) - PARIS, 27 GIU - The trial for the November 13, 2015 terror attacks at the Stade de France, the Bataclan and other venues in downtown Paris ended on Monday. On Monday morning, the 14 defendants had the last occasion to talk in front of the special court before it issues a verdict which is expected on Wednesday night. In his last statement, the main defendant, Salah Abdelslam, the only living member of the commando that killed 130 people that night, said: "It's true, I committed mistakes, but I am not a murderer, I am not a killer, if you convict me for murder, you will commit an injustice". During the maxi-trial that started last September in the bunker hall of the Ile-de-la-Cite, in the heart of Paris, Abdeslam appeared ambivalent, oscillating between the arrogance of the first hearing, when he declared himself a "fighter of the Islamic State" (ISIS) and when, near the end, he presented his "condolences and apologies to all victims". In front of judges, he defended himself claiming he had not activated his explosive belt in a bar at the foot of Montmartre for "humanity". Anti-terrorism prosecutors (Pnat) were unconvinced and requested a life sentence for him, without the possibility of appeal, the heaviest sentence under French jurisdiction. The last 13 defendants in Paris got up one by one to express in some cases "repentance", "apologies" and "condolences" to the victims. "I have confidence in justice", "I expect a lot from your verdict", said several of them during the last day of trial before the ruling expected on Wednesday. (ANSAmed) In Israel Knesset eases abortion rules Medication also in public facilities, committee abolished (ANSAmed) - TEL AVIV, 27 GIU - Israel has eased legislation regulating abortion in the country. A commission of the Knesset - the health ministry announced - has approved a series of measures removing some decades-old procedures so far required for an abortion within the 12th week of pregnancy. The first among them concerns the fact that abortion medication will now be available in public health facilities and not only in hospitals. The second reform states that a woman who wants to have an abortion will not be required to present her request to a commission. "When I saw the procedures required by the committee - said Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz - it looked like something from another era. These dated rules were written under a chauvinist vision according to which a woman's opinion is not valid. Women are the only ones - continued the minister in the wake of a debate in Israel following the recent ruling of the US Supreme Court on abortion - who must decide whether to terminate a pregnancy. It is time to return to the 21st century". In Israel, in 2021 - according to data quoted by local media - a total of 6,734 abortions were performed, including 55% within the first nine weeks of pregnancy. (ANSAmed). Migrants: 90 rescued in the Mediterranean by Ocean Viking Off Libya; nobody had life jacket (ANSAmed) - MARSEILLE, 27 GIU - Migrant-rescue vessel Ocean Viking, operated by SOS Mediterranee, rescued at sea on Sunday night a total of 75 migrants, the passengers of an "overcrowded rubber dinghy in difficulty" off Libya's coast, bringing to 90 the number of survivors on board, the NGO said in a statement. Among those rescued were 34 unaccompanied minors, four pregnant women, eight children and a nine-month-old boy, said the Marseille-based NGO, adding that "nobody was wearing a life vest". The Ocean Viking had already rescued 15 people "who were on a boat in fiberglass in danger in international waters off Libya" and that in that case as well nobody was wearing a life jacket, the organization said. In collaboration with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, in May during its latest mission in the central Mediterranean, the Ocean Viking rescued some 300 people, including a three-month-old child and six pregnant women, who had to wait for 10 days before being taken to a safe port, in Sicily. (ANSAmed). Migrants: Sanchez expresses grief for Melilla deaths 'They are mafia victims', says Spanish PM (ANSAmed) - MADRID, 27 GIU - Spanish Premier Pedro Sanchez has expresses grief for the victims of an assault last Friday at the enclave of Melilla in which at least 23 migrants died, according to an official toll released by Morocco. However, some media outlets have reported as many as 37 victims. "We are pained by the loss of human lives, in this case of desperate (people) looking for a better life", said Sanchez in an interview to the newspaper La Vanguardia. "They are victims and tools of mafias and criminals who organize violent actions against our border", added the prime minister, stressing again a concept already expressed last Saturday during a press conference. (ANSAmed). 'Serious concern' for Mellila incidents, EU 'Priority to migrants' rights, contacts with Morocco, Spain' (ANSAmed) - BRUSSELS, 27 GIU - "The violence and the victims" registered so far at the border of Melilla "are the object of serious concern" for the EU, European Commission spokesperson Nabila Massrali said on Monday. "The security of migrants and abstaining from the excessive use of force and the respect of human rights remain a priority". The spokesperson added that "we are in contact with Moroccan authorities to understand clearly the circumstances of the situation", she added. (ANSAmed). Delegates attend the launch ceremony of a block train service for facilitating transportation of products from Chinese home appliances manufacturer Hisense, in Trieste, Italy, on June 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu) TRIESTE, Italy, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A block train service for facilitating transportation of products from Chinese home appliances manufacturer Hisense was launched here on Monday. Operated by China's COSCO SHIPPING, the first train on the new line set off from the port of Trieste, northeast Italy. The train, loaded with 32 containers, is scheduled to arrive on Tuesday in Velenje, Slovenia, the seat of the European headquarters of Hisense. The freight train service is part of the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line, which combines sea and land transportation, and stretches from the Greek port city of Piraeus to the hinterland of Europe. At the launch ceremony of the Hisense train in Trieste, Executive Vice President of COSCO SHIPPING Lin Ji said that in the future, "the electrical products produced by Hisense in Velenje will also be transported to Trieste by the block train, loaded on container vessels of COSCO SHIPPING," and shipped to other destinations in Europe and beyond. Noting that Trieste Maritime Terminal "represents the gateway to Central and Eastern Europe," Stefano Selvatici, managing director of the terminal, said he is "confident that this new rail connection will represent a crucial milestone able to innovate a traditional logistic system into a more performing and suitable one." Massimiliano Fedriga, president of the Friuli-Venezia Giulia autonomous region where Trieste is situated, thanked COSCO SHIPPING and Hisense for recognizing the potential of the port of Trieste, adding that he hopes opportunities for commercial collaborations will continue to grow. Trieste is the fourth channel to be opened on the China-Europe Land-Sea Express Line in Europe, after the main channel of Piraeus Port, the channel of Rijeka in Croatia, and the Valencia-Madrid-Bilbao channel in Spain, according to COSCO SHIPPING. Delegates attend the launch ceremony of a block train service for facilitating transportation of products from Chinese home appliances manufacturer Hisense, in Trieste, Italy, on June 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Liu Yongqiu) Lebanon: premier Miqati starts consultations for new cabinet Political talks ongoing, possible 'limited reshuffle' (ANSAmed) - BEIRUT, 27 GIU - Parliamentary consultations start on Monday in Beirut for designated Premier Najib Miqati for the formation of his new government as Lebanon has been grappling for the past three years with the worst financial crisis of its history. As reported by the Lebanese press, consultations will continue on Tuesday. The new Lebanese government will have to formally remain in office until next October, when presidential elections are scheduled in the country. Miqati, the current prime minister of a caretaker government, was appointed by President Michel Aoun to form a new executive after legislative elections in May. Miqati is a multimillionaire from the north of the country, who is close to Syria's central government and who has been accused by many of illicit financial actions. If he succeeds in forming a new government, it will be his fourth as premier. (ANSAmed). Four out of five people believe the UK has a skills gap, new research suggests. The Big Issue Group said its survey of 1,700 adults showed strong support for its plans to launch a new recruitment service supporting marginalised people to find work. Big Issue Recruit, which will launch in the autumn, will promote skills and training. Jack Parsons, chief executive of The Youth Group (Louise Haywood-Schiefer/The Big Issue Group/PA) Three out of four respondents to the survey said the best way to support marginalised people back into jobs is through providing training programmes to develop specific skills. Almost a third of people aged between 18 and 24 who were surveyed said they believe there are fewer opportunities for young adults to access jobs compared with 30 years ago. Jack Parsons, chief executive of The Youth Group, which is supporting the initiative, said: We have to do more to help young people through such tough times and support them to feel like they can win at work, in their communities and in society. The Big Issue founder Lord John Bird said: This is an important and exciting next step for Big Issue Group. When I set up the magazine, my aim was to slit the throat of poverty, but this can only be done if we are focusing on innovation, investment and prevention, rather than always having to deal in emergencies. This new strategy and focus will not only help us support even more people, but it will also enable us to change lives. Big Issue Group chief executive Paul Cheal said: Our new Big Issue Group five-year strategy brings all our work together from vendor support to parliamentary campaigns, to social investment and our campaigning journalism. This is an exciting next step for Big Issue Group, which will enable us to support even more people than ever before. Boris Johnson praised the Dunkirk spirit being shown to get grain out of Ukraine by any means available in order to alleviate the global food supply crisis. With Russias Black Sea fleet blocking Ukraines ports, grain is at risk of rotting in silos unless it can get to markets around the world. The UK has promised funding to repair Ukraines damaged railways to move grain overland, but Mr Johnson was struck by the ingenuity already being shown in the country. One of the things the PM has been struck by is people are talking about all kinds of smaller ways in which things are happening at the moment, a government source said. Whether its boats on canals, lorries, railways, he saw a bit of the Dunkirk spirit. You can achieve a lot through small micro movements. Its not a substitute for the mass transit of grain as it used to be shipped, but its not as if all the grains are sitting there about to rot and none of it is getting out. What is getting out is increasing week by week and so there are micro solutions as well as an exploration of a big solution. That is important as theyve all been discussing the world needs it and the more of it that is there, the lower prices go. But also because the Ukraine needs the money that it gets for selling that grain, so theres a double hit for the world and Ukraine in not solving it, which is why its a big priority. The UK pledged 10 million to repair damaged Ukrainian rail infrastructure to create an overland route to get grain out of the country. The Government will also put 1.5 million to develop a testing process to identify whether grain sold by Russia on the world market has been illegally taken from Ukraine. Mr Johnson ultimately wants an international solution to get grain out of Ukraine by sea, something which is currently prevented by Russias blockade and mines deployed by both sides in the conflict. The Prime Minister has played down the prospect of the Royal Navy being sent in to help merchant vessels beat the Russian blockade. But he has said British expertise in remote de-mining and insurance of commercial shipping in contested waters could help vessels get the grain out by sea. A British eyewear designer favoured by celebrities including Robert Downey Jr has revealed plans to launch a chain of pop-up shops after seeing sales boom amid the trend to look good on Zoom calls in the pandemic. Kirk & Kirk founded by husband and wife duo Jason and Karen Kirk 30 years ago said it is aiming to make its first foray into retail this autumn. The move will see it enter the UK retail market directly, building on its current tie-up with 100 independent optical retailers in Britain and more than a further 300 around the world. Karen and Jason Kirk founded their eyewear firm 30 years ago (Kirk & Kirk/PA) Mr Kirk told the PA news agency: Were opening our first pop-up store, our first foray into retail, in September, in Shoreditch. Our plan is to be nimble and grow pop-up stores. We then expect to open half a dozen stores next spring in different locations across the UK and then from that will identify opportunities abroad. The group is looking to hire more staff to oversee the pop-up shops in the UK, while it is also set to expand its team of independent representatives worldwide to 25. The expansion has been largely credited to the pandemic, which saw Kirk & Kirks sales grow 42% in the first year of the Covid crisis, while this years growth is expected to be 30%. Mr Kirk added: The pandemic from a business perspective has been amazing for us. Most people have been having conversations over Zoom and FaceTime and so glasses become almost the only way of expressing yourself through clothing. More people turned to bigger glasses, more expressive glasses and more colourful glasses to invest in themselves, he added. The company is the only brand in the world to create handmade frames from acrylic, which have been designed in partnership with a factory, in the north-west of France, which they have worked with for the past 10 years from start to finish during the production process. Acrylic is roughly a third of the weight of acetate (what most glass frames are made of) and allows us to have big shapes and quite chunky glasses at a fraction of the weight, said Mrs Kirk. Kirk & Kirk are the only brand in the world to create handmade frames from acrylic (Kirk & Kirk/PA) Mr Kirk said seeing stars like Iron Man actor Downey Jr wearing the firms glasses made a massive difference over the pandemic. He said: The impact of somebody with that sincerity, in the way that they dress with that genuine personality coming through, thats our audience that talk to our audience so that drives our sales up immediately. The business continues to reap the benefits from the switch online in the pandemic, with its virtual try-on feature which allows customers to play around with frames used by 6,000 people last week alone. (Reuters) - Airlines canceled nearly 700 flights in the United States early Monday, as they struggled to keep up with a surge in summer travel demand due to a shortage of staff ranging from pilots to crew members. Total flight cancellations within, into, or out of the United States as of 6.07 am ET were 669, as per flight-tracking website Flightaware.com. Nearly 860 flights were canceled on Sunday. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines Holdings Inc and Republic Airlines Inc had over 100 cancellations each, while American Airlines Group Inc canceled 51 flights as of early Monday. The companies did not immediately respond to a request for comment. In Europe, recent airport snarls have been blamed on a shortage of employees, as many workers, who were laid off during the pandemic, desert airport work for flexible working practices and other occupations. Even the U.S. regulator Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces staff shortages. The FAA last week granted United approval to temporarily cut Newark flights after the Chicago-based carrier petitioned for a waiver, citing airport construction and air traffic control staffing. Airlines for America, a trade group, said on Friday the FAA must ensure adequate air traffic control staffing to avoid further summer travel disruptions. (Reporting by Nathan Gomes in Bengaluru) The Belfast Agreement has survived almost 25 years despite objections to some parts of it, Northern Irelands former First Minister has said. The peace agreement brokered in 1998 saw the establishment of the powersharing Assembly at Stormont which remains in place today despite being unable to fully function in a stalemate over the Brexit Protocol. Lord Trimbles role in the negotiation of the 1998 deal led to him being awarded, along with then SDLP leader John Hume, the Nobel Peace Prize. A special evening at @QUBRiddelHall to recognise the huge contribution Lord David Trimble has made to our society, including the unveiling of a striking portrait by renowned artist @colin_davidson pic.twitter.com/3Whd5BLmQu Queens University Belfast Public Engagement (@QUBEngagement) June 27, 2022 He reflected on the agreement at the Queens University on Monday evening as he attended the unveiling of a new portrait of him. The event included video messages from ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President Bill Clinton. The artwork by Colin Davidson will hang in the universitys Great Hall alongside other notable alumni such as Seamus Heaney, Mary McAleese and former Chancellor Senator George Mitchell. Lord Trimble graduated from Queens in 1968 and pursued an academic career in the law faculty before becoming Ulster Unionist leader and playing a leading role in negotiating the agreement. He told the PA news agency: The Good Friday Agreement is something which everybody in Northern Ireland has been able to agree with, it doesnt mean they agree with everything, there are aspects which some people thought were a mistake, but the basic thing is that this was agreed. That is there. People are actually not throwing the agreement to pieces, their complaints are still based on the existence of the agreement. They are not saying throw it out, so thats the thing to bear in mind. The Assembly is currently unable to fully function, with the DUP refusing to nominate ministers until the UK government takes action over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Unionists oppose the protocol, which sees Northern Ireland expected to enforce EU customs laws to avoid the imposition of a land border on the island of Ireland. Lord Trimble described a simple solution. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, therefore the United Kingdom should keep Northern Ireland, he said. What we have at the moment is something where the United Kingdom is not keeping Northern Ireland. He criticised as indefensible that the people of Northern Ireland have no say in the protocol arrangements. Former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and former Prime Minister Tony Blair at an event to mark the 20th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, at Queens University in Belfast, in 2018 Former Irish premier Bertie Ahern was among guests who attended Riddel Hall for the portrait unveiling. He paid tribute to Lord Trimble, saying he had great admiration for him, although admitting we would argue black was white at times. At the same time we worked together to implement the agreement, to try to make sure there was a better future for the people here, he said. I think he was a brave man, he never blinked. He was under tremendous pressure for many months he saw at that stage the opportunity for real peace and real institutions. Mr Ahern compared the current situation with then, saying while then there were tough negotiations, there dont seem to be any negotiations. Thats the sad bit, he said. (The current issues) are not insurmountable, the only way of sorting out problems in political life is negotiation, its face to face negotiation like we had here 25 years ago if youre waiting around for someone to love the line you were taking then you were in the wrong business. Hopefully the current population of politicians will one day wake up and say that negotiating is a better way than arguing. Mr Davidson said having grown up in Northern Ireland he watched Lord Trimble as a key player at a very critical time in our history. I was very aware that I had the responsibility as an artist in painting somebody who was very instrumental in getting us to where we are now, he said. Very instrumental in brokering peace and so whenever names like Bill Clinton, George Mitchell, Tony Blair, John Hume and Bertie Ahern are mentioned, David Trimble is right in there as well. In some ways we wouldnt have that same peace in this place without people like him. Lady Trimble voiced her admiration for the portrait, saying it had caught her husband in a moment of reflection. Queens vice-chancellor Professor Ian Greer said, given Lord Trimbles academic and political careers: It is fitting that we recognise him in this appropriate manner. A 97-year-old Jewish World War II veteran from the Bronx who escaped Nazi captivity and survived a pair of gunshot wounds will receive a Prisoner of War Medal and the Purple Heart Tuesday at U.S. Army Garrison Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn. According to war hero William Willie Kellerman, who made his great escape 78 years ago, its about damn time. I only waited 77 years, he told the Daily News on the eve of the big event. Kellermans adventure began when he was an 18-year-old soldier fighting in Europe during World War II. After being captured by German troops and marched to a POW camp, he said he made his break and continued running for hundreds of miles through occupied France. He commandeered a bicycle, which got a flat tire that he took to a repair shop which wound up being a secret French resistance headquarters. Once the people in the shop accepted that he was not a German spy, they hid him in the Freteval Forest, roughly 100 miles south of Paris, where other Allied troops were hiding. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. After I escaped, I went to a French farmhouse because it was at night, Kellerman recalled. He took my uniform and burned it and gave me French clothes and a beret. When he saw German troops in the streets, Kellerman said he greeted them by saying bonjour. It took about a month before Kellerman was reunited with the U.S. Armys 79th Infantry Division. Rather than being sent home as Kellerman said he should have been as a POW his commander sent him back into the fight, where he was shot twice by a sniper in 1945. He believes he was forced back into action because he was Jewish. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. I remember all of it, he said. Every time I see a movie about the war with somebody escaping, it jogs my memory. You never forget. According to Kellerman, at no point did he fear he wouldnt make it home. I wasnt really afraid, he claimed. I was 19. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. While there hasnt been a movie made about Kellermans escape, he has some casting ideas for the main character should Hollywood come calling. Id like to play it myself, but Im too old, he laughed before saying Tom Hanks seems like an obvious choice. Who else? he asked rhetorically. Kellerman said he no longer has friends who fought in the war and isnt going to argue with anyone who calls his the Greatest Generation. 100-year-old German man to stand trial for Nazi crimes I dont want to be of false modesty, he chuckled. In 2018, Kellerman returned to France, where he said he received a heros welcome. He was awarded the French Legion of Honour medal, Frances highest merit of recognition. They appreciated me there more than they did here, he said. They gave me a medal. They wined me and dined me, took me all all around to the towns Id stopped in. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. Bronx resident Willie Kellerman, 97, who was wounded in World War II after escaping the Nazis will be awarded the Purple Heart. American Nazi Party chairman says Donald Trump presents a real opportunity for movement When Army Chief of Staff Gen. James P. McConville pins the two medals on Kellermans chest Tuesday, it will mark the end of a long wait for the war hero who believes his extraordinary sacrifice should have been acknowledged sooner at home. Almost every day I get annoyed, he said. [Even] when I did escape, I felt like I was punished because I escaped. Kellerman, who spends his days in Atlantic Beach, L.I., and an apartment on the Upper West Side, said he experienced anti-Semitism from fellow Americans when he was fighting the Nazis. Hes not encouraged by what hes seeing now. I dare to say, the world is never going to change, he said. Well go over and over and over again. To this day, Kellerman sometimes wears a beret in memory of his time in France. But when it comes to cuisine, the U.S.A. is more his style. Im a simple guy, he said. I like McDonalds. Brad Pitt Maison de Champagne Fleur de Miraval The Pierre Peters Champagne house isn't going to have a visitors center, guided bus rides around its fields or a gift shop to buy all things Brad Pitt. It isn't in France's bustling Reims or Epernay, but instead, in Mesnil-sur-Oger, a stone hump hillside village as small and pretty as a postcard. The house in Mesnil, France is a small-to-moderately-sized champagne maison in a village whose holdings and fields are home to familiar industry giants such as Krug and Launay. It's on prized Cote de Blancs territory, where the Peters family has controlled certain vineyards for six generations. In France, champagne is made slowly, and Pitt's unusual Fleur de Miraval, exacts champagne's long-set rhythm requiring both time and patience. Pitt's champagne is produced on Peters' property in a designated below-ground cellar. Despite the wrangling in California courts over the sale of Chateau Miraval, the estate he purchased with Angelina Jolie, Pitt's French business ventures have never been as busy. In both the southern Provence region as well as France's celebrated Champagne district, Pitt's winemaking ventures as well as his off-shoot projects continue forging ahead. In fact, one insider tells PEOPLE "quite a lot has been happening over the last few months, both at Chateau Miraval in Provence and at Fleur de Miraval in Champagne." The insider adds, "The new cellar at the Peters' Champagne house has just been renovated and is now ready for the harvest coming next September while the restoration of the recording studio at Chateau Miraval is finished." Fleur de Miraval pictures Fleur de Miraval photos / One of two Eight images this file Subject Brad Pitt's fourth-generation winemaking partner in Champagne Rodolphe Peter. Credit: Peter Mikelbank Peter Mikelbank In fact, production began at the new space several weeks ago. The insider confirms that the act currently recording at Studio Miraval "is internationally known." Additionally, PEOPLE can confirm that the estate's recording and video facility, which reopened in December, has already begun work on a major film and several video projects. There's little arguing with Pitt's business acumen and none to his devotion to winemaking. It is, as court records attest, simply "his passion." Since purchasing Chateau Miraval with Jolie in 2012 and partnering with France's winemaking Perrin family the following year, he has steadily developed the estate's existing vineyards and upgraded its facilities while generating overall interest and international demand for rose. At the same time, building a premium brand-name business conservatively valued at six-to-seven times the price paid for the entire historic property just a decade ago. Similarly, Fleur de Miraval, a rose-styled champagne produced through a complex largely unknown method has, through his involvement attained notable worldwide appeal. As proof, consider that 20,000 bottles planned for the October release are already sold out, largely to a client base of discerning high-end restaurants and hotels. The hillsides of Champagne, dedicated to vineyards, are deceptive. Beneath their chalky soil lie hundreds and hundreds of miles of tunnels and hidden cellars where the process of making wine, and then through aging, transforming that wine into magic in a bottle, transpires. Fleur de MIRAVAL Champagne ad featuring brad pitt Fleur de MIRAVAL Champagne The climb down to Fleur de Miraval's renovated champagne winery is achieved through a lengthy series of narrow warehouse stairwells. The newly redecorated space will remain largely the reserve of invited industry professionals asked in for tastings. Under Pitt's direction, however, the transformation of a faceless industrial vault has achieved a space of purpose, elegance and understated humor. On a recent visit, after a long walk down, facing a blank wall in an unfurnished space, Pitt's Champagne-resident partner Rodolphe Peters turns and grins, "Here we are!" He points to an empty room decorated with nursery-like paintings. Clearly not the winery, he laughs as he pushes away a concealing wall panel to a much more exciting space, revealing a glass panel door. The brand's logo three overlying Ps, representing the Pitt, Perrin and Peters families is discreetly displayed on a bronze handle. "Welcome to our speakeasy," he smiles. RELATED: Brad Pitt Previews His New Limited Release Rose Champagne: It 'Isn't a "Celebrity" Wine for Me' Fleur de Miraval pictures Fleur de Miraval photos / One of two Eight images this file Subject Brad Pitt's fourth-generation winemaking partner in Champagne Rodolphe Peter. Credit: Peter Mikelbank Peter Mikelbank A soft dazzle of colored light filtered through the iron work door invites visitors up a short incline to the actual "cuverie", its cellar winery. Fleur de Miraval's is actually somewhat small, "cocoon-like and a bit secret," Peters says. "We want people who work here and who visit to feel privileged." Even a builder was duped by the concealment. "One contractor came by early in construction. He wasn't required back again until work was nearly finished," he says. "When he returned the wall was in place. He couldn't find his way around it and so he stood outside for 20 minutes. We like our secrets in Champagne but he just couldn't believe the cuverie was behind a wall." On entry, the lighting feature is an art piece, representing flowers and champagne bubbles. It's a fun sculpture, warmly reflecting off a muted decor of hammered zinc, natural wood and "noble" materials like bronze and slate. All elements were fabricated by local artisans, Peters proudly notes, including a metalworks firm in Reims which helped renovate the Statue of Liberty. A large area of the "working winery" is dominated by two giant blond French oak casks holding 5,000 liters each, and several taller, equally sizable stainless steel tanks. Collectively these contain the various elements ("the perpetual reserve" and previous harvests of pinot noir and chardonnay) which, subjected to a unique saignee process, produce Fleur de Miraval. Pitt's champagne is largely created by the saignee method he became familiar with at his Provence estate. The preferred method of creating rose, saignee forges a bolder wine by "bleeding" pressed grape juice away from the mash before contact with seeds and stems darken its juices. It is a demanding method with devotees among finer winemakers in the Loire, Rhone and Napa regions. It hadn't achieved wider recognition in the manufacturing of champagne until the Pitt-Perrin-Peters project demonstrated both its viability and marketability. brad pitt winery Peter Mikelbank RELATED: Brad Pitt to Reopen Legendary Recording Studio on His French Vineyard Grounds Fine wine is not a carnival. It isn't something that springs up overnight in a field outside of town. Champagne requires patience, dedication, planning proper soil, good weather and alchemy figuring into the equation. In the case of Fleur de Miraval, the project remained unannounced for five years. Renovating the cellar took nearly as long. "Brad wanted to keep the spirit of champagne. He wanted the space to feel intimate and be respectful to the wine," Peters says. "He gave us the basics: respect noble materials, don't be fancy. He said we should keep to the pink and black colors of Fleur de Miraval and in keeping with his overall practice, avoid anything which might associate it with being seen as 'another celebrity wine.'" Transmitting his ideas to the Champagne architect who drew up blueprints, Pitt reviewed sketches and offered fixes. "He was happy because she got it," Peters grins. The partnership will release its third bottling, ER3, in early October and the blend is more intense than previous years. The desire to deepen the wine's complexity with each bottling while creating a wine unlike any other is evident in the glass. RELATED: Leonardo DiCaprio Visits Fields in France Where the Eco-Friendly Champagne He Invested in Is Made The color of the upcoming ER3 is a lighter blush than previous editions, achieving a coppery rose color. There's a strong freshness of sweet summer flowers, white linden blooms, preceding the freshness of pinot noir. Afterwards, there's a round, very long sense of its chardonnay. The roughly $300 wine is as delicious as any wine commanding its price must be. The perception in the U.S. of Fleur de Miraval, Peters notes, has changed since its introduction especially since its reception at the Oscars dinners. "I was in California three weeks ago," he explains, "and the impression of the wine community has changed completely. At first, they saw it as one more 'celebrity wine,' but with time and with tastings they've come to appreciate that it is a really challenging process, which creates a very elegant wine." LONDON, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A bill that overrides parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol, a Brexit trade deal between the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU), passed the first hurdle on Monday night in the House of Commons, the lower house of UK parliament. The bill, which contains measures to remove checks on goods moving to Northern Ireland from Great Britain, was passed 295 to 221. The bill must now go through line-by-line in-depth scrutiny by lawmakers and a further Commons vote and then pass to the House of Lords, the upper house, before becoming law. The Northern Ireland Protocol is a trade solution agreed by London and Brussels to prevent a hard border between Northern Ireland and the neighboring Republic of Ireland. Under the protocol, Northern Ireland is part of the UK's customs territory but is subject to the EU's customs code, value-added tax (VAT) rules and single market rules for goods. However, a de facto Irish Sea border was thus created between the British mainland and Northern Ireland, meaning goods transported to and from Northern Ireland are subject to border controls. Recently, the need to solve the disputes over the protocol has been made even more urgent after Sinn Fein, the Irish nationalist party, was in early May declared winner in elections for the devolved assembly in Northern Ireland. Coming second in the elections, the pro-Brexit Democratic Unionist Party has said it would not sit in the Assembly, citing its opposition to the protocol. Speaking at the G7 summit in Bavaria, Germany, ahead of the vote, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson expected the bill would come into force by the end of the year if the parliament cooperates. "You've got one community that feels things really aren't working in a way they like or understand, you've got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland," Johnson said. "All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market," he told reporters. The Conservative government's efforts to rewrite the Northern Ireland Protocol have attracted opposition from not only the EU but within its own party. Joao Vale de Almeida, EU's ambassador to the UK, said Sunday that the bill is both "illegal" and "unrealistic." "It is illegal because it is a breach of international law, a breach of EU law, UK law and international law," he said. "We also believe it is unrealistic because it does not provide a real alternative to the protocol," he added. Former British Prime Minister Theresa May also expressed her disapproval of the bill. "I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it," she said. Executive produced by Salma Hayek Pinault and directed by Rodrigo Garcia (Nine Lives), in its second scene, Star Plus Productions Santa Evita has Dr. Pedro Aru arriving at Eva Perons home to embalm her corpse. Many directors would dispatch his arrival in brief transition shots. Garcia, however, uses eight to capture the rain on he fateful day of July 26, 1952 (a shot from above of drenched black umbrellas packing out the screen), glimpse the poverty of the crowd lining the road and frame the first hints of Perons near sanctification in death with crowds keeping vigil outside the houses gates, candles in hand. Previewed at Conecta Fiction, Episode One of Santa Evita weighs in as classic Disney Latin America adult audience fare, an heir to 2018s Selenas Secret and 2019 Monzon. A passion project of Mariana Perez at The Walt Disney Company Latin Americas which has been 10 years in the making, Santa Evita is caringly crafted, studied in period and social detail, varied and pointed in shot set-ups and impeccably sound designed. It is also true life fiction a phrase coined by TWDCLAs Leonardo Aranguibel, an executive producer on the series with Perez. Here the IP is Latin Americas most famous politician, Eva Peron, a perfect package of glamor, power, charisma and concern for Argentines toiling classes, who died at the age of 33. The seven-part series also carries a modern-day gender agenda, recording the stranger-than-fiction true story of how Eva Peron, even in death, is used and abused, mummified by her husband, President Juan Peron, to bulwark his slipping grasp on power, then sequestered by Argentinas military regime which overthrew Peron in 1955. Its members desired, vilified and feared her figure in equal measure. Starring Natalia Oreiro (Yosi, the Regretful Spy) as Eva Peron and Dario Grandinetti (Talk To Her) as her husband, Santa Evita is co-produced by Argentinas Non Stop Studios. It is written by Marcela Guerty and Pamela Rementaria, inspired by the same-titled best seller of Tomas Eloy Martinez, and co-directed by Argentine Alejandro Maci. Variety talked with Maci just ahead of the series exclusive preview at Conecta Fiction on June 22, which proved the TV co-production forums glitziest affair. The series will bow on Star Plus on July 26. How did you approach Eva Perons character, given her relevance even nowadays, especially in Argentina? Her character is shrouded in myth, which makes it so untouchable and resonant. First, we had to defuse these associations, tear down the myths. Tomas Eloy Martinez investigated the period but then wrote a novel, which was our base. So we did a lot of research on the period and its political process. How did Santa Evita come together? It was a Fox-Disney project, in development for many years. Mariana Perez held it together, which wasnt easy. It was a highly complex project, in its telling and production. We handle five different time-frames: 1945, when the story really begins; 1952, when Eva Peron is embalmed; her youth in the 1920s and then 1930s; and 1971, when a kind of alter ego for Martinez, journalist Mariano Vazquez, attempts to find out what happened to her cadaver, and starts getting death threats. The storys part of Argentinas history. How did you shape it for international audiences on Star Plus? We didnt try to flood the story with local detail. It targets any audience interested in the story which, yes, is related to Argentine history but also talks about power dynamics and passion, which makes it universal. We drilled down on those issues in narrative terms. Whats appealing for you about the show? One thing which is truly arresting is the fetichism sparked by Eva Peron, which is highly contemporary. Rodrigo Garcia wanted to highlight this. This is a woman who is appropriated in a perverse manner by an infinite number of men, all military. Thats now part of our contemporary conversation, which Martinez couldnt have anticipated in a novel written in 1995. But the series opens up to this interpretation. Why do you think Santa Evita can work today? The novel turns on power, appropriation and poverty. Eva Peron was was of humble origins but reached the highest echelon of power and died prematurely, all in the space of seven years. In 1944, she was pretty well anonymous, an actress. By 1947 she was visiting Spain at Francos invitation and a legend in Buenos Aires. By 1951, she had terminal cancer. It all happened so fast. Its an extraordinary story which merits being told with the caveat that its based on a novel. Some elements are fiction, thought up by Martinez. Subscribe to Variety Newsletters and Email Alerts! Former human rights lawyer Phil Shiner has denied fraud charges linked to claims made against Iraq War veterans. The 65-year-old boss of now-defunct Public Interest Lawyers (PIL) was struck off by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2017 for pursuing false torture and murder allegations against British troops. Shiner on Monday appeared in front of Westminster Magistrates Court via video link and pleaded not guilty to three counts of fraud which were brought following a five-year National Crime Agency investigation. Phil Shiner pleaded not guilty to three charges of fraud linked to claims made against Iraq War veterans (PA/ John Stillwell) Wearing a dark suit, white shirt, and tie, he appeared on a screen in court and spoke to give his name, age, and address and said not guilty, sir as the charges were put to him. He was released on bail to appear at Southwark Crown Court on July 27. Shiner, of Birmingham, is alleged to have committed fraud by false representation in April 2015 in response to a question from the SRA, which he knew was untrue and misleading, so he could continue to practise as a solicitor, according to court papers. He is also said to have been engaged in the cold calling of clients in Iraq in relation to alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by British Army personnel at the battle of Danny Boy. The 2004 battle gave rise to claims against British soldiers after an order to remove the bodies of the Iraqi dead from the battlefield and take them back to a nearby camp along with nine prisoners of war. The detainees, who were insurgents with the Shia militia Mahdi Army, would go on to claim they had been mistreated and heard the torture and murder of their compatriots. Among the dead was 19-year-old Hamid Al-Sweady, who lent his name to a public inquiry after his uncle Khuder Al-Sweady claimed he was murdered at the British camp. Shiner is facing two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information relating to Khuder Al-Sweadys legal aid claim over an application for a judicial review of the Ministry of Defence decision not to hold an independent inquiry into his nephews death. Between September 18 and 20 2007, Shiner allegedly failed to disclose that he had been engaging in cold calling and the payment of referral fees. And in a letter challenging the decision to refuse funding of the legal aid application, between October 11 and 13 2007, he is said to have enclosed a statement that had been obtained through cold calling. A successful second reading of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill in Parliament will be a significant step, according to a DUP minister who said the future looks bleak otherwise. Stormont minister Edwin Poots indicated there could be progress on his partys return to powersharing if the Bill to unilaterally scrap parts of Northern Irelands Brexit deal gets through the Commons on Monday. The DUP has refused to engage in the process of nominating an Assembly speaker or to form an Executive after the May 5 election in protest over the implementation of the protocol. Edwin Poots indicated there could be progress on his partys return to powersharing if the Bill succeeds (Paul Faith/PA) Mr Poots also warned Conservative MPs against voting down the Bill as a way of putting pressure on their under-fire leader Boris Johnson who has faced renewed calls for his resignation after last weeks double by-election defeat. Asked if the DUP will be any closer to returning to Stormont if it gets through, Mr Poots told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme: In a sense, yes. If it does not get through, he added: I think that the future looks bleak. He said: If it gets through today it is a significant step forward and wed be working with Government to see what other steps can be taken in advance of legislation being fully applied. In a warning to Tory MPs, Mr Poots said: Any Conservative who has any notion of using this, of having a go at Boris Johnson, are doing the same as the European Union is doing in terms of damaging the peace process and the institutions in Northern Ireland. But Sinn Fein MP John Finucane branded the Bill shameful and said it will mean more instability for the region. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane said the Bill provides nothing but more instability for Northern Ireland (Brian Lawless/PA) He told the same programme: Its very interesting that we are watching a sovereign Parliament debating whether to continue a breach of international law or not. As Ive said, and I think as many others have said on numerous occasions, the introduction of this Bill is shameful. It provides nothing but more instability, especially for people here, especially for our industries and sectors here. So the British Government seem to be tone deaf to the majority of the wishes of people here in continuing to push ahead with this legislation. Monday will see MPs in the House of Commons debating the main principles of the Bill and deciding whether it can proceed for further consideration. The UK Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. The imposition of checks in order to keep an open border with Ireland has angered unionists and DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said he hopes the Bill gets through the Commons before Parliaments summer recess. Capitals across the EU bloc reacted with outrage to the plans to override parts of the protocol, which governs trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The West needs to help Ukrainians protect themselves, Boris Johnson said, as Volodymyr Zelensky urged the G7 group of leading democracies to supply him greater firepower. The Ukrainian President addressed the leaders of the UK, US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy by video link from Kyiv as they gathered in the luxury Schloss Elmau resort in the Bavarian Alps. Mr Zelensky has urged them to be partners, not observers and provide the military equipment his country needs. Mr Johnson, who has warned about fatigue around the world putting support for Ukraine in jeopardy as the conflict with Russia drags on, stressed there was unity among the G7 nations. I think everybody came to the G7 in Germany, really hearing a lot about Ukraine fatigue, the anxieties of other countries around the world about the continuing war, the effect on food prices, on energy prices, the Prime Minister said. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his wife Carrie at the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau (Stefan Rousseau/PA) And whats really struck me in the last couple of days has been the amazing consistency of our resolve, the continuing unity of the G7. There had been concerns that Frances Emmanuel Macron who has repeatedly held talks with Vladimir Putin and warned that any peace deal must not leave Russia humiliated had been wavering in support for a protracted conflict. But Downing Street insisted there was no dispute between the UK and France over the issue, with the two leaders on the same page and their friendly relationship characterised as le Bromance by No 10 aides. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Frances Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mr Johnson said the G7 leaders were united because the logic of the position is still so clear, there is no deal that President Zelensky can really do. He said the military situation was very difficult but Kyivs forces have demonstrated an incredible ability to push back. In those circumstances, the G7 supporters of Ukraine around the world have to continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy to get their grain out, to export their grain, and of course we have to help them to protect themselves. And thats what were going to continue to do. The impact of the Russian naval blockade of Ukraines Black Sea ports has crippled its ability to function as the breadbasket of Europe, with grain at risk of rotting in silos pushing up global food prices and risking a humanitarian catastrophe in poorer nations. At the summit: The UK pledged 10 million to repair damaged Ukrainian rail infrastructure to create an overland route to get grain out of the country. The Government will also put 1.5 million to develop a testing process to identify whether grain sold by Russia on the world market has been illegally taken from Ukraine. The leaders were considering putting a price cap on Russian oil to further cripple the economy bankrolling the war effort. Mr Johnson wants an international solution to get grain out of Ukraine by sea, something which is currently blocked by Russias Black Sea fleet and mines deployed by both sides in the conflict. The Prime Minister has played down the prospect of the Royal Navy being sent in to help merchant vessels beat the Russian blockade. But he has said British expertise in remote de-mining and insurance of commercial shipping in contested waters could help vessels get the grain out by sea. Eindrucke von Tag 1 des G7 Gipfels in ElmauImpressions of day 1 of the G7 Summit in Elmau#g7 #g7ger #g7summit pic.twitter.com/hEIZVaG638 G7 GER (@G7) June 26, 2022 Mr Zelenskys address to G7 leaders was delivered in private. But ahead of his speech, Mr Zelensky said he would demand extra defence systems to combat the missile bombardment suffered by Kyiv and other cities in the days before the summit. We need a powerful air defence modern, fully effective which can ensure complete protection against these missiles, he said. We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers. Delays in the transfer of weapons to our state, any restrictions are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again. The occupiers these terrorists must be beaten with all our might so that they do not think they can put pressure and outplay someone. Boris Johnson and his fellow world leaders will gather for the final day of a G7 summit which has been overshadowed by atrocities in Ukraine. The leaders issued a joint statement accusing Russian president Vladimir Putin of war crimes after Russian missiles slammed into a shopping centre in Kremenchuk. The Prime Minister and the leaders of the US, Canada, Japan, France, Germany and Italy condemned the abominable attack. We stand united with Ukraine in mourning the innocent victims of this brutal attack, they said. Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account. #G7 Leaders Statement: We solemnly condemn the abominable attack on a shopping mall in #Kremenchuk. We will not rest until Russia ends its cruel and senseless war on Ukraine. #G7GER pic.twitter.com/t4x9EJqzCv G7 GER (@G7) June 27, 2022 The strike on Monday came as Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky appeared via video link at the G7 summit in Germany to call for more sophisticated missile defences. About 1,000 shoppers were thought to be in the Kremenchuk centre when it was hit. At least 18 people were dead and more than 60 wounded, but those figures could increase as the debris is searched. The conflict in Ukraine has dominated the G7 summit in Schloss Elmau, in the Bavarian Alps. And the battle against the Russian invasion is set to remain at the top of the diplomatic agenda when leaders of Nato, including Mr Johnson, gather in Madrid on Tuesday. Mr Johnson said the Kremenchuk attack has shown once again the depths of cruelty and barbarism to which the Russian leader will sink but it would strengthen the resolve of Ukraine and its G7 allies. The Prime Minister also urged Russian scientists to defect to the UK to escape Mr Putins oppression, as he also set out a package of support for Ukrainian researchers. The Prime Minister said experts who no longer feel safe in Russia should apply to come to a country that values openness, freedom and the pursuit of knowledge. Russias bombing of a shopping centre in Kremenchuk is an abomination. We share the pain of the victims families, and the anger in the face of such an atrocity. The Russian people have to see the truth:pic.twitter.com/7drortbGSE Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) June 27, 2022 Meanwhile, he announced funding and partnership deals to help Ukrainian academics, whose research has been hit by the Russian invasion, carry on their work in the UK. At the G7 summit in Germany, Mr Johnson said: To the Russian scientists and researchers who are looking upon Putins violence in dismay, and who no longer feel safe in Russia, you should feel free to apply to come to the UK and work in a country that values openness, freedom and the pursuit of knowledge. The plans include a major increase of funding for the researchers at risk scheme, putting in a further 9.8 million on top of the initial 3 million, which will see 130 academics come from Ukraine to continue their work. The UK Government will also provide funding to support the Universities UK International and the Cormack Consultancy Group twinning programme between UK and Ukrainian academic institutions. Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the G7 (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The Department for International Trade will step up work under its global entrepreneur programme to offer temporary relocation and mentorship to Ukrainian science and tech business leaders forced out by the invasion. Mr Johnson said: People across the UK have opened their hearts and their homes to support those fleeing violence in Ukraine, and our world-leading universities, research institutions and tech businesses are no different. Science and technology will be decisive in ensuring Putin fails in Ukraine, and it will be crucial as we rebuild the Ukrainian economy. The UK will be with our Ukrainian friends every step of the way. British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is facing up to 65 years in prison for luring young girls to massage rooms for disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein to molest. The 60-year-old, who was labelled dangerous by the prosecution during her three-week trial last year, helped entice vulnerable teenagers to Epsteins various properties for him to sexually abuse between 1994 and 2004. Victims of Maxwell are set to tell the court in the Southern District of New York of her relentless and insatiable drive to meet the sexual needs of Epstein and their retraumatisation over having to give evidence during the trial. Ghislaine Maxwell was convicted of sex trafficking in December last year (US Department of Justice/PA) The socialite was convicted in December last year of sex trafficking minors, conspiracy to entice a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, and conspiracy to transport a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity. She was also found guilty of transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking of minors. Maxwells defence attorneys sought a delay to sentencing proceedings through a motion filed on Saturday, in which they said she had been placed on suicide watch and was not permitted to possess and review legal documents. Her attorneys had also previously moved for a retrial after it emerged one of the jurors in her trial had failed to disclose he was a victim of sexual abuse, but her conviction was upheld. Girls were lured to massage rooms by Maxwell for Epstein to molest (US Department of Justice/PA) Despite not being part of the indictment, the victim impact statement of the Duke of Yorks accuser, Virginia Giuffre, is due to be read to the court where she says Maxwell opened the door to hell. Andrew has always strenuously denied Ms Giuffres allegations. Other accusers, Annie Farmer and Kate, have been told their statements can be orally read to the court, whereas five others were told they could only submit them in a written format. In their sentencing submissions, prosecutors urged Judge Alison Nathan to impose a sentence of between 30 and 55 years for Maxwells crimes. The statutory maximum term Maxwell can serve in total is 65 years. Throughout the trial, the court heard how she imposed a culture of silence by design at Epsteins properties, where staff were told to see nothing, hear nothing and say nothing. One of Maxwells accusers, who testified under the pseudonym Jane, told jurors that as well as luring her to an orgy at the age of 14, the defendant and Epstein would fondle each other and giggle in front of her. She also told jurors how Epstein would use sex toys on her even though it hurt and did not tell anyone about the abuse because she was terrified and felt gross and ashamed. Maxwells trial also heard how she told another accuser, who testified under the pseudonym Carolyn, that she had a great body for Epstein and his friends. Carolyn said the defendant had touched her breasts in Epsteins massage room before telling her she had a great body type. Jurors also heard how Carolyn had been introduced to the predatory pair through Ms Giuffre, and that she had been in the same room while Epstein and Ms Giuffre had sex. The third accuser, who testified under the pseudonym Kate, said she had a schoolgirl outfit laid out for her by Maxwell before a sexualised massage with Epstein. Virginia Giuffres victim impact statement is due to be read to the court, where she says Maxwell opened the door to hell (Crime+Investigation/PA) Kate said the defendant then told her to take Epstein his tea in the outfit, and when asked by the accuser why the outfit was on her bed, Maxwell said she thought it would be fun. The jury was told Maxwell asked Kate if she knew of anyone who could come to her house and give Epstein oral sex because it was a lot for her to do. The only accuser to testify under her full name, Annie Farmer, told jurors she was left frozen when the socialite asked her to undress for a massage and rubbed her breasts. Ms Farmer said the defendant encouraged her to have a massage after teaching her how to rub Epsteins feet at the age of 16. Maxwells defence counsel had attempted to distance her from Epstein, but a series of photographs showed the close relationship the pair had. Girls were flown to Epsteins properties on the disgraced financiers private planes (US Department of Justice/PA) Epstein was found dead in his cell at a federal jail in Manhattan in August 2019 while he awaited trial on sex trafficking charges. The death was ruled a suicide. Maxwell, who has been held in a US jail since her arrest in July 2020, will be sentenced on Tuesday morning. Boris Johnsons bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle, amid Tory warnings the plans are illegal. MPs voted 295 to 221, majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading, which clears the way for it to undergo detailed scrutiny in the coming weeks. The Prime Minister claimed the proposed legislation, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, could be carried out fairly rapidly, with the proposals in law by the end of the year. But his predecessor in No 10, Theresa May, led the criticism from the Tory benches as she delivered a withering assessment of the legality and impact of the Bill. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Bill has a strong legal justification (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Mrs May made clear she would not support the legislation and warned it will diminish the UKs global standing. Other Tory MPs joined Mrs May in expressing concern, although they opted against seeking to block the Bill at second reading and instead appear likely to seek amendments. The House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. Mr Johnsons Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand, youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Former prime minister Theresa May (Andy Buchanan/PA) All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Mr Johnson said: Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing. He said it would be even better if we could get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic, the European Commission vice-president. The Prime Minister added: We remain optimistic. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by saying the Bill has a strong legal justification and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. But Mrs May told the Commons: The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. The UK has said its unilateral approach is the only option left to resolve the issues baked in to the Northern Ireland Protocol (Jonathan Brady/PA) I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it. Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith also said: I fear that this Bill is a kind of displacement activity from the core task of doing whatever we can to negotiate a better protocol deal for Northern Ireland. I also fear that it risks creating an impression to unionism that a black-and-white solution is available, when the reality is once this Bill has been dragged through the Lords, and courts, and EU responses and reprisals, compromise will ultimately be needed. But Conservative former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said there is necessity for the Government to act because there is a growing and real threat. Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks has seen the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refuse to return to the powersharing Executive at Stormont, leaving the region without a functioning government. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged the Bill is not perfect but said: It empowers ministers to make change where change is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the UK internal market. Sir Jeffrey, ahead of the debate, also warned the Lords that blocking the legislation would be akin to wrecking the Good Friday Agreement. Alliance MP Stephen Farry (North Down) said: This is an extremely bad Bill, its unwanted, unnecessary and, indeed, its dangerous. Sinn Fein MP John Finucane called the Governments plans shameful and said they will mean more instability for the region. He told BBC Radio Ulsters Good Morning Ulster programme: Its very interesting that we are watching a sovereign Parliament debating whether to continue a breach of international law or not. A Number 10 spokesman said on Monday that the Government had never put a hard target date on when it would hope to see the Bill enacted. Boris Johnson has said questions over his leadership have been settled as one Cabinet minister insisted that he still in enjoyed the support of senior colleagues. The Prime Minister, attending the G7 summit in Germany, brushed off reports that Tory MPs were continuing to plot against him in the wake of last weeks twin by-election defeats. Asked if he was concerned about events at home, he insisted the matter had been dealt with in the confidence vote earlier this month which he won, despite 40% of his MPs voting to get rid of him. We settled that a couple of weeks ago, he told reporters. (PA Graphics) What Im focused on, and what were doing is getting on with, number one, all the stuff were doing to help people with the cost of living in the short term. Mr Johnson however fuelled anger among his critics on the backbenches with his suggestion over the weekend that far from considering standing aside he was hoping for a third term as Prime Minister carrying on into the 2030s. His comments have reportedly prompted a fresh wave of MPs to submit letters calling for another confidence vote in his leadership. Although under current rules he is supposed to be safe from a challenge for another year, there is speculation that they could be re-written if there is sufficient pressure from Conservative MPs for him to go. Mr Johnson told the BBC he still has the authority to deliver on the Governments agenda despite the renewed calls for him to quit. Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, the Prime Minister said: I not only have the authority, Ive got a new mandate from my party, which Im absolutely delighted about. He added: Im focused on what Im doing as a leader of the country, and its driving a massive, massive agenda. That is a huge, huge privilege to do. Nobody abandons a privilege like that. Because this is something that the electorate the mandate that the electorate gave us in 2019, there hasnt been a mandate like it for the Conservative Party for 40 years, its a mandate to change the country, to unite and to level up, and thats what were going to do. Environment Secretary George Eustice defended Mr Johnsons earlier remarks, during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in Rwanda, saying he had been making the point there was a lot he wants to do. Boris Johnson and other leaders at the G7 summit in Germany (Federal Government/Bundesregierung/Steffen Kugler/PA) I sometimes feel in these situations that prime ministers cant win, Mr Eustice told Times Radio. They either say that they want to carry on and theyve got a lot to do and they want to keep going. And thats what obviously Margaret Thatcher said and what Boris Johnson is perceived to have said. Or like Tony Blair, they say theyre not going to go on and on and people spend years arguing about the date of their departure. So they cant really win in these situations. Despite the resignation of Tory Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden in the wake of the by-election losses in Wakefield and in Tiverton and Honiton, Mr Eustice insisted the rest of the Cabinet continued to back their leader. We have the support of the Prime Minister, the Prime Minister has our support, we work together and we stick together through difficult times, he told Sky News. He said that the two by-election defeats were very disappointing, but stressed that Boris Johnsons senior ministers would continue to work together to back him. Weve got an important agenda that were working on, and thats what were all focused on. (PA Graphics) But the expressions of discontent have kept on coming, with Damian Green, who chairs the One Nation caucus of Tory MPs, warning the Government needs to alter both its style and content and calling on Cabinet members with leadership hopes to show their stripes. William Wragg, the Tory chairman of the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee, said he has concerns for the security of his seat and for those of colleagues with majorities much larger than mine which would likely be assuaged by Mr Johnsons departure. In the by-election in the Devon constituency of Tiverton and Honiton, a dramatic swing of almost 30% from the Conservatives saw their 24,000 majority overturned by the Liberal Democrats. In West Yorkshire, Labour seized back Wakefield with a majority of 4,925 on a swing of 12.7% from the Tories. Somali children show symptoms of a severe protein malnutrition this month in Mogadishu, Somalia. United Nations and U.S. officials are issuing dire warnings about the state of global food supplies. (Farah Abdi Warsameh / Associated Press) The scenes witnessed by journalists and humanitarian workers in recent months have been striking: In Sudan, swollen-bellied babies are looking for anything to eat. In Yemen, where warring parties have blocked humanitarian aid, hollow-eyed children and their mothers languish on the brink of death from starvation. In Ukraine, the elderly are collecting rancid rain runoff for drinking water. Malnourishment and hunger were big problems even before Russia invaded Ukraine in February and cut off Europes breadbasket from its markets, sparking a flurry of dire warnings about the world's food supplies. Dozens of countries across the globe are already suffering from devastating food shortages, so much so that the number of people facing starvation more than doubled in just the last two years, to 345 million, according to United Nations figures. The causes are myriad: drought and flooding, and the interruption of supply chains triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in China. An estimated 20 wars or conflicts the latest in Ukraine have also seriously disrupted access to food and water. The current food security challenge that were facing [is] due to these three Cs: climate, COVID, and conflict, said Ramin Toloui, assistant secretary of State for economic affairs, one of several Biden administration officials tasked to food-security issues. The bleak situation drew the attention of powerful diplomats Friday when U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the foreign ministers of six other of the worlds largest economies met in Germany to map out plans for easing global food shortages. Few observers expect real solutions to emerge but hope the summit will highlight the crisis and boost funding for antihunger efforts. The Biden administration has committed about $8.5 billion to emergency food assistance and related programs, focusing initially on the Horn of Africa, Yemen, Lebanon and Haiti, Blinken said. "We hear all these numbers; weve all cited numbers of this growing food insecurity," Blinken said in Berlin. "But what we know is this: We know that those numbers are people, real people, real lives, real livelihoods, mothers, fathers, children. ... As human beings, all of us have to be seized with this." The U.N.s World Food Program calculates that eight of the 10 largest food crises worldwide are being primarily driven by conflict in Yemen, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such wars force people from their homes into long desperate treks for safety. They devastate farms and wreak havoc on food distribution systems. In Latin America, food scarcity is also driving tens of thousands of people to abandon parched or hurricane-leveled farms and migrate to the United States. These were the disasters already in motion when Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, the U.N. says the Russian blockade of Ukraines Black Sea ports could lead 40 million more people to go hungry. "We have to realize that this crisis that were experiencing now is not one that is going to go away in the next few weeks, months, said Cary Fowler, the administrations special envoy for global food security and the founder of the famous Norway-based seed vault that is preserving thousands of food species. We have to begin to think about this as an acute crisis that will last for a couple of years, unfortunately. The world's confrontation with starvation intensified in February when Russia invaded its western neighbor, Ukraine, and blockaded the country's Black Sea ports. Ukraine exports much of its grain, wheat and other foodstuffs from those ports, which are now menaced by Russia's fleet. The blockade is no small matter Ukraine is the world's fifth largest exporter of wheat and corn, and a leading supplier of vegetable oil and fertilizer. By one estimate, nearly 25 million tons of grain is sitting in Ukrainian silos and warehouses, likely to rot. Attempts to reroute the supplies overland would be expensive and extremely difficult, in part, because Ukrainian railway carriages would have to be refitted to work in other parts of Europe. Third-party naval escorts have also been largely ruled out because it could lead to direct conflict with Russia, which is unlikely to let up its quarantine of Ukraine's ports. Parts of the Black Sea have also been mined by Ukraine, adding another layer of danger. Some experts contend the best solution is to arm Ukraine with longer-range artillery and aircraft, such as unmanned MQ-9 Reaper vehicles equipped with precision-guided missiles, so that it can take out Russian ships. "You don't have to have the most sophisticated weaponry, but they need the reach so they can push the Russians back without risking combat at sea," said Bryan Clark, a former Navy official and submariner at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Getting the grain and wheat out of Ukraine is only part of the problem. The war is ravaging fertile fields, disrupting harvests, destroying storage silos and killing farmers. When Russian bombs ruin a farm in eastern Ukraine, for example, there is a strong chance that family in Lebanon, which receives 80% of its grain from Ukraine, won't have bread, aid workers say. U.S. officials also say they have "credible" reports that Russia is stealing Ukrainian grain and selling it as its own. The Kremlin contends that the food shortages are to be blamed on economic sanctions that the U.S. and most of the West have imposed on Russia. U.S. officials are quick to deny that, saying food and fertilizer are exempt from the sanctions. Higher fuel costs also are hampering efforts to get food where it is needed, said Martin Frick, who heads the U.N.s World Food Program office in Berlin. His agency's operating costs have risen by $71 million per month; the shipping price of a single container of food or other aid has gone from $1,000 to $4,000 in recent months, he said. "The number of people who need our help is skyrocketing," Frick said in a telephone interview from Berlin, where he is attending the food crisis summit. "The funding is not. We basically have to take food from hungry people to give it to starving people." To feed their populations, he said, countries facing food shortages should return to growing traditional crops such as lentils in India, millet and sorghum in Africa and quinoa in Latin America rather than focusing on producing more profitable agricultural commodities like coffee beans and cotton, both of which are resource intensive. Caitlin Welsh, a veteran expert in global food security who heads that program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said hunger and famine have consequences for both health and politics. Hungry people can be angry people, and the rising price of food or fuel have led to coups throughout history. The health effects of going hungry can be far-reaching and insidious, Welsh said. "The sudden elevation in prices [of foodstuffs like bread] can make people shift from more nutritious food to items of lower nutrition," she said. And for pregnant women and young children, that can cause lifelong disabilities, Welsh said. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. MEMPHIS, Tenn. On Friday morning, a voicemail popped up on the patients phone: She needed to call the clinic right away. The Supreme Court had just overturned Roe v. Wade, throwing into chaos an already fragile and limited system of abortion care across the South, and hundreds of women learned that the abortions they were seeking were now illegal. That wasnt yet the case in Tennessee, but the reprieve was temporary. The patient connected with a staff member at Choices, an independent clinic in Memphis, around noon. The worker told her that they were canceling some upcoming appointments, and would call her back soon to let her know about the status of hers. Her procedure was scheduled for Monday. By then, there was a chance it would be too late. Tennessee is one of the handful of states with trigger laws where bans on abortion wont go into effect immediately; the delay here is expected to last at least 30 days. But theres another measure that is expected to kick in first. On Friday, Tennessees attorney general asked the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals to allow a state law largely banning abortion around six weeks of pregnancy to take effect, which would halt about 90% of the procedures at Choices. A decision could come as soon as Monday. The patient, 31, who asked for anonymity to protect her privacy, had five children at home, the youngest not yet 2. She was in her first trimester of pregnancy, but past six weeks. Daycare already cost her family nearly $900 a month, which she paid with earnings from her job at a big-box store. Infant care was expensive, she remembered telling her partner. She had applied for WIC benefits, but had been turned down. She remembered giving birth to her youngest during the pandemic, when the hospitals were so crowded that she labored for a day before being admitted into a maternity ward. This is not something I want to do, she said. She waited at home in panic. Jennifer Pepper, the executive director of Choices (Andrea Morales for NBC News) On Thursday, Jennifer Pepper, Choices CEO, met with the Illinois State Police about the new clinic Choices is opening in the state, where abortion is expected to remain legal. She was sitting in a coffee shop in Alton, Illinois, Friday morning when she saw the Supreme Courts decision. Oh my God, she thought. Its here. Its here. Her body began to shake. The clinics attorney called, and then called again. Did the clinic need to halt abortions immediately? The attorney advised: Keep going, and try to see as many people as you can. Pepper drove south toward Memphis. The husband of a board member called her, as she passed a series of billboards with anti-abortion messages. One read, If babies could vote, abortion would be illegal. You are on the worst stretch of highway right now, he told her. Back at Choices, the staff decided to prioritize seeing patients who had already come in for their initial consultation and waited 48 hours, a pause required under Tennessee law. The goal was to offer abortion care to as many people as possible, before the six-week ban took effect. In a city where the fault lines of poverty and a history of racial segregation have pushed many to the margins, Pepper had little doubt of who would carry the brunt of the fallout. Pregnancy is dangerous in this country. That danger just increased exponentially for whole communities of people, she said, listing Black and brown women, women living in poverty, women who use drugs, single women and transgender people. Our health care system is fundamentally broken, especially the system that cares for the most vulnerable among us. Memphis abortion clinic (Andrea Morales for NBC News) It was almost 3 p.m. Friday when the patient in Memphis heard back from the clinic. The staff had moved up her appointment from Monday to Saturday. She would be able to receive abortion care, likely among the last trickle of patients in Tennessee. So much of what had to line up for her to get that appointment in post-Roe America was out of her control. At least 48 hours had passed since she had received the initial consultation that Tennessee requires; patients who hadnt yet come in for their consultation couldnt do so over the weekend. She was early enough in her first trimester that the clinic didnt require her to receive sedation, which was important because the anesthesiologist was not able to work this Saturday; patients who were further along in their pregnancies had their appointments canceled. If she had been one of the cancellations, she would have continued her pregnancy. I wasnt going to travel past the Tennessee state lines, because I have to be at work, she said. Her children were in summer camp. The stress of figuring out a travel plan, she said, would overwork her body. Fridays decision felt like a man ruling down, she said. She felt for the others who lost their appointments, and for those who wouldnt be able to make appointments in the future. I hate that for them, she said. Its going to be hard for a lot of women forced to have kids they are not ready for. Its just going to be hard. Memphis abortion clinic (Andrea Morales for NBC News) Joy Evans, a patient educator at Choices, was on the phone Friday morning with a patient who wanted to reschedule a June appointment for early July when her daughter sent a text. Did you hear the news? it read. Shortly afterward, the staff gathered in the clinics call center. Evans stood with her arm wrapped around a co-worker, she later recalled. Some people were crying. Others were angry. We knew it was coming, but the reality of it did not set in until we actually heard it and saw it from the directors, Evans said. When Evans, 44, returned to her desk, she took a moment to meditate. She didnt want to become emotional as she spoke to patients. She called back the patient who wanted to come in on July 1. She began each call the same way: This is Joy with Choices. She asked the woman on the other end to verify her date of birth. Then she recalled saying gently: Im sorry to be able to tell you, but unfortunately, we wont be able to provide your services. No, why? the voice on the other end cried. Evans asked if she had watched the news. We didnt have a timeframe, Evans recalled telling her. We were hoping and holding on to July 11th. I cannot have this baby. I already have four, the patient said. Before each call, Evans took a moment to steady herself. She dialed a woman who had previously tried to get an appointment at a clinic in Missouri, but had ultimately scheduled with Choices hoping to be seen earlier. At one point, the callers partner got on the phone. Maam, I dont know what to do. I cant have no babies, he pleaded, Evans recalled. It broke my heart, Evans said. This was a young couple. This was her first pregnancy. She gave the caller the number to Hope Clinic for Women, an abortion provider in Granite City, Illinois, nearly 300 miles away. As the day went on, it didnt get easier, she said. Eventually, the phone lines became so overloaded that the buildings system crashed. The clinic received over 5,000 calls, as many as they usually receive in a week. Evans is having trouble sleeping, as are other clinic staff members. We try our best not to take work home with us, but things like this its just, she paused, searching for the right words. Memphis abortion clinic (Andrea Morales for NBC News) Memphis abortion clinic (Andrea Morales for NBC News) Late Saturday morning, the 31-year-old patient sat upright with a blood pressure monitor wrapped around her right arm and a blanket draped across her waist. Her recliner in the recovery room at Choices was equipped with a button that she could push to heat up the seat, to help with the discomfort. She was one of 16 women who received abortion care there on Saturday. A medical assistant took her temperature and watched her vitals, vigilant for rare complications. The patient planned to go home soon to her five children and try to rest. A 25-year-old patient and law student stands in the lobby of Choices following her procedure on Sunday afternoon. (Andrea Morales for NBC News) Choices is usually closed on Sundays, but the staff opened the doors at 8:30 a.m. Twenty-three abortions were scheduled, the final ones the clinic plans to offer to pregnant patients after cardiac activity is detected, at about six weeks. Among the patients who arrived Sunday morning was a 25-year-old studying law at the University of Memphis. Like most of the patients waiting in the lobby, she was Black. She was an undergraduate when she learned that she was pregnant with her now 5-year-old daughter. She did not feel financially ready to have another child. I want to have myself set by the time Im in my mid-30s, she said. Her procedure was initially scheduled for early July, but the clinic moved the appointment up after the Supreme Court decision. They shouldnt take that right away, she said. A lot of women are in situations where some might not be financially capable of keeping a child. Memphis abortion clinic (Andrea Morales for NBC News) On Monday, rather than the 20 patients the clinic sees on a typical day, just a handful of appointments are scheduled. Three patients are early enough in their pregnancies that the staff believe they could still receive medication abortions even if the six-week ban goes into effect. Its also unclear when the clock starts on the 30-day window before Tennessees trigger ban can be enforced, Pepper said. For now, with so much uncertainty, the clinic will schedule only a week in advance. MOSCOW, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Russia has declared eight Greek diplomats "personae non gratae," ordering them to leave the country within eight days, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Monday. Greek Ambassador to Russia Ekaterini Nassika was summoned to the Foreign Ministry in protest over the expulsion of Russian diplomats in Greece and Greece's supply of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, the statement said. The measures were taken as a direct response to the hostile actions of the Greek authorities, and Moscow will reserve the right to respond if Athens continues to take such an anti-Russian course, it added. Cara Skowronski and her husband are the parents of a 2-year-old daughter who was born through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and a gestational surrogate, who carried their daughter. Now, as the Skowronskis look to expand their family, they say they are afraid of the obstacles they will face, a fear they say has been magnified by the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Skowronski and her husband recently moved from Nebraska to Texas, where abortion will be banned under a trigger law that goes into effect 30 days after the Supreme Court's decision. The couple's remaining frozen embryos are in Nebraska, where Gov. Pete Ricketts has said he will push for the state legislature to pass a total abortion ban in the wake of Roe being overturned. "It's challenging enough to have infertility treatment today," Skowronski told ABC News. "I think the additional potential state legislations that ban or make IVF incredibly difficult will really take it away as an option to a lot of couples and a lot of individuals, and it's heartbreaking." PHOTO: Cara Skowronski and her husband hold their daughter, who was born via a gestational surrogate. (Cara Skowronski ) Skowronski and other IVF patients, as well as medical providers, say they fear is that as states enact strict abortion regulations under the power given to them by the Supreme Court, infertility treatments will be at risk due to the language of those restrictions. "There is a race to see who can be the most extreme on abortion restrictions, and I can tell you who the losers of that are going to be: fertility patients and women who might need contraception," said Sean Tipton, chief advocacy, policy and development officer for the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), adding of the Supreme Court's ruling, "There is a very serious threat to reproductive medicine from that decision." In the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling, at least 26 states are expected to eventually ban or severely restrict abortion. If legislation banning or restricting abortion defines life as beginning at fertilization, fertility treatments -- specifically IVF -- could be at risk, experts say. In the IVF process, ovulation is induced and eggs are removed from a patient's ovaries. The eggs are then fertilized with sperm outside of the body, and the resulting embryos are either placed in the patient's uterus in the hope of pregnancy or are stored in a laboratory for future use, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). Mary Ziegler, law professor at the University of California and author of "Dollars for Life: The Anti-Abortion Movement and the Fall of the Republican Establishment," said that as states have rushed to define abortion, more questions than answers have arisen, especially when it comes to IVF. "States have definitions of abortion that are potentially in tension with IVF," she said. "For example, if you say life begins at fertilization, what does that mean for the storage of embryos, what does that even mean for the practice of IVF, because sometimes it involves the implantation of more than one embryo to maximize the chances of a successful pregnancy, and sometimes some of those pregnancies are terminated in the hope that one will last. Will that be prohibited?" In Oklahoma, an abortion ban signed into law in May by Gov. Kevin Stitt defines an unborn child as "a human fetus or embryo in any stage of gestation from fertilization until birth." The state also has a trigger law banning abortions that went into effect Friday, quickly after the Supreme Court's ruling. In Nebraska, where Skowronski's embryos are stored, a proposed bill that would ban all abortions defines an unborn child as "throughout the embryonic and fetal stages of development from fertilization to full gestation and childbirth." The bill, LB933, failed by two votes in April, but the state's governor has said he plans to call a special legislative session in the wake of Roe being overturned. The potential for the bill to be reintroduced concerns Dr. Stephanie Gustin, a fertility doctor in Omaha and assistant professor at the University of Nebraska College of Medicine. "If this trigger ban law gets reintroduced and it gets passed as is, we are incredibly vulnerable," said Gustin, adding that she and other fertility doctors are at risk because they "work with embryos all the time." "It essentially states that any destruction of life, intentional or otherwise, is punishable by felony," she said. "The reach of this is much further than an abortion and that could have so many negative impacts on individuals who want to become parents," she added. PHOTO: People celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe V. Wade in Washington, June 24, 2022. (Jacquelyn Martin/AP) Gustin, who is Skowronski's fertility doctor, said that well before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, she was receiving panicked calls from patients wondering if their IVF journey was at risk, and hearing from other patients who made plans to start IVF in another state. In Texas, where abortion will be illegal 30 days after the Supreme Court's decision, Dr. Timothy Hickman, medical director and co-founder of CCRM Houston, a fertility treatment center, said he also fielded questions from "worried" patients in the weeks leading up to the court's ruling. Hickman, also the president of the Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology (SART), said that while abortion and IVF are "two very different things," he is concerned state laws may not "appropriately designate between the two." "People are stating that life begins at conception, therefore a fertilized egg should be considered a person," he said. "In IVF, we routinely fertilize eggs and biopsy them to check them for genetic abnormalities and freeze them, and obviously, they're used in family building." MORE: What the overturning of Roe v. Wade could mean for birth control access, maternal care It was not until the early 1980s that the first IVF baby was born in the U.S., but IVF now accounts for as many as 3% of all births every year in the U.S., research shows. People today also use IVF for many different reasons beyond infertility, including to be able to have kids later in life, or after a cancer diagnosis or another health condition, and to be able to screen for genetic disorders. Destynie Sewell, an assistant professor of law at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, said both she and her husband suffered from infertility issues, causing them to use IVF to become pregnant with their now 2-year-old twin sons. Sewell, 42, said as she and her husband now contemplate having another child, the threat of the IVF process being legislated or prohibited in Nebraska weighs on them heavily. "To have someone tell me, 'Well if you retrieve your eggs, this is what you have to do with them,'" said Sewell. "It's bad enough I don't have control over my own body because of my medical makeup, but to have you tell me what I have to do to my body, are we back in slavery days? I no longer have autonomy over my body?" PHOTO: Destynie Sewell, a law professor in Nebraska, poses with her twin sons. (Destynie Sewell) Fertility doctors said they feel in limbo as they try to determine their state's current or potential abortion laws and what the language could mean for their and their patient's futures. "I have a full-time practice. I'm a mom. I'm obviously not a legislator or lawyer. This is not my wheelhouse," said Gustin, the Nebraska doctor. "Yet here I am, like before I do an egg retrieval and after I put my kids to bed, trying to figure this out." "Right now, we just don't know," said Dr. Robert K. Hunter, practice director of the Kentucky Fertility Institute. "The trigger law in Kentucky, to my reading of it, isn't going to make anything I do a felony, yet, but that's protected by about a two- to three-word clause, from my reading." MORE: 'Seismic impact on women's lives': 5 things to know after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade Hunter said his practice is already booked out about five months due to high demand, making him worry even more for patients who could potentially lose access to care. "Infertility is full of anxiety, and this has just introduced a whole new layer of stress and worry to our patient population that they didn't even know they had to worry about," said Hunter, adding that he plans to stay in Kentucky for his patients, saying, "I have firmly committed myself to this career and to this patient population, and it's a cause I'm willing to fight for." Overturning Roe v. Wade raises stakes for patients who need IVF, experts say originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com A demonstration in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, in mid-May when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson visited. (Peter Morrison / Associated Press) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signaled Monday that a plan to rip up parts of the post-Brexit trade deal he signed with the European Union could become law by the end of the year. Lawmakers began debating legislation that rewrites trade rules for Northern Ireland on Monday, the first step on what could be a rocky journey through Parliament. If approved by lawmakers, the legislation would remove checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K., thereby scrapping parts of a trade treaty that Johnson signed before Britain left the EU in 2020. Johnson said he thought the plan could be approved fairly rapidly if Parliament cooperates. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, he said: Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing. The British government says the rules, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol, are burdening businesses and undermining peace in Northern Ireland. It argues the unilateral move is justified under international law because of the genuinely exceptional situation. Johnsons opponents, however, say the move is illegal. Many of us are extremely concerned that the bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, it trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally, Conservative Andrew Mitchell said in Parliament Monday. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss replied that the government's plans are the only solution to resolve trade problems in Northern Ireland because the EU has been unwilling to reopen negotiations. The plans have caused concern among some of Johnson's fellow Conservatives, already worried about his judgment and popularity following a series of ethics scandals and two special election defeats. But Johnson said Monday that questions about his leadership are no longer relevant. We settled that a couple of weeks ago, he told reporters in Germany, referring to his survival in a no-confidence vote three weeks ago. The EU has threatened to retaliate against the U.K. if it goes ahead with its plan to rewrite the rules of the post-Brexit deal, raising the specter of a trade war between the two major economic partners. Irish Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said he was hugely disappointed that the U.K. government is still pursuing its unlawful approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. This is not the way to find sustainable solutions to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland and only adds to uncertainty," he said. The blocs ambassador to Britain, Joao Vale de Almeida, said Britains plan was illegal because it is a breach of international law, a breach of EU law, U.K. law and international law. It is a treaty that we signed, ratified and even went through a general election in this country, he told Times Radio. Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU country, Ireland. When Britain left the European Union and its borderless free-trade zone, the two sides agreed to keep the Irish land border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Instead, to protect the EUs single market, there are checks on some goods, such as meat and eggs, entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. Johnsons Conservative government claims overzealous EU implementation means the rules are not working as expected and are causing a political crisis in Northern Ireland. You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland," Johnson said. All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market, he said. British unionists there say the checks are fraying the bonds between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., seen by some unionists as a threat to their British identity. Northern Irelands main unionist party is blocking the formation of a new power-sharing government in Belfast, saying it wont take part until the Brexit trade rules are scrapped. I want to see the reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive, and the protocol is getting in the way of that, Lewis told Sky News. We have got to resolve that. Thats what this legislation will do. Ultimately, we want to do this by agreement with the EU, he added. But to do that, they need to show some flexibility and actually come and negotiate in a flexible way. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. From left, French President Emmanuel Macron, President Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at a G-7 summit in Germany. (Brendan Smialowski / Pool Photo) Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for as long as it takes with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Russian President Vladimir Putins aggression. The new aid and efforts by the Group of 7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelensky has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. U.S. national security advisor Jake Sullivan said Zelenskys top request was for further air-defense systems. Sullivan said most of the conversation was about the way forward and how President Zelensky sees the course of the war. Zelensky also briefed the G-7 leaders on how his administration has used the assistance received to date to maximize Ukraines capacity both to resist Russian advances and to pursue counterattacks where possible, Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible in coming months because he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people. Zelensky also told the leaders that now is not a time for negotiation with Russia because he needs to be in stronger position first, according to a senior French diplomat. The Ukrainian leader said that he will negotiate when he will be in a position to do so, said the diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidential offices customary practices. His goal is to end the war as quickly as possible and to get out of it in the best possible position, so that he can negotiate from a position of strength, the diplomat said, adding that Zelensky told the summit leaders that he needed economic, financial and military support. After hearing from Zelensky, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They underlined their unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine" in the battle for their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They said it was up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. G-7 leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day summit in the German Alps. The details of how a price cap would work, as well as its impact on the Russian economy, were to be resolved by the G-7 finance ministers in the coming weeks and months, according to a senior Biden administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcements from the summit. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. The G-7 countries will seek sanctions targeting Russias defense supply chains that support its effort to rearm during the war. President Biden is set to announce that the U.S. is providing an advanced antiaircraft system to Ukraine, as well as additional artillery support, according to a person familiar with the matter, in the latest assistance meant to help the country defend itself against Russias bloody invasion. The U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed antiaircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to support its efforts against the Russian assault in the Donbas, Ukraine's eastern industrial heartland, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5-billion commitment to help Ukraine's government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40-billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. The G-7 leaders began Monday's session of their three-day summit with a focus on Ukraine. They were later joined by the leaders of five democratic emerging economies India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina for a discussion on climate change, energy and other issues. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the summit host, said the G-7 countries policies on Ukraine are very much aligned, and that they see the need to be both tough and cautious. Scholz said after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that we are taking tough decisions" to help Ukraine "as much as possible, but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that, under the circumstances, the G-7 has to "continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy, to get their grain out, to export their grain, and, of course, we have to help them to protect themselves. And thats what were going to continue to do. Biden said Sunday that Putin "has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G-7 would splinter, but we havent and were not going to. Johnson warned the leaders not to give in to fatigue. Biden hopes to use his trip to Europe to proclaim the unity of the coalition pressing to punish Russia for its invasion, and to urge allies to do even more seeking to counter doubts about the coalition's endurance as the war grinds into its fifth month. Scholz said last week that he wants to discuss the outlines of a Marshall Plan for Ukraine with his G-7 counterparts, referring to the U.S.-sponsored plan that helped revive European economies after World War II. With the war still in progress and destruction mounting by the day, it's unlikely to be a detailed plan at this stage. Scholz has said that rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for generations. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and prevent tight finances from hindering its defense against Russian forces. A senior Biden administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations between the G-7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe were aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if their roles sometimes appeared different. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Putin and Zelensky, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia and aims to bolster Ukraines battlefield capacity as much as possible so that its eventual position at the negotiating table is stronger. The endurance of the tough sanctions on Russia may ultimately come down to whether the G-7 and other leaders can identify ways to ease energy-supply issues and skyrocketing prices once winter hits, as they seek to disengage from Russian sources of fuel. The G-7 meeting is sandwiched between a European Union summit last week that agreed to give Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership kicking off a process that is likely to take years with no guarantee of success and a summit of NATO leaders starting Tuesday in Madrid. The leaders of the G-7 the U.S., Germany, France, Britain, Italy, Canada and Japan may hope to make some progress in bringing their counterparts from their five guest countries closer to Western views on sanctions against Russia. Scholz also is eager to win over such countries for his idea of a climate club for nations that want to speed ahead when it comes to tackling the issue of climate change. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. FILE PHOTO: The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington By Nate Raymond (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday gave two doctors found guilty of misusing their licenses in the midst of the U.S. opioid epidemic to write thousands of prescriptions for addictive pain medications another chance to challenge their convictions. The justices ruled 9-0 in favor of Xiulu Ruan and Shakeel Kahn, who had argued in appealing their convictions that their trials were unfair because jurors were not required to consider whether the two physicians had "good faith" reasons to believe their numerous opioid prescriptions were medically valid. Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, writing for the court, said that once defendants produce evidence that they were authorized to dispense controlled substances like opioids, prosecutors must prove they knew they were acting in an unauthorized manner. The justices sent the two cases back to federal appeals courts that had previously upheld their convictions for further proceedings, where prosecutors may argue that any mistakes in their jury instructions amounted to harmless errors. The United States for more than two decades has struggled with an opioid epidemic that, according to federal health officials, has claimed the lives of more than a half million Americans. States have sued drug companies and pharmacies to hold them liable, but another key element in the public health crisis has been the role of doctors in prescribing massive volumes of the highly addictive pain medication. Some doctors have been accused of turning their medical practices into "pill mills" - routinely prescribing controlled substances without a medical necessity and outside the bounds of a normal professional practice. There have been divisions in lower courts about the standard under which doctors can be convicted of violating a federal law called the Controlled Substances Act, which regulates numerous substances including painkillers like opioids, for writing prescriptions outside the bounds of professional practice. Ruan, who practiced in Alabama, and Kahn, who practiced in Arizona and then Wyoming, were sentenced to 21 and 25 years in prison, respectively, in separate criminal cases. Prosecutors said Ruan with a business partner ran a clinic in Mobile that issued nearly 300,000 controlled-substance prescriptions from 2011 to 2015 and was one of the top U.S. prescribers of certain fentanyl-based pain medications. Prosecutors said he accepted kickbacks from drugmaker Insys Therapeutics Inc to prescribe a fentanyl spray to patients. Insys' founder, John Kapoor, was later convicted of conspiring to bribe doctors including Ruan to prescribe the drug and defraud insurers into paying for it. Prosecutors said Kahn regularly sold prescriptions for cash and unlawfully prescribed large amounts of opioid pills, resulting in at least one patient dying of an overdose. (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Will Dunham) Irish Premier Micheal Martin has rejected Prime Minister Boris Johnsons claim that he does not see a major diplomatic row erupting over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Prime Minister is attending the G7 summit in Germany alongside EU leaders, and indicated that the controversial topic is not making priority conversation. He added that he is not expecting a major diplomatic row over the Governments plans. However, Mr Martin said that the British Government plan to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol is a major development. NI Protocol Bill: It will damage the GFA, not protect it.Its a breach of Int. Law & will damage the UKs reputation. Its against business & majority opinion in NI.Its unnecessary UK unilateral action when partnership & compromise is on offer from #EU. This Bill is no fix. Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) June 27, 2022 Speaking in Dublin on Monday, the Fianna Fail leader said: That, in my view, doesnt stack up in the sense that any unilateral decision to breach international law is a major, serious development. There can be no getting out of that. One cannot trivialise the breaching of an international agreement between the UK Government and the EU. My concern is a trend towards unilateralism that is emanating from the UK Government. We had it on the protocol, we had it on legacy issues, we have it now in terms of the application of the decision of European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in terms of domestic British law. We know that the Good Friday Agreement incorporates protections under the human rights convention and that is something we will keep a close eye on. I have been in touch with the president of the European Commission and the president of the European Council, and they are concerned about this. They are conscious that similar efforts were made last year but this is not a good move by the British Government and it has to accept that unilateralism does not work in the context of the Good Friday Agreement, or in the context of good relationships with your neighbours and the EU. MPs are to vote later on Monday on controversial new legislation to give ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. Mr Johnson said the law could be enacted by the end of the year. The British Government has claimed that measures to remove checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to protect the Good Friday Agreement. But Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister said he is hugely disappointed that the British Government is continuing to pursue its unlawful unilateral approach on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Simon Coveney said: This is not the way to find sustainable solutions to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland and only adds to uncertainty. I continue to urge the British Government to return to constructive dialogue with the EU in pursuit of jointly agreed, long-lasting solutions. MPs on Monday will debate new legislation to give ministers the power to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland with the Prime Minister suggesting the controversial proposals could be law by the end of the year. Here are answers to some of the main questions as politicians appear to debate the plan in parliament. What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? Jointly agreed by the UK and EU, it is the part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that deals with the main obstacle in the divorce talks the Irish land border. To keep the border free flowing, London and Brussels essentially moved new regulatory and customs checks required by Brexit to the Irish Sea. That has introduced red tape on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, creating new headaches for many businesses and enraging loyalists and unionists who claim the regions place in the UK has been undermined. Politics at Stormont has been thrown into turmoil, with the DUP blocking the formation of a new power-sharing executive, following last months Assembly election, in protest. There have been sporadic outbreaks of violence linked to the protocol since its introduction in January 2021, but they have not been widespread or sustained. What is it to do with the Good Friday Agreement (GFA)? The debate over the protocol has increasingly been framed by competing interpretations of Northern Irelands historic 1998 peace accord. The agreement contains provisions to protect and develop relations both on a north/south basis on the island of Ireland and on an east/west basis between the island and Great Britain. Those who campaigned against Brexit claimed it would undermine the peace deal by disrupting that north/south dynamic. The protocol, from their point of view, has helped to uphold the 1998 accord, and any threat to the arrangements would also represent a threat to the GFA. This argument is employed by the anti-Brexit parties in NI, the Irish Government, the EU and the US administration. For unionists in Northern Ireland, it is the protocol itself that poses the threat to the GFA. For them, it not only undermines the east/west relationship but also strikes at another fundamental tenet of the deal that Northern Irelands constitutional status cannot be changed without the consent of its people. Unionists claim the new trade border has effectively changed the constitutional status of NI and, in so doing, undermined that consent principle. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss is steering the legislation through the Commons (Niall Carson/PA) What about the Governments position? Having initially hailed the protocol as the breakthrough that got Brexit done, and then portrayed early disruption as teething problems, the Prime Minister began to change his public stance on the protocol soon after it became operational. He now claims it has upset the GFAs delicate balance of unionist and nationalist aspirations by undermining the east/west dynamic. Mr Johnson says the arrangements need to be fixed, not scrapped, maintaining that the Governments preferred outcome is a negotiated settlement with the EU. The Prime Minister, as well as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, have stressed that their priority with the legislation is the restoration of power-sharing. Protracted negotiations between the UK and European Commission have been rumbling on for well over a year without sign of resolution, with both sides having tabled proposals which the other has rejected. The proposals, which MPs will vote on, is something of a solo run and lacks buy-in from Labour, non-unionist parties in Northern Ireland and European leaders. Mr Johnson, who has previously described this tactic as an insurance policy that will only be used if Brussels fails to change position, has signalled that the plan could potentially be in operation by the end of the year. What has the Government proposed? The creation of green and red channels would differentiate between GB goods destined for use in Northern Ireland and shipments bound for onward transportation across the Irish border. Goods arriving through the green channel would be freed of red tape, while the red channel would retain the checks and inspections required by the protocol. The introduction of a dual regulatory system would allow businesses selling in Northern Ireland to choose whether they comply with EU standards, UK standards or both. Changing rules on state subsidies and VAT and excise duties would ensure Northern Ireland is not excluded from UK-wide policy decisions in these areas as a result of EU laws. Reform of the protocol governance arrangements would remove the European Court of Justice as the final arbitrator in any future trade disputes over the protocol. Are the proposals legal? The Governments critics claim the unilateral move to breach the Brexit treaty by way of domestic legislation is a clear violation of international law. Insisting it is acting within the law, the Government has cited a doctrine of necessity that allows obligations in international treaties to be set aside under certain, very exceptional, limited conditions. This has not stopped widespread criticism of the move, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledging that his party would scrap the legislation if it was in power. Is it all about trade and Northern Ireland? The progress of the legislation, as well as some of the bullish rhetoric accompanying it, has inevitably seen links drawn between it and the embattled premiership of Mr Johnson. Even before the two by-election defeats and the shock resignation of a Cabinet minister, sceptics claimed that Mr Johnson was primarily motivated by desperation to hang on to the keys of Downing Street, with the PM pandering to the Eurosceptic ranks of the Conservative Party in a bid to secure their backing. Critics also suggest Ms Trusss own leadership ambitions may be a factor in her hardline approach to the EU on the protocol. For his part, Mr Johnson has forcedly rejected such a characterisation. Do you really think that most Conservative MPs or most people in the country are thinking about this problem? Theyre not, he told reporters during a recent visit to Rwanda. Im afraid to say that this is an issue that is entirely to do with the balance of the political situation in Northern Ireland. And we have to respect that. NI Protocol Bill returns for 2nd reading today. It will fix problems the Protocol has created in Northern Ireland & uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. Our preference remains a negotiated outcome, but EU continues to rule out change to Protocolhttps://t.co/zF53dBfirx Liz Truss (@trussliz) June 27, 2022 What is the EUs view? Brussels has been highly critical of the UKs use of unilateral action. There are concerns the dispute could spiral into a full-blown trade war, but such an outcome still appears a way off. Mr Johnson has in recent days played down the extent of EU anger, labelling it as muted and indicating that a row over the protocol is not expected to overshadow proceedings at the G7 summit of world and European leaders. Nonetheless, the EU has instigated legal action against the UK in retaliation against the proposed legislation. Is there any common ground between the EU and UK? In proposals published by the European Commission last October, Brussels acknowledged a need to treat goods destined for use in Northern Ireland differently from those at risk of entering its single market. However, the EU only envisaged a reduction on checks for goods arriving through an express channel, not a complete discontinuation. The EU has also moved to pass legislation to remove barriers on GB medicines travelling to Northern Ireland. The commission has shown little appetite for minimising the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union in protocol oversight. What about businesses in Northern Ireland? Those involved in bringing goods in from GB have experienced disruption to trade and would welcome a reduction in bureaucracy. However, other companies that trade with Europe have benefited from the protocols dual market access provision, which allows them to sell unrestricted into the EU single market. Food producers whose operations involve cross-border movements on the island of Ireland have also expressed concern at any attempt to undermine the functioning of the protocol. What all businesses are at one on is the need for stability and certainty on their post-Brexit trading environment. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson and his party are awaiting progress against the Protocol before returning to power-sharing (Liam McBurney/PA) Is a return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland likely? The DUP is watching closely both the contents of the protocol Bill, as well as the passage it makes through parliament. Yet the exact conditions or timeline that could see the DUP return to power-sharing remains relatively opaque, with the party instead stressing that it needs to see tangible delivery on removing the so-called Irish Sea border. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has previously said his party will take a graduated and cautious approach when judging the Governments actions. The party has been burned by promises from Mr Johnson before, most famously his pledge never to agree to a Brexit deal that created economic barriers in the Irish Sea. In recent days, Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has raised the spectre of legislation to cut MLA pay if Stormont is not restored. It remains to be seen if and when that threat is followed through, but the DUP has insisted it will not be forced back into power-sharing without sufficient action on the protocol. LONDON (Reuters) - Russia defaulted on its foreign sovereign bonds for the first time since the Bolshevik revolution, as sweeping sanctions effectively cut the country off from the global financial system and rendered its assets untouchable to many investors. A U.S. official said on Monday the default showed how dramatically the sanctions were impacting Russia's economy. The official was speaking to reporters as the White House released a fact sheet detailing potential G7 actions to support Ukraine and further stem Moscow's oil revenues. "This morning's news around the finding of Russia's default, for the first time in more than a century, situates just how strong the actions are that the U.S, along with allies and partners have taken, as well as how dramatic the impact has been on Russia's economy," the U.S. official added in a briefing on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Germany. Earlier, some bondholders said they had not received overdue interest on Monday following the expiry of a key payment deadline a day earlier. Russia has struggled to keep up payments on $40 billion of outstanding bonds since its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, as sweeping sanctions have effectively cut the country off from the global financial system and rendered its assets untouchable to many investors. The Kremlin has repeatedly said there are no grounds for Russia to default but it is unable to send money to bondholders because of sanctions, accusing the West of trying to drive it into an artificial default. Russia's efforts to avoid what would be its first major default on international bonds since the Bolshevik revolution more than a century ago hit a insurmountable roadblock in late May when the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) effectively blocked Moscow from making payments. "Since March we thought that a Russian default is probably inevitable, and the question was just when," Dennis Hranitzky, head of sovereign litigation at law firm Quinn Emanuel, told Reuters. "OFAC has intervened to answer that question for us, and the default is now upon us." A formal default would be largely symbolic given Russia cannot borrow internationally at the moment and doesn't need to thanks to plentiful oil and gas export revenues. But the stigma would probably raise its borrowing costs in future. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last Wednesday to launch temporary procedures and give the government 10 days to choose banks to handle payments under a new scheme. (Kremlin via Reuters) The payments in question are $100 million in interest on two bonds, one denominated in U.S. dollars and another in euros, Russia was due to pay on May 27. The payments had a grace period of 30 days, which expired on Sunday. Russia's finance ministry said it made the payments to its onshore National Settlement Depository (NSD) in euros and dollars, adding it has fulfilled obligations. Some Taiwanese holders of the bonds had not received payments on Monday, sources told Reuters. With no exact deadline specified in the prospectus, lawyers say Russia might have until the end of the following business day to pay the bondholders. While ratings agencies usually formally downgrade a country's credit rating to reflect default, this does not apply in case of Russia as most agencies no longer rate it The legal situation surrounding the bonds looks complex. Russia's bonds have been issued with an unusual variety of terms, and an increasing level of ambiguities for those sold more recently, when Moscow was already facing sanctions over its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and a poisoning incident in Britain in 2018. Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal, chair in banking and finance law at Queen Mary University in London, said clarity was needed on what constituted a discharge for Russia on its obligation, or the difference between receiving and recovering payments. "All these issues are subject to interpretation by a court of law, but Russia has not waived any of its sovereign immunity and has not submitted to the jurisdiction of any court in any of the two prospectuses," Olivares-Caminal told Reuters. In some ways, Russia has been in default already. A committee on derivatives has ruled a "credit event" had occurred on some of its securities, which triggered a payout on some of Russia's credit default swaps - instruments used by investors to insure exposure to debt against default. A sovereign default had seemed unthinkable This was triggered by Russia failing to make a $1.9 million payment in accrued interest on a payment that had been due in early April. Until the Ukraine invasion, a sovereign default had seemed unthinkable, with Russia being rated investment grade up to shortly before that point. A default would also be unusual as Moscow has the funds to service its debt. The OFAC had issued a temporary waiver, known as a general licence 9A, in early March to allow Moscow to keep paying investors. It let it expire on May 25 as Washington tightened sanctions on Russia, effectively cutting off payments to U.S. investors and entities. The lapsed OFAC licence is not the only obstacle Russia faces as in early June the European Union imposed sanctions on the NSD, Russia's appointed agent for its Eurobonds. Moscow has scrambled in recent days to find ways of dealing with upcoming payments and avoid a default. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last Wednesday to launch temporary procedures and give the government 10 days to choose banks to handle payments under a new scheme, suggesting Russia will consider its debt obligations fulfilled when it pays bondholders in roubles. "Russia saying it's complying with obligations under the terms of the bond is not the whole story," Zia Ullah, partner and head of corporate crime and investigations at law firm Eversheds Sutherland told Reuters. "If you as an investor are not satisfied, for instance, if you know the money is stuck in an escrow account, which effectively would be the practical impact of what Russia is saying, the answer would be, until you discharge the obligation, you have not satisfied the conditions of the bond." mikolajn / Getty Images/iStockphoto Given the ongoing war in Ukraine, you may be wondering if you have Russian stocks in your portfolio and, if so, what that means. Heres what you need to know. Russian Stocks are Not Trading in the US In most cases, Russian stocks cannot be traded in the United States at this time. Between U.S. sanctions intended to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine and actions by the Russian government that are meant to be retaliatory, U.S. investors cannot purchase Russian stocks or mutual funds that are primarily comprised of Russian stocks. Owned Stocks If you have Russian equities stocks in your portfolio now, you can only sell these positions to investors outside the U.S., based on an executive order issued by President Biden in June. Shares of stock issued in Russia by Russian companies are traded via depository receipts (DRs) and the Russian government no longer allows them to be traded this way in the United States. 401(k)s If you have a 401(k) account or another employer-sponsored retirement account, you probably have a limited number of choices for where to invest your money. Most 401(k) investment choices are relatively safe and primarily concentrated in U.S. positions. Most of these accounts invest in mutual funds, and most mutual funds have small Russian positions if any. Therefore, you probably have a minimal position in Russian stocks, if any. For example, consider two of the most popular target-date funds, often used in employer-sponsored plans. Target date funds adjust to allocate the assets based on the date the employee is expected to retire. These funds keep the same investments over time, but change the amount of each position, shifting to safer investments as the employee gets closer to retirement. So, the asset allocation would shift away from stock funds and more toward bond funds the older the employee gets. Target date funds from Fidelity have an average exposure to Russian stocks of 0.62%, according to Morningstar. Vanguards target-date funds have even less an average of 0.22%. Each of these funds has less than a 0.1% exposure to Russian bonds. This means that less than one percent of the investments in these funds are tied to Russian companies. Some emerging markets mutual funds and ETFs will have slightly higher exposure to Russian positions, but the exposure is still not significant. Some emerging market funds had up to 5% Russian positions prior to the invasion of Ukraine, but many portfolio managers began reducing their exposure once the threat of war became more pronounced. What Should I Do if There are Russian Stocks in My Portfolio? If you are concerned about Russian holdings, contact your broker to determine how much exposure you have and what you can do about it. You may be advised to retain the holding, particularly if they are in mutual funds, as the fund manager may take the appropriate action to reduce the funds Russian exposure, especially in light of the recent performance of Russian investments. Will Russian Stocks Get Delisted? They already have been. The Russian government passed a law in April 2022 prohibiting Russian companies from having their shares traded outside Russia via depository receipts. DRs are issued for shares in a foreign company and are traded on a local stock exchange. Issuers with existing programs must delist unless they get approval from the Russian government. Can I Still Buy Russian Stocks? No. On June 6, 2022, the Biden administration issued an executive order prohibiting investors in the U.S. from purchasing new or existing bonds or stocks securities issued by any entity in the Russian Federation. Investors may, but are not required to, sell their Russian positions. They may only do so to an investor outside of the United States. There are two ETFs that are focused on Russian positions: iShares MSCI Russia ETF and Van Eck Russia ETF. Trading is currently halted on both of these funds. If a mutual fund includes debt or equity securities issued by Russian Federation entities, investors can continue to buy, hold or trade these securities as long as these holdings represent less than a predominant share by value of the fund. In other words, unless the Russian holdings are significant, you can continue to trade these types of funds. How Can I Buy Russian Stocks in the US? You cannot currently purchase new or existing Russian stocks as a U.S. investor. Some U.S. mutual funds have small Russian positions, and these are still available to be traded by U.S. Investors. What Is the Russian Stock Index Called? The Russian stock market is called the Moscow Exchange. The MOEX Russia Index is an ETF that tracks the Moscow Exchange. As of June 26, 2022, this fund was down 37.45% in the past year. Final Take The bottom line is that the likelihood that your portfolio has a large position in Russian stocks or bonds is small, particularly if you invest in mutual funds. If you do hold Russian positions, you may have to hold onto them unless you can sell them to someone outside the United States. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Are Russian Stocks in Your Portfolio? Theresa May has warned moves to scrap unilaterally parts of Northern Irelands Brexit deal are not legal and will diminish the UKs global standing. The Conservative former prime minister delivered a withering assessment of the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill as she made clear she would not support it. Mrs May questioned the argument that a legal principle of necessity allows for the UK Governments plans, insisting there is nothing urgent about the legislation. Concluding her speech to the House of Commons, she said: The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had earlier attempted to downplay concerns of MPs by arguing the Bill has a strong legal justification and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. The UK Government has argued the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. The imposition of checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to keep an open border with Ireland has angered unionists. But capitals across the EU bloc reacted with outrage to the plans to override parts of the protocol, amid concerns it breaches international law. Mrs May said she did not believe the Bill would achieve the aim of restoring powersharing institutions at Stormont and warned it would give UK ministers extraordinarily sweeping powers. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss speaking to MPs in the House of Commons (House of Commons/PA) Speaking during the Bills second reading, she said: I actually started off by asking myself three questions: First of all, do I consider this to be legal under international law? Second, will it achieve its aims? Third, does it at least maintain the standing of the UK in the eyes of the world? My answer to all three of those questions is no. That is even before we look at the extraordinarily sweeping powers that this Bill would give to ministers. Mrs May also expressed doubt that the Bill will bring the EU back to the negotiating table. Recalling her own experiences with the EU, she said: As I discovered after I had faced a no confidence vote, despite having won they then start to ask themselves, well is it really worth negotiating with these people in Government because will they actually be there in any period of time, regardless of justification or not for them taking that view. But also, actually, I suspect they are saying to themselves, why should they negotiate in detail with a Government that shows itself willing to sign an agreement, claim it is a victory and then try to tear part of it up in less than three years. On the legal principle of necessity for the Bill, the Conservative MP said: Necessity suggests urgent. Imminent peril is the phrase that is used. There is nothing urgent about this Bill. It has not been introduced as emergency legislation. Its likely to take not weeks but months to get through Parliament. Tory former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell earlier warned Britain risks a trade war with the EU if it brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty via the Bill. He also voiced concerns that the UK could trash its international reputation by approving the legislation designed to deal with issues connected to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Ms Truss, opening the second reading debate on the Bill, said the UK continues to raise issues of concern with the EU. She told the Commons: We simply cannot allow this situation to drift. Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since February due specifically to the protocol, at a time of major global economic challenges. Therefore, it is the duty of this Government to act now to enable a plan for restored local government to begin. Its both legal and necessary. In response to Mr Mitchells concerns, Ms Truss replied: Our preference is for a negotiated solution and we have sought a negotiated solution for 18 months, but as recently as last weekend the EU have refused to change the text of the protocol. That is why theres strong legal justification, as set out in our legal statement, for us taking this action because our priority as the United Kingdom Government has to be political stability within our own country. And while we put this Bill through Parliament, we will continue to seek a negotiated solution with the EU and in fact there are provisions of the Bill to deliver it. Britain risks a trade war with the EU if it brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty via the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, a senior Conservative MP has warned. Former cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell also voiced concerns that the UK could trash its international reputation by approving the legislation designed to deal with issues connected to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. But Foreign Secretary Liz Truss sought to downplay his fears by arguing the Bill has a strong legal justification and the UK remains committed to seeking a negotiated solution. The UK Government has argued the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. The imposition of checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in order to keep an open border with Ireland has angered unionists. But capitals across the EU bloc reacted with outrage to the plans to override parts of the protocol, amid concerns it breaches international law. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss speaking to MPs in the House of Commons (House of Commons/PA) Ms Truss, opening the second reading debate on the Bill, said the UK continues to raise issues of concern with the EU. She told the Commons: We simply cannot allow this situation to drift. Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since February due specifically to the protocol, at a time of major global economic challenges. Therefore, it is the duty of this Government to act now to enable a plan for restored local government to begin. Its both legal and necessary. Mr Mitchell, intervening, said he has an immense amount of sympathy with what Ms Truss is saying. But he added: It does seem to me that the EU is not being particularly constructive in trying to get the solution we all want to see achieved. But can I say to her that many of us are extremely concerned that the Bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, it trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally. Can she say anything to reassure me in my anxieties on these points? Ms Truss replied: Our preference is for a negotiated solution and we have sought a negotiated solution for 18 months, but as recently as last weekend the EU have refused to change the text of the protocol. That is why theres strong legal justification, as set out in our legal statement, for us taking this action because our priority as the United Kingdom Government has to be political stability within our own country. And whilst we put this Bill through Parliament, we will continue to seek a negotiated solution with the EU and in fact there are provisions of the Bill to deliver it. Ms Truss said she would strongly encourage Mr Mitchell to raise this with the EU and encourage a negotiated solution. She added: There is a solution to be achieved, we have laid it out very clearly with our red and green lane proposal, but we need the EU to agree to change the text of the protocol. That is the fundamental issue that needs to be addressed. MEXICO CITY, June 26 (Xinhua) -- At least six police officers died early Sunday during a shootout with armed individuals traveling in a convoy of about 10 armored trucks in the northern Nuevo Leon state, the state's security ministry said. "Four more policemen were injured and are already receiving medical attention," the ministry said. The attack occurred between the towns of Lampazos and Colombia in the north of the state, where police were outnumbered by the attackers, who carried large-caliber weapons, according to the authorities. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said that violence is one of the main challenges of his administration, which began in December 2018. Ministers can no longer exploit a well of goodwill which has totally run dry to run the NHS, a British Medical Association leader will say, as he demands the Government reverse brutal pre-pandemic cuts to health services. One hundred thousand NHS vacancies remain unfilled as the health service continues to battle a waiting list backlog from the coronavirus pandemic, which the British Medical Association (BMA) chair of council describes as a crisis of unimaginable proportions. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, in his final speech in the role, will warn the UK had 50,000 fewer doctors in England than the average among Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) members, which include France, Germany, Canada and Japan, and said the Government needs to wake up, open its eyes and realise that we cant afford to lose a single doctor if patients arent to suffer more. Addressing the BMA annual representative meeting in Brighton. he will warn ministers: You cannot run an NHS perpetually by exploiting a well of goodwill which has totally run dry. Doctors will and are walking away. He will demand the Government reverse its brutal 800m pre-pandemic cuts to our public health services, which left us fighting Covid blindfolded without testing capacity in the first wave, flouting the WHO edict of test test test and leading to the UK having one of the highest infection levels internationally. Referring to a review conducted by the BMA which unequivocally concludes that the UK Government failed in its duty to protect its workforce he will say: The lessons from our review demand action today not some time in the future given that a new surge, variant or virus could strike at any moment. He will further demand guarantees from the Government to reverse the drastic deficit in hospital beds, to have no repeat of shameful squandering of billions on test and trace, and face the glaring truth of doctor shortages. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, BMA chair of council, warns doctors are exhausted and worried about making mistakes (PA) Dr Nagpaul will warn that doctors are suffering from utter exhaustion, with up to half saying their mental health has been affected, 50% more likely to take early retirement and seven in 10 likely to work fewer hours. He added that findings from the doctors union showed nine in 10 doctors fear making medical errors daily as a result of lack of resources or workforce capacity. He also hit out at the Government over Partygate, saying: Its an absolute insult to the dedication of doctors that as we topped up IV fluids to sick patients, they merrily topped up their glasses in defiance of the rules they themselves set. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The European Commissions Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview with the German TV channel ZDF on Sunday that she was against a boycott of the G20 summit scheduled for this fall if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends it, reports TASS. We have to think very carefully about whether we paralyze the entire G20, so I dont support it, the president of the European Commission said on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Elmau, Bavaria. In my opinion, the G20 is too important, including for developing countries, she added. The G20 heads of state and government summit will take place on November 15-16 in Bali. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The Parliament of Armenia convened an emergency session today. The decision was approved today by the Council of the Parliament. 6 items are on agenda of the emergency session. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Finance Tigran Khachatryan met on June 27 with Philip Rose, Executive Director at Asian Development Bank (ADB) for Austria, Germany, Turkey, Luxembourg and UK, and ADB Armenia Director Paolo Spantigati, the finance ministry said. In his remarks Minister Khachatryan highlighted the 15th anniversary of the cooperation with ADB, stating that the regular meetings with the Bank especially in this unpredictable time period are very important. Philip Rose in turn said that Armenia is a country of great opportunities, and the ADB is ready to always assist the ongoing projects here. The sides exchanged views on private sector development, public investments, development of state infrastructure programs, etc. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens during his working visit. The bilateral relations, the latest developments in the Caucasian region, as well as the situation in Ukraine were on the agenda of the meeting. The Greek foreign ministry said that the sides reaffirmed the Armenian-Greek friendship and firm historical ties, as well as talked about the bilateral cooperation. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on EU-related matters was signed between the Armenian and Greek Foreign Ministries during the meeting, the Greek Foreign Ministry said on Twitter. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The International Center for Standardization and Certification HALAL is expected to be established in Armenia for boosting the export process of local production. Today, on June 27, the specialists of the ICSC HALAL met with Armenian business community representatives in the ministry of economy. The cooperation with the Center will provide local manufacturers with an opportunity to export the local production to the Eastern market and have new partners, Head of the Department of Development of Quality Infrastructure at the Ministry of Economy of Armenia Zhanna Zakaryan said. The Center carries out certification of products and services, including for trade and public food. Certification will be provided for meat products, poultry, fish, milk, dairy products, bakery, confectionery, food additives, other food, healthcare and perfumes, cosmetics, tourism, spa services, hairdressing, fitness and taxi services, Aidar Gazizov, Director General ICSC HALAL said. HALAL Center is a leading certification body in Russia and abroad. The Center is operating since 2002. It has already established partnering relations with the manufacturers of Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan. More than 40 companies are currently exporting their production to the countries of Middle East the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, through the Center. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The representatives of Armenia and Azerbaijan have discussed several times and stated that the perceptions on the peace treaty have yet to be harmonized, at what pace, on what platform and what kind of provisions the peace treaty should include in general, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in a live broadcast on Facebook, answering the questions if there is any progress in the preparation works of the peace treaty between Armenia and Azerbaijan, and when the talks will start, when the treaty will be signed. The Prime Minister assesses the statements made by Azerbaijan strange, where an attempt is made to show that Armenia is allegedly delaying the negotiations on the peace treaty. "In order not to go into details, I must say that after these statements, as they are strange in nature, the Armenian Foreign Ministry sent an offer to the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry to hold a meeting of foreign ministers to try to reach an agreement on the further process. By the way, I must say that as a result of the previous discussions, it was decided that Armenian and Azerbaijani officials should be in touch with each other and should have contacts in order to be able to organize further work, but Azerbaijan (we already have at least one case) has boycotted and has not involved in the work, despite the agreements, and there is no response to the proposal of the Foreign Ministry," said the Prime Minister. Nikol Pashinyan noted that there were preliminary discussions on the process of preparation for the Armenian-Azerbaijani peace talks, but after that there are no concrete ideas or text. "An agreement has been reached to continue the work. By the way, a meeting was scheduled for today at the level of the Secretary of the Security Council of Armenia and Advisor to the President of Azerbaijan, but the Azerbaijani side has not responded yet and has refused to participate. Meanwhile, there is no other document on the table except what has been published," said the Prime Minister. Congressman Fulcher Joins Stanton Healthcare for Historic Gathering at Idaho State Capitol to Mark the End of Roe v. Wade and Celebrate a New Era in America NEWS PROVIDED BY Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution June 27, 2022 BOISE, Idaho, June 27, 2022 /Christian Newswire/ -- Congressman Fulcher will join Stanton Healthcare for a historic gathering at the Idaho State Capitol to mark the end of Roe v. Wade and celebrate a new era in America. For the first time in almost 50 years, America is experiencing a new reality: abortion on demand is no longer the law of the land. Stanton Healthcare will hold a prayer and worship gathering at the Idaho State Capitol steps on Tuesday, June 28 at 6:30 p.m. to celebrate the overturning of Roe v. Wade and share impactful ways the community can be involved in providing support for women facing unexpected pregnancies. Congressman Russ Fulcher will join Stanton's Founder and CEO, Brandi Swindell, along with members of Stanton's medical team and staff to mark this watershed moment in American history for human rights, justice and ending abortion violence. With this decision, the Supreme Court rejects the notion that abortion is a fundamental Constitutional right and now returns power back to the states. However, the overturning of Roe is not a finish line, but rather a starting line for the pro-life community to move forward state by state to make abortion unthinkable; and to collaborate in meaningful ways to assist families with help, resources, and hope. Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution is a women's advocacy and educational group that works on issues of human rights and justice which empower and inspire women. It is affiliated with Stanton Healthcare which has life-affirming women's health clinics in America and internationally. Brandi Swindell, Founder and CEO of Stanton Healthcare, states: "As an advocate for women, human rights and justice, I am thrilled the tragic history of abortion violence in America, created by Roe v. Wade, is ending. Our nation is now embracing the truth that unfettered access to abortion for the full nine months of pregnancy does not uplift women or advance justice and equality. "As Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the pro-life community looks forward to working state by state to ensure abortion violence comes to an end in our nation. Stanton Healthcare will continue to offer professional and compassionate healthcare to women facing unexpected pregnancies, as well as physical and emotional support for their family; and our public policy center will actively move forward in shaping pro-life public policy and legislation. "The pro-life community is excited about a post-Roe America where all life will be treated with dignity." Congressman Russ Fulcher, who is the U.S. representative for Idaho's 1st congressional district, states: "During my time in the real estate business, I was honored to be the agent who helped Stanton Healthcare purchase a clinic next to Planned Parenthood in Boise, then again several years later in Meridian, Idaho. "Whether working as an international businessman, as a real estate broker, serving in the Idaho State Senate, or as a U.S. Congressman, I have always been committed to the pro-life cause and working passionately to ending abortion and encouraging life for mothers and their preborn children. "Stanton Healthcare is showing the way forward in a post-Roe America by offering women with unexpected pregnancies quality medical care, practical and emotional support, hope and a future. I am so thankful Idaho's capital city no longer has a Planned Parenthood abortion center and I look forward to the day when abortion is unthinkable." For more information or interviews contact:Linda Thomas at 208.803.1646. SOURCE Stanton Public Policy Center/Purple Sash Revolution CONTACT: Linda Thomas, 208-803-1646 Related Links purplesashrevolution.com www.StantonInternational.org www.StantonHealthcare.org Rebels want deputy Speaker to be stopped, Sena calls them 'soulless' Shiv Sena supporters during a bike rally in support of Chief Minister of Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray, outside Shiv Sena Bhavan, Shivaji Park in Mumbai, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (PTI Photo/Kunal Patil) Mumbai: Senior Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Sunday lashed out at the rebel party MLAs, who are camping in Guwahati, by calling them living corpses. Rebel leader Eknath Shinde too made his move by challenging the Uddhav Thackeray-led party's decision to disqualify him and 15 other MLAs in the Supreme Court. The 40 people (rebel MLAs) who are there are not alive. Only their bodies will come back here, their souls will be dead. When they step out (of Guwahati) they won't be alive at heart. They know what can happen in the fire that has been lit now, Mr Raut said. The soulless bodies (of rebel MLAs) will come from Assam and will be sent directly to the (Maharashtra) Vidhan Sabha for postmortem, he added. The post-mortem dig was in reference to the summons issued by the Maharashtra Assembly deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal to the 16 rebel MLAs, including Mr Shinde, on the Senas plea for their disqualification. Mr Shinde has challenged the disqualification notice. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala is likely to hear Mr Shinde's plea on Monday seeking directions to the deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition against him. In his plea, Mr Shinde's has challenged the rejection of a no-confidence motion moved against Mr Zirwal. The plea argues that the deputy Speaker recognising Ajay Choudhury as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP) is illegal. Mr Shinde had demanded that the proceedings on the disqualification notices should be stopped until the issue relating to the removal of deputy Speaker is decided. Mr Shinde in his plea, said that he is constrained to invoke the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the "arbitrary and illegal" exercise of provisions of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 1986 by the deputy Speaker, which is completely violative of Article 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. "The illegal and unconstitutional action of the deputy Speaker insofar as recognising Ajay Choudhury as the leader of the SSLP despite the said request being admittedly made by a minority faction of the SSLP. Further, the said Respondent No. 1 (deputy Speaker), even after belonging to the minority faction of the SSLP, has also filed a petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the petitioner under Para-2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India for which the petitioner received a notice dated June 2, 2022," the plea said. The petition contended that the seat of Speaker is vacant since Nana Patole resigned from office in February 2021 and there is no authority who can adjudicate upon the disqualification petition under which the impugned notice has been issued to the petitioner. Mr Shinde, who is MLA from the Kopri-Pachpakhadi constituency of Thane, has challenged the ex-facie illegal disqualification proceedings initiated against him at the instance of Shiv Sena's chief whip, Sunil Prabhu and said he had no authority to issue any whip, having been removed as the chief whip of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party and the consequent issuance of summons issued by the deputy Speaker without verifying the matter. The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Saturday had issued "summons" to 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Mr Shinde, seeking written replies by the evening of June 27 to the complaints seeking their disqualification. MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to the Shinde faction. We will not go with the MVA government, rebel Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar said. Despite the desperate attempts from the party leadership to stem the exodus, another Shiv Sena MLA and Cabinet minister for higher and technical education, Uday Samant, joined the rebel Shinde group in Guwahati. He is the eighth minister and 39th Shiv Sena MLA in the Shinde camp. Aaditya Thackeray is now the only Cabinet minister from the Shiv Sena quota who is an MLA, while the remaining three from his party are MLCs. So far, state Cabinet ministers Gulabrao Patil, Dada Bhuse, Sandipan Bhumre and ministers of state Shamburaje Desai and Abdul Sattar (all Shiv Sena) have joined the camp of rebels. Another minister Bachu Kadu of Prahar Janshakti Party and an independent minister from Sena quota Rajendra Yedravkar are also camping with Mr Shinde. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena Thane district chief and former mayor of Thane Naresh Mhaske on late Saturday night resigned from office in support of rebel leader Mr Shinde. by Vladimir Rozanskij Demonstration in front of the Chinese consulate. Like the Uyghurs, the Kazakh minority is also sent to lagers in the Chinese autonomous region. The Kazakh government does not intervene so as not to spoil relations with Beijing. Moscow (AsiaNews) - To reiterate after 500 days of public actions their desire to see their loved ones again, relatives of Kazakhs detained in Xinjiang's "re-education camps" gathered in Almaty in front of China's consulate. As they have done during this long period of protests, they showed up holding photographs of relatives remaining on Chinese soil, juxtaposed with a photograph of Xi Jinping and the flag of Kazakhstan, chanting the slogans, "Head of China, free our relatives!", "Close the political lagers!" and "Freedom to innocent detainees!" One of the participants, Akikat Khaliola, recounted that his father died in a Chinese prison, while his mother and two little brothers have disappeared without being heard from again. He appealed to Kazakhstan's President Kasym-Zomart Tokaev, reiterating that his father was killed in prison only because he "demanded justice." Another protester, Gaukhar Kurmanalieva, asks why Kazakhstan does not intercede for its citizen Askar Azatbek, who is being held without even being charged with any crime at the border with China. An official of the akimat (municipality) in Almaty, Rita Erman, met with the demonstrators in front of the consulate, warning them of the possible administrative liability they face for the "illegal" gathering and asking them to return to their homes. After similar actions over the past 500 days, authorities have fined members of the group several times, and the Chinese consulate has never deigned to receive them, or give them a response in any form. Azattyk's editorial staff supported the relatives of the Xinjiang detainees by sending a formal request for clarification to Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry, which was answered that the "illegal actions" in front of the consulate "constitute an obstacle" to diplomats' patient work to resolve the issue, as they "negatively affect bilateral relations with China." Reports of crackdowns on the Turkic-speaking and Muslim population in Xinjiang have been going on since 2017, with the hardest hit ethnic groups being Uyghurs and Kazakhs, sent to "political re-education camps" after their passports were confiscated, or forced under house arrest. Many have fled China and others have tried to do so, often being detained before crossing the border. There are also minorities of Kyrgyz, Tajiks and Dungans in the region. Many international organizations and Western countries have accused Beijing of "genocide" against the Uyghurs, Kazakhs and other Turkic-speaking peoples of Xinjiang, but Chinese authorities have consistently denied any responsibility. Protest actions in front of the consulate in Almaty began in February 2021, and have led to many arrests and punishments of various kinds, without ever giving answers about the "trumped-up charges" that force relatives into detention and separation from family members. In recent months, there has been some outflow from Xinjiang of ethnic Kazakh Chinese citizens, who mostly settled in Almaty. by Shafique Khokhar Sattar Masih and his son Azhar worked at the mansion of a Muslim landowner. When they quit, they began to receive threats. Khalida Parveen, Sattars wife and Azhars mother, was beaten and injured. A first court hearing was held a few days ago thanks to Human Rights Focus Pakistan. Faisalabad (AsiaNews) A group of Muslims attacked a Christian family after they refused to work for them; as a result, the latter sought legal assistance from Human Rights Focus Pakistan (HRFP), an advocacy group. Sattar Masih and his son Azhar worked at Thikriwala, near Faisalabad, at the residence of Khuram Yasin, a Muslim landowner. Because of discrimination and acts of violence against them, both father and son quit. Yasin wanted them to continue to work for him, but after yet another refusal in late March, he accused the Masih of stealing a prized chicken worth 210,000 rupees (US$ 1,000). At Yasin's request, police arrested Azhar but was forced to release him for lack of evidence. A month later, under pressure from the landowners religious and political contacts, the police filed a first information report against the family of Masih Azhar, and re-arrested him. His father, Sattar, and his mother, Khalida Parveen, went to Khurram Yasin's home to ask him to review the charges against them, insisting that they were innocent. At that point, they were attacked. Muslim employees attacked the Christians with guns, knives and sticks; Khalida suffered a knife wound to her right arm while a woman violently pulled off her earrings. Sattar Masih filed a complaint at the Thikriwala police station submitting his wifes medical report from the Faisalabad hospital where she had been taken. The police did nothing. As her condition worsened, Khalida had to return to the hospital. At that point, Sattar decided to turn to HRFP. Thanks to the groups intervention, Azhar was released from prison on 7 May, but now the family started to receive death threats. Once again, the Masih went to the police and once again their complaint fell on deaf ears. In late May, Khalida and Sattar petitioned the district court, and at a hearing on Friday, it ordered the police to subpoena the accused ensuring that they appear at the next hearing. The behaviour of the police, authorities and law enforcement agencies has been dismissive and biased," said Naveed Walter, president of Human Rights Focus Pakistan, speaking to AsiaNews. Slamming the attack against Sattar Masih and Khalida Parveen for their religious beliefs, he said that, new legislation is required and so is a ban on workplace discrimination. In several cases, members of minorities have been abused at work, he added. Today's headlines: G7 outlines alternative plan to China's Belt and Road; At least 37 million Japanese will have to ration electricity use; 203 die in Hindu Char Dham yatra pilgrimage since May; Gay Pride blocked in Istanbul; Russia sends minors to fight in Ukraine. THAILAND A group of Thai scientists is working on a nasal spray that could prevent Covid-19 infection from the nose. The antiviral is in the research and development stage. Public and private sectors are participating in the project. G7-CHINA G7 leaders (U.S., Germany, France, U.K., Italy, Japan, Canada) detailed a 0 billion infrastructure investment plan. The initiative is a response to China's Belt and Road Initiative and focuses on combating climate change, global health, gender equality, and the digital economy. JAPAN The Japanese government is taking energy-saving measures as asphyxiating heat, especially in the Tokyo area, threatens to create problems for the electricity distribution system. The action affects 37 million citizens, who will have to turn off unnecessary lights and appliances today. INDIA Since May 3, the traditional Char Dham yatra pilgrimage in Uttarakhand has claimed the lives of 203 Hindu worshippers. The deaths are mainly due to heart attacks and other medical conditions. TURKEY Turkish police yesterday blocked hundreds of people who wanted to attend the Istanbul Gay Pride. Dozens of people were arrested. Like last year, authorities had banned the march from taking place. RUSSIA The Ukrainian "anti-Putin" military legion, made up of Russians who support Ukraine, showed a video of the capture of a Russian soldier, whose face is not shown or name disclosed, but who is not even 18 years old. "They are sending minors to their death now," is the comment of the Army for the Liberation of Russia. UZBEKISTAN After the General Motors company left Russia due to sanctions, production of popular Chevrolet cars that used to be finished in Uzbekistan also ended: the problem is the lack of spare parts. Unsold Daewoo Nexia and Chevrolet Cobalt models still remain in some regions, while Chevrolet Spark models are already finished. The country is once again experiencing devastating fires. According to the Ministry of Forestry, 88 percent are arson attacks. Visiting the area of the latest blaze, the president called for "intimidating" punishments. Justice holder announces start of process to "reconsider" 2004 abolition. Fears over later extension of use. Istanbul (AsiaNews) - Turkey is thinking in concrete terms of reintroducing the death penalty. The pretext is provided by the recent fires - mostly arson - that have affected a part of the country and prompted President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to call for exemplary sentences: in this regard, the sultan, on a visit to Marmaris where a vast fire broke out in the area in recent days, said the punishment for those who set fires or burn forests should be "intimidating." His words were immediately picked up and relayed by the Justice Ministry, which announced plans to "reconsider" the 2004 decision to abolish capital punishment. Ankara disarmed the executioner by striking the punishment from the constitution in Erdogan's first years in power, when he held the position of prime minister (a position later erased following the 2017 constitutional referendum, which gave the president the role of head of government). However, the series of fires that has developed over the past period-an escalation moreover similar to what happened last year and which prompted a section of the country to criticize authorities and government for lack of control-has led the leadership to call for harsher punishments. Latest in the series is the arson attack that destroyed 4,500 hectares of forests on the Aegean coast. Authorities have arrested a suspect, believed to be responsible for the fire, who has reportedly already admitted responsibility in the first interrogation. Meanwhile, firefighting and civil defense teams extinguished the flames and averted further expansion. After visiting the area affected by the fire, a common phenomenon in the summer region in Turkey as in large parts of the Mediterranean, Erdogan said the punishment for those who set fires should be "intimidating. And if it is a death sentence, let the death sentence be." Words immediately picked up by Minister Bekir Bozdag, who addressing reporters during a visit to the eastern town of Agri on June 25 said the president's words "are instructions for us to use." "At the ministry," he added, "we have already started working in this direction," while today the penalty for those who set fires is 10 years in prison. The goal is to introduce capital punishment if the fire is linked to organized crime. The fear of activists and experts is that that of fires is just a pretext to reintroduce capital punishment. And then, at a later date, expand its application to other crimes. The country's first major summer fire began on June 21 and was reminiscent of last year's devastating fires, the worst ever recorded, which literally burned some 140,000 hectares of land to the ground. Turkish Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu reported that the suspect admitted responsibility, saying he set fire to the forest over family disputes and disagreements. Moreover, local officials admitted to Reuters that the country does not have sufficient manpower and resources to deal with another summer of emergency on this front. Forestry Minister Vahit Kirisci said 88 percent of forest fires in Turkey are of arson origin. by Nirmala Carvalho On the day the Supreme Court ruling in the United States marked a turning point on the right to life, seven fetuses were being found near a bus stop in Belagavi, India. According to doctors, they were around five months gestation and were presumably killed after sex detection. The slaughter of baby girls the dark side of pregnancy terminations in India. Mumbai (AsiaNews) - Seven aborted fetuses were found abandoned in a container in Belagavi district, Karnataka state. It happened on Friday, June 24, just as the world was debating the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on abortion laws and the right to life. Residents of Mudalagi found the fetuses near a bus stop on the outskirts of town and informed the police. The Karnataka Department of Health ordered an investigation into the incident. "The fetuses were around five months old. It is presumable that after fetus sex detection they were killed," said Mahesh Koni, the district health and family welfare officer. This is not the first time such incidents have happened in the area: also in 2013 at least 13 fetuses were found on the banks of the Hiranyakeshi River in Belagavi. Since 1971, Indian law has allowed abortion by the 24th week if the continuation of the pregnancy poses a risk to the woman's life or serious harm to her physical or mental health. But in reality-despite being theoretically prohibited by law-the practice of selective abortion, with the suppression of the lives of girls, is widespread. Dr. Pascoal Carvalho, a member of the Pontifical Academy for Life (PAV), comments to AsiaNews, "On the day that the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on abortion heralded a 'new pro-life dawn,' overturning Roe v. Wade, in India we were faced with this horrific... These girls were murdered, no less: female infanticide is a heinous crime. It is a huge tragedy, this anti-life and anti-woman mentality will have serious consequences on society." "Recent reports from many states in northern India," Dr. Carvalho continues, "reveal that 'safe' abortions are being performed against what is stipulated in the 1994 law that prohibits tying them to sex determination tests. Several clinics and doctors have been arrested for this." While today there are those who call the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade "horrific and medieval," as Archbishop Vincenzo Paglia, president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, put it, it should be seized upon as a "powerful invitation to reflect" because "by choosing life, our responsibility for the future of humanity is at stake." by Sumon Corraya Construction took almost seven years with 14,000 workers. The government fully financed the project, carried out by Chinese firms. Thanks to the infrastructure, the GDP of the southern regions is expected to increase by more than 2 per cent. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formally opened the Padma Bridge last Saturday morning by unveiling the inaugural plaque in Mawa, on the north bank. To mark the occasion, the ruling Awami League held a rally in Kathalbari (Madaripur district), where the ferry terminal is located, drawing about a million people. "I salute the people of Bangladesh, Prime Minister Hasina said expressing her gratitude to all those who participated in the construction of the bridge. We faced many conspiracies to build this bridge, but we have overcome all barriers thanks to the support of our people, she added. The World Bank had filed a lawsuit, alleging corruption, but a Canadian court ruled the allegations were baseless, she explained. Subsequently, the Government of Bangladesh decided not to accept a loan from the World Bank seeking US$ 3.6 billion of financing from other sources. The 6.15 km long bridge was built by the China Major Bridge Engineering Company, while river training was conducted by the Sinohydro Corporation of China. After the World Bank pulled out, some Malaysian investors showed interest in the project, but did not believe it was possible to build such a long bridge over a turbulent river. It took almost seven years and 14,000 local and foreign workers from 20 countries to complete the work. It is estimated that the Padma Bridge will increase Bangladesh's gross domestic product by 1.23 per cent, by 2.3 per cent for the southern regions alone. At least 28 million people will benefit directly from the construction, but 40 million people will be able to enjoy a road connection with the country's capital. Speaking to AsiaNews, Alfred Ranjit Mondol, principal at St Joseph's High School in the Diocese of Khulna, southern Bangladesh, said that the bridge will improve the lot of millions of people. Farmers could sell their crops at a better price, while cancer patients will be able to reach the capital Dhaka in less time and get better treatment, he explained. What is more, Many factories can be set up in our area and employment will be created; thus, the southern part of the country will be able to develop economically," he added. Before, to go to Dhaka from Khulna took eight to ten hours crossing the Padma River by ferry; now, with the bridge, it will take only four hours. Robert Tallarico stands in front of his work on display during a 2017 exhibit in Aspen featuring veteran artists. Challenge America hosted the exhibit, and the Aspen Art Museum also assisted in the project. Tja, ich habe auch das Performence Problem. 6 Motoren habe ich seid meiner Million Km seid Nov, 19 gebraucht. Tesla weigert sich mir normale DUs einzubauen so jung und schon ein verknocherter Konzern???? https://t.co/2G62vI6Yaa Hansjorg von Gemmingen - Hornberg (@gem8mingen) June 27, 2022 On June 27, Von Gemmingen wrote about that in German (the tweet is below) and here's the translation:Well, I also have the Performance problem. I have used six motors since reaching one million kilometers in November 2019. Tesla refuses to install normal DUs for me so young and already an ossified corporation.A while before we wrote about his new one-million-mile record on June 17, 2022, Von Gemmingen complained about a broken rear motor after having made eight replacements already. That led us to think he already put nine different drive units in his Model S. More recently, he said he had replaced these components eight times, which may mean he did not count the original one. Eight or nine times, thats way more than reasonable.What we did not think about was that all these component changes had to do with the same problem that affects the Model 3 and the Model Y . In April, ConsumerAffairs said the Model Y was experiencing a high rate of rear motor failures . One day after that, China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) recalled 127,785 Model 3 units due to a rear motor inverter defect. The recent issue making Tesla postpone deliveries of the Model Y built in Germany is also related to the inverter.The Model S and the Model X have different motors than those used by the Model Y and Model 3 . However, they may share components such as the inverter. Before the Model 3 was presented, the Model S and Model X only had induction motors. After the mass-production electric sedan arrived, they got a permanent magnet synchronous reluctance motor (PMSRM) on the front axle.We have no idea if it is the same one used by the Model 3, and Tesla does not have a press department we could ask about that. Well have to contact our sources to clarify our doubts. Anyway, if the Model S and X share motors with their cheaper siblings, it is only the front ones, not the rear ones that are now failing. The explanation for a possible connection if there is any lies somewhere else. 6x6 Called the US6, the 2.5-ton hauler was manufactured by Studebaker and REO, the latter a company founded by Ransom E. Olds. Just like the CCKW, the US6 was introduced in 1941 and remained in production until 1945, but only around 220,000 units were built.On top of that, while the GMC CCKW was thehauler of choice for the U.S. Army, the Studebaker US6 was eventually manufactured primarily for export under the Lend-Lease policy. Not because the US6 was inferior to the CCKW, but mostly because the GMC version proved to be more suitable for Western Front conditions.Many of these Studebaker trucks were sent to the Soviet Union, where they were used to tow artillery pieces and anti-tank guns and to transport troops over long distances. The truck became renowned for its ruggedness and reliability and legend has it Joseph Stalin himself sent a letter of appreciation to Studebaker.Some US6 trucks were also used by the U.S. military . However, they were mostly deployed for construction purposes, including the Alaska Highway.Come 2022, and the US6 is a sought-after collectible, especially since it is much rarer than the GMC CCKW. As a result, many of the trucks that have been decommissioned and left to rust away decades ago are being brought back to life. Some carry on as survivors, while others become restored classics. This 1945 example is one of those trucks.Stripped off its bed, this US6 surfaced in Alaska, so it's most likely one of those workhorses that were used to build the highway connecting the contiguous United States to Alaska.There's not a lot of info on it, but it's been revived and taken for a stroll through a junkyard packed with old trucks and construction equipment. It's slow, it's loud, and it's anything but majestic, but it's strangely beautiful to see it on the go now that it's 77 years old.Making things that much better, it still relies on its original Hercules JXD engine. A 320-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) inline-six gasoline mill of the L-head variety, it was rated at 86 horsepower and 200 pound-feet (271 Nm) of torque when new. Hear it run like a champ in the video below. In Volkswagens case, the company decided it would lease used EVs more than once to allow them to be used multiple times while they remained on the German automakers property. When their battery packs are no longer suitable for automotive use, Volkswagen will give them a second life as stationary energy storage systems and eventually recycle them.That is the same idea Ford is now following, with some minor differences. By refusing to sell the used EVs, the American carmaker also wants to retain ownership of their battery packs. We have no idea if it will lease the used vehicles as Volkswagen will. What Automotive News confirmed is that the lessees will be given the option to lease new electric cars. Automotive News wrote that the new rule applies to leasing contracts from June 15 and later, and in 38 states. The contracts will be updated in the other 12 states until the end of the year. We suspect they still do not have a high sales volume for electric cars, which allows Ford to worry about them a bit later.Besides the new policy to hold the battery packs, Ford also made a deal with Redwood Materials to recycle these cells and have enough raw materials for the 600,000 EVs it intends to sell by 2023 and the 2 million units by 2026.Evidently, the EVs it sells nowadays will not be enough to reach these sales volumes. Ford is just trying to ensure it will have enough cells many years from now. That is why it also signed a deal with Lake Resources to buy the lithium this mining company produces in Argentina. Now it only has to worry about nickel, cobalt, manganese, copper ASC At 11.59 pm (Australian Central Standard Time) on Sunday, a BBIX rocket carrying an atmospheric observation/sensing platform for the study of the Alpha Centauri A & B constellations was launched. Although it stayed in space for only 15 minutes, this rocket wrote history.Its a first for both NASA, which has now opened the way for rocket launches from commercial spaceports in different parts of the world, and for Australia, which is gearing up to play a leading role in the rapidly-growing space economy.Equatorial Launch Australia (ELA) operates the Arnhem Space Center () in Australia s Northern Territory. This is where the historic launch took place. The sites importance is owed to the fact that its the first and only commercially-run equatorial launch site in the world. This is why it was chosen for three NASA rocket launches that will conduct astrophysics studies that can only be carried out from the Southern Hemisphere, according to ELA.This was the first launch from the series and will be followed by two more, on July 4 and July 12. The Australian Financial Review reports that around 80 NASA personnel were present at the launch site. The rocket reached 186 miles (300 km) in space and gathered precious data during its 15-minute mission.ELA was founded in 2015 and has managed to get this far without any governmental grants. NASA is its first client, but it claims to be in discussions with nine other rocket companies. The goal is to reach 50 launches per year, in just three years.Until then, this first historic launch and the other two that will soon follow are paving the way not just for the private space industry in Australia, but also for a wider access to space in general. The continual growth of commercial spaceports is moving the power from governments to private companies, for future space operations.Another thing that makes the ASC site so special is that its located on the land of the Gumatj people, who have leased it to ELA and also given their blessing for this historic event, according to the BBC The ClubSwan 80 My Song is an 81-foot (24.38-meter) racing yacht with a 19.6-foot (6-meter) beam that has been conceived with a focus on speed and high performance.The new model comes with a canting keel of just 15.43 feet (4.75 meters), which makes it a light boat with a shallow draft. This allows it to be speedy fast while also being able to enter into harbors and ports with ease.Nautor Swans ClubSwan designer Juan Kouyoumdjian is responsible for My Songs design, while her interior is penned by Nauta Design, with construction completed with help from the shipyards partner Persico Marine. The latter is known for employing the same Coriolis robot used in the aerospace industry for carbon lamination.Among the racing features of the yacht, we can mention the retractable bowsprit, for safety upwind, along with a rotating canard to benefit upwind performance in light air.Designed as an alternative to ultra-high-tech racing yachts , the basic My Song version features a minimal, stylish interior. But because this kind of vessel only appeals to a small portion of sailors, the ClubSwan 80 also has a more luxurious version that offers various additional features focused on leisure and guest comfort to broaden reach.The ClubSwan 80 design answers a specific brief: a fast Maxi optimized to race in the Mediterranean as well as offering accommodation to enjoy life at sea and fun shorthanded sailing, said Mario Pedol of Nauta Design.Giovanni Pomati, CEO of Nautor Group, also commented, The CS80 is a pure racer but is also an incredible yacht for fast sailing, shorthanded sailing, and comfortable sports cruising.The My Song racing yacht joins the ClubSwan 36, 50, and 125 models in the ClubSwan range and will also be showcased at the Monaco Yacht Show in September. The first race My Song will compete in will be the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Sardinia, also in September. EFI At some point in the past, this 2001 Ducati 996R was imported to the U.S. all the way from Japan, and it now reads about 19,300 km (12k miles) on the clock. The Italian showstopper flexes an assortment of aftermarket components installed by the previous owners, such as premium rearsets, forged magnesium wheels from JB-Power and an STM clutch partially enshrouded in a carbon cover.Youll find an Aella clutch slave cylinder replacing the bikes stock module, while its hoops have recently been wrapped in Pirelli Diablo Rosso II tires with 2021 date codes. Bolognas phenom is now heading to the auction block equipped with BMC air filters, fresh timing belts and new spark plugs.The 996Rs forks were blessed with youthful seals and oil before it got listed on Iconic Motorbike Auctions, and its motor oil, brake fluid and coolant have all been flushed for good measure. You may check this Duc out on the IMA website until July 1, but dont you fantasize about acquiring it unless youve got some serious dough at hand. For now, topping the highest bid would set you back more than $20k.Featuring a liquid-cooled 998cc Testastretta L-twin with dual cams, eight valves and Weber-Marellitechnology, the 2001 MY stallion is capable of generating 136 hp and 77 pound-feet (105 Nm) of twist at the crankshaft. Ultimately, these figures can translate into low tens on quarter-mile and a top speed of 175 mph (282 kph).With a dry weight of 408 pounds (185 kg), the 996R stands on 43 mm (1.7 inches) upside-down Ohlins forks with titanium nitride coating and an adjustable piggyback monoshock. Last but not least, braking duties are handled by dual 320 mm (12.6 inches) discs at the front and a single 220 mm (8.7 inches) unit at the other end, all of which are coupled with Brembo calipers. Last year, in December, Lufthansa Technik began the process of modifying the Airbus A32LR for the German Air Force, at its facility in Hamburg, Germany. Described as an upgrade to the Military Business Class, the new aircraft will initially provide troop transportation and parliamentary flight operations on both short and long routes. It will be able to carry up to 136 passengers.But its also set to start conducting MedEvac operations starting next year. In that future configuration, it will be able to transport either six intensive care patients or up to 12 moderately-injured (or ill) patients. As a flying intensive care unit, the A32LR will also be equipped with extended oxygen supply, plus other pre-modifications. According to Lufthansa Technika, 12 of these New Generation Patient Transport Units (PTE NG) will be delivered to the German military, plus two reserve units.Until then, the A32LR is gearing up to enter service with the German Air Force as a troop carrier. The Air Force took formal delivery of the aircraft at the ILA Berlin airshow, in the presence of several German officials, plus the Airbus CEO and Lufthansa Technik COO.As its name suggests, this new addition to the German Air Force fleet will be capable of tackling longer routes than ever before. Plus, it reduces CO2 emissions by 20%, compared to the previous generation aircraft. And its also certified to operate with up to 50% SAF (sustainable aviation fuel), which would reduce CO2 emissions even more.Extensive tests were also carried out before the A32LR could be granted the official military certification. Its now ready to fly German troops all over the world, while being friendlier to the environment than its predecessors. CDI kWh If these numbers are confirmed, the ID. Aero will be the member of the ID family with the most range so far. Curiously, it does not have such a remarkable drag coefficient: 0.23, the same one presented by the first-generation Mercedes-Benz CLA. The CLA 180Blue Efficiency had a 0.22 drag coefficient back in 2013. It is clear Volkswagen could have done better; perhaps it decided this was good enough.In the ID family, the vehicle that comes the closest to the ID. Aero is the ID.3 Pro Life , with a range of 358.5 mi (577 km). Ironically, it has a small battery pack (45) and an only reasonable drag coefficient: 0.267. If the ID. Aero proves aerodynamics matter, the ID.3 Pro Life shows that mass is also fundamental: the lower, the better for range.Unfortunately, the German company did not disclose how big it is. If it is similar in size to the ID. Space Vizzion concept (its station wagon version), it should be 4.96 meters (195.3 inches) long, 1.90 m (in) wide, 1.53 m (in) tall, have a wheelbase of 2.97 m (in), and a trunk of 586 liters (20,7 cubic feet). Some websites said it was 5.16 m (203.3 in) long, but we could not confirm whether that was correct. It would be weird for it to be so much longer than the electric station wagon. Volkswagen developed the ID. Aero for the Chinese market, considering how popular sedans still are in the largest car market in the world. The company is expected to start selling its production version there by the second half of 2023.For Europe and eventually the U.S., the production ID. Aero will also arrive next year. Volkswagen chose the Emden plant to take care of the vehicle pointed out as the Passat successor for carbon-neutral times. For those among you who aren't total military aviation dorks, the British Aircraft Corporation 167 Strikemaster might be one of the coolest-looking light attack/trainer airplanes ever to fly. Where more traditional trainers like the American T-33 look tame, almost routine in a way, there's a real sense this Strikemaster could do a real number on enemy ground targets.Though it's most famous as a trainer, the Strikemaster could accommodate as many as two 7.62 mm machine guns with 550 rounds each. That's alongside two hardpoints under each wing capable of holding 1,400 kg (3,000 lbs of bombs, machine gun pods, air-to-ground rocket pods, fuel drop tanks, and napalm tanks. Though you'll find this one for sale out of Courtesy Aircraft of Rockford, Illinois, isn't legally allowed to use weapons anymore.Powering this little jet is a single Rolls-Royce Viper Mk.535 turbojet cranking out 14 kN (3,140 lbf) of thrust. Good for top speed in the 480 to 500 mph range (772.5 to 804.6 kph). Not that most private puddle jumper pilots would ever need to fly that fast to get wherever they're going.The sheer fact this genuine British military strike aircraft, complete with a modern suite of navigation, communications, and avionics from Apollo Aerospace, is available for us here in the United States is a treat we're not likely to see again for some time. The price for it all, minus considerable fuel costs, is a cool $189,000. So then, does it beat a Cessna 172 at the same price point? If the only metric is the wow factor, then the answer is an emphatic yes. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The shooting, which occurred on June 18 in a village just outside Aparan, a town 55 kilometers north of Yerevan, left two local residents dead and five others wounded. Law-enforcement authorities said it was sparked a road rage incident that escalated into a violent clash between two groups of young men. The presumed shooter, a 32-year-old resident of Yerevan, was arrested on June 20. Investigators have made no other arrests so far. They have denied media reports claiming that the Aparan men were attacked because of publicly swearing at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian. The angry relatives of the shooting victims also denied any political reasons for the deadly dispute as they demonstrated in Aparan on Saturday. But they confirmed reports that the attackers included close relatives of Edgar Parvanian, a deputy governor of surrounding Aragatsotn province, and Matevos Asatrian, a member of the Armenian parliament representing Pashinians Civil Contract party. The protesters said that both officials based in Aparan must leave the rural community because they are responsible for the fatal shooting. The brother of that parliament deputy and two cousins of Edgar Parvanian were present there [at the scene of the shooting,] said Gevorg Harutiunian, the father of one of the two murdered men. Parvanian did not deny his relatives involvement while insisting that he personally is not to blame for what happened. He said he hopes investigators will ascertain all causes and circumstances of the crime. The protesting relatives said they fear that the ongoing investigation will be a cover-up because of the local officials linked to Armenias political leadership. They demanded that Pashinian meet with them and hear their concerns. Six days have passed and those people have still not been arrested, said Abraham Mikaelian whose 27-year-old nephew Hmayak was also shot dead on June 18. This gives us reason to suspect that the case is not investigated properly. The Investigative Committee did not comment on the course of the probe and the protesters demands. The chief of the police department of Aparan and surrounding villages was sacked three days after the shooting. Opposition leaders in Yerevan have blamed Pashinian for the shooting, saying that he has encouraged violent reprisals against his detractors. Representatives of the ruling party have rejected the accusations. US sends destroyer to South China Sea after provocative spy plane flyover in Taiwan Straits By Liu Xuanzun (Global Times) 11:09, June 27, 2022 The photo taken on April 8, 2022 shows a frigate maneuvers in full speed during a combat training exercise somewhere in the South China Sea staged by a frigate flotilla with the navy under the PLA Southern Theatre Command in early April, 2022.Photo:eng.chinamil.com.cn The US Navy reportedly sent a warship to the South China Sea on Saturday, only one day after a US spy plane provocatively flew over the Taiwan Straits under the close monitoring of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA). Chinese experts said on Sunday that the US vessel might also stir up troubles in the South China Sea or the Taiwan Straits, yet the PLA would be ready to deal with any aggressions it could make. On Saturday, the USS Benfold destroyer entered the South China Sea through the Verde Island Passage in the Philippines, the South China Sea Strategic Situation Probing Initiative, a Beijing-based think tank, said on Sunday, citing open ship tracking data. The USS Benfold is a habitual offender in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, observers noted. For example, in January 2022, the destroyer illegally entered the Chinese territorial waters off the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea without authorization from the Chinese government, leading the PLA Southern Theater Command to organize naval and air forces to track, monitor and warn it away. In July 2021, it transited the Taiwan Straits, with the PLA Eastern Theater Command tracking and monitoring it through its entire course. The US warship's Saturday entry to the South China Sea came only one day after the US sent a P-8A anti-submarine aircraft which flew over the Taiwan Straits on Friday, when the PLA Eastern Theater Command organized aerial and ground forces and tracked and monitored its movement throughout its entire course on high alert. Also, based on past experience, it is noticed that the US provocatively sends warships through the Taiwan Straits on a monthly basis, but it has seemingly not sent one warship in June as of yet, and instead sent a military aircraft. Recent US military activities in the region attracted attention from media particularly because Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin made clear earlier this month that there is no such thing as "international waters" on the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and that China has sovereignty, sovereign rights and jurisdiction over the Taiwan Straits. Over the past week, the PLA reportedly held large-scale military drills around the island of Taiwan, sending dozens of warplanes, including fighter jets, bombers and early warning aircraft, and a number of warships, including destroyers and frigates, to the southwest and east of the island of Taiwan, and east and south to Japan in an apparent response to recent repeated provocations by the "Taiwan independence" secessionists and US, Japanese interference forces. It is possible that US warships would attempt to trespass into Chinese territorial waters in the South China Sea again, or transit the Taiwan Straits to provocatively challenge China's stance over its rights in the region, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Sunday. The PLA has a series of contingency plans to counter activities by US warships and warplanes in the South China Sea and the Taiwan Straits, Song said. China announced military exercises from Monday to Thursday in part of the South China Sea, China Central Television reported on Saturday, citing the Maritime Safety Administration of China. The US should not take the PLA's restraint as weakness, as the PLA will take resolute measures to counter any threat that endangers China's sovereignty and security, Song said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Hordes of Flying Carpenter Ants Along Oregon Coast Published 06/26/22 at 7:25 PM PST By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Oregon Coast) Well, here's something you don't see every day: hordes of flying ants on the beaches of the Oregon coast. (Photo courtesy Tracy Thomas) FLYING ants you say? Wait, what? Yes, we'll have to back up in a moment. Oregon Coast Beach Connection received an eyebrow-raising report from Newport part-timer Tracy Thomas on Saturday. A large number of them suddenly appeared today at Nye Beach in Newport, Thomas said. Right at the tideline. A lot of them are dead, but there are plenty that are alive. First, yes, Virginia: there are flying ants. In this case, you can see it's a flying carpenter ant and not a termite. The antennae is the first ID marker on that. This will surprise many, but plenty of others who've had to deal with ant infestations will know firsthand. A flying carpenter ant in your home in winter isn't a good sign. Outdoors, it's no big deal. There are different types of carpenter ants, and the two largest are the winged carpenter ants, which are the breeders, coming in both male and female, according to scientists like those at OSU. Largest of the two winged ants is the female, and together with the male they live in nests and create more. Appearance of flying carpenter ants is a rather regular thing, and it takes a run of hot weather to bring them, usually from June to August. Flying ants are known as alates, and when they're out and about like this it means they're trying to get it on. It happens all the time, said Keith Chandler, manager of Seaside Aquarium. It happens when there's an east wind and it's really warm. In fact, the aquarium's Tiffany Boothe confirmed they were seeing some in Seaside as well. Back in Newport, Thomas was really surprised by the abrupt appearance and the numbers. Newport We were here in Newport for the last week, so noticed the sudden appearance of the flying things, she said. There were hundreds of them, maybe more. A lot were dead, and birds were having a nice little feast at the tideline. There were plenty still alive though. I mostly saw them crawling around vs flying. I have seen a few outdoors around our place, which is about 4 blocks off the beach. Eeew So what makes flying carpenter ants hit the beaches of the Oregon coast? According to scientists in the UK and even in Oregon (quoted some 40 years ago), the east winds knock them off course and onto the beaches. It's like those velella velella that wash up onshore in huge numbers, or most any kind of jellyfish: they're not strong swimmers so their fate is determined by ocean currents. Still, around the Oregon coast and much of Washington too it usually just happens in fall when the warmth and east winds dominate. Like that one year with Seaside's car show held in September. I remember a few years ago during the car show, they were everywhere, said Chandler. They were covering the cars all over downtown. It's not just flying carpenter ants getting seen. Boothe said ladybugs are out and about as well. There has been some chatter about these on the southern Oregon coast lately too. Lots of ladybugs along the high tideline and in the dune grass, Boothe said. We collected both a carpenter ant and a lady bug for the Beach Discovery Program so we could talk to people about the beach bugs that you may not expect to find on the beach. A few news stories around the world in recent years have talked about enormous swarms of carpenter ants flying around, with one in Nantucket, Mass., last year that included a man complaining of something like 30 of them covering him a lot during one walk about. In 1985, there was a notorious incident of swarms of them on the Oregon coast at Manzanita, where wildlife officials said this was due to east winds knocking them towards the beach. In that event, joggers complained they were slipping on them on the beach. Oregon Coast Hotels for this event - South Coast Hotels - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Photo of Bandon Beach courtesy Manuela Durson - see Manuela Durson Fine Arts for more Florence, courtesy Florence Visitors Center More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, often shortened to 5SOS, left fans in consternation at Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in The Woodlands Sunday night after one of their members walked off the stage mid-concert, cutting the show short. The band took the stage for their set at 8:40 p.m. Sunday following a performance by English indie rock band Pale Waves. However, after a few songs, 27-year-old drummer Ashton Irwin, one of four members of the band, was reportedly escorted off the stage halfway through the concert. 5SOS issued a statement Monday afternoon via Instagram story confirming that Irwin was actually taken to a local hospital where he was treated for heat exhaustion. "As you may have heard, last night's show ended early due to a medical incident during the show," the statement read. "Upon experiencing physical symptoms, Ashton was taken to a local hospital for test results and medical review. As a result, it was advised Ashton had experienced extreme heat exhaustion." Instagram/@5SOS The band said Irwin is doing OK and is recovering well. "We apologize to all the fans in attendance for the show being cut short," the statement read, which also advised ticket holders to check their emails for updates as soon as they receive more information. In a subsequent update, the band said following medical advice, they also postponed their Tuesday concert in Rogers, Arkansas to July 26. The performance will now be the last show of their North American Tour. "We are so sorry to cause inconvenience to your plans, but we promise for those of you who can still make it, we will put on the show of your lives," they wrote. Instagram/@5SOS Irwin took to Twitter to provide updates on his condition, saying he is looking after himself and getting rest. "I suffered from an intense migraine brought on by exhaustion and overheating onstage which made me loose my vision and gave me symptoms of stroke in the left side of my body," he wrote. "So the decision was to end the show there and then." Irwin said he "was in tears in the ambulance" because he felt like he let his fans down. "Its always amazing to play a massive energetic show in every environment thrown at us. Unfortunately this time my body gave out due to heat exhaustion," he wrote. "I feel so loved and looked after by my brothers and team and all of you," Irwin continued. "This is the price a dehydrated drummer pays when he takes on Texas heat. All will be made right, ticketing wise, and rescheduling wise. I love you. Thanks for the love. Ill be back onstage ASAP! X" However, Ashley Gravois, public relations and educational outreach manager for the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, announced in an emailed statement Tuesday that The Woodlands concert will not be rescheduled for a later date and tickets will be refunded. "Unfortunately, due to a medical emergency within the band the 5 Seconds of Summer Take my Hand tour on June 26, 2022, at The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion ended early," the statement read. "The band has now announced the show will be canceled and not rescheduled." Videos posted by fans online show the moment a crew member announced the cancellation. "Unfortunately, the show cannot continue tonight," he said. "Hold onto your tickets. We will reach out with more information soon." In the video, shocked fans can be heard shrieking and shouting expletives in response. *Warning: Video contains NSFW language* Some fans reported seeing an ambulance at the venue as they exited. One video showed a crew member running over to Irwin with what appeared to be an oxygen tank. The Lone Star State has been gripped by an ongoing heat wave during the month of June. Temperatures in the Woodlands Sunday peaked at 97 degrees. A 5SOS fan page wrote, "5SOS are taking a break from the show while Ashton receives medical attention probably from heat exhaustion or just exhaustion in general. Apparently the venue also has run out of water for the pit." Thousands of 5SOS fans wrote messages of support online, sending Irwin's name into trending topics on Twitter Monday. "Screw Texas heat why would you do that to 5SOS," tweeted one disappointed fan along with a meme showing a gun aimed at the sun. "Respect 5SOS. Especially Ashton. They've been playing in extreme heat for the past couple of days. There is no reason for anyone to be mad at them for not finishing this show," wrote another. "Keeping Ashton, Luke, Michael, and Calum in my thoughts tonight," tweeted another fan. "I hope youre okay Ash we love you so so much. As much as we love to see 5SOS their health is more important." The Woodlands show was part of 5SOS's 2022 Take My Hand North American Tour, which just kicked off this month. The band previously performed in Austin Friday and Irving, Texas on Saturday. 5SOS has released four studio albums and several EPs since forming in 2011. The band has amassed more the 22 million followers on Instagram and Twitter. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Mill Creek, Twin Dikes and San Augustine parks in Jasper County are now hospitable for lake goers with special needs. After identifying a need for handicap-accessible park additions, Jasper County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy Scott Duncan reached out to the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers for help, according to a news release from the Sheriff's Office. "The Corp of Engineers donated the materials needed to construct docks with kayak launchers and hand railings for those with disabilities to be able to access these activities more easily," the release said. "Corp members, along with many Jasper County employees, donated their time and efforts to install the updates at Mill Creek, Twin Dikes, and San Augustine parks." The U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, Jasper County Judge Mark Allen, Jasper County Sheriff Mitchell Newman, Chief Deputy Scott Duncan, and Pct. 1 Commissioner Seth Martindale showcased the completion of the project Wednesday. "No time was wasted in bringing the project full circle," the release said. Duncan expressed his gratitude in the release for the improvements not only for the communities, but also for his own family. Nothing is harder than having to leave your kid out, or watch your other kids play while your kid sits in a wheelchair, and they cant enjoy the experience. Duncan said. Duncan hopes to continue the partnership to complete more projects, such as installing handicap-accessible playground additions within the parks. Jasper County Judge Mark Allen said that the county has a long-standing relationship with the US Army Corp of Engineers, and that their continued support is always appreciated. They have been with us during major disasters, and they have been with us during beautiful days like today," Allen said. "Thats what its all about, providing for our community, providing for our future, for our children, and providing for our elderly to be able to have a great recreational opportunity. BOISE, Idaho (AP) A regional Planned Parenthood organization is suing Idaho over its trigger law abortion ban, contending the ban violates Idaho residents rights under the state Constitution and that it is so vague that physicians will not know when they can legally help patients who are miscarrying or facing medical emergencies. Dr. Caitlin Gustafson, an abortion provider, joined with Planned Parenthood Great Northwest, Hawaii, Alaska, Indiana, Kentucky in the lawsuit filed in the Idaho Supreme Court on Monday. The Planned Parenthood organization operates two reproductive health care clinics in Idaho and is in the process of opening another just over the state line in Ontario, Oregon. It is abhorrent that we have now entered an era where the delivery of safe essential health care will be criminalized, Gustafson said in a press release. Physicians take an oath to provide the care patients need to keep them safe, so we cannot stand by while the government intrudes on this deeply personal and complex medical decision. The Idaho law, passed in 2020, makes it a felony punishable by up to five years in prison for anyone to perform or attempt to perform an abortion. The law says health care providers can attempt to defend themselves against criminal charges by saying that the abortion was necessary to prevent the death of the pregnant person, or that the pregnant person showed them a police report alleging rape or incest. The law also requires physicians to use the medical method that provides the best opportunity for the unborn child to survive. Specifically, Idahos trigger law requires a judgement from the U.S. Supreme Court, which follows the courts Friday opinion and allows time to allow requests for a potential rehearing. Its not clear when the court will issue its judgement, but its expected fairly soon, starting the clock on Idahos trigger law. Planned Parenthood is asking the state's highest court to put the case on a fast track so that it can hear arguments and issue a decision before mid-August. The Idaho Attorney General's Office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden generally declines to comment on pending litigation. Earlier this year Planned Parenthood and Gustafson filed a separate lawsuit over another Idaho anti-abortion law that allows potential relatives of the fetus or embryo to sue medical providers who perform an abortion. That law is on hold while the lawsuit works through the Idaho Supreme Court, and a hearing in the case is scheduled for August. Philippine funeral workers carry the remains of two alleged drug-war victims exhumed from a rented crypt at Navotas public cemetery in metro Manila after its five-year lease expired, Feb. 28, 2022. Rights groups in the Philippines have cheered a request by a prosecutor with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to reopen an investigation into the deadly drug war of President Rodrigo Duterte, who leaves office later this week. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan filed a motion with the pre-trial chamber on Friday asking to resume his probe of the drug war in which police and vigilantes allegedly killed thousands of suspected dealers and addicts during Dutertes first three years as president and for the previous five years in his hometown, Davao. The ICC prosecutors request to resume the investigation into alleged crimes against humanity in the Philippine governments drug war is a booster shot for accountability, Human Rights Watch Senior Counsel Maria Elena Vignoli said in a statement on Sunday. The government has not been serious about justice for these crimes while the victims families grieve without redress and those responsible face no consequences, she said. Edre Olalia, president of the National Union of Peoples Lawyers, said President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. should listen to his chosen National Security Adviser Clarita Carlos, who said the ICC prosecutors office should proceed with its investigation. Let them investigate. As a matter of fact, I said, you invite them here. We have a team of scholars like us who can accompany them. Give them space to obtain data they need. Then, let them have their conclusions, whatever it is, Carlos said in a televised interview over the weekend. You need to confront that issue or else, it will rankle, she said. The ICC announced the investigation in September 2021 but backed off two months later to allow the Philippines to conduct its own probe. Since then, Khan said he has found no legitimate state investigation into killings committed in Dutertes southern hometown of Davao City from 2011 to 2016, which includes his term as mayor, and drug-related killings in the country during his presidency from 2016 to 2019, when the Philippines withdrew from the ICC. The Office of the Prosecutor, pursuant to Article 18 of the Rome Statute, requests Pre-Trial Chamber I to authorize the resumption of the investigation into the situation in the Philippines, Khan said in the 53-page motion posted on the ICC website on Friday. The pre-trial chamber has to approve Khans motion before the investigation can be reopened. On Sunday, acting presidential spokesman Martin Andanar said the Philippine government had been transparent as it investigated all deaths that have arisen from lawful drug enforcement operations. Let these efforts of the Philippine government run their course. After all, reciprocity is a key principle in the methods of work of the ICC. To veer away from this principle will only reveal the politicization that has infiltrated the ICCs ranks, Andanar said in a statement. In his statement, Khan, the ICC prosecutor, said information submitted by the Philippine government to date was insufficient. He said the Department of Justice had done desk review, which does not constitute investigative activity. The information about cases collated from the dockets of national and regional prosecution offices in the Philippines likewise does not demonstrate that concrete and progressive steps have been or are being taken by the competent national authorities, he said. International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan speaks to reporters at the Ministry of Justice in Khartoum, Sudan, Aug. 12, 2021. [Marwan Ali/AP] Call for Marcos to step up Loretta Rosales, a former Commission on Human Rights chairwoman, called on the incoming Marcos administration to determine if Khan will be allowed to come to the Philippines and conduct his investigation. Its a welcome development. But the ball is now up to the Marcos regime if they will allow him in. After all, Marcos has said he wants to rehabilitate the family name. This is the chance for him to do so, she told BenarNews. Marcos and his running mate Sara Duterte Dutertes daughter won the election last month in landslides. Activists fear the two could protect the outgoing leader from prosecution once he loses legal immunity upon leaving office. Meanwhile, local rights group Karapatan on Saturday called on the United Nations Human Rights Council to pursue an independent probe into the human rights situation in the country a long overdue measure, the group said. As President Duterte ends his term on June 30, he leaves a bloody trail of lives claimed by state violence and a long list of human rights violations committed with impunity, as his notorious legacy. Justice and accountability are words and concepts that Duterte and his cohorts disregard but the victims, their families and human rights advocates will continue to persevere to pursue these, Karapatan said in a statement. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 79F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 58F. Winds light and variable. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Lyon: elle raconte son combat et sa prise en charge a l'hopital contre l'anorexie mentale Tombee dans l'anorexie mentale a 15 ans, cette Lyonnaise raconte son combat et sa prise en charge a l'hopital. UKRAINE U.S. Senator Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv this weekend to discuss the ongoing Russian assault on Ukraine. It was an honor to meet with President Zelenskyy this weekend to discuss the ongoing Russian assault against Ukraine. Ive been in many war zones, but Ive never been to one where Ive seen people rebuilding as the war continues. The Ukrainian people are incredibly resilient, endlessly adaptable, and courageously willing to fight. We cannot let them down. Ukraine can win this war, but only if we help get it what it needs, before it needs it. I was taken aback by the atrocities I saw firsthand in Irpin and Hostomel, and we cannot stand by and watch these happen again. I will continue to do everything in my power to ensure the Biden Administration uses the authorities Congress has given to provide President Zelenskyy and Ukrainian defense forces exactly what they need to end this conflict. Ukraine must win this fight. In addition to meeting with President Zelenskyy, Risch walked around Kyiv, Irpin, and Hostomel to see and hear firsthand the atrocities and destruction that have been committed by Russia in Ukraine. House Bill 6108, Raise age to buy tobacco: Passed 29 to 9 in the Senate To raise from 18 to 21 the minimum age to buy tobacco in Michigan. Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 House Bill 6109, Raise age to enter cigar bar: Passed 28 to 10 in the Senate To raise the minimum age to enter a cigar bar or "tobacco specialty products" store from 18 to 21. Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 House Bill 5244, Repeal COVID epidemic workplace illness law: Passed 37 to 1 in the Senate To repeal a 2020 law that authorized employee lawsuits against an employer who takes an adverse employment action or retaliates against an employee who is absent from work during the declared coronavirus epidemic emergency; and that prohibited employees who tested positive for COVID and had symptoms from reporting for work. Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 House Bill 6128, Repeal COVID epidemic business liability waiver: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate To repeal a 2020 COVID epidemic amendment to the state's occupational health and safety law that gave businesses liability exemptions for exposure of an individual to COVID-19 on the premises, unless this was caused by a reckless disregard of a substantial and unnecessary risk that an individual would be exposed, and as long as it can establish that operations were in substantial compliance with the law. Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 Senate Bill 888, Create government cryptocurrency commission: Passed 28 to 10 in the Senate To create a new state government blockchain and cryptocurrency commission comprised of specified officials and political appointees including industry representatives, for the purpose of "fostering an expansion of the industry in this state." The commission would also be tasked with examining the feasibility, validity, risks, and admissibility, including privacy risks and benefits of using blockchain technology in state and local government and Michigan-based businesses; and identifying best practices for enabling blockchain technology and cryptocurrency transactions." Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 Senate Bill 563, Require public beach safety website warnings: Passed 38 to 0 in the Senate To require municipalities with a public beach to post on a website specified information on beach safety and anti-drowning techniques, and require state natural resource regulators to create and promulgate the safety tips. Y Rick Outman (R) Six Lakes, Sen. Dist. 33 Y Curt VanderWall (R) Ludington, Sen. Dist. 35 House Bill 5487, Mandate certain merchant disclosures on eBay type sites: Passed 89 to 15 in the House To prescribe detailed disclosures that high-volume third-party sellers (more than 200 'consumer product' sales in a year) would have to make to an online marketplace (like eBay), including the seller's full name, location and contact information, whether the seller makes, imports or resells consumer products, and more. The site would then have to post a phone number on the seller's offerings for reporting "suspicious marketplace activity." The bill is supported by a broad coalition of large retail chains with outlets in this state. Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100 N Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102 Senate Bill 1058, Authorize government granting approval to sell certain products: Passed 100 to 4 in the House To give state agriculture department regulators the authority to issue certificates of free sale if requested by a plant grower or nursery. This would verify their products are legally sold or distributed in this state and on the open market with the approval of the department. The bill does not mandate producers get the certificate or ban sales by ones who have not. Y Jason Wentworth (R) Clare, Rep. Dist. 97 Y Scott VanSingel (R) Grant, Rep. Dist. 100 Y Michele Hoitenga (R) Manton, Rep. Dist. 102 House Resolution 290, Urge President Joe Biden to enforce border and immigration laws: Passed 65 to 39 in the House To resolve that the Michigan House urges President Joe Biden "to reject radical open border policies and to enforce our nation's immigration laws." Hilleman Laboratories, CEO, Dr Raman Rao explains how training LMICs through the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN), a voluntary public health-driven alliance of vaccine manufacturers is engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and supply of high-quality vaccines and biologics Asia Pacific is home to more than half of the worlds population and bears a significant burden of infectious disease, particularly in the low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Prevalent infections such as dengue, rotavirus, cholera, pneumococcal and meningococcal diseases continue to threaten LMICs in the region. At the same time, the frequency of new epidemics and pandemics such as coronavirus, Zika, Nipah etc are on the rise. The threat of infectious diseases in Asia Pacific The COVID-19 pandemic had undoubtedly exposed limitations in healthcare systems ability to rapidly scale up capacity and respond to infectious outbreaks, which suggests a need for countries to strengthen public health efforts and pandemic preparedness as a first line of defence against infectious disease outbreaks. When COVID-19 first hit, healthcare services around the world were under enormous pressure. Overcrowded hospitals, global shortages of protective personal equipment, and exhausted doctors and nurses battling to save lives with scarce resources were evidence of the insufficient ability of healthcare systems to deal with the outbreak. Building resilient health systems requires an integrated approach and an ecosystem of diverse stakeholders to address a broad range of challenges. Pharmaceutical companies around the world recognise the importance of pandemic preparedness and supply chain resilience. Some have set up vaccine manufacturing plants in the region to develop timely, novel, and affordable vaccines and biologics for infectious diseases while others have put aside funding for vaccine research to prepare for Disease X. Hilleman Laboratories mission is to develop innovative and affordable vaccines and biologics against infectious diseases, especially those in LMICs. We recognise the integral role that technology transfer training programmes play in enabling vaccine manufacturers in LMICs to acquire the knowledge and capabilities required to successfully produce vaccines and biologics while ensuring sustainable vaccine supply in the long run. Building Resilient Health Systems: Technology Transfer Training Programmes The COVID-19 crisis has shone a spotlight on onshoring manufacturing capabilities to reduce the amount of time it takes to get vaccines to populations and to build resilience for future health emergencies. In efforts to support pandemic preparedness, countries around the world are working to increase their vaccine development and manufacturing capacity so that they are well-equipped to ramp up vaccine supplies and distribution in a timely manner, thereby also increasing vaccine access. However, vaccine development and manufacturing are both expensive and complex. This is where technology access and transfer play a major role in bridging the time and expense gap. As such, technology transfer is widely used at transitional stages and product life cycle interfaces to facilitate rapid scale-up of production. This increased production capacity ensures that medicines remain accessible to as many patients as possible. The goal of technology transfer is to enable a receiving site to manufacture a product successfully. This is achieved by the transfer of product and process knowledge from one source to the other; for example, between development and manufacturing, and within or between manufacturing sites to achieve product realization. This knowledge transfer not only helps developing countries to manufacture vaccines successfully; it ensures that life-saving vaccines and biologics can be subsequently reproduced by them. This will lead to a sustainable supply of vaccines in the long run. Technology transfers benefit companies that are in the pre-clinical and clinical phases but lack the expertise required for vaccine manufacturing. During these phases, companies usually liaise with a contract manufacturing organization for drug manufacturing. Once they receive positive results from their clinical trials, the companies can execute the technology transfer. This year, Hilleman Laboratories is rolling out a training programme for LMICs through the Developing Countries Vaccine Manufacturers Network (DCVMN), which is a voluntary public health-driven alliance of vaccine manufacturers engaged in research, development, manufacturing, and supply of high-quality vaccines and biologics that are accessible to protect people against known and emerging infectious diseases globally. This training programme is the first of its kind in Singapore to be held on an international scale for participants from multiple countries. In partnership with DCVMN and subject matter experts from other like-minded companies as well as Singapores health regulatory agency, the nine-day programme offers essential professional exposure and guidance on technical mastery which are crucial during process optimization, development, and transfer. It has been structured as an immersive learning experience, with daily lectures alongside hands-on laboratory sessions. Trainees will also design and present a proposal for a technology transfer case study. The training programme is a significant milestone as it realises our goals for more effective vaccine delivery in LMICs. In establishing a structured and tailored training programme with support from local ecosystem partners in Singapore, we hope to close gaps in communication and delivery. It is also our first major contribution to widening medical access in developing countries following the set-up of our global headquarters in Singapore. This effort will go a long way in enhancing Singapores regional leadership as a vaccine development and training hub, while highlighting her role in contributing to the skill preparedness of vaccine manufacturing arms in LMICs. It will also enhance and level up skillsets in these countries to improve the quality of their vaccines, which will increase the likelihood of meeting regulatory approval standards when resupplied to high-income countries such as Singapore and South Korea. Overall, it supports the formation of a long-term partnership with DCVMN, which could facilitate Singapores direct access to vaccine manufacturers and bolster vaccine security for future pandemics. An Integrated Approach Towards Pandemic Preparedness Technology transfer programmes are one of the ways pharmaceutical companies can play a role in charting a path toward pandemic preparedness. However, they need to be adapted to be relevant to the specific regions. Subject matter experts including Hilleman Laboratories and our partners need to have a good understanding of the contextual differences between developed and developing countries and create training materials that are relevant for specific markets. Additionally, technology transfer programmes require consistent upskilling so that countries in both developed and developing markets are trained to work with new technologies. Trainers and trainees will need to work hand-in-hand to track learning progress so that LMICs can fully benefit from these programmes. Last but not least, technology transfer remains a challenging process due to its complexity, involvement of a large team of experts, time investment, and the right regulatory registrationsall of which need to be set against the highest quality standards as required of vaccine products. Professional institutions such as the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering (ISPE), organisations such as the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisations (GAVI), Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), or Parenteral Drug Association (PDA) are best placed to lead collaborative efforts, but pharmaceutical players can also proactively build long-term partnerships with like-minded organisations that are part of the larger ecosystem, working to develop and produce new and improved vaccines to positively impact global public health. Dr Mansukh Mandaviya virtually lays foundation stone of CGHS Wellness Centre and Lab at Avadi Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Mansukh Mandaviya during his two-day visit to Tamil Nadu (TN) and Puducherry, visited the Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai. Dr Mandaviya informed that the Central Government has allocated more than Rs 2600 crore for the health of Tamil Nadu under National Health Mission and Rs 404 crore for medical infrastructure advancement under the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission. Dr Mandaviya also virtually laid the foundation stone of CGHS Wellness Centre and Lab at Avadi. Informing that the Central Government will soon launch the One Nation, One Dialysis programme, under the Pradhan Mantri National Dialysis Programme, Dr Mandaviya said through this scheme, any patient can get a dialysis facility from anywhere in the country. Novartis will link with The Wellcome Trust, the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative and other partners The World Health Organization (WHO) has announced that Novartis pharmaceutical corporation is committing $250 M to the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) and malaria. This comes in the wake of the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs, which was held alongside the 26th Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM), on 23 June 2022. The Kigali Declaration, announced at the event, aims to mobilize the political will and commitments required to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 3 (the health goal), which includes NTDs, and to deliver the targets set in WHOs NTD road map for 20212030. The financial commitment announced by Novartis will help fund cutting-edge research and development, and will focus specifically on developing new, effective treatments for three NTDs (Chagas disease, dengue and visceral leishmaniasis), in addition to cryptosporidiosis and malaria. PROVIDING SUCCOUR BY UAVS Drone technology has ceased to being just a mere fanciful and impractical aspect of Hollywood blockbusters, making headway into almost every aspect of modern industries and services. Naturally, healthcare isnt far behind in leveraging this nifty and reliable tech to its advantage. Lets see how deep has been the penetration of this aerial supply chain wonder gadget. Primedia Group has appointed Tholoana Ncheke as group legal counsel. Tholoana Ncheke is an accomplished attorney, highly proficient in corporate law, taxation, administrative law, litigation and media and communication law. Primedias Group CEO Jonathan Procter, said, "As head of legal for Primedia Broadcasting, Tholoana has been exemplary in ensuring top-notch regulatory compliance and commercial legal support for our broadcasting division. Her promotion to group legal counsel is well deserved. We are confident in Tholoanas ability to coordinate and manage legal strategy across the entire group and wish her well in her new position."Prior to her joining Primedia, Tholoana was the executive responsible for policy and regulation at the National Association of Broadcasters Commercial Radio Committee. She had also served on the Reference Expert Group on Broadcasting Policy Review for the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies, and as Legal officer at the Film and Publication Board (FPB)Tholoana has lectured students at the University of Witwatersrands School of Literature, Language and Media Learning Networking Knowledge Centre, on global and Southern African technology, policy and regulatory trends, broadcasting, and digital media.Commenting on her appointment, Tholoana said, Since joining Primedia, I have immersed myself in the commercial side of broadcasting where I was given the opportunity to provide my input and lead on some key commercial and regulatory engagements. My promotion to group legal counsel recognises the contribution I have made and is also a demonstration of the commitment of the new management of the Primedia Group to placing young Black female talent in the foreground. I am looking forward to working with Jonathan and the team in ensuring that Primedia entrenches its position as a bastion of excellence in the media industry. Subscribe to daily business and company news across 19 industries SUBSCRIBE Cape Town Mid- to senior designer We are a design agency in Cape Town and we are looking for a designer to join us for 3 months in our office. Freelancers are welcome... The white man bad, muh white supremacy narrative is out of control. It is ultra-simplistic, tribalistic, and panders to the lowest-common-denominator. MSNBC, Huffington Post et al. would have you believe theres a racist, misogynistic Klan goon lurking behind every corner, lying in wait under every vehicle, waiting to pounce on his next Person of Color hate-crime victim. And the white supremacy spectre has a special thirst for members of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI ) community. (Ironically, the acronym alphabet-soup term AAPI, the product of diversity-obsessed academics, is itself over-simplistic and prejudicial some might even say racist as it groups together heterogeneous ethnic identities as disparate as Mongolians and Guamanian into a single category.) The racist-whites-beating-Asians-in-the-street pandemic narrative is now ubiquitous. It just one in a rolling list of Social Justice current thingsessentially the follow-up to Russiagate and the predecessor to the Jan. 6th insurrection against democracy. Without necessarily diving into statistics, the white supremacy anti-Asian crisis of the corporate media should arouse the audiences suspicion. But because beating dead horses is what must be done, we offer statistics disproving the Big Lie anyway. Documenting the medias unending deceptions so as to fully discredit them and ensure no one ever trusts them again has utility. Lets start with 2018 US DOJ Criminal Victimization statistics. According to the data in Table 14, blacks were responsible for 27.5% of crimes against Asians. Since theyre only 14% of the population, that would mean they disproportionately commit crimes against Asians at nearly double the rate as one might expect given their numbers, all things being equal. Whites, who are nearly 60% of the population, in contrast, committed 24.1% of crimes against Asians. And, again, according to the US DOJs 2020 Hate Crime Statistics: Of the 6,780 known offenders [of hate crimes]: 55.1% were White 21.2% were Black or African American 15.7% race unknown Blacks, again, make up 14% of the total population, which would mean they were vastly overrepresented as a percentage of hate crime perpetrators. On the other hand, whites, again, account for 58% of the total population, which means they were underrepresented as a percentage of hate crime perpetrators. Lets take a look at some anecdotal accounts: New York Post, 3/29/2022 CNN, 2/16/2021 ABC7 News, San Francisco, Feb 1, 2021 Pro-tip on corporate media literacy: you can ascertain for certain whether the assailants were white or not immediately from the headline. If they were white, the headlines above would have read video shows white men hold down and beat Asian man or something to that effect that highlighted the race of the perpetrator. Because they were People of Color, in each of those cases the headlines leave out the racial identity of the attackers. Contrast that treatment of the perpetrator to the lone publicized instance of white-on-Asian crime in recent history the Atlanta-area spa shooting. LA Times, March 19, 2021 Rolling Stone, March 17, 2021 Of course, the left never lets obvious facts derail the chosen narrative. If the left corporate media has one strength, its sticking to the script. Even when the corporate media admits that blacks disproportionately target Asians in racially motivated attacks, contorting themselves into unimaginable logical pretzels, they blame, drumroll white supremacy! Amid the disturbing rise in attacks Black people are also attacking Asian Americans anti-Asian racism has the same source as anti-Black racism: white supremacy. So when a Black person attacks an Asian person, the encounter is fueled perhaps by racism, but very specifically by white supremacy. White supremacy does not require a white person to perpetuate it. - The big problem the Social Justice corporate state has on its hands is that Asians largely invalidate the white supremacy Persons of Color victimhood narrative. Their uniquely American success story contradicts and refutes it. Asians except for a tiny fringe of academics dont participate in the oppression Olympics. Marxist-influenced victimhood narratives dont jibe with the Asian cultural predisposition to accept social hierarchies and adjust their personal behavior to conform to them. Once, in 2009, during a state school sociology course which, as a 20-year-old undergraduate, I hadnt yet realized was more ideological indoctrination than education one of the modules covered was titled the model minority myth. The thesis was that the evil whites laud Asians as false model minorities to use them as weapons against other marginalized communities such as African-Americans as if to ask, If they can, why cant you? Americans of Asian descent have higher education levels, lower incarceration rates, higher incomes, lower violent crime rates, and a myriad other markers of economic and social success not only compared to other minority racial groups, but also compared to the historically dominant whites. These amazing statistical facts alone without the need for further exploration contradict the white supremacy social justice narrative. The reality which anyone who has lived outside of the West knows through personal experience is that modern Western civilization is literally the least racist in the history of the world. This is true both culturally and in terms of the structural legal framework that directly outlaws racial discrimination. It is the most accommodating to outside cultures and ethnic identities. It is the most open to new ideas. It is the most concerned with individual merit over collective identity, racial or otherwise In other words, its the closest manifestation to MLKs dream anywhere in the world. So, then, its no wonder the identity-obsessed, collectivist left wants the West destroyed from within, by undermining all the sociopolitical and philosophical foundations that built it through centuries of struggle. True racial equality, after all, would render their gravy train obsolete, in the same way a prison union would never approve of marijuana decriminalization. The race hustle would be lost and corporate-sponsored, faux-radical millionaire race hustlers like Ibram X. Kendi would have to invent a new scam. Or get a respectable job. Ben Bartee is a Bangkok-based American journalist with opposable thumbs. Follow his stuff via Armageddon Prose, Substack, Patreon, Gab, and Twitter. Bitcoin public address: 14gU3aHBXkNq8bDqmibfnubV7kSJqfx5LX An Indiana Oath Keepers leader who was in charge of security operations for the group in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, was indicted by a federal grand jury on June 24 on five counts related to violence at the U.S. Capitol. Members of the Oath Keepers are seen during a protest against the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. (Jim Bourg/Reuters) Michael Greene, 39, of Indianapolis, was arrested in Indiana on a warrant from Washington. An indictment unsealed June 24 charges Greene with conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding (aiding and abetting), conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and tampering with documents or proceedings (aiding and abetting). Greene was added to a superseding indictment against seven other Oath Keepers, including Donovan Crowl, Sandra Parker, Bennie Parker, Laura Steele, Connie Meggs, William Isaacs, and James Beeks. Greene, who also goes by the name Michael Simmons, is not accused of seditious conspiracy, a charge leveled in a different indictment against nine Oath Keepers, including the groups founder, Elmer Stewart Rhodes III. Rhodes and his eight co-defendants were named in the latest 13-count superseding indictment unsealed in Washington, also on June 24. The other defendants in the seditious conspiracy case include Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Joseph Hackett, David Moerschel, Thomas Caldwell, and Edward Vallejo. The overarching cases against the Oath Keepers allege the group conspired to prevent the counting of Electoral College votes by a joint session of the U.S. Congress at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The goal, according to federal prosecutors, was to keep then-President Donald J. Trump in office and prevent Joseph R. Biden Jr. from assuming the presidency. All of the current 17 Oath Keepers defendants have pleaded not guilty to all charges. Defense attorneys say the indictments are a vast misreading and twisting of communications between group members who came to Washington to do nothing more than keep event participants safe from attacks by Antifa radicals. At 1:42 p.m. on January 6, Greene sent a text message to an acquaintance stating, Storming the capital (sic) along with a photograph that depicted the advancing mob on the west side of the Capitol grounds, the Department of Justice stated in a news release. Greene communicated with Rhodes and others during the afternoon. At about 3:09 p.m., Greene texted an acquaintance, Congress evacuated. FBI Notes Contradict Indictments Greenes indictment surprised some case observers, coming nearly 13 months after he was interviewed by FBI agents regarding his participation with the Oath Keepers at events in various cities. As a key leader at the D.C. events on Jan. 6, his input cited in the FBI reports contradicts much of what is alleged against Rhodes and other Oath Keepers defendants. According to the FBIs case notes from interviews with Greene on May 4 and May 25, 2021, he told agents there was no Oath Keepers plan to attack the U.S. Capitol . His role on Jan. 6 was to oversee security for speakers at various events at or near the Capitol, he said. Oath Keepers who entered the Capitol building did not do so at his instruction or that of Rhodes, he told agents. Greene, who was identified in the redacted FBI notes as Person 10, told agents his job was providing VIP security at select stages where protectees would be giving speeches. The security detail encompassed stage security and the protection of those individuals as they returned to their vehicles, the FBI report said. Person 10 cited the need for this protection after the Trump rally in December [2020] when individuals had been attacked by Antifa as they were leaving the rally. Greene was standing with Rhodes near a downed fence on the northeast side of the Capitol during part of the afternoon of Jan. 6, the report said. Person 10 learned afterwards OKs had entered the U.S. Capitol, however, advised no plan by the OKs included anyone going inside the U.S. Capitol. In his FBI interviews, Greene said the message he sent out stating they have taken ground at the capital (sic) was an effort to get the Oath Keepers to regroup and leave the area of the Capitol building. Greene also told FBI agents that no Oath Keepers assaulted any law enforcement personnel or forced their way into the Capitol. Person 10 heard the door was open and the group walked in, the FBI report said. One group of Oath Keepers climbed the east steps of the Capitol below the historic Columbus Doors and went inside the Rotunda. Some of those Oath Keepers intervened in a potentially deadly standoff between a U.S. Capitol Police officer and a group of angry protesters inside the Small House Rotunda, witnesses reported. Read more here... Eyeing a post-pandemic world, the YWCA Westman Womens Shelter is looking to not just restart but expand many of its services for people in Western Manitoba. Advertisement Advertise With Us Eyeing a post-pandemic world, the YWCA Westman Womens Shelter is looking to not just restart but expand many of its services for people in Western Manitoba. Between mid-March and early July of 2020, 54 per cent of victims services surveyed by the Canadian government reported an increase in the number of people affected by domestic violence that they served during that time. Owing to social distancing guidelines and restrictions that were put into place over the last two years, many victim services across the country had to change the way they operated. Physical locations were forced to close and counseling was held over the phone or via video chat. Many activities had to be curtailed or even suspended at different centres and shelters throughout Manitoba. Things were no different for the YWCA Westman Womens Shelter. Heather Symbalisty, executive director, said now that restrictions have eased and the pandemic seems to be on its way out, the shelter is creating even more programs to help people affected by domestic violence. "Were trying to create some really good community engagement and partnerships, working together with various agencies so that were moving forward in the right direction. Times have changed and we need to change with them." Carina Listauro, community engagement co-ordinator with the shelter, said the organization recently met with Westman Immigration Services to help break down some of the barriers that face immigrants in need of their services. From shame and fear to cultural mores, reporting incidents of violence can be particularly hard for this group of people. "Its still very stigmatized. People are very embarrassed and ashamed, so even just to say that youre there for them if they need it is very valuable and important for them." The fears run deep ranging from threats of deportation to separation from children. Often, the person who first comes to Canada holds the most power in the family. A lack of knowledge of the rights of women and children also contributes to why many newcomers dont reach out when faced with domestic violence. Another important aspect of reaching newcomers to Canada is working through the language barrier. Westman Womens Shelter accomplishes this by providing interpreters free of charge to their clients. A focus of the new and current programming will be reaching at-risk and vulnerable people in rural communities outside of Brandon. Since the shelter is the only one in the Westman area, its vital that people not just know about its existence but have the means to reach out and depend upon it in times of crisis victims who are escaping gender-based violence, intimate violence, family violence and domestic violence. "Some of the smaller communities dont know we exist, so we need to get the word spread that were here to help. We want to be able to provide those services," Symbalisty said. Shelter collaborators are working on accomplishing this by attempting to secure funding for transportation and visiting rural communities to give presentations and provide resources. Inclusivity seems to be the theme of the shelter from supporting newcomers, people from rural communities, victims of elder abuse, men who are experiencing domestic violence and the LGBTQ+ community. The shelter has helped 45 men since 2015, and five trans women since 2018. "It doesnt matter what your background is or where you come from. That makes no difference to us," Listauro said. "We want to support everyone, wherever theyre coming from, at the place theyre at." Some of the services the shelter offers includes an emergency domestic violence crisis line, a childrens program, emergency residential service and follow-up services. Sharing circles and support groups also help to provide victims of domestic violence with hope and help. Domestic violence is not simply a family issue; its a societal issue. Thanks to the care and services provided by the Westman Womens Shelter, everyone in the community regardless of their background has a safe place to turn to if theyre in danger. mleybourne@brandonsun.com Twitter: @miraleybourne Earlier this week, this newspaper reported (Demo, replacement on table for Park Community Centre, June 22) that After being condemned to demolition then saved by a push for renovation, Brandon City Council voted in favour of looking at the potential cost of tearing down and replacing the Park Community Centre Monday evening. Earlier this week, this newspaper reported ("Demo, replacement on table for Park Community Centre," June 22) that "After being condemned to demolition then saved by a push for renovation, Brandon City Council voted in favour of looking at the potential cost of tearing down and replacing the Park Community Centre Monday evening." This is the latest development in what has become a three-year saga. In 2019, city council voted to have the community centre demolished and replaced with green space. Council said the decision was based on the citys new Recreation and Community Facilities Master Plan, which recommended that the total number of community centres in Brandon be reduced to just five. Last July, however, council cancelled the proposed demolition of the building and chose instead to issue a request for proposals for its renovation or replacement. Eight months later, the RFP had still not been issued. City administrators proposed that instead of issuing a request for the renovation or replacement of the building, it should just be for its removal or replacement. On Monday night, however, city council instead tabled the matter for several more weeks so that city staff, councillors and Park Community Centre board members can hold further discussions. As the editorial in Wednesdays Sun described it, "Brandon City Council voted Monday evening in favour of kicking the can down the road again." With the next mayor and council election a few months away, this council might as well leave the issue for the next group to resolve. A few weeks ago, I wrote about the impact that the closure of Park School had on the neighbourhood, and on the viability of the community centre that for decades was an active social and recreational hub. It was an important part of the neighbourhood fabric, but that changed when the school closed. I have set out all that history because it provides important context for what follows. For three years, Brandonites have been told that the Recreation and Community Facilities Master Plan (a copy is found on the citys website) calls for reducing the number of community centres to just five: North End, East End, Green Acres, Valleyview and Westridge. That means that Park, South End, Central and West End community centres were on the chopping block. In fact, South End Community Centre was closed in 2017 and has now been torn down. Weve also been told that the master plan was the result of consultations with stakeholders and the community in 2018 and 2019. Thats also true. What isnt true, however, is that the stakeholders and community members who participated in those consultations recommended the closure of community centres. In fact, they said the opposite. In the "Brandon Recreation and Community Facilities Master Plan Community Report" (also found on the citys website), community centres were ranked as the second-highest priority for future investment for existing facilities, and the fifth-most visited indoor facilities. On Page 3 of that report, it says "Survey respondents were asked to select their top three priorities that Brandon should focus on when doing upgrades and investment to existing recreation facilities. These results speak to the desire for accessible, low-cost community spaces where people can gather and recreate at their own pace and schedule." When asked "What would help you access and participate in health and wellness opportunities more regularly?", the answers given by participants included "better use of community centres." When asked to decide which facilities should be provided within 10 minutes access, a community centre was among the answers given by participants. Page 8 of the report is entitled "Community and Belonging." It contains these passages: "There are very few venues you can rent in Brandon to hold a social or similar community event. If the Community Centres were to disappear entirely, this would leave a large gap in the community." "The Community Centres, at their best, can be places where people can build a sense of connection and belonging with community." "There is an opportunity to foster a next generation of volunteers as it was noted that many newcomers may not be aware that there are volunteer opportunities with Community Centres." Nowhere in the report does it recommend the closure of any community centre, let alone four of them. Rather, it talks about how important they are to the city and its neighbourhoods. Following the completion of the report and draft recreation master plan, a report (also on the citys website) was prepared by city administration for council on April 26, 2019. Nowhere in that four-page report does it recommend, or even mention, the closure of community centres. The bottom line is this: Brandonites never recommended that any community centres be closed. To the contrary, they emphasized how important those facilities are to their neighbourhoods, and how they could play an even greater role if properly funded, maintained and operated. Some obvious questions arise from this situation: How did a recommendation that Brandonites didnt advocate for community centre closures make its way into the final recreation master plan? When, if ever, were members of affected neighbourhoods like mine ever told they would be losing their community centres under this new plan? That second question rises in significance because of comments made by Riverview ward Coun. Glen Parker at Mondays council meeting. He said he didnt understand why the city commissioned a $100,000 report on community centres that said the city should reduce the number of community centres, only for council to then change course because "some residents" are unhappy theyre losing their community centre. Heres the point: The recreation master plan wasnt a report on community centres. Its a plan for recreation facilities in the city. It never even considered the social importance of community centres to neighbourhoods. Beyond that, the master plans recommendation for community centre closures appears to be completely contrary to what was actually said in the consultations. In other words, there is no public mandate for such an extreme measure. Having said all of that, lets look at the bigger picture. In fact, lets look at a map of Brandon. What you will see is there is no school of any kind between New Era to the east, Kirkaldy School to the north, Valleyview to the west, and Victoria Avenue to the south. Now look at the recreation master plans scheme to demolish community centres. If fully implemented, there will be no community centre between East End to the east, North End to the north, Green Acres to the southeast and Valleyview to the west. Westridge is even further to the southwest. What you would see is a massive hole in the centre of the city: no schools, no community centres. How are you supposed to build and support neighbourhoods under those conditions? How could you possibly convince families to live there? At bottom, this isnt just about schools and community centres. Its about fairness. Its about equality. Its about avoiding the creation of second-class citizens and neighbourhoods. Its about vision and thoughtful, transparent decision-making. Most of all, its about what kind of a city Brandon is, and what we want it to be. deverynrossletters@gmail.com Twitter: @deverynross Tedashii - Respect My Team | Jackie O & Co. LLC "Since the days of nightgown long tall tees and driving thru Texas doing some mom & pop shows on karaoke machines. Us 3 got something coming. So, stay tuned to 1.1.6." Lecrae Since Lecrae posted that cryptic tweet, fans have been awaiting new music from Reach Records' pioneers Tedashii, Trip Lee, and Lecrae. The founding members of the 116 Movement have made good on Lecrae's social media post with Tedashii's new single, the cinematic and anthemic "Respect My Team," which releases on June 24th. All roads have led to this monumental moment! "Respect My Team" marks the first time the three have recorded together since "Nothing I Can't Do," released on Tedashii's 2014 album, Below Paradise. "I'm super excited to record new music with Trip Lee and Lecrae. We've been friends and label mates for nearly two decades; they're some of my favorite artists. So, to create new music together and then perform those songs on tour is super exciting!" The three icons go deep undercover and into character for the "Respect My Team," faux action music video that casts Tedashii, Lecrae, and Trip Lee, as Blaxploitation era detectives taking down villains. "Some of my favorite films growing up were Kung-Fu flicks," shares Tedashii. "When I was a kid, I watched Kung-Fu theater every Saturday! I watched everything from Bruce Lee to The Heroic Trio and was a superfan of Jim Kelly, and Chuck Norris. I was such a huge fan of karate flicks that I started taking martial arts as a kid, so many of the moves you see me doing in the video come from my childhood. I still watch Kung Fu flicks to this day!" While the music video is comedic, the heartfelt lyrics to the "Respect My Team" speak to the brotherhood between Tedashii, Lecrae, and Trip Lee that launched the 116 Movement and the Romans 1:16 verse which is at the core of Reach Records' mantra and mission. The music video for 'Respect My Team' and the lyrics of the song, 'My team got my back, they behind me,' bring feelings of nostalgia," and for Tedashii, it is the reminder to all that "we ain't done yet!" Since the social post, Tedashii has released a double pack with two singles, "Mirror Talk" and "OBJ." Trip Lee has released three singles, three music videos, and a new album, The End, and Lecrae is putting the final mixes on prepping Church Clothes 4! The three are also returning to the road in August for the We Are UNASHAMED Part II Tour which hits 17 cities. The vets are taking along Reach's rising artists Wande, 1K Phew, Hulvey, and WHATUPRG! With new music on the horizon, TDot launched a podcast he is hosting and producing called The Dash. He's also formed a nonprofit foundation, The Chase Foundation, in honor of his one-year-old son, Chase, who passed away in 2012. To stream Respect My Team, click here. Tedashii Lavoy Anderson | Jackie O & Co. LLC About Tedashii Anderson Tedashii Lavoy Anderson is an artist, public speaker, podcast/radio host, and founding member of Reach Records' 116 Movement. Born in East Texas, he has lived throughout The Lone Star State and lives in Atlanta, GA. His name, Tedashii, is a Japanese name that means faithful, righteous, and true. He has released five albums: Never Fold, Below Paradise, Blacklight, Identity Crisis, Kingdom People, and one EP, This Time Around, as an artist at Reach Records. Below Paradise debuted at No. 17 on the coveted Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart. Blacklight debuted at No. 2 on the iTunes Hip-Hop chart and No. 8 on the iTunes overall album chart. Identity Crisis charted No. 2 on the Gospel Billboard chart and No. 9 on the Christian Billboard chart. His hit track "Dum Dum" was featured on the Fox TV Series So You Think You Can Dance, and he has performed on the top-selling 2016 Winter Jam Spectacular Tour. He won "Best Lyric" presenter at the 2016 K-LOVE Awards and performed "Jumped Out The Whip" at the 2015 GMA Dove Awards. He featured on Lecrae's GRAMMY award-winning album Gravity and has over 631K cumulative followers on social media. Although those compensation totals are taken from the companies financial filings, they are often estimates driven by the companies attempts to value the stock their CEOs might receive. As a result, the executives may earn less than those totals, especially if the bear market persists and their companies stock prices remain depressed, but they could also take home far higher amounts should the stocks recover. Many of the highest-ranking executives in the survey received pay packages that were far larger than those of the heads of far bigger companies with much larger profits. For example, Tim Cook, CEO of Apple, received his first equity award since 2011 last year and had total compensation of $US99 million, putting him just 13th in the survey. Amazon CEO Andy Jassys $US213m million compensation package that was 6474 times that of the companys median employee. Nearly all of it came from a stock grant. Credit:Bloomberg Despite the growth in pay, shareholders, apparently believing that it is being tied to performance, have voted in favour of most packages. Only 3 per cent of say on pay votes got less than 50 per cent support from shareholders in the year through June 3, according to an analysis of 1444 public companies by Willis Towers Watson, a consulting firm that advises companies on executive pay programs and corporate governance matters. For several years, public companies have had to compare their CEOs compensation with that of a typical employee, the result of a regulation passed by Congress that aimed to help investors assess the level of executive pay. Last year, CEOs earned 339 times more than the median pay of employees at their companies, up from 311 times in 2020, according to Equilar. The median employee wage rose 10 per cent last year, to $US92,349 from $US83,808. Last years executive pay jumped in part because corporate boards, which decide CEO compensation, wanted to reward top officers for navigating their companies through the pandemic. In addition, the stock market rallied in 2021, and the value of stock grants, which typically constitute the largest share of CEO compensation, was also higher. When stock prices are rising, boards tend to say executives are doing a good job and pay them more. The groundbreaking feature of Musks compensation plan was not so much the performance targets those have been around for years but the colossal amount of stock that covered pay for several years into the future. And in a world mesmerised by Musk and his successes at Tesla, boards are even more likely to view CEOs as indispensable and give them huge pay deals. Theres a mindset that the whole thing will fall apart if we dont have this off-the-charts talented person in that office, said Sarah Anderson, a program director at the Institute for Policy Studies, a liberal think tank that often analyses CEO pay. So many people on these corporate boards are benefiting from the system. Theyre either executives themselves or they have some other stake in keeping the compensation system the way it is. The largest gap between CEO and workers in the survey was at Amazon, where this past spring a union won a battle to organise a warehouse for the first time. Andrew Jassy, who took over from Jeff Bezos as Amazons CEO last year, had pay that was 6,474 times that of the companys median employee. His compensation last year, $US213 million, was the eighth highest, according to Equilar. Nearly all of it came from a stock grant. Shareholders have shown they are willing to support pay deals linked to share price performance. Credit:NYSE Only one woman, Sue Nabi, CEO of Coty, a cosmetics firm, was among the 20 top-paid executives in the survey, coming in fifth, with $US284 million in compensation. Setting an example Musks megapackage was criticised when it was announced in 2018. Sceptics said the enormous riches it promised might encourage him to take too many risks to fulfill the plans goals. But pay experts say it inspired boards at other companies to concoct similar deals. The groundbreaking feature of Musks compensation plan was not so much the performance targets those have been around for years but the colossal amount of stock that covered pay for several years into the future. (Teslas board has not awarded Musk any subsequent stock grants.) The stock he has so far gotten for the award is worth just over $US60 billion, a treasure chest that helped him finance his bid for Twitter. Musk and Tesla did not respond to a request for comment. Loading Although the value of Musks package was huge, its terms were demanding. Just being employed by Tesla wasnt enough for Musk to get any of the award. He received no stock just for showing up, a practice that is common in CEO packages. For him to get the stock, Teslas value on the stock market a function of its stock price had to keep rising and the company had to hit ambitious targets for sales and operating profits. Although they have the potential to pay out huge amounts, in certain respects last years biggest pay deals were not as demanding as Musks. Loading For Green, of The Trade Desk, to qualify for the options in his package, valued in the proxy statement at $US828 million, the companys stock price must climb well above current levels, but there are no business goals for The Trade Desk to achieve. Melinda Zurich, a spokesperson for The Trade Desk, said the stock price targets in the companys award were ambitious and noted that its stock was up several thousand percent since its initial public offering in 2016. Jeff has played an integral role in driving that growth and is key to the companys future growth agenda, she added. It is unlikely that view has changed. If anything, a regime that thrives off propaganda will be even more desperate to avoid any scenario that adds to the impression that Russia is a rogue creditor or has been weakened by sanctions. Witness the Kremlins attempts to dismiss the default as a sham artificially engineered by the US and hostile Western powers. Anton Siluanov, the finance minister, has called the situation a farce. It has also made a last-ditch bid to service $US40 billion of outstanding sovereign debt with roubles, a move that creditors have already ruled out. The idea that America is pulling the strings when it comes to Russias financial clout will infuriate Putin, but it is a timely reminder of who the real superpower in this battle is. So yes, a debt default is in some ways symbolic but hugely so because it underlines Russias dramatic decline from a country celebrated for its fortress economy to an economic and political basket case. But its much more than that, even. Siluanov knows that the ramifications potentially spread much wider. This is all about Russias access to international financial markets and anything that dents its reputation, however manufactured it may be, with foreign lenders will make it harder for the Kremlin to borrow from them. By affecting the countrys debt ratings, it doesnt just make it more difficult to access financing, it becomes more costly to borrow too and because it was the US Treasury that forced Russia into default, it will be Washington that dictates when negotiations with its foreign creditors can begin. This means Moscow could effectively be shut out of the global financial system for years, possibly even decades, Ash predicts. Loading The idea that America is pulling the strings when it comes to Russias financial clout will infuriate Putin, but there is no doubt that it is a timely reminder of who the real superpower is in this battle. Russias president has claimed that sanctions are a double-edged sword that are more painful for the West than Russia as Moscow starts to squeeze energy supplies, pushing Europes economy into a prolonged stagnationary era. It is of course the unavoidable truth that Western consumers are suffering the price of the war in Ukraine, as energy bills, petrol costs, and food prices all keep being forced up, raising fears of a looming recession. This has tested Western resolve, something that host Olaf Scholz admitted at a meeting of G7 leaders on Sunday in the Bavarian Alps. All the G7 states were worried about the crises we currently face, Germanys chancellor said. Loading Boris Johnson also warned of fatigue among populations and politicians but reiterated the need to maintain consensus, and Scholz said he was convinced the group would send a very clear signal of unity and decisive action. Reports that the G7 is closer to reaching an agreement on a proposed price cap on Russian oil and gas are reassuring. Putin, like any autocratic leader, gains great strength from any sign of weakness in his enemies. Ukraines allies must stay the course and keep turning the screws. With Joe Biden and US Treasury secretary Janet Yellen leading the way, Britain, France, and Italy reportedly backing a cap, and Berlin expected to follow suit shortly, the West may soon have a potent new weapon at its disposal. The theory is that a buyers cartel would force down the value of the Kremlins most lucrative export by only allowing Russian oil and gas to be sold and stored at below a certain price, whereas a full boycott has pushed prices up. A plan to allow China and India access to cheaper Russian energy is also a smart move because previously the Kremlin had been trying to circumvent sanctions by selling its crude and gas to more sympathetic nations. Loading The Kremlin is wrong to claim the war has changed nothing. The default, however engineered, is in itself proof that sanctions are well and truly working. Treasurer Jim Chalmers is marking his territory by promising a review into the Reserve Bank of Australia, causing a fair bit of speculation about the future composition of its board, speculation we at CBD couldnt resist joining in on. Chalmers cant really do much until at least August, when Mark Barnabas term expires. Given the promised review wont yet be finished, he may still be of a mind to extend the Fortescue Metals Group deputy chairs term. Let the jostling begin: Treasurer Jim Chalmers and RBA governor Philip Lowe. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen/Oscar Colman But the winds of change whipping through Canberra have caused a bit of jostling among interested parties, hoping to stake their claim on the RBAs future. The union movement, pointing to former ACTU secretary Bill Keltys successful appointment during the Hawke-Keating years, believe theres historical precedent in once again giving them a seat at the table. Small businesses feel historically under-represented by the board. The rate of home ownership in Sydney has fallen and the share of home borrowers under financial pressure has more than doubled during the past five years despite a sustained period of record low-interest rates. The 2021 census released on Tuesday showed 61.1 per cent of homes in the city were owned outright or with a mortgage, down 1.1 percentage points since 2016. That compared with a small improvement in the nationwide rate of home ownership which edged half a percentage point higher to 66 per cent. The rate of homeownership in Sydney has fallen the 2021 census shows. Credit:Peter Rae The census revealed one in every five Sydney home borrowers had repayments that exceed 30 per cent of household income, compared to about one in 12 borrowers in 2016. Those spending more than 30 per cent of household income to service a home loan are commonly defined as being in mortgage stress. The growing incidence of mortgage stress came despite a period of very favourable borrowing conditions official interest rates fell from 1.5 per cent in 2016 to an emergency low 0.1 per cent during the pandemic. The share of Sydney tenants under financial pressure because of their housing is even higher, with over a third of renters devoting 30 per cent or more of their income to rents. Read more here. An Australian Muslim rights group is pursuing Twitter in Queensland claiming the platform is responsible as a publisher for vilifying Muslims. The Australian Muslim Advocacy Network has lodged the complaint against Twitters global and Australian companies at the Queensland Human Rights Commission under Section 124(A) of the states discrimination act. Twitter has been accused of enabling vilification. Credit:AP The action alleges that Twitter is liable as a publisher for vilifying third-party content, the network said said on Monday. It referred to similar actions in Australian courts involving Meta and Google. Mini Hamptons advertised custom-made little luxury homes that were prefabricated and installed on site over six weeks, and cost under $150,000. Yorks wife, Kirsten, who was the business manager of York Building, told the Daily Mail in 2020 that the couple typically built beautiful residential homes and wanted to expand into the granny flat market. We wanted to challenge the perception that luxury living was reserved only for the wealthy and designed the mini Hamptons so that each inch of the compact home felt elegant with high-end finishes, Kirsten York said at the time. She declined to comment for this story. He sent constant text messages, constant emails, constant calls ... After we deposited the money, we didnt hear hardly anything from him. Emma Foley Rising construction costs and supply chain shortages have contributed to several high-profile collapses in the construction industry over the past two years. Insolvencies in the construction industry were 46 per cent higher in April than they were at the same time last year, accounting for almost 30 per cent of all insolvencies. But most consumers are protected by the Home Building Compensation Fund. Builders are required to take out insurance with the fund on residential projects over $20,000, which compensates owners if the builder dies, disappears or goes insolvent. State building laws also protect consumers by not allowing builders to take upfront deposits greater than 10 per cent. A spokesman for Fair Trading NSW said none of the matters it has investigated in association with David York appeared to have home warranty insurance. Consumers who have had dealings with York Building Pty Ltd or Mini Hamptons Pty Ltd are encouraged to contact Fair Trading via its website, he said. The investigation is ongoing and no further comment can be made at this time. Another of Yorks clients, who asked not to be named due to the shame, said she had enlisted Mini Hamptons to build a granny flat for her parents-in-law who were moving to live with them in Mittagong in September last year. She paid a 30 per cent deposit and York told her the project would not require council approval. But after she and her husband paid $89,327 in August, and a further $1800 to a surveyor in November, she says York stopped returning her messages. In January, she emailed him to ask what had happened with the granny flat. Her parents-in-law were now living in their house, with her father-in-law sleeping on the couch. She asked York to repay the money if he could not deliver. York replied: So sorry I have not gotten back to you. I am really battling with signal as I am not in the highlands at the moment. It is my utmost to deliver your unit I am just waiting on the approval for drainage from council. Once I have that we can kick off. It was not until the following month that she learned his company was in liquidation and he had not obtained building insurance. Council also informed her that a development consent would be required and cost a further $20,000. Ive got four pegs in the ground for $91,000, she said. Its still really traumatic The list of creditors also includes tilers, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, masons and other subcontractors. Plumber Paul McMullen, who worked with York in Sydney in 2017, said York was frequently behind on payments. Heaps of tradies were coming and going because they werent getting paid, McMullen said. Electrician Mitchell Logan said he was still owed about $8000 for work he did for York last year. He said his inspection of the books showed York was taking large amounts of money from people before laying any foundations. My last job with Dave was about Christmas, Logan said. I said, Are you going to pay my last invoice? and he said, No, you idiot, Im going into liquidation. I said, How are you going to pay these people back? and he said, I will. A third couple paid York Building more than $200,000 to update the kitchen and bathrooms and re-do the floor and paintwork in their newly-acquired Burradoo home. When they moved in 15 weeks later, expecting it to be complete, the kitchen and bathrooms had been gutted and the flooring throughout the house stripped out. The tiler said he had not been paid. The plumbing company was unaware that one of its young employees was doing the work on the weekend. The only water source in the house was in the laundry. Its still really traumatic, the woman said. No kitchen, no bathroom, no floor, absolutely nothing. A building inspection report, seen by the Herald, found that everything that had been completed would need to be re-done. The quality of this ensuite is at such a substandard level that the only recommendation is to completely strip out the bathroom and start again, it said. Loading York said only one of his clients did not have building insurance and that the contracts including terms for the deposits were drawn up by his lawyer. Thats lack of experience on my side for not understanding that, he said. There were mistakes made, but it wasnt done from a bad place. The liquidators March update said initial inquiries indicated the company had failed due to poor cash flow, substantial rework of its builds due to underquoting, poor estimating or poor workmanship, and possibly the pandemic. The absence of company information has hobbled my investigations and hence ability to report further on what happened to the company, liquidator Alan Hayes wrote. Dogs will have unfettered access to about one-third of Callan Park in Sydneys inner west under long-awaited plans to create dedicated off-leash areas at the waterfront park for the first time. Faced with rising tensions between dog owners and other park users, the NSW government has decided owners can let their dogs run free on more than 20 hectares of the sprawling park including Callan Point Beach, the central green, Bonnyview cottage gardens and Wharf Road gardens. Louisa Larkin said dog owners would be disappointed only part of Kirkbride Gardens would be off-leash: The joy of roaming through the beautiful trees with our dogs off-leash is something we will definitely miss. Credit:Oscar Colman Dogs will be required to wear a leash around the historic Kirkbride complex and Bay Run path once the changes come into effect on July 1. Dog owners caught flouting the rules face fines of up to $330. The plan dictating where dogs can and cannot go while off-leash ends years of debate and uncertainty over canine access at the park, which experienced a surge in popularity during COVID-19 lockdowns. Investigative journalist Hedley Thomas has denied embarking on a campaign to incite prejudice against former Sydney teacher Chris Dawson with his podcast, The Teachers Pet, a court has heard. Dawson, a former Newtown Jets rugby league player, is on trial in the NSW Supreme Court after pleading not guilty to murdering his first wife, Lynette Dawson, who vanished from Sydneys northern beaches in January 1982. Chris Dawson outside the NSW Supreme Court on Monday. Credit:Nick Moir Thomas was called to give evidence on Monday, in the final days of the Crown case, at the request of Dawsons lawyers who questioned The Australians Walkley Award-winning journalist about his investigation and subsequent podcast into the mother of twos disappearance. He said he wrote a feature-length article about the first coronial inquest in 2001, including meeting Detective Damian Loone and Lynettes sister Patricia Jenkins, and met Lynettes brother Greg Simms in late 2017 when he had decided to create the podcast. Chinese international students now account for more than half of NSW universities overseas enrolments, with thousands more beginning courses last year despite most remaining offshore and learning online. The number of Chinese enrolments rose by 2259 in 2021, bucking the trend of an 8.6 per cent decrease in international students across the state. More than half of NSWs international students are from China. Credit:Janie Barrett An Auditor-Generals report, tabled in NSW Parliament on Monday, warned that the pandemic had increased universities reliance on the Chinese market, which posed a concentration risk for the sector. The University of Sydney was the biggest beneficiary of Chinese students, who accounted for 87 per cent of its international student revenue in 2021, up on 77 per cent in 2020. The institution increased overseas enrolments by more than 40 per cent in 2021 and was one of only two universities, along with the University of NSW, to increase its international student revenue. The father of a young girl hospitalised after being hit by an e-scooter in Coogee says the high-speed vehicles should be banned from footpaths. Volker Ritzka and his daughter Lilli were walking on a pedestrian path in the coastal southern suburb on Sunday afternoon when an e-scooter rider ploughed into the eight-year-old from behind. There was really no space for us to get out of the way and [the rider] tried to brake, but then he hit my daughter and she was flying about 10 metres along the path, Ritzka told Nine News Perth. The man initially stopped to apologise to Lilli and her father, but sped off when asked to stay around. Albanese has been around long enough to understand the fine balance of an Australian prime minister legitimately taking to the world stage and what the public would view as an indulgence. This trip is perhaps earlier in his term than he had hoped for but a crisis such as this waits for no one. Formed in 1949 as a response to the Soviet colonisation of the countries liberated from Nazism, NATO is still focused on the threat from Moscow, even though the Soviet Union is no more. Some of those once-colonised countries have become members and joined the EU. Though NATO is far stronger than Russia, it is challenged by the Ukraine war because it is not a direct participant, can act only by supporting Ukraine, and has no obvious diplomatic route out of the conflict. The alliance now knows its long-term vision must look beyond its geopolitical moorings and to the Indo-Pacific where an ever-assertive China is concentrating, and thats where Albanese comes in as he tries to balance Australias role in Asia and the ongoing pull of historical ties to Britain, Europe and North America. Albaneses election has been met with a great deal of positivity throughout Europe and, mainly through Labors bolder climate pledges, the new leader attracts much goodwill. It is here the new prime minister can find common ground with Britains Conservative leader, Boris Johnson, whose government is concerned that Albanese might not be as committed to the relationship between the two nations as his predecessor. Loading But no European capital could be happier about his election than Paris. Former prime minister Scott Morrison and his foreign minister Marise Payne badly misjudged and mismanaged Australias relations with France, and through Paris with the wider European Union. Resetting the relationship with France in talks with Macron will also be a chance to bolster Franco-Australian Pacific co-operation. A fair and an equitable settlement of $850 million for ending a decade-old multibillion-dollar submarine contract is a good start, but resetting the relationship from a position of trust will be probably the most important contribution Albanese can make. Because he will need to drive a hard bargain. Australia desperately needs Macron to give a commitment to help secure an EU-Australia trade deal. Fifteen European Union governments have called for the bloc to accelerate the conclusion of free trade agreements to ensure its long-term economic growth and geopolitical standing in the world. France, which holds the six-month rotating presidency of the EU, had halted moves to clear trade deals so as not to disturb presidential and legislative elections. And now for Macron domestically, the resurgent political forces on the left and right of French politics threaten to impose their protectionist will on trade policy across Europe. With the decline of the trading relationship with China, Australia must gain new markets. An agreement with the EU has the potential to open up a market for Australian goods and services of almost 450 million people and a GDP of around $US15 trillion. As a bloc, the EU is Australias second-largest trading partner. Albanese also needs to convince Macron that standing up to China is in the EUs best interests. The French leader has been sceptical of NATOs role in pivoting towards China as part of its 10-year plan, suggesting that focusing on the Asian giant might be a distraction from threats closer to home. But NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has made it clear that the North Atlantic alliance has no other choice than to be alert to the rise of China. Loading The fact that theyre investing heavily in new modern military equipment, including scaling significantly their nuclear capabilities, investing in key technologies, and trying also to control critical infrastructure in Europe coming closer to us, makes it important for us also to address that, he said last week. It took Australia to convince Britain of the challenge of China and Albanese now owns the task for Australia and many other nations in managing Beijings power. Generation Z, those aged 10 to 24, account for 18 per cent of all Australians. But in a sign of the quickly growing Indigenous population, 30 per cent of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islanders are Gen Z. Demi Kotsoris, a 27-year-old Millennial visiting Bondi on Monday, said her generation would shape workplaces for years to come. Millennial Demi Kotsoris, working from her van in Bondi, says her generation is one in limbo. Credit:Wolter Peeters She said hers was a limbo generation shaped by the internet that wasnt as wedded to a work ethic and loyalty as previous generations. A lot of the education we got taught us about how to succeed in life pre-internet, she said. Loading I definitely checked all of lifes boxes. I did well at school, I went to uni, I got a really good job. I was making good money and I was confused as to why I was so miserable. I think for our parents generation, like when you think of the generation before us, being able to get that job from that degree was enough for them. Melbourne Millennials Liana Dowie, Yui Huo, Shaun Ponton, Shelby Hobbs and Josh Segal work out of a co-working space, The Commons, in the citys centre. The group said their generations access to information had allowed them to approach problems differently than their parents. Loading We have had so much access to whats happening in the world that were able to be more proactive than reactive, said Hobbs, 26. Ponton said embracing individuality was another key difference the group noted between their generation and their parents. Younger people that are coming into power are much more reflective of their own personal tastes, Ponton said. Even with things like tattoos 20 years ago it was a big no-no to have them in the workplace but now people dont even think about that as being an issue. The group also said Millennials prioritised mental health, because of the de-stigmatisation and access to mental health services. Were really lucky, said Huo, 25. All my friends go and see their psychologists to work on themselves. Australias overall population increased by 2.2 million or 8.6 per cent to 25.5 million between the 2016 and 2021 censuses. The number of Indigenous Australians increased by 25.2 per cent over the same period to more than 812,000. The census also confirmed Australia is now a majority nation of migrants, with 51.5 per cent of all people either born overseas or having a parent born in another country. More than 1 million people moved to Australia between 2016 and 2021 although almost 84 per cent of those arrived before the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020. Loading India is becoming a key source nation for new Australians. The census showed a 220,000 increase in the number of people saying they were born in India, meaning it overtook China and New Zealand to be the third-largest country of birth behind Australia and England. There was also a surge in the number of people out of Nepal, with the population more than doubling between 2016 and 2021. There are now 5.5 million people who speak a language other than English at home, an increase of almost 800,000 since 2016. There are 239,000 people who speak Punjabi at home, a jump of 80 per cent. The most common non-English language remains Mandarin at 685,274 followed by Arabic at 367,000. Loading In the first national census in 1911, almost 96 per cent of Australians described themselves as Christian. Now, for the first time, less than half the population, 43.9 per cent, identifies as Christian, down from 52.1 per cent in 2016. Religious differences are seen across age groups. Close to 60 per cent of Baby Boomers reported a Christian religious affiliation compared with 30 per cent of Millennials. More than 46 per cent of Millennials said they had no religion compared with 30.7 per cent of Boomers. Catholicism is the single largest Christian religion at 20 per cent of the population, down from 22.6 per cent five years earlier. The proportion identifying as Anglicans, who were once the most numerous adherents in the country, has fallen to a record low of just 9.8 per cent after being at 13.3 per cent in 2016. Loading Almost two-in-five Australians, a record high, now say they have no religion. In 2016, the rate was 30.1 per cent. Non-Christian religions are growing but are still relatively small by overall number. The surge in Indian-Australians resulted in a 55 per cent jump in the number of people who follow Hinduism but they account for just 2.7 per cent of the population. Investment and Trade Minister Stuart Ayres met with the preferred candidates for two trade commissioner roles late last year, despite the appointments being public sector decisions that were meant to be separate from the government. Internal emails, obtained by the Herald, show Investment NSW also wanted candidate approval from Premier Dominic Perrottet before their appointments were publicly announced. The messages reveal the ad hoc nature of the recruitment process for six overseas trade commissioner roles that has come to light following former deputy premier John Barilaros controversial appointment to the US. Former NSW deputy premier John Barilaro was appointed to a trade role in New York. Credit:Jessica Hromas Perrottet last week told parliament all six roles were public service appointments but conceded the London and Tokyo postings incorrectly came before cabinet. The emails reveal senior staff at Investment NSW described candidates meeting with Ayres, before plans to put them forward to the premier for approval. Investment NSW did not confirm which roles the redacted November email chain referred to. The next appointments to be announced on December 16 were India/Middle East and ASEAN. Vienna: Places across the world that have legalised cannabis appear to have increased its regular use, while COVID lockdowns had a similar effect, raising the risk of depression and suicide, a UN report said on Monday. Cannabis has long been the worlds most widely used drug and that use is increasing while the cannabis on the market is getting stronger in terms of its tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said in its annual World Drug Report. Marijuana plants grow in a greenhouse in Thailand, where recent legal changes mean it is no longer be a crime to grow and trade marijuana. Credit:Bloomberg Various US states have legalised non-medical use of cannabis, starting with Washington and Colorado in 2012. Uruguay legalised it in 2013, as did Canada in 2018. Others have taken similar steps but the report focused on those three countries. Cannabis legalisation appears to have accelerated the upwards trends in reported daily use of the drug, the Vienna-based UNODCs report said. Amman: A poisonous gas leak in Jordans southern port city of Aqaba has killed at least 13 people and injured some 250, authorities said. Video carried by state-run media outlets showed a crane hoisting a large tanker from a truck and then dropping it on the deck of a ship, causing an explosion of yellow smoke and sending dockworkers racing away. Screenshot of a video showing the explosion in the southern port city of Aqaba. Credit:Twitter - @AlMamlakaTV Officials said a tank filled with 25 tonnes of chlorine gas being exported to Djibouti fell while being transported. According to the Public Security Directorate, authorities had sealed off the area after evacuating the injured to hospitals and sent specialists in to address the situation. Under the Invest Rajasthan outreach programme, state Chief Minister led government received the biggest investment pledges from Gautam Adani-led and the chaired Ltd (RIL), a report by The Indian Express said. and RIL pledged more than Rs 1.68 trillion between December 2021 and March 2022 in Letters of Intent (LoIs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with the government, data by the state's Bureau of Investment Promotion (BoIP) following the RTI application showed, stated the IE report. Adani and Ambani's pledge in total accounts for nearly 18 per cent of the total value of the investment pledge of Rs 940,453 crore during the period. The 'Invest Rajasthan' programme is, according to the BoIP website, the States active investor outreach program comprising domestic, national, and international investor meets, embassy connect programs and virtual seminars. The program aims at soliciting investment proposals, processing them on a mission mode and taking them to fruition. Also Read: Okinawa Autotech to invest Rs 500 cr for manufacturing plant in Rajasthan This comes even as the leader Rahul Gandhi, earlier in February, accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party at Centre of 'crony capitalism' and said Adani and Ambani were the 'double-A variant' spreading in the nation's economy, leading to monopolies across various sectors. Reliance New Energy Solar Ltd made an investment pledge of Rs 1 trillion, Adani Green Energy Ltd of Rs 60,000 crore, followed by Adani Infra Ltd, Adani Total Gas Ltd, and Adani Wilmar Ltd at Rs 5,000 crore, Rs 3,000 crore, and Rs 246.08 crore, respectively, showed the data reported by IE. Nearly 4,106 firms have pledged to invest in the Congress-ruled states. Some of them are JSW Future Energy Ltd and Sterlite Power Technologies Pvt. Ltd at Rs 40,000 crore each, Hindustan Zinc Cairn, also of Vedanta Group at Rs 33,350 crore, Axis Energy and Axis Energy Ventures Pvt. Ltd. at Rs 30,000 crore each, Eden-Renewables at Rs 20,000 crore and Tata Power at Rs 15,000 crore, the report stated. unions have moved the to challenge the proposed eviction of from staff colonies in . The unions argue that the airlines letter asking to vacate office accommodation by July 26 amounts to a change in service condition. This, they said, is a violation of the Industrial Disputes Act. It requires to issue a notice to union members before enacting change in service conditions. Aggrieved by the management action, Guild (AIEG), Air Corporation Employees Union (ACEU) and All India Service Engineers Association (AISEA) have filed separate writ petitions for quashing of the airlines October and May letters to staff. Currently, there are around 1,600 families residing in AI staff quarters at Kalina in . The allotment of accommodation is provided till retirement/cessation of service, according to the allotment rules. There is no provision for any unilateral and arbitrary termination as is sought to be in the present case, AIEG said in its petition. Also, the service engineers have pointed out that the airline could not have issued a letter seeking vacation of flats pending conclusion of conciliation proceedings. The conciliation eventually ended in a failure. Last September, the civil aviation ministry issued certain directions to on the issue of staff retaining office accommodation. In turn, the airline asked employees to give an undertaking that they would vacate their homes within six maonths of disinvestment. The employees issued a strike notice against it and the matter was referred to the labour commissioner office for conciliation. How can the employees be evicted overnight during the monsoon just because of privatisation of the airline? That is our plea, said AIEG counsel Ashok Shetty. In a second major ruling on seconded in recent times, the has set aside an order of the Income- Department that called upon Internet to withhold on the payments it made to as remuneration to the staff it hired from the US major. Seconded refer to those sent on deputation for a stipulated period for the mutual benefit of the concerned. The case relates to an inter-company master services agreement signed by and for secondment of . These employees were working in India in the period relevant to assessment year 2020-21. paid to reimburse these employees. Walmart in turn paid the employees their salaries for administrative convenience. Flipkart sought a certificate of no deduction of at source from the Income-Tax Department. However, the department rejected the request, asking Flipkart to deduct tax at source. The assessing officer argued that Flipkart did not have an employer-employee relationship with the staff and that the sum paid was a fee for technical services (FTS). However, the court ruled that the assessing officer's stand on employer-employee relationship was based on a wrong premise and was liable to be set aside. The court ruled that the secondment agreement is an independent contract between employees and Flipkart--a point the assessing officer missed. The court directed the to grant Flipkart a certificate of nil tax deduction at source. Sandeep Sehgal, partner tax at AKM, said the order reveals the arbitrary approach of the tax department in granting such certificates. "It is a settled position that withholding of tax would get triggered in this case only if the to be made to Walmart by Flipkart would have an income element. Since the was for cost-to-cost reimbursement of salaries of seconded employees, which was also not taxable as technical services," he said. This ruling is the second major order on seconded employees in recent times. Last month, the Supreme Court had ruled that the salary of seconded employees deposited to an Indian company that is reimbursed to the overseas entities will be subject to service tax. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Proptech PropShare has raised USD 47 million (around Rs 367 crore) from investors including WestBridge Capital to ramp up hiring, strengthen technology and offer more asset classes for investments on its platform. Bengaluru-based PropShare, which was founded in 2016, is a technology-driven real estate investment platform that enables investors to purchase commercial real estate assets. In an interview with PTI, co-founder and CEO Kunal Moktan said: "We have raised USD 47 million fund in our Series B round led by WestBridge Capital with participation from existing investors Pravega Ventures." Property Share Online Platform Pvt Ltd or PropShare has raised USD 52 million since inception. Moktan did not mention the valuation at which the company has raised funds. Asked about the utilisation of funds, he said: "We will double our headcount. We will strengthen our technological capabilities. We also intend to open offices overseas." PropShare platform allows ordinary users access to institutional grade assets with 8-10 per cent rental yields and 17-20 per cent returns. It takes responsibility for sourcing, due diligence, property management and sale on behalf of users. Moktan said the company is offering only office assets on its platforms for investments but will soon add hotels, hospitals and warehouses as well. On the customer' side, the company will focus on leveraging technology to further improve user experience on the platform by enhancing liquidity, adding newer product lines and strengthening investor relations. Hashim Khan, co-founder & CTO, PropShare said: PropShare has been the pioneer and market leader in the technology-driven real estate investment space in India making what has been a traditional but lucrative asset class, accessible to ordinary investors." The company has facilitated around Rs 1,000 crore of transactions on its platforms and targets over USD 1 billion (Rs 7,800 crore) with the help of recent funding, he added. "Our focus on high quality institutional rent-yielding real estate has led to strong investor growth and rapid adoption of the platform among users for alternative investments," Moktan said. Kunal Moktan holds an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management (Ahmedabad) while Hashim Khan holds a B Tech from IIT, Kanpur and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. The proptech industry in India attracted over USD 551 million in 2020, surpassing investments of USD 549 million in 2019, according to Housing.com. In November last year, Bengaluru-based NoBroker.com raised USD 210 million from investors, at USD 1 billion valuation to become the first unicorn in proptech sector. Recently, Xanadu Realty received strategic investment from HDFC and HDFC Life Insurance Co Ltd. In May, HDFC acquired 7.2 per cent stake in Loyalie IT Solutions Pvt Ltd (now Reloy) for Rs 1.1 crore. Reloy had in January raised Rs 5 crore from investors, including Inflection Point Ventures, to expand and grow its business. Earlier this month, Settlin, which is into brokerage for resale homes, raised USD 1 million (about Rs 7.7 crore) from investors to expand business. Proptech firm Square Yards, which is into housing and home loan brokerages, is planning to launch its Initial Public Offer (IPO) to raise funds. In its recent report, CII and Colliers India estimated that investments in proptech firms could touch USD 1 billion in 2025, almost double from the 2020 level, with adoption of technologies gaining momentum in the real estate sector. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Capital markets regulator on Monday imposed fines totalling Rs 4 lakh on four individuals for violation of insider trading norms in the shares of Ltd during the January-March 2019 period when they were designated employees. The regulator has imposed a fine of Rs 1 lakh each on R N Shankar Prasad, Vinay Kumar Sutrave, Ravikumar Kavitha and Gangadharan Sivasankar, according to four separate orders. The orders came following a investigation after it was intimated about alleged violations of prohibition of insider trading norms by some of the company's designated persons/employees. The regulator found non-compliance by the individuals with the regulations during January-March 2019 period. During their employment with Mindtree, they had transacted in the securities of the company but failed to make disclosures to the firm as required under the (Prohibition of Insider Trading) rules, as per Securities Exchange board of India (Sebi). The disclosure requirements were triggered on account of the transactions concerned exceeding the market value of Rs 10 lakh. In a separate order, the regulator imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on Indgrowth Capital Advisors for non-compliance with the provisions of AIF regulations. After an examination following a complaint, the regulator found that Indgrowth AIF (Alternative Investment Fund) had exceeded the limit of investment by investing more than 10 per cent of the investable funds in Ugro Capital Limited. This was in violation of AIF norms. (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.) Solv, a marketplace for small businesses, on Monday said it has raised USD 40 million (about Rs 310 crore) in led by Japan's SBI Holdings. The funds will be deployed by the Bengaluru-headquartered company for expanding its buy now pay later (BNPL) offering, launching more high-margin products and geographic expansion. SBI Holdings' chief executive Yoshitaka Kitao said this is one of the largest investments in the region for the financial services player. Solv will become a global technology powerhouse aiding micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Kitao said, adding that there is an alignment of purpose for his company and Solv. Solv chief executive Amit Bansal said the company served 2.2 lakh MSMEs in a Covid-hit year domestically, and it will be using its learnings in India to create workable models for global markets. He termed the investment by SBI Holdings as a long-term strategic partnership, which will help Solv establish itself as a dominant player in the B2B market in the next year and a half. Solv, which enables MSMEs to trade in different categories, such as grocery and fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), readymade apparel, electronic and accessories, home furnishings and footwear and accessories, is present in over 200 cities and served over 2.2 lakh MSMEs. The 18-month-old company is targeting to have a gross merchandise volume of USD 500 million from India in 2022 and has already clocked USD 260 million in the first half. (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.) Udaan - Indias largest business-to-business (B2B) e-commerce company - has laid off about 180 employees, or 4-5 per cent of its workforce of 4,000, in a move to drive cost efficiency, revealed sources. They said the layoffs have happened across various department functions. The layoffs have happened at a time when the Bengaluru-based firm is trying to turn into a publicly listed entity in 18-24 months. For this, it is focusing on positive unit economics and tracking quarter-on-quarter performance of the firm. Udaan declined to divulge the exact number of employees it is laying off but said it believes in efficiency as a driver of profitable growth and has already made significant progress towards building a sustainable business. As the market evolves, we continue to tweak our already proven business model to make it stronger, more efficient, customer-centric, and agile, said a spokesperson for Udaan, adding, In this direction, we have taken various steps to enhance efficiency, refine our cost structure, and grow faster in our journey to achieve strong unit economics. However, the efficiency enhancement exercise has also resulted in certain redundancies in the system, with some roles no longer required. Udaan said it is working towards providing all required support to the impacted employees, which includes medical insurance for self and family (based on the existing coverage plan), compensation package as indicated in the company policy, and providing placement assistance. We remain committed to our goal of driving kirana commerce and empowering small and medium businesses by leveraging the power of e-commerce, said the spokesperson. Over the past year, Udaan said it has improved its unit economics by over 1,000 basis points with equally strong improvements in both gross margins as well as operating costs. The firm said that the gross margin percentage has gone up 2.5x year-on-year (YoY). It said the companys revenue is now at about Rs 10,000 crore for 2021-22 - a 1.6x increase, compared with that of 2020-21. Also, the firm said the implementation of the right business design and unit economics has helped the company reduce cash burn by about 45 per cent YoY. Udaan achieved a valuation of $3.1 billion during its last round of funding of $280 million in January 2021 from existing and new investors. In April this year, - one of the worlds biggest technology (tech) - joined the convertible note funding round of Udaan. It was launched in October 2021 and has since reached $275 million via convertible note and debt. According to industry sources, the valuation of this round of the fund-raise will be derived at a future date - either at the time of the initial public offering (IPO) or during the pre- rounds of funding. The start-up is competing with e-commerce giants, such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Reliances JioMart, which are also betting big to tap into B2B e-commerce, especially in tier 2/3 cities and rural India. As part of the long-term plans of the organisation, we continue to hire talent for the new roles that have been created to grow the business faster, said the spokesperson. Layoffs are taking place at other unicorn firms as well. Edtech firm Unacademy recently laid off about 600 employees, or about 10 per cent of its workforce, including full-time employees, contractual workers, and educators. Vedantu laid off 424 employees - thats about 7 per cent of its workforce. The layoffs took place days after the company fired 200 of its contractual and full-time employees. Fact-checking website Alt News co-founder Mohammad Zubair was arrested by the on Monday for allegedly hurting religious sentiments through one of his tweets, officials said. Earlier this month, a case against Zubair was registered under sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc.) and 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), K P S Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Cell), said. Zubair was produced before a magistrate, who sent him to police custody for a day. Opposition leaders, including former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over Zubair's arrest. The Alt News co-founder was arrested in connection with one of his recent tweets that had a questionable image with a purpose to deliberately insult the god of a particular religion, the DCP said. Police said the case was registered on the complaint of a user who accused Zubair of hurting religious sentiments. Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha alleged that Zubair was arrested in a case for which no notice was given by the police, which is mandatory under law for the sections under which he has been held. "Zubair was called today by Special Cell, Delhi for investigation in a 2020 case for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court. However, today at around 6.45 pm, we were told he has been arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given which is mandatory under law for the section under which he has been arrested. "Nor FIR copy is being given to us despite repeated requests," Sinha said in a statement posted on . In another tweet, he alleged that after the medical examination, Zubair was taken to an undisclosed location. "...Neither Zubair's lawyers or I are being told where. We are in the police van with him. No police person is wearing any name tag," Sinha alleged. Police in a statement said Zubair was "evasive" on their questions and neither provided the "necessary technical equipment" for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the case. "During investigation, the conduct of Mohammed Zubair was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel the conspiracy in this matter. Accordingly, he has been arrested," the statement said. According to the officials, Zubair's tweets were getting re-tweeted and it appeared that there was a brigade of social media entities who indulged in hate mongering, thereby leading to a possible ramification on communal harmony and which was against the maintenance of public tranquillity. On Monday, Zubair joined the probe in a case registered against him in connection with another tweet in 2020. During the investigation of the case, the had given a status report, in which that tweet was not found to be objectionable. But his subsequent tweets were found to be questionable and derogatory, the police said, adding that in the investigation of FIR number 194/20, Zubair was examined earlier and the probe is about to be concluded. "In June 2022, when was alerted by a handle that Mohammad Zubair had made an objectionable tweet earlier and his followers/social media entities had amplified and created a series of debates/hate mongering in the thread, he was examined in the case registered earlier this month and his role was found objectionable," the statement said. Opposition leaders slammed the Centre over Zubair's arrest "Every person exposing BJP's hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them. Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more. Truth ALWAYS triumphs over tyranny. #DaroMat," Gandhi said in a tweet. Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Derek O'Brien also condemned the journalist's arrest. "Strongly condemn the arrest of one of the world's finest journalists @zoo_bear who exposes the BJP's #FakeNews factory every single day. PM @narendramodi and @AmitShah for all the power you wield, you are essentially COWARDS," the Rajya Sabha MP wrote on Twitter. TMC's Lok Sabha MP Mahua Moitra, in a tweet, said: "Delhi Police bending over backwards to please sahibs and thumb nose at law. @zoo_bear arrested on trumped up case w/o notice while assisting in case where HC given him protection. "While Ms. Fringe Sharma enjoys life of protection at tax payer expense for EXACT same offences." Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha alleged that delivering hate speeches is not a crime but reporting and exposing such speeches are criminal activities and that is why Zubair has been arrested. "...And Irony dies hundred deaths...The great LEADER invokes #Emergency in the land of #ThirdReich and allows dissent in any form to be killed at home," Jha said in a tweet. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also condemned Zubair's arrest. In a tweet, Y Sathish Reddy, the social media convenor of the TRS, said: "I strongly condemn the arrest of @zoo_bear! #IStandWithZubair." All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) leader Asaduddin Owaisi said Zubair's arrest is highly condemnable, alleging that the Alt News co-founder was arrested without any notice and in some unknown FIR. "Total violation of due process," he alleged. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) reported 36 fresh COVID-19 cases with no deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the active caseload to 256, informed the state government data on Sunday. With this, Assam's COVID-19 tally has gone up to 7,24,587 at present. The new cases were detected after conducting the 546 COVID-19 tests in the northeastern state. The daily positivity rate is 6.59 per cent. A total of 7,16,343 patients have been cured of the disease so far, with the recovery rate being at 98.86 per cent. As many as 20 COVID-19 patients were discharged in the past 24 hours. In April, reported zero fresh COVID-19 cases and the active caseload of the state stood at 1. Meanwhile, India reported 11,739 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday. The cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 4,33,89,973. Active cases now constitute 0.21 per cent of the country's total positive cases. An increase of 797 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Active COVID-19 cases in the country rise to 92,576. The daily positivity rate stands at 2.59 per cent. As many as 25 people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, the Ministry bulletin stated. The recovery rate is currently at 98.60 per cent while the total COVID recoveries now stand at 4,27,72,398. India's cumulative vaccination coverage crossed the 197-crore milestone on Saturday, according to Press Information Bureau. More than 11 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Saturday till 7 pm. (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 Delhi on Monday held a protest at West Vinod Nagar against the Centre's Agnipath scheme. Simultaneously, 'Satyagraha' is being staged at all the assembly constituencies in the capital by the workers, party officials said. Delhi president Anil Kumar accused the police of halting the party's protest in Patparganj and several other areas. Congress is conducting Satyagraha across the country including Delhi to echo the voice of youth against Agnipath scheme in a peaceful, democratic manner, Kumar tweeted. At the behest of BJP, Delhi Police is halting our Satyagraha at every assembly (constituency) of Delhi, he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Monday welcomed Prime Minister at the G7 Summit where the leaders of the world's seven richest countries will discuss various important global issues, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, food security and counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Modi, who is in on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, was received by Scholz upon his arrival at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern . Working together for Progress towards an equitable world'. German Chancellor @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz welcomes PM @narendramodi to the @G7 Summit at Schloss Elmau, External Affairs Minister spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Before the start of the summit, Prime Minister Modi shook hands with US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leaders assembled for a group photo. During the summit, Modi will exchange views with the leaders of the bloc and its partners on issues such as energy, food security, counter-terrorism, environment and democracy. I will be attending the G-7 Summit today in which we will discuss various important global issues, he said on Twitter. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The leaders of the world's seven richest countries are expected to focus on the Ukraine crisis that has triggered geopolitical turmoil besides fuelling a global food and energy crisis. Modi is attending the G7 summit held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern following an invitation by German Chancellor Scholz. The summit is being hosted by Germany in its capacity as the chair of G7. In his remarks ahead of his departure, Modi said he was looking forward to meeting leaders of some of the participating G7 and guest countries on the sidelines of the summit. Besides India, Germany, the host of the G7 Summit, has also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests for the summit to recognise the democracies of the global south as its partners. (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.) Opposition leaders will hold a meeting on Monday in Parliament annexe for Presidential elections, sources said. It may be noted that the Opposition's joint candidate is scheduled to file his nomination for the presidential election tomorrow. "Opposition leaders to hold a meeting at 11:30 am tomorrow, June 27, in Parliament annexe building for the Presidential elections," sources said. The Presidential elections will take place on July 18 and the counting of votes will take place on July 21. Pointing out that India is currently going through extremely difficult times, Opposition presidential candidate promises to raise his voice for farmers, workers, unemployed youth, women and all marginalised sections of society if he wins the election. The Indian Airforce deployed seven types of fixed and rotary-wing aircraft in various flood-affected areas, informed the officials on Sunday. The IAF deployed these aircraft with the aim to transport 77 tonnes of relief material. "Till now IAF has flown more than 130 humanitarian assurance missions and dropped 700 tons of load in the last five days for floods," said IAF officials. The overall flood situation in has improved but over 33.03 lakh people in 28 districts continue to remain affected due to the natural calamity in the state, the State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA) informed on Saturday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit is packed with meetings with leaders and partner countries along with discussions on issues ranging from environment, and energy, to counter-terrorism. PM Modi arrived in Munich on Sunday to attend the summit. As per the Prime Minister's itinerary, there will be a welcome ceremony at 12:00 PM (local time) for PM Modi by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at Schloss Elmau in Munich. After meeting with Scholz, there will be a plenary session at 12:30 PM on the topic "Investing in a Better Future: Climate, Energy, Health." The Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare will meet on Monday evening to discuss 'Affordability of Cancer Treatment' with Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan. The committee will hold the meeting at around 3 pm inside premises. In the meeting, the committee will "hear the views of Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare on the subject 'Affordability of Cancer Treatment'." The meeting is significant as the cancer burden in India is a matter of concern with cases increasing over the last two decades, and this trend is expected to grow more rapidly in the future due to many reasons, including demographic (mainly change in the age structure of the population) and epidemiological transition (from communicable to non-communicable), and increased case detection. In India cancer is the leading cause of death, with 7.84 lakh deaths recorded in 2018, and 13.92 lakh cases reported in 2020, according to World Health Organization. While the growing burden of cancer cases in the country is a cause for concern for many oncologists, the varying cost of cancer care has made public health experts apprehensive. As the cost break-up shows, cancer is an expensive illness to manage. Besides, screening for early detection, diagnostics and treatment, it involves post-treatment care and rehabilitation. At the national level, the average total cancer care expenditure was around Rs 1,16,218, says an expert. In private hospitals, the total cost of cancer care was estimated to be Rs 1,41,774, whereas it was comparatively lower at Rs 72,092 in public hospitals. The state-wise pattern shows that the overall cost of cancer care in India varies from Rs 74,699 in Odisha to Rs 2,39,974 in the state of Jharkhand. In eight states, namely, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Haryana, the overall cost of was under Rs 1 lakh. However, cancer patients spent between Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh on treatment in Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Jammu & Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, cost over Rs 1.5 lakh. An important aspect that needs to be highlighted is the percentage share of medical and non-medical expenditure. About 90 per cent of the total cancer care expenses are related to medical care, which includes expenses on doctors' consultancy, medicines, diagnostic tests, bed charges, and other medical services like blood transfusions and oxygen supplementation. The residual 10 per cent is on non-medical heads, which includes transportation, food, escort and transport for other family members. The state-wise pattern suggests that in two states, namely Chhattisgarh and Bihar, non-medical expenses contributed to over 20 per cent of all cancer expenditure, whereas, in nine states--Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, over 10 per cent of the expenses were on non-medical services. (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 held a productive meeting with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez here on the sidelines of the G7 Summit on Sunday and reviewed the full range of the . During the meeting, the two leaders discussed various issues like trade and investment, defence cooperation, agriculture, climate action and food security. This was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders. They reviewed progress in implementing the bilateral Strategic Partnership established in 2019. Modi arrived here on a two-day visit to Germany on Sunday to take part in the G7 summit. He will discuss issues like energy, food security, counter-terrorism, environment and democracy with the leaders of the powerful bloc and its partner countries. "Reviewed the full range of the India- friendship during the very productive meeting with President @alferdez in Munich. Stronger cooperation between our nations will greatly benefit our people," Modi tweeted. "Accelerating friendship with . PM @narendramodi held talks with President @alferdez in Munich. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen commercial and cultural linkages between India and Argentina," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet on Modi's first bilateral meeting on his two-nation tour. PM @narendramodi met Argentine President @alferdez in what was their 1st bilateral meeting. Discussed various issues like trade & investment, climate action, South-South cooperation, pharmaceuticals, traditional medicine, agriculture, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet. Discussions took place on various issues including trade and investment; South-South cooperation, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector; climate action, renewable energy, nuclear medicine, electric mobility, defence cooperation, agriculture and food security, traditional medicine, cultural cooperation, as well as coordination in international bodies, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Both sides agreed to enhance their bilateral engagement in these sectors, it said. Besides India, Germany, the host of the G7 Summit, has also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests for the summit to recognise the democracies of the global south as its partners. India- relations were elevated to the level of Strategic Partnership in 2019. Multi-faceted relations between the two countries have strengthened over the years and encompass political, economic, cultural and scientific and technological cooperation. India opened a Trade Commission in Buenos Aires in 1943, which was later converted into one of the first Embassies of India in South America in 1949, according to the Indian embassy in Argentina. There are around 2,600 NRIs/PIOs in Argentina. The majority of them live in the capital city of Buenos Aires, including professionals working with Indian companies and multinational corporations. From Germany, Modi will travel to the United Arab Emirates on June 28 to pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the Gulf nation. Sheikh Khalifa passed away on May 13 after battling illness for the last several years. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister on Monday met US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit venue here and briefly interacted with each other ahead of the group photo. Prime Minister Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, was received by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern Germany. Before the group photo session, President Biden walked towards Prime Minister Modi and exchanged pleasantries and warmly shook hands. Prime Minister Modi, who was standing next to Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau for the group photo, also was seen interacting with the Canadian Prime Minister. Both leaders are scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting later in this evening. The bonhomie between Modi and Macron was on full display as they hugged and briefly chatted after the group photo. As the G7 leaders went inside the summit venue, the two leaders continued with their discussion and went inside together. PM @narendramodi with @POTUS @JoeBiden, @President @EmmanuelMacron and PM @JustinTrudeau at the G-7 Summit in Germany, the Prime Minister's Office said on Twitter. Prime Minister Modi also tweeted the group photo along with a caption that read: At the G-7 Summit with world leaders. This was the first meeting between Modi and Biden after they met in Japan for the Quad summit in May. The two leaders are also scheduled to meet in July for the I2U2 virtual summit of the quadrilateral economic forum comprising India, Israel, the UAE and the US. The German Presidency has invited Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the G7 Summit in Elmau, Bavaria. Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz is looking forward to constructive and lively talks with the partner countries. This will send out a powerful signal from Elmau a common message from strong democracies that are aware of their global responsibilities. Our aim is to launch concrete initiatives and partnerships focusing on the climate and sustainable investments, improve food security worldwide, increase global health and make democracies more resilient, according to an official statement. Modi is attending the G7 summit held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany following an invitation by German Chancellor Scholz. The summit is being hosted by Germany in its capacity as the chair of G7. In his remarks ahead of his departure, Modi said he was looking forward to meeting leaders of some of the participating G7 and guest countries on the sidelines of the summit. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) China vows to open its door wider to world By LIU ZHIHUA and CHENG YU (China Daily) 11:18, June 27, 2022 Aerial photo taken on Jan 11, 2021 shows a view of the Pacific international container terminal at Tianjin Port in North China's Tianjin. [Photo/Xinhua] Efforts to propel high-quality growth underpin commitment, experts say China's latest commitment to expanding high-level opening-up is expected to reassure foreign investors of the nation's promise to relentlessly open its door wider and share development dividends with the rest of the world despite the rising tide of protectionism in some countries. In a virtual keynote speech to the opening ceremony of the BRICS Business Forum held on Wednesday, President Xi Jinping said that China will continue to pursue opening-up of higher standards, develop new systems for a higher-standard open economy, foster a business environment that is based on market principles, governed by law and up to international standards. Xi encouraged businesses to invest and develop in China, enhance trade and economic cooperation, and share development opportunities. In an article published on Wednesday in People's Daily, He Lifeng, head of the National Development and Reform Commission, wrote that Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era makes it clear that expanding opening-up in an all-around manner is an important "magic weapon" for China's economic development. "We must firmly implement the basic State policy of opening-up to the outside world, build new systems for a higher-level open economy, promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, and push for an economic globalization that is more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all," he wrote. Experts said the unfaltering commitment to opening-up is underpinned by the nation's efforts to propel high-quality development and reinforce the confidence of foreign investors in the world's second-largest economy, which is striving to prevent an economic slowdown. China announced a guideline in April on accelerating the establishment of a unified national market that is highly efficient, rule-based, fair for competition and open. It is also accelerating a fresh revision of the industry catalog that encourages foreign investment. "China has done well in expanding market access. What matters more now is the building of a transparent, predictable and enabling market system that facilitates business operations following eligible market entry," said Huo Jianguo, vice-chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies. As the world's second-largest consumer market and largest trader in goods, China has signed 19 free trade agreements with 26 economies and established 21 pilot free trade zones and the Hainan free trade port, with items on the national and free trade zone negative lists being respectively downsized to just 31 and 27 items. A negative list refers to special administrative measures prohibiting foreign investment in certain industries or areas. Chinese authorities have also been making diligent efforts to ease the burdens of foreign enterprises and respond to their demands for an environment that includes improvement in logistics and personnel flows, to ensure their normal operations and stabilize their expectations. Analysts said Xi's reiteration of China's commitment to high-level opening-up on various occasions indicates the nation will deepen domestic reforms to align with high-level international standards and level the playing field while enhancing government services for market entities. That is in line with the acknowledgment of the decisive position of the market in allocating resources while giving better play to the role of government, a key feature and a fundamental principle of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialist Economy with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, they said. "As China pursues high-level opening-up, the nation will greatly break down current monopolies, both administrative and corporate, and further drive the smooth flow of resources and factors for greater vitality," said Guo Liyan, a researcher with the Chinese Academy of Macroeconomic Research. "Such efforts will effectively meet the needs of both China and the world, so that the rest of the world can benefit from the development and growth of the Chinese market, and work together to maintain the stability of global industrial and supply chains as well as the stable recovery of the world economy," Guo said. Although temporary uncertainties have either postponed or reduced foreign investments over the short term, surveys from foreign chambers of commerce in China showed that most multinational companies regard China as a major market, and that more investment is expected to come in the medium to long term. Sang Baichuan, dean of the Institute of International Economy at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said stable expectations are a fundamental driver for foreign investment. He expects China to vigorously build a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized business environment, and constantly enhance the protection system for foreign investment. Leon Wang, executive vice-president of AstraZeneca, said China's determination in opening-up means its business environment will continuously improve to make it more attractive to foreign companies. The company keeps accelerating its footprint in China and will soon have six regional headquarters across the nation to reinforce its presence in the world's second-largest pharmaceutical market. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Senior Congress leader on Monday tried to play down the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's recent remarks on the 2020 rebellion against the Rajasthan government, saying that he is a father figure. "Earlier also, the chief minister had said something about me. Gehlot ji is experienced, elderly and father-like, so if he ever says something, I would not take him otherwise," Pilot told reporters on Gehlot's recent statement about him. Gehlot had on Saturday said Union Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has proved with his statement that he was the main character in the attempts to topple his government in 2020 and was involved with . You (Shekhawat) were the main character in (the conspiracy of) toppling the government and everyone knows that you have been exposed. All know that the voice is yours, you yourself conspired to topple the government. Now you are taking the name of that he missed, you have proved it more that you were in connivance with him," Gehlot had said. Recently, at a Congress programme in Delhi, Rahul Gandhi had taken Pilot's name and commented about his patience. Referring to this, Pilot said, "Now, if my patience is praised or liked by a leader like Rahul Gandhi, then I feel that there is nothing further to say." He said that his entire focus is on how the Congress party's government should be formed again in the state. The former Rajasthan deputy chief minister said that if the Congress and the government work together, then the party will be able to win the upcoming Assembly polls again. Rajasthan will go to polls next year. "My only aim is that the workers continue to get respect. How can we forget the people who did everything for the party in the elections?" Pilot said. "I think in the 2023 assembly elections, if we work together then our government will definitely be formed," he further said. Regarding the contractual recruitment in defence forces through Agnipath scheme, Pilot said, "The scheme announced by the Centre is being opposed all over India. There is resentment among the people. We want to force the government to take it back." On the political crisis in Maharashtra, Pilot said, "Our alliance of Shiv Sena, Congress and NCP continues even today and alliance partners have said that the coalition government has done a good job. The government will complete its five-year term." Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in the Rajasthan Assembly Gulab Chand Kataria and his deputy Rajendra Rathore on Monday hit out at CM Gehlot for targeting Pilot. Supporting Pilot for his liking among people, Kataria said, "Sachin Pilot has public support. This is the reason why he has been a thorn in Gehlot's side. In fact, the chief minister wants to throw him out so that he can rule like an autocrat," Kataria said. Rathore appreciated Pilot's patience. "Rajasthan CM and his ministers are crossing the limits in insulting Sachin Pilot. I would like to thank him for his patience, who was sometimes called useless and sometimes a conspirator. Now, he has become a 'Neelkanth'. But, when Neelkanth spews poison, an earthquake comes. When will there be an earthquake in Congress politics. Don't know," Rathore told reporters in Bharatpur. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lieutenant Governor Sunday said the security forces in the Union territory have an upper hand over sponsored by the neighbouring country. Addressing a special National Integration Camp of NCC cadets as part of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme here, Sinha also said J&K has the lowest crime rate in the country. The UT of has the lowest crime rate in the whole country and our security forces have upper hand over the sponsored by the neighbouring country, Sinha said, while denouncing the myth created around J&K's law and order situation. J&K, which was kept away from industrial growth for decades, has now become a promising destination for investors and industries from all over the world. Still, attempts are being made to create a wrong perception about J-K. All of you attending this camp have a responsibility to break these myths and carry the message of peace, prosperity and the change happening in the UT," the LG told the NCC cadets. Around 200 cadets from across the country participated in the camp organized by National Cadet Corps, Directorate of Jammu-Kashmir and Ladakh. Sinha lauded the role of NCC in developing character, camaraderie, discipline, spirit of adventure and ideals of selfless service in young citizens of the country. 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' programme is propagating the rich cultural heritage of the country, promoting people-to-people contacts, knowledge of the language, traditions and practices of different states/UTs to strengthen understanding and bonding between one another, the LG said. The world's largest uniformed youth organization NCC is a reflection of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of 'Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat' which holds together the diverse linguistic, cultural and religious threads, into a composite national identity, Sinha said. Such camps are indeed a true representation of the entire nation and unity of the country, he added. Highlighting the need to enhance interaction and to promote mutual understanding among the regions, the LG said that this special National Integration Camp in Srinagar has certainly enabled the youth coming from different parts of the country to create a better understanding about J&K. Today, J-K is performing better than many other states/UTs in sectors like business, health, smart city projects, education, digitization, e-governance, infrastructure, connectivity, sports, innovation, startups, and per capita energy, etc, Sinha 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.) Social activist and retired IPS officer RB Sreekumar remained mostly tight-lipped during their interrogation and refused to reveal anything about their alleged role in fabricating evidence as claimed in an FIR registered against them by the Gujarat police with regards to the 2002 riots in the state, said an official on Monday. While Setalvad has sought time to answer questions posed to her by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Gujarat police that is handling the case, Sreekumar told investigators he has done nothing wrong, said the senior police official. "Both are not revealing much during interrogation. Setalvad, when she was grilled yesterday, only said she needs more time to answer the questions. She also kept saying that whatever she wants to say, will say only before the court," said the official who is helping the SIT in its probe. "We grilled Sreekumar for four hours today. But, he kept saying that whatever he did was as per the law and he did nothing wrong. Since our case is largely based on documentary evidence, our probe will not be hampered even if the accused do not cooperate," said the official. A court in Ahmedabad on Sunday remanded Setalvad and former state DGP Sreekumar in police custody till July 2 in a case of allegedly fabricating evidence to frame innocent persons in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. To probe the case, the Gujarat police have formed an SIT headed by Deputy Inspector General (Anti-Terrorist Squad) Deepan Bhadran. The official said statements of riot witnesses before the Supreme Court-appointed SIT and affidavits filed by the accused as well as others before the courts at that time will be collected as part of the probe because these documents are the main basis for the case. A day after the Supreme Court upheld the clean chit given by an SIT to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riot cases, the Gujarat police arrested Sreekumar and Mumbai-based Setalvad for allegedly conspiring to falsely implicate innocent persons. Another former IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt, who is currently in jail in another case, has also been shown as an accused in the FIR. The FIR was registered by the Ahmedabad city crime branch under sections 468, 471 (forgery), 194 (giving or fabricating false evidence with intent to procure conviction of capital offence), 211 (institute criminal proceedings to cause injury), 218 (public servant framing incorrect record or writing with intent to save person from punishment or property from forfeiture) and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code on a complaint filed by a police inspector. They instituted false and malicious criminal proceedings against innocent people with intention to cause injury to several persons, and prepared false records and dishonestly used those records as genuine with the intention to cause damage and injury to many persons, as per the complaint. The complaint drew on various submissions made before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Supreme Court to investigate the 2002 Gujarat riots cases and submissions made by the accused before the Justice Nanavati-Shah Commission of Inquiry. As per the FIR, Setalvad "had conjured, concocted, forged, fabricated facts and documents and/or evidence including fabrication of documents by persons who were protective witnesses of the complainant (Zakia Jafri)". Setalvad and her NGO were co-petitioner with Zakia Jafri (wife of Congress leader Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the riots) in the plea filed against then-chief minister Narendra Modi and others in the Supreme Court. The SC dismissed the petition on Friday and upheld the clean chit given to Modi and others. (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.) COVID-19 cases in witnessed a sharp rise as the state reported 1,472 fresh infections on Sunday, pushing the active caseload to 7,458, according to the State health bulletin. In Tamil Nadu, as many as 691 people have recuperated from the virus in the last 24 hours. Earlier this month, Health Minister Ma Subramanian chaired a meeting with officials in view of the rising cases of COVID-19. The meeting was held at the office of the Municipal Corporation of Chennai. Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Health Secretary Senthil Kumar, Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan, Chennai Deputy Mayor Mahesh Kumar and Public health service officer's participated in this meeting. Meanwhile, India reported 11,739 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday. The cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 4,33,89,973. Active cases now constitute 0.21 per cent of the country's total positive cases. An increase of 797 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Active COVID-19 cases in the country rise to 92,576. The daily positivity rate stands at 2.59 per cent. As many as 25 people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, the Ministry bulletin stated. The recovery rate is currently at 98.60 per cent while the total COVID recoveries now stand at 4,27,72,398. India's cumulative vaccination coverage crossed the 197-crore milestone on Saturday, according to Press Information Bureau. More than 11 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Saturday till 7 pm. (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.) Maharashtra's district has reported 1,306 new COVID-19 cases, taking its infection tally to 7,25,471, a health official said on Monday. These new cases were recorded on Sunday, a jump of over 900 cases in a single day. On Saturday, had reported 383 new COVID-19 cases. The district currently has 5,425 active COVID-19 cases, the official said, adding that the recovery count has reached 7,06,708. The death toll in remained unchanged at 11,902, he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The average office-goer in most neighbouring countries spends less on fuel than in India, shows a Business Standard analysis. Amid of a fuel shortage in some parts of the country and wider unrest over fuel issues in the neighbourhood, an analysis of the data from international tracker globalpetrolprices.com shows that the per litre price of is higher in than in seven out of its nine neighbours. The (US) has also been included for a developed nation comparison and had a higher price than . Among the neighbouring countries, (Rs 116 per litre) and (Rs 124 per litre) had a higher price. Every other country that borders had lower prices, including Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Bhutan, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and the Maldives. All prices are in Indian rupees. The data is as of June 20. Income differences can affect how much prices pinch the average citizen. For example, in India is 2.6 per cent more expensive than in the US. However, their per capita (GDP) is 30 times that of India. Business Standard looked at the number of litres that the average citizen can afford to buy daily, using the per capita for each country in 2022 as a broad proxy for affordability. The analysis used 2022 numbers from the Washington-based International Monetary Fund. The is the total value of goods and services that a country produces. A per capita figure breaks this down into a per person figure. Assuming the person used an equivalent amount to buy petrol, the number of litres they could afford on a daily basis shows a wide variance across the countries under consideration. An Indian would be able to buy 5.2 litres of petrol, which is more than Pakistan, Myanmar, and Afghanistan. However, it is less than Bangladesh (6.8 litres), (25.8 litres) and the Maldives (40.7 litres). The US, as a developed country, can buy over 150 litres a day, if the average person spent the equivalent of their per capita on buying . They can afford a larger amount than India despite slightly higher prices because of higher US income. Affordability is higher in 5 out of 9 countries neighbouring India. It is not clear how much relief can be expected in the days ahead. may not follow the typical price decline that is seen amid slowing growth, according to a June 21 Asia Economics (Asia Pacific) report from global financial services major Morgan Stanley. There has been a decline in non-oil commodities but this may not be true for crude, noted the report authored by Chief Asia Economist Chetan Ahya and economists Jonathan Cheung and Derrick Y Kam. ...oil the most important commodity that Asia imports could decline to a smaller extent owing to geopolitical tensions and supply constraints, it said. The outlook could also be affected by increased demand from China, according to a June 19 Global Markets Research report from financial services group Nomura, authored by research analysts Aichi Amemiya and Robert Dent. The ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and its impact on global commodity markets and supply chains has shown few signs of improvement, and may have started to become more entrenched.... Retail in the US have risen sharply and persistently from around $3.30/gallon at end-2021 to over $5.00/gallon in June. Increased demand from the ongoing reopening of after Omicron-linked lockdowns suggests further upside risk to energy prices, it said. The proposed free trade agreements (FTAs), including with the UK, and GCC would open new opportunities to boost India's exports in these markets, FIEO President A Sakthivel said here. Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) also said the government initiatives are helping the country record a healthy growth rate in exports. Ongoing negotiations with the UK, the EU, GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council), etc will throw open new opportunities for Indian exporters, Sakthivel said in an event on the exports sector. The GCC was established in 1981 and its six members are the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain. India is actively negotiating FTAs with these countries and blocs. The (EU) team is in New Delhi to hold negotiations with Indian officials on the proposed bilateral trade and investment agreement. On June 17, India and the EU formally resumed negotiations on the proposed agreement, after a gap of over eight years. India had started negotiations for a trade pact, dubbed the Bilateral Trade and Investment Agreement (BTIA), with the 27-country bloc in 2007, but the talks stalled in 2013 as both sides failed to reach an agreement on key issues, including customs duties on automobiles and spirits, and the movement of professionals. Also, several rounds of negotiations have been completed with the for a comprehensive trade pact. Both countries are aiming to conclude the talks by Diwali. To further boost exports, Sakthivel suggested that the government implement certain measures such as linking issuance of RoSCTL (Rebate of State & Central Taxes and Levies) and RoDTEP (Remissions of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products) with export realization for better value; and inclusion of sectors like iron and steel, pharma, and chemicals under the ambit of RoDTEP. He also urged for a revised TMA (transport and marketing assistance) for the agri sector, solution on money stuck in export made to Sri Lanka, implementation of rupee payment system for export to Russia, and creation of MSME market promotion fund. (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 Insolvency and Board of India(IBBI) has released a discussion paper that seeks to improve the value of and reduce delays in insolvency processes. The regulator has charted out certain activities under the insolvency process that can be done simultaneously as opposed to one after another. The paper said that for prospective buyers of stressed assets, the information memorandum (IM) is not required to pique their interest in the assets. IM contains specific information about insolvent firms. Preparing this document takes a lot of time, so in the initial stages, only basic information about such firms can be provided to interested buyers to save time, the paper said. The paper also talks about increasing the period for submitting the Information Memorandum as the regulator has observed that this process takes more time. Meanwhile, it has been proposed to decrease the time for filing avoidance applications so that potential buyers can have complete information about the assets of insolvent firms. Avoidance Applications widen the asset pool of lenders by bringing back the assets unlawfully diverted from insolvent firms. The paper proposed that professionals (RP) shall prepare a strategy for marketing where the total claims exceed Rs 100 crore. The creditors can also propose measures to market such assets. This proposal is designed to increase competition in the marketplace and enhance the value of these assets, it said. The threshold of Rs 100 crore was kept to ensure that a marketing plan does not burn a hole in the pocket of smaller insolvent firms, the paper added. The paper also talks about how buyers may sometimes be interested in one part of the assets of insolvent firms and may not be interested in another part. To rectify this issue, it has been proposed that in cases where no plan was received, the lenders/RP may resolve part of the . data says only 14 per cent of the Corporate Insolvency Process (CIRP) yielded a resolution plan between December 1, 2016 and March 31, 2022, while 47 per cent ended in liquidation during the period. In cases where there is no sight of a resolution plan, the lenders may take a call to liquidate the assets of such firms. This will save the cost of unnecessarily going through a process of resolution that will not fetch a result, the paper said. Once a proposal of liquidation is placed before the company law tribunal, the lenders can work on a compromise with the borrowers, which can be submitted to the tribunal, the paper suggested. Besides this, the paper proposes that assets of insolvent firms that might be mortgaged/charged can be included in the list of stressed assets with the consent of such lenders(mortgagee/charge holder). Other proposals include enabling geotagging of the immovable assets, allowing lenders to know about the valuation process of stressed assets, repetition of valuation exercise where the timeline for the corporate resolution process has extended beyond the mandatory 330 days, and protecting the interests of dissenting lenders in the event of liquidation. The paper also proposes that the RP shall continue to conduct the lenders meetings during the period between the approval of the plan by the lenders and the approval of the plan by the company law tribunal. Lastly, the Interim Resolution Professional(IRP) should hand over all the details about the insolvency process to the RP as well as keep the insolvent firms abreast of the initiation of the resolution process to the insolvent firms, the paper said. India's gig workforce is expected to expand to 23.5 million by 2029-30 from 7.7 million in 2020-21, a report said on Monday, and recommended extending social security measures for such workers and their families in partnership mode as envisaged in Code on Social Security. The report titled 'India's Booming Gig and Platform Economy' further said gig workers are expected to form 6.7 per cent of the non-agricultural workforce or 4.1 per cent of the total livelihood in India by 2029-30. Gig workers can be broadly classified into platform and non-platform workers. Platform workers are those whose work is based on online software apps or digital platforms while non-platform gig workers are generally casual wage workers, working part-time or full- time. Gig workers prefer a flexible work schedule, typically with low to middle level of education. Income through gig work is not their primary source of income and they are often holding another regular job. According to the NITI report, it is estimated that in 2020-21, 7.7 million workers were engaged in the and they constituted 2.6 per cent of the non-agricultural workforce or 1.5 per cent of the total workforce in India. Similarly, it estimated that there were 6.8 million gig workers in 2019-20, using both principal and subsidiary status, forming 2.4 per cent of the non-farm workforce or 1.3 per cent of the total workers in India. The report pointed out that the employment elasticity to GDP growth for gig workers was above one throughout the period 2011-12 to 2019-20, and was always above the overall employment elasticity. To harness the potential of the gig-platform sector, the report recommended accelerating access to finance through products specifically designed for platform workers, linking self-employed individuals engaged in the business of selling regional and rural cuisine, street food, etc, with platforms to enable them to sell their produce to wider markets in towns and cities. Other recommendations include undertaking a separate enumeration exercise to estimate the size of the gig-platform workforce and collecting information during official enumerations. As per the report, in terms of industrial classification, about 2.66 million gig workers were involved in retail trade and sales, and about 1.3 million were in the transportation sector. About 620,000 were in manufacturing and another 630,000 in the finance and insurance activities, it added. At present, about 47 per cent of the gig work is in medium skilled jobs, 22 per cent in high skilled, and about 31 per cent in low skilled jobs. According to the report, the trend shows the concentration of workers in medium skills is gradually declining and that of the low skilled and high skilled is increasing. It may be expected that while the domination of medium skills would continue till 2030, gig work with other skills will emerge, the report added. The report noted that the rapidly burgeoning gig workforce is ushering in a new economic revolution globally. India with its demographic dividend of half-a-billion labour force and the world's youngest population, rapid urbanisation, widespread adoption of smartphones and associated technology is the new frontier of this revolution, it added. The report pointed out that there is an emerging positive trend that suggests women are more likely to take up platform jobs after their education and marriage. It suggested bridging skill gaps by carrying out periodic assessments and partnering with platform businesses for onboarding skilled women and persons with disabilities. The report pitched for incentivising inclusive businesses women led-platforms or platforms that encourage recruitment of women employees and those with disabilities. Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman Suman Bery said the report will become a valuable knowledge resource in understanding the potential of the sector and drive further research and analysis on gig and platform work. (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.) Asserting that India's dedication to climate commitments is evident from its performance, Prime Minister on Monday hoped that rich countries of G-7 will support India's efforts in combating climate change and invited them to tap the huge market for clean energy technologies emerging in the country. In his remarks at the session on Investing in a better Future: Climate, Energy, Health' at G7 Summit, Modi highlighted India's track record and said it has achieved the target of 40 per cent energy-capacity from non-fossil sources nine years before time. "The target of 10 per cent ethanol-blending in petrol has been achieved 5 months before time. India has the world's first fully solar power operated airport. India's huge railway system will become net zero in this decade," he said. "When a large country like India shows such ambition, other developing countries also get inspiration. We hope that the rich countries of G-7 will support India's efforts. Today, a huge market for clean energy technologies is emerging in India," the prime minister said. G-7 countries can invest in research, innovation, and manufacturing in this field, he said. The scale that India can provide for every new technology can make that technology affordable for the whole world, he asserted. The core theories of the circular economy have been an integral part of Indian culture and lifestyle, Modi said. "I called for a movement called LIFE - Lifestyle for Environment - in Glasgow last year. This year on World Environment Day, we launched the Global Initiative for LiFE campaign. The goal of this campaign is to encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle," he said. "We can call the followers of this movement Triple-P i.e. 'pro planet people', and we should all take the responsibility of increasing the number of Triple-P people in our own countries. This will be our greatest contribution to the coming generations," he said. Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, was received by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern Germany. "Becoming pro-planet people. Investing in a better future. In the @G7 session on climate, energy & health, PM @narendramodi highlighted India's efforts for green growth, clean energy, sustainable lifestyles & global wellbeing," Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted. Before the start of the summit, Prime Minister Modi shook hands with US President Joe Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as the leaders assembled for a group photo. This was the first meeting between Modi and Biden after they met in Japan for the Quad summit in May. The two leaders are also scheduled to meet in July for the I2U2 virtual summit of the quadrilateral economic forum comprising India, Israel, the UAE and the US. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The German Presidency has invited Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the in Elmau, Bavaria. Modi is attending the held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany following an invitation by German Chancellor Scholz. (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.) HS Result 2022: The Higher Secondary Council, AHSEC, announced the exam result of Class 12 on Monday, June 27. Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Twitter had earlier said that the Assam Board will declare class 12th AHSEC result 2022 today. Students can now check their marks on the official site of AHSEC, at results.assam.nic.in, ahsec.assam.gov.in. These links went live at 9 am today, June 27. Students can check their Class 12 AHSEC results after logging in on the official websites using their roll number, registration number, date of birth. Assam HS results links, along with other third-party websites, have been made live for candidates as results are declared. More than 200,000 students appeared for the Assam class 12th HS exams and were awaiting their results. The Assam HS exams were held from March 15 to April 12. The minimum passing marks for the class 12 HS exams is 30 per cent. To check your results, go to the official websites of Assam board, i.e., results.assam.nic.in, ahsec.assam.gov.in or sebaonline.org. Click on class 12 HS results 2022 link, which will be made live after 9 am. Login using your credentials and your result will appear on the screen. Download the marksheet and keep a print-out for future references. The pass percentage in the HS exams last year was 99.18 per cent, will 99.06 per cent in HS Science and 98.93 per cent in Arts and 99.57 in Commerce. Leaders of several on Monday said the presidential election is a fight between two ideologies and not about individuals as their candidate filed his nomination for the poll. Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi said the real fight is between two ideologies - the hatred of the RSS on the one side and the compassion of all on the other. The NDA has fielded Droupadi Murmu for the presidential poll. "We are all unitedly supporting ji. Of course, we are supporting the individual, but the real fight is between two ideologies. One ideology of RSS - anger, hatred and the other of compassion of all the who are standing together," he said. He said the entire opposition is standing with Sinha. TMC leader Saugata Roy said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has extended her full support to Sinha, who is the joint opposition candidate. "It is not a fight between two individuals only, it is a fight between two ideologies - between communalism and secularism and authoritarianism versus democracy. And I think under the circumstances, is the best candidate," Roy said while noting that he is a former IAS officer, former union minister of Finance and External Affairs. "On a person-to-person basis, Sinha is far better. All opposition parties are fully supporting him. The Congress, DMK, socialist parties and Left parties are supporting him. I think it is a rainbow-coloured coalition of best values," the TMC leader said. CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury said it is not a question of identity politics. "We respect Droupadi Murmu ji, but it is contest of ideologies," he noted. Several top opposition leaders accompanied Sinha as he filed his nomination papers for the July 18 polls. (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.) could suspend in 48 hours if the nationwide indigenous protests and road blockades continue, the Ministry of Energy and Mines said. The hydrocarbon sector was adversely affected by road blockades and the seizure of oil wells in the country's Amazon region, Xinhua news agency quoted the Ministry as saying. "If this situation continues, the country's would be suspended in 48 hours due to acts of vandalism, oil well taking-over and road closures. It has not been possible to transport the supplies and diesel necessary to maintain the operation," said Energy Minister Xavier Vera. The past two weeks of protests led to a decrease of by more than 1.3 million barrels, with the Ecuadoran state oil company Petroecuador being the most affected with a loss of 1,061,875 barrels of crude oil. Other oil companies operating in the country have reported a loss of 272,223 barrels of oil due to the current indigenous protests. The protests have forced a closure of 1,176 oil wells, of which 996 belong to Petroecuador and 180 to other companies. Crude oil is Ecuador's main export product, whose sales finance an important part of the state budget. The protests were called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, the largest indigenous organization in the South American country, which is demanding a series of economic and social concessions from the government. So far, five deaths have been reported and dozens of have been injured in the protests. --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.) To give another blow to the Russian economy, US on Sunday said that the Group of Seven (G7) countries are going to announce sanctions on Russian gold. US said that the nations will ban the import of Russian gold with the aim of tightening sanctions screws on Moscow. As the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of Summit, President Joe Biden said, "Together, the will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for ." Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for ." Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday. Reporting from the G7 summit, Al Jazeera's James Bays, said the first session on Sunday will be focusing on the global economy. He added that the sanctioning of Russian gold has been hailed as one of the summit's achievements and is likely to go ahead. On the other hand, Bays also informed that the countries are also going to be mindful of their own economies and G7 leaders are unlikely to greenlight any additional sanctions, "particularly gas imports from to Europe." Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on G7 countries to respond to the new missile attack on Kyiv by imposing further sanctions on Russia and providing more heavy weapons to Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Kuleba wrote, "This 7 y.o. Ukrainian kid was sleeping peacefully in Kyiv until a Russian cruise missile blasted her home. Many more around Ukraine are under strikes. G7 summit must respond with more sanctions on Russia and more heavy arms for Ukraine." Gold exports are a major source of revenue for Russia in terms of their ability to transact with the global financial system. Last year, they were worth 12.6 billion pounds (USD 15.45bn) and wealthy Russians have been buying bullion to reduce the financial effect of Western sanctions. The clampdown is likely to be the most impactful economic measure against Moscow announced at the G7's three-day meeting. Notably, the Russian's invasion of Ukraine is now in its fifth month. (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.) Leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers are set to commit themselves to the long haul in supporting as they meet in the German Alps and confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The G-7 leaders will begin Monday's session of their three-day summit with a focus on . Later, they will be joined by the leaders of five democratic emerging economies - India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina - for a discussion on climate change, energy and other issues. The war in was already at the forefront of the G-7 leaders' minds as they opened their summit at the secluded Schloss Elmau luxury hotel on Sunday - just as Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks. US President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G-7 would splinter, but we haven't and we're not going to. Britain's Boris Johnson warned the leaders not to give in to fatigue. On Monday, they have the opportunity to demonstrate that unity to Zelenskyy and reaffirm their commitment to supporting Kyiv financially and otherwise. Biden hopes to use his trip to Europe to proclaim the unity of the coalition pressing to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as much as he is urging allies to do even more - seeking to counter doubts about its endurance as the war grinds into its fifth month. The summit's host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said last week that he wants to discuss the outlines of a Marshall plan for Ukraine with his G-7 counterparts, referring to the U.S.-sponsored plan that helped revive European economies after World War II. With the war still in progress and destruction mounting by the day, it's unlikely to be a detailed plan at this stage. Scholz has said that rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for generations. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and prevent tight finances from hindering its defense against Russian forces. A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations between the G-7 leaders, said the US and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if their roles sometimes appear different. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia and aims to bolster Ukraine's battlefield capacity as much as possible so that its eventual position at the negotiating table is stronger. The endurance of the tough sanctions on Russia may ultimately come down to whether the G-7 and other leaders can identify ways to ease energy supply issues and skyrocketing prices once winter hits, as they seek to disengage from Russian sources of fuel. The G-7 meeting is sandwiched between a European Union summit last week that agreed to give Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership - kicking off a process that is likely to take years and whose success isn't guaranteed - and a summit of NATO leaders starting Tuesday in Madrid. The leaders of the G-7 - the US, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Canada and Japan - may hope to make some progress in bringing their counterparts from their five guest countries closer to Western views on sanctions against Russia. Scholz also is eager to win over such countries for his idea of a climate club for nations that want to speed ahead when it comes to tackling the issue. (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 leaders of the Group of Seven on Sunday (local time) mocked Russian President over his shirtless, bare-chested horse-riding picture. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau could be heard on a video joking about their impending photoshoot, reported The Hill. "Jackets on? Jackets off? Shall we take our clothes off?" British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked other leaders sitting around a table. "We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin." "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display," Trudeau quipped, referencing a widely shared photo of Putin. "There you go! There you go! We've got to show them our pecs!" Johnson responded. Putin has often appeared shirtless in images disseminated by the Kremlin. Putin's predilection for going shirtless doing outdoor activities is part of his carefully crafted strongman image. The Russian president is also an accomplished Taekwondo practitioner, reported The Hill. The leaders, Johnson and Trudeau joked about Putin during the first day of the three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps, reported The Hill. Russia was kicked out of what was previously called the G8 in 2014 following its initial invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The current nations include the US, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden announced that the group will impose new import bans on Russian gold as a punishment for Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reported The Hill. US said that the G7 nations will ban the import of Russian gold with the aim of tightening sanctions screws on Moscow. As the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, President Joe Biden said, "Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday. A White House readout of Biden's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated Ukraine was a main topic of conversation. "The leaders underlined their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their continued provision of military, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to help Ukraine defend its democracy against Russian aggression," the White House readout said. "The leaders also discussed efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russia's war in Ukraine on global food and energy security," added the release. (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.) US President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders have unveiled ambitious plans to mobilise USD 600 billion in funding by 2027 to deliver transparent and game-changing infrastructure projects in developing countries like India, in a move seen as a counter to China's . The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) unveiled on Sunday here during the relaunches a scheme unveiled at last year's G7 talks in England. President Biden said the plan would deliver returns for everyone. "Today, the nations of the G7 launched the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII)," Biden said. "Collectively, we aim to mobilise nearly USD 600 billion from the G7 by 2027 to invest in critical infrastructure that improves lives and delivers real gains for all of our people," he tweeted. "I want to be clear the G7's announcement of a new global infrastructure partnership isn't aid or charity. It's an investment that will deliver returns for everyone including the American people and boost all of our economies," Biden tweeted. Chinese President Xi Jinping's multi-trillion dollar (BRI) has been criticised for hitting many developing nations with too much debt. The PGII has been hailed as a way to counter China's ambitious BRI. Launched by President Xi in 2013, the BRI provides financing for emerging countries to build infrastructure like ports, roads and bridges. While it has developed trade links, it has also been criticised as a means of providing "predatory loans", forcing debt-saddled countries like Sri Lanka to cede key assets if they fail to meet their debt repayments. The PGII scheme would allow countries to "see the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies," President Biden said. He said the PGII will "mobilise strategic investments in areas vital to sustainable development and our shared global security." The White House, in a fact sheet, said the US will mobilise hundreds of billions of dollars and deliver quality, sustainable infrastructure that makes a difference in people's lives around the world, strengthens and diversifies the supply chains, creates new opportunities for American workers and businesses, and advances our national security. It said that President Biden will announce that the US aims to mobilise USD 200 billion for PGII over the next 5 years through grants, Federal financing, and leveraging private sector investments. "Together with G7 partners, we aim to mobilise USD 600 billion by 2027 in global infrastructure investments. And this will only be the beginning. The United States and its G7 partners will seek to mobilise additional capital from other like-minded partners, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and more," it said. On India, the White House fact sheet said the U.S. Development Finance Corporation (DFC) will invest up to USD 30 million in Omnivore Agritech and Climate Sustainability Fund 3, an impact venture capital fund that invests in entrepreneurs building the future of agriculture, food systems, climate, and the rural in India. It said the Fund seeks to invest in companies that increase food security and promote both climate resilience and climate adaptation in India, as well as improve the profitability and agricultural productivity of smallholder farms. The Fund is targeting a USD 65 million first close in September 2022 and a final close in 2023 to reach its target capitalisation of USD 130 million. Through this investment, DFC expects to mobilise USD 30 million in private capital, the fact sheet said. Internationally, infrastructure has long been underfunded, with over USD 40 trillion in estimated need in the developing world a need that will only increase with the climate crisis and population growth. Many low- and middle-income countries lack adequate access to high-quality financing that meets their long-term infrastructure investment needs, according to the Memorandum on the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment released by the White House. While the US has promised to raise USD 200 billion of the total through grants, federal funds and private investment, while the EU has announced a further 300bn euros, the BBC reported. The initiative will be geared towards tackling climate change, improving global health, achieving gender equity and building digital infrastructure. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the aim of the latest project was to present a "positive powerful investment impulse to the world to show our partners in the developing world that they have a choice". (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 Group of Seven economic powers are set to announce an agreement to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, aiming to curb Moscow's energy revenues, a US official said Monday. The move is part of a joint effort of support for Ukraine that includes raising tariffs on Russian goods and imposing new sanctions on hundreds of Russian officials and entities supporting the four month long war. Leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day summit in the German Alps. The details of how a price cap would work, as well as its impact on the Russian economy, were to be resolved by the G-7 ministers in the coming weeks and months. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the US announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods, as well as use of sanctions to target Russia's defense supply chains that support its effort to rearm during the war. The senior administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcements from the G-7 leaders' summit, where they are set to confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) has successfully launched for the second time a domestically-developed hybrid-propellant carrier rocket into space, a Defense Ministry spokesman announced. The three-stage carrier Zoljanah, which uses both solid and liquid fuel engines, could compete with its "most modern foreign counterparts", Xinhua news agency quoted spokesman Ahmad Hosseini as saying to the local media. The carrier rocket is used for suborbital missions, he added, noting the third development phase of the launch vehicle has started. On June 19, Hosseini said the Zoljanah carrier will be capable of putting "payloads weighing up to 220 kg into the orbit at an altitude of 500 km". A third launch has been planned for the satellite carrier, according to the ministry spokesman. The Defense Ministry launched the Zoljanah satellite carrier into space for the first time in February 2021, which was broadcast live on state TV. The satellite carrier, 25.5 metres in length and about 52 tons in weight, utilizes a 1.5-meter diameter solid fuel engine with 74 tons of thrust. All the launches are research-oriented, according to the Ministry. --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.) Naftali Bennett held what was likely his final as the Prime Minister of Israel, ahead of the Knesset or Parliament's expected dissolution this week following the collapse of the country's fragile coalition government. "Soon unfortunately, will head toward elections," Bennett told the Ministers in televised remarks late Sunday, referring to a vote on Monday or Wednesday in which Parliament will almost certainly vote to dissolve itself. Bennett and his main coalition partner Yair Lapid Decided to dissolve parliament after their shaky coalition lost its majority two months ago. Once Parliament approves the bill, Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid, will rotate with Bennett and serve as interim Prime Minister until the next government is established. The country is likely to hold the general elections, the fifth in just three years, in October. In his address on Sunday, Bennett, leader of the pro-settler Yamina party, specified a series of accomplishments achieved by his year-long governing coalition, which is made up of eight ideological diverse parties, including Dovish liberals, centrists, Hawkish right-wingers and an Arab party that had made history by joining for the first time a ruling coalition in . "This was an excellent government, which depended on a complex coalition. There is a group of people who knew how to put aside ideological differences, rise above and act for the State of Israel," he said. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is now the opposition leader, has been holding talks on establishing a new coalition government within the current Parliament without dissolving it, according to reports by state-owned Kan TV news and other local media. But Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party are reportedly far from recruiting enough lawmakers for the move, meaning the bill to dissolve Parliament is expected to be approved by the 120-seat legislative body. Bennett and Lapid have struggled to keep together the shaky coalition of eight parties since its establishment in June 2021, but a series of defections left it without a majority in the parliament for more than two months. Earlier this month, 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 exit, the coalition was left with only 59 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. --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.) will boost the number of troops on high alert by more than sevenfold to over 300,000, its secretary-general said on Monday, as allies prepared to adopt a new strategy describing Moscow as a direct threat four months into the Ukraine war. Russia's February invasion of Ukraine has sparked a major geopolitical shift in the West, prompting once neutral countries Finland and Sweden to apply to join and Ukraine to secure the status of candidate to join the . "Russia has walked away from the partnership and the dialogue that has tried to establish with Russia for many years," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in Brussels ahead of a NATO summit later this week in Madrid. "They have chosen confrontation instead of dialogue. We regret that - but of course, then we need to respond to that reality," he told reporters. The June 28-30 NATO summit comes at a pivotal moment for the alliance after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the alliance. Stoltenberg said NATO in future would have "well over 300,000" troops on high alert, compared to 40,000 troops that currently make up the alliance's existing quick reaction force, the NATO Response Force (NRF). The new force model is meant to replace the NRF and "provide a larger pool of high readiness forces across domains, land, sea, air and cyber, which will be pre-assigned to specific plans for the defence of allies," a NATO official said. Stoltenberg said NATO combat units on the alliance's eastern flank nearest Russia, especially the Baltic states, are to be boosted to brigade level, with thousands of pre-assigned troops on standby in countries further west like Germany as rapid reinforcements. "Together, this constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective deterrence and defence since the Cold War," he said. The NATO official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the moves would enable NATO to respond with more forces at short notice should the need arise. The official added that the precise scale and composition of the force was still being worked on and that the transition was planned for completion in 2023. At the summit, NATO will also change its language on Russia from the current wording, enshrined at its Lisbon summit in 2010, describing Moscow as a strategic partner. "I expect the allies will state clearly that Russia poses a direct threat to our security, to our values, to the rules-based order," Stoltenberg said. At the same time, Stoltenberg dampened hopes for a break-through at the summit to overcome Turkey's opposition to the membership bids of Sweden and Finland. "I will not make any promises or speculate about any specific time lines. The summit has never been a deadline," said Stoltenberg, who is scheduled to meet the leaders of all three countries in Madrid on Tuesday. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister on Sunday said that no compromises can be made when it comes to the country's security and defence. Speaking in a meeting, the premier urged the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to improve their performance and said that it was the only way to change the perception of the public, Geo tv reported. The meeting was also attended by Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz, Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, Deputy Speaker of the Punjab Assembly Dost Muhammad Mazari, and other senior officials. Shehbaz has said that the entire nation was on the same page with the government when it came to fighting terrorism and terrorist elements. "The people of stand by their armed forces and law enforcement agencies," PM Shehbaz said, according to Geo tv. The premier then added that when it comes to the security and defence of Pakistan, no compromises can be made. Shedding light on the role of provinces in the National Action Plan, the premier said that the participation of provinces will be restored. "Ignoring the role of provinces in the National Action Plan over the last four years has increased terrorism in the country," he said. During the meeting, PM Shahbaz directed the authorities concerned to ensure the protection of lives and property of the people across the country and also expressed concern over the increase in street crime incidents, as per the local media. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is currently witnessing a new surge in the COVID-19 cases and amid this the country's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has also tweaked its mask mandates where now the masks are mandatory again for with immediate effect. According to a notification from CAA, all concerned quarters must ensure compliance with the new order. The notification added that the other Covid-19 guidelines on domestic air travel remained unchanged. Earlier on Sunday, reported more than 400 cases for a second consecutive day. Karachi's positivity rate was also recorded at 21.71 per cent -- the highest in the country, reported Pakistan's media. Furthermore, the National Institute of Health (NIH) data showed that 406 Covid-19 cases were reported across the country in the past 24 hours. A day earlier, 435 cases were reported -- the highest number since March 22. A total of 14,437 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours. The positivity rate was recorded as 2.81pc while two more deaths were also reported. In addition, 94 patients were in critical care, up from 87 a day prior. While speaking with Dawn, University of Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Dr Javed Akram had said the virus was behaving like a "roller coaster". "The country will face similar situations for a few years," Dr Akram said. Akram said that the restrictions must be put back in place to contain the virus. He added that these measures will also help to fight the ongoing energy crisis. A member of the Scientific Task Force on Covid-19, Dr Javed Akram, said the immunity level among people was decreasing and the efficacy of vaccines, which was once 95pc, had fallen to around 80-85pc as the virus was continuously mutating. Dr Akram noted that the vaccines have now lost their efficacy however, he maintained that the vaccines are the only way to deal with the virus. He said that people should go for vaccination and those who were already immunised should get booster shots. The Vice-Chancellor also informed that Moderna vaccine supply is short but its consignment had arrived two days ago. "People should take precautionary measures and strictly adhere to SOPs (standard operating procedures)," he said. He further highlighted Pakistan's energy crisis while adding that the mask mandates and other restrictions will also help in combatting the virus, as per the media portal. (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 will attend the here in Germany in which leaders of the world's seven richest countries will discuss various important global issues, including the Russian invasion of Ukraine, food security and counter-terrorism. Prime Minister Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, will exchange views with the leaders of the bloc and its partners on issues such as energy, food security, counter-terrorism, environment and democracy. I will be attending the G-7 Summit today in which we will discuss various important global issues, he said on Twitter. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The leaders of the world's seven richest countries are expected to focus on the Ukraine crisis that has triggered geopolitical turmoil besides fuelling a global food and energy crisis. Modi is attending the held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany following an invitation by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The summit is being hosted by Germany in its capacity as the chair of G7. In his remarks ahead of his departure, Modi said he was looking forward to meeting leaders of some of the participating G7 and guest countries on the sidelines of the summit. Besides India, Germany, the host of the G7 Summit, has also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests for the summit to recognise the democracies of the global south as its partners. (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.) Leonardo Del Vecchio, the Italian who started with a tiny optics workshop in the Dolomite mountains and ended up as the undisputed world leader in eyewear, has died. He was 87. His death was reported by Italian daily Corriere della Sera on Monday. A spokesman for Del Vecchio wasnt immediately available for comment. Raised in a Milan orphanage, Del Vecchio struck out from the northern city to set up shop in the town of Agordo, in the Alps north of Venice, starting off as a small supplier of frame parts to local eyeglass makers. His company, EssilorLuxottica, rode a series of acquisitions to eventually become the world leader in the industry. Globally recognized names Ray-Ban and Oakley were among the scores of eyewear brands Del Vecchio bought on his way to the top. Del Vecchios net worth was $25.7 billion as of June 1, according to the Billionaires Index. He held a controlling 32% stake in EssilorLuxottica, the French-Italian eyewear giant that resulted from the 2018 merger of Luxottica with French lens giant Essilor. The company, which makes frames for luxury houses like Armani and Prada in addition to owning brands like Ray-Ban, has more than 180,000 employees, operations spanning the globe and a foothold in the luxury and medical technology sectors. EssilorLuxottica is both the worlds top eyeglass retailer and its biggest producer of corrective lenses. Shy and Secretive Shy and secretive by nature, Del Vecchio spent decades carefully avoiding the media spotlight. During a rare conversation with a reporter earlier this year, the tycoon was asked how he built his empire. Ive always strived to be the best at everything I do -- thats it, he said. Describing the drive that took him to the top, he said simply, I could never get enough. In addition to a controlling stake in EssilorLuxottica, Delfin also had holdings in Italian financial such as Mediobanca SpA, Assicurazioni Generali SpA and UniCredit SpA. Born on May 22, 1935, Del Vecchio grew up poor in Milan. Unable to care for her son, his mother -- widowed five months before he was born -- sent him to an orphanage when he was seven. He began working as an apprentice to a tool and dye manufacturer in Milan when he was 14. Del Vecchio moved to Agordo in the 1960s and started a small business making eyeglass frames designed by others. He founded Luxottica in 1961 with 14 workers on land he got free from the town in a bid to stimulate the local economy. Luxottica started to produce its own designs in the late 1960s. In the 1980s, Del Vecchio began buying in the US. In 1999, he purchased Ray-Ban for $640 million. In the early years of his career, Del Vecchio said he put work before everything else, dedicating little time to his children. The factory became my real family, he said, adding that he had made up for some of the lost time in recent years, spending most days with his extended family in Milan, or at his homes on Frances Cote dAzur and the island of Antigua. Del Vecchios final goal, he said in one of the last interviews he granted, was to to push EssilorLuxottica into the exclusive club of valued at more than 100 billion euros ($107 billion). He was the biggest shareholder in investment bank Mediobanca SpA, with a stake of just under 20%, and one of the main investors at Assicurazioni Generali SpA, Italys top insurer. He was part of a group of investors that tried unsuccessfully to force out Generali Chief Executive Officer Philippe Donnet in the first half of 2022. At Mediobanca, he periodically clashed over strategy with CEO Alberto Nagel. Del Vecchio said his skirmishes in the finance industry resulted from thinking big. You need to be brave enough to keep doing things, to move forward, he said. Leaders of the Group of 7 nations said they would stop buying gold from Moscow and discussed a new American proposal to undercut its oil revenues, even as Russian forces rained missiles on Kyiv for the first time in weeks. The dueling escalation underscored how the war in Ukraine has consumed global and the world economy. President Biden and the British government said members of the Group of 7 Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States would move on Tuesday to ban imports of Russian gold. Representatives for the assembled countries were also negotiating toward an agreement to buy Russian oil only at a steep discount. American officials see both the gold import ban and the possible oil price cap as ways to undercut key sources of revenue for Moscows war effort and further isolate it from the financial system. Such a push was a theme at the meeting, both publicly and behind the scenes, as leaders sought to project solidarity with Ukraine. As the fighting in Ukraine grinds into its fifth month, the leaders of Group of 7 countries the worlds wealthiest large democracies are seeking to maintain unity against Russia in the face of the wars growing toll on the global economy. Western sanctions intended to create pain for Russia have sent food and energy prices skyrocketing across the world, even as Moscows war machine has shown little sign of slowing down. Russia appeared to be sending a message of defiance to the leaders on Sunday morning, when it unleashed a new round of missiles at an apartment building in Kyiv, killing at least one person. The top three floors of the nine-story building were reported destroyed. Rescuers were able to pull a 7-year-old girl from the rubble, but her father was killed and her mother, a Russian citizen, was injured, the authorities said. Before a working lunch meeting, Prime Minister Boris Johnson of Britain and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada were overheard by reporters mocking Russias president, Vladimir V. Putin, joking that they should take their shirts off a jab at Mr. Putins penchant for horseback riding. The first step in renewing the groups solidarity came before the summit formally began, with the announcement of the ban on gold imports from Russia. US banned oil and gas from Russia, and Europe will prohibit most Russian oil while reducing gas imports by the end of the year. The United States, the European Union and their allies have also placed sanctions on Russian officials and other members of the elite and imposed punishments on Russian banks, airlines and other companies. Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian missile strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was unimaginable, citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress. At least 10 people were dead and more than 40 wounded, according to the Ukrainian regional governor. Zelensky said the target presented no threat to the Russian army and had no strategic value. He accused of of sabotaging people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry. The alleged Russian missile strike carried echoes of attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part,Zelensky said. Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the attack hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces. The attack came as was mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, pouring fire on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. Russian forces appeared to step up an offensive centering on trying to wrest the eastern Donbas region from Ukraine after forcing government troops out of the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. Western leaders, meanwhile, pledged steadfast and continued support for Kyiv. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit, according to the military alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg. To the west of Lysychansk on Monday, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions on the city after dawn, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of dead and wounded had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A man's body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. Everything is now destroyed. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power," said local resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. "I can't even call to tell what had happened to us. Overall, Zelensky's office said at least six civilians were killed and 31 wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the country's south and east, but not counting the attack in Kremenchuk. It said Russian forces fired rockets that killed two people and wounded five overnight in and near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and continued to target the key southern port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, it said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings in the city and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, the regional governor said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable by shelling. The city had a prewar population of around 100,000, approximately one-tenth of whom remain. Analysts say that Lysychansk's location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to the city's Ukrainian defenders. It's a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk, said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, leaders of the Group of Seven countries pledged to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. In a joint statement on Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelensky, the leaders underlined their unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. The U.S., meanwhile, appeared ready to respond toZel ensky's call for more air defense systems after Russian troops hit Kyiv with long-range missiles on Sunday. Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. Britian's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks of the war. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with political consequences for President Vladimir Putin's government. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, expressed optimism about with the regime's ties with the community, saying that more countries are expected to reopen their diplomatic missions in soon. "We have good relations with all the world and our relations are getting better. We hope to have good achievements in the future too," TOLO News quoted Muttaqi as saying on Sunday. The acting Foreign Minister said that the Taliban's Islamic Emirate government seeks good relations with all the countries. "Our relations are official with the world. Although no one announced our recognition, that is another issue. But our embassies are opened in many countries and many countries have their embassies opened in Kabul," Muttaqi said. Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan have accredited the Islamic Emirate's appointed diplomat in recent months, though all had initially refused to recognise the government in . In the wake of the takeover last August, Western nations shut down their diplomatic posts in Kabul, Khaama Press reported. They have however, maintained contact with the group to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn nation. The regime must comply with at least for conditions to potentially gain formal recognition: observe the rights or women and rights to education; form an inclusive government; and do not use for any attack against the region and the community. --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.) Prosus NV is planning to sell more of its $134 billion stake in Chinese internet giant Ltd. to finance a buyback program, reversing a pledge to hold onto the full shareholding. Tencent declined in on Monday as investors pondered the extent to which Prosus, the Chinese companys biggest shareholder, will unload its stock. The shares fell as much as 2.5% and traded 1.6% lower at the close. We will keep selling Tencent shares to buy back our own, its open-ended and an unlimited program,, Chief Executive Officer Bob Van Dijk said in an interview. Disposals will be in relatively small chunks working out at about 3% to 5% of daily trading volumes, he said. The move represents a change of heart by Dutch e-commerce giant Prosus -- majority owned by South Africas Naspers Ltd. -- which said after its last sale in April 2021 it wouldnt offload more shares for three years. The company, spun off from Naspers in 2019, owns the 29% stake after its parent became an early Tencent investor more than two decades ago, bagging a multi-billion dollar return in one of the most profitable early bets in tech investment history. Prosus shares soared 18% as of 1 p.m. in Amsterdam, the most since March, while Naspers gained 24% in Johannesburg. Less Than Zero Prosuss value increased to 120 billion euros ($127 billion) after the share jump, narrowing a long-standing discount to the $134 billion Tencent stake. The discrepancy means the market values the rest of the companys assets, which include food delivery, travel bookings and online education sites across the world, at less than zero. This state of affairs has become unacceptable, Prosus said, having worked for years to convince the market its under-appreciating the company. Prosus is finally accepting that this is the best -- and perhaps only -- way to close the 30%-plus discount, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst John Davies said in a note. The announcement of the plan may quickly reduce the gap. Other value-creation efforts are likely to take longer, simply due to the investment horizons. The business reduced the full-year operating loss to $859 million in the year through March from more than $1 billion, though core headline earnings per shares -- Prosuss preferred measure of analyzing its finances -- declined. Prosus disclosed the Tencent shares plan on the same day as it reported the sale of almost $4 billion of stock in e-commerce giant JD.com Inc., received from Tencent as a special dividend. JD.com gained 6.2%. The twin deals revive concerns around the long-term viability of holding shares in Chinese internet firms, which are only just emerging from more than a year of unprecedented scrutiny from Beijing. While Prosuss investment remains wildly in the money, they are selling after Tencent shed roughly half its value since a 2021 peak, hammered by the governments campaign to curb the power of its largest internet corporations. Naspers and Prosus expressed full confidence in Tencent, according to a statement. The firms will manage the sale of stock in an orderly fashion. Prosus aims to focus on increasing the value of non-Tencent assets, Van Dijk said, while retaining exposure to the Chinese company. The group is also looking for buyers for Russian classified ads business Avito following the sanctions imposed on the country after the invasion of Ukraine. Investors are considering whether to pile back into Chinese internet stocks after a selloff that began in 2021, at one point wiping out more than $1 trillion of market value. Some analysts believe Beijing has turned more supportive of the crucial industry, but Naspers announcement may temper that somewhat. Tencent said in a separate statement it supported its shareholders decision and expects limited impact on the Chinese social giant itself. French President said on Monday the president of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MbZ), had told him two top oil producers, and the United Arab Emirates, can barely increase oil production. "I had a call with MbZ," Macron was heard telling U.S. President on the sidelines of the . "He told me two things. I'm at a maximum, maximum (production capacity). This is what he claims." "And then he said (the) Saudis can increase by 150 (thousands barrels per day). Maybe a little bit more, but they don't have huge capacities before six months' time," Macron said. Brent oil prices jumped by over $2 per barrel to above $115 per barrel on the news amid tight global supplies and rising demand. and the UAE have been perceived as the only two countries in producer group the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the world which still have some spare capacity and could help increase global deliveries. The West is seeking ways to reduce Russian oil imports to punish Moscow for the invasion of Ukraine. is currently producing 10.5 million bpd and has a nameplate capacity of 12.0 million-12.5 million bpd, which in theory shall allow it to raise production by 2 million. The UAE is producing some 3 million bpd, has capacity of 3.4 million and has been working on raising it to 4 million bpd. The news - as presented by Macron - would be bullish for oil markets if both heavyweights can barely raise output. Europe is looking for ways to replace as much as 2 million bpd of Russian crude and some 2 million bpd of refined products it had been importing from Moscow before the Ukraine invasion. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana Government on Monday approved the State Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy 2022 offering several financial incentives to EV manufacturers. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the statecabinet which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. The EV policy offers various financial incentivs to EV manufacturers by giving incentives on fixed capital investment (FCI), net SGST, stamp duty, employment generation, etc, an official statement said. There is 100 per cent reimbursement of stamp duty along with exemption in electricity duty for a period of 20 years. The SGST reimbursement shall be 50 per cent of the applicable net SGST for a period of 10 years. Companies manufacturing electric vehicles, components of electric vehicle, EV battery, charging infrastructure etc. Shall be incentivized with capital subsidy. Mega industry shall get capital subsidy at 20 per cent of FCI or Rs 20 crore whichever is lower; large industry will get subsidy of 10 per cent of FCI up to INR 10 crores, for medium industry 20 per cent of FCI upto Rs 50 lakh, for small industry 20 per cent of FCI up to Rs 40 lakh and for micro industry 25 per cent of FCI up to Rs 15 lakh. Under this policy, units setting up batteries disposal units will get 15 per cent of FCI up to Rs 1 crore.The policy provides for employment generation subsidy of Rs 48,000 per employee per annum for 10 years in lieu of Haryana domiciled manpower being employed with EV companies. Efforts shall be made to convert 100 per cent of the bus fleet owned by Haryana State Transport Undertakings into electric buses or Fuel Cell Vehicles or other non- fossil-fuel-based technologies by 2030. The cities of Gurugram & Faridabad will be declared as model Electric Mobility (EM) cities with phase-wise goals to adopt Electric Vehicles (EVs), charging infrastructure to achieve 100 percent e-mobility. In addition to this, the Department of Town and Country Planning (TCP) shall mandatorily include the provisions for charging of electric vehicles in places such as Group Residential buildings, commercial buildings, institutional buildings, Malls, Metro Station etc., for enabling the overall ecosystem for uptake of Electric Vehicles.The year 2022 will be declared as Year of the Electric Vehicles in Haryana. The EV Policy aims to protect the environment, reduce carbon footprint, make Haryana an EV manufacturing hub, ensure skill development in EV field, encourage uptake of EV vehicles, provide EV charging infrastructure and encourage R&D in EV technology. The policy provides one time support to facilitate conversion of existing manufacturers units completely into EV manufacturing of 25 per cent of book value up to Rs 2 crore for Micro, Small, Medium and Large units. The cost of an electric vehicle is comparatively higher than conventional-fuel-based vehicles which is a major deterrent to buyers in switching to EV, said the statement. The policy offers incentives to buyers that would reduce the effective upfront cost and motivate individuals to take up electric vehicles as their primary mode for transportation. The policy will provide early bird direct benefit transfer up to Rs 10 lakh on purchase of Electric Vehicles or Hybrid electric Vehicles in the state. Buyers will also be eligible for relaxation in registration fee and discount on Motor Vehicle Tax. The policy encourages R&D in educational or research institutes if they setup R&D centers. The policy will promote Research & Development in the field of EVs by granting 50 per cent of project cost up to Rs 1 crore for developing new electric charging technology and up to Rs 5 crore for developing new electric vehicle technology. Institutes conducting dedicated research on non-fossil-fuel based mobility solution will be provided with Rs 5 crore grant. One time subsidy of Rs 25 Lakh shall be extended to first 20 colleges/Industrial Training Institutes / polytechnics for setting up infrastructure related to R&D of EV. Government organizations, PSUs, private companies shall be encouraged to set up Centre of Excellences (CoE) that shall be incentivized with a 50 per cent grant of project cost up to Rs 5 crore. Ukrainian President said that is being drawn into Russia's ongoing war against Kiev more actively than at the beginning, and that the Kremlin has already "decided everything" for Minsk. In his nightly video address on Sunday, the President said: "I want to address today particularly the citizens of Belarus, to people, both in uniform and civilians. You are being drawn into the war. And even more actively than in February and spring. "The Kremlin has already decided everything for you. Your lives are worthless to them. But you are not slaves and not cannon fodder, you should not die. And you can not let anyone decide what awaits you next". Zelensky however, expressed confidence that the people of support Ukraine, not the war, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. "And that is why the Russian leadership wants to involve you, all Belarusians, in the war. It wants to sow hatred between us. A lot depends on the common people of now. I know that you may not take part in this war. Your lives belong only to you, and not to someone in the Kremlin," he added. Speaking in Russian, Zelensky further addressed the forces from Moscow who are conducting missile strikes on Ukrainian territory, Ukrayinska Pravda reported. "We will find all of you, each of you will be responsible for these strikes. And if someone thinks he will evade responsibility by saying that this was an order, you are wrong. "When your missiles hit residential buildings, it is a war crime. The court will be waiting for you. And you will not hide anywhere, neither on the shores of the Caspian Sea, over which your missiles are launched, nor in Belarus," the President said. The Ukrainian leader's remarks came a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that Moscow will supply Iskander-M nuclear capable missiles to Minsk in the coming months. According to Putin, the Iskander-M tactical missile systems "can use both ballistic and cruise missiles both in the standard and nuclear modifications". As the two Presidents held their meeting, Russian forces fired up to 50 missiles at targets across Ukraine on Saturday night, reports Ukrayinska Pravda. Most of these missiles were fired by Russian aircraft from Belarus. Russian planes entered Belarusian airspace, approached the border with Ukraine and conducted airstrikes. Ukraine's Chief Intelligence Directorate believes that the Kremlin wants to use the missile strikes to draw Belarus into the war. --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.) Americans are up in arms again, this time, on the Supreme Court 6-3 verdict on the Roe Vs Wade case that takes away a woman's legal right to generally borne out of a decision to terminate pregnancy on grounds of rape, incest or deformities of the embryo in the womb. President Joe Biden on Friday took strong exception to the court's ruling to rescind federal rights, while appealing to people, especially women, to remain calm as several of them have gone on nationwide protests against the apex court's ruling. Biden blamed the three justices appointed by former President Donald Trump. In the US, unlike India where supreme court judges have a fixed tenure, SC judges are appointed for a life term. Trump took the SC verdict as a personal triumph for appointing the judges who gave the verdict. President Joe Biden said on Friday that the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade puts American women in danger, calling it a "sad day" for the judicial body and the country. "Now with Roe gone, let's be very clear. The health and life of women in this nation are now at risk," Biden said in a Friday afternoon speech at the White House. Biden said the landmark 1973 rights case had not only protected a woman's right to make personal decisions in consultation with her doctor, it reaffirmed women's equality and reinforced privacy rights. Biden, who served as a former Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, said he had studied the case carefully and believes it was decided correctly by the Supreme Court nearly 50 years ago. Roe was the supreme court judge in 1973 who upheld the woman's right to abortion as a legal one that found resounding echo in state laws that made abortion rights legal. For decades, the conservative rights including Catholics, have been fighting Roe on grounds that it was murder but met with strong opposition from women's abortion rights activists. Biden said that three justices appointed by his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, were responsible for the decision that leaves it to the states to determine their own abortion laws. "Make no mistake, this decision is a culmination of a deliberate effort over decades to upset the balance of our law," Biden said. "It's a realization of an extreme ideology, and a tragic error by the Supreme Court, in my view, " the newspaper USA today quoted him as saying. The president spoke in visceral terms about the consequences of the court's ruling on abortion rights across the country. He said state laws that restrict abortion that will go into effect could jeopardize the health of millions of women and force women who want abortions, but are no longer able to receive them, to bear their rapists' children. Biden said that the onus is now on Congress to restore federal abortion rights protections. "And if Congress, as it appears, lacks the votes to do that now, voters need to make their voices heard," he said, referencing the midterm elections. He supported democrats who wanted women's abortion rights put on the agenda for a referendum from the people in the mid-term polls of 2022 necessitated by reapportionment following the 2020 census. Biden did not take any questions from White House reporters and his press secretary cancelled all briefings as protesters lined up outside the Supreme Court protesting its judgement with placards saying "Hell hath known no fury than a woman pissed". An analogy from the Shakespearean quote from King Lear: "Hell hath known no greater fury than a woman scorned." The President asked protesters to stay calm and keep it peaceful as violence is never acceptable as we must stand against it in any form regardless of the rationale behind it. What is the Roe vs Wade case all about? The 1973 Roe v. Wade Supreme Court judgement penned by the judge legalized abortion in the US finding resonance throughout the country with lower courts also endorsing the women's right to legally abort a child with doctors' consent if it was borne out of rape, incest or deformities or simply poverty for an upbringing if the fetal age was 28 weeks or seven months. With advances in medical science, it was brought down to 22 weeks or six months. The petitioner then was the 22-year-old plaintiff, Norma McCorvey. And 'Wade' was the defendant, Henry Wade, the Dallas County (Texas) district attorney at the time. 'Roe' struck down laws that made abortion illegal in several states, and ruled that abortion would be allowed up to the point of fetal viability, that is, the time after which a foetus can survive outside the womb. Fetal viability was around 28 weeks (7 months) at the time of the 'Roe' judgment nearly 50 years ago. Now brought down to 23 or 24 weeks (6 months or a little less), and newer studies show this could be further pegged at 22 weeks. An average pregnancy lasts about 40 weeks, doctors say. The moral Question was Mothers right to have the baby or not vs an embryo or infants right to survive, making it a very complicated issue. What is the status of abortion in the US now? As no federal law now exists to protect abortion rights of women, the overturning of 'Roe' leaves abortion laws entirely up to the states to interpret and give a ruling. Conservative right-wing states are likely to return to laws that prohibit abortions before the Supreme Court set the fetal viability standard in 1973. Activists and progressive politicians have said that the availability of clinics, insurance payouts, are crucial issues that form part of the struggle of many women even with the backing of 'Roe'. With this legal backing gone, access could become even harder. --IANS ashok/pgh (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President is set to announce that the U.S. is providing advanced an surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, as well as additional artillery support, according to a person familiar with the matter, in the latest assistance meant to help the country defend against Russia's four-month invasion. The U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defence, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to support its efforts against the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. The announcement comes as Biden is huddling with allies this week on supporting in meetings at the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Germany and NATO leaders' annual gathering in Madrid. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a virtual address to the G7 Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he wanted the ongoing war waged by Russia against his country to end before winter. The BBC reported that the Ukrainian President asked the G7 leaders reconstruction aid, anti-aircraft defence systems, help on grain exports and security guarantees. He also asked to "intensify sanctions" on Russia. A day before his address, Zelenksy said in his address to the nation that delaying arms deliveries to was "an invitation to Russia to strike again and again", reports the BBC. "Partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," he said and called for air defence systems. Over the weekend, Russia fired a barrage of missile strikes on Kiev, the central city of Cherkasy where one person died, and the Kharkiv region, along with Chernihiv in the north and Zhytomyr and Lviv west of the capital. The strike on Starychi district in Lviv was just 30 km from the border with Poland, reports the BBC. On Saturday, the key eastern city of Severodonetsk also fell to Russia, which gave Moscow the control of nearly all of Luhansk region and much of neighbouring Donetsk, the two Russian-backed separatists regions that form the industrial Donbas. The war in is top of the G7 agenda. While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Russian missile strikes showed it was "right to stand together and support Ukrainians", US President Joe Biden claimed that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was counting on NATO and the G7 to "splinter... but we haven't and we're not going to". Later this week, Zelensky is also expected to address the NATO Summit in Madrid. --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.) Ukrainian President will virtually address the in Germany, during which he is expected to urge the delivery of more heavy weapons in the wake of Russia's ongoing war against Kiev. In his address to the country on Sunday, Zelensky said delaying arms deliveries was "an invitation to Russia to strike again and again", reports the BBC. "Partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," he said and called for air defence systems and fresh sanctions against Russia. The President's plea came after Russia fired a barrage of missile strikes on Kiev, the central city of Cherkasy where one person died, and the Kharkiv region, along with Chernihiv in the north and Zhytomyr and Lviv west of the capital. The strike on Starychi district in Lviv was just 30 km from the border with Poland, reports the BBC. On Saturday, the key eastern city of Severodonetsk also fell to Russia, which gave Moscow the control of nearly all of Luhansk region and much of neighbouring Donetsk, the two Russian-backed separatists regions that form the industrial Donbas. Meanwhile, the war in is top of the G7 agenda and member nations are expected to promise further military support for Kiev and more sanctions on Moscow, says the BBC report. While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Russian missile strikes showed it was "right to stand together and support Ukrainians", US President Joe Biden claimed that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was counting on NATO and the G7 to "splinter... but we haven't and we're not going to". The in Bavaria will be followed by a NATO meeting in Spain later in the week at which Zelensky is also expected to speak. --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.) today: After the Indian equity closed on a positive note last week, they are likely to extend gains on Monday, June 27. As of 7:12 AM, the SGX Futures quoted 15,870 levels, indicating an upside of 171-odd points on the Nifty50. From a global standpoint, have turned cheerful too, as major indexes on the Wall Street closed above 2 per cent last week, whereas, Asia-Pacific saw Kospi and Nikkei 225 gain 1.6 per cent and 0.8 per cent, respectively, on Monday morning. Later this week, investors will watch out the US quarterly GDP data due on Wednesday, June 29. Besides that, the performance of auto stocks will be tracked too, as monthly sales figures release on Friday, July 1. Meanwhile, here is a list of stocks that will see some action in trade on Monday: Adani Enterprises: The companys subsidiary Kutch Copper has raised Rs 6,071 crore to set up a greenfield copper refinery project to produce one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in two phases. The first phase will have a capacity of 0.5 MTPA at Mundra, Gujarat. READ MORE Dish TV: Yes Bank and promoters of are likely to move their legal battle to the Supreme Court to appeal against the Bombay High Court order that led to loss of the top management positions in the company. Though the bank is looking to sell around 24.7 per cent stake in the company, the acquirer wants to buy the stake without any legal issues. READ MORE Indian Overseas Bank: The state-run bank is likely to boost advances in retail, MSMEs, corporate, and agricultural loans during this year. That apart, the bank assured that the asset quality of public sector banks (PSBs) are on an improving trend despite some classified as restructured loans under pandemic permitted RBI schemes. READ MORE Infosys: Chairman of the IT services company, Nandan Nilekani said that Infosys gave a capital return of over Rs 4,100 crore in 2021-22 and made a share buyback of more than Rs 11,000 crore. The board also recommended final dividend of Rs 16 per share along with an interim of Rs 15 per share, that amounts to Rs 31 per share in FY22. READ MORE Hindustan Copper: The state-owned company will meet on Thursday, June 30, to consider proposal fund raise of up to Rs 500 crore via debentures. The board will also consider raising funds through qualified institutional placement method. READ MORE Future Enterprises: The company defaulted on interest payment of Rs 4.10 crore for its non-convertible debentures. With this, the Kishore Biyani-led Future group firm has now defaulted for the fourth time in June. Earlier this week, the company defaulted twice on interest payments of Rs 85.71 lakh and Rs 6.07 crore for its non-convertible debentures. READ MORE HPCL: Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has appointed Pankaj Kumar, director (offshore), ONGC as director on board of Hindustan Petroleum Corporation. ONGC had no representative on the board of HPCL for more than five months - a company in which it owns 51.11 per cent stake since January 2018. Biocon: According to reports, the pharma company has engaged an external law firm to review its governance process that involves consultants as well as vendors. This moves follows as CBI named five persons for allegedly offering bribe to waive phase-3 clinical trials at Biologics. Stocks in F&O ban: Delta Corporation, India Bulls Housing Finance, RBL Bank, and Sun TV are stocks banned in the F&O ban period on Monday, June 27. The key equity barometers traded in a narrow range in afternoon trade. The Nifty traded tad above the 15,850 level. Auto shares extended their rising streak to the third consecutive session. At 12:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 521.24 points or 0.99% to 53,249.22. The Nifty 50 index gained 157.50 points or 1% to 15,856.75. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.92% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.53%. Buyers outnumbered sellers. On the BSE, 2,450 shares rose and 823 shares fell. A total of 154 shares were unchanged. Derivatives: The NSE's India VIX, a gauge of the market's expectation of volatility over the near term, rose 1.67% to 20.90. The Nifty 30 June 2022 futures were trading at 15,849.35, at a discount of 7.4 points as compared with the spot at 15,630.30. The Nifty option chain for the 30 June 2022 expiry showed maximum Call OI of 98.7 lakh contracts at the 16,000 strike price. Maximum Put OI of 84.1 lakh contracts was seen at 15,000 strike price. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Auto index rose 1.09% to 11,709.35. The index has added 7.61% in three trading sessions. Bosch (up 2.33%), Tube Investments of India (up 2.08%), Bajaj Auto (up 1.49%), Balkrishna Industries (up 1.46%) and Tata Motors (up 1.43%) were the top gainers. Further, Maruti Suzuki India (up 1.4%), Ashok Leyland (up 1.18%), Sona BLW Precision Forgings (up 1.13%), Mahindra & Mahindra (up 0.92%) and TVS Motor Company (up 0.71%) edged higher. Stocks in Spotlight: Edelweiss Financial Services advanced 1.22% to Rs 53.80 after the company announced that ICRA had re-affirmed the credit rating of '[ICRA]A+' on the retail NCD programme of the company and upgraded the outlook on the same to 'stable' from 'negative'. Hindustan Copper rose 1.93% to Rs 87 after the state owned company said that its board will consider raising funds on Thursday, 30 June 2022. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, along with its subsidiaries, announced that it has acquired a portfolio of branded and generic injectable products from Deer Park, Illinois, based Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Under the terms of the agreement, Dr. Reddy's acquired the Eton portfolio for an upfront payment of approximately $5 million in cash, plus contingent payments of up to $45 million. The acquisition supports Dr. Reddy's efforts to accelerate and expand affordable medications for patients. Adani Enterprises: The company's subsidiary Kutch Copper has raised Rs 6,071 crore to set up a greenfield copper refinery project to produce one million tonnes per annum (MTPA) in two phases. Zomato: The food-delivery company's board approved the acquisition of up to 33,018 equity shares of Blink Commerce (formerly Grofers India) for Rs 4,447.48 crore. The acquisition is at a price of Rs 13,46,986.01 a share. This acquisition is in line with its strategy of investing in the quick commerce business. Hindustan Copper: A meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 30 June 2022, to consider and approve raising funds through secured or unsecured non-convertible debentures or bonds on private placement basis up to Rs.500 crore. Federal Bank: The board of directors of the bank is scheduled on 30 June 2022, to consider and approve proposals For raising of funds through issuance of securities. SIS: The meeting of the board of directors of the company is scheduled on 29 June 2022, to consider and approve the proposal for buyback of the equity shares of the company. Welspun Corp: The company has secured various orders to be executed from India and the USA across the Oil & Gas and Water sector, of about 47,000 MT amounting to about Rs 600 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra rebels have got reprieve in the SC granting them more time to file replies While the Maharashtra crisis seems to be becoming a long-drawn affair, the rebels got a breather from the Supreme Court. In response to rebel leader Eknath Shindes petition challenging the disqualification notices issued to 16 MLAs, including himself, the apex court extended the deadline given to them to file their responses to the notices till July 12. They were told to reply by 5.30 pm on Monday. As the political battle reached the SC, it issued notices to Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal, Chief Whip Sunil Prabhu, leader of Legislature party Anil Chaudhary and the Central Government. Shinde greeted the order tweeting, This is the victory of the Hindutva emperor Balasaheb Thackerays Hindutva and the thoughts of Dharmaveer Anand Dighe Saheb! Dighe, who died in 2001, was Shindes mentor; he was known for his combative ways and had even reportedly become Bal Thackerays rival. The Supreme Court wanted to know why the rebels didnt move the Bombay High Court; their lawyer said that the situation is bad in the Maharashtra capital. Their residences and properties are under threat. Chief Minister Uddhav Thackerays faction is not doing much to do away with the climate of fear. His loyalist and Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said at a rally of workers on Sunday, When they step out of Assam, they wont be alive at heart. They know what can happen in the fire which has been lit here now. The dead bodies of all these 40 MLAs will come to Mumbai (from Guwahati), we will directly send them to the mortuary for post-mortem. This at a time when the countrys highest court is seized of the matter! Meanwhile, the Enforcement Directorate has summoned Raut. The EDs intervention at this point of time will be seen by many as abuse of official machinery by the Centre. Unsurprisingly, Raut has called the summons a conspiracy. He said, I am not linked with any of the companies mentioned by the ED. Tomorrow, I will not be able to go to ED as there is a rally in Alibaug which I have to address. Its a legal battle. Arrest me if you have orders from the BJP to arrest me. The political drama played out is quite familiar. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seems to be getting ready for political intervention. BJP MLA Sudhir Mungantiwar was quoted as saying, BJP core committee meeting concluded. After SC order, States political situation was assessed & discussed. Eknath Shinde said that his faction is original Shiv Sena, this too was discussed. We discussed what role should we assume in future in current scenario. No proposal on Government formation was discussed, the BJP said. If two-thirds/3rd MLAs are with Shinde, then how can they be called rebels, the BJP said after the core committee meeting, adding that there is no need for a floor test. This is a new turn in the political drama. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories gained 1.41 to Rs 4,370.50 after the drug maker said it acquired a portfolio of branded and generic injectable products from US-based Eton Pharmaceuticals, Inc. The portfolio includes the Biorphen (phenylephrine hydrocholoride) injection and Rezipres (ephedrine hydrochloride) injection NDAs with nine separate combinations of strengths and presentations and one first-to-file approved ANDA for Cysteine Hydrochloride for the U.S. one strength each of Biorphen and Rezipres are currently commercially available in the U.S. The acquisition will complement Dr. Reddy's U.S. institutional business with limited competition injectable products. Under the terms of the agreement, Dr. Reddy's acquired the Eton portfolio for an upfront payment of approximately $5 million in cash, plus contingent payments of up to $45 million. The acquisition supports Dr. Reddy's efforts to accelerate and expand affordable medications for patients. Marc Kikuchi, chief executive officer, North America Generics, Dr. Reddy's, said, "Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been concerns about access to some critical care products for hospitals and health systems. This acquisition provides our North America organization with a foundational footprint to help address products that are not always readily available for patients. For these and many other reasons, I believe we are well-positioned to integrate the portfolio and grow the business." According to IQVIA, the value of total addressable market for these products in the U.S. is approximately $174 million for the calendar year ending in April 2022. Meanwhile, Dr Reddy's Laboratories on Friday said it has entered into a settlement agreement with Indivior Inc. and Indivior UK, and Aquestive Therapeutics, Inc. Pursuant to the agreement, the company will receive payments totalling $72 million by 31 March 2024. The said agreement resolves all claims between the parties relating to the company's generic buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film, 2 mg/0.5 mg, 4 mg/1 mg, 8 mg/2 mg, and 12 mg/3 mg dosages, including Indivior's and Aquestive's patent infringement allegations and the company's antitrust counterclaims. As part of the settlement, the underlying litigation will be dismissed. Dr Reddy's Laboratories is an integrated pharmaceutical company. It offers a portfolio of products and services including APIs, custom pharmaceutical services, generics, biosimilars and differentiated formulations. Its major markets include - USA, India, Russia & CIS countries, and Europe. The pharmaceutical major's consolidated net profit tumbled 82.6% to Rs 97 crore on a 15% increase in revenue from operations to Rs 5436.80 crore in Q4 FY22 over Q4 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Dredging Corporation of India rose 1.30% to Rs 272.80 after the company announced the signing of an agreement with the Department of Fisheries for developing water bodies across India. The company will develop fishing harbours/reservoirs/ponds/other water bodies across India through dredging and other marine activities. Prof Dr G.Y.V Victor MD & CEO of Dredging Corporation of India (DCIL) said that going forward this agreement will provide big opportunities for DCIL to venture into long term contracts with States and Centre to develop the fishing harbour and maintain it. He further said that the earlier MOU that was signed between DCIL & Director of Fisheries, State Government of Gujarat, the work has already commenced at Mangrol Fishing harbour Rock Dredging and this will further enable DCI to qualify for all future Rock Dredging Projects that otherwise was not possible as DCI did not have any prior Rock Dredging experience. The agreement of DCIL with the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries, Government of India, is another step towards expansion and diversification of DCIL into new business vertical which is aiming at a record highest ever turnover of Rs 1000 crore for this financial year 2022-23. Dredging Corporation of India is engaged in providing the services of capital dredging, maintenance dredging, beach nourishment, land reclamation, shallow water dredging, project management consultancy, and marine construction. The company reported a net profit of Rs 1.06 crore in the quarter ended March 2022 as against a net loss of Rs 106.52 crore recorded during the previous quarter ended March 2021. Sales rose 36.44% YoY to Rs 289.09 crore in Q4 FY22. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Federal Bank rose 1.29% to Rs 90.50 after the bank said that its board will consider raising funds on Thursday, 30 June 2022. The bank plans raising funds either through rights issue, private placement, preferential issue, further public offer (FPO), qualified institutional placement (QIP), global depository receipts (GDR), American depository receipts (ADR), foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCB) or through any other permissible mode or a combination thereof, and also for determination of issuance amount, as may be appropriate. The private lender said that borrowing/ raising of funds in Indian currency or any other permitted foreign currency by way of issue debt instruments including but not limited to additional tier I bonds (AT1 bonds), tier II bonds, long term bonds (infrastructure & affordable housing), masala bonds, green bonds, non-convertible debentures or such other debt securities as may be permitted by RBI from time to time, in domestic market and/or overseas market, on a private placement basis within the overall borrowing limits of the bank. The board will also consider convening a general meeting to seek approval of the shareholders in respect of the aforesaid proposals for fund raising, as required, the bank stated. Federal Bank has 1282 branches, 1885 ATMs/recyclers as on 31 March 2022. The Bank also has its Representative Offices at Abu Dhabi and Dubai and an IFSC Banking Unit (IBU) in Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT City). The private lender's standalone net profit rose 13.13% to Rs 540.54 crore on 2.72% increase in total income to Rs 3948.24 crore in Q4 FY22 over Q4 FY21. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hindustan Copper rose 1.93% to Rs 87 after the state owned miner said that its board will consider raising funds on Thursday, 30 June 2022. The board of Hindustan Copper will consider a qualified institutional placement (QIP) of 9,69,76,680 equity shares of face value of Rs 5 each of the company in one or more tranches. Further, the company's board will also consider to offer, issue and allot secured or unsecured non-convertible debentures (NCDs) or bonds on private placement basis up to Rs 500 crore. Hindustan Copper is engaged in the exploration, exploitation, and mining of copper and copper ore, including beneficiation of minerals, smelting, and refining. As of 31 March 2022, the Government of India holds 66.14% in the company. The company reported a consolidated net profit of Rs 88.99 crore in the quarter ended March 2022 as against net loss of Rs 36.81 crore during the previous quarter ended March 2021. Sales during the quarter rose 4.45% YoY to Rs 545.46 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India will emerge as a $30-trillion economy in the next 30 years, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday, while addressing exporters and other textile industry stakeholders in Tiruppur. He highlighted that the country remains the world's fastest-growing major economy. Goyal said that if India grows at 8% every year on a Compounded Annual Growth basis, the economy will double in about 9 years' time to be a $6.5 trillion economy. Similarly, in 18 years from now, the economy of India predicted is $13 trillion economy. In 27 years from now, the economy growth can be calculated as $26 trillion and hence after 30 years, it can be confidently put that India will be a $30 trillion economy. He talked about the challenges faced by India in terms of COVID as well as war between other countries. However, he stressed that despite the challenges, India is one of the fastest growing economies in the world. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For digital transformation and enabling financial inclusion Intellect Global Consumer Banking (iGCB) announced that Mauritius Telecom, one of the leading telecommunications companies in Mauritius, has chosen iGCB to offer digital financial services, deliver personalised and contextually relevant customer experiences and drive financial inclusion. Mauritius Telecom chose iGCB to create the next-gen mobile wallet - an offering that is intuitive, intelligent and designed to meet the ever-evolving needs of the new age customers, merchants and partners. 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 key equity indices continued to trade with major gains in the morning trade. Positive global cues boosted the sentiment. The Nifty was hovering below the 15,900 level. Metals and IT stocks were in demand. At 10:25 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, rose 593.92 points or 1.13% to 53,321.90. The Nifty 50 index gained 184.30 points or 1.17% to 15,883.55. In the broader market, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index rose 0.90% while the S&P BSE Small-Cap index gained 1.54%. The market breadth was strong. On the BSE, 2,431 shares rose and 626 shares fell. A total of 132 shares were unchanged. Foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth Rs 2,353.77 crore, while domestic institutional investors (DIIs) were net buyers to the tune of Rs 2,213.44 crore in the Indian equity market on 24 June, provisional data showed. Buzzing Index: The Nifty Metal index rose 2.32% to 4,703.05, continuing its gaining streak to the third day. The index advanced 4.72% in three trading sessions. Among the components of the Nifty Metal index, Hindalco Industries (up 3.89%), Welspun Corp (up 3.7%), Vedanta (up 3.54%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 3.34%) and JSW Steel (up 2.63%) were the top gainers. Stocks in Spotlight: Adani Enterprises rose 1.33% to Rs 2,190.20. The consortium of banks has sanctioned and signed agreement for the entire debt requirement of Rs 6071 crore for the Phase 1 of the Kutch Copper (KCL) project. Kutch Copper (KCL), a subsidiary of Adani Enterprises (AEL), is setting up a greenfield copper refinery project for production of refined copper with 1 MTPA (million tons per annum) in two phases. Federal Bank rose 1.34% to Rs 90.55 after the bank said that its board will consider raising funds on Thursday, 30 June 2022. The bank plans raising funds either through rights issue, private placement, preferential issue, further public offer (FPO), qualified institutional placement (QIP), global depository receipts (GDR), American depository receipts (ADR), foreign currency convertible bonds (FCCB) or through any other permissible mode or a combination thereof, and also for determination of issuance amount, as may be appropriate. Zomato fell 4.48% to Rs 67.20. The company said that its board of directors had considered and approved a proposal for the acquisition of quick commerce company Blinkit for Rs 4,447 crore in a share-swap deal. Blink Commerce runs the online quick commerce service under the Blinkit brand. It was formerly known as Grofers. The company's turnover as at 31 March 2022 was Rs 236.32 crore. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has moved Supreme Court challenging disqualification notices issued by the deputy speaker of Maharashtra Assembly to 16 rebel Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs). Shinde has sought direction to Deputy Speaker to not to take any action against rebel MLAs regarding disqualification under MLA Defection Rules. The petitioner also sought direction to not to take any action against the rebel MLAs until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided. A vacation bench of the apex court will hear Eknath Shinde's plea against disqualification notice today. The rebel faction also challenged the appointment of Sena MLA from Mumbai Ajay Choudhari as the Legislature Party leader, and the rejection of their no-confidence motion against Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal. The plea also sought direction from concerned authorities to provide security to the family of the Petitioner and all his supporters within the Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP). Maharashtra has been facing a political crisis after Shinde and rebel MLAs left the state, protesting against the alliance with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. The rebel MLAs have been camping in a hotel in Assam's Guwahati for the past few days. The rebel MLAs' group have claimed that they enjoy a two-thirds majority in the legislature party and will prove its strength in the House. The rebel MLAs have demanded that party president Uddhav Thackeray walk out of the Maha Vikas Aghadi and revive ties with BJP. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Tourism Minister on Monday claimed 15 to 20 MLAs who have joined the rebel camp are in touch with him and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati, where they are lodged in a hotel along with Cabinet minister Eknath Shinde whose rebellion has pushed the MVA government into a major crisis. Addressing workers in Karjat, on outskirts of Mumbai, Thackeray, who has been doing firefighting to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, said every party worker is seeing the current situation as an opportunity and not as a problem. The dirt has gone away. Now we can do something good, Thackeray said, referring to the rebel MLAs. The leader, the son of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, said before the June 21 revolt there were murmurs that some developments will take place in the party, which heads the MVA that also comprises of the NCP and the Congress. A majority of the Sena MLAs, including nine ministers, have rebelled against the party, threatening the existence of the two-and-a-half-year old government. The Sena has claimed some legislators have been kidnapped or forcibly taken by the rebel camp. Around 15-20 MLAs are in touch with us. They call me and Shiv Sainiks and urged us to bring them back from Guwahati, he said. Their situation is like a prisoner, first in Surat (where the rebels landed after leaving Mumbai last week) and then in Guwahati, he said. Shinde has claimed the support of more than three dozen Sena MLAs out of the total 55. Slamming the Sena strongman from Thane without taking his name, Thackeray said some leaders were blindly trusted and the sad part is such people were promoted in the organization continuously. He said the MLAs leaving the parties was like "cleaning the 'nullahs' and garbage before the onset of monsoon". (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.) Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Monday said she will be representing the state at the crucial two-day GST Council meeting in Chandigarh. The Council in its meeting starting Tuesday is slated to discuss an array of issues, including a mechanism for compensating states for revenue loss, tax rate tweaks on some items and relaxed registration norms for small online suppliers. I have arrived for the meet along with other officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Bhattacharya, the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Finance, told PTI over phone. The meeting will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprise state counterparts. The Council may see a stormy discussion around compensation payout to states, with opposition-ruled states aggressively pushing for its continuation beyond the five-year period, which ends in June Earlier this month, former finance minister Amit Mitra had written to Sitharaman, urging her to continue with the GST compensation to states for another three-five years. Mitra said the extension of the compensatory arrangement will provide a big relief to the states. "We note with dismay and ominous signs that the Centre has decided to withdraw the goods and services tax (GST) compensation to the states from July 2022. Such a decision, if taken, is completely contrary to what was envisaged at the time of adoption of GST," Mitra had said in his two-page letter. (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.) Modis name has been cleared by experienced cops as well as by the various levels of judiciary The Supreme Courts verdict dismissing the appeal filed by Zakia Jafri and Teesta Setalvad challenging the Special Investigative Teams (SITs) clean chit to Narendra Modi in the 2002 Gujarat riots should settle the issue for once and all. But, alas, that is not likely to happen, what with the aandolanjeevis obstinacy with maligning the Prime Minister who was Gujarat chief minister in 2002. The Bench headed by Justices A.M. Khanwilkar was clear in its ruling: The SIT has not found any conspiracy, linking separate and disparate acts of arson and looting or outrageous claims made in sting operations or individual utterances/publications of purported hate speech, to any singular larger conspiracy or planned event. The Bench went on to say: The materials gathered during the investigation in no way link any meeting of the minds in any of the nine cases investigated by the SIT or for that matter, other incidents alleged in the complaint or the protest petition. The riots across the state had taken place spontaneously, immediately after the Godhra train carnage. Further, it said that no material was discovered pointing towards any meeting of minds/conspiracy in the higher echelons of the administration or [that] the political establishment conspired with other persons to cause such riots or [it] turned a Nelsons eye when the riots had triggered and continued. Not only was there no conspiracy involving the top ruling politicians but there were also disgruntled officials in Gujarat at that time who wanted to create sensation by making revelations which were false. The apex court said the SIT investigation has fully exposed the falsity of claims of such officials. Representing the anti-Modi litigants, senior advocate and former Union minister Kapil Sibal argued that the Supreme Court-appointed SIT did not conduct investigation on the crucial aspects of the matter, which was essential to establish a larger conspiracy. Countering Sibal, senior advocate and former attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi said that the SIT not only did its job but often exceeded the remit set out by the Supreme Court. All in its pursuit of justice. He stressed that Zakias charges mainly pointed towards the dereliction of duty and did not hint at any criminality. Rohatgi also said that he suspected that the petition was being driven not by Zakia, the aggrieved party, but by Petitioner No. 2, i.e. social activist Teesta Setalvad who has ulterior motives in pursuing the same. In this context, it would be instructive to scrutinize the chronology for the SC order. In 2006, Jafri urged the Gujarat Police to file an FIR against some officials and politicians, including Modi, who was then chief minister. She alleged that the state government had not done enough to prevent the riots and save people, including her husband. In 2008, the apex court appointed an SIT to submit a report on the riots trials and also probe Jafris complaint. In 2012, the SIT gave a clean chit to Modi and others, citing no prosecutable evidence and submitted its closure report to the Magistrate. In 2013, Jafri filed a petition opposing the closure report. The Magistrate upheld the SITs closure report and dismissed her plea. In response, Jafri moved the Gujarat High Court which upheld, in 2017, the Magistrates decision. In 2018, Jafri and activist Teesta Setalvad approached the Supreme Court, saying the SIT did not examine all the material available, its investigation was biased, and investigators themselves should face a probe. The allegations against Modi were based on former Gujarat police officer Sanjiv Bhats submissions. He had claimed to be present at a crucial government meeting. The SIT later found and concluded that Bhatt was not present at the meeting and hence, there was no other way to confirm the charges. Three points need to be made here. First, Narendra Modis name has been cleared by experienced cops (comprising the SIT) as well as by the various levels of judiciary. One has to be a conspiracy theory buff to believe that so many cops and judicial officers, including three Supreme Court judges, could be manipulated. Second, the Gujarat Police was under Modi, as he was chief minister till 2014, but not the SIT or the judiciary. Till that time, the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance was in power at the Centre; and it was in this period that Modi was exonerated of all charges not just by the SIT but also the local magistrate. It is an open secret that the Congress has never been fond of Narendra Modi; in fact, the grand old party hates him the most. It has done everything possible to demean and demonize him. We should not lose sight of the fact that the UPA was in office for 10 long years (2004-14)very long from the perspective of Modi, for he was the constant target of calumny, character assassination, and innuendo. The assaults were relentlessdirect (from Congress leaders) and indirect (from pro-Congress activists like Setalvad), legal and political. In that period, the Congress held every lever of power; as the ruling party, it also had access to the resources of the Indian State. And yet, it could not find anything against Narendra Modi. Instead of acknowledging the truth or at least giving some credence to the possibility of his innocence and going slow against him (Maybe the person is innocent, maybe we got is all wrong), the Congress and its privateer-freebooters like Setalvad consistently and persistently worked to malign Narendra Modi. As the SC Bench pointed out, allegations regarding larger conspiracy at the highest level is founded on the alleged utterances made by the then Chief Minister in an official meeting (on February 27, 2002, in Gandhinagar) while addressing the DGP, the then Chief Secretary and other senior officials of the state to allow to vent to the Hindu anger on the minority in the wake of Godhra incident. The petitioner relied on the statements of police officers Sanjiv Bhatt, who claimed to have attended the meeting, and R.B. Sreekumar, and former Minister Haren Pandya, but the SIT concluded that the claim of concerned persons is false and figment of imagination, the SC said. The SIT after thorough investigation has recorded its opinion that neither Mr Sanjiv Bhatt nor Mr Haren Pandya was present in the stated meeting. Similarly, even Mr R.B. Sreekumar had no personal knowledge as he did not attend the said meeting. Besides, Mr R.B. Sreekumar was a disgruntled officer, said the top court. In a way, the apex courts ruling validates the SITs findings, which had given a clean chit to Narendra Modi way back in 2013, when the UPA was in office. On April 25, 2013, SIT lawyer R.S. Jamuar said, Modi has never said that go and kill people. Also, he said, Teesta Setalvad and others have falsified the complaint targeting the chief minister who had never said that go and kill people. Investigating something again and again doesnt change the result if it has been done properly. But the aandolanjeevis like Setalvad cant believe in any finding unless it is in accordance with their own prejudices and dogmas. She is not bothered how her stubbornness hurts others. She and others of her ilk may face the consequences for maligning others. The trials and tribulations the aandolanjeevis subjected Narendra Modi didnt shatter him, showing that he is made of sterner stuff. They hounded him for almost two decades, but he continues to strive to take India to greater heights. (The author is an advocate in the Supreme Court of India) With the Centre providing Y-plus security to Maharashtra's rebel MLAs, the party on Monday claimed it was now evident that the was "pulling the strings" amid the current political turmoil in the state. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' likened the rebel Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde to "big bulls", and alleged that they have been "sold" for Rs 50 crore. The Centre on Sunday extended Y-plus security cover of CRPF commandos to at least 15 rebel MLAs, officials earlier said. Those who were provided the security cover include Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakas Surve and 10 others. Their families living in will also be secured, the officials had said. About four to five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos, in shifts, will be securing each MLA once they are in Maharashtra, they added. The editorial in 'Saamana' said, "Finally, the has been unmasked. They were saying the rebellion in the was an internal matter." "But, in the darkness of the night, uber rich Ekdas (Eknath) Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis (the Leader of the Opposition) met in Vadodara. Even Union Home Minister Amit Shah was present for the meeting," it claimed. The Centre immediately accorded Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs after the meeting, as if they are the "protectors of democracy", the Marathi publication said. Does the Centre fear that the MLAs will return to their party fold after coming back to the state? it asked. "It is now evident that the at the Centre and in the state have written the script for these actors (rebel MLAs) and are pulling the strings and directing the entire play," the editorial said. The BJP's "treason" against has been exposed by providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs, it claimed. The Sena further said providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs by citing a threat to their life, is like encroaching upon the rights of the state, and this is not the first example of the Centre's "autocratic" behaviour. Shinde had last week sent a letter to Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, saying the security of the families of rebel MLAs was withdrawn. The Sena said Walse Patil has clarified that the security cover of the families of rebel MLAs has not been removed. "Even if it was removed, it could not have been said this was done due to exact political revenge. But, the state government did not resort to such cruel behaviour," it said. A majority of Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to Eknath Shinde and are currently camping in Assam's Guwahati city, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by CM Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, into a crisis. The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Saturday issued 'summons' to 16 of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, seeking written replies by June 27 evening to complaints seeking their disqualification. (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.) MP on Monday termed the Enforcement Directorate's summons issued to him as a "conspiracy" to stop him from fighting against their political opponents, and said he will not be able to appear before the agency on Tuesday as he has to attend a meeting in Alibaug. Raut, who is the Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson, also said that even if he is killed, he will not resort to the "Guwahati route" taken by rebel MLAs from Maharashtra. The ED has summoned Rajya Sabha member Raut on Tuesday for questioning in a money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friends, officials said. The development comes as the battles rebellion from a group of its MLAs, putting a question mark on the future of Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Rebel legislators, who were first taken to Surat, are now camping in Guwahati. Raut in a tweet said, "I just came to know that the ED has summoned me. Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route." "Arrest me ! Jai Hind!" he added. In his tweet in Marathi, he also tagged leader Devendra Fadnavis. Later, talking to reporters, Raut said, "I cannot go tomorrow as I have to attend a public meeting in Alibaug, and I will attend it." The parliamentarian said he is a "Shiv Sena tiger" and the executive editor of a fierce newspaper like the (Sena mouthpiece) 'Saamana'. He asserted that such actions cannot weaken him mentally. Raut said if there are orders from the leaders, they (the probe agency sleuths) can arrest him. Sanjay Raut's brother MLA Sunil Raut claimed the ED summons were to scare the parliamentarian as he has been opposing the . In April, the ED provisionally attached assets worth more than Rs 11.15 crore of Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut and two of his associates as part of this investigation. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, rebel leader Eknath Shinde has called a meeting of MLAs camping with him at a hotel in Assam's Guwahati on Monday at 2 pm, said sources. The meeting is called amid a Supreme Court hearing against the disqualification notices issued by Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal against rebel MLAs. The rebel leader also challenged the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde. The petitioner, Shinde has sought to issue direction to Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs and also not to take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided. The Deputy Speaker, who is in charge of the House in the absence of the Speaker and has issued the notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner. Earlier, Shide spoke to Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray about the recent political situation in the state. He spoke to Raj Thackeray over the phone twice and also enquired about his health. Shinde, who is currently camping in Assam along with other MLAs, on Sunday lashed out at the party for allegedly supporting the culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for the taking lives of innocent people. "How can Balasaheb Thackeray's support people who had a direct connection with culprits of Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That's why we took such a step, it's better to die," Shinde said in a tweet. However, leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that on May 20, CM had asked Eknath Shinde to become CM if he wanted to, but at that time he did drama and now just a month later, he rebelled. Notably, former minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who is now in the Eknath Shinde camp, had said that the MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. Interestingly, the Shinde faction named their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'. The naming of the group after the name of the Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray attracted sharp reactions from the Uddhav faction as the Chief Minister said that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder. (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 (SC) on Monday will hear the petition of rebel MLA Eknath Shinde, who moved SC on Sunday seeking a stay on the disqualification notice issued by Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narahari Zirwal to him and other 15 rebel legislators. Shinde, in his plea, has asked the apex court to direct the DY speaker not to take any action on the disqualification plea till the matter of his removal is decided. He has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as the Legislature Party. According to reports, a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala will likely hear the plea by Shinde, who along with a sizable number of are camping in a hotel in Assam capital Guwahati as they rebelled against CM Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government ruling Maharashtra. Also Read: What is an anti-defection law? The rebel want that Shiv Sena withdraws from the ruling coalition of MVA, which also comprises and the Nationalist Party (NCP). In his petition, Shinde said that he is constrained to invoke the jurisdiction of this Court under Article 32 of the Constitution challenging the "arbitrary and illegal" exercise of provisions of Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on ground of Defection) Rules, 1986 by the deputy speaker which is completely violative of Article 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution. On Saturday, the Maharashtra legislature secretariat had issued summons to 16 rebels Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, and sought a written reply by June 27 evening to the complaints seeking their disqualification. Subsequently, Shiv Sena had submitted two letters to the legislature secretariat earlier last week, seeking disqualification of 16 including Shinde. Almost 40 MLAs are camping with Shinde in a Guwahati hotel, however, as per media reports, nearly 20 of them are in touch with CM Thackeray as some are against a merger with the . on Sunday lashed out at the party's rebel MLAs calling them "living corpses" and said that their "souls are dead". "40 MLAs in Guwahati are living corpses, their souls are dead. Their bodies will be sent directly to the Assembly for post-mortem when they come back. They know what can happen in the fire that has been lit here," Raut said while addressing party workers here. The political turbulence in Maharashtra was triggered by the faction war in Shiv Sena after Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Surat with some MLAs and then to Guwahati, where he claimed of having the support of 38 MLAs of the 55 Shiv Sena legislators, which is more than two-thirds of the party's strength in the 288-member Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Meanwhile on Sunday, supporters of rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde blackened posters of Chief Minister in Thane on Sunday. On the other hand, Shiv Sena workers held 'joote maro andolan' against rebel Shiv Sena MLAs in Pune, Maharashtra. West Bengal Chief minister on Monday hit out at the Centre over the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s summons to leader, over questioning on an alleged money laundering case. "I heard that a leader in Maharashtra has received summons from ED today. I heard that there is an attempt to attach his property as well. This is the BJP's tactics. Whenever they want to harass any opposition leader or topple a state government, they just let loose the central agencies. "It is being done everywhere. The CBI and the ED will haunt you if you speak the truth. The country or life cannot move on like this. Why all are threatened like this?" she said, in her address at a government function at Burdwan. On the other hand, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, at a rally in Cooch Behar district drew the reference of Maharashtra, in threatening to topple the West Bengal government by 2024. "It has started with Maharashtra. Now after travelling through Rajasthan and Jharkhand, we will reach West Bengal and bring an end to the state government here by 2024," he said. All four states are currently ruled by opposition parties. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also lambasted the Union government on the Agnipath scheme of defence recruitment. "After going through a training period for six months, one will be appointed for only four years. What will these youths do after that? How can one maintain the expenses for his own life from the earnings of just four years? This is nothing but another eyewash before the Lok Sabha elections. I demand the service period should be at least till 60 years and if possible, 65 years," the Chief Minister said. She also said that she might go to New Delhi soon to settle the issue of non- payment of central dues on account of different schemes like Mahatma Gandhi Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), among others. She also demanded that the state governments should be allowed to operate schemes like PMGSY, which is a housing scheme, in their own names. Banerjee also slammed the local administration over complaints from a section of farmers that they are facing difficulties while selling their products at the local Kisan Mandis. "I will not tolerate this. If anyone faces this problem, just go to the BDO office and file your complaints. The BDO should file an FIR and I am instructing the police to take action and even arrest those who are harassing the farmers," she said. --IANS src/vd (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a relief to rebel MLAs in Maharashtra, the on Monday kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings before the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly till July 11, and also sought responses from the state government and others on their pleas questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J B Pardiwala also refused to pass any interim order on a vehement plea by senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, appearing for the MVA government, that in the meantime there should not be any floor test in the Assembly. The court said the state government can always approach it in case of any illegality. Directing the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government to protect the life, liberty, and property of the 39 rebel MLAs, headed by minister Eknath Shinde, and their family members, the top court said the rebels may file replies to the disqualification notices till 5:30 pm on July 12. "Meanwhile as an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly to the petitioners or other similarly placed Members of the Legislative Assembly to submit their written submissions up to today by 5.30 pm is extended till July 12, 2022." The top court, while posting the matter for further hearing on July 11, said it wants the status quo to continue till it balances competing claims made by rival Sena camps. Shinde and 15 other rebel MLAs have moved the top court challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker under the Tenth Schedule of Constitution on grounds including defection. Besides Shinde, the other 15 MLAs are Bharat Gogawale, Prakash R Surve, Tanhaji Jaywant Savant, Mahesh S Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeepan A Bhumre, Sanjay P Sirhsat, Yamini Y Jadhav, Anil K Babar, Latabai C Sonawane, Ramesh N Bornare, Sanjay B Raimulkar, Chimanrao R Patil, Balaji D Kalyankar and Balaji P Kinilkar. While issuing the notice to the Deputy Speaker, the top court directed him to put on affidavit the records of no trust notice served upon him by the rebel MLAs who have relied upon on the Nabam Rebia judgement to drive home the point that he cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his own removal is pending. The top court also recorded the statement of Maharashtra's counsel that adequate steps have been taken to protect the life and property of rebel MLAs. Counsel for the State of states that adequate steps have been already taken and the State Government shall further ensure that no harm is caused to the lives, liberty and properties of the 39 MLAs and their families " the court said in its order. At the outset, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Shinde and other rebel MLAs, submitted that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. He referred to the Constitution bench decision of the apex court in the "Nabam Rebia" case in which it was held that it would be constitutionally impermissible for a Speaker to adjudicate upon disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule while a notice of resolution for his own removal from the office of Speaker is pending. At this juncture, the bench asked why the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs did not move the Bombay High Court against disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker. Kaul replied that existence of Article 226 is not a constitutional bar to invoke Article 32 of Constitution to approach the top court. Kaul claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray group is in 'minority' and 'subverting' the state machinery and attacking the houses of rebel Sena MLAs. Kaul further submitted that the top court in its earlier decisions has said that it is impermissible for the Deputy Speaker to decide on the disqualification petition till the no-confidence motion against him is decided. He said the "majority faction" of the Shiv Sena legislative party appointed Eknath Shinde as its chief, but the "minority" faction, which has 19 MLAs, quietly made Ajay Choudhari as their chief. "The majority faction wrote to the Deputy Speaker about their decision. Then the rebel MLAs get a notice to report to a meeting by the minority MLAs. When the MLAs do not attend, based on the notice issued on the same day, a disqualification plea is filed." The bench asked the petitioners why did they not raise the issue of Deputy Speaker's incompetency before the Deputy Speaker himself to which Kaul responded that he proceeded with the notices despite the fact that he was informed. Kaul said the Deputy Speaker is proceeding, allegedly in undue haste, without following the principles of natural justice Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Shiv Sena legislative party leader Ajay Chaudhary and Sunil Prabhu, questioned the petitioners' move of "leap frogging" to the top court without approaching the High Court first. "There is no reason given why your lordships should not exercise the discretion to send them to High Court," Singhvi said, adding the courts cannot intervene when the proceedings are pending before the Speaker. Singhvi cited the landmark judgment in Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachillhu and Others (1992), in which the court upheld the sweeping discretion available to the Speaker in deciding cases of disqualification of MLAs. "They have wrongly interpreted Nabam Rebia and presented before this Court." Singhvi said in this case media reports are rampant that these MLAs sent notice from an unverified email, and the Speaker rejected the no-confidence motion and that has not been challenged. "The Deputy Speaker has taken on record the unverified letter and rejected it, which has to be challenged On (May) 20th these MLAs went to Surat, on 21st they are supposed to have written this mail, on 22nd Speaker received this notice. 14 days have not elapsed." Article 179 of the Constitution requires a 14-day notice if notice for removal of Speaker is made. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the Deputy Speaker, said there was a notice and a reply was sent but the authenticity of the notice is under question. "It (notice) was not sent from the registered email. It was not sent to the legislative office. Deputy Speaker acts in a judicial capacity. If somebody dashes off a letter, not to the registered office, the Speaker is entitled to ask who are you." The bench then remarked, "Then it will be contradictory. If there is no valid notice, there is no question of 14 days. The issue will arise only if notice is valid." The apex court directed the respondents to file a comprehensive affidavit mentioning these aspects and issued notices to parties. Dhavan also orally assured the bench that no decision on disqualification will be taken in the meantime. However, Singhvi requested the top court not to record a statement made on behalf of the Deputy Speaker, as it would amount to breach of division between judiciary and legislature. The bench, however, said they have to see that the petition does not become infructuous. Eknath Shinde has moved the apex court against the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker to him and 15 other rebel legislators, calling the action "illegal and unconstitutional" and seeking a stay on it. Shinde and a sizable number of MLAs rebelled against the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on June 21 and are currently put up in a luxury hotel in Guwahati in Assam. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Launching a fresh attack on leadership, dissident leader Eknath Shinde on Sunday wondered how could Bal Thackeray's party support the people having a direct connection with who was responsible for killing innocent Mumbaikars by triggering bomb blasts. He said the banner of revolt was raised by him and other MLAs to protest against such support and he doesn't care for his life in the bid to save Bal Thackeray's . Shinde's tweets on Sunday night are an apparent reference to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Nawab Malik who is in jail in connection with a money laundering case allegedly involving relatives of . The tweets are also seen as a reply to MP Sanjay Raut who had termed Shinde and other rebel MLAs "bodies without souls" which will be sent to the morgue. "How can Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support those who have a direct connection with Dawood who killed innocent Mumbaikars by carrying out Mumbai bomb blasts? We are taking this step to oppose this; Don't care if this step leads us to the brink of death," Shinde tweeted in Marathi. In another tweet, the senior Shiv Sena leader said they will consider themselves fortunate if they die while saving Shiv Sena and the ideology of Bal Thackeray. Shinde had tagged his tweets to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's Twitter handle. Earlier in the day, Raut had termed Shinde and other rebel MLAs as "bodies without souls" which will be sent to the morgue. "We have learnt a lesson on whom to trust....These are the bodies whose souls have died. Their mind is dead....40 bodies will come from Assam and will be sent directly to the morgue for postmortem," Raut had said in an apparent reference to the number of MLAs camping in Guwahati with Shinde while addressing Sena cadres. (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.) Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of the Shiv Sena, gave his last public speech on Vijayadashami in 2012. It was via video conference: at 86, his body had given up on him, he was fighting for breath. As tears ran down the cheeks of scores of Shiv Sainiks, Balasaheb made a promise: that he would never impose his son Uddhav or his grandson Aaditya on the party. He asked party workers to abandon Sena if they felt either Uddhav or Aaditya was being thrust on them. He ended his speech with a gasp: you have looked after me. Look after Uddhav, look after Aaditya. Give importance to loyalty. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Last week Microsoft said it would stop selling software that guesses a persons mood by looking at their face. The reason: It could be discriminatory. Computer vision software, which is used in self-driving cars and facial recognition, has long had issues with errors that come at the expense of women and people of color. Microsofts decision to halt the system entirely is one way of dealing with the problem. But theres another, novel approach that tech firms are exploring: training AI on synthetic images to make it less biased. The idea is a bit like training pilots. Instead of practicing in unpredictable, real-world conditions, most will spend hundreds of hours using flight simulators designed to cover a broad array of different scenarios they could experience in the air. A similar approach is being taken to train AI, which relies on carefully labelled data to work properly. Until recently, the software used to recognize people has been trained on thousands or millions of images of real people, but that can be time-consuming, invasive, and neglectful of large swathes of the population. Now many AI makers are using fake or synthetic images to train computers on a broader array of people, skin tones, ages or other features, essentially flipping the notion that fake data is bad. In fact, if used properly itll not only make software more trustworthy, but completely transform the economics of data as the new oil. In 2015, Simi Lindgren came up with the idea for a website called Yuty to sell beauty products for all skin types. She wanted to use AI to recommend skin care products by analyzing selfies, but training a system to do that accurately was difficult. A popular database of 70,000 licensed faces from Flickr, for instance, wasnt diverse or inclusive enough. It showed facial hair on men, but not on women, and she says there werent enough melanin-rich that is, darker-skinned women to accurately detect their various skin conditions like acne or fine lines. She tried crowdsourcing and got just under 1,000 photos of faces from her network of friends and family. But even that wasnt enough. Lindgrens team then decided to create their own data to plug the gap. The answer was something called GANs. General adversarial networks or GANs are a type of neural network designed in 2014 by Ian Goodfellow, an AI researcher now at Alphabets DeepMind. The system works by trying to fool itself, and then humans, with new faces. You can try testing your ability to tell the difference between a fake face and a real one on this website set up by academics at the University of Washington, using a type of GAN. Lindgren used the method to create hundreds of thousands of photorealistic images and says she ended up with a balanced dataset of diverse people, with diverse skin tones and diverse concerns. Currently, about 80 per cent of the faces in Yutys database arent of real people but synthetic images which are labelled and checked by humans(3), she says, who help assess her platforms growing accuracy. Lindgren is not alone in her approach. More than 50 startups currently generate synthetic data as a service, according to StartUs Insights, a market intelligence firm. Microsoft has experimented with it and Google is working with artificially-generated medical histories to help predict insurance fraud. Amazon.com Inc. said in January that it was using synthetic data to train Alexa to overcome privacy concerns. Remember when Big Tech platforms found themselves in hot water a few years ago for hiring contractors to listen in on random customers, to train their AI systems? Fake data can help solve it. The trend is becoming so pervasive that Gartner estimates 60 per cent of all data used to train AI will be synthetic by 2024, and it will completely overshadow real data for AI training by 2030. The market for making synthetic images and videos is roughly divided into companies that use GANs, and those that design 3D graphics from scratch. Datagen Technologies, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, does the latter. Its CGI-style animations train car systems to detect sleepiness. Carmakers have historically trained their sensors by filming actors pretending to fall asleep at the wheel, says Gil Elbaz, co-founder of synthetic data startup Datagen, but that still leads to a limited set of examples. Fake data isnt just being used to train vision recognition systems, but also predictive software, like the kinds banks use to decide who should get a loan. For example, to help design algorithms that distribute loans more fairly to minority groups, Fairgen makes databases of artificial people from minority groups with average credit scores that are closer to those from other groups. One bank in the UK is currently Fairgens data to hone its loan software. Cohen says manipulating the data that algorithms are trained on can help with positive discrimination and recalibrating society. Strange as it may sound, the growth of fake data is a step in the right direction, and not just because it avoids using peoples personal data. It could also disrupt the dynamics of selling data. Synthetic data also wont eliminate bias completely, though, says Julien Cornebise, an honorary associate professor of computer science at University College London. Bias is not only in the data. Its in the people who develop these tools with their own cultural assumptions, he says. Thats the case for everything man-made. Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 27 (ANI/GPRC): Eat with Better, a plant-based foods brand formed by Karan Bajaj and Keertida Phadke with the goal of changing people's perceptions of the mighty jackfruit. Headquartered in Mumbai, the company was launched in 2020 with the base ingredient of plain shredded raw jackfruit for your imagination. Over the last few years, the humble jackfruit has found its way onto restaurant menus replacing everything from pulled pork in tacos, to mutton in biryanis. Plant-based foods brand 'Eat With Better' brings this meat alternative to dinner tables across the country with their range of ready-to-cook mixes offering home cooks the chance to whip up restaurant-quality dishes at home using tender jackfruit without the fuss of elaborate preparations. Create everything from a simple sabzi or "meatballs" to old family recipes and weekend experiments with 'Eat With Better' Jackfruit Original which offers the base ingredient of plain shredded raw jackfruit for your imagination with the base of unseasoned tender jackfruit shreds that has a neutral taste and takes up whatever flavourings you cook it with. For those that need more than inspiration, Better's three flavours Chettinad, Tawa Fryand Vindaloo represent regions that have a long tradition of cooking with faux meat. Each box includes both jackfruit and a spice paste that brings together a hearty meal in five minutes. Speaking on the occasion Karan Bajaj, Co-founder of Eat With Better, said, "While most superfoods are notoriously expensive, carbon-intensive, unsustainable fads, jackfruit grows abundantly in India which is its largest global producer". He further said, "Jackfruit is a drought-resistant crop that keeps the microclimate cool, and grows without any chemical fertilizers, making it naturally organic". Karan and Keertida, who became friends over their shared interest in jackfruit, offer a selection of plant-based snacks to jackfruit lovers. Their long game is to make this underutilised local superfood a household ingredient. Speaking on the occasions, Keertida Phadke, a plant-based chef trained in New York and Co-founder, Eat With Better, said "Cooking with raw jackfruit is by no means new -- it's the labour-intensive nature of cutting, cleaning and cooking with this hardy ingredient that has prevented it from becoming more popular, despite its fantastic texture and tremendous health benefits. Using jackfruit as a meat alternative means choosing a minimally processed wholefoods product without artificial preservatives, colours, flavours or soy, wheat and protein isolates". "We want people to have better options. Better Jackfruit may be vegan but its focus on flavour means it's intended for absolutely everybody who eats", she further added. By sourcing from small landholder farmers in coastal Maharashtra, Eat With Better enables a sustainable supply chain that doesn't recklessly tax the earth's resources. It's also a healthy ingredient that's versatile in several stages of ripeness. Raw jackfruit is low in both calories and carbs, has no fats or sugars, and is even recommended to diabetics. Despite these proven benefits, an estimated 70 per cent of the jackfruit produced in India goes to waste every year, due to scattered demand and lack of processing facilities, while paradoxically beginning to trend in the Global North for its naturally meaty texture. With more people cooking at home than ever and looking to eat more plant-based cuisine, Eat With Better offers healthier, cruelty-free and climate-friendly foods that don't compromise on taste. Eat With Better Jackfruit is now available pan-India through their website (https://eatwithbetter.com) or via Amazon. More flavour variations are in the pipeline. This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uddhav kept himself in splendid isolation, not realising that his priority should have been keeping his flock together Is the ongoing Maharashtra political crisis an ideological battle within the Shiv Sena or the inability of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray to convince his Sainiks about his soft Hindutva? Or is it the BJP's ambition to eliminate all non-BJP governments? Or is it for the realignment of political forces? It is perhaps a combination of all. When Uddhav headed the MVA coalition Government in 2019, doubting Thomases were busy speculating how long his government would last. It was because of the heterogeneous nature of the coalition. True to their prediction, Uddhav has been facing crisis after crisis since then. Now it has come to a head. The party faces a vertical split in a fast-developing drama, unless there is a realignment of political forces or the two warring factions come together. There is also the danger of the MVA coalition Government collapsing. Uddhav woke up on June 21 to hear about the brewing revolt within his party, led by his Cabinet colleague Eknath Shinde. Also, Shinde was not alone as he had mobilised some 30-odd rebel legislators. In the past three years, Uddhav has grown as one of the prominent Opposition leaders, rubbing shoulders with powerful chief ministers like Mamata Banerjee (West Bengal) and M.K. Stalin (DMK). Ironically, the present problem is not from the allies but from within Shiv Sena. In an emotional speech, he recently said, "The sad part for me is that my people (Shiv Sainiks) have lost trust in me." Ignoring the rebellion within the party that has been brewing for some time, Uddhav kept himself in splendid isolation, attending to Covid relief and Opposition politics at the national level. He did not realise that his priority should have been keeping his flock together. The Shiv Sena and its long-term partner Bharatiya Janata Party fought the 2019 polls together. The BJP won 106 seats; the Shiv Sena bagged only 56. Together, they would have comfortably formed the government in the 288-memberAssembly. But then the Sena wanted the post of Chief Minister to be shared as discussed before the polls between the partners, but the BJP rejected it. Sena had become the junior partner in the past decade. It was not the first time the Sena faced rebellion, as three revolts happened under the watch of its charismatic founder Balasaheb Thackeray. He was a mesmerising personalityaudacious, smoking pipes, wearing sunglasses and saffron clothes, and even drinking his favourite drink, beer. He was respected by a few but feared by all. Even the Pop King, Michael Jackson, posed with Thackeray and got clearance for his solo concert in India. Balasaheb Thackerays ability to create mass hysteria gave him a larger-than-life persona, though he himself never contested elections or held power. A master orator, he got his party to power in 1995 and aligned with the BJP in the 1990s, which lasted for decades. He anointed his son Uddhav as working president in 2003 against his nephew Raj Thackeray. Uddhav is seeing the fourth revolt now. But Uddhavs primary miscalculation was taking his Sainiks for granted. He failed to sell his brand of soft Hindutva or the controversial nature of his coalition or alliance with Congress. He also should have been careful about projecting his son Aditya at the cost of some senior leaders. Instead he remained inaccessible to even his senior ministers. Thirdly, the Sainiks could not be comfortable with the coalition partners as they had grown for decades fighting the Congress. Some sections of the Sena felt that the alliance was damaging the party's growth. Fourthly, the rebels apprehend scrutiny from the Enforcement Directorate, the Central Bureau of Investigation, and income tax officials. They see returning to the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance as a way out of this unnecessary harassment. To escape the rigors of the anti-defection law, the Shinde group has to satisfy the test of two-thirds of elected members. NCP chief Sharad Pawar has rightly said the real test would be the floor test. Hence Hobson's Choice before Eknath Shinde and his supporters. Uddhav cannot fight on two frontsthe might of the BJP and the growing number of rebels. He may have to compromise or lose both his party and the government. Since Shinde has invoked Balasaheb's name and ideology in his demands to Uddhav, the Thackeray clan must also ensure keeping Balasaheb's legacy. While the legal battles may go on for months, the ongoing drama has to end sooner or later. In all probability, there is likely to be a realignment of political forces. It will be challenging for Uddhav to unite the party. If he does so, he will emerge as a strong leader. He has the advantage because the party is with him, though some of the legislators are not. Above all, he has the Thackeray surname. (The writer is a senior journalist. The views expressed are personal.) Skechers, The Comfort Technology Company and global performance and lifestyle footwear brand, completed an agreement with leading real estate developer Lodha for a new 1.1 million-square-foot distribution centre built-to-suit transaction at Lodha Industrial and Logistics Park, Palava. The centrally located Skechers Distribution Centre will expand the Company's existing distribution capabilities five-fold, transitioning its existing facility to the technologically advanced centre--fortifying Skechers' ability to grow its business in the Indian market over the next five to seven years. The Skechers Distribution Centre will be undertaken in two phases. The first phase, which will be 660,000 square feet, is planned to be fully operational in mid-2023 and will be capable of shipping up to 100,000 units of footwear, apparel and accessories per day. The expansion of an additional 440,000 square feet is planned for completion in the next three to four years. The Skechers Distribution Centre, which is expected to be one of the tallest warehouses in the region with a height of 17 metres at the eaves, is designed to be an IGBC Platinum pre-certified building. David Weinberg, COO, Skechers, said, "India's sneaker market is pegged at USD 2.6 billion and is expected to grow at 11 per cent year over year. Skechers has always been a frontrunner in technology and innovation while keeping a progressive mindset. Growing our capabilities is a definitive step in strengthening our presence across India. With this, we hope to meet the burgeoning demand in the footwear and apparel sector." Rahul Vira, CEO, Skechers South Asia Pvt. Ltd added, "It was essential for us to find the right developer to meet our near-term needs and drive our business forward--and the Lodha Industrial and Logistics Park supports our growth on every level. The Skechers Distribution Centre is a testament to our commitment to the Indian market, enabling us to serve the consumer as we achieve scale. It is a great time to be operating in India's rapidly growing footwear category--and we have fully geared up to take this leap towards establishing a stronger presence in the country." Skechers entered the Indian market in 2012 and now has more than 330 Skechers stores across the country. Consumers can also purchase Skechers at numerous department stores and independent retailers, as well as through (https://www.skechers.in). The new development will be undertaken by Palava Induslogic 2, where Lodha and an affiliate of Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing ("MSREI") have partnered for developing a warehouse park spread across 72 acres land parcel. 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.) A business website is one of the most important investments that you can make for your business. It is the face of your company and it should be able to convey the right message to your target audience. Without a website, you cannot hope to succeed in the online market. Moreover, if your website lacks a proper design or doesn't function well, it won't do you any good. That said, if a consumer visits a website to find out more about NFL picks against the spread, for example, they expect a seamless browsing experience. If the website cannot provide consumers with it, they'll simply bounce and never come back. With that in mind, here's why it's important to invest in your business website. How can a website help grow your business? A website can help grow your business in a number of ways. It can serve as an online brochure, providing information about your products or services. It can also be a platform for selling your products or services online. In addition, a website can help you build relationships with potential and current customers through blogs, forums, and social media. How to improve your business website Your business website is one of the most important tools in your digital marketing arsenalits your virtual storefront, and it needs to look sharp and inviting. Here are some tips on how to improve your business website: 1. Keep your design simple and clean. 2. Make sure your site is responsiveit should look good on both desktop and mobile devices. 3. Use high-quality images that are relevant to your business. 4. Write clear and concise copy that is free of typos and grammatical errors. 5. Include calls to action (CTAs) on every page, so visitors know what you want them to do next. 6. Make sure your site is easy to navigateuse clear menus and internal linking. What are the benefits of investing in your business website? Your website is a reflection of your brand, so it is important to make sure that it is designed and developed professionally. A well-designed website will instill trust and confidence in your potential customers, which can lead to more sales. In addition to generating leads and sales, your website can also help you build relationships with your customers. You can use your website to provide valuable information and resources that will help them solve their problems. By building these relationships, you will create loyalty and repeat business. Investing in your business website is one of the best decisions you can make for your business. It will help you reach a wider audience, generate leads, close sales, build relationships, and stay in touch with your current customers. There are many benefits to investing in your business website. That's why it's important to create a truly amazing business website. The civil society in Pakistan seems to have lost its vigour and has been forced to shy away from pro-activism under the political-military control A strong and durable democratic Government is possible only when it and the civil society play a collaborative role in upholding the spirit of democratic ethos and spreading awareness about the value of democratic participation. In fact, civil society has a major role to play to promote and consolidate democracy by acting as a link between the people and the Government. Therefore, it is considered the third space between people and the State, incorporating the dimension of pluralism and diversity. The civil societys activism in Pakistan, however, appears to be at times erratic and compromised. It is also argued that the fundamental obstacle in the path of development and democratisation of civil society there is due to the confluence of military rule and religion. Pakistans civil society A complex matrix: Civil society in Pakistan appears to be complex, assuming a sui generis character over the years. This complexity must be viewed in the context of repeated military interventions and influence of religion. In fact, civil society in Pakistan comprises muti-stakeholders including non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations, think tanks, trade unions, cultural groups, religious groups and informal citizen organisations. Pakistani scholar Mohammad Qadeer aptly categorises its sui generis nature into two tracks. One is the modern secular track and the other is the traditional ideological track. The first track constitutes the urban, modern, liberal/secular and educated section which includes NGO, civil society organisations and professionals advocating human rights through conferences, seminars and protest marches. The traditional is constituted by primordial ties and traditional base of religious civil society and is protected from States intrusion. This segment comprises mosques, seminaries, Islamic/ethnic/territorial segments of students and labour unions, rural groups, bazaar traders and small-town industrialists. It is believed that on account of its religious characteristic, civil society could merge as an effective actor in Pakistan, as against the western model, to influence civic life and State. Nonetheless, from a functional perspective based on traditional model of regulating civic life, community action and counter-balance the Sates excess, civil society in Pakistan has shown some effectiveness. Civil societys activism in the past: Despite the complexities, spurts of civil societys activism have been discernible, particularly in terms of effecting a democratic transition process and to bring about regime changes both authoritarian and democratic. Civil societys role in the anti-Ayub and anti-Musharraf agitation as well as during the Government of Zulfikar Ali Bhutto is noteworthy. The most vibrant role and activism of civil society was seen during lawyers movement (Adliya Bachao Tehreek or Save Judiciary Movement) in 2007 when they stood against the dictatorship of Musharraf to restore autonomy of the judiciary and democracy. Civil society and tepid activism: Today, on account of the political reality in Pakistan marked by continued military control, the civil society has been forced to shy away from pro-activism displayed episodically in the past in terms of raising awareness among its citizens and promoting democratic participation. While Pakistans people continue to be perturbed about important issues like corruption and unemployment, the civil society seems to be lacking any constructive debate and meaningful pro-activism. Does such tepid activism reinforce the perception that the civil society is driven either by vested interests or is politically partisan acting under the influence of the military, political parties and other interest groups? Or, is it a reflection of the absence of free space for civil society to thrive in Pakistan? The answers to all these questions continue to perplex everyone, sometimes raising questions on the sustainability of democracy in the country. Breaking the silence: Although civil society in Pakistan displayed sporadic presence through demonstrations and rallies, majorly spearheaded by the Opposition, against the Imran Khan Government, such activism has lost the earlier vigour. In order to sustain and consolidate democracy in its true spirit, it will not be sufficient for civil society to break the silence by simply demonstrating on the streets but independently spearheading and steering such rallies per se to promote the real purpose of its existence and responsibilities like in the past, and adopting a more pro-active approach to effect meaningful changes. It has to act as the prime conduit for the demands of the people, restrain the misuse of power of State and serve as a citadel of democracy. At the same time, the Government should also refrain from suppressing the diverse voices and interests expressed though the civil society. In any healthy democracy, a positive Opposition and a culture of debate and dissent is necessary for civil society to flourish and democracy to nurture. It is only when both Pakistan Government and civil society understand their responsibilities and collaborate positively that democracy will sustain and consolidate itself and prevent the countrys descent into a failed State. (The author is Senior Consultant, Indian Council for Cultural Relations. The views expressed are personal.) Actor Alec Baldwin has announced an interview with embattled director Woody Allen. Allen, who has faced backlash after his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, alleged he sexually abused her as a child, again made headlines following the release of HBO's 2021 docuseries "Allen v. Farrow," which explored the allegations against him. Allen has repeatedly denied the allegations, and had called them "untrue and disgraceful" in a statement following the release of the docuseries. In an Instagram post on Sunday night, Baldwin said Allen will be live with him on the social media platform on Tuesday. "Let me preface this by stating that I have ZERO INTEREST in anyone's judgments and sanctimonious posts here. I am OBVIOUSLY someone who has my own set of beliefs and COULD NOT CARE LESS about anyone else's speculation. If you believe that a trial should be conducted by way of an HBO documentary, that's your issue," the actor captioned his video. Baldwin, in the 56 second-long clip, displayed the cover and back of Allen's recent book of short humor, then whispered into camera, "Woody Allen." "Who I love. I love you, Woody," he said. The actor has worked with Allen on several films such as "Alice", "To Rome With Love" and "Blue Jasmine". The interview comes amid Baldwin's own legal issues as a result of the fatal shooting of the cinematographer Hayla Hutchins on the set of the Western film "Rust" in October 2021. Hutchins was fatally shot and director Joel Souza was injured on the set of the film when a live round was discharged from a revolver used as a prop by Alec. The weapon had not been thoroughly checked for safety in advance. India contributes just 5% to global carbon emission, asserts Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said Indias contribution to protecting climate is noteworthy and urged wealthy nations, including the G7, to invest in research in producing clean energy due to the huge market in India. Underlining various efforts made by the country in protecting climate, Modi also said 17 per cent of the worlds population resides in India. But, our contribution to global carbon emissions is only 5 per cent. The main reason behind this is our lifestyle, which is based on the theory of coexistence with nature, he said in an effort to dispel the notion that poor people cause more damage to the environment. Earlier, Modi met US President Joe Biden, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron at the G7 summit in Germany. He arrived at the G7 annual summit, where he was welcomed by German chancellor Olaf Scholz. The Group of Seven comprises the US, the UK, France, Italy, Japan, Canada and the European Union. The annual summit may also discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Addressing the session on Investing in a better Future: Climate, Energy, Health at the G7 Summit, the Prime Minister said Indias dedication to climate commitments is evident from our performance. We have achieved the target of 40 per cent energy-capacity from non-fossil sources 9 years before time. The target of 10 per cent ethanol-blending in petrol has been achieved 5 months before time. India has the worlds first fully solar power operated airport. Indias huge railway system will become net zero in this decade, he said. With India constantly achieving its goals, the Prime Minister said, We hope that the rich countries of G7 will support Indias efforts. Today, a huge market for clean energy technologies is emerging in India. The G7 countries can invest in research, innovation, and manufacturing in this field. He said the scale that India can provide for every new technology can make that technology affordable for the whole world. The core theories of the circular economy have been an integral part of Indian culture and lifestyle. The Prime Minister stressed on the need for equitable access to energy and said this should not be the privilege of the rich only a poor family also has the same rights on energy. He also said he called for a movement called LIFE Lifestyle for Environment in Glasgow last year. This year on World Environment Day, we launched the Global Initiative for LiFE campaign. The goal of this campaign is to encourage an eco-friendly lifestyle. We can call the followers of this movement Triple-P, i.e. pro planet people, and we should all take the responsibility of increasing the number of Triple-P people in our own countries. This will be our greatest contribution to the coming generations, Modi said. Highlighting the fact that human and planet health are inter-connected, he said India has adopted the approach of one world, one health. During the pandemic, India found many creative ways to use digital technology in the health sector. The G-7 countries can help India to take these innovations to other developing countries, the Prime Minister said . Recently we all celebrated the International Day of Yoga. In times of the COVID crisis, yoga has become a great tool for preventive health for people all over the world, this helped many people to maintain their physical and mental health, he said. On Sunday, Modi held a productive meeting with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez here on the sidelines of the G-7 summit and reviewed the full range of bilateral ties. This was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders. During the meeting, the two leaders discussed various issues like trade and investment, defence cooperation, agriculture, climate action and food security. Modi is on a two-day visit to Germany to attend the G7 summit on June 26 and 27. Photo: Tricia Thorpe Chad Golden and Olivia Hughes with Sunshine and her new littler of puppies. It was a little bit of joy in a grim time. Two members of the BC Wildfire Service returned to Lytton just ahead of the one-year anniversary of the wildfire that devastated the community, for a reunion of sorts. Olivia Hughes and Chad Goldney stopped by Tricia Thorpe and Don Glasgows property, to visit the latest litter of puppies born to mama dog Sunshine. They were among the crew that checked on the property following the June 30, 2021 fire, to find that Sunshine and her first litter of puppies were miraculously alive. The flames had destroyed Thorpe and Glasgows home, their outbuildings and it killed a number of their livestock. Somehow, the adult dogs that were on the property had worked to protect the newborns. The couple had been in town when they were forced to flee the fast-moving wildfire that burned most of the Village of Lytton, and many surrounding homes to the ground. Residents were not allowed to return right away in the aftermath of the fire, and Thorpe was desperate to check on her animals. Thats when the BCWS crew stepped up, and went to see what was left of her farm. They found the puppies, fed and watered them, and shared pictures to let Thorpe know that they were OK. She posted a picture on Thursday showing Hughes and Goldney recreating that scene with the new puppies. Chad and Olivia came by the other night, and you know what? The dog knew them, explains Thorpe. It was absolutely amazing. Sunshine knew exactly who they were and she was showing off the puppies. Thorpe and Glasgow have spent the last several months rebuilding their home and barn, and adding to their menagerie of dogs, cats, sheep, goats and other livestock. She didnt realize what it meant to the firefighters to come across the dogs last year, when they were braced for the worst. Olivia was saying it was one of the highlights of the year. That and the fact that Chad proposed to her. They really expected to find dead puppies up here. With that in mind, they kind of, for the lack of a better term, sucked it up and they came up here. And she said it was like this ray of sunshine finding all the puppies. It was like this bright spot in all that darkness said Thorpe. She adds she always thought of them as heroes but she never considered the trauma it might have caused the firefighters if they had found the dogs dead. Tricia and Don will be quietly marking the one-year anniversary of the fire. Are local taxpayers happy with the (Central Okanagan) School District trustees unanimous decision to allow undocumented migrant children to attend school for free? I assume many of you will think absolutely, children need an education. Children are innocent. However, are you aware of the projected $3.3 million shortfall (the district is facing) for the upcoming school year? Many high schools charge international students anywhere from $8,000 to $14,000 per year. Was it shared how much it could potentially cost undocumented children? I imagine the school board trustees are congratulating themselves for their extreme global generosity, patting themselves on the back for such a good deed by granting the migrant advocacy group RAMA its wish. Let me remind you, our children's school services are not free. Anyone who owns a home in Central Okanagan pays for those benefits. As I understand it, 44% of the school board budget comes from local taxes, The rest comes from the provincial taxes we pay. My concern is whether one child or 10 children receive the benefit of attending school in our area. What happens when some of those children need extra help? Are the teachers getting the financial resources to support their students? Is the board going to take away from our children's needs? Also, how many teachers will lose their jobs in the budget shortfall in the upcoming year? And what other services are required for these undocumented children? Let's not forget, Canada is exceptionally generous. We can see that by how our government brings people from war-torn countries, helping them settle here. The thing I find unfair is when people get work visas. They are allowed to come to Canada and earn a better income. Then, of their free will, they decide to break the law and remain in Canada illegally. Burdening Canadians should not be a choice of those who agree to the terms and conditions of their visas. An anthropology teacher at Okanagan College, Amy Cohen, brought the sanctuary idea forward. How is she proposing it be funded? Who is going to be responsible for overseeing this program? How much does it cost, as some of these kids are now in public schools? I want to leave people in the Okanagan with a bit of realitynothing Canadians enjoy is free. Our taxes pay for everything our government (provide for) us. Being a Good Samaritan starts at home, helping our own. Parents in the Central Okanagan School District must consider replacing the current school board trustees. They don't put the needs of our children first. Their unanimous decision regarding sanctuary schools proves they are not working for the children of the Okanagan. L. Busch, Kelowna Photo: Colin Spratt. A pair of big-tree hunters say they have located one of the largest trees in Canada in a remote corner of Lynn Valley in North Vancouver. Tree trackers Colin Spratt and Ian Thomas say they have found an ancient Western red cedar measuring more than 5.8 metres in diameter deep in Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, making it the fourth-widest known tree in the country. They have dubbed the tree The North Shore Giant and estimate that it is likely more than 1,000 years old. Spratt and Thomas said they spent 10 hours bushwhacking through extremely rugged and dangerous terrain on June 19 to get to the grove where the North Shore Giant stands. As they approached the grove, they could see several spires sticking out above the tops of other trees. It wasnt until they drew near that they confirmed the spires all belonged to one enormous western red cedar. I was blown away, Thomas told the North Shore News. I shouted to Colin, Thats one tree! Our hearts almost stopped, because it was all these different heads coming together into a massive trunk. Spratt said he stood frozen when he first saw the tree in all its glory. The blood drained from my face, stated Spratt in a release. I started getting dizzy as I realized it was one of the largest cedars ever found, and one of the most amazing life forms left on earth. According to the tree hunters, the North Shore Giant grows on the slopes west of Lynn Creek on a boulder field among other ancient red cedars. Other massive trees are located in nearby groves, including Canadas fifth-widest known Western hemlock, which the two tree hunters identified on the same day they found the North Shore Giant. Spratt and Thomas said the current diameter measurement of the North Shore Giant is a preliminary one, following the methodology of the American Forest Associations Champion Trees Program, which has been the standard used by B.C.s own official big-tree registry. The tree hunters said they hope they can take members of British Columbias Big Tree Committee to the site in the next week or two to confirm the diameter and take height and crown measurements for entry into the provinces Big Tree Registry. Finding this colossal ancient tree just demonstrates the sublime grandeur of these old-growth temperate rainforests, said Thomas, a member of the Ancient Forest Alliance, a non-profit organization that works to protect B.C.s endangered old-growth forests and to ensure a sustainable, value-added, second-growth forest industry. Luckily, this incredible being and the impressive grove in which it stands is safe in a park. Most of our richest ancient forests are still unprotected and in danger of being logged. Even now in Canada, in the year 2022, trees as old as this giant, and entire groves like this one, are still being cut down on an industrial scale. Spratt and Thomas are not releasing the precise location of the tree to the public, and they strongly discourage people from trying to track it down on their own. For those interested in seeing something similar, the Kennedy Creek cedar is located beside the Kennedy Falls Trail, an intermediate five-hour backcountry hike along the east side of Mount Fromme. The largest recorded tree in Canada, the Cheewat Giant, is also a lot more accessible than the North Shore Giant. Another Western red cedar, it is located near Cheewat Lake on the west side of Vancouver Island, between Port Renfrew and Banfield. The Cheewat giant is more than six metres in diameter and stands more than 56 metres tall. There is no official height measurement yet for the North Shore Giant. Photo: . Here is a recent rendering of the proposed Vancouver Art Gallery Fundraising for a proposed $400-million Vancouver Art Gallery (VAG) has has now exceeded $280 million thanks to the federal government pledging $29.3 million in new funding at an event this morning. The new money includes $4.3 million from Heritage Canada, with the remaining $25 million coming from Infrastructure Canada. "Our target is still 400 million," said VAG CEO Anthony Kiendl. "We're just over 70 per cent there, so we've been continuing to raise money privately." In 2021, the price tag for the new gallery was pegged at $355 million, including a $50 million endowment fund. The VAG then upped its estimate for the project's cost to $400 million last November, when Polygon Homes CEO and Audain Foundation chair Michael Audain and his wife Yoshi Karasawa pledged that their foundation would provide $100 million to the project. The VAG has been planning, for about 14 years, to move from its Robson Square location to a new site on the southern two-thirds of the block bounded by Cambie, Dunsmuir, Beatty and West Georgia streets. Online livestreaming e-commerce brings agricultural produce from farm to table across China People's Daily Online) 11:32, June 27, 2022 Thanks to livestreaming, farm produce from a village in southwest Chinas Chongqing municipality can now be directly sold to consumers across the country. Chen Cheng, a villager from Huangguashan village, Yongchuan district of Chongqing, started to promote local farm produce on Chinese e-commerce platform Pinduoduo in 2020. Over the past two years, he has launched nearly 100 livestreaming sessions and accumulated over 50,000 followers, with more than 100,000 orders placed at his shop. Chen Cheng and his wife buy vegetables for consumers during a livestreaming session. (Photo/Eyes News of Guizhou Daily) Chen, who has established cooperative partnerships with at least 200 rural households from multiple towns and neighborhoods in Yongchuan, sells fruits and vegetables from the village such as bamboo shoots, plums, pears, as well as chicken, ducks and fish. Every month, his sales value can reach as much as 500,000 yuan (about $74,700). Nowadays a significant number of consumers want to buy fresh farm produce. Many of my customers are regular ones, he said. Chen, who used to work in Beijing, went back home to start his own business in 2017. The first option that came to his mind was selling the villages delicious local specialties on an e-commerce platform. To better showcase the products, Chen started to showcase the vegetables and fruits growing locally in the villages fields and the poultry raised on farms via livestreaming sessions in 2020. To introduce as many agricultural products as possible, Chen came up with the idea of hosting livestreaming sessions during the nine rural market days scheduled every month, when diverse varieties of products are publicly displayed for sale. Look at this freshly slaughtered pig, with a price of 66 yuan per kilogram, introduced Chen during a livestreaming session watched by thousands of viewers on June 9, one of the market days in the locality. The pork Chen promoted for sale online was sold out in just two hours. Chen Cheng buys farm produce from a local farmer. (Photo/Eyes News of Guizhou Daily) Some of his regular customers also asked him to find a certain grandpa at the market an octogenarian vendor selling homegrown water spinach, cucumbers and peppers hoping to help him by making some purchases and whose vegetables, after all, tasted good. The vegetables sold by elderly vendors would therefore always sell out quickly through the online livestreaming platform. Unlike other livestreaming platforms, Pinduoduo has launched a new function that can be used during livestreaming sessions. It enables sellers to easily share the links for featured products and makes it easier for buyers to place orders. Chens customers are from all over the country, including those in their 20s and those aged above 80. One granny who left Yongchuan at a young age thanked Chen for letting her enjoy the food from her hometown, after buying products during his livestreaming sessions. Apart from hosting online market fairs, Chen usually travels to households to purchase farm produce directly, and has become very familiar with the products produced by each household. His efforts have also been recognized by the local farmers themselves. Chen is a nice guy who offers a good price for my products. I dont have to worry about the sales channel, said a 70-year-old villager. E-commerce platforms like Pinduoduo allow agricultural products to flow from farm to table, therefore shortening the supply chain and offering customers more choices. Over the past year, more than 61 billion orders have been placed on Pinduoduo, up 59 percent year-on-year. An executive of Pinduoduo said that the platform will delve deeper into the field of digital agriculture to better harness technologies in order to benefit more agriculture production areas and farmers, which will provide a means to contribute to the continued modernization of agriculture and rural areas throughout the country. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Court asks MLAs to file reply to Dy Speaker, rejects Maha Govt plea for no floor test The disqualification proceedings against Shiv Senas rebel MLAs will be kept in abeyance till July 11, and there will not be any stay on the floor test during this period, the Supreme Court ruled on Monday in what is seen as a major setback for the embattled Uddhav Thackeray -led alliance Government. The top court said the rebels may file replies to the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly till 5.30 pm on July 12. The court also sought responses to pleas by rebel MLAs questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, however, refused to pass any interim order on the plea by Senior advocate Devdutt Kamat, who appeared for the MVA Government, that there should not be any floor test in the Assembly and said they can always approach the court in case of illegality. We cant pass an order on the floor test as that would create unnecessary complications. If anything illegal happens, you can always move this court, said the SC while refusing to pass an interim order. The court directed the Maharashtra Government to protect the life, liberty, and property of 39 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and their family members. While issuing the notice to the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker, the top court directed him to put on affidavit the records of no trust notice served upon him by the rebel MLAs who have relied upon the Nabam Rebia judgment to drive home the point that he cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his own removal is pending. Meanwhile as an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly to the petitioners or other similarly placed Members of the Legislative Assembly to submit their written submissions up to today by 5.30 pm is extended till July 12, 2022, the apex court said. The top court, while posting the matter for further hearing on July 11, said it wants the status quo to continue till it balances competing claims made by the rival Sena camps. The top court also recorded the statement of Maharashtras counsel that adequate steps have been taken to protect the life and property of rebel MLAs. Shinde and 15 other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs have moved the SC challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker under the Tenth Schedule of Constitution on grounds including defection. Besides Shinde, the other 15 MLAs are Bharat Gogawale, Prakash R Surve, Tanhaji Jaywant Savant, Mahesh S Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeepan A Bhumre, Sanjay P Sirhsat, Yamini Y Jadhav, Anil K Babar, Latabai C Sonawane, Ramesh N Bornare, Sanjay B Raimulkar, Chimanrao R Patil, Balaji D Kalyankar and Balaji P Kinilkar. At the outset, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for Shinde and other Sena rebel MLAs, submitted that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. He referred to the Constitution bench decision of the apex court in the Nabam Rebia case in which it was held that it would be constitutionally impermissible for a Speaker to adjudicate upon disqualification petitions under the Tenth Schedule while a notice of resolution for his own removal from the office of Speaker is pending. At this juncture, the bench asked why the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs did not move the Bombay High Court against disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker. Kaul replied that existence of Article 226 is not a Constitutional bar to invoke Article 32 of Constitution to approach the top court. Kaul claimed that the Uddhav Thackeray group is in minority and subverting the State machinery and attacking the houses of rebel Sena MLAs. Kaul further submitted that the top court in its earlier decisions has said that it is impermissible for the Deputy Speaker to decide on the disqualification petition till the no-confidence motion against him is decided. He said the majority faction of the Shiv Sena legislative party appointed Eknath Shinde as its chief, but the minority faction, which has 19 MLAs, quietly made Ajay Choudhari as their chief. The majority faction wrote to the Deputy Speaker about their decision. Then the rebel MLAs get a notice to report to a meeting by the minority MLAs. When the MLAs do not attend, based on the notice issued on the same day, a disqualification plea is filed. The bench asked the petitioners why did they not raise the issue of Deputy Speakers incompetency before the Deputy Speaker himself to which Kaul responded that he proceeded with the notices despite the fact that he was informed. Kaul said the Deputy Speaker is proceeding, allegedly in undue haste, without following the principles of natural justice Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for Shiv Sena legislative party leader Ajay Chaudhary and Sunil Prabhu, questioned the petitioners move of leap frogging to the top court without approaching the High Court first. There is no reason given why your lordships should not exercise the discretion to send them to the High Court, Singhvi said, adding the courts cannot intervene when the proceedings are pending before the Speaker. Singhvi cited the landmark judgment in Kihoto Hollohan vs Zachillhu and Others (1992), in which the court upheld the sweeping discretion available to the Speaker in deciding cases of disqualification of MLAs. They have wrongly interpreted Nabam Rebia and presented it before this Court. Singhvi said in this case media reports are rampant that these MLAs sent notice from an unverified email, and the Speaker rejected the no-confidence motion and that has not been challenged. The Deputy Speaker has taken on record the unverified letter and rejected it, which has to be challenged On (May) 20th these MLAs went to Surat, on 21st they are supposed to have written this mail, on 22nd Speaker received this notice. 14 days have not elapsed. Article 179 of the Constitution requires a 14-day notice if notice for removal of the Speaker is made, he said. Senior advocate Rajeev Dhavan, appearing for the Deputy Speaker, said there was a notice and a reply was sent but the authenticity of the notice is under question. It (notice) was not sent from the registered email. It was not sent to the legislative office. The Deputy Speaker acts in a judicial capacity. If somebody dashes off a letter, not to the registered office, the Speaker is entitled to ask who you are. The bench then remarked, Then it will be contradictory. If there is no valid notice, there is no question of 14 days. The issue will arise only if notice is valid. The apex court directed the respondents to file a comprehensive affidavit mentioning these aspects and issued notices to parties. Dhavan also orally assured the bench that no decision on disqualification will be taken in the meantime. However, Singhvi requested the top court not to record a statement made on behalf of the Deputy Speaker, as it would amount to breach of division between judiciary and legislature. The bench, however, said they have to see that the petition does not become infructuous. Photo: The Canadian Press Then-Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin ia seen riding a horse while traveling in the mountains of the Siberian Tyva region (also referred to as Tuva), Russia, during his short vacation. G7 leaders gathering in Germany to discuss increasing the pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine are also taking aim at the Russian president's penchant for taking off his shirt. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kremlin Pool Photo, Sputnik, Alexei Druzhinin G7 leaders gathering to discuss turning up the pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine are also taking aim at the Russian president's penchant for taking off his shirt. The leaders were getting ready for a group photo when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked whether they should take their jackets off. Video from the event in Germany shows him joking that, "We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin." "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied. "Oh yes," said Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, "Horseback riding is the best." Any search for images of the Russian leader is bound to turn up the famous photo of him riding a horse through the Siberian wilderness, wearing only pants, boots and sunglasses. The Kremlin has released a series of official photos over the years of Putin carrying a rifle, feeding a horse, holding a fish, swimming, relaxing by a lake all without a shirt. There's video of him being pulled through the water by two dolphins. The photos have even been included in his official calendar, in what many observers believe is an attempt to sell an image of a macho, tough leader. Putin seems unfazed by the countless memes poking fun at him, once remarking to NBC that there are even (doctored) images online of him riding a bear. For his part, Trudeau has had his share of shirtless photographs since becoming prime minister. A 2016 Guardian article about him appearing shirtless and holding a surfboard at a couple's B.C. beach wedding said, "Sightings of a shirtless Justin Trudeau are causing something of a stir across Canada and around the world." The article noted the prime minister also made international headlines when a photo was released of him hiking shirtless in Gatineau Park. In July 2018, he made headlines again while on a shirtless jog in Toronto after a meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The video from Monday's G7 event concludes with Johnson joking, "We've got to show them our pecs." The leaders remained fully clothed for the official photo op. Photo: AMANDA TODD LEGACY SOCIETY. Carol Todd of Port Coquitlam with her daughter, Amanda. A digital investigator retired from the Toronto Police Service took the stand today (June 27) in the fourth week of the sextortion trial involving Port Coquitlam student Amanda Todd. Warren Bulmer, who now works with the Australian Federal Police, spent the morning explaining to Justice Martha Devlin and the jury at BC Supreme Court in New Westminster about online connections and digital data analysis. In 2013, as a police officer and international instructor, Bulmer was identified by Facebook as a Senior Point of Contact (SPOC) between the social media giant and law enforcement. Bulmer has studied Facebook use and its policies since 2009, the court heard. In his testimony, Bulmer spoke about the difference between static and dynamic IP address assignments and influences on IP addresses, as well as ways to conceal IP addresses via proxy servers and encryption tools. The Crowns expert witness also spoke about the evolution of privacy for Facebook users since the channel started and what information can be accessed by police through basic subscriber details and content search requests. Police investigators also wanting a users archives would have to apply for a preservation order for Facebook to keep past records intact, the court heard. Bulmer told the court he examined the records of the Amanda Todd, who died in 2012, in addition to 13 other Facebook accounts. One such account belonged to someone named Alice McAllister, who had registered with Facebook on Sept. 29, 2010. In her opening address, prosecutor Louise Kenworthy told the jury that Crown Counsel will prove Aydin Coban was behind 22 fake online accounts. Coban of The Netherlands has pleaded not guilty to extortion importing and distributing child pornography possession of child pornography communicating with the intent to lure a child criminal harassment None of the allegations is proven in court. In her testimony earlier this month, Todds mother, Carol, said she received a message from Alice McAllister on Dec. 22, 2010, about her daughter. In that message, which was also shared with Amandas friends and family, was a hyperlink to an adult porn site called motherless.com, Carol Todd stated, as well as a topless image of her daughter. Carol Todd said she got a second message from Alice McAllister on Jan. 4, 2011, about Amandas online presence. The trial continues. Photo: The Canadian Press An Amtrak train departs 30th Street Station in Philadelphia, Wednesday, March 31, 2021. Three people were killed and others were injured when a passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck and derailed in a remote, rural area of Missouri on Monday, officials said. It was not immediately clear how many people were hurt beyond the three people who died, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said. At least eight medical helicopters were responding from around the state, Matt Daugherty, Lifeflight Eagle director of business development, told The Kansas City Star. Daugherty said he knew there were a number of injuries and some people were in critical condition. The Southwest Chief was carrying about 243 passengers and 12 crew members when the collision happened near Mendon at 12:42 p.m. CT, Amtrak said. The Highway Patrol said seven cars derailed. Amtrak had previously said eight cars had. Helicopter video shown by KMBC-TV in Kansas City from the scene showed rail cars on their side as emergency responders used ladders to climb into one of them. The video also showed six medical helicopters parked nearby waiting to transport patients. Three passengers were taken to University Hospital in Columbia, hospital spokesman Eric Maze said. He did not have information on their conditions. Passengers on the train included high school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago, Superintendent Tim Beying told The Kansas City Star. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago. Mendon, with a population of about 160, is about 84 miles (135 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City. South Africa requests no cement price increases ICR Newsroom By 27 June 2022 The South African government has asked the country's cement producers to commit to no price increases in return for the government approving safeguard action against cheap imports. The move has raised doubts about the success of an application made by a number of producers to the International Trade Commission back in August 2019, according to Moneyweb. The application was for a flat, non-country-specific tariff. The producers claim that the cost of doing business in South Africa is much higher than in other countries. Cement imports into South Africa grew by nine per cent YoY to almost 1.1Mt in 2021. Since 2017 cement imports have risen by more than 100 per cent, mostly coming from Pakistan, China and Vietnam. Anti-dumping duties previously imposed on cement imports from Pakistan have been extended by five years from June 2022. Published under Schwenk Latvija reports 5% increase in turnover in 2021 ICR Newsroom By 27 June 2022 Schwenk Latvija has reported a 4.9 per cent YoY increase in turnover in 2021. The company's turnover reached EUR96.455m, while profit came in at EUR16.118m, up 31.9 per cent YoY, according to Firmas.lv. 2021 saw Schwenk Latvija sell more than 1Mt of cement, of which over 75 per cent was exported, mainly to Finland, Estona and Sweden, reports Baltic Business Daily. Capex in 2021 stood at over EUR23m, up 16 per cent on the 2020 figure. According to the company's annual report, despite the negative impact of COVID-19 on the domestic construction market, the company continues to see its revenue increase with sales rising in regional export markets. Published under Indian event highlights role of calcined clay cement ICR Newsroom By 27 June 2022 The best way forward is to adopt transformative technologies that help decarbonise the cement industry, according to a number of stakeholders who gathered for the 24th "trialogue 2047" hosted by Development Alternatives (DA) in New Delhi, India on 24 June 2022. The event brought together representatives from the cement industry, government, institutions, civil society and academia to discuss the urgent need for decarbonisation. Limestone calcined clay cement (LC3) is seen as a major innovation to reduce emissions with DA working alongside a number of companies, including Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) of Switzerland, to highlight the role of LC3 in reducing the clinker factor. According to DA, standards for commercially producing LC3 are in the final stages with the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and expected to be published very soon. "We have been at the forefront in ensuring the decarbonisation of the cement industry. We have been working for over a decade to reach this juncture where the synergy between public and private partnership (PPP) can be created. With the "trialogue 2047" we hope the PPP approach will facilitate the final goal of decarbonisation," said Dr Soumen Maity, vice president, Development Alternatives. Published under Lets face it: decisions are hard. Well, some arent, like, Should I get out of bed this morning? (Actually, given the state of things these days, maybe thats not such an easy decision either.) But often factors involved in decision-making are complicated. This is why some people use the pro vs. con approach, listing the positives of one option and weighing them against its negatives. It might be, Should we move or should we stay? Or, Is it really a good idea to buy a car right now? Which college should I attend? Another approach to making decisions, but not always reliable, is to look for a sign. Im reminded of the guy who was considering leaving his present circumstances behind and starting off fresh somewhere else. He got into his car and determined to keep driving until he received a sign on what to do. Too bad he was so deep in thought that he missed the sign warning, Bridge Out Ahead! This looking for a sign strategy is hardly new. In fact, we see a classic example in the sixth chapter of the Old Testament book of Judges. Gideon was a very ordinary fellow, threshing wheat in his fathers winepress. An angel of the Lord suddenly appeared and said, The Lord is with you, mighty warrior. Right away, Gideon suspected this day wasnt going to be business as usual. The angel proceeded to tell Gideon that God had chosen him to deliver the Israelites from the Midianites. His first reaction might have been, Yeah, right! He replied, But Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manesseh, and I am the least in my family. Even with Gods assurance that, I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together, Gideon wasnt convinced. He answered, If now I have found favor in Your eyes, give me a sign that it is really You talking to me. Gideon then boldly decided to choose the specific sign he wanted from the Lord. He stated, look, I will place a wool fleece on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You will save Israel by my hand, as You said. The passage tells us, And that is what happened. Gideon rose early the next day; he squeezed and wrung out the dew a bowlful of water (Judges 6:37-38). Years ago, a friend who raised sheep for a number of years told me an interesting fact about woolen fleece its water-resistant, because it contains lanolin. So, the fact the fleece was saturated, while the ground surrounding it was dry, was truly a miracle. Despite this sign, Gideon couldnt let go of his skepticism. Maybe he was an ancestor of one of Jesus disciples, doubting Thomas. So, he cautiously decided to flip the sign on its head: Then Gideon said to God, Do not be angry with me. Let me make just one more request. Allow me one more test with the fleece. This time make the fleece dry and the ground covered with dew. That night God did so. Only the fleece was dry; all the ground was covered with dew (Judges 6:39-40). Apparently, Gideon was thinking maybe the fleece was defective never hurts to check, right? In the following chapter, were told God indeed used Gideon to defeat the Midianites, throwing in a couple more signs and miracles along the way for emphasis. The rest of the story could be the focus on another post, but clearly this simple guy was one who liked to follow signs. What does this teach us? Are we to respond in similar fashion, insisting that God give us a sign if we sense Him leading us to step far outside our comfort zones? Occasionally this might be appropriate, asking the Lord to confirm what Hes directing us to do. But most of the time He wants us to act in faith, stepping out when we believe He wants us to do so; at other times remaining where we are. Circumstances like this remind me of Psalm 37:3-9, which says, Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass. However, lest we act presumptuously and move ahead of Him, God includes this admonition: Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Himthose who wait on the Lord, they shall inherit the earth. What difficult decisions are you facing right now? Are you considering laying out a fleece, asking the Lord to provide a definitive sign? After all, Ecclesiastes 3:1 declares, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. But most of the time, a better plan is to pray fervently; spend time in the Scriptures, asking God to speak to you through them; and when available, seek godly counsel from trusted friends. Using as many resources as possible before making crucial decisions not just waiting for a sign is one certain way to avoid getting fleeced. * * * Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly published, Marketplace Ambassadors; Business At Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Todays Workplace; Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. A weekly business meditation he edits, Monday Manna, is translated into more than 20 languages and sent via email around the world by CBMC International. The address for his blog is www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com. His email address is btamasy@comcast.net. The Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team is inviting the public to a vigil "for the protection of abortion rights" on Saturday. The Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team was identified as Chattanoogas only reproductive justice organization in the area, and are organizing this vigil in response to the overturning of Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. We chose this holiday weekend to hold this vigil because, as some people are celebrating U.S. independence, we are mourning the loss of our bodily freedom, said Shannon Hardaway, founding leader of CHAT, Almost 50 years ago, Americans gained the right to abortion, and last week, we lost that right. We are mourning that loss. The event will be held from 7-10 p.m. at the intersection of Frazier Avenue and the Walnut Street Bridge. We are dedicated to fight for abortions rights, said Ms. Hardaway. In addition, we wanted to honor those that have fought for abortion rights in the past, those that have died from unsafe abortions, and the people who will continue to fight for safe, legal, and accessible abortion. This will be a silent vigil, and those planning to attend should be aware that many members are opting to tape their mouths shut in symbolic protest. Officials said, "Signs are encouraged, but coat hanger imagery or handmaids tale costumes are discouraged." The Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team said it also received community feedback about its rally on Friday that officials would like to address publicly. The rally was in response to the SCOTUS decision about Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Center that overturned Roe v. Wade and Casey v. Planned Parenthood. We have been planning for this day for months, but we were still in a state of shock, said Ms. Hardaway. We are elated that over 350 Chattanoogans attended our rally, but there were some mistakes made and we want to own up to that. The event was held from 6-9 p.m. Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team had a rally at Coolidge Park, although they had originally intended the rally to be at Miller Park. We were not prepared for a decision on a Friday, said Ms. Hardaway, who was unable to attend, being out of town for family matters, It is very unusual for the Supreme Court to announce a decision on a Friday, and so we had to regroup and change the venue. However, some groups posted the original plan to social media, including Planned Parenthood. This was a confusing error, but I think everyone found their way to Coolidge Park that night. "The choice of venue created a cry for a march across Walnut Street Bridge, something that Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team discouraged multiple times. We are saddened that there were people who felt unsafe because of police presence on and around the bridge, despite our warnings to the crowd not to march across the bridge. "We were also given feedback that many of the speakers did not include trans and non-binary inclusive language in their speeches. We at Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team are inclusive to all humans, no matter, race, gender, sexuality or ability. We will strive to better oversee our speakers messages in the future, to be better at fulfilling our mission statement: Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team is a grassroots organization dedicated to creating safe and healthy communities through increased access to reproductive healthcare and rights, including pro-choice healthcare, and inclusive sexual education for all. "Finally, Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team is Chattanoogas only reproductive healthcare justice organization, and there are no other organizations that speak for us. We encourage anyone wanting to get involved to follow our social media presence. Any messages that are not from Chattanooga Health Advocacy Team should be referred to us for further clarification." At a news conference on Monday, Hamilton Flourishing announced the Solemn Prayer Assembly, now becomes a Solemn Celebration after The Supreme Court Justices overturns Roe v Wade. The community will join thousands of others across the nation on Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at Calvary Chapel Chattanooga 3415 Broad St., to "show solidarity through prayer for our country as we celebrate the protection of life and our unborn." Local and national speakers will lead this time of prayer. A live broadcast will be made available with the link promoted prior to the event. The fall of Roe v. Wade was D-Day for abortion," said Doug Daugherty, senior president of Hamilton Flourishing, organizing this national gathering. "On D-Day, June 6, 1944, the allies landed on Normandy beach, the largest invasion in world history. But surrender was not for 11 months later on May 7,1945 on the Missouri battleship. We know victory is on the way, but battles from the Presidency, Congress, and the Supreme Court, every church in the land, every state, city, county seat to the school board must be fought. The battle is intense! But prayer and hard work will win in two years. I believe Nov. 7, 2024, will the end, and the beginning. Life will win. Co-sponsors of this national gathering include: Founding Cosponsors: Calvary Chapel of Chattanooga, Pastor Frank Ramseur with Adam Calabrese American Association of Evangelicals, Kelly Kullberg, Founding Director Hamilton Flourishing, Doug Daugherty, President Ten Commandments Project, Charlie Wysong, President Lou Engle, Leads The Call Church of the Firstborn, Alfred Johnson, Founding Pastor* National Memorial to the Unborn, Linda Keener, Chairman Family Policy Alliance, Tom Minnery, President Emeritus Black Americans for Life - Kay James, Founder* Right to Life of Greater Chattanooga Candy Clepper, President Chattanooga House of Prayer, Adam Whitescarver, Executive Director. J-103 Radio, Partners For Christian Media, Bob Lubell, Founder National Prayer Committee, Dave Butts, Chairman Intercessors for America, Dave Kubal, President Wellington Boone Ministries and Coalition for Revival, Bishop Wellington Boone, Founder and Coleader COF The Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, Marjorie Dannenfelser, CEO Family Action Council of Tennessee, David Fowler, President American Values - Gary Bauer, President Congressional Prayer Caucus, Senator Randy Forbes, President Students for Life, Krystan Hawkins, President National and State Political Leaders, Tate Reeves, Governor of Mississippi* More being added. * Tentative as of June 6 For more information, please visit HamiltonFlourishing.org or email HamFlourishing@gmail.com. To view online service on June 30, visit: calvarychatt.online.church The All Odisha Rice Millers Association (AORMA) organised a conference on modernisation, technical upgradation and export of rice by the rice milling industry. The two-day conference was virtually inaugurated by Food Supplies, Consumer Welfare and Cooperation Minister Atanu Sabyasachi. Primary objective of the conference is to educate rice millers on modernisation technique and technologies. A large number of millers and technological solution providers also participated in the event. In his message, Minister Nayak said, In national level also our State is one of the leaders in paddy production and surplus rice. This is now a national level talk point. We are now considered as a grain surplus State. To maintain the trend we need support of all stakeholders including rice milling industry. Like our 5-T initiative, we expect from all of you to use technology for timely production so that people can get benefited. During the conference, technical upgradation and modernisation and scope of export of rice by rice millers was discussed. President, AORMA Mahesh Kumar Bansal delivered welcome note and general secretary Laxmi Narayan Deepak Ranjan Das presented a brief note about the conference. On day two of the conference, two eminent scientists Dr Hameeda Banu Itagi and Dr Nese Sreenivasulu will address the gathering. Dr Hameeda Banu Itagi is Lead Product Development and Senior Associate Scientist of Centre of Excellence in Rice Value Addition (CERVA), International Rice Research Institute South Asia Regional Centre (ISARC), Varanasi, UP. Similarly, Dr Nese Sreenivasulu is Research Co-Ordinator of IRRI-India Research Programme, Head of Consumer Driven Grain Quality and Nutrition Research Unit and CERVA, Rice Breeding And Innovation Programme, .IRRI Los Banos, Philippines. The Chattanooga Symphony & Opera announces Warren Barnett will sponsor their Masterwork series for the upcoming 2022 2023 season. It will feature seven concerts that present a core symphonic repertoire performed in classical style and scale. These concerts will include performances such as French Impressions, Enigma Variations, Beethovens Symphony No. 7, Masterful Tchaikovsky, Brahms Piano Concerto No. 2, Mozarts Requiem, and Triumph & Salvation. The performances are held once a month on Thursdays, starting Sept. 29, in the Memorial Auditorium. The Masterwork series is made possible by Warren Barnetts generous donation. This is an organization that Mr. Barnett has been supporting for many years. . Warren Barnetts forward-thinking approach to philanthropy is one of the reasons Chattanooga is thriving as an art and cultural leader, said John Kilkenny, executive director of the CSO. We are indebted to Warren for his tremendous support of the CSO and the broader arts community in our city. Mr. Barnett, president of Barnett & Company and the recipient of the Outstanding Philanthropist award, has always had a passion for classical music. His love for the arts and music encouraged him to support the CSO and various other foundations such as Friends of Chickamauga, The Cornerstones, History Center, Hunter Museum, Tennessee Aquarium, and other organizations. Mr. Barnett said, Support for CSO contributes to the culture of Chattanooga and makes the city a better place to live." Mr. Barnett explained that the arts community in Chattanooga puts the city in a class above other towns of its size. The support is not aimed at superlatives but the advancement of the greater Chattanooga area. He said the arts and business are closely related and that investing in organizations like the CSO brings businesses to the area, which in turn brings more opportunities for the locals of Chattanooga. To whom much is given, much is expected, said Mr. Barnett, and he encouraged the younger generation to support the arts if they have the ability to do so. To learn more about donating or purchasing tickets for the Masterwork Series, go to www.ChattanoogaSymphony.org In loving memory of Janice Hicks, 85, of Hixson, Tennessee, we celebrate her eternal rest and reward. She passed on June 25, 2022, at the hospital with her family. She was born on Oct. 6, 1936, in Scranton, SC, the daughter of Alton Emitt and Ferbia Barfield McCants. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, Ben Hicks, and daughter, Kathryn Lynn Pelonero. Survivors include her daughter, Kandace (James) Tanner, daughter, Kimberly (Keith) Moss, six grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren. Known as a loving wife, mother, and grandmother, she wore many hats meeting the needs of her family. However, her greatest roles were protector, Bible teacher, and a great prayer warrior. She protected her family with unwavering faith and love through the God she loved and served so faithfully. She encouraged and touched the hearts of many lives through what she lived, taught, and experienced in the manifestation of many miracles. Her prayer reached beyond the circle of her family, friends and to all those who came to her with petition. She is remembered as one who not only believed, but inspired others to follow the Light and Love of the God who never fails in walking that out with many battles, and triumphs. She was a defender of the gospel and would never waver in declaring the truth as absolute. Her family called her the Rock of Gibraltar and the glue that held the family together through every challenge and test faced because she knew where to run. She ran to the Rock and Strong Tower. (Psalm 61:2/Proverbs 18:10) She was a retired registered nurse and received her seminary degree from Logos Bible College in Jacksonville, Florida. She Pastored Lighthouse Church in Gastonia, NC, along with her husband, Ben Hicks until they retired and moved to Hixson, to be near their daughters. After moving to Tennessee, she continued to teach the gospel through Discipleship programs, and the Faith Builders Sunday School class at Daisy Church of God for many more years. She traveled foreign soil to the small village (Cusuna) in Honduras, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Her hearts desire was to serve, honor, and love God, and that all her family would know and follow Him. Her final words spoken prior to her passing were that I love you, and I am not afraid. She will be remembered as a mighty Warrior of God, who not only went through, but came through with God leading her home on that final journey to eternally ever after. She will be dearly missed by her family, and long remembered by those who knew her. Her seed shall continually bring increase through her family, friends, and the earth. Her plantings were many, and the wind carries and scatters to reproduce fruit to come in appointed season. Psalm 1:1-3 Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. at the Ministry Center, 2929 Hamil Road, Hixson, TN with the Rev. Jimmy Tallie officiating. Burial will be held on Friday, July 1, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in the Hamilton County Memorial Park. The family will receive friends on Thursday, June 30, 2022 from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are by Legacy Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8911 Dallas Hollow Road, Soddy-Daisy, TN (423) 843-2525. Share your memories, stories, and photos at legacyfuneralhome.com. On 90 Day Fiance, 23-year-old Guillermo Rojer discovers tragic news about his brother, Jose Joaquin, back in the Dominican Republic. Will he decide to go back to be with his family or stay and marry his fiancee, Kara Bass? Guillermo, 90 Day Fiance Season 9 | TLC Guillermo receives news of his brothers hospitalization On the June 26 episode of 90 Day Fiance, Kara explained the situation. She said, Last night, Guillermo got a phone call from his family saying that his brother, Jose Joaquin, was in the hospital with renal failure. She explained, Back in the Dominican Republic, Jose Joaquin had to move in with his middle brother in a different city so that they could caretake for him. Hes been going through some dialysis for about a year prior to him being hospitalized. So I think last night, things really took a turn for the worse. And that they didnt think he was gonna make it. Guillermo and Jose Joaquin, 90 Day Fiance Kara said, Guillermos mom is in Venezuela. He has broth brothers in Dominican Republic. And now that hes here, everybody is just really spread out, right now. Of course, Guillermo is devastated by the news that his brother is sick. He told the cameras, When I was little, I was actually super close with Jose Joaquin, and we spent beautiful moments. And if I could think, how I will feel if my brother could die, it could definitely be one of the worst things. Guillermos brother, Jose Joaquin, dies The following morning, Kara reveals the devastating news. She says, At about 4 am this morning, Guillermo got a phone call saying that his brother passed away. Guillermo, 90 Day Fiance Season 9 | TLC The 30-year-old said, He was doing better when we heard from him yesterday. He was having coherent thoughts and speaking pretty clearly. We had talked about if this were to happen, what-ifs, and all of those things. But I dont think any of us expected it to be so soon. After finding out about his brothers death, Guillermo is at a loss for words. He says, Im still in shock, just because its my brother. Right now, I cannot even say like it was my brother. It is. It is my brother. He said, Its like someone really close die, so fast, because he got sick. We cannot even understand. [sic] Can Guillermo go back to the Dominican Republic? As 90 Day Fiance fans know, once a foreigner enters the US borders with a K-1 visa, they cannot leave the country until they get a green card. This could take up to nine months to a year after marriage. So because Guillermo just entered the country, he and Kara have yet to marry. Its unlikely he will be able to return to the Dominican Republic for a while unless he forfeits his K-1 visa. Guillermo tells Kara, I think that in some way, this is like one of the worst things of being [an] immigrant. Because everything is so beautiful until something happen to your family. And not being an immigrant, being an immigrant that actually cannot go back. However, Guillermo mentioned that staying in the US and marrying Kara is what his brother would have wanted for him. He tells the cameras that when he started dating Kara, he told his brothers all about her. He said, And I ask, Is it the right thing Im doing? Im getting married really young. What do you think? And [he] was actually really supportive. So, having his support is like everything is going to be OK. At the end of the episode, Guillermo promises Kara he will try even harder to be the man she deserves and make his brother proud. He said, My brother was the kind of person who could do whatever is possible to make everyone feel happy. And to honor him is never change who I am. Because he was so proud of me. Our condolences to Guillermo, Kara, and his family in this difficult time. New episodes of 90 Day Fiance Season 9 air Sundays at 8 pm EST on TLC and to stream on discovery+. RELATED: 90 Day Fiance: Arielas Ex-Husband, Leandro Tells Biniyam Were Family Now Before Jacqueline Kennedy was a Kennedy, she was a Bouvier living in a 23,000-square-foot mansion outside of Washington DC. Kennedy spent her early years in New York, where her father was a stockbroker. The family moved when Kennedys mother divorced her father and married an oil tycoon that saw her and her family settle into the Georgian estate. The fancy home was once listed for almost $50 million. Inside Jackie Kennedys expansive childhood house Kennedy was born in 1929 to a stockbroker father and a socialite mother. She was close to her father, who favored her more than her younger sister Caroline. Kennedy expressed a talent for learning foreign languages at a very young age excelling in French, Spanish, and Italian. She was also an equestrienne with a passion for horse riding staying with her throughout her life. After the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the Bouviers faced financial struggles. That, coupled with their fathers extramarital affairs and alcoholism, led to a strain on Kennedys parents marriage and eventual divorce. Her mother moved on with oil tycoon Hugh Dudley Auchincloss forcing Kennedy and her sister to move to Auchinclosss Merrywood estate in McLean, Virginia, which gave Kennedy a reprieve thanks to its scenic views. It also gave Kennedy a much-needed pampering and wholesomeness that was not always present in her parents Manhattan and Long Island homes. The four-level brick and limestone mansion features nine bedrooms and 11 baths built in a classic Georgian style, writes Top Ten Real Estate Deals. Although the building has been renovated extensively since Kennedy lived there, it has maintained its architectural details, such as its ornate plaster moldings. The main public rooms are easily accessible once you enter through the impressive formal entrance hall. The homes second floor is the family quarters with a huge primary suite with his-and-hers dressing rooms. There is also a study and exercise room. There are four extra suite bedrooms on the second floor. The top floor has three bedrooms and three bathrooms. The lowest floor features a climate-controlled wine room and elevator to access all floors. The Merrywood estate fetched a $50 million price The Merrywood estate is iconic in its own right. As one of Americas notable First Ladys childhood residences, it is a historic building. The house went on the market in 2017 for an impressive $49.5 million. At the time, the home belonged to American Online founder Steve Case and his wife, Jean. The house made history when it sold for $24.5 million in 2005 when Case purchased it. The sale made the property the most expensive property in the area at the time. Case selling it at $49.5 million in 2018 helped the estate make history once more as an expensive purchase. According to The Washington Post, the Merrywood home was sold to The Embassy of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Jackie Kennedy and John F. Kennedy lived in several homes Former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy enjoys herself at a picnic circa the 1960s. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images) Although the Kennedys only stayed at the White House for three years, they lived together in more than two dozen homes. The pair tied the knot in 1953 in Rhode Island and rented their first home as a couple at 3321 Dent Place in Georgetown, Washington D.C. Kennedy and her politician husband only lived on the property for months before moving to Virginia, where JFK had purchased an estate. They leased the property to his brother, who bought it from them, and the couple returned to Georgetown. During JFKs campaigns, the couple lived at 3307 N. Street NW. It is also where Kennedy gave birth to their son John Jr. They also stayed at JFKs family compounds in Hyannis Port. They spent summers in a beautiful cottage at 111 Irving Avenue, only two doors down from the former Presidents parents place. And, of course, they lived in The White House before JFKs death. RELATED: How Jackie Kennedy Changed The White House An excellent mood in five halls, delighted faces and many lively discussions at the exhibition booths: At analytica 2022, the international laboratory industry met again in person from June 21 to 24 in Munich. At the worlds leading trade fair, 891 exhibitors presented their innovations for the entire range of laboratory and analytics technology, life sciences and biotechnology to around 26,000 visitors. Parallel to the event, the well-known analytica conference focused on scientific exchange, while the hands-on supporting program made the laboratory world of tomorrow come alive. Digitalization in the lab remained the number one trending topic. analytica 2022 was a complete success, concluded Dr. Reinhard Pfeiffer, CEO of Messe Munchen. After a four-year break, the international laboratory industry was finally able to come together again here in Munich at their leading trade fair; there is no other event that provides such comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the entire laboratory value chain in research and industry. Siegbert Holtermuller, Chairman of the analytica Exhibitor Advisory Board and Head LifeScience Sales EMEA at Evident (Olympus), confirms, For the industry, it was a highlight to be able to share ideas in person again and present innovations to customers live and up close. analytica Exhibition Director Armin Wittmann adds: Particularly with the key topic of digitalization in the laboratory, it was obvious how important it is to have an international platform that bundles the existing know-how from all areas and gives science, industry and users the opportunity to shape the laboratory of the future together. The analytica project team was very happy to once again be able to give companies a live event. Exhibition Manager Susanne Grodl says: It was wonderful to finally meet again in person with familiar faces from the industry and to see how intensely manufacturers used the direct exchange with laboratory users. Exhibitors delighted with visitor response analytica confirmed for us that all the new digital communication tools can only partially replace the face-to-face customer contacts at a trade fair, notes Uwe Konig, Senior Commercial Marketing Manager at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. Our customers had a positive response to this opportunity for in-person communication and many of them came to our booth. Dr. Gunther Wobser, Managing Partner of Lauda Dr. R. Wobser, confirms, We are delighted with the many starting points and professional expertise we could share at the most important leading international trade fair. It is precisely these expert discussions and direct contact that create such important impetus from within our industry. Beth Constable, Events and Digital Leader EMEAI at PerkinElmer, agrees, the booth has been buzzing and conversations flowing, its great to be back! Andreas Weninger, Managing Director of Mettler-Toledo, feels the event generated the same or even higher demand than before the crisis and is confident: In-person trade fairs will remain an important platform for exchange in the industry in the future. Real-life knowledge transfer The extensive supporting program provided a wide range of insights into current fields of application. At the special show on the digital transformation, visitors experienced automated workflows, connected devices and robots in action, and could immerse themselves in the laboratory of the future in the action area and on the virtual reality floor. With practical presentations on focus topics such as Covid research, food and environmental analysis, and personalized medicine, the analytica forums provided progress reports and best-practice tips. The Occupational Health and Safety Forum was once again especially popular, with explosive live demonstrations showing visitors how to protect themselves from laboratory accidents. Another highlight were the two Covid expert panels, featuring renowned virologists such as Prof. Dr. Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit and Prof. Dr. Helga Rubsamen-Schaeff. Strong analytica conference The analytica conference, which has been an integral part of the trade fair for many years and attracted 1.487 participants this year, offered topics ranging from water analysis to metabolome research to data management. High-profile scientists spoke about the industrys top scientific issues over three days and presented almost 200 lectures and a poster exhibition. Dr. Carina Kniep (German Chemical Society), coordinator of the analytica conference, draws a very positive conclusion: The Analytics Forum, consisting of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), the German Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL) and the Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM), can look back on a very well-attended and high-level analytica conference 2022; as the first international analytics conference in Germany since the coronavirus hiatus, it was a long-awaited forum for scientific exchange. New feature: analytica extended This year for the first time, the trade fair is getting a 14-day digital extension: At analytica-extended.de, anyone who didnt have time to travel to Munich can take a virtual tour from June 25 to July 8 to learn about innovations from all areas of the trade fair or contact exhibitors directly with the click of a mouse. In addition, parts of the supporting program, such as the special show on the digital transformation, selected highlights from the analytica conference and presentations from the forums will be available online as webinars. analytica in figures 891 exhibitors traveled from 39 countries and regions, about 45 percent of them from abroad. Around 26,000 visitors arrived from 114 countries and regions. After Germany, the top visitor countries were (in this order): Austria, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, France, the Netherlands, Poland, the USA, Spain and Slovenia. analyticas digital extension until July 8:analytica-extended.de The next analytica will take place with the analytica conference from April 23 to 26, 2024. The Tri-Council produced three resolutions addressing the differentiation of Cherokees by identifying their tribes, supporting the Joe Biden administrations nominee to lead the Indian Health Service, and opposing federal recognition of groups claiming to be tribal nations. This undated photo shows a bronze statue of Ponca Tribal Chief Standing Bear at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. A tomahawk once owned by Chief Standing Bear, a pioneering Native American civil rights leader, will be returning to his Nebraska tribe after decades in a museum at Harvard. The university's Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology says it's been working with members of the Ponca Tribe in Nebraska and Oklahoma to repatriate the artifact. (Joseph Morton/Omaha World-Herald via AP) In a sensational incident, two Nepalese minor girls were gang-raped in the Haraiyya area of Balrampur district. The police have arrested four youths in this connection. Superintendent of Police, Balrampur, Rajesh Kumar, said the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act would be invoked on accused Ramchandra, Rajendra, Rakesh and Pintu. The incident took place on Sunday when the two girls from Nepals Dong district had come to the weekly Manipur Bazaar in the border area, police said. The four accused stopped them on the way and allegedly raped them in a forest. The girls went back to their homes and narrated the ordeal to their family members after which the families approached the Nepal Police which then reached out to the Haraiyya police station. A case was registered and the arrests were made, the SP said. The case would be heard in a fast-track court, he said. The girls were sent for medical examination and further investigations are underway. In another incident, a 13-year-old boy was killed by his colleagues over a petty dispute in Moradabad. According to a report, Mohammad Raza (13) son of Rashid Ali, a resident of Chamraua, was a fifth standard student in the primary school of the village. On Sunday morning, he left the house to attend tuition classes. About a kilometer away from the house, Raza got into an argument with two teenagers of the village. Both called another friend. After this, all three attacked Mohammad Raza. The student fainted after being brutally beaten up by his colleagues. Rashid claimed that he and his wife Ruksana rushed to the spot after learning of the attack and found their son lying unconscious and took him to a private hospital on Delhi Road but the doctors pronounced him dead. After getting information about the death, Mundhapande police reached the hospital and sent the body for autopsy. Later, on the complaint of Rashid, police registered a case against seven people in connection with the murder. Those booked include Aleel Azim, Khaleel, Salim and Muslim, all residents of Chamraua. Further investigations are on and efforts are being made to nab the accused. International Christian organizations and missions experts agree its not best practice to pay kidnapping ransoms. But ransoms do get paid. And the impacts are hard to quantify. The cost is a burden borne by local churches, fellow missionaries, ministers, aid workers, and the many people they hope to serve. A thousand dollars or a hundred thousand might tip the scales for kidnappers in the future, as they weigh whether to abduct more people. But one paymentor two, or threemight not tip the scales at all. Three members of a group of captive Christian Aid Ministries workers were released last December by a Haitian gang known as the 400 Mawozo, after someone outside the Anabaptist organization paid the kidnappers. Its unknown how much money the gang received, though the final amount was likely only a fraction of the original $1 million per person they demanded. The remaining missionaries escaped. But money did exchange hands for three of them. As experts have assessed its impact over the past year, they havent reached a consensus on what it means for the future of missions in Haiti. For some, it seems that the security situation in Haiti has deteriorated so significantly that paying one gang to release three missionaries had no effect at all. How can you raise the threat of kidnapping any higher? Its already off the charts, said Scott Brawner, president of Concilium, an organization that helps international Christian ministries assess risk. Whether a ransom has been paid or not has not raised the threat of kidnapping. There are multiple kidnappings of Haitian nationals on a daily basis. More than 100 people in Haiti were kidnapped the same month as the Christian ... 1 You have reached the end of this Article Preview You have reached the end of this Article Preview To continue reading, subscribe now. Subscribers have full digital access. Have something to add about this? See something we missed? Share your feedback here. The year-long legal fight between McLean Bible Church and a faction who accused leaders including David Platt of a theological takeover has come to an end. On Friday, a Fairfax, Virginia, court dismissed a lawsuit from a group of current and former members of the Washington DC-area megachurch, who contested a June 2021 elder election for allegedly violating church bylaws. Pastors announced the outcome across its locations on Sunday. Im incredibly grateful for the courage of our church in staying together and persevering, in pursuing peace in ways that required numerous steps of faith, and for trusting God all the way through to the actual dismissal of the lawsuit, said Wade Burnett, a lead pastor at MBC. Earlier this month, the church requested the case be thrown out after redoing the election at the center of the legal challenge. Burnett said the group that filed the suit would not agree to meet for reconciliation or to discuss a dismissal. A lawyer for the plaintiffs had said MBCs response fails to be even a pretense of a good-faith offer to resolve the case and called it a continuation of the Board of Elders determination to avoid transparency and accountability at all costs. Members of Save McLean Bible Church, a Facebook page for critics of current MBC leadership, have alleged a Southern Baptist takeover of the 60-year-old nondenominational congregation and liberal drift in its teachings, pinned to Platt coming on staff in 2017. They suggested the process for last summers elder electionas well as the recent redowere designed to uphold selections aligned with current leadership. To no surprise to anyone, the elders put up by David Platt and the MBC leadership win in a landslide, one post remarked. Commenters on the page were disappointed by the suits dismissal. One post quoted Ephesians 6:12 and said, Praying for the remnant. For those who are working to reveal the truth and seek righteousness. Satan is working overtime to thwart your plans and destroy you. The debate over the contested election for three new elders has been a proxy for concerns around the direction of the church after the retirement of its longtime pastor Lon Solomon five years ago. Last summer, former elder Mark Gottlieb said the churchonce known as a hub for Capitol Hill evangelicalshad become a stripped-down version of what it used to be with left of center leadership making decisions that the rest of the congregation disagrees with. The factions at McLean, as CT previously reported, reflect broader political and cultural tensions within evangelicalism, particularly around racial justice, with pastors participating in a Christian march following George Floyds death in 2020. I know that many churches across America have faced and are facing similar challenges during these days, and it is vitally important that we move past division and live out John 13:35, demonstrating love for one another and love for a world in need of Jesus, Platt said in a statement on Monday, commending the church for resolving the conflict as biblically and peacefully as possible. Last year, Platt spoke from the pulpit against his critics, saying they had launched a misinformation campaign against the three elder candidates who initially failed to receive a clear 75 percent majority vote to be elected. He referred to emails circulating that accused the candidates of wanting to turn the church into a mosque and a message claiming, MBC is no longer McLean Bible Church, that its now Melanin Bible Church. In the lawsuit, plaintiffs claimed MBC barred some opponents from voting in a follow up election held in July 2021 and that its board purged members with no measurable standard for making the determination the Constitution requires and with the sole intent of predetermining the outcome of the Meeting. Courts arent often the ones to adjudicate matters of church bylaws, but Sarah Merkle, an attorney and professional parliamentarian, told CT in 2021 the incident highlights the importance in any church of establishing and following sound voting procedures. MBC had told members that the suit was without merit since the petitions requested in the lawsuit are not mentioned in the churchs constitution and that such accommodations would contravene church leadership. The three elders recently resigned at the direction of a churchwide vote and were put up for a new vote along with this years nominees; all six were elected on June 6 with more than 86 percent in favor, the church said. Because the court granted MBCs motion to dismiss the case against them, the lawsuit is now over and cannot be refiled, according to a press release from the church. Church of England will oppose assisted dying bill ahead of synod, senior official says The Church of England will adamantly oppose a proposed bill seeking to legalize assisted suicide in the United Kingdom because it "undermines the intrinsic value of every human life," according to the denomination's senior-most lay leader. William Nye, the secretary-general of the Church of England General Synod, spoke out against the Assisted Dying Bill introduced in the House of Lords ahead of a scheduled meeting of the denomination's leaders next month. "The Church of England has been adamant in its rejection of a change in the current law in Parliament, in the media and among medical professions," Nye told The Times. The Assisted Dying Bill, which would enable terminally ill adults to end their own lives, was introduced by Baroness Molly Meacher last year. Meacher serves as the chairwoman of the group Dignity in Dying. She said in late April there is enough support in Parliament to pass the legislation. The bill was still in the committee stage as of April, the end of the parliamentary year as the bill is opposed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. "This option would enable terminally ill, mentally competent people whose suffering is beyond the reach of palliative care to die well and on their own terms, should they choose it," Meacher said in introducing the bill. "And it would also provide comfort and control to countless more who may never avail themselves of this option but would be comforted by the simple fact of its existence." The Church of England synod is scheduled for next month. Lay member Dr. Simon Eyre has proposed a motion to confirm the leaders' opposition to the proposed law. Nye said such a law could put pressure on people to end their lives. He believes "a change in the law would undermine the intrinsic value of every human life." Meacher said the church is "out of touch" with its members because polling has shown that a majority of Christians favor assisted suicide, according to The Times. Nye contends that opinion polls "are not a valid means to test ethical arguments." "Opinion polls not only rely upon questions which lack nuance or context, they also invite people to imagine themselves into a situation in which most people have no relevant experience," he said, adding that "no new or better arguments to the contrary have been advanced by any of the lobbyists for assisted suicide." Last October, Boris Johnson said he would not back the proposed change in the law. The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby and the U.K.'s former Prime Minister Gordon Brown warned that the bill would "undermine the sanctity of life" and could pressure the frail and vulnerable to end their lives. Welby and Brown signed a joint letter with Cardinal Vincent Nichols, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of England and Wales; and Ephraim Mirvis, the Chief Rabbi of Ireland. "By the faiths we profess, we hold every human life to be a precious gift of the Creator, to be upheld and protected," they wrote. "All people of faith, and those of none, can share our concern that the common good is not served by policies or actions that would place very many vulnerable people in more vulnerable positions." Gordon also wrote in an op-ed for The Times. "If death were to become not just an option but something close to an entitlement through the bureaucratic processes that an act of parliament's provisions impose, we would, in my view, be altering fundamentally the way we think about mortality," Brown wrote. "The risk of pressures, however subtle and indirect, on the frail and the vulnerable, who may feel their existence burdensome to others, cannot ever be entirely excluded. And the inevitable erosion of trust in the caring professions if they were in a position to end life would be to lose something very precious." Evangelical Covenant Church denomination elects first female president Leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church, which has about 900 congregations in the U.S. and Canada, elected the Rev. Tammy Swanson-Draheim to be the denominations first female president, according to an announcement by the Chicago-based group. Swanson-Draheim was voted in by a 20-1 margin at the ECCs 136th Annual Meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, on Thursday, the denomination said in a statement. I love the Covenant Church, and I love the people of the Covenant Church, Swanson-Draheim, who has been with ECC for 23 years, said after her election. In Gods economy, challenges are opportunities, and I declare that we have some opportunities. The president-elect said she upholds five values: to be rooted in Christ, fully grounded in the Scriptures, guided by the Holy Spirit, unapologetically focused on the churchs mission and loving people well. For the glory of God and the love of neighbor, may we do it together, the mother of two who has served as superintendent of the denominations Midwest Conference told the delegates. The Rev. Catherine Gilliard, who is the superintendent of the ECCs Southeast Conference, addressed Swanson-Draheim, saying: If you are a leader, you influence those who follow you, and if youre a trailblazer, you open a door to those who come after you. You are a leader, a trailblazer, and a pastor to pastors who is called and gifted by God to serve as president. The stained-glass ceiling is broken! You will inspire young girls who will see your leadership and assume it is normative. A 27-member nominating committee selected Swanson-Draheim after a five-month deliberation process that started with 40 candidates before narrowing to six and culminating in one, the denomination said. Steve Dawson, who headed the nominating committee, was quoted as saying that Swanson-Draheims outstanding leadership skills, and her appreciation for the diversity of the Covenant, combined with her heart for relationships and relational health, and belief in our mission are essential qualities that are needed now. The denomination says on its website it was founded in 1885 by Scandinavian immigrants and has become one of the most ethnically diverse denominations in North America. ECC says it pursues its mission to see more disciples among more populations in a more caring and just world through five strategic priorities: start and strengthen churches, make and deepen disciples, develop leaders, love mercy do justice, and serve globally. Firebrand Christian critic JD Hall removed from church, media ministries due to serious sin More than a month after his arrest on DUI and weapons charges, Fellowship Baptist Church in Sidney, Montana, has removed Pastor Jordan Daniel "J.D." Hall from ministry due to allegations of "serious sin." Hall, known for his scathing criticisms of Christian leaders on his now-defunct polemics website Pulpit & Pen and, more recently, Protestia, has also been axed from those ministries. While church leaders who staunchly defended Hall after his arrest have yet to make a public statement on his removal, Protestia announced his resignation in a statement on Sunday. The group also revealed that the online publication will no longer function as a ministry of Fellowship Baptist Church. "Earlier this week, the team at Protestia received allegations of serious sin committed by our brother JD Hall. After correspondence with leadership at Fellowship Baptist Church, we learned that JD was determined by the church to have disqualified himself from pastoral ministry, had resigned from the pastorate, and submitted himself to a process of church discipline," Protestia reported. "Due to JD's removal from pastoral ministry, we likewise have removed him from ministry with Protestia." Protestia noted that while it appears Fellowship Baptist Church considers the allegations against Hall "credible, we are unable to determine their truth with certainty and therefore cannot speak to all of the specifics of the accusations lest we be guilty of gossip." A report from the Sidney Police Department cited by The Sidney Herald said Hall, 40, was arrested on May 11 at approximately 11 p.m. on suspicion of carrying a concealed weapon and multiple traffic violations while driving under the influence of alcohol/drugs. An incident report shows that when police approached Hall, he spoke slowly, his eyes were watery, closed slowly and deliberately and his speech was slurred and mumbled. He also stumbled, displayed poor balance and performed poorly on a field sobriety test. No alcohol, however, was found in his system when a blood alcohol test was administered. He also had a Smith & Wesson M&P 2.0 Shield handgun which was found under his coat in an inside-the-waistband holster during his arrest, the report added. Five days after his arrest on May 16, Fellowship Baptist Church said Hall had offered to resign "for bringing the stain of upon the church," but the church rejected his resignation because he did no wrong. "Pastor Hall tenured his resignation to the church Thursday after being charged with DUI on Wednesday evening. There was no alcohol in his system and he blew 0.0 on the administered breathalyzer. However, police insisted Pastor Hall failed the administered field sobriety test," Fellowship Baptist Church said in the statement. "Pastor Hall has suffered from documented vitamin D deficiency, which can result in poor coordination, slurred speech, word displacement, etc. This medical issue has been discussed openly for some time and has been the subject of our church's prayers. Nonetheless, Pastor Hall felt responsibility for bringing the stain of rumor upon the church and thus offered his resignation." Protestia said in its statement that since it relies on local churches to exercise the biblical process of church discipline in the lives of its writers and team, the decision by Fellowship Baptist Church to disqualify Hall from ministry means he is no longer qualified to work with the website. "We defer to the judgment of men God has placed in positions of local church authority, and a determination of disqualification from ministry for any of our team will result in removal from this ministry as well," the Protestia statement reads. The statement notes that Protestia will cease to be a ministry of Fellowship Baptist Church, and Hall's writings and work on the site will be removed but archived and available if needed for reference. His "The Polemics Report" podcast will also come to a halt and will be replaced by a similar ministry. "This is heartbreaking news for the Protestia team, and we pray for wisdom and courage for the leadership of FBC Sidney as they follow the process of church discipline with the goal of repentance, reconciliation, and restoration to fellowship for JD," Protestia said. "Similarly, we are praying for his family during this trying time." Lawsuit seeking to overturn elder election at David Platts McLean Bible Church dismissed A lawsuit filed by disgruntled longtime members of the multi-campus McLean Bible Church in Virginia over last year's election of new elders amid allegations of leftward drift and attempts to purge conservatives from the church has been dismissed. In a statement to The Christian Post, MBC's three lead pastors, David Platt, Mike Kelsey and Wade Burnett, expressed their delight with the court's decision. On Friday, a state court dismissed the lawsuit filed by disgruntled current and former members with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled. "By God's grace, our church family has come together in ways far beyond what I could have imagined to resolve conflict as biblically and peacefully as possible," noted Platt. "Amidst a divisive culture around us, members of our church family have clearly stated that they want to move forward together as a thriving, united church bringing hope to the nations, starting here in Washington, DC. I know that many churches across America have faced and are facing similar challenges during these days, and it is vitally important that we move past division and live out John 13:35, demonstrating love for one another and love for a world in need of Jesus." Last summer, MBC announced that three new elders Chuck Hollingsworth, Ken Tucker and Jim Burris had been affirmed by more than 80% of the church family in a congregational vote after a previous election on June 30, 2021, was marred by alleged "irregularities." In his message to the congregation on July 4, 2021, Platt said a group of activists inside and outside the church coordinated a campaign to vote down the new elders and seize control of the church. Platt said the campaign mainly targeted the Tysons campus of the multisite megachurch as the other four campuses Arlington, Loudon, Montgomery County, Maryland, and Prince William were "almost unanimous in their affirmation" of the three elders. Platt said the dissidents got unauthorized access to a database of contact information for the members and told them lies ahead of the June 30 vote. Platt said this included a false claim that if members voted for the three elders, the Tysons campus building would be sold to Muslims, and the proceeds would be given to the Southern Baptist Convention. Five longtime church members Steve Gaskins, Michael Manfredi, Roland Smith, Deborah Ash and Kevin Elwell alleged in the dismissed complaint that McLean Bible Church and its board of elders denied members the opportunity to cast a secret ballot in the elder election held July 18, 2021. The lawsuit claims that the 2021 elder election violated the church constitution The complaint further alleged that Platt and the current elders tried to purge the church of conservatives to win the elder election. The plaintiffs contend that the church board sought to disqualify members from voting, "attempting to purge members by designating them 'inactive' on an arbitrary basis, with no record that the members had missed eight consecutive Sundays, and without investigation into whether the members had 'reasonable excuse,' such as missing services for fear of the coronavirus, or even from the Church's own cancellation of in-person services due to the coronavirus." The church says it made efforts to resolve the complaint and invited the plaintiffs to pursue "Christian mediation and reconciliation." The church contends the plaintiffs didn't respond to the invite, which prompted MBC to approve a "formal Plan for Lawsuit Resolution." Approved by a substantial majority of the church, that plan included the resignation and a re-vote for the three elders. On June 5, all six nominees were approved by the church with a 86% vote, according to the statement. "As a result, the new board is now officially serving and leading alongside Lead Pastor David Platt," the statement shared by MCB reads. "The final step in the Plan for Lawsuit Resolution involved pursuing the actual dismissal of the lawsuit in light of the church's clear desire to move forward under the leadership of the new board. Because the plaintiffs would not agree to meet or discuss a dismissal, MBC filed a formal motion on June 10 asking the court to dismiss the lawsuit and to recognize the clear desire of the MBC congregation to move forward in unity under the leadership of elders who were nominated and elected by church membership." The plaintiffs filed a motion opposing the church's request to dismiss the case on June 15. "[L]ast month, the Board concocted its latest strategy to deny this Court opportunity to grant effective relief. The Board announced a euphemistically-titled 'Plan for Lawsuit Resolution.' The Plan proposed to allow a new vote on the Elders but one that would not only include the hundreds of new members selected by the Board in December, six months after this action sought to preserve the status quo, but would also conveniently elect hundreds of new members selected by the Board in May, just before the sham Elder vote in June," the plaintiff's motion reads. "Further, any persons who were members in June of 2021 would be required to declare that they were still members in good standing if they wished to vote. Any member who had changed churches due to the tainted election of June/July 2021 would be required either to lie or not be allowed to cast a vote despite the fact that they would have been entitled to do so at the tainted 2021 election." Plaintiffs contend that the church obtained a greater than 75% majority for the new proposed slate of elders only "after twice adding hundreds of carefully selected new members." "In the meantime, Defendants steadfastly resisted Plaintiffs discovery requests," the plaintiffs added. "Plaintiffs sought discovery to identify members illegally purged or placed in inactive status. Nothing has been forthcoming up to the date Defendant filed its Motion for Plea in Bar nearly a full year since this action commenced." The church's motion to dismiss was granted, and a formal order was issued last Friday. "This has been a difficult season for our church, as well as for the broader Church here in the U.S. And yet, I'm so thankful for the growing unity and enthusiasm we've been experiencing in the midst of it all," Kelsey, the lead pastor of the Montgomery County campus, said in response to the dismissal. "I have had the privilege of serving this church family for 15 years and I'm excited to see how God will continue to work in and through us in this next chapter. We are incredibly diverse, with different backgrounds, perspectives, and personal convictions on a variety of issues. But we are unified in our commitment to obeying God's Word, loving our neighbors, and bearing witness to the amazing grace that can only be found in a relationship with Jesus." The rift at McLean comes amid concerns over Platt's and other pastors' approaches to racial justice issues. The pastor was among many who participated in protests against police brutality following the 2020 death of George Floyd. Burnett, the lead pastor of the Tysons campus, said that the conflict is "just one more picture of the larger differences we see all over the country." "Families and friendships and congregations and countless other foundational parts of our lives have been upended and changed in ways that have been both painful and disorienting," Burnett added. "But through it all, God has been both present and faithful, and in His Word we are provided with a clear call to pursue peace so far as it depends on us. I'm incredibly grateful for the courage of our church in staying together and persevering, in pursuing peace in ways that required numerous steps of faith, and for trusting God all the way through to the actual dismissal of the lawsuit." In what appears to be a response to the lawsuit's dismissal, critics of MCB posted on the "Save McLean Bible Church" Facebook page a post reading: "When men say its over, God takes over and when God takes over the battle is over." "We believe that although Satan intended to harm and destroy McLean Bible Church, God intended it for good," another Facebook post reads. "Why He allowed it, we don't understand, but we know that God has the final say." Archaeology discovery: Medieval Christian prayer beads found on Holy Island Archaeologists recently uncovered Christian prayer beads dating from the eighth to ninth century on an ancient island in the United Kingdom known as "Holy Island," and say the discovery will give an insight into how people in medieval Britain lived and expressed their faith. The beads, made from salmon vertebrae, were found clustered around the neck of one of the earliest skeletons, possibly that of a monk, on the island of Lindisfarne, off the northeast coast of England, The Telegraph reported. Lindisfarne is also the birthplace of the Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the most celebrated illuminated books in the world. The prayer beads may have been used for personal devotion, according to Dr. David Petts, the project co-director and a Durham University specialist in early Christianity. We think of the grand ceremonial side of early medieval life in the monasteries and great works like the Lindisfarne Gospels. But what weve got here is something which talks to a much more personal side of early Christianity, he said. Petts noted that the beads were recognized by Marina Chorro Giner, a zooarchaeologist. This bright, eagle-eyed researcher looked at them and said, actually these arent just fish bones, theyve been modified and turned into something," he said. The beads were uncovered amid ongoing excavations by an archaeology social enterprise, DigVentures, and Durham University. Lisa Westcott Wilkins of DigVentures was quoted as saying that the beads were important enough that this person was buried with it. This is the only artifact from within a grave on Lindisfarne, so its a significant item. As far as were aware, its the first example of prayer beads found anywhere in medieval Britain, she said. We believe these beads were used as a personal object of faith, especially given that our modern word bead comes from the Old English 'gebed,' meaning prayer. Lindisfarne is one of the most important centers of early English Christianity. Irish monks settled here in AD 635 and the monastery became the center of a major saints cult celebrating its bishop, Cuthbert, says the British charity English Heritage. The masterpiece now known as the Lindisfarne Gospels was created here in the early eighth century. The ruins now visible are those of a 12th-century priory, which claimed direct descent from the early monastery. Rioters damage pregnancy center, businesses in Portland after Supreme Court abortion ruling Police say they 'did not have resources' to make arrests Police say a mob of about 60 people clad in all black vandalized a pregnancy resource facility and other businesses in Portland, Oregon, following the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. No arrests were made due to a lack of resources. A report from the Portland Police Bureau in the Hollywood district said the "destructive group" marched out of Grant Park on Saturday around 10 p.m., when the mob, "most dressed in all black, began breaking windows and scrawling graffiti." Several locations in the area were vandalized, including the Mother and Child Education Center, a nonprofit support organization for motherhood, where a sign was vandalized with the words "F-SCOTUS" an abbreviation for the Supreme Court and an anarchy symbol. A window with a sign reading "We Welcome All" was also shattered, sending broken glass onto an area with children's toys, police said. Nearby banks and coffee shops were also vandalized. A van owned by Portland Public Schools parked at a local high school was spray-painted with the words "Abolish Schools" and had broken windows, according to police. The rioters also shattered windows and windshields on a parked black Tesla and spray-painted all over the car. Most of the damage occurred between 10:05 p.m. and 10:40 p.m., according to police. No arrests were made at the scene. According to Portland police, officers "were monitoring the crowd, but did not have resources to intervene at the moment," citing other calls for a shooting and an assault to which they needed to respond. A statement from the department pledged to conduct follow-up investigations, saying, "Just because arrests are not made at the scene, when tensions are high, does not mean that people are not being charged with crimes later." An aide to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler, who was at the location as officers responded to the scene, told reporters, "It's despicable we need more police." Since the Supreme Court decision, several pregnancy centers in the Portland area have been vandalized or damaged, including what authorities call a "suspicious fire" at the First Image pregnancy center in Gresham, just east of Portland. Randy Alcorn, a pastor and author who founded the Oregon-based Eternal Perspective Ministries, told The Chrisitan Post that "the battle for the hearts and minds of people is not over at all." "It is going to be all the more necessary and important now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned," Alcorn wrote in an email. "Just as pro-lifers became more motivated when the law of the land was against the rights of the unborn, so now pro-abortion forces will be mobilized and motivated and will aggressively raise funds and recruit volunteers to fight to make abortion universally legal once again. Please pray for the cause of unborn children and be grateful for the change in law while being alert to the fact that hearts and minds, not just laws, really do need to be changed." Portland, in general, has seen several violent mobs vandalize and attack churches and other buildings, including in November 2020, when a group of more than 100 Antifa rioters dressed in all black vandalized a Catholic church. Weeks earlier, in September 2020, a pro-life activist known for his "Baby Lives Matter' campaign was assaulted by Antifa members on a Portland street corner. The attack occurred just over a week after a supporter of former President Donald Trump was shot to death in Portland by a left-wing protester sympathetic to the "anti-fascist" movement. The suspect of that attack was shot and killed by Portland police when they tried to take him into custody. Portland is one of several U.S. cities which slashed police budgets following public outcry to "defund the police" in the wake of the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests and riots in the summer of 2020. Just 18 months after doing so, the Portland City Council in November passed a budget increase of $5.2 million for police after the city saw its homicides soar to record highs amid a severe police staffing shortage. Religious liberty in foreign relations makes America safer In recent years many companies have embraced fair-trade practices, allowing Americans to buy products knowing they have been made in countries that protect workers rights. But every year millions of Americans still unknowingly wear or carry goods in their pockets made by the forced labor of religious minorities. In 2020, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute identified 82 global brands where forced labor of Uyghurs a Muslim minority in Chinas Xinjiang province is implicated. Some of the companies implicated include household names such as Apple, Microsoft and Nike. This is particularly concerning since the U.S. State Department has declared the activities taking place in Xinjiang to constitute genocide. The report details how workers are taken from their homes in the Xinjiang region and distributed to factories throughout China. During the day they work at the factories under military-style management, while in the evenings they are forced to attend patriotic education classes. Insubordination bears the threat of the worker being sent to a re-education camp in Xinjiang. America has tried to stop consumers from supporting the exploitation of Uyghurs. In December 2021 President Joe Biden signed into law the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, which builds upon the Uyghur Human Rights Policy Act of 2020. However, despite mounting evidence, the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) forced labor of the Uyghur people does not necessarily trigger the presumption clause of the act which applies to any goods, wares, articles, and merchandise mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in part in Xinjiang because individuals are transported to factories outside of Xinjiang. Thankfully, religious and civil-society groups are stepping up to keep attention on the CCPs egregious treatment of the Uyghurs. On June 28-30 leaders from around the world will gather in Washington for the International Religious Freedom Summit, where they will advocate for the Uyghurs and the many other most pressing threats to peoples right to belief. The summit will serve as a reminder to the CCP and any other state that persecutes religious minorities that intolerance will not be tolerated. The limitations of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act indicate that curbing the labor exploitation of religious minorities requires a more nuanced approach that considers aspects such as foreign investment. An example is to switch the target from products to resources that currently come from Xinjiang, such as cotton, tomatoes, coal, sugar, polysilicon, and various chemicals. A resource of particular note is polysilicon, which is a key component in manufacturing solar panels. According to a report by consultancy Horizon Advisory, the growing solar energy sector in Xinjiang is connected to forced labor programs. Companies implicated in these programs include some of the worlds largest makers of polysilicon. Thankfully, it seems some of the industry is starting to shift away from Xinjiang. As of December of last year, Daqo New Energy started to decrease its investment in Xinjiang. This follows an industry trend to invest in polysilicon projects outside of Xinjiang. According to Bloomberg, just 15% of polysilicon projects announced or under construction are in Xinjiang. However, this is still a substantial portion of the industry. This is where legislation aimed at eradicating forced labor by religious minorities from supply chains can be applied to foreign relations and combined with foreign investment. To begin, investment in renewable energy enjoys broad support across party lines. Continued government spending, along with the Department of Energys recent goal of having a zero-carbon grid by 2035, guarantees the continued demand for solar panels and the polysilicon with which they are made. Strategic investment in renewable energy materials produced by countries that respect religious freedom is also good for national security. Seven of the top ten companies producing polysilicon are based in China. If relations between the U.S. and China sour, this could lead to increased conflicts of interests between the supply of solar panels and American foreign policy objectives for China. Consider what could happen if China decides to invade Taiwan, an American ally. The U.S. has good relations with Taiwan and would condemn a Chinese invasion of the country. However, the U.S. might be limited in its capacity to retaliate because of its dependence on Chinese companies. A timely example of this tension is the position Germany faced when Russia invaded Ukraine: Germany disapproved but was limited in its response because of its dependence on Russia for natural gas. Foreign investment guided by religious freedom can open new business and diplomatic opportunities. Instead of buying polysilicon from China, America could redirect its investments toward building polysilicon plants in Africa, a continent that is rich in this resource. Here, too, we must consider how religious freedom would inform Americas approach. As the most populous country in Africa, Nigeria is a strong candidate for American investment. However, violence in northern Nigeria, particularly against Christians, makes it unattractive both from foreign investment and religious liberty perspectives. Ethiopia, one of the fastest-growing countries in Africa, could be an option, but from a religious liberty perspective it still has a way to go. On the Open Doors U.S.A. World Watch List, which ranks the worst countries in terms of religious liberty, from 2021 to 2022, Ethiopia improved slightly from 36th to 38th place. On the other hand, Tanzania, another top-ranked country for growth, is not on Open Doors World Watch List, meaning that if there are concerns over religious liberty, they are likely not too severe. Given the economic favorability, and lack of religious persecution, Tanzania would be a preferred option for polysilicon production. Religious liberty is perhaps Americas oldest ideal. Prioritizing it in our foreign relations and investments would make America safer. Jesus cared about government and economics An unscientific survey of theologians over the past decade has shown that the dominant views are: Jesus only cared about the Kingdom of God and nothing about government or Jesus was a socialist. Both are wrong. The more reasonable idea that Jesus came to establish the kingdom of God, but also cared about government, is as neglected as a teenager in foster care. The New Testament has little to say about government. In Mark 12, the Pharisees and Herodians asked Jesus if they should pay taxes to Rome. Rabbis typically destroyed each others reputations by asking questions the victims couldnt answer. They hoped to discredit Jesus as a teacher, as they had many other rabbis. But Jesus embarrassed his opponents: And Jesus said to them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesars, and to God the things that are Gods. And they were amazed at Him. (Mark 12:17) In other words, Jesus said pay your taxes to Caesar, but devote yourselves to God. Paul echoed Jesus admonition to pay taxes in Romans 13. Similarly, I Peter 2 tells Christians to submit to the government. If those passages are all the metal we have to forge a theology of government from, then non-Christian philosophy is a better guide; Jesus really didnt care about government. But Paul gives us a clue to better political theology: for it [government] is a servant of God to you for good. But if you do what is evil, be afraid; for it does not bear the sword for nothing; for it is a servant of God, an avenger who brings wrath on the one who practices evil." (Romans 13:4) In that passage, Paul hints at the role of government: to punish evil people. Only Oliver ODonovan, the Professor Emeritus of Christian Ethics and Practical Theology at the University of Edinburgh, has recognized this point. In his Desire of Nations, he wrote There remains simply the rump of political authority which cannot be dispensed with yet, the exercise of judgment. Thats why we pay taxes. Paul doesnt say the government should strive to make us happy, end poverty, build roads and schools, promote homosexuality, spread democracy, control the climate, or any of the other hobby horses people like to ride today. That doesnt mean the state cant do those things, it only means that no one can find support for such government activity in the Bible. Where did Paul get his idea about the role of government? Mostly likely, he learned it from the Hebrew Biblewhat Christians call the Old Testamentas he did much of his theology. It was the only Bible in Pauls day, and the Apostles knew it well. Today, most theologians trace the origins of human government to the covenant with Noah after the flood: Whoever sheds human blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made mankind. (Genesis 9:6-7) As far as we know, this is the first time God gave humans the authority to punish others who committed murder. David VanDrunen, Professor of Systematic Theology and Christian Ethics at Westminster Seminar, milks the covenant with Noah for every drop of political theology in his book, Politics after Christendom: Political Theology in a Fractured World. Sometimes, the book has the feeling gives you the feeling that the author is creating a universe out of an excavated tooth, but he makes some excellent points. His biggest weakness is his total rejection of the government God gave Israel as a model. Most theologians agree with VanDrunen on this point, ignoring Israel's Torah government, claiming it was a theocracy only for Israelis at a particular time. But Israel wasnt a theocracy. A simple definition of a theocracy is government of a state by immediate divine guidance or by officials who are regarded as divinely guided. The second part doesnt apply because priests didnt rule Israel. Until the monarchy, Israel had no human executive except during wars. The first part applies because God gave Israel its structure and laws. But what nation, before or after, did not have laws like Thou shalt not steal or Thou shalt not murder? Or laws prohibiting false weights and measures, or adultery? The civil laws God gave Israel were not unique, then or now. And God did not run the day-to-day business of the nation as kings did. The book of Judges covers about 450 years, yet God intervened in the affairs of the nation only a dozen times, to punish (and then rescue) the tribes. Gods treatment of Israel under the judges was not different from his ruling over the monarchy. Isaiah and the other prophets show us that God punished and rewarded the nations that surrounded Israel, including Syria, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, and Greece. In other words, God rules every nation as he did Israel under the judges. He is king of the universe, whether people acknowledge that reality or not. The Catholic Church had downplayed the Hebrew Bible so much that at the time of the Reformation, those who advocated for Scripture as the only guide to faith and practice were shocked to realize they knew nothing about the Old Testament. So, they hired Jewish scholars to teach them the Hebrew language, according to Eric Nelson in his book, The Hebrew Republic. Those theologians read I Samuel 8 and decided that God wanted a republican form of government for His people. In that passage, God allowed Israel to have a monarchy as punishment for its rebellion against Him and the government He had established. Until theologians studied I Samuel 8, they had assumed that God preferred monarchies. But the most important aspect of the Torah government of Israel was not its specific civil laws, but its structure. It was a republic, as Nelson showed, because the people chose the judges (Deuteronomy 16). God gave Israel no human executive, legislature, or taxes. He gave them judges for governmental institutions, chosen by the people, to adjudicate only the civil laws, leaving the moral and religious laws for God to enforce. The people of Israel were no better or worse than people are today. If that government worked for them for 480 years (from the time of Moses), it should work now. God created only one government. He created it to give His people the best chance of flourishing, spiritually and materially. He was angry with Israel for demanding a king and He listed the evil things kings would do to the people. We should pay attention. What does all of this have to do with Jesus? Christians know that Jesus isnt just human; He is God. As God, he wrote the Torah that became the constitution for the nation of Israel. While Jesus had little to say about government in the Gospels, He said a lot in the Torah about what kind of government He prefers for His people. Jesus, as the second person of the Trinity, created a government in the nation of Israel. It must have been important to Him. Torah laws demand that the courts implement justice, the application of Gods civil laws. Jesus as God condemned the princes of Israel (the government) in the prophetic books for stealing the lands of the poor by bribing judges and perverting justice. Yes, Jesus took human form to save humanity from sin, but that doesnt mean He lost all the concern for government and justice that He had in the Old Testament. Delhi Polices Special Cell registered case against fact checker Mohammed Zubair The Delhi Polices Special Cell has arrested Alt News co-founder and the fact checker Mohammed Zubair for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Later in the evening, Delhi Police was given one day custody of the journalist. The Special Cells Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit had registered a case after a complaint was received from a Twitter handle alleging that Zubair had tweeted a questionable image with the purpose to deliberately insult a deity of a particular religion. A case was earlier registered under Sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, language etc) and 295A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Zubair, said KPS Malhotra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), IFSO unit of the Special Cell. Zubair joined the probe on Monday and after gathering sufficient evidence on record, he was arrested, said the DCP. As per sources, Zubair was evasive on the questions and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the probe. Significantly, Zubair was the first person to share suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nupur Sharma's alleged remarks against Prophet Mohammed during a TV debate. The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma had earlier set off an international furor. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology. Following the uproar, the BJP suspended Sharma and another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who also made insulting comments against Prophet Muhammad on social media. However, soon after her comments, Sharma was targeted on social media and received thousands of death threats following which the police provided a security cover to her. Sharma had lodged a complaint with the Delhi Police on May 27 alleging that she has been receiving death threats and target hatred against her. Presbyterian Church in America votes to leave National Association of Evangelicals The Presbyterian Church in America has voted to leave the National Association of Evangelicals due to the interdenominational groups history of public policy advocacy. At the PCA General Assembly on Wednesday, the theologically conservative Presbyterian denomination voted 1,030 to 699 in favor of overture calling for them to leave the NAE. Known as Overture 3, or Withdraw from the National Association of Evangelicals, the measure had originally passed the South Carolina-based PCA Pee Dee Presbytery at their stated meeting last October. To justify leaving the NAE, the overture quoted the Chapter 31 of the Westminster Confession of Faith, which says councils and synods are not to intermeddle with civil affairs which concern the commonwealth, unless by way of humble petition in cases extraordinary; or, by the way of advice, for satisfaction of conscience, if they be thereunto required by the civil magistrate. [T]he NAE has frequently intermeddled in civil affairs, by publicly pushing for action on the environment, immigration, and has changed its original stance on the death penalty, reads the overture. The measure also cited as a concern the NAEs passage of a resolution in 2018 titled Fairness for All in which the Evangelical group expressed support for anti-discrimination laws on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity, provided they included robust religious liberty protections. [M]any prominent conservative and evangelical thinkers and leaders have denounced this compromise as not leading to fairness for all who uphold biblical teaching on sexuality and marriage, but rather attempts to guarantee religious freedom for some organizations and institutions while potentially undermining the pre-political religious freedoms of all Americans codified in the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, continued the PCA overture. The overture also concluded that PCA has no need of the benefits of membership in the NAE, especially of having a voice in Washington championing political concerns that would not even be permitted as a subject of discussion before its councils, let alone be adopted as positions. At present, the NAE boasts around 40 different member denominations and church networks, with their online list, accessed by The Christian Post on Thursday afternoon, still including PCA. Other member entities include the Assemblies of God, ECO: A Covenant Order of Evangelical Presbyterians, the Salvation Army, the Wesleyan Church, and the Christian and Missionary Alliance. The decision comes as the current NAE president is a pastor ordained in the PCA, Korean American Pastor Walter Kim of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia. Named as the new president in October 2019 and taking office on New Years Day 2020, Kim became the first person of color to serve as president of the prominent Evangelical organization. Nun murdered in Haiti hailed by Pope Francis as martyr: 'Made her life a gift to others' Pope Francis has hailed as a martyr an Italian nun who was brutally attacked and killed while caring for the poor and needy in Haiti during a suspected armed robbery. Sister Luisa DellOrto, 64, was killed Sunday during an armed aggression, probably with the aim of robbery, in the Haitian capital of Port-au-Prince, according to the diocese of Milan, The Associated Press reported. The nun, from the Little Sisters of the Gospel, died soon after being taken to hospital, two days before her 65th birthday. DellOrto made her life a gift to others, even to the point of martyrdom, the pope said in remarks to the public in St. Peters Square on Sunday, according to Vatican News. For more than two decades, she dedicated above all to the service of street children, Pope Francis recalled. I entrust her soul to God, and I pray for the Haitian people, especially the little ones, so they can have a more serene future, without misery and without violence, he prayed. Responding to the popes mention of DellOrto as a martyr, the nuns biological sister, Maria Adele DellOrto, said: Here, yes, she really gave her life for the work, that is certainly a fact. She was aware that something might happen ... because its obvious, even in her last letter she said so, that the situation was very difficult. But she was keen to stay and bear witness. Last year, the nun wrote a letter to a missionary group, explaining her decision to continue her work in Haiti. You will tell me I am a bit crazy. Why stay here? Why expose yourself to risk? What is the point of living in such discomfort? Wouldnt it be better for people to solve their own problems? To be able to count on someone is important in order to live! And witnessing that you can count on the solidarity that comes from faith and love of God is the greatest gift we can offer, she wrote. The impoverished Caribbean nation is struggling in the social and political aftermath of the assassination of President Jouvenal Moise last July. Haiti also has yet to recover from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,200 people last August. Last year, the U.S. State Department urged Americans to depart Haiti now. The Department of State urges U.S. citizens to make plans to depart Haiti now via commercial means. U.S. citizens should carefully consider the risks of traveling to or remaining in Haiti in light of the current security situation and infrastructure challenges, a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Haiti said. In a 2021 interview, Dr. David Vanderpool, the founder of LiveBeyond, a Christian nonprofit organization that's been operating in Haiti for over a decade, told The Christian Post that many Haitians of faith "have turned to God more now than ever" amid natural disasters and increased crime. Typically, persecution increases faith for those who have faith," he said. Introducing people to the Christian faith is a real challenging situation because many people respond differently. But many Haitians with faith have turned to God more now than ever." Parents allowed to appeal after judge rules 12-year-old boy can be taken off life support The parents of a 12-year-old boy on life support in the United Kingdom are preparing for a Court of Appeal hearing this week as they seek to overturn a ruling from a lower court judge who determined doctors could discontinue their son's care. Justice Emma Arbuthnot issued the judgment earlier this month that would allow medical professionals at Royal London Hospital to remove life support for Archie Battersbee, who has been unconscious since suffering a brain injury in April. Arbuthnot said Batterbee's treatment should end, but she gave Hollie Dance and Paul Battersbee, the boy's parents, permission to appeal the decision. As ITV News reported Friday, judges from the Court of Appeals are expected to hear the case at a hearing in London on Wednesday. Arbuthnot spoke with doctors treating the boy and concluded that Battersbee is effectively brain dead and should be disconnected from the ventilator. Lawyers representing Barts Health NHS Trust, the hospital's governing trust, asked the judge to make a decision in the child's best interests. Edward Devereux QC, a barrister leading the parents' case, argues that evidence does not show "beyond reasonable doubt" that Battersbee is dead. He claims that a decision of such "gravity" should be made on a "reasonable doubt" basis. In a statement shared Wednesday by the Christian Legal Centre, which is representing the family, Dance and her sister-in-law, Ella Carter, thanked those who have supported Battersbee after they were given permission to appeal the decision. The mother asked for continued support, saying, "the messages that come through are heart-touching." "If Archie can be pronounced dead via an MRI, which is outside the bounds of the law, then what's going to be next?" the statement reads. "Archie's words, if he was sitting next to me right now, would be 'it melts my heart,' and I'll use those words now because everyone's support does melt my heart. So, thank you and please continue to support us in this fight." A GoFundMe page established to support the family has raised almost $30,000. "We intend to appeal and will not give up on Archie," Dance said in a statement shared earlier this month by CLC. "Until it's God's way I won't accept he should go. I know of miracles when people have come back from being brain dead." The parents maintain that their son has not been "given enough time." "From the beginning, I have always thought, 'why the rush?'" the mother asked. "His heart is still beating, he has gripped my hand, and as his mother, I know he is still in there." The case is believed to be the first time an MRI test has been used to declare someone is "likely" to be dead, CLC claims. In her judgment handed down in the Family Division of the High Court, Arbuthnot ruled that Battersbee is likely dead "on the balance of probabilities." "The evidence in my judgment shows a gradual deterioration from very early on in Archie's admission into hospital when he had already suffered a very severe brain injury when blood supply and oxygen were prevented from reaching his brain," Arbuthnot wrote. "It is clear from the anxious and careful scrutiny of all the evidence including from clinicians with different specialisms from five separate hospitals that tragically on the balance of probabilities, Archie is dead." The judge gave "permission to the medical professionals at the Royal London Hospital (1) to cease to ventilate mechanically Archie Battersbee; (2) to extubate Archie Battersbee; (3) to cease the administration of medication to Archie Battersbee and (4) not to attempt any cardio or pulmonary resuscitation on Archie Battersbee when cardiac output ceases or respiratory effort ceases." CLC Chief Executive Andrea Williams called the ruling a "devastating moment" for Archie's family. She believes the case has "raised significant moral, legal and medical questions as to when a person is dead." "The idea that death can be declared on the balance of probability is frankly ludicrous," Williams stated. "Life is the most precious gift that we have. This ruling sets a troubling and dark precedent." Together '22: Hundreds gathered for evangelistic event urged to 'go out there and love' in polarized society DALLAS Evangelist Nick Hall urged hundreds gathered at the Cotton Bowl in downtown Dallas for the Together 22 evangelistic event to truly "see" those around them and "go out there and listen, go out there and love" in an increasingly polarized society. Together 22 saw hundreds of people come out to Fair Park for the revival event aimed at marking 50 years since Billy Graham hosted Explo 72 in the very same venue. That event drew upwards of 150,000 people to the stadium in what later became known as one of the largest religious gatherings ever. While Together '22 fell far short of drawing those types of numbers, Hall greeted those in attendance with an acknowledgment of the unpleasant weather. You think its hot in Texas? Were about to bring the fire back home, are you with me? said the evangelist. We out here in 98-degree heat because we love Jesus! Hall also reminded the crowd to reassess their priorities, especially with so many distractions in today's culture. The most important thing to tell people about Jesus is to make a priority to listen, to slow down and see people around you," he said. The greatest thing we can do as evangelists is go out there and listen, go out there and love." Along with a series of evangelistic training sessions, the multi-day event culminated this weekend with musical performances from Jeremy Camp, Chris Tomlin, Lecrae and other Christian music artists. Several guest speakers shared words of encouragement and evangelism with the crowd, including prerecorded messages from David Platt and Francis Chan, and a live appearance from apologist Josh McDowell, who shared a message on doubt. McDowell urged the crowd to not only know what you believe, know why you believe it. "I don't think I ever had doubts about the deity of Christ, the resurrection and the scriptures, he said. Now doubt is not saying I don't understand it, and a lot of times, I don't get it. But deep down in, I know it was true but I couldn't understand why it was true. But eventually I did." Dallas Jenkins, the creator of the hit streamer The Chosen, called on attendees to stop worrying about figuring it all out and just start with what they have in front of them. Its not your job to figure out how to feed the 5,000, said Jenkins. Your job is to just provide the loaves and fishes. Fridays slate of events started within minutes of the Supreme Court overruling its landmark 1973 decision of Roe v. Wade, concluding that there is no constitutional right to an abortion. In the decision released June 24 in the case of Thomas Dobbs, et. al. v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the high court ruled 6-3 to uphold Mississippis Gestational Age Act, which bans most abortions after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. While there was no official response to the ruling from onstage, Hall issued a statement through a spokesperson challenging the church to step up in the social issues that will come as a result of the landmark decision. We may be pro-life, but are we pro-living? Hall said. Still, many who showed up to the Cotton Bowl were unfazed by the heat or the ruling. The non-stop worship and Gospel was amazing, said 16-year-old Brooke Watkins. I got to meet so many new people and hear my favorite artists. God opened my eyes to a whole different perspective of life these past two days through praying with strangers, listening to such powerful sermons, listening to worship music and many more things, student Chloey Carroll said. Hall is best known for organizing the Together 16 event, which drew nearly half a million people to Washington, D.C., and featured various artists and ministers who addressed the vast crowd, commissioning the next generation to unite under the banner of Jesus. Virginia pregnancy center first location to be vandalized by 'Jane's Revenge' after Dobbs decision A pro-life pregnancy center in Virginia has become the first anti-abortion organization to face vandalism since the United States Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. Early Saturday morning, hours after the Supreme Court ruled in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organizationthat the Constitution does not contain a right to abortion, pro-abortion activists vandalized Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center in Lynchburg, Virginia. While several pro-life pregnancy centers and churches have found themselves subject to varying degrees of vandalism since Politico first published a leaked draft opinion in the Dobbs case eight weeks ago, the attack on Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center is the first to take place since the publication of the Dobbs decision. One image of the vandalism shared on Facebook by the Lynchburg Police Department shows the words Janes Revenge spray-painted on the ground in front of the facility, with the A in the phrase written like the symbol for the anarchist movement. The symbol for the anarchist movement was also spray-painted onto the side of the building. A group of pro-abortion activists calling themselves Janes Revenge has taken credit for many acts of vandalism against churches and pro-life pregnancy centers in recent weeks. They have also called on pro-life organizations to disband and declared open season on such groups in a communique released two weeks ago. Republican federal lawmakers have called on the Department of Justice to take action against the group in response to the aforementioned threat. The FBI has already announced an investigation into attacks against pregnancy resource centers and faith-based organizations across the country. Last year, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security included both pro-life and pro-abortion groups on a list of domestic violent extremists that pose an elevated threat to the homeland in 2021. Another image of the property damage at Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center reveals graffiti declaring, If abortion aint safe you aint safe. Additional images of the vandalism illustrated a broken window at the facility, along with the words Vote blue LOL spray-painted on the side of the building. The Lynchburg Police Department also provided a still image of security camera footage documenting four masked individuals who committed the acts of vandalism. The timestamp showed the perpetrators gathered outside the facility at around 1:20 a.m. Susan Campbell, executive director of Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center, reacted to the targeting of her business in a statement posted on Facebook Saturday: BRPC has been vandalized greatly and we need the support of our community now more than ever. If you are available to give financial support for additional security, and lots of prayers, we would greatly appreciate you. We know God has [His] Hand over our center and the work at BRPC is not finished. Campbell also posted additional pictures of the vandalism, including the defacement of a streetside sign advertising the facility with a symbol for the anarchist movement. Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, a Republican, condemned the vandalism of Blue Ridge Pregnancy Center in a tweet Saturday. There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable, he said. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate. There is no room for this in Virginia, breaking the law is unacceptable. This is not how we find common ground. Virginia State Police stands ready to support local law enforcement as they investigate.https://t.co/BONC83jKgj Governor Glenn Youngkin (@GovernorVA) June 26, 2022 In a statement issued following the Dobbs decision, Youngkin said he plans to take every action I can to protect life now that the Supreme Court of the United States has rightfully returned power to the people and their elected representatives in the states. Maintaining that Virginians want fewer abortions, not more abortions, he insisted that we can build a bipartisan consensus on protecting the life of unborn children, especially when they begin to feel pain in the womb, and importantly supporting mothers and families who choose life. Ive asked Senator Siobhan Dunnavant, Senator Steve Newman, Delegate Kathy Byron and Delegate Margaret Ransone to join us in an effort to bring together legislators and advocates from across the Commonwealth on this issue to find areas where we can agree and chart the most successful path forward, Youngkin added. Ive asked them to do the important work needed and be prepared to introduce legislation when the General Assembly returns in January. Youngkins comments reflect the fact that with Roe overturned, the legality of abortion will be decided on a state-by-state basis. Virginia is one of 10 states that will continue enforcing existing abortion laws and/or restrictions until new legislation is passed. Currently, Virginia bans abortions after the second trimester of pregnancy. Twenty-one states will either completely ban or more severely restrict abortion than they do now and 16 states will continue allowing abortions throughout most or all of pregnancy as the right to abortion has been codified into law. Three additional states could soon enact changes to their abortion laws depending on the results of possible ballot referendums on the matter. God made the decision: Trump responds to Supreme Court abortion ruling Former President Donald Trump said Friday that the U.S. Supreme Court was able to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision concluding that there is no constitutional right to abortion not just because he appointed three constitutionalist justices to the high court during his presidency but because God made the decision. Fox News asked the former president if he thinks he played a role in the reversal of the landmark 1973 decision because he appointed Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, but Trump responded by saying, God made the decision. Asked what he would like to say to his supporters, Trump said, I think, in the end, this is something that will work out for everybody. He added, This brings everything back to the states where it has always belonged. In a decision released Friday in the case of Thomas Dobbs, et. al. v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, the high court ruled 6-3 to uphold Mississippis Gestational Age Act, which bans most abortions after 15 weeks into a pregnancy. Justice Samuel Alito authored the majority opinion and was joined by Justices Clarence Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. Kavanaugh, Thomas and Chief Justice John Roberts all wrote concurring opinions. In a statement issued by his political action committee, Trump said, I did not cave to the Radical Left Democrats, their partners in the Fake News Media, or the RINOs who are likewise the true, but silent, enemy of the people. In its 213-page decision, the court said: Held: The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion; Roe and Casey are overruled; and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives, read the syllabus to the majority opinion. Also on Friday, former Vice President Mike Pence called for a national ban on abortion. The decision, Pence told Breitbart in a statement, has given the American people a new beginning for life, and I commend the justices in the majority for having the courage of their convictions. By returning the question of abortion to the states and to the people, this Supreme Court has righted a historic wrong and reaffirmed the right of the American people to govern themselves at the state level in a manner consistent with their values and aspirations, Pence continued. Now that Roe v. Wade has been consigned to the ash heap of history, a new arena in the cause of life has emerged, and it is incumbent on all who cherish the sanctity of life to resolve that we will take the defense of the unborn and the support for women in crisis pregnancy centers to every state in America. Having been given this second chance for Life, we must not rest and must not relent until the sanctity of life is restored to the center of American law in every state in the land, he added. Authoring the majority opinion in the decision, Alito wrote, We hold that Roe and [Planned Parenthood v. Casey] must be overruled. The Constitution makes no reference to abortion, and no such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision. Roe was egregiously wrong from the start. Its reasoning was exceptionally weak, and the decision has had damaging consequences. And far from bringing about a national settlement of the abortion issue, Roe and Casey have enflamed debate and deepened division. Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan filed a dissenting opinion, claiming that Roe and Casey struck a balance between allowing abortion and allowing laws to regulate it. However, Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the national grassroots pro-life activist group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, called the decision a historic human rights victory for unborn children and their mothers and a bright pro-life future for our nation. Members of Congress who support abortion were outraged by the ruling. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., made an appearance outside the court Friday afternoon, where she lambasted the Dobbs decision as illegitimate and urged people to march into the streets to demonstrate their opposition to the ruling. Pictures circulating on social media reveal that businesses in the nation's capital and throughout the country are boarding up in anticipation of violence. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., talked to reporters minutes after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade in the Capitol Visitors Center where she lamented that it was "not a good morning" for abortion activists. Pelosi criticized the court's decision as "the GOP's dark and extreme goal of ripping away women's right to make their own reproductive health decisions." "Because of Donald Trump, Mitch McConnell, the Republican Party and their supermajority on the Supreme Court, American women today have less freedom than their mothers," Pelosi said in a statement. "With Roe now out of their way, radical Republicans are charging ahead with their crusade to criminalize health freedom. In the Congress, Republicans are plotting a nationwide abortion ban. In the states, Republicans want to arrest doctors for offering reproductive care and women for terminating a pregnancy. GOP extremists are even threatening to criminalize contraception, as well as in-vitro fertilization and post-miscarriage care." In a statement shared with The Christian Post, the nonprofit law firm Thomas More Society noted that there is more work to be done. "Today's pro-life victory is still only one more step in our ongoing crusade for the sacred cause we serve. Dobbs will not end abortion. Instead, it will shift our battles to each of the 50 states both red and blue states," the law firm said. "Yes, we have cause to celebrate Dobbs as a landmark event. But we must persevere and even intensify our efforts toward ending this scourge of abortion, once and for all, as it still bloodies our nation and corrupts our culture. Let us renew our pro-life efforts with unstinting determination and the utmost vigor!" Pro-abortion protesters attempt to breach Arizona Capitol after Supreme Court abortion ruling Pro-abortion activists attempted to breach the Arizona Senate building during the first night of protests following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization case that returned abortion laws back to individual states to decide. As expected, large protests broke out in cities across the nation following the Supreme Courts ruling Friday, which overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. While most of the protests did not result in the acts of violence that have popped up since the publication of a leaked draft majority opinion in the Dobbs decision in early May, one demonstration did turn contentious. The Arizona state Senate released a statement Friday warning: "Violent pro-abortion protestors' attempts of an insurrection at the Arizona state Senate were thwarted Friday night, thanks to the swift action from local and state law enforcement. While Arizona state Senate members were wrapping up passing important legislation for the session, extremist demonstrators made their way to the entrance of the Senate building and began forcibly trying to make entry by breaking windows and pushing down doors. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Law Enforcement Prevents Insurrection of State Senate While Lawmakers Conduct the People's Work pic.twitter.com/jiWmAAYJJn AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) June 25, 2022 Law enforcement monitoring this situation called for backup and were able to disperse the crowd with tear gas before the entry was made. As this terrifying situation unfolded, Senate President Karen Fann called a recess so that senators, staff and the public in attendance could evacuate to a secure location, the statement added. Once the premises were secured, those inside the building were able to return to the Senate chambers. Unfortunately, the system that circulates the air through the facility pulled some of the smoke or tear gas into the Senate chambers, making the air quality unhealthy for anyone to return. Fann, a Republican, released a statement declaring: We are incredibly thankful for our local law enforcement who quickly intervened doing what could have been a destructive and dangerous situation for our members, staff and public inside the Senate. Violence is never the answer, and we will not camouflage what was a blatant attempt at an insurrection as a rally or peaceful protest. We are calling on all state lawmakers to condemn these acts. There is a way to make your voice heard and violence is never the answer, she concluded. Arizona state Sen. Kelly Townsend, also a Republican, reported Friday night that members of the state Legislature were currently there being held hostage inside the Senate building due to members of the public trying to breach our security. She added that we smell teargas and the children of one of the members are in the office sobbing with fear. Townsend sarcastically suggested that she expected a J24 committee to be created immediately, referring to the Jan. 6 committee created by Democratic members of the House following the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Townsend later posted pictures on her Twitter account to assure that Everyone is okay, and we are finishing our work. Although state Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita shared video footage of pro-abortion protesters gathered at the entrance of the Arizona Senate building holding signs proclaiming, Abortion is a human right and chanting my body, my choice, Townsend contended that opposition to legislation the senators were voting on may have motivated the protesters as well. We were in the middle of a vote on the expansion of ESA for all so that parents may take their child to the school of their choice when protesters started attempting to kick in the doors. Was this really an attempt to stop that vote more than a #RvW protest? she asked. While pro-abortion activists took to the streets in protest of the Dobbs decision, pro-lifers celebrated the ruling. Ken Paxton, the Republican Attorney General of Texas, announced Friday that he was closing his office and that he would commemorate the Dobbs decision as an annual Office of the Attorney General holiday going forward in remembrance of the 70 million lives lost bc of abortion. Loving a Culture in Conflict We know the Bible, we know the words. We even know the right course of action. But what about our hearts? Are our hearts right? As the political and cultural storms increase in our country and around the world, we are called as Christians to respond according to the words and actions of Jesus. But so often we get caught up in the culture wars that we forget about how to speak and act from our hearts, and from the heart of Jesus. In his inspiring, Christ-centered series of Essays, Vide Press author Greg Wallace challenges the American Church to focus on Jesus rather than on the cultural storms of the day. Each essay emboldens the Church to serve others in Christlike love rather than pursuing and exercising greater worldly authority. Becoming Great: Loving a Culture in Conflict guides us through the rough waters of our world to rely more and more on our Lord and Savior. As the cultural storms increase in frequency and intensity, Wallace reminds us that our tools are not the tools of the world but are mighty in God in pulling down strongholds. If we are to be more like Christ, then we should act as He did, "Love each other just as much as I have loved you." This collection of essays highlights the marvelous truths of our true identity as love. The author is an ambassador of love who will impact your heart with the revelation for the body of Christ which is to love like Jesus. The revelation of truth in this book about our nature of love will catapult the readers to grow and mature in love to shine brightly in the world. Becoming Great: Loving a Culture in Conflict revitalizes the only strategy Jesus gave to His disciples which is to love like He has loved us. Readers agree that Wallaces book is truly transformational. At the core of Gregs book, the idea of Christlike nature as a solution for a culture thats in desperate need of healing, should provoke a myriad of emotions, thoughts, and ideas. In its most practical application is the requirement, as Greg challenges us afresh, to answer the call of serving one another in love. Gregs ability to work through this process by sharing his own sense of betrayal yet uncompromising commitment to the overall health and continued effectiveness of the Church, is a motivating, clear blueprint, for self-introspection and heartfelt change, writes John Bokowski, CEO, Kings Road Group Another reader, Bo Salisburgy, Kingdom Culture International, writes, Greg does a great job articulating how every believer has a mandate to extend Kingdom Culture from their very heart, life and Kingdom relationships to every environment they have significant access to. Apostles lead this charge but all believers who receive apostolic grace are postured to execute the dominion mandate in very practical ways, not through heavy-handed manipulation, but through the influence of love and servanthood. Greg Wallace regularly teaches, writes, and consults on leadership, change, and governance in the corporate, non-profit, and ministry arenas. He is the Chief Academic Officer of Wagner University, an online Christian university in Rancho Cucamonga, California. In this role, Greg builds the capacity of leaders to meet their own definition of success. He builds the capacity of organizations as well as leaders as the president of his own enterprise, The Wallace Group, and its ministry arm, KG Ministries. Becoming Great: Loving a Culture in Conflict is now available wherever books are sold. Israeli humanitarian delivers 200 pounds of baby formula to Texas churches amid national shortage A New Jersey nonprofit is helping parents in the North Texas area weather a nationwide baby formula shortage with an international effort involving Christians and Orthodox Jews. Jonathan Feldstein, an orthodox Jew and president of the Genesis 123 Foundation, told The Christian Post he launched an effort to deliver 200 pounds of baby formula to New Beginnings Church and First Melissa Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth area as the global supply chain crisis continues to roil distribution for products like baby formula. "I still think of the U.S. as the land of abundance and, except for a gas crisis in the 70s, I cannot think of any time that there was ever a shortage of anything until now," Feldstein said. "There are lots of things people can live without, but baby formula is essential, nourishing babies whose mother's can't or don't choose to nurse, and before they can eat solid food." Feldstein a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who grew up in the U.S. said he made it his mission to bring over as much formula from Israel as possible. The result: 119 containers of formula totaling more than $2,200 in value. At first, he planned on bringing a modest amount of formula back from Israel to the U.S., but he soon enlisted the help of a major Israeli grocery chain to increase the amount of product he could take to the U.S. with him. "If I had the ability to bring more, I'd have done it," he added. "It's a blessing to be able to be a blessing to the families of the world, literally." Data on baby formula availability in the U.S. showed out-of-stock numbers hitting as high as 43% for the week ending May 8, compared to up to 8% in 2021. The shortage has prompted harsh criticism of the Biden administration from Republican lawmakers as supermarket shelves remain empty. Initially, the shortage of baby formula last fall was due to supply chain bottlenecks resulting from the pandemic. In February, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) shut down the Abbott Labs plant that produces around a quarter of all formula in the country due to contamination concerns. Feldstein said he reached out to pastor Trey Graham of First Melissa Church in Melissa, who is also a Genesis 123 Foundation advisory board member. "The alarming shortage of baby formula in Texas offered Jonathan a chance to deliver formula to Texan parents who are facing this challenge," Graham told The Christian Post via email. A Texas congresswoman launched a website in May to help parents find baby formula, allowing Dallas-area residents to post the addresses of stores with formula and which brands they have in stock. Rep. Beth Van Duyne, R-Texas, said she started DFW Baby Formula in response to what she described as a lack of a proper response by the federal government, claiming the administration is "complacent with hungry children and desperate parents." White House officials told Politico that incomplete data on the retail stocks slowed the response to the plant shutdown and the administration didn't anticipate the severity of the shortages. In the last month, the FDA has urged the importation of infant formula from six countries, a total estimated quantity the equivalent of 365 million eight-ounce bottles. According to an FDA update this week, some of these products have already made it to stores while others will appear in the coming weeks and months. Graham said he sees people helping on a grassroots level, but more can always be done. "The shortage of baby formula is just one example of our troubling current economic situation, so I hope neighbors and congregations will develop processes to share ideas and meet needs," he said. Graham said others can donate to the Genesis 123 Foundation "so that projects like these can happen." Donated funds allow food, blankets, clothing, military supplies or baby formula to be provided to families or soldiers in need of support and encouragement, he added. The U.S.-based nonprofit's mission is to "build bridges between Jews and Christians with Israel in ways that are new, unique, and meaningful." Dedicating the victory of Bharatiya Janata Party to its Shakti Kendras in Azamgarh and Rampur parliamentary by-elections, the state unit of the party has decided to strengthen these centres across the state. The bye-election results are a clear indication of the success of the Shakti centres. The party workers were able to meet people and convince them about the programmes of the Central and the state governments, BJP vice-president Vijay Bahadur Pathak said. He said that these centres were the focal point of the party at the ground level where the leaders apprised the voters about the policies of the government and motivated them to cast their votes. During this election, the workers went to over one lakh Shakti Kendras each in Azamgarh and Rampur constituencies, he said and added that the Shakti Kendras would be strengthened for the 2024 general election. Pathak said it was time for introspection for Akhilesh Yadav because it was the fourth election the party had lost under his leadership. The SP has reached its lowest number in Lok Sabha after this result. It now has three members in the lower House of Parliament, the BJP leader said. BJPs Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua won the parliamentary bypoll from Azamgarh and Ghanshyam Singh Lodhi from Rampur, defeating Samajwadi Partys candidates Dharmendra Yadav and Asim Raja by margins of 8,679 and 42,192 votes, respectively. Lodhi, an Other Backward Class candidate, is a former SP MLC. He had started his political career with the BJP but he switched sides later. He had contested the Lok Sabha election from Rampur as a Bahujan Samaj Party candidate in 2009 but finished third. He was elected to UP Legislative Council from the Rampur-Bareilly local bodies constituency in 2016 as an SP candidate. His term ended in March this year. The Azamgarh seat saw a triangular contest between BJP's Dinesh Lal Yadav 'Nirahua', SP's Dharmendra Yadav and BSP's Shah Alam while in Rampur, the contest was between BJP and SP because the BSP had not fielded a candidate from there. Azamgarh was the SP bastion as Mulayam Singh Yadav won the Lok Sabha elections from Azamgarh in 2014 and in 2019 also Akhilesh won comfortably from there. In the by-election the SP had fielded Akhileshs cousin Dharmendra Yadav. Mohammad Azam Khan had won from Rampur in the Lok Sabha election in 2019 when the SP had an alliance with the BSP and the Rashtriya Lok Dal. In 2014, BJPs Nepal Singh, a Lodhi, had won the Rampur seat but with a thin margin. 'The post-Roe generation': Pro-lifers set their eyes on heartbeat bills, chemical abortion bans 'We burst into tears': Activists rejoice after decades of advocacy WASHINGTON Following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization declaring that the Constitution does not contain a right to an abortion, activists on both sides of the contentious debate gathered outside the Supreme Court to react to the ruling. The Supreme Court handed down the Dobbs decision Friday morning, overturning the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide. The announcement of the Dobbs decision comes less than two months after Politico published a leaked draft opinion in the case indicating that a majority of justices were poised to overturn Roe. Soon after the release of the Dobbs decision, activists on both sides of the abortion debate gathered outside the Supreme Court to either celebrate or decry the decision, depending on their position on the issue. The sidewalk directly in front of the government building was fenced off due to concerns of violence breaking out in response to the expected ruling on the polarizing issue of abortion. Pro-life activists expressed their support for the ruling by holding signs reading, I am the post-Roe generation, The future is anti-abortion, I am the pro-life generation, Protection at Conception and Equality Begins in the Womb. Students for Life of America was one of the most prominent pro-life groups outside the Supreme Court, with its members wearing T-shirts proclaiming, I am the pro-life generation as they were interviewed by various national media outlets. Brooke Paz, the director of government affairs for the pro-life organization, told The Christian Post that she was amazed and incredibly relieved by the decision. The moment that Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life, read the decision, we just all burst into tears, she recalled. Even though we figured this would happen with the leak, now that its real, its reality, its incredible, it feels amazing. Paz insisted that this is only the beginning for us, adding: Were celebrating today but were going to continue working tomorrow and every day after that. Going forward, Students for Life of America will continue working in the states and on the federal level to pass as many life-affirming legislation as we can. The activist identified bans on chemical abortions and heartbeat bills that ban abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected at both the state and federal level as the focus of the pro-life movement going forward. Justin, a college student from the Washington, D.C. area, shared Pazs enthusiasm about the Dobbs decision. He described himself as happy, good and great following the ruling, which he characterized as a win for men and women and children, for Americans, for Republicans, for Democrats, for everybody. After reiterating his belief that Dobbs was a win for people, he declared: its a great day. While pro-lifers were understandably elated by the Dobbs decision, pro-choice activists gathered outside the court to express their disgust with the ruling. Opponents of the Dobbs decision chanted phrases such as Not the judge, not the state, women must decide their fate and F--- the courts and the legislatures, women are not incubators! They held signs reading My body, my choice, F--- SCOTUS, were doing it anyway, I will aid and abet abortion and bans off our bodies. Jamie Manson, president of the pro-choice organization Catholics for Choice, discussed her feelings about the Dobbs decision in an interview with CP. It is a gut-wrenching moment for this country, for the 600,000 people who get abortions annually in this country, and especially for the poor and the vulnerable who will suffer the most because of this decision," Manson said. Manson outlined several actions she wanted to see the federal government take to protect access to abortion, adding: We need our elected officials to act. We need Congress to act; we need the president to act. We need the president to declare a public health emergency, we need Congress to pass [the Womens Health Protection Act]. This is the moment, this is a defining moment for them to try to rescue freedom and rights in this country. She concluded the interview by highlighting the results of a poll finding that 68% of Catholics did not want to see Roe overturned before declaring that What we have right now is religious beliefs codified into civil law and its a terrible infringement on religious freedom in this country. Fr. Tim Wezner, a Catholic priest from Detroit, Michigan, who is studying in Washington, D.C., shared his thoughts on the Dobbs decision as he clutched a rosary in his hand: Im very much in favor of it. I think they made a good decision. I think its been a long time coming. Roe v. Wade was bad law," he added. "The decision says that. I think they made the right choice. Wezner also addressed the results of the poll finding that 68% of Catholics supported Roe. He attributed high support for the decision that legalized abortion among Catholics to the influence of the culture as well as bad catechesis sometimes from their pastors or from their church. The reality is just because 68% of Catholics believe in abortion doesnt make it right. 99% of people could believe in abortion. It doesnt change the truth behind it. Wezner maintained that he was outside the Supreme Court to pray for thanksgiving and pray for healing for our country and for all involved, for protection, for safety, for softening of hearts. Catherine, a Catholic from Rhode Island, told CP "I think abortion is a horrible decision to have to make, but I truly think that it should be up to the woman and I really dont like how our rights are being revoked. She classified the Dobbs decision as a huge step backward for humanity while emphasizing that abortion is a horrible, horrible thing. Protests in front of the Supreme Court are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., made an appearance outside the court Friday afternoon, where she lambasted the Dobbs decision as illegitimate and urged people to march into the streets to demonstrate their opposition to the ruling. Pictures circulating on social media reveal that businesses in the nation's capital and throughout the country are boarding up in anticipation of violence. BREAKING: Congresswoman @AOC has arrived in front of the Supreme Court and is chanting that the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v Wade is illegitimate and calls for people to get into the streets | @TPUSApic.twitter.com/jNkCYDrLtz Drew Hernandez (@DrewHLive) June 24, 2022 Theyre worried the 6-3 SCOTUS majority will get violent, surely. https://t.co/im9fxXeP3S Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) June 24, 2022 Pro-life celebrations of the Dobbs decision will continue into the weekend as well. Students for Life of America is holding Life is Louder events outside state capital buildings in 24 states at 11 a.m. local time Saturday, as the Dobbs decision means that states will now have a say in the legality of abortion. Sixteen states have passed measures codifying the right to abortion into law, meaning that abortion will continue to be legal in those states throughout all or most of pregnancy following the Dobbs decision. An additional 21 states will now have the ability to enact bans or strict restrictions on abortion that were unenforceable with Roe on the books. Ten states will continue to enforce existing abortion laws and/or restrictions while three other states could put abortion law before voters at the ballot box in the near future. Pro-abortion violence and officials noncompliance: A dagger aimed at the heart of the rule of law Every freedom-loving American should be appalled at the violence and threats of violence against U.S. government employees. We have witnessed the chilling sight of a potential assassination of a sitting Supreme Court Justice at his personal residence. We have had to witness through national media film clips hundreds of American citizens protesting in front of the justices homes. Around the country we hear and see spreading reports of acts of violence against crisis pregnancy centers (whose only aim is to save the lives of the unborn and to minister to their mothers). Circulars and posters have popped up, declaring: Call to Action night of rage. These woke warriors declare: TO OUR OPPRESSORS: If ABORTIONS are not SAFE, THEN YOURE NOT EITHER. Some crisis pregnancy centers have been targeted with firebombs. Now we have the even more dangerous specter of thousands of elected officials, openly declaring that they will not enforce abortion-related laws. First, most of these protestors, or recalcitrant public officials, have been whipped into a frenzy by political operatives (including mass media) that have misinformed them that this is true. Thus, they proclaim if Roe is overturned, democracy dies! Nothing could be further from the actual truth. If Roe is overturned, democracy is restored in America. The citizens of each state will decide for themselves when and under what circumstances abortions would take place a decision taken out of their hands by an imperial Supreme Court 48 years ago. Given the current mood in the country, it is critically important to know the facts. I cannot think, however, of a greater threat to our nations rule of law, the bedrock of our entire legal system, than having public officials exercise a self-proclaimed right to disobey and ignore laws with which they are in disagreement laws which they have taken an oath to enforce. It is bad enough when private citizens refuse to obey the nations laws. When elected officials refuse to fulfill their oath of office, society has descended into a dark and dangerous place. The other day a very disturbing headline appeared in newspapers, If Roe falls, some DAs wont enforce abortion ban." In both red states and blue states, you have District Attorneys and other public officials who are openly declaring that they will not enforce laws they have taken an oath to uphold. As I said earlier, I cannot think of anything more destructive to the rule of law (a precious and fragile thing that Americans too often take for granted since it has always been part of the furniture in the room ever since the ratification of the Constitution in 1789). Once the rule of law is imperiled, it is a swift descent into oligarchy and then insurrection and chaos. Back in 1960, during one of the most intriguing presidential elections in our entire history as a nation, one huge issue was the fact that the Democrat candidate for president, Sen. John F. Kennedy, was a Roman Catholic and a Roman Catholic had never been elected to the presidency. This was a big deal! You must remember that you are dealing here with a pre-Vatican II Roman Catholicism, which could give formidable pause to your average American Protestant. Would the pope tell the president what to do under the threat of excommunication? So on September 12, 1960, a memorable weekday night during that hot and very contested campaign, which in the end would be decided by less than 100,000 votes (less than one vote per precinct nationwide), then Sen. John Kennedy came to my hometown of Houston, Texas, to answer the question of whether his Catholic beliefs would compromise his oath of allegiance if he were to be victorious. I was in my 14th year and new to all things political. Democrat presidential candidate John F. Kennedy was going to address the Greater Houston Ministerial Association (made up of Protestant ministers, including my pastor) on the question of his Catholicism and he was going to take questions. Trust me, it was a big deal! I have seen the video of the event several times and I have read the transcript at least 50 times. I deemed the speech important enough historically to have it reprinted as part of Appendix D (Presidential Addresses) in my book, The Divided States of America? What Liberals AND Conservatives are Missing in the God and Country Shouting Match! JFK was clearly miffed that he was having to address the issue at all. Near the beginning, he says, because I am a Catholic and no Catholic has ever been elected President, it is apparently necessary for me to state once again what kind of America I believe in! JFK then observes, Contrary to common newspaper usage, I am not the Catholic candidate for President. I am the Democratic Parys candidate for President who happens also to be Catholic. I do not speak for my church on public matters and the church does not speak for me. Then the president gets down to the heart of the issue. Having declared his allegiance to religious liberty as defined in the First Amendment, JFK states: Whatever issue may come before me as PresidentI will make my decisionin accordance with what my conscience tells me to be in the national interest, and without regard to outside religious pressures or dictates. And no power or threat of punishment could cause me to do otherwise. In other words, his Roman Catholic faith informs his conscience, and he would be guided by his, not the Roman Catholic hierarchys, conscience. The no power or threat of punishment undoubtedly refers to the threat of papal excommunication. Then JFK, in my opinion, threads the needle perfectly by saying: If the time should ever comewhen my office would require me to either violate my conscience or violate the national interest, then I would resign the office. I hope any conscientious public servant would do the same. JFK was laying down a fundamental marker. He would not violate his conscience or his oath of office in which, if elected, he would, solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the office of the President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitutionso help me God. This should be an example for every elected official in the United States. You have sworn an oath to uphold the law as it is, not as you would like for it to be. If you cannot in conscience do so, resign and then protest the law as a private citizen. Just ignoring the laws you have sworn to uphold is not an option and some might legitimately call it treason. When major companies celebrate gay sex The title of this article is not clickbait. The contents of this article might be highly offensive, so be forewarned before you read. This is very disturbing stuff. But before I share more with you, Im going to say something very surprising. One of the biggest reasons that LGBTQ+ activism has been so successful is because many of those who identify as gay or lesbian or bisexual or transgender or queer are really nice people. They are not the moral monsters we were told to expect. They are not all obsessed with sex. They are not child predators or molesters. To the contrary, many of them are the man or woman next door. Or the couple whose kids play with your kids. Or your boss or employee. Or your teacher or student. Or your brother or sister. Or your child or parent. Or your longtime best friend. Many of them, in many areas of their lives, are more moral than many of us who are straight. What happens, then, when you hear Christian leaders warn you about the evil gay agenda and the evil LGBTQ+ community? You dont reject your gay (or bi or trans or queer) friends or loved ones or neighbors. You reject the Christian leaders, along with their message. Yet that is only one side of the story. The fact that is that homosexuality (and everything else on this spectrum) is contrary to Gods order and design, contrary to His best plan for humanity. And it is a biblical principle that everything reproduces after its own kind. Oranges reproduce oranges (not apples), cats reproduce cats (not dogs), and so on. In the same way, truth reproduces truth (not error), and love reproduces love (not hate). But when it comes to sinful or deviant behavior, what it reproduces becomes worse and worse along the way. Bitterness can lead to anger, then to rage, then to murder, then to self-destruction. Sexual immorality can lead to every kind of sexual perversion to the point of being unimaginably dark. When it comes to homosexuality (and everything else on that list), theres a reason that gay activism quickly became gay and lesbian activism. Then bi. Then trans. Then queer. Then, you name it (almost literally). Its common now to see things like LGBTQIA++. Or to see someone describe themselves as just about your average multiracial, pansexual, transracially inseminated queerspawn, genderqueer, transdyke, colonized mestiza, pornographer, activist, writer. (This is a literal quote.) Thats why gay pride events, which used to be extremely vulgar and sexual, often flaunting the worst elements of their community, became much tamer and (gay) family friendly over the years, only to become much more sexualized once again. Something is wrong at the core. Thats why drag queens, surely one of the least justifiable aspects of the gay community, have become front and center, from performing in churches to reading to toddlers (and shaking their hips for the little ones too!). And thats why a recent series of TV ads for some of the biggest companies in America actually celebrate anal sex. (I told you some disturbing content was coming.) The June 20, 2022 headline on NBC News says it all: Problematic or a positive step forward?: Sexualized Pride ads stir debate on LGBTQ marketing campaigns. Postmates, Burger King, Dr Pepper and others have released Pride ads with top and bottom gay sex jokes. The fact that the headline even asks if ads featuring jokes about gay sex might be a positive step forward says it all. This is moral madness. This is perversion on steroids. The article, by Matt Laviates, states, Recently, amid a flurry of rainbow-accented commercials featuring same-sex couples embracing one another, food delivery service Postmates debuted its ad campaign for Pride Month, leaning into the aspect of gay sex. The company, which is owned by the ride-hailing service Uber, released a bottom-friendly food menu for consumers in New York City and Los Angeles. A commercial for the menu depicted a harness-clad eggplant as a top and a peach wearing jockstrap underwear as a bottom. Throughout the narrated video, the pair approach various food items, some of which are easily digestible for people who are preparing for anal sex, while others are not. If youre a top, it seems like you can eat whatever you want, said the ads narrator, social media influencer Rob Anderson. But if youre a bottom, youre expected to starve? Not this Pride. Is it not surreal to read this with your own eyes? Is this not the very outcome we warned about years back, saying that the worst aspects of sexual deviation would be on display? But theres more: Postmates is not alone in producing sexualized imagery to market to LGBTQ consumers during Pride Month. Burger King, Dr Pepper and even toilet paper brand Cottonelle have run ads that make oblique references to anal sex. But LGBTQ marketers and experts in LGBTQ communications are divided on whether the sexualized ads are an inadvertent tool to discriminate against queer sex and sexuality or a sign of progress. A sign of progress? Only of progress towards perversion and destruction. And these are major companies involved. God have mercy. Yes, Fast-food giant Burger King debuted a Pride Whopper in its Austrian stores with two equal buns, giving consumers the option to buy burgers with either two top buns or two bottom buns. Has all sanity been lost? Have we crossed the point of no return? The article also documents examples of pushback and criticism, right from within the LGBTQ+ community (although the reasons for the criticism are varied). But the fact that our society has gotten to the point where major companies would dare to produce these kinds of ads says it all. This is part of the inevitable trajectory. This is what happens when you deviate from Gods design. As a heterosexual male, Im quite aware of the massive sexual sins in my own community. Adultery and pornography and promiscuity and rape abound. We are guilty as charged. And as a ministry leader, Im quite aware of the horrific scandals that have plagued the church in recent years. We have lost much credibility and made our Lord look bad. But there is something fundamentally different when it comes to the trajectory of the LGBTQ+ activism. It continues to deviate from the norm more and more with each passing year. It continues to destroy simple concepts like male and female, man and woman. It continues to degenerate. Are there many who identify as LGBTQ+ who are appalled by the hyper-sexualizing of gay pride events? Absolutely. But there are many others who bring their kids along for the ride, wanting them to be exposed to the different aspects of their community. Are there gay or lesbian or bi or trans or queer readers who will be as shocked as I was to learn about these ads? Without a doubt. But there are all too many others who will simply shake their heads (as in, Whats the big deal? Why are you so hysterical about something so benign?). And there are still all too many others who will say, Shut up, old man. This is who we are and this is how we express ourselves. Welcome to the year 2022. To each of you reading, I simply say this: Judge the tree by the fruit it produces. Watch the trajectory of the flight. Once again, you have been forewarned. This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. A breezy January morning made the mid-30 temperatures feel even chillier. But it was an important day for the young man pushing 30 himself. He was about to face his entire family to ask for a loan to seed his new business idea. He had contributed to the family's savings circle, but he was asking for a withdrawal this time. What is a savings circle? A savings circle is a group of family members or friends who regularly contribute to a collective fund. Members gain access to a share of the proceeds on a rotating basis or as needs arise. A savings circle can also be called a money pool. Or flip the benefit, and it's known as a lending circle. The practice carries many names worldwide and among American immigrant communities, including tanda, sou-sou or tontine. It can be an informal gathering with regular monthly contributions and one disbursement or one individual's request for funding approved by the group. Some savings circles predetermine automatic withdrawals for each member in a particular order. The savings circle that rocked the world Berry Gordy was 29 that cold Detroit day in 1959 when he faced the family's pointed questions regarding a $1,000 loan from the Ber-Berry Co-op named after his parents, Bertha and Berry. After a lengthy discussion, the group voted to give him $800. And with that seed money, Motown Records was born. David Ellis, a digital media curator at the Motown Museum in Detroit, says Gordys parents created the savings effort to help seed family business ideas. Each family member, including spouses, contributed $10 monthly to the fund. "The funniest part is the interest that Berry Gordy had to pay. They were family, but they were still very professional people," Ellis adds. Unlike many traditional family and friends savings circles, Gordy had to repay the loan and would be charged 6% interest if he didn't pay off the note within one year. However, repayment wasn't a problem. Motown Records became a music institution, and Gordy sold the label for $61 million in 1988. A 50% share of the Motown song catalog garnered an additional $132 million for Gordy in 1997. A chance encounter Right out of grad school, Fonta Gilliam was working as a U.S. foreign service officer in South Korea, "stamping visas at the consulate." "This lady walks up to my window wanting to immigrate to the United States to start a business. She was going to start a dry cleaner if I remember correctly." The woman, a street vendor, had six figures of cash in a savings account. "I remember thinking, 'OK, this is fraud,'" Gilliam says. But the woman related how she had participated for years in a savings circle with friends in her neighborhood, "and it was finally her turn" to make a withdrawal. "I learned how a lot of people around the world are using informal saving and lending traditions sou-sous, tandas as a way to build wealth outside of the banking system," she adds. Gilliam discovered that the social savings circles in these underbanked and underserved communities often have a low default rate. The social factor is key. "People are more likely to keep strong financial habits when their peers keep them accountable," she says. How to start a savings circle of your own If you are looking to start your own savings circle, enlist trusted friends and family. Emphasis on "trusted." In 2020, the Federal Trade Commission issued a consumer alert about pyramid schemes tied to sou-sous. Your group will need to determine the amount and frequency of deposits and the order of individual withdrawals. For example, if 12 members put in $100 per month and distributions occur monthly on a rotating basis for one year, who gets the first $1,200? It's an important consideration because early withdrawals are essentially zero-interest loans, while later distributions are effectively interest-free savings plans. A few savings circle apps have been developed in recent years, such as Esusu Savings and MyMAF, which manages lending circles set up through Mission Asset Fund. And later this month, Gilliam and a team of fintech developers in Washington, D.C., are set to release a savings circle and social banking mobile app called Wellthi. While group savings goals will be shared, funds in Wellthi will be tied to individual digital wallets, linked to a payment card and never commingled. And it all began with that chance encounter when the Korean woman was looking to start a business in America. "It really kind of changed my life, to be honest. And I had almost denied that woman a visa," Gilliam says. This article was written by NerdWallet and was originally published by the Associated Press. Hal M. Bundrick, CFP writes for NerdWallet. Email: hal@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @halmbundrick. The article Got a Savings Goal? Consider Forming a Savings Circle originally appeared on NerdWallet. If youre headed to Mexico anytime soon, generally people will warn you about something you already know, like, for instance, not to drink the tap water. Or maybe theyll add in a bonus tip like, And dont get ice in your drinks! Others might advise you not to trip on the sinking sidewalks, which, it turns out, is worth keeping in mind. But something no one mentions but can be a legitimate pain during your travels in Mexico concerns the currency you receive while there. Because if it is torn, taped or slightly mutilated, this can become a real issue. As in, no one will take it. As an inexperienced traveler, I had no idea about this when I landed in Mexico City. People recommended I get $100 in pesos at the airport. So I dutifully headed straight to the money exchange across from the baggage claim. With four men in matching uniforms worked diligently under an official-looking sign, it seemed to be a trustworthy operation. Granted, the exchange rate was not good, but everything is overpriced in airports, so why wouldnt the money be? But what I did not expect was that close to half of the money they handed me would turn out to be utterly useless. I found this out almost immediately. The next morning, I attempted to pay a cab driver a 250 peso fare with a 500 peso note. The bill was quickly inspected and rejected as the driver pointed to a small rip. Once I could actually see what he was talking about since I couldnt understand what he was saying I then pulled out a 200 peso note along with some coins. It too was rejected. Was this driver just a finicky but isolated pain? Apparently not, because a half hour later I tried to pay for some tacos with the same slightly torn 200 peso note. It was quickly tossed right back at me, along with a serious glare, by the server. Such close inspection was anything but an exception; every single restaurant, store, taxi or museum I did business with in Mexico closely checked each bill I handed them. The website Mexperience describes the money situation like a card game: A damaged banknote becomes like the joker in the card game where the object is to avoid taking the joker from another player, and if you do get it, surreptitiously hand it off to another. True enough. And what better target for sloughing off the bad money than the unwitting tourist. This is what happened to at the Leon Trotsky House Museum where the cashier tried to slough off a 200-peso note off on me. But I, now a wizened traveler, handed it back and requested an untorn note. Instead, she stuck a piece of scotch tape on the torn note and handed it back to me. My move. Unfortunately, its tough to argue when you cant speak the language. I took the useless bill and entered the museum. What is good to know is that banks in Mexico do accept torn or taped bills and will let you exchange them for usable money. So then why are people so adamant about not accepting these bills? Because perhaps no one wants to be bothered. Including me, apparently. I never turned in any of my torn or taped bills. Instead theyre just living in my dresser, reminding me of my rookie tourist mistakes every time I pull out a pair of socks. Steven G. de Polo / Getty Image BRENTWOOD, Calif. (AP) Three people were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into a car in Northern California, authorities said. The crash occurred at around 1 p.m. in Brentwood, about an hour's drive southeast of San Francisco, the California Highway Patrol reported. MEXICO CITY (AP) Six police officers were killed and four others wounded Sunday in the northern Mexico border state of Nuevo Leon after they were ambushed by a presumed drug gang equipped with 10 home-made armored cars and heavy weaponry. Nuevo Leon state police said the patrol was outnumbered in the pre-dawn attack on a highway leading to the Colombia border crossing. The force said the officers performed heroically in the attack. Brittney Griner will go on trial starting Friday in Russia, where she has been detained for more than four months on a drug charge. Her lawyer, Alexander Boikov, confirmed the start date to CNN after the handcuffed WNBA star made a brief appearance Monday for a preliminary hearing behind closed doors at a court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, the Associated Press reported. The court ruled her detention be extended for six months pending her trial, Boikov added. He told the New York Times that he expected Griner's trial could take up to two months, depending on the court's workload. Video from an NPR reporter showed the two-time Olympic gold medal winner entering and leaving court, apparently without commenting, in the custody of officials. She previously had been ordered to remain in pretrial detention until this coming Saturday. Brian Whitmore, a nonresident senior fellow at the Atlantic Council's Eurasia Center and an assistant professor at the University of Texas Arlington, characterized Griner's detainment as "a hostage situation" and her trial as an exercise in "political theater" designed to pressure the U.S. government into a prisoner swap. "They want to trade her," Whitmore said, "and they're going to drag this out until they get something they want." Rep. Colin Allred, D-Texas, said Griner is "for intents and purposes a political prisoner" and her fans should be prepared for a "sham" trial resulting in a guilty verdict and a prison sentence. "This will all mean nothing, and I will keep working closely with the Biden Administration to bring her, and all Americans detained abroad, home safely," Allred said in a statement to The Washington Post. Griner's court appearance Monday and the upcoming trial, Allred added, "are all theater to give Russia some appearance of having a fair legal system and for her detention to be anything other than a deeply cynical, geo-political power play with a prominent American and to put more pressure on the negotiations for her release." The 31-year-old Griner, who plays for the Phoenix Mercury, was stopped Feb. 17, shortly before Russia's invasion of Ukraine, at Sheremetyevo International Airport and accused of carrying vape cartridges containing cannabis oil, which is illegal in Russia. Like many WNBA players who head overseas during the offseason, Griner plays in Russia to supplement her income. The State Department has categorized Griner as "wrongfully detained," a strategy shift that indicated it would no longer wait for the case to proceed through the Russian legal system and would take more aggressive steps to negotiate her release. If convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs, she could face 10 years in prison. According to the Associated Press, fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and acquittals can be overturned. After Monday's hearing, a State Department spokesperson said: "We have no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas. The Department of State has determined that the Russian Federation has wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Brittney Griner. The U.S. government will continue to provide appropriate support to Ms. Griner and her family. We will continue to press for her release." Lindsay Kagawa Colas, Griner's agent, tweeted Monday that the hearing "was administrative in nature and not on the merits. That said, the fact remains that the U.S. Government has determined that Brittney Griner is wrongfully detained and being used as a political pawn. The negotiation for her immediate release regardless of the legal proceedings should remain a top priority and we expect [Biden and Vice President Harris] to do everything in their power, right now, to get a deal done to bring her home." Griner's wife, Cherelle, told the AP last week that she has "zero trust" in the U.S. government's handling of the situation after a planned phone call between the two did not occur because of what the State Department said was a "logistical error" involving the U.S. Embassy in Russia. "I find it unacceptable and I have zero trust in our government right now," Cherelle Griner said. "If I can't trust you to catch a Saturday call outside of business hours, how can I trust you to actually be negotiating on my wife's behalf to come home? Because that's a much bigger ask than to catch a Saturday call." As Griner's case has drawn increased attention, supporters have called for a prisoner swap, similar to the one in April in which Marine veteran Trevor Reed, who had been detained since 2019, was exchanged for a Russian pilot convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy. Russian news media has speculated that she could be exchanged for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed "the Merchant of Death," who is serving a 25-year sentence on conviction of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. However, the disparity in their crimes makes that unlikely to be acceptable to the U.S. government. "They want Viktor Bout back. He's connected to the highest levels of Russian government. This is an attempt to get him back," Whitmore said. "It's clear the [Biden] administration is under increasing pressure from society, from Griner's friends and family. It's not an enviable position here, because it's clear what the Russian government wants. This is akin to negotiating with a terrorist." DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) One of Irans major steel companies said Monday it was forced to halt production after being hit by a cyberattack that also targeted two other plants, apparently marking one of the biggest such assaults on the countrys strategic industrial sector in recent memory. The Iranian government did not acknowledge the disruption or blame any specific group for the assault on the state-owned Khuzestan Steel Co. and Irans two other major steel producers, which constitutes just the latest example of an attack crippling the countrys services in recent months amid heightened tensions in the region. An anonymous hacking group claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it targeted Iran's three biggest steel companies in response to the aggression of the Islamic Republic. The group, calling itself Gonjeshke Darande, shared what purported to be closed-circuit footage from the Khuzestan Steel Co. factory floor that showed a piece of heavy machinery on a steel billet production line malfunction and cause a massive fire. These companies are subject to international sanctions and continue their operations despite the restrictions, the group said, citing their links to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. A steel mill in the central Iranian town of Mobarakeh said that its system was struck too, while the the state-run IRAN newspaper reported that another factory in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas was targeted in the cyberattack. Neither plant acknowledged any damage or work stoppage as a result. Khuzestan Steel Co., meanwhile, said the factory had to stop work until further notice due to technical problems following cyberattacks. The company's website was down on Monday. However, CEO Amin Ebrahimi, claimed that Khuzestan Steel managed to thwart the cyberattack and prevent damage to production that would impact supply chains and customers. He said nothing of the explosion shown in the hacker group's footage. Fortunately with time and awareness, the attack was unsuccessful, the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Ebrahimi as saying, adding that he expected the company's website to be restored and everything to return to "normal" by the end of Monday. A local news channel, Jamaran, meanwhile reported that the attack failed because the factory happened to be non-operational at the time due to an electricity outage. Cyberattacks have become increasingly common in Iran in recent years. The country, long sanctioned by the West, has been slow to update its networks to counter the rising use of ransomware by criminals, as well as intrusions by state actors. In a major incident last year, a cyberattack on Iran's fuel distribution system paralyzed gas stations across the country, leading to long lines of angry motorists. The same anonymous hacking group, Gonjeshke Darande, claimed responsibility for the attack on fuel pumps. Train stations in Iran have been hit with fake delay messages. Surveillance cameras in the country have been hacked. State-run websites have been disrupted. Footage showing abuse in the country's notorious Evin prison has leaked out. Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a principal threat researcher at SentinelOne, said its still unclear who is behind the recent cyberattacks against Iran. But he said it's an escalation if the same groups are behind the alleged attack on the steel plants' industrial control system. Something has changed in the tone of these attacks, he said. Lior Tabansky, a cybersecurity expert at Israels Tel Aviv University, said that in the murky world of cybersecurity, its often difficult to separate genuine claims of responsibility from false flags. If it was indeed a cyberattack, suspicion would likely fall on Israel or the United States, he said. However, if I were an Iranian senior official and I had problems in my ministry of steel or whatever, the best way out is to say well, the Zionists or American imperialists are cyber-attacking me. Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have impaired the country's infrastructure. Iran disconnected much of its government infrastructure from the internet after the Stuxnet computer virus widely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation disrupted thousands of Iranian centrifuges in the countrys nuclear sites in the late 2000s. Khuzestan Steel Co., based in Ahvaz in the oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province, has a monopoly on steel production in Iran along with two other major state-owned firms. Founded before Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the company for decades afterward had some production lines supplied by German, Italian and Japanese companies. Service has been continuous except during the catastrophic Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sent his army across the border. However, crushing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program have forced the company to reduce its dependence on foreign parts. The government considers steel a crucial sector. Iran is the leading producer of steel in the Middle East and among the top 10 in the world, according to the World Steel Association. Its iron ore mines provide raw materials for domestic production and are exported to dozens of countries, including Italy, China and the United Arab Emirates. Iran's crude steel production, however, was only 2.3 million tons last month, the WSA said. Its concurrent drop in exports has been largely attributed to sanctions-hit Russia flooding Iran's Chinese buyers with discounted steel after losing access to Western markets amid the war on Ukraine. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Gladwin area residents gathered for a Pride March and celebration of the LGBTQ+ community at the Gladwin City Park. The group met at a pavilion inside Gladwin City Park and then lined up for a march displaying solidarity, including signs with "Love Your Neighbor," through Downtown Gladwin. Co-organizer Julie Harrell-Dennis estimated around 100 people visited the community event with a theme of picnic in the park. "My whole goal is to educate people out there that we are human, she said. "We have all of the same rights as everyone else, and we are going to exercise them." With national conversations focusing on opposing those rights, such as Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' concurring opinion with the majority opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade, Harrell-Dennis said she hopes to focus on spreading awareness in her community. She said it's a goal for more sponsorships and volunteers to help make the event possible. However, the group and attendees have faced opposition. It received some hateful comments on Facebook and even a few middle fingers given to marchers. "People who disagree with pride need to know that we're here and we're not leaving because we are members of the Gladwin community, in addition to the LGBTQ+ community," Harrell-Dennis said. "We are equal, so we need to have our voices heard." The event featured a Saginaw based LGBTQ+ comic book creator and stories of gender roles, expectations and outcomes from the Mid-Michigan Area Storytellers, which are based in Mount Pleasant, were shared with the Gladwin area community members at the pride event for the first time. Harrell-Dennis said the three organizers, including Emily Olsen, who is also a pastor at Gladwins Christ the King Lutheran Church, and Cassie Simpson, are already looking forward to the next year of pride festivities. The group will begin planning in August. Chief Minister Hemant Soren met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha and senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday. However, he did not divulge the details of the meeting with the two leaders, asking them to see the situation (on Presidential Poll) after a break. The CM first met Union Home Minister Amit Shah for about 45 minutes and then he had an hour-long closed door meeting with senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. Now, you see whatever you are seeing, rest is after the break, said Soren, coming out after the meeting with Kharge. Although the meeting of CM with Union Home Minister is said to be a courtesy meet, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha leaders said that the Home Minister was apprised of the concerns of Jharkhand by the CM. Everyone has a regard for the tribal aspirant for Presidential polls, Droupadi Murmu. But, we have some concerns about the State and its people, which the Centre should be made aware of, said a senior JMM leader requesting anonymity. He further said that it is the duty of the Chief Minister to appraise the Centre of the concerns of the State and its residents. Meeting with Kharge is normal as Congress is the alliance partner of the State, he added. However, the two meetings coincide with Kharge going all out seeking support for UPAs Presidential candidate on Monday. After filing nomination by UPA candidate Yashwant Sinha, Kharge has claimed to have support of 17 parties and of getting more support for Sinha in the coming days. Also, on June 28 the Election Commission of India will conduct the hearing of the case of the office of profit against Hemant Soren and on June 29 against his brother Basant Soren. The ECI has given both the leaders extensions for the hearing of the cases and it is very unlikely that they would get any further extension. Notably, the JMM in its legislature party meeting convened on June 25 had authorised party Chief Shibu Soren to take a final call on support to a presidential candidate. The decision was taken after a 3-hour long meeting at CMs residence on Saturday. On the other hand the Congress party unit in the State is keeping its fingers crossed over JMMs moves. Whatever the decision comes from the JMM it is not going to affect our alliance in Jharkhand. The BJP might try its dirty tactics, but people would respond to it in a positive way, said a senior Congress leader. ATHENS, Greece (AP) Greeces coast guard on Monday said it had prevented more than a thousand migrants and refugees crossing to its islands in boats from the nearby coast of Turkey over the past three days. The agency said it had turned back boats in 24 separate incidents involving an estimated 1,130 people, near five Greek eastern Aegean Sea islands, with most of the interceptions occurring off Lesbos. PARIS (AP) The only surviving suspected member of the Islamic State attack team that terrorized Paris in 2015 pleaded for leniency during his final appearance in court on Monday, acknowledging he had made mistakes," but declaring: "I'm not a murderer. Salah Abdeslam is a leading suspect in France's worst peacetime attacks of Nov. 13, 2015, that killed 130 people. He is on trial with 19 other men on suspicion of playing critical roles in the Islamic State's massacres in a Paris music hall, cafes and the national stadium that Friday night. In closing arguments earlier this month, French prosecutors demanded a life sentence without a possibility of parole for Abdeslam. They charged him with multiple counts of murder, complicity to murder, belonging to a terrorist organization and taking part in a conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping as a member of a terrorist organization. A verdict in the historic trial is expected on Wednesday. Abdeslam apologized to the victims on Monday, saying his remorse and sorrow for the 130 people killed and more than 400 wounded is heartfelt and sincere. Who can make an insincere apology for so much suffering? Abdeslam said. He acknowledged he has made mistakes, but declared: I am not a murderer, I am not a killer." Abdeslam stayed silent about what happened on Nov. 13, 2015. Since his trial opened in September, he had a few outbursts of extremist bravado, but refused to answer most questions. In April, his words started flowing and he gave a lengthy testimony over several days that at times contradicted earlier statements, including on his loyalty to the Islamic State. As the only member of the Paris attackers who did not join the self-proclaimed IS caliphate in Syria, he told the court that he was a last-minute add-on to the group. He said he renounced his mission to detonate his explosives-packed vest in a bar in northern Paris the night of Nov. 13 as his brother and other Islamic State extremists fanned out around the capital mounting parallel attacks. A police explosives expert has told the court that the suicide belt was faulty, but Abdeslam testified that he disabled it. After leaving the cafe, Abdeslam described desperate attempts to reach friends to ask for help, and taking a taxi across Paris to the suburb of Montrouge. He hid out at first near Paris, and then fled with friends to Brussels, where he was arrested four months later. Demanding the harshest sentence under French law, prosecutors emphasized those contradictions in Abdeslam's testimony - from pledging allegiance to ISIS at the start of the trial and expressing regret that the explosives failed to detonate to claiming he had changed his mind in the bar and deliberately disabled explosives strapped on his body because he did not want to kill people singing and dancing. Not everyone is a jihadi, but all of those you are judging accepted to take part in a terrorist group, either by conviction, cowardliness or greed, prosecutor Nicolas Braconnay told the court earlier this month. During her closing arguments on Monday, Abdelslam's lawyer Olivia Ronan told a panel of judges that her client is the only one in the group of attackers who didn't set off explosives to kill others that night. He can't be convicted for murder, Ronan said. If a life sentence without hope for ever experiencing freedom again is pronounced, I fear we have lost a sense of proportion, Ronan said. Surk reported from Nice, France JERUSALEM (AP) Israel on Monday eased its regulations on abortion access in what the countrys health minister said was a response to last week's sad U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade. The new rules, approved by a parliamentary committee, grant women access to abortion pills through the countrys universal health system and remove a longstanding requirement that women appear physically before a special committee before they are permitted to terminate a pregnancy. The decision came after the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday stripped away womens constitutional protections for abortion, a fundamental and deeply personal change for Americans lives after nearly a half-century under Roe v. Wade. The decision has triggered protests across the U.S. and set the stage for a wave of litigation. Health Minister Nitzan Horowitz, who heads the small liberal Meretz party, said the U.S. decision had turned back the clock for womens rights. A woman has a complete right over her body, he said. The SCOTUS decision to negate a womans right to make a choice over her own body is a sad process of womens repression, setting the leader of the free and liberal world a hundred years back. Abortion is widely available in Israel and far less controversial than in the U.S., but women still dont automatically have the right to the procedure. Under the new rules, Israeli women will now have access to abortion pills at their local health clinics. They also will no longer need to physically appear before an abortion approval committee, and the application form will be shortened and simplified. Abortion approval committees have been heavily criticized in Israel over the years. While most requests are approved, women have objected to being subject to bureaucracy and a humiliating and intrusive process. Women also can face long wait times before they can be seen by a committee. Instead, the process will be digitized, and a requirement to meet with a social worker will become optional. The new regulations are set to take effect in three months. The reform we approved today will create a simpler process, that is more respectful, advanced, and maintains a womans right to make decisions over her own body a basic human right, Horowitz said. WASHINGTON (AP) A conservative lawyer who aided former President Donald Trumps efforts to undo the 2020 election results and who has been repeatedly referenced in House hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021 assault on the Capitol said in a court filing Monday that federal agents seized his cell phone last week. John Eastman said the agents took his phone as he left a restaurant last Wednesday evening, the same day law enforcement officials conducted similar activity around the country as part of broadening probes into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election. The move underscores federal investigators' interest in the unsuccessful schemes advanced by Trump advisers to help keep the Republican president in power in the period between the November 2020 election and the riot at the Capitol two months later, when Trump loyalists stormed the building to halt the certification of the election results. Eastman said the agents who approached him identified themselves as from the FBI but appeared to be serving a warrant on behalf of the Justice Departments Office of Inspector General, which he contends has no jurisdiction to investigate him since he has never worked for the department. He said the cell phone that was seized contains emails that have been the subject of a months-long dispute between him and the House panel. That litigation has received extensive media attention, so it is hard to imagine that the Department of Justice, which apparently submitted the application for the warrant at issue here, was not aware of it, wrote his lawyers, Charles Burnham and Joseph Gribble. The action was disclosed in a filing in federal court in New Mexico in which Eastman challenges the legitimacy of the warrant, calling it overly broad, and asks that a court force the federal government to return his phone. He says the warrant does not specify any particular crime for which evidence from the phone might be relevant. The filing does not specify where exactly agents seized his phone, though the warrant was signed by a federal magistrate judge in New Mexico and footage of the seizure aired by Fox News on Monday night describes it as having occurred in the city of Santa Fe. Lawyers for Eastman did not immediately return an email seeking comment. Federal agents investigating the run-up to the Jan. 6 riot last week served a raft of subpoenas related to a scheme by Trump allies to put forward alternate, or fake, slates of electors in hopes of invalidating the election won by Democrat Joe Biden. Also that day, agents searched the Virginia home of Jeffrey Clark, a Trump Justice Department official who encouraged Trumps challenges of the election results. A spokeswoman for the inspector general's office declined to comment. Eastman, who last year resigned his position as a law professor at Chapman University, has been a central figure in the ongoing hearings by the House committee investigating the riot at the Capitol, though he has not been among the witnesses to testify. The committee has heard testimony about how Eastman put forward a last-ditch, unorthodox proposal challenging the workings of the 130-year-old Electoral Count Act, which governs the process for tallying the election results in Congress. Eastman pushed for Vice President Mike Pence to deviate from his ceremonial role and halt the certification of the electoral votes, a step Pence had no legal power to take and refused to attempt. His plan was to have the states send alternative slates of electors from states Trump was disputing, including Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. With competing slates for Trump or Biden, Pence would be forced to reject them, returning them to the states to sort it out, under the plan. A lawyer for Pence, Greg Jacob, detailed for the committee at a hearing earlier this month how he had fended off Eastman's pressure, and another witness, retired federal judge Michael Luttig, has called the plan from Eastman incorrect at every turn. The panel played video showing Eastman repeatedly invoking his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination while being interviewed by the committee. Eastman later sought to be on the pardon list, according to an email he sent to Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, shared by the committee. ___ Follow Eric Tucker on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/etuckerAP This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Lawyers representing the parents of a Michigan teenager charged in a high school shooting that left four of his fellow students dead said Monday that they plan to call him to testify at the couple's trial. Defense attorney Shannon Smith told Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews that Ethan Crumbley's testimony would be related to extraneous matters and not the Nov. 30 shooting at Oxford High School. We need him as a witness in this trial," said Smith, who represents Jennifer Crumbley. There are just certain questions we would just not be able to ask. We do understand that." Smith did not say what types of questions would be asked of Ethan Crumbley. She later declined to comment when asked by The Associated Press for more details. A message seeking comment also was left with a lawyer for the 16-year-old. The disclosure came during a court hearing in Pontiac, where Matthews ruled against the defense's motion for a change of venue for James and Jennifer Crumbley's involuntary manslaughter trial, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in late October. Matthews sided with the couple's arguments that some evidence, such as the condition of their home, would not be admitted at trial. Matthews said she would allow the Oakland County prosecutor's office to present statements written in their son's journal, his text messages to a friend and his internet searches. Seven others, including a teacher, also were wounded during the shooting about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit. Ethan Crumbley faces murder and other charges. His trial is expected to start in January. His parents are accused of failing to keep the gun used in the shooting secure at home and failing to reasonably care for their son when he showed signs of mental distress. They have pleaded not guilty. Matthews said Monday that she was wondering whether their son would be called to testify. Prosecutor Karen McDonald asked in court if they want to call their son to somehow diminish highlight his role instead of his parents. But Smith said calling him to testify "is not about the defendants wanting to throw their son under the bus or make him look bad." Smith added: This is about our clients defending the case." David Moran, clinical professor of law at the University of Michigan Law School, said what Smith is proposing is unusual. Ive never heard of it, he said. If Im representing a defendant in a murder case, Im certainly not going to agree to a co-defendant testifying in any related case. I would strongly counsel the client against it, (but) it is the clients right." Moran said defense attorneys may want Ethan Crumbley to testify about his relationship with is parents, and they could try to limit the testimony, but the other side can ask broader questions that are relevant to the case at hand. I dont believe the prosecution would be precluded from asking him about what happened (the day of the shooting), he said. ___ Williams reported from West Bloomfield, Michigan. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) In one of the combat zones against Russia, the supply chief for a Ukrainian fighting brigade places his online order for war supplies a long list ranging from drones, trucks and thermal sights to batteries, generators and tape. They are needed, he writes, to equip two new battalions and combat against armed aggression. In a makeshift supply depot in the capital, Kyiv, crowd-funders start busying themselves with his request. Their bustle will get the equipment to the 72nd Brigade within days, all paid for with public donations. In their ramshackle office, a poster with the Vietnam-era peace slogan exhorts: Drop acid, Not bombs. With attritional combat devouring soldiers and resources, Ukraine is waging a people's war, fought away from front lines by self-starting networks of donors and volunteers. Tech-savvy systems they've thrown together convert millions of dollars in donations into swift Amazon-like deliveries of war gear direct to the battlefields. They're helping keep Ukraine in the fight at a critical juncture of the Russian invasion, as its better-supplied aggressor applies tremendous, grinding pressure on battlefields to the east and south. Civilian volunteering is also boosting morale, providing tangible proof to Ukrainians that they're together in their battle for survival, even if they don't have guns in their hands. From grandmothers cutting old clothes into strips to make camouflage netting to the bereaved girlfriend of a slain soldier who walked into the supply depot after his burial saying she wanted to help, most everyone seems to be doing their bit, big and small or by direct debit. Civilian assistance for the military effort has been a feature of Ukrainian resistance from Day 1 of the Feb. 24 invasion, as ordinary folk dropped everything to help and raided their bank accounts to equip hastily assembled new units. From modest beginnings, including telephone hotlines for donations that were immediately overwhelmed with calls, crowd-funding initiatives have matured into well-oiled machines. They have online payment systems and slick websites explaining their needs, and volunteers applying their expertise in civilian fields logistics, technology, purchasing, electronics to help get supplies into troops' hands. Five months into the invasion, creative fund-raising is also keeping money flowing in belying the notion that Ukrainians are losing interest and feeling less imperiled in the uneasy peace that has returned to Kyiv and other cities since badly mauled Russian forces withdrew from the north in April, refocusing on capturing Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. An appeal last week by Ukrainian television personality and politician Serhiy Prytula for $15 million in donations to buy three Turkish-made Bayraktar combat drones went viral. He subsequently announced that he'd surged past the target, raising $20 million enough for four Bayraktars in under three days. His foundation is one of the biggest crowd-funding initiatives. Among other, more unusual ones are women and men who send erotic photos of themselves as a reward to donors who can prove, with a receipt, that they gave to a war-support fund. Teronlyfans says its aim is to incentivize donations for the needs of Ukraine and thereby bring our victory closer. The volunteers say they've helped raise $750,000 by baring all. We make sure that the photos are not pornographic. This is beautiful, aesthetic erotica, said Nastya Kuchmenko, one of the group's co-founders. Its not about objectifying the body, its about the freedom to use your body as you want. "People want to be useful," she said. On the opposing side, some Russians, including soldiers' mothers, also are getting supplies to troops. But the Russian effort isn't as organized, massive and spontaneous, in part because the Kremlin is downplaying the scale, reach and cost of its invasion, insisting that it's a mere military operation. The United Peoples Front, a Kremlin-created effort to foster public support for the government, launched a crowd-funding campaign in early June, under the slogan All for Victory! The guys on the front line who are dying for the right to be Russians, who are fighting for our common freedom, will greatly appreciate any help you can offer, Mikhail Kuznetsov, a United Peoples Front executive, said of the drive for front-line gear and medicines. They will win in any case, but they will win faster and with smaller casualties if we help them. On the Ukrainian side, victory is the goal, too. The foundation run by Prytula, the TV personality, prioritizes its aid for units in combat hot spots. Unit commanders list their needs and locations on an online form. That's how Tokha the nom de guerre of the quartermaster for the 72nd Brigade submitted his order. Gear on his wish-list hinted at the ferocity of the fighting around his location in the east, with requests for 100 periscopes for peering from trenches, a dozen tablets pre-loaded with software to correct artillery fire, and even wire presumably for use as tripwires. Bigger-ticket items included six vans and pick-up trucks. Convoys of vans, trucks and other vehicles, sourced second-hand from elsewhere in Europe, set off loaded with gear every week from the foundation's depot in Kyiv. Some vehicles are repainted in army green to make them battle-ready. Their front-line lives can be short: Two recently delivered ambulances lasted just two days before Russian bombs destroyed them. The foundation says it has raised more than $34 million since the invasion began, mostly as donations ranging from pennies to a businessman's gift in cryptocurrency of $1.3 million. The foundation also auctioned the Eurovision Song Contest trophy won and then donated by Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra and raffled the bright bucket hat worn by its frontman. Together, they fetched $1.25 million. The foundation says it has fulfilled 2,200 orders from units in just the last two months. On the receiving end, the troops or volunteers who make the deliveries take photos to prove that aid is being used as intended. Ukrainians are a nation of volunteers and we can do unimaginable things together, said Maria Pysarenko, who works with Prytula. It's also about not just the fundraising but community-building and showing that, Yes, we can." - Hanna Arhirova in Kyiv contributed. __ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine - First we looked up, horrified by the scene of destruction towering above us. That morning, a Russian missile had struck a high-rise residential building in the Ukrainian capital. Where before there had been families' homes, now there was a ragged hole. Then we looked down. The street was covered in glass and bits and pieces of rooms that had come crashing down, including several scratched and torn black-and-white photos. It was Feb. 26, two days after Russia had launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. As Washington Post journalists, we were covering the devastation Russia was inflicting on this beautiful city, and we and everyone else could practically taste the fear over what might come next. Now we stood shivering in front of another scene of senseless bombing, wondering whose memories had flown out of shattered windows just hours before. Whose smiling faces looked back at us from these photos? Were they still alive? If we left the photos on the ground, we decided, they had little chance of surviving the weather or the war. If we picked them up, maybe we could return them, someday, to someone who had just lost almost everything else. Our social media pleas to connect with the photos' owners were shared widely - but went unanswered. For the next several months - as nightmares played out in the Kyiv suburbs and Russian forces ultimately retreated and refocused their assault on the country's east - those photos sat tucked in a reporter's notebook. The pages filled up with stories of other horrors from the war - other buildings destroyed, other families torn apart. But our thoughts kept returning to those long-ago images and the people in them. Then, earlier this month, we stumbled upon a clue. On Facebook, a woman who had lived in the building was launching a campaign to raise money for repairs. We wrote to her, attaching the photos. She shared them in a group chat with other residents. A woman named Oksana Insarova replied. They were hers. The photos in hand, last week we drove across Kyiv to finally return them to her. We met outside the old apartment of her late parents, where she has been staying since the blast. From there, we started to piece together the mystery of the family whose faces we had known for months. Insarova and her husband, Oleh Tochenyuk, had only recently moved into their modern 20th-floor apartment - the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. The purchase had been slightly beyond their means, but the trade-off was worth it: The view let them see for miles. They could host parties and friends. Their daughters were ecstatic. They spent as much designing, furnishing and decorating the interior as they had on the apartment itself. When Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24, they stayed put at home. The 20th floor was a long way from the closest shelter, so even when the air raid sirens sounded, they took their chances upstairs. The next day, a friend called from a nearby town. Reports suggested that Russian forces could take the capital within hours. Wouldn't they consider leaving Kyiv for a few days? They thought about it - then packed a few clothes and left with their 12-year-old daughter Daria. (Their other daughter, Anastacia, is a 22-year-old university student in Prague.) "If it wasn't for our friends, I wouldn't be talking to you now," Insarova said. The next morning they woke up outside the city to a flurry of messages in their neighborhood group chat. "Sirens," one message said. Then, 12 minutes later: "Seems like they hit our building." Neighbors started posting photos of the damage. "I counted the floors, but it was useless," Insarova recalled. "It was obviously my apartment." She went into shock. Her husband's blood pressure skyrocketed so fast he felt sick. Daria lay down in bed and covered her face with a blanket. She didn't speak for days. "That apartment was so important to our family," Insarova said. "It was my little happiness, and now it is my little grief." They didn't return to Kyiv for nearly two weeks. There were checkpoints and gas shortages. And there was nothing they could do to recover what was lost. "Compared to what other people in Ukraine are facing, it's a small price," Insarova said. "Still, it's unbearable to think about starting from scratch." When they finally visited their home on March 11, the destruction still felt unbelievable. Their apartment essentially didn't exist anymore. The missile hit a wall where a box of family photos had sat on the floor, sending them flying down to the street, along with many of their other belongings. The loss of their home compounded another family tragedy. Insarova's older brother and only sibling, Ihor, had died suddenly of a stroke in January. Now a lifetime of pictures of him were gone. So was that the little boy in the photos we found? The one whose face we had studied, hoping for an answer? Insarova flipped through them. There was Ihor, alive again as a baby in their father's arms. As a toddler, with their beaming uncle. In a photo studio, smiling mischievously with a hula hoop. Seeing the images brought her mixed feelings, she said. She was happy to have them back - but even meeting us was a reminder of everything she had lost. And we weren't the only ones who had reached out. Several other people had connected with her in recent weeks, offering to return other photos they had also rescued from the ground. One woman, Kateryna Kashriyna, had found hundreds in the rubble. She was holding them for Insarova on the other side of Kyiv, but severe fuel shortages had prevented them from meeting. We had fuel, we told her. Maybe we could help. On Tuesday evening, as we drove to meet with Kashriyna, Insarova pointed at other high-rise buildings we passed. She had considered buying a place there, she said about one, but it had a bad interior layout. And there, she said, pointing at another, but that one had problems, too. Both are still standing. "Are you excited to see the photos?" we asked from the front seat. "I don't know," she replied quietly from the back. We got to Kashriyna's neighborhood and stood outside, waiting for her to join us. The ground was still wet from an afternoon rainstorm. She emerged holding a bag of photos in one hand and in the other an image that particularly stood out to her. It was another picture of Ihor as a child. Kashriyna had been standing in line at a grocery store on the ground floor of the apartment building a few days after the blast, she said, when she noticed a photo on the ground. Then another. And another. Shopping at a place that had been attacked just two days before scared her, she said, but she figured, "If we die in this line, then we die in this line." We asked her why she bothered to pick up all the photos. "This is a memory for someone," she said. "I thought it would be nice to meet people and bring back their memories. You can buy another chair or whatever, but you can't buy this - another memory of your life." Insarova beamed as she dug through the pile filled with decades of reminders of much happier times. Her wedding day. Family trips to Crimea, before it was occupied by Russia. Visits to a summer cottage with her parents. Ihor with her and her kids. "I'm happy," she said, "because it brought me all the memories back." It was getting late, and the nightly curfew was creeping up on us. We piled back into our car and dropped Insarova at her parents' apartment. She got out and waved, carrying her bag of memories. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Show More Show Less 3 of 3 LONGMONT, Colo. (AP) A weekend fire at a Christian pregnancy center in north-central Colorado is being investigated as a possible arson, police in Longmont said. The fire at Life Choices was reported at 3:17 a.m. Saturday, hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and said abortion laws would be decided by the states. BOGOTA, Colombia - Several tiers of crowded stands in an improvised bullring collapsed during a bullfight in central Colombia on Sunday, leaving four people dead and hundreds injured - figures that could increase in the coming hours - as terrified spectators were trapped in the rubble. The tragedy took place in El Espinal, a small town located some 95 miles southwest of Bogota. Footage of the collapse quickly went viral on social media. It showed dozens of people teasing and playing with a wounded bull during a popular event known as corraleja. Suddenly, three levels of stands gave way, trapping hundreds of men, women and children underneath. As people screamed, some jumped out of their seats and rushed to help, trying to heave wood and other debris aside. Hector Ortiz, 64, could not believe the scene. A woman next to him shouted, "That balcony is about to fall down!" and he watched eight sections begin to cave in one after another, like dominoes. "After the first balcony collapsed, it pulled the next one, and so on, and so on," Ortiz told The Washington Post. "It was the gate the bulls go through that stopped the collapse. Otherwise we'd be talking about a much bigger tragedy." Every year, the mayor's office and private parties in El Espinal organize events to celebrate the Feast of Saint Peter on June 29. The bullring is erected for a spectacle that originated on the Caribbean coast when Colombia was a Spanish colony. Unlike in traditional Spanish bullfighting, the bulls are not ordinarily killed in a corraleja, and spectators are invited to run around with the animal still in the ring. In towns such as El Espinal, the event has evolved to become a popular show. Its bullring was built with gadua bamboo, and the multiple levels were packed with spectators. "A gadua bamboo structure is pretty unstable," said Luis Fernando Velez, head of the regional civil defense agency. "Organizers should have foreseen this could happen." Velez said 50 volunteers from the civil defense were working to transfer the most seriously wounded of the 322 injured spectators from the bullring to the town's one hospital. Firefighters and police also helped. The local health system sent a "red alert" to the community. On Twitter, Colombia President Ivan Duque expressed concern for the victims and called for a prompt investigation. A 14-month-old baby was among the dead. More than two dozen children were injured, and others were missing, having been beside their parents at the bullring when the structure gave way, Velez said. The eight stands involved held an estimated 800 people, according to Mayor Juan Carlos Tamayo Salas. The incident recalled a similar corralejas disaster in the Caribbean town of Sincelejo. Over 500 people died and more than 2,000 were wounded in 1980 when the makeshift stands there collapsed. "This had already happened before in Sincelejo," tweeted President-elect Gustavo Petro, who will take office in August. "I request local authorities to refrain from authorizing more spectacles with the death of persons or animals." Petro sparked outrage as mayor of Bogota when he banned bullfighting. On Sunday he seemed ready to wage the same battle nationally. Having witnessed the disaster Sunday, Ortiz said: "I think this is the end for corralejas in El Espinal." From a corporate office park in the Denver suburbs, podcaster Joe Oltmann spins a daily vision of America's dark and violent future. "Pretty soon we'll have gallows being built all over the country. We can take care of all these traitors to our nation," he told listeners during an episode late last year. "Stretch that rope," he intoned during another, suggesting that Democratic Colorado Gov. Jared Polis be hanged, before going on to explain that it was just a joke. The violent rhetoric has contributed to such a tense political climate that the Democratic secretary of state - a frequent target of Oltmann's denunciations - now travels with a security detail, a first for the office, she said. Oltmann, a businessman who gained a national profile on the far right after he claimed he had personal knowledge that the 2020 presidential election was rigged, is hardly a fringe figure. He now leads an influential and growing political movement in Colorado that is shaking up the state Republican Party. Oltmann's political organization - FEC United, standing for "Faith, Education and Commerce" - is less than two years old, but it has been advocating for candidates up and down the Colorado ballot, from key statewide positions to obscure county jobs. It has challenged GOP incumbents who want to pivot from the 2020 election obsession and will face a critical test of its influence in the state's primary Tuesday, when candidates Oltmann has supported will be on the Republican ballot. Success for the group would add Colorado to the growing ranks of states where election deniers have triumphed in Republican primaries. "The level of his influence is extremely high," said Chuck Broerman, the elected clerk and recorder of Colorado's El Paso County and a former chairman of the county GOP. Broerman said he and his daughter were jeered at a local GOP meeting this spring after he earned the anger of Oltmann and his supporters for repeatedly confirming that there were no problems in the 2020 vote in his county, which Trump won by 11 percentage points. The Colorado primary will take place against the backdrop of hearings in Washington by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. In those sessions, lawmakers have stressed that the menace unleashed in the lead-up to that day has not been extinguished. "The idea that political violence is being normalized is incredibly dangerous for the future of our country," the secretary of state, Jena Griswold, said of Oltmann's rhetoric. Oltmann did not respond to a detailed list of questions requesting comment, but he alleged on his podcast on Wednesday that The Washington Post had contacted him "because they're deathly afraid of what's happening in Colorado." While Oltmann at times insists he does not advocate violence, a review of his rhetoric shows that he often issues threats to his political enemies or foretells a dark future when violence will be necessary. "Somebody asked me, 'Joe, are you advocating for violence?' And I'm going to tell you, 'No.' But if you want to take our country, it will have to be with violence," he said at a rally in Douglas County in March 2021, according to a video posted online by the Colorado Times Recorder. "If you're going to take our way of life away from us, you're not going to do it without blood spilled." For a brief moment after violence erupted on Jan. 6, 2021, it appeared Oltmann might face lasting consequences for spreading lies about the election in the lead-up to the attack. Facing a backlash, he told podcast listeners that he had been forced to resign from a data company he had founded. But instead of being career-enders, election falsehoods have morphed into rocket fuel, reflecting sentiment within the Republican Party that concerns about Jan. 6 have been overblown and that the insurrection may have even been justified. A survey conducted this month by YouGov found that fewer than half of Republicans believe the Jan. 6 attack was "not justified"; about three-quarters say "leftists" deserve blame for the attack, roughly three times the percentage who blame Trump. The story of Oltmann's rise shows how the stolen-election myth has vaulted previously unknown figures into positions of prominence within the GOP. It also provides a window into the state of the Republican grass roots - where belief that the 2020 election was rigged has become widespread and comfort with extreme and violent rhetoric is growing. The 48-year-old's political ascent has been a strikingly rapid one. Oltmann was a local businessman with eclectic holdings - a gun store, a car repair shop, a data marketing firm - when, in 2020, he first received some attention in Colorado for helping to organize anti-pandemic-lockdown events for a group called Reopen Colorado. He then became active at pro-police rallies amid Black Lives Matter protests that followed the murder of George Floyd. But it was the presidential election that brought Oltmann to the national stage. Six days after the vote, he told listeners of his "Conservative Daily" podcast that he had weeks earlier infiltrated a meeting of "antifa journalists." On the call, he said, he heard a man identify himself as Eric "the Dominion guy" and reassure the others that they need not worry about the election. "Trump is not going to win. I made f---ing sure of that," Oltmann claimed the man said. Oltmann told listeners that he had identified the man as Eric Coomer, the director of product strategy and security for Dominion Voting Systems. There was no evidence to support his accusation. No other witness to the supposed call has ever emerged, and Coomer quickly denied the allegations. But Oltmann's claims catapulted him to a new level of stardom within the world of right-wing media. He was quickly booked on national shows hosted by Michelle Malkin and Eric Metaxas. His assertions were cited by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani and Trump ally Sidney Powell. His podcast briefly hit No. 8 on Apple's ranking of popular downloads. In December 2020, Coomer filed a defamation suit against Oltmann. Around that time, back in El Paso County, Broerman said he got a request from a top state party official to speak with Oltmann about his election concerns. Broerman had never heard of the podcaster but figured it was important to hear out anyone who might have identified vulnerabilities in the vote. Instead, he found Oltmann's complaints vague, peppered with technical language about voting machinery that didn't match Broerman's knowledge of the system. "I felt like he was trying to buffalo me that he knew more than he did," the clerk said. After less than 10 minutes, Oltmann abruptly declared that he had another call and hung up, Broerman recalled. Despite the lack of evidence for his assertions, the Colorado podcaster was a headliner at a rally in Washington on the evening of Jan. 5, 2021, explaining his theories that the election was stolen to a crowd of thousands gathered to object to the congressional certification of the electoral college votes the following day. As violence unfolded on Jan. 6, he was at the State Department, briefing officials about his election theories alongside a Michigan lawyer now running for state attorney general, as The Washington Post previously reported. Oltmann has not explained how he got the meeting but has described huddling with department leadership in a wood-paneled office suite, a measure of his access to Trump administration officials. What happened next typified how the Republican Party has responded to that day. In a Facebook Live video he hosted five days after Jan. 6, Oltmann told supporters that he had had to step down from his company "to protect their interests," citing what he called false accusations that he was an extremist. But the defamation lawsuit against him was slow moving; a judge decided it could go forward in May, nearly 18 months after it was filed, ruling that there was prima facie evidence that Oltmann had "spread political disinformation at Coomer's expense." Meanwhile, members of the Trump-supporting grass roots quickly came to believe that the events of Jan. 6 had been overblown or were not the work of the then-president's supporters. Oltmann's popularity in Colorado soon began to swell again as he traveled the country and shared the stage with national election-denial figures like Powell and MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell. "Sidney, it might be a good idea to connect," he wrote to Powell two days after Joe Biden was inaugurated, in an email released as part of the defamation case. "You . . . need to be aware of what we're doing in Colorado in gaining access to the Dominion systems under the radar. We have several county clerks cooperating." At that time, Broerman said, county clerks across Colorado were under intense pressure to allow pro-Trump activists, including those who said they were affiliated with Oltmann's FEC United, to access their voting machines to try to prove fraud. He declined. "I have a responsibility for that equipment. It's part of federally protected infrastructure," he said. A few months later, however, a different Republican clerk in Colorado, Mesa County's Tina Peters, allegedly orchestrated the secret copying of hard drives from her county's Dominion Voting Systems machines. It was the first known case among several similar instances around the country of election deniers tampering with voting machinery to try to prove that fraud took place in 2020. In March, Peters was charged with 10 counts, including seven felonies, related to the episode. But Oltmann has embraced her as a rising political star, hosting her on his podcast and appearing at joint public events where she has received wild applause. Peters, who has denied wrongdoing, is now running to be the Republican nominee for secretary of state, a position that would give her sway over future Colorado elections. Oltmann's network has focused on election rules and administration in campaigns for a wide array of offices. "It's amazing. Whether they're running for coroner or sheriff or clerk, their platform is focused on elections," Broerman said. After Michigan gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelley was arrested this month and charged with four misdemeanor counts related to his alleged conduct during the Jan. 6 riot - including damaging federal property - Oltmann gave him a platform to appear on his podcast and explain that the criminal charges had made him only more popular among Republican voters. "They're trying to stand in your way. And it's having the opposite reaction. Obviously, the support is growing," Oltmann told him. Kelley has denied that he committed a crime on Jan. 6. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the extremist group the Oath Keepers, who has been charged with seditious conspiracy in connection with Jan. 6, called in to Oltmann's show Wednesday from a Washington-area jail, where a judge has ordered him detained until trial. "He is in jail, still in good spirits, being held as a political prisoner for going to the Capitol on January 6 to stand up for the rights of Americans," Oltmann said. Oltmann's group has received key support from Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, the controversial far-right Colorado congresswoman. "You are so valuable . . . I have your back," she said in a recorded message for FEC United in January 2021, the Colorado Times Recorder reported. She has also appeared as a guest on Oltmann's show. Meanwhile, FEC United has grown more active in local politics, with members showing up at school board meetings around Colorado to complain about mask mandates in schools. During a speech last year, Oltmann bragged that the group had endorsed 53 candidates for school board elections in 2021, and he claimed that all 53 had won. He did not name them. As Oltmann's political influence has grown, so too have the avenues he has introduced to monetize his political platform. He maintains a GoFundMe page, soliciting frequent donations to his legal defense. The "Conservative Daily" podcast is supported by advertisers. FEC United also collects a fee from members. Oltmann claimed last November that 279,000 people were paying $60 a year to be part of the group, with more than 500 joining every day. Oltmann has insisted that his political activism has negatively affected his business career and that he has made financial sacrifices in its pursuit. But his frequent appeals for contributions have earned new critics - including, in recent weeks, Max McGuire, who had acted as Oltmann's co-host on his podcast since its launch but quit this spring after Oltmann supported Russia in its invasion of Ukraine. "I have a serious problem with anyone who asks people, many of whom are on a fixed income, to donate to them, while they continue to live extravagant lives," McGuire wrote on Telegram. He declined further comment. Oltmann said this week on his podcast that he acts "unselfishly." "It's not for advertising clicks," he said. "It's not for personal gain." Oltmann talks with some frequency about the need to hang people to send a message. "I went and bought a bunch of rope," he said on his podcast late last year. "That way I can pull people behind my car when their body parts fall off, so it's far enough behind, doesn't get any blood on it," he continued. "I'm kidding everyone. I'm kidding! It's totally a joke!" he then added. But a few days later, he continued the theme: "I want people to go out there and get some wood. The gallows are getting wider and longer. We should be able to build gallows all the way from Washington, D.C., to California," he said. Among those he has labeled a traitor is Polis. After saying "stretch that rope" with reference to the governor, he added: "I'm being funny. Why can't you be a little funny?" A spokesman for Polis declined to comment. Oltmann also threatens to commit violence personally against those who might threaten him. "I'm not afraid to punch a communist in the face," he told podcast listeners in April. "I'm not afraid, if someone comes to my house, to let them come back out in a large bag. . . . I may go to jail. I may go to jail - but you will drink through a straw for the rest of your life." After Peters was arrested, FEC United hosted an "emergency meeting" in her defense at a church outside Denver. Peters arrived at the meeting a few hours after she was booked by police. She was greeted with a standing ovation. From the stage, several speakers denounced Griswold, the Democratic secretary of state, accusing her of engaging in election fraud. "You know, if you're involved in election fraud, then you deserve to hang," said one speaker after referencing her. "Lock her up!" the crowd chanted in response, reprising the 2016 Trump campaign rally chant used about Hillary Clinton. "It was so depressing," said Dick Wadhams, a former chairman of the Colorado Republican Party who said he voted for Trump in 2020 but has warned of the danger of Oltmann's rise. "The crowd was laughing and applauding. It was great fun." Oltmann's association with John Tiegen, a former Marine and founder of the United American Defense Force, has also worried his critics, who describe the group as a militia. Its members sometimes attend events armed and wearing military-style fatigues. On its website, the UADF says it is a "humanitarian aid organization" created to assist first responders and "defend and protect what is ours." Tiegen did not respond to requests for comment. During a deposition in his defamation case, Oltmann said he is merely a member of the group. But in Colorado corporate records, UADF lists its address as a wedding venue operated by Oltmann's wife. And during an appearance on Oltmann's podcast in August 2021, Tiegen called the UADF the "protection division" of FEC United and claimed that the group had several hundred members. Griswold said the UADF essentially serves as an armed wing of Oltmann's empire. Amid growing threats, the secretary of state began traveling with a security detail last year, her office said. "Any person, when they see an election denier group with a militia arm call for them to be hanged, would take that extremely seriously," she said. In April, 3,800 Republican activists gathered in Colorado Springs for the GOP's assembly meeting. Candidates wishing to get on the June ballot could either gather signatures on petitions or seek 30% of the vote at the assembly. The gathering gave Peters its loudest cheers, and delegates tried to nominate Oltmann for governor. He declined, choosing to speak instead on behalf of Peters and state Rep. Ron Hanks, an election denier who attended the rally for Trump in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, and is seeking the GOP nomination to face U.S. Democratic Sen. Michael F. Bennet in November. Peters won 60% of the state Republican assembly vote, and Hanks won 39%, meaning both will appear on the primary ballot. Wadhams warned that the rise of Oltmann's candidates could lead to a wipeout for the party in Colorado, an increasingly Democratic-leaning state. "It'll be the final nail in the coffin of unaffiliated voters looking at Republicans as a bunch of conspiratorial nuts," he said. "I'm not sure we can recover from that." Three days after the assembly, Oltmann explained on his podcast that he is not ready to run for office. "I was like, I can't run. I don't have time. FEC is sweeping the nation," he said. "I have to be in that." - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites contributed to this report. A Campus Drive was organized by the Training and Placement Department of Rabindranath Tagore University. The 'Eichar Tractor Mandideep (Tepe Motors and Tractor Ltd.)' conducted this campus drive on Monday. Diploma students of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering participated in the placement drive. In this, Group Discussion and Personal Interview were organized for the selection process. Finally 19 students were selected in Eicher Tractor Mandideep (Tepe Motors and Tractor Ltd.). University Vice Chancellor Brahm Prakash Pethia, Registrar Vijay Singh and Placement Officer Abhishek Shroti congratulated the selected students. The selection was held in three rounds. The first was the written test of the participants. The participants who qualified the written test then appeared for the technical round. The students were asked about the technical upgrades in the market. The qualified students then appeared for the HR interview. After the HR interview, the students were shortlisted for the company. Prior to the campus drive, the representatives from Byjus addressed the students. They also informed the students about their company through a power-point presentation. During the powerpoint presentation, an interaction session was also carried out. The students asked about their queries to the experts for their future endeavours. To help cover the rising cost of insulin for people whose insurance doesn't include it or the 28 million Americans without insurance Walmart offers the first-ever private brand analog insulin at a low cost. The offering includes analog insulin vials retailing for $72.88 and FlexPens retailing for $85.88, according to Walmart in a press release highlighting its low-cost insulin on Wednesday. An insulin-dependent diabetic could go through one vial anywhere from one week to a few months, according to the American Diabetes Association. Through a partnership with insulin manufacturer Novo Nordisk, Walmart is selling the insulin products under a private label called ReliOn that saves customers up to 75% off the cash price of branded analog insulin. This translates to a savings of up to $101 per branded vial or $251 per package of branded FlexPens, according to Walmart in the release. The ReliOn private label of Novolog injection analog insulin in vials and FlexPens, as well as ReliOn NovoLog Mix 70/30, are available at Walmart and Sams Club pharmacies nationwide to anyone with a prescription, regardless of their insurance status. "We know many people with diabetes struggle to manage the financial burden of this condition, and we are focused on helping by providing affordable solutions," Cheryl Pegus, executive vice president for Walmart Health & Wellness, said in a statement. "We also know this is a condition that disproportionately impacts underserved populations. With ReliOn NovoLog insulin, were adding a high-quality medication for diabetes to the already affordable ReliOn line of products and continuing our commitment to improve access and lowering cost of care." For many with diabetes, their health depends on having reliable access to insulin. Insulin helps control blood sugar levels and prevent complications that diabetes causes. And, people living in rural America are 17% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than those in urban areas. The rising price of insulin a diabetes drug thats been around 100 years has been well documented and widely criticized. Solutions, though, have been elusive. "While drug pricing in the United States is complicated and involves many stakeholders, the publics need for life-saving medications like insulin at predictable and more affordable prices should drive all of us to do more and do better," Walmart stated in the release. National drug spending jumped 7.7% in 2021, growing to $576.9 billion, according to a study released in April 2022 by the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. The average cash price for insulin in the U.S. in late 2021 had risen more than 40% compared to early 2014. Due to the rising cost, one in four people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in the U.S. resorted to rationing their insulin because of the high cost, according to researchers for the Yale School of Medicine. The consequences of skipping or reducing insulin treatments can put a diabetic's life at risk. Complications include an increased likelihood of blindness, amputations, heart attack and kidney failure, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The rising cost of insulin has prompted lawmakers, including Congress, to call for price caps and for pharmaceutical companies to find ways to drop the cost for patients. Walmart stated it was "encouraged" to see lawmakers at the federal and state levels recognize the need to make insulin more affordable. In his State of the Union address on March 1, 2022, President Joe Biden called for a nationwide $35 cap on insulin copayments for those enrolled in private health plans or Medicare. The U.S. House approved a bill in February 2022 that does just that. The bill caps cost-sharing under private health insurance for a month's supply of selected insulin products at $35 or 25% of a plan's negotiated price (after any price concessions), whichever is less, beginning in 2023. Michigan U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D Flint, said the rising cost of insulin and other drugs is proving to be a financial burden on patients. "As a father of a Type 1 diabetic, I have seen firsthand how the high price of prescription drugs like insulin can harm patients and harm families," Kildee, one of the bill's sponsors, said on the House floor before the vote. "When my daughter turned 26 and got her own health insurance, there were months where she spent a third of her take-home pay because shes diabetic on staying alive." Kildee urges the U.S. Senate to pass the bill in a June 21 Tweet. "No one should ever be forced to ration their insulin," Kildee wrote. "My bill to cap the cost of insulin at $35 per month passed the House. Americans cant afford to wait any longer. The Senate must act now and help lower the cost of this necessary lifesaving medication." Additionally, the Senate is pursuing a bipartisan agreement on a similar measure. Unwilling to wait for federal action, 16 states across the country, starting with Colorado in 2019, enacted caps on insulin co-pays, ranging from $25 to $100 a month for consumers with commercial health insurance. Eight more states are considering similar legislation, including Michigan. On Feb. 24, 2021, Michigan State Rep. Sara Cambensy, D Marquette, introduced a bill that would cap out-of-pocket insulin costs at $50 a month. A copay cap provides some consumer relief, but Cambensy acknowledged it wouldnt "get to the root bottom" where manufacturers set prices. Three drug companies dominate the production of insulin. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WARSAW, Poland (AP) A display of war-damaged Russian weapons in downtown Warsaw serves as a reminder of the horrors of the war in Ukraine but also that Russia's aggression can be defeated, officials said Monday. Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar and the head of Poland's prime minister's office, Michal Dworczyk, inaugurated the exhibit in Warsaws Castle Square - a symbolic venue that was painstakingly rebuilt after it's destruction during World War II. Dworczyk said the damaged T-72 tank, a self-propelled howitzer and elements of Russian missile systems show that Russia's army, once considered invincible, can be defeated. The equipment fell into the hands of Ukrainian forces early in the war that started when Russia invaded on Feb. 24. This Russian equipment destroyed by Ukrainian soldiers proves that determination, courage and professionalism can lead to the defeat of the Russian army, Dworczyk said. The tank was destroyed Mar. 31 in fighting near the village of Dmytrivka, west of Kyiv. Exhibit labels in Ukrainian, Polish and English said that the body of a Russian tank platoon commander was found near the tank. Maliar said the equipment also demonstrate the effectiveness of Ukraine's defense systems - some of which have been provided by European countries - and underscore need for more such support. The display, called For Our Freedom and Yours," opened on the eve of a NATO summit in Madrid that aims to boost the strength of the military alliance's rapid reaction force and military support for Ukraine. Maliar said Russia's artillery is 10 times more powerful than Ukraine's. Ukraine has been urging its western allies to provide more military equipment and munitions to support its defense against severe Russian attacks in the east of the country. Moscow still has the Soviet ambition of bringing Russian tanks to the Atlantic Ocean, to the English Channel," Maliar said. With this exhibition we want to demonstrate that thanks to Ukraine, thanks to our resistance, such tanks can get to Europe only as museum exhibits, she said. There are plans to take the weapons display to the Czech Republic and elsewhere in Europe, Maliar said. Giorgio Buonvicini, a tourist from Genoa, Italy said people need to know and need to ... understand better what is happening. Ukraines neighbor Poland has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv, seeing Ukraine's resistance as defending all of Europe. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine A group of abortion providers from around the Lone Star State filed a lawsuit Monday against Attorney General Ken Paxton and several other state and local officials over what they say are conflicting state laws banning the medical procedure. An initial hearing on the new legal challenge, filed in Harris Countys 269th state District Court, will be livestreamed at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday on the courts website. Hours after the Supreme Court overturned federal abortion protections Friday, Paxton issued a legal advisory arguing that Texas district attorneys could immediately file criminal charges based on an existing statute outlawing abortion that is technically still on the books in Texas, despite a court ruling questioning its validity. The law, originally passed in 1925, had since been ruled unconstitutional by the landmark Roe v. Wade, the same case overturned by the Supreme Court just days ago. The providers are asking 269th state District Court Judge Cory Sepolio to temporarily repeal the 1925 abortion ban so they can continue providing what were previously legal abortions before the states trigger laws go into effect 30 days after the Supreme Court officially releases its judgment. Once Paxtons advisory was released, abortion providers across Texas immediately canceled appointments in fear of being prosecuted, attorneys for the providers argued in their petition filed Monday afternoon. "Mr. Paxtons and the Texas Legislatures attempts to greenlight the immediate prosecution of abortion providers based on violations of the Pre-Roe ban must not stand," attorneys wrote in the suit. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images In 1973, the law was transferred from the Texas penal code to the states civil statutes and deemed unenforceable after Roe was decided. Ever since, it failed to appear in the states official record of statutes, called Vernons Civil Statutes, attorneys said. Indeed, an archived version of the record from February 2022 before the Supreme Court overturned Roe shows it was nowhere to be found. But an official version accessed Monday includes the 1925 law in the code. However, despite Paxtons urging for prosecutors to file criminal charges related to abortions, the code now also has an annotation announcing it was "impliedly repealed" by another abortion case in 2004 that has yet to be overruled. That case, McCorvey v. Hill, started when Roes original plaintiffwhose real name is Norma McCorveyasked the federal courts to reverse their decision in the landmark Roe. The Fifth Circuit of Appeals ruled McCorvey waited too long to request the case be reversed. Attorneys for the abortion providers argue that because the statue had been off the books and unenforceable for decades, it should be invalidated. They also claim the states trigger laws would be inconsistent with the 1925 law, creating a potential problem surrounding due process. The American Civil Liberties Union and its Texas counterpart, along with the Center for Reproductive Rights which won a temporary halt on abortion restrictions in Louisiana on Monday, helped filed the suit. Susan Walsh/Associated Press "Abortion services stopped immediately in Texas last week after the Supreme Courts crushing decision, but we will fight to maintain access for as long as we can," said Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights. "Every day, every hour that abortion remains legal in Texas is a chance for more people to get the care they need. The clinics we represent want to help as many patients as they can, down to the last minute." The list of plaintiffs includes: Whole Womans Health, Whole Womans Health Alliance, Alamo Womens Reproductive Services, Austin Womens Health Center, Houston Womens Clinic, Houston Womens Reproductive Services, and Southwestern Womens Surgery Center. As of Monday afternoon, the defendants which include Paxton, key members of the state's health and medical boards, and several district attorneys including Kim Ogg had yet to formally respond to the lawsuit, according to Harris County court records. If you want to get away with the gals (or if you just really, really like pink), then this is the best vacation rental in all of Texas: Available to rent from VRBO, La Casita Rosa The Pink House is a pink-lovers dream that can sleep up 12 people comfortably. Perfect for weekends away, bachelorette parties, and whatever it is you'd do in a pink house that sleeps 12. One reason this rental is great for bachelorette parties is its proximity to Austin, about 30 minutes away from the town of Dripping Springs. Which, if you didnt know, is the wedding capital of Texas. Nearby youll find breweries, wineries, distilleries, and more. What more could you ask for as you get ready to celebrate a wedding? WFO PHOENIX Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ DUST STORM WARNING BULLETIN - EAS ACTIVATION REQUESTED Dust Storm Warning National Weather Service Phoenix AZ 850 PM MST Sun Jun 26 2022 The National Weather Service in Phoenix has issued a * Dust Storm Warning for... Southwestern La Paz County in west central Arizona... Central Yuma County in southwestern Arizona... Southeastern Imperial County in southeastern California... * Until 945 PM MST/945 PM PDT/. * At 850 PM MST/850 PM PDT/, a wall of dust was along a line extending from 13 miles northeast of Yuma Proving Ground to near Wellton to 20 miles south of Mohawk, moving southwest at 30 mph. HAZARD...Less than a quarter mile visibility with strong wind in excess of 40 mph. SOURCE...Trained weather spotters. IMPACT...Dangerous life-threatening travel. * This includes the following highways... AZ Interstate 8 between mile markers 1 and 37. CA Interstate 8 between mile markers 71 and 96. AZ Route 95 between mile markers 29 and 72. Locations impacted include... Yuma, Somerton, Martinez Lake, Gadsden, Fortuna Foothills, Wellton, Gordon's Well, Kinter, Algodones Dunes, Andrade, Winterhaven, Araby, Yuma Proving Ground, Blaisdell and Ligurta. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... Dust storms lead to dangerous driving conditions with visibility reduced to near zero. If driving, avoid dust storms if possible. If caught in one, pull off the road, turn off your lights and keep your foot off the brake. Motorists should not drive into a dust storm. PULL ASIDE STAY ALIVE! _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO BINGHAMTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Binghamton NY 704 PM EDT Sun Jun 26 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of northwestern Broome and southwestern Chenango Counties through 745 PM EDT... At 704 PM EDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Greene, or 9 miles northeast of Greater Binghamton Airport, moving northeast at 25 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts up to 50 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Greene, Oxford, Brisben, Smithville Flats, South Oxford, Chenango Forks, Mc Donough, Smithville Center, Bowman Lake State Park and Tyner. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 4220 7586 4228 7597 4256 7571 4244 7550 TIME...MOT...LOC 2304Z 218DEG 20KT 4230 7585 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...50 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO BINGHAMTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Binghamton has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... West central Otsego County in central New York... Central Chenango County in central New York... * Until 815 PM EDT. * At 729 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over South Oxford, or 11 miles southwest of Norwich, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Norwich, Guilford, North Norwich, Oxford, Sherburne, Preston, New Berlin, Morris, Gilbertsville and South Oxford. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in Binghamton. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO BUFFALO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Buffalo has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Northern Lewis County in central New York... * Until 745 PM EDT. * At 651 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Lowville, or 22 miles southeast of Fort Drum, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to trees and power lines. * Locations impacted include... Lowville, Whetstone Gulf State Park, New Bremen, Watson, Martinsburg, Greig, Croghan, Castorland, Turin and Belfort. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO SEATTLE Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Seattle WA 416 PM PDT Sun Jun 26 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Hot conditions will persist this afternoon and into this evening before onshore flow starts to transport cooler air into the area overnight tonight, allowing for overnight temperatures to recede back into the upper 50s. * WHERE...North Coast and Central Coast. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot conditions this afternoon and evening will maintain the risk of heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration. 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. For sheltering information and other human services in your area, dial 2 1 1 during business hours or visit wa211.org anytime. ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT MONDAY... * WHAT...Hot conditions with high temperatures in the low to mid 90s again on Monday. Overnight low temperatures tonight will likely only cool into the 60s for many locations. This will pose a moderate risk of heat-related illness. * WHERE...Portions of northwest and west central Washington. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot conditions will increase the risk of heat-related illnesses for those who are sensitive to heat, especially those without effective cooling or adequate hydration. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...A significant increase in cold- and high- water related incidents is possible. Recent rains and late snowmelt has lead to high, fast and cold flows on area waterways. Cold water shock can lead to life-threatening hypothermia within minutes. Use extreme caution if recreating near water, wear a life jacket, and supervise children closely. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Jawaharlal Nehru University Teachers Association (JNUTA) has demanded the release of activist Teesta Setalvad, who was arrested by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad allegedly for submitting false evidence in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. In a statement issued on Sunday, JNUTA urged the people to stand in unwavering support of the activist against, what it called, a motivated action of the Gujarat police. On Saturday, the Gujarat ATS detained Setalvad from her house in the Juhu area of Mumbai in connection with an First Information Report (FIR) lodged by Crime Branch Inspector D B Barad in Ahmedabad for "criminal conspiracy, forgery and placing false evidence in court to frame innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots. The ATS also arrested former Gujarat DGP R B Sreekumar and former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt -- who is already in prison in a police torture case under the same charges. The JNUTA said it stands committed in its support of Setalvad, saying her "longstanding and indefatigable work in the defence of civil liberties" has made justice for communal violence victims viable. "JNUTA expresses its solidarity with Teesta Setalvad and all others who are being persecuted for upholding and affirming the values of India's democratic polity against all forms of autocratic oppression," the teachers' body said in the statement. It demanded that the FIR filed against supporters of victims of Gujarat violence be withdrawn and that Teesta Setalvad and others, falsely implicated in this case, be immediately released." 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 Hailing the performance of her party candidate in the recent Azamgarh parliamentary bypoll, Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati, on Monday, asked party workers to keep the momentum and prevent Muslims from being misled in the 2024 general elections. The determination and courage with which all the BSP workers, office-bearers and party candidate Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali have fought the Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypoll needs to be maintained till 2024 Lok Sabha elections as part of the resolve while maintaining election readiness, Mayawati said in a tweet in Hindi. In another tweet, she said, not only in Azamgarh, BSPs struggle and efforts had to be continued in the entire UP to convert the groundwork into votes. "In this sequence, it is also important to protect a particular community from being misled in the upcoming elections, she said, in an apparent reference to Muslim voters. Mayawati had on Sunday said that the outcome of the bypoll had proved that only BSP had the ground force to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party in the state. "The UP bypoll result has once again proved that only BSP has the ground force to defeat BJP here. The partys effort to prove this to the entire community will continue so that the much awaited political change can take place in the state, the BSP chief said. She tweeted, "The ruling party wins most of the bypolls yet the tough fight the Bahujan Samaj Party has given to the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party and the Samajwadi Party in Azamgarh is commendable. All party workers have to move forward with more strength." The BSP contested only the Azamgarh bypoll. Partys candidate Shah Alam alias Guddu Jamali stood third with 29.27 per cent votes there. The BJP candidates won both the Azamgarh and Rampur seats in the bypolls, the counting for which were held on Sunday. Why does Canada welcome over 400,000 immigrants per year? The three classes of immigration in Canada and their purpose. Why does Canada welcome over 400,000 immigrants per year? The three classes of immigration in Canada and their purpose. Why does Canada welcome over 400,000 immigrants per year? The three classes of immigration in Canada and their purpose. Julia Hornstein Aa Accessibility Font Style Serif Sans Font Size A A Canadas immigration goal is to continuously increase immigration levels in order to strengthen the economy, reunite families and provide humanitarian assistance to refugees. Canada has three classes of immigration: economic class, family class and refugee class. The economic class involves immigrants who have been selected for their ability to contribute to Canadas economy, whether it be through their capacity to meet labour market needs, to own or manage a business, to make a substantial investment or create their own employment. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration The family class includes immigrants who have been sponsored by a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. The goal is to enable family members and couples to be reunited and live together in Canada. These immigrants are granted permanent resident status based on their relationship with a spouse, partner, parent, grandparent, child or other relative. The refugee class comprises immigrants who were granted permanent resident status due to the fear of persecution involved with living in their home country based on race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. This class also includes persons who have been seriously affected by war or conflict or have suffered a substantial violation of human rights. Due to Canadas older population and low birth rate, there are low rates of economic and labour force growth. The low economic growth makes it challenging for Canada to increase the taxes the country needs to spend on social services such as education and healthcare. For this reason, Canada has been increasing its immigration levels to strengthen the countrys economy and fiscal situation. Each year, the federal government releases a new Immigration Levels Plan which outlines the immigration objectives for the next three years. The plan includes the number and class of immigrants the country hopes to welcome. In 2022, Canada hopes to exceed 430,000 new permanent residents, with nearly 60% of new permanent residents falling under the economic class. The Economic Class The most common economic class admissions into Canada come through the federal Express Entry system. Eligible candidates, usually skilled workers, submit their profile and are given a score that is ranked by the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). Every two weeks, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) invites eligible candidates with the highest scores to apply for permanent residence. The Express Entry system manages three programs, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Federal Skilled Trades Class (FSTC) and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The FSWP has been the main way Canada welcomes skilled workers from around the world. It uses the CRS, a point-based system that is calculated based on age, education, work experience, language skills and more. The FSTC is an effort to address Canadas labor shortages in trades occupations. These candidates may have lower scores since they are not required to prove their level of education, but the IRCC occasionally holds program specific Express Entry draws that invite only FTSP candidates. These successful candidates are usually able to obtain their permanent residence within six months. Lastly, the CEC is for candidates who have worked in Canada and want to become a permanent resident. This option is for temporary foreign workers and international graduates who want to continue to build their futures in Canada. The Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) is another leading option to immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker. The purpose of the program is to spread the benefits of immigration across Canada. Consequently, almost all the provinces and territories use the PNP to attract and welcome skilled workers from around the globe to help strengthen the Canadian economy. The only exceptions are Nunavut and Quebec. The province of Quebec instead has its own selection criteria for economic immigration, which begins with candidates declaring their interest in immigrating to Quebec by submitting an expression of interest (EOI) form. The Family Class IRCC also welcomes immigrants through family sponsorship. If you are a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, you can sponsor your foreign national spouse or partner to obtain Canadian permanent resident status. The sponsorship can be done whether the sponsored person lives abroad or in Canada, as couples have the choice between outland and inland sponsorships. As a sponsor, you must be able to support your spouse or partner financially and by providing for the basic needs of that person. The IRCC also requires that you prove that the relationship is genuine. A Canadian citizen or permanent resident may also sponsor a dependent child to live with them in Canada as a permanent resident. For a child to be eligible for sponsorship, they must be a biological or adopted child of a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, be under the age of 22 and not married or in a common law relationship. Similarly to spousal sponsorships, the sponsor is required to provide for the childs basic needs. Additionally, Canadian citizens and permanent residents can sponsor their parents and grandparents to immigrate to Canada. Parents and grandparents who come to Canada under this program receive permanent residence status and may eventually be able to apply for Canadian citizenship. Sponsors must exceed the minimum necessary income level for this program and agree to financially support the sponsored and repay any social assistance benefits paid to the sponsored family members for 20 years. Candidates of this program must also prove that they meet the minimum income requirements. The Refugee Class Individuals may immigrate to Canada through the refugee class or for humanitarian purposes. Resettled refugees are migrants who have been selected by the United Nations Refugee Agency while outside their home country and are granted permanent residency in Canada. Canada provides them with a haven free of persecution, human rights violations or war. In addition, refugees who have landed in Canada may claim asylum and have their claims approved by the Immigration and Refugee Board. Those who do not fall under the aforementioned stream but who make a compelling case on humanitarian and compassionate grounds may be granted permanent resident status. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration CIC News All Rights Reserved. Visit CanadaVisa.com to discover your Canadian immigration options. CEMEX was faced with a flood of false positive alerts from its system monitoring software. Ultimately, the company deployed software and best practices to dramatically cut the false positives for improved monitoring and a better experience for employees and customers. Riddle me this! When is too much of a good thing not good? Well, for Juan Murguia Castillo, Cemex IT operations director, and his team in CEMEXs Operations Control Center (OCC), that question presented itself every day. Headquartered in Mexico, CEMEX is a building materials supplier and cement producer. It manufactures and distributes cement, ready-mix concrete, and aggregates in more than 50 countries. And this is important it has 66 cement plants, 2,000 ready-mix-concrete facilities, 400 quarries, 260 distribution centers, 80 marine terminals, and more than 41,000 employees worldwide. Whew! So, how the heck does CEMEX manage all those facilities and people? One way is with its OCC. Overseeing operations worldwide In 2014, the company launched its center, utilizing the SAP technology platform to monitor 22 production systems and more than 18,000 users worldwide. The platform was designed so that when something goes wrong with the systems, an alert is automatically created a good thing in theory making it possible for the OCC team to detect and solve any problems before the business is affected. But what happens when youre flooded with those good things, and most are false alarms? That was the case for the OCC team. The situation became a needle in the haystack for the team trying to find true issues in the crowd. Following a false trail False-positive alerts of any kind, in any industry, and from any source can cause disruptions and drain the pocketbook of a business. Take security alerts, for example, 46% of all application downtime [is] caused by false positives. . . 75% of businesses spent as much, or more, time chasing false positives than they did dealing with actual security incidents, according to Castillo. The average enterprise receives more than 10,000 security alerts a day. While often less in number, the flood of alerts not related to security can still be overwhelming as well, as the OCC discovered. We would often get an average of 200 alerts a day that had to be tracked down, taking up a lot of time and resources just to discover most were false positives, says Castillo. A solution that needed updating The reason for the flood lay with the technology platforms SAP Solution Manager. CEMEXs older version deployed in the OCC could not adapt to recurring behavior variations, which resulted in the high false-alert rate, or cover all unanticipated situations. The OCC team would set up alert thresholds with parameters to determine how, when, and where an alert should be created. But if an anomaly was under the threshold, the anomaly could not be detected. The team had limited visibility into SAP applications, making it difficult to determine the status of processes. Alert predictions were also hampered by the Solution Managers lack of process intelligence. Ultimately, data created by the software had to be reviewed for reliability all of which tied down Castillos team from pursuing higher-value work. Raising the Solution Manager IQ In the last two years, the OCC team and SAP have worked together to teach CEMEXs SAP Solution Manager to run SAP operations intelligently, utilizing machine learning and artificial intelligence, supported by best practices. The Machine Learning Extension for ELP SAP Solution Manager 7.2 has been implemented as a set of micro-services, running in the CEMEX SAP HANA XS Advanced system space. The result? The OCC team now has an expanded view of all SAP applications running in the CEMEX enterprise. Issues are easier to predict. Recurring metric and alert variations, unanticipated situations, and anomalies under the threshold are recognized and handled. Redundant alerts have been filtered out, cutting redundancy by 82%. A win across the board Overall, the intelligent Solution Manager has improved the reliability of operations. The number of false-positive alerts has dropped dramatically, making it easier to find the ones that matter. The faster we can identify and resolve issues, the less disruption to our business, says Martha Leal Tapia, CEMEX SAP service delivery lead. The net benefit is that teams can work on proactive activities like focusing on other issues to enhance the experience of doing business with CEMEX. To learn more about CEMEXs creative solution that earned them a finalists position at the SAP Innovation Awards for 2022, check out their pitch deck. Primeste notificari pe email Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele IWCS bags 18 district awards Inner Wheel Club Of Swarnrekha Ranchi (Charter No.6498 District 325) has emerged with flying colours in the District Awards Ceremony (Paritosh) held at Patna on July 25, 2022 for the Inner Wheel Year 2021-2022 . The Club has won 18 prestigious District Awards. IWCS Ranchi president Neeta Narayan said, It is indeed a proud moment for each and every member of our club. This amazing victory calls for a grand celebration! I am overwhelmed with happiness & pride for this remarkable recognition of our sincere & earnest hard work by the stalwarts of District 325. I am grateful to God for this recognition and appreciation won by our IWC of Swarnrekha Ranchi. I am extremely grateful to all of you for all the support, cooperation and love. Friends, we have succeeded in carving a niche for our Club in the vast canvas of Inner Wheel. We have to continue adding Golden feathers to the shining cap of Inner Wheel Club Of Swarnrekha Ranchi. Cleanliness awareness programme by CMPDI CMPDIL (HQ) on Monday organised an awareness program on 'Importance ofcleanliness at Badhu Panchayat, Kanke, Ranchi as part of Swachhta Pakhwada - 2022 celebrations. On this occasion, Cloth bags Sanitizers, masks and Saplings (Guava, Mahua, Bakain and Gulmohar) were distributed to approximately 100 residents of the village. Additionally Information, education and Communication (IEC) materials were distributed to the Panchayat Mukhiya Sunita Devi for further distribution and dissemination of information on Swachhta. Rameshwar Mahli, Ex-Mukhiya; Sunita Devi, Mukhiya; Mumtaz, Social worker were present from the village and Suman Rastogi, Chief Manager (P/ CSR Cell), CMPDIL( HQ) along with team and SK Ravi were a part of the programme. 3-day ToT under Jal Jeevan Mission The Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation in collaboration with UNICEF, has selected two district level coordinators/representatives and one district coordinator from the divisions/districts in which district coordinator has been appointed (An Assistant Engineer or Junior Engineer where the District Coordinator has not been appointed), for the State level 3-day residential training of trainers to be organised at Vishwa Auditorium, Kanke. The training was started on Monday at Vishwa Auditorium, Ranchi, located in Kanke, Dr. Neha Arora, IAS, Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Rural), Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of Jharkhand; Pranab Kumar Paul, Under Secretary, PMU, Department of Drinking Water and Sanitation, Government of Jharkhand and Ajit Kumar Singh, Director Vishwa. A total of 52 participants are participating in this training. Apart from this, all the state level consultants/coordinators participated. NHES student wins applause On the occasion of World Environment Day a Photography Contest was held by the Indo British Scholars Association in collaboration with the British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata on 3rd June, 2022. In the junior age group, there were over 430 entries from across India. Wajahat Shamim, student of Narbheram Hansraj English School did the School proud by winning an award under Category; Habitats. The panel of Judges comprised eminent personalities Yemi Odanye (British Deputy Head of Mission to Kolkata), Karuna Singh (Regional Director Asia, EARTHDAY.ORG) and Ashwika Kapur (National History Filmmaker, Chair Youth Council IBSA). The school principal, Paramita Roy Chaudhary, expressed her joy at the achievement and said, Participating in extracurricular activities helps expose hidden talents in students and leads to all round development. Im an Australian journalist sitting in on a famous and decorated newsrooms editorial meeting in New York. Theyre poking holes in a piece from another famous and decorated publication that suggests rising crime in California is the defining factor of recent election results. Hes put tent camps and anti-Asian hate crimes all in the same sentence as part of the issue, but is there any proof theyre linked? someone asks, clearly bothered. Im on a tour of New York newsrooms, as part of an award I won in Australia. Later, I read the announcement of an important appointment at another leading American journalistic institution. The words threat, democracy, and objectivity all show up as expected. Do I feel impassioned? No. Do I worry about admitting that? Yes. My trip has raised a fear I have that my view of journalism is too simplistic for the times we live in. I dont think debates about objectivity and democracy can solve the pressing issues we face. A story that paints an honest portrait with no grand overtures or real answers often cuts through where one written with a presumed infallibility does not. I think of Jessica Bruders Nomadland. It detailed nomadic lives lived following seasonal work around America. But instead of long, self-righteous paragraphs advocating against capitalism and exploitation, she used spare and restrained descriptions that were so much more powerful in making the same points. She embraced the nuance, and it hit harder. I once saw a presentation by Andrea Elliott, whose Invisible Child is a similarly nuanced portrait of poverty in America. She believes, she said, in the technique of standing in the midst ofwording taken from the Old English version of understand. Like Bruder, Elliott is skilled in capturing nuance while sidestepping sensationalization and easy answers. It inspired me, in my own work, to learn to be a better reporter. To get close to people, to persuade them to trust me with their stories, and then to try to write them down honestly and with humility. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Touring so many newsrooms, I got the sense that American journalists feel that in a hostile environment, they have to be a touch above everyone else, or at the very least ahead of them. But I take the opposite conclusion. To survive, and to build trust, maybe its better to remember how to be with people. To hear and understand them, without judgment or sentimentality. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Mridula Amin is a Dhaka-born Australian photojournalist and reporter. Her work focuses on themes of inequality, migration, identity and social justice in the Asia-Pacific region. On Monday, January 22, 1973, former President Lyndon B. Johnson died. The news, Susan Matthews noted in a recent episode of Slates Slow Burn history podcast, overshadowed another story that day: the Supreme Court arriving at a verdict in the case of Roe v. Wade and introducing a constitutional right to an abortion. The decision virtually got no attention at all in the paper, Harold Koh, a law clerk for Justice Harry Blackmun, who wrote the majority opinion in Roe, told Matthews. It wasnt until the letters started coming in that it started to dawn on Blackmun what it meant. The crowded news cycle, perhaps, wasnt the only impediment to wall-to-wall coverage of the decision. When the ruling came down, its not like it was not controversial, Rachel Maddow said on MSNBC, but it wasnt as controversial in 1973 as todays politics might make you think Contrary to popular belief, Roe v. Wade, in 1973, did not spark some kind of immediate big backlash among conservatives and evangelicals and Republicans. On Friday, June 24, 2022, when the Supreme Court overturned Roe, the news was treated not only as the top story but as a generationally seismic one across (almost) the entire breadth of the media landscape. The decision was hardly a surpriselast month, Politico published a leaked draft opinion that strongly foreshadowed it; on Friday, major news organizations quickly deployed coverage and commentary that had clearly been prepared in advancebut that didnt blunt the impact of the confirmation. News sites splashed banner headlines, while the major broadcast networks cut into regular programming within minutes of the decision; MSNBC got there a little later, but then broadcast without taking an ad break for at least three hours. On CNN, Joan Biskupic, a veteran Court reporter, said that it was startling, despite the prior warning of the leak, to see a legal right suddenly evaporate. On the right, Glenn Beck, broadcasting live on TheBlaze, rocked back in his chair as the news came in, then said a prayer as his eyes misted over. Later, on her Fox show, a beaming Laura Ingraham hailed answered prayers. ICYMI: Boris Johnson, Barbra Streisand, Thunderbirds, and the British media machine The coverage continued through the weekend, as protesters took to the streets, pundits weighed the electoral ramifications of the decision, and politicians gave their reaction. Stories in national and local outlets took news consumers inside abortion clinics in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas, and elsewhereearly Friday morning, only a few women at the front desk seemed to register that their access to abortion was in jeopardy, The New Yorkers Stephania Taladrid reported from a Houston facility that stopped offering the procedure as soon as the ruling came downand spelled out the disproportionate impact of the ruling on communities of color. Various outlets marshaled interactives to illustrate Americas changing abortion map, with strict anti-abortion trigger laws snapping immediately into place in South Dakota, Louisiana, and Kentucky and moving closer to implementation elsewhere. A New York Times graphic using shades of purple to show how far people across the country have had and will have to travel to reach their nearest clinic grew gradually darker as the page scrolled past. New York magazine updated a database of verified abortion providers and other resources that it first published in print after the draft opinion leaked, under the headline This Magazine Can Help You Get an Abortionmirroring a guide that it produced in 1972, before Roe was decided. The same magazine also published a guide to your nearest protest. As their journalists were covering the decision, their bosses, in many cases, were talking to them about what it would mean for their work. At least seven top news organizations vowed to preserve their employees access to reproductive care regardless of where they live, with at least five of those outletsfrom CNNs parent company to Conde Nastpromising to reimburse staffers and eligible dependents who now need to travel for abortion services. Meanwhile, bosses at several other outlets warned their journalists not to express public opinions about the decision for fear that audiences might perceive their work as biased. In an internal email headlined 1 big thing: Trust, management at Axios acknowledged that this is a trying time for many Axions and offered up a list of physical- and mental-health resources, but also made the difficult request that staffers refrain from taking political stands in public and instead pour our passion into the most powerful weapon we possess: our journalistic platform. Gannett told its journalists that they make sacrifices for our profession, and asked anyone who sees a colleague posting inappropriate comments to immediately alert your supervisor. As when similar newsroom reminders were issued in the wake of the leaked draft opinion, various media watchers were harshly critical, arguing that policing journalists speech at this moment is the wrong focusEverything is literally on fire and legacy newsrooms are telling reporters to watch out with their little tweets, Sam Sanders tweetedand futile: journalists, as Wesley Lowery put it, are human beings and therefore do have biases, and hiding them is neither sufficient nor necessary to produce fair and trusted work. The debate over journalistic objectivity and what types of personal expression it should allow is not new, either generally or in the context of reproductive rights, though certain bosses response to the Roe decision, to my mind, betrays a new level of incoherence. At least some newsrooms issued the speech warnings in the same breath as commitments to maintain staffers health coversuggesting that they see abortion access both as a healthcare right to be protected for their staff and a political controversy to be avoided for their readers. This might not necessarily be contradictory, but it is, or at least should be, a false dichotomy; ultimately, speaking out about your rights is not a sacrifice any employee of any organization should have to make. Would a newsroom ban a reporter with cancer from tweeting about the difficulties of accessing and paying for their cancer care? Sign up for CJR 's daily email This debate doesnt just affect journalists rights as workers, but also speaks to the ways in which major news organizations might think about telling the Roe story. Rights are a crucial matter of political controversy, of course, but they should not be reduced to that. The weekends best coverage was that which framed the Roe verdict not as the static culmination of an epochal battle between two sidesas some crudely reductivist headlines didbut as a crucial moment along a much more fluid, complicated continuum of rights realization and retrenchment. It emphasized, as The New Yorkers Jia Tolentino put it, that in practice, poor and minority women in conservative states lost access to abortion long before this Supreme Court decision. And it asked, too, where America might be going next. A lot of coverage and punditry over the weekend focused on a concurring opinion in which Justice Clarence Thomas called for the Court to reconsider other precedents decided similarly to Roe, including still-existing rights to contraception, same-sex relations, and same-sex marriage. Justices Samuel Alito and Brett Kavanaugh explicitly denied that these rights are at risk, and numerous figures in right-wing media pointed to their words as a means of taking aim at liberal hyperbole. Some serious journalists were also among those to warn against overemphasizing Thomass position. I think the press gives a bit too much credence to that sort of thing, which is somewhat speculative, Politicos Josh Gerstein, who broke the news of the leaked draft opinion last month, told CNNs Oliver Darcy. There are many other concrete things that will flow out of todays decision without needing to necessarily say the sky is falling about all kinds of other things that may or may not develop years down the road. There certainly is much concrete impact to cover. But the gap between the concrete and the speculative is not as wide as we might like to think. It would, at the very least, be unforgivably naive for reporters to simply take Alito and Kavanaugh at their word here, especially when Alitos majority opinion appeared to tear down the legal framework on which the rights referenced by Thomas rest. And the story of abortion rightsand the Courts role in defining their scopeis far from over; in many ways, as Linda Greenhouse pointed out in a Times op-ed, its only just beginning, given the can of worms opened by the Roe verdict. Top Republicans have already spoken since the ruling about pushing for some kind of national abortion ban, and the wider anti-abortion movement explicilty is not done yet. Caroline Kitchener, who covers abortion for the Washington Post, said Saturday that when she started on the beat, an anti-abortion lawmaker told her that we cant stop until theres no more murder. Kitcheners story on next steps that the movement might take was on the front of Sundays Post. Ultimately, if the Roe story can teach the press anything, its that events that seem hypothetical and distant can come to pass. The immediate impacts of a huge decision should, of course, be a top coverage priority, but its not an indulgence to take a step and explain the mechanisms that led to them and could now lead to further radical changeits a necessity. Maddow explained this on Friday, opening her show by laying out how a dedicated movement built the political salience of abortion over time. I know theres a lot to say about the Court, and the reasoning of todays ruling, and the individual justices who did this, and indeed the individual states and what their new laws are and how fast the curtain is coming down, she said, promising to get into all that. But I think to know where we are and to know whats coming next here, we have to get real about who did this and how they did it This is a movement that they have been building for forty years that is just now hitting its stride. Below, more on the decision: Other notable stories: ICYMI: A Licht reader Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. agreed to pay $105 million to settle a long-running class-action lawsuit accusing it of misleading shareholders about how rising generic drug prices and reimbursement pressures would hurt its pharmacy business. The preliminary all-cash settlement was filed on Thursday in a federal court in Chicago following six months of mediation, and requires a judges approval. Walgreens denied wrongdoing, but settled to avoid the uncertainty, burden and cost of further litigation, settlement papers show. The company did not immediately respond on Friday to requests for additional comment Shareholders said Walgreens inflated its stock price in 2014 by concealing bad news about drug prices and reimbursement rates, so investors could focus on its then-pending merger with Switzerlands Alliance Boots GmbH. The challenged statements concerned Walgreens outlook for its 2016 fiscal year, the first full year after the Deerfield, Illinois-based company expected to complete the merger. Walgreen Co, as the company was then known, lowered its forecast for that year on Aug. 6, 2014. The merger closed at the end of 2014, and the lawsuit was filed in April 2015. Thursdays settlement covers Walgreen shareholders from April 17 to Aug. 5, 2014. The lead plaintiff is Industriens Pensionsforsikring A/S, a Danish pension fund. Walgreens rivals include CVS Health Corp CVS.N and Rite Aid Corp RAD.N. A related shareholder lawsuit accusing Walgreen officers and directors of poor oversight has been on hold pending a resolution of the class action. Lawyers for the plaintiffs in that case did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The case is Washtenaw County Employees Retirement System et al v Walgreen Co et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois, No. 15-03187. Digitalization empowers China's auto industry with more opportunities Xinhua) 13:00, June 27, 2022 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Digitalization has provided China's automobile industry with more opportunities to strengthen its resilience, battle risks, and identify growth potential. Electrification is the first phase of the automobile revolution, while digitalization and intelligent connectivity form the second phase, said Chen Qingtai, president of China EV100, an electric vehicle industry think tank. Chinese tech giant Tencent has recently announced its newly upgraded "Vehicle-Cloud Integration" strategy and launched the "Tencent Intelligent Automobile Cloud," a one-stop cloud solution tailored for the intelligent automobile industry. The integrated vehicle-cloud strategy which connects the vehicle, mobile phone and cloud terminal can make digital connections more effective, create a data-driven closed loop, and improve the productivity of the entire chain. It will also apply cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, AI and big data to offer the automobile industry easy access to customizable platforms and toolkit, in order to make cloud a new production force for intelligent automobiles, said Dowson Tong, senior executive vice president of Tencent and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industry Group. Tencent is not the only tech company to tackle industrial challenges with intelligent empowerment. Telecom giant Huawei's intelligent connected vehicle strategy provides the automobile industry with a complete set of solutions from the operating system to automatic driving platform, from self-developed chip to lidar, from the intelligent cockpit to the battery, motor and electric control system. "The market is broad enough and full of opportunities," said Wang Jun, chief operating officer of Huawei Smart Car Solution BU. One percent increase in both intelligence and electrification level would expand the complete auto parts market by more than 6 billion U.S. dollars. Cars have become the new terminals in the era of intelligent automobiles, and enhancing vehicle data security and network security is a new task. Targeting the security problems, Tencent's integrated security solution provides a thorough security system covering the cloud, channels and terminals, as well as expert-level security services and a closed-loop security operation, to comprehensively guarantee the security of the user's journey and the vehicle, according to a report jointly released by global research and advisory firm Gartner and Tencent. "In this era of intelligent automobiles, we need to redefine the standards of automobile safety, creating an all-encompassing, multi-dimensional safety system covering cloud, vehicle and mobile devices," said Li Bo, vice president of Tencent Intelligent Mobility. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) The Ranchi police have unfolded the mystery in sensational Pandra double murder case, with police arresting the main accused in the case. Ranchi SP (City) Anshuman Kumar said that the case is of love affair, with accused Arpit Arnab(19 year) having a relationship with deceased girl Shweta Singh. The police also said that the FIR accused Rohan had no involvement in the case. Rohan, who was earlier named as accused in the FIR registered by the maternal uncle of the deceased, is innocent. Based on smart policing and technical support the police have arrested the real culprit Arpit Arnab. Also there is only one accused in the case and not three as claimed by victim family members earlier, said Anshuman Kumar. Explaining the reason behind the murder, S.P (city) Kumar, said it was outcome of love affairs against the will of parents. Arpit and the deceased girl Shweta were in a relationship. The girl and boy used to meet on the rooftop during the night. When Swetas mother Chanda Singh came to know about their affairs, she raised an objection. But the girl did not pay heed to her mothers objection and used to meet Arnab secretly, the release reads. In the intervening night of June 17 and 18, Arpit went to meet the girl on her invitation and reached the rooftop scaling boundary wall. Between 3.30am to 4am both came down stairs. In the meantime, the girls mother got up. When Chanda Singh noticed Arpit in a compromising position with her daughter, she lost her cool and started beating up youth. In retaliation the youth attacked the woman on her neck three to four times with a knife kept for cutting vegetables. When the knife got broken he used a hammer to attack her head four times. When son Praveen heard mother raising an alarm, he rushed to her rescue. On which Arpit hit his head three to four times. Pravin fell down. When Shweta raised an objection, he also hit her head with a hammer three to four times. Shweta also fell down. After that, Arpit escaped leaping off the rooftop, the release reads. In the incident, the girl died on the spot and her brother was taken to the hospital while their mother was admitted to RIMS in critical condition. Police claimed that the accused was smart as he switched off his mobile phone and went to Bilaspur, from where he went Vishakhapattnam, Bhagalpur and Patna before he reached Ranchi. Police also said that earlier Chanda Singh named Rohan as accused in the case as she was not in her proper sense after the incident. The police also said that the statement of the woman will be recorded further when she gets well. The Delhi Police has registered case of rape and criminal intimidation against the personal secretary of Congress president Sonia Gandhi, 71- year-old PP Madhavan after a complaint by a 26-year-old woman. The woman alleged that the accused Madhavan lured her on the pretext of providing her a job and had promised marriage. A police officer privy to the investigation said that the victim had alleged that she was allegedly raped and threatened of dire consequences by the accused if she reported the matter.A complaint was received at the Uttam Nagar Police Station on June 25 following which a First Information Report (FIR) under Sections 376 (rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) has been registered. Police teams are investigating the matter, said M Harsha Vardhan, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Dwarka district. The DCP also said that the police were investigating the allegations levelled against a 71-year-old man who is working as a personal secretary to a senior political leader. Though the DCP did not name the political leader, officials in the Delhi Police said the allegations were levelled against Madhavan. The officials said the woman lives in Delhi and her husband died in 2020. The husband used to work at the Congress party office, police said, adding that he used to affix partys hoardings. According to woman, after her husbands death in February 2020, she began looking for a job and got in touch with Madhavan. He first called me for interview. He used to make video calls and chat with me on WhatsApp. He took me to an isolated location near the Uttam Nagar Metro Station and forced himself on me inside his car, the woman alleged. In February 2022, he took me to a flat in Sundar Nagar where he forced himself on me, she alleged. Student Perspective: Writings from Spain Student Zeke Lloyd 24 is studying in Spain during Summer 2022 as part of CCs Summer in Spain program, based in Soria. Students live with host families and participate in city life during two summer blocks. In addition to immersive language learning, the program incorporates multiple cultural activities and excursions to places such as Madrid and San Sebastian, to learn about the history and cultures of Spain. Zeke is sharing stories and images of his summer experience throughout the course. The province of Soria is a deserted battleground. A thousand years ago, the landscape was rarely free from skirmishes between two states: the Caliphate and the Christians. Today, the area is almost entirely populated by quiet farmlands which show little trace of its medieval history. In a few places throughout the province, however, you can find stone strongholds which stand as testaments to the conflict that took place. Castillo de Gormaz lies roughly 30 miles from Soria. We arrived late in the morning on June 5. The castle still held much of its structure, even though the northern outpost was built by the Caliphate in 965. For over an hour we explored ruins, climbed ramparts, and gazed out at the expanse of beautiful Spanish countryside. It was difficult for that to measure up against natural beauty of the Canon del Rio Lobos. The only edifice within is a small hermitage that sits modestly in the middle of the forested valley. After eating lunch under a shady tree, we began our exploration of the canyon, where we followed a small stream that cut through the valley. Photos submitted by Zeke Lloyd 24 Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Edward Bristle of Grove City was honored with other Ohioians on June 19 at the Vietnam veterans memorial fund memory ceremony. More than 500 Vietnam veterans, including 34 from Ohio, were inducted into the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Funds (VVMF) In Memory Program in 2022. Since the Vietnam War ended, thousands of Vietnam veterans have suffered due to Agent Orange exposure, PTSD and other illnesses as a result of their service. VVMF believes all those who served in Vietnam should be honored and remembered for their service. The In Memory program enables the families and friends of those who came home and later died the opportunity to have them be forever memorialized. On June 18, VVMF hosted the 2022 In Memory ceremony on the East Knoll of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, where each honorees name was read aloud. For many Vietnam veterans, coming home from Vietnam was just the beginning of a whole new fight. Many never fully recovered, either physically or emotionally, from their experiences. As these veterans pass, it is our duty and solemn promise to welcome them home to the place that our nation has set aside to remember our Vietnam veterans, said Jim Knotts, president and CEO of VVMF. The plaque that honors these veterans was dedicated as a part of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial site in 2004. It reads: In Memory of the men and women who served in the Vietnam War and later died as a result of their service. We honor and remember their sacrifice. Edward Dale Bristle of Grove City was one of the 34 veterans from Ohio honored during the service. He served in the U.S. Marine Corps. He was born Feb. 8, 1949 and died June 27, 2010. VVMF has created a personal remembrance page for each honoree online in the In Memory Honor Roll at www.vvmf.org/honor-roll. Their photos will also be displayed around the country when VVMFs mobile exhibit, The Wall That Heals, is on display in an honorees home state. The In Memory program was created in 1993 and has since honored more than 5,600 veterans. For more information on the In Memory program or to apply to have your loved one honored, visit vvmf.org/inmemory. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has said that drug de-addiction campaign should be launched in Samras Panchayats. A special reward of Rs 2 lakh will be given to a drug-free village. To make the village drug-free, an environment should be created through mutual dialogue and various inspirational activities. We must ensure that our Panchayats are Beti Friendly. In all Panchayats including Samaras Panchayats, more respect, honor and dignity of daughters must be ensured. Sons and daughters must be treated equally. Anyone who casts an evil eye on a mother, sister or daughter will not be spared. Samras Panchayats have to set an example in the whole country by their work. Public service, development of the village, systematic and result-oriented operation of anganwadi, school, panchayat, community building should be our priority. Let us ensure that no child remains malnourished in our Panchayat. Chouhan was addressing the felicitation ceremony of the representatives who formed Samras Panchayats through unopposed election in the Chief Ministers residence premises. Chouhan thanked the villagers for electing the Panchayat representatives unopposed. The Chief Minister inaugurated the programme by lighting the lamp and performing Kanya Pujan with a song dedicated to women empowerment. Chouhan welcomed the Panchayat representatives who came to his residence with flower shower. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Mahendra Singh Sisodia, MP Ramakant Bhargava, former Minister Ramkrishna Kusmaria, MLA Sitaram Adivasi and public representatives were present. Chouhan was felicitated by the sarpanches in the programme. Sushri Jagriti Singh Judev, unopposed elected Sarpanch of Umardha Gram Panchayat, Bankhedi Tehsil of Narmadapuram district and Amit Chauhan, elected unopposed Sarpanch of Chipri Gram Panchayat, Budhni Janpad Panchayat of Sehore district presented their priorities and action-plan regarding their experience and village development. The Chief Minister said that 630 Sarpanch, 157 Janpad Panchayat members and one District Panchayat member have been elected unopposed in the state. An incentive of Rs 5 lakh will be given if a Sarpanch is elected unopposed in any Panchayat, Rs 7 lakh for the post of Sarpanch if ??the current and previous election is unopposed, and Rs 7 lakh will be provided if all the Panches and Sarpanchs are elected unopposed. Similarly, an incentive of Rs 12 lakh will be given to the Panchayat if women are elected to all the posts of Sarpanch unopposed and R 15 lakh will be given to the Panchayat if women are elected to all the posts of Panch and Sarpanch in the Panchayat. Chouhan said that for the first time in the country, 50 percent reservation was made for women in the Panchayats in Madhya Pradesh itself. There is no dearth of hard work or leadership quality in women. Indore has set a record in the country in the field of cleanliness under the leadership of a woman mayor. The elected women panchayat representatives in the village panchayats will set new records in the service of the public and development of the village. Chief Minister Chouhan said that Samras Panchayats will have to work by setting their own priorities. Let us vow that there will be no fights or dispute in the village. If there is any dispute, it will be resolved through dialogue, so that we will not allow our time and money to be wasted in court. At the same time, it should also be our priority to ensure that the benefits of all the schemes of the center and the state will be made available to every eligible person of the panchayat. People should sit together in the gram panchayat and decide the action plan of development for the next five years and ensure its implementation. Sanitation, tree plantation, freeing children from malnutrition, surveying the handicapped and providing them the benefits of related schemes, providing land for housing to every eligible person in the Chief Ministers land rights scheme, making the village drug-free, not allowing anti-social elements and illegal activities in the village should be made priorities. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that Rs 25 thousand would be provided to the Ladli Laxmis in two installments on admission at the college level. In addition, free arrangements will be made for college level education. The state government is also continuously encouraging the meritorious students. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan also called for making efforts towards ensuring an income of Rs. 10 thousand per month for women through women self-help groups. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that the work of saving water should be taken on priority by making Amrit Sarovar and other water structures in every village. Also we have to adopt solar energy and make power saving a habit. We have to inculcate the habit of paying water tax and other taxes for irrigation on time, the amount received from this is the basis of development. Chief Minister Shri Chouhan said that every village must celebrate its Pride Day. On this day all the people of the village should assemble in the village and decide on the plan for development. It should also be ensured that there is a Gram Sabha every month. We have to set such an example of development, which becomes a source of inspiration for other people as well. Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Shri Mahendra Singh Sisodia said that Madhya Pradesh has set a unique example in the country by forming Panchayats through unopposed elections under the leadership of Chief Minister Shri Chouhan. The Panchayat representatives have got great responsibility to conduct development activities. He appealed to the Panchayat representatives to spread the spirit of harmony by working with dedication and honesty. Diaspora brand ambassadors of India's success: PM Modi Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to meet over 12 world leaders during his Germany and upcoming United Arab Emirates visit and will have over 15 engagements, according to reports. Indian PM Narendra Modi at the Audi MDome in Munich, Germany, addressing a gathering of the Indian diaspora. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@MEAIndia Modi also spoke at an Indian diaspora event in Munich, the largest such programme post-COVID-19. Addressing a gathering of thousands of members of the Indian community at the Audi Dome in Munich, he said, You are both Indias success story and the brand ambassadors of Indias success. He travelled to Germany to attend the G7 summit, held on June 26 and 27, and will travel to the UAE tomorrow to pay his condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former president of the Gulf nation. Official sources said the prime minister will have multiple bilateral meetings in addition to attending the G7, a grouping of the world's seven richest nations, during his around 60-hour stay in Germany and the UAE. Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra said on Friday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold bilateral meetings and discussions with the leaders of the G7 and also the guest countries on the sidelines of the G7 summit. Read more India News, Global News and UAE News here After losing the Rampur and Azamgarh Lok Sabha bypolls, the Samajwadi Party leadership is looking for the scapegoats and has to decode what went wrong in both the parliamentary constituencies, seen as a cakewalk for it. Sources in the SP said the party had to introspect and decide how it intended to conduct its politics after the debacle in Rampur and Azamgarh. The Muslims deserted the SP and voted for defeating its candidate in Azamgarh and in Rampur, despite over 50 per cent population of Muslims, they did not vote for the victory of the SP candidate and the results were same in both the constituencies the SP lost, said a SP leader adding , Bahujan Samaj Party candidate in Azamgarh, Guddu Jamali, polled 2.5 lakh votes and even if 20 per cent of these votes had gone to the SP, Dharmendra Yadav would have won. For the 2022 polls, the SP had forged a coalition of non-Yadav Other Backward Class parties which impressed the Muslims and they voted in droves, yet the SP was short of the magic number of 203 in the UP assembly. Even Mulayam Singh Yadav never got such an overwhelming support of the minority community. The SP never tried to decode what went wrong, said SP leader. The political observers feel that the SP, after impressive improvement in its tally of 111 seats and 14 of the allies, became complacent and took the voters for granted. A SP leader said, Even the BSP cannot take Jatav votes for granted and they have shifted towards the Bharatiya Janata Party. As things stand today Yadavs may also shift to the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Muslims were angry with the SPs inaction over the long detention of Mohammad Azam Khan for 27 months and demolition of the petrol pump of Muslim SP MLA Shazil Islam in Bareilly. Akhilesh Yadav just issued a tweet. The indifference of the SP leadership infuriated the Muslim leaders and it was visible in Rampur and Azamgarh, said political analyst Prof Abhay Dube. Why was Akhilesh Yadav reluctant to speak for Azam Khan and protest the demolition of the petrol pump of his party MLA? he asked. Akhilesh Yadav is caught in the trap laid by the BJP as he is reluctant to take up the cudgels for the Muslims. The BJP has created a phobia among its rival political parties that if a party speaks for the Muslims then it will alienate and antagonise the Hindu community, Prof Dube said. This phobia does not stand scrutiny if the voting pattern of different communities in previous elections is examined. If one Hindu votes for the BJP then the other Hindu votes against the BJP. All the OBC communities which voted for the SP are Hindus and not Muslims. Muslim voters made a contribution in the victory of the SP candidates in a large number of constituencies in the 2022 assembly polls and the SP won on the strength of Hindu voters, Prof Dube said and added, If Akhilesh Yadav shows the courage of conviction and demands justice for Muslims, that their establishments would not be demolished without the due process of law, by mobilising the party cadre then it will add to his political stature, he added. Akhilesh Yadav should have taken cudgels against the demolition drive by the Yogi Adityanath government using bulldozers. It may not fetch him immediate political dividends but huge political returns are guaranteed in long term politics which will catapult him as a leader of the poor and the downtrodden. The stance against bulldozers is likely to get him national and global acclaim. It is highly erroneous to believe that only Muslims are targeted, homes and roadside business establishments of poor Hindus have also been demolished in many towns of Uttar Pradesh, Prof Dube said and added, Other opposition parties will also rally around the Samajwadi Party as the message will go down that Akhilesh Yadav has broken new ice in electoral politics, but for reasons known only to Akhilesh Yadav, he has taken no initiative so far. Congratulations, banhocsinh.net got a very good Social Media Impact Score! 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Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK FOUND FACEBOOK PAGE www.facebook.com/dogokhaihong DESCRIPTION NOI THAT KHAI HONG - NOI THAT GO CHO GIA INH Website: http://noithatkhaihong.com.vn/ T: 08. 3815 3343 D: 0903 986 007 - 0903 071 939 LIKES 10516 PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT 33 PAGE TYPE Local Business TIMELINE PAGE TIMELINE A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The type of Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Diesel-generator.co.za scored 40 Social Media Impact. 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Basic Information PAGE TITLE Diesel Generator | Order Generators Online | Electric Generators DESCRIPTION Diesel Generators specialise exclusively in prime and standby power applications by way of its excellent range of diesel and electric generators for sale online at competitive prices. KEYWORDS Electri Generators, Diesel Generators, Order Generators Online OTHER KEYWORDS generators, diesel, diesel generators, generator, power, of diesel generators, of diesel The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE HTML 5.0 CHARSET AND LANGUAGE English (United States) UTF-8English (United States) DETECTED LANGUAGE English English SERVER Apache (PHP/5.3.18) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Linux Linux Type of server and offered services. Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. The language of diesel-generator.co.za as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for diesel-generator.co.za by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND The total number of people who like website Facebook page. A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND Ukfvl.sn.yihfeng.com scored 40 Social Media Impact. Social Media Impact score is a measure of how much a site is popular on social networks. 2/5.0 Stars by Social Team This CoolSocial report was updated on 17 Jan 2013, you can refresh this analysis whenever you want. This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared, liked or recommended the ukfvl.sn.yihfeng homepage on Facebook + the total number of page likes (if ukfvl.sn.yihfeng has a Facebook fan page). This is the sum of two values: the total number of people who shared the ukfvl.sn.yihfeng homepage on Twitter + the total number of ukfvl.sn.yihfeng followers (if ukfvl.sn.yihfeng has a Twitter account). The total number of people who shared the ukfvl.sn.yihfeng homepage on StumbleUpon. The total number of people who shared the ukfvl.sn.yihfeng homepage on Delicious. The total number of people who shared the ukfvl.sn.yihfeng homepage on Google Plus by a google +1 button. Basic Information PAGE TITLE -- DESCRIPTION KEYWORDS OTHER KEYWORDS ol, ol, 6ctr s6, h, online, 6ctr, The URL (Uniform Resource Locator) is the address of the site. The keywords meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. The title found in the head section of the homepage. The description meta-tag found in the head section of the homepage. CoolSocial advanced keyword analysis tool is able to detect and analyze every keyword on each page of a site. Domain and Server DOCTYPE CHARSET AND LANGUAGE GBK DETECTED LANGUAGE SERVER Microsoft-IIS/6.0 (PHP/5.2.17) OPERATIVE SYSTEM Windows Server 2003 Windows Server 2003 Represents HTML declared type (e.g.: XHTML 1.1, HTML 4.0, the new HTML 5.0) Operative System running on the server. Character set and language of the site. Type of server and offered services. The language of ukfvl.sn.yihfeng.com as detected by CoolSocial algorithms. Site Traffic trend during the last year. Only available for sites ranked <= 100000 in the world. Referring domains for ukfvl.sn.yihfeng.com by MajesticSeo. High values are a sign of site importance over the web and on web engines. Facebook link FACEBOOK PAGE LINK NOT FOUND A Facebook page link can be found in the homepage or in the robots.txt file. The type of Facebook page. The URL of the found Facebook page. The description of the Facebook page describes website and its services to the social media users. Facebook Timeline is the new layout of Facebook pages. The total number of people who like website Facebook page. The total number of people who tagged or talked about website Facebook page in the last 7-10 days. Twitter account link TWITTER PAGE LINK NOT FOUND View is strong in Dhaka that refusing to sign Teesta river accord is denigration of good neighbourly relations between India and Bangladesh Even in 2015, Prime Minister Modi traveled to Dhaka alongside West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Yet, nothing came of it. There are 54 rivers that cross the boundary between Bangladesh and India. In 43 of these, India controls the majority of the seas, which is considered essentially unjust to by its neighbours. In essence, the view is strong in Dhaka, that refusing to sign the Teesta river accord is a denigration of the good neighbourly relations between India and Bangladesh. India had to keep in mind that Bangladesh is a reliable ally in the area. It is frequently claimed that the bilateral relations between Bangladesh and India are at their peak right now. As Bangladesh PM has been practicing and showing her liberal neighbourhood mindset towards India, particularly through 'Hilsa-Mango' diplomacy, it is India's turn how. Much, however, is said to depend on the stand taken by Mamata Banerjee. India's Central government maintains the narrative that Mamata Banerjee's continuous opposition has been the key obstacle in signing the Teesta deal. So, there is the subtle hint that only Mamata could be a welcome relief to break the stalemate. She is quoted as stating, I love Bangladesh but Bengal is my priority. Obviously, Mamata must be understood. But Bangladeshi people, too, deserve the right to the river. Not signing the treaty is belittling the neighbourly spirit between India and Bangladesh -- a crucial factor in collaborative cooperation between the two countries. Making ones life simpler shouldnt come at the expense of others. As Bangladesh PM is set to visit to India this year, one has to see what signal Mamata Banerjee gives to the Centre to sign the long-pending treaty after all, it is a long-pending promise of India to Bangladesh. A successful resolution to the Teesta issue will boost bilateral ties between India and Bangladesh while also helping Bangladesh's economy. India will gain a lot from the Teesta Treaty. If this bilateral agreement is implemented, it will be able to satisfy all Bangladeshi stakeholders. India will undoubtedly be able to fortify its position as Bangladesh's staunch ally and develop a solid diplomatic and economic alliance. The bondage between the two Bengalis from two countries would be further strengthened if Mamata Banerjee provides positive response to Sheikh Hasina's 'Mango Diplomacy. --- *Dhaka-based women and human rights activist Most Bangladeshi and India media reports say that the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has received 600 kg of mangoes from Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina as part of her "mango-hilsa diplomacy."Hasina also delivered mangoes to President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi this month, according to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in India. In all, 1,200 kg of Amrapali mangoes were delivered to the residences of the President and the Prime Minister of India.According to a Bangladesh's deputy high commission official in Kolkata, a few more chief ministers in the eastern region will likely receive similar gifts.Last year, not only President Kovind and Prime Minister Modi, but also the chief ministers of West Bengal, Tripura, and Assam also received mangoes from Prime Minister Hasina. Hasina delivered mangoes from Rajshahi, including kinds like Golapkhas and Amrapali, as it is the peak season for the delectable fruit in Bangladesh.The mangoes were delivered as a gift to the respective diplomatic channels by the Bangladesh High Commission in New Delhi. This was meant to further strengthen the diplomatic relations and friendship between the two countries.The mango diplomacy initiated by Sheikh Hasina began last year.A day before the meeting of the Joint Working Group (JCC) between Bangladesh and India last week, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina sent mangoes. Foreign Minister attended the JCC meeting. Abdul Momen completed his visit successfully. The JCC meeting was held in Delhi on June 19. It discussed the overall issues of bilateral relations, including Prime Minister Hasina's upcoming visit to India.Incidentally, Prime Minister Modi and President Kobind visited Bangladesh last year to attend the 50th anniversary of Bangladesh's independence and the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.Modi recently invited Prime Minister Hasina to visit India through External Affairs Minister S Jayashankar. According to media reports, On September 6 and 7, Prime Minister Hasina will travel to India to meet with her Indian counterpart, Narendra Modi. The schedule has been set by Delhi and Dhaka, and the Prime Ministers have verbally approved it.According to a representative of the foreign ministry, the two nations will hold a Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) meeting before the PM-level summit in New Delhi. The JRC has not met at the ministerial level for the past ten years, despite the fact that the sharing of water from transboundary rivers is a major concern for the two nations.PM Hasinas visit is vital for the two nations' bilateral ties, which seem to have improved over the past 15 years, particularly in the light of Bangladesh's role as India's gateway to its northeastern states. India has also praised Bangladesh's involvement for upholding a zero-tolerance attitude toward the insurgents who had previously caused unrest in the northeastern states of India.India and Bangladesh are attempting to improve regional collaboration, particularly in connecting South and Southeast Asia, in the wake of the Covid-19 outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine war, which severely interrupted the global supply chain.In order to ensure early preparation for any natural catastrophes like floods and storms, Bangladesh has also requested India's assistance in managing the transboundary river basin as a whole and in exchanging weather data.Since the Sylhet region is experiencing severe flooding mostly as a result of high rainfall in the Indian hill states of Meghalaya and Assam, the issue has become more crucial than ever.PM Hasina has made an admirable gesture. Both last year and this year, we had a good crop of mangoes. They are more than welcome if they assist to deepen bonds and improve the harmony between the two nations. It should assist in resolving any bilateral difficulties.The Teesta water-sharing agreement is one of the many persistent disagreements between Bangladesh and India. Since a few years ago, there has been talk over the Teesta water-sharing deal between Bangladesh and India.However, there is no longer a Teesta problem. The sharing of Teesta River water became the most crucial topic of dispute following the Ganges Treaty in 1996. At the two nations' ministerial-level conference in August 1983, the Teesta water-sharing issue between Bangladesh and India was first raised.Manmohan Singh, who was India's prime minister at the time, traveled to Dhaka in September 2011. A Teesta water-sharing deal was scheduled to be inked at that time. The temporary agreement had a 15-year term. The agreement establishes Bangladesh's entitlement to 37.5% of the Teesta's water and India's right to 42.5% of it. However, Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, did not agree to the treaty, and it was not finalized.Prime Minister Hasina traveled to India later in 2014. The Teesta Treaty was anticipated to be signed following this trip to India. The PM met with Mamata Banerjee, the chief minister of West Bengal, during the trip. The West Bengal Chief Minister insisted that the primary factor influencing her disapproval was her unwillingness to provide water to Bangladesh at the expense of North Bengal's residents. District Lok Samiti, Hazaribag organized a symposium as Memories of Emergency 25 June 1975 at NBJK premises.Swarupchand Jain, JP movement agitator & senior advocate, chaired the event and called peoples awareness as most important in context of any threat to democratic values. While addressing the symposium, Girija Satish, an activist during the anti-emergency movement and currently National President of Lok Samiti, a non-political organization founded by JP, introduced the theme and briefed about the background of Emergency.He mentioned sufferings of common people at that time and said that still imperialist forces are involved in oppression of innocent people worldwide.He said that power politics divide people, some laws harass social workers and create undeclared emergency like situations.Expressing concern over centralization of wealth,Girija Satish said that conditions of real democracy are fulfilled only by Gram Swaraj and decentralization. Gautam Sagar Rana,former MLA,criticized faulty impressions around feudal power struggle as a source of communal discord as this may lead to partition of India once again and stressed the need to preserve unity in diversity.Umesh Pratap,Social worker & journalist, appealed to follow civil obligation, to make stand against general trend and asked why no other Gandhi, JP, Subhash emerges from our society? Professor Lalita Rana said that JP had envisioned a comprehensive change by establishing youth power, which is possible only on the basis of cultured education, character building and personality development. Shamsher Alam, Prof. Digambar Pandey, Bateshwar Mehta, Arvind Jha, Krishna Thakur have expressed their views on this occasion. Shankar Rana conducted dais while Abhay Kumar proposed vote of thanks. Nearly 60 persons have participated in the symposium. The old hacker stereotypethe antisocial lone wolf with coding skillshas been eclipsed by something far stranger: the cybercrime enterprise. This mutant business model has grown exponentially, with annual cybercrime revenues reaching $1.5 trillion, according to a 2018 study by endpoint security provider Bromium. The sophistication of cybercrime operations underpins this scale of damage. The only explanation is that profit motive is fueling an engine that has driven the creation of effective organizations. But these organizations are curiously subject to many of the vicissitudes of normal business. Perhaps the oddest outcome of this state of affairs is watching global cybercrime syndicates suffer under conventional business problems like PR difficulties. Lines of business What we think of as criminal activity, the cybercrime enterprise thinks of as lines of business. Anything that does not drive revenuehacking for the sake of destruction or personal gratification of some kinddoesnt figure in here. The business of for-profit cybercrime can be seen as 6 main lines: Cyber theftthe act of stealing money or other assets (like user data and intellectual property) from organizations and individuals Illicit data tradedata that is stolen (think credit card info and other personally identifiable information) is bought and sold and then used to perpetuate further theft Web-enabled blackmarket web-enabled trade in illegal goods like drugs and wildlife Crime business tools and servicesthe cybercrime shadow of normal business services, like jobs boards Crimeware/cybercrime-as-a-service (CaaS)any of the variety of tools that are used to enable the other activities, think exploit kits Ransomware/ransomware-as-a-service (RaaS)encrypting data and holding it for ransom How are we to understand services like hacker job boards and stolen identity marketplaces? They are like the evil twin of normal services. They serve a business purpose, and if not for the nefarious end goal, they could be perfectly legitimate. They are like a promising student who would succeed if they applied the same effort to studying as they do to cheating But the reality is, they do serve and enable harmful ends. From the private shock of losing account access to the collective burden of crippled infrastructure, the toll is high. Numbers across all these lines of business are hard to nail down, but Sophoss 2020 State of Ransomware study found that the average cost to rectify the impacts of the most recent ransomware attack (considering downtime, people time, device cost, network cost, lost opportunity, ransom paid etc.) is US$732,520 for organizations that dont pay the ransom, rising to US$1,448,458 for organizations that do pay. HR and PR Even normal IT employees suffer a high degree of burnout and mental health challengesimagine all that with the addition of knowing your work is devoted to adding misery to the world. Some of that can be attributed to simple greed: IT workers in the crime business do stand to make more than the others. Also, some people just lack a conscience. But here we are talking about sprawling organizations with communities of hundreds of employees. The kind of results achieved mean a high degree of persistent, united effort from many people. One prominent thing that came out of the Ukraine invasion-inspired Conti leaks is just how typical the lives and work is for modern hackers. Security researcher Daniel Cuthbert echoes this sentiment, remarking that What came out of this leak, to me at least, was the mundane aspects of office life. Romance, time off, interacting with colleagues, distrust, etc. Just normal people, putting in the hours to pay the bills. The ability to blank out the nature of the work has to be buttressed with some kind of philosophysome countervailing meaning. Something like, its the downtrodden Slavic nations struggling against the greedy American-led West. (This is also the reason for the stated, but loosely implemented, commitment by many ransomware groups to not attack organizations like hospitals.) At the very least, the rule is: we dont attack our own. And so we can see clearly the dramatic effect the breakdown in that justification had in the collapse of Conti. By supporting the devastating attack on their fellow Ukrainians, the contract was broken. It was a colossal PR misstep. It resulted in a grievous blow to Contito their brand, as many have described it. Many analysts (myself included) believed that Conti would weather the blow diminished but still operational. We underestimated the effects. The model we used was not tuned quite right. In normal business, such a gaffe would mean firing the PR firm, replacing the CMO, perhaps an aggressive rebranding and damage control. Not so in Contis case. The blow to the illusion of the work being just was existential. The cognitive dissonance just became too much. Conti appears to be no more. Cybercrime enterprise has embraced the utility of PR. It has become common practice to issue press releases regarding prominent hackings. The promotion of the Costa Rica attack by Conti was a bid, though ultimately unsuccessful, to remain relevant. For cybercrime, the image is important as a way to both attract workers and menace victims. Another way ransomware gangs have figured out to use the media is in threatening to release stolen information. The big picture Like conventional organized crime, there is a certain interface between cybercrime groups and corrupt or unethical government elements. In cybercrime enterprise, the distributed flexible power of the web has meant the growing interplay between hacking and nation states. Its virtually impossible to completely disentangle them. Cyberspace has become a key realm of activity for all, including nations in their jockeying for power and status. Much of enterprise crime thrives with implicit or explicit government support and may in fact be espionage and sabotage, harnessed to a business model. Where is the line between cyberwarfare and cybercrime? Its tough to say. Its a strange business. Security automation startup Cerby is exiting stealth mode with the public launch of a security platform designed to help companies deal with shadow ITinformation technology products that are used by staff without prior approval or knowledge of IT decision makers. Such products are either selected and onboarded by business units other than the IT department, and may not support industry standards like SAML (security assertion markup language) and SCIM (system for cross-domain identity management) for logging and exchanging identity data. Cerby has its own term for applications that fall within the realm of shadow IT. "After two years of operating in stealth, we are launching a first-of-its-kind platform dedicated to the detection and protection of what we call unmanageable applications," says Belsasar Lepe, co-founder and CEO of Cerby. "One out of every two applications enterprises use today is an unmanageable application which contributes to a little under two-thirds of cybersecurity attacks." A driving force behind shadow IT is the desire by end users to have complete control over the selection and usage of applications. Citing an in-house study done in partnership with Osterman that sampled more than 500 business professionals in North America and the UK from companies with more than $100 million in annual revenue, the company reported that 91% of the participants wanted full control over applications. Cerby aims at minimizing friction between users and IT teams by taking an enrollment-based approach to the detection and protection of applications that combines employee autonomy and corporate security. Cerby centralizes access, streamlines compliance The platform allows users to enroll, or register, applications that up to date have not been managed by their IT or security team, according to Cerby. In the background, the system then monitors connected applications for secure configuration and corporate compliances policies such as two-factor authentication, password complexity, and other common security settings. The platform enables centralized access to applications, allowing users to log in securely to any application, even those that don't support SSO (single sign-on) natively, store log-in data, and share this information securely with collaborators. Consequently, the platform addresses the problem of employers disallowing or limiting end-user access to applications, which can cause a "negative effect" on the way work gets done, according to the Osterman Research poll. Fifty-two percent of respondents wanted IT teams to just "get out of the way." Lepe noted that the platform performs two main functions: detect and protect. While detection refers to the process of seeding agents in browsers and devices to identify applications as they are enrolled, protection involves profiling the new applications for possible misconfigurations from a security viewpoint. For instance, Lepe explained, if the platform discovers social media accounts with two-factor authentication turned off, it notifies and autoenables authentication to always-on. Cerby uses RPA to streamline login process Apart from detection and protection of "unmanageable" applications and implemention of an enrollment-based approach, the platform uses RPA (robotic process automation) to streamline the login process through activation of single sign-on across applications not supporting SAML and SCIM. Additionally, it centralizes access logging and sends related data to SIEM systems for further analysis. As part of the announcement, the company revealed that it has raised $12 million in seed funding from Ridge Ventures, Bowery Capital, Okta Ventures, Salesforce Ventures, and others, bringing total funding till date to $15.5 million. "As we have a lot of big brands that we're working with, now the focus is on two thingsafter proving our sales process, we want to bring on a sales and marketing team. So, we're investing a part of our capital into just gearing up our commercial efforts. The other area where we're going to be investing is around increasing the number of integrations," says Lepe. The company exited stealth mode with the announcement that is has already chalked up a decent portfolio of customers, onboarding brands such as L'Oreal, MiSalud, Dentsu, Televisa, and Wizeline. For L'Oreal, Cerby provides a secure and centralized place to manage paid social accounts and allows integration with L'Oreal's single sign-on technology for connecting to the social media APIs, according to Cerby. Cerby has also enlisted integrations with identity technology providers such as Okta and Azure ID. On June 27, 2017, the eve of Ukraines Constitution Day holiday, a major global cyberattack was launched, infecting more than 80 companies in that country using a brand-new cyber pathogen that became known as NotPetya. NotPetya didn't stay within Ukraine's borders but spilled out to infect and cause havoc for thousands of organizations across Europe and worldwide. NotPetya was so named because it was similar to but different from Petya, a self-propagating ransomware virus discovered in 2016 that, unlike other nascent forms of ransomware at the time, was incapable of being decrypted. In another departure from the earlier forms of ransomware, Petya also overwrote and encrypted master boot records and was, therefore, considered more a form of wiper malware than bona fide ransomware. Phony ransomware that propagated easily Like Petya, its successor NotPetya was not actual ransomware because it could not be decrypted, with the attackers masquerading behind a fake $300 ransom demand to provide cover for what turned out to be its actual destructive purposes. NotPetya emerged five weeks after another dangerous piece of fake ransomware, WannaCry. Considered to be a true "cyberweapon," NotPetya shared with WannaCry the use of EternalBlue, a cyber tool developed by and stolen from the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA). Using Eternal Blue, NotPetya exploited a vulnerability in Windows' Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, a flaw that Microsoft patched months earlier in Windows 10. Nonetheless, all it took for the malware to spread was a single unpatched Windows 10 computer or a PC with an old version of Windows within an organization. Working in tandem with EternalBlue was another powerful tool, an old security researcher tool called Mimikatz that could pull passwords out of memory. The two tools together allowed the attack to move from machine to machine. Highly contagious malware from Russia's GRU Although some experts considered NotPetya a variant of Petya, the two pieces of malware are generally regarded as separate and distinct, particularly considering how they propagate. NotPetya was far more contagious than Petya, seemingly with no way to stop it from quickly spreading from one host to another. As NotPetya expert and journalist Andy Greenberg documented, NotPetya crippled shipping giant Maersk, pharmaceutical company Merck, Fedex's European subsidiary TNT Express, French construction company Saint-Gobain, food producer Mondelez, and manufacturer Reckitt Benckiser. Altogether the malware caused more than $10 billion worth of global damage. The source of NotPetya was a group of Russian GRU agents known as Sandworm or Unit 74455, believed to be behind a 2015 cyberattack on the Ukrainian power grid, among other damaging cyber incidents. CSO asked two experts who grappled with the fallout of NotPetya five years ago how they view the 2017 cyberattack in retrospect and what corollaries it might hold for the present-day war by Russia against Ukraine. Ransomware as a weapon of war Amit Serper, who was a principal security researcher at Cybereason when NotPetya struck and is now the director of security research at Sternum, was the first person to develop a workaround that disabled NotPetya. Serper tells CSO that looking back, "Ransomware was just starting to get prevalent. Ransomware was mostly targeting ordinary people. It wasn't targeting big companies or corporations like it is today. So, we would hear about how some ordinary Joe or Jane got their entire machine encrypted. I remember examples of elderly people losing access to their grandkids photos and that kind of stuff." After WannaCry and NotPetya hit, ransomware turned from something used opportunistically by cybercriminals, like a "drive-by exploitation," Serper says, to "almost a weapon of war where nation-state actors would use ransomware as a tool to keep other big and meaningful organizations and countries from working. So NotPetya and WannaCry were a watershed moment back then." Both viruses made the world more complicated. Cybersecurity vendors had until that point focused on abstract theoretical security problems, Serper says, but suddenly had to grapple with the profound misuse of simple technologies such as encryption and decryption for geopolitical leverage. "We needed to come down to earth a little bit and take care of that problem before we look at completely theoretical or more theoretical and harder to implement threats. It's not about hacking Coca-Cola and stealing the secret recipe anymore. It's about a company like Coca-Cola finding itself in the middle of an international geopolitical skirmish and having their stuff rendered completely useless as this sort of collateral damage." On a personal level, NotPetya marked a significant turning point in Serper's life. "It affected my life in a very, very direct way. It's the reason I got my green card to live in the U.S." Serper's attorney built his application for a so-called Einstein visa mostly around NotPetya. "I don't have a high school diploma. I don't have an academic degree. So, it was very hard to prove that I knew what I was talking about. A huge portion of our immigration case was my contribution to preventing NotPetya from happening. It worked, and it worked during the previous administration where immigrants weren't really a thing of interest," Serper says. NotPetya changed the consciousness of CISOs Adam Flatley is currently the director of threat intelligence at Redacted but was the director of operations at Cisco Talos during NotPetya, when his team was one of the first to discover the event. "I believe that the NotPetya event has changed the consciousness of a lot of CISOs and CSOs around the world," he tells CSO. NotPetya taught CISOs what could happen if they don't correctly segment their networks. "If you look at what happened with NotPetya, you see that the [malware] had an unconstrained propagation mechanism that would go as far and wide as it could," Flatley says. "When they unleashed in Ukraine, all these companies that had network connections in Ukraine with flat networks were decimated by that attack." The current conflict in Ukraine evokes for Flatley what happened with NotPetya. "When the beginning of the war was starting, there was a lot of talk about how the Russians would be using either ransomware or wipers to attack Ukraine. That immediately triggered that memory of what happened the last time. Then as the war began to go forward, there was lots of evidence of wipers being used in Ukraine," he says. "Again, the fear that it was going to spread out of the country. Luckily, so far [the Russians] have been using very conservative settings on their wipers." However, Flatley says that the prospect of a NotPetya-type event emanating from the current conflict is still very real. "It's interesting that the Russians are being a little more careful this time with their cyberattacks, but that's only constrained by their desire to be careful. The technology is still there for them to easily change the setting and let it loose if they wanted to." A Hartford man charged in a violent carjacking that seriously injured a woman who was kidnapped from a Marlborough grocery store parking lot may be involved in more than a dozen carjackings and car thefts that occurred during a one-month spree last year, court documents said. Kenneth Gordon, 20, of Hartford, pleaded not guilty in the Marlborough case and to six other arrests in incidents that took place from October 2020 to September 2021, court records show. Glastonbury police contend in an arrest warrant for a carjacking that occurred in their town that Gordon was part of a group that included minors who escalated from stealing running cars at gas stations to armed carjackings during a one-month span last year. These vehicle thefts had the same modus operandi in that the suspects typically groups of two to four individuals would wait for a victim to leave their car running and unattended, and then would steal the vehicle, Glastonbury police said in the warrant. In all, the Glastonbury warrant lists 16 incidents from Aug. 8 to Sept. 11, 2021, involving stolen or carjacked vehicles that were used to perpetrate other carjackings. The bulk of the stolen cars were found in Windsor the same town where Gordon worked at the UPS warehouse in May 2021, the warrant stated. Based off of the investigations of officers from several jurisdictions, it was believed that the same group of suspects were committing these incidents, Glastonbury police said. The crimes included a carjacking of a Porsche from a woman at a popular Rocky Hill bakery on Aug. 28, 2021 and a Middletown incident that caused a victim to be dragged across the parking lot of a gas station, the warrant said. The Marlborough carjacking, which took place on Sept. 11, 2021, is believed to have been the last crime connected with the group, the Glastonbury warrant said. During that crime, the suspects demanded money from a 64-year-old woman who was putting her groceries from the Big Y in Marlborough in her Infinity sedan, a state police warrant said. She fought back, injuring her leg and then the assailants threw a bag over her head and forced her into the back seat of her car at gunpoint, the arrest warrant said. She was hit in the head and face five or six times with a gun, she told police, as two men repeatedly demanded money and jewelry. They drove around with the woman, forcing her withdraw money from ATMs with her debit card before lighting her car on fire in Berlin, the warrant said. One man told her about 10 times that he was going to kill her, the warrant stated. She was so injured, one of the men had to pull her out of the car in Berlin before they drove it into some nearby trees where they set it ablaze, police said. She suffered a broken femur, head trauma and an acute kidney injury during the incident, the warrant said. At the time, Gordon was free on bond for an October 2020 Hartford stolen car arrest and a May 2021 Windsor assault that led to a second-degree riot charge, court records and police reports said. In the Windsor case, Gordon is accused of striking another person at the UPS warehouse where he worked, leading police to find 25 to 30 agitated people in the lobby of the building, Windsor police said. In the Hartford arrest, Gordon was driving a car stolen out of Glastonbury while it was unlocked and unattended, Glastonbury police said in their warrant. Just four weeks before the Marlborough carjacking, Gordon and another man pulled a man out of his Lexus in Glastonbury, an arrest warrant issued by that towns police department said. The man was not injured during the incident, police said. Glastonbury police were able to connect Gordon to the crime by the tattoo on his neck that was visible on surveillance videos and prior mug shots, and by his DNA that was found in the Lexus, the warrant said. Gordon and a 16-year-old boy believed to have participated in the Marlborough carjacking were captured in Florida last October. Gordon was extradited to Connecticut by Manchester police who were holding a warrant for a car theft in that city that occurred on Aug. 9, 2021. State police charged Gordon and a 16-year-old boy in early March with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery, first-degree assault, second-degree arson and second-degree larceny, in connection with the Marlborough carjacking. Gordon is being held on $1 million bond and is expected to appear during a remote court proceeding on July 6 for all seven cases. The police force and sleuths of intelligence agencies went on a high alert after more than a dozen hand grenades were found lying unclaimed in the Cantonment area of Ramnagari Ayodhya on Monday afternoon. The personnel of the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) along with other senior officers, including officials of Military Intelligence, rushed to the spot and safely took all the grenades in their custody and were making further investigation. The area is said to be near the military firing range and as the grenades had no pins or fuses, it is apprehended that the grenades might be those which did not explode during practice by military personnel. Reports from Ayodhya said that about 18 hand grenades were found scattered in the bushes in the Nirmali Kund intersection of the district on Monday morning. The top police officers of the district reached the spot as soon as they got information about these hand grenades found scattered like fruits in a pit on the side of the road. The news of recovery of grenades also created panic in the area. It may be mentioned that security remains very tight in the district after the terrorist attack at Shri Ram Lalla Mandir premises in Ayodhya. The area after the Nirmali Kund intersection comes in the Cantonment area and is a high security zone. The Guptar Ghat of Saryu river also comes in the Cantonment area where thousands of tourists come every day. When scientists find a new disease-causing virus in humans, the first question they want answered is: Can this thing spread easily from person to person? And if not, will it someday? Avian influenza can infect humans, but its not very good at passing from one person to another. Same with the coronavirus that causes MERS, another severe respiratory illness. Though hundreds of cases of both have been reported over the past two decades, neither virus seems inclined to evolve toward efficient person-to-person transmission. In less than three years, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 has mastered it. SARS-CoV-2 has accumulated a suite of mutations over an astonishingly short period of time that have made it now one of the most infectious human pathogens on the planet. And for the first time ever, scientists have the tools and the knowledge to closely track that evolution in near-real time, studying the small but mighty genomic mutations that have transformed the virus to the point where it hardly resembles the strain that began infecting humans in China in late 2019. Mapping the evolution of this virus has fed academically curious minds in every nation, and its had real world implications too. Identifying and describing new variants has helped guide public health responses and is now informing the next generation of vaccines and drug therapies. The coronavirus rapid evolution also is helping scientists anticipate the future of the pandemic, and what mutations may make it a less or more formidable foe in years to come. This is the first time in human history that weve been able to witness a global pandemic at the genomic, evolutionary level, said Joe DeRisi, president of San Franciscos Chan Zuckerberg Biohub, which has done genomic sequencing on the virus since the start of the pandemic. Whats been especially fascinating, and at times alarming, is the speed of this virus evolution. That SARS-CoV-2 would mutate to better adapt to humans was always anticipated, but the pace of that adaptation has been breathtaking. Scientists say thats in large part due to the scale of the pandemic more than half a billion infections worldwide have afforded the virus near-boundless opportunity to mutate. But its a matter of timing, too. As a human virus, SARS-CoV-2 is still in its infancy, developing rapidly to flourish in its new environment. Meanwhile, human immunity to the virus due to infection and vaccination has become increasingly complex, applying constant pressure to further evolve. Its normal to see this kind of evolution this constant battle between human and pathogen, said Fenyong Liu, an infectious disease expert at UC Berkeleys School of Public Health. Each of us is focused on survival. We develop a better system to beat them, and theyre going to mutate and try to escape. It happens with all infectious diseases, but for COVID, the whole process really sped up because of the scale of it. Predicting how evolution will shape the next iterations of this virus is tricky, and scientists lack the technology to do it with any precision. How the virus has mutated over the past two and a half years provides some clues: Scientists have identified dozens of specific mutations mostly associated with increasing infectiousness that have recurred in multiple variants. Those mutations likely will keep showing up, re-sorting themselves in different combinations that give the virus further survival advantages. Some of the mutations could become permanently embedded in the virus genetic code. A few already have. Recently, the virus has mutated to evade hard-won human immunity, and most experts in virology believe it will continue down that evolutionary path. It could also acquire new mutations that make it more infectious, though its already become so efficient at spreading among humans that its hard to imagine how much more gains it can make there, some scientists say. The most critical question and possibly the toughest to answer is whether the virus will evolve to cause more or less severe disease in humans. Many experts believe that viruses tend to become more benign over time one of the current coronaviruses that now causes the common cold may have been the source of a deadly pandemic in the late 1800s but thats not a sure thing, and no one can say how long such evolution may take. Omicron and its subvariants are causing milder disease than their predecessors, but it would be naive to assume a future variant couldnt arrive with mutations that make it fiercer once again, experts say. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle Hopefully it will adapt and become a very mild seasonal disease, and our immune systems will adapt, too, Liu said. But in reality, the virus has unlimited capability to adapt and mutate. Scientists began tracking the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 almost immediately after the virus was isolated and identified in early January 2020. Once the first genomic sequence was complete and had been shared on a public database, infectious disease experts around the world started hunting for mutations, largely to keep tabs on how the virus was spreading. Most people by now are familiar with the role mutations play in giving the virus certain advantages. But most mutations dont actually have an obvious effect on the virus, theyre simply glitches in the code. Those mutations can serve as evolutionary breadcrumbs, though, allowing scientists to follow the virus trail as it travels widely around the globe. And throughout the pandemic, public health experts have used mutations to identify and control clusters of infections. Still, scientists are most invested in tracking consequential mutations that may alter the public health response. For example, arrival of the incredibly infectious omicron led many officials to recommend people start wearing higher quality masks, and eventually triggered another universal mask mandate in California to help curb the spread. The most influential mutations mostly have been identified in the spike protein, the section of the virus that projects out of the surface and latches onto the ACE2 receptor, a protein on the exterior of human cells through which SARS-CoV-2 gains entry. The first significant mutation known as D614G and nicknamed Doug arrived sometime in spring 2020; it basically made the ACE2 receptor more accessible. It was like putting a wedge in the door to keep it open, said Shannon Bennett, chief of science at the California Academy of Sciences. That mutation granted the virus an early boost in infectiousness, and it has stuck around in every important variant since. Identifying a mutation of that significance was surprising, and exciting, Bennett said. It was the kind of early evolutionary shift that scientists have never been able to capture before. With earlier viruses HIV, for example by the time scientists identified and were able to study them closely enough to look for mutations, they were already well established in humans and had likely gone through years of vigorous adaptations. After D614G, the virus quickly accumulated mutations that mostly improved its ability to transmit and infect. Scientists havent yet determined exactly what all those changes are doing, at the biological level, to increase infectiousness. Some may allow the virus to replicate faster in the nose or bind more tightly to the ACE2 receptor, making it harder for the immune system to shake off an early infection. Mutations could also make the virus more durable, for instance able to survive for longer periods in the air. By the end of 2020, it was becoming apparent that the virus was evolving quickly in an environment of widespread transmission. Troubling new variants were emerging at regular intervals, each causing new waves of infection in the country in which they emerged and sometimes on a global scale. And each new variant seemed to be at least somewhat more infectious than the one preceding it. Alpha, which dominated in the U.S. in early 2021, was perhaps 50% more infectious than the original virus, and delta, which fueled the summer 2021 surge, was perhaps 90% more infectious than alpha. Omicron, which carried dozens of new mutations, was again more infectious up to fivefold over delta. And each of its subvariants has been more infectious still. The currently circulating strains, all offspring of omicron, are nearly as infectious as measles, which is the most contagious of all known human infections. Scientists say the virus may have hit peak infectiousness, or close to it. Now, its evolving to get around the immune response, and that trend likely will continue. Early studies show that the two up-and-coming variants in the U.S. BA.4 and BA.5, which currently make up roughly a third of cases are the most immune evasive so far; people who are vaccinated or have already been infected, or both, may still be vulnerable. I think theres a max in terms of how transmissible it can be, said Nadia Roan, an investigator at the Gladstone Institutes in San Francisco who studies immunology. Now almost the entire world has some form of immunity, whether from infection or vaccination or both, and thats the big pressure. A virus that is able to take off right now has to be immune evasive. Immune evasion is such a concern that many experts believe the world needs to focus resources on developing next-generation vaccines that will target parts of the virus less prone to mutations. Manufacturers of the two main U.S. vaccines Pfizer and Moderna are working to update their products to better match the currently circulating variants, but thats difficult to do when the dominant variant changes every few months. Ideally, scientists would develop a vaccine that neutralizes the virus preventing it from ever taking hold and stopping transmission entirely and doesnt fade over time. The latter may not be possible, though. It doesnt seem that this coronavirus will be inducing the same immunity that polio and measles induces that lasts for your entire life, said Raul Andino, a UCSF virologist. Eventually, the pace of evolution in SARS-CoV-2 may slow down, or at least produce fewer consequential mutations that cause fresh surges several times a year. But its tough to guess when that will happen. Virus evolution is relentless. The virus never takes a rest, never takes a break, and it never stops mutating, DeRisi said. The truce may come when we figure out what kind of yearly boosters we need, or what vaccination works. We want to get the virus to where it just doesnt matter anymore, he said. Were not there yet. But theres reason to be optimistic, and also reason to be cautious and not let our guard down. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate When making summer plans, some people dream of visiting tropical, far-away beaches on exotic islands. However, a new list from Travel Pulse, a travel-focused website, shows that vacationers don't need to travel far in order to make the most out of their summer plans. Last week, the website released its "Every States Best Summer Travel Destination" list, which delves into the quintessential summer vacation destinations across the U.S. In Connecticut, the distinction has been bestowed upon Old Lyme. Contributing to its placement on the list is its access to beaches and state parks as well as its signature holiday events and waterside bars and restaurants. Essential travel locations in Old Lyme mentioned by Travel Pulse include Rocky Neck and Soundview Beach. Located on the Connecticut Shoreline in New London County, Old Lyme is a historic area of the state with strong ties to its maritime past. If sitting by the beach isn't your thing, Old Lyme boasts a strong arts community that is anchored by the Florence Griswold Museum and Lyme Art Association. In terms of live music, Old Lyme has the The Side Door Jazz Club, which has seen a number of jazz greats walk through its doors including Dr. Lonnie Smith, Chico Freeman and Bucky Pizzarelli. In addition to Old Lyme getting recognition as a top summer travel destination, New London's Ocean Beach Park was named one of the best beaches in the country by Travel + Leisure this year. "This half-mile, golden-sand beach with gentle tides provides great views of ferries and schooners sailing past the New London lighthouse," the article describes. Other nearby spots to make Travel Pulse's list include the Finger Lakes in New York, Provincetown in Massachusetts, Long Beach Island in New Jersey and Block Island in Rhode Island. If you're planning a trip to the Shoreline this summer, be sure to visit our Connecticut Shoreline guide, which offers tips on finding lobster rolls, mapping out outdoor activities and maximizing your trip to the Shore. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) California voters will decide in November whether to guarantee the right to an abortion in their state constitution, a question sure to boost turnout on both sides of the debate during a pivotal midterm election year as Democrats try to keep control of Congress after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The court's ruling on Friday lets states decide for themselves whether to allow abortion. California is controlled by Democrats who support abortion rights, so access to the procedure won't be threatened anytime soon. But the legal right to an abortion in California is based upon the right to privacy in the state constitution. The Supreme Court's ruling declared that a right to privacy does not guarantee the right to an abortion. California Democrats fear this ruling could leave the state's abortion laws vulnerable to challenge in state courts. To address that, state lawmakers on Monday agreed to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot this year that would leave no doubt about the status of abortion in California. While for now we may feel safe here in California, we cannot rest on our laurels," said Assembly member Sabrina Cervantes, a Democrat from Riverside. It is only a matter of time before this will directly affect you and the people you love. The amendment would declare that the state shall not deny or interfere with an individual's reproductive freedom in their most intimate decisions, which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives. It would become law only if a majority of voters approve it this November. Of California's likely voters, 76% oppose overturning Roe v. Wade, according to a poll conducted in May by the Public Policy Institute of California. That could give a boost to Democrats chances of retaining control of Congress. Despite its progressive reputation, California has a number of competitive House races that will help determine which party wins the most seats in November for the remainder of Democratic President Joe Biden's first term. Republicans opposed the amendment, arguing it is too broad and would allow for abortions late in pregnancy when a fetus is capable of surviving outside of the womb. California law currently restricts abortion to only before a fetus is viable, which is usually defined as around 24 weeks of pregnancy. The wording of this says nothing about late term. It puts no restrictions on it, said Assembly Republican Leader James Gallagher, who noted his twin sons had complications at about 30 weeks of pregnancy. Babies like my twins at 30 weeks, their lives could be taken. Assembly member Akilah Weber, a Democrat from San Diego and practicing obstetrician-gynecologist, said many factors other than the gestational age of the fetus determine viability, arguing the decision is best left to the patient and her doctor. This amendment ... is not only compassionate, but it is rooted in the current state of science, evidence-based medicine and the legal landscape, she said. California joins Vermont in trying to protect abortion in its state constitution. The Vermont proposal, also on the ballot this November, does not include the word abortion but would protect personal reproductive autonomy although there is an exception justified by a compelling State interest achieved by the least restrictive means. The amendment in California is part of Democrats' aggressive strategy to make California a sanctuary for women seeking abortions. Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a law aimed at shielding California abortion providers and volunteers from lawsuits in other states a measure aimed at blunting a Texas law that allows private citizens to sue people who help women in that state get an abortion. Californias massive operating budget scheduled for a vote later this week contains more than $200 million in new spending to expand access to abortion in the state. The money would pay for abortions for women who cant afford them, scholarships for people studying how to provide abortions and money to help women pay for logistics like travel, lodging and child care but only within the state of California. Monday's abortion debate in the state Legislature was colored with the emotion of personal experiences as many lawmakers detailed their own experiences with abortion. Assembly member Buffy Wicks said she chose abortion during an unplanned pregnancy when she was 25, and it allowed her to have a family when I was ready. Assembly member Isaac Bryan said his mother got pregnant from a rape and chose to have him and put him up for adoption. I get asked all the time why that doesn't make me pro-life, Bryan said. It's because my mother had options. She had choices, and they were hers to make. And I refuse to be tokenized to undermine the bodily autonomy of women and childbearing people. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The search for the man who was reported missing on Candlewood Lake on Friday has been suspended until Tuesday due to inclement weather on Monday. Officials say the 20-year-old was reported missing Friday evening while swimming near Chicken Rock, a 25-foot-high rock at the southern tip of Green Island on the Sherman-New Fairfield border. Chicken Rock has been the site of several accidents over the years, and the search comes just over a week after authorities found the remains of a 24-year-old Bristol man who died in an accidental drowning over Memorial Day weekend. The 20-year-olds disappearance prompted a multi-agency response Friday. The state Department of Energy of Environmental Protections Environmental Conservation Police and Candlewood Lake Authority, along with firefighters from Sherman, Danbury, New Milford and Brookfield, and dive teams from Newtown, Danbury, Brookfield and Connecticut State Police responded to the lake to look for him. The search was suspended around 10 p.m. Friday and resumed the next morning, with the same thing happening Saturday and Sunday. Due to inclement weather in Mondays forecast, DEEP spokesperson Will Healey announced Sunday night that the search would not continue until Tuesday morning. Searches will continue this week as weather permits, the Sherman Volunteer Fire Department said in a Monday morning Facebook post, adding that boaters are asked to stay clear of the Chicken Rock area until further notice. The Candlewood Lake Marine Patrol maintained a search perimeter while state police, New Milford police and Newtown Underwater Search and Rescue dive teams searched the lake over the weekend, and will continue to monitor the area, according to Shermans fire department. DEEP has said the 20-year-old man was swimming near Chicken Rock but has not released further details about the incident. Chicken Rock is a popular spot for swimmers to jump into the lake and has a rope swing that allows people to swing out over the water. Last year, a teenager injured her head after police said she used the swing to launch out into the water and struck her head on rocks. A 46-year-old man was injured after falling from Chicken Rock in 2015, and an Enfield man sustained head and neck injuries in 2010 after using a rope swing at the top of Chicken Rock and failing to jump out far enough. Authorities rescued a patient in 2019 who broke his or her leg in the area. The Bristol man who officials recovered on June 16 had been on a boat in a different area of the lake Candlewood Inn in Brookfield when he went underwater. Larry Kwokpo Chan, 24, was a former U.S. Marine corporal who graduated from Bristol Eastern High School in 2015 and served in Okinawa, Japan, according to his obituary. FAIRFIELD The top 10 property tax delinquents in Fairfield owe more than $2.1 million, according to town records. When looking at those who owe the most in tax bills to the town, several are for properties that are part of deceased peoples estates, while other owners are real estate companies. 999 Merwins Lane is the property with the most owed in taxes at $269,585 owed for six years of taxes, liens and interest on a single-family property valued at approximately $1.1 million. David Kluczwski, Fairfields tax collector, said most of the properties on the delinquent list are residential, and do not have a mortgage. The top 10 property tax delinquents in Fairfield: 1. 999 Merwins Lane: $269,585.15 owed for six years;* property valued at $1,100,400 2. 561 Reef Road: $255,906.91 owed for 14 years;* property valued at $386,610 3. 46 Linley Drive: $248,701.92 owed for 15 years;* property valued at $350,000 4. 190 Fairchild Avenue: $230,648.31 owed for 11 years;* property valued at $467,040 5. 65 Benson Place: $225,001.07 owed for eight years;* property valued at $654,920 6. 150 Orchard Hill Lane: $194,467.98 owed for 11 years;* property valued at $380,450 7. 160 Henderson Road: $176,848.03 owed for 10 years;* property valued at $431,270 8. 1521 Congress Street: $176,613.90 owed for 10 years;* property valued at $206,150 9. 168 Kings Drive: $172,183.56 owed for 10 years;* property valued at $368,410 10. 1791 and 1773 Fairfield Beach Road: $169,325.37 owed for two years;* properties valued at a total $3,299,660 *The amount of taxes owed includes taxes, liens and interest. Source: Town of Fairfield Tax Collector's Office See More Collapse It could be a situation where a property was in an estate and one of the children inherited the property, he said. But, its more likely than not that theres no mortgage... because the banks are not going to allow it to go delinquent like this. Theyre going to take action on their end. The vast majority of the property tax delinquents on the top 10 list come from multiple years of missed taxes. For instance, the single-family property at 561 Reef Road owes $255,906 for 14 years of taxes, liens and interest on a property valued at $386,610. Seven out of 10 on the list are properties that have not paid taxes in more than 10 years. None of the tax delinquents on the list could be reached for comment. Kluczwski said the town has multiple approaches to addressing unpaid taxes, although it does not use most of them because Fairfield is not in dire financial straits. It doesnt mean they dont owe it, he said. It doesnt mean that theyre off the hook. They still owe the full balance. The interest still accrues. The liens still apply. Theres no favors. Theres no nothing in that regard. They have more time. We are not going after people. Were trying to work with them, because we have that luxury because were not like a city that is only collecting 95 or 96 percent of their grand list. Speaking to the options available to the town, Kluczwski said it could do a lien assignment, a tax sale auction or traditional foreclosure through the court system. He noted that the data provided to Hearst Connecticut Media is from the 2020 grand list, of which the taxes came due in July 2021. When the town assigns a lien, a third party company buys the debt, pays the town what is owed and then acts as the tax collector. He said the town is not currently using that option. Even though were not using that enforcement right now, it doesnt mean we wont in the future. Its just that the town has not expressed an interest in doing it at this moment, he said, adding the town is being more lenient because of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, Kluczwski said, the town files a municipal lien every year on delinquent properties, which helps ensure that if it gets sold the town will get paid in full when the ownership transfers. He said those taxes are the responsibility of the previous owner, so those delinquent taxes often get paid from the proceeds of the sale. Kluczwski said a tax sale is when the town sells a property because of its delinquent taxes. He said the town has not used the tax sale or foreclosure option in the five years he has worked in the role, although it did do a tax sale in 2012. Even if a house was sold in a tax sale auction, Kluczwski said, there is a six month period where the property owner has the option to pay the taxes to prevent the sale from being finalized. I dont know how many properties were in it, but I do know that they all got redeemed before they got to the actual action, he said of the 2012 sale. Theres usually a six month window where (the property owner) receives a series of notices warning them of what is going to happen. Kluczwski noted that the town cannot cut deals with people in tax delinquency, adding that interest accrues at 18 percent a year. We can never waive or reduce that interest, he said. The law forces me to charge them in full. The interest can really add up over time, Kluczwski said, and so he advises people to pay as much as they can. He said he is always willing to work with people within the constructs of the law. joshua.labella@hearstmediact.com ELMAU, Germany (AP) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday underscored the urgency of helping his countrys military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Zelenskyy addressed the delicacy of the moment for Ukraine in its war with Russia to the Group of Seven summit as the leaders of the major economies prepared to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putins aggression. The official announcement would come shortly after Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks and as the Russian military has continued a full-on assault on the last remaining Ukrainian redoubt in the Luhansk province in order to take control of the eastern Donbas region. Ukrainian officials stressed the need for more air-defense systems on Monday after Russia launched a missile attack on a crowded shopping center in the central city of Kremenchuk. Officials said 1,000 civilians were in the mall with at least twenty injured and two dead. The new aid and efforts by the G-7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The Ukrainian leader discussed his strategy for the course of the war, which has transformed into a bloody artillery battle in the country's west and east. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Zelenskyys top request was for further air defense systems, followed by economic support to help his government meet its financial obligations. Zelenskyy also briefed the G7 leaders on how his administration is using the assistance hes received to date to maximize Ukraines capacity both to resist Russian advances, and to pursue counter attacks where possible, Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible in coming months because he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people. Zelenskyy also told the leaders that he needs to be in stronger position before engaging in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior French diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidencys customary practices. After hearing from Zelenskyy, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine for as long as it takes. They said it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. Leaders were also finalizing the deal to seek a price cap. G-7 finance ministers will resolve details of how it would work, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview announcements from the summit. Some market analysts doubt how effective a price cap on Russian oil would be, as enforcement by the G-7 would likely depend on cooperation from India and China. It is questionable whether countries like India and China will agree to cease purchasing Russian oil, especially as it is trading at a significant discount on the global market price, said Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. President Joe Biden on Tuesday increased the tax to 35% on certain Russian-made goods. Biden is expected to soon announce the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to help counter the Russian assault in Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraine's government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is hosting the summit in the German Alps, said after meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help ... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. Britain's Boris Johnson said that, under the circumstances, the G-7 has to "continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy, to get their grain out, to export their grain, and, of course, we have to help them to protect themselves. And thats what were going to continue to do. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance will increase the size of its rapid reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of its response to an era of strategic competition. The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers, which can deploy quickly when needed. Stoltenberg commented before he opens a NATO summit Tuesday in Madrid. The organization's 30 member countries are expected to also agree on further support for Ukraine. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs and plans support to rebuild its economy long term. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and continue its defense against Russian forces. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations among G-7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if the nature of their outreach differs. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have held active conversations with Putin and Zelenskyy. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia. ___ Moulson reported from Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. Superville reported from Telfs, Austria. Associated Press writers Sylvie Corbet in Paris, Samuel Petrequin in Brussels, and Aamer Madhani and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court ruling to overturn its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision is unpopular with a majority of Americans but did that matter? The relationship between the public and the judiciary has been studied and debated by legal and political scholars. The short answer: its complicated. Theres evidence that the public has an indirect role in the judiciary, but that might be changing. In the final opinion, Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the court cannot allow our decisions to be affected by any extraneous influences such as concern about the publics reaction to our work. Polls following the leaked draft of the opinion show approval of the Supreme Court which was already suffering slumped even further, driven by those who supported keeping Roe. The court and public opinion have clashed at times, but they've entered into a symbiotic relationship" over the last 60 years, Barry Friedman suggests in his 2009 book The Will of the People." The court doesn't stray too far from popular opinion. How that happens and whether it remains true are harder to know for certain. We dont have a viewfinder that shows us what the justices are doing, said Maya Sen, political scientist and professor at the Harvard Kennedy School. Its a complicated chicken-and-egg situation where we can try to disentangle these forces, but its very hard to do. IS PUBLIC OPINION ON ABORTION CLEAR? Public opinion on abortion is nuanced, but polling shows broad support for Roe and for abortion rights. Seventy percent of U.S. adults said in a May AP-NORC poll that the Supreme Court should leave Roe as is, not overturn it. Roe is one of a handful of cases that people recognize, Sen said, and its recognized as important Supreme Court precedent. Only 8% in the May poll said abortion should be illegal in all cases, but many Americans support some restrictions. An AP-NORC poll last year showed majorities of adults say abortion in the second and third trimesters should be illegal in all or most cases, and opinions were closely divided over whether a pregnant woman should be able to obtain a legal abortion for any reason. I think many Americans believe that there should be some sort of kind of sliding scale where the right is protected and then as the pregnancy continues, then the interests of the potential life become more significant, Sen said, adding that Roe allowed for that nuanced thinking. DOES PUBLIC OPINION FACTOR DIRECTLY IN COURT DECISION-MAKING? Researchers have found and some of the justices themselves have acknowledged that court decisions and public opinion are often aligned, but some experts say its probably not a direct link. The most important thing in decision-making is justices set of political and judicial philosophies that give them preferences over the outcomes of the cases, said Joseph Ura, political science professor at Texas A&M University. Everything else is kind of marginal around that." Justices themselves experience the same things that everyday Americans do, which makes it harder to assess causality. Its really hard to decipher: was it public opinion thats driving these decisions or is it just that the justices have preferences and theyre exposed to the same thing that most of us are exposed to? said Elizabeth Lane, assistant professor of political science at Louisiana State University. DOES PUBLIC OPINION INDIRECTLY INFLUENCE THE COURT? Scholars point to judicial appointments and court legitimacy as potential ways that the public has indirect influence on the court. For one, voters elect a president, who nominates justices, and senators, who confirm them. Over the longer run, assuming theres kind of a reasonable rotation of the justices leaving office for whatever reason that aligns with the partys historical alternation in power, the court can preserve its alignment with public opinion, said Ura. Thats been undermined recently, experts say. By chance and by political maneuvering, a larger number of sitting justices six of them were appointed by Republican presidents. In their dissent, the courts liberal justices wrote: The Court reverses course today for one reason and one reason only: because the composition of this Court has changed. Justices may also consider how the public will receive a ruling, though the new abortion ruling makes clear some on the court dont believe thats an important consideration. While the court can issue its ruling, it has to rely on other actors the public, politicians and even lower courts to accept and implement it, said Charles Franklin, professor of law and public policy and director of the Marquette Law School poll. I doubt that the justices wake up every morning and check the polls to see if people agree, but over the long haul, the court does need a level of public support as a mechanism for their rulings being enforced, Franklin said. The threshold of support that the court needs might be changing. A reaction from the public or elected officials has less currency than it used to because of deepening political polarization, Ura said. A controversial or unpopular decision wont necessarily raise the ire of a bipartisan coalition. DOES IT MATTER IF THE PUBLICS FAITH IN THE COURT IS LOW? The court has historically enjoyed consistently positive views among the public. But polling showed confidence in and approval of the court began to dip last year, and it has worsened since the leaked draft. Does it matter if the publics faith in the court is low? The idea of the legitimacy of the court was a way it could sustain itself when it ruled counter to the majority opinion, Franklin said. Justice Sonia Sotomayor recently emphasized the need for public faith in the court system. Justice Elena Kagan in 2018 spelled out why: You know we dont have an army. We dont have any money. The only way we can get people to do what we think they should do is because people respect us." Michael Salamone, political science professor at Washington State University, explained that specific support for the court what's measured in polls can easily fluctuate with reactions to court decisions. But diffuse support faith in the institution's role in democracy is historically resilient. It remains to be seen whether that diffuse support will suffer because of the decision to overturn Roe. Just based on the amount of rhetoric and the high-profile nature of so many of these decisions," he said, "Im wondering if weve perhaps reached our limit to that resilience. ___ Associated Press writer Jessica Gresko contributed to this report. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ELMAU, Germany (AP) One year ago, Joe Biden strode into his first Group of Seven summit as president and confidently told the closest U.S. allies that America is Back. Now, many of them are worrying that America is backsliding. As Biden meets this week in the Bavarian Alps with the heads of G-7 leading democratic economies, he carries with him the domestic baggage of political unrest, shocking mass shootings and the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to end constitutional protections for abortion. Bidens 2021 summit was meant as a palate cleanser to the America First ideology of his predecessor, President Donald Trump. Embracing multilateralism and global partnerships and restoring faith in Americas alliances especially NATOs mutual self-defense pact were top on his agenda. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said of Biden, Were totally on the same page. Biden's election was seen by most allies as an American reset, returning to norms honed over decades, with predictability and stability at the fore. A year later, the reception for Biden remains warm and the public emphasis on Americas global leadership remains upbeat especially in the context of Biden rallying the world against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But increasingly, that view is set against a backdrop of potential turmoil ahead. I think Europeans no doubt look at the U.S. domestic situation with a degree of dread, said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe Program at the private Center for Strategic and International Studies. He added: It's sort of the best of times, the worst of times. Bidens visit to Europe comes as a congressional committee investigates the attempted overthrow of the 2020 presidential election by Trump and his allies, whose party stands poised to make substantial inroads in the November midterm elections. The crisis of mass shootings and gun violence uniquely American among similarly positioned nations draws condemnation from horrified allies. And the high court decision that allows states to ban abortion sparked a fresh round of denunciations and worries from some of the United States' closest partners. Abortion is a fundamental right for all women, tweeted French President Emmanuel Macron. It must be protected. I wish to express my solidarity with the women whose liberties are being undermined by the Supreme Court of the United States. Biden told reporters Sunday evening that the subject of the abortion decision had not come up in his chats with world leaders. Not related to Ukraine or any of the issues discussed, he said, replying flatly no when asked if the matter was broached to him by another summit attendee. Yet when the Supreme Court ruling came down Friday morning, Biden ended up being the third G-7 leader to offer reaction, with Canadas Justin Trudeau and Britains Johnson quickly condemning the ruling even before Biden had delivered remarks at the White House. Ive got to tell you I think its a big step backwards, Johnson said Friday. Ive always believed in a womans right to choose and I stick to that view and thats why the U.K. has the law that it does and we recently took steps to make sure those laws were enforced throughout the whole of the U.K. Trudeau called the decision horrific, adding: "No government, politician or man should tell a woman what she can and cannot do with her body. He said he couldn't imagine the fear and anger women in the U.S. must be experiencing in the wake of the ruling. And after 19 students and two teachers were killed at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, condolences flowed in from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, even as his own countrys armed forces suffer many times that number in casualties due to Russia's aggression. The people of Ukraine share the pain of the relatives and friends of the victims and all Americans, he tweeted at the time. Bergmann said that while European leaders might have varying opinions on the merits of the Roe v. Wade ruling, they have broad concern about the upheaval that the ruling could unleash. "They saw the January 6th insurrection, they are very concerned about Americas domestic stability and then here is a decision ... that clearly has the potential to upend and explode American politics and make Americas political divides even deeper and that is something thats incredibly worrying, he said. The Europeans, he added, look at U.S. domestic discord through the lens of their own security. The underlying concern is whats this going to mean for the United States as their security guarantor," he said. "Will America be stable enough to uphold that? Pressed on how the abortion decision would affect Americas standing in the world, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre called the ruling an extreme decision that endangered same-sex marriage and access to contraception by married couples. But she said Bidens position globally was unchanged. Look, weve heard from a lot of the leaders already, she told reporters aboard Air Force One on the way to Germany. I know some of them have put out statements very vocal about what they have seen from this decision, saying they were offering support to the American people. I dont think this stops the work that the president is going to do or wants to do or looking to do with leaders, Jean-Pierre added. Johnson, for his part, denied he harbored specific fears about Americas overall path. Looking from the outside, it was pretty weird, he told CNN on Sunday when asked about the Jan. 6, 2021, attempt to overthrow the presidential election. But I dont believe that American democracy is under serious threat, far from it. I continue to believe that America is the greatest global guarantor of democracy and freedom. Most G-7 nations tend to be more liberal than the U.S. on a range of issues, and Trumps flip questioning of longstanding alliances rattled more than just heads of state and government. Bidens America is Back messaging has faced renewed scrutiny from everyday citizens of allied countries. I think America is divided, said Gabriele Jocher, 59, a freelance social worker from Garmisch, Germany, just miles from the summit site. I think there are really very good forces and people who really want to move forward like that but also very backwards. And that just makes me think, globally, whats going on there that just like two forces are clashing. Christina Maurer, 59, a homemaker and nurse in the picturesque town, added: Everything that Mr. Biden wants to change now, I dont know. Then another one will come, his name will be Trump or something similar and he will ruin everything again." ___ Associated Press writer Daniel Niemann in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRIDGEPORT A year after a police recruitment drive fell short, the city is again seeking entry level officers to replenish the departments depleted ranks, hoping to hire up to 70 individuals by next July. In the midst of a high-profile search for a new chief, Mayor Joe Ganims administration this week also launched a new competitive written examination, with an August 14 deadline for applicants. According to Acting Police Chief Rebeca Garcia, there are 298 officers working for the department down 51 from a year ago while the ideal number is 426. That low figure has been blamed in part on retirements but also on transfers to other municipalities which Garcia and the police union have attributed to high health insurance costs. Meanwhile a recruitment effort launched last April did not produce the same robust results as previous years. At the time the city said it had received 419 applications, several hundred fewer than during another major recruitment push in 2015. Ultimately, the city told Hearst Connecticut Media this week, 2021s recruitment resulted in a list of 105 eligible cadets, 11 of whom are currently attending the academy and scheduled to graduate in August. Given it is not unusual for those who make the list to no longer be available a year later, Ganims administration said it hopes to get one more, 11-cadet class out of the 2021 results. But with the department aiming to hire 70 new officers during the new fiscal year which begins July 1, the city had to make yet another effort to seek additional classes. We are currently exhausting the current list of potential candidates, Garcia said in a statement. She also reiterated the argument the Ganim administration had made last summer about the anemic recruitment results that, nationally, departments are struggling to attract individuals to a career in law enforcement given all of the controversies and reform efforts surrounding policing. I have had many discussions with my colleagues from many police departments who have voiced the same concern the nationwide decrease in recruitment and exodus from police departments has greatly affected us all, Garcia said. We still believe that law enforcement is an honorable career path and that we who are still here are committed to making a positive impact. The Bridgeport department over the last few years has also been the source of plenty of negative publicity that might give some potential applicants pause, from officers being found guilty of or accused of excessive force, to allegations of racism, to internal power struggles, to the arrest and conviction of former top cop Armando Perez for cheating during the 2018 chief search to obtain that job. Meanwhile Garcias authority has also been publicly challenged with a no confidence vote by the union last March and the Guardians the minority officer organization demanding last June that she step down. Garcia has not stated whether she intends to compete in the current search for a permanent chief. And the aged police headquarters also does not make a great first impression. The City Council recently budgeted $2.5 million to help start the replacement process. As for the health care costs blamed for driving some officers to other departments, those are part of ongoing union contract negotiations. On the table, the city is willing to lower the health insurance rate, Nestor Nkwo, Ganims budget chief, told City Council members during the spring municipal budget season. But we have to get something in return from the union. Dan Roach, an aide to Ganim, is also chairman of the appointed police commission which helps manage the department. Obviously were all hopeful well be more successful than last year, Roach said of the recruitment drive. Theres certainly a big manpower shortage that everyones well aware of. Thankfully, Roach said, technological advancements like the ShotSpotter system that helps to track and respond to gunfire has in some ways made up for the lack of personnel and created efficiencies and enabled the force to keep up and be successful. You may not see as many cops, but the cops are seeing whats going on, Roach said. Tara O'Neill / Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT Officials are investigating the cause of a two-alarm fire in a vacant building Sunday night, the citys emergency management director said. No one was injured in the fire on Oak Street, said Scott Appleby, director of emergency management, Homeland Security and emergency communications. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that the government will constitute a board for promoting natural farming in the state. Provision for promoting natural farming in seven districts of Bundelkhand region has been made in the budget for the current fiscal 2022-23. Addressing a conclave organised by the World Bank on Uttar Pradesh towards sustainable and equitable growth here on Monday, the chief minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid special emphasis on natural farming and the Central government had made budget provision for it. The Central government has identified five-kilometre area along the banks of river Ganga for promoting natural farming. The UP government, in January 2020, had launched a special campaign Rs Ganga Yatra to create awareness about natural farming. UP has identified 27 districts along the course of the river Ganga and seven districts of Bundelkhand region for natural farming. The chief minister said the question before the government was how to enhance the income of the farmers with low cost of agricultural inputs and the simple answer was natural farming. If the production goes up and cost is low then income goes up, he pointed out. In India, rishi and krishi are closely linked and complementary to each other. The cow is not an issue of faith but also of economy. The religious customs sustain the economy in the form of natural farming. Two years ago a seminar was organised in Kanpur on natural farming where 500 progressive farmers had participated. It has resulted in natural farming in thousands of hectares of agricultural land, the chief minister said. He said the objective of natural farming was toxic free agriculture by reducing the use of fertilisers, chemicals and pesticides and using the inputs produced by the farmers with low or zero cost. Referring to the negative consequences of the intensive use of chemicals and fertilizers in Punjab, Yogi Adityanath said, The Cancer Express train running in Punjab is well known and diseases are growing fast with the rise in use of chemicals and fertilisers in agriculture. If humanity and mother earth have to be to be preserved and protected then we have to opt for natural farming. This is the most potent alternative available to the farmers. Recalling his days of childhood, the chief minister said there were naturally grown flowers in agriculture fields that were full of fragrance in villages in Garhwali region of Uttarakhand. The fragrance of flowers is so intense that no one is allowed to stay there at night as it can harm the person, he added. With the rapid rise in use of fertilisers and chemicals, the flowers may have grown in size but they have lost the fragrance and also the natural and medicinal properties. Same has happened in the case of taste and quality of the food grains. The production has increased with the green revolution and has given rise to many unforeseen consequences, Yogi Adityanath said. He said the innovative experiment of natural farming was progressing well in the state and agriculture scientists and progressive farmers would have an important role in expanding the scope of natural farming. In a state like UP, farming will immensely increase the income of farmers. UP has the largest number of farmers, most fertile land, which is 11-12 per cent, and abundant water resources. Even as UP is yet to fully deploy the modern agriculture technology, the state is producing 20 per cent food grains of the total food grains produced in the country. If we move forward with scientific approach along with modern agriculture techniques and use the tool of natural farming then we will not only succeed in increasing production but also increase the income of the farmers, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RABAT, Morocco (AP) The father of a Moroccan man facing execution after being captured by Russia-backed separatists in Ukraine appealed Monday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene, as a father, to spare his son from the firing squad. I want my son back, just like any father would, Taher Saadoun told reporters in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. Saadoun also called on Moroccos government to pursue negotiations on behalf of his 21-year-old son, Brahim, who was sentenced June 9 to the death penalty alongside two Britons, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner. They are the first foreign fighters sentenced by Ukraines Russian-backed rebels. A court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk Peoples Republic convicted all three of terrorism and trying to overturn constitutional order. They were given a month to appeal, and could be executed as soon as early July if they dont. The proceedings were denounced by the West as a sham and a violation of the rules of war, but the sentence was supported by Russian officials. While the court claimed Saadoun was a mercenary, his father insisted that he was enlisted in Ukraines regular army and that when he was captured, he was wearing an official Ukrainian army uniform and carrying a weapon with serial numbers belonging to the Ukrainian government. The Donetsk republics self-styled foreign minister, Nataliya Nikonorova, told Russian state TV on Monday that none of the three condemned men have filed yet for pardons. The father said his sons local lawyer will submit the appeal when things calm down a bit, without providing a date. A lawyer for Aslin said the Briton is pessimistic about his prospects and that British authorities have not contacted the DPR about an appeal. Saadouns father said he wrote to Putin and the leader of the Donetsk Republic, and pleaded for intervention on his son's behalf. Im appealing to Russian President Putin to step in as a father, by using NGOs and humanitarian organizations to seek dialogue, Taher Saadoun said. Russia is accountable because it supports the Donetsk Republic. Brahim Saadouns mother visited the Russian Embassy in Rabat, which welcomed us warmly and gave us the case summary, Taher Saadoun said. The father said he had faith in the Donetsk court and that he was grateful to Russia for sparing his sons life when he was captured. The father, a retired member of Moroccos Royal Gendarmerie, said he hasnt heard from anyone from the Moroccan government about his sons situation, but they ought to get in touch "because I pay taxes and I am military man who carried weapons to defend my country. I call on the prime minister of Morocco to step in and engage in dialogue through all formal and informal channels, he said. The Moroccan foreign ministry said in a statement earlier this month that Saadoun obtained Ukrainian citizenship and enlisted in the Ukrainian army of his own free will, and is imprisoned by an entity which is recognized neither by the United Nations nor by Morocco. It has not commented on eventual efforts for his release. The family is seeking to provide Brahim Saadoun with its own lawyer, and to visit him in prison. They havent spoken to him since his arrest. I am ready to board the first flight to see him and bring him home, his father said. Born in the city of Meknes, Brahim Saadoun read a lot and did well in school, and attended flying and skydiving clubs, his father said. In addition to Arabic, he studied English and French, and started Russian at age 12, notably watching cartoons and news channels like Russia Today, according to his father. The family hoped for him to pursue space and aviation sciences in Russia after high school, but chose Ukraine over Russia because it was more affordable. Brahim moved to Ukraine in 2019, picked up Ukrainian and started studying at the Institute of Aeronautics and Space Sciences in Kyiv the next year. While there, he used to have regular communication with his sister in Finland and his family in Morocco, his father said. He noted shifts in Brahims behavior in 2020, after he began purchasing military garb. Brahim stopped video chatting with his family in 2021, apparently to hide these changes, his father said. The family learned of his arrest by pro-Russian forces after a brief pause in communications. The father said he felt a little relieved when his son was apprehended by pro-Russian forces: At least I knew where he was, and that he was alive. In the first video taken after his arrest, the father said Brahim appeared to be in good health, but expressed concern that in a later video it seemed like he was getting less sleep and had lost weight. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine BRIMFIELD, Mass. (AP) Massachusetts State Police on Monday released the names of the three teenagers who died in a single-vehicle crash over the weekend. Vincent J. Ardizzoni, 17, of Holland, Shane M. Douglas, 18, of West Brookfield, and Dominick P. Gardner, 17, of Oxford died in the crash reported at about 1 a.m. Sunday in Brimfield. Police have said that Ardizzoni was believed to be driving. A consistent theme in Hearst media reports appear, at least in my view, to be anti-police. I point to the most recent article titled CT Troopers Accused of wrongdoing including crimes almost 900 times in six years, records show. This article is apparently one of a three-part series. The title of the article is an attention grabber. I wholeheartedly agree with the writer that some of the cases are disturbing and the punishments in some cases appear to be light for the violation. However, we do not have all the facts, so it is difficult to sit in judgment. There are however, numerous facts purposely avoided or not mentioned. Lets start with the fact that in the time period of six years which the article covered, the Hartford Courant reported the Connecticut state police conducted 800,000 motor vehicle stops. During these stops motorist were not given awards for safe driving, but tickets which are costly as determined by our elected representatives. So slightly over 1 percent of them complained? Wait a minute, lets add criminal arrests, nonenforcement police civilian contacts, contacts at state police barracks and, oh yes, some of the incidents reported off-duty conduct. The 900 number does not look that large at this point, does it? If you put all of the numbers of these police-citizen contacts together, the acts of alleged wrong-doing are incredibly low. We should be celebrating our troopers, not tearing them down. In a perfect world there would be no complaints against our police, but then again if our world was perfect there would be no need for law enforcement. Also not included is any discipline that was challenged by the officer or the police union. I do not know of the process for CSP but I know of several municipal police chiefs who fired or severely disciplined officers accused of wrongdoing to only have the penalty lowered or totally reversed by the state labor board. Why is the media not reporting on people who fail to comply with our police? People who refuse to stop or at least pull over when those red and blue lights flash? I would be willing to bet that the common theme in most of the on-duty incidents involve a suspects lack of compliance. This does not excuse police brutality but perhaps it never would have come to that if the person just fought the case in a criminal or civil court and not in the street. Lets look at the recent arrest of trooper Brian North who shot Mubarak Soulemane after he allegedly tried to steal a cellphone and a vehicle prior to leading police on a high-speed pursuit of over 100 mph. Hearst Connecticut reported that On the day of the shooting, Soulemane, whose mental health appeared to have deteriorated in the days before he was killed If his mental health was in fact deteriorating, what help was offered to him? Would his familys medical plan covered the treatment? Were there any in-patient beds available if he was deemed to be in need of one? There is a nationwide mental health crisis in this country and when people with mental health issues get violent or allegedly commit a crime, the police are called into a very difficult situation. Most incidents are handled admirably, but they are not reported on, but if they go wrong and there is video we will see it played over and over. Also, the article mentions the alleged crimes of attempted larceny of a cellphone and a vehicle. The theft of the vehicle at one point was alleged to be a carjacking, which is a robbery and not just a larceny. This does not justify the troopers action the court process will make that determination but it does change the scenario from a property crime to one of violence. Nobody dislikes a bad police officer more than a good police officer, other than perhaps the victim of the police misconduct. During my time as a police administrator, I was part of the decision-making process to suspend and even arrest police officers. It is an unfortunate part of the job but must be done in some circumstances. We need to recruit, train, promote and retain good police officers. The rhetoric in your media makes that very difficult. I have been an adjunct instructor for over 16 years at different institutions teaching the legal and best practices in the field. As a civilian I want to see our police be the best that they can be for my family and community. Police should not be defunded or derailed by a poorly thought-out police accountability bill a topic for another day. Police in Connecticut are not perfect as they are humans, but on the whole the state of Connecticut is way ahead of other states when it comes to training, professionalism and prohibitions of police conduct when compared to other parts of the country. Lets celebrate the good and continue to remove officers who are not doing a good job by strengthening our labor laws and not by tying the hands of our police officers or demanding arrests for decisions made in a split-second. A small percentage of the citizen-police contacts are concerning and must be dealt with, but please do not overshadow the tremendous work of the men and women who choose to serve in law enforcement. Thomas Wuennemann has been an adjunct instructor at Sacred Heart University for 15 years and also teaches at Naugatuck Valley Community College in Waterbury. He retired last year at the rank of assistant chief after serving 37 years with the Stamford Police. Continuous action is being taken by the urban traffic police against dangerous driving. Under this, the parents have been fined by the court for driving the vehicle by the minors. In one case the modified silencer bullet was being driven by a minor which was causing noise pollution. A fine of Rs 26,000 was imposed by the traffic police for presenting the case before the court. Similarly, in the second case, the minor who was driving the motorcycle with three passengers Rs 10,500 has been fined by the court for presenting the matter in the court. Urban Traffic Police Bhopal requests the parents to keep a check on the unauthorized driving of their pals. Allow them to drive the vehicle only after full safety equipment and fulfillment of statutory requirements. A special campaign is being run by the Urban Traffic Police, Bhopal from April 30, 2022 against the vehicles fitted with modified silencers and the drivers driving under the influence of alcohol. In this campaign, 869 vehicles fitted with modified silencers and 418 drunken drivers have been presented for redressal in the court after taking action under the Motor Vehicle Act. Under this, 26 vehicles of modified silencer and 28 vehicles have been confiscated for driving under the influence of alcohol and for the action taken on 25th and 26th June 2022. whose cases are being presented in the court. Leaders of the Group of Seven economic powers are set to commit themselves to the long haul in supporting Ukraine as they meet in the German Alps and confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The G-7 leaders will begin Monday's session of their three-day summit with a focus on Ukraine. Later, they will be joined by the leaders of five democratic emerging economies - India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina - for a discussion on climate change, energy and other issues. The war in Ukraine was already at the forefront of the G-7 leaders' minds as they opened their summit at the secluded Schloss Elmau luxury hotel on Sunday - just as Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks. US President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G-7 would splinter, but we haven't and we're not going to. Britain's Boris Johnson warned the leaders not to give in to fatigue. On Monday, they have the opportunity to demonstrate that unity to Zelenskyy and reaffirm their commitment to supporting Kyiv financially and otherwise. Biden hopes to use his trip to Europe to proclaim the unity of the coalition pressing to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as much as he is urging allies to do even more - seeking to counter doubts about its endurance as the war grinds into its fifth month. The summit's host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said last week that he wants to discuss the outlines of a Marshall plan for Ukraine with his G-7 counterparts, referring to the U.S.-sponsored plan that helped revive European economies after World War II. With the war still in progress and destruction mounting by the day, it's unlikely to be a detailed plan at this stage. Scholz has said that rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for generations. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and prevent tight finances from hindering its defense against Russian forces. A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations between the G-7 leaders, said the US and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if their roles sometimes appear different. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. Has largely cut off significant talks with Russia and aims to bolster Ukraine's battlefield capacity as much as possible so that its eventual position at the negotiating table is stronger. The endurance of the tough sanctions on Russia may ultimately come down to whether the G-7 and other leaders can identify ways to ease energy supply issues and skyrocketing prices once winter hits, as they seek to disengage from Russian sources of fuel. The G-7 meeting is sandwiched between a European Union summit last week that agreed to give Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership - kicking off a process that is likely to take years and whose success isn't guaranteed - and a summit of NATO leaders starting Tuesday in Madrid. The leaders of the G-7 - the US, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Canada and Japan - may hope to make some progress in bringing their counterparts from their five guest countries closer to Western views on sanctions against Russia. Scholz also is eager to win over such countries for his idea of a climate club for nations that want to speed ahead when it comes to tackling the issue. There is one innovative, fast-growing industry in which the UK is the undisputed global leader and where we are seeing dramatic, unchecked expansion. Its just a shame the multi-billion-pound-a-year activity happens to be fraud. When it comes to fraud, the UK is a centre of excellence as the investigation by this newspaper has proved. But why? What has turned Britain into Fraud Island? At core, it is that fraudsters know they can carry on their despicable trade with little chance of detection, let alone punishment. Our anti-fraud regime is woefully unfit for purpose. Each and every one of us in this country is subjected to a daily deluge of fraud through our letter boxes, phones and computer screens. It is not just the elderly and vulnerable who succumb: many rip-off merchants are so clever they are capable of taking in anyone. However intelligent and aware someone is, a moments inattention can have ruinous, life-changing consequences. RUTH SUNDERLAND: When it comes to fraud, the UK is a centre of excellence - as the investigation by this newspaper has proved. But why? What has turned Britain into Fraud Island? (stock image) Proceeds of fraud are used by international gangs to fund drug deals, terrorism, child prostitution and human trafficking. Scams that start in the UK with a phone call to an elderly widow are just one link in an international chain of depravity. Yet the authorities have not done nearly enough to ward off this epic crimewave. The system that is supposed to safeguard us is fragmentary, starved of resources and outmoded. There seems little awareness that criminals today do not need a balaclava, sawn-off shotgun and a getaway van to rob a bank: they can drain innocent peoples bank accounts armed with nothing more than a phone and a laptop. The banks are often blamed, rightly, for not doing enough to support account-holders. At least, though, they are trying to stem the rising tide, and it is costing them billions. Treasury minister Lord Agnew pictured as he resigned earlier this year in disgust over the affair, claimed the Government has little interest in the consequences of fraud in our society That is more than can be said for online giants such as Facebook and Google, or leading telecoms companies, which refuse to accept any responsibility for crimes committed through their platforms. This is not acceptable. We may rightly fear violence and quail at the prospect of being physically mugged or burgled, but our chances of being fleeced by a fraudster are far, far greater than either. Yet only a tiny fraction of police resources is dedicated to stopping these revolting criminals. The pandemic and the cost of living crunch have created a perfect breeding ground for fraud. Lockdowns led to millions of novice users of online banking and shopping who are easy prey for villains. The downturn in the economy is likely to lead to another explosion. But despite the prevalence of fraud, there is no single authority charged with fighting it. A cats cradle of more than 20 different police, government and other organisations are involved, which is a recipe for confusion and buck-passing. At all levels right up to major league corporate wrongdoing, the system is dysfunctional. The Serious Fraud Office, whose history is littered with botched cases, is currently under fire over its handling of an alleged bribery scandal at energy consultancy Unaoil. This pie chart shows the estimated proportion of money paid under the bounce back loan scheme that won't be paid back and has been lost to fraud The authorities are simply not taking fraud seriously enough. The cavalier attitude toward risks in the Covid loan scheme for small firms is a case in point. So-called Bounce Back loans of between 2,000 and 50,000 were issued at breakneck speed, in some cases without even the most rudimentary checks. As a result, the Government reckons taxpayers could be hit with 17billion of losses for fraud and collapses. Treasury minister Lord Agnew, who resigned earlier this year in disgust over the affair, claimed the Government has little interest in the consequences of fraud in our society. That attitude must change. Banks must be forced to compensate all innocent fraud victims, as should tech giants and telephone companies if people are entrapped by rip-offs that have appeared on their platforms. The mishmash of different agencies should be consolidated into one powerful body, overseen by a minister for fraud. We must declare all-out war on the fraudsters, right now. Ever since Russia launched its evil war in Ukraine, Boris Johnson has been at the forefront of the world's response. While EU leaders dawdled, we trained Ukranian fighters to defend their country. Thanks to missiles that we provided, countless Russian tanks now lie twisted, smouldering wrecks. Mr Johnson led the way again at yesterday's G7 summit, urging his fellow global leaders not to waver by encouraging Ukraine to accept a bad peace deal. But while Vladimir Putin's rockets rained down on Kyiv, back in Westminster the Prime Minister's rebellious backbenchers continued to indulge in navel gazing. Having failed to dislodge Mr Johnson three weeks ago, they're now seeking to tinker with party rules which will allow them to hold another no-confidence vote in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, six Red Wall MPs are said to be considering defecting to Labour in a shameless bid to cling on to their seats. Mr Johnson led the way again at yesterday's G7 summit, urging his fellow global leaders not to waver by encouraging Ukraine to accept a bad peace deal The consequences of all this unseemly in-fighting for the Conservatives are set to be considerable. Following Labour's grubby back-room pact with the Liberal Democrats at last week's Tiverton and Honiton by-election, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham is insisting his party further cosy up to the Lib Dems by supporting proportional representation. Such a system would not only consign the Conservatives to the electoral wilderness. It would plunge Britain into the quagmire of European-style coalitions with Labour propped up not just by the Lib Dems and the SNP (though that thought alone is terrifying enough) but would inevitably come to involve the political ingenues from the Greens and Plaid Cymru. It would plunge Britain into the quagmire of European-style coalitions with Labour propped up not just by the Lib Dems and the SNP Those Conservative MPs seeking to remove Mr Johnson should pause to consider that appalling prospect. Then ask themselves whether it is really a price worth paying. A princely mistake The future of the monarchy depends upon two simple things: Its probity and its ability to remain above the political fray. The Prince of Wales's decision to accept 2.5million in cash from a controversial Qatari politician for one of his charities throws both those qualities into question. Leaving aside why one of the donations was handed to Charles in carrier bags stuffed with 500 notes though such a sordid image is a terrible look for a future King. Questions will inevitably be raised as to how the Prince's charitable fund secured such generous sums of money. Clarence House insist the donations were entirely above board. Perhaps so, but it displays a worrying lack of judgment. If Charles is to be a successful monarch, he will need much wiser counsel. Stop the scammers Under the cover of the cost of living squeeze, another crisis is ruining lives: The pernicious crime of fraud. As our investigation today reveals, Britain has become a conman's paradise, with 40 million adults targeted by repugnant swindlers this year as the financial crunch begins to bite. But with police dedicating just 2 per cent of their resources to tackling this scourge, perhaps we should not be surprised. Which is why we're launching our Stop the Scammers campaign with a five-point manifesto on how the Government, police and internet giants can together help stamp out this rapidly increasing menace. These crimes often have a deeply traumatic impact on victims often the elderly and vulnerable. It's high time we started treating them with the seriousness and severity they deserve. The email from 'BTINTERNET' telling me my broadband was about to be cut off dropped at 6.53am yesterday. It said I hadn't paid my bill and had ignored all reminders. If I wanted to prevent my service being suspended I had to click on a link and follow the verification and payment procedures. Even though I was still half asleep, I could tell instantly that it was obviously a scam. And not a very good one, either. The fact that the email was titled: 'Massage from BT' was a dead giveaway. It went straight in the bin. The next one, from Norton Security, was far more professional. It contained a bill for renewal of my annual anti-virus software contract. For a moment, I almost clicked on it until I remembered that I don't use Norton software. Then I switched on my iPhone to find a text informing me that Adam from the Post Office had attempted to deliver a parcel to my home but no one was there to sign for it. There were directions to a website where I could arrange for it to be redelivered. I spotted this one straight away. There were several of these scams swilling around last year, purporting to come from UPS, FedEx and the like, all asking for a small payment to guarantee safe arrival of goods ordered online. During lockdown, with everyone relying on home deliveries, plenty of people fell for it only to discover they had been the victim of an online mugging. I must get dozens of these bogus emails and texts every week. Most of them are intercepted by my junk filter but some still slip under the radar. So I wasn't surprised to learn from the Mail's investigations team that Britain is now the world's fraud capital, with losses amounting to almost 3 billion a year. I got wise to this kind of scam eight years ago, when my identity was stolen. I returned from holiday to find a package containing a brand new Apple laptop waiting for me. It had been taken in by a builder doing some work on the house while we were away. The receipt said it had been bought by me from the Apple Store a few days earlier. I knew I hadn't ordered it and there were no recent purchases on my genuine Apple account. My own bank manager reassured me that neither my account nor credit card had been hacked and there was no unusual activity. When I called Apple, they said it had been ordered by 'Richard Littlejohn' using a fake email address and a personal finance loan from Barclays. Since I don't bank at Barclays, I assured them it wasn't me so could they send someone to pick it up. Sifting through the usual pile of junk mail that had arrived while we were away I found a letter from Barclays, welcoming me to my new Partner Finance Account and informing me that my monthly repayment of 99.99 was now due and would be taken by direct debit. Eventually, I got through to a woman at Barclays customer service and discovered someone had appropriated my name, address and date of birth, along with a company directorship I held. Not difficult, since they were a matter of public record. Even so, how were they able to open an account in my name without further proof of identity, such as a passport or driving licence? She wouldn't tell me, hiding behind the catch-all excuse of 'data protection'. Barclays did agree to close the account and report it to their fraud team. When I asked to be put through to the fraud team, the woman said they didn't take calls from the public. Presumably they wrote off the bogus loan. I had a hell of a job persuading Apple to take back the laptop, which retailed then for 999. Turned out big banks and corporations didn't bother to chase fraud under 1,000. Or at least they didn't in 2014. The cut-off could have doubled by now, for all I know. How this particular scam worked was that the crooks would track the package online then intercept the delivery company at the front gate, pretending to be the householder. In my case, the builder beat them to it and they were left empty handed. But since the fraudsters must know they stand little chance of getting caught, they too would have written off the loss of the laptop as an occupational hazard. Online fraud has become far more sophisticated since those early emails from Nigeria promising you a fat commission if you'd let them transfer 5 million to your bank account for safekeeping. The police never bother to investigate car crime or burglaries, why would they lift a finger to look for a fraudster who stole my identity and attempted to steal a laptop worth less than a grand? No wonder the annual haul is around 3 billion a year and seems to be rising inexorably. Law enforcement has failed to keep pace. Things weren't much different eight years ago. Like any upstanding citizen, I felt it was my duty to report the theft of my identity to the police. On their dedicated fraud website, I was asked to fill in a multiple choice questionnaire. The only identities they were interested in were my sexual proclivity, my ethnicity and, even then, whether I still defined as the same sex as I was when I was born. Presumably this process is even more elaborate these days, now that there's an exciting array of 1,001 genders to choose from. Naturally, I refused to comply with their impertinent request, which is probably why after allocating me a crime number I never heard another word from them. Maybe if I had filled in the form claiming to be trans or gay they'd have classed it as a 'hate crime' and scrambled a team of highly trained detectives by helicopter. Still, since the police never bother to investigate car crime or burglaries, why would they lift a finger to look for a fraudster who stole my identity and attempted to steal a laptop worth less than a grand? Despite the fact that there are reportedly 23 different agencies tasked with tackling fraud, the police have finally admitted they're not doing enough. Fraud now accounts for 39 per cent of all crimes committed in Britain, but as the Mail revealed yesterday only two per cent of police manpower is currently dedicated to investigating it. One of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Constabulary has admitted that the number of officers involved in hunting down scammers needs urgently to be tripled. We're effectively being bullied by the big banks into doing our banking online and millions of us, especially the younger generation, carry every last cough and spit of our identities on mobile phones Two-thirds of Britain's police forces have no specialist fraud officers and the overwhelming number of cyber crimes reported are filed under 'no further action'. And although the Government is funding a recruitment drive, most of those being hired lack the necessary skills for tackling online fraud and are better suited for general duties. I can remember the railways regularly blaming cancellations on the 'wrong kind of snow'. But I've never before heard a senior policeman blaming a failure to investigate crime on the wrong kind of coppers. At least now, to be fair, the police have woken up to the scale of this cyber-crime epidemic and are belatedly trying to address it. It doesn't help that we're effectively being bullied by the big banks into doing our banking online and that millions of us, especially the younger generation, carry every last cough and spit of our identities on mobile phones. Until law enforcement catches up, the cyber scammers will remain one step ahead of the posse. So it pays to be extra vigilant when clicking on suspect emails and texts, however legitimate they may appear. The internet is still in its infancy, a largely lawless landscape like the Wild West, with bad guys lurking behind every rock. So as Sergeant Phil Esterhaus used to warn his patrol officers every morning on the classic cop show Hill Street Blues: Let's be careful out there. A truck driver was reduced to tears after finding out the mother who gave him up as a baby and who died before he could find her never stopped talking about him to his step-siblings. Roy Sibblies, 52, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, grew up thinking his father's wife Joan was his real mother, before finding out his birth mother, a woman named Janet, left him for his dad to raise when he was a baby in 1969. After looking for Janet with the help of the Long Lost Family experts, Roy, who appears on tonight's 9pm show, found out that she was pressured by her white family to give the baby up because his father, Eccleston, was Jamaican, and he was a mixed-race baby. While Janet died in 2019 before he could meet her, Roy was introduced to his step-siblings Jo and Dan thanks to the show, who told him his mother told them about him and never stopped thinking about him. She told people she was a 'mother-of-three' and wished him a happy birthday on the day every year. Speaking to FEMAIL, Roy, a father-of-two, said the search for his birth mother has been 'an emotional roller coaster' but that he's delighted to have found his step-siblings and speaks to them every day. Roy, 52, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, met his step-siblings Jo, centre, and Dan, right, for the first time after looking for his late mother Janet through Long Lost Family. His story features on the show's episode tonight at 9pm Roy, pictured as a child, had a happy childhood and never questions his origins, He only found out aged 18 that his father's wife Joan was not his real mother Roy, who learned of Dan and Jo's existence thanks to the show, said it was 'amazing and humbling that they've known about me their whole lives.' However, the truck driver admitted he felt 'upset' because he knew nothing about them. He learned his mother tried to look for him, but never got anywhere because she used the wrong name. He said meeting his siblings left him with 'a nice, warm feeling inside me.' Roy's mother, Janet, pictured, was pressured by her Family to give him up when he was a baby because she was white and his father was Jamaican. She died in 2019 and always regretted giving her child up He said it was 'extraordinary' to get to know his brother and sister now, and that he is 'learning something about them every single day.' The father-of-two revealed they now talk everyday, and that he has met his sister and brother's family. Roy said the siblings are now planning on bringing their families together sometimes in August. Roy said he never felt 'anger' or 'resentment' towards his birth mother. Roy was raised by Eccleston and his wife Joan, and never questioned his origins, up until he joined the Royal Navy aged 18. Pictured: Roy as a baby held by Janet in hospital shortly after his birth in 1969. His step-brother Dan revealed Janet was forced to give him up due to her parents' racial prejudice Pictured left to right: Step-brother Dan with Roy, step-sister Jo and father Eccleston after they met on the show After coming across his birth certificate, he asked his father about his middle name, which led his father Eccleston to confess that his birth mother had given him up. 'My dad said, "Now is probably as good a time as any to tell you that your mum, Joan, is not actually your mum",' Roy recalled. Eccleston and Roy discussed the father's relationship with Janet on the show. 'She was such a nice person. She told me that, she was in the family way,' Eccleston recalled. He revealed he offered to marry Janet, however, she refused his proposal because she felt her parents would not approve of their union, due to the fact they were an interracial couple. 'I was born in '69. There was quite a lot of racism going on at the time,' Roy said. 'To give a baby up because of the colour of their skin, that cuts really, really deep to the core,' he added. 'And it's important to know whether she regrets her decision.' Eccleston said he never felt resentment towards Janet, adding: 'I respect her and I love her for it. 'If she didn't give me a son, I wouldn't have nobody. She gave me the prize I wish anybody to have,' he added. 'I can feel a hole in my heart growing because there is somebody that should be there,' Roy admitted. The show's expert found that Janet died in 2019, but their search also found she had two children, who both lived in Worthing, East Sussex, who had always known about Roy. Roy, a father-of-two, said it hurt to think he wouldn't ever get to meet Janet. However, he said he was happy to hear she had never stopped thinking about him 'While we knew of Roy's existence, never in a million year did we think we'd have the opportunity to meet him,' Dan said. 'Mum had a conversation with me that she'd have a baby when she was 19 but that she wasn't able to keep him,' Jo revealed through tears. 'On Roy's birthday every year she used to say "Happy birthday, I wonder what he's doing",' she added. 'She would say she had three children when people asked her how many she had,' the siblings recalled. 'Mum always got so upset when she spoke about him because it was her biggest regret that she wasn't able to keep him,' Jo said. Dan and Jo, who have known about Roy all their lives, said their mother would have been happy to see all her children finally reunited Dan explained she had been pressured by her parents to give Roy up because of their racial 'prejudice.' 'Their prejudice came into play. She was only 19 when this happened. If you're told you can't be with the person you want to be with, and that you can't keep the child that you would otherwise have kept, that has to sit with you,' he said. 'I know what it would have meant for mum to meet Roy, and I think it's important that he should know that she cared deeply for him even though she wasn't there to do it in person,' Jo said. And the siblings were excited to meet the step-brother they had heard so much about. 'I know there won't be a shared history but I think it would be nice to get that connection and to get to know him,' Jo said between tears. 'And to tell him that he was loved. Even if he wasn't part of her family physically, she thought about him a lot,' she added. I'd love to meet both of them, I really can't wait. Roy was deeply moved by the fact his birth mother had died. 'The year she's passed is the year I decided to search for her so it hurts a little bit more,' he told Davina McCall as she came to his house to deliver the news. He was left fighting back tears after Davina revealed his mother had never stopped thinking about him throughout her life. 'I'm shocked. Wow. Didn't expect that. She did think about me,' he said. 'It kind of hurts now. Knowing that I couldn't part of her life,' he added. He also understood how the racial prejudice of the 1960s came into play. 'I can get that because it was late 60s. I would never hold it against her, ever. Because it was different times then,' he said. Roy was given a picture of his birth mother by Davina and joked 'I can understand why my dad liked her.' 'It's just unfortunate that this is the only way I see her,' he said of the picture, alluding to the fact Janet had passed away. Reflecting on the news that he had siblings, he said it was a 'strange feeling, because for 23 years, I've been an only child... So now to see pictures of siblings, I feel quite blessed.' The siblings arranged to meet for the first time on the show, with Roy saying he felt 'every emotion that you can think of running through me. 'I hope her spirit is around to feel the love, even though I've never seen her, the love I have for her' he said. Jo and Dan were equally as emotional ahead of the meeting. Jo had found pictures of Roy taken by Janet when he was a baby that she intended to give him. 'I feel so grateful I'll get the chance to meet him but so sad for her that she isn't,' she said, her voice breaking with tears. 'I'm so glad we got to meet you,' Jo said. Roy agreed, adding: 'a whole new chapter is about to begin. 'All the fears that I had all disappeared I felt like my birth mother was there,' he told the camera. 'I think my mum would have been very pleased to see her children together,' Dan said, crying. Jo gave Roy the pictures that Janet had kept all these years, which led the three siblings to cry together. 'Seeing those photos, that hurt. But a nice hurt, because that meant my mother had kept them for whole of her life,' he said. 'It's just absolutely amazing,' he added. Eccleston also met Jo and Dan on the show and said 'we won't be anymore strangers.' Long Lost Family airs tonight at 9pm on ITV. We are, as no one can have failed to notice, living in ultra-pretty dress times. Even if you think you have enough to last a lifetime, you may also have thought: 'But shouldn't I buy just one more, in case I never get the chance again?' This is a perfectly natural response to the Great Wearable Dress Drought of the late Nineties and Noughties when it was harder to get a decent dress than to find a wearable swimsuit (also agony all those high-cut legs.) And it does feel like these are bumper dress times: you can fill your boots with floral midis and there'll still be some you have to leave behind. Even so, you may find yourself dreaming of a little (albeit longish) black dress. I know what you're thinking: 'What? Now? Come on ! We've only just put black behind us? Isn't this just fashion being . . . perverse?' Shane Watson says it's no coincidence that for the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick the female stars and the Duchess of Cambridge all wore black or monochrome as these are the top-drawer choices of the moment Well, no. It's precisely because prints have become so ubiquitous that summer black looks refreshingly simple and smart. When you've been wearing a shirt-dress in a William Morris-style print to work, a zig-zag print dress to the pub and a floral print for hanging out in your kitchen, you may be in the mood for something completely different when it comes to dressing up. I'm not suggesting we turn our backs on all that lovely colour and print, just saying that there's a palette-cleansing option which might hit the spot. The best thing about black in summer is that it's different and unexpected. This also means you won't turn up to a party wearing the identical dress to someone else. (And that's not impossible: think how many will have rushed out and bought the Wedgwood blue print Reformation dress Princess Beatrice wore to Chelsea Flower Show (248, thereformation.com). Quite a few I'll bet. That's a wedding accident waiting to happen. Shane says black also scores more chic points in summer than at other times of the year. Jumpsuits, blazers and trouser-suits all look much fresher in colour right now, but if you're talking about a dress, black feels extra confident and sophisticated. Pictured: Rachel McAdams and Carla Bruni-Sarkozy Black also scores more chic points in summer than at other times of the year. Jumpsuits, blazers and trouser-suits all look much fresher in colour right now, but if you're talking about a dress, black feels extra confident and sophisticated. It's no coincidence that for the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick the female stars and the Duchess of Cambridge all wore black or monochrome; these are the top-drawer choices of the moment. Texture and quality is all-important with summer black. An elegant chiffon-effect long midi wrap with sheer butterfly sleeves (195, thekooples.com) looks expensive enough to take you anywhere; just add a block-heeled slingback, maybe in colourful satin. Shane says the best thing about black in summer is that it's different and unexpected. This also means you won't turn up to a party wearing the identical dress to someone else. Pictured: Sofia Vergara and Jennifer Garner Ghost's lightweight satin Madison dress (145, ghost.co.uk), with puffed long sleeves and covered buttons, is one of those Ghost vintage-inspired classics you can modern up easily with sandals and a bright bag. If you prefer a just-below-the-knee hemline and a bit of bling, then the more affordable variation of Saloni's black velvet dress with crystal bows that was the fashion world's most-wanted party dress at the end of last year is the Esme dress in black crepe with crystal buttons (lkbennett.com, 279). You could wear it with patent court shoes (lkbennett.com, 195) or a silver platform sandal (155, anthropologie.com). For a bit more coverage, Jaeger for Marks & Spencer's fit-and-flare midaxi (122.50, marksandspencer.com) has long sleeves perfect for a party outdoors when the sun goes down and you could wear this with boots well into the autumn. Otherwise, there's a corner of your local Zara dedicated to crepey black trousers (all of them loose in the leg). These, or your black satin side-stripe trousers, plus a bold POW (parties or weddings) top is the other way to go. Those with good arms might even try Coast's hot pink half-sleeved top with a puffy peplum (29.40, coastfashion.com). Welcome back black. Today the Fennells enjoy an envious lifestyle, with celebrity jeweller Theo designing for A-list clients including Elton John and Naomi Campbell. The couple's two daughters are Emerald, an Oscar-winning screenwriter, and Coco, a fashion designer. But, as Theo, 70, publishes his star-studded memoir, here, his wife and author Louise reveals the distinctly less ritzy start to their relationship . . . When I first clapped eyes on Theo in 1977, it was at a racy party on a rooftop in London's Mayfair, which my friend Mark and I had gatecrashed. Mark used to tell people on the door that he was Mark Getty, grandson of oil baron Jean Paul, and that got us in anywhere. It was the 1970s, nobody knew what anyone looked like. When I asked who the ridiculously handsome blond man was, on the other side of the terrace surrounded by women, Mark told me it was Helmut Berger, an actor known for his beauty and sexual ambiguity. I had no idea whether this was true or not because I knew very little about anything, but what I did know was that 'Helmut' was the man for me. People talk about seeing a person across a crowded room and just knowing that person is the one. I could say that too, but it would be too schmaltzy. I was 19, reckless and carefree, so I whizzed over to chat him up. He told me he was called Theo, not Helmut, and he was a jewellery designer. That's where it all began. Louise Fennell explains that she first met Theo in 1977, pictured now together, at a party on a rooftop in Mayfair The duo, pictured on their wedding day 25 years after their first ceremony, began dating within a few weeks of knowing each other and spent time at Theo's flat in Chelsea which Louise describes as a squat Within a few weeks we had disengaged ourselves from our other romantic entanglements and became firmly entangled with one another. Theo had a flat on the Fulham Road in Chelsea. He called it a flat but, when I first set eyes on it, it could only have been described as a squat. The thin walls reverberated with the sound of the number 14 bus which stopped outside, a few feet from the bedroom window. There were wastepaper bins full of old burgers, wine bottles and God knows what else. Records were strewn about, ashtrays overflowed on to every surface. The electricity was frequently turned off in our early years together, as neither of us ever paid the bill. In fact, we rarely had any of the utilities hot water, heating, telephone on at the same time. Theo says he can't remember the exact words he used for his proposal on that mellow afternoon, a month or so after we'd met. But I can. We were both a bit drunk and he slurred the words, 'I just wondered what you were planning to do with the rest of your life?' Not a question I had ever given any thought to, so I responded with, 'What do you mean?' 'I wondered if you would consider spending it with me?' I promptly replied, 'Yes'. No one this handsome or hilarious was ever going to ask me to marry them again and I really didn't have any other plans. Who thought that it's a good idea to know anything about a person before you marry them? Hardly anyone in the 1970s, that's for sure. Famous friends: At a party with Joan Collins in 2002. Theo is a jeweller to the stars, with clients including Naomi Campbell and Elton John When I rang my mother to tell her that I was engaged, she said, without missing a beat, 'How lovely, who to?' She must have felt a jolt of dread. The last boyfriend I had brought home, only a couple of months previously, was already married with two small children. In mitigation, his wife had left him for an Argentinian polo player before I met him. I reassured Mum it wasn't him, but a lovely, funny, handsome 25-year-old called Theo, and she seemed remarkably unfazed by the news that she and my father might have to stump up for a wedding, even though my sister's wedding invitations had already gone out and there was no chance of any more money to pay for ours anytime soon. In hindsight, my mother's calm reaction may have been rooted in her assumption that this was another one of my 'fads', which she told Theo, with glee, almost as soon as she met him. He laughed. My mother adored him. The next hurdle was to meet my future mother-in-law. We whizzed up to Yorkshire by train and, as soon as I met her, my first thought was: this can't be Theo's mother, surely she was given the wrong baby? Where Theo was tall, blond, warm and funny, she was small, dark and on the frosty side of cool. But then I saw pictures of his dear, departed father and knew we were in the right house after all. I did nothing to endear myself to her at that first meeting, for lots of reasons, but the main one still makes me shudder with mortification. Louise, pictured now, said that her husband gave her two rings to choose from for their engagement but instead of picking between them she kept both Theo woke me on the first morning of our stay and gently put two rings on my finger, one diamond and one ruby, saying excitedly, 'What do you think?' and I sleepily replied, 'They're lovely, darling, thank you. Two rings, wow! Are you going to make them into one?' What he should have said was: 'No, you idiot, just choose one. They are my mother's and she said I can give you whichever you like best.' But he did not say that. He simply said, 'I'm so happy you like them.' Bafflingly, it wasn't until about 15 years later that I realised my mistake, by which time obviously the damage had long been done. The wedding shambles began in earnest. We weren't going to wait. We would 'help' my poor parents with the cost, how I cannot imagine, but that was the plan. We booked Chelsea Old Church and an unglamorous hall next door for the reception; three months from meeting to marrying seemed perfectly reasonable to us. Next, I would need a dress. I had been working as a shop girl for a designer called Thea Porter since I was 17. As soon as she heard of my impending marriage, she generously volunteered to make me a dress as a wedding present. Thea made the most exquisite clothes in the world for the glitterati of London, Paris, New York and LA. Barbra Streisand, Diana Ross, Joan Collins and Elizabeth Taylor were amongst her fans. She had a shop in Soho, where I worked, and another in Paris, where she was spending a lot of time. So the dress would be made in France and would be a surprise. She said that before the wedding she had one night when she worried about marrying him but then said she wondered how she could have thought to call off the engagement afterwards The days leading up to the wedding were a little tense. Thea was still in Paris, as was my dress, still a mystery in form and style. We just had one more party to go to before the wedding, thrown by Theo's old friends, Sid and Vic, in our honour in a pub in the East End. I hadn't met Sid, but on the one occasion I'd been introduced to Vic, his opening gambit had been, 'Blimey, you don't look nearly as good in real life as you do in your photos, do you love?!' Which didn't endear him to me much. So I did the sensible thing and wriggled out of going. Theo wasn't too thrilled. I woke with a jolt in the middle of the night, Theo still wasn't back and I thought, 'What the hell am I doing? How could I marry someone I hardly know?' We were penniless and too young and I still didn't have a bloody dress to wear. I had to ring my parents to tell them. I picked up the phone and dialled. Nothing happened it had been cut off! In order to cancel the wedding, I realised I would have to get dressed, go down the road into a dark, scary alley and use the phone box. F*** it, I was just going to have to marry him and deal with the fallout later. Theo then appeared and said everyone had taken my skiving in very good heart. He soon passed out. He looked like an angel when he was asleep. I wondered how I could have thought I wanted to call off the engagement. The dress arrived the day before the wedding. It was an incredible confection of lace and silver beads. It fitted perfectly and it really did seem, against all odds, that everything was going to be all right. On the wedding morning, my belo-ved father and I entered the church nave, where we stopped on the threshold for a moment, to survey the scene and to make sure there was actually a groom. There was. Theo, pictured now, put a wedding ring on Louise's finger which was much too big for her as he had not made one until the last minute Theo was looking decidedly peaky, the golden boy turned ashen. When he put the wedding ring on my finger (hastily cobbled together as he'd forgotten to make one until the last minute), it was much too big. I was a little hurt but what did it matter when I had not one, but two engagement rings to hold it on with? I was also wearing a tiara that Theo's mother had given him for me, or was it just lent to me to wear on the day? Might there have been two misunderstandings, both of them involving my mother-in-law and diamonds? She spent years thereafter asking if I ever wore this treasure, where I kept it, etc. I'm sure she knew the only time I'd laid eyes on it was to glance in the mirror before heading to church to say 'I do' to a man who had almost nothing left to lose. Not least because he was about to flog the last of the family's heirlooms (that tiara) and put the money to frivolous use (our wedding and honeymoon). The couple arrived in Venice for their honeymoon out of season with 50 and neither had a credit or debit card We arrived in Venice, on honeymoon, out of season. In those days you could only take 50 with you when you went abroad. Neither of us had a credit card and bank cards didn't exist. Fortunately, a travel agent friend had arranged a room in a small hotel which, conveniently, we could pay for upon our return to London. Our 50 soon dwindled but we discovered that if we went to the only restaurant affiliated to our hotel for every lunch and dinner, we could sign for it and settle the bill when back home. At this point it became quite clear that neither of us had any money, something about which we had been in denial until then. We both also had to start owning up to some of the other misleading things we had told one another, which was in turn hilarious, tragic and sometimes emotional. I'm sure it was entertaining to the waiters who witnessed this soap opera each night, but for the actors it was exhausting and demoralising. Theo and Louise have had a long and happy life together with many ups and downs and a marriage lasting many years It began to dawn on us that this might be the reason people got to know each other a bit before they got married. Too late we were on a fast track now and it was make-or-break. Twenty-five years later, we had another wedding, in Las Vegas, this time with 'Elvis' presiding. He was more fun than the vicar from the first time around and the service was accompanied by the sound of Emerald and Coco, our wonderful teenage daughters, squeaking with laughter. When Elvis sang Can't Help Falling In Love With You, Theo and I each felt he was singing to us personally and we cried. We love Elvis, possibly even slightly more than we love each other. Our Vegas wedding was a lot more romantic than our first and it only cost about $100. We'll be coming up to another 25 years soon perhaps we'll get married again. We'll both be in our 70s by then, so who knows what will happen? But taking a chance on each other all those years ago was the most miraculous, fortuitous thing we could ever have done. We've had a wild and wonderful life together, stumbling from crisis to laughter and joy then back to crisis again. I could never imagine my life with anyone else. But if our phone hadn't been cut off that night, or if mobiles had been invented, all this might not have been. It almost makes me weep to think of it. As the novelist William Boyd says, 'That's all your life amounts to in the end: the aggregate of all the good luck and the bad luck you experience.' I've often jumped right in and been lucky not to drown. In fact, Theo turned out to be a bit of a lifesaver, quite literally: he once rescued a drowning man from the sea. He just jumped right in. I was there too, but I'm afraid to say I didn't jump in. My mother-in-law wouldn't have been at all surprised. Over the summer half-term, my family got grounded at Gatwick after our early-morning easyJet flight to Italy was cancelled at short notice. I experienced many emotions in a short burst of time: fury, frustration, bafflement at just how badly something could be communicated then, unapologetically, administered. I am still in Kafkaesque negotiations about expenses incurred. It was not an experience that reflected the romance of travel. Currently, with further flight cancellations promised, strike actions and Covid still doing the rounds, holidays do seem as a proposition more risky than frisky. And yet there is something about this sultry weather to quicken the pulse. Love is in the air, along with the scent of sun cream, spilled beer and barbecues. A holiday romance or, indeed, a romantic holiday, is a staple of feel-good fiction. Book Lovers by Emily Henry is one of my sunniest recent reads. Nora, a quick-witted New York literary agent with a disastrous romantic track record, is persuaded by her sister Libby to spend a month in cutesy, rural Sunshine Falls. British author Patricia Nicol has rounded up a selection of the best books on holiday romances including Book Lovers by Emily Henry (left) and A Lady's Guide to Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin (right) Her sister has a holiday checklist that includes Nora dating a local. But the person Nora keeps on bumping into is Charlie, a work nemesis from New York who, it turns out, hails from Sunshine Falls. Another jolly novel is the Regency-set A Lady's Guide To Fortune-Hunting by Sophie Irwin. Its heroine is the sparky, recently orphaned Kitty Talbot, facing financial and reputational ruin for herself and her younger, dependent sisters unless she can snare a wealthy match in a London season. War hero Lord Radcliffe, however, seems determined to frustrate her plan. The Hummingbird by Sandro Veronesi is an Italian novel I read when I eventually got to my holiday destination. It recounts a life full of longing. Its protagonist, Marco Carrera, first falls for the love of his life, Luisa, over hot childhood summers at the Tuscan seaside, where both their families have holiday homes. Even if you have no plans to travel, all these books are transporting. Princess Mary and Prince Frederik have removed their eldest son Christian from a prestigious Danish high school after serious allegations of sexual assault and bullying were levelled against the establishment. The Danish royal family have also confirmed their second eldest child, Isabella, will not be attending the Herlufsholm Boarding School towards the end of the year as they had originally planned. 'The question about our son Christian's and our daughter Isabella's choice of school has been very important for us, and the unfortunate matter has brought many and strong opinions into play in the public,' Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary said in a joint statement on Sunday. Princess Mary and Prince Frederik have removed their eldest son Christian from a prestigious Danish high school after serious allegations of sexual assault and bullying were levelled against the establishment 'That is completely understandable when it deals with the well-being of children and young people. At the same time, it has been important to stand by our basic idea that major decisions must be made on an informed basis. We now have that basis.' Herlufsholm Boarding School became the subject of a documentary that saw two former students describe their dealings with sexual assault and another of corporal punishment. Four students were expelled by the school for taking part in the alleged abuse and filming parts of it. Prince Christian, who is 16 and first joined the school in August last year, is not connected to the allegations in any way. Prince Christian, who is 16 and first joined the school in August last year, is not connected to the allegations in any way The Danish royal family have also confirmed their second eldest child, Isabella, will not be attending the Herlufsholm Boarding School towards the end of the year as they had originally planned The statement continued: 'It has been a difficult process for us as a family, but, based on the overall picture and our special position as Crown Prince Couple, we have chosen that Prince Christian will stop at Herlufsholm and that Princess Isabella will not start in ninth class at the school after the summer holiday. 'During the summer, we, together with our children, will make a decision about their future choice of schools. 'With thoughts about the many students who will continue at Herlufsholm, it is our hope that the school now gets more peace to ensure the necessary changes and succeeds in creating a culture in which all thrive and feel safe.' When the documentary first came to light in May the royal family were swift in their response, sharing their deep disappointment with the rest of Europe. 'As parents of a child who goes to Herlufsholm, we are deeply shaken by the testimonies that have emerged in the current documentary about the school,' the couple said on May 4. When the documentary first came to light in May the royal family were swift in their response, sharing their deep disappointment with the rest of Europe 'It is heartbreaking to hear about systematic bullying and about the culture of abuse and violence that many have been a part of. 'That is completely unacceptable. As parents, we expect the school to effectively ensure a culture where everyone is safe and part of the community, and we will in the coming time follow the changes that are obviously necessary.' Herlufsholm was founded almost 500 years ago for Danish nobility and has seen a number of royals and political figures attend. Herlufsholm was founded almost 500 years ago for Danish nobility and has seen a number of royals and political figures attend (Prince Christian pictured) The school's principal Mikkel Kjellberg, who was fired shortly after the documentary came to light, said the allegations contained within the television program were 'very old cases have been used from another time - where the culture at Herlufsholm was different'. 'Bullying, violence or sexual abuse is not acceptable at Herlufsholm School,' Kjellberg said at the time. It's not yet known where the Danish royal children will spend the remainder of their senior schooling years. On Saturday, the Mail revealed the devastating toll of the pandemic on children's development, with classrooms of five-year-olds still in nappies, unable to feed or dress themselves or make themselves understood. In the concluding part of her investigation, Harriet Sergeant uncovers how health visitors and other vital services for new parents, babies and toddlers all but disappeared in lockdown and, more shockingly still, remain unavailable . . . Aoife had three children under the age of four to care for on her own during lockdown. After the birth of her younger daughter in 2020, Aoife did not get any of the reviews from a health visitor every child is meant to have (file image) Well organised and attentive, superficially she coped very well. When I visit her small house in Croydon, South London, it's spotless. The room belonging to her two girls, Alesha and Chevelle, aged four and two, is a cocoon of pink, complete with a pink playhouse and a giant, cuddly unicorn in rainbow hues. Meanwhile, her nine-month-old-son, Ajani, smiles and gurgles at his mother in his baby swing. But her immaculate home does not tell the whole story. Under the surface Aoife struggled throughout the pandemic. After the birth of her younger daughter in 2020, Aoife did not get any of the reviews from a health visitor every child is meant to have. Like any new mother, she was concerned that Chevelle was putting on enough weight and breastfeeding properly. She emailed and called her GP and health visitor services a number of times but she received no reply, even when she explained: 'I told them I was on my own here and had no family nearby.' The same happened after Ajani was born last year. No health visitor contacted her then, either. When he was constipated for three days, in desperation she took him to A&E. 'With a newborn you're worried about every single little thing.' Thankfully, all was well but, shortly afterwards, a social worker rang alerted by the hospital, which was concerned about a possibly vulnerable mother. 'I understand you've missed a lot of postnatal appointments,' the social worker said. 'Not for lack of trying,' said Aoife, remembering her numerous phone calls. 'Your daughter has not seen anyone since 2019.' 'But she wasn't born until 2020,' said Aoife, thinking he meant Chevelle. There was silence as the social worker absorbed that no professional had seen two of Aoife's children until she had taken one to A&E. 'That's how little they cared,' said Aoife. The pandemic has hit all our lives but, as I explained in part one of my investigation, the devastating impact on young children is only just becoming clear, highlighted by how unprepared youngsters are when they start primary school. In a normal year, teachers estimate about half of children will start reception unprepared for school. Now, shockingly, it is almost all of them. The many teachers I spoke to are exasperated by four-year-olds who can barely say their own name and still come to school in nappies. They were quick to blame lazy parents. But as I will explore today, to understand why children are so ill-prepared it is vital to look at what happened over lockdown to the services and support parents of young children normally receive. And the devastating impact when those services disappeared overnight. Nobody doubts the importance of the role played by mums and dads. 'All the evidence shows that parenting has a bigger impact on a child's life in the early years than education, wealth or class,' says Cristina Odone, founder of Parenting Circle, a charity which supports parents. 'Until the age of 13, parenting is the single most important influence.' This was magnified during lockdown. In the absence of playgroups, nurseries, friends and relatives, parents found themselves having to become everything to their children. But while teachers hold lazy parents responsible for not teaching their children basic life skills, what they don't take into account is how much parents were struggling themselves. A survey carried out by the organisation found more than one in four health visitors across England are accountable for triple the recommended number of children As Tess Bailey-Sayer, CEO of The Sea Change Trust, a charity working in Shropshire to transform young lives through specialist psychotherapy, explains: 'Children are utterly dependent on their parents' sense of wellbeing and stability for their own sense of wellbeing and stability. It is like their weather system. The child doesn't have the resilience to cope on its own.' But neither did many parents in the extraordinary circumstances of lockdown. A key factor highlighted by reports carried out for the House of Commons Petitions Committee on the impact of Covid on new parents, published in 2020 and 2021, was that 'new parents missed out on crucial support, with potentially harmful long-term consequences for parents' wellbeing and their children'. Many parents were left feeling abandoned, especially those living in challenging circumstances. For much of Covid, there was a national atmosphere of anxiety and fear. For parents of young children, especially new mothers, that anxiety was exacerbated by not knowing where to turn for help and advice with their children. The lockdown had an immediate impact on early-years provision. Parks and playgrounds closed. Drop-in baby and toddler groups, a great source of information and reassurance for mothers, ceased to function.And health visitors, a vital service and a lifeline for new parents, simply disappeared, as did many GPs. Health visitors are specialist community public health nurses who work with families with children from newborn to five years old to reassure, provide information and identify health problems. They check if new mothers are suffering from post-natal depression or are having trouble bonding with their baby. The five obligatory health visitor checks in England are ten to 14 days; three to five weeks; six to eight weeks; nine months to one year; and two to two and a half years. The last is key for spotting developmental problems that might require action. These reviews are usually done in the baby's home, then at a GP surgery, baby clinic or children's centre. Their role is crucial because all the evidence shows that the first 1,001 days of a child's life are the foundations for later wellbeing and success. Health visitors are in a unique position to identify families who are struggling and get them help before the issue worsens. But when lockdown came nearly all visits and clinics stopped. Babies In Lockdown: Listening To Parents To Build Back Better was a report into the issues carried out by three children's organisations. Its survey of 5,474 parents of newborns to two-year-olds revealed that, shockingly, only one in ten parents of under two-year-olds saw a health visitor in 2020. This is despite the fact that doctors and children's charities believe a baby's wellbeing is best assessed face to face. Contact was supposed to switch to phone or video calls. But many parents, like Aoife, appeared not even to have received those. One mother told the survey: 'We've not seen anyone. We had a Zoom call at the 12-month [health visitor] check-up. Of all my friends I was the only one that actually got a video call, which was shocking. They didn't even get a phone call.' The five obligatory health visitor checks in England are ten to 14 days; three to five weeks; six to eight weeks; nine months to one year; and two to two and a half years. The last is key for spotting developmental problems that might require action A mother described the impact this lack of contact had on her: 'It is not good [that] we are left alone, no contact from health visitors and I can't see my family. I feel very isolated and frightened. This is my first child, I don't know what normal is and I don't know where to find help.' Another mother commented: 'The lack of support for us at the moment, lack of postnatal classes and postnatal checks, lack of socialisation for babies . . . I could go on . . . all of it has a massively negative effect.' Unbelievably, the parent of premature twins recalled how they had seen just one midwife and one health visitor since leaving ICU, saying: 'I feel like we [were] just given the babies and basically [told to] keep them alive.' No wonder nine out of ten parents in the 2020 survey reported high levels of anxiety during lockdown. Every mother wonders whether her baby is feeding properly, gaining weight as they should and, often, that crushing fear: do they have a disability? But without drop-in clinics or regular checks these concerns went unanswered. One mother complained she had to learn how to breastfeed by Zoom. Not surprisingly she gave up, 'I feel such a failure,' she said tearfully, 'and this has affected my relationship with my baby.' There are all too many stories of GPs failing to step up. When one new mother's episiotomy stitches burst and became infected, she found herself in a nightmare. Instead of seeing her in person, the GP insisted she provide images. 'This felt completely wrong, a complete invasion of my privacy, as I was being asked to send an email containing photos of my vagina and perineum to a generic GP practice email address to ensure I could receive antibiotics for the infection.' The reports for the House of Commons highlighted the drop off of professional support had led 'to an increased likelihood of anxiety, depression and loneliness among new and expectant mothers'. And mental health services were also unavailable. One mum told the committee she had to wait a year just for remote counselling. In a survey by the National Childbirth Trust, 25 per cent of new mothers reported not being asked about their mental health at all in their six to eight-week postnatal consultation with their GP. Worryingly, seven out of ten parents in the survey of parents of newborns to two-year-olds in lockdown felt the changes were affecting their baby or young child. A quarter reported concern about their relationship with their baby and a third of those wanted help. As one mum reported: 'I feel detached from my baby. I feel as though she doesn't see me.' Tess Bailey-Sayer, who works in schools with young children affected by the pandemic, sees a clear link between parents, children and what is now taking place in schools. 'Often, a child was on its own all day with a very angry, stressed and anxious adult,' she says. 'Young children cannot put their feelings into words. Instead, they show their distress through their bodies.' They stop speaking or will not eat. Toilet training goes backwards. She sees children arrive in school, 'either extremely anxious and withdrawn or completely wild'. So it is extraordinary, in the face of this plethora of evidence about the importance of support for new parents, that many GPs and health visitors still remain unavailable. The No One Wants To See My Baby report, carried out by the Parent-Infant Foundation and published in November 2021, discovered that over a quarter of health visitor contacts were still on the phone or online last year when lockdown restrictions were largely easing. Its survey of professionals and volunteers confirmed more than a third of health visitor drop-in clinics were no longer operating in their area. A recent report by the charity Action For Children also found that two-thirds (67 per cent) of parents were unable to access essential early-years services. The Government has signalled that GPs must return to face-to-face appointments, but has failed to do the same with health visitors. Tess Bailey-Sayer, adds: 'Health visitors are still not doing their visits around here in Shropshire. The baby clinics are not happening. The most basic forms of support are not there.' In their defence, health visitors point out their numbers have tumbled over the past few years, leaving them overstretched and causing its 'biggest workforce challenge in living memory', according to Alison Morton, executive director of the Institute Of Health Visiting. A survey carried out by the organisation found more than one in four health visitors across England are accountable for triple the recommended number of children. One health visitor is supposed to look after 200 children, yet more than half were looking after 500 and one in four found themselves responsible for 750. As a result, only the 'tip of the iceberg' of need is being met for some families. If urgent action is not taken by the Government, the shocking lack of readiness for school among the nation's children is only going to become entrenched, with serious long-term implications for future generations. As Sally Hogg, of the Parent-Infant Foundation, says: 'There is a huge need to mobilise public services, voluntary services and communities to ensure that we do not lose those invisible children, or only find out about them when there are serious incidents or later down the line.' It is a sad fact that the five-year-old who cannot 'play nicely' or speak properly is more likely to grow into the nine-year-old bully, the 13-year-old with poor school attendance, the 15-year-old who joins a gang and the 19-year-old behind bars. And if that is the future now for a whole generation of children, it is a disaster for us as a society. My nose is bulbous, my red-rimmed eyes creased with wrinkles and my jowls so saggy my jawline has disappeared. My flowing hair has been yanked back into a prim, grey bun and my waist has ballooned to three times its usual size. It may be one of the hottest days of the year, but Im sweating in a starched white shirt, green trench coat and thick woollen breeches that make my thighs look like tree trunks. I try to crack a smile but my teeth are so stained and crooked that what comes out is a grimace. I dont think Ive ever looked so hideous or so terrifying. Looking in the mirror is like something out of a nightmare one I havent had since I was nine years old. For staring back at me, with a menacing scowl that comes far too naturally in this get-up, is the ultimate childhood villain: Miss Trunchbull. The evil headmistress from Roald Dahls Matilda, first played on screen by Pam Ferris in 1996, was reincarnated last week as the trailer for the upcoming Netflix remake was released. It may be one of the hottest days of the year, but Im sweating in a starched white shirt, green trench coat and thick woollen breeches that make my thighs look like tree trunks. I try to crack a smile but my teeth are so stained and crooked that what comes out is a grimace This time, Dame Emma Thompson is taking on the role of the Olympic shotputter turned malevolent teacher, with a transformation so dramatic that many failed to recognise her until the cast list was announced. Stills from the film to be released in December show Emma, 63, wearing what appears to be a false nose, prosthetic cheeks and earlobes, fake teeth, a wig and a fat suit, as well as a thick helping of make-up to disguise her normal complexion. So how did they do it? And can the experts turn anyone into the terrifying Trunchbull including me? Emmas makeover was masterminded by Barrie Gower, prostheticist extraordinaire, whose work includes Game Of Thrones, Stranger Things and the latest Bond film. He has some helpful tips for Amber Sibley, an Oscar-nominated make-up artist, whos up for the challenge of transforming me. Normally, Barrie explains, a process like this would start with a 3D scan of the actors face, head and neck, followed by a life cast. We put a vinyl bald cap on the actor to protect the hair and then use liquid silicone mould-making material, which we massage over the actors head and face, leaving their nostrils free, he says. That sets in about five minutes, and then we use plaster of Paris the same thing that goes on a broken arm to make a shell over the top of this in two halves, with the seam at the top of the head. When this sets, we split the silicone at the back and peel it off, giving us a mould of the actors head. We then pour plaster of Paris into this mould, giving a perfect copy of the actors head on to which we can model the prosthetics. The prosthetic pieces, he explains, are made of fibreglass, epoxy resin or silicone gel similar to breast implants depending on how firm or soft they need to be. All of Emmas were flexible silicone prosthetics, he says. This time, Dame Emma Thompson is taking on the role of the Olympic shotputter turned malevolent teacher, with a transformation so dramatic that many failed to recognise her until the cast list was announced With no time to do that the whole process can take months Amber arrives with what she calls her Blue Peter kit, namely: a foam nose previously used for a goblin on a fantasy film, a pair of earlobes and two prosthetic cheeks she made the night before using special effects gelatine and, in slightly unorthodox fashion, a saucepan lid. Normally, each prosthetic would be moulded to the actors face, she explains. This makes them easier to apply, as they match your bone structure, so you build on layers of what looks like fat, eye bags and saggy skin. Amber, who has worked with stars from Jennifer Lawrence in X-Men to Willem Dafoe for whose prosthetics in Shadow Of The Vampire she was Oscar-nominated begins by applying wrinkle stipple under my eyes. This is a tiny jar of liquid latex, which she paints on with a brush and tops with loose powder before drying it with a hairdryer. The idea is that it sets into a wrinkled crust, which she can then pinch together to look like spidery lines. It stinks the ammonia in the latex makes it smell like rotten eggs and makes the skin around my eyes so puckered that I develop a squint. Next up, the prosthetics themselves. Barrie says his team did a lot of tests with Emma, starting with full facial prosthesis. It wasnt right so we pulled it all back, he explains. We started with just a fake nose and added pieces one by one. Shes wearing several different facial appliances in the film. For my facial appliances, first on are the cheeks, which Amber fashioned from nude-coloured special effects gelatine. It comes in cubes, like jelly, which you melt down to a thick liquid then pour and dribble on to a mould I used a saucepan lid and then set, which I did using a kitchen blowtorch, she says. Im just glad the last vestiges of the terrifying figure who haunted my nightmares for years is now festering at the bottom of our bin, writes Sarah Rainey The cheeks, which she packed on ice to keep their shape, are cold, slimy and heavy, dragging my own cheeks downwards as she affixes them with rubber-based glue. Next is the foam nose, which is a rather lurid yellow. Foam is harder to blend into the rest of the face, but its useful when you really want to change the shape of a feature, Amber explains. Sure enough, theres no trace of my button nose under the bulging prosthesis, which she glues round the edges and inside my nostrils. The final prosthetic pieces are earlobes, which turn my delicate ears into great, ugly lugs. I allow myself a glance in the mirror and almost fall off my chair in shock. I look like The Child Catcher. To blend the fake features into my skin, its time for ageing make-up. Amber uses a mix of acrylic paint and alcohol-based stage make-up from a set aptly called Zombie Palette to add 30 years to my face. Ordinary cosmetic make-up wouldnt work, she explains. It would sink into the prosthetics and be absorbed. This will stay put for as long as its needed; some actors work up to 18-hour days. In the film, Miss Trunchbull has pale, haggard skin, webbed with magenta veins and brown patches. Amber uses an intriguing mix of red, blue, white, brown, yellow and green to get the exact shade, alternating between a dark and light paintbrush to give authentic shadows and bruise-like hollows. She rings my eyes with red lipstick for that angry, bloodshot effect and flecks a toothbrush dipped in brown paint across my skin for age spots. My lips are sponged with white to make them look thin and cracked. For realistic wrinkles, Amber asks me to frown, then paints red and brown into the natural lines across my forehead and the bridge of my nose. How Emma manages to talk and even sing the film is a musical adaptation of the stage show, written by Tim Minchin underneath all this gel, glue and gloop is astonishing. Communicating is made harder still by the next stage: Trunchbulls teeth. Emmas yellowed smile is the handiwork of Chris Lyons, known in Hollywood as the Tooth Fairy, who makes prosthetic mouthpieces. Miss Trunchbull has dirty, stained teeth and one crooked one at the front, reveals Chris, whose Buckinghamshire-based company, Fangs FX, also counts Cate Blanchett, Meryl Streep and Glenn Close as clients. Theyre prosthetics, about 1mm thick, made from a cast of Emmas mouth. Its also possible, he says, to use bottled tooth enamel, designed to make teeth look rotten. Ambers got one in the shade nicotine. She paints it on, erasing decades of good dental hygiene in under 30 seconds. The enamel tastes bitter. I can feel it clumping between my teeth, which are now a foul brown colour. For my hair, Amber has a long, white wig 39.99 from Amazon which will become Miss Trunchbulls austere bun. She flattens my natural hair before pinning a bald cap over the top. Next, she pulls the wig down, cutting and glueing the lace around the front so it blends into my skin, before tying it into a taut bun. She then uses grey stage make-up and a mascara brush to paint salt-and-pepper tones around the hairline. Its unnervingly convincing. Now the final stage of the transformation: its time to get dressed. Miss Trunchbull as styled by Rob Howell, who also did costumes for the stage show is military in appearance, with a green trenchcoat, thick stockings and clumpy boots. Ive turned to the London-based Costume Studio, which boasts a vast warehouse of props, to provide this fetching attire. We use an oversized dressing gown and a pair of fake silicone breasts to bulk out my bust, waist and thighs, and the costume goes over the top. Its hot, cumbersome and scratchy, a bit like my face, and all I want to do is rip it off and douse myself in cold water. But after four hours, the transformation is remarkable: if it wasnt for my eyes, I wouldnt recognise my own reflection. Barrie says it took three experts just under two hours to make Emma up as Miss Trunchbull. She was in it every day, averaging an hour for our two girls to apply her prosthetics and then maybe 45 minutes for her hair work and make-up. Seeing myself as the figure from my childhood nightmares, I feel deeply unnerved. It takes almost an hour of peeling and scrubbing with mineral oil to dissolve the glue and remove the prosthetics, leaving my face red-raw. I daub my teeth with alcohol and, to my relief, the stains dissolve. Amber sends me home with my fake nose in a sandwich bag, to show my two children the next day. The three-year-old declares it yucky. The ten-month-old tries to eat it. Im just glad the last vestiges of the terrifying figure who haunted my nightmares for years is now festering at the bottom of our bin. A woman has revealed how scammers changed their number to look like her bank was calling and managed to steal thousands from her account in sophisticated new scam. Millie Clark, from Worthing, wants to raise awareness about the convincing scam after she was conned out of 22,000 when fraudsters used her account to get loans and overdrafts. The dog trainer, 26, told This Morning presenters Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby how she scammed after she received a call from the same number as HSBC's customer care line after thieves changed their caller ID using online tools. Millie Clark, from Worthing, revealed how scammers changed their number to mimic her banks and they managed to steel thousands from her account in sophisticated new scam At the start of May 2020, Millie received a 'phishing' text with a link to a fake but convincing O2 website, asking her to update her payment details. She said: 'All they asked me for was my full name, account number and sort code. It was relatively sensitive, but you know, you would give that to your friends and family members to pay you and things like that, so I didn't think too much of it.' After she updated her details the scammers now had private information which they used to pose as her bank. A few days later they called her, posing as the fraud prevention team at her bank. The dog trainer, 26, told This Morning presenters Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby how she scammed after she received a call from the same number as HSBC's customer care line after the thief's were able to mimic the number At the start of May 2020, Millie received a 'phishing' text with a link to a fake but convincing O2 website, asking her to update her payment details She said: 'They can change the caller ID on your phone when they ring you, so basically it can come up from any number they want. 'The people who rang me, rang from HSBC's customer care number which matched the number on the back of my bank card and that was the bit that got me hook line and sinker, until then I was suspicious.' Claiming a mystery third party was hacking her account, they told her to send the money to another HSBC account for safe-keeping. After winning her trust the scammers persuaded her to give them her security codes and took out a loan and overdraft worth more than 10,000 on her account while they were on the phone. She wants to raise awareness about the convincing scam after she was conned out of 22,000 after fraudsters created loans and overdrafts from her account Millie, who owns Highdown Agility dog training club, also gave them access to her business account, from which they took 12,000 from. This included 500 which was fundraised to keep her business going through the lockdown. It was only when the real HSBC fraud prevention team called her the next day that Millie realised what had happened. Millie said: 'The person on the phone said "No we didn't call you yesterday" and I said, "You did, you rang me twice at this time and this time" and then I think he realised. 'He said: "That's what the scammers do. They ring you pretending to be us, your money is gone." In the past six months, 40 million people have been targeted by scammers in the UK which is a 14 per cent increase on last year. Millie, who owns Highdown Agility dog training club, also gave them access to her business account, from which they took 12,000 from Queen Maxima of the Netherlands caught everyone's eyes in an all-red ensemble as she arrived in Vienna ahead of a three-day visit. The Dutch Monarch, 51, who was accompanying her husband King Willem-Alexander, 55, donned a crimson get up from head to toe, complete with a red sunhat. She donned the stylish look to review the honor guard while visiting Hofburg Palace this morning. The visit, which will last until Wednesday, aims to strengthen the bond between the two nations. Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, 51, caught everyone's eyes in an all-red ensemble as she arrived in Vienna ahead of a three-day visit. The royal couple were welcomed by Federal President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer, right The mother-of-three made a noted appearance in Vienna as she stepped out of her car in the crimson ensemble. Her straight red dress came with a built-in cape that covered her bust and cascaded down her back. She paired it with a matching leather clutch bag and a pair of ruby gloves. She also completed the look with her accessory of choice: a sunhat that matched the red hue of her dress. Known for her attention to detail and her love for colour-matching outfits, Maxima was also wearing a pair of bright red stilettos at the Palace this morning. The Dutch Queen put on a very animated display as she arrived in Vienna in her all-red look and her best pearls Careful with that wind! The Dutch Queen held on to her hat as she and Willem-Alexander landed in Austria this morning The Dutch Queen added some bling to the red outfit with an impressive pair of drop pearl earrings and a brooch pinned to the front of her dress. She paired it with a large pearl bracelet on her right hand and her watch on her left. Her blonde locks were styled into a sleek bun tucked under her hat, with just two strange of honeycomb hair framing the side of her face. The mother-of-three sported a natural summery makeup, with a dash of bronzer adding definition to her sun-kissed glow, a nude lip and a sculpted brow. Meanwhile her husband looked smart in a navy blue suit he paired with a red and white tie. The mother-of-three was a sensation in her red dress, which comes with a cape and matched her heels, hat and clutch perfectly Maxima, who donned a natural sun-kissed makeup, was wearing eye-catching drop pearl earrings for the occasion The couple were welcomed to Vienna by Austria's President Alexander van der Bellen and his wife Doris Schmidauer, who opted to wear a breezy white dress for the occasion. Later this morning they will lay a wreath for the victims of the second Word War at the Namenmonument in Ostarrichi Park. Maxim and Willem-Alexander will then be given a tour of the memorial commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. This afternoon, they will meet with the Mayor of Vienna, Michael Ludwig, as well as the Deputy Speaker of the Austrian Parliament, Doris Bures. Their action-packed day will end with a state banquet at the Belvedere Palace hosted by President Can der Bellen in Maxima and Willem-Alexander's honour. The parents-of-three have enjoyed a Spring filled with numerous engagements. They have been so busy that they even have had to take their traditional summer family photo a month early to match their demanding schedules with their daughters' equally busy social lives. The royal family released their portraits over the weekend, showing the two monarchs with their three daughters Catharina-Amalia, 18, Alexia, 16, and Ariane, 15. A royal wave! Maxim and Willem-Alexander seemed delighted to be in Vienna, ahead of a busy three-day visit to Austria Their photoshoot usually takes place in July before the family departs for their summer holiday, but the palace said that there's been a change of plan. From now on, the photo sessions no longer exclusively take place just before the royal famil goes on holiday, but at times when the whole family can be present. Big changes are afoot in the family this coming Autumn with Princess Amalia set to go to unviersity. Earlier this month the Dutch heiress-to-the-throne announced she has enrolled for a degree at Amsterdam university - and will live with normal students in a houseshare. She will be studying for a 3,750 degree in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at University of Amsterdam from September. During her studies, the Princess will be living in a rented houseshare with her fellow students. A post on the royal court's Instagram account stated that her time at university is considered 'private.' The father of a five-year-old boy murdered by his mother, stepfather and a 14-year-old boy has asked why his son had to die in such horrific circumstances. In April, Angharad Williamson, 31, John Cole, 40, and the youth were convicted after a 10-week trial at Cardiff Crown Court of murdering Logan Mwangi. They will be sentenced on Thursday. The boy's body was found in the River Ogmore in Pandy Park, Bridgend, South Wales, on the morning of July 31 2021. He had more than 50 external wounds, as well as multiple internal injuries akin to those found in victims of a fall from height or high-speed car crash. Logan's father, Ben Mwangi, had been denied contact with his son since April 2019 - around the time Williamson began her relationship with Cole. Speaking to ITV in his first TV interview, which will air on Thursday, Mr Mwangi said: 'What child has to go through that sort of torture for such a long period of the time? No, it really doesn't seem real. The father (left) of a five-year-old boy (pictured right, Logan Mwangi) murdered by his mother, stepfather and a 14-year-old boy has asked why his son had to die in such horrific circumstances. In April, Angharad Williamson, 31, John Cole (pictured together), 40, and the youth were convicted after a 10-week trial at Cardiff Crown Court of murdering Logan Mwangi. They will be sentenced on Thursday 'One of the biggest questions in my whole entire life I'll always be asking myself is, 'Why? Why did this happen? Why did Logan have to die?'' Cole was obsessed with the idea Williamson had cheated on him with Mr Mwangi, witnesses said. The defendant reportedly used a racial slur to describe his step-son, and had links to the National Front. Mr Mwangi said Williamson stopped him seeing Logan. 'She blocked my number. For the past five years, I've been struggling and trying to fight just to see Logan. She made my life an absolute misery. All I've wanted to do was just be a dad,' he said. Just a month before Logan was killed last July, social workers in Bridgend removed him and a younger sibling from the child protection register - meaning they were no longer believed to be at risk of serious harm. Logan's father, Ben Mwangi (pictured), had been denied contact with his son since April 2019 - around the time Williamson began her relationship with Cole Speaking to ITV in his first TV interview, which will air on Thursday, Mr Mwangi said: 'What child has to go through that sort of torture for such a long period of the time? No, it really doesn't seem real. Pictured, Ben's tattoo Just a month before Logan (pictured) was killed last July, social workers in Bridgend removed him and a younger sibling from the child protection register - meaning they were no longer believed to be at risk of serious harm But Logan had suffered 'catastrophic' internal injuries consistent with a 'brutal and sustained assault'. The day before police found his body, a social worker spent 20 minutes outside Logan's home speaking to the three defendants, but did not see or hear him. Mr Mwangi was not told his son was on the child protection register and wants the law changed so social services have a duty to inform estranged parents. He said: 'I probably would have tried to take him away. Why didn't they do anything to make it a safe environment for him when it clearly wasn't? 'If I can stop this from happening to anybody else, then that will be the biggest, positive, most positive thing. My lasting memory of him was just a happy little boy that called me "Daddy". But Logan (pictured) had suffered 'catastrophic' internal injuries consistent with a 'brutal and sustained assault' 'The wonderful memories I have with my son will never be tarnished. They will forever be in my heart and soul. 'I loved him so much and somehow I have to live my life knowing that I will never get to see him grow up to be the wonderful man I know that he could be.' A child practice review has been launched into Logan's death and will be led by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg Safeguarding Board, which includes local councils and the police, probation service and NHS. An ITV documentary, The Murder Of Logan Mwangi, was produced in conjunction with South Wales Police. It starts at 9pm on Thursday. A spokesperson for Bridgend Council said it is fully participating and it would not be appropriate to comment further until the review was concluded. Williamson (pictured with her son Logan) denied murdering the five-year-old. When police first arrived at her flat, she put on a display of crocodile tears On the morning of July 31 last year the once 'smiling, cheerful little boy' (pictured), was found by police just 250 metres from his home submerged in the River Ogmore In the months and weeks leading up to his death, Logan had been dehumanised by his family. His stammer worsened, becoming particularly bad around Cole, and he wet himself more frequently and began self-harming. But social services reportedly missed at least two opportunities to rescue the schoolboy from the clutches of his parents, who 'kept him prisoner' in his dark bedroom - likened to a 'dungeon' - with a baby gate barring him from leaving after testing positive for coronavirus on July 20. The case of Logan's murder has chilling echoes of the tragic deaths of 16-month-old Star Hobson, six-year-old Arthur Labinjo-Hughes and two-year-old Kyrell Matthews. TIMELINE: THE LOGAN MWANGI MURDER 2016 March 15: Logan is born in the Princess of Wales Hospital, Bridgend, to Angharad Williamson and Benjamin Mwangi. Their relationship quickly breaks down and Mr Mwangi moves back to Brentwood, Essex. June: Mr Mwangi visits Logan in Bridgend for their first father's day together and they have regular contact. Williamson and Logan move in with Mr Mwangi in Essex but by August have returned to Wales. By the end of the year, Williamson had married another man, but the relationship became violent. During this time, contact between Logan and his father ceases. 2019 Contact between Logan and his father resumes. In April, Williamson takes Logan to visit Mr Mwangi and his family in Essex. This was the last time Mr Mwangi saw Logan, as Williamson was in a relationship with Cole and was preventing access. 2020 August: Police were called to the family home, a year before Logan died, after he suffered a broken arm from apparently falling down stairs. Williamson admits covering up and lying to police about this. Police were called to the family home, a year before Logan died, after he suffered a broken arm from apparently falling down stairs. Williamson admits covering up and lying to police about this. 2021 January 21: Williamson calls 101 and during the conversation tells the operator the youth defendant had confessed to pushing Logan down the stairs when he fractured his arm. May: Social services took no action when Logan burned his neck on a hot bath tap. Their investigation relied on photographs of the tap and Logan's injuries. July 31: A five-year-old boy is found dead in the River Ogmore near Pandy Park in Bridgend. August 2: The boy is named as 'funny and polite' Logan Williamson. South Wales Police question three suspects. August 5: Logan's stepfather John Cole is charged with murder as the boy's mother Angharad Williamson and a 13-year-old boy are jointly charged with perverting the course of justice - along with Cole. August 7: Hundreds of well-wishers release red balloons into the sky at a vigil next to the river bank where Logan was found dead. September 1: Inquest into Logan's death hears that the five-year-old could have suffered a 'violent or unnatural death'. October 21: Logan's mother is charged with murder along with the teenager, now 14. 2022 February 4: Angharad Williamson denies murder and causing or allowing the death of a child at Cardiff Crown Court. She has previously pleaded not guilty to perverting the course of justice. John also appeared in court and denied causing or allowing the death of a child. He had already pleaded not guilty to murder and guilty to perverting the course of justice. The 14-year-old boy had earlier denied murder and perverting the course of justice. February 14: The three defendants appear in court to stand trial for the alleged murder of Logan. February 21: The court hears that Logan suffered 56 catastrophic injuries to his body after he was allegedly beaten to death by his mother, stepfather and a 'violent' 14-year-old boy. Jurors were told that the little boy was murdered after he caught Covid, before Williamson and Cole dumped his body in a river as if they were 'fly-tipping' rubbish. The trio were said to have covered-up the horrific crime in an 'elaborate charade' by claiming Logan had gone missing or been kidnapped while in isolation. April 21: Three defendants are convicted of Logan's murder at Cardiff Crown Court. Advertisement All three children were murdered after suffering months of systematic abuse at the hands of their wicked parents and repeatedly let down by agencies which missed chances to intervene. Both Arthur and Logan were put in greater danger when the country was put into lockdown. Social workers visited Logan's house the day before he died and took no action in May 2021 when the boy burned his neck on a hot bath tap. Their investigation relied on photographs of the tap and Logan's injuries. Social services had also been aware that the boy's stepfather Cole had a criminal record for assault, burglary, possessing cannabis, resisting a police officer, blackmail and perverting the course of justice. And police failed to take action a year earlier, when the five-year-old broke his arm. It emerged he had been pushed down the stairs by the 14-year-old who later took part in killing him. Cole forced the boy to eat Weetabix on family 'takeaway nights' while they feasted on KFC, and would tease him about the food he was missing out on. Cole, who stood at 6ft4ins tall and weighed 15 stone, would tower over the 3ft 5ins, 3st Logan and use army-style punishments on him, forcing the child to do press-ups until he was in tears and collapse on the floor. Logan was also made to stand outside the house in just his pyjamas, neighbours said. He held 'long standing racist beliefs' which could have been 'relevant to his motives' in the attacks on Logan, and he even stopped him from seeing his real father and grandmother. Logan had suffered 56 external cuts and bruises, and 'catastrophic' internal injuries, which were likened to a high-speed road accident. Cole was caught on CCTV carrying Logan's limp body from the flat across a playing field towards the river where he was found by police shortly after dawn on July 31. His mother was caught on camera feigning crocodile tears and ignorance after killing him. Experts said the injuries could have only been caused by a 'brutal and sustained assault' inflicted on Logan in the hours, or days, prior his death. They also said the injuries were 'consistent with child abuse'. Friends of the couple said Cole told them he did not like Logan, and others said his attitude changed after becoming obsessed with the idea Williamson had cheated with Logan's father. Medics made a safeguarding referral to the police after Logan suffered a broken arm in August 2020, with Williamson saying he had fallen down the stairs. She took him to hospital the day after the incident and said she thought he had only dislocated his shoulder and had tried to put it back. Later she told a friend the youth had confessed to pushing Logan down the stairs but it was not until January last year she told the police. By March, due to concerns over Cole, Logan and his younger sibling had been assigned their own social worker, Gaynor Rush. In June, a month before Logan died, the family were removed from the child protection register - meaning it was believed there was no longer a risk of significant harm. Williamson claimed that two days before Logan's body was found an argument about a spilt drink escalated and ended with Cole and the youth attacking him. She accused Cole of punching Logan twice in the stomach and ordering the youth to 'sweep' Logan if he stuttered or flinched. Moments later the youth carried out the martial arts-style manoeuvre, kicking his legs out from under him while using his hand to slam his head to the ground. Williamson said she screamed for them to stop but said Cole replied: 'The only way this boy understands is pain.' Two days later, she phoned the police at 5.45am reporting Logan missing - claiming to have awoken to find him gone and accusing a woman of taking him. Police arrived at the flat to find Williamson hysterical, while Cole and the youth could be seen walking around the area calling for him. Footage shows Williamson screaming at Cole 'Why am I not allowed to see my own biological son?' While pacing her kitchen, she yells: 'He is unconscious, why is he unconscious?' Gesturing towards police officers before falling to the ground, she continues: 'All I'm getting is answers like this. Why is no one telling me what's going on? He's my baby, what's going on?' She is later seen stood on her doorstep, saying: 'If he is unconscious he needs me. He needs warm clothes. He needs mum. I feel so useless. This is all my fault.' Prosecutors said this was part of an 'elaborate' cover-up concocted by the defendants and all three were accused of perverting the course of justice, of which Williamson and youth were convicted. Carrie Johnson has given a glimpse into her time spent with her seven-month-old daughter Romy when journeying to Rwanda with her husband, Boris Johnson. The mother-of-two, 34, took to Instagram today to share several images from her visit to Umusambi Village, a restored wetland area which provides sanctuary for over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes. Carrie made a similar surprise appearance with her son Wilfred ahead of the G7 summit in 2021, when sharing snaps online showing the toddler walking on a beach alongside First Lady Jill Biden. Looking the epitome of summer styling, Carrie opted for a white and blue floral dress, while her daughter was dressed in a yellow and red outfit, decorated with flowers to match her mother's attire. In the photos, Carrie holds baby Romy with her face away from the camera as the pair look out at the picturesque scenery. Mrs Johnson, who is well known as an environmental campaigner, was in Rwanda last week alongside the Prime Minister for a three-day visit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). Carrie Johnson has given a glimpse into her time spent with her seven-month-old daughter Romy when journeying to Rwanda with her husband, Boris Johnson The mother-of-two, 34, took to Instagram today to share several images from her visit to Umusambi Village, a restored wetland area which provides sanctuary for over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes Mrs Johnson was in Rwanda last week alongside the Prime Minister for a three-day visit to the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) Sharing four photos from her trip today, Carrie wrote: 'Very lucky to visit Umusambi Village. A beautifully restored wetland area, providing a sanctuary for over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes saved from the illegal pet trade.' Sharing four photos from her trip today, Carrie wrote: 'Very lucky to visit Umusambi Village. A beautifully restored wetland area, providing a sanctuary for over 50 endangered Grey Crowned Cranes saved from the illegal pet trade.' Boris and Carrie, who were married in May 2021, also share two-year-old son Wilfred together. Romy Iris Charlotte Johnson was born at University College London hospital on December 9. Mrs Johnson explained the choice of name: Romy after my aunt, Rosemary. Iris from the Greek, meaning rainbow. Charlotte [after] Boriss late mum whom we miss so much. In 2021, Mrs Johnson had a miscarriage, which she said left her heartbroken, before becoming pregnant with Romy. When she announced the pregnancy last year, she said she and her husband were hoping for our rainbow baby this Christmas. Looking the epitome of summer styling, Carrie opted for a white and blue floral dress, while her daughter was dressed in a yellow and red outfit, decorated with flowers to match her mother's attire. Pictured, one of the photos shared by Carrie Boris and Carrie, who were married in May 2021, also share two-year-old son Wilfred together. Pictured, one of the photos shared by Carrie from the Umusambi Village A rainbow baby is the term given to a child born after a miscarriage, stillbirth or neonatal death. Earlier this year, Romy had Covid aged just six weeks and was said to be suffering quite badly with it. Yesterday, Carrie joined Carrie and French first lady Brigitte Macron put on a friendly display as they joined G7 partners to meet young German athletes. Brigitte, the glamorous 69-year-old wife of President Macron, 44, greeted Mrs Johnson with a kiss on the cheek as the group arrived at a mountain resort near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It echoed the show of unity by President Macron and Mr Johnson, who have vowed to 'hit the reset button' on their relationship following one-on-one talks at the summit. The partners of the G7 leaders continued their itinerary with a visit to meet a group of junior biathletes in training for the Olympics. Britta Ernst, wife of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel, were also in attendance. Advertisement Malia Obama was seen strutting her stuff in an oversized T-shirt and biker shorts, which had her long legs on full display, while running errands in Los Angeles on Sunday. The oldest daughter of former President Barack Obama, 23, was photographed stopping by a beauty salon before heading to Starbucks to pick up some coffees. The Harvard graduate rocked a green and white patterned top for the outing, which she paired with tiny white shorts and Nike sneakers. The former first daughter kept is casual for the salon visit - going make up free as she continued to embrace her new life on the West Coast. Malia Obama was seen strutting her stuff in an oversized T-shirt and biker shorts, which had her long legs on full display, while running errands in Los Angeles on Sunday Day out: The oldest daughter of former President Barack Obama, 23, was photographed stopping by a beauty salon before heading to Starbucks to pick up some coffees Keeping it casual: The Harvard graduate rocked a green and white patterned top for the outing, which she paired with tiny white shorts and Nike sneakers The 23-year-old, who is currently working on Donald Glover's upcoming Amazon project, Hive, appeared somber as she made her way into the coffee joint after visiting a beauty parlor. Her long locks were in braids around her face, as she clutched onto her keys and wallet. She purchases two drinks at the Starbucks - an iced coffee and a hot one - but it's unclear who the second beverage was for as she was alone for the outing. Malia moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Harvard to pursue a career as a screenwriter. In March, Donald shared that he had given Malia her first job as a writer on his new series, which is reportedly about 'a Beyonce-type character,' calling her 'amazingly talented' and 'really focused.' 'Shes just like, an amazingly talented person,' Donald, 38, who is also known by his stage name Childish Gambino, told Vanity Fair of Malia. 'Shes really focused, and shes working really hard.' Donald did not reveal how Malia - who previously interned on Lena Dunham's HBO series Girls in 2015 and at The Weinstein Company in 2017 - landed the job after she graduated from college last year. Donald added that he believed that Malia has a promising future in the industry, telling the publication, 'I feel like shes just somebody whos gonna have really good things coming soon. Her writing style is great.' All-natural: The former first daughter went make up free as she continued to embrace her new life on the West Coast The 23-year-old, who is currently working on Donald Glover's upcoming Amazon project, Hive, appeared somber as she made her way into the coffee joint after visiting a beauty parlor She purchases two drinks at the Starbucks - an iced coffee and a hot one - but it's unclear who the second beverage was for as she was alone for the outing Her long locks were in braids around her face, as she clutched onto her keys and wallet Relatable: She made sure to stop and pay the parking meter to avoid getting herself a ticket Malia also earned praise from Donald's younger brother, Stephan Glover, who is also working on the show. He commended her work ethic and ideas, and added that they are happy to have her on the team because of her 'different' and 'unique' perspective. 'Donald always says perspective is important, and people with different perspectives are important for a writers' room,' he gushed. 'And for sure, she definitely has a unique perspective on everything. 'So we wanted to hear her stories and have her work with us. Listening to her stories and having her involved really gave us a lot of good ideas.' When asked how he goes about rejecting Malia's pitches, he made it clear that she isn't getting any kind of special treatment in the writers' room because of who her parents are. 'Well, you know, we just hurt her feelings. We cant be easy on her just because shes the [former] presidents daughter,' he joked. 'Nah, shes very down to earth, and cool. So, its not a problem at all,' he added. 'She has a lot of good ideas. Shes great. Shes just a regular person like everybody else.' Malia moved to Los Angeles after graduating from Harvard to pursue a career as a screenwriter. In March, Donald called her 'amazingly talented' and 'really focused' while revealing that he had hired her to work on his new show Supportive: Donald added that he believed that Malia has a promising future in the industry, telling the publication, 'I feel like shes just somebody whos gonna have really good things coming soon. Her writing style is great' Hardworking: Donald did not reveal how Malia - who previously interned on Lena Dunham's HBO series Girls in 2015 and at The Weinstein Company in 2017 - landed the job after she graduated from college last year While Malia is working as a screenwriter, her younger sister, Sasha Obama, is building her own life in Los Angeles. Sasha, who recently turned 21, is reportedly a student at the University of Southern California after transferring from the University of Michigan. DailyMail.com exclusively revealed a few months ago that she is in a relationship with Clifton Powell Jr., 24, the son of 'Ray' actor Clifton Powell. Clifton Jr. and Sasha are understood to have met after she relocated to the West Coast, and he is already close with the family. He was seen hanging out with Malia in a Los Angeles park in April. That same month, Sasha and Malia's mother, former First Lady Michelle Obama, opened up about how both of her daughters are all grown up during an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Ellen, 64, reminded Michelle, 58, of how Sasha and Malia had first visited the show when they were little girls who wanted to see the Jonas Brothers. But over a decade later, they've graduated from boybands to boyfriends. 'Now they're bringing grown men home,' she said. 'Now they have boyfriends and real lives and all that stuff. They have grown up right before our very eyes and they are doing well.' While Michelle gushed about the 'amazing young women' her daughters have become - 'Women, I know! Scary,' she said - and divulged that they were dating, she was much more discreet about the details of their love lives. Sasha has been linked to Clifton in recent months, but Malia's relationship status is unclear following her move to Los Angeles. She started dating Rory Farquharson - the son of chief executive of Insight Investment Management Limited Charles - in 2017 while they were both students at Harvard University. However, whether she and Rory are still together is unknown, as she has never publicly addressed her relationship status. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands stole the show on a state visit to Austria in a stunning white gown. The Queen, who is visiting the country with her husband King Willem-Alexander, donned the floor-length, one-shoulder dress as she stepped out in Vienna this evening ahead of a state banquet. Wearing her blonde locks in a low-maintenance up-do, completed with a stunning pearled tiara, the royal flashed a smile at sunset. Queen Maxima of The Netherlands wowed on a state visit to Vienna to meet the President of Austria this evening The Queen linked arms with her husband King Willem-Alexander as they posed for photos with President Alexander Van der Bellen and his wide Doris Schmidauer Mother-of-three Maxima paired the tiara with drop earrings, which complemented the brooch on her dress, and added a splash of colour with a red lip. The 50-year-old Argentine-born royal ditched her trademark block colours for a more understated look as she linked arms with the 55-year-old King. Her beautiful gown, clinched at the waist to show off her envious figure, was paired with gold metallic sandals with a chunky high heel and a metallic clutch bag. The royals, who arrived in Vienna today, will spend time in the country until Wednesday after they were invited by Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen. Queen Maxima was all smiles as she stepped out in Vienna - and all eyes were on her as she dazzled in the white gown Queen Maxima wore a stunning diamond and pearl tiara with matching earrings, which complemented the brooch on her dress Posing for photos, the King and Queen smiled next to the President and his wife, Doris Schmidauer. The Austrian First Lady wore a chic blue satin gown with long sleeves, paired with gold jewellery and a low black heel. Perhaps inspired by guest Maxima, she also sported a red lip. The King and President also dressed up for the occasion, each looking dapper in tuxedos and bow ties. Cuba Gooding Jr. was seen getting rowdy at a Hamptons party over the weekend - slapping his girlfriend's butt before rolling a joint, while surrounded by a slew of D-list celebrity guests. Electronic music duo Disclosure - which consists of brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence - DJed the party, which was thrown by the company MTRX and saw about 150 guests partying the night away at a private residence in Sag Harbor, New York. Among the guests were beauty and fashion expert Luciana Pampalone, PR Anna Rothschild, and actor Cuba, 54. Video footage showed the former Snow Dogs star, who recently plead guilty to one count of forcible touching, enjoying drinks with friends and enthusiastically chatting with fellow party-goers. At one point during the evening, the 54-year-old could be seen reaching down and smacking his girlfriend, Claudine De Niro's backside - who seemed to have no reaction to the flirty move. Cuba Gooding Jr. was seen getting rowdy at a Hamptons party over the weekend - slapping his girlfriend's butt before rolling a joint, while surrounded by a slew of D-list celebrity guests Footage showed the former Snow Dogs star, who recently plead guilty to one count of forcible touching, enjoying drinks with friends and enthusiastically chatting with fellow party-goers At one point during the evening, the 54-year-old could be seen reaching down and smacking his girlfriend, Claudine De Niro's backside - who seemed to have no reaction to the flirty move Unfazed, she continued on with her conversation as Cuba gave her rear a little spank, before she turned to him with a grin The actor was seen with a drink in hand as he made his way over to his girlfriend Later in the evening, Cuba appeared to be preparing to unwind by smoking some marijuana, with pictures showing him rolling a joint while surrounded by his pals Unfazed, she continued on with her conversation as Cuba gave her rear a little spank, before she turned to him with a grin. Later in the evening, Cuba appeared to be preparing to unwind by smoking some marijuana, with pictures showing him rolling a joint while surrounded by his pals. Cuba and Claudine, 42 - who works as a travel agent for a company called In The Know Experiences - first started dating in 2018. She was previously married to acclaimed actor Robert De Niro's son, celebrity real estate broker Raphael De Niro, but the two divorced in 2015. She and Raphael had wed in 2008, and share three kids together. As for Cuba, he tied the knot with his high school sweetheart Sara Kapfer in 1994. They welcomed three kids together, before splitting in 2014. Rumors first started to swirl of Cuba and Claudine's romance in 2018, after they were spotted cozying up a restaurant in New York. The party was attended by a small number of guests - with Cuba serving as the only known name to appear Cuba and Claudine, 42 - who works as a travel agent for a company called In The Know Experiences - first started dating in 2018. Cuba is seen at the party Among the other guests were beauty and fashion expert Luciana Pampalone (left) and PR Anna Rothschild (right) Electronic music duo Disclosure - which consists of brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence - DJed the party. They are seen with Cuba Claudine (pictured with Cuba at the party) was previously married to acclaimed actor Robert De Niro's son, celebrity real estate broker Raphael De Niro, but the two divorced in 2015 In June 2019, Cuba was charged with misdemeanor forcible touching and sexual abuse in the third degree after a woman claimed he groped her breasts in a New York City bar. Soon, multiple other women came forward and accused Cuba of sexual assault, two of which resulted in more charges being brought against him. The charges alleged that he pinched a server's buttocks after making a sexually suggestive remark to her at TAO Downtown in Manhattan, and that he forcibly touched a woman inappropriately at the LAVO New York nightclub, both in 2018. The actor, whose net worth is approximately $12 million, pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching in April, and entered a no-jail plea deal. He also admitted to subjecting the two other women to non-consensual physical contact in October 2018 and June 2019. He was told by the judge that he had to continue the alcohol and behavior modification treatment he started in 2019 for six more months and have no new arrests. The actor (pictured at the party) pleaded guilty to one count of forcible touching in April, and entered a no-jail plea deal after three different women accused him of forcibly touching them Claudine (pictured with friends at the party) has faced some scandals of her own over the years. She was sued in 2017 by a former nanny over unpaid wages The party was thrown by the company MTRX and saw about 150 guests partying the night away It took place at a private residence in Sag Harbor, New York Claudine, who graduated from the Fashion Institute of Technology and previously worked in real estate, has faced some scandals of her own over the years. In 2017, she was slapped with a lawsuit from her former nanny, who alleged that Claudine owed her unpaid wages. According to Fox, a second former employee who worked as Claudine's housekeeper also claimed that Claudine had terminated her 12-month agreement 'based on discriminatory motives and biases.' It's unclear what ever came of the lawsuit, but in 2021, she made headlines once again when she reportedly 'berated' a woman who tried to get Cuba's phone number. Page Six reported at the time that she 'caused a scene' at a Hampton's restaurant after someone asked for her boyfriend's digits, leaving the woman 'scared' and 'traumatized.' The woman, named Lieba Nesis, told the outlet that Claudine 'aggressively harassed [and] berated' her for over an hour over the incident. Popular beauty retailer Mecca has announced it will be introducing a new Click and Collect service to selected stores from July 5. Customers will be able to order desired beauty products from home to be collected in store within 24 hours. The brand admitted it is 'a little late to the party' but will finally offer the highly anticipated service available across all stores in Victoria, Western Australia, Tasmania, and South Australian stores (excluding Myer stores), and selected stores in New South Wales. Customers will be able to order desired beauty products from home to be collected in the nearest Mecca store within 24 hours (stock image) The new offering will help customers save money on delivery fees, which usually costs a minimum of $9.95 per package for express postage. To use the service simply add your desired items to your shopping bag via the Mecca website, then if available selected the 'Click & Collect' option as your preferred delivery method. Orders will usually be ready to pick up within a day, and customers can receive updates through their email inbox. Be sure to bring your email and valid photo ID when collecting your package. Soon after the order is place, customers will receive a 'Ready For Collection' email and can head to the store. The service is ideal for birthdays and last minute gift ideas. Unfortunately, as the service is still in a 'trail' phase, not all products will be available to Click and Collect. Mecca recommends setting a larger store as your collection location with hope that more alternative products will be readily available. For further information, click here. South Africa: Probe into Eastern Cape tavern tragedy The management of the South African Police Service (SAPS) has ordered a high-level investigation into the tragic deaths of 21 teenagers at a local tavern in Scenery Park, in East London. This as on Sunday morning at about 4am, police from the Scenery Park Police Station received a report of the lifeless bodies of the teenagers at a local tavern in the area. SAPS spokesperson Athlenda Mathe said: Upon arrival police found seventeen bodies inside the building. It was later established two more died at a local clinic, one died en-route to hospital and another died in hospital. Nine of the deceased are female while twelve of the deceased are male. On Sunday, Police Minister Bheki Cele and National Police Commissioner General Fannie Masemola led a high level delegation of crime scene experts to the scene. The team included bomb disposal technicians from the National Headquarters of the Criminal Record and Crime Scene Management Component to complement and support the Eastern Cape Crime Scene Investigations teams. The Minister engaged with local residents and with parents of the deceased at the local mortuary where the process to identify the victims was underway. He called on residents and affected families to allow police investigations to unfold. "We have an experienced team that is complementing the provincial team to ensure that we get to the bottom of what has led to the death of these young people. We are also engaging other stakeholders to investigate issues of compliance to liquor legislation, said the Minister. Police have registered an inquest into the deaths. - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. China, India, Vietnam make growth story world's talking point By Zhong Nan (China Daily) 14:58, June 27, 2022 Final assembly is done in Yuncheng in January at a new energy vehicle plant of Shanxi-based Dayun Automobiles. CHINA DAILY In an economic sense, should China be unnerved by neighboring Vietnam? Well, Vietnam today reminds me of yesteryear developing countries when their economies had just started to grow at a notable pace. Its labor-intensive industries like textiles, processing and manufacturing are booming, fueled by abundant and low-cost labor. This has led many to question whether the Southeast Asian nation will have a bearing on China's position in the world's industrial chain sooner or later. No, I'd argue. Close competition and complementarity characterize the dynamic between the two neighbors. From the perspective of competition, the pressures they face from each other are asymmetrical. China boasts a mature cross-border e-commerce industry, a complete industrial chain, agglomeration advantages, innovation vitality, well-developed logistics and supporting systems. In terms of complementarity, the export structures of the two countries are different, and their supply chains are interdependent. For example, when China fought the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, the supply chains of many industries in Vietnam also came to a standstill. China's direct investment and industrial transfer to Vietnam have strengthened business ties between China and Vietnam, resulting in the international division of labor. Some of China's surplus with European countries and the United States has turned into China's surplus with Vietnam. In a sense, Vietnam's growth is an extension of China's economic growth. The two countries' industrial chains are closely integrated. As a neighbor, a developed Vietnam is more beneficial to China than an underdeveloped economy. China does not have to worry too much about the challenges posed by the rise of Vietnam's manufacturing industries. For instance, Zibo, Shandong province-based Luthai Textile Co Ltd, which runs more than 40 factories and regional branches in countries including the US, Italy and Japan, announced earlier this year that it will invest $210 million to build a manufacturing base to make woven and knitted fabric products in Tay Ninh province, Vietnam. The new plant is meant to supply local garment and textile businesses, another step to further expand its market presence after the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership took effect on Jan 1. In this context, it's India that should be the hot topic. Among China's neighbors, India boasts a competitive labor source, vast market hinterland, increasingly complete electronics industrial chain and a highly developed IT industry. Its human resources are said to have an advantage in terms of English-language skills, comparable to HR in Europe and the US. India may well have the potential to emerge as not only the next factory for the world but also a challenger to China. Over the long term, India will seek an economic growth rate higher than that of many countries in the Asia-Pacific region. When its economy becomes half China's size, it will likely have a substantial impact on China. Even though Vietnam's substitution effect on China is greater in the short term, India's effect in a similar context will be greater in the longer term. Constrained by a limited local market, Vietnam plays more of a role as a processing and transshipment hub in the global electronics industrial chain, and its products are exported to North America, Europe and other regions. The reason why India can attract a relatively more complete electronics industrial chain is due to tariff adjustment and its vast local market. A large number of electronic products manufactured in India can be directly sold in the country, leaving less room for exports. To cope with these factors, China has already begun to foster high-quality development on its original industrial track and implement the dual-circulation development paradigm that allows the domestic and overseas markets to reinforce each other. China has an edge in being a major consumer market in the world. This has become valuable in breeding and developing new technologies. Although the industrial revolution started with technologies, the implementation of technology cannot be separated from specific market demands and application scenarios. In the new round of industrial revolution, China should not only reinforce the resilience of its own industrial chain structure, but also work closely with neighboring countries via bilateral and regional free trade agreements, and become a driver of shared development. This will be an important task for the country to sustain its foreign trade and seek fresh growth points in the years to come. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) Australians are sharing the things they thought they made a person rich while growing up from buying lunch from the school canteen to walk-in wardrobes and even soft drinks. A post to popular Facebook group, She's on the Money, asked members: 'What are some things you thought were indicators of wealth when you were a kid?' drawing in dozens of responses. Many commenters thought school mates who regularly bought food at the canteen were rich, some said they deemed families who lived in two-storey houses were well off and others had more subtle signs of wealth like drinking fizzy drinks, having rugs in a home and cabbage patch dolls. People are sharing the signs that made them think someone was rich growing up in Australia including drinking soft drinks outside of special occasions Many commenters thought school mates who regularly bought food at the canteen were rich while some said they deemed families who had cars with electric windows were well off 'Money for the school canteen! That to me was rich, and when I stayed at a friends place the mum always gave me money too, and it was daily! Like whaaaaat!' one person exclaimed. 'People who got canteen lunches weekly. I think I got like 1 or 2 my entire primary school life,' another agreed. 'Having rugs in your home. It's just something that's not vital to get by so it seemed entirely decorative. Which, if you're poor, you don't spend money on decorations like that. Oh and professional pictures of your family in frames on the wall,' a third added. 'Walk in wardrobes except I had never seen one before and I assumed that it was just any wardrobe you could stand inside of,' a fourth laughed. Many commenters agreed families who lived in double storey houses or had in-ground pools in the backyard were rich. 'I always thought if you had a swimming pool you were super rich. I always wished I had one growing up! Also if you had more than one pet,' one wrote. 'As a kid having an upstairs seemed so impressive. Sara Lee ice cream or ordering in food were exotic to me. Travelling overseas was my biggest goal though, neither of my parents have left Australia and my entire childhood I never slept in a hotel,' a second replied. Having soft drinks outside of special occasions was a popular answer and many more said eating out was a indicator of wealth. Many commenters agreed families who lived in double storey houses or had in-ground pools in the backyard were rich Other answers included having a remote-controlled garage door, international family holidays, Foxtel or Austar, and a fridge with a water and ice dispenser 'Cans of soft drink in the fridge. (Triple points if it was a dedicated drinks fridge),' a woman responded. 'Brand name food. Being able to eat out as a family. Being able to even by an ice cream as a family,' a second said. 'As a kid I thought if you had a cabbage patch doll you must be rich. My friend had several (and thinking back no they weren't actually rich),' admitted a third. Other answers included having birthday parties at McDonalds, international family holidays, Foxtel or Austar, a fridge with a water and ice dispenser, and getting picked up and dropped off at school every day. Things Aussies thought were a sign someone was rich as a kid Getting on a plane to go on holiday Decorating the house with rugs Double storey homes Soft drinks for no reason Walk-in wardrobes Ordering lunch at the canteen Fridges with ice dispensers Foxtel or Austar Brand name foods In-ground swimming pools Eating at restaurants Cabbage Patch Dolls Air conditioning Electric car windows Remote-controlled garage doors Backyard trampolines 4WD cars Owning a computer in the nineties PlayStations Getting picked up from school Buying popcorn and snacks at the movies Having a second or drinks fridge Pop top juice boxes Wide screen TV Matching furniture sets Advertisement 'When youd get dropped off and picked up from school everyday. I was on public transport from literally kindy age because they both worked full time 8-5. Also when your parents had a car each instead of sharing one. Although now that Im a mother and a wife, I dont know how they ever managed with just one car lol,' one mum remembered. 'Remote controlled garage roller door. An ice maker in the fridge door, a dishwasher, two storey house, an inground pool. A store bought birthday cake. Blue Ribbon ice cream. I could go on' another said. 'Buttons that made the windows in the car go up and down instead of rolling them down with a knob,' wrote a fourth. The same question previously went viral on TikTok after podcaster Claire Stephens, 30, asked her followers for their 'low-key' traits of being rich in Australia. The same question previously went viral on TikTok after podcaster Claire Stephens asked her followers for their 'low-key' traits of being rich in Australia including knowing how to ski Other subtle signs of wealth were said to be flying exclusively with Qantas (left) and shopping at upscale department stores like Myer (right) In a series of five videos, the author said she always knew a family was well off if they knew how to ski, bought lunch at a fair or theme park instead of bringing their own, or had a sign at the front door asking for shoes to be removed inside. 'It means you've got nice floors or a fancy carpet,' she added. Ms Stephens said it wasn't until she got to university and discovered people could ski that she realised some had very different types of holidays to the ones her family did. Her observations about the subtle trappings of affluence Down Under, which have been viewed 378,576 times since the first video was uploaded online on Friday, sparked a wave of amusing responses. 'Shopping at David Jones means you're wealthy,' one person replied. 'Low-key' things that are a sign of wealth in Australia * Flying exclusively with Qantas * Shopping at Myer or David Jones * Owning a fridge with an ice dispenser * Having a dishwasher cutlery tray instead of a basket insert * Buying lunch at a theme park instead of bringing your own * Knowing how to ski and holidaying overseas * Living in a two-storey house with an in-ground pool and electric gate Advertisement 'When people went on holidays for leisure, and not just to visit relatives interstate,' another noted. Others said people who have kitchens with silver appliances instead of white or a second lounge room are 'elite'. One woman said she had always wished her parents would buy her more expensive ice creams at the beach. 'Being allowed to get a Magnum rather than a Splice, Calippo or Paddle Pop,' she wrote. Ms Stephens shared her agreement, saying: 'Omg YES. Magnums were premium.' Advertisement The idea of living for hundreds of years was once thought to be the pipe dream of billionaires and tech moguls. But scientists at the forefront of anti-ageing research believe they are on the cusp of developing a pill that could lead to people living to the age of 200 and beyond. Medical advances in the last century have led to humans in wealthy nations living into their 80s, almost double the average life expectancy at the turn of the 20th century. Improved nutrition, clean water, better sanitation and huge leaps in medicine have been key in prolonging human life. The oldest known person the Frenchwoman Jeanne Calment, who sold canvases to Vincent Van Gogh when she was a girl in the late 1800s lived to the age of 122, dying in 1997. There is some debate about whether humans can naturally live much beyond that age, but it is hoped that science will take human lifespans beyond what is currently thought possible. Dr Andrew Steele, a British computational biologist and author of a new book on longevity, told MailOnline there is no biological reason humans can't reach the age of 200. He believes the big breakthrough will come in the form of drugs that remove 'zombie cells' in the body, which are thought to be one of the main culprits of tissue and organ decay as we age. Pills that flush these cells out of the body are already in human trials in and could be on the market in as little as 10 years, according to Dr Steele, who believes someone reading this could make it to 150 with the help of the drugs. Another field in particular that piques the interest of anti-ageing scientists is the study of DNA of reptiles and other cold-blooded animals. Michigan State University experts have begun studying dozens different types of long-living reptiles and amphibians including crocodiles, salamanders and turtles that can live as long as 120 years. The team hope they will uncover 'traits' that can also be targeted in humans. Some experts think that eradicating the big killers cancer, dementia and heart disease could be the true key to longevity. Dr Andrew Steele (pictured left), a computational biologist and author of Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old, told MailOnline scientists are on the cusp of developing a pill that could lead to people living to the age of 200 and beyond and it could be just a decade away. Dr Peter Fedichev (right), a molecular physicist who is the co-founder of biomedical-artificial intelligence firm Gero, says humans could reach 150 if humans eradicate the main causes of death The Office for National Statistics predicts the life expectancy of men born in 2070 in the UK will reach the age of 85 on average, while women will be nearly 88 when they die The oldest living woman, Jeanne Calment (left, enjoying her daily cigarette and glass of red wine on her 117th birthday in 1992) from France, was 122 when she died in 1997. Jiroemon Kimura (right, smiling after receiving the Guinness World Record in 2012) holds the record for men, dying at 116 in Kyoto, Japan in 2013 WHAT ANIMALS LIVE THE LONGEST AND HOW DO THEY DO IT? The turritopsis nutricula jellyfish is technically immortal and could live for 1000s of years Jellyfish The turritopsis nutricula jellyfish is technically immortal and could live for 1000s of years. This is because it has a unique trait allowing it to revert its cells back to childhood after reaching sexual maturity. The jellyfish, which is no longer than a fingernail, is able to reverse its own ageing process. It means, theoretically, the only thing stopping it living for millennia is predators. Scientists are still studying the exact way it is able to reverse the ageing process, but it is believed stem cells may play a role in the process. Stem cells are cells created by the body that can change into any other type of specific cell. They are the focus of research for several chronic illnesses, like heart disease, because of their potential to turn into healthy blood vessels and repair the organ. The Galapagos tortoise can live up to 120 years old Tortoises The Galapagos tortoise discovered in the island group where Charles Darwin came up with the theory of evolution can live up to 120 years old. Scientists believe one of the reasons behind its long lifespan is the way its cells work. All cells in the body divide up to a maximum number of times before they stop changing and become a senescent or 'zombie' cell. Scientists believe ageing is caused by having more cells become senescent over time. If you put a human cell in a petri dish, it would divide around 50 times, whereas a Galapagos tortoise see its cells can divide more than 100 times. The tortoises also do not suffer any natural predators in their habitat, meaning they regularly enjoy their full lifespans. Saltwater crocodiles tend to live to the age of around 70 in the wild but can live up to 100 in captivity Crocodiles Saltwater crocodiles tend to live to the age of around 70 in the wild but can live up to 100 in captivity. Like the Galapagos tortoise, crocodile's cells are particularly resistant to senescence. This means they are unlikely to ever die simply of old age, with limits on their lifespans usually caused by external factors, such as habitat degradation or hunting. Studies on crocodile gut bacteria also found it to have cancer-fighting properties. And crocodiles are also apex predators, meaning they are not generally killed by other animals other than humans. Advertisement Dr Steele, the author of Ageless: The New Science of Getting Older Without Getting Old, told MailOnline: 'I don't think there is any kind of absolute cap on how long we can live. 'Studies come out every few years that propose some kind of fundamental limit on human lifespan, but they're always missing one crucial piece: we've never tried treating the ageing process before. 'I can't see physical or biological reason why people couldn't live to 200 the challenge is whether we've can develop the biomedical science to make it possible.' Other experts believe humans could live to 150 naturally, if it wasn't for chronic illnesses, including Dr Peter Fedichev, a Russian molecular physicist who runs a biomedical AI firm Gero. His company has been studying the genetic data of 500,000 Britons in pursuit of the firm's goal of 'hacking ageing', as they call it. Researchers at Gero made use of an instrument, called DOSI (dynamic organism state indicator), that takes into account age, illness and lifestyle factors, to work out how resilient the body is, including its ability to recover from injury or disease. Using mathematical models, it calculated the maximum age the body if not altered by drugs or gene therapy can still recover from is between 120 and 150. The findings were revealed in a study published in the journal Nature Communications last year. But Dr Fedichev warned life extension without improving life quality would be pointless because extremely elderly people would be frail, and prone to illness, meaning new drugs will be vital in the quest for eternal youth. He told MailOnline: 'Such life extension would increase their lifespan past the end of their health span and thus reduce their quality of life. 'Only addressing the root causes of ageing may help bring humans closer to negligibly senescent animals, intercept aging and increase our productive lifespan by a hundred years or more. 'That is why we are calling on a refocusing of our attention from diseases to ageing, from incremental to more radical solutions using those slow-aging animals as inspiration.' Dr Steele says new advances in senolytics could extend life span and quality. Senescent cells dubbed 'zombie cells' are cells that eventually stop dividing, then accumulate, releasing compounds in the body that accelerate ageing. Experts believe younger people with healthy immune systems are better able to clear the damaged cells, but as people age, they aren't removed as effectively and they accumulate causing potential problems. Dr Steele said if you put a human cell in a petri dish, it would divide around 50 times before stopping, whereas a Galapagos tortoise which can live for up to 120 years sees its cells divide more than 100 times. Studying these sorts of long-living reptiles can help researchers understand more about the way human cells age. Since the 1960s, scientists have known that, as we age, we accumulate ever-greater numbers of these cells, but it wasn't clear if they were just a product of ageing or whether they caused it. The breakthrough came in 2016 when scientists found removing the cells from mice, typically with a short lifespan and plagued with a range of age-related conditions, by injecting them with a synthetic drug called AP20187 extended their life by up to 35 per cent suggesting senescence was behind ageing itself. Since then, there have been a number of studies confirming the importance of such cells in the ageing process. In 2019, research in the journal Aging Cell showed that old mice pre-treated with Navitoclax, an experimental anti-cancer drug that kills senescent cells, recovered at similar rates to younger mice from an induced heart attack, raising the prospect of a new type of treatment for people with heart conditions. Another study, published in the journal EMBO, demonstrated that clearing out senescent cells from the hearts of mice also reduced symptoms of ageing, such as enlargement and thickening of the walls of the heart muscles. Senolytic drugs are now being safety tested in humans and have attracted investment from several billionaires, including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and PayPal co-founder Peter Thiel. Age expectancy has been steadily rising over the last century in Britain, but dipped slightly to 79 in men and 82 in women in 2020 because of the Covid pandemic which experts expect to be a blip WHO WAS JEANNE CALMENT? Jeanne Calment, pictured with her Guinness World Record Jeanne Louise Calment holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest person ever. Born on February 21, 1875, she is reported to have lived to the age of 122 years and 164 days. She passed away in a nursing home in Arles, in the south of France, on August 4, 1997. Her unparalleled longevity has been the subject of numerous studies, both before and after her death. She stunned doctors by continuing to smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol every day. Jeanne enjoyed good health for the majority of her life, having even taken up fencing as a hobby at the age of 85. Ms Calment also claimed to have met the artist Vincent van Gogh, to whom she sold painting canvasses in her father's shop as a teenager. 'He was ugly as sin, had a vile temper and smelled of booze,' she said. Advertisement Dr Steele said: 'Scientists have given these drugs to mice, and they basically get biologically younger: they live longer, get less cancer and heart disease, are less frail they can run further and faster on the tiny mouse-sized treadmills used in these experiments and, honestly, they just look great, with plumper skin and thicker fur. 'What this shows us is that tackling the hallmarks of ageing can affect the whole ageing process, from disease risk to the cosmetic stuff, and can do so preventatively this is the holy grail of anti-ageing medicine.' Both Bezos and Thiel are investors in Unity Biotechnology, which carried out the first human trial of one such drug, aimed at tackling moderate-to-severe osteoarthritis of the knee, in 2019. In the phase one trial, 78 patients were divided into two groups: one was given a dummy drug, while the other was injected in the knee with a drug codenamed UBX0101, which interferes with two proteins in the body, leading to the elimination of senescent cells. The study was a success, with UBX0101 'well-tolerated' by the treated patients, who, after a single injection, had experienced 'improvement in several clinical outcomes, including pain and function'. However, the company faced a setback in 2020 when results from the bigger phase 2 trial found no statistically significant difference between UBX0101 and the placebo groups. Now, the company is trialling a new drug called UBX1325, which has been designed to combat age-related blindness on 46 adults. Dr Steele said it only took one trial to be a success to make a breakthrough in the field of anti-ageing. He told MailOnline: 'We might get unlucky and none of this works but, if it does, every development gives us longer to make the next one, and the first 150-year-old could be someone who's reading this.' Last week, Michigan State University researchers announced they are studying 77 reptiles and amphibians with the hope of understanding what allows them to be so resilient. But they have yet to pinpoint any potential longevity targets, meaning a true breakthrough could still be years off. Dr Alex Zhavoronkov, a biotechnology expert and physicist, said studying animals particularly those as distantly related to humans as reptiles has rarely resulted in breakthroughs. He believes scientists are better placed focusing their efforts on studying ageing in real people, and, in particular, technology. Implant chips that use electrodes in the brain to ward off illnesses like Parkinson's are currently being trialled on people. Southmead Hospital in Bristol is believed to be the first in the world to implant the tiny deep brain stimulation (DBS) device when it launched its trial in April. The device works by delivering electrical impulses to damaged areas of the brain. Dr Zhavoronkov said: 'Many years from now humans will be able to control the biology of aging and many other converging technologies will not only return the lost functions but likely augment our capabilities as you have seen with the glasses, cars, cell phones, the internet, and robotics. 'Advanced technologies starting from dual-purpose pharmaceuticals drugs that target fundamental aging pathways and age-associated diseases and are trackable with aging biomarkers, which my team is focusing on to cell and gene therapy and advances in regenerative medicine, implantables, and augmentation of human function with AI and robotics will allow us to dramatically increase life. 'And right now we are still a few years away from the first generation of intelligently-discovered and designed longevity drugs.' But he warned the discoveries may be further than a decade away, realistically. He said: 'After a decade in the biopharmaceutical industry and after seeing many drugs fail, I can say that in the short term we need to be very careful with claims of medication being available five to 15 years from now. 'But in the long term 25 to 40 years from now the future is much brighter than we think.' A mother was left with gruesome infected scars after a botched 'mummy makeover' in Turkey. Tracy Marriott, 45, flew to Istanbul to have a cut-price tummy tuck and boob job which she hoped would improve her self-confidence. The stay-at-home mother-of-three, from Eastbourne, East Sussex, paid about a third of the price the surgeries would have cost in Britain. Her dress size went down two sizes, from 18 to 14, and her 36DD breasts were increased to a 36FF following the procedures but they were far from a success. She woke up 'in a lot of pain' and was 'having trouble breathing', leaving her bed-bound in a foreign hospital for five days. 'I felt like I was dying and I wouldn't make it back home,' she said. 'My mum video called me whilst I was in the hospital and she said she could barely recognise me, I looked so unwell.' By the time she mustered up the strength to get on a flight home, the scars on her nipples had become filled with pus and turned green. There has been a surge in Britons travelling abroad for cosmetic surgery, particularly during the pandemic. Tracy Marriott, 45, flew to Istanbul to have a cut-price tummy tuck and boob job which she hoped would improve her self-confidence Her dress size went down two sizes, from 18 to 14, but she was left with bad scarring which became infected Her 36DD breasts were increased to a 36FF, but the scars on her nipples became filled with pus and turned green. Mrs Marriot was told by Turkish doctors that her scarring was normal and just a sign 'my body was healing'. But British doctors revealed that her wounds were not stitched properly, which may have led to her breasts and tummy becoming infected. Mrs Marriot said: 'I immediately went to the NHS who couldn't believe the stitching, the type of stitches and how it had been done.' She was admitted to hospital and put on an IV drip in case the infection had spread to her bloodstream, where it can turn deadly. The body is vulnerable to infections after surgery, particularly if equipment is not sterilised properly. Bacteria from the skin, the operating room, surgeon's hands or other surfaces can be transferred into open wounds. Days after returning home, Mrs Marriot revealed that holes started appearing on her breasts that would cause 'stuff to ooze out'. She has since had her procedure revised in Belgium and says she now feels much better. 'I guess the saying is true you get what you pay for,' she added. She's pictured in hospital in Turkey where she remained bed-bound for five days after a suspected infected British doctors revealed that her wounds were not stitched properly, which may have led to her breasts becoming infected (shown, her undercarriage) Days after returning home, Mrs Marriot revealed that holes starting appearing on her breasts that would cause 'stuff to ooze out' Mrs Marriot is now warning others who are considering cheap cosmetic procedures abroad. 'The procedure was something that I've always wanted I had a bit of a saggy belly after having three kids and wanted a tummy tuck as well as a boob job,' she said. 'I thought I'd done a lot of research, a couple of friends had recommended the same surgeon in Turkey. It was the price that swayed my decision more anything. 'It was 5,000 for the combined surgery and the plan was to fly out there and stay in the hospital for five days but I ended up having to book an additional flight because I was so unwell and my husband, Dan, flew out too to help me come home. 'After the surgery, I was pretty much out of it and I thought I was going to die.' There has been a rise in the number of Britons flying abroad for cosmetic surgeries in recent years. Katie Price and Geordie Shore star Chloe Ferry are among the celebrities who have admitted to using cheap clinics in Turkey. But while the practice is becoming increasingly popular, so too is the number of botched surgeries. Government advisers estimate approximately 63,000 Brits travel abroad for medical treatment every year. Turkey has established itself as the cheap cosmetic surgery capital of the world, bragging about boob jobs being half the price as ones performed in the UK. But they were also one per cent more likely to suffer mental health problems Those born through medically assisted reproduction, such as IVF, were smarter Researchers looked at 280,000 children born in Finland between 1995 and 2000 Babies born through IVF are smarter but more prone to mental health problems than naturally conceived children, research suggests. Experts at the University of Helsinki followed 280,000 youngsters born in Finland between 1995 and 2000 until their 18th birthday. Babies born using assisted conception techniques performed better in class and were less likely to drop out of secondary school. However, they were at a slightly higher risk of being diagnosed with a mental health problem particularly anxiety or depression. Researchers said better schooling performance among IVF babies may be down to richer families being more likely to afford the procedure. The increased risk of a mental health problems remained even when children born through IVF were compared to naturally conceived siblings. Parents who've gone through IVF might be more attentive to their child's health and take them to the doctor's more often, the researchers theorised. A team from the University of Helsinki looked at nearly 280,000 youngsters born in Finland between 1995 and 2000. Around one in 20 were born through IVF, artificial insemination and ovulation induction known as medically assisted reproduction (MAR). While the group scored higher in school tests and were less likely to drop out of high school, they were also one per cent more likely to suffer mental health problems. Pictured: stock of close up in vitro fertilisation (IVF) HOW COMMON IS INFERTILITY? Infertility is when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. Around 1 in 7 couples may have difficulty conceiving. About 84 per cent of couples will conceive naturally within a year if they have regular unprotected sex defined as every two to three days. For couples who have been trying to conceive for more than three years without success, the likelihood of getting pregnant naturally within the next year is one in four, or less. Britons are advised to speak to their GP if they were unable to get pregnant after one year of trying. Infertility is usually caused by a lack of regular ovulation, poor quality semen, blocked or damaged fallopian tubes and endometriosis. Fertility can also be impacted by age, weight, sexually transmitted infections, smoking, alcohol, exposure to pesticides and stress. Fertility treatments include medicines to encourage regular ovulation, surgical procedures to repair fallopian tubes or scarring and assisted contraception, such as IVF. Source: NHS Advertisement More than eight in 10 couples conceive naturally within a year of trying. Couples who have unsuccessfully been trying to conceive can access treatments on the NHS such as intrauterine insemination (IUI) when sperm is inserted into a woman's womb and IVF, when a fertilised egg is inserted into the womb. Around 390,000 babies in the UK have been born via IVF since 1991, while there have been more than a million in the US. The annual rate has tripled in the last three decades. In the latest study, researchers examined health records of 266,925 naturally conceived Finnish children born between 1995 and 2000, as well as 13,757 who were born through IVF, IUI or ovulation induction. The latter is when women are given fertility drugs to stimulate the follicles in their ovaries, causing them to produce multiple eggs in one cycle. The study looked at their school and medical records by the age of 16 or 18. The results, published in the European Journal of Population, show that compared to naturally born children, those conceived via assisted conception had a higher grade point average (8 vs 7.7), were less likely to drop out of school (2.4 per cent vs 3.6 per cent) and less likely to have left home by 18 (11 per cent vs 17 per cent). However, the researchers noted that these differences between the two groups 'mostly disappeared' after family circumstances like their parents wealth, relationship status and education were taken into account. Babies born though IVF are more likely to come from richer families who may provide their children with more money, time and emotional investment the benefits their education, they said. Private IVF treatment costs around 5,000 per cycle in the UK and $15,000 (12,000) in the US. Separate analysis showed that those conceived through assisted conception were 1 per cent more likely to suffer anxiety and depression. Nine per cent of naturally conceived youngsters had a mental health diagnosis by their late teens, compared to 10 per cent among assisted conception. The researchers said that while the finding is small as a percentage, it is significant. Dr Hanna Remes, a researcher at the University of Helsinki and lead study author, said the team cannot yet explain this finding. But she suggested that couples may suffer from depression and anxiety in response to their struggles conceiving, which puts their child 'at higher risk of having mental health problems'. Alternatively, parents who used assisted conception 'may be more apprehensive about their child's welfare' and take them to visit the doctor or hospital more often increasing their chance of being diagnosed with mental health problems, as well as other conditions. The team noted that the oldest IVF child in the world is only 43-years-old, so research on this topic is 'relatively new and unexplored'. But due to the rise in assisted contraception, it is 'vital' to understand the long-term consequences on children and young people, they said. Hundreds of thousands of vulnerable Britons could be asked to stop taking immune-suppressing drugs when they get a Covid booster vaccine this autumn. Researchers have found pausing methotrexate treatment for a fortnight doubles the antibody response patients get from a top-up jab. And the benefits lasted for three months. Roughly 1.3million people, mostly arthritis and eczema patients, are prescribed the drug in Britain. Many patients reliant on methotrexate were asked to shield during the first wave of the pandemic because the drug left them more prone to falling severely ill. Nottingham University scientists described their results, from a study of 250 adults, as 'remarkable'. Nottingham University-led study found people who paused methotrexate treatment for two weeks after their third booster had twice antibody response 12 weeks after as those who didn't If adopted, it may theoretically mean vulnerable patients have better, longer-lasting protection against Covid. Results have already been sent to the Government's vaccine advisory panel, which could recommend ministers adopt the tactic this Autumn. UK guidelines told doctors to continue treatments as normal during the first rounds of vaccines. Guides in the US said to pause for a maximum of one week. The academics warned immuno-suppressed patients not to take any actions without first consulting their doctor. Half of the participants saw flare-ups of their condition after pausing methotrexate, although most of these were mild. The study, published in Lancet Respiratory Medicine, recruited 254 volunteers across England and Wales from September 30, 2021, to March 3 this year. They had all received at least two doses of the Covid vaccine already and had been on methotrexate for at least three months. Only people with conditions safe enough to pause treatment were included, such as those with arthritis, eczema and psoriasis a condition that causes flaky patches of skin that form scales. Researchers split all the participants into two groups of 127. Half had their treatment paused for two weeks, while the others continued as normal. No10 confirms it's watching emergence of two Omicron sub-variants Downing Street today confirmed it is keeping tabs on the two Omicron variant spin-offs responsible for a recent spike in Covid infections. Boris Johnson's official spokesman claimed the situation was being monitored 'very closely' amid early signs that hospitalisations are also starting to rise. He insisted the Government was not considering imposing further curbs at this point and would stick to its 'living with Covid' plan. Covid cases have nearly doubled in a fortnight in England and more than 1,000 virus-infected patients are being admitted each day. The outbreak has been fuelled by the spread of BA.4 and BA.5, which are thought to be more infectious but just as mild as the original Omicron strain. 'We are obviously seeing the emergence of two Omicron sub-variants, which is likely the driving cause for the rise in cases,' the No10 spokesman said. 'The latest data suggests these are now the dominant strains in the UK. But, so far, vaccination means those rising cases haven't translated into a rise of severe illness or death with no increase in ICU admissions.' They added: 'The key thing for us is vaccination has meant the rise in cases is not translating into ICU admissions and deaths. But we've always been clear Covid hasn't gone away, which is why we have always continue to urge people to come forward and receive vaccinations when they were due them. 'As you would expect, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) continue to monitor the situation very closely.' Advertisement The change was made immediately after getting their booster vaccine and doctors took blood samples to measure their Covid antibody levels. They took samples after four weeks and 12 weeks, to track how levels changed over time. Volunteers whose treatment was paused had 2.19 times as many of the virus-fighting proteins after four weeks, compared to those who continued as normal. And the effect was sustained after 12 weeks, with levels still 2.11 times higher. Experts said the medication only needed to be paused for two weeks because the immune response occurs within the first 10 days after a jab. After the vaccine is injected, the body recognises the spike protein of the virus and starts producing antibodies. These bind to the virus when it enters the body for real in future, preventing it from invading cells and making people ill. Once the antibodies are made, patients can safely return to their medication without seeing their levels drop too significantly, the research suggested. Co-author Professor Rosemary Boyton, an immunologist at Imperial College London, said the significant differences could mean immuno-compromised people are safe from Covid for much longer if they pause their treatments briefly. Speaking at a journalist briefing, she said: 'The thing that is most remarkable is the sustained response. 'I was really please when I saw a sustained response at 12 weeks. 'If youve got a slower waning thats a very encouraging outcome for these patients.' Professor Boyton added: 'These people need as much boosting as they can get. I think its a really important phenomenon. 'This study is all about showing how we can enhance the boosting so theyre in that safe level where they are protected if they meet the virus.' Researchers said people at risk from serious flare-ups should remain on medication, even when getting boosted, because the comparative benefits of pausing are not worth it. Lead author Professor Abhishek Abhishek, a rheumatologist at the University of Nottingham, said: 'The beauty of this study is that its an easy-to-implement change that people can do at home. 'But the key thing is anybody shouldnt be doing it [on their own]. They can consult with their specialist and GP to find out what is best for them 'If they have a disease where the flare up is severe after stopping treatment, then it would be better for them not to interrupt treatment 'If people dont interrupt treatment, they will still benefit from the Covid vaccine with a strong immune response.' Sajid Javid today promised to stop hundreds of patients with autism and learning disabilities being unfairly 'incarcerated' in mental health institutions. The Health Secretary announced the Government's 'once in a lifetime' reforms in the draft Mental Health Bill. He said the 'momentous' plans will make it harder for people with autism or learning difficulties to be institutionalised under law. New proposals mean people can no longer be detained under the Mental Health Act purely because they have the conditions. Instead, they can now only be sectioned if they 'pose a significant risk to themselves or others' because of separate mental health illnesses, Mr Javid said. But Jeremy Hunt, who used to hold Mr Javid's role, said the plan does not do enough to help up to 2,000 people with autism and learning difficulties currently trapped in secure facilities. The new legislation which updates a 1983 bill will also make it harder for anyone to be unfairly detained. It will see mental health patients given 'more control over their care and treatment'. Today's announcement comes after Mr Javid opened up about his eldest brother's suicide four years ago, saying he still struggles with survivor's guilt. Sajid Javid announced the Government's 'once in a lifetime' reforms to mental health care this afternoon in the draft Mental Health Bill WHAT IS BEING SECTIONED AND WHY DOES IT HAPPEN? Being sectioned means being admitted to hospital whether or not you agree to it. The legal authority for your admission to hospital comes from the Mental Health Act rather than from your consent. This is usually because you are unable or unwilling to consent. The term 'sectioned' just means using a 'section' or paragraph from the Mental Health Act as the authority for your detention. A better word is 'detained'. You are detained under the Mental Health Act. The paragraph or 'section' number is often used so a patient may be told they are on a section 2 or section 3. You may be detained if you have, or are thought to have, a mental illness which needs assessment or treatment which is sufficiently serious that it is necessary for: your health or safety, or for the protection of other people and you need to be in hospital to have the assessment or treatment and you are unable or unwilling to agree to admission. The decision is usually made by two doctors and an Approved Mental Health Professional (AMHP). One of the doctors must be specially certified as having particular experience in the assessment or treatment of mental illness. Source: Royal College of Psychiatrists Advertisement Mr Javid's 51-year-old brother Tariq killed himself in Horsham, Sussex, in July 2018 shortly after checking-in to a five-star country house hotel. He described his family's struggle to come to terms with their loss while visiting the London headquarters of suicide charity Papyrus on Friday. Announcing the new bill in the House of Commons today, Mr Javid said: 'One of my priorities in this role is personalised care and the blanket approach that currently exists cannot be allowed to continue. 'It means too many autistic people and people with a learning disability are admitted into institutional settings when they will be better served in the community. This Bill will change that. 'It limits the scope to detain people with learning disabilities and autistic people for treatment unless they have a mental illness that justifies a longer stay or if they are admitted through the criminal justice system.' He added that the Government cannot make 'critical reforms', such as a new 10-year mental health plan and a 10-year suicide prevention plan, 'without making sure that the law that underpins our country's mental health system is up-to-date, too'. Mr Javid said: 'Since the 1983 Act, our understanding and our attitude towards mental health has transformed beyond recognition. And it's right that we act now to bring this up to date. 'The Mental Health Act was created so that people who have severe mental illnesses and present a risk to themselves or others can be safely detained and treated for their own protection, and for the protection of those around them. 'But there are a number of alarming issues with the way that the act is currently used: too many people are being detained. 'They are being detained for too long. And there are also inequalities amongst those that are detained.' He added: 'The Bill rebalances the criteria for detention, so it only takes place as a last resort when all other options have been explored and considered. 'Under the new criteria, people will only be detained when they pose a significant risk of harm to themselves and others, and patients should only be detained if they will benefit from the treatment that is made possible by their detention.' Mr Javid also claimed the Bill will give patients 'more control over their care and treatment', by making sure that 'clinicians in most cases can only administer compulsory treatment if there is a strong reason to do so'. Speaking afterwards, Mr Hunt, who chairs the health and social care committee, said he supported Mr Javid's statement 'wholeheartedly'. But he said the reforms proposed by the current Health Secretary on people with autism do not 'go far enough'. He said: 'We still have 2,000 with autism and learning disabilities who are in secure institutions, effectively incarcerated, even though they would be better-off in the community. 'It is a human rights scandal.' Mr Hunt called for No10 to change the rules so doctors have to reapply to section someone every week, 'so there is pressure put on the system to find a better solution'. Tory MP Huw Merriman, who chairs the all-party parliamentary group on autism, added 61 per cent of all people in mental health institutions have autism. Some 1,200 are locked up with the condition, he said. Mr Javid said: 'We are determined, of course, to reduce the number of people with learning disabilities and autism that are in mental health hospitals. 'As part of those plans we will shortly be publishing the cross-Government Building the Right Support Plan to drive this progress. So, we will have more to say about that shortly.' Mr Javid said he would be happy to meet with Mr Hunt to discuss his sectioning suggestion. The City watchdog has launched an investigation into the founder and chief executive of money transfer giant Wise. The Financial Conduct Authority is looking into the affairs of Kristo Kaarmann after he was last year labelled deliberate tax defaulter by the taxman. The 41-year-old billionaire failed to pay a 720,495 tax bill for 2017-18 and was fined 365,651. Probe: Wise chief exec Kristo Kaarmann (pictured) was last year labelled 'deliberate tax defaulter' by the taxman Wise conducted its own investigation after Kaarmann was included on the tax defaulters list in September 2021. The company passed its findings to the FCA, which has in turn launched an investigation. The tech company said yesterday the FCA probe will examine the regulatory obligations and standards to which Kaarmann is subject. Wise said Kaarmann will cooperate fully with the investigation. Shares fell 2.2 per cent, or 8.4p, to 373.1p yesterday. Wise chairman David Wells said: The board takes Kaarmanns tax default and the FCAs investigation very seriously. Wells said the firms directors will also cooperate with the investigation and will continue to support Kaarmann in his role as chief executive. The FCA has powers over the financial services sector and holds senior managers to a set of rules. They include acting with integrity, due skill, care and diligence and observing proper standards of market conduct. In order to have so-called approved person status, the FCA must see Kaarmann as fit and proper to do his job. The investigation could see the Estonian entrepreneur banned from acting as a company director or hit with a fine. Questions were raised over whether the billionaire was fit and proper last year when he was fined by HMRC for intentionally defaulting on his taxes. Slump: Wise listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange last year with a value of 9bn. It has since been hit by the global selloff of tech stocks and is now worth 3.8bn At the time a spokesman said Kaarmann had since completed his returns, paid penalties and devoted more time to keeping his personal admin in order. Kaarmann and wealthy Estonian businessmen Taavet Hinrikus founded Wise, which was then called TransferWise, in 2011 to transfer money around the world more cheaply and easily. He is still its biggest shareholder with an 18.24 per cent stake. The company listed its shares on the London Stock Exchange last year with a value of 9billion. It has since been hit by the global sell-off of tech stocks and is now worth 3.8bn. Past bans dished out by the FCA include one to fund manager Jonathan Burrows, who avoided 43,000 worth of train fares over five years. He was given a lifetime ban from working in the City in 2014 after the FCA found his conduct fell short of the standards it expected, and admitted what he did was foolish. In 2018 the FCA fined former Barclays chief executive Jes Staley 642,430 after he tried to uncover a whistleblower who had reported concerns within the bank. Staley, 65, quit last year after being shown the results of another FCA probe into his alleged links to the late paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. The findings are yet to be made public. Wise is due to publish full-year results today with analysts expecting a jump in profits from 41million in 2020 to 78million in 2021. President Joe Biden spoke with Hunter about his business dealings with a Chinese criminal his son dubbed the 'spy chief of China,' a voicemail to his son reveals. The president has repeatedly denied personally and through his press secretary that he ever talked about Hunter's foreign business with his Hunter despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Now, in a voicemail left on Hunter's iPhone, the evidence has come from POTUS' own mouth. Joe called Hunter on December 12, 2018 saying that he wanted to talk to him after reading a New York Times story about Hunter's dealings with the Chinese oil giant CEFC. Files on Hunter's abandoned laptop previously disclosed by DailyMail.com show that he struck a deal with the Chinese company worth millions of dollars after touting his family connections. The Times' 2018 story pointed out CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming had been arrested in China and his top lieutenant Patrick Ho had been convicted in the US for bribing African officials to help Iran evade oil sanctions. It revealed that Ye had met with Hunter at a Miami hotel in 2017 to discuss 'a partnership to invest in American infrastructure and energy deals.' Joe Biden called Hunter in December 2018 saying he wanted to talk to him about a New York Times story on Hunter's dealings with the Chinese oil giant CEFC The Times' 2018 story pointed out CEFC's chairman Ye Jianming had been arrested in China and his lieutenant Patrick Ho(right) had been convicted in the US of bribery. Hunter accidentally recorded himself referring to Ho as the 'spy chief of China' The Times reported that when Ho was arrested, he called Joe's brother Jim Biden who told the newspaper that he believed the call was meant for Hunter. The Gray Lady said it was 'unclear whether Hunter Biden struck any business deals with CEFC', not knowing at the time the depths of his connections with his Chinese business partners. After seeing the story online, Joe called Hunter and left a voicemail. 'Hey pal, it's Dad. It's 8:15 on Wednesday night. If you get a chance just give me a call. Nothing urgent. I just wanted to talk to you,' he said. 'I thought the article released online, it's going to be printed tomorrow in the Times, was good. I think you're clear. And anyway if you get a chance give me a call, I love you.' The message flies in the face of the president's repeated denials that he ever discussed Hunter's overseas business dealings with his son. The newly uncovered voicemail came from a backup of Hunter's iPhone XS, stored on his abandoned laptop. After the Times' story was published, Hunter's friends texted him teasing about Jim's indiscreet comment to the newspaper that linked Hunter to Patrick Ho. Devon Archer, Hunter's longtime best friend and business partner who is now serving a year in jail for defrauding a Native American tribe, wrote to him the next day: 'Nice quote from uncle jimmy. I hope you thanked him for that.' 'Took it totally out of the context atctually (sic) the text itself that it was said in,' Hunter replied. 'Either way yeah I'm delighted.' It turned out Jim was telling the truth. After Ho was arrested, he contacted Hunter and paid the president's son a $1million retainer to represent him as his attorney. The Times reported that when Ho was arrested, he called Joe's brother Jim Biden (right) who told the newspaper that he believed the call was meant for Hunter After the Times' story was published, Hunter's friend Devon Archer texted him teasing about Jim's indiscreet comment to the newspaper that linked Hunter to Patrick Ho. 'Took it totally out of the context atctually (sic) the text itself that it was said in,' Hunter replied. 'Either way yeah I'm delighted' A copy of a FISA warrant obtained by DailyMail.com reveals that federal agents were monitoring Ho as a potential spy for China. And while holed up in a hotel room on a bender with a prostitute filming amateur sex tapes, Hunter accidentally recorded himself referring to Ho as the 'spy chief of China'. 'I have another New York Times reporter calling about my representation of the, literally, Dr. Patrick Ho the f***ing spy chief of China who started the company that my partner [Jianming], who is worth $323 billion, founded and is now missing,' Hunter told his female friend in the May 11, 2018 recording. 'The richest man in the world is missing, who was my partner.' Hunter's claim that Ho was the 'spy chief of China' - or a senior Chinese intelligence officer - has not been proven. Joe Biden entertained Mexican billionaires Carlos Slim and Miguel Aleman Velasco - his son Hunter's business associates - in the vice president's office in 2014 Amid all the shocking messages involving Joe Biden, possibly the most important email of the 154,000 on Hunter's abandoned laptop is the infamous 'big guy' email, suggesting that the president may have been involved in, and set to profit from, an alleged Chinese influence operation Joe's voicemail to Hunter about the Times article is the latest in an overwhelming body of evidence suggesting that he lied about not talking foreign business with his son. In another example, the then-vice president attended a Washington, DC dinner with Hunter's Ukrainian, Kazakh and Russian business associates in 2015. Hunter told one of his guests in an email that the dinner was 'ostensibly to discuss food security', but was in fact an opportunity to introduce his potential clients and partners to his powerful father. The White House at first denied Joe's attendance, then when photographs emerged of Joe there, it claimed it was only a brief stop by. Joe also met another of Hunter's Chinese business partners, Jonathan Li, when he took his son on a 2013 Air Force 2 trip to China, and entertained Hunter's Mexican billionaire business partners Carlos Slim and Miguel Aleman Velasco at the White House and the VP's official residence. Emails on Hunter's abandoned laptop published by DailyMail.com show that Hunter and Joe shared a bank account and paid each other's bills, while Hunter's business partner Eric Schwerin did Joe's taxes. The White House declined to comment to DailyMail.com. Sailors on board a fleet of Navy warships sailing off the Southern California coast in July 2019 witnessed several of the ships being swarmed by a host of unidentified flying objects. The incident went on for hours, and then happened again and again throughout the month, with craft hovering and zipping around near the fleet with flashing multicolored lights. Navy chiefs have tried to explain away the incident, with the Deputy Director for Naval Intelligence saying he was 'reasonably confident' the objects were drones. But documentary filmmaker Jeremy Corbell, in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com, says that crew from the ships have told him the swarms of 'at least 100' UFOs possessed unexplainable capabilities far beyond traditional drones. And he warned that unless the government can determine who was behind the swarm, the intelligence failure would 'dwarf our mistakes made surrounding the events of 9/11.' 'I don't care if these were ''drones'' or true UFOs, pyramids, triangles or even seagulls with lights strapped onto their wings. I want the fundamental question to be answered. Do we know the controllers of these units?' he said. Naval crew have told documentary maker Jeremy Corbell that US warships were swarmed in 2019 by 'at least 100' UFOs with unexplainable capabilities Last year Corbell published videos from the warship incidents that set social media ablaze Still images from a video show a spherical object diving into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Jeremy Corbell says the video shows 'FLIR [forward looking infrared] data' that is complimented by the radar footage In an historic hearing on UFOs held last month, Deputy Director for Naval Intelligence Scott Bray dismissed the footage, saying he was 'reasonably confident' the objects were drones Contrary to the official Navy version of events, the shocking claims raise the prospect that the craft filmed and caught on radar about 100 miles off the San Diego coast were either incredibly advanced foreign technology, or something otherworldly. 'We don't know yet what exactly these craft were. But whatever they are, their abilities and presence alone represents a serious national security issue and shouldn't be dismissed out of hand,' Corbell told DailyMail.com. Last year the film-maker published videos from the warship incidents that set social media ablaze. The videos, verified by the Pentagon, pictured flashing objects hovering above US Navy ships in the Pacific Ocean west of San Diego, radar screens picking up nine of the craft, and infrared footage of one orb-shaped object diving into the ocean. But in an historic hearing on UFOs held last month, Deputy Director for Naval Intelligence Scott Bray dismissed the footage, saying he was 'reasonably confident' the objects were drones. Last week the Navy also released briefing slides suggesting the craft were 'Quadcopter style UAS [unmanned aerial systems]' and likely came from a nearby Hong Kong-registered freight ship. Corbell is now hitting back, claiming that he has 'dozens' of accounts from crew, investigators and briefed officials who say that the freight ship was ruled out, the nature and origin of the craft are still unknown, and that they flew in ways that would put publicly known drone technology to shame. The US Navy photographed & filmed spherical shaped UFOs & advanced transmedium vehicles; here is some of that footage. Filmed in the Combat Information Center of the USS Omaha / July 15th 2019 / warning area off San Diego @ 11pm PST. No wreckage found. No craft were recovered. pic.twitter.com/tK1YTG8sJ7 Jeremy Kenyon Lockyer Corbell (@JeremyCorbell) May 14, 2021 According to Corbell's sources and the Navy's own documents released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), these craft's capabilities included hovering at altitudes of up to 21,000ft, flying for more than four hours, traveling long distances in one flight, and being apparently impervious to anti-drone Navy technology. The Navy documents show the freight ship, Bass Strait, was docked in Long Beach, California, about 100 miles away when some of the incidents occurred making Corbell's contacts skeptical it could have been the source of the swarm. Corbell paraphrased one witness on the destroyer the USS Russell who he claims told him they saw one of the craft 'accelerate instantaneously into the upper atmosphere', and that other sources with knowledge of the case said the objects were detected moving from the air into the sea. I don't care if these were ''drones'' or true UFOs, pyramids, triangles or even seagulls with lights strapped onto their wings. I want the fundamental question to be answered. Do we know the controllers of these units? One of the biggest mysteries about the 'drones' is how they were able to hold enough power to fly for so long, high, fast and far. A crewman with direct knowledge of the case, who spoke to DailyMail.com on condition of anonymity, called the incident 'world-changing.' 'We don't yet have enough information to say whether this is man-made technology or not,' the Naval officer said. 'But the amazing energy capacity of these craft is world-changing regardless.' Navy briefing documents released under FOIA and published this month by defense news site The Drive detail eight incidents where 'unmanned aerial systems' (UAS) swarmed five warships in the Pacific Ocean off the Southern California coast. The incidents occurred on four days between July 15 and July 30. Objects referred to as UAS or 'unmanned aerial vehicles' (UAV), two technical terms for drones, were caught on camera, radar, and seen by sailors flying over and beside the ships. Some of the incidents lasted as long as four and a half hours, and craft were observed as high as 21,000ft in the air over the ocean. The USS Paul Hamilton took this photo on July 15, 2019, of the Hong Kong-flagged cargo ship, MV Bass Strait, which they believe was controlling drones flying over their vessel Last week the Navy released briefing slides suggesting the craft were 'Quadcopter style UAS [unmanned aerial systems]' and likely came from a nearby Hong Kong freight ship. The briefing slide states that the Navy assessed that the commercial cargo ship was likely conducting surveillance on Navy vessels using drones, or unidentified aerial vehicles (UAV) The USS Paul Hamilton logs, obtained by The Drive, show that, on July 14, 2019, the night watch reported seeing possible drones. The SNOOPIE (Ship's Nautical or Otherwise Photographic Interpretation and Examination) team began investigating at 5:11am on July 15 A sighting by the USS Russell on July 30, 2019 detected five 'unknown UAS' according to a Navy description of the incident obtained by The Drive under FOIA 'Drone' encounters off the coast of southern California March 30, 2019 - USS Harpers Ferry reports as many as eight unknown drones flying directly over the ship at an altitude of about 500 feet, 'conducting collection operations'. April 24, 2019 - USS Zumwalt identifies six drones flying overhead in a 'consistent pattern' that did not alter 'course, speed, or altitude.' July 15, 2019 - USS Paul Hamilton is followed by drones for four hours from MV Bass Strait. - USS Bunker Hill followed by 11 drones from MV Bass Strait. - USS Ralph Johnson reports a suspected 14 drones surrounding it. - USS Omaha catches at least nine objects on radar, and films a spherical object diving into the ocean on an infrared camera. July 17, 2019 - USS Russell reports three suspected drones flying over it for an hour, from an unknown location. July 21, 2019 - USS Paul Hamilton again reports drones ahead, this time believed to be 'local fisherman operating personal quadcopters.' July 25, 2019 - USS Gabrielle Giffords finds four drones overhead, and request help from the nearby USS Pinckney. Three small boats were nearby. July 30, 2019 - USS Russell sees two groups of lights, containing five drones, over a period of about three hours. Communication was never established with the nearby pleasure craft. - USS Paul Hamilton reports multiple drones overhead, some only 200 yards away. Advertisement The Drive highlighted the description of the craft as 'quadcopter style UAS' in reports released by the Navy. But a senior staffer at a US defense contractor who is an expert in military technology told DailyMail.com they believed the craft that hovered above the Russell were 'much more advanced' than a traditional drone. The contractor, who asked not to be named due to their job's sensitivity, said modified quadcopters can fly as high as 30,000ft but only for short periods. 'The best quadcopter battery lasts an hour or so,' the source said. 'Climbing four miles takes time, and once the vehicle reached that altitude it would struggle to maintain a fixed or slow-moving position over the ship as the wind speed increased.' Footage of a radar screen detecting a swarm over the USS Omaha in July 2019 shows nine drones moving up to 138 knots (more than 158 miles an hour) with winds of 31 knots. 'Maintaining position under such conditions would increase the energy burn and greatly limit the time on target to just a few minutes, especially considering the quadcopter has to return to its point of origin. In addition, the reports mentioned the vehicle was illuminated, further increasing its power drain,' the defense contractor added. The military tech expert said top quadcopters have a maximum range of about seven miles, meaning their launch site would have to be near the warships. 'The vessel would have been easily detected as well as the launch of the quadcopter,' they said. 'Considering these limitations, I don't think the illuminated vehicle that hovered four miles above the ship for a prolonged period could have been a traditional quadcopter. They just don't have the range or the staying power. It had to be a much more advanced aircraft.' One briefing slide released by the Navy showed , the Bass Strait, sailed past the USS Paul Hamilton around the time of one of the drone swarm incidents. The slide said the ship was 'likely using UAVs to conduct surveillance on US Naval Forces.' However, other slides show the unexplained craft were hovering around the warships before the Bass Strait came close, and after it had docked in Long Beach. Corbell told DailyMail.com he has 'communicated with dozens of sailors, including one on board the USS Russell, who reports to have seen one of the objects accelerate instantaneously into the upper atmosphere and out of visual range.' 'Reports I've obtained, interviews I've conducted and testimony I've documented on camera affirm that these were not positively identified as conventional drones,' the film-maker said. 'Some evidence suggests these units displayed unique flight properties and there were estimated to have been at least 100 of them conducting a coordinated series of maneuvers directed at our warships.' Video showing an unidentified flying object splashing down into the Pacific Ocean off the coast of San Diego two years ago was corroborated by military radar which shows the USS Omaha being swarmed by aerial phenomena in July 2019. The image above shows nine unexplained objects - some of which were traveling at speeds in excess of 160mph The video of the radar corroborates video filmed by sailors aboard the USS Omaha showing a strange spherical object splash down into the Pacific Ocean Several of the UFOs disappeared from radar. At one point, there were as many as 14 UFOs observed on the radar The USS Omaha is one of at least 10 US warships that were swarmed by unidentified flying objects during the same period in July 2019 says investigative filmmaker Jeremy Corbell The number quoted by Corbell is far higher than suggested in the Navy briefing slides, which says on July 15, 2019 the guided missile cruiser USS Bunker Hill encountered up to 11 'UAS', and the destroyer USS Ralph Johnson tracked four on radar and reported sightings of 10 more. Corbell says multiple warships were experiencing swarms of unidentified craft at the same time, accounting for the higher numbers. A sighting by the Russell on July 30, 2019 detected five 'unknown UAS' according to a Navy description of the incident obtained by The Drive under FOIA. Some officers involved in the incident say that even though the slides referred to the craft as drones, the reality was less clear. An active service member directly involved with categorizing and reporting the 2019 events told DailyMail.com crewmen logged the craft as drones because they were responding quickly and didn't have any other options that fit, but that the term 'in hindsight was inaccurate'. 'The drone categorization is due to a lack of data to categorize any other way,' the source said. 'Drone was one choice on a short list of options A determination of drone in hindsight was inaccurate in that the observed craft was not positively identified as such. 'The role of the front-line warfighter is to make a rapid assessment of threat/no threat based upon available data. The use of 'drone' conveys to the intelligence community an initial assessment within the word. 'The further investigation is the responsibility of the intelligence and law enforcement apparatuses thereby adding to the historical assessments repository.' Corbell claims he was shown a Navy intelligence briefing which included analysis of the craft spotted over the USS Russell on July 30, 2019 which he says described the objects as 'pyramid in shape'. A video he published, shot from the Russell, depicts a flashing triangular-looking object seen from below. But skeptics say a triangular lens on a night vision scope would make any light in the sky look triangular under the right conditions. More videos of craft swarming the USS Russell on July 30, 2019 released by the Navy to The Drive this week could lend further weight to the lens distortion theory. In one video, a naval officer describes 'one possible UAS operating at a range of 4,000 yards, flashing red, green and white.' But when the night vision camera zooms in on the hovering, triangular-looking object, a light nearby that appears to be part of the ship also appears to turn triangular, suggesting a lens distortion. Corbell claims he was shown a Navy intelligence briefing which included analysis of a craft spotted over the USS Russell on July 30, 2019 which he says described the objects as 'pyramid in shape' The video was taken in July 2019 by naval officers using a night vision device One video from July 15, 2019 that Corbell released shows an object filmed from a sixth warship, USS Omaha, using an infrared camera. The video shows the object hovering above the ocean then dropping into the water. The Navy has stated the video is genuine. Navy briefing slides published by Corbell say they were unsuccessful in a search for the object underwater. The documentary-maker said he believes this is one piece of evidence that the craft could move through both air and water, a very advanced technology for a drone. 'The conditioning that led to these labels do not reflect the unique characteristics that were reported to be observed, nor the visual documentation, such as the FLIR [infrared] footage from the USS Omaha where the object appears to go into the water without destruction,' he said. Corbell added that he is not sure what the craft were, but believes they represent an urgent national security issue and we need to find who was behind the swarm. 'Because if we don't, America and many other nations who have experienced the same kind of encounters around the world consistently and recently, are susceptible to attack by an unknown technologically advanced entity that can operate their craft in our restricted airspace with absolute impunity,' he said. 'Additionally, if we can't answer that fundamental question to this day, we are seeing a multi-nation failure of intelligence on the scope and scale that dwarfs our mistakes made surrounding the events of 9/11.' The man behind the world number one hit Teacher's Pet podcast, Hedley Thomas, has admitted he believes Lynette Dawson was 'murdered in cold blood', and that the accused did it, a court has heard. Under cross examination by Dawson's barrister, Pauline David, on Monday, Mr Thomas also agreed that his award-winning podcast had 'explored' allegations of a 'sex ring' operating between teachers and students in Sydney's northern beaches in the late 1970s and early 1980s. That was around the time when then Cromer High School PE teacher Chris Dawson moved the teenage schoolgirl JC into his marital home, before Dawson's wife Lynette went missing, aged 33, in January 1982. Mr Thomas said witnesses alleging a sex ring had come 'forward of their own volition' and agreed that he had told a 60 Minutes program that 'Lyn Dawson was murdered almost certainly in my opinion in cold blood'. He also agreed he had told the show that Chris Dawson was 'a despicable person, extremely narcissistic ... dangerous' and someone who had lied to himself, his daughters and his friends. The court heard that Mr Thomas had described Dawson as 'a control freak' and 'so tight with money he wouldn't have wanted o spend money on a hitman ... wouldn't have wanted someone else to have control over the execution of his wife'. Hit podcaster Hedley Thomas has been grilled in Chris Dawson's murder trial about The Teacher's Pet, his world No 1 series (above Thomas arrives at court with his wife) Hedley told the court that he believed Lyn Dawson had been murdered 'in cold blood' in early 1982 and that her husband was responsible for it Podcaster Thomas said he believed that the accused Chris Dawson (above with his lawyer Greg Walsh) was a liar, narcissistic and dangerous Adding that this had been his personal opinion and his views had been 'strident', Mr Thomas conceded he probably wouldn't express himself so strongly again. But he denied he should have been more cautious for Dawson to get a fair trial. 'I differ,' he told Ms David, 'I think before any decision is made for any prosecution often people who have been accused of very serious things, have very serious things said about them and after they are charged that ceases.' Asked whether the podcast had not 'at any stage' given Chris Dawson the benefit of the doubt, Mr Thomas said he 'formed a view that go stronger that (Dawson) had got away with murder'. Describing the Teacher's Pet podcast as Mr Hedley's 'campaign' to have Dawson prosecuted, Ms David accused Mr Thomas of deliberately trying to 'incite prejudice against the accused'. Asked if from 'the outset ... it was going to be an exercise in condemning Christopher Dawson', Mr Thomas disagreed. 'If I had uncovered or received information that disrupted ... changed the narrative that disputed the finding by the coroners, that would have become a very significant part of the podcast,' he said. 'The case was 36 years old, there had been no prosecutions. I hope to flush out new evidence or witnesses that might make the difference.' He also denied that the podcast's introduction had been 'designed to deliberately deceive your listeners', saying that recorded quotes were spliced together just as articles were written with the most interesting quotes from different moments in an interview placed together. Challenged on whether the podcast might have undermined public confidence in the police or prosecutors, Mr Thomas said, 'my job is not to uphold confidence in tehse institutions, it;s to question whether something has gone wrong'. Hedley Thomas is an award-winning podcaster who said The Teacher's Pet had 60 million downloads Australia-wide Hedley Thomas agreed that his award-winning podcast had 'explored' allegations of a 'sex ring' operating between teachers and students in Sydney's northern beaches around the time Chris Dawson began a romance with teenage schoolgirl JC (above the pair at their wedding) Christopher Michael Dawson, 73, is accused of murdering his wife and disposing of her body in January 1982 so he could have an unfettered relationship with his babysitter and former student, known as JC. He has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Lynette Dawson's 1982 disappearance was the subject of highly popular investigative podcast series The Teacher's Pet before her former husband was charged. Thomas told the trial on Monday the podcast had both international and Australia-wide success, with about 60 million downloads nationally, although that was a fraction of the audience numbers. The court heard on Monday that Chris Dawson's defence counsel would argue The Teacher's Pet had given a misleading, unfair and biased view on the case which had a potential and significant impact on the reliability and credibility of witnesses evidence. Chris Dawson's defence to the murder charge includes that Lyn left her marriage of her own accord and abandoned her two young daughters, then aged four and two. The crown's witnesses have attempted to paint Dawson as a violent, controlling and abusive husband, with testimony emerging that Mrs Dawson had been seen variously with a black eye, and bruises around her throat and on her arms and thigh. Witnesses have said they saw him shove his wife's face into the dirt, swing her into a doorframe, and demean her with insults such as 'fatso'. Dawson's legal team has argued that police failed to probably investigate the possibility that Lyn Dawson is still alive and were tunnel-visioned about Chris Dawson's alleged guilt. Dawson claims JC's allegations are lies spurred by a bitter custody battle which occurred after their 1990 break-up. Federal cops are trying to get their hands on millions of dollars in assets once owned by a private schoolboy turned drug smuggler who died in prison while awaiting trial. Among the belongings the AFP wants to seize are a property portfolio in Sydney and Brisbane valued at more than $2million and a Mercedes-Benz worth almost $125,000. Sydney Grammar graduate Bennet Schwartz, 34, was in custody at Silverwater's Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre in western Sydney when he was found dead on February 19. Schwartz, who had previously served a prison sentence for importing a commercial quantity of drugs, was facing trial over an alleged plot to smuggle 27kg of cocaine into Australia. Australian Federal Police want to seized assets worth millions of dollars from the estate of convicted cocaine smuggler and former Rio Tinto employee Bennet Schwartz, who was found dead in his prison cell in February. Schwartz was awaiting trial on fresh drug charges Among the property the AFP wants to seize is a property portfolio in Sydney valued at more than $2million and Brisbane and a Mercedes-Benz worth almost $125,000. The AFP had informed Bennet it intended seizing his wealth while he was alive and is now pursuing his estate to recover what the agency says are proceeds of crime. One of the assets listed in court documents is an art deco apartment on the top floor of a block at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east with an estimated value of $1.07million. Another is an $885,000 three-bedroom apartment in Brisbane's riverside New Farm. A third is a $655,000 apartment within the boutique Hermitage development in the same suburb. Also in the AFP's sights is a grey 2020 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class coupe which once had B25 numberplates and is being offered for sale by a Sydney car dealer for $124,990. Several bank accounts held with Suncorp-Metway and NAB are part of the action, along with shares in Firefinch Ltd, Boab Metals Ltd and Silver Lake Resources Ltd. The Rushcutters Bay property was bought for $500,000 in 2007, the more expensive New Farm apartment for $640,000 in 2014 and the other for $465,000 in 2015. All the real estate, now worth a combined estimate of $2,610,000, was bought before Schwartz was arrested over a 2016 cocaine importation. Schwartz bought an apartment in the boutique Hermitage development (above) on Griffith Street, New Farm, in Brisbane for $465,000 in 2015. The property is now worth an estimated $655,000 All the real estate, now worth a combined estimate of $2,610,000, was bought before Schwartz was arrested over a 2016 cocaine importation. The Hermitage apartment is pictured Schwartz's assets at the time of his death are listed in a summons filed in the New South Wales Supreme Court by the AFP against his estate. The AFP's civil claim seeks orders that the property be put in the 'custody and care' of the Official Trustee and not be disposed of by any third party before being forfeited to the Commonwealth. Schwartz had been diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder and was suffering severe anxiety but did not see a psychiatrist or receive appropriate medication during his last stint in jail. After four months in custody, and two days after his first brief visit from a psychologist, Schwartz made a last-ditch bail application in the Supreme Court on February 18. Bail was refused and the next morning Schwartz was found dead in his cell. Schwartz bought this three-bedroom apartment in Dixon Street, New Farm, on Brisbane's riverside for $640,000 in 2014. It is now worth an estimated $885,000 Bennet Schwartz is pictured being arrested outside his Rose Bay home in October last year. He was accused of smuggling 27kg of cocaine before his death in prison on February 19 Schwartz's solicitor Joe Harb, principal lawyer at Sydney City Crime, has previously told Daily Mail Australia his client always maintained he was innocent of the latest charges. 'Bennet died an innocent man,' Mr Harb said. 'Bennet indicated a not guilty plea to all counts before the court.' In 2016, Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers intercepted 25kg of cocaine worth $4.5million imported from the United States which they linked to Schwartz. The Sydney Grammar graduate had used an encrypted Blackberry device to communicate about the drug importation with associates including a criminal known as Dr Octopus. NSW District Court Judge Peter Berman sentenced Schwartz to a maximum six years with a non-parole period of three and a half years in April 2018. 'Many offenders coming for sentence to this court have terrible backgrounds,' Judge Berman said. One of the assets listed in court documents is an art deco apartment on the top floor of a block at Rushcutters Bay in Sydney's east with an estimated value of $1.07million 'They are raised by parents who model illegal behaviour. They are abused, they do not have guidance and they associate with criminals. 'The offender has no excuse whatsoever for his behaviour. 'He was raised by his widowed mother in an appropriate way. She made sacrifices to give him a good education, he studied, he had a job and the support of his family.' After his sentencing Bennet sold an investment property in Armidale in northern NSW which had cost $190,000 in 2007 for $340,000. Court documents from 2018 show Schwartz had been targeted in prison during his first time in custody, with other inmates wrongly accusing him of being a police informant. He was the victim of several attacks, including one involving a sandwich press. The onetime capital projects analyst with Rito Tinto had also been the victim of extortion attempts and was released in March 2020. He was arrested at his home at Rose Bay in Sydney's eastern suburbs last October over another drug importation scheme, this time importing 27kg of cocaine into Australia. The drugs were allegedly concealed in modelling clay. Schwartz was charged after police seized three separate consignments of four, nine and 14 kilograms of cocaine, originating from the United Kingdom and Greece. AFP Superintendent Matthew Parsons said at the time police would claim Schwartz had used commercial tracking platforms to monitor the drugs coming in from overseas. 'He's a successful qualified young gentleman with links to the mining industry and hospitality industry but obviously he's chosen this road, be it for the fame and fortune of the gangster lifestyle,' Superintendent Parsons said. Schwartz was diagnosed with post traumatic stress disorder after his first stint in jail. In 2016, Australian Federal Police and Border Force officers intercepted 25kg of cocaine worth $4.5million imported from the United States and linked to Schwartz. The drug haul is pictured A California-based lawyer sent Daily Mail Australia a letter in May 2020 stating Schwartz's first time in custody had ruined his life. 'Mr Schwartz's involvement with the alleged drug ring was highly sensationalized and results in Mr Schwartz being labelled a drug "kingpin" whilst incarcerated and subsequently assaulted,' attorney Lars F Kushner wrote. 'Mr Schwartz has been clinically diagnosed with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and reports ongoing mental health issues. 'He has had no previous or subsequent involvement with the criminal justice system and has been unable to secure gainful employment.' Schwartz's death will be the subject of a coronial inquest. The case against his estate is back in court later this month. A Facebook 'trusted partner' charity and member of Twitter's 'Trust and Safety Council' has links to alleged terror organizations, a new report claims. Meta, Facebook's parent company, provides funding and works closely with pro-Palestine charity 7amleh. The partnership is one of many launched by Meta with the aim of 'keeping harmful content off our platforms and helping to prevent risk offline', and allows 7amleh to have a say in Facebook's policies. But pro-Israel think tank the Zachor Legal Institute claims in a new report that 7amleh has ties with alleged terrorist groups and even shared staff with them, has lionized convicted terrorists, and had an alleged holocaust denier as a guest speaker at its conference. Meta, Facebook's parent company, provides funding and works closely with pro-Palestine charity 7amleh A new report claims that 7amleh has links to alleged terror organizations. Pro-Israel think tank the Zachor Legal Institute claims 7amleh has lionized convicted terrorists and had an alleged holocaust denier as a guest speaker 'A terror-supporting, terror-linked NGO, which is tasked with influencing Meta's algorithm, policies and community guidelines (and receives funding to that end), is actively trying to impact Meta in a way that negatively affects Jews,' the report says. '7amleh has ties to Palestinian terrorist groups and has expressed support for terrorism, which makes its 'Trusted Partner' status with Meta all the more troubling.' Last year the Israeli government accused Palestinian nonprofit Al-Haq of operating as an 'arm' for the PFLP and designated it as a terror group. The Al-Haq logo is pictured A spokesperson for 7amleh told DailyMail.com the report was no different to the many 'smear campaigns from extremist, far-right and anti-Palestinian organizations' that it faces and that it will continue working for 'a fair, safe and just digital space' The Israel-based nonprofit, whose full name is the Arab Center for the Advancement of Social Media, says it promotes digital and human rights of Palestinians. Israel charity data from Gidestar.org says it has 10 staff and an annual turnover of almost $1million. Zachor's report highlights the center's alleged ties to terrorists including the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), designated a 'foreign terrorist organization' by the US State Department in 1997. Last year the Israeli government accused Palestinian nonprofit Al-Haq of operating as an 'arm' for the PFLP and designated it as a terror group. One Al-Haq worker, Ahmad Qadi, also works as 7amleh's Monitoring and Documentation Officer, according to his LinkedIn page. 7amleh's Local Advocacy Manager Cathrine Abuamsha was a lawyer for Al-Haq until January 2022, according to her LinkedIn. Earlier this year UN human rights experts criticized Israel's labeling of Al-Haq and five other charities as terrorist organizations, saying the government failed to provide 'any public concrete and credible evidence,' for its accusations. Zachor's report claims that 7amleh and its staff have made statements 'glorifying' or 'whitewashing' terrorists. Michigan Democrat Representative Rashida Tlaib spoke at 7amleh's annual online conference last month on Palestinian online activism Muna Hawwa, a Palestinian Al Jazeera presenter, was suspended by the TV channel in 2019 over a video she helped create that referred to the death of six million Jews at the hands of the Nazis as 'a narrative endorsed by the Zionist movement'. She was featured at the charity's conference 7amleh advisory board member Marwa Fatafta (pictured) 'wrote an article lionizing PFLP terrorist Basel al-Araj' as an 'intellectual activist' who was killed in a firefight with Israeli forces, the Zachor report said Last year the Israeli government accused Palestinian nonprofit Al-Haq of operating as an 'arm' of the PFLP and designated it as a terror group. One Al-Haq worker, Ahmad Qadi (left) also works as 7amleh's Monitoring and Documentation Officer, according to his LinkedIn page. 7amleh's Local Advocacy Manager Cathrine Abuamsha (right) was a lawyer for Al-Haq until January 2022, according to her LinkedIn Its report says 7amleh co-founder Nadim Nashif called the convicted PFLP airplane hijacker Leila Khaled a 'resistance icon'. In 2020 7amleh called PFLP leader Ghassan Kanafani a 'distinguished Palestinian personality'. 7amleh co-founder Nadim Nashif said the report is a 'smear campaign from extremists' 7amleh advisory board member Marwa Fatafta 'wrote an article lionizing PFLP terrorist Basel al-Araj' as an 'intellectual activist' who was killed in a firefight with Israeli forces, the Zachor report said. PFLP recruits have been held responsible for the murder of 26 people at Lod Airport in Israel in 1972, a suicide bombing in a crowded Tel Aviv market in 2004, the killing of five members of a family including a 3-month-old baby in 2011, and a 17-year-old killed by their roadside bomb in 2019. A 7amleh social media campaign highlighted in the Zachor report pushed for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners. Among those it asked followers to support were senior Hamas leader Mohammad Jamal Natsheh, Ayman Kurd who was jailed for allegedly stabbing two police officers in Jerusalem in 2016, and Marah Bakir, who stabbed a border officer in Jerusalem in 2015. Michigan Democrat Representative Rashida Tlaib spoke at 7amleh's annual online conference last month on Palestinian online activism and digital rights. The conference featured a presentation from an alleged 'holocaust denier' Muna Hawwa. Hawwa, a Palestinian Al Jazeera presenter, was suspended by the TV channel in 2019 over a video she helped create that referred to the death of six million Jews at the hands of the Nazis as 'a narrative endorsed by the Zionist movement'. The video, meant to be an informative segment about the holocaust, called Israel 'the greatest beneficiary from the Holocaust' and reportedly claimed that World War II remembrance focuses on Jews because the 1940s saw 'Jewish groups possessing financial resources, media institutions, research centers and academic institutions that were able to highlight the Jewish victims more so [than others].' Another conference speaker, Diana Alzeer, is a member of Al-Haq, the charity controversially designated by Israel as a terrorist organization. Zachor's report sought to raise alarm over 7amleh's position as a 'trusted partner' with Facebook parent Meta, claiming that the charity is an insidious or biased influence on the social media site's policies. Meta did not respond to a request for comment. Convicted PFLP plane hijacker Lella Khaled was called a 'resistance icon' by The report says 7amleh co-founder Nadim Nashif. She was one of two hijackers of an American TWA jetliner in 1969 A 7amleh social media campaign highlighted in the Zachor report pushed for solidarity with Palestinian prisoners, including Ayman Kurd who was jailed for allegedly stabbing two police officers in Jerusalem in 2016 In its 2021 annual report, 7amleh says it has 'contribute[d] to the development and evaluation of Facebook policies. This included policies about peaceful protests, focusing on how violence at public protests is moderated.' The Zachor report said 7amleh also launched an online campaign to influence how Facebook policies deal with antisemitism. The nonprofit is also a member of Twitter's Trust and Safety Council, and is a part of Twitter's 'Human and Digital Rights Protection group'. Zachor founder and president Marc Greendorfer told DailyMail.com that he believes Facebook and Twitter failed in their due diligence by including 7amleh in their advisory groups 'The Human and Digital Rights Protection group engages Twitter on priority challenges and policy issues in the realm of human rights, free expression, civil liberties, and defending the digital rights of people on Twitter,' the social media site says. Zachor founder and president Marc Greendorfer told DailyMail.com that he believes Facebook and Twitter failed in their due diligence by including 7amleh in their advisory groups. 'They are essentially whitewashing terrorism and getting funded by Meta to promote their work and to promote the propaganda that they put out,' he claimed. Greendorfer said he was concerned that such heavily partisan groups could have a biased effect on moderators 'fact-checking' content on social media. 'Meta and other social media platforms use these groups to fact check. So let's say that there's a terrorist attack in Israel and a number of civilians are killed, and there's posts on Facebook about that. 'These groups like 7amleh would be allowed to fact-check and essentially spin the reports and the posts in a way favorable to their patrons. 'Selective news publication will accelerate when these organizations are allowed to act as fact checkers.' The Zachor Legal Institute describes itself as a 'think tank and legal advocacy organization'. It has helped launched lawsuits in the US to fight anti-semitism and the 'boycott, divestment and sanctions' movement, a pro-Palestine campaign that targets the country's business interests around the world. The Zachor Legal Institute is a pro-Israel think tank 7amleh told DailyMail.com it is 'a non-profit organization that works to monitor and document digital rights violations against Palestinians, carried out by various perpetrators online.' 'Like many Palestinian and Israeli human rights organizations, we are targeted by smear campaigns from extremist, far-right and anti-Palestinian organizations who work systematically to silence Palestinian voices and prevent Palestinians from having the right to freedom of expression,' director Nadim Nashif said. 'This latest report is no different, and relies on flimsy and discredited information. Therefore, 7amleh will continue to work with its allies and partners for a fair, safe and just digital space. 'For a long time, our research has shown that social media companies censor Palestinian content through their biased content moderation policies. This has led to the silencing of Palestinian content, and prevented Palestinians from documenting the human rights violations that they are exposed to. 'This came as a result of systematic extreme right-wing Israeli efforts to silence Palestinians in online spaces, and as a continuation of coordinated campaigns to dehumanize Palestinians and shrink spaces for freedom of expression. 'Biased social media content moderation policies allow extreme incitement and hate speech from Israelis to stay online, which leads to real-world harm and increases the violence against the Palestinian community, putting Palestinian lives at risk. 'Therefore, our work focuses on protecting Palestinian digital rights, in particular the right to freedom of speech on online platforms, which is often denied to Palestinians who speak up about the human rights violations they face in their daily lives under Israeli occupation.' Up to 40,000 Army National Guard soldiers across the country - or about 13 percent of the force - have not yet gotten the mandated COVID-19 vaccine and could lose their jobs as Thursday's deadline approaches. At least 14,000 of the soldiers who have not had the inoculations have flatly refused to get them. According to data obtained by The Associated Press, between 20 percent to 30 percent of the Guard soldiers in six states are not vaccinated, and more than 10 percent in 43 other states still need shots. National Guard officials say states are doing all they can to encourage soldiers to get vaccinated by the time limit. And they said they will work with the roughly 7,000 who have sought exemptions, which are almost all for religious reasons. 'Were going to give every soldier every opportunity to get vaccinated and continue their military career. Every soldier that is pending an exemption, we will continue to support them through their process,' said Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, director of the Army National Guard. 'Were not giving up on anybody until the separation paperwork is signed and completed. Theres still time.' The Army National Guard's vaccine percentage is the lowest among the branches of the United States military nearly one year after Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered all service members to get the vaccine, arguing that it is critical to maintain the health and readiness of the force. The Army National Guard has the lowest vaccination rate amongst its service members nearly one year after the Pentagon started requiring all military members to be vaccinated against COVID, citing the health and preparedness of the forces. National Guard members are seen here getting the jab Each branch of the military was then given differing deadlines for their forces to get the shots - and the Army National Guard was granted the longest amount of time because it's nearly 330,000 soldiers are widely scattered around the country, with many in remote locations. Still, the Army Guard's vaccine percentage is the lowest among the U.S. military - with all the active duty Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps at 97 percent or greater and the Air Guard at about 94 percent. The Army reported Friday that 90 percent of Army Reserve forces were partially or completely vaccinated after the military branch had to discharge nearly 600 members last month. The Pentagon has now said that after June 30, Guard members won't be paid by the federal government when they are activated on federal status, which includes their monthly drill weekends and their two-week annual training period. Guard troops mobilized on federal status and assigned to the southern border or on COVID-19 missions in various states also would have to be vaccinated or they would not be allowed to participate or be paid. To make it more complicated, however, Guard soldiers on state activate duty may not have to be vaccinated - based on the requirements in their states. As long as they remain in state duty status, they can be paid by the state and used for state missions. Meanwhile, at least seven governors formally asked Austin to reconsider or not enforce the vaccine mandate for National Guard members, and some filed or signed on to lawsuits. But in letters to the governors, Austin said that the coronavirus 'takes our service members out of the fight, temporarily or permanently, and jeopardizes our ability to meet mission requirements.' He said Guard troops must either get the vaccine or lose their Guard status. The Army National Guard was given the latest deadline to vaccinate all of its members because they are all spread out throughout the country. Mississippi Army National Guard Sgt Chase Toussaint and Staff Sgt Matthew Riley filled water drums with non-potable water at a Jackson, Mississippi water distribution site last March. Jensen and Maj. Gen. Jill Faris, director of the Guard's office of the Joint Surgeon General, also said they are working with states adjutants general to get progress updates, including on the nearly 20,000 troops who have not flatly refused the vaccine and haven't submitted any type of exemption request. Some, they said, may just be a lag in self-reporting, while others may still be undecided. 'Part of those undefined are our soldiers who say, well, I have until 30 June and so Ill take till 30 June,' said Jensen. Others may have promised to bring in vaccine paperwork, and haven't done it yet. Still others are on the books, but haven't yet reported to basic training, so don't have to be vaccinated until they get there. It is unclear how many are in each category. Still, Jensen acknowledged that if the current numbers hold, there are concerns about possible impact on Guard readiness in the states, including whether it will affect any Guard units preparing to deploy. 'When youre looking at, 40,000 soldiers that potentially are in that unvaccinated category, absolutely theres readiness implications on that and concerns associated with that,' said Jensen. 'Thats a significant chunk.' Overall, according to the data obtained by the AP, about 85 percent of all Army Guard soldiers are fully vaccinated. Officials said that if those with one shot are counted, then 87 percent are at least partially vaccinated. Across the country, in all but one case, Guard soldiers are vaccinated at a higher rate that the general population in their state. Only in New Jersey is the percentage of vaccinated Guard solders very slightly lower than the states overall population, as of earlier this month when the data was collected. The three U.S. territories - Virgin Islands, Guam and Puerto Rico - and the District of Columbia, all have more than 90 percent of their soldiers fully vaccinated. The highest percentage is in Hawaii, with nearly 97 percent, while the lowest is Oklahoma, at just under 70 percent. Guard leaders in the states have run special shot programs, and provided as much information as possible to their forces in order to keep them on the job. In Tennessee, they set up small teams in the east, west and central regions and did monthly events providing vaccines to troops who wanted them. And every Wednesday, Guard members could make appointments for shots in the middle Tennessee region, in Smyrna. In addition, in early June they called in all soldiers who have so far refused the vaccine. 'We held a big, mass event,' said Army Guard Col. Keith Evans. 'We had all of our medical providers here. 'So if there were any questions to clear up, any misconceptions, any misinformation, we had all of our our data and were able to provide them all the information.' Evans, who is commander of his Army Guard's medical readiness command, said they also had recruiting and other leaders there who could explain what would happen if soldiers chose to not get the shot and ended up leaving the Guard. 'We wanted to let them know what benefits they had earned because these are soldiers that had had done their time, served their country,' said Evans. Officials say they believe the information campaign has been working. Jensen said that about 1,500 soldiers a week around the country are moving into the vaccinated category. 'We expect, as we approach the deadline, that well see some some larger growth.' Across the military, the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps have discharged as many as 4,000 active duty service members for refusing the vaccine Meanwhile, every other branch of the United States military has already had to dismiss some of its members. As of last month, Army commanders have written 3,409 written reprimands, admonishing troops for not getting their shots after it reprimanded six active-duty commanders for refusing to comply with the order. There were 570 soldiers that did not heed the warning and were booted from the service for refusing the lawful order of getting the full vaccine regime. After the Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued the vaccine order, 4,346 troops requested religious exemptions and 727 soldiers asked for medical waivers from the shots. Austin told the armed forces that vaccines were crucial to force readiness. Troops deployed overseas sometimes have had to get as many as 17 different immunization shots. Of those asking, only 22 soldiers got a medical exemption and only 8 received religious exemptions, according to the cable news channel. There are still 3,494 waiver requests still pending. The Army is not releasing the immunization rates for Army Reserve or National Guard after some outfits refused the order. The DOD has been pressure those units by prohibiting them from training and withholding pay. About 70 percent of the troops ordered out of the Army for non-compliance with the vaccine mandate have received general discharges, according to the Military Times. This still allows them to get veterans benefits and rejoin if they choose. The remaining discharges, 30 percent, received honorable discharges, according to testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, though it was unclear why one set of troops received higher discharge honors. The Marine Corps has also seen the most separations due to vaccine refusal, 1,968, about one percent of the branch's members. The Navy let 798 sailors go, about .02 percent of the fleet. The Air Force grounded 287 airman, .04 percent of the service, releasing most of them from the service with general discharges. The Supreme Court is giving the Navy a freer hand determining what job assignments it gives to 35 sailors who sued after refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get vaccinated against COVID-19. And last month, the Supreme Court ruled that the Navy may consider a sailor's vaccination status in making deployment, assignment and other operational decisions. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that there was a 'simple overarching reason' that he agreed with the court's decision. The Constitution makes the president, 'not any federal judge,' the commander in chief of the armed forces, he wrote, noting that courts have been traditionally 'reluctant to intrude upon the authority of the Executive in military and national security affairs.' Three conservative justices - Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch - noted that they disagreed with their colleagues' decision and would have sided with the group of SEALs. Alito also wrote that his colleagues were 'rubberstamping the Governments request.' 'These individuals appear to have been treated shabbily by the Navy, and the Court brushes all that aside,' Alito wrote. Seven people were rescued on Saturday by the Coast Guard after their boat was left without power following a lightning strike that left them stranded 100 miles off of Clearwater, Florida. Boat owner Glenn Rumer was with local fishing charter captain Joshua Guy, his partner Megan Chaple, who is six months pregnant, and local businesswoman Tonya Albritton, as well as three others when the strike happened. The group was taking part in a fishing tournament in the Gulf of Mexico. A video shot on board the boat shows Rumer and a passenger smiling at the camera moments before the lightning struck. As the bolt hits the vessel, screams are heard while sparks can be seen flying behind Rumer and the other boater. One person can be heard saying: 'Oh my God!' A Coast Guard video goes on to show elements of the rescue showing one person being airlifted in a basket on to a Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater MH-60 helicopter. The video then shows that person and others being hoisted on board the rescue helicopter. The owner of the boat, Glenn Rumer, told DailyMail.com that the group were participating in the Old Salt Foundation fishing tournament when they were struck. Rumer said: 'It was a wonderful day and we were catching the winning fish.' He said that they left at 2:00 am for the three hour boat ride to where the tournament was taking place. Rumer said: 'We normally fish for 4 hours and then run in for weigh in. I have been doing this for the last three years and have had winners on the boat in the past.' Following the strike, Rumer said that they lost all electrical and motors. The owner of the boat, Glenn Rumer, told DailyMail.com that the group were participating in the Old Salt Foundation fishing tournament when they were struck The Coast Guard video shows the group in good spirits on the water just prior to the lightning strike One member of the party said that one of the Coast Guard rescue team said that he had never heard of lightning striking a moving boat before The Coast Guard received a emergency position-indicating radio beacon notification (EPIRB,) from there authorities were able to contact Rumer's wife who informed them that her husband was participating in a fishing tournament. The group immediately set off the radio beacon after they realized that they were stranded, Rumer said. From there, it took the Coast Guard around two hours to reach them. Rumer told us: 'We were all scared. But I kept my cool until we saw the us coast guard. I tried my best to keep everyone calm. Even in 30-35 mile per hour winds and over 50 lighting strikes around us which lasted at least 30 minutes.' He added: 'The USCG showed me where we were located during the storm and we were dead center of the heart of the storm.' Tonya Albritton, the owner of Sea Spook Baits a specialty bait store in Deerfield Beach, Florida, identified herself as being the person in the basket in a Facebook post. Elements of the rescue were shown in the Coast Guard video as they hoisted the crewmembers on board their rescue helicopter Tonya Albritton, the owner of Sea Spook Baits a specialty bait store in Deerfield Beach, Florida, identified herself as being the person in the basket in a Facebook post Members of the group appear to be smiling as others are brought on board the rescue helicopter None of the party suffered serious injuries, the Coast Guard said in their press release. They were greeted by family members when they reached the shore Rumer told DailyMail.com that right now he's feeling 'tired and blessed.' He added: 'God is real and keeps and eye on all of us and glad all my friends and family are okay.' Another member of the party, Joshua Guy, expressed a similar sentiment when contacted by DailyMail.com. Guy said: 'When you almost die, you're gonna relish the points and the timeframe of the moment of now.' He reflected on the possibility that he may never had seen his son again and highlighted the importance of spending time with loved ones. Guy, who is a charter captain but was just helping out on the vessel, also said: 'The one thing I want to get out there to everybody on the planet that goes out boating, is how important EPIRB is. Nothing else saved us other than EPIRB.' He continued: 'As I'm talking to you now, we'd still be on the water waiting for someone to save us.' The boat's owner said: 'We were all scared. But I kept my cool until we saw the us coast guard. I tried my best to keep everyone calm. Even in 30-35 mile per hour winds and over 50 lighting strikes around us which lasted at least 30 minutes' The boat's owner, Glenn Rumer, shown here with Meghan Chaple, who was also on board when the lightning struck On Facebook, Tonya Albritton, shown here, wrote: 'Thanking God and the coast guard and our Capt. for being prepared. I'm alive today Joshua Guy expressed to DailyMail.com the importance of having an EPIRB on board when boating On Facebook, Tonya Albritton wrote: 'Thanking God and the coast guard and our Capt. for being prepared. I'm alive today.' She wrote in the comments that Coast Guard sergeant told her in his 40 years doing rescues, he had never seen lightning strike a moving boat at sea. None of the party suffered serious injuries, the Coast Guard said in their press release. They were greeted by family members when they reached the shore. The boat, a 39-foot Stamus yacht, was towed back into shore on Sunday. Coast Guard Lt. David McKinley said in the statement: 'Lightning storms are routinely encountered in the Florida maritime environment and can pose a significant hazard to boaters.' He added: 'Fortunately, the boaters in this case were well prepared with all necessary safety equipment including an EPIRB, flares, and a marine VHF radio to ensure a quick and efficient rescue.' A principal of one of the country's richest schools has been slammed over plans to build a luxurious plunge pool at his on-site residence. The King's School headmaster Tony George received council approval to install the two-by-three-metre pool on the campus at North Parramatta, in western Sydney, on Friday. The school already has two pools, a 50m and a 25m heated pool, prompting outrage from federal education minister Jason Clare, who said a third was completely unnecessary. The plan has raised questions about the school's spending habits, where parents already pay up to $40,000 a year and the government gives $21 million in support. 'Federal governments have funded non-government schools for a long time and that will continue,' Mr Clare said. 'While 76 per cent of funding for this school comes out of the pockets of parents and other private sources, I think most Australians would say plunge pools for principals doesn't pass the pub test.' The King's School headmaster Tony George received council approval to install the plunge pool at his on-site residence on the campus at North Parramatta, in western Sydney Plans for another pool has raised questions about the school's expenditure, hefty $40,000 school fees from parents and $21million support from the government The King's School released a statement saying the new pool would still belong to the school, Sydney Morning Herald reported. 'The council approved this and the headmaster's package will be adjusted to reflect this expenditure,' the statement read. 'The residence and the pool will continue to be totally owned by the school.' Daily Mail Australia has contacted The King's School for comment. Mr George came under scrutiny after booking business class flights for himself, his wife, his deputy and their partner for a trip to the United Kingdom. The group had flown overseas to watch the school's rowing team compete at the Henley Royal Regatta. One parent said some students had worked hard to raise money for the trip by hosting sausage sizzles, raffles and auctions. Another parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said there were concerns about how the money was being spent. 'The parents are genuinely committed to the school and there are significant and immediate issues about where the spending is going,' he said. The King's School released a statement saying the new pool would still belong to the school Mr George earns more than $700,000 a year as principal of the school, which is $150,000 more than the salary of a prime minister, the Australian Financial Review reported. Parents are being charged tens of thousands of dollars a year to send their children to the school with final year fees costing more than $40,000. The school hit $80 million in revenue in 2020 including $21 million from the federal government, according to federal government data. Former NSW Department of Education head Ken Boston questioned the amount of taxpayer money being funnelled into the school. 'How much more would that add to the growth of our national stock of human capital? And there is absolutely no accountability for this waste,' he said. Three teenage Gladys Berejiklian super-fans frightened the ex-NSW Premier after following her down an alley to demand a selfie. In a video posted to social media the teenagers were walking down a busy road in Sydney on Sunday when they spotted Ms Berejiklian ahead of them. The video captioned: 'Gladdy the baddie interaction' showed the excited teens running after the former NSW premier. 'Guys, guys, guys it's her, Gladdy,' one girl said. The three teenagers spotted Gladys Berejiklian out for a walk in Sydney (pictured) and chased down the former NSW premier for a photo. In a video posted to social media, the super-fans were spurred on in their pursuit after Ms Berejiklian turned and smiled The group of girls are seen running and are spurred on in their pursuit after Ms Berejiklian turned and smiled. 'She smiled at us,' another girl said. Ms Berejiklian is later seen grinning and posing for a selfie - but only after the fangirls startled her in an alley off-camera. 'I accidentally scared her in an alley,' user lily_a_hunt commented. The video posted to lily_a_hunt's TikTok account has received over 43,500 views with users amused by the trio's antics and dubbing Ms Berejiklian a 'queen'. 'This is the funniest thing, what a queen,' one user commented. 'I'm so jealous, you met the queen herself,' another user wrote. 'Still the queen of NSW in my opinion,' a third user chimed. Other users were not amused by the celebrity meet-and-great and criticised Ms Berejiklian over the ICAC's investigation into her ex-boyfriend, Daryl Maguire. Ms Berejiklian was all smiles as she posed for a selfie with two of the teenage girls (pictured) after they accidentally scared her in an alley off-camera. The video posted to TikTok, captioned: 'Gladdy the baddie interaction', has received over 43,500 views The former premier abruptly resigned from office after the Independent Commission Against Corruption launched an investigation into her ex-partner, and now-ex-MP, Mr Maguire. Gladys Berejiklian accepted a newly-created position of Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institution at telecommunications company Optus in February - after rejecting offers to enter Federal politics. The ICAC has not handed down its in findings in the Maguire case. Anthony Albanese has defended slashing parliamentary staff numbers for crossbench MPs after one called him 'arrogant' and 'no different to Morrison' in a furious Twitter rant. The Prime Minister wants to slash staff headcount for independent MPs from eight to five to save taxpayers about $4.5million a year - but the furious MPs say that would prevent them from doing their jobs. Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall blasted the Prime Minister in a savage tweet, suggesting he was cutting independents' staff to reduce their ability to criticise his government. She also lobbed an insult at Mr Albanese the PM may find particularly offensive - comparing his behaviour to his predecessor Scott Morrison and saying that the pair were actually no different. Independent MP for Warringah Zali Steggall (pictured) blasted the Prime Minister in a savage Tweet over the staffing cuts Ms Steggall suggested the PM was cutting independents' staff to reduce their ability to criticise his government 'Albo MP didn't mind the Xbench having staff to put up alternative policies & push for anti corruption & climate & hold the Morrison Govt to account but feels differently now,' she wrote on Saturday. 'We are seeing his true character: dismissive of our communities & arrogant. No different to Morrison.' Mr Albanese shot back on ABC radio on Monday morning, pointing out that crossbench MPs will still have one more staff member than Coalition and Labor MPs who get four. 'Well, what is not fair is the idea that Zali Steggall's electorate should have double the representation in terms of staff of electorates in the same region,' he said. 'And the fact is that the eight staff that were allocated to the crossbenchers were more than senior frontbenchers had in opposition. 'Independents will have more staff than major party representatives. 'And the additional staff will have travel rights that major party backbenchers won't have. They'll be on higher salaries,' he said. Mr Albanese wants to cut the number of parliamentary staff a crossbencher can hire from four to one senior adviser. They will still get four electoral office staff. The move has incensed all crossbench MPs and senators who have threatened to block Labor's laws in retaliation. Mr Morrison had quietly increased crossbenchers' parliamentary staff to four in 2019. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and partner Jodie Haydon board a plane to Europe for a Nato summit on Sunday 'At the same time as (the Morrison government) were cutting Centrelink staff, people can't get passports, visas can't get processed, the only area of public service that saw an increase in staffing levels appears to have been parliamentary staff,' Mr Albanese said. Independent ACT senator David Pocock - whose vote could be crucial for Labor to pass laws - accused the prime minister of making the decision to gain political advantage. 'Cutting back on our small teams creates an unfair playing field which disadvantages our communities and our capacity to actually advocate on their behalf,' Senator Pocock told ABC radio. 'It could be incredibly hard to actually be across legislation and if I don't understand things it's going to be very hard to actually vote on them.' But Mr Albanese insisted the independents - who do not have the support and resources of a party or department - were not on their own. 'The fact is that they have access to the Parliamentary Library that we will be increasing support for. Independent ACT senator David Pocock (left) - whose vote could be crucial for Labor to pass laws - accused the prime minister of making the cuts to gain political advantage 'They have access to clerks that draft legislation, in addition to personal staff. I've had discussions with crossbenchers.' Kooyong Independent Monique Ryan, who booted Josh Frydenberg out of Parliament, also blasted the Prime Minister over the proposed cut. 'If he really does want to work collaboratively with us, it's inexplicable that the PM's first act of engagement with the new cross bench is to attack our ability to work independently. This is a mistake by the PM,' she wrote. One Nation - which has two senators - said the party would oppose government legislation if it could not properly scrutinise it. And Jacqui Lambie said she was 'fuming' over the move. 'If we can't go through the legislation, how can we vote on it? I'm not voting for something that I can't go through,' she said. Labor has a majority in the lower house but needs the support of the Coalition or the Greens plus one crossbencher to pass laws in the senate. This has led to speculation Mr Albanese will have to reach a compromise on staff numbers to keep the independents on side. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher said all members of parliament worked hard and crossbenchers should not have an unfair allocation of more staff. 'We don't want to put anyone offside but we also need to have a sustainable staffing arrangement,' she told ABC radio. 'It's not fair that the cross bench get four additional staff on top of what every other parliamentarian who's not a shadow (minister) or a minister gets.' Google has told its workers in the U.S. that they will be allowed to move to another state without having to justify it following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade which removed the constitutional right to abortion. But other companies who plan to help their workers travel across state lines in order to undergo terminations, may face the wrath of lawmakers who are threatening to introduce legislation to block or at least hinder such offers of support. Fiona Cicconi, the company's HR Chief said the company's benefits plan and health insurance would cover 'out-of-state medical procedures that are not available where an employee lives and works.' She also noted that workers can 'apply for relocation without justification, and those overseeing this process with be aware of the situation.' 'This is a profound change for the country that deeply affects so many of us, especially women. Please be mindful of what your co-workers may be feeling and, as always, treat each other with respect,' Cicconi wrote. Google has told its workers in the U.S. that they will be allowed to move to another state without having to justify after Roe v Wade was overturned The bulk of the company's workforce is located in California, where abortion rights are protected. Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of Google-owned YouTube tweeted on Friday Google has 29 office locations across the country including Florida, Georgia, Texas and Wisconsin - four states where abortion is currently illegal or where laws restricting or banning abortion may come into place in the near future. The bulk of the company's workforce is located in California, where abortion rights are protected. 'As a CEO I recognize there are a spectrum of opinions on the SCOTUS ruling today. As a woman, it's a devastating setback. I personally believe every woman should have a choice about how and when to become a mother. Reproductive rights are human rights,' Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of Google-owned YouTube tweeted. About half of all U.S. states are expected to roll back abortion rights. Abortion restrictions that were already on the books in 13 states went into effect as a result of Friday's ruling and at least a dozen other Republican-led states are expected to ban abortion within the next 30 days. Many companies have publicly pledged to promote women's equality and advancement in the workplace The court's decision, driven by its conservative majority, upheld a Mississippi law that bans abortion after 15 weeks. Meanwhile, some Democratic-led states are moving to bolster access to abortion. A host of other media and tech companies including Meta, Amazon, Netflix, Apple, Disney, Comcast, Warner Bros. Discovery, Microsoft, JPMorgan Chase and Conde Nast have said they will pay for their employees' expenses if they have to travel outside their home state to access reproductive healthcare services. Companies including health insurer Cigna, PayPal, Alaska Airlines and Dick's Sporting Goods also announced reimbursement policies on Friday. But dozens of big businesses including the likes of McDonalds, Pepsi, Coca-Cola, General Motors, Tyson and Marriott made no such announcements. Arkansas-based Walmart - the nation's largest employer with a good portion of its stores in states that will immediately trigger abortion bans following the Friday's Supreme Court ruling - also kept quiet. However, such new policies could expose businesses to lawsuits and even potential criminal liability, legal experts said. Google is allowing employees to relocated to states with abortion rights Hi everyone, This morning the US Supreme Court issued a ruling in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that rolls back Roe v. Wade. This is a profound change for the country that deeply affects so many of us, especially women. Everyone will respond in their own way, whether thats wanting space and time to process, speaking up, volunteering outside of work, not wanting to discuss it at all, or something else entirely. Please be mindful of what your co-workers may be feeling and, as always, treat each other with respect. Equity is extraordinarily important to us as a company, and we share concerns about the impact this ruling will have on peoples health, lives, and careers. We will keep working to make information on reproductive healthcare accessible across our products and continue our work to protect user privacy. To support Googlers and their dependents, our US benefits plan and health insurance covers out-of-state medical procedures that are not available where an employee lives and works. Googlers can also apply for relocation without justification, and those overseeing this process will be aware of the situation. If you need additional support, please connect 1:1 with a People Consultant via [link to internal tool redacted]. We will be arranging support sessions for Googlers in the US in the coming days. These will be posted to Googler News. Please dont hesitate to lean on your Google community in the days ahead and continue to take good care of yourselves and each other. Fiona Cicconi Google, Chief People Officer Advertisement Companies will have to navigate that patchwork of state laws and are likely to draw the ire of anti-abortion groups and Republican-led states if they adopt policies supportive of employees having abortions. Offering to cover travel expenses could also make companies a target for anti-abortion lawmakers. State lawmakers in Texas have already threatened Citigroup and Lyft, which had earlier announced travel reimbursement policies, with legal repercussions. Texas State Representative Briscoe Cain, a Republican, sent a cease-and-desist letter to Citigroup, saying he would propose legislation barring localities in the state from doing business with any company that provides travel benefits for employees seeking abortions. A group of Republican lawmakers in a letter last month to Lyft chief executive Logan Green saying Texas 'will take swift and decisive action' if the ride-hailing company implements the policy. The legislators also outlined a series of abortion-related proposals, including a bill that would bar companies from doing business in Texas if they pay for residents of the state to receive abortions elsewhere. Texas lawmakers have threatened Citigroup and Lyft that they will implement laws to prevent companies helping their employees out-of-state terminations It is likely only a matter of time before companies face lawsuits from states or anti-abortion campaigners claiming that abortion-related payments violate state bans on facilitating or aiding and abetting abortions, according to Robin Fretwell Wilson, a law professor at the University of Illinois and expert on healthcare law. 'If you can sue me as a person for carrying your daughter across state lines, you can sue Amazon for paying for it,' Wilson said. For many large companies that fund their own health plans, the federal law regulating employee benefits will provide crucial cover in civil lawsuits over their reimbursement policies, several lawyers and other legal experts said. The Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) prohibits states from adopting requirements that 'relate to' employer-sponsored health plans. Courts have for decades interpreted that language to bar state laws that dictate what health plans can and cannot cover. ERISA regulates benefit plans that are funded directly by employers, known as self-insured plans. In 2021, 64% of U.S. workers with employer-sponsored health insurance were covered by self-insured plans, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. Any company sued over an abortion travel reimbursement requirement will likely cite ERISA as a defense, according to Katy Johnson, senior counsel for health policy at the American Benefits Council, a trade group. And that will be a strong argument, she said, particularly for businesses with general reimbursement policies for necessary medical-related travel rather than those that single out abortion. Johnson said reimbursements for other kinds of medical-related travel, such as visits to hospitals designated 'centers of excellence,' are already common even though policies related to abortion are still relatively rare. 'While this may seem new, it's not in the general sense and the law already tells us how to handle it,' Johnson said. The argument has its limits. Fully-insured health plans, in which employers purchase coverage through a commercial insurer, cover about one-third of workers with insurance and are regulated by state law and not ERISA. Most small and medium-sized U.S. businesses have fully-insured plans and could not argue that ERISA prevents states from limiting abortion coverage. And, ERISA cannot prevent states from enforcing criminal laws, such as those in several states that make it a crime to aid and abet abortion, so employers who adopt reimbursement policies are vulnerable to criminal charges from state and local prosecutors. But since most criminal abortion laws have not been enforced in decades, since Roe was decided, it is unclear whether officials would attempt to prosecute companies, according to Danita Merlau, a Chicago-based lawyer who advises companies on benefits issues. Advertisement World leaders last night agreed a new 'surge' of support to defeat Vladimir Putin in Ukraine after the Kremlin bombed Kyiv while the G7 met. At a summit in Germany, Emmanuel Macron, who had been seen by No 10 as wavering, yesterday said he was committed for the long haul. Boris Johnson said 'backing down' now would be a catastrophic mistake as he warned against encouraging Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a peace deal. Downing Street said the Russian leader's decision to fire missiles on the Ukrainian capital had been 'stupid' and had 'stiffened the resolve' of leaders. The spokesperson added that Macron and Johnson, who have until now had a strained relationship, were 'aligned' as the French said the defeat of Russia is 'option number one' and peace is 'number two'. 'There is a real sense that Putin was stupid to bomb Kyiv as the G7 gathered', a No 10 source said. 'It has made the leaders more united'. The timing of the attack was seen as a pointed message to world leaders to encourage Ukraine into a peace deal where it cedes large portions of its territory. A Downing Street spokesman also warned that 'enduring instability' could be created if Putin was not curtailed now from launching similar attacks on other countries. L to R: Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, European Union Council Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, French President Emanuel Macron and European Union Council President Charles Michel pose for a group photo on the first day of the three-day G7 Downing Street said the Russian leader's decision to fire missiles on the Ukrainian capital had been 'stupid' and had 'stiffened the resolve' of leaders. Pictured: Guests sit together at the table during a reception in the Antiquarium of the Residenz Clockwise from left: Italy's Mario Draghi, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Joe Biden, Mr Johnson, Japan's Fumio Kishida, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel The timing of Putin's (pictured) attack was seen as a pointed message to G7 members to encourage Ukraine into a peace deal where it cedes large portions of its territory US President to 'try and stop' Boris' plan to ease global food crisis Joe Biden will try to stop Boris Johnson from moving ahead with his plan to ease the global food crisis, the Telegraph has reported. The Prime Minister today will call on world leaders to take urgent action to get essential food supplies out of Ukraine where 25 million tons of grain are currently stuck. Mr Johnson will tell the G7 today: 'Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine are creating terrible aftershocks across the world, driving up energy and food prices as millions of people are on the brink of famine. 'Only Putin can end this needless and futile war, but global leaders need to come together and apply their combined economic and political heft to help Ukraine and make life easier for households across the world. Nothing should be off the table.' Mr Johnson will explain if countries can swap biofuel crops for food then it will help keep food prices low and prevent starvation. Biden's officials said they would block the plan due to wanting to keep to green climate targets and help their farmers. The US will be joined by Canada, the Telegraph said, but Germany is said to back the British Prime Minister. Mr Johnson will announce 10 million in funding for repairs to the Ukrainian railways in a bid to get the grain out by train. In meetings today Mr Johnson and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will argue that countries should reduce the amount of biofuel they consume so the grains needed to make it can be sold as food instead. However, the US and Canada, which both produce large amounts of biofuel, are resisting the call. The UK, US, Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Japan make up the G7. Mr Zelensky is due to address the world leaders by video-link today. Advertisement The Prime Minister yesterday argued that the leaders must help 'strengthen Ukraine's hand' by providing more military support rather than encourage Mr Zelensky to give up territory in a peace deal. Downing Street clarified to the Telegraph that this remark about peace by Mr Johnson was to 'the commentariat' and not to the G7. 'It's not helpful to discuss the individual leaders and their views expressed in private,' a spokesman added. 'I think what you will see in this G7 is that they are united in support for Ukraine.' Mr Johnson and Mr Macron, who have until now had a strained relationship, yesterday agreed to a 'reset' as they held one-on-one talks at the summit. But the Downing Street spokesman refused to say whether both leaders had reached an agreement. A No 10 source told the Daily Mail that they now believed the French president was 'on the right page' when it came to Ukraine. He said: 'They're getting on well, they had a very good meeting. It's all great with the French now. 'Both sides are aligned. [Mr] Macron said the defeat of Russia is option number one to pursue. Option two is put [Mr] Zelensky in the best position to strike a deal. 'We found that positive and officials say we are heading for a strong statement from this summit on Ukraine.' In talks with Mr Macron, Mr Johnson 'stressed any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Putin licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity'. 'The leaders agreed to continue and enhance the close work between the UK and France on areas including defence and security,' the spokesman added to the Telegraph. The PM said yesterday: 'The consequences of what's happening for the world are tough, but the price of backing down, the price of allowing Putin to succeed, to hack off huge parts of Ukraine, to continue with his programme of conquest, that price will be far, far higher and everybody here understands that.' In behind-the-scenes discussions, he reportedly told world leaders they must back an Iraq-style surge strategy to help Ukraine strike a decisive blow to win the war. The comments came after Mr Johnson's spokesman said he 'firmly believes that it is in everyone's interest to push back against Russia's invasion to support Ukraine, because failing to do so would have significant knock-on impacts'. The spokesman added: 'It would embolden other authoritarian countries, and it would put the peace and prosperity of the United Kingdom at risk.' The message was repeated by US President Joe Biden, who said: 'We have to stay together, because Putin has been counting on from the beginning that somehow Nato and the G7 would splinter. But we haven't and we're not going to.' Carrie Johnson with The President of the United States of America, Jo Biden at the G7 leaders on the first day of the G7 Leaders' Summit 2022 in Germany World leaders last night agreed a new 'surge' to defeat Vladimir Putin in Ukraine after the Kremlin bombed Kyiv while the G7 met. Pictured: G7 guests sit together at the table during a reception in the Antiquarium of the Residenz last night At a summit in Germany, Emmanuel Macron (pictured close to Boris Johnson), who had been seen by No 10 as wavering, yesterday said he was committed for the long haul after Boris Johnson warned against encouraging Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a peace deal And in a moment of light-heartedness yesterday, the leaders sat together and joked about the Russian leader's fondness of being photographed without a shirt on. As they sat down for a meeting in the Bavarian Alps, Mr Johnson questioned whether they should keep their suit jackets on. 'Shall we take our clothes off?' he asked, as leaders endured sweltering temperatures inside the summit venue as the German hosts opted not to use air conditioning in a bid to be environmentally friendly. 'We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin'. Justin Trudeau, the Canadian PM, referred to an infamous picture of Putin on a 'bare-chested horseback ride', before Mr Johnson added: 'We've got to show our pecs.' Before the meeting, Mr Johnson was asked whether France and Germany are doing enough over Ukraine. In his response, Mr Johnson focused on Berlin's response without mentioning France. 'Just look at what the Germans alone have done,' he said. 'I never believed in my lifetime that I would see a German Chancellor stepping up in the way that Olaf Scholz has and sending weaponry to help the Ukrainians to to protect themselves. 'He's made huge, huge strides. We have 4 per cent of our gas comes from Russia, in Germany, it's 40 per cent. 'They're facing real, real pressures, they're having to source energy from elsewhere. But they're doing it. They're making the effort. They're making the sacrifice. That's because they see that the price of freedom is worth paying. 'This is something that it's worth us standing up for together. And that is the principle that a free, independent sovereign country like Ukraine should not be violently invaded and should not have its boundaries changed by force. 'And the consequences of what's happening for the world are tough, but the price of backing down, the price of allowing Putin to succeed, to hack off huge parts of Ukraine, to continue with his programme of conquest, that price will be far, far higher and everybody here understands that.' And in a moment of light-heartedness yesterday, the leaders sat together and joked about the Russian leader's fondness of being photographed without a shirt on. PIctured: Vladimir Putin's famous horse riding pose Mr Johnson (pictured arriving with wife Carrie) said 'backing down' now would be a catastrophic mistake as Downing Street said the Russian leader's decision to fire missiles on the Ukrainian capital had 'stiffend the resolve' of leaders Mr Johnson also told reporters yesterday morning: 'Realistically, there is going to be fatigue in populations and politicians. I think the pressure is there and the anxiety is there, we've got to be honest about that. 'But the most incredible thing about the way the West has responded to the invasion of Ukraine by Putin has been the unity. Nato has been solid, the G7 has been solid and we continue to be solid. 'But in order to protect that unity, in order to make it work, we've got to have really, really honest discussions about the implications of what's going on, the pressures that individual friends and partners are feeling, that populations are feeling whether it's on the costs of their energy or food or whatever.' The Prime Minister today will call on world leaders to take urgent action to get essential food supplies out of Ukraine where 25 million tons of grain are currently stuck. Mr Johnson will announce 10 million in funding for repairs to the Ukrainian railways in a bid to get the grain out by train. In meetings today Mr Johnson and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will argue that countries should reduce the amount of biofuel they consume so the grains needed to make it can be sold as food instead. However, the US and Canada, which both produce large amounts of biofuel, are resisting the call. The UK, US, Germany, France, Canada, Italy and Japan make up the G7. Mr Zelensky is due to address the world leaders by video-link today. They started out as cute clips of cats posted on social media to amuse or delight fellow pet-lovers. But funny cat videos have become more sinister with some owners exploiting their felines in an attempt to become famous, warns a charity. Cats Protection highlights videos where owners provoke their pets to garner a reaction in an attempt to make the images go viral. Examples include tapping the cat to the sound of music, increasing in tempo and force, until the animal strikes back or scaring the cats by putting unusual objects next to them. Funny cat videos have become more sinister with some owners exploiting their felines in an attempt to become famous The charity said such clips may seem amusing but can be very distressing for the pets involved. Madison Rogers, head of its advocacy team, said: Some of the things people do are cruel to the animals. Even if its a 30-second clip, thats not okay for the cat to experience that stress. We shouldnt be using them to get likes on social media. There are videos where people tap their cat, almost to a tune, and it gets more intense until the point where theyre almost slapping their cat. And within 30 seconds that cat turns around and tries to attack them and they think thats really funny, but theyre harassing their cat. On TikTok, a video of a cat being terrified by a cucumber has 177,000 likes with the title saying it was trying that thing where you scare the s*** out of your cat. When approached by the Daily Mail, the owner said: Ive only done it once. Hes absolutely fine and taken care of. You act like Im the only one whos done it. Chill. A separate clip titled How many taps can you get before your cat gets mad shows a pet trying to bite and claw at a hand as it hits the animal on the back. It has 450,000 likes. Miss Rogers, at a British Veterinary Association (BVA) Live meeting in Birmingham, said: These owners just dont understand this isnt cool to the cat. This behaviour is unacceptable. There are loads of nice ways you can interact with them by playing with them, which is far more stimulating and fun for the cat. BVA president Justine Shotton said: We love to see fun videos of happy, relaxed cats behaving naturally but strongly advise owners not to scare or stress pets just to gain attention on social media. Hardcore climate protesters realise peak-hour blockades will 'irritate people' - but they don't care. As far they as they're concerned, commuter fury is the best way to make a stand against climate change. Sydneysiders travelling into Sydney's CBD from about 8am on Monday morning were greeted by the sound of helicopters blades and wailing sirens, as extreme protest group Blockade Australia took the city by storm. Police patrolled the streets in hi-vis vests in a desperate attempt to stop 60-strong group from blocking access to the Sydney Harbour Tunnel - leaving workers trapped in bumper-to-bumper traffic. A 22-year-old woman named Mali put a bicycle lock around her head and attached herself to the steering wheel of her white hatchback, while using the vehicle to block traffic from entering the tunnel. She and ten others were arrested and taken to police stations around the city, where officers will allege they took part in an unauthorised protest. The protest ended just before 9am when one demonstrator yelled 'disperse!' - and the group tore off in different directions. Despite furious drivers honking their horns and screaming 'you're a bunch of losers' at the group, 59-year-old Genevieve told Daily Mail Australia she thinks angering workers is an effective way to get her message across. Mali, 22, (pictured) blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and locked herself to her steering wheel with a bike lock Genevieve, 59, (pictured) felt compelled to join the protest to support her son, who refuses to have children due to climate change 'Of course this will irritate people but I can't think of anything else except going into politics, which I'm not going to do because I don't have the temperament for it,' she said. 'I feel like this is the best thing I can think of at the moment - if something else becomes available, I'll do that.' The Sunshine Coast local, who flew to Sydney to support her family during the protest, lamented the fact that she won't have grandchildren because her son and daughter-in-law believe the world is too far gone. 'My son is here today with his girlfriend and neither of them want to have kids because they feel it's not fair on the child to bring it into the world in that state it's in,' she said. 'It's not because he doesn't want to have them, it's because of the situation - it's not fair to have children, it's really selfish, and I feel really stressed about it.' The 25-year-old and his partner did not want to be interviewed, but - through his mother - said he has been severely depressed about lack of action on climate change. Ian, 76, carried a sign on Monday morning that read: 'Police overreaction to peaceful climate protesters' Protesters hold a sign outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as a car blocks off traffic Pictured: One man being arrested during the climate protests on Monday morning in Sydney 'He thinks the whole world's had it and that it's too late, so I'm seriously worried about his mental health,' Genevieve added. Another protester, Ian, held a sign at the rally that read 'police overreaction to peaceful climate protesters' - with a photo of cops in bulletproof vests. When asked whether disrupting traffic was a good way to get bystanders to heed their message, the 76-year-old said immediate action is required. Ian accused Scott Morrison's former Liberal government of failing to acknowledge climate change for the nine years they lead the nation, before Anthony Albanese's Labor government was elected in May. 'I'm 76 - I haven't got another nine years,' he said. 'How many bushfires, floods, and homeless people do we need?' 'We need to take action to make sure that the people who got elected today take action.' Ian said he saw three people being arrested after pushing bins and fencing over, and asked why police used such force. One man picked up fencing in Sydney's CBD on Monday morning and threw it (pictured) Pictured: Climate protesters in Sydney on Monday morning. The group tried to create traffic pandemonium in the CBD 'The way they grabbed people and pushed them to the ground - you just thing 'is that necessary?' 'There are people shooting each other in the western suburbs, but if someone pushes a wheelie bin they're thrown to the ground,' he added, referencing a series of gangland shootings in the city's west. Moments earlier, Marli livestreamed the protest from her car. 'I'm Marli, I'm 22. I'm [here] in protest of the climate destruction that is happening in this continent right now,' she said. 'There are some really angry people who are screaming and threatening me - banging on windows and doors.' An outraged commuter could be seen during the video approaching her car and yelling at her through a window. The woman's white hatchback was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour 'Guess what f** wit? You're going to jail!' he screamed. 'They are going to love you in there!' The group had made plans to 'run or disperse' through the city in a message sent out via an app on Sunday night, with leaders distributing legal advice to members ahead of the protest. The environmental group also gave instructions for how activists can wreak havoc on traffic in the CBD. 'This wont be like a regular rally with speeches and a lot of time standing around we will be meeting at 8am sharp and then moving quickly from there,' the memo read. 'Depending on police tactics you may be required to run or disperse depending on your abilities. Be prepared to walk on roads and stop cars from passing.' A police officer was seen in a stand-off with a protester as the activist attempted to move a barricade Protesters were urged to keep their phone notifications turned off and ensure devices were password protected. The advice also told demonstrators to only say 'no comment' if arrested and warned against wearing 'contact lenses, makeup or oily sunscreen' to reduce injury if pepper sprayed. The event had been publicised over the group's online channels for weeks, with participants offered workshops for 'legal', 'street welfare', and 'medic' training. In marketing material for the June 27- July 2 rally, the group said they intend to converge' on Sydney to 'blockade the streets of Australia's most important political and economic centre and cause disruption that cannot be ignored'. Los Angeles records 22 monkeypox cases after Pride events as health officials say outbreak is running rampant among gay community. 'Anyone can get and spread monkeypox, but some of the recent cases identified have been among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who attended large events where the exposure to monkeypox may have occurred,' said Los Angeles Department of Public Health in a statement. The warning comes after a month of Pride celebrations in the city that included Pride in the Park on June 11, a concert that attracted over 20,000 people and included a performance from Christina Aguilera as well as the city's parade which occurred on June 12. According to the Los Angeles Times, thousands of people lined the city's streets to celebrate the return of the parade following a two-year hiatus due to Covid-19. As of June 2, there were just three cases of monkeypox in all of California, NBC News said at the time. There are now 51 reported monkeypox cases in California and 199 cases nationwide, according to the CDC. LA is now offering the JYNNEOS vaccine to 'individuals at a higher risk of monkeypox.' JYNNEOS is a vaccine used to treat smallpox and monkeypox that was first approved for use in the US by the Federal Drug Administration in 2019. New York City began a rollout of the vaccine in preparation for their Pride celebrations this past Thursday. There are 35 reported cases in New York state. Most early cases in the US were in people who had just returned from traveling abroad. But the disease has spread quickly, especially among gay men. Worldwide, health officials have already warned that there is a spike in monkeypox cases in male gay and bisexual communities. Monkeypox native to West Africa has now been detected more than 3,000 times across 40 countries where it is not typically found this year. The above map shows the spread of monkeypox across the U.S. The virus has now been detected in 24 states. Previously, New York was the epicenter of the outbreak but it has now been surpassed by California Revelers in Los Angeles enjoying the Pride parade earlier in June 2022. Following the celebration, health officials warned that recent cases in the city 'identified have been among gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who attended large events' Similar to New York City, the city of Los Angeles is offering the JYNNEOS vaccine to 'individuals at a higher risk of monkeypox' The theme of Los Angeles' Pride parade this year was 'Love Your Pride' The tropical disease is primarily spread through physical contact with infectious rashes, but in rare cases it can also be transmitted through 'sustained' face-to-face contact. Many patients have rashes on their genital area and anus as a first warning sign, before the disease spreads to the rest of the body. It can take up to four weeks to get better from the disease, with most cases being mild and clearing up on their own. Someone remains infectious until their rashes have scabbed over and eventually fallen off. In May 2022, Andy Seale, a strategies adviser with the World Health Organization, was quoted as saying that it's important for people to celebrate Pride events as normal. He said: 'It's important that people who want to go out and celebrate gay pride, LGBTQ+ pride, to continue to go and plan to so.' Seale also said: 'Given that this is not a gay disease, the transmission routes are common to everybody. The advice is pretty much the same for all people.' Also in May 2022, Dr. David Heymann, who formerly headed WHO's emergencies department, told The Associated Press that the leading theory to explain the spread of the disease was sexual transmission at raves held in Spain and Belgium. 'We know monkeypox can spread when there is close contact with the lesions of someone who is infected, and it looks like sexual contact has now amplified that transmission,' said Heymann. Monkeypox does not spread easily from person-to-person and requires the exchange of bodily fluids or prolonged exposure to someone who already has the virus There have been no deaths recorded amid the 2022 outbreak of monkeypox in Europe and the US Just a few days before Pride events kicked off in New York City, 'at risk' gay and bisexual men were offered the vaccine This week, WHO stopped short of declaring Monkeypox a global health emergency but did say that the situation would be reviewed again next month. US boosts monkeypox testing in bid to speed diagnoses The Biden administration has started shipping monkeypox tests to commercial laboratories, in a bid to speed diagnoses for suspected infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is sending swabs to labs including Aegis Science, Labcorp, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics and Sonic Healthcare. It said this would significant expand the nation's capacity to test for monkeypox. Previously, testing has largely been confined to public health labs, which combined have a capacity of about 8,000 tests per week. 'All Americans should be concerned about monkeypox cases', said Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra in a statement. 'Thankfully we have right now the tools to fight and treat cases in America. 'By dramatically expanding the number of testing locations throughout the country, we are making it possible for anyone who needs to be tested to do so.' Advertisement WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the outbreak. 'I am deeply concerned about the monkeypox outbreak, this is clearly an evolving health threat that my colleagues and I in the WHO Secretariat are following extremely closely,' Tedros said. The 'global emergency' label currently only applies to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, and the U.N. agency has stepped back from applying it to the monkeypox outbreak after advice from a meeting of international experts. New York City health chiefs were blasted for their 'last minute' roll out of monkeypox vaccines just two days before the city's Pride weekend Friday as scores of walk-ins were turned away on the second day of inoculations. Last Thursday, the city became the first in the U.S. to start offering the jab to the most 'at risk' gay or bisexual men. But within three hours of launching the drive it was forced to suspend walk-ins due to 'high demand', and all appointments were booked solid until Monday. At least 100 men queued for the jab last Thursday morning, with many not having bookings arriving up to two hours before the clinic opened. But all walk-ins were turned away and told to check online for new slots. Chris LeBron, a Democrat candidate for the New York State Assembly, slammed the 'pop-up' inoculation and slammed the city's health commissioner Dr Ashwin Vasan for failing to turn up to monitor the vaccinations. Men waiting to get inoculated today said it was 'ridiculous' that only 1,000 doses were available in a city of eight million. Others slammed health officials for giving 'contradictory' information on how to get jabbed. Many of those who got the vaccine today expressed their relief, saying they would now be able to enjoy the Pride weekend safely which is expected to draw crowds numbering more than two million. One man even left the clinic telling a friend, 'we can make out tonight!' No deaths have been recorded amid the 2022 outbreak, but health officials warn it could spill over into more vulnerable populations if the outbreak is not contained. A furious commuter has driven his car through a pack of climate change protesters - while another has unleashed a torrent of abuse at a young woman who chained herself to her hatchback while blocking traffic though the Sydney Harbour Tunnel. Extraordinary footage captured in Sydney's CBD between 8am and 9am on Monday shows the moment members of the extremist Blockade Australia group were almost hit by an SUV while standing in the middle of an intersection near Wynyard Park. The enraged driver drove straight through the demonstration, as protesters fruitlessly tried to stop the vehicle and chase it across the road - almost getting run over in the process. The scenes unfolded when dozens of demonstrators hit the streets of the city - wreaking havoc and disrupting innocent Sydneysiders on their way to work in an attempt to raise awareness about climate change. Mali, 22, parked her white hatchback across the road leading into the busy tunnel at about 8.30am and brought hundreds of drivers to a standstill. Police later cut her from the car. She began to livestream the protest when an angry driver walked up to her window and began to verbally abuse her with a string of swear words before storming off. 'You're f***ing everyone's day up,' he yells. 'Get the f*** out of the way!' An outraged commuter erupted at a climate activist after she chained herself to the steering wheel of her car and blocked traffic outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel She began to livestream the protest when an angry driver walked up to her window and began to verbally abuse her before storming off The woman's white hatchback was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour An unfazed Mali continues to look at the camera before she responds: 'To this man I would say I stand with you. It is for you, it is for your family that we do this.' Mali staged the protest as dozens of Blockade Australia demonstrators marched through the streets in the CBD, disrupting traffic and clashing with police. One fed-up driver was filmed edging their car through the crowd forcing people to jump out of its way with one protestor banging on the hood of the car as they were pushed backwards. Mali, who moaned about climate destruction in her livestream, then sipped water from a plastic water bottle as she continued her protest on the other side of the city. 'The police are here,' she said into the camera. 'Not sure if you can see. Thank you everyone who has listened. 'I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to hold this phone and hold this space. It's a big day ahead.' A driver has rammed through a climate change demonstration taking place in the middle of Sydney (pictured) Protesters marched down the street before a car drove through the intersection and almost hit two activists carrying a banner. Protesters then chased the car as it drove past She then looks out the window to check on the police officers circling her car before the angered commuter walks back up to her car. The commuter screamed at her that she was 'f***ing selfish', then yelled a phrase at her about 'jail' that is so obscene it cannot be published. Mali continues to look away at her phone and tries to ignore the commuter hurling insults at her. The commuter then walks away before Mali urges her viewers to join her cause. 'Come and stand in solidarity. Find your voice,' she said. A police officer then walks up to her window and politely asks her for identification. The tunnel is one of the major thoroughfares taking commuters across the city's harbour, and is used by up to 2,000 cars every hour. All traffic had been diverted via the Harbour Bridge and drivers were backed up for several kilometres. During a press conference on Monday afternoon, Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan slammed the protester's actions and said Mali 'placed herself at risk, placed members of the public at risk, and placed rescuers at risk.' 'The behaviour of this group is nothing short of criminal activity,' the officer continued. 'The throwing of bicycles, the throwing of garbage bins, the throwing of other items in the path of police, in the path of media, in the path of innocent members of the public just walking by will not be tolerated and cannot be by the people of NSW.' Police officers surrounded the white hatchback as blocked traffic backed up for several kilometres The woman was eventually arrested by several officers and the tunnel reopened around 9am When asked whether he had a message for anyone who participated in the protest and thinks they got away without arrest, Mr Dunstan said: 'We are reviewing CCTV ... expect a knock on your door. 'Will be coming for you to be arrested.' Mr Dunstan added that the protester's actions were 'incredibly dangerous' and described their behaviour as 'unacceptable'. Mali was one of dozens of Blockade Australia demonstrators that stormed the city, after vowing to create a week of misery for commuters by disrupting traffic with police frantically tried to stop the protest with barricade fences. In a statement, the radical group said their week-long protest activities had 'begun' with 'its Sydney mobilization to resist climate destruction'. 'Sydney is where Australia's operation began, and for more than two centuries, it has been where Australia's destruction of this continent has been most intense,' a spokesperson for the group said. 'The institutions of Australia are concentrations of coercive power that enable this exploitation. Our collective survival rests on organised opposition and the use of strategic direct action to stand against this project of destruction. Protesters hold a sign outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as a car blocks off traffic Dozens descended on Sydney's centre, carrying signs and chanting as they demanded action for climate change 'Blockade Australia will continue to cause disruption and resist climate destruction in the days to come.' Meanwhile, furious Australians have flocked online to slam the group for interrupting society with 'dangerous' antics.' 'These Blockade idiots need to think better,' one person tweeted. 'Even though many support Climate Change, still most of Australia is against these fools. Ban their public welfare if the want to put lives in danger blocking traffic and transport.' 'Im sorry but #BlockadeAustralia is 10yrs too late & giving climate change activism a bad name,' another said. Another man pointed out the protests meant people were spending longer in their cars with the heaters using petrol on due to the road blockage, which ironically was bad for the environment. A police officer picks up milk crates left on the street as demonstrators were seen throwing bins and objects into the path of police to slow them down A man picked up a barricade fence and ran away as protests choked traffic in the CBD on Monday 'Its all well and good to protest but to harass the broader community is just selfish,' a fourth wrote. As commuters began heading into the city for work, throngs of protesters descended on Elizabeth Street before marching around Hyde Park towards NSW Parliament. The crowd was forced to disperse when it was blocked by police at the intersection of George and Bridge streets, blocking access to the Harbour Bridge. Blockade Australia said it would hold a press conference at 2.30pm at Redfern Park. Tony Blackburn has attacked the BBC for its strange decision to move his Radio 2 show. The 79-year-old DJ appeared to blame the decision on ageism, saying in a post on social media theres a lot of it about. Blackburn learned earlier this month that from mid-July his Golden Hour show would be moved from 7pm on Fridays to the same time on Sunday. The 79-year-old DJ appeared to blame the decision on ageism, saying in a post on social media theres a lot of it about Blackburn criticised the wacky decision on Twitter, and fans of the show flocked to support the former Radio 1 DJ. One commented that the BBC was making a lot of mistakes by changing up the scheduling. The Golden Hour move is part of wider changes to Radio 2 scheduling that sees Craig Charles Saturday House Party axed. The channel will host new shows from RuPauls Drag Race UK judge Michelle Visage, Waterloo Road actress Angela Griffin and DJ Spoony. An insider said there were a lot of unhappy DJs at the moment as a result. One fan wrote online: Its the official start of the weekend, well be listening in Tony. Making the most of the Friday nights whilst we can! Another added: Enjoying the music tonight... going to miss the golden hour at this time. In response, Blackburn promised fans that he would make Sundays more fun and agreed it was a pity the show was losing its Friday slot where it belongs. Earlier in the day, he asked his followers doesnt anyone value experience anymore after learning that some employers were not considering over-55s for jobs. Listening to the radio and the discussion involved people over the age of 55 not being considered by employers for a job. Doesnt anyone value experience anymore, he wrote. I hate ageism and theres a lot of it about. Millions of people working from home could face 'tremendous disruption' as up to 45,000 BT staff vote on taking industrial action, it was reported last night. Engineers and frontline workers will decide whether to walk out in as soon as a fortnight's time in what would be the first national strike in 35 years. Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) accused BT's management of trying to impose an 'incredibly low flat-rate pay rise'. 45,000 staff could take part in the strike, which would be the first since the company was privatised in the mid-1980s Company insiders warned there would be 'clear disruption' to services, including phone line installations and repairs, the Daily Telegraph reported. BT said it is confident of maintaining services if a strike goes ahead. Bosses added that they offered a 1,500 pay rise to frontline workers but it was refused. The company said: 'It's our highest salary increase in more than 20 years.' The CWU is also balloting more than 100,000 postal workers tomorrow in a similar dispute over pay. The general secretary of the CWU, Dave Ward, accused the telecom giant of making large profits without compensating workers. 'What's making workers more angry is that the CEO of BT, his pay has gone up by 32 per cent in the last year,' he told Sky News yesterday. The row comes after a week of rail chaos crippled the nation. Around 40,000 workers from the militant RMT union went on strike for three days last week, paralysing the country's rail network. RMT general secretary Mick Lynch said further industrial action has not been ruled out, as an agreement with the government over pay and job security yet to be reached. Vladimir Putin's glamorous frontwoman Maria Zakharova has slammed 'totalitarian' Australia for jailing his biggest fan Down Under. In a bizarre briefing aired on YouTube, Zakharova claimed the so-called 'Aussie Cossack' was a 'political prisoner' who had been wrongly locked up. A diehard Putin supporter, Simeon Boikov has been charged with breaching a suppression order after allegedly naming a man accused of paedophilia during a 'freedom' rally. Zakharova said Boikov was 'popular public figure in Australia' who had fallen victim to 'oppressive' and 'Russophobic' authorities. 'Obviously politically motivated, the application for bail was rejected, that is, the standard procedure in the Anglo-Saxon justice system was denied,' she said. Zakharova is the most prominent face of the so-called 'Red Lipstick Army', a group of Putin recruits used to sell his propaganda message, and soften the 'hard edge' of Russia's war brutality. Valdimir Putin's glamorous 'Red Lipstick Army' frontwoman Maria Zakharova (above) has released an astonishing YouTube briefing deamnding the release from jail of the 'Aussie Cossack' Zakharova, whose YouTube channel is a 'Must Watch' for millions of followers said Simeon Boikov's detainment was 'poltiically motivated and slams Australia for being 'totalitarian' and 'oppressive' Her briefings have reportedly become 'must watch' events for millions of followers on her YouTube channel, where she has claimed Ukrainian reports about a Russian airstrike on a maternity hospital in March were false, and that Volodymyr Zelensky is making biological weapons. Zakharova's latest video comes as Boikov is due to face Burwood Local Court on Thursday on a charge of revealing the name of an alleged paedophile whose identity was suppressed. Boikov was arrested in May after uttering the alleged child sex offender's name at a 'freedom' rally at Circular Quay of protesters against Covid vaccine mandates, then had his application for bail refused. In an extraordinary video, Zakharova said refusing Boikov bail was evidence 'the standard procedure in the Anglo-Saxon justice system was denied' and called Australia 'Russophobic' The pro-Russia diehard faces a hearing on charges of recklessly contravening a suppression order, recklessly contravening a non-publication order, and using a carriage service to menace, harass or offend. In a fierce defence of Boikov, Zakharova's speech supports his own claims that he is a 'political prisoner'. She also describes him as 'distinguished by a principled approach' and the suppression order he allegedly violated as 'a symbolic measure of restraint on a person accused of child molestation'. 'The opinion of the descendent of the Trans-Boikal Cossacks is authoritative (and he) is followed by tens of thousands of subscribers in social networks,' she says. Simeon Boikov (pictured) will be sentenced on Thursday after spending six weeks bail refused in prison after he breached a suppression order by naming an alleged paedophile at a Covid rally The glamorous wife of the ultra pro-Russian Simeon Boikov, Ekaterina Olshannikova (above) aka 'Mrs Cossack' has encouraged supporters to write to her husband while he is in jail bail-refused 'He has his own large audience including due to his irreconcilable attitude to a number of issues related to traditional values. 'Given his position, it can be concluded that this is a real problem in Australia ... evidenced by the failure on May 21 this year of the parliamentary elections of the Liberal-National coalition. Zakharova said it was quite remarkable that the Australian court decided to adjourn the hearing of the case until June 30, leaving Boikov behind bars until then. 'Such demonstrative harshness is completely unjustified and sends the wrong signal to the public, because those whom he spoke against (associated with violence against minors) and not those who expose them should be sent to places of detention or treatment. 'We see in this case a clear desire to additionally punish an active compatriot.' She also said it was an 'example of double standards and prejudice against those who use the right to freely express their views which which do not coincide with the Russophobic mainstream that is currently dominant in Australia'. Katia Elshannikova (left) claims 'thosuands' of supportive cards and letters were delivered to her husband's jail cell, and his claims of being a 'political prisoner' are backed by Putin's 'Red Lipstick Army' frontwoman Maria Zakharova (right) 'The more liberal the statements the more the countries of the "collective West" show totalitarian tendencies in their practical activities,' Zakharova said. 'Healthy forces, the People, the Australian society and our compatriots on the "green continent" demand the speedy release of Simeon Boikov and an end to his persecutions by the Australian repressive apparatus.' Boikov has previously been in court charged with disobeying a Covid direction, and driving offences. He had an apprehended violence order taken out against him on behalf of his glamorous wife, Ekaterina Olshannikova, less than a year after they were married. Also known by her married name, Katia Boikova, she has taken on the moniker of 'Mrs Cossack' and maintained his Telegram social media channel since her husband was refused bail. Ms Boikova has encouraged supporters to send him postcards in prison and contribute to a legal fighting fund. She informed followers at the weekend that he had been transferred from Silverwater prison to Long Bay Correctional Complex's 'special management unit' after being declared 'an extremely high risk inmate'. She also claimed 'thousands of postcards and letters of support were ... brought to his cell daily'. Ms Olshannikova took the AVO out against Simeon Boikov (above left, together) in January, but calling herself 'Mrs Cossack' has staunchly supported her husband since her was bail refused last month Boikov, who claims Putin is merely 'liberating' not invading Ukraine, has described his wife as an even more 'staunch' Putin supporter than him and claimed she was 'disgusted with the way the West' has turned against Russia. She and Boikov, 32, a former Sydney private schoolboy who attended elite Trinity Grammar and St Andrews Cathedral School, married in a traditional ceremony in February last year, believed to have been held at St Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Fairfield. Boikov describes himself as 'a freedom fighter' and the self-appointed chieftain of his Aussie Cossack movement. He has also campaigned against pandemic lockdowns and against mandated Covid vaccinations. Simeon Boikov, the 'Aussie Cossack', has been locked up in Silverwater and then Long Bay jails, his wife Katia says, as 'an extreme high risk' inmate The video briefing came from one of the 'Red Lisptick Army' Russian President Vladimir Putin has commandeered to take the 'hard edge' off the grim realities of his war against Ukraine Earlier this year, Mr Boikov described Scott Morrison's pledge to send Ukraine $70million to fund missiles and armaments as dangerous to Australians and said the Australian Prime Minister was 'a complete fool' to provoke Putin who was 'not mucking around'. Mr Boikov said it was foolish to for Australia to get involved in 'financing death, destruction, tragedy and bloodshed (in Ukraine)'. 'Is it a PR stunt?' he said. Mr Boikov claims to be a student of Russian and European history who believes 'Nazi' inspired battalions have been waging war against Russian speakers in Ukraine, since a political overthrow of government in 2014. Despite admitting 'a lot of crazies' follow him', Mr Boikov said 98 per cent of his serious followers believe Australia 'should not be committing missiles or financing a war against Russia'. He described the West's campaign to get behind Ukraine and oppose Russia as 'virtue signalling" and derided 'Instagram models .... who suddenly overnight become interested in the war' and put the yellow and blue colours of the Ukraine flag on their Instagram pages like 'they're Parramatta Eels supporters". 'I am against war, but the war has replaced Covid as the latest fear mongering campaign,' he said. A shipping container that has become an almost permanent feature of the Sydney Harbour Bridge has sparked rampant speculation about its purpose - particularly as it is often flanked by a police car. A photo emerged last week of a NSW Police car parked next to the container on the iconic landmark, prompting several locals to question why officers have often been seen nearby. 'Why are the police here every morning on the Sydney Harbour Bridge next to this shipping container?' a Reddit user asked. The police vehicle was pictured parked next to a refrigerated storage unit on the Sydney Harbour Bridge (pictured) but law enforcement said they the car was part of a high-visibility operation to deter Blockade activists and was not guarding the container Users joked the storage unit contained the $25 million NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet committed for the construction of a third flagpole to fly the Aboriginal flag atop the bridge. 'It's the new police unit to protect the additional flag,' one quipped. 'That's where the 25mil is in cold hard cash for the new flag,' another user commented. However, the container simply contains materials used for the bridge's cleaning and maintenance, officials said. The storage unit contained material used for cleaning and the maintenance of the iconic landmark (stock, Sydney Harbour Bridge) Some users speculated police were guarding the container against Blockade Australia - an extreme environmental group which started week-long protests on Monday. Police said the vehicle parked on the bridge was part of a high-visibility operation designed to deter activists and was not guarding the shipping container. 'NSW Police has absolutely nothing to do with this container,' NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia. 'We are NOT guarding it, it has nothing to do with the current operation. I understand it's (the container) been there for months.' Police were on high alert after Blockade activists used a messaging app to send out a plan for 'mass disruption' on Sunday, which included legal advice as well as instructions on how to cause traffic chaos. Dozens of protesters stormed the city's roads from 8am on Monday hurling signs, fencing and traffic cones onto the streets slowing down police and commuters. A woman from the group's Lismore contingent proudly posted footage online of herself chained to her steering wheel by the neck while her white hatchback blocked traffic from entering the Harbour Tunnel. 'I'm Mali, I'm 22. I'm [here] in protest of the climate destruction that is happening in this continent right now,' she said in a video posted to social media. 'There are some really angry people who are screaming and threatening me - banging on windows and doors.' Traffic was backed for several kilometres as motorists were diverted to the Harbour Bridge. The tunnel was reopened after the car was removed, the Transport Management Centre said at 9.12am. NSW Police said 11 people, including the woman taken into custody at the tunnel's entrance, had been arrested in the wake of the 'unauthorised protests'. Blockade protester, Mail, 22, (pictured) blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and locked herself to her steering wheel with a bike lock before proudly posting the footage online. The white hatchback was parked across two lanes caused chaos for thousands of motorists The ten protesters who were arrested in the CBD were taken to Surry Hills and Day Street Police Stations, where charges are expected. In a statement, the radical group said their protest activities had 'begun' with 'its Sydney mobilization to resist climate destruction'. 'Sydney is where Australia's operation began, and for more than two centuries, it has been where Australia's destruction of this continent has been most intense,' a spokesperson for the group said. 'The institutions of Australia are concentrations of coercive power that enable this exploitation. Our collective survival rests on organised opposition and the use of strategic direct action to stand against this project of destruction. 'Blockade Australia will continue to cause disruption and resist climate destruction in the days to come.' A New York shopper has spoken about her experience standing next to former mayor Rudy Giuliani when he was 'attacked' by a worker at a Staten Island supermarket on Sunday afternoon. Drita Rugov was standing next to Giuliani, who had agreed to pose for a photograph with her, when out of nowhere a 39-year-old store employee slapped the 78-year-old on the back. Rugov claims that the slap was so hard she felt it too. 'It happened so quickly. I mean I was shoulder to shoulder with Giuliani and I couldve been hit. Never mind me, I just felt bad for Giuliani. He hit him so hard that I felt it.' Speaking to Dailymail.com she said that she felt sorry for the former New York mayor and said that he did not deserve the treatment he received simply because of his political views or affiliation. 'I was doing my normal usual grocery shopping here in ShopRite when I happened to see the former Mayor Giuliani in there. I went up to him to say "hello" and I wanted to take a photo with him. I was getting ready to take this photo when a gentleman that works here hit him open handedly in the back, closer to his neck and said to him "Hey you f***ing scumbag!"' Rugov explained. Drita Rugov was standing next to Giuliani who had agreed to pose for a photograph with her when out of nowhere a 39-year-old store employee slapped the 78-year-old on the back Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was campaigning with his son and New York gubernatorial candidate Andrew Giuliani, seen left here in s a file photo from earlier this month 'Number one he's a senior citizen and no matter what his political views are, nobody should be hit. He went to use the mens room and then this gentleman obviously isnt happy with Giuliani and decided to assault him, so the gentleman was arrested,' Rugov continued. 'I am a regular shopper here and Ive seen that employee in here. Ive never had words with him or anything. I'm actually stunned that gentleman did that especially knowing all the staff are nice and the owner's are nice to everybody,' Rugova said. The employee was promptly escorted out by security and arrested. He now faces a charge of second-degree assault. Giuliani was in Staten Island to show support for his son Andrew, who is a gubernatorial candidate and standing for election in the Republican primary this Tuesday. Surveillance footage captured by in-store cameras appear to show the so-called attack was little more than a tap on the back - but Giuliani appeared to have felt things differently. The former New York City mayor went on New York radio station WABC describing how he was fortunate not to have been seriously injured, or even killed. 'Number one he's a senior citizen and no matter what his political views are, nobody should be hit. He went to use the mens room and then this gentleman obviously isnt happy with Giuliani and decided to assault him, so the gentleman was arrested,' Rugova explained 'I come out of the men's room and a group of people are around me, hugging me and kissing. All the sudden, I feel a shot on my back. Like somebody shot me!,' he began. 'I feel this tremendous pain in my back, and Im thinking, what the I didnt even know what it was. All of a sudden, I hear this guy say, Youre a f***ing scumbag, then he moves away so nobody can grab him. 'I went forward but luckily I didn't fall down. Lucky I'm a 78-year-old who's in pretty good shape, cause if I wasn't, I'd have hit the ground and probably cracked my skull and then I look around and the guy says words I can't repeat. 'You f***in' whatever!' 'He moves away yelling and screaming, 'You're gonna kill women!'' You guys think youre saving babies, but youre gonna kill women, the worker, who faces assault charges continued to rage. Rudy Giuliani was attacked by a supermarket worker on Staten Island on Sunday as he was campaigning for his son, Andrew, left, when he was slapped (file photo) Giulinai said that he understood the comment to be about abortion rights and the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v Wade. 'The Supreme Court made a decision,' Giuliani said. 'You dont go around attacking people because of it. I mean, go get it changed.' 'He looked either drunk or high. He works for ShopRite and I thought to myself that I might ordinarily have ignored it. But I had to have this guy arrested because this has going on too damn much. 'I mean suppose I was a weaker 78-year-old and cracked my skull and died?' he asked. 'This has to stop. This is getting ridiculous,' he told the New York Times. 'Ive been in politics 50 years, Ive never been attacked like this.' Giuliani said he had red marks on his back but there was no blood and he had managed to stay on his feet. 'My back hurts, but otherwise Im able to walk and stuff like that.He almost knocked me down. Thank God for a 78-year-old, I am in pretty good shape.' Giuliani has flipped over the years when it comes to his stance on abortions, first having opposed them, then supporting them before backtracking once again. On his WABC radio show he said he had gone through 'a torturous, intellectual, and emotional and moral situation with abortion' before ultimately deciding that he opposed the practice. Giuliani, 78, was at the supermarket as he stumped for his son, Andrew, who is running to be New York State Governor (file photo) Shortly after the incident, Andrew Giuliani tweeted 'MAKE NEW YORK SAFE AGAIN!' although did not refer specifically to the incident Giuliani was at the supermarket as he campaigned for his son, Andrew, who is running to be New York State Governor ahead of Tuesday's primary. 'Hes doing fine,' son Andrew told the New York Post. 'But its a sad day when New Yorkers greatest crime fighter, Americas Mayor, is attacked. I blame the left-wing for encouraging violence. This is crazy.' Andrew said that his father was in good spirits and joked: 'I ran into the only person who is not voting for Andrew Giuliani.' Witnesses and law enforcement say he his father appeared shaken following the assault. 'I was stunned. I was shoulder-to-shoulder with Rudy inside ShopRite. We're talking, and all of a sudden an employee came out of nowhere and open-handedly slapped him in the back and said, 'Hey, what's up scumbag?'' Rugova-Johnson told the New York Post. '[The attacker] was on duty at the time,' she said. 'The cops arrested him.' The attack happened at the ShopRite store in Staten Island on Veterans Road Giuliani was said to be posing for photos at the time of the attack by a store worker Giuliani was a lawyer for former President Donald Trump and pushed baseless claims about election fraud and wanted to dispute the results of the 2020 presidential election Giuliani who was a lawyer for former President Donald Trump when he was in office, was posing for photos at the time of the attack. 'Rudy was assaulted,' Giuliani's partner Dr. Maria Ryan said. 'He's a 78-year-old man with a bad back and bad knees.' A worker at the ShopRite store who answered the phone told DailyMail.com that they were 'not allowed to say anything' however the store later released a statement regarding the incident. 'We are aware that an incident instigated by a store associate involving former Mayor Rudy Giuliani took place at our store on Staten Island earlier today. Store security observed the incident, reacted swiftly and the police were notified. 'We have zero tolerance for aggression toward anyone,' a spokesperson said. On Twitter, Giuliani was roundly mocked over the incident. 'Wow! I would never condone slapping a public official unless they'd done and said all the terrible things Rudy has done,' joked one. 'He got hit so hard his hair started crying again,' mocked another. 'Hopefully the Staten Island ShopRite employee had access to hand sanitizer,' added another Twitter user Advertisement Revelers attending the two biggest Pride parades in the nation were running panicked from perceived gunfire on Sunday - which police in both New York City and San Francisco said was a false alarm. With tensions at boiling point nationwide following Friday's repeal of Roe v Wade, and the angry scenes in Phoenix, Los Angeles and Cedar Rapids that evening, Pride was being celebrated this weekend with a mix of defiance and trepidation. In Manhattan, marchers in Washington Square Park ran after hearing what sounded like gunshots. Jeffrey Maddrey, New York Police Department's chief of patrol, tweeted on Sunday afternoon that the noise was from fireworks, and there was no gunfire. Similarly in San Francisco, Pride partygoers in the Civic Centre dashed away in terror as rumor spread of a mass shooting. NEW YORK CITY: Pride attendees scramble to flee Washington Square Park on Sunday, after fireworks were mistaken for gunshot NEW YORK CITY: People were trampled as the crowd ran to get out of the way in Manhattan on Sunday NEW YORK CITY: The panic reflects a deep unease after the Oslo gay bar shooting, and amid tensions in the U.S. over Roe v Wade NEW YORK CITY: Washington Square Park on Sunday was a scene of joy, before the stampede One person said: 'I was there and it was horrible. Fell over in the stampede and no buildings were open so we were out in the street. After what happened in Oslo I didnt want to risk it.' Another commented: 'The way mass shootings have affected nyc is insane. 'Fireworks went off at washington square park during pride and people almost got trampled because people ran in masses in fear. like nothing i have ever seen.' Video editor Brian Vinik tweeted photos of the ground strewn with debris, as Pride attendees fled in a rush. 'Aftermath of panic at Washington Square Park after people mistook fireworks for gunshots during Pride,' he said. 'Fortunately I was several blocks away from the main stampede. Sad reflection of the state of the world that vulnerable communities & celebrations have to be on such high alert.' Another said: 'Whoever set off fireworks in Washington Square Park in todays environment WILL go to hell.' San Francisco police told DailyMail.com that they believed it was a false alarm. SAN FRANCISCO: Pride parade attendees fled on Sunday in San Francisco amid fear of gunshots ringing out SAN FRANCISCO: Police rushed to the scene but found no evidence of any shots fired; instead, it's believed that people were fighting and sparked a panic SAN FRANCISCO: Pride participants are seen in San Francisco on Sunday, at one of the nation's biggest celebrations 'On June 26, 2022 at approximately 5:25 pm, San Francisco Police Officers assigned to the Civic Center area for the San Francisco Pride Festival responded to the area of 7 St and Market Street on a report of a shooting,' they said in a statement. 'Officers responded to the area and were unable to located any victims or witnesses. 'At this time it does not appear that there was any merit to a shooting in the area, and officers remain on scene to ensure safety and security of Pride events.' The panic comes after both the shooting in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, on Friday night at a gay bar, and the unrest in the United States. The annual marches in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and elsewhere are taking place just two days after one conservative justice on the Supreme Court signaled, in a ruling on abortion, that the court should reconsider the right to same-sex marriage recognized in 2015. New York City's annual pride parade kicked off Sunday with glittering confetti, fluttering rainbow flags and newfound fears about losing freedoms won through decades of activism. 'We're here to make a statement,' said 31-year-old Mercedes Sharpe, who traveled to Manhattan from Massachusetts. 'I think it's about making a point, rather than all the other years like how we normally celebrate it. 'This one's really gonna stand out. I think a lot of angry people, not even just women, angry men, angry women.' The warning shot from the nation's top court came after a year of legislative defeats for the LGBTQ community, including the passage of laws in some states limiting the discussion of sexual orientation or gender identity with children. As anti-gay sentiments resurface, some are pushing for pride parades to return to their roots - less blocks-long street parties, more overtly civil rights marches. 'It has gone from being a statement of advocacy and protest to being much more of a celebration of gay life,' Sean Clarkin, 67, said of New York City's annual parade while enjoying a drink recently at Julius's, one of the oldest gay bars in Manhattan's Greenwich Village. Parades celebrating LGBTQ pride kick off in some of America's biggest cities on Sunday amid new fears about the potential erosion of freedoms won through decades of activism. The annual marches in New York, San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles and elsewhere take place just two days after one conservative justice on the Supreme Court signaled, in a ruling on abortion, that the court should reconsider the right to same-sex marriage recognized in 2015 A COLORFUL, BIG APPLE: People take part in the annual pride parade, in Manhattan, New York, on Sunday. The event, led by planned parenthood, is the first without coronavirus restrictions since 2019 POLE SWINGIN': People from different neighborhoods in New York City gathered in Manhattan to take part in LGBTQ+ festivities, with some attendees sitting on construction poles to observe the annual pride parade, in Manhattan on Sunday JUST SMILE & WAVE: Parade onlookers wave rainbow flags along barricades fences during the New York City Pride Parade on June 26, with thousands of New Yorkers celebrating LGBTQ+ freedoms won through decades of activism Revelers waving countless amounts of rainbow flags, symbolic of the LGBTQ+ community worldwide, in Manhattan, just two days after SCOTUS overturned Roe v Wade on Friday, holding that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to abortion NEVER FORGET: In this 1969 file photo, an NYPD officer grabs a Stonewall Inn patron by the arm as other officers hold onto the activist during a confrontation in Greenwich Village after a Gay Power march in New York The Stonewall riots were a series of unplanned protests by the gay and lesbian community in response to a police raid that began in the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, at the Stonewall Inn (pictured) in the Greenwich Village neighborhood in Manhattan, New York City New York State Governor Kathy Hochul spoke at the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center Groundbreaking near The Stonewall Inn on Friday two days before the Big Apple's Pride festival on Sunday MAKING HISTORY: New York State Governor Kathy Hochul, 2nd left, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., 2nd right, unveiled the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center Groundbreaking at The Stonewall Inn on Friday As he remembers things, the parade was once about defiance and pushing against an oppressive mainstream that saw gays, lesbians and transgender people as unworthy outsiders. 'As satisfying and empowering as it may be to now be accepted by the mainstream,' Clarkin said, 'there was also something energizing and wonderful about being on the outside looking in.' New York's first Pride March, then called the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, was held in 1970 to mark the first anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion, a spontaneous street uprising triggered by a police raid on a gay bar in Manhattan. Thousands lined the streets of New York on Sunday to wave rainbow flags, celebrate the movement toward LGBTQ equality and renew calls for action in fear of SCOTUS overruling same-sex marriage after countermanding Roe vs Wade last week SPREAD THE LOVE: Bryanna Rosario, 21 years old, from New Jersey and Tara Mckearnin, 19 years old New Jersey kiss at the New York City Pride Parade on June 26, 2022 in New York City PARTY TIME: Colorful, glittering confetti was on display at NYC's Pride parade, matching the theme of celebrations on Sunday SUNDAY MARCH: New York Governor Kathy Hochul participates in the New York City Pride Parade on June 26, 2022 in New York City, marching with activists and members of the Big Apple's LGBTQ+ community MY BODY, MY VOICE, OUR RIGHT: Many activists who are pro-life marched in Sunday's Pride celebrations, with many holding pink signs and t-shirts supporting abortion rights A street performer showed off her colorful outfit in the Big Apple as thousands of onlookers watched her put on a show under the heat SHOWING OFF PRIDE: Another street performer showed off her golden outfit, while participating in New York's annual Pride parade TAKE AIR: A man blew several balloons and attached them to his outfit for Sunday's Pride parade in NYC, as he shows off his colorful display A chihuahua dressed in pride colors took part in Pride celebrations with its owner on Sunday during a sunny day in New York LOVE SMOKE: Revelers unleashed colorful smoke bombs to show off the city's support of its LGBTQ+ community on Sunday A person holds a rainbow flag during the 2022 NYC Pride parade in Manhattan, New York City, while walking down the streets of Manhattan QUICK SELFIE: Although the number of people who partook in Sunday's Pride parade was unclear, thousands waring rainbow colors walked down the streets of Manhattan Customers dine outdoors under Pride decorations at a restaurant in Manhattan on Sunday in NYC as revelers greet them San Francisco's first march was in 1972 and had been held every year since, except during the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic. Celebrations are now global, taking place throughout the year in multiple countries, with many of the biggest parades taking place in June. One of the world's largest, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, was held June 19. In the United States, this year's celebrations take place amid a potential crisis. In a Supreme Court ruling Friday striking down the right to abortion, Justice Clarence Thomas said in a concurring opinion that the court should also reconsider its 2015 decision legalizing same-sex marriage and a 2003 decision striking down laws criminalizing gay sex. Abortion rights and anti abortion right activists fill the street in front of the U.S. Supreme Court during a protest in the wake of the decision overturning Roe v. Wade outside on Saturday, June 25, 2022 in Washington D.C. SCOTUS' decision in Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health overturns the landmark 50-year-old Roe v Wade case and erases a federal right to an abortion. Pictured: Abortion-rights protest in front of the Supreme Court in Washington D.C. WEST COAST: A general view of the 2022 San Francisco Pride parade, in San Francisco, California, on June 26, 2022 RIDE FOR PRIDE: Revelers ride motorbikes, spreading their wings, as they take part in the 2022 San Francisco Pride parade Two people crossing LGBTQ+ flags, one of them including Pan-African colors in celebration of Juneteenth earlier last week, during the 2022 San Francisco Pride Parade Protesters denounce the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end abortion rights protections at the steps of City Hall on June 25, in Los Angeles, California, a day after Roe v Wade was overturned Protesters gather in reaction to the announcement to the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health Organization ruling on Friday, in Los Angeles, California : Green smoke rises as protesters march northbound on the 110 Freeway to denounce the Supreme Court's decision in the Dobbs v Jackson Women's Health case on Friday More than a dozen states have recently enacted laws that go against the interests of LGBTQ communities, including a law barring any mention of sexual orientation in school curricula in Florida and threats of prosecution for parents who allow their children to get gender-affirming care in Texas. Several states have put laws in place prohibiting transgender athletes from participating in team sports that coincide with the gender in which they identify. According to an Anti-Defamation League survey released earlier this week, members of LGBTQ communities were more likely than any other group to experience harassment. Two-thirds of respondents said they have been harassed, a little more than half of whom said the harassment was a result of their sexual orientation. A driver has ploughed through a pack of climate change demonstrators who were blocking a key Sydney road, almost running them over. Extraordinary footage captured the chaotic moment the group of protesters were almost hit by an SUV while standing in the middle of an intersection on Monday. Traffic had come to a standstill in the middle of the city as members of the Blockade Australia activist group marched - one activist blocking the Sydney Harbour Tunnel with her hatchback and chaining herself to the steering wheel with a bike lock. And in another wild moment, one motorist drove straight through the demonstration - almost hitting two who were carrying a white banner. The activists appeared to try and stop the vehicle and chase it after it drove through the intersection. A driver has rammed through a climate change demonstration taking place in the middle of Sydney Protesters marched down the street before a car drove through the intersection and almost hit two activists carrying a banner. Protesters then chased the car as it drove past NSW Police told Daily Mail Australia that they were aware of the SUV driving through the protest and are 'conducting inquiries'. The city was gripped with chaos on Monday as dozens of demonstrators hit the streets after long warning of a week of action to raise awareness about global warming. Police frantically tried to stop the protest with barricades. The protest dispersed within an hour with 10 activists charged by police. A woman from the group's Lismore contingent proudly posted footage online of herself chained to her steering wheel by the neck while her white hatchback blocked traffic from entering the Harbour Tunnel. The tunnel is one of the major thoroughfares taking commuters across the city's harbour, and is used by up to 2,000 cars every hour. 'I'm Mali, I'm 22. I'm [here] in protest of the climate destruction that is happening in this continent right now,' she says. 'There are some really angry people who are screaming and threatening me - banging on windows and doors.' The protester, Mail, 22, (pictured) blocked the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and locked herself to her steering wheel with a bike lock before proudly posting the footage online The woman's white hatchback was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour An outraged commuter can be seen during the video approaching her car and yelling at her through a window. 'Guess what f** wit? You're going to jail!' he screams. 'They are going to love you in there!' Police eventually arrived at the scene and demanded she get out of the car, before she was arrested. It comes as : Around 60 protesters raged through the city, hurling debris and even wheelie bins at police officers in a bid to slow them down NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet described the demonstrators as 'bloody idiots' in a scathing statement TV vision appeared to show an SUV nudging people standing in the middle of the road out of the way. It wasn't immediately clear if they were protesters All traffic had been diverted via the Harbour Bridge and traffic was backed up for several kilometres. The tunnel was reopened after the car was removed, the Transport Management Centre said at 9.12am. NSW Police said 10 people, including the woman taken into custody at the tunnel's entrance, had been arrested in the wake of the 'unauthorised protests'. The ten protesters who were arrested in the CBD were taken to Surry Hills and Day Street Police Stations, where charges are expected. In a statement, the radical group said their week-long protest activities had 'begun' with 'its Sydney mobilization to resist climate destruction'. Police officers surrounded the white hatchback as blocked traffic backed up for several kilometres The woman was eventually arrested by several officers and the tunnel reopened around 9am A police officer was seen in a stand-off with a protester as the activist attempted to move a barricade A man picked up a barricade fence and ran away as protests choked traffic in the CBD on Monday 'Sydney is where Australia's operation began, and for more than two centuries, it has been where Australia's destruction of this continent has been most intense,' a spokesperson for the group said. 'The institutions of Australia are concentrations of coercive power that enable this exploitation. Our collective survival rests on organised opposition and the use of strategic direct action to stand against this project of destruction. 'Blockade Australia will continue to cause disruption and resist climate destruction in the days to come.' Meanwhile, furious Australians have flocked online to slam the group for interrupting society with 'dangerous' antics.' 'These Blockade idiots need to think better,' one person tweeted. 'Even though many support Climate Change, still most of Australia is against these fools. Ban their public welfare if the want to put lives in danger blocking traffic and transport.' 'Im sorry but #BlockadeAustralia is 10yrs too late & giving climate change activism a bad name,' another said. Another man pointed out the protests meant people were spending longer in their cars with the heaters using petrol on due to the road blockage, which ironically was bad for the environment. 'Its all well and good to protest but to harass the broader community is just selfish,' a fourth wrote. Dozens descended on Sydney's centre, carrying signs and chanting as they demanded action for climate change Protesters hold a sign outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as a car blocks off traffic As commuters began heading into the city for work, throngs of protesters descended on Elizabeth Street before marching around Hyde Park towards NSW Parliament. The crowd, of around 60 people, was forced to disperse when it was blocked by police at the intersection of George and Bridge streets, blocking access to the Harbour Bridge. Blockade Australia said it would hold a press conference at 2.30pm at Redfern Park. The group had made plans to 'run or disperse' through the city in a message sent out via an app on Sunday night, with leaders distributing legal advice to members ahead of the protest. The organisers also gave instructions for how activists can wreak havoc on traffic in the CBD. 'This wont be like a regular rally with speeches and a lot of time standing around we will be meeting at 8am sharp and then moving quickly from there,' the memo read. A police officer picks up milk crates left on the street as demonstrators were seen throwing bins and objects into the path of police to slow them down Climate activist group Blockade Australia are set to launch a week of mass demonstrations from Monday 'Depending on police tactics you may be required to run or disperse depending on your abilities. Be prepared to walk on roads and stop cars from passing.' Protesters were urged to keep their phone notifications turned off and ensure devices were password protected. The advice also told demonstrators to only say 'no comment' if arrested and warned against wearing 'contact lenses, makeup or oily sunscreen' to reduce injury if pepper sprayed. The event had been publicised over the group's online channels for weeks, with participants offered workshops for 'legal', 'street welfare', and 'medic' training. Protesters were given legal advice in a message distributed via a messaging app on Sunday night Police seized concrete barrels and locks from the protest group's Colo campground on June 19 In marketing material for the June 27- July 2 rally, the group said they intend to converge' on Sydney to 'blockade the streets of Australia's most important political and economic centre and cause disruption that cannot be ignored'. The protest comes just days after police raided their Blue Mountains compound on June 19 amid an investigation into 'unauthorised protest activity'. Blockade Australia has made headlines in recent months over a series of high-profile climate protests which have included blocking coal ports, bridges, and fossil fuel terminals. In April, NSW Parliament ushered in a raft of new laws and penalties aimed at discouraging protesters who disrupt traffic on bridges and tunnels in response to the group's stunts. Protesters face a maximum penalty of two years' jail and $22,000 fines for disrupting traffic or preventing access on roads. The legislation also created new offences targeting people blocking access to major facilities such as ports and railways. As states ban abortions US protests continue in mostly peaceful manner He said the Supreme Court's ruling takes away a 'deeply personal decision' Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has waded into the US abortion furore saying the decision which allows the practice to be banned was a 'setback for women' that 'caused enormous distress'. Mr Albanese, who was flying to Spain to attend a NATO conference, told ABC radio the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn the Roe v Wade ruling guaranteeing abortion freedoms transgressed women's rights. 'Well, people are entitled to their own views, but not to impose their views on women for whom this is a deeply personal decision,' Mr Albanese said. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, here seen boarding a plane to Europe with partner Jodie Haydon on Sunday, has called the decision to overturn US abortion rights a 'setback for women' In New York, protesters gathered at Union Square Park calling out the Supreme Court decision again over the weekend. It was relatively peaceful compared to Friday's protest, which saw 25 arrested in the city 'That is, in my view, one for an individual woman to make based upon their own circumstances, including the health implications. 'This decision has caused enormous distress.' Abortion is legal in all Australian states and territories, albeit with different term limits. The decision on Saturday to overturn the landmark 1972 ruling that provided a constitutional right to abortion has led to furious protests across America as 26 states move to ban or restrict abortions. Mr Albanese said the ruling was 'a setback for women and their right to control their own bodies and their lives in the United States'. 'It is a good thing that in Australia, this is not a matter for partisan political debate,' he said. An abortion-rights protester holds candle during a candlelight vigil outside the Supreme Court in Washington DC One demonstration saw dozens lying down in front of the US 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in Atlanta A protester in New York City holds a sign saying 'No sex with men until Roe v Wade is protected' Labor's Minister for Women Katy Gallagher called the US decision 'devastating for many women' over the weekend. On the other side of the divide Queensland Liberal National party senator Matt Canavan tweeted that it was a: 'A wonderful day to protect human life.' Protesters in the US took to the streets in their thousands to protest the decision. Some, however, decided to protest in a more intimate way with calls calls for a 'sex strike' against men. One advocate wrote on Twitter: 'Womxn! Calling for a national #sexstrike No sex with men until women's rights are codified by law. #Allmen #Underhiseye. Pro-choice supporters are threatening to deny men sex and calls for a nationwide sex strike begin trending on social media with the hashtag #sexstrike Women are seen protesting on Sunday in Washington DC after the Supreme Court overturned the decades' old decision which protected the right to an abortion In Washington, there were candle-lit vigils out side the Supreme Court and some arrests for vandalism as red paint was thrown on the footbath outside the building and the Library of Congress was also defaced with a protest slogan. While most demonstrations nationwide have been peaceful, skirmishes between police and protesters in Los Angeles on Saturday led to police issuing a temporary citywide alert to clear the streets. The police department said two people were arrested and four officers were injured in the altercations. Chaos erupted in Greenville, South Carolina when police tackled four men to the ground to arrest them after the crowd failed to disband after one hour of protest. Demonstrators claimed police tasered one of the men 'It is a good thing that in Australia, this is not a matter for partisan political debate,' Mr Albanese (pictured on Sunday), said Perhaps the most destructive protests were Portland, Oregon where windows were smashed and buildings vandalized. Scrawled in black spray paint on one building was: 'Death to SCOTUS.' Another message read: 'Abort the Court.' The protesters also smashed windows of a Starbucks and of a Tesla car. Protesters in South Carolina clashed with police on Saturday when hundreds overcrowded the streets and six people were arrested. Police were filmed tackling demonstrators after they were told to disband following the scheduled finish. Graffiti is seen on the Library of Congress while abortion rights demonstrators protest outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Friday When about 500 protesters showed up and exceeded the time limit, Greenville police officers told the crowd to disband as pro-choice demonstrators began confronting anti-abortion protesters. Women in states that severely restrict abortion or outlaw it altogether will either have to continue with their pregnancy, undergo a clandestine abortion, obtain abortion pills, or travel to another state where it remains legal. In a worrying sign the Washington Post reported there were social media calls by right-wing influencers to 'bring rifles and men' to protect churches and pregnancy centres'. US President Joe Biden who called the decision to scrap Roe v Wade 'cruel' says the White House will monitor how states enforce bans and will fight attempts to prohibit a pill used for medication abortion. 'The decision is implemented by states,' Mr Biden said. 'My administration is going to focus on how they administer and whether or not they violate other laws.' The Biden Administration also vowed to challenge any efforts by states to restrict women's ability to travel out of their home state to seek an abortion. Missouri was first to ban the procedure on Friday, making no exception for rape or incest, joined as of Saturday morning by at least seven other states - Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Oklahoma, South Dakota and Utah. In Wisconsin, where an 1849 law banning abortion except when saving the life of the mother may go into effect, Governor Tony Evers, a Democrat, vowed to offer clemency to any doctors who face prosecution, according to local media. In its ruling, the Supreme Court tossed out the argument in Roe v Wade that women had the right to abortion based on the constitutional right to privacy with regard to their own bodies. Several Democratic-ruled states, anticipating an influx of patients, have already taken steps to facilitate abortion, and three of them - California, Oregon and Washington -- issued a joint pledge to defend access in the wake of the court's decision. Abortion providers said they had seen a surge in donations since the ruling, as they braced for the long hard road ahead. 'In the 24 hours following the court's devastating decision, Planned Parenthood ...saw a 40-fold total increase in donations compared to a typical day -- more than half of whom are new donors,' Kelley Robinson, vice president of advocacy at the largest abortion provider in the United States, said in a statement to AFP. 'This is just the beginning, and we won't back down,' she said. A Victorian MP has celebrated the roll back of abortion rights in the US after expressing hopes similar legal changes will happen in Australia. Bernie Finn, 63, congratulated friends in the US after the country's Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v Wade decision which ruled American women have a constitutional right to abortion. The upper house state MP, who has been expelled from the Liberals for his anti-abortion stance, wrote on Facebook: 'My very warmest congratulations to my friends in the United States who have been fighting for years to overturn Roe. Bernie Finn is seen outside the Victoria State Parliament after he was expelled from the Liberal Party The Victorian MP has celebrated the roll back of abortion rights in the US after expressing hopes similar legal changes will happen in Australia 'Today, I remember those who dedicated their lives to this day - some who are no longer with us. They will be celebrating in Heaven tonight! 'This is a momentous day for humanity. This will save lives. This is just the beginning. 'I love ALL babies. We must protect ALL babies!' In May Mr Finn had expressed hope Australian states would also curtail abortion rights. In a post which led to his expulsion from the Liberal Party, he wrote: 'So excited the US is on the verge of a major breakthrough to civilisation. 'Praying it will come here too. Killing babies is criminal.' Every state and territory in Australia allows legal abortion, although they have different term limits. Protesters march in Washington DC after the Roe v Wade decision was overturned In a post (above) which led to his expulsion from the Liberal Party, Mr Finn wrote: 'So excited the US is on the verge of a major breakthrough to civilisation The overturning of Roe v Wade in the US has prompted conservative-led American states to clamp down harder on abortion and sparked large protests. Liberal National Party senator Matt Canavan also cheered the decision, writing on Twitter on Saturday: 'A wonderful day to protect human life.' Mr Finn will lead the Democratic Labour Party at the November state election after he was expelled from the Liberals. The DLP was deregistered nationally in March because of low membership but continues to exist in Victoria. Mr Finn said his new party was principled and would support workers, small business, and traditional families. 'I think that will appeal to a lot of people,' he said. He said he was approached by several other parties, including the United Australia Party. A little boy is in hospital with serious injuries to his head and spine after falling 30 metres down the side of a mountain. Rescue helicopters were called at 4:45pm on Sunday to Table Top Mountain, in Queensland's Toowoomba region, after the young boy fell down the rocky embankment while on his way to the summit. RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew were winched out of the aircraft (pictured) down to the injured boy after they received a call that the young child had fallen down an embankment at Table Top Mountain in Queensland Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) and Fire and Emergency Service officers climbed up the mountain but were unable to transport him through the rocky terrain. Dramatic footage shows the moment a Toowoomba-based RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter crew locate the injured boy and swoop out of the aircraft down to him. LifeFlight's critical care doctor and a flight paramedic treated the boy for head and spinal injuries. The primary school aged boy was placed in a stretcher and winched into the helicopter before he was airlifted 125 km to the Queensland Children's Hospital. The boy is in serious condition. A TikTok influencer from Alabama is pleading for help in tracking down the killer of her teenage son - who died just one day before he turned 19. Ophelia Nichols, who has seven million followers, posted a video in which she desperately asked for assistance to find son Randon Lee's murderer. 'The word is getting out and I need to let everybody know. I am doing this video for a reason. I have never asked y'all for anything, but I need your help with this,' Nichols began in a tearful plea. 'Today would have been my baby childs 19th birthday. My son was murdered. He was shot and I have this hatred in my heart that I don't recognize, because Ive never felt hate for anybody,' she continued. 'This individual took my sons life and I know theyre out there in my town. Theyre out there living and breathing and my sons dead. He was just 18 years old. That's the best part of somebody's life, and I know they're out there in my town. They're out there,' she said. 'I want you to look at my son. This is my son. And you took him from me,' Nichols said as she broke down sobbing. 'Somebody know who did this to my child and I am asking for somebodys help. Anybodys help,' she said before the video cut off. TikTok influencer Ophelia Nichols from Alabama has made a tearful plea for help in tracking down her son's killer after he was shot dead on Friday in his car Randon Lee, 18, was killed at around 7:45am in Prichard, near Mobile Randon Lee died one day before his 19th birthday. He was found dead in his car at a gas station The heartbreaking video was a huge departure from the kind of material she normally posts on the social media platform, which normally consist of her posting joyful, happy videos of herself delivered with southern charm. Her postings cover all manner of topics from family celebrations to sharing a new recipe or sharing beauty tips. Nichols said her son was shot at an Exxon gas station at around 7:45am on Friday. He then drove to a second station, Energizer, in the town of Prichard, Alabama, near Mobile, where he was found to have died from his injuries. Her heartbreaking plea has already managed to rack up almost 19 million views in a single day with some locals writing in the comments section offering their support and help. 'People talk. People talk, so I wanted that video to be seen because if the person who did this to my son could see what he did to our family. He took my son from me. My son,' Nichols said. Her son was to have celebrated his 19th birthday on Saturday. 'Just been told We have a lead on two individuals. I hope they see this video & know what they have done to my family,' she wrote in an update in the comments on her tear-jerking video. Nichols, who has seven million followers shared news of her heartbreak in a video which has now been viewed 19 million times. She is pictured here holding up a photo of her son Ophelia told local station NBC12 that she was finding it hard to do nothing and hopes that police track down those responsible. 'You have to sit back and hope and pray that they do what needs to be done so that the person or people who did this to my baby child gets behind bars. You have no choice but to sit here and wait,' she said. 'I spoke to him yesterday morning around 10 to tell him I had his money for his birthday. He was looking forward to it. Just hanging out with his friends and girlfriend. His family was his life,' she added. She said there was some comfort to be had in that her son was an organ donor and that part of him will live on with his organs having been transplanted into others. Ophelia's shock quickly turned to grief, and now anger. 'I have this hatred in my heart that I don't recognize. Because I've never felt hate for anybody,' she said. No arrests have been made at the current time and the investigation is continuing. The motive behind the killing remains unclear. Anyone with information can contact the Prichard Police Department at 251-452-7800 or the Mobile County Sheriffs Office at 251-574-8633. Melbourne's bikie war is teetering on the brink after an ex-gangster was shot at a funeral and his ally was brutally bashed in the space of a week. Ex-Mongols bikie Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim has issued a warning from his hospital bed with a photo of his bullet-riddled chest after he was attacked during his cousin's funeral procession on Saturday. The 32-year-old wrote alongside the picture: 'Allah is bigger than all these flops, they'll get there (sic) day.' Four bullet holes were evident in the image in a diagonal line across his chest. Abdulrahim was dumped from the Mongels Melbourne chapter last year alongside Toby Mitchell and their allies, Mark Balsillie and Jason Addison. Police are investigating whether low level members of the gang are behind the latest attack acting on commands from senior hierarchy within the club. The 32-year-old wrote: 'Allah is bigger than all these flops, they'll get there (sic) day,' alongside the topless picture. Four bullet holes in a diagonal line across his chest were evident in the image Ex-Mongols bikie Sam 'The Punisher' Abdulrahim has issued a warning from his hospital bed with a photo of his bullet-riddled chest after he was attacked during his cousin's funeral procession on Saturday Just a week before Abdulrahim was set upon, Addison was brutally bashed at a motorbike show at the Knowsley-Barnadown Rd raceway. The 57-year-old presented to hospital with serious facial injuries. A photo of the aftermath show Addison bloodied and bruised, with his eyes so swollen he can hardly open them The 57-year-old later presented to hospital with serious facial injuries. A photo of the aftermath show Addison bloodied and bruised, with his eyes so swollen he can hardly open them. 'At this stage it appears a targeted attack and parties are believed to be known to one another,' a police spokeswoman said. There are now concerns Melbourne's underworld is on track to explode like it has in Sydney in the past 18 months. One gangland source told The Herald Sun: 'This isn't going to stop.' Abdulrahim was shot while driving his $300,000 Mercedes G-Class during his cousin's funeral procession near Fawkner Cemetery, in Melbourne's north, on Saturday. While the assailants did manage to shoot him several times in the chest, Abdulrahim has no life-threatening injuries. He has damage to his lungs, liver and kidney. Police are also investigating whether Abdulrahim fired any shots back. The Mazda SUV used during the hit was captured on fire a short distance from the scene. Police also reportedly found the gun and clothing dumped nearby. Just a week before Abdulrahim was set upon, Addison (pictured) was brutally bashed at a motorbike show at the Knowsley-Barnadown Rd raceway Abdulrahim was unceremoniously dumped from the Mongels Melbourne chapter last year alongside Toby Mitchell and their allies, Mark Balsillie and Jason Addison Early investigations suggest this hit was the work of amateurs and, while police are exploring multiple lines of inquiry, it appears as though it could have been the work of new or soon-to-be Mongols members. Abdulrahim and his associates were booted from the club for supposed 'treachery', with one underworld source describing the four men as 'targets'. Premier Daniel Andrews warned any person found to have links to these crimes will face 'the full force of the law'. 'I'm very confident that the people involved in this completely unacceptable behaviour will feel the full force of the law,' he said. 'This is just not on. I send my best wishes to those members of the public who've been caught up in this. 'Victoria Police Command takes issues of gangs and gun crime very, very seriously, just as I do. 'I'm confident that Victoria Police have the laws, they've got the powers and they've got the people to keep us safe.' Police are appealing for witnesses to come forward regarding both attacks as they frantically work to avoid widespread carnage like in Sydney. Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months, with 13 contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans. Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months with at least a dozen contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans The highly-planned hits - which have sometimes involved using secret tracking devices attached to cars - have been so precisely executed that investigators are mostly powerless to stop the war from escalating. Terrified witnesses are are often too scared to speak over fears of retaliation, making it nearly impossible to prosecute the perpetuators. In a desperate move to quell the violence, state police are teaming up with the Australian Federal Police and intelligence agencies in a new 'super taskforce' dubbed Erebus. Since August 2020 there have been 13 murders linked to the turf war between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime families. A serious war of words has broken out between a letting agent and a former tenant over whether or not a property has rotting floorboards, a falling ceiling and extreme levels of mould. The ex-tenant posted photos of a terrace in Sydney's inner west to a Facebook group about rentals, cautioning others to be very wary. She posted a disgusting photo of what happened to her sandals - they turned green - as proof of the mould problem. The former tenant said the rent had gone up despite the alleged problems and she wanted 'to issue a warning for anyone who may have seen this terrace (for rent). 'We moved out a week ago due to serious mould, a roof that was caving in, rotting/cracked floorboards and a negligent landlord.' But the letting agent denied there is anything wrong with the three bedroom property in Sydney's inner west. Two pairs of sandals (pictured) got covered in mold after being left 'in a cupboard for a couple of weeks' The former tenant said on her Facebook warning that 'they said they were "fixing" it all up, but relisted the property two days after we moved out (for more $$$) and have likely only painted/boarded over the issues. 'The photos on the listing are several years old ... Just don't want anyone to get stitched up like we did.' The letting agent admitted the property 'had water ingress, like many other properties in the inner city during the rains. 'But the roof's been rectified this week and there's going to be painting done to rectify any internal water damage,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'It's a very old home, but there are not rotting and cracked floorboards. That's absolutely incorrect.' The letting agent said 'the tenants requested a substantial rent reduction and they were denied, so I think they're disgruntled. They were on a fair rent.' She defended the property and the owner. 'I know this landlord very well. He's a great landlord. Mold and damage is seen on a wall which of a property allegedly now being rented in Sydney's inner west A hole is seen in a ceiling pictured in a photo posted to a Facebook group about rental properties in Sydney 'The house is not what they're saying it is. It has been rented through our office for 25 years with no issues whatsoever. 'It's just unfortunate the tenants are going to this level ... I don't think it's fair,' she said. Alec Baldwin has announced he's planning to conduct a live interview with embattled director Woody Allen on Tuesday. The 30 Rock star, who has his own share of controversies, has worked with the 86-year-old on multiple movies in the past. He announced the interview in a defensive post where he said he 'couldn't care less about anyone else's speculation' about him interviewing Allen who has been accused of sexual abuse by his own daughter. 'Let me preface this by stating that I have ZERO INTEREST in anyones judgments and sanctimonious posts here. I am OBVIOUSLY someone who has my own set of beliefs and COULD NOT CARE LESS about anyone elses speculation,' Baldwin said in an Instagram post accompanying a video. Baldwin began the video by smiling and laughing, he announced the interview before telling Woody Allen that he 'loves him' The video clip showed Baldwin holding up a copy of Allen's recent book: 'Zero Gravity.'' He shows the front cover of the book and Allen's picture on the back. He then whispers into the camera: 'Woody Allen. Who I love. I love you, Woody.' Allen's book, his first since his memoir 'Apropos of Nothing' in 2020, is a collection of humorous essays. It's likely that the pair will discuss the movies they have made together during the Tuesday interview on Instagram Live. Allen and Baldwin have worked together on three occasions, in 'Alice,' 'To Rome With Love' and 'Blue Jasmine.' Baldwin has not shied away from publicly defending the filmmaker from the sexual abuse allegations in recent years. In the Instagram post announcing the interview he added: 'If you believe that a trial should be conducted by way of an HBO documentary, thats your issue.' Allen and Baldwin have worked together on three movies, 'Alice,' 'To Rome With Love,' and 'Blue Jasmine.' Since allegations of child abuse were brought up again against Allen, Baldwin has been a constant defender of the director Baldwin was referencing the 2021 HBO documentary, 'Allen v Farrow.' The four part series detailed Allen's break up from his partner of more than 10 years, Mia Farrow. The couple's relationship ended when Farrow discovered naked photos that Allen had taken of her daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, then 22. It was later revealed that Allen had been having an affair with Soon-Yi. During the course of that split, Farrow accused Allen of sexually molesting the couple's daughter, Dylan, in 1992 when she was seven years old. Allen said of Baldwin during a press event for 'To Rome With Love:' 'He is a great actor so when I can get him and he is available, I would always use him.' Allen went on: 'He is wonderful to work with and a great actor if you want something serious, if you want something comic, hes the guy. Its like having a secret weapon on the screen.' He continued: 'I am OBVIOUSLY someone who has my own set of beliefs and COULD NOT CARE LESS about anyone elses speculation' Allen and Baldwin pictured on the set of 'Blue Jasmine' in 2012. Allen said in 2012 of Baldwin: 'He is a great actor so when I can get him and he is available, I would always use him' Allen once said that having Baldwin in a movie was like having a 'secret weapon' on screen. He added: 'He is wonderful to work with and a great actor if you want something serious, if you want something comic, hes the guy' Following the airing of 'Allen v Farrow,' Baldwin has been one of the 'Annie Hall' director's biggest defenders. In February 2021, Baldwin tweeted: 'Who needs courtrooms or rule of law when we have trial media?' He also said that Allen was never charged with a crime because authorities 'couldn't prove their case because it didn't happen.' Baldwin took aim at Frank Maco, the Connecticut state prosecutor who said that he could have brought charges but neglected to due to a fear of traumatizing Dylan Farrow further. Baldwin said of Maco: 'You dont condemn someone to a life of innuendo and ruin his life and those of his family. Maco is among the villains here. He should have brought the charges, or shut up.' Speaking about the allegations of 'trial by media,' one of the creators of 'Allen v Farrow' Amy Ziering told the Daily Beast in 2021: 'I think the trial by media happened over the past three decades, Alec. Lets see who was tried and convicted. Ziering added: 'He should a) watch the series; and b) look at the role the media played in spreading spin instead of truths, in not doing any fact-checking, in excoriating someone and convicting her [Mia Farrow] without any due diligence over three decades, and then talk to us about trial by media.' Back in 2018, Baldwin was similarly passionate in his support of Allen. Several actors, including Elliot Page and Thimothee Chalamet, have expressed their regret about working with Allen When Mira Sorvino, Elliot Page, Timothee Chalamet and Rebecca Hall all publicly expressed their regrets about working with the director, Baldwin was outraged. He tweeted: 'Woody Allen was investigated forensically by two states (NY and CT) and no charges were filed. The renunciation of him and his work, no doubt, has some purpose. But its unfair and sad to me. I worked w WA 3 times and it was one of the privileges of my career." In a separate tweet, Baldwin said that it was still possible to support survivors of pedophilia but also believe that Allen was innocent. He added: 'The intention is not to dismiss or ignore such complaints. But accusing ppl of such crimes should be treated carefully. On behalf of the victims, as well.' At that time, Baldwin told those who disagree with his defense of Allen to unfollow him on Twitter. Baldwin was asked in a 2018 interview with the Hollywood Reporter about his unwavering support for Allen. He said : 'Its a normal inclination to want to rally by your friends up until the point that they are convicted of something. If theyre convicted of a crime, well then youre sad, and thats tragic, but theyve got to go through that process.' Tuesday's interview is not the first time that Baldwin has interviewed Allen. The director made an appearance on Baldwin's podcast 'Here's the Thing' in June 2020. In adulthood, Dylan Farrow has maintained that she was sexually abused by Allen, speaking about them publicly in 2013. The filmmaker has never been convicted of a crime in relation to the allegation. Although a judge in a 1993 custody hearing between him and Farrow called Allen's behavior towards his daughter 'grossly inappropriate.' Allen married Soon-Yi Previn in 1997. The couple has two children together. As a result of Dylan Farrow's allegations and the MeToo movement, Allen's 2019 movie 'A Rainy Day in New York' was shelved by Amazon Studios and his publisher dropped out of a deal to put out his autobiography. For Baldwin meanwhile, the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of his movie 'Rust' in October 2021 remains under investigation by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. The movie's director Joel Souza was also injured in the shooting. Baldwin and other producers and staff on the movie are also subject to a lawsuit from the Hutchins' family. In December 2021, Baldwin was pictured by the New York Post's Jon Levine outside of Allen's Upper East Side townhouse. A studio apartment with a glass bathroom inside a 'modern' kitchen raised eyebrows after it was put up for rent for $400 a week. The South Australian property, with its partly frosted-glass bathroom next to the fireplace, is one of seven apartments on the O'Connell street block in North Adelaide. The 35sqm studio was advertised as having a 'great-sized modern bathroom' as landlords tried to attract tenants willing to part with $400-a-week. Despite online skepticism, the estate agents handling the property simply said 'it is what it is', and pointed out that it wasn't illegal. Prospective renters were baffled by the bathroom design, which is behind a frosted wall next to a fireplace Ray White's media manager Alex Tilbury told Daily Mail Australia the bathroom in the former Airbnb studio is approved by council and has tempered and frosted glass Images of the glass bathroom led some online commenters to mock the set up with one saying it looked like a 'Swedish prison', while another joked it resembled 'your first custom house in The Sims'. Ray White's media manager Alex Tilbury told Daily Mail Australia the bathroom in the former Airbnb studio is approved by council. 'It is tempered glass, obviously it's frosted, and its fully insured - there is nothing illegal about it', Ms Tilbury said. 'I don't know why they are getting so excited, it is what it is.' The fully furnished studio is the smallest in the block and is one of two featuring a glass bathroom. The air-conditioned property has an outside terrace, is not far from amenities and has internet and utilities as part of the rent price. Ms Tilbury said there were three applications under review and she expects the highly sought after apartment to be tenanted by the end of the week. The realestate agent declined offers made to it that were higher than the advertised price. Ray White North Adelaide principal Rachel Lawrie told Daily Mail Australia the seven apartments were all former Airbnbs that lost business during Covid and were converted to operate as fixed term tenancies. '[The apartments are] for people looking for shorter-term stays, like students - it's bigger than student accommodation, it's probably a lot more luxurious as well,' Ms Lawrie said. She said she didn't understand the fuss about the bathroom and added they had a business couple staying there who were fine with the arrangements. 'The bathroom is like a room in of itself - It's just a studio and it's made like an Airbnb for one person basically - it's not necessarily you are having a family in there, so it's your own privacy regardless.' The studio is a part of a block (pictured) of seven units in North Adelaide, which is short term accommodation, with three to six month leases An Air Force ROTC cadet from Alaska died in an accident involving a Humvee during a training exercise in Idaho, Mountain Home Air Force Base said on Sunday. Mackenzie Wilson, 19, a cadet at Oregon State University, died of injuries sustained in an accident on Friday at the base. She was from Eagle River, Alaska. 'Today we lost a member of our Air Force family. We express our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of all the individuals,' said Col. Ernesto DiVittorio, 366th Fighter Wing commander. 'Our thoughts and prayers are with them.' A Humvee (High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle) like the one Wilson was in is seen on the field. Wilson's Humvee reportedly overturned The road to Saylor Creek Range in Idaho, where Wilson was killed on Friday afternoon Nineteen Air Force ROTC cadets were participating in a training opportunity at the air base southeast of Boise when the accident happened. The group was training at Saylor Creek Range, a part of the Mountain Home Range Complex, at 12:30pm on Friday. Unconfirmed reports suggested that her Humvee flipped over. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Two cadets with her in the vehicle were treated for injuries at the hospital in Boise and later released. The fatal accident is being investigated by the Idaho State Police and the Air Force Office of Special Investigations. The other cadets were offered support services and given the option to return home. The world's most powerful ute has finally arrived on Australia shores with three-times more grunt than the Toyota HiLux, and it's prompted revheads to make their own classic advert - rallying against 'nanny state' commercials. The Ram TRX, named after the Tyrannosaurus Rex, has made its debut Down Under, boasting a supercharged 6.2-litre Hemi V8, producing 523kW, 702 horsepower and 882Nm of torque. Those figures see the TRX outperform every model in its class, even the new Ford Ranger Raptor - which Ram cheekily mock with an image of a T-Rex eating a Velociraptor in its interior. The Ram TRX starts at an eyewatering $199,950 with additional on-road costs - more than double its rival Raptor. The revheads at CarSales celebrated its introduction into the Australian market by creating a classic commercial for the TRX, an ode to the screeching tyres and roaring engines of car commercials from the past. 'Car ads have become so sanitised in Australia. Gone are the days of high speeds, power slides and dust clouds performed to an equally epic soundtrack. The nanny state, naysayers and advertising watchdog have put a stop to that,' the website's spokesman Sam Charlwood said. The Ram TRX has finally arrived in Australia boasting three-times more power than the Toyota HiLux The new Ram ute features a 12-inch touch screen and 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo 'So when an epic new car like the Ram 1500 TRX launches in Australia, you know it wasn't going to get the promotion it deserves. So we've taken matters into our own hands.' CarSales produced a clip they say 'would make the makers of Holdens VU SS Ute Thunderstruck TVC proud', sliding and thrashing the brand new Ram through an empty straight and muddy forest. The new model 1500 sees a wider chassis to fit its monstrous 325mm tyres, with a new bonnet scoop designed to increase airflow to the 6.2L supercharger. Ram poke fun at its rival Ford Ranger Raptor with a cheeky image of a T-Rex eating a raptor in the new ute's interior A 12-inch touch screen provides passengers with a number of features including the 19-speaker Harman Kardon stereo - which Ram describe as the 'finest and most powerful audio system available in a pick-up truck'. The TRX also features launch control and eight different drive modes, can reach 100mk/h in 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of 190km/h - despite weighing more than three tonnes. The huge price is the result of Ram having to convert the ute from left-hand drive to right-hand drive for its Australian customers. The TRX sells for $113,500 in the United States, a discount of about $87,000. The TRX features an impressive dashboard and drive modes for all surfaces Rocking an imposing footprint and an enthralling growl, this is one truck that will be seen and heard, loud and clear. With a wider track, performance-tuned shocks, massive 35-inch tyres and a menacing stance, TRX asserts itself as the most muscular truck to ever leave the RAM factory,' Ram say. 'With its segment disrupting style, luxury, capability, technology, and performance the TRX defies convention and redefines what a pickup truck can be.' The TRX is now available in all Ram showrooms in Australia. Dad furious boy tried to send his daughter d*** pics only had short suspension Shocking pictures have exposed a sexually explicit 'ratings' system given to young girls at a troubled high school, with the degrading charts in full display of students in the hallway. Melbourne's Balwyn High School has been accused of tolerating a toxic environment that has seen a 13-year-old girls harassed with d*** pic texts, boys allegedly masturbating openly in class and making lists of girls based on their looks. Now photos have emerged of the explicit ratings that have been graffitied near the girls' lockers and left in open view of the whole student body. Photos have emerged of the obscene graffiti placed near the girls' lockers at a Melbourne high school that has faced mounting accusations of allowing a 'toxic' environment One photo shows a grid with tallies for c**k, a**, t*ts, pubes - and personality. Another is a combined ranking of the schoolgirls' bottom, breasts and face. In response to the photos, Victoria's Education Department said that 'Balwyn High School is committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment for all students and acts immediately to address allegations or incidents of bullying or harassment'. The school's policy is to regularly review school property and remove graffiti. The ratings are displayed in full view of the student body near the lockers - adding to the humiliation It was revealed last week a 13-year-old girl, then in Year 8, was sent texts harassing her with the threat of unsolicited d*** pics organised by one of her classmates, who only received a week suspension. Earlier this month allegations became public that boys masturbated in front of girls while in class and sometimes threatened girls with rape as a 'joke'. The school responded to the claims, made in an anonymous survey from 2021, that the issues had been handled 'appropriately and professionally'. However, a dad with two children at the school, who did not wish to be named, told Daily Mail Australia little had changed there in the past year. Balwyn High School, in Melbourne's east, faces continuing allegations that boys at the school engage in serious sexual misconduct even in class where they 'crawl on the floor' and make obscene gestures He rejected the high school's claims it has addressed serious sexual misbehaviour and said the toxic culture continues because only 'tokenistic' punishments are handed out. The father said that despite Victoria's education department claiming two weeks ago it had dealt with issues 'appropriately and professionally', sexual misconduct was still rife at the school. 'It's a very toxic environment that is very, very widespread,' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'I don't think I have met a single one of my daughter's friends who doesn't have similar stories.' He said his daughter is constantly ambushed with creepy messages on social media, with one teen being particularly persistent. This message was sent to a 13-year-old schoolgirl, who did not accept but found out later it had been organised by a classmate, who only received a week's suspension for the act The dad said his daughter had been mercilessly harassed and bullied while she was in Year 7 and 8, with boys calling her abusive names such as 'sl*t', 'wh**e' and 'b**ch'. He alleged the behaviour went beyond the playground, with boys 'crawling on the floor' during class while shouting and making obscene gestures to his daughter in full view of teachers, who he claimed did nothing. In 2019 his daughter, who was 13 at the time, had to block an anonymous account trying to send her unsolicited d**k pics, which was the culmination of harassment she was receiving from one particular boy. The daughter told Daily Mail Australia she confronted her classmate over the message, who admitted organising it because 'he thought it was very funny'. When she complained to the school's student support team, she said she was accused of being a 'snitch' by the wider student body. 'Most of the male students made comments to this effect,' she said. Her father described the classmates' furious reaction as 'retaliation' and said the 'mob' reaction was a reason bad behaviour was normalised at the school. The dad said he repeatedly raised the matter with the school before he was eventually granted a meeting with staff, who handed him a hand-written apology from the boy concerned. '(The teacher) said 'he's very contrite, he's very sorry',' the dad said. 'Literally as I was walking out of the office my daughter sends me a message on Instagram that he is bragging about what he was doing.' The boy only received a one-week suspension. Under Victorian law, it is an offence to use a carriage service in 'a menacing, harassing or offensive' manner. When the girl complained about the boy's behaviour, she was accused of being a snitch by classmates Victoria's education department said the matter had been dealt with in an 'appropriate manner'. 'The health and safety of our students is the top priority for all schools and any allegations regarding student wellbeing are taken seriously and managed appropriately,' a department spokesperson said. 'The department is aware of an incident involving Balwyn High School students in 2019. At the time, appropriate disciplinary action was taken to address student behaviour and wellbeing supports were made available.' The father escalated his complaints to Victoria's education department but he said he received only a 'tokenistic' response. Informally, he was told that two detectives spoke to the boy. The girl said most of her male classmates called her a 'snitch' with her father describing it as retaliation that 'normalises' bad behaviour in the school 'I just don't understand how we think this is acceptable in a government school. 'The evidence would suggest the education programs don't do anything. 'When I went to school, any one of those behaviours would have seen me in the principal's office. 'The second time it would be suspension and the third time I would have been expelled from the school. 'All they have to do is basically expel a few. 'Make it very public that their behaviour is not to tolerated and the problem goes away.' Professionals who drive for work could find themselves in trouble with the tax office - or at least made to answer some tricky questions as petrol prices hit record highs. Australian Taxation Office assistant commissioner Tim Loh said that with more people working from home, his officials would be cracking down on those who still claimed car expenses. 'What we are seeing is people continuing to claim car and travel expenses at pre-pandemic levels,' he told the ABC. 'We do expect car and travel expenses to go down quite significantly because if you've been working from home, you can't be at two places at once.' Travel to and from work cannot be claimed as a tax deduction but petrol costs for trips to a job-related task can be submitted. Should they be audited, individuals will have to prove to tax officials that they used their car for work, and not just to buy groceries or do personal errands. The crackdown is occurring as petrol prices hit record highs, above $2 a litre. Penalties for lying on a tax return CARELESS: 25 per cent RECKLESS: 50 per cent DELIBERATE: 75 per cent REPEAT OFFENDER: 95 per cent Source: H&R Block analysis of Australian Taxation Office penalties for making inflated claims Advertisement Average unleaded prices in regional areas last week rose by 10.4 cent a litre to 211.3 cents a litre, new data from the Australian Institute of Petroleum showed. Motorists in capital cities are paying even more with the average pump price rising to 219.3 cents a litre in Brisbane, 220.1 cents a litre in Canberra and 216.4 cents a litre in Sydney. With the national petrol price at 211.9 cents a litre, CommSec calculated an average Australian family spent $296.66 a month filling up their car with petrol just below the recent record high of $297.50 in May. The monthly fuel bill has increased by $74.48 compared with the start of 2022. Australians who claimed rapid antigen tests on their tax return would also need to prove it was work-related and not for personal use. 'Now with those rapid antigen tests used for work purposes, you need to satisfy three rules: you must have spent the money yourself and not be reimbursed by your employer,' Mr Loh said. The tax office crackdown is occurring as petrol prices hit record highs, above $2 a litre (pictured is a motorist filling up in Sydney) 'It must be related for work-related purposes.' Filing a tax return is also set to become a lot trickier for those working from home. With Delta outbreaks no longer forcing people to work from home, from July 1 a convenient flat hourly-rate method will no longer be available. Since the pandemic began in March 2020, professionals have been able to claim a flat 80 cent-an-hour rate for their expenses instead of having to manually add them up. The shortcut was meant to have ended on June 30, 2021 but the tax office extended it for another year as Sydney and Melbourne were placed into long lockdowns. From the next financial year, those working from home will be required to keep their electricity, internet and phone bills and manually add up their expenses to claim a lower 52-cent an hour deduction. The existing 80-cent an hour rule will still be available for those filing their tax return for the 2021-22 financial year. Individuals have until October 31 to lodge their tax returns for 2021-22. Australian Taxation Office assistant commissioner Tim Loh said that with more people working from home, his officials would be cracking down on those who still claimed car expenses Tax agent H&R Block's director of tax communications Mark Chapman said those still working from home would need to get into a habit of keeping their receipts from July 1. 'You don't want to get to this time next year and you suddenly realise, "Oh, I've not kept copies of any documentation therefore I'm not potentially going to be able to claim",' he told Daily Mail Australia. 'It does mean from the first of July, basically taxpayers are going to have to be much more prepared.' With June 30 end of financial year approaching, the National Tax and Accountants Association on Monday held online seminars for tax specialists to explain tax claim changes and the tax office's stricter crackdown on home office expenses, travel and meal allowances, and vehicle depreciation. A leading conservative commentator has unleashed an extraordinary attack on 'woke princess' Lisa Wilkson as the fallout from her controversial Logies speech enters its second week. The Project co-host is expected to remain off-air for several weeks after speaking about alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins and her case, as she accepted the Outstanding News Coverage award for her one-of-one interview with the former ministerial staffer. The Logies speech forced the rape trial which was due to start next week to be rescheduled until October and could result in Wilkinson being charged with contempt of court. High profile columnist Janet Albrechtsen has joined the growing pile-on from current and former colleagues, rivals and public commentators slamming Wilkinson. The opinion writer didn't mince her words when she weighed into the ongoing saga on Monday on whether ACT Director of Public Prosecutions should lay charges against the Network Ten star. Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) has been branded a 'woke princess' in a scathing attack by Australia's leading conservative commentator 'If Wilkinson is not charged, it begs the question of whether there is a separate standard for a woke princess?' Albrechtsen wrote for The Australian. 'Would a conservative journalist receive the same treatment from the ACT DPP?' She added there's one way that will force media vigilantes to 'pull their heads in' and put an end to the 'damaging zealotry' of trial by media of alleged sexual assault cases . 'Prosecute those who interfere with the administration of justice,' Albrechtsen wrote. 'The rule of law means those laws that protect a fair trial apply equally whether you are a celebrity, a politician or an ordinary citizen.' Albrechtsen used the example of the late NSW Premier Neville Wran in the 1980s when he commented on a NSW Court of Appeal decision to grant a new trial of his good friend High Court judge Lionel Murphy, who was facing a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice at the time. Wran was found guilty of interfering with the administration of justice and fined $25,000. Prolific columnist Janet Albrechtsen (pictured) has called for 'media vigilantes' who interfere with the administration of justice to be prosecuted Wilkinson hasn't been on-air since her disastrous Logies speech a week ago. She's expected to remain off-air for a 'minimum of three weeks' but will continue to work on 'investigative and human interest' stories, according to sources. The network has indicated it 'fully supports Lisa Wilkinson' and has hired high-profile lawyer Matthew Collins to act on their behalf. The network and Wilkinson, 62, have since promised to refrain from further commentary of the case. The media veteran's Logies speech contributed to delaying Higgins's trial against former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann by prejudicing potential jurors. Lehrmann is accused of raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019. He denies these claims and stated in a police interview that he did not have sex with Ms Higgins. The ACT Supreme Court has since set a new date of October 4 for the trial. A knife-wielding attacker has stabbed several people in a shelter for asylum seekers in southern Germany, killing one man and wounding at least five people. German news agency DPA reported today that the attacker, reportedly a resident of the shelter, knocked on the doors of the rooms of the building in Kressbronn on Lake Constance, Sunday evening. When residents opened their doors at around 10pm, he stabbed them. A forensics expert takes pictures of the scene in Kressbronn, southern Germany last night One man died of his injuries instantly, one seriously injured man was flown to a hospital, and four other injured people were taken to the hospital by ambulance. It was not immediately clear whether other people were also wounded. Police officers detained a 31-year-old man, whose name was not given in line with German privacy policy, in front of the asylum-seekers shelter. Forensic specialists were still investigating the scene as of this morning. Police officers in hazmat suits probe the scene at the asylum shelter Emergency services vehicles are gathered outside the shelter in southern Germany It's unclear whether the attacker is the 31-year-old man who rioted in the same refugee accommodation in Kressbronn last month, threatening others with a knife. Mayor Daniel Enzensperger wrote on Facebook that he was shocked by what happened. Mr Enzensperger wrote: 'My thoughts are with the victims and their families. I would like to thank all emergency and rescue services from the police, fire brigade and rescue service.' Tory MPs were forced to deny being about to defect to Labour today as Boris Johnson claimed the revolt is over - despite renewed calls for the Cabinet to stage a coup. Red Wall MP Dehenna Davison and former minister Caroline Nokes tweeted to insist they are not planning to jump ship after fevered rumours swept Westminster again. 'For the avoidance of doubt - again - I'm not bloody defecting,' Ms Davison said. High Peak MP Robert Largan also issued a denial. The PM is busy burnishing his statesman credentials at the G7 summit in Bavaria, where leaders are discussing ways to help thwart Vladimir Putin. Asked if he was worried about Westminster plotting while he is out of the UK, he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany: 'No. We settled that a couple of weeks ago.' Environment Secretary George Eustice insisted in a round of interviews this morning that the Cabinet remains united behind Mr Johnson, despite the dramatic resignation by Tory chair Oliver Dowden on Friday. But the Conservative mood at home is still seething after the party's meltdown in Tiverton and Wakefield - and the premier's suggestion over the weekend that he wants to stay in No10 for another decade has done little to help. William Wragg, the Tory chairman of the Commons Public Administration Committee, told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour his own seat and those of colleagues 'with majorities much larger than mine' are under threat while Mr Johnson remains as PM. Boris Johnson (pictured with Charles Michel today) is busy burnishing his statesman credentials at the G7 summit in Bavaria, where leaders are discussing ways to help thwart Vladimir Putin Red Wall MP Dehenna Davison and former minister Caroline Nokes tweeted to deny they were planning to jump ship 'For the avoidance of doubt - again - I'm not bloody defecting,' Ms Davison said (pictured with Mr Johnson) Boris Johnson and G7 leaders listen to Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky by video-link in Germany today Ex-minister Damian Green, who chairs the One Nation caucus of Tory MPs, said the government needed to change its 'style and content'. How could Boris be ousted by Tory MPs? Haven't we just had a Tory confidence vote? Yes. After 15 per cent of Conservative MPs wrote to backbench 1922 Committee chair Sir Graham Brady, he triggered a vote earlier this month. The PM won, but 148 of his 359 MPs backed kicking him out in the secret ballot. Mr Johnson and his allies hailed that as a clear victory and urged the party to unite behind him. Many observers believed the rebels had triggered the ballot too early, and if they had waited for the results of these crunch by-elections the premier would have lost. Can they just call another vote? In theory, party rules mean that because Mr Johnson secured 50 per cent of the vote he cannot be challenged again for 12 months. But notably Theresa May also won a confidence battle, and was later threatened with a rule change to enable her to face another vote - forcing her to resign. The 1922 committee has made clear this time that changing the rules would be a last resort. There are concerns that allowing repeated votes would merely result in perpetual crisis. Is there any other way for the leader to be evicted? Mr Johnson has defiantly insisted he will not entertain the 'crazy' idea of resigning. And - barring the Opposition winning a vote of no confidence in the House - there is no formal mechanism to get rid of him before the next general election. However, a withdrawal of support by the Cabinet would make his position untenable. Tory chair Oliver Dowden's decision to quit and refuse to back Mr Johnson inflicts a blow - but to become terminal it would take more big figures to walk out and openly call for Mr Johnson to go. What happens if the leader is ousted? The leader is sacked if they lose a Tory confidence vote, and a leadership contest begins in which they cannot stand. Resignation would also trigger a contest. However, the outgoing chief typically stays on as Prime Minister until a replacement is chosen. Are there any other big moments coming up that could fuel the revolt? The cross-party Privileges Committee is about to kick off an inquiry into whether Mr Johnson misled the House over Partygate. It is expected to report in the Autumn, when the PM will also have to run the gauntlet of Tory conference. But perhaps the biggest looming threat to Mr Johnson is the cost-of-living crisis, with inflation forecast to soar over 11 per cent in October when energy bills rise again. Advertisement But Mr Wragge rejected the idea that the Tories should change rules that prevent Mr Johnson being subject to another no confidence vote before next June. 'I don't think it is desirable that the 1922 Committee should tinker with the rules although it did previously in recent history at the end of end of Mrs May's Government,' he said. Former Cabinet minister David Davis also dismissed the prospect of changing the 1922 rules. 'Do you want a leader, whoever it is, looking over his shoulder every month at this tax increase or whatever?' he told the BBC. 'So no, I don't want the rules changed. I don't think they will change either so he has got to use the year he has to prove to us that actually he can deliver on the promises we gave at the 2019 election which was low tax.' Ex-minister Damian Green, who chairs the One Nation caucus of Tory MPs, said the government needed to change its 'style and content'. 'The way for this to be brought to a head would be for one or more members of the Cabinet to take a decision to say, 'look, we can't we can't carry on like this',' he told Channel 4 News. However, asked whether Mr Johnson would still be in charge for Tory conference in October he said: 'Probably - we live in a fast moving and much changing world, but I think probably.' The premier seems to have abandoned the idea of holding a reshuffle imminently, in a sign of his wobbling authority. Instead government is pushing forward on policies as it tries to get back on the front foot. The Northern Ireland Bill is set for its second reading in the Commons tonight. An announcement on extending steel tariffs on foreign imports is also expected in the coming days, which ministers hope will please Red Wall voters. Mr Johnson was up early for a swim in the Ferchensee lake this morning, near the Schloss Elmau hotel where G7 leaders are meeting, and will use today's sessions to press for more support for Kyiv. Mr Johnson told journalists afterwards: 'What I'm focused on, and what we're doing is getting on with, number one, all the stuff we're doing to help people with the cost of living in the short term, using the fiscal firepower we have, with 1,200 for eight million of the most vulnerable households, 400 to help everybody, 300 for pensioners, cutting council tax all the things that we're doing in cash terms to help people through the current inflationary spike in the cost of, particularly, energy. 'But also getting on with the agenda for our plan for a stronger economy, reforming our supply side in energy, transport, housing, all the things that matter to people. 'And then the general government agenda, levelling up the country and delivering on our programme.' Mr Johnson has insisted the 'golden rule' is to 'focus on what we are doing' after raising eyebrows by revealing he has ambitions to remain in office into the 2030s. He admitted yesterday he has not 'had time' to reflect on the biggest regret of his premiership so far, claiming the Government's achievements have been 'remarkable'. But while he may feel at home among leaders abroad, his premiership back in the UK is far from watertight. The Conservative Party leader is facing pressure from across the political divide following the double by-election defeat in Wakefield, and Tiverton and Honiton, further fuelled by the shock resignation of a Cabinet minister. Oliver Dowden stood down as Tory co-chairman in the wake of the losses early on Friday morning, saying he and Conservative supporters were 'distressed and disappointed by recent events', and telling Mr Johnson that 'someone must take responsibility'. There have also been signs that a fresh wave of no-confidence letters are going in after his suggestion of serving three terms went down badly with critics. It comes amid suggestions of a move to change the rules of the 1922 Committee of Conservative MPs in order to allow another vote of confidence in Mr Johnson within the next year. The PM said over the weekend during a trip to Rwanda that he is 'thinking actively' about fighting the next two general elections to become the longest-serving post-war leader. Asked at the G7 summit in Germany on Sunday if his ambitions were delusional, Mr Johnson said: 'What I'm saying is this is a Government that is getting on with delivering for the people of this country and we've got a huge amount to do.' He said the 'golden rule' is to 'focus on what we are doing' to address the cost of living, the 'massive' plan for a stronger economy, and 'making sure that the UK continues to offer the kind of leadership around the world that I know our people want'. A PCSO lost her job after she tried to con 1,600 out of her force by claiming she had not been paid her wages. Ellisha Wilson tried to dupe Merseyside Police into giving her the cash as an emergency payment after getting into chronic debt through her previous job as an air stewardess. When the 26-year-old's plan was foiled, senior police colleagues gave her numerous chances to come clean but she maintained the lie, and even claimed the money she was owed had been transferred to Jamaica. Wilson, of Ashton-in-Makerfield, near Wigan, finally admitted she had lied when officers, who did not want to see her prosecuted, produced proof from her bank. Ellisha Wilson tried to dupe Merseyside Police into giving her the cash as an emergency payment Wilson admitted fraud by false representation and was sentenced to a 16 week 7am to 7pm curfew, 20 days of rehabilitative activity with the probation service and was ordered to pay 180 in costs and a victim surcharge. Sefton Magistrates Court heard that the missing money has since been accounted for. Amie Goulding, prosecuting, told the court: 'This lady was a community support officer for Merseyside Police. In September of last year she alleged that she had not been paid her wages, 1598.82. 'As a result she was issued with an emergency payment of that money with the agreement that if she had in fact been paid she would not be paid the following month. 'She realised she had not been paid in October so she contacted the pay department and continued to claim that she had not received the pay for September. They send another further payment of 1,598.82.' She said that Wilson's immediate supervisor had tried to help by 'giving her numerous opportunities to provide details to payroll.' 'Effectively, Wilson had received two lots of pay for September,' Miss Goulding said. 'There were numerous attempts to continue with the deception. She handed in wrong documents and claimed that the money that had been paid had been taken from her account and transferred to Jamaica. 'A production order from her bank account was then produced in order to prove that she was lying. It was at that point she admitted she had received the wages. It is a breach of trust. Merseyside Police relies on the honesty and integrity of its employees. When the 26-year-old's plan was foiled, colleagues gave her numerous chances to come clean but she maintained the lie, and claimed the money had been transferred to Jamaica 'It was ongoing in relation to the lies that were told and the amount of investigation that was required.' Defence solicitor Vicky Balenski said that Wilson, who had no previous convictions, had genuinely believed she had not been paid and that once she realised she had, she continued to lie out of embarrassment. 'She had got into debt after the airlines she was working for previously went bust during the pandemic,' she said. 'When she was working as an air hostess, she had a credit card on which she would put all of her expenses. When she got paid, she paid the expenses off. Things spiralled when the two companies she worked for went into liquidation. 'She was unable to pay for her credit card. She then became a PCSO. She got paid but when she looked in her bank there was nothing left. 'She genuinely believed that she had not been paid and she made the report. 'But then she just felt embarrassed that she had said she had not been paid and felt she was in too deep to basically turn back. 'It shows a lack of thinking skills and consequential thinking skills. With respect, I would say she is quite immature.' She added that Wilson's wages were stopped when the lie was uncovered. 'In fact she wasn't asked to pay any money back and that was the end of her career as a PCSO,' she said. 'Since that time she has set up her own business and is looking at becoming a bus driver. This conviction may have an impact on that. 'She has been supported by her family but it did put a burden on the relationships in her family. This is out of character for Ms Wilson and something that the family have never had to deal with before. Sefton Magistrates Court heard that the missing money has since been accounted for 'This has been going on for some time and he has caused Ms Wilson some considerable distress. She is glad that the matter will be concluded today.' Sentencing Wilson, District Judge Wendy Lloyd told her: 'Like many people in the pandemic you found that your finances were lacking. That was the same for many people in all sorts of employment from all walks of life. 'I find it very difficult to believe that you did not think that you had been paid. I imagine that your guilty plea reflects that. 'You knew that there was a big hole in your finances. You are an intelligent woman - I know that you are an intelligent woman because I have read the probation report. 'You knew that your wages would not have put you back in the black, you would still be in the red. 'You play acted. Nobody wanted this to come to a criminal matter but you just persisted 'I have not been paid', even when you knew you had been paid - which I think you realised at the earliest stage.' 'It is clear that you got yourself in a difficult situation and you did not know how to deal with it. You chose dishonesty as the way out and continued with that dishonesty even when receiving help and support. The rehabilitation days with probation service will help keep you from making similar idiotic and dishonest decisions.' Nancy Pelosi has defended herself after she was accused of pushing the daughter of a newly elected Republican congresswoman at her swearing-in ceremony. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas was sworn-in by the House Speaker last week, making history to become the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House, when the incident happened as she posed for a photograph at the White House. Flores took to Twitter to attack Pelosi and say 'no child should be pushed aside'. She is mom to four children, and hasn't released their names or ages - but the youngster pushed appears to be the second-youngest. However, Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hamill denied Flores' allegation, and said the Speaker was actually trying to ensure the youngster remained in the frame. He also accused 'news outlets' of twisting the story, despite Flores herself making the claim on Twitter. He said: 'Its sad to see news outlets that know better misrepresent the Speakers effort to ensure Rep. Flores daughters wouldnt be hidden behind her in all of the photos of such an important moment for their family.' A newly elected Republican congresswoman has accused Nancy Pelosi of 'pushing' her young daughter to the side during a photo op The shoving controversy erupted as this official swearing-in picture was being taken Flores (pictured here with her children) became the first Mexican-born congress member after winning a special election. She has four children with her husband who is a Border Patrol agent Flores, 36, who is married to a Border Patrol agent, and has four children, said on Twitter: 'No child should be pushed to the side for a photo op. PERIOD!! 'I am so proud of my strong, beautiful daughter for not allowing this to faze her. 'She continued to smile and pose for the picture like a Queen.' Video on social media shows Pelosi gesturing and beckoning over the family pastor. She then looks down at the young girl and appears to move her elbow towards her as the daughter moves away. Rep. Mayra Flores from Texas was getting sworn-in by the House Speaker last week when she posed for a photograph at the White House The congresswoman's two daughters were standing beside Pelosi who appeared to 'elbow' one of them during the ceremony Pelosi's spokesman Drew Hamill denied the House Speaker had been trying to shove the youngster out of the way Flores did not appear to notice it at the time but she since commented after the footage was widely shared. Actor turned Republican commentator James Woods said: 'I love this princess stood her ground, while Nancy showed her true colors.' Flores made history by becoming the first Mexican-born congress member after winning a special election this month to replace Texas Democrat, Rep. Filemon Vela, who retired before the end of his term. During the ceremony, Pelosi said: 'It's a great honor to welcome Congresswoman Flores to the Capitol and to the Congress of the United States with great congratulations. And again, grateful for her leadership and her beautiful family who is here today. 'Thank you Congresswoman Flores for your courage to run for office and best wishes for your success. It's an honor to work with you.' MailOnline has contacted Pelosi for comment on the video. Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant workers and a respiratory care practitioner, will hold the seat for several months Who is Mayra Flores, the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House Republican Mayra Flores made history this month by becoming the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House after beating a Democrat in a primary election in Texas. She is the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to serve. Flores, who has echoed Trump's fraudulent election claims, immigrated to the United States when she was six-years-old from Burgos Tamaulipas in Mexico and her parents were farmworkers in Texas. During her childhood, Flores worked alongside her parents in the cotton fields in Memphis to earn extra money for school clothes and supplies. She graduated in 2014 as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and currently works caring for the elderly and disabled with chronic respiratory issues - and has helped those suffering Covid-19. Flores, who later graduated with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership, now serves as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach Chair. She has four children with her Border Patrol agent husband and promotes strict immigration policies. Advertisement Flores, a GOP organizer who is the daughter of migrant workers and a respiratory care practitioner, will hold the seat for several months before the district is redrawn to be more favorable to Democrats. But her victory in the heavily Hispanic Rio Grand Valley is an ominous sign for Democrats - and demonstrates that Republicans are making inroads with Hispanic voters. Tesla CEO Elon Musk said he had voted for Republican for the first time in order to vote for Flores. He tweeted: 'I voted for Mayra Flores first time I ever voted Republican. Massive red wave in 2022. Flores lauded former President Donald Trump in her victory speech. 'We have to state the facts: That under President Trump, we did not have this mess in this country,' she said. 'And I want to see the Hispanic community rise up. And I want equal representation on both parties - I am the first Mexican-American ever elected to Congress,' she said to cheers. Flores' win makes her the first Mexican-born American to serve in the US House, but also the first Republican Latina from the state of Texas to serve. Flores had 51 per cent of the vote compared to Sanchez's 43 per cent when the Democrat conceded the race in a district where 85 per cent of residents are Latino. Her victory also has implications for Democrats' ambitions in Congress, denying Pelosi an opportunity to add to her slim two-vote margin to pass legislation. Flores, who has echoed Trump's fraudulent election claims, immigrated to the United States when she was six-years-old from Burgos Tamaulipas in Mexico and her parents were farmworkers in Texas. Republican Mayra Flores (pictured hugging a supporter in San Benito, Texas, before the results were announced) made history this month by becoming the first Mexican-born congresswoman to serve in the House after beating a Democrat in a primary election in Texas During her childhood, Flores worked alongside her parents in the cotton fields in Memphis to earn extra money for school clothes and supplies. She graduated in 2014 as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and currently works caring for the elderly and disabled with chronic respiratory issues - and has helped those suffering COVID-19. Flores later graduated with a Bachelors in Organizational Leadership, and now serves as the Hidalgo County GOP Hispanic Outreach Chair. Flores, who is Pro-Life, Pro-Second Amendment, and Pro-Law Enforcement, has four children with her Border Patrol agent husband, and promotes strict immigration policies. According to her website, Flores believes in fortifying the legal immigration system, securing the borders, lowering the costs of healthcare, lowering taxes, promoting small businesses, and less government. Flores faces another election in November against Democrat nominee Vicente Gonzalez. President Joe Biden on Monday rallied western allies to a series of new sanctions on Russia ahead of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to the G7. The latest round of financial targets are designed to hit Russian President Vladimir Putin in his pocketbook and to hamper Moscow's ability to wage war against Ukraine. Biden and his allies will target Russian defense firms, companies that have been profiting from Putin's war machine and entities that have committed human rights violations and aided in stealing Ukraine grain. They will also look to set a price cap on Russian oil. The measures are designed to 'deprive Putin of the resources he needs to wage his war, and hold the kleptocracy to account for its illgotten gains,' the White House said. Biden and his fellow leaders of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the European Union will focus on Ukraine in their Monday sessions. Zelensky will address the leaders virtually as the war enters its fifth month. Russia, meanwhile, has defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the Bolshevik coup more than a century ago. Moscow missed the deadline to pay $100 million (81.4m) in interest on two Eurobonds, one denominated in U.S. dollars and another euros, which had originally been due on May 27. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses G7 leaders virtually President Joe Biden rallied western allies to a series of new sanctions on Russia The G7 leaders pose for a family photo The latest round of financial targets are designed to hit Russian President Vladimir Putin in his pocketbook and to hamper Moscow's ability to wage war against Ukraine What are the new sanctions imposed on Russia? MILITARY PRODUCTION AND SUPPLY CHAINS The United States will target Russian defence supply chains by imposing blocking sanctions on major state-owned defence enterprises and defence-related entities and individuals. G7 Leaders will align and expand sanctions to further restrict Russia's access to key industrial inputs, services and technologies, particularly those supporting its armaments industrial base and technology sector. TARIFFS The United States will implement a higher tariff rate on more than 570 groups of Russian products worth approximately $2.3 billion to Russia. Biden and other G7 leaders will seek authority to use revenues collected by new tariffs on Russian goods to help Ukraine. GLOBAL MARKET AND GOLD The United States will issue a determination to prohibit the import of new Russian gold into the United States, which will prevent Russian participation in the formal gold market. The G7 leaders will also commit to continue to target efforts by those engaging in sanctions evasion. The U.S. Department of Commerce will also take its first action against companies engaging in 'backfill' activities to help Russia get around Western sanctions by adding several companies around the world to its entity list. This will prohibit those companies from purchasing U.S-made goods and technologies, such as semiconductors. Washington will implement blocking sanctions against people involved in assisting Russia to evade sanctions and alert financial institutions to aid in detecting potential violations of export controls. HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES G7 leaders will decide to impose sanctions on those deemed responsible for human rights abuses. The United States will implement blocking sanctions on private military companies operating in Ukraine, Russian military units implicated in human rights abuses, Russian-installed senior officials in areas besieged or held by Russia's forces. Visa restrictions will target approximately 500 officials for violating Ukraine's sovereignty or suppressing dissent in Russia. BUDGETARY SUPPORT The G7 will commit to help Ukraine cover its short-term budgetary funding shortfalls, including a $7.5 billion commitment from the United States. Leaders will also make a long-term security commitment to providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support for as long as it takes. - Reuters Advertisement In their latest sign of support for Zelensky, the G7 leaders will announced sanctions that will 'aggressively target Russian defense supply chains by imposing blocking sanctions on major state-owned defense enterprises,' according to a White House fact sheet. G7 leaders will also impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses including war crimes - and target companies involved in Russia's tactics to steal Ukrainian grain or otherwise profit illegitimately from the war. The United States will also impose a higher tariff rate on more than 570 groups of Russian products worth approximately $2.3 billion to Russia. Additionally, the G7 nations will use the revenues collected from higher tariffs imposed on Russian goods earlier this year to help the Ukraine continue its fight against Russian aggression. The U.S. also will add several companies around the world to the Entity List, which will prohibit those companies from purchasing U.S.-made origin goods and technologies, such as semiconductors, to aid their businesses. The aggressive round of sanctions comes as Putin has ramped up his war in the Ukraine. His forces attacked Kyiv for the first time in weeks as allies gathered in Germany for their annual G7 meeting. Russia has defaulted on its overseas debt for the first time in more than a century after missing a Sunday deadline, reports suggest, an indication that sanctions are working. The Kremlin decried the report as 'a farce.' And there may be more financial hardships for Russia to come. Biden will push the allies to develop a global price cap on Russian oil - a move designed to slash its value. Oil is Russia's biggest revenue generator. 'The goal here is to starve Russia, starve Putin, of his main source of cash and forced down the price of Russian oil to help blunt the impact of Putin's war at the pump,' a senior administration official told reporters on a briefing call on Monday. There were no details available on what the price cap might be and how it would be implemented. Those will be the next steps, the official said. G7 leaders will task their officials to work with the private sector to 'take steps to determine how to design implement such a mechanism and again, design and implement such a mechanism with those two secured objectives squarely in mind,' the official noted. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the delay with a final agreement had less to do with irresolvable issues than the novelty and complexity of the approach. 'The single biggest factor here is this is not something that can be pulled off the shelf as a tried and true method,' he said. 'It is a new kind of concept to deal with a particularly novel challenge, which is how to effectively deal with a country that's selling millions of barrels of oil a day.' An eventual G7 agreement on price caps, he said, would mark 'pretty dramatic step forward' and would amount to 'one of the more significant outcomes of G7 summit.' Sullivan wouldn't say whether agreeing on and imposing price caps was likely to happen in a matter of weeks or months. 'There is no reason though, that if leaders come together around this, that there couldn't be relatively rapid work done on it,' he said. Russian oil, the nation's biggest source of income, is still being purchased - China and India are picking up the slack left when the U.S. and allies started to ban Russian oil. While oil sales are down, prices are up, helping generate billions for Putin's war. Russia is still raking in $1 billion a day from its oil supply, the Center for Research on Energy and Clear Air found. Earlier, the U.S., UK, Canada and Japan announced they were banning the import of Russian gold, which, after oil, is its biggest revenue generator. 'The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine,' Biden wrote on Twitter on Sunday. 'Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia.' The West has already imposed a series of sanctions on Russian oil, luxury goods and other items. But questions remain as the effectiveness of those financial punishments. 'The short-term financial impact of the sanctions on Russia's economy has been substantial but appears to have dissipated since May,' the Center for Strategic and International Studies reported this month. Theresa May tonight led a Tory backlash against Boris Johnson's plan to override the post-Brexit agreement for Northern Ireland. In a withering intervention, the ex-prime minister told MPs the Government's bid to take unilateral action over the Northern Ireland Protocol was illegal. She claimed it wouldn't solve current trade issues and would diminish Britain's international standing. Mrs May also suggested that Mr Johnson's recent woes - including having to face a no confidence vote among Conservative MPs - had damaged his negotiating position with the EU. The former premier spoke in the House of Commons as MPs debated the Government's proposed legislation to sweep away key parts of the Protocol. MPs were due to vote on the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill for the first time later tonight. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss had earlier defended the Bill from claims that it breached international law and could spark a trade war with Brussels. Mrs May told the Commons the Bill would give ministers 'extraordinarily sweeping powers' as she lashed out the Government's plan to rip up the Protocol that Mr Johnson struck with the EU in October 2019. 'The UKs standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions,' she added. 'As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. 'I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it.' Mrs May, who also faced a no confidence vote in her leadership while she was PM, spoke of her own travails in dealing with the EU over Brexit when in Downing Street. She suggested that, after Mr Johnson witnessed a recent attempt by Tory MPs to oust him from Numer 10, his negotiating power had been weakened. 'My experience was, the EU looked very carefully at the political situation in any country,' she added. 'As I discovered when I faced a no confidence vote, despite having won that no confidence vote, they then start to ask themselves, "well, is it really worth negotiating with these people in Government, because will they actually be there in any period of time?". 'Also, I suspect they are saying to themselves, why should they negotiate in detail with a Government that shows itself willing to sign an agreement, claim it as a victory, and then try to tear part of it up in less than three years time?' In a withering intervention, Theresa May told MPs the Government's bid to take unilateral action over the Northern Ireland Protocol was illegal Mrs May was not alone in voicing criticism of the Bill from the Tory benches. Fellow senior Conservative MP Simon Hoare, the chair of the Commons' Northern Ireland Affairs Commmittee, openly wondered whether the Bill was a 'muscle flex for a future leadership bid' by Ms Truss. He told MPs, if that was the case, it would be 'shameful'. The Government has insisted its unilateral approach is the only option left to resolve issues 'baked in' to the Protocol if the EU maintains its refusal fundamentally to rewrite the terms of the deal. As she opened today's debate, Ms Truss said the UK continues to raise issues of concern with the EU. She told the Commons: 'We simply cannot allow this situation to drift. 'Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since February due specifically to the Protocol, at a time of major global economic challenges. 'Therefore, it is the duty of this Government to act now to enable a plan for restored local government to begin. It's both legal and necessary.' Conservative former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell said he had an 'immense amount of sympathy' with what the Foreign Secretary was saying. 'It does seem to me that the EU is not being particularly constructive in trying to get the solution we all want to see achieved,' he added. 'But can I say to her that many of us are extremely concerned that the Bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, it trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally. 'Can she say anything to reassure me in my anxieties on these points?' Foreign Secretary Liz Truss defended the Bill from claims it breached international law and could spark a trade war with Brussels Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell admitted the EU was 'not being particularly constructive' but warned the Bill 'trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war, it puts us at odds with our closest ally' The Prime Minister was due to share wurst in Bavaria tonight with France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz, as well as the EU's Ursula Von der Leyen The Government has argued the measures to remove checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement Mr Johnson was pictured messing about with Charles Michel, the European Council president, at the G7 summit in Bavaria Boris urges focus on Ukraine as Tory rebels demand Cabinet coup Boris Johnson is urging a focus on Ukraine today as Tory rebels urge the Cabinet to stage a coup in the wake of the by-election disasters. The PM is busy burnishing his statesman credentials at the G7 summit in Bavaria, where leaders are discussing ways to help thwart Vladimir Putin. But the Conservative mood at home is still seething after the party's meltdown in Tiverton and Wakefield - and the premier's suggestion over the weekend that he wants to stay in No10 for another decade has done little to help. Nerves have been further jangled by persistent rumours that six MPs are considering defecting to Labour. Environment Secretary George Eustice insisting in a round of interviews this morning that the Cabinet remains united behind Mr Johnson, despite the dramatic resignation by Tory chair Oliver Dowden on Friday. But William Wragg, the Tory chairman of the Commons Public Administration Committee, told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour his own seat and those of colleagues 'with majorities much larger than mine' are under threat while Mr Johnson remains as PM. Advertisement DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, whose party are bitterly opposed to the Protocol, welcomed the Bill as an attempt to 'finally and fundamentally reset and restore Northern Irelands relationship with the rest of the United Kingdom given the devastating impact of the Protocol on the economic, constitutional, social and political life of Northern Ireland over the last 18 months'. 'How can anyone in this House defend a situation where part of this United Kingdom is treated in a way where its elected representatives have no say in many of the laws that regulate our trade with the rest of the United Kingdom?,' he added. Today's debate on the Bill came after Mr Johnson suggested it could be passed into law by the end of the year. Speaking at the G7 meeting in Germany the Prime Minister signalled that his plan to effectively tear up parts of the Protocol could be done 'fairly rapidly'. He was due to sit down for an awkwardly timed G7 barbecue that will see him share wurst in Bavaria tonight with France's Emmanuel Macron and Germany's Olaf Scholz, as well as the EU's Ursula Von der Leyen as he continues his foreign diplomatic tour. Government sources said they are 'reasonably confident' of avoiding a major revolt tonight. The Prime Minister told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany, which is also being attended by senior figures from the European Union, that 'the interesting thing is how little this conversation is being had, certainly here' - indicating he is not expecting a major diplomatic row. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, he said: 'Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing.' He said it would be 'even better' if we could 'get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic', the European Commission vice-president, adding: 'We remain optimistic.' DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said his party will consider returning to power-sharing arrangements at Stormont once the bill passes through the Commons. But he declined to put a firm timetable on returning, saying only that the party will 'consider what steps we can take'. Mr Johnson told the BBC in Germany today: 'What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. 'You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really aren't working in a way that they like or understand, you've got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 'All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market.' But Ireland's premier Micheal Martin rejected Boris Johnson's assertion that he does not see a major diplomatic row erupting over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Speaking in Dublin on Monday, the Taoiseach said: 'That, in my view, doesn't stack up in the sense that any unilateral decision to breach international law is a major serious development. 'There can be no getting out of that. One cannot trivialise the breaching of an international agreement between the UK Government and the EU. 'My concern is a trend towards unilateralism that is emanating from the UK Government. 'We had it on the protocol, we had it on legacy issues, we have it now in terms of the application of the decision of European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in terms of domestic British law. 'We know that the Good Friday Agreement incorporates protections under the human rights convention and that is something we will keep a close eye on. 'I have been in touch with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, and they are concerned about this. 'They are conscious that similar efforts were made last year but this is not a good move by the British Government and it has to accept that unilateralism does not work in the context of the Good Friday Agreement, or in the context of good relationships with your neighbours and the EU.' Mr Johnson's administration has argued that the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks which they perceive as driving a wedge down the Irish Sea has seen the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refuse to return to the powersharing executive, leaving the region without a functioning government. European Commission vice-president has Maros Sefcovic indicated further measures could follow if the UK pressed ahead with the Bill. The dispute could ultimately lead to a trade war, with tariffs or even the suspension of the entire Brexit deal between the UK and EU. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said the Government's Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will 'fix the problems' that the post-Brexit arrangements in the region have caused. 'A negotiated solution has been and remains our preference, but the EU continues to rule out changing the Protocol itself even though it is patently causing serious problems in Northern Ireland which therefore means we are obliged to act,' she said. A source close to the Foreign Secretary added: 'There is ultimately a simple logic to doing this legislation: the Protocol is undermining the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and creating myriad problems in Northern Ireland, but the EU are still refusing to change or renegotiate the Protocol, therefore we are obliged to act. 'That simple logic seems to winning round some of the wavering / moderate types in the middle of this debate. 'As recently as last week Sefcovic was saying the EU will not renegotiate the Protocol, which rather proves our point. 'Ideally we reach the same solutions as the legislation through a negotiated settlement, but that's impossible unless the EU accept parts of the Protocol itself need fixing. Ms Truss said the Government's Northern Ireland Protocol Bill will 'fix the problems' that the post-Brexit arrangements have caused 'International agreements change all the time when circumstances change - and article 13 of the Protocol itself allows for it to be changed - so we're slightly baffled by the EU position that the Protocol is set in stone and can't be changed. It can and should be.' The Prime Minister played down concerns over legal challenges during a trip to Rwanda earlier this week. 'We've got a legal case against us for failing to have proper customs procedures, all sorts of things,' he said. He suggested that the response to plans was more 'muted' than expected. As the Bill returns to Parliament for its second reading this afternoon, MPs will debate its main principles and decide whether it can proceed for further consideration. Ms Truss will tell the Commons the legislation is a basis for a durable and sustainable solution that protects the Good Friday Agreement, avoids a hard border, safeguards the EU single market and ensures the integrity of the UK. However, she is likely to be met with a backlash from those who oppose the move. Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour would axe the proposed laws if it was in power, and confirmed his party will vote against the legislation at Westminster. Mr Sefcovic previously declined to rule out a trade war, saying: 'We have to keep all options on the table.' But he emphasised the EU's preference to find a negotiated solution to the problems caused by the protocol, lamenting the 'radio silence from London since February'. On Sunday, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis suggested it was 'absurd' for Europe to issue warnings about a trade war with the UK when they had not fully implemented sanctions on Putin for invading Ukraine. Ireland's premier Micheal Martin (right) rejected Mr Johnson's assertion that he does not see a major diplomatic row erupting over the Northern Ireland Protocol 'What we're talking about is fixing here some of the issues in terms of the implementation of the protocol that is so detrimentally affecting Northern Ireland,' he told Times Radio. The EU's ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida, said the Government is likely on 'a road to nowhere'. Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday about the Bill, he said: 'We are not dismissing (what the UK has proposed), but we read it very carefully and, to be very frank, we think it is both illegal and unrealistic.' Alongside the second reading, the Government is launching a series of 'structured engagements' with the business community to discuss and gather views on the Bill's implementation. The Foreign Office is hosting the first roundtable event on Monday, bringing together more than a dozen major UK businesses and representative groups including the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Asda, John Lewis and the Dairy Council NI. Advertisement Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron made a big show of burying the hatchet after talks at the G7 - but instantly became embroiled in another clash. The PM jokingly hailed a 'bromance' after a cuddly meeting with the French president in Bavaria yesterday. The two leaders - who had not held face-to-face talks for a year - are said to have agree a 'reset' in relations after months of tensions over the strategy for resolving the Ukraine crisis, Channel migrants and Brexit. The paid steered well clear of the topics that have been causing problems between them, lining up a major Anglo-French summit to happen soon. However, there were hints of trouble ahead as Mr Macron claimed Mr Johnson had expressed 'interest' in his big idea of an 'EU lite' group of affiliated nations including Britain. Downing Street made clear he was merely being polite and the UK had 'no plans' to join the new club. 'We've left the EU and there's no intention to pursue anything along those lines,' a spokesman for the PM said. Despite being reelected as President in April, Mr Macron has been branded 'Le Lame Duck' after his party was humbled in local polls earlier this month. He has also been criticised for his more conciliatory approach to Vladimir Putin after the invasion of Ukraine - which contrasts with Mr Johnson's tough line. Boris Johnson and French president Emmanuel Macron locked into an uncomfortable-looking embrace before their one-on-one meeting in Bavaria yesterday The two leaders - who had not held face-to-face talks for a year - are said to have agree a 'reset' in relations Mr Johnson joked that they had rekindled a 'bromance' as they met face-to-face for the first time in a year The pair seemed keen to show the warmth of their relations despite tensions over the strategy for resolving the Ukraine crisis and Brexit However, there were hints of trouble ahead as Mr Macron claimed Mr Johnson had expressed 'interest' in his big idea of an 'EU lite' group of affiliated nations including Britain Mr Macron and Mr Johnson lined up with other leaders for a family photo in Germany this afternoon A dishevelled-looking Mr Johnson was struggling to work out where he was meant to be as they lined up for the photo today Meanwhile, Mr Macron had switched his attentions to India's Narendra Modi as the group gathered A No10 source played up the progress made in the Macron meeting, saying they now believed the French president was 'on the right page' over Ukraine. The leaders apparently agreed that defeating Russia is 'option number one', while failing that they should put Volodymyr Zelensky in the best position to strike a deal. During the discussions, Mr Johnson warned that trying to settle the standoff with Russia to hastily will 'only cause enduring instability'. He said giving ground to Mr Putin would give him 'licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity'. Although France has backed Ukraine, Mr Macron has appeared keener to come to terms with Mr Putin than other world leaders. By contrast Mr Zelensky has hailed Mr Johnson for taking a tough line. Mr Macron has also been one of the hard-liners within the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol and post-Brexit trade issues. Before the meeting, Mr Johnson was asked whether France and Germany are doing enough over Ukraine. In his response, Mr Johnson focused on Berlin's response without mentioning France. 'Just look at what the Germans alone have done,' he said. 'I never believed in my lifetime that I would see a German Chancellor stepping up in the way that Olaf Scholz has and sending weaponry to help the Ukrainians to to protect themselves. 'He's made huge, huge strides. We have 4 per cent of our gas comes from Russia, in Germany, it's 40 per cent. 'They're facing real, real pressures, they're having to source energy from elsewhere. But they're doing it. They're making the effort. They're making the sacrifice. 'That's because they see that the price of freedom is worth paying. 'This is something that it's worth us standing up for together. And that is the principle that a free, independent sovereign country like Ukraine should not be violently invaded and should not have its boundaries changed by force. 'And the consequences of what's happening for the world are tough, but the price of backing down, the price of allowing Putin to succeed , to hack off huge parts of Ukraine, to continue with his programme of conquest, that price will be far, far higher and everybody here understands that.' Mr Macron and Mr Johnson put on a matey show for the cameras before their discussions yesterday Once the cameras were turned off Mr Johnson warned that trying to settle the standoff with Russia to hastily will 'only cause enduring instability' Mr Johnson and Mr Macron avoided all the issues that have been causing tensions between them during the talks Although France has backed Ukraine, Mr Macron has appeared keener to come to terms with Mr Putin than other world leaders A No10 spokesman said of the meeting with Mr Macron: 'They agreed this is a critical moment for the course of the conflict, and there is an opportunity to turn the tide in the war. 'Both the Prime Minister and President Macron stressed the need to support Ukraine to strengthen their hand in both the war and any future negotiations. 'President Macron praised the Prime Minister's ongoing military support to Ukraine and the leaders agreed to step up this work. 'The Prime Minister stressed any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give (Vladimir) Putin licence to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity. 'The leaders agreed to continue and enhance the close work between the UK and France on areas including defence and security.' A kiss for Carrie! Brigitte Macron is stylish in a suit and trainers as she greets Mrs Johnson at G7 partners' event in the German mountains - in echo of their husbands' united front Carrie Johnson and French first lady Brigitte Macron put on a friendly display as they joined G7 partners to meet young German athletes on Monday morning. Brigitte, the glamorous 69-year-old wife of President Macron, 44, greeted Mrs Johnson, 34, with a kiss on the cheek as the group arrived at a mountain resort near Garmisch-Partenkirchen. It echoed the show of unity by President Macron and Mr Johnson, who have vowed to 'hit the reset button' on their relationship following one-on-one talks at the summit. The partners of the G7 leaders continued their itinerary today with a visit to meet a group of junior biathletes in training for the Olympics. Britta Ernst, wife of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel, were also in attendance. A kiss for Carrie! Brigitte Macron gave Mrs Johnson a warm hello as the women joined other G7 spouses at an event with young German athletes. It comes as their husbands put on a show of unity at the international summit Group shot: Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel, Britta Ernst, Carrie Johnson and Brigitte Macron at Elmauer Alm Mountain Restaurant, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Monday Group event: Carrie Johnson (centre, in black and white) joined (from left) Brigitte Macron, German former professional skier Christian Neureuther, former professional biathlete and cross-country skier Miriam Neureuther, Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel and Britta Ernst, wife of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, at the event Centre of attention: Brigitte put on a typically glamorous display in the powder blue suit as she joined Carrie at the event today. The French first lady greeted their host Christian Neureuther with a hug (right) United front: Carrie and Brigitte, who yesterday took part in a cross-country walk, are accompanying their husbands to the G7 summit. World leaders last night agreed a new 'surge' of support to defeat Putin in Ukraine after the Kremlin bombed Kyiv Light and breezy: Brigitte, the glamorous 69-year-old wife of President Macron, 44, delivered a masterclass in power dressing while Mrs Johnson opted for a more low-key look, stepping out in a classic white blouse and black trousers combo L to R: Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, European Union Council Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, French President Emanuel Macron and European Union Council President Charles Michel pose for a group photo on the first day of the three-day G7 Brigitte was typically glamorous in a powder blue suit and put a stylish twist on the ensemble by adding a pair of white trainers. As the weather warmed up, Mrs Macron removed her jacket to reveal an elegant crossover blouse. Mrs Johnson opted for a more low-key look, stepping out in a classic white blouse and black straight-leg trousers combo. The mother-of-two finished the ensemble with simple nude pumps and wore her blonde locks swept over one shoulder in voluminous curls. Politician Ms Ernst, a German education minister, was similarly casual in a navy two-piece and pale blue jumper. Ms Derbaudrenghien stood out in a vibrant yellow top and white trousers. They were joined at the engagement by German former professional skier Christian Neureuther, who greeted Mrs Macron with a hug. It comes as world leaders last night agreed a new 'surge' of support to defeat Vladimir Putin in Ukraine after the Kremlin bombed Kyiv while the G7 met. Catching up: Mrs Johnson and Mrs Macron chatted to Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel Taking in the sights: Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel, with Brigitte Macron and Carrie Johnson. The women watched a demonstration by young biathletes at a resort near Garmisch-Partenkirchen Taking a break (from left): Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel, Britta Ernst, Mrs Johnson and Mrs Macron at Elmauer Alm Mountain Restaurant, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, on Monday Emmanuel Macron yesterday said he was committed for the long haul. Boris Johnson said 'backing down' now would be a catastrophic mistake as he warned against encouraging Volodymyr Zelensky to accept a peace deal. Downing Street said the Russian leader's decision to fire missiles on the Ukrainian capital had been 'stupid' and had 'stiffened the resolve' of leaders. The spokesperson added that Macron and Johnson, who have until now had a strained relationship, were 'aligned' as the French said the defeat of Russia is 'option number one' and peace is 'number two'. 'There is a real sense that Putin was stupid to bomb Kyiv as the G7 gathered', a No 10 source said. 'It has made the leaders more united'. Fresh air! The G7 partners meet with a local biathlon junior Olympic Training group near Garmisch-Partenkirchen Making an entrance! Britta Ernst, Brigitte Macron and Amelie Derbaudrenghien, partner of European Council President Charles Michel Firm friends: The group were joined at the engagement by German former professional skier Christian Neureuther, who greeted Mrs Macron with a hug The timing of the attack was seen as a pointed message to world leaders to encourage Ukraine into a peace deal where it cedes large portions of its territory. A Downing Street spokesman also warned that 'enduring instability' could be created if Putin was not curtailed now from launching similar attacks on other countries. The Prime Minister yesterday argued that the leaders must help 'strengthen Ukraine's hand' by providing more military support rather than encourage Mr Zelensky to give up territory in a peace deal. Downing Street clarified to the Daily Telegraph that this remark about peace by Mr Johnson was to 'the commentariat' and not to the G7. 'It's not helpful to discuss the individual leaders and their views expressed in private,' a spokesman added. 'I think what you will see in this G7 is that they are united in support for Ukraine.' Yesterday, the G7 leaders' partners enjoyed an al fresco lunch with former World Cup alpine ski racer Christian Neureuther (left) and Miriam Neureuther (right). Pictured second left to right: Amelie Derbaudrenghien, Brigitte Macron, Carrie Johnson and Britta Ernst Getting stuck in! Carrie Johnson (left) joined Brigitte Macron (right German Chancellor's wife Britta Ernst) with on a Nordic walk around Lake Ferchensee in Germany on Sunday Keeping things casual: All six opted for casual wear with Carrie choosing black leisure wear trousers with walking boots and a striped French Connection Women's Cotton Non Stretch Oversized Tee. Brigitte opted for slim-line black pants with a blush pink shirt, and white No Name for Women fashion sneakers Suits her! Carrie Johnson cut a stylish figure as she stepped out with Boris Johnson at the G7 summit on Sunday Mr Johnson and Mr Macron, who have until now had a strained relationship, yesterday agreed to a 'reset' as they held one-on-one talks at the summit. But the Downing Street spokesman refused to say whether both leaders had reached an agreement. A No 10 source told the Daily Mail that they now believed the French president was 'on the right page' when it came to Ukraine. He said: 'They're getting on well, they had a very good meeting. It's all great with the French now. 'Both sides are aligned. [Mr] Macron said the defeat of Russia is option number one to pursue. Option two is put [Mr] Zelensky in the best position to strike a deal. 'We found that positive and officials say we are heading for a strong statement from this summit on Ukraine.' Yesterday, the partners of the G7 leaders enjoyed a cross-country walk and appeared in excellent spirits as they stopped for a bite to eat. In a shocking case of medical negligence, a 9-month pregnant woman lost her unborn, after she was not allowed to use hospital lift. (Representational image) Hyderabad: In a shocking case of medical negligence, a 9-month pregnant woman lost her unborn, after she was not allowed to use lift in Imtiyaz hospital, Old City. The victim, Surya Begum, suffering labour pains was denied entry to the hospital lift. The hospital authorities restricted the use of the lift to patients and for the special invitees for a function being held at the terrace of the hospital building. A case of death due to negligence has been registered against the management of Imtiyaz hospital, Nalgonda cross roads, said Srisailam sub inspector of police. Surya Begum is undergoing treatment in Osmania General Hospital (OGH) and the police will record her statement. The foetus is preserved at OGH morgue. A Ukrainian girl has been forced to return to her war-torn home city after her hopes of a starting a new life with her aunt and cousin in the UK were dashed. Alisa Miroshyna, 11, spent nearly three months in Poland waiting for a visa after her parents who both serve in the Ukrainian Army got legal papers, allowing her aunt to act for her. But her mother Kateryna, 35, has now given up hope of her getting a UK visa and has taken her back to their home in Dnipro in an area of eastern Ukraine threatened by Russian forces. The failure to grant her a visa has been slammed as sickening and criminal by the couple who had invited her to stay at their home in Hartlepool, County Durham. Viktoria Sochka, 38, her daughter Anastasiia (left), 14, and niece Alisa, 11, spent months in Poland waiting for visas to the UK but were repeatedly rejected Ms Sochka had previously booked tickets for a flight - from Warsaw to Doncaster Sheffield airport - so they could join hosts Mr Anderson and Ms Jones at their six-bedroom detached home before visa issues arose Alisa's mother Kateryna, 35, who is serving in the Ukraine armed forces with father Oleksii, 41, has decided to bring her back home after giving up hope of her getting a visa UK civil servants repeatedly refused to accept that Viktoria was Alisa's legal guardian despite a Lasting Power of Attorney document proving it (pictured) Nick Anderson, 60, and his partner Karen Jones, 54, had offered spare rooms to Alisa, her aunt Viktoria Sochka, 39, and cousin Anasatasiia, 14, under the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. He claimed that he and staff working for Hartlepool MP Jill Mortimer had wasted many hundreds of hours trying in vain to get visas for the three of them. But UK civil servants repeatedly refused to accept that Viktoria was her legal guardian, despite official papers showing that her aunt had Power of Attorney over her. Nick, a semi-retired financial adviser, said: It is outrageous that the British Government has sent this 11-year-old girl back to a war zone where her life could potentially be at risk. Anyone who watches the news and sees what the Russians are doing to women and children in the Ukraine should be disgusted that a family is being treated in such a shocking manner. It is truly a case of Schindlers List in reverse! It is ironic to think that refugees from Ukraine who are accepted in to the UK are allowed to bring dogs and pets with them It is ridiculous she would have been allowed in if she was a dog, but she cannot come here as an 11-year-old accompanied by her aunt. Nick Anderson agreed to host the trio at his home in Hartlepool, County Durham. But officials continued to request for further proof that Viktoria is really the aunt of Alisa - which left them unable to travel to the UK Mr Anderson and partner Ms Jones first applied on March 20 for Viktoria and the two girls to be allowed to stay with them The couple - who have eight grown up children between them - made enquiries online, saying that they had three spare rooms available Nick and care worker Karen who have eight grown up children between them had decided to help a refugee family as they live alone in their six bedroom detached house. The couple made inquiries online, saying that they had three spare rooms available, and were put in touch with railway worker Viktoria who was looking for a place in the UK with her daughter and niece. Nick was told that Viktorias husband Andrii, 43, was fighting in the Ukrainian Army and back on the frontline after being injured in February. Viktoria also said she was having to look after her niece so her sister and brother-in-law and Oleksii, 41, could also serve in the countrys armed forces. Nick said he spent several hours applying for the visas online on March 20, and enlisted the help of his MP Jill Mortimer after becoming frustrated with the delays. The intervention of her staff led to him being assured that a decision on whether to grant visas would be made by April 4. As a result, Viktoria and the two girls left their home in Dnipro and made a 26 hour train journey to Warsaw, so they could fly to the UK on April 6. But at the last minute, UK civil servants questioned the spelling of Anastasiias name and asked to see her passport to prove it, despite already having a copy of it. They claimed that it was not the usual way the name was spelt in Ukraine, even though they had been told that the teenager originally came from the Donbas region where spellings are different. The issue meant that visas were not granted and the three of them were unable to board their flight to Doncaster Sheffield airport. Kateryna decided that her daughter Alisa was not going to get a visa, and brought her back to Dnipro so that Viktoria and Anastasiia would have a better chance of reaching the UK They only had visas to stay in Poland for 90 days and were worried that they would run out of time They ended up sharing a single room at a hostel in Warsaw with another Ukrainian mother and her daughter while they waited in vain for visas to be sorted out. In another twist, Nick revealed that civil servants then asked for further proof that Viktoria really was the aunt of Alisa and entitled to travel with her to the UK. Nick said officials raised the query, despite already having a copy of the Lasting Power of Attorney granted by authorities in Ukraine to give Viktoria the right to care for her niece. Ms Mortimer raised Alisas plight in Parliament on Monday in a question to Priti Patel, urging the Home Secretary to try and find a solution to let her into the UK. But Alisas mother Kateryna decided she could wait no longer and travelled by Warsaw on train on Tuesday to be reunited with her and take her back to Dnipro. Nick said: Things came to a head because they had been dragging on for so long. They only have visas to stay in Poland for 90 days and they were worried that they would run out of time. Kateryna decided that Alisa was never going to get a visa, and so she decided to take her back to Dnipro. She hopes it will mean that Viktoria and Anastasiia will have a better chance of reaching the UK, without the issue over Alisas visa holding them up. But even that is not as simple as it sounds because Alisas application has to be disassociated from their application and we are waiting for that to happen. Viktoria says she is broken by the whole experience. They are a very close family and it is awful for her that she will not be able to help her sister by bringing Alisa over here. They have all been sharing this single room in a hostel for nearly three months, and then they had to say goodbye to Alisa. Nick said he received an official notification from the UK Government on Thursday afternoon, saying that Alisas visa application had been refused. Alisa (left) pictured with her aunt Viktoria (centre left), mother Kataryna (centre right) and cousin Anastasiia (right) The email gave the reason for the refusal as being the fact that she was aged under 18 and not accompanied by your parent/legal guardian. It invited her to apply under the new scheme, due to start in July, which will allow unaccompanied children from Ukraine to enter the UK. Nick said he then received another email 40 minutes later saying that Alisas application was still being looked at after all. He added: The whole process is just shambolic. It is ridiculous that things have dragged on for so long. It just stinks Jill Mortimers secretary Alison Shepherd has literally spent hundreds of hours trying to sort this out. She has been on the phone day after day, often waiting for three hours at a time, but the only response she ever got was, We have everything we need and were looking into it. Jill Mortimer has even had a member of her staff go along to the office in London which has been processing visa applications, but that did not achieve anything. It was great that she asked a question in Parliament to try and help Alisa, but the dismissive reaction she got from Ms Patel says everything about her and her department. Nick said that social workers had approved his home as being suitable for a refugee family, but he was advised to get a Lasting Power of Attorney to prove Viktoria was acting as a guardian for her niece. He passed on the advice to Viktoria, and she arranged the official document from authorities in Ukraine which he then uploaded as part of their application. Nick added: Our civil servants appear to be deliberately obstructing refugees when civilians are being killed by bombing every day. It really is sickening. He earlier told MailOnline: I feel embarrassed to be British because of all this, especially when other countries are just waving through refugees. How can we be treating people like this? It shows how incompetent the Home Office is. The whole thing is a flipping farce. He added: We decided we had the space to help out a family after being horrified by what is happening in Ukraine. Karen and I quickly got all the necessary DBS checks and had our house checked by the local council to make sure everything was suitable. Viktoria cannot speak any English, but Anastasiia can speak a bit, so we have been communicating through her on Messenger. Nick said that Viktoria and the two girls had been living in fear in her flat on the ninth floor of an apartment block in Dnipro before fleeing to Warsaw. He added: It was terrifying for them. They often had to shelter in the corridor when they could hear bombardments as there was no time to reach a bomb shelter. Their lives were at risk constantly while they waited to hear whether they were going to get visas. It is just so frustrating when they have a place of safety here. The awful thing is that they were bombed out of their original home by the Russians in 2015 so they are refugees twice over. A spokesperson for the Department of Levelling Up which is handling visa applications for the Home Office was unable to comment on Alisas case. A TikTok star has launched an Ofcom-backed campaign called Only Nans to encourage youngsters to report harmful content that would offend their grandmothers. Lewis Leigh gained millions of followers after posting sweet footage of him dancing with his elderly grandmother, Phyllis, on the popular video sharing site. He has now launched the campaign urging people to report content that would offend their grans because nans are the best judges out there. Lewis became popular on the app during lockdown, and wanted to launch the campaign with Ofcom after scrolling through some questionable content. He said: Nans always give the best advice. So next time youre scrolling through your phone and come across something youre not quite sure about, ask yourself, What would my nan think? If its a no from nan then perhaps think about reporting it. Ofcom, the communications regulator, found that 67 per cent of teenagers and young adults, aged 13-24, had encountered at least one potentially harmful piece of content online. Lewis has launched the campaign with Ofcom and his grandmother Phyllis, pictured, after becoming populatr on TikTok during the pandemic. He is urging other young people to report any online content that they think could potentially be harmful @lewisleighh I love social media, but there can be some harmful content out there! Were all guilty of scrolling past it but the only way to get rid of it is report it! So, Ive teamed up with @Ofcom to play OnlyNans, and Ive called in the big guns to help me My Nanny Phyllis! #ad original sound - Lewis Leigh But the research also found that only 17 per cent went on to report it, as more than 20 per cent said they dont think reporting something would make a difference. They also found that 12 per cent of those involved in the survey did not know what to do when they saw harmful content, or who to inform about it. The most common content that young people came across were misinformation, scams and offensive language. His campaign comes as the Online Safety Bill is making its way through parliament, and will give Ofcom powers to fine social media platforms if they fail in a duty of care. Ofcom will be able to hand out fines of up to 18million, or ten per cent of the companies qualifying revenue. As well as forcing social media companies to delete illegal content, such as child abuse imagery, they will also have to try to get rid of some hate crime offences, even though they would be allowed in the real world because of freedom of expression protections. News publishers have campaigned for a complete exemption from the Online Safety Bill since its white paper launch three years ago. They are concerned the latest version of the Bill appears not to address a recommendation from MPs for an amendment to protect Press freedom. The joint parliamentary committee which scrutinised the Bill said it should include a ban on tech companies blocking news content unless it is in breach of criminal law. Social media bosses could be jailed if they fail to cooperate with regulators on protecting the vulnerable online, under updated legislation. Ofcom research has revealed that only 17 per cent of those who had seen harmful content went on to report it, as more than 20 per cent said they dont think reporting something would make a difference The campaign comes after Molly Russell, pictured, took her own life in 2017 after viewing thousands of posts about suicide and self-harm on Instagram. The 14-year-old's dad Ian has been campaigning for tighter laws around online safety since her death An earlier version of the Online Safety Bill, published last year, said tech firms could be fined huge amounts potentially running into billions of pounds if they failed to abide by a duty of care. Ministers had avoided making bosses personally responsible for company failings, but now senior managers will face prosecution for breaking the duty of care. The legislation is dubbed the Nick Clegg law, as the former deputy prime minister is now vice president for global affairs and communications at Facebook. Children's charities and worried families have long campaigned for social media firms to be prosecuted if they fail to crack down on self-harm material. It comes after the father of a teenage girl took her life after viewing thousands of posts online about suicide and self-harm. Molly Russell, 14, took her own life in 2017 after scrolling through the graphic images on Instagram, with her dad Ian Russell telling MPs that he had 'frustratingly limited success' when asking firms to take down content. The online safety campaigner said tech companies only seemed to take action when 'news stories break' or when the Government changes regulations. Mr Russell said the 'corporate culture' at the platforms must change so they respond to harmful content in a 'proactive' rather than a 'reactive' manner. Ian Russell told MPs that online safety campaigners had 'frustratingly limited success' when asking firms to take down harmful content. He is calling for social media giants to be more 'proactive' in removing posts from their sites rather than being 'reactive' in their approach Giving evidence to MPs on the Draft Online Safety Bill Joint Committee last year, he said: It is our experience that there is frustratingly limited success when harmful content is requested to be removed by the platforms, particularly in terms of self-harm and suicidal content and this is particularly stressful for families and friends who are bereaved by suicide. It seems only when either news stories break in a particularly public way or when perhaps regulations change that the platforms respond so it has become our view, and increasingly so, that the corporate culture at these platforms needs to change. They need to be proactive rather than reactive and they after all have the resources and the skills to do this. 'But it is so often done as an afterthought and they should live up to their words about taking online safety seriously and wanting to make their platforms safer. TikToks latest transparency report revealed that 85.8 million pieces of content were removed in the last three months of 2021. Of those 5 per cent of them were removed as a result of user reports, while Instagram reported 43.8 million content removals. Jo Hemmings, a behavioural psychologist, told The Times that young people not reporting potentially harmful content risks a potentially serious issue going unchallenged. She added: People react very differently when they see something harmful in real life reporting it to the police or asking for help from a friend, parent or guardian but often take very little action when they see the same thing in the virtual world. China's population has suffered more severe mental health problems during the Covid pandemic than other nations due to the government's draconian lockdowns and unpredictable restrictions, a study has found. Whilst anxiety and depression have increased globally by 25 per cent since the beginning of the pandemic, that figure is much higher in China where millions of people have been under strict lockdowns for months, studies suggest. A national survey on the psychological effects of the pandemic in China found that 35 per cent of the 52,000 respondents experienced a number of mental health problems - including panic disorder, anxiety and depression - due to the unprecedented quarantine measures. China has stuck to its strict 'zero-Covid' approach that restricts travel, tests entire cities and sets up sprawling facilities to try to isolate every infected person. Lockdowns start with buildings and neighborhoods but become citywide if the virus spreads widely. Whilst the strict approach has brought case numbers down, the heavy-handed measures have caused a 'collective psychological trauma'. The measures have also fuelled anger and even rare protests against the government. Yu Lingna, a Chinese psychologist and founder of Tokyo-based Yingxintang, a psychological consulting service for people affected by the pandemic, told the South Morning China Post that people are 'anxious or angry'. People try to break out of quarantine fence during the protest, amid new round of Covid-19 lockdowns, in Shanghai, China, on June 6 A person takes a swab test at a COVID-19 test site on June 14 in Beijing, China "When will this all end?" is a frequently heard cry of complaint,' she said. Yu added: 'In the latest wave of this year, many Chinese people, especially the young and those with no underlying diseases, have had little worry about coronavirus. However, anxiety and panic are still prevalent. 'They worry about shortages of essentials, living conditions in makeshift quarantine hospitals, children under quarantine alone, pets left behind after owners are sent to quarantine venues, as well as financial pressure from decreased incomes.' For those living in Shanghai, where officials imposed a two month-long city-wide lockdown that lifted on June 1, the impact has been severe - with many residents on the brink of depression. A survey of more than 1,000 Shanghai residents, conducted in April, found that 40 per cent of respondents were feeling depressed about two weeks into the city's lockdown. Yu said that many residents in Shanghai had developed 'Covid fatigue' after the two-month lockdown. She said that many people she had counselled were disillusioned with social distancing measures and the strict lockdown measures - and some are now worried about their economic prospects. 'The pandemic has changed many people's life and work, leaving a collective psychological trauma which is to be assimilated.' The rigid and widely derided restrictions have led to shortages of food and medical aid along with a wider - though likely temporary - impact on the national economy. A boy looks trough a quarantine barrier in Shanghai, China, on 21 June Workers spray disinfectant over colleagues in front of a residential area under a Covid-19 lockdown in the Huangpu district of Shanghai on June 4 The Lancet journal highlighted the human cost of China's zero-Covid policy in an editorial published earlier this month. 'This cost will continue to be paid in the future, with the shadow of mental ill-health adversely affecting China's culture and economy for years to come,' it said. 'The Chinese government must act immediately if it is to heal the wound its extreme policies have inflicted on the Chinese people.' Desperate, outraged citizens have confronted authorities at barricades and online, screamed out of their windows and banged pots and pans in a sign of their frustration and anger. Some have turned to blockchain technology to protect videos, photos and artwork around the topic from deletion. Communist authorities who tolerate no dissent have sought to scrub such protests from the internet and blamed the protests, including the banging of cooking implements, on agitation by unidentified 'foreign anti-China forces.' In Beijing, officials implemented curbs to stop the spread of the Omicron wave during March to May - including a ban on dining in restaurants. The ban was removed in most parts of the city on June 7. Zhou Na, 36, said she was so anxious about losing her job as a waitress at a Beijing restaurant that she found sleep difficult. 'I begged my manager to mark some shifts for me so that I can raise my family,' she told the newspaper. 'Consumers are coming back, but the number is fewer than before. My employer has announced a layoff plan as he said the business was at a loss.' For those grappling with poor mental health in China, they may not be able to access services because psychiatry and mental health services have traditionally been marginalised in the country - meaning there are limited resources available. There are only 8.90 Chinese mental health workers per 100,000 population - compared to 20.6 in upper middle-income countries - according to data from the WHO. A health worker wears a protective suit as she gives a nucleic acid test to a woman at a testing site outside a community under lockdown due to a recent outbreak, on June 21 in Beijing A woman talks to a friend in quarantine through a fence amid a new round of lockdowns, in Shanghai, China on June 4 Meanwhile, Shanghai will gradually resume dining-in at restaurants from June 29 in low-risk areas and areas without any community-level spread of COVID-19 during the previous week,a Shanghai government official said on Sunday. The Chinese econonic hub lifted a two month city-wide lockdown on June 1, but many establishments have remained unable to offer indoor dining since mid-March. Shanghai reported no new locally transmitted cases - either symptomatic or asymptomatic - for June 24 and June 25. In Beijing, officials said it would allow primary and secondary schools to resume in-person classes and Shanghai's top party boss declared victory over Covid-19 after the city reported zero new local cases for the first time in two months. Beijing shut its schools in early May and asked students to move to online learning amid a spike in locally transmitted COVID cases. Senior year students at middle and high schools were allowed to return to classrooms from June 2. Nicola Sturgeon has suggested ex-Tory leaders such as Margaret Thatcher would have granted a second Scottish independence referendum as she continued her battle for a new vote. The First Minister took a fresh swipe at Boris Johnson as she accused his Government of 'taking a wrecking ball to the idea of the UK as a voluntary partnership of nations'. The SNP leader will tomorrow outline her plans to hold a second independence referendum to the Scottish Parliament. Ms Sturgeon is planning for a vote in October next year, but the Prime Minister has shown little indication he would be willing to approve a new poll. Mr Johnson has repeatedly told Ms Sturgeon that an independence vote should be a 'once-in-a-generation' event, after the 2014 referendum saw Scottish voters decide to remain part of the UK. Ahead of that vote eight years ago, former PM David Cameron granted a Section 30 order to the Scottish Government to allow the vote to be held. Ms Sturgeon has been warned, without similarly being granted a Section 30 order by Westmininster, any second independence referendum would be declared illegal. Nicola Sturgeon will tomorrow outline her plans to hold a second independence referendum to the Scottish Parliament The First Minister suggested ex-Tory leaders such as Margaret Thatcher, pictured in 2009, would have granted a second Scottish independence referendum Ahead of statement to the Scottish Parliament tomorrow, the First Minister accused Mr Johnson of trying to deny the 'democratic right' of people in Scotland to decide on their country's future. 'Westminster is taking a wrecking ball to the idea of the United Kingdom as a voluntary partnership of nations,' she said. 'A Tory government with just six MPs from Scotland, supported on this issue by Labour, is seeking to deny the democratic right of the people of Scotland to choose their own future. 'In doing so, they are demonstrating beyond doubt that, in place of a voluntary partnership, they believe the UK is instead defined by Westminster control. 'The case for a referendum is therefore now as much a Scottish democracy movement as a Scottish independence movement.' Ms Sturgeon suggested that Mr Johnson's predecessors as Tory leader would have approved a second referendum. 'Even previous Tory leaders, from Margaret Thatcher to Theresa May, said they believed the UK was based on the consent of the people who lived in its constituent nations,' she added. 'It is time for Boris Johnson and (Labour leader) Keir Starmer to respect, not rubbish, the wishes of the people of Scotland and their democratically elected government. 'And to respect the pledge their parties signed after the 2014 referendum, promising that nothing prevents Scotland becoming an independent country in the future should the people of Scotland so choose. 'For 70 per cent of the time since 1979, Scotland has been governed by a Tory government we didnt elect. Enough is enough. 'Its time to restore basic democracy in Scotland to ensure people get the governments they vote for, and through independence to build a proper partnership of equals between Scotland and our friends in the rest of the United Kingdom.' Boris Johnson, pictured at the G7 summit in Germany, has shown little indication he would be willing to approve a new vote UK Cabinet minister George Eustice dismissed Ms Sturgeon's suggestion that Thatcher would have accepted her demands for a second referendum. 'I dont think thats right and I dont think we should have a second referendum,' the Environment Secretary told Sky News. 'We had a referendum not long ago, just in 2014. It gave a clear result, and I think the really important thing is theres bigger issues that we need to work on. 'Weve got all of these global pressures as were coming out of the pandemic. Thats what we should be focused on. 'Theres too much else going on in the world at the moment to be having another referendum.' Labour's shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray accused Ms Sturgeon of 'a transparent attempt to whip up division and distract from the chaos engulfing the SNP'. He said: 'Nicola Sturgeon is in no position to lecture anyone about listening to the people of Scotland, as she ignores the cost-of-living crisis hanging over peoples lives and ploughs ahead with a costly, unwanted and damaging referendum. 'The reality is the Tories and the SNP are working hand in hand to tear communities apart in a bid to distract from their own failures.' Russian President Vladimir Putin suffers from multiple 'grave' illnesses and has less than two years to live, according to the head of the Ukrainian intelligence service. Major General Kyrylo Budanov said Kyiv spies who infiltrated the Kremlin made the claims based on 'human intelligence.' 'Putin doesn't have a long life ahead of him', USA Today reported Budanov saying. Putin's health has been the subject of intense speculation for months, escalating further after he was pictured gripping a table during a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. Earlier this month, the 69-year-old president's legs appeared to buckle during a speech in Moscow. Putin (pictured during a recent meeting of the BRICS countries) is rumored to have cancer Putin, 70, swayed back and forth as filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize this month The president was attending an awards ceremony at the Kremlin when he looked unsteady on his feet. Putin swayed back and forth before his speech as Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize. It came just days after a Kremlin insider claimed Putin had been advised by doctors not to make any 'lengthy' public appearances, having fallen ill amid recent discussions with his military chiefs. Maj. Gen. Budanov told USA Today his agency expects Putin to die within just two years The Russian president felt 'a sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness', while getting up from his desk following a recent video conference with advisers and military leaders, Telegram channel General SVR reported. Putin's poor posture and seemingly bloated face and neck sparked speculation about the leader's health, which is said to have deteriorated since the invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin leader was alleged in April to be in need of an urgent cancer operation. Putin also reportedly suffers from Parkinson's and 'schizophrenic symptoms', according to self-styled 'Kremlin insiders.' They wrote via Telegram channel General SVR: 'The Russian President Vladimir Putin has oncology, and the latest problems identified during [his latest] examination are associated with this disease.' Meanwhile, King's College London fellow Michael Clarke told Sky News this month: 'On 7 October he will be 70. He is known to hit the Botox quite heavily, I always say that he's trying to embalm himself while he's still alive - he does take a lot of Botox. Putin's legs buckled during a speech in Moscow, adding to growing rumours of his health woes A bloated Putin was seen gripping a table whilst slouching in his chair during a televised meeting with his defense minister Sergei Shoigu months ago, sparking intense speculation 'He moves around with doctors, there's known to be a little team of doctors who are never far away, and it's said that he leaves meetings at frequent intervals to go and consult with somebody. 'I suspect that he's only a hypochondriac, to be honest. If he is ill, or becomes ill, that would be one way out for Russia to say that the president has stepped down and the war will now be prosecuted by Nikolai Patrushev - who's every bit as nasty as he is.' An FSB officer also described the Russian president's condition as a 'severe form of rapidly progressing cancer,' as speculation ramped up that Putin was suffering with some form of serious illness amid the invasion of Ukraine. Oliver Stone, an American director who spent two years interviewing Putin for a documentary series, said the Russian leader had cancer but beat it Talk of the Russian leader's terminal illness emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov. Vladimir Putin's five medically-related disappearances November 2012: Business trips and long-distance flights of the president are canceled, some of Putin's meetings shown by the Kremlin turn out to be 'canned food' March 5 15, 2015: Putin does not appear in public, all meetings are 'canned' - in other words pre-recorded events were shown with the pretense they were in real time August 9-16, 2017: The President, with journalists, visits Abkhazia and Sochi, and then for a week the Kremlin publishes only 'canned food' February 2018: In the midst of an election campaign, the president cancels public events. Peskov admits that the head of state 'had a cold' September 13-29, 2021: Putin goes into 'self-isolation', all events are held via video link Advertisement The message warned Putin is refusing to wear glasses over fears it would admit a form of weakness, and he is now lashing out at his subordinates with 'uncontrolled fury'. Other spooks have also hinted at the strongman's poor health condition, warning he was unable to maintain concentration for long periods of time without taking breaks 'for treatment.' Christopher Steele, a former MI6 Russia desk officer explained Putin was constantly monitored and accompanied by a team of doctors, as rumors of a new Kremlin succession plan continue to swirl. Whispers about Putin's health began at least two years ago when he was said to be suffering both Parkinson's and cancer, but have received renewed attention in the wake of his invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has not commented on the latest allegations of Putin's ill-health, but regularly denies he is suffering any kind of difficulties. General SVR wrote last week: 'On the night of Monday May 16 to Tuesday May 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin underwent a surgical operation. 'The fact that Putin should be operated on as soon as possible was insisted upon by his attending physicians. 'According to the doctors involved in the treatment of the President, the operation was successful. Ukraine's top spook Budanov also said the intelligence service is 'working on' efforts to release a pair of American volunteers facing death in the eastern Donbas region. Budanov (centre, in green) is pictured walking in Kyiv with Pres. Zelensky (second from left) Alexander John-Robert Drueke, 39, from Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh, 27, from Hartselle, Alabama are being held captive by Russian forces. President Zelensky told NBC News the pair are 'heroes' and vowed to fight for their release. The White House has not responded to media questions about a possible prisoner swap. Advertisement Ukraine believes its fate will be decided in the mud and blood of Donbas - where its troops are trying to grind Russia's army into the dirt using skill, courage, and a fearsome arsenal of Western weaponry. But it seems increasingly likely that its destiny could be decided on another frontline, thousands of miles away: In the deserts of the Middle East and drought-stricken farmlands of Africa, where 44million people who relied on the country for food are now facing famine unless the conflict can be brought to a swift end. Blockades of Ukraine's main Black Sea ports have placed a stranglehold on grain supplies which previously fed 400million, threatening starvation and riots from Libya to Liberia, and Syria to South Sudan. On this front, at least, Putin seems to be winning. A growing chorus of leaders - joined in recent weeks by African Union head Macky Sall - are putting pressure on the West to pave the way for a peace deal that most analysts say would favour Russia, but which would get supplies flowing again. Playing catch-up, Western leaders - including Boris Johnson at today's G7 meeting - have vowed to do 'whatever it takes' to reopen Ukraine's ports, but are faced with the daunting task of sailing cargo vessels past Russia's Black Sea fleet and through a minefield to get the grain. All the while, the risk of multiple and simultaneous global famines continues to grow - and with it, Putin's chances of eking out something resembling a victory despite Ukraine's heroics on the battlefield. Ukraine was a major food exporter before the Ukraine war, feeding some 400million people around the world 44milion of whom now face starvation - with those in the Middle East and Africa being the most at risk 22million tonnes of grain is currently trapped in Ukraine's ports (pictured, a storehouse in Odesa), but is unable to leave because the Black Sea is littered with mines and prowled by Russian warships Before the outbreak of war on February 24, Ukraine supplied some 11 per cent of the world's grain with food being one of its major exports - worth $18.5billion in 2018, according to latest-available data from the World Bank. Almost half of those exports went to Europe but a quarter went to either the Middle East and North Africa or sub-Saharan Africa - two regions that are now most at-risk of shortages, because they have few alternatives to turn to. Ukraine was also a major supplier of the World Food Programme - a UN body which provides sustenance for the globe's most-vulnerable - providing up to 40 per cent of its wheat, which is used to make staples such as bread. For the time being, the crisis is logistical: There is plenty of food to go around, the difficulty is getting it to the people who need it. Ukraine's main export route was through its two main Black Sea ports - Odesa and Mykolaiv - which together shipped tens of millions of tonnes of grain per year but have been completely closed since the war began, littered with mines and watched over by the guns of Russia's Black Sea fleet. Leaders are trying to get the grain out using road and rail networks, but they simply cannot handle the volume of grain that needs to be moved - 22million tonnes at last count - and cannot easily get it to the places that need it most. Ambitious plans are underway to send Turkish and Egyptian vessels along so-called 'humanitarian corridors' to get the grain, but it remains to be seen whether they will succeed. As Dr Sidharth Kaushal of think-tank RUSI told the BBC today: 'I think it can be done... whether it will be done is a much more open question.' And, even if the grain could all be moved today, it would not end the crisis completely. Ukraine's output is likely to be much lower for years to come - its farmland littered with shell-holes and mines, its workers drafted into the military where thousands have been killed or maimed. Ukraine was also a major exporter of fertilizer which also cannot get out of the country, meaning global harvests are likely to be lower for years to come as a result. Under such circumstances, it might seem like leaders from the Middle East and Africa would have common cause with Ukraine in opposing Russia's invasion. But both regions also have deep-seated mistrust of the West, and increasingly depend on the Kremlin for security and trade. Famine that is already stalking the Horn of Africa region due to four years of drought is now dramatically worsening because Ukraine was a major supplier of food aid (file image) Unless world leaders can find a way to get grain out of the country, the UN warns multiple global famines could be triggered which would threaten security on multiple continents Hiwot and her baby Girmay, who is malnourished and receiving support from the World Food Programme which gets 40 per cent of its wheat from Ukraine, are pictured in Ethiopia in May Dozens of African nations have agreed arms deals or military cooperation agreements with Russia - while Wagner mercenaries are deployed in a handful of countries to help hold back militants or repress uprisings. Moscow also has a developed diplomatic network, which pumps out propaganda blaming the West for the war. In the Middle East, Russia is deeply invested in the regime of Bashar al-Assad in Syria having helped the dictator hold on to power amid the civil war, and also has long-standing links with Iran and Turkey. These efforts are paying off, with African Union President Macky Sall travelling to Moscow earlier this month for a sit-down with Putin - after which he emerged and gave a statement appearing to blame Western sanctions, rather than the invasion, for ruptured food supply chains. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who has blamed the war on NATO 'aggression' and urged Ukraine to strike a peace deal, has also been talking directly with the Kremlin about food supplies in recent weeks. Meanwhile in the Middle East, Syria's Al-Assad and the Iranian regime have predictably sided with Russia but even some of the West's closest allies - Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE - have refused to take sides. Of the 35 countries who abstained from voting to condemn Russia's invasion at the UN back in March, more than half were from the Middle East or Africa. Two of the five who voted against were Eritrea and Syria - the other three being Russia, Belarus, and North Korea. By comparison, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hosted a much-delayed video conference with the African Union last week - with just four out of 55 heads of state attending in person to hear him speak, while the rest sent subordinates. Ursula Von Der Leyen and Charles Michel, the EU's top two figures, have also been dispatched to Africa and the Middle East to help shore up support for continuing the war - pledging some $630million in food aid last week to help offset the looming crisis, notably without accompanying pledges of support. Zelensky was given another chance to address some of those leaders at the G7 summit in Germany today, with Ramaphosa and Sall sitting in on the meeting along with India's Narendra Modi and Indonesia's Joko Widodo. Russia is using the food crisis to pressure Ukraine into signing a peace deal, with African Union chief Macky Sall (pictured meeting Putin earlier this month) the latest to suggest the West is to blame for the fighting South African President Cyril Ramaphosa (left) is among African leaders calling for a peace deal while talking directly to Moscow about grain supplies, while Turkey's Erdogan (right) was among the first to offer to mediate peace talks Afterwards, the G7 issued a strong joint statement vowing to 'to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes'. 'As G7 we stand united on Ukraine's side and will continue our support. For this, we all have to take tough but necessary decisions,' summit host Olaf Scholz tweeted, thanking Zelensky for taking part. 'We will continue to increase pressure on Putin. This war has to come to an end.' Addressing Russia, the G7 said Moscow must allow grain shipments to leave Ukraine to avoid exacerbating a global food crisis. 'We urgently call on Russia to cease, without condition, its attacks on agricultural and transport infrastructure and enable free passage of agricultural shipping from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea,' it said. But the very fact that leaders from other nations were sitting in on the summit suggests they know that unless the rest of the world can be won over, they may find themselves forced into a peace agreement that ultimately benefits Russia - allowing Putin to rearm, reinforce, and re-invade, as he did after 2014. The risks to global security could hardly be higher. Not only would a deal with Russia spark fears of further conflict in the future, the risk of famine in the years ahead also raises the possibility of conflict. The last time the world suffered through an acute food crisis - between 2010 and 2012 - it led to instability which some experts argue was a trigger for the Arab Spring uprisings. The Libyan Civil War and Syrian Civil War, conflicts that dragged in the West and led to the proliferation of ISIS, were both kindled in that period - with both countries yet to fully recover from the after-effects. And they would likely be among those worst-hit by any new food crisis, with nations in the Horn of Africa - Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia - also likely to be hard-hit. Some 18.5million people in the volatile region were at risk of famine even before the Ukraine war began, due to four years of drought. Shaswat Saraf, the International Rescue Committee's regional emergency director, told ITV that number could be as high as 20million by September in the worst crisis this region has ever faced. Matthew Hollingworth, World Food Programme emergency coordinator in Ukraine, told the BBC: 'We are concerned for more than 345million people in the world today who are facing acute levels of food insecurity. '[That is] partially because of war in Ukraine, partially because of increasing prices, and the ongoing impact of the Covid pandemic and the impact that's had on the global economy. 'But it is absolutely clear that with a country that fed 400million people last year with its food exports, no longer able to export its food, the Ukraine war is certainly one of our key concerns.' Australia's sense of order and its values of democracy must be defended, Anthony Albanese has declared. The prime minister visited Australian troops serving in the Middle East ahead of his week-long European trip, which includes the NATO Summit in Spain before travelling to Paris. He touched down at the Al Minhad operating base in the United Arab Emirates on Monday morning local time, where he met with defence force personnel and Australian embassy staff at Camp Baird. The base was the site where at the highest point, 2750 Afghan evacuees were processed following the US withdrawal of Afghanistan, and the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August last year. Anthony Albanese speaks to members of the Australian Defence Force during a visit to Camp Baird in the UAE Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydo speak with troops stationed at the base Speaking to about 30 troops, Mr Albanese thanked them for their service in keeping the nation safe, and said Russia's invasion of Ukraine was a 'reminder of the unsafe world we live in'. 'Our values of maintaining international rule of law, maintaining a sense of order in the global environment is one that can't be taken for granted,' he said. 'It does have to be defended, and those of us in political life are humbled by the knowledge that it's defended each and every day by our men and women in uniform.' Mr Albanese spoke of a group of six young Afghan women who were living together in a house in his Sydney electorate after having been settled. 'They will make great Australian citizens,' he said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese queues for breakfast with members of the Australian Defence Force during a visit to Camp Baird Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese gives a speech to members of the ADF stationed in the UAE He praised the women for their volunteer work in packing food hampers for those in need. 'These women have nothing, but what they have is their integrity,' Mr Albanese said. 'What they have is their lives and their values, and they will be great assets to Australia.' About 50 Australian Defence Force personnel are serving at Camp Baird, which plays a 'critical role' for Australia's presence in the region, the prime minister said. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon prepare to lay a wreath at a memorial at Camp Baird in the UAE Mr Albanese then spoke with individual personnel gathered for breakfast at the mess, before taking a group photo with them. Australia's Ambassador to the UAE Heidi Venamore prepared a bacon and egg roll for the prime minister. Earlier, upon arrival at the base, Mr Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon laid a wreath at the memorial for Australians who had been killed while serving on Middle East operations. The sombre pair was watched on by more than a dozen Australian troops in attendance. A father says he is overwhelmed by the kindness of others after a flood of people offered to pay the 408 he was quoted to park his car near Wembley stadium so that he could take his disabled son to watch Ed Sheeran. Garry Ratcliffe was stunned to learn the cost of parking close to the venue so that he could take his son, Haydn, who has cerebral palsy to the concert. After doing some research, the cheapest space he could find was 408 to park on someone's driveway. Due to Haydn's condition, the only way Garry could take him to the gig was to drive. But, shocked by the cost, Garry said that he warned Haydn that they might not be able to go. Worried, he took to Twitter to explain the prohibitive cost of parking close to the venue - and asked for advice. His post was retweeted 1,400 times - and Garry was left in awe by the hundreds of people who offered to pay the parking fee for him. Speaking to MailOnline, Garry, 49, CEO of The Galaxy Trust, which is a Multi Academy Trust of three primary Schools in Dartford, said: 'These were just strangers, hundreds of strangers just offering their support. It was one of those stories that caught people's imaginations and it was amazing. Haydn had saved up his wages from his part-time job at a gym to pay for tickets to see Ed Sheeran Garry was relieved that the family could make it to the concert amid rail strikes 'Because he's got cerebral palsy and is in a wheelchair, Haydn can be quite isolated as a young person. So he really likes going to different gigs and big concerts in London. 'He'd saved up for these tickets for himself and these were the first tickets he'd ever bought just on his own from his earnings. 'So I went on to the Wembley official parking site to find that every car park was fully booked which was really unusual. I then realised that it was the third day of the current rail strike. Everyone would be driving to see Ed Sheeran because nobody would be getting the train. 'I panicked slightly and told Haydn that we might not be going because there is no way we can get up there without a car and obviously he was devastated.' Garry and his husband Kyle, 49, then tried the parking app Just Park. Garry said: 'One space came up that was on somebody's driveway about a 10-minute walk from the stadium and they were charging 408.' After asking for advice on Twitter he heard from one man who offered to pay the 408 parking space so that Haydn and his dads could make it to the concert. Garry said he turned down the offer - but added: 'I tried to convey quite early on that this was a problem for a kid who's quite entitled and privileged. It wasn't about somebody struggling to feed themselves for the week, it was about a parking space. So let's give it a bit of perspective. I would never have taken the money just to pay for a parking space.' In the end Garry accepted an offer from a member of staff at Wembley Stadium who had been given a space for Saturday but was not going to be working. Garry, his husband Kyle and Haydn were offered a free parking space at Wembley Garry said: 'We arrived in plenty of time and our parking space, provided by Wembley was ready and waiting. 'The concert was amazing. Ed is such a talented musician and a natural showman. Haydn sang his heart out and danced in his chair for the whole gig, waving, laughing and smiling all the way through. 'Thank you in no small part to the generosity and kindness of those social media strangers that supported Haydn to make sure his night was perfect.' As a family who have three children with disabilities, they struggle with public transport at busy travel times. Garry said: 'We don't stop doing anything, it just means we have to do a lot more planning. 'When things go well people are really welcoming but when things get a bit busier, often Haydn is seen as an inconvenience. Travelling on public transport requires a lot of planning for Haydn and his family 'If there is a person with who's traveling on the train with their bicycle, then they might put the bicycle where the wheelchair should go. If their bicycle is there, then it prevents Haydn getting on to actually travel in his wheelchair and at that point, he is seen as inconvenience.' Garry said: 'We are in a privileged and good position of being able to worry about a parking space for a concert. Let's hope that the next time people see a story about a disabled issue, they will have the same reaction because certainly Haydn as a full-time wheelchair user experiences issues in terms of travel access every day.' The Ed Sheeran concert went ahead despite many fans struggling to travel to Wembley Many fans like Garry and his family faced parking issues right up until the day of the concert. E-Commerce Assistant Hannah Willsher, 29, nearly resold her tickets after struggling to find a parking space for a reasonable price. She said: 'I couldn't seem to find any communication online about what parking would be open or which is recommended and most already said they were sold out. I spent hours over the past few days scouring Twitter and Google and I was on the verge of giving up the whole night to be honest.' She found that some people who live near Wembley were charging 258 just to park on their drives but secured an option for 25. 'I finally managed find a parking space I could book after the ticket company sent me an email, but means we've had to fill up our car with an expensive fuel bill to get there but I'm just happy we got it sorted.' A former actor's 2022 mugshot shows the ravages that decades of drink and drugs have brought as he is jailed for eight months after burgling a home in Newcastle. Jason Hoganson, 51, from Wallsend, was a striking-looking teenager when he was pictured in 1987 in stonewashed denim jacket and with bleached blond hair as he landed a role in Empire State alongside Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and Martin Landau. But his latest police hot shows the balding addict now has a wizened, heavily-lined face decorated with blurry tattoos. Playing an enigmatic Geordie drifter living among mobsters in London, Hoganson had been talent-scouted by producers who contacted his drama teacher looking for a youth to play the part in the 1987 movie. But sudden success and a troubled adolescence saw his life quickly unravel as he abused drink and drugs. After his acting career dried out, he turned to crime and was jailed for seven years in 1996 for aggravated burglary after threatening a woman in her home. Jason Hoganson, 51, (pictured left at the time of his appearance in 1987 movie Empire State; and right in a recent mugshot) has racked up more than 103 convictions After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau. Pictured is a scene from the film Hoganson struggled with his early success after starring in Empire State, according to his defence lawyer, and his life descended into crime and addictions Hoganson appeared at Newcastle Moot Hall for sentencing on Wednesday, June 22, The Mirror reports. The court heard that Hoganson, who has 103 convictions to his name, was seen kicking his way through a communal door at a residential building in the Groat Market, Newcastle, on April 19. He then shocked a resident by appearing in his bedroom and asking for a cigarette. Police were called and Hoganson was caught in a nearby alleyway, carrying a cap and jacket belonging to another resident from the building. Hoganson pleaded guilty to burglary and was jailed for eight months by Judge Sarah Mallet. Nick Lane, defending, said it was a 'sad case' and that Hoganson was not a habitual burglar, adding he was 'unable to deal with his success' after his film appearance. Once a promising young actor, Hoganson, from Wallsend, North Tyneside, turned to a life of crime and has racked up more than 103 offences The Groat Market, situated off the famous Bigg Market in Newcastle city centre, where Hoganson carried out a burglary on April 19 Mr Lane said: 'He had consumed alcohol and had missed the last bus home. In his inebriated state he behaved in the way your honour has heard and very much regrets his actions. 'In his own words he talks about tumbling down hills and getting his life stable again then a setback leading him into further use of illicit substances and a spiralling mental health crisis. He says he knows he should be dead by now given the abuse he had put his body through. He has self-harmed and has significant scarring to his face and other parts of the body. 'He now has a relationship with a lady and he wants to stop taking drugs and focus on her. Because of sentences and offending he has seen his mother only two times in the last six years.' In an interview in 2012, Hoganson revealed he had lost contact with his family and was living on the streets due to his drink and drug problems. 'I'm like the black sheep,' he said. 'My mum has done everything for me, she's a really lovely woman, but my family have had enough and I don't blame them. 'I can't keep putting them through this.' Trouble began from an early age and at 13-years-old he was taken into care when his mother Maureen was no longer to cope with his erratic behaviour. 'I was put into care when I was 13 because of my behaviour,' he said. 'I was just part of the gang in Elswick and used to follow the crowd, and that's how I got into trouble.' His chance to turn his life around came in 1987 when the producers of the low-budget film contacted his drama teacher looking for Geordie actors for a part in Empire State, a gritty drama set in 1980s London. Hoganson, pictured in 2012, has led a troubled life after his stint with fame After auditioning more than 100 teenage hopefuls, producers offered Hoganson the part of Geordie drifter Pete, and he starred alongside Irish actor Ray McAnally, Jamie Foreman and US star Martin Landau. But as his acting career started to take off, his personal life was in tatters and he succumbed to a life of crime. In 1996, the father-of-five was jailed for seven years for aggravated burglary in which he threatened a woman in her home and while in prison he lost contact with his children. He said: The children were only young and I decided it was best for them that I didnt see them anymore. When he was released from jail in 2002, he was housed in various hostels but he was often disruptive and was eventually evicted. Diagnosed with mental health problems, he spent many years as an outpatient at St Nicholas Hospital in Gosforth. He was discharged in 2009, and by the end of that year was back in jail after being convicted of attacking his partner. A former bikie who was found not guilty of the execution of Comanchero boss Mick Hawi is fighting for life after he was shot in Sydney's inner west. Yusuf Nazlioglu is understood to be in critical condition in Westmead Hospital after the shooting about 6.30pm on Monday. The attack is the latest in a string of underworld hits across Sydney that have left 13 dead in the last two years as warring gangs fight for territory and settle scores. It is understood he was hit by multiple bullets in a basement car park on Walker Street in Rhodes - with police cordoning off the Rhodes Central building on Monday night. A heavily bandaged man was seen being stretchered out of the building by paramedics as police watched on. The building includes a shopping centre, apartments and basement carpark. Police were seen gathering near one of the lobby entrances with tape put up around a set of lifts and a nearby fast food outlet. Paramedics treat the former Lone Wolf bikie shot in Sydney's inner west on Monday as police watch on (pictured) A jury found Yusuf Nazlioglu (pictured) not guilty of Comanchero boss Mick Hawi's execution in 2018 Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months with at least a dozen contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans Nazlioglu was charged with murder after Hawi, the ex-kingpin of the Comanchero bikie gang who was he gunned down as he climbed into his luxury four-wheel-drive outside a Rockdale Fitness First gym in Sydney's south in 2018. He was found not guilty but had another brush with the law when he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. The underworld figure was sentenced to three years in prison and walked free in September 2021. Haunting covert recordings played in court during his sentencing revealed that Nazlioglu new he was a marked man. 'I used to hear people outside were going to knock me, yeah?' he said while inside Sydney's Silverwater Prison in 2020, the Daily Telegraph reported. 'I used to still leave my house, brother, knowing that one day someone's going to sneak up on me and put one in my head. 'But I still f*****g went to the same hairdresser, went to the same f*****g restaurants yeah. I still showed my face in front yard and hung out with boys at their porches at their houses, yeah knowing I'm gunna get knocked one day.' The Australian that was raised by Turkish parents even bragged that he still visits the same mosque 'where all our enemies know we pray'. 'They could wait for us to walk out brother, did we s**t ourselves? Were we scared? No.' Emergency crews responded to reports of a shooting in Rhodes (pictured) about 7pm with Nazlioglu rushed to hospital Detectives and officers on the scene at Walker Street in Rhodes (pictured) While Nazlioglu was found not guilty by a jury of the hit on Hawi, his friend, furniture removalist Ahmad Doudar, 40, was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Father-of-one Doudar was sentenced after admitting to being an accessory after the fact to Hawi's murder. Doudar's role in the crime involved him picking up a hidden silver Aurion with a tow truck and intending to dispose of it, alongside others, the court heard. Justice Robert Allan Hulme said on sentencing that '(Mr Doudar) intended to assist in disposing of the vehicle in order to assist' in the murder. Nazlioglu, then 39, and alleged getaway driver Jamal El-Jaidi, then 32, were both found not guilty by a jury, following a week of deliberations. Police responded after being called to Walker Street Rhodes after shots were fired (pictured) A basement carpark on Walker Street is searched by officers (pictured) Doudar, who accepted their involvement in the crime when making his plea, was not called to give evidence at their trial. In sentencing Doudar for being an accessory, the judge said murders like this 'do not happen by chance... they require the involvement of multiple people.' Doudar's motive remains unknown. 'For all I know, Mr Doudar may have been motivated by one or more other purposes,' the judge said. Hawi's wife, Carolina Gonzalez, sister Zeinab and parents Ahmad and Nahdi read statements at his sentencing hearing. They gave 'very moving accounts of the loss and grief that has resulted from the taking of their loved one in the most horrendous of circumstances.' Doudar was jailed with a non parole period of three years and four months while Nazlioglu and El-Jaidi walked free. Former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi (pictured) was gunned down outside a Rockdale gym ADILABAD: The hopes of farmers in the erstwhile Adilabad district seem to be shattered because of spurious cotton and soya seeds. Farmers who have sown cotton and soya this season in anticipation of a high market price appear to have given up on getting good price for their crop. Some paddy farmers even switched to cotton during this Kharif season in the hopes of getting a decent price for their crop. Small and marginal farmers seem to be hard hit due to the fake cotton and soya seeds, which are spread throughout rural and tribal areas. In the Adilabad district alone, cotton farming is anticipated to grow by 30,00040,000 acres this Kharif. It is learnt that some small and marginal farmers reportedly bought cotton seeds from intermediaries and agents. These fake cotton seeds were brought into Adilabad district from Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, and Maharashtra. Even some of the manufacturers of pesticides and fertilizers had fake cotton seeds hidden in specific locations. Many small and marginal farmers have voiced complaints about the cotton and soya they had sown in their fields not germinating. Farmers claim that the soy seeds in Manyarpur, Takli in Bela mandal, Tantoli, Yapalguda, and Kachkanti in Adilabad mandal, as well as Kapri- Karanji in Jainadmandal and Jainad headquarters, have not yet sprouted. They claim that while other lots of the identical Vikranti Soya business seeds grew, other lots of soy seed bags did not. On Sunday, Congress representatives led by TPCC state general secretary Gandrath Sujatha met CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka and informed him that many small and marginal farmers in Adilabad had experienced losses due to the absence of germination of soya seeds Congress leaders asked Bhatti Vikramarka to bring up the subject of fake seeds, poor germination, how farmers suffered a loss, and how to obtain compensation for the farmers during the upcoming Assembly session. Congress leaders Vedma Bojju and Charulatha Rathod, on the other hand, visited the agricultural fields where farmers had complained about the cotton seeds' poor germination in the Utnoor mandal. Former human rights lawyer Philip Shiner has appeared in court to deny fraud charges relating to claims made against Iraq War veterans. Shiner faces three allegations of dishonesty dating back to 2007 following a five-year investigation by the National Crime Agency. The 65-year-old appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court via video-link. He spoke only to confirm his personal details and deny two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information and one of fraud by false representation. Shiner, of Sir Johns Road, Birmingham, was struck off by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) in 2017 for pursuing false torture and murder allegations against British troops. Shiner (pictured) faces three allegations of dishonesty dating back to 2007 following a five-year investigation by the National Crime Agency. He had 12 charges of misconduct proved against him by an SRA panel. He brought thousands of criminal complaints to the Iraq Historic Investigations Team (Ihat), which was set up by the Ministry of Defence to investigate soldiers. The team was shut down in 2017 and no one was ever charged. The charges were brought to light by the al-Sweady inquiry, also set up by the Government, which examined claims that British troops massacred Iraqi civilians in the Battle of Danny Boy in southern Iraq in May 2004. The inquiry, which cost 25million, concluded in 2014 that allegations of torture and murder were 'wholly without foundation and entirely the product of deliberate lies, reckless speculation and ingrained hostility'. The first two charges carry a maximum sentence of a year behind bars while the third carries a maximum of six months in prison. John Ojakovoh, prosecuting, told the court the charges were too serious to be dealt with by magistrates. Richard Thomas, representing Shiner, made no representations during the hearing. Shiner was bailed to appear at Southwark Crown Court for a plea and trial preparation hearing on July 25. He must notify the courts of any change in address as a condition of his bail. District judge Daniel Sternberg said: I accept the position of the parties that the matter is too serious to be dealt with in the magistrates court. There are issues of legal and factual complexity. The charges were brought to light by the al-Sweady inquiry, also set up by the Government, which examined claims that British troops massacred Iraqi civilians in the Battle of Danny Boy in southern Iraq in May 2004 He also confirmed that Shiner had been granted legal aid for the case. Shiner is alleged to have committed fraud by false representation in April 2015 in response to a question from the SRA, which he 'knew was untrue and misleading', so he could continue to practise as a solicitor, according to court papers. He was allegedly 'engaged in the cold calling of clients in Iraq in relation to alleged killings of Iraqi civilians by British Army personnel at the battle of "Danny Boy".' Claims were made against British soldiers who took part in the 'Danny Boy' battle and were ordered to take the bodies of Iraqi dead from the battlefield and back to a nearby camp, along with nine prisoners of war. The detainees, part of the Shia militia Mahdi Army, claimed they had been mistreated and heard the torture and murder of their compatriots. Among the dead was 19-year-old Hamid Al-Sweady, who gave his name to a public inquiry after his uncle Khuder Al-Sweady claimed he had been murdered at the British camp. Shiner is facing two charges of dishonestly failing to disclose information relating to Khuder Al-Sweady's legal aid claim over an application for a judicial review of the Ministry of Defence decision not to hold an independent inquiry into his nephew's death. Between September 18 and 20, 2007, Shiner is alleged to have failed to disclose that he 'had been engaging in cold calling and the payment of referral fees'. And in a letter challenging the decision to refuse funding of the legal aid application, between October 11 and 13 2007, he is said to have enclosed a statement that 'had been obtained through cold calling'. An enraged Airbnb host barged into an LA apartment while a guest was staying and told her to 'get the f*** out'. Airbnb guest Kristin Eardley, 39, from Chicago, Illinois, 'complained about a moldy sandwich and unemptied bin', prompting the outburst in April this year. The ad tech director had booked a two-night stay for April 26-28 at an apartment in Los Angeles, California, via Airbnb for a business trip. She filmed the moment the apartment host, pilates instructor Ashley Green, burst into the apartment and started a shouting match that left Ms Eardley in tears and without a place to stay. After reporting the incident to Airbnb the rentals site refunded her the whole cost of the booking. Airbnb guest Kristin Eardley, 39, (left) from Chicago, Illinois, 'complained about a moldy sandwich and unemptied bin', prompting the outburst in April this year. Apartment host, pilates instructor Ashley Green (right), burst into the apartment and started a shouting match that left Ms Eardley in tears and without a place to stay Ms Green's listing has since been removed from Airbnb by the rentals website The police were even involved after the host told cops Ms Eardley had stolen $10,000 worth of jewelry, while the guest said her laptop was taken and later found in a dumpster by officers. In response to the claims the Airbnb host said she was a 'superstar renter'. She said: 'If you look at my reviews they are excellent. I've never had a problem. The apartment is immaculate, it looks like a hotel. 'I started getting all these crazy texts - like dust on a glass from a cupboard she wasn't even supposed to be in. 'She went into cupboards that were locked with little straps - she broke them and then wiped her finger and started taking numerous pictures of her finger with dust on. A sandwich with mold on it had been left in the bin, Ms Eardley claimed Ms Eardley found dust in the apartment. The ad tech director complained about the apartment's cleanliness She said she was left in tears after the outburst from Ms Green and had to find a hotel to stay in 'There was a broken glass - my cleaning lady apparently broke a glass and there were tiny little pieces that she didn't get. 'She said there was a sandwich with mold on it - that's not true. I think that my cleaning lady threw her sandwich in the garbage which I had already emptied, just the wrapper, and forgot to bring it out. I don't think there was mold on it. 'I started getting texts from her saying that she was running around to my neighbours saying I don't have a parking spot. I do have a parking spot, I've lived here for 14 years. 'I called Airbnb and said now I feel uncomfortable with this guest - she's not only disturbing me but she's disturbing my neighbours. A blue wine glass in the apartment was covered in a film of dust It was one of a number of cleanliness issues in the apartment, Ms Eardley said There was also a shattered glass on the hardwood floor of the apartment in Los Angeles 'They said they contacted her and she should be checked out at 11.30am. I walked in at 11.30am and she literally shoved the door in my face. She was telling me she wouldn't leave. 'So I opened back the door. I said 'I want you out, I don't feel comfortable'. 'I took her laptop because she literally threw me out of my apartment and locked the door with my phone and car keys in the apartment. I had to call 911. 'Nobody put anything in a dumpster. I took her laptop so she would get out of the house. I put it right on the side next to my door. 'Out of probably 60 rentals I've only had one bad experience and it was this woman.' She filmed the moment pilates instructor and Airbnb host kicked her out of the apartment she had rented Ms Eardley said she was 'terrified' after Ms Green screamed at her. The host told Ms Eardley to 'get the f*ck out' and appeared to shove her. The furious ad tech director claims that she is still waiting for compensation from Airbnb for the hotel she was forced to book after the host kicked her out, two months after the incident. The Airbnb host admitted there was broken glass in the property but said she had thrown the woman out because she'd already instructed her to leave for making her feel 'uncomfortable'. Ms Eardley said:'I packed up my stuff in under seven minutes and took pictures of the apartment to show how I left it so she couldn't say I had done anything to the apartment. 'I opened the door and she continued to scream. I had to be at this event in two hours. I said 'Where is my laptop? Please give me my laptop, I would like to go'. She said 'I have no idea what you're talking about'. 'After probably five or ten minutes or arguing with her about my laptop I decided to leave and call the police and deal with it with them. I drove to Beverly Hills in tears.' What are Airbnb's rules on disputes? If something goes wrong during your stay: Message your Host If an issue comes up, try talking to your Host first. You can message your Host directly from your inbox to let them know what's going on. If you need to request a full or partial refund because of the issue, there's a higher chance your Host will accept your request if you can agree on an amount first. Send a refund request Gather evidence: If possible, take photos or video to document issues like a missing or broken amenity. Submit your request: You'll describe the issue, provide photos or video if you can and let the Host know how you'd like to resolve the issue. Wait for a response: If your Host declines or doesn't respond, you can ask Airbnb to step in to help. Airbnb will refer to the Rebooking and Refund Policy to determine what help we can provide. Involving Airbnb Though we always want Hosts and guests to work things out directly if they can, we know it's not always possible. If an issue comes up that you're not able to resolve with your Host (or your Host declines or doesn't respond to your refund request), let us know and someone from our team will step in to help. If we find the issue is protected by AirCover, we'll get you a full or partial refund or, depending on the circumstances, find you a similar or better place to stay. Remember that you have 72 hours to report any issue to us from the time of discovery. Source: Airbnb Advertisement The ad tech director booked the one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in Los Angeles as a cheaper alternative to the pricey hotels in the area for her trip to speak on an industry panel. She says that on the day she was due to arrive at the booking, the host contacted her repeatedly and gave her a different address to the one listed on Airbnb - two doors down. She claims the host explained that she preferred not to give out the real address on the app for her own safety. After complaining to Airbnb about this and requesting a refund for the $125 cleaning fee, she expressed her dissatisfaction with her stay so far to the host. 'I noticed [the apartment] clearly hadn't been cleaned, it was really dusty and the trash hadn't been emptied - that's where I found the broken wine glass and a moldy sandwich. After the explosive altercation, the host reportedly claimed to have no knowledge of where Ms Eardley laptop was - despite being caught on video taking it outside the apartment. Ms Eardley was then forced to leave without it and reported it to the police as a theft. She claims an officer informed her that they were already on their way to the woman's address as the host had called and accused her of stealing $10,000 worth of jewellery from the apartment. Ms Eardley agreed to return to LA to talk to police after her work event, where she says they She was reunited with h her laptop after finding it in a dumpster near the address. She claims police dropped the host's complaint about jewellery theft after viewing the video footage, which she says documented that all of the drawers in the apartment were locked and not tampered with. Airbnb refunded for the total cost of the booking but Ms Eardley said that she is still waiting for the $400 compensation that Airbnb allegedly promised her towards the $660 hotel cost for the night after the host kicked her out. Ms Eardley said: 'I've been an Airbnb customer for probably ten years now and this is the first really horrible experience I've had. It's honestly been a nightmare. 'How they've handled it is not acceptable.' She added: 'This has been one of the worst and most traumatic events that has ever happened to me ever during travel. 'I'm extremely shaken. It was really scary. I will never use Airbnb again.' Police confirmed they responded to a call at the address but no arrests were made and no report was taken. Airbnb said they removed the host from the platform as soon as they were made aware of the incident and said they have a 24-hour safety line so hosts and guests can connect with support agents. An Airbnb spokesperson said: 'This type of behaviour goes against everything Airbnb stands for, and we took action as soon as this matter was brought to our attention in April, including removing the Host and providing our support to the guest. 'The safety of our community is our priority, and while isolated issues on Airbnb are rare, where they do happen, our Community Support team is on hand 24/7 to help.' Laurence Fox has returned to Twitter unrepentant after being suspended for posting a swastika made from LGBT flags. Mr Fox, a 44-year-old actor turned campaigner, posted the picture of a swastika made out of four LGBT pride flags, saying the image reflected his belief that LGBT pride month is 'enforced with a sense of hectoring authoritarianism'. The tweet resulted in a sharp backlash, with Twitter temporarily freezing his account for violating their 'hateful imagery' policy, and a London Assembly member calling on the Met Police to investigate Mr Fox. Caroline Russell, who is also a member of the Police and Crime Committee in the Greater London Authority, wrote on Twitter: 'I hope the Met Police will look into Laurence Fox using pride flags to create nazi imagery and posting the images on a public platform. 'This is a hate crime,' Ms Russell wrote. Laurence Fox, 44, an actor turned campaigner, was banned from Twitter over the weekend for posting a picture of a swastika made out of four LGBT pride flags The tweet showed four LGBT pride flags positioned to make a swastika, captioned with the words, 'Oh blessed and most holy month' Mr Fox hit back at the London Assembly member's intervention, however, accusing her of employing tactics reminiscent of those exercised by the Chinese Communist Party. He wrote: 'This is the UK, not China. Good to know you would like to see your political opponents prosecuted for "hate", locked up and probably worse. 'So thanks for proving my point for me,' Mr Fox said. In another tweet, Mr Fox shared a link to a satirical article entitled, 'Scientists Discover Remote Island Untouched By Pride Month'. Mr Fox captioned the tweet with the words: 'Don't cave in to the mob. Laugh instead.' Access to Mr Fox's Twitter account was restored this morning, with the polemicist and founder of The Reclaim Party telling his 310,500 followers that the LGBT pride flag has become a 'holy flag' that 'cannot be criticised'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism hit out at Mr Fox for his 'insulting' post. Mr Fox's tweet was strongly condemned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on Twitter And the Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised Mr Fox's 'insulting' tweet In a tweet, the campaign group wrote: 'Displaying pride flags in the shape of a swastika is not the edgy statement that you think it is. 'It is possible to express a view without the hate, and without insulting those murdered by the Nazis, which included Jews and LGBT people.' The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust added: 'We are appalled to see Laurence Fox's vile tweet this morning with abhorrent use of the swastika. 'Gay men experienced untold suffering under the Nazis, including murder, castration, and medical experimentation.' Twitter said Mr Fox's account was locked on Sunday evening for violating the site's rules, specifically their 'abusive profile information' and 'hateful imagery' clauses 'You cannot criticise the holy [LGBT pride] flags' Mr Fox asserted in a tweet after access to his account was restored. His political colleague Martin Daubney, deputy leader of the Reclaim Party, backed him up by posting his own image of a swastika, this time created from Union Jack flags (pictured) Mr Fox's political colleague Martin Daubney, deputy leader of the Reclaim Party, rushed to back him up on the social media site, posting his own picture of a swastika - this time compiled from Union Jack flags. 'So is this worthy of a ban?', Mr Daubney, a former Brexit Party MEP, asked in a tweet of his red-white-and-blue swastika. Seizing on Mr Daubney's now-deleted tweet, Mr Fox wrote: 'You can openly call [the Union Jack] a symbol of fascism and totalitarianism [on this site]. 'You cannot criticise the holy [LGBT pride] flags.' Mr Fox told MailOnline: 'While Im pleased that my account has been reinstated, this temporary ban only served to reinforce the rank hypocrisy which Twitter is engaged in. 'Over the Jubilee weekend, I lost count of the number of posts comparing the prominence of Union Jack flags around the country to Nazi Germany. 'The prominence of the various pride flags and symbols throughout the month of June however not only goes unquestioned, but its acceptance and celebration are enforced with a sense of hectoring authoritarianism. 'My post was clearly meant to highlight this double standard and the temporary ban which resulted from it effectively proved my point.' The Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade has led to a huge spike in demand for birth control, emergency contraception and abortion pills. Women and parents have been stockpiling options over fears that access to family planning resources could be tightened. Some clinics have reported a fourfold increase in appointments, with nonprofit organization Just the Pill handling 100 requests in the hours after the decision. Katie Thomas, 42, said she purchased pills for her 16-year-old daughter after learning that abortion would become illegal in the state. She told The New York Times: 'Just the thought of something happening to my daughter, whether by force or by her choice, and there's an unwanted pregnancy, I want to be able to handle that. Protesters attend a candlelight vigil in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26 to denounce the court's decision to end federal abortion rights protections Abortion-rights protesters participate in a candlelight vigil for reproductive freedom and abortion rights Women and parents have been stockpiling options over fears that access to family planning resources could be tightened 'If I need to handle that on my own, then I will.' She said she had already been stocking up on the emergency contraceptive Plan B in case her son, 21, and his girlfriend would ever need it, and she bought more on Friday. Lauren Frazier, a spokeswoman for Planned Parenthood Southeast in Atlanta, said calls have increased about concerned women wanting to know how many pills they can stockpile. Other abortion and healthcare providers are warning women not to completely clear the shelves to allow others who need pills now to obtain them. Hey Jane, a start-up providing telemedicine abortions across six states, said website traffic soared 1,000 per cent on Friday and patient demand doubled after the court decision. Lisa Turner,47, holds her daughter Lucy Kramer, 14, during a candlelight vigil outside the United States Supreme Court Some clinics have reported a fourfold increase in appointments, with nonprofit organization Just the Pill handling 100 requests in the hours after the decision It is expected that abortion pills will become the focus of many legal battles in the states to outlaw abortion. So far, 13 states have already imposed new laws, with Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri completely banning them with no exceptions for rape or incest. In a statement on its website, Just The Pill said it is 'undaunted by the Supreme Court decision and will continue to bring care to the people who most need it. We are here for you. 'You can still get care from us in Minnesota, Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. Let us know if you need help with travel arrangements and costs.' Medical abortion is still authorized by the Food and Drug Administration for the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. It requires a woman takes two drugs 24 to 48 hours apart to cause contractions similar to a miscarriage which expels the fetus, causing heavy bleeding. Medication is less expensive and invasive and the pills can be mailed to your home, meaning it is a common choice for women choosing to carry out an abortion. Gabriel Antuna-Rivera, 31, holds a candle alongside abortion rights activists during a candlelight vigil So far, 13 states have already imposed new laws, with Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Louisiana and Missouri completely banning them An abortion-rights protester comforts another during a candlelight vigil for reproductive freedom and abortion rights Experts say it will be difficult to police the sending and receiving of the medication through mail, or traveling to a different state for a consultation. Yesterday, pro-choice protesters continued to demonstrate against the Supreme Court's landmark decision, with several hundred gathering outside the high court during a candlelight vigil in Washington Sunday. Dozens of arrests and some instances of vandalism were reported during a weekend of mostly peaceful protests that turned disorderly in places. Defending the ban now in effect in South Dakota, which makes no exception for victims of rape or incest, Republican Governor Kristi Noem called the Supreme Court's ruling 'wonderful news in the defense of life.' Speaking on ABC's 'This Week,' Noem also voiced support for legislation banning telemedicine abortions. Governor Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas likewise argued that 'forcing someone to carry a child to term' in order to save an unborn baby was an 'appropriate' use of government power. Elected leaders across the US political divide rallied on June 26 for a long fight ahead on abortion Dozens of arrests and some instances of vandalism were reported during a weekend of mostly peaceful protests Julia Scovil, 22, cries during a candlelight vigil in front of the U.S. Supreme Court on June 26 States should now focus on helping mothers and newborns by expanding services including adoption, Hutchinson said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' But the Republican also opposed calls to go further with a federal abortion ban - an ultimate goal of many on the religious right - or restrictions on contraception, which he said is 'not going to be touched' in Arkansas. Fears that the Supreme Court's strong conservative majority - made possible by Donald Trump - will now seek to target other rights like same-sex marriage and contraception have fueled the nationwide mobilization since Friday. President Joe Biden has condemned the Supreme Court's ruling as a 'tragic error' - but with power now resting with often anti-abortion state legislatures, he has also acknowledged his hands are largely tied. The president's main hope is for voters to turn out in defense of abortion rights in November's midterm elections - and in the meantime, Biden's Democrats have vowed to defend women's reproductive rights every way they can. In Wisconsin, where an 1849 law banning abortion except to save the life of the mother may go into effect, Democratic Governor Tony Evers vowed to offer clemency to any doctors who face prosecution, according to local media. A protester shouted in front of the United States Supreme Court on Saturday, after the conservative majority voted to overturn the landmark decision that guaranteed abortion rights across the country The protests continued for a second straight day outside the Supreme Court on Saturday Friday's ruling struck down over 50 years of a woman's constitutional right to an abortion - and leaves abortion rights up to the states Michigan's Governor Gretchen Whitmer promised to 'fight like hell,' saying a temporary injunction has been filed to keep abortion legal in her state. Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warned nightmare scenarios may soon come true - as women are forced to continue with unwanted pregnancies, travel long distances to states where abortion remains legal, or undergo clandestine abortions. 'Forcing women to carry pregnancies against their will will kill them. It will kill them,' the progressive lawmaker told NBC, urging Biden to explore opening health care clinics on federal lands in conservative states in order to help people access abortion services. A CBS poll released Sunday showed that a solid majority - 59 percent - of Americans and 67 percent of women disapproved of the court's ruling. While thousands of people rallied peacefully through the weekend - most of them in protest, but many others celebrating - there were isolated incidents of violence. Police fired tear gas on protesters in Arizona and a pickup truck drove through a group of protesters in Iowa. In the Virginia city of Lynchburg, police were investigating a case of vandalism Saturday at an anti-abortion pregnancy center - which was spray-painted with graffiti and had its windows smashed. And in Colorado, police were probing a suspected arson attack Saturday at a similar anti-abortion center in the town of Longmont, which was painted with graffiti reading: 'If abortions aren't safe, neither are you.' A mother and her six-year-old daughter were gang-raped by a group of men who offered them a lift home in northern India, police said. The pair accepted the men's promise to drive them back from holy site Piran Kaliyar, a holy site for Muslims and Hindus, on the banks of the Ganga Canal, Roorkee, Uttarakhand province. Police superintendent Pramendra Doval said the alleged driver, named only as Sonu, already had friends in the vehicle when they picked up the unidentified women. The mother and daughter were gang-raped after leaving holy site Piran Kaliyar (file image) The mother said she could not tell exactly how many men were in the car - only that the driver was referred to by his friends as Sonu, NDTV reported. Sonu and the men then raped the woman and her daughter in the moving car before dumping them close to the canal, police added. The mother made her way to a nearby police station, where she reported the gang rape. She was then taken with her daughter to Roorkee Civil Hospital, where doctors confirmed the sexual assault had taken place. Police have been unable to locate the suspect, but said investigations are ongoing. They were then dumped by the banks of the Ganga Canal, Roorkee, northern India (file image) The sickening crime follows the gang rape of a 13-year-old last month in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh - with the officer she reported it to raping her again. Station House Officer Tilakdhari Saroj was arrested after being caught on the run. Saroj was charged under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO), which introduced life sentences for convicted child rapists. Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra raged: 'If police stations are not safe for women, then where will they go to take complaints?' The shocking attack took place in remote town Roorkee, Uttarakhand (farm pictured) A recent study by World Vision India found up to half of the country's children have suffered sexual abuse. POCSO was brought in after the 2012 gang rape of Jyoti Singh, 22, by six men on a New Delhi bus, including the driver. That incident sparked nationwide protests. All six perpetrators were convicted. One committed suicide in prison, four were executed, and the sixth, a minor, was released in 2015. Advertisement Miserable holidaymakers at Bristol Airport have been forced to sleep on the floor to avoid the queues while those at Heathrow Airport are being made to go on a wild goose chase to find their own luggage. One traveller brought an air bed with them to Bristol as they battled to check-in this morning, as queues grew from as early as 4.30am. Customers had shown up hours earlier than their flights in an attempt to battle the already long queues amid more travel chaos with the London based airport having lines of unclaimed baggage piling up in the terminals. Heathrow was plunged into chaos in March as bosses struggled to hire enough staff amid widespread labour shortages in the UK in the wake of the pandemic. British Airway staff are also threatening to strike, after unions rejected a 10 per cent pay offer in favour of walkouts as early as next month, potentially during the school holidays Union barons claim the airline's offer was a one-time 'bonus' and its members want a full-time raise. The earliest date the strikes could happen is early July, but the unions have not announced a timescale, possibly in the hopes of pressuring BA bosses to cave in. Pictures form inside Heathrow appear to show dozens of pieces of 'unclaimed' luggage just dumped around the carousels. Other desperate travellers have been sent on a wild goose chase to track down their bags which was meant to land with them days ago. Kate Hardcastle MBE was left without her luggage after boarding a flight from Cannes to Heathrow last week, and has been unable to find out where her belongings are for six days. Passengers were forced to sleep on the floor as they waited to see if they would be able to travel at Bristol Airport this morning. They queued from 4.30am to see Other customers were forced to bed down anywhere they could while waiting for more information on their flights in Bristol this morning. One even thought ahead to pack an air bed so they would be more comfortable Hundreds of passengers packed into Heathrow's Terminal 2, pictured, this morning as they attempted to check in for their flights. Less flights have been cancelled so far at the UK's biggest airport, but travellers still arrived early for flights Passengers at Bristol, pictured this morning, have been left waiting to see if they will be able to catch their flights. Those at Heathrow have been battling to get back their bags after luggage chaos this weekend She was told by a British Airways member of staff that her bag had been put on a plane to Dublin, and arrived back in Terminal 2 which has been worst affected by the luggage disruption. The business expert said she had been told by staff on the ground at Heathrow they were advising their own families not to travel until November at the earliest. Speaking to MailOnline Kate said: I am genuinely worried for people who dont travel as often as I do, I have been travelling for 20 years and you think nothing is going to phase you. Business expert Kate Hardcastle, pictured, has said that she is 'stunned' by the silence from the CEO's of the airlines who are struggling to retain staff to tackle the ongoing issues. Heathrow was first plunged into chaos in March as bosses struggled to hire enough staff amid widespread labour shortages in the UK in the wake of the pandemic But this is chaotic. People coming for holidays that they have worked for for years have no idea what is in store for them. I was in Terminal 5 for two hours in the end when I landed last week from Cannes trying to get my bag. It was chaos, they were pushing forms at people, really complex forms. BA havent been answering the phones for months as far as I understand it. I had to pack a bag for four weeks as I will be travelling away for work for that period, and I have high value and sentimental items in there which have just gone. Normally I would advise everyone to pack light and would do that myself, but I just couldn't in my current situation. It is a complete goose chase, BA have said that they dont know where in the world my bag is. 'Today I arrived at Terminal 2 hoping to get it back, there were 13 people there before me who said that they had been there for hours and no one was answering from any airline. I managed to track someone down from operations and we helped to get the people who had flown todays bags back. Staff members on the ground have said they are advising their own friends and family not to travel until November because of the chaos. Im just stunned by the silence of the CEOs who have not said anything at all. The fact of the matter is that people in the UK have waited like Rapunzel in a tower for two years and they dont deserve to be delayed or without their baggage. Why no one at the top of the companies is not stepping up I dont know. I am not one to criticise unduly, but if you arent even prepared to be on the front line and tough it out its not good enough. People are quite rightly close to tears, Im close to tears. I have no hope that Ill get it back. People who live further away and have lost their baggage cant even get back easily. Im having to carry my stuff on in carrier bags. A business expert says that temporary staff working at Heathrow, pictured today, are warning their own family members not to travel until November at the earliest. British Airway staff are also threatening to strike, after unions rejected a 10 per cent pay offer in favour of walkouts as early as next month, potentially during the school holidays HEATHROW AIRPORT: Arrivals at Terminal 2 and 3 saw a sea of luggage spilling out across the airport as they landed while staff reportedly told anxious customers 'sorry, the whole industry in a mess' A British Airways spokeswoman told MailOnline: 'We're doing everything we can to reunite our customer with their bag. We apologise for the delay and inconvenience caused.' Heathrow are advising any passengers having issues with their baggage to contact the individual airlines. It comes after a weekend of mayhem, with arrivals at Terminal 2 and 3 at Heathrow saw a sea of luggage spilling out across the airport as they landed from Amsterdam, Canada and India while staff reportedly told anxious customers 'sorry, the whole industry in a mess'. Airports have been plagued for months by check-in delays, flight cancellations and baggage issues at UK airports which experts have blamed on widespread staff shortages in the industry. The news comes as thousands of British Airways staff including cabin crew and engineers have threatened to plunge airports and airlines into yet more chaos during the school holidays. Unions are asking over 16,000 workers if they want to join the more than 700 BA staff who have already committed to a walk-out over pay at Heathrow Airport during the summer. Militant GMB and Unite unions have blamed 'pig-headed' aviation bosses for the dispute by imposing mass layoffs during the pandemic, while airlines were struggling. The threat of the walk out comes after Mick Lynch's RMT union unleashed a series of mass walkouts that brought the UK's rail network to a standstill. Downing Street has said that strikes by BA workers would add to the 'misery' passengers are already suffering at airports. A No 10 spokesman added: 'This is obviously a matter for British Airways and the unions and we would strongly encourage both to come together to find a settlement. We don't want to see any further disruption for passengers and strike action would only add to the misery being faced by passengers at airports. Arrivals at Terminal 2 and 3 at Heathrow, pictured today, saw a sea of luggage spilling out across the airport as they landed from Amsterdam, Canada and India over the weekend while staff reportedly told anxious customers 'sorry, the whole industry in a mess' British people do not want to be baggage handlers, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary (pictured) has said The low budget airline has been 'completely unaffected' by airport chaos this summer which has seen others British airlines cancel 1,000s of flights. Pictured: Hundreds of suitcases continue to mount up at Heathrow Terminal 2 'DfT (Department for Transport) will obviously work closely to look at what contingency measures BA could put in place and we expect BA to put in place contingency measures to ensure that as little disruption is caused, and that where there is disruption that passengers can be refunded'. Downing Street has previously argued it would be 'reckless' to raise public sector pay in line with inflation, as ministers defended reinstating the triple pensions lock while arguing in favour of wage restraint elsewhere. Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said last week that that one of the issues with recruitment in the UK stems from 'British people not wanting to be baggage handlers' as he said his Irish company has not faced the same issues. The low budget airline has been 'completely unaffected' by airport chaos this summer which has seen others British airlines cancel thousands of flights due in part to staff shortages. In contrast, Mr O'Leary said Ryanair was prepared for the return of pre-Covid levels of travel because it could see the 'recovery coming' and got its staff back to work early. He also claimed unlike his competitors, his Irish company can take advantage of the European Labour market and not be faced with British workers who do not want to 'pick fruit or work in hospitality, security and baggage handling at airports'. Ryanair is also contending with its own strike action in Europe as staff walked-out in Belgium, France, Italy, Portugal and Spain this weekend. Passengers have had months enduring check-in delays, flight cancellations and baggage issues at UK airports. Police opened a 'hate incident' file after a boy, aged 11, was called 'shorty'. Officers in Wiltshire stepped in after the child, who was also called a 'leprechaun' was called names in the street in a 'non-crime hate incident'. The latest example of police recording name-calling in such a way comes despite an Appeal Court ruling last December that the policy unlawfully interferes with the right to freedom of expression. Wiltshire was named last year as the worst force in the country when it came to solving sex attacks, cracking just one in 140 rape cases. Cops in Wiltshire stepped in after the child, who was also called a 'leprechaun' was called names in the street in a 'non-hate crime incident' (stock image) What are 'non-crime hate incidents'? Non-crime hate incidents are defined as 'any non-crime incident which is perceived, by the victim or any other person, to be motivated by a hostility or prejudice', according to the College of Policing. The category was introduced in 2014 after recommendations made by the independent Macpherson Inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. Reports of non-crime hate incidents can show up in criminal record checks for six years, yet there are no grounds to appeal against them. Officers have to consider people's human rights including the right to respect for private and family life, the right to manifest ones religion or beliefs, freedom of expression, and freedom of assembly and association in these cases. In December the Appeal Court ruled their use should be curtailed. The College of Policing is now working to come up with new 'safeguards' to make sure that any future recording of non-crime hate incidents does not disproportionately interfere with the legal right to speak their mind after a landmark ruling last year. This means non-crime hate incidents will still exist but the guidance around their use will be tightened. Advertisement 'It beggars belief that one child calling another 'shorty' becomes a police matter,' Josie Appleton, Director of freedom of speech group the Manifesto Club told The Sun. 'Recording 'non-crimes' takes the police into the dangerous territory of policing speech and everyday interactions. 'The police created this dubious non-crime hate incident system on their own initiative, and have been told by the Court of Appeal and Home Secretary to scrap it. 'It's high time they did.' Andrew Allison, Chief Executive of the Freedom Association added: 'Something is either a crime or it isn't. 'Non-crime hate incidents are a threat to free speech and should be consigned to the dustbin of history.' He added that the decision to open a file could also have an impact on the accused future employment prospects as the report could show up in a criminal record check for the next six years. The accused has no right to appeal. Non-crime hate incident reports were introduced in 2014 following recommendations by the independent Macpherson Inquiry into the murder of Stephen Lawrence. The College of Policing defines them as those 'perceived by the victim or any others to be motivated by hostility or prejudice.' Around 10,000 incidents are recorded on a yearly basis. The College of Policing has recently been forced to review its guidance over non-crime hate incidents following a landmark ruling in December last year. Harry Miller, a former officer at Humberside Police, won a Court of Appeal challenge over guidance on 'hate incidents' after claiming it unlawfully interferes with the right to freedom of expression. Mr Miller was approached by colleagues over alleged transphobic tweets in January 2020. The force recorded the complaint as a 'non-crime hate incident . It is not known what was in the tweets, which were later deleted, though he is known to have retweeted a poem which included the line: 'Your vagina goes nowhere'. Mr Miller, from Lincolnshire, challenged both Humberside Police's actions and the College of Policing's guidance at the High Court in 2020. A judge ruled the force's actions were a 'disproportionate interference' with Mr Miller's right to freedom of expression. But his challenge to the College's guidance was dismissed, with the judge finding that it 'serves legitimate purposes and is not disproportionate'. However, in a separate ruling, the Court of Appeal found the guidance also breached his freedom of expression rights, forcing the College of Policing to review its guidance to add in more safeguards for freedom of speech. Wiltshire was dubbed the worst performing police force last year. Only 0.7 per cent of rapes reported to Wiltshire Police resulted in a charge or summons, whereas Durham - the most successful force - had more than 10 times the success rate in bringing prosecutions at 7.1 per cent, according to Home Office data for the three years from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Victims' Commissioner Dame Vera Baird slammed the 'pathetic and terrifying' figures at the time. 'There is no difference between rape in Durham and rape in Wiltshire or Cleveland,' she said. 'What is different is the effort and skill put into investigating and prosecuting rape by some forces over others. None of these figures are anything but appallingly low. 'There is no crime with prosecution percentages as pathetic and terrifying as these across the board.' Advertisement A luxury home that has stunning views of the millionaire's enclave of Sandbanks has gone on the market for just under 3m. The aptly-named Waves is in a prime waterfront position with a panoramic view of Poole Harbour in Dorset. The four-bedroom home sits across the road from Kite Beach, a sheltered corner of Sandbanks that is popular for kitesurfing and its impressive assortment of seafood restaurants. It is also a short walk from the award-winning Blue Flag beach. The waterfront property, aptly-named Waves, is on the market with Savills for 2.995m Sandbanks is the most expensive coastal location to live in throughout the UK and demand for property has continued to rise there since the pandemic. This is mainly due to wealthy people moving out of London and the Home Counties as they can now work remotely. Within the past four years celebrities have also snapped up several luxury mansions in the area for eye-watering sums. One of those was the former home of Harry and Sandra Redknapp that recently sold for 10.5m. The computer magnate Graeme Souness, Sir Peter Ogden and celebrity interior designer Celia Sawyer also have homes in the sought after spot. On the second floor of the seaside home there are the four bedrooms, two with en suites, and a family bathroom At the top of the house is a studio room with its own kitchenette and a terrace to bask in the seafront views Currently, there is a drastic shortage of houses coming onto the market in the affluent area and the lack of supply is driving prices up by 100,000 a month. There is said to be the equivalent of a three year waiting list for waterside property worth over 1m in the area. Waves, on Shore Road, is arranged over four floors and has been extensively refurbished to maintain the high standard of specification and decor people expect in Britain's version of Miami Beach. It has large expanses of glass along the front of the house to make the most of the breath-taking views. The house has 3,807 sq ft of accommodation with the home cinema, gym and double garage on the ground floor and kitchen/breakfast room, living room, snug, home office, dining room and bathroom on the first floor. The house has air conditioning in many of the main rooms and control 4 Home technology throughout Sean Gibson, head of residential sales at Savills in Canford Cliffs, said owners could walk 'to the beach or harbour in a matter of moments' On the second floor are the four bedrooms, two with en suites, and a family bathroom. And at the top of the house is a studio room with its own kitchenette and a terrace to really enjoy the views. The house has air conditioning in many of the main rooms and control 4 Home technology throughout. The house is on the market with Savills for 2.995m. The Sandbanks area is known for its natural beauty and microclimate, with a reputation for having more sunshine than most other parts of the country. The house has 3,807 sq ft of accommodation with the home cinema, gym and double garage on the ground floor and kitchen/breakfast room, living room, snug, home office, dining room and bathroom on the first floor There is a drastic shortage of houses coming onto the market in the affluent Sankbanks area and the lack of supply is driving prices up by 100,000 a month Waves, on Shore Road, is arranged over four floors and has been extensively refurbished to maintain the high standard of specification and decor people expect in Britain's version of Miami Beach There is said to be the equivalent of a three year waiting list for waterside properties in Sandbanks worth over 1m Sean Gibson, head of residential sales at Savills in Canford Cliffs, said: 'Walking to the beach or harbour in a matter of moments, from your own front door, would be a lifestyle like no other. It is an absolute dream to be this close to the water. 'Being by the coast has its obvious benefits, especially during the summer months. The popularity of Sandbanks - and Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole in general - is that it offers a fantastic lifestyle that has an abundance of award-winning beaches and golden sands on the doorstep and a relatively fast commute for those working in London. 'The area has a thriving property market which has been supported by significant interest from both overseas and London buyers.' The number of cancelled flights doubled in a week to nearly 700 Monday morning amid a stark warning from industry experts that travel chaos will last for years. Airlines reported nearly 600 delays by 8am, according to tracking service FlightAware, with airports in New York City, Atlanta, and Boston being hardest hit by disruptions. It's a huge rise in cancellations from last Monday when airlines axed 380 flights. Aviation experts are blaming pilot shortages, warning that it will take years to resolve the issue and that there will be a summer of chaos. Industry expert David Slotnick said: 'The pilot shortage wont be solved in the next few years so the best thing airlines can do on that front is use the pilots they have as strategically as they can, scheduling flights properly and prioritizing routes as efficiently as possible.' Congressional leaders are demanding the airlines provide answers as to why there continues to be disruptions, especially since the industry received $50 billion in relief during the pandemic in an effort to keep business afloat. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg has made tackling air travel chaos a priority and even claimed his department could force the airlines to hire more staff. Flight disruptions have caused a trickle-down effect across the entire travel industry making it harder to access rideshares, car rentals or public transport. New Yorkers returning home from Miami, Florida Sunday night told DailyMail.com they waited over an hour for a taxi cab at LaGuardia Airport. Uber and Lyft orders were not being picked up. The US has been hit by a second week of travel misery with nearly 700 flights canceled Monday morning. Airlines also reported nearly 600 delays It's a huge rise in cancellations from last Monday when airlines axed 380 flights Footage taken at the airport shows the taxi queue stretching the entire length of the baggage terminal. The long wait for a cab also came after the travelers' flight had been delayed 90 minutes due to a ground stop at flights arriving at LGA. It is unclear why flights were halted into the airport. DailyMail.com has contact the airport and NYC's Port Authority agency for comment. Flight disruptions have caused a trickle-down effect across the entire travel industry. New Yorkers returning home from Miami, Florida Sunday night told DailyMail.com they waited over an hour for a taxi cab at LaGuardia Airport New Yorkers can expect more delays at the airports on Monday after Newark Liberty Airport, LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airport have already reported disruptions. Newark, LGA and JFK have cancelled 16, nine and four percent of routes, respectively. NYC appears to be hardest-hit by Monday's airline disruptions, followed by Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta which had canceled four percent of routes, as of 8am. Travelers in Boston should also prepare to spend extra time at Logan International Airport after 22 flights had already been canceled Monday morning and 14 delayed. NYC appears to be hardest-hit by Monday's airline disruptions, followed by Atlanta. Travelers are pictured at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on June 22 Monday's disruptions follow a weekend of chaos that saw more than 2,000 cancellations and at least 13,000 delays between Friday and Sunday. TSA officers screened 2,462,097 people at airport security checkpoints nationwide on Sunday, June 26 the highest daily number since February 11, 2020 (pre-Covid) when 2,507,588 people were screened, according to spokesperson Lisa Farbstein. 'Airports are busy places, plan to arrive early,' she warned in a tweet Monday. Delta Air Lines, United Airlines Holdings Inc and Republic Airlines Inc had over 100 cancellations each Monday, while American Airlines Group Inc canceled 51 flights nationwide. This comes as U.S. consumers lodged more than triple the number of complaints against U.S. airlines in April, compared with pre-pandemic levels, as on-time arrivals fell, according to a report by the Department of Transportation. In April, major carriers posted an on-time arrival rate of 76 percent, down from 77.2 percent in March and below the 79.8 percent rate in April 2019, the report said. Airlines operated 566,893 flights in April, about 87 percent of the flights flown during the same month in 2019. Since early spring, social media has flooded with complaints from stranded passengers who have missed vacations, important events and business related engagements due to airline disruptions. Air carriers, which first cited COVID-19 pandemic-era staffing shortages and high travel demand as the reasons for repeated disruptions, have shifted the blame on widespread flight delays to the Federal Aviation Administration TSA officers screened 2,462,097 people at airport security checkpoints nationwide on Sunday, June 26 the highest daily number since February 11, 2020 Traveler Brian Walsingham took to Twitter Monday morning to call out American Airlines, one the nation's largest air carriers, for delaying his Dallas, Texas flight by 14 hours. Hugo Acha, also traveling out of Dallas, criticized American for have delayed or cancelled at least six routes he and his family had booked. He questioned: 'Whats going on?' Another passenger, Ken Domik noted how he was prepared for increased wait times at Los Angeles International Airport, due to rising travel demand, so he arrived three hours early for his flight to Toronto. He ended up waiting at LAX for seven hours because the flight was delayed four hours. The grim stories foreshadow a potentially busy July 4 holiday, according to AAA, as over 47 million Americans are expected to travel over the holiday weekend, with 3.5 million of those travelers expected to travel by air. Social media has flooded with complaints from stranded passengers who have missed vacations, important events and business related engagements due to airline disruptions Earlier this month, Buttigieg called a virtual meeting with the chief executives of major U.S. airlines to discuss thousands of recent flight cancellations and delays over the Memorial Day holiday weekend. He urged airlines to ensure they can reliably operate planned summer schedules. Airlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. carriers, said Friday it wants to know FAA's staffing plans for the July Fourth holiday weekend, 'so we can plan accordingly.' The comments from the industry group could serve as a pre-emptive defense in case airlines again suffer thousands of canceled and delayed flights over the holiday weekend, when travel is expected to set new pandemic-era highs. 'The industry is actively and nimbly doing everything possible to create a positive customer experience since it is in an airline's inherent interest to keep customers happy, so they return for future business,' Nicholas Calio, president of the trade group, said in a letter to Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. Calio said airlines have dropped 15 percent of the flights they originally planned for June through August to make the remaining flights more reliable, they are hiring and training more pilots and customer-service agents, and giving passengers more flexibility to change travel plans. Calio said air traffic is often disrupted 'for many hours' because bad weather causes the FAA to issue delays. Slotnick, responding to the letter, reiterated that staffing issues at air traffic control was a 'long-standing' problem that got 'even worse during the pandemic.' 'Its a difficult problem to solve, but can have massive disruptions on travel,' he explained. 'The airlines have been hesitant this spring to openly blame the FAA, but with Sec. Buttigieg and the DOT threatening to penalize airlines for the disruptions, it seems that the airlines want to make it clear that this situation isnt only their fault.' 'Woke' Jaguar Land Rover has banned the use of the engineering term 'slave' in its main British factory, it was revealed today. Staff at the car giant's plant in Solihull near Birmingham will now have to use the word 'surrogates' when referring to parts used in their vehicles. For more than a century Land Rover and other engineering firms have used the terms 'master' and 'slave' to reference the relationship between components and parts. In a Land Rover one of the most common parts is called a 'clutch slave cylinder'. The 'master' and 'slave' term is also used in electronic engineering on circuit boards and also in clocks. Jaguar Land Rover has said the the decision to ban the word was made after it was 'called for by our employees' - but there has reportedly somewhat of a stir on the shop floor. One worker told The Sun: 'It's just one more example of wokeism and it's as a result of a few voices making a fuss. It's so stupid because 'slave' in car making refers to a component that supports the function of another - "slave" and "master". No one here supports slavery. We just want to build great cars and go home.' Staff at the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) plant at Solihull (pictured) have been banned from using the word 'slave' - a term used in engineering Woke police officers open ' hate incident' file after boy, 11, is called 'shorty' and 'leprechaun' Police opened a 'hate incident' file after a boy, aged 11, was called 'shorty'. Officers in Wiltshire stepped in after the child, who was also called a 'leprechaun' was called names in the street in a 'non-crime hate incident'. The latest example of police recording name-calling in such a way comes despite an Appeal Court ruling last December that the policy unlawfully interferes with the right to freedom of expression. Wiltshire was named last year as the worst force in the country when it came to solving sex attacks, cracking just one in 140 rape cases. 'It beggars belief that one child calling another 'shorty' becomes a police matter,' Josie Appleton, Director of freedom of speech group the Manifesto Club told The Sun. 'Recording 'non-crimes' takes the police into the dangerous territory of policing speech and everyday interactions. 'The police created this dubious non-crime hate incident system on their own initiative, and have been told by the Court of Appeal and Home Secretary to scrap it. 'It's high time they did.' Advertisement Calling the fattest category of people 'morbidly' obese is offensive, woke researchers said earlier this month. And they urged doctors and scientists to stop referring to unsuccessful attempts to lose weight as 'failures'. Terms used moving forward should include 'ineffective' or 'insufficient' weight loss, or even 'secondary weight regain'. And in schools fury has risen over a 'woke' call to cancel traditional terms like 'Sir' and 'Miss' in schools in favour of using gender-neutral terms such as 'teacher' instead. In a session funded by the National Education Union (NEU) in February, Dr Elly Barnes told teachers they ought to be moving towards a 'gender-free model' in education. In April Google launched an 'inclusive language' function designed to avoid the use of politically incorrect words. Users typing 'landlord' will see a warning that it 'may not be inclusive to all readers' with the suggestion they should try 'property owner' or 'proprietor' instead. The word 'humankind' is a suggested alternative to what the online giant apparently sees as the controversial term 'mankind'. Gender specific terms such as 'policemen' or 'housewife' should also be replaced by 'police officers' and 'stay-at-home spouse', according to the new Google Document style programme. It is now being rolled out to what the firm calls enterprise-level users. Many computer document systems use methods to correct spelling and grammar. But nudging users towards woke language is being seen by critics as a step too far. Tests on the system have also thrown up major flaws. A transcribed interview with ex Klu Klux Klan leader David Duke, in which he uses offensive racial slurs and talks about hunting black people, prompted no warnings. But it suggested President John F Kennedy's inaugural address should say 'for all humankind' instead of 'for all mankind'. Users typing 'landlord' will see a warning that it 'may not be inclusive to all readers' with the suggestion they should try 'property owner' or 'proprietor' instead Many computer document systems use methods to correct spelling and grammar. But nudging users towards woke language is being seen by critics as a step too far. Tests on the system have also thrown up major flaws Silkie Carlo, of campaign group Big Brother Watch, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Google's new word warnings aren't assistive, they're deeply intrusive. 'This speech-policing is profoundly clumsy, creepy and wrong, often reinforcing bias.' Sam Bowman, of online magazine Works in Progress, said: 'It feels pretty hectoring and adds an unwanted political/cultural slant to what I'd rather was a neutral product [as] a user.' A Google spokesman said: 'Our technology is always improving, and we don't yet [have] a solution to identifying and mitigating all unwanted word associations and biases.' Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha with NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi & Mallikarjun Kharge, SP leader Akhilesh Yadav and other opposition leaders, during the filing of his nomination papers for presidential election, at Parliament House in New Delhi, Monday, June 27, 2022. (PTI Photo/Shahbaz Khan HYDERABAD: Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao attending the filing of the nomination of Yashwant Sinha for the Presidential election along with Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Jairam Ramesh etc created a buzz in the TRS and political circles on Monday. This is for the first time that a TRS leader shared a platform with Congress leaders since the formation of Telangana state in 2014. This triggered a debate in the TRS circles that the TRS and the Congress would join hands in future too to prevent the BJP from coming to power in Telangana in the event of upcoming Assembly elections scheduled for 2023 forcing a hung assembly. The BJP has emerged as a strong political force in Telangana after 2019 Lok Sabha polls with the party winning four Lok Sabha seats, clinching two Assembly seats from the TRS in Dubbak and Huzurabad bypolls in 2020 and 2021 and giving a tough fight to the TRS in GHMC polls in 2020. Although Rama Rao was not seen greeting or speaking to Rahul in the visuals shown during the event, it failed to douse the speculations. Rama Rao was seen sitting to the left of Yashwant Sinha after NCP chief Sharad Pawar and SP chief Akhilesh Yadav in the front row while Rahul was seen to the right of Sinha. TRS president K. Chandrashekar Rao, along with his entire family members, met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi in Delhi soon after AP Reorganisation Bill was passed during Congress-led UPA regime in both Houses of the Parliament in 2014 paving way for the creation of Telangana state. However, the TRS and the Congress turned bitter political rivals soon after the former came to power in Telangana in June 2014. Several Congress MLAs and MLCs defected to the TRS soon after 2014 and 2018 Assembly polls due to which Congress lost its main Opposition status in both Legislative Assembly and Council. The political rivalry between the TRS and the Congress escalated further after the Congress high command appointed firebrand leader A. Revanth Reddy as Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president in June last year. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently addressed a huge public meeting in Warangal in which he lashed out at Chandrashekar Rao and his family members as 'most corrupt' and vowed to dethrone the TRS government in 2023 Assembly polls. Against this backdrop, Chandrashekar Rao skipped the meeting of non-BJP parties organised by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Delhi last month to discuss fielding a joint Opposition candidate for Presidential election on the ground that the Congress was also invited for this meeting and TRS did not want to share any platform with the Congress. However, the TRS decided to extend support to joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the Presidential election soon after, who is also backed by the Congress, on the request of NCP chief Sharad Pawar. However, Rama Rao dismissed reports of the TRS joining hands with the Congress while addressing a press conference in Delhi on Monday. When reporters raised this question, he replied, "How can you say the TRS joined hands with the Congress just because we attended Yashwant Sinha's nomination programme? We have attended the meeting of Opposition parties and not the meeting of the Congress. There were several other leaders from other parties like NCP, SP etc who attended this programme and the TRS was one among them." A climate change extremist who allegedly used a bike lock to chain herself to the steering wheel of a rental car to bring citybound traffic in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel to a abrupt halt will spend the night behind bars after being charged by police. Mali, 22, was among 10 charged on Monday evening after dozens of Blockade Australia protesters hit the streets in the morning to cause chaos for commuters in Sydney's CBD. Police allege 60 people were involved the unauthorised demonstration, which saw a hoard of activists storm the streets blocking off traffic at various locations. Mali is accused of parking a white hatchback across the road leading into the busy tunnel leaving motorists on their way to work banked up for kilometres. She was confronted by a furious driver while filming a livestream of her protest and later had to be cut from the car by officers from the Police Rescue Squad. Six women and four men aged between 21 and 49 from three states were arrested and charged with a string of offences related to willfully preventing the free passage of a person or vehicle. All but one were refused bail to appear in either Central or Downing Centre Court on Tuesday and could be facing heavy fines and up to two years in jail. A white hatchback was parked sideways over two lanes of traffic - causing chaos for the thousands of people who use the tunnel every hour Police established Strike Force Guard vowing to maintain a highly visible presence in the CBD for the rest of the week after Blockade Australia warned of further disruptions. 'It is unacceptable that a small number of people - who have little to no regard for everyday individuals going about their lives, are causing unnecessary disruptions to their morning commute,' Acting Assistant Commissioner Paul Dunstan said. 'What these individuals are doing is both illegal and unsafe, putting the lives of themselves, the general public and our officers in danger by running on roadway and blocking roads by other means to disrupt traffic.' Dozens of specialist officers were deployed to assist in the operation, including the Public Order and Riot Squad, Mounted Police, Rescue Squad, Dog Squad, Traffic and Highway Patrol and Transit Police. Both sides of the NSW government condemned the protestors' actions. 'I would say this to the protesters: Go and get a real job,' Deputy Premier Paul Toole said. 'Go and talk to somebody who's actually been delayed in getting to work today.' Labor opposition leader Chris Minns added: 'We may have had women waiting to get to emergency departments, birthing centres to give birth to children or [other] emergencies,' Blockade Australia warned on its Facebook page on Monday night that resistance will continues, Tuesday and every day this week. Mali began to livestream the protest when an angry driver walked up to her window and began to verbally abuse her with a string of swear words before storming off. 'You're f***ing everyone's day up,' he yells. 'Get the f*** out of the way!' An outraged commuter erupted at a climate activist after she chained herself to the steering wheel of her car and blocked traffic outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel She began to livestream the protest when an angry driver walked up to her window and began to verbally abuse her before storming off An unfazed Mali continues to look at the camera before she responds: 'To this man I would say I stand with you. It is for you, it is for your family that we do this.' She staged the protest as dozens of Blockade Australia demonstrators marched through the streets in the CBD, disrupting traffic and clashing with police. One fed-up driver was filmed edging their car through the crowd forcing people to jump out of its way with one protestor banging on the hood of the car as they were pushed backwards. Mali, who moaned about climate destruction in her livestream, then sipped water from a plastic water bottle as she continued her protest on the other side of the city. 'The police are here,' she said into the camera. 'Not sure if you can see. Thank you everyone who has listened. 'I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to be able to hold this phone and hold this space. It's a big day ahead.' A driver has rammed through a climate change demonstration taking place in the middle of Sydney (pictured) Protesters marched down the street before a car drove through the intersection and almost hit two activists carrying a banner. Protesters then chased the car as it drove past She then looks out the window to check on the police officers circling her car before the angered commuter walks back up to her car. The commuter screamed at her that she was 'f***ing selfish', then yelled a phrase at her about 'jail' that is so obscene it cannot be published. Mali continues to look away at her phone and tries to ignore the commuter hurling insults at her. The commuter then walks away before Mali urges her viewers to join her cause. 'Come and stand in solidarity. Find your voice,' she said. A police officer then walks up to her window and politely asks her for identification. The tunnel is one of the major thoroughfares taking commuters across the city's harbour, and is used by up to 2,000 cars every hour. All traffic had been diverted via the Harbour Bridge and drivers were backed up for several kilometres. Extraordinary footage captured in Sydney's CBD shows the moment members of the extremist Blockade Australia group were almost hit by an SUV while standing in the middle of an intersection near Wynyard Park. One enraged driver drove straight through the demonstration, as protesters fruitlessly tried to stop the vehicle and chase it across the road - almost getting run over in the process. Acting Assistant Commissioner Dunstan slammed the protester's actions and said Mali 'placed herself at risk, placed members of the public at risk, and placed rescuers at risk.' 'The behaviour of this group is nothing short of criminal activity,' the officer continued. 'The throwing of bicycles, the throwing of garbage bins, the throwing of other items in the path of police, in the path of media, in the path of innocent members of the public just walking by will not be tolerated and cannot be by the people of NSW.' Police officers surrounded the white hatchback as blocked traffic backed up for several kilometres The woman was eventually arrested by several officers and the tunnel reopened around 9am When asked whether he had a message for anyone who participated in the protest and thinks they got away without arrest, Mr Dunstan said: 'We are reviewing CCTV ... expect a knock on your door. 'Will be coming for you to be arrested.' Mr Dunstan added that the protester's actions were 'incredibly dangerous' and described their behaviour as 'unacceptable'. Mali was one of dozens of Blockade Australia demonstrators that stormed the city, after vowing to create a week of misery for commuters by disrupting traffic with police frantically tried to stop the protest with barricade fences. In a statement, the radical group said their week-long protest activities had 'begun' with 'its Sydney mobilization to resist climate destruction'. 'Sydney is where Australia's operation began, and for more than two centuries, it has been where Australia's destruction of this continent has been most intense,' a spokesperson for the group said. 'The institutions of Australia are concentrations of coercive power that enable this exploitation. Our collective survival rests on organised opposition and the use of strategic direct action to stand against this project of destruction. Protesters hold a sign outside the Sydney Harbour Tunnel as a car blocks off traffic Dozens descended on Sydney's centre, carrying signs and chanting as they demanded action for climate change 'Blockade Australia will continue to cause disruption and resist climate destruction in the days to come.' Meanwhile, furious Australians have flocked online to slam the group for interrupting society with 'dangerous' antics.' 'These Blockade idiots need to think better,' one person tweeted. 'Even though many support Climate Change, still most of Australia is against these fools. Ban their public welfare if the want to put lives in danger blocking traffic and transport.' 'I'm sorry but #BlockadeAustralia is 10yrs too late & giving climate change activism a bad name,' another said. A police officer picks up milk crates left on the street as demonstrators were seen throwing bins and objects into the path of police to slow them down A man picked up a barricade fence and ran away as protests choked traffic in the CBD on Monday Another man pointed out the protests meant people were spending longer in their cars with the heaters using petrol on due to the road blockage, which ironically was bad for the environment. 'It's all well and good to protest but to harass the broader community is just selfish,' a fourth wrote. As commuters began heading into the city for work, throngs of protesters descended on Elizabeth Street before marching around Hyde Park towards NSW Parliament. The crowd was forced to disperse when it was blocked by police at the intersection of George and Bridge streets, blocking access to the Harbour Bridge. An Arizona man has been arrested for the murder of a female UberEats driver after police found a photograph of him on the victim's cellphone, taken seconds before he allegedly shot her dead. Rusty French, 62, is believed to have killed retired teacher Pamela Rae Martinez, 60, in a road rage incident on June 11 in Glendale, Arizona. Martinez - a much-loved mother and grandmother - had just finished her final UberEats delivery and was on her way home when French pulled up alongside her vehicle. He was in a van and was behaving so suspiciously that Martinez, a mother and grandmother, took a photo of him on her cell phone. Moments later, he shot her and drove away. Cops have speculated that the killing may have been road-rage related, but remain unclear about a possible motive. They say French didn't know Martinez, and that she had not been delivering food to him. Rusty French, 62, is believed to have killed Pamela Rae Martinez, 60, in a road rage incident on June 11 in Glendale, Arizona After she was shot, Martinez's car rolled off to the side of the road and she was pried from the driver's seat by paramedics. The 60-year-old woman was later pronounced dead in the hospital, with investigators quickly realizing that she'd been shot, and that her injuries were unrelated to the minor car accident. The victim's family say they are grateful she had the sense to take a photo of her killer before she was shot Investigators looked through her cell phone afterwards and saw the photograph of French, which also gave them details of his vehicle. He was then questioned and he confessed to being the man in the photograph, claiming he 'blacked out' after it was taken and has no idea what he did next. Police then found a gun in his home that matched the firearm used in the murder. French has now been charged with murder and is behind bars. Martinez's family are grateful that she had the wherewithal to take a photo of the man before her death. 'She solved her own homicide. I'm blessed that she did that. If not, this would be even harder,' her daughter Monique Daniels told local station 12 News. Daniels told of how her mother was a health-and-fitness fanatic who'd only recently given up bodybuilding. The grieving woman says her late mother was so healthy that she fully expected her to live well-past the age of 100. The road in Glendale, Arizona, where Martinez was shot and killed on June 11 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used a video call with G7 leaders on Monday to demand that the U.S. declare Russia to be a state sponsor of terrorism for its war in Ukraine, according to his office. The war in Ukraine dominated several sessions of the G7 summit in southern Germany. And the Ukrainian president appealed directly to President Joe Biden and his fellow leaders in their first session on Monday morning, asking for their help in ending the war before the bitter winter months. He used the forum to go even further in his request to punish Moscow for its aggression and to further isolate President Vladimir Putin. 'In addition, the president stressed the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular by forcibly limiting the price of Russian oil exported,' said his office in a readout of the conversation. 'Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that the US Department of State would endorse the decision to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism.' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke to G7 leaders on Monday by videolink, and used the occasion to urge the US to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism Zelensky spoke to G7 leaders on the second day of their summit in southern Germany, asking them for urgent help to end the war before the bitterly cold winter months Missile strikes left a huge crater in the yard of a school in a residential area of Kharkiv on Monday morning. Zelensky has repeatedly accused Moscow of attacking civilian targets Such a move would have widespread impact. It would allow the U.S. to sanction dozens of countries that do business with Moscow and freeze Russian assets in the U.S. But the designation has been used only sparingly by Washington, and even at the height of the Cold War - when Moscow was known to be sponsoring terror groups - successive administrations considered an official designation to be a step too far. However, other requests have been met more favorably. Officials said on Monday that the U.S. was preparing to send an advanced air defense system to Ukraine, at a time when Russia was gaining the upper hand in a long range war of bombardment, and that leaders were nearing agreement on imposing an oil price cap to reduce Moscow's income from exports. Zelensky kept up his appeals for more help in heading off aerial attacks and also asked G7 leaders for help to end the conflict by winter. He said battle conditions would make it tougher for his troops as they mount their fightback against Vladimir Putin's men, according to diplomatic sources he spoke to Reuters and Agence France-Press. He also pleaded for tougher sanctions on Russia and said it was vital to heap 'heavy' punitive action on Moscow and 'not lower the pressure.' NASAMS is a Norwegian-developed air defense system, which is used in Washington to protect the White House and U.S. Capitol. Reports say the U.S. has bought a system for Ukraine Zelensky asked for more help from G7 leaders as his country comes under heavy bombardment from Russian forces in the east, and said he wanted the war over by winter After hearing from Zelensky, the leaders promised to support Ukraine for 'as long as it takes.' They also dismissed ideas that Ukraine's supporters might push for any kind of peace deal that would include ceding territory to Russia. 'We, the Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7), are steadfast in our solidarity with Ukraine, and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defence of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in their fight for a peaceful, prosperous and democratic future,' they said. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that the U.S. was finalizing a military aid package that includes advanced air defense systems It was up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement, they added. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that the next package of aid would include air defense. 'I can confirm that we are in fact, in the process of finalizing a package that includes advanced air defense capabilities,' he told reporters at the G7 venue. 'As [Biden] told President Zelensky, we do intend to finalize a package that includes advanced medium and long-range air defense capabilities for the Ukrainians, along with some other items that are of urgent need, including ammunition for artillery and counter-battery radar systems.' Sources told multiple news organizations that the U.S. would soon announced it had bought a NASAMS unit, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, for Ukraine. It is the same system used to protect airspace in sensitive sites in the U.S., such as the White House and the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Ukrainian troops would have to be trained in its use before it could be deployed. - Rescuers and firefighters work in a damaged residential building, hit by Russian missiles in Kyiv on June 26, 2022, amid Russian invasion of Ukraine L to R: Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, European Union Council Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, French President Emanuel Macron and European Union Council President Charles Michel pose for a group photo on the first day of the three-day G7 The latest versions of the system have been in service since 2007, and couples advanced radar with 12 rocket launches to destroy aircraft, helicopters, drones and missiles around high-value targets. It comes at a crucial time in the conflict. After repelling Russian forces advancing on the capital Kyiv in the early days of the war, Ukraine has warned that the tables have turned. Officers say they are struggling to compete with Russia's long range firepower in the eastern Donbas region. In recent days Russia has captured Severodonetsk and is now targeting Lysychansk. And Russia hit Kyiv with missiles early Sunday, in a strike that coincided with the start of the G7 summit. Soon after Zelensky used his daily video address to warn that delays in arms deliveries was 'an invitation to Russia to strike again and again.' The Kyiv strikes, he said, showed the urgency required. 'Part of the missiles were shot down. But only part,' he said. 'We need a powerful air defense - modern, fully effective. Which can ensure complete protection against these missiles. 'We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers.' The war has topped the agenda of G7 leaders meeting in Germany. Tuesday will bring fresh sanctions, according to a senior Biden administration official. A senior Biden administration official said the leaders were close to agreeing to impose a price cap on Russian oil. Clockwise from left: Italy's Mario Draghi, Justin Trudeau, Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Joe Biden, Mr Johnson, Japan's Fumio Kishida, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and European Council president Charles Michel The package includes more medium-range rocket systems - known as High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems - to help Ukraine in what has now become a war fought at distance with artillery and missiles. The Pentagon said it also included 18 tactical vehicles to tow howitzers, 18 patrol boats, thousands of machine guns, grenade launchers and rounds of ammunition. The U.S. has committed more than $6 billion in security aid since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. 'The goal here is to starve Russia, starve Putin as his main source of cash and forced down the price of Russian oil to help blunt the impact of Putin's war at the pump,' said the official. More U.S. sanctions on Russian defense-related companies and individuals will be announced on Tuesday, said the official. Last week the U.S. announced it was sending another $450 million in military aid to Ukraine. Americans are split 16 percent on their support and opposition to the Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, a new poll shows as the nation was thrown into discourse over the decision Friday. An NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll released Monday shows that 56 percent of Americans are opposed to the ruling while 40 percent are in favor of it only 4 percent are unsure of their feelings on the matter. When broken down by party, however, the margins predictably increase substantially. Eighty-eight percent of Democrats are opposed to the Supreme Court ruling and only 10 percent support it, while 77 percent of Republicans support the overturn and only 20 percent oppose it. Independents are pretty split with 41 percent supporting the decision and 53 percent opposing in the survey taken June 24 and 25 the day of the ruling and immediately following. While the majority opinion in the case at hand of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization was 6-3, Chief Justice John Roberts went against the conservative majority when it came to the complete overturn of Roe v. Wade. A survey taken the day of and immediately after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade shows that 56% of Americans are opposed to the ruling compared to the 40% who support it Ever since the Friday ruling, demonstrators in support and opposition of the ruling have posted outside of the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C. The Dobbs case out of Mississippi was challenging a law that banned abortion at 15 weeks, which is toward the start of the second trimesters. While Roberts agreed that the state should be able to impose that law, he did not feel that the near-50-year precedent set in Roe v. Wade should be overturned. 'Surely we should adhere closely to principles of judicial restraint here, where the broader path the Court chooses entails repudiating a constitutional right we have not only previously recognized, but also expressly reaffirmed applying the doctrine of stare decisis,' Roberts wrote in his dissent, joining the three liberal Justices on the bench. The ruling on Friday came after an unprecedented Supreme Court leak in early May showed that the court was preparing to end federal protections for abortions that were awarded through the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Now states will be able to create their own laws surrounding abortion. Thirteen states had so-called 'trigger laws', which immediately outlawed abortion once the court issued its decision on Friday. 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 Republican lawmakers and pro-life groups immediately lauded the decision while liberals and pro-choice activists called it a somber day and backtrack for women's rights in the U.S. Of those polled by Marist, two-thirds say that they know someone who has had an abortion the same was true of three-quarters of independents, seven in 10 Democrats and 55 percent of Republicans. Fifty-four percent of men polled are opposed to the ruling and 59 percent of women. While the case at hand had a 6-3 ruling to allow Mississippi to ban abortion at 15-weeks, the entire overturn of Roe was not supported by conservative Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts (bottom center). The Supreme Court: Seated from left are Associate Justice Samuel Alito, Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, Roberts, Associate Justice Stephen Breyer and Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Standing from left are Associate Justice Brett Kavanaugh, Associate Justice Elena Kagan, Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch and Associate Justice Amy Coney Barrett The decision on Friday has left confidence in the Supreme Court at a polling low with just 39 percent of respondents saying they are either a great deal or quite a lot of confidence in the high court. This while 58 percent say they have not very much or not confidence at all in the institution. Despite this, only one-third of respondents are in favor of expanding the Supreme Court while 54 percent are opposed to the move known as 'court packing.' A whopping nine in 10 Republicans are against the move, 62 percent of Democrats are in favor and 57 percent of independents are opposed. Since former President Donald Trump was able to appoint three justices during his just four years in office, liberals have been touting the idea of adding members to the bench in order to get a Democratic president to appoint more justices to sway the majority left. With the death of liberal Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg just months before Trump left office, Congress was able to swiftly confirm his nominee Amy Coney Barrett to the bench and turn the Supreme Court to a 6-3 conservative majority. Nearly 100 migrants have crossed the English Channel by small boat today - after last week saw the total number of arrivals so far this year exceed 12,000. Despite windy conditions, around 90 people were escorted into in Dover, Kent on board Border Force catamaran Typhoon shortly before 9am. Several migrants raised two fingers in a 'V for victory' sign as the vessel approached the shore, while another waved at onlookers. Almost 100 migrants made the perilous 21-mile journey across the English Channel before they were rescued by a Border Force cutter So far this year, according to the Ministry of Defence, 12,149 people have successfully crossed the English Chanel, compared with 5,906 in the same period last year The number of migrants arriving in Britain on small boats is at a record rate according to the MoD The migrants were dressed in thick coats, gloves and scarves, and wrapped in blankets, after battling wet and windy conditions at sea They could be seen dressed in thick coats, gloves and scarves, and wrapped in blankets, after battling wet and windy conditions at sea. The migrants are continuing to cross the channel despite the Government's plans to offshore them to Rwanda for processing. However, the Home Secretary Priti Patel was forced to cancel the 500,000 flight at the last minute after an intervention by the European Court of Human Rights. According to official figures released by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), 12,159 people have made the perilous journey across the 21-mile Dover Straits in 366 boats so far this year - more than double the 5,906 migrants who arrived in the same period in 2021. Despite forecasts of stormy weather, 231 people reached British soil in five dinghies or other small craft on Friday, June 24. According to the MoD no migrants were detected crossing the Channel in small boats over the weekend. So far this month 2,595 people have reached the UK in 64 boats. The busiest day was on June 14 when 444 migrants were intercepted in the Channel by Border Force staff. According to official government figures, 28,526 people made the crossing in 2021 - compared to 8,410 who arrived in 2020. Horrified neighbours today revealed how they heard loud screams after a woman was murdered in a late night attack while walking on a road in east London. The Met Police have launched a murder probe into the death of the victim who was found with serious head injuries in Redbridge, Ilford on Sunday morning. She was attacked while walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street. London Ambulance, who called the police at 2.44am to the scene, took the woman to hospital where she later died. The woman's family have been informed of her death and there have been no arrests made so far. The Met have closed the road and put a cordon in place at the scene while urging women to be 'alert' but not 'alarmed' by the attack. One neighbour said today: 'I came home about that time, we had just been to an Ed Sheeran concert. 'I heard screaming but I didn't know whether it was a child or a fox. I didn't think much of it. It's a shock because it at 2am it was still busy with lots of cars.' She said the police had called at her house and told her father the woman was Asian and that they were looking for a white male. Police are today working outside a house midway down the street where the attack took place. Forensic officers could be seen dragging a black tarpaulin towards a house where the attack took place. Numerous side streets are also cordoned off and police have extended the area taped off to made it even wider. Police continue to work in Cranbrook Road, Redbridge, after a woman was murdered on Sunday morning She was attacked while walking in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street The Met have closed the road and put a cordon in place at the scene while urging women to be 'alert' but not 'alarmed' by the attack Another neighbour said: 'It's terrifying to think a killer is on the loose and women are being warned to be careful. I won't go out after dark now, it's just too scary. It's just horrific to think this happened so close to home. He said: 'I got up and saw flashing lights at three in the morning and heard the helicopter and a police dog. When we found out what happed, we were just in shock. 'There is a house with ornamental posts outside, it was there. When you live on a main road like this you don't know anybody.' Meanwhile, a local restaurant owner claimed that his sisters who live in Afghanistan are 'safer' than those who live in certain parts of London. Tajik Ahmed, who has lived in Gants Hill for over 20 years, says the area is 'getting worse and worse.' He added: 'When I first moved here there was still crime, then it got better but over the past few years it seems to have gone backwards. I have two sisters but they both live In Afghanistan. I think they're safer there than in some parts of London.' Another Cranbrook Road resident, a 60-year-old father, said he 'worries' for other women in the area following the fatal attack - but that he believes the area to generally be safe. Subhash said: 'I have lived in the area for 15 years and this is the first time that this kind of serious incident has happened in this area. 'This happened last night. I was fast asleep, but then I heard the helicopter going round around 3am. I thought something must have happened.' Pensioner Diana Nesen, 82, said: 'I came out of my house to find a crime scene. The whole place was cordoned off. 'It's really a tragedy, you don't expect to find something like that happen on a road like this - it's awful. 'We don't know who she was but she must have been walking to the station early in the morning. But the trains weren't running so maybe she was a local too. 'It does make you feel more vulnerable. I hope they catch the killer.' The Met Police have launched a murder probe into the death of the victim who was found with serious head injuries in Redbridge, Ilford this morning. Pictured: The cordon and forensics at the scene Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who leads the Met's East Area BCU, said: 'Our investigation remains in the critical early stages and is now being led by homicide detectives from Specialist Crime. 'The woman had been subjected to a horrific assault and sadly passed away as a result of her injuries. 'Urgent enquiries have been under way since the very early hours of Sunday morning to identify the woman. At this time formal identification is yet to take place but the woman's family have been informed and are receiving support from specially trained officers. 'Teams of dedicated officers are working at pace to establish what happened and identify the person responsible. This includes full forensic examination of the scene and the surrounding area, house to house enquiries and a focus on identifying all available CCTV. No arrests have been made at this time. 'Local people will see a significant police presence in the area today and in the coming days. I understand that for women, particularly locally, this is an incredibly distressing incident, and I urge you to be alert but not alarmed.' She was attacked while walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street. Pictured: Police talk to a driver as they close the road Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met's Specialist Crime North Command, is leading the investigation and said: 'It is vital that my officers speak with every possible witness and everyone with information that may assist the investigation. 'We are appealing for anyone who was in the Cranbrook Road area of Ilford between 2am and 3am on Sunday morning to get in touch, including anyone who drove through the area and may have dashcam footage. 'We also want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the wider Ilford area overnight.' A Norfolk secondary school has adopted a new gender neutral dress code allowing boys and girls the options of trousers or skirts - while sticking to its ban on shorts. The new policy is to be introduced at Wymondham High Academy in September following a consultation with parents. Parents have previously called for a relaxation of the uniform rules to allow pupils to wear shorts instead on hot days during the summer. The school agreed to review its uniform rules, and is now allowing boys and girls to wear either trousers or skirts in the school's existing style. Jonathan Rockey, the headteacher of the 1,705-pupil school, defended the new policy as 'something we are very proud of' and insisted it flowed from a consultation with pupils' families. Wymondham High Academy in Norfolk has adopted a new gender neutral policy allowing boys and girls to wear skirts or trousers, while keeping its ban on shorts One parent said: 'A skirt is an item of clothing traditionally associated with girls so although it is absolutely fine for a boy to wear a skirt, many boys and girls might feel uncomfortable about that and would choose to wear shorts.' Another parent said: 'I don't have any issues with boys wearing skirts. 'That isn't the problem here. I'm sure many girls would also like the opportunity to wear shorts instead of trousers in hotter months.' The new uniform policy was introduced after more than 400 parents took part in a survey, with a large number calling for a 'summer uniform' to be introduced. The exercise produced two changes - allowing boys and girls to wear trousers or skirts, and requiring girls to wear ties as well as boys. The school's new uniform policy was introduced after a survey of over 400 parents, and produced just two changes - allowing boys and girls to wear trousers or skirts but not shorts - and requiring girls to wear ties as well as boys (Pictured: Boys at another schools playing happily while wearing shorts) Outlining the rules on the school website, headteacher Mr Rockey said that a requirement for all pupils to wear blazers all year around had already been relaxed. He also said the school had not ruled out further updating its uniform policy in the future. Mr Rockey wrote: 'All pupils will have the choice to wear either a grey school skirt or grey school trousers (existing style). ALL OTHER ITEMS OF UNIFORM REMAIN THE SAME. 'To be clear, this designation of a gender-neutral dress code is nothing more than ensuring that clothing choices are equal regardless of gender.' In a further comment about the rule, he wrote: 'Whilst I do not believe the changes are substantial, I wanted to provide adequate notice for the changes we intend to implement as they represent a positive shift in culture.' Girls can continue wearing skirts in the hot weather, but a ban on shorts is in place by the school Mr Rockey's letter said that the new rules had been drawn up with the 'support and guidance' of the school's governors. He clarified that all Year 7 pupils would be expected to wear a shirt and tie at the start of the next term in September, and other pupils in Years 8 to 11 will be able to 'choose' whether to adopt the uniform But the shirt and tie rule will then become compulsory for all years from September 2023. The school did not respond to further requests to comment. The school's Ofsted report in 2017 noted: 'Pupils take pride in their work, they are smart in their uniforms and welcoming to visitors'. One mother, who has a son in Year Seven, said she had kept him off school earlier this month, when temperatures soared over 30C. She said: 'It was the hottest day of the year, so I decided I would rather have my son at home and cool than at school and boiling hot.' Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, expressed 'disappointment' that Americans are more interested in their iPhones than the Constitution, a new book claims. The George HW Bush nominee to the highest court bemoaned the lack of engagement in law and politics among the US public. The judge was interviewed by Michael Pack for more than 30 hours between November 2017 and March 2018 for the book Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, co-edited by Mark Paoletta. Thomas said: 'I think we as citizens have lost interest and that's been my disappointment. 'That certainly was something that bothered Justice Scalia, that people tend to be more interested in their iPhones than their Constitution. They're interested in what they want rather than what is right as a country.' Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas previously expressed 'disappointment' that Americans are more interested in their iPhones than the Constitution Pack asked Thomas if this lack of interest was a 'burden for the Supreme Court'. He replied, according to Insider: 'No, it's a burden on them, the citizens. They're going to lose their liberties.' The longest-serving member of the Supreme Court added that the nine-member body is only 'one part of the effort' to protect civil liberties. He said: 'You protect your liberty. It's your country. We are one part of the effort, and it is the obligation of the citizens to at least know what their liberties are and to be informed. 'I think we are allowing ourselves to be ruled when we turn all that over to someone else and we're saying, "Rule me." 'Does it mean we get to make all the decisions? No. We have a system for doing that, but a part of that is our role in it, and our informed role in it, not what is said on TV, not what is said by some half-informed person.' Abortion-rights activists march toward the White House following the controversial Supreme Court decision Protesters march in Washington DC after Roe v. Wade was overturned, sparking fury among pro-choice groups Thomas has come under fire for his role in the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing individual states to decide whether to outlaw abortion. Actor Samuel L Jackson dubbed him 'Uncle Clarence' after the conservative justice wrote an opinion defending the court's decision - and suggested using the logic to overturn other landmark decisions. 'Uncle Clarence' is an apparent reference to the eponymous character of abolitionist Harriet Beecher Stowe's novel, Uncle Tom's Cabin, who was widely seen as compliant and subservient to his white masters. In his tweet on Saturday, the Marvel Cinematic Universe actor wrote: 'Hows Uncle Clarence feeling about overturning Loving v Virginia??!!' The 1967 case declared that state bans on interracial marriages violated the Equal Process Clause and the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution. The decision apparently led to Thomas getting married to Virginia Lamp, a white woman, 20 years later. But in his opinion defending the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade on Friday, and eliminate a woman's Constitutional right to an abortion, Thomas suggested the court should consider overturning other landmark decisions. Renowned actor Samuel L Jackson, left, accused conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas of being an 'Uncle Clarence' following his opinion supporting the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v Wade Thomas was married to Virginia Lamp, a white woman, in 1987 - 20 years after the landmark Loving v Virginia case which allowed for interracial marriage The Marvel Cinematic Universe actor asked Thomas how he feels about overturning that decision after he called for the court to 'reconsider' other decisions using the same premise The 74-year-old conservative judge - the only black man on the Supreme Court - called for his colleagues to 'reconsider' and potentially overturn other cases decided on the legal authority of 'substantive due process.' Substantive due process refers to the idea that people have fundamental rights that are not specifically laid out in the Constitution - and was the basis for a number of landmark cases including Loving v Virginia. 'In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence and Obergefell,' Thomas wrote. He was specifically referring to the 1965 Griswold v Connecticut decision, which allows married couples to access birth control; and the 2003 Lawrence v Texas decision, which forbids states from outlawing consensual gay sex. That decision ultimately led up to the 2015 Obergefell v Hodges decision that established a Constitutional right to gay marriage. The Obergefell case also rested on the precedent of the Loving decision, in which the Supreme Court ruled: 'There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the Equal Protection Clause.' Still, Thomas notably did not mention the Loving case as one he thought the court should overturn. The Supreme Court ruled in the Loving v Virginia decision that 'There can be no doubt that restricting the freedom to marry solely because of racial classifications violates the central meaning of the Equal Protection Clause.' The decision allowed for the marriage of Richard Perry Loving, right, and his wife, Mildred, left Thomas was one of five Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the Roe v Wade decision on Friday, which granted women a constitutional right to an abortion With his tweet on Saturday, Samuel L Jackson joined the ranks of celebrities speaking out against Friday's Supreme Court decision rolling back nearly five decades of a women's right to get an abortion. It will now be up to each individual state to determine whether to legalize gay marriage, and at least 18 states have now banned abortions - and the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-choice research group, has said that 26 states are 'certain or likely' to ban the procedure. The justices held that the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that allowed abortions performed before a fetus would be viable outside the womb - between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy - was wrongly decided because the U.S. Constitution makes no specific mention of abortion rights. The decision means that women with unwanted pregnancies in large swathes of America will now face the choice of traveling to another state where the procedure remains legal and available, buying abortion pills online or having a potentially dangerous illegal abortion. In an address at the White House, President Joe Biden said it was 'a sad day for the court and the country' and called the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade - and making terminations illegal for millions of American women - 'wrong, extreme and out of touch'. Accusing the court of 'expressly taking away a constitution right that is so fundamental to so many Americans', Biden vowed the fight over abortion rights 'is not over' and said his administration will do everything in its power to combat efforts to restrict women from traveling to other states to obtain abortions. The decision was met with widespread protests across the United States. Hundreds of demonstrators descended on the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Friday and Saturday to denounce the justices' decision. The fenced-off area in front of the high court was filled largely with those demanding abortion rights. Crowds carried posters with slogans such as 'Abort SCOTUS.' One protester carried a placard that said 'limit guns, not women' in reference to another Supreme Court decision this week expanding gun rights. The Arizona Capitol building was besieged by pro-abortion protesters Friday night, forcing riot cops to fire tear gas to disperse the angry crowd. Protesters in South Carolina clashed with police on Saturday when hundreds overcrowded the streets and six people were arrested by police. And in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday night, a group of protesters smashed windows and vandalized several buildings. Dozens were arrested in New York City and Los Angeles over the weekend as demonstrators flooded the downtown streets. A protester lights a cigarette on a burning American Flag while marching with abortion-rights activists in DC on Friday Hundreds of demonstrators descended on the Supreme Court building in Washington, D.C., on Friday and Saturday (pictured) to denounce the justices' decision Scrawled in black and red spray paint on one building in Portland was: 'Death to SCOTUS.' Another message read: 'Abort the Court' (pictured) Protesters posed with the graffiti On day three of the protests this weekend, emotional protests and prayer vigils turned to resolve as several states enacted bans and both supporters and opponents of abortion rights mapped out their next move. As of Sunday, most of the Roe protests had remained peaceful apart from a pickup truck that drove through a group of demonstrators in Cedar Rapids, running over a woman's foot. Meantime, women have launched social media campaigns for 'sex strikes' in which they are threatening to withhold sex from men 'until abortion rights are federal law.' 'Women of America: Take the pledge. Because SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, we cannot take the risk of an unintended pregnancy, therefore, we will not have sex with any man including our husbands unless we are trying to become pregnant,' one Twitter user wrote. 'I live in New York and I am DOUBLE FURIOUS with the Supreme Court. I want to find people who are coordinating a mass sex strike. That is our power,' another woman raged. 'Women have the power here. No more sex until abortion rights are federal law.' There were also calls for 'sex strike' across the country as terms including #SexStrike and #abstinence began trending online. Three siblings have drowned in a lake just hours after they were videoed enjoying themselves in the water. Raven Powell, 22, and her younger brothers Mason, 4, and Sawyer, 3, drowned in the Amity Recreation Area of Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia, on June 23. Raven took a video of she and her brothers playing in the lake that day before all three of them drowned. It has remained a mystery how they drowned, especially as the last known photo of the trio appears to show at least one of the young boys wearing a lifejacket. It took police hours to recover their bodies and law enforcement has not ruled out foul play. The Powells' cousin Hannah Redfern said their deaths were 'horrible'. This is one of the last known photos of Raven Powell, 22, and her younger brothers Mason, 4, and Sawyer, 3, playing in Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia, on June 23, where they all later drowned Raven Powell, 22, and her younger brothers Mason, 4, (left) and Sawyer, 3, (right) drowned on June 23 at the Amity Recreation Area of Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia Raven Powell, 22, (pictured) took a video of herself and her brothers just hours before all three drowned Pictured: The Amity Recreation Area of Clarks Hill Lake, where the three siblings died The three siblings died in the Amity Recreation Area of Clarks Hill Lake, Georgia, on June 23, where two best friends also died last year 'They were our world. They mean everything to us,' she told Wistv. 'It's crazy how it happened within a blink of an eye, makes me not even want to come back to the lake again. 'Both boys were the happiest ever. They are at peace now.' The siblings died after 5pm, the coroner said. Lincoln County Sheriff's Office responded to a call at 9pm about a possible triple drowning but were only able to find their bodies at around 11pm using Sonar equipment as they searched with three game wardens. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Pat Morgan said: 'We have not ruled out anything at this point as the autopsy will hopefully provide us with more information as well as the interviews and other investigative leads we are following.' A little more than a year ago two best friends also died in the same area of Clarks Hill Lake. The search for their bodies took days, with one reason being the deepness of the lake. Clarks Hill Lake ranges from 30 to 100 feet deep. Best friends Eynn Wilson (left) and Edward Kirk (right) drowned in the same lake, which ranges from 30 to 100 feet deep, on April 26, 2021 Best friends Eynn Wilson and Edward Kirk drowned on April 26, 2021. Their bodies were found four days later, on May 1. Last week Shontover Kirkland, 32, pleaded guilty to reckless conduct and involuntary manslaughter after she pushed Kirk into the water before checking whether he could swim. Wilson, his best friend, jumped in after him but also drowned. Kirkland was jailed for one year. The White House national security adviser teased the idea of direct talks between President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping on Monday, saying they have will have the chance to 'engage' in the coming weeks. Jake Sullivan made the comments to reporters on the sidelines of the G7 summit in southern Germany, where world leaders have been discussing how to counter the rise of China. They have promoted hundreds of billions of dollars in spending to compete with Beijing's global Belt and Road infrastructure push, and discussed how Chinese imports of Russian oil are funding the Russian war machine in Ukraine. A NATO summit this week will also rewrite its 'strategic concept' to account for threats from China. But Sullivan said the White House did not want confrontation with China and that Biden and Xi 'will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks.' President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping 'will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks,' according to National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan Biden is in Germany for a G7 summit, where discussion has included how to compete with China for influence among lower income countries and Beijing's economic impact on the war in Ukraine through its massive purchases of Russian oil National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said there was increasing convergence at the G7 and NATO around the challenge China poses' but that 'competition does not mean confrontation' He said that 'there is increasing convergence at the G7 and NATO around the challenge China poses.' But he continued: 'Competition does not mean confrontation or conflict. 'We're not looking for a Cold War, and we're not looking to divide the world into rival blocs and make every country choose. ' 'We want to stand for a set of principles that are fair to everybody. And we want to ensure that we're working with like-minded partners to hold China accountable to adhere to those rules.' White House officials have been weighing whether to lift Trump-era tariffs in an effort to ease inflation at home. Biden and Xi last spoke in March, as tensions grew over Beijing's ambivalence to the war in Ukraine. In public it has steered clear of offering support or condemnation. Officials believe China has not heeded Russia's requests for weapons, yet at the same time it has become a major buyer of Russian oil, undercutting boycotts elsewhere and allowing Moscow to continue reaping vast energy revenues. A senior administration official on Monday said there had been progress on a mechanism to choke off the oil profits. G7 leaders met in Germany on Monday morning to hear from Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky on the next steps to pushing back on Russia's invasion The proposal involves imposing a price cap on Russian oil, although there is still some way to go before it could become operational. 'The goal here is to starve Russia, starve Putin as his main source of cash and forced down the price of Russian oil to help blunt the impact of Putin's war at the pump,' said the official. A day earlier Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Sholz unveiled a plan to raise $600 billion for infrastructure projects in poorer countries to compete with the way China has built influence by building roads, bridges and sports grounds. The White House said it planned to raise $200 billion for solar projects in Angola, an undersea telecommunications cable linking the Far East with France via Egypt, and nuclear power production in Romania to take on China's Belt and Road initiative. The proposals were unveiled on the first day of the G7 summit in Germany, where world leaders met to discuss the global economy and Russia's war in Ukraine. In all, G7 nations will commit $600 billion to the effort over the next five years, President Joe Biden announced, calling the investment a humanitarian, economic and security concern. Biden spoke with the rest of G7 leadership standing behind him, the Bavarian Alps visible in the distance. 'Developing countries often lack the central infrastructure to help navigate global shocks, like a pandemic, so they feel the impacts were acutely, and they have a harder time recovering,' he said. 'That's not just humanitarian concern. It's an economic and a security concern for all of us.' The money will be spent in a variety of sectors, including health, climate, energy and gender equity. 'These strategic investments are areas of critical to sustainable development, and our shared global stability, health and health security, digital connectivity, gender equality and equity, climate and energy security,' Biden said. Biden's plans include billions of dollars for solar projects in the African nation of Angola There is also money to start work on a vaccine manufacturing plant in Senegal, that would be designed to be able to switch production rapidly between different vaccines He argued the investment would boost the U.S. economy and economies around the world. 'I want to be clear this isn't charity. It's an investment that will deliver returns for everyone, including the American people and the people of all our nations. It will boost all of our economies. It's a chance for us to share our positive vision for the future,' he said. The White House said its $200 billion in grants and federal financing would help low income countries meet their economic and national security needs. 'And this will only be the beginning: the United States and its G7 partners will also seek to mobilize hundreds of billions in additional capital from other like-minded partners, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and more,' said the White House. Biden named the idea 'Build Back Better World' - after his troubled domestic agenda - when he introduced it at last year's G7 summit. Now it is called the Partnership for Global Infrastructure. A senior administration official said the plans would help countries grow, contrasting the impact with projects funded by China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). 'I think many countries that have received funding or investment, so called investment, from the BRI have now after years of receiving that investment realized that they are further in debt, that their GDP hasn't grown significantly, that the so called investments from BRI have not reached their populations,' said the official. Critics accuse Beijing of a manipulative global strategy by funding major infrastructure projects in developing nations with unsustainable loans. The debt is then used to gain leverage over those governments. TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy will participate in Satyagraha Deeksha at the Malkajgiri crossroads on Monday. DC Image HYDERABAD: The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee announced it will hold a satyagraha deeksha today at all its 119 Assembly constituency headquarters in the state against the Agnipath armed forces recruitment scheme, in response to a call given by the partys high command. The protest will be held from 10 am to 1 pm on Monday and the TPCC has appointed senior leaders, including former MPs, MLAs and MLCs, for coordinating the protest in each segment. TPCC working president (organisation) B. Mahesh Kumar Goud spoke to the presidents of district Congress committees on Sunday, to mobilise a large number of supporters and pressurise the Central government into withdrawing the scheme. TPCC president A. Revanth Reddy will participate in Satyagraha Deeksha at the Malkajgiri crossroads on Monday. Meanwhile, youth Congress state president Shivasena Reddy on Sunday visited the residence of D. Rakesh, who was killed in the protest at Secunderabad Railway Station on June 17. After handing over aid of Rs 1 lakh, he demanded the rollback of the Agnipath scheme. New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he was stunned by how bad Big Apple subway riders had it until he rode the subway himself last week and realized how poorly cops were being used to crack down on crime underground. As subway crime continues to spike - rising nearly 40 percent from the first half of last year - Adams, in an exclusive interview with the New York Post, said he patrolled the transit system himself late at night for three hours and didn't care for what he saw. 'Let me tell you something: When I started looking into this, I was shocked at how bad this place is,' Adams told the Post. Days before the mayor touted his awakening on the hazards of subway travel, a video emerged of at least six NYPD officers arresting busker John Ajilo, a saxophone player with the catch phrase 'Dancing is Happiness.' 'I was shut down, handcuffed and taken to the police station for performing in the same spot 34th Herald Square I have been performing [in] on and off for about five years,' he said on his GoFundMe page, which has already collected over $30,000. John Ajilo explains to officers that he has been busking in the station for years without a complaint 'I'm not doing anything wrong' subway busker John Ajilo told police as they took him into custody Ajilo says that he's been busking in the same Herald Square subway spot for five years John Ajilo, a subway saxophone busker, was arrested in the Herald Square station by six police officers New York City Mayor Eric Adams rode the New York City subway system last week for three-plus hours and was shocked at what he saw Mayor Adams said he first knew he had to do something about subway crime about three weeks in office. 'It was probably, the third third or fourth week in January. I spent a lot of time in the office,' he said. 'And I started peeling back layers and what it started to unveil to me is how we just had this good shell, but underneath it's bad.' The New York City subway is run by the New York City Transit Authority, which falls under the state Metropolitan Transportation Authority, controlled by the chairman, Janno Lieber, who was appointed by Gov. Kathy Hochul and confirmed by the state Senate in January. The mayor appoints several members of the MTA board, but has little control over the operation and maintenance of the system. Ridership on the subway is just under 60 percent of what it was pre-pandemic, with roughly 3.4 million daily commuters using the system. Frank Abrokwa smeared human faces on the commuter's face and back, as seen in the video The city's employment rate and overall economy took a major hit after Covid-19 struck and has been slow to recover, especially in the face of the work-from-home revolution and the Great Resignation. Adams does, however, control the New York City Police Department and said he was dismayed to see its talents and resourced being squandered by mismanagement. We have not utilized this amazing agency and all our skills,' he told the Post. Adams has been on a campaign to clean up the system and reduce crime in stations since March, after admitting New Yorkers 'don't feel safe' riding the trains. He confessed he agrees. 'I don't feel that way when I take the train,' he said. Adams told the newspaper that he took it upon himself to micromanage the way cops address transit crime and even created a Google Doc to record homeless encampments at subway stations. He wants officers on patrol to record where they're seeing people sleeping in the system so that the city's Department of Homeless Services could try to get them into shelters. During his underground patrol recently, he spotted an encampment and noticed there was no corresponding record of it in his shared document. At least 29 people people were injured in the attack, but no casualties have been reported. Police said 10 people were struck directly by gunfire, five of them hospitalized in a critical but stable condition, while 13 others suffered respiratory distress or were otherwise injured in the crush of frantic passengers fleeing the smoke-filled subway car. Pictured: Passengers lay injured on the subway platform Frank James (pictured) was charged with a federal terrorism offense over claims he opened fire on a packed subway train in Brooklyn in April, shooting 10 and injuring 23 'I go to my phone, look at the document - this encampment is not in there,' he said. When he asked cops on patrol why they hadn't logged it in they told him, 'We weren't told we were supposed to log it in,' he said. 'What it showed was that we were not inspecting the system,' Adams told the Post. He said it took him going to the precinct commander before his system started being used by police. 'It was three or four week after... that we really started to see how to operate as a team to really accomplish the mission,' he said. Many of the city's straphangers may not agree that the mission has been accomplished. Transit crime jumped 17 percent last week compared to the same week last year. It's climbed 38.7 percent in the first six months of 2022 compared to the first half of last year. Since Adams took office, commuters have seen hatchet attacks, bomb explosions, poop smearing assailants, hammer muggers, subway pushers, hate crimes and other atrocities. In April, deranged gunman Frank James, 62, set off smoke bombs on a crowded rush-hour R train in Sunset Park Brooklyn then opened fire on passengers, wounding 10 people. A homeless encampment at the First Ave. station on the L line identified by subway crews last month. Hundreds of homeless people have been camping out in subway tunnels and stations Many of the homeless find sanctuary in the subway stations and trains in the winter months The next month, Daniel Enriquez, 43, who worked at Goldman Sachs, was murdered at random, shot in the chest as he rode the Q train to Sunday brunch. His accused assailant, Andrew Abdullah, 25, was a career criminal and reported gang member. On June 7, surveillance video on a Bronx subway platform captured a man grab a 52-year-old woman and shove her onto the tracks, breaking her collarbone. Another woman was attacked by Frank Abrokwa, 27, who felt stung by that his romantic advances were rejected so he defecated in a bag and then smeared it on the face and head of the female commuter. Crimes against Asians on the subway has also created the perception that it's not a safe way to travel. In the third week in January, Deloitte analyst Michelle Go was shoved to her death under an R train in the Times Square subway station by mentally ill homeless man Martial Simon, 61. In March, an Asian man was attacked with a hammer allegedly by Christian Jeffers, 48, in what appears to be an unprovoked attack. Jeffers has 47 prior arrests that stretch back to 2007. Cell phone video captured men on a Brooklyn subway platform taking turns slapping an Asian man in the face as another man held his arms behind his back. 'I was targeted and held against my will, was put in a full nelson and assaulted by two different guys,' he told the MailOnline. 'I didn't even know what the hell was going on. And there was a crowd watching and nobody was helping.' New York City Department of Health researcher Nina Rothschild, 58, was attacked with a hammer on the stairs of a Forest Hills, Queens subway station. Police are seeking two men in connection with an Irish tourist's alleged rape in Valencia, southern Spain last week. The 28-year-old was reportedly attacked in the early hours of June 18 after he agreed to go on a walk with two men he met in vibrant city neighbourhood El Carmen. They persuaded him to leave a venue where he was partying with a friend. The 28-year-old Irishman was reportedly persuaded to leave a venue in El Carmen (pictured) The two men 'of Arabic origin with a French accent' then tore the tourist's clothes off and sexually assaulted him on an old riverbed, local reports state. A doctor at the city's La Fe Hospital later found injuries consistent with rape. National Police in Valencia have not yet made any public comment about the case. El Carmen is at the heart of Valencia's old town Ciutat Vella. It is known for its liveliness during the day and as a popular tourist haunt at nighttime. The holidaymaker was reportedly enjoying his last night before returning to Ireland. After giving a police statement and visiting the local hospital, the man is said to have got on a flight home later that day. No arrests have yet been made in the case, with police continuing their inquiries. A customer at a Subway store in Atlanta shot dead one female worker and injured another after too much mayonnaise was put on their sandwich. The shooting took place at a Circle K gas station on Northside Drive at around 6.30pm on Sunday. The two victims, both women, were found after police arrived on the scene. One of them was immediately rushed to hospital for surgery. Her condition remains unknown. The suspect is believed to be on the lam, as of Monday morning. No identities of either the suspect or the victim have been released. It's unclear if the shooter is a man or a woman. The Atlanta Police Department Public Affairs Unit has yet to issue a statement, but responded to a DailyMail.com inquiry with a generic email saying 'a summary of the incident will be posted on our website momentarily.' The suspect fatally shot one female worker and injured another at a Subway store in Atlanta on Northside Drive (pictured) at around 6:30 p.m. on Sunday Subway store owner Willie Glenn hinted at the suspect being a man, sharing with local outlets: 'It just breaks my heart to know that someone has the audacity to point a weapon, and shoot someone for as little as too much mayonnaise on a sandwich.' 'He decided to escalate the situation and from there, that's when all hell broke loose,' Glen said. The store owner said the son of the employee who had been gunned down was inside the store at the time of the shooting. 'One of the young ladies who was killed today, her son was in the store. She had a young son that had to witness all of this,' he told Fox 5 Atlanta. The two female store employees had been on the job for barely a month, he added, describing them as 'model employees.' The store manager who was on the clock at the time of the shooting reportedly fired back at the suspect but missed him, according to Glenn. 'It is really unfortunate, I mean there is just a whole lot of shooting and killing going on and this was just ridiculous,' Glenn said. 'My heart goes out to my employees.' 'I don't know what the world is coming to especially with our youth...They seem to be so hot-headed,' he added. 'Everybody wants to carry a gun. Everybody wants to scare somebody with a gun. It's scary out here.' Store owner Willie Glenn said 'all hell broke loose' following a dispute on the amount of mayo the employees had put in the suspect's sandwich The victims were described as 'model employees' and had been on the job for barely a month. Pictured: inside the subway store where the shooting took place Surveillance footage of the shooting has yet to be publicly shared. An investigation tied to the incident remains ongoing. Al Robinson, who co-owns the Subway store, was in shock upon learning about what unfolded. 'You pull out a gun and shoot somebody, over a sandwich, my heart just breaks right now,' he told WSBTV. Interim Chief of Police Darin Schierbaum later told the news outlet that arguments are the leading cause of homicides in 2022. 'An argument leads to someone picking up a weapon and firing that gun, leaving someone dead or someone critically injured,' he said. He added that people need to learn how to debate and tackle disagreements better. 'We need individuals to talk out their disputes, walk away and do not pick up guns,' Schierbaum said. 'We can take down drug operations that breed violent crime, we can dismantle gang organizations that breed violent crime, we can stop robbery crews that breed violent crime, we cannot stop someone who is mad because there is too much mayonnaise on their sandwich.' Glenn said the shooter had previously been served at the store and never had any issues with employees until now. 'Because of what happened tonight, my partners and I are re-evaluating whether or not we're going to continue to do this, in this neighborhood anyways,' adding that it's not a risk worth taking. Thousands of victims of the infected blood scandal suffered 'incredibly bad luck' former Prime Minister Sir John Major has told an inquiry. Sir John was speaking at a hearing of the Infected Blood Inquiry, which is looking into the infection of up to 30,000 people with HIV or hepatitis C from contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s. Thousands died after contaminated blood products were imported from the US, often from prisoners, sex workers and drug addicts who were paid to give their blood in the incident which has been called the biggest treatment disaster in the history of the NHS. The independent inquiry was announced in 2017 and began hearing evidence in 2019. Sir John was asked during a hearing about correspondence within government when it became apparent that compensation for victims would be required. Sir John was speaking at a hearing of the Infected Blood Inquiry, which is looking into the infection of up to 30,000 people with HIV or hepatitis C from contaminated blood in the 1970s and 1980s A timeline of the contaminated blood scandal which began in the early-1970s 1972: NHS starts importing large batches of Factor VIII products from United States to help clot blood of haemophiliacs. 1974: Some researchers warn that Factor VIII could be contaminated and spreading hepatitis. Late-1970s: Patients continue to be given Factor VIII, with much of the plasma used to make the product coming from donors such as prison inmates, drug addicts and prostitutes. 1983: Governments in both the UK and the United States are told that Aids has been spread through blood products. Mid-1980s: By now the blood products such as Factor VIII, were being heat-treated to kill viruses, but thousands of patients had already been infected. 1991: Blood products imported from US are withdrawn from use. The government awards ex-gratia payments to haemophiliac victims threatening to sue. 2007: Privately-funded inquiry into scandal set up by Lord Archer of Sandwell but it does not get offical status and relies on donations. 2008: Penrose Inquiry launched, but victims claim the seven-year investigation was a 'whitewash'. 2017: Independent inquiry into contaminated blood scandal announced by Prime Minister Theresa May. April, 2019 Infected Blood Inquiry starts hearing evidence. Advertisement He was asked about a letter he wrote in November 1987, when he was Chief Secretary to the Treasury, where he wrote: 'I have to say that although in terms of equity, there might seem to be some gains to be made from a positive response, it would seem to have very real dangers. 'How could such a precedent be ring-fenced? It could lead to an open-ended commitment of huge dimensions. 'Might it not give rise to court action against the Government because of the implication of negligence? 'Have the law offices given a view on the possible consequences of a sympathetic response? 'I do not feel that we can afford to offer such a response until the pros and cons have been thoroughly considered.' He told the inquiry that he was pointing out the pros and cons must be considered in the letter, including how much compensation should be offered to victims. He added: 'There's no amount of compensation you can give that could actually compensate for what had happened to them. 'What had happened to them was incredibly bad luck - awful - and it was not something that anybody was unsympathetic to.' His comments drew angry gasps from some present at the inquiry. Later, he added that if Baroness (Margaret) Thatcher had been presented with an agreed settlement on compensation for infected blood victims she probably would have accepted it. 'People who don't know Mrs Thatcher assume the legend of Mrs Thatcher is the real Mrs Thatcher,' he said. 'But underneath the legend of the unyielding Iron Lady was someone who often did yield and often did look at things on a human basis to a much greater extent than she is given credit for. 'It may not have been universally true but in my experience it often was.' Following Sir John's comments, Clive Smith, Chairman of the Haemophilia Society said: 'Sir John Major's evidence today that the suffering and death of more than 3,000 people with haemophilia and other bleeding disorders as a result of contaminated NHS treatment is 'bad luck' is both offensive and complacent. 'His evidence is a reminder that successive governments over the last 30 years have refused to accept responsibility for this treatment disaster - and the denial continues. 'Even now, people are still dying of infection contracted in the 1980s and they are dying without justice. 'Those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C caused by NHS-prescribed infected blood and clotting factors continue to fight for accountability, proper recognition of their suffering and compensation.' Des Collins, senior partner at Collins Solicitors, which represents some victims, added: 'Apart from his 'bad luck' gaffe, Sir John was actually not without sympathy for victims this morning. Yet his evidence was as measured as you would expect. 'What he did convey was the government in his time clearly understood there was a problem and were anxious to avoid the full cost and ramifications of a negligence action they knew would surely follow.' Jason Evans, founder of campaign group Factor 8, said that he suspects 'families will have a lot more questions. 'I don't think John Major has been particularly forthcoming in his evidence, he said. 'His comments about bad luck just fly in the face of all the evidence - expert evidence - we've heard. 'I think it just shows how uneducated he is on the matter. There are people in the room, families and victims, who are very angry, annoyed and frustrated with what was said.' Victims have long held the belief that the extent of the contamination scandal was covered up. He told the inquiry that 'what had happened to them (the victims) was incredibly bad luck' Denise Turton, whose 10-year-old son died after contracting HIV through contaminated blood products, said the comments were 'horrible to hear'. 'I'm just so angry,' she said. 'To say it's bad luck is horrible to hear, especially after what my son went through. He lost his life, so did many others, and all he says is bad luck. 'I can't say what I really want to say. The only thing that is bad luck is that the Government didn't listen. 'They were told about the products and didn't listen - that's bad luck, not what happened to my son and so many others.' In evidence heard by the inquiry at an earlier date, haemophiliac Martin Beard, 50, said that he was tested for HIV, without his knowledge, as a 14-year-old, and only told by a doctor that he had the condition during an appointment three years later. It was not until 2006 that he first saw a 1985 letter between hospitals which said: 'We note that he is HTLV 3 antibody positive (HIV), but is not aware of this and that you do not wish this to be divulged to him. We shall make every effort to comply with your wishes.' He told the inquiry: 'People are accountable. 'I am not going to sit here and bash doctors, because I don't believe that all doctors go into the profession to hurt people. 'They make mistakes along the way. They are human beings. 'They lose track sometimes of what they're there for. But this goes higher up than that. 'There are MPs that are accountable and they should be made to answer and I believe now is the time for justice.' A Georgia prisoner died of apparent suicide after recently being sentenced to death for the killings of two corrections officers during an escape attempt five years ago, officers said. Ricky Dubose, 29, was found by guards unresponsive in his prison cell at the Georgia and Classification Prison in Jackson on Sunday around 4.45 p.m., according to a Department of Corrections news release. A medical response team arrived at the scene, but were too late. Dubose was declared dead by the coroner at 5.56 p.m. Ricky Dubose, 29, was found dead in his prison cell on June 26. Dubose was sentenced to death almost two weeks before for the murder of two officers during an escape Dubose (left) and Donnie Rowe (right) were being transported to another prison when they slipped out of their handcuffs and got through the unlocked gate of the front of the bus. Prosecutors accused Dubose of shooting both officers in the head before fleeing the scene. Security footage caught the fatal incident on camera while 30 prisoners watched live A nationwide search that included electronic billboards and photographs of the inmates went underway after the escape. The FBI offered a $130,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Dubose and Rowe were found days later in Tennessee. Prior to his death, Dubose was sentenced to death on June 16 for the murder of Sgt. Christopher Monica and Sgt. Curtis Billue during an escape mission. Dubose and his accomplice, Donnie Rowe, were in transit to another prison when they killed the two guards and escaped from the bus southeast of Atlanta, on June 13, 2017. Dubose and Rowe slipped out of their handcuffs and got through the unlocked gate of the front of the bus. Prosecutors accused Dubose of grabbing the gun of one of the officers and shooting one guard, and then the driver, both in the head. Sgt. Curtis Billue (left) and Sgt. Christopher Monica (right) were transporting over 30 prisoners when the chaos occurred Dubose was sentenced to death on June 16. Rowe was sentenced to life in prison without parole in September Security footage captured the deadly attack while 30 other prisoners watched the scene unfold. A nationwide search went underway shortly after, with billboards featuring photos of Dubose and Rowe. The FBI offered a $130,000 reward for information about the escaped inmates. The pair were arrested days later in Tennessee. Rowe was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole in September - after jurors couldn't agree if he should be sentenced to death. Dubose's death is under investigation by the Department of Corrections and the Georgia Bureau of Investigations. She once counted on royalty and Presidents for letters of recommendation, but now Ghislaine Maxwell is resorting to alleged cocaine traffickers for a character reference. The disgraced socialite has sent a letter of support to the judge from a prisoner accused of masterminding a $2.8million drug deal. The handwritten note from Tatiana Venegas states that Maxwell is a 'genuine and kind' person who is helping other prisoners to learn English and teaching them yoga. Venegas says that she wants people to know there are 'positive opinions, some of among inmates in the unit' rather than the negative reputation Maxwell has. Like Maxwell, Venegas is being held in the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn. Venegas, 31, is accused of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine by prosecutors in New York. Maxwell, 60, will be sentenced for up to 55 years on Tuesday for recruiting and trafficking underage girls to Jeffrey Epstein, the late pedophile financier. This comes as Maxwell's lawyers said she has been placed on suicide watch and asked for the sentencing to be postponed. Ghislaine Maxwell has gotten a letter of support from alleged cocaine trafficker Tatiana Venegas. The letter was sent to the judge ahead of Maxwell's sentencing Tuesday Maxwell, 60, will be sentenced for up to 55 years for recruiting and trafficking underage girls to Jeffrey Epstein, the late pedophile financier Venegas' lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman, who represented Joaquin Guzman, the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo, told DailyMail.com: 'Ms. Maxwell is well-liked by the MDC inmates due to her kindness as well as her generosity with her time. In addition, the inmates have real empathy for her as they've witnessed how unfairly she's been treated by the administrators in the facility.' The note comes after Maxwell filed letters of support from her siblings and society figures such as a magazine editor who went to school with her. Maxwell's attorney said her client has been placed on suicide watch at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn The note from Venegas reads: 'When Ghislaine Maxwell first arrived in the unit, she introduced herself to everyone with a handshake. ''Hi I'm Maxwell.'' She says with a smile, genuine and kind. It took all of us by surprise. 'Within one week of Maxwell arriving she had volunteered to teach ESL (English as a foreign language), teach yoga and help women with their GED. I believe it's important to know that there are also positive opinions, some of which are among inmates in the unit. I believe that it is also good to point out the good in people.' That Maxwell is relying on such a person to argue for her shows how far she has fallen since her conviction last December. Maxwell was once friends with Prince Andrew and Bill Clinton and gave a speech at the United Nations about saving the world's oceans. Venegas, according to prosecutors, is an entirely different sort of individual. As described in the indictment against her, between May 2020 and July 2020, Venegas was part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances. According to a statement in court documents from Michael Dealmeida, a detective and task force officer at the Border Enforcement Security task force of the New York Police Department, Venegas phoned an undercover cop asking if they could supply 300kg of cocaine. Venegas, 31, is accused of conspiracy to distribute more than five kilograms of cocaine by prosecutors in New York As described in the indictment against her, between May 2020 and July 2020, Venegas was part of a conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances. Inside the home of one of Venegas alleged co-conspirators were large pieces of luggage, each with similar amounts of money inside, fire arms and jewelry Venegas' lawyer Jeffrey Lichtman, who represented Joaquin Guzman, the Mexican drug lord known as El Chapo, told DailyMail.com: 'Ms. Maxwell is well-liked by the MDC inmates due to her kindness as well as her generosity with her time. In addition, the inmates have real empathy for her as they've witnessed how unfairly she's been treated by the administrators in the facility' In another phone call Venegas talked about a 'possible cocaine transaction involving another member of the drug trafficking organization' that she wanted to introduce the undercover cop to. In other conversations, Venegas asked the cop about providing a 'wholesale quality of cocaine,' it is claimed. The undercover cop agreed to supply 100kg of cocaine to an alleged co-conspirator of Venegas' for $28,000 per kg with a total price of $2.8million. The initial installment would be 50kg, it is claimed in court documents. Venegas allegedly texted the cop a photo of her co-conspirator's hand on top of a 'large quantity of United States currency'. When the first drug deal went ahead, police found a large piece of luggage containing $500,000 of US currency with one of the people sent to carry it out. Maxwell relying on such a person to argue for her shows how far she has fallen since her conviction last December. She was once friends with President Bill Clinton. Pictured in 1993 Among Maxwell's former high-powered ties include Prince Andrew. The infamous photograph of Prince Andrew (left) with Virginia Roberts (center) in front of Ghislaine Maxwell (right), in early 2001 A search of one suspect's car found more large pieces of luggage, each of which contained hundreds of thousands of dollars more. Inside the home of one of Venegas alleged co-conspirators were even more large pieces of luggage, each with similar amounts of money inside. In a closet of the one-bedroom apartment was a concealed compartment with hundreds of thousand more dollars, an assault rifle, multiple magazines and rounds of ammunition, a pistol and numerous rounds and magazines from the pistol. In their complaint, the prosecution included a black and white photo of what was recovered from the inside of the closet looked like - including piles of money stacked high and expensive watches. The latest filing in Venegas' case says that a request for a continuance was granted until February this year. Maxwell has said she will appeal her conviction and has asked to serve just four years in jail. Prosecutors have demanded she serve at least 30 years for her 'lack of remorse.' A Florida lawyer has been jailed for five years for conning a 108 year-old client out of $3 million - with his victim dying just days before he was brought to justice. Matthew Roby was handed the sentence as part of a plea deal reached in Orlando, Florida, Friday. Sadly, his elderly victim Helen Kuhn died just 16 days previously, having spoken of her excitement at the prospect of hearing 'keys jangling' as Roby was sent down. Kuhn was of sharp mind when Roby began working as her lawyer in 2019, after taking over the job from his later father Ronald. But Roby somehow tricked her into signing over power of attorney, with the con only coming to light after Kuhn received a far higher tax bill than she was expecting. She grew suspicious, took her papers to a fraud investigator, and Roby was charged shortly afterwards. Roby was charged with exploitation of an elderly person and grand theft of more than $100,000, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said, Fox News reported. 'Helen taught school for 35 years, flew planes until the age of 93 and drove until the age of 101,' Orange County officials said During that time, Roby used Khun's millions as his personal bank account in which he used for pleasure and to pay others, a report said. His trickery involved transferring her funds to another bank. Kuhn thinks Roby was hoping to hold much of the cash until she died, then spend it after she died. Kuhn, a former school teacher for nearly four decades, and quite savvy despite her age, knew something was odd when she received a massive tax bill. The lawyer identified as Matthew Roby was in court on Friday to take a plea from prosecutors after stealing thousands from 108-year-old Helen Kuhn. Roby was charged with exploitation of an elderly person and grand theft of more than $100,000, the Orange County Sheriff's Office said, Fox News reported Helen Kuhn's Florida home is pictured. The Florida teacher had been excited to see her conman jailed, but died just 16 days before he was sentenced to five years jail Roby's father Ronald Roby had been the family attorney until he lost his license in 2014 for misappropriation of funds, ABC9 News reported. The elder Roby was accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a client. He w ill be sentenced in August and will have to pay back the money he spent When she questioned Roby to why the amount was so high, he told her to pay it and didn't elaborate. Kuhn was onto her attorney and started to do some investigating on her own. Her first stop was contacting the sheriff's department to share with them her suspicions about her scheming attorney, that she allegedly trusted. Detective Chris Williams spent three-years investigating the activities of Roby and what was revealed was stunning. From March to September of 2019 Roby transferred $490,000 from Kuhn's bank account to her firm's trust account. Kuhn had been shocked and dismayed by Roby's actions. She believed that he was just waiting for her to die before he collected on her life savings. 'Helen taught school for 35 years, flew planes until the age of 93 and drove until the age of 101,' Orange County officials said, Fox News reported She was also on top of her finances and was outraged by the fraud that she experienced. Around $2.4 million of the cash stolen has since been recovered. She relished in the idea of him spending years in prison after police caught the con artist and eager to see him pay for his crime. The quick minded Kuhn kept saying she couldn't wait to hear the jingle of the keys when he got arrested, but sadly she passed two weeks before he was sentenced. Prosecutors said most of the money that Roby took went to pay into another estate, but he was not charged with any crime in that case. He was arrested in 2021 and was disbarred and can no longer practice law in Florida. The apple didn't fall far from the tree. Roby's father Ronald Roby had been the family attorney until he lost his license in 2014 for misappropriation of funds, ABC9 News reported. The elder Roby was accused of stealing tens of thousands of dollars from a client. He will be sentenced in August and will have to pay back the money he spent. New fathers could get up to 20 weeks of government-funded job leave to be used at any point before their child turns two under a new plan to close the gender gap. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said she and the newly elected Labor government were 'keen' to review the rules to better meet the needs of modern Australian families. Under current paid parental leave rules the 'primary caregiver' receives 18 weeks of leave at the minimum wage - which in a straight relationship is defined as the mother unless in exceptional situations. Fathers can only access two weeks of paid paternity leave and critics argue this incentivises men to stay in the workforce and women to care for newborns. Men could be able to access 20 weeks of government funded paternity leave under changes to the current system (stock image) In the previous Morrison government's latest budget they moved to allow couples to combine these two leave allowances and use the 20 weeks as they see fit. Ms Rishworth said she was currently reviewing that plan to make sure there were no unforeseen consequences, but that she supports it. 'Society has changed. A lot more men do want to play a role. And a lot of men do say they want to be the primary caregiver for some period of time,' she told The Australian. 'I'm having a really good look at what can be done with paid parental leave,' she said. Family advocacy group The Parenthood wants the government to go even further. It has launched a petition calling for 12 months of parental leave to be shared between new parents with full pay and superannuation. Labor's Social Services Minister said the Albanese government backed a plan brought in by the previous Liberal government to allow parents to share the 20 weeks of leave however they wanted (pictured: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and girlfriend Jodie Haydon) Executive Director Georgie Dent said that removing the notion of a primary and secondary caregiver and allowing parents to share the responsibilities equally was vital for new families and for gender equity. She also praised some companies which are leading the way by offering parental leave above and beyond what the government mandates. 'There has been an effort among some corporations in Australia to encourage dads to take extended parental leave... offering 18 weeks of paid leave to any parent within the first 12 months of the baby coming. And flexibility about how and when that's taken,' she said. For example if a new father wants to take a few weeks of paid leave after his baby is born and then another few weeks several months later some workplaces are fine with this, she added. She also said Australia needs to catch up with the rest of the world. Australian fathers take the least amount of paternity leave in the developed world, second only to the US. Georgie Dent (pictured) from families advocacy group The Parenthood wants the government to go even further and provide 12 months of parental leave with full pay Workplace Gender Equality Agency director Mary Wooldridge said men taking paternity leave benefitted not just them but society. 'The research shows that men being more actively involved in childcare increases their wellbeing and happiness,' Ms Wooldridge said. 'It also shows that when men take parental leave, they're more likely to participate in childcare on an ongoing basis and have a more equitable division of unpaid work at home.' 'This is very positive to both them and their relationship with their children, and also enables women to have greater choices in terms of returning to work. 'And from an organisational perspective, it's shown to increase job satisfaction and productivity.' Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said in interviews published in a new book that he wasn't sure why he was nominated for the Supreme Court - and 'celebrated not being nominated' when he thought President George H.W. Bush had passed him up. 'I have no idea why or how I got nominated,' Thomas said, according to the book Created Equal: Clarence Thomas in His Own Words, which came out earlier this month. Thomas also admitted that he 'hadn't thought about' the abortion issue in the run-up to his 1991 confirmation hearings. Thomas was one of the six conservative Supreme Court justices to strike down Roe v. Wade with Friday's Dobbs decision, going a step further by filing a concurring opinion suggesting that cases legalizing contraception and same-sex marriage should get another look from the court as well. Created Equal was a companion project to a documentary on Thomas released in 2020 by filmmaker Michael Pack, who led the U.S. Agency for Global Media under former President Donald Trump, and Mark Paoletta, a lawyer who worked alongside Thomas during his confirmation. Pack interviewed Thomas for more than 30 hours between November 2017 and March 2018 - which became the basis for the film and then the book. Thomas made clear to Pack that he wasn't enthusiastic about being nominated to the court - and also hadn't thought much about the abortion issue going into his confirmation hearings. Conservative Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said in interviews published in a new book that he wasn't sure why he was nominated for the Supreme Court and 'celebrated not being nominated' when he thought President George H.W. Bush had passed him up Created Equal was a companion project to a 2020 documentary with the same name by filmmaker Michael Pack. Mark Paoletta, a lawyer who worked with Thomas during his confirmation, co-edited the tome Thomas told Pack he received a call from White House Counsel C. Boyden Gray the afternoon that Justice Thurgood Marshall announced his retirement from the court in 1991. Marshall was the first black Supreme Court justice. 'All I know is that Justice Marshall retired, and that was a shock,' Thomas recalled. 'My reaction was, "Oh no, this is going to be bad. People will go on a rumor that I'm one of the nominees."' Gray had lawyer Mark Paoletta, the co-editor of the book, take Thomas to the situation room at the Justice Department where he was asked which justice his views were most in line - Justice Antonin Scalia, Thomas said - and if he'd been hassled for being in an interracial marriage. 'And I said only from liberals and bigots, and that's pretty much it,' Thomas said. The next day he went to the White House 'where I sat for most of the morning and they didn't decide anything.' 'And I was told if they didn't decide by before the weekend, it wouldn't be me,' Thomas recounted. 'That's what I thought but maybe I misheard that.' 'Saturday morning came, I wasn't nominated, and I said, "Free at last,"' he said. 'I had a new Corvette and Virginia and I drove to Annapolis and celebrated not being nominated,' Thomas said, referencing his wife Virginia 'Ginni' Thomas. Ginni Thomas has been scrutinized over her role in wanting to push the 'big lie' in advance of the January 6 Capitol attack. On Sunday, however, he received a call from Bush, who invited him up to the compound on Kennebunkport the next day. On the flight Monday, Thomas said he became 'a little suspicious' when a number of high-profile White House officials were on his plane, leaving him wondering if there were still other contenders. 'Who's riding with the other people?' he said he wondered. It was First Lady Barbara Bush who accidentally informed Thomas he got the job, telling him 'congratulations' before her husband had formally made the offer. 'And she said "congratulations," and then my heart sank. And she said, "Oh I guess I let the cat out of the bag,' he recalled. Thomas noted that during his 1991 confirmation the one area that Bush White House officials wouldn't ask him about was abortion. 'They absolutely would not discuss Roe v. Wade with me. They would not discuss abortion because they knew I was going to be asked about it at some point. And they wanted me to be able to say that I did not discuss it with them,' Thomas recalled. During the hearings, Democratic senators pressed Thomas to commit where he would rule on abortion - something he wouldn't do. 'One, I didn't now,' he said. 'And two, I had just read all of those cases again.' Thomas pointed out that when he took constitutional law in law school it was in 1972 - a year before the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. 'I was more interested in the race issues. I was more interested in getting out of law school. I was more interested in passing the bar exam. My life was consumed by survival. I couldn't pay my rent. I couldn't repay my student loans,' Thomas said. 'I had all these other things going on, that you were navigating, these worlds you're navigating.' Sexual harrassment allegations made by a former colleague, Anita Hill, rocked Thomas' confirmation hearings - but he was still confirmed by the U.S. Senate with a narrow vote of 52 to 48, with 41 Republicans and 11 Democrats voting in his favor. Ukraine has pounded the Russian garrison on the strategic Snake Island again, just days after dealing a 'significant' blow to Vladimir Putin's Black Sea forces with an attack on the crucial outpost. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said Ukrainian troops had destroyed a Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system in a series of strikes on the island on Sunday night. The attack comes less than a week after Ukraine's southern operational command aimed strikes on the island, with satellite images showing the major losses to Kremlin troops. The Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system, a radar station and vehicles had been damaged in the June 20 attack on the island which has been a major battleground throughout the war. It is just the latest blow for Putin, as it emerged that a column of Russian rocket launcher vehicles were blown to pieces in an ambush by Ukrainian special armed forces. Footage shows Ukrainian troops opening fire and destroying six BM-27 Uragans, a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, as well as other Russian vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers. In a further blow to Putin, an invading Russian tank was obliterated in a minefield. Video shows the tank driving through the field before hitting a mine, causing a large explosion. Ukraine has pounded the Russian garrison on the strategic Snake Island again, just days after dealing a 'significant' blow to Vladimir Putin's Black Sea forces with an attack on the crucial outpost Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said Ukrainian troops had destroyed a Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system in the strike Snake Island is seen in an aerial photo on June 17 before Ukraine carried out a series of strikes on the strategic outpost By June 20, Ukraine had caused serious damage, with satellite imagery showing devastated regions Footage shows Ukrainian troops opening fire and destroying six BM-27 Uragans, a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, as well as other Russian vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers. It is just the latest blow for Putin, as it emerged that a column of Russian rocket launcher vehicles were blown to pieces in an ambush by Ukrainian special armed forces Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence released footage showing a series of strikes on the Russian-occupied Snake Island, adding that 'the cleaning of our land will continue as long as is needed'. The 100-acre Snake Island outpost has proved to be a valuable strategic position for both sides, sitting some 80 miles off Ukraine's southern coastline in the Black Sea. Russia seized the island early in the war and has largely managed to maintain control of it, but its forces there have been subject to bombing raids ever since. 'Another strike of the Ukrainian Army on the Russian troops on Snake Island,' Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said. 'The occupiers lost an anti-aircraft system Pantsir. The cleaning of our land will continue as long as needed.' Unofficial claims say Kyiv forces used US-supplied HIMARS missiles, although this was not confirmed. Ukrainian military spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk said: 'We continue a [military] operation on Snake Island. 'Last night more than 10 accurate strikes were launched on the island. 'We are checking the results now, but we have already been informed that one more Pantsir-S1 air defense missile gun system was hit.' In February, Ukrainian border guard Roman Hrybov on Snake Island famously radioed 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself' to Russian officers aboard the Moskva. Hrybov and his crew were thought dead after the Moskva bombarded the island with artillery fire, but they miraculously survived and were given awards upon being returned to Ukrainian soil in a prisoner transfer last month. The latest strike on the Snake Island, comes as footage shows a column of Russian rocket launchers being destroyed in Ukraine's Donetsk region. The Command of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which shared the footage, said of the strike: 'First of all, it's beautiful. But above all, it's necessary.' They added: 'It is no secret that enemy artillery has an advantage over ours. Therefore, it is always a priority goal of Ukrainian soldiers. And especially when it comes to large calibre systems.' Footage shows the Russian vehicles being destroyed in the Ukrainian strikes The latest strike on the Snake Island, comes as footage shows a column of Russian rocket launchers being destroyed in Ukraine's Donetsk region Scouts from the Special Forces in the Donetsk region found a column of six BM-27 Uragans, a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, transport and loading vehicles, fuel trucks, trucks, fire control vehicles, armoured personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles. The command of the SSO added: 'Having successfully aimed their artillery, the SSO soldiers adjusted the fire of the Ukrainian guns while they took the enemy equipment to pieces.' In a further blow to Putin, footage shows a Russian tank driving through a minefield before it suddenly blows up. Video shows the Russian tank driving through a ploughed field ahead of another tank. Although there is a road running parallel to the field, a part of the road is blocked by wreckage from an earlier and as a result, the tanks head over the field in single file. Suddenly, the first tank hits a mine, causing a large explosion. The vehicle comes to a stop, with the second tank stopping a safe distance behind it. A third tank can be seen having joined the convoy a short distance behind the second tank. In a further blow to Putin, an invading Russian tank was obliterated in a minefield. Video shows the tank driving through the field before hitting a mine, causing a large explosion The vehicle comes to a stop, with the second tank stopping a safe distance behind it The tank is seen destroyed in the middle of the minefield in Ukraine The footage then cuts to what appears to be a Russian military vehicle having made its way close to where the tank at the head of the convoy blew up, perhaps in a bid to rescue any soldiers still alive inside it. The Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shared the footage and said: 'An offensive or an annoying suicide? Sometimes it is difficult to work out what the Russian troops are doing.' And 93rd Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which also shared the footage, added: 'We are starting the week with optimistic videos. May more Russian tanks burn on our land!' While the Strategic Communications Department (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said: 'We will win the war together, 93rd Mechanized Brigade!' Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today told G7 leaders he wanted Russia 's war in Ukraine ended by the end of the year before the winter sets in Ukraine said today its armed forces had killed 35,000 Russian soldiers and destroyed 1,552 tanks, 3,687 armoured combat vehicles, 771 artillery units and 243 multiple launch rocket systems. Kyiv added that it had destroyed 101 air defence systems, 217 warplanes, 184 helicopters, 636 drones, 137 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,575 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 60 units of special equipment. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday underscored the urgency of helping his country's military improve its position against Russia in a video meeting with leading economic powers, who in turn pledged to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes.' Zelensky addressed the delicacy of the moment for Ukraine in its war with Russia to the G7 summit, as the leaders of the major economies prepared to unveil plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putin's aggression. Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a working session of G7 leaders via video link Rescuers work near a damaged residential building, which was damaged as a result of a missile strike by the Russian army in Kyiv on Sunday. The rockets hit the nine-storey building and a kindergarten A view of a bomb crater after Russian shell hit a school building last night as the Russian-Ukraine war continues on Monday in the Shevchenkivs'kyi district of Kharkiv, Ukraine Despite the boost from its allies, Ukraine was enduring another difficult day on the battlefront following the loss of the city of Sievierodonetsk over the weekend after weeks of bombardments and street fighting. Russian artillery was pounding Lysychansk, just across Siversky Donets River from now-ruined Sievierodonetsk. Luhansk province governor Serhiy Gaidai said Lysychansk was suffering 'catastrophic' damage. He urged civilians to evacuate urgently. 'The situation in the city is very difficult,' Gaidai said. The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said the Russians were trying to cut off Lysychansk from the south. Russian war planes had also struck near the city, the general staff said in its daily update. Luhansk and neighbouring Donetsk province make up Ukraine's eastern Donbas region - the country's industrial heartland. The Donbas became a prime target for the Kremlin after Russian troops failed to take the capital Kyiv in the early stages of the war, which is now in its fifth month. Russian forces also control a swathe of territory in the south, including the port city of Mariupol, which fell after a long siege that left it in ruins. Russian forces also hit a civilian building in an attack on the city of Kremenchuk in central Ukraine on Monday, causing casualties, the regional governor said. Dmitry Lunin, the governor of the Poltava region, gave no details of the attack or the casualties. 'Unfortunately, there are victims. More details later,' Lunin said. Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv on Sunday for the first time in weeks. A woman injured when her house was damaged by the Russian shelling sits shocked in the yard of her house in Bakhmut, Donetsk region on Sunday A woman inspects damages in a school after missile strikes struck the yard of the school in a residential area of Kharkiv on Monday Ukrainian soldiers ride an armoured vehicle on the main road to Lysychansk in Ukraines eastern region of Donbas on Sunday Explosives experts are looking for the remains of a Russian shell that hit the school yard in Kharkiv on Monday Meanwhile, the new aid and efforts by the G7 leaders to punish Moscow come as Zelensky has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. The Ukrainian leader discussed his strategy for the course of the war, which has transformed into a bloody artillery battle in the country's west and east. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Zelensky's top request was for further air defense systems, followed by economic support to assist his government in meeting its financial obligations. Sullivan said most of the conversation was 'about the way forward and how President Zelensky sees the course of the war.' Zelensky also briefed the G7 leaders on how his administration is using the assistance he's received to date 'to maximize Ukraine's capacity both to resist Russian advances, and to pursue counter attacks where possible,' Sullivan said. Sullivan added that the Ukrainian leader was 'very much focused on trying to ensure that Ukraine is in as advantageous a position on the battlefield as possible' in coming months because 'he believes that a grinding conflict is not in the interest of the Ukrainian people.' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (back C-R) hosts the plenary sessions Outreach on the on the second day of the three-day G7 summit Indonesia's President Fumio Kishida, French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden laugh together during the G7 leaders meeting on Monday, as Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi stands on the right Zelensky also told the leaders that he needs to be in stronger position before engaging in peace talks with Russia, according to a senior French diplomat, who spoke under condition of anonymity in line with the French presidency's customary practices. After hearing from Zelensky, the leaders pledged in a statement to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes.' They said it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement. Leaders were also finalising the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day G-7 summit in the German Alps. G-7 finance ministers would resolve details of how a price cap would work, according to a senior administration official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview announcements from the summit. Some market analysts have doubts about how effective a price cap on Russian oil would be, as enforcement by the G-7 would likely depend on cooperation from India and China. 'It is questionable whether countries like India and China will agree to cease purchasing Russian oil, especially as it is trading at a significant discount on the global market price,' said Carsten Fritsch, a commodities analyst at Commerzbank. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (back C-R) hosts the plenary sessions Outreach on the on the second day of the three-day G7 summit at Elmau Castle on Monday Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, U.S. President Joe Biden, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and France's President Emmanuel Macron sit at a round table as Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses G7 leaders via video link during their working session at Elmau Castle, Germany on Monday The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods. President Joe Biden is expected to soon announce the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to help counter the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion (6.1 billion) commitment to help Ukraine's government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. Britain's Boris Johnson said that under the circumstances the G-7 has to 'continue to help the Ukrainians to rebuild their economy, to get their grain out, to export their grain, and, of course, we have to help them to protect themselves. And that's what we're going to continue to do.' In Brussels, NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg said Monday that the military alliance will increase the size of its rapid reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of its response to an 'era of strategic competition.' The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers which can deploy quickly when needed. Stoltenberg made the remarks ahead of a NATO summit later this week in Madrid when the organization's 30 allies are expected to also agree on further support for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The G7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs and plans support to rebuild its economy long term. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion (15.7billion) in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and continue its defense against Russian forces. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations between the G-7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if the nature of their outreach differs. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have held active conversations with Putin and Zelensky. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia. TRS party Minister KTR along with party MPs extend support to Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha after he filed his nomination papers for presidential election at the Parliament House in New Delhi on Monday, 27 Jun 2022. (DC Photo) Hyderabad: TRS working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao on Monday said there were multiple reasons for the TRS backing joint opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha for the Presidential election, scheduled for July 18. The prime reasons for this decision are to uphold the constitutional values which are under attack under the government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to raise a voice against the BJP's 'tokenism' in fielding a tribal woman for the Presidential polls, and to fight against the dictatorial and authoritarian policies of the Modi government. Rama Rao along with TRS MPs was in Delhi on Monday to extend the party's support to Sinha, who filed his nomination papers in the Parliament House on Monday. Later, addressing a press conference in Delhi, Rama Rao said the TRS has no personal animosity against NDA candidate Draupadi Murmu but the party was against 'tokenism' and 'symbolism' shown by the BJP in fielding her for the Presidential election. Alleging that the Modi government has done nothing for the upliftment of the tribal community in the last eight years, Rama Rao said, "We dont believe in tokenism or symbolism. It is not about Murmus candidature. She represents a party which is heavily reliant on unconstitutional practices. Therefore, we are vehemently opposing the BJP candidate. We have invited Yashwant Sinha to Hyderabad. If possible we will ask other opposition parties to support him." Speaking about Murmus candidature, Rama Rao said, Bhishma was defeated since he was on Kauravas side in Mahabharat. Tokenism for tribal people in the form of Draupadi Murmu is not correct. She was a minister when 13 tribal people were killed in a steel plant agitation in Kalinganagar of Odisha in 2006. She has not condemned it. He alleged that the Modi government has been abusing all constitutional offices and there is a need to stop this. "Someone has to raise a voice against this and the TRS is doing this, he said. "Even the plight of Dalits has not changed much after the BJP made Ram Nath Kovind, hailing from the Dalit community, as President in 2017," he added. Rama Rao alleged that the BJP has not done anything for the welfare of the tribal community in the last eight years. "A tribal university was promised for Telangana as part of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act but it has not seen the light of the day yet due to the negligence of the Modi government. Besides, the Telangana government had requested the Centre to increase the reservation for tribal people in the state due to the increase in their population. A resolution was passed in the Legislative Assembly four years back but the Modi government has not accepted the request. This shows the BJP has no concern for tribals and fielding a tribal woman as the Presidential candidate was only an act of tokenism," he said. Rama Rao also said that the NDA government through an Ordinance forcefully took away seven mandals from Telangana which had more than 90 per cent tribal population and merged them in Andhra Pradesh in 2014. "We dont believe in tokenism. We dont have any choice but to support Yashwant Sinha ji who has been supported by all Opposition parties. We are hopeful that he will be elected with the support of a lot of like-minded voters, he said. On the Maharashtra political crisis, Rama Rao said the Modi government has been successful in pulling down democratically elected governments in eight states, including Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. He complained that the central government has not done much for Telangana despite the state government contributing a major share in the countrys growth annually. "The BJP has been misusing the Central agencies like income-tax, ED, CBI to create a disturbance among the Opposition parties and harass or lure their leaders, to pursue its political interests. Every party that believes in a democracy needs to oppose these actions. Hence, the TRS has rejected the BJPs Presidential candidate and extended support to the Opposition parties candidate Yashwant Sinha, he said. One of Britain's most historic and prestigious grammar schools has renamed its pupil houses - after five of the six were named after people connected to the slave trade. The Blue Coat School in Wavertree, Liverpool, has the motto 'Non Sibi Sed Omnibus' (Not for Oneself but for All) and was founded 314 years ago. Much of Liverpool's 18th Century wealth came from the slave trade and by 1740 the city was Europe's busiest slave port leading many of the city's streets to be linked to slavery, including Sir Thomas Street - after the co-owner of one of the first slave ships to sail from Liverpool. During the 2020 Black Lives Matter campaign, Liverpool's International Slavery Museum (ISM) researched links between famous names across Merseyside and the slave trade. The Blue Coat School boasts six houses. Bryan Blundell (1674-1756) was a sailor, a maritime investor, a two-time mayor of Liverpool and a philanthropist who founded the Blue Coat School in 1708, donating 35 (equal to roughly 4,000 today) to get the institution going and eventually becoming the school's Treasurer and overseeing its tremendous growth over four decades of stewardship Originally The Blue Coat School's houses were named 'Blundell', 'Tod', 'Shirley', 'Graham', 'Bingham' and 'Styth'. 'Blundell' was named after Bryan Blundell who founded The Liverpool Blue Coat Hospital School in 1708. Blundell was heavily involved in the trade and transportation of African slaves and owned the ship Tarleton which landed 236 of its 273 slaves in Barbados from the Gold Coast, with 37 dying en-route. 'Styth' house was named after the Rev Robert Styth, rector of Liverpool who ran school when it first opened and died in 1714. 'Shirley' house was named after Victorian businessman and school trustee WH Shirley, who died in 1901, and who half-funded and helped raise a staggering total of 80,000 to build the current school. The Tod family have long connections to the school and even helped secure the school's future in the 1980s when it was in danger of closing. Now they have renamed 'Blundell' house 'Franklin' and also renamed four of the remaining five houses 'Shirley', 'Graham', 'Bingham' and 'Styth' - which will now be called 'Seacole', 'Roscoe', 'Curie' and 'Turing' respectively. The sixth house 'Tod' has been slightly renamed 'Tod Family'. In a letter to parents, the Wavertree school confirmed it had come to the end of a 'long process', but said it was an 'important one to get right'. After an 18-month consultation, headteacher Scilla Yates said the school had developed a set of house names 'more reflective of our society and our current values'. The newly named houses represent pioneers of science or people who challenged slavery, served their country and inspired students through their 'values, experiences and ability to overcome challenges'. The five new house names represent Marie Curie, Dr Rosalind Franklin, William Roscoe, Mary Seacole and Alan Turing. The Blue Coat School (pictured) in Wavertree, Liverpool, which was founded 314 years ago, has renamed five of its six pupil houses over their namesake's links to the slave trade Dr Franklin was an Anglo-Jewish scientist who conducted a series of experiments during World War Two and contributed to the discovery of DNA, while Mr Roscoe served as a Liverpool MP who denounced the slave trade. Mary Seacole was a British-Jamaican nurse, businesswoman and humanitarian who provided food and care for soldiers during the Crimean war. The Tod family have supported the school for over 50 years and helped it stay open during the 1980s. A portrait of Blundell in the library and memorial stone in the chapel will remain, but will be accompanied by plaques to educate students about the slave trader's past. The annual Founders' Day will also continue as 'an educational opportunity for students to learn about the heritage of the school, so that the school is not "celebrating" our founder but teaching our students about our history in an open and honest way.' A group of up to 60 hikers at Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, including a mother with a six-month-old baby, were left stranded on a mountain after severe flooding trapped them there. Orrin Allen, Noah Gremmert and Cooper Allen described their experience when severe flooding trapped them on a mountain during a church campout last Thursday. The hikers were nearing the peak of the mountain when the rain began before it quickly accelerated into a flash flood. 'We're wandering down, we're having a blast, we're watching water gush off the sides of the canyon and it's looking really cool. I'm following one of the waterfalls down with my eyes, and I was like "Oh shoot, the road's gone,"' Orrin Allen told KUTV. The hikers soon realized that the trail they arrived to the mountain on was now submerged in water. Three of the five trucks they used to get to the mountain were totaled, and two cars had been swept away by the water. Capitol Reef National Park in Utah suffered from serious flooding last week that stranded over 50 hikers on a mountain A picture posted by the Wayne County Sherriff's Office shows some of the damage that floodwaters caused at Capitol Reef National Park Along with the three young men, another 50 to 60 people were trapped on the mountain, including a mother with a six-month-old baby. After trying to wait out the storm for three hours, the group realized they needed to find a way back down. Park rangers have said that when the flooding began at about noon, they were 'unsure' if park visitors had managed to make it 'back to their vehicles and out of the flash flooding.' Three group leaders went ahead to find a safe passage down for those trapped, and the group had to work together to ensure everyone made it out safely. Allen said there were two 'five to six foot drops' the group had to navigate, and also a slim '4 1/2 foot' passage between a rock wall and a steep drop-off to the raging river below. A twitter post from Capitol Reef National Park Service announcing the flooding at the park The group of hikers, including a mother with a six-month-old baby, formed a line to get down the mountain. A park ranger told the group it was the worst flash flood she had seen in 15 years of working at the park. The severity of the floods necessitated the use of a Department of Public Safety helicopter to airlift some of hikers to safety. No one was seriously injured, according to the Wayne County Sherriff's Office, though some hikers were treated for minor cuts and lacerations. In total, seven or eight vehicles were damaged or destroyed. The Sherriff's Office said that if it is wasn't for the park rangers who 'worked diligently to clear the roads, making them passable,' the stranded hikers may have had to 'spend the night there.' A video that the hikers took shows three trucks nearly submerged in the rushing floodwater An aerial view of the damage to the trucks after the floodwaters had died down On Sunday, a statement from the park said visitors should 'expect construction equipment, large trucks, flaggers, and 15 minute delays' from last week's flooding. Capitol Reef isn't the only national park to be affected by fierce floods recently. Yellowstone National Park, one of the biggest in the country, experienced between 2.5 to 4 inches of rain in June. The rain led to surging floodwaters that forced Yellowstone's park officials to order over 10,000 visitors to leave on June 14. The flooding caused critical damage to the park and forced rescues by air and boat, washed away houses and swept an employee bunkhouse miles away. Officials say the damage could cost more than $1 billion to repair and years of reconstruction efforts. Vladimir Putin could be assassinated with a 'f***ing hammer to the head' in a secret plot by his own inner circle, a former CIA chief has claimed. Daniel Hoffman, an ex-senior officer who served as Moscow station chief, said the Russian leader's comrades could try to oust him due to the botched invasion of Ukraine. The intelligence officer believes any attempt to overthrow the strongman will be swift and potentially deadly. He told the Daily Beast: 'These guys that are going to do it are going to be so secret about it, so that Putin doesn't find them and kill them first. It'll happen all of a sudden. And he'll be dead. 'Nobody's gonna ask, "Hey Vladimir, would you like to leave?" No. It's a f***ing hammer to the head and he's dead. 'Or it's time to go to the sanatorium. They schwack him for it. That's what they'll do.' Vladimir Putin could be assassinated with a 'f***ing hammer to the head' in a secret plot by his own inner circle, former CIA chief Daniel Hoffman (left) has claimed Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev (pictured alongside Putin in 2015) is among those tipped for the top job Hoffman speculated that the three key figures who could be behind a plot are defence minister Sergei Shoigu, head of the Security Council Nikolai Patrushev, and the director of the FSB Alexander Bortnikov. He says any of those three are likely to have leadership ambitions after Putin and would keep a watchful eye over any potential rebellion. The hammer to the head reference brings to mind the assassination of Soviet revolutionary Leon Trotsky, who was killed on the orders of Joseph Stalin by an ice pick to the head. Meanwhile, another spy chief has claimed an assassination attempt may not be necessary because Putin 'doesn't have a long life ahead of him' due to his ill health. The director of Russia's FSB intelligence agency Alexander Bortnikov (pictured) could be eyeing up Putin's job, it has been claimed Defence minister Sergei Shoigu (pictured with Putin last week) has been a key figure in the Ukraine war Major General Kyrylo Budanov said Kyiv spies who infiltrated the Kremlin made the claims based on 'human intelligence'. Mr Budanov added: 'Putin doesn't have a long life ahead of him', USA Today reported. Putin's health has been the subject of intense speculation for months, escalating further after he was pictured gripping a table during a meeting with defence minister Sergei Shoigu. And earlier this month, the 69-year-old president's legs appeared to buckle during a speech in Moscow. Putin, 70, swayed back and forth as filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize this month The president was attending an awards ceremony at the Kremlin when he looked unsteady on his feet. Putin swayed back and forth before his speech as Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize. It came just days after a Kremlin insider claimed Putin had been advised by doctors not to make any 'lengthy' public appearances, having fallen ill amid recent discussions with his military chiefs. Maj. Gen. Budanov told USA Today his agency expects Putin to die within just two years The Russian President felt 'a sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness', while getting up from his desk following a recent video conference with advisers and military leaders, Telegram channel General SVR reported. Putin's poor posture and seemingly bloated face and neck sparked speculation about the leader's health, which is said to have ailed since the invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin leader was alleged in April to be in need of an urgent cancer operation. Putin also reportedly suffers from Parkinson's and 'schizophrenic symptoms', according to self-styled 'Kremlin insiders'. They wrote via Telegram channel General SVR: 'The Russian President Vladimir Putin has oncology, and the latest problems identified during [his latest] examination are associated with this disease.' Meanwhile King's College London fellow Michael Clarke told Sky News this month: 'On 7 October he will be 70. He is known to hit the Botox quite heavily, I always say that he's trying to embalm himself while he's still alive - he does take a lot of Botox. Putin's legs buckled during a speech in Moscow, adding to growing rumours of his health woes A bloated Putin was seen gripping a table whilst slouching in his chair during a televised meeting with his defence minister Sergei Shoigu months ago, sparking intense speculation 'He moves around with doctors, there's known to be a little team of doctors who are never far away, and it's said that he leaves meetings at frequent intervals to go and consult with somebody. 'I suspect that he's only a hypochondriac, to be honest. 'If he is ill, or becomes ill, that would be one way out for Russia to say that the president has stepped down and the war will now be prosecuted by Nikolai Patrushev - who's every bit as nasty as he is.' An FSB officer also described the Russian president's condition as a 'severe form of rapidly progressing cancer', as speculation ramped up that Putin was suffering with some form of serious illness amid the invasion of Ukraine. Oliver Stone, an American director who spent two years interviewing Putin for a documentary series, said the Russian leader had cancer but beat it Talk of the Russian leader's terminal illness emerged as part of a secret message from the Russian agent to fugitive and former FSB agent Boris Karpichkov. The message warned Putin is refusing to wear glasses over fears it would admit a form of weakness, and he is now lashing out at his subordinates with 'uncontrolled fury'. Other spooks have also hinted at the strongman's poor health condition, warning he was unable to maintain concentration for long periods of time without taking breaks 'for treatment'. Christopher Steele, a former MI6 Russia desk officer explained Putin was constantly monitored and accompanied by a team of doctors, as rumours of a new Kremlin succession plan continue to swirl. Whispers about Putin's health began at least two years ago when he was said to be suffering both Parkinson's and cancer, but have received renewed attention in the wake of his invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin has not commented on the latest allegations of Putin's ill-health, but regularly denies he is suffering any kind of difficulties. General SVR wrote last week: 'On the night of Monday May 16 to Tuesday May 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin underwent a surgical operation. 'The fact that Putin should be operated on as soon as possible was insisted upon by his attending physicians. 'According to the doctors involved in the treatment of the President, the operation was successful. Advertisement Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian missile strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said. At least 13 people were dead and more than 40 wounded by two long-range X-22 missiles fired from Tu-22M3 bombers that flew from Shaykovka airfield in Russia's Kaluga region, said Ukraine's air force command. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was 'unimaginable,' citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. 'The Russian strike today on the shopping centre in Kremenchuk is one of the most brazen terrorist acts in European history,' he said in his evening broadcast posted on Telegram. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress. Zelensky said the target presented 'no threat to the Russian army' and had 'no strategic value.' He accused of Russia of sabotaging 'people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry.' Boris Johnson condemned Vladimir Putin's 'cruelty and barbarism', speaking on the day Zelensky addressed the G7 summit to urge G7 leaders to supply missile defence systems, and said it would strengthen the resolve of allies to resist Putin. Mr Johnson said: 'This appalling attack has shown once again the depths of cruelty and barbarism to which the Russian leader will sink. 'Once again our thoughts are with the families of innocent victims in Ukraine. 'Putin must realise that his behaviour will do nothing but strengthen the resolve of the Ukraine and every other G7 country to stand by the Ukraine for as long as it takes.' Earlier, the Prime Minister said the 'price of freedom is worth paying' and the UK must be prepared to support Ukraine's fight against Russia for as long as it takes despite the cost. The conflict in Ukraine has added to the rising cost of living by exacerbating turbulence in international energy prices and causing food shortages due to supplies of grain being prevented from leaving the country's ports by Russia's Black Sea fleet. But speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, Mr Johnson said those pressures will start to ease and the long-term economic impact of defending the rules-based system of international conduct will be beneficial to the global economy. The crowded mall in Kremenchuk had around 1,000 shoppers inside when missiles rained down on the building this afternoon Russian missiles have hit a busy shopping centre in the city of Kremenchuk in Ukraine In footage taken from inside the shopping centre, a male voice is heard shouting: 'Is anyone alive? Anyone alive here?' If Putin is not resisted, it could give the green light to countries such as China to pursue their own goals of territorial expansion, he suggested. The UK has so far contributed around 1.5 billion of economic and humanitarian support to Ukraine plus some 1.3 billion of military assistance. The Prime Minister told the BBC at the summit in the Bavarian Alps: 'I think that the economic impacts on the UK will start to abate, we'll find ways around things and some of the cost pressures will start to come down. 'But just in terms of staying the course, imagine if you didn't. 'Imagine if we allowed Putin to get away with the violent acquisition of huge chunks of another country, a sovereign, independent territory, the lessons for that would be absolutely chilling in all of the countries of the former Soviet Union, you can see what's happening in the Baltic countries already. 'But the read across would also be felt in east Asia, as well. 'So, in terms of the economic effects of that, that would mean long-term instability, it would mean anxiety across the world.' Comparing the situation to the defeat of Nazi Germany, Mr Johnson declined to put a limit on UK support. 'The point I would make to people is, I think that sometimes the price of freedom is worth paying. 'And just remember, it took the democracies, in the middle of the last century, a long time to recognise that they had to resist tyranny and aggression. It took them a long time, it was very expensive. 'But what it bought in the end, with the defeat of the dictators, particularly of Nazi Germany, it bought decades and decades of stability, a world order that relied on a rules-based international system. 'And that is worth protecting, that is worth defending, that delivers long-term prosperity.' A rescue operation is under way and nine of the wounded are in a serious condition, said Ukrainian authorities. A rescue operation is under way and at least nine of the wounded are in a serious condition after emergency services rushed to the scene Firefighters desperately try to put out the blaze at the shopping mall after the missile strike was carried out in the industrial hub A man is seen running from the burning building after the strike was carried out by Kremlin forces this afternoon, causing a huge fire Panicked survivors desperately tried to flee for safety as the complex erupted in fire, with plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky. Putin's war propagandist Andrey Rudenko has already predictably dismissed the brutal assault as a 'fake' operation carried out by Kyiv. Russia previously made the same outlandish claims about the atrocities in Bucha. Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram: 'It is impossible to even imagine the number of victims. 'It's useless to hope for decency and humanity from Russia.' Zelensky stressed that the target presented 'no threat to the Russian army' and had 'no strategic value' accusing Russia of sabotaging 'people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry'. A man filming from outside then says: 'This is it, the walls are collapsing.' Dmytro Lunin, head of Poltava regional administration, said: 'Missile strike on a shopping mall with people in Kremenchuk is yet another military crime by the Russians. A crime against humanity. This is an obvious, cynical act of terror against peaceful civilians. Russia is a terrorist state. 'Rescuers and policemen are working at the site. The number of victims is impossible to count as of now.' He said the death toll had risen from 10 to at least 13. Andrii Yermak, Head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said: 'They said they would be hitting centres of decision making. 'But even the most sick imagination would not have guessed they mean shopping centres by this. 'More than a 1000 civilians got wounded.' Russia has carried out a deadly missile strike on a busy shopping centre in Ukraine in Putin's latest barbaric attack against civilians It is just the latest strike carried out by Vladimir Putin's forces against defenceless civilians in Ukraine Panicked survivors desperately tried to flee for safety as the complex erupted in fire, with plumes of black smoke billowing into the sky Putin's propagandist-in-chief Vladimir Solovyov has already predictably dismissed the brutal assault as a 'fake' operation carried out by Kyiv City mayor Vitaliy Meletskiy said the strike had caused deaths and injuries, but gave no figures. Kremenchuk is an industrial hub in central Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnipro River. The city, which had a population of 217,000 before Russia's invasion, is the site of the country's biggest oil refinery. Russia has claimed that the carnage was a staged 'fake' operation, with TV war reporter Andrey Rudenko claiming: 'These freaks are back to provocations. 'The shopping mall in Kremenchuk, with allegedly thousands of people inside it. Videos show an empty car park with just a couple of cars. 'Was this a working shopping centre, there would have been lots of cars. Were there people inside the centre, and were they to be wounded or killed, then there would be no way these cars would be cleared away. 'There are no women by the shopping centre, though at this time of day shopping centres are filled with females. Yet we see mainly young men of similar age, and no panic. 'They are all dressed in shorts, they don't wear T-shirts. There is a feeling of a crowd of 'extras', similar to football fans or something like it. 'Conclusion: there is a sense they set it up themselves, or shot it for a strong pictures. But they didn't do it properly, again.' It is just the latest strike carried out by Vladimir Putin's forces against defenceless civilians in Ukraine, with hospitals, schools and homes destroyed throughout his savage invasion. Elsewhere, Russia is continuing to mount an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk region, 'pouring fire' on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, the local governor said today. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces were pummelling Lysychansk after capturing the neighbouring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. It's part of a stepped-up Russian offensive to wrest the broader Donbas region from Ukrainian government control in what Western experts say has become the new main goal of President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine, now in its fifth month. Volodymyr Zelensky said 1,000 civilians were in the crowded mall at the time of the strike, with scores feared dead The shopping centre is engulfed in flames after the attack in broad daylight as plumes of black smoke rise from the building The shopping centre is pictured before the brutal attack carried out by Putin's forces this afternoon 'They're pouring fire on the city both from the air and from the ground. After the takeover of Sevierodonetsk, the enemy army has concentrated all its forces on capturing (our) last stronghold in the Luhansk region: Lysychansk,' Haidai told The Associated Press. The Russians were trying to blockade the city from the south, 'destroying everything that their artillery and multiple rocket launchers can reach,' Haidai said. In recent weeks, Russian troops have captured several villages and towns southeast of Lysychansk, and were trying to halt access to the city from the south. Meanwhile to the west, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk - potentially the next major battleground - said Russian forces fired cluster munitions on the city after dawn, including one that hit a residential neighbourhood. Authorities say the number of dead and injured are still to be confirmed. The AP saw one fatality: A man's body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from scattered chest and head wounds. Ukraine forces have spent weeks consolidating their defences around Sloviansk out of concern that it could be the next big Russian target if Lysychansk falls. Last week, Zelensky said Russia wanted to 'capture and completely destroy' Sloviansk. Kremenchuk is an industrial hub in central Ukraine, situated on the banks of the Dnipro River Zelensky said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was 'unimaginable,' citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack Zelensky stressed that the target presented 'no threat to the Russian army' and had 'no strategic value' The shockwave from Monday's blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. 'Everything is now destroyed. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power,' said local resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. 'I can't even call to tell others what had happened to us.' Overall, Zelenskyy office said at least six civilians were killed and 31 others injured as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours - including Kyiv and major cities in the country's south and east. It said Russian forces fired rockets that killed two people and injured five overnight in and near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and continued to target the key southern port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and injured six people, including a child, it said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings in the city and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, Haidai, the governor, said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory further south was rendered impassable because of shelling. Such shelling is also making the evacuation of civilians increasingly difficult, Haidai said. The city had a pre-war population of around 100,000, approximately one-tenth of whom remain. Analysts say that Lysychansk's location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets river, as well as its large area dotted with hills, give a major advantage to the city's Ukrainian defenders. 'It's a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk,' said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. The Siverskiy Donets river encloses Lysychansk from the north and east, while the Ukrainian army continues to hold territory west of the city, which it uses to supply arms and humanitarian aid. The news came after Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said Ukrainian troops had destroyed a Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system in a series of strikes on the island on Sunday night. Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said Ukrainian troops had destroyed a Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system in the strike Snake Island is seen in an aerial photo on June 17 before Ukraine carried out a series of strikes on the strategic outpost By June 20, Ukraine had caused serious damage, with satellite imagery showing devastated regions Ukraine's southern operational command aimed strikes on the island less than a week before, with satellite images showing the major losses to Kremlin troops. The Russian Pantsir anti-aircraft system, a radar station and vehicles had been damaged in the June 20 attack on the island which has been a major battleground throughout the war. It is just the latest blow for Putin, as it emerged that a column of Russian rocket launcher vehicles were blown to pieces in an ambush by Ukrainian special armed forces. Footage shows Ukrainian troops opening fire and destroying six BM-27 Uragans, a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, as well as other Russian vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers. In a further blow to Putin, an invading Russian tank was obliterated in a minefield. Video shows the tank driving through the field before hitting a mine, causing a large explosion. Meanwhile, Ukraine's Ministry of Defence released footage showing a series of strikes on the Russian-occupied Snake Island, adding that 'the cleaning of our land will continue as long as is needed'. The 100-acre Snake Island outpost has proved to be a valuable strategic position for both sides, sitting some 80 miles off Ukraine's southern coastline in the Black Sea. Footage shows Ukrainian troops opening fire and destroying six BM-27 Uragans, a self-propelled multiple rocket launcher, as well as other Russian vehicles such as armoured personnel carriers. Russia seized the island early in the war and has largely managed to maintain control of it, but its forces there have been subject to bombing raids ever since. 'Another strike of the Ukrainian Army on the Russian troops on Snake Island,' Ukraine's Ministry of Defence said. 'The occupiers lost an anti-aircraft system Pantsir. The cleaning of our land will continue as long as needed.' Unofficial claims say Kyiv forces used US-supplied HIMARS missiles, although this was not confirmed. Ukrainian military spokeswoman Natalia Humeniuk said: 'We continue a [military] operation on Snake Island. 'Last night more than 10 accurate strikes were launched on the island. 'We are checking the results now, but we have already been informed that one more Pantsir-S1 air defense missile gun system was hit.' In February, Ukrainian border guard Roman Hrybov on Snake Island famously radioed 'Russian warship, go f*** yourself' to Russian officers aboard the Moskva. Hrybov and his crew were thought dead after the Moskva bombarded the island with artillery fire, but they miraculously survived and were given awards upon being returned to Ukrainian soil in a prisoner transfer last month. The latest strike on the Snake Island, comes as footage shows a column of Russian rocket launchers being destroyed in Ukraine's Donetsk region. It is just the latest blow for Putin, as it emerged that a column of Russian rocket launcher vehicles were blown to pieces in an ambush by Ukrainian special armed forces Footage shows the Russian vehicles being destroyed in the Ukrainian strikes Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani claims he could've been seriously 'killed' after a supermarket worker slapped him on the back in Staten Island on Sunday during a campaign stop for his son, Andrew, who is running for governor. 'His intent was to cause serious harm,' Giuliani said in a Facebook video. 'I could have fallen and cracked my skull and died.' Giuliani, once called America's Mayor, was shaking hands and passing out flyers at the ShopRite on Veterans Road at half-past 3 p.m., when a grocery store clerk, Daniel Gill, 39, came up behind and gave him a tap on the back, saying 'What's up, scumbag?' The former mayor said he had just gotten out of the bathroom and was standing with a crowd of supporters when the man accosted him. ShopRite worker Daniel Gill, 39, seen here touching former Mayor Rudy Giuliani's back during a campaign stop for his son, Andrew Bystander Rita Rugovar rubs Giuliani's back to comfort him after grocery story worker Gill, 39, tapped him on the back and said 'What's up, scumbag?' Daniel Gill, 39, pictured here with his lawyer Susan Platis appears in court during his arraignment for second degree assault on former mayor Rudy Giuliani Gill, of Staten Island, was released without bail after being arrested for assault on former Mayor Rudy Giuliani Daniel Gill, 39, outside his Staten Island home after his arraignment on misdemeanor charges that he assaulted former mayor Rudy Giuliani 'All of the sudden, I feel this 'Bam!' on my back,' Giuliani told the New York Post. 'I don't know if they helped me not fall down, but I just about fell down.' Gill was arrested on second degree assault, a felony, police said, but prosecutors later downgraded to misdemeanor assault, plus other misdemeanor charges, according to the New York Daily News. He was arraigned Monday afternoon and released without bail. 'The charges facing Daniel Gill, who has no previous contact with the criminal legal system, are inconsistent with existing law,' Legal Aid Society spokesman Redmond Haskins said in a statement. 'Our client merely patted Mr. Giuliani, who sustained nothing remotely resembling physical injuries, without malice to simply get his attention, as the video footage clearly showed.' Legal Aid says that it was Giuliani's crew who was harassing Gill, when one of the ex-mayor's entourage followed the grocery store worker, poked him in the chest and told him the was going to be 'locked up.' 'Given Mr. Giuliani's obsession with seeing his name in the press and his demonstrated propensity to distort the truth, we are happy to correct the record on exactly what occurred over the weekend on Staten Island,' Haskins said. Outside his home in Staten Island after his arraignment, Gill complained that he was the face of the economic downturn. Despite having a college degree in mass communications, he said he's only been able to land a minimum wage job. ShopRite has suspended him from the job, pending termination. On Facebook, in recounting the interaction, the former mayor, who was credited with cleaning up crime in New York City in the 1990s, said he felt like he was hit with a 'boulder.' 'It knocked me forward a step or two,' he said. 'It didn't knock me down, but it hurt tremendously. I didn't know what it was.' Video of the incident shows the man approach Giuliani from behind and firmly tap the former mayor's back as he walks by. Rudy Giuliani, 78, discusses his encounter with a supermarket worker during a campaign stop for his son Andrew, who is running for governor Giuliani doesn't appear to stagger, but a woman standing next to him gently rubs his back as they both turn toward the supermarket worker. 'You, you're one of the people that's gonna kill women. You're gonna kill women,' ' Giuliani said Gill told him. 'You and your fking friend are gonna kill women.' Giuliani, who also worked as a lawyer for the 2020 Trump presidential campaign in trying unsuccessfully to over turn the election amid unfounded claims of voter fraud, said the woman standing next to him touched his back, 'felt it and massaged it.' 'He hit him so hard that, I felt it,' Rita Rugova, an eyewitness, told the MailOnline. Rugova said she was about to ask for Giuliani's photo when Gill stormed passed. 'He's a senior citizen,' she said. 'No matter what your political views are, no one should be hit.' A retired first-grade detective who was standing there when it happened didn't initially make any moves to arrest Gill, who continued to berate Giuliani about his stance on abortion. 'He kept cursing and menacing,' Giuliani said, recalling how he turned to the detective and said 'Let's get him arrested. Let's make an example out of him.' Giuliani was in Staten Island campaigning for his son, Andrew, when he was struck by a disgruntled supermarket worker, upset over the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade Giuliani refused medical treatment at the scene, but said he has an appointment to get the injury checked out by his doctor on Monday. The supermarket worker appeared to be taking his frustration over the U.S. Supreme Court's Friday decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, nullifying the constitutional right to abortion. 'It underlines something that's happening nationwide,' Giuliani said. 'It could have been much worse. This idea that you attack people, who, 'In may case I'm pro-life, but respectful of the position of other people. I'm not protesting against other people. I respect the fact that there's a division of opinion in this country. There are many good people of good faith with other opinions' He called New York's abortion law 'sick and corrupt' and said it allows women to terminate a pregnancy two days before childbirth. Giuliani said that he's normally very popular in Staten Island, saying he carried 85 percent of the county when he ran for mayor. Staten Island is one of the only five boroughs where the number registered Republican voters, 95,308, come close to the number of registered Democrats, 124,491. The UK is facing 'significant risks' to its food standards after the impact of Brexit, Covid and the war in Ukraine in the last two years, according to a new report. The chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA) added there were 'major challenges' ahead for the UK. The FSA and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) published a report on the challenges facing the UK's food system. The two agencies said it comes as a response to pressures caused by Britain's departure from the EU, the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The report, published on Monday, says that food standards were maintained in 2021 despite the upheaval, but added that this is a 'cautious conclusion'. The report said: 'While food safety standards have largely been maintained, both organisations recognise there are significant risks ahead.' (Stock Image) Fewer food inspections are being carried out due to the strain on resources for local authorities (Stock Image) The report by the FSA and FSS said the delay in British imports controls for high-risk food could mean more unsafe products in the UK market FSA chair Professor Susan Jebb warned: 'The longer the UK operates without assurance that products from the EU meet our high food and feed safety standards, the less confident we can be that we can effectively identify potential safety incidents' The FSA and FSS identified two main concerns for UK food standards from the evidence reviewed. One is the fall in the number of inspections of food businesses because of fewer resources being available to local authorities. The other is the delay in establishing full UK imports controls for high-risk food from the EU, which could mean more unsafe products reaching the UK market. Professor Susan Jebb, the chair of the FSA said the report: 'Reflects on a period during which there has been significant concern about the impact of world events on food standards and safety. 'It is encouraging for UK consumers and our international trading partners that this report provides reassurance that the high food standards we enjoy in the UK have been upheld during a really tough period for the food system. 'However, the effects of recent momentous events are still being felt, and will continue to have an impact on our food systems for many years to come. 'We are under no illusions that there are major challenges ahead.' Prof Jebb said establishing full UK import controls on food from the EU by 2023 is a priority. 'The longer the UK operates without assurance that products from the EU meet our high food and feed safety standards, the less confident we can be that we can effectively identify potential safety incidents,' she said. Prof Jebb also warned progress with local authority inspections could be hurt by a lack of resources. 'We, along with our partners in Government, must all make sure that the current challenges in the food system are resolved in a way that puts us on course for a safe, healthier and more sustainable future food system,' she said. Mohamed Noor, the former Minneapolis police officer who shot dead an unarmed Australian woman after she called 911 to report a disturbance outside her home in 2017, was released from prison on Monday morning. Noor, 37, shot and killed Justine Ruszczyk Damond on July 15, 2017, after she called 911 to report what she thought was a woman being sexually assaulted outside her home. Damond approached his patrol car after seeing Noor arrive with his partner. He told a jury that he misperceived her to be a threat, so fired his gun. Mohamed Noor was released from prison on Monday morning, five years after shooting dead Justine Damond (right) after she called 911 He was initially found guilty of murder and manslaughter and was sentenced to 12-and-a-half years behind bars, however Minnesota's Supreme Court overturned the murder conviction last October. Noor was resentenced to five years as a result and on Monday, he was released to serve out the remainder - just over a year - on probation. The location of his incarceration was kept secret by the Minnesota Department of Corrections which claimed he was at risk of harm. He was moved from a Minnesota prison to a facility on North Dakota in 2019 for his own safety. Damond's family in Australia previously decried the reversal of Noor's murder conviction. Last week, anticipating his release from prison on Monday, her father told The Associated Press in a statement: 'His release after a trivial sentence shows great disrespect to the wishes of the jury who represented the communities of Minneapolis and their wish to make a statement about the communities' expectations of police behavior and actions.' Her stepmother said it was 'disappointing' and 'painful' that he had been released so close to the fifth anniversary of Justine's death. 'We're very disappointed. But we're not surprised. 'We've been watching events in Minneapolis from miles away and we're still bewildered about the charge being dropped and we're still bewildered about the culture of the Minneapolis Police Department,' she said. Damond with her American fiance Don, whose last name she had already taken when she died Noor's bodycam was not activated during the shooting and his partner's was only partially activated. The only bodycam footage from the incident was from the other officers who arrived at the scene once she was already dead Neither Noor nor his partner had their body cameras turned on for the shooting but Noor is shown afterwards, with his head in his hands, while his partner tells him to keep his mouth 'shut' Damond had dual Australian and American nationality. On July 15, she was at home alone when she heard noises outside her home. 'I can hear someone out the back and I'm not sure if she is having sex or being raped,' she told the operator. Noor served three years in total behind bars There is no bodycam of the actual shooting but there is of what happened next - when Noor's partner told him to 'keep his mouth shut'. Noor was charged with third degree murder which, in Minnesota, includes a stipulation that the defendant must be found to have a 'depraved mind'. He was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to 12.5 years in July 2019. In their appeal, his attorneys seized on that wording to get him out of jail, arguing that he didn't have a depraved mind or a disregard for life, and had an otherwise stellar record - aside from killing the unarmed woman. The state Supreme Court agreed and ordered that he should be resentenced. He was given a 57 month term last October - just shy of five years. On Monday, he was released after serving two thirds of that 57 month sentence - three years. He testified at his trial that he thought he was saving his partner's life and that Damond posed a threat when she appeared at the back of their patrol car. He claimed she had one arm raised and that it made him fear she was carrying a weapon. 'My intent was to stop the threat,' he said, adding that he was trying to protect his partner. He said he made a 'split second' decision as a result. Bodycam footage shows his partner telling him to keep his mouth 'shut' in the immediate aftermath of the shooting. Noor, sweating and speechless, then hopped in the back of a police cruiser. How much longer are we going to turn a collective blind eye to the improper behaviour of Prince Charles that isnt fit for a king? For years, the heirs allies have insisted the closer he comes to the throne, the more consciously he will adjust and tone down the more controversial aspects of his behaviour. Sadly, mounting evidence makes it clear to anyone with half a brain thats blatantly not the case. If anything, Charless conduct is becoming more inappropriate as his mother enters the twilight years of her spectacular and historic reign. As a proud monarchist who staunchly believes the Royal Family must remain politically neutral and whiter than white, Im desperately worried about what could transpire upon the Queens death (which I hope and pray remains many years away). In the last fortnight alone, weve seen Charles outrageously interfere in the governments controversial but, in my view, sensible and humane plan to transfer some illegal Channel migrants to Rwanda in an important bid to stop the scourge of human traffickers. In a stunningly brazen intervention, The Times newspaper was told the Prince of Wales had described the scheme as appalling in private conversations, hours after the government won a High Court challenge designed to halt the deportations. The leak of such a statement, possibly by allies of the prince, suggests Charles has learnt nothing over the years about why its essential he keeps his nosy, naive and idealistic beak out of sensitive political debates. Prince of Wales shakes hands with the Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim al Thani, at his residence outside Doha, Qatar, at a meeting in 2013. He accepted large cash donations totalling three million euros from the former Qatari prime minister, the Sunday Times has reported The newspaper claimed the prince personally accepted the cash donations for his charity the Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund between 2011 and 2015 from Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim who was prime minister of Qatar between 2007 and 2013 A source told the newspaper: He said he was more than disappointed at the policy. He said he thinks the governments whole approach is appalling. It was clear he was not impressed with the governments direction of travel. And the princes office at Clarence House did not deny Charles disagreed with the policy but insisted that he remains politically neutral. If you believe that, youll believe Meghan Markle is a selfless charity campaigner. The meddling from Charles soon backfired, with the extraordinary report in yesterdays Sunday Times revealing our next king had pocketed 1 million from a former Qatari Prime Minister and carried the cash in 500 notes in Fortnum & Mason carrier bags out of a meeting where no aides were present. if true, that mind-boggling revelation alone poses so many questions about Prince Charless morality and sanity that its hard to fathom this bloke will soon be in charge. I mean, what the hell was he thinking? According to the report, which has also not been denied by Clarence House, Charles received 3 million in total from Qatars former Prime Minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber Al Thani, whose nickname is HBJ, to be deposited into the bank account of the Prince of Waless Charitable Fund, responsible for funding his Scottish estate and other pet projects. While there is no suggestion the payments were illegal, they seem immoral and raise serious questions about a cash-for-access culture operating around our future head of state, especially after the bombshell last year that a close aide for Charles had secured a formal honour for a Saudi billionaire. The Prince of Wales addressed invited guests at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Dinner, hosted by him and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at the Marriott Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda, last week The Sunday Times reported that an adviser to Charles at the time, responsible for looking after some of the cash, said everyone felt very uncomfortable about the situation. No wonder! But the problem with royalty is that aides are often unwilling or unable to challenge their regal paymaster. The Charity Commission is considering launching an investigation, which would be highly embarrassing for the prince. I find it particularly ironic that holier-than-thou Charles, who is morally opposed to the Rwanda scheme, seems so prepared to cosy up to a Qatari regime responsible for egregious human rights violations, including the persecution of gay people, migrant workers and women. Its also astonishing to me that Charles still has an insatiable thirst for cash, even if he believes his fundraising is for worthy causes. Surely, the small fortune he receives thanks to the Duchy of Cornwall is enough? Worryingly, I fear Prince William may be starting to take his lead from daddy rather than his impeccable grandmother. He recently hijacked the Queens Platinum Jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace to broadcast eco-catastrophe porn. While protecting the environment is indeed a very important issue and one that I, as an environmentalist since childhood, believes warrants serious attention to suggest its not a political issue is delusional. The Duchess of Cornwall joined Prince Charles on stage for his speech a the Queen's Platinum Jubilee. He thanked her for being there for the nation in good times and bad for 70 years The UKs highly consequential rush to Net Zero, far faster than equivalent western democracies, is going to hit working class families in the pocket and I believe will become a defining anti-establishment issue like Brexit in the years to come. More so, Id argue the Queens almost universal admiration and respect comes in large part from the fact shes not warning us of our imminent demise at every available opportunity. Our royals should represent hope, positivity and support at times of crisis, and must not fall into the trap of hysterical and politicised hyperbole, even on passion projects they deem to be part of their remit. Charles has got everything he wanted before the Queens death, most notably a once unthinkable endorsement from his mother that his former mistress Camilla will become Queen Consort. Its time for him to grow up, stop the student politics and hire some adults who he knows will stand up to him the next time he proposes taking a million bucks in banknotes in a suitcase from a questionable foreign leader. This is no longer a side show of a scandal because the very survival of the monarchy is at stake. Charles, most of us are willing you to succeed but, as it stands, youre spectacularly effing this up. A retired retail manager sadly died from one of the worst salmonella infections a consultant had seen in his career after eating four duck eggs bought at a country show. Niptoon Tavakoli, 65, died in hospital two months after he was taken ill in June 2019, an inquest jury heard today. Mr Tavakoli's wife Cheryl told Doncaster Coroner's Court that they had bought six eggs from the Melton Mowbray Deli stall at Messingham Show, in North Lincolnshire, during a family day out on Sunday, June 2, 2019. Prison worker Mrs Tavakoli, 63, said her husband ate two of the eggs for his evening meal the day after the show visit. She said he fried them and ate them with toast. 'He fried them really well, she said. 'He didn't like eggs too runny.' Niptoon Tavakoli, 65, of Lindholme near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, died in hospital two months after he fell ill in June 2019 Mrs Tavakoli said that two days later, on the Wednesday, he decided to have two more of the eggs, saying: 'I really enjoyed those duck eggs, I'm going to have another two.' She told the jury of seven women and four men that he cooked them the same way. Mrs Tavakoli said that on the Friday morning she woke to find her husband had been ill in the night with diarrhoea and vomiting. She explained that she reluctantly made a trip to Essex due to a close family bereavement and, when she was away, her husband told her he had called for an ambulance. Mrs Tavakoli said her husband, who came to the UK from Iran to study engineering when he was 19, told her that paramedics gave him advice but didn't take him to hospital. She said that she returned to their home in Lindholme, near Doncaster, but he was still very unwell. She said she had thought things could have been different 'if she had stayed with him'. Mr Tavakoli, pictured with wife Cheryl, had purchased six duck eggs at the Messingham Show in north Lincolnshire. He fried two eggs on Monday and another pair on Wednesday but had fallen ill by Friday She nursed him for two days at home until the Monday, a week after the visit to the show, when she called 999 again. Mrs Tavakoli fought back tears as she explained how she was very concerned about her husband, fearing he may have sepsis. She said he had developed mottling on his body and his lips and nails had turned blue and he was freezing cold. The same paramedic crew attended and took him to Doncaster Royal Infirmary but Mrs Tavakoli said she was concerned about the ambulance crew's attitude and why they did not travel under blue lights. 'They seemed quite rude to be my husband - treated him like he was a fussy old man who just had D&V,' she said. 'But I was worried it was more serious. He was in a lot of pain.' Intensive care specialist Dr Jon Maskill said Mr Tavakoli was seriously ill from the time he was admitted to the hospital. He told the jury: 'This severity of Salmonella, in my experience, is unusual. It's not something you see a lot of. Mr Tavakoli's wife Cheryl said: 'He was enjoying life. He was waiting for me to join him in retirement' 'I've been doing intensive care for 27 years. He's only second person I've come across with this degree of salmonella.' Dr Maskill said antibiotics were used to treat the illness, but it was clear it was still in parts of his body. The consultant said there was no prospect of him surviving surgery to remove whatever part of body was harbouring the infection and Mr Tavakoli died of multi-organ failure on August 12, 2019. He said: 'We came to the sad conclusion there was nothing we could do for him and to keep him comfortable was all we were able to do for him.' Mrs Tavakoli explained how, when she realised the duck eggs might be responsible, she took the remaining two to the hospital for analysis and then scrubbed her home with bleach, throwing away the pan used. She said: 'I went home and I was in a panic, I felt like they were a ticking time bomb in my house.' Mrs Tavakoli told the court that her husband enjoyed coin fairs and casinos and was the healthiest he'd been at the time of this death. She said: 'He was enjoying life. He was waiting for me to join him in retirement.' Mrs Tavakoli and her family were present in court. The inquest continues. A WWE anchor has revealed that she is a 'product of rape' after her mom was sexually assaulted by a stranger as she issued a stinging rebuke of Roe v. Wade being overturned. WWE anchor Kayla Braxton tweeted: 'I am a product of rape. My mother was raped by a stranger - to this day, neither of us have any clue who my birth dad is. She chose to have me - clearly - but she did so because she CHOSE to. Not because a law told her she HAD to. It should always be our choice.' The 31-year-old took a strong pro-abortion stance, after initially sharing a photo of a poster justifying why terminations should be available to women or girls who've suffered sexual assault, or whose pregnancy puts their health at risk. She added: 'Just want to leave this here for the ignorant and arrogant people who have chosen to remain uneducated about what this means for we women who bare this burden. I did not write this, but it encompasses the reality. I would also add - im pro- a woman doing whats best for HER.' Braxton has previously spoken of how she was taken into care in 2000, after her mother Diane went to prison. They continue to have a good relationship, with Braxton paying tribute to both her biological and foster moms in one Mother's Day Instagram post. She was moved to speak out Friday's Supreme Court opinion overturning the landmark ruling from 1973 that provided constitutional protections for women seeking abortions, triggering nationwide protests. WWE anchor Kayla Braxton revealed her horrific conception while condemning the end of Roe v. Wade after Friday's Supreme Court ruling Braxton, 31, pictured here with her mother, revealed on Saturday that she is a 'product of rape' after her mother was attacked by a stranger Braxton has been an anchor for the WWE since 2016 Braxton, who is known for her bright personality as a WWE anchor, has previously opened up about her troubled childhood. She spent most of her young life in the foster care system, posting on her Instagram that a tattoo on her arm 'August 7, 2000' has to do with the 'day my life changed forever.' 'It's the date she was taken away from my mother, who was the only parent I knew. But that was also the date that I was given a new family and a chance to become the woman I was always destined to be.' In another post, Braxton thanks both of her mothers, the one who made the difficult decision to put her into another woman's care and the one who raised her as her own. Braxton, pictured here as a baby, spent most of her young life in the foster care system Braxton, who is known for her bright personality as a WWE anchor, has previously opened up about her troubled childhood Braxton's tweets received an outpouring of support by personalities in the wrestling community, including WWE superstar and ambassador Titus O'Neil Braxton's comments over the weekend also included included being thankful that her mother had a choice whether or not to have an abortion. The tweets received an outpouring of support by personalities in the wrestling community, including WWE superstar and ambassador Titus O'Neil. O'Neil tweeted that he was also conceived by rape, adding that it was his mother's choice that he was alive. 'This I Can and DO AGREE WITH .As a Product of a rape Myself I feel very STRONGLY about not only THE CHOICE that my mother was able to make but equally as STRONG on my feelings about other Women making their individual CHOICE for whats Right for them.' The WWE has been previously linked to the GOP with WWE owner Vince McMahon being a longtime GOP donor and supporter. McMahons wife, former WWE CEO Linda McMahon, ran twice as a Republican Senate candidate in Connecticut. She lost in 2010 to Richard Blumenthal and 2012 to Chris Murphy. Students return to school in Beijing Ecns.cn) 16:44, June 27, 2022 Students queue to enter a middle school in Beijing, June 27, 2022. (Photo: China News Service/Jia Tianyong) Students from primary to high school returned to campus in Beijing on Monday. Kindergartners will go back to school on July 4. In early May, Beijing suspended in-person classes at local primary and middle schools to prevent COVID-19 infection risks. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Hongyu) TRS Working President and state IT, Industries Minister K T Rama Rao was present, along with party MPs, when Sinha filed his nomination for the top post. (File image/Twitter) Hyderabad: The ruling TRS in Telangana on Monday said it would support the candidature of joint opposition nominee Yashwant Sinha in the Presidential election. TRS Working President and state IT, Industries Minister K T Rama Rao was present, along with party MPs, when Sinha filed his nomination for the top post. "President of @trspartyonline Sri KCR Garu has decided to extend support to the candidature of Sri @YashwantSinha Ji in the election for President of India "Along with our Members of Parliament, I will be representing the TRS at the nomination today," Rama Rao, son of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, tweeted. TRS sources on Monday said the party is supporting Sinha's candidature as he is the nominee of opposition parties and that TRS is vehemently opposed to BJP. Though the TRS had supported NDA in the election of President and Vice- President earlier, it has been strident in its criticism of the BJP in recent months for the latter's alleged politics of hatred and failure in governance. TRS, however, had stayed away from the joint meetings of the opposition parties to decide on their candidate in the Presidential election on the ground that it cannot share the platform with the Congress. TRS sources had earlier said the party maintains equidistance from both the Congress and the BJP. TRS has nine Lok Sabha members, seven Rajya Sabha members and 101 MLAs in the Telangana Legislative Assembly. An aspiring lawyer who was killed by a stranger in a late night random attack on her way home has been named by police, while a 29-year-old man has today been arrested on suspicion of murder. Zara Aleena, 35, was found with serious head injuries in Redbridge, Ilford on Sunday morning and the Met Police have since launched a murder probe. She was attacked by a stranger while walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street as horrified neighbours revealed how they heard loud screams following the attack. Police named and pictured the tragic victim today - just before they announced that a man, 29, was arrested on suspicion of her murder. London Ambulance, who called the police at 2.44am to the scene, took Ms Aleena to hospital where she later died. Her family have been informed of her death after she was ambushed and brutally attacked by the stranger. Zara, who lived near to where she was found, died of multiple injuries but police said that no weapons have been found yet as they continued with the probe. PICTURED: Aspiring lawyer Zara Aleena, 35, was murdered in the early hours of Sunday morning in Ilford, East London Police continue to work in Cranbrook Road, Redbridge, after Zara Aleena was murdered on Sunday morning Zara Aleena was attacked while walking in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street Today in a statement, Chief Supt Stuart Bell described the murder as 'tragic' and said a full investigation was underway. And local MP Sam Tarry said the murder was 'something out of the ordinary' for his constituents. Speaking at Ilford Police Station, he said: 'I can confirm that pending formal identification that we believe the victim to be a local 35 year old woman named Zara Aleena. 'At 02:44 am on Sunday, 26 June, Met officers were called by London Ambulance Service to a seriously injured woman found by members of the public in Cranbrook Road, Ilford. 'The woman, who we believe to be Zara, had suffered serious head injuries and despite the best efforts of paramedics and doctors in hospital, she died later on Sunday morning. 'Zara, who lived locally, was walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station when she was assaulted 'It is now believed that she was the victim of an attack by a stranger. 'Her family are aware of this and as the investigation progresses they will continue to be updated and supported. 'A special post mortem has been completed. Zara suffered multiple serious injuries that contributed to her death. 'There is no evidence at this time that weapons were used during the attack.' He added: 'We are keeping Zara's family up to date with our progress and my heartfelt condolences are with them at this terrible time. 'They are being supported by specialist officers - but I cannot imagine the pain they must be feeling. 'Resources from across the Met are being drawn upon to help us identify whoever is responsible and the murder investigation is developing quickly. 'Our priority is to catch the perpetrator as soon as possible and for that reason there are some aspects of the investigation I won't be commenting on in detail. 'Since the attack, officers have worked every hour to determine more about the circumstances - we are determined to catch the person responsible.' He said that a full forensic examination of the scene and the surrounding area is taking place - while officers are undertaking house to house enquiries. The Met have closed the road and put a cordon in place at the scene while urging women to be 'alert' but not 'alarmed' by the attack. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: 'Im heartbroken by the [death] of Zara Aleena who had her whole life ahead of her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and the whole community who are devastated by her death. 'I am in regular contact with the police who have been working around the clock and a man is now in custody on suspicion of murder. There will continue to be a large police presence in the area over the coming days. 'Understandably, women living in the area and across London will be feeling distressed and fearful after this awful attack and the death of another woman at the hands of a man.' Labour MP for Ilford Sam Tarry said: 'Cranbrook Road is part of my constituency. 'It looks like, on the face of it, a random attack. This is something out of the ordinary. 'And for that reason, the Met and the local authority are moving heaven and earth to ensure people's safety and put the perpetrator behind bars. 'My message to my constituents is that we will do everything to remember this woman who lost her life in the most horrendous way. 'We want our community to be free of fear and go about their daily business. 'People do need to be reassured, there will be a flood of police on the streets. 'I don't think people should be bowed or cowed into fear but of course people are going to be scared. 'I would say to people, check your cameras, your dashcams, any small clue could help.' Labour frontbench MP Wes Streeting, who said she was one of his Ilford North constituents, also paid tribute to the 35-year-old. Mr Streeting said: 'Police have named the victim of the murder on Sunday morning as my 35 year old constituent Zara Aleena. 'I am heartbroken for her family and send those who loved and knew her my deepest condolences.' One neighbour said today: 'I came home about that time, we had just been to an Ed Sheeran concert. 'I heard screaming but I didn't know whether it was a child or a fox. I didn't think much of it. It's a shock because it at 2am it was still busy with lots of cars.' She said the police had called at her house and told her father the woman was Asian and that they were looking for a white male. Forensic officers could be seen dragging a black tarpaulin towards a house where the attack took place. Numerous side streets are also cordoned off and police have extended the area taped off to made it even wider. The Met have closed the road and put a cordon in place at the scene while urging women to be 'alert' but not 'alarmed' by the attack Another neighbour said: 'It's terrifying to think a killer is on the loose and women are being warned to be careful. I won't go out after dark now, it's just too scary. It's just horrific to think this happened so close to home. He said: 'I got up and saw flashing lights at three in the morning and heard the helicopter and a police dog. When we found out what happed, we were just in shock. 'There is a house with ornamental posts outside, it was there. When you live on a main road like this you don't know anybody.' Meanwhile, a local restaurant owner claimed that his sisters who live in Afghanistan are 'safer' than those who live in certain parts of London. Tajik Ahmed, who has lived in Gants Hill for over 20 years, says the area is 'getting worse and worse.' The Met Police have launched a murder probe into the death of the victim who was found with serious head injuries in Redbridge, Ilford this morning. Pictured: The cordon and forensics at the scene He added: 'When I first moved here there was still crime, then it got better but over the past few years it seems to have gone backwards. I have two sisters but they both live In Afghanistan. I think they're safer there than in some parts of London.' Another Cranbrook Road resident, a 60-year-old father, said he 'worries' for other women in the area following the fatal attack - but that he believes the area to generally be safe. Subhash said: 'I have lived in the area for 15 years and this is the first time that this kind of serious incident has happened in this area. 'This happened last night. I was fast asleep, but then I heard the helicopter going round around 3am. I thought something must have happened.' Pensioner Diana Nesen, 82, said: 'I came out of my house to find a crime scene. The whole place was cordoned off. 'It's really a tragedy, you don't expect to find something like that happen on a road like this - it's awful. 'We don't know who she was but she must have been walking to the station early in the morning. But the trains weren't running so maybe she was a local too. 'It does make you feel more vulnerable. I hope they catch the killer.' Another resident Mubasher Khan, 45, said: 'I heard shouting on Sunday morning and thought it was someone who was drunk. 'Then I saw flashing lights at around 3.10am and someone from the police someone on my door and asked to see my CCTV. 'But the camera only covered the drive so it wasnt much help. This morning I heard about it and the girl who died.' She was attacked while walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street. Pictured: Police talk to a driver as they close the road Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met's Specialist Crime North Command, is leading the investigation and said: 'It is vital that my officers speak with every possible witness and everyone with information that may assist the investigation. 'We are appealing for anyone who was in the Cranbrook Road area of Ilford between 2am and 3am on Sunday morning to get in touch, including anyone who drove through the area and may have dashcam footage. 'We also want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the wider Ilford area overnight.' A courageous female Yorkie managed to escape the claws of a bald eagle after the bird of prey swooped down and snatched her off her owner's backyard in Canada. Doorbell footage from the home in Metlakatla, located in British Columbia, captured the encounter from June 16. Justin Dudoward, Coco's owner, said that he and his girlfriend had allowed their Yorkie to go outside while they sat in the living room. The black-and-white colored dog seemed to be minding her own business, biting off chunks of wood from the home's back porch before anticipating the bald eagle's charge at the last second. A Yorkie named Coco was snatched in the claws of a bald eagle earlier this month while she was biting off chunks of woods from the back porch of her owner's home in British Columbia, Canada The bald eagle hits a blue-colored bin right after capturing the Yorkie, prompting the dog to loudly squeal in fear of its life It was too little too late, as the eagle successfully snatched the pet before hitting a bin, prompting the Yorkie to yelp. The eagle then flapped its wings as it struggled to nail down the dog with its claws and can be seen struggling to take off from the grass. Seconds later, both animals go-off camera, but Coco is still heard loudly squealing, before she suddenly reappears in the video and bolts to the home. At that point, Dudoward said he heard his daughter scream and open the door to let their frightened dog back inside. The Yorkie came out of the scrape with a few scratches to her stomach, caused by the bald eagle's sharps claws. Dudoward brought Coco to the veterinarian the following day, after noticing her intestine was hanging out. The terrified Yorkie managed to escape the bald eagle's sharp claws, suffering scratches to its stomach, before running back inside Justin Dudoward, Coco's owner, brought her to the veterinarian the day after the incident after seeing his pet's intestine hanging out Luckily, the small-sized doggy recovered after three days of treatment and is still hanging out in the home's backyard 'like nothing happened to her,' Dudoward said. 'It was really scary. We didn't know it was that bad until we went back and looked at my doorbell camera,' Dudoward told Storyful. DailyMail.com has reached out to the Wildlife Rescue Association of British Columbia for comment over the incident. Bald eagles are capable of carrying up to four pounds of weight, according to Out There Colorado. They usually hunt rabbits, squirrels, snakes and other birds including duck, geese and coots. To avoid losing your dog to an eagle, owners are advised to use reflective metal tape, called 'scare tape', to frighten birds away. Bird spikes, hawk-roof netting, scarecrow owls and bird balloons also work to efficiently repel birds away. A health visitor who visited the home of a 10-week-old baby girl three days before she died told a court she raised concerns about her parents and believed the social worker would take the first steps towards removal or placement for the baby. Lily-Mai Saint George died from a serious head injury and had also suffered 18 rib fractures, two fractures in her leg and severe bruising. Lauren Saint George and Darren Hurrell, both 25, allegedly shook their daughter to death eight days after she was released into their care against the advice of hospital staff. Lauren Saint George smiles broadly as she leaves Woodgreen Crown Court on Tuesday. She and the father, Darren Hurrell, both 25, allegedly shook their daughter to death eight days after she was released into their care against the advice of hospital staff Darren Hurrell arrives at Wood Green Crown Court, London, where he and Lauren Saint George are charged with the murder of their baby daughter Health visitor Alberta Nyantaki told Wood Green Crown Court she went to the family's flat on 30 January and voiced concerns about their parenting skills. She said she noticed Lily-Mai had a 'mottled' appearance when she was weighing her during her visit. Jurors have heard that hospital staff told the parents to look out for Lily-Mai developing such an appearance. The health visitor described the mottling as 'a lace like pattern on the surface of the skin' which she noticed when Lily-Mai was naked and being weighed. However, Ms Nyantaki said Lily-Mai had gone a 'satisfactorily perfused pink' once she was dressed and put that down to the baby warming up. Patrick Gibbs, QC, for Saint George, asked: 'Did the mottling concern you?' Ms Nyantaki replied: 'Because she went back to a kind of satisfactory colour, no.' The court heard that neither parents raised any medical concerns about Lily-Mai with the health visitor during her visit. There was also no mention from them of the baby being 'floppy'. Ms Nyantaki said that, had that been mentioned, Lily-Mai would have needed to go to hospital for 'immediate attention'. At the end of her visit, Ms Nyantaki said: 'I felt like Darren was the main carer. 'He seemed happy to care for baby. 'Their...mental health challenges, childhood difficulties, made me feel, you know, their parenting skills were not right up there. I felt they needed support.' The health visitor said she noted that Saint George expressed 'extreme exhaustion'. 'She was on the bed the whole of my visit.' It is also said that the mother was not 'fully engaged'. Of the father, Ms Nyantaki recorded 'satisfactory handling', 'gentle cuddles and kisses' and that he spoke 'fondly' of the baby, the court heard. 'It looked like he wanted to care for Lily-Mai,' she said today. Saint George and Hurrell had been homeless for several years and staff had tried to stop them taking Lily-Mai home, believing they were incapable of looking after her, jurors heard. She recorded a concern that Hurrell had lain Lily-Mai six inches from the edge of the bed before leaving the room during the visit. Ms Nyantaki raised her worries to Haringey social worker Theresa Ferguson. 'It was about my observation in terms of baby being left on the bed and mum had said she was very tired and the childhood challenges and previous mental concerns.' After her conversation with Ms Ferguson, Ms Nyantaki said she believed the social worker was going to take the first legal steps towards removal or placement for the baby and the parents. Lily-Mai was born prematurely in November 2017 and spent the first two months of her life in Barnet Hospital, before she was discharged into her parents' care on 25 January 2018. Saint George and Hurrell had been homeless for several years and staff had tried to stop them taking Lily-Mai home, believing they were incapable of looking after her, jurors heard. They were horrified when Saint George had told staff that she 'hated' the noises Lily-Mai made and wished she would 'cry instead of groaning'. The baby died at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital on 2 February 2018, after being found unresponsive by her parents at their home in Belmont Road, Haringey, two days earlier. Lily-Mai was 10 weeks and two days old and only two weeks past a normal pregnancy term. Saint George, of Bonnington House, Enfield, and Hurrell, of Meadow Lane, Alvaston, Derby, deny murder, manslaughter, causing or allowing the death of a child and cruelty to a person under 16 years old. The trial continues. Ex-health secretary Matt Hancock has been caught on camera boogieing in an Oxford nightclub as he enjoyed a night out with old university friends after a reunion. Footage of the former Cabinet minister throwing some shapes was shared on social media as he danced the night away. In a TikTok video, the 43-year-old was seen grinning as he jigged up and down surrounded by fellow club-goers. According to The Sun, the West Suffolk MP was with a group at Oxford's Atik nightclub on Saturday. Mr Hancock was reported to have partied until 2am and enjoyed jiving to I Want You Back by the Jackson Five. In a TikTok video, ex-health secretary Matt Hancock was seen grinning as he jigged up and down surrounded by fellow club-goers. It is understood Mr Hancock and his old university friends headed to the venue after attending a reunion together. The politician graduated with a first-class degree in philsophy, politics and economics (PPE) after studying at Oxford University's Exeter College in the late 1990s. A spokesperson for Mr Hancock told MailOnline: 'Matt always likes to stay in step with the public.' The TikTok video of the MP dancing included the caption: 'Tudor gals go on a casual night out. Meet Matt Hancock.' It appears to be a reference to the Tudor Hall boarding and day school for girls, located just outside Oxford. Mr Hancock returned to the back benches of the House of Commons in June last year after he resigned as health secretary. He quit the Cabinet role after he was pictured breaching Covid guidelines by kissing his then aide Gina Coladangelo - who he first met at Oxford University - in his departmental office. Mr Hancock and partner Gina Coladangelo - who first met while at the University of Oxford together - are due to climb Mont Blanc in the French Alps later this year, in order to raise money for the new Cambridge Children's Hospital Mr Hancock has since described how he 'fell in love' with Ms Coladangelo during their affair. The couple are due to climb Mont Blanc in the French Alps later this year, in order to raise money for the new Cambridge Children's Hospital. Mr Hancock is also understood to currently be writing a book about his spell as health secretary during the Covid pandemic. His night out in Oxford comes after his former Cabinet colleague, Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove, was filmed enjoying himself at an Aberdeen nightclub last August. Boris Johnson used his speech at October's Tory conference to joke about how he had sent Mr Gove - who he dubbed 'Jon Bon Govey' - to show that nightclubs were safe once Covid restrictions were lifted. Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn will give evidence at the High Court in October to give evidence at trial to defend himself against libel claims made by a political blogger. Richard Millett, 50, has sued Mr Corbyn, who now sits as an Independent MP, over remarks he made during an interview on the BBC's Andrew Marr show in 2018. Mr Justice Nicklin considered pre-trial issues at a High Court hearing in London on Monday (June 27). Lawyers representing Mr Corbyn, who is fighting the claim, said 41 people, including Mr Corbyn and Mr Millett, could give evidence at the trial. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn speaks during Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons, London in 2018. His premiership was marred by accusations of anti-Semitism within the party Richard Millett, 50, has begun libel action against Mr Corbyn, saying that the allegations were entirely untrue and have caused lasting damage to his reputation Jeremy Corbyn at a pro-Palestine event in 2012, before allegations around systemic anti-Semitism under his later leadership came to light The row began when MailOnline exclusively revealed footage of Mr Corbyn saying that British 'Zionists' had 'no sense of English irony' despite having 'lived in Britain all of their lives', comments that were slammed by Jewish groups as anti-Semitic. On the Andrew Marr Show the following week, the Labour leader said he was referring to an event at which two British Zionists were disruptive. He said: 'I was at a meeting in the House of Commons and the two people I referred to had been incredibly disruptive. 'Indeed, the police wanted to throw them out of the meeting. I didn't. I said they should remain in the meeting. 'They had been disruptive of a number of meetings. At the meeting where [the Palestinian representative] spoke, they were quiet. But they came up and were really, really strong on him afterwards. He was quite upset by it and I was speaking in his defence.' One of the two was identified by MailOnline as Mr Millett, who often attends events he suspects of spreading anti-Semitism and writes about them on his blog afterwards. 'I didn't berate anybody and I'm not an aggressive person,' he told MailOnline. 'I've had this over the years, everyone's been trying to smear me as aggressive, and it's just not true. 'That's the smear, and now it's coming from the very top. Jeremy Corbyn is making it more widespread. He's trying to make me persona non grata.' Although Mr Millett accepts that he may have had a conversation with the Palestinian representative, he called the idea that he was aggressive 'ridiculous'. 'He's the last person I'd have a go at,' he said. 'We don't agree on Israel but I've always got on with him personally. 'He's a very personable chap. He always answers my questions and we never get into arguments.' Jeremy Corbyn has had the Labour Party whip removed since he was replaced as leader by Sir Keir Starmer - although the allegations date back to his leadership The Labour leader knew Mr Millett, whose father began the Millets high street outdoor clothing chain, personally at the time, the blogger said, as they 'mixed in the same circles' and were both involved with the same television station. This, he said, made his comments about him not understanding 'English irony' all the more hurtful. 'Corbyn knew me to say hello to me,' he said. 'It's not like I was a stranger. He read my blog. He knew that I was British and Jewish. He was targeting me.' Mr Millett said in 2019: 'Jeremy Corbyn has constantly been trying to paint me as some aggressive traitor who has brushes with police. 'Listening to his interview, you'd have thought that the police were on the verge of hauling me out of parliamentary events and it was only saintly Corbyn who stopped that happening. 'It's totally untrue. It's preposterous. I think he just said it on the hoof, under questioning on the BBC on Sunday. He can't actually back it up.' On the programme, it is claimed that the Labour leader painted a picture of Mr Millett as 'incredibly disruptive', claiming that the police wanted to throw him out of a pro-Palestine event in Parliament until Mr Corbyn said he could stay. Mr Millett says that the allegations were entirely untrue and have caused lasting damage to his reputation. He is suing Corbyn for 100,000. Court proceedings were allegedly delayed several times while Mr Corbyn was still the leader of the Labour Party - an allegation the Labour Party robustly denied at the time - but began in June 2019. Mr Corbyn is preparing a truth defence against the defamation claims but faces a claim for damages of up to 100,000 as well as a further 100,000 in costs if he loses the court battle. Mr Justice Nicklin is due to begin overseeing the trial on October 10. Lawyers estimate it will last 15 days. The judge told lawyers at today's hearing he will not let the trial turn into 'some sort of showpiece'. The New York state Supreme Court struck down a New York City law allowing noncitizens to vote on Monday. The New York City Council approved a law last December allowing legal residents who have been in the city for at least 30 days, including those with green cards and DACA recipients, to vote in city elections starting in 2023. The law would have added around 800,000 noncitizens to the city's voter rolls, but would not have allowed them to vote in state or federal elections. In January the Republican National Committee (RNC), New York Republican party and a number of other city council members who voted against the legislation filed suit. Justice Ralph Porzio, of Staten Island, ruled Monday that the law violated the state constitution which requires voters be citizens, but the case could continue on to the Court of Appeals. New York City Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez speaks during a rally on December 9 on the steps of City Hall ahead of a City Council vote to allow lawful permanent residents to cast votes in elections to pick the mayor, City Council members and other municipal officeholders Noncitizens must be living legally in NYC for at least 30 days or be authorized to work through programs like DACA or TPS The justice ruled that the law also violated New York State election law and the Municipal Home Rule. He said that to give noncitizens the right to vote there must be a referendum. More than a dozen communities across the U.S. already allow non-citizens to cast ballots in local elections, including 11 towns in Maryland and two in Vermont, but New York would have been the first major city to do so. Some states, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado and Florida, have adopted rules that would preempt any attempts to pass laws like the one in New York City. 'Today's decision validates those of us who can read the plain English words of our state constitution and state statutes: Noncitizen voting in New York is illegal, and shame on those who thought they could skirt the law for political gain. Opposition to this measure was bipartisan and cut across countless neighborhood and ethnic lines, yet progressives chose to ignore both our constitution and public sentiment in order to suit their aims. I commend the court in recognizing reality and reminding New York's professional protestor class that the rule of law matters,' said GOP City Council minority leader Joseph Borelli in a statement. After the city council passed the bill, it was sent to former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who neither signed nor vetoed it before leaving office. When Mayor Eric Adams came in, he also failed to sign or veto the legislation. The bill was deemed adopted because it was neither signed nor vetoed becomes legislation within 30 days. 'Today's ruling is a huge victory for election integrity and the rule of law: American elections should be decided by American citizens,' RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. Laurence Fox has returned to Twitter unrepentant after being suspended for posting a swastika made from LGBT flags, lashing out at actress Kathy Burke and other critics. Mr Fox, a 44-year-old actor turned campaigner, posted the picture of a swastika made out of four LGBT pride flags, saying the image reflected his belief that LGBT pride month is 'enforced with a sense of hectoring authoritarianism'. The tweet resulted in a sharp backlash, with Twitter temporarily freezing his account for violating their 'hateful imagery' policy, and a London Assembly member calling on the Met Police to investigate Mr Fox. The actress and comedian Kathy Burke wrote in a tweet: 'The existence of Lawrence [sic] Fox is another reason to be pro abortion'. Mr Fox responded to Ms Burke's barbed comment, writing: 'You used to be funny.' Caroline Russell, who is a member of the Police and Crime Committee in the Greater London Authority, also wrote on Twitter: 'I hope the Met Police will look into Laurence Fox using pride flags to create nazi imagery and posting the images on a public platform. 'This is a hate crime,' Ms Russell wrote. Laurence Fox, 44, an actor turned campaigner, was banned from Twitter over the weekend for posting a picture of a swastika made out of four LGBT pride flags The tweet showed four LGBT pride flags positioned to make a swastika, captioned with the words, 'Oh blessed and most holy month' A London Assembly Member called on Mr Fox to be investigated by the Met Police over his tweet Mr Fox accused Ms Russell of employing tactics reminiscent of those used by the Communist Chinese Party The actress Kathy Burke also waded into the social media spat Andrew Doyle, a playwright and journalist, earned himself a re-tweet from Mr Fox after posting something that resonated with his line of thinking Mr Fox hit back at the London Assembly member's intervention, however, accusing her of employing tactics reminiscent of those exercised by the Chinese Communist Party. He wrote: 'This is the UK, not China. Good to know you would like to see your political opponents prosecuted for "hate", locked up and probably worse. 'So thanks for proving my point for me,' Mr Fox said. In another tweet, Mr Fox shared a link to a satirical article entitled, 'Scientists Discover Remote Island Untouched By Pride Month'. Mr Fox captioned the tweet with the words: 'Don't cave in to the mob. Laugh instead.' Access to Mr Fox's Twitter account was restored this morning, to which he showed further contempt for Twitter rules as he retweeted Caroline Russell's tweet which showed the very image that Mr Fox had been suspended for - meaning the banned image was now back on his timeline. From this time, Mr Fox continued to retweet posts negative towards the LGBTQ flag. Perhaps as a way to get around the Twitter rules as he is not directly composing the Tweets himself. The polemicist and founder of The Reclaim Party proceeded to tell his 310,500 followers that the LGBT pride flag has become a 'holy flag' that 'cannot be criticised'. The Campaign Against Antisemitism hit out at Mr Fox for his 'insulting' post. Mr Fox retweeted Caroline Russell, who had shared the original banned image, putting the swastika made out of four LGBTQ pride flags back on his timeline. He continued to retweet other people's posts sharing negative views surrounding LGBTQ Mr Fox shared a satirical article about LGBT Pride Month from the website Babylon Bee Mr Fox's tweet was strongly condemned by the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust on Twitter And the Campaign Against Antisemitism criticised Mr Fox's 'insulting' tweet In a tweet, the campaign group wrote: 'Displaying pride flags in the shape of a swastika is not the edgy statement that you think it is. 'It is possible to express a view without the hate, and without insulting those murdered by the Nazis, which included Jews and LGBT people.' The Holocaust Memorial Day Trust added: 'We are appalled to see Laurence Fox's vile tweet this morning with abhorrent use of the swastika. 'Gay men experienced untold suffering under the Nazis, including murder, castration, and medical experimentation.' Twitter said Mr Fox's account was locked on Sunday evening for violating the site's rules, specifically their 'abusive profile information' and 'hateful imagery' clauses. After removing the banned image, Mr Fox proceeded to retweet other people who had already shared his image 'You cannot criticise the holy [LGBT pride] flags' Mr Fox asserted in a tweet after access to his account was restored. His political colleague Martin Daubney, deputy leader of the Reclaim Party, backed him up by posting his own image of a swastika, this time created from Union Jack flags (pictured) Mr Fox continued to retweet negative content of the LGBTQ flag - showing further contempt for Twitter's rules Mr Fox's political colleague Martin Daubney, deputy leader of the Reclaim Party, rushed to back him up on the social media site, posting his own picture of a swastika - this time compiled from Union Jack flags. 'So is this worthy of a ban?', Mr Daubney, a former Brexit Party MEP, asked in a tweet of his red-white-and-blue swastika. Seizing on Mr Daubney's now-deleted tweet, Mr Fox wrote: 'You can openly call [the Union Jack] a symbol of fascism and totalitarianism [on this site]. 'You cannot criticise the holy [LGBT pride] flags.' Mr Fox told MailOnline: 'While Im pleased that my account has been reinstated, this temporary ban only served to reinforce the rank hypocrisy which Twitter is engaged in. 'Over the Jubilee weekend, I lost count of the number of posts comparing the prominence of Union Jack flags around the country to Nazi Germany. 'The prominence of the various pride flags and symbols throughout the month of June however not only goes unquestioned, but its acceptance and celebration are enforced with a sense of hectoring authoritarianism. 'My post was clearly meant to highlight this double standard and the temporary ban which resulted from it effectively proved my point.' This is not the first time Mr Fox has faced a Twitter suspension - last year the actor was suspended over a controversial post on Manchester City Star Benjamin Mendy. A 15 year-old charged with a deadly high school shooting will be called as a witness at his parents' trial for allegedly letting him carry out the massacre. Ethan Crumbley, 15, has not yet stood trial for the Oxford High School shooting that happened in November 2021 and left four of his fellow students dead. But his parents are set to go on trial starting on October 24, 2022 for involuntary manslaughter charges. And Ethan is being called as a witness, it was revealed at hearing on Monday. Defense attorney Shannon Smith told Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews that Ethan's testimony would be related to 'extraneous matters' and not the school shooting. Ethan's parents, Jason and Jennifer Crumbley, are accused of failing to keep the gun used in the shooting secure at home and failing to reasonably care for their son when he showed signs of mental distress. They have pleaded not guilty. 'We need him as a witness in this trial,' said Smith, who represents Ethan's mother Jennifer Crumbley. 'There are just certain questions we would just not be able to ask. We do understand that.' From left, Jennifer Crumbley, attorney Shannon Smith, attorney Mariell Lehman, and James Crumbley sit during a hearing in the courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews, Monday, June 27, 2022 at Oakland County Circuit Court in Pontiac, Michigan Jennifer Crumbley, left, mother of accused shooter Ethan Crumbley, sits with her attorney, Shannon Smith, in the courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews for a hearing Monday, June 27, 2022 at Oakland County Circuit Court James Crumbley, father of accused shooter Ethan Crumbley, sits in the courtroom of Judge Cheryl Matthews for a hearing Monday, June 27, 2022 at Oakland County Circuit Court Prosecutor Karen McDonald asked in court if 'they want to call their son to somehow diminish - highlight - his role instead of his parents.' But Smith said calling him to testify 'is not about the defendants wanting to throw their son under the bus or make him look bad.' Smith added: 'This is about our clients defending the case.' The disclosure came during a court hearing in Pontiac, where Matthews ruled against the defense's motion for a change of venue for James and Jennifer Crumbley's involuntary manslaughter trial, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in late October. Ethan Crumbley attends a hearing at Oakland County circuit court in Pontiac, Mich., on Feb. 22, 2022. A judge on Thursday, June 23, 2022 postponed a murder trial until January in the case of the teen accused of killing four students and injuring others at a Michigan high school James and Jennifer Crumbley are accused of making the gun used in the November 30 shooting at Oxford High School available to their son after ignoring multiple red flags Matthews sided with the couple's arguments that some evidence, such as the condition of their home, would not be admitted at trial. Matthews said she would allow the Oakland County prosecutor's office to admit statements written in their son's journal, his text messages to a friend and his internet searches. Seven others, including a teacher, also were wounded during the shooting about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit. Ethan Crumbley faces murder and other charges. His trial is expected to start in January. His parents are accused of failing to keep the gun used in the shooting secure at home and failing to reasonably care for their son when he showed signs of mental distress. They have pleaded not guilty. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for Ethan Crumbley. Ethan Crumbley exhibited 'concerning behavior that indicated psychiatric distress, suicidal or homicidal tendencies and the possibility of child abuse and neglect' Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer embraces Oakland County Executive Dave Coulter as the two leave flowers and pay their respects on Dec. 2, 2021 at Oxford High School in Oxford, Michigan. The school is now being sued by the families of the victims On the morning of the shooting, Ethan's parents were summoned to the school and confronted with his drawings, which included a handgun, a bullet, a bloodied human figure and the words: 'the thoughts won't stop. Help me.' Authorities said the parents refused to take him home after the 13-minute meeting and were told to get him counseling. The case against them is highly unusual because parents are rarely held criminally responsible for teens accused in mass school shootings. The Crumbleys' attorneys have insisted the couple didn't know their son was homicidal and might be planning an attack, and didn't make the gun easy to find in their home. Ten people are dead and 251 injured after a toxic gas tank exploded and released toxic gas over a Jordanian port when workers dropped it on to the dock of a ship. Dramatic footage shows docking workers lifting the tank on to a container ship in Jordan's southern port city of Aqaba when it slipped from the hook, bursting and spreading deadly fumes around the port. The crane can be seen dangling the container over the ship before releasing it early, letting it fall to the ground where it explodes in a plume of yellow smoke. Workers were trying to place the tank on to a container ship, with officials said the cylinder contained chlorine about to be exported overseas. Port workers were caught on camera trying to flee the fumes. A statement seen by the Jordan Times said the leak resulted from a technical malfunction in the switch of the 1,500-litre chlorine cylinder. At least 5 dead and 200+ injured following a toxic gas spill in Aqaba, #Jordan. pic.twitter.com/dQwQqlgzJM Doge (@IntelDoge) June 27, 2022 Dramatic footage shows docking workers lifting the tank on to a container ship in Jordan's southern port city of Aqaba when it slipped from the hook, killing at least 10 people The crane can be seen dangling the container over the ship before releasing it early, letting it fall to the ground where it explodes in a plume of yellow smoke A statement seen by the Jordan Times said the leak resulted from a technical malfunction in the switch of the 1,500-litre chlorine cylinder Port workers can be seen trying to flee the fumes as it spreads around the Jordanian docks CDD teams administered first aid to the injured and took them to Princess Salma and Karak hospitals, a CDD statement said. The directorate said authorities sealed off the area after evacuating the injured to hospitals and sent specialists in to address the situation. Dr. Jamal Obeidat, a local health official, urged people to stay inside and close windows and doors. The nearest residential area is 15 miles away, but it is impossible to say how far the substance might spread. The January 6 committee will hold a surprise hearing on Tuesday afternoon to present 'recently obtained evidence,' the panel announced on Monday. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson said last week that the final hearing of the month would be on June 23, with the remaining presentations delayed until July. The last-minute announcement came roughly 24 hours before the hearing is scheduled to commence at 1 p.m. Eastern Time. Unlike previous announcements, the panel did not identify who it would be hearing from but confirmed it would 'receive witness testimony.' DailyMail.com has reached out to the committee for comment. In its last hearing on Thursday, the committee outlined how Donald Trump attempted to pressure the Justice Department to pursue his baseless election fraud theories. Former Trump DOJ officials testified about an explosive stand-off between the ex-president and 'hundreds' of administration officials who were ready to resign if 2020 election denier Jeffrey Clark was appointed Attorney General. Ex-White House aides also accused certain Republican lawmakers of seeking a pardon from the former president, which committee members have insisted is a sign of culpability in Trump's scheme. But Thompson told reporters the day before that the panel's remaining planned hearings would be put off until after the House of Representatives returns from recess, which would be the week of July 11. The committee was originally scheduled to have two more hearings this week but they were delayed until July Chairman Bennie Thompson told reporters on Wednesday last week that the panel has 'taken in some additional information thats going to require additional work' Those two were originally scheduled for this week. 'Weve taken in some additional information thats going to require additional work,' the Mississippi Democrat said. 'So rather than present hearings that have not been the quality of the hearings in the past, we made a decision to just move into sometime in July.' One of the things driving the delay was a trove of new footage from British documentary filmmaker Alex Holder, who began filming the Trump White House in September 2020 for a three-part series and has sit-down interviews with the former president himself as well as his family members and former Vice President Mike Pence. Holder testified behind closed doors on Thursday after the committee subpoenaed his material, which reportedly includes three interviews with Trump - two of them taking place after the January 6 attack. Throughout its hearings the committee has attempted to frame the riot as Trump and his allies' 'last stand' in a wider plot to steal the last presidential election. The former president, lawmakers say, pushed claims he knew were false and pressured other government officials to do so. It's presented through a mix of videotaped and in-person testimony, primarily from Republican officials and Trump aides, that the then-commander-in-chief was told time and again by members of his own orbit that there was no widespread fraud. During its last hearing the committee outline Donald Trump's efforts to pressure his Justice Department to investigate his false election fraud theories Lawmakers argue the Capitol riot was the 'last stand' of Trump and his allies in a wider plot to undermine American democracy A new poll released on Sunday suggests the gravity of the committee's allegations are sinking in with the American public - even if they are not following the hearings as closely as lawmakers might like. After watching the hearings, 46 percent of American voters who responded to the CBS News survey believe the committee should refer Trump for criminal charges. Thirty-one percent believe the committee should advise against it and less than a quarter - 23 percent - said the panel should not make any recommendation at all. Fifty percent of respondents to the poll, taken between June 22 and 24, said he tried to 'stay in office through illegal means.' But when it comes to watching the proceedings, less than one-fifth of voters said they were paying significant attention. Just 18 percent of Americans said they were spending 'a lot' of time watching the hearings. A 30-percent plurality said they were paying 'some' attention to them, and 53 percent of respondents admitted to paying 'not much' attention or 'none at all.' Political analysts say that a majority of the community-based complaints coming in at Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam were of the poor basic amenities like bad road conditions, drainage and drinking water problems and lack of development of public spaces. Representational image/DC VIJAYAWADA: The YSR Congress government has intensified its efforts to pacify dissatisfied segments of the population by offering to spend an additional Rs 12 crore in each assembly segment for resolving local issues. The money will be routed through local legislators and spent in the next two years, before the next general elections in 2024. YSRC MLAs were touring in their constituencies under the Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam mass contact programme to engage the people, as advised to them by party president and chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. The mass contact programme was aimed majorly at explaining to the people the good works of the government including the welfare and development programmes and at resolving local issues. The Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam started on May 11. People came forward to raise various issues and legislators often faced ire of the public in several constituencies because of lack of development and persisting civic problems. It is in this context that the chief minister announced the Rs 2 crore special fund for every MLA to resolve local issues during the Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam programme but the orders regarding the same were not issued for some reason. Jagan reviewed the mass contact programme after a month and expressed dissatisfaction over the poor performances of several legislators. He affirmed that the party tickets for the 2024 elections will be given purely on performance basis. The ministers and legislators meanwhile took up the issue of non-issuance of the order for the Rs 2 crore fund and sounded the CM. They pointed out to him that the mass contact programme would continue for eight months and issues would multiply. The CM promised to issue the orders for the fund allocation and asked legislators to also use the Rs 5 crore fund for each constituency available with the district administrations. If Rs 7 crore is spent, then the government will allot another `5 crore for the purpose, he said. Jagan asked the MLAs to send their proposals to the CMO if huge funds were required for any project in their constituency. Political analysts say that a majority of the community-based complaints coming in at Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam were of the poor basic amenities like bad road conditions, drainage and drinking water problems and lack of development of public spaces. Most of these problems can be resolved with a fund allotment of Rs 12 crore to each constituency. The CMO funds can also be used for big projects and these initiatives will be helpful to pacify those who are resentful, and they can be attracted to the YSRC in the 2024 elections. MLAs Malladi Vishnu, A Ramakrishna Reddy, Md Mustafa and others said the Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam is a revolutionary programme and the first-of-its kind to meet people and resolve their issues. Minister for BC welfare Srinivasa Krishna said at a Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam programme that the state government would sanction Rs 5 crore to every constituency for redressal of grievances. The CM would conduct district-level review meetings on June 30 and more funds would be sanctioned for area development, he said. Advertisement Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were spotted on their way to pay a visit to Oprah's $100million Montecito mansion over the weekend, DailyMail.com can reveal. Exclusive photos show the erstwhile royals, 37 and 40, turning into the 70-acre property late Saturday afternoon accompanied by a woman believed to be the pair's friend, actress Janina Gavankar. What looked like a baby car seat was strapped in next to Meghan, but it is unknown if either Lilibet or Archie were in the car to visit Auntie Oprah. Sources told DailyMail.com the trio spent an hour at the palatial estate and made the five-minute journey from their own Montecito home in a convoy of cars that included a Range Rover carrying security personnel. Harry was driving the lead car, while Meghan could be seen chatting to both occupants from the backseat. Exclusive DailyMail.com photos show Harry and Meghan driving to friend Oprah Winfrey's home in Montecito on Saturday afternoon Prince Harry was seen behind the wheel of his black Range Rover, alongside a woman believed to be Janina Gavankar, while wife Meghan, 40, took the back seat The trio's security detail trailed close behind them as they made the short drive over to the talk show host's $100million home in a convoy of cars that included a Range Rover carrying security personnel What looked like a baby car seat was strapped in next to Meghan, but it is unknown if either Lilibet or Archie were in the car to visit Auntie Oprah The visit comes after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made global headlines and made claims of racism within the royal family during their sensational tell-all interview with Oprah, 68 in March 2021 News of the couple's visit to Oprah could come as a surprise to Queen if another tell-all interview is in the works less than 18 months after their sensational chat with the talk show host, 68, made global headlines and sparked a royal racism scandal. During the March 2021 sit-down the pair claimed an unnamed member of the royal family had asked questions concerning son Archie's skin tone. Harry said the conversation took place before the couple got engaged, while Meghan said it happened while she was pregnant. And although Archie already has a title and cannot be styled a prince until Prince Charles becomes king, Meghan insisted he was denied one due to racism. They also claimed they were cut off financially by Prince Charles and complained about their Metropolitan Police security being withdrawn even though the taxpayer-funded perk is only extended to senior working royals. Mom-of-two Meghan also complained that she was left to struggle with her mental health with no help and sensationally claimed the Duchess of Cambridge had made her cry. Mom-of-two Meghan complained in a previous interview with Oprah that she was left to struggle with her mental health with no help and sensationally claimed the Duchess of Cambridge had made her cry The couple's friend, actress Janina Gavanka, was seen traveling with them in the SUV At one point, Meghan and the front seat passenger appeared to be engrossed in a very spirited conversation Prince Harry and Meghan's bombshell interview with Oprah aired on March 7, 2021 after the couple left England and began settling into life as private citizens in the US Harry and Meghan have maintained a relatively low profile since returning from their short trip to London earlier in June and before this weekend had only been seen once during a Los Padres polo match News of the couple's visit to Oprah could come as an unpleasant surprise to Queen if another tell-all interview is in the works less than 18 months after their sensational chat with the talk show host, 68, made global headlines The bombshell interview prompted a rare intervention by the Queen who said in a statement that 'recollections may vary'. Meanwhile the Duke of Cambridge, asked about alleged royal racism shortly after the two-hour special aired, told reporters: 'We are not a racist family'. The visit to Oprah's home comes less than three weeks after Meghan and Harry visited the UK to take part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations. During the short trip to London, the couple kept a low profile but were photographed watching Trooping the Colour from a window overlooking Horse Guards Parade. They also attended the Platinum Jubilee service of thanksgiving at St. Paul's Cathedral where they were booed by the crowd as they arrived and were relegated to seats in the second row behind the Earl and Countess of Wessex. Meghan and Harry, who were accompanied by Archie, three, and Lilibet, one, were also banned from taking photos during a private meeting with the Queen where she was introduced to her great-granddaughter for the first time. They later released a photograph of their infant daughter taken during her first birthday celebrations at Frogmore Cottage. The couple's Range Rover was snapped turning into the 70-acre property late Saturday afternoon Their bombshell interview with Oprah on CBS was shot at an unnamed friend's home in Santa Barbara, California Oprah's massive Montecito mansion is just a five-minute drive from Meghan and Harry's property nearby The former royals are currently living in their $14 million mansion in Santa Barbara after dramatically leaving the royal family in 2020 Although they are believed to have spent some time with Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, they missed out a private meeting with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and flew back to the US before the celebrations were over. During the run-up to the Jubilee, courtiers had been concerned that the pair would attempt to bring a Netflix camera crew along as happened during a flying visit in May en route to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games. In the event, no Netflix crew attended. Harry also provoked outrage after telling CBS of his concerns about the Queen telling the channel he wanted to make sure she has the right people around her. And although the pair pulled off their Platinum Jubilee trip largely without incident, they were accused of 'enormous hypocrisy' by royal biographer Tom Bower for their decision to fly private. The eco-warrior couple used a gas-guzzling Bombardier Global 6000 for the trip at a cost of $196,000 (160,000). The visit to Oprah's home comes less than three weeks after Meghan and Harry visited the UK to take part in the Platinum Jubilee celebrations The Sussexes were also banned from taking photos during a private meeting with the Queen during their trip. Pictured: Camilla, Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth II, Prince George, Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Kate Middleton and Prince Louis on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on June 5 The plane is billed as an 'ultra-long range' 13-passenger private jet which comes with its own private stateroom that includes a flatbed and can travel more than 6,000 miles without stopping. Climate experts believe the journey resulted in ten times more carbon being emitted than if they had taken a commercial flight. The Sussexes' flight from Farnborough in Hampshire to Santa Barbara will have emitted nearly 60 tons of carbon dioxide, according to chartered flight provider Paramount Business Jets. Harry and Meghan have maintained a relatively low profile since returning to California and have only been seen once during a Los Padres polo match. A Texas mayor who was accused of trying to lure a 14-year-old girl for sex has resigned. Matthew McIlravy, 42, who has served as mayor of Pilot Point, Texas since May, submitted his resignation last Thursday before a city council meeting. He is accused of trying to meet up and engage in sex with a girl he thought was 13 according to an arrest warrant. 'To the Pilot Point City Council and City Manager, I am resigning as mayor of Pilot Point effective immediately,' McIlravy wrote in his resignation letter, WFAA reported. McIlravy, who is a married father of two sons, was charged last week with solicitation of a minor under the age of 14, according to Dallas Morning News. Matthew McIlravy's booking photo from the Dallas County jail he was brought to after his arrest Pilot Point Mayor McIlravy, 42 and his wife Ashley in a photo used to promote church events He was booked into Dallas County jail on Tuesday following the second-degree felony charge, before being released on bond. McIlravy was arrested following a five-month undercover operation by the Internet Crimes Against Children Unit of the Dallas police. The effort involved involved multiple agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Task Force, Homeland Security Investigations, Texas Department of Public Safety and Collin County District Attorneys Office Investigators said he also had 'additional communication with minors' who have not yet been identified and that the investigation is ongoing. It is unclear if McIlravy has obtained an attorney. McIlravy was elected mayor of the Denton County town in May, which has a population of approximately 4,000 residents. After the resignation, Pro Tem Mayor Chad Major announced he would be assuming the responsibilities of mayor according to KDFW-TV. Major also declined to address McIlravy's arrest at the meeting, saying it was 'not the place to address complaints against public officials or staff, and complaints should be submitted to the city manager in writing.' A Nazi concentration camp guard, aged 101, charged with murdering thousands of prisoners during the Second World War insisted he did 'absolutely nothing' at his trial today. Josef Schuetz is the oldest person so far to face trial over Nazi war crimes committed during the Holocaust. At his trial in Germany today, June 27, he again denied being complicit in war crimes during the Holocaust as his trial drew to a close. Josef Schuetz, 101, is the oldest person so far to face trial over Nazi war crimes committed during the Holocaust. Pictured: Schuetz at his trial in Germany in December last year Prosecutors say Schuetz 'knowingly and willingly' participated in the crimes as a guard at the camp and are seeking to punish him with five years behind bars. Pictured: Holocaust survivor Leon Schwarzbaum holds a picture in the courtroom during the trial at the Landgericht Neuruppin court in in October last year What is the history of the Sachsenhausen concentration camp and how many people were killed there? The front gate of Sachsenhausen Built in the summer of 1936 by internees from other camps First concentration camp built after Himmler was made chief of police More than 200,000 people were interned between 1936 and 1945 Prisoners included political opponents and those deemed 'racially inferior' such as such as Jews, Sinti and Roma, and people persecuted as homosexuals Prisoners forced to work in factories 13,000 Soviet prisoners, including many Jews murdered in autumn 1941 A gas-chamber was built in Spring Source: www.sachsenhausen-sbg.de Advertisement Schuetz is accused of involvement in the murders of 3,518 prisoners at the Sachsenhausen camp in Oranienburg, north of Berlin, between 1942 and 1945. Sachsenhausen was said to be an 'experimental extermination camp' where the 'cruellest methods' were invented. The pensioner, who now lives in Brandenburg state, has pleaded innocent throughout the trial. He insisted to the court that he did 'absolutely nothing' and was not aware of the gruesome crimes being carried out at the camp. 'I don't know why I am here,' he said again at the close of the proceedings, his voice wavering. Dressed in a grey shirt and pyjama bottoms and sitting in a wheelchair, Schuetz insisted he had had nothing to do with the atrocities and said he was was 'telling the truth'. Antoine Grumbach, 80, whose father died in Sachsenhausen, said that Schuetz 'does not want to remember', calling it 'a form of defence'. The trial was not just about 'putting a centenarian in prison', he said. It had also produced evidence that Sachsenhausen was an 'experimental extermination camp'. 'All the cruellest methods were invented there and then exported,' Grumbach said. Prosecutors say he 'knowingly and willingly' participated in the crimes as a guard at the camp and are seeking to punish him with five years behind bars. But Schuetz's lawyer, Stefan Waterkamp, said that since there were no photographs of him wearing an SS uniform, the case was based on 'hints' of his possible involvement. 'All the cruellest methods were invented there and then exported,' said Antoine Grumbach, 80, whose father died in Sachsenhausen. Pictured: The entrance tower of the former concentration camp The gate of the Nazi extermination camp bore the phrase 'Arbeit macht frei' - 'work sets you free' Schuetz said he did 'absolutely nothing' and was not aware of the gruesome crimes being carried out at the camp. Pictured: Prisoners in the concentration camp at Sachsenhausen in December 1938 'I don't know why I am here,' Schuetz insisted to the court. Pictured: A roll call in front of the camp gate of Sachsenhausen. In the foreground on the tower a machine gun pointed at the prisoners 'As early as 1973, investigators had information about him but did not pursue him. At the time, witnesses could have been heard but now they are all dead or no longer able to speak,' Waterkamp said. It would be a mistake for the court to try to 'make up for the mistakes of a previous generation of judges', the lawyer said. The verdict is expected tomorrow, Tuesday June 28. The final surviving member of the group of ISIS fanatics who terrorized Paris with a string of attacks in November 2015 has begged for clemency on the final day of his trial, saying he is not 'a murderer'. Salah Abdeslam, 32, told the court he had apologised for his actions and to convict him of murder would be an 'injustice'. The five judges overseeing the trial into the attacks, which took place at multiple locations across the city including in the Bataclan concert hall, headed to a secret location today (June 27) to consider their verdicts. The specially built court in central Paris held its final hearings on Monday after nine months of testimony and questioning that has seen the only surviving Islamic State attacker, Salah Abdeslam, beg for clemency. Salah Abdeslam, 32, told the court he had apologised for his actions and to convict him of murder would be an 'injustice' The former ISIS member was arrested in Brussels after a Europe-wide manhunt in March 2016 Hundreds of tributes were laid by the Bataclan and other target sites to those who had lost their lives in the attacks, which killed 130 people During proceedings he told the court: 'I've offered you my apologies. Some people will say that they're insincere... as if apologies could be insincere in the face of so much suffering. 'I went to prison at the age of 26. I'm not perfect, I made mistakes, it's true. 'But I'm not a murderer, I'm not a killer. If you convict me for murder, you will be committing an injustice.' Abdeslam has not denied dropping off other suicide bombers during the trial or being part of the conspiracy to attack Paris on November 13, which left 130 people dead. But he claims he backed out of his mission to blow himself up in a bar in northern Paris - something prosecutors have argued is untrue. Citing his own letters and earlier statements, prosecutors say Abdeslam's suicide belt was defective, meaning he was unable to detonate himself. The devastating attacks were the biggest peace-time atrocity in modern French history, sending shockwaves through the country Abdeslam (right) stands next to some of the other defendants in the trial. The judges have now withdrawn to a secret location to deliberate their verdicts. Abdeslam was arrested by police in Brussels, Belgium after fleeing Paris in the wake of the deadly attacks. He was charged with multiple counts of murder, complicity to murder, belonging to a terrorist organization and taking part in a conspiracy to commit murder and kidnapping as a member of a terrorist organization. During the assault on the property where he was arrested Abdeslam was shot and briefly admitted to hospital. Verdicts for him and 19 other suspects on trial are due on Wednesday afternoon from five judges who were taken to a secret location in the Paris region to mull their verdicts. Only 14 people have appeared in the historic court, with the other six missing or presumed to be dead. Prosecutors have called for a life sentence without parole for Abdeslam, who is French but grew up in Brussels and has family roots in Morocco. During her closing arguments on Monday, Abdelslam's lawyer Olivia Ronan told a panel of judges that her client is the only one in the group of attackers who didn't set off explosives to kill others that night. He can't be convicted for murder, Ronan said. 'If a life sentence without hope for ever experiencing freedom again is pronounced, I fear we have lost a sense of proportion,' Ronan said. The November 2015 attacks were the biggest peace-time atrocity in modern French history, sending shockwaves through the country and making clear the threat posed by the Islamic State group from its base in Iraq and Syria. The attack on the Bataclan concert venue was one of the most deadly sites. Gunmen from the Islamic State group burst into the hall while US rock band Eagles of Death Metal were halfway through their set. The band escaped through a side door but their tour manager was killed, along with 89 others. The attackers took hostages inside the music hall during an hours-long assault that ended after police shot dead one militant and the two others detonated their suicide vests. Survivors have recounted playing dead for hours, or hiding in cupboards, not knowing if their friends or relatives were still alive. A majority of those on trial for the attacks offered apologies and appeared to show a measure of remorse on Monday, including one of Abdeslam's co-defendants and close friends, Mohamed Abrini. 'I've put faces to the victims. I'm aware that what happened is disgusting,' he told the court. 'In a way, I could have stopped all that,' added the 37-year-old Belgian, who admitted in court that he had originally been chosen for the 10-person team which attacked Paris. Abrini, accused of having provided weapons and logistical support, took part in separate suicide bombings that struck Brussels in 2016, though he decided not to detonate his vest at the last minute. Prosecutors have called for him to serve a life sentence with a minimum 22-year prison term. He has been banned from ever flying Delta again and currently awaits trial He was taken into questioning upon arrival and confessed to have consumed white wine and beer before taking an Ambien pill Durning then touched the woman's breasts and also had his pants unzipped A woman who was asleep next to the victim saw Durning remove his hand from the girl's thigh as soon as she woke up Durning touched the victim's hair and neck before slowly moving his hand up her inner thigh The girl's mother was sitting two rows ahead of her daughter and Durning's row due to 'reservation issues' Durning, of Altadena in Los Angeles County, sat in an aisle seat to the left of the minor, who is unidentified and referred to as M.V. (Minor Victim) in legal records The plane was an overnight flight from LAX to Orlando International Brian Patrick Durning, 51, is accused of sexually assaulting an underage girl on a Delta flight last week A California man has been arrested for sexually assaulting a girl on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Orlando - and then blamed his actions on drinking wine and beer before popping an Ambien. The girl was sitting separately from her mother, who was two rows ahead because of reservation issues. The accused, Brian Patrick Durning, 51, then allegedly groped another woman who came to the girl's rescue. Durning was taken into custody on Friday by federal marshals after Delta flight 2954 landed at Orlando International Airport from Los Angeles (LAX) around 7.30am, according to a criminal complaint submitted to the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and obtained by DailyMail.com. The Altadena, Calif., man was sitting in an aisle seat to the left of the minor, who is unidentified and referred to as M.V. (Minor Victim) in legal records. She was sitting in a middle seat and is described as being older than 12 but younger than 16. The girl's mother was sitting two rows ahead of both her daughter and Durning due to 'reservation issues,' according to the complaint. After the plane's LA departure, Durning ordered a glass of white wine, according to the complaint. He had already consumed a couple of beers before he boarded the flight on June 24. 'After consuming the drink, Durning began to cough and sneeze on MV,' the legal complaint reads. 'At some point thereafter, Durning began to touch MV's hair and neck. He also tried to put his arm around MV. When he did so, MV tried to lean away from Durning.' Brian Patrick Durning, 51, of Altadena, Calif., is accused of sexually assaulting a young girl under the age of 18 on a Delta flight from Los Angeles to Orlando last week Durning, who runs a fitness company and operates as a real estate agent, public records show, 'also reach over with his right hand to touch [MV's] inner left thigh, moving her thigh toward him, as he called her 'honey-boo.' He then started to move his hand up her inner left thigh toward her groin area. He then pushed finger into her vagina, over her clothing. MV froze as a result of Durning's conduct.' The passenger sitting in the window seat to the girl's left, and referred as 'S.J.' in the criminal complaint, said she saw Durning remove his hand from the victim's inner thigh right after waking up from a nap. 'Upon waking up from a nap, S.J. looked to the left, in the direction of the aisle. At that time, she saw Durning quickly move his right hand away from inside MV's thigh. S.J. ask MV, 'Did he touch you?' and MV responded affirmatively,' according to the complain. 'S.J. observed MV shaking and crying at that time.' The woman then traded seats with the victim, and ended up sitting in the middle between During and the girl. Soon after, S.J. advised During not to interact with the victim due to the trauma that she had to experience from him. 'At that time, Durning attempted to touch S.J.'s breast,' according to the complaint. 'MV's mother states that at some point during the flight, S.J. called for her attention. When MV's mother stood up and turned back toward where S.J., MV, and Durning were seated, she (MV's mother) saw MV mouth the words, 'He touched me'.' The victim's mother, who also remains unidentified, then 'confronted the defendant' and noticed that Durning's pants were unzipped at the time. A flight attendant was called over and 'reassigned seat(s) to remove Durning from MV's presence,' the complaint reads. The flight turned out to be the last one Durning could book through Delta; the airline banned him from ever flying on one of its aircraft again, according to the Daily Beast. After landing in Orlando, Durning was arrested and questioned regarding the incident. He says he doesn't remember his actions after taking an Ambien, consuming white wine on the flight and drinking 'one or two beers' prior to boarding After the plane's landing in Orlando, Durning was arrested and questioned by a federal air marshal, who wrote in the complaint that the 51-year-old had taken an Ambien pill after consuming white wine and 'one or two beers.' 'Durning stated that he felll asleep,' according to the complaint. 'He stated that the next thing he remembered was someone waking him up and asking him to switch seats.' Subsequently, Durning is facing a federal charge of sexual contact with a minor and committing a crime onboard an operational aircraft. Federal law provides for what it calls 'special aircraft jurisdiction,' which allows the government to prosecute crimes that occur on planes 'during flight.' He had to surrender his passport and was released from custody on Friday, awaiting trial. Conditions of his release include undergoing alcohol testing and treating, being confined to his home between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., wearing 'electronic monitoring equipment,' and not interacting with minors without a 'responsible adult present.' 'Delta continues to cooperate with law enforcement in this matter,' Delta spokeswoman Morgan Durant said in an email to The Daily Beast. 'We have zero tolerance for this type of alleged behavior on our flights and at our airports and the charged individual is no longer welcome to fly Delta,' she added. DailyMail.com has contacted Durning's lawyer, Nicole Mouakar, for comment. The rate of reported sexual assaults on airplanes has drastically increased on a yearly basis ever since 2014, according to data collected by the FBI and shared by Aviation Pros. There were 119 cases reported in 2019, 84 more compared to the year prior - roughly a 30 percent jump. In 2014, only 38 cases were reported. In 2022, 1,542 reports of unruly passengers were filed to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). In the same year, 1,700 incidents per 10,000 flights for the week ending June 12 were filed to the administration. ' Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called the precedent granting federal abortion rights in Roe v. Wade 'outdated' in a Monday speech, his first public remarks since the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 case. 'Precedent is important. It is important,' the Republican said. 'But sometimes precedent is wrong.' The high court upended five decades' worth of precedent and the lives of potentially millions of American women on Friday when it sided with Mississippi against its lone abortion clinic in overturning Roe. Speaking to a receptive audience at the Rotary Club of Florence, Kentucky, McConnell compared the court's explosive decision to the judicial body ending racial segregation in 1954. He referenced the 1896 case Plessy v. Ferguson, a decision stating that segregation laws did not violate the US Constitution and upheld the racist doctrine of 'separate but equal.' 'The case in 1896 upheld racial segregation on rail cars, which is the way people moved around then,' McConnell said. 'Fifty-eight years later,' he continued, the high court ended racial segregation in public schools with Brown v. Board of Education. The decision partially struck down Plessy and paved the way for further societal integration along with the Civil Rights Movement. 'It became, 9 to nothing, the law of the land, breaking down racial segregation,' the Senator said. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell praised the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health, which overturned Roe v. Wade, in his first public appearance since the ruling 'So I raise that just to make the point that precedent is important - but sometimes the precedent is outdated or wrong.' He said the issue of abortion was now 'sent back to the democratic process for the will of the American people and their elected representatives to make this decision.' One of McConnell's top allies, Senator John Cornyn of Texas, landed in hot water over the weekend for making a similar comparison. The senior Republican lawmaker retweeted former President Barack Obama's Friday statement declaring that 'the Supreme Court not only reversed nearly 50 years of precedent, it relegated the most intensely personal decision someone can make to the whims of politicians and ideologuesattacking the essential freedoms of millions of Americans.' Cornyn quipped: 'Now do Plessy vs Ferguson/Brown vs Board of Education.' Critics accused the Senator of knowingly posting a racist dogwhistle that implicitly endorsed segregation. Roe and its sister case, 1992's Planned Parenthood v. Casey, were rolled back in a 5-4 decision by the court's conservative supermajority. Liberal Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented. McConnell's comparison to the high court ending racial segregation is similar to a comment that sparked criticism of Texas Republican Senator John Cornyn "Sometimes the precedent is outdated or wrong." Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell uses the example of Plessy v. Ferguson and Brown v. Board of Education while speaking about the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. pic.twitter.com/aMIa6TbYoc The Recount (@therecount) June 27, 2022 Chief Justice John Roberts wrote a concurring opinion agreeing with Mississippi's request to lower the legal abortion limit to 15 weeks but not its follow-up demand of scuttling the right to an abortion. During his Monday speech, McConnell suggested that it's unlikely Congress would act to either ban or protect abortion on a federal level, citing the 60-vote threshold needed to overcome a filibuster. 'What the court did in effect, was return this very controversial issue to the people and their representatives so that it can be decided through the democratic process. Now, that's almost entirely likely to occur at the state level - and let me tell you why,' he explained. 'In the Senate, most things require 60 votes...neither side of this issue has come anywhere close to having 60 votes, so I think this is likely to all be litigated out and dealt with in the various states throughout the country.' Abortion became illegal in McConnell's home state of Kentucky as soon as the court's decision was handed down thanks to a so-called 'trigger law' passed by the state's Republican majority in 2019. It makes no exceptions for rape or incest, only allowing the procedure in medical emergencies that threaten the life of the mother. The court's 5-4 decision sparked protests across the country, including outside the Supreme Court in Washington, DC White segregationist demonstrators protesting at the admission of the Little Rock Nine, to Central High School, 1959. Five years earlier, the Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools violated the Constitution The senator was key to helping former President Donald Trump secure a decisive conservative lean on the Supreme Court. The Republican commander-in-chief appointed three out of the five justices who voted to scuttle federal abortion protections. McConnell infamously blocked Obama from appointing now-Attorney General Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016 following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Trump then appointed Justice Neil Gorsuch to the bench in his place. After claiming that it's unreasonable for a president to make lifetime appointments during an election year, McConnell rushed Justice Amy Coney Barrett's confirmation process in late October 2020 despite criticism over her lack of judicial experience and his own previous comments. A California man is receiving treatment in a Miami hospital after suffering brutal fall in the Mexican resort city of Cancun. Fresno resident Dante Goodwin, 37, and his girlfriend Shay Williams traveled to the tourist hotspot with friends and family when he suffered the accident on June 16 the day he arrived. Williams told local network KMPH that she is unsure if Goodwin fell or slipped into the swimming pool at the Airbnb they had rented. 'I didn't see the start of how he approached the water. I saw him go in,' Williams said. Dante Goodwin (left), of Fresno, California, traveled to Cancun with his girlfriend Shay Williams (right), friends and family and suffered a fractured vertebrae June 16 after falling into a pool at the Airbnb residence they rented Dante Goodwin was is currently being treated at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami after suffering a fractured vertebrae while vacationing in Cancun A GoFundMe account raised almost $29,000 to cover the cost of transporting Dante Goodwin from Cancun to Miami One of her cousins jumped into the pool and turned over an unresponsive Goodwin. He was taken out of the pool and laid on the ground next to it. 'He had blood in his mouth and said he couldn't breathe,' Williams said. She recalled Goodwin telling her that he was unable to move his hands and legs. Dante Goodwin, a resident of Fresno, California, is prepared by doctors who transported him to Miami to receive treatment for a fractured vertebrae he suffered while vacationing in Cancun Shay Williams (right) said her boyfriend Dante Goodwin (left) flatlined and was resuscitated by doctors at a Cancun hospital June 18, two days after he had fallen in a pool and fractured a vertebrae Goodwin was rushed to a nearby hospital and then transferred to a second medical facility where a doctor diagnosed him with a fractured vertebrae. The physician pointed out where the fracture was and told Williams it was 'very serious.' A GoFundMe account generated almost $29,000 to cover the cost of a medical flight. He was flown to Miami last Wednesday night and is currently hospitalized at Jackson Memorial Hospital. 'Tae (Dante) Goodwin will now get the help and care he needs and deserves. This is such a great man,' Williams wrote on the fundraising site. 'He deserves the world and that is exactly what we gave him. Thank you all. Please continue to Pray as this is only part 2 of this journey to healing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!' The View's liberal co-host, Sunny Hostin, said Monday that because of her deep Catholic faith she draws a line when it comes to her stance against abortion: She doesn't believe in any exceptions, not even rape or incest cases. 'I don't believe in abortion, at any time. I don't believe in any exception to it,' she said. 'Even incest and rape?' her stunned co-host Sarah Haines asked. Sunny Hostin, 53, said she doesn't agree with a woman's right to abortion, even in cases of rape and incest 'No, I don't,' Hostin, 53, shot back. 'That's considered very radical for many people, and it's because I'm Catholic and that's my faith.' She went on to say she doesn't agree that religious belief should have guided the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision to rescind the constitutional right to abortion by overturning Roe v. Wade. Hostin shocked her co-hosts on 'The View' by taking a stand against abortion, even in the case of rape and incest 'The justices - there are six Catholics on the bench, and there will be two Protestants because the newest justice, Ketanji Brown Jackson, is Protestant and there will be one person of Jewish faith,' she said. 'This is an activist Supreme Court and they should not be deciding the law based on their faith. And even though I agree with [Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito] on the sanctity of lifebut the fact that he clearly is using his religion and wielding it is pretty terrible.' Hostin, a lawyer by trade, was born in New York City and raised in The Bronx. She attended Catholic high school at the Dominican Academy and went to law school at Notre Dame. Hostin is no stranger to courting controversy with her statements on the daytime chat show. Hostin, 53, sparked outrage after calling for the GOP to be abolished and called Republicans a 'party of white supremacy' and 'gun massacres.' She said: 'Get rid of Republicans, get rid of the party. Because as the party stands now, it's the party of white supremacy, it's the party of insurrectionists, the party of massacres at this point' Hostin and co-host Joy Behar (left) strongly advocated for the temporary abolishment of the Republican Party so that more Democrats could be elected to reform gun laws. Behar told viewers they could 'can go back to [voting for Republicans] after we get gun laws' Earlier this month, Hostin called Republicans the 'party of white supremacy' and 'gun massacres.' The View ladies were discussing the June 2 mass shooting at a Tulsa hospital in which four people were killed. 'Get rid of Republicans, get rid of the party,' she said. 'Because as the party stands now, it's the party of white supremacy, it's the party of insurrectionists, the party of massacres at this point. It's the party... you can't trust it.' Big news: The cover of her book to be released on Sept. 22 Back in the day: Hostin (seen in April 2019) is of half-Puerto Rican and half-African-American descent. She was raised by teenage parents in a housing project in the South Bronx Hostin has not been particularly popular, especially internally. In 2020, ABC News executive Barbara Fedida called Hostin 'low rent' among other comments made about minorities on the network, HuffPo reported. Hostin, who is black and Latina, called the remark racist. 'I was really disappointed and saddened and hurt when I learned about the racist comments that were made, allegedly, about me, my colleagues and my dear friends,' she said. In her autobiography, 'I Am These Truths: A Memoir of Identity, Justice and Living Between Worlds,' she wrote about her struggle with infertility and five miscarriages. The View host Sunny Hostin (pictured) on Monday said she is 'really disappointed and saddened' by racist remarks ABC News senior executive Barbara Fedida allegedly made about her and other black journalists at the network Earned it: She worked hard in school and eventually earned scholarships to college and law school eventually becoming a federal prosecutor in Washington D.C, she is seen in November Despite her problems with childbearing, she and her husband were able to have two children. 'Our journey included bed rest, a torn placenta, five miscarriages, IVF, my son almost not making it,' she told The Grio. She said all her heartache and pain were well worth it. 'I think you just stay the course, and know that at the end of the day that it really is the most beautiful thing you can experience in my view,' she said. She has not always been in lockstep with Catholic doctrine, though, particularly when it comes to the LGBTQ movement. She called out Bishop Thomas Joseph Tobin (of the Diocese of Providence in Rhode Island) earlier this month after he tweeted that Catholics should not attend Pride Month events because, 'They promote a culture and encourage activities that are contrary to Catholic faith and morals. They are especially harmful for children.' Hostin shot back that she would not be heeding his advice. 'This practicing Catholic will be supporting and attending LGBTQ Pride events,' she tweeted. 'And so will my Catholic children. You should be ashamed, [Bishop Thomas Joseph Tobin].' Vice President Kamala Harris said is 'the daughter of a woman, and a granddaughter of a woman' during an interview blasting the Supreme Court for overturning Roe v. Wade. Harris warned 'everyone has something at risk on this' on CNN after the high court scuttled federal abortion protections in its most dramatic ruling in modern history. She attempted to strike a personal tone by remarking on its effect on her own life. 'I thought about it as a parent. We have two children who are in their 20s, a son and a daughter. I thought about it as a godparent of teenagers. I thought of it as an aunt of preschool children,' Harris said. Journalist Dana Bash offered, 'And as a woman yourself?' 'And a woman myself, and the daughter of a woman, and a granddaughter of a woman,' Harris answered. However when it came to demanding the Senate abolish the filibuster, she broke from fellow Democrats who are also outraged over the ruling. 'Right now, given the current composition of the Senate, the votes aren't there,' Harris said. 'I understand why you're asking that question,' she continued. 'But the reality of it is, we don't even get to really answer that in terms of whether it happens or not, if we don't have the numbers in the Senate.' 'And again, that's why I keep coming back to the importance of an election that is only 130-odd days away.' All 50 Democrats in the Senate would have to vote in lock-step to abolish the filibuster, something conservative Democrat Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema have stood against in the past. Their opposition to the maneuver tanked President Joe Biden's efforts to pass his Build Back Better agenda as well as federal voting rights legislation. However, given the immediate effect the high court's ruling has on potentially millions of women, Democratic leaders up to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have urged the upper chamber to scuttle the filibuster. Vice President Kamala Harris said she was on the way to an event in Illinois on maternal health when the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade caught her by surprise 'It is clear from how Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell stacked the Supreme Court that elections have ramifications,' Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues on Monday. 'It is essential that we protect and expand our pro-choice Majorities in the House and Senate in November so that we can eliminate the filibuster so that we can restore womens fundamental rights and freedom for every American.' Earlier in the interview, the vice president recounted the moment she learned the Supreme Court upended five decades of precedent on Friday. Harris also rebuffed calls from progressive Democrats to open abortion clinics on federal land in states where the procedure is banned or will be outlawed in the near future. The vice president told CNN's Dana Bash that she was aboard Air Force Two heading to an event on maternal health in Illinois when the news broke. 'We were headed there to unveil a plan based on the work we've been doing to ensure that women receive the kind of support they need during and post pregnancy,' Harris said. 'We thought that the decision would come down sometime soon, but not at that moment.' Harris continued, 'And I was shocked.' 'It's one thing when you know, something's gonna happen. It's another thing when it actually happens. And I just actually turned - and I couldn't believe it. I couldn't believe it, because they actually did it.' This photo shows the moment Harris learned about the court's explosive decision 'First of all, if you are a parent of sons, do think about what this means for the life of your son, and what that will mean in terms of the choices he will have.' Harris repeated the Biden administration's vows to do what it can to protect abortion access, though she admitted that the White House was not entertaining calls from progressives to open abortion clinics in red states. 'Can the administration expand abortion access or abortion services on federal land, meaning provide the access on federal land that might be in and around states that ban abortion?' CNN's Dana Bash asked. 'I think that what is most important right now is that we ensure that the restrictions that the states are trying to put up that would prohibit a woman from exercising what we still maintain is her right, that we do everything we can to empower women to not only seek, but to receive the care where it is available,' Harris said. Pressed again, the vice president said using federal land is 'not right now what we are discussing.' 'Everyone has something at risk on this,' Harris warned about the right to privacy that underscored the decision in Roe and its sister case Planned Parenthood v. Casey Moments after the decision was handed down on Friday, Harris warned it would cause a 'health care crisis' in a speech she was forced to alter at the last minute during a trip to Plainfield, Illinois. She shifted from focusing on the administration's expansion of maternal healthcare to reacting to the rendered opinion ending privacy rights that protected women's right to get an abortion. 'Here's what that decision means: For nearly 50 years, we have talked about what Roe v. Wade protects. Today, right now, as of this minute, we can only talk about what Roe v Wade protected. Past tense,' Harris said to a crowd gathered at the Plainfield YMCA. 'This is a health care crisis,' she said. 'Understand,' Harris added, 'millions of women in America will go to bed tonight without access to the healthcare and reproductive care that they had this morning. Without access to the same health care or reproductive healthcare that their mothers and grandmothers had for 50 years.' Vice President Kamala Harris declared there is a 'health care crisis' in America after the Supreme Court ruled on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade Protesters on both sides of the argument descended on the Supreme Court building over the weekend after the opinion was handed down to no longer provide constitutional protects for abortion and to hand the issue back to the states The vice president's remarks came shortly after President Joe Biden addressed the nation on the decision and placed the blame directly on his predecessor Donald Trump. During remarks in the White House's Cross Hall, Biden called it 'a very solemn moment' and a 'sad day for the court and the country.' 'Today, the Supreme Court of the United States expressly took away a Constitutional right from the American people, that it had already recognized. They didn't limit it, they simply took it away. That's never been done to a right so important to so many Americans,' Biden said. 'But they did it.' 'Now with Roe gone, let's be very clear, the health and life of women in this nation are now at risk,' he added. Biden pointed out how Republican-appointed justices, including by President Richard Nixon, decided Roe and upheld abortion rights in subsequent cases over the years. 'It was three justices named by one president - Donald Trump - who were at the core of today's decision to upend the scales of justice and eliminate a fundamental right for women in this country,' Biden said. Biden said the laws going into effect in the states are 'so extreme' that a woman could be forced to bear their rapist's child or the child that is the 'consequence of incest.' 'The court literally taking America back 150 years,' Biden said, pointing out some of the statutes from the 1800s that were referenced in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision. 'It just stuns me,' he uttered. President Joe Biden addressed the nation from the White House's Cross Hall on Friday calling it 'a very solemn moment' and a 'sad day for the court and the country'. He added: 'The court literally taking America back 150 years' Harris agreed with her No. 1, saying that the decision moves the country backward. 'The strength of our nation has always been that we move forward,' she said in her remarks. 'Today, I invite all people to stand together in defense of one of the most fundamental ideals and principles that for generations to stand for liberty, to stand for freedom, to stand for self determination and the right to privacy.' Harris explained that the decision is not isolated to the issue of abortion, warning that other privacy issues could be at stake in the future. 'This opinion also says, when you read it, that abortion is not deeply rooted in our nation's history,' the vice president said. 'In holding that it is not deeply rooted in our history, today's decision on that theory then calls into question other rights that we thought were settled. Such as the right to use birth control, the right to same sex marriage, to interracial marriage' 'The great aspiration of our nation has been to expand freedom. But the expansion of freedom, clearly, is not inevitable. It is not something that just happens.' Conservative Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion that other cases also relying on the right to medical privacy that was just overturned in Roe, should now also be reconsidered if they are brought before the Court in the future including contraception and same-sex marriage. '[I]n future cases, we should reconsider all of this Court's substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell,' the Goeorge Bush Sr.-appointed justice noted. One of the cases Thomas is referencing is Griswold v. Connecticut, which was a landmark ruling in 1965 that protects married couples' ability to buy and use contraceptives without government restriction. Obergefell v. Hodges is a 2015 decision that gave same-sex couples the right to marry it was protected by the Due Process Clause and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Britain must at least triple the number of fraud investigators to tackle the epidemic of scams, a senior police watchdog has said. HM Inspector of Constabulary Matt Parr admitted that fraud was not considered a priority by police despite it being a cruel and devastating crime. He called for an urgent review of police recruitment and said it was no longer acceptable to just shrug our shoulders and say s*** happens. 300 FOR AN IPHONE THAT NEVER ARRIVED A musical theatre student lost 300 after falling for a scam advertised on social media. Josh Pengelly found a secondhand iPhone 11 for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Mr Pengelly, 20, wanted to use PayPal to send the 300 because the payment platform offers buyers protection if there is a problem. But the seller, who claimed to be based in Plymouth, refused and insisted that he pay by bank transfer. He reluctantly agreed, but the phone never arrived. The seller made excuses at first, including that the Post Office was closed, but then blocked the student from sending further messages. Mr Pengelly reported the account to Facebook last year, but never heard back and it was still active months later. Mr Pengelly, who lives in Chichester, West Sussex, said: It just makes me so angry that this person is still on there and nothing has been done. Facebook investigated the case. It said the seller did not have any live Marketplace listings at the time, and that the profile did not violate their community standards. Josh Pengelly found a secondhand iPhone 11 for sale on Facebook Marketplace Advertisement It comes amid warnings that the Government is still recruiting the wrong kind of police officers to tackle fraud, despite repeated warnings that forces do not have enough specialists. The Daily Mail revealed yesterday that Britain has become the global capital of fraud, with recorded losses rocketing to almost 3 billion a year. The Mail is campaigning for a major overhaul to the system, starting with the appointment of a minister for fraud. We are also demanding that police make tackling fraud a priority and boost the number of specialist investigators. Last night Labour and the Lib Dems backed the Mails campaign. Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the Government was failing to take fraud seriously. She added: Its a scandal that victims of fraud are being effectively ignored and denied proper protection or justice. This is a really important campaign from the Mail as urgent action is needed. Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael demanded a far stronger response from the Government... led by a dedicated fraud minister. He added: Vile criminals are lining their pockets and causing immense harm, and this Government is letting them get away with it. Mark Shelford, the lead police commissioner for economic and cyber crime in England and Wales, described the Mails campaign as terrific. He also revealed that he was told by colleagues not to touch the fraud job because it is too bloody difficult, you cant make a difference and itll just swamp your work. Mr Shelford, a former Army officer, said it was symptomatic of a wider attitude within the police towards fraud, but added: The supertanker is changing course. Fraud is the most common crime in England and Wales constituting 39 per cent of offences in 2021 but just 2 per cent of the police workforce is dedicated to fighting it. Her Majestys Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire and Rescue Services (HMICFRS) found in 2019 that one police force filed 96 per cent of the scam cases it received from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) as requiring no further action. Just one in 1,000 fraud offences resulted in a charge last year, according to analysis of the Office for National Statistics annual crime survey. Mr Parr, a former rear admiral in the Royal Navy, said a number of forces would try to weed out intelligence packages they received from the NFIB, meaning fraud victims arent getting anything like the service they should get. He said the current pool of police fraud specialists was a long way off what was needed, despite it being just as traumatic for victims as other crimes. He added: Im not sure I wouldnt rather be on the wrong end of a fight in the pub, than on the wrong end of fraud. Mr Parr said it would be a missed opportunity if the number of fraud investigators were not significantly increased during an ongoing police recruitment drive. But experts warned the Home Offices Uplift programme, launched in 2019 to return the number of officers to pre-austerity levels, is failing to do this. The hiring spree is aimed at boosting generalist constables, but isnt tackling a severe shortage of specialists in areas including cyber crime and fraud, according to the Police Foundation think-tank. Mr Parr admitted a major problem for police was fraud investigators being poached by the private sector. Last year, the Treasury select committee heard that investigators were leaving the police out of frustration at the lack of resources, with many moving to banks and one even becoming a train driver. Critics have also blamed the fragmented approach to tackling fraud, with at least 23 different agencies assigned to the task. Under the Home Office, the City of London Police (CLP) takes the national lead for policing fraud and runs Action Fraud, where fraud cases are reported, and the NFIB, which analyses reports. But these organisations lack sufficient staff, are underfunded, and their technical systems are outdated, according to the Social Market Foundation. A government spokesman said: We will not allow fraudsters to line their pockets with British peoples hard-earned cash. That is why the Government is developing a strategy to tackle the scourge of fraud, which be published later this year. Pete ODoherty, CLP assistant commissioner, said: We recognise the threat from fraud is increasing and are actively working with police forces and partners across the UK to improve the policing response. Elderly suffer in tidal wave of fraud cases By Miles Dilworth Investigations Reporter for the Daily Mail Britain is suffering a tidal wave of fraud, with hundreds of thousands of victims suffering in silence, the victims commissioner has warned. Dame Vera Baird QC said people often feel mentally raped by scammers, but were too ashamed to tell their families. Some elderly parents even carry their secret to their deathbeds if they have been duped out of cash they intended to leave to their children. CONNED OUT OF 45,000, NURSE IS NOW FORCED TO SELL HOME A critical care nurse who lost 45,000 in an elaborate pension investment scam faces having to sell her home. Pauline Padden, 58, from Merseyside, was looking after her ill mother when she received a text message offering cash and a better return on her pension if she transferred her pot. Miss Padden sent a text back to confirm her interest and, after a phone call with a broker, transferred the money to Gresham Investment Pension Scheme. Six months later, a Pension Commission-linked company sent a letter to say she had been scammed out of 45,000. The scams mastermind David Austin killed himself in 2019. In April, Susan Dalton, 66, and Alan Barratt, 62 who helped con 245 people in the 13.7million pension fraud were jailed for a total of ten years. Miss Padden, who has worked in critical care for more than 40 years and is now at the Alder Hey childrens hospital in Liverpool, said: My mum was really sick and I couldnt take time off because my husband at the time was not working. I thought that if I moved the pension I would get a fee which would have helped me greatly. I was in quite a vulnerable position. I was devastated. That 45,000 I lost would have made a massive difference to me because I could have bought my ex-husband out of this home. It has left me not trusting people. I dont often believe what people say to me. Miss Padden, worked in critical care for more than 40 years before scam hit Advertisement It is estimated about 700,000 fraud victims a year suffer profoundly from the trauma but Dame Vera said it was extremely disappointing that most get little to no victim care. The victims commissioner a former Labour MP and Police and Crime Commissioner for Northumbria said it was time to take fraud seriously and end the victim blaming culture around scams. She said her inbox was filled with stories of elderly people who had spiralled into depression or were too afraid to leave their homes after falling foul to con artists. But Dame Vera dismissed the stereotype of the gullible older victim and said the authorities needed to stop hiding behind the excuse that levels of fraud had become unmanageable. When we think of the word victim, fraud is probably not one of the first crimes that springs to mind, she said. But there are people out there who are really suffering. Sometimes, older people who lose money they intended to leave to their children dont want to talk about it because they feel ashamed. Younger people also feel that theyll be regarded as foolish by all their friends, so they dont talk about it and bottle it up. Fraud can be a deeply intimate and inter-personal crime, causing long-lasting emotional trauma as well as financial loss. Dame Vera said victims of fraud deserved the same support as victims of other crimes, and called for the Government to deliver on its promise to publish its fraud strategy this year. She said the public needed clarity over who to call if they were defrauded, adding it was a big problem that many were bounced between their local police force and Action Fraud. She welcomed the expansion of the National Economic Crime Victim Care Unit, which supports vulnerable victims, but said many still seem likely to be falling through the net. Dame Vera added: Victims do not know who to turn to when they are looking for redress through the criminal justice system. About 15 per cent of fraud victims report it to Action Fraud, but only a minority get a judicial outcome. So even the few who do report fraud get anything out of reporting it. A report by the victims commissioner last year found that almost a quarter of all fraud victims are likely to be deeply affected by their experience. It found many may suffer very high levels of financial loss, severe emotional strain, including suffering from anxiety or depression or relationship difficulties as a result of their being defrauded. There were 383,132 fraud reports in the UK between April 30 last year and May 31 this year, resulting in losses of 2.9 billion, according to the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau. But experts have warned the cost of living squeeze is fuelling a new wave of scams, with the amount stolen more than tripling as the financial crunch begins to bite. Scams fund slavery, trafficking and terror plots Scams targeting millions of Britons are funding modern slavery, people trafficking and even terrorist plots, experts warn. The fraudsters are paying organised-crime gangs to launder their ill-gotten money on a terrifying scale, while other scams are being run directly by those involved in terrorism and trafficking. A guide produced for the Islamic State terror group even provides advice on how to scam infidels to raise funds for jihadi activities. But MPs have warned that the authorities only know of the tip of the iceberg because most fraud is undetected. Experts said the revelations show fraud must be treated as a national security threat and backed the Daily Mails Stop the Scammers campaign. It is estimated about 700,000 fraud victims a year suffer profoundly from the trauma (stock image) Tory MP Simon Fell, a member of the all-party parliamentary group on anti-corruption, said he had seen evidence that connects scammers targeting British victims directly to modern slavery, people traffickers running illegal Channel crossings, and even terrorist financing. He said a secret dossier, shared with him by law enforcement officials before he became an MP in 2019, showed fraud predicates, drives and enables the most serious crimes in the UK. Mr Fell, who used to work for counter-fraud experts Cifas, added: The scale of fraud is just phenomenal and were only seeing the tip of the iceberg because theres so much thats under-reported. A guide written by an Islamic State supporter in 2015 provided advice on a range of scams that can earn easy money, arguing that the blood, wealth and honour of non-Muslims is not protected. Cut-outs and banners of Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is planned to visit Hyderabad on July 2 and 3 for the BJP national executive meeting at LB Stadium. (Photo: DC) HYDERABAD: For the BJP, its July 2 and 3 national executive meeting to be held in Hyderabad will not just be about chalking out the future plans of the party and making some policy directions on how the country should head further in terms of its priorities. Events scheduled in the run-up to the two-day conclave of the partys top brass and whos who, also include Assembly constituency-wise reach out to party leaders and workers. And those doing this will include Union ministers, former Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states and other senior party leaders. These meetings in the constituencies will be for party workers, to sensitise them, and prepare them for the future, BJP senior leader and the partys in-charge for Madhya Pradesh affairs, as well as a former national general secretary, P. Muralidhar Rao said. He said the schedules of these visits were being finalised and that party leaders deputed to each of the 119 Assembly constituencies would be spending the night there before heading to Hyderabad for the national executive. Party sources said most of these meetings were likely to be held on June 30, and on July 1. The idea is not just to have constituency level workers interact with national-level leaders but to create a buzz among the cadres at the ground level, a party leader said. While all the schedules of senior leaders visiting the constituencies had not been finalised, some were more or less in place, another party leader said. For instance, Union minister for law and justice Kiren Rijiju will be meeting party workers in Rajendranagar constituency, while former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Raman Singh will do the same in Goshamahal constituency. The Union minister for minority affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi will hold a meeting with party workers from the Chandrayangutta constituency, as the BJP tries to make inroads into the Old City constituencies, traditionally a bastion of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen(AIMIM). Thousands of commuters are being warned of widespread delays across New South Wales as train drivers take industrial action, while the state's nurses are set to stop work over staffing. Train drivers will begin four days of action on Tuesday over safety concerns, and will refuse to drive more than 60km/h - in a move set to cripple the carefully scheduled network. Meanwhile, hundreds of workers from 80 hospitals are expected to take part in a mass meeting in central Sydney on Tuesday afternoon. Transport for NSW says commuters can expect significant disruption to rail services as delays and cancellations increase during the week. Meanwhile two multi-vehicle accidents on the city's busy M4 have caused severe delays in both directions - with motorists told to avoid the highway near Merrylands and Blacktown if possible. NSW train drivers will drive slower and refuse to operate foreign-built trains as part of four days of industrial action this week (pictured, Central Station) Suburban trains are expected to run on an amended timetable, with regular services cut by half during the peak period (pictured, staff at Central Station) On Tuesday morning a truck and car crash near Burnett Street in Merrylands ground the M4 to a standstill. Another multi-vehicle crash also occurred earlier on Tuesday near Reservoir Road in Blacktown, with eastbound traffic impacted. The cars have been moved to the breakdown lane but traffic is moving extremely slowly. Suburban trains are expected to run on an amended timetable, with regular services cut by half during the peak period. Alternative travel arrangements will be made where possible. Nurses will walk off the job for various hours in defiance of the Industrial Relations Commission. NSW Nurses and Midwives Association acting general secretary Shaye Candish says the meeting comes after pleas to increase staff numbers to deal with extreme workloads fell on deaf ears. The action by The Rail, Tram and Bus Union will escalate until Friday when drivers refuse to drive foreign-built trains, reducing the capacity of the fleet to just 30 per cent (pictured, commuters at Strathfield station) 'There's widespread dissatisfaction amongst our members over the NSW government's refusal to even consider safe staffing ratios,' she said. 'The government is continuing to ignore the pleas of highly skilled clinical professionals who remain extremely worried about the delivery of safe patient care now and into the future,' she said. Nurses want a nurse-to-patient ratio of one to four on hospital wards and a midwife-to-patient ratio of one to three. The action by The Rail, Tram and Bus Union will escalate until Friday when drivers refuse to drive foreign-built trains, reducing the capacity of the fleet to just 30 per cent. The action is driven by safety concerns over new Korean-built trains, which the union maintains need to be modified to keep passengers safe. On Thursday public and Catholic schoolteachers will strike for 24 hours over pay, with the unions saying teachers are grappling with unsustainable workloads and worsening staff shortages. Premier Dominic Perrottet said unions organising illegal strikes should cop steep penalties. The government wants to impose maximum fines of up to $55,000 for the first day of illegal industrial action and $27,500 for each subsequent day. The heartbroken relatives of a law graduate who was ambushed and beaten to death in an 'opportunist stranger attack' spoke of their anguish today. Zara Aleena, 35, died from severe head injuries after she was attacked in the street while walking home from a night out with friends in the early hours of Sunday. Miss Aleena's cousin described her as a 'bubbly, high-empathy person' and said the family were devastated. Horrified neighbours also revealed how they heard loud screams following the attack on Cranbrook Road, Ilford. And police announced today that a man, 29, was arrested on suspicion of her murder Local MP Sam Tarry said the murder was a 'random attack' and also tried to assure the public that there will be a 'flood of police on the streets'. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan also said he was 'heartbroken' by the death of Zara. PICTURED: Aspiring lawyer Zara Aleena, 35, was murdered in the early hours of Sunday morning in Ilford, East London The road where Zara was found with horrific injuries was just a short distance from Gants Hill Station The Met have closed the road and put a cordon in place at the scene while urging women to be 'alert' but not 'alarmed' by the attack Miss Aleena had been working at the Royal Courts of Justice as an administration officer while she sought a trainee solicitor role that would allow her to embark on a legal career, said her cousin, who asked not to be named. 'She was a lovely person,' he added. 'It's such a shock for the family. She wanted to become a lawyer, to make a success of herself so she could support the family. 'She was always bubbly, brought life to the room, a warm, high-empathy person. She looked after her mum and her gran and was a very family-oriented person.' Nadia added that she could not understand why she had decided to walk home rather than get a taxi. 'She probably thought it was nearby and nothing like that has ever happened here that is probably why,' she added. 'She wanted to borrow some heels and some mascara from me that night, but I couldn't answer my phone as I was busy. 'She was a gentle soul, she wouldn't hurt a fly. She just passed her law degree and was working in central London. She wanted to become a lawyer so she could provide for herself and her family.' One man, who knew her and asked to remain anonymous, said: 'It's such a shock, she was such a lovely person. She used to look after the old folks who lived down the road. 'We are going round to help her parents at this terrible time. Her parents are elderly and very upset at the moment, so they are too upset to talk right now.' Another neighbour, who also did not want to be named, added: 'I knew of her [Zara Aleena], but didn't know her well because I've been bed-bound for 10 years. 'She used to look after an elderly woman next door. It' so sad because she was so young.' Another man added: 'Just recently she came to remove some bricks from my skip. I can't believe that's the same person. She just finished law school.' London Ambulance, who called the police at 2.44am to the scene, took Ms Aleena to hospital where she later died. Her family have been informed of her death after she was ambushed and brutally attacked by the stranger while walking in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street. Zara, who lived near to where she was found, died of multiple injuries but police said that no weapons have been found yet as they continued with the probe. Today in a statement, Chief Supt Stuart Bell described the murder as 'tragic' and said a full investigation was underway. And local MP Sam Tarry said the murder was 'something out of the ordinary' for his constituents. Speaking at Ilford Police Station, he said: 'I can confirm that pending formal identification that we believe the victim to be a local 35 year old woman named Zara Aleena. 'At 02:44 am on Sunday, 26 June, Met officers were called by London Ambulance Service to a seriously injured woman found by members of the public in Cranbrook Road, Ilford. 'The woman, who we believe to be Zara, had suffered serious head injuries and despite the best efforts of paramedics and doctors in hospital, she died later on Sunday morning. 'Zara, who lived locally, was walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station when she was assaulted 'It is now believed that she was the victim of an attack by a stranger. 'Her family are aware of this and as the investigation progresses they will continue to be updated and supported. 'A special post mortem has been completed. Zara suffered multiple serious injuries that contributed to her death. 'There is no evidence at this time that weapons were used during the attack.' He added: 'We are keeping Zara's family up to date with our progress and my heartfelt condolences are with them at this terrible time. 'They are being supported by specialist officers - but I cannot imagine the pain they must be feeling. 'Resources from across the Met are being drawn upon to help us identify whoever is responsible and the murder investigation is developing quickly. 'Our priority is to catch the perpetrator as soon as possible and for that reason there are some aspects of the investigation I won't be commenting on in detail. 'Since the attack, officers have worked every hour to determine more about the circumstances - we are determined to catch the person responsible.' Police continue to work in Cranbrook Road, Redbridge, after Zara Aleena was murdered on Sunday morning He said that a full forensic examination of the scene and the surrounding area is taking place - while officers are undertaking house to house enquiries. The Met have closed the road and put a cordon in place at the scene while urging women to be 'alert' but not 'alarmed' by the attack. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said: 'I'm heartbroken by the [death] of Zara Aleena who had her whole life ahead of her. My thoughts and prayers are with her family, friends and the whole community who are devastated by her death. 'I am in regular contact with the police who have been working around the clock and a man is now in custody on suspicion of murder. There will continue to be a large police presence in the area over the coming days. 'Understandably, women living in the area and across London will be feeling distressed and fearful after this awful attack and the death of another woman at the hands of a man.' Labour MP for Ilford Sam Tarry said: 'Cranbrook Road is part of my constituency. 'It looks like, on the face of it, a random attack. This is something out of the ordinary. 'And for that reason, the Met and the local authority are moving heaven and earth to ensure people's safety and put the perpetrator behind bars. 'My message to my constituents is that we will do everything to remember this woman who lost her life in the most horrendous way. 'We want our community to be free of fear and go about their daily business. 'People do need to be reassured, there will be a flood of police on the streets. 'I don't think people should be bowed or cowed into fear but of course people are going to be scared. 'I would say to people, check your cameras, your dashcams, any small clue could help.' Labour frontbench MP Wes Streeting, who said she was one of his Ilford North constituents, also paid tribute to the 35-year-old. Mr Streeting said: 'Police have named the victim of the murder on Sunday morning as my 35 year old constituent Zara Aleena. 'I am heartbroken for her family and send those who loved and knew her my deepest condolences.' One neighbour said today: 'I came home about that time, we had just been to an Ed Sheeran concert. 'I heard screaming but I didn't know whether it was a child or a fox. I didn't think much of it. It's a shock because it at 2am it was still busy with lots of cars.' She said the police had called at her house and told her father the woman was Asian and that they were looking for a white male. Zara Aleena was attacked while walking in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street Mustafa Meric, 56, said his son's friend lived opposite and his CCTV had captured footage which he had passed to the police of the attack. 'It is not the safest of areas,' he added. I fear for my wife and kids. I've told them to stop [going out late] for now.' Forensic officers could be seen dragging a black tarpaulin towards a house where the attack took place. Numerous side streets are also cordoned off and police have extended the area taped off to made it even wider. Another neighbour said: 'It's terrifying to think a killer is on the loose and women are being warned to be careful. I won't go out after dark now, it's just too scary. It's just horrific to think this happened so close to home. He said: 'I got up and saw flashing lights at three in the morning and heard the helicopter and a police dog. When we found out what happed, we were just in shock. 'There is a house with ornamental posts outside, it was there. When you live on a main road like this you don't know anybody.' Meanwhile, a local restaurant owner claimed that his sisters who live in Afghanistan are 'safer' than those who live in certain parts of London. Tajik Ahmed, who has lived in Gants Hill for over 20 years, says the area is 'getting worse and worse.' The Met Police have launched a murder probe into the death of the victim who was found with serious head injuries in Redbridge, Ilford this morning. Pictured: The cordon and forensics at the scene He added: 'When I first moved here there was still crime, then it got better but over the past few years it seems to have gone backwards. I have two sisters but they both live In Afghanistan. I think they're safer there than in some parts of London.' Another Cranbrook Road resident, a 60-year-old father, said he 'worries' for other women in the area following the fatal attack - but that he believes the area to generally be safe. Subhash said: 'I have lived in the area for 15 years and this is the first time that this kind of serious incident has happened in this area. 'This happened last night. I was fast asleep, but then I heard the helicopter going round around 3am. I thought something must have happened.' Pensioner Diana Nesen, 82, said: 'I came out of my house to find a crime scene. The whole place was cordoned off. 'It's really a tragedy, you don't expect to find something like that happen on a road like this - it's awful. 'We don't know who she was but she must have been walking to the station early in the morning. But the trains weren't running so maybe she was a local too. 'It does make you feel more vulnerable. I hope they catch the killer.' Another resident Mubasher Khan, 45, said: 'I heard shouting on Sunday morning and thought it was someone who was drunk. 'Then I saw flashing lights at around 3.10am and someone from the police someone on my door and asked to see my CCTV. 'But the camera only covered the drive so it wasn't much help. This morning I heard about it and the girl who died.' She was attacked while walking along Cranbrook Road in the direction of Gants Hill Station and the high street. Pictured: Police talk to a driver as they close the road Detective Chief Inspector Mark Rogers, of the Met's Specialist Crime North Command, is leading the investigation and said: 'It is vital that my officers speak with every possible witness and everyone with information that may assist the investigation. 'We are appealing for anyone who was in the Cranbrook Road area of Ilford between 2am and 3am on Sunday morning to get in touch, including anyone who drove through the area and may have dashcam footage. 'We also want to hear from anyone who saw anything suspicious in the wider Ilford area overnight.' This is the moment Ukrainian fighters shoot down a high-tech Russian helicopter worth 12million with a British-made surface-to-air missile. Soldiers from the Ukrainian 95th Air Assault Brigade, based in Zhytomyr, the north west of Ukraine, used a Martlet, known as Starstreak in the UK, missile to attack the nearby Russian Kamov KA-52 helicopter. The Russian, single-seat attack helicopter is nicknamed the 'Black Shark' and has been described as Russia's 'deadliest helicopter' because of its battlefield management system which allows it to share data with other aircraft to coordinate attack operations. Despite its 12million price tag, it was not able to spot the Ukrainian missile in time as within 30 seconds of the Martlet being launched, the KA-52 appeared to have been hit. Although the video does not show the helicopter being damaged, Ukrainian defence sources claim it was shot down. The Martlet missile is a lightweight surface-to-air weapon developed for the UK by Thales Air Defence, named after the martlet, a mythical English bird that never roosts. It was designed to be launched from a range of air, land and sea platforms at a variety of targets, with super high precision which reduces the collateral damage, making it 'suitable for asymmetric littoral operations'. Earlier this month, Britain vowed to join the US in sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine to help fend off the Russian invasion, defying warnings from Vladimir Putin against supplying Kyiv with the advanced weapons. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said Britain will send M270 launchers, which can fire precision-guided rockets up to 50 miles - more than double the range of current artillery. It is thought the UK will initially send three of the vehicles. It comes after Joe Biden signed over four M142 HIMARS launchers to Kyiv's forces, which are based on the design of the M270 but are lighter and easier to manoeuvre. This attack on the high-tech Russian helicopter comes after cores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk after a Russian missile strike on Monday. This is the striking moment Ukrainian fighters shoot down a high-tech Russian helicopter worth 12million with a British-made surface-to-air missile Soldiers from the Ukrainian 95th Air Assault Brigade, based in Zhytomyr, the north west of Ukraine, used a Martlet Manpads missile to attack the nearby Russian Kamov KA-52 helicopter At least 10 people were dead and more than 40 wounded by two long-range X-22 missiles fired from Tu-22M3 bombers that flew from Shaykovka airfield in Russia's Kaluga region, said Ukraine's air force command. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was 'unimaginable,' citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress. Zelensky said the target presented 'no threat to the Russian army' and had 'no strategic value.' He accused of Russia of sabotaging 'people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry.' Boris Johnson condemned Vladimir Putin's 'cruelty and barbarism', speaking on the day Zelensky addressed the G7 summit to urge G7 leaders to supply missile defence systems, and said it would strengthen the resolve of allies to resist Putin. Mr Johnson said: 'This appalling attack has shown once again the depths of cruelty and barbarism to which the Russian leader will sink.' John Eastman, the author of an infamous legal memo that outlined how Donald Trump could claim victory despite losing the 2020 presidential election, said Monday that his phone was seized by federal agents. Eastman claimed that officers 'forced' him to unlock his iPhone 12 Pro and accessed his email accounts, in a court filing first reported by CNN. Half a dozen agents reportedly confronted the right-wing attorney in New Mexico as he was leaving a restaurant with his wife and another person on Wednesday evening last week. The filing also suggests authorities had a warrant to take Eastman's electronic devices. Eastman 'was forced to provide biometric data to open said phone' and 'was not provided a copy of the warrant until after his phone was seized, and even then, he was only given a copy of the search warrant but not the supporting affidavit referenced in it,' it states. He's now demanding that a New Mexico court force the federal government to return his property, in addition to destroying the records it obtained and barring further access. It's the newest in a series of high-profile moves by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to crack down on those who allegedly took part in efforts to overturn President Joe Biden's victory. The DOJ has subpoenaed at least nine people across multiple states who were accused of helping Trump's alleged 'fake electors' scheme to alter Electoral College votes in his favor. Chapman University law professor John Eastman stands at left as former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani speaks in Washington at a rally in support of President Donald Trump, called the 'Save America Rally' on Jan. 6, 2021 He authored a legal memo outlining how Donald Trump could claim victory in the election Federal agents reportedly executed Eastman's search warrant on the same day the government raided the home of Jeffrey Clark, a former DOJ environmental attorney who aided the ex-president's attempt to weaponize the department in his quest to stay in power. Trump's attempt to install Clark as the acting Attorney General was met with the threat of 'hundreds' of resignations across the administration, former officials have claimed. Eastman appeared on stage next to former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani on January 6, 2021 at the former president's 'Stop The Steal' rally that immediately preceded the Capitol riot. The former law professor hatched a purported legal strategy that claimed then-Vice President Mike Pence could unilaterally reject Electoral College votes sent from certain battleground states. He allegedly presented the plan to Trump himself in the Oval Office. Pence rebuffed pressure from Eastman and Trump to execute the plan, fueling fury in the former president's supporters - some of whom chanted 'Hang Mike Pence' in the halls of the Capitol on January 6. He ultimately presided over the Joint Session of Congress that certified Biden's victory. Eastman's legal dispute with the DOJ comes amid a months-long court battle with the House select committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. A judge who ordered Eastman to turn over hundreds of emails to the January 6 committee said earlier this year that he and Trump likely committed crimes. 'Based on the evidence the court finds that it is more likely than not that President Trump and Dr Eastman dishonestly conspired to obstruct the joint session of Congress on January 6 2021,' US District Judge David Carter wrote in March. He dubbed Eastman's plan 'a coup in search of a legal theory.' The police have been asked to look at Prince Charless grubby and scuzzy alleged acceptance of bags of cash worth millions from a Qatari sheikh. Former Cabinet minister Norman Baker said he had contacted officers to say they should consider the astonishing new claims about fundraising for the Prince of Waless good causes as part of an ongoing criminal inquiry. The ex-MP added that the prince had met Arab royals and sheikhs on 95 occasions in just over a decade and said the public needed to know how often money changed hands and what issues the donors raised at the time. The police have been asked to look at Prince Charless grubby and scuzzy alleged acceptance of bags of cash worth millions from a Qatari sheikh It emerged at the weekend that former Qatari prime minister Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani donated 2.5million to the Prince of Waless Charitable Fund (PWCF) in cash. The prince and his fund claim all matters were dealt with properly, but without disputing the vast sums were indeed in cash a practice fraught with official warnings. Neither have they denied that the three donations of nearly 900,000 a time were in 500 euro notes and stuffed into carrier bags from London grocer Fortnum and Mason, a suitcase and a holdall. It is not suggested that either party has done anything illegal. The Charity Commission is already considering whether it has a role in investigating the matter. But Mr Baker has increased pressure on Charles by saying the fresh claims should be linked to the ongoing police investigation into allegations last year of a cash-for-honours scheme at another charity, The Princes Foundation. The princes long-term confidant Michael Fawcett resigned from heading the foundation at the same time following the claims that he promised to help donor Dr Bin Mahfouz to get not only British citizenship but a knighthood too. Charles has said he had no knowledge of any cash-for-honours offers. But yesterday Mr Baker said: This thing looks grubby and scuzzy and we dont really think the heir to throne should be behaving in this way... When I lodged a complaint with the Metropolitan Police last year in connection with the Saudi billionaire Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz... Prince Charles was very clear in his response on that occasion. He did not get directly involved in dealings which solicited money for his foundation. But now hes been caught red-handed doing just that Ive asked the Metropolitan Police this morning to take that into account in their ongoing criminal investigation. Mr Baker added: Prince Charles has had 95 meetings with Arab monarchies since 2011, an extraordinary number. I think we need to know from [him] and Clarence House on how many occasions Prince Charles has received money in these meetings for his good causes. Official UK Government guidance is that extreme caution should be taken over paying large amounts of cash in an unusual manner. The advice is that alarm bells should ring particularly if someone presented cash in a carrier bag. A spokesman for the Prince of Wales did not respond to requests for comment last night. Fathers could be given up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave before their child turns two under a new plan being weighed up by the government. Labor is reportedly looking into allowing both parents access to the 20 weeks worth of paid parental leave. Social Services Minister Amanda Rishworth said she supported a move that would allow more men to stay at home with their babies. 'Society has changed. A lot more men do want to play a role. And a lot of men do say they want to be the primary caregiver for some period of time,' she told The Australian. Fathers could be given up to 20 weeks of paid parental leave before their child turns two under a new plan being weighed up by the government Currently the primary care-giver in a relationship receives 18 weeks of paid leave at the minimum wage, while men typically receive just two weeks. Georgie Dent, the executive director of families advocacy group The Parenthood said Aussie dads took less than 20 per cent of the paid parental leave that fathers around the world did. Aussie dads take only 20 per cent of the parental leave that fathers in comparable countries do 'That is because our policy settings, aside from America, we've got the least adequate paid-parental leave scheme in the OECD,' she said. Ms Dent said leave should be flexible and allow parents to take a month off here and there throughout the first year of their child's life. Her association is pushing for a paid parental leave scheme of 12 months shared between the couple at a full working wage. Ms Rishworth said parental leave needed to reflect changes in gender roles. 'I'm not going to be too prescriptive right now. I'm going to have those conversations with Australian families. I've had my own experience, where my husband took 12 months of leave himself. It was unpaid,' she said. Amanda Rishworth (left), whose husband took 12 months of unpaid parental leave, meets with then Labor leader Anthony Albanese (centre right) and other parent Labor MPs She called on employers, who she said were already offering more generous parental leave to keep staff, to work with the government to make sure men are encouraged to take it. What we really need is employers, who like to put money up for paid parental leave, how that interacts and works in with the government system, she said. A Workplace Gender Equality Agency survey in February showed only 12 per cent of workers who took primary carers leave were men and half the employers in traditionally male industries didn't offer such leave. Economist Peter Switzer says the expanding parental leave for dads is a 'good and fair' idea but in the current business conditions many small businesses would find it too hard Business and economics commentator Peter Switzer called Labor's proposal a 'good and fair idea' that could be a accommodated by bigger corporations. However, he said for small business losing key staff for 20 weeks would be big hurdle in an already difficult environment and that meant this wasn't the right time to push this. 'Bigger organisations with pricing power might be happy to use better parental leave for men to attract good staff but right now smaller business operators would see this as just another new challenge to put in the too hard basket,' he wrote on his website. Under the Commonwealth-funded scheme a so-called primary care giver gets 18 weeks of leave at the minimum wage and this is normally the mother with men rarely eligible unless they are in a same-sex relationship. Fathers get two weeks of 'dad or partner pay'. Ms Dent argued that the categories of 'primary' and 'secondary' caregiver should be done away with, which some companies have done. Boris Johnson yesterday insisted 'the price of freedom is worth paying' as the war in Ukraine drives up prices in Britain. Making a comparison to the Second World War, the Prime Minister said the defeat of Nazi Germany had been 'very expensive... but it bought decades and decades of stability'. The conflict in Ukraine has led to massive increases in the cost of living as energy, fuel and food prices have all spiralled. The UK has so far contributed around 1.5billion of economic and humanitarian support to the country, plus some 1.3billion of military assistance. As he attended a G7 summit in Germany yesterday, Mr Johnson argued that Western allies must continue to back Ukraine as it would ultimately make the world a safer and more prosperous place. A shopping centre with around 1,000 people inside at time was hit by Russian strikes earlier today UK PM Boris Johnson (centre) continues to pledge support for the Ukrainians and President Zelensky (left) against Putin's (right) Russia He warned that not standing up to Vladimir Putin's aggression would lead to 'absolutely chilling' consequences, such as China launching its own invasions. Seeking to reassure the British public about the cost of the conflict, Mr Johnson told BBC News: 'I think that the economic impacts on the UK will start to abate, we'll find ways around things and some of the cost pressures will start to come down. 'But just in terms of staying the course, imagine if you didn't. Imagine if we allowed Putin to get away with the violent acquisition of huge chunks of another country, a sovereign, independent territory the lessons for that would be absolutely chilling in all of the countries of the former Soviet Union. 'You can see what's happening in the Baltic countries already. 'But the read across would also be felt in East Asia, as well. 'So, in terms of the economic effects of that, that would mean long-term instability, it would mean anxiety across the world.' Mr Johnson refused to put a limit on British support for Ukraine in either time or money, saying: 'The point I would make to people is, I think that sometimes the price of freedom is worth paying. 'And just remember, it took the democracies, in the middle of the last century, a long time to recognise that they had to resist tyranny and aggression. 'It took them a long time, it was very expensive. But what it bought in the end, with the defeat of the dictators, particularly of Nazi Germany, it bought decades and decades of stability, a world order that relied on a rules-based international system. 'And that is worth protecting, that is worth defending, that delivers long-term prosperity.' Downing Street last night did not rule out the possibility that Mr Johnson could boycott a G20 summit due to be held in Indonesia in November if Putin attends. The PM yesterday praised the 'Dunkirk spirit' being used to get food supplies out of Ukraine where 25million tonnes of grain are currently blocked by Russian forces. A government source said the PM had been 'struck' by how leaders were 'talking about all kinds of smaller ways' they can get grain out of the country, as well as trying to end the blockade of its ports. UK prices are not helped by the war in Ukraine as the conflict prevents food and fuel from exiting the country and the west is trying to drastically cut its reliance on Russian oil and gas 'Whether it's boats on canals, lorries, railways, he saw a bit of the Dunkirk spirit,' the source said. 'You can achieve a lot through small micro movements.' The Prime Minister last night announced a dramatic rise in funding for a programme to bring Ukrainian scientists to the UK so they can continue their research at British universities. More than 130 academics will be supported by the Researchers at Risk scheme as the Government quadruples its budget to almost 13million. Mr Johnson said: 'People across the UK have opened their hearts and their homes to support those fleeing violence in Ukraine, and our world-leading universities, research institutions and tech businesses are no different. 'Science and technology will be decisive in ensuring Putin fails in Ukraine, and it will be crucial as we rebuild the Ukrainian economy.' He also opened the door to Russian scientists who value 'openness, freedom and the pursuit of knowledge'. G7 leaders also discussed a cap on the price of Russian oil. Details were not agreed at the summit in Elmau, Germany, but it would involve tying the price cap to the services that make trading oil possible, meaning insurers would be barred from dealing with shipments that are above the cap. One US official said they were looking to 'starve' Putin of his main source of cash. Boris Johnson's plan to tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared their first Commons hurdle, amid a backlash from Tory MPs who claimed it is 'illegal'. MPs voted 295 to 221, a majority 74, to give the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill a second reading. A lot of Tories decided to abstain on the vote like Theresa May who had earlier branded the bid 'illegal'. In a withering intervention, the ex-prime minister told MPs the Government's bid to take unilateral action over the Northern Ireland Protocol was illegal and warned it will 'diminish' the UK's global standing. Mrs May also suggested that Mr Johnson's recent woes - including having to face a no confidence vote among Conservative MPs - had damaged his negotiating position with the EU. The Prime Minister claimed the proposed legislation, which gives ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland, could be carried out 'fairly rapidly', with the proposals in law by the end of the year. Tory MPs who joined Mrs May in expressing concern, will likely seek amendments the bill. Boris Johnson's (pictured at G7 yesterday) bid to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol has cleared its first Commons hurdle, amid Tory warnings the plans are illegal In a withering intervention, Theresa May told MPs the Government's bid to take unilateral action over the Northern Ireland Protocol was illegal The House of Lords is also expected to contest parts of the Bill, setting up a lengthy showdown between the two Houses. Mr Johnson's Government has said the measures to remove checks on goods and animal and plant products travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement and peace and stability. 'What we are trying to do is fix something that I think is very important to our country, which is the balance of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement,' he told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. 'You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really aren't working in a way that they like or understand, you've got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 'All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market.' Asked if the measures could be in place this year, Mr Johnson said: 'Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing.' He said it would be 'even better' if we could 'get some of that flexibility we need in our conversations with Maros Sefcovic', the European Commission vice-president. The Prime Minister added: 'We remain optimistic.' Ireland's premier Micheal Martin rejected Boris Johnson's assertion that he does not see a major diplomatic row erupting over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Speaking in Dublin on Monday, the Taoiseach said: 'That, in my view, doesn't stack up in the sense that any unilateral decision to breach international law is a major serious development. 'There can be no getting out of that. One cannot trivialise the breaching of an international agreement between the UK Government and the EU. 'My concern is a trend towards unilateralism that is emanating from the UK Government. 'We had it on the protocol, we had it on legacy issues, we have it now in terms of the application of the decision of European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in terms of domestic British law. 'We know that the Good Friday Agreement incorporates protections under the human rights convention and that is something we will keep a close eye on. 'I have been in touch with the President of the European Commission and the President of the European Council, and they are concerned about this. 'They are conscious that similar efforts were made last year but this is not a good move by the British Government and it has to accept that unilateralism does not work in the context of the Good Friday Agreement, or in the context of good relationships with your neighbours and the EU.' Conservative MP Simon Hoare, the chair of the Commons' Northern Ireland Affairs Commmittee, openly wondered whether the Bill was a 'muscle flex for a future leadership bid' by Ms Truss. He told MPs, if that was the case, it would be 'shameful'. Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell admitted the EU was 'not being particularly constructive' but warned the Bill 'trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war, it puts us at odds with our closest ally' The Government has argued the measures to remove checks on goods moving from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to safeguard the Good Friday Agreement Boris urges focus on Ukraine as Tory rebels demand Cabinet coup Boris Johnson is urging a focus on Ukraine today as Tory rebels urge the Cabinet to stage a coup in the wake of the by-election disasters. The PM is busy burnishing his statesman credentials at the G7 summit in Bavaria, where leaders are discussing ways to help thwart Vladimir Putin. But the Conservative mood at home is still seething after the party's meltdown in Tiverton and Wakefield - and the premier's suggestion over the weekend that he wants to stay in No10 for another decade has done little to help. Nerves have been further jangled by persistent rumours that six MPs are considering defecting to Labour. Environment Secretary George Eustice insisting in a round of interviews this morning that the Cabinet remains united behind Mr Johnson, despite the dramatic resignation by Tory chair Oliver Dowden on Friday. But William Wragg, the Tory chairman of the Commons Public Administration Committee, told BBC Radio 4's Westminster Hour his own seat and those of colleagues 'with majorities much larger than mine' are under threat while Mr Johnson remains as PM. Advertisement The Government has insisted its unilateral approach is the only option left to resolve issues 'baked in' to the Protocol if the EU maintains its refusal fundamentally to rewrite the terms of the deal. As she opened today's debate, Ms Truss said the UK continues to raise issues of concern with the EU. She told the Commons: 'We simply cannot allow this situation to drift. 'Northern Ireland has been without a devolved government since February due specifically to the Protocol, at a time of major global economic challenges. 'Therefore, it is the duty of this Government to act now to enable a plan for restored local government to begin. It's both legal and necessary.' Conservative former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell said he had an 'immense amount of sympathy' with what the Foreign Secretary was saying. 'It does seem to me that the EU is not being particularly constructive in trying to get the solution we all want to see achieved,' he added. 'But can I say to her that many of us are extremely concerned that the Bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, it trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally. 'Can she say anything to reassure me in my anxieties on these points?' But Mrs May told the Commons: 'The UK's standing in the world, our ability to convene and encourage others in the defence of our shared values, depends on the respect others have for us as a country, a country that keeps its word, and displays those shared values in its actions. 'As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. 'I have to say to the Government, this Bill is not, in my view, legal in international law, it will not achieve its aims, and it will diminish the standing of the United Kingdom in the eyes of the world, and I cannot support it.' Conservative former Northern Ireland secretary Julian Smith also said: 'I fear that this Bill is a kind of displacement activity from the core task of doing whatever we can to negotiate a better protocol deal for Northern Ireland. 'I also fear that it risks creating an impression to unionism that a black-and-white solution is available, when the reality is once this Bill has been dragged through the Lords, and courts, and EU responses and reprisals, compromise will ultimately be needed.' But Conservative former justice secretary Sir Robert Buckland said there is necessity for the Government to act because there is a growing and 'real threat'. Unionist opposition to the imposition of checks has seen the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) refuse to return to the powersharing Executive at Stormont, leaving the region without a functioning government. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson acknowledged the Bill is not perfect but said: 'It empowers ministers to make change where change is necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the UK internal market.' Sir Jeffrey, ahead of the debate, also warned the Lords that blocking the legislation would be akin to 'wrecking the Good Friday Agreement'. Alliance MP Stephen Farry (North Down) said: 'This is an extremely bad Bill, it's unwanted, unnecessary and, indeed, it's dangerous.' Sinn Fein MP John Finucane called the Government's plans 'shameful' and said they will mean 'more instability' for the region. Ireland's premier Micheal Martin (right) rejected Mr Johnson's assertion that he does not see a major diplomatic row erupting over the Northern Ireland Protocol He told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme: 'It's very interesting that we are watching a sovereign Parliament debating whether to continue a breach of international law or not.' A Number 10 spokesman said today that the Government had never put a 'hard target date' on when it would hope to see the Bill enacted. A source close to the Foreign Secretary added: 'There is ultimately a simple logic to doing this legislation: the Protocol is undermining the Belfast Good Friday Agreement and creating myriad problems in Northern Ireland, but the EU are still refusing to change or renegotiate the Protocol, therefore we are obliged to act. 'That simple logic seems to winning round some of the wavering / moderate types in the middle of this debate. 'As recently as last week Sefcovic was saying the EU will not renegotiate the Protocol, which rather proves our point. 'Ideally we reach the same solutions as the legislation through a negotiated settlement, but that's impossible unless the EU accept parts of the Protocol itself need fixing. 'International agreements change all the time when circumstances change - and article 13 of the Protocol itself allows for it to be changed - so we're slightly baffled by the EU position that the Protocol is set in stone and can't be changed. It can and should be.' Sir Keir Starmer has said Labour would axe the proposed laws if it was in power, and confirmed his party will vote against the legislation at Westminster before the vote. The European Commission's Mr Sefcovic declined to rule out a trade war, saying: 'We have to keep all options on the table.' But he emphasised the EU's preference to find a negotiated solution to the problems caused by the protocol, lamenting the 'radio silence from London since February'. On Sunday, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis suggested it was 'absurd' for Europe to issue warnings about a trade war with the UK when they had not fully implemented sanctions on Putin for invading Ukraine. The EU's ambassador to the UK, Joao Vale de Almeida, said the Government is likely on 'a road to nowhere'. Speaking to Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday about the Bill, he said: 'We are not dismissing (what the UK has proposed), but we read it very carefully and, to be very frank, we think it is both illegal and unrealistic.' Alongside the second reading, the Government is launching a series of 'structured engagements' with the business community to discuss and gather views on the Bill's implementation. The Foreign Office is hosting the first roundtable event on Monday, bringing together more than a dozen major UK businesses and representative groups including the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, Asda, John Lewis and the Dairy Council NI. A former bikie who was found not guilty of the execution of Comanchero boss Mick Hawi has died after being shot up to 10 times in Sydney's inner west. Yusuf Nazlioglu, 40, was rushed to Westmead Hospital on Monday night in a critical condition after he was the victim of a 'targeted attack' in a Rhodes carpark. Police confirmed Nazlioglu died in hospital early Tuesday morning, but refused to speculate whether it was linked to the string of recent underworld hits across Sydney that have left 14 dead in the last two years. The parking lot was completely blocked off on Tuesday morning - frustrated apartment-owners are unable to drive into their parking spaces 'maybe until this afternoon', a police officer said. It is understood police are preparing to tow a car from the scene. Paramedics treat the former Lone Wolf bikie shot in Sydney's inner west on Monday as police watch on (pictured) Bodies have been piling up in the Harbour City in the past 18 months with at least a dozen contract killings linked to the bitter feud between the Hamzy and Alameddine crime clans Police rushed to cordon off Rhodes Central building on Monday night after Nazlioglu was hit by multiple bullets in a basement car park on Walker Street. A heavily bandaged man was seen being stretchered out of the building by paramedics as police watched on. The building includes a shopping centre, apartments and basement carpark. Police were seen gathering near one of the lobby entrances with tape put up around a set of lifts and a nearby fast food outlet. A jury found Yusuf Nazlioglu (pictured) not guilty of Comanchero boss Mick Hawi's execution in 2018 Nazlioglu was charged with murder after Hawi, the ex-kingpin of the Comanchero bikie gang who was he gunned down as he climbed into his luxury four-wheel-drive outside a Rockdale Fitness First gym in Sydney's south in 2018. He was found not guilty but had another brush with the law when he pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm. The underworld figure was sentenced to three years in prison and walked free in September 2021. Haunting covert recordings played in court during his sentencing revealed that Nazlioglu knew he was a marked man. 'I used to hear people outside were going to knock me, yeah?' he said while inside Sydney's Silverwater Prison in 2020, the Daily Telegraph reported. 'I used to still leave my house, brother, knowing that one day someone's going to sneak up on me and put one in my head. 'But I still f*****g went to the same hairdresser, went to the same f*****g restaurants yeah. I still showed my face in front yard and hung out with boys at their porches at their houses, yeah knowing I'm gunna get knocked one day.' The Australian that was raised by Turkish parents even bragged that he still visits the same mosque 'where all our enemies know we pray'. 'They could wait for us to walk out brother, did we s**t ourselves? Were we scared? No.' Emergency crews responded to reports of a shooting in Rhodes (pictured) about 7pm with Nazlioglu rushed to hospital Detectives and officers on the scene at Walker Street in Rhodes (pictured) While Nazlioglu was found not guilty by a jury of the hit on Hawi, his friend, furniture removalist Ahmad Doudar, 40, was jailed for four-and-a-half years. Father-of-one Doudar was sentenced after admitting to being an accessory after the fact to Hawi's murder. Doudar's role in the crime involved him picking up a hidden silver Aurion with a tow truck and intending to dispose of it, alongside others, the court heard. Justice Robert Allan Hulme said on sentencing that '(Mr Doudar) intended to assist in disposing of the vehicle in order to assist' in the murder. Nazlioglu, then 39, and alleged getaway driver Jamal El-Jaidi, then 32, were both found not guilty by a jury, following a week of deliberations. Police responded after being called to Walker Street Rhodes after shots were fired (pictured) A basement carpark on Walker Street is searched by officers (pictured) Doudar, who accepted their involvement in the crime when making his plea, was not called to give evidence at their trial. In sentencing Doudar for being an accessory, the judge said murders like this 'do not happen by chance... they require the involvement of multiple people.' Doudar's motive remains unknown. 'For all I know, Mr Doudar may have been motivated by one or more other purposes,' the judge said. Hawi's wife, Carolina Gonzalez, sister Zeinab and parents Ahmad and Nahdi read statements at his sentencing hearing. They gave 'very moving accounts of the loss and grief that has resulted from the taking of their loved one in the most horrendous of circumstances.' Doudar was jailed with a non parole period of three years and four months while Nazlioglu and El-Jaidi walked free. Former Comanchero boss Mick Hawi (pictured) was gunned down outside a Rockdale gym A former Minneapolis cop who shot dead an unarmed Australian yoga instructor after she called 911 about a potential sexual assault outside her home has walked free from jail. Mohamed Noor, 36, gunned down Justine Ruszczyk, 40, on the night of July 15, 2017, as he and fellow officer Matthew Harrity arrived at her home to investigate the disturbance. Noor was found guilty of third-degree murder and manslaughter by a jury in April 2019 and sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison. According to online records from the Minnesota Department of Corrections, Noor was released on Monday just 18 days shy of the fifth anniversary of the fatal shooting after serving over three years behind bars. Justine Ruszczyk, 40, (pictured) was shot dead in July 2017 after calling police to her Minnesota home to investigate a potential sexual assault Mr Noors release comes after his murder conviction was overturned and he was re-sentenced on a lesser charge. Last year, Noor was resentenced to four years and nine months on the manslaughter charge after the Minnesota Supreme Court tossed out the initial murder charge claiming it did not apply to the case. In Minnesota, it is presumed that a defendant with good behaviour will serve two-thirds of a sentence in prison and the rest on parole. The former police officer will be on supervised release until January 2024, according to Minnesota Department of Corrections. The death of Ms Ruszczyk sparked outrage in Australia and the US, where there were protests in Minnesota calling for police accountability, with the chief of the force later resigning. Ms Ruszczyk had called 911, the American equivalent of 000, claiming to have heard a woman screaming in the alley beside her home. She feared it was a sexual assault and ran outside when the cop car arrived, approaching it from behind. Harrity told investigators they were startled by a loud noise when they pulled into the alley. Ms Ruszczyk then approached the driver's side of the car and Noor, sitting in the passenger seat, pulled his trigger, killing her at the scene. Noor never testified, nor was he interviewed by police. The only information his lawyers gave was that he may have been scared of her - even though she was unarmed. Mohamed Noor, 36, (pictured) has been released from jail after serving more than three years Ms Ruszczyk's family won a $20 million settlement from The City of Minneapolis after filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Her fiance, Don Damond, condemned the Minneapolis Police Department for not doing more to change the culture within the department after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Derek Chauvin. 'Other than body camera policy, can you point to what has changed? Can you point to anything that has changed? I cant,' he said in an interview in 2020. Chief Minister, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy releases a cash cheque for Ammavodi Scheme in the presence of beneficiaries, AP Assembly Speaker, Tammineni Sitaram, and AP Cabinet Ministers during a public meeting at Srikakulam on Monday. (Photos by Arrangement) VISAKHAPATNAM: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has intensified his attack on the opposition parties and a section of the media at a state-level programme in Srikakulam on Monday. Calling his rivals as 'demons', Jagan said "I am fighting a lone battle with the rival forces." Addressing the Jagananna Amma Vodi's (JAV) third tranche financial aid distribution programme at Kodi Rammurthy stadium, Jagan said in a reference to the three regional Telugu media entities, I may not have the support of the media, but I am moving forward in the belief that you are all behind me. Our government is trying to bring out the best from you in all fields, especially in education. But my opponents including Chandrababu Naidu keep trying to discredit us and are making false allegations against our government. I do not care a damn about these evil forces. With your support, I will carry on, and they cannot pluck even a single hair from me." The chief minister said, Chandrababu Naidu never thought of schemes like Amma Vodi in his five-year term. But, he along with his accomplices including "Datta Putrudu" (adopted son) is trying to defame me with false campaigns through their media channels. Earlier, Jagan disbursed Rs 6,595 crore into the bank accounts of 43.96 lakh mothers to benefit 82 lakh students by the press of a button. With this, the total amount disbursed for the purpose in the last three years rose to Rs 19,618 crore. Jagan said, "Our government is giving top priority to see that all the children in the state, irrespective of their financial status, get good education." Education builds the future of our children in ways that they, their family and the society as a whole benefit, he said. The AP government spent nearly Rs 52,600 crore for education in the last three years. This is apart from the salaries paid to teachers, he said. Jagan said the government would distribute tabs worth Rs 12,000 to each student above Class VIII from September to avail advanced teaching methods from Byju's. The government will spend Rs 500 crore on tabs for 4.7 lakh children. Study material is provided through smart television to all children from Class 4 to 10 in government schools. Digital boards and TVs will also be set up in all government schools under the Naadu-Nedu scheme. In the second phase, another 22,334 schools will be rebuilt under the scheme with an investment of Rs 8,000 crore. A total of 15,715 schools have been developed in the first phase, Jagan said. Calling the chief minister Jagan Mamayya (Jagan uncle), on stage, Niharika, a 9th Class student of a government school, said in her eloquent English speech: "Our chief minister is a legend in bringing many reforms in the education system." School education minister Botsa Satyanarayana said Amma Vodi, a brainchild of Jagan, was a revolutionary step coming in after the 75 years of Independence. Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has demanded 10 billion a year in extra military spending to meet the threat posed by Russia. In a letter to the Prime Minister, Mr Wallace also highlighted alarming shortfalls in Britain's defence capabilities such as a lack of drones, not enough pilots to fly multi-billion-pound stealth jets and a paucity of crew members aboard Royal Navy nuclear submarines. In a landmark speech today, he will insist the UK's annual defence budget should rise from 2 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2028. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with world leaders yesterday to give him the firepower to end Russia's war on Ukraine before winter In a landmark speech today, Ben Wallace (pictured) will insist the UK's annual defence budget should rise from 2 per cent of GDP to 2.5 per cent by 2028 The British Army's most senior soldier will also address the Land Warfare conference to insist the UK's armed forces must be ready to fight Russia on the battlefields of Europe. General Sir Patrick Sanders will say the threat to peace, as posed by Vladimir Putin, is unprecedented in his career. In a copy of his speech, released last night the Chief of the General Staff is set to say: 'This is our 1937 moment. We are not at war but must act rapidly so that we are not drawn into one through a failure to contain territorial expansion.' Last week he wrote to all the troops under his command telling them they must prepare 'to fight in Europe once again'. It will be the second time in recent months Mr Wallace has called for an increase in defence spending. In March he wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak warning UK defence spending was at risk of dropping below the Nato minimum spend of 2 per cent, unless the Treasury provided further funds. The Daily Mail understands if he is granted the additional budget, Mr Wallace would target specific capability gaps rather than upping the size of the Army which is expected to shrink to just 72,500 by 2025. A source said: 'The Defence Secretary is expected to emphasise that now that the threat has changed, governments must be prepared to invest to keep us safe.' It came as Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded with world leaders yesterday to give him the firepower to end Russia's war on Ukraine before winter. The Ukrainian President fears freezing temperatures in the country's eastern regions later this year will favour the Russian invaders and limit his troops' ability to defend their lands. In an impassioned address to the G7 summit, he asked for long-range weapons and air defence systems to be supplied before then. Speaking on a live-link to the Bavarian resort where the leaders are gathered, Mr Zelensky also asked for tougher sanctions on Moscow to thwart the Kremlin's war machine. He also requested further Western assistance to breach Russia's blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports which is preventing the export of the country's grain stocks. 'If Ukraine wins, you all win,' he said during his speech by video link. It came as Nato announced a seven-fold increase in numbers of troops on high readiness, from 40,000 to more than 300,000, as the defence alliance gathers for its own summit today. Soldiers would respond to any Russian incursion into Nato territory but would not enter Ukraine. National troops would be put on different alert levels so the alliance has more combat-ready forces ready on short notice. The Daily Mail understands if he is granted the additional budget, Mr Wallace would target specific capability gaps rather than upping the size of the Army. Pictured: Ben Wallace meets Polish Defence Minister Mariusz Blaszczak at Ministry of Defence in Warsaw, Poland, in March 17, 2022 Last night it was claimed that as part of the Nato pledge, Boris Johnson could announce a significant reinforcement for Estonia, potentially more than doubling the number of British troops available to the Baltic State. Urging the Western allies to increase their support for the war effort, Mr Zelensky pleaded yesterday: 'Don't let it drag on over winter' and urged them 'not to lower the pressure' in terms of sanctions. In a joint statement, the G7 leaders promised to support Ukraine 'for as long as it takes'. Ukrainian military chiefs want to mount a counter-offensive against the Russians this summer and autumn but lack the necessary firepower. Mr Zelensky is also desperate to address the vulnerability of his country's major cities to Russian missile attacks and yesterday received a boost from Washington with Joe Biden pledging the same air defence system which protects the White House and the Pentagon. More than 20 UK-purchased M109 howitzers are expected to reach the front line in days while the US pledged to provide the NASAMS system, which can destroy incoming missiles and aircraft at a range of up to 86 nautical miles. Military sources said it could be used to protect Kyiv and other cities. Landlords who charge leaseholders for the costs of the cladding scandal could face ten years behind bars, Michael Gove warned last night. The Housing Secretary wrote to building owners telling them that asking innocent victims to pay to fix fire safety defects is now a criminal offence. It comes as landmark legislation is to be passed today meaning that hundreds of thousands of leaseholders trapped in unsafe homes will, for the first time, be legally protected from unfair costs. The Daily Mail has been campaigning to End The Cladding Scandal and safeguard leaseholders from costly repairs The measure is a victory for the Daily Mail, which has been running a campaign to End The Cladding Scandal and safeguard leaseholders from costly repairs. Until now, they have been liable for bills of up to 150,000 each to fix unsafe cladding and other defects. But the Building Safety Act means that those responsible for historical safety defects and those who own buildings will instead be made to pay. Mr Gove said it marked a major turning point for building safety in this country. Pictured: The 2017 Grenfell fire. Landmark legislation is to be passed today meaning that hundreds of thousands of leaseholders trapped in unsafe homes will, for the first time, be legally protected from unfair costs He added: Hundreds of thousands of innocent leaseholders now have the legal protection they rightly deserve, freeing them from a financial burden they should never have faced. In his letter to freeholders and managing agents, Mr Gove said he was concerned agents are still attempting to bill leaseholders for repairs. He added: From tomorrow, anyone who chooses to breach the statutory protections will be committing a criminal offence. Individuals involved in such criminal activity could face up to ten years in prison, in addition to the consequences for their companies. Criminal exploitation of leaseholders will be treated as a matter of the utmost seriousness. Mr Gove said a new recovery strategy unit would identify and pursue those who are culpable. Earlier he launched a renewed attack on the cartel of developers, accusing them of building shoddy homes. Housing Secretary Michael Gove wrote to building owners telling them that asking innocent victims to pay to fix fire safety defects is now a criminal offence. Landlords who charge leaseholders for the costs of the cladding scandal could face ten years behind bars The minister told GB News that some volume house builders have been producing homes that are shoddy and low quality. But Labour MP Marsha de Cordova said there was still no deadline to fix fire safety issues in the aftermath of the Grenfell Tower fire and criticised the Government for dodging its responsibilities. The housing committee has previously warned too many leaseholders will fall through the cracks of Mr Goves plans. MPs said it leaves some buy-to-let landlords and those in blocks under 11m high liable for bills of up to 15,000 each. Two of Boris Johnson's most outspoken critics warned rebel MPs against 'tinkering' with Tory leadership rules to oust him. Mr Johnson survived a vote of no confidence by the margin of 211 to 148 earlier this month. Under existing rules he now has a 12-month 'grace period' before he can be challenged again. Some rebel MPs want to change the rules so that he could face another challenge as soon as next month. But former Brexit Secretary David Davis, who has called for the PM to quit, warned against a change. William Wragg, a long-outspoken critic of Boris Johnson, called last week's by-elections a disaster - but still isn't in favour of tweaking the rules Former Brexit Secretary David Davis has also warned against any changes, saying they could destabilise government He said disaffected MPs had to accept 'the rules are the rules' and warned allowing endless challenges would risk destabilising the Government. 'Do you want a leader, whoever it is, looking over his shoulder every month at this tax increase or whatever?' he asked. William Wragg, a member of the 1922 Committee which oversees the rules, also warned against changing them. Mr Wragg, one of the PM's most outspoken critics, said last week's by-elections in Wakefield and in Tiverton and Honiton were a 'complete and utter disaster'. He added: 'I don't think it is desirable that the 1922 Committee should tinker with the rules although it did previously in recent history at the end of Mrs May's Government.' Labour claimed yesterday that three Tory MPs are in talks with the party about defecting in the wake of the by-election defeats. They are said to be Red Wall MPs who fear the slender majorities they secured in Mr Johnson's landslide win could now be at risk. Yesterday they denied the defecting rumours. Bishop Auckland MP Dehenna Davison tweeted: 'For the avoidance of doubt again I'm not b****y defecting.' Ex-immigration minister Caroline Nokes and High Peak MP Robert Largan also denied the claims. Another three Red Wall Tory MPs mocked Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, under investigation for the 'Beergate' gathering in Durham last year. Brendan Clarke-Smith, MP for Bassetlaw, tweeted a photo of himself with Tom Hunt and Lee Anderson holding pictures of a beer bottle, a curry dish and Sir Keir covering his ears. He wrote: 'When somebody asked us to join the party we thought it was one with curry and beer. Apologies Labour for the misunderstanding and we won't be defecting.' Grooming gang ring leader Abdul Aziz, known as 'The Master' by his fellow abusers, has won his battle against deportation to his native Pakistan A ringleader of the notorious Rochdale grooming gang has won his battle against deportation back to his native Pakistan, it was revealed yesterday. Abdul Aziz, known as 'The Master' by his fellow abusers, was stripped of his UK citizenship in 2018 after using human rights laws in a bid to avoid being thrown out of the country. But while fellow gang members Adil Khan, 52, and Qari Abdul Rauf, 53, are still fighting efforts to send them back to Pakistan, the status of Aziz has been shrouded in secrecy. The 51-year-old taxi driver, who ferried victims to sex parties as far away as Leeds and Bradford, was convicted of trafficking and conspiracy to engage in sexual activity with a child and jailed for nine years in 2012. But yesterday, to the outrage of campaigners, it was revealed that in reality, Aziz won his fight to stay in the UK almost four years ago. The truth was revealed when a barrister representing Rauf in his battle against deportation read out a document which she said then Home Secretary Sajid Javid wrote to Aziz on Hallowe'en 2018. It revealed that Aziz renounced his Pakistani citizenship on July 13, 2018 - five days before a hearing before the Court of Appeal where he, Rauf and Khan lost their battle against being stripped of British nationality. As a result, the Home Secretary 'has decided not to make a deprivation order in respect of you', the letter went on - meaning Aziz retained his British citizenship. The Home Office last night failed to deny that Aziz was therefore no longer facing deportation. Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, pictured, said Priti Patel had tough questions to answer. He said: 'I'm astonished, and the people of Rochdale will share that astonishment, none more so than those whose lives were badly hurt by this gang' Whistleblower Maggie Oliver, who resigned a detective over failings in how police handled grooming cases in Rochdale, said victims would be 'horrified' to learn that Aziz has secretly had his British citizenship restored. 'All three of them should have been kicked out of the country as soon as they were released from prison,' she told the Daily Mail. 'Instead they've been given hundreds of thousands of pounds in legal aid to pay for clever lawyers who seek to defend the indefensible. 'It's just the latest evidence that our criminal justice system is broken and that victims get no consideration at all.' Victims have repeatedly told of their incredulity that the trio - all of whom had dual UK-Pakistani nationality - remain in the country a decade after they were jailed. One told how 'my heart just stopped beating' when she spotted Khan shopping in a local Asda. In response to anger over the delays, the Home Office has said 'foreign criminals should be in no doubt of our determination to deport them'. However it last night refused to give any information Aziz, saying it didn't 'routinely comment on individual cases'. Khan and Rauf also renounced their Pakistani citizenship. However these applications were signed off two months later than Aziz's application, the tribunal has heard. Lawyers for Home Secretary Priti Patel have argued that when Khan made the application, he falsely claimed to the Pakistani authorities that he was 'assured' of British citizenship. The declaration may therefore be 'null and void'. However Rauf - who is legally aided - claims he did not sign the papers depriving him of British citizenship until November 2018. His barrister - who has been granted anonymity by the court - argues that the different treatment of Aziz and Rauf raise questions of 'consistency of decision-making'. However Judge Charlotte Welsh yesterday ruled that the letter relating to Aziz's case was 'irrelevant' to the appeal. Rauf and Khan also argue that deportation would breach their right to private and family life under the European Convention on Human Rights. Khan previously told the tribunal he shouldn't be deported back to Pakistan as he is a 'role model' for his teenage son and needed to teach the teenager 'right from wrong'. But yesterday a barrister representing Miss Patel, Rory Dunlop, QC, said Khan was 'the worst possible role model' for a teenage boy due to his 'vile' crimes. Meanwhile Rauf had shown no evidence of remorse, he added. A decision on their appeals will be made at a later date. Rochdale MP Tony Lloyd, who in 2019 demanded urgent action by Mr Javid to deport the trio, said his successor Priti Patel now had tough questions to answer. Im astonished and the people of Rochdale will share that astonishment, none more so than those whose lives were badly hurt by this gang, he told the Daily Mail. Mr Lloyd said Miss Patel had promised that she would take every action to deport them. If she knew that one of them was already beyond recall, she betrayed the women who came forward to put these men in jail. They can have no faith in her and for me that would render her unfit to be Home Secretary. A fourth member of the gang, 69-year-old Shabir Ahmed, did not contest being stripped of his British citizenship, it is understood. He is the only member still behind bars, serving a 22-year sentence. NASA has revealed images of a massive crater that was left by a 'mystery rocket' that smashed into the moon in March. Newly-released photos were taken by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), NASA's robotic spacecraft currently orbiting the moon, on May 25. They show a surprising 'double crater' roughly 92 feet (28 metres) wide near Hertzsprung crater on the moon's far side. A US researcher discovered the rocket body hurtling towards the moon in January before it smashed into the moon on March 4, but its identity is still unknown. It's said to be a spent rocket booster from a launch that happened years ago, but neither China nor the US will claim responsibly for it. Can you see where the rocket smashed into the moon? The impact crater was created by a mysterious rocket booster in March is spotted by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Can you spot it? This GIF shows the location of the newly formed double crater. The before image is LRO's view from Feb. 28, 2022 (M1400727806L). The after image is from May 21, 2022. The width of the frame is 367 meters, about 401 yards. WHAT HAPPENED? In January, US researcher Bill Gray discovered that a mystery rocket was on a crash course to the moon. Initially, Grey thought it was the booster from a SpaceX rocket launch in February 2015. However, NASA said the object was likely the booster rocket from China's Chang'e 5-T1 mission launched in October 2014. China denied this. The rocket impacted the moon on March 4, 2022 near Hertzsprung crater, creating a double crater roughly 92 feet (28 metres) wide in the longest dimension. Mark Robinson, a professor of earth and space exploration at Arizona State University, said the item weighed about four tons and was travelling at 5,700 miles per hour prior to impact. Advertisement Mark Robinson, a professor of Earth and space exploration at Arizona State University, said the item weighed about four tons and was travelling at 5,700 miles per hour prior to impact. Images of the resulting crater, take by the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera (LROC), a system of three cameras mounted on the LRO, were shared by NASA. 'The identity of the rocket body remains unclear,' NASA said. 'The double crater was unexpected and may indicate that the rocket body had large masses at each end.' Since the origin of the rocket body remains uncertain, the double nature of the crater may help to indicate its identity, the space agency said. Surprisingly, the crater is two craters an eastern crater 59 feet (18 metres) in diameter, superimposed on a western crater 52 feet (16 metres) in diameter. NASA said no other rocket impacts on the moon in history have caused a double crater, although there are bigger human-caused impact craters on the moon. Impact craters made during four of the Apollo missions in the 1970s were substantially larger (greater than 115 feet) than each of the double craters. It was back in January that the 'mystery rocket' was initially identified by Bill Gray, an independent researcher and developer of the astronomical software Project Pluto. In a new blog post, Gray said he's a 'little puzzled' by the double nature of the impact crater. 'I am in no way an expert on what happens in high-speed impacts like this, except to know that they can have some very strange, non-intuitive results,' he said. The rocket body impacted the lunar surface on March 4, 2022 near Hertzsprung crater, creating a 'double crater' roughly 92 feet (28 metres) wide in the longest dimension A surprising 'double crater' roughly 92 feet (28 metres) wide was created near Hertzsprung crater on the moon's far side. The new crater is not visible in this view, but its location is indicated by the white arrow. LROC WAC mosaic, 110 kilometers width. Back in January prior to impact, Gray thought the object was the booster from a SpaceX rocket launch in February 2015, which sent a weather and Earth observation satellite named DSCOVR into orbit for NASA. However, NASA said its analysis showed that the object was likely the booster rocket from China's Chang'e 5-T1 mission launched in October 2014 from Xichang Satellite Launch Center, Xichang, China. This was denied by a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman, who said China's aerospace endeavours are 'always in keeping with international law'. China launched the uncrewed Chang'e 5-T1 spacecraft to the moon on a Long March 3C rocket, a three-stage Chinese rocket with two strap-on liquid rocket boosters. The images taken by the LRO (pictured) were snapped in mid-August, but were only released recently The objective of the mission was to test the ability of the spacecraft's capsule to re-enter Earth's atmosphere. The capsule landed back on Earth that same month, but it's been thought by the US authorities that the booster rocket had been floating through space for more than seven years before heading towards the moon. Regardless of its identity, the collision course has re-ignited discussion about space debris and who is legally responsible for tracking space junk floating outside the Earth's atmosphere. According to NASA, there are about 23,000 pieces of debris larger than a softball orbiting the Earth. In 2021, an expert at the European Commission warned that unwanted debris left by humans in low-Earth orbit have become the equivalent of a 'new drifting island of plastic'. Tiny robotic fireflies that weigh barely more than a paper clip and glow as they fly could be used to aid search-and-rescue missions, researchers claim. Engineers at MIT previously developed insect-sized robots with tiny artificial muscles that allow them to zip around with bug-like agility by rapidly flapping their wings. The engineers have now found a way to embed minuscule electroluminescent particles into these artificial muscles, meaning they emit coloured light during flight. The robots can use this light to communicate with each other, and could even use it to signal for help in emergency situations, according to the researchers. For example, if sent on a search-and-rescue mission into a collapsed building, a robot that finds survivors could use lights to signal others and call for help. MIT engineers have found a way to embed minuscule electroluminescent particles into the artificial muscles that power the robots' wings, meaning they emit coloured light during flight Causing a buzz: British scientists create insect-inspired robot An insect-inspired flying robot with wings that buzz thanks to a new type of electric 'muscle' has been developed by British scientists. The prototype weighs about 0.01lbs (5g), has a wing span of 5.9 inches (15cm) and can fly at 1.6mph. It is hoped that one day the robot will be able to look for survivors in disaster zones such as collapsed buildings, monitor hard-to-reach infrastructure and pollinate crops. Researchers at Bristol University said its wings are so efficient that they actually provide more power than an insect muscle of the same weight. Read more Advertisement At the end of last year, MIT researchers demonstrated a new way to make artificial muscles for robot insects by stacking alternating layers of elastomer and carbon nanotube electrode, and then rolling the stack into a squishy cylinder. When a voltage is applied to the cylinder, the electrodes squeeze the elastomer, and the mechanical strain flaps the wings of the robot. To make the wings light up, the researchers have now embedded electroluminescent zinc sulphate particles in the robots' artificial muscles. When these zinc particles are in the presence of a very strong and high-frequency electric field, they emit subatomic particles of light known as photons. The researchers discovered they could use high voltage to create a strong electric field in the artificial muscles, and then drive the robot at a high frequency, causing the particles to light up brightly. 'Traditionally, electroluminescent materials are very energetically costly, but in a sense, we get that electroluminescence for free because we just use the electric field at the frequency we need for flying,' said MIT's Kevin Chen, senior author of the study. 'We dont need new actuation, new wires, or anything. It only takes about 3 percent more energy to shine out light.' They found that adjusting the chemical combination of the zinc particles changes the colour of the light emitted. The researchers made green, orange, and blue particles, and even found a way to make the artificial muscles emit multicoloured and patterned light. The artificial muscles, which control the wings of featherweight flying robots, light up while the robot is in flight, which provides a low-cost way to track the robots and also could enable them to communicate The ability to emit light is important because it allows the robots to be tracked more easily. Microscale robots are so lightweight that they can't carry the sensors large-scale robots typically use to communicate, such as Bluetooth or wireless. Researchers generally use infrared cameras to track them, but these are often cumbersome and don't work well outdoors. However, embedding electroluminescent particles in the robots' artificial muscles allows them to be tracked precisely using just three smartphone cameras. The researchers developed a computer program that can track the position of the robots to within 2 millimetres of state-of-the-art infrared motion capture systems. 'We are very proud of how good the tracking result is, compared to the state-of-the-art,' said Chen. 'We were using cheap hardware, compared to the tens of thousands of dollars these large motion-tracking systems cost, and the tracking results were very close.' The MIT researchers have previously pioneered a new fabrication technique for low-voltage, power-dense, high endurance artificial muscles for an aerial microrobot The zinc particles only increase the weight of the robot by 2.5 per cent, so there is no impact on flight performance. 'This is a major step toward flying these robots in outdoor environments where we dont have a well-tuned, state-of-the-art motion tracking system,' Chen added. In the future, the researchers plan to enhance their motion tracking system so it can track robots in real-time. They are also working to incorporate control signals, so the robots could turn their light on and off during flight and communicate more like real fireflies. 'This work is really interesting because it minimises the overhead (weight and power) for light generation without compromising flight performance,' said Kaushik Jayaram from the University of Colorado at Boulder, who was not involved with this research. 'The wingbeat synchronised flash generation demonstrated in this work will make it easier for motion tracking and flight control of multiple microrobots in low-light environments both indoors and outdoors.' The study was published in the journal IEEE Robotics and Automation Letters. The sea off the coast of New Zealand (NZ) is typically filled with velvety brown sponges, but new images show these marine creatures have turned to a bone-white - and climate change is to blame. Scientists found sponges are 'dying by the millions' in what is 'the worst bleaching event on record.' The discovery was first made last month when thousands of creatures, but experts say there could now be tens of million dead. James Bell, a marine biology professor from New Zealand's Victoria University. who investigating the mass die off, told DailyMail.com in an email: 'We have never seen this before in NZ. 'Sponge bleaching on a small scale was reported in Tasmania 4 years ago, but nothing like the scale we have seen in NZ. It has also been reported in the tropics before, but again not at the scale we have seen.' Bleaching, which is caused by a stress event, cause sponges to lose their cells, leaving behind a bare skeleton this is a similar process seen among coral. Although sea sponges are small, they play a vital role in the marine ecosystem by providing food and shelter to other marine animals. Scroll down for video The sea off the coast of New Zealand is typically filled with velvety brown sponges, but new images show these marine creatures have turned to a bone-white - and climate change is to blame The damaged sponges, one of more than 800 species in New Zealand, were found in more than a dozen places near the Breaksea Sound fjord. 'Importantly, for the sponges in Fiordland our research so far has shown that these sponges are still alive, they have have lost most of the photosynthetic symbionts inside the sponges, but they are still alive,' Bell told DailyMail.com. 'However, we are also finding that the sponges without their symbionts are more palatable to fish, so many of the of the bleached sponges may eventually be eaten. 'The important thing about sponges is that they are are really important in filtering water and in doing so they filter all the small organisms like phytoplankton and bacteria out of the water column. In doing this sponges move lots of potential food material from the water to the sea floor. Pictured is an image of an unbleached sea sponge 'The waste products that the sponges produce as they feeds are then available to other tiny animals on the sea floor, which are subsequently eaten by things further up the food chain. So sponges form a really important link between the water column and the sea floor, and are an under-appreciated link in food chains. If you loose the sponges this will therefore impacts lots of other diversity that is associated with the sea floor.' The bleaching event was caused by extreme temperatures, which have persisted since September of last year. Scientists found sponges are 'dying by the millions' in what is 'the worst bleaching event on record.' The discovery was first made last month when thousands of creatures, but experts say there could now be tens of million dead In 2021, global ocean surface temperatures were 0.65 degrees Celsius higher than the 20th century average. And it was the hottest on record for the third year in a row. 'At the northern and southern limits of New Zealand, we've seen the longest and strongest marine heatwave in 40 years, since satellite based measurements of ocean temperature began in 1981,' said Smith, as The Guardian reported. According to Bell, some sea sponges will bounce back after a day or a week that sees just above average temperatures. 'It might be possible for the sponges to recover. We have shown the sponges still contain some symbionts (which what they have lost), so there is perhaps potential they could recover, and its also possible that those that remain could be more tolerant in the future to other heat waves,' he said. 'Probably the key thing they might need to recover is a break from any further heat stress in the next few years.' The bleaching event is similar to what is killing off coral in the Great Barrier Reef, which experts warn could soon be completely destroyed by climate change. In April 2021, a report showed revealed that if 2.7F (1.5C) degrees of warming continues, the worlds largest coral reef system will eventually perish. The bleaching event was caused by extreme temperatures, which have persisted since September of last year The natural wonder is expected to shrink, but if the Earth experiences warming of 3.6F (2C) only one percent of coral will remain. Researchers say that immediate transformative action to reverse global warming is the only option for saving the Great Barrier Reef, but reaching the goal seems to be virtually impossible. However, the team also notes that with Earth's current rates of emissions, it is likely we will surpass 2.7F (1.5C) by 2025. When ocean temperatures are too high, corals expel their colorful symbiotic algae that provide them with food turning them a bleached white. The report, titled The Risks to Australia of a 3C Warmer World, suggests Australia is headed for a climate disaster and that it will take the Great Barrier with it. As the driest inhabited continent, Australia is highly vulnerable to the impacts of global warming, the report states. The summer bushfires of 201920 in a tinder-dry country, or the three severe coral bleaching events within five years that caused a loss of over 50 percent of hard coral cover in the shallow waters of the Great Barrier Reef, demonstrate some of the consequences of a warming planet for Australias people, economy and environment. Metas Facebook and Instagram have been found to restrict some abortion-related content on their platforms. The restrictions come just days after the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade case, which now means states have the power to ban abortions. As first reported on by NBC, Instagram has deleted and limited at least two hashtags: abortion pills and mifepristone. Facebook is removing posts and even temporarily blocking users from their accounts for saying abortion pills can be mailed, according to Motherboard. DailyMail.com conducted its own investigation into Facebook and posted abortion pills can be mailed as a status. In less than one minute, a notification appeared saying the post goes against the platforms Community Standards on drugs. And the same restriction occurred when the statement was posted as a Story in Instagram. DailyMail.com has contacted Meta for comment and has yet to receive a response. Google, on the other hand, appears to be on the opposing team. Google Chief Privacy Officer Keith Enright said in response to a question from CTech over the weekend that the company will not comply with law enforcement requests from states for abortion data, while Instagram has been found to restrict two hashtags and delete posts related to abortion services. Scroll down for video Instagram has deleted and limited at least two hashtags: abortion pills and mifepristone' The Instagram hashtags include a warning at the top that notes the tags are hidden because some posts may not follow Instagrams Community Guidelines. NBC notes that it is not clear exactly when Instagram began limiting the two hashtags and nor is it clear what guidelines have been violated. You can see some of the images that may have been deleted while scrolling through the two hashtags. For instance, one of the first images is timestamped for June 7, 2022 and just three posts after shows an image that was shared on September 15, 2020. DailyMail.com conducted its own investigation into Facebook and posted abortion pills can be mailed as a status The huge time gap makes it obvious that posts have been deleted from the hashtag. Facebook notes its standards on drugs prohibits the buying and selling of medical and non-medical drugs, which it claims is why it quickly removed the post 'abortion pills can be mailed.' However, putting painkillers can be mailed did not trigger a warning and was allowed to stay on the platform. Andy Stone, Metas communication director, shared on Twitter that both Instagram and Facebook do not allow content that attempts to buy, sell, trade, gift, request or donate pharmaceuticals.' Content that discusses the affordability and accessibility of prescription medication is allowed. Weve discovered some instances of incorrect enforcement and are correcting these. On Friday, the US Supreme Court held in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization that the Constitution does not confer a right to an abortion. The 6-3 ruling authored by Justice Samuel Alito upended nearly 50 years of precedent and sparked massive protests nationwide. In the post-Roe world, eighteen states already banned abortion and more may follow suit. The 26 states where abortion will likely become illegal now Supreme Court has overturned Roe vs Wade The 26 states where abortion will likely become illegal if SCOTUS overturns Roe vs Wade after leaked draft opinion showed a majority of justices supported the move More than half of all US states have some kind of abortion ban law likely to take effect now that Roe v Wade has been overturned by the United States Supreme Court. According to the pro-reproductive rights group The Guttmacher Institute, there are 26 states that will likely make abortions illegal now that the Supreme Court has overturned the landmark 1973 ruling. 18 have existing abortion bans that have previously been ruled unconstitutional, four have time limit bans and four are likely to pass laws once Roe v Wade is overturned, the organization found. 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. Florida, Indiana, Montana and Nebraska, are likely to pass bills when Roe v Wade is overturned, the Guttmacher Institute said. Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Michigan, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Texas, West Virginia and Wisconsin's bans all have pre-Roe v Wade laws that became unenforceable after the Supreme Court's 1973 decision - that would kick into effect now the federal legal precedent established in Roe has been overturned. Arkansas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and Texas have further bans that will come into effect if the law was overturned. These were passed post-Roe v Wade. They're joined by Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah and Wyoming, in passing such laws. The states that will limit abortions based on the length of time a patient has been pregnant are Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, North Dakota and Ohio. There are four states that have laws that state abortion is not a constitutionally protected right: Alabama, Louisiana, Texas and West Virginia. Advertisement After the Supreme Court draft was leaked, over 40 members of Congress sent a letter to CEO Sundar Pichai asking Google to limit its location gathering efforts to prevent it from being used by anti-abortion prosecutors in the event that Roe was overturned. 'If abortion is made illegal by the far-right Supreme Court and Republican lawmakers, it is inevitable that right-wing prosecutors will obtain legal warrants to hunt down, prosecute and jail women for obtaining critical reproductive health care,' the letter states. Enright went on to detail the ways in which it is trying to protect user privacy with tools that allow people to auto-delete certain information. A representative from Meta did not respond to a request for comment from Daily Mail. Above: Lisa Turner, 47, holds her daughter Lucy Kramer, 14, during a candlelight vigil outside the United States Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., June 26, 2022 'We are committed to keeping users safe all over the world when they use our products and services, and legal developments reinforce our commitment to do that.' 'We will continue to examine how our products work, we will continue improving them to make them the safest, most private, most secure options in the marketplace and will continue engaging with legislators and policy makers with lawmakers all over the world to ensure our products cant be abused.' The digital rights nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation referred Daily Mail to a blog post detailing a wide range of things that companies can do to protect users in light of the SCOTUS abortion ruling. 'In a post-Roe world, service providers can expect a raft of subpoenas and warrants seeking user data that could be employed to prosecute abortion seekers, providers, and helpers. 'If your product or service might be used to target people seeking, offering, or facilitating abortion access, now is the time to minimize the harm that can be done.' SpaceX and Virgin Galactic have sparked a new era of space travel and although these joy rides to the final frontier are exciting, they have a dark side that is accelerating climate change, a new study reveals. A team of scientists, led by the University of London College, found that black carbon particles emitted by rockets are almost 500 times more efficient at holding heat in the atmosphere than all other sources of soot combined - and this is enhancing global warming. The findings are based on all rocket launches and re-entries in 2019, along with projected space tourism scenarios based on the recent billionaire space race. Researchers found, under a scenario of daily or weekly space tourism rocket launches, the impact on the stratospheric ozone layer threatens to undermine the recovery experienced after the successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol. And this is mainly due to Elon Musk's SpaceX's use of kerosene and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic's hybrid synthetic rubber fuel, according to researchers. Scroll down for videos SpaceX (pictured) and Virgin Galactic have sparked a new era of space tourism and although these joy rides to the final frontier are exciting, they have a dark side that is accelerating climate change. Pictured is the launch of an all-civilian crew into space on Sept 16, 2021 The Montreal Protocol, established in 1987, is an international treaty that protects the stratospheric ozone layer by phasing out the production and consumption of ozone-depleting substances (ODS). This includes cutting the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), and Class II ODS, such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in half. The treaty came about to mend a giant hole in the ozone layer that appeared in the early 1980s. A team of scientists, led by the University of London College, found that black carbon particles emitted by rockets are almost 500 times more efficient at holding heat in the atmosphere than all other sources of soot combined. Pictured is Virgin Galactic's rocket The findings are based on all rocket launches and re-entries in 2019, along with projected space tourism scenarios based on the recent billionaire space race Average people have been traveling to space since 2001 the first was millionaire Dennis Tito but there has been a boom of tourists in just the past year. And this is due to SpaceX, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic for making commercial flights possible. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin have launched six tourists, including himself, in total, while Virgin Galactic also sent its founder Branson and five other passengers on July 11 and SpaceX sent four passengers on September 16, 2021 Musk has yet to go to space. Branson's company, however, has sold at least 600 tickets for flights aboard its commercial launches to space. With many more launches on the horizon, scientists are looking to see what damage this could have on our environment. Study co-author Dr Eloise Marais (UCL Geography) said in a statement: 'Rocket launches are routinely compared to greenhouse gas and air pollutant emissions from the aircraft industry, which we demonstrate in our work is erroneous. 'Soot particles from rocket launches have a much larger climate effect than aircraft and other Earth-bound sources, so there doesn't need to be as many rocket launches as international flights to have a similar impact. 'What we really need now is a discussion amongst experts on the best strategy for regulating this rapidly growing industry.' This is mainly due to Elon Musk's SpaceX's uses of kerosene and Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic's hybrid synthetic rubber fuels, according to researchers. Pictured is Branson last year during his space tourist flight Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin have launched six tourists, including himself, in total Study co-author Dr. Robert Ryan said: 'The only part of the atmosphere showing strong ozone recovery post-Montreal Protocol is the upper stratosphere, and that is exactly where the impact of rocket emissions will hit hardest. 'We weren't expecting to see ozone changes of this magnitude, threatening the progress of ozone recovery. 'There is still a lot we need to find out about the influence of rocket launch and re-entry emissions on the atmosphere -- in particular, the future size of the industry and the types and by-products of new fuels like liquid methane and bio-derived fuels. 'This study allows us to enter the new era of space tourism with our eyes wide open to the potential impacts. 'The conversation about regulating the environmental impact of the space launch industry needs to start now so we can minimize harm to the stratospheric ozone layer and climate.' The Israeli military is using AI-powered detection system that lets soldiers see through walls before attacking. Designed in part with Camero-Tech, Xaver 1000 uses algorithms to track targets behind an obstacle, which are then displayed on a screen fitted in the center of the device. Xaver 1000, which users place directly on the wall, produces such high resolution displays that users can determine if a person is sitting, standing or lying down. The system is also capable of providing measurements of targets and determining if the image is of an adult, child or animal, allowing soldiers or police officers to know what they are up against on the other side of the wall. Scroll down for video Designed in part with Camero-Tech, Xaver 1000 uses algorithms to track targets behind an obstacle, which are then displayed on a screen fitted in the center of the device The device is designed like a diamond with four flaps that open outward. A single user can operate it, which is done by placing it flat up against a wall. There is a 10.1-inch display at the center with a navigational system that allows the user to search around a room to see what may be hiding inside. Camero-Tech claims the new XAVER-1000 is an 'essential system' for militaries, law enforcement officers, intelligence units, and search and rescue teams. Another technology that's able to see through walls made its debut in December 2020, but this innovation is a satellite orbiting Earth. The system is also capable of providing measurements of targets and determine if the image is of an adult, child or animal, allowing soldiers or police officers to know what they are up against on the other side of the wall Called Capella-2, it can create high resolution images of nearly any place on our planet using radar and is powerful enough to penetrate the walls of buildings. Capella-2, designed by Capella Space, uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), which can view the Earth regardless of air visibility, cloud covering or time of day - and is the same technology NASA has used since the 1970s. SAR shoots powerful radio signals to 'illuminate' a point of interest, and collects data on the echo of each pulse that bounces back, interpreting them to create a detailed image. 'Ghost' images that appear to show the inside of structures is due to the satellite beaming down its own signal, and not just collecting light, which sometimes allows it to penetrate structures. The satellite is capable of 50cm x 50cm resolution imaging with its latest update called Spotlight mode that allows for long exposures up to 60 seconds over an area of interest (AOI), which results in 'crystal clear' imagery. Capella is currently testing a single device, but has obtained contracts with government agencies, including the National Reconnaissance Office and the US Air Force. But Capella insists that the technology can't be used to spy on people in their homes, and although the radar waves can penetrate walls, they say they cannot image anything inside. Another technology capable to see through walls made its debut in December 2020, but this innovation is a satellite orbiting Earth. Called Capella-2, it can create high resolution images of nearly any place on our planet using radar and is powerful enough to penetrate the walls of buildings The company explains: 'The technology uses radio waves, which are capable of traveling through walls (like cell phones and Wi-Fi). 'But, as we know, even cell phone and Wi-Fi signals weaken as they move further away from a cellular tower or a Wi-Fi access point. Radar signals are the same: They can travel through walls, but are far too weak to image or see anything indoors.' An image of Chiyoda City skyscrapers in Tokyo appears to make the towers see-through, with streets visible on the other side. However, the firm says the layover effect is caused by 'imagery distortion giving the buildings a ghost-like appearance.' It continues: 'What appears as a black and white optical satellite image is in reality a visual representation of the radar data the reflectance of radio waves against the Earth's surface and manmade objects.' Capella says their innovation is a way to help people around the world utilize space to improve their businesses and lives by monitoring everything from climate to crop fields and infrastructure. There is a place where islands bask in brilliant sunshine and the charming squares of ancient towns drip with vibrant flowers. Where brooding mountains invite you to explore endless trails and the Mediterranean climate ripens grapes for wine, olives for silky oils and the vegetables on your plate. This is Croatias Central Dalmatia, the beating heart of the Adriatic. During the balmy heat of summer, you can explore UNESCO towns and Roman ruins, or simply cool off with a swim in hidden coves and bays. Dalmatia is a land of variation and surprise, offering a glimpse into over 2,000 years of culture, a wealth of natural beauty and a patchwork history interlaced with the stunning blues of the Adriatic and emeralds of the hinterland. No wonder those in the know are choosing Central Dalmatia for a sunshine break with a difference. Explore the best beaches Beautiful beaches abound on the Markaraska Riviera Found between the fragrant pine forests and the azure waters of the Adriatic south of Split, the endless beaches of the Markaraska Riviera are framed by the magnificent Biokovo mountain range and best enjoyed with a walk along the beautiful waterfront promenade. Here, secret coves provide moments of tranquillity, and unspoilt nature abounds in the dramatic coastal landscape. On Brac Island, swimming lessons take place in the calm and clear waters of Martinica Beach, sheltered by a 15th-century Dominican Monastery. Scuba diving, fishing and sailing expeditions depart from the four pebble beaches of Molva town. In the south of the island, Blaca cove provides a serene sanctuary surrounded by dense forest and deep blue water; the perfect location for an historical cave monastery. The Golden Horn peninsular on Brac Island Arrive at Stiniva beach at dawn for a moment of peace On the island of Vis, a magical spot seemingly frozen in time, Stiniva beach was once voted Europes best beach. Walking down to the sands from the cliffs above, youll be treated to incredible vistas as the trees open up before you. Arrive at dawn for a moment of peace, or for sunset to see the colours of the great cliff faces changing in the dying light of the day. Step back in time Trogir is another UNESCO World Heritage City, a Hellenistic city lying on a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Split is an ancient and alluringly vibrant port city. It is famed for the many cultures to have crossed paths there, its intriguing architecture, and for being home to some of the most imposing structures the Romans left behind. Built with marble imported from Italy and Greece and sphinxes from Egypt, the Diocletian palace stands guard on the harbour side, home to some 3,000 people and the proud and undying heart of this UNESCO-listed city. While 12 sphinxes were brought to Split, only one survives. This 3,500-year-old fragment of history can be admired laying between the Peristyle of the palace and the Cathedral of Saint Domnius, Diocletians resting place, and another wonderful monument in the city. Trogir is another UNESCO World Heritage City, a Hellenistic city lying on a small island connected to the mainland by a bridge. Here, the architecture and culture of the Grecians, Romans and the Venetians can be seen on every street corner, from the ancient churches to the crests above every door and the 15th-century Kamerlengo Fortress. Sinkska Alka, a knights tournament in Sinj has taken place every August since the 18th Century The Sinkska Alka is a living and breathing example of Croatian history. A knights tournament in Sinj that has taken place every first Sunday in August since the 18th Century, this event passes collective memory down through the generations as a piece of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. An island paradise One of the most popular spots in this part of Croatia is the island of Hvar. And it's easy to see why. From the historic town of Hvar where you can spend languorous hours people watching in St. Stephen's Square, enjoy the famous nightlife and discover the oldest theatre in Europe to the incredible beaches to be found around every corner, Hvar truly is a special place to visit at any time of year. Hvar's lavender fields are not to be missed You'll find small hidden coves like Malo Zarace, where you can be almost guaranteed to have the beach to yourself, as well as better known stretches of sand like Dubovica. Whichever you choose, the crystal clear waters will be warm and the days will be long and sunny. Hvar is also home to vineyards and fragrant rolling lavender fields so getting out of Hvar town exploring the island is an absolute must. As is trying the delicious speciality; lavender ice cream! Discover unspoilt scenery See the coast from a different angle on the stunning Bikovo Skywalk Away from the cities and back to infinite natural riches, the countryside of this intriguing land has much to offer. From the untouched beauty of Vis to the Bikovo Skywalk above the beaches of Makarska, whether by daring hike, mountain bike, or watery expedition on the rivers, there are many ways to enjoy the abundant nature of Dalmatia. Once the fishermens secret retreat, the unique Blue Grotto is now open to the world Heading offshore to the tiny island of Bisevo, an otherworldly light illuminates the interior of a small stone cave in a silvery glow for two hours a day. Once the fishermens secret retreat, the unique Blue Grotto is now open to the world. The Cetina canyon offers white-water rafting, cliff jumping and even the chance to be captured by Omis pirates for a night of merrymaking For those seeking passion and adventure, the Cetina canyon offers white-water rafting, cliff jumping and even the chance to be captured by Omis pirates for a night of merrymaking and camaraderie in a local restaurant. Further inland, the rural beauty of the verdant hinterland plays host to multitudes of quaint villages, old-fashioned farms and striking foothills. In fact, the Dalmatian back country is bursting with the soul and history of the Croatian people, and hiking through its valleys is a worthy way of exploring the heart of the country. Savour the cultural cuisine Often considered to be one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, Croatian dishes have stood the test of time Dining in the heartland of Croatia offers much more than a burst of energy to get you through your next adventure. These lands are a haven of exquisite dishes, with abundant fish, the freshest greens and the various aromatic herbs providing everything needed to have you coming back for seconds. Often considered to be one of the healthiest cuisines in the world, from the blackened squid ink risotto to cured pork, these dishes have stood the test of time. One such dish is Soparnik of the hinterland, a savoury pie-like dish whose recipe has remained unchanged since the time of the Ottomans in Croatia. This light dish is best paired with another of Dalmatias most beloved products, a full-bodied red wine. The history of wine in Dalmatia dates back to Greek settlers some 2,500 years ago, when they were said to have started vineyards on the islands of Vis, Hvar, and Korcula. With over 100 grape varieties dont leave without trying a glass or two of Dalmatian wine With over 100 grape varieties, rocky soil, some of the best oak forests in the world from which to make the heavy wine barrels, and more than half of the population involved in some aspect of the winemaking tradition, dont leave Dalmatia without trying a bottle or two. Whether its sunning on tranquil beaches, experiencing vibrant cities, or undertaking physical challenges that youre looking for this summer, the variety of Dalmatia is dazzling. From ancient squares and rustic villages to modern bars and exquisite cuisine, theres something here for everyone. Click HERE to discover more. Advertisement He's been locked behind bars since the beginning of the year after being accused of conspiracy to murder. But EastEnders' Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden), is back with a vengeance as new snaps from the set show him as a free man, armed with a revenge plot. Following his release, Phil makes a bloody beeline for Lewis Butler (Aidan O'Callaghan) - seeking revenge for his son Ben's (Max Bowden) rape. EastEnders SPOILER: Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden, pictured left) returns from prison as he sets out to seek justice for Ben's rape - heading for a bloody revenge rampage on Lewis Butler (Aidan O'Callaghan, pictured right) Showdown: The snaps show Phil with a bloody mark on his hand, as things appeared to have gotten messy The snaps show Phil with a bloody mark on his hand, while Lewis appears to have a nasty gash on the side of his face. And in true Mitchell fashion it's a family affair, as Phil's sister Sam (Kim Medcalfe) was snapped too - suggesting she has a part to play in the drama. With Ben also appearing at the scene, which takes place at an unused warehouse, it appears things could get nasty in the showdown. Ouch! While Lewis appears to have a nasty gash on the side of his face as he faced the wrath of Phil Downtime: Actor Steve was surrounded by a swarm of the show's crew as they took a time out from filming, grabbing a bite by a trailer Family affair: And in true Mitchell fashion it's a family affair, as Phil's sister Sam (Kim Medcalfe) was snapped too, alongside Ben Two against one? The shots suggest that Sam is part of the drama, as she walked around the set Explaining that Phil is 'out for blood', a show insider told The Daily Star: 'When Phil gets out of prison, he is out for blood. He wants revenge over what happened to Ben. Its going to be explosive.' The snaps also showed the cast having some downtime from filming, as they grabbed some lunch and coffees while at the East London warehouse. Phil's revenge comes from Lewis' attack on Ben back in May, in which the harrowing scenes left fans wincing at the screen. Messy: Aidan walked the set with a crew member, as he appeared to have mud and dirt over his shirt No mercy: Explaining that Phil is 'out for blood', a show insider told The Daily Star: 'When Phil gets out of prison, he is out for blood. He wants revenge over what happened to Ben' Dark: Phil was dressed all in black for the filming, sporting a camouflage hat Following a row with husband Callum Highway (Tony Clay), Ben took to a dating app as he headed to drink away his sorrows. Seeing barman Lewis on the app, the pair began to chat - before Ben headed to the bar to see him, where they flirted and got cosy. As they began to kiss upstairs and things got heated, Ben received a picture of husband Callum and immediately felt guilt, coming to his senses and telling Lewis he was going to leave. Brutal: Phil's revenge comes from Lewis' attack on Ben back in May, in which the harrowing scenes left fans wincing at the screen Drunken: Following a row with husband Callum Highway (Tony Clay), Ben took to a dating app as he headed to drink away his sorrows during the May episode Horrible: In the difficult to watch scenes, Lewis refused to let Ben leave - before brutally raping him But as things took a turn for the worse, Lewis told him he 'shouldn't start anything you can't finish', holding Ben down as he then brutally raped him. Leaving Ben with an STD and emotional trauma, he was unable to share what had happened - before finally opening up to mum Kathy in recent scenes. And Walford hardman Phil Mitchell is ready to fight for his son as he is now released, causing potential turmoil in the square once again. Not having it: And Walford hardman Phil Mitchell is ready to fight for his son as he is now released, causing potential turmoil in the square once again EastEnders fans will can soon expect tensions to rise as Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths)'s estranged brother Avery (Omar Lye-Fook) makes an unexpected appearance in his life. Troublemaker Avery was snapped wheeling into Albert Square in photos from the set. Donned in a chic plaid-print blue suit and paisley tie, he was the definition of suave as scenes set to air on July 4 showed him leaning back on a car while holding a cigar. Drama: EastEnders fans will can soon expect tensions to rise as Mitch Baker (Roger Griffiths)'s estranged brother Avery (Omar Lye-Fook; pictured) makes an unexpected appearance The charmer donned an earring in each ear, and sported some chic blue suede loafers. Musician and actor Omar Lye-Fook, MBE will be playing Avery Baker, the charismatic older sibling of Mitch, who will arrive on the scene with his two sons. Almost always on the verge of causing trouble, Avery couldn't be more different to his little brother and his arrival will immediately cause heads to turn this summer. Family reunion: Musician and actor Omar Lye-Fook, MBE will be playing Avery Baker, the charming older sibling of Mitch, who will arrive on the scene with his two sons Avery will be joined by his children, Felix and Finlay, who will be played by Matthew Morrison (Felix) and Ashley Byam (Finlay). The youngest of the two brothers, larger than life Felix will throw himself into life in Albert Square, but with his quick-wit and frank honesty he'll be sure to stir up some drama along the way. Older half-brother Finlay has a different biological dad but was raised by Avery soon after birth. Finlay has sailed through life using his cheeky charm but is set to face a wake-up call as he begins life in Walford. Charming: Donned in a chic plaid-print blue suit and paisley tie, he was the definition of suave as scenes set to air on July 4 showed him leaning back on a car while holding a cigar Despite being the complete opposite of each other, Felix and Finlay present a united front and always have each other's backs. While Mitch dearly loves his nephews, it's fair to say he has a complicated relationship with his brother after not speaking to him for years and Avery's unexpected arrival is set to cause some issues for Mitch. Realising there must be a reason for Avery suddenly coming back into his life, Mitch is determined to get to the bottom of what's going on and find out what secret Avery is hiding Chris Clenshaw, Executive Producer, EastEnders said: 'The Baker Family bring a fresh, fierce, fun and exciting energy to the Square. Arrivals: Avery will be joined by his children, Felix and Finlay, who will be played by Matthew Morrison (Felix) and Ashley Byam (Finlay) Coming soon: Almost always on the verge of causing trouble, Avery (left) couldn't be more different to his little brother (right) and his arrival will immediately cause heads to turn 'Felix and Finlay are two very different firecrackers and, yes, these brothers fall out, take the mick and challenge each other, but none of that compares to their unswerving love and loyalty they have for one another. 'They may be charming young men, full of sass, swagger and strength but these brothers are Bakers and, like their father, Avery, have their own unique way of surviving. 'Omar, Matthew and Ashley all bring star quality to EastEnders and we're excited to see them bring Avery, Felix and Finlay to life. The Baker family are the just the start of some new faces landing in Walford later this year - so watch this space' Gang: Musician and actor Omar Lye-Fook, MBE will be playing Avery Baker, the charming older sibling of Mitch, who will arrive on the scene with his two sons Spellbinding: While Mitch (stock picture) dearly loves his nephews, it's fair to say he has a complicated relationship with his brother after not speaking to him for years On taking on the role as Avery, Omar said: 'I've been watching EastEnders since I was at school so it's such a surreal experience to now be part of the show. 'I'm having so much fun and it's an honour to be working alongside this incredible cast.' Matthew Morrison, who will play Felix, added: 'It's an honour to be a part of such a legendary show that I grew up watching. 'It hasn't quite sunk in yet, and I don't think it ever will. I'm having a ball getting to grips with Felix and cannot wait for you all to meet him!' Ashley Byam, who will play Finlay, said: 'I'm very excited to be joining the Square. Like many people I grew up with EastEnders; it was almost like an unspoken family tradition. 'My mum and I sat there together watching so many incredible and iconic storylines. So to now be joining this classic British TV drama is an honour, and I'm truly grateful. I can't wait for everyone to meet Finlay and see what lies ahead for him.' Halle Berry took to social media with a pair of posts protesting the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, saying she was incensed by the decision to remove womens constitutional protections for abortion. 'Im outraged! What the supreme court has done is BULLS***,' the Academy Award-wining actress, 55, said in a post Friday, accompanied by images of people protesting the decision. 'Something has to be done!! Guns have more rights than women. Stop this war on women and keep your laws off of our bodies.' The Cleveland native urged for people to band together 'and NOT accept this,' adding, 'We cant just post about it and talk about-we must DO SOMETHING about it!' The latest: Halle Berry, 55, took to social media with a pair of posts protesting the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, saying she was incensed by the decision to remove womens constitutional protections for abortion. She was pictured in LA last year The Moonfall actress then reviewed a series of medical circumstances in which a woman's life could be endangered if they could not receive an abortion. Berry wrote: 'The treatment for an ectopic pregnancy is abortion. The treatment for a septic uterus is abortion. The treatment for a miscarriage that your body won't release is abortion. If you can't get those abortions, you die. You. Die.' The Monster's Ball star also shared a link in her bio to the National Network of Abortion Funds, an organization which aims 'to remove financial and logistical barriers to abortion access by centering people who have abortions and organizing at the intersections of racial, economic, and reproductive justice.' The Bruised actress and filmmaker spoke out on social media following Friday's ruling, which is expected to result in bans on abortions in about half of the states. Berry said that 'something has to be done' in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling The Moonfall actress reviewed a series of medical circumstances in which a woman's life could be endangered if they could not receive an abortion Following the ruling, clinics in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia ceased performing abortions, with other states limiting options based on varied stipulations. President Joe Biden said Friday's ruling marked 'a sad day for the court and for the country,' adding that 'this decision must not be the final word.' The controversial decision led to nationwide protests, including outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., and cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Boston, Phoenix and Seattle. Amid the overturning by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, Thomas said his peers on the court should look into reversing past Supreme Court rulings on issues including contraceptive use and same-sex marriage, among others. Protestors were seen outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Saturday There still appears to be bad blood between Channel Nine and Lisa Wilkinson following her acrimonious exit from the Today show five years ago amid claims of 'pay disparity' between herself and Karl Stefanovic. Sources say Nine employees didn't hide their feelings towards Wilkinson at the Logie Awards earlier this month, just moments before The Project host's controversial acceptance speech about alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins. Some of her former colleagues reportedly 'groaned' when she won her Logie for Most Outstanding News Coverage. Nine employees reportedly 'groaned' when Lisa Wilkinson won her Logie for Most Outstanding News Coverage at the Logies earlier this month 'Reliable witnesses present have told us that there was an audible groan from key members of the Nine contingent as soon as Wilkinson was announced as the award's winner,' The Australian Media Diary reports. 'Indeed, we're told that one prominent Nine personality was heard to remark sardonically: 'We're about to get a sermon.'' Further, Nine has reportedly wiped Wilkinson's controversial acceptance speech from its full Logies recording so that it can't be viewed by the public in future. 'Reliable witnesses present have told us that there was an audible groan from key members of the Nine contingent as soon as Wilkinson was announced as the award's winner,' The Australian Media Diary reports Nine has reportedly wiped Wilkinson's controversial acceptance speech from its full Logies recording so that it can't be viewed by the public in future. Wilkinson is pictured on The Project Wilkinson's rocky relationship with Channel Nine and her former Today co-host Karl Stefanovic has been well documented. Tensions escalated late last year when Wilkinson released her memoir It Wasn't Meant to Be Like This, which included a chapter dedicated to her sacking from Channel Nine and falling out with Stefanovic over a pay dispute. She claimed the pay disparity between her and Stefanovic when they hosted the Today show was once 'so off the charts that no-one would have believed it'. Wilkinson rocky relationship with Channel Nine and her former Today co-host Karl Stefanovic (right) has been well documented However, it was later reported that Wilkinson had actually earned more than Stefanovic for years at the start of their on-air partnership, and it wasn't until Seven tried to poach him that he was able to negotiate the bigger salary. Wilkinson failed to mention this important detail in her memoir, instead focusing on the pay disparity during her later years at the helm of Today. Wilkinson also recalled feeling frustrated and 'quietly fuming' during her last day on air because 'nearly every interview that day was being done by Karl alone'. Wilkinson, who co-hosts Channel 10's The Project, landed in hot water earlier this month after she mentioned alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins during her award acceptance speech - in front of about a million viewers. Wilkinson is pictured delivering her speech However, The Australian subsequently disputed this claim after obtaining internal documents showing 'an almost equal split' between Wilkinson and Stefanovic's roles 'in the key segments and interviews' during her last day on air. Wilkinson, who co-hosts Channel 10's The Project, landed in hot water earlier this month after she mentioned alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins during her award acceptance speech - in front of about a million viewers. Her comments forced the former Liberal staffer's rape trial, which was due to start next week, to be postponed until October. Australian Bar Association president Dr Matthew Collins QC (pictured) told Sunrise days after the speech there was a 'serious possibility' Wilkinson could be charged with contempt of court Australian Bar Association president Dr Matthew Collins QC told Sunrise days after the speech there was a 'serious possibility' Wilkinson could be charged with contempt of court. But hours after his comments on national television, Channel 10 hired the top barrister to represent Wilkinson. Dr Collins is reportedly being paid $11,000-a-day to represent her. But hours after his comments on national television, Channel 10 hired the top barrister to represent Wilkinson Last week, Channel 10 hit back at the 'unfair' criticism of Wilkinson, and said it would not rule out taking legal action. 'This reporting is now causing significant harm and we ask these organisations to cease this harassment to allow Lisa the best opportunity to give her evidence in court and to enable the trial to go ahead in a fair and timely manner,' a spokesperson for the network said. 'We are closely monitoring all coverage of this issue and Lisa and Network 10 reserve their rights in respect of any future defamation claims.' Last week, Channel 10 hit back at the 'unfair' criticism of Wilkinson, and said it would not rule out taking legal action. Wilkinson is pictured on The Project Wilkinson's speech contributed to delaying Higgins's trial against former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann by prejudicing potential jurors. Lehrmann is accused of raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019 and has pleaded not guilty. He denies these claims and stated in a police interview that he did not have sex with Ms Higgins. On Thursday the ACT Supreme Court set a new date of October 4 for the trial. Chief Justice Lucy McCallum decided on Tuesday to delay the trial 'regrettably and with gritted teeth' because 'somewhere in this debate, the distinction between an untested allegation and the fact of guilt has been lost'. A spokesman for Ten Network said they 'fully support Lisa in her ongoing and full commitment to doing the right thing as a witness in the trial'. Married At First Sight's Carolina Santos and Daniel Holmes looked as loved-up as ever as they stepped out to celebrate actress Suzan Mutesi's 36th birthday on Saturday. The couple were spotted hand-in-hand as they arrived at Mykonos-inspired restaurant Eros in Sydney's Potts Point, before meeting up with their co-stars. The 33-year-old online business owner turned heads as she flaunted her ample cleavage in an off-white coloured bodycon dress that featured a thigh-high split. Married At First Sight's Carolina Santos, 33, and Daniel Holmes, 31, looked loved-up as ever as they stepped out to celebrate actress Suzan Mutesi's 36th birthday on Saturday Carolina wore her long tresses down and styled into curls and applied natural looking foundation, flake lashes and nude coloured lip gloss to her flawless face. Carolina completed her look carrying a $6,000 Lady Dior mini bag and clear clunky heels. Daniel cut a stylish figure in a long-sleeve white button up shirt which he teamed up with matching shorts and sneakers. The couple were spotted hand-in-hand as they arrived at Mykonos-inspired restaurant Eros in Sydney's Potts Point before meeting up with their co-stars The controversial couple were joined by fellow grooms Jackson Lonie and Cody Bromley. Jackson, 33, looked smart in a black velvet suit worn with a black turtleneck underneath. He completed his look wearing black jeans and black leather shoes. Carolina wore her long tresses down and styled into curls and wore natural looking foundation, flake lashes and nude coloured lip gloss. Pictured with Suzan Mutesi [R] Also joining them was fellow grooms Jackson Lonie (left) and Cody Bromley (right) The quintet enjoyed bottomless brunch before they were seen making moves on the dancefloor Cody, 31, looked dapper in a black button-up shirt which he wore with black skinny leg jeans and matching loafers. He completed his look wearing a grey blazer. Suzan sparkled in a glitzy Portia & Scarlett diamond mini dress with a feather helm. Jackson, 33, looked smart in a black velvet suit worn with a black turtleneck underneath Suzan meanwhile sparkled in a glitzy Portia & Scarlett diamond mini dress with a feather helm She accessorised her look carrying a black Balenciaga ville bag valued at $2180 and Saint Laurent chain drop earrings The Ugandan-Australian actress, who boasts a whopping 1 million followers on Instagram, wore her long golden curly locks out and relaxed. She accessorised her look carrying a black Balenciaga Ville bag valued at $2180 and Saint Laurent chain drop earrings. Notably missing was Jackson's 'bride' Olivia Frazer who is currently on holiday in Europe. The quintet enjoyed bottomless brunch before they were seen making moves on the dancefloor. While leaving the venue, personal trainer Daniel was seen carrying his girlfriend after she complained that her feet were hurting. Notably missing was Jackson's 'bride' Olivia Frazer who is currently on holiday in Europe The quintet enjoyed bottomless brunch before they were seen making moves on the dancefloor Khloe Kardashian showed off her curvy physique in a set of videos that were shared to her Instagram Story on Sunday. The 37-year-old reality television personality took the clips while wearing an eye-catching outfit as she spent time in her residence. The influencer also wrote a short message in her post's caption where she pointed out that her outfit was from her very own clothing line, Good American. Hot stuff! Khloe Kardashian showed off her curvy physique in a set of videos that were shared to her Instagram Story on Sunday Kardashian wore a hot pink bikini top that showed off her toned tummy and sculpted arms as she posed for the camera. The social media figure also rocked a matching bottom that highlighted her curvy thighs and hips. The influencer accessorized with a single necklace and tied her gorgeous blonde locks into a bun. Showing some skin: Kardashian wore a hot pink bikini top that showed off her toned tummy and sculpted arms as she posed for the camera Kardashian initially co-founded Good American in 2016, with Emma Grede serving as her main collaborator. The line made quite the impression with buyers following its launch, and the company raked in a whopping $1 million on its first day of business. The brand made its name by offering jeans in a wide range of sizes, and it has since expanded to include swimwear and athleisure apparel. The fashion industry personality and several of her family members have appeared in the line's promotional materials. Making a splash: The line made quite the impression with buyers following its launch, and the company raked in a whopping $1 million on its first day of business Kardashian discussed her brand's growth during an interview with InStyle and noted that she and her collaborators would never consider removing size-inclusive offerings from shelves. She stated: 'We can't cut back on certain sizes because then that's just not authentic to who we are.' The entrepreneur then offered a bit of insight as to how Good American grew so quickly. Staying focused: Kardashian discussed her brand's growth during an interview with InStyle and noted that she and her collaborators would never consider removing size-inclusive offerings from shelves 'You just have to listen to your customer feedback, and I think that's the secret to the success taking advantage of social media and using it almost like focus groups,' she said. Kardashian also expressed that any prospective entrepreneurs looking to get into the clothing world should 'take risks' while looking for success. She added: 'If you know you're producing great products with great quality, then I really do think you just need someone one person to buy it.' The Project host Lisa Wilkinson is expected to remain off-air until 'mid-July at the earliest' as the fallout continues from her controversial Logies speech earlier this month. Wilkinson mentioned alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins after winning the Outstanding News Coverage Logie award for her one-on-one interview with the former ministerial staffer in 2021, causing the trial to be rescheduled until October. The 62-year-old won't be sitting idle at home, with sources close claiming she will continue to work on 'investigative and human interest' stories. Insiders have claimed that The Project host Lisa Wilkinson (pictured), 62, is to remain off-air until 'mid-July at the earliest' as her next move after her Logies fallout is revealed According to The Australian Business Review's Diary, Wilkinson will remain off-air for a 'minimum of three weeks'. The veteran journalist was noticeably absent from her hosting gig on The Project on Thursday night, despite being scheduled to appear. She was instead replaced by co-host Georgie Tunny who appeared alongside fellow Logies winner Tony Armstrong, but there was no mention of the awards at all during the show. According to The Australian Business Review's Diary, Wilkinson won't be sitting idle at home with sources close to the publication claiming that she will continue to work on 'investigative and human interest' stories already started A spokesman for Ten Network said they 'fully support Lisa in her ongoing and full commitment to doing the right thing as a witness in the trial'. The network also hit back at the 'unfair' criticism of Wilkinson, and said it would not rule out taking legal action. 'This reporting is now causing significant harm and we ask these organisations to cease this harassment to allow Lisa the best opportunity to give her evidence in court and to enable the trial to go ahead in a fair and timely manner,' a spokesperson for the network told The Australian. 'We are closely monitoring all coverage of this issue and Lisa and Network 10 reserve their rights in respect of any future defamation claims.' The veteran journalist was noticeably absent from her hosting gig on The Project on Thursday night, despite being scheduled to appear. She was instead replaced by co-host Georgie Tunny Wilkinson mentioned alleged rape victim Brittany Higgins after winning the Outstanding News Coverage Logie award for her one-on-one interview with the former ministerial staffer in 2021 (pictured, Wilkinson at the Logies) Wilkinson's speech contributed to delaying Higgins' trial against former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann by prejudicing potential jurors. Lehrmann is accused of raping Ms Higgins in Parliament House in 2019 and has pleaded not guilty. He denies these claims and stated in a police interview that he did not have sex with Ms Higgins. Last Thursday the ACT Supreme Court set a new date of October 4 for the trial. Chief Justice Lucy McCallum decided on Tuesday to delay the trial 'regrettably and with gritted teeth' because 'somewhere in this debate, the distinction between an untested allegation and the fact of guilt has been lost'. She noted public interest in the case needed to die down before Lehrmann would have access to a fair jury. Wilkinson's speech contributed to delaying Higgins' trial against former political staffer Bruce Lehrmann (pictured) by prejudicing potential jurors On Thursday morning Lehrmann's defence barrister Steve Whybrow applied for the trial to be delayed further, until the beginning of next year. 'My application would be, to the extent that the bush fire is still burning in effect, that the trial commence early next year because we would like there to be no further issues and delays,' he told the court. 'We can foresee the possibility that there may be collateral matters that need to be investigated relating to the circumstances that have led to the trial being vacated.' Justice McCallum denied his application and said: 'The publicity this week has focused sharply on the very fact that was being overlooked, that a man is facing trial and he is entitled to the presumption of innocence.' Wilkinson has been highly criticised for her acceptance speech for the Outstanding News Coverage Logie award for her one-on-one interview with the former ministerial staffer Brittany Higgins (right) Higgins' Crown prosecutor Shane Drumgold agreed with Justice McCallum's decision, noting the 102-day delay was more generous than that given in similar cases. Network 10 announced last Wednesday it hired high-profile lawyer Matthew Collins on behalf of the network and Wilkinson just hours after Dr Collins criticised Wilkinson's speech on rival Chanel Seven's Sunrise morning show. 'It's certainly possible that the authorities will be looking at the speech she made to the Logies and assessing (whether) that speech went against the standard which applies in this branch of the law,' Dr Collins said. 'That standard is, did anything that she did have a tendency to interfere with the administration of justice?' It is unclear if Wilkinson will be charged with contempt of court but it is understood that she should have been made aware of any consequences by the close of business last Thursday. Ms Higgins (above) will face Bruce Lehrmann in court on October 4 after accusing him of raping her in Parliament House in 2019 Snezana Wood has been surprised with a pricey new engagement ring from her Bachelor star husband Sam. Snezana was left devastated after breaking her original square-cut halo diamond ring, valued at $50,000, about a year ago. In several Instagram stories on Sunday, the mother-of-four was seen being surprised with the stunning pear-shaped diamond ring by ANTON Jewellery in the couple's bedroom. Sam Wood surprised wife Snezana with a new diamond engagement ring during a candlelit ceremony over the weeekend after she broke the $50k original a year ago. Here: Sam, Snez and baby Harper Sam lit candles as he presented her with the sparkler alongside their daughters while their wedding song INXS's 'Never Tear Us Apart' played. 'I broke my engagement ring (about a year ago). I was devastated and since then I have solely been wearing my wedding band (which is beautiful in itself),' Snez told her Instagram followers after the ceremony. 'We [Sam and I] spoke about getting my engagement ring fixed or replaced. So to my surprise in the middle of all the chaos of the past couple of months he took it upon himself to surprise me,' she added. Snezana flaunted the stunning pear-shaped diamond ring by Melbourne's ANTON Jewellery on Instagram Snezana went on to say Sam has to be the most 'caring and romantic' man she ever met and 'always spoils her' with lovely surprises. 'Our wedding song was playing, the song I walked down the aisle too ''Never Tear Is Apart'' by INXS, our four girls were also involved in the surprise waiting for me,' she added. 'A new engagement ring, the most beautiful ring I have ever seen! It's come along way from the 'Cheesel (sic)' ring,' she added, referencing the 'promise ring' she got on the show. Sam decorated the couple's bedroom with tea lights and played their wedding song by INXS 'Never Tear Us Apart' 'Having said that I love my cheesel (sic) ring,' she finished. Snezana was referring to the $20,000 Zamels diamond band she was presented with during The Bachelor finale, which was deemed as plain 'ugly' by fans. It is a happy moment for Sam and Snez who welcomed their fourth child together in May of this year. The couple's daughters Charlie, two, and Willow, three, (both pictured) admired the ring after the bedroom ceremony Harper was born a month premature and had to be taken to the ICU after picking-up an infection, while Snezana was taken to another hospital to battle sepsis. Both returned home happy and healthy 24 days after Snezana gave birth. Snezana and Sam already share daughters Charlie, two, and Willow, three, with her husband of four years. Snezana is seen wearing her original engagement ring worth $50,000 (L). (R) The $20,000 Zamels 'Cheezel' diamond band from the show, which viewers disliked Sam is stepfather to Snezana's eldest daughter, Eve, 17. The couple have been together since meeting on The Bachelor Australia in 2015. They tied the knot in Byron Bay, NSW, in 2018. Sam recently sold his fitness business for $71 million. Neighbours veteran Stefan Dennis has confirmed he appears in the soap's very final scene. The actor, 63, who has played cold-hearted and ruthless businessman Paul Robinson since the show's first episode in 1985, was given the honour alongside two other stars of the series. 'I was very fortunate to appear alongside another two actors for the final scene,' he told Daily Mail Australia. Neighbours veteran Stefan Dennis, 63, (pictured) has confirmed he was given the honour of filming the soap's final scene earlier this month Stefan also described his final day on set as a 'very emotional,' before saying that he 'had to keep to himself after filming'. Daily Mail Australia understands Stefan will star alongside fellow veteran Jackie Woodburne, who plays Susan Kennedy. Alan Fletcher, who plays Karl Kennedy, is also believed to be making an appearance in the final episode. The actor, who has played cold-hearted and ruthless businessman Paul Robinson since the first episode in 1985 was given the honour of appearing in the final scene as the 37-year-old series comes to an end 'I was very fortunate to appear alongside another two actors for the final scene,' he told Daily Mail Australia Together, they will remember the highs and lows of Ramsay Street before ending with a heartfelt message to all the 'good neighbours'. Meanwhile, The Sun reported 'it felt right' that the last words ever spoken would be spoken by Woodburne, 66. Neighbours was axed after the UK's Channel 5 decided in March not to renew its contract with production company Fremantle to finance and broadcast the series. Daily Mail Australia understands Stefan will star alongside fellow veteran Jackie Woodburne, (right) who plays Susan Kennedy. Alan Fletcher (top left) is also rumoured to appear Neighbours announced in March that production would cease on the long-running soap due to lack of financial backing. 'We are so sorry to say that after nearly 37 years and almost 9,000 episodes broadcast we have to confirm that Neighbours will cease production in June,' the show wrote on Twitter. 'Following the loss of our key broadcast partner in the UK [Channel 5] and despite an extensive search for alternative funding, we simply have no option but to rest the show. 'To our amazing, loyal fans, we know this is a huge disappointment, as it is to all of us on the team. We thank you for all your messages and support and promise to end the show on an incredible high. From here on, we are celebrating Neighbours.' Neighbours announced in March that production would cease on the long-running soap due to lack of financial backing On the 155th anniversary of Canadian Confederation the case against current-day Canada (Part Three) By Mark Wegierski web posted June 27, 2022 Examining the arrival of soft-totalitarianism on the 155th anniversary of Canadian Confederation Without considering the broader social and cultural context of current-day Canada, it is not easy to see how very difficult the situation for small-c conservatives and social conservatives, actually is. It has been argued that there has emerged today, in most Western societies, something called (by its critics) the managerial-therapeutic regime. The term is derived from a combination of the ideas of James Burnham (author of The Managerial Revolution (1941)), and Philip Rieff (author of The Triumph of the Therapeutic (1966)). Similar critical observations were echoed by George Parkin Grant (1918-1988) Canadas leading traditionalist philosopher. It could be argued that Canada today is among the fullest embodiments of such a regime which is mainly socially liberal and economically conservative. As George Grant had aphoristically put it -- The directors of General Motors and the followers of Professor [Herbert] Marcuse sail down the same river in different boats. The managerial-therapeutic regime is based on relatively new structures of social, political, and cultural control. The structures of a regime of this kind are usually able to exercise power in a soft fashion. These consist mainly of: the mass media (in their main aspects of promotion of consumerism and the pop-culture, not to mention the shaping of social and political reality through the purveying of news); the mass education system (an apparatus of mostly unidirectional instruction from early-childhood-education to post-graduate studies); and the juridical system (generally speaking, by way of the judicialization of important political questions and, more specifically, through restrictions on political and religious speech, and on freedom of religion, by human rights commissions/tribunals). The diffuse presence of these structures in society throws into question longstanding, classic understandings of government, politics, and democratic self-governance. The right to exercise freedom of speech a supposed bedrock of democracy -- is no longer valued much, even in theory as opposed to the imperative of being politically correct. Democracy today is no longer understood as a vehicle for choosing between somewhat differing visions of politics and life but rather as one, all-encompassing system of democratic values that must be upheld and imposed on everyone in society. The word democratic is usually used with the implied meaning of socially liberal. The tendentious social and legal instruments of the regime are so deeply entrenched in Canadas social/cultural fabric, moreover, that they are more than adequate when it comes to containing any popular challenges to the regime, whether these stem from the resistance mounted by residual traditionalist enclaves or from more thoroughgoing and deeply rooted channels of ecological or social democratic thought. It could be argued that the regime is strengthened further by a pseudo-dialectic of opposition between an official Left and Right, which serves to exclude from the very outset many truly serious issues from public debate and consideration. Thus, elections may bring different parties and candidates into office, but the managerial-therapeutic regime endures. The end-result of such a regime is a tendency towards so-called soft totalitarianism of which the best-known literary foreshadowing is probably the dystopia portrayed by Aldous Huxley in Brave New World (1932). In contradistinction to George Orwells Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949), an apparatus of violent coercion has proven unnecessary to maintain the regime. However, the points Orwell made about the importance of the use of language Newspeak is Ingsoc, and Ingsoc is Newspeak -- remain highly pertinent. When a regime controls the mass media, the mass education system, and the juridical apparatus, it does not need to exercise massive coercion to keep itself in power. Opponents of the system are frequently enough derided as haters or Luddites. In stark contrast to the situation of populations in the former Eastern Bloc under Communism, there is no groundswell of tacit popular support for dissidents indeed, a smothering tide of what seems to be popular outrage appears to be directed against them from all quarters. Despite an ostensibly free society, they find very few public defenders. Ironically, soft totalitarianism may in fact arise in the most ostensibly free and formally democratic systems. Mark Wegierski is a Canadian writer and historical researcher. Home Katie Holmes and Bobby Wooten III appeared affectionate as they attended a wedding in Montauk, New York on Saturday. The 43-year-old actress attended the wedding of Wooten's friend at the Church of St. Therese of Lisieux, where an attendee told US she 'was very unassuming and kind to everyone.' The Toledo, Ohio native 'spent time with Bobby's family, who really liked her,' the source said, adding that she and Wooten, 33, engaged in PDA at the reception. The latest: Katie Holmes, 43, and Bobby Wooten III, 33, appeared affectionate as they attended a wedding in Montauk, New York on Saturday. The couple was snapped earlier this month at the Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of her movie Alone Together 'Whenever they would go without seeing each other, they would kiss and be very happy to be together again. Katie and Bobby were very affectionate with each other at all times; they looked very in love and didn't care who saw.' The Dawson's Creek actress was seen dancing with Wooten, a musician, in an 'adorably sultry way' but 'never tried to steal the spotlight' from the bride and let her 'shine' on the day of her nuptials. The source said that Holmes 'seemed to be carefree the entire night and very much in love with Bobby,' who she was first spotted with around April as they were seen in New York City at the Guggenheim Museum and in Central Park. Wooten and Holmes walked the red carpet together when attending The Silver Ball: The Moth's 25th Anniversary Gala May 26. Holmes 'was very unassuming and kind to everyone' at the wedding in Montauk Wooten and Holmes walked the red carpet together when attending The Silver Ball: The Moth's 25th Anniversary Gala May 26 Wooten 'he is getting to know [Holmes'] family,' adding that Holmes 'is having a great time' in her new relationship, an insider said They were subsequently seen earlier this month attending the Tribeca Film Festival for the premiere of her movie Alone Together on June 14. Holmes has been romantically linked to actor Jamie Foxx and chef Emilio Vitolo since her 2012 split from ex-husband Tom Cruise, 59, with whom she shares 16-year-old daughter Suri. An insider told People last week that Wooten has spent time with Suri as 'he is getting to know her family,' adding that Holmes 'is having a great time' in her new relationship. British funnyman David Walliams enjoyed a steamy date night with Ugandan-Australian actress Suzan Mutesi over the weekend just three days after a chance meeting. The Little Britain star, 50, took Suzan, 36, to see Baz Lurhmann's Elvis at Hoyts cinemas in Sydney's Moore Park on Saturday. According to an eyewitness, the pair 'couldn't keep their hands off each other' and shared a passionate kiss during the almost three hour movie. British funnyman David Walliams enjoyed a steamy date night with Ugandan-Australian actress Suzan Mutesi over the weekend just three days after a chance meeting 'They were sitting in the front, we had to walk past them to go into our seats,' said the spy. 'During the movie they were all over each other and even shared a passionate kiss,' they added. Dressing up for the evening, Suzan, who is also a model and a fashion designer, sparkled in an Armani mini dress with an oversized white blazer. The Little Britain star, 50, took Suzan, 36, to see Baz Lurhmann's Elvis at Hoyts cinemas in Sydney 's Moore Park on Saturday According to an eyewitness, the pair 'couldn't keep their hands off each other' and at one stage shared a passionate kiss during the almost three hour movie Who is Suzan Mutesi? Originally from Uganda, Suzan moved to Australia for high school before receiving a Bachelor of Design with a major in Fashion. She has worked in fashion alongside her acting career, which has seen her appear in major movies such as 2022 Marvel epic Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. She boasts one million followers on Instagram, making her one of Australia's most followed social media stars. Advertisement David looked smart in a black button-up shirt, matching trousers and black loafers. It is understood that the pair met last Thursday after a chance encounter in the lobby of their hotel. 'We've just met moments ago in the breakfast room of the hotel, and we're standing in front of the chocolate fountain because we're going to announce my engagement,' David joked in a bizarre clip Suzan shared to Instagram at the time. 'I like a girl that comes down to breakfast in her dressing gown, that is cool,' David continued before adding: 'We're getting married to watch this space'. Another clip saw David call himself Suzan's fiance as he wished her a happy birthday in front of SAS Australia's Ant Middleton. Daily Mail Australia understands the pair exchanged contact details and kept in contact before David invited Suzan out for a night out. 'They were sitting in the front, we had to walk past them to go into our seats,' said the spy, before adding: 'They were all over each other and even shared a passionate kiss' Sydney star: Suzan has worked in fashion alongside her acting career, which has seen her appear in major movies such as 2022 Marvel epic Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings It is understood that the pair met last Thursday after a chance encounter in the lobby of their hotel in Sydney 'We've just met moments ago in the breakfast room of the hotel, and we're standing in front of the chocolate fountain because we're going to announce my engagement,' David said in one bizarre clip Suzan shared to Instagram at the time Originally from Uganda, Suzan moved to Australia for high school before receiving a Bachelor of Design with a major in Fashion. She has worked in fashion alongside her acting career, which has seen her appear in major movies such as 2022 Marvel epic Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings. Suzan is also published author and is a fixture on Sydney's social scene. She boasts a whopping one million followers on Instagram, making her one of Australia's most followed social media stars. David was previously married to supermodel Lara Stone, but their marriage sadly only lasted for five years, until their split in 2015 (pictured in 2012) Daily Mail Australia understands the pair exchanged contact details and kept in contact before David invited Suzan out for a night out Back in April, David was reported to have joined celebrity-favourite dating app Raya. In recent years, he has been linked to a string of beauties including Natalie Imbruglia, 47, Keeley Hazell, 35, and Ashley James, 34. He was married to supermodel Lara Stone from 2010-2015 and they have a son called Alfred. David is in Australia as a guest judge on the upcoming season of Australia's Got Talent. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Suzan and David's reps for comment. Bert Newton's reclusive son Matthew and his wife Catherine Schneiderman have reportedly moved to Austin, Texas. The troubled actor and director, 45, and his younger spouse, 28, packed up their two-bedroom apartment in New York's Upper West Side and are said to be living in a sprawling mansion on the outskirts of town. Matthew, who suffers from bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and has a history of addiction, has a notably tumultuous past and refrains from the spotlight. A new report on Monday has claimed that reclusive actor Matthew Newton (left) is enjoying a 'slower pace of life' in Australian, Texas with his wife Catherine Schneiderman (right) after leaving New York. Pictured in November 'They're living in Austin and loving it,' an insider reportedly told Woman's Day. 'Catherine never thought that as a bona fide New Yorker she would ever move to Texas, but she's found herself fitting right in, and the slower pace is doing the world of good for her husband.' The publication also understands the couple are keen to start a family. According to Woman's Day, the troubled actor and director, 45, and his wife, 28, have moved from their two-bedroom apartment in New York's Upper West Side and are now living in a 'sprawling mansion on the outskirts of town' Matthew's marriage to his long-term girlfriend Catherine was confirmed during a speech at his father's state funeral in Melbourne. Bert died on October 30 last year at the age of 83 after a highly publicised battle with illness. Matthew and Catherine, who is the daughter of former New York attorney-general Eric Schneiderman, began dating in 2012 and got engaged in October 2016. 'Catherine never thought that as a bona fide New Yorker she would ever move to Texas, but she's found herself fitting right in, and the slower pace is doing the world of good for her husband,' an insider claimed Matthew, who suffers from bipolar disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder and has a history of addiction, has a notably tumultuous past. Pictured at the Toronto International Film Festival in Canada in September 2017 A family friend told New Idea in 2017 the couple had secretly married at the home of Catherine's mother in New York. '[Matthew] rang his parents prior to the big day and invited them but with Bert's health being a little strained in recent months they decided a long-haul flight to New York might not be a great idea,' the source said at the time. 'This is the best news ever for Bert and Patti... they're just so happy for Matthew.' Who is Catherine Schneiderman? Catherine Schneiderman is the daughter of former New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Catherine's romance with Matthew raised some eyebrows, due to her father Eric's known stance against domestic violence. In 2006, Matthew was convicted of assaulting his then-fiancee, actress Brooke Satchwell. In 2010, he announced his split from another fiancee, Rachael Taylor, after two 'violent and unprovoked' attacks in Rome, which prompted her to take out an AVO against him. Eric Schneiderman passed a bill in 2010 to increase the punishment handed to those involved in such crimes. 'The time to criminalise this horrific form of abuse is now,' he said. 'I am proud of the overwhelming bipartisan support for this legislation. It sends a strong message that we must do everything in our power to ensure that no one is immune from accountability for committing such a heinous crime.' New Idea previously reported Catherine was aware of Matthew's past but 'sees him as a misunderstood genius'. Advertisement Matthew was arrested in 2006 for allegedly physically assaulting ex-girlfriend Brooke Satchwell (left). He later pleaded guilty to 'common assault' in court. Pictured together in 2003 Matthew, who has a history of addiction, has a notably tumultuous past. This includes domestic violence allegations from two former girlfriends: Australian actresses Brooke Satchwell, 41, and Rachael Taylor, 37. He was arrested for the alleged physical assault of former Neighbours star Satchwell in 2006 and pleaded guilty to 'common assault' in court. Matthew was given a good behaviour bond, but the conviction was overturned on the grounds of mental health. In 2010, Matthew's then-girlfriend Rachael Taylor (left) filed a protective order against him, alleging physical, verbal and emotional abuse, and he entered Sydney's Northside West Clinic for treatment. Pictured together in 2009 In 2010, Matthew's then-girlfriend Taylor filed a protective order against him, alleging physical, verbal and emotional abuse, and he entered Sydney's Northside West Clinic for treatment. Matthew was also arrested twice in Miami, Florida, in 2012 - the first for trespassing and resisting officers, while a second incident saw him charged with battery and resisting arrest after he attacked a hotel receptionist. Following the charges, Matthew checked into the Betty Ford Center in California for 90 days of alcohol and drug treatment. Matthew's marriage to his long-term girlfriend Catherine was confirmed during a speech at his father's state funeral in Melbourne. Matthew and his late father Bert Newton are pictured Both matters were later dismissed under the conditions that Matthew completed community service and wrote a letter of apology to the hotel clerk. He was forced to withdraw as director of the Hollywood film Eve in October 2018 after social media backlash over his alleged history of assault. For confidential support please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Advertisement Ben Affleck's 10-year-old son Samuel reversed a $225,000 Lamborghini into a parked BMW at a Los Angeles luxury car dealership after his father let him take the wheel during a test drive. The actor, 49, allowed the youngster to get behind the wheel of the car - which has a top speed of 204mph - at 777 Exotics yesterday. Affleck, who's been to rehab multiple times for booze addiction, and his girlfriend Jennifer Lopez were looking at different cars when they checked out the yellow Lamborghini Urus, which rents for $1,475 per day. Samuel, whose mother is the actress Jennifer Garner, got in the front seat while the engine was still running and put it in reverse, rolling the car back into the front of the white BMW. There did not appear to be any visible damage caused to either vehicle by the low-speed collision. Affleck was stood outside the car at the time and Lopez was sitting behind Samuel on the driver's side. Afterwards, the Good Will Hunting star hugged his son and reassured him that he hadn't caused any damage. Behind the wheel: Ben Affleck's son Samuel reversed a Lamborghini and made contact with the front driver's end of a white BMW that was parked behind it Checking: Samuel got out of the car and checked out the spot where the vehicles made contact Accident: The 10-year-old was behind the wheel of a Lamborghini in Los Angeles on Sunday when it made contact with a BMW vehicle that was parked behind it Son: Samuel is Affleck's youngest chid with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 50; the former couple also share daughters Violet, 16, and Seraphina, 13 Shopping: Samuel was in the driver's seat with the door open, Affleck was positioned between the door and the driver's seat, and Lopez was sitting behind Samuel on the driver's side A person who appeared to be a representative of the dealership was standing by. After the vehicles made contact, Affleck leaned into the Lamborghini and then walked back to look at the point where the vehicles made contact, at which point Samuel got out of the car and checked out the spot. Affleck was seen comforting his son with a hug in the wake of the incident. Lopez was seen holding hands with the boy as they were seen walking. A rep for Affleck told TMZ that nothing was damaged and all involved parties were fine in the wake of the incident. A 777 Exotics employee told TMZ that the vehicles were parked closely to one another, and that 'there was no accident.' An employee told the Post: 'When [Samuel] got into the car, it jerked back and forth,' he said. 'We have a small lot and the cars are close.' 'Everybody was OK!' he added. 'They seemed happy and continued to browse. 'The dealership would more than gladly welcome the stars back. 'Affleck loves cars. We hope they come in again.' Hug: Affleck was seen comforting his son with a hug in the wake of the incident Words: Affleck was seen speaking with workers at the dealership following the incident Taking a look: Ben was seen carefully inspecting any sign of damage Helping hand: Lopez remained cool, calm and collected as the family got out of the car Samuel is Affleck's youngest child with ex-wife Jennifer Garner, 50; the former couple also share daughters Violet, 16, and Seraphina, 13. Samuel was seen with his mother during an outing in Brentwood, California on Friday as they ran errands. The Alias actress was previously married to Affleck, who she met on the set of 2000 film Pearl Harbor, but 'fell in love' while filming movie Daredevil in 2002, officially getting together two years later. Fun and games: Samuel was delighted to be looking at the flash motors with his dad VIP tour: A worker was seen showing the flash car to Ben and his son Samuel before the incident Close: Lopez was seen holding hands with a smiling Samuel as they were seen walking away from the dealership after the accident But the pair split in 2015, with Jennifer noting that the had been split 'for months' before it was revealed, and their divorce being finalised in 2018. The actress is currently in a relationship with entrepreneur John Miller, with the pair being on-off since 2018, while Ben recently became engaged to Lopez. Dailymail.com has reached out to Affleck's reps for comment. Family Affleck and Samuel were seen walking on the sidewalk near the dealership with the actor's girlfriend Jennifer Lopez Support from his girlfriend: Affleck embraced Lopez on the summer sunny day in LA Outing: Lopez and Affleck were seen holding hands while standing in front of the Lamborghini In good spirits: Affleck and Lopez were seen chatting in front of another vehicle Car shopping: Affleck and Lopez were seen surveying a separate vehicle at the dealership Sorry dad: Samuel was in good spirits despite the mishap as the family walked away from the dealership Kelly Holmes: Being Me (ITV) Rating: Lost Treasures Of Rome (C4) Rating: Before Dame Kelly Holmes was even halfway through her confessional life story, the urge to simply hug her was almost overwhelming. She shook with nerves at the beginning of Being Me (ITV) as she prepared to reveal a personal truth that once might have cost her the career she loved. Im a gay woman, she said, her voice choking up, and Ive been unable to live my life authentically. I feel like Ive been trapped. It just weighs down on you every day. I dont want to live like that any more. Its horrible to imagine that any of the millions of Brits who regard her as a national hero could love Dame Kelly any the less, simply because of her sexuality. Kelly Holmes: Being Me follows the life of the double Olympic gold medallist who grew up in care and served in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps at a time when she could face court martial for being gay Shes the double Olympic gold medallist who grew up in care, the girl from a council estate who, while commentating on the Queens Platinum Jubilee celebrations this month, proudly wore her uniform as an honorary colonel in the British Army. To discover that she is tormented by fears and misplaced guilt about being gay is heart-rending. She first came out to her family when she was 18, telling her stepfather, Mike. Surely the whole country would want to echo what he told her then: Long as youre happy enough, it doesnt matter. But she isnt happy. I can honestly say I dont think Ive ever been happy, she said, and its evident that the causes of her recurrent depressions and episodes of self-harm go much deeper than anxiety over her private life. She rationalised this, explaining that she served in the Royal Army Physical Training Corps at a time when she could face court martial for being gay. It was terrifying, criminalised just for who you were and who you loved, she said. It could ruin your life and your career. But those restrictions were lifted in 2000 and its difficult to believe that her ingrained fear of repercussions is the only reason she still finds it so shattering to discuss her sexuality. Other traumas were touched upon, obliquely. It seems plain that Dame Kelly is still shell-shocked by the five years she spent in care and that she is angry with herself for carrying that pain. Her relationship with her mother, Pam, who died from cancer four years ago, was a constant shadow in the background. In one brief scene, she sat down with other family members. Perhaps the presence of the cameras was inhibiting, but everyone seemed afraid to breathe. And though this was a documentary about sexuality, she made no mention of whether she has a partner today. Her courage in coming out will be an inspiration for many people. But it was also moving and sad to see the vulnerability of a woman who is known for being so physically strong. In the first episode of Lost Treasures Of Rome (C4), there were no treasures and we werent in Rome. Instead, the diggers poked around under the baths in Pompeii, finding a broken safety pin and part of a bulls skull There was little in the first episode of Lost Treasures Of Rome (C4) that could inspire anyone to tune in to the rest of this six-part archaeology series. But viewers might feel inspired to sue the producers for a breach of the Trade Descriptions Act, since there were no treasures and we werent in Rome. Instead, the diggers poked around under the baths in Pompeii, finding a broken safety pin and part of a bulls skull. Computer graphics recreated ancient scenes with all the realism of a 20-year-old PC video game. Narrator Priyanga Burford filled the gaps with well-worn details from Pompeiis history, or repeated things wed just heard the archaeologists say. Their most interesting discovery was the skeleton of a former slave who rose to be a wealthy priest. We were promised DNA analysis, but the results must still be in the post. Jussie Smollett turned up on the red carpet of the 22nd annual BET Awards on Sunday night, marking his Hollywood return three months after he was released from prison. An appeals court ordered the release of the disgraced 40-year-old from Chicago's Cook County Jail on March 16 after only serving six days of a 150-day sentence for five counts of felony disorderly conduct. And while Jussie's case remains on appeal - he decided to make his return to the red carpet, where he spoke to press at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater about his directorial debut with the BET+ original movie B-Boy Blues. Back: Jussie Smollett turned up on the red carpet of the 22nd annual BET Awards on Sunday night, marking his Hollywood return three months after he was released from prison Outrage: An appeals court ordered the release of the disgraced 40-year-old from Chicago's Cook County Jail on March 16 after only serving six days of a 150-day sentence for five counts of felony disorderly conduct Smollett - who was nominated for best actor at the 2015 BET Awards - smiled for the cameras while looking smart in a beige blazer and brown trousers. 'I never thought of myself as working my way back into Hollywood,' the NoCal native told ET on Sunday, referring to his new venture as a director 'This has always been the plan, to expand my empire, so to speak. To expand the level of what I want to do. I got to direct multiple episodes of the show as well as my music videos, I directed all of them. 'But to be able to usher in just a new generation of artists of actors of this amazing talent that's out there that has so much to tell you. That's what is feeding me.' Red carpet: While Jussie's case remains on appeal, he decided to make his return to the red carpet, where he spoke to press at Los Angeles' Microsoft Theater about his directorial debut Dapper: Smollett - who was nominated for best actor at the 2015 BET Awards - was smart in a tan blazer New project: The NoCal native told ET on Sunday: 'I never thought of myself as working my way back into Hollywood. This has always been the plan, to expand my empire, so to speak' Teasing new song: Jussie went on to thank his supporters (mostly family and friends) and revealed he was 'absolutely' going to release 'very, very good music very soon' Starring, Timothy Richardson, Ledisi, Brandee Evans, Heather B, Marquise Vilson, Jabari Redd, Broderick Hunter and Thomas Mackie, B-Boy Blues is the film adaptation of James Earl Hardys novel by the same name. Jussie went on to thank his supporters (mostly family and friends) and revealed he was 'absolutely' going to release 'very, very good music very soon.' It didn't take long for Smollett to start trending on Twitter as BET Awards viewers roasted him with a Photoshopped picture of him holding a Subway bag and a meme reading: 'A lie is a lie no matter how Smollet is.' 'Not Jussie smollet trying to get this black card reinstated #BETAwards #redcarpet,' Twitter user @iMjustkinji wrote. 'Who let Jussie Smollet into the #BETAwards?' Twitter user @BabaBla47602512 asked. It didn't take long for Smollett to start trending on Twitter as BET Awards viewers roasted him with a Photoshopped picture of him holding a Subway bag and a meme reading: 'A lie is a lie no matter how Smollet is' 'This ***** faked a hate crime and blamed white people for it, and got a slap on the wrist. If you got money, regardless of race, you have privilege.' Twitter user @Tryan1975 wrote: 'Somebody alert the authorities! Jussie Smollett's attacker was just seen live on the red carpet at the BET Awards. #BETAwards #BETawards2022.' Once safely inside the venue, the self-described 'gay Tupac' took his seat next to Brandee Evans, who played Michi in his feature directorial debut B-Boy Blues that dropped June 9 on BET+. 'God, these random cuts to Jussie Smollett really make me uncomfortable,' Twitter user @sleepymaserati wrote. Promoting his movie: Once safely inside the venue, the self-described 'gay Tupac' took his seat next to Brandee Evans (R), who played Michi in his feature directorial debut B-Boy Blues that dropped June 9 on BET+ Twitter user @sleepymaserati wrote: 'God, these random cuts to Jussie Smollett really make me uncomfortable. Like... We just out here pretending his situation didn't happen? #BETAwards #BETawards2022' 'Like... We just out here pretending his situation didn't happen? #BETAwards #BETawards2022.' Twitter user @EfeDeMorientes posted a face palm emoji captioned: 'Jussie Smollett sittin in the front row at the @BETMusic #BETAwards.' Even BET Awards host Taraji P. Henson was roasted over her fervent, vocal support of Jussie with one user tweeting: 'Sis how as bout bringing it down a notch! We know you already extra for saying #JussieSmollett was innocent but this loud in our face ghetto act ain't helping none of us! #BETAwards.' The 51-year-old Oscar nominee famously played Loretha 'Cookie' Lyon, the mother of Smollett's character Jamal Lyon in Fox's Empire from 2015-2020. Even BET Awards host Taraji P. Henson was roasted over her fervent, vocal support of Jussie Family: The 51-year-old Oscar nominee (L) famously played Loretha 'Cookie' Lyon, the mother of Smollett's character Jamal Lyon in Fox's Empire from 2015-2020 When the Might Ducks alum Instastoried about how much he 'loved' Taraji on Saturday, she replied: 'I love you more baby!' When the Might Ducks alum Instastoried about how much he 'loved' Taraji on Saturday, she replied: 'I love you more baby!' Jussie has maintained his innocence over not faking his alleged racist and homophobic attack on January 29, 2019. Smollett swears he was attacked by two Trump supporters despite his former personal trainers - the Osundairo Brothers - testifying in court that he hired them to pour bleach on him and put a noose around his neck in order to boost his celebrity profile. 'I am innocent!' Jussie has maintained his innocence over not faking his alleged racist and homophobic attack on January 29, 2019 'This is MAGA country': Smollett swears he was attacked by two Trump supporters despite his former personal trainers - the Osundairo Brothers (pictured December 2) - testifying in court that he hired them to pour bleach on him and put a noose around his neck in order to boost his celebrity profile 'I am not suicidal!' The Daytime Emmy Award nominee was also fined $25K, ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago, and he was given 30 months of felony probation The Daytime Emmy Award nominee was also fined $25K, ordered to pay $120,106 in restitution to the city of Chicago, and he was given 30 months of felony probation. 'My entire career, but much more importantly, my entire life, along with my family, represented social justice. It's like finding out that someone is exactly the opposite of who they claim to be. 'If I had done this, I'd be a piece of s***. And I don't think that's really questionable,' Jussie said on Sway In the Morning last Tuesday. 'If I had done something like this, it would mean that I stuck my fist in the pain of black African Americans in this country for over 400 years. 'It would mean that I stuck my fist in the fears of the LGBTQ community all over the world. I am not that motherf***er. Never have been. Don't need to be.' Jussie said on Sway In The Morning last Tuesday: 'My entire career, but much more importantly, my entire life, along with my family, represented social justice' The Block host Scott Cam has defended his scathing comments about influencer Elle Ferguson and her fiance Joel Patfull after they sensationally quit the show during filming earlier this year after just two days. The Channel Nine star called the pair 'p*ss poor' and 'unAustralian' at a Logies brunch last week. '[It was just] me being me,' Scott said of the comments. The Block host Scott Cam has defended his scathing comments about influencer Elle Ferguson and her fiance Joel Patfull after they sensationally quit the show during filming earlier this year after just two days 'Obviously I wish Joel and Elle success in the future. It's just that they created a fair bit of chaos for us here in the first 48 hours. 'The show we put a lot of time and money into the start of our show and then we had to rejig the whole thing the whole promos had to be re-shot.' According to news.com, he finished his rant by saying he was speaking 'from the heart', claiming the pair caused 'a lot of angst' for departing the way they did. The Channel Nine star called the pair (pictured here) 'p*ss poor' and 'unAustralian' at a Logies brunch last week Scott first let loose on Elle and Joel during an interview with TV Tonight at a Logies brunch last Monday. '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,' he said at the time. '45,000 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,' he finished. 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 she potentially had broken her coccyx and fractured her wrist. 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. Following their exit, Elle, 36, shared a telling picture of the pair's suitcases at Melbourne Airport Following their exit, Elle, 36, shared a telling picture of the pair's suitcases at Melbourne Airport, captioned: 'Wherever you are in the world, whatever you are doing, family always comes first.' She also shared a black-and-white image of her partner Joel, 37, sitting with their luggage, as they prepared to catch a flight to Adelaide. A Channel Nine spokesperson confirmed the pair's exit 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. She also shared a black-and-white image of her partner Joel sitting with their luggage as they prepared to catch a flight to Adelaide '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.' The couple were seen arriving at the show's building site in Gisborne, in the Macedon Ranges, on day one of filming. Joel retired from AFL in 2016 after 220 games for the Brisbane Lions and GWS Giants. Meanwhile, Elle is the creator of the now-defunct fashion blog They All Hate Us, and recently launched her own spray tan label, the ELLE EFFECT. Taraji P. Henson spoke out against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in her monologue at the 2022 BET Awards Sunday. The 51-year-old entertainer, who was hosting the proceedings from the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, expressed her ire over the court's decision to remove womens constitutional protections for abortion, as well as ongoing efforts to curtail mass shootings via gun control reform. 'It's about time we step into our power,' the Washington, D.C. native said in her opening speech at the show. 'It's about time we talk about the fact that guns have more rights than a woman.' The latest: Taraji P. Henson, 51, spoke out against the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade in her monologue at the 2022 BET Awards Sunday from the Microsoft Theater in LA She continued: 'It's a sad day in America - a weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman who can give life if she chooses to - it's about time I got that off my chest.' Henson was one of a number of entertainers to speak out about the court's controversial decision, which led to nationwide protests throughout the weekend. Janelle Monae, presenting at the event, said, 'F*** the Supreme Court,' to which she received an ovation from the crowd. 'I know we are celebrating us right now, as we should - we absolutely deserve to celebrate especially now,' said Monae, 36. 'We must celebrate our art by protecting our right and our truths.' Henson spoke out over the court's decision to remove womens constitutional protections for abortion, as well as ongoing efforts to curtail mass shootings via gun control reform Henson said, 'It's a sad day in America - a weapon that can take lives has more power than a woman who can give life if she chooses to - it's about time I got that off my chest' Henson, seen during entrances, was one of a number of entertainers to speak out about the court's controversial decision, which led to nationwide protests throughout the weekend Jazmine Sullivan, who collected the honors for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, called for the support of men amid the ongoing issues, saying that 'this is not just a woman's issue.' Said Sullivan, 35: 'To the men, if you've ever benefited from a woman making one of the toughest decisions of her life, which is to terminate a pregnancy, you need to be standing with us ... this is everybody's issue, and we need your support more than ever .... You all got us? 'Cause we got you.' Also speaking out on the issue was rapper Latto, 23, said, 'Its about giving pro-choice its about never giving in to a man policing my body.' The statements came on the heels of a number of entertainers speaking out about the court's decision in the wake of its announcement on Friday. Megan Thee Stallion, performing at the Glastonbury Festival in Pilton, Somerset, England, said she was embarrassed over an abortion ban in her home state of Texas last year. 'Now, y'all know it wouldn't be me if I didn't take a second to call out these stupid a** men,' she said. 'I mean ... what else you want? Texas really embarrassing me right now, y'all know that's my home state. And I want to have it on the record that the motherf***ing hot girls and the hot boys do not support this bull**** that y'all campaigning for.' Jazmine Sullivan, who collected the honors for Best Female R&B/Pop Artist, called for the support of men amid the ongoing issues, saying that 'this is not just a woman's issue' Rapper Latto said, 'Its about giving pro-choice its about never giving in to a man policing my body' The musical artist then led the crowd on chanting, 'My body, my motherf***ing choice.' Olivia Rodrigo, also appearing at the festival, said she was 'devastated and terrified' in the wake of the SCOTUS decision, saying that 'so many women and so many girls are going to die because of this.' Following the ruling, clinics in Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia ceased performing abortions, with other states limiting options based on varied stipulations. President Joe Biden said Friday's ruling marked 'a sad day for the court and for the country,' adding that 'this decision must not be the final word.' Amid the overturning by Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito, Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett, Thomas said his peers on the court should look into reversing past Supreme Court rulings on issues including contraceptive use and same-sex marriage, among others. Protestors were seen outside of the Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. on Saturday President Joe Biden said Friday at the White House that the ruling marked 'a sad day for the court and for the country,' adding that 'this decision must not be the final word' Robert Irwin has long spoken about his desire to follow in his late father Steve's footsteps. And reports now claim the 18-year-old has made the momentous decision to leave his family home at Australia Zoo in Queensland and travel the world making nature documentaries - just like his dad. 'He loves Australia Zoo and everything his parents built together, but he's ambitious and wants to get out and see the world hopefully with a camera crew right behind him, just like Steve did,' a source told New Idea magazine on Monday. Robert Irwin, 18, (pictured) has reportedly decided to leave his family home at Australia Zoo in Queensland to fulfil his dream of filming nature documentaries abroad - just like his late father Steve 'He wants to be a mix of his dad and David Attenborough,' the insider explained. Robert, who is an award-winning nature photographer, reportedly has his sights set on visiting South Africa, after falling in love with the country during a family visit in 2018. While Robert may have stars in his eyes. the insider claims his sister Bindi, 23, is feeling 'heartbroken' at the prospect of saying goodbye to her beloved brother. 'He loves Australia Zoo and everything his parents built together, but he's ambitious and wants to get out and see the world hopefully with a camera crew right behind him, just like Steve did,' a source told New Idea magazine on Monday. Robert is pictured as a child with his father Steve Robert, who is an award-winning nature photographer, reportedly has his sights set on visiting South Africa, after falling in love with the country during a family visit in 2018 'She knows Robert deserves to live out his dreams and he's excitedly telling her his plans, but it makes her very emotional. She's never known a life without him,' they claimed. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to the Irwin family for comment. It comes after Robert paid tribute to his father on World Crocodile Day by sharing a photo to Instagram of himself feeding a crocodile at Australia Zoo recently, alongside a photo of his dad doing the same many years ago. While Robert may have stars in his eyes. the insider claims his sister Bindi, 23, (right) is feeling 'heartbroken' at the prospect of saying goodbye to her beloved brother 'She knows Robert deserves to live out his dreams and he's excitedly telling her his plans, but it makes her very emotional. She's never known a life without him,' they claimed. Bindi is pictured with Robert and her husband Chandler Powell (far left) It comes after Robert paid tribute to his father on World Crocodile Day by sharing a photo to Instagram of himself feeding a crocodile at Australia Zoo recently, alongside a photo 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,' the Crikey! It's the Irwins star wrote in his caption. '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'. 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 on the Sunshine Coast. 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 Chris Hemsworth goes nude in Thor: Love and Thunder. The Australian heartthrob, 38, joked to Variety at the Los Angeles premiere last week that baring his bottom on-screen in the Marvel film has always been his 'dream'. Chris, who went shirtless when he first starred as Thor in the 2011 film, said the scene was '10 years in the making'. Chris Hemsworth revealed that showing his naked butt in Thor: Love and Thunder was '10 years in the making'. Pictured in the film Asked how he felt about almost baring all, Chris joked: 'Well, I had [my butt] out in [2013 film] Rush many years ago, but in a Marvel film, it was a very large screen, it was a very big pair of cheeks.' 'I don't know, I've seen it before. Whatever. It was 10 years in the making, that scene a dream of mine,' he continued. Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth film in the Thor franchise and also stars Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale and Matt Damon. The Australian heartthrob, 38, joked to Variety at the Los Angeles premiere last week that baring his bare butt on screen in the Marvel film has always been his 'dream' Asked how he felt about baring nearly all, Chris joked, 'Well, I had [my butt] out in [2013 film] Rush many years ago, but in a Marvel film, it was a very large screen, it was a very big pair of cheeks.' Pictured at the premiere Thor goes up against the villainous Gorr the God Butcher, played by Bale. Meanwhile, Chris is building the life he always dreamed of in coastal Australia, far from the bright lights of Hollywood. Chris, who lives with Elsa and their children near Byron Bay, NSW, told The Daily Telegraph earlier this month he wanted to spend more time filming in his home country. Chris is pictured baring nearly all in 2013 film Rush Chris went shirtless when he starred as Thor in the 2011 film. He joked to Variety last week,'I don't know, I've seen it before. Whatever. It was 10 years in the making, that scenea dream of mine' 'My focus ever since I had was to shoot here in Australia due to, on a personal level, being at home with my family, but also because of the awareness that I had about what was possible here when it comes to the talent,' he said. Chris made his latest film, the Netflix sci-fi drama Spiderhead, in Queensland. His production company, Wild State Productions, brought Thor 3 and 4, Extraction 1 and 2, Spiderhead and Interceptor to film in Australia. Leading man Chris looked sharp at the premiere in a light blue dress shirt, which he paired with a royal blue three-piece suit and brown loafers. Pictured with wife Elsa Pataky, 45 'Life is sweet. It is great and I couldn't be happier,' Chris added. 'If you had have said or asked me 10 years ago where I would like to be, this is it.' Chris and Elsa, 45, who married in 2010, have three children, daughter India, 10, and twin sons Sasha and Tristan, eight. They live in a $30million mansion in Broken Head. Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi, hits Australian and UK cinemas on July 7, and on July 8 in the United States. The Watergate break-in versus the deep state coup conspirators By Mark Alexander web posted June 27, 2022 I grew up around Southern folk who invoked many metaphors and allusions as colorful conversational descriptors. One day, I'll compile a list of my favorites for those of you who are unfamiliar with such provincialisms. One such metaphor is very appropriate when comparing something minuscule with something monumental: "That's a gnat on a buffalo's butt." I mention this because it's a fitting comparison between the Watergate break-in and the more recent deep-state coup against our 45th president. The former began as little more than a third-rate burglary, while the latter involved politicians and their co-conspirators at the highest levels of the FBI and CIA in a fabricated scheme to take down the presidency of Donald Trump . I am not arguing that Watergate was minuscule. But by comparison to the " Russian collusion " coup conspiracy, which besieged the Trump administration for three years as designed only to be thoroughly debunked in 2019 by Special Prosecutor Robert Mueller's investigation , Watergate was a far less formidable threat to the Rule of Law , the foundation of American Liberty . Hillary Clinton and her cadre masterfully constructed a complex coup d'etat for which none of the principals have been held accountable . These operatives include former CIA Director John Brennan , former FBI Director James Comey , former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe , former FBI Chief of Counterespionage Peter Strzok , former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith , and former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein . Of all those listed above, only the lowest-ranking member, Clinesmith, has received so much as a slap on the wrist. I mention the comparison now because on 17 June, we marked the 50th anniversary of the Watergate office building break-in at Democrat National Committee headquarters by a group of amateur burglars under the direction of some of Richard Nixon's key aids known as the "White House Plumbers." For those who need a refresher, the burglars were operating under the direction of G. Gordon Liddy, Presidential Counsel John Dean, and former CIA officers E. Howard Hunt and James McCord. The black-bag operation was approved by the acting chairman of Nixon's Committee for the Re-Election of the President, Jeb Stuart Magruder, and by Nixon's attorney general, John Mitchell. When the five Watergate burglars were discovered late into the night of 17 June 1972, in what was their second entry into the building, it is believed they were replacing a defective listening device defective only because, unbeknownst to their handlers, it had already been discovered by a DNC staff person and destroyed. Those arrested included three Cuban Freedom Fighters with ties to the CIA, along with McCord and Frank Sturgis. Watergate prosecutor James Neal was certain that President Nixon had not known about the break-in before it happened, but once informed, Nixon was clearly implicated in the effort to cover it up ordering his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman, to have the CIA block the FBI's investigation into the funding for the burglary. At the time, The Washington Post was a legitimate media outlet with actual investigative journalists, rather than the Leftmedia propaganda organ of the now-socialist Democrat Party it has become. WaPo has now perfected the cover-up of leftist black-bag operations, politicos in collusion with their leftist social media counterparts , as was the case with the Trump coup conspirators. For years, WaPo promoted the fake Trump/Putin collusion farce as Watergate on steroids . However, back in 1972, investigative reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein did a masterful job of uncovering the Watergate conspiracy, and, with a lot of help from "Deep Throat" (then-FBI Deputy Director Mark Felt), they connected the burglary to Nixon's reelection fund and The Plumbers, and within months the key conspirators were indicted by a federal grand jury. Woodward's book, All the President's Men, was the subject of a movie by the same name, both of which are compelling accounts of Watergate and Nixon's cover-up. But Woodward's work is not without its critics. Leftist literary journalist Joan Didion says of Woodward's writing, "Measurable cerebral activity is virtually absent." Furthermore, he "covers the story not as it is occurring but as it is presented, which is to say as it is manufactured." News of the break-in did not prevent Nixon from winning a historic electoral landslide in 1972, when he defeated hard-left anti-war Democrat George McGovern with almost 61% of the popular vote (the fourth-largest margin, 23.15%, in American history) and 520 electors losing only Massachusetts and Washington, DC. That landslide was second only to that of Ronald Reagan in his reelection in 1984, when he won 525 electors and 58.8% of the popular vote. In November of 1973, with the investigation picking up steam, Nixon infamously declared in a public forum: "People have got to know whether or not their president is a crook. Well, I'm not a crook." But the Watergate investigation continued, and Nixon lied about his effort to cover up the break-in once he had been told about it. The evidence of this lie was the 18 and a half minutes of conversation with Haldeman that Nixon had erased from the more than 3,700 hours of conversations that had been recorded by the Oval Office taping system. In April of 1974, the Democrat-controlled House Judiciary Committee opened impeachment hearings against the president, with the full cooperation of Republicans, who joined the investigation of Nixon. In 1974, former Sen. Howard Baker (R-TN) was the ranking minority member of the Senate committee investigating the Watergate cover-up conspiracy. He and his then-young understudy, chief counsel and fellow Tennessean Fred Thompson , aggressively pursued the truth regarding their party's president. "I'll dig for the facts," said Baker, "and I'll follow wherever they lead." Indeed, he and Thompson did just that. At a critical juncture in that investigation, Baker (who later served as Ronald Reagan's chief of staff) asked a now-famous question: "What did the president know and when did he know it?" It's no small irony that a young attorney named Hillary Rodham was hired by the House Judiciary Committee to work on the Nixon impeachment, where she apparently learned a lot about how to not be caught in a cover-up. The House charged Nixon with obstruction of justice, abuse of power, and contempt of Congress. Facing certain conviction in the Democrat-controlled Senate with Republicans affirming, Nixon had the decency to spare the nation that proceeding and resigned on 9 August 1974. Recall that prior to the two partisan impeachments of Trump , one for what then-VP Biden actually did do , the only other 20th century president to have been impeached, Bill Clinton , chose to drag the nation through his disgraceful perjury and obstruction of justice charges, estimating that the Republican-controlled Senate would fall short of the necessary two-thirds majority of 67 votes needed to convict and remove him from office. To be clear, Nixon wasn't facing impeachment for having orchestrated the Watergate break-in, but for having tried to cover it up after the fact. However, it's now clear that Clinton and Barack Obama were the architects of the Russia collusion conspiracy against Trump ahead of the 2016 election, and when that failed and Clinton lost, they and their deep-state actors conspired to take down the president with the investigation of the allegations they seeded. Instead of employing an inept band of low-level burglars, Clinton and Obama, as noted previously, coordinated a brazen cabal of deep-state operatives at the highest levels of the most powerful government agencies. Their fingerprints are all over this crime scene. Now, a full six years after the launch of the Trump/Russian collusion lie, there are still no high-level indictments , and the prospect of any justice for Clinton and her cohorts is growing more unlikely by the day . As political analyst Hans von Spakovsky concludes : "In 1972, Nixon's dirty trick failed, and Liddy and his coconspirators all went to prison. The Clinton campaign's 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 sophistication of [Clinton's] conspiracy makes Gordon Liddy look like an amateur." Regarding Clinton's criminal actions , it should be noted that Nixon's erasure of those 18 and a half minutes of incriminating audiotape pales in comparison to Clinton's deliberate BleachBit destruction of 33,000 subpoenaed emails in order to conceal her role in the collusion conspiracy and, among other things, her role in Obama's cover-up of the 2012 Benghazi attack . A close second to Clinton's Russian collusion conspiracy cover-up would be Joe Biden's campaign orchestration of a mass-media blackout , in concert with his own deep-state collaborators , to cover up his corrupt ChiCom connections just ahead of the 2020 election. It worked for Biden, and with the help of the massive bulk-mail ballot fraud Demos orchestrated ostensibly in response to the ChiCom Virus pandemic , Biden was swept into office. Consequently, Biden's Leftmedia talkingheads and scribes are doing everything in their power ahead of the midterm elections to divert attention from his administration's catastrophic failures. Biden and his Democrat Party are thoroughly mired down in a long list of Demo dung, including surging inflation ; rising energy prices ; an epidemic of violent crime ; millions of illegal immigrants flooding the country as a result of Biden's reckless open border policy ; Biden's corrupt ChiCom family business ; his reinvigoration of the Red China threat ; and now, after Biden's deadly surrender and retreat from Afghanistan, a deadly war in Ukraine on NATO's doorstep. Biden's abysmal polling reflects his pathetic performance on every issue that matters most to Americans. Despite the full weight of the influential mainstream media backing Biden, they are not likely to turn back the Republican congressional wave on the horizon. However, there are still more than four months before those much-talked-about midterms, and a lot can happen in the interim to dampen that wave. Any hope of holding Clinton and her corrupt cadre accountable depends on Republican majorities in the House and Senate next January. Mark Alexander is the executive editor of the Patriot Post. Katy Perry and her fiance Orlando Bloom arrived in Australia earlier this month. And according to Woman's Day, the American songstress, 37, 'could see herself one day' celebrating their honeymoon in Port Douglas. The couple, who got engaged in 2019, are staying in Far North Queensland for three months while Orlando, 45, shoots the film Wizards! Katy Perry is 'looking to celebrate her honeymoon one day in Port Douglas, Australia' with fiance Orlando Bloom, a new report has claimed. Pictured together in September An insider reportedly told the publication that Katy has been discussing Port Douglas as a potential honeymoon destination with her friends back in the United States. 'She has been on the lookout for accommodation since arriving. If they do head back to Queensland for their honeymoon, everyone's going to be green with envy,' the source claimed. Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Katy's representative for comment. According to Monday's Woman's Day, the American songstress, 37, has been discussing Port Douglas as a potential honeymoon destination with her friends back in the United States Orlando is busy shooting Wizards!, a new film by Australian writer-director David Michod, alongside Pete Davidson, Naomi Scott, Franz Rogowski and Sean Harris. The production will inject an estimated $14.7million into Queensland's economy. Wizards! will follow two hapless pothead beach-bar operators, played by Davidson and Rogowski, who run into trouble when they stumble across stolen loot that they really should have just left alone, reports Deadline. 'She has been on the lookout for accommodation since arriving. If they do head back to Queensland for their honeymoon, everyone's going to be green with envy,' the source claimed. Pictured in 2019 Brad Pitt's production company Plan B is behind the film. Katy and Orlando first started dating in early 2016, but split in February 2017. They reconciled in April 2018, and Orlando popped the question in a romantic Valentine's Day proposal the following year. Orlando wed Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr in 2010, divorcing in 2013 and now sharing custody of their son Flynn, 11. Orlando, 45, previously revealed on Sunday Today with Willie Geist that he doesn't want to get divorced a second time Katy was married to English comedian Russell Brand back in 2010, but split just a year later. Orlando previously revealed on Sunday Today with Willie Geist that he doesn't want to get divorced a second time. 'It's important to me that we are aligned. I've been married and divorced and I don't want to do it again,' he said. 'And we're both fully aware of that.' 'She's remarkable and so I'm always impressed with that and I'm encouraged,' Orlando added. Married At First Sight bride Susie Bradley has expressed her desperation to feel 'normal' again following her split from her ex-fiance Todd Carney and recent health scare. The cosmetic injector shocked fans last week following reports she'd been hospitalised after collapsing in her home. Susie's health scare occurred mere hours after she had confirmed her split from NRL bad boy Todd on Instagram. Married At First Sight's Susie Bradley, 29, (left) has expressed her desperation to feel 'normal' again, following her split from her ex-fiance Todd Carney, 36, (right) and recent health scare Reflection on her woes in an Instagram Story post on Sunday night, Susie wrote: 'It's crazy how things can happen and change so quickly.' 'If someone could just give me an injection of my normal self so I can be obsessed with myself again that would be great [shy smile emoji], the cosmetic nurse added. Her post was accompanied by a throwback photo of herself in the car playing the song 'Nobody's Better' by Suzi ft. Fetty Wap. Posting to Instagram Stories on Sunday night, the embattled Married At First Sight star, 29, said she'd give anything to feel 'normal' again after a difficult few weeks. 'If someone could just give me an injection of my normal self so I can be obsessed with myself again that would be great [shy smile emoji], she wrote The photo was taken on 17 June 2022, the day after the mother-of-two confirmed she and Todd, 36, had officially split. Announcing the breakup on Instagram, Susie had uploaded photos of herself posing in a tight grey mini-dress with a glass of wine in hand, alongside the caption: 'Officially a member of the Hot Single Girl's Club! What's good to do?' The newly single reality star added the hashtag #IfYouCan'tLaughYou'llCry. Susie and Todd started dating in 2019, with Carney stepping into the role of stepfather to Bradley's eight-year-old daughter, Baby. Pictured in happier times Susie and Todd started dating in 2019, with Carney stepping into the role of stepfather to Bradley's eight-year-old daughter, Baby. They welcomed their first child together, a boy named Lion Daryl, in April last year. Susie was rushed to hospital after collapsing at her home just hours after announcing her split from Todd. Announcing the split on Instagram, Susie had uploaded photos of herself posing in a tight grey mini-dress with a glass of wine in hand, alongside the caption: 'Officially a member of the Hot Single Girl's Club! What's good to do?' The reality star was reportedly in a serious condition when emergency services arrived to her Benowa Waters home on the Gold Coast. Todd subsequently gave an update on Susie's health, telling The Courier-Mail on Wednesday she was out of hospital and 'fine'. 'She's in a fit and well place. She'll probably go back to work in the next couple of days,' he told the publication. Susie was rushed to hospital after collapsing at her home just hours after announcing her breakup online Todd subsequently gave an update on Susie's health, telling The Courier-Mail on Wednesday she was out of hospital and 'fine' He declined to comment on the incident, but categorically disputed a version given by emergency service sources. Susie finally returned to Instagram on Thursday to announce she'd taken temporary leave from her beauty clinic business. 'To my beautiful clients, second to my family and friends, my clients and your happiness are what makes me shine,' she began. 'So that you can have the very best from me which you all deserve, I have had to make the decision not to return to work until July 4,' she added, before confirming missed appointments would be 'rescheduled'. Susie finally returned to Instagram on Thursday to announce she'd taken temporary leave from her beauty clinic business She chose not to share details of her recent health scare, nor the reason why she is unable to work for the rest of the month. 'Please know how deeply I understand my not being available can impact your appointments / things you may have had planned etc. and if it would be possible for me to return to work sooner I absolutely would,' she continued. 'I appreciate both your support and understanding.' She chose not to share details of her recent health scare, nor the reason why she is unable to work for the rest of the month Bradley rose to fame on the fifth season of Married At First Sight, which was filmed in late 2018 and aired the following year. She was partnered with barista Billy Vincent, but they split before their final vows. Carney infamously had his $3million contract with the Cronulla Sharks torn up in 2014 after he was pictured urinating in his own mouth at a Sydney pub. He now works as a concreter. If you or anyone you know needs immediate support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 Bindi Irwin's husband Chandler Powell has shared a loving tribute to his wife and daughter, Grace, one. The American wakeboarder, 25, took to Instagram to share a family photo before penning the sweet message. 'Appreciation post for the mama who does it all. You're incredibly kind heart is what I love most about you,' he wrote. Chandler Powell has shared a loving post to wife Bindi Irwin and daughter Grace, one, on Instagram on Monday: 'You're incredibly kind heart is what I love most about you' 'Thank you for making me and Grace smile every single day. We love you so much.' Wildlife queen Bindi replied: 'I love you I love you I love you.' The couple are clearly still in the honeymoon period of their relationship with the pair regularly gushing over each other and sharing family life. 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'. Bindi Irwin's husband Chandler shared an adorable new picture of their baby daughter Grace Warrior last week for International Father's Day He 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. 'Being Grace's dad is the best title I've ever had. Thank you to my girls for making Father's 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 are seen here with their daughter Grace Warrior Bindi and Chandler first met in 2013 when the American athlete was touring Australia as part of a national wakeboarding competition. 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. Elizabeth Hurley once again put on an age-defying display as she showed off her incredible figure in a bright bikini on Sunday. The actress, 57, posted a carousel of Instagram snaps to her 2.4 million followers - sporting a lemon yellow bikini from her own swimwear line. Telling fans to 'let the sunshine in' via her caption, the Basingstoke native looked gorgeous as she posed for the shots. Beauty: Elizabeth Hurley, 57, flaunted her toned physique in a lemon bikini as she soaked up the sun for an Instagram snap on Sunday Her two-piece bikini featured a triangle design with a pleated rope tie side on the bottoms, leaving her toned torso revealed. With her brunette tresses left to fall freely onto her shoulders, Elizabeth sported a radiant makeup look with a glossy pink lip. The model raised an arm and leaned against a peach wall for one snap, while another saw her riding a bike as she gazed into the camera. Embracing the outdoors: The actress sported a lemon yellow bikini from her own swimwear line, gazing into the camera while on a bike ride Day to night: Another snap showed the star sporting a halterneck O ring dress - which featured a colourful floral print and a bright pink neckline Taking the look from holiday day to night, the final snap showed Elizabeth sporting a halterneck O ring dress. The number, which was also yellow, featured a colourful floral print and a bright pink neckline. Getting in to the summer spirit, the star offered customers 30% off her 'sunshine edit' - with a number of bright ensembles on offer. Red carpet ready: It comes after she looked effortlessly glamorous last week in Berlin, working her magic on the Raffaello Summer Party red carpet It comes after she looked effortlessly glamorous last week in Berlin, working her magic on the Raffaello Summer Party red carpet. Elizabeth sported a glitzy red gown for the chocolate brand's bash, with sequin embellishing and a love heart designed bust. Dressed to the nines, she boosted her height with red heels and accessorised with a gold box clutch - adding a rich palette of makeup to the look. Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky made a rare red carpet appearance with their children at the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder on Monday. The Hollywood star, 38, and the Spanish actress, 45, looked every inch the doting parents as they embraced their twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight, on the red carpet. Elsa showed off her incredible physique in a black gown, which featured a plunging neckline and peephole design at the front. Chris Hemsworth and his wife Elsa Pataky made a rare red carpet appearance with their children at the Sydney premiere of Thor: Love and Thunder The Hollywood star, 38, and the Spanish actress, 45, looked every inch the doting parents as they embraced their twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight, on the red carpet The mother-of-three accessorised her ensemble with a pair of gold strappy heels and a Bvlgari necklace. Elsa curled her long blonde locks and let her natural beauty shine, by opting for a neutral palette of makeup. Meanwhile, Chris looked dapper in a shiny black tuxedo, a matching coloured shirt and black shoes. The couple were also joined by Chris' brother Luke Hemsworth, his wife Samantha and their children. Luke made a style statement in a floral shirt and black pants while Samantha stunned in a long green dress. The genetically blessed family stepped out to promote Thor: Love and Thunder Chris looked dapper in a shiny black tuxedo, a matching coloured shirt and black shoes Chris and Elsa looked sensational as they worked the red carpet Twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight, looked stylish in their suits Elsa showed off her incredible physique in a black gown, which featured a plunging neckline and peephole design at the front The film's director Taika Waititi, 46, also looked dapper in a stripped navy suit jacket and matching pants at the event. He completed his look with a white buttoned shirt and black shoes. Taika wrapped his arms around his daughters Te Hinekahu and Matewa Kiritapu as he posed on the red carpet. The couple were also joined by Chris' brother Luke Hemsworth, his wife Samantha and their children Chris and Luke's father Craig also posed alongside his children and their families at the event The film's director Taika Waititi, 46, looked dapper in a stripped navy suit jacket and matching pants Erin Holland showed off her incredible physique in a figure-hugging yellow and black dress. The Australian model, 33, tied her long brunette locks back and wore a full face of makeup consisting of blush and a smokey eye. She accessorised her ensemble with a pair of strappy heels and carried a gold clutch to the premiere. Taika wrapped his arms around his daughters Te Hinekahu and Matewa Kiritapu as he posed on the red carpet Erin Holland showed off her incredible physique in a figure-hugging yellow and black dress Christian Wilkins ensured all eyes were on him as he arrived in a long black dress, which featured a plunging neckline. The 26-year-old socialite left his long blond hair out and wore black 'toe' shoes. Christian was also joined by his father Richard Wilkins and his girlfriend Nicola Dale at the event. The couple looked every inch loved-up as they embraced one another on the red carpet. Christian Wilkins ensured all eyes were on him as he arrived in a long black dress, which featured a plunging neckline Christian was also joined by his father Richard Wilkins and girlfriend Nicola Dale at the event Kerri-Anne Kennerley made a style statement in a colourful sequined jacket, a black top and matching coloured pants. The Australian television star, 68, completed her look with a pair of black boots and held a sparkly bag. She left her blonde locks out and opted for a neutral palette of makeup consisting of blush and a pink lip. Kerri-Anne Kennerley made a style statement in a colourful sequin jacket, a black top and matching coloured pants Celebrity trainer Jono Castano looked stylish in navy pants, a matching coloured suit jacket and a white T-shirt Anna Heinrich looked glamorous in a black dress as she attended the premiere with her husband Tim Robards. The former Bachelor star completed her frock, which featured peepholes on the side with a pair of strappy heels. Tim also looked dapper in beige pants, a matching coloured jumper and a black coat. Anna Heinrich looked glamorous in a black dress as she attended the premiere with her husband Tim Robards Brittany Hockley looked incredible in a unique black top with cut-outs and a long beige skirt Meanwhile, David Campbell made an appearance at the event with his three children Leo, Billy and Betty. The Today Extra host looked stylish in black jeans and a matching coloured jacket. The 48-year-old completed his ensemble with a pair of black boots as he took a selfie with his kids on the red carpet. David Campbell made an appearance at the event with his three children, Leo, Billy and Betty Jessica Rowe also attended the event with her daughters Allegra and Giselle. The former Studio 10 host looked stylish in a multicoloured dress, which featured a tie around the top. Barry Du Bois was also all smiles as he posed on the red carpet with his son Bennett. Jessica Rowe also attended the event with her daughters Allegra and Giselle Big Brother winner Chad Hurst also made an appearance. The former model-turned-personal trainer looked dapper in a black suit which he teamed up with white sneakers. He was joined by his glamorous girlfriend Kyara, who turned heads in a cut out white dress. Big Brother winner Chad Hurst (left) also made an appearance alongside his glamorous girlfriend Kyara (right) The former model-turned-personal trainer looked dapper in a black suit which he teamed up with white sneakers The fourth Thor film sees the hammer-wielding superhero go up against the villainous Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale. The film is set in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, where Thor (Chris Hemsworth) has given up his superhero ways. He enlists the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and other friends to help fight Gorr the God Butcher (Christian Bale). Chris made his latest film, the Netflix sci-fi drama Spiderhead, in Queensland. His production company, Wild State Productions, brought Thor 3 and 4, Extraction 1 and 2, Spiderhead and Interceptor to film in Australia. Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi, hits Australian and UK cinemas on July 7, and on July 8 in the United States. Their fourth wedding anniversary is around the corner. And David Hasselhoff looked in good spirits as he and his wife Hayley Roberts went for a bite to eat on a day out in Paris on Sunday. The Hoff, 69, cut a casual figure in a light blue shirt and black trousers as he and his wife, 42, went for a lunch a date. Couple: David Hasselhoff looked in good spirits as he and his wife Hayley Roberts went for a bite to eat on a day out in Paris on Sunday The Baywatch actor also sported a dark green cap as he departed the venue alongside Welsh beauty Hayley. Hayley, who is 27 years her husband's junior, looked radiant in a light pink long-sleeved mini dress. The model let her blonde locks fall loose down her shoulders and completed her look with a light palette of makeup. The couple's outing in Paris comes after they recently attended the 61st Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco. Lunch date: The Hoff, 69, cut a casual figure for the day in a light blue shirt and black trousers as he and his wife, 42, went for lunch Hayley and David have been married since July 2018, when they had a romantic and lavish ceremony in Puglia, Italy. David previously admitted he was hesitant about tying the knot with Hayley due to their age difference. Speaking to OK! magazine at the time, David said: 'For the longest time I didn't think it was right to marry Hayley as I was so much older and I didn't want to take away the fun and the youth and the excitement of growing old together and having children. 'We've been together for about seven years and we've had such a great time. I've realised how much I love Hayley and how much we've become part of each other's life.' Dapper: The couple's outing in Paris comes after they recently attended the 61st Monte Carlo Television Festival in Monaco The couple met back in 2011, when David was working as a judge on Britain's Got Talent. While in Cardiff, Wales for auditions, the actor strolled into a store and was approached for a picture by Hayley, who was working as a shop assistant at the time. The former Knight Rider star has two daughters from his marriage to second wife Pamela Bach: Taylor Ann Hasselhoff, 32, and Hayley Hasselhoff, 29. She's the author and TV cook famed for her culinary expertise. And Nigella Lawson put on a gorgeous display as she attended Locanda Locatelli's 20th anniversary party on Sunday, hosted at the central London eatery. The 63-year-old sported a floral shirt dress in a maxi style, with a rope tie waist and a button up design. Anniversary event: Nigella Lawson, 63, put on a chic display in a floral maxi dress as she attended upmarket Italian eatery Locanda Locatelli's 20th Anniversary bash on Sunday The colourful number featured printed white and red flowers and a laced cuff sleeve, pairing it with white sandals to match. Her raven tresses fell freely in a middle part, as they were styled in a tousled straight look. Nigella highlighted her dewy complexion with a natural palette of makeup, adding a bright pink-toned blush and glossy pink lip. Summer outfit: Nigella's colourful number featured printed white and red flowers and a laced cuff sleeve, pairing it with white sandals to match Sweet treay: The evening featured a massive cake which read 'Happy 20th Anniversary', which was wheeled in from the kitchen for guests to enjoy Nigella hung her phone across her torso as it was attached to a black strap, beaming for snaps with food podcaster Hannah Young and Plaxy Locatelli - who is Michelin star chef and owner Giorgio Locatelli's wife. Dubbed as one of the finest Michelin-starred restaurants in London, Locanda Locatelli boasts an upmarket Italian menu and has gained a star-studded customer list since opening originally opening in 2002. Sharing an insight into the evening, guest Hannah shared a TikTok of the evening, writing 'Join me at the Locatelli 20th anniversary party!' Coming along: Sharing an insight into the evening, guest Hannah Young shared a TikTok of the evening, writing 'Join me at the Locatelli 20th anniversary party!' BTS: Hannah then took the camera to the kitchen for some behind the scenes snaps The evening featured a massive cake which read 'Happy 20th Anniversary', which was wheeled in from the kitchen for guests to enjoy. Chefs were snapped preparing an Italian feast in front of the guests, before Hannah took the camera to the kitchen for some behind the scenes snaps. The video showed an array of chefs around the bustling kitchen, as she gave fans a tour of the high-end restaurant's usually hidden areas. Hollywood met Rock & Roll on Sunday when Tom Cruise rocked out to the Rolling Stones in London's Hyde Park. The actor, 59, joined pals at the American Express presents BST Hyde Park festival to watch the iconic band preform a plethora of their classic hits. Swaying along to the music, the movie star beamed a Hollywood smile as he stood high in the stands to get a great view of the stage from AEG's VIP suite. Rock & Roll: Tom Cruise rocked out to the Rolling Stones at the British Summer Time Festival in Hyde Park, London, over the weekend Tom cut a casual figure for the outing, going unrecognised by many of his fellow music lovers. The Mission Impossible actor donned a navy padded jacket which he layered over a casual shirt and dark jeans. Tom enjoyed the music, before later heading off across the park with his party. Rock stars: The actor was joined pals to watch the iconic band preform a plethora of their classic hits (Rolling Stoned pictured on stage) Music man: Tom cut a casual figure for the outing, going unrecognised by many of his fellow music lovers Casual: The Mission impossible actor donned a navy padded jacket which he layered over a casual shirt and dark jeans The Rolling Stones dedicated their concert on Saturday to their late drummer Charlie Watts. The group paid tribute to the beloved musician in what was their first time performing in London without him. The drummer passed away in August 2021 aged 80 surrounded by family and friends. Awe: The actor couldn't take his eyes off the stage as the band rocked out Hello! Tom appeared in great spirits as he chatted with pals between songs Afterparty? Later Tom exited the venue after the band received a rapturous applause Frontman Mick Jagger paid tribute to Charlie just before the band played Tumbling Dice. He said: 'It's lovely to be here. In 1962, we met a drummer from Wembley called Charlie Watts. 'And sadly, this is our first time in London without him. So, we would like to dedicate this show to Charlie.' Special evening: The Rolling Stones dedicated their concert on Saturday to their late drummer Charlie Watts The musician also spoke of the band's joy at being back in the capital and thanked their fans for coming to Hyde Park amid the national rail strike. He said: 'Are you feeling, alright? It's great to be back home in London. I know that getting here has not been easy. I want to really thank the effort you have made for all to get here. 'And I want to welcome everyone who has come from out of town, like the Midlands, I know people come from the North of England, and people come from overseas.' Selling Sunset's Mary Fitzgerald has once again shown her support to co-star Chrishell Stause and her nonbinary partner GFlip. Chrishell, 40, went public with her love in May after announcing she'd split from boss Jason Oppenheim, 45, in December, following five months of dating. And reality show star Mary, 41, appeared on Lorraine on Monday and revealed the relationship seemed to be making her pal Crishell 'very happy'. Good friend: Selling Sunset 's Mary Fitzgerald has once again shown her support to co-star Chrishell Stause and her nonbinary partner GFlip Speaking on Crishell's new partner G Flip - whose real name is Georgia Claire Flipo - Mary said: 'Her new partner is very sweet and Chrishell seems very very happy.' After an emotional Selling Sunset reunion for Jason, Mary added: 'People don't see that side of him very often but he has a very very good heart and when he loves he fully loves...' The broker got emotional as he broke down over his 'very difficult' split from the 'love of his life' Chrishell. He told how he 'f**ked up something that was really good' and that he will struggle to see her happy with another person because he'll 'never meet someone like her again'. New relationship: Chrishell, 40, went public with her love in May after announcing she'd split from boss Jason Oppenheim, 45, in December, following five months of dating Chrishell, known for her roles in Days of Our Lives and All My Children, was married to This Is Us actor Justin Hartley from 2017 to 2021. In July last year, she went public with her Selling Sunset co-star and boss Jason, the president of high-end real estate brokerage The Oppenheim Group. But the pair confirmed in December they had split after seven months of dating. Break-up: In July last year, she went public with her Selling Sunset co-star and boss Jason, the president of high-end real estate brokerage The Oppenheim Group Elsewhere in Mary's interview, she spoke on the drama between the girls and Christine: 'I think there's been a lot that's happened - I don't know anything about her company, I've seen some stuff 'I don't know anything about it but I think enough has happened on the show and just at the brokerage that she's not a good fit.' Despite leaving her role at the Oppenheim Group, Christine vowed in May this year that she was 'not going anywhere' when it came to the hit show. Christine previously teamed up with sassy new realtor Chelsea Lazkani, who is the first black agent in the West Hollywood office. On the new arrival, Mary said: 'I have to say we were a little nervous in the beginning but she's actually very...I think she's great for the show too. She knows a lot of people so she's good for real estate but she's not a mean girl, so...I love Chelsea she's great.' After an emotional Selling Sunset reunion for Jason, Mary added: 'People don't see that side of him very often but he has a very very good heart and when he loves he fully loves...' Trouble: Christine previously teamed up with sassy new realtor Chelsea Lazkani, who is the first black agent in the West Hollywood office Mary then explained why there are no celebrities on the massively popular Netflix real estate reality show: 'A lot of times even if they want to be on the show they can't, they're on contract with another network and the contract prevents them from doing that, so we do have a lot more celebrities than what you guys see.' This comes after Netflix announced they have signed on for another two seasons of the reality show, despite the loss of two of the show's most popular estate agents. While the likes of Heather Rae El Moussa, Chrishell Stause and Amanza Smith all celebrated the news on social media... show villain Christine Quinn remained silent, and it was revealed that Maya Vander has now left. Exciting: This comes after Netflix announced they have signed on for another two seasons of the reality show, despite the loss of two of the show's most popular estate agents Mary also spoke about her journey to have kids with husband Romain Bonnet: 'It's been a tough road.' She added: 'He's amazing, he's seeing his parents right now in Paris but he's my rock. He's a man's man and likes to do his own thing...he's so loving and so protective.' Mary and Romain were seen tying the knot during the second series of the show. However, the couple were legally married for months before the series began filming its first season, according to documents obtained by TMZ. Their marriage license and the certificate of marriage show that the two were married at a Ventura courthouse on March 9, 2018. Denise Van Outen flaunted her incredibly toned legs in a chic denim mini-skirt as she arrived for an appearance on Channel 4s Steph's Packed Lunch in Leeds on Monday. The presenter, 48, stunned in the summery ensemble, featuring a gingham-print button up shirt and towering bright yellow stilettos. The TV star's pastel shirt, which featured a flattering rounded collar, matched her strappy chartreuse heels as she strutted inside the studio. Summery: Denise Van Outen flaunted her incredibly toned legs in a chic denim mini-skirt as she arrived for an appearance on Channel 4s Steph's Packed Lunch in Leeds on Monday Denise threw on some black sunglasses, and wore a series of golden rings to accessorise the look. The star wore her platinum locks down in a bob and opted for low-key make-up ahead of her television appearance. The mother-of-one has recently released a brand new single to mark LGBTQ+ Pride month, performing a cover of the 1970s classic From New York To LA. She cut a glitzy figure in a sequin mini dress as she posed for a series of snaps for the new release. Stepping out in style: The presenter, 48, stunned in the summery ensemble, featuring a gingham-print button up shirt and towering bright yellow stilettos Showing off her jaw-dropping figure, the TV star lay across a fully-stocked bar in the glamorous rose gold number. Denise's version of Patsy Gallant's From New York To L.A is out now, with the accompanying music video also being released in celebration of Pride month. The new single's music video features drag queens and a host of backup dancers, as they appeared alongside Denise in a lit-up bar. Previously speaking about the venture, Denise explained that she wanted to create an 'inclusive' video as she has been a 'big supporter' of the LGBTQI+ community for 'decades'. New release: Denise has recently released a brand new single to mark LGBTQ+ Pride month, performing a cover of the 1970s classic From New York To LA She said: 'I've always been a big supporter of Pride month and am proud to be an LGBTQ+ ally for decades now. 'I wanted to shoot a video that was inclusive and something that everyone could enjoy and sing along to.' The star, who in 1998 released a cover of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan's hit Especially For You with Johnny Vaughan and Steps, has worked with producer Steve Anderson on her new record and described it as a 'feel good' dance track. She added: 'It was great to collaborate with Steve Anderson on this feel-good dance record. I hope everyone enjoys Pride 2022 and has an amazing time this Summer.' I was an extra on Bram Stoker's Dracula By Thomas M. Sipos web posted June 27, 2022 This year is the 30th Anniversary of the release of Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula. I spent some of the 1990s working as a film and TV extra, and that film was my first gig. It being my first time, I fondly recall the experience. Despite very long hours, it didn't feel like work at all. I had been working in a producer's office, two rooms on the third floor of a building in Hollywood. The floor below included a casting director's office. Shortly after my boss was evicted for non-payment of rent, I saw a casting notice in Daily Variety seeking "English, Turkish, and East European types" for Coppola's new Dracula film. The notice mentioned the casting office on the second floor. I'd never done any acting before, but my parents are Hungarian (my father Transylvanian). When I so informed the casting office, they were eager to see me. They didn't call me into the Hollywood building. Instead, I was called to the Sony lot and asked to audition in Romanian, improvising as a frightened man. I explained that I spoke Hungarian, not Romanian. The casting director (C.D.) said that was fine. So I acted frightened in Hungarian. The C.D. said that all audition tapes would be reviewed by Coppola himself. I can affirm the rumors that Coppola was a perfectionist on that film. The C.D.'s walls at Sony were covered with old photos and sketches of late 1800s scenes from England and Romania. Coppola seemed determined to capture the look and feel of that time and place with accuracy. (The DVD's special features indicates that he took some creative leeway, but he certainly began his journey with extensive research.) I didn't get a speaking role, but I was phoned a few weeks later and invited to be an extra, because of my "East European look." I was later told, on the set, that another reason for casting me was that I had longish hair, which was true of Englishmen in 1897. That's right, despite my "East European look," I was cast as an Englishman. Men with longish hair were in short supply just then, in December 1991. A lot of military films had recently been shot, resulting in lots of male extras with military crewcuts. I was called in for a wardrobe fitting. They gave me a long black coat. My first scene was with Anthony Hopkins. I was one of his medical students. Hopkins was friendly, chatting with us between takes, asking if we all wanted to be actors. There must have been a still photographer wandering about, because I ended up (uncredited) on page 87 of James Hart's lavishly illustrated published screenplay. Curiously, I'm standing on the first tier, just above Hopkins, in the photo in the book (right), yet I'm standing on the second tier in the film. The assistant director (A.D.) had moved us medical students around, determining the best setup, and I suppose the still photographer did his work at one point in the day, while the scene itself was shot by the cinematographer at some other time. Us medical students kept wandering about the stage during breaks, upsetting the production assistant (P.A.). She said, "I swear, you're the antsiest bunch of extras I've ever seen." Antsiest. Her exact word. I never forgot that. Some of the extras endured additional makeup, with mustaches and sideburns glued to their faces. I had a natural beard at the time (still do), so I escaped that ordeal. They did spray some plastic on my hair, to set in place the late 19th century hair style they'd given me. After the scene was wrapped, I overheard some A.D. or P.A. discussing the need for another extra for that night's chapel scene. They were shooting round the clock. Remember the chapel scene at the start of the film, when Gary Oldman weeps over his dead bride? That was shot over two nights. And apparently, one of the monks who'd stood behind the priest on the first night of shooting had fallen sick and was unavailable for the second night. I came forward and volunteered to fill in for the monk. They accepted my offer. So in that scene, sometimes one of those two silent monks is me, sometimes not. Neither Anthony Hopkins nor Winona Ryder was on the set that night. Gary Oldman was the only star present, hunched over and crying. I knew he'd been in Sid and Nancy, a film that I'd liked, but I didn't recognize him on set. I was impressed with his work in the chapel scene. After the scene wrapped, I said something to him like, "Very impressive work. Very good." He smiled and thanked me, tears still staining his face. I didn't know at the time that extras weren't supposed to speak to the actors, but Oldman seemed not to mind. The A.D. gave me a separate voucher for the chapel scene, apart from my previous voucher for the medical school scene. Thus was I paid for two full days, though I'd worked the scenes back-to-back. Maybe the production saved money by clocking me for two days. If they'd treated the medical school and chapel scenes as the same day, I might have earned some serious overtime. But I was nonunion back then, so the work rules were flexible as applied to me. And I didn't care about the money. Not then. It was my first time on a Hollywood film set, and I just wanted the experience to last. I'd have done it for free. The A.D. did approve a "translation bump" for me, about $20 as I recall. This was because Oldman had been seeking some Romanian phrase or remark, not to speak, but just to internalize, to help him assume character. So I'd told the A.D. some Hungarian phrases, which he'd passed on to Oldman, who was quite the Method Actor. He was impressive to watch on set, and the results of his Method work remain evident on film. I came in for two other days. I was one of some 400 extras in the London street scenes shot on Universal's backlot. Both the daytime scenes and night time scenes. The extras were kept in large tents. One tent served as a dressing room for men. Another tent was for the women. One woman gasped upon seeing other women undressing in the tent. "You can't be shy in this business," commented the woman who related this incident to me. An even larger tent was a coed holding pen, where both men and women waited while not working on set, chatting and reading and snoozing. It had rained and the grass was moist. One middle-aged woman sketched her fellow extras. She sketched me in my costume, and gave it to me when done. I still have her work, framed and on my wall. We were well fed. I was told that wasn't always the case, especially with crowd scenes. One extra described working on Steven Spielberg's Hook, adding, "Lunch was some popcorn." Back on the set, I asked an extra if there were any stars present. "Winona Ryder," I was told. It was the first I'd ever heard the name. "What's Winona Ryder look like?" I asked, hoping for a glimpse of a star. "She's a little thing," I was told. After they wrapped the daytime scene, they brought in a second unit crew, and a new group of extras. They also asked if any of us wanted to stay for a second "day" that night. I naturally volunteered. I didn't make it into the daytime scenes in the final cut. Maybe they didn't film me. Maybe I ended up on the cutting room floor. I am in a night time scene; the one outside the railroad station, when Johnathan Harker returns from the Continent and sees Dracula "young again." I'm crossing the street, carrying a piece of luggage. I do my cross right after a horse-drawn carriage crosses my path. A P.A. had wanted to give my luggage it to another extra. I was hesitant, because I'd signed for the suitcase with the Props Dept, so I was responsible for its return. I asked the P.A. if we could notify the Props Dept. "Never mind!" the P.A. snapped. "I don't mind," I said, not wanting to be difficult. "It's just that I'm responsible." The P.A. was testy, but replied, "Don't worry, it's not your fault." I also had a scene with the white wolf. Or rather, I was called in, then taken out before anything was shot. They were trying different set ups. I stood facing the wolf, from eight or ten feet away, the wolf looking happy, yet unleashed. I was told it was only part wolf, and well fed. There were crew around me, and I was told it was safe, but not to make any sudden moves. "Because if you do," said a big, burly crewman, standing right behind me, "he'll bite your balls off!" D-outside I worked on over 60 productions in the 1990s, on and off. Some I worked for three weeks, some only a day. Movies, sitcoms, infomercials, even a Japanese TV commercial shot in California. Many days were long and grueling, 14 to 16 hours. Work conditions got cushier, and the pay better, after I was admitted into SAG in 1994. Even so, the novelty of being on a set wore off. I grew to dislike extra work and stopped about 1997 or '98. My record for the longest day working as an extra remains my time on Bram Stoker's Dracula, about 23 hours on set in one day. But that day didn't feel long. It was a fun adventure that I never wanted to end. Thomas M. Sipos writes satirical novels and film criticism. His website is CommunistVampires.com . Home Chris Hemsworth has shared how he handled being nude on set in his latest film, Thor: Love and Thunder. Appearing on The Project on Monday night, the actor, 38, was asked how he felt being naked while filming scenes with his co-star Russell Crowe. 'He does a great thing where he's also naked from the waist down. That made me feel at ease,' Chris joked. Chris Hemsworth (pictured) has shared how he handled being nude on set in his latest film, Thor: Love and Thunder. Appearing on The Project on Monday night, the actor, 38, was asked how he felt being naked while filming scenes with his co-star Russell Crowe Director Taika Waititi, who was also appearing on the show, chimed in: 'On set, it's an agreement we have. I was naked too.' Chris was then asked if he had a 'modesty garment' to cover up with while doing the nude scenes. 'A sock. Just a sock,' Chris quipped, to a chorus of hearty laughter from the show's hosts. 'He does a great thing where he's also naked from the waist down. That made me feel at ease,' Chris joked. Russell is pictured in the film Director Taika Waititi, who was also appearing on the show, chimed in: 'On set, it's an agreement we have. I was naked too.' Pictured: Chris as he appears in his nude scene 'He wears a sock on one ear. That's his thing. He thinks it's a distraction,' Taika joked. Chris joked to Variety at the Los Angeles premiere last week that baring his bottom on-screen in the Marvel film has always been his 'dream'. Chris, who went shirtless when he first starred as Thor in the 2011 film, said the scene was '10 years in the making'. Chris was then asked if he had a 'modesty garment' to cover up with while doing the nude scenes. 'A sock. Just a sock,' Chris quipped, to a chorus of hearty laughter from the show's hosts. Pictured in the film Chris joked to Variety at the Los Angeles premiere last week that baring his bottom on-screen in the Marvel film has always been his 'dream' Asked how he felt about almost baring all, Chris joked: 'Well, I had [my butt] out in [2013 film] Rush many years ago, but in a Marvel film, it was a very large screen, it was a very big pair of cheeks.' 'I don't know, I've seen it before. Whatever. It was 10 years in the making, that scene a dream of mine,' he continued. Thor: Love and Thunder is the fourth film in the Thor franchise and also stars Natalie Portman, Tessa Thompson, Christian Bale and Matt Damon. Thor: Love and Thunder hits Australian and UK cinemas on July 7, and on July 8 in the United States. Johnny Depp is reportedly set 'to return' to Pirates of the Caribbean after being dropped from the franchise in 2018. Depp was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final voyage on the Black Pearl in Dead Men Tell No Tales which was released in 2017. But a source told Poptopic that the actor, 59, has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' after winning his defamation trial again Amber Heard. Exciting: Johnny Depp is reportedly set 'to return' to Pirates of the Caribbean after being dropped from the franchise in 2018 The insider revealed that Disney are interested in patching the relationship up with Depp and have recently reached out to him. They said: 'They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another pirate film or two. The source added that another project is in the works for Disney Plus. They said: 'The deal is reportedly for Johnny Depp to return as Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean 6 and a spin-off Disney Plus series about the early life of the Captain of The Black Pearl.' They continued: 'What I can tell you is that the studio has already penned up a draft for a film about Jack Sparrow so they are very hopeful that Johnny will forgive them and return as his iconic character.' Sad: Depp was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final voyage on the Black Pearl in Dead Men Tell No Tales which was released in 2017 The source said that the media house is working on a '$301 million deal' to coax Depp back soon and are also reportedly adding a 'sizeable donation' to a charity of Depp's choice as a gesture of goodwill. The Edward Scissorhands star previously told the jury he would not work with Disney again after he was scrubbed from the sixth Pirates movie. His legal team claims Depp lost out on a $22 million payday after Heard published her Washington Post op-ed in 2018 that didn't identify Depp, but clearly branded him as a domestic abuser. Depp said he felt as if he was 'guilty until proven innocent' with Disney executives. Return: A source told Poptopic that the actor, 59, has been in talks with Disney about a '$300 million deal' after winning his defamation trial again Amber Heard Original Pirates script writer Stuart Beattie was the first to publicly confirm that Disney Studios were ditching the star in 2018 as they rework the entire franchise. Speaking exclusively to DailyMailTV at a red carpet event in Hollywood, Beattie confirmed on camera the reboot means Depp is out as Sparrow. Nodding when it was suggested Depp was out, he said: 'I think he's had a great run. Obviously, he's made that character his own and it's become the character he's most famous for now. 'And kids all over the world love him as that character so I think it's been great for him, it's been great for us, so I'm just very, very happy about it.' Depp sued Heard over the op-ed she wrote, describing herself as 'a public figure representing domestic abuse.' The jury found in Depp's favor on all three of his claims relating to specific statements in the 2018 piece. The jury found Depp should receive $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, but the judge reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000 under a state cap. Heard has said she plans to appeal the verdict as she teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. A source close to the Aquaman star claimed the 36-year-old actress was 'broke' that she 'considers her career in Hollywood over' and 'has nothing to lose' following a disastrous few months. Heard admitted through her lawyer that she cannot afford the $8.3 million in damages awarded to Depp. Ex: Heard has publicly admitted she cannot pay Depp (right) after the jury awarded him $10 million and her only $2 million in their highly publicized court battle Lawyers for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have now failed to reach a last-minute agreement which might have seen the damages the actress owed to her former husband be reduced, following their six week defamation trial which ended earlier this month. Instead, the judge in the trial made the jury's award official on Friday with a written order for Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million for damaging his reputation by describing herself as a domestic abuse victim in an op-ed piece she wrote. Judge Penney Azcarate finalized the verdict as she entered a judgment order into the court record after a brief hearing in Fairfax County Circuit Court. Neither Depp nor Heard were present. She also ordered Depp to pay Heard $2 million, the jury's award on her counterclaim that Heard was defamed by one of Depp's lawyers. The order was a formality after the jury announced its verdict on June 1, largely siding with Depp after a sensational trial in which the couple revealed lurid details of their short marriage during a televised trial that was closely followed on social media. Attorneys for both Depp and Heard were unable to reach a last-minute settlement which now means there may be a costly and lengthy appeals process. In three weeks, the case will move to the Court of Appeals of Virginia during which time both parties will have 30 days to file a notice of appeal. Sienna Miller and Scarlett Johansson donned their Sunday best as they filmed scenes for the upcoming drama My Mother's Wedding alongside Kristin Scott Thomas in Hampshire. The trio were joined by their co-star Emily Beecham and several other actors as they filmed an outdoor scene on a country road. Kristin, 62, is making her directorial debut with the feature and also co-wrote the screenplay with writer John Micklethwait. Filming: Sienna Miller and Scarlett Johannson donned their Sunday best as they filmed scenes for the upcoming drama My Mother's Wedding alongside Kristin Scott Thomas in Hampshire The film is based on Elizabeth Jane Howards 1959 novel titled The Sea Change which centres on a London playwright named Emmanuel and his sickly wife Lillian, who is grieving the loss of their daughter. Their marriage takes an unexpected turn when they travel to a remote Greek island. Scarlett, 37, looked radiant for the wedding scene as she donned a teal midi dress with a navy jacket. The actress added height to her frame with a pair of black heels while she also carried a matching clutch bag. Radiant: Kristin was every inch the blushing bride as she donned a white wedding dress with a pair of silver shoes On location: The trio were joined by their co-star Emily Beecham (left) and several other actors as they filmed an outdoor scene on a country road Style: Scarlett, 37, looked radiant for the wedding scene as she donned a teal midi dress with a navy jacket The film star was seen holding a wedding card for the scene as she strolled alongside her co-star Sienna. Scarlett wore a light palette of makeup for filming and completed her look by styling her blonde locks into an updo. Sienna, 40, sported a bright yellow midi dress with puffed sleeves and a light blue floral print. The Anatomy Of A Scandal star also wore a large black hat with a sheer detail, pairing it with matching heels. Fashion: The actress added height to her frame with a pair of black heels while she also carried a matching clutch bag Wedding: Kristin carried a large bouqet of flowers during the scene and also sported a matching flower crown Scene: During filming, Sienna was seen walking through a field where she gave a male actor a hug and kiss Sensational: Sienna sported a bright yellow midi dress with puffed sleeves and a light blue floral print Flawless: Kristin added to her look with a multi-coloured floral shawl and a pair of earrings Procession: Sienna also wore a large black hat with a sheer detail, pairing it with matching heels Kristin was every inch the blushing bride as she donned a white wedding dress with a pair of silver shoes. The star carried a large bouqet of flowers during the scene and also sported a matching flower crown. Meanwhile, Emily looked incredible in a purple short-sleeved dress with a lilac floral print. The star also wore a pair of white heels for the shoot and carried a matching handbag. Wardrobe: Scarlett wore a light palette of makeup for filming and completed her look by styling her blonde locks into an updo Shoot: Kristin appeared in good spirits for the scene where she was joined by child actors in flower girl dresses Outfit: Emily also wore a pair of white heels for the shoot and carried a matching handbag Wow: Sienna styled her locks into an updo for the scene and also donned a gold necklace Break: The A-list actress cut a more casual figure in between takes as she wrapped up in a grey hoodie Movie: Kristin is making her directorial debut with the feature and also co-wrote the screenplay with writer John Micklethwait Styling her flame-haired locks into loose waves, she joined the wedding procession as they strolled down the quiet road. During filming, Sienna was seen walking through a field where she gave a male actor a hug and kiss. The A-list actress cut a more casual figure in between takes as she wrapped up in a grey hoodie. The release date for My Mother's Wedding has yet to be revealed. Adaptation: The film is based on Elizabeth Jane Howards 1959 novel titled The Sea Change Story: The novel centres on a London playwright named Emmanuel and his sickly wife Lillian, who is grieving the loss of their daughter Plot: Their marriage takes an unexpected turn when they travel to a remote Greek island Elsa Pataky sent temperatures soaring as she joined her husband Chris Hemsworth at the Thor: Love and Thunder premiere in Sydney on Monday. The 45-year-old Spanish actress showed off her incredible physique in a long black gown, which featured a plunging neckline and peephole design at the front. Elsa accessorised her glamorous ensemble with a pair of gold strappy heels and a Bvlgari necklace. Elsa Pataky looked sensational in a plunging black dress as she joined her husband Chris Hemsworth at the Thor: Love and Thunder premiere in Sydney on Monday She curled her long blonde locks and let her natural beauty shine, by opting for a neutral palette of makeup. Meanwhile, Chris looked dapper in a shiny black tuxedo, a matching coloured shirt and black shoes. The Hollywood couple were joined by their twin sons Tristan and Sasha, eight, on the red carpet. The 45-year-old Spanish actress showed off her incredible physique in a long black gown, which featured a plunging neckline and peephole design at the front The fourth Thor film sees the hammer-wielding superhero go up against the villainous Gorr the God Butcher, played by Christian Bale. The film is set in the aftermath of Avengers: Endgame, where Thor played by Elsa's husband Chris, has given up his superhero ways. He enlists the help of Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), Jane Foster (Natalie Portman) and other friends to help fight Gorr the God Butcher. Elsa accessorised her glamorous ensemble with a pair of gold strappy heels and a Bvlgari necklace Chris made his latest film, the Netflix sci-fi drama Spiderhead, in Queensland. His production company, Wild State Productions, brought Thor 3 and 4, Extraction 1 and 2, Spiderhead and Interceptor to film in Australia. Thor: Love and Thunder, directed by Taika Waititi, hits Australian and UK cinemas on July 7, and on July 8 in the United States. She's her own best advertisement. And Molly-Mae Hague certainly knows how to turn a brand into an empire as she looked sensational in behind-the-scenes shots from a new PrettyLittleThing advert filmed in Positano, Italy. The former Love Islander, 23, flaunted her tanned curves in a series of sizzling outfits for the company - of which she is the Creative Director - as she posed up a storm. La dolce vita: Molly-Mae Hague flaunted her tanned curves in a series of sizzling outfits to film a PrettyLittleThing advert in Italy Molly's outfits channeled a Mediterranean summer vibe, with the reality star looking sensational as she slipped into a low-cut patterned swimsuit with keyhole cut-outs across the bodice. Relaxing on a boat trip, the vlogger also donned a cream linen shirt worn shrugged off her shoulders. She completed the look with a pair of oversized shades wearing her trademark platinum blonde hair in a ponytail. Beauty: Soaking up the sun on deck, another snap featured the former Love Island star in a strapless bandeau bikini top and a pair of taupe pinstripe trousers Soaking up the sun on deck, another snap featured the influencer in a strapless bandeau bikini top and a pair of taupe pinstripe trousers. The stunner exuded beach glam as she posed for her latest PrettyLittleThing edit with the stunning village of Positano captured in the distance. Coming back onshore, the savvy businesswoman was dressed to impress in a beige co-ord as she got into character in a local grocery store. Animated: Coming back onshore, the savvy businesswoman was dressed to the nines in a beige co-ord as she got into character in a local grocery store Stunning: Another image from the stunning shoot saw Molly rocking a daring cowl-neck jumpsuit - with the ensemble's creamy hue complementing her tan Holding up a lemon - Molly looked animated as she showed off her bronzed skin wearing a chic crop top and high waisted shorts. Another relaxed image saw the number one selling author pose on an abandoned boat wearing an oversized cream shirt, white shorts and keeping the sunshine at bay donning a fedora hat. The stunning shoot also included a photo showing Molly rocking a daring cowl-neck jumpsuit - with the ensemble's creamy hue complementing her tan as she sported an easy glam make-up look, focusing on dewy skin and a warm peachy lip. Cute: Molly-Mae posed on an abandoned boat wearing an oversized cream shirt, white shorts and keeping the sunshine at bay wearing a fedora hat 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, 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.' Millie Mackintosh showed off her svelte frame in a body-hugging swimsuit as she shared an adorable holiday photo with her baby daughter Aurelia on Saturday. The former Made in Chelsea star, 32, posed in a skin-tight gingham print number while enjoying her sun-soaked family getaway to The Peligoni Club in Zakynthos, Greece. The podcast host took to Instagram to post a slew of cute pictures with husband Hugo Taylor, 36, and their two daughters, Sienna, two and Aurelia, seven months. Baby's first dip: Millie Mackintosh showed off her svelte frame in a gingham swimsuit as she shared an adorable holiday photo with her daughter Aurelia on Saturday Loved up: Another snap saw Millie and husband Hugo Taylor, 32, embrace on a paddle board as they enjoyed a boat day while celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary Cuddling little Aurelia, who wore an adorable pink sunhat, Millie wrote: 'First time in the sea with my little water baby!' Millie also shared a carousel of candid moments from the trip, featuring the family soaking up the sun, enjoying the beach and eating delicious food. One snap saw Millie seating the Sienna on her lap, as she messily enjoyed a plate of pasta. Another saw Millie and Hugo embrace on a paddle board as they enjoyed a boat day while celebrating their fourth wedding anniversary. Cute: One snap saw Millie seating cute daughter Sienna, two, on her lap, as she messily enjoyed a plate of pasta Candid: Another photo pictured a tender moment between Hugo and his girls as he cuddled up to Aurelia and Sienna on the sofa Adorable: Millie shared a carousel of candid moments from the trip, featuring the family soaking up the sun, enjoying the beach and eating delicious food Protecting: Hugo in another sweet picture cuddled up to Aurelia as the pair showed off a bottle of high factor Escentual.com #SunPoverty sun cream Another photo pictured a tender moment between Hugo and his girls as he cuddled up to Aurelia and Sienna on the sofa. The family also splashed around by the pool and took in some stunning Mediterranean views as Millie penned: 'A few of my favourite moments from this week so far! 'Savouring every beautiful second of family holiday time...I will do a review of our trip next week, let me know your questions.' Coupled up: Millie and Hugo looked loved-up as they enjoyed a family getaway to Greece with their girls Yum! Adorable photos on Millie's Story showed little Aurelia, seven months, having her first taste of ice cream Like father, like daughter! A cute photo saw Hugo and Sienna enjoying tubs of ice cream in the hot weather In another sweet picture, Hugo cuddled up to Aurelia as the pair showed off a bottle of high factor Escentual.com #SunPoverty suncream, to highlight the importance of protecting your skin from the rays. Hugo is a celebrity supporter of the #SunPoverty campaign which is giving away thousands of suncreams to primary school children in the UK on free school meals to help prevent skin cancer in later life. The campaign has also been backed by famous faces such as presenter Nicki Chapman and actress Kara Tointon. Campaign: Hugo is a celebrity supporter of the #SunPoverty campaign which is giving away thousands of suncreams to primary school children in the UK on free school meals Splashing around: Millie's photos saw the family enjoying the pools and beaches while on holiday Hugo and Millie also looked every inch the loved up couple they are as the pair kissed on a paddle board in one shot. During their trip they chartered a day trip on the resorts beautiful 55ft vintage wooden Cacique style yacht. Last week, Millie also looked incredible in an off-the-shoulder blue swimsuit as she posed by the beach for a stunning snap. Lovely: Millie looked incredible in an off-the-shoulder blue swimsuit as she holidayed in Greece with her husband Hugo and their two daughters on Wednesday She showed off her lovely figure in the flattering swimsuit which featured a white belt and flaunted her holiday tan. Millie completed her beach look with a huge sunhat while wearing dark shades and opting to go makeup free for the day out. Hugo shared some very cute snaps in the pool with his youngest daughter Aurelia who wore an adorable white hat. Cutie! Hugo shared some very cute snaps in the pool with his youngest daughter Aurelia who wore an adorable white hat It comes after Millie gushed about her husband Hugo in a heartfelt Father's Day Instagram post this month. The reality starlet shared adorable photos of her loved-up family and said that watching him as a parent is 'one of the greatest joys in (her) life'. The sweet snaps featured the Made in Chelsea star cuddling up with the couple's two daughters - Sienna and Aurelia. Quality time: Hugo also shared a sweet video with his daughter as they played in the pool together on the luxury holiday He was also pictured reading for and playing with the children, as well as feeding the little ones. Sharing the carousel with her 1.4 million followers, Millie wrote: 'Happy Father's Day @hugotaylorlondon, it's one of the greatest joys in my life watching you with our girls. 'They are the luckiest to have you as their Daddy and seeing how you are with them only makes me love you more, today we celebrate you.' She penned: 'Happy Father's Day also to my Dad! The kindest and most wonderful father a girl could wish for.' Christian Wilkins stunned as he walked the red carpet at the Thor: Love and Thunder premiere in Sydney on Monday night. The socialite and reality star opted for a plunging black gown that featured a mesh portion at the chest. The 25-year-old struck a pose in the slinky garment, which he paired with a pearl choker necklace. Christian Wilkins (pictured) stunned as he walked the red carpet at the Thor: Love and Thunder premiere in Sydney on Monday night The dress had a long train that flowed along the ground with added tassels for some extra drama. Christian added a pair of black boots which featured an unusual hoof design to the look. For makeup, he chose a pearl toned eyeshadow, with bronzed cheeks and a pale pink lip gloss. The socialite and reality star opted for a plunging black gown that featured a mesh portion at the chest The 25-year-old struck a pose in the slinky garment, which he paired with a pearl choker necklace He wore his long, blond hair down around his face and had on a fine silver ring. Christian recently hit back at a Twitter troll who criticised him for wearing a dress to the Logie Awards. The anonymous user @SaraVic333 tweeted on Tuesday 'it's not normal' for men to wear women's clothes, before adding: 'STOP normalising this bulls**t!!!' Christian responded to this criticism by mocking the way some people react hysterically to men who like to wear dresses. 'What is happening to the world!!!! Masculinity is ending!!! Burn everything!!' he tweeted to rapturous support from his Twitter followers. For makeup, he chose a pearl toned eyeshadow, with bronzed cheeks and a pale pink lip gloss Christian recently hit back at a Twitter troll who criticised him for wearing a dress to the Logie Awards (pictured) He spoke about his experimental style in an interview with Body + Soul last year. 'I remember when I used to work at Channel Nine just doing marketing and some days I'd just go in with pink glitter all over my eyes. And they'd be like, "Why are you wearing pink glitter?"' he said. 'I would say, "Because woke up and I was a bit sad today, and I just felt like it was a pink glitter eye shadow day." I've always gone into makeup with that ethos. 'If you want to wear it, if you want to do eyes and lips, who is telling you that you can only do one? Do it! Do whatever makes you feel good.' Denise Van Outen looked in high spirits on Saturday after performing her brand new disco single From New York To LA at G-A-Y & Heaven nightclub in London. The television presenter, 48, cut a stylish figure in a simple black top which she teamed with metallic emerald trousers. After performing to a rapturous applause the beaming star made her exit through the stage door to a waiting chauffer driven car. Disco diva: Denise Van Outen, 48, cut a stylish figure in a black top and metallic green trousers as she left G-A-Y after preforming her new disco single in London on Saturday Denise boosted her height in a pair of silver glitter boots as her luscious locks cascaded to her shoulders, accessorising the look with large hoop earrings. The mother-of-one has recently released the new single to mark LGBTQ+ Pride month, performing a cover of the 1970s classic From New York To LA. Taking to the stage inside the venue Denise appeared to be in her element, putting on a busty display in a figure-hugging silver tassel dress. Star: After performing to a rapturous applause the beaming star made her exit through the stage door to a waiting chauffer driven car The star, who has appeared in stage productions such as Chicago and Legally Blonde, oozed confidence while relishing in the spotlight and showing off her vocal talents. After the performance she caught up with her shirtless dancers and was joined by Ru Paul's Drag Race's Trinity The Tuck and club owner Jeremy Joseph. Denise's version of Patsy Gallant's From New York To L.A is out now, with the accompanying music video also being released in celebration of Pride month. Pals: The star, who has appeared in stage productions such as Chicago and Legally Blonde, oozed confidence on stage while relishing in the spotlight and showing off her vocal talents (pictured with G-A-Y owner Jeremy Joseph) Goodnight! Denise headed home to daughter Betsy, 12, after her show stopping performance The new single's music video features drag queens and a host of backup dancers, as they appeared alongside Denise in a lit-up bar. Scenes saw Denise singing while standing in front of a dimly lit bar while she struck moves with performers beside her, while others danced on top of the bar. Other moments saw her sitting around a table and enjoying drinks with a huge crowd as they got in the partying atmosphere, while disco lights shone around them. Performer: Taking to the stage inside the venue Denise appeared to be in her element, putting on a busty display in a figure-hugging silver tassel dress Amazing: Denise's version of Patsy Gallant's From New York To L.A is out now, with the accompanying music video also being released in celebration of Pride month Stunning: After the performance she caught up with her shirtless dancers and was joined by Ru Paul's Drag Race's Trinity The Tuck and club owner Jeremy Joseph (pictured with her dancers) Previously speaking about the venture, Denise explained that she wanted to create an 'inclusive' video as she has been a 'big supporter' of the LGBTQI+ community for 'decades'. She said: 'I've always been a big supporter of Pride month and am proud to be an LGBTQ+ ally for decades now. I wanted to shoot a video that was inclusive and something that everyone could enjoy and sing along to.' The star, who in 1998 released a cover of Kylie Minogue and Jason Donovan's hit Especially For You with Johnny Vaughan and Steps, has worked with producer Steve Anderson on her new record and described it as a 'feel good' dance track. She added: 'It was great to collaborate with Steve Anderson on this feel-good dance record. I hope everyone enjoys Pride 2022 and has an amazing time this Summer.' The track, which was first recorded by Patsy Gallant back in 1977 as a reworked version of French song Mon Pays, will also feature an intro from RuPaul's Drag Race judge Michelle Visage. New release: Previously speaking about the venture, Denise explained that she wanted to create an 'inclusive' video as she has been a 'big supporter' of the LGBTQI+ community for 'decades' They have been friends for years after previously denying romance rumours. Yet Scott Disick and Kimberley Stewart appear to be spending a lot of time together of late, as they dined out together for a second time in a week on Sunday. The Talentless founder, 39, and Rod Stewart's daughter, 42, were spotted together again at Papi Steak in Miami Beach with some friends over the weekend. Night out: Scott Disick and Kimberley Stewart appear to be spending a lot of time together of late, as they dined out together for a second time in a week on Sunday Kimberley looked lovely in an electric blue stress with gold strappy heels and a woven cream Bottega Venetta bag. Meanwhile, Scott opted for a casual all black look in a jacket and lounge pants, which he teamed with a pair of trainers. Early last week, Scott and Kimberley hung out at Nobu Malibu alongside Kimberly's brother Sean Stewart, 41. Hanging out: The Talentless founder, 39, and Rod Stewart's daughter, 42, were spotted together again at Papi Steak in Miami Beach with some friends over the weekend Dining out: Kimberley looked lovely in an electric blue stress with gold strappy heels and a woven cream Bottega Venetta bag Low-key: Meanwhile, Scott opted for a casual all black look in a jacket and lounge pants, which he teamed with a pair of trainers. Kimberly was also seen in the passenger seat of Scott's luxurious Rolls-Royce. Kimberly recently organized Scott's pantry with the help of her famous father, Rod Stewart. Scott posted video of Kimberly, who runs the organizational company The Realm, sorting through his pantry with Rod to his Instagram Stories last week. Can't get enough! Early last week, Scott and Kimberley hung out at Nobu Malibu alongside Kimberly's brother Sean Stewart, 41 Spick and span! Kimberly recently organized Scott's pantry with the help of her famous father, Rod Stewart 'That is some pantry Kim that you have made...get to work!' Scott said in the video. 'At least its Rodrick approved,' he added. Kimberly also posted a shot of Rod admiring the newly organized space to her Instagram account. '@sirrodstewart in his realm @therealm_ks @letthelordbewithyou #happyfathersday,' she captioned the shot. Scott and Kimberly previously sparked dating rumours in 2015 after his split with Kourtney Kardashian, but the model's mom denied speculation by revealing their just old 'friends' and there was 'absolutely no truth to' the claims. Friends: Scott posted video of Kimberly, who runs the organizational company The Realm, sorting through his pantry with Rod to his Instagram Stories last week Just pals? Scott and Kimberly previously sparked dating rumours in 2015 after his split with Kourtney Kardashian, but the model's mom denied speculation by revealing their just old 'friends' and there was 'absolutely no truth to' the claims Family friends: 'They [the Stewarts] introduced Scott to Kourtney,' Alana Stewart told People at the time. 'I was there when it happened, so I can tell you they're all great pals' 'They [the Stewarts] introduced Scott to Kourtney,' Alana Stewart told People at the time. 'I was there when it happened, so I can tell you they're all great pals.' She noted: 'Scott and Kimberly and Sean are great friends and they have been for many years and Kimberly and Sean love Kourtney.' Scott was spotted hanging out with Kimberly, Rod, and Sean last month as Kourtney prepared to tie the knot with Travis Barker in Italy. Liev Schreiber cut a very dashing figure on Sunday as he stepped out in Venice with his girlfriend Taylor Neisen. The actor, 54, looked handsome in a fitted blue suit with a white shirt and beige shoes. He shielded his eyes from the glare of the sun behind a pair of black sunglasses as he enjoyed drinks on a balcony. Handsome couple: Liev Schreiber cut a very dashing figure on Sunday as he stepped out in Venice with his girlfriend Taylor Neisen Taylor, 28, looked nothing short of incredible in a red fitted dress, embroidered with a floral design. She wore black strappy heels and carried her essentials in a black handbag, while a black belt cinched her in at her svelte waist. She expertly matched her lipstick shade to the colour of her dress, and let her blonde locks tumble over her shoulders. Dapper: The actor, 54, looked handsome in a fitted blue suit with a white shirt and beige shoes Their outing in Venice comes after earlier this month they celebrated Liev's youngest child, Kai's graduation from middle school. Liev shares Kai with his ex Naomi Watts, who he was with for 11 years until their split in 2016. The Mulholland Drive actress posted a photo to Instagram of the group smiling as Kai sat in the middle on a bicycle. Stunning: Taylor, 28, looked nothing short of incredible in a red fitted dress, embroidered with a floral design Liev's girlfriend Taylor Neisen, 29, was present, as was Naomi's new partner Billy Crudup and Kai's older brother Sasha, 14. 'Congratulations to Kai Class of 2022,' Naomi wrote in the caption, adding the hashtags #modernfamily and #graduation. She also shared a photo on Instagram Stories of herself with her arms around Kai as the youngster held a small bouquet of pink tulips. 'My baby,' she wrote. 'Congrats Kai!' Friendly exes: Naomi Watts (bottom right) and Liev Schreiber (second from left) were joined by their respective new partners, Billy Crudup (centre) and Taylor Neisen (top right), to celebrate their youngest child, Kai (centre right, on the bicycle), graduating from middle school on Wednesday. (Left: Naomi and Liev's other child, Sasha) Proud: The Mulholland Drive actress also shared a photo on Instagram Stories of herself with her arms around Kai as the youngster held a small bouquet of pink tulips Accomplishment: Proud dad Liev posted this photo of Kai and Naomi on his Instagram Back in 2019, Naomi opened up about co-parenting with Liev after their separation. 'Having a good relationship has always been our endgame, and we've put a lot of energy and effort into making that so,' she told Sunday Times Style magazine. 'It's not always a cakewalk, as they say in America. But it makes complete sense that it is an absolute priority, because it really matters to the children. 'You can see how there are so many things that can make a kid feel anxious, and knowing that their parents can be in the same room and joyfully, it means a lot to them.' Move o ver J6 protesters, the left is back outdoing you with violence By Rachel Alexander web posted June 27, 2022 A year and a half later, the Democrats are still plodding through weeks of public hearings addressing the protest at the U.S. Capitol on one night, Jan. 6, 2021, as if the violence was so dangerous it was going to destroy the country. The hearings havent gotten anywhere because with the exception of a couple of turncoat Republicans, Republicans arent participating since they view it as a witch hunt, and its not easy turning concern over voter fraud into serious crimes. Now the House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6 looks sillier than ever, as just one night of violence after the Supreme Courts decision reversing Roe v. Wade was issued on June 24 easily eclipsed the violence on Jan. 6. Rabid pro-abortion supporters held lawmakers hostage in the Arizona State Capitol building while they violently pushed on the doors to get in. A Colorado crisis pregnancy center was set on fire and vandalized by graffiti. In Portland, Oregon, protesters broke windows and left graffiti . Ten people in Oregon were arrested , some for throwing rocks, smoke bombs and water bottles at police, as well as resisting arrest, and six were arrested in South Carolina, including for resisting arrest. At least 25 were arrested in New York City, where some vandalized the Womens National Republican Club and took their tops off. Protesters in Los Angeles attacked the police with a flamethrower and other objects, and attacked a car with a stick, resulting in the arrests of at least 25. In a memo issued on June 24 warning about the violence, DHS specifically identified a pro-abortion group calling for violence, Janes Revenge . The group, which was formed in May after the SCOTUS abortion opinion was leaked, posted online calling for a night of rage after the SCOTUS opinion was issued, stating, we need the state to feel our full wrath and we need them to be afraid of us. Janes Revenge has claimed responsibility for vandalizing the campaign office of a member of Congress, a pro-life group, and at least three arson attacks since May targeting pro-life organizations in Oregon, New York and Wisconsin. DHS said there are at least 11 incidents where pro-abortion domestic violent extremists vandalized religous organizations threatening violence, including threatening to bomb and burn a church in New York. Janes Revenge vandalized a crisis pregnancy center in Virginia and committed arson at another one in Colorado . The homepage of Janes Revenge clearly states at the top, Everyone with the urge to paint, to burn, to cut, to jam: now is the time. Go forth and manifest the things you wish to see. The vandals spray paint the message on targeted buildings all over the country, If abortion aint safe, you aint safe! Yet despite the violence in Phoenix, which forced police to use tear gas, not a single protester was arrested. In fact, two of the few people who appear to have been arrested across the country were pro-life protesters. A man was arrested for using a megaphone too loudly, and a woman was arrested for not removing a sign she had attached to a pole. Protesters have been demonstrating for weeks outside the homes of conservative Supreme Court justices, and one was arrested earlier this month for plotting to kill Justice Brett Kavanaugh. The left has long been the home of violence, probably due to their rejection of Judeo-Christianity which denounces violence. The Black Lives Matter and Antifa rioting in the summer of 2020 after the death of George Floyd, along with similar protests afterwards related to the deaths of black men, caused far more violence than the Jan. 6 protest. The arson, vandalism, and looting that occurred between May 26 and June 8, 2020 caused $12 billion in damages nationally, the highest recorded damage from civil disorder in U.S. history. By the end of June 2020, at least 14,000 people had been arrested . Unlike the J6 protest, where the only victims who died were the protesters at the hands of police (a few police officers died later from unrelated causes), the race riots resulted in numerous deaths. Two teenage black men were killed at Seattles autonomous CHOP zone that summer, which was described by Seattles then-mayor Jenny Durkan as the summer of love and "more like a block party atmosphere. Durkan later ordered the zone shut down. The left-wing Guardian admits that 25 people were killed across the U.S. due protests in 2020, almost all related to left-wing violence. Some of the deaths were caused due to right wingers defending themselves against left-wing aggressors, like Kyle Rittenhouse who was acquitted of all charges after fatally shooting two left-wing protesters who attacked him. DHS warned that the abortion violence may continue for weeks. A far left channel called for burning down all churches except black churches. My lefty friend, who closely monitors the pulse of the left but says he personally abhors violence, told me, I think the violence is just getting started as anger and hatred grows toward your side. In a June 26 post on Anarchist Federation, Janes Revenge warned , To all the conservatives, Fox News anchors, judges, cops, Christian extremists, or federal agents reading this: This attack is nothing in compare to what is in store for you. Some spray paint will be the least of your worries. .. So far its just been pregnancy crisis centers, but tomorrow it might be your cars, your homes, or even your lives. [sic] So why isnt there a House committee investigating Janes Revenge and the abortion violence that has occurred since the Supreme Courts opinion was leaked? Its clearly just going to get worse. Because the left has two standards of justice in this country; violence by left-wing extremists is blown off as peaceful protesters, while violence by right wingers is exaggerated and treated as far worse than it really is. With Republicans expected to retake the House later this year, maybe we can expect a J24 committee in January. Rachel Alexander and her brother Andrew are co-Editors of Intellectual Conservative . She has been published in the American Spectator, Townhall.com, Fox News, NewsMax, Accuracy in Media, The Americano, ParcBench, Enter Stage Right and other publications. Home Johnny Depp caught the eye as he headed to the airport in Paris after undergoing a costume fitting for a new movie - his first in more than two years. The actor, 59, looked handsome with a freshly shaven face as he wore a fringed suede jacket and styled his hair in braids for the trip. The planned film, director by French filmmaker Maiwenn Le Besco, sees the actor portray King Louie XV and will be his first movie since winning his recent defamation trail against Amber Heard. Stylish: Johnny Depp cut a stylish figure in a suede fringe jacket and his hair in braids as he headed to the airport in Paris after a costume fitting for his first movie in over two years Keeping a low profile Johnny donned an oversized fedora as he shielded his eyes behind aviator shades. Layering the jacket over black jeans and dark boots, Johnny to the staff and security personal as he made his way towards a private jet. The actor carried a mocha briefcase in his hand with a baroque printed scarf tied loosely around the handle. DL: Keeping a low profile Johnny donned an oversized fedora as he shielded his eyes behind aviator shades Starring role: The movie, director by French filmmaker Maiwenn Le Besco, sees the actor portray King Louie XV and will be his first movie since winning his defamation trail against Amber Heard Earlier in the day Johnny was spotted exiting his hotel in the city, donning a paint spattered linen suit and paperboy cap. His tresses fell loose as he also donned a polka dot bandanna once more shielding his eyes behind aviator shades. The star accessorised with numerous silver rings as he waved at a crow of waiting fans before making his way into a chauffeured car. Cool dude: Layering the jacket over black jeans and dark boots, Johnny to the staff and security personal as he made his way towards a private jet. The actor carried a mocha briefcase in his hand with a baroque printed scarf tied loosely around the handle Big shoes to fill: The actor will take on the lead role of the King of France in his latest movie The news of his latest role comes after it was reported recently he is in talks to return to The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise in a '$300million deal'. He was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final voyage on the Black Pearl in Dead Men Tell No Tales which was released in 2017. But a source told Poptopic that the actor has been in talks with Disney with the company interested in patching the relationship following the trail. Sparrow: The news of his latest role comes after it was reported recently he is in talks to return to The Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise in a '$300million deal' Back in the saddle: But a source told Poptopic that the actor has been in talks with Disney with the company interested in patching the relationship following the trail They said: 'They reached out to the actor prior to his defamation trial against Amber Heard and asked whether he would be interested in returning for another pirate film or two. The source said that the media house is working on a '$301 million deal' to coax Depp back soon and are also reportedly adding a 'sizeable donation' to a charity of Depp's choice as a gesture of goodwill. The Edward Scissorhands star previously told the jury he would not work with Disney again after he was scrubbed from the sixth Pirates movie. Casual style: Earlier in the day Johnny was spotted exiting his hotel in the city, donning a paint spattered linen suit and paperboy cap Relaxed: His tresses fell loose as he also donned a polka dot bandanna once more shielding his eyes behind aviator shades. The star accessorised with numerous silver rings as he waved at a crow of waiting fans before making his way into a chauffeured car His legal team claims Depp lost out on a $22 million payday after Heard published her Washington Post op-ed in 2018 that didn't identify Depp, but clearly branded him as a domestic abuser. Depp said he felt as if he was 'guilty until proven innocent' with Disney executives. Depp sued Heard over the op-ed she wrote, describing herself as 'a public figure representing domestic abuse.' The jury found in Depp's favour on all three of his claims relating to specific statements in the 2018 piece. Big bucks: His legal team claims Depp lost out on a $22 million payday after Heard published her Washington Post op-ed in 2018 that didn't identify Depp, but clearly branded him as a domestic abuser Result: The jury found Depp should receive $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, but the judge reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000 under a state cap The jury found Depp should receive $10 million in compensatory damages and $5 million in punitive damages, but the judge reduced the punitive damages award to $350,000 under a state cap. Heard has said she plans to appeal the verdict as she teeters on the brink of bankruptcy. A source close to the Aquaman star claimed the 36-year-old actress was 'broke' that she 'considers her career in Hollywood over' and 'has nothing to lose' following a disastrous few months. Heard admitted through her lawyer that she cannot afford the $8.3 million in damages awarded to Depp. Sad: Depp was the major lead in five Pirates movies over the past 15 years and made what was thought to be his final voyage on the Black Pearl in Dead Men Tell No Tales which was released in 2017 Lawyers for Johnny Depp and Amber Heard have now failed to reach a last-minute agreement which might have seen the damages the actress owed to her former husband be reduced, following their six week defamation trial which ended earlier this month. Instead, the judge in the trial made the jury's award official on Friday with a written order for Heard to pay Depp $10.35 million for damaging his reputation by describing herself as a domestic abuse victim in an op-ed piece she wrote. Judge Penney Azcarate finalized the verdict as she entered a judgment order into the court record after a brief hearing in Fairfax County Circuit Court. Neither Depp nor Heard were present. Dominic West joined actor Mark Strong as they schmoozed with their fellow thespians at The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour on Sunday. It comes after Dominic and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald invited the public to stay at Glin Castle as they put on a united front after Lily James scandal. The screen star, 51, dressed to impress in a white shirt, black trousers and red belt as he enjoyed an evening of T.S. Eliot at The Delaunay. Beaming: Dominic West and Mark Strong looked in high spirits at The Josephine Hart Poetry Hour on Sunday Meanwhile, Mark, 58, cut a dapper figure in a navy blazer and matching trousers which he donned over a green jumper. The actors were all smiles as they joined Edward Fox, Deborah Findlay and Elizabeth McGovern at the event. Also in attendance was Comedian Russell Brand who showcased his quirky style in a blue shirt with mushrooms printed on the front and matching trousers. The poetry hour project is part of The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation, set up for the advancement of arts, culture and education, with a particular focus on poetry, literature and dramatic performance. Come stay at our house! Dominic and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald invited the public to stay at Glin Castle as they put on a united front after Lily James scandal Smart: 51-year-old Dominic dressed to impress in a white shirt, black trousers and red belt as he enjoyed an evening of T.S. Eliot at The Delaunay Friends: The actors were all smiles as they joined Edward Fox, Deborah Findlay and Elizabeth McGovern at the event Dashing: 58-year-old Mark cut a dapper figure in a navy blazer and matching trousers which he donned over a green jumper It comes after Dominic and his wife Catherine Fitzgerald invited the public to stay at Glin Castle as they put on a united front after Lily James scandal. The actor, whose 12-year marriage to Catherine hung by a thread after he was pictured passionately kissing Lily James, 32, last October, took to Instagram to share they are now renting out their home during Listowel Writers' Week. The historic property in Limerick is where the couple tied the knot in 2010 and where they reside with their four children. Unique: Also in attendance was Comedian Russell Brand who showcased his quirky style in a blue shirt with mushrooms printed on the front and matching trousers Stunning: Nina Gold and Lucy Bevan stood out from the crowd in bold pink and red ensembles Luxury: Princess Michael of Kent, Maurice Saatchi and Lady Antonia Fraser sat down for a lavish meal Looking good: Michael and Sandra Howard were all smiles as they enjoyed a glass of Champagne Fun: The guests looked glamorous as they sat for a meal after an evening of poetry Lavish evening: The poetry hour project is part of The Josephine Hart Poetry Foundation, set up for the advancement of arts, culture and education, with a particular focus on poetry, literature and dramatic performance Tribute: In 2004 The Poetry Hour made its home at The British Library where it continues regularly in Josephines memory They penned: 'Come to Glin and visit the wonderful Listowel Writers' Week! So many fantastic talks and readings. Here with John Keane - son of the legendary John B - in the Kerry Writers Museum. Thrilled to listen to Claire Keegan and Lisa Harding Dominic and Catherine married in June 2010 after reuniting following their university romance and have four children together; Dora, 13, Senan, 12, Francis, 11, and Christabel, seven. The actor also has another daughter Martha, 21, with former girlfriend, aristocrat, Polly Astor. The couple claimed in a handwritten note left outside their Wiltshire home: 'Our marriage is strong and we're very much still together. Thank you.' Their marriage faced public scrutiny after Dominic was pictured kissing co-star Lily in Rome last year. The pair also rode together on an electric scooter the same week it was confirmed Lily and ex-boyfriend, The Crown actor Matt Smith, 38, had parted ways. While Lily hasn't publicly addressed the nature of her former relationship with Dominic yet, she said in an interview this month 'there is a lot to say.' When asked about Dominic, she replied: 'I'm not really willing to talk about that. There is a lot to say, but not now, I'm afraid.' Simon Cowell and his fiancee Lauren Silverman dressed to the nines as they stepped out to dine at Oswald's on Thursday. The music mogul, 62, and the socialite, 44, looked glamorous as they headed to their waiting car after their meal at the private member's club. Simon looked dashing in a navy blue suit which he wore with a white shirt, halfway unbuttoned to show off his chest hair. Loved-up: Simon Cowell and his fiancee Lauren Silverman dressed to the nines as they stepped out to dine at Oswald's on Thursday Meanwhile, glamorous Lauren looked sensational beside him, in a bright salmon blazer and matching fitted trousers. Lauren layered a white silk blouse underneath and elevated her height in a pair of nude high heels. She wore her brunette locks in neat waves and sported minimal makeup to let her natural beauty shine through. Glam: The music mogul, 62, and the socialite, 44, looked glamorous as they headed to their waiting car after their meal Dapper: Simon looked dashing in a navy blue suit which he wore with a white shirt, halfway unbuttoned to show off his chest hair The couple posed for a photo together outside the exclusive private members club, with Simon throwing a thumbs up. He also graciously took a selfie with passing taxi drivers, wearing a black face mask over his nose and mouth. Simon proposed to girlfriend Lauren on Christmas Eve in Barbados after seven years together. Stunning: Lauren looked sensational beside him, in a bright salmon blazer and matching fitted trousers Fancy footwear: She layered a white silk blouse underneath and elevated her height in a pair of nude high heels Flawless: She wore her brunette locks in neat waves and sported minimal makeup to let her natural beauty shine through Leaving: The couple posed for a photo together outside the exclusive private members club According to The Sun, the Britain's Got Talent judge has set the date for June and their son Eric, eight, will be 'front and centre'. A source told the publication: 'Simon cannot wait to have Lauren as his wife and didn't see the point in delaying it. He has taken charge of the planning and the date has been set for June. 'The ceremony is going to take place in London, with their son Eric front and centre, naturally. It's been a long time coming and now Simon wants to get Lauren up the aisle as quickly as he can.' Gentleman: Simon also graciously took a selfie with passing taxi drivers, wearing a black face mask over his nose and mouth Wedding bells: Simon proposed to girlfriend Lauren on Christmas Eve in Barbados after seven years together Soon: According to The Sun, the Britain's Got Talent judge has set the date for June and their son Eric, eight, will be 'front and centre' Up the aisle: A source told the publication: 'Simon cannot wait to have Lauren as his wife and didn't see the point in delaying it. He has taken charge of the planning and the date has been set for June' ASAP: 'The ceremony is going to take place in London, with their son Eric front and centre, naturally. It's been a long time coming and now Simon wants to get Lauren up the aisle as quickly as he can' Despite his previous staunch vows to never walk up the aisle, an insider previously claimed the past two years - in which the global pandemic hit and the star broke his back - made Simon change his stance. The source told People: 'They have fun together, as well as being each other's rock. They are both passionate but really do bring out the very best in each other. As a family, they all have such an incredible bond. 'A lot of things have happened in the last few years and just like for everyone else in the world, these things have all been a reminder about what is precious to them.' Simon, who has never been married, previously admitted that he can't see himself ever dating again as he opened up on changing his mind about marriage after falling in love with Lauren. Changed his mind: Despite his previous staunch vows to never walk up the aisle, an insider previously claimed the past two years - in which the global pandemic hit and the star broke his back - made Simon change his stance Bond: The source told People: 'They have fun together, as well as being each other's rock. They are both passionate but really do bring out the very best in each other. As a family, they all have such an incredible bond' Jessica Chastain has opened up about delivering her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards just moments after the infamous slap. In an interview with Porter, the Oscar winner, 45, shared some insight into her speech, after winning the Best Actress award for her portrayal of televangelist turned gay rights advocate Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye. Jessica's name was called shortly after Will Smith hit host Chris Rock in one of the most jaw-dropping moments in TV history. Opening up: Jessica Chastain, 45, is opening up about her emotional Oscars speech after winning the Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of Tammy Faye Bakker in The Eyes of Tammy Faye 'It was a weird night,' she said, 'I walked into a very charged energy in that room, and I was trying to figure out how to just breathe and create a calmness.' When she took the microphone, the still shocked actress spoke about love and acceptance. 'Right now we are coming out of some difficult times that have been filled with a lot of trauma and isolation,' she said, 'So many people out there feel hopelessness and they feel alone. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States. Its touched many families. It's touched mine.' Projects: In choosing projects, the A-list actress asks herself, 'What am I putting out into the world?' The actress lost her sister, Juliet, to suicide at the age of 24 in 2003. She also spoke out about how suicide affects the LGBTQ community. It is the second leading cause of death for young people between the ages of 13 and 24, and it's estimated the rate of attempted suicide in the LGBTQ community is four times higher than for cisgender young people. 'Were faced with discriminatory and bigoted legislation that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us. Theres violence and hate crimes being perpetuated on innocent civilians all over the world.' Division: The Molly's Game actress used her acceptance speech to call out 'discriminatory and bigoted legislation (against the LGBTQ community) that is sweeping our country with the only goal of further dividing us' Emotional: Looking back at the speech she recalled, 'there were moments where I started to get emotional so I pulled it back, but I had an idea of what I wanted to use that global platform to create if I got up there' 'Weve talked about love a lot tonight... I see it as a guiding principle that leads us forward. It connects us all and the desire that we want to be accepted for who we are, accepted for who we love, and to live a life without the fear of violence or terror.' In looking back at her emotional speech, the Scenes from a Marriage star admitted, 'I didnt know everything I was going to say and there were moments where I started to get emotional so I pulled it back, but I had an idea of what I wanted to use that global platform to create if I got up there.' The Help actress is notoriously private about her personal life, but she has seen the benefit of putting some information out on social media and has hired a team to help curate her messages. Privacy: The Help actress is private about her personal life, but she has seen the benefit of social media and has hired a team to help curate her messages Growth: Regarding her participation in social media, Jessica explained, 'I dont want to publicly create a record of my personal life that then doesnt allow itself to grow and evolve and change' 'I dont want to publicly create a record of my personal life that then doesnt allow itself to grow and evolve and change.' 'I have a lot of empathy for people, and for teenagers, who are supposed to make mistakes and thats how we grow but now theres always going to be a record of it.' The A-list actress and producer explained she knew from an early age that performing was going to be her profession. Career: The A-list actress and producer said she knew she wanted to be an actress since childhood, after her grandmother took her to a play and she understood 'acting was a job' 'Once I understood that acting was a job, it was clear to me that it was job. I was seven; my grandma took me to a play and she said, "These are professional actors; this is what they do." I was like, "Oh, this is me easy."' The 355 actress founded her own production company, Freckle Films, in 2016 which gives her a lot more say in the kinds of films she wants to make. She is serving as a star and producer for her latest project, the psychological thriller Mother's Instinct, with fellow Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway, 39. The busy wife and mother has been looking forward to a summer of vacationing and reconnecting with her husband, Gian Luca Passi de Preposulo, 40, and kids Guilietta, four and Augustus, two, but it will also be a summer of advocacy. Choices: The versatile artist founded her own production company, Freckle Films, in 2016 to allow her to create the kinds of projects she wanted to make Mother's Instinct: Jessica is currently working as an actress and producer on the psychological thriller Mother's Instinct with Anne Hathaway, 39 Advocacy: The busy star planned to spend downtime with her husband and two children this summer. She has also used social media to decry the recent SCOTUS decision to overturn Roe v Wade Jessica shared video from a speech she gave supporting Planned Parenthood, which provides free and low cost healthcare, including birth control, mammograms and abortions for low income families. 'As the daughter of a single mother in a low income household, I am indebted to the organization. As I grew up, they made financially possible and accessible for me to educate myself and to make decisions regarding my health and my future.' Writing on Instagram she called out the opposite sex to do their part, ' Its time for men to really show up. Youre not an ally if youre waiting for the women in your life to tell you to fight for her rights.' Slap: Jessica's name was announced as the winner for Best Actress shortly after the infamous slap between Will Smith and host Chris Rock Advertisement If you've been a casual viewer of Jonathan Nolan and Lisa Joy's dizzying sci-fi epic Westworld, or perhaps given up after a lackluster season three, then now is a good time to plug yourself back in. While the first episode of season four is somewhat of a slow-burner, it's also a strong return to form for the hit HBO show, and uncharacteristically easy to follow. Taking place seven years after season three's finale, the coherent narrative of this first episode is a calming experience compared to some of the more painfully head-scratching moments of seasons past. WARNING: SPOILERS BELOW... The Man In Black is back! Ed Harris returns as William in the first scene of season four and is as violent as ever First scene: William arrives to the Hoover Dam where he attempts to retrieve data that is stolen from him It helps that the story focuses primarily on familiar faces, particularly William (Ed Harris), Maeve (Thandiwe Newton), and Caleb (Aaron Paul.) Even Dolores (who, spoiler alert, was killed off last season) is back. Well, almost. The episode begins with Harris' William trying to buy some land in the Hoover Dam, that contains some sort of data he's desperate to get his hands on, claiming it was stolen from him eight years ago. When the bargaining doesn't go his way, the Man In Black promises violence - and there's a killer line when he's told he can't buy the land as William responds: 'This is America, everything's for sale.' Business deal gone bad: William offers a businessman a deal to retrieve his data Nice try: However, the man isn't interested in William's offer Big mistake: William makes threats to get what he wants but leaves empty handed What follows is an eerie scene where the businessman - who turns down William's offer - comes home to find a swarm of flies in his wardrobe that somehow infiltrate his mind. The following day, the man then promptly executes his team and calmly hands over what William wants. Seemingly possessed by the flies, or whatever they are, he then walks away and kills himself. It's a shocking first ten minutes that proves Westworld has lost none of its bloodthirsty edge. Terrifying: When the businessman returns home, a swarm of flies emerge and appear to infect him, possessing his mind Look who's back: Evan Rachel Wood appears in the episode, as a new character called Christina Dreamy: Christina works as a writer for a video game company who wants to pen stories about love and romance Christina's storyline is welcome, if not a bit out of place, in the often gloomy and high-stakes atmosphere of Westworld However, the episode then takes a saccharine turn, as we see Evan Rachel Wood, who now plays Christina, still looking like our beloved anti-heroine, but with all the AI venom taken out. Christina's storyline is welcome, if not a bit out of place for now, in the often gloomy and high-stakes atmosphere of Westworld. A nerdy loner type, Christina works as a writer for a video game company who wants to pen stories about love and romance, but is told that war, violence and sex sell better. It's a conventional subplot, perhaps purposefully so, that has stellar support from Oscar-winner Ariana DeBose, who plays Christina's much more sociable roommate. Surely, Nolan and Joy have placed this storyline for a reason, and it will be exciting to see how it evolves and fits into the puzzle. As the episode pushes forward, Maeve is stuck in the past, as we see her trying to access her old memories while taking shelter in a snow-covered cabin Lookout: Maeve is currently being hunted by William's men Flashbacks: We seen Maeve looking back at her past Family: Scenes from previous seasons were shown in the episode of Maeve with her daughter While there is still mystery surrounding exactly who Christina is, she does make a poignant remark that's significant of the series as a whole when she asks: 'What if I'm not the one that's broken, what if it's the world that needs fixing?' Tellingly, one could imagine Dolores saying exactly the same thing. As the episode pushes forward, Maeve is stuck in the past, as we see her trying to access her old memories while taking shelter in a snow-covered cabin. She's being hunted by William's men and has no interest in being found - as she destroys the entire power system on the mountain where she's hiding. Time jump: We then discover that Caleb is now a family man with a wife and a seven-year-old daughter Gone: His former AI colleagues have been crushed and left for scrap metal In the family: Caleb's wife wife worries that his battle rattle from last season could be influencing his daughter, who we see plays with a toy gun Get your coat: The episode wraps up with Maeve and Caleb reuniting, ready to at least try and take on William and his men We then discover that Caleb is now a family man with a wife and a seven-year-old daughter, and his former AI colleagues have been crushed and left for scrap metal. However, his wife worries that his battle rattle from last season could be influencing his daughter, who we see keeps a toy gun under her pillow and spends her spare time shooting at tin cans in the yard. More bloody violence is served when the baddies do turn up at Maeve's cabin door, though she is as prepared as ever. It contains arguably one of the most gruesome moments in the show's history, when a severed head ends up in the sink, but it's a necessary evil for Maeve who uses the bad guy's memory from his brain to gain power over her opponents. Mysterious: Christina makes a poignant remark that's significant of the series as a whole when she asks: 'What if I'm not the one that's broken, what if it's the world that needs fixing?' Christina's storyline starts to feel like an episode of Black Mirror when she goes on a bad date with a man called Peter. He suggests that the storylines Christina is writing for video games end up coming true, which possibly suggests this whole story arc could end up being some kind of simulation, as it veers into a dark romantic fantasy. The episode wraps up with Maeve and Caleb reuniting, ready to at least try and take on William and his men, and Christina focusing on a more positive storyline for one of her video games. The real surprise comes when Christina is joined by none other than Teddy (James Marsden) who has saved her from the disastrous date with Peter. However, Marsden - whose Teddy Flood killed himself at the end of season 2 - appears to be playing a mystery new character just like Wood. With his cameo appearance unexplained, it provides a promising set up for another season of mind-bending sci-fi. Watch Westworld on Sundays at 9pm on HBO Max in the US and on Sky Atlantic in the UK. Rapper Vic Mensa had pled guilty on drug charges, but won't do any time behind bars. The 29-year-old worked out a deal with prosecutors in Loudon County, Virginia, TMZ reports. The agreement required the U Mad artist to plead guilty to one count of possession of a Schedule III controlled substance, a class one misdemeanor. Plea deal: Vic Mensa, 29, pled guilty to misdemeanor drug charges in Virginia. He will do no jail time, but must serve one year unsupervised probation, 25 hours community service and pay a $1,000 fine Court documents indicated he was sentenced to one year in jail, but the judge suspended the sentence. The Down on my Luck rapper will have to submit to one year of unsupervised probation, perform 25 hours of community service and pay a $1 thousand fine. The fine could be reduced if the Orange Soda performer completes the terms of his probation. The plea deal stems from the Grammy nominee's arrest in January when he was re-entering the US after a trip to Ghana. He was charged with Felony Drug Possession after Customs and Border Patrol officers at Dulles International Airport found LSD along with psilocybin mushrooms and capsules in his luggage. In a statement to TMZ, the Wraith artist, said, 'I have decided to plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge.' Arrest: The U Mad artist was arrested in January after customs agents found LSD and psilocybin mushroom in his luggage as he re-entered the US from a trip to Ghana The Chicago native implied that he used the drugs to help him deal with mental health struggles. 'I have been extremely vocal about my mental health, the culture at large and access to mental health treatment.' 'It is important to note the extensive research being done on the topic of psilocybin [shrooms] and the many significant movements underway for legalization and decriminalization.' Silver lining: The Oh No!!! artist says he hopes the 'silver lining' from his arrest is that there 'will be increased focus on the effectiveness of psychedelic drugs in the treatment of mental illness' At the time of his arrest, CPB issued a press release stating, 'Despite some states decriminalizing certain personal quantities of illicit narcotics, travelers should be aware that narcotics possession remains illegal under federal law.' The Oh No!!! rapper revealed in the past that he has turned to meditation to help deal with anxiety and depression. Vic said he hoped the 'silver lining' to his high profile arrest is that there 'will be increased focus on the effectiveness of psychedelics to treat mental illness and mood disorders that millions are battling with depression and anxiety with hope that all of our laws will change accordingly.' Machine Gun Kelly has shockingly revealed how he once attempted suicide while on the phone with his fiancee Megan Fox, in his new Hulu documentary Life in Pink. The 32-year-old rapper - real name Colson Baker - recalled battling depression following the death of his father and admitted he was in a 'really, really, really dark' one day in July of 2020. 'I wouldn't leave my room and I started getting really, really, really dark. Megan went to Bulgaria to shoot a movie and I started getting this really wild paranoia. Like, I kept getting paranoid that someone was gonna come and kill me,' he said in a clip. Kelly, who proposed to Fox, 35, earlier this year, described the harrowing night saying he 'just f**king snapped'. At the time, he phoned his then girlfriend, who was on location filming a movie. 'I called Megan. I was like, 'You aren't here for me.' I'm in my room and I'm, like, freaking out on her,' he said. His dark days: Machine Gun Kelly, 32, revealed that he once attempted suicide, while on the phone with Megan Fox, 35, in his new Hulu documentary Life in Pink 'Dude, I put the shotgun in my mouth. And I'm yelling on the phone and like the barrel's in my mouth,' MGK continued. 'And I go to cock the shotgun and the bullet, as it comes back up, the shell just gets jammed. Megan's like dead silent.' MGK went on to explain that his darkest moment - along with support from Megan and his 12-year-old daughter, Cassie - helped him realize he needed to get himself together. 'I was like, I need to kick the drugs for real this time,' he told producers. Life in Pink pulls back the curtain on MGK's rise to fame into one of this 'generation's polarizing rock star.' Fans get a first hand account of the Emo Girl hitmaker's upbringing, relationship with his father, life with Megan Fox and a near-death experience with his daughter. 'Life wasn't always like this. I just don't think anyone saw me coming,' he recalls in the doc. Candid: The rapper recalled battling depression following the death of his father and admitted he was in a 'really, really, really dark' one day in July of 2020 His suicide attempt was not the only troubling story told in the film. At one point, in the footage Kelly discussed the scary moment he and his daughter had a 'gun pulled' on them. He remembered thinking: 'I was like: we're gonna do this with my daughter in the car?' Baker had a difficult relationship with his father, who kicked him out of the house when he was young. His father died in 2020. 'I feel like the world hates me. But, I never gave up,' he said in a trailer for the doc. 'Ninety percent of my fans listen to me because of the pain they relate to in my lyrics.' The rapper has hinted at his troubled life in previous interviews, once telling Rolling Stone that he received a felony charge when he was 14, though he would not specify what the crime was. He was born on April 22, 1990, in Houston, Texas to missionary parents, and moved all around the world with his family growing up. 'I wouldn't leave my room and I started getting really, really, really dark. Megan went to Bulgaria to shoot a movie and I started getting this really wild paranoia. Like, I kept getting paranoid that someone was gonna come and kill me,' he said in a clip. For the first four years of his life he lived in Egypt, and also spent time living in Germany before moving throughout the United States. When Baker's mother left home when he was just nine, he and his father relocated to Denver to live with his aunt. It was a tough time for the youngster as his father fought depression and unemployment. As a result, Baker says he had only two school outfits to wear and was the subject of bullying from children in his neighborhood. It was in the sixth grade when he found his love of rap music, and moved into an ethnically diverse student body in Denver, Colorado. In 2019, Baker revealed on Twitter that he had reconnected with his father (who would pass away a year later.) He tweeted: 'Flew out to see my dad today. broke down in my daughters arms when I saw him. I should've told him that I loved him years ago. breaks my f***in the heart that we wasted all this time' 'Dude, I put the shotgun in my mouth. And I'm yelling on the phone and like the barrel's in my mouth,' MGK continued. 'And I go to cock the shotgun and the bullet, as it comes back up, the shell just gets jammed. Megan's like dead silent.' Talking to GQ after his father died, he revealed that he would have liked to opportunity to apologize to him. 'I'd say sorry to my father,' he told the publication. 'I have such a rule-abiding, amazing daughter and I was such a rule-breaking, s*****y son.' 'The legal fees, the tens of thousands of dollars from the time I got arrested, and finding out your son missed a whole semester of high school because he was waking up and pretending to go but never going. I get why it took us 25 years to finally get along.' While he clearly has struggled with his mental health, Baker has also been open about finding tools to cope with them - particularly going to therapy. In a conversation with Dave Franco for Interview magazine in 2020, he confessed that he had just started going to therapy. 'I've been Machine Gun Kelly since I was 15,' he said. 'When you grow up and that's the only name you have, you embody that person. Machine Gun Kelly was a gangster. He wasn't a reverend. When you take on that moniker, you take on some of that energy.' He also confessed: 'Adderall was a huge thing for me for a long time. And I went from orally taking it to then snorting it, and then it became something where I was scared to ever go into a studio if I didn't have something.' 'I wouldn't even step out unless there was a medicine man who was going to visit me and give me what I needed. And that's where it becomes a problem. You're telling yourself you can't do this without that, when really it's in you the whole time. If that pill did that for you, then everyone who's taken that would just be making albums and writing songs. And so that limited me.' Life in Pink is currently streaming on Hulu. If you or a person you know has suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) CODA star Troy Kotsur visited Sesame Street to talk about diversity on the Word of the Day segment. The 53-year-old stood with the popular characters The Count and Rosita, and they discussed myriad topics like languages they speak and where they're from. Important lesson: Troy Kotsur knows a lot about diversity, and he decided to share what he knows with the next generation The actor, who is hearing impaired, used American Sign Language and an interpreter spoke over the segment. The Count and Rosita said they didn't know any ASL and worried that Troy would not be able understand them, but he quickly put their fears to rest. 'Don't worry,' he signed. 'This is my friend Zavier. Zavier will sign to me what you're saying so we can all communicate together.' Rosita commented that the group had a number of ways to communicate. Important word: The CODA star, 53, went on Sesame Street to talk about diversity on the Word of the Day segment Hanging with the gang: He stood with the popular characters The Count and Rosita, and they discussed myriad topics like languages they speak and where they're from Interpretation: The actor, who is hearing impaired, used American Sign Language and an interpreter spoke over the segment With an interpreter friend: 'Don't worry,' he signed. 'This is my friend Zavier. Zavier will sign to me what you're saying so we can all communicate together' 'You know, today's word of the day is all about that,' Kotsur revealed. 'The word of the day is diversity.' He then showed the group how to sign diversity, and they tried it as well. 'What does diversity mean, Senor Troy?' Rosita asked the Arizona native. 'Diversity is understanding and appreciating our differences,' he explained. 'Differences in the way we look, where we are from and how we communicate.' The Count then said that part of what makes him who he is comes from where he was born, Transylvania, that he has fangs and how he 'loves to count.' Rosita said that she's 'a monster, I'm from Mexico, y hablamos Espanol, and we speak Spanish.' Big question: 'What does diversity mean, Senor Troy?' Rosita asked the Arizona native Explanation: 'Diversity is understanding and appreciating our differences,' he explained. 'Differences in the way we look, where we are from and how we communicate' Talking about himself: The Count then said that part of what makes him who he is comes from where he was born, Transylvania, that he has fangs and how he 'loves to count' Then, Rosita asked Troy what makes him who he is, to which he responded, 'Well, my family is from the Czech Republic, I'm an actor and I'm deaf.' He then clicked his finger near his ears to emphasize his point. 'We are all different in lots and lots of ways,' Rosita responded. Despite their differences, Kotsur made sure to tell the group that 'One thing that we have in common is that we're all friends.' Carol Voderman seemed in high spirits as she took to Instagram while soaking up the sun in Wales on Monday. The presenter, 61, showcased her incredible physique in a black and white checked bikini as she shared a gallery of clips and snaps. The TV star went make-up free as she beamed in the stylish number while hiding behind a large pair of mirrored sunglasses. Stunning: Carol Voderman seemed in high spirits as she took to Instagram while soaking up the sun in Wales on Monday She styled her long blonde tresses in beach waves as they cascaded past her shoulders from under a large white sun hat. In another snap, Carol wowed in a skintight pink swimsuit which she donned half unzipped flashing her assets. The beauty couldn't contain her smile as she prepared to go paddle boarding in the eye catching one piece. Soaking up the sun: The presenter, 61, showcased her incredible physique in a black and white checked bikini as she shared a gallery of clips and snaps She showcased her natural beauty by going makeup free while shielding her eyes from the sun with a pair of dark sunglasses. She penned to the post: 'WELCOME TO WALES. 'The mountains...oh the mountains...and the water...and the people....and the land....and the Hawk T2 taking off from @royalairforceuk Valley...Honestly my HEAVEN'. High spirits: In another snap, Carol wowed in a skintight pink swimsuit which donned half unzipped flashing her assets The TV star's outing came as she announced she's coming back to Channel 4, returning to screens for several episodes of Celebrity Gogglebox. It will be a special moment for the broadcaster as the channel is home to her former hit show Countdown where she became a household name. The maths whiz will appear alongside Gyles Brandreth passing judgement on the week's TV - replacing actress Joanna Lumley. Fun times: The beauty couldn't contain her smile as she prepared to go paddle boarding in the eye catching one piece Sharing the carousel of pictures with her 225,000 Instagram followers, alongside the This Morning favourite Carol wrote: 'CELEBRITY GOGGLEBOX...So I'm making my debut this Friday 9pm on one of my favourite shows of all time and joining the @c4gogglebox gang....with my friend of 40 years @gylesbrandreth.... 'Watch this week and let me know if you agree....we're a bit vocal....no holds barred. @channel4 @c4gogglebox #celebritygogglebox.' Fans were ecstatic over the news with one writing: ''I love this show and love you. TV Gold this Friday. Getting G&T in for the occasion.' Another said: 'Wow looking Forward to that, see you Friday at 9' TV favourite: Carol left fans thrilled with a career announcement as she confirmed her return to Channel 4 'Quality carol enjoy enjoy and get out the good banter', a viewer commented. Another simply said: 'Excellent pairing...' While an excited follower replied: 'Cant wait Carol. You two are the perfect match on this show. Will be glued xxx.' 'Absolutely cannot wait for this!!!!!' posted another while someone else wished: ''I'd absolutely love to share a sofa with these two lovely celebrities'.' Can't wait! The maths whiz will appear alongside Gyles Brandreth passing judgement on the week's TV - replacing actress Joanna Lumley It comes as earlier this month she challenged Susanna Reid to a 'mud wrestle' over Judge Rob Rinder in an Instagram Story. The media personality was updating her followers on recording for the Pride of Britain podcast when she playfully threw down the gauntlet. She added that the Good Morning Britain host 'keeps trying to take' Rob, 44, away from her. Cheeky: It comes as earlier this month she challenged Susanna Reid to a 'mud wrestle' over Judge Rob Rinder in an Instagram Story Addressing her followers, Carol began: 'Well I'm happy to say I've had a lovely day because we've been recording lots of interviews for the Pride of Britain podcast that's going out at the moment. 'I you haven't heard one yet or watched one yet then just go to one of the social channels and I hope you enjoy it. 'But do you know what our winners on Pride of Britain are extraordinary, I mean they are so just...special and I've found that I'm learning a lot from them and I have today.' She then turned the conversation to Rob, who she dubbed the 'love of her life'. Carol said: 'I also...was interviewing the love of my life Rob Rinder, Judge Rob Rinder. 'Susanna Reid keeps trying to take him away from me. I've told her I'm willing to mud wrestle her for him. 'But she hasn't taken me up on that yet sadly.' In an Instagram post she also called Rob 'special and a joy as ever'. Paul O'Grady had a bout of air rage and threatened to riot after the flight he was on was delayed for two hours - leaving him hungry, thirsty and too hot. The TV and radio host, 67, admitted tempers were rising and he was fit to kill as he sat aboard a KLM flight from Amsterdams Schiphol airport which was supposed to take him to London for a reception at the House of Lords. Taking to his social media to complain, he posted a picture of himself wearing a mask on the doomed flight and wrote: 'What a joy flying is. Ive been sat on a KLM flight for over two hours and we havent got any further than the runway. Seething: Paul O'Grady, 67, had a bout of air rage and threatened to riot after the flight he was on was delayed for two hours - leaving him hungry, thirsty and too hot 'The Captain pops his head out now and then with endless lame excuses and hes just informed us that the luggage is stuck in some holding area and cannot be reached so if we do take off then its without luggage.' Paul also admitted he might kill as he said: 'Tempers are rising and Im fit to f***ing kill as Im supposed to be going to a reception at The House of Lords in aid of The Paul Cottingham Trust which isnt going to happen.' He added: 'Weve had half a glass of water and a few crisps and endless excuses and if this stinking heap doesnt take off soon Im afraid Im going to start a riot. Miserable: The TV and radio host admitted tempers were rising and he was fit to kill as he sat aboard a KLM flight from Amsterdams Schiphol airport Important arrangements: The flight was supposed to take Paul to London for a reception at the House of Lords 'A police cell would be preferable to being stuck here.' Paul also added in his comments: 'Its also freezing on this thing, and then after passengers complained they turned the heating full on, consequently Im sweating like a whore in confession.' The airline industry has struggled to ramp up operations as passenger numbers recover after the coronavirus pandemic. After carriers slashed thousands of jobs during the pandemic, hundreds of flights have been delayed or cancelled, huge queues have formed at airports and travellers have been forced to wait four hours or more for luggage. The problems have largely been due to staff shortages after carriers slashed thousands of jobs during the pandemic. Downing Street said ministers and officials had been meeting with aviation industry leaders and Border Force to increase 'resilience for the sector throughout the summer' to avert further travel chaos. Chaos: Huge queues were seen at Bristol Airport this month as people arrive before 4am for their flights, as the airline industry battles to recover after the coronavirus pandemic But the Prime Minister's official spokesman said it was ultimately down to the aviation industry to address staff shortages. 'We fully understand that the aviation industry - like many others - has faced significant challenges during the pandemic,' the government's spokesman said. 'But ultimately they are responsible for making sure they have enough staff to meet demand and we have been clear they must step up recruitment to make sure disruption is kept to a minimum.' YouTuber Custom Designs A 'PS5 Slim,' And It Works Great-Albeit With Compromises The PS5 is almost two years into its life cycle at this point, having been released at the tail end of 2020. As such, many people are expecting the "inevitable" console refresh from Sony.Obviously, there's no PS5 Slim or even a PS5 Pro yet. But one YouTuber took it upon themselves to DIY a slimmer version of the console, and it looks amazing. Tech YouTuber DIY Perks managed to create their DIY PS5 Slim way before Sony ever even came close, all by stripping down the original console and stuffing them inside a water-cooled box as per PlayStationLifestyle. As of this writing, the video detailing the build has reached over 852,000 views from people eager to see how he did it. Here is the video if you want to watch it: In it, he also mentions how the PlayStation 5 is more or less on the way to having its hardware refresh - around 3 to 4 years after the release of the base version. That's what happened with every PlayStation console starting from the PS2 all the way to the PS4. Alas, Sony still hasn't bared plans for a refresh yet. Either way, the project itself is a massive feat of engineering considering just how small this "PS5 Slim" is compared to the digital-only unit he used as a base. It is only 2cm thick - just a fraction thicker than a DVD case, making the project even tougher to fathom than at first glance. Eventually, the entire project had him taking out the console's massive air cooling mechanisms, writes VG247. Then, he cooled the hardware using a custom watercooling loop that's attached to a power brick, which can be easily tucked out of sight behind a table. As you can see in the video there, the "PS5 Slim" is not even close to what an official slim version will look like - which will likely still be air-cooled, otherwise it would cost a fortune. As previously mentioned, the PS5 is just around two years into its life cycle. So this technically means that Sony still has time to design and announce a PS5 Slim alongside a Pro version. But until then, you'll have to wait for any official word. Read Also: God Of War Ragnarok Gets Teased By Cory Barlog On PS5 - But There Might Be BAD News How The 'PS5 Slim' Was Made There's a lot of technical jargon at play here. But what DIY perks basically did is remove the sizeable cooling system - including the fin stacks and motherboard which when combined is already 5 cm (about 6 inches) thick. Since the slimmed-down console can obviously never be cooled by air anymore, he had to use watercooling. But even then, he had to make a ton of compromises with the watercooling loop. He took out/modified anything and everything that were too tall or thick to fit into the 2 cm-thin case to slim it down. He also custom-designed the entire cooling system itself to fit. In the end, the resulting cooling system was more than enough to tame the PS5's beastly chip. He even fired up Horizon Forbidden West to test the console out in terms of thermals. The system passed with flying colors. Now, if only Sony would finally announce an official PS5 Slim, then we're in business. Related Article: PS5 Sales Fall Short Of Sony's Expectations By Millions Of Units This article is posted on GameNGuide Written by RJ Pierce Ryan Gosling was spotted out and about running errands in sunny Los Angeles on Sunday. The talented actor was not alone during his outing, and had his dog, Lucho, right by his side. The star has recently been very busy on set, playing the role of Ken in the live-action Barbie remake alongside Margot Robbie. Man's best friend: Ryan Gosling, 41, was seen with his dog, Lucho, on an outing in Los Angeles on Sunday The 41-year-old brought his Doberman, Lucho, with him as he ran errands in the city of angels. The actor kept his look casual, wearing a pair of blue jeans and a black, printed T-shirt. The top was short sleeved which was perfect for the hot summer weather. He donned a yellow cap to partially cover his bleached blonde hair which he dyed for the new Barbie movie. Adorable: The actor is spotted planting a quick peck on Lucho's head before continuing his busy outing The La La Land actor added a pair of brown shoes to stay comfortable for walking around the big city. To keep the bright sun out of his eyes, Ryan threw on a pair of sunglasses to complete his overall look for the day. The actor appears to have a close bond with Lucho after adopting him back in 2019. So cute: The Notebook actor seems to be a great dog owner as he takes Lucho for a brisk walk under the summer sun According to People, Ryan and his longtime girlfriend, Eva Mendes, adopted Lucho from the Friends For Life Rescue Network three years ago. Before adopting Lucho, the Drive actor owned George, who died at 17-years-old, and would even travel to sets with the actor. During an interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, he opened up about his devoted buddy after he passed away. 'He was a good friend to me,' he stated. 'But it's funny to say dog, because I feel like there was something about George where he always, I think, he felt like being a dog was beneath him.' New adopted family member: Eva Mendes uploaded a cute photo of their new dog, Lucho, when he was first adopted into their family When Ryan isn't spending time with Eva, their two children, and their precious dog, Lucho, he recently can be seen on set of Greta Gerwig's live-action Barbie. Originally, the actor wasn't on board to take on the role of Ken due to scheduling conflicts, but when he had an opening, he decided to play the iconic character. The film is currently in its main production stages, with a set release date of July 2023. In an interview with Vogue, Margot, who plays the title character, Barbie, gave a little inside sneak peak of what audiences can expect of the film. 'People generally hear Barbie and think, I know what that movie is going to be, and then they hear that Greta Gerwig is writing and directing it, and theyre like, Oh, well, maybe I dont. Upcoming film: Ryan and Margot Robbie have leading roles as Barbie and Ken in the upcoming live-action Barbie film She is making her name in the swimwear world with her recently launched GAL Floripa range. And Alessandra Ambrosio certainly looked like her own best advertisement for the brand. The 41-year-old supermodel took to her Instagram on Monday to share a few selfies as she enjoyed a holiday in Turkey. Scroll down for video Simply stunning: Alessandra Ambrosio look to her Instagram on Monday to share a few selfies as she enjoyed a holiday in Turkey She shared a six-photo gallery of snaps while rocking a mustard-colored bikini from her GAL Floripa line as she explored D Maris Bay, a secluded, luxury beach resort in Turkey. Alessandra looked absolutely stunning in the two-piece swimwear as she posed up a storm in front of the blue waters. Her flawless face glowed in the sun with very little make-up and pale pink lipgloss. The knit bikini top accentuated her perfect figure. Gorgeous: With just a touch of light make-up, the 41-year-old supemodel's skin shimmered under dark Versace tortoiseshell glasses With just a touch of light make-up, her skin shimmered under dark Versace tortoiseshell glasses. Her sun-kissed hair flowed naturally down her back as she playfully posed for the camera. The naturally flawless beauty even shared a snap as she tanned her legs and dipped her yellow-polished toes in the refreshing water. Dip in: The naturally flawless beauty even shared a snap as she tanned her legs and dipped her yellow-polished toes in the refreshing water This serene aquatic oasis is one of Turkeys top resorts. Complete with grass-hut cabanas and white sandy beaches, was the perfect backdrop for Ambrosio to showcase her Gal Floripa swimwear. After nearly 17 years of being the most coveted supermodel for Victorias Secret, Ambrosio has spread her entrepreneurial wings to create and promote her very own swimwear company, Gal Floripa. The model, entrepreneur and mother of two co-created the lifestyle brand with purpose to inspire women to embrace their femininity with a holistic approach. The line also features two piece suits for young girls titled 'Gal Mini'. LONDON (AP) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signalled Monday that a plan to rip up parts of the post-Brexit trade deal he signed with the European Union could become law by the end of the year. Lawmakers began debating legislation that rewrites trade rules for Northern Ireland on Monday, the first step on what could be a rocky journey through Parliament. If approved by lawmakers, the legislation would remove checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K., thereby scrapping parts of a trade treaty that Johnson signed before Britain left the EU in 2020. Johnson said he thought the plan could be approved "fairly rapidly" if Parliament cooperates. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, he said: "Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing." The British government says the rules, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol, are burdening businesses and undermining peace in Northern Ireland. It argues the unilateral move is justified under international law because of the "genuinely exceptional situation." Johnsons opponents, however, say the move is illegal. FILE - Demonstrators protest outside Hillsborough Castle, ahead of a visit by British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, Monday, May, 16, 2022. Britain is pressing on with a plan to rip up parts of the post-Brexit trade deal it signed with the bloc European Union. Legislation that rewrites trade rules for Northern Ireland is scheduled to get its first major House of Commons debate on Monday, June 27, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Morrison, File) "Many of us are extremely concerned that the bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, it trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally," Conservative Andrew Mitchell said in Parliament Monday. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss replied that the government's plans are the only solution to resolve trade problems in Northern Ireland because the EU has been unwilling to reopen negotiations. The plans have caused concern among some of Johnson's fellow Conservatives, already worried about his judgment - and popularity - following a series of ethics scandals and two special election defeats. But Johnson said Monday that questions about his leadership were no longer relevant. "We settled that a couple of weeks ago," he told reporters in Germany, referring to his survival in a no-confidence vote three weeks ago. The EU has threatened to retaliate against the U.K. if it goes ahead with its plan to rewrite the rules of the post-Brexit deal, raising the specter of a trade war between the two major economic partners. Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said he was "hugely disappointed" that the U.K. government is still pursuing its "unlawful" approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. "This is not the way to find sustainable solutions to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland and only adds to uncertainty," he said. The blocs ambassador to Britain, Joao Vale de Almeida, said Britains plan was "illegal because it is a breach of international law, a breach of EU law, U.K. law and international law." "It is a treaty that we signed, ratified and even went through a general election in this country," he told Times Radio. Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU country, Ireland. When Britain left the European Union and its borderless free-trade zone, the two sides agreed to keep the Irish land border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Instead, to protect the EUs single market, there are checks on some goods, such as meat and eggs, entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. Johnsons Conservative government claims overzealous EU implementation means the rules are not working as expected and are causing a political crisis in Northern Ireland. "You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand - youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland," Johnson said. "All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market," he said. British unionists there say the checks are fraying the bonds between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., seen by some unionists as a threat to their British identity. Northern Irelands main unionist party is blocking the formation of a new power-sharing government in Belfast, saying it wont take part until the Brexit trade rules are scrapped. "I want to see the reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive, and the protocol is getting in the way of that," Lewis told Sky News. "We have got to resolve that. Thats what this legislation will do. "Ultimately, we want to do this by agreement with the EU," he added. "But to do that, they need to show some flexibility and actually come and negotiate in a flexible way." ___ Frank Griffiths contributed to this report. ___ Follow all AP stories on Brexit at https://apnews.com/hub/Brexit Chinese, Guyanese presidents exchange congratulations on 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties Xinhua) 16:51, June 27, 2022 BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Ali, exchanged congratulatory messages on Monday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Xi pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China-Guyana relations have achieved significant development, with political mutual trust continuously deepened and practical cooperation yielding fruitful results. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of the two countries have worked together with solidarity and mutual assistance, writing a new chapter of China-Guyana friendship, he said. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations, and is willing to work with Ali to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to lift bilateral relations to new levels and bring benefits to the two countries and their people. For his part, Ali said that Guyana was the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with China, and that the country firmly adheres to the one-China policy. Over the past 50 years, Guyana and China have always adhered to the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and the traditional friendship between the two countries has withstood the test of time, Ali said. He added that Guyana stands ready to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to continuously deepen bilateral friendship. (Web editor: Peng Yukai, Hongyu) Ghislaine Maxwell is on suicide watch, but she isn't suicidal, according to her attorney. Following the declaration of a suicide watch for the notorious British socialite and Jeffrey Epstein chum, Maxwell's counsel promised that she would try to postpone Maxwell's sentence on allegations that she recruited minor girls for Epstein to abuse. Ghislaine Maxwell May Seek Sentencing Delay Ghislaine Maxwell, 61, hasn't been allowed to fully prepare since officials at a federal prison in Brooklyn quickly placed her in solitary confinement and notified her she was on suicide watch on Friday, according to the letter. Sternheim stated that her usual clothing, toothbrush, soap, and documents were taken away as part of her suicide watch. Maxwell was placed on suicide watch even though she is not suicidal, according to her counsel. Maxwell was tested by a psychologist, who confirmed his opinion. Maxwell's ex-boyfriend, Epstein, committed suicide in a Manhattan jail cell in August 2019 while awaiting his sex trafficking trial. Maxwell was convicted last year on accusations that she groomed and mistreated minors for Epstein between 1994 and 2004. Since her arrest, she and her counsel have protested about the circumstances of her confinement, alleging that she was subjected to strip searches and was woken every 15 minutes, New York Post reported. In a court filing Wednesday, federal prosecutors requested a judge to sentence Maxwell to 30 to 55 years in prison, claiming she chose to sexually abuse several minor females. Maxwell's attorneys requested a court last week to sentence her to between 4.25 and 5.25 years in jail, arguing that her poor background rendered her vulnerable to Epstein's activities and that she should not receive a heavy term as a result of his conduct. Epstein's confidante and former lover, Maxwell, was caught a year later and has been imprisoned since. Prosecutors allege that between 1994 and 2004, Maxwell assisted Epstein in setting up a strategy to entice young females into sexual encounters. In December, she was found guilty of five federal crimes, including sex trafficking of a juvenile, conveying a minor with the purpose to engage in criminal sexual behavior, and three related conspiracy offenses. She will, however, be punished on only three charges after the judge presiding over her case ruled that two of the conspiracy counts she faced were redundant, as per CNN. Read Also: US Supreme Court Strikes Down Landmark Right to Abortion After 50 Years Ghislaine Maxwell's Team Aim to Reduce Jail Sentence Prosecutors have suggested Maxwell should serve at least 30 years in jail because of her complete lack of remorse, while Maxwell seeks a sentence of fewer than 20 years. US Circuit Judge Alison Nathan will hand out the punishment in federal court in Manhattan. Maxwell has been incarcerated in the Brooklyn jail since her arrest in July 2020. Her attorneys complained about the confinement circumstances there several times before trial, including last November when Sternheim compared them to Hannibal Lecter's in the 1991 Oscar-winning picture 'The Silence of the Lambs.' Maxwell has also asked for a more compassionate sentence of four years and three months in prison, claiming she is being used as a scapegoat for Epstein's misdeeds. Her court pleadings stated that her participation in the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) indicated her 'desire to do good in the world.' Last Monday, her defense attorneys requested that she be sentenced to no more than five years in jail. The paper indicates in a subsequent part that Maxwell is not an heiress, villain, or vacuous socialite. However, authorities claim Maxwell was a key figure in the horrendous sexual assault of many young adolescent girls at various of Epstein's opulent homes between 1994 and 2004. Prosecutors also asked the judge to deny Maxwell's clemency requests, claiming that she had suffered unprecedentedly in jail while awaiting trial and afterward, according to Daily Mail. Related Article: Ghislaine Maxwell Punishment: Prosecutors Want Up to 55 Years Prison Sentence for Jeffrey Epstein Conspirator @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Free Event Air Force Band of Flight to perform free concert at the Fraze The United States Air Force Band of Flight, stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, is a 17-member organization and features 2 musical component groups. Flight One is the popular-music group and Spirit of Freedom is a brass ensemble with a percussionist and vocalist. Periodically, these groups combine to form the expanded Band of Flight. The Band of Flight presents more than 350 performances annually, providing quality musical products for official military functions and ceremonies as well as civic events and public concerts. Under the command of Lt Col Joshua Wolfram and the direction of CMSgt Stephen Larson, the band supports functions for the 88th Air Base Wing, Air Force Material Command and the state of Ohio. Air Force Bands inspire immediate, positive and long-lasting impressions of the United States Air Force and the United States of America in the hearts and minds of our audiences. As one of 10 active-duty Air Force and 5 Air National Guard bands, the Band of Flight is committed to supporting the mission and vision of the US Air Force through their musical and military endeavors. Mission: To Fly, Fight, and Win Airpower Anytime, Anywhere. The probe also found that the corporation was paying provident funds and ESI to former outsourced employees, as their replacements continued to work the same IDs. However, this causes problems for workers to access their respective benefits. Representational image/DC Khammam: Vigilance and enforcement officials, probing rule violations in Khammam municipal corporation (KMC), identified several discrepancies in the collection of trade licence fees and replacement of outsourced workers. The probe found that sanitary inspectors, who collect trade licence fees, were unaware of the specified fee and collected it as per their estimates. Also, section clerks were not aware of it either, despite the KMC issuing a gazette notification, identifying 354 businesses. The vigilance and enforcement officials took written statements from sanitary inspectors Mallaiah, Ramesh, Shaik Babu and P. Venkateswarlu, and section clerks on their ignorance. It is estimated to have cost the exchequer lakhs of rupees. The probe also found that the corporation was paying provident funds and ESI to former outsourced employees, as their replacements continued to work the same IDs. However, this causes problems for workers to access their respective benefits. As many as 200 such cases were identified by the officials. In most cases, the process was done without notifying the KMC commissioner, it was found. Probe officials said that this is indicative of corrupt practices, as workers leaving outsourced posts bribe officials into getting their ID continued for continued benefits. A source in vigilance and enforcement said that they collected all details and submitted a report on it to the government, as such a practice is not only a violation of norms but also constitutes a crime. New Delhi: The Indian Air Force has received 56,960 applications under the Agnipath recruitment scheme till Sunday, within three days of the registration process getting under way on Friday, a week after violent protests against it rocked several states. 56,960! Thats the total number of applications received till date from future Agniveers in response to the Agnipath recruitment application process on https://agnipathvayu.cdac.in. Registration closes on July 5, the IAF stated on Twitter on Sunday. The government had unveiled the Agnipath scheme on June 14 to recruit youth aged between 17-and-a-half and 21 for a four-year tenure. Speaker M B Rajesh urged them several times to refrain from disrupting the question hour of the House, but the opposition members did not pay heed. (ANI file image) Thiruvananthapuram: The fifth session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly was adjourned briefly on Monday morning after the opposition members started shouting slogans in connection with recent political developments in the state, including the vandalism of Rahul Gandhi's Wayanad office allegedly by SFI activists. As the question hour of the Assembly session commenced at 9 AM, the opposition began thumping the tables and then as the first question was being answered, they started shouting slogans. Speaker M B Rajesh urged them several times to refrain from disrupting the question hour of the House, but the opposition members did not pay heed. The Speaker also asked the opposition members to sit down and not wave placards and banners as it was a violation of the House norms. He also said that their notice for adjournment was before him for consideration, but the opposition members continued shouting slogans, like "SFI goondaism." However, they did not pay heed to that either and resulted in a shouting match between them and the LDF MLAs. As the opposition was not willing to quieten down despite his repeated urgings, the Speaker said the session is adjourned for now and walked away. He did not say when it would recommence and till 9.42 AM it had not commenced. The fifth session was expected to take a turbulent turn as the opposition led by the Congress was equipped with enough ammunition, ranging from the startling revelations by a key accused in the gold smuggling case against Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to the vandalisation of Rahul Gandhi's office by SFI activists, to take on the CPI(M)-led LDF government. The one-month-long session was being convened mainly to discuss and pass the demands for grants for the financial year 2022-23. However, the Congress-led UDF had made it clear that they would raise the ongoing controversies in the House. Former minister Jupally Krishna Rao claimed that his tussle with the MLA was personal and the party was in no way connected, the party leadership is understood to be angry over the incident as it tarnished the image of the party. DC file image Hyderabad: With internal squabbles in the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) damaging the party's image and reputation, the party leadership warned warring factions in all districts against washing their dirty linen in public. Party sources said TRS president and Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, working president and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao took a serious view of Sunday's developments in the Kollapur constituency where MLA B. Harshavardhan Reddy and former minister Jupally Krishna Rao were engaged in a public spat which subsequently led to the arrest of the MLA. After the tussle, the party leadership directed warring factions in all the districts to sort out differences at party platforms and not in public. The party leadership has also made it clear that indiscipline at any level will not be tolerated. The party leadership has reportedly decided to issue show-cause notices to Harshavardhan Reddy and Krishna Rao before initiating disciplinary action. Although Jupally claimed that his tussle with the MLA was personal and the party was in no way connected, the party leadership is understood to be angry over the incident as it tarnished the image of the party. Although 12 Congress MLAs defected to the TRS three years back, the ruling party leaders and cadre are yet to come to terms with the new inductees. The TRS leaders and cadre are not cooperating with the defected MLAs and holding party activities on their own. The TRS leaders in these constituencies have been projecting themselves as the party's candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls which is often leading to the public spat between both the warring groups. Apart from the fight between traditional TRS leaders and defected MLAs, the issue of 'group politics' in the TRS has also come to the fore in several districts. This has become a cause of concern for party leadership which aims to capture power for the third time in a row by winning the 2023 Assembly polls. YSRC nominee for Atmakur bypoll Mekapati Vikram Reddy is offered sweets by party workers after he was declare elected. (Photo by arrangement) Nellore: Going by the huge margin of 82,888 votes secured by the ruling YSR Congress nominee Mekapati Vikram Reddy against his nearest BJP rival in the Atmakur assembly by-poll, the opposition claims of an anti-incumbency factor working against the YSRC government proved to be hollow. YSR Congress nominee in the 2019 general elections, Mekapati Goutham Reddy had polled 92,578 votes. His brother Vikram Reddy now secured more -- 1,02,241 votes meaning, in the minimum, the YSR Congress vote share remained intact. There existed a sizable vote bank for TD in Atmakur and the party had secured 70,482 votes in 2019 elections. An assumption was that no TD segment would cast its votes for the YSR Congress even in a scenario in which the TD did not put up a candidate. Since we are not in the contest and there was no direction from the party, most TD voters remained at home and some went and voted for NOTA or to the BJP, a TD leader said pointing to 4182 votes polled for NOTA and 19,353 votes that went to the BJP in the by-poll. He pointed out that only 2314 votes had been polled for the BJP candidate in the 2019 elections. However, BJP leaders claimed the major increase in their vote share reflecting the growing support to the party. BJP had brought in leaders like its national secretary and co-in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, Sunil Deodhar, senior leaders Purandheswari, Satya Kumar, GVL Narasimha Rao, MLCs Madhav and Vakati Narayana Reddy for the campaign. Vakati Narayana Reddy, in a statement on Sunday, said, Sympathy wave, use of money and power led to the victory of the YSRC in Atmakur. The result will be different in the next elections. Referring to the 19,352 votes BJP nominee Bharat Kumar got this time as against 2314 votes for its candidate in the 2019 elections, Narayana Reddy said this has boosted the morale of the saffron party. Maharashtra Minister of Higher and Technical Education Uday Samant with rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and other supporting MLAs, at Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati, Sunday, June 26, 2022. (PTI) Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has handed over portfolios of nine rebel ministers, who are currently camping in Guwahati, to other ministers. The portfolios of the rebel ministers were being handed over to other ministers for ease of administration, an official statement said. Nine Maharashtra ministers have so far joined the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde. The Sena now has four cabinet ministers, including CM Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, and Subhash Desai. Barring Aaditya Thackeray, the rest three are MLCs. In the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by the Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had 10 Cabinet-rank ministers before the rebellion and four Ministers of State (MoS), including two from the Sena quota. All the four MoS have joined the rebel camp in Guwahati. North Korean authorities condemned "aggression moves" made by Washington and Seoul, vowing on Saturday to take revenge as the nation marked the 72nd anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War during a time of rising tension on the Korean peninsula. The situation comes amid concerns that North Korea could be preparing itself to conduct its first nuclear test in five years. In May, South Korean President Yoon Seok-youl and United States President Joe Biden agreed to deploy more U.S. weapons if it was necessary to deter the North. North Korea Scorns the U.S. State news agency KCNA said on Saturday that several workers' organizations had held meetings to "vow revenge on the U.S. imperialists." They reportedly blamed the United States for starting the Korean War that occurred from 1950 to 1953. That particular war ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, which means that the U.S.-led United Nations forces are still technically at war with North Korea. Reports of the Korean state news agency said that Pyongyang denounced Washington over what it called "aggression moves" that were carried out with South Korea and Japan, as per CNN. The reports claimed that the United States' push to deploy "strategic assets" on the South was aimed at provoking another war. These types of assets commonly include aircraft carriers, long-range bomber aircraft, or missile submarines. The KCNA said that "such insolent behavior of the U.S. fans the anger and revenge of the Korean people." Yool, marking the anniversary of the war in Seoul, pledged to do his utmost to protect the freedom and peace within the region. According to Reuters, Yool said in a Facebook post, "we will maintain strong security posture based on South Korea-U.S. alliance and a strong military backed by science and technology." Read Also: Russia-Ukraine War: Here's the Truth About Viral Video of Russian Hypersonic Missile Destroying Ukrainian Weapons Depot In May, U.S. President Biden made a trip to Asia for international diplomatic talks, but in the days prior, Kim Jong-Un's regime fired three ballistic missiles into the sea near Japan. The North's administration conducted another series of missile tests as the American leader concluded his trip to the region. At the time, the South Korean government said that the North's sustained provocations would only result in stronger and faster South Korea-U.S. combined deterrence. Authorities argued that they would only deepen North Korea's international isolation, Fox News reported. Rising Tensions in the Korean Peninsula The situation comes as the North has slowly been escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula since Biden took office. This was done by continuous testing of the region's ballistic missile programs, including its intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Many experts in the region believe that Biden's policies are failing and need to be changed, otherwise, there is a risk of another foreign policy issue. The North has conducted more than a dozen missile tests this year alone. A senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, Ankit Panda, said that North Korea is not at the top of the agenda for the Biden administration. He noted that there was little interest in fundamentally revisiting the outcomes of last year's policy review based on new developments since then. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Brags Release of New Satan II Nuclear Missile, Capable of Wiping Out UK by the End of 2022 @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sanjay Kumar (in picture) said several TRS leaders are fed up with the family politics in the state and have joined the BJP. DC Image Hyderabad: Seeking one chance for the BJP in Telangana, the state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar on Sunday alleged that the government has failed to control crime in the state. Speaking to mediapersons after welcoming some TRS leaders into the BJP fold, Sanjay Kumar said several TRS leaders are fed up with the family politics in the state and have joined the BJP. Genuine agitators who fought for Telangana statehood were neglected by the ruling TRS and Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and his family members have been encouraging people who betrayed the Telangana movement, Sanjay Kumar said. The TRS leaders who joined the BJP on Sunday include Telangana State Minimum Wages Advisory Association chairman Sama Venkat Reddy, Chandanagar former corporator Navata Reddy, All India Banjara Association leader Krishna Naik, Maloth Chandrasekhar, Sangareddy district former counsellor Raju Goud, TS teachers association leaders Nageswar Reddy. The BJP chief alleged that the TRS government had diverted crores of rupees funds on the pretext of constructing irrigation projects and pushed the state into a debt trap. "If people want law and order in the state for the safety of the common man and prevent the misuse of funds, there is a need to bring the BJP to power. We seek the support of voters to elect the BJP in ensuing elections," Bandi Sanjay Kumar said. One of our Supreme Court judges made an important, if startling, point when delivering a lecture abroad. A legal website reporting his speech gave this headline to the story: Will result in slippery slope if courts are regarded as only organ to defend citizens rights. The judge (I am not naming the person because the identity is unimportant, it is the idea that we must try and understand) was quoted as saying that the growing litigious trend in the country is indicative of the lack of patience in political discourse. This result is a slippery slope where the courts are regarded as the only organ of the State for the realisation of rights obviating the need for continuous engagement with the legislature and the executive. The words are clear enough and direct enough, so what do they mean? The judge is saying that it is important that citizens engage with the government and the elected representatives for their rights. The courts are also important in this process, but they are not the only place where citizens rights can be defended or claimed. This is actually how many democracies function and the justice system, and in particular the Supreme Court, is only one part of the edifice that the citizen engages with. In the United States, the Supreme Court hears and disposes of only 80 cases a year. In India, the Supreme Court has 70,000 pending matters. This points to a significant difference between the two justice systems, though ours is modelled in many ways on the American system. In 1949, it was decided that India would have a Supreme Court that consisted of no more than eight judges (Article 124). The United States has nine. India today has over 30. The highest US court only hears all matters before it together. Indias top court has several small benches that hear everything, from bail matters to property disputes. In the US, such matters are settled by the lower judiciary. In India, for reasons we do not need to get into today, this does not happen and so the justice system has had to evolve into something different from the way it was originally conceived. Let us leave this aside and look again at what was said by the judge. Despite the justice system in India being heavily engaged with the citizen, at least according to the numbers, the judge feels that there is a growing trend towards more litigation and not enough engagement with the political process. To my mind, this is the correct analysis. The question is why this is happening. The answer appears to be that the State in India is running amok. If the government and the political party controlling it want to destroy the homes of people without trial or conviction, where do those people go? One place that they can go is the executive, which is the perpetrator of all such violence. They can also go to the legislature, meaning the Opposition parties, to engage with them and make the government see reason. Is this not happening in India today? Certainly, it cannot be the case that people who are moving court, including citizens, civil society groups, activists and so on, are not engaging with the government at all. They are. But what is to be done when the motivation of the political party in charge is to persecute? How does one engage meaningfully with ones oppressor? This is what the judge did not speak on. Something else was said in the speech, which justified the widening of spaces where rights must be sought. The judge said: While the Supreme Court must protect the fundamental rights of citizens, it must not transcend its role by deciding issues requiring the involvement of elected representatives. Doing so would not only be a deviation from the courts constitutional role but would not serve a democratic society, which at its core must resolve issues through public deliberation, discourse and the engagement of citizens with their representatives and the Constitution. There is nothing exceptionable about what is said. Healthy democracies must have citizens able to conduct meaningful and productive engagements with all parts of the State. However, it must be stressed here that the judiciary has a primary function, and that is to stop and push back against any kind of executive overreach. Especially when such overreach is threatening the Constitution of India itself. Today, the situation is that cases involving citizenship and anonymous funding of electoral politics have not been decided by the highest court. The habeas corpus pleas of people living in Kashmiris have also gone undecided. This is the source of the pressure that commentators and activists have put on the judiciary, which is what the judge was presumably responding to. To many of us it seems like India has taken a direction led by the government controlled by a single political party, led by an undisputed leader. This direction is not in keeping with either the Constitution of India, or traditions or modernity. Of course, the rest of the State apparatus, including the legislatures and the executive, must be places where the citizen can go and claim his or her rights. But it appears to be indisputable that the primary arena of this battle has to be in the justice system, where the judges must stand up for citizens against a rampant and malign State. Our tribal people, who account for 8.2 per cent of Indias population, can be broadly classified into three groupings. The first grouping consists of populations who predate the Indo-Aryan migrations. These are termed by many anthropologists as the Austro-Asiatic-speaking Australoid people. The Central Indian Adivasis belong to this grouping. The late Prof. Nihar Ranjan Ray, one of our most distinguished historians, had described the Central Indian Adivasis as the original autochthonous people of India, meaning that their presence in India pre-dated by far the Dravidians, Aryans and whoever else settled in this country. The anthropologist Verrier Elwin stated this much more emphatically when he wrote: These are the real swadeshi products of India, in whose presence all others are foreign. These are ancient people with moral rights and claims thousands of years old. They were here first and should come first in our regard. The other two major groupings are the Cauca-soid and Sino-Tibetan or Mongoloid tribal people of North India and the Northeast regions who migrated relatively recently. These two broad tribal groupings have fared much better in the post-Indep-endence dispensation. Clearly, all Scheduled Tribes are not adivasis. There are some 573 communities who are recognised by the government as Scheduled Tribes and therefore eligible to receive special benefits and to compete for reserved seats in legislatures, government jobs, universities and schools. Most of these benefits have gone to the non-adivasi tribals. Unfortunately, like indigenous people all over the world, Indias adivasis too have been savaged and ravaged by later people claiming to be more civilised. They are now easily its most deprived and oppressed section. The biggest adivasi group, the Gonds, number about 7.4 million; followed by the Santhals, with about 4.2 million. Central India is home to the countrys largest tribes, and, taken as a whole, roughly 75 per cent of the total tribal population live there. These are the now troubled adivasi homelands. On December 16, 1946, welcoming the Objectives Resolution in the Constituent Assembly, the legendary adivasi leader Jaipal Singh Munda stated the tribal case and apprehensions explicitly. He said: The whole history of my people is one of continuous exploitation and dispossession by the non-aboriginals of India punctuated by rebellions and disorder, and yet I take Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru at his word. I take you all at your word that now we are going to start a new chapter, a new chapter of independent India where there is equality of opportunity, where no one would be neglected. The adivasis paid dearly for taking Jawaharlal Nehru at his word. Even if the provisions of the Constitution were implemented in some measure, if not all of its spirit and word, the present situation would not have come to be. In the early days of our Republic, Jawaharlal Nehru, on the advice of people like Verrier Elwin, sought to insulate the tribal areas from the predations of the new order that was emerging in India. The migration of outsiders into the traditional Adivasi homelands continues unabated. Despite this, there are still 332 tribal majority tehsils in India, of which 110 are in the Northeast. Thus, there are 222 adivasi majority tehsils with a population of over 20 million, or about a third of the Central Indian Adivasi population. The Fifth and Sixth Schedules under Article 244 of the Indian Constitution in 1950 provided for self-governance in specified tribal majority areas. The Fifth Schedule covers tribal areas in nine states of India Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Rajasthan. The Fifth Schedule provides protection to the adivasi (tribal) people living in scheduled areas from alienation of their lands and natural resources to non-tribals. Even this seldom-enforced constitutional safeguard now faces the imminent threat of being amended to formally effect the transfer of tribal lands to non-tribals and corporate bodies. This move has serious implications for the very survival and culture of the millions of tribal people in India. In 1999 the Government of India issued a draft National Policy on Tribals to address the development needs of tribal people. Special emphasis was laid on education, forestry, healthcare, languages, resettlement and land rights. The draft was meant to be circulated among MPs, MLAs and civil society groups. It never was. The draft policy is still a draft, which means there is no policy. The first NDA government, however, established a ministry of tribal affairs with an adivasi, Jual Oram, as minister. But Mr Oram fell into the bad books of the RSS when he equated Sarnaism, the tribal religion, with Hinduism, and as a minister gave the assurance that all adivasis, irrespective of conversion to Christianity or any other religion, will get the benefits due to adivasis. But it must also be stated that this sudden concern for tribals was mostly motivated by the fears of conversion to Christianity that would preclude their assimilation into the Hindu Samaj. This fear led to the killing of the missionary, Dr Graham Staines, and his two young sons in Odisha by activists linked with the RSS. Thus, even though the states of Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand were carved out of Bihar and Madhya Pradesh respectively, the real tribal issues relating to their culture, way of life and aspirations were not addressed. Political power has still, by and large, eluded them. Much has happened since Independence and the failed promises of the Constitution. But it is still possible to retrieve some of the original promises. As provided by the Constitution, all tribal majority areas must be consolidated into administrative divisions whose authority must be vested with democratically chosen institutions. This body could be called the Adivasi Maha-panchayat and enabled to function as a largely autonomous institution. All laws passed by the state legislatures must be ratified to the satisfaction of the Maha-panchayat. Instead of the state capital-controlled government, the instruments of public administration dealing with education, health, irrigation, roads and land records must be handed over to local government structures. The police must be made answerable to local elected officials, and not be a law unto themselves. Will Droupadi Murmu, NDA candidate for President, who may become Indias first Santhal head of state next month, remember the promises that havent been kept? But there are also several paradoxes that must be dealt with first. The most important of these is to provide good governance in the worst of law-and-order environments. A better civil administration structure must come up in place of the present one. Perhaps it is time to constitute a new all-India service devoted to service in adivasi homelands, similar to the former Indian Frontier Administrative Service? Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over phone twice amidst the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, according to ANI. Shinde spoke to Thackeray about the recent political situation in Maharashtra and enquired about his health, an MNS leader confirmed the agency. Rebel legislators led by Eknath Shinde inched closer to formally getting their group recognised and pulling out of the Maha Vikas Aghadi government. Also read: Rebel Sena leaders may stake claim to form government in next 2 days, says report The Shiv Sena-NCP-Congress dispensation is contemplating action against the rebels and ministers and dealing with them sternly which may include disqualification, suspension from the party and stripping their portfolios. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Indonesian President Joko Widodo discussed the G20 summits to be held in the South East Asian nation this year and in India next year. Modi and Widodo, who are special invitees this year, had a bilateral meeting on the sideline of the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau in Germany. They discussed the G20 summit to be held at Bali in Indonesia in November this year and the G20 summit that the prime minister would host in India in 2023. They also exchanged views on global and regional issues of mutual interest, according to a press release issued by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi. Also read: PM seeks investment from G7 nations to support India's clean energy transition Modi also had a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sideline of the G7 summit. Both leaders reviewed the progress made in bilateral relations between the two countries, particularly following the signing of the Strategic Programme of Cooperation in 2019. They expressed satisfaction at the progress achieved in defence, education and agriculture sectors, and reiterated the need for further deepening bilateral cooperation in areas like trade and investment, food security, defence, pharmaceuticals, digital financial inclusion, skill development, insurance, health and people to people contacts. The prime minister and the South African president welcomed the agreement reached at World Trade Organization (WTO) this month supporting production of the Covid-19 vaccines in developing countries. India and South Africa had submitted the first proposal suggesting a waiver for all WTO members on the implementation of certain provisions of the TRIPS Agreement in relation to the prevention, containment or treatment of the Covid-19. The two leaders also discussed continued coordination in multilateral bodies and the need for their reform, particularly the UN Security Council. The prime minister and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is hosting the G7 summit, emphasised the need to take forward the green and sustainable development partnership between the two nations. The discussions between the two leaders covered issues like climate action, provision of climate financing and technology transfer. The two leaders also agreed on the need to further deepen trade, investment and people to people ties, according to Arindam Bagchi, the spokesperson of the MEA. Scores of people took part in a protest organsied by Left outfits here on Monday evening to condemn the arrest of Mumbai-based social activist activist Teesta Setalvad by the Gujarat police for allegedly submitting false evidence in the 2002 Gujarat riots case. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) had jointly organized the protest outside Dadar railway station. Members of various other organizations also participated in the demonstration to show solidarity with Setalvad. Noted filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, freedom fighter GG Parikh, Dr SK Rege of the CPI (M), Prakash Reddy of the CPI, Shyam Gohil of the CPI(ML) and Feroz Mithibhorwala of Hum Bharat Ke Log, among others, took part in the protest. The protesters, holding placards, shouted slogans in support of Setalvad and against the BJP, which is in power in Gujarat. An officer from the Matunga police station said the protest was peaceful. Setalvad and retired IPS officer RB Sreekumar have been arrested in a case related to alleged fabrication of evidence to frame innocent persons in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. They are in custody of the Gujarat police till July 2. Their arrests over the weekend came a day after the Supreme Court upheld the clean chit given by an SIT to Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the 2002 riot case. With time running out, the best option for the Shiv Sena rebels is to seek merger with a political party but for the Eknath Shinde-backed group things would not be that easy. The rebels were initially planning to name their group as Shiv Sena-Balasaheb Thackeray and get them recognised as a separate group in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. However, they backtracked because Shiv Sena president and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said, "Those who want to get votes should get in their fathers name, not in the name of (Shiv Senas) father Balasaheb Thackeray." Also Read | Rebel Shiv Sena MLAs enjoy high-class lifestyle in Guwahati: A look at estimates Since the BJP has not yet jumped into the picture - and the rebels too would like to have their identity retained, they are looking for other options. Among the rebel group - who are camping in Guwahati - includes Omprakash Babarao Kadu alias Bachchu Kadu, who is the founder-President of Prahar Janshakti Party. While Bacchu Kadu is a four-time MLA from Achalpur and Rajkumar Patel from Melghat. The other option is Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, which has one seat in Assembly - Raju Patil, who represents Kalyan-Rural. Also Read | BJP wants to finish off Shiv Sena as it does not want to share Hindu vote bank: Uddhav Thackeray Meanwhile, senior counsel Devdutt Kamat met Mumbai South MP Arvind Sawant at the Shiv Sena Bhavan. The concept of two-third (to surpass anti-defection law) is only applicable if there is a mergerhowever, what it appears is that there is no merger," Kamat said. Visiting BJP-ruled states, meeting BJP leaders, and attempting to topple govt amounts to a violation by rebelsThere were several meetings that were called by Shiv Sena at different times, none of which were attended by them," he added, NI Water is scheduled to commence a 4.8m programme of work this summer to provide Ballyronan with a modern new wastewater treatment facility. The existing treatment works, which was constructed in the 1970s off the Ballyronan Road, Magherafelt will remain in operation while the new infrastructure is being installed at the same site. Coalisland-based GEDA Construction has been appointed to carry out the 18-month contract which will see the implementation of a temporary working area adjacent to the site to facilitate construction works. Newry-based Water Solutions Ireland will carry out the extensive mechanical and electrical installation at the site, while Belfast-based RPS Group are providing technical support for the project. Infrastructure Minister John ODowd said: NI Waters substantial 4.8m investment is good news for people who live in the Ballyronan area. The work, which is being undertaken by local companies, will include the installation of state-of-the-art, fully enclosed, treatment tanks, along with advanced electrical and mechanical systems to provide a robust wastewater treatment solution. This will support local development and help improve water quality in Lough Neagh delivering economic and environmental benefits for the local community for many years to come. NI Water Project Manager, Sean Milligan added: Construction work at the site will get underway in full after the July holidays. In advance of that, GEDA will set up their working compound and carry out any necessary preliminary works. During the initial construction phase of the project, there will be increased construction traffic at the site and along the Ballyronan Road, as materials and new infrastructure are delivered and excavated spoil removed. There will be less construction traffic during the later mechanical and electrical fit out and commissioning of the plant. The current wastewater treatment facility located at Ballyronan looking towards Lough Neagh. NI Water and GEDA look forward to working with the community and supporting local businesses as far as possible through the delivery of this essential new wastewater infrastructure. We assure you that we will strive to minimise any disruption and complete the work in the shortest timescale possible. This 4.8 million investment is an excellent example of what can be done when the necessary funding is in place. NI Waters capital funding for year 1 of our business plan was secured and the business looks forward to the necessary funding being put in place across the full six-year period to 2027. The Belfast Agreement has survived almost 25 years despite objections to some parts of it, Northern Irelands former First Minister has said. The peace agreement brokered in 1998 saw the establishment of the powersharing Assembly at Stormont which remains in place today despite being unable to fully function in a stalemate over the Brexit Protocol. Lord Trimbles role in the negotiation of the 1998 deal led to him being awarded, along with then SDLP leader John Hume, the Nobel Peace Prize. A special evening at @QUBRiddelHall to recognise the huge contribution Lord David Trimble has made to our society, including the unveiling of a striking portrait by renowned artist @colin_davidson pic.twitter.com/3Whd5BLmQu Queens University Belfast Public Engagement (@QUBEngagement) June 27, 2022 He reflected on the agreement at the Queens University on Monday evening as he attended the unveiling of a new portrait of him. The event included video messages from ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and former US President Bill Clinton. The artwork by Colin Davidson will hang in the universitys Great Hall alongside other notable alumni such as Seamus Heaney, Mary McAleese and former Chancellor Senator George Mitchell. Lord Trimble graduated from Queens in 1968 and pursued an academic career in the law faculty before becoming Ulster Unionist leader and playing a leading role in negotiating the agreement. He told the PA news agency: The Good Friday Agreement is something which everybody in Northern Ireland has been able to agree with, it doesnt mean they agree with everything, there are aspects which some people thought were a mistake, but the basic thing is that this was agreed. That is there. People are actually not throwing the agreement to pieces, their complaints are still based on the existence of the agreement. They are not saying throw it out, so thats the thing to bear in mind. The Assembly is currently unable to fully function, with the DUP refusing to nominate ministers until the UK government takes action over the Northern Ireland Protocol. Unionists oppose the protocol, which sees Northern Ireland expected to enforce EU customs laws to avoid the imposition of a land border on the island of Ireland. Lord Trimble described a simple solution. Northern Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, therefore the United Kingdom should keep Northern Ireland, he said. What we have at the moment is something where the United Kingdom is not keeping Northern Ireland. He criticised as indefensible that the people of Northern Ireland have no say in the protocol arrangements. Former Irish premier Bertie Ahern was among guests who attended Riddel Hall for the portrait unveiling. He paid tribute to Lord Trimble, saying he had great admiration for him, although admitting we would argue black was white at times. At the same time we worked together to implement the agreement, to try to make sure there was a better future for the people here, he said. I think he was a brave man, he never blinked. He was under tremendous pressure for many months he saw at that stage the opportunity for real peace and real institutions. Mr Ahern compared the current situation with then, saying while then there were tough negotiations, there dont seem to be any negotiations. Thats the sad bit, he said. (The current issues) are not insurmountable, the only way of sorting out problems in political life is negotiation, its face to face negotiation like we had here 25 years ago if youre waiting around for someone to love the line you were taking then you were in the wrong business. Hopefully the current population of politicians will one day wake up and say that negotiating is a better way than arguing. Mr Davidson said having grown up in Northern Ireland he watched Lord Trimble as a key player at a very critical time in our history. I was very aware that I had the responsibility as an artist in painting somebody who was very instrumental in getting us to where we are now, he said. Very instrumental in brokering peace and so whenever names like Bill Clinton, George Mitchell, Tony Blair, John Hume and Bertie Ahern are mentioned, David Trimble is right in there as well. In some ways we wouldnt have that same peace in this place without people like him. Lady Trimble voiced her admiration for the portrait, saying it had caught her husband in a moment of reflection. Queens vice-chancellor Professor Ian Greer said, given Lord Trimbles academic and political careers: It is fitting that we recognise him in this appropriate manner. Oregon's Fish Screening Task Force meets June 23-24 Tweet June 16, 2022 SALEM, Ore Oregon's Fish Screening Task Force meets Thursday and Friday, June 23-24 in Salem. On June 23, the Task Force will visit several project sites in the Willamette Valley. With advance notice, the public can attend the field trip via their own transportation. The June 24 meeting is held 8:30 a.m. 12 p.m. at ODFW headquarters in Salem, and the public may attend in person or virtually through Teams. The agenda includes updates on the Fish Screening Program, projects, and funding. Public participation is encouraged, and you must pre-register 48 hours in advance to provide verbal testimony. Public comments will be heard at 10 a.m. Written comments will be accepted and are encouraged. When registering to speak, please provide your first and last name, which agenda item you wish to speak to, and a valid email address and phone number. To register to speak during the meeting send an email to Katherine.e.nordholm@ODFW.Oregon.gov and include the information listed above. You do not need to pre-register to provide written comment. The seven-member Fish Screening Task Force meets twice annually and as needed, as decided by the Task Force, to advise ODFW on fish screening policies and issues. Task Force members represent agriculture, fishing and conservation, and the general public. Additional information on the Task Force or the ODFW Fish Screening Program is available on the ODFW website or by contacting Katherine Nordholm, ODFW Fish Screening Program Coordinator, at (503) 947-6274 or Katherine.e.nordholm@ODFW.Oregon.gov. Reasonable accommodations will be provided as needed for individuals requesting assistive hearing devices, sign language interpreters or large-print materials. Individuals needing these types of accommodations may call the Information and Education Division at 800-720-6339 or 503-947-6002 at least 24-hours in advance of the meeting. ### An international team of explorers located the world's deepest shipwreck that sunk in the Battle of the Leyte Gulf almost 80 years ago in the second world war. They saw the wreck of the USS Destroyer Escort Samuel B. Roberts about four miles under the Philippine Sea. Mysterious Samuel B. Has Haunted Wreck Hunters for Decades The destroyer was last seen in the Western Pacific Ocean when it was recorded to have sunk there in the closing days of 1944, reported the Sun UK. Thanks to adventurer Victor Vescovo, who has years of experience in deep-sea expeditions, the warship was located last Wednesday. It sank to a depth of 22,621 feet and the superstructure, unsurprisingly, broke in half on the sea bottom. For comparison, the depth is more than 3,000 feet taller thanthe peak of Mt. Kilimanjaro, as cited by the New York Post The explorer was with pilot and sonar specialist Jeremie Morizet when they dove down in an attempt to determine the position of the ship and go around it. In eight days, the team made six deep dives and were able to assess the two sunken portions that were about 33 feet apart. It is worth noting that the team built a custom-built sidescan solar system in order to find the wreck. They did so after numerous efforts of trying to find the wreck, to no avail. It didn't help that prior data about the wreck were inaccurate and would have led them to another dead end. The international team of explorers then found the debris of a three-tube torpedo launcher of the wartime US destroyer. The discovery gave a hint that the world's deepest shipwreck sunk during the Battle of the Leyte Gulf. Read Also: Vladimir Putin Net Worth 2022: Does Anyone Know Russian President's Hidden Wealth? By chance the crew was able to locate the WW2 remnant in one of the deepest oceans in the world. Story of a Heroic Ship's Valiant End Vescovo revealed that it was an extraordinary honor to find this incredibly well-known ship and, in doing so, have the opportunity to share the story of the ship's bravery and devotion to duty with those who might not be aware of it, noted The World News. "Resting at 6,895 meters, now the deepest shipwreck ever discovered and investigated. Her stern crashes into the seabed with some force and buckles. It seems to have caused it," Vescovo said. "Her stern was also about 5 meters away due to the impact, but the whole wreckage was together." He added the destroyer took on the Japanese Navy and went down fighting until its last second. The USS Samuel B. Roberts and other ships like the USS Johnston were lost for a long time in the same seas. Vescovo also spoke to CNN about the US Destroyer, noting that they weren't sure they can find the wreck in the deepest parts that it was lost. He added it was an honor to be the first person to see the ship after it went down fighting about 80 years ago. Former US Navy chief called the Samuel B. a hallowed war grave. With that said, all data about the dive will be given to the US Navy. Related Article: WW2 Ghost Ships of Iwo Jima Raised From the Sea After Volcanic Tremors Caused the Seabed to Rise @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Sony has been one of the biggest names in the television business for years now. While many factors have contributed to this, the primary is the company's ability to deliver a premium range of televisions year after year that offers exceptional visual and audio experience. In 2022, the company's come up with a new range of televisions, flaunting interesting spec sheets and big displays. We've had the entry-level model in the line-up, X75K, with us for a few days now, giving us a chance to get a better understanding of what it brings to the table and also answer if it's worth the money Sony is asking for it. Sony X75K review: Specifications Model name: Sony KD-55X75K Panel Size: 55-inch Panel Resolution: 3840 x 2160p (4K) Panel Refresh Rate: 50Hz HDR 10 support: Yes HDR 10+ support: No Dolby Vision Support: No HDMI 2.0 Ports: 3 USB Ports: 2 Bluetooth: Yes, 5.0 Wi-Fi: Yes, dual-band Ethernet: Yes Speakers: 10 W+10 W (Open Baffle Speakers) Built-in storage: 16GB Processor: Sony 4K X1 Price: Starts at Rs 69,990. Review model Rs 99,990 Sony X75K review: Display and performance Sony's X75K series of TVs are available in multiple panel sizes, starting from 43-inch and going all the way up to 75K inch. Our review unit comes with a 55-inch Direct LED panel and is powered by Sony's flagship 4K X1 processor. There's no local dimming on the panel though, with the TV offering frame dimming instead. While this does help improve the visual experience in some cases, there are also many scenarios, especially in darker scenes, where the use of this technology dampens the visual experience a little. Apart from this, Sony's also equipped the X75K with proprietary tech such as 4K X-Reality PRO, Live Colour Technology and Dynamic Contrast Enhancer. All these technologies come together to create immersive visual experiences, that for most parts are fitting for a premium segment TV. While there is no support for Dolby Vision or even HDR10+, we did get good results playing HDR10 mastered content. However, there were a few things we noticed during our time with the television. Set to the Cinema Home profile, and tasked to play HDR10 content, the X75K got plenty bright in scenes with enough light in them. Testing the panel using Calman Ultimate paired with VideoForge Pro and Spectracal C6 Colorometer, we found the panel peaking at 326 nits. And because of the use of frame dimming, we also got a very good low luminance of 0.2 nits. But, not all is great with the Sony X75K. The panel on this premium-segment television did not handle some colours as we had expected, and scenes offering wide contrast in colours exposed how the TV fails to compete with more advanced OLED panel TVs -- some of which are retailing at a similar price point as the Sony X75K. Talking about the handling of colours, we found the TV under saturating hues of blue and red. This impacts the overall colour accuracy of the content being played on screen, something corroborated by the results of the Calman testing of the panel. In the ColorChecker Analysis, the Sony X75K threw up an average deltaE of 6.8, with the maximum deltaE going up to 10.6 at @Point 8G -- a shade of brown. While for the most part, you'd be hard-pressed to figure out an inaccuracy in colour reproduction, there are scenes where a washed-out frame or poorly handled skin tone, will expose the failings of the panel. But our biggest gripe with the Sony X75K's panel is that it does not do low light scenes very well. There is noticeable blooming in such scenes, which again leads to inaccurately represented skin tones, and also loss of detail in the frame -- the latter is in part because the X75K offers frame dimming instead of local dimming. Yet, the Sony X75K still manages to cover for these failings with its impressive core hardware that ensures for the average buyer, the TV performs as it should, providing a lag-free, and mostly premium TV viewing experience for watching native 4K or even upscaled 4K content. Sony X75K review: Build, design and audio The build of the X75K is very similar to what we have seen on previous generation premium segment TVs from Sony. It offers 2 tabletop feet if you don't plan to mount the device on a wall. The placement of the ports is also standard. They are all on the right side of the TV facing outwards. We have two USB ports, optical audio out, 3 HDMI ports, and an ethernet port. There is also a 2 speaker set-up at the base which is tucked nicely within the body of the device. This is a 20W (10W+10W) Open Baffle Speaker set-up, which does offer good sound. While not the clearest, the loudest, or the most bass-heavy, the speakers on the TV do offer good performance while handling dialogues in a movie or playing music that is not too bass-heavy. The remote of the device is again a premium piece of hardware, which helps give the Sony X75K an upmarket feel. Apart from basic controls, it also brings OTT hotkeys for Netflix, Prime Video and YouTube along with playback controls. Overall, the remote is well built, functional and works well. Sony X75K review: Should you buy it? So, on to the most important question: Should you buy the Sony X75K? Well, it honestly depends on what you are looking for from your next smart TV. The X75K is a premium-segment device, one that definitely looks the part. So, if you are in the market for a TV that can elevate the look of your living room, and because of its high brightness levels can handle a well-lit environment, this could very well be the premium-segment TV for you. It also offers good SDR and HDR performance, for the most part, making it a decent option for consuming multimedia content on it. However, when it comes to the premium segment, decent is not good enough. Because of its price tag, the Sony X75K is not a straightforward recommendation as it goes up against some really impressive TVs such as the Xiaomi OLED Vision and even the similarly priced Sony X80J. Both these TVs offer better colour reproduction and handling of dark sequences. In fact, at this price point, you can also snag yourself the 55-inch variant of the A1, which is the entry-level OLED TV from LG. Much like the alternatives we've mentioned above, even this TV from LG offers better picture quality than the Sony X75K. But then again, apart from the Xiaomi OLED Vision, the other two TVs are a year old and do not flaunt Sony's logo on the set. Subscriber content preview By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer DALLAS Airlines under scrutiny for widespread flight disruptions are renewing their criticism of the government agency that manages the nation's airspace, saying that understaffing at the Federal Aviation Administration is crippling traffic along the East Coast. Airlines for America, which represents the largest U.S. carriers, said Friday it wants to know FAA's staffing plans for the July Fourth holiday weekend, so we can plan accordingly. . . . Subscriber content preview LONGVIEW, Cowlitz County (AP) A Longview grain terminal will pay nearly $1 million after settling a lawsuit with the Columbia Riverkeeper that claimed the terminal operated without necessary permits meant to monitor river pollution. Export Grain Terminal LLC., which operates a grain terminal out of the Port of Longview, will pay Seeding Justice $715,000 to benefit water quality projects after it settled with Columbia Riverkeeper on June 14 in the U.S. District Court. . . . South African authorities said that at least 21 teenagers, the youngest possibly being 13, died this weekend under mysterious circumstances after a night out at a township tavern. Provincial officials said that many of the victims are thought to have been students who were celebrating the end of their high-school exams on Saturday night. Officials did not observe any visible wounds to the bodies of the deceased, and they have ruled out a stampede as a possible cause, saying autopsies would determine the deaths could be linked to poisoning. Mysterious Deaths On Sunday, large groups of people, including parents whose children were missing, gathered outside the tavern where the target happened in the city of East London while mortuary vehicles collected the bodies. Senior government officials rushed to the southern city where the deaths were discovered. They included national Police Minister Bheki Cele, who immediately broke down after emerging from a morgue where the bodies were being stored. In a statement, the official said it was a "terrible scene," adding that the victims were very young. The provincial government of Eastern Cape noted that eight girls and 13 boys were among the deceased, as per CBS News. The incident comes as drinking is permitted for people over 18 years old in township taverns, commonly known as shebeens, which are often situated cheek by jowl with family homes or, in some cases, inside the homes themselves. Read Also: Neighbor Confirms Photos of Amber Heard Kissing Cara Delevingne as Cheating Rumor During Marriage with Johnny Depp Swirls However, safety regulations and drinking-age laws are not always enforced in the region as the parents of a 17-year-old boy said that their child was among the victims. They said they did not think their loved one would die in this manner, calling him humble and respectful. According to the New York Post, the spokesman for the Department of Community Safety in Eastern Cape Province, Unathi Binqose, said that initial findings suggested that there was a stampede at the overcrowded nightclub. South African Teenagers In a statement, East London Mayor Xola Pakati said that what happened equates to a "massacre." The official noted that while the country's president was still waiting for more information, his thoughts were with the families who lost their children. A police spokesman, Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana, said that law enforcement officials had received a call about 4:00 a.m. local time reporting deaths at the tavern. He added that the tavern held a large party on Saturday night that served as a celebration of South Africa recently lifting its mask requirement for public places. A spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial health department, Siyanda Manana, said that the party attracted many people, which was more than the tavern could accommodate. The official said they would immediately conduct autopsies on the bodies to determine the cause of death. At the scene of the deaths, many people gathered were trying to find their loved ones as Cele told a huge crowd that the call was on the parents to see that their kids were kept well. He added that the call on the community was to keep children from dying untimely deaths, CNN reported. Related Article: Nigerian Politician, Wife Arrested After Bringing Child to the UK for Organ Harvesting @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google agrees to pay for Wikipedia content US tech giant Google has agreed to pay online encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, for content displayed by its search engine, which is in line with content deals struck with news outlets in Europe and elsewhere. Google has become the first paying customer of the commercial venture Wikimedia Enterprise, run by Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit group behind Wikipedia. The deal will help Google provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on its search engine. The Wikimedia Foundation, the charity that oversees the online encyclopaedia, said Google was the first paying customer for its commercial venture Wikimedia Enterprise, which it launched last year. Tim Palmer, managing director of Googles search partnerships, commented that Google looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Wikimedia Foundation through its Enterprise service. Google uses Wikipedia content for its knowledge panel a sidebar that accompanies the main search results. The source of the information is not always shown, a practice that had sparked complaints from Wikimedia. Google has previously given money to Wikipedia through donations and grants. We have long supported the Wikimedia Foundation in pursuit of our shared goals of expanding knowledge and information access for people everywhere, said Googles Tim Palmer. The foundations statement did not reveal the value of the Google contract. With the new partnership, Google is expected to come up with a new way to increasingly integrate Wikipedia content into its services. Google has made donations to the Wikimedia Foundation in the past, but the signing of a partnership marks the first time it becomes a customer. While Google became a paid customer of Wikimedia, the Internet Archive, a non-profit that runs a site called the Wayback Machine that saves snapshots of websites and is used to fix Wikipedia links, will be offered the commercial services free of cost. Were thrilled to be working with them both as our longtime partners, said Wikimedias Lane Becker in a statement on Tuesday. Wikipedia, one of the worlds most visited websites, is free to use, updated by volunteers and relies on donations to keep afloat. The new commercial arm will not change the existing arrangement for individual users, the foundation said. The development comes after French regulators and Google on Tuesday ended a years-long dispute by agreeing a framework to pay news outlets for content. The Sinn Fein leadership is in Dundalk this week for a public meeting, and everyone is invited to attend, according to Deputy Ruairi O Murchu. The Louth constituency is the latest venue for the partys Time for Change event, which takes place on Thursday June 30 at 7.30pm in the Fairways Hotel. Speakers at the event will include party president, Mary Lou McDonald TD; vice president and First Minister in waiting, Michelle O'Neill, MLA; finance spokesperson Pearse Doherty TD and Eoin O Broin spokesperson on housing. Deputy O Murchu, who will be joined at the meeting by his constituency colleague, Deputy Imelda Munster, said: The event is part of Sinn Fein's national engagement to provide the public and stakeholders living and working in with a briefing from the Sinn Fein leadership on the partys position on a range of social issues that are impacting the lives of people day and daily. It is also an opportunity for people to put questions to the Sinn Fein leadership team on issues that are relevant to you such as the spiralling cost of living, the scarcity of housing, the crisis within our health service, the benefits of a united Ireland and the restoration of the Northern institutions. The Dundalk meeting will come just 48 hours after the tabling of a Sinn Fein motion on Tuesday calling for an emergency budget to tackle the cost of living. The Dundalk TD said: People are getting hit hard with the rising costs of rents, childcare, groceries, petrol, back to school and heating. Prices are going up rapidly, but ordinary peoples wages stay the same. Businesses and community groups are also facing increased insurance costs and there has not been sufficient movement from the government. The government has been ignoring the reality for families and workers for the last two years. Sinn Fein has been asking for months for intervention, for an emergency budget and targeted measures. I have asked the finance minister myself for the government to act, but it has all fallen on deaf ears. I invite everyone to come along to the Fairways on Thursday night for this meeting to talk to the party leadership about Sinn Feins solutions to these issues. Gov. Kristi Noem on Sunday argued that abortion doctors, not patients, should be the ones targeted for prosecution after a new trigger law in South Dakota went into effect following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade. During an interview, the South Dakota governor said that her state would charge doctors who violate the abortion ban and will not prosecute mothers. Prosecuting Abortion Doctors "We'll continue to have those debates on how we can support these mothers and what it means to really make sure we are not prosecuting mothers ever in a situation like this. It will always be focused toward those doctors who knowingly break the law to perform abortions in our state," she said. With the Supreme Court's ruling, states can now enforce bans or increase restrictions on abortions. South Dakota has trigger laws that immediately went into effect and banned the procedure following the lifting of the precedent. In the state, abortions are illegal, and performing the operation is now considered a felony unless it will save the life of the mother. South Dakota has no exceptions in place for the procedure, including for rape and incest, as per The Hill. The South Dakota governor also said that she would be seeking to ban telemedicine appointments for abortions. Noem aims to stop abortion care providers from shipping abortion pills to women after an online consultation. Read Also: Joe Biden Reacts to Roe v. Wade Overturn, Promises To Protect Women's Rights On Sunday, the official defended her state's new restrictions on abortions, arguing that "every life is precious" and that new technology showed how cruel the abortion procedure is for the unborn. She said that we now know more than we did about 10 to 15 years ago about what unborn babies go through and the pain they feel in the womb. According to Fox News, Noem defended the Supreme Court's ruling, saying that she encouraged them to continue to follow the science, to continue to follow what we now know to be true today. The South Dakota governor was referring to women who do not feel like either the mother or the unborn child is a victim of an abortion. Every Life is Precious The American Medical Association released a statement calling the Supreme Court's ruling a "brazen violation of patients' rights. They argued that "states that end legal abortion will not end abortion, they will end safe abortion, risking devastating consequences, including patients' lives." Now, Noem is calling for a special legislative session to launch a debate on how the state can best support mothers. She also launched a website, life.sd.gov, that aims to get resources to individuals with unplanned pregnancies or in crisis situations to coordinate financial assistance, health care, and nonprofit support. In defense of the no exception to rape, Noem said that every life is precious and argued that they wanted to make sure that those lives were protected. The South Dakota governor said that she never believed that having a tragedy or tragic situation happen to someone is reason enough for another tragedy to occur, CBS News reported. Related Article: Roe v. Wade Overturned; Which US States Are Now Banning Abortion? @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. According to a new report, the USA set up a secret defense meeting--participated by its Israeli and Middle Eastern allies--to discuss how to handle the growing Iranian offensive capabilities. Concerns about how to synch air defense with all allies were addressed in order to deal with Iran's ballistic missiles and drones, as revealed by the Wall Street Journal. Pooling Allies in the Middle East to Isolate Iran Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates participated in the meeting that was reportedly held last March, with top military officers representing them. For the US, then-Central Command chief Frank Mackenzie served as representative. All participants reportedly agreed on procedures to quickly notify each other through telephone or computer if aerial threats have been detected. For what it's worth, Col. Joe Buccino--spokesman of the US Central Command--refused to answer if the meeting really happened. However, he did highlight that they maintain "a firm commitment to increasing regional cooperation and developing integrated air and missile defense architecture to protect our force and our regional partners." Col. Buccino proceeded to describe Iran as the "the primary destabilizing factor" in the Middle East." The alleged March clandestine defense meeting was described as a follow-up to earlier but lower-level secret talks by a task group that was prompted by former CENTCOM chief planning officer Scott Benedict. Read Also: Donald Trump Children: What You Need to Know About the 5 Trump Kids President Joe Biden will personally talk about ways to improve and widen these defense negotiations during his scheduled visit to israel and the West Bank, including Saudi Arabia in July, per the Times of Israel. Joe Biden's Israel, Saudi Arabia Trip Revealed The White House announced President Joe Biden will in the Middle East to visit Israel and Saudi Arabia from July 13 to 16. He accepted an invitation to visit Israel in April, although it was supposed to be in late June. it got pushed later to July due to scheduling issues for the Saudi Arabia trip. Before the trip, Democrats took a stand for Riyadh's human rights track record, as reported by France 24. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that the president will meet with top Israeli officials in the first leg of the Middle East tour. Also, the US president will be visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and East Jerusalem. Other parts of the Biden itinerary include touring the US-funded missile defense battery called Iron Dome in a bid to get more funding for it. The POTUS also hopes to discuss innovations to handle missile and aerial threats. Another focus of the visit is to highlight the Abraham Accords with several Arab countries. One more highlight is the forum with the US, India, UAE, and Israel called the I2U2. Prime Minister Naftali Bennett added that the US will reveal its plans and steps to integrate Israel into the Middle East for security and civilian cooperation. After Jerusalem, the US leader will fly to Jeddah and take part in the yearly GCC+3 summit with Gulf Cooperation Council leaders from major countries in the Middle East. Biden is also expected to meet with Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman while in the KSA. Related Article: UAE, Bahrain and Israel Signed Agreement To Re-Establish Ties After a Quarter Century @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. 65 million in loans extended to women-led businesses in Western Balkans Financing and advisory support has helped women entrepreneurs to boost their businesses Initiative supported with donor funds by Sweden, Luxembourg and Italy Around 5,000 women-led firms in the Western Balkans have received financing and advisory support from the EBRD and donors since 2014, helping them to grow their businesses and become more competitive. The financing for businesses run or owned by women is extended under the EBRD and donor-funded Women in Business programme, which promotes womens entrepreneurship and their participation in business by providing them with access to finance and know-how. To mark the results and share lessons learned, the EBRD organised an event gathering 13 partner financial institutions from all six countries in the Western Balkans region, including large commercial banks and non-bank microfinance institutions. To date, just over 65 million has been extended to women-led micro, small and medium-sized enterprises under this programme. More than 60 per cent of these loans were to women in rural and less developed areas outside the main urban centres. The impact assessment of the first phase of the programme, which finished in 2019, showed that 96 per cent of the businesses boosted their income as a result of the programmes support, out of which a third reached between 25 and 50 per cent growth. It was also estimated that 94 per cent of beneficiaries increased their number of employees, creating nearly 3,000 jobs in the region. As well as loans, women entrepreneurs benefit from grants that subsidise consultancy projects, training programmes, mentoring and networking activities. These grants were funded by Sweden, Luxembourg and Italy. Aleksandra Vukosavljevic, Director, Financial Institutions, Western Balkans, EBRD, said: Women entrepreneurship plays a key role in creating jobs and driving economic growth. We firmly believe that creating equal opportunities for women in business is not only a question of gender equality, but also an economic priority. Thats why in the countries where we work we support women entrepreneurs to succeed and be more engaged in business. The programme was first launched in Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2014, after which it expanded to include the five other countries in the Western Balkans. The programme is currently supported by Sweden. Maria Melbing, Head of the Unit for the Western Balkans and Turkey, Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency, said: The inclusion of women and ensuring that female entrepreneurs participate in economic life on equal terms as men is fundamental to any long term inclusive economic development. The economic downturn following the impact of the pandemic and Russias war in Ukraine have hit women-owned businesses especially hard. For economic recovery, a functioning financial sector with access to capital and financial know-how is critical for SMEs in general, and those women-owned in particular. With EBRDs expertise and experience in supporting access to finance through lending and capacity building, Sida is confident that they will continue to be of great support to the Womens economic empowerment agenda in the Western Balkans. In the Western Balkans, women entrepreneurs continue to face gender-specific challenges, both in terms of access to finance and access to know-how, curtailing economic opportunities to establish and grow their businesses. To apply for financing and advisory services, women entrepreneurs should reach out to the following partner financial institutions: BALTIMORE RNLI were called out to provide a medical evacuation in the early hours of this morning from Sherkin Island off the coast of Baltimore, West Cork. The volunteer lifeboat crew launched their all-weather lifeboat at 00.57am, following a request from the Irish Coast Guard to provide a medical evacuation for a woman living on the island. The Baltimore all-weather lifeboat crew arrived at Sherkin Island pier a few minutes later and transferred the casualty onboard the lifeboat. The lifeboat departed Sherkin Island at 1.22am and returned to the station in Baltimore arriving at 1.32am. The casualty was then handed over to the care of HSE Ambulance crew. There were seven volunteer crew onboard the lifeboat, Coxswain Pat Collins, Mechanic Cathal Cottrell and crew members Jerry Smith, Sean McCarthy, Micheal Cottrell, Don ODonovan and Emma Geary. Conditions in the harbour during the call out were windy with a south westerly force 6-7 wind and a moderate sea swell. Speaking following the call out, Kate Callanan, Baltimore RNLI Volunteer Lifeboat Press Officer said: "If you find yourself in a medical emergency whilst on an island call 999 or 112." Residents in Chicago are furious over the death of a five-month-old newborn amid a crime-filled weekend in the Windy City. Cecilia Thomas, the newborn child, was in a car with her father when she was shot in the head in Chicago's South Shore neighborhood on Friday night. Thomas was killed in a drive-by shooting by an unnamed woman who opened fire on the family's car, according to authorities. The newborn was taken to a nearby hospital and died as a consequence of her injuries. Latest Chicago Crime Sparks Outrage A 41-year-old man in a second vehicle was also injured in the incident and suffered a gunshot wound to the eye. He was described as being in good health. The gunman fled the scene, and authorities have no suspects in custody at this time. Meanwhile, outraged residents are pleading with authorities to act after at least 20 people were shot over the weekend in the city. Chicago was voted the 28th deadliest city in America earlier this year, with a murder rate of 18.26 per 100,000 inhabitants. Per ABC7 Chicago, at around 6:45 pm, Thomas' father was driving home on Friday when a shooting erupted in the 7700 block of South Shore Drive. According to a witness, the concerned father pulled over at the intersection of 71st Street and Crandon Avenue when Thomas began crying. He called for assistance and Thomas was brought to Comer Children's Hospital, where she subsequently died. According to the medical examiner's office, she died from a gunshot wound to the head. While physicians fought to save the infant's life, at least a dozen of her family members gathered outside the hospital. The baby's mother was sad and distressed, according to crisis responder Andrew Holmes, who then called out the gunman, saying, "I pray you don't have any children yourself. Because if you do, you won't be able to sleep at night; instead, you should turn yourself here knowing you have to stare at your child every night. And you took this lady's kid." Jackie, a nurse in the hospital when EMS arrived, described the situation as "shocked." The nurse reportedly shared that two of her children were killed by gunshots and that a third was disabled after being shot at a party. Activist Ja'Mal Green, who recently ran for mayor of Chicago, pledged a $5,000 prize for information leading to an arrest and conviction in the incident, as per New York Daily News. Read Also: Nigerian Politician, Wife Arrested After Bringing Child to the UK for Organ Harvesting Chicago Crimes Surge Meanwhile, violent crime in Chicago continues to be on the rise, particularly before the outbreak--less than a year after mayor Lori Lightfoot took office in May 2019. According to the most recent Chicago Police Department figures, murders have increased by a stunning 23 percent since 2019--before the epidemic prompted an inflow of criminality to afflict the city's streets--with 282 homicides documented since the beginning of the year, compared to 230 in 2019. Murders have also increased since June 2020, during the peak of the pandemic lockdown, when 291 people were murdered. Violent attacks are also on the rise, with 2,553 occurrences of aggravated violence registered so far this year. The city had 2,516 instances in June 2021. Sexual assaults and rapes have decreased this year, with the city logging nine fewer instances than this time last year. Small crimes like theft have also increased by a startling 65 percent since last year, from 4,712 to 7,770 occurrences. Meanwhile, gun violence, probably the city's most important and prevalent issue, has decreased marginally, from 1,381 shootings last year to 1,148 so far in 2022. When compared to shootings in 2019, before the city's enormous crime wave, the rate of gun violence has climbed astronomically by a troubling 44 percent, Daily Mail reported. Related Article: South African Authorities Investigate Mysterious Deaths of At Least 21 Teenagers at Nightclub @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. AN inspirational 13-year-old battling a serious heart condition has expressed gratitude to the frontline workers who support him, by holding an event to make every child feel like a superhero. Severe complications meant Ryan Hourihan Gregan required 12 specialists in the delivery room during his birth. Doctors initially thought he would only live for two hours. However, more than a decade and countless heart surgeries later, Ryan organised yesterdays superhero-themed event at Douglas Community Park, with the help of his grandmother Marie Piper-Gregan. Ryan, from Crosshaven, has spent his life battling a number of congenital heart defects, including two holes and two missing chambers. Marie said she has lost count of the number of heart surgeries he has endured, including four major operations. Despite this, Ryan believes that every child is a superhero fighting their own battle, including issues associated with bullying and difficulties at school. This is what inspired the superhero theme behind their fundraiser. They named the event Kevins Day in memory of Maries late husband, Ryans grandfather Kevin, who they also regarded as a superhero. The event saw children don their favourite superhero costumes to enjoy carousel rides, food and craft stalls, as well as a dog show. All funds from the event will be donated to Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin, and Ronald McDonald House, which provides accommodation and support for the families of seriously-ill children. Ryan is a regular patient at Our Ladys Hospital in Crumlin and Marie praised the services of Ronald McDonald House, which she is able to avail of while Ryan is undergoing surgery. The service is beneficial to children as well as parents and grandparents because it means they can come and visit their sibling during the weekend or school holidays, Marie said. It keeps the family together during really difficult times. We cant put a price on what the staff in Crumlin have done for Ryan. They really are amazing, she said. Marie described Ryan as a miracle, adding: They said that Ryan wouldnt survive and thats why he was born in the Coombe. He really is a miracle. A lot of children are struggling in life. Some have illnesses, while others are struggling in school, but they are all super-heroes in their own special ways. Marie and Ryan are continuing to accept donations for the fundraiser and those wishing to donate can contact her on 086 1732469. A protest against the recent ruling against Roe Vs Wade in the US is taking place on Grand Parade at 6pm on Monday. The event is being organised by ROSA Cork and supported by the UCC Feminist Society. Chatting to the Echo Chairperson of the UCC Feminist Society Hayley OConnell said its something they feel passionate and strongly about. When you see a big powerful country doing something that will affect, damage and kill so many people, I think its really important for us all to band together and make it known to our Government that we absolutely wont go back and something has to be done about this. The protest is organised for after standard work hours and Ms OConnell said she hopes people will make it part of their day today to show solidarity with the protest. I think its an issue that is really important to people. We saw with the repeal movement that people were very willing to get out and do something and also because America is such a big country, I think we sometimes look to them as the standard. I could be wrong, but I think a lot of what we have is on the back of what other countries are doing. The protest is taking place on Monday at 6pm on Grand Parade. AS a third year under the shadow of Covid-19 draws to a close for primary school students, my son, now at the age of eight, has just completed his first full year in school. When Finn joined Glasheen Boys National School in 2019, the world was a very different place. No one could have known back then that those excited little junior infants standing proudly in their new uniforms, clutching carefully chosen school bags, would never get to complete their first year in big school. They took their first steps into the big wide world little knowing that soon their world would become smaller than they had ever known. On March 12th, 2020, schools closed, lockdown began and home was the only place to feel safe. What would follow, throughout the course of various lockdowns and Covid restrictions, would highlight the wonderful work that teaching staff do and just how important the school structure and community is to our children and to their families. At the worst of times, during level-5 restrictions, school doors may have been shut but lines of communication always remained open. In those unsettling days, parents were regularly contacted, updated and reassured. Even though pupils and parents were confined to home we still felt part of the school community. As the grapple with homeschooling began for parents, I think its fair to say that we all gained a new respect for the work that teachers do. What really became apparent though, during those times of isolation, is how much is gained by children from the school experience outside of the academic curriculum. The pandemic gave rise to sorrow, loneliness and fear for many of us and children were no different. As virtual meetings for students and teachers became a regular feature, it was clear that the mental health and well being of the boys was a top priority for the school. On these occasions Finn was so happy to see the faces of his classmates while his teacher and her assistant led the boys in chat, games and sessions would always end with music and a dance. With level-5 restrictions, school closures, uncertainty and anxiety at an all time high, teaching staff recognised what the children needed most of all now was to have fun. When schools were allowed to reopen in September, 2020, the work that had gone into making the school environment safe was evident. Each morning the school principal, Micheal Daly, and his staff would stand at the door, greeting each boy and dispensing hand sanitizer. The children adapted quickly to new regulations and the happiness of seeing the boys return to their classrooms gave rise to cautious optimism. With a Covid-19 vaccination still on the horizon, teaching staff stood firmly on the front line allowing our children to enjoy some normality in their lives once again. While we as adults struggled with living life in the new normal of Covid restrictions, at least we were in full knowledge of the reasons why we were so restricted. Weddings were postponed, funerals went unattended, we maintained distance from each other to keep each other safe. We awaited information and instructions from the government and NPHET as to how we could proceed safely through the pandemic. These concepts were far more difficult for younger children to understand however as parents strived to shield them from the daily news and evening Covid death statistics. In these times school was a haven for our children. When Halloween approached and public health advice recommended that trick-or-treating could not be safely enjoyed that year, it was school that ensured that the children still had the fun of dressing up in their costumes for a day. As Christmas approached without the ability to visit Santa, the school stepped in once again, bringing festive magic to the boys. Christmas cheer and delight came in the form of a team of mischievous elves who showed up in Glasheen BNS, elf quarantining for the required period of time and, of course, armed with hand sanitizer. In that first strange and uncertain Christmas of Covid, the excitement my son had every morning going into school to see what those elves had been up to during the night was an infectious joy. As the vaccination roll out allows us now to largely return to our previous way of living, the emotional wellbeing of the pupils of Glasheen BNS remains constant. Mr Daly and his staff continue to provide a welcome at the door each morning and this year, as in previous years, the school received an Amber Flag Award for the promotion of positive mental health. Boys are encouraged from a very young age to speak openly about their emotions. Initiatives in the school such as Wellbeing Week, Buddy Walks and Inside Out Day all encourage positive conversations around the importance of mental health awareness and emotional wellbeing. So, as Finn completes his first first full year at big school, I am so grateful for the positive presence his school has been in his life for the last three years. I am confident that the lessons he learns will not only benefit his journey throughout his school days, but far into his future. By Grainne Ni Aodha, PA A protest has been held at the United States embassy in Dublin after the constitutional right to abortion in the US was removed by the nations highest court. The US Supreme Court ruling, handed down on Friday, ended constitutional protections for abortion that had been in place for nearly 50 years by deciding to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling. It is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half of US states. A protest held at the US embassy in Dublin on Sunday heard speeches from activists about how the US can learn from Irelands 2018 referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment and liberalise its abortion laws. People Before Profit TD Brid Smith compared the restrictions on abortion laws to gun regulations in the US. Its alright to control womens bodies but dont control access to guns, she said. I have no doubt that that ruling will embolden the anti-choicers in this country and elsewhere. We still have a way to go. Repeal was a massive victory, it was won from below by people power throughout this country over many years, she said, adding that better access to abortion was still needed in Ireland. Watch this space: the right wing in Dail Eireann, and outside Dail Eireann, will try to chip away at meagre access. Sinead Kennedy, of the Action for Choice group, told those who had gathered that after decades of solidarity from people in the US and around the world over Irelands strict abortion laws, it was time that we paid that back. Weve seen this disgusting judgement that basically has said that women and pregnant people are now second-class citizens in the United States. This flies in the face of one of the core things that weve come to realise in the last decade that control over your own body, over your own person is one of the core and fundamental rights. You cannot exist as a free human being in this society without that fundamental right. This is not 1973, its not the 1950s, there are reasons to be optimistic, she said. We have seen inspiring, powerful social movements: the Me Too movement, Black Lives Matter, the wave of unionisation that is taking place in the United States. There is the example of Ireland We can see what a grassroots movement can achieve. We learned the lesson not to look to the courts, not to look to so-called enlightened politicians, that we will fight for our rights. Hundreds outside US embassy in solidarity with women and all those impacted by overturning of Roe v Wade. pic.twitter.com/VBziD7HIRH Paul Murphy (@paulmurphy_TD) June 26, 2022 Ailbhe Smyth, a feminist and LGBT rights activist, told the crowd that the ruling was a mockery of freedom, a mockery of justice, a mockery of equality for women. What we saw the unelected members of the Supreme Court of the United States of America, what we saw them do and declare the other day in their ruling on Roe v Wade was to declare a war on women. This is incredibly, incredibly serious. We talk about this as being a rollback. It is not a rollback of one law or one right, this is a rollback in the way in which the whole democracy of the United States of America works. Everywhere across the world, we have to be those who stand in absolute solidarity with the many people in the US who are every bit as disgusted. I think of the distress, I think of the suffering, I think of the anxiety, the anguish that so many people are experiencing as we stand here outside the US embassy. I hope theyre listening to what were saying, because no country should ever condemn women or anyone to those levels of suffering and anguish, she said. Speaking on RTE programme The Week In Politics, Minister of State Mary Butler said that the issue is a very, very divisive one and it will continue to be debated in the US. Ms Butler campaigned for a No vote in the referendum on whether to repeal the Eighth Amendment. We took that decision in Ireland in 2018 and we embedded it in our constitution. Whether youre in favour of it or not, the people spoke quite clearly from a majority of two-to-one, and abortion is a reality here in Ireland. What I do say, and everybody would have known my position in relation to the referendum, but I would be very, very fearful now of the amount of illegal abortions that will take place in (the US), she said. High court reporters A High Court judge has rebuked the Child and Family Agency for having completely failed to support a relationship between the child and her natural mother. Mr Justice Max Barrett said the girls natural mother had proven herself to be a demonstrably competent parent for her other children and was literally begging for a relationship with her 17-year-old daughter, referred to as Miss B. Had the CFA just done its job and acted upon the womans plea six years ago for greater access and information about Miss B, who knows what type of progress towards family reunification could have occurred, he said. The judge listed a litany of manifold and serious failings on the part of the CFA, including that it had failed to support appropriate access visits and to support the relationship between Miss B and her natural mother, who had objected to the adoption application. Foster mother Mr Justice Barrett noted the girls foster mother has done a remarkable job caring for the girl since she was just months old. There is a huge amount of mutual love between the pair, he added. Miss B has development delay associated with foetal alcohol syndrome and a moderate learning disability, the judge said. She has indicated her desire to be adopted by her foster parent, whom she refers to as mum. However, after meeting her the judge was not entirely persuaded Miss B fully understood the significance of adoption. In setting out the background to the case, Mr Justice Barrett included submissions from the girls biological mother, who claimed she had been repeatedly beaten and raped by her husband, whom she is no longer with. Prior to Miss Bs birth, the family moved to a rural, isolated area from a city, where the mother had been surrounded by relatives. Alcohol The woman said that over time she drank more alcohol to deal with the abuse and she did not realise she was pregnant with Miss B until four months along. By this point, she said, the foetal alcohol damage had occurred. The woman said social workers told her she was not in a position to care for Miss B, who was very sick, and she signed a voluntary care order. She said she has not drunk since she completed a short rehab stint when Miss B was a toddler. At the request of the social work department, the woman said, she also partook in two parenting courses, a psychological assessment, two years of therapy and Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. Access between her and Miss B became more difficult when the woman, by then a single mother, moved back to the city to be near her family. She was informed, due to the financial crash, that train tickets to visit her daughter at that time could not be funded by the State, said the judge. She claimed that in the three years when no social worker was appointed to her case it became much harder for her to see Miss B or ascertain how she was and access was arranged directly with the foster carer. Due to her concerns, six years ago the mother wrote a letter to her presumed social worker literally begging for more access, saying she felt excluded from Miss Bs life, said the judge. She had not been informed her social worker was no longer allocated to her case, and she received no meaningful response to her letter, he added. Mr Justice Barrett did not believe adoption would be in Miss Bs best interests. He said he did not see any advantage to cutting the natural mother and child legal link when Miss B is on the cusp of adulthood. When she turns 18, she will be able to apply to change her surname by deed poll and she can continue to live with her foster mother, if she wishes, he added. People walking in Tokyo's Shibuya district with umbrellas to protect themselves from the sun on June 27, 2022. David Mareuil / Anadolu Agency via Getty Images June in the Northern Hemisphere has been sweltering so far, with every continent setting high temperature records. Japan set a record for the month on Saturday when the city of Isesaki reached 104.4 degrees Fahrenheit, reported The Washington Post. In what is likely another example of human-caused climate change, Japan officially declared an end to the rainy season in the Kanto region which encompasses Tokyo 22 days early on Monday, The Guardian reported. It was the earliest since the Japan Meteorological Agency began recordkeeping more than 70 years ago, reported NPR. The rainy season usually makes temperatures in the region more bearable. The countrys government has asked people in the Tokyo area to conserve energy in the face of possible power shortages. We ask the public to reduce energy consumption during the early evening hours when the reserve ratio falls, said Parliamentary Vice-Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yoshihiko Isozaki, as reported by The Guardian. The ministry encouraged those living in the region served by the Tokyo Electric Power Co. to be particularly conservative with their energy use during the peak consumption hours of four to five p.m., The Associated Press reported. Following the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster, most of Japans nuclear reactors were suspended, compromising its power supply. To meet carbon emissions reduction pledges, the country has also been closing old coal plants. According to reports, less than three percent reserve energy capacity means a risk of blackouts and power shortages, and Tokyos was at risk of falling to 3.7 percent, reported The Guardian. Please cooperate and save as much power as possible, said ministry director of electricity supply policy Kaname Ogawa, as The Associated Press reported. Isosaki encouraged businesses and households to reduce the use of lights and air conditioners, while warning them to be cautious of heatstroke, reported The Guardian. According to the Mainichi Shimbun newspaper, more than 250 people suffering from heatstroke in Tokyo were taken to the hospital over the weekend. To help prevent heatstroke, officials were recommending that people not wear masks when outdoors, though many were still wearing them. Immediately after the rainy season ends, many people are yet to be fully acclimated to heat and face a greater risk of heatstroke, said Japans meteorological agency in a statement, as The Guardian reported. The meteorological agency predicted the heat would continue through the beginning of July due to hot air from a high pressure system hanging over the Pacific Ocean, reported The Associated Press. New research suggests there may be far more microplastics in the ocean than initially estimated. Microplastics, which breakdown into miniscule pieces of plastic are notoriously tricky to catch. Their small size allows them to get buried in ocean sediment and to escape through nets. Now, a team of researchers, led by scientists at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in England, used a finer net to get a more accurate picture of the amount of plastic in the ocean. Their research suggests the seas may be holding as many as 125 trillion microplastic particles, according to the study published in the journal Environmental Pollution, as Newsweek reported. Microplastics are usually defined as tiny pieces of plastic that measure less than five millimeters across. However, despite the abundance of microplastics in the ocean, scientists have actually had a difficult time quantifying and classifying them. Usually, researchers gather samples with nets with a mesh size of 333 micrometers, or 0.333 millimeters, but these do not account for smaller pieces of plastic debris, as Newsweek reported. The Plymouth Marine Laboratory scientists, along with researchers from the University of Exeter, used nets with a mesh size of 100 micrometers, or 0.1 millimeters, to get a more accurate picture of the microplastics swirling around coastal waters, according to a University of Exeter press release. It is quite well known what impact larger pieces of plastic have on marine animals, like turtles eating plastic bags mistaking them for jellyfish, but we wanted to know if microplastics are a problem to smaller marine animals like mussels or zooplankton, said Pennie Lindeque, lead author of the study from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, to Newsweek. However, first we needed an accurate picture of how many small microplastics there are in the sea, and what sort of plastic they are. We are interested in really quite small microplasticsaround 100 micrometers in size, similar to the width of a human hairand suspected that the standard sampling methods using a net with pores about 333 micrometers in size, wouldnt give an accurate picture. The researchers compared the efficacy of a 100 micrometer net to whats collected by a 333 micrometer net and a 500 micrometer net. They found that their net collected 2.5 times as much microplastics as the 333 micrometer mesh net. It collected 10 times more microplastic than a 500 micrometer net, according to the study. The scientists then extrapolated that data to determine that there are roughly 3,700 pieces of microplastic in one cubic meter. That means that previous global estimates of 5 to 50 trillion particles of microplastics are severely low. The true number, according to the data in the study, is somewhere between 12.5 and 125 trillion particles. UK beef imports in April 10% up year-on-year The UK imported 20,000 tonnes of fresh and frozen beef in April 2022, 10% up or 1,800 tonnes year-on-year thanks to Irish volumes, The UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board reported. Irish beef production increased overall by 11% (1,600 tonnes), especially of frozen boneless beef. Shipments also rose from Germany and Belgium but from smaller bases. The UK imported 58,000 tonnes of beef in the first quarter of 2022, a decrease from the previously reported 77,400 tonnes and a 30% increase over the same period in 2017. This meant that, compared to the same period last year, a total of 78,000 tonnes of beef were imported into the UK in the first four months of this year. These shipments had a total value of GBP 391.6 million (~US$481.3 million; GBP 1 = US$1.23) after a 20% increase in the average price. Volumes of beef leaving the UK increased by 53% year over year in April to 10,700 tonnes. Nevertheless, this was a 17% decrease from March. The main drivers of annual growth remained increased shipments to France and the Netherlands, with more beef also going to Ireland. As a result, UK beef exports from January to April totaled 42,500 tonnes, up 57% from the same time last year. These shipments now have a value of GBP 169.1 million (~US$207.8 million) thanks to a 23% increase in their average price. - UK Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board Former United States President Donald Trump allegedly used more than $1 million in donor funds to pay for his private businesses in 2021 after losing the 2020 elections. The Republican businessman's companies continued to charge his political outfits for goods and services, based on a review of the latest federal filings. In the months following Trump's election loss, much of the money was via the former president's official campaign committee, Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. Donald Trump's Donor Funds The committee paid $38,000 on Dec. 1, 2020, in rent to Trump Tower Commercial LLC, the entity through which Trump owns space inside the Trump Tower. Two weeks later, another $38,000 in payment was made for rent, coming from the campaign committee to that same LLC. Furthermore, the committee made two payments of $3,000 at roughly the same time to an entity named Trump Restaurants LLC. Trump, who is estimated to have a net worth of $3 billion, also has complete ownership of that company based on an analysis of documents his business submitted to federal and local officials during his presidency, as per Forbes. From the election until the end of 2020, the former president's campaign committee handed over $113,000 to his businesses. In the following year, the Republican businessman did not shut down his campaign committee. Read Also: US Capitol Riot Hearings Today: 3 Shocking Donald Trump Revelations About Jan. 6 Attack Instead, he chose to rename it, turning it into the Make America Great Again PAC, which, on Jan. 4, 2021, began to funnel money to the Trump Organization, handing over $8,000 to the Trump Hotel Collection by the end of the first month. According to Politico, the situation comes as some Trump donors are slowly taking notice of the former president's steady downfall. In interviews, they described a GOP electorate still enamored with Trump and dismissive of the House Select Committee and its findings. Former President Donald Trump's Difficulties A Republican donor, Dan Eberhart, said that Trump is now facing an important onslaught of negative facts with the committee's hearings, arguing that there was no real defense for the former president. He said Trump has no friendly members on the panel and there are no facts to put in front of the public to prevent the findings from becoming worse for him. Despite Eberhart suspecting that the hearings were only strengthening the loyalty of Trump's core supporters, the Republican businessman's potential opponents were benefiting as well. He noted that Ron DeSantis was lying in wait, sharpening his knives, and waiting for his opportunity to strike. The Florida governor's advisers do not see the Jan. 6 hearings as a "nail in the coffin" for Trump, but rather just another in a line of distractions. They argue that these are exhausting the sort of top-line Republican money that could become influential to a potential 2024 Trump-DeSantis primary clash. With regards to Trump's alleged use of donor money, the House Select Committee's investigation called it the "Big Rip Off." The panel said that Trump's campaign took $250 million in donations from supporters that were said to go to an election defense fund but were instead sent to the Save America political action committee, NPR reported. Related Article: US Capitol Riot Poll: More Americans Think Donald Trump Should Be Punished for Jan. 6 Attack @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A late-night sprint to the Kremlin by Vladimir Putin has raised fears that he is preparing a new broadcast address on the Ukraine war and relations with the West. On Saturday night, the video shows his Aurus limousine making a late-night run to his Moscow seat of power. His Kremlin visit came directly after negotiations with Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg, 440 miles away, during which Putin pledged to equip the Minsk dictator with sophisticated nuclear-capable weapons. Russia Did Not Deny Alleged Vladimir Putin's Secret Meeting Following the summit, Russian bombers using Belarus airspace bombarded Ukrainian towns, including Kyiv. Putin's spokesperson did not dispute the late-night sprint to the Kremlin but ruled out a crisis gathering of top officials as the reason. He also disputed that Putin would issue an emergency declaration. Major remarks made by the Russian president in the Kremlin have before been recorded and then disseminated. One possibility is that he may have come to announce an intensification of hostilities, which would have been the reason for his visit. It is widely thought that his nighttime address, which signaled the beginning of his "special military operation" in Ukraine on February 24, was pre-recorded. Putin doesn't live in the Kremlin; instead, he has an official house outside of the city, and during the summer, he typically bases himself in Sochi on the Black Sea. As a result, Peskov was forced to respond when he saw his entourage enter the Kremlin late on a Saturday night. This unusual sight quickly sparked headlines on social media. Official from Ukraine Anton Gerashchenko voiced worry that the visit implied a fresh stance from Putin on the conflict, Daily Mail reported. Read Also: Biden Signs Landmark Federal Gun Safety Bill Into Law; What's in It? Ex-CIA Agent: Vladimir Putin Could be Ousted After denying for weeks that he had any plans to invade, Putin on February 24 unveiled what Russia calls its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Many people think that the announcement was pre-recorded. Russian missiles struck a residential building and kindergarten in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, hours after the Kremlin dash. As world leaders convened in Europe to negotiate more measures against Moscow, US President Joe Biden denounced the strikes as "barbarism." In the early hours of Sunday, downtown Kyiv was shaken by up to four explosions, the city's first such attack in weeks. Later in the day, there were two additional explosions heard on the city's southern borders. "The Russians hit Kyiv again. Missiles damaged an apartment building and a kindergarten," claimed Andriy Yermak, head of Volodymyr Zelensky's administration in Ukraine. Ukraine's police chief, Ihor Klymenko, said on national television that five people had been hurt; however, Ukrainian police later reported that one person had died. After intense opposition halted Russian advances in the early stages of the conflict, life in Kyiv had begun to return to normal. There haven't been any significant attacks on Kyiv since early June, despite the frequent sounding of air raid sirens around the city. Meanwhile, during the G7 conference in Germany, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a joke about Putin with other international leaders. The Prime Minister and his Canadian counterpart, Justin Trudeau, spoke about the Russian President and his history of being photographed naked. Johnson questioned if they should keep their suitcoats on as the sun beamed down on Schloss Elmau in the Bavarian Alps, as per Express. An ex-CIA agent claimed that Vladimir Putin might be deposed by a murderous conspiracy orchestrated by his closest associates. Former Moscow station head Daniel Hoffman believes Putin's power will be jeopardized if the conflict in Ukraine fails, with a conspiracy to depose him possibly lethal. "These individuals who are going to do it are going to be so covert about it so that Putin doesn't discover them and murder them first," Hoffman told the Daily Beast. Speculation over the leader's health continues, with several stories saying the Russian leader is battling a range of ailments, including blood cancer and Parkinson's. Putin has previously been photographed during a parade with his legs wrapped with a huge blanket, and he looked to shiver violently at a meeting with Belarusian tyrant Alexander Lukashenko. But Hoffman feels there are three essential personalities to keep an eye on if Russia's president is removed, according to The Sun. Related Article: Vladimir Putin Brags Release of New Satan II Nuclear Missile, Capable of Wiping Out UK by the End of 2022 @YouTube @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. LG is jumping into the EV charging business with the acquisition of a South Korean EV battery charger developer called AppleMango, it announced. The move will allow it to create "fully-featured" charging stations with a user-friendly interface and real-time control and management, it said. In particular, it will be able to leverage its "sturdy, dust- and water-proof" outdoor digital display tech. LG is well-established in electric mobility, developing batteries, screens and sensors for electric cars. It recently joined forces with Magna International to develop e-motors, inverters and onboard chargers for automakers. The acquisition will expand that, allowing it to marry the new charger capabilities with its current in-house EV charging management systems. It'll also allow LG to "create synergy" with its current EV battery business and products like energy storage and energy management systems. AppleMango was established three years ago in 2019 and has developed proprietary tech like a slim and fast EV charger. LG will also work with partners GS Energy, which operates EV charging stations and IT provider GS Neotek to develop the necessary infrastructure. LG took a 60 percent stake in AppleMango, GS Energy a 34 percent stake and GS Neotek a 6 percent share, according to TechCrunch. LG plans to install an EV charger production line at LG Digital Park in South Korea by the end of 2022. The goal is to supply a variety of customers with custom EV charging solutions, including private residences, shopping malls, hotels and public buildings. Carl Pei thinks theres something wrong with the smartphone industry. Like a lot of us, Pei has started feeling like new phones just arent as special as the devices of five or 10 years ago. He thinks the big players are all circling the same ideas in smartphone design. (Something true for at least a decade now.) And thats where his new company, Nothing, comes in. Pei wants to bring some originality back to mobile tech design. Maybe we can turn down the brain a little bit and turn up the intuition, said Pei. Check out our full interview with the former co-founder of OnePlus. Nothing While we havent properly tested the device yet , the Nothing Phone 1 is already available to pre-order you just need an invitation. Word of warning: Nothing has already said the Phone 1 won't officially come to North America beyond a closed beta for a handful of private community investors. The device should work but won't have full support. Me? Well, I live in the UK. Sorry about that. Mat Smith The biggest stories you might have missed Contrary to reports, its still in its early stages. Company co-chief Ted Sarandos confirmed at the Cannes Lions festival that Netflix is adding an ad-backed tier with a lower price. He stressed the option wouldn't bring ads to Netflix "as you know it today" as with rivals like Peacock, you'll still be able to avoid marketing altogether. Sarandos didn't share further details. However, The Wall Street Journal reported that Google and NBCUniversal are the "top contenders" to help Netflix build the ads-included plan. A Netflix spokesperson told Engadget the company was "still in the early days" of developing the ad-based tier and hadn't nailed down its approach. It's all "speculation" at present, the representative added. Continue reading. With a new chip and display. In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloombergs Mark Gurman reports Apple is readying a new HomePod speaker that will look and sound similar to the original 2018 model. As you may recall, the company discontinued the HomePod in 2021 without announcing a direct replacement. According to Gurman, the new model may feature Apples forthcoming S8 chip and an updated display on the top of the speaker that may include multi-touch functionality. While the original had a display of sorts, it didnt really show information beyond a Siri orb. Continue reading. It has delayed the FDA's ban on its vape pens and pods. Juul has successfully convinced the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia to delay the Food and Drug Administration's ban on its products. The agency recently banned Juul from selling and distributing its e-cigarette pens and pods in the US after a comprehensive two-year review. Despite Juul's accusation that the administration's ban was "arbitrary and capricious," the FDA said it was banning the company's products because it didn't submit sufficient evidence proving that potentially harmful chemicals don't leach from its proprietary pods into the vapor users inhale. Continue reading. The Thiomargarita magnifica is as long as a human eyelash. Jean-Marie Volland/Berkeley Lab A bacterium classified as the largest ever discovered needs no special tools to be visible to the naked eye. Thiomargarita magnifica, as it's called, has a filament-like appearance and can be as long as a human eyelash. The BBC explained its bigger than some more complex organisms, such as tiny flies, mites and worms. Continue reading. A study found that COVID-19 infection raises the risk of neurodegenerative disorders among patients--including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and stroke--when compared to individuals who tested negative for the deadly virus. The research study presented at the 8th European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress analyzed the health records of more than half of the Danish population. It found that people who tested positive for COVID-19 were at a far greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic stroke. COVID-19 Link to Neurodegenerative Disorders The study analyzed 919,731 individuals who were tested for the deadly virus. It found that the 43,375 who got positive results had a 3.5 times increased risk of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's, 2.6 times with Parkinson's, 2.7 times with ischemic stroke, and 4.8 times with intracerebral hemorrhage, which is bleeding in the brain. The authors highlighted the implications of the scientific focus on long-term sequelae after COVID-19, which is commonly referred to as long-COVID. The researchers analyzed in- and outpatients in Denmark between February 2020 and November 2021 and also studied influenza patients from the corresponding pre-pandemic period, as per SciTechDaily. Researchers used statistical techniques to calculate a patient's relative risk, and results were stratified for hospitalization status, age, sex, and comorbidities. The lead author from the Department of Neurology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark, Dr. Pardis Zarifkar, explained that the precise nature and evolution of the effects of the COVID-19 virus on neurological disorders remains uncharacterized. Read Also: WHO: Monkeypox Outbreak Not Yet a Global Health Emergency But Should be 'Closely Monitored' There have been previous studies that established an association with neurological syndromes, but until now, it is unknown whether or not the coronavirus also influences the incidence of specific neurological diseases and whether or not it differs from other respiratory infections. According to NewAtlas, Zarifkar noted that the increased risk of the neurological conditions following COVID-19 infection mirrors what was previously reported with influenza or bacterial pneumonia. However, due to the sheer prevalence of COVID-19 infections, it is most likely that baseline rates for these neurodegenerative disorders will increase worldwide in the future. Lasting Effects of COVID-19 The lead author added that they found support for an increased risk of being diagnosed with neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders in COVID-19 positive patients compared to those who tested negative. However, this is something that must be confirmed or refuted by large registry studies in the near future. "Reassuringly, apart for ischemic stroke, most neurological disorders do not appear to be more frequent after COVID-19 than after influenza or community-acquired bacterial pneumonia," said Zarifkar. Researchers have, for decades, observed a correlation between certain viral infections and neurodegenerative diseases. One of the most well-known was the increase in rates of Parkinson's disease following the Spanish Flu pandemic in the early 20th century. On the other hand, the senior vice president of medical communications at the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Dr. Rachel Dolhun, said that this kind of study could understandably grab attention and raise concerns among populations. "We know that COVID, like any infection, can temporarily worsen symptoms in people who live with Parkinson's. We don't yet know whether COVID can bring on Parkinson's," said Dolhun, per Healthline. Related Article: COVID-19 Omicron Variant: 9 Symptoms for Fully Vaccinated, Early Warning Signs of Infection Revealed @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The release of stills from an upcoming Lifetime film based on the terrible murder of Gabby Petito coincides with the FBI's confirmation that Brian Laundrie admitted to killing the budding social media star in his personal notebook. The latter information leaked and while the police was frustrated, they could no longer do anything about it. In the notebook, it was revealed that the whole murder was set off by an accident, wherein Gabby Petito was seriousy hurt. Laundrie allegedly felt extremely pained for his then fiancee and ended her life as a form of merciful killing. He instantly regretted what he done and vowed to commit suicide too, so his body can be eaten by animals. He made true of that promise. On Thursday, "The Gabby Petito Story" was first observed filming in the mountains outside Salt Lake City, Utah. In a few scenes, director Thora Birch can be seen directing the actors playing Petito and Laundrie. Burch will also portray Petito's mother in the film. The complete cast list has not yet been announced. The photographs depict the two engaging in a heated fight before Laundrie rushes away and enters the white van he would later drive home alone after murdering his lover Petito. ALSO READ: Brian Laundrie, Gabby Petito Case Update: Real Reason Behind Murder Leaked [DETAILS] As Petito was murdered by Laundrie just last fall, many have criticized Lifetime's choice to press forward with a documentary about her tragedy so soon. "I can't believe this even needs to be said but we do NOT need a Gabby Petito murder movie. We don't," tweeted one critic. Another said, "Hollywood is making a movie about the death of Gabby Petito?!?! Unreal. Tone deaf. But I'm not surprised. Hollywood can't come up with anything original these days." As there are already images from the real film, this indicates that it was shot much before the alleged leak of information. Will the film portray "the truth?" However, the network may have had good intentions, as the clip would be included in its Stop Violence Against Women public affairs effort. Petito, a resident of Long Island who disappeared during a road trip with Laundrie, was discovered on September 19 strangled in a campground near the Grand Tetons. After her death, Laundrie vanished, sparking a nationwide manhunt. Later, he was discovered dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound near a Florida marsh, where the FBI recently located his notebook. "I ended her life," he said, saying that Petito, who was 22 years old, fell and severely injured herself. Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, filed a wrongful death case against the curator of Laundrie's estate in Florida last month. She is claiming damages of $30,000. ALSO READ: 'Riverdale' Actor Kills Own Mom in Cold Blood for An Incredibly Disturbing Reason Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong is doing what so many disenfranchised and fed up Americans have said they wanted to do, leave. The "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" performer is putting his money where his mouth is and actually moving to the UK after the straw that broke the camel's back, the overturning of Roe v Wade, and renouncing his American citizenship. During a concert in London on Friday, just hours after the decision by SCOUTUS to revoke a woman's right to choose to have an abortion, Armstrong said to the concert goers: "F*** America." To reiterate his decision, the 50-year old told the audience: "There's too much f***ing stupid in the world to go back to that miserable f**king excuse for a country...Oh, I'm not kidding, you're going to get a lot of me in the coming days." This comes as no surprise as he and bandmates Mike Dirnt and Frank Edwin Wright III aka Tre Cool wrote the 2004 hit album American Idiot, later made into a popular broadway musical, which rallied against so much of the United States hypocrisy and injustices, which was inspired by the attacks on 9/11 which lead to the reelection of former President George W. Bush. According to Greenday.fm: "The title of the song is referring to the author's opinion that these days politicians and the media are telling us what to do, what to buy, what to believe in. We are constantly being subliminally mind-fucked by commercials, campaigns and reality TV. They turn us into idiots with no individuality. "In this song, the narrator is saying that he doesn't want his nation to be turned into complete idiots, he doesn't want his country to be led by a redneck president ('I'm not a part of a redneck agenda'), doesn't want people to be convinced that it's right to hate someone because of their sexual preferences ('maybe I'm the faggot America'), doesn't want the nation to be isolated and detested because of stupid decisions that the government makes ('Welcome to a new kind of tension, all across the alienation')." "This song is an overview of the album's most important ideas, as well as a sort of a warning calling out to the people across the country: don't let them take away your personality, don't let them turn you into Idiot America." With all of the chaos in the US at the moment, the old saying holds true: "The more things change, the more things stay the same." The Jurassic cephalopod Vampyronassa rhodanica, thought to be the oldest known ancestor of the modern-day vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis), was likely an active hunter - a mode of life that is in contrast with its opportunistic descendant. Scientists led by Sorbonne University came to this conclusion after analysing microtomographic data of this rare fossil, acquired at the ESRF and the Museum national dHistoire naturelle in Paris. The results are published today in Scientific Reports. Vampyronassa rhodanica is thought to be one of the oldest relatives of the modern-day vampire squid (Vampyroteuthis infernalis), which is the only remaining living species of its family. This modern form lives in extreme deep ocean environments, often with little oxygen, and feeds on drifting organic matter. Like V. infernalis, the body of V. rhodanica was mostly made of soft tissue. As this rarely fossilises, little is known about the physical characteristics and evolutionary history of this family. Despite the scarcity of fossil material from this family, Alison Rowe, from Sorbonne University and colleagues were able to study 3 well-preserved V. rhodanica specimens from La Voulte-sur-Rhone (Ardeche, France), dating to more than 164 million years ago. The eight-armed specimens were small, measuring around 10 cm in length, and had elongated oval-shaped bodies with two small fins. Vampyroteuthis infernalis. Monterey Bay, California, USA. The image is a still from video footage collected at a depth of 717 meters. They took them to the ESRF for non-destructive 3-D imaging: We used synchrotron tomography at the ESRF in order to better identify the outlines of the various anatomical features, says Rowe. However, the task was challenging, as Vincent Fernandez, scientist at the ESRF, explains: The fossils are on small slabs, which are very difficult to scan. On top of that, soft tissues are preserved but we needed phase contrast imaging to visualise the faint density variation in the data. The coherence of beamline ID19 was therefore very important to perform propagation phase-contrast computed-tomography and track all the minute details, such as the suckers and small fleshy extensions, called cirri. X-ray CT images (acquired at the ESRF (Grenoble, France)) and reconstructions of V. rhodanica. (a) Photograph (P. Loubry, CR2P) showing the exceptional 3-D preservation of the preserved soft tissue. (b) CT slice of the specimen. (c) 3-D representation showing the arm crown and other presumed elements (d) External 3-D reconstruction (e) CT slice showing the profile view. Credits: Scientific Reports. The imaging revealed previously unknown details regarding the suckers and arm crown. Comparison with tomographic data of an extant V. infernalis specimen scanned at the American Museum of Natural History in New York allowed the team to determine that the suckers and cirri of V. rhodanica were proportionately more robust than those of V. infernalis. The researchers also noticed that the configuration of the suckers and cirri on the longer dorsal arm pair was different than on the rest of the arms. We believe that the morphology and placement of V. rhodanica suckers and cirri in the differentiated arm crown allowed V. rhodanica increased suction and sensory potential over the modern form, and helped them to manipulate and retain prey, says Rowe. The presence of muscular suckers on each of the arms and sensory conical appendages for detecting prey suggests that V. rhodanica was likely an active predatory hunter. This is in contrast with its more opportunistic descendant the vampire squid, which has adapted to a low energy, deep ocean lifestyle. Reference: Rowe A.J. et al, Scientific Reports, 23 June 2022. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-12269-3 EU leaders granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova at a summit on Thursday (23 June) in a move that can be seen as a geopolitical response to Russias aggression on Europes eastern flank. Today marks a crucial step on your path towards the EU, Mr Chales Michel, the President of the European Council, said, describing the European Councils decision as a historic moment. As heads of state and government gathered in Brussels for their usual pre-summer summit, high on the agenda was also the effort to forge a closer alliance with Western Balkan countries designed to also overcome regional tensions. However, the EU summit seems to have only increased Western Balkan leaders frustration. North Macedonia is a candidate [for] 17 years if I have not lost count, Albania eight, so welcome to Ukraine, Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama warned Kyiv to be under no illusions, referring to the long process of joining the bloc. North Macedonian Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski expressed his dissatisfaction at the lack of progress in their own bids to join the EU. Though some EU diplomats have previously voiced concerns that giving Ukraine candidate status could offer false hope, Ukraines president, Volodymyr Zelensky, hailed the decision. The country applied days after the Russian invasion in February, and the process moved at a record speed. The status of EU candidacy for Ukraine and Moldova is the last stage of a reorganization of the continent. The time of buffer zones between East and West is coming to an end, argues Roman Goncharenko in a latest opinion published by DW. The blocs decision to grant EU candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova is historic, both for the former Soviet republics as well as for the EU. It is a turning point. Ukraine has been knocking on the EUs door for about 20 years, but Brussels did not want to open it because of the resistance of influential EU founding members who saw Ukraine as a kind of buffer zone between the EU and Russia and also since Western Europe feared that Ukraines accession would change the balance in favor of the countries of Eastern and Central Europe, with which Brussels already has a complicated relationship. But, Goncharenko points out that the Russian invasion of Ukraine has now forced the EU to correct its mistake. How consistent Brussels will be remains to be seen. Of course, there will be attempts to slow down this process, but a change of direction is no longer possible. Still the EUs support for Ukraine must not end here the EU and NATO must now seize this historic opportunity to stop Vladimir Putin in his tracks, because if they fail to do so, Europe will face war on its own territory, long-time Kremlin opponent and former oligarch Mikhail Khodorkovsky argues in his recent interview with Euronews. Today, NATO has a great opportunity to help Ukraine defend its sovereignty by participating in this war with weapons, supplies and training Ukrainian soldiers, rather than fighting on its own territories, Khodorkovsky says. If this opportunity is missed, I issue a warning: in a few years, or perhaps even earlier, NATO will be directly involved in this war, because it will be happening on the territory of a NATO country. Khodorkovsky also warns that leaders of major European countries still believe that it is possible to agree on something with Putin without showing him their strength And this is a dramatic mistake, because theyre not talking to a leader whos like them. No, theyre talking to a gangster. And any gangster who thinks they are in a position of strength and who is being asked to make concessions will in fact try to finish off his victim. Jasper, IndianaIn 94 action-packed pages, Kevin Schewe's Bad Love Tigers won BEST FEATURE SCRIPT at New York Neorealism Film Awards in Rome, Italy. The Bad Love Tigers Screenplay was just released to the international screenplay circuit at the end of February 2022 and has already won 44 International Awards. It is a feel good, action-adventure, sci-fi blend of Stand by Me meets Raiders of the Lost Ark or Back to the Future meets Goonies. The strong international interest and accolades that it is generating shows its blockbuster potential to attract a global audience of all ages to the big screen. "The Bad Love Gang and I are truly excited and thrilled and we wholeheartedly thank the judges pictured here for this honor," Kevin Schewe said @realkevinschewe. See and Hear Kevin Schewe's Instagram Post at https://www.instagram.com/tv/CdWlHxaMzTw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kevin L. Schewe, MD (@realkevinschewe) Bad Love Tigers has now won 44 awards including Best Screenplay at the London Classic Film Festival Official Selection for Best Feature Screenplay and Best Original Screenplay and Best Poster at the Golden Giraffe International Film Festival in Nice, France, BEST SCI-FI SHORT SCRIPT at the Red Dragon Creative Awards in Dallas, Texas, BEST SHORT SCREENPLAY award at the Silver Mask Live Festival in Los Angeles, California, BEST SCRIPT WRITTEN DURING PANDEMIC award at Redwood Shorts & Scripts in Sunnyvale, California, BEST SCI-FI SCRIPT award at Mykonos International Film Festival, BEST SCI-FI SCREENPLAY at Thinking Hat Fiction Challenge in India, BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY at South Film and Arts Academy Festival in Chili. BEST SCI-FI SCRIPT at the Gold Star Movie Awards in New Jersey, BEST SCI-FI SCREENPLAY AWARD at the BRNO Film Festival in the Czech Republic, BEST FEATURE SCREENPLAY at Filmmaker Life Awards in Hollywood, BEST STORY SCREENPLAY AWARD at The Madrid Art Film Festival, Best Feature Screenplay at the White Unicorn International Film Festival FEATURE SCRIPT AUDIENCE CHOICE AWARD from the Black Swan International Film Festival, BEST SCRIPT from the New York Independent Cinema Awards, BEST THRILLER SCREENPLAY from the Adbhooture Film Festival in West Bengal, India, FEATURE SCRIPT OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from the Royal Society of Television and Motion Picture, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FEATURE SCRIPT award at Druk International Film Festival (DIFF) in Bhutan, BEST FEATURE SCRIPT award at Hollywood on the Tiber Film Awards in Rome, Italy, BEST SCRIPT OF THE MONTH at the Watch Out International Film Festival in Philadelphia, OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT award at the Tagore International Film Festival (TIFF) in West Bengal, India, BEST SCRIPT at the New Wave Short Film Festival in Munich, Germany, Best Screenwriter in a Feature Film at Onyko Film Awards in Ukraine, two screenplay awards at the Golden Wings International Film Awards, BEST THRILLER FEATURE SCREENPLAY and BEST SCREENPLAY OF THE MONTH, Best Feature Screenplay at the Sea of Art International Film Festival in Plock, Poland, Best Feature Screenwriting at the NYCinternational Film Festival, Best Feature Screenwriting at the Medusa Film Festival, Special Achievement Award at World Film Carnival-Singapore, Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Open Window International Film Challenge in India, Best Plot Award at the Beyond Earth Film Festival, Best Sci-Fi Feature Screenplay at the Karukrit International Film Festival in India, Best Script for Feature Film at the San Antonio Independent Film Festival in Ecuador, South America, Best Feature Film Screenplay at the Five Continents International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Naples Film Awards, Best Feature Script at the Cineville Calcutta Global Cinefest in India, Best Feature Screenplay at the Mumbai International Film Festival, Best Feature Screenplay and Best-Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Oniros Film Awards in New York City, Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the New York International Film Awards, Best Feature Screenplay in London at the BIFF International Film Festival, Best Original Screenplay at the Rome International Movie Awards and Best Feature Screenplay Honorable Mention at the Florence Film Awards. Bad Love Tigers, book two of twelve planned in the best-selling Bad Love Book Series, is about a dynamic group of young adventurers, known as the Bad Love Gang, who use a time machine to travel back to the World War II era, meet with President Roosevelt and embark on a perilous secret mission to protect an alien spaceship and defeat the Japanese in combat. Keeping America's deepest secret safe at Area-51 hinges on the success of their quest. Schewe's screenplay adapted from the first book, Bad Love Strikes, has won 14 International Awards at prestigious film festivals all over the world. In Bad Love Strikes, the Gang of teens from Oak Ridge, Tennessee, accidently discovers The White Hole Project, a WWII era time machine created by Albert Einstein at the request of President Franklin Roosevelt in case the atomic bomb Manhattan Project failed. They learn how to use the White Hole Project and then design a time-travel mission back to WWII, Nazi-controlled Poland to save a group of Holocaust victims from certain death. The accurate history and edge-of-your-seat action has you rooting for this unlikely gang of misfit teenagers turned heroes! Bad Love Strikes screenplay awards: Best Sci-Fi Screenplay at the Los Angeles Film Awards; Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival Best Screenplay; Best Script at the Rotterdam Independent Film Festival; Best Script in a Feature Film at the Hollywood International Golden Age Film Festival; New York Tri-State Film Festival Best Sci-Fi Screenplay; Florida Shorts Film Festival Best Unproduced Script; Tokyo's Genre Celebration Festival Best Feature Screenplay; Madrid Arthouse Film Festival Best Unproduced Feature Script; Madrid International Short Film Festival Best Script; the Seoul International Short Film Festival in Korea Best Script; and in Munich, Germany at the New Wave Short Film Festival, where it was chosen as a Special Jury Screenplay Selection. It also garnered a Prix Royal Paris Silver Screenplay Award; the South Florida International Film Festival for Best Original Screenplay for Young Adults, and a Gold Script Writing Award for Sci-Fi Adventure from the Depth of Field International Film Festival. Bad Love Strikes screenplay has also finished as a Finalist and Semi-Finalist at 23 other international film festivals. Watch the book trailer for Bad Love Tigers at https://bit.ly/BadLoveTigers_Trailer Each of the Bad Love series audio books are narrated by Alan Carlson, an award-winning narrator with credits in non-fiction, academic, romance fiction and many other categories. You can purchase the audio book at Amazon's Audible. The entire four book set is available on Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/Bad-Love-Collection-Sci-Fi-Adventure-ebook/dp/B09LPPDBMM/ or www.jancarolpublishing.com. "If history was taught this way in school, everyone would be a scholar and educating ourselves not only about our accomplishments but the horrors of the past that should awaken and give insight to the path of a better future. A rare gem!" David Holladay, MD, 5-Stars Watch the book trailer from Bad Love Strikes at https://bit.ly/BadLoveStrikes-Trailer The picture shows drugs ferreted out at the scene. FUZHOU, June 26 -- Recently, a large-scale cross-border drug smuggling case was busted by the China Coast Guard (CCG) forces in East China's Fujian Province, with seven suspects arrested, about 600 kg of the ketamine seized, and one ship involved detained at the scene. Earlier this year, the CCG forces in Fujian Province obtained the clues that a criminal gang was engaged in cross-border drug smuggling in the coastal areas in Fujian. The CCG immediately set up a task force to investigate, and in May the CCG task force obtained the clues that the gang will go to southeast Asia in June for drug trading. At about 2 a.m. on June 15, the CCG law-enforcement vessels arrived at the northern waters of the South China Sea to carry out arrest operation. At about 3 a.m., the suspected ship entered the ring of encirclement of the CCG law enforcement vessels. The suspected ship and the drug traffickers were successfully captured. Upon sailing back, the CCG forces in Fujian in cooperation with the local public security department sorted out the drugs ferreted out. At present, the investigation of this drug smuggling case is still underway. After one of Prince Charles' charities got suitcases of cash worth millions from a Qatari sheik, the Charity Commission is debating whether it should get involved in the investigation. It has been revealed that the previous leader of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Jassim Bin Jaber Al Thani, gave the Prince of Wales' Charitable Fund (PWCF) $3.07 million. Three gifts totaling about $1,103,000 each were placed in carrier bags and a holdall. The donations were made in 500 euro notes. Donations to Prince Charles' Charity Are "Very Unusual" Such large monetary contributions are "very unusual," though not prohibited, according to a source from Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs yesterday. Although it is lawful to give and receive large sums of cash, concerns regarding large ready-money transactions have emerged recently, Daily Mail reported. They can be used to assist in laundering illicit earnings and may confer significant advantages on tax evaders. Although "the optics are unhelpful," a supporter of Prince Charles acknowledged that no regulations were breached and that the uniquely packed gifts were likely accepted to avoid offending the Sheik. However, it is known that the Sheikh also made gifts by bank draft, thus, there may be a dispute over the specifics of the payments' quantities and methods. Per BBC, the Prince of Wales Charitable Fund, which provides grants for environmental, educational, and social inclusion programs, received the contribution. Read More: [Report] Prince Charles Urges To Strip Prince Harry's Royal Titles After Expert Claims Future King Gives "Biggest Insult" to the Sussexes Prince Charles Charity Receives Yearly Donations From Qatar PM Although Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim's donations were purported to have been made between 2011 and 2015, more current financial records from the Charity Commission, from 2017 to 2021, reveal that the charity received between $12.26 million and $18.38 million annually. According to charity standards, cash donations are accepted, and contributors may choose to remain anonymous. But to ensure the money came from a reliable source, organizations must exercise due diligence. The PWCF has reportedly received donations, according to a Charity Commission representative. Brandon Lewis, a fellow cabinet minister, claimed on Sunday that it was "fine" for Prince Charles to have taken a suitcase full of cash from the lawmaker from Qatar, as per The Independent. Because of his contacts with the palace, Lewis expressed his "confidence" that the situation would have been handled appropriately. The funds were "given promptly to one of the prince's charities," who carried out the proper governance and informed us that all the right protocols were followed," according to Clarence House. In their first conversation since Prince Charles allegedly called his asylum deportation policy "appalling," Prime Minister Boris Johnson stated last week that he and the prince had a "nice old chinwag" in Rwanda. Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales' former valet, Michael Fawcett, left The Prince's Foundation in November last year to pursue other opportunities. The 59-year-old worked as Prince Charles' close assistant for around 40 years. There have been allegations that he assisted Mahfouz Marei Mubarak bin Mahfouz, a rich Saudi financier, in obtaining an honorary CBE and British citizenship in 2016. However, Clarence House said that at the time, Prince Charles was unaware of the circumstance, and Mahfouz denied any misconduct. Related Article: Queen Elizabeth II Urges To Keep Prince Andrew Inside Royal Circle Despite Alleged War Against Prince William, Prince Charles @ 2022 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Chicago-area woman turning age 65 can pay as little as $110 or as much as $240 monthly for Medigap Plan G coverage according to the American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance 2022 Medicare Price Index. "Medicare is beloved by millions of American seniors but it clearly is one of the more complicated decisions people have to deal with," states Jesse Slome, director of the Association. "Picking the right coverage is crucial because selecting the wrong coverage can be a stressful and potentially costly mistake." Medicare is a national program but plan options are very local in nature Slome stresses. "The millions of dollars spent on television ads all couch fact that by saying these great benefits 'may' be available," Slome explains. "Your Medicare options are going to be based on where you live, sometimes right down to your specific Zip Code." The Association regularly looks at local plan options as part of an effort to better inform consumers. "Our latest analysis looks at Medigap Plan G protection for men and women who are turning age 65," Slome notes. Plan G is the option selected by the majority of Medigap buyers first entering the Medicare program. A male turning 65 residing in Cook County Chicago could find Medigap Plan G coverage for $124.19 per month according to Slome. The highest available premium for Plan G insurance was $275,80. "While policy benefits are virtually identical, each insurance company sets their own pricing. In addition, some insurers offer a Household discount when two spouses buy," he adds. The maximum discount was 15 percent according to the Association. To learn more about Medicare insurance Chicago plan prices visit the Association's website. The American Association for Medicare Supplement Insurance (AAMSI) advocates for the importance of planning. The organization maintains the leading national online directory when consumers can find local Medicare insurance agents. For more information, visit the organization's website at www.medicaresupp.org. Ex-San Antonio lawyer Christopher Chris Pettit was a one-stop fraud shop, an attorney representing the trustee overseeing Pettits bankruptcy case said Monday. Basically, that one stop involved trusts, it involved tax filing, it involved probate, it involved personal injury, attorney Patrick Huffstickler told Chief U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Craig Gargotta at a hearing. He was a licensed financial adviser so it involved investments. So there are a lot of documents. Pettit, a longtime San Antonio attorney, filed for bankruptcy protection and surrendered his Texas law license this month after allegations that he stole millions from clients. One creditors lawyer estimated at least $50 million has been misappropriated. On ExpressNews.com: Embattled San Antonio lawyer, accused of defrauding clients of millions, files huge bankruptcy case The allegations have triggered an FBI investigation but no charges have been filed. Pettit did not attend Mondays proceeding. I will say this on the record: At some point hes coming to court, the judge said. So you can just convey that to him that hes going to have to come to court at some point in time live and in person. Eric Terry, the Chapter 11 trustee, is expected to meet with Pettit sometime this week possibly as early as Tuesday to get a better handle on the estate and client files. Pettit listed $27.8 million in assets and $115.2 million in liabilities in his bankruptcy among the largest ever filed in San Antonio. His law firm, which has been shut down, also entered bankruptcy but has yet to report its assets and debts. The two cases have been consolidated. As trustee, Terry, a San Antonio attorney, will be responsible for locating assets for distribution to creditors. Little eerie He has visited the office at 13111 Huebner Road where Pettit maintained his personal-injury practice. Walking through that office building was a little eerie, Terry said at a previous court hearing. And it felt tragic for the people that have been robbed, quite frankly. There were overwhelming feelings at many times walking through that office building. In an email, Terry elaborated on what he saw. I stated that because I saw real names of the real people violated and victimized in the midst of a lavish law office, he said. I felt an overwhelming feeling of commitment to help these people. SA Inc.: Get the best of business news sent directly to your inbox There are hundreds, if not thousands, of client files, Terry said. Theyre certainly in disarray, in my opinion, and there is definite lack of controls, he said in the earlier hearing. On Monday, though, Huffstickler said the records are not is as bad a shape as he expected but added there is no easy index to aid in finding files. As a result, its going to take time to for both the debtor and the trustee to get information. I also point out at this particular point in the case the estate has very little in the way of cash assets, Huffstickler said. This is one of those cases that I refer to as Im working on a contingency basis with no upside. Still, there are a lot of potential assets primarily real estate. It includes a mansion in Disney World thats been listed for sale for $8.9 million and a residence at 555 Argyle Ave. in Alamo Heights overlooking Olmos Dam. Its valued by Pettit at $3.6 million. Besides four offices in San Antonio, Pettit had smaller satellite offices in Laredo and Las Cruces, N.M., for potential personal-injury cases, Huffstickler said. That prompted Gargotta to ask if Pettit was licensed as an attorney in New Mexico. Huffstickler didnt know but Pettit isnt listed on the State Bar of New Mexicos website. Property transfers Terry also is investigating the transfer of at least seven properties collectively worth millions of dollars. The properties were transferred by Pettit or entities he controlled to Sin Reposo LLC. Thats a company controlled by Garrett Glass, a San Antonio developer who is CFO of an oil and gas investment company based in Calgary called EF EnergyFunders Inc. The companys principal office is in San Antonio. 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. On ExpressNews.com: Ex-San Antonio lawyer Chris Pettit sold multiple properties to same buyer before massive bankruptcy Michael Colvard, Pettits bankruptcy lawyer, said his client transferred the properties to get money to resolve a court judgment against him and his firm. Pettit didnt list the transactions in his bankruptcy papers, but Colvard indicated the documents will be amended to include them at some point. Were cooperating with the trustee and were going to get this information and make this information available as soon as possible, Colvard said of the property transactions. Huffstickler told the judge the trustee may soon file an application to hire litigation counsel to pursue cases potentially involving the transfer of assets that might otherwise belong to the bankruptcy estate. Huffstickler said Terry wants to set up a protocol to address the return of client files, which include personal-injury cases, wills, tax returns and trusts. On ExpressNews.com: Clients considered San Antonio lawyer Chris Pettit a friend, family confidante We want to get people their files, he said. This is a many-headed beast. The trustee also wants another protocol set up that would allow him to execute documents to remove Pettit or his firm as trustee on various trusts and have new trustees installed, Huffstickler said. Terry added, Im committed to doing this fast. When we say a few weeks, I mean it. pdanner@express-news.net San Antonio Board of Realtors In what is described as a stately mansion youll never want to leave, a $5.9 million Hill Country Village has hit the market. The six-bedroom, eight-bathroom, 8,877-square-foot San Antonio-area home sits on six acres and is ready for the pages of any magazine, according to the listing by Jason Glast, with Phyllis Browning Co. Click here to read the full article. Jodie Sweetin said she plans to continue fighting after a video showed Los Angeles cops shoving her to the ground at an abortion rights protest over the weekend. Im extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court, Sweetin said in a statement, ostensibly nodding to the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free. The incident occurred this past Saturday, June 25, with protesters gathering near the 101 Freeway in Los Angeles. In the video originally shared by freelance photojournalist Mike Ade Sweetin appears close to a group of cops, and two of them push her, causing her to trip and fall backward into the crowd of protesters. Sweetin returned to her feet after the altercation. One protester can be heard yelling, What the fuck is wrong with you guys, after which the crowd began chanting, No justice, no peace. In a statement, the LAPD said it was aware of the video and that the officers had been charged with preventing protesters from getting onto the freeway. The force used will be evaluated against the LAPDs policy and procedure, the LAPD said. As the nation continues to wrestle with the latest Supreme Court decision, the Los Angeles Police Department will continue to facilitate 1st Amendment rights, while protecting life and property. Along with her statement, Sweetin shared the video of the altercation on Instagram. Love everyone out there in the streets fighting for what is right, she wrote in the comments. The Coleman Co. will close its plant in New Braunfels, resulting in 150 people losing their jobs. The Herald-Zeitung reports that the Kansas-based outdoor recreation company will discontinue production in October and consolidate business operations at its Wichita, Kansas, plant. Coleman had been in operation in New Braunfels since 1980. You might also like: Frio River flow drops to zero as drought continues Coleman, owned by Newell Brands, will stagger the layoffs throughout the rest of the year, starting with 47 employees at the end of August, another 55 by Oct. 30 and the remaining employees in early December, according to the newspaper. Attempts by the Express-News to reach plant operations manager Richard Hunter for comment were unsuccessful. A Newell Brands spokesperson did not immediately return a request for comment. Colemans New Braunfels plant made canoes, fishing boats and ice chests until 2000, when the canoe and boat business was sold and licensed to a Canadian company, according to Express-News archives. Beginning in 2005, the plant specialized in making ice chests and re-freezable ice packets. On ExpressNews.com: Seeking a home for $210,000 in San Antonio? Heres how far your money will go. Last year, Newell closed its plant in Minnesota as it exited the Stearns industrial and government line of flotation products it was making there, the Star Tribune in Minneapolis reported. Hunter, the New Braunfels plant operations manager, announced the layoffs on June 22, according to the Herald-Zeitung. Hunter told the newspaper that he is working with the New Braunfels Chamber of Commerce and other organizations to secure hiring events and resources for Coleman employees. timothy.fanning@express-news.net Kin Man Hui/Staff photographer Although the National Weather Service is calling the cold front that moved through the San Antonio area on Monday morning weak, it will give the region some reprieve from triple-digit temperatures. The cold front from a weather disturbance in the Great Lakes will only drop the temperature by a few degrees, but it also has the potential to produce scattered showers throughout the week, according to NWS meteorologist Monte Oaks. A San Antonio gang member and convicted killer was added to Texas' Most Wanted list last week. Authorities have been searching for 44-year-old Raynaldo Farias Tijerina since October after the Bexar County Sheriff's Office issued warrants for his arrest on suspicion of invasive visual recording and possession of child pornography. Tijerina, who officials say is affiliated with the Tango Blast gang, was sentenced to 30 years in prison for a murder conviction in 1995. While in prison, he was also convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to an additional 15 years. On ExpressNews.com: Man found shot to death near downtown San Antonio-area middle school In 2017, Tijerina was released on parole. Tijerina is 5-foot-11 and weighs about 195 pounds. He has tattoos on his face, neck, abdomen, left arm and left leg. Tijerina also has brown eyes but may be wearing colored contacts. He may also go by the following aliases: Reynaldo Tijerina, Rey Tijerina, Rene Tijerina, Ray "Skinny" Tijerina or "Skinny." Tijerina is considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on Tijerina can contact Crime Stoppers at 800-252-8477 or click here. All tips must be anonymous and submitted through Crime Stoppers to be eligible for the reward. There is a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest. taylor.pettaway@express-news.net Larry W. Smith/Getty Images A man was found dead with a gunshot wound near a middle school just west of downtown San Antonio, police said. According to police, officers arrived in the 1300 block of Cesar E. Chavez Boulevard just before 8 a.m. to find the man in his 20s dead near Tafolla Middle School. Officials believe he was shot in the area based on shell casings and other evidence found at the scene. Nearly 27,000 new business applications were filed in Bexar County in 2021, breaking the previous record set a year prior. The U.S. Census Bureau released its county-level Business Formation Statistics on Thursday, showing that Bexar County's growth swelled by 26 percent last year, from 21,228 in 2020 to 26,695. The boom in new business applications continues a trend that picked up during the pandemic, when layoffs and uncertainty about future unemployment may have nudged more people to take their working lives into their own hands. While the news of Bexar County's entrepreneurial growth last year is a nice break from the sour news swirling around an economy that is teetering toward a recession this summer, it's not all sunny. Bexar's growth was eclipsed by the statewide average, pegged at 28 percent. And three out of five similarly sized counties, those with a population of at least a million, outpaced Bexar as well. Bexar County's entrepreneurial spirit was outperformed by others in the state in 2021. Bexar filed 13.5 applications per 1,000 residents, landing the county in the 37th spot in Texas. In comparison, Fort Bend County led the way with a rate of 25.7 filed applications. Statewide figures show that not all of these newly formed businesses plan on hiring employees. Census Bureau data shows that only about a third of applications filed in Texas are for businesses likely to have a payroll. The rest include individuals who are self-employed or work gig-economy jobs. The Census Bureau determines the total number of new business applications by looking at the number of Employee Identification Numbers assigned by the Internal Revenue Service to new businesses. National-, regional- and state-level data are released monthly and weekly, while county-level data is released annually. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate San Antonio is giving residents a chance beautify the city one brushstroke at a time. With or without previous artistic experience, residents are invited to paint a mural that will be installed on the north-facing wall of Historic Market Squares Farmers Market in the fall. Designed by San Antonio natives Ashleigh Garza and Hailey Marmolejo in collaboration with the nonprofit organization San Anto Cultural Arts, the mural pays homage to the citys multicultural heritage. Its a nighttime scene featuring an array of motifs that hold a special place in Mexican culture and folklore, including imaginary animals called alebrijes and women wearing the luchador masks popular among Mexican wrestlers. Developed with input from community members, the design was approved in early spring. The choice to center women and traditionally feminine objects and concepts was a conscious one, according to Garza and Marmolejo. We wanted to highlight the women of Market Square, Garza said. On ExpressNews.com: Chili Queens photos show the early years of San Antonios street food scene The women represent the famous San Antonio Chili Queens, Mexican women who hawked traditional dishes such as tamales, frijoles, enchiladas, chili verde and chili con carne in San Antonio plazas from the 1860s to the late 1930s, according to the University of the Incarnate Word. By night, the scene, illuminated by mesquite fires and oil lanterns, was so striking that writers Stephen Crane and O. Henry even lent their literary talents to describing it. Charlie Blalock/ Contributor The nightly encampments upon the historic Alamo Plaza, in the heart of the city, had been a carnival, a saturnalia that was renowned throughout the land Drawn by the coquettish senoritas, the music of the weird Spanish minstrels, and the strange piquant Mexican dishes served at a hundred competing tables, crowds thronged the Alamo Plaza all night, Henry wrote in his 1904 short story The Enchanted Kiss. In addition, all of the alebrijes are female figures and then even the constellations in the sky are women, and then all of the plants we use are also kind of (expressive of) female energy, Garza said. And so its really an homage to women and the work that theyve done and continue to do in markets. Titled The Spirit Within, the mural measures 18 feet by 155 feet a daunting amount of space to fill. However, Garza said the painting process is progressing slightly faster than expected thanks to the zeal of contributors. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio artist creates mural to remember the Uvalde mass shooting victims Individuals and families are welcome to stop by San Anto Cultural Arts headquarters in the 2100 block of El Paso Street at predetermined times to paint, though only one community paint day Saturday, July 25, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. remains. No RSVP is required, though the nonprofit strongly recommends wearing paint-friendly clothes and closed-toe shoes. Previous community paint days have been well-attended, according to Marmolejo, attracting between 15 to 30 families in search of a fun communal activity. Charlie Blalock/ Contributor Pretty much every community day has been filled with people, and everybody is definitely excited about it. Kids of all ages, people from all over different parts of town, Marmolejo said. Even some people from out of town have come. On ExpressNews.com: San Antonio art project near completion at San Pedro Creek Culture Park Painting takes place on a material known as polytab, a non-woven fabric that is lighter than traditional canvas. Because most community members are not professional artists, their contribution is limited to blocking in defining the basic color of every section of the painting. When the blocking in is finished, Garza and Marmolejo will fill in the finer details. They anticipate the process will take about a month. The Spirit Within is one of several projects spearheaded by the San Antonio Department of Arts & Cultures Public Art Program via the Zona Cultural Public Art Effort. Financed by 2017 bond program funds, the effort aims to creat(e) a visual gateway connecting the citys West Side to San Pedro Creek and the heart of downtown, according to the city. Charlie Blalock/ Contributor On ExpressNews.com: How many of these new downtown San Antonio murals have you seen? However, its value transcends the visual, according to Garza and Marmolejo. Murals are important because it brings people together, Garza said. They have the ability to create a whole new space for people to gather and talk about the art and just create a community. caroline.tien@hearst.com Steam Deck designer, no less than Valve's developer Lawrence Yang, issues a warning against a new SSD mod that adds a larger M.2 drive to the handheld gaming device. The designer of Valve's Steam Deck himself could not help but warn owners against the new SSD mod. The father of the handheld device pointed out how bad it is for the handheld gaming device. Steam Deck SSD Mod As per a news story by Game Spot, a Steam Deck mod enables gamers to upgrade the gaming device with a larger M.2 drive, expanding its storage capacity. The gaming-focused news site notes that while the Steam deck has various offerings, its SSD support is limited to the smallest versions of M.2 drives out there. Despite that, a Twitter user that goes by the username "TheSmcelra" shared a mod that allows its owner to go beyond small M.2 drives. But the mod requires a bit of rearranging in the internals of the gaming device to fit the larger SSD. Belly Jelly on Twitter shared that the mod requires ditching the thermal pad from its original place to make way for the larger M.2 drive. Aside from that, it no longer needs to move other parts of the handheld PC. Steam Deck Designer Disapproves Latest SSD Mod While the whole SSD mod appears to be the missing solution for installing larger SSDs, the designer of the Steam Deck highly disapproves. According to a recent report by PC Gamer, Yang warned Steam Deck owners against doing such a mod. He issued his warning in response to the report by Game Spot, which details the whole SSD mod that requires moving the thermal pad. The designer of Steam Deck was straightforward about it, asking owners of the gaming device to "please don't do this." Yang further notes that the mod ends up excessively heating the charger IC. The Valve developer also says that the thermal pads should not have been moved in the first place. On top of these issues, the Steam Deck designer is also wary of the larger M.2 drive itself. He warns that most 2242 M.2 drives are naturally more powerful, which also means it gets toasty than what the gaming device could handle. Read Also: Steam Deck's OS Update Lessens Fan Noise - Are There New Refresh Rate Controls? Steam Deck SSD Mod: How Bad Is It? Simply put, Yang wants Deck owners to realize that while the mod sure looks like it is working fine, it actually messes up the handheld device. He says that it "will significantly shorten the life of your Deck." So, if you want it to last a few more years, installing a larger M.2 drive might not be the best thing to do. Hi, please dont do this. The charger IC gets very hot and nearby thermal pads should not be moved. In addition, most 2242 m.2 drives draw more power and get hotter than what Deck is designed for. This mod may appear to work but will significantly shorten the life of your Deck. Lawrence Yang (@lawrenceyang) June 26, 2022 Related Article: Valve Steam Deck vs. Nintendo Switch: CPU/GPU Specs, Storage, Battery, and Performance Comparison This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate About 30 people, almost all in their early 20s, stood outside the Bexar County Courthouse downtown on Sunday afternoon protesting the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Dripping in sweat, they held colorful posters above their heads and screamed to cars and people passing through the Main Plaza: Control over women is what they want! Furious women is what they got! The group, which was organized by Daleen Garcia, 18, first gathered at 10 a.m. outside the courthouse and then marched to the San Antonio Police headquarters and back. Garcia said that by 1 p.m. the size of the group had diminished because of the brutal heat. My body, my choice. If other people get choices about tattoos or surgeries and stuff like that, I feel like abortion should be one of those choices, said Camila Hernandez, 20, who was born and raised in San Antonio. They always say Americas the greatest country, yet guns have more rights than me! Carlos Javier Sanchez, Contributor Hernandez wanted to show up to protest because otherwise she worried no one would hear her. I just hope we get heard, Hernandez said. I feel like me as a U.S. citizen they say oh go vote, oh you have power, but after this decision, I feel like I have no power. Naya Mitchell, 25, moved to San Antonio from Colorado right as the pandemic started. The news of the decision has made her reconsider living in Texas in the future. Ive had several friends who have had abortions and Ive considered it before myself and it is just a right we need to have, Mitchell said. When she first heard the news about the U.S. Supreme Courts decision on Friday morning, she was working at Texas Roadhouse. I walked out to go to the bathroom; I heard tables cheering (about the decision), Mitchell said. That was very emotional for me. I ended up leaving work early that day. I called my grandma who lives in Colorado. I was like I think Im moving back. claire.bryan@express-news.net A lump in my throat slowly developed when I heard about the San Antonio Symphony folding. I was one of thousands of fourth- graders in the San Antonio Independent School District who saw the symphony perform for the first time at the Lila Cockrell Theatre. I remember the conductor, Harvey Biskin, talking about the music, the composer and what to listen for, and then he would conduct short, 30-second snippets of a piece of music so the audience could identify it when it was played in the larger context with the full orchestra. I specifically remember a thrilling performance of Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture. When the cannon shots rang out, I almost jumped out of my seat with delight. After the concert, I was changed. I was moved. I was motivated to learn an instrument. Not long after, my mother encouraged me to take guitar lessons, which led to a love of the bass. I will never forget the music played by the musicians back then. Today, the musicians who played in the San Antonio Symphony will continue to perform locally and put on fabulous concerts. These musicians are of the highest caliber of professionalism and artistry. With that said, the South Texas Symphonic Orchestra, or STXSO, San Antonios other orchestra, will also continue to perform full orchestral concerts and delight audiences of all ages. Since 2017, we have performed classical works, Beethoven and Bruckner symphonies, pops shows, and music from popular musicals and Disney movies. In 2018, we were invited by the city of San Antonio to provide symphonic music for San Antonios official Fourth of July celebration at Woodlawn Lake. Further, STXSO puts on educational concerts every year for elementary students. Last year, we performed for more than 14,000 students all over Texas via live concerts and livestream broadcast at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. We also collaborate annually with the San Antonio Youth Ballet in its December production of The Nutcracker. STXSO is made of auditioned musicians, most of them have music degrees, and most have played in professional-level orchestras across the U.S. Our musicians consist of music teachers, doctors, attorneys, stay-at-home moms and dads, accountants, students, salesmen, business owners all of whom have spent years perfecting their instrument. Like any professional-level player, they rehearse for hours in preparation for each concert. The players of the STXSO are dedicated to rehearsing and performing simply for the love of music. None of the musicians in the STXSO are paid in fact, no one is paid. This keeps expenses low. Most of our expenses come from printing costs, buying paper music, and paying for advertising and venue rentals. We rely on funding from private donors, the Texas Commission on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts. San Antonio has a robust, thriving arts community the dissolution of the San Antonio Symphony will hopefully be thought of years from now as a minor setback because the music will live on. The music must live on. There are so many musicians, professional and nonprofessional, who are determined to make that happen. Ronnie Sanders is the artistic director of South Texas Symphonic Orchestra. President Joe Biden signed into law Saturday the most significant gun safety reforms in decades as the nation grapples with the persistent tragedy of unmitigated gun violence. This is a welcome, overdue and desperately needed bipartisan action, one that came nearly a month after a gunman murdered 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde. Gun violence in America is a national shame because of the lives lost 45,222 in 2020, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and how we have allowed tragedy to persist and metastasize. While this agreement will not prevent all gun violence, it will save lives and has the potential to model future bipartisan work for a body riven by partisan interests. This is a momentous legislative accomplishment because it occurred despite the hostile, partisan landscape. In terms of reforms, this agreement is modest. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act creates enhanced background checks for gun buyers younger than 21; closes the boyfriend loophole to include dating partners in prohibiting domestic abusers from owning a gun; offers significant funding for mental health services; and creates incentives for states to adopt red flag laws. Tellingly, weve noticed how U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, who led bipartisan negotiations, and U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, who represents Uvalde, have gone to great lengths to tell people what the package does not include. It does not create a universal background check. It does not ban assault weapons. It does not raise the purchase age for assault weapons. It does not mandate red flag laws. Polls have repeatedly shown broad public support for such policies, but broad support does not reach all corners. We were horrified, but hardly surprised, that attendees booed Cornyn at the recent Texas GOP convention for his work on this bill. That is, people booed him for responding to a national tragedy and trying to save lives. We wish the bill did much more, but we still celebrate his effort. Reasonable people can disagree and see the inherent good in each others actions and beliefs. At the same time lawmakers took a step forward on gun safety, the U.S. Supreme Court took a giant step backward. In a 6-3 ruling Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a century-old New York law that placed strict limits on carrying guns in public. This decision will affect similar laws in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii and California. These states have some of the lowest rates of gun violence in the nation. Now, more guns will be on the streets as a grieving nation reels from gun violence. It is a fraught ruling that ignores the well regulated language in the Second Amendment. We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote. It is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense. And it places the personal right to bear arms over public safety. But this gets messy because the justices allow for sensitive places to ban weapons but then offer little guidance of what exactly that might be. This is a radical and activist court that has lost standing with Americans. It is a court that will block a state from regulating guns but will allow states to ban abortion. Guns are now the leading cause of death for our nations children and adolescents, and recent mass shootings in Uvalde and Buffalo, N.Y., have shaken our nation. While this Supreme Courts decision is beyond frustrating, for those troubled by the decision, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act offers measures of hope. First, lawmakers have demonstrated they can take bipartisan action to reduce gun violence. Second, champions of gun safety reforms have reaped legislative rewards for their efforts. Third, those efforts will continue. Fourth, beyond laws, the public is yearning for change, which should make gun safety a top priority for voters, who should also demand increased federal funding for robust public health and marketing campaigns. As the nation moves in two different directions on guns, the only true way forward is in prioritizing safety. More than a half dozen Texas abortion providers have filed a lawsuit to block officials from enforcing the states 1920s-era abortion ban, arguing that the care should remain lawful until a so-called trigger law takes effect this summer. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an advisory Friday in which he said the trigger law, which would ban all abortions except those in which the mothers health is at risk, would take effect 30 days after the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade is certified. Paxton said the certification process can take about a month or longer if the Supreme Court considers a motion for rehearing. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Cloudy with occasional showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. A recommendation from Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen to eliminate a minimum counselor-to-student ratio is controversial. (Provided by Anastasia Shuraev via Pexels.com) Kaden Sheridan felt anxious to go to class after he went through a four-hour lockdown his freshman year of high school when a student dropped a loaded handgun magazine on campus. At the time, Sheridan worried about his brother, also in school. No one knew what the owner of the weapon had been planning in Missoula at the time, Sheridan said, but he later experienced panic attacks about a school shooting. It was terrifying for me, Sheridan said. I was so afraid to go to class. Today could be the day. I was just so worried. Sheridan nearly dropped out, but this year, he graduated from Sentinel High School, and he attributes his achievement to his school counselor. Now, he worries a proposal from Superintendent of Public Instruction Elsie Arntzen to eliminate a minimum ratio for counselors to students could make things worse for youth, and the head of the Montana School Counselor Association agrees. Our kids need this right now more than ever, said Renee Schoening, executive director of the Montana School Counselor Association. We have got to dedicate some dollars to mental health support for students, for all kids. Sheridan has faced prior struggles, and the incident made his PTSD, or post traumatic stress disorder, worse. It made it difficult for him to feel comfortable in class, so his attendance declined, and for a while, he had no motivation to go to class. Next year, hes headed to the University of Montana, and he and his mom, Kelly Sheridan, credit school counselor Vanessa Gibson with making a difference for him. She helped Kaden get to class when he was in distress and eventually to graduate, he said, and she helped him understand he could go to college and even get scholarships. Without Gibson? He would have dropped out of high school, Kelly said. This year, the Montana Office of Public Instruction is updating school accreditation standards, and Arntzen has proposed eliminating the minimum ratio of school counselors to students. The minimum standard has been one counselor to 400 students, but Arntzen argues Montana has hired more than required already, 141 FTE, or full-time equivalents, across the state above the 375 minimum FTE, and her plan gives schools flexibility. This proves that schools are recognizing the mental health needs of students and that mandating a historic ratio is not necessary, said OPI spokesperson Brian OLeary in an email about the proposal. Arntzen said the following in a statement: Giving districts the flexibilities needed to innovate will grow student learning and academic achievement, which is what defines school quality. The proposal is making its way toward the Board of Public Education via a task force and rulemaking committee. The School Quality Task Force opposed the recommendation to eliminate the minimum ratio, members of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee have voiced dissent, and the Sheridan family disagrees with it too. Kelly Sheridan described the idea of cutting a minimum requirement as unbelievable. I believe it would be an awful mistake, Kaden said. Mental health needs high The possible change comes under consideration at a time data show the need for mental health support in Montana and across the country is pressing. For years, Montana has ranked high nationally in suicide rates, and last school year, more youth than in 30 years, or 41 percent, reported feeling so sad or hopeless for two weeks in a row, they couldnt do their normal activities, according to the most recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey from 2021. Across the country, seven out of 10 public schools are seeing an increase in the number of students seeking mental health services, according to a report from the Washington Post. And in Montana, some school counselors report demand on their time is growing even more because of recent cuts to another mental health program for students, CSCT, or Comprehensive School and Community Treatment. It just goes against every piece of research out there. It felt very invalidating to the very important work we do every day. Tashia Kerins, school counselor, Franklin Elementary Even before COVID-19, school counselors were seeing more students showing signs of isolation, and the pandemic has pushed families into economic crises, counselors said. Parents have lost jobs and face rent hikes they cant afford to pay. Counselors said they see young children throwing tantrums on the playground and teens cutting themselves in high school. Counselors who want to help high achievers write college entrance essays and navigate the complex FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, find themselves spending more time managing emergencies just to keep kids safe. Schoening, who has a doctorate in counselor education, said the recommendation to cut the ratio of counselors to teachers comes out of a compromised process, and its the exact opposite of what research suggests children and youth need. I dont know who stands to gain. But its not the kids in Montana, Schoening said. The Proposal Chapter 55 of Montanas Administrative Rules covers standards of accreditation, which the Board of Public Education generally updates every decade. A variety of topics are under review, including overloaded elementary classrooms, civics requirements for high school graduation, and access to technology for students. All told, OPI has noted the overhaul includes a review of 63 individual rules. The proposal to drop the minimum requirement for school counselors is one of several controversial recommendations, including one to eliminate the minimum ratio of school librarians to students. OPI notes counseling ratios have remained unchanged for 51 years, since 1971. Instead of requiring a minimum one counselor to 400 students, the current standard, the superintendent is recommending that each school system offer a counseling program by hiring a counselor or Class 6 specialist, a position that requires completion of a masters in school counseling or in a program through the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs; contracting with either the counselor or specialist; or utilizing a consortium, multidistrict agreement, or interlocal cooperative to secure these services. A task force that reviewed the proposal recommended moving in the opposite direction. On a 7-0 nonbinding vote but with a note the superintendents proposal is headed backwards the task force moved to drop the ratio from one counselor to 300 students, which the Montana School Counselor Association noted is roughly the current statewide average. Schoening, who has taught at the University of Montana and at Montana State University-Northern, said now more than ever, children need mental health support from school counselors. Schoening is also a member of the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee, which took up the proposal after the task force. They have proven over and over again that access to a school counselor improves attendance, improves academic success, improves all kinds of outcomes for youth, said Schoening, also a licensed clinical professional counselor and licensed school counselor. Crises exacerbated At Sentinel, Gibsons job includes connecting with students who are stressed or in despair so they can return to the classroom and learn. There are kids that are actively suicidal during the day, Gibson said. There are kids threatening to hurt themselves or other people. There are kids that are cutting in the building. And we have to figure out how to serve them. She might get a call from a parent who just had a teen storm out of the house and drive off and have to figure out the problem: Is that kid safe? Is that kid actively suicidal? In the last few years, Gibson said shes also talked with youth who are profoundly sad about the state of the world. They are told they should have a job and a house and pay a mortgage, but she said those goals feel out of reach. Theres this fear these things are unattainable, she said. CACREP Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Education Programs (CACREP) accredits masters-level counseling programs in the following areas: Addiction Counseling; Career Counseling; Clinical Mental Health Counseling; Clinical Rehabilitation Counseling; College Counseling and Student Affairs; Marriage, Couple, and Family Counseling; School Counseling, and Rehabilitation Counseling. In addition, CACREP accredits doctoral programs in Counselor Education and Supervision. She had one student who had such love for animals, he felt suicidal after learning about the state of the planet, she said. Gibson recalls his comments to her: I know too much. I just know too much. She said school counselors provide mental health support, but they arent therapists. In high school, she said they work with students on academic development, career goals, and social-emotional growth. For example, they write letters of recommendation for students turning in college applications, help them navigate extra help for taking tests, and put on suicide prevention workshops in classrooms. But Gibson said in recent years, their focus has been changing: Even before the pandemic, the shift towards crisis management and mental health support was clear, but it was just exacerbated substantially because of the pandemic. Increased behaviors At Franklin Elementary School, behaviors have been off the charts, such as fighting in the halls, and there too, school counselor Tashia Kerins has shifted to managing more crises than working on prevention. She said her caseload is high, especially because of cuts to CSCT. As an educator, Kerins said she always knew she wanted to be a counselor. When I was a teacher, I saw how much the social-emotional needs of my students impacted their ability to learn and have academic gains, Kerins said. Franklin is a Title I school with approximately 300 students, and many families are struggling, Kerins said. She sees kids who are homeless, parents who lose jobs, deaths in the family, and lost support systems due to COVID-19 or other factors. The housing crisis is a big piece, she said. She works with children from many families who are having their rent increase or their houses go up for sale with notice they have to be out by the end of the month. They confront a market with few affordable options. Those needs and gaps in the community were always there, but I think they are glaringly present, particularly now, because of the pandemic and the isolation and all of the changes that have happened, Kerins said. Other staff shortages since the pandemic also affect her time. When someone is out sick, Kerins might have to jump in as a substitute teacher or on recess duty or in the lunchroom, a problem that she said has affected schools across the country. One child having suicidal thoughts can take up four hours of a day of the only school counselor on staff, she said. And a child who has threatened violence requires ongoing attention. So staff triage, with childrens safety and mental health emergencies at the top of their priority list. She said she knows the work she does literally saves childrens lives. From an academic standpoint, she opposes the recommendation to do away with the minimum ratio of counselors to students, and she felt rage and some despair in reaction to it. It just goes against every piece of research out there, Kerins said. It felt very invalidating to the very important work we do every day. Rural schools Alicia Godfrey has worked as a school counselor in her hometown of Roundup for 15 years. Shed like to see the counselor to student ratio go a different direction and believes the one to 300 ratio would help especially rural schools. Even at that rate, like I said, its hard to keep up with everything that counselors are responsible for doing, Godfrey said. Schoening, with the Montana School Counselors Association, explained the way that dropping the required number of children per counselor would help a rural school. If a small school has a lower number of students than 400, she said the school can advertise for a part-time counselor at a prorated level. Changing the ratio to one to 300, though, means a small school with an enrollment of 300 can recruit a full-time counselor rather than a part-time one, an easier proposition, said Schoening, also a licensed marriage and family therapist. Its an equality issue, Schoening said. Our larger towns have resources. Our rural kids dont, and one of the things the accreditation standards are intended for is to promote more equity across the state regardless of the size of school or the town that you live in. And her (Arntzens) recommendation would really undercut that. It would destroy that equity. In an email, OPI argued that 75 percent of Montana schools have a student population under 250 students, and only 52 schools have a student population over 500: Eliminating top-down one-size-fits-all mandated ratios will give our smaller schools flexibility if their student population grows by only one or two students, which is very common in these small schools. In Roundup, Godfrey said one positive outcome from the pressure on counselors is that its evidence the stigma around mental health is lessening. But it means more of her time goes to supporting families who are seeking help because swamped counselors arent taking referrals. I spent more hours this year on the phone and meeting with parents just trying to help them with their kids needs than in the past years, Godfrey said. When Godfrey isnt managing crises, shes teaching lessons on topics such as kindness and empathy. She said the goal for kindness and empathy mirrors the goals OPI has that schools have an inclusive culture, encourage acceptance of others, and discourage bullying. The truth is when your school is a good place to be and kids like coming, youre more likely to get them to graduate, Godfrey said. Questioned process Service on the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee is voluntary, and Schoening said she was transparent from the start about her motivation for joining. For more than a decade, she said, school counselors have reported being too overwhelmed and understaffed to serve children effectively. We have got to do something about the counselor ratio, Schoening said. She thought her committee would be taking up recommendations from the task force, which voted yes on a one to 300 ratio for counselors to students. Then, Arntzens proposal arose out of left field, Schoening said. A week before their process was even done, we got recommendations from the superintendent, which were a total departure from the direction they (the task force) were headed, Schoening said. So she recommended changing the elective requirements in the middle schools, doing away with any ratios tied to librarians or counselors So what that did is it completely derailed our process. In a column about the update, Mary Moe, an educator and former legislator from Great Falls, noted the Negotiated Rulemaking Committee operates by consensus: All members must agree on alternative recommendations or only her (Arntzens) recommendations will go to the Board of Public Education. Elsie has placed two of her employees on the committee as voting members. Not surprisingly, their positions are not in alignment with the majority of other members. On behalf of OPI, OLeary said the process has been transparent, and the current ratios restrict how the role of counselors are filled. Schools shouldnt be constrained by their size, he said, and with flexible recommendations, school districts may employ; contract; use a multi-district agreement; or cooperative in filling the role of counselors. The superintendents recommendations focus on how students are served and removes the discrimination based on school size for hiring counselors, OLeary said in an email. The rulemaking committee is nearing the end of its process, and the Board of Public Education will then take up the updates. The post Recommendation to cut minimum counselor-to-student ratio in Montana draws fire appeared first on Daily Montanan. Food and drink exports from Wales hit a record high last year, with meat being the highest value category, new figures show. Products such as Welsh Lamb and Welsh Beef helped exports reach 641 million in 2021. Wales also recorded the largest percentage increase in value of food exports out of all four UK nations. The highest value export category was meat at 187m, and cereal saw a year-on-year increase of 173%, rising from 51m to 139m. Meanwhile, dairy and egg exports from Wales reached highs of 106 million. Exports to the European Union were worth 465m in 2021, a 51m increase from 2020, accounting for 73% of the total. Eight of the top ten export destinations were within the EU, with the two non-EU countries being the US and Saudi Arabia. The Republic of Ireland remained the highest value destination for Welsh food and drink exports at 113m. Other top destinations included France (100m), Netherlands (49m) and Germany (44m). There was a significant increase in exports to Belgium which were worth 56m in 2021, a rise of 162% from 21m in 2020. Wales' Rural Affairs Minister, Lesley Griffiths said the figures were 'great news' for Welsh farmers and food producers. The past couple of years have been challenging and these figures clearly demonstrate the resilience and determination of our Welsh companies to succeed in overseas markets. The industry in Wales is also leading the way out of the four UK nations with the largest percentage increase in the value of food and drink exports." Farmers have been told to boost security to protect GPS kits this harvest season, as the cost of claims for this type of theft almost doubled in 2020. Criminal gangs could take advantage of the busy harvest period to steal expensive GPS kits from tractors and combines, NFU Mutual has warned. In recent years, GPS systems have been one of the most frequently-stolen items from farms because of their high value and portability. The kits are a vital tool on modern farms, with thefts causing huge disruption as it usually takes days to source new equipment. According to NFU Mutual figures, the national cost of claims for GPS theft almost doubled in 2020, to 2.9 million. Over the past 18 months, a UK-wide operation by the National Vehicle Crime Intelligence Service (NaVCIS) has successfully cut the number of GPS thefts over the past year. However, there are concerns that criminals could be planning to use the busy harvest period to get on to farms unseen to steal the expensive kits. In recent weeks thefts have been taking place in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire. In a bid to prevent theft and protect farmers from thieves, NFU Mutual and NaVCIS have produced a video about GPS security. Bob Henderson, of the rural insurer said: We know that criminals are still trying to steal GPS kits and will take advantage of the coming harvest period when farmers are working long hours. With global food supplies under pressure, holding up harvest is the last thing farmers need. We are urging farmers to remove systems when theyre not in use and keep them securely. GPS theft is an international crime, with countries across the globe experiencing thefts and attempts to sell stolen equipment back into the farming sector. But there are fears over a rise in homegrown-criminals, as people turn to criminal activity to make quick money during the cost of living crisis. Some stolen GPS kits are offered for sale in the UK, but one of the best things farmers can do to reduce this crime, according to NaVCIS, is to check the provenance of any second-hand equipment offered for sale. DC Chris Piggott, agricultural vehicle crime co-ordinator at NaVCIS said: These criminals are well-organised and know what they are looking for - so its essential to remove GPS kit from tractors and combines when theyre not in use and store them securely. Its also well worth using indelible ink to mark GPS cases and domes with your farm name and post code to make it less attractive to thieves - and to help police return recovered kit to its rightful owner. Many systems now have PIN security and activating it makes it much harder for thieves to sell systems on." How can I boost GPS security? NFU Mutual has provided a checklist for farmers looking to improve on-farm security: Activate PIN security on GPS kit with your own unique number if available If your system is not pin enabled, mark with your postcode to deter thieves and trace your property back to you Keep tractors and combines with GPS fitted stored out of sight when possible Remove GPS kit when possible from tractors and other machinery and store it securely when not in use Record serial numbers and photograph your kit Check serial numbers of second-hand kit offered for sale Report sightings of suspicious activity in fields and farmyards to police A risk assessment is recommended for at-risk farms as tick numbers are due to peak in the coming weeks, according to experts. Ticks, which transmit infections such as bovine babesiosis, are expected to peak in some areas of Britain in the next few weeks, research shows. Farmers in areas with a history of this disease, also known as redwater, are being encouraged to take extra precautions to protect susceptible stock during this period. Ticks are found throughout the country, but reports from cattle farmers indicate clear regional patterns. Recent research shows that farmer reports of ticks on cattle are highest in north Wales, northwest England and western Scotland. Farmers in the south west of England reported the highest cases of redwater in cattle. Dr Rose Vineer, veterinary parasitologist at the University of Liverpool, said: 6% of the cattle farms surveyed reported that their cattle had ticks, but in hotspot clusters prevalence was higher, ranging from 48 to 100%. Two per cent of cattle farms surveyed reported tick-borne disease. However, out of these a third reported tick-borne disease in their herd. As expected, the study highlighted upland grazing as a significant risk factor for reporting ticks on the farm. Ticks were reported in all months by farmers filling out the questionnaire with the highest proportion of reports during May to July. GB sheep and cattle farms (926 in total) reporting tick infestation in each month Engorged ticks are easily visible on infested cattle and typically found concentrated in the skin folds between the chest and front legs and in the groin around the udder or scrotum. Ticks can vary in size depending on their stage of development and how much of a blood meal they have taken. Bites are often inflamed and swollen and may become infected and attract flies. Signs of redwater fever may be the first indication of a problem, with acute disease occurring within two-weeks of an infected tick first feeding. Animals are typically severely depressed showing high fever, respiratory distress, pipestem diarrhoea, as well as the dark stained urine, which gives the condition its name. The disease is often fatal unless diagnosed and treated promptly Tick control is difficult because ticks spend most of their life cycle away from the host, sheltered at the base of thick, damp vegetation. Attempts to reduce tick populations by environmental treatment with acaricides is unacceptable because of their effects on other invertebrates. The Control of Worms Sustainably (COWS) group, which advises on ectoparasites as well as worms and liver fluke in cattle, suggests a reduction in the tick population can be achieved through pasture improvement, drainage and scrub clearance, although this is a long-term exercise requiring sustained effort. Meanwhile, factors such as changing weather patterns, increased deer populations, which also act as tick hosts, and agri-environment schemes are expanding tick habitat. A range of pour-on pyrethroids have UK licence claims for treatment of ticks on sheep, but no products in the UK have a label claim for cattle. Tick-borne disease of cattle can cause significant problems for farmers in hot spot areas, Dr Vineer explained. As with all parasites, it is worth farmers carrying out a risk assessment of their stock and the pastures to be grazed and then consider moving at-risk cattle onto safer pastures. The Philippines has become the UK's second largest non-EU pork market, as exports reached almost 17m in the first four months of 2022. Demand for UK pork in the Philippines continues to increase, delivering a strong boost to the UK's beleaguered pork sector. The latest figures from HMRC show that between January and April, the amount of pig meat shipped to the country increased 46%, to 13,812 tonnes. Last year, almost 38 million worth of pork was shipped to the Southeast Asian country a fourfold increase on 2020. This makes the Philippines the UKs second largest non-EU pork export market, behind China. AHDB export manager Susan Stewart said the Philippines, which has a population of over 100 million people, was proving to be a valuable market for the sector. In just four months, both the value and volume of shipments have risen significantly, following on from an incredible year for pork exports to Asia. Just last month, nine exporters took part in a three-day visit to the Philippines, which was organised by AHDB. The event saw them attend a seminar to hear updates on the latest developments in the country as well as one-to-one meetings with key importers. They also attended a British meat reception and market visits during the mission. The aim of the visit was to increase exports to the market and re-connect and build networks in the country. Ms Stewart added: The visit to the Philippines was a huge success and gave our exporters the opportunity to learn about the changing trends in this growing market." It comes as exports of red meat were worth more than 1.45 billion in 2021 up 33 million on pre-pandemic levels despite a challenging year for exporters. Many markets increased imports of UK red meat, in particular in Asia, figures by AHDB show, despite a number of factors impacting trade last year. An iPhone lost in a river in the United Kingdom has somehow found its way back to its owner after 10 long months. More miraculously still, the iPhone is actually still working. iPhone Lost in a River Returned to Owner, is Still Working An iPhone that was lost in the River Wye in the U.K. is still working after being submerged underwater for 10 months. The owner, Owain Davies, lost the iPhone while he was canoeing in Gloucestershire, according to the report by Digital Trends. Davies told the BBC that he and his partner fell into the river while canoeing. The iPhone, which was in his back pocket, fell out. Considering the circumstances in while he lost his phone, Davies no longer expected to get it back. However, a man named Miguel Pacheco eventually found the iPhone while out doing the same activity with his family. How Miguel Pacheco Got to the iPhone to Work Once More In the BBC's report, Pacheco noted that the iPhone was so full of water, he did not expect it to work any longer. Still, he made the decision to try and see if it could still turn on. Per the BBC, "he went to a lot of effort to dry out the phone because there may have been 'sentimental' things on it." So how did he go about drying a phone that had been submerged in a river for 10 months? Pacheco dried the iPhone out using an airliner as well as a compressor. Once that was done, he placed the device in the airing cupboard overnight. The next day, he attempted to charge the iPhone and was surprised when it had turned on. Related Article: iPhone Water Damage Detector: Warning Signs and 7 Steps to Save Your Device How the iPhone Found Its Way Back to Its Owner When the device turned on, there were two things that Pacheco saw on the screen. First, he saw a date: August 13. It was the day that the iPhone fell into the river. Second, he saw a photo of a couple as the phone's wallpaper. According to the report by Digital Trends, he took a photo of it and shared the image on social media. People online kept sharing the image themselves until Miguel Pacheco learned that Owain Davies owned the phone. Per the BBC report, Davies was "impressed" with the effort Pacheco made to get his iPhone to work again. How Long iPhones Can Last Underwater, According to Apple Apple's support page details how long each iPhone model can last underwater and the depth that it can handle. Per the Apple support page, the maximum depth each model can withstand varies but the amount of time is consistent: 30 minutes. Given this, the fact the Owain Davies' iPhone is still working after 10 months in a river is nothing short of impressive. Read Also: Italy Issues $12 Million Fine to Apple for Misleading Claims About Waterproof iPhones Albania Since February 2020, when Albania made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MONEYVAL to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Albania has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by enhancing the focus and efforts of law enforcement and prosecutorial authorities on applying the full range of seizure and confiscation measures, particularly in connection with assets linked to third-party money laundering by professionals and gatekeepers. Albania should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) ensuring an adequate legal framework for violations of company and NPO registration obligations and implementing proportionate and dissuasive sanctions; and (2) increasing the number of prosecutions for ML, especially in cases involving foreign predicate offences. The FATF urges Albania to continue to implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible as all deadlines have now expired. Barbados Since February 2020, when Barbados made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and CFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Barbados has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by establishing and resourcing a new compliance unit under its AML Authority responsible for DNFBP supervision; demonstrating that authorities have access to the BO information regarding legal arrangements; and reducing the backlog of criminal cases, including ML prosecutions. Barbados should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) taking appropriate measures to prevent legal persons and arrangements from being misused for criminal purposes, and ensuring that accurate and up-to-date basic and beneficial ownership information is available on a timely basis; (2) ensuring its FIUs financial intelligence products further assist law enforcement authorities in investigating ML or TF; (3) demonstrating that ML investigations and prosecutions are in line with the countrys risk profile and result in sanctions, when appropriate, and provide statistics or case studies demonstrating a reduction of any backlog of cases; (4) further pursuing confiscation in ML cases, including by seeking assistance from foreign counterparts. The FATF encourages Barbados to continue to implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible as all deadlines have now expired. Burkina Faso Since February 2021, when Burkina Faso made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and GIABA to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Burkina Faso has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by conducting targeted financial sanctions (TFS) awareness-raising programmes for competent authorities and reporting entities. Burkina Faso should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) updating its understanding of ML/TF risks, including through the revision of the national risk assessment in line with the sectoral priorities identified in its national strategy; (2) seeking mutual legal assistance (MLA) and other forms of international cooperation in line with its risk profile; (3) strengthening of resource capacities of all AML/CFT supervisory authorities and implementing risk based supervision of FIs and DNFBPs; (4) maintaining comprehensive and updated basic and beneficial ownership information and strengthening the system of sanctions for violations of transparency obligations; (5) increasing the diversity of STR reporting; (6) enhancing the FIUs human resources through additional, hiring, training and budget; (7) conduct training for LEAs, prosecutors and other relevant authorities; (8) demonstrating that authorities are pursuing confiscation as a policy objective; (9) enhancing capacity and support for LEAs and prosecutorial authorities involved in combatting TF, in line with the TF National Strategy; and (10) implementing an effective targeted financial sanctions regime related to TF and PF as well as risk-based monitoring and supervision of NPOs. Cambodia Since February 2019, when Cambodia made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Cambodia has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by improving the quality and quantity of FIU disseminations, demonstrating an increase in ML investigations in line with risk and providing training to strengthen the skills of competent authorities to implement TFS for PF. Cambodia should continue to take action to fully address the one remaining item in its action plan as all timelines have already expired, specifically by: demonstrating an increase in the freezing and confiscation of criminal proceeds, instrumentalities, and property of equivalent value. The FATF again expresses significant concern that Cambodia failed to complete its action plan, which fully expired in January 2021. The FATF strongly urges Cambodia to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2022 or the FATF will consider calling on its members and urging all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence to business relations and transactions with Cambodia. The Cayman Islands In February 2021, the Cayman Islands made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and CFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. The Cayman Islands should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) imposing adequate and effective sanctions in cases where relevant parties (including legal persons) do not file accurate, adequate and up-to-date beneficial ownership information in line with those requirements; and (2) demonstrating that they are prosecuting all types of money laundering cases in line with the jurisdictions risk profile and that such prosecutions are resulting in the application of dissuasive, effective, and proportionate sanctions. The FATF encourages the Cayman Islands to continue to implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible as all deadlines have now expired. Gibraltar In June 2022, Gibraltar made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MONEYVAL to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. Since the adoption of its MER in December 2019, Gibraltar has made progress on a significant number of its MERs recommended actions, such as completing a new national risk assessment, addressing the technical deficiencies in relation to BO-related record keeping, introducing transparency requirements for nominee shareholders and directors, strengthening the financial intelligence unit, and refining its ML investigation policy in line with risks. Gibraltar should work on implementing its action plan, including by: (1) ensuring that supervisory authorities for non-bank financial institutions and DNFBPs use a range of effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions for AML/CFT breaches; and (2) demonstrating that it is more actively and successfully pursuing final confiscation judgements, through criminal or civil proceedings based on financial investigations. Haiti In June 2021, Haiti made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and CFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. Haiti should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) completing its ML/TF risk assessment process and disseminating the findings; (2) facilitating information sharing with relevant foreign counterparts; (3) addressing the technical deficiencies in its legal and regulatory framework that impede the implementation of AML/CFT preventive measures and implementing risk-based AML/CFT supervision for all financial institutions and DNFBPs deemed to constitute a higher ML/TF risk; (4) ensuring basic and beneficial ownership information are maintained and accessible in a timely manner; (5) ensuring a better use of financial intelligence and other relevant information by competent authorities for combatting ML and TF; (6) addressing the technical deficiencies in its ML offence and demonstrating authorities are identifying, investigating and prosecuting ML cases in a manner consistent with Haitis risk profile; (7) demonstrating an increase of identification, tracing and recovery of proceeds of crime; (8) addressing the technical deficiencies in its TF offence and targeted financial sanctions regime; and (9) conducting appropriate risk-based monitoring of NPOs vulnerable to TF abuse without disrupting or discouraging legitimate NPO activities. Jamaica Since February 2020, when Jamaica made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and CFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Jamaica has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by increasing investigative resources; training prosecutorial and law enforcement authorities; and improving the domestic coordination between these authorities. Jamaica should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) including all FIs and DNFBPs in the AML/CFT regime and ensuring adequate, risk-based supervision in all sectors; (2) taking appropriate measures to prevent legal persons and arrangements from being misused for criminal purposes, and ensuring that accurate and up-to-date basic and beneficial ownership information is available on a timely basis to competent authorities; and (3) implementing a risk-based approach for supervision of the NPO sector to prevent abuse for TF purposes. The FATF urges Jamaica to continue to implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible as all deadlines have now expired. Jordan Since October 2021, when Jordan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Jordan has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by rectifying its legal framework for TF TFS and demonstrating an effective process by the national committee and supervisory authorities to implement TFS without delay. Jordan should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) disseminating the risk assessments of NPOs, and completing and disseminating the ML/TF risk assessments of legal persons and virtual assets; (2) improving risk based supervision and applying effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions for noncompliance; (3) conducting training and awareness raising programmes for DNFBPs on their AML/CFT obligations, particularly with regard to filing and submitting STRs; (4) maintaining comprehensive and updated basic and beneficial ownership information on legal persons and legal arrangements; (5) pursuing money laundering investigations and prosecutions, including through parallel financial investigations, for predicate offences in line with the risk identified in the NRA; (6) creating a legal obligation for confiscating instrumentalities used or intended to be used in ML crimes; (7) monitoring and effectively supervising the compliance of FIs and DNFBPs with TFS obligations; and (8) developing and implementing a risk-based approach for supervision of the NPO sector to prevent abuse for TF purposes. Mali In October 2021, Mali made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and GIABA to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. Mali should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) disseminating the results of the NRA to all relevant stakeholders including by conducting awareness raising activities for the highest risk sectors; (2) developing and starting to implement a risk based approach for the AML/CFT supervision of all FIs and higher risk DNFBPs and demonstrating effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for noncompliance; (3) conducting a comprehensive assessment of ML/TF risks associated with all types of legal persons; (4) increasing the capacity of the FIU and the LEAs and enhancing their cooperation on the use of financial intelligence; (5) ensuring relevant competent authorities are involved in investigation and prosecution of ML; (6) strengthening the capacities of relevant authorities responsible for investigation and prosecution of TF cases; (7) establishing a legal framework and procedures to implement TFS related to TF and PF; and (8) implementing a risk-based approach for supervision of the NPO sector to prevent abuse for TF purposes. Morocco Since February 2021, when Morocco made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Morocco has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by licensing and monitoring the registration of DNFBPs and addressing technical deficiencies related to TFS. Morocco should continue to work to implement its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) improving risk-based supervision and taking remedial actions and applying effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions for non-compliance; (2) undertake and share the results of the risk assessment on the misuse of all types of legal persons with the private sector and competent authorities; (3) increasing the diversity of suspicious transactions reporting; (4) establishing asset seizing and confiscation procedures; and (5) monitoring and effectively supervising the compliance of FIs and DNFBPs with targeted financial sanctions obligations. Myanmar In February 2020, Myanmar made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime and address any related technical deficiencies. Myanmar should work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) demonstrating an improved understanding of ML risks in key areas; (2) demonstrating that onsite/offsite inspections are risk-based, and hundi operators are registered and supervised; (3) demonstrating enhanced use of financial intelligence in LEA investigations, and increasing operational analysis and disseminations by the FIU; (4) ensuring that ML is investigated/prosecuted in line with risks; (5) demonstrating investigation of transnational ML cases with international cooperation; (6) demonstrating an increase in the freezing/seizing and confiscation of criminal proceeds, instrumentalities, and/or property of equivalent value; (7) managing seized assets to preserve the value of seized goods until confiscation; and (8) demonstrating implementation of targeted financial sanctions related to PF. The FATF again expresses significant concern with Myanmars lack of progress with all deadlines having expired, and significant work remaining on the majority of its action plan including fundamental deficiencies that need to be addressed with respect to ML investigations, prosecutions and asset confiscation. The FATF again strongly urges Myanmar to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2022 or the FATF will consider calling on its members and urging all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence to business relations and transactions with Myanmar. Nicaragua In February 2020, Nicaragua made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and GAFILAT to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. Nicaragua has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime specific to its FATF action plan, including by updating its national risk assessment on ML/TF and disseminating the outcomes of its ML/TF risk understanding to competent authorities and relevant private sector entities and putting in place mechanisms to ensure that beneficial ownership information of legal persons and arrangements is maintained and obtained in a timely manner. At its June 2022 Plenary, the FATF made the initial determination that Nicaragua has substantially completed its action plan and warrants an on-site visit to verify that the implementation of Nicaraguas AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation and improvement in the future. The FATF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date. Pakistan Since June 2018, when Pakistan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen its AML/CFT regime and to address its strategic counter terrorist financing-related deficiencies, Pakistans continued political commitment to combating both terrorist financing and money laundering has led to significant progress. In particular, Pakistan demonstrated that TF investigations and prosecutions target senior leaders and commanders of UN designated terrorist groups and that there is a positive upwards trend in the number of ML investigations and prosecutions being pursued in Pakistan, in line with Pakistans risk profile. In addition, Pakistan also largely addressed its 2021 action plan ahead of the set times. At its June 2022 Plenary, the FATF made the initial determination that Pakistan has substantially completed its two action plans, covering 34 items, and warrants an on-site visit to verify that the implementation of Pakistans AML/CFT reforms has begun and is being sustained, and that the necessary political commitment remains in place to sustain implementation and improvement in the future. The FATF will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date. Panama Since June 2019, when Panama made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and GAFILAT to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Panama has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by improving the monitoring of the corporate sector, and focusing on ML investigations in relation to high-risk areas, particularly ML investigations involving foreign predicates and the seizing and confiscation of proceeds of crime. However, Panama should continue to take urgent action to fully address remaining measures in its action plan as all timelines have already expired in January 2021. Panama should therefore continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) ensuring effective, proportionate, and dissuasive sanctions in response to AML/CFT violations; (2) ensuring adequate verification, of up-to-date beneficial ownership information by obliged entities and timely access by competent authorities, establishing effective mechanisms to monitor the activities of offshore entities, to consider the risks of misuse of legal persons and arrangements to define and implement specific measures to prevent the misuse of nominee shareholders and directors; and (3) demonstrating its ability to investigate and prosecute ML involving foreign tax crimes. The FATF again expresses significant concern that Panama failed to complete its action plan, which fully expired in January 2021. The FATF strongly urges Panama to swiftly complete its action plan by October 2022 or the FATF will consider calling on its members and urging all jurisdictions to apply enhanced due diligence to business relations and transactions with Panama. Philippines Since June 2021, when the Philippines made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and APG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, the Philippines has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by implementing registration requirements and applying proportionate and dissuasive sanctions to unregistered and illegal remittance operators and increasing TF investigation and prosecution capacity. The Philippines should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) demonstrating that effective risk-based supervision of DNFBPs is occurring; (2) demonstrating that supervisors are using AML/CFT controls to mitigate risks associated with casino junkets; (3) enhancing and streamlining LEA access to BO information and taking steps to ensure that BO information is accurate and up-to-date; (4) demonstrating an increase in the use of financial intelligence and an increase in ML investigations and prosecutions in line with risk; (5) demonstrating an increase in the identification, investigation and prosecution of TF cases; (6) demonstrating that appropriate measures are taken with respect to the NPO sector (including unregistered NPOs) without disrupting legitimate NPO activity; and (7) enhancing the effectiveness of the targeted financial sanctions framework for both TF and PF. Senegal Since February 2021, when Senegal made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and GIABA to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Senegal has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by establishing and implementing a risk-based AML/CFT monitoring system, and continuing to enhance the FIUs resources to ensure effective operational analysis. Senegal should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) ensuring consistent understanding of ML/TF risks (in particular related to the DNFBP sector) across relevant authorities through training and outreach; (2) seeking MLA and other forms of international cooperation in line with its risk profile; (3) improving compliance by detecting AML/CFT violations and imposing effective, proportionate and dissuasive sanctions against non-compliant entities; (4) updating and maintaining comprehensive beneficial ownership information on legal persons and arrangements and strengthening the system of sanctions for violations of transparency obligations; (5) demonstrating that efforts aimed at strengthening detection mechanisms and reinforcing the capability to conduct ML/predicate offences investigations and prosecutions activities are sustained consistently in line with the Senegals risk profile; (6) establishing comprehensive and standardised policies and procedures for identifying, tracing, seizing and confiscating proceeds and instrumentalities of crime in line with its risk profile; (7) strengthening the authorities understanding of TF risks and enhancing capacity and support for LEAs and prosecutorial authorities involved in TF in line with the 2019 TF National Strategy; and (8) implementing an effective TFS regime related to TF and PF as well as risk-based monitoring and supervision of NPOs. South Sudan In June 2021, South Sudan made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. South Sudan will work to implement its action plan, including by: (1) engaging with ESAAMLG for membership and committing to undergo a mutual evaluation by ESAAMLG; (2) conducting a comprehensive review of the AML/CFT Act (2012), with the support of international partners, including technical assistance, to comply with the FATF Standards; (3) becoming a party to and fully implementing the 1988 Vienna Convention, the 2000 Palermo Convention, and the 1999 Terrorist Financing Convention; (4) ensuring that competent authorities are suitably structured and capacitated to implement a risk-based approach to AML/CFT supervision for financial institutions; (5) developing a comprehensive legal framework to collect and verify the accuracy of beneficial ownership information for legal persons; (6) operationalising a fully functioning and independent FIU; (7) establishing and implementing the legal and institutional framework to implement targeted financial sanctions in compliance with United Nations Security Council Resolutions on terrorism and WMD proliferation financing; and (8) commencing implementation of targeted risk-based supervision/monitoring of NPOs at risk of TF abuse. The FATF notes South Sudans limited progress across its action plan. The FATF encourages South Sudan to continue to demonstrate its strong political and institutional commitment to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, particularly in supporting the lead AML/CFT agency in coordinating national AML/CFT efforts and seeking full ESAAMLG membership. Syria Since February 2010, when Syria made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Syria has made progress to improve its AML/CFT regime. In June 2014, the FATF determined that Syria had substantially addressed its action plan at a technical level, including by criminalising terrorist financing and establishing procedures for freezing terrorist assets. While the FATF determined that Syria has completed its agreed action plan, due to the security situation, the FATF has been unable to conduct an on-site visit to confirm whether the process of implementing the required reforms and actions has begun and is being sustained. The FATF will continue to monitor the situation, and will conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date. Turkiye Since October 2021, when Turkiye made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Turkiye has taken steps towards improving its AML/CFT regime, including by increasing the human resources at the FIU to conduct analysis and conducting some outreach to the NPO sector about their risks and vulnerabilities to terrorist financing activity. Turkiye should continue to work on implementing its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) dedicating more resources at the FIU to supervision of AML/CFT compliance by high-risk sectors and increasing on-site inspections overall; (2) applying dissuasive sanctions for AML/CFT breaches, in particular for unregistered money transfer services and exchange offices and in relation to the requirements of adequate, accurate, and up-to-date beneficial ownership information; (3) enhancing the use of financial intelligence to support ML investigations and increasing proactive disseminations by the FIU; (4) undertaking more complex money laundering investigations and prosecutions; (5) setting out clear responsibilities and measurable performance objectives and metrics for the authorities responsible for recovering criminal assets and pursuing terrorism financing cases and using statistics to update risk assessments and inform policy; (6) conducting more financial investigations in terrorism cases, prioritising TF investigations and prosecutions related to UN-designated groups and ensuring TF investigations are extended to identify financing and support networks; (7) concerning targeted financial sanctions under UNSCRs 1373 and 1267, pursuing outgoing requests and domestic designations related to UN-designated groups, in line with Turkiyes risk profile; (8) to fully implement a risk-based approach to supervision of non-profit organisations to prevent their abuse for terrorist financing, conducting outreach to a broad range of NPOs in the sector and engaging with their feedback, ensuring that sanctions applied are proportionate to any violations, and taking steps to ensure that supervision does not disrupt or discourage legitimate NPO activity, such as fundraising. The FATF continues to monitor Turkiyes oversight of the NPO sector. Turkiye is urged to demonstrate the implementation of the risk-based approach to supervision of NPOs in line with the FATF Standards. Uganda Since February 2020, when Uganda made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and ESAAMLG to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime, Uganda demonstrated progress, including conducting TF investigations and prosecutions. Uganda should continue to work to implement its action plan to address its strategic deficiencies, including by: (1) seeking international cooperation in line with the countrys risk profile; (2) developing and implementing risk-based supervision of FIs and DNFBPs; (3) ensuring that competent authorities have timely access to accurate basic and beneficial ownership information for legal entities; (4) demonstrating LEAs and judicial authorities apply the ML offence consistent with the identified risks; (5) establishing and implementing policies and procedures for identifying, tracing, seizing and confiscating proceeds and instrumentalities of crime; (6) addressing the technical deficiencies in the legal framework to implement PF-related targeted financial sanctions; and (7) implementing a risk-based approach for supervision of its NPO sector to prevent TF abuse. The FATF continues to monitor Ugandas oversight of the NPO sector. Uganda is strongly urged to align the Terrorist Financing Risk Assessment for NPOs with the FATF Standards. This is needed to apply the risk-based approach to supervision of NPOs in line with the FATF Standards to mitigate unintended consequences. The FATF urges the authorities to swiftly implement its action plan to address the above-mentioned strategic deficiencies as soon as possible as all deadlines have now expired. The United Arab Emirates (Statement from March 2022) In February 2022, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to strengthen the effectiveness of its AML/CFT regime. Since the adoption of its MER in February 2020, the UAE has made significant progress across its MERs recommended actions to improve its system, including by finalising a TF Risk Assessment, creating an AML/CFT coordination committee, establishing an effective system to implement targeted financial sanctions without delay, and significantly improving its ability to confiscate criminal proceeds and engage in international cooperation. Additionally, the UAE addressed or largely addressed more than half of the key recommended actions from the MER. The UAE will work to implement its FATF action plan by: (1) demonstrating through case studies and statistics a sustained increase in outbound MLA requests to help facilitate investigation of TF, ML, and high-risk predicates; (2) identifying and maintaining a shared understanding of the ML/TF risks between the different DNFBP sectors and institutions; (3) showing an increase in the number and quality of STRs filed by FIs and DNFBPs; (4) achieving a more granular understanding of the risk of abuse of legal persons and, where applicable, legal arrangements, for ML/TF; (5) providing additional resources to the FIU to strengthen its analysis function and enhance the use of financial intelligence to pursue high-risk ML threats, such as proceeds of foreign predicate offenses, trade-based ML, and third-party laundering; (6) demonstrating a sustained increase in effective investigations and prosecutions of different types of ML cases consistent with UAEs risk profile; and (7) proactively identifying and combating sanctions evasion, including by using detailed TFS guidance in sustained awareness-raising with the private sector and demonstrating a better understanding of sanctions evasion among the private sector. Yemen Since February 2010, when Yemen made a high-level political commitment to work with the FATF and MENAFATF to address its strategic AML/CFT deficiencies, Yemen has made progress to improve its AML/CFT regime. In June 2014, the FATF determined that Yemen had substantially addressed its action plan at a technical level, including by: (1) adequately criminalising money laundering and terrorist financing; (2) establishing procedures to identify and freeze terrorist assets; (3) improving its customer due diligence and suspicious transaction reporting requirements; (4) issuing guidance; (5) developing the monitoring and supervisory capacity of the financial sector supervisory authorities and the financial intelligence unit; and (6) establishing a fully operational and effectively functioning financial intelligence unit. While the FATF determined that Yemen has completed its agreed action plan, due to the security situation, the FATF has been unable to conduct an on-site visit to confirm whether the process of implementing the required reforms and actions has begun and is being sustained. The FATF will continue to monitor the situation, and conduct an on-site visit at the earliest possible date. Jurisdiction No Longer Subject to Increased Monitoring by the FATF Only subscribers with PAID Print or E-Edition subscriptions enter here to gain access. If you are not a Current Paid subscriber do not go through this portal. Please return to the subscription page to purchase one of our offers. Thank you! Jurgen Habermas, regarded as the greatest political philosopher in Europe, has written a text on its major contemporary crisis, the war in Ukraine. His thesis is that history recommends German Besonnenheit, which in practice has meant little German action but much German talk during the first four months of the most important conflict in Europe since 1945. Though Habermas makes his case on the basis of historical argument, it is striking that he has nothing to say about the Second World War. This is the conventional starting point for discussions of German responsibility, and it is more than usually applicable to Ukraine. Hitler portrayed the Ukrainians as a colonial people, and sought to displace them, starve them, and enslave them. He intended to use Ukrainian food supplies to make of Germany an autarkic world empire. Vladimir Putin has raised Hitlerian themes as justification for his war of destruction: the Ukrainians have no historical consciousness, no nationality of their own, no elite. Like Hitler, and for that matter like Stalin, he seeks to use Ukrainian foodstuffs as a weapon. But a reader of Habermas were not asked to consider these resemblances, nor to inquire whether as Germans they might bear responsibility towards Ukraine: a country where Germans killed millions of people, not so very long ago. Habermas's guidepost of civilization is rationality, but he makes no effort in his text to identify Ukrainian rationality. I would suggest that the omission of a reference to the Second World War makes the identification of Ukrainian rationality more difficult, since it is a rationality grounded in existence. We do not learn that Putin denies the existence of a Ukrainian state and nation, and that the official Russian press service writes of resolving the Ukrainian question, that Russian television regularly spreads genocidal language, or that Russian soldiers use genocidal hate speech in their justifications for murder and rape, and so on. Ukrainians have concluded, with reason, that they are fighting for national survival. Habermas alludes to the Ukrainian predicament in remarks about heroic and post-heroic generations, but this German way of casting the problem nudges the reader away from Ukrainian experience, and perhaps from the most important issues. I think of Roman Ratushnyi, who was killed in combat, just short of his twenty-fifth birthday. Roman was a sixteen-year-old civic activist in 2013, when he protested in favor of a closer association of Ukraine with the European Union. He then became known in Kyiv as an ecological activist, defending green spaces from dubious plans for development. His life and his activity were oriented towards the future. The ancient Khuvsgul Lake in Mongolia holds nearly seventy per cent of the countrys fresh water supply At the 34th session of the International Coordinating Council of the Man and the Biosphere Programme held recently in Paris, France, the decision was made to add the Khuvsgul Lake in Mongolia to the list of UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves. UNESCO set up the Man and the Biosphere Programme as an intergovernmental scientific programme in the early 1970s to establish a scientific basis for enhancing the relationship between people and their environments. Located in the northern Mongolian province of Khuvsgul at the foot of the eastern Sayan Mountains near the border with Russia, the lake is known for holding nearly 70% of the countrys fresh water, and 0.4% of the worlds total. It is Mongolias largest freshwater lake by volume, and the second largest by area after Lake Baikal, its sister lake. Located 1,645 metres above sea level, and 136 kilometres long and 262 metres deep, it is considered the younger sister of the two lakes, and revered in a country where the arid conditions make most lakes salty. Over two million years old, Khuvsgul is one of 17 ancient lakes in the world, and is known to be pristine; it is where most of Mongolias drinking water comes from the water is considered potable without treatment. The lake hosts fish species such as the endemic and endangered Hovsgol grayling as well as Eurasian perch, burbot and lenok. The lakes location in northern Mongolia forms one part of the southern border of the great Siberian taiga forest, where the dominant tree is the Siberian larch (Larix sibirica), and it is surrounded by several mountain ranges. The national park that encompasses the lake is protected as a transition zone with the Siberian taiga and the Central Asian steppe, and cocoons wildlife such as ibex, sable, argali, brown bear, elk, wolf, musk deer, wolverine, and Siberian moose. Established in 1997, the Hovsgol (Khovsgol) Long-term Ecological Research Site (LTERS) provides a platform for nurturing the countrys scientific and environmental infrastructures, studying climate change, and developing sustainable responses to the lakes environmental challenges. Images: Shutterstock Also see: Immerse Yourself In The World Of Batman Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Alia Bhatt just announced on ber social media that she is pregnant with Ranbir Kapoors child. Gone are the days when we were still recovering from Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's wedding. Alia Bhatt just took to social media to announce her first pregnancy with Ranbir Kapoor and fans and well-wishers are ecstatic with the news.She took to social media to share the news as she posted a picture of herself and Ranbir looking at the sonogram. Recently, Ranbir Kapoor was clicked in Spain. The pictures and videos that went viral on social media suggested that he was there with Shraddha Kapoor for Luv Ranjan's next.But if rumours are to be believed, it can be that he was there to do some shopping as well. We hear that Ranbir Kapoor went shopping for baby clothes in Spain for his and Alias child. LockBit ransomware is now masking itself as a copyright infringement notice. The malware victims have complained about receiving emails containing malware spoofing copyright claims. The people who receive these emails are being warned about a possible breach of copyright for allegedly using media files without the permission of the original creator. The recipients of these emails are threatened with legal action if they do not remove the content that is considered to be infringing from their websites. LockBit Ransomware Recent Attack Affiliates of the LockBit ransomware are employing a clever strategy to trick people into infecting their devices with malware by disguising it as copyright claims. This tactic can also be considered orm of social engineering. The emails, which were discovered by researchers at ASEC AhnLab in Korea, do not identify which files weras e inappropriately used in the body of the message; rather, they instruct the recipient to download and open the attached file in order to view the infringing material. Although the use of copyright infringement violation claims is interesting, LockBit ransomware is not the only malicious threat group to have used this type of tactic on their victims. How LockBit Ransomware Operates LockBit's newest ransomware tactic was first detected by ASEC researchers. It has been reported that the ransomware disguises itself as a copyright infringement and phishing email. According to ASEC, "The phishing e-mail has a compressed file as an attachment that contains another compressed file inside. Upon decompressing the file in the compressed file, an executable disguised using a PDF file icon is found." It has been established that this particular file is an NSIS file. If a closer look is conducted at the details of the nsi script, it can be seen that it decodes the data file with the number "162809383" and engages in malicious behavior by recursion and injecting code. By removing the volume shadow copies, this ransomware makes data recovery impossible. Additionally, in order to ensure that the ransomware runs steadily, it drops a file called LockBit Ransomware.hta on the desktop and registers Run Key in the registry. This ensures that the ransomware will continue to run even if the desktop is changed or the computer is rebooted. After that, it kills multiple services and processes in order to prevent the behavior and analysis of file infections from being detected. Along with its report, BleepingComputer stated, "Copyright claims are a matter that publishers of content should take into serious consideration, but if the claim isn't straightforward but instead requests you to open attached files to view the violation details, it's improbable for it to be a genuine takedown notice." Read Also: Harmony's Horizon Bridge Lost $100M To Crypto Hackers What is LockBit Ransomware? LockBit ransomware has been operational for the past few years and has breached a numerous number of systems. As reported by Kaspersky, the LockBit ransomware is a type of malicious software that works to block users' access to a device in exchange for a ransom payment. This ransomware is formerly known as the "ABCD" ransomware, which scans for valuable targets, spreads infection fast across a network, and encrypts any and all accessible computer systems on the network. Globally, the threat actors behind LockBit operate globally in forms such as extortion, data theft, illegal publication of information, and operation disruptions. The actors have targeted businesses and organizations from different parts of the world such as Ukraine, United States, China, France, India, UK, and many more. According to the NCC Group's Threat Pulse report, LockBit 2.0 was responsible for 40% of the 236 ransomware attacks that were reported during the month. Related Article: Conti Ransomware Has Shut Down Sites Used for Data Leaks, Negotiations with Victims Monday began on a high note for Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor fans. Alia took to Instagram to announce her pregnancy. She surprised fans with a picture of herself and her husband, actor Ranbir Kapoor, looking at an ultrasound monitor at the hospital. The ultrasound result is blurred but Alia shared the photos with the caption, "Our baby ..... coming soon."She also posted a picture of a lion and lioness with a cub. Fans congratulated them in the comments section.Several celebrities reacted to the post and congratulated the couple. Karan Johar wrote that his "heart is busting," and Alia's mother Soni Razdan commented, "Congratulations Mama and Papa lion." Karan also posted a message on his Instagram stories, "So much love for them! My baby is going to be a mother! I can't express my feeling so so so excited! Love you Both."Anushka Sharma was also among the well wishers. She shared the post and wrote, "Welcome to the club mommy & daddy."The happy news of Alia's pregnancy comes just over two months after the couple married in a private ceremony at their Bandra home. Ranbir and Alia married in a private ceremony on April 14, surrounded by their family and closest friends. BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China will on Monday release May figures for industrial profits, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. In April, profits were down 8.6 percent on month and up 3.5 percent on year. Hong Kong will provide May numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. In April, imports were up 2.1 percent on year, exports rose an annual 1.1 percent and the trade deficit came in at HKD36.6 billion. Indonesia will see May numbers for M2 money supply; in April, M2 was up 13.6 percent on year. Taiwan will see June results for its consumer confidence index; in May, the index score was 67.81. Japan will see final April figures for its leading and coincident economic indexes; in Mach, their scores were 100.8 and 96.8, respectively. 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 NFT asset management offering optimises across client needs for security, scalability and accessibility SINGAPORE, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matrixport, one of the world's largest digital assets financial services ecosystem, today announced the launch of Warm and Cold custody services for Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) via its third-party institutional custody service, Cactus Custody. This latest NFT asset management offering provides institutions the ability to safely store and manage their NFT and crypto assets in one place. NFTs have become increasingly popular, taking on a variety of formats including art, trading cards, comics and games. NFT marketplaces have expanded from just a handful to hundreds of marketplaces across multiple blockchains, with the global value of NFTs sold growing 500x reaching $20B in 2021.The number of wallets trading in NFTs have also increased from half a million to about 28 million last year. Cynthia Wu, COO, Matrixport said: "Matrixport continues to evolve its offerings in-line with market needs. As use cases for NFTs expand and mature, investors are seeking out best-in-class protection for these valuable digital assets against malicious actors. Cactus Custody is stepping up with the infrastructure and tools to provide our clients with peace of mind." Embedded with enhanced risk management features, the Cactus Custody NFT asset management offering enables institutions to customise user access controls and whitelisting of decentralized application (dApp) smart contracts. Only approved NFT marketplaces, DeFi, GameFi, SocialFi and Web3 protocols will be permitted to interact with the wallets on the platform. This effectively reduces the susceptibility of the wallets to potential fraud, hacks or phishing attacks. The NFT Warm and Cold storage solutions aim to provide users with the optimum combination of security, scalability and accessibility. The warm storage solution allows for the creation of multiple business lines for asset segregation, seamless interactions with various NFT marketplaces via Cactus Custody Defi Connector , and the availability of proprietary bank-grade vaults to safeguard private keys. As an added level of security, the cold storage solution utilises a multi-sig mechanism where private keys are stored offline in multiple bank-grade vaults located in 4 countries across 3 continents. Cactus Custody is the third-party institutional custody service provided by Matrixport for miners, funds, projects and corporations under custody. The NFT asset management service is now available on the Cactus Custody platform for users to enjoy comprehensive functionalities of NFTs. About Matrixport Matrixport is one of the world's largest and most trusted digital assets financial services ecosystem. With its mission to make crypto easy for everyone, the company provides one-stop crypto financial services to meet the emerging needs of generating long-term wealth from digital assets. Its services include Cactus Custody, spot OTC and asset management supported by a rich suite of market leading crypto investment products, such as fixed income, structured products and lending. Through its ventures unit, the company also forges strategic collaborations with early-stage Web3 innovators, helping them build, grow and scale. Headquartered in Singapore, Matrixport serves both institutions and retail customers across Asia and Europe. The company holds licenses in Hong Kong and Switzerland. For more information, visit www.matrixport.com . Twitter: @realMatrixport LinkedIn: @Matrixport About Cactus Custody The mission of Cactus Custody is to provide the digital era with secure, transparent, and efficient institutional custodian services. Enabled by cutting-edge system security design and infrastructure, coupled with comprehensive enterprise-grade financial management functions that cater for wide business scenarios, Cactus Custody non-stop safeguards one billion dollars of digital assets. We provide services to some of the world's largest and most renowned mining companies, mining pools, cloud mining platforms, exchanges, funds and OTC dealers, supporting our clients to grow and scale in a secure way. Cactus Custody currently supports 70 major digital assets and will support more assets in the future. To learn more about our solutions, visit https://www.mycactus.com/en . Twitter: @CactusCustody Linkedin: Cactus Custody Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1560145/matrixport_logo_blue_white_Logo.jpg Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 26, 2022) - Deputy Minister of Trade DR. Jerry Sambuaga visited Malaysia, being invited as speaker at a seminar on the development of the Asian blockchain community. The event lasted for 2 days from June 24th to June 25th, in which the Vice Minister of Trade had the opportunity to be the main speaker on June 24. On this occasion the Vice Minister of Trade explained the progress and direction of crypto trading which is growing rapidly in Indonesia. Figure 1 To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8831/129050_4a24f88d04dd2bbf_001full.jpg Jerry emphasized "Crypto trading is regulated by the CoFTRA (Bappebti) under the Ministry of Trade because crypto in Indonesia is categorized as a commodity and not as currency, Rupiah is the only medium of exchange or currency that is legal tender in Indonesia according to Indonesian law". At the seminar which was held both physically and online (hybrid) with participants from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, New Zealand, Canada, India, Vietnam, UAE, Venezuela, USA and Europe, DR Jerry also invited Indonesian crypto players to continue to innovate and educate the public so they can use crypto as an investment instrument. To crypto players outside Indonesia, the Vice Minister of Trade invites them to invest and enter as players in the crypto industry in Indonesia. Jerry further said that Indonesia is a potential future market with a demographic bonus that supports the development of the crypto industry. Indonesia will also have a crypto exchange that aims to protect crypto players from the side of crypto consumers, traders and coin or token developers. This concept is important because only by providing certainty and protection for all can the crypto industry progress. "We cannot hold progress in technology, but we can choose what is good and what is not by providing sufficient education and clear protection for all industry stakeholders." The crypto industry in Indonesia is growing very fast with an increase in total transactions recorded per 31 dec 2021 reaching a total of 859 trillion rupiah (USD 58 Billion) and the number of investors recorded reached 12.5 million users. This was conveyed by the Vice Minister of Trade in a panel discussion with Mr. David Rhoades, Global Marketing Lead of the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Mr Harpreet, Malaysian Blockchain Association. At the end, the Vice Minister of Trade also answered several questions from participants regarding the enthusiasm of the actors regarding investment opportunities and the direction of crypto development in Indonesia. The event ended with a photo session with crypto players and the hope that the crypto industry in Asia, especially Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore could share a common vision for future developments. Contact details: Andy Anderson Asean Conferences Email: Info@aseanconferences.com Phone:+6010 2733 882 (WhatsApp) To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129050 GUANGZHOU, China, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Being the spotlight in the heat pump industry, all models of PHNIX R290 heat pump - GreenTherm Series have earned KeyMark certification. It is worth noting that PHNIX is the first Chinese company that has obtained the KeyMark certification for R290 heat pump. The KEYMARK is a voluntary European quality mark for products and services, which demonstrates compliance with European Standards. Also, it complements CE Marking, so obtaining this certification can serve to boost consumer confidence in the PHNIX R290 heat pump GreenTherm Series throughout Europe and help PHNIX cooperative partners to win more of the market. Favorable R290 Green Therm Series Advantages: High Efficiency A+++ Energy Level GreenTherm Series Heat Pump is specially developed with the most cutting-edge heat pump technology and modern design to meet stringent requirements for efficiency, stability and quietness. With top energy rating A+++, the unit is energy efficient and can greatly reduce energy bills for users. R290 Refrigerant With both low carbon emissions and low GWP, R290 is recognized as the most potential refrigerant in the industry, and its application is conducive to achieving the goal of global carbon neutrality. Full DC Inverter Technology This full inverter GreenTherm serries heat pump utilizes variable-speed compressors, enabling the required output to be adjusted automatically at the lowest power consumption and maintain the optimum temperature at different climatic conditions. In general, with the full frequency inverter technology, GreenTherm serries can achieve high energy efficiency. Stable Running Thanks to the unique Inverter EVI technology, GreenTherm series can operate efficiently at -25C and maintain both high COP and stability. "PHNIX is the first manufacturer in China to obtain KeyMark certification for R290 heat pump, which is enough to prove the high energy efficiency, high quality and stability of its heat pumps. This achievement confirms the leading position and R&D strength of PHNIX heat pump." according to Jab Fan, Sales Director in charge of PHNIX house heating/cooling+ DHW heat pump division. About PHNIX As the leading heat pump manufacturer in China, PHNIX is an international enterprise specializing in the R&D and production of heat pumps and energy-saving solutions. Almost 50% of PHNIX products are exported to Europe, North America, and other overseas markets. To learn more about PHNIX and its products, please visit www.phnix-e.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847040/Top_Story__PHNIX_Full_Model_Range_R290_Heat_Pump_For.jpg BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - China industrial profits declined at a slower pace in May as companies resumed production after the easing of pandemic related restrictions, official data revealed on Monday. Industrial profits decreased 6.5 percent on a yearly basis, following April's 8.5 percent decline, the National Bureau of Statistics reported. During January to May, industrial firms registered an increase of 1.0 percent in profits. Nonetheless, this was slower than the 3.5 percent growth posted in the January to April period. The Purchasing Managers' survey, earlier this month, showed that China's manufacturing sector contracted again in May on weak production and new orders. Although the factory Purchasing Managers' Index rose to 48.1 from a 26-month low of 46.0 in April, the reading remained below the neutral 50.0 mark. 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. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, IN, INTO OR FROM THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, JAPAN OR THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE THE UK VERSION OF THE MARKET ABUSE REGULATION (EU NO. 596/2014) AS IT FORMS PART OF UK LAW BY VIRTUE OF THE EUROPEAN UNION (WITHDRAWAL) ACT 2018 (AS AMENDED FROM TIME TO TIME) ("UK MAR"). UPON THE PUBLICATION OF THIS ANNOUNCEMENT VIA A REGULATORY INFORMATION SERVICE, THIS INSIDE INFORMATION IS NOW CONSIDERED TO BE IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd. (AIM: ECO, TSX-V:EOG), the oil and gas exploration company focused on the offshore Atlantic Margins, is pleased to announce the successful completion of an equity fundraise of US$12.3 million (subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval) (the "Equity Fundraise"). A total of 33,406,531 new common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") and 33,406,531 warrants to subscribe for Common Shares have been conditionally placed with, or subscribed for by new and existing institutional investors (including from South African focused investors), at a price of 30p (CAD0.48) per Placing Unit or Subscription Unit (as applicable and defined below) (the "Issue Price"). Each 30p unit comprises one new Common Share and one warrant to purchase one new Common Share at a price of US$0.40625 (33p; CAD0.5215) for a period of three years. On settlement, the Equity Fundraise will raise gross proceeds of US$12.3 million for the Company, consisting of: a placing of 27,500,000 new Common Shares (the "Placing Shares") and warrants to subscribe for new Common Shares (on the basis of one warrant for every one Placing Share (the "Placing Warrants" and, together with the Placing Shares, the "Placing Units")), at the Issue Price, raising gross proceeds of 8.25 million (US$10.1 million) (the "Placing"); and a subscription of 5,906,531 new Common Shares (the "Subscription Shares") and warrants to subscribe for new Common Shares (on the basis of one warrant for every one Subscription Share (the "Subscription Warrants" and, together with the Placing Shares, the "Subscription Units")), at the Issue Price, raising gross proceeds of approximately US$2.2 million (1.8 million) (the "Subscription"). In aggregate, the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares represent 10.8% of the currently issued share capital of the Company and 9.8% of the Company's issued share capital as enlarged by the Equity Fundraise (both percentages stated prior to the issue of new Common Shares pursuant to the acquisition announced earlier today). In connection with this Placing, Fox-Davies Capital Limited and Fox-Davies Capital (DIFC) Limited (together "Fox Davies") acted as the sole placement agent. The Placing Shares and Subscription Shares will, when issued, be credited as fully paid and will rank pari passu in all respects with the existing Common Shares of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to receive all dividends and other distributions declared, made or paid after the date of issue. Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eco Atlantic, commented: "We are pleased to be able to close this successful private placing. We are fortunate to be able to include some of the leading South African focussed funds in this financing, thus supporting the regional efforts to become energy independent and to promote the local partners and oil and gas exploration efforts in South Africa. The funds we are raising will be applied to our ongoing operations and will enable us to settle the cash consideration for the increased interest in Block 3B/4B announced earlier today, allowing us to retain our current cash resources to drill Gazania-1 well in Block 2B in South Africa in September. In addition, the proceeds will also be used to expedite exploration activities on Block 3B/4B and prepare for potential wells next year in Guyana and South Africa. The proceeds of this fund raise strengthen the Group's cash resources following termination of the transaction with JHI and its cash component. As always, we are thankful to Africa Oil, which is participating in this round with an investment of US$1.8m. With over U$38m now in treasury, we are in a very strong financial position to fund all our current planned exploration needs in both South Africa, Namibia and Guyana including the drilling of the Gazania-1 well in September and additional near-term wells on Guyana Orinduik Block and in Block 3B/4B." Details of the Placing The Placing and Subscription are conditional upon, inter alia, the placing agreement and subscription agreement, respectively, not being terminated in accordance with its terms. Fox-Davies and the Company have today entered into an agreement with the Company in relation to the Placing (the "Placing Agreement"). The Placing is conditional on certain customary conditions taking place prior to certain dates including Admission by 30 June 2022 or such later date as is agreed but in any event not later than 8.00 a.m. in London, United Kingdom on 14 July 2022. The Placing Agreement includes customary warranties and indemnities given by the Company in favour of Fox Davies. Fox-Davies are entitled at any time before Admission, to terminate the Placing Agreement in accordance with its terms in certain customary circumstances, including (without limitation) if any of the warranties have been breached, there has been a material and adverse effect on the market position or prospects of the Company or certain market disruption or force majeure events. Africa Oil Corp participation in the Subscription Africa Oil Corp ("Africa Oil") subscribed for 4,864,865 Subscription Units at the Issue Price, raising gross proceeds for the Company of approximately US$1.8 million (the "Africa Oil Subscription"). Details of the Warrants The Placing Warrants and Subscription Warrants (together, the "Warrants") will be issued on the basis of one Warrant for every one Placing Share or Subscription Share purchased. No fractional part of a Warrant will be issued and fractional entitlements will be rounded down to the nearest whole number. Each Warrant is subject to terms and gives the holder the right, for the period of three years following the date of Admission (as defined below), to subscribe for one new Common Share at an exercise price of US$0.40625 (33p; CAD0.5215). The Warrants will be unlisted, non-transferable and be issued in certificated form. In the event that an amendment to the exercise of the Warrants is required by the TSXV, there will be a consequent amendment to the number of Warrants to be issued. Related Party Transaction As Africa Oil is a Substantial Shareholder of the Company, as defined by the AIM Rules for Companies, the Africa Oil Subscription is a related party transaction pursuant to Rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. The independent Directors, for the purposes of the Africa Oil Subscription, being the Directors, other than Keith Hill, having consulted with the Company's Nominated Adviser, Strand Hanson Limited, consider that the terms of the Africa Oil Subscription are fair and reasonable insofar as Eco's shareholders are concerned. The Africa Oil Subscription is also a "Related Party Transaction" (as such term is defined in Canada in the "Multilateral Instrument 61-101 Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions") as it relates to the issuance of shares to Africa Oil, an "Insider" of Eco by virtue of its shareholdings. The Company will comply with the Instrument and will rely on the exemptions available in Sections 5.5 and 5.7 of the Instrument as they relate to the Subscription. Use of Proceeds Further to the Company's announcement published today, the net proceeds from the Equity Fundraise are intended to be used to finance the cash consideration of US$1.5 million for the Company's acquisition of a further 6.25% Participating Interest in Block 3B/4B (the "Acquisition") and the remaining US$10.8 million will be used to reprocess 3D seismic data and commence potential well exploration operations at Block 3B/4B and Guyana Orinduik Block. The Equity Fundraise and the Acquisition are not inter-conditional. If for any reason completion of the Acquisition did not occur, the proceeds of the Equity Fundraise that have been provisionally allocated to be used on that transaction would be applied to other general corporate purposes of the Company. Issue of Fee Shares The Company has agreed to issue 180,000 new Common Shares to certain advisers in lieu of cash fees ("Fee Shares"). Admission and Total Voting Rights Application is being made to the London Stock Exchange plc for admission of the Placing Shares, Subscription Shares and Fee Shares to trading on AIM, which is expected to take place at 8.00 a.m. (BST) on or around 30 June 2022 and dealings on AIM will commence at the same time ("Admission"). The issuance of the Placing Shares and Subscription Shares is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange. Following Admission, the issued share capital of the Company will be 344,863,838 Common Shares (including the 2,702,702 new Common Shares, as announced by the Company this morning). The above figure may be used by shareholders as the denominator for the calculations by which they will determine if they are required to notify their interest in, or a change to their interest in, the share capital of the Company under the FCA's Disclosure Guidance and Transparency Rules. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. For more information, please visit www.ecooilandgas.com or contact the following: Eco Atlantic Oil and Gas c/o Celicourt +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Gil Holzman, CEO Colin Kinley, COO Alice Carroll, Head of Corporate Sustainability +44(0)781 729 5070 | +1 (416) 318 8272 Strand Hanson Limited (Financial & Nominated Adviser) +44 (0) 20 7409 3494 James Harris James Bellman Berenberg (Broker) +44 (0) 20 3207 7800 Emily Morris Detlir Elezi Fox-Davies Capital Limited (Placing Agent) +44 (0) 20 3884 8450 Daniel Fox-Davies Celicourt (PR) +44 (0) 20 8434 2754 Mark Antelme Jimmy Lea For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055 (as transposed into the laws of the United Kingdom), the person responsible for arranging for the release of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Gil Holzman, Co-Founder and CEO of Eco Atlantic. Notes to editors Eco Atlantic is a TSX-V and AIM quoted Atlantic Margin focused oil & gas exploration company with offshore license interests in Guyana, Namibia, and South Africa. Eco aims to deliver material value for its stakeholders through its role in the energy transition to explore for low carbon intensity oil and gas in stable emerging markets close to infrastructure. Offshore Guyana in the proven Guyana-Suriname Basin, the Group holds a 15% Working Interest in the 1,800 km2 Orinduik Block Operated by Tullow Oil. In Namibia, the Group holds Operatorship and an 85% Working Interests in four offshore Petroleum Licences: PEL's: 97, 98, 99 and 100 representing a combined area of 28,593 km2 in the Walvis Basin. Offshore South Africa, Eco (through its subsidiary) is designated Operator and holds a 50% working interest in Block 2B, and a 20% Working Interest (to be increased to a 26.25% Working Interest, subject to Completion of the Acquisition) in Blocks 3B/4B operated by Africa Oil Corp., totalling some 20,643 km2. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Eco (Atlantic) Oil and Gas Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706605/Eco-Atlantic-Oil-and-Gas-Ltd-Announces-Successful-US123-million-Equity-Fundraise Istanbul, Turkey--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Cereria Terenzi Evelino s.r.l. or "the Company", a world-class Italian niche artistic perfumery house, announced the opening of the first Terenziboutique in Istanbul's Galataport Post Office Fashion Galleria. Paolo and Tiziana Terenzi, the creators of the Cereria Terenzi brands and current heads of the family business, were joined on-site for the boutique's debut by prominent Turkish socialites, fashionistas, and entrepreneurs such as Can Hakko and Cem-Hulya Kalyoncu in a highly-anticipated opening ceremony. The Terenzi Boutique in Istanbul will house niche perfumes, candles and accessories from the Company's three associated brands, namely Tiziana Terenzi, V Canto, and Giardino Benessere. With Paolo as the nose of all three Brands and Tiziana Terenzi's creative and aesthetic genius on full display, the store offers a unique multisensory experience for global fragrance enthusiasts, tourists, and the wider Turkish public. Cereria Terenzi is a multigenerational family business based in Cattolica, Italy that has garnered international accolades for its artisanal niche artistic perfumes. The company prides itself on the use of natural ingredients and multimedia inspiration from fine art in the creation of its high-end scents. The Istanbul boutique's opening represents an important step for the Company's expansion into new markets as Paolo and Tiziana work to bring their artistic olfactory vision to a growing global audience. Commenting on the boutique's grand opening, Paolo and Tiziana Terenzi described how, "choosing a perfume is more difficult than creating it because it takes time and patience. You need to not only smell the scents, but also to know how to listen to them, give them the opportunity to evolve and express all of their melodiesIt is very important that we meet physically at this store so that the public can appreciate the artistic meaning of our fragrances. This is a place where we can showcase the full olfactory experience of our three brands, giving our customers a crucial opportunity to find the perfume that expresses their personality." Evoking the Company's founder co-owner and art director, Tiziana Terenzi adds that, "Our aim is to skillfully combine art and businessIn our artistically inspired business, we always follow in the footsteps of our founder Evelino Terenzi in re-establishing the right balance between tradition and innovation." Paolo and Tiziana Terenzi in the new boutique To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8905/129051_b3423e76a4b32b46_001full.jpg About Cereria Terenzi Cereria Terenzi is a niche artistic perfumery umbrella company based in Cattolica Italy with three associated brands: Tiziana Terenzi, V Canto, and Giardino Benessere. Founded in 1968, the family business now manages a plant of 17.000 m2 and produces exclusive niche perfumes for a fast-growing global consumer base. Tiziana Terenzi is the brand's art and style director, and her brother Paolo is the nose of the company. Together, they are devoted to bringing their vision of the dolce vita and Made in Italy quality standard to the world. In addition to their centerpiece lines of luxury perfumes, the company produces a lengthy catalog of candles and associated beauty products. For more information please visit: https://cereriaterenzi.com/en/ Contact: Janina Bauer janina.bauer@cereriaterenzi.com +39 (54) 182 0320 SOURCE: Cereria Terenzi Evelino s.r.l. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129051 OSLO (dpa-AFX) - Norway's retail sales declined for the second straight month in May, figures from Statistics Norway showed on Monday. Retail sales, except motor vehicles and motorcycles, fell a seasonally adjusted 0.9 percent month-on-month in May, following a revised 1.3 percent drop in April. Sales of other household equipment decreased 1.9 percent monthly in May, and those of food and beverages dropped 1.4 percent. There was a 1.1 percent decline in retail sales in specialized stores in May, and those for other goods fell by the same amount. Meanwhile, sales of culture and recreation goods grew 1.5 percent. On a year-on-year basis, retail sales declined notably by a calendar-adjusted 8.8 percent in May, much faster than the 2.4 percent fall in the previous month. 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. MILTON KEYNES, England, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Wisetek, a global leader in advanced IT asset disposition, data destruction, technology reuse and manufacturing services, has launched a new e-commerce website, Wisetek Store UK. Wisetek Store UK will enable British consumers to shop online for high quality refurbished IT equipment and new accessories including laptops, phones, tablets, keyboards, and a range of other hardware options. The new site was launched to give consumers a platform to buy high quality refurbished equipment from a recognised vendor specialising in technology reuse, without having to pay premium prices for brand new items. Wisetek Store UK customers will be served by Wisetek's facility in Milton Keynes. The site offers next day delivery across mainland UK and a free 12-month warranty on all products. Paula Napolitano, UK & Ireland eCommerce Manager with Wisetek said "We are delighted to launch Wisetek Store UK, as it will provide customers across the United Kingdom with a channel to shop for high quality refurbished items at a reasonable price, from a trusted vendor specialising in IT reuse. Wisetek Store UK is another positive step forward in Wisetek's mission to promote the circular economy and sustainable practices in the IT sector in the UK." Every item listed on Wisetek Store UK undergoes a rigorous assessment process to determine its suitability, during which the hardware is thoroughly tested. Any existing data on the device is wiped, and the equipment is refurbished as necessary before it is certified to be listed and sold on the site. The new site serves as a further demonstration of Wisetek's core value of sustainability, as it promotes the use of refurbished items, an environmentally friendly alternative to manufacturing new equipment. Wisetek has grown exponentially since it was established in Cork, Ireland by Sean Sheehan in 2007, and has expanded its international footprint to include facilities throughout Ireland, the UK, the USA, the Middle East and Thailand. Wisetek Store can be accessed at https://www.wisetekstore.com/uk/ Issued on behalf of Wisetek by Heneghan Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847278/Wisetek_Store_UK_Home_Page.jpg Initially known as a phone maker, OnePlus eventually expanded its products and included other devices. And it seems that we can expect more from the company before the end of the year. A fresh leak from Mukul Sharma suggests that it seems like a lot of OnePlus devices are going to get an upgrade in the third quarter of 2022. The reliable tipster said that two pairs of true wireless earbuds (one with the Nord branding) are about to be launched by OnePlus. We can also expect the OnePlus Watch 2, the OnePlus Band 2 and a couple of smartphones in the third quarter of 2022. What are the Devices that We Can Expect from OnePlus? There are three different types of wireless earbuds that OnePlus currently sells. These come with a variety of features and a choice of price points. In some part of the world, you can get these audio devices in bundles with OnePlus smartphones. It's already been a year since the OnePlus Watch was unveiled. It was launched in March 2021. The OnePlus watch runs its own bespoke operating system. We can, therefore, assume that the OnePlus Watch 2 will follow its footstep when it makes its debut. One the other hand, the OnePlus Band fitness tracker is currently only available in India. We are still waiting if the OnePlus Band 2 follow-up device (if it is indeed being developed) is going to be available in more regions once it is launched. Leaker Sharma said that both the OnePlus Watch 2 and the OnePlus Band 2 have entered the production stage in Europe and Asia, as per Android Police report. This only means that the we might be seeing the two new wearables unveiled later this year. A rumor also circulated that OnePlus is set to release six new phones by the end of September. According to Android Police, "those are thought to include the OnePlus 10 Ultra, OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite, and the OnePlus 10R." The consumers have received most of the accessories that OnePlus has made in the past well. The OnePlus Nord Buds, for example, had been a hit among consumers. Therefore, if more gadgets from OnePlus are on the way, the company must be pretty confident that the market will welcome them as well. Read Also: Is Your OnePlus 9 Pro Overheating? Major Reasons and 8 Ways to Fix It OnePlus Thrives in the Industry's Competitive Environment OnePlus is following the path most other smartphone manufacturers are tracking. OnePlus is having earbuds, smartwatches and fitness trackers that can be bundled with phones. This actually make sense as this is a means to rake in more sales and profit. For instance, Apple is a company that expanded to a variety of devices. Aside from the iPhone, Apple also launched the AirPods, the Apple Watch and other products. We can see the same pattern with Samsung and Google. These are two companies that offer plenty of accessories around their flagship smartphones. And they continue to add new products all the time. For example, Google has finally launched the Google Pixel Watch and it is going on sale soon. Given that kind of competition, OnePlus is indeed trying to keep up by offering new products that can be bundled with their smartphones. According to TechRadar, "while the sales figures that OnePlus sees for these accessories may not match those of its rivals, it's important to have these products available to go head to head against other companies." Related Article: OnePlus Nord CE 2 Lite Specs Leak: Snapdragon 695, 'Fluid' Display, 500mAh Battery, More Municipal, regional and national authorities in France often have different views on permits for the deployment of solar. Marie Buchet, head of solar power at Syndicat des energies renouvelables, spoke to pv magazine about four case studies. She said one-stop shops to unify all authorization processes could be the solution, as suggested by the European Union.France is not exactly the easiest country for investors and developers of ground-mounted utility-scale solar projects. This is due to the amount of paperwork that must be completed and the various authorities that are involved in such proceedings, ... Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has been awarded eleven additional Mining Concession Contracts ("Concessions") for the 20-kilometre-long URU zone, located along the southern portion of the CESAR North 90-kilometre-long copper-silver belt, within its wholly-owned CESAR project, Northeastern Colombia. The Concessions at URU now cover 99-km and Max's CESAR project Concessions now collectively total an aggregate of over 212-km. Each Concession has an initial term of 30-years and extension for a further 30-years for a total duration of 60-years. "The 212-km of Mining Concession Contracts are wholly-owned and provide secure tenure for development of Max's CESAR project for the years ahead. This achievement will add additional targets for Max's first drill program at URU, the most significant event in the Cesar basin since the discovery of Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America and the basis for much of the critical infrastructure in the Cesar basin," commented Max CEO, Brett Matich. "Max Resource's Environmental Survey has been accepted by the National Mining Agency of Colombia and approval to drill is expected in the coming weeks. Max is currently conducting field work and ground geophysical surveys to expand the URU drilling target area. Max's exploration focus aligns directly with Colombia's National Mining Agency strategy of transitioning from fossil fuels to copper exploration and future development of the Cesar basin. Furthermore, Max is fully funded with over $21 million in the treasury," he concluded. Figure 1. Mining Concession Contract To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_002full.jpg Figure 2. Presentation to Max by the ANM To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_003full.jpg Figure 3: CESAR copper-silver project To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_004full.jpg Figure 4: URU drill target area (Click the play icon to view URU Discovery drone video) To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_005full.jpg Cesar Copper Silver Project CESAR lies along the copper-silver rich 200-kilometre-long Cesar Basin in Northeastern Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's mining concessions collectively expanse over 212-km. Max is proactive in the goal of moving the Cesar basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for the Colombia's transition to clean energy. Recently a co-operation agreement was executed with Endeavour Silver Corp., which assists Max to significantly expand its 100% owned landholdings at CESAR, Endeavour will hold underlying 0.5% NSR. Max is focusing on three major copper-silver zones individually located along the CESAR 90-kilometre-long belt, with the objective of expanding the zones and defining drill targets: The 32-km long AM zone with highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver with highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver Conejo zone , averages 4.9% copper (2% cut-off) over 3.7-km , averages 4.9% copper (2% cut-off) over 3.7-km 20-km long URU zone returned 7.0m @ 8.5% copper + 143 g/t silver and 16.8m @ 8.3% copper + 146 g/t silver Geologically, Max interprets the sediment-hosted stratiform copper-silver mineralization in the Cesar basin to be analogous to both the Central African Copper Belt (CACB) to the south and the Kupferschiefer deposits in Poland to the north. Almost 50% of the copper known to exist in sediment-hosted deposits is contained in the CACB, including Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (TSX: IVN) 95-billion-pound Kamoa-Kakula discovery in the Congo. Kupferschiefer, the world's largest silver producer and Europe's largest copper source, is a mining orebody ranging from 0.5 to 5.5m thick at depths of 500m, grading 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver. The silver yield is almost twice the production of the world's second largest silver mine. Source: Central African Belt Descriptive models, grade-tonnage relations, and databases for the assessment of sediment-hosted copper deposits with emphasis on deposits in the Central Africa Copperbelt, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia by USGS 2010. Kamoa-Kakula by OreWin March 2020. World Silver Survey 2020 and Kupferschiefer Deposits & Prospects in SW Poland, September 27, 2019. Max cautions investors that the presence of copper mineralization of the Central African Copper Belt and the Polish Kupferschiefer are not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at CESAR. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43:101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale Cesar copper-silver project. The wholly owned Cesar project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011 For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: info@maxresource.com T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. rahim@bluesailcapital.com *The Venture 50 ranking is provided by TSX Venture Exchange Inc. ("TSXV") for information purposes only. Neither TMX Group Limited nor any of its affiliated companies guarantees the completeness of this information and are not responsible for any errors or omissions in or any use of, or reliance on, this information. The Venture 50 program is not an invitation to purchase securities listed on TSX Venture Exchange. TSXV and its affiliates do not endorse or recommend any of the referenced securities or issuers, and this information should not be construed as providing any trading, legal, accounting, tax, investment, business, financial or other advice and should not be relied on for such purposes" 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 Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129085 The growth of the hot melt adhesives market is driven by rising uptake of packaging solutions in the food & beverage, electronics, and automotive sectors, growing demand for adhesives, and increased consumer preference for low VOC adhesives, says this report. SELBYVILLE , Del., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per the report published by Global Market Insights Inc., the Hot Melt Adhesives Market was estimated at USD 12.25 billion in 2021 and is projected to exceed $19.35 billion in revenue by 2028 , progressing at a CAGR of 7% from 2022 to 2028. This report offers a detailed analysis of top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, wavering market trends, major investment pockets, market size & estimations, and competitive scenario. Hot melt adhesives have a long shelf life, low environmental effects, tamper-resistant seals, and so on, which have boosted product use in binding book covers, profile wrapping, and closing the flaps of corrugated boxes. Growing conservation, restoration, and repair of books is set to stimulate product adoption in the publishing industry for improving the aesthetic features of the final publication. Moreover, rapid R&D activities in the field are likely to further propel hot melt adhesives market growth through the forecast time span. Request for Sample Report:https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/263 SBC-based hot melt adhesives enhance the bonding of lycra rubber strands & rubber and adherence of elastic strands to polyolefin, which has bolstered its usage in diaper manufacturing. Rising awareness regarding hygiene and cleanliness, along with a surge in disposable income of consumers, would further impel product uptake. On account of these factors, the styrenic block copolymer (SBC) product segment is slated to exceed a valuation of $2.05 billion by the end of 2028. Meanwhile, the polyurethane product segment was valued at over $840 million in 2021 and is projected to gain traction over the forecast period. PU hot melts are majorly used in the electronics industry and pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, perfumes & beauty products packaging due to their flexibility, moisture & temperature resistance, and good adhesion to a wide range of substances. Key reasons forhot melt adhesives market growth: Expanding product usage across automotive industry. Growing demand for polyurethane hot melt adhesives. High adoption of SBC hot melt adhesives in diaper manufacturing. 2028 forecasts show the 'automobile' segment retaining its dominance: In terms of application, the hot melt adhesives industry from the automobile segment is anticipated to reach about $1.45 billion in revenue by the end of the study period. Hot melt adhesives can be used as an alternative to mechanical fasteners in the automotive sector for making vehicles lightweight and fuel-efficient. A positive stance toward automotive manufacturing, along with R&D expenditure on product innovation, mainly in China and the U.S., is likely to propel market expansion. Asia Pacific to maintain top status in terms of revenue: In the regional frame of reference, the hot melt adhesives industry in Asia Pacific is set to witness more than 7.5% gains over the review timeline. Industrial growth and rapid urbanization, primarily in Japan, India, and China, together with the booming electronics, electrical, and automotive sectors due to large investments, are likely to foster market outlook in this region. Request for the Customization of this Report: https://www.gminsights.com/roc/263 Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on hot melt adhesives market: The industry encountered a halt in business operations in various sectors due to rigid lockdowns and safety regulations during the coronavirus pandemic. Many countries had to close manufacturing facilities and production centers to tackle the pandemic. The requirement for hot melt adhesives dropped substantially due to the closure of production plants. However, increased focus of manufacturers on improving their business presence, widespread immunization efforts, and surging government emphasis on expediting economic recovery have helped the market regain its pre-COVID impetus. Leading market players Major companies functioning in the hot melt adhesives market include Henkel, H.B. Fuller, Arkema, 3M, Dow Chemical Company, Sika AG, Ashland, and 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: sales@gminsights.com Web: https://www.gminsights.com Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847869/Global_Hot_Adhesives.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/661916/GMI.jpg H.I.G. Capital ("H.I.G."), a leading global alternative investment firm with over $49 billion of equity capital under management, is pleased to announce that its portfolio company, Time Manufacturing Holdings, LLC ("Time Manufacturing" or the "Company"), a leading, global provider of vehicle-mounted aerial lifts, has acquired France Elevateur ("FE Group"). The pairing of the two companies, who share a mutual dedication to quality and safety, strengthens the combined platform's global manufacturing capabilities while enhancing value to customers through a broader portfolio of complementary products and services. Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Flavigny, France, France Elevateur is a leading manufacturer of vehicle-mounted aerial platforms for customers in various trades including public lighting, electric utility, roofing, telecommunications, rail networks, and other fields requiring access solutions. Through its two manufacturing sites in France and Spain and its footprint of 15 service facilities, France Elevateur provides quality machinery and comprehensive after-market services across Europe. Curt Howell, Chief Executive Officer of Time Manufacturing Company commented, "The France Elevateur acquisition represents a meaningful step forward in our global growth plan by adding more than 450 experienced professionals, a world-class regional product line, and over a dozen facilities across France, Belgium, and Spain. Leveraging our existing reach in Austria, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Switzerland, The FE Group improves our reach in the important national markets of Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg, Ireland, Eastern France and Spain." Charles Goffin, Chief Executive Officer of France Elevateur added, "Together, Time Manufacturing and France Elevateur can leverage their combined portfolio of vehicle-mounted access products to bring additional solutions to all customers." "France Elevateur is a highly complementary addition that brings further diversification to Time Manufacturing's suite of aerial lifts, and strengthens the Company's global leadership position," said Tenno Tsai, Head of North American Industrials at H.I.G. Klaas Reineke, Managing Director at H.I.G., added, "We are thrilled to continue supporting management and the Company in their efforts to enhance our European operations, particularly in the utility and telecommunications end markets." About Time Manufacturing Company Time Manufacturing Company is a global manufacturer of bucket trucks, digger derricks, cable placers, truck bodies, buckets, and other specialty equipment for electric utility, telecommunications infrastructure, bridge inspection, tree care, and other fleet-supported industries. Selling via the Versalift, BrandFX, Aspen Aerials, Ruthmann, Steiger, Ecoline and Bluelift brands, the Company employs more than 2,000 associates worldwide. For more information, visit https://timemfg.com. About France Elevateur France Elevateur is a leading manufacturer of vehicle-mounted aerial platforms for customers in various trades including public lighting, electric utility lines, roofing, telecommunications networks, rail networks, equipment rental, and other fields requiring access solutions. Through its two manufacturing sites in France and Spain and its footprint of 15 service facilities, France Elevateur provides quality machinery and after-sales services across Europe. For more information, visit https://france-elevateur.fr. About H.I.G. Capital H.I.G. is a leading global alternative assets investment firm with over $49 billion of equity capital under management.* Based in Miami, and with offices in New York, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Atlanta in the U.S., as well as international affiliate offices in London, Hamburg, Madrid, Milan, Paris, Bogota, Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo, H.I.G. specializes in providing both debt and equity capital to small and mid-sized companies, utilizing a flexible and operationally focused/ value-added approach: H.I.G.'s equity funds invest in management buyouts, recapitalizations and corporate carve-outs of both profitable as well as underperforming manufacturing and service businesses. H.I.G.'s debt funds invest in senior, unitranche and junior debt financing to companies across the size spectrum, both on a primary (direct origination) basis, as well as in the secondary markets. H.I.G. is also a leading CLO manager, through its WhiteHorse family of vehicles, and manages a publicly traded BDC, WhiteHorse Finance. H.I.G.'s real estate funds invest in value-added properties, which can benefit from improved asset management practices. H.I.G. Infrastructure focuses on making value-add and core plus investments in the infrastructure sector. Since its founding in 1993, H.I.G. has invested in and managed more than 300 companies worldwide. The firm's current portfolio includes more than 100 companies with combined sales in excess of $30 billion. For more information, please refer to the H.I.G. website at www.higcapital.com. Based on total capital commitments managed by H.I.G. Capital and affiliates. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220623005987/en/ Contacts: Tenno Tsai Head of North American Industrials ttsai@higcapital.com Klaas Reineke Managing Director kreineke@higcapital.com Regulatory News: Vitura (Paris:VTR) announces that it has successfully concluded a 94 million credit agreement to extend the maturity of an existing loan to 2025 and strengthen the Group's financial structure. The loan is secured by the Hanami campus, a 34,000 sq.m. property complex located in Rueil Malmaison just outside Paris, composed of eight office buildings surrounded by 25,000 sq.m. of greenery. Certified both NF HQE Exploitation "Excellent" and BREEAM In-Use International "Very Good", the asset features outstanding amenities and services, as well as three large tree-lined terraces. As from 2023, the campus will benefit from Vitura's low-carbon strategy and will be connected to a geothermal energy grid, giving tenants access to renewable, competitively priced energy while saving 430 metric tons of CO2 emissions per year. As part of the transaction, Societe Generale and La Banque Postale acted as arrangers and hedging banks and Societe Generale acted as facility security agent. Vitura was advised in the transaction by White Case, Fidal and SAS Noter. The pool of banks was advised by Archers and Allez Associes. Find us on: LinkedIn Twitter About Vitura Created in 2006, Vitura is a listed real estate company ("SIIC") that invests in prime office properties in Paris and Greater Paris. The total value of the portfolio was estimated at 1,560 million at December 31, 2021 (excluding transfer duties). Thanks to its strong commitment to sustainable development, Vitura was named the number one Global Sector Leader in the 2021 Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark's (GRESB) listed office property companies category and received two Gold Awards from the European Public Real Estate Association (EPRA) for the quality and transparency of its financial and non-financial reporting. Vitura is a REIT listed on Euronext Paris since 2006, in compartment B (ISIN: FR0010309096). The Company had a market capitalization of 550 million at June 22, 2022. Visit our website to find out more: www.vitura.fr View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005304/en/ Contacts: For more information, contact: Investor relations Charlotte de Laroche +33 1 42 25 76 38 info@vitura.fr Media relations Alienor Miens/Marion Bouchut +33 6 34 45 34 09 marion.bouchut@havas.com DGAP-News: Altaley Mining Corp Altaley Mining Updates Tahuehueto Mine Pre-production Mill Commissioning and Advises of Change of Control Person 27.06.2022 / 12:00 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Altaley Mining Corporation (TSXV: ATLY) (OTCQX: ATLYF) (FSE: TSGA) (the "Company" or "Altaley") is pleased to update shareholders on the commissioning, pre-production, and construction progress at its Tahuehueto Gold Mine. The operations team have been diligently resolving various start-up issues related to the water supply pipeline and mill commissioning and, over the past week have successfully achieved ongoing pre-production with the 1st 500 tpd ball mill. Recently, processing has been stabilized with the mill achieving ore throughput up to 350 tpd and averaging approximately 195 tpd over the past 5 days. Mill throughput is estimated to remain at current levels over the next two weeks with crushing being handled with a provisional cone crusher while the permanent crushing circuit installation is being finalized and anticipated to be operational within the next two weeks and thereafter the ball mill throughput will be ramped up to capacity. To date approximately 260 tonnes of bulk concentrated has been produced at Tahuehueto. Two shipments of approximately 30 tonnes each have been shipped to Trafigura for sale. These initial batches of concentrate were produced from low-grade ore on purpose as original feed testing at the ball mill start-up. Revenue received from the 1st shipment was approximately US$42,000 paid for gold, silver, and lead. The second delivery payment is pending. Another 70 tons of concentrate is in the process of being shipped from Tahuehueto to Tepehuanes subsequently to be trucked and sold to Trafigura in the coming days. The Tahuehueto operations team estimate that there are approximately another 150 tonnes of concentrate available, drying on the mill patio and within the thickeners available to be filtered for drying on the patios. The tailings storage facility is in the final stages of construction and expected to be ready to receive dry stack tailings within 45 days. Tailings currently being generated are being filtered and stored as additional backfill underground. The Tahuehueto Laboratory is essentially ready to be operational and technicians are calibrating ICP and ancillary equipment expected to be fully operational over the next few days. Installation of the second 500 tpd ball mill is scheduled over the next several months and the Company anticipates the project will be able to commission this mill during Q4 2022 and ramp up production towards the mine's designed capacity of 1,000 tpd near the end of 2022. "Although the commissioning phase of Tahuehueto's first ball mill has taken longer than anticipated, management is optimistic that most of the start-up issues are behind us and that the project will be able to maintain steady state production with the initial ball mill and thereby begin to increase Tahuehueto's concentrate sales and revenue over the coming months." states Ralph Shearing, CEO & President Controlling Shareholder Intent to Sell The Company has been advised that Mr. Roberto Guzman Garcia has filed a Form 45-102F1, Notice of Intention to Distribute Securities under Section 2.8 of NI 45-102 Resale of Securities. Mr. Guzman has informed the Company that he intends to sell up to 50 million shares, a majority of his 68,160,172 controlling share position of Altaley as part of a restructuring of his Mexican real estate business. The sales will be made in a series of private transactions or through pre-arranged crosses through the facilities of the TSX Venture Exchange. The purchasers are acquiring the shares as a long-term investment recognizing the underlying intrinsic value of Altaley's mining assets. It is not anticipated that any of the purchasers will become 10% or greater shareholders of the Company. Mr. Guzman will retain direct or indirect ownership of approximately 18.16 million Altaley shares as a director and significant shareholder of the Company About Altaley Mining Corporation Altaley Mining Corporation is a Canadian based mining company with two 100% owned Mexican gold, silver, and base metal mining projects. Altaley's Tahuehueto mining project is in north-western Durango State, Mexico where construction has been advanced to near completion on its 1,000 tonne per day processing facility and related mine infrastructure to initiate production of gold, silver, lead, and zinc concentrates at Tahuehueto. The Company began initial pre-production and mill commissioning in May 2022 and will be ramping up to full production capacity during Q3-Q4 2022. Campo Morado is an operating polymetallic base metal mine with mining and milling equipment currently producing at an average of 2,200 tonnes per day and is currently estimated to be Mexico's 6th largest zinc producer. Visit: www.altaleymining.com On Behalf of the Board of Directors (signed) "Ralph Shearing"Ralph Shearing, P. Geol, CEO, President and Director Cautionary Note Regarding Production Decisions and Forward-Looking Statements 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. It should be noted that Altaley declared commercial production at Campo Morado prior to completing a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Altaley's production decision has been made without a comprehensive feasibility study of established reserves such that there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Campo Morado mine and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make a production decision. Altaley has completed a preliminary economic assessment ("PEA") mining study on the Campo Morado mine that provides a conceptual life of mine plan and a preliminary economic analysis based on the previously identified mineral resources (see News Release dated November 8, 2017, and April 4, 2018). ). Furthermore, It should be noted that Altaley intends to commence pre-production and ramp up to full commercial production at Tahuehueto prior to completing a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability. Accordingly, readers should be cautioned that Altaley's pre-production and production decisions will be made without a comprehensive feasibility study of established reserves such that there is greater risk and uncertainty as to future economic results from the Tahuehueto mine and a higher technical risk of failure than would be the case if a feasibility study were completed and relied upon to make such production decisions. Altaley has completed a positive pre-feasibility study (the "Pre-Feasibility Study") and updated mineral reserves/resources estimates at its flagship Tahuehueto Mine that provides a conceptual life of mine plan and a preliminary economic analysis based on a 1,000 tonne per day operation (see News Release dated March 7, 2022) Statements contained in this news release that are not historical facts are "forward-looking information" or "forward-looking statements" (collectively, "Forward-Looking Information") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-Looking Information includes but is not limited to conditions or financial performance that are based on assumptions about future economic conditions and courses of action; the timing and costs of future activities on the Company's properties, such as production rates and increases; success of exploration, development and bulk sample processing activities, and timing for processing at its own mineral processing facility on the Tahuehueto project site. In certain cases, Forward-Looking Information can be identified using words and phrases such as "plans," "expects," "scheduled," "estimates," "forecasts," "intends," "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases. In preparing the Forward-Looking Information in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including, but not limited to, that the current exploration, development, environmental and other objectives concerning the Campo Morado Mine and the Tahuehueto Project can be achieved; that commencement of pre-production mining and milling operations at Tahuehueto will proceed as planned; the continuity of the price of gold and other metals, economic and political conditions, and operations. Forward-Looking Information involves 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 the Forward-Looking Information. There can be no assurance that Forward-Looking Information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on Forward-Looking Information. Except as required by law, the Company does not assume any obligation to release publicly any revisions to Forward-Looking Information contained in this news release to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contact Details Glen Sandwell +1 604-684-8071 ir@altaleymining.com Company Website https://www.altaleymining.com/ News Source: News Direct 27.06.2022 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 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / Searchlight Resources Inc. ("Searchlight" or the "Company") (TSXV:SCLT)(OTC PINK:CNYCF)(FSE:2CC2) is pleased to announce that Dr. John Belhumeur has joined the Searchlight Resources Advisory Board as Indigenous and Community Advisor. Dr. John Belhumeur has spent over 30 years as a consultant for Aboriginal affairs with regards to project development in the resource industry, coordinating between Aboriginal citizens, resource companies, and various levels of government. Dr. Belhumeur has worked on many projects, from the EIA process through to the construction and operation phases of a mine. Coming from St. Lazare and Pine Creek, Manitoba, Dr. Belhumeur's Cree /Ojibwa ancestry gives him first-hand knowledge of the Indigenous experience, lending a deeper understanding of issues facing Aboriginal people today, in society and the workplace. Dr. Belhumeur believes in protecting the environment first and foremost, through the use of Traditional, Ecological Knowledge and sustainable mineral development. Dr. Belhumeur is the Founder and publisher of The Aboriginal Miner, a partnership with the Prospector Resource Investment News. John is an accomplished publisher, miner, and adviser to First Nations, Industry and Government and is well-known throughout the mining, forestry, and petroleum industries, as well as the resource development communities. Dr. Belhumeur was one of the first publishers to endorse mining, hydro, oil & gas, alterative energy, and other resource development projects in Canada, believing that it would bring employment, training and prosperity to Indigenous communities. "Searchlight welcomes Dr. Belhumeur to the Searchlight team to assist the Company in presenting a respectful dialogue with First Nations, local governments and stakeholders on a broad range of mutual interests", stated Stephen Wallace, President and CEO of Searchlight. Qualified Person Stephen Wallace, P.Geo., is Searchlight's Qualified Person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the technical information contained in this news release. About Searchlight Resources Inc. Searchlight Resources Inc. (TSXV:SCLT, US:CNYCF, FSE:2CC2) is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company focused on Saskatchewan, Canada, which has been ranked as the top location for mining investment in Canada by the Fraser Institute. Exploration focus is on Rare Earth Elements, uranium, battery minerals and gold throughout the province. Searchlight holds over 1,395 square kilometres of claims in Saskatchewan. On behalf of the Board of Directors, "Stephen Wallace" Stephen Wallace, President, CEO and Director SEARCHLIGHT RESOURCES INC. For further information, visit the Company's website at www.searchlightresources.com or contact: Searchlight Resources Inc. Alf Stewart, Chairman (604) 331-9326 info@searchlightresources.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. The Company 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 the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to the Company's limited operating history and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. SOURCE: Searchlight Resources Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706582/Searchlight-Resources-Announces-Dr-John-Belhumeur-as-Indigenous-and-Community-Advisor ZUG, Switzerland, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 'Introduction to Bitcoin Theory' course debuted on 6 June 2022, and it was the first regular course in the BSV Blockchain Engineer Qualification Programme, a joint initiative from Keyi Tech and CSDN. This free course is open to the public and requires approximately nine hours of online learning time to complete. Students who study this course and pass all required tests can apply online to take the final exam. Those who successfully pass the final exam will be awarded a 'Certificate for Preliminary Qualification of Blockchain Engineers' from the CSDN Capabilities Certification Centre in collaboration with the BSV Academy. The BSV Blockchain Engineer Qualification Programme is a comprehensive project for educating and fostering blockchain specialists, and features a combination of study, training, qualification and certification modules. Created to specifically address the pain points in today's blockchain realm, namely 'a lack of high-quality educational resources and a shortage of qualified talents', this programme is dedicated to defining new criteria for blockchain professionals, as well as fostering the development of the blockchain industry and its related talent pool. The Online Study Platform provided by the programme is open to the public at no cost and consists of 6 preliminary courses and 9 regular courses, all full of self-contained and highly academic material that covers a full spectrum of topics, ranging from the basics of blockchain theory to practical skills for blockchain development. The courses are therefore suitable for learners with different backgrounds and requirements. The training, qualification and certification modules all help cultivate blockchain talents. After students have completed their studies, they can have their achievements further accredited by sitting the standard final exam in order to obtain the corresponding certificate and ultimately further their career development. The BSV Blockchain Engineer Qualification Programme falls under the CSDN Qualification System for Software Engineers. Each qualification certificate bears a serial number and exclusive Developer ID Number, both of which can be verified on the official certification website. Regarding the recently-launched certification module, Lise Li, CEO of Keyi Tech and Head of BSV Hub China, said: "We've launched two blockchain courses and a certification option thanks to CSDN's year-long work and the joint efforts by the two parties. In the future, we will present more educational resources, as well as organise our own offline training and brain-storming session initiatives. BSV Hub China's collaboration with CSDN is a significant step in our work to continually boost open-source technology. I fully expect to see more people expanding their horizons and embracing new career opportunities through our educational platform and certification programme." Chen Yulong, current CTO of CSDN (Changsha), echoed this sentiment, saying: "Users have been eagerly anticipating this Programme launched officially by the CSDN Capabilities Certification Centre, as it is the very first examination qualification serving the blockchain technology realm. In addition, it also offers premium learning resources which pave the way for developers from other sectors to learn blockchain development techniques, saving them the trouble of searching for hours online. Leveraging a package of specialisation courses together with a professional system of examination-based certification, our qualification programme aims to bring many high-calibre professionals to China's blockchain industry." Click here to learn about blockchain courses. Click here to learn more about examination-based certification. About CSDN Founded in 1999 as a professional community for Chinese IT specialists, CSDN (Chinese Software Developer Network) is dedicated to becoming a home for IT specialists where they can grow and exchange ideas. As of November 2020, CSDN had more than 31 million registered members and was ranked 26th globally by Alexa. To date, to the community has contributed over 36 million technical articles, and its new media account on WeChat has attracted 20 million followers. CSDN has established collaborations with more than 1,000 business partners, including a host of global leaders, such as AWS, Baidu.com, Google, Huawei, IBM, Microsoft, Tencent, etc. About Shanghai Keyi Technology Co., Ltd. Known as a provider of corporate consulting services with a focus on promoting state-of-the-art technologies and providing application services, Shanghai Keyi Technology Co., Ltd. joined both the Shanghai Blockchain Technology Association and the Taiwan International Blockchain Strategy Association in October 2021. At present, the company mainly serves corporate tech clients in Europe and North America and has enjoyed a fairly international clientele. Its chief services include: consulting, marketing campaign planning and execution, PR creation and maintenance, as well as technical education and training. About the BSV Blockchain BSV is the ideal blockchain for enterprise and government projects. With unbounded on-chain scaling, the BSV blockchain meets the needs of large-scale technology applications: high transaction volumes, fast speed, predictable low fees, micropayment capabilities, and greater data capacity. Its powerful technical capabilities enable smart contracts, tokenization, IoT device management, computation and more. As a public ledger, BSV also enables transparency, auditability and more honesty for governments, citizens and enterprises. Applications on BSV now span a wide array of industry sectors - media & entertainment, social media, online games, Metaverse/AR/VR, digital advertising, data integrity, ID management, government services, supply chain, accounting, RegTech, distributed network intelligence, Internet of Things, and financial services. BSV also supports an environment-friendly and regulation-compliant blockchain ecosystem. The aim is to make it simple for every municipality in Canada to efficiently manage tax sales through standardization. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / A rapidly growing leader in the real estate industry, Tax Sales Hub, is pleased to announce it will soon be launching its new tax sales SaaS software that will be a game-changer for municipalities and investors across Canada. Established in 2019, Tax Sales Hub is a proud Canadian-based company with a mission to fill the gap of an absence of centralized source of tax sales properties across the country. The company works from two angles that both help investors to acquire properties/land way below market value, while also helping municipalities to raise more money for unpaid taxes. Tax Sales Hub does this by manually aggregating tax sales announcements nationwide and by bringing awareness among local real estate investors and communities. Today, Tax Sales Hub is informing real estate investors that it is in the final stages of releasing a new software that will make it simple for every municipality in Canada to manage tax sales. With the comprehensive software, every tax sale will be standardized, with municipalities having an option to display tax sales directly on their websites. "We are single-handedly trying to solve a federal grade problem," says co-founder of Tax Sales Hub, Alexander Kay . "Since there are no regulations or centralized systems to handle tax sales tenders/auctions in Canada, and most municipalities announce tax sales in free form, our team is working on a software for municipalities to manage tax sales easily and in universal format across the country. The idea is to give access to our TSH app dedicated for municipalities and provide them with an easy way to add/update/cancel tax sales." "This way we save them from Excel sheets and provide them a standardized well-structured version of tax sale entities," Kay continues. "Moreover, we also provide a simple widget, which can be injected in any municipality website's page and display their tax sales in the same way as on Tax Sales Hub." According to the company, some provinces have provincial Gazettes, where they publish tax sales. Other provinces don't have any centralized tax sales sources and they publish tax sales on their local websites and/or press. This being said, however, every province has one thing in common when publishing tax sales - it's just a raw list of cadaster numbers. "Tax Sales Hub aims to change this by doing all of the hard work by monitoring hundreds of municipalities across the country," Kay states. "Then, we manually look up these properties in cadaster registry, adding pictures, geo-location on Google map, boundaries, putting together documents package, and other relevant information. Once this research is complete, we add these properties to our list, which saves local investors tons of time. We welcome anyone to reach out with any questions about our game-changing tax sales software." For more information about Tax Sales Hub, or to learn more about Ontario tax sales, please visit taxsaleshub.ca. About Tax Sales Hub Tax Sales Hub first began as a side project in 2019 and initially served only a small private group of investors and friends. The purpose of the website was to simplify the process of hunting down sweet tax sale deals in Ontario and, after approximately one year, the company started to get more attention from the real estate investors' community. Since inception, Tax Sales Hub has added other provinces one by one and, from the beginning of 2022, the company has been serving the entire country to become a rock-solid SaaS company, which solves federal grade problems. Contact Information Alexander Kay alexander.kay@taxsaleshub.ca https://taxsaleshub.ca/ SOURCE: Tax Sales Hub View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706599/Tax-Sales-Hub-About-to-Launch-Game-Changing-Tax-Sales-SaaS-Software LONDON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the UK's leading supercar hire companies has just launched a cryptocurrency payment system to rent the world's most impressive prestige and supercars. Customers can now choose to pay for a selection of 150 supercars from 28 luxury marques in Bitcoin or Ethereum cryptocurrency as well as in pounds. One of the cars available at their showrooms in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh is the 2.4m Bugatti Chiron, which costs 200,000 a day to rent, or 220.75 ETH, or 11.696 BTC. Classic Parade founder and owner Mr Brown said: "Our clientele are international and want to be able to pay to rent our supercars without the hassle and cost of exchange rates and transfer fees. "Many of our clientele have significant holdings in cryptocurrency and so it makes sense to offer this option for them. The transactions are immediate and we can also take the deposits in crypto as well, and then it's easy to return the deposit after the rental has expired as well." Crypto payments are made to Classic Parade's secure wallet and all necessary steps are taken to ensure the safety of the financial transfers. Once the funds have transferred and the rental agreements are signed the supercar is either collected or delivered to the customers address in the UK. Mr Brown added: "We have to go through the usual identity checks needed to hire a vehicle but these are easy to process and it becomes much easier with every repeat transaction. "This way we can also provide adequate "know your customer" checks." One of Classic Parade's most popular cars for summer rentals is the Lamborghini Huracan EVO Spyder which costs 1,600 a day to rent, or 1.64 ETH or 0.093 BTC. Mr Brown said: "We are expecting a great deal of interest from crypto investors in the next few months to rent out our incredible supercars. Many investors are relatively young and want to show their wealth and so the interest in supercars is very strong for this market." You can see the full range of supercars and their prices at https://www.classicparade.com/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848234/Bugatti_Chiron_Supersport.jpg After several reports regarding Google Analytics' data infringement issues, three countries in Europe have prohibited its service. In October next year, Google might suspend its Universal Analytics platform. At the same time, Google Analytics 4 will impossibly gain any favors from the EU. Google's Google Analytics faces Dissension from UE after GDPR Breaches Google has been under fire from the European Union for abusing its dominant position in mobile search engines and apps. The usage of Google Analytics is now being pursued by an increasing number of union member states for infringement of the General Data Protection Regulation. The European Centre for Digital Rights (NOYB), a non-profit organization headquartered in Vienna, Austria, filed a complaint against Austrian medical news provider NetDoktor, where it all began. According to Wired, the business was discovered to utilize a cookie from Google Analytics, which records "the pages you read, how long you remain on the website, and information about your device," among other things. To connect the visitor to other navigational data, Google may provide an identifying number to the browser being used. Additionally, all data recorded by Google through Google Analytics travels across the Atlantic from Europe to the United States. The Austrian Data Protection Agency (DPA) declared that the usage of Google Analytics breached GDPR on December 22, 2021. The "IP address anonymization feature was not correctly deployed," according to Natasha Lomas of TechCrunch. The user's IP address is a unique piece of information that may be used in conjunction with other information to identify them positively. The third and most recent nation to prohibit the service that allows website owners to monitor and evaluate their site traffic is Italy. According to the government's judgment, the GDPR is violated since users are not guaranteed a fair procedure for redress because a vast amount of information, including IP addresses, is gathered through cookies and sent to the United States, where third parties, including the government, may access it. Caffeina Media, a local supplier of online services, has been given 90 days by Italy's competition authorities to switch its account away from Google Analytics after receiving a citation. Simple Analytics, a rival of Google Analytics, reports that two other member states have taken similar steps in a blog post. In February, the CNIL, France's national committee for freedom of expression, issued a ban for the same reason. In January, the Data Protection Authority of Austria did the same (via NOYB). Read Also: M1 Versions of iMac, Mac Mini Now on Sale | Here's What You Should Know About M1-powered Apple Techs Google Eyes the Desist of Universal Analytics Platform in 2023 By October 2023, Google plans to discontinue the Universal Analytics platform, which mainly relies on trackers to gather information about site visits. The majority of Google Analytics customers presently use this platform. Google Analytics 4 is already online, but it's unlikely to win the E.U. any favors since it relaxes the use of trackers while still seeming to acquire much of the same data via alternative techniques. Over the last several years, Google has struggled to create new web trackers that respect user privacy. The 'Schrems II' ruling from the Court of Justice of the European Union, which was rendered in 2020, is a significant source of support for the prohibition of Google Analytics. This generated obsolete prior guidelines under the Privacy Shield system, which guaranteed secure data transfers to the US. The whole judgment is available here. Related Article: How To Use User Behaviour Analytics For Your Business WELLINGTON (dpa-AFX) - NASA has delayed the launch of a small cubesat to the moon to allow more time to perform final systems checks of its Rocket Lab booster for flight. The mission, led by Advanced Space, was scheduled to launch aboard a Rocket Lab's Electron rocket from the company's Launch Complex 1 in New Zealand at 6 a.m. ET on Monday. 'NASA, Rocket Lab, and Advanced Space are standing down from the June 27 launch attempt for the CAPSTONE mission to the Moon to allow Rocket Lab to perform final systems checks,' the U.S. space agency said in a statement. Teams are evaluating weather and other factors to determine the date of the next launch attempt, it added. The next possible launch opportunity within the current period is on June 28. CAPSTONE's trajectory design means that the spacecraft will arrive at its lunar orbit on Nov. 13 regardless of launch date within the current period, which offers launch opportunities every day through July 27. The CAPSTONE mission, or the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System Technology Operations and Navigation Experiment, aims to send a microwave oven-sized spacecraft weighing just 55 pounds to elliptical lunar orbit. As a pathfinder for Gateway, a Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASA's Artemis program, CAPSTONE will help reduce risk for future spacecraft by validating innovative navigation technologies and verifying the dynamics of this halo-shaped orbit. CAPSTONE's orbit also establishes a location that is an ideal staging area for missions to the Moon and beyond. The orbit will bring CAPSTONE within 1,000 miles of one lunar pole on its near pass and 43,500 miles from the other pole at its peak every seven days, requiring less propulsion capability for spacecraft flying to and from the Moon's surface than other circular orbits. After a four-month journey to its destination, CAPSTONE will orbit this area around the Moon for at least six months to understand the characteristics of the orbit. The peer-to-peer information that determines CAPSTONE's position in space will be used to evaluate its autonomous navigation software. If successful, this software, referred to as the Cislunar Autonomous Positioning System (CAPS), will allow future spacecraft to determine their location without having to rely exclusively on tracking from Earth. This capability could enable future technology demonstrations to perform on their own without support from the ground and allow ground-based antennas to prioritize valuable science data over more routine operational tracking. A successful CAPSTONE mission is expected to pave the way and expand opportunities for small and more affordable space and exploration missions to the Moon, Mars and other destinations throughout the solar system. Copyright(c) 2022 RTTNews.com. All Rights Reserved Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Battery Mineral Resources Corp. (TSXV: BMR) (OTCQB: BTRMF) ("Battery" or "BMR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce encouraging drill core assay results from the recently completed Phase 1 2021-2022 exploration and infill diamond drill program focused on extensions of the Cinabrio orebody, the Dalmacia target and the San Andres target within the Punitaqui mine complex ("Punitaqui") in Chile. The Punitaqui mine is slated for resumption of mine operations in the second half of 2022. The Cinabrio Norte target represents a potential northern extension of the main Cinabrio mine orebody, which was historically the primary source of ore feed to the Punitaqui copper ore concentration plant for eight-plus years. These drill results continue to highlight the presence of strong copper mineralization and the significant vertical extent of the Cinabrio Norte target (see Figure 1). Highlights At Cinabrio Norte the Phase 1 drill program consisted of 53 diamond drill holes with a total of 13,731 meters ("m"). To date, the drilling has outlined a significant zone of high-grade mineralization in the northern portion of the target area and remains open at depth. The initial Phase 1 program of step-out holes was expanded from the planned 24 holes (for approximately 3,600m) to 53 holes to further test the down-dip extent of the copper ("Cu") mineralization ultimately reaching a depth of 350m below surface. The results of the North Zone at Cinabrio Norte include: CNN-22-30: 164m at 0.80% Cu including 48.0m at 1.31% Cu, 12.5m at 0.91% Cu and 19.4m at 1.15% Cu CNN-22-40: 14m at 1.62% Cu CNN-22-41: 9m at 1.15% Cu CNN-22-19: 4.1m at 1.38% Cu CNN-22-19A: 16.6m at 0.85% Cu including 5.4m at 1.16% Cu Results from the South and Central Zones at Cinabrio Norte include: CNN-22-33: 14.9m at 1.79% Cu including 2.8m at 3.66% Cu CNN-22-25: 4m at 0.48% Cu including 18.9m at 1.23% Cu CNN-22-26: 4m at 1.18% Cu CNN-22-29: 14m at 0.76% Cu including 5m at 1.01% Cu CNN-22-32: 9m at 0.43% Cu CNN-22-38: 4.3m at 1.09% Cu Battery CEO Martin Kostuik states; "We are very pleased to report these encouraging results from Cinabrio Norte at our former producing Punitaqui copper mine in Region IV of Chile. Cinabrio Norte began as a collection of a few interesting holes to the immediate north of the original Cinabrio mine. Cinabrio, until May of 2020, produced feed to the Punitaqui copper concentrator for nine-plus years. Today's reported drillhole results conclude the initial drill program at Cinabrio Norte and, together with the previously reported results, clearly demonstrate a new extension of Cinabrio to the north. These new targets have the potential to provide the Company with an additional source of copper mineralization as feed for the Punitaqui processing plant." Furthermore, CEO Kostuik remarks: "The development of Punitaqui towards a restart of mine operations, followed by a re-start of the copper concentrating plant, is progressing well on all fronts. Efforts are multi-faceted and include drilling, engineering, metallurgical test work and permit modifications. We look forward to the potential of these latest assay results for the Cinabrio Norte target contributing significantly to the forthcoming resource report and subsequent restart plan for the mine." Cinabrio Norte Drill Program The Cinabrio Norte Phase 1 drilling was designed to follow-up on a limited number of historic drillholes that targeted the northern extension of the Cinabrio orebody. The historic exploration drilling confirmed that the favorable TSU that hosts the copper mineralization within the Cinabrio orebody extends to the north. The TSU has been mapped along a north-south strike from the Cinabrio mine. Of note, the Cinabrio Norte target is only 110m north of the Cinabrio underground workings on level 200m. Historic hole CNS-20-01, drilled in 2020 by the prior operators, was drilled completely within the TSU resulting in multiple mineralized intercepts and, most notably, confirmed the presence of TSU for over 200m of strike length with significant copper sulphide mineralization (CNS-20-01: 48m at 0.64% Cu, 3m at 0.47% Cu and 6m at 0.45% Cu). The 20221-2022 Phase 1 drilling at Cinabrio Norte consisted of a series of step-out holes to test the TSU along a 400m strike length (north-south) to a depth below surface, or down-dip, of 350m. The current BMR drilling has outlined a significant zone of high-grade mineralization in the northern portion of the target zone which remains open down-dip. Complete assay results were recently received for all 18 remaining drill holes from the Phase 1 campaign at Cinabrio Norte (see Figure 1 and Table 1). As of this press release, all assays from the entire Phase 1 program (Cinabrio Norte, San Andres and Dalmacia) have now been reported. Table 1: Current Cinabrio Norte Exploration Drill Intercepts Drillhole Number From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Copper (Cu %) Silver (Ag g/t) Northern Zone of Cinabrio Norte Target CNN-22-19 310.0 314.1 4.1 1.38 22.6 and 342.0 345.0 3.0 0.68 7.7 CNN-22-19A 184.8 201.4 16.6 0.85 1.5 including 196.0 201.4 5.4 1.16 0.8 CNN-22-30 209.0 373.0 164.0 0.80 9.9 including 209.0 257.0 48.0 1.31 6.4 including 248.0 254.0 6.0 1.83 6.3 and 285.0 297.5 12.5 0.91 10.5 and 315.6 335.0 19.4 1.15 34.6 and 370.0 373.0 3.0 1.25 7.0 CNN-22-35 191.6 195.0 3.4 0.37 4.76 and 329.7 334.0 4.3 0.05 3.2 and 359.5 361.0 1.5 0.37 7.9 and 363.0 367.4 4.4 0.43 1.7 CNN-22-39 324.0 329.0 5.0 0.50 10.60 CNN-22-40 279.0 293.0 14.0 1.62 5.0 and 386.0 395.0 9.0 0.12 3.31 and 397.0 402.0 5.0 0.17 12.40 CNN-22-41 133.0 135.0 2.0 0.63 1.20 and 219.0 221.5 2.5 0.73 2.80 and 237.1 240.1 3.0 0.87 8.37 including 237.1 239.0 1.9 1.20 10.89 and 281.0 290.0 9.0 1.15 12.00 including 283.0 288.0 5.0 1.70 16.60 South and Central Zones of Cinabrio Norte Target CNN-22-25 357.0 361.0 4.0 0.48 9.5 CNN-22-26 208.0 212.0 4.0 1.2 0.80 CNN-22-27 210.0 212.0 2.0 0.40 1.51 CNN-22-28 128.0 131.0 3.0 0.38 2.33 and 136.0 138.0 2.0 0.38 3.50 and 148.0 149.7 1.7 0.50 1.00 CNN-22-29 183.0 197.0 14.0 0.76 2.86 including 183.0 185.0 2.0 0.97 2.00 including 192.0 197.0 5.0 1.01 4.20 CNN-22-31 202.2 203.5 1.3 0.41 1.00 and 213.0 218.0 5.0 0.07 2.08 CNN-22-32 253.0 262.0 9.0 0.43 5.44 CNN-22-33 301.9 316.8 14.9 1.79 6.47 including 314.0 316.8 2.8 3.66 0.40 CNN-22-34 234.3 242.0 7.7 0.07 4.12 and 244.0 249.0 5.0 0.22 3.20 CNN-22-37 94.0 98.0 4.0 0.47 2.81 CNN-22-38 141.8 146.0 4.3 1.09 6.53 and 146.0 149.0 3.0 0.20 0.60 Note: All intervals are downhole length Significant intercepts reported earlier from the phase 1 drilling include: CNN-21-02: 13m at 1.36% Cu including 7.6m at 2.08% Cu at including at CNN-21-06: 53m at 0.91% Cu including 20.8m at 1.14% Cu at including at CNN-21-07: 9.7m at 0.70% Cu at CNN-21-11: 7m at 1.21% Cu at CNN-22-01: 26m at 1.28% Cu at CNN-22-06: 15m at 1.24% Cu at CNN-22-07: 41.5m at 1.36% Cu at CNN-22-08: 33.4m at 1.08% Cu including 18.9m at 1.23% Cu at including at CNN-22-09: 25m at 0.65% Cu at CNN-22-10: 3.3m at 0.82% Cu at CNN-22-13: 4.9m at 1.25% Cu at CNN-22-16: 22.5m at 1.15% Cu at CNN-22-21: 34.1m at 1.35% Cu including 19.5m at 1.60% Cu Please refer to news releases dated December 29, 2021 , March 15, 2022 and April 26, 2022 for previous drill assays. Figure 1: Cinabrio Norte Drill Collar Plan (2021-22 completed holes in green, historic holes in grey) To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/6076/129142_5906d917a4c2893b_002full.jpg. Quality Control Sample preparation, analysis and security procedures applied on the BMR exploration projects is aligned with industry best practices. BMR has implemented protocols and procedures to ensure high-quality collection and management of samples resulting in reliable exploration assay data. BMR has implemented formal analytical quality control monitoring for all field sampling and drilling programs by inserting blanks and certified reference materials into every sample sequence dispatched. Sample preparation is performed by ALS Global - Geochemistry Analytical Lab in La Serena, Chile and sample analyses by ALS in Lima, Peru. ALS analytical facilities are commercial laboratories and are independent from BMR. All BMR samples are collected and packaged by BMR staff and delivered upon receipt at the ALS Laboratory. Samples are logged in a sophisticated laboratory information management system for sample tracking, scheduling, quality control, and electronic reporting. Samples are dried then crushed to 70% < -2 millimeters and a riffle split of 250 grams is then pulverized to 85% of the material achieving a size of <75 microns. These prepared samples are then shipped to the ALS Laboratory in Lima Peru for analyses by the following methods: ME-ICP61: A high precision, multi-acid digest including Hydrofluoric, Nitric, Perchloric and Hydrochloric acids. Analysed by inductively coupled plasma ("ICP") mass spectrometry that produces results for 48 elements. ME-OG62: Aqua-Regia digest: Analysed by ICP-AES (Atomic Emission Spectrometry) or sometimes called optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for elevated levels of Co, Cu, Ni and Ag. Certified standards are inserted into sample batches by ALS. Blanks and duplicates are inserted within each analytical run. The blank is inserted at the beginning, certified standards are inserted at random intervals, and duplicates are analysed at the end of the batch. Additional Information Michael Schuler, Battery Mineral Resources Corp. Chile Exploration Manager, supervised the preparation of and approved the scientific and technical information in this press release pertaining to the Punitaqui Exploration Drill Program. Mr. Schuler is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About Battery Mineral Resources Corp. Battery Mineral Resources ("BMR") is a battery minerals company providing shareholders exposure to the global mega-trend of electrification while being focused on growth through cash-flow, exploration, and acquisitions in favourable mining jurisdictions. Battery Mineral's mission is the discovery, acquisition, and development of battery metals (namely cobalt, lithium, graphite, and copper), in North America, South America and South Korea, to become a premier and responsible supplier of battery minerals to the electrification marketplace. BMR is currently pursuing a potential near-term resumption of mine operations, followed by copper production in late 2022, of the Punitaqui Mining Complex, a past copper-gold producer located in the Coquimbo region of Chile. Punitaqui, operating as recently as April of 2020, has a 9+ year operating history and produced between 20 and 25 million pounds of copper annually. BMR is the largest mineral claim holder in the historic Gowganda Cobalt-Silver Camp in Ontario, Canada, and continues to pursue a focused program to build on the recently announced, +1-million-pound high-grade cobalt resource at McAra. In addition, Battery Mineral owns 100% of ESI Energy Services, Inc., and its US subsidiary Ozzie's, Inc. (http://ozzies.com), a profitable mainline pipeline and renewable energy equipment rental and sales company with operations in Alberta, Canada and Arizona, USA. Battery Mineral Resources is based in Canada and its shares are listed on the Toronto Venture Exchange under the symbol "BMR" and on the OTCQB under the symbol "BTRMF". Further information about BMR and its projects can be found on our website, www.bmrcorp.com. For more information, please contact: Martin Kostuik, CEO Martin Kostuik Phone: +1 (604) 229 3830 info@bmrcorp.com Mars Investor Relations +1 (604) 335-1976 bmr@marsinvestorrelations.com Harbor Access Corp. 475-477-9402 jody.kane@harbor-access.com Twitter: @BMRcorp_ www.bmrcorp.com Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. 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. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections of the Company on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability of the Company to obtain sufficient financing to complete exploration and development activities, the ability of the Company to complete the Debenture offering, risks related to share price and market conditions, the inherent risks involved in the mining, exploration and development of mineral properties, the ability of the Company to meet its anticipated development schedule, government regulation and fluctuating metal prices. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Battery undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein, whether because of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129142 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / IC Capitalight Corp. (CSE:IC) ("Capitalight" or "the Company"), is pleased to announce the results of the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the "Meeting") held in Toronto, Ontario, Canada on June 27, 2022. As of the May 20, 2022, the record date for the Meeting, there were 90,419,146 common shares of the Company outstanding and entitled to vote at the Meeting. Of this amount, there were 18,056,034 common shares (20.0%) represented in person or by proxy at the Meeting. The final voting results of the Meeting are set out below: Election of Directors . Each of the nominees were elected as directors and will serve and hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders, unless they cease to hold office. The following table sets forth the voting results with respect to the election of each director: Nominee For Withheld Brian Bosse 100.0% 0.0% Marc Johnson 100.0% 0.0% Bryan Loree 100.0% 0.0% Douglas MacQuarrie 100.0% 0.0% Veronika Hirsch 100.0% 0.0% Elliot Beutel 100.0% 0.0% Appointment of Auditors . The Company's shareholders approvedthat MNP LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants be appointed auditors of the Company to hold office until the close of the next annual meeting of shareholders of the Company and the directors are hereby authorized to fix their remuneration. The following table sets forth the voting results with respect to this resolution: For Withheld 100.0% 0.0% ABOUT IC CAPITALIGHT CORP. The Company operates as a merchant bank that pursues value-based investment opportunities in accordance with its internal investment policies. The Company currently holds an investment portfolio consisting of debentures, common shares, and the Blue Lake mineral exploration property in Quebec. The Company also owns Capitalight Research Inc., which operates a subscription research business focused on providing gold, silver, copper and nickel, lithium, and rare earth price forecasts as well as Canadian preferred share and economic research. To learn more about the Company please contact us at info@capitalight.co or visit our websites at www.capitalight.co or www.capitalightresearch.com This press release was approved by: Brian Bosse CEO and Director P: 866.653.9223 SOURCE: IC Capitalight Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706654/Capitalight-Announces-Results-of-2022-Annual-General-Meeting-of-Shareholders DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- President and CEO of Saudi Aramco, Engineer Amin bin Hassan Nasser, announced the expansion of its the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) flagship Arabic reading competition iRead beyond the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to readers across the Arab World for its upcoming edition, now open for submissions. The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of iRead's 7th edition, held on the evening of Saturday, June 25, 2022, where this year's winners were awarded. The ceremony, held at Ithra's premises in the Eastern Province, hosted a large gathering of intellectuals and writers, who were briefed on the storied journey of the winners throughout the competition. The ceremony also honored those who won the titles of "The Reader of the Year," "Reading Ambassador," and "Translation Ambassador", where Mr. Amin Al-Nasser expressed his congratulations to the winners and participants. Expanding the impact of the competition across the Arab cultural landscape, Nasser announced that iRead will be open to include all readers from all Arab countries in the next edition of the program. Al-Nasser additionally expressed hope towards celebrating the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature to a Saudi Author in the future, and that the iRead competition will play a role towards that achievement. Mr. Hussain Hanbazazah, the Director of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), expressed his utmost pride in the participants and winners of the iRead competition, saying: "iRead has witnessed rapid development since its inception in 2013, as well as an increase in the number of participants which to date exceeded 75,000 readers. With its continued growth, Ithra has continually developed the program on an annual basis, expanding and enhancing it further so that more bibliophiles can have the opportunity to join. Reading is one of the pillars of the Arabic language, and one that can become a tool of human development and innovation." Mr. Hanbazazah additionally pointed out the role played by the competition in promoting knowledge and raising awareness by encouraging youth to compete, as well as praising the role that Ithra continues to play in nurturing a passion for literature and reading through its library, which has received more than one million visitors since the center's inception. The two-day closing ceremony of this year's edition witnessed the participation and attendance of several high-profile dignitaries as speakers, panelists and special guests engaging in dialogues and discussions on key literary and cultural topics. Attendees included writer, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Orhan Pamuk, as a guest of honor, Moroccan intellectual Dr. Abdel Fattah Kilito, a cultural attendee at the ceremony; Bahraini poet Qassem Haddad; a panel discussion with Dr. Saad Al-Bazai from Saudi, Kuwaiti novelist Buthaina Al-Issa, and Sudanese poet Rawdha Al-Hajj; a discussion session with Dr. Abdullah Al-Sufyani and Professor Muhammad Al-Fraih, moderated by Egyptian writer Muhammad Shoair. The final program included book signings of the latest works by Booker Prize-nominated Iraqi novelist Mohsen Al-Ramli and Omani novelist Bushra Khalfan, the latest works of Emirati poet and short story writer Sultan Al-Amimi, Moroccan writer Dr. Abdel Fattah Kilito, and Egyptian novelist Tariq Imam, alongside further discussion sessions. A sweeping victory for the contestants in the iRead competition A key highlight witnessed Shahd Al-Qaisum awarded the Reader of the Year by the audience. The panel of judges also announced the following winners The Reading Ambassadors: Khazina Al Shammari Khuloud Al Anzi Maha Al Omari The Translation Ambassadors: Munira Al Hwaidi Wijdan Al Widyani Marwan Al Rasheed The panel also announced Zainab Al Nasser as the winner of the Young Readers track, while the jury selected Mohammad Al Khalifa after meeting the required criteria. About Ithra The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture - otherwise known as Ithra, an Arabic word meaning "enrichment" - is one of Saudi Arabia's most influential cultural institutions. It's a place where challenging perspectives meet creativity and transformative ideas. Through a variety of impactful programs, Ithra aims to inspire and enrich. Ithra is truly a place for all generations to enjoy and explore the human potential of hearts and minds. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848379/iRead_winners_presented.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848380/Saudi_winner_presented.jpg DGAP-News: Emerging Energy Corporation (EEC) / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Emerging Energy Corporation (EEC): Request for Proposals: Green Hydrogen Feasibility Study in Niger 27.06.2022 / 20:05 The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Request for Proposals: Green Hydrogen Feasibility Study in Niger EEC is seeking a qualified independent partner experienced in planning and conducting technical and economic feasibility studies to assess the feasibility of green hydrogen production in Niger Background: Emerging energy corporation (EEC) (https://EmEnergyCorp.com/) is a German investment firm dedicated to creating growth in the African energy sector and related infrastructure with an interest in green hydrogen projects. The energy transition - which represents the efforts undertaken and results achieved on renewable energy expansion and energy efficiency - will be the basis for a clean, secure and affordable energy supply, which is essential for our lives and economic growth. To become GHG-neutral and meet international obligations under the Paris Agreement, green hydrogen needs to be established as a decarbonisation option and the demand for hydrogen will increase worldwide. The large amounts of hydrogen that will be needed for the energy transition can be produced in Africa, making green hydrogen an exciting and promising prospect for the future of the African and global economy. Project Overview: EEC recently signed an agreement with the Republic of Niger to develop commercial Green Hydrogen. The project aims to develop green hydrogen generation facilities and transport infrastructure for integrated use in industrial application and experimental development to establish Niger as a leading green hydrogen production zone. EEC is seeking a qualified independent partner experienced in planning and conducting technical and economic feasibility studies to assess the feasibility of green hydrogen production in Niger, as well as the potential market for green hydrogen products for industrial use and export. Objectives : Stage 1: Analysis of technical, commercial and strategic viability of hydrogen production in the Republic of Niger; Identification, assessment, and recommendation of locations based on feasibility of hydrogen production, future demand, and levelized cost of hydrogen; Development of a sound knowledge base that will allow EEC to progress its role in a long-term hydrogen strategy and export industry. Stage 2: A technical, commercial, financial and macroeconomic analysis of a pilot project outlining scenarios and options for undertaking the project; Develop criteria and timeline for future project selection and deployment. Requirements: The partner will need to supply evidence of ability and experience to undertake the specified objectives/duties in this Request for Proposal, and explain their approach to the Services including: Evidence of breadth and depth of knowledge of renewable energy production, transport, distribution, and utilization infrastructure; Demonstrated experience and expertise in undertaking similar consultancy services in energy infrastructure. Evidence of the capacity to deliver high-quality products on time and within budget. Proposal Format: Proposals shall include the following: Letter of Introduction including executive summary that demonstrates an understanding of the project Proposed work plan, schedule, and deliverables including project activities and milestones Description of any expected challenges Detailed budget breakdown including hourly/daily rate(s) of consultant Background and related experience of consultant(s) Three (3) client references and/or past project reports Email: Please send your proposal and requirements with the subject line 'RFP Feasibility Study' to j.stang@emenergycorp.com Deadline: 30 July 2022 Download images: https://bit.ly/3Oop1lC, https://bit.ly/3u22iDO Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Emerging Energy Corporation (EEC). Contact: j.stang@emenergycorp.com Emerging Energy Corp. AG Opernplatz 14 | 60313 Frankfurt | Germany 27.06.2022 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 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. ATLANTA, GA / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / Findit, Inc., a Nevada Corporation (OTC PINK:FDIT), owner of Findit.com, a full-service social networking platform which provides tools for members to increase brand awareness through content creation and sharing, resulting in indexing in search engines, announces the selection of a new Stock Transfer Agent Firm, ClearTrust. ClearTrust is a full-service stock transfer agent, serving public and private companies and community banks. Findit Inc has entered into an agreement with ClearTrust and begun the migration process. The full migration process should be completed by the end of June, at which point a Shareholder meeting will be conducted and information on how Shareholders can interact with ClearTrust will be given. As stated on the ClearTrust website "ClearTrust offers robust shareholder record keeping and compliance services to growing issuers, with services that include online account access, compliance support, corporate governance consulting, paying agent services, corporate action processing, DRIP maintenance, proxy administration, assistance with DTC eligibility, and solving unique issuer problems. Our founders were motivated to create a positive difference in the securities industry rooted in decency, helpfulness, and integrity." Tom Powers (Secretary of Findit Inc) stated, "We are excited to work with ClearTrust and we have been very impressed so far with their diligence and professionalism. Switching to such a well-established firm is a critical step in our overall growth plans. As we complete the migration and can then utilize ClearTrusts' full services I think all our Shareholders will see a much more streamlined process for things like depositing certificates and other such activities. We are also working hard on our day-to-day business, serving clients, generating content and continuing to develop the Findit product and monetization model. As we continue to progress the company from both an administrative and technical angle we look forward to a bright future." In other News Findit Inc has also completed the companies Full Year 2021 and Q1 2022 audit and filings with the Auditing Firm BF Borgers CPA PC Certified, Public Accountants and The Law Offices of Thomas C. Cook. About The Law Offices of Thomas C. Cook The Law Offices of Thomas C. Cook was formed in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 1997, with a principal focus of representing public companies before the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, FINRA, OTC Markets, LLC, and the various state securities authorities. Thomas C. Cook, Esq., the firm's principal attorney, has over two decades of experience in corporate and securities law, including but not limited to corporate formation and governance, securities registrations and compliance, mergers and acquisitions, and the issuance of securities-related opinions. Mr. Cook received his bachelor of arts from Occidental College in 1990 and his Juris Doctor from Whittier Law School in 1993. About BF Borgers CPA, PC At BF Borgers CPA, PC, we have built our practice by providing exceptional service to our clients through our commitment to our firm culture and values based on the three underlying principals Professionalism, Responsiveness, Quality. About Findit, Inc. Findit, Inc., owns Findit.com which is a Social Media Content Management Platform that provides an interactive search engine for all content posted in Findit to appear in Findit search. The site is an open platform that provides access to Google, Yahoo, Bing, and other search engines access to its content posted to Findit so it can be indexed in these search engines as well. Findit provides Members the ability to post, share and manage their content. Once they have posted in Findit, we ensure the content gets indexed in Findit Search results. Findit provides an option for anyone to submit URLs that they want indexed in Findit search result, along with posting status updates through Findit Right Now. Status Updates posted in Findit can be crawled by outside search engines which can result in additional organic indexing. All posts on Findit can be shared to other social and bookmarking sites by members and non-members. Findit provides Real Estate Agents the ability to create their own Findit Site where they can pull in their listing and others through their IDX account. Findit, Inc. is focused on the development of monetized Internet-based web products that can provide an increased brand awareness of our members. Findit Inc. trades under the stock symbol FDIT on the OTC Pinksheets. Safe Harbor: This press release contains forward-looking information within the meaning of Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), including statements regarding potential sales, the success of the company's business, as well as statements that include the word believe or similar expressions. Such forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance, or achievements of Findit Inc. to differ materially from those implied or expressed by such forward-looking statements. This press release speaks as of the date first set forth above, and Findit Inc. assumes no responsibility to update the information included herein for events occurring after the date hereof. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to factors such as the lack of capital, timely development of products, inability to deliver products when ordered, inability of potential customers to pay for ordered products, and political and economic risks inherent in international trade. CONTACT: Tom Powers 866-500-4576 tom@findit.com SOURCE: Findit, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/706665/Findit-Inc-Announces-New-Transfer-Agent--ClearTrust Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Tudor Gold Corp. (TSXV: TUD) (FSE: TUC) (the "Company" or "Tudor Gold") today issued the following statement: "It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of the Company Founder and Chairman Mr. Walter Storm at the age of 91. On behalf of our Board of Directors, our leadership team and our employees, we extend our sympathies to Walter's family and friends." In 2015, Walter Storm purchased various promising mining claims near Stewart, B.C. - within an area known as the "Golden Triangle" due to its significant gold deposits. In the following year he closed a qualifying transaction with a public company, which was later renamed TUDOR GOLD Corp. Under his supervision he advanced Tudor Gold's gold exploration and development efforts. After several successful drill programs completed by the Company, in March 2021 Tudor Gold published an initial mineral resource estimate for its flagship project Treaty Creek, which confrimed the Goldstorm Deposit as one of the largest gold discoveries of the last 30 years (see Tudor Gold press release dated March 9, 2021). Walter held the position as CEO of Tudor Gold until December 2021 and continued to serve the Company as Chairman of Tudor's Board of Directors until his passing. Mr. Storm was a successful entrepreneur with several decades of experience in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Throughout his career, Mr. Storm was successfully active across multiple industries, including the forest industry in Canada, mining industry in West Africa and Canada, as well as oil production and road transportation from Europe to Central Asia and Russia. Mr. Storm left his mark in Canada by providing startup financing to Osisko Mining for Canadian Malartic, a large gold mine in the province of Quebec, through a German holding company (Eurasia) in which he held a majority ownership and acted as Chairman of the Supervisory Board. During Mr. Storm's tenure, Eurasia not only funded the startup of Osisko Mining in 2004, but also helped the company reach market capitalization of CAD$4.50 Billion before being sold in 2014. Ken Konkin, President and CEO of Tudor Gold Corp. commented: "The loss of Walter is felt profoundly, not only by his family, his friends and me, but also by Tudor's employees and colleagues who had the privilege of knowing him during his over 60 years of devotion to his various business endeavours. Walter will be remembered as a generous, highly ethical and visionary leader who had a keen business sense and had sucessfully built companies in different industries. He embodied the spirit of our company with his deep sense of loyalty, his humor and his strong moral compass. Walter's expansive business knowledge allowed him to steer many successful companies in a variety of industries. He was always willing to consider something new, and if he became involved, Walter was determined to leave it better than he found it. He will be missed." About Tudor Gold TUDOR GOLD Corp. is a precious and base metals exploration and development company with properties in British Columbia's Golden Triangle (Canada), an area that hosts producing and past-producing mines and several large deposits that are approaching potential development. The 17,913 hectare Treaty Creek project (in which TUDOR GOLD has a 60% interest) borders Seabridge Gold Inc.'s KSM property to the southwest and borders Newcrest Mining Limited's Brucejack property to the southeast. In April 2021 Tudor published their 43-101 technical report, "Technical Report and Initial Mineral Resource Estimate of the Treaty Creek Gold Property, Skeena Mining Division, British Columbia Canada" dated March 1, 2021, on the Company's Sedar profile. The Company also has a 100% interest in the Crown project and a 100% interest in the Eskay North project, all located in the Golden Triangle area. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TUDOR GOLD CORP. "Ken Konkin" Ken Konkin President and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please visit the Company's website at www.tudor-gold.com or contact: Chris Curran Head of Corporate Development and Communications Phone: (604) 559 8092 E-Mail: chris.curran@tudor-gold.com or Carsten Ringler Head of Investor Relations and Communications Phone: +49 151 55362000 E-Mail: carsten.ringler@tudor-gold.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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129196 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Global Wellness Strategies Inc. (CSE: GWS) (FSE: O3X4) (OTCQB: GWSFF) ("Global" or the "Company") provides quarter corporate highlights. The Company quarter corporate highlights included announcing: May 12th that Global Wellness' Shanti Therapeutics was preparing for their first clinical trial with iNGENu a subsidiary of Australian leader Cannvalate. Shanti' s product suite of MDMA could be the global market winner finding a solution to the chronic puzzle of pain. iNGENu is engaged as the CRO (clinical research organization) by the Company to conduct clinical trials for Shanti Therapeutics. The protocol is a single center, randomized crossover study to investigate the efficacy of MDMA vs placebo in a model of experimental pain in healthy adults. Shanti has a targeted research pathway to clinical success, with strong proprietary protection under its already submitted patent providing a method for the treatment or prevention of pain. Plus May 9th the Company announced the additional appointment to our advisory team of a chief medical advisor to assist with the Shanti Therapeutics acquisition. April 12th that the Global Wellness brand KaleidoMyco introduced their first ever effervescent tablets combining functional mushrooms and hemp extract. KaleidoMyco is focused on working with doctors and integrative medical practitioners in a collaborative effort in the discovery of products combining mycology formulas with hemp extract derived cannabinoids focused on health and wellness. Hemp infused medicinal mushroom products aka functional mushrooms are increasingly relevant, because of their ancient healing powers on an array of modern-day ailments. Taking these two powerful plant medicines together enables one to experience enhanced effects. "Global Wellness will be focused this coming quarter on beginning the Shanti clinical trials and introducing new KaleidoMyco consumer product goods with a wider distribution network and revenues. Clearing our balance sheet of long-term debt and moving to a strong revenue model is key for us this quarter. The Company also recently announced our annual general meeting to be held August 18, 2022,' stated Meris Kott, CEO Global Wellness Strategies Inc. Debt Settlement Updates: The Company has issued a total of 1,850,000 common shares without par value in its capital (each, a "Share") to one non-arm's length creditor and an arm's length creditor of the Company at a deemed issuance price of $0.25 per Share. The Company entered into a shares for debt settlement agreement with a current officer, pursuant to which the Company agreed to issue 850,000 common shares at a price of $0.25 per share in full settlement of accrued and outstanding indebtedness in the amount of $212,500 for the officer's fees owing. The insider settlement shares will be subject to a statutory hold period of four months from the date of issuance, in accordance with applicable policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange. The Company also entered into a debt settlement agreement with an arms-length consultant for the settlement of $250,000 in debt for professional and consulting services provided by the consultant to the Company. In settlement and full satisfaction of the debt the Company will issue 1,000,000 common shares at a deemed price of $0.25 per Share. The issuance of the settlement shares to the officer, also a director of the Company will be considered to be a "related party transaction" as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101. Protection of minority security holders in special transactions ("MI 61-101"); however, the issuances are exempt from the minority approval and formal valuation requirements of MI 61-101 pursuant to subsections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101. About Global Wellness Strategies Global Wellness Strategies is a prospect generator that provides high growth companies with financial, operational, and management assistance in the fast-growing market for wellness consumer products. The focus of the Company is on global wellness, psychedelics, mycology, hemp and CBD, healthcare-related target companies. For further information visit websites: www.globalwellnessstrategies.com Or Contact Meris Kott CEO 604.484.0355 or email to info@globalwellnessstrategies.com Further information about the Company is available on www.SEDAR.com under the Company's profile. 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. Certain statements contained in this release may constitute "forward-looking statements" or "forward-looking information" (collectively "forward-looking information") as those terms are used in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and similar Canadian laws. These statements relate to future events or future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "intend", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated", "anticipates" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on the Company's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, this release contains forward-looking information relating to the business of the Company, its financing and certain corporate changes. The forward-looking information contained in this release is made as of the date hereof and the Company is not obligated to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Because of the risks, uncertainties and assumptions contained herein, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The foregoing statements expressly qualify any forward-looking information contained herein. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129215 St. Albert, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Enterprise Group, Inc. (TSX: E) ("Enterprise" or the "Company") announces the voting results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders held on June 23, 2022. The detailed results of the vote are set out below. Election of Directors The following nominees were elected as directors of the Company to hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders: Nominee Votes For % Votes Withheld % Leonard Jaroszuk 18,182,241 93.280% 1,309,952 6.720% John Pinsent 19,337,627 99.207% 154,566 0.793% Desmond O'Kell 19,356,294 99.303% 135,899 0.697% John Campbell 18,391,351 94.352% 1,100,842 5.648% Neil Darling 18,414,851 94.473% 1,077,342 5.527% Appointment of Auditors By vote by way of a show of hands, Grant Thornton LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, of Edmonton, Alberta, were appointed auditors of the Company. Stock Option Plan The resolution to approve the unallocated entitlements under the Company's Stock Option Plan was passed with 91.332% of votes cast in favour of the resolution and 8.668% of votes cast against the resolution. About Enterprise Group, Inc. Enterprise Group, Inc is a consolidator of services-including specialized equipment rental to the energy/resource sector. The Company works with particular emphasis on systems and technologies that mitigate, reduce, or eliminate CO2 and Greenhouse Gas emissions for itself and its clients. The Company is well known to local Tier One and international resource companies with operations in Western Canada. More information is available at the Company's website www.enterprisegrp.ca. Corporate filings can be found on www.sedar.com. For questions or additional information, please contact: Leonard Jaroszuk: President & CEO, or Desmond O'Kell: Senior Vice-President contact@enterprisegrp.ca 780-418-4400 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129233 According to a news story of Cointelegraph, in response to the May collapse of the Terra (LUNA) and TerraUSD (UST) ecosystems, hacktivist organization Anonymous has vowed to ensure that Terra co-founder Do Kwon be brought to justice as soon as possible. Hacker Group's Message for Kwon On Sunday, a video allegedly made by the hacking organization rehashed a long list of Kwon's alleged transgressions, including withdrawing $80 million each month from LUNA and UST before the coin's collapse. In order to reveal Kwon's alleged misdeeds, the hacking organization announced it will be investigating his actions ever since he entered the cryptosphere. You can watch Anonymous's message below: Who Is Anonymous Hacker Group An international activist collective known as Anonymous, which has its roots in the 4chan in 2003, is well-known for planning cyberattacks on public and commercial organizations as well as the Church of Scientology. Cointelegraph pointed out that it's important to note that numerous YouTube channels make claims to be related to the hacker collective Anonymous. The group is naturally decentralized and anonymous, therefore there is no consensus that there is an official YouTube channel for it. Read More: Harmony's Horizon Bridge Lost $100M To Crypto Hackers This Is Not the First Time the Group Issued a Message About Cryptocurrency The same YouTube channel attacked Tesla CEO Elon Musk in June 2021 for supposedly "destroying lives" by manipulating the cryptocurrency markets using his power and influence on Twitter. You can watch the video below, which gained almost 3.4 million as of the time of writing. How Has the Cryptocurrency Crash Affected Kwon? According to Forbes, Kwon co-founded Terra in order to leverage blockchain technology to create a more effective payment system. When it was launched in January 2018, its own name-brand stablecoin drew 40 million users to the platform. News.com.au reported that the 30-year-old South Korean watched as his cryptocurrency empire fell apart last month in an unexpected $40 billion crash. He has since admitted in a new interview with The Wall Street Journal that the wipe-out cost him almost all of his own net worth. Although he stated that this doesn't worry him because he lives a fairly frugal life. However, while he seems indifferent about his own financial losses, Kwon acknowledged that the overall impact has been a terrible one. Other Issues Surrounding Terraform Labs South Korea resurrected the "Grim Reapers of Yeouido," a renowned financial crimes investigation force, in May to look into Terra's demise. The team, which includes different regulators, will concentrate on bringing fraud and unlawful trading schemes to justice. The South Korean authorities are also presently looking into Terraform Labs for a number of things, including the suspected embezzlement of Bitcoin (BTC) from the business's treasury. Later that month, the Korean government summoned every employee of Terraform Labs to testify in order to look into possible internal market manipulation. The company was also hit with a $78 million penalty for tax evasion by South Korea's national tax authority. Related Article: Crypto Companies Entering Layoff Season-Coinbase Workforce To Be Significantly Affected Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Mink Ventures Corporation (TSXV: MINK.P) ("Mink" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has entered into a Letter of Intent dated June 27, 2022 ("LOI") with Voltage Metals Corp. ("Voltage") with respect to an option to acquire an 80% interest in the Montcalm Ni-Cu-Co project (the "Transaction") which covers 38.8 sq. km and is located adjacent to Glencore's past producing Montcalm Mine which had historical production of approximately 3.9 million tonnes grading 1.25% Ni, 0.67% Cu and 0.051% Co (Ontario Geological Survey, Atkinson, 2011) The Montcalm project is located 60 km northwest of Timmins, Ontario and has excellent access and infrastructure. Terms of the Option: Pursuant to the terms of the LOI, and subject to entering into a definitive agreement (the "Transaction Agreement"), Mink will have the exclusive option to acquire an 80% interest in the Montcalm project from Voltage by making the following cash payments, share issuances and minimum work expenditures: Part 1: Pay $25,000 to Voltage on or before the date of completion of the Qualifying Transaction (the " Effective Date "); "); Issue 800,000 common shares in the capital of Mink to Voltage on or immediately prior to the Effective Date; Incur a minimum of $300,000 in work expenditures on the Property on or before April 10, 2023 Part 2: Pay $25,000 to Voltage on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date; Issue 800,000 common shares in the capital of Mink to Voltage on or before the first anniversary of the Effective Date; and Incur a minimum of $300,000 in work expenditures on the Property on or before April 10, 2024. Mink may accelerate and carry forward any of the cash payments or work expenditures. Upon full exercise of the option, Mink shall assume responsibility for payment of the aggregate 1.25% net smelter returns royalty to the extent of its relative ownership interest in the Montcalm project. Mink proposes to complete a private placement raising not less than $1,000,000 (the "Private Placement") to fund the phase one work program on the Montcalm project and general and administrative operating expenses. Mink does not plan to make any changes to its board of directors in connection with the Transaction. The Transaction, when completed, may be considered to be Mink's Qualifying Transaction for the purposes of the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. (the "Exchange"). The Company has requested its common shares to be halted by the Exchange pending review of the materials for the Transaction. Trading in the common shares of the Company is expected to remain halted until the closing or termination of the Transaction. Mink, a capital pool company within the meanings of the policies of the Exchange, does not have any operations and has no assets other than cash. Mink's business is to identify and evaluate businesses and assets with a view to completing a Qualifying Transaction under the policies of the Exchange. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, successful negotiation of the Transaction Agreement, Exchange acceptance, and the completion of the Private Placement. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the filing statement to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of a capital pool company should be considered highly speculative. This is an initial press release. The Company intends to issue a further press release once it has entered into the Transaction Agreement. The Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed Transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Highlights of the Montcalm Project: 38.8 sq. km claim block adjacent to Montcalm Ni-Cu-Co Mine (historical production of approximately 3.9 million tonnes grading 1.25% Ni, 0.67% Cu and 0.051% Co (Ontario Geological Survey, Atkinson, 2011) with mine host geology (Montcalm Gabbro Complex "MGC") extending on to Mink's property. Mink's holdings cover ~ 66% of the gabbro zone component of the MGC shown in blue in the accompanying Figure 2. The gabbro zone is the primary host of the Montcalm Mine. Other significant features include the megabreccia zone known to host anomalous nickel and copper mineralization designated Unit 4 in Figure 2. There are a number of drill ready targets to be tested. Some of the higher priority VTEM targets and ground IP targets that remain to be tested are within or proximal to a prospective target area designated the "Hook Zone" located within the gabbro zone of MGC. A large portion of the southern section of the property has not been tested with airborne VTEM, which is capable of detecting deeper conductive zones between 350-400 meters below surface, well beyond the +- 200-meter capability of historical surveys. Known deposits at the adjacent mine were present well below the 200-meter elevation. Future Exploration Plans which are subject to the completion and recommendations of an NI 43-101 report, which is currently underway, include: An airborne VTEM survey and airborne gravity survey in the southern part of the property to complement existing surveys; Maxwell Plate analysis of all VTEM data; Further ground induced polarization (IP) surveys over priority Hook Target VTEM anomalies and magnetic anomalies; Ground prospecting and sampling; Secure permits for a diamond drill program Figure 1. Property Location To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8332/129234_0d0d96d23411aa84_001full.jpg Figure 2 To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/8332/129234_0d0d96d23411aa84_002full.jpg Mr. Kevin Filo, P.Geo. (Ontario), is a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Filo approved the technical data disclosed in this release. For further information about Mink Ventures Corporation please visit www.minkventures.com or contact Natasha Dixon, President & CEO, T: 250-882-5620 E ndixon@minkventures.com Forward Looking Statements This press release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the future business and operations of Mink. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties; and the delay or failure to receive applicable Board or regulatory approvals. 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. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and Mink disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities laws. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129234 Populix, a Jakarta, Indonesia-based consumer insights platform provider, closed a US$7.7m Series A round of financing. The round was led by Intudo Ventures and Acrew Capital, with participation from Altos Ventures and Quest Ventures. The company intends to use the funds to reinforce its efforts to digitize the entire data collection process, to optimize existing products and release new services to enable anyone to make more informed decisions about their businesses, to recruit product and tech engineering experts to enhance data collection efforts, to initiate regional expansion by 2023 to neighboring Southeast Asian countries, building off its dominant position in Indonesia, with a focus on the Poplite product line. Founded in January 2018 by Timothy Astandu, CEO, Populix is a technology-driven consumer insights platform, providing comprehensive research and data collection for businesses, institutions, and individuals to make more informed business decisions through quantitative and qualitative studies. The company offers a pool of over 300,000 authentic, verified, and highly targeted respondents throughout Indonesia that are readily available, providing quick and reliable responses that illuminate the preferences, habits, and opinions of Indonesian consumers. The initial datasets focus on Indonesias Generation Z, with plans to launch a Millennial-focused data set in Q4 2022 and new subpanels that include niche categories like car-owners, working professionals, and other respondent profiles. Each dataset contains thousands of data points containing consumer consumption, online behavior, lifestyle habits, emerging trends, and opinions and thoughts, among others. For mass audiences, the company offers Poplitea pay-per-use SaaS research platform that allows anyone to build surveys and collect targeted and actionable business intelligence. With Poplite, clients can choose from available templates depending on their business size or stage, specify target respondents based on their demography and launch a study on the platform or choose to build the survey from scratch. In Q3 2022, Poplite will feature Survey Builder 2.0, which will enable customers to build more advanced surveys with additional question types and survey logic. Since 2020, the company has worked with over 1,500 clients ranging from Fortune Global 500 companies, governments, and major Indonesian conglomerates to SMEs, academics, and individuals. FinSMEs 27/06/2022 Eric Reiner and Dan Povitsky with the Vine Ventures team (Photo: Osiris Ramirez) Vine Ventures, a New York City-based early stage venture capital firm, closed its Fund II, at USD140M. The new fund received commitments from some of the worlds leading technology investors, founders, pension funds, and endowments. Co-founded by Eric Reiner and Dan Povitsky, Vine leads the earliest financing rounds of technology companies, investing $1 million to $10 million as a first check. Its Fund II follows a successful start to Fund I, which was raised in June 2020 and invested in: TUL, an app digitizing the Latin American construction industry that raised a $180 million Series B at an $800 million valuation from Avenir, Dragoneer, Tiger Global, 8VC and Coatue Komodor, an Israeli DevOps platform automating Kubernetes trouble-shooting that raised a $47 million Series B from Tiger Global, Accel and Felicis Habi, a Latin American proptech and first female-led unicorn in the region that raised a $200 million Series C from SoftBanks Latin America Fund Parallel Learning, a telehealth platform serving students with learning differences in New York that raised a $20MSeries A from Tiger Global, JAWS and Obvious Ventures OpenStore, a Shopify merchant aggregator led by Keith Rabois and backed by Founders Fund and General Catalyst Ennabl, a suite of SaaS tools and data-driven services for insurance brokers that aims to become the de facto broker-carrier connectivity platform Modern Intelligence, a modular AI for the U.S. defense industry The addition of Fund II brings the firms total assets under management to $243 million. The firm also announced the opening of two offices: NYC (Flatiron) and Tel Aviv (Sarona Market). FinSMEs 26/06/2022 On 21 June , Ambassador Zheng Zeguang visited the electric bus cooperation project between BYD and Alexander Dennis Limited (ADL) at the ADL factory in Falkirk, Scotland, UK. Ambassador Zheng had a discussion with President and Managing Director of ADL Paul Davies, Marketing Director of BYD UK Peng Yingying and other representatives, who accompanied him on a tour of the electric bus production lines. Mr. Davies and Ms. Peng gave a briefing on the cooperation project, saying that since BYD and ADL established their partnership in 2015, the two sides, by leveraging their respective strengths, have made great success in the joint production and sales of the advanced pure electric buses. The pure electric buses they produced have been widely welcomed in the UK and have contributed greatly to the local economic growth and development of green and low-carbon transportation. Ambassador Zheng congratulated BYD and ADL on the fruitful outcome of their cooperation. He said that the great success of this project fully reflects the mutually beneficial and win-win nature of China-UK corporate partnership and demonstrates the great potential of cooperation between China and the UK to advance green development in both countries and globally. He hoped that BYD and ADL would further strengthen their cooperation and make greater contribution to promoting pragmatic cooperation between China and the UK and global green development. Chinese Consul General to Edinburgh Ma Qiang, Counsellor Hua Mei, wife of Ambassador Zheng, and Minister Counsellor Zhang Jin, Minister Counsellor Zeng Rong and Counsellor Zhang Limin of the Chinese Embassy in the UK attended the event. On 22 June, Ambassador Zheng Zeguang visited Glasgow, Scotland's largest city and met with Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren at the City Halls of Glasgow. The two sides had a friendly talk on strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Glasgow. Lord Provost McLaren warmly welcomed Ambassador Zheng and his delegation. She said that in recent years, Glasgow has made positive progress in the mutually beneficial cooperation with Dalian, Tianjin and other Chinese cities. The Chinese community has become an important part of Glasgow's diverse society. Strengthening exchanges and cooperation with China is crucial to promoting Glasgow's international development strategy. Glasgow welcomes more investors, students and tourists from China. Ambassador Zheng said that Glasgow, as a historic city and one of the birthplaces of the industrial revolution, remains an important manufacturing and education centre nowadays. In recent years, China and Glasgow have had fruitful exchanges and cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, education and culture. China will continue to support Dalian, Tianjin and other Chinese cities in stepping up friendly cooperation with Glasgow in various areas, so as to bring more tangible benefits to the people of both sides. Chinese Consul General to Edinburgh Ma Qiang, Counsellor Hua Mei, wife of Ambassador Zheng, Minister Counsellor Zhang Jin, Minister Counsellor Zeng Rong and Counsellor Zhang Limin of the Chinese Embassy in the UK were present. On June 22, 2022, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with ROK Ambassador to China Jang Ha-sung, who is leaving his post and returning to his country. Wang Yi thanked Jang Ha-sung for his great efforts and important contributions to deepening China-ROK relations during his tenure. Wang Yi said, people often say that China and the ROK are and will remain close neighbors and inseparable cooperation partners. We should grasp the profound truth and connotation therein. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 30 years ago, with the joint efforts of the two governments and all sectors of society, China-ROK relations have achieved leapfrog development and yielded important and positive results. Bilateral trade has continued to exceed 300 billion U.S. dollars, mutual investment has totaled nearly 100 billion U.S. dollars and mutual visits have reached 10 million. These important achievements serve the fundamental interests of the two countries and two peoples and should be cherished and safeguarded by both sides. Wang Yi said that the most important thing in state-to-state relations is to maintain the stability and continuity of mutual policies. China's friendly policy toward the ROK remains unchanged and China will continue to place the ROK in an important position in its neighborhood diplomacy. He hopes that the new ROK administration will also continue and adhere to the friendly policy toward China. The two sides should take the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to push the China-ROK strategic cooperative partnership to a new level. In the face of challenges such as the backlash against globalization and the Cold War mentality, China and the ROK should strengthen communication and coordination, jointly safeguard regional peace and stability and work for global development and prosperity. Jang Ha-sung said, during my three-year-serving as the Ambassador of ROK to China, I have witnessed the rapid development of China and the major achievements of ROK-China relations. I believe that China will maintain strong momentum of development and the ROK-China friendship and practical cooperation will be further deepened. On June 3, 2022 local time, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG) James Marape met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Port Moresby. Marape warmly welcomed Wang Yi's visit and recalled with pleasure his visit to China in February this year to attend the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022 on behalf of Pacific Island Countries and his fruitful and friendly exchanges with Chinese leaders. PNG admires the remarkable achievements China has made in its development and appreciates that China has accomplished its goal of poverty alleviation as scheduled and enabled its people to live a better life. PNG highly recognizes that developing countries have the same legitimate right to development. The Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China has brought extensive benefits to developing countries including PNG. He thanked China for its great support to PNG in accelerating development, especially in infrastructure construction. Marape said, the important consensus reached by the two sides is becoming a reality, and the two countries have established strong political relations and close economic and trade ties. PNG firmly pursues the one-China principle and its friendship with China has become the consensus of the ruling and opposition parties. PNG has learned from China's development experience to set up special economic zones and yielded positive results. PNG will continue to dedicate itself to deepening practical cooperation between the two countries, accelerating the negotiation and conclusion of the free trade agreement and facilitating Chinese enterprises to invest in PNG. Wang Yi said, PNG is a bellwether of regional development and the "locomotive" of cooperation between China and South Pacific Island Countries. Bilateral relations have stood the test of the international landscape, and the two countries have built solid mutual trust. China appreciates PNG's full understanding of and firm support for China's efforts to safeguard its core interests. China also unhesitatingly stands with PNG, speaks up for PNG on the international and multilateral stage and supports PNG in actively exploring a development path suited to its national conditions. As PNG moves towards revitalization and prosperity, China will always be a good friend and good partner that PNG can trust. Wang Yi said, bilateral cooperation between China and PNG has shown vitality of multi-dimensional, multi-level and all-round development. China is ready to further synergize development strategies with PNG to explore new areas and open up new prospects for bilateral cooperation. The Chinese side supports PNG in establishing special economic zones, vigorously developing processing industries, increasing the added value of goods, speeding up industrialization, enhancing its capacity for self-driven development and translating its strengths in resources into advantages in development. China is ready to share development opportunities with PNG and welcomes PNG to expand its export of quality products to China. The two sides agreed to enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity. Marape said, China is a member of the Pacific family, and the Pacific connects the PNG people and the Chinese people. PNG will remain firmly committed to its friendship with China. Wang Yi expressed his hope that people of the two countries will become good friends with mutual understanding and close exchanges, and more young people will join the cause of friendship between the two countries so that the friendship will be handed down from generation to generation. On the same day, Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of PNG Soroi Eoe, attended the signing ceremony of cooperation documents and jointly met the press. Korea's financial regulator has launched a probe into Woori Bank for its alleged involvement in irregular foreign currency transactions worth billions of won, industry sources said Monday. The Financial Supervisory Service (FSS) carried out a spot inspection into one of the bank's branches last week after the bank found in a recent internal audit that foreign currency deals that go beyond conventional practices had been conducted there, according to the sources. The deals in question have been executed over the past year and valued at billions of won. Other details have not been disclosed. The inspection, however, has nothing to do with a massive embezzlement case for which an employee and his brother were recently indicted on charges of appropriating more than 60 billion won ($46 million) from the bank, the sources said. (Yonhap) By Yi Whan-woo Industrial Bank of Korea (IBK) Chairman and CEO Yoon Jong-won is on a five-day business trip to Vietnam through Thursday, to bolster cooperation between the two countries on financing for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the lender said Monday. It said Yoon departed for Vietnam, Sunday, to check the state-run bank's support policy for Korean companies operating there and also to consult Vietnamese authorities on expanding such support. "IBK's role can be said to be more crucial in Vietnam than in other countries," the bank said in a press release. It was referring to the bank's commitment to corporate financing, especially in regard to SMEs, under its vision to become "the best-performing SME financing bank in all of Asia." Since 2016, Vietnam has outpaced China to become Korea's top overseas business destination. In particular, 84 percent of the Korean companies in Vietnam are SMEs. IBK currently runs two offices in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City. It has sought to elevate the offices into a corporate entity and is awaiting the Vietnamese central bank's approval. Accordingly, Yoon will meet relevant Vietnamese central bank officials and visit the prime minister's office for approval to be made promptly. "Chairman Yoon will explain that a corporate entity can help IBK better cope with the growing demand of Korean businesses for financing," the lender said. It added that IBK's experience in financing SMEs as well as a possible Korea-Vietnam projects to speed up their green transition will be discussed during Yoon's trip. Prior to his departure, Yoon met with Vietnamese Ambassador to Korea Nguyen Vu Tung and Korean Ambassador to Vietnam Park Noh-wan who was temporarily in Seoul. The headquarters of Hana Financial Investment, right, and Shinhan Financial Investment in Seoul's financial district of Yeouido. Hana Financial Investment is set to change its company name on July 1, while Shinhan Financial Investment is considering a name change. Graphic image based on Yonhap photo Shinhan Financial mulls company name change By Anna J. Park Hana Financial Investment will change its company name to Hana Securities on July 1. The brokerage firm changed to its current name from Hana Daetoo Securities in 2015. While including "financial" and "investment" in the name was a trend among securities companies for quite some time during an expansion period of investment banking operations, securities companies now appear to be returning to more traditional names. According to Hana Financial Investment, the name change to Hana Securities was approved at a shareholders' meeting last Friday. Hana Financial explained that the new company name is aimed at becoming more accessible to customers by being shorter, while setting a new vision of pursuing consistent innovation and change. "With 'Hana Securities,' which is an easier-to-use and more comfortable name, we plan to more closely approach customers, while aiming to transform into a company that creates new investments and businesses," an official at Hana Financial said. With Hana Financial's own capital standing at over 6 trillion won ($4.68 billion), it is rapidly becoming one of the largest investment banking firms in Korea. The firm plans to continue advancing into the global market with the name change. Meanwhile, Shinhan Financial Investment is also mulling a name change to either Shinhan Securities or Shinhan Investment & Securities. However, discussions have just begun, and the company does not have a specific timeline yet for the change. "Nothing has been specifically determined as of now about a company name change," an official from Shinhan Financial told The Korea Times, Monday. "It could happen as early as within this year, but nothing is decided firmly for now." The official explained that a name change is one of the company's considerations for this year, aiming to seek changes within the firm. It could be included on the agenda at the firm's shareholders' meeting slated for the end of the month, but it's not confirmed for now. Whether Shinhan Financial changes its name within this year or not, one thing that can be observed through the two financial companies' examples is that the market preference for the word "securities" has increased from a decade ago. Market watchers say the word "securities" being in a financial company's name was not only considered outdated, but also slightly negative in connotation due to the global financial crisis in 2008 and 2009. That could be part of the reason why Shinhan Financial Investment came up with the current company name in 2009, from its previous name of "GoodMorning Shinhan Securities." However, the public's perception of the word "securities" has improved a lot following the explosive popularity of stock investments in Korea in more recent years. Green electronics project sets out to create compostable crop sensors An international research collaboration is setting out to find new ways of monitoring grop growth with biodegradable sensors which can be composted at the end of their lifespan. The 1.8m CHIST-ERA project, called Transient Electronics for Sustainable ICT in Digital Agriculture, is led by researchers from the University of Glasgow and supported by colleagues in Canada, Finland, Poland and Switzerland. Over the next three years, the project partners will work together to develop a new type of environmentally-friendly modular sensor system. They will find ways to create devices built from sustainable and degradable materials with the aim of cutting down on the growing problem of electronic waste. The devices will have two parts: a solar-powered patch which can be applied to the surface of the leaves of crops to measure key indicators of their growth, and an electronic module which can wirelessly transmit the information collected by the patch to a central computer. The team aim to make the patch completely biodegradable, and capable of nourishing the soil once it reaches the end of its period of usefulness. To do so, they will investigate how compostable electronic components might be made from everyday materials like rice husks, fibrous proteins like wool, or biodegradable polymers like starch or cellulose, combined with conductive metal nanoparticles made from materials like copper and zinc. They will also explore how those compostable components could be powered by similarly biodegradable organic photovoltaic materials to support the patchs tasks of monitoring pH, temperature and bioimpedance, with energy stored in a biodegradable supercapacitor. Supercapacitors provide a sustainable, non-toxic alternative for conventional batteries. At the same time, the team will also be working to develop an electronic module equipped with wireless communication technology. A key priority of the design for the module is that it will be reusable and repairable to help minimise waste. Professor Ravinder Dahiya, of the University of Glasgows James Watt School of Engineering, is the projects coordinator. Professor Dahiya said: The internet of things has huge potential to revolutionise every aspect of human activity, from home lives to global industry. Harnessing the power of the internet of things is particularly attractive in farming, where the challenges of growing crops as we adapt to the unpredictable effects of climate change will require close monitoring of fields and quick responses to problems to maximise crop yields. However, the proliferation of digital devices that underpin the internet of things will is also leading to a massive expansion in digital waste. As much as 80% of our electronic devices currently end up as waste. As potentially dangerous materials in components like batteries and printed circuit boards degrade, they create hazards to the environment and to human and animal health which can last for decades. What were setting out to do with this project is to build hardware which is designed from the start to be disposable without creating problematic waste. In fact, the waste materials from our sensors will help to grow future crops of the plants they once monitored. Its an ambitious undertaking, but it brings together some of the leading experts in the field of sensor and material development from across Europe and North America. Im confident that we can create prototypes with the potential to make real change and take us closer to achieving a zero-waste world. The Transient Electronics for Sustainable ICT in Digital Agriculture project brings together: the University of Glasgow in the UK McGill University in Canada Tampere University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd in Finland ukasiewicz - Instytut Mikroelektroniki i Fotoniki in Poland CSEM Centre Suisse dElectronique et de Microtechnique SA in Switzerland The research is funded by URKI in the UK, FRQNT in Canada, Academy of Finland in Finland, NCN in Poland and SNSF in Switzerland. A new study shows how the ancient world adapted to climate change A new study of the ancient world of Anatolia now Turkey shows how they adapted to climate change but offers a warning for todays climate emergency. The efforts of ancient populations to minimise the impacts of climate change were undermined during longer climate shifts when it is combined with other events such as pandemics, earthquakes and wars findings the lead author says offer scary parallels to the modern day. Dr Matthew Jacobson, an archaeology lecturer, in the Glasgows School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan, and corresponding author on the study, said: Our results suggest it is too simple to say when the climate goes bad, bad things happen to people and society declines. We see settlement numbers and agricultural productivity sky-rocket during the Roman period, when conditions were much drier in SW Anatolia. "We also see people initially adapt to a significant shift to dry conditions in the 5th century but start to struggle around a century later as the climate doesnt improve and the region is hit by the plague, as well as numerous earthquakes and wars. Dr Jacobson added: This brings both good and bad news for the modern era as it suggests we can overcome anthropogenic climate change, but only if we act to reduce its influence and keep on top of other disasters. There are scary parallels to recent events considering our increasingly unstable climate, ongoing pandemics, and current conflicts. However, I remain hopeful that we can learn from these historical examples to build resilient societies and become sustainable. The team, including, the University of Glasgow (Scotland,UK); University of Georgia (USA); University of Southampton (England, UK); the University of Basel (Switzerland) and Trent University (Ontario, Canada) have published their findings in a new PLOS ONE paper. The study compiled historical and archaeological evidence for 381 settlements in Lycia-Pamphylia in southwest Anatolia (present day Turkey). Researchers looked at six historical periods from the Bronze Age (3000-1150 BCE) to the Middle Byzantine period (600-1050 CE) This region is rich in archaeological remains including cities, harbours and rural settlements, as well as high-quality paleo-climate and paleo-environmental archives. To have high quality evidence for ancient people, climate, and the environment (including agriculture) so close to one-another is exceptionally rare. Paleo-climatic study looks at climate changes that have happened in the past in order to better understand our present and future. This study primarily uses climate data based on chemical analysis of a cave stalagmite (that was also produced by Dr Jacobson), which is supported by evidence from two nearby lakes. The PLOS one paper says: Interpreting changes in the number and locations of settlements for each period presents significant challenges, associated with chronology, interpretive uncertainty, and preservation bias. However, some patterns are still observable and broadly consistent with the regional history, archaeological evidence, and paleoenvironmental data. The clearest of these trends is a steady increase and peak of settlement numbers in the Roman and Early Byzantine periods, followed by a significant reduction of Middle Byzantine evidence. These changes are consistent with data from across the Eastern Mediterranean and are frequently hypothesised to result in part from changing climatic and environmental conditions. The paper adds: Overall, we demonstrate that simple correlations between favourable (wetter) or adverse (drier) climatic conditions with positive or negative socio-economic conditions have numerous caveats Lycia-Pamphylia flourished during the drier Roman period, evolved during another period of aridity after 460 CE, but suffered under the weight of multiple pressures (political, environmental-climatic, seismic, pathogenic (like the bubonic plague) after the mid-6th century. In a recently published similar article, co-authored by Dr Jacobson and covering the same time period, a long drought in Yemen was found to have weakened the Kingdom of Himyar to a state where they could not defend themselves during an invasion. The PLOS ONE Study (Ref: PONE-D-22-00644R1) will be freely available on line after 7pm on Monday 27 June 2022 The study team include: Dr Matthew J. Jacobson, Corresponding Author, Archaeology, School of Humanities | Sgoil nan Daonnachdan, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, United Kingdom Dr Jordan Pickett, Corresponding Author, Department of Classics, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America Dr Alison L. Gascoigne, Archaeology, Humanities, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom Professor Dominik Fleitmann, Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland Professor Hugh Elton, Ancient Greek & Roman Studies, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Pune, India, June 22, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global liquid biofuel market size is projected to reach USD 219.97 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.4% during the forecast period. Surging vehicular pollution levels across the globe is expected to feed the growth of this market, states Fortune Business Insights in its report, titled Liquid Biofuel Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis by Product Type (Ethanol and Biodiesel), By Feedstock (Sugar Crops, Starch Crops, Vegetable Oils, Animal Fats, and Others), By Process (Fermentation, Transesterification, and Others), By Application (Transportation, Power Generation, and Heat), and Regional Forecast, 2020-2027. Exhaust from motor vehicles is one of the biggest contributors of air pollution in the world. The US Environment Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that on-road automobiles cause 75% of carbon monoxide pollution in the country. The European Parliament has also stated that 72% of the EUs carbon emissions come from road transport. To address the issues surrounding escalating air pollution levels, liquid biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel have emerged as the most viable and feasible substitutes to conventional fossil fuels such as petrol. Governments around the world are actively promoting the adoption of biofuels for transport activities as the carbon-based fuels carry heavy environmental as well as human health costs. Request a Sample Copy of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/liquid-biofuels-market-103294 Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2020-2027 Forecast Period 2021 TO 2027 CAGR 8.4% 2027 Value Projection USD 219.97 billion Base Year 2019 Market Size in 2019 USD 116.00 billion Historical Data for 2016-2018 No. of Pages 260 Segments covered Type, Feedstock, Process, Geography Growth Drivers Biofuel Promotion and Renewable Energy Targets to Augment the Market Growth Substitution of Conventional Fuels with Biofuels to Propel Market Growth Falling Ethanol Prices amid COVID-19 Pandemic to Retard Market Growth The outbreak of the COVID-19 contagion has threatened to cause long-term damage on many industries. One of them is the transport industry, which is experiencing sharp decline in demand. The trickle-down effect is being witnessed in an even steeper fall in biofuel prices, especially ethanol prices. According to a study conducted by Purdue University, the average monthly price of ethanol fell from $1.32/gallon in December 2019 to $0.82/gallon in March 2020 due to rapid decline in demand for transport services. Reduced profit margins of ethanol producers have slowed down production of ethanol, which is expected to further cripple the liquid biofuel market growth during 2020. In Canada, the national government is attempting to ease implementation of low-carbon fuels as the countrys oil sector has taken a severe blow due to the pandemic. Growing turmoil in the hydrocarbon industry as a result of the coronavirus will, therefore, stem the uptake of liquid biofuels in the current year. As per the report findings, the global market value stood at USD 116.00 billion in 2019. The report also contains the following: Piecemeal study of all market segments and their performance; Actionable research into the upcoming market opportunities; Critical insights into the factors driving and restraining the market growth; and Detailed examination of the regional dynamics and competitive landscape of the market. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impacts of COVID-19 on this Market. Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/liquid-biofuels-market-103294 Regional Segmentation- Increasing Production of Biofuels in the US to Accelerate Market Growth in North America With North America accounting for 45% of the global biofuel production, the region is well-positioned to dominate the liquid biofuel market share in the foreseeable future. The US is largest producer of ethanol worldwide, having produced 15.8 billion gallons of ethanol in 2019 alone. In 2019, the regions market size stood at USD 42.96 billion. Latin America is expected to emerge as the second most dominant region in the market, supported by surging ethanol production in Brazil. Besides this, Argentina is also aggressively expanding its renewable energy sector, which bodes well for this market. Europe being the largest producer and consumer of biodiesel in the world is expected to offer several lucrative opportunities for players in this market. Quick Buy - Liquid Biofuel Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/103294 Competitive Landscape Production Capacity Elevation Measures to be Implemented by Market Players Competition in the liquid biofuel market is characterized by the variety of strategies implemented by the players to consolidate their position in this market. Prominent among these are the measures adopted by these companies to enhance their production capabilities to meet the rising demand for biofuels around the world. Industry Developments: May 2020: Canada-based BC Hemp Corporation announced its plans to construct a biofuel plant in Prince George, British Columbia for an estimated value of USD 2 billion. Employing close to 2500 people, the plant will be utilized for producing industrial-grade ethanol from hemp stock. Canada-based BC Hemp Corporation announced its plans to construct a biofuel plant in Prince George, British Columbia for an estimated value of USD 2 billion. Employing close to 2500 people, the plant will be utilized for producing industrial-grade ethanol from hemp stock. February 2020: Italy-based NextChem joined forces with US-based Saola Energy to produce renewable diesel from residual fats and vegetable oils. Saola will employ its hydro-treatment and isomerization technologies to produce renewable diesel, while NextChem will provide clients engineering, construction, and training services under the partnership. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/liquid-biofuels-market-103294 List of Players Operating in the Liquid Biofuel Market are as follows: Butamax Advanced Biofuels, LLC (U.S.) Gevo, Inc. (U.S.) Eniven Group (Slovakia) Emami Agrotech Limited (India) Fulcrum BioEnergy, Inc. (U.S.) Renewable Energy Group, Inc. (U.S.) Enerkem (Canada) ADM (U.S.) Pacific Ethanol, Inc. (U.S.) BIO OILS ENERGY (Spain) Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited (Thailand) Algenol (U.S.) CropEnergies AG (Germany) Renewable Biofuels Inc. (U.S.) POET Get your Customized Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/customization/liquid-biofuels-market-103294 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 By Ji Cheng NATOs annual military exercise, the 13-day-long BALTOPS 2022 involving 14 NATO members including the US, Britain, France, Germany and Turkey, and the two partners Sweden and Finland, wrapped up on June 17. Analysts said the exercise, as one of the largest held by NATO in north Europe, may further escalate regional turmoil for its sensitive location and strong combat implications. It is learned more than 7,000 soldiers from the army, navy, air force and marines participated in the exercise, along with about 45 ships and more than 70 warplanes. The subjects exercised included amphibious operation, anti-submarine operation, air defense, mine clearing, and rescue on the battlefield. The choice of Gotland Island as the key zone for the exercise also spoke volumes. Sitting in the center of the Baltic Sea, the island, the largest in the sea area, is a strategic maritime pivot that, in the east direction, commands the sea route to St. Petersburg and, to the south, keeps an eye on Russias Baltic Fleet in Kaliningrad. Once Sweden and Finland become official members of NATO, the route between St. Petersburg and Kaliningrad would be at stake, and so would the strategic equilibrium in the Baltic region. Holding such a massive military exercise at a moment when the Russia-Ukraine situation remained unclear and complicated, the US-led NATO obviously had more birds to kill than distracting Russia on the military level and deterring its military presence in the region. For one thing, NATO was honoring its commitment to providing a security guarantee for Sweden and Finland. The two countries, going back on their non-alignment policy, applied to join the group in May this year. When Swedens Prime Minister and Finnish President visited the US, Biden promised them a security guarantee, of which the latest exercise was obviously a concrete step toward fulfillment. Sweden, as the host country of the exercise, also took BALTOPS 2022 as an opportunity to tighten its relations with NATO and paint itself as a participant in and contributor to safeguarding regional security. For another, NATO was trying to ramp up the morale and warm up for the final admission of Sweden and Finland. Before the exercise kicked off, the USS Kearsarge amphibious assault ship carrying the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft and AH-1 Cobra armored helicopter sailed into the Port of Stockholm for the first time, and a press conference for American and Swedish senior defense officials was held on its deck, showing Americas determination to back Sweden in its application to become a NATO member. It also aimed to placate Turkey and secure its nod to accept the two new entrants. At last, NATO, using the overspill effects of the exercise, wanted to pull more regional countries into the anti-Russia net carefully woven by the West and further squeeze Russias strategic space on multiple dimensions. It is reported that two days after the exercise began, Camille Grand, Assistant Secretary General for Defence Investment at NATO, stated that with Sweden and Finland joining the organization, NATO wont give Russia its word not to deploy nuclear weapons in the two countries. NATOs constant military exercises and remarks of nuclear threats will only flame up the military risks in the region. Moscow was quick and tough in responding to NATOs highly targeted, large-scale exercise. Media reported that Russias Baltic Fleet also held a massive exercise in the Baltic Sea recently, along with a land exercise around Kaliningrad. If NATO insists on continuing with its unilateral actions to aggravate the conflicts between Russia and Europe, it will leave Moscow no choice but to respond with greater intensity. At that time, the regional situation will only get worse. (The author is from the PLA Academy of Military Sciences) Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun, left, and his wife Chung Ji-seon, second from right, pose for a family photo at their eldest daughter's wedding ceremony at Chungdong First Methodist Church in central Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Park Han-sol The top executives of Korea's four major business conglomerates converged on Monday at the wedding ceremony of the eldest daughter of Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun. Chung Jin-hee, the daughter of Chung, and Kim Ji-ho, the grandson of former Education Minister Kim Duk-choong, tied the knot at Chungdong First Methodist Church in central Seoul. The Hyundai Motor chief and his wife got married at the same church 27 years ago. The venue was filled with a number of high-profile guests from the country's largest companies, including Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, Samsung Welfare Foundation chief Lee Seo-hyun, SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won, SK Group Senior Vice Chairman Chey Jae-won, LG Group Chairman Koo Kwang-mo and Doosan Group Chairman Park Jeong-won. Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong, left, and his daughter attend the wedding ceremony of Hyundai Motor Group Chairman Chung Euisun's eldest daughter, Monday. Newsis ZURICH, Switzerland, June 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achiko AG (OTCQB: ACHKF; SIX: ACHI; ISIN CH0522213468) (Achiko, the Company) announces its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021, and progress since then. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group recorded a net loss of USD $9,231,779 resulting in an increase of the Groups accumulated losses to USD $34,568,395. The Company also notes that Achiko AG is currently managing creditors, and that while the assets of the Group at the reporting date was negative $4.584m, it also has over $2.4m in subordinated loans. As a result, the Companys auditors have given an adverse opinion, noting the Companys ability to remain a going concern depends on the successful approval of an increase in Authorised Capital at the upcoming General Meeting, and the support of the Companys creditors and shareholders. 2021 was a challenging year, said Mr. Steven Goh, Co-Founder and CEO of Achiko. We realize that the Covid-19 challenge and for us to deliver a timely solution continues to evolve. For some markets, theres an optimism that the challenges Covid-19 presents may be over. For many others, theyre finding its anything but. The Company moved to reduce costs in the last half of 2021, and encountered numerous operational challenges, including continuity of the Companys accounting and finance function. From a personal standpoint, after two years being restricted in travel and movement, Ive spent the last few months travelling including fixing production in Indonesia including review, solving issues and optimizing production, managing technology development in Europe, seeing investors and working to get the accounts out, added Goh. Its with some irony that in the middle of audit completion, Ive had my own Covid-19 experience. The delays have been a continuing source of frustration; however, I am confident that the Companys accounting and finance function is now stabilized and that post reporting date we have successfully reinstitionalized financial controls and the Companys ability to keep books and records. Despite the challenging environment, the Company has continued to progress the development of its core AptameX technology and is positioned to capitalize on the substantial competitive benefits of its differentiated chemistry for the detection of Covid-19 and application to various other pathogens. Post-balance date highlights include: a. The Company reported that calibration testing of its affordable, non-invasive Covid-19 saliva-based rapid test AptameX correctly differentiated 100% of test samples up until a comparable reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cycle threshold (CT) value of 33, indicating the systems ability to deliver a >97% sensitive and > 97% specific rapid test at a wider range of viral loads than most other rapid tests. b. Having secured the full approval of the optimized second-generation of AptameX with the Indonesias Ministry of Health for five years, Achiko, with the support of our local production partner Indopharma, secured a large-scale landmark sales deal with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), one of the worlds largest membership organizations with direct reach to over 90 million people to produce 1,000,000 tests now, and on success to produce 5,000,000 or more tests per month from October 2022 onwards. c. Successful registration of a CE Mark, enabling the Company to commence commercialization efforts in the European Union and other geographies. Given the Companys level of indebtedness, we understand and appreciate the auditors adverse opinion, and note that we are in agreement that the Companys ability to remain a going concern depends on approval at the upcoming General Meeting to increase share capacity, the continued support of shareholders, creditors, and investors, the Companys access to capital, and timing of sales and commercialization efforts. To that end, we are looking forward to immediately completing a capital increase, and to the General Meeting to expand the Companys authorized capital, said Goh. The Annual Report is available for download at: https://www.achiko.com/financials/. The Annual General Meeting of shareholders will take place in July 2022 on a date to be announced in due course. ABOUT ACHIKO AG Achiko AG (OTCQB: ACHKF; SIX: ACHI.SW) (www.achiko.com) developing disruptive diagnostic solutions that puts people first. The companys lead product is a rapid, reliable Covid-19 test with a companion app offering a user-friendly digital health passport. The test and companion app were launched in Indonesia in mid-2021 and an application for CE Mark approval in Europe will be submitted in 2022. Achiko creates and develops aptamer-based diagnostics through its biotechnology division, AptameXTM and companion health apps via its digital mobile health technology division, Teman Sehat. The AptameX DNA aptamer tests can be rapidly chemically synthesized, are cost-effective and have wide potential across multiple disease diagnostics. Leveraging AptameX and Teman Sehat, Achiko aims to deliver fast, accurate and affordable diagnostic testing for a range of pathogenic diseases and therapeutic indications in the rapidly evolving healthcare diagnostics field. Headquartered in Zurich, Achiko has offices in Jakarta, and staff around the world. Media contacts: ACHIKO AG Investor Relations E: ir@achiko.com Switzerland & Global Marcus Balogh Farner Consulting Ltd. E: achiko@farner.ch T: +41 44 266 67 67 Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Achiko AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Achiko AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Achiko AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. English French Voltalia (Euronext Paris, ISIN code: FR0011995588), an international player in renewable energies, announces the development of a new photovoltaic cluster with a potential capacity of more than 1.5 gigawatts in the state of Minas Gerais. After developing its large clusters in Brazil at Serra Branca1 (potential of 2.4 gigawatts, in the state of Rio Grande do Norte) and Canudos2 (potential of more than 1 gigawatt, in the state of Bahia), Voltalia is developing Arinos, a new solar cluster with a potential of more than 1.5 gigawatts, this time located in the southeast of the country. With the Arinos cluster, Voltalia is developing for its own account and also for third parties. Voltalia has already signed partnerships, notably with CTG Brasil, a reference in clean energy in the country. Following approvals, these partners will purchase a significant portion of the solar sites in the Arinos cluster once the development phase of each site is completed and thus shortly before construction begins. The development of large project clusters allows the pooling of infrastructure, connection networks and maintenance. This is beneficial, especially for the projects retained by Voltalia. As with each of the project clusters developed in Brazil (Serra Branca, Canudos, and now Arinos), Voltalia always ensures a positive impact of the project on the environment and on the surrounding communities such as through the use of local labour. Voltalia will continue to expand in Brazil with a pipeline of 5.1 gigawatts of future projects under development. Voltalia places the development of renewable projects at the heart of its DNA. The teams are involved at every stage of project development, from assessing the potential and securing the best sites, to launching construction once the necessary permits and authorisations have been obtained. The aim is to select the best electricity production sites for development. Since its creation, Voltalia has sold about half of the projects developed. "With the launch of the Arinos cluster, Voltalia has confirmed its ability to carry out very large-scale projects in Brazil as an energy producer and service provider. For almost ten years, we have been successfully developing these large wind and solar clusters to produce renewable energy accessible to the greatest number of people, an objective that is at the heart of our mission," said Sebastien Clerc, CEO of Voltalia. Voltalia in Brazil Voltalia has a significant presence in Brazil with wind, solar, hydro and hybrid projects in multiple locations: the SMG wind farm in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (108 megawatts, in operation); the Oiapoque hybrid projects in the state of Amapa (23.5 megawatts, of which 7. 5 megawatts under construction); the Cabui hydroelectric project in the state of Minas Gerais (16 megawatts, contract secured in 2019); the Canudos 1 wind farm in the state of Bahia (99 megawatts under construction); and the large Serra Branca wind and solar cluster in the state of Rio Grande do Norte (688 megawatts of wind and solar power plants in operation, plus 517 megawatts of solar capacity under construction). Voltalia is also a service provider for third-party customers in Brazil. Voltalia develops sites there for sale to third parties. At the same time, Voltalia provides construction and maintenance services for facilities owned by third parties. Finally, through its subsidiary Helexia, the Group is active in decentralised production. In Brazil, Helexia is currently building 29 solar units for a total of 87 megawatts in the states of Amazonas, Rondonia, Tocantins, Mato Grosso do Sul, Parana, Rio Grande do Sul, Sao Paulo and Ceara, the electricity from which will be sold to its customer Telefonica / Vivo. Next on the agenda: Q2 2022 revenues on July 20, 2022 (after market closing) About Voltalia (www.voltalia.com) Voltalia is an international player in the renewable energy sector. The Group produces and sells electricity generated from wind, solar, hydraulic, biomass and storage facilities that it owns and operates. Voltalia has generating capacity in operation and under construction of more than 2 GW and a portfolio of projects under development representing total capacity of 11.1 GW. Voltalia is also a service provider and supports its investor clients in renewable energy projects during all phases, from design to operation and maintenance. As a pioneer in the corporate market, Voltalia provides a global offer to private companies, ranging from the supply of green electricity and energy efficiency services to the local production of their own electricity. The Group has more than 1,300 employees and is present in 20 countries on 3 continents and is able to act worldwide on behalf of its clients. Voltalia is listed on the regulated market of Euronext Paris, compartment B (FR0011995588 VLTSA) and is part of the Enternext Tech 40 and CAC Mid & Small indices. The Group is also included in the Gaia-Index, an index for socially responsible midcaps. Loan Duong, Head of Communications & Investor relations Email: invest@voltalia.com T. +33 (0)1 81 70 37 00 Actifin Press Contact: Jennifer Jullia jjullia@actifin.fr . T. +33 (0)1 56 88 11 11 1 Press release of April 19, 2022 2 Press release of February 15, 2021 Attachment English German ERADICATE phase 3 study exploring ceftobiprole for the treatment of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) expected to report results shortly Separate transactions for TTK/PLK1 inhibitor (BAL0891) and preclinical oncology projects expected to be concluded in H2 2022 No expansion of ongoing lisavanbulin clinical studies; exploring partnering opportunities Derazantinib rights to be transferred back to Merck & Co. by the end of 2022 No material expenses related to oncology activities beyond 2022 and sustainable profitability expected in 2023 Strategy implementation on track Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Basel/Allschwil, Switzerland, June 27, 2022 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today an update on the progress made in the implementation of its strategic focus on anti-infectives. David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, stated: We have made significant progress in the implementation of our new strategy. With regard to our oncology business, we have run a broad partnering process, whilst continuing to generate clinical data from the ongoing clinical trials. This allows us now to make informed decisions on each asset in order to ensure that we can focus our resources on our anti-infectives business as of 2023. The ERADICATE phase 3 study exploring ceftobiprole for the treatment of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, or SAB, is on track to report results shortly and the preclinical profiling of the recently in-licensed potential first-in-class antifungal has also been initiated. Partnering discussions for the TTK/PLK1-inhibitor (BAL0891) and preclinical oncology assets are well advanced and expected to be concluded in H2 2022. In line with its strategic priorities and based on data from the ongoing open-label studies, Basilea has decided not to expand the studies for the tumor checkpoint controller lisavanbulin. Ongoing patients will be offered continued access to lisavanbulin, whilst partnering opportunities continue to be explored. With regard to the FGFR inhibitor derazantinib, the company has decided to terminate the license agreement and return the rights to Merck & Co, Inc. by the end of the year.1 Adesh Kaul, Chief Financial Officer, added: Our broad partnering outreach has resulted, as intended, in discussions on a variety of possible partnering structures. We concluded that entering into separate transactions for our oncology assets would generate most long-term value. With regard to derazantinib, the changing competitive landscape and the evolving clinical data from our open-label studies led us to conclude that a transaction could not be closed at the terms and within the timelines required. We believe that based on the partnering progress and our portfolio decisions we are now well on track to ensure that Basilea generates sustainable positive operating cash flow and profits as of 2023. About ceftobiprole Ceftobiprole medocaril, the prodrug of the active moiety ceftobiprole, is a cephalosporin antibiotic for intravenous administration, with rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This includes methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.2 The brand is currently approved and marketed as Zevtera and Mabelio in a number of countries in Europe and beyond. Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements in Europe, Eurasian countries, Latin America, China, Canada, Israel, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. About the ERADICATE phase 3 study The ERADICATE study3 is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study in patients with SAB to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous ceftobiprole medocaril compared with intravenous daptomycin, plus optional intravenous aztreonam for coverage of Gram-negative pathogens.4 About Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a leading cause of bloodstream infections, responsible for a broad variety of complications and has been associated with significant morbidity and a mortality of 20 to 40%.5, 6 Several studies have demonstrated that MRSA bacteremia is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate compared with MSSA bacteremia.7, 8 Infections of the inner lining of the heart or heart valves (infective endocarditis) and bone infections (osteomyelitis) are common complications of SAB. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the medical needs of patients with bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of severe bacterial infections. In addition, we have several preclinical assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Derazantinib, lisavanbulin and BAL0891 and their uses are investigational and have not been approved by a regulatory authority for any use. Efficacy and safety have not been established. The information presented should not be construed as a recommendation for use. The relevance of findings in nonclinical/preclinical studies to humans is currently being evaluated. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail media_relations@basilea.com investor_relations@basilea.com This ad hoc announcement can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References Basilea has in-licensed derazantinib from ArQule Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Zevtera: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc [Accessed: June 24, 2022] ERADICATE: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03138733 K. Hamed, M. Engelhardt, M. E. Jones et al. Ceftobiprole versus daptomycin in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a novel protocol for a double-blind, Phase III trial. Future Microbiology. 2020 (1), 35-48 Basilea's ceftobiprole phase 3 program is funded in part (up to USD 134.2 million, which is approximately 70% of the total potential program costs) with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract number HHSO100201600002C. A. G. Jensen, C. H. Wachmann, F. Espersen et al. Treatment and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a prospective study of 278 cases. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 25-32 J.-L. Wang, S.-Y. Chen, J.-T. Wang et al. Comparison of both clinical features and mortality risk associated with bacteremia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008 (46), 799-806 S. I. Blot, K. H. Vandewoude, E. A. Hoste et al. Outcome and attributable mortality in critically ill patients with bacteremia involving methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 2229-2235 S. E. Cosgrove, G. Sakoulas, E. N. Perencevich et al. Comparison of mortality associated with methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a meta-analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2003 (36), 53-59 Attachment Dublin, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "European Market for Kitchen Furniture" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report analyses the production, consumption, international trade and distribution of kitchen furniture in 30 European countries. The report covers both kitchen furniture (at least six cabinets) and the built-in appliances sold through this channel. Completions or 'tails' (namely two or three units or less than one linear metre) were not considered in the number of kitchens sold because this would have significantly increased the number of statistical units, thus modifying average prices. The report is the result of: information collected on approximately 150 sector companies, which are representative of 80% of total European production; the information was gathered either through active participation or through company balance sheets, figures and estimates; analysis of databases for kitchen furniture in Europe and worldwide (financial movements, IP patents, and so on); web scraping-localization of kitchen furniture specialists; desk research concerning macroeconomic trends and sector performances; official figures for foreign trade provided by Eurostat. Key Topics Covered: Introduction Contents of the Report; Research tools and methodological notes; Terminology Basic data The European framework: Kitchen furniture production, international trade and consumption by country, in value and volume Kitchen furniture production and consumption by market segment: in value and volume, at European level as a whole and for each European country considered Activity trend and Forecast For the total Europe as a whole and for each European country considered: Production, consumption, international trade of kitchen furniture and comparison with selected country indicators, 2016-2021 and forecast 2022-2025 International trade For the total Europe as a whole and for each European country considered: Kitchen furniture exports and imports 2016-2021, by country and by geographical area of destination/origin and international trade data for selected household appliances, 2019-2021 Financial analysis Financial results: ROI, ROE, EBITDA and EBIT ratio for a sample of 60 companies; Employment analysis: number of employees, turnover per employee, average cost of employee, cost of employees/turnover for a sample of companies Supply structure Analysis of the kitchen furniture production (Sector estimates and data for a sample of companies) broken down by: Cabinet door material Cabinet door style Cabinet door colour and lacquered type Kind of wood Worktop material Kind of lay-out Intellectual Property: Number of patent family issued in 2020-2022 owned by a sample of European kitchen companies Distribution channels Overview of the main distribution channels active on the European kitchen furniture market, at European level as a whole and for each country considered Kitchen specialists, Furniture shops, Furniture chains, Building trade, Contract, DIY, E-commerce, Direct sales Estimates of the value and weight of the built-in appliances on the domestic sales of kitchen furniture by country The competitive system Leading players in Europe and market shares (consumption and production) The European competitive system by market segment: luxury, upper-end, middle-upper, middle, middle-low, lower-end. Sales data, market shares and short company profiles The European competitive system for each of the 30 European countries analyzed Exports from Europe to Extra-European markets and Overseas: Americas, Asia and Pacific, Russia, Middle East end Africa Annex Directory of around 350 European kitchen furniture companies Select Companies Mentioned: Alvic Anna Cendrowski Aran Arredo3 Artego Aster Aviva Cuisines Baldita Ballingslov Ballerina Boffi Bruynzeel Bulthaup Celebert Colombini Dan Decodom Delta Cocinas Dica Doca DMG DSM Keukens Eggo Elkjop Fournier Gama Decor Haecker Hanak Howdens Joinery Ikea Koryna Kvik Leicht Lube Mandemaakers Menuiseries du Centre Meson's Mob Cozinhas Mobexpert Movimar Murelli Neoform Nikolidakis Nobia Nobilia Nolte Oppein Pedini Poggenpohl Poliform Pronorm Puustelli Rempp Roundel Rust Mebel Rus Savitar Sanitas Troesch Santos SBA Furniture Scavolini Snaidero Socoo'c Symphony Szynaka Schmidt Siematic Snaidero Stosa TCM Turi Ultima Furniture Valcucine Valdesign Vedum Veneta Cucine Veriset Villeroy & Boch Vordingborg WeDO Holding Wren Kitchens For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/xvsmwf About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Pune, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Refrigerant Market Size was estimated at USD 3786.02 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 3975.47 million by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 0.70% during the forecast period. IndustryResearchBiz has published a new report on Refrigerant Market with an analysis of such parameters i.e. industry growth drivers, supply and demand, risks, market attractiveness, annual growth comparison, BPS analysis, SWOT analysis, and Porter's Five Forces model. Refrigerant Market report gives an inside and out audit of the Expansion Drivers, Potential Challenges, Distinctive Trends, and Opportunities for Market Players. Our Research experts have carried out detailed checks of the critical environment and have predicted the methodological structure used by market participants. 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This ranges from macro-overview of the market to micro details of the market size, competitive landscape, development trend, niche market, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, Porters five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. The analysis helps to shape the competition within the industries and strategies to the competitive environment in order to enhance the potential profit. Furthermore, it provides a simple framework for evaluating and accessing the position of the business organization. The report structure also focuses on the competitive landscape of Global Refrigerant Market. In a word, this report is a must-read for industry players, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the Refrigerant market in any manner. Get A Sample Copy Of The Refrigerant Market Report 2022-2028 List of Top Key Players in Refrigerant Market Report: The survey describes the qualities of the entire company based on an industry-wide analysis. Chemours Honeywell Mexichem Daikin Arkema Linde Navin Fluorine International GFL Dongyue Group Zhejiang Juhua Meilan Chemical Sanmei 3F Yuean Chemical Ying Peng Chemical Yonghe Refrigerant Limin Chemicals China Fluoro Technology Global Refrigerant Market: Market Segmentation Analysis The research report includes specific segments by region (country), manufacturers, Type, and Application. Market segmentation creates subsets of a market based on product type, end-user or application, Geographic, and other factors. By understanding the market segments, the decision-maker can leverage this targeting in the product, sales, and marketing strategies. Market segments can power your product development cycles by informing how you create product offerings for different segments. Based on Product Type, this report shows the creation, income, cost, piece of the pie, and development pace of each kind, principally split into: HCFC HFC HC Other On the Basis of the End-User/Applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications production, revenue, price, market share, and growth rate: Air Condition Automotive Air Conditioner Refrigerator Others TO KNOW HOW COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR WILL IMPACT THIS MARKET - REQUEST SAMPLE Geographically, the Major Regions Covered in Refrigerant Market Report Are: To comprehend Global Refrigerant market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Refrigerant market is analyzed across major global regions. North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Rest of South America) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of MEA) Key Benefits of This Market Research: Industry drivers, restraints, and opportunities covered in the study Neutral perspective on the market performance Recent industry trends and developments Competitive landscape & strategies of key players Potential & niche segments and regions exhibiting promising growth covered Historical, current, and projected market size, in terms of value In-depth analysis of the Refrigerant Market Overview of the regional outlook of the Refrigerant Market Valuable Points from Refrigerant Market Research Report 2022-2028: Significant changes in Market dynamics. Reporting and assessment of recent industry developments. A complete background analysis, which includes a valuation of the parental Refrigerant Market. Current, Historical, and projected size of the Refrigerant Market from the viewpoint of both value and volume. Refrigerant Market segmentation according to Top Regions. Refrigerant Market shares and strategies of key Manufacturers. Emerging Specific segments and regional for Refrigerant Market. An objective valuation of the trajectory of the Market. Recommendations to Top Companies for reinforcement of their foothold in the market. Enquire before purchasing this report -https://www.industryresearch.biz/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/21113847 Key Reasons to Buy this Report: Access to date statistics compiled by our researchers. These provide you with historical and forecast data, which is analyzed to tell you why your market is set to change This enables you to anticipate market changes to remain ahead of your competitors You will be able to copy data from the Excel spreadsheet straight into your marketing plans, business presentations, or other strategic documents The concise analysis, clear graph, and table format will enable you to pinpoint the information you require quickly Provision of market value (USD Billion) data for each segment and sub-segment Indicates the region and segment that is expected to witness the fastest growth as well as to dominate the market Analysis by geography highlights the consumption of the product/service in the region as well as indicates the factors that are affecting the market within each region Competitive landscape which incorporates the market ranking of the major players, along with new service/product launches, partnerships, business expansions, and acquisitions in the past five years of companies profiled Extensive company profiles comprising of company overview, company insights, product benchmarking, and SWOT analysis for the major market players The current as well as the future market outlook of the industry concerning recent developments which involve growth opportunities and drivers as well as challenges and restraints of both emerging as well as developed regions Includes in-depth analysis of the market from various perspectives through Porters five forces analysis Provides insight into the market through Value Chain Market dynamics scenario, along with growth opportunities of the market in the years to come Purchase this report (Price 2800 USD for a single-user license) - https://www.industryresearch.biz/purchase/21113847 With tables and figures helping analyze worldwide Global Refrigerant market trends, this research provides key statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market. Major Points from TOC: 1 Research Methodology and Statistical Scope 1.1 Market Definition and Statistical Scope of Refrigerant 1.2 Key Market Segments 1.2.1 Refrigerant Segment by Type 1.2.2 Refrigerant Segment by Application 1.3 Methodology & Sources of Information 1.3.1 Research Methodology 1.3.2 Research Process 1.3.3 Market Breakdown and Data Triangulation 1.3.4 Base Year 1.3.5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 2 Refrigerant Market Overview 2.1 Global Market Overview 2.1.1 Global Refrigerant Market Size (M USD) Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028) 2.1.2 Global Refrigerant Sales Estimates and Forecasts (2017-2028) 2.2 Market Segment Executive Summary 2.3 Global Market Size by Region 3 Refrigerant Market Competitive Landscape 4 Refrigerant Industry Chain Analysis 5 The Development and Dynamics of Refrigerant Market 5.1 Key Development Trends 5.2 Driving Factors 5.3 Market Challenges 5.4 Market Restraints 5.5 Industry News 5.5.1 New Product Developments 5.5.2 Mergers & Acquisitions 5.5.3 Expansions 5.5.4 Collaboration/Supply Contracts 5.6 Industry Policies 6 Refrigerant Market Segmentation by Type 7 Refrigerant Market Segmentation by Application 8 Refrigerant Market Segmentation by Region 9 Key Companies Profiled 10 Refrigerant Market Forecast by Region 11 Forecast Market by Type and by Application (2022-2028) Continue Detailed TOC of Global Refrigerant Market @ https://www.industryresearch.biz/TOC/21113847 Section II: Global Refrigerant Compressors Market Report Overview: Refrigerant compressors are driven fluid machines enhance a high-pressure gas from low-pressure gas.It is the heart of the refrigeration system.It sucked in from the suction pipe temperature low-pressure refrigerant gas,through motor driven piston compressor to exhaust high temperature and pressure refrigerant gas to provide power for the refrigeration cycle,in order to achieve compressioncondensation (exothermic )expansionevaporation (heat absorption) of the refrigeration cycle. The Global Refrigerant Compressors Market Size was estimated at USD 12150.00 million in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 13117.00 million by 2028, exhibiting a CAGR of 1.10% during the forecast period. Get a Sample PDF of report @https://www.industryresearch.biz/enquiry/request-sample/21113848 Our latest report provides a deep insight into the global Refrigerant Compressors market covering all its essential aspects. This ranges from macro-overview of the market to micro details of the market size, competitive landscape, development trend, niche market, key market drivers and challenges, SWOT analysis, Porters five forces analysis, value chain analysis, etc. The analysis helps to shape the competition within the industries and strategies to the competitive environment in order to enhance the potential profit. Furthermore, it provides a simple framework for evaluating and accessing the position of the business organization. The report structure also focuses on the competitive landscape of Global Refrigerant Compressors Market. In a word, this report is a must-read for industry players, investors, researchers, consultants, business strategists, and all those who have any kind of stake or are planning to foray into the Refrigerant Compressors market in any manner. The research report has incorporated the analysis of different factors that augment the markets growth. It constitutes trends, restraints, and drivers that transform the market in either a positive or negative manner. The detailed information is based on current trends and historic milestones. The report includes market segmentation, competitive analysis, and regional study over the forecast period. The study conducts a SWOT analysis to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of the key players. Get A Sample Copy Of The Refrigerant Compressors Market Report 2022-2028 Major Companies Competing in the Refrigerant Compressors Market are: GMCC, Landa, HUAYI, Donper, Highly, Embraco, Panasonic, LG, RECHI Group, Samsung, Johnson Controls-Hitachi, Emerson, Secop, Tecumseh, FISCHER, Carlyle Compressors, FRASCOLD, Bitzer, Hanbell, Fusheng Industrial, GEA Bock On the basis of Product Type , this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into: Rotary Compressors Scroll Compressors Reciprocating Compressors Screw Compressors Centrifugal Compressors On the basis of the End Users/Applications , this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share, and growth rate for each application, including: Domestic Small Commercial Commercial Industrial Enquire before purchasing this report - https://www.industryresearch.biz/enquiry/pre-order-enquiry/21113848 Geographically, the Major Regions Covered in Refrigerant Compressors Market Report Are: To comprehend Refrigerant Compressors market dynamics in the world mainly, the worldwide Refrigerant Compressors market is analyzed across major global regions. A customized study by specific regional or country-level analysis North America (USA, Canada, Mexico) Europe (Germany, UK, France, Russia, Italy, Rest of Europe) Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Southeast Asia, Rest of Asia-Pacific) South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia, Rest of South America) Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa, Rest of MEA) What Refrigerant Compressors Market Report Is Going to Offers: Global Refrigerant Compressors Market share assessments for the regional and country-level segments Refrigerant Compressors Market share analysis of the top industry players Refrigerant Compressors Strategic recommendations for the new entrants Global Refrigerant Compressors Market forecasts all the mentioned segments, sub-segments and the regional markets Refrigerant Compressors Market Trends ( Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations ) ) Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the Refrigerant Compressors market estimations Competitive landscaping mapping the key common trends Refrigerant Compressors Company profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developments Refrigerant Compressors Supply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancements TO KNOW HOW COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND RUSSIA UKRAINE WAR WILL IMPACT THIS MARKET - REQUEST SAMPLE Refrigerant Compressors Market Report Provides Answers to the Following Key Questions: What are the strengths and weaknesses of the key vendors? Who are the Leading key players and what are their Key Business plans in the near future? What will be the Refrigerant Compressors market size and the growth rate in the coming year? What are the main key factors driving The Refrigerant Compressors market? What are the key market trends impacting the growth of the Refrigerant Compressors market? Which are Trending factors influencing the market shares of the top regions across the globe? What is the impact of Covid19 on the current industry? Who are the key market players and what are their strategies in the global Refrigerant Compressors Market? What are the market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the Refrigerant Compressors market? What industrial trends, drivers, and challenges are manipulating its growth? Reasons to Purchase this Report: Procure strategically important competitor information, analysis, and insights to formulate effective R&D strategies. Recognize emerging players with potentially strong product portfolio and create effective counter-strategies to gain competitive advantage. Classify potential new clients or partners in the target demographic. Develop tactical initiatives by understanding the focus areas of leading companies. Plan mergers and acquisitions meritoriously by identifying Top Manufacturer. Formulate corrective measures for pipeline projects by understanding Refrigerant Compressors pipeline depth. Develop and design in-licensing and out-licensing strategies by identifying prospective partners with the most attractive projects to enhance and expand business potential and Scope. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high-quality data and analysis. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Purchase this report (Price 2800 USD for a single-user license) - https://www.industryresearch.biz/purchase/21113848 Chapter Outline - Chapter 1 mainly introduces the statistical scope of the report, market division standards, and market research methods. Chapter 2 is an executive summary of different market segments (by region, product type, application, etc.), including the market size of each market segment, future development potential, and so on. It offers a high-level view of the current state of the Refrigerant Compressors Market and its likely evolution in the short to mid-term, and long term. Chapter 3 makes a detailed analysis of the Market's Competitive Landscape of the market and provides the market share, capacity, output, price, latest development plan, merger, and acquisition information of the main manufacturers in the market. Chapter 4 is the analysis of the whole market industrial chain, including the upstream and downstream of the industry, as well as Porter's five forces analysis. Chapter 5 introduces the latest developments of the market, the driving factors and restrictive factors of the market, the challenges and risks faced by manufacturers in the industry, and the analysis of relevant policies in the industry. Chapter 6 provides the analysis of various market segments according to product types, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the Refrigerant Compressors market in different market segments. Chapter 7 provides the analysis of various market segments according to application, covering the market size and development potential of each market segment, to help readers find the Refrigerant Compressors market in different downstream markets. Chapter 8 provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region and its main countries and introduces the market development, future development prospects, market space, and capacity of each country in the world. Chapter 9 introduces the basic situation of the main companies in the market in detail, including product sales revenue, sales volume, price, gross profit margin, market share, product introduction, recent development, etc. Chapter 10 provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each region in the next five years. Chapter 11 provides a quantitative analysis of the market size and development potential of each market segment (product type and application) in the next five years. Chapter 12 is the main points and conclusions of the report. Detailed TOC of Global Refrigerant Compressors Market @ https://www.industryresearch.biz/TOC/21113848 About Us: 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 market movements in order to strategize better. An efficient strategy offers the companies a head start in planning and an edge over the competitors. Industry Research is a credible source for gaining market reports that will provide you with the lead your business needs. Study Designed to Evaluate Whether T-Guard is Superior to Ruxolitinib in Patients with Grade III or IV Steroid-Refractory Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Preliminary Results Expected First Half of 2023 Results Expected to Provide the Basis for Both FDA and EMA Regulatory Submissions NIJMEGEN, The Netherlands, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Xenikos B.V., a privately-held biotechnology company that develops innovative immunotherapies for treating patients with severe immune disease and post-transplant rejection, today announced enrollment of the first patient in a global pivotal Phase 3 clinical study designed to evaluate T-Guard versus ruxolitinib for the treatment of patients with Grade III or IV steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT). Xenikos reached agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on the design of this global, pivotal, randomized Phase 3 study, which is planned to enroll 246 patients and has been designed to test for superiority of T-Guard compared to ruxolitinib for the treatment of Grade III or IV SR-aGVHD. The study will be conducted at 75 transplant centers across the US and Europe and will be executed in collaboration with the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN). Patients will be randomized 1:1 to receive either T-Guard or ruxolitinib. Participants on the T-Guard arm will receive a 1-week course of treatment with T-Guard as a 4-hour infusion every other day. Each dose consists of 4mg/m2 Body Surface Area (BSA). Participants on the ruxolitinib arm will receive 10mg of ruxolitinib twice daily for a minimum of 56 days. The primary endpoint of the study is complete response (CR) rate at Day 28, which is an important surrogate for long-term survival in patients with SR-aGVHD. Key secondary objectives include overall survival at Days 60, 90, 180, and 365, duration of complete response (CR), time to CR, overall response rate at Days 14, 28 and 56, GVHD-free survival, incidence of infections and safety. There will be a safety run-in phase at the beginning of the study whereby the Data and Safety Monitoring Board (DSMB) will evaluate the first 24 patients. Xenikos expects to report results from the safety run-in phase during the first half of 2023. The trial will also include an interim analysis for futility after 46 patients become evaluable for the primary endpoint. A second interim analysis will be performed once 150 participants have reached Day 28. Xenikos expects the data from this study to support the submission of a Biologics License Application (BLA) in the US based on Day 28 data from the first 150 patients. Data from the full 246 patients is expected to support the submission of a Marketing Authorization Application (MAA) in the EU. Standard first-line therapy for acute graft-versus-host-disease consists of corticosteroids, which are effective in approximately half of all patients. However if the condition is resistant to treatment or progresses there are currently limited treatments available that dont lead to broad and long-term immunosuppression, said Gerard Socie, Protocol Co-chair, Professor of the Department of Hematology-Transplantation at the Hopital Saint-Louis, Paris, France. This Phase 3 study is supported by very promising Phase 2 data and we look forward to further elucidating the potential of T-Guard versus ruxolitinib and helping bring this innovative new therapy through the next stage of development and to the physicians and patients who need it. Patient enrollment is now underway in our global, pivotal Phase 3 T-Guard study, and this initiation marks an important milestone for Xenikos, said Ypke van Oosterhout, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of Xenikos. Since T-Guards mechanism of action is fundamentally different from other agents, we believe it has the potential to provide an effective treatment option for patients battling steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease, while avoiding long-term immunosuppression. Our dialogue with the FDA and EMA has led to this Phase 3 study design which we believe will demonstrate T-Guards superiority and safety. We look forward to reporting the outcome of the safety run-in portion of the study during the first half of 2023. John Levine, Protocol Co-chair, Director of BMT Clinical Research, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine and Gabrielle Meyers, Protocol Co-chair, Associate Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University added, Patients with GVHD that is both severe and resistant to standard treatment are in urgent need of new and better therapies. It is our hope that this study will show that T-Guard can help meet that need. We appreciate that the NIH funded BMT CTN and Xenikos are supporting this trial. Acute Graft-Versus-Host Disease Following allogeneic stem cell transplantation, most patients have a high risk of developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). With GVHD, the donor's immune cells attack the patient's cells. Acute GVHD occurs early after transplantation and can be relatively mild or quite severe, even life-threatening, if not treated. Although GVHD can often be treated successfully with steroids, few options are available if the disease progresses or becomes resistant to steroid treatment, and the long-term survival of patients with steroid-refractory acute GVHD (SR-aGVHD) is less than 20%, highlighting the urgent need for effective new therapies. T-Guard: Helping Reset the Bodys Immune System T-Guard is designed to safely and swiftly reset the bodys immune system in life-threatening T cellmediated conditions, including transplant-related rejection, acute solid-organ rejection, and severe autoimmune disease. T-Guard consists of a unique combination of toxin-conjugated monoclonal antibodies that target CD3 and CD7 molecules on immune cells. Preclinical and early clinical testing have shown that T-Guard can specifically identify and eliminate mature T cells and NK cells with tolerable treatment-related side effects. Importantly, T-Guards action is short-lived and allows for a swift recurrence of a diverse T cell population, potentially reducing the patients vulnerability to opportunistic infections compared to currently available therapies. In a Phase 1/2 study, just one week of T-Guard treatment induced a remarkably high complete response rate and a doubling of the 6-month overall survival rate as compared to institutional historical controls in patients being treated second-line for steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). These results were published in the peer-reviewed journal Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation (Groth, et al. Nov 2018). T-Guard has been granted Orphan Drug Designation in both the EU and the US. About the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN) The BMT CTN conducts rigorous multi-institutional clinical trials of high scientific merit, focused on improving survival for patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation and/or receiving other cellular therapies. The BMT CTN has completed accrual to more than 50 Phase II and III trials at more than 100 transplant centers and enrolled over 16,000 study participants. BMT CTN is funded by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the National Cancer Institute, both parts of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is a collaborative effort of 20 Core Transplant Centers/Consortia, the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), the National Marrow Donor Program (NMDP)/Be The Match and the Emmes Company, LLC, a clinical research organization. CIBMTR is a research collaboration between the NMDP/Be The Match and the Medical College of Wisconsin. The BMT CTN 2002 study is being led by Drs. Mehdi Hamadani, Protocol Officer, Scientific Director of CIBMTR, Medical College of Wisconsin; John Levine, Protocol Co-chair, Director of BMT Clinical Research, Mt. Sinai School of Medicine; Gerard Socie, Protocol Co-chair, Head of Hematology- Transplantation, Hopital Saint-Louis; and Gabrielle Meyers, Protocol Co-chair, Associate Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health and Science University. More information about the BMT CTN can be found at www.bmtctn.net. About Xenikos Xenikos develops innovative immunotherapies based on conjugated antibodies. This novel therapeutic approach helps reset the immune system in patients who have a severe immune disease or have developed post-transplantation rejection. A randomized Phase 3 registration trial evaluating the Companys flagship product, T-Guard for the treatment of steroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease (SR-aGVHD) is underway in the US and Europe. Contacts Corporate: Xenikos B.V. Ypke van Oosterhout, CEO media@xenikos.com Investors/Media: Argot Partners Sam Martin/Carrie McKim +1 212 600 1902 xenikos@argotpartners.com Visiongain has launched a new report on the Global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Forecast 2022-2032: - Market Segment by Services {Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Services (Pharmaceutical API Manufacturing Services, Pharmaceutical FDF Manufacturing Services), Drug Development Services, Biologics Contract Manufacturing Services, (Biologics API manufacturing services, Biologics FDF Manufacturing Services}; End User (Big Pharmaceutical Companies, Small & Medium-Sized Pharmaceutical Companies, Generic Pharmaceutical Companies, Other End Users) Plus analysis of leading regional/national markets and leading companies in the market. COVID-19 Impact Recovery Analysis (V-shaped recovery, W-shaped recovery, U-shaped recovery, L-shaped recovery) Global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Outlook According to Visiongain analysis, Global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market was valued at $115.8 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $329.7 billion in 2032, registering a CAGR of 10.1% from 2022 to 2032. Europe Pharmaceutical Contract manufacturing market was the highest contributor to the global market generating $43.9 billion in 2021, and is projected to reach $113.9 billion in 2032, registering a CAGR of 9.1% from 2022 to 2032. Download Exclusive Sample of Report @ https://www.visiongain.com/report/pharma-contract-manufacturing-market-2022/#download_sampe_div Key Questions Answered by this Report: What is the current size of the overall global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market? How much will this market be worth from 2022 to 2032? What are the main drivers and restraints that will shape the overall pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market over the next ten years? What are the main segments within the overall pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market? How much will each of these segments be worth for the period 2022 to 2032? How will the composition of the market change during that time, and why? What factors will affect that industry and market over the next ten years? What are the largest national markets for the world Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing? What is their current status and how will they develop over the next ten years? What are their revenue potentials to 2032? How will market shares of the leading national markets change by 2032, and which geographical region will lead the market in 2032? Who are the leading companies and what are their activities, results, developments and prospects? What are some of the most prominent Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing currently in development? What are the main trends that will affect the world pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market between 2022 and 2032? What are the main strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats for the market? What are the social, technological, economic and political influences that will shape that industry over the next ten years? How will the global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market evolve over the forecasted period, 2022 to 2032? What will be the main commercial drivers for the market from 2022 to 2032? How will market shares of prominent national markets change from 2022, and which countries will lead the market in 2032, achieving highest revenues and fastest growth? How will that industry evolve between 2022 and 2032, especially in R&D? What are the Market Drivers? Patent Expiry and Increasing Demand for Generic Drugs Generics are low-cost medications with therapeutic efficacy and safety profiles that are comparable to those of their branded equivalents. One of the primary elements driving the generics market demand is the push to decrease rising healthcare costs. Patent expiry paved the way for a slew of less expensive generic alternatives to enter the market. Patent expiration is a good predictor of market growth since generic manufacturing businesses subcontract roughly 80% of their production to CDMOs. Some of the major drugs whose patents expired in 2021 were Roches Lucentis, Galens Adasuve, Mylans Perforomist, Lundbecks Northera, and Emergent BioSolutions Narcan. Currently, several CDMOs are expanding their facilities to tap the growth opportunities in the expanding generics market. In December 2021, SGS had acquired Quay Pharma that helped the company expand its business in the CDMO industry. Additionally, in December 2021, Adare Pharma Solutions acquired Frontida BioPharm that will help the company expand into CDMO offerings such as high potency compound handling and packaging services. Investments in Pharmaceutical R&D The global pharmaceutical industry is research-intensive, with innovative firms spending on average about 15% of their sales on R&O. Also, the increasing R&D expenditure on early-stage development, as well as an increase in the number of potential drugs in the preclinical phase, is driving the demand for preclinical services among life science companies. Some of the top pharmaceutical companies have increased the R&D expenditure that help promote product innovation and drug development. For instance, in 2020, Incyte spent $2.2 billion, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals spent $ 2.7 billion, Biogen spent $3.9 billion, and Bristol Myers Squibb spent $ 11.1 billion as R&D expenditure. According to the Congressional Budget Office, around $ 83 billion was devoted to pharmaceutical R&D expenditure in 2019 in the United States. The growth in the R&D pharmaceutical expenditure is expected to increase the opportunities of outsourcing services provided by CROs, thus boosting the demand of pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market . Advancements in biotechnology have made it necessary to outsource various drug development stages in order to develop cost-effective and efficient medicines. With compounded timeline savings, investment savings can reach more than US$0.5 Billion post its success in Europe. This compounded timeline savings models advantages are now being realized in the US, the worlds largest R&D market. Thus, outsourcing drug development activities improves trial efficiency and productivity and helps drug development companies deliver new medicines faster. What are the Market Opportunities? Increasing Demand for Biological Therapies The introduction of new biologics-based therapies and increased revenues from current biologics are expected to boost biologics, biosimilars, and large-molecule drug shares in the coming years. Over 200 biologics have been authorised by the US FDA in the previous decade. In addition, biologics accounted for 27% of all treatments authorised between 2018 and 2021, while biopharmaceuticals account for 65-75 percent of all drugs now in clinical research. The FDA of the United States authorised 46 new medicines and biologics in 2021. However, these products (mostly parenteral medications) need a higher focus on dosage form stability as well as novel techniques to overcome biological obstacles to distribution at the target region. Since such formulations are difficult to produce, biologics manufacturing outsourcing has grown in popularity. Growth in the Nuclear Medicine Sector The contract manufacturing of nuclear medicines includes the development and manufacturing of radioisotopes and radiopharmaceuticals. Recent corporate acquisitions and share offerings have created renewed interest in the radiopharmaceutical industry. The takeovers of Endocyte and Advanced Accelerator Applications (AAA) by Novartis in 2020, for USD 2.1 billion and USD3.9 billion, respectively, have raised the profile of radiopharmaceutical (products that act as both diagnostic and therapeutic agents) products and radiopharmaceuticals in general. Additionally, in May 2021, Curium completed the acquisition of IASON that helped the company expand its business in European region and expand its product portfolio of life saving diagnostic solutions. The growing emphasis on cancer management has accelerated the growth of this market due to the need for new and effective diagnostic and treatment options for common and rare cancers. Companies involved in the production of nuclear medicines prefer having all the processes integrated under one roof to foster the effective development of new products. For this, they outsource to CDMOs that have the expertise and manufacturing capabilities, all under one roof, thereby saving time and overall production costs. Growing Demand for Cell and Gene Therapies Cell and gene therapies has the ability to meet unmet medical requirements associated with treating a variety of illnesses. Many pharmaceutical firms and investors have put substantial resources into researching and commercialising these medicines because of their strong therapeutic potential. Several companies are strategically expanding in the cell and gene therapy market by acquiring facilities with major expertise. For instance, in April 2019, Catalent acquired Paragon Bioservices Inc. (US), one of the leading cell and gene therapy contract manufacturing companies, for USD 1.2 billion. In March 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific acquired Brammer Bio (a CMO) for USD 1.7 billion. This enabled Thermo Fisher to accelerate its activities in the cell and gene therapy CDMO marketplace. Major players such as Lonza and Catalent have also entered this market through similar strategic developments. COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market The COVID-19 pandemic had a favourable influence on the pharmaceutical contract development and manufacturing business. The outbreak sparked the development of coronavirus-related vaccines, antiviral vaccines, antibody therapies, and a variety of pharmaceutical products, prompting pharmaceutical companies to hire contract development and manufacturing organisations for pharmaceutical drug development and manufacturing in order to ensure their business's long-term viability. Most pharmaceutical firms, contract research organisations, and research institutions are working together to transfer research into useful pharmaceutical products. For example, Catalent Inc. and AstraZeneca PLC announced a deal in August 2020 to increase manufacturing support for the University of Oxford's adenovirus vector-based COVID-19 vaccine AZD1222 at the Harmans, Maryland production plant. In addition, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (US) teamed with Inovio Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (US) in September 2020 to produce INOVIO's DNA COVID-19 vaccine candidate INO-4800 and improve commercial manufacturing. Furthermore, several vaccines are still in development, despite the fact that some COVID vaccines are now accessible. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 149 vaccines were in clinical development, 195 vaccines were in pre-clinical development, and 37 vaccinations have been approved across many countries as of March 18, 2022. As a result of the increased demand for effective treatments to treat COVID-19, worldwide production of chloroquine, vaccines, antibodies, and other pharmaceuticals is likely to rise in the future years, bolstering the CDMOs market. Get Detailed TOC @ https://www.visiongain.com/report/pharma-contract-manufacturing-market-2022/#download_sampe_div Regional Analysis North America, comprising the US and Canada, accounted for over 30% of the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market in 2021. Factors such as increasing R&D investments, increased competition among drug manufacturers, shrinking profit margins of pharmaceutical companies, and the presence of major pharmaceutical companies such as ThermoFisher Scientific (US), Catalent (US), and AbbVie (US), are driving the growth of the Pharmaceutical Contract manufacturing market in North America. The rising demand for state-of-the-art procedures and production technologies in the pharmaceutical sector, which have proved very successful in satisfying regulatory criteria, is one of the primary drivers driving the expansion of the contract manufacturing market in North America. In 2021, the Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness highest growth rate in the global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market. The Asia Pacific region is the most dynamic emerging market globally due to its large base of generic drug manufacturers, growing scientific base and capability (due to the establishment of R&O centres), and the establishment of enhanced manufacturing facilities by major players in the past 2-3 years. Growth in the emerging markets of China and India is mostly driven by low labour and manufacturing costs, which have drawn huge investments by pharma giants. Despite the capital-intensive nature of biologics, significant capacities have been built by CDMOs in Asia. In 2020, Lonza (Switzerland) expanded its capsule manufacturing capacity in eight sites, including Indonesia and India. In 2019, Fujifilm (Japan) planned to invest USD 90 Billion to expand its Bio Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization business. Competitive Landscape Some of the companies profiled in the global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market are AbbVie Inc., Aenova Group, Albany Molecular Research Inc. (AMRI), Almac Group, Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH, Cambrex Corporation, Catalent, Inc., CordenPharma International, Evonik Industries AG, Famar Health Care Services, Fujifilm Corporation, Lonza Group Ltd., Recipharm AB, Samsung Biologics, Siegfried Holding AG, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Vetter Pharma International GmbH, and WuXiAppTec among other prominent players. To gain a competitive edge, Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing companies adopt a variety of strategies. These include product launch, partnerships, investment in R&D, mergers & acquisitions, regional business expansion, and facility expansion among others. Discover sales predictions for the global pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market and submarkets. Along with revenue prediction for the overall world market, there are 2 segmentations of the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market, with forecasts for 3 services, and 4 end-users, each forecasted at a global, regional, and country level, along with COVID-19 impact recovery pattern analysis for all segments. Find quantitative and qualitative analyses with independent predictions. Receive information that only our report contains, staying informed with this invaluable business intelligence. To access the data contained in this document please email dev.visavadia@visiongain.com Information found nowhere else With this new and exclusive report, you are less likely to fall behind in knowledge or miss out on opportunities. See how our work could benefit your investment, research, analyses, and decisions. Visiongain's study is for everybody needing commercial analyses for the pharmaceutical contract manufacturing market and leading companies . You will get the most recent data, opportunities, trends, and predictions. Do you have any custom requirements we can help you with? Any need for a specific country, geo region, market segment or specific company information? Contact us today, we can discuss your needs and see how we can help: dev.visavadia@visiongain.com About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest growing and most innovative, independent, market intelligence around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports cover a 10-year forecast, are hundreds of pages long, with in depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets, which currently can influence one another, these markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defense, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customized and syndicated market research reports means that you can have a bespoke piece of market intelligence customized to your very own business needs. Contact: MIAMI, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Crossing Airlines Group Inc. (JET: NEO; JET.B: NEO; JETMF: OTCQB) (the Company or GlobalX) is pleased to announce the signing of an ACMI wet lease agreement to operate two (2) Airbus A320 aircraft (the Aircraft) for TUI Airlines Netherlands BV (TUI fly Netherlands), for use in its European summer programs. GlobalX will provide the Aircraft and qualified crews to TUI fly Netherlands for peak season flying in July and August, 2022. From a base of operation in Amsterdam, GlobalX will provide daily flights throughout Europe. We are honored to fly for TUI fly Netherlands, part of TUI, Europes largest travel company and one of the great airlines of Europe. We greatly appreciate their confidence in us to fly their valued customers to their vacations. We expect to grow as a company by watching and learning from the best practices of TUI fly Netherlands in their daily operations as well, said Ed Wegel, Chair and CEO of GlobalX. Each year TUI and its airlines require extra aircraft capacity to match the high season demand in our European markets. GlobalX, as new operator with an experienced team, offers a perfect match with our demands and we are happy to welcome them to our network, said Roel Martens, Head of Aviation Leases of TUI. About Global Crossing Airlines GlobalX is a US 121 domestic flag and supplemental Airline flying the Airbus A320 family aircraft. GlobalX flies as a passenger ACMI and charter airline serving the US, Caribbean, and Latin American markets. In 2022, GlobalX will enter ACMI cargo service flying the A321 freighter, subject to DOT and FAA approvals. For more information, please visit www.globalxair.com. About TUI TUI is the leading travel company in the Netherlands and is part of the International TUI Group, one of the worlds leading tourism groups. The broad portfolio gathered under the Group umbrella consists of strong tour operators, 1,600 travel agencies and leading online portals, five airlines with around 150 aircraft, over 400 hotels, 16 cruise liners and many incoming agencies in all major holiday destinations around the globe. It covers the entire tourism value chain under one roof. This integrated offering enables the company to provide 27 million customers with an unmatched holiday experience in 180 regions. A key feature of the corporate culture is the global responsibility for economic, environmental and social sustainability. This is reflected in more than 20 years of commitment to sustainable tourism. For more information, please contact: Mark Salvador, Chief Marketing Officer Email: mark.salvador@globalxair.com Tel: 786.751.8510 Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward looking statements and forward-looking information, as defined under applicable United States and Canadian securities laws, concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to the Companys aircraft fleet size, the destinations that the Company intends to service, the details of planned flying for Tui fly Netherlands and growth of the Companys business. In certain cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or " or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of financing to continue airline operations, the accuracy, reliability and success of GlobalXs business model; GlobalXs ability to accurately forecast demand; the timely receipt of governmental approvals; the success of airline operations of GlobalX; GlobalXs ability to successfully enter new geographic markets; the legislative and regulatory environments of the jurisdictions where GlobalX will carry on business or have operations; the Company has or will have sufficient aircraft to provide the service; the impact of competition and the competitive response to GlobalXs business strategy; the future price of fuel, and the availability of aircraft. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. 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 the forward-looking statements. Such factors include risks related to, the ability to obtain financing at acceptable terms, the impact of general economic conditions, risks related to supply chain and labor disruptions, failure to retain or obtain sufficient aircraft, domestic and international airline industry conditions, the effects of increased competition from our market competitors and new market entrants, passenger demand being less than anticipated, the impact of the global uncertainty created by COVID-19, future relations with shareholders, volatility of fuel prices, increases in operating costs, terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, currency fluctuations, interest rates, risks specific to the airline industry, risks associated with doing business in foreign countries, the ability of management to implement GlobalXs operational strategy, the ability to attract qualified management and staff, labor disputes, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits; risks related to significant disruption in, or breach in security of GlobalXs information technology systems and resultant interruptions in service and any related impact on its reputation; and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements. If GlobalX does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. English French HOMEWOOD, Illinois, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- CN (TSX: CNR) (NYSE: CNI) announced today plans to invest approximately $30 million in Tennessee in 2022. This includes investments in technology, rolling stock units and company-wide decarbonization initiatives, as well as network improvements. These investments will power sustainable growth and ensure the continued safe movement of goods in Tennessee and everywhere on CNs transcontinental network. We continue to make significant investments in our network, technology, and capacity. We are building the premier railroad of the 21st century to do even more for our customers, railroaders, shareholders, and the communities in which we operate. - Sean Finn, Executive Vice-President, Corporate Services and Chief Legal Officer of CN Memphis is central to everything and at the heart of the logistics and distribution industry. As a valued partner, we count on CN to reliably transport goods and provide services that our city, state and country need. - Jim Strickland, Mayor of Memphis Maintenance program highlights include: Installing approximately 38,000 new railroad ties; Rebuilding 16 road crossing surfaces; and Maintenance work on bridges, culverts, signal systems, and other track infrastructure Tennessee in numbers: Capital investments: More than US$200 million in the last five years Employees: approximately 560 Railroad route miles operated: 173 Community partnerships: US$39,000 in 2021 Local spending: US$23 million in 2021 Cash taxes paid: US$7.2 million in 2021 Forward-looking Statements Certain statements included in this news release constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and under Canadian securities laws. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions. The Company cautions that its assumptions may not materialize and that current economic conditions render such assumptions, although reasonable at the time they were made, subject to greater uncertainty. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of terminology such as believes, expects, anticipates, assumes, outlook, plans, targets, or other similar words. Forward-looking statements reflect information as of the date on which they are made. CN assumes no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect future events, changes in circumstances, or changes in beliefs, unless required by applicable securities laws. In the event CN does update any forward-looking statement, no inference should be made that CN will make additional updates with respect to that statement, related matters, or any other forward-looking statement. About CN CN is a world-class transportation leader and trade-enabler. Essential to the economy, to the customers, and to the communities it serves, CN safely transports more than 300 million tons of natural resources, manufactured products, and finished goods throughout North America every year. As the only railroad connecting Canadas Eastern and Western coasts with the U.S. South through a 18,600-mile rail network, CN and its affiliates have been contributing to community prosperity and sustainable trade since 1919. CN is committed to programs supporting social responsibility and environmental stewardship. Contacts: LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Rythmia Life Advancement Center, an all-inclusive, medically licensed plant medicine center located in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, announces a partnership with Blue Zones Project to support its effort to repopulate Costa Rica's declining scarlet macaw population in the Nicoya Peninsula. The Blue Zones model farm, located in San Jose Pinilla, has an adequate hatchery space for the preservation of macaws. The farm is home to roughly 20 pairs of macaws and intends to release 30 per year back into the wild. In 10 years, Blue Zones projects the reintroduction of over 300 macaws back into the wild. Rythmia will work with the Blue Zones Project team to develop additional eco-friendly and sustainable habitats to revitalize local macaw populations. "Through the partnership, we'll be able to better protect and set up new homes for the macaws, with two nests located onsite at the resort," said Gerard Armond Powell, CEO of Rythmia Life Advancement Center. "Rythmia is an ideal habitat, offering a secluded, tropical location with the peace of mind that comes with proper security. We are thrilled to work with Blue Zones to create a space dedicated specifically for these birds' care and facilitate the repopulation of the species." Although it is not on the list of endangered species, the scarlet macaw population has seen a significant decrease in the past several decades. The decline of the scarlet macaw in the region is largely attributed to two factors: the capture of birds for sale and deforestation. "Unfortunately, years in captivity and human dependence mean many scarlet macaws can never be returned to the wild," said Ismael Carranza Ortiz, Tropical Biologist with the Blue Zones Project. "However, they will be instrumental in our efforts to repopulate the species, as young birds can be released after adapting to the climate and surrounding area. We are planning to accomplish the controlled reproduction utilizing two areas on the resort property set aside specifically for the macaws." A new generation of macaws is released once they are old enough to have an independent life and have acclimated to the area. Birds are released in Avellanas Beach and their development is closely monitored via identification chips to ensure the continuity of the species. Macaws are completely monogamous, remain in pairs for life, and can live up to 75 to 80 years. Blue Zones Project is a community-led well-being improvement initiative designed to make healthy choices easier through systemic changes to a city's environment, policy, and social networks. In five areas around the world dubbed "blue zones," researchers found that people live longer and better than anyone else on the planet. Blue Zones Project brings 20 years of research, exploration, and solutions from the world's most extraordinary cultures to help ordinary people lead longer, healthier, and happier lives. Visit https://rythmia.link/press to learn more. ABOUT RYTHMIA LIFE ADVANCEMENT CENTER Rythmia Life Advancement Center is focused on incorporating plant medicine into metaphysical teachings. The results of its program are spectacular, with over 95% of its 10,000+ clients reporting a life-changing miracle during their stay. Furthermore, the company is a model of diversity. Eighty-two percent of Rythmia's staff are members of a minority community and/or identify as LGBTQ+. And the company prides itself on its management team, 70% of whom are members of a minority community and/or identify as LGBTQ+. For further information and/or reservations, call (888) 443-5566 or visit https://rythmia.link/press. Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment In this Feb. 1, 2021, file photo, then National Security Adviser Suh Hoon attends a meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. Suh has been accused of having played a role in pressuring the Ministry of Defense to change its official position on the killing of a South Korean official by the North Korean military in North Korean waters two years ago. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-suk Family of official killed by North Korea demands disclosure of classified documents, threatens legal action against Moon By Jung Min-ho Suh Hoon, the former chief of the National Security Office (NSO) accused of having pressured the Ministry of Defense to obfuscate the facts behind the killing of a fisheries official in North Korea's waters two years ago, said Monday that he will cooperate with investigators if necessary. In a statement he sent to Yonhap News Agency, Suh said that he had no intention of avoiding an investigation to find out the truth behind the case, claiming he had followed government principles in handling it. "At the time of the incident, I did everything to take necessary measures in accordance with the principles I hope that the facts will be revealed clearly," he wrote. His remarks come amid allegations from Rep. Ha Tae-keung of the ruling People Power Party that he had hurriedly gone to the United States on a tourist visa to avoid investigation. Suh denied the claim, saying that he went there upon the previously arranged invitation of a U.S. think tank. Ha, the head of the party's special committee on the issue, called Suh Hoon, who served as director of the NSO and was an official on the National Security Council (NSC) during the previous administration, "a key person" behind the Defense Ministry's abrupt shift in its position on the death. According to the ministry's documents disclosed Saturday, the ministry changed its position from "(North Korea's) brutality of burning the body confirmed," to, "a joint probe needed for what is speculated as the burning of the body," after the NSC's request to review the material on Sept. 27, 2020. It was seen as a significant turn of events in the description of the incident, which the ministry had said just three days before was committed by North Korean soldiers. "I believe Suh and former NSC Deputy Director Suh Choo-suk are the key people behind it," Ha said during an MBC radio interview. The lawmaker argued that it was strange that Suh went to the U.S. on a tourist visa instead of on a J-1 visa which is issued to visitors of foreign nationality for participation in exchange visitor programs given that it is the type of visa former high-ranking government officials often obtain. Ha said Suh might have been in a hurry. Ha urged Suh Hoon to explain what really happened during the incident on Sept. 22, 2020, and in the days that followed, including why the ministry accepted North Korea's unilateral claims despite what it found via surveillance equipment and if there was any pressure from a higher authority such as the NSC. "There was no evidence provided by the North Yet, its words were accepted and the ministry was told to change its position," he said. "It was a serious disturbance of national discipline." Meanwhile, Lee Rae-jin, the elder brother of the late fisheries official, Dae-joon, and his lawyer met Rep. Woo Sang-ho, the interim leader of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Monday. During the meeting, Lee demanded that Woo cooperate with the disclosure of the sealed documents that have information about the death of his brother. Lee urged the DPK leader to cooperate with the ruling party to pass the motion to disclose the information, specifically about the details of the NSC meeting held on Sept. 23, 2020, a day after his brother was killed, while giving specific deadlines for the parliamentary action. First, Lee said that the DPK must adopt the motion by July 4 and then it must work with other parties to pass it no later than July 13. If these deadlines are not met, Lee said he would take legal action against former President Moon Jae-in. In the closed-door meeting between Lee and DPK leaders, the two sides are known to have failed to reach an agreement. Portland, OR, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the North America polycarbonate sheets market generated $185.98 million in 2020, and is projected to reach $263.61 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 3.8% from 2021 to 2030.The report provides an in-depth analysis of the top investment pockets, top winning strategies, drivers & opportunities, market size & estimations, competitive scenario, and wavering market trends. Significant surge in the demand for roofing application, modern building wall, decoration of commercial building, and others in the constructions sector, increase in the adoption of polycarbonate sheets as a substitute to glass due its impeccable transparency and durability, and remarkable growth of the automobile industry are expected to drive the growth of the North America polycarbonate sheets market. On the other hand, environmental concerns regarding the biodegradability of sheets are predicted to hinder the growth to some extent. However, extensive use of these sheets in building green house is expected to create ample opportunities for the industry. Download Sample PDF (138 Pages PDF with Insights): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/16907 COVID-19 Scenario The outbreak of COVID-19 has had a negative impact on the growth of the North America polycarbonate sheets market, owing to the implementation of lockdowns in various countries across the globe. Lockdowns resulted in the closure of manufacturing facilities of various industries such as electrical & electronics, building & construction, automotive & transportation, and others. This resulted in the decreased demand for polycarbonate sheets during the pandemic. This was majorly due to the stringent social distancing restrictions imposed by the government to curb the spread of the virus during the pandemic. However, the market is expected to recoup soon. The report offers a detailed segmentation on the North America polycarbonate sheets market based on type, end-use industry and country. Based on type, the multiwall segment held the largest market share in 2020, garnering around two-fifths of the global market. The solid segment, on the other hand, is predicted to cite the fastest CAGR of 4.1% during the forecast period. Request the Covid19 Impact Analysis @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-for-customization/16907?reqfor=covid Based on end-use industry, the electrical & electronics segment held the dominating market share in 2020, holding more than one-third of the global market. The aerospace & defense segment, on the other hand, is predicted to cite the fastest CAGR of 4.4% during the forecast period. Based on country, the market across the U.S. held the lions share in 2020, garnering nearly three-fifths of the global market. In addition, the same segment is expected to exhibit the fastest CAGR of 4.0% during the forecast period. The key players analyzed in the North America polycarbonate sheets market report include COVESTRO AG, Emco Industrial Plastics, Gallina USA, H&F Manufacturing Corp, PALRAM INDUSTRIES LTD, SABIC, Sirius Plastics LLC, Spartech, TEIJIN LIMITED, and Ug Plast, Inc. Interested in Procuring this Report? Visit Here: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/north-america-polycarbonate-sheets-market/purchase-options Avenue Basic Plan | Library Access | 1 Year Subscription | Sign up for Avenue subscription to access more than 12,000+ company profiles and 2,000+ niche industry market research reports at $699 per month, per seat. For a year, the client needs to purchase minimum 2 seat plan. Avenue Library Subscription | Request for 14 days free trial of before buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/avenueTrial Get more information: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/library-access 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. MCLEAN, Va., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inspirit Senior Living ("Inspirit") and Venue Capital ("Vencap") co-sponsored a joint venture to acquire a portfolio of two properties located in the Knoxville, Tennessee MSA. Formerly operated by a national operator, these new Inspirit Senior Living communities are now individually recognized as Rain Forest Landings in Knoxville, TN, and Emory Ridge in Powell, TN. Rain Forest Landings is an assisted living and memory care community on just under 10 acres in West Knoxville. Residents enjoy beautifully furnished common areas, including a grand dining room, numerous amenity spaces, walking paths, and more. Residents have multiple living options available with various suite types ranging from 285 to 725 square feet. Emory Ridge is a freestanding memory care property on almost three acres in the heart of the Powell, Tennessee community. The 40-unit community offers residents around-the-clock nursing care, safe and secure courtyards, activity rooms, community patios, and large common areas. Inspirit and Vencap plan to immediately begin renovations that will be highly customized to reflect each community's distinctive characteristics. The renovations will transform the properties into welcoming and restorative environments for residents and visitors, with comfortable furnishings paired with artwork reflecting and celebrating everything Knoxville offers. Like other Inspirit communities, properties offer assisted living and Inspirit's Sage Program, specifically designed for the memory impaired. The Sage Program's mission is to honor its residents creating meaningful interactions in safe hands while working within its residents' memories and abilities. Dave McHarg, Chief Executive Officer of Inspirit, said, "We are excited about the opportunity to expand our Tennessee footprint with these fantastic communities. Rain Forest Landings and Emory Ridge are now part of the growing Inspirit family of properties. We are honored to work with the dedicated and highly skilled local teams to deliver superior experiences for our residents." Michael Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of Vencap, added, "We're thrilled to add these high-quality properties to our growing Tennessee portfolio and to continue expanding our partnership with a top regional operator in Inspirit Senior Living." -- ### -- ABOUT INSPIRIT SENIOR LIVING Inspirit Senior Living is an owner/operator of senior living communities in the Mid-Atlantic, Midwestern, and Southern regions of the United States. Founded in 2015 by some of the senior-care industry's most respected leaders, Inspirit aims to identify under-performing struggling communities and acquire, modernize, and professionalize them, taking advantage of the network's economies of scale while preserving each property's home-like atmosphere and the individual attention to each resident that defines a successful senior living experience. Inspirit is committed to being a force for good in every community where it operates, creating good jobs, contributing to the local economy, and above all, providing senior care that respects the dignity and gifts of every resident. For more information, visit inspiritseniorliving.com. ABOUT VENUE CAPITAL LLC Venue Capital LLC is a New York City-based investment and asset management firm dedicated to the seniors housing sector. Vencap partners with premier regional operators to provide exceptional resident experiences while enhancing investors' value. Vencap targets well-located properties that can be improved through superior operations, strategic capital improvements, and steadfast asset management oversight. The combined components of real estate, hospitality, needs-driven service, and demographic tailwinds make senior housing a unique asset class that offers the opportunity for both growth potential and consistent performance. Vencap currently owns 15 senior living communities in the Southern and Midwestern regions of the United States. For more information, visit venuecapital.com. CONTACT: David McHarg, CEO 703-815-5800 dmcharg@inspiritseniorliving.com Related Images Image 1: Inspirit Senior Living Image 2: Venue Capital This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment St. Louis, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Farmer and retailer demand for an innovative and highly efficient, U.S. produced phosphate fertilizer, is increasing every day. As a result, Ostara is building a new facility to produce its platform product, Crystal Green, a highly efficient granular phosphate fertilizer in the heart of the Corn Belt. The new central U.S. located plant will better serve farmers with numerous logistical advantages. Farmers are looking to increase yield and quality without negative environmental impact, and Crystal Green delivers both. Ostara is excited to be bringing additional tons of Crystal Green to the market as demand has continually outpaced supply. The St. Louis facility is great news to North American farmers as we add needed tons to the market. Farmers really want a more efficient phosphate fertilizer option that feeds crops all season by avoiding nutrient loss through soil fixation, runoff and leaching, and thats Crystal Green, says Ron Restum, chief commercial officer at Ostara. The timing couldnt be better as the industry is looking for more locally produced fertilizers that avoid international supply chain issues. Additionally, the new plant will support much needed economic growth in the Midwest. Ostara announced purchasing the facility from Bruce Oakley, Inc. in 2021 with plans to construct a state- of-the-art granulation facility to produce Crystal Green phosphate fertilizers. The new production facility is a significant investment in the future for Ostara and will add over 40 jobs to the St. Louis market. St. Louis was the ideal location for this facility, not only due to the proximity to the market, but also the depth of talent in the community and full support of the entire Oakley team, Restum adds. Weve already begun adding critical people to the team and openings are regularly posted to our website as we grow and construction progresses. The St. Louis facility will produce over 200,000 tons of Crystal Green fertilizers to be shipped throughout North America. With access to the railway, barge and trucks, retailers and farmers will gain seamless access to the latest innovation in phosphate fertility. "The St. Louis metro's optimal Midwest location and robust Agtech ecosystem make it an ideal home for Ostara's new production facility," said Steve Johnson, chief business attraction officer, Greater St. Louis, Inc., and president, AllianceSTL. "We applaud the company's commitment to Downtown St. Louis and our north Riverfront and look forward to the quality job opportunities it presents for more than 40 regional workers." In anticipation of construction to be completed by the 3rd quarter of 2023, Ostara is hiring in the manufacturing, sales, agronomy and logistics departments. Interested applicants can find available opportunities at ostara.com/careers. About Ostara | Crystal Green Ostaras Crystal Green fertilizers are the first high-efficiency phosphate fertilizers to release nutrients in response to plant demand. Crystal Green fertilizers are proven to increase yields, enhance soil health and significantly reduce phosphate tie-up, runoff and leaching, thereby improving food security while protecting local waterways. Additionally, the Companys Pearl technology recovers phosphorus and nitrogen from industrial and municipal water streams and transforms these nutrients into Crystal Green Pearl fertilizer which also plays a key roll in the agriculture and turf & ornamental sectors through a network of established retailers and distributors in North America and Europe. To learn more about Ostaras revolutionary technologies and fertilizer portfolio, please visit ostara.com and follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. ### Media Contact Michelle Fluty Ostara Marketing and Communications Manager mfluty@ostara.com 309-261-7247 Attachments CAMPERVILLE, Manitoba, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The leadership of Pine Creek First Nation (PCFN) have unveiled a new mobile app designed to help their membership stay up-to-date with community news and resources. Two-thirds of PCFNs members live off-reserve, making maintaining a connection to the community difficulthaving an app for the Nation means that no matter where a band member lives, they will be able to access vital documents, resources, and announcements. PCFN reached out to the developers of Communikit, the fastest-growing platform for Indigenous leaders in Canada, after seeing evidence of the platforms success in other progressive First Nations. Chief and Council are excited to use the PCFN app to bring an additional level of communication and convenience to their members; because the app is searchable (using a tagging system) users can quickly and easily locate what they are looking for. Band members can reach directly out to the Band Office through the app to request information or services, and to provide feedback about the app or the Nations programs and services. The Band Office can also use the app to send important information directly to specific members or groups in order to ensure that messages are seen right away by the relevant recipients. When asked about the app and how it is expected to impact the community, Chief Derek Nepinak said, We are always looking for new tools and ways we can improve the lives of our band members; having an app that we can manage ourselves to send out notices for any situation puts us more directly in control of our communications as opposed to using a platform like Facebook or Twitter. The Pine Creek First Nation mobile app is available for download now on the iOS App Store and the Google Play Store. About Pine Creek First Nation Pine Creek First Nation (PCFN) is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Winnipegosis and provides a wide variety of economic and cultural services to the community. A signatory of Treaty #4, PCFNs original members were of Saulteaux descent who originally lived in the Sault Ste. Marie area near Lake Superior. Media Contacts: Justin Richard communications@pcfn.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6b947dc0-50e3-4054-a077-412443cbfee6 San Francisco, CA, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recently, Hoping Club announced that it will cooperate with REVA to create a new NFT trading platform. Combined with the underlying technology of web3, this platform integrates short video mode into NFT trading platform for the first time. The trading mode on the platform makes it possible to upload videos to show the background creation process of NFT. Moreover, the education section of the platform will be open to users in short videos for the first time. Web3 products that combine short video with NFT trading platform will also better promote NFT to the whole world. During this event, Hoping Club had in-depth communication with REVA. Previously, it was reported that Hoping Club was planning to acquire a crypto digital company to speed up and expand its plan of cryptocurrency and digital assets. Recently, some investors noticed that Hoping Club communicated frequently with REVA, and Hoping Club also followed REVA on Twitter. Some relevant people speculated that Hoping Club's goal might be Metaverse company REVA. For external rumors, neither party has made a definite reply. Metaverse company REVA was founded in 2019. In 2021, REVA was considered as one of the most potential start-up crypto enterprises in the industry.REVA maintains an independent brand and develops and builds a digital art collection trading platform REVA, which is a specific platform for the NFT market business of UK EARL INTERNATIONAL AUCTION LTD. Just last month, REVA platform just announced the launch of NFT pledge custody auction business, becoming the first company to enter the NFT debt market. In recent years, Hoping Club has accelerated its layout in the Asia Pacific region and actively tried to invest in the crypto digital field. At the beginning of this year, the team of Samuel Luo, an Asian blockchain financial expert, joined Black Gold, an asset service guild under Hoping Club, and became the general head of the institution in the Asia Pacific region, which once caused heated discussion in the investment community. Recently, Hoping Club also disclosed that it would invest in a start-up company in the field of digital crypto. The company is located in Singapore, and the negotiation has entered the straight stage. The rumor that Hoping Club would purchase REVA also fell flat. According to the members of Hoping Club, Hoping Club had previously launched NFT pawn mortgage business within the association to provide loans to members, and received good feedback within the guild. This business is similar to the NFT pledge custody auction business recently launched by REVA. The difference is that REVA has an independently operated NFT trading platform, an independent blockchain technology team, and a more perfect service model. As we all know, the NFT market has developed rapidly in the past two years, and the technology in the blockchain field is becoming more and more mature. However, these are still difficult to hide the pain points of poor liquidity, large valuation fluctuations and difficult realization of digital assets in the NFT market. In a road map released by REVA, it can be seen that the NFT pledge custody auction business launched by REVA platform aims to solve these pain points in the NFT market. To this end, REVA platform has established a broad liquidity pool, and has established an authoritative valuation team composed of digital art appreciation experts, blockchain technology experts, NFT technology experts, financial analysis experts, the world's top financiers in Viking,artists and other experts in many fields. Customers can obtain loans more quickly by pledging and trusting NFT collections through the platform and valuing them by REVA; If you want to auction NFT collections, REVA will also provide protection. In the future, REVA platform will also open NFT casting and distribution functions and establish a decentralized Metaverse platform. Hoping Club has been praised for its accurate alternative investment for many years. Its investment creed is that professionalism determines the rate of return. Before entering any new industry or field, The data analysis center of Hoping Club will do a lot of basic research. Media contact Hoping club Contact: Koby sadan Website: https://www.hopingclub.com/ Email: Hoping2012(at) hopingclub.com Revameta Contact: Kunov.Alidor Website: http://www.revameta.com Email: reva (at) revameta.com VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Nine months after being commissioned by Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel to mark Canadas inaugural Truth & Reconciliation Day, a striking artwork by renowned Indigenous artist, Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun (Coast Salish name, Lets'lo:tseltun) has sold at auction. The painting, entitled Indian Residential School, Leaving the Shallow Graves and Going Home netted a final price of $157,250. All proceeds from the sale of the painting, including Heffels Buyers Premium and auction fees, will be donated to two outstanding organizations, the Orange Shirt Society and the Indian Residential School Survivors Society. Since the start of this project, we have been moved by Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptuns story, his vision, and his generosity, said Don Stuart, Executive Vice President of Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel, the firm that commissioned the piece. It has been incredible to see such broad support for this project in the art community and is truly amazing to see how much money has been raised for these tremendous organizations. Dixon Mitchell would like to thank everyone that helped drive this project forward, especially Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, Heffel Fine Art Auction House, our friends at the Vancouver Art Gallery and especially Sarah Macaulay of Macaulay Fine Art. Video of Lawrence Paul Yuxweluptun, discussing "Indian Residential School, Leaving the Shallow Graves and Going Home." About Dixon Mitchell Dixon Mitchell Investment Counsel is a national asset management firm providing investment solutions for institutions, foundations, endowments, and affluent private clients. A steward of client wealth since 2000, the firm is rooted in the belief that superior long-term results are achieved through comprehensive internal research, accurate appraisal of fundamentals, and the conviction to act on this work. Dixon Mitchell is based in Vancouver. Please visit www.dixonmitchell.com for more information and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. For more information, please contact MAVERICK Public Relations: Terance Brouse M: 647-667-7524 E: Teranceb@wearemaverick.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/661f387a-616c-4f1d-9a6d-3e2117364079 Southfield, Mich., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- June 28th is National Insurance Awareness Day. Certainly, we may be aware that we have insurance, but we sometimes forget to assess whether we have the right insurance to cover our business. National Insurance Awareness Day offers an annual reminder to review, understand, and update our policies since the passage of time can bring greater or different needs. For example: Businesses that contract with other businesses, in which they agree to provide liability insurance coverage for the other businesses, might want to evaluate their additional insured endorsements since options may exist to extend this coverage. since options may exist to extend this coverage. Businesses that assume their workers are mere independent contractors, not employees, may want to consider workers compensation insurance as these workers could, in the eyes of the law, might actually be employees. as these workers could, in the eyes of the law, might actually be employees. Businesses can assess their need for excess liability insurance based on their size, operations, and risks. Changes in the business can prompt changes in coverage. based on their size, operations, and risks. Changes in the business can prompt changes in coverage. Entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals working from their homes can consider appropriate business insurance coverage, such as commercial general liability insurance, as homeowners policies typically have business pursuits exclusions that prevent coverage for business-related risks. Policies of insurance can be complicated contracts, and legal disputes occasionally arise involving interpretation of certain provisions within them, says Southfield attorney Julie Fershtman, who has litigated insurance coverage disputes in Michigan and other states for decades. Because policies can differ in their scope and in the exclusions that they offer, make no assumptions about your coverage, In recent years, another type of insurance available to businesses is cyber insurance. Cyber insurance often mitigates the costs and consequences of a data security incident or data breach and the potential liability that may result from it. Cyber insurance policies differ and are usually customizable. Foster Swift has provided information on these coverages: Cyber Insurance: Is it right for you? Evaluating insurance coverage and avoiding coverage disputes makes good business sense on National Insurance Awareness Day and every day. Now is a good time to communicate with your insurance agent to assess and update your coverages. Having an insurance coverage attorney review your current and proposed policies can help optimize your coverage, and if disputes should occur, seek knowledgeable counsel to guide you. Foster Swift has that expertise. Businesses with questions about their insurance coverage can contact Foster Swift attorney Julie Fershtman at 248.785.4731 or jfershtman@fosterswift.com, or another member of Foster Swifts insurance coverage team. ### Since 1902, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC has provided comprehensive legal services to businesses, municipalities, and individuals. The firm employs nearly 100 attorneys and over 100 support staff in five locations: Lansing, Detroit, Southfield, Grand Rapids and Holland. For more information about the firm, its attorneys and to access recent publications, visit www.fosterswift.com. Attachment GARDINER, Mont., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Medcor is providing a mobile clinic for limited urgent care to the residents of Gardiner, beginning Sunday, June 26. Medcor has operated all three clinics at Yellowstone National Park for 20 years providing park employees and visitors with urgent care medical services. Our Mammoth clinic is still open to serve park employees and visitors, but due to the extreme flooding, it has not been accessible to the residents of Gardiner. "We want to continue serving our patients and the residents of the Gardiner community during this unprecedented time of need by ensuring they have access to the clinical services we have provided for many years at the Mammoth clinic," says Christopher Culbertson, Director of Operations for Medcor at Yellowstone. "Medcor can deploy anywhere to help with medical needs, and we are proud to do so for the town of Gardiner." Telehealth services from our Mammoth clinic are also available. We want to thank Yellowstone Forever, official philanthropic partner of the park, for graciously providing us a location in their parking lot, as well as power and internet for our mobile clinic! About Medcor: Medcor offers healthcare navigation services to help companies care for their employees in a complex healthcare system. We provide onsite and mobile clinics, injury and illness triage, telemedicine, health security, and safety services so employees get the right care at the right time in the right place. Medcor is also experienced in disaster relief, rapidly deploying medical services to crews on site. For more information on Medcor, visit www.medcor.com. Related Images Image 1: Medcor Mobile Clinic Mobile clinic by Medcor available to Gardiner This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment United States, Rokville, MD, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The U.S. air purifier market witnessed growth at 4.7% CAGR between 2017 and 2021. According to analysis by Fact.MR, a market research and competitive intelligence provider, the market in United States is projected to expand at 6.6% CAGR to be valued at US$ 6.7 billion by the end of 2032. Prominent manufacturers of air purifiers in the United States are evolving breakthrough technologies such as photocatalytic technology and ultraviolet (UV) LEDs that help to break down irritants and pathogens. Device manufacturers are also benefitting from the influx of air quality sensors that work in tandem with air purifiers to assess the risk of mould and viral transmission. Start-ups in the air purifier market are opting for crowd-funding so as to launch their models successfully in the market. They too have the ultimate goal to launch and offer air purifiers that reduce indoor air pollutants with the help of technology, such as UVGI air purifiers or UV germicidal irradiation. For more insights into the Market, Get A Sample of this Report! https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7464 Key Takeaways from Market Study The United States air purifier market is estimated at US$ 3.7 billion in 2022. The market witnessed a historic CAGR of 4.7% during the years 2017-2021 HEPA filters hold largest market share of 63.8% as compared to other segments of activated carbon filters and ionic filters. The commercial use case segment holds 47.7% market revenue share. The segment is predicted to rise at a high growth rate of 6.8% over the decade. Mid-West U.S. dominates the market with 27.6% share and is projected to rise at 8.9% CAGR. Mid-West U.S. and South-East U.S. together hold 51.5% share in the United States market. Development of Market Key manufacturers in the United States are launching high quality air purifiers for use in homes, schools, offices, and other public places. They are also launching air purifiers with cutting-edge laser technology and are collaborating with other market players to further their unique business solutions. For Comprehensive Insights Ask An Analyst Here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=AE&rep_id=7464 Key Segments of U.S. Air Purifier Industry Research U.S. Air Purifier Market by Type : Self-contained/Standalone Air Purifiers Fixed/Wall Mounted Portable In-duct Air Purifiers U.S. Air Purifier Market by Technology : HEPA Filters Activated Carbon Filters Ionic Filters Ultra-violet (UV) Technology Others U.S. Air Purifier Market by Coverage Area : Up to 200 sq. ft. 201-300 sq. ft. 301-500 sq. ft. 501-800 sq. ft. 801-1200 sq. ft. Above 1200 sq. ft. U.S. Air Purifier Market by Use Case : Residential Air Purifiers Commercial Air Purifiers Industrial Air Purifiers U.S. Air Purifier Market by Sales Channel : Online Sales of Air Purifiers Company/Brand Websites e-Commerce Websites Offline Sales of Air Purifiers Hypermarkets/Supermarkets Specialty Stores Others U.S. Air Purifier Market by Region : West US South-West US Mid-West US North-East US South-East US More Valuable Insights on Offer Fact.MR, in its new offering, presents an unbiased analysis of the U.S. air purifier market, presenting historical market data (2017-2021) and forecast statistics for the period of 2022-2032. The study reveals essential insights by type (self-contained/standalone air purifiers, (fixed/wall mounted, portable), in-duct air purifiers), technology (HEPA filters, activated carbon filters, ionic filter, ultra-violet (UV) technology, others), coverage area (up to 200 sq. ft., 201-300 sq. ft., 301-500 sq. ft., 501-800 sq. ft., 801-1200 sq. ft., above 1200 sq. ft.), use case (residential, commercial, industrial), and sales channel (online sales (company/brand websites, e-commerce websites), offline sales (hypermarkets/supermarkets, specialty stores, others)), across major regions of the United States (West U.S., South-West U.S., Mid-West U.S., North-East U.S., and South-East U.S.). Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7464 Fact.MRs Domain Knowledge in Industrial Goods Division Expert analysis, actionable insights, and strategic recommendations of the highly seasoned industrial goods team at Fact.MR helps clients from across the globe with their unique business intelligence needs. With a repertoire of over a thousand reports and 1 Million-plus data points, the team has analysed the industrial goods division across 50+ countries for over a decade. The team provides unmatched end-to-end research and consulting services. Explore More Industrial Goods Division Reports: Fire Safety Equipment Market - Fire Safety Equipment Market Analysis by Application (Residential, Commercial, and Industrial), by Solution (Fire Suppression Equipment, Fire Detection Equipment), by Region - Global Forecast 2022-2032 Pre-Painted Steel Coil Market - Pre-Painted Steel Coil Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Application (Metal Buildings, Post-frame Buildings), By Region, And Segment Forecast, 2022 - 2032 Fire Protection Systems Market - Fire Protection Systems Market Analysis by Product (Fire Analysis, Fire Detection, Fire Suppression), by Service (Managed Fire Protection Service, Fire Protection Systems Maintenance Service), by Application & Region - Global Forecast 2022-2032 Agriculture Equipment Market - Agriculture Equipment Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Product (Agriculture Tractors, Harvesters, Planting Equipment), By Application (Harvesting & Threshing, Sowing & Planting), By Region, and Segment - Global Forecasts 2022 - 2032 Construction Equipment Market - Construction Equipment Market Analysis by Product Type (Earth Moving Machinery, Material Handling Machinery, Concrete and Road Construction Machinery), By Region- 2022 to 2032 Integrated Passive Devices Market - Integrated Passive Devices Market Analysis by Material (Silicon, Glass), by Passive Devices (Baluns, Filter, Couplers, Diplexers), by Wireless Technology (WLAN, Bluetooth, Cellular), by Application (ESD/EMI, RF IPD), by End-use Industry & Regional Forecast 2022-2032 Hazardous Area Equipment Market - Hazardous Area Equipment Market Analysis, By Product (Cable Glands & Accessories, Process Instruments, Industrial Controls, Motors, Strobe Beacons), By Connectivity (Wireless, Wired), By End Use, by Region - Global Forecast 2022-2026 Heat Exchangers Market - Heat Exchangers Market By Product (Air Cooled Heat Exchangers, Plate and Frame Heat Exchangers, Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers), By End User (HVAC, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, Power Generation), by Region - Global Forecast 2022-2031 Energy Storage Systems Market - Energy Storage Systems Market Analysis, By Technology (Electro Chemicals, Thermal Storage, Mechanical Energy Storage), By Application (Transportation, Grid Storage), By End User - Global Forecast 2022-2031 Europe Air Purifier Market - Europe Air Purifier Market By Type (Self-Contained/Standalone, In-duct), By Technology (HEPA, Activated Carbon, Ionic, Ultra-violet), By Coverage Area, By Use Case, By Sales Channel, By Country European Market Insights 2022-2032 About Us: Market research and consulting agency with a difference! Thats why 80% of Fortune 1,000 companies trust us for making their most critical decisions. While our experienced consultants employ the latest technologies to extract hard-to-find insights, we believe our USP is the trust clients have on our expertise. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare & retail, our coverage is expansive, but we ensure even the most niche categories are analyzed. Our sales offices in United States and Dublin, Ireland. Headquarter based in Dubai, UAE. Reach out to us with your goals, and well be an able research partner. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office: 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 Email: sales@factmr.com Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 COLORADO SPRINGS, COLORADO, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Catalyst Government Business Boot Camp launched June 14-23. This two-week event was sponsored by the Small Business Administration's SBIR/STTR office and United States Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate. The Boot Camp was geared toward helping tech-based startups and small businesses that have not formerly worked with government, particularly Department of Defense, learn how to do so effectively. The Catalyst Accelerator team chose six amazing small businesses to participate in the Boot Camp. Preference was given to veteran-owned, women-owned, and minority-owned businesses or those located in Hub Zones. Over the course of the inaugural Boot Camp, the companies were guided by various subject matter experts. Some of the programming topics included understanding DoD and other government agencies, meeting the requirements to do business with the government, how to navigate the system, understanding government contracts, data rights and compliance, and more! Stephanie Hutch from the cohort company, Makai, explained, The Catalyst Government Business Boot Camp was an educational and rewarding experience. Having the opportunity to interact with defense experts and active-duty operators was invaluable. The Catalyst Accelerator team members were professional, accommodating, and worked hard to fill our days with quality group training and one-on-one sessions. I would strongly recommend this Boot Camp to anyone new to government contracting or anyone looking to better understand the Space Force organizational structure and mission sets. Sixty subject matter experts spoke with the cohort throughout the two-week event. One of these experts included Mo Kanwischer of Momentum Business Consulting. Mo provided incredible briefings about customer discovery with the government, ABC statements, go-to-market strategy, and pitching to the government. She explained, The Catalyst Government Business Boot Camp is a one-of-a-kind resource for small businesses. These six founders spent eight days following a rigorous agenda preparing them for commercialization of their products and services to sell to the government and industry. Topics such as conducting customer discovery and developing a value proposition help the founders develop their go-to-market strategy for the government while honing their messaging for commercial customers. With the Boot Camp learning under their belts, these companies have an edge when they enter the government segment. Capt Christie Rogers and Capt Craig Miles played integral roles in the Boot Camp. Capt Rogers is a GPS Payload Systems Operator for the United States Space Force, while Capt Miles is a Contracting Officer for the United States Air Force. They are also both members of AFRL/RV's SPECTRE program. Together they provided an overview about the Department of Defense and its structure. They also discussed the various ways to contract with the government. Capt Miles mentioned, "I've had the opportunity to work with a few Accelerators and no one does it like the Catalyst Accelerator. They are the gold industry standard for accelerating small businesses, startups, and non-traditional contractors to grow their business and educate them on acquisitions with the government. Their programs aren't easy, participating companies will get out what they put into the program, which is always a lot. The cohort had the opportunity to participate in a couple panel discussions including a Resource Panel and Warfighter Panel. Members of the Resource Panel included Vanessa Johnson with AFCEA, Greg Sears with SFA, Kathleen Gilspin with APEX, Colin Wylie with Catalyst Campus, Fred Taylor with Viasat, and Dennis Kater with The Smalls Colorado. Each of these individuals provided a five-minute overview of their organization and how each of the cohort companies could get involved. During the Warfighter Panel, three of our U.S. warfighters spoke to the Boot Camp cohort about their day-to-day tasks, pain points and what has worked well. The cohort also participated in several fun activities outside of the classroom. A few of these activities included a Happy Hour sponsored by Microsoft, Colorado Springs speakeasy tour, and dinners at Ivywild and Rudys Bar-B-Q. A few of the cohort members even spent the weekend driving to the top of Pikes Peak and getting to know more about each other and the beauty that Colorado Springs has to offer. Lastly, they attended a fireside chat with the Honorable Sue Payton. Sue is the former Assistant Secretary for Acquisition for the United States Air Force and current owner of SCI Aerospace, Inc. She provided an unclassified security threat briefing and answered several of the cohort members questions. Bosco Lai, from the cohort company, Little Place Labs, stated, "The inaugural Catalyst Government Business Boot Camp was an amazing 8-day ride of excellent content, insights and inspirations. The agenda was extremely thoughtful and well executed by KiMar Gartman, Kathy Steen and the whole Catalyst Accelerator team. The speakers ranged from experts from the government and DoD ecosystem, support groups, to private companies that have been through many challenges and successes. Our fellow change makers in the cohort forged wonderful bonds. Little Place Labs is honored to be part of the Boot Camp, and as the Honorable Sue Payton encouraged us in her keynote, we will utilize what we have learned and keep innovating to help make this world a safer and better place." The Boot Camp was a collaborative effort between the Hyperspace Challenge and Catalyst Accelerator, along with the National Security Innovation Network (NSIN) and the Colorado Procurement Technical Assistance Center (PTAC). Kathy Steen, Senior Program Manager of Hyperspace Challenge and facilitator of the Boot Camp, mentioned, The Boot Camp program introduced cohort members to 60 subject matter experts across 12 categories. While it was an intensive training to prepare them for the next steps in government contracting, the best part is the relationships they formed with each other, the subject matter experts, and industry guests. I am confident all the members have a foundational network that will continue to support and encourage them. KiMar Gartman, Program Director of the Catalyst Accelerator, followed by stating, This was our inaugural Catalyst Government Business Boot Camp designed to introduce companies to working with the US Government. We had six amazing cohort companies and were able to connect them with knowledgeable subject matter experts who helped them better understand the path forward into government contracting. Many thanks to the Small Business Administrations Growth Accelerator Fund Competition which made this Boot Camp possible and to our many collaborators, including NSIN, Colorado PTAC, and AFRL/RVs SPECTRE program. Cohort Companies Included: KaizenRhino Solutions International Consultancy - https://krsi-19.com/ - KaizenRhino Solutions International Consultancy (Cheyenne, Wyoming) uses Systems Thinking and Human Centered Design skills to solve customer customed challenges and innovative forward-thinking challenges. Their current project is an applied SBE Social Behavioral Economics model application for a Space Ambulance-Medic-and Burial Plan for the coming Moon Colony. They are leading preparation for a Financial Manhattan Project to accelerate the end of the Ukraine War and Win Rebuild with maximum cost reductions by applying the best AI-Blockchain-STO designs. Kall Morris Inc (KMI) - https://www.kallmorris.com/ - Kall Morris Inc (Marquette, Michigan) is efficiently removing and repurposing space debris for commercial and government customers. The massive opportunity is a $50B total market, which KMI is entering through their partnered NASA SBIR Phase II and multiple USSF Orbital Primes. The co-founders combine civilian space agency AI/ML, defense aerospace rapid prototyping, and commercial business development for an agnostic solution to an exponential problem. The first mission is scheduled for 2025, with KMI hard at work today on #KeepingSpaceClearForAll. Little Place Labs - https://www.littleplace.com/ - Little Place Labs (Houston, Texas) is building software applications utilizing advanced machine learning techniques that can be deployed on remote sensing satellites optimized for the Space environment. This is also known as Satellite Edge Computing and will allow raw data to be processed immediately as it is captured, and insights to be developed in orbit. The outcome is quicker and more cost-effective delivery of critical insights to end-users for them to make data-driven decisions for applications like natural disaster detection, surveillance and monitoring, and other time-sensitive events. Makai - https://www.makaidefense.com/ - Makai (Hopkinton, Massachusetts) specializes in the modernization of wired and wireless systems by strengthening and securing communications at the tactical edge. Makai has developed the Hardened Operational Networking Unit (HONU), a ruggedized communications device that leverages the power of 5G throughput and SATCOM backhaul. Makais Gemini 5G test lab is a vendor agnostic test facility located next to Hanscom AFB in Lincoln, MA. They are able to partner with any industry hardware or software vendor to develop network architectures and operational test scenarios to address national security challenges. Orbital Services Corporation LLC (OSCorp) - https://www.orbitalservicescorporation.com/ - Orbital Services Corporation LLC (Melrose, Massachusetts) leverages dual-use state-of-the-art Guidance Navigation and Control (GNC) technologies and space robotics capabilities to enable complex, dynamic on-orbit Rendezvous and Proximity Operations (RPO). Their mission is to ensure a secure space domain through Active Debris Remediation (ADR) of hazardous spacecraft and Resident Space Objects (RSO) to protect US government and commercial space assets, and the services they provide, from disruption or degradation while building a sustainable space economy and enabling a wide range of On-orbit Servicing Assembly and Manufacturing (OSAM) use cases. They are developing Robust and Autonomous Relative Navigation Algorithms for Safe Approach Inspection and Docking of Non-Cooperative Spacecraft that were not previously feasible or viable. Combining their algorithms with space-qualified robotic arms, adaptive sensing capabilities, and grappling hardware components (interfaces, tools, fixtures), they are testing novel inspection, docking and grappling optimization techniques by modeling uncertainty, non-linear dynamics and time-varying constraints. Secured Quantum Services (SQS) - https://www.sqs.world/ - Secured Quantum Services (Colorado Springs, Colorado) produces systems that optimize the national security of nations in their conduct of Digital Economic activity. They deliver ultra-premium security through the fusion of extremely high performance Digital and Quantum technologies with digital economic business modeling augmented by a Single Plane of digital governance and compliance. Their vision is a digital economy that brings nations together through digitally validated Trust and Transparency. They enable massive digital collaboration accelerating interaction and transaction to the scale of global economies. In the accomplishment of their mission, they seek to enable others to optimize their missions through safe, lower cost, and simplified technology consumption on the utility of the SQS Platform. SQS is building a fundamentally different architecture of premium compute production, professionally engineered, and operated, scalable across the globe and across space, theoretically without bounds. They envision a society enabled by technology comparable to other commercialized complex innovations such as electric power, aviation, and railway. On this system, they offer a new vision of economy enabled by digital systems delivering validated trust. It is thru the peace dividend of economic interaction that the potential for massive good is realized. About Catalyst Accelerator The Air Force Research Laboratory Space Vehicles Directorate and United States Space Forces Catalyst Accelerator is a NewSpace-focused defense and national security industry accelerator, headquartered on the Catalyst Campus for Technology and Innovation (CCTI, a Colorado 501(c)3) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. CCTI is a collaborative ecosystem where industry, small business, entrepreneurs, startups, government, academia, and investors intersect with Colorados aerospace and defense industry to create community, spark innovation, and stimulate business growth. Author: Kate Menendez, Catalyst Accelerator Marketing Specialist Attachment In this Nov. 8, 2019, file photo, South Korea's Navy tows a boat used by two North Korean fishermen before handing it over to North Korean authorities. Courtesy of Unification Ministry By Jung Min-ho The previous Moon Jae-in administration offered to repatriate two North Korean fishermen in 2019 even before Pyongyang made such a request, because "their intention to defect (to the South) was not sincere," according to intelligence documents. The information was revealed Monday by Rep. Tae Yong-ho of the ruling People Power Party (PPP). After the deportation decision the first such case since the end of the Korean War (1950-53) the fishermen were probably executed soon afterward, and the previous administration knew that would be the consequence, Tae claimed. On Nov. 2, 2019, South Korea's Navy captured the men in their 20s in waters off the nation's east coast. After just three days of investigation, the South Korean government proposed sending them and their boat back to the North, which Pyongyang accepted the next day (Nov. 6). The deportation was completed in the two days that followed. The National Security Office (NSO) at the time claimed that the decision was necessary as the two fishermen were "brutal criminals on the run," citing the investigation results that they conspired with a third man to kill the boat's "abusive" captain and 15 others at sea before arriving in the South's waters. Rep. Tae Yong-ho of the ruling People Power Party / Newsis TORONTO, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Guardian Capital Group Limited ("Guardian") (TSX:GCG) (TSX:GCG.A) and Rae & Lipskie Investment Counsel Inc. (operating as The RaeLipskie Partnership) today announced that they have reached an agreement under which Guardian will acquire a majority interest in The RaeLipskie Partnership, a private wealth manager based in Waterloo, Ontario. Under the agreement, Guardian will acquire a 60% ownership interest in The RaeLipskie Partnership. The transaction is expected to close in Q3 2022, subject to regulatory approvals and customary closing conditions. Current employees of The RaeLipskie Partnership will retain the remaining 40% ownership interest. We're delighted to partner with such a well-respected firm and management team as we continue to grow our presence in the private client wealth space, said George Mavroudis, Guardians President and Chief Executive Officer. This transaction will add over $1 billion in assets under management to our Private Wealth segment and further extend our regional coverage in key markets. "We couldnt be more pleased to join the Guardian group of companies," said Brian Lipskie, President & COO, The RaeLipskie Partnership. Like Guardian, we have always believed in serving our clients with a customer-first and community-based approach to everything we do. We look forward to continuing to do so, but with the added strength and stability that comes from partnering with Guardian. For further information, please contact: Angela Shim (416) 947-8009 To contact Investor Relations: investorrelations@guardiancapital.com About Guardian Capital Group Limited Guardian Capital Group Limited (Guardian) is a diversified, global financial services company operating in two main business segments: Investment Management and Wealth Management. As at March 31, 2022, Guardian had C$53.1 billion of assets under management and C$30.5 billion of assets under administration, while managing a proprietary investment portfolio with a fair market value of C$741 million as at March 31, 2022. Guardian provides extensive investment management solutions to institutional and private wealth clients through its subsidiaries, while offering comprehensive wealth management services to financial advisors in its national mutual fund dealer, securities dealer and insurance distribution network. Founded in 1962, Guardians reputation for steady growth, long-term relationships and its core values of trustworthiness, integrity and stability have been key to its success over six decades. Its Common and Class A shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange as GCG and GCG.A, respectively. To learn more about Guardian, visit www.guardiancapital.com. About Rae & Lipskie Investment Counsel Inc. Rae & Lipskie Investment Counsel Inc. (The RaeLipskie Partnership) is a private wealth management firm based in Waterloo, Ontario that has provided objective, professional investment management since 1989. With assets under management in excess of C$1.1 billion, they pride themselves in listening to the needs and goals of their clients and designing flexible, custom portfolios to suit each clients investment objectives. When you invest with The RaeLipskie Partnership, you are partnering with a diverse and dedicated portfolio management team that is committed to your success, with the skills and expertise to help you meet your investment objectives. Their teams mission has remained clear since inception protect, enhance and oversee their clients capital. To learn more about The RaeLipskie Partnership, please call (519) 578-6849 or visit www.raelipskie.com. CANNES, France, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- At the 2022 Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity, FCB became the first in Cannes Lions history to win the coveted Titanium Lion three years in a row. The prestigious honor, awarded to FCB Inferno for Virgin Groups Dyslexic Thinking, brought the FCB network count to a total of 70 Lions, which included 1 Titanium, 3 Grand Prix, 12 Gold, 26 Silver and 28 Bronze Lions. Early in the week, FCB Health was named Healthcare Network of the Year and AREA 23, an IPG Health Company, was named Healthcare Agency of the Year. On the festivals final day, FCB was honored as the #2 Network overall in 2022 and the North America Network of the Year for the fourth straight year, and FCB Toronto won Agency of the Year Strategy, globally. FCBs performance at this years festival is a testament to the power of generosity. This generous spirit can be found in our clients, our partners and our people. Together, we all win, said Susan Credle, FCB Global Chair & Global Chief Creative Officer. The sustained success of the FCB network is only possible because of our collective commitment to Timeless & Timely creative ideas that drive business today while building brand equity for the future. Its nice to see that commitment rewarded by our industry. The Titanium winner, Dyslexic Thinking from FCB Inferno for Virgin Group, in collaboration with LinkedIn and Made By Dyslexia, was awarded for the dedicated effort to making Dyslexic Thinking recognized as a celebrated term and valuable skill set. The idea got Dyslexic Thinking added as a skill on LinkedIn, the worlds largest professional network, offering its 810+ million members globally the option to add Dyslexic Thinking to their profile, with Dictionary.com also adding Dyslexic Thinking as an official term, noting its strengths in creative, problem-solving and communication skills. Danilo Boer, FCB Global Creative Partner, said: Working with Virgin, LinkedIn and Made By Dyslexia on Dyslexic Thinking was truly inspiring. This idea not only fundamentally changed the perception of the word dyslexia and created an entirely new term in the dictionary, but it started a seismic shift in making neurodiversity an asset that companies around the world need now more than ever. Additional highlights from the 2022 festival include: FCB Lisbon won Portugals first-ever Grand Prix (Design) for Portuguese (Re)Constitution for Penguin Books (Penguin Random House) 30 years after CEO and Creative Director Edson Athayde brought a Gold Lion to the country for the first time. FCB Chicago, FCB New York and FCB Brasil collected 9 Lions across 4 campaigns for AB InBev, named 2022 Creative Marketer of the Year, including FCB New Yorks McEnroe vs. McEnroe, FCB Chicago/FCB New Yorks Michelob ULTRA Courtside, FCB New York/FCB Brasils Mikes in a Beer World and FCB Chicago/FCB New Yorks Contract for Change, which garnered the 2022 Creative Effectiveness Grand Prix, adding to the campaigns 2021 Grand Prix (PR) and Titanium Lion accolades. FCB Canada collected Gold Lions in Creative Strategy and Creative Effectiveness for their work with the Canadian Down Syndrome Society and ultimately earned the title of Global Agency of the Year Strategy. FCB Chicago and FCB India collaborated to earn 14 Lions, including 2 Gold Lions in the Media and Social/Influencer categories for Chatpat on behalf of SOS Childrens Villages India, and 1 Gold Lion in Direct for The Nominate Me Selfie on behalf of Political Shakti & The Times of India. Now more than ever, brands need to use creativity to drive exponential growth, said Tyler Turnbull, FCB Global Chief Executive Officer. Congratulations to everyone who helped our clients grow, thrive and be recognized as some of the most innovative in the world. In 2020/2021, Cannes Lions named FCB its Network of the Year for the first time in the networks nearly 150-year-history. Since that milestone, FCB was featured on the 2022 Ad Age A-List and the 2022 Fast Company Most Innovative list and was named the #1 Global Network on The Good Report. DANBURY, Conn., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- More than 5,000 Ethan Allen associates convened physically and virtually to celebrate the companys 90 Years of Innovation on Thursday, June 23. This day has been declared by the State of Vermont as Ethan Allen Day in honor of Ethan Allen, the American Revolution leader. Livestreamed around the globe, the event included presentations from the companys manufacturing, logistics, retail, merchandising, marketing, and leadership teams. Under the theme Vertical Integration: the Key to Our Service, the convention kicked off with a video greeting from Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont, who honored the companys Vermont origins while recognizing its global expansion over the past nine decades. The convention highlighted the companys vertically integrated structure, commitment to manufacturing about 75% of products in its own North American workshops, dedication to socially responsible business, and cutting-edge interior design technology, always paired with the personal service of Ethan Allens designers. Ethan Allens vertically integrated structure has long been the key to our exceptional quality and service and will continue to propel us toward a strong future, said Farooq Kathwari, Chairman, President and CEO. It enables us to craft furniture to the highest quality standards, offer an incredible array of custom options, deliver it within competitive timeframes, and provide interior design service with state-of-the-art virtual technology. ABOUT ETHAN ALLEN Ethan Allen Interiors Inc. (NYSE: ETD) is a global luxury home fashion brand, leading interior design destination, manufacturer, and retailer in the home furnishings marketplace. The Company provides complimentary interior design service to its clients and sells a full range of home furnishings through a retail network of design centers located throughout the United States and abroad as well as online at ethanallen.com. Ethan Allen owns and operates nine manufacturing facilities located in the United States, Mexico and Honduras, including one sawmill, one rough mill, and a lumberyard. Approximately 75% of its products are manufactured or assembled in these North American facilities. Vertically integrated from product design through home delivery, the Company offers stylish products, artisanal quality, and personalized service. For more information on Ethan Allen's products and services, visit www.ethanallen.com. CONTACT Geri Moran Vice President, Marketing & Public Relations 203-743-8374 geri.moran@ethanallen.com Participants of "Yoga and Natural Healthcare for Covid Pandemic (From Prevention to Long-term Rehabilitation)" conference, co-hosted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Wonkwang Digital University, pose for a photo at an auditorium of Wonkwang Digital University in Seoul, Saturday. Courtesy of Indian Cultural Centre Seoul By Kwon Mee-yoo Kumar Tuhin, director general of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), emphasized the role of culture, such as yoga and Buddhism, in bridging India and Korea. "Diplomacy is the art of intervening or persuading other governments through dialogue and through other means short of war. When we do that, we bring the entire country's comprehensive national power, which includes culture, economics and many other aspects of the country," Tuhin told The Korea Times, Saturday. "So culture comes into play here, because art and craft, cuisine and movies can bring our country closer to the other country and we are able to persuade the other government, bringing them to see our point of view. "Even when other (diplomatic) channels are not working, the cultural channel is always there between countries. And culture is a very strong way in which people of two countries can stay in touch through goodwill and help influence the government." Tuhin is a veteran diplomat who served as India's ambassador to Hungary from 2018 to 2021 and high commissioner to Namibia from 2015 to 2018. In December 2021, he was appointed as Director General of the ICCR, which is fully supported by India's Ministry of External Affairs in recognition of the significance of cultural diplomacy. Yoga is one of the most well-known cultural assets that originated in India, now practiced around the world. Tuhin said yoga suits people seeking a holistic sense of wellbeing. "You do not need anything to perform yoga, except for a small mat. You don't need to become a member of a gym or spend hundreds of dollars. Yoga is not just an exercise but a complete concept including meditation and discipline of life. There also is a sense of compassion and love towards other people and wellness. I think this is why yoga is now so popular all over the world," he said. He visited Korea last weekend to attend "Yoga and Natural Healthcare for Covid Pandemic (From Prevention to Long-term Rehabilitation)," a conference co-hosted by the ICCR and Wonkwang Digital University, Saturday and Sunday. "It was on how we can use yoga for prevention and also for rehabilitation in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic," he added. "There were speakers from India who brought in the Indian perspective of how we can use yoga to address some of those deeper psychological, physical and emotional issues coming in the way of COVID-19 and Korean speakers also provided very interesting Korean perspectives on traditional Korean medicine." Kumar Tuhin, Director General of Indian Council for Cultural Relations / Courtesy of ICCR Cerdic Bourrasset, head of the High Performance AI Business Unit at French supercomputing company Atos, gives a presentation during the "Empowering the NextGen High-Performance Computing through Scientific and Industry Collaborations" conference at the French ambassador's residence in Seoul, June 23. Courtesy of Embassy of France in Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo Experts in high-performance computing (HPC) from France and Korea discussed ways for cooperation during the "Empowering the NextGen High-Performance Computing through Scientific and Industry Collaborations" conference, hosted by the Embassy of France, June 23. HPC refers to supercomputers and computer clusters used to solve complex computation problems, and France is one of Europe's leading countries in the field. Julien Cats, deputy head of the French Embassy in Seoul, said supercomputing is an important part of France 2030, the country's plan for digital transformation. "French President Emmanuel Macron announced a 30 billion euro investment strategy for digital transformation last October and quantum computing can be used in many fields such as climate change, healthcare, astrophysics and artificial intelligence," Cats said. Cats went on to say that two exascale supercomputers will be introduced to Europe within a few years and he hopes France will be involved. Exascale computing refers to the capability to perform a billion billion, or a quintillion, calculations per second. Laurent Crouzet, head of the Digital Services and Infrastructures Department at the French Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation, shared how Europe's experience and cooperation created HPC infrastructure such as exascale computing. Cecile Vigouroux, director of International Relations at the National Institute for Research in Digital Science and Technology in France, spoke on how the state-run organization collaborates with strategic partners, including Korea. Atos, a French company leading the development of quantum technology which launched the first high-performing quantum simulator in 2017, organized the conference with the embassy. Cedric Bourrasset, in charge of high-performance large-scale AI business at Atos, introduced how the company leads the hybrid computing ecosystem integrating AI and quantum computing, as Atos unveiled its new exascale-class supercomputer in February. Bourrasset said exascale computing can operate calculations more efficiently and rapidly and can be applied to many fields from healthcare to weather forecasting. "We are improving software within the same compute power envelope (CPE) to reduce the carbon footprint of HPC," Bourrasset said. Lee Jae-jin of the Graduate School of Data Science at Seoul National University explained how a hybrid of HPC and quantum simulation is used in deep learning. Lee Sik, head of the Supercomputing Center at Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KISTI), introduced the center's role in providing supercomputing resources to scientists and engineers in Korea. "As the Korean government recognizes the importance of supercomputing, Korea is trying to make our own exascale supercomputer and Europe has impressive layers of technologies in hardware, software and engineering, and Korean and European institutes can be good partners for each other," he said. A group of leading German companies along with Australias Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) has released a green hydrogen roadmap, outlining a set of recommendations for government and industry, to meet the ambitious target of importing large amounts of green hydrogen from Australia to Germany. The Green Hydrogen Taskforce, created earlier this year, is a collaborative effort between FFI, and companies in Germany including Covestro, E.ON, Linde, Luthardt, SAP, Schaeffler, thyssenkrupp Nucera and thyssenkrupp Uhde. The green hydrogen roadmap developed by the Taskforce consists of a 10-point plan and a White Paper and is intended to outline a constructive pathway forward in Germany for business and government. The roadmap could potentially serve as an example for other nations looking for solutions. The companies in the taskforce are ready to move on green energy through serious investment and will work with Government to achieve these goals together. The recommendations to the German government include: developing subsidies and incentives to remove the First Mover Disadvantage; encouraging sources of low-cost capital to scale the industry, and underwriting equipment manufacturers expansion plans to meet developers needs. FFI and E.ON recently announced a partnership with the goal to supply 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen a year by 2030the equivalent of one third of the calorific energy of natural gas Germany imports from Russia. Key findings: Airbus and Munich Airport International signed a Memorandum of Understanding at ILA Berlin Air Show to start marketing turnkey solutions to cities and regions interested in developing advanced air mobility (AAM) ecosystems globally. Airbus is developing CityAirbus NextGen, its electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft (earlier post), along with key support and services offerings around it, while Munich Airport is offering ground infrastructure services and solutions. Munich Airport International is already collaborating with Airbus on the Air Mobility Initiative recently launched in Munichnow we are expanding that partnership globally to support select cities and regions around the world. Ivonne Kuger, Executive VP Corporate Development MAI The successful integration of the different AAM elements requires a strong cooperation between global and local stakeholders combining key competencies. The objective is to create completely new ecosystems that ensure a safe and seamless integration of eVTOL solutions with other means of mobility bringing added value to cities and communities. Airbus has been one of the pioneers in exploring how electric propulsion can help drive the development of new kinds of aerial vehicles. In September 2021, the Company unveiled its fully electric eVTOL prototype, CityAirbus NextGen. Airbus is developing an AAM solution with eVTOLs not only to offer a new mobility service but also as an important step in its quest to reduce emissions in aviation across its product range. The company recently announced the launch of the Air Mobility Initiative, a consortium of partners dedicated to the advancement of AAM in Bavaria and Germany. South Korea's top nuclear envoy met Monday with a senior U.S. Treasury Department official in charge of sanctioning North Korea and supporters of its weapons of mass destruction programs. Consultations in Seoul between Kim Gunn, special representative for Korean Peninsula peace and security affairs at the foreign ministry, and Brian Nelson, undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, came amid speculation that Pyongyang may soon carry out a nuclear weapon test. Nelson heads the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, which administers and enforces many U.S. sanctions programs. "The two sides shared the same view that North Korea's development of nuclear and missile programs will only lead to stronger deterrence by South Korea and the U.S. and its deeper isolation from the international community," Kim's ministry said in a press release. They agreed the North will face tougher international sanctions if it refuses to accept dialogue offers and continues provocative acts, it added. (Yonhap) GREENWICH Laurent Martinez can remember the first watch he ever bought, a diving watch made in France, and the unadulterated joy it brought him as a youngster. He still has the watch today, and his passion for wristwatches has never subsided. Martinez, a Greenwich collector, dealer and appraiser of fine watches, has compiled decades of research on the topic of watches in a new book, Timepieces: A Lifelong Love and Passion / An Insiders Guide to Watches and Tips for Watch Collecting. The watch collector, who grew up near Paris as the grandson of Spanish immigrants, has been an adept student of watches and time-keeping since his childhood. As Martinez writes in his book, which contains a memoir section on his upbringing in France, Watches evoke something in me thats hard to express in words. His examination of a fine timepiece, he writes, brings out a profound absorption in which the universe does not exist and nothing can reach me. Martinez, who writes regularly for International Wristwatch magazine, says hes something of a purist when it comes to his passion, and hes not especially fond of loads of jewelry on a watch or fancy advertising campaigns meant to sell them. Aesthetics and mechanics, thats where my heart is. I could care less if its the watch of the moment. A watch has to talk to me, Martinez said in a recent interview in his central Greenwich office. The Greenwich watch-appraiser has put together a handy compendium on the history of watch-making, as well as the main components that make up a fine watch: the dial, the movement, the hands and the casing. Martinez spells out the different kinds of hands that watchmakers use: batons, swords, sticks and lancettes, among the more common varieties. Martinez describes the trends that a beginning collector should be aware of, how to spot forgeries and what role provenance plays in the value of a watch. The self-published book available at Amazon.com, illustrated with hundreds of photographs, is meant to be easily readable and brief. While other books have been published in recent years on watch collecting, Martinez notes his work can be completed in an afternoon, and it contains a lifetime of research on the topic. Basically I did the research for people to understand watches, to make life easier, with a book, he says. Martinez has lived in Greenwich for over 20 years and says it reminds him of his old hometown outside Paris. He has lived in Brazil and Argentina and speaks Portuguese and Spanish during a previous career in finance and the energy field. But always, his love of timepieces was ticking away inside him, and Martinez eventually made it his full time occupation when he turned 50. Writing a book on the subject was the crown on top of his longtime obsession, Martinez says. Proceeds from the book are benefiting a program that trains disabled U.S. veterans to become watchmakers, the Veterans Watchmaker Initiative. Martinez says hes finally living the life he always yearned to live, spending time every day with beautiful and exquisitely designed objects and working with other people who share his passion. Im the most happy guy on Earth, he says. Im living my dream. AP AMMAN, Jordan (AP) A crane loading chlorine tanks onto a ship in Jordan's port of Aqaba on Monday dropped one of them, causing an explosion of toxic yellow smoke that killed at least 13 people and sickened some 250, authorities said. Video carried on state TV showed the moment the tank exploded, sending dockworkers scrambling to escape the toxic cloud. Some 200 people were hospitalized. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GREENWICH The Planning & Zoning Commission says it wants a planned restaurant off Greenwich Avenue to start slow opening the operation as more of an appetizer than a main course. A proposal by the MH Cohen Realty would convert the structure at 8-10 Lewis St., the old New York Sports Club site, into a restaurant, bakery and cafe. The Kyma restaurant group, which has other locations in New York, would run the restaurant. The original plans called for 300 seats at the restaurant. The project has been under review since early 2021. The attorney representing the project, Chip Haslun, said the current proposal under discussion would set the limit at 200 seats for dinner, Monday to Friday. For lunch on Saturdays, Haslun said the seats would be limited to 175, and on Sunday lunch and brunch, 225 seats. Haslun noted the developers were consistently coming down with our numbers. He added that the developers were making a $6 million investment in the project and needed to make a return on that initial outlay. At its meeting Tuesday, planning commissioners said they would like to see a soft opening and a probationary period with a smaller number of seats available as a kind of test run. The commission said it had concerns about the scale of the operation and the possibility the new venture would overwhelm parking and traffic conditions in the area. I want to find the right answer for the town, and the right answer for every business in that area downtown. Lets do whats right, said Chairwoman Margarita Alban. We do have to protect the other businesses on the Avenue. Commissioner Dennis Yeskey said, A soft opening would solve a lot of our concerns. The commissioners said it would like to see a three-month or six-month review period for the restaurant operation, starting with limited capacity at the opening with the numbers to be adjusted as circumstances required. Haslun called the request for opening at a limited capacity for an extensive amount of time problematic. He said there would be additional discussion among the development team. Other business owners had complained to the commission about the scale of the Greek restaurant during the review process. Haslun and the commission said the negotiations would continue. The number of seats and the length of a review period could be finalized in coming days. The application was scheduled for another hearing June 30. GREENWICH Local police added personnel and extra patrols to the Greenwich Avenue corridor after a number of startling recent cases of larceny. On Saturday afternoon, a woman stole handbags from a store in central Greenwich, and both she and a bystander were struck by a getaway car, police said. The suspects in that case were still sought by police. And on the previous Saturday, two suspected thieves were charged with stealing nearly $30,000 of merchandise from a Greenwich Avenue store, which was recovered. More officers are working in the retail corridor as a result of the recent spate of larcenies, police Capt. Mark Zuccerella said Monday. We have had an increased presence in the central business district for sometime now due to the increase in thefts from the stores. I dont want to get into our strategies, but it involves marked units and undercover units, Zuccerella said in an email. The anti-theft unit that works in the downtown area has been doing additional outreach with area merchants, the police captain said. Our Organized Retail Crime Abatement Unit is working with many of the shops, communicating the current criminal activity and trends in the surrounding area, as well as offering assistance in mitigating theft, he continued. The theft of expensive handbags and other consumer goods has been an ongoing problem at upscale stores around the country, police say. On June 18, Greenwich police said they apprehended two New Yorkers suspected of stealing nearly $30,000 worth of handbags, glasses and jewelry from an unidentified store on Greenwich Avenue, recovering the stolen merchandise in the process, according to the arrest report. A woman created a diversion, according to the arrest report, to draw store staff away from her co-conspirator. The two alleged thieves fled the store on foot, according to police, and were apprehended after a short pursuit. The stolen items with a total value of $27,915 were recovered, police said. Sheila Draine-Johnson, 53, of 13th Avenue, Mount Vernon, and Damon Smith, 49, of East 4th Street, Mount Vernon, were each charged with four felonies: first-degree larceny; organized retail theft of $10,000 or more; conspiracy to commit organized retail theft; and conspiracy to commit larceny, police said. Police said a third suspect in a blue Honda Civic with Connecticut plates got away. In the June 25 incident, police said a woman attempting to steal purses from a Mason Street store was interrupted by several bystanders and ran out of the store, police said. A dark-colored SUV struck her and a bystander, the driver displayed a gun and then the car took off with the woman and the driver, police said. The theft of high-end handbags and other consumer goods has been an ongoing trend at stores around the country, facilitated by resale on internet sites. A number of banks in the downtown district have also been targeted by financial scammers using faked and stolen documents to steal money from the bank accounts of unsuspecting bank customers in recent months. Anyone with information on the incidents is asked to call 203-622-8004, or contact Greenwichs confidential tip line at 203-622-3333 or tips@greenwichct.org. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW ORLEANS (AP) Judges temporarily blocked abortion bans Monday in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law sharply restricting the procedure would take effect there immediately as the battle over whether women may end pregnancies shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation. One side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect, and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. Much of Monday's court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last week's ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old anti-abortion laws that were left on the books in some states and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Well be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said Friday. Rulings to put trigger laws on hold came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana. A Utah judge blocked that state's near-total abortion ban from going into effect for 14 days, to allow time for the court to hear challenges to the state's trigger law. Planned Parenthood had challenged the law, which contains narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the mother's health, saying the law violates the equal protection and privacy provisions in the state constitution. I think the immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions, Utah Judge Andrew Stone said. In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of that state's trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the state's three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures on Tuesday. Were going to do what we can, said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. It could all come to a screeching halt. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judge's ruling and enforce the law. We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, Landry tweeted Monday. In South Carolina, a federal court lifted its prior hold on an abortion restriction there, allowing the state to ban abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. There are exceptions if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood said after the ruling that it will continue to perform abortions at its South Carolina clinics within the parameters of the new law. Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions to save a mother's life or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. A ruling on that is expected Thursday a day before the law is scheduled to take effect. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges," said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. That's likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court dont deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law. They also argue that state law is unclear on whether it bans an abortion prior to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. And while the law provides an exception for medically futile pregnancies in cases of fetuses with lethal abnormalities, the plaintiffs noted the law gives no definition of the term. Now that the high court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights groups are seeking protection under state constitutions. Challenges to trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the wave of suits from abortion rights advocates is not surprising. We know that the abortion industry has basically unlimited funds, and its allies have basically unlimited funds, and of course theyre fanatical about abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Bopp said in an interview. But he said that that the Supreme Court ruling should preclude abortion rights supporters from prevailing in any federal challenges. And he called efforts based on state constitutions fanciful. Still other cases could be filed as states try to sort out whether abortion bans in place before Roe was decided sometimes referred to as zombie laws apply now that there is no federal protection for abortion. For instance, Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe it is enforceable. Abortion opponents have called on lawmakers to impose a new ban. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it immediately suspended all abortions. In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last week's Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the states constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have adopted laws that allow people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. It is an open question as to whether that means people can be pursued across state lines, and legal challenges over the issue are likely to come up in cases of both surgical abortions and those involving medicine mailed to patients. The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to shield abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments imposed by other states. In liberal Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits state agencies from assisting other states investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he would sign a similar order. ___ Forliti reported from Minneapolis and Mulvihill from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Samuel Metz in Salt Lake City; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and other AP reporters throughout the U.S. contributed to this report. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion. OnePlus Nord 2T is selling in Continental Europe and the United Kingdom but the phone was missing from another major market until now - India. This injustice is finally going to be fixed, as the company confirmed the Nord 2T will arrive in the Pacific-Asian country as well. OnePlus set up a landing page on its own website and at Amazon in preparation for the arrival that is coming soon. The Nord 2T will arrive in its full power - 80W fast-charging, 50 MP camera with Sony IMX766 sensor, OxygenOS 12.1 out of the box. It is also the first phone on the market with Dimensity 1300 chipset and OnePlus sells it for 399/369. There is no launch date announced, nor is the price known, but rumors suggested June 27. Now we learn this is the beginning of the campaign and not the actual announcement day. We also do not know the price - some rumors pointed to INR28,999, which would be over 10% cheaper than the European cost. Source 1 Source 2 Starbucks Korea will offer limited edition cases for the Galaxy S22 series and Galaxy Buds2 Starbucks in South Korea has partnered with Samsung to release some unique cases for the Galaxy S22 series and the Galaxy Buds2. These will be available through the Starbucks app as well as Starbucks Naver store starting tomorrow (June 28) at 15:00 local time. The cases for the Galaxy S22 Ultra are based on Silicone cover with Strap design. For example, the strap on has been turned into a Starbucks receipt. The case for the Galaxy S22 drops the strap in favor of a large logo, the S22+ case wears a Count the stars in your Galaxy tagline. Two Starbucks-branded cases for the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra Starbucks cases for the Samsung Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S22+ As for the headset cases, one is a pretty normal protective case, except for the Starbucks green color and logo. The other is more playful and turns the charging case into a cup of Starbucks coffee. Note that these are compatible with the Galaxy Buds2, Galaxy Buds Live and Galaxy Buds Pro (their charging cases are the same on the outside). Starbucks cases for the Galaxy Buds2, Buds Live and Buds Pro All of the cases have been made out of eco-friendly materials. Note that these are available in limited quantities. Its not clear if other regional Starbucks branches will offer similar cases. Source (in Korean) | Via Its Pride Month, a time to commemorate the groundbreaking Stonewall Riots and the struggle for civil rights, to support LGBTQ organizations and to celebrate the beautiful and vast array of queer identities. Those identities go beyond sexual orientation the T in LGBTQ stands for transgender and the Q for queer. Sometimes the acronym extends into LGBTQI+, acknowledging those who are intersex, while the plus sign reminds us of the expanse of other various identities beyond heterosexuality and cisgender. Increasingly, people are coming out as gender-fluid, nonbinary or gender-nonconforming and are asking to be referred to using gender neutral pronouns such as they and them. Changes are occurring on the national level that reflect this. In March, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission announced it would add the gender marker X for nonbinary individuals seeking to file a charge of discrimination. The U.S. Social Security Administration will allow individuals to self select their gender on their records beginning this fall, though an X option is still in the works. In my limited experiences on Guam, people have been respectful and have quickly adopted the pronouns of the people around them, but Ive certainly heard stories of resistance, confusion and, in the worst cases, cruelty. According to the Center for Disease Control, young people in the LGBTQ community are at an increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, and research shows that they experience better health outcomes when parents support their sexual orientation in positive and affirming ways. If youve found yourself curious but with no one to ask, read on. Its never too late to gain a deeper understanding of yourself or the people around you so that we can all live our lives as fully and compassionately as possible. Sarah SJ Garcia, 28, of Tamuning, who uses she/they pronouns, and Pyriel Ross Jao, 20, of Mangilao, who uses she/he/they pronouns, generously provided insights about their personal experiences as gender-fluid individuals. Garcia and Jao are also bisexual and pansexual, respectively. Their words offer a small glimpse into the wide kaleidoscope of queer and gender-nonconforming experiences globally and on Guam. These interviews were conducted separately. Responses have been edited and condensed for clarity. What is gender-fluidity for you? Jao: Gender-fluidity is a form of expression of the identity where I dont consider myself to be masculine or feminine just pretty much all of them combined. And for me, theres no percentage of it. And it changes, but its ultimately up to me. And I really like how its just up to me, and nobody else. Garcia: There are days where I dress more masculine or act a little bit more masculine, and there are days where I dress feminine and act more feminine. With nonbinary, its like they dont really conform to any type of identity, and I think most of the time they prefer the pronouns they/them. For me, as a gender fluid, I just feel like its whatever (pronouns) you want to use for me like she, him, they whatever people feel like. If they see me like, Hey, hes over there, thinking that Im a guy from behind, I wont feel any kind of negative feelings. How does it feel when people refer to you using your pronouns? Garcia: It feels OK. It feels like (they and them) matches me the same way that I use she and her pronouns. Jao: Its very nice. For me, Im not too strict about it. I just put it out there because that way Im transparent that I use any of the pronouns he, she, they but ultimately, I dont mind when people do say them, and even alternate them. So from saying Hey, this my friend Ross. Hes a really cool person and Im so glad that I have her in my life. Alternating with those pronouns in conversation really makes me feel seen. If they do include he/they to me, thats a plus, because they recognize who I am. And because they know that Im gender-fluid, they also are putting in the work, theyre putting the effort. Its just a little recognition and heartwarming. What do you love about being gender-fluid? Garcia: My favorite part is the feeling when on a day where I feel like OK, Im gonna dress feminine today. And I put a nice outfit together. And theres like this certain personality switch in me that I feel whenever I wear the right outfit for the right day of what Im feeling. Jao: Its art to me. I am my own canvas. I am my own museum. I am my own painting. Does Guam feel like a welcoming place for LGBTQ individuals? How is it different from the continental United States? Garcia: I feel like Guam has this welcoming vibe to the LGBTQ+ community. I dont see much hate versus in different places, although theres still some questions surrounding the community. But its not in a form of disgust, its more of curiosity. Jao: Here on Guam its more conservative, more conformant because of religious beliefs, cultural backgrounds. Being in the states, its more visually presented, its more out there. There are people in actual locations where people in the LGBT community can just vibe and get to know one another, like gay bars or hosting social events, or even having large amounts of pride events. What have reactions been to your gender-fluidity among your friends and family? Garcia: My friend group do talk about, like, What does it mean to be part of the LGBT community? ... Theres a few friends of mine that identify as gender-fluid or nonbinary. I think there was one experience with a family member where it kind of gave me a negative feeling. They just told me Why are you dressed that way? Youre not that. Why are you perceiving yourself as as butch or lesbian when you are a straight girl? After that experience, Ive never kind of talked to them, like my family and my older family members. I dont know if I have the energy to explain to them that I identify as this. Jao: For me, coming out to my friends, they were supportive. Some of them kind of thought that they knew already. And others were happy and grateful that I shared that information. My mom and my dad are super supportive of me. But I think when I came out to them it wasnt a big deal to them. ... They kind of dont care as long as its making me happy, but they havent put in the effort to really dive deep into understanding. Do you notice a generational divide when it comes to acceptance? Jao: I think, personally, that Gen Z, theyre more progressive in terms of the LGBT community. They are more expressive of their pronouns and what they identify as. Specifically on Guam, its tricky, because Guam is a religious island. And while there is inclusion, theres also older generations who dont understand and they have their own moral beliefs. What do you wish more people knew? Jao: Gender-fluidity is still a valid form of identity. And its not hurting anybody. I think people think that being gender-fluid is that youre kind of being an alien in society. That, Oh, why cant you just choose one? Why cant you just choose to be just male or female? Why do you have to keep switching it up? But I think what I would like for people to know is that its none of their business. At the same time, try to understand that this is my life, not yours. Garcia: That you dont have to identify as gender-fluid. I think people always think that if you want to experiment with clothing youre now defined in a certain box. But I feel like people should just be able to experiment with clothing. Theres no gender for it. So I think just experiment with clothing, feel comfortable in the clothing that you wear. Students from multicultural backgrounds attend a foreign language and culture class at an elementary school in Seoul, in this 2012 file photo. Korea Times file By Lee Hyo-jin Bilingualism is widely considered a strength of children from multicultural backgrounds, but children from these families living in Korea are becoming less enthusiastic about learning their foreign parent's mother tongue, according to government data, Monday. The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family shared the results of a 2021 survey of over 15,000 multicultural households across the country. The triennial survey was conducted through face-to-face interviews with multinational married couples and their children aged between nine and 24 on their economic activities, family life, childcare situation and education. Only 27.3 percent of the children responded that they are willing to become fluent in the mother language of their non-Korean parent, a sharp decline from 42.4 percent in 2018. The survey also found that only 19 percent of the children were being encouraged to speak in the language of their immigrant parent at home, down 6.4 percentage points from 2018. Only 15 percent of the children surveyed replied that they are currently learning their foreign parent's language. The ministry explained that the improved Korean language skills of the children's immigrant parents, which may enable them to communicate with their children in Korean, could be a reason why the children find it less necessary to learn the foreign language. But Cha Yun-kyung, the board chairman of the Migrant Youth Foundation, viewed that foreign parents might be less willing to pass on their native language that is rarely spoken in Korea. "Proficiency in Southeast Asian or Central Asian languages is rarely considered an advantage when applying for college or planning a career in Korea. Knowing this, many immigrant parents want their children to spend more time acquiring English skills, rather than their native language," he said. "But the benefits of naturally acquiring a second language in the early stages of childhood should not be overlooked." Cha also said that the government should increase its efforts to support children from multicultural backgrounds who are frequently deprived of opportunities to access higher education. The survey showed that only 40.5 percent of students from multicultural families had entered university in 2021 much lower than the 71.5 percent of the total student population doing so. "There may be various reasons why they choose not to enter college, but financial difficulties are a major obstacle," Cha said. "Many parents in multicultural households can't afford to send their children to college due to expensive tuition fees. Also, the worsening unemployment rates among those who graduate from university could be another reason why they don't see attending college as necessary." Regarding which government policies are needed to encourage children with multicultural backgrounds to go on to higher education, Cha replied, "Realistically speaking, it might be difficult to create admissions quotas for children from multicultural backgrounds because some might make claims of reverse discrimination. Instead, the government could consider offering incentives to universities that accept more students from multicultural, low-income households." Meanwhile, the ministry said the diversifying needs of multicultural families found through the survey will be reflected in the 2023-2028 Basic Plan for Multicultural Families to be implemented throughout the next five years. "We will review our policies, which are currently being carried out to foster the bilingual skills of multicultural children and seek other ways to encourage them to obtain their parent's native languages at home naturally," Kim Sook-ja, head of the Youth and Family Policy Bureau, said during a briefing. A prosecuting attorney alleged Frank Ko San Nicolas, a suruhanu standing trial on charges of criminal sexual conduct, raped a woman inside a cave near Tanguisson Beach after she received spiritual healing. A little more than two years later, a 24-year-old woman accused San Nicolas of sexual assault. Details of her complaint were made public on the first day of his trial Monday. In her opening statement, Assistant Attorney General Richelle Canto said the 24-year-old woman, who is not from Guam, had gone to Tanguisson Beach May 16, 2020, after feeling cooped up in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. The woman was met by San Nicolas, the father of a friend. Canto said he took the woman to a cave to connect with the ancestors. But that is the cave where he raped her, Canto said to the jury. Youll hear they went into the cave, they meditated, he gave her a massage, he told her to remove her clothes because he was going to put sacred medicine on her. San Nicolas then sexually assaulted the woman, who didnt believe anything sexual was going to happen, Canto said. He fooled her, made her believe nothing sexual was going to happen, and that, ladies and gentleman, is the key there was no consent, added Canto. Defense San Nicolas attorney, Joaquin Jay Arriola Jr., said the jury will return a not guilty verdict because the woman never said no. The evidence will show she never said no, Arriola said. She takes off her clothes herself and (he) massages her. Yes, he touches her and consensually touches her. She does not say, No, stop, get off, do not rape me. Arriola stated two witnesses who will be called by the government to testify also accused San Nicolas of sexual assault. However, Arriola told the jury, those witnesses only came forward after San Nicolas was acquitted of similar charges in a December 2021 trial. These two other women came forward as a result of social media posts and everyone saying Me too, me too, Arriola said. Arriola ended his opening statements by saying there was implied consent between San Nicolas and the woman. San Nicolas faces charges of third-degree criminal sexual conduct as a second-degree felony and two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. Following several reports from people that they were in the dark about the status of complaints filed with the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, Speaker Therese Terlaje has proposed mandating the board to promptly update complainants on the status of their cases. During a Guam Board of Medical Examiners oversight hearing in February, several residents expressed frustration with the boards handling of their cases, which included allegations of negligence and sexual misconduct against local doctors. In one case, a woman was informed the board lost her complaint. Terlajes Bill 309 would require the board to promptly inform complainants of actions, decisions and final disposition of their cases, either by phone, mail or email. Lacking updates During previous oversight hearings, a justifiable explanation for the delay or lack of updates to complainants regardless of the stage of case investigation was not provided, Terlaje said during a Wednesday public hearing. While only one member of the public appeared during the hearing, several wrote in support of the measure. David Lubofsky, a medical care advocate suing the board to have it establish investigative procedures, shared his own experience with the board in written testimony. He said he submitted the first of three complaints of physician negligence with the board following the death of his 5-year-old son, Asher Dean Lubofsky, in 2019. The first was against a doctor at the Guam Seventh-day Adventist Clinic. Despite numerous follow-ups with the board, he said he received few updates. Lubofsky said he eventually heard unofficially his complaint was dismissed but was left in the dark when he tried to call the board. He said he eventually learned about the boards findings when he read about it in the Pacific Daily News. Lubofsky said he was similarly uninformed about two subsequent complaints filed in 2020. Blocked We were blocked from information the whole time with them, blocked out of the process. We are talking about the death of a child, our son, he said. Lubofsky recommended the bill also cover the Guam Board of Allied Health Examiners and Guam Board of Nurse examiners, where patients await word on years-old complaints. My only concern is that the word promptly is vague, wrote Maria Espinoza, who suggested the Guam Board of Medical Examiners be required to inform a patient with a phone call 72 hours after a meeting and send an email within seven working days. Given my experience in meetings with boards, once a decision is made, there is no reason why to delay that most anticipated phone call, she stated. Dr. Annette David, who sits on the Guam Board of Medical Examiners, wasnt present at the hearing but provided written testimony. I believe it is good to keep complainants informed, David stated in her testimony. She said the board would need dedicated, full-time investigators who could fully pursue cases. Board members are volunteers with full-time jobs, she said. David said while she could give opinions on medical care matters, her testimony stated most of the cases I have had to handle have not been about inappropriate medical care, but about physician misconduct, sexual assault, and impairment issues which I do not have the expertise to address without legal assistance. She said the board needed more support. Board absent No board members were present at the hearing, despite an invitation. The speaker wanted to ask whether it had improved communication with complainants since the February oversight hearing. Terlaje said Phil Flores, the boards vice chairman, informed her that testimony in support of Bill 309 would be provided and that the board had acknowledged a need for better communication with complainants. Sen. Joanne Brown suggested board members be subpoenaed to appear if they didnt provide a timely response. She said an official method for reporting that a complainant had been contacted about their case should be implemented, given the gravity of some of the complaints. You end up having a situation, madam speaker, where the victim or the victims now are further victimized because now they have to be the ones to advocate over and over and over again to find out if any proper action has been taken place, she said. Abortion opponents on Guam praised the Supreme Court for overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade ruling, but others, including the governor, spoke out against the courts ruling. Like many states, Guam already has a law on the books banning abortion. In 1990, Gov. Joseph F. Ada signed Public Law 20-134, which was unanimously passed by members of the 20th Guam Legislature. The measure criminalizes abortion in all cases except when the life of a mother is endangered. The law was struck down after a six-year legal battle, but the new ruling allows states and territories to ban abortions. In testimony before the Legislature in May, Assistant Attorney General James Canto told lawmakers that if Roe v. Wade were overturned, almost all forms of abortion would be rendered illegal on Guam. Clinics in at least eight states Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, Wisconsin and West Virginia stopped performing abortions after Fridays decision, according to The Associated Press. Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero issued a statement Saturday criticizing the ruling, while the Republican gubernatorial team of Felix Camacho and Tony Ada applauded the decision. Womens rights Leon Guerrero said the Supreme Court has set back womens rights by 50 years and demoted women to second-class citizenship with their decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. She said younger generations dont remember a time before women had access to abortions. I will never forget my experience as a 22-year-old nursing student doing my senior year clinical rotations in a southern California hospital when I tended to a young woman who almost bled to death because of a botched back alley abortion, she said. If a woman cannot control what happens within her own body, then she is not an equal citizen under our U.S. Constitution or Guams Organic Act. Victory for life The Camacho Ada 2022 Campaign said the ruling was a victory for life. Our community must always be committed to defending the unborn and continue to support and endorse measures that protect babies in the womb. Todays ruling puts this decision in our hands. Not in hands of the federal government, according to the statement. On Guam, the Archdiocese of Agana has been active and vocal in the fight against abortion. It issued a statement Saturday saying the battle will continue, because individual states and jurisdictions will decide whether restrict or allow abortion. On Guam, we pray that prior legislation restricting abortion on island now regains its legal foothold or that new, proposed legislation such as the Guam Heartbeat Act of 2022 becomes law, according to the statement. Reaction After following the news of the decision all morning, Yeashin Huang, 38 from Maite, said the ruling came as a surprise. Im actually pretty shocked. Im still shocked, she said. Huang said she supports a womans right to choose what happens to her body. Others residents were happy about the decision. Its for the protection of unborn fetuses and Im glad the Supreme Court made their decision, and I think this should be local law too, said Maria Quinata, 68, from Santa Rita. She said she supports adoption in the community and is looking into becoming a foster parent. The Guam law states every person who provides, supplies, or administers to any woman, or procures any woman to take any medicine, drug, or substance, or uses or employs any instrument or other means whatever, with intent thereby to cause an abortion is guilty of a third-degree felony. At the time the law was touted as one of the most restrictive in the country, prohibiting people from advising women on where to get an abortion. Not a solution Although the island has not had a surgical abortion provider since 2018, the Bureau of Womens Affairs had been working to recruit one. On Saturday, Director Jayne Flores said criminalizing abortions wont solve the problem of unwanted pregnancies. As history has shown us, abortion cannot be prevented by passing laws that criminalize it. Women will find ways to terminate pregnancy even at great cost to their health and safety, as they have for thousands of years, Flores said. The way Guam can eliminate the need for abortion is to reduce instances of unintended pregnancy. She recommends that lawmakers introduce legislation that supports: The gubernatorial incumbent ticket of Lou Leon Guerrero and Josh Tenorio made their bid for reelection official Monday. The governor and lieutenant governor were met by the fanfare of a crowd of supporters at the Guam Election Commission office in Tamuning to file their official documents. We are a very value-centric island that deserves a leadership that is responsible and thats ethical, Leon Guerrero stated during the filing event, before urging voters to read up on this years slate of election candidates. We can build on our solid financial foundation that eliminated the deficit, cut taxes for 85% of small businesses, and ended three federal receiverships or we can surrender our finances to the reckless and irresponsible those who would say or do anything to avoid hard truths just to win an election, Leon Guerrero said in a press release issued by the campaign. The team, which took office in January 2019, has faced numerous challenges since the virus that caused COVID-19 to reach Guam in March 2020, including the complete shutdown of tourism the islands most vital economic industry. Governor Lou and I are addressing the rising cost of power, putting cash in your pockets, and paying for the cost of childcare and trash pickup. We put more law enforcement officers on the street. We are beautifying our island, paving roads, and building recreational centers, said Lt. Governor Josh Tenorio in the campaign press release. The incumbent team will face off in the August primary election against the democrat team of Del. Mike San Nicolas, who last week filed his documents with the GEC in his bid for governor with lieutenant governor running mate Sabrina Salas-Matanane, a former local broadcast journalist. The completion of a major road resurfacing project in Tamuning was celebrated Tuesday, with a ribbon-cutting marking the improvements on Marine Corps Drive. The 1.58-mile stretch of Route 1 from Gov. Carlos Camacho Road to Chalan Pasaheru, the airport road, is the first of several projects scheduled to be completed this year. It took this administration a couple of years of the design and everything, but its done and now. When you drive over it, even if your wife is putting on makeup, shes going to get it right, said the Department of Public Works Director Vincent Arriola. Arriola said the project had almost no complaints from the community regarding traffic control, construction time, and even the delays. The $7.2 million resurfacing project included the restoration of existing, failed asphalt and wearing surfaces along Route 1 in the village of Tamuning. The stretch of road carries more than 33,000 vehicles a day, according to the Department of Public Works. Work on the project included milling and overlaying, full and partial depth repairs, replacement of utility manholes, repair of drainage inlets, and replacement of old sign panels and new striping. Although there was a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero commended those who continued to work on the project. We were suffering from a big crisis, and yet we continued on with progress because we knew how important this is to our people, said Leon Guerrero. Its actually also quite interesting that this major artery has been forgotten for 25 years, and it took a Democratic administration thats very tolerant, very persistent, and very committed to making sure we provide safe roadways to our people. It really is about safety, commerce, and the economy. Leon Guerrero also said this project will be the first of many more construction projects in store to help better the islands roads. The Department of Public Works has started a number of road improvement projects in recent months. Although Arriola said he didnt hear complaints about the project, Tamuning Vice Mayor, Albert Toves said he encountered some during the construction. You get some who are in a hurry to get from point A to point B, but the majority of the people were very understanding that its for their benefit, and they have Marine Drive taken care of, he said. After waiting nearly three years for an investigation of Del. Mike San Nicolas, Guam voters can view the substantial evidence of potential criminal violations by the delegate in detail through the House Committee on Ethics report released this weekend. Neither the delegate nor his gubernatorial campaign team have provided any statement on the committees report, or the referral of allegations against him to federal prosecutors. San Nicolas said he would make a statement at 11 a.m. Tuesday. After reviewing more than 5,000 pages of material and interviewing 11 witnesses, the panel charged with investigating San Nicolas found he may have violated several campaign finance laws, federal conspiracy law, and laws against witness tampering and obstruction of Congress. At the center of the findings is an alleged illicit $9,000 cash contribution San Nicolas accepted during the 2018 election cycle. Delay tactics The report stated San Nicolas engaged in delay tactics throughout the course of the investigation and rather than fully cooperate with the (investigative subcommittee) investigation, he has repeatedly sought to evade and obstruct review of his conduct. Emails attached to the report show investigators advised San Nicolas as early as Dec. 4, 2019, of the consequences of not cooperating. While the delegate provided documentation early in the investigation, the report stated he didnt voluntarily address the allegations and failed to appear at a deposition after he was subpoenaed in 2022. Lack of testimony prevented the committee from investigating other allegations, including a potential affair with a staffer, misuse of campaign funds for personal reasons, improper reporting of some $14,840.49 of disbursements by his campaign committee and attempts to inflate campaign vendor purchase orders. In short, Del. San Nicolas appears to have treated the House ethics process with the same indifference that he treated federal campaign finance laws, the report states. This, in part, was cause for the referral of the allegations to the Department of Justice as the statute of limitations for the potential criminal conduct at issue continues to tick away and may expire next year for some of the allegations, and in 2024 for others. Key witnesses Two of the key witnesses in the report are San Nicolas former campaign manager, John Paul Manuel, who first made the allegations against him in 2019, and an unnamed campaign donor. The San Nicolas campaign in late 2018 was strapped for cash after spending $40,000 to defeat then-Del. Madeleine Bordallo in the primary, the report stated. He had just $4,000 available going into the General Election. Around Aug. 30, 2018, Manuel and San Nicolas met for drinks with a campaign donor to discuss funding. The donor agreed to make a $10,000 contribution amid assurances that it wasnt in excess of congressional campaign limits. Del. San Nicolas requested that the campaign contribution be made in cash, the report stated and was well aware contributions were capped at $2,700 at that time and $100 for cash contributions. The amount was later reduced to $9,000 and given to Manuel in two installments in September and October of 2018. Manuel said he passed them to the delegate immediately after. The committee received evidence San Nicolas engaged in a scheme to hide the donation by attributing it to a Sept. 28, 2018, small-dollar fundraiser at a local bar where the names of donors didnt have to be recorded. That fundraiser raised $13,543, purportedly from the sales of $25 tickets. According to the report, over 500 tickets would have had to be sold for a bar that could barely hold 100 people. After the proceeds were deposited into the San Nicolas campaigns account, another deposit of $7,476 was made Oct. 29, 2018, however, there were no reported fundraisers in October to account for the cash. The donation was unreported for over two years, until San Nicolas refunded the money in September and October 2020. Deliver a message San Nicolas response to the ethics probe may also be a criminal violation. The ethics committee went public with its probe of San Nicolas in October of 2019. The following month, San Nicolas dispatched a congressional staffer who has a criminal record to deliver a message to the donor that the $9,000 donation never happened, the report stated. According to an interview with the donor, the staffer waited near the stairs at the donors office, followed the donor to his car and said, Im here to remind you that there was no cash transactions between you and the congressman. In December 2019, another attempt to influence the donor was made when another of San Nicolas staffers sent a letter to the donor. It contained a pre-written statement that the donor was asked to sign, which stated that San Nicolas had never received the cash contribution and that the donor never received guidance from Manuel. The donor didnt sign and instead had an attorney draft a response that stated that prior to making the cash contribution, he was informed by Del. San Nicolas campaign that the contribution was lawful and requested a refund of his $9,000 cash contribution upon now learning that the contribution was improper. Despite the serious allegations raised, Del. San Nicolas has never directly addressed the Dec. 4, 2019, letter to campaign donor, the report stated. National Police Agency Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong closes his eyes during a press briefing at the agency's headquarters in Seoul's Seodaemun District on Monday where he announced his resignation. Yonhap Police chief resigns to protest plan to establish supervisory bureau By Ko Dong-hwan The Ministry of the Interior and Safety announced Monday that it will set up a bureau to control the police, which are expected to surpass the prosecution in size and role once a set of prosecutorial reform measures go into effect. In protest, National Police Agency (NPA) Commissioner General Kim Chang-yong offered to resign, claiming that the bureau will harm the neutrality and independence of the police agency. The ministry's move has driven police officers nationwide to protest, saying it infringes on the country's Constitution that mandates the national police to remain politically neutral. The police fear that being managed by a central government body would tilt that balance in favor of the president, ignoring the need for independence from state or political influence, which the police have prided themselves on since they were detached from the interior ministry in 1991. But the government said the police have become too big. "The role of the police is related to the everyday lives of citizens as it is in charge of security, patrols, traffic, intelligence and investigations. Besides this, they virtually dominate the fields of crime investigation and intelligence, too," Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min said during a press conference on Monday. "For this reason, the general public is worried about the police that has outgrown its initial functions." Lee said launching the department doesn't require introducing additional laws at the National Assembly, but can be carried out based on an existing ordinance. Lee cited a clause in the Government Organization Act that states the NPA shall be under the interior minister's control to oversee the country's administration of public safety. Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min points to a TV screen during a press briefing at the ministry's headquarters at Government Complex in Seoul, Monday, to explain his ministry's immediate plan to control the national police by launching a new department. Yonhap The interior minister was critical of past governments which placed the national police agency directly under the control of the presidential office. He argued that instead, he should be able to control the police, which falls under his ministry. Hours before the minister's news conference, the police commissioner offered to resign. In a press briefing at the NPA's headquarters in Seoul's Seodaemun District, the commissioner said his resignation is "the best thing I can do at this point." He also apologized to the public and fellow police officers for not coming up with an alternate plan. Kim said the police succeeded in creating one of the safest countries in the world and have always prioritized neutrality and democracy to serve the public better. The interior ministry's move, however, will uproot those long-built foundations of the national police, according to the resigning police chief. "We, the police, have steadfastly advised the interior ministry to listen to diverse opinions and engage in in-depth discussions before finalizing that move," Kim said. "I hereby let go of my title, but I wish that policies concerning the national police are debated over and improved." Appointed as the 22nd chief of the NPA under the Moon Jae-in administration in 2020, Kim stepped down with only 26 days remaining until his tenure ends. Police officers, in front of the Government Complex in Seoul, Monday, demand the interior ministry repeal a plan to introduce a new department to control the national police. The poster's title reads, "The Declaration of Police Independence." Yonhap Haiti - Social : Feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, message of reflection by Lesly Conde This June 27, 2022 brings back the feast of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, patron saint of Haiti. In this circumstance, the Former Consul General of Haiti in Chicago Lesly Conde (August 26, 2004 - May 25, 2018) delivered his traditional message of reflection that we invite you to read and share. "Dear compatriots and friends everywhere, Like every year, our entire nation bows before Our Lady of Perpetual Help to ask her to protect us and guide us in this world where individualism tends to become a norm that threatens the existence of the less powerful. This year, I especially invite you to thank the Patron Saint of Haiti for the many graces she granted us despite our setbacks and especially despite our iniquities. We live, in fact, in a world where cooperation between humans only exists in the greatest mistrust because the interests of some do not always necessarily coincide with those of others. The protection of Our Lady of Perpetual Help is essential to us in this pseudo-civilized world where man is a wolf to man. Our frail Nation has always needed a lot of abnegation, temperance, and above all an extraordinary resilience to cling to its existence in this ocean infested with ill-intentioned sharks. Isolated as it is, if Haiti has learned to subsist on the edge of the abyss, it must be believed that Our Lady of Perpetual Help has never abandoned us. Let's therefore be grateful, and keep our fervor and our faith. We are not alone in this fight. Since its birth, which dates back to the first day of January 1804, our country has never ceased to face obstacles of all kinds; some more obvious than others. In this world that has never hidden its hostility and contempt, we cannot know how many times Our Lady of Perpetual Help has intervened to protect this first black republic in the world. Our deplorable economic situation and our often ill-chosen leaders make this country of twelve million inhabitants a favorite target for all adversities. In our isolation, we have experienced epidemic after epidemic. Some left their mark, but we survived. We must give thanks to Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Where would our dear Haiti be without the invariable protection of this powerful patron saint. When we talk about all the dangers that threaten the world in which we live, and which make it more and more unstable, we must, at one time or another, mention Covid-19, this ruthless pandemic which still makes people talk. from her. There were so many bleak predictions for Haiti, a country completely on its own. At the end of the day, we can say at the point where we are, that our country has done well. How not to thank Our Lady of Perpetual Help ? Her kindness is boundless. Our gratitude too. We always address ourselves with confidence to Our Lady of Perpetual Help because she is the Patroness of our country, and she has never abandoned us. Lesly Conde" Reflection messages from Lesly Conde in 2022 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-37002-haiti-social-message-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-father-s-day-2022.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36788-haiti-social-message-by-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-mother-s-day-2022.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36691-haiti-219th-flag-day-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36443-haiti-eastermessage-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36423-haiti-holy-weekmessage-of-reflection-by-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36365-haiti-219th-of-the-death-of-toussaint-louverturemessage-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-36129-haiti-social-international-women-s-day-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35862-haiti-social-black-history-month-message-of-reflection-by-lesly-conde.html https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-35702-icihaiti-earthquake-2010-message-of-reflection-from-lesly-conde.html https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35620-haiti-218th-anniversary-of-independence-traditional-message-from-lesly-conde.html All Messages from Lesly Conde in 2021 : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-35584-haiti-social-wishes-from-lesly-conde-on-the-occasion-of-the-new-year.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Fake cops kidnap Bacha Market owners On Sunday, June 26, unidentified armed individuals, dressed in Haitian National Police (PNH) uniforms, kidnapped two of the owners of Bacha Market, a business located in Nazon. Arrest of a criminal Sunday, June 26, 2022, agents of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) arrested Guivard Domond in Carrefour, accused of having shot and killed Jean Marson Romelus in Jacmel for picking mangoes on land belonging to him. The street calls for "Titide" for the next government... Sunday a march of several thousand people under strong police escort, part of the crossroads demanded in their slogans that Jean Bertrand Aristide alias "Titide" leads the next transitional government. Brandishing signs and photos of the former President, the march ended without major incident in front of the residence of the former President. Prison of Jeremie : 19 detainees tried, out of 474 474 people are detained in the civil prison of Jeremie. Among them, only 19 have been tried and sentenced, the 455 are in prolonged preventive detention and have never been tried. A situation that overwhelms the officials of the detention center, because they are unable to feed them properly. Pre-paid solar energy With the support of the National Energy Sector Regulatory Authority (ANARSE) and the Energy Unit of the Ministry of Public Works, "Alina Eneji", a private operator, is installing solar home systems using prepaid model (PAYGO technology) in the 3rd communal section of Marchand Dessalines (Artibonite). 54 years of the late President J. Moise Sunday 26 huin 2022, the former First Lady Martine Moise declared "Jo my darling, today you are 54 years old. I refuse to talk about you in the past because for me, your children and every Haitian, you remain forever immortal in our hearts. We promise you never to give up the fight until we get justice for you." HL/ HaitiLibre Police divers search for Cho Yu-na, a 10-year-old, and her parents near a dock on the southwestern island of Wando, June 26. Yonhap A massive police search is ongoing for a family of three missing on a remote island on the southwestern coast, after a female elementary student and her parents disappeared mysteriously from a guesthouse there about a month ago. Police said Monday the search for 10-year-old Cho Yu-na and her parents in their 30s, who reside in the southwestern metropolitan city of Gwangju, entered its sixth day on Wando, a quiet island about 120 kilometers south of their home. Cho has been absent from her Gwangju school since May 19 after reporting that she would take part in an out-of-school experiential learning program on Jeju Island together with her parents until June 15. In Korea, students applying for out-of-school experiential learning are recognized as attending school. But Cho did not return to school after the field trip ended June 16. The school then filed a missing persons report with police June 22 after repeatedly being unable to contact the family on their cell phones. Police have issued a missing persons alert for the family on Wando, an island connected to the mainland by two bridges, where the family was last seen on a guesthouse surveillance camera May 30 but have not received any reliable tip-offs on their whereabouts. According to police investigators, the Cho family began to stay in the guesthouse near a famous beach in Wando's Sinji district, May 24. The accommodation has a swimming pool, but the family reportedly spent most of the day in the room. Their last movements were witnessed around 11 p.m. May 30, when the mother was captured on CCTV carrying a child presumed to be Cho on her back, while the father was looking on. The cellphones of Cho and her mother were switched off two hours later near the guesthouse, while the father's cellphone was also switched off around 4 a.m. the following morning on an adjacent dock, police said. Despite a huge search operation and the disclosure of Cho's photo and the family's car model and license plate number, the police have not been able to find any clues to the family's whereabouts. Police said the family did not participate in any out-of-school learning activity on Wando and did not visit Jeju Island, the destination reported to Cho's school. Police said they are leaving all possibilities open, including a car crash. It has been known that Cho's parents are currently out of work after closing their computer-related business last month. (Yonhap) THE number of potholes in Henley is declining, says a councillor. Stefan Gawrysiak said more than 4,000 craters and minor defects had been repaired over the last five years. But he said there were still a small number of roads that needed attention. Councillor Gawrysiak, who has represents the town on Oxfordshire County Council, the highways authority, since 2017, was speaking at a meeting of the town council after being accused by Councillor Will Hamilton of not doing enough on road repairs. He said he had secured a record total of almost 1.5 million to carry out the work, including 109 pothole repairs in 2019, 305 in 2020, 253 in 2021 and 59 so far this year. Actually, the number of potholes is declining, said Cllr Gawrysiak. Potholes will happen. It is the nature of roads and winter etc. The only way of getting rid of potholes is to actually re-tarmac every street. He said work was still needed on part of Reading Road and Greys Hill and that resurfacing was due to begin in New Street on July 5 at a cost 400,000. Cllr Gawrysiak said: There will be no road closures, except in the third weekwhere there will be night-time closures when they grind out the raod and retarmac it. All those details will be going to the businesses and residents of New Street and Thames Side. He also accused Cllr Hamilton of posting spurious comments on social media about the emergency closure of Duke Street for several days last week due to a gas leak. He said neither he nor Henley Residents Group was responsible for gas leaks. Gas leaks are the responsibility of the gas company and they have a safety consideration and thats why Duke Street was closed, said Cllr Gawrysiak. I will continue to work hard and I dont mind being held to account because Ive got a pretty good record and HRG has a really good record and we will carry on doing good things. Cllr Hamilton, who was not at the meeting, told the Henley Standard: The streets of Henley are the worst they have been over the last five years. [Cllr Gawrysiak] can say there has been more investment but they are still in a shocking state. What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters @henleystandard.co.uk A COUNCILLOR has refused to apologise for criticising Henley Town Council for continuing to buy gas from a Russian-affiliated energy company. Will Hamilton raised the issue at a meeting in April and said town clerk Sheridan Jacklin-Edward should have found an alternative supplier. The council pays a fixed amount of about 6,000 per year to Gazprom Energy, the UK arm of the Russian state-owned company, to supply council-owned buildings such as the town hall, Kings Arms Barn and the Old Fire Station Gallery. Councillor Hamilton said: I understand that the town clerk has to provide value for money but he should have moved us away from Gazprom once the war started. The reality is that we should do what is right and it shouldnt be about money. We should move the supplier to good people instead of bad people. Mr Jacklin-Edward said he wanted to end the contract as soon as possible but feared it would incur a penalty. The contract is scheduled to run until December 31, 2023. Cllr Hamilton came under fire himself from members of the ruling Henley Residents Group at a council meeting on Tuesday last week, which he didnt attend. Councillor Ken Arlett said: This is the problem when you tell someone you are going to ask them a question and if I hadnt told him Im sure he would have been here. Councillor Ian Reissmann called on him to withdraw his comments, saying they were inappropriate and unfair. He said the council was continuing to try to cancel the contract and find an alternative supplier. Cllr Hamilton told the Henley Standard he had been unable to attend the meeting due to a work engagement and he had not known that he was going to be asked a question. He added: [Cllr Reissmann] can think what he likes about my comments but if the officers have not done something correctly, they need to be questioned. That is how life is. Criticism was due and I felt strongly about it so I raised the point at the committee meeting, which is what it is for. I will not be apologising. Although Gazprom does not sell gas from its Russian parent company, many businesses across the UK have chosen to exit their contracts with the supplier due to its close connection with the Russian state. Henley MP John Howell called the council disgusting for buying gas from the company, saying it was a kick in the teeth for local residents taking in Ukrainian refugees. Mr Jacklin-Edward said the question of cancelling the contract was asked of the councils broker as soon as the war began. He was keen to terminate the contract but it was important to avoid gesture politics. Mr Jacklin-Edward said: Henley Town Council has publicly denounced the invasion of Ukraine and we actively support and contribute towards the humanitarian efforts in aid of the people of Ukraine. As with other UK gas suppliers, Gazprom Energy sources its gas from the wholesale market, including the North Sea and Qatar, rather than directly from the Russian gas producer Gazprom PJSC. We note that Gazprom Energy, which is part of Gazprom Germania, is no longer under Russian control. However, we still remain very concerned about where the companys profits go. For that reason, we are keen to end our contact with Gazprom Energy as soon as possible. As it stands, terminating our contract would mean the council would be liable for damages and be in breach of procurement law. What do you think? Write to: Letters, Henley Standard, Caxton House, 1 Station Road, Henley or email letters @henleystandard.co.uk A FORMER mayor of Henley says he is concerned at the number of bakeries in the town. Ken Arlett spoke out at a meeting of the town councils planning committee, which was considering an application by bakery chain Ole & Steen to convert the former Superdrug store in Market Place. It comes after last months opening of Gails Bakery in the former H cafe unit, a few doors away. Delicatessen Pavilion, which opened in Market Place in December, also sells bread while bakery and patisserie Franco-Belge in Duke Street was refurbished earlier this year. Councillor Arlett said: I am really concerned about this application but there is obviously nothing we can do about it. We have just had a bakery move into the Market Place, we have got Franco Belge round the corner thats doing okay and now we have another proposed baker coming into the town. I cannot get my head round that. Im surprised they would come in with two competitors [it] makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. Councillor Tom Buckley responded: There is a difference in the products. If you look at Gails it is not the same product that you have in Franco Belge. Theres definitely space in the market. Ole & Steen, which specialises in Danish bakes, was started 30 years ago by brothers Ole Kristoffersen and Steen Skallebaek, who both had their own bakeries before joining forces. They have 17 outlets in London and one in Oxford. SEVENTEEN inmates were kept at HMP Huntercombe in Nuffield after their sentences had ended. A report by the prisons Independent Monitoring Board calls this unfair and highly discriminatory. The category C prison for foreign national men aims to deport the vast majority of prisoners to their country of origin. However, many have remained under convicted criminal conditions post-sentence, with the board blaming delays in the Home Office processing the required paperwork. Its annual report says: Foreign national prisoners beyond their conditional release date, and thus detained in custody after sentence expiry, are held under immigration powers. Despite having dropped from a total of 30 in January 2021 to 17 at the end of the reporting year, the number of prisoners remaining in custody beyond their conditional release date has remained a matter of great concern to the board and was raised for the attention of the minister in our report of 2020 and again this year. The report describes how prison staff had to deal with the ensuing frustrations of prisoners forced to remain beyond their release dates, with reports of some being held for six months beyond their release cate. Olga Senior, who chairs the monitoring board, said: The impact on these individuals and their families is significant, while there is also the issue of space being occupied that is needed. The board criticises the way the issue was dealt with by the Home Office and Ministry of Justice, saying it has not been well addressed by either. The Home Office is responsible for the issuing of paperwork to facilitate the removal of foreign nationals, while the MoJ is responsible for the maintenance and welfare of prisoners. The report says: Apparent shortage of staff at the Home Office, particularly in the extradited removal unit and case workers, generally means too many prisoners arrive at Huntercombe close to or, as in 168 cases during the year, already past their early release dates without the relevant paperwork. In the month of October 2021, 206 foreign national prisoners were held beyond their early release dates and of that figure approximately 50 per cent were anxious to be deported but were unable to go due to delays in case workers fully triaging them at the Home Office. The report also says the prison is a safe environment with prisoners treated fairly and humanely. It notes that the number of violent incidents has continued to decline for a fifth year running. Covid cases were dealt with well and kept to a bare minimum with the uptake of the national vaccination programme slowly increased throughout the year. But the virus took hold exponentially at the end of the year following the transfer into the prison of prisoners from several outbreak prisons. Huntercombe had more men available for outside work placements, with three working at the Nettlebed Creamery and one at the Orange Bakery in Watlington. In-cell telephony was installed at the prison, making it easier for prisoners to keep in touch with their families. The Ministry of Justice will file a constitutional petition Monday against a recently enacted law aimed at reducing and ultimately abolishing the prosecution's investigative powers, according to officials. Between late April and early May, the then ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) controlled National Assembly passed revisions to the Prosecutors' Office Act and the Criminal Procedure Act despite fierce protest from the then opposition People Power Party. The revisions, set to take effect in September, limit the prosecution's investigative powers to only two types of crime corruption and economic from the current six, before removing them completely. In the lawsuit, the justice ministry will dispute the constitutionality of the Assembly legislation with a focus on whether the DPK's railroading of the revisions infringed upon the rights of lawmakers of other parties, and whether the legislation excessively restricts the functions of the prosecution. Since taking office in mid-May, Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon has repeatedly slammed the legislation, saying it will serve to shield corrupt politicians from criminal punishment while hurting the interest of ordinary citizens. (Yonhap) A tropical night occurred in Seoul and other major cities across the country Sunday, marking the first such phenomenon for June, according to the state weather agency. The lowest temperature between Sunday night and Monday morning was 25.4 degrees Celsius in Seoul, the Korea Meteorological Administration (KMA) said. A tropical night refers to when the temperature remains above 25 degrees C between 6:01 p.m. and 9 a.m. With the morning low surpassing 25 C, Seoul logged a tropical night for the first time this year, and the first time for June, the KMA said. Overnight lows were 25.1 C in Suwon, just south of Seoul, and 25.3 C in the central city of Daejeon. (Yonhap) Be careful not to take anti-China stance President Yoon Suk-yeol will make his multilateral diplomatic debut when he attends a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, June 29 and 30. Yet he needs to take a pragmatic, but careful approach toward security cooperation with NATO as the summit offers both opportunities and challenges for Korea. National Security Office (NSO) Director Kim Sung-han said that Yoon's attendance at the summit will achieve three purposes. The first is to strengthen the "value-based solidarity" with the 30 NATO member nations to promote common values such as democracy and human rights. The second is to lay the groundwork for a "comprehensive security network" with the transatlantic alliance. The third is to find ways to better cope with emerging security threats, including cyber and aerospace threats as well as climate change. Korea plans to set up a mission to NATO in Brussels, Belgium. More importantly, Yoon is expected to call for NATO's help in dealing with North Korea's nuclear weapons program. It is necessary for Seoul to work more closely with the United States and other NATO members in prodding Pyongyang to move toward denuclearization, peace and stability. He will also discuss how to step up economic collaboration with the organization in such fields as nuclear energy, semiconductors and renewable energy. In addition, he plans to make a pitch for South Korea's bid to host the 2030 World Expo in Busan. There are high hopes that Yoon will expand the country's diplomatic horizons by actively engaging in multilateral diplomacy during the summit. He is scheduled to have a three-way summit with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The meeting, if held, will be the first of its kind in four years and nine months. However, a much-anticipated bilateral meeting between Yoon and Kishida will not be held due to the continuing conflicts over thorny historical issues such as wartime forced labor and sex slavery. This could have negative implications over Yoon's efforts to mend ties with Japan. We hope Yoon will produce successful results from the NATO summit to ensure our country's security and ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia. But we cannot be all optimistic because the summit will take place against the backdrop of a new Cold War between Western democracies and their rivals China and Russia. The NATO members are likely to adopt a new strategic concept to expand its role beyond the North Atlantic region to respond to threats from China in the Asia-Pacific. This concept is in keeping with Biden's efforts to expand the international coalition against Beijing. Last week, Beijing and Washington exchanged barbs over the NATO summit. China's foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin expressed Beijing's objection to four Asia-Pacific countries South Korea, Japan, Australia and New Zealand taking part in the summit as partner nations. He said the Asia-Pacific is beyond the geographical scope of the North Atlantic. In response, U.S. National Security Council coordinator John Kirby said that China does not have the authority to veto which international meetings Korea should attend, adding that the summit is not about creating an "Asian version of NATO." The Korean presidential office said Yoon's attendance at the summit has nothing to do with any anti-China policy, dismissing Beijing's objection. Seoul needs to do more to make sure that Yoon's diplomatic debut at the NATO gathering does not represent an anti-China stance. Now Yoon faces a daunting task of strengthening Korea's alliance with the U.S. and partnership with NATO without drawing a backlash from China amid the escalating superpower rivalry. By John Burton North Korea stands to benefit from the war in Ukraine. Why? Because Russia may be more willing to ignore international sanctions and provide Pyongyang with what it needs: oil, grain and fertilizer among other crucial products. With North Korea facing a possible famine amid a recent COVID-19 outbreak, this aid would be instrumental in rescuing the country from any chance of collapse. Moscow previously voted for and adhered to U.N. sanctions on North Korea because it wanted, in part, to attract investment from South Korea and promote economic cooperation. Russian President Vladimir Putin once believed that South Korea could play a crucial role in helping achieve his goal of revitalizing the Russian Far East and helping build up his country's technology sector. He also sought Seoul's assistance in engaging in joint development projects in North Korea, including improving its railroad network, electricity grids and oil and gas pipelines in a bid to stabilize the Korean Peninsula. But few of these projects ever materialized, and relations between Moscow and Seoul began cooling as South Korea drew closer to the U.S in confronting Russia and China. Any prospect of economic cooperation now looks dead as Seoul has agreed to support sanctions for Russia's invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow has called an "unfriendly" move. The election of Yoon Suk-yeol has only deepened the divide between Seoul and Moscow since the new conservative president has signaled a clear tilt toward the U.S. Russia is likely to justify breaking sanctions against North Korea by making an argument similar to what it has used to justify its attack on Ukraine. While Moscow claims that the invasion of Ukraine was a defensive move to stop the expansion of NATO, it can claim that North Korea's acquisition of nuclear weapons is a rational response to a perceived military threat from the U.S. Russia's attitude on North Korea may also have a bearing on China's support for Pyongyang. Beijing was previously willing to support international sanctions as part of an effort to promote North Korea's denuclearization. But China, along with Russia, has recently been backsliding on the sanctions issue. Both countries in May vetoed a U.S.-drafted U.N. Security Council resolution that proposed tightening sanctions after North Korea conducted a series of ballistic missile tests. Both Moscow and Beijing argue that easing sanctions is the best way to persuade Pyongyang to return to the negotiating table with Washington, while they blame the U.S. for deliberately raising tensions to enlist South Korea and Japan in a new Cold War in Northeast Asia. The deteriorating relations between the U.S. and what used to be known as the Sino-Soviet bloc would thus potentially benefit North Korea. Adding to the mix is North Korea's traditional policy of playing off China and Russia to get what it wants from both countries. Pyongyang has leaned toward Beijing in recent years, but a Russia that is becoming increasingly isolated internationally may now decide to increase aid to North Korea to restore its influence. Putin's historical viewpoint also could play a role in his policy toward North Korea. He has referenced the Soviet Union's victory in World War II, or the Great Patriotic War, in his conflict with Ukraine, saying he wants to "denazify" the country. Affiliated with this, Moscow also remembers that it helped establish the North Korean state in 1945 as it defeated Japan. This historical legacy continued with the military aid that the Soviet Union gave North Korea during the Korean War. Moreover, Putin wants to play a role in reshaping the future of Northeast Asia as he seeks to regain the regional influence that Moscow enjoyed in the Soviet period. Western sanctions are now forcing Russia to adopt the model of North Korea and Iran, international pariah states that nonetheless can survive for years. This will strengthen Moscow's identity of interests with Pyongyang. This could pave the way for the resumption of Russia-North Korea trade relations reminiscent of the Soviet period when Moscow provided subsidized supplies of goods to Pyongyang. The most obvious product that Russia could provide is oil, its number one export. Moscow is already selling crude oil at discounted prices to China and India as Western markets start to close. Russia could afford to supply oil to North Korea at near-bottom rates due to the steep rise of global oil prices that are compensating for reduced volume of exports. Grain and fertilizer could be supplied to North Korea on similar terms. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made a trip to Iran last week to signal support for the Tehran government while condemning the West's "aggressive policies." He also called for the need "to reconfigure their economic relations" to strengthen their resistance. Will Pyongyang be a future stop on Lavrov's itinerary? John Burton (johnburtonft@yahoo.com), a former Korea correspondent for the Financial Times, is a Washington, D.C.-based journalist and consultant. Startups around the world can dive into the ocean of broader resources, knowledge and business opportunities at Try Everything 2022, an annual conference hosted this September by the Seoul Metropolitan Government. Gettyimagesbank By Ko Dong-hwan The Seoul Metropolitan Government is hosting an annual conference for global startups this coming September, looking to make the city a global platform for startups that need a financial boost and good business advice. Try Everything 2022 will be held from Sept. 21 to 23 at Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) in Seoul. Corporations and investors as well as anyone interested can join the offline event. First held in 2019 under the title "Startup Seoul: Tech Rise," the event maintained international recognition in 2020 and 2021 despite the COVID-19 global pandemic by being hosted online and in person. Some 1,430 prospective global startups from 21 countries, including the United States, Canada, England and France, have participated in the event during the past two years. At the previous events, over 540 global startup experts and 150 investment firms shared information relevant to running businesses and ways to attract investments. American computer scientist and Alphabet Chairman John Hennessy, Scanline VHX founder Stephan Trojansky, The Futurist Institute Chairman Jason Schenker, former U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Alibaba co-founder Jack Ma and Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph are among those who delivered speeches at the previous events hosted by the city government. This year, the Startup Policy Division under the city government's Economic Policy Bureau will introduce some 70 programs where startup operators meet up with medium-sized and large companies, pitch for investor relations and learn startup trends through seminars by big names in global business. Try Everything 2022 will also provide platforms for vibrant meetups between startups and venture capitalists to maximize investment opportunities for ambitions firms. Startups in the most anticipated industrial fields, like information communication technologies and bio technologies, can apply for such meetups through . Bridged by the city government, participating startups can consult with venture capitalists and accelerators for business cooperation and network establishment. Outstanding firms among them can go deeper with investors in offline meetups during the event period. The city government said the previous two events featured some 3,511 meetups despite the COVID-19 pandemic, leading to investment deals worth over 57.5 billion won ($44.3 million). "Seoul, for the first time, has entered the world's top 10 best cities for startups this year," said Hwang Bo-yeon, chief of the city government's Economic Policy Bureau, referring to the outcome of a survey by American think-tank research firm Startup Genome which was released earlier this month. "That is an outcome of serious efforts to accommodate innovative startup environments where investors and entrepreneurs can share know-how and strategies." Hwang said he will try to make the city a global hub for creating unicorn companies by supporting promising startups displaying outstanding innovation and marketability. The city government expects this year's event will draw about 60,000 participants both online and in person. Last year, over 53,000 joined the event online. Tambourine, the Fort Lauderdale-headquartered digital marketing technology company serving hotels, resorts, and tourism destinations worldwide, is excited to welcome Catherine Parrinello as Chief Operating Officer. In the newly created position, Parrinello will oversee Tambourine's Account Service, Creative, Development, Enterprise, Onboarding, Media, and Human Resources departments to ensure the hotel marketing firm is delivering flawless execution to its clients. Prior to joining Tambourine, Parrinello served as the Executive Vice President of Global Operations at Publicis Groupe, the third-largest multinational communication group in the world. Parrinello was responsible for leading the Global Business Operations, Mergers and Acquisitions, Project Management Office, Resource Management, and Data Privacy teams across three continents and eight office locations. Parrinello's expertise lies in evaluating and reengineering underperforming technology and overall processes. Tambourine Fort Lauderdale, Florida United States Website CHICAGO Sertifi, developers of a complete platform for hospitality companies to finalize business, will be attending this years HITEC Orlando. The Sertifi team will be available at booth 1409 to demo the Sertifi platform and its latest functionality, as well as discuss whats to come for the product. Demos and meetings will be available during exhibitor hall hours from Tuesday, June 28 through Thursday, June 30. Sertifi brings the entire agreement process into a single, secure platform. In addition to capturing e-signatures and e-payments, Sertifi now offers payment processing with SertifiPay. Travel suppliers can also send digital authorization forms and exchange traveler information, such as virtual credit cards. By finalizing agreements and connecting the hospitality network in one solution, Sertifi customers and their guests can benefit from a faster, more secure experience. Here are some of the highlights Sertifi will be discussing: A next generation user experience , available soon for signing and sending, makes it even easier and more intuitive for guests to complete agreements. , available soon for signing and sending, makes it even easier and more intuitive for guests to complete agreements. Now available everywhere, SertifiPay makes it easier for some of the largest hotel chains in the world to complete business in a single platform. makes it easier for some of the largest hotel chains in the world to complete business in a single platform. Growing partnerships like Infor are allowing Sertifi to integrate directly with the most important systems in hospitality. HITEC is an awesome event, and we always look forward to connecting with our community, said John Stojka, Co-CEO of Sertifi. This year, were particularly excited for attendees to learn more about our payment processing engine, SertifiPay. Our customers are already processing over $5 billion in payments annually. We hope everyone stops by our booth and checks it out. Wed love to see you while youre at the event. To schedule time with us, click here. About Sertifi Sertifi provides a complete agreement, payment, and authorization platform for the travel, events, and hospitality market. Brands like Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott trust Sertifi to finalize contracts and collect payments in an efficient and secure way. Sertifi's easy-to-use platform helps tens of thousands of businesses in more than 135 countries, with $5 billion in payments processed through the system annually. With 12+ years of knowledge and insights within travel, events, and hospitality, Sertifi serves the unique needs of the market and is building a network that gives travelers across the globe a great, seamless experience from the start. Amy King DALLAS, TX - UniFocus, the leading provider of Workforce Management Systems, has today announced the launch of Gratitude, an innovative employee tipping platform that provides hotel guests with the ability to tip staff throughout a property without requiring the use of an app or physical cash. Set to be showcased at this years HITEC in Orlando, Gratitude together with UniFocus Instant Pay and Tip Pooling capabilities, will importantly provide todays hoteliers with the means to maintain competitive wages to attract and retain a loyal and productive workforce. With modern travelers often carrying just credit or debit cards, the lack of at-hand cash has resulted in a substantial decrease in the number and amount of tips left to a hotels staff. This reduction in overall wages has only been partially addressed by minor hourly rate increases and can play a significant factor in staff decisions to seek out other employment options. With Gratitude by UniFocus, hoteliers can finally reverse this trend by providing guests with the option to leave a tip using either credit/debit cards, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Via a secure mobile-compatible portal that can be tailored to a hotels branding, guests can effortlessly submit the tip amount they wish to provide and can leave feedback on the quality of service received. Native to the UniFocus workforce management system, Gratitude ensures that tips are shared with the appropriate staff. Hoteliers to seamlessly create tip jars by department, such as for housekeeping, valet services, the front desk and concierge. Gratitude further facilitates guest use and increases the likelihood of leaving behind a tip by allowing guests to scan a QR code to be instantly directed to the correct tip jar. Hoteliers can place such QR codes within guestrooms, lobby areas, vehicles and more to provide guests with a more convenient tipping experience and to promote awareness of the service. Hoteliers cant financially offset the decrease in tips beyond areas that are tied to a POS system such as a hotels restaurant. Until now there hasnt been an alternative for employees such as housekeepers or front desk staff to receive digital tips, said Moneesh Arora, CEO of UniFocus. Our Gratitude platform is the first fully integrated solution designed to fully resolve this challenge for the hospitality industry, and will prove to be a tremendous asset for hoteliers actively working to attract and retain talent. Together with our tip pooling and instant pay services, UniFocus can help boost the industrys reputation as a competitive and attractive source of employment. Serving as a comprehensive provider of advanced workforce management technology, attendees visiting the UniFocus x Knowcross HITEC booth #2417 can also learn how to further streamline staff tipping processes using enhanced tip pooling automation. Integrated with the companys Time & Attendance platform or function as a standalone feature, tip pooling by UniFocus sidesteps the time-consuming need for managers to manually track and disperse tips. When integrated with the right systems, Gratitude can automatically calculate accurate tip disbursements based on which shifts and how many hours each employee has worked. Tipping technology is amplified with UniFocus Instant Pay abilities which provides workers with up to 50 percent of their earnings the moment a shift has been completed, hoteliers can finally fully address modern employee demands for flexible and instantly accessible wages without incurring additional costs. To schedule a demo with UniFocus at HITEC 2022 during exhibition hours (June 28-30), please contact Megan Urban at [email protected]. About UniFocus UniFocus is the only complete workforce management platform designed to fundamentally shift the way service industries manage labor. The powerful platform helps managers plan with intelligent Labor Management tools that automatically produce accurate forecasts, optimized schedules based on business demand, employee availability, service standards and work rules. Staff is easily aligned with a world class Time and Attendance module that communicates schedules and facilitates swaps with tools like Shift Genius that live within an intuitive mobile app. Once scheduled, frontline employees operate with ease from the industry leading Knowcross Task Management suite that streamlines guest services, housekeeping, maintenance, inspections and glitches. With traditional workplace silos removed, managers benefit from a complete view of analytics and a personalized virtual assistant, Odin, that highlights opportunities to improve productivity and cost controls while keeping an eye on guest satisfaction and employee engagement. UniFocus is arming managers with best-in-class decision making technology in the hospitality, restaurant, retail, and healthcare industries. Check us out at UniFocus.com to learn more about the labor paradigm shift. Corey McCarthy Chief Marketing Officer 972-512-5100 ORLANDO - To help hoteliers have the best tradeshow experience at HITEC Orlando this week, React Mobile is offering a Workplace Safety Solution Checklist to attendees looking to invest in a panic button platform. As the leading provider of employee safety devices to hotels worldwide, React Mobile understands the need for highly reliable, accurate, and easy-to-use safety technology to protect hotel employees against threats of violence and sexual harassment while working in remote locations. The company will showcase its solutions in Booth 1628 at the Orange County Convention Center from June 28 to 30. Hotel employees deserve to have confidence that they are working in a safe environment, said John Stachowiak, React Mobile CEO. Providing safety and security to hotel staff is getting even more difficult with fewer workers on property, making it even more important to have a plan in place in case of an emergency. Fortunately, technology is available to help protect hotel workers regardless of who is on property and depending on the hotels location, it may become mandatory soon." While there are many providers of panic button solutions in the market, it can be a daunting task to determine which solution is right for your hotel or brand, he said. Now that there are only six months left to 2022, the deadline to comply with local and state mandates and meet industry obligations to programs like the AHLAs 5 Star Promise is rapidly approaching. Hoteliers need to take the steps necessary to contract with a solution provider NOW so they can be compliant and protect their people. We developed the Workplace Safety Solution Checklist to make shopping for panic button solutions efficient. By asking a few strategic questions, attendees can quickly determine if the vendor they are visiting is a good fit. To obtain a copy of the Workplace Safety Solution Checklist, click here. A Step Above the Rest React Mobile 2.0 was designed to deliver the fastest response time on the market compared to other providers. The platform triggers a silent alarm that brings help without alerting others that a response is coming. Once the silent alarm on the panic button has been pressed a light begins flashing red to verify dispatch. In less than one second (when a responder receives the alert) the flashing light turns blue, acknowledging to the employee in distress that help is on the way. React Mobile 2.0 also prevents panic buttons from being triggered erroneously. By changing the button press pattern, false positive alerts are avoided. The solution complies with Collective Bargaining Agreements that protect employees from being tracked on a property when not in danger, thereby saving panic button battery life and honoring employee privacy. React Mobile 2.0 Key Features Include: A new responder application that will enable employees to receive safety alert notifications on their mobile devices and dispatch help. Management will receive analytics measuring how long it took for the employee to respond to an active alert. Support for all third-party iBeacons, such as Aruba, Cisco Meraki, and CommScope/RUCKUS . With iBeacon functionality already existing in the hotels WiFi access points, hoteliers will save up to 90% of workforce safety platform install costs. . With iBeacon functionality already existing in the hotels WiFi access points, hoteliers will save up to 90% of workforce safety platform install costs. A new, highly sensitive machine-learning back end to greatly increase location accuracy. A double-redundant alert pipeline to ensure that alerts are dispatched from panic buttons to responders in the fastest time possible. React Mobile 2.0 delivers 99.9% of alerts in less than a half-second. Single-press LTE buttons to check battery life and identify coverage problems. Two-way multi-lingual conversations in English, Spanish, French and Chinese. Any language can be supported on request. Single sign-on (SSO) authentication from existing employee email and password. Regional operations whereby housekeepers and responders working at multiple properties can use React Mobile 2.0 across the enterprise. To learn more about React Mobile 2.0, visit www.reactmobile.com. About React Mobile Founded in 2013, React Mobile is a global leader in providing panic button solutions for hotels. Our best in class hospitality safety platform helps hotels keep their employees safe. The React Mobile system is an open and flexible platform that allows management to deploy response resources to the exact location of an emergency within seconds of an alert, getting help to where its needed anywhere on or off property. In an emergency quick response times are essential and React Mobile gives you the tools to react fast. For more information, visit www.reactmobile.com. Barbara Worcester PRPRO 4409305770 More than two years on, widespread COVID-19 concern appears to be declining as international travel resumes, amid easing travel restrictions and rising vaccination rates. According to a live poll conducted by GlobalData, a leading data and analytics company, 57% of respondents are not concerned or are not very concerned about the spread of COVID-19, suggesting that tourists are more prepared to live with COVID-19. Hannah Free, Travel and Tourism Analyst at GlobalData, comments: The outlook for tourism in many countries is brighter than at any time in the past two years. However, the turbulence and uncertainty of COVID-19 has created several challenges which are likely to further complicate recovery. Rising demand, coupled with mass layoffs and competition for talent with other sectors, has resulted in widespread labour shortages in several tourism economies such as the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain. Source: GlobalData Plc As countries gradually lift travel restrictions and tourism restarts in many parts of the world, hygiene and safety must continue to be a priority and coordinated heath protocols that protect workers, communities, and travellers, while supporting companies and workers, must be firmly in place to boost travel confidence. Free adds: The global travel and tourism industrys post-pandemic recovery is gaining traction as pent-up demand for international travel rekindles. According to GlobalDatas latest forecasts, on a global scale, international departures will reach 68% of pre-COVID levels in 2022. This is expected to improve to 82% in 2023, and 97% in 2024, before fully recovering by 2025 at 101% of 2019 levels. There is reason to be cautiously optimistic for the return of travel demand as growth in international travel is finally expected in 2022. About GlobalData 4,000 of the world's largest companies, including over 70% of FTSE 100 and 60% of Fortune 100 companies, make more timely and better business decisions thanks to GlobalData's unique data, expert analysis and innovative solutions, all in one platform. GlobalData's mission is to help our clients decode the future to be more successful and innovative across a range of industries, including the healthcare, consumer, retail, financial, technology and professional services sectors. GlobalData | LinkedIn | Twitter GlobalData Press Office +44 207 832 4399 GlobalData Plc The finalists of the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge (SHC) have been announced after a jury of C-level industry decision-makers reviewed 17 innovative concepts submitted by the worlds leading hospitality schools. The winner of this years challenge will present their innovative sustainability project at the flagship industry forum FHS in Dubai, from September 19-21, 2022. The Sustainable Hospitality Challenge is a Hotelschool The Hague initiative that aims to enhance the evolution of sustainable hospitality, foster innovation driven by the leaders of tomorrow and nurture talent on a global scale by bringing it close to industry organizations who want to reimagine the future of hospitality. Established as a platform that challenges innovative hospitality approaches for the last seven years, SHC has evolved into a global knowledge-based initiative supported by the worlds best-known hospitality brands, global hospitality project developers, and smart cities. The students were tasked with developing solutions under the theme Remote, which was inspired by the principal sponsor NEOM, a region in northwest Saudi Arabia being built from the ground up and a development that will be a new model for sustainable living. Our mission is to drive innovation to preserve the sustainability of our world and industry. This can be accomplished through empowering the next generation of hospitality leaders to further push the boundaries of innovation in combination with sustainability and create future mindsets that will change the world. NEOM made it possible for all students to attend the event, which was also supported by our partners Sustainable Hospitality Alliance and Bench. After the qualifications rounds in April, with more than forty top-tier global hospitality institutions competing, 17 successful entrants went through to the semi-finals. Five winners have been chosen to compete in this years finals, they are: Hotel Management School Maastricht-Zuyd Hogeschool Cornell University Hotel Institute Montreux Swiss Hotel Management School Hotelschool The Hague This years concepts are truly sensational and are in fact a perfect example of the impact we are having on creating a sustainable hospitality future. Paul Griep, added, We are currently already seeing actual concrete business plans and ideas that come to life. We are taking this to the next level by means of including technology, engineering, and design universities whereby the deliverables and solutions presented will be very complete and ready for incubation in order to have a permanent sustainable impact on our industry. What the Sustainable Hospitality Challenge team always remembers is that this challenge is not only meant to make great sustainable contributions to the future of the hospitality industry, but also be an enriching experience and a positive contribution to a students personal journey. In closing, ambassador and jury member, Marloes Knippenberg, CEO Kerten Hospitality said, It is the next generations who lead and push for change, as it is their future we are talking about. The ideas we are presented with round after round are mind-blowing, yet so practical and do-able. The world is transforming towards a more sustainable, inclusive and a well-being-focused Community, and so is our industry. Stakeholders - guests, team, developers, owners, operators and (semi-)government entities are all working on being part of an Ecosystem that is driven by collaboration and a sense of belonging and community. Values change over generations, and this generation is not any different than the ones before, however it does have one greater challenge than we did: It needs to reset the globe, bring people together, and find REMOTE locations to spread to, cherish, nurture and ease the negative impact we are having on the globe and on the future every day. I am honored to be part of this, and after every round I have the greater belief that by collaborating cross-generational, we can make that difference! About Hotelschool The Hague Hotelschool The Hague was founded in 1929 and is one of the oldest independent hotel schools in the world. The school has been renowned for its education and innovative research. It has two campuses, one in The Hague and one in Amsterdam, with more than 2.850 students and 250 employees. Hotelschool The Hague has been voted the best public hotel school in the Netherlands since 2014 and ranks among the top hospitality management schools worldwide according to QS World University Rankings. Furthermore, according to Keuzegids, the school has had the best Master in Business Administration since 2019. Graduates of Hotelschool The Hague hold management positions in the hospitality industry worldwide. www.hotelschool.nl Nina de Graaf Marketing & Communication Specialist +31 88 028 1800 Hotelschool The Hague NewcrestImage has added the 175-room Cambria Hotel Southlake DFW in Southlake, Texas to its portfolio today. The company takes over operations at the property effective immediately, with management being provided by Aimbridge Hospitality. The Cambria Hotel Southlake DFW is a vibrant, contemporary hotel strategically located to attract both business and leisure travelers, explained Mehul Patel, Managing Partner and CEO of NewcrestImage. We look forward to taking the hotel to new levels of performance, both for guests and for our investors. The property, built in 2016, is six miles from DFW International Airport, five miles from the Gaylord Texan Convention Center, and one mile from Southlake Town Square that features shopping at 138 stores, dining at 27 restaurants, and leisure activities at three park areas. Features of the hotel include an outdoor pool and game area; a 1,000 sq. ft. fitness center; a business center and a convenience market, both of which are open 24 hours; a casual lounge; and a fine dining restaurant. All guestrooms offer a wide array of guest-friendly amenities, notably a mini-frig and 55-inch flat screen television. Dallas-based NewcrestImage has its corporate headquarters in SilverLake Crossings, a 52-acre master-planned community that the company owns and operates in Grapevine, just eight miles from the Cambria Hotel. SilverLake Crossings includes 400 residential units; 30,000 sq. ft. of retail and dining options; 15 acres of park land; and six hotels that were originally developed by NewcrestImage. The company continues to own and operate two legendary historic hotels the 325-room, 29-floor Magnolia Hotel in downtown Dallas and the 164-room, 17-floor Sinclair Hotel in downtown Fort Worth. NewcrestImage has a rich history of transforming the hospitality industry. In recent years, it popularized trend-setting concepts such as dual-brand properties; adaptive reuse of historic buildings; and the lifestyle hotel campus, which creates vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods. About NewcrestImage NewcrestImage has become one of the leading hotel companies in America, having transacted over 185 hotels since its start in February of 2013. It is known and respected for unique properties and for repeatedly developing bold, award-winning projects that have transformed the hospitality industry. Among the company's notable properties are dual-brand hotels, innovatively converted historic buildings, and "lifestyle hotel campuses," which create vibrant mixed-use neighborhoods. PARIS -- Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is excited to announce its first global partnership with Make-A-Wish , after nearly two decades of working closely together at multiple locations across Canada, the United States, Europe and the Middle East. Together, Fairmont and Make-A-Wish are launching a new global program, Wishes Start Here, to provide one-of-a-kind experiences that transform children's lives and help create lasting memories. Whether it's transforming a child into a princess, a cowboy, or a chef; providing a dream vacation destination; or simply giving the whole family a special place to stay at the end of their day's adventures Wishes Start Here is dedicated to transforming a child's most cherished dream into a reality, leaving them with incredible memories that will last a lifetime. Over the next three years, Fairmont is committed to making more than 500 children's wishes come true, while donating 1 million in charitable support. "Fairmont and Make-A-Wish have enjoyed a wonderful relationship, hosting many families and their inspiring children for nearly twenty years," said Mansi Vagt, Global Brand Leader & Vice President Fairmont Brand, Accor. "Our hotels are known for being embedded into the fabric of their communities and the work this incredible organization does is very near and dear to our hearts. We have been honored to do more than just offer an exciting place to stay, and have worked with the fantastic teams at Make-A-Wish in many of our locations to create unique experiences that turn dreams into a reality for so many children. The magic of one wish can change a life and we're absolutely delighted to extend this important partnership to our Fairmont hotels globally." Wishes Start Here will officially kick-off with a family celebration and launch of The Ultimate Kids' Playhouse on July 31st, 2022 at Fairmont Grand Del Mar, in San Diego. In recent years, one of the most favorite wishes by Make-A-Wish children is for a playhouse, and Fairmont, with its expertise in hospitality, has brought the concept to life on the grandest level. Earlier this year, Make-A-Wish children were invited to an ideation session at Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, with a mission to design The Ultimate Kids' Playhouse. The result will be unveiled and opened for real-life fun and enjoyment at Fairmont Grand Del Mar. Guests will be invited to explore the custom-built Playhouse, designed entirely by kids, for kids. The Ultimate Kids' Playhouse includes all the dream elements that Make-A-Wish children wished for such as oodles of building games, spiral slide, space for endless dancing and a beautiful living room filled with teddies. The Ultimate Kids' Playhouse will remain on-site at Fairmont Grand Del Mar all summer, with tickets available to the public throughout August and September. All ticket proceeds will be donated directly to Make-A-Wish. The Ultimate Kids' Playhouse will move on to other Fairmont properties in major regions worldwide, allowing families everywhere to experience the magic. "We are thrilled to have strengthened our partnership with Fairmont Hotels & Resorts and are excited by their renewed commitment to making an impact on our mission globally to create life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses around the world," said Luciano Manzo, CEO of Make-A-Wish International. "For wish kids and their families, an amazing trip can be a transformative experience and the global Fairmont community is uniquely prepared to help make more wishes come true.'' With the goal of granting more than 500 wishes and donating 1 million over this three-year global partnership, Fairmont will introduce several fundraising events at hotels around the world to offer guests the opportunity to join them in their pledge to Make-A-Wish. In addition to The Ultimate Kids' Playhouse, other exciting initiatives will include pool parties for Make-A-Wish kids, 'Make a Friend' Play Dates with Fairmont guests, locals and Make-A-Wish children, and a dedicated 'Wish Dish' selection on menus that will include a donation to the foundation. Fairmont colleagues worldwide will also have the chance to contribute more ideas and provide direct support through ongoing events and fundraising activities. "Team members across Accor are passionate about supporting children's causes and Fairmont has been continuously motivated by the tireless work of Make-A-Wish and the proven evidence that incorporating wishes as part of a child's medical plan provides hope and anticipation for the future," said Ralitza Iordanova, VP Global Brand Partnerships, Accor. "With so many wishes travel-related, we believe Fairmont can play a huge role in making wishes come true. Given the history between our two brands at many of our destinations, strengthening our relationship with Make-A-Wish by expanding it to the global level seems like a natural evolution and a perfect opportunity to make a meaningful impact among our communities worldwide." Fairmont and Make-A-Wish began their work together almost 20 years ago. Fairmont originally initiated a program called Room at the Inn in 1993, offering complimentary room nights at its hotels across Canada, to families visiting loved ones in the hospital. This inspired a connection with Make-A-Wish and Fairmont Rooms From the Heart was introduced in 2003. Rooms From the Heart combined an annual donation and a series of wish granting that was supported by a network of colleagues volunteering for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. For the latest updates on Wishes Start Here program, please visit here. About Fairmont Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is where the intimate equally coexists with the infinite an unrivaled portfolio of more than 80 extraordinary hotels where grand moments of life, heartfelt pleasures and personal milestones are celebrated and remembered long after any visit. Since 1907, Fairmont has created magnificent, meaningful and unforgettable hotels, rich with character and deeply connected to the history, culture and community of its destinations places such as The Plaza in New York City, The Savoy in London, Fairmont San Francisco, Fairmont Banff Springs in Canada, Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, and Fairmont The Palm in Dubai. Famous for its engaging service, awe-inspiring public spaces, locally inspired cuisine, and iconic bars and lounges, Fairmont also takes great pride in its pioneering approach to hospitality and leadership in sustainability and responsible tourism practices. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group counting over 5,300 properties throughout more than 110 countries, and a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless a lifestyle loyalty program providing access to a wide variety of rewards, services and experiences. fairmont.com | all.accor.com | group.accor.com About Make-A-Wish Make-A-Wish creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. Founded in 1980, Make-A-Wish is the world's leading children's wish-granting organization, having granted more than 520,000 wishes in nearly 50 countries worldwide. Together with generous donors, supporters, staff and more than 32,000 volunteers around the globe, Make-A-Wish delivers hope and joy to children and their families when they need it most. Make-A-Wish aims to bring the power of wishing to every child with a critical illness because wish experiences can help improve emotional and physical health. For more information about Make-A-Wish International, visit worldwish.org and for more information about Make-A-Wish America, visit wish.org. The English language sure loves its neologisms. (Dont look this one up in your dictionary. Its not thereyet.) The one in the title adds an ism onto invasivore where this latter word is ascribed to species that have been accidentally or purposefully introduced into a foreign environment where there are no natural predators to keep their numbers in check, thus diminishing biodiversity. Foremost examples are the African cane toads that have ravaged the Australian continent and the zebra mussels that have similarly become endemic to the Great Lakes. Specific to you, its important for hoteliers keep tabs on these sorts of trends because, in the relentless progression of global climate change, customers will continue to demand more from their travel brands to help foster a culture of sustainability. Right now, environmentalism is largely a value-add to make guests feel good about their hotel selections (with the ability to command a few extra dollars in rate for the privilege). There may come a time soon, though, when sustainability is scored and businesses failing to get a good grade are shunned by prospective bookers. Invasivorism for hotel restaurants amounts to putting these foods on the menu as a means to: Help build an economic system around the farming and the consumption of invasivores Reduce the stigma of eating these species by transforming them into palatable dishes Raise awareness for the need to cull invasivores to bring indigenous species back into balance Offer a point of differentiation to help with the marketing and PR of your F&B program Round out a brand-wide sustainability initiative that incorporates numerous departments As you can already tell, the first of these five is hardly easy at present because the supply chains just arent there. This will change. Think back around two decades when the phrase authentically local was first gaining steam. Stocking inventory from local providers back then required lots of effort because each relationship had to be set up one-to-one and we just didnt yet have the critical mass of adjustable manufacturers to cost-effectively engage in small batch productions. Now, living local, buying local and eating local are all but the expectation from hotels, albeit they still require a hefty load of setup and care. We foresee invasivorism taking a similar trajectory with hotels benefited from their larger procurement networks to take advantage of this trend. Personal demand for climate action often begins with an awareness campaign for the charismatic megafauna like a reminder about how few panda there are left, a news story about the recent extinction of the northern white rhino or a video of an emaciated polar bear struggling to find solid footing on a patchwork of half-melted ice blocks. Likewise, invasivorism will start with a ramp up in access to and the edible acceptance of one of the largest provocateurs. Our bet is on the four types of Asian carp invasive to the Mississippi river system slimy and a pain to debone, but still a suitable substitute for salmon or tuna when minced and sauced. Not merely a soylent green alternative, invasivorism has applicability for haute cuisine, too. People opt for sophisticated fine dining experiences not only to attain satiety but also to be inspired by the chefs wild, esoteric ingredient combinations as well as having something to talk about with friends at the next dinner party. This last reason may as well be called bragging rights, so give your restaurants something to brag out. To close, to merge together the haute cuisine element with the awareness and education ones, you are approaching an experience that can be classified as transformative leaving the guest better off than when they arrived at your hotel. By promoting the ingestion of foods that are not native to a land in sharp contrast to local eating and the direct opposite of indigenous eating you are inspiring your customers to reframe the environmental conversation and making them feel good in the process for their active contribution. If you build enough of these sustainability-related experiences into your brand of which invasivorism is one possible inclusion your guests will adore you for it and be willing to pay above market for the opportunity to stay with you. Larry Mogelonsky Hotel Mogel Consulting Limited View source Loyalty programs are not new in the airline and hotel industries, dating back to early 1980s when American Airlines introduced AAdvantage, one of the worlds first travel loyalty programs. Hotel chains quickly jumped on board, with Holiday Inn and Marriott being credited with the first hotel loyalty programs in 1983. Since then, loyalty programs have not only been an effective marketing tool for increasing customer loyalty, but also for increasing repeat customers and revenue for hotels. Loyalty program members account for three-fourths of hotel website bookings, according to research by Phocuswright. Meanwhile, as per a study conducted by Cornell Universitys The Center for Hospitality Research, hotel loyalty programs accounted for a 57% increase in room revenue. Loyalty program members booked more than half of Marriott's global room nights from 2019 to 2021. Not only that, but some US airlines, such as American Airlines, have valued their loyalty programs more than the company itself, allowing them to secure a loyalty-backed debt during the pandemic. As a result, loyalty programs have become one of the most effective tactics in a hotel operators marketing arsenal, helping them in differentiating themselves from the competition. To compete with the larger hotel chains, independent hotel alliances such as Global Hotel Alliance (GHA) and Preferred Hotels & Resorts have also launched their own multi-brand, shared loyalty programs. Guest preferences, expectations, and behavior, as well as market dynamics, have changed dramatically over the years, prompting hotel companies to reconsider their loyalty programs. This has been especially true post the pandemic. To retain customers during the pandemic, most hotel companies, including Hilton and IHG, offered refundable cancellations, extensions for redeeming earned benefits, and lowered qualifying requirements. However, with even destinations such as the Maldives embracing loyalty and reward programs to capitalize on the pent-up demand, hotel companies need to modify and revamp their customer loyalty programs even further to remain relevant in the post-COVID era. For starters, most of these programs are currently geared toward business travelers; however, with leisure travelers driving the recovery post-COVID, hotel companies must shift away from the traditional, transactional models of earning points that relied on the 'spend more-earn more' strategy. A more experience-based and guest-oriented approach, providing additional ways for members to earn and spend reward points rather than just free nights, is the need of the hour. Some companies are already redesigning their loyalty programs to meet the changing consumer demands. For instance, Radisson allows members to purchase points, while others like Hyatt have tied up with financial institutions to offer co-branded cards. Meanwhile, some companies have gone a step further and partnered with retailers and lifestyle brands to allow their members to earn and redeem loyalty points beyond the travel experience. For example, Marriott has partnered with Uber, so that Marriott Bonvoy members can earn points on eligible Uber rides and Uber Eats orders in the US. The company also launched the Marriott Bonvoy Moments program, offering members exclusive access to world-class sporting events, concerts, and exhibitions. Accor is also pursuing a similar experience-based loyalty program. In India, Tajs InnerCircle program has been integrated into the newly launched Tata Neu platform, which currently houses several brands, including AirAsia India, IHCL, Qmin, BigBasket, Croma, Starbucks, and Tata CLiQ among others. This will give the InnerCircle members more ways to earn points as well as the ability to use their loyalty points in any way they want across the platform. A customer, for example, can use points earned on an AirAsia ticket purchase to pay bills on Tata CLiQ or even purchase a Taj holiday stay or vice versa. Meanwhile, this will help increase IHCLs brand visibility amongst current and prospective customers. Furthermore, the company gains a 360-degree view of the members spending and purchasing habits outside of the core brand, allowing it to personalize experiences and offers, resulting in higher conversions, revenue, and brand loyalty. Other Tata group companies, such as Vistara, Air India, Tanishq, and Tata Motors, as well as external brands from other companies, are expected to join the platform in the future, creating a fully integrated loyalty program that could be a game-changer in the country's loyalty program ecosystem. Loyalty programs with unachievable reward tiers and free stays will soon be a thing of the past. Flexibility in earning and spending reward points, greater personalization, and instant rewards will become increasingly important in the future, particularly for millennial and Gen Z guests, necessitating a complete overhaul of hotel loyalty programs to meet their growing needs. Mandeep S Lamba President (South Asia), New Delhi +91 (124) 488 5552 HVS View source Booyoung Group Chairman Shin Myung-ho, right, delivers a $100,000 donation to Kwon Oh-seong, president of the Army Association. Booyoung Group has been engaged in various social contribution activities, holding the Liberty Walk Seoul event, Saturday, at the War Memorial of Korea in Yongsan, along with the 6.25 Foundation and the Korea Army Association. At the event, Booyoung Group also donated $100,000 to the 6.25 Foundation for Korean War veterans. The donation will be used to build school libraries named after veterans and donate books to elementary schools. / Courtesy of Booyoung Group This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The searing heat shows no sign of abating, electricity demand keeps breaking records, and so far, wind and solar energy are keeping the air conditioning on. The engineers and meteorologists at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas are balancing supply and demand on the grid during potentially the hottest June on record. But electricity prices are skyrocketing, August is approaching, and the grid is far from fixed. Texans must prepare for a hot summer, and not the fun kind. Heat waves kill more people than any other natural disaster, and a summer blackout is just as dangerous as a winter one. The weather forecast is grim. Even before the summer of 2022 officially began, Texas had more days above 100 degrees than in an entire average year. A La Nina weather pattern over the Pacific Ocean means the dome of hot air over the western United States will dominate our weather, probably through September. This year, Texas may get four Augusts instead of one. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Texans could pay another $100M for deadly winter storm due to grid regulator's missteps Jessica Phelps, Staff photographer / Jessica Phelps This summer is already showing signs of matching the heat and drought conditions seen in 2011, the hottest and driest Texas summer on record, Chris Coleman, senior meteorologist for ERCOT, told the grid operators board of directors last week. We are tracking hotter now than we were in 2011, Coleman said. Everything is falling into line, and youre going to need something to stop that if we are not going to match 2011. Ironically, that means hoping for at least one major hurricane to plow through center of the state. Texass growing population means more people running compressors to pump the heat out of their homes. Woody Rickerson, ERCOTs vice president of system planning and weatherization, told the board on Tuesday his forecast expected peak summer demand to hit 77.8 gigawatts in August. But demand reached 77.5 gigawatts on Thursday, months earlier than expected, and the most extreme scenario of 81 gigawatts is looking more probable. Elizabeth Conley, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Luckily, wind and solar generation have also set new records, meeting almost 40 percent of demand on some afternoons. Generators have also installed many more solar facilities, which do best on hot, clear afternoons. If Texas had more transmission lines from West Texas, where wind and solar are strongest, the cities east of Interstate 35 could rely on even more renewable energy. Increased transmission would have saved Texans $1.6 billion so far this year, Jimmy Glotfelty, a member of the Public Utility Commission of Texas, told the Legislature last week. The PUC oversees ERCOT and makes decisions about transmission lines and the competitive wholesale market for electricity. Since the 2021 February Blackouts, which killed more than 200 people, commissioners have demanded a belt-and-suspenders approach to keeping the lights on that has skewed the market to enrich natural gas and coal plant operators. We will continue with our conservative operations; I think thats a key to making sure that on days when unforecasted things happen, we have enough reserves on hand, Rickerson said. Kin Man Hui, San Antonio Express-News / Staff photographer The PUCs new approach has piled an additional $685 million to $860 million on to consumer bills so far this year, according to Carrie Bivens, a vice president at Potomac Economics, an independent watchdog that advises ERCOT. TOMLINSONS TAKE: Electricity bills are so high you may wish for a blackout Critics say the opaque way ERCOT purchases backup electricity provides little additional reliability while increasing electricity bills by 17 percent. Buying unneeded electricity while renewables are stranded in West Texas has cost consumers more than $2 billion out of the $9 billion we typically spend on electricity. ERCOT officials say they will have 22 percent excess generating capacity to meet whatever demand the summer places on the grid. But that calculation assumes we dont break the records for heat and drought set in 2011 and that power plants do not unexpectedly shut down, as they did in February 2021. Jason Fochtman, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer The real challenge will come in August when afternoon doldrums predictably settle the West Texas air. Solar will help, but theres not enough installed yet; ditto with batteries. Well be relying on the same old natural gas and coal plants that failed us in February 2021. The only good news is that Texas wind speeds in 2011 were above average, Coleman said. Additional wind farms and solar fields will relieve some of the pressure on the fossil fuel plants prone to failure during high temperatures. Climate change is behind these extreme weather conditions, and experts warn it will only get worse if we keep burning fossil fuels and increasing the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Unfortunately, the PUCs solution is to burn more natural gas and coal, guaranteeing worse heatwaves in the future. Our climate is changing to produce more extreme weather, and we must change how we generate power to avoid the worst. In the meantime, conserve energy and reduce wear and tear on the grid this summer. Tomlinson writes commentary about money, politics and life in Texas. twitter.com/cltomlinson chris.tomlinson@chron.com Petroleum supplies remain tight and demand solid, but concerns that U.S. and global economies are heading into recession are keeping the lid on soaring prices. Oil prices last week declined for the second consecutive week, losing nearly 2 percent to close at $107.08 a barrel Friday. The Federal Reserves determination to bring inflation running at a 40-year high under control by rapidly raising interest rates to curb spending and slow the economy has raised the prospect that the effort could tip the economy into recession. A recession would undermine energy demand and prices. For now, analysts say, tight supplies and strong demand should support prices, avoiding significant sell-offs that end the bull market in commodities. Paul Hickin, a director at S&P Global Commodity Insights in London, said London that even with the recent moves lower - oil hits $120 a barrel in in mid-June - demand for refined petroleum products is still holding up and the production capacity to meet this demand remains strained. On HoustonChronicle.com: The reason why gas prices are so high was decades in the making On one hand, the market is frantically trying to bake in the risks around an economic downturn, with many commodities not just oil taking a hit as of late, he said. But on the other hand, there is still a tight product market and an OPEC+ that has historically low spare capacity. The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies, a group dubbed OPEC+, meet on Thursday to consider how much more oil to put on the market. The group last month committed to increasing production to 648,000 barrels a day in July and August, up from the additional 400,000 barrels a month the group has approved for much of the past years/ An issue, however, is that several members of the group were unable to meet their previous output quotas, let alone produce more. Russia, an influential member of OPEC+, is under severe sanctions pressure for its invasion of Ukraine and its supplies are subsequently limited. Nigeria and many others, meanwhile, simply cant keep up with production. But is more oil even needed? Commodity prices have moved lower since Federal Reserve raised its lending rates in an effort to keep the economy from overheating. Fears over a possible recession will likely drive commodity prices lower, Ed Longanecker, the president of the Texas Independent Producers and Royalty Owners Association. Meanwhile, market watchers last week had to do without U.S. data on commercial storage levels of crude oil and refined petroleum products, such as jet fuel and gasoline. The data provides a snapshot of petroleum supply and demand in the worlds largest economy, but a technical glitch last week stalled its release last week. On HoustonChronicle.com: U.S. oil and gas drillers add 13 rigs this week, but still can't tame recession fears The Energy Department will release two sets of data this week for analysts to comb through. Having two weeks of reports compounded into one could really move oil prices should the data tilt in a bearish or bullish manner, said Al Salazar, a managing director at energy data firm Enverus. Meanwhile, at the intersection between geopolitical issues and energy, leaders of the G7 Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States will consider tougher action against Russia during an early-week summit in the Bavarian Alps. Members of the European Union have already agreed to cut Russia out of its energy sector, but more action may be desired to limit money flowing to the Kremlins war chest. G7 leaders by Sunday had already proposed a ban on new gold imports from Russia. Data out Monday on durable goods orders and pending home sales could provide signals on the direction of the U.S. economy and set the tone for markets this week. Godofredo A. Vasquez, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo tested positive for COVID-19 just one day after attending the Houston Pride Parade, she announced Sunday night. The 31-year-old initially tested negative on the day of the parade on Saturday after feeling fatigue, she said, and retested the next day as an extra precaution. Margot Hogan has marveled at the transformative power of sunglasses since she was a little girl. What other accessory can instantly shift an outfit from rock star to ultra-feminine or punk to poolside? In 2020, the native Houstonian created her own brand of shades. One serendipitous meeting at the Clubs at Houston Oaks with music producer Marti Frederiksen later, the stars aligned literally. Jenee Fleener, Country Music Awards inaugural female musician of the year and Blake Sheltons fiddle player, wore a pair of Transparent Janis sunglasses backstage during a recording of NBCs reality show The Show and caught the eye Grammys Gifting Lounge representatives. Crevasses are typically something most people avoid. These deep ice fissures are serious hazards for skiers and mountaineers. So, its understandable that Im a bit nervous about being dropped 115 feet into a crevasselike phenomena known as a moulin in the middle of Alaskas Knik Glacier. These giant sinkholes, formed by the melt of snow and ice in the spring and summer months, have waterfalls and streams deep within them. When I signed up for an ice climbing adventure with Alaska Helicopter Tours, I assumed Id be climbing up first, not down. But this is Alaska. A last frontier of wilderness and exploration, most experiences here are more extreme than anticipated, which explains why I was asked about my climbing skill level as well as thrill level. Ive visited Alaska nearly a dozen times, and like many travelers, had always used Anchorage as a gateway to connect to wilder parts of the state. But Anchorage, I discovered, is a great base camp for adventures. The Knik Glacier, one of the largest glaciers in south central Alaska, spans over 25 miles long and more than 5 miles across. Alaska Helicopter Tours has collaborated with new outfitter Alaska Sundog Guiding to dream up every imaginable way to explore the massive ice field, from paddle boarding glacial lakes to dog sledding on the glacier in partnership with five-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seaveys AK Sled Dog Tours. From downtown Anchorage, its around a one-hour drive to Alaska Helicopter Tours headquarters at Knik River Lodge. A free shuttle scoops me up from the quaint, 15-room Copper Whale Inn and my driver is kind enough to stop for moose sightings. Upon arrival, our pilot, Connor Buzzell, already has the chopper warmed up and waiting. I climb aboard with Alaska Sundog owners, Kate Evans and Tom Kempinski, and within minutes the carpeted landscape of spruce and birch gives way to what looks like a vast sea of icebergs. As Connor buzzes us low over the otherworldly terrain of azure melt pools and jagged ice formations, I feel as if we were in a polar video game. And then we spot our moulin. Kate and Tom had scouted it the day before, ensuring it was safe to climb. Connor masterfully lands us a few hundred feet away. As I step onto the ice, I feel both thrilled and humbled. This was the Alaska Factor everything feels wilder, bigger, more remote and a bit more dangerous. While Tom secures our ropes, Kate helps me strap on crampons and gives me a tutorial on how to use the ice axes. When it comes time to descend, I cant bring myself to look down into the dark depths. I crawl backward to the edge and stare straight ahead taking deep breaths as Tom lowers me. My hands grip the rope as my clawlike crampons slowly walk down the frozen wall. Connor had climbed halfway down to shoot photos and tells me hes dropped his prescription sunglasses. Being flown by a blind pilot suddenly seemed far more dangerous than being lowered into a glacier and I yell to Tom that Im going to the bottom. It seems like eons before my crampons touch the slushy floor. Spray from a small waterfall and melting ice shower down on me. I quickly spot Connors glasses lying perilously close to the edge of a stream and deftly scoop them to safety with the tip of my ice ax. The task at hand had distracted my nerves, and when I finally pause to look around and up, Im surprised to feel a sense of serenity. The soft blue glow of the ice has a calming effect. Unlike typical ice climbing, where youre exposed to the elements, I feel safely cocooned within this cerulean glacial shaft. Climbing! I yell up to Tom, signaling Im ready to begin my ascent. I swing my ice ax overhead in a sharp downward movement, then sink the razor-sharp blades of my crampons into the icelike daggers. The top comes quicker than I expect, and before I know it, Im crawling over the lip of the moulin, blinded by the sunlight and stark landscape. Kate high fives me, and when she asks if Id like to climb again, I surprise myself and say yes. Sun Dog offers an option to camp overnight on the glacier or guests can opt to overnight at one of Knik Lodges 22 cozy cabins, which are fresh off a refurb, and dine on salmon drizzled with wild berry reduction and other Alaskan delicacies at its excellent restaurant. I shuttle back to town, as Ive managed to score a reservation at Altura Bistro. Located in an unassuming midtown strip mall, this white-tablecloth restaurant became the hottest table in town after being named one of Yelps Top 100 Restaurants of 2022. And the experience lives up to the hype. Not only is the refined seafood-centric menu dazzling, but the wine list is also stellar, and the staff know just what to pair with dishes like black cod with squid ink-coffee rub, oyster mushrooms and hazelnut pesto. The next morning, I pedal off my indulgences on a fat bike ride along the Tony Knowles Coastal Trail. Copper Whale is conveniently located near the start of the trail, Pablos Bike Rentals and local institution Snow City Cafe, where I grab a salmon B.L.T. for a picnic. Most of the trail parallels the Cook Inlet, and on clear days like today, you can see the faint outline of majestic Denali in the distance. Its incredible how quickly you can find yourself surrounded by wilderness here. I spend two more days exploring the 300-some hiking trails near the city before heading south to Girdwood, a funky little town nestled along the Turnagain Arm in the Chugach Mountains. The 45-minute drive along the Seward Highway, an Alaska Scenic Byway, alone is worth the visit. Around mile marker 110, I pull off at Beluga Point, a lookout where you can spot beluga whales in the silty waters at high tide. Girdwood is synonymous with Alyeska Resort. Alaskas only destination ski area is a hiking and mountain biking mecca in summer. The North Face Trail begins right at the resort door, and after checking in, I lace up my boots, grab some bear spray and tackle the 2.2-mile hike. Ascending 2,000-vertical feet, its a serious glute burner, and I save my knees by taking the free aerial tram back down. Girdwood Brewing Company is where locals gather for apres adventure celebrations. Some local friends are already there with a cold pint of Down the Chute kolsch waiting for me. The next morning, I test my mettle on Alyeskas downhill mountain bike park. Knowing the terrain will be more extreme than what Im used to, even in my home state Colorado, I hire a guide to help me navigate the technical single-track and banked corners. By noon, my legs are wobbly with fatigue and my arms throb from gripping my handlebars too tightly. But I dont mind the aches, as Ive been booked a forest therapy massage at the resorts new Nordic Spa. The indoor-outdoor oasis had its soft opening this April and rivals even the most lavish spas in the lower 48. Massage treatments include access to the extensive hydrotherapy area, or you can buy a pass for the pools. The Nordic-inspired circuit of hot and cold experiences include steamy pools of 103 degrees and polar plunges, as well as a Himalayan rock salt sauna. Russian banyas and Finnish barrel saunas will be added later this year. The experience ends in the exfoliation cabin, where I scrub my body with Alaskan sea salt then rinse under hot showers. Once youve entered the spa, you can stay until closing, at 9 p.m. In my state of mellow spa bliss, I ditch plans to check out Sakura, one of Alaskas top sushi spots, and instead dine in my robe and slippers at the spas restaurant, Two Pines. A menu of shareable seacuterie (salmon rillettes, cured halibut), flatbreads and salads is exactly what I crave. This sanctuary of well-being even has a menu of craft brews, wine and cocktails. More Information If you go GETTING THERE United and Alaskan Airlines offer nonstop flights from George Bush Intercontinental/Houston Airport to Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. WHERE TO EAT Altura Bistro: 4240 Old Seward Hwy, Anchorage, 907-561-2373 Snow City Cafe: Anchorage, snowcitycafe.com Girdwood Brewing Company: girdwoodbrewing.com Sakura Asian Bistro: Girdwood, alyeskaresort.com/dining WHERE TO STAY Copper Whale Inn: Rooms from $299 per night, including breakfast, copperwhale.com Knik River Lodge Cabins: Rooms from $199, knikriverlodge.com Alyeska Resort: Rooms from $449, aleyskaresort.com WHAT TO DO Alaska Helicopter Tours: Knik Glacier flightseeing from $629, alaskahelicoptertours.com Alaska Sundog Guiding: Summer ice climbing from $899, aksundog.com Pablo's Bike Rentals: From $20 per hour, pablobicyclerentals.com Nordic Spa: Hydrotherapy pass $79, anordicspa.com See More Collapse As I sip my Ginger Bee, a mix of local ginger beer, honey, lemon and gin, I ask my server if lounging in a spa for eight hours was a bit extreme. This is Alaska, she says with a chuckle. Theres no such thing as too extreme. Wild West Brew Fest, one of Katy's largest philanthropic events, will return for its eleventh year on November 3-5, this time at a new location. The event will take place at Typhoon Texas instead of Katy Mills Mall for the first time since the festival's inception. Rated the No. 1 beer event in North America by Beer Yeti in 2018, Wild West Brew Fest is hosted by the Rotary Club of Katy. This year's event will feature more than 500 beer vendors and is expected to draw a crowd of 9,000 visitors, according to a press release from event organizers. Since the event's inception in 2011, nearly $1 million has been distributed to local schools, organizations and charities, founder David Loesch said. Last year, the Rotary Club of Katy donated about $135,000 as a result of the festival. The beneficiaries included Katy ISD FFA Projects, Auction and Special Rodeo, Katy ISD Fine Arts and Band, Katy ISD Education Foundation, Christ Clinic of Katy, The Ballard House, Katy Christian Ministries, MADD and Special Olympics Texas. Because the event is run by volunteers, every dollar raised from the festival goes directly back to local charities. "(Loesch) had a dream many years ago to say, 'Let's do something that we all enjoy, but can also impact our community,'" said event coordinator Chris Garcia. "So were here to give back to our Katy community, and we're touching lives." Tickets are on sale now. While teachers are in short supply in many areas of the nation, one Briar Forest resident is learning herself as she educates high school students through nonprofit Teach For America. In May, TFA Corps Member Janite Grooms finished her first year of teaching tenth grade English at Aldine High School as part of a two-year requirement for the organization that educates students in more than 50 low-income communities across the United States. In the Houston area, TFA partners with Houston ISD, Aldine ISD, KIPP, YES Prep and Baker Ripley Promise Community Schools. At 32 years old, Grooms took a different path into Teach For America than many educators who sign on. Most corps members enter the program directly after college. Grooms graduated from Florida International University in 2008 and then spent most of her career in higher education and nonprofit work. But she knew from a young age that she wanted to eventually work with younger students, where she could impact their minds as they were still developing. And I think thats kind of what drew me away from working in more of the college setting and moving towards the high school classroom setting, Grooms said. I do think that theres more opportunity for connection there and to help be a part of what shapes their future. Tiffany Cuellar Needham, executive director of Teach For America Houston, said two years of pandemic have profoundly affected students of color and those in low-income communities. Corps members go into schools in those communities and learn to be great teachers, impacting students lives for the better. More than 64,000 Teach For America alumni and corps members are teaching in more than 9,000 schools nationwide and working toward profound systematic change, Needham said. Teach For America is also an alternative certification pathway that helps college graduates who did not major in education work toward earning their correct licensure, all while benefiting from intensive training and support during their two years of service. Now more than ever before, educators need resources to motivate, guide and help them navigate their teaching journeys and help them stay the course so that they and their students reach their full potential, Needham said. She said most TFA educators either remain in the classroom or work with low-income communities once they finish their service. Some have other aspirations when they enter the program, but many find their work with students changes those plans. Needham, herself, had planned to go to business school after serving. Seventeen years later, however, she is still working to educate young people. Grooms has more time commitments than many of her fellow corps members, namely, a husband and daughter. The family moved to Houston from Florida when she received her TFA assignment. Her service, she said, has required her to keep balance as the priority because she has to face the rigorous demands of giving all she can in the classroom while also being there for her family. She doesnt really see being a mom and corps member as a challenge but said it has taught her to manage her time very strategically, something she doubts she would have excelled at right out of college. In her first year, Grooms made planning a foundation. It helped her days in the classroom flow and made her better prepared when things went off script. Plan, plan, plan, she said. She also learned that developing relationships with other teachers and people across the campus, and most importantly her students was critical. Nothing happens until you build a relationship with someone, Grooms said. And I think that I made sure to spend a lot of time getting to know my students, who they were, trying to gauge them and how they experience the world, so that I can bring that into the actual learning and the experience that they had with me in the classroom. Teach for America has assigned Grooms to teach English at Sam Houston Math, Science, and Technology Center High School in HISD for her second year of service. She hasnt learned what grade she will be teaching yet. In the meantime, Grooms and her family are trying to soak up their summer break by traveling some and enjoying the relative peace before the new school year ramps up. Last summer, she was new to Houston but deep into TFA training. So, she hopes to get out and explore the area more in the coming weeks, although she wonders how much that will actually happen due to high gas prices. All in all, though, Grooms is looking forward to meeting a new set of students in the fall and learning how she can impact their lives. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com A Houston man has been sentenced to life in prison for a narcotics-related 2020 killing spree that left three men dead and a fourth wounded. A Harris County jury on Thursday found Joshua Kelsey, 37, guilty of murdering one person during a heroin buy and then tracking down and killing two more people both of whom he knew during the hour-long rampage through the Almeda area in May 2020. Kelsey will spend life in prison for the murders. Life in prison is absolutely the right result," Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a statement Saturday. The killing spree, which started with a heroin buy, was part of a nationwide surge in murders that accompanied the outset of the coronavirus pandemic. Authorities linked the rise in violent crimes to a scarcity of drugs caused by a disruption in trafficking routes that police said may have sparked some narcotics-related violent crimes and contributed to the rise in murders. The killing spree began the evening of May 6, 2020, when Louis Hodges and another man picked up Kelsey with a plan to find heroin. According to court records, the duo handed Kelsey $40 and drove to a house in southwest Houston. Kelsey emerged 20 minutes later without the drugs or the money. A witness testified that he seemed high. According to court records, that is when Kelsey opened fire, killing Hodges and striking the other man, who managed to escape with gunshot wounds. A witness testified that Kelsey was angry at Hodges for an earlier incident in which Hodges was apparently careless with a small bag of heroin. Minutes after killing Hodges, Kelsey drove to the home of a friend, Michael Miller. According to court records, Kelsey knocked on the front door and fatally shot Miller when he answered. Millers longtime partner testified that Kelsey had blamed Miller for getting rid of Kelsey's RV. Kelsey then fled to the home of an acquaintance, Juan Garcia. When Garcia answered the door, Kelsey said, Ive got something for you and fatally shot him, according to testimony from two witnesses who were at the house. It was unclear why Kelsey held a grudge against Garcia. Kelsey was arrested about seven hours later, after a 20-mile police chase that ended in Sugar Land. Prosecutors said the 37-year-old held grudges and "made a plan" to kill those who crossed him. He had deep-seated anger and hatred for these people," said Assistant District Attorney Sean Teare, who prosecuted the case. "He has to be locked away for as long as possible because who knows who else he may have grudges against. Houston Chronicle An armed man who was holding at least one person hostage on Monday inside a Masonic hall near southwest Houston was taken into custody, police said. HPD's SWAT and hostage negotiators were at the Houston Scottish Rite on the 2400 block of West Bellfort Avenue, the Houston Police Department said on Twitter, adding that there were no reports of injuries at the time. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GALVESTON Fourteen years after Hurricane Ikes devastating storm surge significantly damaged Galveston Island State Park, the beachfront side of the property got a major re-do. It reopened Monday to the excitement of visitors and residents. A few campers and picnickers were out fishing and exploring the spotless new facilities that afternoon. We just wanted to check it out, said Royce Winkler, from Temple, who came from a nearby beach house with four of his grandchildren. Its fabulous. The much-awaited moment was a reminder of how long a communitys recovery can take after a hurricane hits and of how vulnerable the barrier island still is. On HoustonChronicle.com: The final Ike Dike plan won't protect against every storm especially with climate change Hurricane Ike walloped Galveston Island in 2008. The Category 2 storm pushed in a surge as high as 20 feet on nearby Bolivar Peninsula to the east. Its force wiped out communities, with bodies found in the debris. The park, which is split between a bay and beach side on the west end of Galveston Island, was not spared. The hurricane left buildings such as the headquarters torn open like a hospital gown, said Tom Linton, a former president of the Friends of Galveston Island State Park, a volunteer group that helps maintain and promote the state park. The damage was so severe that some predicted the park would be closed for up to seven years. But groups of local volunteers mobilized to help clean up after the storm hit, and the state parks department received some federal and grant funding. Buildings were demolished; other temporary or inadequate facilities remained. Officials managed to reopen much of the area by 2009, while larger-scale renovations were planned. A vision for the overhaul of the park, which was the basis for the new renovations, was completed in 2011. The designs needed to be reviewed and more funding secured. Construction began in 2019. The beach side of the park remained shut for nearly three years, prolonged because of the coronavirus pandemic. Workers built 95 new campsites, two new bathrooms and a new park headquarters, according to a news release from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. There are also new changing areas, a spot for horses and shade shelters for day use. This time around, the facilities are farther back from the ocean to protect them better from flooding, wrote Stephanie Garcia, a spokeswoman for the parks department, in an email. The structures are built to withstand 150 mph winds, electric plugs are four feet above the ground and roads are on average eight feet above sea level. It has been a long time coming, and I could not be more excited for public to once again experience the park at its fullest, said Kody Waters, Interim Superintendent of Galveston Island State Park, in a prepared statement. More Information How to make park reservations: Reservations can be made online at https://texasstateparks.reserveamerica.com/ or by calling 512-389-8900 on weekdays during business hours. Campsites can be reserved as early as five months ahead, and day passes 30 days ahead. See More Collapse Galvestons entire coastline of course remains vulnerable to storms such as Ike, and leaders continue to argue over how best to protect it. A version of the so-called Ike Dike plan, envisioned after that storm, includes tall dune systems that would be built on the west end of the island. Its being considered in Congress. Before the renovations began, the Galveston park was one of the most-visited Texas state parks. Between 130,000 and 150,000 people visited the park each year, said Michael Woody, the chief tourism officer for the Galveston Island Park Board of Trustees. While the bay side of the park remained open during construction, officials said they expect the parks visitor numbers to begin to climb back up. The parks department last week announced the impending opening of the beach side facilities. Pat and Bill Cutchens, a married couple from League City, saw the opening announced on Facebook and came down Monday. They knew what they were going to do as soon as they got back home: Book overnight reservations. Weve been waiting for this for a long time and were impressed, Pat Cutchens said. Were anxious to come camping. emily.foxhall@chron.com john.ferguson@chron.com AmorePacific's headquarters in Seoul / Courtesy of AmorePacific By Kim Hyun-bin Nearly 90 percent of Korean companies operating in China have suffered from the latter's strict zero-COVID measures including lockdowns of major cities, mandatory mass testing, transportation shutdowns and travel bans from March to April, according to the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), Monday. The Shanghai branch of the KITA released a report after surveying 177 Korean companies in China on the losses caused by lockdowns of large urban areas, including Shanghai. It was found that 88.1 percent of the responding companies were negatively affected, with 97.4 of them citing their sales decreased in the first half of this year, and 31.4 percent reporting a sales decrease by more than 50 percent compared to the same period of the previous year. Among the respondents, 95.5 percent predicted that the decline in sales would continue into the second half of this year. Companies with reduced investment and employment in the first half accounted for 69.9 percent and 66.7 percent, respectively, but more companies are expecting the second half to be worse. "The investment and employment sectors will suffer more over time," KITA said. The major difficulties Korean companies faced with China's zero-COVID policy included movement restrictions on sales and marketing activities and disruptions in logistics and supply chains. "Shanghai is restricting face-to-face customer service even after the lockdowns were lifted, and there are still many inconveniences, so it will take some time for non-manufacturing businesses to normalize their operations," KITA said. Regarding their future business plans in China, more than half 55.3 percent of companies answered that they were considering reducing, suspending, withdrawing or relocating their business. Maintaining the existing business plan accounted for 35.9 percent and further expansion of their business accounted for only 7.3 percent of respondents operating in China. Businesses appear to want support from the Chinese government, such as improving the predictability of quarantine policies, increasing subsidies and reducing taxes and rent prices. "In order to promote economic exchange between the two countries, the Korean government and related organizations need to inform the Chinese government of the losses and urge support for it," Shin Seon-young, head of the Shanghai branch of the International Trade Association, said. "As most foreign-funded companies, not just Korean companies, are complaining of similar difficulties and losses, it is a good way for foreign-funded companies in China to respond to the problem jointly." Harris County officials canceled Mondays election commission meeting, citing a lack of quorum because only two members were able to attend in person. The commission has not yet set a new date for the rescheduled meeting. Hidalgo, one of five members of the commission, announced Sunday evening that she had tested positive for COVID-19. When they meet, members of the county's election commission are expected to pick a new official to run elections, as outgoing Harris County Elections Administrator Isabel Longoria's resignation goes into effect on Friday. Beth Stevens, chief director of voting for the county, will become the interim elections administrator until the new hire begins, which Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said is likely to be Aug. 1. On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County officials narrow search for new elections administrator to two candidates The canceled meeting further delays the narrow timeframe the new administrator will have to prepare for his or her first test: Early voting for the November election begins Oct. 24, less than three months after the new administrators likely start date. Harris County Elections Administrators Office spokesperson Nadia Hakim said, regardless of the transition, the office is working on plans for the upcoming election. After hosting a historic 10 elections in 13 months, through a pandemic, legal changes, and redistricting, this office is well-versed in the processes required for a secure election to be carried out as smoothly as possible, Hakim said in a statement. Preparations for early voting to begin at the end of October and Election Day on Nov. 8 are well underway. Harris County had a relatively smooth election night during the primary runoffs on May 24. However, the county could face some difficulties in the November election as they navigate new voting machines, frequent legal challenges and an extremely polarized electorate, Renee Cross, senior director of the Hobby School of Public Affairs at the University of Houston, said. Republicans in Harris County from the top GOP leaders to the regular voters are going to be placing a lot of extra scrutiny on this election, as well as on the administrator, Cross said. The commission is expected to hold a closed-door executive session to interview two finalists for the position. Both finalists have prior experience running elections and are located out of state, according to Hidalgo. The election commission has five members: both local party chairs, the county clerk, the county judge and the county tax assessor-collector. Before Commissioners Court created an appointed election administrator in October 2020, the county clerk and tax assessor-collector managed elections in Harris County. We are down to two finalists after our last meeting and confident the next elections administrator will have the necessary, qualified experience to hit the ground running once they are selected, Harris County Democratic Party Chair Odus Evbagharu said in a statement. The new administrators appointment will be voted on at a later meeting after the selected candidate meets residency requirements to become a voter under the Texas Election Code. On HoustonChronicle.com: Harris County had a mostly smooth election, seriously Longoria resigned March 8, days after she and her office came under fire for a slow vote count for the Republican and Democratic primaries and the failure to include about 10,000 ballots in its election night tally. Those ballots were included in the final count. Harris County Republicans called for Longorias termination, even after she submitted her resignation. jen.rice@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Crowds of Houstons friendliest felines and their two-legged companions flocked to POP Cats over the weekend, an interactive event that made its Bayou City debut. Cats of all kinds calico cats, sleepy cats, cats in hats participated in the two-day event celebrating cats, art and promoting pet adoption at Silver Street Studios in Houstons First Ward. Wearing an oversized gold chain necklace, pink John Lennon sunglasses and gray denim jacket, Dragon, a hairless Sphynx cat, perched on a stroller, where onlookers snapped photos, attempting to capture his unique cattitude. Everybody thinks Sphynxes originated in Egypt and they dont they come from Toronto, said Dragons owner, Star Smith, who was drawn to the breed because of how affectionate they are and first came across them when a friend reached out about finding a cat compatible with her sons allergies. Smith said Dragon, 7, is a retired stud and emotional support animal, who usually spends his days underneath the covers next to two heater fans at their home in Tomball, where hes a regular attendee of the Tomball German Festival. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Other cat parents carried their fur babies in backpacks and carriers as they wandered around the Houston event, which is what event creator Edgar Flores believes makes this event unique. Attendees can bring their own cat, Flores said. He started POP Cats in Miami in 2017 to celebrate cats and cat welfare and make cats more approachable for people who might be interested in adopting. Flores said instead of cat conventions, which have a strong emphasis on products and shopping, POP Cats focuses on the experience of attendees. We have cat playgrounds, something that you couldnt see before, Flores said. These playgrounds are an enclosed netted space where people and adoptable cats can mingle and play and kind of have a speed date to check their compatibility, Flores said. SHELTER DEATHS: Texas is leading the pack in Americas growing animal shelter crisis Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Several greater Houston animal shelters were at the event and found homes for some of the adoptable cats they brought for the play areas, which brought lines of children and adults eager for some play time or a chance to take some cat selfies. A young couple from Beaumont came to POP Cats to celebrate their one-year wedding anniversary, along with their fluffy, black cat Tobi, who they rescued several months ago. Hes not a purebred cat but weve had him since he was four weeks old. He was an orphan, said Rachel Moore, whose grandmother first encouraged her to become a cat owner. She finally adopted one when she got an apartment and then things spiraled, she said, when she would encounter other cats in need of a home. My family has made fun of me for being a crazy cat lady ever since I got my first cat, and I have four, so I guess theyre partially correct, she said. They started buying her cat-themed presents, so now shes fully leaning in to it and even has cat-themed dish towels and spoon rests. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer Everything is cats, Moore said, who picked up a handcrafted cat bed for Tobi at the event. Several local and national vendors there sold unique handcrafted art, attire and everything in between gothic cat collars with ties for emo cats and even portraits of cats as iconic pop culture characters, such as a cat Sailor Moon or feline Harry Potter. For a gentlemanly cat, Danita Hickerson from Conroe, was selling her 22-year-old daughters handmade cat bow ties. The local business, the Dragons Cauldron, took off during the pandemic, when her daughter started making masks. Since then the business has evolved into creating all kinds of accessories for two and four-legged beings. She was able to turn this into a full-time job, Hickerson said, who added that their family cat, Captain Bones, loves to wear the bowties. The local animal shelters attending POP Cats included BARC, Rescued Pets Movement, SAVE Rescue Coalition (Santa Fe) and Friends for Life, a no-kill shelter that is reopening its doors to the public July 1. Friends for Life offers cat (and dog) adoption and specializes in its free behavioral therapy consultations that teach pet owners how to train their animals. Yi-Chin Lee / Staff photographer One of the most common (behavioral) struggles that I think most cat owners can appreciate is nail trims, said volunteer Crystal Bye, We do nail trim training with our cats. Friends for Life also provides personality tests to match cats with the right owner. Were all about trying to make sure cats stay in a home that is a good fit, Bye said. elizabeth.trovall@chron.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Brett Coomer, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer Show More Show Less The family of a Houston veteran and Purple Heart recipient received the surprise of a lifetime last week when they were gifted a brand new, mortgage-free home. Army Spc. Fernando DelPozo Jr. and his family thought they were meeting with Operation Finally Home, a nonprofit that helps provide veterans with housing, and Highland Homes to discuss the next steps with their application. Instead, they were greeted by a slew of smiling faces, including the Houston Texans Cheerleaders, TORO and Houston Texans legend Moran Norris who informed the family they were chosen to receive a mortgage-free home in Fulshears Jordan Ranch subdivision, according to a release. A month after the Uvalde school massacre, its still hard to know what shifting facts to believe about the police response, but the trickle of evidence seems to bolster the disturbing idea that the incident commander on the scene, Pete Arredondo, was more concerned with protecting the lives of law enforcement officers than the lives of vulnerable children. In some of the most jolting revelations yet, DPS Director Steve McCraw testified last week to the Texas Senate that, within three minutes of a deranged gunman entering Robb Elementary, there were enough armed officers wearing body armor to to isolate, distract and neutralize the subject in the classrooms where children lay bleeding, dying and begging a 911 operator for help. And yet, no one would go in for more than an hour. The officers had weapons. The children had none, McCraw told senators. The officers had body armor. The children had none. The officers had training. The subject had none. McCraw called the response an abject failure and antithetical to everything law enforcement officers are taught about active shooter scenarios: namely, go in as soon as possible and stop the killing, stop the dying, even if theres only one officer on scene, only wearing, as McCraw put it, flip-flops and Bermuda shorts. One hour, 14 minutes and eight seconds is how long McCraw said the children waited for rescue. And during that time, he said, Arredondo, the school district police chief who was recently placed on leave, waited as well first for a radio he had neglected to bring in. Then for rifles that were apparently already there. Then for shields that soon arrived but went unused. Then for SWAT officers, who arrived promptly as well but were made to wait. Then, lastly, for a key that was never needed, McCraw said. While Arredondo can be heard, according to police transcripts, calling again and again for a key to enter the classroom where the shooter was, body and security video shows he never even checked to see if the door was locked. It wasnt. People are going to ask why were taking so long, Arredondo said at one point, according to the transcripts. Yes, and a month later, were still asking. Weeks after grieving families began putting 19 children and two teachers to rest, were still asking. As lawmakers try to figure out what went wrong so they can write legislation to address gaps in school safety, were still asking. Answers have been hard to come by, in part, because just as Arredondo seemed to think of his own precious hide, and those of his officers, when deciding not to confront the gunman, other officials seem to have adopted their own cover-your-ass posture in confronting the truth. At times, they seem less concerned with actually finding out what happened than with keeping the public and the journalists acting as the eyes and ears of the public from finding out. Both local and state officials have fought and even ignored open records requests related to the shooting. For a while, the Uvalde County district attorney was asking officials not to disclose information related to her investigation until it became clear there was no investigation. The governor, who promised the public clarity and accuracy after he was forced to retract his early heroic depiction of Uvalde police response, has resisted records requests as well unless they seemed to benefit him. Abbott, up for re-election in November against Democrat Beto ORourke, agreed to release to Houstons KTRK-TV his handwritten notes from the day of the shooting that seem to support his claim that he was misled about the facts. But who knows how long the governors lionizing of police would have gone on if amateur video hadnt surfaced showing parents being contained and handcuffed as they attempted to enter the school, substantiating complaints that police stood by while kids died. The lack of transparency led state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who represents the area including Uvalde, to sue DPS over records he requested. In the wake of the senseless tragedy, the people of Uvalde and Texas have demanded answers from their government. To date, they have been met with lies, misstatements, and shifts of blame, Gutierrez argues in the lawsuit. While the governor vows that results of Texas Rangers and FBI investigations will be released when completed, the chaos and infighting among law enforcement agencies thus far doesnt engender confidence. At first, DPS said Arredondo was not cooperating with them but then Arredondo fired back that he spoke with them daily on the phone. Arredondo even counters the DPS narrative that he was incident commander; he said he didnt know he was in charge but then McCraw quoted transcripts during his Senate testimony of Arredondo giving orders. Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin, meanwhile, has accused state officials of releasing only information cherry-picked to scapegoat local law enforcement while deflecting attention from the role of DPS, which eventually had 91 troopers respond to the shooting. McCraw has continued to, whether you want to call it, lie, leak, mislead or misstate information in order to distance his own troopers and rangers from the response, the mayor said Tuesday at a City Council meeting, where people gathered with signs that read Fire Pete. Arredondo, a new city council member, was conspicuously absent and while McCraw testified openly before senators, Arredondo appeared before a Texas House committee in closed session. Hes no longer talking with outlets after giving his version of the days events to the Texas Tribunea version that was largely undercut by McCraws testimony. McCraw, for his part, has downplayed the idea that troopers could have wrested control of the scene or entered the classroom over Arredondos objections but why not? Kids were dying. Extraordinary action could have saved them. The publics right to know and the medias watchdog role in holding officials accountable have never been more important. The back and forth, a disappointing tangle of self-interest, has obscured the truth and eroded trust even in a town as tight-knit as Uvalde. The actions and inactions of officials, during the shooting and after, have, to borrow from McCraw, set law enforcement back a decade or more. We dont really know what all to believe because weve heard so much stuff, committee chair Sen. Robert Nichols, R-Jacksonville, told McCraw as he asked for clarification about the classroom door lock. All this maneuvering to protect agencies, officials and colleagues stands in stark contrast to the protection that those 19 children and their teachers got or, rather, didnt get. Grieving families and Uvalde residents deserve more. They deserve the truth. Its the least officials can do after failing the shooting victims so tragically. No more secrecy and rejected public information requests. No more closed-door testimony in executive session. No more cowering in the hallway to protect your own reputation while innocent people are left to suffer and wonder and wait. Release the records. Tell the truth. Let people heal. Let Texas learn so this never happens again. In the wake of Uvalde, Sen. John Cornyn said his office received tens of thousands of calls and emails, all with one message: Do something. Now, he has. On the same day the Supreme Court handed down its decision vastly expanding the territory of gun rights across the country on Thursday, Cornyn managed a not-so-minor feat as the lead Republican behind the most significant bit of gun safety legislation in decades. It cleared the Senate Thursday and the House Friday, and President Biden signed it Saturday. Given the enormity of the problem of gun violence in America, the new legislation is modest in its ambitions. But its still important, first because it may save many lives, and secondly because it is proof that the Congress, even in this bitterly divided moment, can still function. Gun reforms have been stalled in the divided Congress for years. Achieving a filibuster-proof majority of Senators to advance this bill took leadership and given how opposed many on the right in his own party are to any gun legislation no small dose of courage. To underscore just how extreme those views are within the GOP, we note merely that Cornyn was emphatically booed back home when he attended the Texas GOP convention earlier this month. He faced stiff blow back not just from the National Rifle Association, but from his junior colleague Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, too. But Cornyn, who isnt up for reelection until 2026, understood the risks and was moved to do so by the incredible tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, where 19 children and two teachers were killed last month. I dont believe in doing nothing in the face of what we saw in Uvalde, Cornyn said in a statement, and weve seen in far too many communities. Doing nothing is an abdication of our responsibility as representatives of the American people here in the United States Senate. The bill could have done more. When Uvalde resident Kimberly Mata-Rubio spoke to a House committee about her daughter Lexi who was killed, she asked for change. Specifically, she asked for a ban on assault rifles and high-capacity magazines, an end to the gun industrys sweeping liability immunity and higher minimum age requirements for purchasing assault rifles. None of that is in this bill. Thats too bad, But well celebrate this new law as the step in the right direction American needed so badly. Ending nearly 50 years of federally protected access to abortion, the U.S. Supreme Court on June 24 overturned Roe v. Wade, returning power to individual states to set their own laws. "The Constitution makes no express reference to a right to obtain an abortion," the June 24 ruling said. "We thus return the power to weigh those arguments to the people and their elected representatives." The final ruling closely mirrored the draft leaked to Politico in May. The Mississippi law at the center of the ruling banned abortion after 15 weeks, except to protect the life of the woman, or if there was "a serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function." Justice Samuel Alito delivered the opinion for the majority in which Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined. Chief Justice John Roberts agreed with the judgment that Mississippis law should stand, but in a separate opinion, he said that in overturning Roe v. Wade entirely, the court had gone further than necessary. The three liberal justices, Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan dissented. We fact-checked multiple key statements in the final ruling. In Mississippi "to support this Act, the legislature made a series of factual findings. It began by noting that, at the time of enactment, only six countries besides the United States permit[ted] nontherapeutic or elective abortion-on-demand after the twentieth week of gestation." This is partially accurate. In a footnote, Alito listed Canada, China, the Netherlands, North Korea, Singapore and Vietnam, and then, citing the work of the Center for Reproductive Rights, added Iceland and Guinea-Bissau. But the centers latest count finds a dozen countries in that group. In addition, defining what constitutes a non-therapeutic, elective abortion is complicated. Many European nations, for example, have broad exceptions that allow abortions after the 20th week to protect the mothers welfare. That group includes Germany, Great Britain, Norway, Ukraine, Spain and many others. When Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., made a similar claim, we rated it Half True. "At the time of Roe, 30 states still prohibited abortion at all stages. At the time of the adoption of the Fourteenth Amendment, over three-quarters of the states had adopted statutes criminalizing abortion (usually at all stages of pregnancy)." This history lacks important context, and is refuted by at least one legal review. Among other changes, the 14th Amendment said that no state shall "deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law." Its a powerful protection, and its been linked to abortion rights. Alitos statement that when the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, over three-quarters of the states had criminalized abortion (usually at all stages of pregnancy) is challenged by a law professor at the University of California Davis. In a December 2021 article, Aaron Tang wrote that, at ratification, "21 of 37 states continued to recognize the very pre-quickening abortion right that was universally embraced at the founding." Quickening was the term used to describe a womans sensation of fetal movement in her womb. It roughly applies to the 15th or 16th week of pregnancy. That said, Tang also wrote that by 1868, 31 of the 37 states had laws "punishing abortion in some form or another." The historians PolitiFact reached in February said Alitos numbers are largely correct, though by the time the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, doctors had been pushing for over a decade to criminalize abortion as part of a campaign to professionalize medicine. "The doctors targets were midwives and others who were not licensed," Peter Hoffer, professor of history at the University of Georgia, told us. "It was necessary to protect the health of women, as abortion at that time was not a particularly safe procedure." Early term abortions were common, University of Illinois historian Leslie Reagan previously told PolitiFact. Abortion bans might have been on the books, but they were largely ignored. "They were prosecuted when women died," Reagan said. "In the rare case of a prosecution where no one died, juries usually nullified the law and refused to convict for the abortion itself." There were also times when families sued abortionists for damages, and won, Reagan said. "It is noteworthy that the percentage of women who register to vote and cast ballots is consistently higher than the percentage of men who do so." Alito is correct that U.S. women turn out to vote at higher rates than men, which has been the trend over recent decades. He was citing womens higher turnout rates to argue that women "on both sides of the abortion issue" can influence the state legislative process by voting. In 2021, the trend in states was toward passing more abortion restrictions. In 2020, the share of voting women was 68% and voting men was 65%, according to a Census Bureau survey. Researchers cite various reasons, including that women "are more likely to rely on government services and are often more directly affected by highly debated issues like reproductive rights, child care/family leave, among others," Kelly Dittmar, a Rutgers University political scientist, told PolitiFact in September. Reacting to the leaked draft opinion at the time, Julie A. Wronski, associate professor of political science at University of Mississippi, said the argument, however, misses context: "The context is that the types of women voting in (Mississippi) lean Republican. And abortion attitudes are polarized by party identity." The Due Process Clause of the 14th Amendment "has been held to guarantee some rights that are not mentioned in the Constitution, but any such right must be deeply rooted in this nations history and tradition." Alito was quoting from Washington v. Glucksberg, a 1997 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that found a state is permitted under the 14th Amendment to pass a law prohibiting assisted suicide. The Washington state ruling said, in part: "First, the court has regularly observed that the clause specially protects those fundamental rights and liberties which are, objectively, deeply rooted in this nation's history and tradition. An examination of our nation's history, legal traditions, and practices demonstrates that Anglo-American common law has punished or otherwise disapproved of assisting suicide for over 700 years." But Alitos opinion ignored that the court hasnt always held rights to that standard since the Glucksberg case, said Evan D. Bernick, Northern Illinois University College of Law professor and expert on the 14th Amendment. In Obergefell v. Hodges, the same-sex marriage case decided in 2015, the court didn't apply the Glucksberg test, he said. In the ruling for the same-sex marriage case, Justice Anthony Kennedy said for the majority that some cases in the past about marriage such as Loving v. Virginia, which ruled that laws banning interracial marriage were unconstitutional did not rely on past historical preferences. "Loving did not ask about a right to interracial marriage," Kennedy wrote. "Rather, each case inquired about the right to marry in its comprehensive sense, asking if there was a sufficient justification for excluding the relevant class from the right." "It is beyond dispute," that the legalization of abortion reduced the size of the Black population. "A highly disproportionate percentage of aborted fetuses are Black." Alito pointed to data from the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention for 2019. It showed that 38% of women who had abortions were Black, 33% white, 21% Hispanic and 7% other race or ethnicity. The data are reported voluntarily by providers to state or area health departments and therefore information may be incomplete and result in undercounting abortions, notes Kaiser Family Foundation. The data excludes 23 reporting areas (states plus New York City) that did not report, did not report by race/ethnicity, or did not meet reporting standards. Alitos statement lacks context about why there are racial differences in abortion rates. Susan Cohen, a former vice president at the Guttmacher Institute, an organization that supports abortion rights, in 2008 wrote that anti-abortion activists have pointed to the race data "falsely asserting that the disparity is the result of aggressive marketing by abortion providers to minority communities." Cohen wrote that the variation in abortion rates across racial and ethnic groups relates "to the variation in the unintended pregnancy rates across those same groups." The National Black Womens Reproductive Justice Agenda, a national group that supports reproductive rights, has said Black women are more likely to lack access to comprehensive sex education and contraception, and "as a consequence, they experience higher rates of unintended pregnancy than women of any other ethnic or racial group." Sources Justice Clarence Thomas made headlines during the Supreme Court's ruling on Roe v. Wade Friday, suggesting the Court should also reconsider past rulings establishing the constitutional right to contraception, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. In his concurring opinion on reversing the landmark 1973 case, Thomas wrote that "we have a duty to correct the error' established in those precedents," pointing to Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence v. Texas and Obergefell v. Hodges. While no other justices signed onto Thomas' opinion, it nonetheless served as an alarm bell for Democrats and advocates of LGBTQ+ rights. In case you're not familiar or need a reminder, here's what to know about those privacy-related precedent cases that Thomas mentioned in his opinion. Griswold v. Connecticut This case came about after C. Lee Buxton, a gynecologist at the Yale School of Medicine, opened a birth control clinic in New Haven with Estelle Griswold, then-head of Planned Parenthood in Connecticut. They were arrested and convicted of violating a law passed by Connecticut in 1879 that banned the use of any drug, medical device, or other instrument in furthering contraception. In 1965, the Supreme Court ruled that the Constitution protects the right of marital privacy against state restrictions on contraception. Lawrence v. Texas In 1998, Houston police entered John Lawrence's apartment while checking on a reported weapons disturbance in a private residence. They saw Lawrence and another adult man, Tyron Garner, engaging in a private, consensual sexual act. The pair were then arrested and convicted of deviate sexual intercourse in violation of a Texas statute dubbed the "homosexual conduct" law, which forbids two persons of the same gender from engaging in certain intimate sexual conduct. In a 6-3 opinion delivered on June 26, 2003 by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, the Court ruled that the "homosexual conduct" statute violates the Due Process Clause. That said, the original law has never been repealed and would go back into effect immediately if Lawrence v. Texas were overturned. Obergefell v. Hodges In the late 2000s, groups of same-sex couples sued their state agencies in Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, challenging the constitutionality of those states' bans on same-sex marriage or refusal to recognize legal same-sex marriages that occurred in jurisdictions that provided for such marriages. Each case argued that the states' statutes violated the Equal Protection Clause and Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. One group also claimed it violated the Civil Rights Act. In all the cases, the trial court found in favor of the plaintiffs. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy delivered the Supreme Court's opinion for the 5-4 majority on June 26, 2015, ruling in favor of same-sex marriage. WFO MEDFORD Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Medford OR 222 PM PDT Sun Jun 26 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT THIS EVENING... * WHAT...Hot temperatures of 95 to 105 in the valleys this afternoon and 85 to 95 at usually cooler hilly locations. Overnight lows will be warm, generally in the 60s. * WHERE...In California, the valleys and hills of western Siskiyou County, including the Klamath and Scott River valleys. In Oregon, the eastern Douglas County foothills including Toketee Falls and Steamboat. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT this evening. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures could cause heat illness. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...The hottest day of this heat wave is expected to be today. This heat wave is likely to feel unusually hot to most due to fairly cool temperatures, thus far, this warm season. * View the hazard area in detail at https://www.wrh.noaa.gov/map/?wfo=mfr 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. ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 PM PDT MONDAY... afternoon and 85 to 95 at usually cooler, hilly locations. Overnight lows will be warm, generally in the 60s. Temperatures on Monday are expected to be about 5 degrees cooler than they will be this afternoon. * WHERE...In California, the Klamath and Shasta valleys. In Oregon, Central Douglas County including Roseburg, Tri-City, Tiller, Azalea, Glendale, Camas Valley, Sutherlin, Elkton, Drain, and Scottsburg. Also in Oregon, all of Jackson County, Eastern Curry County and Josephine County including the Illinois Valley, Grants Pass, and Agness. * WHEN...Until 11 PM PDT Monday. expected to be today. On Monday the Heat Advisory area will be smaller as temperatures cool slightly. This heat wave is likely to feel unusually hot to most due to fairly cool temperatures, thus far, this warm season. * WHAT...Hot temperatures of 95 to 105 in the valleys during the afternoons and 85 to 95 at usually cooler mid-elevation locations. Overnight lows will also be much warmer than normal, generally in the mid 50s to lower 60s. * WHERE...In California, Dunsmuir, Mount Shasta City, Tennant, Macdoel, Dorris, and Tulelake. In Oregon, portions of the South Central Oregon Cascades, Siskiyou Mountains, and Southern Oregon Cascades including Crescent Lake, Union Creek, and Howard Prairie. Also, much of the Upper Klamath Basin including Keno, Klamath Falls, Bonanza, and Chiloquin. expected to be today, but temperatures on Monday are expected to be only about 3 degrees cooler. On Monday the Heat Advisory area is likely to be smaller due to the slight cooling. This heat wave is likely to feel unusually hot to most due to fairly cool temperatures, thus far, this warm season. * WHAT...Hot temperatures from the upper 80s to upper 90s in the valleys during the afternoons. Overnight lows will also be much warmer than normal, generally in the 50s. * WHERE...In California, all except the higher mountains of Modoc County. In Oregon, Northern and Eastern Klamath County and Western Lake County and Central and Eastern Lake County including Lakeview, Adel, Bly, Beatty, Sprague River, Silver Lake, Summer Lake, Chemult, and Crescent. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...This heat wave is likely to feel _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather Mayor's Office Press Release City of Houston, Greater Houston Partnership Lead Mission to France to Grow Business and Cultural Ties June 27, 2022 -- The City of Houston and the Greater Houston Partnership will lead a trade and investment mission to Paris, France, from June 27 to July 1, 2022. The mission will focus on promoting Houston as a leader in innovation, energy transition, and education while enhancing key government and business relationships between the Houston region and Paris. Targeted business sectors include energy and innovation with ties in Houston and France. The delegation has several scheduled meetings with high-level government officials and representatives. The Houston-Galveston Customs District is the fourth busiest gateway for U.S.-French trade, and France is Houston's sixth-largest European trading partner. From 2012 to 2021, trade between Houston and France averaged $4.2 billion annually and was valued at $5.5 billion in '21. "Our priority is to build a more robust trade relationship between Houston and France, and this trip is an essential mission to enrich Houston's ties with France and explore new business opportunities that will enhance our local economy with jobs and investments," Mayor Sylvester Turner said. "As a city of innovation, we value France - based businesses with established operations in our city and welcome others to explore the opportunities for investment, business development and tourism available in Houston. Our delegation will expand on Houston's global city status that makes Houston strong and unique." Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Martha Castex Tatum, who chairs the City Council Economic Development Committee, will handle business meetings and cultural events scheduled during the weeklong mission. "I am excited about the opportunity to represent Houston in Paris officially. The mission will put Houston in the international spotlight, capturing our city's role as a leader in innovation, aerospace, energy transition, and education. When we position ourselves to build international business ties, the entire city can potentially benefit through jobs and growth in our economy," said Vice Mayor Pro-Tem Castex Tatum. On Monday, the delegation joined Valerie Baraban, the Consul General of France in Houston, on a tour of the Musee d'Orsay. The museum's leadership visited Houston in 2019 to build local relationships. The delegation also attended a Bilateral Business Trade and Investment Forum with the Paris Chamber of Commerce. They spoke about Houston leading in startup ecosystems throughout the energy and medical sectors. The first day of the trade mission will end with a meeting with the Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy to discuss energy, technology and trade between Houston and Paris. Houston's Business Ties Twenty-five Houston firms operate 46 subsidiary locations in France, including Baker Hughes, Hines, Huntsman, NOV, and Schlumberger. Sixty-three French firms operate 112 subsidiaries in the Houston area, including Air Liquide, Arkema, EDF Trading North America, Engie North America, and Total Petrochemicals & Refining. Trade and cultural relationships with France are facilitated in Houston through the Consulate General of France, the French American Chamber of Commerce, the French Trade Commission (UBIFRANCE), the French Alliance, and the Texan French Alliance for the Arts. Three of Houston's 16 foreign-owned banks are from France: Credit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank, Natixis, and Societe Generale. Nice, France, was designated as one of Houston's 19 international sister cities in 1973, More than 3,100 people living in metro Houston were born in France. "As Houston works to lead the global transition to an energy-abundant, low-carbon future, the exchange of ideas and information with innovative cities around the world is critical," said Susan Davenport, Chief Economic Development Officer at the Greater Houston Partnership. "We are excited to lead a business delegation alongside Mayor Turner that will get the opportunity to see first-hand what is happening in energy and innovation with organizations in Paris. As the leading export market in the U.S. and a major hub for foreign direct investment, international business is a significant and growing part of our economy, and we look forward to productive meetings that we hope will spur further investment and trade activity for our region." The delegation also has scheduled a tour of Interstellar Labs, a visit to Station F, the world's largest startup campus, a meeting with Total Energies, and will attend the opening of Rice University's first international campus, the Rice University Paris Center, with Rice President David Leebron and Provost Reginald DesRoches, who will become Rice's president in July. The delegation includes City Council Member Karla Cisneros, Pierre Bang, President and CEO, Total Energies, Jean-Loup Chretien, retired astronaut and Tietronix Vice President of Research and Development, Alex Condon, CEO, Galen Data and Scott Gale of Halliburton, among others. Policemen stand in front of a damaged residential building following Russian airstrikes in the Shevchenkivskiy District of Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, June 26. EPA-Yonhap Russian missiles struck an apartment block and close to a kindergarten in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, Sunday, in strikes U.S. President Joe Biden condemned as "barbarism" as world leaders gathered in Europe to discuss further sanctions against Moscow. Up to four explosions shook central Kyiv in the early hours, in the first such attack on the city in weeks. "The Russians hit Kyiv again. Missiles damaged an apartment building and a kindergarten," said Andriy Yermak, head of the president's administration. A Reuters photographer saw a large blast crater near a playground in a kindergarten that had smashed windows. Deputy Mayor Mykola Povoroznyk said one person was killed and six wounded. He said explosions heard later in other parts of Kyiv were air defenses destroying further incoming missiles. Russia has stepped up air strikes on Ukraine this weekend, which has also seen the fall of a strategic eastern city to pro-Russian forces. "It's more of their barbarism," said Biden, referring to the missile strikes on Kyiv, as leaders from the Group of Seven (G7) rich democracies gathered for a summit in Germany. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said G7 countries should respond to the latest missile strikes by imposing further sanctions on Russia and providing more heavy weapons to Ukraine. As Europe's biggest land conflict since World War Two entered its fifth month, the Western alliance supporting Kyiv was starting to show signs of strain as leaders fret about the growing economic cost. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the West needed to maintain a united front against Russian President Vladimir Putin. "The price of backing down, the price of allowing Putin to succeed, to hack off huge parts of Ukraine, to continue with his program of conquest, that price will be far, far higher," he told reporters. At Sunday's G7 meeting, Britain, Canada, Japan and the United States proposed a ban on imports of gold from Russia. Smoke rises after a missile strike in Kyiv, Ukraine, June 26. Reuters-Yonhap Missiles hit central city Life had been returning to normal in Kyiv after fierce resistance held off Russian advances in the early phase of the war, although air raid sirens regularly sound across the city. There had been no major strikes on Kyiv since early June. In his nightly address, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said a wounded seven-year-old girl was pulled from the rubble of a nine-story apartment block. The girl's father was killed in the strike, he said. "She was not threatened by anything in our country. She was completely safe, until Russia itself decided that everything was equally hostile to them now women, children, kindergartens, houses, hospitals, railways," Zelenskiyy said. A Ukrainian air force spokesperson said the strike was carried out with 4-6 long-range missiles fired from Russian bombers more than 1,000 kilometers away in the southern Russian region of Astrakhan. Zelenskiyy said on Sunday that Ukrainian defenses had only managed to shoot down some of the 62 missiles that Russian had fired in the previous 24 hours and reiterated Kyiv's demand for partners to supply modern air defense systems. Russian missiles also struck the central city of Cherkasy, which until now had been largely untouched by bombardment, according to regional authorities, who said one person had been killed and five others wounded. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych said the attack also hit a strategic bridge linking western Ukraine and the eastern battlefields. "They are trying to limit the transfer of our reserves and Western weapons to the east," he said in a message to Reuters. Russia's defense ministry said it had used high-precision weapons to strike Ukrainian army training centers in the regions of Chernihiv, Zhytomyr and Lviv, an apparent reference to strikes reported by Ukraine, Saturday. There was no immediate comment about Sunday's strikes on Kyiv or Cherkasy. Russia denies targeting civilians, but Ukraine and the West accuse Russian forces of war crimes in a conflict that has killed thousands, sent millions fleeing Ukraine and destroyed cities. Rescuers in action next to a damaged residential building following Russian airstrikes in the Shevchenkivskiy District of Kyiv (Kiev), Ukraine, June 26. EPA-Yonhap Eastern battlefield The eastern battlefield city of Sievierodonetsk fell to pro-Russian forces, Saturday, after Ukrainian troops retreated, saying there was no longer anything to defend in the ruined city after months of fierce fighting. It was a major defeat for Kyiv as it seeks to keep control of two eastern provinces, Luhansk and Donetsk that form the Donbas region, which Moscow demands Kyiv cede to separatists. The RIA agency quoted a pro-Russian separatist official as saying separatist forces had evacuated more than 250 people, including children, from Sievierodonetsk's Azot chemical plant, Sunday. The plant's surrounding industrial area was the last part of Sievierodonetsk held by Ukrainian forces. Russia's TASS news agency quoted the same official as saying forces were now advancing on Lysychansk across the river from Sievierodonetsk. Lysychansk is the last major city held by Ukraine in Luhansk. Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the Donetsk region, said on the Telegram app that one civilian was killed and eight injured in Russian shelling Sunday. In the Ukrainian-held Donbas town of Pokrovsk, Elena, an elderly woman from Lysychansk in a wheelchair, was among dozens of evacuees who arrived by bus from frontline areas. "Lysychansk, it was a horror, the last week. Yesterday we could not take it anymore," she said. "I already told my husband if I die, please bury me behind the house." Rescue workers rest after working at an apartment building destroyed in a missile strike in Kyiv, June 26, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Reuters-Yonhap AFL-CIO joins fight to pass the American Music Fairness Act: #irespectmusic As we shared recently the worlds largest federation of labor unions, the AFL-CIO is actively supporting the American Music Fairness Act to make sure musicians get paid when their songs are played on the radio. by Chris Castle of Music Tech Solutions Hooray! The @AFLCIO's 12.5 million members have joined the fight to pass the American Music Fairness Act. The USA is the only democratic country in the world where artists don't get paid for AM/FM radio airplay. This act will change that. #IRespectMusic https://t.co/CoGJtoWSbk Blake Morgan (@TheBlakeMorgan) June 20, 2022 Really great news, the largest union organization in the US has joined the fight for fairness for the worlds recording artists and session performers! MusicFirst leader Joe Crowley said: We applaud the AFL-CIO for standing by artists and music creators and lending the strength of its 12.5 million members to fight for passage of the American Music Fairness Act. This legislation will benefit artists across the country including the tens of thousands who are members of SAG-AFTRA, the American Federation of Musicians and other AFL-CIO unions by correcting a decades-long injustice fueled by corporate greed that has left artists uncompensated for their use of their songs on AM/FM radio. Share on: Musicians react to Roe v Wade: Kendrick Lamar, Phoebe Bridgers, Lizzo, P!nk, Taylor Swift & more UPDATEDl The music business and many musicians have reacted strongly to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling which overturned the 50-year-old precedent affirming a womens right to choose. Offering a nearly universal outrage against the ruling, here is a sample of the reaction of musicians and the music industry reaction from across the web: Kendrick Lamar closed his set at the UKs massive Glastonberry Festival with a powerful performance of Savior, during which he repeatedly rapped, Godspeed for womens rights; they judge you, they judge Christ! while blood poured down from his diamond-encrusted crown of thorns. Watch: Phoebe Bridgers led the Glastonbury Festival audience in a chant of Fuck the Supreme Court: Fuck that shit, fuck America, fuck you. All these irrelevant old motherfuckers trying to tell us to do with our fucking bodies. Phoebe Bridgers leads a Fuck the Supreme Court chant during her set at Glastonbury. pic.twitter.com/y9RGr1DZHY Tomas Mier (@Tomas_Mier) June 24, 2022 Lizzo & Live Nation pledge $1M Im pledging $500k from my upcoming tour to Planned Parenthood and Abortion Rights. Live Nation agreed to match to make it 1 MILLION dollars FOLLOW @YITTY (@lizzo) June 24, 2022 Pink used was outraged. Lets be clear: if you believe the government belongs in a womans uterus, a gay persons business or marriage, or that racism is okay- THEN PLEASE IN THE NAME OF YOUR LORD NEVER FUCKING LISTEN TO MY MUSIC AGAIN. AND ALSO FUCK RIGHT OFF. We good? P!nk (@Pink) June 25, 2022 Taylor Swift retweeted Michelle Obama and added her own displeasure. Im absolutely terrified that this is where we are that after so many decades of people fighting for womens rights to their own bodies, todays decision has stripped us of that. https://t.co/mwK561oxxl Taylor Swift (@taylorswift13) June 24, 2022 Rage Against the Machine donates $475,000 to Reproductive Rights Organization Pearl Jam shared this video. Green Days Billie Joe Armstrong told the audience that he us renouncing American citizenship following Roe v. Wade reversal: Theres just too much fucking stupid in the world to go back to that miserable fucking excuse for a country #GreenDay #RoeVWade #hellamegatour billie joes statement on roe vs wade at london hella mega tour last night pic.twitter.com/6cJx4oa6I1 friendly neighborhood clikkie (@armstr0ngtyler) June 25, 2022 Share on: North Adams Airport Approves Funding for Hangar Renovation NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The Airport Commission voted to use a total of $576,198 to begin work on the North East hangar renovation. Stantec Engineer Peter Enzien gave an update on the project last Tuesday and noted not much has changed since May. He said Stantec has addressed and submitted comments from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in regard to the grant application. What he did have was a general contractor bid of $479,000 from Tierney Construction. He said the commission had to make a decision on whether or not it wanted to move forward with renovating the city-owned hangar. "It really just comes down to whether we are going forward or not with the project," Enzian said. The commissioners were hesitant to fully greenlight the project with the fear it would sap their accumulating chest of grant funds. In total, the city has $230,000 in non-primary entitlement funding, some of which was rolled over from the last fiscal year. Factoring in state and local shares, the city should have nearly $260,000 to complete the project. Also, the airport is slated to receive an additional $159,000 a year for the next five years through the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The commissioners decided to wait until bids came in to make a decision, but during past meetings, they became more reluctant as the estimate inched closer to $500,000. Enzien said the commission could delay the project and hope for a lower bid, but he added that this is unlikely. He anticipated that material costs will continue to increase and with stimulus money making its way into different projects, contractors will be busier. This means they can pick and choose what projects they want to bid on and submit larger bids. "You can move forward or not and delay this into the future," he said. "No one feels there will be better pricing though." Also, delaying the project would mean losing some of the engineering fees already expended. The commission noted that there is a need for hangar space and a waiting list does exist. So the sooner the space is complete, the sooner the city can start drawing new revenue. The commission opted out of alternative bids that would drive the bottom line up considerably but had to accept an additional $96,000 charge on top of the $479,000 to cover Stantec's fee. This brought the total to $576,198. Enzien said this leaves the airport with about $70,000 to put towards other airport projects such as preparing the administrative building restaurant space. The vote was 2-1 with Chairman Dan Caplinger voting in the negative. He did not give a reason why but said he was happy the project was moving forward. Caplinger did acknowledge that he was on the waiting list for the new hangar space. Enzien also gave an update on the obstruction removal project that is nearing completion. Work began in early June and 90 percent of the work was completed in a week and a punch list was being generated. The project must be completed by the end of June to receive full grant funding. Enzien was confident the project would be done long before that. "June 30 is the drop-dead date," he said. "But we want some breathing room so it will be done a few days in advance." The airport is using grant funds to remove some vegetation at and around the airport. In other business, the Mohawk Soaring Club is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year and plans to hold some sort of public gathering at the airport. "We are going to get together and kick around what they want to do," interim Airport Manager Katherine Eade said. "Music, food trucks who knows. They are an impressive group." She said they are aiming to celebrate in September. She added that the airport will be celebrating its 75th anniversary in the coming years and hopes to hold some sort of celebration. The commission liked the idea and wanted to pinpoint exactly when the airport will be turning 75. "We want to bring people to the airport," Commissioner Marc Morandi. "We want people to know what is going on because we have so much we should be celebrating." Airport user Trevor Gilman said the airport was founded in 1949 and had celebrated 50 years in 1999 so the 75th anniversary would be in 2024. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrives to meet with Irish Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe at the Treasury Department, June 2, in Washington. Russia is poised to default on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, further alienating the country from the global financial system amid its war in Ukraine. AP-Yonhap Russia is poised to default on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, further alienating the country from the global financial system following sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. The country faces a Sunday night deadline to meet a 30-day grace period on interest payments originally due May 27. But it could take time to confirm a default. ''While there is a possibility that some magic could occur'' and Russia gets the money through financial institutions to bondholders despite sanctions, ''nobody's making that bet,'' said Jay S. Auslander, a top sovereign debt lawyer at the firm of Wilk Auslander in New York. ''The overwhelming probability is they won't be able to because no bank is going to move the money.'' Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department ended Russia's ability to pay its billions in debt back to international investors through American banks. In response, the Russian Finance Ministry said it would pay dollar-denominated debts in rubles and offer ''the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency.'' Russia calls any default artificial because it has the money to pay its debts but says sanctions have frozen its foreign currency reserves held abroad. ''There is money and there is also the readiness to pay,'' Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said last month. ''This situation, artificially created by an unfriendly country, will not have any effect on Russians' quality of life.'' Tim Ash, senior emerging market sovereign analyst at BlueBay Asset Management, tweeted that the default ''is clearly not'' beyond Russia's control and that sanctions are preventing it from paying its debts because it invaded Ukraine. Here are key things to know about a Russian default: A man walks past a currency exchange office with a screen displaying the exchange rates of the euro and U.S. dollar to Russian rubles in Moscow, June 15. EPA-Yonhap How much does Russia owe? About $40 billion in foreign bonds, about half of that to foreigners. Before the start of the war, Russia had around $640 billion in foreign currency and gold reserves, much of which was held overseas and is now frozen. Russia has not defaulted on its international debts since the Bolshevik Revolution more than a century ago, when the Russian Empire collapsed and the Soviet Union was created. Russia defaulted on its domestic debts in the late 1990s but was able to recover from that default with the help of international aid. Investors have expected Russia to default for months. Insurance contracts that cover Russian debt have priced an 80% likelihood of default for weeks, and rating agencies like Standard Poor's and Moody's have placed the country's debt deep into junk territory. How do you know if country is in default? Ratings agencies can lower the rating to default or a court can decide the issue. Bondholders who have credit default swaps contracts that act like insurance policies against default can ask a committee of financial firm representatives to decide whether a failure to pay debt should trigger a payout, which still isn't a formal declaration of default. The Credit Default Determination Committee an industry group of banks and investment funds ruled June 7 that Russia had failed to pay required additional interest after making a payment on a bond after the April 4 due date. But the committee put off taking further action due to uncertainty over how sanctions might affect any settlement. U.S. dollar and Russian ruble banknotes are seen in this picture illustration created in Sarajevo, March 9, 2015. Reuters-Yonhap What can investors do? The formal way to declare default is if 25% or more of bondholders say they didn't get their money. Once that happens, provisions say all Russia's other foreign bonds are also in default, and bondholders could then seek a court judgment to enforce payment. In normal circumstances, investors and the defaulting government typically negotiate a settlement in which bondholders are given new bonds that are worth less but that at least give them some partial compensation. But sanctions bar dealings with Russia's finance ministry. And no one knows when the war will end or how much defaulted bonds could wind up being worth. In this case, declaring default and suing ''might not be the wisest choice,'' Auslander said. It's not possible to negotiate with Russia and there are so many unknowns, so creditors may decide to ''hang tight for now.'' Investors who wanted out of Russian debt have probably already headed for the exits, leaving those who may have bought bonds at knocked-down prices in hopes of profiting from a settlement in the long run. And they might want to keep a low profile for a while to avoid being associated with the war. Once a country defaults, it can be cut off from bond-market borrowing until the default is sorted out and investors regain confidence in the government's ability and willingness to pay. But Russia has already been cut off from Western capital markets, so any return to borrowing is a long way off anyway. The Kremlin can still borrow rubles at home, where it mostly relies on Russian banks to buy its bonds. Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a BRICS Plus session involving the leaders of several invited states during the 14th BRICS summit, in virtual format via a video call from the Novo-Ogarevo state residence, outside Moscow, Russia, June 24. AFP-Yonha Nearly 200 people attended Sunday evening's rally to protest a decision by a conservative Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. PreviousNext Pittsfield Rallies for Reproductive Rights PITTSFIELD, Mass. Nearly 200 people gathered at Park Square on Sunday in solidary with reproductive rights and to mourn the Supreme Court's overturning the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. "My wish is that we can take this energy that's here today and all the people that didn't work out to be here today, to really take this energy and to funnel it so that we can take real action," state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier said. "And the change is not something that's going to happen in a couple of months or even a couple of years but we have to be as strong as the opposition because we know we're that we're the majority, it's just that so far, we're not the majority that votes. So we've got to get to work, we need to do it strategically and persistently." In a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday voted to reverse the 1973 decision that legalized abortion across the nation. This ruling means that there is no longer a federal constitutional right to an abortion and it undermines other right to privacy decisions including contraception, marriage and medical issues. "It's pretty shattering," Elizabeth Freeman Center Executive Director Janis Broderick said. "It brings us back more than 50 years." Massachusetts is one of 35 states, including the District of Columbia, where it is still legal to have the procedure after the ruling. Abortions are potentially illegal or soon to be illegal in at least 11 states and illegal in five, according to Politico.com. On Friday, Republican Gov. Charlier Baker signed an executive order protecting access to reproductive health care services in the commonwealth. The order gives health-care professionals protection from legal liability from professional sanctions issued under the laws of other states. "I am deeply disappointed in today's decision by the Supreme Court which will have major consequences for women across the country who live in states with limited access to reproductive health care services," Baker said. "The commonwealth has long been a leader in protecting a woman's right to choose and access to reproductive health services, while other states have criminalized or otherwise restricted access." Numerous officials have weighed in, with District Attorney Andrea Harrington saying the reversal "threatens the health and safety of women nationwide by limiting access to safe reproductive health care and undermining the public's trust in law enforcement." "Abortion bans disproportionately harm sexual abuse, rape, incest, human trafficking, and domestic violence victims," she said. "This decision will only strip survivors of gender-based violence of their safety, dignity, and autonomy and severely jeopardizes our ability to hold criminals accountable." U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren called it a "five-alarm fire" and with other Democrats called on the president "to mobilize a whole-of-government response to protect abortion rights." Two Republican candidates for office cheered the decision, with gubernatorial hopeful Geoff Diehl and Leah Allen, endorsed by the party for lieutenant governor, said they supported "the proper interpretation of our Constitution" by placing the question of abortion back to the states. Sunday's event was hosted by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, the Berkshire NAACP, the Berkshire Immigrant Center, the Elizabeth Freeman Center, WAM Theatre, Tapestry Health, BRIDGE, and Berkshire Brigades. "The right to choose I think is critical to safety and healing," Broderick said. "Clearly in rape and sexual assault cases, you can understand that, but also in domestic violence cases, sexual perversion is frequently used as a tool of control, and making someone pregnant to have a child maintains that control. So this is devastating. It traps you." She added that this decision talks about the rights of the unborn but there is nothing done to support babies after they are born. Berkshire NAACP President Dennis Powell is concerned that more rights are going slowly to be taken away. "We are in crisis mode, this entire country, and it takes all of us to wake up and realize," he said. "And there's a criminality focus that is going to be attached to this decision and we know who's going to be targeted: brown and black women and teenagers are going to be targeted but this affects all of us. It affects women and men. They're part of our family, they're part of our community so we all have to use our voice." He said the nation needs action to force those making these decisions out of power and demand change. The first step in doing this is voting. Both Powell and Farley-Bouvier also spoke about the Supreme Court's other decision that makes it easier to carry a firearm in public. Powell fears that these two rulings may create vigilantes who go after anyone assisting in abortions. iciHaiti - PNH : Visits to injured police officers Friday, June 24, 2022, Frantz Elbe, the Acting Director General of the National Police of Haiti (PNH) visited police officers who was wounded by bullets in operations against gangs across the metropolitan area of Port-au-Prince and surroundings. Accompanied by the Divisional Commissioner Etienne Jean Maurest, Director of Staff, PNH doctors and representatives of the Medico-Social Service, Frantz Elbe wanted to inquire about the evolution of the state of health of at least 5 police officers victims in the performance of their duties, who are in the process of receiving care in a hospital center in the capital. While saluting the bravery of these agents in the fight against organized crime, Elbe sent them words of comfort, while reassuring them that the police institution will continue to provide support and assistance throughout the period of their recovery. He wished them a speedy recovery. In addition, Commander Elbe took the opportunity to also visit the mother of a police officer assigned to the Intervention and Maintenance of the Order (CIMO) corps who receives treatment in the same hospital. It should be noted that the visit of DG Frantz Elbe is part of his approach aimed at providing better supervision to police staff. IH/ iciHaiti U.S. President Joe Biden listens to other G7 leaders speaking at the 'Global Infrastructure' side event during the G7 Summit at Schloss Elmau, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, June 26. Biden announced plans to raise $600 billion for the G7's global infrastructure program to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative. EPA-Yonhap U.S. President Joe Biden announced plans to raise $600 billion for the G7's global infrastructure program to counter China's Belt and Road Initiative. Biden revealed the plan in a speech Sunday as he attended the first of a three-day Group of Seven meeting in Elmau, Germany, alongside his six counterparts from the world's most developed economies. "Together with G7 partners, we aim to mobilize $600 billion by 2027 in global infrastructure investments," the White House said Sunday following Biden's announcement. The official launch of the G7 initiative the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) amounts to a revamping of the Build Back Better World initiative introduced at last year's annual meeting. The PGII seeks to offer an alternative to infrastructure models that sell "debt traps," a U.S. official said. The U.S. would mobilize $200 billion for the initiative over the next five years "through grants, federal financing, and leveraging private sector investments," the White House said, noting these projects would focus on clean energy, secure communications technology, health systems and other areas. "This will only be the beginning," it added, with the U.S. and its G7 partners intent on ushering in "hundreds of billions in additional capital from other like-minded partners, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and more." Biden broached the idea of a global infrastructure building project during his presidential campaign, against the backdrop of growing accusations from the U.S. and European countries that Beijing was burdening Belt and Road participants with loans that could not be repaid. The Belt and Road Initiative is a trade and investment scheme that links China to other economies. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife Peng Liyuan arrive at Rome's Leonardo Da Vinci airport in Fiumicino, Italy, March 21, 2019. Xi is in Italy to sign a memorandum of understanding to make Italy the first Group of Seven leading democracies to join China's ambitious Belt and Road infrastructure project. AP-Yonhap This file photo taken on Sept. 10, 2017. shows Ferdinand Marcos Jr, second from left, former senator and son of the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos, his sister Imee, second from right, and their mother Imelda Marcos, right, listening to the national anthem during a wreath-laying ceremony at a monument to the late dictator during celebrations to mark his 100th birthday in Batac, Ilocos Norte province, north of Manila. Marcos Jr, whose dictator father and namesake plundered and brutalized the Philippines, has reached the end of a decades-long campaign to rehabilitate the family brand: the presidency. AFP-Yonhap Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose dictator father and namesake plundered and brutalized the Philippines, has reached the end of a decades-long campaign to rehabilitate the family brand: the presidency. Marcos Jr., known by his nickname "Bongbong", will succeed Rodrigo Duterte in the top job on Thursday after his landslide victory in last month's elections. His win followed relentless whitewashing of the family's past and leveraging of alliances with rival families that control large swathes of the country. In the 36 years since a popular uprising toppled the patriarch and chased the family into US exile, the Marcoses have been rebuilding their political fortunes. Despite his own father's concerns about his "carefree and lazy" nature, Marcos Jr, 64, made it to the ultimate post. After narrowly losing the vice-presidential race to Leni Robredo in the 2016 election, he was determined their rematch in the presidential contest on May 9 would end differently. Vowing to unify the country, Marcos Jr made sweeping promises on the campaign trail to boost jobs and tackle rising prices in the lower-middle-income country. Marcos said last month he was "humbled" by his success at the ballot box and vowed to "always strive to perfection". "I want to do well, because when a president does well the country does well, and I want to do well for this country," he told reporters after Congress formally ratified the results. An army soldier stands guard beside the People's Power Monument in Quezon City, Philippines, May 27. AP-Yonhap Thanks to online food and groceries delivery services, getting your food is so much easier now. With platforms like foodpanda, you can order instantly and enjoy a delicious meal within minutes. And nothing beats the excitement of getting a call from a Kuya or Ate Ka-Panda rider/biker/walker to tell you that your order has arrived. As the leading quick commerce digital platform, foodpanda lets you order from your favorite restaurants and shops offering a wide variety of choices meals, snacks, groceries, and other daily essentials. With 8 years of delivering food and more in the Philippines, life would never be the same without our favorite pink panda brand that has captured the hearts (and tummies!) of many Filipinos. But aside from satisfying your cravings, your curiosity will also be captured by these mind-blowing facts about the countrys go-to online food and groceries delivery app. As foodpanda turns 8 this year, were treating you to some interesting trivia that you probably dont know about them yet. 1. From orange to pink If anything, foodpanda is best associated with their logo the pink panda. But youd be surprised to know that it was originally orange before they made the switch to pink, back in 2017. The fuschia-pink look is definitely a lot of fun, and clearly shows that foodpanda is ever-growing, expanding, and not afraid to take that big leap to cater to all of your food needs. 2. Leadership at a crucial time Transitions are hard enough to begin with, but to do it at the most crucial of times would require exceptional skills one that Daniel Marogy, managing director of foodpanda Philippines, proved to have when he joined the team a day before the lockdown. That was a very challenging time for me, but it was made bearable because of the competitive foodpanda team led by very compassionate leaders and dedicated team members who helped me steer the ship in the right direction, shares Dan. 3. Revolutionizing the food delivery space foodpanda was the first online delivery service in the Philippines to house all of your favorite restaurants in an app and deliver food right at your doorstep with just a few taps on your mobile phone. Before foodpanda, do you remember how you would collect delivery hotline numbers, so you know who to call when ordering food? Or how frustrating it is that some of your faves are not available for delivery? Now, Ka-Panda riders not only deliver the meals youre craving, but so much more you can shop for groceries from pandamart, pick-up your ordered food if youre in the area, or enjoy exclusive discounts for dine-in offers from their restaurant partners. 4. Putting the digital in digital delivery Its called quick commerce for a reason because in as fast as 30 minutes or even less, your order is already at your door. The reason behind this fast delivery service, aside from having a massive fleet of riders, bikers, scooter-riders and even walkers, is that foodpanda pioneered the use of internet connection to their vendors. Prior to that, other online food delivery services had to manually use fax and call center agents to relay the orders to the restaurants, so imagine how long it would take. As the first one to automate the ordering process, they definitely transformed the way online food deliveries work so your food will be delivered still hot and fresh just the way you like it. 5. Shining the spotlight on dark kitchens The term dark kitchen might sound a bit scary, but a delivery-only restaurant is all there really is to it. It means these food brands do not have physical stores; just take-out outlets designed to deliver only. For foodies who are tired of eating from the same restaurants, you might want to try foodpandas concept brands for your next meal. They are present in key cities in Metro Manila and the North Luzon area. (Extra fun fact: some of these brands are created by foodpanda so you can only get it exclusively from their platform). 6. You can never go wrong with pizza and burger! Any time is pizza and burger oclock. Its probably why these two fast-food staples hold a special place in foopandas 8-year journey in the country. The very first order to be placed in the app is none other than everyones OG snack, pizza, while topping the order list in the app are burgers. As the leader in the online food delivery marketplace, foodpanda continues to offer food items that will meet the fast-paced lifestyle and current needs of their consumers. 7. Employee #1 is still with them Kristine Luneta, who is part of the Commercial team, currently holds the title of foodpandas longest-tenured employee. Like the company, she is also celebrating her 8th year anniversary with them as their employee #1. When asked what made her stay for that long, Kristine shared, I am drawn to how progressive the mindset is and how connected the people are. 8. FP = For the People Making a difference in the community is also part of the companys advocacies. One of the many initiatives they do to nurture and help the communities they serve is the BuyAnihan Palengke program, aimed at assisting enterprising Filipinos become resellers of fresh produce sourced directly from local farmers. To date, more than 10,000 kilograms of fresh produce have been sold to consumers at an affordable price through various partnerships with local government units since the program was launched last year. Watch out for their next food bazaar exhibit to get your stash of fresh fruits and vegetables. For 8 years, foodpanda has been a prominent presence in the digital food space in the Philippines - and they vow to continue deliver food, groceries, and more for many years to come. Celebrate with foodpandas Pau-tastic birthday: be on the lookout for surprises and announcements for special treats made just for you! The evolving regulatory landscape and consumer sentiment are making genuine sustainability efforts and reporting of those efforts a growing imperative. In March, the Securities and Exchange Commission proposed how public companies would have to report greenhouse gas emissions and the potential effects of climate change on their business. Last month, it followed up with proposed rule changes for Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) investment funds that invest based on a company's ESG standards. These new rules would make the funds clarify and prove their credentials and label them accordingly. According to a recent survey of U.S. adults, consumers expect and value green behavior from companies. Most respondents say they are more likely to support companies that promote their environmental commitment. And at the same time, over 40 percent surveyed agree with the statement "sustainability is a ruse to distract from bad things companies do." And a strong majority believe that such efforts need to be verified by independent organizations. The challenge for small-to-medium-size businesses is to show that their sustainability efforts reflect sincere intent. While compliance is a few years away, tracking the extent of environmental impact can be complex. For example, Apple's latest environmental progress report spans 128 pages, and that's atop a 64-page ESG report. Smaller companies can also take steps toward encouraging more sustainable actions through education and disclosure. 1. Find a lighter touch toward disclosure. Light, a startup that's building phones optimized for keeping you sane when you want a break from social media and other distractions, recently shared useful pointers on how to measure sustainability on the cheap. The company focused on estimating the carbon emissions throughout its product's lifecycle--from components through manufacturing and distribution through customer usage--with the ultimate objective of purchasing carbon offsets to ensure carbon neutral status. It says it avoided costly consulting and software licensing for its lifecycle analysis by simplifying calculations without creating artificially low estimates. It started with the components in its bill of materials that had the greatest environmental impact and public info available from other manufacturers. It then used a similar blend of primary and secondary data for estimating later lifecycle stages. Light offers its customers an option to split the offset charges, and claims the majority do so. It's working on optimizing its cardboard packaging for future models, too. 2. Ride the market realities. Of course, Light's path isn't the only way to show customers a sustainability commitment. In some instances, sustainability is part of a product's DNA, and the challenge lies in making the better environmental choice more palatable to a customer base. One example is Brooklyn-based e-bike maker Civilized Cycles. Civilized's Model 1 is a luxury e-bike designed for American riders with a sturdy suspension for extra comfort. To drive exposure and give prospective customers a sample of the pricey bikes' features, the company is working with luxury hotels and resorts. Civilized supplies a promotional video on the hotel's introduction TV channel, and the hotel staff sets up and remotely manages the e-bike rentals managed by an app downloaded by the guest. Civilized gives the venue 25 percent of the rental fare and charges no fee, does regular maintenance, and carries a liability insurance policy naming the hotel as insured. It can even supply helmets. 3. Get your sustainable messaging right. There are also opportunities for B2B vendors. As we have seen through initiatives such as Amazon's investment and rollout of Rivian vehicles, electric truck fleets have also become a key component of lessening the environmental impact of delivery. However, few companies control their own fleets. Ikea is taking on last-mile delivery in New York City via EVs from Fluid Truck. The startup runs an electric truck peer-to-peer system for individuals, small businesses, and now big ones, too. The trucks that Fluid manages for Ikea come from fellow Coloradan Lightning eMotors, which electrifies chassis from mainstream truck companies, and Workhorse, which is building its own. Ikea parent company Ingka Group's investment arm now is a minority investor in Fluid. By Beth Doane, an award-winning writer, speaker and entrepreneur. She is the CEO of Main & Rose. Over the past two years, we've undergone a reckoning, attitudes toward work shifted and values changed. As companies grapple with returning to offices old practices aren't working. We spend one-third of our lives working, and people want that time to matter, not be sacrificed for a paycheck that comes at the expense of their happiness. This has catalyzed a mass exodus from the workforce. The number one reason for quitting--culture. Now, there are more open jobs than at any other time in United States history. To attract the best people, you need to create a workplace that isn't only focused on output but thrives from the inside. At Main & Rose, we've spent almost a decade building our culture, learning what our team needs to feel fulfilled, and making sure our values are ingrained in the DNA of everything we do. Here are some of my insights into building culture at your business. 1. Clearly define and share your company values. Your company's values are critical for your culture. They provide a guide and a measuring post for all employees, impacting how they treat others, their work, and themselves. Clearly define those values and share them with everyone, and don't settle for what some other brand could claim. They should be specific to you--why you exist and what you care about. It's okay if they're hard to write and require revisions, this will make your culture stronger. At Main & Rose, we have a strict "no ego policy"--there are absolutely no exceptions to this rule, and all of our team members know that. The policy starts at the top, and leading by example is crucial to establishing a positive workplace culture that celebrates its values and team members. We go into every space and meeting with an open mind, an eagerness for feedback, and respect for all voices. 2. Encourage healthy conversations. Most of us like to hear that we're doing a good job. Positive affirmations and reinforcement have been proven to boost a team's morale and confidence. Address any issues that may arise, whether interpersonal conflicts or a decreased quality of work. Tackle them when they emerge and do so privately. Show everyone respect and give them an opportunity to speak for themselves. Healthy conversations don't look the same for everyone. They can be uncomfortable. We all have different communication and conflict resolution styles. Personality tests are an effective way to learn more about your team members and can help reveal various triggers and motivations to effectively guide discussions. 3. Incorporate mindfulness into the everyday. More than 75 percent of workers have experienced burnout. And 61 percent of remote workers say they find it difficult to "unplug" after work hours. Especially if you're a remote company, you're more at risk of employees feeling over-stressed and under-motivated. But your team is only strong because of those individuals, so prioritize them. Encourage people to step away from the desk. Normalize setting a Slack status to "getting some fresh air." Host monthly mindfulness or breath work sessions. Provide subscriptions to mindfulness apps--like Headspace or Calm--or fitness services. 4. Offer mental health days, no questions asked. As advocates of mental health, we aspired to create a company that rebelled against traditional "agency life," where self-care was an afterthought to productivity. Whether an employee is having one bad day or dealing with an ongoing struggle, we work with them to take a mental health day or even a mental health week. In a study by the American Psychological Association, 68 percent of workers said their mood was more positive after taking time off. It invites them to pause, get off email and reconnect with their motivation when they're back. 5. Implement Get Stuff Done days. We implemented Get Stuff Done(GSD) days a few months ago and they're universally beloved at our agency. Fridays have no calls, no meetings and no distractions, so our team can finally tackle everything on their to-dos lists and reach a stress-free place before the weekend. To help sustain productivity and focus on days without anything on the calendar. We created a GSD playlist for our team, where everyone could contribute their favorite songs. We also provide access to time management strategies and resources. 6. Ensure there's really an open-door policy. In a remote workplace, promoting clear, transparent communication becomes even more important. Our leadership is easily available via Slack, even just to chat or offer advice. Our team members check in with their managers at least once a week to discuss any issues or concerns, as well as what's going well and each team member's goals. We encourage people to write out talking points ahead of time. Prevent Unauthorized Transactions in your demat / trading account Update your Mobile Number/ email Id with your stock broker / Depository Participant. 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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. According to Union Minister for Commerce, Industry, and Textile Piyush Goyal, India's economy has expanded as a result of its dependability, decisive leadership, and democratic system that encourages openness at all levels. Goyal said during an exclusive interaction meeting with members of CII on Saturday evening in association with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), the Government of India, and Invest India that the country, which is now a $3 trillion economy, has announced a stable policy framework and respected every investment made across sectors. Participants at the meeting were from the ICT, light engineering, and textile industries. Goyal stated the establishment of the ONDC network (Open Network for Digital Commerce) has the ability to break down barriers by enabling and empowering customers to connect with sellers of their choice effortlessly. He said that DPIIT reforms are empowering Indian firms to promote global growth. According to Goyal, current e-commerce platforms are constrictive and favour the items that the platform developers choose, but with ONDC, MSMEs and startups may take use of chances presented by digital technology in order to interact with their customers. The Union minister added that suggestions on the significance of diversification and growth to advanced economies like Japan for textiles were a good move and that the ministry will support this effort. He promised to address concerns raised about integrating numerous accreditations required for the pump industry in a matter of days and that all ideas made by sectoral representatives would be carefully evaluated and, where practical, addressed within a month. According to a press release, some specific needs for industrial development were highlighted by Kamal Bali, Deputy Chairman of the CII Southern Region and Managing Director of Volvo Group (India) Pvt Ltd, Shankar Vanavarayar, and Prashanth and Arjun Prakash of the CII Coimbatore. These needs included increasing design capacity, creating high-value-added jobs, and high-value products, and enhancing innovation capacity for capturing international markets. The numerous changes introduced by their respective ministries for the benefit of industry were discussed by Rajendra Ratnoo, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, and V K Singh, Special Secretary, Ministry of Textiles. Reliance Retail, Thailands largest conglomerate Charoen Pokphand (CP) Group and food and grocery online delivery platform Swiggy are competing with PremjiInvest, a private equity fund owned by Azim Premji, to buy the Indian cash-and-carry operations of German retailer Metro AG, said a news report stated by "Economic Times". In addition to this, the Tata Group and private equity fund Bain Capital are evaluating the $1-1.5 billion buyout opportunity but are yet to firm up any plans. As per the media report, "The submission of non-binding offers is scheduled for this week. Flipkart-Walmart, DMart and Amazon have for the moment opted out of the race. Detailed due diligence will start after the non-binding offers are received with firm offers expected in two months." Further, Reliance Retail spokesperson said anonymously, "As a policy, we do not comment on media speculation and rumours. Our company evaluates various opportunities on an ongoing basis." For more than a decade, Natalya Hassoumis family in Ukraine have worried about her safety in the Gaza Strip; they have been unable to reach her for days at a time while airstrikes have pummelled the isolated Palestinian territory. Now, Hassoumi is experiencing something similar. She has not heard from her parents and siblings in Russian-occupied Kherson for three weeks, The Guardian reported. I think the Russians must be making people switch to using Russian networks and sim cards, but I dont know whats happening, the 41-year-old doctor said. Its very hard not knowing. Hassoumi is one of about 830 Ukrainian-born people living in Gaza, which according to community leaders is the largest population of foreigners living in the blockaded coastal zone. Having lived through three rounds of war between Israel and Hamas, the militant group in control of the Strip, the endocrinologist is acutely aware of what her family in Kherson is facing. I never thought that war could happen in Ukraine, Hassoumi said at the house in Beit Lahia she has shared with husband Iyad and the couples three young sons since 2011. No food, no electricity. Gaza and Ukraine have the same problems now. theguardian The Soviet Union was a major champion of the Palestinian cause, for decades offering scholarships and business visas to people from the West Bank and Gaza. After Ukraine declared its independence in 1991, many of those ties endured: the majority of Ukrainians now in Gaza are women who met Palestinian spouses studying at Ukrainian universities, and moved back with their husbands. Pandemic travel restrictions meant that Viktoria Saidam, 21, had not been able to visit Gaza to meet her in-laws for two years but after the Russian invasion in February, she and 24-year-old husband Ibrahim, both students in Kyiv, heard the shelling getting closer and closer. theguardian The couple decided to seek safety with Ibrahims parents, fleeing her home city of Vinnytsia by minibus and then walking across the Romanian border. They then flew to Cairo and headed for Egypts Rafah crossing with the southern Gaza Strip. She says she was aware of the issues in Gaza caused by the Hamas takeover and subsequent 15-year-old Israeli-Egyptian blockade. Its population of 2 million suffers with an unemployment rate of more than 50%, sporadic electricity, a polluted water supply, and the constant and unpredictable possibility of a new round of fighting. The couple hope their stay will be temporary. Since we got married, I kept preparing her for what she would see in Gaza, Ibrahim told local media. AFP I tried to make the situation look even worse than it actually is so that when she came, she would not see it as that bad. Natalya Mabhouh, 45, has lived in Gaza since 1997. Her mother and sister are still in her home town of Kharkiv, and her eldest son, Ahmed, was also living there when Russia invaded in February. Ahmed and his Ukrainian wife have since found safety in Germany. When I came to Gaza the economic situation was good, there was peace, but we got used to wars and escalation since then, the hairdresser said. This has been a huge shock. Russians and Ukrainians are like one people. I still dont understand how this could happen. The outbreak of war in Europe has also led to tensions within the Ukrainian and Russian-speaking communities in Gaza: in March, many local Ukrainians were upset after a group of Russians held a pro-Moscow demonstration. Friendships going back years have ended, and vicious arguments continue on social media. A single man in Tamil Nadu is doing everything to ensure he finds his life partner and has even put posters of himself in the hopes of finding the one. M S Jagan, a 27-year-old engineer from Villupuram in Madurai, has gone viral as he put up big posters around the town looking for his Miss Right. Madurai 360/MS Jagan The posters which have been erected around the town are letting everyone know hes in the market for a Miss Right, who Jagan wishes to find in the near future. According to local media outlet Madurai 360, he resorted to this plan after failing to find a partner for himself through conventional ways. The poster carries a picture of Jagan and details like his star sign, caste, profession, income and address and also noted that he owns a piece of land. Representational Image/Shutterstock I have been searching for a bride for the past five years, but not successful. I have designed so many posters that I thought why I cant just design one for myself, he told Madurai 360. I think this is a tough period for those who were born in the 90s, he said, adding that he had even been pranked. I have been mocked as well, but I dont care They are making memes out of my poster, but I am not affected by it all. I am becoming viral at their expense, he added. Earlier in March, a single man in London, England, put adverts of himself in the hopes of finding a wife. findjaveenawife.com Jeevan Bhachu, an Indian-origin man, rented out two huge billboards at a tube station to advertise himself as husband material in front of thousands of commuters. The 31-year-old, who works in marketing, had reportedly paid 2,000 (Rs 2 lakh) for the ads. Alongside a photograph of him in a pink suit, the caption on the advertisement reads: "Best Indian youll takeaway." For the latest from trending, click here. With an estimated personal net worth of over $1.1 billion according to Forbes, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar, is one of the countrys richest men. Sometimes known as HBJ in Londons financial circles, the 62-year-old was named the man who bought London after he had reportedly used his wealth, as well as his influence as the head of Qatars multibillion-dollar sovereign wealth fund, the Qatari Investment Authority, to expand Qatars financial assets in London through a series of valuable assets, as per The Guardian. AFP He was appointed as Qatars deputy prime minister in 2003. In 2007, he became prime minister, a role he stepped down from in 2013. From 2000 until 2013, he oversaw a series of high-profile investments in corporate Britain that included Harrods, the Shard (which is owned 95% by Qatar), Londons Olympic Village and Park Lanes InterContinental hotel. The billionaire, who has been central in orchestrating Qatars involvement in international diplomacy including in Yemen, Syria, Israel and the Palestinian territories, had earned the nickname peacemaker for his efforts to broker reconciliations between warring factions in Africa and the Middle East, according to a report by Middle East Eye in 2015. In 2012, Al-Thani was selected as one of the worlds 100 most influential figures by Time magazine. But at present, the Qatar billionaire is in the headlines over alleged cash donations to Prince Charles. As per The Guardian, the Prince of Wales accepted bags containing a total of 3m (2.6m) in cash during meetings with Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jaber al-Thani, the former prime minister of Qatar. The cash was reportedly handed to the heir to the British throne in a suitcase on one occasion, a holdall on another, as well as in Fortnum & Mason carrier bags, the up-market department store which holds a royal warrant to supply the princes household with groceries. The handovers are alleged to have occurred during meetings between the two men, including a private one-to-one meeting at Clarence House in 2015, it was claimed. skynews Also Read: Death Of One Of The World's Richest Arabs Leaves Behind Messy Inheritance In Dubai Named In Panama & Pandora Papers The Qatar billionaire has other problems too, to deal with. In recent years, scrutiny has swung back to al-Thanis finances. In 2016, he was named by the Panama Papers, one of the biggest ever data leaks by the worlds fourth-biggest offshore law firm, Mossack Fonseca. As per The Guardian, Qatars investment in Barclays during the financial crisis in 2008, when al-Thani was prime minister, became the centre of a criminal trial over the controversial services deal struck between the lender and the small Gulf state. Three former Barclays executives were accused of devising fraudulent advisory services agreements to disguise payments worth 322m to Qatar. In 2021, al-Thani was also named in the Pandora Papers, which revealed he had used offshore companies in tax havens including the British Virgin Islands and the Bahamas. For the latest and interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here. We now offer lithium prices and coverage free for reference. Click here to read all about it. Join our growing community of participants who want to learn more about electrification and how this market is developing. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A Connecticut woman who says shes descended from slaves who are portrayed in widely published, historical photos owned by Harvard University can sue the school for emotional distress, Massachusetts highest court ruled Thursday. The states Supreme Judicial Court partly vacated a lower court ruling that dismissed a complaint from Tamara Lanier over photos she says depict her enslaved ancestors. The images are considered some of the earliest that show enslaved people in the U.S. The court concluded the Norwich resident and her family can plausibly make a case for suffering negligent and indeed reckless infliction of emotional distress from Harvard and remanded that part of their claim to the state Superior Court. The judges said the university failed to contact Lanier when it used one of the images on a book cover and prominently featured it in materials for a campus conference even after shed reached out about her ancestral ties. In sum, despite its duty of care to her, Harvard cavalierly dismissed her ancestral claims and disregarded her requests, despite its own representations that it would keep her informed of further developments, the ruling states. But the high court upheld the lower courts ruling that the photos are the property of the photographer who took them and not the subject themselves. A descendant of someone whose likeness is reproduced in a daguerreotype would not therefore inherit any property right to that daguerreotype, the high court wrote in its ruling. Laniers attorney said Thursdays ruling was a historic win that marks one of the first times a court has ruled that descendants of enslaved people can seek accountability for what their ancestors endured. Harvard is not the rightful owner of these photos and should not profit from them, Josh Koskoff said in a statement. As Tamara Lanier and her family have said for years, it is time for Harvard to let Renty and Delia come home. Harvard spokesperson Rachael Dane said the university is reviewing the decision. She also stressed the original daguerreotypes are in archival storage and not on display, nor have they been lent out to other museums for more than 15 years, because of their fragility. Harvard has and will continue to grapple with its historic connection to slavery and views this inquiry as part of its core academic mission, she said in a statement. Harvard also strives to be an ethical steward of the millions of historical objects from around the globe within its museum and library collections. In April, Harvard released a report and pledged to spend $100 million to study and atone for its extensive ties to slavery, including plans to identify and support the descendants of enslaved people who labored at the Ivy League campus. Laniers suit, which was filed in 2019, deals with a series of 1850 daguerreotypes depicting a South Carolina man identified as Renty Taylor and his daughter, Delia Taylor. Both were posed shirtless and photographed from several angles in images commissioned by Harvard biologist Louis Agassiz, whose theories on racial difference were used to support slavery in the U.S. In her lawsuit, Lanier argued that the Taylors were her ancestors and that the photos were taken against their will. She demanded the photos from Harvard, saying the school had exploited the portraits for profit. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits The US Supreme Court on Tuesday declined to review a pair of decisions by the Minnesota Supreme Court that held employers cannot be required to reimburse workers for marijuana used to treat on-the-job injuries because the substance is illegal under the federal Controlled Substances Act. An insurer that otherwise would have been required to pay for an injured workers marijuana had urged the court to let the Minnesota decisions stand. The US Solicitor Generals Office also argued that federal law preempts any state regulation requiring reimbursement for an illegal drug. Respondents agree that [t]he judgments below are correct for the straightforward reason that when a federal law such as the CSA prohibits possession of a particular item, it preempts a state law requiring a private party to subsidize the purchase of that item,' attorney Susan K.H. Conley, representing State Auto/ United Fire & Casualty Group, said in a June 2 brief to the court. Conley declined to comment on the decision after being contacted by the Claims Journal. Injured workers are increasingly turning to marijuana to treat pain as insurers and regulators cracked down on the overuse of prescription opioids which led to an epidemic of abuse. And states that have steadily moved to legalize use of the substances even for recreational purposes are becoming more tolerant. New Mexico was the first of five states where courts ordered workers compensation insurers to reimburse injured workers for marijuana. The Connecticut Workers Compensation Review Board, an appellate court in New York and the supreme courts in New Hampshire and New Jersey followed. In two separate cases heard last year, the Minnesota Workers Compensation Court of Appeals ordered employers to reimburse injured workers Daniel Bierbach and Susan K. Musta for marijuana used to treat their at-work injuries, citing state workers compensation statute that requires employers to provide necessary medical treatment. But the Minnesota Supreme Court ruled in October that federal law preempts any state statute that requires employers to pay for an illegal drug. In February, the Supreme Court asked the Solicitor Generals Office to state its position on the question of preemption. In a brief filed on May 16, the office urged the court to let the Minnesota decisions stand without review. The office acknowledged that Congress since 2014 has passed successive appropriations bills that prohibit the US Justice Department from enforcing the federal law that bars possession of marijuana in states that have legalized it, but marijuana has not been removed from the controlled substance list and remains illegal. The office told the high court theres no reason to hear the Minnesota decisions. If states could enforce laws compelling third parties to subsidize federal crimes, they could directly undermine congressional determinations, the brief says. For example, no legal principle would preclude a state from requiring private employers to reimburse the use of other federally prohibited products or substances, such as LSD and other psychedelic drugs, based on perceived benefits. Topics USA Workers' Compensation Cannabis Minnesota New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! With global tensions rising over Ukraine, the cutthroat competitiveness of the US financial sector is yielding to partnership over the conviction that a cyberattack against even a group of minor banks or a third-party service provider could imperil everyone in a highly connected system. Some of the nations largest banks are now working with the Treasury Department, engaging in role play and sharing information they would have guarded closely in the past. Youre only as good as your weakest link, said Ron OHanley, chief executive officer of State Street Corp., one of the largest US money managers and custody banks. Networks are put together not just by what youre doing, but the vendors youre relying on, the counter-parties youre dealing with, even regulators youre dealing with, he said in an interview. As part of a broader move aimed at strengthening defenses, Treasury officials late last month gathered executives of several top banks and practiced how they would reach one another and work together across a range of cyber-attack scenarios. That simulation exercise, which hasnt been reported before, included JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp. and Morgan Stanley. It ran through five hypothetical threat levels, ranging from minor assaults to a full-scale onslaught on multiple banks and critical payment systems. You can invest in defenses, but that aspect of practicing over and over again, and continuous improvement, is the critical element in responding to the next threat, said J. F. Legault, global head of cybersecurity at JPMorgan Chase in a phone interview. Treasury officials have also moved to declassify more intelligence to get it in front of financial executives, and to extend security clearance to more employees within the big banks. Russias invasion of Ukraine and the subsequent sanctions against Moscow have upset a fragile equilibrium in financial security. Governments adept at cyber warfare such as China and Russia used to be considered stakeholders in the market for global dollar assets in effect giving them an incentive to leave financial infrastructure alone. Worlds Best What was different about Russia-Ukraine was the potential threats were not only obvious, but you had a player that was reputed to be the best in the world at it in terms of cyber threats, said State Streets OHanley. We take all cyber threats serious, but you start to think about it differently when its a nation-state and, particularly in connection with an armed conflict. The Treasury also knew the threat landscape was shifting late last year. As they mapped out the sanctions to be unleashed in the event of an invasion of Ukraine, officials concluded that cyberattack preparation needed to step up. Once we knew where we were going to land with some of the initial sanctions packages by the end of 2021 and how severe they were going to be, we knew we had to update our incident-response playbooks and work with the sector to increase intel sharing, said Todd Conklin, a counselor to the Treasurys No. 2 official, Deputy Secretary Wally Adeyemo, in an interview. Its part of a steady expansion of a public-private partnership around cyberattack response. The Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency, CISA, part of the Department of Homeland Security, was founded in 2018 as the lead agency for cyber protection. That year, Fed Chair Jerome Powell, when asked in a congressional hearing in 2018 what kept him up at night, responded, the clear answer to me from that would be cyber risk. Nevertheless, Adeyemo said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen instructed him on his first day to make cybersecurity a priority. Adeyemo has drawn from past financial crises, which made clear how the banks inter-connectedness makes them vulnerable. Telling them shields-up without providing additional support and intel sharing isnt that helpful, Conklin said. Its making sure, if something does happen, we have a plan in place for a collective response. When any point in the financial system comes under attack, information about the event must get sent out across the network of firms, regulators and intelligence agencies as quickly as possible, officials say. Instead of hoarding information for competitive advantage and hushing up any unhappy development, firms must think cooperatively, sharing intelligence. Its sharing information as soon as possible to ensure that if theres an attack somewhere, youre protecting the rest of the system, Adeyemo said. The largest banks have known that for some years, but are going further than they have in the past. In 2016, the eight biggest players, led by JPMorgan and Bank of America, formed the Analysis and Resilience Center for Systemic Risk (ARC), aimed at ramping up collaboration in monitoring and protecting critical systems exposed to the internet, with a focus on early-warning capabilities. Its since grown to include exchanges and clearing houses as well as several big energy companies. Government Cooperation The group set up its headquarters just outside Washington because bank executives wanted ARC to work closely with the government, according to Scott DePasquale, ARCs president and chief executive officer. A Treasury official co-chairs the groups risk committee. Theres also a wider counterpart to the ARC, the Financial Services Information Sharing and Analysis Center, whose members include a broad array of firms ranging from banks and insurers to fintechs, from more than 70 countries. Worries remain, especially over third-party service providers. In the 2020 SolarWinds attack, according to US officials, a compromised piece of software was used by Russian hackers to target 100 companies and nine federal government agencies, including the Treasury, Homeland Security and the State Department. Constantly Probed But the targets need not be so high-profile to cause damage. In 2021, Kaseya, a US firm that provides IT management and security software services with a customer base that included many small banks found itself the target of a ransomware attack. The issue, later blamed on the Russia-based group REvil, was resolved within days and without a ransom payment. But it forced officials to ponder what would happen if thousands of small banks across the country were paralyzed, and to ask how extensive an attack needed to be before it might provoke a larger run on bank deposits and a wider liquidity crisis across the financial system. One of the reasons this community is ahead of others is that they are constantly being probed by cyber criminals, said James Andrew Lewis, director of the strategic technologies program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. The top 20 banks I am pretty comfortable they are a really hard target, he added. If you were to pick the bottom 20 financial institutions and even some of the service providers in the plumbing, I dont know if I would be as confident. Accelerated Timeline There are also concerns about the government itself. The Treasury and other agencies arent just regulatory supervisors. The Treasury issues US government debt and the Fed is an interbank payments provider, and their systems can be subject to attack. After SolarWinds, the Treasury began shoring up its own defenses. It has since invested significantly to modernize its IT, advance encryption technology and rebuild its entire email system, officials said. Russias preparation for invading Ukraine kicked the project into a higher gear, turning a three-year timeline into a six-month sprint. For the upcoming fiscal year, the Treasury has asked for an increase of $135 million for department-wide investments in cybersecurity. Staff fatigue has emerged as a challenge. Like other employers, the Treasury has struggled somewhat to find and hire as many skilled IT professionals as it would like, and the strain is only growing. So far, Russia has not responded to sanctions with a concerted attack on the US, opting instead to focus on firms and government operations in Ukraine. Adeyemo warns that risks are always present. There are, every day, actors of all kinds who are trying to penetrate or trying to take advantage of our financial system, or the regulatory system, he said. Regardless of what happened yesterday, we have to be equally as vigilant as we were the day before. Photo: Wally Adeyemo, deputy U.S. Treasury secretary, speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, D.C. in November/Bloomberg Copyright 2022 Bloomberg. Topics Cyber New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! For the first time ever, cyber insurance is facing a hard market. Since the product lines inception about twenty years ago, carriers, brokers, and policyholders have reaped the benefits of soft market conditions. Policies were cheap, and they provided generous coverage and low retentions. Losses were minimal, and therefore, cyber insurance books were very profitable. Over the last few years, the cyber risk landscape has shifted. The frequency and severity of losses has grown astronomically, forcing carriers to constrict their offerings and raise premiums. Agents and wholesalers are feeling squeezed as insureds are looking for more coverage options, greater understanding of coverage, and competitive rates. Why are we in a hard market? When carriers began selling cyber insurance, the risks facing large companies were one-off incidents like lost unencrypted laptops, misfired emails with lists of employee information, and the occasional malicious insider. Smaller companies had even fewer issues. Over time the threats evolved and grew to include more email compromises and small ransomware interruptions. But even those could be resolved quickly by restoring from backups and resetting passwords. However, in the last few years, the attack landscape has transformed significantly. Companies of all sizes started experiencing significant email compromise events that very often involved the expensive combination of large-scale data breach investigation and notification, and the loss of funds through misdirected wire transfers or ACH payments. Phishing and social engineering campaigns exposed a lack of employee training, technical safeguards, and data retention policies across many companies. Each of these incidents may cost tens of thousands of dollars to resolve on average, and the frequency led to huge loss ratios for cyber carriers. Further, small companies were not immune to these issues, and the costs associated with the investigations and response compared to the premiums paid for the policies exposed the small business space. Just as carriers and brokers seemed to wrap their arms around business email compromises, by pushing extensive training and technical solutions, ransomware events exploded much larger than ever anticipated. Early on, ransomware was typically used to encrypt data in place. Attackers would access a network, quickly encrypt what they could, and demand a few hundred or a few thousand dollars in exchange for a decryption key. For many companies, restoring from backups was a way around having to pay, and for others, the demand was so minimal compared to the potential cost of the interruption that it made more sense to pay for the decryption key. But as attackers saw companies responding rather successfully to these events, they shifted the nature of their attacks. Instead of simply locking users out of a network the moment access was acquired, attackers instead saw the potential for larger pay days with some additional effort. They sat stealthily in a network performing reconnaissance to understand the companys backup strategy and to steal important company data, ultimately using internal phishing campaigns to escalate user privileges to gain access to critical systems. Once sufficient network administrator level access was obtained, the ransomware attack was launched, finally encrypting the network a few days or months later. When these types of attacks hit companies, they were not only dealing with an overwhelming hit to critical systems and data and backups being encrypted, but also the added concern of data being accessed or stolen, and potentially exposed. This allowed attackers to demand much higher ransom paymentsto the tune of millions of dollars per event. Between the business interruption, extortion demand, data restoration, and incident response, policies with $5 million or $10 million in coverage that had never been touched were exhausted on a weekly basis. Further, unlike a typical data breach matter, ransomware matters are immediately public events. Public events like this draw attention from regulators and class action attorneys, especially when downstream services to customers are interrupted as a result. Carriers are expecting organizations to have basic modern IT security controls and data protection policies in place, and to be able to demonstrate that they are implemented correctly and enforced constantly. What does that mean for the market? Carriers have responded to the new landscape by increasing premiums, decreasing policy limits, and being more conservative in their underwriting process. Where it was previously hard to convince certain markets with minimal data collection and personally identifiable information that cyber insurance is essential for business, the demand for policies in those markets now outsizes supply. At renewal, carriers have updated application questions, often times with assistance from forensic experts, to better understand a companys preparation for ransomware attacks and the subsequent business interruption. Carriers are now requiring additional technical safeguards, like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and endpoint detection and response tools (EDR), where previously organizations that implemented these tools were considered leagues ahead of their peers. The sudden shift towards requiring these protections as a prerequisite for coverage has left many organizations scrambling to find time and money in their IT budgets to implement these services ahead of a policy renewal. In addition to increased premiums, limited coverages, and higher security expectations, many carriers are outright declining risks in certain markets that have proven to be susceptible to expensive attacks. Manufacturing, technology supply chain providers, and healthcare institutions have especially faced an uphill battle in finding carriers willing to underwrite their businesses. This forces those organizations to purchase more expensive policies with lower coverage and build more complex towers of insurance in order to maintain the amount of risk protection enjoyed for many years prior. What can be done? Carriers are expecting organizations to have basic modern IT security controls and data protection policies in place, and to be able to demonstrate that they are implemented correctly and enforced constantly. Effective Backup Strategy, and Testing A big reason ransomware has exploded so successfully is that attackers have taken away a companys option to restore without paying the ransom by either encrypting or deleting backups as part of the initial attack. In response, many forensic experts recommend the 3-2-1 approach3 copies of the data (production, on-site backups, off-site backups), 2 different media types (cloud, disk, snapshot, or tape), and 1 offsite copy (cloud, tapes). When it comes to ransomware, best laid plans often go awry. All too often an organization implements what they believe is a sound strategy, only to find out during an attack that their backups were not segregated properly, or the daily snapshot stopped functioning months ago. Carriers expect organizations to be able to demonstrate a regular testing schedule and the results of those tests. These tests will enable organizations to better anticipate potential downtime, restoration strategy and prioritization. Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) Most ransomware attacks start with an account takeover. Once credentials are stolen, attackers typically use credential-harvesting malware to escalate privileges in order to gain access to a network administrator account. Companies that properly implement MFA across all users can thwart many of these attacks. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional forms of verification (like a one-time use code sent to a users phone), which decreases the likelihood of an attacker gaining access to the account. MFA should be implemented on all email accounts, local administrator accounts and domain administrator accounts, and on any remote access points. If you work with third party vendors who have direct access to perform some function on your network, MFA should also be enabled here too. Data Retention Policies As mentioned above, ransomware attacks have shifted from encryption only, to encryption + data access. While much of this article is focused on the business interruption and data restoration issues caused by ransomware attacks, the access and acquisition of sensitive data is another hurdle organization must overcome. For organizations that can restore from backups and avoid a huge interruption, they still must consider the data breach implications of the stolen data. Most often, attackers will provide a sampling of stolen data at the outset of a conversation with the victim organization, in order to encourage payment for the return and destruction of the information. Organizations that have strong data retention policies and enforce those policies limit the amount of extraneous data available for attackers to monetize. They can also use the sampling to pinpoint where on the network the attacker may have stolen the data from, in order to get a better sense of what they might have and to better focus a forensic investigation. Further, for the ongoing issue of business email compromises, inbox hygiene and email archiving drastically limit the data potentially available in a compromised inbox, substantially decreasing the time and money spent determining what the attacker could have had access to while in the compromised account. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) EDR is a next level antivirus solution. It not only provides real-time monitoring of your endpoints for any anomalous activity, but it can also quickly alert security personnel to security issues, allowing organizations to contain an incident before it becomes catastrophic. Further, when an incident does occur, forensic investigators can use the EDR logging to understand the timeline of the attack and any movement that occurred in the network. This can speed up the response and help an organization understand what, if any, data is at risk as a result of the limited intrusion. However, EDR is only as good as the monitoring of alerts. Because attackers tend to strike at inopportune times, it is important to have dedicated resources to rule out false positives from legitimate threats. There are many 24/7 security companies that offer these services. How can brokers help? Brokers are keenly positioned in the ecosystem to ensure that organizations seeking coverage are optimally informed and prepared. Heres how: Brokers help insureds meet carrier requirements Brokers can help insureds navigate increasingly stringent carrier expectations and adapt to them. Having access to applications across the market, brokers are in the best position to educate and prepare clients for the inevitable squeeze. Because many of the required safeguards need additional IT financing and company buy in, brokers can help clients by flagging issues they need to be prepared for earlier in the application process. Cyber wholesalers are in a particularly unique space, acting in concert with their agency partners to constantly educate insureds on the ever-changing cyber threatscape and how to adapt security controls to it. Cyber brokers are on the front lines of the frequent changes in underwriting and how these translate to real-life adjustments that small businesses have to make to their cyber hygiene, said Diane Templin, director of insurance operations at FifthWall Brokerage. In line with that, through their connections to the legal and forensic fields, brokers also help insureds by putting them in touch with resources that can assist them in identifying gaps in their current cybersecurity posture and remediate those gaps prior to the application process. Templin added, Often brokers, work directly with a businesss law firm and IT department, or MSP, to communicate the needs of carriers so the business can get coverage as well as stay protected. This includes specifics like conducting privileged risk assessments, penetration tests, and gap analyses and then implement solutions based on the results of those activities. Brokers know their clients business and understand what coverage they need Brokers are in the unique position of understanding the insureds cyber posture (as per above) and their business needs. As cyber coverage constantly changes to adapt to the ever-changing threatscape, brokers are keeping a pulse on product updates from carriers, allowing them to recommend the best, most relevant coverage for the insured. Brokers know the market and coverage options available Once the insured adjusts their cyber posture to align with carrier guidelines and coverage needs are identified, brokers have vision into the market options and can shop and secure competitive coverage and rates for new and renewal policies. Topics Cyber Six migrant workers would share in a total of more than $21,000 in the proposed settlement of a lawsuit filed last year alleging that a Louisiana crawfish processing business underpaid them in violation of minimum wage laws. The proposed settlement was filed this week in federal court in Lafayette. The suit was filed on behalf of workers Norma Edith Torres Quinonez and Martha Icela Flores Gaxiola, both of Mexico, against Crawfish Processing LLC in Marksville. Four other workers later joined the litigation, which also alleged workers were housed in unsafe and unsanitary conditions and charged excessive amounts for rent. If approved by a federal judge, the six plaintiffs would receive amounts ranging from $1,863 to $4,980. The amounts represent unpaid wages the workers said they were due under the U.S. Fair Labor Standards Act, plus 50% of those wages and rent reimbursement. When the original lawsuit was filed in May of last year, the two original plaintiffs said that they routinely worked 60 hours or more per week, the company failed to pay the $9.75 per hour they were promised and the pay fell below the $7.25 per hour they were legally entitled to. The court document filed Wednesday says the settlement is a compromise of a good faith dispute over the number of hours the plaintiffs worked and the rent owed them. The company did not admit any legal liability. Crawfish Processing also agreed in the settlement to arrange for state inspections of rental housing that the company provides workers to make sure it meets federal standards and will make sure that workers are told they do not have to live in company-provided housing. The suit was filed by attorneys for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid. The settlement also includes $22,500 to cover expenses and fees for the workers attorneys. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Louisiana The family of an unarmed Arkansas teenager fatally shot by a sheriffs deputy during a traffic stop filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against the deputy and a county sheriff over the teens death. The family of Hunter Brittain filed the lawsuit against Michael Davis, a former sergeant with the Lonoke County sheriffs office, and Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley on the one-year anniversary of the 17-year-olds killing. Davis was convicted in March of negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, and sentenced to a year in jail in Brittains death. He has appealed that ruling. The lawsuit accuses Davis and Staley of violating the teens constitutional rights and seeks unspecified damages. Robert Newcomb, an attorney for Davis, said he had not seen the lawsuit but did not believe there was a strong case that Brittains civil rights had been violated. The sheriffs office did not immediately return a message seeking comment on Thursday. Brittain was killed outside an auto repair shop near Cabot, a city of about 26,000 people roughly 30 miles northeast of Little Rock. Davis testified earlier this year that he fired at Brittain after the teen didnt comply with his commands to show his hands as he exited his truck and reached into the bed of the pickup. Brittain was holding a container _ which his family members have said held antifreeze _ and no evidence of firearms were found in or near the truck, investigators said. A passenger who was with Brittain and another witness have testified they didnt hear any commands from the deputy before he shot the teen. Brittains family members have said he was grabbing the container to place behind the trucks wheel to stop it from rolling backward and hitting Davis vehicle. The failures of former deputy Davis and the Lonoke County Sheriff are extensive, disturbing, and directly caused the tragic and preventable death of Hunter Brittain, Ben Crump and Devon Jacob, attorneys for the family, said in a statement. Davis was fired by Staley in July for not turning on his body camera until after the shooting. During his trial, Davis emotionally recounted the fatal shooting. I didnt get into this job to kill people, he testified in March. The fatal shooting of the white teenager had drawn the attention of civil rights activists nationally who said the killing highlighted the need for interracial support for police reforms. Davis is white. Brittain was eulogized last year by the Rev. Al Sharpton, as well as Crump and Jacob, who represented the family of George Floyd. The plaintiffs in the case also include the father of the teenage passenger who was with Brittain the night of the shooting. The lawsuit accuses another deputy who responded of violating the teens rights by holding him in custody in handcuffs for three hours. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Arkansas New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Five months ago, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. filed for a near-maximum-allowed rate increase for most of its policies, citing the need to continue depopulating the rapidly growing insurer of last resort. Last week, despite concerns that Citizens premiums are significantly lower than other insurers in many parts of the state, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation approved the corporations requested average increase only for mobile home lines and commercial policies. Regulators trimmed a 10.7% homeowners multi-peril rate hike to 6.4%; an HO wind-only rate request of 10.0% was reduced to 9.8%; and dwelling fire multi-peril was cut back from 10.8% to 8.4%. Citizens is restricted by Florida law to increases of no more than 11% in 2022 and 12% in 2023. With the June 24 approval, the average Citizens HO-3 annual premium will increase by $187, to $3,108. Thats about $130 less than what Citizens had requested. The new rates will take effect Sept. 1, the OIR said. The larger increase would have allowed Citizens to reach overall actuarial soundness as quickly as possible. It is a change from prior years, in which Citizens recommended smaller rate changes, the corporation wrote in its rate filing memo. The reason for this change is to prioritize Citizens financial soundness, which is rapidly deteriorating due to Citizens precipitous growth. If no statutory rate cap were in place, the corporation would need a 30% average increase for HO-3 policies, the filing memo suggests. The state-created insurer has faced growing concerns about its continued expansion, fueled by policyholders seeking coverage after their market-based insurers stopped writing in Florida, became insolvent, or instituted large premium increases. Under a worst-case scenario, Citizens reserves could be depleted if multiple hurricanes strike Florida, potentially resulting in a surcharge on Citizens and all Florida policyholders. Citizens policy count jumped by 40% in 2021, and officials expect another 40% increase this year, making Citizens the largest property insurer in the state with some 1,064,000 policies in force. Regulators on Friday approved the full extent of Citizens commercial lines rate increases, including 8.7% for residential multi-peril for condominium associations. Topics Trends Florida Pricing Trends A jury awarded $21 million to the family of a pregnant teen who was shot and killed by undercover police officers in Northern California five years ago, attorneys said. Elena Mondragon was a passenger in a BMW pulling out of a Hayward apartment complex when an unmarked van filled with Fremont police officers tried to cut it off in March 2017, according to a complaint filed by the teens family. At the time, Fremont police said the BMWs driver, who was apparently wanted by police, had rammed the car into the van. Police opened fire and fatally wounded Mondragon, who was a passenger. She was 16 and in her first trimester of pregnancy. Her familys civil rights and wrongful death complaint described the killing as a botched covert arrest operation, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The jurys decision on Friday was a tremendous verdict for the family, said plaintiffs attorney John Burris. Burris said the jury decided to split culpability between the man driving the car and the officers, so that the city of Fremont will likely supply about $10 million of the award. Fremont officials did not immediately comment on the jurys decision. In 2018, the Alameda County District Attorneys Office concluded that the fatal police shooting was justified. Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California Law Enforcement Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte is making up to $5 million in grant funding from Montanas bed tax fund available to businesses that have been impacted by destructive flooding in southern Montana. Gianfortes office announced the grant funding, and said more than $3 million in federal COVID relief funds will also be made available for responding to flood impacts, the Independent Record reported. Tourism-dependent businesses like restaurants, bars, hotels, guides and private campgrounds can get up to $25,000 in grant funding under the program. Applicants must describe how they will be negatively impacted by a lack of visitors after severe floods closed two of Montanas three entrances to Yellowstone National Park. The program will give businesses much-needed support to get them up and running so they can give in-state and out-of-state guests their best possible Montana experience, Department of Commerce Director Scott Osterman said in a press release. Thousands of visitors to Yellowstone National Park were ordered out of the park on June 13 after rivers across northern Wyoming and southern Montana surged over their banks following a heavy rainfall that accelerated the spring snowmelt. The flooding damaged several hundred homes and businesses in Montana communities near Yellowstone, threatening their tourism-dependent economies. Related: Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Flood News Global hollow glass sphere market trend 2025-2027 What is Hollow Glass Sphere Used For? by Newsintegra927 Since 2022, Russia-Ukraine geopolitical conflicts have intensified, and global energy prices have risen sharply, with international natural gas prices hitting historic highs. As the most important transitional energy source in the transition from fossil energy to non-fossil energy, the share of natural gas in primary energy has increased from 14.6% in 1965 to 24.7% in 2020. The global gas price indices showed a unilateral downward trend from 2018, bottomed out in 2020, and remained low for a long time. However, since July 2020, the global gas prices have gradually fluctuated upward, and the impact of geopolitical events made the Dutch TTF gas price even hit record highs repeatedly. An analyst of a securities company believes that the core catalyst of this round of global gas market lies in the lack of investment in upstream oil and gas resources caused by long-term low prices. Since 2020, although the epidemic has led to a decline in demand, the decline in supply has been faster, resulting in a large inventory consumption. In 2021, demand will recover faster than supply (the supply-side is less sensitive to prices, which will be reflected in investment). As the world's two largest gas hollow glass sphere are also expected to change significantly. Hollow glass sphere is widely used in glass fiber reinforced plastic products, syntactic foam, artificial marble, compound wood, sound insulation heat preservation material, atomic ash, deep-sea buoyancy, bowling, low-density cement, sealing material, lightweight, resin handicraft, mural hanging frame, wall plate sandwich layer structure lightweight packaging materials, electronic industry, absorbing material, lightweight concrete, emulsion explosive, etc. Artificial Marble The larger use of hollow glass beads is artificial marble. In the United States, many manufacturers are using this filler, which has the following advantages: Improve the impact performance, the correct formula manufacturing products its performance is higher than the artificial marble association requirements; Improve texture layout and color continuity, making products more beautiful and dazzling; Reduce the curing time, with a faster mold turnover speed; Improve impact strength, improve anti-cracking ability, reduce the damage rate of products; Improved machinability and reduced time for flailing, cutting, drilling and grinding. Reduce wear and tear of post-treatment tools. Improve the tinting performance of light colors while reducing the amount of TiO2 (although sometimes darker colors need to be mixed in) Its light weight makes it easier to carry and install, and also reduces transportation costs. Plastic, rubber Hollow glass beads are used to fill UHMWPE materials, which not only acts as a solid lubricant to improve the fluidity of processing, but also can modify the comprehensive mechanical properties of UHMWPE materials to improve their strength and wear resistance. The tensile strength, impact strength, hardness and other mechanical properties of nylon 6 with hollow glass beads can be improved, and the material aging caused by light and heat can be prevented. With the increase of glass bead content, the Martin temperature of the material increases. Used for the production of bearings, cameras, furniture accessories, etc. Filling hard PVC with hollow glass beads to produce profiles, pipes and plates can make the material have good dimensional stability, improve rigidity and heat resistance temperature, and improve production efficiency; Fill ABS, can improve the stability of material size, reduce shrinkage rate, improve compressive strength and bending modulus, and improve the performance of paint on the surface, can be widely used in the production of TV casing, automobile plastic parts, audio equipment, household appliances; Filled with epoxy resin, can reduce the material viscosity, improve the physical and mechanical properties, can be used to produce composite foam plastics, deep-sea submarines, lifeboats, etc. Fill unsaturated polyester, can make the material shrinkage and water absorption rate decreased, improve wear resistance, and in the lamination and coating when the hole is less, can produce FRP products, polishing wheel, tools and so on; Paint coating Glass beads have the smallest specific surface area and low oil absorption rate, which can greatly reduce the use of other production components in the coating. The vitrified surface of glass beads is more resistant to chemical corrosion and has a reflection effect on light. Therefore, the coating has anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, anti-ultraviolet, anti-yellowing and anti-scraping effect. The tightly arranged hollow glass beads contain thin gas inside, and their thermal conductivity is low, so the coating has a very good heat insulation effect. Hollow glass beads can effectively enhance the flow and leveling of the coating. Hollow glass beads contain gas with good heat and cold shrinkage resistance, so as to enhance the elasticity of the coating, greatly reduce the coating due to thermal expansion and contraction caused by cracking and falling off. Below the premise that fills in high quantity, the viscosity of coating increases not apparent, because this dissolvent usage amount can reduce, can reduce coating to be in use the discharge of toxic gas in the process, reduce VOC index effectively. Recommended use: Generally add 10-20% of the total weight. The hollow glass beads in the last to add, the use of low speed, low shear force of the mixing equipment dispersion, because the spherical flow of the beads is good, the friction between the small, so it is easy to disperse, in a short time can be wet completely, slightly extend the mixing time to achieve uniform dispersion. Hollow glass microbeads are chemically inert and non-toxic, but because they are extremely light, special care needs to be taken when added. We suggest to adopt the step adding method, that is, the amount of each time is 1/2 of the remaining beads, gradually adding, so as to avoid the beads floating into the air and make the dispersion more complete. Vehicle chassis armor Professional chassis armor is to spray a special elastic gum material on the chassis of the car, completely wrap the chassis and the part above the wheel, and form a layer of corrosion resistant chassis protection layer with certain strength after its natural consolidation. Added hollow glass beads chassis paint characteristics: glass beads vitrified surface is more resistant to chemical corrosion, therefore, paint coating has anti-fouling, anti-corrosion, anti-yellowing and anti-scraping effect. If filled with appropriate proportion, the spherical structure of the particle impact force and stress has a good dispersion effect, added to the coating can well improve the impact resistance of the coating film, but also reduce the coating due to thermal expansion and contraction of stress cracking. The toughness, impact resistance and surface hardness of the products are improved obviously. The particles are airtight hollow spheres, which are added into the coating to form a lot of microcosmic independent adiabatic cavities, thus greatly improving the insulation of the film to heat and sound, and playing a good role in heat insulation and noise reduction. Hollow Glass Sphere Price The price is influenced by many factors including the supply and demand in the market, industry trends, economic activity, market sentiment, and unexpected events. If you are looking for the latest hollow glass sphere price, you can send us your inquiry for a quote. (sales1@rboschco.com) Hollow Glass Sphere Supplier RBOSCHCO is a trusted global chemical material supplier & manufacturer with over 12-year-experience in providing super high-quality chemicals and nanomaterials. The company export to many countries including the USA, Canada, Europe, UAE, South Africa, Tanzania, Kenya, Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon, Uganda, Turkey, Mexico, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Brazil, Chile, Dubai, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Portugal, etc. As a leading nanotechnology development manufacturer, RBOSCHCO dominates the market. Our professional work team provides perfect solutions to help improve the efficiency of various industries, create value, and easily cope with various challenges. If you are looking for hollow glass sphere, please send an email. (sales1@rboschco.com) The World Food Program (WFP) of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union (EU) said in a statement that the conflict between Russia and Ukraine poses risks to global food supplies, and called on the international community to increase support for vulnerable countries and jointly address food security challenges. A few days ago, the Executive director of the World Food Program, the European Commission's commissioner in charge of crisis management, the French Foreign Minister of the ROTATING EU presidency, and other officials held a meeting in Rome, Italy, to discuss how to deal with the negative impact of the Conflict between Russia and Ukraine on global food security. One of the officials told a news conference after the meeting that the world was facing a food supply challenge that would "last for many years" as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine pushed up global food prices and disrupted the hollow glass sphere will continue. Inquery us News Global market trend 2025-2026 The impact of soaring global tanker freight rates on the quality management system market by Newsintegra927 Global oil tanker freight rates soar Daily income of shippers more than 500 times! Longer distances are reducing ships' available capacity and pushing up freight rates. Shipowners who deliver products from South Korea to Singapore now earn more than $49,000 a day, up from $98 before the conflict. The turmoil in global fuel markets, affected by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, has pushed up the cost of shipping refined products such as diesel and gasoline. Freight rates for fuels such as petrol and diesel -- known in the industry as clean tanker rates -- have more than doubled this year to their highest level since April 2020, according to data from the Baltic Exchange. On a key Asian route, shipowners delivering products from South Korea to Singapore now earn more than $49,000 a day, up from $98 before the conflict. The same is true elsewhere. Shippers' shipping fuel from the Middle East to Japan on a route called TC-5 earned more than $56,000 a day, up from $61 a day in February, according to data from the Baltic Exchange on Tuesday. Fuel from the US to Brazil on the TC-18 route costs $37,000 a day, up from $3,800 four months ago. Standard & Poor's Global Commodity Watch analysts Fotios Katsoulas and Krispen Atkinson said an increasing number of long-range class ships have been used to transport refined fuel since the conflict began in late February, according to media reports. Longer distances, they say, are reducing ships' available capacity and pushing up freight rates. The last time rates for clean tankers were this high was in early 2020, when the global pandemic slashed oil consumption and forced fuel producers to export as much as possible to ease storage tank backlogs. Anoop Singh, head of tanker research at shipbroker Braemar ACM, told the media that ship demand transporting fuel is expected to grow by 6 percent this year. In the context of the reconstruction of the global trade path of refined oil products, the average distance contributed by continental Europe and Mediterranean countries will increase significantly, and the distance contributed by the export of refined oil products from the Middle East, the United States, and the Far East will also increase significantly: "Since 2018, the average distance of refined oil products has increased from 2,800 nautical miles to 3,097 nautical miles in 2021, and is expected to rise to more than 3,340 nautical miles in 2022 and 2023 due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict." Factors affecting freight forwarder quality management system Freight transportation In international freight transport, one of the most concerning issues is the price of freight transport. The cost is directly related to the cost of transportation. Because many exporters do not understand the price of transportation very much, and often have a lot of extra spending, then today to understand the factors of the price of international freight transportation? Do You Need Freight Forwarders? DDP for World is a full-service and shipping forwarder dedicated to assisting our clients in focusing and growing their businesses. Send an Email to info@ddpforworld.com and get the latest freight price. The transportation prices are different for different quality management system 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 quality management system 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 quality management system 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 quality management system, 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 quality management system 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 quality management system 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 quality management system can reach many countries and regions that commercial express and postal express cannot reach, so the wide range of quality management system transportation is its advantage. Contact a professional freight forwarder- D DPFORWORLD - Professional freight forwarder in China Do You Need Freight Forwarders from China ? DDP for World is a full-service and shipping forwarder dedicated to assisting our clients in focusing and growing their businesses. We do DDP shipping since 2015 by handling home decor, Pet products, battery, power banks, DG cargo, general cargo and Amazon FBA shipping forwarding service. We make your shipping easier and faster by Sea, Air, Express, Truck or Railway. If you have any questions or needs about freight forwarder, please feel free to contact us, we will serve you wholeheartedly. Email: info@ddpforworld.com Inquery us In response to the U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, protestors gathered on June 24 at the Central Academy in downtown Des Moines to defend bodily autonomy. Events across Iowa took place in Des Moines, Iowa City and Sioux City in response to the decision. Close Ireland will have the EU's highest public spending per inhabitant on food and agriculture and rural development if the CAP strategic plan it submitted to Brussels is accepted. The plan's more than 2,000 per inhabitant compares to an EU average of 688 per inhabitant. The Netherlands proposes the lowest funding intensity, followed by Malta. Ireland's over 2,000 per inhabitant is followed by Lithuania and Hungary's 1,500 per inhabitant, according to the analysis of strategic plans by the Thunen Institute of Rural Studies in Germany. The analysis reveals the different member states' priorities. For example, funding proposed for the environment (resource protection) in Ireland and the Netherlands is the highest across the EU, at about 33% in both countries. It is exceeded in both countries only by funding for farm income measures, which is about 40% in the Netherlands, and about 55% in Ireland. Only the proposed plans from Denmark, France and Poland exceed Ireland's share of funding for income. Malta, at 31%, and Hungary at 41% propose the lowest shares of funds to support farm income. As measured by the share of public funds, most proposed CAP interventions are dedicated to the agricultural sector. Around 93% of the funds would flow directly or indirectly to farms. According to the Thunen Institute analysis, Ireland, Luxembourg and Belgium provide CAP support almost exclusively in the agricultural sector (as distinct from forestry, rural business development, infrastructure etc). LEADER scheme Although the LEADER scheme has played a central role in rural development policy at European level since the 1990s, its low priority in Ireland is revealed by the Thunen Institute, which suggests that Ireland, Slovakia, the Netherlands, Lithuania, Portugal and Luxembourg would not use any funds at all for this funding strategy if it were not for the obligation to offer LEADER, and fund it with at least 5% of EAFRD funds in pillar two of the CAP. In contrast, member states such as Germany, Spain and Estonia, rely heavily on LEADER. Overall, in the plans submitted for the 2023-27 CAP, LEADER gets a slight increase in importance in terms of its share of pillar two funds, compared with the 20142020 funding period. LEADER funding ranges from just over 2% of planned pillar two public spending in Hungary to nearly 14% in Germany. It is about 4.5% in Ireland. There are small spending shares proposed in Ireland for farmer co-operation, training, and advisory services (the Netherlands has the highest total share under these headings, at about 6%). Read More EU aims to halve pesticide use by 2030 under green food plan Ireland also has relatively small allocations for rural development (largest in Malta, Bulgaria, Finland, Denmark, Estonia); generational change (which ranges from 1% in Portugal to 6% in Greece); organic farming (largest in Austria, Lithuania, and Luxembourg); and animal welfare (largest in Italy, Sweden, and Slovakia). Denmark, France, Malta and the Netherlands will not address animal welfare through EU interventions. One of the major changes proposed in the CAP next year is that at least 4% of agricultural land must be devoted to non-productive areas or features, as a condition to receive EU farm income aid payments. Exemptions are possible, for example, if the arable area is less than 10 hectares, or agricultural area is more than 75% permanent pasture, or more than 75% of arable land is for forage, fallow land, or legumes. However, Ireland is alone in not allowing any exemption from the proposed 4%. Competitiveness Hungary plans to use 27% of public funds to strengthen the competitiveness and position of agriculture in the value chain. This is the highest value in all the strategic plans. Denmark, Ireland, Germany and Finland use the least funds in this target area in relative terms, at between 1% and 5%. The percentage of funding for strengthening the competitiveness and position of agriculture in the value chain is the smallest in Ireland, of the 28 CAP plans. In relative terms, rural development accounts for the largest share in Malta, at 29% of public funds, followed by Bulgaria, at 13% and Finland, at 8%. This target area is least important in Denmark, at only 1%, and in Belgium, Greece, Ireland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, at 2% each. CRISS The Complementary Redistributive Income Support for Sustainability (CRISS), to redistribute CAP income support from larger farms to smaller farms, is mandatory in the new CAP, at 10% or more of the direct payments ceiling. It averages 10.4%, in member states' plans. At Ireland's proposed 10%, it will be worth 118 million per year. However, Estonia, Lithuania and Slovenia plan to use significantly less than 10%, availing of permission to use alternative instruments provided that they demonstrate in their CAP strategic plans that they sufficiently respond to the need for redistribution of income support. France and Italy have chosen to considerably expand funding for risk management, such as crop insurance. From 2023, all member states have to spend at least 25% of direct payment funds on eco-schemes, at least 35% of pillar two funds on specific environment and climate-related objectives, at least 3% of direct payment funds on generational renewal, and at least 5% of pillar two funds for LEADER. The strategic plans examined by the Thunen Institute are still subject to changes until final approval is given by the European Commission, The Thunen Institute concluded the CAP is becoming greener, while rural development remains a niche topic, but there are clear differences between member states. Despite common objectives and funding rules, the CAP thus remains largely shaped by Member States. A Killarney woman whose risky exploits saved hundreds of Allied soldiers in Second World War-occupied Paris has been recognised with a new plaque in the Kerry town. Janie McCarthy's accomplishments are similar to those of Monsignor Hugh O'Flaherty, the Irish priest who helped save an estimated 6,500 people during the Second World War. While Janie has been recognised in France, the US, and the UK, this is the first acknowledgement of her heroics in her hometown. Her remains lie in a paupers grave in France. Janie McCarthy was born in 1885 in New Street, Killarney, and first went to Paris as an au pair. After studying in the Sorbonne, she became a highly respected teacher in Paris, being awarded the Order des Palmes Academiques in 1918, a rare distinction for a non-native French person. During the Second World War, she became involved with the French resistance in clandestine operations and at considerable risk to herself saved hundreds of lives sheltering in her home in Rue St Anne, and smuggling in and out of Paris members of the Allied forces and intelligence services. Widespread recognition The French, British, and American governments all recognised her for her work. France awarded her the Croix de Guerre and the medaille de la resistance; she received a written citation from US president, Dwight D Eisenhower, along with a medal from the USA; while the British awarded her the Tedder certificate. "It is fitting that we are now finally honouring one of our own daughters a native of Killarney and at last paying tribute to a true heroine, Mayor of K|illarney Marie Moloney said. "For far too long women have gone unhonoured in Killarney, and I believe we are now rectifying that and it will be the start of more to come. Gender should never be a barrier. Killarney Town manager Angela McAllen said she hoped the plaque would lead to "greater awareness of the truly fascinating story of Janie McCarthy". It is important for children growing up to hear of the heroic exploits of those from their hometown, to inspire them and to give them people to look up, Ms McAllen said. Gender no obstacle It is terrific, especially for young girls, to look at this plaque and I hope that too will inspire them to greater heights and to realise that gender is no obstacle to achieving anything you want, A number of people have been involved in researching her life, including fluent French speaker Mary OSullivan. To her huge surprise, Mary, who is from Killarney, found she had studied the same course as Janie in the Sorbonne, had lived nearby, sat in the same park, and attended the same church, some 60 years apart. Janie McCarthy died in the British hospital in 1964 and was buried in a cemetery, initially. However her remains have been transferred to an unmarked paupers grave, Ms OSullivan had found. News that the US Supreme Court had overturned Roe v Wade came as a harsh reminder that progress gained in the journey towards equality is never guaranteed. The US has long been a place that Irish people - both pro- and anti-abortion - have looked to as an example of what Ireland could be. So, it is no surprise that the news this week has shaken people and seen tensions rise to levels not really seen since the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. Scrolling through social media, there were people who were afraid, angry and disturbed while there were people who were overjoyed, full of praise for the Supreme Court and relishing the moment. The one thing both groups agreed on was that a post-Roe v Wade America was a vision of what Ireland could soon become. Four years after Repeal the Eighth and almost three years since abortion was decriminalised in the North, pregnant people still struggle to get abortions and still find themselves having to travel to Britain for their medical care. In 2021, more than 200 people from the Republic and 161 from the North travelled to England and Wales to access abortion care. Half of the counties in Ireland have fewer than 10 GPs offering abortion services and only four have well-developed networks, according to the National Womens Council. The referendum was a major battle but both sides knew it was far from the end. Now, many anti-abortion campaigners feel they have a blueprint or map to guide them on their quest to ban abortion. People at an abortion-rights protest at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday. Abortion rights groups have worked tirelessly, they have kept their focus, done their utmost to keep the issue to the forefront and to keep their supporters from becoming complacent.Photo: AP/Rick Bowmer Aontu leader Peadar Toibin said Friday was "a wonderful day for human rights and democracy" claiming it will one day be viewed in the same light as emancipation from slavery. "Ireland deregulated abortion 50 years after the US. Hopefully, it won't take as long to return to human rights," he tweeted. Dermot Kearney, President of the Catholic Medical Association in the UK, who is scheduled to speak at the annual 'Rally for Life' in Dublin, tweeted: "The UK and Ireland are next" along with the prayer hands emoji. "Maybe the #NorthIsNext after all... but in a good way," one group responded, using a hashtag started by the pro-choice movement in the North. A separate NI group told its 3,000 followers that maintaining an anti-abortion presence outside medical centres providing abortion services is "more important than ever". Amid a slew of tweets reacting to the news from the US, one Irish right-wing commentator questioned why Irish politicians were reacting to the very same news. At once implying that it should not concern Ireland while simultaneously spending a great deal of time giving his own view on it. Another high-profile anti-abortion campaigner spent the days following the SCOTUS decision proclaiming the beginning of the end for abortion worldwide, "it's only a matter of time" went the refrain. Mixed in with the tweets and retweets from Irish people thanking Donald Trump, praising god and platforming Republicans, so-called evangelists and Catholic publications from the US, there is the undeniable sense that the anti-abortion movement in Ireland has been revitalised by the events in America. "I'm feeling emboldened!", tweeted Eden McCourt, an anti-abortion activist who is also slated to speak at the upcoming 'Rally for Life'. Kathy Dalton at a pro-abortion rally outside the Schuylkill County Courthouse in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on Friday. File photo: Lindsey Shuey/Republican-Herald via AP The people of Ireland who want full bodily autonomy for all need to be aware of how the past few days have reinvigorated their opposition. Especially when the opposition never really lost momentum. Abortion rights groups have worked tirelessly - both before and since the 2018 referendum - they have kept their focus, done their utmost to keep the issue to the forefront and to keep their supporters from becoming complacent. It can be difficult to fight complacency though, especially as other important global and life events take focus. With attention elsewhere, the opposition can continue to chip away, playing the long game in order to achieve their goal. Human rights aren't lost in a day, they are eroded slowly bit by bit. The problem is that too many people will not notice or speak up until it is their rights that are ripped from them. The LGBTQI+ community in the US and here in Ireland have been telling us this for a long time. Abortion-rights activists protest following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade at Union Square in New York. Photo: AP/Yuki Iwamura When we allow any group's basic human rights to be restricted or stripped away entirely, we are saying that it is acceptable to do so. When a person's life, health and being is allowed to be treated as something that is up for "debate", it allows them to be dehumanised. When you stop thinking of those people as being just like you then it makes it a lot easier to turn a blind eye when they are denied their rights. There is no need to start quoting Martin Niemoller to you, we all know the deal. The message is simple: This fight didn't start with abortion, and it won't end with abortion. Anyone who is out there fighting for abortion access and not stepping up for the rights of others cannot expect victory until they realise this; the opposition already has. Burma Almost 100 Civilians Tortured to Death by Myanmar Regime Since Coup Some of the people tortured to death by the military regime. Myanmars military regime has tortured to death at least 95 people in interrogation centers and prisons since last years coup, said rights groups who called on the international community to help end the juntas atrocities. Among those tortured to death were National League for Democracy officials and members, student activists, young resistance fighters, peaceful protesters, striking civil servants, politicians and bystanders. In a joint statement released on International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, 14 local rights groups including the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, Equality Myanmar, the Womens League for Burma and the Taang Civil Society Organization, stated that the junta has used horrific methods of torture on political detainees in order to terrorize opponents of military rule. It is now common practice for the military to torture, to extract information and enact revenge, before summarily executing with gunshots, said the joint statement. The statement added that it has documented evidence of torture through first-hand testimony that reveals the use of guns, clubs, knives and pliers on detainees by junta forces. Mock executions and burials, forcing detainees to assume stress positions, deprivation of food and water for days, being forced to drink toilet water, beatings on genitals and threats of sexual assault and rape are among the forms of torture used by the regime. In one instance, almost 30 residents of Mon Taing Pin Village in Sagaing Region were slaughtered by regime troops in May after being captured in a monastery. Their bodies were found blindfolded with their hands tied. The victims throats had been cut or they had been burned to death. We call attention to the historic use of torture by the military junta as a direct result of the impunity it enjoyed for decades. Hollow threats by international governments and regional blocs must end, the 14 rights groups said in their statement. They called on United Nations (UN) member states, as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, to put much more political pressure on the junta. International actors must refuse engagement, dialogue, or participation in activities which lend legitimacy to the regime, and implement a comprehensive global arms embargo, more targeted financial sanctions against military conglomerates and other pro-military business interests and support the work of accountability mechanisms, such as the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Burma (IIMM), added the rights groups. The groups also called on the UN Security Council to refer cases of torture to the International Criminal Court, to end the physical and mental torture of political prisoners. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Continue in Kayah State Hell Hounds Are Loose in Myanmar; Who Can Stop Them? Myanmars Min Aung Hlaing, Russias Putin and Their Ilk Must Not Prevail Burma ASEANs Envoy on Myanmar Urges Suu Kyis Return to House Arrest From Solitary Confinement The ASEAN Special Envoy for Myanmar, Cambodia's Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn, speaks during the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Retreat press conference in Phnom Penh on Feb. 17, 2022. / AFP PHNOM PENHA special envoy of the ASEAN chair on Myanmar has urged the countrys military regime to return democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi from solitary confinement in prison to the home where she was originally detained. Following a military takeover in February last year, the junta detained the 77-year-old under house arrest until June 22, when it moved her to Naypyitaw Prison. The regimes spokesperson said she was transferred to the prison according to the code of criminal procedure and placed in solitary confinement. The transfer prompted widespread expressions of alarm, with a spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres saying the UN was very concerned about the latest developments, adding that they went against everything the organization has been calling for in regards to the situation in Myanmar. In a letter to regime Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin, ASEAN Special Envoy Prak Sokhonn on Monday urged the junta to exercise compassion and facilitate the return of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the home where she was originally detained due to her fragile health and wellbeing as well as fair and judicious practice of the rule of law, echoing deep concerns expressed by ASEAN colleagues. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a 10-member bloc and Myanmar is a member. I have no doubt that the same concern resonates beyond ASEAN, considering that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is regarded internationally and by many in Myanmar as having a critical role in your countrys return to normalcy and national reconciliation through a peaceful political solution, the envoy said. We all share the view that a peaceful national reconciliation cannot be expected when one party to the conflict is taken out of the resolution equation, he added. The request comes a few days before his second visit to Myanmar this year. Following the regimes post-coup bloody crackdowns on protesters, ASEAN last year adopted a five-point peace plan for Myanmar, including an immediate cessation of the juntas violence against its own people. However, the plan has largely failed, as the junta has continued to commit extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and torching of civilian properties as it tries to crush armed resistance forces across the country. So far, the regime has killed more than 2,000 people. Prak Sokhonn was appointed as the ASEAN special envoy for Myanmar this year to mediate between all parties concerned. He visited the country early this year but only met regime officials. Upon returning from the visit, he said the Myanmar issue was complicated and would take a long time to solve, as the stakeholders were not ready to cooperate and still insist on fighting and eliminating one another. In May, Hun Sen, the prime minister of Cambodia, which currently holds ASEANs rotating chair, urged the Myanmar regime leader to let the blocs envoy meet with the countrys detained democracy leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President U Win Myint to create a conducive environment to start an inclusive political dialogue. However, regime chief Min Aung Hlaing responded that he would only facilitate meetings with other parties concerned, meaning the envoy will not have access to either during his forthcoming visit. You may also like these stories: Myanmar Junta Airstrikes Continue in Kayah State Hell Hounds Are Loose in Myanmar; Who Can Stop Them? Myanmars Min Aung Hlaing, Russias Putin and Their Ilk Must Not Prevail Myanmar in Revolt as People Choose to Fight the Brutal Regime Burma Myanmar Junta Troops Raid Villages After Power Cable to Chinese Mine Blown Up Regime forces burned down about 70 houses in Moe Gyo Pyin North village on June 21. / CJ Junta troops raided villages in Sagaing Region in response to the blowing up of the main power cable supplying the Chinese-owned Wanbao Mining Company on Friday by Salingyi Township resistance fighters. About 70 regime soldiers stormed Nyaung Pin Gyi village in Salingyi near the power line on Monday morning and looted houses. The villagers fled last week. Soldiers took valuables and broke televisions and anything else they could not carry, said a villager. On Friday, Mi Myay special task force and Young Peoples Force said they destroyed the cable because the Chinese firm is housing and feeding regime troops who loot homes and arrest and kill civilians. A villager said: This morning large numbers of troops came to tighten security near the bombed power line while it is repaired. Since June 21 approximately 10,000 civilians from 20 villages near the mine have fled their homes. The Northwestern Command in Monywa sent another 150 reinforcements to Wanbao on Thursday. A 38-year-old female Tone villager told The Irrawaddy that villagers fled without their belongings when troops arrived firing rifles and using explosives on Thursday. Five minutes after I realized they had arrived the shooting and explosions began. I fled for my life. I could not take any belongings, she said. She said she is sheltering with relatives in a village far from Wanbao. Some of her neighbors are missing. Approximately 10,000 people from 20 villages, including Kyauk Phyu Taing, Sel Tai Maung, Moe Gyo Pyin North, Sel Tai Ywar Haung, Magyi, Laungtakar, Kyi Pin Htoo, Ohn Nae Pot, Pon Ywar Thit, Pon, Ton A Lel Taw, Ton Taw Kyaung, Ywar Thit and Ywar Ma, have left their homes. Last week, soldiers based at Wanbao tortured and cut up two villagers and torched around 70 houses in Moe Gyo Pyin North. They detained approximately 100 Sel Tai Maung villagers at the monastery and released them after resistance forces attacked the Wanbao mine. On Thursday approximately 200 regime soldiers torched Pone Pwar Thit and shot eight villagers who tried to extinguish the fire. Three died. Wanbao has been operating the controversial Letpadaung copper mine, in partnership with the military-owned Myanma Economic Holdings Company, since 2010. Heavy protests against the mine began in 2012 after land was seized and the environmental damage became evident. Villagers demanded compensation. In 2014 a woman was killed and many others, including monks, were injured in a crackdown by the security forces. In April, 16 Sagaing Region resistance forces warned the Chinese-run copper mine to halt operations as the groups said they would not allow joint ventures between Myanmars regime and Chinese companies to operate in the region while people are fighting to uproot the dictatorship. In May the firm has expressed deep concerns in response to the threats. Following the warning, the regime increased security at the mine and imposed tighter restrictions on residents. Burma Myanmar Regime Chiefs son to Import Russian Oil A Shwe Byain Phyu filling station. / Facebook The son of Myanmar junta leader Senior General Min Aung Hlaing is planning to import oil from Russia, the regimes major arms supplier. Min Aung Hlaings son U Aung Pyae Sone, Shwe Byain Phyu Group of Companies (SBP) owner U Thein Win Zaw, Lucky Star Jade Company owner U Aung Myint and a few other businessmen will form a venture to import and distribute fuel from Russia. U Aung Pyae Sone and cronies are inviting local oil importers to join their venture, oil industry sources told The Irrawaddy. They will establish a new company and monopolize the market, said one oil importer. Sources told The Irrawaddy that U Aung Pyae Sone and his partners will fly to Russia soon to discuss the details for importing oil. SBP, founded in 1996, has interests in gas stations and gem mining. U Thein Win Zaw supplies fuel to the Myanmar navy and is also a director of the Mahar Yoma Public Company, part of a consortium that has a stake in the military-owned telecom operator Mytel. The Investcom PTE Ltd, which in March bought Norwegian telecom firm Telenors operation in Myanmar, is a joint venture between SBP and the Lebanese investment company M1 Group, owned by Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati. Min Aung Hlaings daughter Khin Thiri Thet Mon has a stake in SBP that will eventually control 80 per cent of Telenors operation, three sources told The Irrawaddy. U Aung Myint, an ethnic Chinese man who is also known as Xiong Fu, is a wealthy jade businessman and a friend of SBP owner U Thein Win Zaw, a gem stone business owner told The Irrawaddy. Perhaps U Aung Myint has been invited to join their company because he is rich. U Aung Myint used to import fuel before, said the business owner. Lucky Star Jade Company operates hundreds of acres of jade mines either independently or in partnership with other companies in Lone Khin in the Kachin State jade mining hub Hpakant. Myat Myittar Mon Petrol Group owned by Dr. Win Myint, the secretary of the Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association, will also join U Aung Pyae Sones company, sources told The Irrawaddy. Dr. Win Myint denied involvement in U Aung Pyae Sones venture, when asked by The Irrawaddy. I am abroad. I know nothing about that yet, he said. Middlemen have previously attempted to organize for Myanmar companies to import fuel from Russia, but deals were never reached when consignment details were discussed, said a manager of a local fuel company. Myanmar mostly imports oil from Singapore. Although Russian oil will be cheaper, Myanmar will have to pay higher transportation costs and the country still lacks the necessary infrastructure to import large-scale amounts of oil, including ports where oil tankers with a 100,000-ton capacity are able to dock. So the coup leaders sons plan will not be as easy as it seems, said fuel importers. Notorious arms broker U Tay Za, whose ties with the current military regime, and previous ones, are known to be deep, is the chairperson of the Myanmar Petroleum Trade Association. It remains unclear if he is involved in U Aung Pyae Sones company. U Tay Za, the founder and chairman of the Htoo Group of Companies, has previously helped the Myanmar military purchase arms and aircraft from Russia. The news of U Aung Pyae Sone forming a fuel import company emerged as the junta continues to control imports including oil and is putting pressure on fuel companies to sell at fixed prices, because of the countrys declining reserves of US dollars. From June 15 to 18, five ministers of the Myanmar regime attended the 25th International Economic Forum held in St. Petersburg, Russia and sought help from Moscow to resolve Myanmars fuel and electricity crisis. Junta-appointed foreign economic relations Minister U Aung Naing Oo invited a Russian energy company to invest in the countrys energy sector, while Minister for Electricity and Energy U Thaung Han held talks with Russian government officials and businessmen on setting up electricity production ventures in Myanmar. Burma Nearly 7,000 Civilians in Mon State Flee Myanmar Junta Raids and Shelling Residents flee after regime forces burned down Htone Bo Lay village in Thaton Township, Mon State, on Saturday. / KNU An estimated 7,000 Mon State civilians have fled their homes amid Myanmar junta raids, indiscriminate shelling and an arson attack on a village in Thaton Township, according to peoples defense forces (PDFs) and the Karen National Union (KNU). It was the first regime arson attack on civilian properties in Mon State. Around 300 regime and Karen State Border Guard Force troops occupied Htone Bo Lay village and burned down houses on Saturday amid attacks from the Bilin and Thaton PDFs and Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), the armed wing of the KNU. The PDFs said they lacked ammunition to stop junta troops occupying the village. More than 1,000 villagers have abandoned their homes since early June as Infantry Battalion 9 shelled Htone Bo Lay for days. Since an arson attack on the village, more than 7,000 residents from six nearby villages had fled their homes by Saturday, Saw Taryar, a Thaton PDF spokesman, told The Irrawaddy on Monday. He said nearly half of the 200 houses in the villages were burned down by regime forces. Aerial photos show the village burning. Villagers are mainly sheltering in forests and nearby villages. Tents, food and medicines are required for the fleeing villagers in the forest, Saw Taryar said. Our revolution is about the whole country. Rural communities are suffering the worst at the moment but urban areas will suffer more atrocities soon. People should donate to the PDFs and ethnic resistance armies to gain victory, he said. Regime forces are stationed at adjacent Htone Bo Gyi village, according to the Thaton PDF. Clashes have occurred in the area since early June when resistance troops regularly ambushed convoys carrying junta reinforcements. On June 1, the resistance detained a Battalion 9 captain and sergeant at Htone Bo Gyi. Six regime soldiers were killed and five others injured when resistance fighters ambushed infantry troops on June 2, according to the KNU. In response, the infantry battalion bombarded Htone Bo Gyi and Htone Bo Lay for days. Faced with daily attacks from PDFs and ethnic armed groups, regime forces have committed atrocities, burning alive and arbitrarily killing civilians, massacres, using civilians as human shields, aerial bombing and shelling residential areas and looting and burning houses, especially in Sagaing, Mandalay and Magwe regions and Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayah and Karen states. Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. ("Piedmont") (NYSE:PDM), an owner of Class A office properties located primarily in the Sunbelt, today announced that it has secured the corporate relocation for 55,000 RSF of Builders FirstSource, a Fortune 500 company, to 6031 Connection Drive, part of the larger Las Colinas Connection project. With the relocation of Builders FirstSource, this brings an additional Fortune 500 company to the Irving - Las Colinas area. We are thrilled to welcome Builders FirstSource to Las Colinas Connection, said Damian Miller, Piedmonts Senior Vice President Southwest Region, 6031 Connection Drive provides them the opportunity to access some of the areas best talent and design space to meet their needs while additionally offering their employees a modern workplace focused on wellness, productivity, and efficiency. Were proud to reaffirm our commitment to Texas with the relocation of our corporate headquarters to Las Colinas, said Dave Flitman, President and CEO of Builders FirstSource. The new office provides our team members with an exceptional work environment and offers flexibility for us to expand our team to meet growing business needs. Most importantly, the space strengthens our ability to collaborate and be more efficient as we continue providing industry-leading service and solutions to professional home builders and remodelers. Las Colinas Connection provides tenants with a differentiated setting featuring outdoor seating areas and nearby walking trails. The property is WELL Health-Safety Rated and features a newly renovated lobby and common areas, updated fitness center, enhanced conference center, and a modern grab-and-go market. This location provides direct access to Highway 114 and 161 George Bush Freeway, DFW Airport, and over 60 nearby amenities located within 1.5 miles of the building. It also serves as home to companies such as Gartner and Epsilon and continues to attract corporate users for their headquarter needs. Builders FirstSource is the perfect tenant for Las Colinas Connection. The property has always served as a home to corporate headquarters, so adding an additional headquarters to the roster was a huge win for ownership and the City of Irving. We are grateful to the Colliers team for providing the opportunity, said Sarah Kennington of Thirty-Four Commercial. Builders FirstSource is a growing company, with quality services and products that are in high demand throughout the country. On behalf of the City of Irving, we thank the company for choosing Irving-Las Colinas for its new corporate headquarters, said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer. We look forward to building a partnership and integrating Builders FirstSource and its employees into the community soon. Were excited to welcome Builders FirstSource, a quality Fortune 500 corporate headquarters to our community, said Beth A. Bowman, President & CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber of Commerce and the Irving Economic Development Partnership. This relocation is another testament to Irving-Las Colinas reputation as the Headquarters of Headquarters. With access to a large, highly-skilled workforce, ease of connectivity and innovative transportation options, various housing choices and desirable amenities, were certain Builders FirstSource will enjoy in its new home, in Irving-Las Colinas. Travis Ewert and Billy Vahrenkamp with Colliers represented Builders FirstSource in the transaction. Sarah Kennington and Bryce Jackson with Thirty-Four Commercial along with Joel Pustmueller with JLL represented Piedmont Realty Trust. About Piedmont Office Realty Trust Piedmont Office Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: PDM) is an owner, manager, developer, redeveloper, and operator of high-quality, Class A office properties located primarily in the Sunbelt. Its approximately $5 billion portfolio is currently comprised of approximately 16 million square feet. The Company is a fully-integrated, self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT) with local management offices in each of its markets and is investment-grade rated by S&P Global Ratings (BBB) and Moodys (Baa2). Piedmont is a 2022 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. For more information, see www.piedmontreit.com. About Builders FirstSource About Builders FirstSource Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Builders FirstSource is the largest U.S. supplier of building products, prefabricated components, and value-added services to the professional market segment for new residential construction and repair and remodeling. We provide customers an integrated homebuilding solution, offering manufacturing, supply, delivery, and installation of a full range of structural and related building products. We operate in 42 states with approximately 565 locations and have a market presence in 47 of the top 50 and 85 of the top 100 MSAs, providing geographic diversity and balanced end market exposure. We service customers from strategically located distribution and manufacturing facilities (certain of which are co-located) that produce value-added products such as roof and floor trusses, wall panels, stairs, vinyl windows, custom millwork and pre-hung doors. Builders FirstSource also distributes dimensional lumber and lumber sheet goods, millwork, windows, interior and exterior doors, and other building products. On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed an alimony overhaul bill that was sponsored by Sen. Joe Gruters, chair of the Republican Party of Florida and opposed by the National Organization for Women, the Family Law Section of the Florida Bar, and other critics. It was the third strike in a decade for groups of ex-spouses seeking to put an end to permanent alimony not only in future divorce settlements but in agreements made years and decades ago. DeSantis veto message focused on retroactivity in Senate Bill 1796, even though its advocates denied it would apply to preexisting alimony agreements. Former Gov. Rick Scott vetoed similar legislation in 2013 and 2016. If CS/CS/SB 1796 were to become law and be given retroactive effect as the Legislature intends, it would unconstitutionally impair vested rights under certain preexisting marital settlement agreements, DeSantis wrote in his veto message. He cited article I, Section 10, of the Florida Constitution. Democratic lawmakers and a few Republicans also opposed the bill during the 2022 regular session. Profundly proud Jan Killilea, speaking for a group of ex-spouses, mostly women, who call themselves the First Wives Advocacy Group, expressed gratitude that SB 1796 failed like its predecessors, but she said the recurring battle has taken its toll on her and other First Wives. I am profoundly proud of the women and men who had the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what they believe in, Killilea, marketing director at a small business in West Palm Beach, said in a text message to the Phoenix. For almost 10 years, weve been dodging arrows while opposing the alimony reform bills. Today, our governor put an end to the fight for 2022. Five days ago, still awaiting the governors decision on whether to sign or veto SB 1796, Killilea expressed fatigue and dismay. Our group has reform fatigue, she wrote. We continue to fight for all the women who dont have a voice and wont know how this happened if he [the governor] signs the bill. Were tired of these wealthy men trying to dispose of us. Tampa trial lawyer Marc Johnson, chairman of the alimony-reform group Florida Family Fairness, blasted the governor for his veto. We are incredibly disappointed by the veto of this much needed bill. Today, Gov. DeSantis chose divorce lawyers over Floridas families and parents who love their children and who want to be a part of their lives, Johnson wrote Friday. The bills sponsors included Sen. Joe Gruters of Sarasota and Charlotte counties, who is chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, and Lee County Republican Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka. The state Bars Family Law Section and the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers testified against the bill during session and urged DeSantis to veto it. Retroactivity disputed Florida Family Fairness and the bill sponsors had insisted SB 1796 was not retroactive in its effort to let ex-spouses stop paying permanent alimony when they reach retirement age. SB 1796 also would have established a 50/50 presumption for time-sharing of a divorcing couples underage children; eliminated adultery as a consideration in alimony agreements; and set a financial floor for spouses losing permanent alimony to keep them from falling into poverty defined as 130 percent of the federal poverty threshold (around $18,000 per year for a single-person household, and around $43,000 for a family of five, according to the American Council on Aging). Portions of this story appeared on the website of the Florida Phoenix, a nonprofit news organization dedicated to coverage of state government and politics from Tallahassee. You can visit them by clicking here. COMPANY NEWS: Radware, a leading provider of cyber security and application delivery solutions, today announced that Ukraine's State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection (SSSCIP) is using Radware's Cloud DDoS Protection and Cloud Web Application Firewall (WAF) Services as pro-bono technical assistance to increase its cyber defences in the face of aggressive and persistent cyber attacks. Ukraine's SSSCIP is tasked with protecting state information resources. In parallel with Russia's physical invasion of Ukraine, the world was exposed to modern warfare. As Russian troops entered Ukraine, regional DDoS and application attacks followed, targeting Ukraine's communications systems, web applications, and other infrastructures. 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About Radware Radware (NASDAQ: RDWR) is a global leader of cyber security and application delivery solutions for physical, cloud, and software defined data centres. Its award-winning solutions portfolio secures the digital experience by providing infrastructure, application, and corporate IT protection, and availability services to enterprises globally. Radware's solutions empower enterprise and carrier customers worldwide to adapt to market challenges quickly, maintain business continuity, and achieve maximum productivity while keeping costs down. For more information, please visit the Radware website. The following article was written by the Nigerian Marxists, concerning a call by the leaders of the labour movement for workers and youth to join the Labour Party en masse in the run up to the 2023 general election. Despite the rotten character of its leadership, many workers and youth see the party as a vehicle for change. Therefore, Marxists must form a correct perspective towards this development. March towards 2023 general election: the crisis deepens We wrote the following about the 2019 general election: The two main bourgeois parties, APC and PDP, are more and more losing their social base. They have lost much credibility among the sizeable number of youth and the working class, and the direct outcome of this is a huge vacuum created in the political landscape. The labour leaderships refusal to offer a credible political alternative, with a platform and programme based on the masses, left room for all sorts of outfits trying to fill the vacuum that has been created. (Nigeria: beyond the 2019 general election what stage are we passing through?, marxist.com) It is against this background that the scene is set for the coming 2023 general elections. As the ruling class room for manoeuvre narrows, and the masses become more determined to take their destiny into their own hands, the political vacuum widens and increasingly demands to be filled. The EndSARS movement of October 2020 was led by the youth / Image: Asokeretope The EndSARS movement of October 2020 was led by the youth, who had reached the end of their tolerance for the dire situation to which the Nigerian ruling class subjected them. This magnificent movement of the youth marked a decisive turning point in the developing situation. Though brutally suppressed, as we wrote at the time, this movement will inevitably find its expression in the political field. The youths who battled on the streets will return and significantly intervene in politics when the time comes. As the crisis deepens, it reveals itself first as a political crisis of the ruling class, the ranks of which are sharply divided as election period approaches. Most importantly for us, this crisis also places enormous pressure on the leadership of the working class, which keeps feeling the heat from its rank-and-file, who are desperate to fight and improve their lives. The immediate response of the leadership was to call on the ranks of the working class to: Reclaim [the] Labour Party. What sort of Labour Party are we to reclaim? The Labour Party was registered by the Nigerian Labour Congress in 2002 as the Party for Social Democracy, and later changed its name to the Nigerian Labour Party. Per its origins, it is a party of the working class, formed and nurtured by the working class. But a word of caution is necessary here: it was formed in 2002, not for the purpose of advancing an independent political programme of the working class, but to cut across the pressure that was mounting at the time precisely for an independent political expression of the working class. No one should therefore be surprised that the trade union bureaucracy abandoned it immediately after it was formed. The careerists and right-wing politicians then rushed to make a fortune from the party. No serious attempt has ever been made before now to mobilise the rank-and-file workers into this party. Meanwhile, many on the left have held a sectarian approach to the party, which combined to turn it into an orphan from birth. What should the attitude of Marxists be towards a Labour Party that has Peter Obi as its presidential flag bearer? / Image: PeterObi In typical fashion, the compromising and right-reformist labour movement bureaucracy, just as they regularly act during the economic struggle, seek to mobilise workers and raise themselves to the leadership of a movement, and direct the mass power of the working class, not for the purpose of advancing the class struggle, but towards safe channels for capitalism. While courting the left through the TPAP-M (coalition of all the left leaning organisations in Nigeria), the labour leaders, side-by-side with the liberal bourgeoise, organised around the NCF (National Consultative Forum) in its Reclaim Labour Party agenda. The Left distanced itself from the Reclaim Labour Party project, in response to disgusting conduct of the labour leadership, and the increasing influence of the Liberal bourgeoisie over the whole project. As a result, it shouldnt surprise anyone that an establishment stooge, Peter Obi, eventually emerged as the presidential candidate for the party. This immediately raised a question within the Left: What should be the attitude of Marxists towards a Labour Party under a right-wing labour leadership, that has Peter Obi as its presidential flag bearer? As a matter of necessity, Marxists must be capable of distinguishing what is progressive from what is reactionary in a situation like this. Peter Obi is an inveterate member of the establishment. As a former Governor of Anambra state, he never hid his ideology. He supported privatisation; and in all battles between capital and labour, he consistently took the side of capital. He is a renowned bourgeois banker, who rose to become chairman of a bank board. Marxists must never be ambiguous in their attitude towards such a clear enemy of the working class. But our attitude towards Peter Obi does not exhaust the question. Peter Obis emergence reflects the terrible state of the Left and the extent of degeneration of the leadership of the labour movement, but most importantly, it reflects the absence of the rank-and-file workers within the Labour Party. But there is another side of this question: the call by the trade union leadership to the rank-and-file workers to move into the party en masse. How should the Marxists respond to this? In ordinary times, workers leave politics to the politicians, and politicians consequently use this privilege to deceive and exploit the masses. It will represent a qualitative transformation in the consciousness of the workers if they move en masse into the arena of politics. Marxists must realise there is huge revolutionary potential implicit here, though currently this only exists in embryo. The working class cannot carry out its historical revolutionary tasks without its own party. The working class is the only revolutionary class in contemporary society that is capable of waging a successful struggle against the reactionary forces of the ruling class. For the working class to carry out this task, it needs a political instrument to call its own. Response of workers and youth It is true that the Labour leadership has lost its credibility and authority, and it is also true that Peter Obi as presidential candidate is a significant turn-off for some of the advanced layers of young workers. But there is already an objective basis for thousands, if not millions of youth and young workers to abandon the establishment parties (APC and PDP) and look for a political alternative. A popular slogan during the EndSARS protest was neither PDP, nor APC. In this context, this meant a fervent desire for an alternative platform to carry on the struggle. It would be infantile to deny that thousands of youth have swung behind the Labour Party in recent times. This is despite all the issues around the character and the leadership of the party. If there were to be a clear left candidate at the centre of this mobilisation, its magnitude would have been much greater and cut across ethnic and religious barriers. And yet, it would be an unfortunate symptom of blind sectarianism to deny the massive shift going on before our very eyes. If youth and workers are moving into the Labour Party, Marxists as a matter of necessity need to orientate towards such a developing political movement / Image: Earthworm According to Yiaga Africas 2020 paper How Youths Fared in 2019 Elections, 51.11 percent of the roughly 43m registered voters are youths. Though only 46.3 percent actually came out to vote, this was still roughly 19m people, which is over 50 percent of the 28.6m total voters. This actually put the youths voting bloc at a whopping 66 percent. There will certainly be a significant improvement in the turn out of the youths with Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) since 2019. This will be added to the widely reported massive turn out of those collecting new PVCs. As imperfect as this sudden turn of events is, it contains huge revolutionary potential that will become more and more pronounced as things develop. Despite the Labour leaderships diminished authority, there is every likelihood that a sizable layer of young workers may eventually join the movement. Should we then turn our backs on this important development, and instead plan to form our own separate political party? Let us start answering this question with a quotation from Marx and Engels in the Communist Manifesto: In what relation do the communists stand to the proletarians as a whole? The communists do not form a separate party opposed to other working-class parties. They have no interests separate and apart from those of the proletariat as a whole. They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own, by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement. The communists are distinguished from the other working-class parties by this only: 1. In the national struggles of the proletarians of the different countries, they point out and bring to the front the common interests of the entire proletariat, independently of all nationality. 2. In the various stages of development which the struggle of the working class against the bourgeoisie has to pass through, they always and everywhere represent the interests of the movement as a whole. The communists, therefore, are on the one hand, practically, the most advanced and resolute section of the working-class parties of every country, that section which pushes forward all others; on the other hand, theoretically, they have over the great mass of the proletariat the advantage of clearly understanding the line of march, the conditions, and the ultimate general results of the proletarian movement. (Communist Manifesto Chapter 1 Section II) Applying this more specifically to the Nigeria situation, the lesson to draw from the above quotation is that, in this concrete circumstance, where the youths and a certain layer of the working class are moving into the Labour Party in response to the call by the Trade Union Leaders, Marxists as a matter of necessity, need to orientate towards such a developing political movement. The idea of forming a political party, separate from this developing movement is bound to fail. The masses will learn from their experiences during a practical concrete movement. The challenge of today is how to marry the burgeoning class consciousness of the masses with the sufficiently revolutionary consciousness of the advanced Marxists. The working forces that will be required to build a new separate party will not be manufactured or be brought from outside the existing reality. It is only through patient explanation that we can raise the existing level of consciousness of youths and workers to a higher level. The working class must form its own political party and learn from its own experience. It is not the task of the Marxists to form the party for the working class, but to organise itself into the revolutionary leadership of the working class. Our task is to lead the mass of the working class along a socialist revolutionary path, and for us to successfully carry out this task, we need a revolutionary organisation that will put itself on the head of the mass working-class party. We can only act as a catalyst to speed up the process of the working class becoming conscious of its tasks, and we should not make the mistake of substituting our consciousness for that of the working class. But even as a catalyst to accelerate this development (as elementary study of chemical reactions reveals), there is a certain quantity that must be present in order for it to have any significant effect. This quantity has not been met by the Nigerian Left, let alone the means to set up its own mass party of the working class. Neither opportunism nor sectarianism We must be very firm, unyielding and principled in our opposition to Peter Obi, as well as to the Leadership of Labour and the establishment interests that they represent. No illusions must be entertained or promoted in bourgeois fat cats and their agents within the labour movement. But, at the same time, we must also be bold, firm and principled in our orientation towards the working class and be able to connect with the current level of consciousness, while patiently advancing it. This seems like a contradiction, but it is dialectical contradiction. A sectarian section of the left is saying we are firmly opposed to Peter Obi and the Labour leadership and therefore by extension, equally opposed to its Labour organisation and anything that has to do with it, including the Labour Party. Meanwhile, the opportunist section of the Left says: Since we are orienting towards Labour and its organisation, we also firmly orientate uncritically towards Peter Obi and the Leadership of Labour. It is between these two wrong extremes that the correct Marxist position lies. What this means in practice is: we will not for a second drop our criticism of Peter Obi and the compromising labour leaders. At the same time, we will patiently explain the revolutionary process that is gradually developing for the overwhelming mass of youth and young workers who are currently moving into the arena of struggle. Whether Peter Obi leaves the party after the election or not, we would have used this period to get our message across to the mass of the people looking towards him and Labour, and we will not therefore be forced to start building the movement afresh. The journey is very long, but with a correct orientation and approach, we may help shorten it. Otherwise, we might be unable to complete the ultimate journey towards the revolutionary overthrow of this sick and inept ruling class, with dire consequences for humanity. We should always remember that the options standing before us are either socialism or barbarism. Apple accounted for nearly two-thirds of first-quarter smartphone sales in the so-called premium segment, the technology analyst firm Counterpoint Research says, but providing no figures to back up its claim. Globally, total smartphone shipments for the quarter fell by 11% year-on-year for the quarter, according to figures earlier in the year from Canalys, another analyst firm, with about 309 million units being shipped. Apple's 62% share was its highest in the first quarter since 2017, Counterpoint said. Smartphones that have a wholesale average selling price of US$400 (A$575) and over fall into its premium segment. Apple's iPhone 13 was its best-selling model in the first quarter of 2022, a feat it has achieved since October 2021. The best-selling Android model for the first three months of 2022 was the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. CounterpointSamsung's share of the premium market had fallen in the first quarter, and attributed this to the delayed launch of the Galaxy S22 series. Chinese brands took up the remaining spots in the top five, with Oppo (including OnePlus), Xiaomi and vivo taking positions three to five. However the share of the premium market commanded by Chinese brands had fallen, Counterpoint said, though, again, it did not provide any numbers. The analyst firm said foldable phones appeared to be gaining some traction, led by Samsung, capturing 3% of the premium segment. Higher selling prices meant that despite a drop in the sales numbers, the revenue earned went up. Get unlimited access to all content and features at ivpressonline.com with our Full Online Access Subscription. Read our E-Edition, the digital replica of the print newspaper online, access content in exclusive sections including Family, Teen, Business, Databases, Farm and more. This option does not include daily home delivery of the Imperial Valley Press newspaper. For home delivery service, please select Premium or Premium Plus. Lawyers representing the parents of a Michigan teenager charged in a shooting at Oxford High School that left four of his fellow students dead say they plan to call him to testify at the couples trial This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. FILE - Protesters fill the street in front of the Supreme Court after the court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in Washington, June 24, 2022. Public opinion on abortion is nuanced, but polling shows broad support for Roe and for abortion rights. Seventy percent of U.S. adults said in a May AP-NORC poll that the Supreme Court should leave Roe as is, not overturn it. The Supreme Court's decision that women have no constitutional right to an abortion marked the apex of a week that reinforced Donald Trump's grip on Washington more than a year and a half after he exited the White House Firefighters work at the scene of a residential building following explosions, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Sunday. Several explosions rocked the west of the Ukrainian capital in the early hours of Sunday morning, with at least two residential buildings struck, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Staff Writer Jonathan Roberts is a reporter and photographer for the Johnson City Press covering Health Care, Johnson City and Jonesborough. He is a member of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and has been with the Press since 2019. In a little over a decade, some 1.4 million trees were fell in Casamance, the Senegals southern region, according to a US-based NGO, Environmental Investigation Agency, whose investigation was published on June 3, 2020. At the heart of the business is Nicolae Bogdan Buzaianu, a Swiss national of Romanian originnow being investigated by the Federal Office of the Attorney General (OAG) of Switzerland, and his Westwood company. The later had obtained a monopoly on timber exports from Gambia during the reign of Yahya Jammeh. We have every intention of cooperating and are cooperating with the Swiss, declared to Justice Info the Ministry of Justice, after having received a request for legal assistance from the Swiss Federal Prosecutors Office in relation to Buzaianu, allegedly involved in the pillaging of conflict timber from Casamance. The complaint had been gathering dust for three years on the desk of the Swiss prosecutor, who took action days before the broadcast of a documentary by Swiss television RTS to which our correspondent contributed. To our questions, Gambian authorities said they would not reveal specific details of the information requested by the Swiss authorities. We are in the process of compiling the information and once done will provide it to the Swiss. They want all the information we might have in our possession concerning the illegal timber trade involving Westwood and co, said Tah Kimbeng, the deputy director of civil litigation at the Gambias Ministry of Justice. War crime In June 2019 the Swiss NGO TRIAL International filed a criminal complaint against Buzaianu for alleged involvement in pillage, that can constitute a war crime when perpetrated in the context of a war. Senegals south Casamance has been engulfed since 1982 in what is one of Africas longest-running guerrilla warfare, claiming the lives of more than five thousand people and having caused the forced relocation of tens of thousands of people. The key financier of the rebellion being the illegal timber trade. TRIAL International welcomes the news and is confident that the case will go forward from now on, as it is a sign that there is an ongoing investigation at the Swiss federal level. The case is historical in many aspects and is a sign of hope towards the end of impunity for economic actors that are illegally participating in the exploitation of natural resources in conflict zones, said Benoit Meystre, TRIALs legal adviser. Senegal has since 1998 placed a ban on the trade in a move to deprive the rebellion of the much-needed resource. Yet the trade flourishes through the help of the Gambia, which land separates Casamance from the North of Senegal. The wood gets smuggled and exported through its port to China. And in 2014, Jammeh and Romanian-Swiss nationals Nicolai Buziainu and Dracos Andre Buziainu created a company called Westwood Gambia Ltd, operating a warehouse within the complex of the Banjul International Airport. Jammeh made fortunes from the trade. In 2017, after he left power, his successor Adama Barrow launched an inquiry into his assets and finances. The inquiry revealed that Westwood exported at least 15,000 containers of rosewood timber in three years, between 2014 and 2016. The company made US$45.3m in revenue. President Jammehs company, Kanilai Family Farms, holding 50 percent shares of Westwood, pocketed a total of $7.8m as dividends. The government received zero. Westwood wasnt paying tax, owing $5 million. Violating Trade Convention The trade-in rosewood in the Gambia may wear the face of legitimacy with the involvement of the highest office of the West African country, but the practice was illegal. The Gambia is a signatory to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species since August 1977, of which rosewood is one. However, the timber smuggled into the Gambia without proper documentation. Westwood was never fined, penalized or charged in any Gambian court for any crimes. However, the assets belonging to the company and its owners were forfeited after a white paper of a state inquiry into the financial activities of public bodies, enterprises and offices as regards their dealings with former president Yahya Jammeh was published in September 2019. Westwood had a gold refinery plant in a business park at Yundum, a suburb some 59 minutes-drive from Banjul, which was seized. The company also had cars that were seized. That was all. Fragile Senegambian relations This trafficking has seriously contributed to the deterioration of the relationship between the Gambia and its much larger neighbour Senegal. In 1982, the two countries had a confederation that lasted for about eight years. Senegal needed the Gambia as an easy and short access route from its northern part to its South in Casamance. The Gambia needed Senegalese military for protection. The year before, the countrys first president Dawda Kairaba Jawara was toppled in a rebellion led by self-styled Gambian revolutionary Kukoi Samba Sanyang but a quick reinforcement from Senegal restored Jawaras presidency barely a week later. Despite the challenges, the relationship between the Jawara administration and his Senegalese counterpart has been largely good. However, things started deteriorating during the days of ex-president Jammeh, following his coup in 1994 which was not resisted by Senegal. Frequent border closures ensued, preventing Senegalese trucks from the north access to the south through the Gambia. So were widespread allegations of Jammehs direct involvement in sponsoring Casamances rebellion. Members of Jammehs Jola tribe are seen to be largely involved in it. A warning to the natural resource pillagers Kemo Fatty is a Gambian environmental activist who works for Green-Up Gambia. He said holding corporations liable for the pillaging of natural resources is a welcoming development. This is a huge step in ensuring environmental justice We have seen how corporations have profited illicitly from rosewood trafficking (in the Gambia), said Fatty. This is not just a relief to see action being taken against the perpetrator but also sending a further warning to all people involved in natural resource destruction. We are hoping this will continue and both corporations and government officials will be brought to justice for environmental crimes. For Fatty, there is good and bad news. Gambian government is still in the business of certifying rosewood illegally obtained from Senegal for export. This was a conclusion of a state investigation in 2019 and of an independent investigation by local journalists published in April 2022. Consequently, on June 8, the UN body that is implementing the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) suspended Gambias license to trade in rosewood. While Westwood is in the past, but just in 2021officiallythe government of the Gambia has exported 73 thousand tons of rosewood. This is as well criminal, said Fatty. A Russian missile strike on a crowded mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk killed at least 10 people and injured more than 40 on Monday, a regional governor said. "Ten dead and more than 40 people have been injured. This is currently the situation in Kremenchuk due to the missile strike," said Dmytro Lunin, the governor of the Poltava region where Kremenchuk is located. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said "over a thousand civilians" were in the mall when the missiles struck the city, which had a pre-war population of 220,000 people. "The mall is on fire, rescuers are fighting the fire. The number of victims is impossible to imagine," Zelensky wrote on Facebook. A video shared by Zelensky showed the mall engulfed in flames with dozens of rescuers and a fire truck outside. Emergency services also published images showing the smouldering remains of the building, with firefighters and rescuers trying to clear the debris. The Ukrainian defence ministry said the strike was deliberately timed to coincide with the mall's busiest hours and cause the maximum number of victims. The Ukrainian air force said the mall was hit by Kh-22 anti-ship missiles fired from Tu-22 bombers from the region of Kursk in western Russia. "The missile fire on Kremenchuk struck a very busy area which had no link to the hostilities," the city's mayor Vitali Maletsky wrote on Facebook. Lunin denounced the attack as a "war crime" and a "crime against humanity", saying it was a "cynical act of terror against the civilian population". Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Kyiv's allies to supply more heavy weapons and impose fresh sanctions on Russia. "Russia is a disgrace to humanity and it must face consequences," he wrote on Twitter. Presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak accused Russia of being a "terrorist state". The US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said the world would "hold the Kremlin accountable for its atrocities in Ukraine". bur/imm/cdw Meta A Russian missile strike on a crowded mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk killed at least 13 people Monday, the regional governor said, sparking international outrage. "The Russian strike today on the shopping centre in Kremenchuk is one of the most brazen terrorist acts in European history," Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening broadcast posted on Telegram. Dmytro Lunin, the governor of the Poltava region where Kremenchuk is located, said the death toll had risen from 10 to at least 13, with more than 40 people wounded. Earlier, Zelensky had said "over a thousand civilians" were in the mall when the missiles struck the city, which had a pre-war population of 220,000 people. "The mall is on fire, rescuers are fighting the fire. The number of victims is impossible to imagine," Zelensky wrote on Facebook. A video shared by the Ukraine president showed the mall engulfed in flames with dozens of rescuers and a fire truck outside. Emergency services also published images showing the smouldering remains of the building, with firefighters and rescuers trying to clear the debris. The Ukrainian defence ministry said the strike was deliberately timed to coincide with the mall's busiest hours and cause the maximum number of victims. - Growing international outrage - The Ukrainian air force said the mall was hit by Kh-22 anti-ship missiles fired from Tu-22 bombers from the region of Kursk in western Russia. "The missile fire on Kremenchuk struck a very busy area which had no link to the hostilities," the city's mayor Vitali Maletsky wrote on Facebook. Lunin denounced the attack as a "war crime" and a "crime against humanity", saying it was a "cynical act of terror against the civilian population". Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called on Kyiv's allies to supply more heavy weapons and impose fresh sanctions on Russia. "Russia is a disgrace to humanity and it must face consequences," he wrote on Twitter. Presidential aide Mykhaylo Podolyak accused Russia of being a "terrorist state". There was also growing international outrage at the attack. A statement from the G7 leaders gathered for a summit in Germany condemned the missile strike as a "war crime". US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, on Twitter, that "the world is horrified by Russia's missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall -- the latest in a string of atrocities". British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the attack demonstrated the "depths of cruelty and barbarism" of Russian leader Vladimir Putin. "Russia's bombing of a shopping centre in Kremenchuk is an abomination," French President Emmanuel Macron wrote on Twitter in English. "We share the pain of the victims' families, and the anger in the face of such an atrocity. The Russian people have to see the truth:" Below the tweet video footage of the blazing shopping centre, black smoke pouring off it, was posted. It's meet the parents day for GOT7's Jinyoung as "Yumi's Cells 2" episode 6 highlights how Kim Go Eun's family fell in love with her new boyfriend. An unexpected scenario surprised Kim Yumi and Yoo Bobby after her parents paid her a surprise visit. 'Yumi's Cells 2' Episode 6 Highlights: Kim Yumi Doubts her Decision The episode starts with Kim Yumi adapting to her new schedule. Since she recently left her job and decided to start over with her new career, things have been different for her. Every weekend, she goes to writing classes to hone her skill and during lunch, she and Yoo Bobby often eat together. In one scene, Kim Yumi decides to meet up with her college friend who brags about being promoted to senior chief position and would visit Europe often for a business trips. During their chat, the friend made Yumi feel bad about her decision after she was surprised that she quit work because she wants to be a writer. Because of this, she felt doubtful if she had made the right decision. Kim Yumi Introduces Yoo Bobby to Her Parents Interestingly, Yoo Bobby came to the rescue and comforted Yumi with good food. However, the couple was surprised by an unexpected guest. Yumi's parents came all the way to Seoul to check up on their daughter. The father was stunned to see that she had a visitor. Meanwhile, her mother was happy to finally meet Yoo Bobby. During the encounter, Yumi's father was uncomfortable around Yoo bobby, maybe this is because he is protective of her daughter. After leaving Yumi's place, her mother spoke to her on the phone and mentioned Yoo Bobby's family. She thinks that he belongs to a wealthy family because of the way he talks and acts. It sparked curiosity in Kim Yumi since he doesn't talk about his family a lot. Yoo Bobby is a Chaebol's Son? In "Yumi's Cells 2" episode 6, Kim Yumi found out that Yoo Bobby is set to be the heir of his father's company. While he is at her house, fixing the shelf that Yumi's father begged him to do, his sister called him and talked about taking over the company. Yumi unintentionally overheard the conversation and heard the words "heir," which made her feel uncomfortable. With this, she became anxious as her cells started to make stories in Yumi's head. Since Yumi came from a simple family, she thought that his father would be against her relationship with their son, just like she often saw in Kdramas. However, Yoo Bobby made sure that he would be the same person Kim Yumi met despite finding ut about his status. Interestingly, "Yumi's Cells 2" episode 6 revealed that his family owns a tteokbokki business and named after Yoo Bobby, which made Yumi surprisingly happy. READ MORE: Lee Ji Ah Reunites With 'Sea of Hope' Co-Stars BLACKPINK's Rose, Kim Go Eun KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Since the Spanish media released its most intriguing series, "Money Heist," on Netflix, red jumpsuits and Dali masks spread like wildfire in every part of the world. In 2022, South Korean media made its most ambitious move in reimagining the series and incorporating its own culture, twists, and surprises. "Money Heist Korea" has been the talk of the town since it was released. But is the series worth the hype? Read on to find out! 'Money Heist Korea' Plot Summary and Cast Netflix Korea's "Money Heist Korea: Joint Economic Area" is this year's biggest and most anticipated work. Taking on the challenge of reimagining the international hit series "Money Heist," the series follows the story of North and South Korean robbers who rob the Unified Korea Mint after suffering from extreme inequity and unjustness. The gang is led by the Professor (Yoo Ji Tae), who curates the plan on how to infiltrate the Mint and steal a whopping four trillion won. Tokyo (Jeon Jong Seo), Rio (Lee Hyun Woo), Nairobi (Jang Yoon Ji), Moscow (Lee Won Jong), Denver (Kim Ji Hoon), Oslo (Lee Kyu Ho), Helsinki (Kim Ji Hun), and Berlin (Park Hae Soo)-strategists, robbers, geniuses-are also part of the heist. The Appeal of Netflix's 'Money Heist Korea' While it's a direct remake of the Spanish heist series, "Money Heist Korea" possesses interesting factors that will surely pique every viewer's interest. Because of the massive success of the original series and the rise of South Korean consumable media in recent years, expectations for the heist series were through the roof. Thanks to its star-studded cast that transcends generations of South Korean stars, introducing new faces along with veterans, the cast of the series gave justice to their respective characters. In the Spanish series, most characters were driven by passion and seething anger. However, in the South Korean remake, the characters are more calm, rational, and optimistic. Of course, there are a lot of twists and turns in the seriee. One major twist is how the production unit incorporated the unification of the two Koreas in the series. Even the Mint is set in the fictitious Joint Economic Area, which tells the story through a Korean lens. In particular, curiosity about the two Koreas' reunification also intensifies, which is also a national and real-life discussion. Is 'Money Heist Korea' On Par With the Original? Everything in the South Korean remake was toned down: from the characteristics of the gang to the curse dialogues, action scenes, and sensual scenes. Luckily, the production makes up for the saturated factors with the actors' top-notch acting skills and excellence. With that said, "Money Heist Korea: Joint Economic Area" undoubtedly made a successful debut, giving the viewers a great experience of the fusion of Spanish and South Korean multimedia brilliance. Have you seen "Money Heist Korea" already? Share your thoughts about the series in the comments below! KDramastars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Days after the release of the much-awaited Netflix series, "Money Heist Korea: Joint Economic Area" unceasingly dominated the Netflix Global Charts. With the cast's excellent acting skills and undeniable synergy, the South Korean remake continued to receive love from all over the world. Keep on reading for all the details. 'Money Heist Korea' Dominates Netflix Global Charts The highly awaited remake "Money Heist Korea: Joint Economic Area" was the talk of the town before it was even released. A bold move from the South Korean multimedia, the series is a direct remake of the Spanish series, which shook the world and left a significant impact. It follows eight genius thieves, who infiltrate the Unified Korea Mint and steal a whopping four trillion won, led by the greatest strategist called the Professor. Since its premiere on June 24, "Money Heist Korea" has been enjoying the praises and love from fans all over the world. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Money Heist Korea' Hit or Miss? Why the South Korean Remake Is Worth the Hype In particular, the series took the first spot in eleven countries including South Korea, Vietnam, Morocco, Indonesia, Thailand and more just a day after its showcase. According to Flix Patrol, the South Korean heist series secured its rank in the Netflix Global Charts at No. 3 in countries all over Asia Pacific on June 26. Thanks to the versatility and outstanding skills of actors Yoo Ji Tae, Kim Yun Jin, Park Hae Soo, Jeon Jong Seo, Lee Won Jong, and more, "Money Heist Korea" is enjoying generous support and love from fans all over the world. Yoo Ji Tae, More Dish Honest Thoughts On 'Money Heist Korea' On Monday, June 27, Netflix's "Money Heist Korea" revealed new behind-the-scenes photos of the cast. The series' cast also shared their honest thoughts on appearing in the series. The newly published photos showcase the passion of the production unit and actors to curate the biggest heist and hostage scene in the history of South Korea. The actors as well as the crew brainstorm and share ideas on how to improve a scene, and even how to effectively portray an intense emotion. Yoo Ji Tae showed flexibility and charisma as the Professor. When asked how he prepared for the role, he simply answered, "It's all thanks to Director Kim Hong Sun." "Without him and his sensuous directing skills, I wouldn't be able to act as the Professor seamlessly," the actor added. Jeon Jong Seo, slowly gaining recognition as the gang's Tokyo, expresses her gratitude to the director who led the whole team with his excellence. When asked about the relationship with their fellow stars, Park Hae Soo, the man behind Berlin's high-caliber acting, said that he enjoyed being with his fellow stars who motivate him to do better. As the actors' chemistry exudes in the work, viewers from all over the world continue to enjoy a worthwhile watching experience and a feast of attractive characters in "Money Heist Korea." Watch "Money Heist Korea" on Netflix now! ICYMI, watch the spine-chilling teaser of the new Netflix series below: KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Despite the actions taken by Nam Joo Hyuk's agency, the initial accuser stood by what was revealed and refused to take down the post. Amid the warnings released by Management Soop, the accuser has "no intention" to remove the post. Keep on reading for all the details. The South Korean star is the latest celebrity who faced bullying accusations after an anonymous tipper shared his experience with the actor. Nam Joo Hyuk's Accuser Will Not Take Down the Post The whole Kdrama fandom was surprised after an outlet revealed that Nam Joo Hyuk was accused of school bullying. It came after an anonymous tipper said the actor used to be a bully from middle to high school and showed a yearbook as proof of the claims. The person pointed out that the actor was a member of a clique notorious for harassing other students. The group would beat and curse fellow students and sometimes even take their money. With this, Nam Joo Hyuk's agency quickly responded and denied the allegations involving the actor. Moreover, Management Soop also released a statement noting that they took legal actions against the persons who accused the actor of bullying. In a statement obtained by the outlet, the talent label said that they "filed a criminal complaint against the media reporter, the CEO of the media outlet, and the anonymous informant who made false reports against Nam Joo Hyuk." Moreover, the agency also explained that the complaint raised was for "violating the Act on Promotion of Information and Communications Network Utilization and Information Protection (defamation)." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Nam Joo Hyuk's Rapper Lookalike Apologizes for Having Same Visuals as the Actor Following the actions taken by Management Soop, the accuser corrected that he was not the actor's victim but was only the witness of the incident. The person claimed that his friend was the victim. Despite the actions taken by the label, the accuser "has no intention to take down the article." As obtained by a media outlet, the tipster shared that "Nam Joo Hyuk's agency offered to dismiss the lawsuit if we released a corrected article, but the informant's tip was coherent and detailed," adding that they "didn't get a feeling that it was certainly unfounded." Moreover, their side mentioned that there are a "few hiccups in communications due to the tipper having ADHD, but he said Nam Joo Hyuk made him buy the snacks, cut lines, and cussed him out. " Nam Joo Hyuk Receives Support from Fans At the height of Nam Joo Hyuk's bullying controversy, several fans expressed their support for the actor. Through social media, they pointed out that a person like the "Start-Up" star would never do such things. Others even posted a school photo of the actor showing how fragile and innocent he was during his school days. Before this controversy, Nam Joo Hyuk gained the public's attention after headlining the rom-com Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo'' alongside ex-girlfriend Lee Sung Kyung. He again made millions of hearts swoon over his team up with Bae Suzy for "Start-Up." Recently he captivated the hearts of viewers with his chemistry with Kim Tae Ri for the coming-of-age series "Twenty-Five Twenty-One." KDramastars owns this article Written by Geca Wills BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon said Monday in Kelowna that the governing NDP has had too much of a free ride politically during the pandemic, with predictably disastrous results on crime, drug use, and housing affordability. A special meeting of the Kenosha Airport Commission Wednesday will include the conceptual development of a new hangar for Steins Aircraft, a fixed base operator at the airport. The meeting will be held at 4 p.m. in the Kenosha Regional Airport Terminal Building Conference Room. In a proposal for Waukesha-based Steins Aircraft Services, a new 79,159-square-foot hangar would be built just south of two current Steins hangars. It would be a new maintenance facility and would include parts storage, equipment storage, locker rooms, private offices, a breakroom, a conference room and pilot lounges. The hangar would also include a new aircraft storage space for a private entity managed by Stiens. The unnamed clients space would include parking, pilot lounges, administration office, private viewing balconies and a separate floor for the private use of the owner. Keller Inc., the company that would manage the construction of the project, described the building as having a mix of architecturally pleasing exterior materials, including lots of glass to give it a high-end look. The intent of the new hangar is for it to be the showpiece of Kenosha Regional Airport, the proposal stated. Economic impact In an accompanying statement from Steins Aircraft Services, the facility would sell 350,000 gallons of fuel a year, with 18 cents of flowage fee paid per gallon to the airport. Approximately 20 new employees would be hired, most of them in skilled jobs. The lease paid to the city for the land under the hangar and ramp space, would be approximately $40,000, the statement from Steins said. An approval from the Airport Commission is a first step, however. The Plan Commission, the City Council and various city departments will have to weigh in to move the project ahead. Runway discussion Also on the agenda for Wednesdays Airport Commission meeting is a document from the state discussing weight limits on the airports runways based on increased frequency of business jet operations. The document was an email from Hal Davis, airport compliance manager of the Wisconsin Department of Transportations Bureau of Aeronautics. It addressed the addition of heavier and more frequent business-related aircraft at the airport. The memo from Davis said the airport had been approached by its existing FBO operator about a prospect of bringing in a Boeing 737 business jet for 52 annual operations. Daviss memo said: Arrival weight for the aircraft is expected to be 120,000 pounds. The operator anticipates the aircraft would depart at 160,000 pounds 15 times and 140,000 pounds 11 times. The memo from the state aeronautics bureau compliance manager, does not indicate who would be operating the jet, a client, or if the aircraft would based in Kenosha. The memo was written in response to a determination as to how much those flights would increase the degradation of the runway surface and shorten the life expectancy of the runway. The Business Jet series from Boeing are versions of its jet airliners with modifications to serve the corporate jet market. With auxiliary belly fuel tanks the aircrafts range can extend to over 6,000 nautical miles. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WGTD (91.1 FM) is owned and operated as a public service of Gateway Technical College and is an affiliate of Wisconsin Public Radio. For an updated schedule, go online to wgtd.org. WGTD 91.1-FMs Morning Show airs 8:10 to 9 a.m. weekdays. Guests this week include: Monday: Mike Johnston, author of Grave Danger: Confessions of a Dork Lord. Also, from the archives, Jonathan Stroud talks about The Bartimaeus Trilogy. Tuesday: We talk about Kemper Halls 150th anniversary with three alumni Barb Axelson, Anna McGuire and Susan McMinn, who have helped to coordinate the celebration as well as the expansion of the museum on the Kemper grounds. Wednesday: For Pride Month, Susan Stryker, author of Transgender History. Thursday: Barbara Farrar, executive director of the LBGT Center of Southeastern Wisconsin. Friday: Mark Eichner, music director and conductor of the Racine Concert Band, talks about the groups 100th season, which begins this Sunday night, July 3, at the Racine Zoos Kiwanis Amphitheater. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Every primary care doctor knows what we are up against. The obstacles are many: payers, licensing boards, MOC, CME requirements, coding for billing, access issues, and the changing clinical field. Sometimes these cause real harm. Fifty miles north of where I-95 ends in Maine, winters there are long. My friend Dr. J did locums and spent a winter there. He tries new things wherever he goes, like spearfishing on Maui. So he tried ice fishing with a northern colleague. Ice fishing is very popular. A recent ad had a guy raving about the best Christmas because he got augers, shelters, pop-ups, and other gear. Loading up a snowmobile on a frozen lake, setting up shelter, firing up a stove, drilling holes with pop-ups for when fish bite, one settles in. Ice fishing has a reputation. My friend brought some beer and Jack Daniels. He drank a little. Dr. L drank a lot. Later, Dr. L turned the snowmobile over twice. On shore, Dr. L left my friend in the cold while he returned for a solitary lost fish. Loading everything into the pickup, Dr. L insisted he could drive, then ran into a snowbank. Now, I met Dr. L a while back. As it turned out, I was reported to the Board of Medicine by a mentally ill friend of a patient. The board is necessary to protect the public. They must review every case, and since many are frivolous, they are overloaded. Boards are there to protect the public from bad doctorsa crucial function since medicine has a long history of being unwilling to police itself. The board requested notes on every patient I had on chronic opioids and benzos. While there were only a few, my notes had been reprinted, turned sideways, and re-paginated when I was called in. I couldnt follow anything on them. So when the first thing Dr. L said to me was that I was giving Flonase, but it was on her allergy list, I was taken aback. I was told I had given Xanax inappropriately. The record was inaccessible; this was so ancient that I wasnt prepared. Later, I saw that I had offered a taper after an inpatient stay, which went unfilled. All they had to do was check the PMP or allow me to. But there is no internet in the boardroom. The board is not collaborative. I was allowed to speak only before they read these assumptions to me. I was told M had come to me from rehab and that I had increased and increased her dose. She has never been in any rehab. We always titrate meds. On and on, but I was not allowed to refute anything. My lawyer waved me to hush. One physician looked me in the eye and said, This physician thinks shes a better doctor than she is. Actually, I have never been a confident doctor. It was the other way around. One older guy proudly said he was a paper man. I am required to use an EMR. My EMR was with me fully contained on the laptop. I did not have the courage to open it. The PMP would have been inaccessible without the internet anyway. The lawyer waved me to be silent. Are any of us perfect? Dont we all look back at a note and think: Was that all I said? The board shared my case between two indicting physicians who alternated reading from my charts assuming, not really reading. I was assigned to take classes, read, and write a book report. The lawyer belittled the report, making me rewrite it three times. My malpractice company paid her. It was too late to fire her when I realized that she just thought I was broken and was there to fix me. Later, I learned that the man who accused me of having Flonase on an allergy list was a drunk who endangered another person. Boards must defend the public from bad doctors. They do not need to assume guilt until proven innocent. They do not need to be hostile or insulting. They should read the records carefully and ask questions. After my first visit, I wondered if I should put my car into a tree on the way home. When the remedial work was done, I was called back. A risk manager from the malpractice company had helped me to refute. She was objective and concise. No, she wrote, there was nothing in the record that Ms husband was an alcoholic, the Xanax had never been filled, and the patient had never been in rehab. I returned, hating the lawyer for not being on my side and not knowing what would happen. The board threw slides up on the wall theres no screen, just poster-covered brick walls. They mumbled a few things and dismissed it all. The lawyer had said the best I could do was a letter of guidance, which meant a public record sent out to all docs. Nothing happened it was dismissed. I cried for the doctors that have to go through this. Boards are there to protect the public, and we must have them. Doctors can improve and change and are best motivated to do so when someone walks alongside them. But we must have some right to be treated with dignity, not to be read lies by colleagues who have their own demons? Shouldnt doctors be allowed access to their records in a way they can see? Shouldnt you know what youre up against before you go in so that you could look at the PMP and see that Xanax went unfilled because she was told it wasnt in her best interest? Im a grown-up. Look, these things happen. But we can do better. Boards are there to protect the public they can do that without destroying doctors. Jean Antonucci is a family physician. Image credit: Shutterstock.com How to fix the psychiatrist shortage in the U.S. Mental health disorders are by far the largest cause of disability in the world. More money is spent on mental health than either diabetes or cardiovascular disease. About 45 million people in the U.S. have a mental illness. Almost every American will, at some point or another, face a mental health challenge. It may be related to depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, substance abuse or maybe something more circumstantial like grief over a loss or trouble adjusting to a life change. Now imagine there wasnt a psychiatrist or psychologist miles around. This is what life is like in rural America in 2022. A majority of non-metropolitan counties do not have a psychiatrist. In rural America, mental health issues are many times treated only when they become a full-blown crisis. Rural areas have a higher suicide rate than non-rural areas, a disparity that has been widening since 2001. Common psychiatric disorders have a higher prevalence in impoverished, lower socioeconomic status (SES) areas. These patients also tend to receive less specialty care for mental health and instead rely on acute hospital care for medical and psychiatric needs. Due to a growing elderly patient population aged over 65, there will be greater demand for psychiatrists. The paucity of psychiatrists has led to the rise in psychiatric nurses and PAs performing exactly the same work as board-certified psychiatrists. Psychiatric services are essential in nursing homes because of the potentially aggressive behavior, psychosis, depression, dementia and other psychiatric symptoms these patients exhibit. Many nursing homes do not have on-site services of a geriatric psychiatric provider. Veterans and prisoners face greater difficulties gaining access to adequate psychiatric care. Veterans can face difficulties traveling to receive care due to poor public transportation, disabling medical conditions, time constraints, and fear of the mental health stigma secondary to reduced privacy in rural settings. Getting psychiatrists to work in prisons is a difficult task. Prisons (mostly found in rural areas) have often been called the largest psychiatric institution. I have worked in the prison system for 30 years. The mentally ill are overrepresented in correctional settings, and so there are now more individuals with a serious mental illness in prisons and jails than there are in state mental hospitals. Suicide, suicidal ideation and self-harm are more prevalent in prison populations than in the general population. Working as a telepsychiatrist in rural areas of the U.S. I have worked as a locum tenens since 1995. Locums exist because there simply arent enough psychiatrists in the nation. And very few are willing to work in rural areas/prisons etc. Since 2014, from my home in Manhattan, I have treated patients remotely in a very underserved rural community. I evaluate and treat patients with all types of mental illness the same way I would if I was directly in front of the patient. The technology is excellent, and I have a very well-trained nurse always present while the patient is in the office. During the COVID and during the lockdown, I have had to call many patients to start them on medications and monitor their progress. This would be a major challenge for any specialist. Therapists, drug and alcohol treatment, partial hospitalization and psych rehab programs are available in this rural clinic. Both patient and provider acceptance of telepsychiatry is high when measured via surveys given out at the clinic. Many of the negative attitudes concerning telepsychiatry do not manifest themselves in practice indicating that a vital part of the patient-provider relationship in psychiatry can exist even over videoconferencing. The barriers or obstacles of getting mental health services in rural America Rural America is quite poor and uneducated. Many who need treatment do not get it until its too late. There are insurance snags, dwindling health care funding, hospital and facilities closing, high non-compliance, serious transportation difficulties, the stigma attached to having a psychiatric illness, substance abuse and above all, not enough mental health practitioners. In addition, MDs are reimbursed less for services provided to Medicaid and Medicare patients, which further decreases the number of psychiatric practitioners who will accept these patients. Pitfalls of PCPs treating mental illness in rural USA Most patients receiving treatment for psychiatric issues are treated solely by primary care providers. PCPs are not trained in the usage of psychiatric medications. Many PCPs wait a long time if at all to refer a patient to a psychiatric physician. Because of the shortage of psychiatrists, these services may be the only option for psychiatric treatment. Studies have found that primary care providers routinely fail to recognize and diagnose psychiatric disorders. I have found that many PCPs prescribe a lot of benzodiazepines and stimulants to appease the patient and provide short-term alleviation of their symptomatology which simply puts a band-aid on a gaping wound. They use low doses of psychotropics that are never raised, modified or changed. Why a shortage? The reasons for a shortage of psychiatrists in the rural areas of the U.S. are numerous. Most psychiatrists prefer to practice in big cities or suburban areas. Psychiatry is not high on the list of graduating medical students seeking residency. Most psychiatrists dont trust telepsychiatry, and unless face to face with a human being, its not adequate treatment. Telepsychiatry Telepsychiatry is a well-recognized and established method of providing mental health care and is in use in all areas of the United States and in many other countries worldwide. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) fully endorses video conferencing as an effective means of psychiatric health care delivery. Studies have shown that telepsychiatry, in the form of live videoconferencing, is overall as efficacious as face-to-face psychiatry in every direct comparison assessing psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorder, substance abuse, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorder, and anxiety disorder. The ability to reduce or eliminate the distance between patient and provider increases access to clinical care, minimizes costs and improves veterans quality of life. Its effectively equivalent to those delivered face-to-face in a clinic, including levels of participant satisfaction with treatment and symptom improvement. Labs and pharmacies all benefit from telepsychiatry. Hospitals that outsource mental health services via telepsychiatry experience cost savings and better meet their specific patient populations cultural and specialty needs. Glenn Mark Losack is a psychiatrist and author of The Bonds We Share: Images of Humanity, 40 Years Around the Globe. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Kilkenny Fire Service will transport donated fire vehicles and equipment this week to provide vital support to the Ukrainian firefighters who are battling the most horrendous conditions imaginable on a daily basis. Over 100 fire stations and over 250 fire appliances have been destroyed in the Ukraine, and tragically many firefighters have lost their lives as they battle to do their job in their local community. "We have been in contact with the State Emergency Services in the Ukraine regarding their immediate requirements and Fire Services across the South East of Ireland have donated firefighting equipment such as generators and lighting, hydraulic rescue gear, pneumatic lifting equipment and sets of firefighting PPE," says John Collins, Chief Fire Officer with Kilkenny County Council. The three jeeps will be accompanied by a fire engine from the firefighters from Kerry Fire Service. The convoy of vehicles will be driven by firefighters from Kilkenny Fire Service who have volunteered their time to assist in this humanitarian crisis. Stena Line have very graciously provided the ferry crossing for the vehicles free of charge and we will be leaving Ireland on the June 28 and arriving in Poland on June 30 to hand over the vehicles and equipment to our colleagues from the Ukrainian State Emergency Service." Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County Council Pat Fitzpatrick says the donation and transportation of the vehicles and equipment is supported by Kilkenny County Council and has been organised through Safe Harbour for Ukraine https://safeharbourforukraine.org. "Every day we continue to see the horrors unfold in the Ukraine and can only imagine how hard it must be for Ukrainian firefighters as they continue to put their lives at risk with very limited resources," he said. "Kilkenny County Council are delighted to support this initiative and any help the people of Ireland can provide will be kindly received." A three-month driving ban and a fine of 1,000 were imposed on a defendant at Kilkenny District Court who admitted careless driving. Emanuel Drezdiu, 15 Gardiner Street, Dublin 1 admitted the offence which took place at Knocktopher on the M9 on October 8, 2021. On the date in question gardai were operating a speedcheck on the M9 when the defendant, who was driving a BMW, was detected driving at a speed of 198 kilometres per hour when the speed limit was 120 kilometres per hour. The court heard that the excuse the defendant gave to gardai was that he was dropping a youth to Waterford and had to be back at his accommodation in Dublin by a specified time and was rushing. The defendant co-operated fully with gardai. Solicitor Chris Hogan told the court that his client accepted that his that it was a highly excessive speed and that he was putting himself and other road users at risk. Mr Hogan said that his client, a Romanian national, who is the father of three young children, was working as a delivery driver and the loss of his licence would mean that he would not be able to work. Mr Hogan said that his client has since moved into alternative accommodation which closes at 11pm. Judge Alec Gabbett convicted the defendant of careless driving and fined him 1,100 and imposed a three-month disqualification order. I would suggest that he gets rid of the BMW and gets a bike instead, he added. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Clear skies early then increasing clouds with heavy thunderstorms late. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Clear skies early then increasing clouds with heavy thunderstorms late. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. 2 to 3 inches of rain expected. Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM NOON MONDAY TO 11 PM CDT WEDNESDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values between 100 and 105 can be expected Monday, followed by heat index values between 105 and 110 Tuesday and Wednesday. * WHERE...Portions of south central, southwest, and west central Illinois. Portions of central, east central, northeast, and southeast Missouri. * WHEN...From Noon Monday to 11 PM CDT Wednesday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses. 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. People in the Saint Louis Metropolitan Area can get information about cooling centers or energy assistance related to the excessive heat by calling the United Way of Greater Saint Louis at 800-427-4626, or if calling from a land line phone dial 2-1-1. You can also call Cool Down Saint Louis at 314-241-7668. && CHARITON COUNTY Three people were killed and multiple people were injured after an Amtrak train derailed in Mendon on Monday afternoon. Seven cars and two locomotives on an Amtrak Southwest Chief Train 4 derailed around 12:43 p.m. while on its way to Chicago from Los Angeles. More than 200 passengers and crew members were on board, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol. The train derailed after "striking a truck that was obstructing a public crossing near Mendon," according to an updated statement from Amtrak. MSHP said the crossing, which is located on Porche Prairie Avenue, did not have any lights or electronic control devices. During a press conference, Cpl. Justin Dunn of MSHP Troop B said three people were killed in the crash, two from the train and one from the dump truck involved. "Many" injuries were reported, but all injured and non-injured have been transferred from the scene. MSHP Lt. Eric Brown said this is an active and ongoing investigation, which will remain well into Monday night and Tuesday. "As we stress here, this the beginning of a lengthy investigation," he said. "We have a lot more information we are seeking and need to obtain." A KOMU 8 reporter reported multiple medical helicopters and ambulances from Linn, Saline and Chariton counties at the scene. MU Health Care confirmed it has received 16 patients, and Boone Health said it was anticipating 30 patients to arrive. Fitzgibbon Hospital in Marshall said it has received six patients. A hospital spokesperson said the Saline County emergency management director is coordinating with the Marshall Ministerial Alliance to establish temporary housing for anyone in need. PHOTOS: Four fatalities, injuries reported after Amtrak train derails in Mendon 0:54 Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a 14-member team to the derailment. The team is expected to arrive Tuesday. The NTSB is launching a 14 member go-team to investigate Mondays Amtrak derailment near Mendon, Missouri. Chair Jennifer Homendy will serve as spokesperson on scene. Team expected to arrive tomorrow. Check Twitter @ntsb_newsroom for updates. NTSB Newsroom (@NTSB_Newsroom) June 27, 2022 Mike Spencer, a resident who lives in the area, said the trains come through at a "very rapid speed." "Amtrak comes through anywhere from 75 to a 100 miles per hour," Spencer said. "So, it doesn't give you much time to cross. If you make a mistake, this has got the potential of happening just like it happened." A passenger on the train tweeted that they were bussed to Northwestern High School for medical care. So thankful for the people here, safely at the Northwestern high school near Mendon. This town pulled together to help everyone pic.twitter.com/RYAVvQRlPm Dax McDonald (@cloudmarooned) June 27, 2022 Local authorities are assisting with passengers. Amtrak said it has activated its incident response team and sent emergency personnel to the scene. Gov. Mike Parson tweeted and said multiple state agencies were responding to the scene. We are saddened to hear of the Amtrak train derailment in Chariton County this afternoon. @MoPublicSafety, @MSHP troopers, and other emergency management personnel are responding. We ask Missourians to join us in praying for all those impacted. Governor Mike Parson (@GovParsonMO) June 27, 2022 U.S. Senators Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt also sent out tweets, acknowledging the incident. We are closely watching this emergency situation as it develops and stand ready to help however we can https://t.co/1sgmA8vy16 Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) June 27, 2022 Terrible news of a train derailment in Chariton County this afternoon. We are thinking of all those affected and grateful for our first responders. Ready to assist with any federal resources that may be needed. Senator Roy Blunt (@RoyBlunt) June 27, 2022 Amtrak established a hotline, 800-523-9101, for those with questions about their friends and family who were traveling aboard at the train. President Yoon Suk-yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee board a plane at Seoul Air Base in Gyeonggi Province, June 27. Yonhap President Yoon Suk-yeol departed for Spain, Monday, to attend a North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit and meet with world leaders to discuss security and economic issues, on his first overseas trip as president. South Korea is not a member of NATO but has been invited as a partner nation, along with Japan, Australia and New Zealand. Yoon will be the first South Korean president to attend such a summit. On the sidelines, Yoon plans to hold a three-way summit Wednesday with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the first such gathering of leaders of the three countries in four years and nine months since the last meeting was held in September 2017. However, an anticipated one-on-one meeting with Kishida will not take place, officials said, as protracted rows over historical disputes, such as wartime forced labor and sexual slavery, still weigh on relations between the two countries. Other events Yoon plans to attend in Madrid include bilateral summits with the leaders of Finland, and NATO members Spain, the Netherlands, Poland, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Britain; a gala dinner hosted by Spanish King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Tuesday; a dinner with South Korean residents in Spain, Wednesday; and a lunch meeting with Spanish businesspeople, Thursday. First lady Kim Keon-hee will travel with Yoon. His attendance at the NATO summit will achieve three purposes, including strengthening the "value alliance" based on a liberal democracy with the 30 NATO member states and partner nations, according to National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han. The president will also build the foundation for a "comprehensive security network" with NATO states and explore ways to effectively respond to emerging security threats, such as cyber and aerospace threats, and climate change, Kim told reporters last week. From left, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida / Yonhap By Park Jung-won At the heart of the North Atlantic Treaty is Article 5, which stipulates that if one member state is invaded, all other member states should automatically intervene for its protection. It is this clause that led some Eastern European countries to join NATO, having felt threatened by Russia's military revival under President Vladimir Putin, a leader obsessed with nostalgia for the former Soviet Union. It is also the power of Article 5 that has left Ukraine regretful for not having joined NATO, and that has now made Sweden and Finland eager to join NATO as soon as possible. For South Korea, however, there is no such automatic intervention clause in its military alliance treaty with the United States. President Yoon Suk-yeol's participation, albeit only as leader of a partner country, in the NATO Summit to be held in Madrid on June 29 and 30 is undoubtedly a sign of South Korea's growing diplomatic status. As the confrontation between "dictatorial countries" and "democratic countries" intensifies at the same time as military and political ties among dictatorial countries are consolidating, South Korea can benefit from deterring immediate threats from North Korea and future threats from China by strengthening its alliances through the resumption of trilateral security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan and enhancing its relationship with NATO. North Korea has declared by implication that it could preemptively use nuclear weapons against South Korea in serious security situations. Considering that South Korea is unable to retaliate proportionately to the graveness of the North's nuclear threat, it is necessary to open and utilize a channel of dialogue with NATO's Nuclear Planning Group (NPG) to secure a consensus on the possible redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. North Korea's indiscriminate advancement of its nuclear arsenal and continued missile-test provocations have been proceeding without any institutional constraint of further sanctions, as the U.N. Security Council has become virtually incapacitated due to the non-cooperation of China and Russia since the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine War. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un presided over a Workers' Party session recently and reaffirmed the principle of "power for power and head-on contest." North Korea's seventh nuclear test will only be a matter of time, with a high likelihood that the test will be for a tactical rather than strategic nuclear weapon that is mainly aimed at South Korea, instead of the U.S. In particular, after the North's seventh nuclear test demonstrates its level of sophistication, if South Korea and the U.S. do not provide any carrot to engage Pyongyang substantially, North Korea will most likely begin limited local provocations against South Korea's territory to attract their attention. This could take the extreme form of occupying one of the five islands in the West Sea in a surprise invasion. If South Korea and the U.S. did not react appropriately to such military aggression (amid the North's implied threat that it could use tactical nuclear weapons), then just as when the Lee Myung-bak administration failed to retaliate proportionately against the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010, what further moves the North might make if it perceives no credible deterrence is an open question. South Korea could end up facing a very similar situation to that of Ukraine, which is currently being pressured by some of its allies to negotiate peace with Russia against its will. Such negotiations would likely feature some South Korean allies taking sympathetic positions toward the North in order to avoid an all-out military confrontation on the Korean Peninsula. In this process, Choe Son-hui, North Korea's foreign minister who is familiar with the U.S., would play a crucial role in dealing with Washington, and Ri Son-gwon, the head of the North's ruling party's united front department, who is described as having a very aggressive temperament, would deal with South Korea. Ri would likely treat his Southern counterpart with a very combative attitude. South Korea's stock market could plummet as a state of total panic ensues. China would also pretend to lull North Korea at this stage, while U.S. forces stationed in the South would be reluctant to retaliate against the North. North Korea would then publicize that the U.S. had no choice but to continue its passive stance under the circumstances because of the threat of tactical nuclear weapons wielded by the North. Even if North Korean special forces withdrew from the occupied island after peace negotiations, it would represent a tremendous victory for the North by proving its substantial military superiority over the South. In other words, if this scenario were to actually happen, the nature of any negotiations with the North would change, such that the focus would be on deterring the North's immediate further provocation rather than its eventual complete denuclearization. Against this backdrop of a changed security context on the Korean Peninsula, South Korea would find it difficult to escape becoming North Korea's virtual security hostage, finding itself subject to all kinds of demands and blackmail from the North. While the above scenario may fortunately be unlikely, it is not however inconceivable. National security matters should always assume the worst-case scenario. In order to prevent this nightmare from becoming a reality, South Korea and the U.S. need to further materialize a substantial deterrence strategy with detailed action plans in preparation for the North's military provocations in the form of localized warfare. It is thus difficult to comprehend why Yoon has drawn a clear line ruling out the possible redeployment of U.S. tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea. His refusal to consider this option appears to be strategically and diplomatically short-sighted and foolish. Park Jung-won (park_jungwon@hotmail.com), Ph.D. in law from the London School of Economics (LSE), is a professor of international law at Dankook University. By Javier Solana MADRID At the end of June, 25 years after Madrid last hosted a NATO summit, the Spanish capital will again be the scene of a new chapter in European security. And Europe, for the most part, will have to be the protagonist. Ultimately, the Alliance's coming gathering must help us Europeans step up and assume our responsibilities with regard to our continent's security. That is the best and most necessary contribution that Europe can make to NATO's future. Today's geopolitical context is very different from that of a quarter-century ago. At its 1997 Madrid summit, North Atlantic Treaty Organization invited three former Warsaw Pact countries the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland to join. In addition, following the signing that year of the NATO-Russia Founding Act and the subsequent establishment of the NATO-Russia Council, Europe was looking at a future of unprecedented rapprochement with the Kremlin. Now, of course, little of that optimism remains. NATO has shown itself to be indispensable for Europe's security and the best guarantee of their national security for a growing number of countries. One of the most important consequences of the war in Ukraine has been Finland and Sweden's applications to join NATO two countries with all the credentials to contribute positively to the Alliance. Following Danish citizens' recent decision to join the European Union's defense policy, the institutions that form the basis of European security are becoming increasingly aligned. For decades, a false dichotomy between Europeanists and Atlanticists has fueled a sterile and unproductive security debate in Europe. Today, few doubt that Europeans must contribute more to the Alliance and European security, and that they should develop the capacity to lead in future security crises. The question, therefore, is how Europe can best contribute to NATO's mission. A strong Europe is indispensable for revitalizing the transatlantic security bond. In one of my first meetings as EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, a former British chief of the defense staff pertinently described the direction this relationship should take. "A Europe that remains allied with the United States simply because of its own weakness," he said, "is of limited value." Strengthening the transatlantic relationship implies recognizing that its European component has changed. The events of recent months have shown that the EU can respond to security threats in a coordinated and robust manner. Extensive sanctions against Russia, joint financing of arms supplies to Ukraine, and the mere idea of drastically reducing Europe's dependence on Russian energy would have been unthinkable just a few years ago. The European response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, after the measures the continent adopted to mitigate the economic consequences of COVID-19, has confirmed that Europe becomes stronger in times of adversity. True, Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression has made it easier for Europe to unite. But its leaders' ambition is noteworthy, given some of the measures' economic costs to Europe. The basis for advancing European defense integration already exists. Progress in the past 20 years in common security and defense policy, the experience of both civil and military EU missions, the work of the European Defense Agency, and the adoption of the Strategic Compass put Europe in a favorable position to confront the challenge. The willingness of national publics and EU institutions to finance joint projects to strengthen the European defense sector is an essential first step. The German government's recent policy shift nearly doubling defense expenditure in 2022, to 100 billion euros ($107 billion) represents a historic opportunity to finance projects with other European partners. And Germany is not alone. The war in Ukraine has prompted EU member states to announce unprecedented increases in defense spending totaling 200 billion euros over the next four years. These commitments contrast with Europe's previous sluggishness in this domain. Over the past 20 years, the percentage increase in EU member states' combined defense spending was three times less than that of the U.S., 15 times less than that of Russia, and 30 times less than that of China. Fortunately, the amount of military expenditure is less important than how it is spent. We must spend better, together, and as Europeans. Joint defense spending is more efficient than national efforts and helps to reinforce Europe's industrial and technological base. The European Commission's recent commitment to allocate 500 million euros for joint defense procurement suggests that Europe is headed in the right direction. Europe currently relies on spending outside its borders for 60 percent of its military capabilities. More and better defense expenditure must avoid increasing Europe's dependence on other countries' arms industries, as this would undermine efforts to achieve greater European strategic autonomy. But while we should encourage investment in an entirely European defense industry, Commission President Ursula von der Leyen's proposed European Defense Union must not create new internal dependencies that benefit a few national industries within Europe. The development of the EU's common defense policy neither entails dividing responsibilities with regard to European security, nor pretends to substitute the vital function that NATO fulfills. The responsibilities of the organizations that form the basis of the transatlantic security bond will remain the same. What matters is to assume those responsibilities with all our existing capacities. The American commentator Walter Lippmann said that alliances are like chains: They can't be strong with weak links. Ahead of NATO's 2022 Madrid Summit, this is the best way to describe the political challenge facing the transatlantic relationship. Only the political will of Europeans and their leaders will be able to strengthen our continent's security. Javier Solana, a former EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, secretary-general of NATO, and foreign minister of Spain, is president of EsadeGeo Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics and distinguished fellow at the Brookings Institution. This article was distributed by Project Syndicate (www.project-syndicate.org). By Kim Hyun-bin Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) signed a contract with the Philippine Department of National Defense, Monday, to construct six 2,400-ton offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) worth $573 million. The signing ceremony of the OPV contract was held at the Philippine Department of National Defense in Manila, in the presence of Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin N. Lorenzana, Philippine Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces General Andres Centino, Philippine Navy Vice Commander Caesar Bernard N. Valencia, Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (KSOE) President Ka Sam-hyun, HHI Naval & Special Ship Business Unit Chief Operating Offer Nam Sang-hoon and Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the Philippines Kim In-chul. Each OPV for the Philippine Navy weighs in at 2,400 tons, 94.4 meters long, 14.3 meters wide, and will finish construction at HHI's Ulsan shipyard by 2028. Each vessel will be equipped with a 76mm main gun, two 30mm secondary guns and a helideck capable of operating a helicopter and unmanned aerial vehicles. HHI previously signed a contract with the Philippine Department of National Defense for the construction of two corvettes in 2021, as well as to build two BRP Jose Rizal-class frigates in 2016. "I am glad that our strategy, in which we preemptively developed and exported various types of naval vessels by studying global market demand, has come to fruition," HHI COO Nam Sang-hoon said. "We will continue to lead the naval ship market by focusing on technological development through intensive investment in R&D, along with business diversification." Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Generally sunny despite a few afternoon clouds. High around 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then thunderstorms developing after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low around 70F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. Angola, IN (46703) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 88F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High around 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy in the evening, then thunderstorms developing after midnight. Low 71F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Locally heavy rainfall possible. BTS V, BLACKPINK Lisa, and actor Park Bo Gum recently flew out to Paris, France, to attend Celine's show for Paris Fashion Week. After making headlines for traveling together in a private jet, the trio is making jaws drop for their appearance at Celine's fashion show. Keep on reading to know more. BTS V, BLACKPINK Lisa, & Park Bo Gum Attend Celine's Show for Paris Fashion Week On June 24, K-Pop stars BTS V, BLACKPINK Lisa, and "Record of Youth" star Park Bo Gum boarded a flight to Paris, France. The trio was seen at the Seoul Gimpo Business Aviation Center (SGBAC) and arrived in Paris through a private jet. They flew to Paris to attend Celine Men's Summer 2023 Fashion show as representatives of South Korea. V and Park Bo Gum were personally invited to the event by Celine's creative director Hedi Slimane. Lisa, on the other hand, is currently the global ambassador for the luxury fashion brand. The three stars quickly made headlines not only for their flawless visuals and airport fashion, but because it was also a rare public interaction between Lisa and her two male companions. Many were also thrilled to see V traveling with his best friend Park Bo Gum for an event. Soon after landing in Paris, the three spent their individual time sightseeing and having fun while out and about before the Celine fashion show. On June 26 local time, V, Lisa, and Park Bo Gum have once again made headlines after making thousands of jaws drop with their appearance at the Palais de Tokyo for Men's Paris Fashion Week. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'LALISA' Becomes Fastest Female K-pop Solo MV to Hit 500 Million Views BTS V, BLACKPINK Lisa, and Park Bo Gum Make Jaws Drop With Visuals The three stars can be seen sporting coordinated clothing with the colors black, red, and silver. In particular, V, Lisa, and Park Bo Gum were showcasing Hedi Slimane's collection entitled "Dysfunctional Bauhaus." V wore a black sequined top, leather pants, and topped with a bright red leather jacket and a bold statement necklace. Park Bo Gum also wore a similar necklace along with his all-black ensemble featuring a turtle neck and long coat. As for Lisa, the BLACKPINK member stunned with her black backless sequin top paired with black shorts and a Celine bag. During their event appearances, the three were seen posing for photographers and greeting hundreds of fans together. In addition, V, Lisa, and Park Bo Gum were also spotted chatting with other stars and fashion figures at the event, as well as watching the fashion show from the front row. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: KTH1 Coming Soon? BTS V Reportedly Working With Famous Lyricist for Solo Album After seeing the three, many fans couldn't help but be amazed at their overflowing visuals. Compliments came pouring in from fans, and many even expressed their gratitude to Hedi Slimane for inviting V and Park Bo Gum to make such interaction possible. What do you think of V, Lisa, and Park Bo Gum's outfits? For more K-Pop news and updates, always keep your tabs open here on KpopStarz. KpopStarz owns this article. Written by Robyn Joan Guwahati, Jun 27 (PTI) Eight more persons lost their lives in the devastating flood in Assam on Monday, while over 21 lakh people continued to remain in distress under the impact of the deluge, officials said. The death toll due to the flood this year mounted to 134 with eight deaths reported during the day, which include five from Cachar district and one each from Kamrup Metro, Morigaon and Nagaon, they said. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. One person was also reported missing in Cachar district, according to a bulletin of the Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA). There was, however, some improvement in the flood situation, with the total affected population declining to 21.52 lakh in 22 districts as against the previous day's 22.21 lakh in 28 districts. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. Most of the rivers showed a receding trend, though Kopili at Nagaon, Barak at Cachar and Karimganj and Kushiara in Karimganj were flowing above the danger level, the officials said. In Silchar town, which has been submerged for over a week, efforts are underway to provide relief in those areas where the administration is yet to reach, by air dropping packets with food, drinking water bottles and other essentials by Indian Air Force helicopters. Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are also engaged in preparing a flood map of Silchar town so as to identify the extent of damage, and help in taking measures to mitigate losses in future, Cachar Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli said. The District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), UNICEF and OXFAM have set up boat-mounted water treatment units to cater to the needy within Silchar and its peripheral areas, she added. Transport Minister Parimal Suklabaidya on Monday visited Borjalenga and Narsinghpur development blocks in his constituency Dholai to inspect the delivery of relief materials for the flood-affected people. The ASDMA bulletin said 2,254 villages under 61 revenue circles remain affected by the current wave of floods across the state, while 1,91,194 people have taken shelter in 538 relief camps. Flood waters have damaged 79 roads and five bridges, even as six embankments were breached, it said. A crop area of 74,655.89 hectares is still inundated, and 2,774 animals have so far been washed away, it added. Meanwhile, Bollywood star Aamir Khan on Monday donated Rs 25 lakh to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund as assistance for the flood-hit people. Eminent Bollywood actor Aamir Khan extended a helping hand to the flood-affected people of our state by making a generous contribution of Rs 25 lakh towards CM Relief Fund. My sincere gratitude for his concern and act of generosity, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma tweeted. Over the last few days, several prominent personalities and organisations have donated to the CM's Relief Fund in the wake of the devastating flood. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) Senior Maharashtra BJP leader Sudhir Mungantiwar on Monday claimed his party has not held any discussion with rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde nor received any proposal from him, against the backdrop of the current crisis that has gripped the MVA government. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. Mungantiwar said BJP has adopted a wait and watch strategy after state BJP's core committee met here and also discussed the Supreme Court order. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. We have neither held any discussions with Eknath Shinde so far nor have we received any proposal from his side, the former finance minister told reporters after attending the meeting at the residence of Leader of Opposition Devendra Fadnavis. Shinde is camping in Guwahati with a bulk of Shiv Sena MLAs, including nine ministers who were divested of their portfolios on Monday. When asked about what transpired at the core committee meeting, Mungantiwar said, We discussed the Supreme Court's order. We will adopt a wait and watch stand. In a relief to rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Shinde, the Supreme Court kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings before the Deputy Speaker of the state Assembly till July 11, and also sought responses from the state government and others on their pleas questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification. Mungantiwar said the entire state machinery seems to be in "coma and the people are feeling oppressed due to the current political crisis in the state". Accusing the Uddhav Thackeray-led party of deceiving the popular mandate in favour of the Sena-BJP combine after the 2019 polls, Mungantiwar said Thackeray felt that he should become the chief minister. You have seen for how many days has he (Thackeray) come to Mantralaya, the BJP leader said. The BJP, Mungantiwar claimed, is not hungry for power but it will work with full force for the welfare of the people and ensure progress of Maharashtra. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) With the Centre providing Y-plus security to Maharashtra's rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, the party on Monday claimed it was now evident that the BJP was "pulling the strings" amid the current political turmoil in the state. Also Read | Sensex Rises 700 Points, Nifty Tops 15,900; IT Stocks Lead Gainers. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' likened the rebel Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde to "big bulls", and alleged that they have been "sold" for Rs 50 crore. Also Read | Karnataka: 14 Hospitalised Kids Develop Severe Symptoms After Taking Antibiotic Injections In Shivamogga. The Centre on Sunday extended Y-plus security cover of CRPF commandos to at least 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, officials earlier said. Those who were provided the security cover include Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakas Surve and 10 others. Their families living in Maharashtra will also be secured, the officials had said. About four to five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos, in shifts, will be securing each MLA once they are in Maharashtra, they added. The editorial in 'Saamana' said, "Finally, the BJP has been unmasked. They were saying the rebellion in the Shiv Sena was an internal matter." "But, in the darkness of the night, uber rich Ekdas (Eknath) Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis (the Leader of the Opposition) met in Vadodara. Even Union Home Minister Amit Shah was present for the meeting," it claimed. The Centre immediately accorded Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs after the meeting, as if they are the "protectors of democracy", the Marathi publication said. Does the Centre fear that the MLAs will return to their party fold after coming back to the state? it asked. "It is now evident that the BJP at the Centre and in the state have written the script for these actors (rebel MLAs) and are pulling the strings and directing the entire play," the editorial said. The BJP's "treason" against Maharashtra has been exposed by providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs, it claimed. The Sena further said providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs by citing a threat to their life, is like encroaching upon the rights of the state, and this is not the first example of the Centre's "autocratic" behaviour. Shinde had last week sent a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, saying the security of the families of rebel MLAs was withdrawn. The Sena said Walse Patil has clarified that the security cover of the families of rebel MLAs has not been removed. "Even if it was removed, it could not have been said this was done due to exact political revenge. But, the state government did not resort to such cruel behaviour," it said. A majority of Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to Eknath Shinde and are currently camping in Assam's Guwahati city, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by CM Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, into a crisis. The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Saturday issued 'summons' to 16 of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, seeking written replies by June 27 evening to complaints seeking their disqualification. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Gurugram, Jun 27 (PTI) A 15-year-old girl was allegedly raped by an acquaintance who offered her a ride on his bike and took her instead to a hotel, police here said on Monday. The accused allegedly took the girl to a hotel two consecutive days and raped her there, and also threatened to kill her if she told anyone about the incident, they said. Also Read | Agnipath Recruitment Scheme: IAF Receives Over 94,000 Applications Within Four Days of Registration. An FIR was registered under the Protection of Children against Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act at DLF Phase-1 Police Station on the complaint of the victim's mother. According to her complaint, her daughter was allegedly raped by one Pradeep on June 23, when she had gone to a nearby market to buy some merchandise. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Tries To Kill 5-Year-Old Daughter in Bengaluru, Arrested. The woman, a tailor, said that she had sent her daughter to buy some raw material from a market in the nearby village but she came back without the material, and said she could not find it. The teenager said the same thing the next day, when her mother sent her to the market again. She then started complaining of a headache and I grew suspicious. When I asked her about it, she told me Pradeep had offered her a ride both the days, and had taken her a hotel near Chhattarpur and raped her," the mother said in her complaint, according to police. "He also threatened to kill her if she told anybody about it, she said. Following the complaint, the accused was booked under section 6 of the POCSO Act and section 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. The victim was taken to a hospital where doctors confirmed rape, said police. The accused is absconding and we are conducting raids to nab him. He will be arrested soon, said Inspector Dinesh Kumar, SHO, DLF Phase-1 Police Station. (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 27 (ANI): Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in the national capital. As per the information, it is believed that Soren met with Shah and Kharge to reach a conclusion on extending the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's support for a presidential candidate. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. A meeting of the JMM leaders, including all the MLAs and MPs of the party, was held on Saturday, under the leadership of its supremo Shibu Soren, wherein it was decided that JMM's Executive President Hemant Soren will meet the Home Minister. Even though the meeting took place, the party's stand on the matter remained unclear. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. It would be interesting to know whom would the JMM support in the upcoming Presidential elections, as its ally United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has fielded Yashwant Sinha as the candidate, while the candidate hailing from the Santhal community, Droupadi Murmu, has been nominated by the BJP-led NDA. JMM has been pursuing a tribal political plank and Santhals have been the significant vote bank for the party. Shibu Soren, the party's president, emerged as a Guruji by agitating against Mahajani Pratha from Santhal and he spearheaded a separate state movement with the support of Santhals. A day after filing her nomination papers for the presidential election on June 24, Murmu had called up Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and state Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeking his support. On June 25, the JMM had called a meeting of all its legislators to take a decision on whether they would support her in the presidential election. However, as per the sources, the meeting remained inconclusive. JMM was among opposition parties which earlier extended its support to former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha in the presidential election. But, since the NDA named Murmu, a leader from the tribal community, pressure has been mounting on several opposition leaders including the Jharkhand Chief Minister to extend the support to Murmu as Jharkhand has a lot of tribal population that could affect their vote bank. The elections for the President of India will take place on July 18 and the results will be out on July 21. The term of present Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind concludes on July 24. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Hamirpur (HP), Jun 27 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh New Pension Scheme Employees Union (HPNPEU) will take out a rally outside the state Legislative Assembly in the upcoming monsoon session to demand restoration of the old pension scheme, the union president said here on Monday. A pension resolution rally would be organised in every district of the state, HPNPEU president Pradeep Thakur. Also Read | Agnipath Recruitment Scheme: IAF Receives Over 94,000 Applications Within Four Days of Registration. He said that with the new pension scheme their future security is at stake as they are just being given Rs 500 to 700 in the name of pension. If pensions can be given to MPs and MLAs then why not us, the employees, he asked. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Tries To Kill 5-Year-Old Daughter in Bengaluru, Arrested. Thakur further said that the state government has constituted a committee to consider their demand. The committee members have been receiving the benefits under the old pension scheme and it has not even held a single meeting in the last three months, he added. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], June 27 (ANI): Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has tested positive for COVID-19. "Yesterday, I took a Covid test which came out to be positive. I am in good health and I am consulting a doctor. With the blessings of all of you, I will soon be able to defeat Corona and return to your service. Anyone who was in contact with me should be careful and get yourself tested immediately if symptoms appear," Pawar said in a tweet in Marathi. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tested positive for COVID on June 22. Pawar has been a part of the meetings being held by the ruling MVA alliance in Maharashtra to deal with the political crisis in the state caused due to revolt in Shiv Sena. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. Both factions of Shiv Sena have taken steps to protect their turfs. The battle has reached the Supreme Court. The rebels, who are in Guwahati, have claimed growing support for them. The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, Maharashtra deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal sent notices to the 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs. According to sources, facing a revolt within his own ranks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was ready to resign on June 22 at 5 pm after it was clear that there was "no way out" of the political crisis facing the Maharashtra government but MVA allies convinced him not to resign. The sources said that Uddhav Thackeray was in touch with BJP leaders to find a way out of the political crisis facing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that includes the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress apart from Shiv Sena. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], June 27 (ANI): Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai said on Monday that a statue of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda will be installed on the premises of Vidhana Soudha within a year. Speaking at the event to mark the 513th birth anniversary of Kempe Gowda at the Banquet Hall, Vidhana Soudha, the Cheif Minister responded to the demand put forth by Nanjavadhuta Swameeji, who spoke earlier. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. The Vidhana Soudha is located in the city of Bengaluru and was built by Kempe Gowda. So it is natural to desire that a statue should be erected on the premises of Vidhana Soudha. Our government will do it, he remarked. With regard to the revision of textbooks, he uttered, "While some of the contents have been revised, some others have been retained. The answers have been sent today to the questions raised by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda." Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Minister, and Vice-Chairperson, Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Heritage Area Development Authority, said that Bengaluru had become a convergent place of talents from across the world and was one of the top ten growing cities of the world. He also remarked that the previous Chief Minister Yediyurappa played a crucial role in implementing the Kempe Gowda statue installation project at Bengaluru International Airport. "Kempapura in Magadi taluk, the birthplace of Kempe Gowda will be developed. Kempe Gowda Study Centre will be established in Bengaluru Varsity. Bengaluru Habba will be celebrated in a grand manner as a three-day event and a coffee table book will be brought out in the honour of Kempe Gowda", he listed out. The first Kempe Gowda International Award was presented to Former Chief Minister SM Krishna, Infosys Founder NR Narayana Murthy and Former Badminton player Prakash Padukone carried a purse of Rs 5 lakh each along with a plaque. SM Krishna who attended the function was presented with the award. On behalf of NR Narayana Murthy, his wife Sudha Murthy, and on behalf of Prakash Padukone, his son Vimal received the award. On receiving the award, Krishna said, that the status of Bengaluru should be taken to new heights at the global level. Further, he added that the cities like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Shivamogga should grow. Remembering former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he thanked Singh for naming the Bengaluru Airport after Kempe Gowda. He also announced that he would donate the cash of Rs 5 lakhs which he received with the award to the Ramakrishna Ashrama of Mysuru which laid a crucial role in laying the foundation for his studies. Comparing former CM Krishna to Bhishma of Mahabharata, Sudha Murty claimed that the city would not have attracted unless Kempe Gowda had laid the strong foundation for its growth. She also requested Chief Minister to develop cities such as Hubballi and Dharawad so as to generate employment locally. Saying, there were persistent attempts to divide and rule by creating a gap between Okkaliga and Veershaiva Lingayats in the state. Sri Nanjavadhuta Swameeji opined that people should not give room for such possibilities. During his tenure, BS Yediyurappa honoured Kempe Gowda with the utmost respect and fulfilled many demands. We need to preserve heritage spots in the way it is being done in England, he stated. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Jammu, Jun 27 (PTI) A Pakistani intruder was killed by BSF troops along the International Border (IB) in Jammu district early Monday, officials said. A BSF spokesman said the area domination party noticed the intruder heading towards the border fence with an intention to cross over. Also Read | Karnataka High Court Acquits Woman Accused of Killing Her Epileptic Baby. "Our party challenged him to stop but he paid no attention and continued his movement towards the fence", he said. BSF troops fired three rounds at the intruder, the spokesman said, adding his body was found close to the fence. Also Read | Sensex Rises 700 Points, Nifty Tops 15,900; IT Stocks Lead Gainers. The body was handed over to the police. (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 27 (PTI) A group of students, teachers, activists and civil society members staged a protest at Jantar Mantar here on Monday against the arrest of Teesta Setalvad by the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad, calling it a "pre-planned conspiracy" and an attempt to "silence" other activists. Senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh and Ajay Maken also joined the protest. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh Shocker: Two Nepali Girls Gang-Raped in Balrampur, Four Arrested. Around 300 protesters gathered at Jantar Mantar and raised slogans demanding the release of Setalvad and former IPS officers R B Sreekumar and Sanjiv Bhatt, who have been accused of "criminal conspiracy, forgery and placing false evidence in court to frame innocent people" in the 2002 Gujarat riots. Congress leader Maken said his party stood by the trio and demanded their release at the earliest. Also Read | Karnataka: Bengaluru Animal Lovers Oppose Proposal To Ban Pets Inside Cubbon Park. Activist Shabnam Hashmi told PTI, "We think it's a pre-planned conspiracy because there is no way that the Supreme Court comes out with a judgment on June 25 and the same day an FIR was lodged and Teesta was arrested.... We strongly condemn it." Hashmi said the arrest was an attempt by the government to silence and frighten other activists in the country. "We know that they're giving a signal to all the activists who have been raising their voice. This is an attempt to silence and frighten them but this country is not going to be frightened," she said. She demanded that the trio be released and the FIR quashed. The FIR against Setalvad, Sreekumar and Bhatt was registered on Saturday, a day after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition challenging the clean chit given by the SIT to the then chief minister Narendra Modi and others in the 2002 riots cases. Questioning the arrests, All India Students' Association (AISA) president N Sai Balaji asked, If the fight against injustice is being criminalised, what message are they giving out? That we cannot speak against communal riots? That no one can stand with the victims? (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) By Payal Mehta New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI): Parliamentary panel on Tuesday suggested a reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) for drugs and making available indigenous vaccines for affordable treatment of Cancer patients in the country, sources said. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. Officers from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were present before a panel chaired by Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha, Professor Ramgopal Yadav to discuss the critical issue of affordable treatment for cancer in India. Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Indian Council of Medical Research DG Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General Health Services Atul Goyal were among the officers present in the meeting today. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. A detailed presentation was made before the committee by the Ministry of Health. It said that out of 22 AIIMS that were working in the country, only six had facilities for cancer treatment. It was also being understood, sources said, that at least three of facilities for cancer treatment were available only on paper. Only in 13 centrally operated medical colleges, government ran cancer treatment facility. Sources said that a member of Parliament raised how the Chittaranjan National Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal was practically defunct. Now, despite the fact that there is an inflow of patients, it refuses to decline. Members also raised concerns about the increased price of cancer-related drugs and medicines. Despite the fact that the government claims that under certain conditions, these drugs are available at a subsidised rate, the members communicated to the Health Ministry that the situation on grassroots was not the same as being proclaimed. There was an urgent need to reduce the GST on such drugs and medicines, as suggested by the members. Members expressed their concern about the availability for facilities and urged to conduct a PET scan which is a crucial way to detect cancer. The members also urged the officers present in today's meeting to declare cancer as a Notifiable Disease at the earliest because it is turning out to be a huge concern for the common man with the increased treatment price and the stigma associated with it. A Notifiable Disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities. The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease, and provides early warning of possible outbreaks. Further, it was discussed that counselling for Cancer patients and their family members is the most important focus that the central government needs to look at. This has been suggested by some members in this meeting. Members were also informed by the officials that the HPV vaccine for treatment of cancer had reached its third trial stage. However, at this point, this matter is sub-judice. All the members in unison requested the central government to encourage the development of indigenous vaccines so that the treatment can be affordable and the availability of the vaccines can be ensured. The discussion is meeting will continue on Tuesday morning when some organisations including National Cancer Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jhajjar, Haryana along with Dr Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati, Assam; Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata, West Bengal; and National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh will present their suggestions before the committee. The Committee is already in receipt of research from Dr Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati and as furnished by Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata. The background note on the subject also received from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Replies to Questionnaire on the subject as furnished by TATA Memorial Hospital, Mumbai during the study tour of the Committee to Mumbai on 28t April, 2022 have been circulated to the members. In India, too, cancer is the leading cause of death, with 7.84 lakh deaths recorded in 2018, and 13.92 lakh cases reported in 2020, according to World Health Organisation. At the national level, an average total cancer care expenditure was around Rs 1,16,218, says an expert. In private hospitals, the total cost of cancer care was estimated to be Rs 1,41,774, whereas it was comparatively lower at Rs 72,092 in public hospitals. The state-wise pattern shows that the overall cost of cancer care in India varies from Rs 74,699 in Odisha to Rs 2,39,974 in the state of Jharkhand. In eight states, namely, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Haryana, the overall cost of cancer treatment was under Rs 1 lakh. However, cancer patients spent from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh on treatment in Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, cancer treatment cost over Rs 1.5 lakh. An important aspect that needs to be highlighted is the percentage share of medical and non-medical expenditure. About 90 per cent of the total cancer care expenses relate to medical care, which include expenses on doctors' consultancy, medicines, diagnostic tests, bed charges, and other medical services like blood transfusions and oxygen supplementation. The residual 10 per cent is on non-medical heads, which includes transportation, food, escort and transport for other family members. The state-wise pattern suggests that in two states, namely Chhattisgarh and Bihar, non-medical expenses contributed to over 20 per cent of all cancer expenditure, whereas, in nine states--Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, over 10 per cent of the expenses were on non-medical services. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 27 (ANI): COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu witnessed a sharp rise as the state reported 1,472 fresh infections on Sunday, pushing the active caseload to 7,458, according to the State health bulletin. In Tamil Nadu, as many as 691 people have recuperated from the virus in the last 24 hours. Also Read | Preeti Maske, Mother of Two, Creates Ultra Cycling World Record, Paddles 430km Leh-Manali Stretch in 55 Hours and 13 Minutes. Earlier this month, Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian chaired a meeting with officials in view of the rising cases of COVID-19. The meeting was held at the office of the Municipal Corporation of Chennai. Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi, Tamil Nadu Health Secretary Senthil Kumar, Chennai Mayor Priya Rajan, Chennai Deputy Mayor Mahesh Kumar and Public health service officer's participated in this meeting. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission Latest Update: Hike in Dearness Allowance For Central Govt Employees Likely in July; Check Details Here. Meanwhile, India reported 11,739 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said on Sunday. The cumulative COVID-19 cases stand at 4,33,89,973. Active cases now constitute 0.21 per cent of the country's total positive cases. An increase of 797 cases has been recorded in the active COVID-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours. Active COVID-19 cases in the country rise to 92,576. The daily positivity rate stands at 2.59 per cent. As many as 25 people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, the Ministry bulletin stated. The recovery rate is currently at 98.60 per cent while the total COVID recoveries now stand at 4,27,72,398. India's cumulative vaccination coverage crossed the 197-crore milestone on Saturday, according to Press Information Bureau. More than 11 lakh vaccine doses were administered on Saturday till 7 pm. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Doda (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], June 27 (ANI): Doda Police along with security forces arrested a terrorist and recovered one Chinese pistol, two magazines, 14 live cartridges and one mobile phone from his possession. The terrorist has been identified as Fareed Ahmad, a resident of Koti Doda, said the police. Also Read | ITR Filing for FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23): What Is Form 26AS and Why It Is Important for Filing Income Tax Return?. As an increased security measure before the Amarnath yatra, a police party of Doda police station laid a Naka on the outskirts of Doda Town and intercepted a young man carrying arms and ammunition. After the accused was taken into custody and a special team started an investigation into the matter it came to the fore that Ahmad had received arms and ammunition from a suspect in March 2022 and he was tasked with attacking police personnel in Doda. Also Read | Maharashtra Political Crisis: 'MLAs Lives Under Threat, Can't Pursue Cases in Mumbai', Eknath Shinde's Faction to Supreme Court. However, the timely and swift action of the Doda Police foiled this nefarious plot. An FIR under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Doda. Initial investigation revealed that the accused is highly radicalised and used to receive calls from terror commanders based across the border and was motivated to work for terror outfits in Kashmir valley and the Doda region. Further investigation into the matter is in progress. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun, Jun 27 (PTI) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Monday ordered to install crash barriers at 77 vulnerable places on Chardham Yatra motorway in a bid to reduce the number of road accidents. In a letter to Public Works Department Minister Satpal Maharaj and Transport Minister Chandan Ram Das, the chief minister called for installing the barriers in Chamoli, Uttarkashi, Rudraprayag, Tehri and Pauri districts. Also Read | Narendra Modi Government Procures 187.86 Lakh Tonnes of Wheat So Far at MSP Costing Rs 37,852 Crore. Dhami underlined the urgent need to install such barriers on travel routes to prevent vehicles from falling into deep gorges as well as minimise the instances of other road accidents. There are still many sensitive places on the Chardham Yatra route where the huge gap between two crash barriers makes them insufficient to prevent accidents, he said in the letter. Also Read | Hyderabad Jubilee Hills Gang-Rape Case: Police Conduct Test Identification Parade. The chief minister directed the ministers to install 10 crash barriers in the first phase at 10 of the highly sensitive places on top priority and then install the same at the remaining 67 places as well. PTI DPT (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, Jun 27 (PTI) Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on Monday termed the relief by the Supreme Court to him and other dissident Sena lawmakers as the victory of Bal Thackeray's Hindutva and the ideals of his mentor Anand Dighe. Also Read | Agnipath Recruitment Scheme: IAF Receives Over 94,000 Applications Within Four Days of Registration. The Supreme Court has kept in abeyance the disqualification proceedings before the Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly till July 11 and sought responses to pleas by rebel MLAs questioning the legality of notices seeking their disqualification. Also Read | Karnataka Shocker: Man Tries To Kill 5-Year-Old Daughter in Bengaluru, Arrested. The top court also refused to pass any interim order on the plea of the Maharashtra government that there should not be any floor test in the Assembly and said they can always approach it in case of illegality. This is the victory of Hindu hridaysamrat Balasaheb's Hindutva and the ideals of (the late) Dharamaveer Anand Dighe, tweeted Shinde, who is camping with the dissident MLAs in Guwahati. In Thane, Shinde's son and party MP Shrikant Shinde said Maharashtra Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal had sent the disqualification notice to his father and 15 other dissident legislators under pressure which is evident from the supreme court order. The speaker has rights in the Assembly. He has the power if anyone goes against the whip in the legislature. It does not apply to anyone not coming for any meeting. The 'tughlaqi farman' (the disqualification notice) was issued (by him) under pressure and the court has shown that today, the Kalyan MP said. Shinde and a sizable number of MLAs rebelled against the leadership of Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on June 21 and are currently in Guwahati in Assam. Their main demand is that the Sena withdraws from the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, which also comprises the Congress and NCP. Shinde moved the Supreme Court on Sunday against the disqualification notice issued by the deputy speaker to him and 15 other rebel legislators, calling the action "illegal and unconstitutional" and seeking a stay on it. The petition had sought directions to the deputy speaker to not take any action in the Disqualification Petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules pending before the Speaker of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly and not take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of deputy speaker is decided. The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Saturday issued "summons" to 16 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, seeking written replies by the evening of June 27 to the complaints seeking their disqualification. (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 27 (PTI) Yashwant Sinha, the common opposition candidate for the presidential election, on Monday said he would reach out to his former colleagues in the BJP seeking their support. Addressing a press conference here, Sinha described the candidature of his rival NDA nominee Droupadi Murmu, a tribal, as part of "politics of symbolism" and insisted that he would contest the poll on the track record of the Modi government with regard to the welfare of backward communities. Also Read | Mumbai: 27-Year-Old Bhiwandi Man Booked for Insulting Prophet Mohammad in WhatsApp Group. Sinha, who filed his nomination for the July 18 election, hit out at the BJP saying that the saffron party under Prime Minister Narendra Modi lacked internal democracy. "The BJP I was part of had internal democracy, the current BJP lacks internal democracy, he said. Also Read | Agnipath Protests: Congress Stages Nationwide Satyagraha Against Agnipath Recruitment Scheme. Sinha served as finance minister and external affairs minister in the government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He had resigned from the BJP in 2018 and joined the Trinamool Congress in 2021. He quit the Trinamool Congress before his candidature was announced on June 21. Sinha said he had reached out to Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for support. The veteran leader questioned the track record of the Modi government with regard to the welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. "The current President also belongs to a particular community. Does it mean that the community has benefited," Sinha asked. Sinha said the presidential election was a battle between the ideology of absolute power and that of freedom. (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 27 (PTI) West Bengal Finance Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya on Monday said she will be representing the state at the crucial two-day GST Council meeting in Chandigarh. The Council in its meeting starting Tuesday is slated to discuss an array of issues, including a mechanism for compensating states for revenue loss, tax rate tweaks on some items and relaxed registration norms for small online suppliers. Also Read | BIS Recruitment 2022: Applications Invited For Young Professional Posts on bis.gov.in; Check Details Here. I have arrived for the meet along with other officials, including Additional Chief Secretary Manoj Pant, Bhattacharya, the Minister of State (Independent Charge), Department of Finance, told PTI over phone. The meeting will be chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprise state counterparts. Also Read | ITR Filing for FY 2021-22 (AY 2022-23): What Is Form 26AS and Why It Is Important for Filing Income Tax Return?. The Council may see a stormy discussion around compensation payout to states, with opposition-ruled states aggressively pushing for its continuation beyond the five-year period, which ends in June Earlier this month, former West Bengal finance minister Amit Mitra had written to Sitharaman, urging her to continue with the GST compensation to states for another three-five years. Mitra said the extension of the compensatory arrangement will provide a big relief to the states. "We note with dismay and ominous signs that the Centre has decided to withdraw the goods and services tax (GST) compensation to the states from July 2022. Such a decision, if taken, is completely contrary to what was envisaged at the time of adoption of GST," Mitra had said in his two-page letter. (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 27 (PTI) Modifying its earlier order, the finance ministry has permitted state-owned NBFCs to issue 'Letter of Comfort (LOC)' to banks for for fund tie-up for infra projects. Earlier in March, the finance ministry had asked other ministries and departments not to issue 'Letter of Comfort' to any hired entity for undertaking projects on their behalf, as part of efforts to improve transparency in fiscal management. Also Read | Presidential Election 2022: Oppositions Candidate Yashwant Sinha Files Nomination; Here is Everything You Need to Know About Him. "In view of the foregoing and considering that the CPSE-NBFCs are important players in the infrastructure sector, it has been decided that CPSE NBFCs may issue LOCs," an office memorandum issued by the finance ministry dated June 10 said. The memorandum posted on the the finance ministry website on Monday laid down certain conditions which include that lender should be a NBFC (Non-Banking Finance Company) registered with RBI. Also Read | BIS Recruitment 2022: Applications Invited For Young Professional Posts on bis.gov.in; Check Details Here. NBFCs should be involved in infrastructure sector and LOCs should be provided by banks only for opening letter of credit for supply of goods and services by foreign suppliers, it said. Under no circustances the liability under this LOC should devolve on government of India, it added. The memorandum was issued with the approval of the finance secretary and secretary expenditure. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Balrampur (UP), June 27: Four men were arrested on Monday for allegedly raping two teenage Nepali girls who had come to a weekly market in the Haraiyya area here, police said. Superintendent of Police, Balrampur, Rajesh Kumar said the Gangsters Act and the National Security Act will be invoked on accused Ramchandra, Rajendra, Rakesh and Pintu. The incident happened on Sunday when the two girls from Nepal's Dong district had come to the weekly Manipur Bazar in the border area, police said. Mumbai Shocker: Sibling Duo Blackmails, Molests & Rapes Minor Girl, Arrested The four accused stopped them on the way and allegedly raped them in a forest. The girls went back to their homes and narrated the ordeal to their family members, they said. Uttarakhand Shocker: Woman, 6-Year-Old Daughter Gang-Raped Inside Moving Car in Roorkee; Accused Absconding He said the families approached to the Nepal Police which then reached out to the Haraiyya police station. A case was registered and the arrests were made, the SP said. The case will be heard in a fast-track court, he said. The girls have been sent for medical examination, the police officer said, adding further investigation is underway. London [UK]/Berlin [Germany], June 27 (ANI): The Free Balochistan Movement organised anti-Pakistan protests in Germany and the United Kingdom to mark the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. The protesters informed the people of Germany and the rest of Europe about the ongoing state brutalities of Pakistan against the Baloch people. Also Read | Mexico: 6 Police Officers Killed, 4 Injured in Shootout With Armed Individuals. The protest in Germany was held on June 25 in Dusseldorf old city region and in the UK on June 26 outside the Amnesty International UK human rights action centre in London. The Free Balochistan Movement said, "It's not only Balochistan but the whole world is currently affected by the extremism of Pakistan. "The Free Balochistan Movement has never accepted the illegal and forcible occupation of Balochistan by Pakistan." Also Read | China To Relocate Over 17,000 Tibetan People From Nagqu City Claiming To Improve Living Conditions and Protect Environment. The Baloch nation, despite being weak, is the only force that is resisting its occupier. "The world powers are acting improperly and instead of helping the Baloch people, they have left Balochistan at mercy of these fundamentalist states which is reprehensible and worrisome", it said in a statement. The Baloch people are currently fighting not only for their national survival but also for the survival of humanity because Pakistan and Iran's alliance with China in no way can be considered a good omen for the region. Balochistan and the Baloch people have paid a heavy price for the resistance and they are still paying the price for upholding their culture of resistance. "The inhumane methods being used to deter the Baloch national struggle are becoming a dark chapter in the history of humanity. Pakistani and Iranian state violence, carnage, enforced disappearances, military aggression, mass executions, in-custody killings and recovery of mutilated dead bodies of previously disappeared Baloch, mass graves, and deliberate demographic changes are just some of the atrocities that one cannot even imagine in the 21st Century but the Baloch are victims of such crimes," said the Free Balochistan Movement. The international institutions which were established to prevent such crimes by hostile states are also unable to fulfil their responsibilities when it comes to Balochistan. It said, "Tens of thousands of Baloch are currently enduring inhuman torture, mistreatment, humiliation and starvation in torture cells of Iranian and Pakistani savage security agencies and military". "The mutilated bodies of thousands of Baloch disappeared persons have been found, and hundreds have been extra judicially killed and executed on trumped-up charges by Iran. In the past two months, Iran has executed more than 25 Baloch including the mass execution of 12 Baloch including a woman in one day," said the FBM statement. The Free Balochistan Movement has announced these protests on International Day in Support of Torture victims to inform the world about states' atrocities against the Baloch nation and to highlight the dangers that the Baloch nation is facing under Iran and Pakistan's occupation. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Munster, Germany, June 27 (ANI): In a public demonstration held in Munster, Germany on Saturday, the Baloch National Movement (BNM) called on international communities to take notice of Pakistan's increasing atrocities on Balochistan. The protests erupted in Munster, Germany, on Saturday in support of the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture and International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking under the pretext of informing the locals about the present situation in Balochistan and the oppression and brutality that takes place in Balochistan on a daily basis, a media report said. Also Read | Indian-Origin Man Satnam Singh Shot Dead Execution-Style in New York. Several demonstrators chanted slogans against 'enforced disappearances' and called on the international human rights organizations to pay heed to Pakistan's inhumane treatment in Balochistan as the rights of the Baloch are equal to those of a common man. The members of the Baloch Republican Party also took part in the protest. Speaking on the occasion of International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, Vice President of BNM, Germany said, "Pakistan and its army have a big hand in spreading drugs all over the world. With the spread of drugs around the world, major routes pass through Balochistan leading to People in Balochistan's addiction to drugs," adding that the addiction has become the cause of various diseases including mental illness, depression and ascending rates of unemployment in Balochistan. Also Read | Chinese Embassy in Kabul To Issue Visas to Afghan Businessmen. Children are becoming addicted to drugs as Pakistan is promoting its illicit drug trade to strengthen its colonial policy, he added further, criticising Pakistan. Moreover, Asghar Ali, President of BNM's German Chapter, while addressing the demonstration said that Pakistan is starting a new era of oppression and violence in Balochistan every day with its moves, stressing the fact that the situation in Balochistan has deteriorated to such a stage that now the families of the enforced disappearances are also being tortured. A clear example of this is the beating of the daughters of Dr Din Mohammad, the torture of the families of the disappeared by the Sindh police, and the dragging them into a police van would prove that Pakistan would make the Balochs victims more and more violence day by day, he stated, saying "Today marks the thirteenth anniversary of the forcible disappearance of Dr Din Muhammad, who was forcibly disappeared by Pakistan's intelligence agencies while on duty in Hornach. And her daughters have been stumbling on the highways of Pakistan for the last thirteen years to recover their father, but the irony is that now in thirteen years they have found nothing but despair." In another statement, BNM member Sadiq Saeed Baloch said that more than 40,000 Balochs have forcibly disappeared in Balochistan, claiming that from ordinary Baloch to Baloch students and women, everyone is being targeted and this is continuing on a daily basis in Balochistan. As per the reports, the programme was conducted by the Baloch Diaspora in Germany to unite against the Pakistani oppression in Balochistan and to showcase solidarity with Baloch nationals. The primary goal of the protests was also to expose the increased 'enforced disappearances' in Balochistan to the civilized world. Among the speakers were Badal Baloch, Iman Baloch, Bashir Baloch, Amjad Baloch and Ahmed Baloch who spoke on atrocities against Balochistan. Enforced disappearances are used as a tool by Pakistani authorities to terrorize people who question the all-powerful army establishment of the country, or seek individual or social rights. Cases of enforced disappearances have been majorly recorded in the Balochistan and the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa provinces of the country. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], June 27 (ANI): To give another blow to the Russian economy, US on Sunday said that the Group of Seven (G7) countries are going to announce sanctions on Russian gold. US said that the G7 nations will ban the import of Russian gold with the aim of tightening sanctions screws on Moscow. Also Read | Nepal Cholera Outbreak: Kathmandu Puts Ban on Panipuri. As the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of G7 Summit, President Joe Biden said, "Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Also Read | South Africa Shocker: 17 People Found Dead in Nightclub in Sourtheastern City; Police Begins Probe. Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday. Reporting from the G7 summit, Al Jazeera's James Bays, said the first session on Sunday will be focusing on the global economy. He added that the sanctioning of Russian gold has been hailed as one of the summit's achievements and is likely to go ahead. On the other hand, Bays also informed that the countries are also going to be mindful of their own economies and G7 leaders are unlikely to greenlight any additional sanctions, "particularly gas imports from Russia to Europe." Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday called on G7 countries to respond to the new missile attack on Kyiv by imposing further sanctions on Russia and providing more heavy weapons to Ukraine. Taking to Twitter, Kuleba wrote, "This 7 y.o. Ukrainian kid was sleeping peacefully in Kyiv until a Russian cruise missile blasted her home. Many more around Ukraine are under strikes. G7 summit must respond with more sanctions on Russia and more heavy arms for Ukraine." Gold exports are a major source of revenue for Russia in terms of their ability to transact with the global financial system. Last year, they were worth 12.6 billion pounds (USD 15.45bn) and wealthy Russians have been buying bullion to reduce the financial effect of Western sanctions. The clampdown is likely to be the most impactful economic measure against Moscow announced at the G7's three-day meeting. Notably, the Russian's invasion of Ukraine is now in its fifth month. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Elmau, Jun 27 (AP) The Latest on the G-7 summit, the annual meeting of the leading democratic economies, which this year is being held in the Bavarian Alps in Germany; and on the summit of NATO leaders that will start on Tuesday in Madrid: ___ Also Read | Mexico: 6 Police Officers Killed, 4 Injured in Shootout With Armed Individuals. Leaders from the Group of Seven major economies and five key developing nations pledged Monday to work together to curb climate change while ensuring energy security for their citizens. In a joint statement released by Germany, which chairs the G-7 this year, the leaders emphasised the need to accelerate a clean and just energy transition that would see an end to the burning of fossil fuels without causing a sharp rise in unemployment. Also Read | China To Relocate Over 17,000 Tibetan People From Nagqu City Claiming To Improve Living Conditions and Protect Environment. The statement cited an agreement last year between several rich nations and South Africa that would see the country receive help to end its heavy reliance on coal and ramp up the use of renewable energy. Similar partnerships are being discussed with other developing countries. The statement's cautious language referring to the need to phase down unabated coal reflects concerns particularly by India, one of the signatories, which also relies strongly on this heavily polluting fossil fuel. Leaders also tentatively endorsed the idea of a global climate club. The notion, which is being championed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the G-7 summit in the Alpine resort of Elmau, would see countries that agree on ambitious pollution targets spared from climate-related trade tariffs. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS: G-7 leaders to commit to Ukraine, US sending anti-air system Tale of 2 summits: America's back' to America's backsliding EXPLAINER: G7 provides forum for like-minded democracies ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: A small group of demonstrators has been allowed to protest within sight of the Group of Seven summit venue though not exactly close. German authorities agreed to have police cars take 50 protesters through the high-security cordon to a site 500 meters (about 550 yards) from the luxury Schloss Elmau hotel. Courts rejected pleas by organizers to be allowed 200 meters (some 220 yards) closer. At the site in a meadow in the Elmau valley, the protesters unrolled banners calling for active resistance against the danger of a world war and climate protection instead of armament, among other things. Monday's protest took place as the G-7 and guests from five major democratic emerging economies India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina were discussing climate change among other issues. ___ The U.S. is closely monitoring diplomacy between Turkey and Sweden and Finland as they seek to join NATO with hopes that it will create positive momentum toward accepting them into the alliance. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says President Joe Biden does not yet have plans to meet directly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has expressed concerns over their accession into NATO because of their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Referring to talks between the countries, along with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, set for Tuesday in Brussels on the eve of the alliance's summit in Madrid, Sullivan says, Let's see how the next 24 hours unfold. The President is following this very closely, Sullivan added of Biden. His team is working it with the Finns, Swedes, and Turks, and I'm on the phone daily with my counterparts from all three countries. He said he could not say all the issues between the countries would be worked out in time for the summit, but said, we're going to try and resolve as many of them as possible so that Madrid gives a boost to their candidacies, even if there remains some concerns on the part of Turkey that need to be worked out. ___ President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have promised to do more to rein in climate-wrecking natural gas leaks as European imports of American liquefied natural gas soar as a result of Russia's war on Ukraine. U.S. LNG exports to Europe have nearly tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Overall LNG exports to Europe have risen by 75% since last year. That's all as a result of Western boycotts and Russian cutoffs of Russian natural gas to Europe in the fallout from the war. Climate groups warn the LNG boom threatens crucial efforts by the United States and Europe to quickly cut fossil fuel emissions to stave off some of the worst scenarios of global warming. Natural gas is largely methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change. In a joint statement, Biden and von der Leyen pledged to step up US-EU cooperation to reduce methane emissions, work to bring their LNG trade under standardized monitoring, reporting and verification for methane leaks, and work to reduce natural gas flaring and venting and other methane releases as part of their LNG use. ___ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked G7 states for their support of Ukraine, while calling for further sanctions against Russia. Ukraine feels the support of the G7 states. Thank you for the defense and financial assistance, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. He also called on G7 allies to cap the price of Russian oil exports, describing the potential move as an increase in sanctions pressure on the Kremlin. In a separate statement Monday, Ukraine's presidential press service said Zelenskyy had asked G7 leaders for air missile defense systems, as Russia intensifies rocket attacks on cities. ___ NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance wants to increase the number of its rapid reaction forces from the current 40,000 troops to 300,000. Speaking at a press conference Monday ahead of a NATO summit later this week in Madrid, Stoltenberg said allies will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine when they convene in Spain. Stoltenberg said NATO members will agree on a strengthened assistance package including secure communication and anti-drone systems. Over the long term, Stoltenberg said allies aim to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era armaments to modern NATO equipment. ___ The Group of Seven leaders have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. In a joint statement Monday after a video link session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defence of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity. They said that it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement, free from external pressure or influence. The leaders of the world's leading democratic industrial powers pledged that we will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. They would continue exploring new ways to isolate Russia from participating in the global market and are determined to reduce Russia's revenues, including from gold. The leaders added that Russia must abide by international commitments including bans on the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, and voiced serious concern about Russia's announcement that it would send a nuclear-capable missile system to close ally Belarus. ____ A top French diplomat says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Group of Seven leaders that this isn't the time for negotiations with Russia because he needs to be in stronger position first. The diplomat said Zelenskyy, who spoke by video link to a G-7 session, told the group that he will negotiate when he will be in a position to do so. He was speaking on condition of anonymity in line with the French presidency's customary practices. His goal is to end the war as quickly as possible and to get out of it in the best possible position, so that he can negotiate from a position of strength, the diplomat said, adding that Zelenskyy told the G-7 he needs economic, financial and military support. French President Emmanuel Macron said that nothing regarding Ukraine will be decided without Ukraine and it's up to Zelenskyy to decide when he wants to engage in negotiations with Russia, according to the diplomat. By Sylvie Corbet in Paris ___ The German government insists its plans to tap new sources of natural gas don't undermine the country's ambitious climate goals. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is promoting the idea of a climate club' at a meeting Monday with fellow leaders from the Group of Seven major economies and key developing nations such as Indonesia, South Africa and Argentina. Speaking ahead of the talks, Scholz told German public broadcaster ZDF that the club would bring together those countries that are willing to become CO2-neutral very quickly by mid-century. The idea, which is still being fleshed out, would see members set common standards for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and agree not to impose climate-related tariffs on each others' imports. Scholz described his own country's target of reducing emissions to net zero by 2045 - the earliest of any major industrial nation - as very ambitious. But his government has been criticized by climate campaigners for seeking new suppliers of natural gas to replace the shortfall from Russia. Government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner said new energy agreements being forged with Senegal, which including developing a natural gas field, were in accordance with Germany's emissions targets and the 2015 Paris climate accord. But Buechner declined to comment on reports that Germany was pressing other nations to soften existing agreements on reducing fossil fuel investments, saying talks at the G-7 summit in the Alpine resort of Elmau were ongoing. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has welcomed the leaders of five top emerging democratic economies and of major international organizations to the Group of Seven summit. G-7 leaders plan to discuss a range of key issues with their guests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Joko Widodo of Indonesia, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, and Alberto Fernandez of Argentina. Those issues include climate change, energy, health and the COVID-19 pandemic, food security and gender equality. They're being joined Monday by the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization and others. Indonesia this year holds the presidency of the larger Group of 20 of major economies, which also includes Russia and China. That group faces a potentially awkward summit in Bali in November, in light of the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend. ____ Finnish President Sauli Niinisto says that he and the Swedish prime minister will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the NATO secretary-general on the sidelines of this week's NATO summit in the Spanish capital. Finland and Sweden have applied to join the 30-member alliance in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But NATO member Turkey has so far blocked their applications, citing what it considers to be the two countries' soft approach on organizations Ankara considers as terrorist, such as the Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK. Turkey is demanding that Sweden and Finland grant extradition requests for individuals it claims are PKK members or are linked to a failed 2016 coup. Ankara also wants assurances that restrictions on arms sales that both countries imposed over its 2019 military incursion into northern Syria will be lifted. Turkey's presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told broadcaster Haberturk TV that our attendance at this summit does not mean we will take a step back from our position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has joined the Group of Seven leaders by video link at their summit in the Bavarian Alps. Zelenskyy could be seen on a television screen next to the round table where the leaders sat Monday at the secluded Schloss Elmau luxury hotel. His address wasn't being shown to the public. The G-7 leaders are committing themselves to supporting Ukraine for the long haul at their summit, with both immediate help and long-term rebuilding on the agenda. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says ahead of a session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the G-7 countries' policies on Ukraine are very much aligned, and that they see the need to be both tough and cautions. Scholz said after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help ... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. He added that this is what is of essence -- to be tough and thinking about the necessities of the time we are living in. The G-7 leaders are to confer by video link Monday morning with Zelenskyy. ___ The Group of Seven economic powers are set to announce an agreement to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, aiming to curb Moscow's energy revenues, a U.S. official said Monday. The move is part of a joint effort of support for Ukraine that includes raising tariffs on Russian goods and imposing new sanctions on hundreds of Russian officials and entities supporting the four month long war. Leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day summit in the German Alps. The details of how a price cap would work, as well as its impact on the Russian economy, were to be resolved by the G-7 finance ministers in the coming weeks and months. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods, as well as use of sanctions to target Russia's defense supply chains that support its effort to rearm during the war. The senior administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcements from the G-7 leaders' summit, where they are set to confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. By Zeke Miller in Elmau, Germany ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the West has no intention to torpedo the Group of 20 the group of major economies that also includes Russia. This year's G-20 summit is due to take place in Indonesia in November. There are questions over whether Western leaders will sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholz, who is hosting this week's summit of the smaller Group of Seven industrial powers, on Monday also is hosting leaders from five major emerging democratic economies India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina. So far, they don't all see eye-to-eye with the G-7 nations on the war in Ukraine or sanctions. Scholz told Germany's ZDF television that it's all the more important that we discuss (the matter) with each other. Scholz told Germany's ZDF television: We must not walk into the trap Putin sets of asserting that the world is divided into the global West the G-7 and its friends in the north and all the rest. That's not true. There are democracies all over the world and they have very similar perspectives. Scholz didn't give an explicit commitment to turn up to the G-20 summit regardless of whether Putin attends, but stressed the group's importance. He said: There is a common conviction that we don't want to torpedo the G-20. ___ President Joe Biden is set to announce that the U.S. is providing an advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, as well as additional artillery support, according to a person familiar with the matter, in the latest assistance meant to help the country defend against Russia's four-month invasion. The U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to support its efforts against the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. The announcement comes as Biden is huddling with allies this week on supporting Ukraine in meetings at the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Germany and NATO leaders' annual gathering in Madrid. By Zeke Miller in Elmau, Germany ___ One year ago, Joe Biden strode into his first Group of Seven summit as president and confidently told the closest U.S. allies that America is Back. Now, there are worries that America is backsliding. As Biden meets this week with the heads of G-7 leading democratic economies in the Bavarian Alps, he brings with him the baggage of domestic turmoil. The U.S. is grappling with political unrest, shocking mass shootings and the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion. Biden says other world leaders at the summit haven't been asking him about the abortion ruling. But the domestic unrest is no doubt troubling to his European allies. (AP) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Elmau (Germany), Jun 27 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz here and the two leaders agreed to continue the momentum in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership besides further diversifying the bilateral friendship for the benefit of their people and the entire planet. Prime Minister Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, met Scholz on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern Germany. Also Read | Mexico: 6 Police Officers Killed, 4 Injured in Shootout With Armed Individuals. PM @narendramodi meets @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz at the G-7 Summit in Germany. They are discussing ways to further diversify the India-Germany friendship for the benefit of our people and the entire planet, the Prime Minister's Office said on Twitter. Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: Meeting on the sidelines of G7, PM @narendramodi and @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz emphasised on taking forward the India-Germany Green and Sustainable Development Partnership signed during the 6th IGC. Also discussed ways for greater coordination in international bodies. Also Read | China To Relocate Over 17,000 Tibetan People From Nagqu City Claiming To Improve Living Conditions and Protect Environment. The Embassy of India in Berlin said that the two leaders had an excellent meeting. PM @narendramodi had an excellent meeting with @Bundeskanzler Scholz on the sidelines of the @G7 Summit #G7Germany. Both leaders agreed to continue the momentum in the India-Germany Strategic Partnership generated by the 6th Inter-Governmental Consultations, it said in a tweet. This was the first meeting between Modi and Scholz after they met in Berlin in May during which the two leaders discussed key areas of bilateral cooperation under the overall strategic partnership, as well as regional and global developments. The India-Germany Strategic Partnership was established in 2000. The Inter-Governmental Consultations (IGC) at the level of Heads of Government was launched in 2011. The year 2021 marked the 70th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Germany. This year, the 6th IGC was held in Berlin. The IGC is a unique biennial dialogue mechanism for the two governments to coordinate across a spectrum of bilateral matters. It sees participation of Heads of Governments along with multiple ministers from both sides for comprehensive review of bilateral cooperation and identification of new areas of engagement. India is among a select group of countries with which Germany has such a dialogue mechanism. Besides India, Germany, the host of the G7 Summit, has also invited Argentina, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa as guests for the summit to recognise the democracies of the global south as its partners. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. Modi is attending the G7 summit held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany following an invitation by German Chancellor Scholz. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Elmau (Germany), Jun 27 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit here and the two leaders took stock of the India-Canada friendship and discussed ways to further strengthen it across various sectors. The two leaders are here at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern Germany, to attend the summit of G7 countries. Also Read | Mexico: 6 Police Officers Killed, 4 Injured in Shootout With Armed Individuals. "Prime Ministers @narendramodi and @JustinTrudeau meet on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in Germany. They took stock of the India-Canada friendship and discussed ways to further strengthen it across various sectors," the Prime Minister's Office tweeted. This is the first in-person bilateral meeting between the two leaders in over four years. Also Read | China To Relocate Over 17,000 Tibetan People From Nagqu City Claiming To Improve Living Conditions and Protect Environment. Trudeau had visited India in February 2018 during which he held bilateral talks with Modi. This is also the first meeting between the two leaders since Trudeau, who had backed the agitating farmers in India, had said that Canada will always be there to defend the rights of peaceful protests, and had expressed concern over the situation. His remarks had angered India which summoned the Canadian High Commissioner in New Delhi and told him that such comments constituted an "unacceptable interference" in the country's internal affairs and these actions, if continued, will have a "seriously damaging" impact on the bilateral ties. Canada has a significant number of Indians, mostly from Punjab. In February 2021, Trudeau reached out to Prime Minister Modi and requested a shipment of Covid-19 vaccines from India, which sent a consignment of Covishield to Canada a month later. Trudeau had lauded India and said that if the world managed to conquer COVID-19, it would be significant because of India's tremendous pharmaceutical capacity, and Prime Minister Modi's leadership in sharing this capacity with the world. The Group of Seven (G7) is an inter-governmental political grouping consisting of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK and the US. The German Presidency has invited Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa to the G7 Summit in Elmau, Bavaria. Modi is attending the G7 summit held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany following an invitation by German Chancellor Scholz. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Durham (UK), Jun 27 (The Conversation) It's striking that, as with many other gender equality issues, the positions of men in relation to abortion are rarely discussed. In some regards, this is for good reasons. Abortion is a healthcare issue for women (and trans and non-binary people with uteruses). It's about them having the right to determine what happens to their own bodies. Also Read | Indian-Origin Man Satnam Singh Shot Dead Execution-Style in New York. The fact that, despite all the medical knowledge and tools at our disposal in the 21st century, abortion rights remain under threat in so many countries arguably connects to the desire of patriarchal societies to exercise control over women's freedom and deep-rooted patriarchal insecurities about reproductive processes which men don't have power over. Even now in the UK, for example, a woman needs approval from two doctors to have an abortion. Politics across the globe remains highly masculinised, so it is largely men in positions of power who are voting to curtail women's bodily autonomy. Stark photos of male lawmakers signing off anti-abortion legislation remind us of this. Also Read | Chinese Embassy in Kabul To Issue Visas to Afghan Businessmen. Similarly, many of the people involved in the anti-abortion movement, such as those protesting outside of clinics with often misleading imagery and messaging about dead foetuses, intimidating patients and staff, are men. Yet it's also possible for male politicians to vote to improve abortion rights. When the UK's 1967 Abortion Act was enacted, 96% of MPs were men. One of us previously interviewed the former Labour MP Peter Jackson, whose commitment was fuelled by a woman in his constituency being imprisoned for carrying out abortions. On his role in getting the legislation through parliament, Jackson remarked: If you ask me what was my most important contribution, it would be my role in bringing about rights for women which they never had before. So we need more male parliamentarians to recognise their responsibility to act as allies to women. But whilst the situation has improved since the 1960s, we also need much better representation of women in politics, to increase the likelihood that women's needs and experiences will actually be taken into account in decision-making. How men benefit from reproductive freedom Of course, pregnancy would also rarely happen without the presence of (cisgender) men. It's remarkable how little this is recognised in discussions about abortion. You might sometimes be left thinking women somehow become pregnant by themselves. It remains a stubborn gender norm in heterosexual relationships that responsibility for day-to-day management of contraception and other aspects of sexual and reproductive health is disproportionately placed on women even though sex is simultaneously presented as something primarily initiated by men and for male pleasure. We don't engage nearly enough with men and boys about healthy sex and relationships, and their role in the sexual and reproductive wellbeing of themselves and their partners. Boys still often receive little education about women's reproductive health, such as learning about menstruation. At times, abortion debates illustrate this, with male lawmakers showing a lack of basic understanding about female reproduction. It's also notable that in the UK, rates of vasectomy have been declining in recent years, despite it being a relatively simple procedure. An important step forward would therefore be for men to recognise how much we gain from women's right to an abortion, too. Given that an estimated 45% of pregnancies in the UK are unplanned, countless men (including many in positions of power) who were not ready to be parents or had no intention of becoming a parent have been able to live freer lives and enjoy fuller careers because their sexual partner was able to obtain an abortion. With the freedom to only have children when people feel ready to do so, a man could potentially be saved from unwanted parenthood many more times than a woman over the course of his life without even necessarily being aware of it. The vast majority of people (86%) in the UK, including men, support the right to an abortion. The majority of people in the US are also in favour. But you might not know it, given the silence of most men beyond the vocal minority who are opposed. Sexual and reproductive health and parenthood are men's business and responsibility too, and we would all benefit from talking about them more openly and honestly with our friends, our sons and by joining calls for social change, as well as reflecting on our own practices. Starting the conversation Making decisions about abortion can be difficult and can lead to a range of complex emotions, which might be hard to know how to deal with when it's so little discussed. In a conversation we recently had with a gender equality activist in Ireland, he articulated that people telling their personal stories of what abortion meant to their lives moved the conversation away from abstractions about zygotes and embryos. He felt this was a key factor in the landslide Irish vote to legalise abortion in 2018. Of course, this shouldn't mean men taking over the conversation or making it all about us. Men can also have too much influence on pregnancy, by seeking to impose their wishes and reproductive coercion is a common aspect of domestic abuse. It's important to recognise that this is first and foremost about supporting women's right to choose what happens to their bodies and listening much more to their needs and experiences. However, there have been beneficial outcomes in many men's lives because of decisions to have an abortion. Perhaps this fundamental human right will only become better protected if we start acknowledging that more. (The Conversation) (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 27: Congress on Monday held nationwide Satyagraha in more than 3,500 Assembly headquarters across the country against the Agnipath scheme, the party said. Addressing a press conference, senior party leader Mohan Prakash said: "The Indian National Congress stands with the youth in their demand for an immediate rollback of the Agnipath scheme. Agnipath Recruitment Row: Hear Us Before Taking Any Decision, Centre to Supreme Court on Pleas Against Recruitment Scheme The BJP government should not weaken national security by implementing it. The Government should provide security rather than insecurity to the lakhs of men and women who aspire to serve the nation by joining the Armed Forces. The government has itself admitted to a shocking 1,25,000 non-commissioned vacancies in armed forces." The Monday Satyagraha against the scheme by the Indian National Congress follows a memorandum to the President requesting him to withdraw the controversial scheme. "We urge the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to shun his arrogance and accede to the youth's demand," Prakash said. The Congress said it stands with the lakhs of Ex-Servicemen who are concerned about the scheme's impact on the ethos, unit cohesion and combat effectiveness of the Armed Forces. Introducing differential training standards and discriminatory pay and allowances among our soldiers threatens to disturb long-established standards with no clear benefit. "We are concerned that such gimmicks are being experimented with at a time of deteriorating global security and rising threats to our borders. Just today there are reports of a continuing buildup of Chinese troops and infrastructure across the LAC, including upgraded armour, artillery, rocket systems, air defence systems and airfields. New divisions are being brought into the western sector and accommodation built for Chinese 1,20,000 troops," he added. The Congress demanded release of the youths, who have been put in various jails during the protest. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2022 04:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). New Delhi, June 27: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Eknath Shinde's faction, 'why they did not move the Bombay High Court' to which they responded that 'their lives were under threat and atmosphere was not conducive to pursue legal remedies in Mumbai. A vacation comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala asked senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, representing the rebel MLAs, why they did not move the Bombay High Court. Maharashtra Political Crisis Live Updates: Eknath Shinde Says MVA Alliance Has Lost Majority; ED Summons Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut Kaul cited threats to the lives of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and their families, which made the atmosphere non-conducive to pursue cases in Mumbai. Kaul said the petitioners said that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings against them, when a resolution seeking his removal was pending. He cited the decision of the apex court in the "Nabam Rebia" case (2016). Kaul added that a minority of the legislative party was subverting the state machinery, and their houses were being attacked. Kaul said they said, "bodies will arrive and we will be slaughtered like bulls..." The bench said there were two things -- first the alleged threats to the lives of the MLAs, which the court has no means to verify, and the second issue the lack of time given to the MLAs to respond to the disqualification notice. The bench noted that the important overarching issue was that the Speaker or Deputy Speaker could not continue till his continuance was under doubt. Kaul reiterated how a Deputy Speaker could proceed with the issue when his removal was in question. The bench queried: Is the Deputy Speaker not competent to proceed when the MLAs moved for his removal, and asked Kaul, "Why can't you raise this question before the Deputy Speaker?" Kaul replied that the Deputy Speaker cannot entertain disqualification petitions at all. The hearing was in progress in the matter. The top court was hearing petitions by Eknath Shinde and the rebel MLAs of Shiv Sena challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Maharashtra Deputy Speaker to them and also the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The plea said the petitioner was aggrieved by the notice/summon dated June 25, which was grossly illegal, unconstitutional and in utter disregard of the judgment of this court in the matter of Nabam Rebia & Bamang Felix Vs Deputy Speaker, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in (2016). "That the seat of Speaker is vacant since Nana Patole resigned from office in February 2021. Thus, there is no authority who can adjudicate upon the disqualification petition under which the impugned notice has been issued to the petitioner," it added. The rebel leaders urged the apex court to prohibit Deputy Speaker from taking any action under the Anti-Defection Law (10th Schedule of the Constitution) and issue direction against taking any action until the resolution for the removal of Deputy Speaker is decided. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 27, 2022 03:29 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). A doctor in #Karnataka, who was on a #Himalayan expedition, has been incommunicado since June 20, post which his family lodged a complaint with the state Police. pic.twitter.com/T9YRFh4MKG IANS (@ians_india) June 27, 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.) Kurla, Mumbai | A 4-storey building collapses in Naik Nagar. Fire brigade team, police at the spot as rescue operation continues As per BMC, 7 people rescued from under debris are in stable condition; 20 to 25 likely to be trapped under the debris. Rescue operation on pic.twitter.com/M9stC1eFh6 ANI (@ANI) June 27, 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.) Ahead of the Presidential Election 2022, the TRS party has decided to support Opposition Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha for the Presidential poll. Telangana CM and TRS working president KT Rama Rao will attend Yashwant Sinha's nomination for Presidential elections in Delhi today. Check tweet: TRS party has decided to support Opposition Presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha for the Presidential poll Telangana CM and TRS working president KT Rama Rao will attend Yashwant Sinha's nomination for President elections in Delhi, today. pic.twitter.com/70r77QmmM6 ANI (@ANI) June 27, 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.) A California jury has awarded the family of slain pregnant teen Elena Mondragon $21 million. Mondragon was only 16 back in 2017 when undercover police officers from the city of Fremont, California shot and killed her as they attempted to arrest her boyfriend on suspicion of armed robbery. It was later found that Mondragon was in her first trimester of pregnancy. NBC News reported that Mondragon was a passenger in a BMW pulled out of a Hayward apartment complex. An unmarked van filled with Fremont police has tried to cut off the BMW as they attempted to catch its driver, Mondragon's boyfriend, Rico Tiger. Police then opened fire and fatally wounded Mondragon. Her family filed a civil rights and wrongful death complaint against the police officers. According to The San Francisco Chronicle, the civil rights complaint described the killing as "a botched covert arrest operation." California Jury Brings Justice to Bereaved Family Her uncle, Miguel Minjares, spoke to KRON 4 in 2017 following Elena Mondragon's death. He said it was not the same, knowing she would not be there anymore, adding that the experience was hard. But with the jury deciding to award a huge sum of money to the family, they have won a huge legal victory. In a statement to the press, John Burris, who represents Mondragon's family, described the verdict as "tremendous." According to the lawyer, culpability in her death has been split between the car's driver and Fremont city officers. Therefore, the city of Fremont may be paying around half of the $21 million awarded to Mondragon's family, which would amount to around $10 million. KRON 4 reported that Fremont officials did not respond to the decision. Burris also hoped that police departments across the country must "humble themselves" as the community demands that they do better. READ NEXT: Johnny Depp, Amber Heard Legal Battle Might Not Be Over Yet as Actress Says She Will Appeal Defamation Ruling Fremont Police Officers in California Allegedly Botched the Arrest, Leading to Teen's Death The Mercury News reported that the man who drove the BMW, Rico Tiger, was wanted by police for several armed robberies. At the time of the incident, Elena Mondragon and four other teenagers crammed into the vehicle, and she had no idea that Tiger was a wanted man. As the BMW they were riding was exiting, Fremont police tried cutting the vehicle off with their unmarked van. Tiger reportedly panicked and tried to escape. This was when the police opened fire but also accidentally hit Mondragon in the process. Reports stated that Mondragon suffered multiple wounds, with multiple bullets and shrapnel being found in her body. The decision is one of the largest settlements linked to police. While Tiger was ordered to pay half of the money awarded, the city of Fremont still has to pay around $10 million on behalf of the police. Melissa Nold, one of the family's attorneys, spoke to The Mercury News about the decision. She said the police underestimated the victim's family, did not think Mondragon mattered and thought the family would settle out of court. READ MORE: January 6 Hearing: Donald Trump Pressured Justice Department to Call 2020 Election 'Corrupt' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: California Jury Awards $21M to Family of Pregnant Teen Shot by Fremont Police - From KPIX CBS SF Bay Area Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is getting married soon, as she announced her engagement with her longtime boyfriend, technology consultant Riley Roberts. She confirmed her engagement via Twitter last month and has been spotted with an engagement ring on her finger. Its true! Thank you all for the well wishes https://t.co/i5cm9awN3S Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 19, 2022 Earlier today @thehill's photog Greg Nash captured @AOC sporting some bling on her ring finger. pic.twitter.com/qmaGIKvXK7 Judy Kurtz (@JudyKurtz) May 19, 2022 Ocasio-Cortez is one of the most prominent House Democrats currently serving in the House of Representatives. The fiery Latina of Puerto Rican origin is known to be a member of "The Squad," a group of non-white female Democrats in Congress, as well as leaning more to the left. Many targeted her for her socialist views, and she has been regarded as a socialist boogeyman in right-wing media. READ NEXT: Latino and Black Police Officers Accuse Ohio Police Chief Of Racist Abuse Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Riley Roberts Met in College and Have Been Dating for a Long Time The New York congresswoman sat down with Vogue magazine in 2018 and described her would-be fiance as an "easygoing redhead." Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez met Riley Roberts while attending college at Boston University. She said they met "in true nerdy fashion" during a weekly Friday-afternoon conversation hosted by the dean at BU. She then noted that Roberts would move from Arizona to be with her. While Ocasio-Cortez has been a very vocal public figure, becoming one of the most high-profile Democrats in Washington, Roberts has remained a very private figure. He liked to keep quiet and has been described as a "philosopher" type. A friend of the couple has said that when the camera is on her, the very private Roberts will step out of the way. Despite being a very public figure, the congresswoman has also managed to keep her life with Roberts under wraps. Marie Claire reported that their relationship was so low-key that some of their friends did not even know that they had been dating until several years after graduating from college. Who is Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's Fiance, Riley Roberts? While Riley Roberts is often media-shy, he has appeared on various posts by his high-profile fiancee. Like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, he is also a graduate of Boston University. Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, he graduated with a dual degree before becoming a tech consultant. According to Marie Claire, his now-defunct LinkedIn page stated that he was the head of marketing at HomeBinder.com, which helps people manage the maintenance of their homes. He has also worked as a tech consultant for various startups and helped them grow using marketing and development. Unfortunately, even if he kept a low profile, that did not stop right-wing media from also attacking him. In February, a conservative podcast host claimed that Ocasio-Cortez was paying her boyfriend to be part of her staff and used a picture of Roberts' email as evidence. However, the congresswoman shot this down, saying that Roberts obtained an official House email address so he could have access to the congresswoman's Google Calendar. According to Ocasio-Cortez, it is not uncommon for congressional spouses to have access to their partner's Google Calendar. It seems that the fiery Latina's family also approves of Riley Roberts. In a 2019 interview with Daily Mail, Ocasio Cortez's mother, Blanca, could not stop gushing about Roberts, stating that she loves him and that the two should get engaged. The New York representative revealed that they got engaged in her family's hometown in Puerto Rico. They have not yet released any details about the marriage ceremony and have not "dived into" wedding planning yet. READ MORE: Cuba: Latin Grammy Winner and Dissident Artist Sentenced to Prison This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Announces She's Engaged to Longtime Boyfriend Riley Roberts - From New York Post Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso has lifted the state of emergency he imposed in six provinces amid the violent Indigenous-led protests in the country. Lasso lifted the state of emergency on Saturday after lawmakers from the National Assembly heard an opposition petition to remove him from his post, Associated Press reported. The lifting of the state of emergency was among the demands set by the Confederation of Indigenous nationalities of Ecuador leader Leonidas Iza that the country's government previously declined. The decision to lift the state of emergency followed an initial meeting between government officials and Ecuador's largest Indigenous organization. Saturday's meeting was held at the Basilica church in Quito. Iza and other social leaders, along with Ecuador's Minister Francisco Jimenez and Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Holguin, attended the meeting. "The national government ratifies the willingness to guarantee the creation of spaces for peace, in which Ecuadorians can gradually resume their activities," National Assembly President Virgilio Saquicela said in a statement. Squicela further noted that there had been no commitment made yet during the first meeting but underscored that the "government has made the corresponding opening." READ NEXT: Ecuador: Clashes Between Police and Indigenous Demonstrators Erupt in the Country's Capital Colombia Protests: Strike Will Not End Until Demands Are Met, Indigenous Leader Says Although President Guillermo Lasso has already lifted the state of emergency, Indigenous leader Iza emphasized that the strike and protests would continue if the country's government did not meet the entirety of their demands. "Instead of making us more afraid, they have raised our rebellion, dignity," Iza noted. However, the leader of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador said demonstrators would rest for the weekend. He asked that entrances in interprovincial border areas be opened to allow food to pass through and supply Quito, which faces a shortage of farm products. It can be recalled that Iza earlier demanded low gas prices and the abolishment of the military and police presence in places around Quito, the country's capital. Jimenez previously commented on the demands of Iza, saying it was not the time to voice out greater demands. Ecuador's Indigenous Leader Is Trying to Stage a Coup, Guillermo Lasso Says A day before the state of emergency among six provinces was abolished, President Guillermo Lasso said the indigenous leader heading the national strike in the country was trying to stage a coup. "It is proven that the true intention of the violent (people) is to generate a coup and that is why we call on the international community to warn of this attempt to destabilize democracy in Ecuador," Lasso said in his televised remarks. The president then noted that he would use "all legal tools" to contain the violence unleashed by the demonstrators. The protests led by Iza's group started on June 14, demanding to cut gasoline prices, imposed price controls on agricultural products, and a larger budget for the education sector. Protesters blocking roads in Ecuador's capital have brought the city to a near halt, and people are experiencing food and fuel shortages. READ MORE: Colombia: Video Shows Scary Stadium Collapse That Killed 6, Injured Hundreds During Bullfighting Event This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Joshua Summers WATCH: Ecuador Economic Protests: 'Lasso's Government Will Have to Make Some Pretty Serious Concessions' - From FRANCE 24 English California lawmakers are expected to put a state constitutional amendment on the ballot that would protect reproductive rights in the state. The New York Times reported that the amendment would go to California voters in November for approval. It comes as states across the country react to the Supreme Court decision repealing the longstanding decision landmark Roe v. Wade. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has promised to "fight like hell" for the abortion rights in the state to remain. He has signed a bill on Friday shielding California abortion providers from liability or prosecution related to out-of-state bans on abortions. The state's constitution already includes a right to privacy that has long underpinned abortion statutes. However, after the Supreme Court leak in May, the state's legislative leaders acted to ensure that abortion and contraception are explicitly protected. Toni G. Atkins, the president pro tempore of the State Senate, said that California's constitutional amendment "would make it undeniably clear that in California, abortion and contraception" are part of health care and are considered a private issue between patient and medical provider. The Public Policy Institute of California conducted a poll last year, showing that around four out of five California voters oppose the repeal of Roe v. Wade. READ NEXT: Roe v. Wade Overturned: What It Means for Abortion in California, Florida, New Mexico | Where Will It Be Illegal? California on Abortion Rights Jodi Hicks, CEO of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California, said in a statement that abortion remains legal in California, adding that they are working to ensure that people can access abortion regardless of where they come from. Democrats in California and across the country have pinned onto the protection of abortion rights as a key issue for the 2022 midterm election, according to a Cal Matters news release. Atkins said that she hopes the "people are enraged." She is a San Diego Democrat who ran a women's health clinic before entering politics. Newsom announced a joint West Coast "commitment to reproductive freedom" shortly after the Supreme Court ruling with the governors of Oregon and Washington. Newsom convened the Future of Abortion Council last fall to explore how to make the state a "sanctuary" for abortion. Supreme Court's Roe V. Wade Repeal The Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in a 5-4 decision on Friday. It was the landmark ruling that established the constitutional right to abortion in the U.S. in 1973. CNBC News highlighted that almost half of the states are expected to outlaw or severely restrict abortion as a result of the Supreme Court decision, which is related to a highly restrictive new Mississippi abortion law. The laws will affect tens of millions of people around the country, who may have to cross state lines to seek reproductive health services. Meanwhile, other states intend to maintain more liberal rules governing the termination of pregnancies. Justice Samuel Alito wrote that the "Constitution makes no reference to abortion," adding that no such right is "implicitly protected by any constitutional provision." Alito added that it is time to return the issue of abortion to the people's elected representatives. READ MORE: Pres. Joe Biden Labels Supreme Court Leaked Opinion on Abortion Case as "Radical Decision" This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Roe v. Wade overturned | Newsom speaks on California abortion rights - from ABC 10 Anya Taylor-Joy sparked rumors about being engaged with her boyfriend, Malcolm McRae, after she was photographed wearing a ring at an airport. The Daily Mail on Sunday got the exclusive photos of the "The Queen's Gambit" star flashing a gold ring wrapped around her ring finger on her left hand. The actress was wearing a brown checkered trench coat over a brown top and pants, pairing it with black shoes and a gold necklace that stretched from her neck below her chest. Page Six noted that the photos were taken last week while Taylor-Joy was disembarking from a private jet in Sydney, Australia. An eyewitness noted that Anya Taylor-Joy bounded off the plane and then seemed to flash the ring at her driver before getting in the car. "She was either showing off the ring or doing a dance move. Either way, she looked ecstatic," the source added. Taylor-Joy has also brought her a valuable companion when she was in Australia: her feline pet, Kitsune. It can be recalled that the actress introduced the cat to her nine million followers on Instagram last month. The post also included a video of McRae holding Kitsune in his arms while bringing it closer to the camera. READ NEXT: Get To Know Anya Taylor-Joy Through What's Inside the Bag of 'The Queen's Gambit' Star Fans React to Rumors About Anya Taylor-Joy being Engaged With Malcolm McRae Days before the exclusive photos were published by the Daily Mail, a celebrity gossip page on social media claimed that the "Peaky Blinders" star has recently become engaged. Anya Taylor-Joy's rumors of being engaged sparked reactions from fans who expressed their thoughts about the star leveling up her relationship with her musician and actor boyfriend, Malcolm McRae. Just saw the Anya Taylor-Joy engaged rumor pic.twitter.com/GRYmyAAOom Mathilde is feeling 22 (@matevermore) June 21, 2022 One Twitter user shared that they saw the rumor about the star and the musician being engaged, relating their feelings to Taylor Swift's hit song "Teardrops On My Guitar." anya taylor joy is engaged wifey cheated on me hunter | saw tgm x2 (@alechardysbitch) June 21, 2022 Another fan commented on the rumor, claiming his "wifey" cheated on him, sealing the tweet with at least eight broken emoji hearts. me also posting about how much i love anya taylor-joy after i found out shes engaged pic.twitter.com/rabZb6MJC3 mari (@marisohoe) June 20, 2022 Meanwhile, one Twitter user voiced her support for Anya Taylor-Joy upon knowing her engagement rumors. It should be noted that Anya Taylor-Joy nor her representatives have not yet addressed the rumors. Anya Taylor-Joy and Malcolm McRae Anya Taylor-Joy turned her mysterious personal life different when she was photographed kissing a guy in New York City. The guy she was kissing was Malcolm McRae, and the actress confirmed her relationship with the musician during her Elle interview last year. The duo started dating last year. They made their red-carpet debut at the 2022 Vanity Fair Oscar party. Both of the stars are vocal about their relationship, and they are no strangers to each other's Instagram accounts. The duo is now pulling off a long-distance relationship, as McRae spends most of his time in London while Taylor-Joy spends most of her time in the United States. READ NEXT: Johnny Depp and Amber Heard Marriage: Here's the Real Reason Why the Hollywood Actor Married His Ex-Wife This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Anya Taylor-Joy Is Disgusted By A Very Unique Swedish Snack - From LADbible TV Brazil election is looming closer, with President Jair Bolsonaro announcing on Sunday that he intends to name former Defense Minister Walter Braga Netto as his running mate. Reuters reported that Bolsonaro described Netto in an interview broadcast on YouTube that the former defense minister is someone he admires a lot and will help Brazil in the coming years if they get re-elected. Netto is a retired army general who served as Bolsonaro's chief of staff from February 2020 to March 2021. He then took office as defense minister and left earlier this year. Bolsonaro has also hinted at congresswoman Tereza Cristina Dias as a potential running mate. Dias is a former agriculture minister. The Brazilian president described Dias as an "excellent name." However, he noted that there was room for "only one" vice-presidential candidate on his ticket. READ NEXT: Colombia Seizes 10 Tons of Cocaine Worth Over $300 Million, the Largest Drug Bust This Year Brazil Election Former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, also known as Lula, has a wide lead over Bolsonaro ahead of the election in Brazil in October. DW reported that the Datafolha opinion survey placed leftist Lula at 47% support while Bolsonaro was standing at 28%. Meanwhile, center-left candidate Ciro Gomes received eight percent support. Bolsonaro has earlier downplayed surveys showing him behind his leftist opponent, while Lula lauded the poll, saying that Brazilians want to "get rid" of the current government. Meanwhile, Brazil's top courts are stepping up meetings with military commanders to ease tensions and reaffirm trust in the democratic process, according to another Reuters report. Military leaders have repeatedly said Brazil's armed forces will respect any result of the election. However, military officials have also made headlines by echoing Bolsonaro's comments about possible weakness in Brazil's voting system. Sources said that Supreme Court Chief Justice Luiz Fux is planning to meet with military brass to ease voter concerns and show wide institutional support for the election in Brazil. Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro 'Using' The Military Jair Bolsonaro has also sought to clarify that the military answers to him, as reported by The New York Times report. Bolsonaro said recently that election officials invited "the armed forces to participate in the electoral process." Almir Garnier Santos, the commander of the Brazilian Navy, told reporters that he supported Bolsonaro's view regarding the possible weakness of the electoral process. Santos said that the president is his boss and commander. Some military leaders, many right-wing voters, and the current president claim that the election is open to fraud. Meanwhile, politicians, judges, foreign diplomats, and journalists were issuing warnings that Bolsonaro is setting the stage for an attempted coup. Edson Fachin, a Supreme Court judge and Brazil's top election official, earlier said in an interview that allegations of an unsafe election were unfounded and dangerous. Fachin said these claims are "artificially created by those who want to destroy the Brazilian democracy." He added that what is at stake in Brazil is not just an electronic voting machine but maintaining democracy. READ MORE: Colombia's Most-Wanted Drug Lord Dairo Antonio Usuga Arrested; Pres. Ivan Duque Likened It to Capture of Pablo Escobar This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Brazil's Lula launching presidential bid to unseat Bolsonaro - from Al Jazeera English Colombia's President-elect Gustavo Petro on Sunday vowed to protect the Amazon Rainforest, a new addition to his promise of tackling the deforestation issues in the jungle. Petro, who will assume the office in August, made his pledge while speaking at a crowd in the Amazon city of Leticia during his campaign while wearing an Indigenous headdress, Associated Press reported. "From Colombia, we will give humanity a reward, a remedy, a solution: not to burn the Amazon rainforest anymore, to recover it to its natural frontier, to give humanity the possibility of life on this planet," Petro underscored. Colombia's president-elect also promised to limit the expansion of agribusiness into the forest. Petro also vowed to establish reserves where Indigenous communities and others are allowed to harvest rubber, acai, and other non-timber forest products. The newly elected president also pledged income from carbon credits to support replanting the rainforest. More than 40% of Colombia is in the Amazon Rainforest. The South American country is known to have the largest bird biodiversity because its space includes transition zones between the Andes mountains and the Amazon lowland. However, the Amazon rainforest is the least populated part of Colombia, making the jungle "historically neglected" during presidential campaigns. In Petro's government programs, he vowed to prioritize collective land titles, including those for Indigenous reservations and zones for landless farmers. He also promised to fight illegal activities in the rainforest, including drug trafficking and money laundering. READ NEXT: Colombia Elections: Colombians Elect First Black Vice President After Voting For First Leftist President "We Don't Expect Him To Be a Messiah" - Organization Representative Several organizations have expressed what they think about Gustavo Petro's promise that concerns the Amazon Rainforest. Consuelo Chaparro, whose organization works with an Indigenous tribe in the Amazon, said that Petro alone cannot do anything about the issues surrounding the forest. "We don't expect him to be a Messiah," Chaparro said but hopes that Petro would listen and push things forward with his power. Petro's promise of protecting the rainforest came as the Amazon continues to experience destruction since 2016. A new study published in Science Direct revealed that Colombia's peace accord with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) permitted people to return to areas that were previously plagued with conflict. "The returning population increasingly used the natural resources, it contributed to deforestation and increases in forest fires, especially in the Amazon and the Andes-Amazon transition regions," the study states. Reports also claimed that cattle ranching was the main driver of the Amazon Rainforest's deforestation. FCDS claimed that around 500,000 hectares of the rainforest have been lost due to the said practice since 2016. Colombia's President-Elect Gustavo Petro On June 19, former rebel Gustavo Petro won as Colombia's new president against real estate mogul Rudolfo Hernandez. Petro garnered 50.47% of the votes, per the country's election authorities. Currently, Petro works as a senator in the South American country. He is the first leftist president of Colombia. READ NEXT: Ecuador Protests: Guillermo Lasso Lifts State of Emergency After Accusing Indigenous Leader Heading Nationwide Strike of Staging a Coup This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: Leftist Gustavo Petro Wins Colombia's Presidential Election- From DW News Los Angeles cop Houston Tipping was beaten to death by his fellow officers during a training exercise in a mob simulation, according to his mother. KTLA News reported that Tipping died of neck injuries. He was hurt on May 26 at the police academy and died three days later. Tipping's funeral was attended by police Chief Michel Moore and Mayor Eric Garcetti. The late Los Angeles cop's mother, Shirley Huffman, filed her notice of claim against the city on Friday, wherein she alleged wrongful death and civil rights violations. Huffman claims that her son was "repeatedly struck in the head severely enough that he bled," while saying that Tipping suffered multiple breaks in his neck. The claim also alleges that the training exercise "has already been questioned" before the Los Angeles cop was hurt because of injuries suffered by other officers. READ NEXT: U.S. Southwest Megadrought Blamed on Climate Change; New Mexico, Others in Its Driest State in 1200 years Training Exercise Mob Simulation The training exercise was meant to simulate a mob, according to a New York Daily News report. The Los Angeles Police Department said that Tipping had been "grappling with another officer" when he fell and suffered a catastrophic spinal injury at the time of his death. Huffman's lawsuit noted that Moore stated that Tipping impressed his peers with a "willingness to go the extra mile to make the world a better place." However, it was not enough to "avoid other officers paralyzing him and eventually killing him in violation of law and his civil rights," the lawsuit added. LAPD officers carried the casket of the late police officer and was buried on Wednesday at a public funeral. Los Angeles Cop Killed Capt. Kelly Muniz, an LAPD spokeswoman, said on Friday that the department could not comment on the allegations or the nature of the training exercise. However, Muniz said that the department is taking the matter seriously and has started its own investigation into the incident. Muniz commented on the passing of Tipping, saying that it is "tragic and we're all saddened by his loss," according to a Los Angeles Times report. Huffman's claims call for unspecified financial compensation, including punitive damages from the city. The lawsuit also called for the city to preserve all evidence in the matter, covering "videos of the entire training exercise," and actions that were done against Tipping. Bradley Gage, an attorney for Huffman, said that the allegations were based on interviews he has conducted with witnesses to the events and others with knowledge of them. Tipping suffered injuries to two parts of his head and to four vertebrae. The five-year police veteran had worked as a patrol officer in the Devonshire Division, covering Northridge, Reseda, Chatsworth, and other parts of the north San Fernando Valley. Moore knelt before Tipping's parents and gave them a folded American flag. Meanwhile, other officers involved in the Los Angeles cop's death have not been named. READ MORE: Caldor Fire Moves Closer to Lake Tahoe as Blaze Continues to Spread in Northern Part of California This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Mother of fallen LAPD officer files wrongful death claim against City of LA - from CBS Los Angeles Former U.S. President Donald Trump was believed to have planned to remain in the presidency through illegal and unconstitutional activities, according to a new poll. The Hill reported that half of U.S. adults believed Trump planned to cling to the presidency illegally. Among Republicans, the poll found that just 13 percent believed Trump planned to stay through illegal means, while Half of Republicans said he was using legal processes to remain in the White House. More than a third, or 37%, said he did not plan to stay. The new poll was conducted by CBS News-YouGov and was done in the wake of public hearings held by the House select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot. READ NEXT: Prime Time January 6 Hearing: Here's What Ivanka Trump Testified That Irked Donald Trump New Poll on Donald Trump's Capitol Riot Involvement CBS News noted that half of the U.S. adults also think that Trump should be charged with the crimes and the attack on the Capitol was an "insurrection." On the other hand, the hearings have not changed how people describe the day's events compared to the way they did immediately afterward or a year later. Democrats and independents still call the day's events an "insurrection" and an attempted overthrow of the government. However, there is a divide among Republicans regarding the matter. Half of them called it "defending freedom" or "patriotism." The Republicans who claimed that Biden did not win are especially likely to use those terms. Meanwhile, eight in 10 Democrats with 44% of independents want to see Trump charged, saying that would strengthen democracy. Three in four Republicans believed clearing Trump of wrongdoing would actually strengthen democracy. In addition, the poll also revealed that most Americans think at least somewhat likely in the future, elections officials will refuse to certify as a result of political reasons. January 6 Hearings and Donald Trump Rep. Liz Cheney, the vice-chair of the House select committee leading the probe on the events of January 6, said in a BBC News that it was "absolutely clear" that what Trump was doing was unlawful, adding that a number of people around him engaged in those means too. Democrat Rep. Bennie Thompson said in his opening statement that Trump was at the center of a "sprawling, multi-step conspiracy" focused on overturning the presidential election. Thompson added that Trump "spurred a mob of domestic enemies of the Constitution" to breach the Capitol and "subvert American democracy." Republican officeholders who refused to go along with Trump's plans had outlined threats to themselves and their families. Rusty Bowers, the Arizona Senate Majority Leader, noted that protesters gathered outside his house and used loudspeakers to call him a "pedophile and a pervert." Ronna McDaniel, chair of the Republican National Committee, also testified that Trump called her to discuss plans to organize "alternate" presidential electors who would claim that Trump actually won over their states. In addition, Trump administration-era Justice Department had admitted that the former president had personally pressured them to release findings of possible election fraud. READ MORE: Donald Trump Admits He Didn't Win Presidential Election 2020 During Interview With Presidential Historians This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Jan. 6 hearing focuses on Trumps efforts to pressure DOJ - from ABC News Actress Jodie Sweetin was among the witness to the rising tensions and clashes during abortion protests across the United States. On Sunday, recorded footage uploaded by the page with the handle @theprogressivists showed Sweetin being mishandled by the Los Angeles police officers while she was participating in an abortion rights protest. Sweetin was reportedly speaking into a megaphone on the side of a freeway during a protest, according to New York Post. Freelance photojournalist Michael Ade said that Sweetin was attempting to lead a group of peaceful protesters. It pained me to see @JodieSweetin thrown to the ground by members of the LAPD as she was trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freewaySMH @LAPDHQ what are yall doing? pic.twitter.com/1oizimOyaA Mike Ade (@bellikemike) June 26, 2022 The video footage showed that Sweetin was pushed by multiple officers from Los Angeles police. Sweetin was seen dunked into the ground as others protested and helped the actress get back on her feet. Another protester was also heard saying: "What the f-k is wrong with you guys," in the background. The Los Angeles Police Department commented on the footage that circulated online, claiming that their department was aware of the video clip featuring a woman pushed to the ground. "The force used will be evaluated against the LAPD's policy and procedure," LAPD said in a statement. READ NEXT: Anya Taylor-Joy Engaged? Actress Sparks Rumors After Flashing Ring on Airport Abortion Protests: Tension Between Protesters and Police Rise in Oregon, Arizona Days before Sweetin was pushed by the law enforcement authorities in Los Angeles, the states of Arizona and Oregon also witnessed clashes between their police and abortion protest attendees. In Oregon, at least 10 abortion protest demonstrators were arrested by the authorities on Friday night. They were reportedly part of a group of more than 75 people who were "committing disorderly conduct." An officer reportedly attempted to use the public address system to separate the group. However, an unknown person from the crowd allegedly threw smoke bombs at the officers along with several filled water bottles. Nine people were charged with disorderly conduct, while one was additionally charged with escape in the third-degree and resisting arrest. Another demonstrator was charged with harassment. Meanwhile, Arizona state troopers utilized tear gas on also on Friday, as abortion protesters also gathered outside the state capitol. Republican Senate President Karen Fann described the protest as an attempted insurrection, while protest leaders said that that move from the Arizona state troopers was an overreaction of their local government. Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade On Friday, The Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade case, stripping away women's constitutional rights to abortions. The Supreme Court's decision on Friday prompted abortion clinics in several states, including Arizona, Alabama, Wisconsin, and West Virginia, to stop performing the procedure. President Joe Biden commented on the decision imposed by the highest court, claiming that Friday was a "sad day for the court and the country. "This decision must not be the final word," Biden added. The decision on Friday also built protests in different cities, opposing the decision vested by the Supreme Court. READ NEXT: Colombia's President-Elect Gustavo Petro Vows to Protect Amazon Rainforest This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: 'Full House' actress Jodie Sweetin Shoved to Ground by LAPD Officers - From CBS Los Angeles Almost 30% of all queries to a free legal advice service related to divorce, separation, domestic violence and custody and maintenance issues. The Free Legal Advice Centres (Flac), which offers advice to people who cannot afford legal fees, said it is hearing from individuals and families who are under enormous pressure in the areas of employment and family law. Flac said it received 13,147 calls last year, the highest number since 2015, but that many more could not get through. Eilis Barry, chief executive of Flac, said there is an ongoing crisis of unmet legal need in this country and an overwhelming demand for legal information and advice. Throughout 2021, Flac held 2,729 consultations at its phone advice clinics and its independent law centre dealt with more than 88 case files. Ms Barry said: We are hearing from individuals and families who are under enormous pressure in the areas of employment and family law. We could hear people were already stressed by the time they managed to get through to the phoneline. Many of their queries were complex and took longer to provide the information they needed. Callers were stressed because they didnt qualify for legal aid, many narrowly missing the means test. In one particular case, a caller was over the legal aid means test by 500 euro and had incurred legal costs in a contested family law matter of in excess of 20,000 euro. The organisation said that many of its callers try to navigate the courts system alone, and it has nowhere to refer lay litigants who are completely daunted by court forms and procedures. Flac also received calls from people after they had been served with legal proceedings, but were facing many months of delay in being approved for legal aid. Employment law queries were the second highest area of queries in 2021, while there was also a steady increase in queries relating to housing matters, which were up more than 9% compared to 2020. Ms Barry also raised concerns that it has nowhere to refer callers looking for advice or representation in employment law cases, and there is currently no legal aid for employment and discrimination claims before the Workplace Relations Commission. Ms Barry added: It is important to note that these figures are just the tip of the iceberg as Flac cannot answer every call made to our phoneline. We are concerned that significantly more people are trying to get through and are unable to, despite our increasing staff and resources on the phoneline. There has to be a better way to provide services that enable access to justice. What is clear is the acute need for the frontloading of accessible early legal information, advice, advocacy. We are relieved and pleased that the Government has established a long-overdue review of the civil legal aid system. What is needed now is a radical reimagining of how the various aspects of access to justice are delivered from legal information, legal advice, and advocacy to how legal representation is delivered, especially to individuals and communities experiencing poverty, disadvantage and exclusion. The Chief Justice of Ireland, Justice Donal ODonnell, launched the Flac annual report 2021, Towards Equal Access to Justice. The Chief Justice said: Flac has established itself as an institution, and an invaluable one, which over the course of its history has campaigned for change, protected the weak, challenged the strong and educated us all. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has rejected Prime Minister Boris Johnsons claim that he does not see a major diplomatic row erupting over the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Prime Minister is attending the G7 summit in Germany alongside EU leaders, and indicated that the controversial topic is not making priority conversation. He added that he is not expecting a major diplomatic row over the Governments plans. However, Mr Martin said that the British Government plan to effectively tear up parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol is a major development. NI Protocol Bill: It will damage the GFA, not protect it.Its a breach of Int. Law & will damage the UKs reputation. Its against business & majority opinion in NI.Its unnecessary UK unilateral action when partnership & compromise is on offer from #EU. This Bill is no fix. Simon Coveney (@simoncoveney) June 27, 2022 Speaking in Dublin on Monday, the Fianna Fail leader said: That, in my view, doesnt stack up in the sense that any unilateral decision to breach international law is a major, serious development. There can be no getting out of that. One cannot trivialise the breaching of an international agreement between the UK Government and the EU. My concern is a trend towards unilateralism that is emanating from the UK Government. We had it on the protocol, we had it on legacy issues, we have it now in terms of the application of the decision of European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg in terms of domestic British law. We know that the Good Friday Agreement incorporates protections under the human rights convention and that is something we will keep a close eye on. I have been in touch with the president of the European Commission and the president of the European Council, and they are concerned about this. They are conscious that similar efforts were made last year but this is not a good move by the British Government and it has to accept that unilateralism does not work in the context of the Good Friday Agreement, or in the context of good relationships with your neighbours and the EU. MPs are to vote later on Monday on controversial new legislation to give ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland. Mr Johnson said the law could be enacted by the end of the year. The British Government has claimed that measures to remove checks on goods travelling from Great Britain to Northern Ireland are necessary to protect the Good Friday Agreement. But Irelands Foreign Affairs Minister said he is hugely disappointed that the British Government is continuing to pursue its unlawful unilateral approach on the Northern Ireland Protocol. Simon Coveney said: This is not the way to find sustainable solutions to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland and only adds to uncertainty. I continue to urge the British Government to return to constructive dialogue with the EU in pursuit of jointly agreed, long-lasting solutions. A trial date has been set for a woman accused of murdering a man who was trying to jump-start his car to go to work. Mother-of-three Christina Anderson (39) will go on trial at the Central Criminal Court in Dublin on November 28 this year. Mr Justice Paul McDermott fixed Ms Anderson's trial date this morning at the court. Mr Justice McDermott said that the case should return before him for case management and updates on reports on July 22. Ms Anderson of Brownsbarn Wood, Kingswood, Dublin 24, is charged with murdering Gareth Kelly (39), who died from stab wounds following an incident at the estate on the morning of February 25, 2020. The father of seven from Tallaght, who lived in Clondalkin, was trying to jump-start his car to go to work. He had stayed over with his partner in the estate in a small cul-de-sac. At about 7am he sustained stab wounds, collapsed and died on the street between two cars. Ms Anderson was not present in the court for today's brief hearing. The trial is expected to last two weeks. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Irish Water has said that it will continue major upgrades to the sewer network on the Dublin Road in Kildare. The organisation said it is working in partnership with Kildare and South Dublin County Council, to deliver the Celbridge Local Sewer Network Reinforcement Project, on the Dublin Road, Celbridge (R403). Irish Water said: "The delivery of this important wastewater project will support future growth and development, improve the existing sewer network for residents and safeguard the environment by reducing the risk of sewer overflows into the River Liffey." The next phase of the project, which is due to begin on the week commencing Monday, July 4, will involve the upgrade of the wastewater network on the Dublin Road, Celbridge. "These works will involve construction of almost 5kms of new gravity and rising main sewers," Irish Water explained: "Irish Water expects this section of works to last at the following location for approximately eight weeks and will require a road closure starting at the junction of the R403 / R405 and progressing along the R403. "A minor diversion route will be in place but local residential access & access to businesses will be maintained for the duration of these essential works." It is understood that the remaining element of works progressing along the R403 following the completion of this small section will not require a road closure and will progress under a stop/go traffic management system. Commenting on the project, Padraig Hanly, Regional Delivery Lead at Irish Water said: "Working with our colleagues in Kildare and South Dublin County Councils, we are delighted to be able to announce the progression of this vital project for Celbridge. "We understand that the works may cause some inconvenience to commuters and our crews will make every effort to minimise any disruption and complete the project as quickly as possible. "On behalf of Irish Water, I would like and thank the people of Celbridge in advance for their support and co-operation," Mr Hanly added. According to Irish Water, in order to minimise the impact on the local community, works will be delivered on a phased basis with areas of work limited to short sections. Where works are underway on the public road, traffic management will be in place with a diversion route system; however, emergency traffic & access for residents will be maintained at all times. "Details of the road closures have been communicated locally. "This phase of the project is being delivered by Coffey Construction Limited on behalf of Irish Water," Irish Water said. Kildare County Council, South Dublin County Council and Irish Water have said that they regret any inconvenience that this project may cause. The helpline for Irish Water is open 24/7 on 1800 278 278 and customers can also contact the group on Twitter @IWCare with any queries. For updates, visit www.water.ie/water-supply/supply-and-service-update/. Taoiseach Micheal Martin has described the recovery of lost archives from the fire that engulfed the Public Records Office a century ago as breathtaking. Decades of Irish history went up in flames when the archives were almost totally destroyed during the shelling of the Four Courts in June 1922. After 100 years, some of the lost archives have been brought back to life through an online resource launched on Monday. Taoiseach Micheal Martin at the Virtual Treasury launch celebrates the magnificent digital reconstruction #virtualtreasury pic.twitter.com/bFhxtkqmGx Beyond 2022 | Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland (@VirtualTreasury) June 27, 2022 Historians, archivists and computer scientists spent years painstakingly putting together burnt parchments to reveal a part of Irelands history, once believed to be lost. The virtual reconstruction of the seven-storey building, which housed all the records, was unveiled on Monday and is free for the public to view. Speaking at the launch of the event, Mr Martin said that seven centuries of Irelands deep history were destroyed in one afternoon. The destruction of the Public Record Office of Ireland at the Four Courts in the opening engagement of the Civil War was a catastrophe, he added. Seven centuries of Irelands deep history were destroyed in one afternoon, a devastating and seemingly irrecoverable archive of loss of our cultural heritage and collective memory and a traumatic legacy of a civil war. The scale of destruction in 1922 was near total. The record treasury was completely consumed by the fire, the reading room survived but was badly damaged. It was a reasonable, although mistaken belief that everything was lost forever. He said that reconstruction of the records is an occasion for joy and pride the combination of six years of partnership and collaboration led by the dedicated project team at Trinity College Dublin to bring this exciting and ambitious project to fruition. He added: The projects positive restoration of a critical loss of archive and heritage will resonate with many other international experiences of cultural loss. Each record or fragment adds layers of meaning. What was previously unknown, indecipherable or obscure is now accessible, allowing for new perspectives and a richer understanding of the complex relationships forged over centuries with our neighbours. These exciting new knowledge graph technologies allow all visitors to navigate the rich digitised collections of the virtual treasury with ease, making connections spanning centuries between people, places, and official administration. Together we can begin to recover our lost collective memories Minister @cathmartingreen speaking at the launch of the Virtual Record Treasury of Ireland, bringing the past back to life with new technology#VirtualTreasury #DecadeOfCentenaries pic.twitter.com/eDky5RKVtN Tourism-Culture-Arts-Gaeltacht-Sport-Media (@DeptCulturelRL) June 27, 2022 This is a completely new and imaginative approach to making our shared history engaging and interesting for everyone, revealing many fascinating aspects of everyday life across the island. The scale of this achievement is quite simply breathtaking. Senior lecturer in medieval history at the Department of History at Trinity College Dublin and director of Beyond 2022 a project that recreates documents that were lost during the Four Courts battle in 1922 Dr Peter Crooks said: The Beyond in Beyond 2022 for me always has a double meaning. It was an invitation to look to the future, to the long term, beyond the immediate horizon of the specifics and turn it into something lasting, living, hopeful, a meaningful legacy that would reach the widest number of people at home and abroad. But it was also an invitation to delve deep, not to be blinded by the smoke from the Four Courts in 1922, and instead to celebrate the remarkable documentary heritage this island still enjoys. Ireland has a rich, complex, difficult history and despite the losses of 100 years ago, we have a vein of evidence, stretching back centuries, through which a rich complex difficult story can be unfurled. A top class replacement will be recruited to the Health Service Executive (HSE), Irelands premier has said as he rejected a suggestion remarks about a Meath hospital sparked the current postholders resignation. Micheal Martin dismissed the notion that Paul Reid had announced he was quitting as HSE chief executive before being sacked, after making comments about plans around emergency services at Our Ladys Hospital, Navan. The Taoiseach said there was no connection between Mr Reids announcement on Monday that he intends to step down from his position later this year, and the remarks at the weekend. Controversy has surrounded the future of the 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. Mr Reid had told RTEs This Week that it would be a mistake for the Health Minister Stephen Donnelly to use his powers to direct the HSE to call a halt to its plans. He told the programme: The minister ultimately can determine, through Section 10 of the Health Act, and direct us not to do it, but I hope we dont get there, and I think that would be a mistake. Mr Reid said of the plans: Ultimately we have to do this, because its a very significant patient safety issue. People in the Navan and Meath area are really at risk of poorer health outcomes, and indeed death, if we dont address these actions. On Monday, Mr Martin was asked if Mr Reid had resigned before being sacked in the wake of the comments. Mr Martin said: Not at all. Theres no connection between the two at all. He said Mr Reid had texted him about his decision to step down and they spoke and had a good chat. Paying a very warm tribute to him, Mr Martin said: I think he led from the front with his team, with all of the employees of the HSE and guided the nation through in terms of delivery of acute services in the midst of an unprecedented pandemic. The Taoiseach insisted Mr Reid cited a desire to spend more time with his family as one of the main motivations for stepping down. Mr Martin said: Hes not moving on anywhere, he just wants to spend more time with his family. Hes reflected on this and I understand that. I'd like to thank @paulreiddublin for his work at the HSE over the past numbers of years, in particular his extraordinary leadership shown during the COVID-19 pandemic. https://t.co/9Ffsq0fN0t Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) June 27, 2022 In a statement, Mr Reid said that as well as wanting to spend more time with his family, it was his belief that the HSE was entering a new phase and that the appointment of a new leader was now timely. His resignation follows that of Dr Tony Holohan who will step down from the role of chief medical officer on July 1 after 14 years. Deputy chief medical officer Dr Ronan Glynn resigned in May. Asked if he had concerns about the relationship between the department of health and senior health officials in the wake of the resignations, Mr Martin said: Theres tremendous capacity within the health service and Paul Reid has given great leadership as CEO of the HSE and theres a very strong team there. And of course, in the normal course of events, there will be a replacement and there will have to be a proper procedural process, interview process and recruitment process and that will happen. Mr Martin described the HSE chief executive role as an extraordinarily challenging position and said the Government will take time to recruit a top class replacement. Asked by a reporter if Government was prepared to exceed Mr Reids salary in order to attract a good candidate, Mr Martin said: The remuneration is significant as youve just said, I dont think thats the issue. Now it is a very demanding job and there are huge pressures in the modern era on people in the frontline in respect of national organisations like the HSE. And I would be very concerned that we would do this, proceed properly and take time to recruit a top class replacement for Paul. Mr Reid, who said he had told the chairman, the HSE board and Mr Donnelly of his decision, is due to step down in December and said he has no immediate career plans. It's with a heavy heart that I've advised the Chairman of @HSELive and the Minister for Health that I will step down as CEO later this year. Having led teams in the private,not for profit,central & local government and health sectors,I now want to spend some time with my family. Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) June 27, 2022 In a message to staff, Mr Reid said he was making the decision with a heavy heart, and that it was the hardest career decision he had made. It has been truly rewarding leading an organisation whose staff come to work every day to make peoples lives better, he said. No organisation will ever match the commitment, dedication and relentless willingness to go beyond the call of duty that I have witnessed as we battled multiple waves of Covid, a criminal cyber attack while driving a significant reform agenda. This has been truly inspirational for me to experience. Minister Donnelly paid tribute to Mr Reid, saying he had provided exemplary leadership to the HSE and leaves behind him an organisation much enhanced for his time as chief executive, and one that is already making real progress in implementing reform and improvement across many aspects of healthcare provision. HSE chairman Ciaran Devane said he heard the news with very great regret and was very grateful that Mr Reid will remain in in his role to allow us to progress the extremely difficult task of replacing him. Gardai have appealed for anyone who notices suspicious behaviour on or around the Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery site, especially after closing hours, to immediately contact them. This comes after targeted the Sligo monument. In a post on the Sligo Leitrim Garda Facebook page it was noted: "Someone has been damaging the tombs at Carrowmore Megalithic Cemetery this week. A despicable act on what is essentially a graveyard We would appeal for the local community to report to us if you see anyone acting suspicious on the site. We need to put a stop to this damage being done. These sites must be protected as it is a significant archaeological, historical and also a tourist attraction with thousands of visitors every year Please call 0719157000 if you see anyone on the site after hours." Carrowmore is the largest cemetery of megalithic tombs in Ireland. It lies just south-west of Sligo town, right at the heart of the Cuil Irra Peninsula, an area alive with prehistoric significance. Packed together at Carrowmore are more than 30 stone tombs, many of which are still visible. Most are passage tombs and boulder circles. There are various forts and standing stones in the area too. The origins of these monuments reach far into prehistory the most ancient among them is close to 6,000 years old. BOOKS of condolence have been opened at the offices of Limerick City and County Council and online in memory of the late councillor Jerry ODea. The Fianna Fail representative for the Limerick City East constituency died suddenly over the weekend at the age of 55. The well-known publican was expected to be elected Mayor of the city and council of Limerick later this week. Taoiseach Micheal Martin is among those who have paid tribute to Mr O'Dea and, as a mark of respect, the Irish flag is flying at half-mast outside the council offices in Merchants Quay and Dooradoyle. Mayor Daniel Butler this morning requested that a book of condolence be opened for the late councillor and he was the first person to sign the book at Merchants Quay. Other books of condolence are being opened by the local authority in Dooradoyle and in the Kilmallock, Rathkeale and Newcastle West Area Offices. An online book of condolence has also been opened and can be accessed on Limerick.ie. The books of condolence will remain open for seven days. LIMERICKS youth council have renewed their call for a safe space for teenagers, with two of its members admitting they have experienced violent attacks. At the quarterly meeting of the cultural committee, the Limerick branch of Comhairle na nOg made the call after being invited to present to members. Anna Graham and Andrew Purcell both spoke out about the safety issues they have come across. A lot of the women I know, including myself have experienced a form of gender-based violence in their lifetime. Something needs to be done, and now we have been given voices to speak up on this matter, we want to do something about it. We want to do everything we can to put an end to this barbaric crime, said Anna. Andrew said while he is proud to be from Limerick, there are issues which he feels a safe space for youngsters in the evening could help. As amazing as Limerick may be, there are a few issues which affect many, if not all young people on a daily basis. One of the main issues we have identified is there is a significant lack of safe and accessible youth spaces, especially in the city at youth-friendly times, said Comhairle na nOg Limericks vice-chairman. He confessed that he had been targetted by a homophobic attack, as a result of not having a safe place to go in the evening, and added there are other benefits on top of the most important one their safety. As well as this, they provide a welcome and safe space with suitable facilities. They keep young people away from drink and drugs. Such spaces could help integrate people from different communities, furthering progression, tolerance and acceptance of differences in young people, he told the council meeting. At the moment, due to a lack of a safe space, he believes young people are forced to hang around unsafe areas or get stick out in the infamous Irish weather where we are seen as loitering. Anna, Andrew and the other members of Comhairle na nOg who presented to the committee were praised by its members. Labour councillor Conor Sheehan, who chaired the meeting, also criticised RTE for its discussion about the transgender community on Liveline. Off the back of this, Dublin Pride terminated its media partnership with the national broadcaster. We are looking at a backdrop of increasing homophobic attacks on LGBT people in recent months, and its for shame to see our national broadcaster effectively endorsing the debating the existence of trans people, the councillor said. A PHD student from the University of Limerick will take part in a new Scholarship Programme at the Cliffs of Moher Experience. The programme has been devised by Clare County Council in partnership with the University of Limerick for Ireland's most visited natural attraction. Working with ULs National Centre For Tourism Policy Studies (NCTPS) and The Kemmy Business School, the Cliffs of Moher Experience this week welcomed the sponsored PhD student Ernesto Sanchez as part of the tourism research project he will undertake over the next four years. The structured PhD programme will focus challenges and opportunities of responding to a paradigm shift in the tourism marketplace, including visitor experience, sustainable tourism, destination and visitor management and the role of technology in shaping tourism. "This programme represents an excellent opportunity to collaborate with the University of Limerick in generating important research that will help to define and shape the future of tourism in Clare" commented Geraldine Enright, Director of the Cliffs of Moher Experience. Ms. Enright added "In addition to providing Ernesto a monetary sum to support his academic studies and research, the scholarship will present him with a unique opportunity to develop key relationships with other visitor attraction sites and tourism businesses within the Burren and Cliffs of Moher UNESCO Global Geopark and the wider county." Leonard Cleary, Director of Rural Development, Clare County Council, stated: "We are delighted to support Ernesto in his studies through this PhD Scholarship Programme. "Tourism is emerging from a challenging period, and it is important that new challenges and opportunities for the sector are identified. "The research output will aid ongoing efforts to maintain the Cliffs of Moher as Irelands foremost natural attraction, grow the Cliffs of Mohers contribution to County Clare in a sustainable way and protect the site for future generations." A SERIAL conman who pretended he was making a documentary on sick children for RTE before conning an electronics company out of 13,000 has been sentenced to 15 months' imprisonment. Patrick Sheedy, aged 53, also conned an educational supplies company out of just under 10,000 by pretending to be from the Department of Education, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard. Sentencing Sheedy, Judge Martin Nolan said he wasnt sure that he wouldnt continue conning people when he got out of prison but he said he couldnt lock him up forever. Sheedy has 97 previous convictions, of which about 70 are for fraud offences, the court heard. He is already serving a sentence imposed at Limerick Circuit Court in October 2020 and he was on bail for those offences when he carried out the crimes before court. Sheedy, of Cliona Park, Moyross, Limerick pleaded guilty to six counts of deception at an address in Dublin on dates between January and March 2020. He also pleaded guilty to four counts of theft at locations in Dublin between August and September 2020. Judge Nolan said that Sheedy had an ability to take advantage of the trusting nature of other parties and had been doing it for quite a long time. "He is intelligent and persuasive. It seems he has the conmans ability. Up to now he has been incredibly successful in deceiving people. The question is, can he change his ways? He cons people, can he stop? The judge said he wasn't sure that Sheedy would not continue to con people after he gets out of prison. Jurisprudence in this country does not recognise preventative detention. I can't put him in jail for the rest of his life on the basis that I think hes going to be a conman forever, Judge Nolan said. He noted that Sheedy's lawyers have told the court he has a gambling addiction and that he is doing well in prison and making use of the services provided to prisoners. The judge imposed concurrent prison terms of 15 months which are to run consecutive to the termination of the sentence he is currently serving. Sergeant Colin Sullivan told the court that Sheedy contacted an electronics company in January 2020 and told them he was a documentary creator who had been commissioned to make a documentary on sick children for RTE. He gave them a fake name. Sheedy said one of the children had an advanced brain injury as a result of being born premature and that she required the use of an iPad to help her in her day-to-day activities. He said he would interview the managing director as part of the documentary. The electronics company agreed to supply Sheedy with an ipad for this use. Sheedy also placed an order for 15 mobile phones with a value of 12,460. When he failed to pay, the company contacted RTE and discovered no such documentary had been commissioned and Sheedy had not been contracted by them Between the phones and the ipad, the company was at a loss of 13,539, the court heard. Some months later, Sheedy contacted an educational supplies company pretending he was from the Department of Education. He placed an order for 12 mobile phones which was fulfilled but never paid for. The company was at a loss of 9,801, the court heard. Around the same time, Sheedy contacted a mobile phone company pretending he worked for BMW. He ordered five iPhones with a value of 4,200 and again never paid for them. None of the companies involved recovered any money, with Sheedy selling the electronic goods for cash, the court heard. Sgt Sullivan said Sheedy lived with his elderly mother and had a gambling addiction. The political turbulence in Maharashtra was triggered by the faction war in Shiv Sena after Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Surat with some MLAs and then to Guwahati where he claims of having the support of 38 MLAs of the party, thus achieving the two-thirds majority in the Shiv Sena. Interestingly, the Shinde faction named their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'. The naming of the group after the name of the Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray attracted sharp reactions from the Uddhav faction as the Chief Minister said that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder. Supporters of Eknath Shinde camp and Uddhav Thackeray also held protest yesterday. Meanwhile, the vacation bench of the Supreme Court will hear Eknath Shinde's plea against disqualification notice today. Check latest updates here: SC lists the plea for hearing on July 11 Supreme Court has issued a notice to Shiv Sena leaders Ajay Chaudhary, Sunil Prabhu and asks them to file a reply within five days. Supreme Court lists the plea for hearing on July 11. Why rebel Sena MLAs didn't move Bombay HC against disqualification notice: SC SC asks why rebel Shiv Sena MLAs did not move Bombay HC against disqualification notice issued by deputy speaker. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appears for rebel MLAs Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul, appearing for rebel MLAs, tells SC that the Dy Speaker has no authority to deal with the issue till the question of his removal is decided. What is sought to be done in this matter is undue haste, violation of principles of natural justice. SC hearing plea filed by Eknath Shinde against the disqualification notice SC begins hearing on the plea filed by Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde against the disqualification notices issued by the Dy Speaker against rebel MLAs. Plea also challenges the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House. Senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others tells the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. SC asked Shinde why he has not approached the High Court with his plea against disqualification notices issued to him and other rebel MLAs to which Kaul replied, they didn't approach the High Court as Supreme Court had passed the order in many number of cases like floor test, disqualification." Kaul also said that Shinde & other MLAs didn't approach HC was that a minority of the legislative party is subverting the state machinery, attacking our houses. They're saying that our dead bodies will return from Assam. Atmosphere is not conducive for us to exercise our rights in Mumbai. Even if you behead me, won't take Guwahati route, says Sanjay Raut after ED summons After ED summoned Sanjay Raut for questioning on 28 June in Patra Chawl land scam case, the later has reacted saying that even if beheaded won't take Guwahati route. I just came to know that the ED has summoned me. Good ! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route. Arrest me ! Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/VeL6qMQYgr Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 27, 2022 CM Thackeray reshuffles departments of MLAs camping in Guwahati Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray reshuffles the departments of ministers so that the issues of public interest are not neglected or ignored, news agency ANI has reported citing CMO. ED summons Sanjay Raut on 28 June in Patra Chawl land scam case The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Sanjay Raut for questioning on 28 June in Patra Chawl land scam case. What does Sanjay Raut mean by "bringing bodies from Guwahati: Shrikant Shinde Shrikant Shinde, MP and son of Eknath Shinde lashed out at Raut's comments on bringing bodies from Guwahati. "It is not a rebellion but what the people of Maharashtra want. What does he (Sanjay Raut) mean by "bringing bodies from Guwahati"? This is not the culture of Maharashtra. He should threaten other people but not us," he said. Raut said on Monday that he did not want to hurt anyone's sentiments, a day after he called rebel party MLAs in Guwahati as living corpses". "I tweeted a video of speech of Gulabrao Patil where he is talking about those who change their fathers. My tweet is for people sitting in Guwahati. Patil said in his speech People eat, drink and enjoy with the party and then change their father, we aren't like them," Raut was quoted by ANI. "I will repeat it, "those who stay in a party for 40 years and then run away, their souls are dead, they do not have anything left in them", these are the lines said by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. I didn't want to hurt anyone's sentiment, I just said the truth," he added. Supporters of rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde gather outside his residence in Thane Supporters of rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde gather outside his residence in Thane. Supreme Court to hear today the plea moved by Eknath Shinde against the disqualification notices issued by the Dy Speaker against rebel Maharashtra MLAs. MVA lost majority in house as rebel MLAs withdrew support: Shinde in petition in SC Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has lost the majority in the house as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the house: Eknath Shinde in his petition filed in Supreme court Do you not feel any pain when while sitting in the Cabinet with Chhagan Bhujbal, says Rebel MLA Subhash Sabne PIL against Shinde, rebel Sena MLAs in Bombay HC for neglecting official duties: Report A PIL was filed in the Bombay High Court on Monday against Eknath Shinde and other rebel Shiv Sena MLAs for neglecting their official duties and seeking directions to them to resume office, news agency ANI has reported. Supreme Court to hear rebel MLAs plea shortly The cases are listed before a bench of Supreme Court Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala and are likely to come up for hearing after 12-12.30 pm. Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde had approached SC against the disqualification notices issued by the Dy Speaker against rebel Maharashtra MLAs. Plea also challenges the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde. Uddhav Thackeray will surely win, says Sunil Raut Sunil Raut on Monday said that Uddhav Thackeray will surely win. Why will I go to Guwahati? I rather go to Goa to see natural beauty. Will I go to Guwahati to see the faces of those traitors? I am a Shiv Sainik, and I will work for the party till my last breath," Sunil Raut told ANI. Narayan Rane and Raj Thackeray can say all that they want to say. Uddhav Thackeray will surely win. I was in Shiv Sena and I will remain in this party," he said. Didn't want to hurt sentiments, says Sanjay Raut on living corpses remark Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said on Monday that he did not want to hurt anyone's sentiments, a day after he called rebel party MLAs in Guwahati as living corpses". "I tweeted a video of speech of Gulabrao Patil where he is talking about those who change their fathers. My tweet is for people sitting in Guwahati. Patil said in his speech People eat, drink and enjoy with the party and then change their father, we aren't like them," Raut was quoted by ANI. "I will repeat it, "those who stay in a party for 40 years and then run away, their souls are dead, they do not have anything left in them", these are the lines said by Dr Ram Manohar Lohia. I didn't want to hurt anyone's sentiment, I just said the truth," he added. Eknath Shinde calls meeting at 2pm to discuss further strategy Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has called for a meeting at 2pm in Guwahati hotel to discuss further strategy, new agency ANI has reported citing sources. Eknath Shinde call MLAs meeting at 10 pm Rebel Maharashtra Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde have called a meeting of the MLAs at Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati at around 10 am today. Eknath Shinde speaks to Raj Thackeray over phone Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shide spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over phone twice. Shinde spoke to Thackeray about the recent political situation in Maharashtra and enquired about his health, an MNS leader confirmed. Amid political crisis, BJP leaders Ram Kadam, Pravin Darekar meet Devendra Fadnavis View Full Image BJP leaders How can Balasahebs Shiv Sena support someone who has direct connections with Dawood, asks Eknath Shinde Rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde on 26 June asked how Balasahebs Shiv Sena can support someone who has direct connections with Dawood. He took to Twitter and wrote, "How can Hinduhriday Samrat Balasaheb Thackerays Shiv Sena support someone who has direct connections with Dawood who killed innocent Mumbaikars by carrying out bomb blasts in Mumbai? the step that we have taken is to protest against this... we dont care even if this takes us all to the brink of death." "Even if we have to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva, we will consider it as our destiny," he added. SC to hear Eknath Shinde's plea against disqualification today The vacation bench of the Supreme Court will hear rebel Maharashtra minister Eknath Shinde's plea against Shiv Sena's disqualification notice on Monday, PTI had reported. Here's are the important updates to the story you should know now: 1. Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari has written to Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla requesting the adequate provision of Central security forces in the state against the backdrop of shivsainiks vandalising offices of rebel MLAs. 2. Amid an ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra, the vacation bench of the apex court will hear Eknath Shinde's plea against disqualification notice on Monday. 3. Newly elected NCP MLC Eknath Khadse on Sunday said Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde's rebellion against Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was due to some "powerful force" backing the dissidents. "It (rebellion) is an internal issue of the Sena. However, there is surely some powerful force supporting Shinde. He will not take such a bold step without powerful backing. I have not seen such instability in the state in my 40-year career," Khadse said. 4. Former minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who is now in the Eknath Shinde camp, said MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. In an exclusive interview to ANI today over the phone, Kesarkar said, "MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. We will not go with the MVA government." 5. Shiv Sena minister Aaditya Thackeray on Sunday claimed that over a month ago, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray had asked party leader Eknath Shinde whether he wants to become the chief minister, although the latter had sidestepped the issue then. "On May 20, chief minister Uddhav Thackeray had called Eknath Shinde to 'Varsha' (CM's official residence) and asked whether he wants to become the chief minister. However, he had sidestepped the issue then. But a month later, on June 20, whatever had to happen, happened," Aaditya said while referring to Shinde's rebellion. 6. Central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, ANI has reported citing sources. The names of the 15 MLAs are Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakas Surve, Sadanand Saranavnkar, Yogesh Dada Kadam, Pratap Sarnaik, Yamini Jadhav, Pradeep Jaiswal, Sanjay Rathod, Dadaji Bhuse, Dilip Lande, Balaji Kalyanar, Sandipan Bhumare. 7. Russia's government announced plans on Monday to invest 770 billion roubles ($14.5 billion) in the country's aviation industry by the end of this decade to boost the share of domestically-manufactured aircraft. The Russian aviation industry has been in crisis since the West imposed sanctions after Moscow's invasion of Ukraine, banning Russian airlines from flying to destinations in Europe, the United States and other countries. Russian airlines have largely stopped international flights, after leasing companies said they would seize planes in line with sanctions. Moscow has passed a law allowing the seizure of hundreds of jets in response to those sanctions. Foreign plane makers have also stopped delivering new aircraft, while spare parts for foreign-built planes are in short supply. "The share of domestically produced aircraft in the fleet of Russian airlines should grow to 81% by 2030," Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said in a televised meeting of government officials. Russia has been pushing to localise aircraft production but only the Sukhoi Superjet regional aircraft is mass-produced inside Russia, while a significant number of its components, including vital engine parts, are imported. Russia is preparing to mass produce the MS-21 medium-haul aircraft, which also has some foreign components. It also expects to begin building a small number of Soviet-designed Tu-214. According to the programme, Russian airlines should receive about 1,000 new locally-built aircraft by 2030. The Vedomosti newspaper earlier reported that Aeroflot, the largest Russian air carrier, could soon sign a contract with the state-owned United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) for the purchase of 300 new aircraft. Neither company could immediately be reached for comment. TELFS-BUCHEN (AUSTRIA) : The Group of Seven leaders are expected to agree to start work on a mechanism to cap the purchase price of Russian oil, with the U.S. also announcing a new round of military aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Moscow, Biden administration officials said Monday. Wander down a busy street in any large city, and you'll likely see them: manholes. They're pretty ubiquitous, spaced at regular intervals along the road. Manholes, which are increasingly termed maintenance holes, serve a useful purpose: they are the openings, or access points, that lead down to an underground public utility, such as a sewer or a drainage system. Engineers, laborers and inspectors use them for the purpose of inspecting, cleaning, repairing and maintaining utilities. But why exactly are manhole covers round? The glib answer is that the covers are round because the manholes themselves are round. The longer answer is that a host of practical, functional, engineering and economic decisions play into the decision to make something like a manhole cover round, said Josh Nelson, an associate professor in the Department of Design at San Jose State University in California. According to Atlas Obscura (opens in new tab), manholes date back to the mid-19th century when cities around the world were building underground sewage systems. Engineers realized that they needed to access the sewer systems for the purpose of inspecting the pipes during normal maintenance. Consequently, cities began digging access holes that could accommodate a human (as these workers were typically men, the access points were called "manholes") and these became the portals through which engineers or inspectors could crawl to investigate the pipes. Manholes are covered by very heavy removable metal plates. According to Untapped Cities (opens in new tab), a website that explores New York City, these manhole covers generally weigh between 200 and 300 pounds (90 and 136 kilograms) and are made from concrete or cast iron. Each manhole opening contains a lip around its edge on which the cover sits. These covers protect unwary pedestrians from inadvertently falling into the sewers, but also protect the sewers from debris, such as trash or organic materials, which typically collects on streets and could potentially clog sewers and water systems. Related: Why do freezing pipes burst? (Image credit: George Frederick for Live Science) Most manhole covers are round. The shape of manholes has generated a surprising amount of speculation, and the query, "why are manhole covers round?" has not only become a bit of a cliche but is also a much-searched question on the internet. This question gained worldwide notoriety in the 1990s when Microsoft began to ask it during job interviews. (opens in new tab) In truth, there doesn't seem to be a single, overarching answer to the question, which is why Microsoft interviewers asked the question it was a way for the interviewee to supply a creative answer. Nelson would concur. The shape of many material objects, he said, is determined by a myriad of factors, including human perception and psychology, manufacturing processes, material economy and functionality. "Manholes are in essence man-made holes," Nelson told Live Science, "and these are typically made from rotational tools, which tend to make circular shapes. So, a circular shape covering the manhole would be the best fit in terms of functionality. Anything else would be more complicated and less economical." Another notable answer to this question an answer that shows up consistently on internet searches is that a round manhole cover, unlike a square one, will not fall back through its opening if rotated. A square cover, by contrast, could potentially fall through its opening if rotated diagonally. Other practical reasons also explain why manhole covers are round. For example, once a round cover is removed, it can be transported easily, simply by rolling it along the ground. Or, equally practical, a round manhole cover is easier, less costly and more efficient to produce because its surface area is smaller than a square cover of comparable width. This article was originally published on Live Science on Jan. 25, 2013 and was updated on June 23, 2022. Click here to read the full article. Alec Baldwin has announced an interview with director Woody Allen, who has faced backlash after his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, alleged that he sexually abused her as a child. That backlash was recently renewed with the 2021 release of HBO docuseries Allen v. Farrow, in which she and mother Mia Farrow further detailed the allegations they first came forward with in 1992. Baldwin made the announcement on his Instagram account Sunday night, writing: Let me preface this by stating that I have ZERO INTEREST in anyones judgments and sanctimonious posts here. I am OBVIOUSLY someone who has my own set of beliefs and COULD NOT CARE LESS about anyone elses speculation. If you believe that a trial should be conducted by way of an HBO documentary, thats your issue. The interview will take place on Tuesday on Instagram live at 10:30 a.m. ET. I love you, Woody, Baldwin said in a video post. Instagram, Im with Woody, Tuesday, 10:30. Be there. Allen v. Farrow included a never-before-seen home video of 7-year-old Farrow talking about the alleged assault shortly after she claims it occurred. During the #MeToo movement, his 2019 film A Rainy Day in New York was dropped by Amazon Studios and Hachette Book Group refused to publish his memoir. Allen denies the allegations, and called them untrue and disgraceful in a statement following the release of the docuseries. Baldwin has also been the subject of recent controversy. In October, he was holding a prop firearm that fired and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza on the set of the film Rust. The investigation into the incident by the Santa Fe County Sheriffs Office remains ongoing, as does a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Hutchins family against Baldwin, seven producers and other Rust crew members. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Transatlantic production powerhouse Sister (Chernobyl) has optioned the rights to adapt BAFTA and Emmy winning screenwriter and longtime collaborator Abi Morgans (The Split) This is Not a Pity Memoir. Morgan will adapt her book for screen, and also direct and executive produce, with Sister co-founder and chief creative officer, Jane Featherstone (Landscapers). The memoir follows Morgans family life after a tragic change in her family circumstance. Morgan said: Working with Jane and Sister over the last few tumultuous years, they have been my running partners, given a unique birds eye view on the unfolding drama. As producers of some of the best film and television out there, there is no one else I would trust to help bring the deeply personal This is Not a Pity Memoir to the screen. Featherstone added: Abi has such an extraordinary gift for words, so while it should be absolutely no surprise that her memoir is such a beautiful and powerful book, it still stunned me. Weve worked together for many years but her incredible strength in these last few, very challenging ones, has been deeply inspirational. I feel truly privileged to be able to work with her to bring this very personal story to the screen. This is Not a Pity Memoir will be produced by Sister and co-produced with Little Chick Ltd. The book is published in the U.K. by John Murray and in the U.S. by Sugar23, an imprint of HarperCollins. Global rights are handled by 42. THINK TANK The Creatives consortium has launched Creative Connection, a think tank for writers and producers designed to strengthen new and established writing talent in Europe and increase the quality of high-end series and share knowledge and expertise. It aims to connect writers to the groups network of producers, funding, broadcasters, sales companies and creative talents and seed development of European content in a safe and curated environment. The initiative, which has received funding from the European Commission, has hired Laura Gragg as head of program, who will oversee both the content and logistical aspects, with the aid of outside experts and consultants. Gragg has held various jobs involving development, acquisitions and sales at companies such as Pandora, Pathe International and TF1 DA. The Creatives founding members, Netherlands-based Lemming Film, Germany-based Razor Film and France-based Haut Et Court, will manage Creative Connection in collaboration with the groups other members, with the support of Le Groupe Ouest. Established in 2020, the Creatives is an alliance of 10 independent production companies, which also include Good Chaos (U.K.), Komplizen Film (Germany), Maipo Film (Norway), Masha (U.S.), Spiro Film (Israel), Unite (France) and Versus Productions (Belgium). NEW STUDIO Lil Critter Workshop, the Malaysian animation studio behind shows including Hogie The Globehopper, has set up a U.K. outpost in Bristol headed by Lil Critters co-founder and executive producer Walid Omar. The new studio will be focused on developing intellectual property, working with both freelance writers as well as IP owners, as well as working with U.K. and European talent, studios and co-production partners.It has already worked with Netflix, CITV, Cartoon Network and Discovery Kids. Lil Critter is currently planning to recruit senior development executives and creative staff for the U.K. outpost. Omar said: We hope that our fusion of talent and ideas combined with U.K. voices will enable us to create and tell stories that are full of energy, bold and fun. MENTOR Acclaimed American filmmaker Tim Sutton, whose credits include Pavilion (2012), Memphis (2013), Dark Night (2016), Donnybrook (2018), Funny Face (2019) and The Last Son (2021), will be this years mentor at European Film Promotion and Karlovy Vary International Film Festivals Future Frames Generation Next of European Cinema program at the festival. Sutton will share his wide-ranging experience in filmmaking in a master class moderated by Varietys Leo Barraclough. The program, which introduces emerging professionals to the film industry and media and presents their films to the festival audience, features 10 filmmakers are nominated by their countries national film promotion institutes, with the final selection being made by festival artistic director Karel Och and his team of programmers. Sutton will also present his latest film Taurus as part of the official festival line-up in Karlovy Vary (July 1-9). CHINA RIGHTS DEALS Youku, Alibabas streaming video arm has picked up both seasons of the pre-school animation title Hushabye Lullabye (30 x 3) from Beyond Rights. The series is a MaraKids production for CBeebies in the U.K. Beyond Rights also licensed a package comprising 70 hours of MythBusters science content to Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific for China only. Chinas Red Apollo Group has acquired a selection of history titles: ITN Productions Elizabeth (9 x 60), both seasons of Phoenix TVs Underground Worlds (20 x 60), Curse of Akakor (6 x 60) from Beyond Productions, and Shipwreck Secrets (6 x 60) and Medieval Dead series three (7 x 60). Chinas No Country TV picked up two history series produced by Woodcut Media: Combat Ships (9 x 60) and Wings of War (8 x 60). And Yuxiu International Media has acquired Pernel Medias natural history hour, Whos Afraid of the European Hamster. COMMISSIONS U.K. broadcaster ITV has revealed the filmmakers and projects chosen as part of the Black History Month 2022 Fresh Cuts strand, at the ongoing Sheffield Doc/Fest, from more than 100 pitches featuring contemporary ideas capturing Black Britishness. The commissions include Jason Osbornes Our Jubilee, an alternative social history of Britain through the stories of Black Britons in the Queens Jubilee years; Louise Colemans The Bottom Line, exploring the popularity of controversial Brazilian Butt Lift surgery; Yemi Adegbulus Ink to Skin, exploring tattoos in Black culture; Daniel Dempsters Everyone Can Rap, where everyday people are taught to rap in order to help express themselves; and David Adeyemis Black British and Basketball, which follows the journey of two basketball players and their teams battling through the Ball Out 3 x 3 basketball tournament, highlighting the importance of the sport in Black communities and its place in the UK sporting landscape. The strand was commissioned by ITV factual entertainment commissioning editor Satmohan Panesar. The filmmakers will be housed at Multistory Media, part of ITV Studios, with support and training from the ITV Creative Diversity team. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Maui Film Festival has announced the slate of films and honorees for its 22nd annual edition. The 2022 festival will feature the Maui premieres of 13 feature films, including McCurry: The Pursuit of Color, Gratitude Revealed, Facing Monsters, The Story of Everything, Pretty Problems, Kapo, Tango Shalom and PeAhi. The festival opener will be a special surprise, with the film remaining a secret until the screening on July 6. The in-person festival will take place at the outdoors Stardust Cinema, featuring live music, Kahiko style hula and other activities. In addition, 80 short and feature films will be available to stream online through the festivals Speed-of-Light Virtual Cinema from July 6-31. Additionally, the festival announced five stars who will receive honors for their work and advocacy. Christina Ricci (Yellowjackets, The Matrix Resurrections) will receive the festivals Nova Award, provided to a female actor for excellence and achievement in her career. Lana Condor (To All The Boys Ive Loved Before, Boo Bitch) will receive the Stella Award, which honors a female actor for her advancement of women in the film industry. Jayme Lawson (The Batman, The First Lady) will receive the Rising Star Award, which has previously been given to notable actors including Brie Larson, Jake Gyllenhaal, Jessica Biel and Garrett Hedlund. Gerry Lopez and Stacy Peralta will both appear in person at the festival to receive their awards. Lopez, an American surfer and actor, will receive the festivals Visionary Award, which recognizes a film artists commitment to inspire and nurture the endlessly evolving tapestry of global cultures into an ever more compassionate and life-affirming planetary community. A documentary about Lopez, The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez, will also screen during the festival. Documentary filmmaker Peralta, who directed The Yin & Yang of Gerry Lopez, will receive the Rainmaker Award for achievement in filmmaking. Were thrilled to continue Maui Film Festivals mission of celebrating exceptional cinematic vision in the service of compassionate and transformative storytelling all under the stars, moon and sun, said Barry Rivers, founder and Director of the Maui Film Festival, in a statement. Each of this years filmmakers and honorees brings a unique perspective and dedication to their craft. Their performances and storytelling explore a variety of topics that champion a multitude of experiences. The Maui Film Festival runs in-person from July 6 to July 10 at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center in Kahului, Hawaii. To purchase passes to the festival, visit MauiFilmFestival.com. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. French actress Isabelle Adjani, who was Oscar nominated for Camille Claudel and The Story of Adele H., has been under formal investigation for alleged fraud relating to hundreds of thousands of dollars of business expenses since October 2020, a judicial source confirmed to Variety on Monday. The investigation stems from a police complaint filed by a former business associate, Sebastien G., in 2015, according to the French national newspaper Liberation which was first to report the story. Variety has contacted Adjanis lawyer, Olivier Pardo, for comment. According to the story published in Liberation, the case dates back to 2011 when Adjani hired Sebastien G. as a strategy consultant to help her run her production company, Isia Films. Sebastien G. allegedly obtained a credit line for Adjani as well as an American Express card on which she charged 364,000 ($385,400) over a period of 13 months, per the French report. Sebastien G. said he was fired days after he took the card back from Adjani. He said also he lent her 157,000 ($166,230) which she didnt pay back. After he had some of Adjanis assets seized in relation to her debts, she filed a lawsuit accusing him of abuse of corporate assets. The case was eventually dropped. Sebastien G. then filed a police complaint in 2015 accusing Adjani to have produced fake payment receipts for the 157,000 she was supposed to pay him back. The complaint also involves Mimi Marchand, head of the news agency Bestimage, who allegedly helped Adjani produce these payments receipts. Once the formal investigation is completed, a judge will decide whether to drop the case or put Adjani on trial. Adjanis latest film, Petra Van Kant, directed by Francois Ozon, opens this week in France. Inspired by Rainer Werner Fassbinders cult film The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant, the movie played on opening night at the Berlin Film Festival. She also stars in Nicolas Bedoss heist comedy Mascarade which world premiered at this years Cannes. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Amid a host of lawsuits by foreign productions looking to recoup money from Romanias beleaguered cash rebate system, industry insiders say the situation has reached a crisis point, with one leading U.K. financier and executive producer warning that the government runs the risk of obliterating foreign direct investment into Romania if a resolution isnt reached in the coming weeks. Nearly a dozen lawsuits are currently active in the Romanian court system, which last month ordered the government to pay roughly $642,000 plus legal fees to the producers of The World to Come (pictured), writer-director Mona Fastvolds romantic frontier drama starring Vanessa Kirby and Katherine Waterston, which filmed in Romania in 2019. The government has appealed the ruling. The U.K. financier, who has two decades of experience in the country, says that an impasse now dragging into its third year has caused immense reputational damage to both the government and the industry. Its a very bad look for the country, they say. Despite the legal logjam, Romania continues to lure high-profile productions drawn to its varied locations, highly skilled crews and competitive costs. Among the projects its hosted in the past year are Tim Burtons Wednesday, the upcoming Addams Family series for Netflix, and Django, the English-language reimagining of Sergio Corbuccis classic 1966 Western, a Sky Studios and Canal Plus original that was arguably Europes biggest TV production in 2021. Negotiations with foreign producers nevertheless have to concede that the Romanian cashback scheme isnt on the table. Weve been straightforward with everybody and told them that currently we dont budget with the rebate in mind, says Alma Bacula, of Bucharest-based Icon Films, which serviced Netflixs Wednesday as well as Flowers in the Attic: The Origin, a Lifetime limited series that shot in Romania last year. Despite optimism over the launch of a cash rebate of up to 45% in 2018, the Romanian scheme has been plagued by missteps and, arguably, bad timing from the start. After a bureaucratic reshuffle following a change in government in 2019 the program ground to a halt, a problem that was compounded within a matter of months when the newly installed administration was forced to contend with the coronavirus pandemic. Industry sources say that public health crisis prompted the government to shift its priorities away from the cultural sector. A similar dynamic played out earlier this year with the Russian invasion of neighboring Ukraine, which stalled what those sources describe as positive momentum in talks with Romanian officials. The government has suspended applications to a program that is financed to the tune of 50 million ($52.8 million) a year. The lawsuits over outstanding payments are piling up, with the Romanian Alliance of Film Producers estimating that more than 50 million ($52.8 million) is owed to international productions that filmed in Romania since the rebates launch. The backlog has rattled confidence in the industry, which local producers fear wont be easily regained. The most important thing today is for us to recoup all the money for the companies who came in and trusted the government to invest in this country, says Bacula. Bogdan Moncea, of Castel Film Studios, which hosted the Bucharest shoot of Django and also serviced Isaiah Saxons fantasy epic The Legend of Ochi for A24, says the studio currently has no major projects in the pipeline. Its getting critical. Its at a very low point probably a decade-long low, he says. Romania is struggling to keep pace in a fiercely competitive region, which includes not only production powerhouses Hungary and Czech Republic but rising hotspots such as Serbia and Greece. Frame Film producer Andrei Boncea is currently in Slovakia prepping The Strangers, a trilogy miniseries for Lionsgate directed by Renny Harlin that will begin principal photography in August. He recently wrapped production on The Performance, a pre-World War II drama directed by Shira Piven that was originally slated to film in Romania, but was lured to Slovakia in part because of its 33% cashback program. They have a very effective and simple cash rebate scheme, which is workable, Boncea says. In Slovakia, we got in two days what in Romania it took a year to get. The veteran producer is involved in litigation to recoup roughly $7 million owed to the production of Lionsgates action film The Protege, from Bond director Martin Campbell, which was produced in Romania by Millennium Media. The next step, he says, is a total overhaul of a rebate system that he and other Romanian producers argue was poorly designed from the start. We have to come up with a new system, and to pursue the government to implement a new system that will be fair and transparent. The U.K. financier is currently preparing for high-level discussions with government officials designed to find a way of cutting through the regulatory confusion, so that investors can finally be paid what they have been owed, in some cases, for more than two years, they say. Its part of an all-out effort to break the impasse. Ana Mirea, president of the Romanian Film Commission, tells Variety that talks between the government and the industry have gained a lot of traction in recent months, even if that dialogue has not been visibly moving from the outside. I dont think its bad faith on the part of the government, says Mirea, stressing that Romanian officials were ill-equipped to deal with the great unknown of the rebate system when it was introduced in 2018. I think it was a bit difficult for unprepared public workers to wrap their heads around how you do this. There have been huge efforts from the film producers alliance, from the commission, she adds. Its not just about the money. Its about [the fact] that this needs to work in order for this country to stay on the map. Boncea and others remain optimistic that a solution will be reached. Despite a growing workload in Slovakia, the producer is expanding his companys studio complex in Bucharest, a show of confidence in the Romanian industrys continued ability to lure international productions and deliver at a world-class level. We are looking for other solutions, but we keep fighting for Romania, he says. We will do it, Im sure. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Donald Trumps media and technology venture is part of a new federal grand jury investigation, which is seeking information about the financial dealings of the shell company Trump Media & Technology Group intends to merge with, according to a new regulatory filing. Last year, Trump Media & Technology Group announced plans to combine with Digital World Acquisition Corp. (DWAC), a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC), to become a publicly traded company. The deal would provide TMTG with up to $1.3 billion in capital, per DWAC filings. On Monday, DWAC said in an SEC filing that the company became aware that a federal grand jury sitting in the Southern District of New York has issued subpoenas to each member of Digital Worlds board of directors. In addition, on June 24, Digital World itself received a grand jury subpoena with substantially similar requests. DWAC has previously disclosed that its deal to merge with Trumps social media company is the target of an SEC investigation, and the Justice Departments grand jury probe is seeking similar information. The latest subpoenas, and the underlying investigations by the Department of Justice and the SEC, could materially delay or prevent the consummation of the SPAC deal with Trumps company, according to DWACs filing. The SEC has sought various documents and information regarding, among other things, Digital Worlds due diligence regarding TMTG, communications regarding and due diligence of potential targets other than TMTG, relationships between and among Digital World (and/or certain of Digital Worlds officers and directors) and other entities (including ARC Global Investments II LLC, Digital Worlds sponsor, and certain advisers, including Digital Worlds underwriter and financial advisor in its initial public offering), according to the DWAC filing Monday. The newly disclosed federal grand jury subpoenas seek certain of the same documents demanded in the above-referenced SEC subpoenas, along with requests relating to Digital Worlds S-1 filings, communications with or about multiple individuals, and information regarding Rocket One Capital, a Miami-based investment firm. In a separate statement Monday, Trump Media & Technology Group said the company is cooperating with the government investigations. TMTG is focused on reclaiming the American peoples right to free expression. Every day, our team works tirelessly to sustain Truth Socials rapid growth, onboard new users, and add new features. We encourage and will cooperate with oversight that supports the SECs important mission of protecting retail investors. Also Monday, DWAC disclosed that Bruce Garelick, identified as chief strategy officer at Rocket One Capital, has left the companys board of directors; it didnt provide an explanation for his departure. Trump formed TMTG last year, after the ex-president was banned from Twitter and other mainstream internet platforms after the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, riot. The companies cited the risk of Trump inciting ongoing violence after he posted a video praising the violent mob seeking to overturn the 2020 election. Earlier this year, Trump launched Truth Social, which reportedly has banned users for posting about the Jan. 6 congressional hearings. As of March 31, 2022, Trump Media & Technology Group had not generated any revenue and has warned investors that TMTG may never generate any operating revenues or ever achieve profitable operations. TMTG also plans to launch a subscription-streaming service called TMTG+ with a range of right-wing and non-woke content, including Trump-specific programming as well as blue-collar comedy and cancelled shows. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. There was great excitement in the Clayton Burlington Hotel Friday last for the announcement of this year's All Ireland Marketing Awards. Hosted by RTE's Brian Dobson, the night was awash with the biggest hitters in the Marketing World with all from Diageo to The National Lottery up for the coveted awards. One such award was the Supervalu sponsored "New Product Award', coveted by those introducing new ideas and services into the national market. Finalists included Heineken and Britvic, as well as Cornmarket and the dark horse of the night, Ireland's first school lunch service 'The Lunch Bag'. With their innovative app allowing parents to have school lunches delivered directly to their child's school desk 'The Lunch Bag' was a clear winner, with the announcement bringing the house down to much applause from parents across the room. "The All Ireland Marketing Awards are such a distinguished honour and we were thrilled to even be shortlisted," said Ger Killian, Managing Director of The Lunch Bag and Newtowncashel Native. "But to win against such established companies was more than we could ever have dreamt of." The company was established in 2019, starting a trial in one school and now serve over 500 schools nationwide, taking on up to 15 new schools a week. "We are experiencing phenomenal growth in a very short space of time," said Ray Nangle, CEO of the company. "To think that less than three years ago the only way a child in a non DEIS school could get lunch was if they brought it from home and now, one in four children have access to our service and to a massive variety of lunches for the same cost as a homemade repetitive one. We are now producing up to 20,000 lunches a day and will reach 30,000 a day by September." The Award was given in recognition of the strategic alignment, robustness and future potential of the company. "We were so honoured to hear that the judges bought into the belief and passion we have for this service," Killian continued. "We are adamant that all families should have the opportunity to provide a different lunch choice every day without food waste or additional cost to a homemade lunch. The fully sustainable lunch bag allows for exceptional marketing opportunities for the company; "a privilege we do not take lightly. We use our brand as an opportunity to instill a healthy mindset, a positive attitude to nutrition and responsible consumerism to our children. "With their premises in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, set for expansion, while hiring up to three people a week, we have no doubt that The Lunch Bag will see plenty more accolades like this in the future." Local News, Politics By Long Island Published: June 27 2022 Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation to protect roughly 11,000 more transit workers against assault and harassment. Governor Kathy Hochul today signed legislation (S.9468/ A.10491) to protect roughly 11,000 more transit workers against assault and harassment. The bill will expand current law that charges individuals who attack or harass transit workers with second degree assault. It will extend criminal charges to individuals who assault station customer assistants, ticket or revenue collectors, maintenance workers, repairers, cleaners, and their supervisors, who are not protected by existing law. The Governor signed the bill alongside State Senator Leroy Comrie, Assemblymember Vivian Cook, MTA Chair and CEO Janno Lieber, and Mark Henry, President, ATU local 1056. "During the pandemic, our transit workers were heroes, showing up while everyone was staying home putting not only their health and the health of their families at risk, but also risking their lives as subway crime increased," Governor Hochul said. "New York's transit workers have always been there for us and now it is our job to be there for them. No one should be subjected to physical violence or harassment in the workplace, and today we are taking an important step in protecting the men and women who keep our subways and buses running." "Throughout the pandemic, transit workers transported our essential workers to and from work, putting their own lives and the lives of their loved ones at risk to ensure that New Yorkers were able to receive needed healthcare and other essentials such as food," said Lieutenant Governor Antonio Delgado. "We owe our transit workers a debt of gratitude and it is our duty to now ensure that they can make it through their day without having to deal with threats to their safety." Station customer assistants, ticket or revenue collectors, maintenance workers, and supervisors employed by transit agencies or authorities work with and among the public to ensure that transit is running on schedule, that terminals and stations are clean, and that passengers can obtain tickets and information. These employees are vulnerable to harassment or assault by any individual using transit or transit facilities, and this bill will toughen laws to protect additional transit employees from attacks. By charging individuals who physically injure transit workers with second-degree assault, the legislation will serve as a deterrent to those seeking to harm transit employees. Janno Lieber, MTA Chair and CEO said, "Today's bill signing is enormously appreciated by all of us at the MTA; transit workers are heroes who deserve a safe workplace. But the work on the issue of public safety is not complete. New laws need to be enforced so our workers can run the best public transportation system in the country and move New Yorkers to where they need to go." State Senator Leroy Comrie said, "Today I celebrate alongside thousands of transit workers as Governor Hochul signs this critical legislation into law. Transit workers kept our city moving during the height of the pandemic and beyond, at great risk to themselves and their families. These heroes deserve safe workplaces and those who assault transit workers deserve to face penalties commensurate with their crimes. Recent events have made it clear how serious we have to be with regard to transit worker safety and I commend transit leadership, organized labor, and advocates who have all been key partners in making this a priority. I am grateful for their partnership and I am also grateful to my colleagues for their support, Assemblymember Cook for championing this in the Assembly, and Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Speaker Heastie for their leadership. We all benefit when transit employees can focus on delivering safe, reliable service." Assemblymember Vivian E. Cook said, "Throughout the pandemic, New York's transit workers have been on the front lines, working tirelessly to keep our state running every day. That's why I was proud to push for this legislation, which will ensure the safety and security of transit workers. I commend Governor Hochul for her ongoing efforts to protect New Yorkers and keep our subways safe." ATU Local 1056 President Mark Henry said, "This legislation is needed to serve as a deterrent to those who think it's okay to attack a transit worker. This is a tool for prosecutors to use to fully prosecute those that attack transit workers. We thank the Legislature and Governor Hochul for recognizing transit workers with these protections." Subway Surface Supervisors Association President Michael Carrube said, "We would like to thank Governor Hochul for quickly signing this important legislation. Our members and labor in general have been disadvantaged by the system for years. This legislation will help level the playing field." SMART General Chairman Anthony Simon said, "Protecting transportation workers in our region has to be a top priority to keep our MTA essential workers safe while keeping New York moving. This bill will certainly help that cause. Thank you to Governor Hochul, Senator Comrie and Assemblymember Cook for leading the way in this effort to keep our workers safe by ensuring punishment for those who put them at risk." DC37 Local 372 President Shaun D. Francois I said, "The treatment of transit workers by the public needed to be addressed, they all deserve protection under the law. I am so happy that Governor Hochul is signing this legislation today showing her support for these heroic frontline workers. This sends a clear message to keep your hands off of transit workers while they keep New York moving. We look forward to working with the legislature to ensuring more public facing members are protected." Transit Supervisors Organization TWU Local 106 President Philip Valenti said, "Now more than ever due to the soaring crime rates in New York State, especially the assaults on transit employees, it's great that the Governor and those in Albany have acted to do something to deter this trend from continuing." TWU Local 100 President Tony Utano said, "Transit workers come to work to do a job, not wind up in the emergency room. We deserve respect from riders and from the law. Thank you, Governor Hochul and Members of the State Legislature, for recognizing that assaults against transit workers are an ongoing problem that need to be addressed. This is a step in the right direction. Prosecutors and judges must now do their job and hold people accountable for their actions." Edward Valente, General Chairman of Association of Commuter Rail Employees, said, "ACRE applauds Governor Hochul, Senator Comrie and Assemblywoman Cook, for creating policy to protect our members. Everyday our members are assaulted while performing their duties. This legislation sends a strong message that assaulting a Metro-North worker will not be tolerated." Local News, Politics By Long Island Published: June 27 2022 On June 27th, the Nassau County Legislature honored two police officers and two police medics as Top Cops for their actions in saving the life of a man who was not breathing. On June 27th, the Nassau County Legislature honored two police officers and two police medics as Top Cops for their actions in saving the life of a man who was not breathing. On May 6th, 5th Precinct Officers Salvatore Milone and Robert Polzer were dispatched to a restaurant in Franklin Square after a call saying a male was not breathing. They arrived alongside some members of the Franklin Square Fire Department who were placing the male on the ground. Since he did not have a pulse and was not breathing, CPR was started, and Officer Milone attached his AED. They succeeded in getting his pulse back. Police Medics Ryan Murphy and Jason Katz arrived on the scene and attached a monitor to the man. They discovered he had shallow breathing and irregular heart rhythm. They gave him a second shock and he reacted with a stronger pulse and better breathing. He was placed in a police ambulance and given medicine through an IO drilled through his shinbone. He is expected to make a full recovery. Because of the quick thinking of these officers and police medics, this man is alive today. Thank you, Nassau County Police Department, for all you! Left to right, second photo: Legislator James Kennedy; Police Medic Ryan Murphy; Officer Robert Polzer; The man who the officers and medics saved; Officer Salvatore Milone; Police Medic Jason Katz; Legislator John Giuffre, who represents the area where the incident took place. With a hung Parliament and hotly contested presidential elections later this year, Lebanon appears to be headed for yet another period of political paralysis. The likely outcome will be all too familiar: without any strategic direction or a fully functioning government, politicians will have a convenient excuse to once again demur from implementing urgently needed reforms and honoring their agreements with international partners, including the International Monetary Fund. But history does not have to repeat itself. Even in the present circumstances, there are actions that the new MPs can take to help the country secure an IMF lifeline. The trick here is to focus on the low-hanging fruit. In the areas of public procurement governance, public sector auditing, and civil service mapping, significant opportunities for progress already exist. Incremental steps toward tackling the root causes of Lebanons mounting public debt by (i) reforming corrupt public procurement practices, (ii) addressing inefficiencies in public administrations, and (iii) reigning in civil service spending, will be crucial to meeting the conditions of the provisional deal reached with the IMF, and thereby unlocking future assistance. Public procurement governance Long characterized as a gateway to malpractice, Lebanons public procurement landscape is ripe with opportunities to introduce e-governance tools that will streamline archaic government services, while at the same time ensuring greater equity and transparency. The 2021 Public Procurement Law envisioned exactly this, with the creation of a new Public Procurement Authority (PPA) tasked with standardizing procurement processes and procedures and operating an e-procurement platform. However, an e-procurement platform like other digital governance tools will make little difference if it is operated without effective oversight. Without proper checks and balances, we will end up with the same old embezzlement but now digital. Since the PPA, which will run the platform, is administratively positioned under the Council of Ministers, it is vulnerable to political interference. Under the current circumstances, we thus risk keeping public procurement in a closed loop with no external oversight. Fortunately, article 74:5 of the new law places the PPA under the control of Lebanons main oversight bodies to ensure proper governance. As the only independent oversight agency already collecting national data on a digital platform (IMPACT), Central Inspection has the mandate, knowhow and pre-existing digital infrastructure to host the e-procurement system and ensure that activities on it are fully audited. MPs should therefore leverage CIs independence and experience in this regard to accelerate the implementation of the Public Procurement Law in full alignment with the principles of good governance and transparency under which it was created, and to make sure that public procurement is not exposed to the influence of the cabinet. Public sector auditing and reform Any efforts to reduce waste and inefficiency and improve transparency in the public sector must be targeted and evidence-based. However, efforts by Central Inspection to gather and publish audit data on public administrations are regularly met with resistance. Without enforcement tools and the ability to impose penalties, Central Inspection has little power to act on its mandate. Preliminary results from an audit of public administrations begun by Central Inspection in 2021 have already identified significant areas for improvement: 66 percent of public administrations do not implement the legally required accounting procedures, 65 percent do not have a strategic plan, 41 percent do not implement the public servants appraisal system, and 34 percent do not implement the required internal audit mechanisms. MPs have a role in ensuring that audit agencies are able to fulfill their mandates unfettered. New legislation can be introduced to give Central Inspection the legal tools to compel all administrations, public institutions, and municipalities to cooperate with auditors. If Central Inspections auditing is expanded to include areas of financial management and all public administrations are compelled to supply the required information to auditors, the data gathered can be used to guide the IMF-required reforms and Lebanons recovery more broadly. Without baseline information, target performance benchmarking, and digital tools like IMPACT enabling real time monitoring of service provision, it will be near-impossible to guide the public sector toward delivering a better quality and availability of service. MPs should therefore lobby for the expansion of Central Inspections data collection to include detailed indicators on the financial activities of state entities, including those involved in public affairs and managing public funds and for meaningful enforcement penalties to be introduced. Civil service mapping Public sector wages account for a third of Lebanons annual budget a staggering figure with very little transparency or reliable data on the size or competency of the workforce. To plug this information gap, Central Inspection and the Office of the Minister of State for Administrative Reform jointly created their Sectoral and Organizational Performance Measurement and Inspection Program. This should be built on. Acting on the parliamentary Finance and Budget Committees request for a comprehensive mapping of public sector human resources, Central Inspection has additionally developed, deployed and internally tested a digital survey tool to quickly and efficiently gather key HR data from across the sector. Unfortunately, this latter work has been paralyzed by an overlap in the mandates of Central Inspection and the Civil Service Board. New MPs have an opportunity to reinvigorate this mapping exercise by facilitating these two oversight bodies to collaborate and to proceed jointly with this digital mapping. Collecting detailed human resource information such as vacancy rates, salaries and qualifications in a database that oversight agencies can validate against other data sets, including the Finance Ministrys payroll, is an essential first step toward ending the illegal but widespread practices of assignment by appointment and arbitrary promotion. The data collected will also help inform the potential reallocation of resources within the civil service. Detractors may point to the complexity of the public sector and envision a drawn-out, time-consuming process. However, using a similar tool developed on IMPACT, 582,000 vulnerable households were mapped over a period of two months. This means that, if unobstructed, reliable data on the public sector that has eluded us for decades could be available in one month. All this is to say: it is time for Lebanon to stop operating in the dark. There is no convincing reason why we cannot have reliable, accessible data on the public sector to inform effective, sustainable reform. The challenge now for our MPs is to capitalize on the skills we already have in Lebanons oversight institutions, and on tools like IMPACT which have produced many oversight reports, to build a more transparent state that serves public, not private, interests. Carole RIZKALLAH CHARABATI is Research Director at Siren Associates (the company that developed IMPACT) and Professor of Political Science at Universite Saint-Joseph. (Alliance News) - Arrow Exploration Corp on Monday said results from well testing at the Tapir Block in Colombia were ahead of expectations, with additional zones identified. Shares in Arrow Exploration were up 15% at 16.75 pence on Monday morning in London. The Rio Cravo Sur-1 well was drilled to a total measured depth of 8,656 feet and encountered six hydrocarbon bearing intervals totalling 55 net feet oil pay. Arrow cautioned, however, that the results were not "necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery". Nonetheless, the company said it intends to bring RSC-1 online slowly and increase production to manage the oil reservoir. Chief Executive Marshall Abbott said: "We're encouraged by the material results of RCS-1, the third well on the Tapir block. RCS-1 identified new zones for further exploitation with flowing results returning better than expected." By Heather Rydings; heatherrydings@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - Budget airline Ryanair Holdings PLC has downplayed the impact of staff strikes this weekend, saying there was "very minor disruption" to its schedule. Ryanair cabin crew unions called a three-day strike over pay and working conditions starting on Friday in Spain, Portugal and Belgium, and in Italy and France on Saturday. In a statement on Sunday, the company said less than two percent of its 9,000 flights operating since Friday had been affected by what it called "minor and poorly supported crew strikes". Europe's biggest airline blamed cancelled flights in Spain, Italy, the UK and France on thunderstorms in southern Europe and a strike at Marseille's air traffic control centre. But trade unions dispute this. France's SNPNC said 36 out of 80 Ryanair flights were cancelled due to the strike on Saturday, listing a further 16 on Sunday. Spain's Union Sindical Obrera said 75 flights were cancelled on Saturday in Madrid, Barcelona, Palma, Ibiza, Santiago and Girona, with 42 flights cancelled and around 60 delayed on Sunday. Belgium's Charleroi airport was the worst hit with 44 cancelled return flights on Saturday but none on Sunday, according to Ryanair's Scorebuddy website. SNPNC representative Damien Mourgues has previously said Ryanair does not respect rest time laws and is calling for a raise for cabin crew still paid at the minimum wage. Ryanair cabin crew unions in Spain have called another strike from June 30 to July 2. The airline said it had notified "passengers whose flights were disrupted by any air traffic control delays/strikes or weather disruption", but did not say if it was setting up a refund procedure. source: AFP Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. (Alliance News) - The following is a round-up of updates by London-listed companies, issued on Monday and not separately reported by Alliance News: ---------- Anglo-Eastern Plantations PLC - producer of palm oil and rubber across Indonesia and Malaysia - Says own production of fresh fruit bunches 460,800 tonnes in five months to end of May, down 3% on year ago. Says plantations in North Sumetera with younger palms performed reasonably well, while plantations with older palms in Bengkulu and Kalimantan experienced a drop in production. The crude palm oil ex-Rotterdam price averaged USD1,650 per tonne in the period, up 47% year-on-year. At June 10, the CPO price ex-Rotterdam closed at USD1,660. "We expect the ex-mill price in Indonesia to improve after the government issued guidelines and regulations on 14 June 2022 to accelerate the shipment of palm oil following the lifting of the export ban. However, we expect a pullback in the CPO price as crop production improves further in the second half of the year," it says. ---------- Power Metal Resources PLC - metals exploration company focused in North America, Africa and Australia - Revenue for six months to end of March 31 GBP198,000, up from GBP17,000 a year before. Pretax loss widens to GBP1.7 million from GBP607,000. "There is an underlying confidence and optimism that permeates the Power Metal business and the team within it. We recognise the pressure challenging markets and falling share prices place on investor portfolios and are respectful of this whilst still enthusiastically articulating our progress and our ambitions," says Chief Executive Paul Johnson. ---------- Echo Energy PLC - London-based energy company focused on Latin America - Is granted up to two further months to publish its annual accounts for calendar 2021. "This additional period is in view of the adverse impact of Covid-19 having resulted in delays in the ability of the local Argentinian Santa Cruz Sur joint venture entity in which Echo holds a 70% interest to provide information to its Argentinian auditor," it explains. Expects to report 2021 revenue of USD11.1 million, flat on 202. Adds that production at Santa Cruz Sur assets, onshore Argentina, during start of 2022 up until June 18 reaches aggregate of 243,230 barrels oil equivalent net to Echo during the period. ---------- Touchstone Exploration Inc - Calgary, Canada-based upstream oil and gas company - Says pipeline from Coho facility to the Central block has been completed, and hydrotesting is scheduled to commence this week upon which the pipeline will be ready for first gas. "Coho will be the first onshore natural gas project to come onstream in 20 years, representing an important milestone for both Touchstone and the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago," it says. Targeting full production in August. Adds that oil transfer line on Fyzabad block was cut last week in act of "vandalism", with around 250 barrels of oil released. ---------- Nuformix PLC - London-based pharmaceutical development company - Initiates further studies to support the progression of NXP002. "These studies will directly address issues faced in the duration of action studies. Firstly, the company will investigate a new formulation of NXP002 for inhalation, delivered using an alternative method designed to ensure consistent and controlled exposure is achieved. Secondly, the company will explore a new range of doses to best optimise efficacy of treatment," it says. The studies will start in August with results generated throughout the second half. ---------- Belluscura PLC - London-based medical device developer - Launches next generation X-PLOR portable oxygen concentrator. It provides "more oxygen by weight than any portable oxygen concentrator in its class" and is Bluetooth enabled. "With the launch of the next generation X-PLOR, Belluscura continues to add more sizable distributors and durable medical equipment providers to its distribution network," it says. ---------- Sunrise Resources PLC - Macclesfield, England-based mineral project developer - Says its CS Natural Pozzolan has now been conditionally approved by the California Department of Transport for use in California state infrastructure projects. Caltrans is the government body responsible for the award of state funded infrastructure construction projects in California. "I am delighted that Caltrans has conditionally approved the CS Natural Pozzolan. This is good news for the CS Project. Whilst we were confident that the CS Natural Pozzolan would pass Caltrans's testing procedures, this is an important step forward as many concrete specifiers look to this list as an independent endorsement when specifying for a wider range of non-Caltrans projects," says Executive Chair Patrick Cheetham. ---------- Symphony Environmental Technologies PLC - Borehamwood, Hertfordshire-based plastics and rubber - Says following legal action by distributor in Peru, a "clear distinction" has been officially acknowledged between oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable technologies, officially confirming that oxo-biodegradable technology does not leave microplastics behind. "This legal outcome has significant implications for Symphony's commercial growth in Peru and in Latin America generally. In addition, it vindicates Symphony's long-term and ongoing advocacy strategy in the region, based upon transparent and technically-led engagement with legislators and opinion-formers," company says. ---------- By Lucy Heming; lucyheming@alliancenews.com Copyright 2022 Alliance News Limited. All Rights Reserved. Our 2021 Magic Halo Efficacy Survey has arrived. Please click HERE . It's only 3 multiple choice questions, and 100% safe and secure. Ev... With Britons packing their bags to head to the Balearics for their summer holidays, it is worth just checking what the Covid entry requirements are for the islands and Spain in general as some countries, such as the United Kingdom, still have to comply with certain minimal requisites. If youre fully vaccinated, you will be able to enter Spain if your vaccination status meets the Spanish authorities validity period requirements. For example, if you have received a booster jab then you are considered fully vaccinated and able to enter the country. You will also qualify as fully vaccinated if you have received two doses of a two-dose vaccine or one dose of a single-dose vaccine approved for by Spanish authorities. This is only valid, however, if you have had the dose at least 14 days prior to arrival and received the last dose no more than 270 days ago. To prove youre vaccinated you will need to show the UKs proof of Covid-19 vaccination form. Your NHS appointment card cannot be used to demonstrate your vaccination status. If you are not fully vaccinated you can still travel to Spain provided that you can show either one of the following documents. Certification of having completed a negative rapid antigen test 24 hours prior to arrival or a PCR test 72 hours prior to arrival. Documentation showing that you have had Covid in the past six months. Children under 12 do not need to show proof of being fully vaccinated. UK travellers who have been fully vaccinated, or can show proof of recovering from a Covid infection in the past six months do not need to complete a travel form. Other passengers will be required to do this. The man who was attacked on the steps of the Rockefellers nightclub in Cala Major and who had been in intensive care since last Friday, died on Sunday night at Son Espases Hospital. The 34-year-old was kicked in the neck outside the club. The National Police's homicide squad is still hunting for the attacker who fled the scene. A witness says that the attacker was a short, bald guy wearing glasses and that he ran off after attacking the young man for no apparent reason. During the day on Friday, the Cala Major area of Palma neighbourhood was swamped with National Police and local police, who carried out a number of raids on properties as part of the search - they even combed the beach but to no avail. Police are continuing to review CCTV footage of the area. Manchester, VT (05254) Today Except for a few afternoon clouds, mainly sunny. High 79F. Winds W at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy skies early will become overcast later during the night. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 File photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Screenshot/NMHSI Show More Show Less 3 of 3 MANISTEE COUNTY Infants and toddlers can start receiving protection from the COVID-19 virus as soon as Thursday, thanks to three vaccine clinics scheduled for this week by Northwest Michigan Health Services, according to a news release from the organization. Northwest Michigan Health Services was granted emergency use authorization to start distributing the vaccine to children as young as six-months-old. The clinics will have both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines. Pfizer requires three doses, while Moderna requires two. MANISTEE A Manistee Township couple who traveled to Boratyn, Poland to help Ukrainian refugees in May plans to go back to Poland in the fall. Cynthia and Phillip Knapp are back home in Manistee after spending the entire month of May at the Ukrainian border, working to provide refugees with medicine and build a daycare center. However, "the work is not completed," Cynthia Knapp said. As such, the couple's plan is to go back again in the fall. This time, however, the nature of the visit will be different, according to Cynthia Knapp. She noted that when they first arrived at the border city of Boratyn on Ukraine's western border the women and children were not nearly as sick as she thought and that after a couple of days of getting medication, she started to help her husband Phillip with his project of building a daycare center for refugee children. Knapp said that beyond being healthy, the children at the centers needed to really be able to have some sense of normalcy again. She noted that the center was crowded, and though they were not extremely sick at least in the way she prepared for to help Doctors Without Borders the situation they were in was not ideal. We were very successful with medications, now they need comforts of outside space, she said. Poland Welcomes Knapp and her husband aided an organization called Poland Welcomes based in Jaroslaw to retrofit the location where the daycare is being transformed from a school that is no longer used. The organization, according to its website, has six sites that have a total capacity to host 1,100 refugees. Poland Welcomes started to work informally on Feb. 25, the day after the war in Ukraine began. It was founded by Patrycjusz Gawe, a local property developer in Jarosaw, with the volunteer help of a group of friends. It was registered as a charity under Polish law on March 16. "Starting from two private houses, we have quickly scaled up to operate six shelters. As of April 18, Poland Welcomes is hosting around 500 refugees in total," the website read. Submitted photo/Cynthia Knapp It is so interesting is talk to all the organizations working together to help. ... We are working at their center in Boratyn. At our work site, there are 250 people. Poland Welcomes administration takes no money, they are working from 8 a.m. until late at night to feed and give shelter to over 1,100 people. Poland Welcomes needs money to heat the six buildings, keep the lights on and provide three meals a day," Cynthia Knapp wrote in a public Facebook post. Beyond the basics Poland Welcomes is also helping the refugees to find work. The nonprofit organization and volunteers were able to get computers from several different computer manufactures, so the refugee children could do homework, Knapp said. She said that Poland Welcomes was working with 40 companies to get supplies and that Microsoft had donated the software for the computers. Of the 500 refugees that the organization is currently hosting, some of them have learned how to code in a programming language called Python and compose from another computer program that is designed for creating musical compositions on computers. Those skills could help the refugees eventually find work in Poland if they cannot go back to their lives in Ukraine. Knapp said that when she and her husband go back to Poland in the fall, they are planning to bring more computers. People coming together See more photos See more photos of the Knapps helping refugees in Poland at manisteenews.com See More Collapse Knapp also spoke about people from all over the world who were coming to Poland and the Ukrainian border to help the refugees of the war. We were so impressed, with the world coming together. There were people from Scotland, who were bringing pizza ovens. There were Portuguese doctors who were helping out. The world is coming together for these people and to make sure everything is OK for them," she said. Knapp had previously said that the Ukrainians "are fighting for us" and spoke of the reason that she feels compelled to help. These people have left their homes. They gave up everything and we have a moral duty to try to help them, Knapp said. She also wrote in a different Facebook post from May 5, about how ordinary people are giving aid, and how that is unique from wars in the past. "This is the first war that the civilian population is contributing all of the humanitarian aid. Governments are giving the big guns but its people giving life-sustaining care," she wrote. "Its day three and it is emotionally draining. I try not to think too much about what is going on six miles east of here. I hold onto the bravery and beauty of the people Im meeting. Colorado residents have been encouraged by Governor Jared Polis to file their taxes by June 30 in order to receive the Colorado Cashback refund this summer. Single filers will get payments of more than 500 dollars, while joint filers will receive more than 1,000 dollars if they manage to file their taxes in time. "I urge all Coloradans to complete their state tax filing right away so you can get the Colorado Cashback rebate on time this summer," said Governor Polis. "We are providing immediate relief, putting money back into the pockets of hardworking Coloradans to help pay for everyday items, and everyone who files by June 30 will get the more than 500 dollar or 1,000 dollar rebates this summer. "If you wait past June 30 or until the final extension deadline of mid-October, then you probably won't get your refund until next January." Who will receive the Colorado Cashback Rebate? To receive the rebate in August, residents should either file a Colorado individual income tax return for the 2021 year or apply for the 2021 Property Tax/Rent/Heat Rebate Credit (PTC) by June 30. "Taxpayers who don't file a return by June 30 can still file on extension before October 17, 2022, but those who file on extension in October can expect to receive their refund check in January 2023," reads the government's statement. "Every full-year Colorado resident who was at least 18 years old on December 31, 2021 should file a Colorado return to claim the Colorado Cashback Rebate even if they did not have taxable income. "On average, about 90 percent of filers file on time by April 15, with the remaining 10 percent filing by the extended deadline of October 15. "Those who filed by April 15 do not need to take any additional action and will receive their refund later this summer." The Colorado Department of Revenue also stressed that filers should make sure that their address is correct, as payments will be sent out by mail. Since the outbreak of the war between Russia and Ukraine on February 24, tension between the two sides has grown and grown. More than four months into the conflict, rumours of a potential nuclear war have now become scenarios which are discussed by the presidents of the two countries. Russian president Vladimir Putin threatened NATO and EU countries last Saturday when he received his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko in Saint Petersburg. The Putin-Lukashenko alliance The main reason for this meeting was the delivery of short-range missiles, Iskander-M, to Russia's neighbouring country. These missiles are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. "In the coming months we will deliver Iskander-M tactical systems to Belarus, which, as you know, can use ballistic and cruise missiles in both conventional and nuclear configurations," said Putin. The Russian president also stressed that there is a need to ensure the security of all members of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO), which consists of Armenia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Russia and Belarus. Putin threatens Europe Putin's argument to justify the delivery of these missiles is that the United States is doing the same by flying over the Belarusian border with planes carrying nuclear warheads for six NATO member states. Moreover, he issued the threat of a nuclear war that is quite terrifying. "Europe would be reduced to ashes in a nuclear war with Russia," Putin said, but he also claimed that for the moment there is "no need" for such a move. The Russian president urged Lukashenko to modernise his Su-25 aircrafts and begin the process of training pilots. Lukashenko, according to Russian sources, asked for Russia's help in "adjusting" the planes they have at their disposal, which are capable of carrying nuclear warheads. Meanwhile, NATO leaders are preparing for a summit in Madrid, where they'll discuss several important issues with a backdrop of protestors. Each quarter, Northwestern CS honors and recognizes students who demonstrate excellence in computer science mentoring and teaching with Peter and Adrienne Barris Outstanding Teaching Assistant and Outstanding Peer Mentor awards. Nominated by any member of the department for service to the CS community that goes beyond expectations, the teaching assistants and peer mentors work with faculty to deliver courses and support of the highest quality. Our teaching assistants and peer mentors are an integral part of the Northwestern CS team and provide invaluable service both to fellow students and to faculty, said Samir Khuller, Peter and Adrienne Barris Chair of Computer Science at Northwestern Engineering. Aravind Reddy Reddy, a fourth-year PhD student in the CS Theory Group at the McCormick School of Engineering, was named the Peter and Adrienne Barris Outstanding Teaching Assistant for the spring 2022 quarter in recognition of his service to students in the COMP_SCI 212: Mathematical Foundations of Computer Science course, who noted his enthusiasm and accommodating personality. Aravind was always willing to step in when other members of the COMP_SCI 212 team were overwhelmed, a nominator said. He was well-tuned to which students were struggling and contributed a number of ideas and suggestions for making the course more engaging. Reddy, who earned a masters degree in computer science from Northwestern Engineering in March 2021, is advised by Konstantin Makarychev, professor of computer science, and Aravindan Vijayaraghavan, associate professor of computer science and (by courtesy) industrial engineering and management sciences. Reddys research interests center around the design and analysis of algorithms for computationally hard problems, especially those which arise in the context of large-scale machine learning. He is an intern with Adobe Research this summer. He plans to graduate in June 2023 and pursue a research position in academia or industry. I am very happy that students in Comp Sci 212 found my enthusiasm for mathematical foundations of computer science infectious, Reddy said. Hopefully this will lead more of them to pursue rewarding long-term careers in computer science and allied fields. Spring 2022 Outstanding Peer Mentors The Northwestern CS peer mentor program is designed to ensure that students representing a range of computing backgrounds receive individual attention and real-time feedback. Afreen Bhumgara Bhumgara is pursuing a master of science in computer science degree and graduate minor in engineering management through the Department of Industrial Engineering and Management Sciences at Northwestern Engineering. She was recognized for supporting COMP_SCI 211: Fundamentals of Computer Programming II students and making the course super fun. Students were confident that she would always be able to answer their questions fully and in an accessible manner, a nominator said. Bhumgara focused on recognizing the barriers, obstacles, and knowledge gaps faced by new programmers. Her goal as a peer mentor was to provide a safe space for students to learn by communicating and reiterating difficult concepts. I hope this recognition inspires other first-gen international students like me who may have to overcome cultural barriers and language challenges to keep faith in their abilities to create a positive impact in unique and original ways, Bhumgara said. Helping others overcome barriers is a throughline in Bhumgaras life. Founder of Alpha Triumph Ltd., a tech-assisted training and learning enhancement organization based in India, the organization aims to develop personalized training resources to women and under-resourced communities through artificial intelligence and machine learning solutions. Currently a lead product manager at Goalster, a technology startup company focused on improving organization, employee, and operational effectiveness, Bhumgaras research interests lie at the intersection of software engineering, machine learning, and design. She strives to create intuitive software systems that improve the quality of life, augment productivity, and connect people. Huaxuan Chen Chen is earning a combined bachelor of arts and master of science in computer science degree and pursuing a minor in Asian humanities from Northwesterns Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Previously a peer mentor for the COMP_SCI 213: Intro to Computer Systems course, he was a spring quarter peer mentor for the COMP_SCI 343: Operating Systems course. Chen has been a consistent presence on the team of our systems classes, a nominator said. In COMP_SCI 213, he went above and beyond the normal duties by creating tutorial videos to help guide students through class projects. This quarter, he shepherded students in COMP_SCI 343 office hours and discussion sections on their journey to learn about the wonders of operating systems. Chen defined the service of a peer mentor as inspiring students, investigating their hardships and problems, and invigorating curiosity. "This award completes an important facet of my identity as a CS student as I am recognized to be able to guide my peers and make their passion for knowledge ripple for eternity," Chen said. No stranger to cultivating passions, Chen described himself as a zealous bodybuilder, triathlete, rock climber, and painter. His research focus includes revitalizing legacy codes and improving performance. Xamantha Laos Cueva Laos Cueva, a data science and computer science student at Weinberg, strives to help students feel confident and build problem-solving skills in the COMP_SCI 111: Fundamentals of Computer Programming I course. Xamantha gives you all the tools you need to figure out the answer on your own, which felt really great! a nominator said. She has been a true guide, showing students the correct path, rather than just taking them to their destination. Laos Cueva describes the peer mentor program as a support system that makes the student experience less intimidating, especially for those students who, like her, had no prior programming knowledge. I came to Northwestern without having written a single line of code before and I was very scared of taking my first CS class, Laos Cueva said. I decided to become a peer mentor to help people with similar experiences. Passionate about entrepreneurship, Laos Cueva works with two start-ups at The Garage at Northwestern. She is exploring different career paths at the intersection of technology and business. Julia Odden The sole peer mentor for the COMP_SCI 355: Digital Forensics and Incident Response course, Odden (22) will start a masters degree program at Northwestern Engineering this fall with a focus on network and system security. Students noted her knowledge and passion for the course material. Oddens research interests include Internet of Things network security and advanced persistent threat detection, particularly how intrusion detection systems work around or within containerized environments. She helped manage course logistics behind the scenes in addition to working with students during office hours. Nominators recognized Oddens strong organizational skills and work ethic. Being a peer mentor is about three things: first, making the professor's life easier; second, being able to answer questions and provide guidance to students in a way that keeps them learning on their own, instead of just giving out solutions; and third, spreading enthusiasm for the subject matter and making people realize how cool it is, Odden said. Odden is working as a digital forensics and incident response intern with Mandiant this summer. She plans to graduate in March 2023 and work in digital forensics and incident response. Long-term, she plans to complete Offensive Security Certified Professional certification and pursue red teaming. An avid rock climber, Odden is also active in circus performance, namely lyra, silks, and static trapeze. Henry Pereira Pereira (22) received an Outstanding Peer Mentor award for his support of students in the COMP_SCI 110: Intro to Computer Programming course, designed as an introductory entry point for non-CS majors interested in learning the fundamentals of computer programming using Python. Henry is the ultimate teaching professional. His goals and intentions are clear: students first, a nominator said. He did whatever it took to serve students, sometimes spending hours crafting and revising additional materials. Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, although the timing of those laws taking effect varies. Some Republican-led states will ban or severely limit abortion immediately, while other restrictions will take effect later. At least one state, Texas, is waiting until after the Supreme Court issues its formal judgment in the case, which is separate from the opinion issued Friday and could take about a month. In anticipation of the decision, several states led by Democrats have taken steps to protect abortion access. The decision also sets up the potential for legal fights between the states over whether providers and those who help women obtain abortions can be sued or prosecuted. Here is an overview of abortion legislation and the expected impact of the courts decision in every state. Steve Helber/AP ___ ALABAMA Political control: Alabama has a Republican-controlled legislature and a Republican governor who want to ban or restrict access to abortions. Background: In 2019, Alabama lawmakers approved what was then the most stringent abortion ban in the country, making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy with no exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest. The only exception would be when the womans health was at serious risk. A federal judge issued an injunction, under the precedent of Roe v. Wade, blocking the state from enforcing the law. In 2018, voters agreed to amend the Alabama Constitution to say the state recognizes the rights of unborn children and does not protect the right to an abortion or require the funding of abortion. A 1951 law made it a crime, punishable by up to 12 months in prison, to induce an abortion, unless it is done to preserve the life or health of the mother. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortions became almost entirely illegal in Alabama on Friday. A 2019 state abortion ban took effect making it a felony to perform an abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with no exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest. All three clinics stopped providing abortions Friday morning under fear of prosecution under the 1951 state law. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson hours later granted Alabama's request to lift an injunction and allow the state to enforce the 2019 abortion ban. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said it is now a felony to provide an abortion in Alabama beyond the one exception allowed in the 2019 law, which is for the sake of the mothers health. Doctors who violate the law could face up to 99 years in prison. Marshall said the state would also move to lift other injunctions that blocked previous abortion restrictions, including a requirement for doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges. Whats next: Some Republican lawmakers have said they would like to see the state replace the 2019 ban with a slightly less stringent bill that would allow exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Proponents said the 2019 ban was deliberately strict in the hopes of sparking a court challenge to Roe. ___ ALASKA Political control: Republicans currently hold a majority of seats in the state Legislature, but the House is controlled by a bipartisan coalition composed largely of Democrats. Fifty-nine of the Legislatures 60 seats are up for election this year. Gov. Mike Dunleavy, a Republican who believes life begins at conception, is seeking reelection. Background: The Alaska Supreme Court has interpreted the right to privacy in the state constitution as encompassing abortion rights. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The U.S. Supreme Court's decision is not expected to immediately affect abortion rights in Alaska, given the existing precedent in the state. Whats next: Voters in the fall will be asked if they want to hold a constitutional convention, a question that comes up every 10 years. Many conservatives who want to overhaul how judges are selected and do away with the interpretation that the constitutions right to privacy clause allows for abortion rights see an opportunity in pushing for a convention. Recent efforts to advance a constitutional amendment through the Legislature have been unsuccessful. ___ ARIZONA Political control: Both legislative chambers are controlled by Republicans, who regularly pass abortion restrictions that for the past eight sessions have been quickly signed by Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, an abortion opponent. Background: Arizona law allows abortion through about 22 weeks, but the Legislature passed a 15-week abortion ban in March mirroring the Mississippi law that was contested before the Supreme Court. It was to take effect 90 days after the Legislature adjourned on June 24. Current restrictions include bans on abortions because of gender and a 2021 law that makes it a felony for a doctor to terminate a pregnancy because the child has a survivable genetic abnormality. Arizona also has a pre-statehood law still on the books that would ban all abortions, although it has not been enforced since Roe was decided. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Ducey has argued in media interviews that the law he signed in late March takes precedence over the total ban that remains on the books. But the law he signed specifically says it does not overrule the total abortion ban in place for more than 100 years. Ducey is term-limited and leaves office in January. Abortion providers across the state stopped all procedures after the court ruled because of concerns that the pre-Roe ban could put doctors, nurses and other providers at risk of prosecution. Republican state Attorney General Mark Brnovich said on June 30 that the pre-statehood law could be enforced, putting him at odds with the Republican governor. Brnovich said he would seek to remove an injunction in place since shortly after 1973s Roe decision. Also on June 30, the U.S. Supreme Court allowed Arizona to enforce a ban on abortions done solely because the fetus has a genetic abnormality. A federal judge blocked that part of the 2021 Arizona law last year, saying it was unconstitutionally vague, but will now have to reconsider that decision. Hes also being asked again to block a personhood provision that grants rights to eggs and fetuses, which medical providers worry could be used to bring various charges for harming an unborn child. Whats next: Abortion-rights supporters in Arizona have launched a long-shot bid to enshrine the right to abortion in the state constitution. Rolled out weeks after the draft U.S. Supreme Court decision showing Roe could be overturned was leaked, backers must collect more than 356,000 signatures by July 7 to get the initiative on the November ballot. Voters would then be able to decide. ___ ARKANSAS Political control: Arkansas legislature is controlled by Republicans who have supported dozens of abortion bans and restrictions in recent years. Republican Gov. Asa Hutchinson also has supported bans on abortion with some exceptions. Hes term-limited and leaves office in January. Republican nominee Sarah Sanders, press secretary to former President Donald Trump, is widely favored in the November election to succeed him. Background: Arkansas already had a law banning most abortions 20 weeks into a womans pregnancy, with exceptions for rape, incest and the life of the mother. The state has several other bans that have been struck down or blocked by courts in recent years, including an outright abortion ban enacted last year that doesnt include rape or incest exceptions. That ban has been blocked by a federal judge, and the state has appealed. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Arkansas has a law it enacted in 2019 that bans nearly all abortions now that Roe is overturned. That ban, along with the outright ban thats been blocked by a federal judge, only allows exceptions to protect the life of the mother in a medical emergency. Hutchinson has said he thinks bans should include rape and incest exceptions, but he has not called on the Legislature to add those to either of the bans. Whats next: Hours after Fridays ruling, Attorney General Leslie Rutledge signed certification that Roe had been overturned. That certification allows the states trigger ban to take effect immediately. The only exception in that ban is to protect the life of the mother in a medical emergency. The Legislature isnt scheduled to meet until January, but Hutchinson is considering calling a special session to take up tax relief proposals. The Republican governor said Friday he does not plan on asking lawmakers to consider adding rape and incest exceptions to the states ban. ___ CALIFORNIA Political control: Democrats who support access to abortion control all statewide elected offices and have large majorities in the state Legislature. Background: California outlawed abortion in 1850, except when the life of the mother was in danger. The law changed in 1967 to include abortions in the case of rape, incest or if a womans mental health were in danger. In 1969, the California Supreme Court declared the states original abortion law to be unconstitutional but left the 1967 law in place. In 1972, California voters added a right to privacy to the state constitution. Since then, the state Supreme Court has interpreted that right to privacy as a right to access abortion, allow minors to get an abortion without their parents permission and use public funding for abortions in the states Medicaid program. California now requires private health insurance plans to cover abortions and does not allow them to charge things such as co-pays or deductibles for the procedure. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortion will remain legal in California prior to the viability of a fetus. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom has vowed to make California a sanctuary for women who live in other states where abortion is outlawed or severely restricted. The number of women who travel to the state for abortions is expected to rise significantly. Whats next: The state Legislature is considering 13 bills that would strengthen or expand access to abortion. The bills are based on a report from the Future of Abortion Council, which Newsom formed last year to study reproductive rights in California. They include proposals that would help pay for women from other states to come to California for abortions, ban enforcement of out-of-state civil judgments on California abortion providers and volunteers, and increase the number of people who can offer abortions by authorizing some nurse practitioners to perform the procedure without the supervision of a doctor. Lawmakers also plan to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would explicitly guarantee the right to an abortion and contraceptives. ___ COLORADO Political control: The Democrats who control the Colorado Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: A 1967 state law legalized abortion up to 16 weeks of pregnancy. Abortion has been accessible ever since, despite repeated legislative attempts and ballot initiatives to restrict or abolish the procedure. Colorado voters have consistently rejected such initiatives, the latest in 2020 that would have banned abortion during the third trimester of pregnancy. In 2022, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signed a law placing the right to abortion in state statute. The law guarantees access to reproductive care before and after pregnancy and bans local governments from imposing their own restrictions. It also declares that fertilized eggs, embryos and fetuses have no independent rights. Abortion rights advocates plan a 2024 ballot initiative to add abortion rights to the state constitution and repeal a 1980s constitutional amendment that bans public funding for abortion. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The decision wont have any immediate impact on Colorado law -- but providers are preparing for a surge of out-of-state patients. Democratic House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar says lawmakers must consider how to invest in a health care workforce to ensure Colorado has the capacity to meet that anticipated demand. Colorados health department reports there were 11,580 abortions in the state in 2021; of those 14% were for non-residents. More than 900 of those non-residents were from Texas, Wyoming and Nebraska. Whats next: Its impossible to predict how many more patients from states surrounding Colorado will potentially seek care now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. But the Texas law could induce more people to come. Oklahoma now has an early pregnancy abortion ban; Utah and Wyoming have trigger laws banning abortion now Roe is overturned; the Kansas Constitution protects abortion rights, but Republican lawmakers placed on an August primary ballot an initiative to overturn it. ___ CONNECTICUT Political control: Democrats who control the Connecticut General Assembly support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: Connecticut passed a law in 1990 giving women the legal right to abortion. Having passed with strong bipartisan support, it was lauded at the time for being a rare compromise between abortion rights advocates and opponents. It affirmed a womans unqualified right to an abortion prior to viability of the fetus, as well as later-term abortions necessary to preserve the life and health of the pregnant woman. It also repealed state laws predating Roe v. Wade that had made it a felony to have an abortion or to perform one and required that patients under 16 receive counseling about their options. This year, Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation to protect medical providers and patients from out-of-state legal actions. The same law allows advanced practice registered nurses, nurse-midwives or physician assistants to perform aspiration abortions in the first 12 weeks of a pregnancy. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Connecticut Attorney General William Tong, a Democrat, has vowed to challenge any attempt to nullify Connecticuts abortion rights law. Lets not mince words. They will come for us, Tong warned abortion rights supporters during a recent news conference. We will fight that effort tooth-and-nail. Any court, any place, Connecticut will be there and will fight. The state is already involved in major abortion cases across the country. And while Connecticut is surrounded by mostly pro-abortion states, its still bracing for out-of-state patients seeking abortions now that Roe has been overturned. Whats next: Connecticuts new law protecting abortion providers from other states bans takes effect on July 1. It creates a legal cause of action for providers and others sued in another state, enabling them to recover certain legal costs. It also limits the governors discretion to extradite someone accused of performing an abortion, as well as participation by Connecticut courts and agencies in those lawsuits. Theres discussion of possibly amending the states constitution to enshrine the right to abortion, making it more difficult to overturn, but that would be a multi-year process. ___ DELAWARE Political control: Democrats control the governors office and both chambers of the legislature in Delaware and have taken several steps to ensure access to abortion. Background: In 2017, Delaware became the first state following the election of President Donald Trump to codify the right to an abortion. A bill signed by Gov. John Carney, a Catholic, guarantees the unfettered right to an abortion before a fetus is deemed viable. The law defines viability as the point in a pregnancy when, in a physicians good faith medical judgment, there is a reasonable likelihood that the fetus can survive outside the uterus without the application of extraordinary medical measures. The law also allows abortion after fetal viability if, in a doctors good faith medical judgment, abortion is necessary for the protection of the womans life or health, or if there is a reasonable likelihood that the fetus cannot survive without extraordinary medical measures. The law eliminated existing code restrictions on abortions, much of which had already been declared unenforceable by Delawares attorney general in 1973 following the Supreme Court rulings in Roe v. Wade and Doe v. Bolton. In April of this year, Carney signed a bill allowing physician assistants and advanced practice registered nurses to prescribe abortion-inducing medications including mifepristone and misoprostol. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: In Delaware, the privacy protections of Roe v. Wade are codified in state law, guaranteeing residents have access to legal abortion services even if Roe were to be undone at the federal level, Democratic lawmakers noted earlier this month in unveiling legislation further broadening access to abortions. The bill, which is likely to pass before the end of June, allows physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners and nurse midwifes to perform abortions before viability. It also includes various legal protections for abortion providers and patients, including out-of-state residents receiving abortions in Delaware. Those provisions include protections from civil actions in other states relating to the termination of a pregnancy, and protecting individuals from extradition to other states for criminal charges related to terminating a pregnancy. Whats next: According to state health officials, 2,042 abortions were performed in Delaware in 2019, with 1,765 involving Delaware residents and 277 involving nonresidents. Delaware is not likely to see a huge influx of women traveling from out of state to get abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned, given that neighboring Maryland and New Jersey also have liberal abortion-access laws. In neighboring Pennsylvania, where Republicans control both chambers of the Legislature, future abortion access could hinge on the outcome of this years gubernatorial contest. ___ DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Political control: The local government in the nations capital is completely controlled by Democrats, with a Democratic mayor and the D.C. Council split between Democrats and nominal independent politicians, who are all, invariably, Democrats. Background: Abortion is legal in the District of Columbia at all stages of pregnancy, a status that was upheld in the 1971 Supreme Court case United States v. Vuitch. However, the U.S. Congress has oversight power over D.C. laws and Congress has already banned the city from using local funds to pay for abortions for women on Medicaid. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Elected officials in Washington, D.C., fear Congress could move to restrict abortion access, particularly if Republicans recapture the House of Representatives in midterm elections later this year. President Joe Biden could theoretically veto such a move, but that protection is subject to political calculations and is not guaranteed. Whats next: Local officials have pledged defiance against any sort of Congressional move to restrict local abortion access. The D.C. Council is considering legislation that would declare Washington, D.C., a sanctuary city for those coming from states where abortion is banned. According to federal data, most of the women getting abortions in Washington already are coming from out of state. Those numbers could increase, particularly if new Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin moves to restrict abortion access in neighboring Virginia. ___ FLORIDA Political control: Republicans control both chambers of the Florida Legislature and this year passed a ban on abortions after 15 weeks, which was signed into law by the states Republican governor. Background: Abortion was legal in Florida until the 24th week of pregnancy, though lawmakers have been tightening access in recent years with bills requiring a one-day waiting period and requiring parents of a pregnant minor to be notified before an abortion can be provided. This year, in anticipation of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, the Legislature passed a ban on abortions after the 15th week, except to save the mothers life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. It does not allow for exemptions in cases where pregnancies were caused by rape or incest. Gov. Ron DeSantis called the legislation the most significant protections for life that have been enacted in this state in a generation. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The decision places Floridas 15-week ban on firm legal ground, at least under federal law. However, the legislation is being challenged in state court on arguments that it violates a guarantee of the right to privacy under the state constitution. Whats next: Floridas 15-week ban took effect July 1, but it will be in place only temporarily after a judge ruled that it "violates the privacy provision of the Florida Constitution. The law will be in effect only until the judge signs his written order, something that is expected to happen within the week. Although only about 2% of Floridas abortions take place after 15th week, abortion rights advocates have expressed concern over declining access to the procedure not only for Floridians but for residents from nearby Southern states where restrictions have historically been stricter than in Florida. ___ GEORGIA Political control: Georgia has a Republican legislature and governor who support abortion restrictions, but all are up for election this November. Republicans are likely to retain legislative control, but theres a possibility a Democrat could become governor. Background: Georgia lawmakers in 2019 passed a law by one vote that would ban most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy, when fetal cardiac activity can be detected. The measure is unlike other so-called heartbeat bills in that it also contains language designating a fetus as a person for certain state-law purposes such as income tax deductions and child support. A federal judge quickly put the law on hold and in 2020 struck it down, saying it was unconstitutional. The state appealed to the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The 11th Circuit said it would wait to rule on the appeal pending a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in the Mississippi case. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The day the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Georgias attorney general asked the 11th Circuit to reverse the lower courts ruling and allow the states abortion law to take effect. That same day, the 11th Circuit directed the parties to file briefs within three weeks addressing what effect, if any, the Supreme Court decision has on the Georgia appeal. If the law takes effect, it would ban the large majority of abortions that currently take place in Georgia about 87%, according to providers. The change could happen in the middle of tightly contested races in Georgia for governor and U.S. Senate. Democratic U.S. Sen. Raphael Warnock and challenger for governor Stacey Abrams say they want to secure abortion rights. Republican Senate challenger Herschel Walker and incumbent Republican Gov. Brian Kemp support restrictions. Whats next: Some Republican lawmakers and candidates want Georgia to go further and ban abortion entirely, but Kemp is unlikely to call a special session before this Novembers general election. Lawmakers are likely to consider further action when they return for their annual session in January. The Legislature or courts will have to sort out whether the provisions designating a fetus as a person are workable. ___ HAWAII Political control: Hawaiis governor is a Democrat and Democrats control more than 90% of the seats in the state House and Senate. Background: Hawaii legalized abortion in 1970, when it became the first state in the nation to allow the procedure at a womans request. The state allows abortion until a fetus would be viable outside the womb. After that, its legal if a patients life or health is in danger. For many years, only licensed physicians could perform the procedure. Last year, the state enacted a law allowing advanced practice care nurses to carry out in-clinic abortions during the first trimester. This helps women on more rural islands who have been flying to Honolulu to obtain abortions because of doctor shortages in their communities. The law allows the nurses to prescribe medication to end a pregnancy and to perform aspiration abortion, a type of minor surgery during which a vacuum is used to empty a womans uterus. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Existing Hawaii law allows abortions, but Gary Yamashiroya, a spokesperson for the state attorney generals office, has said the attorney general was carefully considering measures Hawaii might take to protect and strengthen reproductive rights if Roe ended. No matter the outcome, our state remains committed to reproductive freedom and choice, he said. Whats next: Political support for abortion rights is strong. Anti-abortion bills are rarely heard at the state Legislature. When they have been, they havent made it out of committee. Gov. David Ige issued a statement supporting abortion rights when the Supreme Courts draft opinion overturning Roe leaked. No matter what the Supreme Court decides, I will fight to ensure a womans right to choose in the State of Hawaii, he said. The Hawaii State Commission on the Status of Women earlier this month said 72% of the state Senate and 53% of state House members signed a pledge supporting abortion rights. ___ IDAHO Political control: Republicans hold super-majorities in the House and Senate and oppose access to abortion, as does the states Republican governor. Background: Following the U.S. Supreme Courts 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, Idaho passed a law generally allowing abortions in the first and second trimester up to viability at about 23 to 24 weeks. The law allows abortions after viability only to protect the mothers life or in cases of nonviable fetuses. This year, lawmakers passed a Texas-style ban prohibiting abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy and authorizing family members to sue medical providers for performing an abortion. That law is on hold following a challenge by Planned Parenthood. The Idaho Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in August. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: It triggers a 2020 Idaho law banning all abortions except in cases of reported rape or incest, or to protect the mothers life, to take effect in 30 days. Under the law, the person performing the abortion could face a felony prosecution punishable by up to five years in prison. In cases of rape or incest, the law requires pregnant women to file a police report and provide a copy of the report to the provider prior to an abortion. If the Idaho Supreme Court upholds the states Texas-style abortion ban and Roe v. Wade is tossed aside, a medical provider who performs an abortion in Idaho could face a lawsuit and criminal charges. Whats Next: Pregnant women seeking abortions will have to travel out of state; the nearest abortion providers would be in Washington, Oregon, Nevada and Colorado. Planned Parenthood is renting space in the town of Ontario on the Idaho-Oregon border and says its preparing for an influx of patients seeking abortions. Some Republican lawmakers in Idaho might propose new legislation in January to outlaw abortion pills and emergency contraception. ___ ILLINOIS Political control: Illinois is overwhelmingly Democratic with laws providing greater access to abortion than most states. Democrats hold veto-proof supermajorities in the House and Senate, and the Democratic first-term governor seeking reelection this year, J.B. Pritzker, has promoted peaceful street protests to protect the constitutional right to an abortion. Background: Abortion is legal in Illinois and can only be restricted after the point of viability, when a fetus is considered able to survive outside the womb. Medical science determines viability at 24 to 26 weeks, but the Illinois law does not specify a timeframe, saying a medical professional can determine viability in each case. Abortions are also allowed after viability to protect the patients life or health. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: It won't change access to abortion in Illinois. After the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the Illinois Abortion Act of 1975 legalized abortion but enacted a trigger law that would reinstate the ban if Roe were overturned. That trigger law was repealed in 2017 in legislation that also required Medicaid and state employees group health insurance to cover abortions. The 2019 Reproductive Health Act replaced the 1975 law, large parts of which were never enforced because they were found to be unconstitutional. Whats next: Like other states providing access to abortions, Illinois has seen a steady influx of patients crossing the state line for abortions in recent months and those numbers are expected to increase. Planned Parenthood of Illinois says it expects to handle an additional 20,000 to 30,000 patients in Illinois in the first year following the reversal of Roe. ___ INDIANA Political control: Indiana has a Republican-dominated Legislature and a Republican governor in favor of restricting abortion access. Background: Abortion in Indiana is legal up to about 20 weeks, with some provisions for medical emergencies. Before an abortion, patients must undergo an 18-hour waiting period. Medical providers must tell patients about the risks involved in abortion and must say the fetus can feel pain around 20 weeks, which is disputed. Providers must report complications related to abortion; failure to report can result in a misdemeanor, 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. Federal courts have blocked several restrictions in Indiana, including an attempt to ban a common second-trimester abortion procedure and a law that would have required doctors to tell pregnant women about a disputed treatment to potentially stop a drug-induced abortion. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: No immediate changes came from the decision, but the states Republican attorney general has asked federal judges to lift orders blocking several state anti-abortion laws. Those include one aimed at prohibiting abortions based on gender, race or disability, and another banning a common second-trimester abortion procedure that the legislation called dismemberment abortion. Whats next: Republican legislative leaders said they expected lawmakers to act on tightening Indianas abortion laws during a special legislative session starting July 6 but gave no details about what restrictions would be considered. Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb called the Legislature into a special session to take up a tax refund proposal, although state law allows legislators to consider any subject. The session can last up to 40 days. ___ IOWA Political control: Iowas legislature is controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict abortion access and a Republican governor who agrees and is up for reelection this year. Background: Iowa allows most abortions until the 20th week of pregnancy, when theyre banned except to save a patients life or prevent a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. In 2018, the state Supreme Court declared access to abortion a fundamental right under the state constitution, granting stronger protections to abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution. The states high court, now with a conservative majority, overturned that decision June 17, thus allowing a state law requiring a 24-hour waiting period to go into effect immediately. That requirement is being challenged in district court. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing is expected to change immediately in Iowa. The GOP-controlled Legislature has been working to get an amendment on the ballot in 2024 that would declare the state constitution does not grant a right to abortion but, with Roe overturned, Iowa lawmakers can ban abortion without completing that lengthy process. Whats next: Now that the Iowa Supreme Court has struck down its 2018 ruling, the state Legislature can convene a special session this summer and pass abortion restrictions. Republicans could still move to get the constitutional amendment on a public ballot in 2024. ___ KANSAS Political control: Kansas has a legislature controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict access to abortions but a Democratic governor who supports access and is up for re-election this year. Background: Under current law, Kansas does not ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, when theyre allowed only to save a patients life or to prevent a substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The state Supreme Court in 2019 declared that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution, granting stronger protections to abortion rights than the U.S. Constitution does currently. State law, however, doesnt allow providers to dispense abortion medications through telemedicine consultations. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Kansas. The state Supreme Court blocked enforcement of a 2015 legislative ban on a common second-trimester procedure, and abortion opponents fear a host of other rules could fall to legal challenges in the near future. The GOP-controlled Legislature responded by putting a constitutional amendment on the ballot during the Aug. 2 primary, when turnout is expected to be much lower than in a general election and will likely see a higher proportion of Republicans voting. The amendment would declare that the state constitution does not grant a right to abortion. It would allow lawmakers to restrict abortion as much as the federal courts will allow . Whats next: If voters approve the amendment, the Legislature would still have to approve the new restrictions, and lawmakers are out of session until January 2023. They can call themselves in to special session with two-thirds majorities, but theyre likely to wait until after voters decide in the November general election whether to give Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly a second term. ___ KENTUCKY Political control: Republicans have a supermajority in the Kentucky Legislature and have been restricting abortion rights since the 2016 election over the vetoes of Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who supports abortion rights and will seek a second term in 2023. Background: Kentucky bans abortions after 20 weeks, but all abortion services were temporarily halted in April after the legislature imposed new restrictions and reporting requirements on the states two abortion clinics. The clinics, both in Louisville, said they suspended abortions because state officials hadnt written guidelines on how to comply with the new law. Noncompliance could result in stiff fines, felony penalties and revocation of physician and facility licenses. Abortions resumed after a federal judge temporarily blocked key parts of the law, including a provision banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Abortion services in Kentucky immediately became illegal under a trigger law enacted in 2019. The measure contains a narrow exception allowing abortion to prevent the death or permanent injury of a pregnant woman. Kentuckians will be able to vote this November on a proposed amendment declaring there is no right to an abortion in the state constitution. Whats next: Abortion-rights activists say the suspension of abortion services in April foreshadowed what would happen in Kentucky and other Republican-leaning states if Roe v. Wade was overturned. It likely ends several legal challenges pending against other Kentucky abortion laws including a 2018 measure that abortion-rights supporters say would effectively ban a standard abortion method in the second trimester of pregnancy. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in March that Kentuckys Republican attorney general, Daniel Cameron, can defend the measure that was struck down by lower courts. ___ LOUISIANA Political control: Louisianas legislature is controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict abortion access. Its Democratic and Catholic governor also opposes abortions, though he supports exceptions for victims of rape or incest. Background: Voters approved a constitutional amendment in 2020 stating that a right to abortion and the funding of abortion shall not be found in the Louisiana Constitution. Of the about 2 million people who voted, 62% approved the amendment. Abortion had been legal in Louisiana through the 19th week of pregnancy. After that, it was legal only if the fetus would die anyway or if continuing the pregnancy would threaten the mothers life or health. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Louisiana has a trigger law that immediately outlaws abortions. There is no exception for rape or incest. The only exception is if there is substantial risk of death or impairment to the woman. Earlier this week, Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, signed a bill updating various aspects of the law and subjecting abortion providers to up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $100,000. Edwards office said the bill allows the use of emergency contraception for victims of rape and incest prior to when a pregnancy can be clinically diagnosed." Edwards signed another bill that would require the doctor to certify that a drug used for abortion was being prescribed for another medical reason. The bill makes it illegal to deliver abortion medication to a state resident by mail-order, courier, or as a result of a sale made via the internet. Whats next: Louisianas three abortion clinics in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport were no longer providing abortions to patients as of Friday and instead are recommending pregnant patients seeking the procedure to go to states where it remains legal. ___ MAINE Political control: Both chambers of the Maine Legislature, which has adjourned, are controlled by Democrats. Democratic Gov. Janet Mills has vowed to protect the right to an abortion, saying she will fight with everything I have to protect reproductive rights. Background: A Republican governor in 1993 signed a Maine law affirming the right to abortion before a fetus is viable. After that, abortion is only allowed if the life or health of the mother is at risk, or if the pregnancy is no longer viable. In 2019, lawmakers eliminated a physician-only rule and Mills signed it into law, allowing nurse practitioners, physician assistants and other medical professionals to perform abortions. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change in Maine. Any attempt to restrict abortions when lawmakers reconvene next year would face fierce pushback. Abortion providers, meanwhile, said there could be an influx of patients seeking abortions from states that outlaw the procedure. Whats next: Any major changes are unlikely unless former Gov. Paul LePage, a Republican, unseats Mills and Republicans take control of both chambers of the Legislature in November. LePage, a Catholic who opposes abortion rights, has said its up to lawmakers to address the abortion issue as they see fit. ___ MARYLAND Political control: Marylands legislature is controlled by Democrats who expanded abortion access this year by ending a restriction that only physicians can provide them and requiring most insurance plans to cover abortion care without cost. The legislature overrode Republican Gov. Larry Hogans veto of the bill in April. Background: The right to abortion is protected in Maryland law. The state approved legislation in 1991 to protect abortion rights if the Supreme Court should ever restrict access. Voters approved the right in 1992 with 62% of the vote. Maryland law prohibits restrictions on abortion prior to viability. Maryland does not have a gestational limit. After viability, clinicians make the determination, based on clinical standard of care. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Maryland law. Whats next: Marylands new law that will enable nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants to provide abortions with training is set to take effect July 1. However, $3.5 million in state funding to provide training isnt mandated until fiscal year 2024. Hogan, who is term limited, has indicated he will not approve the money sooner. Some nurse practitioners, nurse midwives and physician assistants already have received training on medication abortion and will be able to provide those services starting next month. ___ MASSACHUSETTS Political control: The Democrats who control the Massachusetts Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Republican governor, although they differ on specific policies. Background: Massachusetts once had a contentious relationship with abortion in part due to the powerful influence of the Catholic Church, which opposes it. In recent years, that influence has waned and Massachusetts has become a strong supporter of abortion rights. In 2018, in anticipation of the conservative tilt on the U.S. Supreme Court, the state removed an 1845 abortion ban from its books that was not enforced. Two years later, Democratic state lawmakers clashed with Republican Gov. Charlie Baker who says he supports access to abortion over an effort to codify abortion rights into state law, allow abortions after 24 weeks of pregnancy in cases where the child would not survive after birth, and lower from 18 to 16 the age at which women could seek an abortion without consent from a parent or guardian. Lawmakers passed the bill dubbed the Roe Act over Bakers veto. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Baker has vowed to fight to keep abortion legal in Massachusetts, but it is his last year in office. Both Democratic candidates for governor state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz and Attorney General Maura Healey support abortion rights. Republican candidate Geoff Diehl said he believes in the need to protect human life wherever and whenever possible. Fellow GOP candidate Chris Doughty said he would not seek any changes to our states abortion laws. Whats next: There is little chance Massachusetts will restrict abortion rights. Baker signed an executive order June 24 barring state agencies from assisting another states investigation into people or businesses for receiving or delivering reproductive health services that are legal in Massachusetts. The state also wont cooperate with extradition requests from states pursuing criminal charges against such individuals. The state House of Representatives has approved a bill later that is similar to the governors executive order. It would add protections into state law for individuals seeking abortions and providers so they would not be subject to actions taken by other states. ___ MICHIGAN Political control: Both chambers of Michigans legislature are controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict abortion access, but the states Democratic governor supports access. Background: A dormant 1931 law bans nearly all abortions in Michigan but it hasnt been enforced since Roe v. Wade. The law made it a felony to use an instrument or administer any substance with the intent to abort a fetus unless necessary to preserve the womans life. It has no exceptions in cases of rape and incest. Anticipating that Roe could be overturned, Planned Parenthood of Michigan filed a lawsuit challenging Michigans ban. A state judge suspended the law in May, saying it violates the states constitution. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, hailed the decision. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The injunction granted in the Planned Parenthood case ensures that abortion does not immediately become illegal. Planned Parenthood of Michigan and other supporters hope the injunction indicates abortion rights in the state will be preserved. But in a statement to The Associated Press, Nessels office said given the ongoing lawsuits, we cannot speculate what the state of abortion rights will be in Michigan after Roe. Whats next: Whitmer also filed suit asking the states Supreme Court to declare the 91-year-old law unconstitutional. It has not acted yet. Michigan abortion rights supporters hope to put the issue on ballots this fall. Their proposed constitutional amendment would affirm the right to make pregnancy-related decisions without interference, including about abortion and other reproductive services such as birth control. The Reproductive Freedom for All committee needs to collect about 425,000 valid voter signatures by July 11 to make the November ballot. The measure would become law if voters approved it. The issue also is expected to shape statewide elections Whitmer and Nessel are both up for reelection in the fall and legislative races. ___ MINNESOTA Political control: The Minnesota Legislature is divided; Anti-abortion Republicans control the Senate and Democrats have the House, but the majorities are slim in both chambers, so control will be up for grabs in the November elections. Most legislative Democrats support abortion rights. Democratic Gov. Tim Walz has said no abortion ban will ever become law while hes governor. But he faces a challenge this year from Republican Scott Jensen, who opposes abortion rights. Background: Abortion is legal in Minnesota up to the point of fetal viability, around the 24th week of pregnancy. The state has some restrictions, including a 24-hour waiting period with state-mandated counseling, both parents generally must be notified prior to a minor getting an abortion, and only physicians can perform abortions. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Minnesota because the state Supreme Court ruled in 1995 that the state constitution protects abortion rights. If Republicans take control of both chambers, they could put a constitutional amendment on the ballot as soon as 2024 to reverse that ruling, but its not clear yet if they would take that path. Minnesota governors cant block constitutional amendments with vetoes. But amendments are hard to enact because they require the backing of most of the citizens voting in that election, not just those voting on the amendment. Leaving the ballot blank counts as a no. Whats next: Providers are preparing for a surge in women coming from other states to get abortions. Sarah Stoesz, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood North Central States, said before the ruling that her organization was fortifying its delivery systems, including telemedicine. Dr. Sarah Traxler, the groups medical director, has said demand in Minnesota is expected to rise by up to 25%. ___ MISSISSIPPI Political control: Republican Gov. Tate Reeves and leaders of the Republican-controlled Mississippi Legislature have been working for years to chip away at abortion access. Background: Mississippi already had a law banning most abortions at 20 weeks, although the states lone abortion clinic offered the procedure only through 16 weeks. The state tried to enact a law in 2018 to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. That law is the basis for the case that the Supreme Court has now used to overturn Roe v. Wade. A federal district judge blocked Mississippis 15-week law from taking effect in 2018, and an appeals court agreed. The Supreme Court agreed to take the case in 2021. Justices heard arguments in December, with the Mississippi attorney generals office saying the court should overturn Roe v. Wade. Mississippi has one abortion clinic, and it stops offering abortions at 16 weeks. Reeves was lieutenant governor in 2018, when Mississippi tried to enact the 15-week ban, and in 2019, when the state tried to enact a six-week ban. Mississippi law does not allow providers to dispense abortion medications through telemedicine consultations. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Mississippis only abortion clinic, Jackson Womens Health Organization, is expected to close by early July unless a judge blocks a trigger law. The clinic filed a lawsuit Monday challenging the 2007 law that bans most abortions if Roe v. Wade is overturned. That law is set to take effect July 7. Abortions still would be allowed if the womans life is endangered by the pregnancy or if the pregnancy was caused by a rape that was reported to law enforcement. Any person who knowingly performs or attempts to induce an abortion, except the pregnant woman, could be punished by up to 10 years in prison. Whats next: Mississippis 2007 law says the state attorney general must publish a notice in a state administrative bulletin after the U.S. Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade. Mississippis ban on most abortions will take effect 10 days after that publication. ___ MISSOURI Political control: Both GOP Gov. Mike Parson and the Republican-led Legislature support laws against abortion. Background: Missouri law previously allowed abortions up until 22 weeks of pregnancy. But a 2019 state law banned abortions except in cases of medical emergency, contingent upon the U.S. Supreme Court overturning its 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Under that Missouri law, performing an illegal abortion is a felony punishable by 5 to 15 years in prison, though women receiving abortions cannot be prosecuted. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The 2019 law contained a provision making it effective upon notification by the attorney general, governor or Legislature that the U.S. Supreme Court had overruled Roe v. Wade. Moments after Fridays Supreme Court decision, Attorney General Eric Schmitt and Gov. Mike Parson filed the necessary paperwork for Missouris law to kick in. State statutes were subsequently updated online Friday saying the abortion-ban law had taken effect. Whats next: Some Missouri residents wanting abortions are likely to travel to neighboring states, including Illinois and Kansas. A new Illinois logistics center near St. Louis helps women from out of state find travel, lodging and childcare if they need help getting to the area for an abortion, and it connects them with funding sources. The Kansas Supreme Court in 2019 declared that access to abortion is a fundamental right under the state constitution. Even without the ban in Missouri, the number of Missouri patients seeking abortions in Kansas has gone up in recent years, increasing about 8% from 2020 to 2021. ___ MONTANA Political control: The Republicans who control the Montana Legislature and Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte want to limit access to abortion. Background: Abortion used to be legal in Montana up until viability, or about 24 weeks of pregnancy, but the state Legislature passed a bill in 2021 to reduce that to 20 weeks, arguing that is when the fetus can feel pain. That law, along with one that requires chemical abortions to be done with in-person medical supervision, are being challenged in court. A state judge temporarily blocked enforcement in October 2021 while the challenges move through the courts. The state has asked the Montana Supreme Court to vacate that injunction and overturn a 1999 Montana Supreme Court opinion that found the states constitutional right to privacy guarantees a womans access to abortion care. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The effect is unclear because of the unresolved legal challenges to the 2021 state legislation. Montana does not have an abortion ban that was triggered when Roe v. Wade was overturned, but the Legislature could seek to further restrict access in the next session. Whats next: The Montana Supreme Court will issue a decision on the preliminary injunction. The Montana Legislature also passed a referendum to ask voters this November whether they support a state law to require abortion providers to give lifesaving treatment to a fetus that is born alive after a botched abortion. Opponents argue federal law already offers those protections. ___ NEBRASKA Political control: Nebraska has an officially nonpartisan legislature with a Republican majority, but not a super-majority that would let the party unilaterally pass an abortion ban. Democrats appear to have enough votes to block such a bill, but just one defector could swing the vote. Nebraskas Republican governor vehemently opposes abortion. Background: Nebraska allows most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy, although a few small towns have voted to outlaw the procedure within their borders. The state requires doctors to be physically present when patients take the first of two drugs that are used in medication abortions. Lawmakers have rejected attempts to allow abortion medications to be administered remotely, which would provide easier abortion access in rural areas. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: A ruling that lets states set their own abortion laws will trigger an immediate push by Nebraska conservatives to ban the procedure, but its not clear whether they could do it this year. Unlike other conservative states, Nebraska doesnt have a trigger law that automatically outlaws abortion. Gov. Pete Ricketts and other top Republicans have said theyll seek a special legislative session, but its not clear whether they have enough votes to pass anything. Whats next: If Ricketts calls a special session, attention will likely shift to state Sen. Justin Wayne, an Omaha Democrat who has declined to specify where he stands on abortion. Wayne was notably absent from a vote on the issue this year; his support would give Republicans the super-majority they need to enact a ban. He has struck deals with senators from both parties in the past. If a proposed abortion ban fails during a special session or if no special session is called, the issue will likely become a factor in the November election. ___ NEVADA Political control: Nevadas governor and state attorney general are Democrats who are up for reelection this year. Democrats control the state Senate and Assembly. Background: Nevada voters enshrined the right to abortion in the state constitution in 1990. The law says a pregnancy can be terminated during the first 24 weeks, and after that to preserve the life or health of the pregnant person. It would take another statewide vote to change or repeal the law. Most Republican candidates for Congress, governor, state attorney general and other statewide posts say they oppose abortions. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Here in Nevada, overturning Roe would not be felt immediately, state Attorney General Aaron Ford said in a position paper released after the draft U.S. Supreme Court opinion became public. Ford noted that a federal ban on abortion would supersede state law and said it would be naive not to recognize that some people want to ban abortions or make them more difficult to obtain. But he said his office will fight attacks on abortion rights, rights to birth control access and rights for LGTBQ people. Gov. Steve Sisolak on June 28 signed an executive order protecting abortion patients and providers from prosecution by other states. State agencies are barred from assisting other states in investigations of people who come to Nevada from other states for abortions. The order also protects providers from discipline and having their license revoked. Whats next: Anti-abortion advocates are not expected to focus on trying to repeal Nevadas abortion law. But they will seek laws affecting waiting periods, mandatory counseling or requiring parental notification or consent. Melissa Clement, executive director of Nevada Right to Life, said she believes there is strong support for parental involvement. ___ NEW HAMPSHIRE Political control: New Hampshire has a Republican governor and the GOP controls the 424-member Legislature. All face reelection this fall. Background: Any abortion restrictions New Hampshire had on the books before Roe v. Wade were not enforced after the landmark 1973 ruling, and they were repealed altogether in 1997. The state had no restrictions until January, when a ban on abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy was enacted. In June, an exemption was added for cases in which the fetus has been diagnosed with abnormalities incompatible with life. Anticipating the Supreme Court action, Democrats this year tried unsuccessfully to enshrine abortion rights into state law and the state constitution. Gov. Chris Sununu calls himself pro-choice and says he is committed to upholding Roe v. Wade, but he also has boasted Ive done more on the pro-life issue than anyone. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in New Hampshire. The Legislature wont return until fall, when there will be a one-day session to take up vetoed bills, and it would take a two-thirds majority vote to introduce new legislation then. Whats next: The majority leader of the New Hampshire House has said the public should not expect Republicans in the Legislature to further tighten state abortion laws. But anti-abortion lawmakers who have filed bills in the past are expected to try again. Democrats are urging Sununu to call a special session of the Legislature to codify abortion rights into state law, but both he and Republican legislative leaders say there is no need. ___ NEW JERSEY Political control: Democrats control both houses of the state Legislature and the governorship. Gov. Phil Murphy started his second consecutive term this year. Background: Murphy ran for reelection on the promise that he would sign legislation to enshrine abortion rights into state law, and he fulfilled that promise in January. The measure also guaranteed the right to contraception and the right to carry a pregnancy to term. It stopped short of requiring insurance coverage for abortions, something advocates had sought. Instead, it authorizes the state Banking and Insurance Department to study the issue and possibly adopt regulations if a need is discovered. Under Murphys predecessor, Republican Chris Christie, state funds to womens clinics, including Planned Parenthood, were slashed. Murphy restored those and has been a strong supporter of abortion rights. New Jersey doesnt have any significant restrictions on abortion, such as parental consent or a mandatory waiting period. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Officials, including the governor, have said the end of Roe would not lead to any rollback of abortion services in the state. Instead of hoping for the best, we prepared ourselves for the worst, Murphy said in May, addressing reports of a leaked draft of a Supreme Court ruling. What's next: A week after the Supreme Courts ruling, Murphy signed two bills aimed at protecting the right to abortion for out-of-state residents and barring extradition of providers and patients to states that have prohibited the procedure. Another bill that would require health insurance companies to cover abortion services and set aside $20 million for access to the procedure remains pending in the Legislature. The bill would set aside $5 million for an abortion training program, $5 million for a health security grant and $10 million for health care facilities. ___ NEW MEXICO Political control: The Democrats who control the New Mexico Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Several conservative Democratic state senators who voted against the repeal of the abortion ban in 2019 were ousted from office in 2020 by more socially progressive primary challengers. Background: In 2021, state lawmakers repealed a dormant 1969 statute that outlawed most abortion procedures as felonies, thus ensuring access to abortion even after the federal court rolled back guarantees. Albuquerque is home to one of only a few independent clinics in the country that perform abortions in the third trimester without conditions. An abortion clinic in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, is just a mile from the state line with Texas and caters to patients from El Paso, western Texas and Arizona. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: There will be no immediate change in New Mexico now that the high court has overturned Roe v. Wade. It is unclear if Democrats, who control the state Legislature, will pursue additional guarantees to abortion access when lawmakers convene in January. Possible avenues of legislative reform include enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution, which requires approval by voters. Abortion rights activists say the states equal rights amendment could be harnessed to guide more public funding for abortion-related programs. Raul Torrez, the district attorney in Albuquerque and the Democratic nominee for attorney general, is urging lawmakers to take further steps to protect access to abortions, including protections for women coming from other states. The state Republican Party said its time to elect more anti-abortion candidates to the Legislature. Whats next: The state can expect to continue to see a steady influx of people seeking abortions from neighboring states with more restrictive abortion laws. It already hosts patients from Texas and Oklahoma where among the strictest abortion bans in the country were introduced this year. ___ NEW YORK Political control: The Democrats who control the New York Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: Abortion has been legal in New York state since a 1970 law was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed by Republican Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller. The law allows abortions within the first 24 weeks of pregnancy or to preserve the mothers life. The 2019 Reproductive Health Act removed abortion from the states criminal code, codified Roe v. Wade and allowed abortions after 24 weeks if a fetus isnt viable or to protect the mothers life or health. Lawmakers have passed laws extending legal protections for people seeking and providing abortions in New York. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Roe v. Wade protections are enshrined in state law. New York is planning to give abortion providers $35 million this year to expand services and boost security in anticipation of an influx of out-of-state people seeking abortions once any ruling comes down. Its unclear how many more people from neighboring states could travel to New York to receive abortion care. New York had 252 facilities providing abortions as of 2017, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. Whats next: Planned Parenthood and civil liberty groups are urging lawmakers to start the process of passing a constitutional amendment protecting access to abortion care in case a future Legislature repeals the state law. ___ NORTH CAROLINA Political control: Republicans hold majorities in the state House and Senate, but the party lacks the margins to defeat a veto by Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, a strong abortion-rights supporter. Since 2017, Cooper has vetoed a born-alive abortion measure and a bill prohibiting abortion based on race or a Down syndrome diagnosis. He cant seek reelection in 2024 due to term limits. Background: A 1973 North Carolina law that banned most abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy is currently unenforceable after federal judges struck it down as unconstitutional in 2019 and 2021. Instead, abortions can be performed until fetal viability. A state law approved in 2015 provides for post-viability abortions only in a medical emergency, which means the woman would die or face a serious risk of substantial and irreversible physical impairment without the procedure. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, the 20-week ban could be restored. Legal experts say formal action would have to be taken to cancel the earlier court rulings striking it down. On the day of the ruling, Republican legislative leaders asked state Attorney General Josh Stein, a Democrat and abortion rights supporter whose agencys lawyers defended the 20-week law, to act. Otherwise, they said they would seek to intervene. In a response Friday, Stein didnt commit to going to court, telling lawmakers that his offices attorneys are conducting a thorough legal review that may take weeks to complete. Whats next: Republican General Assembly leaders didnt consider additional abortion restrictions in their legislative session that ended July1. The party will likely intensify its efforts in this year's elections to gain the five additional seats it needs for veto-proof margins. Cooper and other Democrats already are making abortion rights a key campaign issue. Abortion politics also are expected to figure into two state Supreme Court elections in November. Republicans would gain a majority on the court if they win at least one of them. ___ NORTH DAKOTA Political control: North Dakota has a legislature dominated by Republicans who want to ban abortion, and the GOP governor had hoped to see Roe v. Wade wiped off the books in favor of states rights. Background: The state has passed some of the nations strictest abortion laws, including one that would have banned abortions once a fetal heartbeat can be detected, which can happen before a woman knows she is pregnant. The law never took effect because the states lone abortion clinic successfully challenged it in court. One failed Republican proposal would have charged abortion providers with murder with a maximum sentence of life in prison. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: North Dakota has a trigger law that will shut down the states sole abortion clinic in Fargo after 30 days. That 2007 state law makes it a felony to perform an abortion unless necessary to prevent the pregnant womans death or in cases of rape or incest. Violators could be punished with a five-year prison sentence and a $10,000 fine. Whats next: The owner and operator of the Red River Womens Clinic in Fargo said she would explore all legal options to ensure abortion services are available in North Dakota. Should that fail, clinic leader Tammi Kromenaker plans to move across the river to Moorhead, Minnesota, where abortion has not been outlawed. Planned Parenthood says it can provide abortions in Moorhead until Kromenaker gets up and running. ___ OHIO Political control: The Ohio Legislature is controlled by Republicans who support restricting or banning abortions, and the Republican governor backs those efforts. He is up for reelection this year against a former mayor who supports abortion rights. Background: Before Friday's ruling, Ohio did not ban most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy; after that theyre allowed only to save a patients life or when their health is seriously compromised. But the state imposes a host of other restrictions, including parental consent for minors, a required ultrasound, and in-person counseling followed by a 24-hour waiting period. Abortions are prohibited for the reason of a fetal Down syndrome diagnosis. Ohio also limits the public funding of abortions to cases of rape, incest or endangerment of the patients life. It limits public employees abortion-related insurance coverage and coverage through health plans offered in the Affordable Care Act health exchange to those same scenarios. Clinics providing abortions must comply with a host of regulations. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: A ban on most abortions at the first detectable fetal heartbeat became the law in Ohio hours after the ruling. Enforcement of Ohios 2019 heartbeat ban had been on hold for nearly three years under a federal court injunction. The state attorney general, Republican Dave Yost, asked for that to be dissolved because of the high courts ruling, and U.S. Judge Michael Barrett agreed hours later. Two trigger bills are on hold in the Legislature, but a key legislative leader has said he anticipates needing to write new legislation after the decision is reversed that more carefully reflects the actual ruling. That all but certainly would not happen until lawmakers return to the capital after the November election. Whats next: Activists are considering how to help Ohioans get abortions elsewhere. They may also mount a statewide ballot initiative that would embed the right to an abortion in the state constitution, though that could not happen before next year. Abortion opponents are weighing strategies for imposing a statewide abortion ban. ___ OKLAHOMA Political control: Republicans in Oklahoma have a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature and a Republican governor up for reelection this year who has vowed to sign every pro-life legislation that came across my desk. Background: Abortion services were halted in Oklahoma in May after Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a bill that prohibits all abortions with few exceptions. The ban is enforced by civil lawsuits rather than criminal prosecution. Republican lawmakers have been pushing to restrict abortion in the state for decades, passing 81 different restrictions since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973, according to the Guttmacher Institute. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: It will have little practical effect given that abortions are no longer being provided in Oklahoma. Oklahoma also has a trigger law that outlawed abortion as soon as Roe was overturned. Whats next: Given the fierce opposition to abortion from the governor and Legislature, Oklahoma will continue to prohibit the practice if states are given the option to do so. Meanwhile, abortion providers who had been operating in the state are taking steps to help patients seek abortions out of state, including coordinating funding for these women and developing a referral network of therapists to help address complications before or after a woman receives an abortion. ___ OREGON Political control: The Democrats who control the Oregon Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: The Oregon Legislature passed a bill legalizing abortion in 1969. In 2017, Gov. Kate Brown signed into law a bill expanding health care coverage for reproductive services, including abortions, to thousands of Oregonians, regardless of income, citizenship status or gender identity. Oregon does not have any major abortion restrictions and it is legal at all stages of pregnancy. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The Guttmacher Institute has estimated that Oregon will experience a 234% increase in women seeking abortions arriving from out of state, especially from Idaho. In March, Oregon lawmakers approved $15 million to expand abortion availability and pay for abortions and support services such as travel and lodgings for residents and out-of-state patients. Whats next: Brown said after the draft Supreme Court decision was leaked that access to abortion is a fundamental right and that she will fight to ensure access to abortion continues to be protected by state law in Oregon. Democratic state lawmakers recently formed the Reproductive Health and Access to Care Work Group of providers, clinics, community organizations and legislators that will make recommendations for the 2023 legislative session and beyond. Recommendations may include proposals to protect, strengthen, and expand equitable access to all forms of reproductive care. ___ PENNSYLVANIA Political control: Republicans who control the Pennsylvania Legislature are hostile to abortion rights, but the states Democratic governor is a strong supporter and has vetoed three GOP-penned bills in five years that would have added restrictions beyond the states 24-week limit. The race for governor this year could tilt that balance. Background: Abortion is legal in Pennsylvania under decades of state law, including a 1989 law that was challenged all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. That produced the landmark Planned Parenthood v. Casey ruling that affirmed the high courts 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion nationwide, but also allowed states to put certain limits on abortion access. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Gov. Tom Wolf has vowed to protect access to abortion for the remainder of his time in office, through January. Running to replace him is the states Democratic attorney general, Josh Shapiro, who supports abortion rights, and Republican state Sen. Doug Mastriano, who has said he supports banning abortion altogether, with no exceptions. The Legislature is expected to remain in Republican hands next year. Abortion clinics in some parts of the state already are experiencing fallout from the ruling. Less than a week after it came out, a clinic in Pittsburgh was flooded with patients who suddenly lost appointments in Ohio, the clinic director said. Clinic representatives are warning that Pennsylvanians will have a harder time finding appointments because of rising demand from out-of-state residents. Whats next: Legislation to outlaw abortion after the detection of a fetal heartbeat which can happen at six weeks, before many women even know they are pregnant has passed a House committee and is awaiting a floor vote. The state Supreme Court is considering a lawsuit filed by Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers aiming to overturn a 1982 law that bans the use of state dollars for abortion, except in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother. In response, Republican lawmakers are advancing a proposed amendment that would declare there is no constitutional right to an abortion in Pennsylvania or to public funding for an abortion. ___ RHODE ISLAND Political control: The Democrats who control Rhode Islands General Assembly support access to abortion, as does the Democratic governor. Background: Rhode Islands governor signed legislation in 2019 to enshrine abortion protections in case the U.S. Supreme Court overturned its 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade. The law says the state will not restrict the right to an abortion prior to fetal viability or after if necessary to protect the health or life of the pregnant woman. It repealed older laws deemed unconstitutional by the courts. The Rhode Island Supreme Court upheld the 2019 law in May, just two days after the Supreme Court draft opinion was leaked suggesting that a majority of the justices were prepared to overturn Roe. Abortion opponents had argued the law violates the state constitution. In 2020, there were 2,611 abortions in Rhode Island, according to the state health department. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Rhode Islands attorney general believes the 2019 Reproductive Privacy Act will continue to protect access to abortion. Planned Parenthood Votes! Rhode Island also said abortion will remain legal regardless of the decision because the right was codified in state law. Whats next: On the Monday after the Supreme Court decision, Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he will sign an executive order to shield abortion providers in the state from lawsuits by anti-abortion activists in other states. McKees office didnt have a date for the signing, but said the governor wants to act as soon as possible. Two of his opponents in September's Democratic primary for governor, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea and Matt Brown, had urged McKee to sign such an order. They also want state lawmakers to return for a special session to add abortion coverage to Rhode Islands Medicaid program and to the insurance coverage for state employees. Legislative leaders said they plan to address abortion coverage next year because it has financial implications and wasnt included in this year's budget. ___ SOUTH CAROLINA Political control: South Carolina has a Republican governor, and its General Assembly is dominated by the GOP. However, the party doesnt quite have the two-thirds majority in either chamber needed to overcome procedural hurdles or a veto if a Democrat wins the 2022 gubernatorial election. Background: In 2021, South Carolina passed the Fetal Heartbeat and Protection from Abortion Act that requires doctors to use an ultrasound to try to detect a fetal heartbeat if they think a pregnant woman is at least eight weeks along. If they find a heartbeat, they can only perform an abortion if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. The law is currently tied up in a federal lawsuit. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, a federal judge allowed the state to begin enforcing the 2021 law. Planned Parenthood and others dropped their lawsuit, but the organization said it would continue to perform abortions in South Carolina under the parameters of the new law. Whats next: The South Carolina General Assemblys regular session ended in May, but Republican leaders had agreed they could return for a special session to take up more restrictive abortion bills if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. They have yet to announce a special session, despite Friday's ruling. Some Republican lawmakers have opposed a complete abortion ban, especially without exceptions for victims of rape and incest. ___ SOUTH DAKOTA Political control: Republicans hold super-majorities in both Statehouse chambers. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem is up for reelection this year and has been an ardent opponent of abortion rights. Background: South Dakota law bans abortions except if the life of the woman is at risk. The state had only one clinic that regularly provided abortions, a Planned Parenthood facility in Sioux Falls. The Legislature has worked over the years to make it more difficult for women to get abortions, passing mandatory waiting periods and requiring them to review and sign paperwork that discourages them from ending their pregnancies. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: South Dakotas trigger law immediately banned abortions except if the life of the pregnant woman is at risk. Whats next: Noem has called for a special session to craft laws under the new legal landscape now that Roe v. Wade is overturned. She hasnt commented on specific legislation, but lawmakers have floated proposals that would make it more difficult for women to seek an abortion out of state. However, South Dakota voters rejected outright bans in 2006 and 2008, and abortion rights advocates are preparing for a similar referendum on abortion access. The ban on abortions could eventually be challenged through a citizen-initiated ballot measure. ___ TENNESSEE Political control: Tennessee has a Republican governor who is consistently vocal about his opposition to abortion. The GOP holds a supermajority in the state legislature and has steadily chipped away at abortion access. Background: In 2020, Tennessee passed a law banning most abortions when the fetal heartbeat can be detected at about six weeks, before many women know theyre pregnant. The measure has never been enforced because it was promptly blocked by a federal court. On June 28, a federal appeals court let it take effect. Tennessee voters approved an amendment in 2014 declaring that the states constitution doesnt protect or secure the right to abortion or require the funding of an abortion, and empowering state lawmakers to enact, amend, or repeal statutes regarding abortion. State law also doesnt allow providers to dispense abortion medications through telemedicine consultations. There are six abortion providers in Tennessee. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The states attorney general, a Republican, has said a trigger law will go into effect in mid-August that bans all abortions in Tennessee except when necessary to prevent death or serious risk of substantial and irreversible impairment of a major bodily function. Doctors could be charged with a felony for providing an abortion under the law. Whats next: Tennessees attorney general has said the trigger law will take precedence over the 2020 law banning most abortions at about six weeks. Meanwhile, Republicans are expected to continue to have supermajority control after this years midterm elections. Reproductive rights activists say they will direct patients seeking abortion to clinics in Illinois if Roe v. Wade is overturned, or to Florida, which would ban abortions at 15 weeks. North Carolina and Virginia also could be options for women in eastern Tennessee. ___ TEXAS Political control: The GOP has commanding majorities in the Texas Legislature and has controlled every statewide office for nearly 30 years. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is up for reelection in November and is favored to win a third term. Background: Texas has given the nation a preview of the landscape of abortion access without the protections enshrined in Roe v. Wade. A new Texas law banning most abortions after about six weeks before many women know they are pregnant took effect in September and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. Because of how Republicans wrote the law, which is enforceable only through lawsuits filed by private citizens against doctors or anyone who helps a woman obtain an abortion, Texas has essentially outmaneuvered decades of Supreme Court precedent governing a womens constitutional right to an abortion. State data shows the number of abortions performed in Texas roughly two dozen clinics fell by half in the five months after the law came into effect compared to the same period a year earlier. Effect of the Supreme Court ruling: Texas had more than 40 abortion clinics in 2012 before a decade of Republicans chipping away at abortion access began forcing providers to close. Without Roe v. Wade, Texas plans to ban virtually all abortions 30 days after the Supreme Court issues its judgment in the case, which could take about a month. Abortions would only be allowed when the patients life is in danger or if they are at risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function. Whats next: Many Texas women have already traveled out of state for abortions since the law took effect, but they would likely have to travel much farther now that Roe is overturned as more states outlaw abortion. Some Republican lawmakers also want to punish companies that help their Texas-based employees get abortions elsewhere, although its unclear how much support that idea will have when the Legislature returns in 2023. ___ UTAH Political control: Utah is deeply conservative and the Legislature is controlled by a Republican supermajority. Background: The state has been restricting abortion for years, including a ban after 18 weeks passed in 2019 thats now blocked in court. The following year, lawmakers passed a trigger law that would outlaw nearly all abortions if Roe v. Wade was overturned. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The trigger law banning nearly all abortions became enforceable Friday evening, after the legislative general counsel certified the Supreme Court ruling to lawmakers. It does have narrow exceptions for rape and incest if those crimes are reported to law enforcement, and for serious risk to the life or health of the mother, as well as confirmed lethal birth defects. Whats next: Utah law makes performing an abortion a felony punishable by up to 15 years in prison and a $10,000 fine. While its aimed primarily at providers, lawmakers have acknowledged that a woman who self-administers an abortion, including through medication, could potentially face charges. ___ VERMONT Political control: The Vermont Legislature is controlled by Democrats, but Republican Gov. Phil Scott is a firm supporter of abortion rights. Background: Vermont has a 2019 law guaranteeing the right to an abortion and voters will consider a proposal in November to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights. Also in 2019, the Vermont Legislature began the process of amending the constitution to protect abortion rights, known as the Reproductive Liberty Amendment or Proposition 5. Vermonts proposed amendment does not contain the word abortion. Proponents say thats because its not meant to authorize only abortion but also would guarantee other reproductive rights such as the right to get pregnant or access birth control. Opponents say vague wording could have unintended consequences that could play out for years. Lawmakers approved the proposed amendment in February, leading the way for a statewide vote. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Nothing will change immediately in Vermont. Whats next: Vermont voters will cast ballots in November to decide if the state will amend its constitution to protect abortion rights. ___ VIRGINIA Political control: Virginia has a Republican governor who says he would support new state-level restrictions on abortion. Gov. Glenn Youngkin said Friday that he will seek legislation to ban most abortions after 15 weeks. Youngkin told The Washington Post he has asked four antiabortion Republican lawmakers to draft the legislation. He told the Post that a cutoff at 20 weeks might be necessary to build consensus in the divided Virginia legislature, where Republicans control the House and Democrats control the Senate. Youngkin generally supports exceptions to abortion restrictions in cases of rape, incest or when the life of the mother is in danger. Background: In recent years, when Democrats were in full control of state government, lawmakers rolled back abortion restrictions. They ended strict building code requirements on facilities where abortions are performed and did away with requirements that a patient seeking an abortion undergo a 24-hour waiting period and ultrasound. Advocates said the changes would make Virginia a haven for abortion access in the South. Republican victories in the November elections shook up the states political landscape, but Senate Democrats defeated several measures that would have limited abortion access during the 2022 legislative session. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: There will be no immediate change to abortion laws in Virginia now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned. Some abortion providers expect to see an uptick in patients seeking care in Virginia from neighboring states with trigger laws that would ban abortion. Whats next: The future of abortion access is Virginia is murky. Senate Democrats say they intend to continue blocking attempts to roll back abortion access, though they control the chamber by the narrowest possible margin and have one caucus member who personally opposes abortion and says he is open to new restrictions. Republicans also have a narrow hold on the House, with several moderate members. Every seat in the General Assembly will be on the ballot in 2023. ___ WASHINGTON Political control: The Democrats who control the Washington Legislature support access to abortion, as does the states Democratic governor. Background: Abortion has been legal in Washington state since a 1970 statewide ballot referendum. Another ballot measure approved by voters in 1991 declared a womans right to choose physician-performed abortion prior to fetal viability and further expanded and protected access to abortion in the state if Roe v. Wade was overturned. And in 2018, the Legislature passed a measure that would require Washington insurers offering maternity care to also cover elective abortions and contraception. Earlier this year, Gov. Jay Inslee signed a measure that grants specific statutory authorization for physician assistants, advanced registered nurse practitioners and other providers acting within their scope of practice to perform abortions. Supporters say the move is designed to help meet the demand from the potential influx of out-of-state patients. That same measure also prohibits legal action by Washington state against people seeking an abortion and those who aid them. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The state will use every available tool to protect and preserve Washingtonians fundamental right to choose, and protect the rights of anyone who wants to come here to access reproductive health care, said Attorney General Bob Ferguson, a Democrat. Data from the Washington state Department of Health from 2020 shows that of the 16,909 abortions performed in the state that year, 852 involved non-residents. The majority of those people came from neighboring states such as Idaho and Oregon. Whats next: Its impossible to predict how many more non-resident patients will potentially seek care in Washington now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, but the increase will likely be in the thousands, said Jennifer Allen, CEO of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates. The state has more than 30 in-person abortion clinics, though the vast majority are in western Washington along the Interstate 5 corridor. ___ WEST VIRGINIA Political control: West Virginia has a legislature controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict access to abortions. Gov. Jim Justice, a Republican, opposes abortion access and has signed two anti-abortion laws since taking office in 2017. Background: Prior to the Supreme Court ruling, West Virginia law banned abortion after the 20th week of pregnancy unless a patients life is in danger or they face substantial and irreversible physical impairment of a major bodily function. The state has several other abortion restrictions that include: requiring patients seeking abortions to wait 24 hours after undergoing legislatively mandated counseling that is designed to discourage a woman from ending a pregnancy; requiring minors to get parental permission; banning the use of telemedicine to administer a medication abortion; and prohibiting abortions on the grounds that the child will be born with a disability. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: West Virginias only abortion clinic announced after the Supreme Courts ruling that it would immediately halt abortion services out of concern that staff could be prosecuted under a state law banning abortion that dates back to the 1800s. Charleston-based Womens Health Center of West Virginia Executive Director Katie Quinonez said it would be impossible for the clinic to continue performing abortions with such a law on the books. Under that law, providers who perform abortions can face felony charges and three to 10 years in prison, unless the abortion is conducted to save a patients life. The law makes no exceptions for rape or incest. In 2018, West Virginia voters approved a constitutional amendment to declare patients do not have the right to abortion and banning state funding for abortions. Whats next: State officials have not said formally how the 19th century abortion ban will be enforced. Abortion is addressed in numerous statutes in West Virginia state code, including the 20-week ban passed in 2015 that acknowledges the right to abortion access in the state. State Senate President Craig Blair and Speaker of the House Roger Hanshaw, both Republicans, said legislative attorneys are reviewing each statute on the books to determine how they apply" in light of the high court's decision. No lawmakers have commented on whether they intend to outlaw medication abortion. The governor has said he will not hesitate to call the Legislature into a special session if the states abortion law needs to be clarified. Quinonez said while her clinic is not currently performing abortions, it will remain open to continue to provide reproductive care, such as birth control and diagnosis, and to treat sexually transmitted diseases. She said the clinic will help women travel to other states for abortions through its abortion fund. ___ WISCONSIN Political control: Wisconsin has a legislature controlled by Republicans who want to ban or restrict access to abortions but a Democratic governor who supports access and is up for reelection this year. Background: Wisconsin has allowed most abortions until the 22nd week of pregnancy to save the health or life of the mother. A woman seeking an abortion must meet with a counselor and doctor before obtaining an abortion and wait at least 24 hours before having it done. Anyone under age 18 must have an adult relative over age 25 with them to obtain an abortion. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: Now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, it is presumed that a state law passed in 1849 making an abortion a felony offense could go into effect, and doctors have halted procedures. However, Wisconsins Democratic attorney general argues that the law is so old that its unenforceable. The language allows a woman to legally destroy her own fetus or embryo and grants immunity if an abortion is needed to save a womans life and is performed at a hospital. Another state law, passed in 1985, prohibits abortions performed after a fetus reaches viability -- when it could survive outside the womb -- conflicting with the 1849 ban. Whats next: Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed a lawsuit June 28 against Republican leaders of the state Legislature, arguing that the 1849 abortion ban conflicts with a 1985 law that prohibits abortion either after 20 weeks or at the point of fetal viability. His lawsuit says the 1985 law should take precedence. Republican lawmakers are expected to attempt to clarify the 19th century law during next years legislative session to ensure a ban is in place, even as that issue is being argued in the courts. Lawmakers efforts would be stymied if Democratic Gov. Tony Evers wins reelection. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, a Republican, said he supports a rape exception to an abortion ban, but also said the overturning of Roe could prompt Republican lawmakers to consider other reproductive issues, such as contraception. ___ WYOMING Political control: Wyoming has one of the most Republican legislatures in the U.S. and a long tradition of libertarian-type if not always social or religious conservatism. That may be changing. In March, Republican Gov. Mark Gordon signed into law a bill that would ban abortion in nearly all instances should the Supreme Court overturn Roe v. Wade. Background: Current Wyoming law allows abortions up to when a fetus might be able to survive on its own outside its mothers body. The law does not specify when that happens, but it is generally considered to be at around 23 weeks into pregnancy. Wyoming currently doesnt allow abortions after then except to protect the mother from substantial risk to her life or health. Wyoming Republicans have traditionally taken a hands-off approach to abortion but have proven more willing to limit the practice lately. The number of Democrats in the Legislature has dwindled from 26 in 2010 to just nine out of 90 total seats now. A 2021 law requires physicians to provide lifesaving care to any aborted fetus born alive. Effect of Supreme Court ruling: The new state law that bans abortion only provides exceptions in cases of rape or incest or to protect the mothers life or health, not including psychological conditions. Though Wyoming has no abortion clinics, abortions still occur. Ninety-eight took place in Wyoming in 2021, according to state officials. Whats next: A planned womens health clinic in Casper that would have been the only one offering abortions in the state was on track to open in mid-June but an arson fire May 25 delayed those plans by around six months. Clinic founder Julie Burkhart said Friday that, despite the ruling, she still plans to open the clinic and will continue to seek legal means to keep abortion legal in Wyoming. Police continue to look for a suspect in the arson investigation, and have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. ___ Associated Press statehouse reporters from across the U.S. contributed. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion UNDATED (AP) Moscow police on Monday reportedly detained one of the few politicians openly opposing the Kremlins war in Ukraine who remains in Russia. A journalist friend said Ilya Yashin, a municipal deputy, was taken into custody while they walked in a Moscow park. The journalist, Irina Babloyan, told the Tass news agency he was taken to a detention facility in the Russian capitals Luzhniki neighborhood. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate HONG KONG (AP) Will he go or not? Chinese President Xi Jinping kept Hong Kong guessing on Monday about his possible appearance at the 25th anniversary of the former British colonys return to Chinese rule. The government has yet to say whether he will be physically present for the events, which include the inauguration of the citys new chief executive. The event is hugely symbolic for Xi, who wants to be seen as propelling a national rejuvenation as he prepares for an expected third five-year term as head of the ruling Communist Party. Part of that is erasing the legacy of colonialism and what China regards as unequal treaties granting rights to foreign nations imposed during the waning years of the Qing Dynasty, which ended in 1911. Asked about Xi's attendance plans at a daily briefing Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said he had no additional information and that the reporter should ask the department responsible," without giving further details. Xi hasnt left mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic 2 1/2 years ago, and his exchanges with foreign leaders have been mainly limited to video calls. Hong Kong, meanwhile, faces a renewed rise in COVID-19 infections after an avalanche of cases this year threatened to overwhelm its hospitals. Chinas official media have said only that Xi will participate in the July 1 commemorations, without describing any travel plans. Xi gave a speech in Hong Kong for the 20th anniversary of its turnover in which he pledged the central government would take a hard line against any challenges to its authority. Pro-democracy protests in 2019 were followed by a sweeping crackdown that has effectively ended political opposition in the city. As with most matters concerning the ruling Communist Party, the travel plans of top leaders are generally kept secret. China has stuck to its zero-COVID strategy of eliminating outbreaks by mass testing the population and locking down buildings, neighborhoods or whole cities for weeks or even months. While the Hong Kong commemorations are purely symbolic, they will include the installation Friday of former security chief John Lee, who led a harsh crackdown on the 2019 pro-democracy protests, as the city's chief executive. After the protests, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law that has jailed, silenced or exiled Hong Kong political activists; curtailed freedoms of expression and assembly; and removed or disqualified people from public office if they were deemed unpatriotic. Xi's 2017 speech at the 20th anniversary marked a backing away from the one country, two systems" framework under which Hong Kong was to retain its civil, political and economic liberties for 50 years, until 2047. China has declared the Sino-British Joint Declaration that laid the legal framework for Chinese rule as no longer relevant and has refused to acknowledge Hong Kong's former status as a British Crown Colony, saying it never accepted the treaties that were signed between the United Kingdom and the Qing empire. Hong Kong political analyst Sonny Lo said he expects Xi to be present for Friday's ceremony, but that he will likely return at the end of the day to Shenzhen just across the border in mainland China for security reasons. Xi's presence will demonstrate Beijing's confidence in its policies toward Hong Kong, including in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Lo said. Xi's government has emphasized the city's integration into the Greater Bay Area encompassing much of mainland China's manufacturing and technological bases in Guangdong province, and his message will likely focus in that direction rather than looking at past events, Lo said. Having dealt with political opposition in Hong Kong, Xi will turn next to the task of unifying with the self-governing island of Taiwan, a close U.S.-ally which China claims as its own territory, Lo said. The sides split amid civil war in 1949 and China routinely flies military aircraft into the island's air defense identification zone to pressure it against taking steps toward formal independence. China says it wants to bring the sides together through peaceful means, but does not rule out the use of force to achieve that goal. So half way to 2047, this visit is particularly significant," Lo said. The positive overtone will be extremely important because we can expect Beijing to turn to Taiwan, to appeal for some kind of dialogue." A fight over whether women should be required to register for a potential draft has been revived in Congress. Last year, Congress appeared on the precipice of making women register with what's formally called the Selective Service System, but the idea was dropped from the defense policy bill signed into law after closed-door House-Senate negotiations despite having bipartisan support. Now, the proposal is back in the version of the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, making its way through the Senate, and conservatives are again vowing a fierce fight against what they refer to as "drafting our daughters." Read Next: Inside Recruits' Journey to Space Force's First Boot Camp The U.S. military has not drafted anyone since the Vietnam War, and defense officials have repeatedly said they have no intention of moving away from the all-volunteer force. But men ages 18 through 25 still have to register for Selective Service in case of an emergency catastrophic enough to activate the draft. If they fail to register, men face consequences such as losing access to federal financial aid for college. Earlier this month, the Senate Armed Services Committee voted 20-6 to require women to register for the draft as part of its version of this year's NDAA. The version of the NDAA advanced by the House Armed Services Committee last week does not contain a similar provision, despite the committee supporting the idea last year. The makeup and political dynamics of Congress have not changed since last year, and the same group of conservative lawmakers who opposed the provision then are vowing a fight again this year. "The reality is that if we are a country that actively chooses to forcibly conscript our daughters, we are past the point of salvation," Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, wrote in a letter this month to the leaders of the House Armed Services Committee. In a separate tweet opposing women registering for the draft, Roy claimed, without citing specific evidence, that "even volunteer women in the military cause the standards to be reduced." In the Senate, 12 Republicans wrote a letter saying including the Selective Service provision in the NDAA "would be a grave mistake and would needlessly inject divisive social policies into important debates over our national security." In 1981, the Supreme Court ruled that a male-only draft was justified because women were excluded from combat jobs. But all combat jobs were opened to women in 2015. Congress followed that decision by including a requirement for women to register for the draft in initial versions of the 2016 NDAA. It was jettisoned from that year's final version of the law in favor of a commission to study the future of the draft. The commission finished its work in 2020 and recommended that draft registration be expanded to include women, calling it a "necessary and fair step." The Supreme Court last year declined to revisit the issue, citing the expectation that Congress would soon act. With the commission's recommendation providing support, lawmakers tried in last year's NDAA to require women to register. But despite being in both the House and Senate versions of the bill and having bipartisan support, the requirement was again dropped from the version of the NDAA that got signed into law amid adamant opposition from a small but vocal group of conservatives. After last year's defeat, supporters of female draft registration vowed to keep working to update the Selective Service requirements. "To say only men are needed in that moment of a national emergency is outrageous and obscene," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said at a news conference after last year's NDAA was finalized. In a statement this month, Gillibrand highlighted the Selective Service provision in this year's NDAA as one of the "important programs and measures [that] are now on their way to becoming law." -- Rebecca Kheel can be reached at rebecca.kheel@military.com. Follow her on Twitter @reporterkheel. Related: Congress Drops Effort to Add Women to the Draft KREMENCHUK, Ukraine Russian long-range bombers struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk with a missile on Monday, raising fears of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an unimaginable number of victims in one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history. Zelenskky said that many of the more than 1,000 afternoon shoppers and staff inside the mall managed to escape. Giant plumes of black smoke, dust and orange flames emanated from the wreckage, with emergency crews rushing in to search broken metal and concrete for victims and put out fires. Onlookers watched in distress at the sight of how an everyday activity such as shopping could turn into a horror. The casualty figures were changing as rescuers searched the smoldering rubble into early Tuesday. Ukraine's emergency services reported late Monday that at least 16 people were dead and about 60 wounded. Soldiers worked into the night to lug sheets of twisted metal and broken concrete, as one drilled into what remained of the shopping center's roof. Drones whirred above, clouds of dark smoke still emanating from the ruins several hours after the fire had been put out. We are working to dismantle the construction so that it is possible to get machinery in there since the metal elements are very heavy and big, and disassembling them by hand is impossible, said Volodymyr Hychkan, an emergency services official. At Ukraine's request, the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting in New York on Tuesday to discuss the attack. In the first Russian government comment on the missile strike, the country's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, alleged multiple inconsistencies that he didn't specify, claiming on Twitter that the incident was a provocation by Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied it targets civilian infrastructure, even though Russian attacks have hit other shopping malls, theaters, hospitals, kindergartens and apartment buildings. The missile strike unfolded as Western leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine, and the world's major economies prepared new sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on oil and higher tariffs on goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. appeared ready to respond to Zelenskyys call for more air defense systems, and NATO planned to increase the size of its rapid-reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops. Zelenskyy said the mall presented no threat to the Russian army and had no strategic value. He accused Russia of sabotaging peoples attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry. In his nightly address, he said it appeared Russian forces had intentionally targeted the shopping center and added, Todays Russian strike at a shopping mall in Kremenchuk is one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history. He said Russia has become the largest terrorist organization in the world. Russia has increasingly used long-range bombers in the war. Ukrainian officials said Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flying over Russias western Kursk region fired the missile that hit the shopping center, as well as another that hit a sports arena in Kremenchuk. The Russian strike echoed attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part, Zelenskyy said. Kremenchuk Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the attack hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces. The United Nations called the strike deplorable, stressing that civilian infrastructure should never ever be targeted, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Group of Seven leaders issued a statement late Monday condemning the attack and saying that indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account. The attack coincided with Russia's all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, pouring fire on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. At least eight people were killed and more than 20 wounded in Lysychansk when Russian rockets hit an area where a crowd gathered to obtain water from a tank, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said. The eastern barrage was part of Russian forces' intensified offensive aimed at wresting the eastern Donbas region from Ukraine. Over the weekend, the Russian military and their local separatist allies forced Ukrainian government troops out of Lysychansk's neighboring city, Sievierodonetsk. To the west of Lysychansk on Monday, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of victims had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A mans body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. Everything is now destroyed," said resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power. I cant even call to tell others what had happened to us. Before Monday's attacks, at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the countrys south and east, according to Zelenskyy's office. Shelling on Monday in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killed at least five people and wounded 15. Russian forces continued to target the key southern Black Sea port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, Ukrainian authorities said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, Haidai said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable. The city's prewar population of around 100,000 has dwindled to fewer than 10,000. Analysts say that Lysychansks location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to Ukrainian defenders. Its a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk, said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germanys Bavarian Alps, leaders of the G7 countries unveiled plans to seek new sanctions and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. In a joint statement Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. Elsewhere, Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to greatly expand the alliance's rapid-reaction forces as part of its response to an era of strategic competition. The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit later this week, Stoltenberg said. Britain's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with negative political consequences for President Vladimir Putins government. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. Cole Lyle is the executive director of Mission Roll Call, former policy adviser in the U.S. Senate and U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs, and combat veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. Matthew Shuman is the former national legislative director for The American Legion and a veteran of the U.S. Army. The opinions expressed in this op-ed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Military.com. If you would like to submit your own commentary, please send your article to opinions@military.com for consideration. Not long into the Global War on Terror, veteran and active-duty suicide accounted for more deaths than the battlefield. Data from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) suggests that 17 veterans a day take their own lives, or 6,205 per year. Due to the unreliability of collected data and skewed analysis, it is possible that the number is much higher. Regardless, one is too many. Congress and veteran service organizations like The American Legion and Mission Roll Call have spent a lot of time and effort trying to save veteran lives. Since 2001, Congress has appropriated almost $200 billion for traditional approaches to mental health. But a few years ago, lawmakers began to recognize that veteran suicide can't be stopped by relying solely on psychology and pharmacology, the key areas that have received funding to stem the epidemic. Since 2001, VA's budget has grown by $253 billion, but 114,000 veterans have died by suicide. That's enough people to fill Yankee Stadium, twice. After nearly 20 years of funding traditional approaches, Congress recognized its efforts -- and by extension, the VA's -- were failing to prevent or slow the rate of veteran suicide. Congressman Mark Takano, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, penned an op-ed in 2019 admitting "we've failed to adequately address" this persistent crisis. Instead, our approach must be rooted in the communities that are affected most and empower them with the right tools for suicide prevention. Thus, Congress passed the Commander John Scott Hannon Act, which included the Staff Sergeant Parker Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program. This program supports community organizations, which have closer and more frequent contact with veterans than the VA does, to bolster veteran suicide prevention outreach. In creating the grant program, Congress' intent was to redirect resources directly into communities where veterans and their families live. The reality is, just like the demographics of America, veterans are different, and a one-size-fits-all approach does little to stem the tide of suicide. What might work for veterans in NYC or L.A. might not work for those living in rural Texas or Arizona, and vice versa. Creating a grant program, where community organizations already working in the mental health and suicide prevention arena can apply to the VA for a grant up to $750,000, is just the type of thinking that might work. Once the $174 million program is fully operational, VA will financially support organizations that help identify at-risk veterans, focus on education surrounding signs someone is considering suicide, case management, peer support services, clinical services for emergency treatment, and even nontraditional and innovative approaches and treatment approved by the department. In short, Congress and VA realized they can't combat the pandemic of suicide alone and are now leveraging a three-year program to find out if engaging veterans in their local communities, with people like them, might help. But although the program was authorized and funded in 2020, the VA only recently announced application requirements and gave local organizations less than two months to apply for this fiscal year. Veterans are 50 times more likely to take their lives when compared with civilians, and after 20 years of not trending downward, we applaud Congress for thinking out of the box and allowing others with real-world, hands-on solutions to engage our veterans where they live. Congress should provide more funding for the program going forward to facilitate more local partnerships, saving lives. During the early portion of actor Douglas Fairbanks Jr.'s military service during World War II, he yearned to do more. British Adm. Lord Louis Mountbatten, a longtime family friend, gave him that opportunity. As leader of Combined Operations overseeing Britains commando warfare, Mountbatten headed an officer exchange program where they learned about explosives, deceptive tactics and the art of misdirection. Originally commissioned a lieutenant junior grade in the U.S. Naval Reserve, Fairbanks was invited to participate and became enthralled. After returning stateside, Fairbanks pitched the idea of a similar program for the U.S. military. The suggestion was endorsed by Adm. H. Kent Hewitt and the powers-that-be in Washington, leading to a letter seeking 180 officers and 300 enlisted men for a new program being posted at naval bases and on select U.S. university campuses in 1943. "The Navy is requesting volunteers for prolonged, hazardous, distant duty for a secret project," the announcement said. While Fairbanks appeared in about 100 movies -- including "The Prisoner of Zenda," "Gunga Din" and "The Corsican Brothers" -- his role in creating the Beach Jumpers was likely the most impactful he ever had. Considered a precursor of the Navy SEALs, the Beach Jumpers used tactical cover and deceptive practices in military operations. They would make it appear an amphibious landing was occurring in one location, when the actual target site was elsewhere. In the process, the enemy's attention and resources were diverted, costing it precious time and leading to confusion. To do this, the Beach Jumpers employed tools to aid their deception, including: Smoke generators Roman candles that could be tossed in the water to mimic gun flashes Radar-jamming equipment 25-foot-long balloons covered with metal to stymie radar operators Time-delay explosives BJs also broadcast recorded noises that simulated an invasion. "I created the [invasion sound] effects by recording boat engines, bos'n [boatswain] whistles, tank engines from a nearby Army training site, [and even] anchor chain sounds by pulling a chain over the edge of an old bucket," Navy radioman Bob Rainie said. Beach Jumpers, who trained at Ocracoke Island in North Carolina, were assigned air-sea rescue (ASR) boats that could carry an officer and six sailors. They weren't big enough, though, to transport much ammunition, making the need for deception all the more vital. Because his rank was not high enough, Fairbanks could not command the Beach Jumpers. Instead, he was made a special operations officer and put in charge of coordinating all plans with the British. The Beach Jumpers were first deployed during Operation Husky, the Allied invasion of Sicily that began in July 1943. Beach Jumper Unit-1 (BJU-1) was tasked with creating a diversion off Cape San Marco -- 100 miles west of the scheduled landing area. Although the mission was delayed by a day because of treacherous seas, it was successful and was credited with distracting an entire German reserve division. A year later, three BJ units were awarded the Presidential Unit Citation for their involvement in Operation Dragoon, the invasion of southern France. Their mission was to make it appear that landings could occur anywhere from Marseille, France, to Genoa, Italy -- roughly 250 miles. Seventy officers and 400 sailors were assigned to a 40-ship task force that was split equally into two diversionary groups. Operation Dragoon, often referred to as the second D-Day, began on Aug. 15, 1944. The day before the Dragoon invasion, Fairbanks, stationed on board British gunboat Aphis, led diversions against eastern coast targets between Genoa and Cannes, according to a 2018 article in World War II magazine. Four of his PT boats simultaneously landed Free-French commandos at Deux Freres, a coastal promontory near Cannes. At 2 a.m., with the commandos ashore, Fairbankss flotilla swung west to join the other diversion team. Although the Allies disagreed about Operation Dragoon -- British Prime Minister Winston Churchill was against it -- the four-week mission liberated most of the region, opened key ports and dealt heavy losses to German troops. Eleven Beach Jumper units were deployed globally during World War II. Shortly after the war, all BJUs were deactivated, although they were later involved during the Korean and Vietnam wars, as well as the Cuban missile crisis and Cold War. The public was not made aware of the Beach Jumpers' existence until John Barry Dwyer's 1992 book, "Seaborne Deception: The History of U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers." None of the Beach Jumpers who were involved in World War II are alive today, according to the U.S. Navy Beach Jumpers Association. Fairbanks, who returned to the Naval Reserve after WWII and retired as a captain in 1954, became a highly decorated service member and was known as the Father of the Beach Jumpers. While Fairbanks lived an eclectic life before dying in 2000 at age 90, he held a special fondness for his time in the military. "I'd put it very high up, very high up indeed," Fairbanks told the U.S. Naval Institute in 1993. -- Stephen Ruiz can be reached at stephen.ruiz@military.com. Want to Know More About the Military? Be sure to get the latest news about the U.S. military, as well as critical info about how to join and all the benefits of service. Subscribe to Military.com and receive customized updates delivered straight to your inbox. How to use the mindat.org media viewer Click/touch this help panel to close it. Welcome to the mindat.org media viewer. Here is a quick guide to some of the options available to you. Different controls are available depending on the type of media being shown (photo, video, animation, 3d image) Controls - all media types Zoom in and out of media using your mousewheel or with a two-finger 'resize' action on a touch device. Use the mouse or your finger to drag the image or the view area of the image around the screen. < and > at the left and right hand side of the screen move forwards and backwards for the other images associated with the media you selected. Usually this is used for previous/next photo in a gallery, in an article or in search results. Keyboard shortcuts: use shift + the left and right arrow keys. < and > in the bottom center are used for switching between the photos of the same specimen. Keyboard shortcuts: use the left and right arrow keys. > in the bottom center, raises the information box giving details and further options for the media, < at the top of this box then hides it. Keyboard shortcuts: use the up and down arrow keys. ? opens this help window. Keyboard shortcuts: use the H key or the ? key. Other keyboard shortcuts: 1 Fit image to screen 2 Fill screen with image 5 Display at full resolution < Make background darker > Make background lighter space Hide/dim titles and buttons Scalebar If the field of view (FOV) is specified for the photo, the scalebar appears in the left bottom corner of the viewer. The scalebar is draggable and resizeable. Drag the right edge to resize it. Double click will reset the scalebar to it's default size and position. If the scalebar is in default position, double click will make it circular. Controls - Video Video files have a standard set of video controls: - Reset to start, - Skip back, - Play, - Pause, - Skip forwards. Keyboard shortcuts: You can stop/start video play with the P key. Controls - Animation (Spin Rotation) Animation (usually 360 degree spin rotations) have their own controls: - enable spin mode. Note that while images are loading this option will not be available but will be automatically activated when the animation has loaded. Once active you can spin the image/change the animation by moving your mouse or finger on the image left/right or by pressing the [ or ] keys. The button switches to move mode so that you can use your mouse/fingers to move the image around the screen as with other media types. The button, or the P key will start playing the animation directly, you can interrupt this by using the mouse or finger on the image to regain manual movement control. Controls - 3D Stereoscopic images If a stereoscopic 3D image is opened in the viewer, the 3D button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "3D settings" menu. The 3D images can be viewed in several ways: - without any special equipment using cross-eyed or parallel-eyed method - with stereoscope - with anaglyph glasses. - on a suitable 3D TV or monitor (passive 3D system) For details about 3D refer to: Mindat manuals: Mindat Media Viewer: 3D To enable/disable 3D stereo display of a compatible stereo pair image press the 3 key. If the left/right images are reversed on your display (this often happens in full-screen mode) press the 4 key to reverse them. Controls - photo comparison mode If a photo with activated comparison mode is opened in the viewer, the button appears in the bottom right corner giving access to "Comparison mode settings" menu. Several layouts are supported: slider and side by-side comparison with up to 6 photos shown synchronously on the screen. On each of the compared photos a view selector is placed, e.g.: Longwave UV . It shows the name of currently selected view and allows to select a view for each placeholder. Summary of all keyboard shortcuts 27.06.2022 LISTEN Ghanaian female gospel musician, Piesie Esther has confessed her love for Ghanaian rapper Amerado. Speaking in an interview on Atinka TV' 'JukeBox' show hosted by Nana Adwoa Annan, Piesie Esther who was answering a question in line with the secular artiste she really admires said, "Yes, I really love Amerado... I like Shatta Wale, Sarkodie .... Amerado ... I really like him." Amerado and media personality Delay had been teasing the public with specks of extremely affectionate moments on camera, stoking conversation about a possible affair. But the "Obiaa Boa" rapper has so far denied the rumours stressing that the broadcaster was only helping his brand. Well, expect Piesie's statement to create another dating controversy between the award-winning rapper and her. Piesie Esther is currently celebrating 20 years of being in the industry with her new song 'Way3 Me Yie'. The song summarises her 20-year story in the industry. Watch the interview below: Source: hotfmghana.com Tracy Boakye, a Ghanaian actress and film producer, has responded to those who have been attacking her in connection with Jackie Appiah's flashy mansion. Netizens, after Jackie Appiah's mansion surfaced in a video posted by Nigerian actress and movie producer, Luchy Donalds, a couple of days ago, after she visited her (Jackie Appiah) in her mansion at Trassaco, people on Twitter, have been bashing the self-proclaimed landlady.' Many people on social media are hurling insults at Tracey Boakye because she frequently brags about her properties on social media with pictures and videos. In response to these attacks, she stated, now those tagging me to see Jackie Appiahs bush Mansion, get ready for me tonight, nkwasuafuo, she stated. She later responded that she felt blessed to see a mansion owned by a 31-year-old lady like herself being compared to someone she watched on television during her childhood. "When you are blessed, your life (mansion) at age 31, will be compared to people you use to watch on TV when you were a baby, her post reads. This was monitored by this portal on the actress' Instagram story on Sunday, June 26, 2022. The heads of France's big energy companies urged individuals and businesses to limit power consumption immediately to prepare for a looming energy crisis. In an open letter published by weekly newspaper Journal du Dimanche, the chief executives of Engie, EDF and Total said on Sunday: "We need to work collectively to reduce our consumption in order to regain room to manoeuvre." The letter signed by Engie's Catherine MacGregor, EDF's Jean-Bernard Levy and TotalEnergies' Patrick Pouyanne cited sharp declines in Russian gas shipments as well as limited electricity generation because of maintenance issues. Liquid gas supplies need to be restocked This comes as French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne said on Thursday that France aims to fill its gas storage facilities by early autumn. The country's gas storage sites are 59% full at present. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has thrown the spotlight on Europe's reliance on Russian gas, prompting a scramble to find alternative energy sources. In March, French media reported that the government was in talks with TotalEnergies about boosting capacity to receive liquified natural gas (LNG) after the United States said it was prepared to increase deliveries to Europe. Winter is coming "Taking action as soon as this summer will allow us to be better prepared at the start of next winter, notably for preserving our gas reserves," the energy company executives said in their letter, adding that efforts to limit consumption should be "immediate, collective and massive". They cited their own efforts to find new sources of gas and build a floating LNG terminal in the northern port of Le Havre. France recently extended its mechanism for regulating gas prices to the end of the year. Originally scheduled to run through to the end of June, the system is meant to limit the effects of soaring energy prices on cosumers' purchasing power. The Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) predicts a possible drop between 20 to 25 per cent of cargo berths at the port this year, especially cargoes that come into the country from the Russia-Ukraine regions. Data gather from shippers indicates that due to the effect of the Russia-Ukraine war, cargo traffic into the country would dip as about 25 per cent of wheat and fertilizer import to the country were from Ukraine and Russia, Mr Michael Luguje, GPHA Director-General stated. Mr Luguje stated during the seventh meeting of the Port Management Association of West and Central Africa (PMAWCA) Harbour Masters, and Port Facility Security Officers (PFSOS) in Tema. The three-day meeting brought together port management, harbour masters and port security officers from Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Senegal among others in West and Central Africa to share ideas, identify common port challenges and adopt holistic measures to mitigate them. Mr Luguje, who is also the President of PMAWCA, called on importers to look for alternative places to import from, acknowledging, however, that sourcing from other places comes with additional costs, which would obviously lead to a reduction in quantities to import. He emphasised the need for port operators also to be resilient in their planning, by factoring in the risk of the extreme opposite of the current situation. That extreme one could be you wake up one morning, and nothing is moving, how do you solve it, so now every budget we formulate we are assuming that we could wake up one day and have to deal with half of that budget how are we going to survive with the other half, he said. The GPHA Director-General also charge port operators to develop a strategic plan and adopt measures in terms of cost planning, prudent management of revenue, and all the other remote resources including technology usage to ensure efficient operation. Mr Luguje also called for prudent efforts to minimize the use of fossil fuels and power and encourage port operators to consider investment in wind power, as well as develop an interest in electronic vehicles among others. GNA A Ghanaian mining consultant based in the United States is calling on the Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta to account for the revenue generated from mining activities in Ghana. He has revealed that proceeds from the mining sector in the country have never been captured in any of the budgets from 2017 to 2022. Dr. Solomon Owusu, based in Denver, Colorado in an interview with Accra based TV3 on Saturday evening, emphasised that Ghanaian leaders have over the years failed to allocate some of the proceeds from mining to develop the mining towns across the country. He indicated an amount of Ghc4.172 billion was accrued from mining royalties, cooperate taxes and employee taxes paid by the large-scale mining companies which represented about 65% of mining activities in Ghana in 2020. "Available data revealed royalties paid by the big mining companies amounted to Ghc1.4 billion, corporate tax accrued was Ghc2.4 billion and employees tax also amounted to Ghc642 million in 2020 alone, without that of small scale miners," he stated. Dr. Solomon Owusu added that, Newmont Ghana paid about $320 million as corporate tax in 2021 while Goldfields (Tarkwa and Damang) also paid $320 million the same year. However, Solomon is worried that most communities in mining areas in Ghana are not seeing any development despite the huge sums of money paid to government yearly by mining companies across the country. "My brother, I can confidently tell you that, Ghana's previous budget statements have never captured proceeds from mining activities as have been done to the oil sector. At least, revenue accrued from the oil sector have been recorded in all the budgets," he intimated. Dr. Owusu is therefore, urging government to be accountable to Ghanaians on mining proceeds and also proposed for mining communities to be considered in terms of development and livelihood empowerment. The call for proper and equitable usage of mining proceeds has become critical as many communities have complained of neglect despite being known for their mining history. Communities in the 14 out of the 16 regions where gold is mined like Obuasi, Tarkwa, Damang, Kenyasi, Abirim, Bogoso, Chirano, Prestea and many others currently lack basic social amenities such as good roads, portable water, schools, health facilities that would make livelihood better for residents. Paramount Chief nominee, Nana Kwadwo Yeboah 27.06.2022 LISTEN The New Juaben Traditional Council is preparing to allow the New Paramount Chief, Nana Kwadwo Yeboah, to swear an oath of allegiance few weeks after his enstoolment. This follows an official announcement by the Council on Sunday morning June 25, 2022. However, the Nana Duwaa's gate of the Yiadom-Hwedie Royal family have expressed disappointment in the selection and plans to go ahead and gazette the nominee despite their rejection in a court order. In a press statement issued on Sunday, 25th June, 2022 and signed by the Spokesperson, Kofi Gyimah, the Duwaa's gate is appealing to the President of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, President of the National House Chiefs, Minister of Chieftaincy and Religious Affairs to order the Registrar of the Eastern Region of of Chiefs to discharge his duties in accordance with the law. According to the release, the Registrar is been accused of being biased as plans to serve Respondents with an injunction notice since June 6, 2022 has proven futile. Per the release, the Duwaa's gate of the Yiadom-Hwedie family is also asking Nana Otuo Siriboe II and Nana Akosua Akyama II, Paramount Chief and Queen mother of Juaben Traditional Area if the Duwaa's gate is not part of the Yiadom-Hwedie family. It added that if the gate is not legitimate to ascend the throne in Juaben and New Juaben when the high position become vacant. Below is the full statement: NANA DUWAAS HOUSE OF YIADOM-HWEDIE ROYAL FAMILY OF OLD AND NEW DWABEN PRESS RELEASE THE NEW JUABEN CHIEFTAINCY DISPUTE: THE PURPORTED NOMINATION OF A CANDIDATE AND MATTERS ARISING DATE: 26/06/2022 On behalf of Nana Ama Duwaas House of the Yiadom Hwedie Royal Family of Old and New Juaben we make this official statement for the purpose of providing information to the general public on the New Juaben Chieftaincy dispute the purported nomination of a candidate and matters arising thereof. The Yiadom and Hwedie Royal Families consist of the two Royal Gates to wit; the Nana Duwaa's Gate which presently includes descendants of Nana Yaa Akyaa (Koforidua and Juaben), Nana Pankyie(Koforidua), Nan Afia Sapon (Juaben), Nana Abena Ode (Juaben) and Nana Afia Nnum (Juaben); and Nana Akua Sapomaas Gate which is presently the descendants of Nana Akua Boatemaa (Koforidua and Juaben). Therefore, the Petitioners trace their ancestral lineage from the Nana Duwaas Gate whereas Nana Otuo Siriboe II Omanhene of Juaben Traditional Area, Nana Akosua Akyamaa III, Queen mother of Juaben Traditional Area and John Gyamfi, the nominated candidate also trace their ancestral lineage from Nana Akua Sapomaas Gate. A week after the Doteyie was performed for the late Daasebre Oti Boateng and Nana Yaa Daani II , Nana Otuo Siriboe II summoned a meeting for only his Gate (Nana Akua Sapomaas) Gate which resulted in the nomination of John Gyamfi as his preferred candidate for enstoolment of the position of Omanhene of New-Juaben, and has on the 6th June 2022 presented him to the Kingmakers for confirmation. For the nomination to have been properly made all interested Royals should have been given the chance to consider putting their names forward for the post of the Chief if they are qualified. However Nana Otuo Siriboe II failed or neglected to do and in fact to put it bluntly he failed and or neglected to open nominations for all interested Royal from the two gates to consider putting their names forward. Nana Otuo Siriboe IIs conduct therefore is repugnant to the Akan Customary Law, practice and usage. It is important at this stage to share with Ghanaians and the world as a whole, a similar matter that was settled between Nana Kwadwo Adokwabo as Plaintiff and Omanhene Yaw Sarpong II of Juaben and Elders of Juaben, as Defendants, sometime in 1933 by Otumfour Osei Agyemang Prempeh II. To start with, Kwadwo Adokwabo the Plaintiff was royal of the Duwaa Gate. He swore the great oath of Ashanti that the stool known as Arko and Achiaa stool is the property of his ancestors and therefore he had a right to occupy it. After taking the plea, the Court suggested an amicable settlement of the issue between the parties whereupon the Juaben elders consequently took leave of the court and retired into consultation. Per the decision of the panel of Chiefs of the Native Court of Asantehene held in Kumasi on Thursday 28th March, 1935 before Otumfour Osei Agyemang Prempeh II, the then Asantehene, as president, it was held that the plaintiff and his family have not been banned from occupying the stool of Juaben and therefore had a customary right to contest for the stool of Juaben which was rendered vacant by the demise of the late Nana Kofi Serebour then, adding that they are entitled to occupy the stool whenever it becomes vacant and the oman finds any of them fit and capable to occupy it he can be elected. Since the decision of the panel of Chiefs of the Native Court of Asantehene held in Kumasi on Thursday 28th March, 1935 before Otumfour Osei Agyemang Prempeh II, nomination of candidates to occupy both Old Juaben and New Juaben Stools has become one sided in favour of the Nana Otuo Siriboes Gate. This we deem unfair. It is worthy to note that rulers of Juaben in history fed on general websites available indicates that our forebearers of Pampama and Nana Duwaa/Akosua Awusi Afra who are elders to the Nana Sarpomaa gate but have been written out of public knowledge of the history of Juaben. Such information on websites does not mention chiefs such as Nana Tomfo) Awere, Kwabi Ameyaw, Dankwa Afrapo, (of Kwadu Twum Oath), Nana Adaakwa Yiadom, Nana Osei Hwedie, Nana Kofi Akrasi, Nana Akuamoa Boateng Panin, Nana Fetua who all ruled as Juabenhene. The information found indicates Nana Kwasi Boateng as the one who first occupied the stool, when Juaben had been indeed founded over 150 years earlier. This is clearly part of an attempt to marginalize the Pampama and Duwaa royal houses and write them out of the history of Juaben Royals. It is our case that the continuous sidelining of the Nana Duwaas Gate from the occupancy of the stools of Old Juaben and New Juaben and the refusal of the Nana Otuo Siriboe II to accord us the curtsies due us as royals of Old and New Juaben is a way of removing our royal status from us although since 1935 when the Chiefs of the Native Court of Asantehene held that our Royal Family have a right to contest and ascend the royal stools of Old Juaben and New Juaben, nothing has happened to change our customary status. One will have thought that Nana Otuo Siriboe II who is well versed with Akan Customary Laws and Usage, having occupied the Omanhene position for more than fifty years and also Chairman of the Council of State will have done himself the honourable thing by opening nomination for the two legitimate Gates, heirs to the throne to put forward their names. Surprisingly, he single handedly chose the nominee this time again from his lineage (Gate) and has since introduced him to the Kingmakers for forty days confinement. MATTERS ARISING- A TRAVESTY OF JUSTICE FROM THE JUDICIAL COMMITTEE OF THE EASTERN REGIONAL HOUSE OF CHIEFS. Five members of the Duwaa Family of the Yiadom and Hwedie Royal Families of the Oyoko clan of the Old Juaben and New-Juaben Traditional Areas in the Ashanti and Eastern Regions filed a Petition and an injunction application in their capacities as members of the Duwaa Family and lawful Representative of the Duwaa Family at the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs on the 6th of June 2022. The Petition was filed against Nana Otuo Siriboe II Omanhene of Juaben Traditional Area and the Chairman of the Counsel of State, Nana Akosua Akyamaa III, Queen mother of Juaben Traditional Area and John Gyamfi, the nominated candidate and Nana Twumasi Dankwa, Gyasehene of the New Juaben Traditional Area. They are seeking a declaration that the purported nomination of John Gyamfi (nominee) by Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Paramount Chief of Juaben Ashanti as the candidate for enstoolment as Omanhene of the New Juaben Traditional Area on the Yiadom-Hwedie Stool is invalid and void among other reliefs. The Counsel for the Petitioners filed a motion Ex Parte for substituted service on the 13th June, 2022 at the Registry of the House of Chiefs in order to bring to the attention of Nana Otuo Siriboe II Omanhene of Juaben Traditional Area and the Chairman of the Counsel of State, Nana Akosua Akyamaa III, Queen mother of Juaben Traditional Area and John Gyamfi, the nominated candidate the Petition and the injunction application. This became imperative after the bailiff attached to the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs had made an attempt to effect service on them three times but was unsuccessful. The Motion Ex Parte for Substituted Service filed on the 13th June 2022 is suffering a setback due to the predisposition of the House to unduly delay the process as portrayed by the Registrar with an indicting claim to the petitioners that there is no funds to organize a general meeting that will constitute the Judicial Committee to sit on the motion on the substituted service. According to him the House is yet to consult the Chief of Staff of the office of the President for funds to be released for that purpose. It appears as if the House as portrayed by the Registrar is dragging its feet and will not allow service to be effected on the Respondents until the nominee is enstooled. It is therefore becoming a mirage for the House to be moved by our Counsel for the Petitioners anytime soon for a determination to be made by the House to enable the Petition and the Injunction application be brought to the notice of Nana Otuo Siriboe II, Nana Akosua Akyamaa III and the other Respondent who are avoiding service of the Petition and the Injunction application to be served on them by the Bailiff. It is important to note that the predisposition of the House as portrayed by the Registrar of the House is inimical to the course of justice. The Petitioners thereafter filed at the Registry of the House a notice of discontinuance of the Petition filed on the 6th June 2022 and filed a fresh Petition and an injunction application on the 21st June, 2022 to join to the Petition the Kingmakers. This time round the Registrar has made it impossible for service to be effected on the Respondents as he is reluctant to release the Bailiff to effect service on Nana Otuo Siriboe II Omanhene of Juaben Traditional Area and the Chairman of the Counsel of State, Nana Akosua Akyamaa III, Queen mother of Juaben Traditional Area, John Gyamfi, the nominated candidate and the Kingmakers. The Registrar of the House is playing this MAAFIA game seriously in a bid to render the Petitioners injunction application nugatory. This is a travesty of Justice. This is an act or decision made that is so unjust that it seems like a grotesque mockery of the way the justice system is supposed to operate. To put it bluntly the Petitioners are being denied justice and would continue to be denied Justice if the conduct of the Registrar is not checked. We are therefore appealing to the President of the Judicial Committee of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs, President of the National House of Chiefs, and Minister of Chieftaincy to order the Registrar of the Eastern Regional House of Chiefs to discharge his duties in accordance with law. We also have the information that public announcement has been made on the Morning of Sunday 26th June, 2022 at Koforidua to the effect that the nominee will swear the oath of allegiance on Monday the 27th June ,2022 at the Forecourt of the Yiadom Hwedie Palace. The further steps taken by the Juabenhene to enstool the nominee is contrary to customary law and usage. It was expected that the nominee would go through forty (40) days confinement only to hear public announcement on the morning of 26th June 2022 that he is swearing the oath of allegiance on 27th June 2022, exactly three weeks of outdooring on the 6th June 2022. The pertinent questions to Nana Otuo Siriboe and Nana Akosua Akyamaa II are; Is the Nana Duwaa Family not part of the Yiadom-Hwedie Royal Family? Is the Duwaas gate not legitimate to occupy both the New Juaben and Juaben Stools when same is vacant? Is the decision of the panel of Chiefs of the Native Court of Asantehene held in Kumasi on Thursday 28 th March, 1935 before Otumfour Osei Agyeman Prempeh II not binding on Nana Otuo Siriboe II and Nana Akosua Akyaamaa II? March, 1935 before Otumfour Osei Agyeman Prempeh II not binding on Nana Otuo Siriboe II and Nana Akosua Akyaamaa II? What is the interest of Nana Otuo Siriboe II in writing us off from the Royal history and courtesies of Juaben. This time round the Duwaa Family will resist any attempt to impose a candidate on us. The days when the Nana Duwaa Gate were left out in the nomination process of Chiefs and Queen mothers are over. If Nana Otuo Siriboe II and Nana Akosua Akyamaa III go ahead to impose a chief on us through a one-sided nomination, we and our ancestors: Abrewa Ampem, Tomfo Awere, Kwabi Ameyaw, Ako ne Akyaa, Adarkwa Yiadom, Osei Hwedi , Dankwa Afrapo, Awusi Afra, Kofi Akrasi , Ofue Adwubi, Akuamoah Boaten Panin, Kwasi Boateng, Yaw Sarpong Kumakuma I, etc would not be pleased with them. We therefore call on the Juabenhene, Nana Otuo Siriboe II to respect customary law and tradition to avoid a potential conflict. We further call on him to bring his fifty years experience as Omanhene to bear by following laid down traditional processes in a bid to avoid potential conflict. Thank you. Signed KOFI AGYEMAN (SPOKESPERSON) Contacts: 0548588846, 0549838099, 0244093329, 0242638957 The MP for Yendi Hon. Farouk Mahama is set to outdoor an agriculture program in his constituency in the coming days to assist women to venture into agriculture as a way of mitigating the gender inequality in the sector. About 80 percent of the world's food is produced by small-scale farming. women make up on average 43 percent of the agricultural labor in developing countries. Equalizing the gap of gender inequality in this sector by supporting the women farmers with training and farm inputs would boost agriculture output in the world. In this maiden launch of the program, the legislature through his NGO would be supporting over 200 women within the Eastern corridor of northern Ghana with training and farm inputs. In his wisdom, he believes the program would have far-reaching benefits to the women farmers, their families and the communities in a long run. Gob3 is a Ghanaian food made of Gari and beans, the name gob3 is a combination on Gari and beans. This Ghanaian food which is considered very nutritious is trending on some social media platforms. It is believed that the trend started when Sam George, Member of Parliament for Ningo Prampram, in an attempt to describe the current economic hardship of the Ghanaian, said that many of the youth can no longer afford three square meals. The Member of Parliament said that a large number of people have resorted to eating gob3 as their only meal for a day, describing the situation in a cynical way, he said the youth have developed what he described as formation 0.1.0. He explained that people are not able to afford eating in the morning, afternoon and evening and so they eat gob3 only in the afternoon with plenty of gari which sustains them till the next day. After Sam Georges pronouncement which was shared on many social media platforms, people started showing pictures of themselves eating gob3 or pictures of gob3. There was been a list of popular gob3 joints or eatery where people are likely to get sumptuous gob3. Gob3 is also known as yoo ke garri or red-red which refers to the same thing Gari eaten with beans Gari (garri) is a fine to coarse granular flour of varying texture made from cassava roots. Cassava is cleaned after harvesting, grated, water and starch squeezed out of it, left to ferment and then fried either in palm oil or without palm oil and serves as a major staple food in West Africa In the past, Gob3 was considered as one of the cheapest food around even though nobody has compromised on its nutritional value. Beans are very high in protein and the beans usually goes with a pepper, tomatoes and red oil. These days gob3 is garnished with all kinds of vegetables and spices, for instance people add avocado pear and eggs to gob3, others garnish the food with various kinds of vegetables and eggs. Usually, lovers of gob3 also accompanies the food with fried ripe plantains. A story has popped up online says that one Victoria Anyediventor from Adagbledu (Volta Region), is credited to have discoveredgob3. After Sam Georges popular gob3 pronouncements, a video popped up on social media where an interviewer was asking someone about who is important, a Doctor or a Banker and the interviewee said it is the gob3 seller. Gob3 is fast becoming a delicacy of many, one cannot be particularly definite whether to attribute the gob3 trend to the MPs pronouncements or the economy since gob3 is believed to be more affordable and filling compared to eating waakye or kenkey. People reports on social media that the queues for buying gob3 is increasing. Some Ghanaian celebrities has also taken to social media to reaffirm their love for gob3. It is clear that gob3 is gaining some really fast popularity and so I ask, is gob3 part of your meal formation for today? Picture Credit: Nana Efua Abraquah on Facebook At least 21 teenagers died over the weekend after a night out at a township tavern in South Africa, officials said Sunday. Although the cause of the deaths is still unclear, local officials and politicians said they feared this might have been a case of under-age drinking that went tragically wrong. The provincial government of Eastern Cape said eight girls and 13 boys had died at the tavern, in a residential area called Scenery Park. Seventeen were found dead at the scene, while the rest died in hospital. Empty bottles of alcohol, wigs and even a pastel purple "Happy Birthday" sash were found strewn on the dusty street outside the double-storey Enyobeni Tavern, said Unathi Binqose, a safety government official who arrived at the scene at dawn. Many of the victims are thought to have been students celebrating the end of their high-school exams on Saturday night, officials said. Crowds gathered outside as officials investigated. By STR (AFP) There were no visible wounds on the bodies, but autopsies would determine if the deaths could be linked to poisoning, they added. Among the senior government officials who rushed to the southern city was Police Minister Bheki Cele. He broke down in tears after emerging from a morgue where the bodies were being stored. "It's a terrible scene," he told reporters. "They are pretty young. When you are told they are 13 years, 14 years and you go there and you see them. It breaks (you)." Under-age drinking suspected Drinking is permitted for over-18s. But in township taverns which are often situated cheek by jowl with family homes, safety regulations and drinking-age laws are not always enforced. "We have a child that was there, who passed away on the scene," said the parents of a 17-year-old girl. "This child, we were not thinking was going to die this way. This was a humble child, respectful," said grieving mother Ntombizonke Mgangala, standing next to her husband outside the morgue. Map showing East London in South Africa. By Aude GENET (AFP) President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is attending the G7 summit in Germany, sent his condolences. He voiced concern "about the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off-limits to persons under the age of 18". The authorities are now considering whether to revise liquor licensing regulations. South Africa is among the countries in Africa where most alcohol is consumed. Provincial prime minister Oscar Mabuyane condemned the "unlimited consumption of liquor". "You can't just trade in the middle of society like this and think that young people are not going to experiment," he said outside the tavern. 'No obvious signs of injury' Commenting on the tragedy the tavern's owner, Siyakhangela Ndevu, said: "It's not something that as a businessman, I expected to have happened there, but things like this happen unexpectedly." There had been a rush to enter the bar by revellers despite warnings it was full, he told reporters. He was called to the scene after 1:00 am (2300 GMT) as there were "too many people. Others want to go out and others ...want to forcefully enter". But safety official Binquose ruled out a stampede as the cause of death. "There are no visible open wounds," he told AFP. "Forensic (investigators) will take samples and test to see if there was any poisoning of any sort," he said. The regional liquor licensing agency said it was considering revoking the tavern's licence and laying criminal charges against the owner for "blatant" contravention of the law that prohibits the sale of alcohol to under 18's. Local newspaper DispatchLive reported on its website bodies "lying strewn across tables, chairs and on the floor, with no obvious signs of injury". Some of the dead were students celebrating "pens down" parties held after the end of the mid-year exams. A crowd of people gathered outside the club in the city, which is located on the Indian Ocean coast, nearly 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) south of Johannesburg. sn-strs/jj The Ghana Police Service in collaboration with the Department of Social Welfare has rescued nine trafficked victims from Yeji in the Pru East District of the Bono East Region. The joint operation rescued four adult men and five boys from exploitation on the portion of the Volta Lake in Yeji. Two of the four adult victims were trafficked 20 years ago and were said to have been brought to work on the lake at ages three and five respectively and the youngest of the five boys arrived less than a year ago. Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Tema after the rescue mission, Mr Kojo Owiredu Kissi, Coordinator, Media and Communications, International Justice Mission (IJM), an anti-human trafficking not-for-profit organization in Ghana, said an operation by the two institutions led to the rescue of the victims in Yeji. He indicated that the rescue process was owned and led by government partners from the Ghana Police Service and Department of Social Welfare with technical and logistical support from IJM Ghana. Mr Kissi expressed heartfelt gratitude to the two institutions for their dedication and unflinching support towards ending human trafficking on the Volta Lake adding that, "they must be commended because this rescue was successful due to their dedication and collaborative efforts and outstanding work." Mr Kissi said six of the victims have been reintegrated and are currently at home with their families where they would be supported to go back to school or undertake vocational skills while three of them were in a shelter home. He noted that the master, now a suspect, recruited the young children to work on the Lake for fishing. Mr Kissi said the suspect controlled every aspect of the lives of the children adding that they were not allowed to play or associate with anybody outside of the suspect's family and would be punished violently if they did. He said anyone outside of the suspect's family who tried to interact with the children would also be subject to violence, "if the children begin to develop relations with neighbours, they would be sent to more remote islands to ensure their isolation." Mr Kissi stated that the only movement the children were allowed to engage in was between the suspect's house and his boat, noting that they were responsible both for housework and fishing on the lake. He said the victims were identified to have been trafficked from the Volta and Bono Regions. GNA Patrice Emery Lumumba, whose remains were returned to the Democratic Republic of Congo last week, shot to fame on June 30, 1960 with a blistering independence speech against former colonial power Belgium. In the presence of Belgium's King Baudouin, the 34-year-old prime minister accused the former colonial masters of racist maltreatment and forcing "humiliating slavery" on the Congolese people, making him an instant hero of African independence movements. "We experienced the slurs, the insults, the beatings that we had to undergo morning, noon and evening, because we were negroes," he proclaimed. It was a withering response to King Baudouin whose speech shortly before had saluted the work of his royal ancestor Leopold II, insisting that he was not a "conqueror" but had come on a "civilising mission". Lumumba was born on July 2, 1925 in the village of Onalua in the central province of Sankuru to parents from the Tetela minority ethnic group. He first studied to become a nurse, then joined the colonial administration's post office school, graduating to become a clerk at the mail service in the northeastern city of Stanleyville, which is now called Kisangani. He was accused of embezzlement and sentenced to several months in jail in 1956. "What did I do other than take back a little of the money the Belgians stole from Congo?" he is reported to have said at the time. 'A nationalist' "He never denied diverting funds," said Congolese academic Emmanuel Kabongo, who has written extensively about Lumumba. After coming out of prison "thanks to his ties to liberal Belgians", he was employed as a commercial director of a brewery seeking to boost its beer sales in Leopoldville, a city now called Kinshasa, he said. While at the post office he had only earned 3,000 Belgian francs, suddenly he was being paid 25,000 francs for his new job, Kabongo said. In 1958 he launched a political party, the Congolese National Movement (MNC), which called for independence and a secular Congolese state. His critics accused him of being a communist, but Congolese academic Jean Omasombo said he was not. "He said several times he was a nationalist, not a communist," he said. For a month in early 1960, Lumumba took part in a roundtable on Congo's independence in Brussels, alongside other Congolese politicians and traditional leaders. His party won national elections in May 1960, a month before independence, leading him to be named first prime minister of the country when it became independent. He was among the vanguard of pan-African leaders who led the charge to end colonialism in Africa in the late 1950s. But, says Kabongo, "he was only head of government of the new state for two months and thirteen days", from June 30 to September 12, 1960. The charismatic young politician's independence speech earned him Belgium's resentment. Western powers needed little else to see the 35-year-old firebrand as a threat, particularly after he sought support from the Soviet Union. 'Disturbed American interests' Aiming to quickly neutralise him, Belgium and the CIA exploited the ambitions of other Congolese leaders, documents show. They succeeded with a young army chief-of-staff named Joseph-Desire Mobutu, who led a coup that overthrew Lumumba. Later Mobutu would seize power in another coup and impose dictatorial rule from 1965-1997, renaming the nation Zaire and himself Mobutu Sese Seko. After Lumumba was ousted, he was arrested and handed over for execution to the authorities in the mineral-rich southeast Katanga province, which seceded from the fledgling nation months earlier with Belgium's support. A plane landed at the airport of Katanga's provincial capital Elisabethville -- now called Lubumbashi -- in early 1961. He was driven out into the savannah, and shot dead at the foot of a tree by Katangese separatists and Belgian mercenaries along with two companions after nightfall on January 17, 1961. He was just 35 years old. His body was dissolved in acid, but a Belgian police officer involved in the killing kept one of his teeth as a trophy. Belgium finally returned it to his family on Monday last week. Lumumba's independence speech just months earlier "certainly sealed his fate", said Kabongo. "But his nationalism and closeness to (other) pan-African icons... had disturbed American interests in Congo," he added. At least 21 teenagers died over the weekend after a night out at a township tavern in South Africa. The cause of is still unclear, but local officials and politicians said the deaths may have been the result of under-age drinking that went tragically wrong. The provincial government of Eastern Cape said eight girls and 13 boys had died at the Enyobeni Tavern in the coastal town of East London. Seventeen were found dead at the scene, while the others died in hospital. The victims were found strewn across floors and tables. Many of the victims are thought to have been students celebrating the end of their high-school exams on Saturday night, officials said. President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is attending the G7 summit in Germany, sent his deepest condolences. "This tragedy is made even more grave by its occurrence during Youth Month a time during which we... advocate and advance opportunities for improved socio-economic conditions for the youth of our nation," he said in a tweet. Leaving the morgue, Police Minister Bheki Cele broke down. "It's a terrible scene," he told reporters. "They are pretty young. When you are told they are 13 years, 14 years and you go there and you see them. It breaks (you)." 'No visible open wounds' Oscar Mabuyane, prime minister of East Cape Province where the tragedy occured, did not give an explanation for the deaths, but condemned the "unlimited consumption of liquor". "You can't just trade in the middle of society like this and think that young people are not going to experiment," he said outside the tavern. The tavern's owner, Siyakhangela Ndevu, said there had been a rush to enter the bar by revellers despite warnings it was full. But safety official Unathi Binquose ruled out a stampede as the cause of death. "There are no visible open wounds," he told AFP. "Forensic (investigators) will take samples and test to see if there was any poisoning of any sort," he said. Drinking alcohol is forbidden for the under-18s in South Africa. But in township taverns which are often situated cheek by jowl with family homes, safety regulations and drinking-age laws are not always enforced. (with AFP) Even if the West and the US government want to legalize homosexuality in Ghana, one of the reasons I have never been interested in the topic is that both the West and America lied about Aids when the epidemic suddenly swept the globe in the early 1980s. The Centers for Disease Control claim that monkeys imported from the Philippines to America are to blame for the spread of HIV/AIDS around the world. Given that the illness was a biological weapon created to eradicate the black race in both Africa and the United States of America, this is a significant cover-up for a medical crime against humanity. This is one of the reasons why both Africans in Africa and African-Americans in the United States of America have suffered greatly from the disease. Mike Adams, an environmental scientist and patent holder for a method to eliminate radioactive isotopes of cesium, revealed the US government's plan to use vaccines to depopulate black people, yet, the US government, the Centers for Disease Control, and the World Health Organization have never expressed regret. The deliberate infection of African-Americans with diseases, from 1932 to 1972, the USA Public Health Service carried out a study entitled Study of Untreated syphilis in the male negro in Macon County, involving 400 dark-skinned men (Africa-Americans) suffering from syphilis, who were deceived into believing that they were receiving effective treatment. Today, the Centers for Disease Control is warning gay men about a new disease to hit gay men, so Im not right if I fight against the legalization of homosexuality in Ghana? Apart from Malaria, every disease decimating Africa is man-made but yet, they want to tell Africans that they care about the LGBTQ people, therefore, Ghana needs to legalize homosexuality. That will not happen. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Florida health officials, a historic meningococcal outbreak among homosexual and bisexual males has resulted in seven deaths and 24 others who were extremely ill. The Centers for Disease Control has advised vaccinations for all gay and bisexual males in the Sunshine State due to the worrisome increase in instances. One of the worst meningococcal illness epidemics among homosexual and bisexual males in US history, according to the FDA, is being caused by ongoing transmissions. According to health officials, the bacteria can spread by saliva and intimate contact is necessary for transmission. An infection can be brought on by kissing or being close to an infected person who coughs. Meningococcal illness, which involves infections of the bloodstream and the lining of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis), can kill anyone, according to the Centers for Disease Control. For gay males who intend to visit Florida, the agency is also advising vaccinations. The majority of those infected by this outbreak are Floridians, but it has also spread to some visitors, according to officials. Half of the people who contract the sickness in Florida are Hispanic, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Earlier than the LGBTQ Pride Parade, a mass shooting in Norway leaves two people dead and numerous others injured. On the day the city was scheduled to have its annual LGBTQ Pride parade, a shooter opened fire in Oslo, the capital of Norway, early on Saturday morning, killing two people and injuring 21 others. In connection with the shooting, which targeted several nightclubs, authorities announced they had detained a 42-year-old Norwegian national of Iranian descent. According to Norwegian police, the suspect is thought to be a radicalized Islamist with a history of mental illness who has been known to intelligence agencies since 2015. The shootings were described as an extreme Islamist terror crime by acting Norwegian security service chief Roger Berg, who also noted the suspect's extensive history of violence and threats. The shootings claimed the lives of two individuals, one in his 50s and the other in his 60s. Although ten persons had significant injuries, it wasn't thought that any of them were life-threatening. Eleven more people sustained minor wounds. The 42-year-old man was detained shortly after the shooting at the London Pub, a nightclub and bar well-liked by the city's LGBTQ community and the streets surrounding it, according to the security service chief. The highest degree of terror alert was declared by the Scandinavian nation's authorities. The United States "has been in touch with the Norwegian government and offered to provide support," according to a statement from Jake Sullivan, the National Security Advisor for the United States. "The world has been affected by the horrifying massacre in Norway this morning. This act of terrorism is highly condemned by the United States "Said Sullivan. The varied and thriving LGBTQI+ community in Oslo, our close NATO partner Norway, and everyone else who has been affected by this senseless crime is all supported by us. According to police attorney Christian Hatlo, the suspect is being jailed on suspicion of murder, attempted murder, and terrorism because so many persons were targeted in several locations. The suspect's mental state was also being looked into. Hatlo declared on Saturday that there was reason to assume that the man intended to instill severe anxiety in the populace. Based on the false information provided by the US government, the World Health Organization, and the Centers for Disease Control on HIV-Aids, the majority of Ghanaians have the right to oppose the legalization of homosexuality in Ghana. A year after social activist, Ibrahim Muhammad, popularly known as Kaaka, was attacked by unknown assailants in front of his house, his family is unhappy with how the murder trial is being slowed. Kaaka died on June 28, 2021, at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, two days after he was attacked while returning home from an event he attended in the area. His death sparked protest within the Ejura township, as two persons died while others sustained various degrees of injuries when security officers clashed with residents. Brother of Kaaka, Nafiu Mohammed, says the family fears justice will not be served due to the delays being witnessed in the trial. We have been to court on several grounds but the only thing we are told by the State Prosecutor is that, the docket has been sent to the Attorney General seeking advice. For this long period no advice has been served yet in a year? With all these series of adjournments, this is what the family perceives that justice will not be served. Kaaka died on 28th June 2021 after he was attacked in front of his house at Ejura on 26th June 2021. Following the death, Fuseni Alhassan and Ibrahim Issaka were arrested, and Iddi Mohammed [Kaakas brother] was subsequently arrested as well. His death and subsequent protests later culminated in a commission of inquiry that took testimonies from about 20 witnesses including journalists, police, soldiers, political appointees, and some victims. The committee made up of Justice George Kingsley Koomson as the Chairman; a security analyst, Dr. Vladimir Antwi-Danso, and the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Juliet Adiema Amoah, presented its findings to the Interior Minister, Ambrose Dery on Tuesday, July 27, 2021. The committee in its ten recommendations recommended compensation for affected families and persons. It also recommended the transfer of the Police commander of Ejura and the removal of the MCE of the area. Ibrahim Muhammed's family had earlier accused the police of delaying investigations, but these accusations have been refuted by the police. The police instead cited delays from the Attorney General's office . By Citi Newsroom The Cape Coast to Twifo Praso road will be closed to traffic today, Monday, June 27 to allow for repair works on the Jukwa bridge. Torrential rains in the Central region saw the Surowi river overflowing its banks, causing the collapse of the bridge on the main Cape Coast to Twifo Praso road. Engineers from the Ministry subsequently moved in from Accra and temporarily fixed the bridge within 24 hours, but a heavy-duty truck later got stuck on the bridge. The Ghana Highways Authority in a statement asked motorists who intend to ply the stretch to use the Cape Coast -Yamoransa- Assin Fosu to Twifo Praso road. The Twifo Praso to Cape Coast Road was cut off following a downpour in the area, leading to portions of the stretch including the bridge caving in. Persons who were commuting to the Kakum National Park from Cape Coast had difficulty getting there as a result of the bridge, which had caved in. The Minister for Roads and Highways, Kwasi Amoako-Attah, visited the site of the collapsed bridge. The Minister, after touring the scene, pledged to ensure that the bridge is reconstructed, and the road made motorable. He further indicated that an emergency response team has been constituted by his outfit to ensure roads cut off by floodwaters are reconstructed within 24 hours. Meanwhile, the Member of Parliament for Hemang Lower Denkyira, Bright Wireko Brobbey who spoke to Citi News said he was impressed with the urgency with which the situation was attended to. Central Regional Minister, Justina Marigold Assan speaking to Citi News Central Regional correspondent, Calvis Tetteh urged residents living in flood-prone areas to relocate. By Citi Newsroom 27.06.2022 LISTEN Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is set to file a private members bill in Parliament to regulate presidential travels. The MP has been at the forefront of a crusade to prevent President Nana Akufo-Addo from using chartered flights for foreign trips. According to him, the President has so far spent GH34 million of taxpayers funds on chartered flights between May 2021 and now. Through a series of questions on the floor of Parliament, Okudzeto Ablakwa has been demanding accountability and questioning why the Presidential Jet has seemingly been jettisoned. The North Tongu MP told Citi News more about the private members bill he will introduce to Parliament soon. I am currently leading a team that is working on a private members bill to regulate presidential travels. I am hoping that we will get some bi-partisan support along the line so that we can regulate presidential travels in Ghana and legally stop a reckless and insensitive president from this wastefulness on the struggling Ghanaian people. The Presidency has said Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwas criticisms against President Nana Akufo-Addos recent spending on air travel is aimed at causing public disaffection for the latter. Undoubtedly, the Hon. MP's motives are not well-intentioned, as he is merely seeking to score cheap political points to incite public disaffection against the President, a statement from the presidency said. Mr. Ablakwa had claimed that 480,000 was spent on President Nana Akufo-Addo's recent trips to Belgium and Rwanda, but the Presidency refuted this, insisting that Akufo-Addo did not travel to Belgium aboard a chartered Airbus ACJ319. The Presidency also said President Akufo-Addo had to travel via charter flight to Kigali because of flight cancellations, but Mr. Ablakwa subsequently dismissed these explanations, saying they were irrelevant and unjustifiable. His response has compelled the presidency to issue another statement, accusing Mr. Ablakwa of being insincere. It said Mr. Ablakwa had failed to back his recent claims with evidence . Ordinarily, there would not have been the need for a second response to a matter that has been dealt with conclusively. However, the determination of the Honourable Member of Parliament to shift the goal post, and run-away conveniently from statements he boldly made on Thursday, June 23rd, has necessitated this response. He provides no evidence or documentary proof whatsoever to back up his 480,000 cost claim, because he has none. Once again, it is obvious that the Honourable Ablakwa finds these attacks on the President to be his pathway to political prominence through negative propaganda, and is determined to pursue this course, no matter how ridiculous and insulting his statements are, portions of the statement from the presidency said. citinewsroom 27.06.2022 LISTEN The court will today, Monday, June 27 determine the legitimacy of a planned demonstration by pressure group, Arise Ghana. The group has scheduled Tuesday and Wednesday to demonstrate against the current economic challenges and wants to end the protest at 10pm on both days. The request is being challenged by the Ghana Police Service, which says it cannot guarantee the safety of members of the group for the long hours. The Ghana Police Service in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Chief Superintendent Grace Ansah-Akrofi says the disagreement with the group over the time for holding the demonstration compelled them to go to court. The Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. While assuring organizers and the general public of its readiness to provide security for the demonstration, the police service also said it will wait for the court to make a determination today. Meanwhile, a leading member of the group, Benard Mornah insists the demonstration will be held regardless. By law, we have complied with the Public Order Act. We have responded to the Polices difficulties. IGP took up the matter, and we settled on the matter that the demonstration can hold. Despite this agreement, police say that they are not comfortable. It is in this country that the dumsor vigil was held. So the police have no excuse to say that the night vigil will affect them, so the demonstration will certainly come off. citinewsroom North Tongu Member of Parliament, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has described the Director of Communications at the Presidency as being allergic to the truth stating that the Presidential Jet, Dassault Falcon 900EX was not manufactured for short haul travel Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin had on Sunday June 26 stated that the Presidential Jet was manufactured for short haul travel only. In a tweet on Sunday evening, the MP indicated that the Falcon 900EX can go at least 9 hours non-stop before requiring refueling. Mr. Eugene Arhin seems chronically allergic to the truth. Ghanas Presidential Jet, the Dassault Falcon 900EX was not manufactured for short haul travel as Mr. Arhin claims. The Falcon 900EX version is a long range business tri-jet aircraft, which features the three Honeywall TFE731-60 turbofan engines, improved central fuel tank capacity plus an additional rare tank, with a range of 8,340km (4,501nm; 5,180 miles). Ghanas Falcon 900EX ca fly at least 9 hours nonstop before requiring a refueling break. According to Mr. Ablakwa, the second reply from the Mr. Arhin said basically nothing and that the 6 page prolix only shows how the Presidency is being tormented by the pangs of conscience and the fury of the Ghanaian people after being exposed, that despite a loud promise to protect the public purse, President Akufo-Addo has engaged in the most obscene dissipation and utter profligacy on the chartered ultra-luxury jets when Ghana owns a Presidential Jet in Pristine condition. On Thursday, June 23, Mr. Ablakwa, who constantly tracks the President's foreign trips, especially flights, once again alleged that the President had travelled on an ACJ319 ultra-luxury jet, registered D-ALEX from German operator-K5 Aviation. He indicated that the jet which cost 20,000 an hour, cost the Ghanaian taxpayer 480,000=GHS4.1 million. 27.06.2022 LISTEN The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) says it is illegal for any health facility to detain a patient after treatment for non-payment of medical bills or as a result of delay in the payment of NHIS claims by government to such a facility. It added that the health facilities have no right to demand any money from active NHIS members for services provided as the scheme covers about 95% of all diseases usually reported at hospitals in the country. If any health facility working with the NHIS feels it can no longer accept NHIS members as a result of delay or non-payment of claims, it has two options and that is either it sues the scheme or follow the due process to stop doing business with the scheme but it cannot charge patients any extra money as an accredited NHIS service provider, Mr. Maxwell Mahama, the Sunyani Municipal Manager of the NHIS said. He was speaking at a stakeholders meeting in Sunyani to throw more light on the various ailments and services covered by the NHIS. Extortions galore Mr. Mahama expressed grave concern about reports of extortion from NHIS members by some health workers in Sunyani. He called on the media to follow-up such reports to help bring the perpetrators to book and sanitize the system. He specifically mentioned the Regional and the Municipal hospitals in Sunyani as health facilities in the municipality where the collection of unapproved charges by health workers is very prevalent and common, especially at their respective maternity blocks. He urges anyone who was forced to pay any illegal fees at hospitals to report such cases to the nearest NHIS office for swift action to be taken. The Municipal NHIS Manager stressed the scheme covers out-patient general and specialist services, in-patient services, oral health care, eye care, maternity and emergency services. He further urge the public to keep themselves abreast of their rights whenever they visit health facilities. During an open forum, the participants called on the managers of NHIS to regularly engage the Ghana Medical Association and other players in the health care delivery sector as well as all relevant stakeholders to fashion out better ways of serving the public. The Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa has questioned the Director of Communications at the Presidency, Eugene Arhin on the importance of advertising the Presidents travel history before he joined public service. According to Mr. Ablakwa, evidence to debunk his claim of the President chartering a 20,000 an hour ultra-luxury jet has not been provided by the Presidency yet, they keep hyping the Presidents travel achievements. In a tweet on Sunday June 26, Mr. Ablakwa intimated that it was disturbing to see that instead of addressing the issue he raised, the Presidency was rather extoling the achievements of President Akufo-Addo's trips abroad in which they failed to provide evidence that President Akufo-Addo as a private citizen ever chartered a 20,000 an hour ultra-luxury jet. Mr. Arhin on Sunday June 26 in response to Mr. Ablakwas claims stated that it is important to put on record that the Presidents trips, since he assumed office in 2017, have been beneficial to the country, the latest being his trip to Belgium, in connection with the financial assistance to Ghana from the European Investment Bank for both the establishment of the Development Bank Ghana, and for the construction of a vaccine manufacturing plant in Ghana. "It is noteworthy that the countrys search for a solution for the perennial lack of long term financing for the private sector in Ghana has been going on for the better part of the 4th republic, and it is through the Presidents efforts that we now have a vehicle and the means to provide it in Ghana Is Hon. Ablakwa suggesting that the construction of a vaccine manufacturing plant is not essential to the development of Ghana? It seems that he, to quote President Kufuor, knows the cost of everything and the value of nothing. Mr. Ablakwa in a counter-reaction stated that, apart from frugality, empathy and transparency, logic is the other missing commodity at the seat of government. He beseeched the President to come to an understanding that public funds belong to the Ghanaian people and as such, government has no choice than to be accountable. The lawmaker stressed that in the Mills/Mahama era, leadership reasoned that Ghana did not need two Presidential Jets and the decision to cut back remains one of the best moments irrespective of what the aristocratic Akufo-Addo Presidency thinks. Since Thursday June 23, the MP and the Communications Director at the Presidency have been going at it over the formers claim that, the President in his latest trip chartered an ACJ319 ultra-luxury jet, registered D-ALEX from German operator-K5 Aviation. The which jet cost 20,000 an hour, is costing the Ghanaian taxpayer 480,000=GHS4.1 million. The government is yet to state the actual cost of the Presidents trip. 27.06.2022 LISTEN Leaders of pressure group, Arise Ghana, have said their planned demonstration will come on as scheduled on Tuesday June 28, 2022. One of the leaders Bernard Mornah said this on the New Day show with Berla Mundi on TV3 Monday June 27. The demonstration is coming on as planned, he said. Mr Mornahs comments come after the Police filed a case in court against their action due to a disagreement on the time frame and also the location. The Police explained in a statement issued on Sunday June 26 that in the interest of Public Order and safety, they entreated the organizers to reconsider the time frame and start the demonstration early in the day and end before night falls. But Due to the lack of agreement between the Police and the organizers on the time for demonstration and location for their planned picketing, the Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. This was duly communicated to Arise Ghana in a letter on June 20, 2022. The case has since been filed at the court and hearing is scheduled for tomorrow Monday June 27, 2022. The group's planned to started the the series of demonstration on 28th June, 2022, starting from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange/ Obra Spot and end at the frontage of the seat of government. We shall move through the Nima Police Station street to the Arko-Agyei inter-change and end at the Frontage of the Jubilee House where we will picket until 10PM, a statement issued by the group earlier said. The purpose of the demonstration, they said, is to protest against persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians; protest against the imposition of the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. Demand a full scale and bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures; Protest against the grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest reserve. Protest against the increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia. 3news.com The Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress has described attempt by the Police to seek a restraining order from the court to prevent the Arise Ghana demonstrators from protesting into the night as a smokescreen choreographed to deny overburdened and suffering Ghanaians from venting their frustrations about the corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government through street protest. According to the NDC youth, a trivial issue as the scheduled time for the Arise Ghana demonstration could have been settled with organizers without necessarily resorting to a last minute crude tactics to frustrate the organizers. The youth in a statement noted that Indeed, the organizers, from media reports, have so far cooperated with the Police and had even acquiesced to demands by the Police to change the scheduled time to a proposed one by the Police asking If the Police had a change of mind on the agreed time with the organizers, what prevented the IGP or his lawful assigns from re-engaging the organizers to find a middle ground? The statement urged the organisers of the demonstration not to be unsettled by these cowardice tactics by the Police and government. It said the resolve by all young people in the country is that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has lost track on its promised deliverables and must be kicked out. We stand in solidarity with the organisers and would lend all support where necessary to ensure Ghanaians rise in unison against this tyrannical government, the statement added. It comes after the Police in a statement said it had filed processes at the court to prevent the Arise Ghana demonstrators from picketing and demonstrating deep into the night in the interest of public safety. Below are details of the NDC Youth statement: The Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress has become aware of a press statement by the Ghana Police Service unashamedly communicating its decision to use the Court to thwart a planned demonstration by pressure group, Arise Ghana. The reasons stated in the Police statement for desperately seeking restraining order from the Court, on the face of available facts, are only smokescreen choreographed to deny overburdened and suffering Ghanaians from venting their frustrations about the corrupt Akufo Addo/Bawumia government through street protest. While the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare enjoyed the goodwill of Ghanaians when he was appointed, and exhibited traits of an upright officer ready to honour the tenets of his profession, he has turned out to be a puppet of a corrupt regime. Annoyingly, the IGP, without mincing words, has carved an unenviable niche for himself as someone comically interested in protecting a gang of thieves in government rather than the very poor people whose taxes he is feeding on. A trivial issue as the scheduled time for the Arise Ghana demonstration could have been settled with organizers without necessarily resorting to a last minute crude tactics to frustrate the organizers. Indeed, the organizers, from media reports, have so far cooperated with the Police and had even acquiesced to demands by the Police to change the scheduled time to a proposed one by the Police. If the Police had a change of mind on the agreed time with the organizers, what prevented the IGP or his lawful assigns from re-engaging the organizers to find a middle ground? More so, on what account did the Police changed its mind in the last minute to break ranks with the organizers? This unholy behaviour by the Dampare-led Police administration speaks to one undeniable fact - that the Police hierarchy, against the wishes of some of its junior officers, have sworn to fight any well-meaning Ghanaian who dares question the wanton dissipation of scarce resources by the reckless Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. We would not be surprised that the Police hierarchy have taken up this unpatriotic hatchet job because they are accomplice in the unreasonable raping of our dear country. A protest such as the Arise Ghana demonstration should and must be embraced by every Ghanaian who wishes this country well. The only adversaries would be the criminals in government looting the State, and sadly, the Police hierarchy appears to have gleefully joined them as their protective cover. If the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has performed to the satisfaction of all, why would it be remote-controlling the IGP to block a peaceful street protest? History has it that failed governments, like the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, always resort to weakening of otherwise independent State institutions in order to have a field day to steal without anyone raising a winker. We can assure the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that the IGP and his cohorts may be in bed with them today, but the day of reckoning where the Ghanaian people would say 'enough is enough' is now here with us. We urge organizers of the Arise Ghana demonstration not to be unsettled by these cowardice tactics by the Police and government. The resolve by all young people of our Country is that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has lost track on its promised deliverables and must be kicked out. We stand in solidarity with the organizers and would lend all support where necessary to ensure Ghanaians rise in unison against this tyrannical government. Signed George Opare Addo, Esq National Youth Organizer, National Democratic Congress. Source: Classfmonline.com 27.06.2022 LISTEN The Ghana Police Service will be in court with the leadership of Arise Ghana today over the misunderstanding on the formalities of the groups two-day demonstration. Over the last two weeks, the Police administration has held various meetings with Arise Ghana over their intention to hold a demonstration in Accra for two continuous days and to also picket in front of the Jubilee House during the night. The Police invited the organisers to a meeting to discuss the demonstration. Following a series of meetings, Arise Ghana informed the Police in a letter dated June 8, 2022, that instead of two continuous days, the demonstration will start on the first day at 3 pm and end at 10 pm and resume the next day. The Police, in a letter dated June 13, 2022, responded and urged that in order to adequately ensure the safety of demonstrators and other members of the public, the demonstration should not travel into the night. Therefore, in the interest of public order and safety, the Police entreated the organisers to reconsider their time frame and start the demonstration early in the day and end before night falls. On June 22, 2022, the Police received a verbal response from the organisers to the effect that they are unable to change the time of the demonstration. As a result of the lack of consensus, the Ghana Police Service has dragged Arise Ghana to court with the case set to be heard today, June 27, 2022. Due to the lack of agreement between the Police and the organisers on the time for the demonstration and location for their planned picketing, the Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. This was duly communicated to Arise Ghana in a letter on June 22, 2022. The case has since been filed at the court and the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow Monday, June 27, 2022, a Ghana Police Service statement signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Chief Superintendent Of Police, Director, Public Affairs. Read the Police statement in the attachment below: 27.06.2022 LISTEN The Electronic Transaction Levy (E-Levy) is only delivering 10% of estimated revenues for the government, this has been disclosed by a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko. The government on May 1, 2022, commenced the implementation of the levy. After two months into the implementation, the government is said to miss its revenue target. According to Gabby Otchere Darko, the levy is only giving the government 10% of the projected revenue at the moment as the country continues to struggle over high debt and the poor performance of the Ghanaian cedi. After 5 months of stalemate and bashing, the e-levy, after implementation, is delivering only 10% of estimated revenues; our revenues remain very low as compared to the rest of the world; debt levels dangerously high, cedi, like most currencies, struggling against the US dollar, Mr. Otchere Darko who is Lawyer and Communication strategist said in a post on Twitter on Monday, June 27, 2922. The leading NPP member further hints in subsequent posts that the government could be forced to return to the IMF to enrol on a programme. He insists that while that is an option on the table for the government, he is all for it. What options are open to government? The question should rather be: what option, if adopted, will re-inject investor confidence in our economy? Even if we find the $3-5 billion required, will that help? E-levy which was to have given us some 600m by now has done less than 60m. Theres, understandably, a national aversion to an IMF program, because of the history of conditionalities which attack sacred cows like jobs and social interventions. Akufo-Addo will not sacrifice free SHS and other critical welfare policies to help the poor for any assistance. Am I against an IMF program in principle? No, other posts from Mr. Otchere Darko reads. Founder of the Danquah Institute and NPP stalwart, Gabby Otchere-Darko has indicated that, in principle, he is not for an International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme. In a tweet today, he attested to the fact that Ghana's economy is in deep crises. He however insisted that Akufo-Addo will not give up Free SHS and other policies that help the less privilege and run to the IMF. Theres understandably, a national aversion to an IMF program, because of the history of conditionalitys which attack sacred cows like jobs and social interventions. Akufo-Addo will not sacrifice Free SHS and other critical welfare policies to help the poor for any assistance, he shared on twitter. In a series of tweets, he indicated that inasmuch as cost of living is rising globally and Ghanas revenue to GDP ratio is among the lowest in the world; even in Africa, a decision by any government to intensify taxation may not be smart. He further adds that, although Ghana is a member of the IMF, the world is in serious crisis and Ghana is plagued with high debt and low income levels therefore if something is not done soon, the country could sink deeper than it already is. Ghana is a member of the IMF. The world is in serious crisis. Ours in not helped by our high debt and low income levels. With the economy still growing, but investor confidence low, government being compelled to cut down capital expenditures will eventually lead to job losses unless we do something that will inject confidence in our capacity to ride this heavy storm and that something should happen pretty quickly. Are you against an IMF program? he queried. The NPP stalwart had earlier this morning tweeted that even the much rejected, but implemented E-levy was only delivering 10% of the estimated revenue. It is no secret that the country is facing perilous times, Mr. Otchere-Darkos tweets seem to convey that the government would still not run to the IMF especially in its state however, a better option to revive the economy is urgently needed. Leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko has indicated that amid the challenges facing the country, he is all for the government going to the IMF to enroll on a programme that will help the country. Ghana despite remaining a member of the IMF has not been on any programme since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo became President. In the past year, there have been proposals for the government to return to the IMF to enroll on a programme due to the hardships presented by the Coronavirus pandemic. However, the government has always remained against the idea with Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta insisting that the government will rely on home-grown solutions. With things not getting any better, Gabby Otchere Darko has hinted through various posts on Twitter that the government could be considering a return to the IMF. According to him, he is all for an IMF intervention in the midst of the current economic situation. Ghana is a member of the IMF. The world is in serious crisis. Ours is not helped by our high debt and low-income levels. With the economy still growing, but investor confidence low, govt being compelled to cut down capital expenditures will eventually lead to job losses unless We do something that will inject confidence in our capacity to ride this heavy storm and that something should happen pretty quickly. Are you against an IMF program? I am not for an IMF program that throws peanuts at us but imposes conditions that will end up hurting the poor, jobs, and businesses more. Covid-19 and War in Ukraine are not of Africas doing but more to our doom. A program that pretends it is all our doing is doomed to fail. Am I against an IMF program in principle? No, parts of a series of posts on the Twitter page of Gabby Otchere Darko said on Monday, June 27, 2022. Meanwhile, the lawyer and communications strategist has disclosed that the government is missing its revenue target for the controversial electronic transaction levy. He has revealed that the government is only raking in 10% of the targeted revenue two months after the commencement of the E-Levy. The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is demanding justice for the family of Ibrahim Mohammed, popularly known as 'Kaaka' on the occasion of the one-year celebration of the deceased activist. The political activist died on June 26, 2021, after he was attacked on his way home and beaten by yet-to-be-identified men who left him dead at Ejura in the Ashanti Region. Although there have been investigations into the matter, there has been no conclusion, leaving the family in more pain. On the occasion of the one-year anniversary of the death of Ibrahim Kaaka, the NDC has issued a press release to mourn with the family of the deceased activist. The largest opposition party in the country further demands justice for the deceased. On the sad occasion of the first anniversary of the untimely death of Kaaka, the leadership and entire membership of the NDC join his family and friends in remembering him and his work in fighting for freedom and justice in Ghana. The National Democratic Congress further takes this opportunity to demand for justice for the family of Kaaka, especially as they have roundly rejected the findings and recommendations of the unsatisfactory report of the committee of enquiry set up under the authority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to examine the circumstances that resulted in his murder, parts of an NDC release signed by Kakra Essamuah who is Director of Communications has said. It adds, As we memorialise this sad chapter in the history of our dear country, we also call on the President to perform his constitutional duty to ensure that justice is secured for the families and friends of the victims of the Nkoranza disturbances which also resulted in the unlawful death of Albert Donkor whilst he was allegedly in police custody. Below is a copy of the NDC press release: STATEMENT BY THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATIC CONGRESS TO MARK THE FIRST ANNIVERSARY OF THE MURDER OF IBRAHIM MOHAMMED ALSO KNOWN AS KAAKA IN EJURA IN THE ASHANTI REGION. Today, 26th June, 2022 marks the first anniversary of the brutal shooting of a young, brilliant political activist, Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Macho Kaaka, by state security forces in Ejura in the Ashanti Region. On 28th June, 2021, despite the diligent efforts of medical personnel, Ibrahim Mohammed succumbed to his injuries and died. During his funeral in Ejura, two other Ghanaian citizens namely, Nasiru Yussif and Murtala Mohammed, were also shot and killed by the security forces. On the sad occasion of the first anniversary of the untimely death of Kaaka, the leadership and entire membership of the NDC join his family and friends in remembering him and his work in fighting for freedom and justice in Ghana. The National Democratic Congress further takes this opportunity to demand for justice for the family of Kaaka, especially as they have roundly rejected the findings and recommendations of the unsatisfactory report of the committee of enquiry set up under the authority of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo to examine the circumstances that resulted in his murder. As we memorialise this sad chapter in the history of our dear country, we also call on the President to perform his constitutional duty to ensure that justice is secured for the families and friends of the victims of the Nkoranza disturbances which also resulted in the unlawful death of Albert Donkor whilst he was allegedly in police custody. We note with extreme regret and astonishment that absolutely none of the numerous murders committed under the watch of President Akufo-Addo has seen any finality in prosecution and due punishment for the perpetrators. President Akufo-Addo is in his sixth year of governing this nation, and yet despite his well-known advocacy for law and order and human rights during his long sojourn in opposition, the government that he leads has had the highest number of politically motivated murders in the Fourth Republic. Several other Ghanaian citizens have been maimed and disabled for life as a result of the unlawful use of force by security forces under the overall command and control of President Akufo-Addo in their engagement with ordinary Ghanaians. Accordingly, we demand justice from the President for all who have perished in the numerous clashes between the security forces and ordinary citizens and, in particular, Ibrahim Mohammed, alias Kaaka, and the two other citizens of Ejura who died alongside Kaaka. The preservation of life and property is the first duty of every President. President Akufo-Addo must merit his office by carrying out his solemn duties entrusted to him when the people of Ghana voted for him to become the president. Neither Kaaka, nor Nasiru, nor Murtala, nor Albert Donkor deserved to die. They deserve JUSTICE. ISSUED IN ACCRA THIS 26TH DAY OF JUNE, 2022 ...............(signed) (KAKRA ESSAMUAH, esq) DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS The youth wing of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) has described the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare as a puppet of a corrupt regime. The youth said while Dr Dampare enjoyed the goodwill of Ghanaians when he was appointed, and exhibited traits of an upright officer ready to honour the tenets of his profession, he has turned out to carve an unenviable niche for himself as someone comically interested in protecting a gang of thieves in government rather than the very poor people whose taxes he is feeding on. The NDC youth said these in a statement signed by Mr George Opare Addo, National Youth Organiser, when the Police disclosed its attempt to seek a restraining order from the court to prevent the Arise Ghana demonstrators from demonstrating into the night in the interest of public safety. The NDC youth noted that the Police attempt to prevent the Arise Ghana demonstrators from demonstrating into the night is only a smokescreen choreographed to deny overburdened and suffering Ghanaians from venting their frustrations about the corrupt Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government through street protest. The statement urged the organisers of the demonstration not to be unsettled by these cowardice tactics by the Police and government. We stand in solidarity with the organisers and would lend all support where necessary to ensure Ghanaians rise in unison against this tyrannical government, the statement added. Below are details of the NDC Youth statement: The Youth Wing of the National Democratic Congress has become aware of a press statement by the Ghana Police Service unashamedly communicating its decision to use the Court to thwart a planned demonstration by pressure group, Arise Ghana. The reasons stated in the Police statement for desperately seeking restraining order from the Court, on the face of available facts, are only smokescreen choreographed to deny overburdened and suffering Ghanaians from venting their frustrations about the corrupt Akufo Addo/Bawumia government through street protest. While the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare enjoyed the goodwill of Ghanaians when he was appointed, and exhibited traits of an upright officer ready to honour the tenets of his profession, he has turned out to be a puppet of a corrupt regime. Annoyingly, the IGP, without mincing words, has carved an unenviable niche for himself as someone comically interested in protecting a gang of thieves in government rather than the very poor people whose taxes he is feeding on. A trivial issue as the scheduled time for the Arise Ghana demonstration could have been settled with organizers without necessarily resorting to a last minute crude tactics to frustrate the organizers. Indeed, the organizers, from media reports, have so far cooperated with the Police and had even acquiesced to demands by the Police to change the scheduled time to a proposed one by the Police. If the Police had a change of mind on the agreed time with the organizers, what prevented the IGP or his lawful assigns from re-engaging the organizers to find a middle ground? More so, on what account did the Police changed its mind in the last minute to break ranks with the organizers? This unholy behaviour by the Dampare-led Police administration speaks to one undeniable fact - that the Police hierarchy, against the wishes of some of its junior officers, have sworn to fight any well-meaning Ghanaian who dares question the wanton dissipation of scarce resources by the reckless Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. We would not be surprised that the Police hierarchy have taken up this unpatriotic hatchet job because they are accomplice in the unreasonable raping of our dear country. A protest such as the Arise Ghana demonstration should and must be embraced by every Ghanaian who wishes this country well. The only adversaries would be the criminals in government looting the State, and sadly, the Police hierarchy appears to have gleefully joined them as their protective cover. If the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has performed to the satisfaction of all, why would it be remote-controlling the IGP to block a peaceful street protest? History has it that failed governments, like the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, always resort to weakening of otherwise independent State institutions in order to have a field day to steal without anyone raising a winker. We can assure the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that the IGP and his cohorts may be in bed with them today, but the day of reckoning where the Ghanaian people would say 'enough is enough' is now here with us. We urge organizers of the Arise Ghana demonstration not to be unsettled by these cowardice tactics by the Police and government. The resolve by all young people of our Country is that the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has lost track on its promised deliverables and must be kicked out. We stand in solidarity with the organizers and would lend all support where necessary to ensure Ghanaians rise in unison against this tyrannical government. Signed George Opare Addo, Esq National Youth Organizer, National Democratic Congress. Source: Classfmonline.com The National Communications Officer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Sammy Gyamfi has accused H.E Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo of leading Ghana on a path of retrogression since becoming President. Speaking to TV3 in an interview on the New Day programme on Monday, June 27, 2022, he said although the President has inherited more money than any other government in the history of the country, he has nothing to show for it. President Akufo-Addo has had money more than any government. The last time we checked, he has received 500billion yet, he has not built hospitals and schools. This country is regressing, Sammy Gyamfi said while speaking about the hardships in the country. According to the NDC firebrand, it is crucial for Ghanaians to push for better conditions from the Akufo-Addo government. He urges the Ghanaians to join the upcoming two-day demonstration of the Arise Ghana group to drum home the important message to the government that enough is enough of the many hardships. The first major activity is the demonstration scheduled for 28 and 29. We are going to demonstrate against the excruciating hardships Ghanaians are going through. The hardships Ghanaians are going through is too much. This is occasioned largely by the hikes in fuel prices. We dont understand why Ghanaians should continue paying borla tax, he said. Unfortunately, Arise Ghana demonstration is under threat. The leadership of the newly-formed group has been dragged to court by the Police administration and will be in court today over the impasse on modalities for the demonstration. Due to the lack of agreement between the Police and the organisers on the time for the demonstration and location for their planned picketing, the Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. This was duly communicated to Arise Ghana in a letter on June 22, 2022. The case has since been filed at the court and the hearing is scheduled for tomorrow Monday, June 27, 2022, a Ghana Police Service statement signed by Grace Ansah-Akrofi, Chief Superintendent Of Police, Director, Public Affairs. Gabby Otchere-Darko, a staunch member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) has resurrected the old conversation of Ghana seeking support from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) following the crisis that has plagued Ghana's economy. Am I against an IMF program in principle? No, he stated. His assertion was contained in a series of tweets on Monday, June 27, 2022, monitored by Modernghana News. Mr. Otchere Darko stressed that he does not support an IMF policy that will impose unnecessary conditions on Ghanaians and will probably make life very unbearable. I am not for an IMF program that throws peanuts at us but imposes conditions that will end up hurting the poor, jobs and businesses more. Covid-19 and War in Ukraine are not of Africa's doing but more to our doom. A program that pretends it is all our doing is doomed to fail. We do something that will inject confidence in our capacity to ride this heavy storm and that something should happen pretty quickly. Are you against an IMF program? his tweets read. To him, the post-COVID-19 effects and the negative impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war have affected African countries badly, which is the reason there is a need for Ghana to seek help after all alternatives seem to have failed. If our programmes fail us and we are not able to get the confidence and the results in the fiscal space discipline, which we have to impose on ourselves, then we dont have a choice, he tweeted further. Prior to this assertion by Mr. Otchere, the deputy minister for Finance, Mr. John Kumah, had disclosed in an interview with JoyNews, an Accra-based television station, that the government may consider seeking help from the IMF if their numerous attempts to bring the economy back to life fail. If it [bringing the economy back to life] becomes impossible, then it is the only alternative to salvage our economy. But where we are now, we think we are in the position to salvage the economy or to try the homegrown policy we are adopting, he said. An Aviation Expert based in the United States, Mr Sean Mendis, has said Ghanas presidential jet, the Falcon, is not ideal for long journeys. He said it may embark on such journeys however, that will require a higher technical support and also with less luggage and passengers onboard. He said these when asked whether the Falcon is suitable for long hour trips, while speaking in an interview with TV3s Komla Adom on the mid-day news on Monday 27. No, he answered. He added that the Falcon is not the ideal jet for long haul travel. It is optimally suited for trips from Ghana to anywhere in Africa , maybe some parts of Europe. If you are going to Asia, if you are going to North American or some , the Falcon will be able to do it but will require higher technical stuffs. Optimally it can probably do around 3000 miles which is about 6 hours. It is capable of flying further with less luggage, with less people on board. The interview was based on the criticisms against President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo by North Tongu Member of Parliament Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, for what he believes is the Presidents seeming extravagance with regard to the flights chartered for his trips abroad. The Director of Communications at the Presidency Mr Eugene Arhin has said he was hoping that Mr Okudzeto Ablakwa would back up his claim that President Akufo-Addo travelled to Brussels aboard a chartered plane but he has failed to do so. Mr Arhin dismissed the claims and further said that unashamedly, Mr Ablakwa has refused to make mention of it, let alone apologise for it. Again, after being caught out on the Accra-Brussels-Kigali lie, the Honourable Member of Parliament tries to justify the so-called 21-hour cost of the flight with some voodoo charges. What is shocking, in his Friday statement, is the admission of the fact that he does not know for a fact the cost of the charter. The so-called 480,000 cost he is bandying about is the result of guess work, and on the reliance of a 'generous 21-hour cost analysis'. He provides no evidence or documentary proof whatsoever to back up his 480,000 cost claim, because he has none. Once again, it is obvious that the Honourable Ablakwa finds these attacks on the President to be his pathway to political prominence through negative propaganda, and is determined to pursue this course, no matter how ridiculous and insulting his statements are. He further states that, if Brussels Airport was closed due to the strike, President Akufo-Addo could have arrived in Kigali through the many (other) busy transit routes, for example Paris. For Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, the President, sitting in a cafe at the train station in Paris, with practically no official security around him, and waiting to board a train, is of no moment. The State owes it a duty to be fussy about these things, even though the President may not be fussy about them. Is it acceptable to Hon. Ablakwa that the President cannot attend engagements that he is spending his valuable time to make because connecting flights get cancelled? Or that he has to wait around airports because flights have been delayed? Or, as happened in his last trip, he arrives at his destination from an overnight flight without any luggage of his arriving with him, such that he cannot even have a change of clothes to make the appointment he travelled for in the first place? It is a shame that an honourable Member of Parliament has no regard, whatsoever, for the security and safety of his President. Mr Arhin, earlier indicated that President Akufo-Addo travelled to Brussels on a commercial means of transport. First of all, Mr Arhin explained, President Akufo-Addo travelled from Accra to Paris on Sunday, June 19 on a commercial flight. He said even the Air France flight made a stopover in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso before proceeding to the French capital. In fact, all of President Akufo-Addo's 12-member delegation travelled commercial, Mr Arhin said in the statement on Friday, June 24. Upon arrival in Paris, President Akufo-Addo and his delegation travelled via train to Brussels to attend the European Development Days event, where, on Tuesday, 21st June 2022, he was a keynote speaker, and later held meetings with the President of European Investment Bank on two key subject areas. The statement admitted that the president's next trip on Sunday, June 26 will be by the use of the Presidential Jet. ---3news.com The Dean of Cape Coast University Business School, Professor John Gatsi says blames on Ghanas economic woes should be laid at the doorstep of Finance Minister, Mr. Ken Ofori Attah. Speaking to Starr FM in an interview on Monday, June 27, 2022, Prof. John Gatsi stressed that while people may only want to point fingers at the Minister for this year's hardship, he must be blamed for the poor management of the Ghanaian economy since 2017. He [Finance Minister] cannot manage the Ghanaian economy only in 2022, he has been managing the economy since 2017, and cumulatively, his policy in terms of fiscal management has actually created a huge problem for this country, the UCC-BS Dean shared. Prof. John Gatsi continued, And that I do not think that he himself is not aware. He is the one who presents the kind of borrowing that we need to do and that borrowing has created problems for the country. Therefore, we cannot blame any other person than the Finance Minister. Most of the things he comes to Parliament to present, that is his belief that he has presented to Parliament. So we should hold him on those things rather than extending it to some individuals who have been considered to be of value to the government. But may not be in charge directly of affairs of this country. Meanwhile, a leading member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Mr. Gabby Otchere Darko has hinted at the countrys possible return to the IMF. According to him, the E-Levy has failed to rake in the projected revenue two months after its implementation commenced. In a series of Tweets, Mr. Otchere Darko has disclosed that he is all for an IMF return for Ghana if it will help in tackling the current economic crisis that has presented a lot of suffering to the Ghanaian people. Ghana is a member of the IMF. The world is in serious crisis. Ours is not helped by our high debt and low-income levels. With the economy still growing, but investor confidence low, govt being compelled to cut down capital expenditures will eventually lead to job losses unless. We do something that will inject confidence in our capacity to ride this heavy storm and that something should happen pretty quickly. Are you against an IMF program? I am not for an IMF program that throws peanuts at us but imposes conditions that will end up hurting the poor, jobs, and businesses more. Covid-19 and War in Ukraine are not of Africas doing but more to our doom. A program that pretends it is all our doing is doomed to fail. Am I against an IMF program in principle? No, parts of a series of posts on the Twitter page of Gabby Otchere Darko said on Monday, June 27, 2022. Renowned man of God, Dr. David Bindan, has called for a peaceful co-existence of the different belief systems in Ghana. He made the call in a press release on Sunday, June 26, 2022. He urged religious bodies in Ghana to peacefully co-exist. Below is his full press release: PRESS RELEASE PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS IN GHANA Blessed people of Ghana, this nation occupies a special place in the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because of this He has sent me with a message that will establish Ghana in lasting peace and development for everybody. This message consists of simple truths that will forever preserve Ghana from destruction and usher her into the state of fulfilling her calling as the hope of Africa and the rest of the world in this era. To the president and future government of this nation, here are the simple truths: 1. It is time to get Ghana established in lasting peace and lasting development for everyone. 2. The major means to this state of lasting peace is to work assiduously to ensure that there is a realistic peaceful co-existence of all the citizens of this nation with different belief systems. A simple fact that has eluded many African nations is the fact that realistic peaceful co-existence of the citizens of a nation with different belief systems is a better and more powerful guarantee of lasting peace and development in a nation than just democracy without it. You don't need to look far; observe what is currently happening in Nigeria, and you will know that democracy without a realistic peaceful coexistence of the citizens of the nation with different belief systems is no guarantee of real peace of that nation. The Lord is bringing us this message at this time because as it is now, Ghana after more than 60 years of independence still doesn't have what we can call realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems. Why are we saying this? We are still in a nation where state apparatus, like the state-owned media organizations, state departments and state personnel like the police, are often used to compel some citizens into practices that are prescribed by the deities of some other citizens. You cannot call this a peaceful co-existence. There is an injustice somewhere which if not addressed has the potential of something negative. This is what the Lord wants to prevent and is sending this message to us at this time. The good news is that it doesn't take much for any nation to attain this state of peaceful coexistence. Something as simple as just ensuring that systems are strengthened to ensure that no citizen at any time anywhere in the nation is compelled into practices that they do not believe in. It is so simple and yet so powerful to achieve this. Even in cases where the government will say that the issues are technical and sensitive, they are not without a solution if they are committed because the issues of belief, whether you like it or not, boils down to the issues of deities. And deities are not non-entities; deities are spirits. In such cases what the government should do is to allow the deities to prove themselves through their spokespersons. There is no true speaker for a deity that doesn't know the deities they are speaking for and the capabilities of that deity. And when the matter is settled spiritually in the nation, the nation can now have an openly genuine and unbiased basis for legislation. When this is not done, any attempt to cover things up in the name of respect for culture or obedience to authority when there is no real peace is like covering a wound and pretending it is healed. It is just a matter of time, and the wound will fester. I know that in this nation, previous governments have shied away from bold steps to address these issues to bring the nation into a state of realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems. God sending me at this time is a sign to the current government that thinking of turning deaf ears to this message is a joke. You cannot turn deaf ears and have it easy in the spirit. Because as I speak now, in the spirit, any government that comes into power and does not show commitment to bringing this nation to this state of realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems is sounding loud in the spirit that that government doesn't care about the lasting peace and development of the nation and such a government shall not last. It is as simple as that. To the body of Christ, we have been called by God to some things in the scriptures, three of which are very important now in helping Ghana to contribute our portion of what is required from the church to attain this state of peaceful co-existence. 1. Our Father has called us, according to 1 Peter 5:8, to be sober and vigilant concerning the tricks of the devil. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, He told us never to be ignorant of the devices of Satan. And in Jeremiah 29:7, He told us to work and pray for the peace of the nations in which we physically dwell because in the peace of those nations, is our peace. Therefore, the church in Ghana has a responsibility to assist the governments and other stakeholders to arrive at this state of realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems. 2. Through the Ghanaian Times editorial of 9th May 2022, amazing things were revealed concerning some vital devices of the devil against the church in Ghana that the church cannot turn a blind eye on. Several things were said, but I will refer to two of them. In that editorial, the Ghanaian Times revealed something very remarkable. Literally, what it was saying was that beyond the cover of a cultural practice, the real issue of the ban on drumming and noise making in Accra was about the worship of gods and spirits. This is not Dr. David Bindan saying it; this is a Ghanaian state-owned media declaring it and I quote, "Those who understand both the spiritual and the physical environments will tell you that the gods or spirits need such noiseless periods to work out things for the benefit of the people." (Page 4, paragraph 7) This is Ghanaian Times, and not David Bindan stating that the main reason for the silence of that period is so that some gods or some spirits will be able to answer the prayers of other people. So, I asked an important question when I was putting these things down here, that, "For all these years, the whole Ghana kept quiet for government apparatus to be used to compel Christian citizens of Ghana into practices prescribed by other gods and spirits under the cover of respect for culture and obedience for authority?" Listen, this is nothing but an attempt by Satan to pollute and corrupt pure Biblical worship of the Lord Jesus Christ in this nation. Tell me where in the Bible that you can have a Christianity that for eleven months of the year, you worship Jesus according to the Bible and one month of the year, you worship Jesus according to the prescriptions of another god or spirit. That kind of Christianity is not in the Bible. Anyone who knows the truth, loves Jesus and loves Ghana knows that what I am saying is the truth. And when you hear me talk about respect for culture and obedience to authority, keep in mind that I have nothing against these things. In fact, my research proves that our ministry in the city of Accra was the first Christian ministry that held a Homowo Sunday service, in the year 2015. This service was held in an open field; the Ga chief of the area with his elders were there; the queen mother of the area with her entourage were there; representatives from the office of the member of Parliament were there. And we had a great service in which the Lord inspired us concerning His beautiful plans for the great people of the Ga Adangme state. If I were somebody against culture, I would not have responded to this instruction of the Lord to hold such a service. Secondly, in that same editorial, the Ghanaian Times made it clear in the eighteenth paragraph that, the freedom of Ghanaian citizens to Biblical worship will only become a reality when all ethnic groups in Ghana decide to abandon their traditional religious practices. This is what they said, and I quote, "Till the leadership of the various ethnic groups in the country abandon all the traditional religious practices, all Christians have to do is to show a sense of tolerance to coexist with the traditional believers, evangelize and pray for them." You see the cover-ups they are using? A sense of tolerance? Co-exist? A kind of tolerance and co-existence that only favours the cause of Satan. People of God, this is again nothing but an attempt by Satan to ultimately stifle our freedom of worship of Jesus the Bible way in a nation that is supposed to be a nation that guarantees freedom of worship. It is high time the church looked at these devices of the enemy and rose into focused prayer to abort these works of Satan and liberate Ghana from the claws of the devil, programming Ghana for a future destruction. You may not appreciate what we are saying today but there is no real peace when some people are being forced under practices, they do not believe in. It is just a matter of time, and when they are tired, there will be an explosion. There is only real peace when everybody is satisfied. So, the church is being called by this announcement to rise up to prayer to abort these works of the devil and to receive wisdom to act in love and in peace based on truth. There are actions of love and peace that are not based on truth; they don't bring real peace. The church should act in love and in peace based on truth so that we can contribute our portion to the nation and other stakeholders to bring Ghana to this place of realistic peaceful co-existence among all her citizens with different belief systems and bring her into a state of lasting peace for lasting development for everyone. Before I round off with this special message and pray for the nation Ghana, I would like to say to all who have in mind, just like the Ghanaian Times, to either encourage or coerce the church in Accra into adhering to any kind of protocols of any supposed ban on drumming and noise making in Accra not to waste their time and energy because what I said in June 2021, concerning the exclusion of the church from the ban, or the annulment of the ban was not a prophecy. It was a statement of spiritual fact that came into force the moment the stakeholders went into action in 2022. Therefore, if you ever hear of any announcements of ban or any activities of its enforcement, these are just what we call the fag ends of something that died in May 2022, according to my word. And the truth is, "if you know, you know; if you don't know, you shall see soon." For Ghana, I pray in the Name of Jesus, peace, preservation, development be upon you; be upon the land, the governments and all the citizens of this nation now and forever in the Name of Jesus. Amen! Dr David Bindan (A son of God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit) The French government is mulling the reopening of a coal-fired power plant in the north-eastern Lorraine region this winter, as a precaution against power outages as Europe braces for an energy crisis due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. France's energy ministry said in a written statement on Sunday: "As a precautionary measure, given the situation in Ukraine, we are reserving the option to reactivate the Saint Avold plant ... if needed this winter." The ministry added that the plans will not affect the phasing out of coal plants in France, noting the power plant's operator would offset carbon emissions through measures like reforestation. The ministry also underlined that electricity production from coal in France will remain below one percent. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has thrown the spotlight on the Europe's reliance on Russian gas, prompting a scramble to find alternative energy sources. The heads of France's big energy companies on Sunday urged individuals and businesses to limit power consumption immediately to prepare for a looming energy crisis. No Russian coal will be used in the Saint Avold plant, the ministry said Sunday. France, Europe brace for impact Meanwhile, France's finance minister Bruno Le Maire has said that France is working on various energy contingency plans because of cuts to gas flows from Russia which have hit the European market but it has not yet had to put them into action. Speaking on Monday, Le Maire said talks were already underway on the issue with French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher, although details have still to be finalised. Le Maire told RMC Radio that "(...) We will determine which companies are of the most strategic importance, namely those for whom we can allow gas to be cut off and those for whom we cannot allow any cuts." "The moderation in energy consumption is now unavoidable, there is no alternative. The solution can only be found through a collective effort". Last week European Union leaders agreed to boost preparations for further cuts in Russian gas, accusing Moscow of "weaponising" energy via a supply squeeze which Germany warned could partly shut its industry. 27.06.2022 LISTEN It is better for a nation to be poor and righteous than to be rich and unrighteous (Proverbs 15:16). Of course, it will be best to have riches and righteousness as God always desired for the Jewish people in redemptive history. Much more, God extended such a heartfelt desire to other non-Jewish nations in the Bible. We see how He redeemed individuals (Rahab, Ruth) and repentance was preached to nations (Nineveh) as foreshadow of His ultimate redemption plan in Jesus Christ for the world. In light of this, Gods heart bleeds when a nation embraces unrighteous conduct as normal. Men always have their way that seems right to them but the end thereof is destruction (Proverbs 14:12). In this write-up I want to share with you 10 biblical reasons why Ghana must not allow LGBTQ Community to operate. In two parts, I discuss the Human and Godly Reasons. Lets look at the details PART 1: HUMAN REASONS Before we plunge into the 10 reasons proper, lets consider a few human reasons why we must not allow LGBTQ in our nation. Creation The first appeal I have to lean towards is creation. The natural order of life has been made in the interest of man and woman marrying and not same sex. God made male and female to reproduce. To agree to same-sex union is to go against creation. Conscience Conscience is the policeman of our being. God created man and put conscience in him to be able to determine what is right and wrong. The most primitive people in remotest areas still advance the cause of marriage between a man and a woman and not same-sex marriage. Even without being Christians, peoples conscience tell them that same-sex marriage is not the way to go. Culture Our culture frowns on gay and lesbian activities. I am yet to find any group of people in our cultural setting who allow a man to marry a man and a woman to marry a woman. Its rare. To agree to this arrangement will be a grave affront to our cultural values. In all of this, the root cause of why people are clamouring for unbridled sexual misconducts is the fall of man (Romans 5:12-19). We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Part of the effects of our Adamic nature is homosexual and lesbian conducts and other sins. PART 2: GODLY REASONS Now, lets turn our attention to the 10 main reasons why we must not allow gays and lesbians to freely operate in our nation. #1. Gods Blessings The Ghana National Anthem starts with these profound words: God bless our homeland Ghana. There is a reason why the founding fathers of our nation framed the words by acknowledging God as the source of our blessings. There is admission that God is sovereign and blesses nations. We must not incur Gods curses by succumbing to the pressures of the LGBTQ community. Just as we are enjoined by the same anthem to resist oppressors rule, we must reject unrighteous conducts that does not attracts the blessings of God. #2. Sin Is A Reproach The other reason why our nation must not allow the activities of LGBTQ to thrive is that sin is a reproach to a people. Throughout Biblical history, Gods judgement has never failed to be meted out to nations that turn their back on God. Proverbs 14:34 says that righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach. I am not by this saying that Ghana is a Christian nation but rather my argument is that any nation that does good and rejects evil attracts Gods blessings. When God sent Jonah to preach repentance to the nation of Nineveh, it demonstrated His interest in nations and their state of righteousness (Jonah 3). #3. Gods Wrath The next major reason why I believe Ghana must not legalise same-sex marriage is because we will incur the wrath of God. Paul said in Romans 1:18 that the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men. Pastor and apologist, Sam Allberry said that, The presence of all these sinful acts is a reminder that we live in a world which has deliberately turned away from God in all sorts of ways, and is therefore experiencing a foretaste of Gods anger and courting its final outpouring on the day of judgment. Because of the wrath of God we must reject this agenda. #4. Gods Punishment Not only does Gods anger burn against the unrighteous but He also punishes them. God punished Sodom and Gomorrah for their sins which included homosexuality (Genesis 19). They were so dead in their sins that they wanted to sleep with angels. The Bible says in Genesis 18:20 that Sodom and Gomorrahs sin was very grave. Jude 7 says that Sodom was destroyed by fire because they went after strange flesh, hence suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. #5. Abomination to God The next good reason why I am advocating for the nation not to accept same-sex marriage is that it is an abomination to God. I am sure by now you have realized that sin is ultimately against God and not man. David said in Psalm 51:4 admits that only God did he sin against. Joseph agrees and says to Potiphars wife who was making lustful advances to him that he cannot sin against God (Genesis 39:9). Leviticus 18:22 and 20:13 supports that homosexuality is an abomination to the Lord. If we agree, we shall be an abomination to the Lord. #6. Overturning Gods Marriage One of the obvious reasons why we must throw away any slight consideration for the same-sex marriage is that it will overturn Gods perfect will for marriage to be between a man and a woman. Genesis 2:24 advances further to support heterosexual marriage by saying the man and the woman in marriage shall become one (Mark 10:8-10; Ephesians 5:31-32). There is nowhere in Scripture that God supported same-sex marriage. In book God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Relationships, Matthew Vines bends the hands of Scriptures to support his proposition that homosexuality is godly. Its plain demonic control and deception to love and enjoy sin. #7. Gods Judgement Sexual revolution is Gods judgement on a nation. According to Romans 1:26-27, when the unrighteous suppress the truth of God, God gives them us to vile passions. Hence, we see the consequences of women lusting after women and men lusting after men. The main reason we have not seen sexual revolution in our country is that Gods restraint is at work. We have men and women who fear God resisting any attempt to sneak LGBTQ agenda into the fabric of our society. The day we allow them to operate will be the day we will have avalanche of sexual immorality everywhere. Allberry says, Sin leads to judgment, but judgment also leads to further sin. #8. Suppression of Gods Truth Again Paul raises the argument in Romans 1:18-20 that the unrighteous suppress the truth of God evident in creation and go on the high speed of sexual lust. Just as I noted in the human appeal in Part 1 above, creation is a means of Gods revelation to man (what theologians call General Revelation). In every nation and culture, He has left a witness for us about Himself (Acts 14:17). Psalm 19 re-echoes this idea when it says that creation speaks of the glory of God. In fact, when you look at creation like animals, they come in pairs with procreative ability between male and female. It is only man who will go against this order in clear violation of Gods truth. #9. Rejection by God The same God we seek blessings from as a nation hates homosexual sin and rejects them from entering His kingdom. In 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, Paul gives a list of people who will not go to heaven including homosexuals. And so for some people to propound falsely that someone can be a homosexual and a Christian is an experiment to mix light with darkness. Paul says, Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites. (I Corinthians 6:9 NKJV). Again, some people will scream on top of their voice and ask why I singled out homosexuals? Its because they are bold to sin and come out to request for legalisation of their unrighteous deeds. #10. Lawless & Disobedience The last reason why I believe Ghana, my homeland, must not allow legalisation of LGBTQ agenda is because it is lawless and disobedient to God. The lawless and disobedient are of their father the devil (Ephesians 2). Yes I know that individuals will still continue on this path but for our nation to embrace it will mean that we force many people to go in that line. If we succumb to pressures, we shall see unusual lawlessness and disobedience against God. I Timothy 1:8-10 (NKJV) says that, But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine. LAST WORDS Apostle Peter has a message for all of us when he said in 2 Peter 2:6-9 (NKJV) that: and turning the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah into ashes, condemned them to destruction, making them an example to those who afterward would live ungodly; and delivered righteous Lot, who was oppressed by the filthy conduct of the wicked (for that righteous man, dwelling among them, tormented his righteous soul from day to day by seeing and hearing their lawless deeds) then the Lord knows how to deliver the godly out of temptations and to reserve the unjust under punishment for the day of judgment. The Scripture above shows that God will punish the unrighteous and deliver the righteous. There is no godly justification for any nation to be proud of allowing homosexuals and lesbians to freely operate. It is sin against God and also an oppression of the righteous soul. If we want to enjoy Gods blessings, we must reject LGBTQ and uphold righteousness. What are your thoughts about this topic? Share with us. Eric Otchere www.erikotchere.wordpress.com [email protected] The African Union Commission chief has voiced his shock at the "violent and degrading" treatment of African migrants trying to cross from Morocco into Spanish territory after 23 people died, and has called for an investigation into the incident. On Friday, approximately 2,000 migrants stormed the heavily fortified border between the Moroccan region of Nador and the Spanish enclave of Melilla. At least 23 migrants died and 140 police officers were wounded in the ensuing violence, according to Moroccan authorities. It was the heaviest death toll in years of such attempts to cross the frontier into Melilla. In a statement via Twitter on Sunday, AU Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat said: "I express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross an international border from Morocco into Spain." "I call for an immediate investigation into the matter and remind all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritise their safety and human rights, while refraining from the use of excessive force," he added. Spain blames human traffickers Moroccan authorities say the individuals died as a result of a stampede of people who attempted to climb the iron fence that separates the city of Melilla and Morocco. Morocco's Interior Ministry said 76 civilians were also injured. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemned what he described as a violent assault and an attack on the territorial integrity of Spain. Spanish officials said 49 Civil Guards sustained minor injuries. If there is anyone responsible for everything that appears to have taken place at that border, it is the mafias that traffic in human beings, Sanchez said. Rights groups condemn alleged brutality His remarks came as the Moroccan Association for Human Rights shared videos on social media that appeared to show dozens of migrants lying on the ground, many of them motionless and a few bleeding, as Moroccan security forces stood over them. They were left there without help for hours, which increased the number of deaths, the human rights group said on Twitter. It has called for a comprehensive investigation. In a statement released late Friday, Amnesty International expressed its deep concern over the events at the border. The International Organization for Migration and UN refugee agency UNHCR also weighed in with a statement that expressed profound sadness and concern over what happened at the Morocco-Melilla border. The mass crossing attempt was the first since Spain and Morocco mended relations after a year long dispute related to Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1976. The thaw in relations came after Spain backed Morocco's plan to grant more autonomy to the territory, a reversal of its previous support for a UN-backed referendum on the status of Western Sahara. Nairobi, Kenya, 24 June 2022 - In line with the implementation of the AU theme of the year for 2021 on Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa we Want, the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development of the AUC, in collaboration with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), and the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA), organized a Community Engagement Workshop with Community Leaders on the Promotion and Protection of Heritage Resources in Nairobi, Kenya, from 22- 24 June 2022. The aim of the workshop on Community Engagement for Community Leaders on the Promotion and Protection of Heritage Resources was to build capacity of Community Leaders on the Promotion and Protection of Heritage Resources to turn communities into positive stakeholders in the promotion and protection of their heritage. The workshop also aimed at discussing community leaders initiatives at local level in the promotion and preservation of heritage resources and in combatting illicit trafficking in cultural property and heritage. The workshop also aimed at popularizing the draft Common African Position on Restitution of Heritage Resources and other regional, continental, and international policy instruments in this regard Mr. Stanvas Ongalo, Acting Director General, National Museum of Kenya, representing H.E. Amb, Dr. Amina Mohamed, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Heritage and Culture, Republic of Kenya declared the workshop opened. He informed the meeting that Kenyas constitution distinguishes culture as a foundation of the nation, and it is on this premise that they believe that diversity should not divide but bring people together. He urged Community Leaders to position themselves in sensitizing community members in their respective countries about the plight of the African Heritage particularly the tangible movable heritage that is often a target for lotters. He pledged Kenyas strong support to the daft Common African Position on restitution of Heritage Resources. He concluded by saying that the workshop outcome will contribute to the achievement of aspirations of the AU, Agenda 2063, and the UN Sustainable Developments Goals. His Majesty Dr. Robinson Tanyi, President of the African Indigenous Governance Council highlighted that as community leaders they are proud to be associated with the workshop and the continent restitution agenda. He expressed gratitude to the AUC, UN-ECA and OSIWA for the organization of this important Community Leaders Workshop. He further stressed the need for all AU Member States to collectively work together in pursuing the restitution of the plundered heritage resources. He concluded by emphasizing that community leaders are in support of the restitution agenda and called for their continued engagement in the process On behalf of H.E Amb. Minata Samte Cessouma AU, Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Angela Martins, Head of Culture Division of AUC welcomed the community leaders to the workshop and mentioned the that the African continent has lost huge amount of heritage resources plundered during colonialism through on going illicit trade and these resourced are still held outside of the continent. She further highlighted initiatives to return looted heritage from the continent and congratulated Member States that are already receiving looted heritage through successful negotiation with countries keeping them. She concluded by mentioning that the workshop is one of the initiatives to provide a foundation to engage key stakeholders involved in the restitution of heritage resources in the continent. On behalf of Ms. Nita Deerpalsing, Director of Publications, Conferences and Knowledge Management Division of the United Nations, Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Ms. Irene Onyancha, Chief Knowledge Management Services Section, noted that ECA recognizes the socio-economic importance of the arts, culture, and heritage as a potential powerhouse in creating employment for millions of people, promoting social cohesion, and strengthening national and regional identities as underscored by the UN Secretary General during the 2021 Africa Dialogue Series on the theme, Cultural identity and ownership: reshaping mindsets. She noted that, like every dynamic institution, ECA has undertaken the task of revising its strategic programme framework and focus, to align its delivery with the new changing demands of the continent. Accordingly, ECA is implementing a heritage management programme with the goal of contributing to continental initiatives in the Arts, Culture and Heritage sectors of the Member States. ECA is partnering with stakeholders including the Africa Union Commission and the Heritage Management Organization (HERITAGE), to implement its heritage management programme which aims to empower local communities and experts in these sectors through capacity building and other identified areas of intervention, thus does maximizing a powerful strategic advantage of the continent, its heritage. Mr. Ibrahima Kane, Head of the Advocacy Programme of the Africa Region Office, Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) whilst addressing the opening session expressed gratitude to the AUC and UN- ECA for the collaboration in the organization of the community leaders workshop, which will contribute to the acceleration of the restitution agenda of heritage resources on the continent. He reiterated continued support of OSIWA to the AUC initiatives and advocacy for the restitution of cultural property and heritage. The opening session also featured a presentation of a poem from Mr. Albert Nyathi, Chairman of Africa Book Organization who highly praised Africas rich and diverse heritage and identity and called for urgent restitution of heritage resources including intangible culture heritage such as music and folklore. Thirteen of the 14 men being judged for their implication in the November 2015 terrorist attacks chose to address the court on Monday. They variously expressed gratitude, contrition, sympathy for the survivors, the bereaved. There were tears. Osama Krayem stayed silent to the end. This man, who risks spending the next three decades in jail and who renounced on the trial last November, saying it was all a sham, simply shook his head negatively when asked by the court president if he had anything to add in his defence. All the others spoke. Muhammad Usman, an Urdu speaker from Pakistan, thanked his lawyers in one sentence of impeccable French and sat back down. Algerian Adel Haddadi added regrets for the victims and hopes for the future to his thanks, but also kept it short. The others more or less stuck to the lines which must have been laid down in advance by their defence teams: be polite to the court, be thankful and respectful of French justice, acknowledge the suffering of the victims, condemn the attacks, don't talk too much. It was anything but an empty exercise. Thanks to the families of the victims The jaunty Hamza Attou set the tone by thanking the civil witnesses, the families of the victims, for their unfailing friendship and support. Abdellah Chouaa was overcome by emotion. He said "I am not a terrorist. I have never been a terrorist. I am not one of those people. "I admit that I brought Abrini to the airport. And I collected him on the way back. But I never knew what he was planning, never. And I will suffer for this for the rest of my days." Evoking his 12-year-old son, Abdellah Chouaa broke down and cried. Minutes later, Mohammed Abrini had a private message for Chouaa, in the midst of his own moving evocation of the courage and generosity of the bereaved. "It is my fault that Abdellah went to jail, despite the fact that he is innocent. I have wronged a lot of people. I could have stopped all this." The dark defiance of Sofien Ayari The black-clad Sofien Ayari was defiant, explaining the difficulty of speaking in an environment in which everyone doubts his sincerity. "I tried to explain about going to Syria, about becoming a fighter. I hope that nothing like these attacks will ever happen again, anywhere in the world. "I have spoken in an effort to help the families of the victims. "But I have heard the most ridiculous nonsense in this court. We were described as absolutist fanatics, suffering from sexual frustration. "Because society won't give us jobs, we murder people. Because we can't have normal relationships, we rape women. It has been hard to listen to. "That was not my experience. "Let those who are guilty pay the penalty, don't punish those you happen to have under your thumb. "I hardly know what to say to the families, since I realise they will never forget, never recover. But I hope they can someday rebuild their lives." 'Who can be insincere before so much suffering?' Salah Abdeslam was the last to speak. He, too, began by addressing the hurt, the bereaved. "I have already asked for forgiveness," he said, "and some people said it was a strategy, that I was being insincere. "Who could be insincere in the face of more than 130 dead, 400 injured . . . so much suffering? "I am not a killer. If you convict me of that, you will commit an injustice." And so the Paris attacks hearings, which opened on 8 September last year, come to an end. The five judges have retired to consider their verdicts. An announcement is expected on Wednesday. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's ruling party said Monday that only the African Union could broker potential peace talks with the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) -- a stance already rejected by the rebels. Abiy for the first time two weeks ago raised the possibility of negotiations with the TPLF to try to end a brutal war that first erupted in northern Ethiopia in November 2020. Justice Minister Gedion Timothewos said ruling Prosperity Party committees had drawn up guidelines for the "peaceful resolution" of the conflict, and warned that any breakdown in talks could lead to a resumption of hostilities. "It has been decided that the peace process can only be led by the African Union," said Gedion, a member of the party's central committee, cited by state broadcaster EBC. This process must, he said, "comply with the legal and constitutional framework and respect the essential interests of the country". Abiy had announced on June 14 that a committee would be set up to prepare for possible negotiations, after the government had declared a "humanitarian truce" in March that has led to a lull in the fighting. The TPLF has however already effectively ruled out any negotiations led by the Addis Ababa-headquartered AU, protesting at the "proximity" of its envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, the former Nigerian president, to the Ethiopian leader. Instead, the rebels said earlier this month they were ready for negotiations hosted by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, and that there was already an "existing agreement" among the rivals to meet in Nairobi. But Gedion warned any failure in the negotiations would lead to renewed fighting. "The peace process can't succeed if only one side wants it. If the process fails, instructions will have to be given to the security forces to respond appropriately," he said. The conflict erupted in Tigray when Abiy -- a Nobel Peace Prize laureate -- sent troops in to topple the TPLF, a move he said came in response to rebel attacks on army camps. Untold numbers of people have since been killed in Tigray, as well as the neighbouring regions of Afar and Amhara. Millions are also in the grip of a humanitarian crisis, with many in Tigray on the brink of famine and the region still without basic services such as electricity and communications. 27.06.2022 LISTEN An aspiring Chairman of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Stephen Asamoah-Boateng has said media freedom in the country is the best. Affectionately called Asabee, he noted that no journalist or media house in Ghana is under attack. According to him, journalists are not suppressed from expressing themselves freely. Speaking on Joy News the Probe on Sunday, he however indicated that some statements made by some journalists and media houses often require a response with facts. He noted that when those actions are taken they must not be taken as an attack to silence the media. Its one of the best. I have heard a bit of media people under attack. I have heard all that, I have heard the press index, but people always think that when they say something you shouldnt respond, you shouldnt talk and some media people are like that. I have met a couple of them and I say, what you said required a response, that doesnt mean you are under attack. We have to provide the facts ad when the facts were provided you didnt combat so its good. Ghana is one of the best in Africa. I listen a lot and I can tell you theres a lot of interest in how the media reports especially the politics. I am not sure anyone is in fear of his life. I know about Manasseh where he had to go away, but so far I dont think anyone is under threat of attack, he told the host. According to him, critiquing the government is necessary to drive good governance as government officials are kept on their toes. He stated that since the emergence of new media thus social media, it was prudent to also have communicators who will speak for government on the various platforms. He stressed that some government communicators have been unfortunately branded as attack dogs by the media. They are not attacking. I know social media, the new media has now come to live with us and so you cannot, in my time, the radio, the print, the TV, but these days its online and things happen so quickly. So obviously government has to have people there who are also responding. When you are government you are very powerful in a way that if you are not careful people get scared to talk, but we dont want that. We want people to be free to talk. Even if you disagree with them let them talk. So yes we talk to ourselves so when it goes overboard we are able to call each other and they calm down. I know that sometimes they go over, but I take it to be the response to what they got, he explained. A senior research fellow with the Institute for Environment and Sanitation Studies, University of Ghana, Dr. Benedicta Yayra Fosu-Mensah, extolled the management of the Kumase Senior High Technical School (MAKSTEC) for advancing gender uniformity in school enrollment. Gender equality and female empowerment are issues on the front burner for governments and development agencies. The fact remains that data from around the world suggests that access to secondary education favours males more than females. In 2019, World Bank statistics on Ghanas Gender Parity Index (GPI) for secondary school enrollment showed a nationwide value of 57.88% for females. More recently, the Ghanaian government has been lauded by many for introducing the Free Senior Higher Secondary School Policy, as it provides equal opportunities for all teenagers, especially girls, to access secondary education. Despite this supportive programme, male student dominance in terms of numbers in Ghanas mixed schools still persists. Contrary to this existing pattern, in MAKSTEC appears somewhat different with a rising number of female admission. At present, the admission breakdown of the school stands at 1,434, with 707 males and 727 females pursuing 7 different programs. Given the population in terms of male and female, I will say that the percentage was quite close. I think for the first time, I have seen such a very close gap in terms of admissions. And this is something worth commending, Dr Fosu-Mensah confirmed. She made the remarks as the guest of honour at a durbar organized by the Student's Representative Council (SRC) of MAKSTEC in Volta Regions Central Tongu District to crown their annual SRC Week celebration on Saturday 25 June 2022. This year, The Fast Decaying Level of Discipline in Our Schools: The Role of Stakeholders was the theme for the celebration. The essence of the celebration is to draw the attention of stakeholders and the public to the disciplinary challenges festering at MAKSTECH so that together we can find the support needed to address them, George Akoetey, the SRC patron clarified during the launch of the programme. Welcoming the gathering, the headmaster, Seraphim Dumashie, hinted that the core reason for this celebration is to raise funds for the completion of some developmental projects including self-help clinic project, SRCs barbering shop and staff bungalows. On disciplinary issues, the head bemoaned the existence of limited street lights on the campus as a major drawback. Miscreants, sometimes, hide in the dark to stone teachers who supervise them during evening prep, the head admitted. Delivering his speech, the prefect of the school, Enoch Dika, assured that the SRC as a body shall do its best to uphold discipline to maintain academic excellence continuity and also to improve school sanitation. He praised students for supporting their ongoing barbering shop project, which is presently at the roofing stage. He appealed to stakeholders to support them in making the school a better and more disciplined place for academic excellence to strive. Speaking on the theme of the celebration, Dr Fosu-Mensah made an admission that even though discipline remains a foremost priority for senior high schools, the alarming level of indiscipline among students, in recent times, is a real risk. She therefore cautions students to focus on their studies and eschew indiscipline habits. Overall, Dr. Fosu-Mensas gender parity commentary provides insights and recommendations to inform education planners and the government on how to take appropriate actions to overcome the low school attendance rate of girls. Present at the durbar were the District Director of Education for Central Tongu, Madam Happy Tsifokor; the Board Chair of the School and MP for the Central Tongu Constituency, Hon. Alexander Gabby Hottordze; MP for South Tongu, Hon. Kobena Mensah Woyome; parents, old students, and PTA members. With a headline like "Ekweremadu's organ 'donor' serial liar-Forensic psychologist," the Nigerian public and the world would assume that a psychological examination was conducted on the subject, by Dr. Law Mefor, with the identification of "serial liar" as the result. Instead, the title "Ekweremadu's organ 'donor' serial liar-Forensic psychologist" is from the Nation Newspaper, written by Sanni Onogu, who interviewed "Dr. Law Mefor," who was described as a "forensic psychologist," on June 26, 2022. The article states that "A forensic psychologist, Dr. Law Mefor, has described David Nwamini Ukpo, the man at the centre of the organ saga leading to the arrest and remand of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Dr. Beatrice as a serial liar, who should not be taken seriously." To speak convincingly to the public through the media in this manner means Dr. Mefor came to his conclusion after being with the subject for some time, carrying out a mental status/state examination, and performing a detailed on-going personality assessment on the subject in Nigeria or possibly in London, using standard psychological or psychometric instruments in order to reach an objective representation. But it never occurred. The reporter stated that "Mefor was reacting to a Facebook post, supposedly by Ukpo, where he claimed that he was lured to Europe by Ekweremadu with a promise of better life only for the lawmaker and his wife to try to harvest his kidney for their sick daughter." Professionally, as part of responsible, legal, and ethical use of psychological expressions, " reacting to a Facebook post does not lead a professional to diagnose another human being. The reporter notes that "Mefor, in a post on Sunday, described Ukpo as "a serial liar and manipulator seeking sympathy when he should face the full weight of both the British and Nigerian laws." Such a pinpointed clinical representation of the subject could have resulted from a clinical interaction between Mefor and the subject or from an analysis of the results of psychological testing of the subject. It never occurred, as evidenced by his media expressions. The reporter quotes Mefor as saying, ""What I know is that Ukpo has been doing a lot of deleting and altering of details of his social media accounts since the Ekweremadu saga broke and he (Ukpo) was unmasked. This presents him for what he is a shady, dishonest character." In professional psychology, especially in the public space, psychological objectivity and factuality require that such conclusions not be misleading to the public. In the article, Mefor stated that ""But even if Ukpo made the fallacious post claiming he was tricked to London, it is clear to the whole world now that he lied to the British Police when he presented himself as a homeless minor picked from Lagos streets, which I believe is a major factor that put Ekweremadu and wife in their present travail." The only evaluative way that Mefor can clinically conclude that the subject "lied to the British Police" is that, as part of taking psychological history on this matter, Mefor on the authority and permission of the court, interacted with attending police investigators. The article pointed out what Mefor said, ""All the information coming out, including his International Passport issued on 4th November 2021, his Bank Verification Number (BVN) done on 31st October 2019, his National Identity Number (NIN) done on 15th June 2021, the statement by the Nigerian Immigration Service, point to the fact that he was born on 12th October 2000 and is therefore 21 years old." Hearsay and informal conclusions are dangerous and not allowed in professional psychology as they could lead to harm to all involved in the matter and could expose a professional in psychology to possible financial and criminal liability. Mefor concluded in the article that ""In addition, his Facebook posts do not suggest the lifestyle of minor or an enslaved person, but a full-blown adult cruising life." In professional psychology, sentiment and image analysis are disallowed. In the article, Mefor, stated Therefore, I see no reason any right-thinking Nigerian should believe any further stories told by someone who obviously lied about his age in order to gain asylum and stay back in London, he said. This is hearsay. The importance of being non-judgmental in professional psychology interactions with people through the media is to allow for informed practices. The principle of non-judgmental attitude by anyone involved in professional psychology is a necessary approach. Non-judgmentalism in the media is especially necessary as it does not violate the very ethical guidelines and professional standards the public demands. Mefor said, It is equally instructive that David, who travelled to London since February 2022 only remembered that he was a tricked and trafficked minor on getting to the airport to board an already booked flight back to Nigeria after spending several months in London, Again, non-judgmental expressions are part of professional obligation as they ensure the avoidance of negative ethical and legal implications for students and specialists in psychology. Anyone involved in any area of professional psychology should always remind themselves to be non-judgmental, as we are not there to criticize, judge, or share our personal opinions about the behaviors of others. For the purpose of educating the Nigerian public and media, psychology-based public speakers, whether talking to a reporter, delivering a speech in a classroom, hall, office, or marketplace, must uphold certain ethical standards. In order to protect the public safety, students, graduates, and specialists in psychology when engaged as representatives of psychology must present themselves in a manner that includes objective sources and active clinical interaction with a subject. He or she should primarily provide professional psychological conclusions to members of the public in a manner that is deserving of respect to all involved, including suspects, accusers, and complainers. Every influencing factor raised in public through psychology must always be non-sensational and based on reliability, as subjective public expressions and conclusions can raise legal questions about fairness and objectivity. In a growing democracy like Nigeria, students, and graduates of psychology like Mefor are encouraged to bring psychological guides into the public space to help the public, but it must be done with care. The good news for the Nigerian public is that the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) and other similar associations are trying to bring psychology to the public in a standardized manner. In January 2019, the Senate passed the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Council for Psychologists, which currently awaits President Buhari to sign the bill into law. Hopefully, the corrective explanations I offered here will be continuously improved and practiced for the purpose of developing high-quality psychologists. Such legal regulations will help define qualified psychologists as forensic psychologists, clinical psychologists, industrial psychologists, and others, through professional standards exams beyond doctorate certifications. Under this type of professional government-backed system, as in a professional psychology board, there will be psychologists with various specialties who the people can verify as qualified as licensed and who stand out as "psychologist". This will allow for the public safety and protection of the public welfarenot just ones interest. I hope all that I have presented here will be helpful towards making psychology a part of our public care in a responsible, legal, and ethical manner. I look forward to the likes of Mefor becoming part of the effort to bring professional psychology to help meet the challenges of society. John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State in Nigeria to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult and child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional, and Career Development. He is a former Interim Associate Dean/Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings In 2011, he introduced State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He is currently a Virtual Behavioral Leadership Professor at ISCOM University, Republic of Benin. Founder of the proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien Open University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of Truth, Ethics, and Openness. Over forty academic publications and creations, at least 200 public opinion pieces on African issues, and various books have been written by him. He specializes in psycho-prescriptive writings regarding African institutional and governance issues. Prof. Oshodi wrote in via [email protected] 27.06.2022 LISTEN Ghanaians on social media are talking about the proceeds from E-levy so far after NPP stalwart Gabby Otchere-Darko stated that government was only generating 10% of the intended revenue target. Mr. Otchere-Darko in a Twitter post on June 27 indicated that after 5 months of stalemate and bashing, the e-levy, after implementation is delivering only 10% of estimated revenues; our revenues remain very low as compared to the rest of the world; debt levels dangerously high, cedi, like most currencies, struggling against the US dollar. Reacting to his tweet, netizens have trolled government saying that, prior to the passage of the E-levy; projections showed that the country would not be able to meet the target government had set. Again, it was also widely shared on social media that, Ghanaians will find means and ways of evading the new tax, an act many perceived will continue. Speaking on the matter, Ningo-Prampram MP, Sam George stated that the E-levy remains a government-led Ponzi scheme. When government announced the introduction of an Electronic Tax Levy (E-levy) earlier this year, Ghanaians expressed dislike for it with economic experts predicting a possible decline in the use of mobile transactions. A recent study by IMANI Africa showed that 83% of Ghanaians have reduced the volume of mobile transactions over the E-levy; as predicted by experts. Government presented the E-levy as the saving grace to the dire economic hardships the country is currently battling with. However, coupled with the perilous economic times the country is facing, if Mr Otchere-Darko's statement is anything to go by, the E-levy has not done what it was expected to do and Ghanaians feel vindicated. A year ago, the Mastercard Foundation and Africa CDC launched the Saving Lives and Livelihoods initiative a now $1.5 billion partnership with four key objectives. They are to purchase COVID-19 vaccines for at least 65 million people, drive millions more vaccinations by enabling the delivery and administration of vaccines, lay the groundwork for vaccine manufacturing by focusing on human capital development and 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 Foundations 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 Swahili word 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. Procurement and Supply Chain experts and organisation have been recognised at the 4th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards on Friday, 24th June at Movenpick Ambassador Hotel in Accra. The sterling performance of Procurement and Supply Chain units and experts that are constantly saving costs and driving profits in their various organisations were honoured and celebrated at this year's edition. Delivering the keynote address under the theme Driving Excellence in Procurement and Supply Chain Management, the Head of the Local Government Service, Ign. Dr Nana Ato Arthur stated the essence of good procurement practices in the provision of goods and services to the citizenry across the 16 Regional Coordinating Councils and the 261 Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) in Ghana. He added that in ensuring value for money, the Public Procurement Act, 2003 (Act 656) provides for public procurement, effective tendering and contract processes and quality. The Head of the Local Government Service explained that government is making relentless efforts to mitigate procurement breaches in service delivery as well as the use of E-procurement. Addressing the participants, Ign. Dr Ato Arthur urged procurement and supply chain practitioners to be guided by ethics and good public procurement management. Commending the CEO of Instinctwave, Ign. Dr Ato Arthur stated that the event management organisation is increasingly becoming very relevant and rich partner to the public sector in Africa. Chief Executive Officer of Instinctwave, Mr Akin Naphtal, expressed his excitement about the 4th edition of the awards scheme, describing it as a unique scheme that will motivate and raise the standards of professionals and industry players in terms of their contribution to the success and growth of African businesses. According to him, all Procurement & Supply Chain Departments that cut across all industries in the private and public sector space play significant roles in ensuring the development of organisations. The CEO of Instinctwave added that in 2020, the global supply chain management market was valued at US$15.85 billion and it is expected to reach almost US$ 31 billion by 2026. Given today's volatile and disruptive environment, supply chain organizations must become more flexible, and the solution is digitalization. In the next three to five years, we will see an increase in the adoption of digital supply chain technologies, as well as technologies that improve human decision making, he stated. Mr Naphtal further added that in most times, little attention and recognition are given to the Procurement and Supply Chain industry, hence, the organisation of the Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards. To deepen our engagement, have also launched the Supply Chain Africa Magazine, a bi-weekly publication showcasing the growth, challenges and opportunities in the Industry, he concluded. At the Awards Night, recognition was be bestowed upon leading procurement experts, teams and top procurement & supply chain organisations, whose outstanding leadership and practices have raised the standards of procurement within the profession, showcasing top ethics, best practices, tact and brilliance in managing organizations supplies as well as promoting business growth and sustainability. The 4th Africa Procurement and Supply Chain Awards Night provided an exceptional opportunity for stakeholders in the finance sector to network, entertain patrons, reinforce relationships with industry stakeholders and reward staff with exceptional performance. Some of the institutions who were honoured at the gala night include outstanding personalities from Ghana, Nigeria and other African countries. Below is a list of winners who were honoured at the glamorous event: Organisations Excellence in Procurement and Supply Chain (Capacity Building Award) Ghana Communication Technology University (GCTU) Excellence in Procurement and Supply Chain: Telecom/IT MTN Ghana Warehousing Digitization Awards Vodafone Manufacturer of the Year FrieslandCampina WAMCO Excellence in Procurement & Supply Chain Compliance MTN Nigeria Public Procurement Transformation Award Ghana Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Innovative Use of Technology in Procurement MTN Ghana Excellence in Procurement & Supply Chain: SOE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Excellence in Procurement & Supply Chain: Energy Volta River Authority (VRA) Excellence in Procurement& Supply Chain: Mining AngloGold Ashanti Iduapreim Supplier Development Company of the year MTN Ghana Excellence in Procurement & Supply Chain: SOE Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Excellence in Procurement & Supply Chain: Manufacturing Guinness Ghana Excellence in Procurement & Supply Chain: Healthcare Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) Procurement & Supply Chain Transformation Awards Vodafone Ghana Best in SOE Procurement Compliance Volta River Authority (VRA) Local Sourcing Initiative Award AirtelTigo Procurement & Supply Chain Hall of Fame MTN Ghana Team Award Categories Procurement & Supply Chain Team of the Year: Nigeria MTN Nigeria Procurement Team of the Year (Public Sector): Bronze Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (Kath) Procurement Team of the Year: (Public Sector): Silver Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Procurement Team of the Year (Public Sector): Gold Volta River Authority (VRA) Procurement & Supply Chain Team of the Year: Bronze Vodafone Ghana Procurement & Supply Chain Team of the Year: Silver AngloGold Ashanti Iduapreim Procurement & Supply Chain Team of the Year (GOLD) MTN Ghana Among Ghanas top 10 Procurement and Supply Chain Leaders, the following personalities present at the Awards Night were announced: Ghanas top 10 Procurement Leaders Ing Jacqline Ofori Atta (Regional General Manager) Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) Joyce Akuamoah (Procurement & Supply Chain Manager) Ministry of Trade & Industry Adams Zuwii (Head of Procurement) Ghana Education Service (GES) Mr. Ebenezer Agyekum (Procurement Director) Ministry of Energy Araba Kudiabor (Procurement Director) Ghana Health Service Abdul-Jamil Isaka (Head of Procurement Unit) Office Of The Head Of The Local Government Service Among Africas top 50 Procurement and Supply Chain Leaders, the following personalities present at the Awards Night were announced: Africas top 50 Procurement and Supply Chain Leaders Patrick Afari (General Manager, Supply Chain) MTN Ghana Evlyn Sam (Chief Supply Chain Officer) AirtelTigo Ngozi Aghomi (Supply Chain Director) Guinness Ghana Araba Kudiabor (Procurement Director) Ghana Health Service Youssef Herrera (Supply Chain Management and Procurement Director) IHS Towers Isaac Tosu (Supply Chain Director) Guinness Nigeria Dr. Robert Kweku Tay (Deputy Director, Procurement) Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) Policy Research Institute (PRI) held its "Seminar on Economic Policies 2022" from May 23 to June 1, 2022. This seminar is aimed at young executive candidates from Finance Ministries of Asian developing countries. This year, PRI organized this seminar via an online system due to the situation of COVID-19, and 6 officials from 6 countries participated in the seminar. Lectures on Japan's economy and finances were delivered by Japanese scholars, experts in various fields, and staff of the Ministry of Finance, Japan. Then, the participants gave short presentations on their country's economic situations. [Opening Speech] [Short presentations on their country's economic situations] Top of Page In todays Money Morninglithium miners have dominatedthe geopolitical landscape is still offering up a lot of potentialnow is the time to start building up a positionand more Youd have to be living under a rock to not know that lithium has been a hot investment trend. From roughly mid-2020 through to early 2022, lithium miners have dominated in terms of share price gains. A trend that has surged to life once more as the battery boom narrative gripped investors attention as Tesla grew, and grew, and grew. Everyone understands now that electric vehicles (EVs) are here to stay. In fact, we are at a pivotal turning point in terms of user adoption. Carmakers worldwide are scrambling to ensure they have some sort of EV offering. A fact that is being pushed by the ongoing transition away from the combustion engine for better or worse But Im not here to argue about whether the EV boom is good for society or not. Thats irrelevant at this point because, like it or not, EVs are undeniably the future of the automotive industry. And savvy investors have been able to reap the reward of this megatrend by betting big on the materials that will help usher in this future. In other words, battery metal miners but especially lithium stocks have thrived. The question on everyones mind is whether this success is sustainable. After all, commodities are often subject to intense cycles Peaks and troughs Three weeks ago, you may recall that Goldman Sachs called an end to the battery metal boom. I even talked about the situation and its potential ramifications here, if you need a refresher. The point is that the investment bank has gone cold on battery metals. In their view, the big gains are now long gone. Instead, were going to enter a phase where the market begins to level out as new supply comes online to meet demand. Thats certainly a possibility, but it is by no means guaranteed. In the weeks since this hit piece for example, lithium prices have remained fairly steady. Granted, that doesnt mean the situation cant change, but it is an important first step for battery metal believers. On top of that, the geopolitical landscape is still offering up a lot of potential too. Last Tuesday, the US Department of State released details on one of its new policies. Known as the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP), it is just the latest tool in the ongoing struggle to ensure there are critical mineral supply channels outside of China. That is going to be huge for many of the upcoming battery metals producers. As the media release noted: Demand for critical minerals, which are essential for clean energy and other technologies, is projected to expand significantly in the coming decades. The MSP will help catalyze investment from governments and the private sector for strategic opportunities across the full value chain that adhere to the highest environmental, social, and governance standards. For Australia, which is a key partner in this MSP program, this is a big win. You should expect to see plenty of support from both the US and Australian governments in existing and new projects to help meet the needs of this partnership. In other words, investors should be prepared for more incentives to come. A development that really puts a dampener on Goldmans more downbeat outlook. This battery metals cycle may just be getting started The chosen ones Whether you buy into my enthusiasm or not, I do want to point out that Im not the only one who holds this bullish view for battery metals. Just this week I saw a great discussion from a webinar hosted by Market Matters. You can check that out for yourself right here, if youd like. The overall point though is that demand is the big consideration. Long term, there is no escaping the fact that in order to address our energy needs, battery technology and battery metals are going to be vitally important. And if that demand keeps growing, prices for said metals will keep going up too. Of course, the current market mood has thrown a bit of a wrench into this outlook. Bear markets dont exactly make for the easiest times for retail investors. But, as my colleague Callum Newman will tell you, that is precisely why now is the time to start building up a position in these battery metal plays. In his own words: Now, a recession in the short term could suppress car buying and therefore demand for battery minerals. Thats what the market is doing now. However, the lead times on mine projects are so long that the world cant stop investing. In fact, it needs to go BIGGER now so that the supply is there to meet the demand in 2025 and beyond. If private investors wont step up to the plate now, either from hesitancy or fear, then its highly likely car makers, or governments, will just do it themselves. This is another reason why I find the bearishness on Australia misplaced. We have a continent full of the natural resources that the world needs to get off fossil fuels. As long as you can find great projects with great fundamentals, the opportunity is still strong. These chosen stocks as it were, like the miners that have been handpicked by Tesla to supply crucial lithium, are not going away. The battery metal boom may be at an impasse, but the biggest returns are still yet to come. Regards, Ryan Clarkson-Ledward, Editor, Money Morning Ryan is also co-editor of Exponential Stock Investor, a stock tipping newsletter that hunts down promising small-cap stocks. For information on how to subscribe and see what Ryans telling subscribers right now, click here. PS: Are you enjoying Money Morning? Help us spread the word! Share this link (https://go.fattail.com.au/MONEYMOR) for a friend to sign up and receive our free lithium guide. It details lithiums role in the EV revolution and how to compare lithium stocks. June 27, 2022 Newsbits on Ukraine - Lysichansk Cauldron, Civilian Damage, Reserve Troops, Russian 'Default' This was the Lysichansk area on June 2022 with the Russian positions in red. bigger This is the same area one week later. bigger The distance between the red fronts above and below has shrunk to 8 kilometer (~5 miles). According to Russian source there are some 8,000 soldiers and militia left in Lysichansk. The area between the Russian fronts is under full Russian artillery control with drones flying above seeing anyone who moves to escape from Lysichansk to Siversk on the left side of the map. A Washington Post report describes what happens to those who try: The Ukrainian Airborne unit was relieved to be pulling back from the front Sunday morning, riding a column of armored personnel carriers away from the embattled city of Severodonetsk, which had already fallen to the Russians, and Lysychansk, which was on the brink. Nothing happened to us to when we were at the front, the unit commander said. It was while we were retreating that we got hit. They were hit, and hit badly. As the convoy moved into the farm village of Verkhniokamianske, with many of the soldiers riding on the outside of the vehicles, the first blast struck right by them. It was a cluster bomb, they would later surmise, something that tore through the contingent of men clinging to that side of one truck. Several men were wounded, with blood pouring from limbs and, in one case, a soldiers head. But there was no time to treat them while the convoy remained in the crosshairs of Russian artillery. The uninjured applied tourniquets where they could, dragged the hurt back onto the vehicles and raced out of the village, across rutted farm lanes to a line of trees across a golden wheat field about a kilometer away. (The claim of a cluster bomb is likely wrong. An exploding 152mm high explosive artillery round spreads many fragments of deadly metal around.) There were at least eight wounded in the attack. The bodyguard of the WaPo reporter helped to apply first aid to them. They were 'evacuated' back to Lysichansk. Whoever commands the 8,000 soldiers there should tell them to give up and to surrender to the Russian led forces. --- On Saturday Russian bomber flying over the Caspian Sea fired four cruise missiles into the Artem missile factory in Kiev. The 'western' reporting claimed that some hit a civilian building: Russian missiles hit a multistory residential building and a kindergarten in Kyiv early on Sunday, killing at least one person and injuring six others in what the citys mayor called an attempt to intimidate Ukrainians on the eve of summits in Europe focused strongly on the war. ... The casualties occurred in the nine-story apartment block in central Kyiv, badly damaged by what the Ukrainian air force said were Russian Kh-101 cruise missiles launched from long-range strategic bombers over the Caspian Sea, roughly 1,000 miles away. A picture in the report shows damage to the upper two floors. bigger The Kh-101 cruise missile has a warhead with 450 kilogram of high explosives. If one had hit that high-rise the building would be completely gone. Modern Russian cruise missiles are extremely precise as last week's damage of the Dnieper bridge in the Cherkasy region of Ukraine shows. The railway part that was used to transport heavy weapons is gone. The road bridge right next to it has little damage. bigger It is way more likely that the building in Kiev was hit by an Ukrainian air defense missile that missed its target but eventually fell back to earth. --- Any army fighting a war will hold some trained units in reserve. Such a reserve will be used to block a strategic breakthrough by the enemy or when there is a good chance to launch a significant counterattack. As Kiev was throwing untrained Territorial Defense Forces into the slaughter of the Donbas front I began to doubt that there was still a significant reserve. On Friday or Saturday the Ukrainian president Zelensky ordered all Territorial Forces that were left in areas that are currently not fought in to move to the Donetsk front. This included some units from Odessa which is still in danger of being attacked. That nearly sealed it for me. If they pull troops from Odessa the Ukrainian reserve must have gone. But on Sunday the daily report by the Russian Defense Ministry told me that I was wrong: High-precision attacks of Russian Aerospace Forces and Kalibr missiles were launched at 169th Army Training Centre near Desna (Chernigov region), 199th Air Assault Troops Training Centre near Teterevka (Zhitomir region), as well as at 184th Training Centre of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) near Starichi (Lvov region). Attacks have resulted in neutralising 65th, 66th mechanised brigades and 46th Airmobile Brigade from AFU strategic reserves that were finishing their preparation at those training grounds. The planned redeployment of the above mentioned units to operations area has been frustrated. Three full brigades, likely at full strength and equipped with weapons the 'west' has delivered, are a significant force of probably 12,000 men. They could have launched a decent counterattack on Kherson or some other area the Russian forces have captured but where their defense lines are currently quite thin. --- Another day, another false claim of civilian casualties? The Kyiv Independent @KyivIndependent - 4:32 PM Jun 27, 2022 Zelensky: 'Russia strikes shopping center in Kremenchuk, while over thousand people inside.' The mall is on fire, firefighters are trying to extinguish the fire, the number of victims is impossible to imagine," said President Volodymyr Zelensky. Volodymyr Zelensky/Telegram Embedded video The video show a burning shopping center which does not seem to have an urban surrounding. Some 20 civilians are hanging around and watch as the firefighters do their job. They show no panic or grief. The shopping center's rather large parking space is empty except for some five cars which all seem to be undamaged. I see no bicycles. If there were 1,000 people in the shopping center how did they get there? How did they plan to get home? Another video from a different perspective also shows a large empty parking space with two soldiers strolling by in full battledress. They have helmets on, wear body armor and carry their weapons. They have large military backpacks. Some other soldiers who are hanging around in olive green clothing great them. bigger Kremenchuk is on the Dnieper, far from the front lines. Why were the soldiers at the burning shopping center. Was there something in there that was of military interest? Satellite pictures show that the shopping center is right next to the large Kredmash machine plant. Was that the real target of the attack with the shopping center being an unintended casualty? --- The New York Times headlines: Russia Misses Bond Deadline, Signaling Its First Default on Foreign Debt Since 1918 About $100 million in dollar- and euro-denominated interest payments failed to reach investors within a 30-day grace period following a missed May 27 deadline. The grace period expired Sunday night. A formal declaration of default would need to come from bondholders because ratings agencies, which normally declare when borrowers have defaulted, have been barred by sanctions from reporting on Russia. The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committee, a panel of investors that rules on whether to pay out securities linked to defaults, hasnt been asked to make a decision on these bond payments yet. Russia has paid the interest on June 24: MOSCOW. June 24 (Interfax) - National Settlement Depository (NSD), the paying agent for Russian sovereign Eurobonds, has received 8.5 billion rubles or $159.4 million equivalent in order payment of coupon interest on the country's 2028 Eurobonds, the Finance Ministry said. The ministry said it had honored obligations to service the sovereign bonds in full. The ministry said on June 23 that it had has transferred rubles to the NSD in payment of coupons on the country's 2027 and 2047 Eurobonds as part of the new arrangement for servicing sovereign external debt, as approved by a presidential decree of June 22. The new form of payment came after the 'west' rejected to receive the money in Euros. As the NYT writes: Russia is rejecting the default declaration, on the grounds that it has made efforts to pay. Dmitri S. Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, told reporters on Monday that the statements about default were absolutely illegal. The fact that Euroclear withheld this money, did not transfer it to the recipients, it is not our problem, Mr. Peskov said. In other words, there are no grounds to call this situation a default. The bond investors can easily get their money in the currency they want. They will have to open two accounts with Gazprombank in Zurich, one in rubles and one in euros. They then can ask Russia's National Settlement Depository to send their rubles to their rubles account at Gazprombank which will happily buy those rubles and move the corresponding euro value into the investor's euro account. That is simply the reverse of the process European buyers use to pay for Russian gas in rubles. There is zero reason then to call this a default. Posted by b on June 27, 2022 at 17:11 UTC | Permalink Comments next page next page If you missed it, Page had been confirmed to be in talks with the big bosses about his potential return - the key word being potential. When Page was spotted in Milan with his Bridgerton co-star Jonathan Bailey, who plays Anthony 'Bridgerton', the rumours ran full steam ahead. However, we now have a solid answer from the star himself, who wrote on Instagram: The boys are back in town. No, I'm not going back to the show btw - the papers made that one up. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRUSSELS (AP) NATO allies will decide at a summit this week to increase the strength of their rapid reaction force nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops as part of their response to an era of strategic competition," the military alliance's secretary-general said Monday. The NATO response force (NRF) currently numbers around 40,000 soldiers which can deploy quickly when needed. Coupled with other measures including the deployment of forces to defend specific allies, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the move is part of the biggest overhaul of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War." These troops will exercise together with home defense forces, Stoltenberg said. And they will become familiar with local terrain, facilities, and our new pre-positioned stocks. So that they can respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency." In response to the Kremlins decision to start the war, U.S. President Joe Biden and his NATO counterparts agreed in February to send thousands of troops, backed by air and naval support, to protect allies near Russia and Ukraine. The 30-nation organization decided at the time to send parts of the NRF and elements of a quickly deployable spearhead unit to the alliances eastern flank, marking the first time the force had been used in a defense role. Stoltenberg made the remarks at a press conference ahead of a NATO summit this week in Madrid when the 30 allies are expected to also agree on further support to Ukraine in its war against Russia. Stoltenberg said he expects allies to make clear they consider Russia as the most significant and direct threat to our security." At the summit, allies will also decide to strengthen their battlegroups on NATO's eastern flanks, he said. In NATO's new strategic concept, the alliance is also set to address for the first time the security challenges posed by China, Stoltenberg said. In Madrid, allies will discuss how to respond to the growing influence of Russia and China in their southern neighborhood," he added. Stoltenberg said allies will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine when they convene in Spain, with NATO members set to adopt a strengthened comprehensive assistance package, including deliveries of secure communication and anti-drone systems. Over the long term, Stoltenberg said allies aim to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era armaments to modern NATO equipment. The world's seven leading economic powers underscored Monday their commitment to Ukraine for as long as it takes. Another central theme at the NATO summit will be the possibility for Finland and Sweden to join the alliance following Russias invasion of Ukraine. NATO member Turkey has so far blocked the applications, citing what it considers to be the two countries soft approach to organizations Turkey considers to be terrorist, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. Stoltenberg said that Turkish president Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and the Swedish prime minister Magdalena Andersson have agreed to meet Tuesday on the sidelines of the summit. Officials from the three countries have stepped up talks ahead of the NATO gathering in a bid to break the deadlock. My strong hope is that this dialogue can be successful and concluded in the near future, ideally before the summit," Andersson said after talks with Stoltenberg in Brussels. Turkey is demanding that Sweden and Finland grant extradition requests for individuals who are wanted by Turkish authorities. Ankara claims the countries are harboring PKK members as well people it says are linked to a failed 2016 coup. Turkey also wants assurances that arms restrictions imposed by the two countries over Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northern Syria will be removed. I will not make any promises, but I can assure you that we are working actively to ensure progress because the application of Finland and Sweden to join NATO, they are historic, Stoltenberg said. Andersson said Swedens stance toward the PKK is crystal clear and that her country considers the organization as a terror group. She added that Swedens anti-terror legislation is undergoing its most comprehensive overhaul in 30 years. Moreover, constitutional amendments are being prepared, which would help pave the way for criminalization or participation in terrorist organizations, she said. NATO released new defense spending figures showing that U.S. allies in Europe as well as Canada have increased defense spending for an eighth consecutive year. By the end of the year, they will have invested well over 350 billion US dollars extra since we agreed our defense investment pledge in 2014," Stoltenberg said. NATO countries slashed their military budgets in the 1990s following the end of the Cold War, but upped spending when Russia annexed Ukraines Crimean Peninsula in 2014. In that year, NATO allies also pledged to reach a defense budget target of 2% of their gross domestic product by 2024. Nine allies now reach or exceed the 2% target. Nineteen allies have clear plans to reach it by 2024," Stoltenberg said. Two percent is increasingly considered a floor, not a ceiling. We will also agree to invest more together in NATO." ___ Jan M. Olsen in Copenhagen contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The reaction to the overturning of Roe vs. Wade in Midland probably didnt surprise anyone. Midlands pro-life contingency celebrated. Today is a great day in the United States with the formal pronouncement from the Supreme Court that overturns Roe v. Wade, the most unjust law of any law that has existed since the founding of this country, which sanctioned those living outside the womb to take the life of an innocent person living inside the womb, said Pro-Life Midlands Michael Banschbach. State Rep. Tom Craddick added, Today, the United States Supreme Court has overturned a landmark decision for pro-life advocates. The Texas Legislature has worked tirelessly to protect the unborn and today the federal case law aligns with the opinions of a majority of Texans. And pro-choice residents expressed their disappointment. As the proud former CEO of the local Planned Parenthood Health Centers: I am heartbroken and angered by the actions of the Supreme Court this morning, Carla Holeva wrote. I am deeply concerned what abortion care will look like for individuals of color, lower income, and families in need. I remind everyone that your vote and voice counts, let it be heard. What the decision changes in Midland remains to be seen. Midland has been without a Planned Parenthood center since 2013. In fact, Planned Parenthood had left much of West Texas or in the case of Lubbock ceased performing abortions. Cathy Broadrick, chair of the Midland County Democratic Party, wrote that the decision showed America is fractured into two groups those who believe in forced birth and those who dont. In many states including Texas, women will no longer be able to terminate unplanned pregnancies. Sara Spector, a Democrat who has run for district judge, stated on her Twitter account, We all know impoverished women who were raped will have no right to an abortion tomorrow. There appeared to be frustration for a ruling that most expected. A leaked draft opinion indicated a court moving toward the new reality. Still, in Midland, the reality for a while has been the closest abortion center is located around 100 miles away in Hobbs, N.M. Texas is a pro-life state, and we have taken significant action to protect the sanctity of life, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement. Texas will always fight for the innocent unborn, and I will continue working with the Texas legislature and all Texans to save every child from the ravages of abortion and help our expectant mothers in need. Texas law, according to the Association Press, bans most abortions after about six weeks and makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. The AP also reported that state data shows the number of abortions performed in Texas roughly two dozen clinics fell by half in the five months after the law came into effect compared to the same period a year earlier. Texas had more than 40 abortion clinics in 2012 before a decade of Republicans chipping away at abortion access began forcing providers to close, the AP reported. Without Roe v. Wade, Texas plans to ban virtually all abortions 30 days after the ruling. Abortions would only be allowed when the patients life is in danger or if they are at risk of substantial impairment of a major bodily function. Midland, though, has represented itself for decades as a pro-life community. One of the larger fundraisers of the year is a banquet conducted by The Life Center, which according to its website is a non-profit, faith-based alternative to abortion organization advocating sexual wellness. When asked about reaction to the Supreme Courts decision, the organization Choose Life Midland also noted the need to continue our work to educate and assist young women who find themselves pregnant and with questions and needing assistance. Choose Life Midland is always here to help. Kevin Sparks, a Republican who will represent Midland and Odessa in the Texas Senate during the next legislative session, said, this decision will now be sent down to be determined by each individual state, the way our Constitution intended. He also added, the decision allows Texas lawmakers to focus on the needs of the living, providing support for both mothers and their babies. In Abbotts statement, he said he signed laws that extended Medicaid health care coverage to six months post-partum, appropriated $345 million for women's health programs and invested more than $100 million toward our Alternatives to Abortion program. This critical program provides counseling, mentoring, care coordination, and material assistance, such as car seats, diapers, and housing to mothers in need. Midland Mayor Patrick Payton offered in his statement a potential roadmap moving forward, specifically saying that we must continue the same vigilance towards a more perfect Union made possible through a return to a morality that values life from conception to end of life and all phases and facets in between. We must be thankful in this victorious moment, humble and peaceful toward those who disagree, and filled with grace and truth in the relentless pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness for all. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. The Portage Lake Bridge is being recognized as one of the most significant historic civil engineering works in the country thanks to three Michigan Tech researchers. The American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) will dedicate the Portage Lake Bridge as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark at 10 a.m. Friday, June 17, in a ceremony at Houghtons Bridgeview Park. The public is invited. The lift bridge, as its regionally known, links Houghton and Hancock and is the only structure spanning the Keweenaw Waterway. At 4,584,000 pounds, built with more than 35,000 tons of concrete and 7,000 tons of steel, the bridge was the heaviest double-decked vertical-lift span in the world at the time of its construction in 1959. It was also the first bridge in the United States to use an intermediate lift span position. The cities of Houghton and Hancock will both receive a plaque to commemorate the completion of the Portage Lake Bridge in 1959, 63 years ago. Officially named a State Historic Landmark in summer 2019, the lift bridge was recognized as an ASCE National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark later that year thanks to the efforts of Tess Ahlborn, professor of civil, environmental, and geospatial engineering at Michigan Technological University, and two of her former students: Michael Prast 19 and Emma Beachy 19. The public dedication and celebration were delayed due to COVID-19. Months of Husky Research Behind the Dedication The trio of Ahlborn, Prast and Beachy submitted the required 300-page application to obtain the ASCE designation. Prast is now a timber structural engineer at Fire Tower Engineered Timber in Calumet, Michigan, and Beachy is a design engineer at Corbin Consulting in Beaverton, Oregon. Both earned their bachelors and masters degrees in civil engineering at Michigan Tech, completing their degrees in 2019. Tess Alborn, professor of civil, environmental, and geospatial engineering at Michigan Technological University. I mentioned the topic of national historic landmarks during Bridge Design class and let the class know I would be delighted if someone wanted to work on a nomination application for the Portage Lake Lift Bridge, said Ahlborn. It didn't take long for Emma and Michael to speak up, and the rest is history. I can't thank them enough for taking on this project and seeing it through the application process. Michael Prast 19 (Image: Michael Prast) Prast and Beachy started preparing the application in spring 2019. It took them about four months to gather all the required information. We had to prove the historical significance of the Portage Lake Bridge and describe its unique features, said Prast. We also had to show what the building of this bridge did to elevate the civil engineering profession as well as its social and economic impact on the region and the nation. Emma Beachy '19 (Image: Emma Beachy) The Portage Lake Bridge took its name from the bridges that came before it. Like them, it was crucial in helping facilitate the transport of copper, timber and other raw materials during the regions industrial heyday. But Beachy said the continued importance of the lift bridge is unique. Most of the bridges of this type because they're so old are mostly converted into either pedestrian or bike bridges, or just demolished entirely, she said. In contrast, the Portage Lake Bridge is really well maintained. It also has a really high level of use. Not only in comparison to other vertical lift bridges, but also just in comparison to other notable Michigan bridges, like the Mackinac, the Blue Water, and the International Bridge. Today, we have a very active tourism industry, Prast added. Especially in the summer, traffic on the lift bridge increases quite significantly. In the winter, when the lower deck is used for snowmobiles, it makes it a much safer crossing for everyone involved. The view on former metal truss swing bridge (Image: Michigan Tech Archives) Aerial view of Portage Lake Bridge and former swing bridge in the spring of 1960 (Image: Michigan Tech Archives) The lift bridge hosted rail service until 1982 (Image: Roger Puta, Wikimedia Commons) The lower deck of the lift bridge is now used by snowmobiles in winter (Image: Peter Zhu) Spanning the Canal Before the Lift Bridge Some of the earliest crossings across Portage Canal included a ferry service and a floating gondola-style bridge, said Prast. In the 1870s citizens created a wooden swing bridge. It had only one deck originally, for animal carts and pedestrians. In 1892 it was adapted for rail. The swing bridge allowed pedestrians, cars and trains to cross. Its center span rotated to open the waterway to boats passing through. Bridgefest 2022 Fun and free for the whole family, Bridgefest was organized to celebrate the Portage Lake Bridge, a vital link between the communities of Houghton and Hancock, and the gateway to the rest of the historic Keweenaw Peninsula. Learn more at bridgefestfun.com. Date: June 16-19, 2022 Various Locations, Houghton and Hancock Replacement was inevitable for a lot of reasons, said Prast. It was structurally deficient. The foundations were falling apart. They had to dredge so that larger boats had enough depth to come through but that affected the foundation and the whole swing bridge would tilt to one side. This caused them to have to shave off parts of one side of the swing bridge and add to the other side. Rotting timbers and concrete fell down onto the decks below. They would have to spray the bridge with water on really hot days, because otherwise steel would expand and the bridge would get stuck. As vehicles became larger in size, it got to the point that any time a truck came across the swing bridge, including a snow plow, they had to stop road traffic from both directions. The bigger trucks needed both lanes to get over the bridge. And the swing bridge was required to open for all boats. It was so close to the water level that even a modest pleasure boat couldn't pass under. The People Behind the Portage Lake Bridge Beachy and Prast dug into documentation that traced the bridge from conception to construction. C.F. Winkler, the Houghton County road commissioner from 1932 to 1964, wrote letters and contacted all the senators, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Michigan State Highway Commission all the people who needed to know that the old swing bridge was not working anymore and that it wasn't safe, said Beachy. After over a decade of effort to get the project underway, the construction of the Portage Lake Bridge had a chilly start on Dec. 18, 1957. Construction of the lift bridge took place from 1957 to 1959, year-round through the Keweenaws harsh winters. John Michels was key on the construction end of things, along with Tony Gilroy, said Prast. They were construction managers on the project for the Michigan Department of Transportation, and they took a lot of photographs during that time and compiled it all into a really comprehensive construction history report. John was able to share that with us, along with plenty of other pictures and newspaper clippings that were super helpful for this nomination package. Tom D'Arcy, engineer for the Chicago firm Hazelet and Erdal, which designed the Portage Lake Bridge (Image: The Consulting Engineers Group., Inc.) Tom DArcy, who worked as a design engineer for the Chicago firm Hazelet and Erdal, also supplied essential information for the application. We were able to get his take on what made this bridge really unique and interesting from a design perspective, Beachy said. That was really helpful for the National Historic Landmark nomination package. Lift Bridge a One-of-a Kind Design The design of the lift bridge accommodated three transportation modes that converged in Houghton and Hancock on either side of the Portage Canal: automobile, rail and water vessels. To address this, engineers came up with an innovative solution: a double-deck lift bridge with an intermediate raised position. While the top and bottom lift span decks are primarily designed to carry vehicle and rail traffic, respectively, the lower deck, when raised to street level, allows vehicles to drive across it while small to medium boats pass under the bridge. For the ASCE application, Prast and Beachy researched bridges across the country to make the case that these features made Portage Lake Bridge unique among double-deck bridges. In our research, we werent able to find many other double-deck bridges in the U.S. designed with an intermediate position, Prast said. The intermediate position allows the bridge to let its two busiest modes of transportation cross uninterrupted at the same time. This immediately reduced openings by 63%. The lift bridge in intermediate position as seen from the canal. Lift bridge construction incorporated numerous industry advancements. First off, the lower lift span deck needed to be usable by both automobiles and rail, Beachy said. They didn't have access to a lot of the fancy materials and products used nowadays, so the design team experimented with a couple different things that would allow them to properly embed the train rails within the driving surface on the lower deck. This multi-use deck surface needed to carry heavy loads on both decks concurrently. The design team was tasked with supporting what was then the heaviest lift span in the world: 4,584,000 pounds spanning 260 feet. They came up with these really neat movable intermediate supports for the span, Beachy said. When the lift span is fully down, it rests on the piers of the bridge, right on these relatively small pieces of metal called bridge seats. And the lift span is not relying on any of the mechanical equipment or the cables or the towers or anything. It's just sitting. Lift Bridge Webcam Get a real-time look at the lift bridge from Michigan Techs webcam. A similar process happens when the bridge is in its intermediate position, Beachy explained. Because fixed bridge seats would get in the way of the lift moving up and down, the design team came up with the idea of using large beams located at each corner of the towers, pushed out with hydraulic rollers. When the lift bridge is put into the intermediate position, that system raises it up just a little bit higher than the roadway, she said. The rollers push out the bridge seats on giant beams and then they set the lift span back down on top of them. Whats really cool is that if you just walk underneath the bridge, you can go see the rollers, and see how massive they are to hold up that really heavy lift span. On Saturday, June 18, at 10 a.m., Prast and Beachy will kick off a presentation titled Going Up Since 1959: History of the Portage Crossing and Lift Bridge Construction. Following their discussion of everything that made the lift bridge worthy of its designation, Kris Mattila, MTU engineering professor, will talk about how the bridge was built and show photographs from throughout its construction. Both presentations are open to the public and will be held in Martha Wiljanen Community Hall at the Finnish American Heritage Museum in Hancock. Michigan Technological University is a public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, Michigan, and is home to more than 7,000 students from 55 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, the University offers more than 125 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure. Guam Delegate Michael San Nicolas and his running mate, Sabrina Salas Matanahe, speak to the media after picking up their campaign packet at the Guam Election Commission office on April 19, 2022 in Tamuning. South Africa: President Ramaphosa in Germany for G7 Summit President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday arrived in Bavaria, in Germany, to participate in the G7 Leaders Summit at the invitation of the host, Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The Summit will commences on Monday in Schloss Elmau, in Bavaria. In a statement, the Presidency said South Africa will participate in two outreach sessions. WATCH | President arrives in Munich The first will be a working lunch on Investing in the future, where issues of climate, energy and health will be discussed, followed by a working session titled Stronger Together, where the Summit will address food security issues and advancing gender equality, said the Presidency. On Sunday evening, President Ramaphosa attended a Dinner hosted in honour of Heads of State/Government by Markus Sober, Bavarian Minister-President. WATCH | G7 Leaders' Welcome Dinner South Africa has been a regular invitee of the G7. Participation in the 2022 Leaders Summit presents an opportunity for the country to highlight the concerns of developing countries and to advocate for the continued global attention for equitable distribution of resources, particularly with regards to the on-going pandemic as well as economic recovery measures, said the Presidency. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Duncan_Andison/Getty Images/iStockphoto PITTSFIELD The Pike County Board is scheduled to meet in regular session at 7 p.m. today in the courthouse at 100 E. Washington St. Among the items on the agenda are: This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERUSALEM (AP) Twenty years after Israel decided to build its controversial separation barrier, the network of walls, fences and closed military roads remains in place, even as any partition of the land appears more remote than ever. Israel is actively encouraging its Jewish citizens to settle on both sides of the barrier as it builds and expands settlements deep inside the occupied West Bank, more than a decade after the collapse of any serious peace talks. Palestinians living under decades of military occupation, meanwhile, clamor for work permits inside Israel, where wages are higher. Some 100,000 Palestinians legally cross through military checkpoints, mainly to work in construction, manufacturing and agriculture. Israel decided to build the barrier in June 2002, at the height of the second intifada, or uprising, when Palestinians carried out scores of suicide bombings and other attacks that killed Israeli civilians. Authorities said the barrier was designed to prevent attackers from crossing into Israel from the West Bank and was never intended to be a permanent border. Eighty-five percent of the still-unfinished barrier is inside the West Bank, carving off nearly 10% of its territory. The Palestinians view it as an illegal land grab and the International Court of Justice in 2004 said the barrier was contrary to international law. The United Nations estimates that some 150 Palestinian communities have farmland inside the West Bank but west of the barrier. Some 11,000 Palestinians live in this so-called Seam Zone, requiring Israeli permits just to stay in their homes. The U.N. also estimates that about 65% of the roughly 710-kilometer (450-mile) structure has been completed. The security benefits of the barrier have long been subject to debate and while the number of attacks has fallen sharply, other factors may be at play. The intifada began winding down in 2005, after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat died and was replaced by President Mahmoud Abbas, who is opposed to armed struggle. Most leading militants were captured or killed, and under Abbas, the Palestinian Authority cooperates with Israel on security matters. Israeli troops regularly operate in all parts of the West Bank, and Israel often announces that it has thwarted attacks before the assailants ever left the territory. Earlier this year, during a renewed wave of violence, Israeli media reported that authorities have long ignored gaps in the barrier because they are used by Palestinian laborers. Those are now being closed, but the barrier is not expected to be completed anytime soon. Last week, Israel began construction on a new barrier, some 45 kilometers (almost 30 miles) long in the northern West Bank, to replace a security fence built two decades ago. It says the new barrier will be 9 meters (30 feet) high more than twice as high as the Berlin Wall. Concrete walls that high can already be seen snaking through Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other urban areas. Near a main Israeli highway, the barrier is concealed behind dirt embankments planted with trees and flowers. In other rural areas, it consists of barbed wire fences with surveillance cameras and closed military roads. Israel captured east Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza in the 1967 Mideast war, territories the Palestinians want for a future state. In Gaza, which has been under an Israeli-Egyptian blockade since the Hamas militant group seized power from Abbas' forces in 2007, Israel recently completed a high-tech barrier that runs along the 1967 boundary. Israel annexed east Jerusalem in a move not recognized by the international community and views the entire city as its capital. But towering concrete walls cut off dense Palestinian neighborhoods that are within the Israeli-drawn municipal boundaries and have largely severed the city from the occupied West Bank. In the West Bank, the Palestinian Authority has limited autonomy in major population centers, but Israel retains total control over 60% of the territory. There it has built more than 130 settlements that are home to nearly 500,000 Jewish settlers. Many live on the other side of the barrier but have access to a rapidly growing highway system linking the settlements to Israeli cities. With any peace process effectively frozen, the government has instead pursued what it refers to as goodwill gestures mainly the issuing of more permits so Palestinians can enter through checkpoints and work inside Israel. ___ Follow Oded Balilty on Twitter at www.twitter.com/obalilty ___ Follow Associated Press photographers and photo editors on Twitter at www.twitter.com/AP_Images and on Instagram at www.instagram.com/apnews Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Alisa A. Bowden, 29, of 821 S. Main St. was arrested at 1:25 a.m. Sunday on a criminal trespassing charge after police said she was at a location in the 200 block of West Morgan Street from which she was prohibited. Luis A. Culcay, 28, of Cicero and Trevon L. Walton, 35, of Springfield were cited on charges of disorderly conduct at 12:52 a.m. Sunday after being accused of fighting inside West Morgan Depot, 213 W. Morgan St. Chauncy B. Whitaker, 60, of 4 Fayette Court was arrested at 10:42 p.m. Saturday on a domestic battery charge after police said he pushed his girlfriend during an altercation. Jamie L. Haley, 41, of 302 W. Dunlap St. was arrested on a retail theft charge at 7:19 p.m. Friday after being accused of taking items from Dollar General, 235 W. Walnut St., without paying. Mary A. Decker, 45, of 602 Jordan St. was arrested on a retail theft charge at 7:19 p.m. Friday. She was accused of conspiring to commit a theft at Dollar General, 235 W. Walnut St., where she is an employee. Benjamin M. Thompson, 38, of 511 N. Clinton St., Naples, was arrested on charges of driving while license is suspended and possession of methamphetamine and cited on charges of operating an uninsured vehicle after the car he was driving was stopped at 2:36 a.m. Saturday at Hardin Avenue and Chambers Street. He was also arrested on a Scott County warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on a traffic offense. Samantha K. Milburn, 25, of 1605 Lakeview Terrace was arrested at 11:23 a.m. Saturday on a criminal trespassing charge after being accused of being in a location in the 600 block of North Main Street from which she was prohibited. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KREMENCHUK, Ukraine (AP) Russian long-range bombers struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk with a missile on Monday, raising fears of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an unimaginable number of victims in one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history. Zelenskky said that many of the more than 1,000 afternoon shoppers and staff inside the mall managed to escape. Giant plumes of black smoke, dust and orange flames emanated from the wreckage, with emergency crews rushing in to search broken metal and concrete for victims and put out fires. Onlookers watched in distress at the sight of how an everyday activity such as shopping could turn into a horror. The casualty figures were changing as rescuers searched the smoldering rubble into early Tuesday. Ukraine's emergency services reported late Monday that at least 16 people were dead and about 60 wounded. Soldiers worked into the night to lug sheets of twisted metal and broken concrete, as one drilled into what remained of the shopping center's roof. Drones whirred above, clouds of dark smoke still emanating from the ruins several hours after the fire had been put out. We are working to dismantle the construction so that it is possible to get machinery in there since the metal elements are very heavy and big, and disassembling them by hand is impossible, said Volodymyr Hychkan, an emergency services official. At Ukraine's request, the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting in New York on Tuesday to discuss the attack. In the first Russian government comment on the missile strike, the country's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, alleged multiple inconsistencies that he didn't specify, claiming on Twitter that the incident was a provocation by Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied it targets civilian infrastructure, even though Russian attacks have hit other shopping malls, theaters, hospitals, kindergartens and apartment buildings. The missile strike unfolded as Western leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine, and the world's major economies prepared new sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on oil and higher tariffs on goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. appeared ready to respond to Zelenskyys call for more air defense systems, and NATO planned to increase the size of its rapid-reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops. Zelenskyy said the mall presented no threat to the Russian army and had no strategic value. He accused Russia of sabotaging peoples attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry. In his nightly address, he said it appeared Russian forces had intentionally targeted the shopping center and added, Todays Russian strike at a shopping mall in Kremenchuk is one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history. He said Russia has become the largest terrorist organization in the world. Russia has increasingly used long-range bombers in the war. Ukrainian officials said Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flying over Russias western Kursk region fired the missile that hit the shopping center, as well as another that hit a sports arena in Kremenchuk. The Russian strike echoed attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part, Zelenskyy said. Kremenchuk Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the attack hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces. The United Nations called the strike deplorable, stressing that civilian infrastructure should never ever be targeted, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Group of Seven leaders issued a statement late Monday condemning the attack and saying that indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account. The attack coincided with Russia's all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, pouring fire on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. At least eight people were killed and more than 20 wounded in Lysychansk when Russian rockets hit an area where a crowd gathered to obtain water from a tank, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said. The eastern barrage was part of Russian forces' intensified offensive aimed at wresting the eastern Donbas region from Ukraine. Over the weekend, the Russian military and their local separatist allies forced Ukrainian government troops out of Lysychansk's neighboring city, Sievierodonetsk. To the west of Lysychansk on Monday, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of victims had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A mans body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. Everything is now destroyed," said resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power. I cant even call to tell others what had happened to us. Before Monday's attacks, at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the countrys south and east, according to Zelenskyy's office. Shelling on Monday in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killed at least five people and wounded 15. Russian forces continued to target the key southern Black Sea port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, Ukrainian authorities said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, Haidai said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable. The city's prewar population of around 100,000 has dwindled to fewer than 10,000. Analysts say that Lysychansks location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to Ukrainian defenders. Its a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk, said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germanys Bavarian Alps, leaders of the G7 countries unveiled plans to seek new sanctions and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. In a joint statement Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. Elsewhere, Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to greatly expand the alliance's rapid-reaction forces as part of its response to an era of strategic competition. The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit later this week, Stoltenberg said. Britain's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with negative political consequences for President Vladimir Putins government. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. ___ Follow the APs coverage of the war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images JERSEYVILLE The Jersey County Business Association will host a street fair as a part of its monthly Open Late event from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. The fair will be at Washington and Arch streets. GENEVA (AP) The Swiss intelligence service says authorities should do whatever they can to prevent Russian spies who have been expelled from Western countries after President Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine turning up in countries like Switzerland. The Federal Intelligence Service, in its annual report released Monday, surveyed an array of threats including violent Islamic extremism, cyberattacks and an increasingly polarized world between autocracies and democracies such as the growing standoff between the United States and China. But it sounded the alarm most about threats posed by a new conventional war in Europe, migration, and Russia and said espionage activity has been high and rising. If Western countries succeed in keeping Russian intelligence service officers from being replaced by new ones deployed under diplomatic cover, then the capacities of Russian spies in those places will be weakened with lasting effect, it said. That, in turn, could prompt Moscow to deploy such operatives to other countries. These might also include Switzerland, which is why the instruments available for preventing the entry of such intelligence service officers must be utilized to the full, the assessment said. The spy service pointed in particular to Geneva, which hosts many international and United Nations institutions, as an espionage hotspot. The report, which called Russias war against Ukraine a gross violation of international law that has shattered the decades-old European security, said the course of the war is anything but encouraging for the Putin regime in part because it has cemented the idea in the minds of generations of Ukrainians that Russia is their enemy. Viola Amherd, who heads the Swiss defense department that oversees the intelligence service, noted that Switzerland which has traditionally touted its neutrality has shown a clear commitment to the Western community of values in response to the war. We are witnessing a turning point that is rocking the very foundations of the security framework in Europe and changing it forever, she wrote in a foreword to the report. BERLIN (AP) Lawyers asked a German court Monday to acquit a 101-year-old man charged with 3,518 counts of being an accessory to murder for allegedly serving as an SS guard at a World War II Nazi concentration camp. The defendant, whose name wasnt released due to German privacy laws, allegedly worked at the Sachsenhausen camp on the outskirts of Berlin between 1942 and 1945 as an enlisted member of the Nazi Partys paramilitary wing. In their closing statement, the mans lawyers argued that there was no evidence their client had actively assisted in any killings. The man has denied ever working at the camp, but prosecutors presented numerous documents containing his name, date and place of birth, to argue that he did. They have asked the court to impose a five-year sentence on the defendant. Sachsenhausen was established in 1936 just north of Berlin as the first new camp after Adolf Hitler gave the SS full control of the Nazi concentration camp system. Exact numbers on those killed vary, with upper estimates of some 100,000, though scholars suggest figures of 40,000 to 50,000 are likely more accurate. The Neuruppin court is expected to rule on the case Tuesday. GAYAN, Afghanistan (AP) When the ground heaved from last weeks earthquake in Afghanistan, Nahim Guls stone-and-mud house collapsed on top of him. He clawed through the rubble in the predawn darkness, choking on dust as he searched for his father and two sisters. He doesn't know how many hours of digging passed before he caught a glimpse of their bodies under the ruins. They were dead. Now, days after a 6 magnitude quake that devastated a remote southeast region of Afghanistan and killed at least 1,150 people by authorities' estimates, Gul sees destruction everywhere and help in short supply. His niece and nephew were also killed in the quake, crushed by the walls of their house. The United Nations has put the death toll at 770 people but warned it could rise further. Either toll would make the quake Afghanistans deadliest in two decades. I dont know what will happen to us or how we should restart our lives, Gul told The Associated Press on Sunday, his hands bruised and his shoulder injured. We dont have any money to rebuild. Its a fear shared among thousands in the impoverished villages where the fury of the quake has fallen most heavily in Paktika and Khost provinces, along the jagged mountains that straddle the countrys border with Pakistan. Those who were barely scraping by have lost everything. Many have yet to be visited by aid groups and authorities, which are struggling to reach the afflicted area on rutted roads some made impassable by landslides and damage. Aware of its constraints, the cash-strapped Taliban have called for foreign assistance and on Saturday appealed to Washington to unfreeze billions of dollars in Afghanistans currency reserves. The United Nations and an array of international aid groups and countries have mobilized to send help. China pledged Saturday nearly $7.5 million in emergency humanitarian aid, joining nations including Iran, Pakistan, South Korea, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar in dispatching a planeload of tents, towels, beds and other badly needed supplies to the quake-hit area. U.N. Deputy Special Representative Ramiz Alakbarov toured the hard-hit Paktika province on Saturday to assess the damage and distribute food, medicine and tents. U.N. helicopters and trucks laden with bread, flour, rice and blankets have trickled into the stricken areas. Yesterdays visit reaffirmed to me both the extreme suffering of people in Afghanistan and their tremendous resolve in the face of great adversity, Alakbarov said, appealing for the repair of damaged water pipes, roads and communication lines in the area. Without support, he added, Afghans "will continue to endure unnecessary and unimaginable hardship. But the relief effort remains patchy and limited due to funding and access constraints. The Taliban, which seized power last August from a government sustained for 20 years by a U.S.-led military coalition, appears overwhelmed by the logistical complexities of issues like debris removal in what is shaping up to be a major test of its capacity to govern. Villagers have dug out their dead loved ones with their bare hands, buried them in mass graves and slept in the woods despite the rain. Nearly 800 families are living out in the open, according to the U.N.s humanitarian coordination organization OCHA. Gul received a tent and blankets from a local charity in the Gayan district, but he and his surviving relatives have had to fend for themselves. Terrified as the earth still rumbles from aftershocks like one on Friday that claimed five more lives, he said his children in Gayan refuse to go indoors. The earthquake was the latest calamity to convulse Afghanistan, which has been reeling from a dire economic crisis since the Taliban took control of the country as the U.S. and its NATO allies were withdrawing their forces. Foreign aid a mainstay of Afghanistan's economy for decades stopped practically overnight. World governments piled on sanctions, halted bank transfers and paralyzed trade, refusing to recognize the Taliban government. The Biden administration cut off the Taliban's access to $7 billion in foreign currency reserves held in the United States. As he toured the disaster site, Acting Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi urged the White House to release the funds at a time when Afghanistan is in the grips of earthquakes and floods" and to lift banking restrictions so charities can more easily provide aid. Western donors have withheld longer-term assistance as they demand the Taliban allow a more inclusive rule and respect human rights. The former insurgents have resisted the pressure, imposing restrictions on the freedoms of women and girls that recall their first time in power in the late 1990s. Now, around half the countrys 39 million people are facing life-threatening levels of food insecurity because of poverty. Most civil servants, including doctors, nurses and teachers, have not been paid for months. U.N. agencies and other remaining organizations have scrambled to keep Afghanistan from the brink of starvation with a humanitarian program that has fed millions and kept the medical system afloat. But with international donors lagging, U.N. agencies face a $3 billion funding shortfall this year. On Sunday, the World Health Organization said it was stepping up surveillance of infectious diseases in Afghanistans earthquake-hit areas. Afghanistan is one of the two remaining polio-endemic countries in the world. Reeling from war and impoverished long before the Taliban takeover, the far-flung areas hit by last Wednesdays earthquake are particularly ill-equipped to cope. Some local businessmen have swung into action. The Afghanistan Chamber of Commerce and Investment said on Sunday it had raised over $1.5 million for Pakitka and Khost provinces. Still, for those whose homes have been obliterated, the help may not be enough. We have nothing left, Gul said. ___ Faiez reported from Islamabad. Associated Press writers Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report. Witthaya Prasongsin/Getty Images Chemical Vapor Metal Refining (CVMR) will build a $1.5 billion, 540-acre rare-earth refinery in Amarillo after the city and Potter County agreed to economic incentives for the project, according to a June 21 press release. CVMR, a collection of 20 businesses worldwide specializing in rare-earth mining, said the refinery will be the first of its kind in the U.S. This is going to be the first critical mineral refinery ever built in the United States, CVMR founder Kamran Khozan said in a release. Right now, we dont have any such refineries in the United States. We are at the mercy of foreign countries to supply us with refined metals. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Dutch Bros Coffee A West Coast-based coffee chain is brewing up plans for the company's second New Braunfels location before the first one spot even opens. The newest Dutch Bros Coffee is scheduled to begin construction on September 5 and be completed by November 7, according to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The 950-square-foot building will be located at 1930 Hwy 46 West, cost $280,000, and will have a double-drive thru with a walk-up window. There is no sitting area at Dutch Bros Coffee locations. Dutch Bros offers coffee, sodas, freezes, pastries, teas, energy drinks, and smoothies. The first location on 673 Hwy 46 in New Braunfels is set to open on July 1, according to a 2021 Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation filing. The Texas Department of Transportation is being sued over the I-35 expansion project in Austin. The lawsuit was filed Sunday, June 26, at a federal court in Travis County by Rethink35, Texas Public Interest Research Group (TexPIRG), and Environment Texas. The suit names both TxDOT and its Executive Director Marc Williams as defendants. "By splitting its I-35 project into separate parts, TxDOT is clearly violating the law," TexPIRG Environment Campaigns Director Matt Casale said in a press release on Monday, June 27. The groups allege in the lawsuit that TxDOT has "improperly divided" the I-35 expansion project into three segments and that TxDOT is avoiding "more rigorous, legally required environmental review and public engagement of a single larger project" by dividing it up into "independent utilities." "These three projects are so intertwined and completely rely on each of the other projects to be built. Thus, each project North, Central, and South does not have independent utility," the lawsuit reads. The expansion spans 28 miles between State Highway 45 N and State Highway 45 SE. The North project runs from State Highway 45 North to Highway 290 E; the South project spans Ben White Boulevard to State Highway 45 SE; and the Central project from Highway 290 E to Ben White Boulevard. The project includes plans to expand some of the roadways from 12 to 14 lanes up to 19 lanes. Other project aspects include bridge reconstruction, adding a diverging diamond interchange, and adding bicycle and pedestrian paths in addition to other mobility changes. "Countless examples, including the notorious Katy Freeway expansion in Houston, have shown that widening highways worsens congestion by encouraging more driving," Rethink35 Executive Director Adam Greenfield said in the press release. "The public has a right to consider options for I-35 that will actually work, including alternatives to driving, not just expansion. This is also a major equity issue: Widening freeways worsens serious and fatal traffic crashes, air pollution, noise, and carbon emissions, all of which disproportionately impact low-income communities and communities of color." TxDOT unveiled the project in August and was met with reservations by city officials, according to Austin's NPR station KUT. Analysis by the state's transportation district said the project would displace up to 147 commercial and resident properties. I-35 in Travis County is one of the top ranked most congested roadway in Texas, according to the Texas Transportation Institute in 2020. The report also says the highway incurs the highest annual congestion cost at $200 million. Google Maps A Texas man was arrested in connection with robbing a woman in an H-E-B parking lot last week in San Juan, according to a report from Valley Central. The San Juan Police Department told the news station that the suspect Efrain Martinez was arrested on June 22. Police said Martinez opened the woman's driver-side door during the incident at the H-E-B Plus located at 901 W Expressway 83 in San Juan, which is in South Texas near McAllen. Officials said a struggle between the victim and the suspect ensued, leaving the woman with minor injuries. Jerri-Lynn here. Democrats knew since May when Justice Samuel Alitos draft opinion was leaked that the Supreme Court was poised to overturn Roe. But they failed to prepare for that decision and to have a response to roll out the minute it was announced. So, lots of options now are being floated. This post discusses the state of play. President Biden continues to seem out of it, a spectator to his own presidency, not willing to consider seriously possible options. By Kenny Stancil, staff writer. Originally published at Common Dreams President Joe Biden was rebuked Saturday for doubling down on his opposition to expanding the U.S. Supreme Court even after its deeply unpopular right-wing majority spent the past week ending the constitutional right to abortion care, weakening gun restrictions, undermining the separation of church and state, and eroding hard-won civil rights, with more attacks on equality and federal regulatory power expected. That is something that the president does not agree with, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters when asked about the possibility of court expansion. That is not something that he wants to do. MSNBC host Mehdi Hasan called the presidents lack of urgency ridiculous, infuriating, and inexplicable. What does Biden agree with doing? Hasan asked on social media. What does the leader of this country want to do to stop the increasingly fascistic assault on our democratic institutions and basic rights? Hasan and other outraged commentators were responding to a viral tweet suggesting that Biden is opposed not only to court expansion but also to filibuster reform. While ABC News confirmed that Biden doesnt support expanding the high court, CNN reporter Mike Valerio deleted his tweet because, as journalist Judd Legum explained, it misrepresented Jean-Pierres comments about the presidents position on the filibuster. Although Biden has typically defended the Senates 60-vote threshold for advancing most legislation, he has called for carve-outs on voting rights. He may or may not do the same for reproductive freedom, but Jean-Pierre dodged the question. I dont care what President Biden thinks about the filibuster, said Rep. Ted Lieu (D-Calif.). He is no longer in Congress. This is the messaging and the actual facts, Lieu continued. If we elect two more Democratic U.S. Senators and Democrats hold the House, we can pass the bill that codifies Roe v. Wade into law. The House passed the Womens Health Protection Act last year, but it has stalled in the Senate because right-wing Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Kyrsten Sinema (Ariz.) have repeatedly refused to back abolishing or suspending the filibuster, thus giving the GOP minority veto power over most legislation. While Lieu argued that the Senate Democratic Caucus needs just two more members to be able to repeal the filibuster and codify Roe, others made the case that Biden and other party leaders need to do much more, including expanding the Supreme Court, to prevent the Republican Party from continuing to impose a reactionary agenda opposed by the vast majority of Americans. Ridiculous. Infuriating. Inexplicable. What does Biden agree with doing? What does the leader of this country want to do to stop the increasingly fascistic assault on our democratic institutions and basic rights? https://t.co/hC6CYhNTOj Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) June 25, 2022 Any Democrat not calling for the expansion of the Supreme Court, journalist Jordan Zakarian said Friday on social media, is now in favor of the end of abortion rights and the coming attacks on same-sex marriage, contraception, and every other right we have. Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.), and Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), as well as Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), are among the lawmakers who have demanded court expansion since Roe was overturned. The President & Dem leaders can no longer get away with familiar tactics of committees and studies to avoid tackling our crises head-on anymore: Restrain judicial review Open clinics on federal lands Court expansion Expand Fed access/awareness of pill abortions etc Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) June 25, 2022 Last April, Biden appointed a 36-member bipartisan commission to study potential reforms to the Supreme Courtincluding the addition of more seats, the establishment of term limits, and the creation of a code of ethics for justices. Although the panel found considerable support for 18-year term limits for justices, proposals to increase the size of the court were met with profound disagreement. As we watch this court majority go berserk for its right-wing overlords, Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) tweeted Saturday, is there any regret that the anodyne, feckless Supreme Court commission missed all the major issues: no transparency, no ethics code, dark money appointments, secret gifts, hypocrisy, capture, corruption? More and more people are understanding what Ive been saying is going on, he added, pointing to recent reporting by The Lever. The court got captured by special interests using gobs of dark money. In a Sunday appearance on ABCs This Week, Warren told host Martha Raddatz that the high court has burned whatever legitimacy they still may have. They just took the last of it and set a torch to it with the Roe v. Wadeopinion, she said. I believe we need to get some confidence back in our court and that means we need more justices on the United States Supreme Court. The Supreme Court has burned whatever legitimacy they may still have had with their ruling overturning Roe v. Wade, Sen. Elizabeth Warren tells @MarthaRaddatz. They just took the last of it and set a torch to it. https://t.co/OYumwDfET9 pic.twitter.com/2KeCuPXXcY This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 26, 2022 Soon after Biden created his Supreme Court commission, congressional Democratsled by Reps. Jerry Nadler (D-N.Y.), Hank Johnson (D-Ga.), and Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) in the House and Markey in the Senateintroducedlegislation that would expand the number of seats on the high court from nine to 13. While its passage is unlikely barring the election of more progressive lawmakers in the upcoming midterms, there is no shortage of ideas for immediate steps the Biden administration could take to protect abortion access in post-Roe America. In a letter sent to the White House on Saturday, 33 Senate Democrats told Biden that now is the time for bold action to protect the right to an abortion. You have the power to fight back and lead a national response to this devastating decision, the letter states, so we call on you to take every step available to your administration, across federal agencies, to help women access abortions and other reproductive health care, and to protect those who will face the harshest burdens from this devastating and extreme decision. Biden has instructed the Justice Department to ensure that pregnant people can travel to states where abortion remains legal, and Attorney General Merrick Garland has vowed to crack down on states that attempt to ban federally approved abortion pills. But there is much more that can be done, progressives say. As of Sunday, more than 14,200 people have signed Ocasio-Cortezs petition urging Biden to open abortion clinics on federal lands, especially in states where access to care has already been eliminated or severely reduced. My Nashville Post role has evolved since 2000 when I joined the now-defunct The City Paper. TCP became a Post sister publication in 2008 (when I began doing some Post work) and folded in 2013. I have been managing editor of the Post since late 2011. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today Etilaat-e-Rooz (Translated by RAWA), June 23, 2022 Sources in Balkh say that Taliban have arrested a female teacher in Mazar-e-Sharif, the provincial capital, for allegedly violating the hijab. Today (Thursday; June 23, 2022), a source told Etilaat Roz that the woman was arrested two days ago and her fate is still unknown. According to the source, this woman is called Ustad Mobina and is a teacher of Sultan Razia Girls' School. The source added that the teacher was arrested by Taliban intelligence in Balkh province on charges of not observing hijab. According to one of the arrested teacher's student, she is 37 or 38 years old and teaches religious subjects. A source in the Taliban Education Department in Balkh, who did not want to be identified, confirmed the teacher's arrest. The source also said that Ustan Mobina had been arrested on charges of "indecency, ill-treatment of other teachers and inciting students to resist Taliban orders." According to the source, the teacher had also received several warnings from the Taliban. The Taliban have not yet commented. The group have made it obligatory for women to observe the hijab, and have also punished women who do not observe the Taliban's required hijab. (Natural News) A federal grand jury has returned a 21-count indictment against Andrew Demetric Gillum, 42, and Sharon Janet Lettman-Hicks, 53, both of Tallahassee, Fla., for nearly two dozen felonies they allegedly committed during Gillums failed 2018 Florida gubernatorial campaign against now-Gov. Ron DeSantis. In a statement, the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida wrote that between 2016 and 2019, Gillum and Lettman-Hicks allegedly conspired to commit wire fraud by unlawfully soliciting and obtaining funds from various entities and individuals through false and fraudulent promises and representations that the funds would be used for a legitimate purpose. The Indictment further alleges the defendants used third parties to divert a portion of those funds to a company owned by Lettman-Hicks, who then fraudulently provided the funds, disguised as payroll payments, to Gillum for his personal use, the statement further reads. Both Gillum and Lettman-Hicks are being charged with 19 counts of wire fraud, and Gillum is also charged with making false statements to agents of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). If found guilty, Gillum faces a possible total of 45 years in prison for making false statements, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and the wire fraud itself. Earlier in the week, NBC News national political reporter Marc Caputo tweeted that Gillum had already surrendered to authorities ahead of the indictment being unsealed. That indictment confirms that Gillum committed numerous crimes in his failed bid to defeat DeSantis, who, thankfully for Floridians, won the election instead. In early 2020 during the covid plandemic, Gillum was caught with a male escort and suspected baggies of crystal meth There is other deviant behavior in Gillums past, including the time in early 2020 at the start of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) plandemic when he was reportedly caught in a hotel room with a male escort and suspected baggies of crystal meth. Plastic baggies of suspected crystal meth, empty beer bottles and prescription pills are seen scattered among trash and soiled bedding in the shocking images, reported the Daily Mail (UK). He was inside room 1107 with two more men, one of them a hunky 30-year-old male escort named Travis Dyson, who was found naked and in the throes of a drug overdose. As this breaking story continues to develop, we will keep you in the loop about any new developments that arise. On a scale of 1-10, how surprised are you? Im a solid 5.6 because this is totally crazy but I totally believe it, wrote someone at the Daily Wire about Gillums fate. This only means that they didnt share with the other Dems, suggested another about how this all probably works. Thats the only reason that they are being charged. He got to surrender under his own free will? I thought the norm was to have late-night raids and have them paraded in front of the press in leg shackles? Oh wait, thats only Republicans that get that treatment, joked another. Another pointed out that Gillum was under investigation at the time when he was running, and that Democrats still voted for him anyway. Is the Left really so debased as to turn a blind eye to this type of thing and vote along party lines regardless? This is no surprise regarding his criminal acts, but only surprising that the Feds are doing anything about it, wrote another. Maybe because he is no longer useful? He did not kick 10% to the Big Guy, responded someone else, possibly referring to Joe Biden. One shudders to think about what Florida would look like today if Gillum had won that election, another wrote. More related news can be found at Corruption.news. Sources for this article include: DailyWire.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Since Germany is refusing to pay for Russian natural gas imports in rubles as requested by President Vladimir Putin, the country now faces long-term supply shortages that threaten to cripple its economy. Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced that Germany will move to stage two of its emergency gas plan at the current time, which comes with an expectation that the country might run out of gas this upcoming winter. Germanys emergency gas plan has three stages, and the country seems to be advancing rather rapidly as the rubber meets the road. It is all fun and games to talk a big game against Russia until you start to run out of your economys lifeblood. We mustnt delude ourselves, Habeck said in an English-translated statement about the issue. Cutting gas supplies is an economic attack on us by Putin. No, refusing to pay for what you need in rubles is an economic attack on yourself, especially since you were the one who imposed sanctions on Russia in the first place for dealing with the problem at its border something Germany would not know anything about, after all. As we reported, Russia has cut inflows of natural gas to Germany by about 60 percent previously it was 40 percent. If things keep moving in the same direction, it will soon be 100 percent which means lights out for Germany. Is it really worth it? Habeck is already warning that gas supplies will be really tight in winter unless precautionary measures are taken to prevent a supply shortage. We defend ourselves against this, Habeck went on to state in his English-translated speech. But it will be a rocky road that we as a country now have to walk. Even if you dont really feel it yet: we are in a gas crisis. Italy, Austria, the Netherlands and Germany all revert to coal rather than cooperate with Putin What was once an abundant resource in Germany has fast become a scarce commodity, Habeck warns. This will affect industrial production and become a major burden for many consumers, he says. Its an external shock. Germanys emergency gas plan states that alert level phases are triggered whenever there is a disruption of gas supply or exceptionally high gas demand which results in significant deterioration of the gas supply situation but the market is still able to manage that disruption or demand without the need to resort to non-market-based measures. Government intervention is not required until phase three, and Germany is not quite there yet. But the nation soon could be, especially if it becomes the case that market fundamentals no longer apply to the gas situation. Before it comes to that, policymakers in Germany and across the European Union (EU) are scrambling to come up with contingency plans to stockpile whatever natural gas they can get their hands on before the cold season arrives. The EU currently or at least before the war in Ukraine imported about 40 percent of its natural gas from Russia. Since EU leaders do not approve of Putins special operation in Ukraine and refuse to play ball in rubles, they are quickly realizing that Europe is on the verge of an energy collapse. Some of the most globalist-controlled nations in Europe are so stubbornly refusing to cooperate with Putin by paying in rubles that they are now restarting their power plants that burn coal. According to CNBC, coal is the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel in terms of emissions. Suddenly, saving the world from greenhouse gases is taking a back seat to the political struggle between Russia and NATO. What will Greta say? More stories like this one can be found at SupplyChainWarning.com. Sources for this article include: CNBC.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) Once again, the left is proving that they are the ones who easily transition to violence if they dont get their way, not the pro-American right. Following the U.S. Supreme Courts very proper, very constitutional decision overturning Roe v. Wade after 50 years and allowing states the right to decide the issue of abortion on their terms, far-left crybabies upset over the ruling naturally took to the streets and began committing acts of violence while making threats. Los Angeles was no different, of course, but there, police were forced to take action against one lunatic who allegedly attempted to murder some of them, according to Breitbart News: Michael Ortiz, 30, and Juliana Bernado, 23, were among those arrested during a clash with police officers in downtown Los Angeles, Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) Chief Michel Moore said. The vast majority of those involved were peaceful and law-abiding, however, a much smaller group of individuals took to the streets with the intention of creating chaos and destruction, the LAPD said. The protests extended well into the night after Fridays ruling before some protesters began throwing fireworks and other makeshift weapons at responding LAPD officers trying to keep the peace. So many people gathered and began to get rowdy that the department declared an unlawful assembly after demonstrators streamed onto downtown streets, with some briefly blocking traffic on a pair of freeways. Ortiz was allegedly among those members. He stands accused of throwing a makeshift flamethrower at one officer who later had to be treated for burns; he was charged with the attempted murder of a police officer, according to a report by KTLA. At one point during the protests, Bernado allegedly tried to take one officers baton and she was subsequently taken into custody as well, as noted by the New York Post. She now faces potential charges of resisting arrest. I condemn the violence against officers that occurred last night and into today, LAPD Chief Michel Moore noted in a news release. Individuals participating in such criminal activity are not exercising their 1st Amendment rights in protest of the Supreme Court decision, rather, they are acting as criminals. The Department will vigorously pursue prosecution of these individuals. The protests come on the heels of a memo issued by the Department of Homeland Security warning of a dramatic increase in violence following the ruling. Some domestic violent extremists (DVEs) will likely exploit the recent US Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe V. Wade to intensify violence against a wide range of targets, DHS said. We expect violence could occur for weeks following the release, particularly as DVEs may be mobilized to respond to changes in state laws and ballot measures on abortion stemming from the decision, the warning continued. We base this assessment on an observed increase in violent incidents across the United States following the unauthorized disclosure in May of a draft majority opinion on the case, the memo adds. The report went on to state that federal and state government officials, including judges, were the most at risk of being targeted. In late May, a network of loosely affiliated suspected violent extremists, known as Janes Revengewhich has been linked to arson attacks against the buildings of ideological opponentsshared a post online encouraging a night of rage following the Supreme Court announcement, stating, we need the state to feel our full wrath and we need them to be afraid of us, the document said. An individual is now awaiting trial for a plot in June to kill a US Supreme Court Justice in response to the draft opinion. A separate incident in Michigan involved vandalism claimed by Janes Revenge on a building that houses a US Representatives campaign office and a pro-life advocacy group, the DHS document added. The intelligence report also warned that domestic terrorists could potentially violently attack ideological opponents at first amendment protected events. Sources include: USAFeatures.news Breitbart.com (Natural News) The Russian government has responded with anger and fury after the small Baltic country of Lithuania, a member of the European Union and NATO, cut Moscow off from its enclave of Kaliningrad. In a sternly worded statement, Moscow accused Lithuania of launching an unprecedented and illegal act, with the Foreign Ministry saying that the restriction was openly hostile and suggested Moscow would take actions to protect its national interests. What those actions would be, specifically, the Russians did not specify, but the rhetoric nevertheless renewed fears of a wider conflict that could ignite World War III since Lithuania is a member of NATO and part of being in the alliance means all nations come to the aid of a member state under attack. According to Radio Free Europe, Lithuanian officials imposed the restrictions beginning on June 20 in an effort to shore up punitive measures that followed Russias ongoing invasion of Ukraine on February 24. The decision is indeed unprecedented. It violates every possible rule, Russian President Vladimir Putins spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said. We understand that it stems from the European Unions decision to expand sanctions to the transit of goods. We believe that it is illegal, too, Peskov added. That said, Lithuanian officials countered by insisting Russia could ship goods to its enclave by sea, as it is Russias only ice-free port year-round. The Russian Foreign Ministry said this week that officials summoned the Lithuanian ambassador in Moscow to protest what it called provocative and openly hostile measures. 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, the ministry noted. On the EUs list of banned Russian goods are construction materials, coal, metals, and advanced technology. The enclave is situated between Poland on the west and Lithuania on the east; it is home to around a half-million Russian citizens and also the Russian Navys Baltic Sea fleet, so needless to say, its a vital piece of Russian soil that President Vladimir Putin is not simply going to abandon. Whats more, even as Russian Army morale is flagging as the war in Ukraine drags on, Lithuanias move is likely to spur nationalist fervor throughout Russia and reinvigorate the Russian will to fight. Lithuanias government reiterated that it is simply following the EUs sanctions against Moscow, but it is a decision that is likely going to trigger some form of response from Putin at some point. Reuters further described the scope of the sanctions and Russias responses thus far: The EU sanctions list notably includes coal, metals, construction materials and advanced technology, and Alikhanov said the ban would cover around 50% of the items that Kaliningrad imports. Its immediate start was confirmed by the cargo arm of Lithuanias state railway service in a letter to clients following clarification from the European Commission on the mechanism for applying the sanctions. Urging citizens not to resort to panic buying, Alikhanov said two vessels were already ferrying goods between Kaliningrad and Saint Petersburg, and seven more would be in service by the end of the year. Larry Johnson, who blogs at A Son Of The New American Revolution, writes that the decision by Lithuania is mindless and fraught with risk. Lithuania claims it is simply abiding by the sanctions imposed by the European Union. After all, Lithuania is a member of the European Union and NATO. But that is the point. This is a deliberate provocation. It is laying economic siege to a vital interest of Russia. While there is no immediate danger to the Russian population of Kaliningrad, this is a flashpoint that could lead to actual war as opposed to a special military operation, he noted. What is the difference between a special military operation and war? In the SMO you leave communications, electrical infrastructure, transportation infrastructure and fuel depots largely intact. In the SMO you try to minimize civilian and military casualties, Johnson added. War on the other hand is terrifying. If Russia opts for a war footing, the restraint that characterized its activities in Ukraine will be replaced by a full-on attack on key military installations and assets in the region as well as the destruction of the communications, electrical, transportation and fuel resources of the adversary, he said. Sources include: NaturalNews.com Reuters.com RFERL.org (Natural News) Representatives to the Texas Republican Convention this week went full-on into a push for secession from Joe Bidens increasingly politicized, authoritarian America. Under a section titled State Sovereignty, the convention-goers adopted a platform plank that states: Pursuant to Article 1, Section 1, of the Texas Constitution, the federal government has impaired our right of local self-government. Therefore, federally mandated legislation that infringes upon the 10th Amendment rights of Texas should be ignored, opposed, refused, and nullified. 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 plank continued. In another section, according to the blog site Strange Sounds, the platform says that Texas Republicans want the GOP-controlled state legislature to pass a measure during its next session requiring a referendum in the 2023 general election for the people of Texas to determine whether the State of Texas should reassert its status as an independent nation. The site went on to note that the belief among many Texans that the state has a right to secede is a myth: The myth that Texas can secede from the U.S. continues because of the states history of independence, according to The Texas Tribune. Texas declared independence from Mexico in 1836 and spent nine years as its own nation before becoming a U.S. state. Texas then seceded from the Union in 1861 before being readmitted following the end of the Civil War in 1870. The U.S. Constitution makes no provision for states to secede and in 1869, the Supreme Court ruled in Texas v. White that states cannot unilaterally secede from the Union. If there was any constitutional issue resolved by the Civil War, it is that there is no right to secede, the late Justice Antonin Scalia once wrote. But by the very nature of secession, supporters would not seek permission from the very government they want to separate from in order to make their move they would just do so. The Constitution does not make any provision for secession, that much is true, but when the Southern States first seceded, they did so under the premise that during the Constitution Convention in the 1780s following the victory over Great Britain, delegates were under the impression that states could voluntarily separate if they sought to do so at a later date, otherwise those delegates would never have agreed to form a union in the first place since all colonies were their own separate entities before the Revolutionary War. But President Abraham Lincoln and those states that remained in the Union in 1861 disagreed, and as such, decided to bring the South back into the union by force of arms, which, of course, happened. That said, revolutionary movements dont follow rules and established legal precedents. By their very nature, they are rebellious and as such, make declarations and choose courses of action based on those declarations. Its not at all clear if the Republican majority in the Texas state Legislature will, in fact, pass a ballot issue asking for secession or if Gov. Greg Abbott will sign it. But until the first southern state seceded in the early 1860s, likely, there were many Americans at the time who never thought it would happen, either. And right now, Texas is essentially under siege by hordes of illegal aliens because the Biden regime refuses to do its sworn duty and enforce border security and immigration statutes. Whats more, the regime is taking those migrants and shipping hundreds of thousands of them into the countrys interior. So if there were a time when Texans had a right to cast off an absent, irresponsible federal government, it would be now. And they probably should. Likely, other states would join them. Sources include: StrangeSounds.org NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The World Professional Association for Transgender Health claimed that the age at which children should be allowed to transition into another gender needs to be lowered to 14. Two years ago, the anti-biology group said surgery and hormone drugs should be put on hold until around age 17, with the earliest age being 15. Now it wants to see children who are barely teenagers be chemically and surgically castrated and mutilated. There are many risks involved, the group admitted, but they are worth it because it would be unethical and harmful to not allow young children to become their true selves more quickly. More than 3,000 doctors, social scientists, and others involved in transgender health issues are members of this international organization, which claims to provide evidence-based standards of care for children. Eli Coleman, chair of the groups standards of care and director of the University of Minnesota Medical Schools human sexuality program, said expert opinion has guided the change in recommendations. Children, he insisted, need to transition sooner, otherwise they will be psychologically unwell and possibly commit suicide. Age, however, is just one factor among many in the transgender mutilation of children, Coleman claimed. Certainly there are adolescents that do not have the emotional or cognitive maturity to make an informed decision, he is quoted as saying. That is why we recommend a careful multidisciplinary assessment. Psychologist warns that children are being given sloppy treatment advice by trans pushers The groups aggressive targeting of children for trans mutilation was enough to prompt psychologist Erica Anderson, a former board member, to resign in protest. According to reports, Anderson voiced her concerns about sloppy treatment being administered to children without adequate counseling. In other words, children are being pushed to destroy their bodies. Anderson is still a member of the group and even supports the updated guidelines, which on paper, emphasize the importance of extensive and comprehensive assessment before any pharmaceutical pill or surgical knife is introduced to a child. Dozens of families, Anderson said, have told her that in real life this does not happen. They tell me horror stories, Anderson said. Thanks to relentless Western propaganda, as much as eight percent of children today want to become transgenders this compared to just a fraction of a percent for grown adults. The propaganda is working, in other words, and going trans is the new cool and trendy thing to do, apparently. Other recently presented estimates show an even higher figure of as many as one in five children wanting to turn trans. That number, if true, will likely continue to rise as the system clenches every last child in its grip while parents mostly do nothing to try to stop it. If I was 13 again, I would want the opposite: hormones to correct the estrogenic crap in food, water and elsewhere, wrote a male Natural News reader about how men today basically need testosterone treatment in order to preserve their natural biology, which is constantly under attack. We need to be able to peacefully separate ourselves from these mentally ill people or the future is not going to be pleasant, wrote another about how normal people have to come out from among her (referring to Mystery Babylon) and be separate from this Baphomet agenda, which is destroying youth and the nation. More news coverage about this subject can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: TribLive.com NaturalNews.com A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. (Natural News) The head of Germanys Federal Network Agency has issued a stark warning about what is soon to come for the country and it is not pretty. Fuel shortages coupled with skyrocketing prices will send shockwaves throughout the country, says Klaus Muller, whose office regulates Germanys electricity, gas, telecommunications, postal services and railway markets. Speaking to the German newspaper Rheinische Post, Muller painted an exceptionally bleak picture about what is in store for Germany, which is nothing short of apocalyptic. And truth be told, it also applies to Germanys allies throughout the West, which has been slated for destruction. Banks will ramp up their business with installment loans, and ailing companies will fall into insolvency, Muller warns. Gas prices will only continue to climb beyond what the average person is able to afford. There will also be a lack of gas come wintertime, which could lead to landlords cutting off heat for their tenants. Tenancy law stipulates that the landlord must adjust the heating system during the heating period so that the minimum temperature falls between 20 and 22 degrees Celsius, Muller says. The government could temporarily lower the heating requirements for landlords. We are discussing this with politicians. Germany and the West are about to go kaput Since Germany has been leading the pack in destroying its energy infrastructure in order to go green, it is no wonder that the country is now in the throes of a death spiral, economically speaking. This same green energy agenda, by the way, is being pushed in practically all Western countries. And if it succeeds, which it appears to be, then every Western country will face the same crisis that Germany is and all of them will continue blaming Russia for it, of course. Germany continues to push for a ban on all Russian oil imports even though it needs that oil to survive. It is almost as if those leading Germany and the West at large want it to fail. Although Germany has pushed for a general ban on Russian oil imports, the country is highly reliant on natural gas from Russia, reported Remix. If Russia were to cut gas in the critical winter months or even restrict supplies, it could lead to critical damage to the German economy, a scenario energy experts have already warned about. Germanys solution to this problem is to beg consumers and industries to use less gas somehow, which is hardly a viable plan. And yet this is what Muller is proposing instead of real solutions like expanding Germanys fossil fuel infrastructure and canceling its anti-Russia policies, which are hurting the German people. We want to establish mechanisms to reward companies that voluntarily give up gas quotas with a premium, Muller says. It is always better when adjustments are made via prices rather than via direct state intervention. If direct state intervention is not ideal, then why is Germany directly interfering with imports of cheap and abundant Russia oil, Muller? Talk about hypocrisy but it does not end there. Muller acknowledges that gas prices are too high and getting higher all the time, but he fails to acknowledge that Germanys own energy policies are to blame. Still, he is warning Germans about what is soon to come, and what is already in motion. Gas prices for private households have already multiplied compared to the pre-war period, he is further quoted as saying. There can be a nasty surprise for tenants if high back payments are due. In the comments at Natural News, someone wrote that Germany has already been preparing its citizens for the inevitable fallout of all this by handing out pamphlets with information and advice about what to do when the power goes out. More related news coverage can be found at Collapse.news. Sources for this article include: RMX.news NaturalNews.com Cave exploring can either be rewarding or terrifying. Still, cave explorers gamble squeezing through narrow pathways and unknown chasms for the thought of achieving a goal, finding incredible sights, or maybe discovering some long-lost treasure. However, even if cavers step into the subterranean with optimistic spirits, there are times that things go sideways. Here are some of the most horrific cave experiences of the past few decades. Mossdale Cavern Flood In 1967, John Ogden and five of his friends entered a remote area of Mossdale Caverns in England. It rained, and a rising lake buried the entrance by unfortunate coincidence. When they heard the sound of rushing water, Ogden and his group were crawling through a small tunnel. Ogden's head was forced up a fissure and trapped in a small crevice as it spilled in, drowning the five.He didn't drown, but by the time his group was discovered days later, he had already passed away. Poganica Bay Stabbing In 2002, M.K.'s body was discovered by divers 54 meters below the surface of the water in a Croatian underwater cave. He was by himself, but the diving mask had been taken off, and a 30-centimeter knife was stuck in his chest. Although M.K. was involved, the police initially thought it was a murder, they later concluded that when the pain of drowning became too much for him to bear, stabbed himself in the chest. Risky Sterkfontein Caves In 1984, Peter Verhulsel and his friends went cave exploring in South Africa's Sterkfontein Caves. He repeatedly swam off the path before becoming lost. Despite the fact that he discovered an island inside one of the pitch-black caverns, he had run out of oxygen and was unable to swim out of the tunnels. He was discovered six weeks later, starving to death with a final note to his mother and wife expressing his love for them. The Rescue in Bushman's Hole He was committed to finding Deon Dreyer's corpse. Dave was going to return Dreyer's bones to his family despite the fact that he had been dead for ten years and had been missing in South Africa's Bushman's Hole. He had no trouble locating Dreyer's body and had attached a line to it so he could bring it up safely. Unexpected difficulties did arise, though. Shaw drowned next to the body he attempted to save after Dreyer's body was not properly secured and his flashlight got stuck. Trapped in Nutty Putty Cave In 2010, Ryan Shurtz had spent 19 hours trying to save John Jones. In Utah's Nutty Putty Cave, Jones was confined to a small space. To free Jones, Shurtz and his team were exerting every effort. While his workers constructed a pulley system to yank John out, Ryan bit his tongue in half when the line broke after several unsuccessful attempts and the metal carabiner fell and struck him in the face. Back down the hole, went John. Jones was already unconscious and never woke up again when Shurtz's father took over because he needed to exit the water. Live by Crystal Cave; Die by... In 1917, Floyd Collins came across a Crystal Cave and was determined to thoroughly investigate it. He squeezed through its narrow passageways, crystal cave exploring for eight years before getting trapped one day. Rescue teams worked to free him for the next 17 days, but nothing they did was successful. Collins died from thirst, hypothermia, and hunger on his 18th day in the cave. Cave Creek, NZ In 1995, a group of 17 students visited New Zealand's Cave Creek on a guided tour, staying on a path designed for tourists. Some of the boys couldn't help but notice how flimsy it felt when they reached a platform that looked over a chasm. They laughed at how precariously it appeared to be constructed as they jumped and shook it. The platform collapsed under the pressure of the students. While his classmates were hurled overboard and drowned, one student managed to survive by holding onto the handrail and riding it down. Only four of the 17 made it and helicopters were used to lift them out. Pannikin Plains Cave Self-Rescue In 1988, Andrew Wight was part of a group of 15 people exploring one of the deepest caves in the world when a freak storm struck. The entire cave collapsed as a result of a flood of water entering through the cave entrance. Wight and a few others were stuck on a small ledge while the other 14 were all confined underground. Wight made the decision to swim through the water and was able to escape in a different way. He and others worked to send in line and lead his team out over the course of the following 27 hours. Read also: Cave Explorers Discover Thriving Ancient Forest in 600-Feet Sinkhole Nam Talu Cave Survivor In October 2007, Helena Carroll had been advised not to enter Nam Talu Cave because it was monsoon season in Thailand, and there was heavy rain. Along with her were seven other tourists who didn't realize the danger, including her boyfriend, John Cullen. When they noticed the water pouring into the cave, they quickly understood the severity of their error. Carroll recalled that she and Cullen started climbing as other members of the group were being dragged away. Cullen thought he could swim for help and bring back a rescue party. Carroll stayed behind as he climbed into the water. Carroll was rescued eight hours later, only to realize that she was the only one that survived. Plura Caves In February 2014, Kai Kankanen was among the last divers to enter Norway's Plura cave with the intention of swimming through the paths and exiting on the opposite side, where there was a hole cut out of the mountainside. When Kai discovered Huotarinen's body, he had already gotten most of the way there. However, his friend was confined in a constrained space and he panicked and choked after swallowing water. One of the men with Kai, Jari Uusimaki, became anxious and began exhaling too quickly, poisoning himself with carbon monoxide. Even though Kai made an effort to save him, he was unable to calm down and passed away. Kai made a u-turn and returned to the pond by swimming through the ice-cold water. Howver, he was unable to locate the hole they had created. He was forced to break through the ice that was blocking him from reaching the surface. Kai had been submerged for eleven hours by the time he came to the surface. The other men in his group had reached and survived the other exit. The retrieval of their friends' bodies, however, would take almost two months. Related article: New Mysteries Unlocked as Hell Hole in California Explored by Cavers Two weather disturbances or a tropical wave have been spotted over the northern Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean as of Sunday, June 26. This poses a threat to form at least as a tropical depression and affect areas in the North Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea regions, according to a warning issued by the National Hurricane Center (NHC) in Miami, Florida. The US hurricane agency is monitoring the storm system, which reportedly came from Africa and is traversing off the coast of northern South America. While the system has been forecasted not to intensify into a hurricane, the NHC said that the tropical wave has a high chance of forming into a more compact storm from early to mid-week. The agency formed its prediction after observing that the system 1,000 miles off the Windward Islands has continued to show indications of organization rather than a loose weather phenomenon. Heavy rain, flash flooding, and damaging winds are expected in the affect areas in the coming days. The Atlantic hurricane season was officially announced to start from June 1 and last until November 30 this year, according to the NHC, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The affected countries are those situated above the Atlantic basin, which includes the mentioned regions earlier. Tropical Depression Forecast Moving at a speed of 15 to 20 miles per hour, the system is navigating in a northwestward pattern over the tropical part of the Atlantic Ocean near the equator. From here, it is anticipated to amass strength and grow into a larger weather disturbance with a more organized structure and composition. Weather forecasters said that "environmental conditions" seemed to be in favor for the further development of the system into a tropical depression, approximately from Monday to Wednesday, June 27 to June 29, as cited by local news Fox 8 Live. The US media outlet cited the NHC's forecast that the Gulf system has only a 20% chance to form in the next five days, meanwhile the Atlantic system has a 70% chance to form this week. Should the storm over the Atlantic intensify, it will be named Tropical Storm Bonnie. Also Read: 1st Name on the List for 2022's Eastern Pacific Hurricane Season "Agatha" Atlantic Tropical Weather Outlook As mentioned earlier, the NHC issued a warning regarding the weather disturbance. However, it specifically placed areas in the central tropical Atlantic and northern Gulf of Mexico to be at risk of isolated showers and thunderstorms brought by the system. This also equates to potential flash flooding, especially in low-lying lands and coastal areas in the region. Landslides and mudslides are also possible in mountainous areas. The heavy rain and severe weather is likely in the following countries or areas: Southern US Mexico Cuba Haiti Dominican Republic Northern Venezuela Northern Cambodia Guatemala Nicaragua Based on NHC's tropical cyclone climatology, there are four levels which a tropical cyclones goes through, with tropical depression being the weakest. It is followed by tropical storm, hurricane. A "major hurricane" is the strongest among the storm categories. Related Article: 2021 Pacific Hurricane Season: Tropical Storm Carlos is Third Storm to Form in Gulf of Mexico A knife-wielding monkey has reportedly terrorized the town of Corrente in Piaui state, Brazil, for a week. The details about the small primate emerged when a video was posted online showing it brandishing its blunt weapon in a brick wall. A local captured the bizarre situation, which appeared that the simian posed a threat to residents in the area, but it was proven otherwise. Related incidents have occurred in Brazil in the past, as a number of settlement in rural areas have a primate population near them. In Corrente, the town is situated in the north-eastern part of the states, which is reportedly near a large national park. Knife-Wielding Monkey The viral video below was originally shot by local resident, Alessandro Guerra, who claimed that the monkey was rioting across the town, allowing people to touch it, and even infiltrated their homes. Guerra revealed the details to the local media, as cited by WION. Guerra added that a number of people had already taken the knife by the hand. Despite the vicious-looking simian, there were no immediate reports of any casualties from a monkey attack in the town. The same footage was uploaded by the YouTube channel Science & Weird on Sunday, June 26. The channel stated that the monkey was carrying a jungle knife, which is almost as large as the primate, at a balcony in the town's shopping center. In the recording, it was said the monkey was waving the knife to passers-by as if it was threatening them. It was also seen sharpening its craft into the said concrete. The channel cited Guerra, who said that the monkey has already damaged roofs when it has recently showed up with the knife. The resident also said it was not intending to attack people, but enumerated that locals are divided on their stance toward the small yet ferocious monkey. Also Read: With No Handout From Tourists, Hungry Bali Monkeys Raid Homes Foraging for Food Corrente Authorities Guerra reportedly stated that local authorities claimed they were aware of the situation but have no means to collect the monkey. He then mentioned that the local notified the Environmental Police, but it is around 400 miles away from Corrente. Instead, complaints and concerns about the primate has been redirected to the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources, which pledged it would look into the case, as cited by the channel. Related Incidents Monkeys are capable of possessing a multitude of skills and engaging in activities, including social intelligence and social interaction with humans. This is relative to its place in the animal kingdom. In relation to the Corrente incident, there are similar cases in Brazil where the primates also posed a threat to the public in recent years. In 2016, a drunk monkey was also captured in a YouTube video brandishing its large kitchen knife on the roof a bar in the town of Texeira in Paraiba state, Brazil. The capuchin monkey apparently drank a residue of cachaca in the establishment. Firefighters eventually captured it and released it into a wildlife reserve. Related Article: 250 Puppies Killed in 'Revenge Massacre' by Enraged Monkeys in India According to new research from Caltech scientists, weather forecasting methods can be adapted to offer individuals a personalized evaluation of their risk of being exposed to COVID-19 or even other viruses. Using Weather forecasting Technique For COVID-19 Assessment According to the Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering and a senior research scientist at JPL Tapio Schneider & the Theodore Y. Wu, which Caltech manages for NASA, and the lead researcher of a study on the latest research that was published by PLOS Computational Biology on June 23, the method has the potential to be more efficient and less invasive than general lockdowns for preventing the spread of disease, as per ScienceDaily. Although Schneider asserts that it may already be too late to stop the pandemic, this is useful in tracking other viral infections, too. It's not the last epidemic people will face. The concept is straightforward in theory: Concerning satellite data, weather forecasting models also ingest a large amount of data, such as measurement techniques of temperature, humidity, wind speed, and direction from local weather stations. They analyze the data to determine the atmosphere's present state, predict how the weather will change shortly, and afterward repeat the process by fusing the predicted atmospheric state with fresh data. The same is true for disease risk analysis, which uses a variety of data types to determine an individual's likelihood of contracting a disease or becoming exposed to it, forecasts the spread of the disease among a network of social interactions to use an epidemiological model, and afterward repeats the cycle by fusing the forecast with fresh data. Read More: Mild COVID-19 Conditions Could Affect the Brain and Body from Months After Infection Outbreaking Monkeypox The International Health Regulations (2005) (IHR) Emergency Committee met on June 23, 2022, from 12:00 to 17:00 Geneva time, and the WHO Director-General has the pleasure of transmitting the minutes of that meeting (CEST), as per World Health Organization. Regarding the multi-nation monkeypox outbreak, the WHO Director-General agrees with the recommendations made by the IHR Emergency Committee and, at this time, does not find that the situation creates a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). Across postings on the Event Information Site, the WHO Secretariat has informed the States Parties to the IHR of this event since May 11, 2022. These postings aim to inform preparation efforts, raise public awareness of the scope of the outbreak and give access to technical advice for the prompt public health measures advised by the WHO Secretariat. The formation of an IHR Emergency Committee indicates an increase in the level of warning system for States Parties towards the IHR and the global public health community, as well as a request for more aggressive global health responses to this event. The WHO Director-General would like to take this opportunity to extend his sincere appreciation to the IHR Emergency Committee's Chair, Vice-Chair, Members, and Advisers. Self-evaluation for Symptoms online On January 25, 2020, a Toronto citizen who had visited Wuhan, China, was found to have COVID-19 for the first time in Canada, as per Scientific Reports. On March 11, 20202, the WHO (World Health Organization) declared the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to be worldwide. With 2,792 confirmed cases by March 24, 2020, Health Canada noted that local transmission was indeed the main reason for new cases in Canada. The creation of online techniques would enable the public to self-assess one 's health status and receive guidance about what reaction may be reasonable considering their results in one aspect of the response implemented by numerous jurisdictions around the world. Such a tool was developed by the Ontario Health West Region in collaboration with Input Health, and the system went live in early April 2020. Read More: China's Infected COVID-19 Cases Shoot Up to 13,000 with a New Omicron Subtype Space tourism has increased in frequency in recent years, especially during the onset of the so-called billionaire space race. The developments signify the technological advancement of space travel in and out of the Earth's orbit. Yet, such feat overlooks the environmental and climatic repercussions of emitted black carbon particles from rocket launches and re-entry into our planet. A new study was conducted by researchers from the University of Cambridge (UCL) in the UK and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States. The research team found that such emissions contribute to the worsening climate crisis, aggravating global warming and hastening climate change. A space rocket's gas particles are reportedly less blamed compared to greenhouse gases. However, scientists have still warned that it could cause the potential depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer in the Arctic polar region in the future, particularly during the spring season. For decades, scientists have warned against the human-induced climate change and it associated catastrophic consequences, including global sea level rise, extreme weather, and rising temperatures. In line with the new study, its findings and proposals could impact not only the space tourism industry but also other activities related to the broader space exploration and space travel. Space Tourism and Climate Damage In the new paper published in the journal Earth's Future on June 9, the UCL and MIT scientists called space tourism mitigation and classified it as an urgent matter that needs to be addressed. This comes after the team used found that black carbon particles from rockets are almost 500 times more capable and efficient in retaining heat in the atmosphere. The study explains that the rocket gas' ability to hold heat is nothing compared to all other sources of soot particles, including surface and aircraft gas emissions. The discovery is based on the team's use of a 3D model to explore the impact rocket launches and re-entry in 2019. It also projected impacts posed by the billionaire space race Also Read: Blue Origin: Here's What Space Tourism Would Look Like Aboard Jeff Bezos' New Shepard Capsule Billionaire Space Race The billionaire space race derived its name from the competition of the world's richest entrepreneurs, who have extended their distinct businesses from other fields into the space industry. The race involves the opportunity provided by the contenders and their private companies to travel outside Earth's orbit, where some space trips have also been made available to the public. In 2021, a CNN article mentioned that the top contenders of the cosmic battle include SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, and Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, with a total net worth of $400 billion which is approximately the size of Ireland's gross domestic product (GDP). The US media outlet cites preference from space fans that SpaceX is usually declared as the frontrunner. While there is potential from other private entities, Elon's space company has already provided not only the development of space rockets but also the establishment of a satellite internet constellation called Starlink project. The company hopes to provide sending a total of 42,000 satellites around Earth as part of the so-called mega constellation, according to Space.com. The project aims to provide low-cost internet access even to the most remote places in the planet. Related Article: Space Tourism Starts to Worry Experts About Potential Environmental Concerns Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). Ethan Simmons is a reporter at The News-Gazette covering the University of Illinois. His email is esimmons@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@ethancsimmons). Reporter Mary Schenk is a reporter covering police, courts and breaking news at The News-Gazette. Her email is mschenk@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@schenk). AP Three people were killed and several others were injured Monday when a passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck and derailed in a remote, rural area of Missouri Columnist Tom Kacich is a columnist and the author of Tom's Mailbag at The News-Gazette. His column appears Sundays. His email is tkacich@news-gazette.com, and you can follow him on Twitter (@tkacich). The Prime Minister has announced 25 million of UK aid backing for a new fund to ensure the world is better prepared to defeat future pandemics. Hosted by the World Bank, the 'Financial Intermediary Fund' for pandemic prevention, preparedness and response will provide funding to countries whose healthcare systems are dangerously unprepared for the challenges caused by large outbreaks of infectious diseases. It will ensure they can quickly respond to, and as far as possible contain, outbreaks before they spread across the world. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to at least 6.2 million deaths across the world and caused far-reaching economic devastation. Stopping a pandemic like this ever happening again will require a concerted and coordinated international effort. At the G7 Summit today (Monday), leaders will discuss the importance of helping countries manage Covid as an endemic disease and the pressing need to invest in preparedness and other measures to prevent history repeating itself. The new fund will help fill some of the financing gaps exposed by COVID-19, particularly insufficient financing for preparedness in national health systems and disease surveillance at country, regional and global levels. Crucially, the fund can help catalyze countries' own financing, so the world is as equipped as possible whenever and wherever a new public health risk emerges. The Prime Minister said: While the worst days of the coronavirus pandemic are, thankfully, behind us, we cannot be complacent. The next potential pandemic could emerge any moment and with it the devastating human and economic consequences we have experienced over the last two and a half years. We must ensure we learn the lessons of COVID-19 and are better prepared next time. We owe it to the people of the world to say, 'never again'." The chance of a pandemic on the scale of COVID-19 occurring in the next 25 years could be as high as 50%, and a key lesson of the coronavirus pandemic is that even small investments in pandemic preparedness can have huge returns. By contributing to preparedness in the short term, we can avoid huge economic damage in the long-term. Under the UK's G7 Presidency last year, the Prime Minister drove forward international work on pandemic preparedness under his 'five point plan' and the 100 Days Mission, work on which was led by Sir Patrick Vallance. This included launching a worldwide network of zoonotic research hubs, increasing the global manufacturing capacity for treatment and vaccines, designing a new early warning system and agreeing global protocols for a future health emergency. The UK also hosted a Global Pandemic Preparedness Summit in March, which raised over 1.2 billion to develop variant-proof coronavirus vaccines and speed up the process of developing vaccines against future health threats so this can be done in under 100 days. David Malpass, President of the World Bank Group, said: I welcome the UK's support for the new Financial Intermediary Fund to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response functions in developing countries. The fund will provide a dedicated stream of additional, long-term funding to complement the work of existing institutions and operate with high standards of transparency and accountability. COVID-19 highlighted the urgent need for coordinated action to build stronger health systems and mobilize additional resources to prepare for the next pandemic in countries, regions, and around the world." At the G7 Summit last year, the UK galvanized international action to donate 870 million coronavirus vaccines to those who need them. This commitment, combined with UK and other investments to support the development and rapid manufacturing scale-up of COVID-19 vaccines, turned the tide on Covid around the world. Two-thirds of the global population have received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine. The supply of coronavirus vaccines now outstrips demand and UK efforts are therefore focused on action to end the acute phase of the pandemic, help countries manage COVID-19 as an endemic disease and prepare for the next health threat. Governments, NGOs and private donors have been encouraged to donate to the Financial Intermediary Fund, which was called for by G20 Finance Ministers in April. The funding announced by the Prime Minister today will establish the UK as a founding donor to the fund, alongside the US, EU and others. Launched in May this year, the Prime Minister's Girls' Education Action Plan sets out practical steps to deliver the UK's global objectives on girls' education. Titled Girls and Out of School: Action for Learning (GOAL), the program will support the governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) improve outcomes for girls and the most marginalized. GOAL focuses on two main priorities. In Punjab and KPK's least developed districts, it will directly support around 250,000 marginalized children to enrol and stay in school. It will also support an additional 150,000 girls to read by age 10. GOAL will improve learning outcomes for at least 16.9 million children (7.8 million girls) by strengthening the provincial education systems to improve the quality and equity of education, particularly the quality of teaching, and becoming more resilient post-Covid. The program will directly support children to access education and learning in several Commonwealth countries. GOAL will introduce changes to make education more inclusive; ensuring children are taught at their correct learning level, and influencing others to adopt better education practices. UK High Commissioner to Pakistan Dr Christian Turner CMG said: The UK is committing a further 217 million for three major education projects across Commonwealth countries today [Saturday], on the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The funding will support global education data gathering, teacher training in Rwanda and programmes to get girls and vulnerable children into school in Pakistan. Today's announcements build on the UK's track record. Between 2015 and 2020, the UK helped 8.1 million girls around the world to get a decent education. As President of the G7 last year, we led a collective commitment to get 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more reading by 2026. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said: There are no easy fixes in this world, but the closest thing we have to a silver bullet is girls' education. By giving all children the chance to get at least 12 years of good schooling, we create more stable, prosperous and happy societies. The UK is proud to be a world leader in championing girls' education. The funding announced today will help end the injustice of education inequality and give millions more children the chance of a better life." The Prime Minister also co-hosted the Global Education Summit in London last year with President Kenyatta, raising a record $4 billion to get children into school around the world. Up 60 million of today's pledge will go to the Girls in Rwanda Learn (GIRL) programme. Complementing Rwanda's impressive achievements in education, the project will work with the Government to improve teachers' English language skills and provide technical support, to further improve the quality of education and ensure girls remain in school. The biggest funding allocation - up to 130 million - will go to GOAL's Action for Learning Project to help girls and vulnerable children get back into the classroom in Pakistan. The programme will reduce barriers and schooling costs for girls, and work with the local authorities to train teachers and improve school management. The Data for Foundational Learning Programme, which will receive 27 million, supports UNESCO to track children's learning outcomes globally. With better data on literacy and numeracy, policymakers can understand what works and share resources. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss said: Supporting women and girls is at the heart of UK foreign policy. Investing in girls' education is vital for a more sustainable, peaceful and prosperous future. We are working with our international partners to recover the learning lost during the Covid pandemic, getting 40 million more girls into school and 20 million more girls reading by 2026. Every girl deserves an education and at CHOGM we are helping to make this happen." The UK is also playing a leading role in supporting women's economic empowerment and tackling gender-based violence across the Commonwealth. This week the Government has confirmed a further 1m in funding for the SheTradesprogramme, which supports women-owned businesses. Since 2018 SheTrades Commonwealth has directly supported over 3,500 female entrepreneurs in Bangladesh, Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, helping to generate over 32m of sales for those women-owned businesses and supporting the creation of more than 6,600 jobs. The Prime Minister will attend the Leaders Retreat today for discussions on youth, innovation, and global challenges like rising food prices, on the final day of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. A new study published on the preprint server medRxiv* examines the effect of bisphosphonates (BPs) on the outcome of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in American patients during the first wave of the pandemic. These findings are promising and indicate the need for further research to validate the protective effects of these agents that are achieved through their immunomodulatory activities. Study: Association between Bisphosphonate Use And COVID-19 Related Outcomes: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Image Credit: Towfigu ashamed barbhuiya / Shutterstock.com Introduction BPs are commonly used to prevent and treat female osteoporosis as a result of their inhibitory action on osteoclast-associated bone resorption. These agents are also used in the treatment of Paget disease, hypercalcemia of malignancy, and breast cancer. BPs can be further categorized as amino-BPs or non-amino BPs. Amino BPs, for example, affect the immune activation of both innate and adaptive immune cells including neutrophils, monocytes, and macrophages, as well as T cells. This leads to altered antigen presentation by dendritic cells. Earlier in vivo studies have shown that BPs elicit powerful adjuvant activity on humoral and cellular responses to viral antigens. In severely ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU), BPs have been associated with reduced death rates. In other ICU patients, BPs are associated with a lower incidence of pneumonia and death related to pneumonia. BPs are available worldwide, inexpensive in their generic versions, easily used, and considered safe under standard prescribing conditions in both children and adults. About the study In the current study, the potential for repurposing BPs for prophylaxis and the treatment of COVID-19 was examined. Repurposing refers to exploring the utility of a drug already approved for the treatment of another distinct condition. Since drug repurposing allows researchers to utilize drugs that have already passed safety and pharmacokinetic testing, this approach could allow for the approval of potentially useful agents at a faster rate as compared to that which is required for the development process of new drugs. Drugs with antiviral activity have been of particular scientific interest since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, researchers have also been interested in immunomodulatory agents, as these may reduce the severity of symptoms and prevent or reduce disease progression. In the current study, the authors utilized observational evidence from health insurance claims data to identify a possible role for BPs against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the pathogen that causes COVID-19. The aim of the current study was to determine how the use of BPs including alendronate, alendronic acid, etidronate, ibandronate, ibandronic acid, pamidronate, risedronate, and zoledronic acid was related to hospitalizations due to COVID-19. Furthermore, the researchers were interested in exploring the relationship between BP use and COVID-19 diagnosis. The current study period was from March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2020. At this point, vaccines nor other effective treatments for COVID-19 were available. BPs can accumulate in bone and are released gradually for years afterward. Thus, the use of BPs during the 14 months prior to the study period was defined as exposure to the drug because of its long half-life. Study findings BP users were significantly older than non-users, with over 80% of users over the age of 60 years as compared to less than 30% of non-users within this age range. Over 90% of BP users were female, whereas less than 60% of non-users were female. BP users also had a higher number of underlying illnesses as compared to non-users. Almost 45% of BP users, as compared to less than 15% of non-users, were covered by Medicare. Furthermore, about 66% of BP users and less than 45% of non-users had a history of visiting a primary care physician in 2019. After adjusting for these differences, the rate of testing among BP users was reduced by 78% as compared to non-users, while the incidence of COVID-19 was 77% lower in BP users. Hospitalizations were also reduced by 74% in BP users. These associations remained consistent across states, as well as within New York alone. The likelihood of hospitalization was similar among users of zoledronic acid with a history of last use in January/February 2019, as well as those who had just started using this drug in February 2020. Otherwise, all BP users showed significant reductions in all three outcomes, irrespective of the period of use, whether they were using the BP agent during the study period, or the type of BP used. Visits for acute bronchitis and pneumonia were less frequent among BP users in the second half of 2019, thus indicating the beneficial role of these medications in preventing respiratory tract infections. Implications This dramatic difference in outcomes consistently observed when comparing BP users to BP non-users supports the hypothesis that BPs may be useful as immunomodulatory agents in treating COVID-19. The study findings also corroborate earlier studies that reported a protective association between BP use and pneumonia-related morbidity and mortality. However, other studies failed to show a protective role for BPs in COVID-19 diagnosis and hospitalization, perhaps because of the large differences in study size. Sensitivity analyses using other anti-bone resorptive medications as controls showed no marked protective effect compared to BPs. Notably, studies that included only women above the age of 50 with osteoporosis showed the same pattern as the current study. Similarly, studies that examined the use of BPs on other outcomes unrelated to COVID-19 failed to show such associations. Conversely, healthy adherents, as well as those who used other protective COVID-19 preventatives, did not exhibit the same trends. The use of BPs also did not change trends among those who used or did not use other prophylactics. Further research will be required to ensure that confounding factors such as race, ethnicity, and socioeconomic factors are accounted for, as these factors affect the rate of diagnosis and severity of COVID-19. However, another recent study involving females taking BPs found that the race-adjusted incidence of COVID-19 was 1.7% as compared to 2.1% for non-users. In contrast, the present study showed rates of COVID-19 diagnosis to be 2.5% and 0.5%, respectively, thus requiring further explanations for this difference. We propose that immune-modulatory effects of BPs may enhance the anti-viral response of BP users to SARS-CoV-2 and mitigate the development of symptoms. Milder or absent symptoms may have caused infected BP users to be less likely to seek testing. Amino-BPs affect the mevalonate pathway in the cells, which could account for part of their protective effect against COVID-19, as inhibition of this process limits the maturation of endosomes in antigen-presenting cells. This could increase antigen presentation, as well as both humoral and T-cell immune responses, thus producing an effect similar to that of an adjuvant. The arrest of this pathway also causes a chemical called isopentyl diphosphate (IPP) to accumulate within neutrophils and subsequently stimulate a subset of T-cells called V9V2 T-cells. These T-cells are innate lymphocytes that migrate to infected sites and improve viral clearance, thus reducing disease progression. This activity of BPs is supported by the apparent lack of protection on this scale that is observed with statins. Despite the fact that both of these agents inhibit the same pathway, they do so at a different step, which does not account for the accumulation of IPP. Impairment of neutrophil-released reactive oxygen species (ROS) may also protect against the dysregulated neutrophil activation implicated in severe and critical COVID-19. Furthermore, BPs may modulate both innate and adaptive immune responses. Our results suggest that prophylactic BP therapy may be sufficient to achieve a potentially rapid and sustained immune modulation resulting in profound mitigation of the incidence and/or severity of infections by SARS-CoV-2. Additional studies will be needed to rigorously assess whether the observed reduction in COVID-19-related outcomes is directly caused by BPs and remains true in patient populations not commonly prescribed BPs. *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 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel coronavirus that was first reported in 2019 in Wuhan, China. The rapid spread of SARS-CoV-2 throughout the world caused the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. To date, SARS-CoV-2 has infected over 548 million individuals and claimed more than 6.3 million lives worldwide. Study: Could faecal viral excretion explain gastrointestinal symptoms in COVID-19 patients: co- infection involvement? Image Credit: crystal light / Shutterstock.com Background Previous studies have shown that SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through droplets, direct contact, as well as aerosols and causes a wide range of pneumonia-like symptoms. Additionally, various gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, and abdominal pain have also been reported in COVID-19 patients. In fact, some patients report that their GI symptoms appeared before their respiratory symptoms. The underlying mechanisms responsible for the GI symptoms reported in COVID-19 patients is not clearly understood. Some studies have reported the presence of intracytoplasmic nucleocapsid protein in digestive biopsies. Previous studies have also indicated the presence of prolonged viable viral particle shedding in stool samples of COVID-19 patients. These findings imply that SARS-CoV-2 multiplies in the intestines, which enhances the risk of transmission through the fecal-oral route. To date, there remains limited evidence that establishes the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 fecal shedding and digestive disorders. About the study A new study published on the preprint server Research Square* while under consideration for publication at Scientific Reports discusses the physiopathological mechanisms associated with digestive symptoms associated with COVID-19. Herein, the researchers determined the effect of fecal viral shedding on digestive symptoms and propose a novel method to better understand the GI manifestations of acute COVID-19. The current prospective study was conducted between March 1, 2020, and May 3, 2020, during the first COVID-19 wave in France. Both outpatients and hospitalized patients from Bichat-Claude Bernard hospital who had provided at least one stool sample for microbiological examination were included in the study. All patients underwent syndromic reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) screening for COVID-19 and parasitological investigation for the presence of microsporidia and multiplex protozoa. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected by analyzing respiratory samples, frozen stool samples, and, in some cases, by serological methods. The authors also obtained clinical, biological, epidemiological, and radiological data and compared this information based on COVID-19 status, co-infection status, and fecal SARS-CoV-2 shedding. The authors have categorized patients whose stool analysis showed the presence of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) as the excretory group, while stool samples with undetectable fecal viral shedding were categorized as the non-excretory group. Study findings Previous studies have reported that patients who are at a high risk of developing severe COVID-19 are also susceptible to GI disorders. The current study reported the early onset of digestive disorders in COVID-19 patients; however, these symptoms persisted for a short period. Although fecal shedding does not affect digestive presentation, the detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool samples indicates the risk of severe COVID-19. The researchers have also correlated the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool samples with a high viral load in upper respiratory samples. The study findings align with previous reports on the passive passage of SARS-CoV-2 from the upper respiratory tract to the GI tract through the ingestion of respiratory mucus. The authors, therefore, proposed that fecal shedding occurs as a result of a high respiratory viral load, rather than due to viral replication within the GI tract. Taken together, 38% of stool samples in the current study were positive for SARS-CoV-2, 20% of which exhibited co-infection with GI pathogens that were identified through various microbiological analyses. A similar incidence of GI pathogens was observed in both the COVID-19 positive and healthy groups. This observation implies that COVID-19 patients were not overexposed to fecal-oral transmission as compared to the control group. Some of the pathogens that were frequently detected in the study samples included enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Clostridioides difficile, Blastocystis spp., and Giardia duodenalis. No GI co-infection was reported during the clinical course of COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 stool shedding. However, its influence on the intensity of digestive disorders or co-morbidities must be studied in the future. Conclusions One of the limitations of the present study is its monocentric design due to its small size. Small-sized study samples could bias the panel of enteric pathogens identified. Additionally, as in most cases, only one stool sample was available, thus leading to a high possibility that the detected pathogens were underestimated. The authors failed to standardize the clinical management and anti-infectious therapy, which added heterogeneity to clinical data. However, the researchers emphasized the importance of differential microbiological diagnosis for the detection of digestive disorders in COVID-19 patients, as the levels of pathogens were found to be similar in non-COVID-19 patients exhibiting enteric symptoms. *Important notice Research Square 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. In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination booster approaches in the face of arising SARS-CoV-2 variants in Europe. Background SARS-CoV-2 has caused over 543 million confirmed infections and 6.33 million fatalities so far globally, and more than 11.6 billion doses of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccine have been given worldwide. The SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations decreased the severe CoV disease 2019 (COVID-19) burden and allowed the relaxation of the non-pharmaceutical interventions. Nevertheless, the contemporary COVID-19 vaccination approaches need an assessment, considering the waning of immunity and the emergence of more contagious SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). Furthermore, the circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants with immune-escaping mutations might become dominant, more severe, and manifest as periodic waves as population-wide COVID-19 immunity drops. This accentuates how urgent it is for everyone to receive a minimum of one dose of the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and how relevant the strategic administration of the booster doses of COVID-19 vaccines is. About the study In the present study, to determine the ideal frequency, timing, and target populations for COVID-19 vaccine boosters to reduce the risk to health systems and burden on the public health, the researchers used a SARS-CoV-2 transmission model called OpenCOVID. The team calculated the number of new SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-linked hospital admissions that could have been prevented for two years by biannual or annual COVID-19 vaccine boosting of eligible individuals who were 1) most susceptible, i.e., 60 or older or people with comorbid conditions, or 2) those above five years. They examined the impact of booster vaccination at universal, i.e., 98% of eligible or lower coverage, i.e., 85% of those above 50 years or with underlying health conditions and 50% of those aged five to 49 who were eligible, representing moderate vaccine hesitancy and, or fatigue. Additionally, the eligible subjects for booster dose administration were those who received one and two SARS-CoV-2 vaccine doses. The investigators simulated three emerging variant situations: 1) no novel variants, 2) variants that are 25% more contagious and immune-escaping, have an Omicron-level severity, develop yearly, and become dominant, and 3) variants that emerge twice a year. They also evaluated the effects of altering variant severity, seasonality, immune evasion, timing, infectivity, and assumptions about vaccine infection blockage. Results The authors reported that whether or not novel SARS-CoV-2 VOCs appear, COVID-19 vaccination boosters should be given to all eligible individuals yearly three to four months before the peak winter in Europe to reduce SARS-CoV-2-related hospitalizations during the following two years. Indeed, the current findings were in line with a study performed in the United Kingdom (UK). The UK study also highlighted the necessity of antiviral supplies to prioritize early treatment of most vulnerable patients immediately after they test SARS-CoV-2-positive as COVID-19 vaccines might be less potent in susceptible populations. Further, the researchers discovered that boosting only the most susceptible, characterized as those aged 60 years or older or individuals with comorbidities, might not be sufficient to achieve lower COVID-19-linked pressure on healthcare systems under the present assumptions of vaccine- and natural infection-induced immunity waning. Furthermore, they found that SARS-CoV-2 booster vaccinating every eligible person safeguards the most susceptible more than providing booster doses only to the vulnerable population. This inference had significant implications for vaccine strategy for the impending Northern winter of 2022. On the contrary, annually boosting the most susceptible individuals compared to every eligible people might avoid more COVID-19-associated hospitalizations per booster dose, which was a sign of cost-effectiveness. A switch to biannual boosting, however, revealed diminishing returns. In addition, the present results remained robust after altering the primary model parameters. However, the team discovered that boosters, whether given yearly or twice yearly, will have less impact as SARS-CoV-2 variants with increasing infectiousness arise more regularly. Conclusions Overall, the current research simulated different COVID-19 vaccination strategies and model assumptions utilizing the person-based SARS-CoV-2 transmission model they developed, OpenCOVID. The team determined the preferred timing, frequency, and target population for the future COVID-19 vaccine booster doses considering the potential emerging viral variants. Besides, the model outcomes were utilized to evaluate the effects of various COVID-19 vaccination booster procedures on the risks to the health system and the consequences for public health related to SARS-CoV-2 infections. The study findings showed that well-timed and targeted COVID-19 booster vaccination prioritizing vulnerable people and, if feasible, all those who were eligible for booster doses could limit SARS-CoV-2 infections and accompanying hospitalizations. The current data offer model-based proof for decision-makers to strategize administering COVID-19 boosters before the 2022-2023 winter to combat the stress on the health system and health burden. *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. In a recent study posted to the medRxiv* preprint server, researchers assessed the global impact of the emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) clinical epidemiology among hospitalized patients. Background The continual emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants poses a challenge for long-term COVID-19 control. Vaccines have been effective for protection against COVID-19 severity; however, SARS-CoV-2 genomic mutations leading to immune escape and enhanced transmissibility increase COVID-19 severity by either increased virulence or reduced vaccine efficacy. Timely clinical characterization of SARS-CoV-2 infections is essential to guide policy-making; however, individual-level information on SARS-CoV-2 variants is only available for a few COVID-19 patients in limited settings. About the study In the present observational study, researchers assessed the impact of the Omicron emergence on COVID-19 clinical epidemiology among hospitalized patients. They proposed an innovative approach to study changes in COVID-19-associated hospitalizations and severity outcomes after Omicron emergence. In this approach, population-level and publicly available data were used to obtain frequency data of Omicron in relation to other variants and determine periods of Omicron predominance, and descriptively compare variant infections. The method was applied to data obtained from the ISARIC (international severe acute respiratory and emerging infections consortium) database of >100,000 COVID-19 patient records prior to and post-Omicron emergence. In addition, data on SARS-CoV-2 variants were obtained from the global initiative on sharing all influenza data (GISAID) database. Data were obtained from six World Health Organization (WHO) regions on clinical characteristics and severity outcomes among individuals hospitalized with Omicron infections and compared with patients hospitalized due to other SARS-CoV-2 variant infections. Individuals hospitalized between October 1, 2021, and February 28, 2022, were included in the study. The mortality rates associated with Omicron and other variant infections were evaluated with and without including comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, chronic cardiovascular disorders, chronic neurological disorders, and smoking habits for the analysis. In addition, the 28-day fatality risks associated with Omicron and non-Omicron variant infections were determined and compared. Data analysis was performed using mixed-effects logistic regression modeling, Cox proportional hazards modeling and the odds ratios (OR) were calculated after adjustments for confounding variables. Sensitivity analysis was also performed using individual-level data on the causative variant with associated clinical data. Results A total of 129,196 records across 30 countries were obtained, of which, data from Laos and Pakistan were excluded from the analysis since Omicron did not attain significantly high frequency in Laos, and fluctuations in Omicron frequency were observed in Pakistan. Further, 10 COVID-19 patients did not have SARS-CoV-2 positive laboratory test reports. As a result, 103,051 patients across 28 countries were considered for the final analysis. The median age of COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the pre-Omicron period and the Omicron period were 62 years and 50 years, respectively, and 48% and 55% of COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the periods, respectively, were women. Individuals hospitalized two months prior to Omicron emergence (referred to as the pre-Omicron period, n=22,921) represented 10% of SARS-CoV-2 infections at the inter-country level. Individuals hospitalized two months post-Omicron emergence (referred to as the Omicron period, n=80,140) represented 90% of the SARS-CoV-2 infections. Notably, 1.3% (465 out of 36,761) individuals reported a positive COVID-19 history prior to hospitalization, of which 0.8% (128 out of 15,563) and 1.6% (337 out of 21,198 belonged to the pre-Omicron period and the Omicron period, respectively). Individuals hospitalized with Omicron infections less frequently experienced the five most commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms (cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, fever, and vomiting) in comparison to those with pre-Omicron variant infections. In addition, the mortality rates for COVID-19 patients hospitalized after Omicron emergence were lower compared to those hospitalized in the pre-Omicron variant dominance period (adjusted OR was 0.7). Similar results were obtained after including comorbid conditions and considering 28-day-fatality risks as the study outcome. In the sensitivity analysis, similar qualitative observations were found with differing assumptions at the population level for relative frequencies of Omicron infections, and in the analyses performed using SARS-CoV-2 variant data available at an individual level. The median time to death was 10 days during the pre-Omicron period and six days during the Omicron period. Overall, the study findings showed that the teams approach of integrating publicly available SARS-CoV-2 variant frequency data and a large international dataset of >100,000 patients enabled SARS-CoV-2 infection data analysis in several settings. In addition, the approach provided novel insights into the heterogeneity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in the real world. *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. With the onset of a monkeypox epidemic in various parts of the developed world, international attention has been focused on this disease. A new paper published in Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease reviews the history of this disease in and outside Africa, with special reference to its clinical difficulties. Introduction Monkeypox is a neglected tropical zoonotic disease endemic in the tropical rainforest regions of Central and West Africa. The virus causing it, the Monkeypoxvirus (MPXV), is so-called because it was first found in Cynomolgus monkeys, in Denmark, back in 1958. However, primates, including humans, are now suspected to be only incidental hosts, though there is little evidence to support the hypothesis that small mammals, including rodents, are the natural hosts. Since the first human case of monkeypox in 1970, several outbreaks have been reported, mostly in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Nigeria, with over 19,000 cases documented over the two decades from 2000-2019. Since then, almost 16,000 cases have been reported from 2021-22. This indicates the rapidly increasing scale of infection. This could be due to many different reasons: better surveillance and reporting, cutting down of forests and thus greater contact with animal reservoirs, loss of poxvirus immunity as the present generation is not immunized against smallpox and mutations in the monkeypox virus that drive higher rates of spread among humans. At present, the reproductive number is calculated as being above 2, up from earlier estimates of 0.8 and 0.6 from the 80s and again from the first decade of this millennium. Mode of infection The infection occurs through direct contact with an infected animal but also between humans. High-risk contacts include hunting and butchering animals, with saliva, respiratory droplets, skin lesions, and fomites being the agents of transmission. The secondary attack rate varies with the area, period, extent of contact, and with a history of previous vaccination against smallpox. It ranges from just above 3% to almost 8%, though half the contacts in a recent Congo outbreak were found to be infected. When in contact with an infected human, up to 12% of young children can be infected among unvaccinated people. Unvaccinated and vaccinated household contacts are four times and seven times more likely to be infected. The incubation period may be 10-14 days, though, in three-quarters of a recent Nigerian outbreak, it appeared to range between 7 and 21 days. Clinical features The virus is a brick-shaped virus with double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and comprises two clades, Central Africa (Congo basin) and West Africa clades. The latter appears to be milder. Symptoms include a rash similar to smallpox, though the distribution is changing as more cases are reported among HIV patients. Many chickenpox cases may be misdiagnosed as monkeypox instead, and the two occur together in over a tenth of cases. The monkeypox rash is mostly on the face and trunk, involving palms and soles, with almost 70% of patients showing genital involvement as well. Patches and papules progress to vesicles and pustules, then develop a central cavity before crusting. Up to 66% of patients show more than a hundred lesions indicative of severe disease, and almost one in five have more than a thousand lesions. Scarring is variable, but recent studies report their fading within two months. Secondary bacterial infection may occur in as many as half of the cases. Fever may or may not precede the rash, though lymph node enlargement was thought to be a distinguishing feature of the disease. Recent research indicates that it may occur in as few as 40% but as much as 87% of cases, however. The case fatality rate (CFR) is about 11% and 5% for the Central African and West African clades, respectively. While most cases outside Africa were imported via infected animals from this continent, cases have been reported beginning May 7, 2022, without such a history or history of travel to Africa. Such cases have now been reported from 13 European countries. Outbreaks outside Africa Most of the 48 cases outside the endemic zone for monkeypox until 2021 occurred in the USA in 2003 via imported rodents from Ghana that infected either humans or other animals that then transmitted it to humans. Most cases were mild, but in five severe disease set in. One child had to be mechanically ventilated for two days due to encephalitis with seizures, but all cases recovered completely. A small outbreak occurred in the UK, with another two cases in the USA, and one each in Israel and Singapore, with either exposure to human hosts or infected animal meat. As of now, over a thousand cases have cropped up in almost 30 countries, making it the largest ever outbreak outside Africa. Most cases on whom relevant information is available were men who had sex with men (MSM), perhaps because of the genital lesions which caused them to seek medical help. This suggests that the virus can be sexually transmitted, especially since monkeypox cases in Nigeria frequently have genital lesions, and cowpox is transmitted via this route. Diagnosis and treatment The infection is diagnosed by PCR of a swab from a lesion, though genomic sequencing is also useful to track its phylogenetic development. Virology and serology are limited at present, the one for use by reference laboratories and the other for public health surveillance or studies, especially since the antibodies are cross-reactive to multiple Orthopoxviruses. Without specific antiviral treatments for this disease, brincidofovir and tecovirimat are two orally effective experimental agents that have been approved by the Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) against smallpox in animal studies. The latter received approval in its intravenous form also, where indicated. Their efficacy against monkeypox remains to be established. A case report In the current paper, the researchers present the case of a young Italian man who presented with a perianal lesion of a few days duration on May 24, 2022. He had a history of casual anal sex on May 8, 2022. This was followed by weakness, malaise and loss of appetite, and two papules on the elbows, during the week before his presentation to the clinic. Following these initial symptoms, he developed new lesions along with a sore throat and sneezing. However, he tested negative for COVID-19. He had been in Lisbon, Portugal, since January 2022, with a weeks travel to Madrid. He had a history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, diagnosed in 2016, and was being treated with a good response. He had taken a full primary plus booster series of vaccines against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. He had enlarged lymph nodes in both groins, with a few scattered lesions all over the body. No evidence of common sexually transmitted infections was found. However, he was diagnosed with monkeypox infection by swabs from multiple sites, tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). He was treated in isolation and released home to remain in isolation until all lesions recovered. The last oropharyngeal swab was positive, though all other swabs were negative. Conclusion While it is difficult to diagnose this disease in non-endemic areas, a higher index of suspicion is required in view of the increasing number of cases outside Africa. One such presentation is highlighted here, with few lesions and other atypical features. Contact tracing presents a challenge in view of the multiple casual sexual encounters reported by many of these patients. Infertility is a common disorder of the reproductive system and affects approximately one-fifth of reproductive-aged couples. Around 40-50% of all cases are accounted for by male factors. The global outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus posed serious risks to reproductive health, as it was observed that the male reproductive system could be vulnerable to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In a new study published in the Journal of Assisted Reproduction and Genetics, scientists conducted a meta-analysis to study the impacts of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the male reproductive system. About the study Many pathological agents, especially viruses, play a crucial role in causing infertility. SARS-CoV-2, which was first discovered in 2019 in Wuhan, China, has shown the ability to cause life-threatening complications in humans. While researching the mode of spread of the virus, scientists observed close contact and droplets to be the two main media. Further, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in feces and urine motivated scientists to study the possibility of sexual transmission and the potential adverse impact of the virus on fertility. Another important observation was the high expression level of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) in the testes. ACE2 is the main receptor molecule of SARS-CoV-2 for binding and facilitating entry into host cells. This made the male reproductive system susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, results on this link between infection and male fertility are inconclusive. To address the above debate in the literature, in the current study, researchers conducted an exhaustive meta-analysis to investigate the potential effects of SARS-CoV-2 on a range of semen parameters. The parameters included sperm volume, motility, sperm count, concentration, and progressive motility. The authors claim this to be the first meta-analysis to delve deeper into the role played by this pathogen in influencing male fertility potential. Findings The potential of SARS-CoV-2 to cause significant impairments to the male reproductive system was indicated by the data that were collected. The virus was observed to exert a negative influence on many semen parameters. More specifically, researchers showed that the volume, concentration, motility, and sperm count were all reduced in COVID-19 patients, and this finding was consistent across many studies. One study from researchers in Germany showed the impairment of semen parameters after moderate infection, albeit no effect of a mild COVID-19 infection on testis and epididymis function. However, the small sample size was the main limitation of this study. Though, otherstudies have reported the reduction of sperm motility and total motile sperm count in patients with a history of mild COVID-19. Another study conducted by scientists in China documented an elevated immune response in testis led to impaired spermatogenesis, in SARS-CoV-2 patients; and they also noted autoimmune orchitis in some patients. Contradictory results were obtained by Turkish researchers, who reported no specific negative effects on male reproductive health in a short period. Research has also shown that the adverse effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on sperm quality could be reversible. Scientists reported that while parameters, such as sperm count, sperm concentration, and motility were low at first sampling, the sperm vitality and morphology were unaffected. The former parameters increased after 3 weeks and the quantity of morphologically abnormal sperm was also reduced, during the second sample collection. One potential explanation for this temporary effect could be fever. Only one study was found on the long-term effects of COVID-19 on semen parameters (i.e. after 90 days into the recovery). Scientists stated that the long-term effects may not be due to the direct effect of COVID-19. Psychopathological and stress factors could also have an adverse effect on sexual health. There could be other factors that contribute to long-COVID, but those are currently unknown. Strengths and limitations The key strength of this meta-analysis is the large sample size. It includes 12 studies of 973 men that aids a higher possibility of drawing relatively accurate conclusions. The representation across different countries and databases makes the conclusions robust and reliable. Lastly, the quality appraisal indicated the good quality of the methodology applied in the included studies. The first limitation of the study is not controlling for potential confounders, which could have an impact on the quality of semen. Second, the age of patients was not reported in all studies and age is a very important factor regarding the determination of male reproductive health. The variation in the time between a positive COVID-19 test and semen collection varied across studies, and this represents a third limitation of the meta-analysis. Lastly, many studies did not report the disease severity, which could impact semen parameters. (Newser) Update: The family of a pregnant teenager who was shot and killed by undercover police officers in 2017 has been awarded $21 million by a federal jury. The verdict was reached Friday, the AP reports. John Burris, the family's lawyer, said the jury split culpability between the man driving the car in which Elena Mondragon was riding when she was shot and the police officers. The Northern California city of Fremont would have to pay about $10 million, he said, praising the jury's decision as "a tremendous verdict for the family." The Alameda County District Attorneys Office decided in 2018 that the shooting was justified. Fremont officials did not comment about the verdict. Our original story from March 2017 follows: A 16-year-old California girl who was fatally wounded during an incident with police earlier this week was pregnant, KTVU and KGO report. The teen, IDed as Elena Mondragon, was a passenger in a car that had been reported stolen and was being sought in a bunch of armed robberies. When Fremont cops driving in Hayward spotted the vehicle around 5:20pm Tuesday, they tried to make a traffic stop, but as officers neared the car, the driver allegedly drove his car right into the police vehicle, hurting two detectives. Police started shooting, and Elena was struck by gunfire before the car sped away. The panicked driver crashed the car not far from the scene, however, and fled on foot. Two other passengers besides Mondragon were taken into custody, but although firefighters tried to save the teen, she eventually succumbed to her injuries at a nearby trauma center. The coroner notes the girl, known as "Ebbie" to family and friends, looked to be in her first trimester. A GoFundMe that has already collected more than $3,000 to help defray funeral costs has been set up in her name. Meanwhile, police arrested the man they believe to be the driver Wednesday night in San Francisco, hauling him in on an outstanding warrant for various robbery charges. Those close to Elena tell KGO the suspect is her boyfriend. (A Bakersfield man with dementia was shot dead by cops.) (Newser) Emma Lembke joined Instagram when she was 12. Before long, she was spending six hours a day "mindlessly scrolling" and "absorbing all these unrealistic body images," she told the New York Times in a recent interview. Eating disorders and other problems soon followed, but she couldnt break free. "It just became this horrific loop of going on these apps, specifically Instagram, feeling worse about myself, but feeling as though I could not stop scrolling because it has this weird power over me." Lembke says she began to make her break after reading a 2017 Atlantic article, "Have Smartphones Destroyed a Generation?" In 2020, after high school, she founded the youth-led Log Off Movement to provide a platform for young people to speak openly of their experiences and to promote healthy internet use. For me, I can't just log off completely, said Lembke, who just wrapped up her freshman year at Washington University in St. Louis. "Healthy use of social media would be any interaction where the user feels as if they are benefiting and that their health is not being harmed. If you dont benefit at all, then the healthiest habit is to log off. But the movement also has broader aims. Per CBS, Big Tech has become a big focus as young people are "increasingly worried about leaving their mental health in the hands of for-profit tech companies." To that end, Lembke helped start the advocacy group Tech[nically] Political, which wants to "change digital regulation laws to ensure online platforms prioritize users' well-being over profit." Last year, she told the Hill, We want to alter this narrative that teens are passive victims who are just hurt and constantly affected by social media and have no agency whatsoever to remedy the situation." For those seeking solutions for excessive screentime, Lembke recommends Screentime Genie and Google's Habit Lab for Chrome. (Read more social media stories.) (Newser) Qualities you might seek in a friend: loyalty, honesty, and ... a similar body odor to your own? A new study suggests the latter is a factor, even if we're not aware of it, reports the New York Times. When we meet new people, we sometimes feel an immediate strong click that makes us feel as if we have already been good friends for years," says researcher Inbal Ravreby of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, per New Scientist. Her team wondered if body odor might be part of the reason and tested the theory by recruiting 20 pairs of friendsthese were non-romantic, same-sex pairs who say their friendship "clicked" from the start. The researchers used an "electronic nose" to sniff shirts worn to bed (making sure that perfumes or deodorants didn't sway things) and discovered that people who were friends were far more likely to naturally smell like each other than strangers. In a separate part of the experiment, they had two strangers engage in a non-verbal game, then conducted a sniff test on their shirts afterward. Sure enough, the similarity of their odors "predicted whether both felt there had been a positive connection 71 percent of the time," per the Times. "We conclude that there is indeed chemistry in social chemistry," says the study published last week in Science Advances. Other mammals, of course, are known to sniff each other to determine friend or foe, but humans might not be conscious of it. Previous research has shown that heterosexual couples are sometimes drawn to each other because they smell differently, notes New Scientist, perhaps because people are subconsciously seeking a healthier genetic mix. (Read more discoveries stories.) (Newser) Following the Supreme Court's overturning of Roe v. Wade, Barack Obama tweeted that the high court had attacked "the essential freedoms of millions of Americans" by "revers[ing] nearly 50 years of precedent." Republican Sen. John Cornyn's response to that tweet: "Now do Plessy vs Ferguson/Brown vs Board of Education." If you're not clear on what exactly the Texas senator is suggesting, you're not alone; the tweet went viral, WFAA reports, with many commenters assuming Cornyn was implying Brown, which declared "separate but equal" segregation in schools unconstitutional, should now be overturned. Not so, Cornyn clarified in a later tweet reading, "Thank goodness some SCOTUS precedents are overruled." (Brown partially overruled the Plessy decision from more than 50 years prior.) Cornyn also retweeted supporters who explained that the senator was pointing out "bad opinions like Plessy should be overturned" and that "overturning longstanding precedent is often necessary and positive." Cornyn himself also tweeted simply "#dullknife" in response to one commenter who speculated the senator wants schools segregated again. But even after Cornyn's explanation, some remained less than convinced, speculating the GOP really does aim to eventually overturn Brown. Others simply criticized Cornyn's comparison: "I actually believe this is what you meant, but please understand: this is still really bad," wrote popular YouTuber Beau of The Fifth Column. "A reversal leading to more freedom is good. A reversal leading to less freedom is bad." (Read more John Cornyn stories.) (Newser) It started with a murder in Miami, a crime that sent Thomas Raynard James to prison for more than three decades. In April, however, a judge vacated James' conviction and set him free, thanks to the efforts of an attorney just two years out of law school who was determined to prove James' innocence. Per the New York Times, Francis McKinnon was fatally shot on Jan. 17, 1990, in his Coconut Grove apartment, and James took the fall for it, found guilty a year later at the age of 23. Even though there was no physical evidence tying him to the crime, witnesses had said a "Thomas James" or "Tommy James" was the shooter, and an eyewitnessMcKinnon's stepdaughterpicked James out of a lineup and insisted he was the gunman. James was convicted of first-degree murder and armed robbery and sentenced to life in prison. But he continued to maintain his innocence, and in 2020, three decades after he'd been sent to prison, friends approached Natlie Figgers, a 30-something Miami-area personal injury attorney in only her second year of practice, to ask if she'd help. "Once I saw the evidence and reviewed the case, it was pretty clear that a mistake had occurred, and I was pretty flabbergasted that he submitted that many appeals and they didn't see the same thing," Figgers told ABC News last month. Among the evidence that Figgers unearthed was that the "Tommy James" witnesses tied to the shooting was a different Tommy James (though that man was in prison at the time of the murder), as well as other "overwhelming evidence of his innocence," she tells NBC News. The media outlet details the thousands of hours of research Figgers devoted to the case, as well as the dozens of people she interviewed. She even talked to McKinnon's stepdaughter, who over the years had begun to suspect she'd made a mistake in identifying James. On April 27, thanks to Figgers' efforts, a Miami judge exonerated James and released him from prison. "I owe her my life," James, now 55, says of Figgers, who credits a 2021 GQ profile by Tristram Korten of also calling attention to the case. So who actually killed McKinnon? NBC Miami notes investigators are now looking at two other men, Vincent Williams and Derrick Evans, though Williams has since died. Evans is currently incarcerated for another crime. Much more on Figgers' dogged pursuit of justice for James here, while the Atlanta Black Star details why James isn't entitled to compensation for all that time wrongly spent imprisoned. (Read more uplifting news stories.) Monkeypox virus is an orthopoxvirus that causes a disease with symptoms similar, but less severe, to smallpox. While smallpox was eradicated in 1980, monkeypox continues to occur in countries of central and west Africa. Cases are often found close to tropical rainforests where there are animals that carry the virus. Evidence of monkeypox virus infection has been found in animals including squirrels, Gambian poached rats, dormice, different species of monkeys and others. Human-to-human transmission is limited, with the longest documented chain of transmission being six generations, meaning that the last person to be infected in this chain was six links away from the original sick person. It can be transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, lesions on the skin or on internal mucosal surfaces, such as in the mouth or throat, respiratory droplets and contaminated objects. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the spread of monkeypox, currently, does not constitute a public health emergency of international concern. On June 25, 2022, WHO decided not to declare monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the evolving threat of monkeypox, which he said had reached more than 50 countries. Here are three things we know about monkeypox and three things we want to find out. Three Things We Know 1. Monkeypox is Caused by Virus Monkeypox is a large DNA virus belonging to the family Poxviridae. Unlike the related smallpox virus, variola, which only affected humans, monkeypox virus is found in rodents and other animals in parts of Africa. We know of two clades, and it is the less severe of the two currently circulating outside Africa. Orthopoxviruses are stable viruses that do not mutate much. Multiple mutations, however, have been described in the virus causing the current outbreak. In the United States, at least two separate strains have been circulating, suggesting multiple introductions into the country. 2. You Can Be Infected for More Than Week and Not Know It takes an average 8.5 days from infection to showing symptoms, such as enlarged lymph nodes, fever and a rash, which usually looks like fluid-filled blisters that erupt. People are infectious while they have the rash, and are usually infectious for about two weeks. Children are most severely affected and have a higher risk of dying from the disease. Historically, in the endemic countries of Africa, almost all deaths have been in children. The European epidemic is mostly in adult males, so this, together with better access to care, may explain the low rate of deaths in these countries. 3. We Have Vaccines and Treatments Vaccines work. Past vaccination against smallpox provides 85% protection against monkeypox. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, so most mass vaccination programs ceased in the 1970s. Vaccines protect for many years but immunity wanes. So declining population-level protection is likely responsible for the resurgence of monkeypox seen since 2017 in Nigeria, one of seven endemic hot spots in Africa. Mass vaccination is not recommended. But vaccines can be given to contacts of confirmed cases (known as post-exposure prophylaxis) and people at high risk of contracting the virus, such as some lab or health workers (pre-exposure prophylaxis). There are also treatments, such as vaccinia immune globulin and antivirals. These were developed against smallpox. Three Things We Want to Find Out 1. How Much Do These New Mutations Matter? The virus causing the current outbreak has several mutations compared with versions of the virus circulating in Africa. However, we dont know if these mutations affect clinical disease and how the virus spreads. The monkeypox virus has a very large genome, so is more complex to study than smaller RNA viruses, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2. Experts wonder if the mutations have made it more contagious or changed the clinical pattern to be more like a sexually transmitted infection. A study from Portugal shows the mutations likely make the virus more transmissible. 2. How Is It Spread? Is That Changing? Monkeypox has not been described as a sexually transmitted infection in the past. However, the current transmission pattern is unusual. There seems to be a very short incubation period (of 24 hours) following sexual contact in some, but not all, cases. It is a respiratory virus, so aerosol transmission is possible. But historically most transmission has been from animal to human. When there was transmission between humans, this usually involved close contacts. The rapid growth of the epidemic in non-endemic countries in 2022, however, has been all due to spread between humans. There may be many more cases than officially reported. We do not know why the pattern has changed, whether it is sexually transmitted or simply transmitted due to intimate contact in specific and globally connected social networks, or whether the virus has become more contagious. The virus is found in the skin rash, mouth and semen, but this does not prove it is sexually transmitted. 3. How Far Will It Spread? Does COVID Make Difference? Will this spread more widely in the community? Does the COVID pandemic increase the risk? Possibly, yes. We must also not drop the ball on surveillance in the wider community or stigmatize the LGBTQI community. Due to waning immunity from the smallpox vaccine globally and the spread of monkeypox to many countries already, we may see the epidemic spreading more widely. If it does so and starts infecting large numbers of children, we could see more deaths because children get more severe infection. So we should monitor globally for clusters of fever and rash, and misdiagnosis as chickenpox, hand foot and mouth disease, herpes simplex or other diseases with a rash. Another factor is COVID. As people recover from COVID, their immune system is impaired. So people who have had COVID may be more susceptible to other infections. We see the same with measles infection. This weakens the immune system and increases the risk of other infections for two to three years afterwards. If the epidemic becomes established in countries outside the endemic areas, it may infect animals and create new endemic zones in the world. It is important we do everything possible to stop this epidemic. _____ Author: Professor C. Raina MacIntyre, a researcher with the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales. This article was originally published on The Conversation. (Newser) Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong has had it with America, announcing at a UK concert Friday night after Roe v. Wade was overturned, "I'm renouncing my citizenship. I'm coming here." The rocker, who along with his band took aim at the post-9/11 political landscape in the US with the song "American Idiot," added, "There's just too much stupid in the world to go back to that miserable excuse for a country." He also cursed a lot. And while it's not clear how serious he was, he said, per Rolling Stone, "Oh, I'm not kidding. You're going to get a lot of me in the coming days." At the 2016 American Music Awards, Green Day broke into an anti-Trump chant while performing, USA Today reports. Other musicians who've spoken out about the Roe reversal include Olivia Rodrigo, who on Saturday dedicated a performance of Lily Allen's song "(Expletive) You" to the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn, and Billie Eilish, who said at the same music festival that day, "Today is a really, really dark day for women in the US. Im just going to say that as I cannot bear to think about it any longer in this moment." (Read more Roe v. Wade stories.) (Newser) The role of religion in the abortion debate is getting a lot of attention in the wake of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wadebut when it comes to certain religions, some say the reversal represents an infringement of their religious liberty. Some Jewish groups have been very vocal in speaking out against the decision, NPR reports. While interpretations of Jewish sacred texts differ, some Jews argue that in their religious tradition, personhood begins only when a baby draws its first breath. "Therefore, forcing someone to carry a pregnancy that they do not want or that endangers their life is a violation of Jewish law because it prioritizes a fetus over the living adult who is pregnant," the Women's Rabbinic Network says in a statement. Other organizations issued similar statements, and at least one group has sued over the new abortion restrictions, but some of Judaism's more conservative factions are on board with the SCOTUS decision. Similarly, Muslims who spoke to the Washington Post say Islamic law is flexible on the issue of abortion, and many Muslims believe the decision is each person's to make alone, with the aid of counsel. The main thing, says one Islamic scholar, is that Islamic law on the matter "is forgiving and on the side of mercy. The SCOTUS ruling, she says, could "take away from Muslim rights to abortion in their tradition and their religion. (Read more Roe v. Wade stories.) (Newser) Update: This file has been updated to add video of the incident. While campaigning for his son at a Staten Island grocery store Sunday, Rudy Giuliani was slapped in the back by an employee of the store, the NYPD tells the Hill. (You can see video of the incident here.) "All of a sudden, I feel this, Bam! on my back, Giuliani tells the New York Post. I just about fell down, but I didnt. I feel this tremendous pain in my back, and Im thinking, what theI didnt even know what it was." He says the ShopRite worker was upset about the overturning of Roe v. Wade, telling him, "You, youre one of the people thats gonna kill women. Youre gonna kill women. ... You guys think youre saving babies, but youre gonna kill women." The 78-year-old declined medical attention, NBC New York reports. A witness says the suspect was working a shift at the ShopRite when the incident took place. Giuliani was handing out flyers and taking pictures with people at the time, ABC 7 reports. "The Supreme Court made a decision, Giuliani tells the Post. You dont go around attacking people because of it. I mean, go get it changed." Adds Giuliani's son, Andrew, who is running for governor of New York: "Its a sad day when New Yorkers greatest crime fighter, Americas Mayor, is attacked. I blame the left-wing for encouraging violence. This is crazy." Daniel Gill, 39, faces a charge of second-degree assault involving a person over age 65, according to the Post. (Read more Rudy Giuliani stories.) (Newser) The Red River Women's Clinic, long the the only abortion clinic in North Dakota, is moving to the other side of the Red River in response to the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade. The clinic, which is moving a few miles away to Moorhead, Minnesota, raised more than $650,000 in three days after launching a GoFundMe fundraiser, KVRR reports. North Dakota has a "trigger law," passed by the state legislature in 2007, that will ban abortions in the state 30 days after the state attorney general certifies the SCOTUS ruling, but abortion will remain legal in Minnesota, reports Fox. The clinic also serves part of South Dakota, which has a similar trigger law. Tammi Kromenaker, the clinic's director, says the SCOTUS ruling was "devastating" despite it having been leaked in advance. "Unreal. Unbelievable," she tells InForum. "It's vicious. But to see it become reality is still a shock." Clinic founder Jane Bovard, who opened North Dakota's first abortion clinic in 1981, says that when the Red River clinic was opened in 1998, they chose the name because they wanted to be able to keep the same identity if they were forced to move across the river. (Read more abortion stories.) (Newser) Attached to the Supreme Court's majority opinion in overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday was a solo concurring opinion by Justice Clarence Thomas that suggested he'd like to also reconsider cases involving contraception, same-sex marriage, and other private sexual conduct. The pundit consensus has since deemed the chances of the majority of the high court ruling against birth control and gay rights as pretty low, but in her latest op-ed for the Washington Post, Ruth Marcus puts out a red flag over dismissing that possibility. The rights protected in those other mentioned cases are said to falljust as abortion was, until last weekunder a privacy umbrella within the "substantive due process" protections of the 14th Amendment. Marcus concedes that no other justice joined Thomas in taking aim at those other cases, so she poses the question on everyone's mind: "Should everyone calm down?" Her answer: "Yesand no." She notes it's true that contraception and same-sex marriage just doesn't touch the same nerve as abortion does. But she also points out the majority opinion highlighted that, when the 14th Amendment was ratified in 1868, there was no right to abortion recognizedand the same applies to those other cases, meaning the rights they protect could also be threatened in the future. "Thomas may be alone now, but who knows who will be willing to join him down the road?" Marcus writes, noting that what "starts as an extreme, outlier view can migrate into the conservative mainstream." "When you pull on a thread, an entire garment can unravel," she adds. "Thomas would like to see that happen, and he is tugging, hard, at the fabric of constitutional law. Who knows what will be left when he is done." Read her piece in its entirety here. (Read more Clarence Thomas stories.) (Newser) The Illinois primary is Tuesday, and the governor's race is generating national attention. When the dust settles, it may end up being the most expensive nonpresidential race in history, reports the New York Times. The main reason for that is that three extremely rich people are pouring money into the contestincluding the Democratic incumbent, Gov. JB Pritzker, notes NPR. But the money is being spent in ways you might not expect. The players: Pritzker is expected to easily win the Democratic primary. The real battle is among six GOP candidates vying for the chance to face him in November, per WBEZ. Of them, the front-runners are far-right state Sen. Darren Bailey, who's endorsed by former President Trump, and Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin, a more moderate candidate backed by the state's GOP establishment. Bailey has a double-digit lead in the latest polls, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The money: This is where things get weird. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association are spending millions on behalf of Republican Bailey, evidently because they think Pritzker would be able to beat him in the general election. "No candidate for any office is believed to have ever spent more to meddle in another partys primary," per the Times, which puts that figure at $35 million. Bailey is also getting millions from conservative megadonor Dick Uihlein, because Uihlein likes Bailey's politics. Irvin, meanwhile, has received $50 million from Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin, who runs the Citadel hedge fund, per NPR. This is where things get weird. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association are spending millions on behalf of Republican Bailey, evidently because they think Pritzker would be able to beat him in the general election. "No candidate for any office is believed to have ever spent more to meddle in another partys primary," per the Times, which puts that figure at $35 million. Bailey is also getting millions from conservative megadonor Dick Uihlein, because Uihlein likes Bailey's politics. Irvin, meanwhile, has received $50 million from Chicago billionaire Ken Griffin, who runs the Citadel hedge fund, per NPR. What Bailey says: "I think it's obvious Gov. Pritzker thinks I'm the easiest candidate to beat, and my message to Gov. Pritzker is 'be careful what you wish for because it's coming right toward you,'" said the Republican, per NPR. "The people of Illinois are absolutely fed up with the state of our state. They're ready for something different." "I think it's obvious Gov. Pritzker thinks I'm the easiest candidate to beat, and my message to Gov. Pritzker is 'be careful what you wish for because it's coming right toward you,'" said the Republican, per NPR. "The people of Illinois are absolutely fed up with the state of our state. They're ready for something different." What Irving says: "This has never happened in the history of our nation that a Democrat would spend this much money stopping one individual from becoming the nominee of the Republican Party," Irvin tells the Times. Adds benefactor Griffin: Pritzker "is terrified of facing Richard Irvin in the general election." "This has never happened in the history of our nation that a Democrat would spend this much money stopping one individual from becoming the nominee of the Republican Party," Irvin tells the Times. Adds benefactor Griffin: Pritzker "is terrified of facing Richard Irvin in the general election." What Pritzker says: "It's a mess over there," he tells the Times of the GOP field. They're "all terrible. So I'll take any one of them and I'll beat them." (Read more JB Pritzker stories.) (Newser) A father in Ohio must serve seven days for contempt of court after attacking his sons accused murderer during a pretrial hearing. Per the Washington Post, the attack was caught on courtroom surveillance video. In it, defendant Desean Brown is seen seated at a table conferring with his attorneys when a man suddenly appears from behind, blindsiding him with multiple blows as deputies intervene. The father, Tonio Hughes, was eventually subdued and taken to jail. In a statement to the Post, a spokesperson for the Hamilton County Sheriff said the judge and sheriffs office would like to emphasize that this behavior will not be tolerated in the courthouse. Brown, 22, was in court for a pretrial hearing on aggravated murder charges. Prosecutors say he fatally stabbed his girlfriend, Nyteisha Lattimore, on December 5, 2020. Six days later, he allegedly put Lattimores corpse in a body bag and used a ride-hailing service to haul it to the river, telling the driver that the bag contained his clothing. At some point that week, prosecutors say, Brown also murdered Lattimores 3-year-old son, Nylo, by tossing him into the Ohio River while he was still alive. Hughes, Nylos father, has been suffering with the loss ever since. The pain and everything took over," Hughes' family friend Faith Burton told Fox 19. "He did what I think any of us would do. Prosecutors revealed a specific motive just last week: Lattimore was pregnant with Browns child but had a miscarriage; however, Brown suspected she had lost the baby intentionally and told a close friend that "he was going to do something to her baby Nylo" in revenge, according to a police investigator. Brown faces the death penalty if convicted. Per Law & Crime, the pretrial hearing will have "long-term ramifications," not because of the beating but because the judge refused Brown's lawyers motion to suppress his taped confession. (Read more capital murder stories.) (Newser) Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian rocket strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was "unimaginable," citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress, the AP reports. Ukraine's state emergency service said at least 20 civilians had been wounded, and two of them died. Zelensky said the target presented "no threat to the Russian army" and had no strategic value." He accused of Russia of sabotaging "peoples attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry." The alleged Russian missile strike carried echoes of attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualtiessuch as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. "Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part," Zelensky said. Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the rocket attack "hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces." The attack came as Russia was mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, "pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. (Read more Russia-Ukraine conflict stories.) (Newser) Sierra Pacific Industries, the largest private landowner in America, says its forest lands in California will be closed to the public starting Friday. The company, which owns 2.33 million acres of land in California, Oregon, and Washington, normally allows the public to use land that isn't being actively logged for activities like hiking and hunting, but its holdings are now off-limits indefinitely, SFGate reports. The company cited extreme drought and the risk of wildfires. "Public roads that are on SPI forestlands will remain open, but no walk-in access will be allowed," the company said in a statement on its website. SPI has closed its lands repeatedly in recent years due to the risk of wildfires. The US Forest Service has also closed some forests in California at times over the last two years, but no closures have been announced so far this year. the Sacramento Bee reports. SPI became the biggest private US landholder last year with the acquisition of Seneca Jones Timber. In a Land Report profile of company founder Red Emmerson earlier this year, retired Cal Fire deputy chief Norm Brown said the company is "on the forefront of progressive fire prevention practices." "Theyve got an incredible network of remote automated weather stations throughout their entire holdings," Brown said. (Read more California stories.) (Newser) Kentucky's 2022 teacher of the year says he put up with harassment and administration efforts to diminish LGBTQ identities for years because he thought it was important for students in his rural high school to have a thriving, openly gay teacher in their classroom. Willie Carter Jr. still thinks it's important, but that teacher won't be him, NBC News reports. "I've now reached a stage where I'm starting to see that the toll on mental health is going to be such that my students are not going to be seeing a successful LGBTQ person in front of them," Carter says. "They're seeing someone who is stressed out and unhappy." The buildup to his decision included school actions such as telling teachers to remove books written by LGBTQ authors from their curriculum and defending students accused of pulling down Rainbow Pride posters in the building. This year, harassment escalated, Carter says, when people began attending Montgomery County school board meetings who accused him and LGBTQ students of being "groomers"labeling them without evidence as child sex abusers. The group also attacked online, posting homophobic slurs with images of Carter and LGBTQ students. When the school, where he's taught for 12 years, refused to act, that was it for Carter. The state Department of Education named Carter teacher of the year in September, choosing from about 500 nominees. For the English teacher, who grew up in the area, school always represented "a place of security and a place of promise," he says. "It has been my goal to take any person in the room and let them truly believe that theyre capable of something grand," he adds, "that they're capable of something tremendous." Carter is moving into an administrative job at the University of Kentucky, the Lexington Herald-Leader reports. The district declined to address the issues but called Carter a "wonderful" teacher, per NBC. The state department issued a statement saying it's "proud of Willie and what he has accomplished in his teaching career." (Read more LGBTQ stories.) New Zealand Rural Land Company Limited (NZX.NZL) has completed the retail component (Retail Offer) of its pro rata accelerated renounceable entitlement offer (Offer). The Retail Offer closed on Thursday, 23 June 2022 and raised gross proceeds of approximately NZ$2.6 million. Eligible retail shareholders took up approximately 29.5% of their entitlements, representing approximately 2.5 million new shares. Eligible retail shareholders who took up their entitlements in full also applied for ~$0.6m of additional new shares under the Offer. The institutional component of the Offer was accelerated, closing on Thursday, 9 June 2022 and raised approximately NZ$11.4 million. Retail Bookbuild NZL will offer approximately $6.3 million of entitlements for sale under the retail shortfall bookbuild (Retail Bookbuild). These entitlements are those attributable to eligible retail shareholders that did not take up their full entitlements and retail shareholders who were ineligible to participate in the Retail Offer. Any proceeds achieved above the Application Price will be paid (less applicable taxes) on a pro rata basis to those eligible retail shareholders who did not take up their entitlements in full or retail shareholders who were ineligible to participate in the Retail Offer. There is no guarantee that any amount will be realised for the sale of retail entitlements through the Retail Bookbuild. The Retail Bookbuild will be conducted today and is open to institutional investors and brokers acting on behalf of retail clients in New Zealand. NZLs ordinary shares are being placed in a trading halt today while the Retail Bookbuild is conducted. Trading is expected to recommence on market open tomorrow, Wednesday 29 June 2022, with the announcement of the outcome of the Retail Bookbuild. Settlement and allotment of all shares for the Retail Offer (including those placed under the Retail Bookbuild) is expected to occur on Thursday, 30 June 2022, with trading of those shares expected to commence on the same day. The new shares to be issued under the Retail Offer will rank equally in all respects with NZLs existing ordinary shares. Holding statements for the new shares issued under the Retail Offer will be despatched following allotment. 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Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership (Newser) When she adopted him in August 2021, Janeda Banelly was told that Mr. Happy Face only had a month to live after being rescued from wretched conditions in a hoarder's house. The hairless Chinese crested chihuahua mix suffered from tumors and other serious problems and would require lifelong medication. Nevertheless, Banelly told NBC Today: "He was the happiest creature that I had ever met. He hobbled up to me and chose me. I vowed that day, he would be so loved that he would never remember how awful his previous life had been." Nearly a year later, Mr. Happy Face is alive and relatively well, and he has been chosen as the "World's Ugliest Dog." Calling it an honor, Banelly held out the "humble soul" as an example "to help humans realize that even old dogs need love and a family." According to the New York Times, Mr. Happy Face was selected from a competitive field that included a dog that resembled a "hyena or mandrill baboon" and one with a "gorilla-looking head." In addition to the tumors and neurological issues, the 17-year-old Mr. Happy Face also "requires a diaper, struggles to stand upright or walk, and holds his head askew." His mohawk is natural, and he sounds "like a Dodge Ram diesel" when he is happy, according to his online biography on the event website. One of the five contest judges said they didn't even bother debating who should win: "Mr. Happy Face deserved to be champion" after overcoming so many obstacles. Per How Stuff Works, the annual competition "is meant to promote the rescue of dogs regardless of their appearance," though this year's was the first after a two-year pandemic break. (Read more world's ugliest dog stories.) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrain economy has recovered and is moving towards achieving the desired results of the financial and development sustainability that will benefit the citizens and have an impact on the nations overall progress. This was confirmed by Finance and National Economy Minister Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa who highlighted the positive indicators that have been achieved in various targeted sectors in the Kingdom. He was speaking while holding a remote meeting with the editors-in-chief of local newspapers to update them on the progress of the implementation of the five priorities of the Economic Recovery Plan and its main objectives. Shaikh Salman lauded the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to achieve the best for the nation and the citizens, as well as the constant follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, on all programmes and projects implemented by the government in cooperation with the legislative branch and the private sector, within Team Bahrain. The implementation of the priorities and programmes of the Economic Recovery Plan will continue, and the pace of achievement will be accelerated while ensuring the highest possible efficiency and quality levels as planned, he added. Shaikh Salman pointed out that this will contribute to achieving the objectives of the Economic Recovery Plan and reaching the forecast results, whose effects will lead to promoting the growth of the national economy. The Minister also indicated that economic diversification efforts will continue in order to increase the contributions of the non-oil sectors to the GDP in partnership with the private sector as a major engine of the economy, commending, in this regard, the role played by all members of Team Bahrain in supporting various initiatives aimed at achieving economic recovery and enhancing fiscal stability. Shaikh Salman affirmed the role played by the local press and national media, as effective partners, in supporting the efforts to implement the Economic Recovery Plan since its launch, which contributed to raising awareness among members of society on its importance and the need to support its implementation so as to achieve its goals and reflect positively on everyone. He also emphasised the responsible role played by the local press and national media, as well as their competence and professionalism in dealing with all national development projects. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Staff Reporter Many social workers in Bahrain are finding themselves at sea after the deaths of illegal residents, whose semi-identities arent enough to fly the body home or inform the relatives or friends. They say, over the past few years, funerals for a large number of illegal residents have been held in the Kingdom, owing to struggles to trace their permanent addresses back in their home countries or immediate survivors or relatives. Speaking to The Daily Tribune, a social worker said an illegal residents life in the Kingdom is nothing short of a mystery. There are many illegal residents, who have been living in the Kingdom for many decades. And the toughest aspect of their lives is the fact that no-one knows their permanent address or close relatives in their home countries. They generally dont have passports with them nor do they have a permanent place to stay or long-time friends. We only get to know them once they are seriously ill or upon death. And our job would become really difficult in the absence of these basic identities that constitute a human being in the modern society. The last such incident was the death of Indian national Suresh Rajamanickam, who has been an illegal resident in the Kingdom since 2014. Sources said a group of acquaintances took Suresh to Salmaniya Medical Complex (SMC) hospital sometime back after he seriously fell ill. Upon his death at SMC, the social workers contacted his acquaintances to obtain the permanent address to fly back the body home. However, none of them knew it, sources said. Suresh Kaladi, who is the Secretary of Rajini Fans Association (Association of fans of Indian film actor Rajinikanth) in the Kingdom, said they had to use their network across the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu, to discover the permanent address of the deceased as well as contact his mother and relatives. We are planning to perform the final rites of the deceased person in the Kingdom and have already received the consent of his mother Rasathi in this regard. The Indian Embassy has been actively supporting us to ensure that all legalities are met in both countries, he told The Daily Tribune. Our team members Mr Ramesh Mayavarathan and Mr Muruganantham is coordinating with the family In India and supporting them all financially, he added. According to official estimates, there are around 55,000 illegal foreign workers residing in the Kingdom and the number has been declining sharply since the outbreak of the pandemic. The Labour Market Regulatory Authority has always been exerting its best efforts to legalise the stay of all illegal residents in the Kingdom. And it was in this regard the authority introduced Flexi Permits. Flexi Permits are permits that allow foreign workers to live freely in the Kingdom and work in any non-specialised occupation without a sponsor for a renewable period of one or two years. More than a month has passed since the Japanese government relaxed its guidance on mask usage to reflect subsiding fears of the coronavirus, yet its call for removing masks whenever possible has not caught on widely among the public, Kyodo reports. There has never been a mask mandate in the country, but more than two years of the pandemic has made mask-wearing the polite thing to do, even as heat-related illnesses are emerging as a concern as Japan readies for a boiling summer. Experts say many people are unaware the government has been proposing since May 20 that masks can be taken off in certain circumstances, which may remain so until a well-known figure like Prime Minister Fumio Kishida outlines the new guidelines publicly. The recommendation for outdoor mask usage now only applies to those conversing within two meters of each other. But most people continue wearing them outside regardless of circumstances. The government has made some efforts to increase public awareness of the changes, creating leaflets and planning to broadcast the message through commercials. There have been multiple cases of children who wore masks during gym classes being sent to hospital due to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. The education ministry has asked schools to let schoolchildren go maskless during physical activities, and for younger children to take masks off on their school commutes. Auckland, New Zealand: Me Today Limited (NZX: MEE ) is pleased to announce that it has raised approximately $6.74m from the rights issue which closed on Thursday 23 June. The funds were raised from largest shareholder MTL Securities Limited ($4.2m) together with $2.5m from over 300 existing shareholders. The raise was also well supported from the Me Today shareholder base within the Sharesies platform. The new shares arising from the rights issue will be allotted on 29 June 2022. CEO Michael Kerr said "Me Today was pleased with the support received from existing shareholders. The $6.74m raised meets the immediate cashflow requirements of the group and will enable continued investment in the group's Supplement, Skincare and Manuka Honey brands." Me Today Limited has engaged capital markets advisory firm CM Partners to complete a bookbuild relating to some or all of the $3.26m capital raising shortfall at the same price of 1 cent per share that applied to the Rights Issue. The bookbuild will be completed by this Friday the 1st of the July with the results announced to the market on Monday the 4th of July. The further funds will be applied to investment into international opportunities for the group. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership The operator of the Tokyo Disney Resort (TDR) will continue to restrict entry to its parks, even though COVID numbers have come under control in Japan, to reduce wait times and improve customer experience. Oriental Land said it will aim to add value to its services, in hopes for an increase in average spending per visitor. The company needs to boost revenue that has plunged with the drop in visitors to its theme parks in Chiba Prefecture, east of Tokyo, over the last two years. In its medium-term management plan announced in April, Oriental Land set a target of 26 million visitors for the year ending March 2025, a decrease of 20% from the year ended in March 2019, before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. But revenue per visitor is projected at 14,500 yen ($106.54) and operating profit at more than 100 billion yen, just short of the pre-pandemic level. Oriental Land closed TDR for about four months in the spring and early summer of 2020 amid the deepening COVID crisis, reopening only in July with a daily visitor limit of 5,000. It has since eased restrictions in stages in line with requests from the central and prefectural governments. The company, whose key theme parks are Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, says it is welcoming under 50% of the number of visitors pre-COVID, and it hopes to lift the limit to around 80%. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) New York City can't let noncitizens vote for mayor and other city officials, a judge ruled Monday, siding with Republicans who challenged the measure as unconstitutional. In January, New York became the first major U.S. city to grant widespread municipal voting rights to noncitizens, though none had cast ballots yet. The law didnt affect presidential, congressional or state elections. The laws supporters said it gave an electoral voice to many people who have made a home in the city and pay taxes to it but face tough paths to citizenship. New York GOP Chair Nick Langworthy and several Republican elected officials said the law violated provisions in the state constitution and state election law that specifically confer voting rights on citizens. State court Judge Ralph Porzio agreed with the GOP. Though voting is a right that so many citizens take for granted, the City of New York cannot obviate the restrictions imposed by the Constitution," wrote Porzio, whose court is on Staten Island. His ruling blocks the city from registering potentially more than 800,000 new voters without U.S. citizenship. Langworthy hailed the ruling as a victory for citizen rights, election integrity and the rule of law." He and other plaintiffs accused the Democrat-led city government of passing the law for partisan gain. As the son of immigrants that came to this country legally and worked tirelessly to become citizens, I consider voting to be a sacred right bestowed on American citizens, added state Assembly Member Michael Tannousis, whose parents were originally Greek nationals. He represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The city said it was considering next steps. This is a disappointing court ruling for people who value bringing in thousands more New Yorkers into the democratic process," the city Law Department said in a statement. Immigrant rights advocates decried the ruling and were looking ahead to a potential appeal. The decision strikes at the core of our democracy and values as a city of immigrants, said Ahmed Mohamed, the legal director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations' New York chapter. The city had argued that the state Constitution leaves room for the city to make rules about its own elections, and that the law would help ensure that local officials are representative of the population. Legally documented, voting-age noncitizens comprise nearly one in nine of New York Citys 7 million voting-age inhabitants. More than a dozen communities across the United States allow noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections, including 11 towns in Maryland and two in Vermont. In San Francisco, noncitizens can vote in school board races; New York City allowed the same for three decades, until its school board was disbanded in 2002. Meanwhile, Alabama, Colorado and Florida have in recent years adopted rules that would preempt any attempts to pass laws like the one in New York City. Arizona and North Dakota already had prohibitions on the books. In New York City, a proposal to let noncitizens vote in city elections was floated for years before passing the Democrat-led City Council in December. One council member, Francisco Moya, choked up as he envisioned his mother, an immigrant from Ecuador, becoming able to vote for him. The law gave municipal voting rights to noncitizens who have been lawful permanent residents of the city for at least 30 days, as well as to those authorized to work in the U.S. including Dreamers, a term for young immigrants living in the country illegally who were brought here as children and have temporary protection from deportation. The term is based on the DREAM Act, a never-passed congressional proposal that involved them. Then-Mayor Bill de Blasio had reservations about the city law, including questions about its legality, and took no action on it. Successor Eric Adams subsequently let the measure become law without his signature. Both Adams and de Blasio are Democrats. WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Monday ruled for doctors who face criminal charges for overprescribing powerful pain medication in a case arising from the opioid addiction crisis. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court that prosecutors must prove that doctors knew they were illegally prescribing powerful pain drugs in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The ruling came as the U.S. has been seeing record numbers of drug overdose deaths, many from the highly lethal opioid fentanyl. Evaluating the convictions of two doctors who are each facing more than two decades in prison, the justices ruled on a subject on which advocates for patients and doctors had urged the court to distinguish between criminal behavior and medical errors made in good faith. It did so in the ruling. Prosecutors, Breyer wrote, must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner. The justices ruled unanimously for the doctors, though only six endorsed Breyers standard for conviction. Fear of aggressive prosecution already has led doctors to avoid prescribing opioids against their best medical judgment, the National Pain Advocacy Center told the court in a written filing. But the justices did not throw out the convictions of two doctors whose appeal was heard in February. Instead, it ordered federal appeals courts to take a new look at their cases. The court ruled on appeals from Xiulu Ruan of Mobile, Alabama, and Shakeel Kahn, who practiced medicine in Ft. Mohave, Arizona, and Casper, Wyoming. Ruan is serving a 21-year federal prison term. Kahn is in prison for up to 25 years. They will get another chance to argue that their convictions should be overturned. Ruan and a partner, James Couch, were convicted of overprescribing medications at their Physicians Pain Specialists of Alabama clinic and a pharmacy. The two doctors enriched themselves through a long-running scheme of unlawfully issuing prescriptions for addictive and potent controlled substances, in response to their own financial incentives rather than the legitimate medical needs of their patients, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, told the court in a written filing. They grossed $20 million between 2012 and a raid in 2015, prosecutors said. In 2014, they wrote 66,892 prescriptions, prosecutors said. Kahn was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances resulting in death, including oxycodone, an opioid pain reliever, and fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Kahn "routinely performed only a perfunctory examination or no examination at all before prescribing controlled substances for a patient, the Justice Department said in a Supreme Court brief. Jessica Burch, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, was a patient of Kahns who died from an overdose in 2015. Kahn wrote nearly 15,000 prescriptions for controlled substances over six years, totaling nearly 2.2 million pills, prosecutors said. Nearly half were oxycodone, they said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW FAIRFIELD Two new locations will serve as the towns polling places for the next 10 years. Instead of Meeting House Hill School and the Company A firehouse, New Fairfield voters will now cast ballots at either New Fairfield Middle School or the New Fairfield Senior Center. The towns new polling places which will depend upon state Senate districts rather than state House districts are the result of the recent redrawing of Connecticuts voting district lines, which go into effect 2023. Because of the redistricting, New Fairfield will soon have two Senate districts the 24th and 30th instead of one, with the towns southwestern corner remaining part of the 24th. The 138th House District which currently covers a large part of Danbury, as well as southwestern New Fairfield and northern Ridgefield will become a Danbury-only district. With the 138th no longer including New Fairfields southwestern corner, that part of town will join the 108th House District. New Fairfielders in the new 24th Senate District will cast ballots at the New Fairfield Middle School cafeteria, while residents of the new 30th Senate District will go to the New Fairfield Senior Center. First Selectman Pat Del Monaco said the new polling places were certified by New Fairfields registrars of voters following analysis of municipal locations in each district. These are the locations that have been determined to meet the needs and requirements, she said, noting that 24th Senate District voters will report to the middle school gymnasium for the August primary due to HVAC installation work in the schools cafeteria. Republican Registrar of Voters Dan McDermott said a map with a list of streets by district has been posted on the door of the registrars office at Town Hall. If anyone wants to swing in at any time, they can do that, he said, adding that people can also use the towns GIS Mapping system to find out their voting district. If you go down to additional layers, you can see an overlay of the district map as well, McDermott said. CAIRO (AP) Ethiopia killed seven Sudanese soldiers and a civilian in a border area in the latest sign of deteriorating ties between the east African nations. A Sudanese military statement late Sunday described the killings as a cowardly act and said Khartoum would retaliate. The killings violated all laws and customs of war and international humanitarian law, the statement said. It said Ethiopia displayed the bodies out in the open. It did not provide further details including how a civilian farmer was involved. Sudanese media outlet Monte Carro posted a graphic photo online purportedly showing the bodies of seven dead in military uniforms lying motionless as a group of people looked on. It said the bodies were of the dead soldiers. Sudan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement Monday the eight had been taken into Ethiopia after the soldiers were held captive in an area inside Sudan on June 22. The ministry said it was recalling the Sudanese ambassador from the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and summoned the Ethiopian envoy in Khartoum to protest the killings. It also said it would complain to the United Nations. Ethiopias Foreign Ministry confirmed the killings in what it described as a tragic incident." It said in a statement that a Sudanese military unit crossed into Ethiopia with the support of rebels from the Tigray region and suggested that's when they were killed. The Government of Ethiopia, therefore, hopes that the Sudanese Government would restrain itself from any escalation of the incident and would take measures that could de-escalate the situation," the statement said without elaborating. Ties between the two neighbors have deteriorated in recent years amid a long-running border dispute over large swaths of agricultural land in the al-Fashaqa area. Sudan insists the lands are within its borders, according to an agreement that demarcated the boundary between their territories in the early 1900s. Sporadic clashes have erupted over the past two years there, after Sudan said it reclaimed most of its territory and called on Ethiopia to withdraw troops from at least two points it says are inside Sudan. In November, Sudan said six of its troops were killed in an attack by Ethiopian military and militia forces in the area. The two nations have held talks, most recently in Khartoum in December 2020, to settle the dispute over al-Fashaqa, but have not made progress. Ethiopia, in turn, says Sudan took advantage of the deadly conflict in Ethiopias northern Tigray region to enter Ethiopian territory. It has called for Sudanese troops to return to positions they held before the Tigray fighting erupted in November 2020, pitting Ethiopias federal forces against regional fighters. A controversial dam Ethiopia is building on the Blue Nile, the main tributary of the Nile River, is another point of dispute between Ethiopia and Sudan as well as between Ethiopia and Egypt. Both Sudan and Egypt are downstream. The yearslong dispute now centers on how quickly Ethiopia should fill and replenish the reservoir and how much water it should release downstream in case of a multi-year drought. Egypt, which relies on the Nile for more than 90% of its water, fears a devastating impact if the dam is operated without taking its needs into account. Ethiopia says the $5 billion dam on the Blue Nile is essential, arguing that the vast majority of its people lack electricity. Sudan wants Ethiopia to coordinate and share data on the dams operation to avoid flooding and protect its own power-generating dams on the Blue Nile. Egypt and Sudan say they want a legally binding agreement to regulate the filling and operation of the dam, but the three nations have failed to reach a compromise in their yearslong negotiations. Notice is hereby given that the 2022 Annual Meeting of Shareholders of Green Cross Health Limited (the Company) will be held at the Ellerslie Event Centre 80 Ascot Avenue Greenlane Auckland on Monday, 25th of July 2022 at 2.30 pm. BUSINESS: A. Chairs Address B. Group Chief Executive Officers Address C. Audited Financial Statements D. Resolutions To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following ordinary resolutions: 1. That Craig Brockliss be elected as a Director of the Company 2. That John Bolland be re-elected as a Director of the Company 3. That Kim Ellis be re-elected as a Director of the Company 4. To authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditor for the ensuing year. E. To consider any other matters that may be properly brought before the Annual Meeting. Proxies and voting Any shareholder who is entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may instead appoint a proxy to attend and vote on their behalf. The Chair of the Company is willing to act as proxy for any shareholder who may wish to appoint him for that purpose. The Chair intends to vote any undirected proxies in favour of the resolutions. If you wish to appoint a proxy please complete the enclosed proxy form and mail to: Computershare Investor Services limited Private Bag 92119 Auckland 1142 Alternatively, you can complete a proxy form online at www.investorvote.co.nz. You will need the Control Number (found on the Proxy Notice), your CSN/security holder number and postcode or country of residence to vote online. In either case, for your vote to be effective, your proxy must be received not less than 48 hours before the time of holding the meeting. Note Biographical information relating to the Directors standing for election and re-election at the meeting can be found below. Afternoon tea will be served at the conclusion of the meeting. For and on behalf of the Board Benjamin Doshi Group Chief Financial Officer/Company Secretary Dated: 27 June 2022 Craig Brockliss Non-Executive Director Craig Brockliss is currently CEO of the Wilton Capital Group of companies and has more than 20 years experience in business, property and private equity investing. Wilton has significant investment interests in New Zealand, the United States and in the UK. Wilton Capital has its origins in the pharmaceutical logistics markets in New Zealand and Australia before diversifying into other investments in 2001. Wilton is currently the third largest shareholder in Green Cross Health. Craig holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Auckland and worked for Ernst and Young prior to joining the Wilton Group in 2001. John Bolland Non-Executive Director John Bolland has more than 25 years experience in private equity, senior management and corporate finance. This includes 14 years with Ernst & Young, where he had Partner level responsibility in Corporate Finance and Audit & Business Advisory. John holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Auckland and is a Member of the New Zealand Institute of Chartered Accountants. John is also a Director of PowerShield Limited. John was appointed as a Non-Executive Director of the Company in August 2009. Kim Ellis Chair During his business career Kim had wide Chief Executive experience and was best known for his 13 years at the helm of Waste Management NZ Ltd, culminating in the companys sale in 2006. During his tenure he led 40 acquisitions and built a successful business in Australia. Earlier roles encompassed a number of market sectors including health, manufacturing, distribution, transport, property, agriculture and fashion. Since 2006 Kim has been active in governance and is currently Chair of NZ Social Infrastructure Fund; a Director of Port of Tauranga and FSF Management Company; and consultant to Envirowaste Services. Kim holds first class honours degrees in Chemical Engineering and Economics. Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: 4th July 2022 Morning Report BIF - Acquires shares in Hot Lime Labs RUA - Cann Group granted TGA GMP for Mildura facility AFI - Invitation to Results Webcast PFI Share Buyback Programme to Pause Greenfern Industries Limited ("GFI") - Late Annual Report FSF - Monthly Allotment/ Redemption Notice 1st July 2022 Morning Report General Capital Releases 2022 Annual Report Fonterra, NZX, EEX confirm GDT strategic partnership SYDNEY, NS, June 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for SydneyVictoria, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities; the Honourable Brian Comer, Minister Responsible for the Office of Mental Health and Addictions, on behalf of Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables; and Leroy Denny, Chief of the Eskasoni First Nation, announced joint funding for the construction of a solar energy generation system for Eskasoni Cold Logistics. Funding will support the development and installation of a 583 kilowatt ground mounted solar energy system on the company's live lobster storage facility. The project will reduce overall energy demands, and in turn, lower energy costs for the facility. The community will use the cost savings to fund other important services for residents. The project will also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and provide training opportunities for community members in the installation and maintenance of solar energy systems. The Government of Canada is investing more than $1.1 million in this project through the Green Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The Government of Nova Scotia is contributing $128,610, while the Eskasoni First Nation is contributing $245,205. Quotes "Reliable infrastructure is key to building stronger and healthier communities. We are proud to partner with the Government of Nova Scotia and the Eskasoni First Nation on this important renewable solar energy project that will create a healthier environment and benefit the community for years to come." Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for SydneyVictoria, on behalf of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities "Nova Scotia is a national leader in fighting climate change. Transitioning to more renewable energy sources like solar power helps propel us toward our ambitious goal of carbon neutrality by 2050. This is a prime example of how community-led projects can help us reach our collective goals." The Honourable Brian Comer, Minister Responsible for the Office of Mental Health and Addictions, on behalf of the Honourable Tory Rushton, Minister of Natural Resources and Renewables "Eskasoni First Nation is committed to finding ways to grow our renewable energy sector and find sustainable solutions that are environmentally conscious. We are moving towards green energy commercially and residentially and we are proud to do so. As Mi'kmaq, we are always keeping the future generations at the forefront of our decision making in an effort to ensure environmental stewardship." Leroy Denny, Chief of the Eskasoni First Nation Quick facts Under the Investing in Canada Plan, the federal government is investing more than $180 billion over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and Canada's rural and northern communities. Plan, the federal government is investing more than over 12 years in public transit projects, green infrastructure, social infrastructure, trade and transportation routes, and rural and northern communities. Over the past 6 years, the Government of Canada has invested more than $1 billion in over 320 infrastructure projects across Nova Scotia . has invested more than in over 320 infrastructure projects across . During that period, over $46 billion has been invested in communities by Infrastructure Canada across the country to support world-class infrastructure projects, including over $1.2 billion in green energy infrastructure projects. has been invested in communities by Infrastructure Canada across the country to support world-class infrastructure projects, including over in green energy infrastructure projects. The province has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 53 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030. Infrastructure Canada helps address complex challenges that Canadians face every dayranging from the rapid growth of our cities, to climate change, and environmental threats to our water and land. Associated links Federal infrastructure investments in Nova Scotia https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-ns-eng.html Investing in Canada: Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn Web: Infrastructure Canada SOURCE Infrastructure Canada For further information: Jean-Sebastien Comeau, Press Secretary and Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, Infrastructure and Communities, 343-574-8116, [email protected]; Patricia Jreige, Media Relations, Nova Scotia's Department of Natural Resources and Renewables, 902-718-7866, [email protected]; Steve Parsons, General Manager, Eskasoni First Nation, 902-549-5470, [email protected]; Media Relations Infrastructure Canada, 613-960-9251, Toll free: 1-877-250-7154, Email: [email protected] Gatineau business receives $400,000 in financial assistance from CED. GATINEAU, QC, June 27, 2022 /CNW Telbec/ - Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions (CED) + http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/index.html Supporting SME growth through the adoption of advanced and digital technologies contributes to economic development in Quebec's regions. That is why the Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Member of Parliament for Gatineau and Chief Government Whip, on behalf of the Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for CED, today announced a repayable contribution of $400,000 for Prizma Industrial Coatings. This CED support will enable it to increase its production capacity, improve its productivity, and digitize its business. Prizma Industrial Coatings is an electrostatic powder and liquid painting business specializing in custom industrial coatings. To grow and digitize its operations as well as enhance its services, the Gatineau business will be able to acquire and install automated manufacturing equipment to conquer new markets. This project will help diversify Gatineau's economy and strengthen its entrepreneurial and industrial fabric. The Government of Canada recognizes and supports businesses and organizations that are a source of pride in their communities. Quebec's economic recovery relies on organizations with strong roots in the regional economy. They are major contributors to growth, as well as key assets in rebuilding a stronger, more resilient, greener, and more just economy for all. Quotes "Today's announcement is proof once again of the Government of Canada's commitment to Gatineau's manufacturing businesses, in line with our economic recovery plan. By helping them pursue their operations and by stimulating their growth, the government is helping to ensure Quebec's manufacturing industry plays a major role in Canada's economic recovery." The Honourable Steven MacKinnon, Member of Parliament for Gatineau and Chief Government Whip "SMEs are central to economic growth in our communities, and supporting their growth is a priority for our government. Through our contribution, Prizma Industrial Coatings will be able to improve its production line by purchasing automated equipment. Its contribution to Gatineau's economic vitality is considerable, and not only will the Outaouais region, but all of Quebec and Canada will benefit from the success and spin-offs of its project." The Honourable Pascale St-Onge, Member of Parliament for BromeMissisquoi, Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for CED "We wish to thank CED for its financial assistance, which has enabled us to move ahead with our project to acquire new equipment in order to increase our operational efficiency and automate certain processes to help us overcome our labour shortage. This support is also enabling us to expand and refit our plant so that we can be more competitive and make further breakthroughs with major prime contractors and in the aerospace sector." Josee Proulx, Co-owner and Vice-President, Prizma Industrial Coatings Quick facts The funds have been granted under CED's Regional Economic Growth through Innovation program. This program targets entrepreneurs leveraging innovation to grow their businesses and enhance their competitiveness, as well as regional economic stakeholders helping to create an entrepreneurial environment conducive to innovation and growth for all, across all regions. SMEs represent 99.7% of Quebec businesses and contribute to 50% of the province's GDP. businesses and contribute to 50% of the province's GDP. CED is a key federal partner in Quebec's regional economic development. With its 12 regional business offices, CED accompanies businesses, supporting organizations and all regions across Quebec into tomorrow's economy. Associated links Stay connected Follow CED on social media Consult CED's news SOURCE Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions For further information: Media Relations, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, [email protected]; Ariane Joazard-Belizaire, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Sport and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, [email protected] A portion of proceeds from all Harvey's orders from June 27 to July 31 will go towards planting trees to help keep Canada a beautiful thing VAUGHAN, ON, June 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Starting today through to July 31, 2022 a portion of proceeds from all Harvey's purchases made in-store, online and on the app will qualify to help plant up to 50,000 trees in Canada. Guests can also make an added $1 or $2 donation to their order in store or in the drive-thru, and they can take advantage of the growing late night/extended hours at select Harvey's locations. This initiative is a continuation of Harvey's long-term partnership with Tree Canada to help plant more trees across the country. Harvey's is doubling their goal from last year where they surpassed their target of planting 25,000 trees in 2021 by 30 per cent. "Continuing and expanding this partnership with Harvey's means more trees will grow and absorb carbon emissions throughout Canada," said Gregory Hotte, Director of Development, Tree Canada. "We want to thank Harvey's and their customers for their continued support in helping us grow better places to live." Harvey's target for 2022 is to plant up to 50,000 trees which will offset up to 10,000 tonnes of CO2, enough to compensate for all carbon emissions created from Harvey's drive-thrus for the entire year and all of its paper usage across Canada. As of June 2022, a total of 6,800 tonnes of carbon emissions have been offset to date under this initiative. Harvey's partnership with Tree Canada is just one of several key initiatives that showcases a commitment to sustainability. Harvey's focus on sustainable packaging has saved an average of 5,000 trees from being cut down and 2 million litres of water per year that would have been used to generate paper. Additionally, Harvey's supports sustainable beef production, and they were a leader in the elimination of 26 million units of plastic straws, 4.5 million units of non-recyclable paper containers, 1.5 million units of styrofoam cups and more since 2019. Since 2020, Harvey's has eliminated 200,000 units of non-recyclable black plastic clamshells by switching to recyclable clamshells made from 100% recycled water bottles. "As a Canadian brand, helping keep Canada a beautiful thing is a top priority for us at Harvey's," said David Colebrook, President, Harvey's and NYF. "We are excited to continue our partnership with Tree Canada to reach our goal of planting 50,000 this year and 250,000 trees by 2026." In addition to Harvey's growing list of sustainability initiatives, Harvey's is proud to be serving guests Canadian-sourced quality ingredients for over 60 years. Harvey's Original Burgers are made with 100% Canadian Beef and Angus Burgers are made with 100% Canadian Angus beef that is raised without the use of antibiotics, added hormones or steroids. Other menu items include Harvey's customizable salads made with greenhouse-grown Canadian lettuce and all of Harvey's French Fries are made from Canadian-grown potatoes. Through this partnership with Tree Canada, Harvey's plans to plant 250,000 trees by 2026 to compensate for an estimated total of 50,000 tonnes of CO2. For more information on Harvey's sustainability initiatives visit harveys.ca About Harvey's Harvey's is an iconic Canadian restaurant chain that has been feeding Canadian families since 1959. Serving delicious flame-grilled burgers made with 100% Canadian beef and topped the way you want them, Harvey's has been a staple in Canadian communities for 60 years. About Recipe Founded in 1883, Recipe Unlimited Corporation is Canada's largest full-service restaurant company. The Company franchises and/or operates some of the most recognized brands in the country including Swiss Chalet, Harvey's, St-Hubert, The Keg, Montana's, Kelsey's, East Side Mario's, New York Fries, Bier Markt, The Landing Group of Restaurants, Original Joe's, State & Main, Elephant & Castle, The Burger's Priest, The Pickle Barrel, Marigolds & Onions, Blanco Cantina, Anejo, Fresh and Ultimate Kitchens. Recipe's iconic brands have established the organization as a nationally recognized franchisor of choice. As at March 27, 2022, Recipe had 21 brands and 1,251 restaurants, 82% of which are operated by franchisees and joint venture partners, operating in several countries including Canada, USA, Saudi Arabia, India and the UAE. Recipe's shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RECP. More information about the Company is available at www.recipeunlimited.com. About Tree Canada Tree Canada is the only national non-profit organization dedicated to planting and nurturing trees in rural and urban environments, in every province across the country. We help to grow Canada's tree canopy through our programs, research, and engagement efforts and by offering grants to communities and schools. We collaborate with a network of industry experts, academics, and other non-profits to deepen community knowledge and help municipalities plan and sustain local canopy.Together with our partners and sponsors, we have planted more than 84 million trees. TreeCanada.ca SOURCE Harvey's For further information: Harvey's Canada, Summer Martin, [email protected], 226-224-0977 To make this an even sweeter return, 7-Eleven is also dropping a new feature flavour the Crush Cactus Catapult. Available now until the end of summer, customers can enjoy Crush Cactus Catapult's pleasantly sweet blend of refreshing orange and succulent pineapple taste. The Crush Cactus Catapult joins a star-studded lineup of exclusive Slurpee flavour drops Frog Water, Blueberry Yuzu Lemonade, Orange Pineapple, and Dragon Fruit only from Slurpee and only available at 7-Eleven Canada throughout summer. Try them at your nearest store, or go on a 'reverse Slurpee run' by ordering via 7NOW app to get some refreshing Slurpee all summer long and all of your 7-Eleven favorites delivered to right where you are. "This is the biggest celebration of the year, and we've been eagerly preparing to bring the event back to our stores after two years of celebrating from a distance," says Norman Hower, VP & GM of 7-Eleven Canada. "7-Eleven Day is a tradition for our customers so we're incredibly excited to invite them to grab a refreshingly delicious Slurpee on us on our birthday." Hot Canadian summers are not the same without Canada's favourite drink. This rings especially true for Manitobans as the province has been crowned the Slurpee Capital of the World once again. If your Slurpee run has you working up an appetite, 7Rewards members can also snack on our delicious Canadian made pizza hot from the oven in minutes. Slices are $1.75 at participating locations for one day only. Also, to help Canadians make the most of an iconic Slurpee summer, 7-Eleven Canada is giving away seven prizes for one million 7Rewards points with the 7Rewards points bonanza that's equal to 1,000 free slurpee drinks or redeem points from a menu of free snacks, meals and drinks. All you have to do is to scan your 7Rewards app, and qualifying purchases will give you entries to the contest. For more information on 7-Eleven Day and to join in on all the Slurpee fun this summer, check out https://7-eleven.ca/7-eleven-day and @SlurpeeCanada on all social platforms. About 7Eleven, Inc. 7-Eleven, Inc. is the premier name in the convenience retailing industry. Based in Irving, Texas, 7-Eleven operates, franchises, and/or licenses more than 13000 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Find out more at 7-Eleven.ca or on social media @7ElevenCanada on Facebook , Twitter, Instagram , and LinkedIn . SOURCE 7-Eleven Canada For further information: Media Contact: Cecilia Kim | [email protected] | 778.995.8004 OTTAWA, ON, June 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Today, the Mining Association of Canada (MAC) is releasing a new national poll that finds high levels of support for Canadian mining and increased understanding on the role Canada's mining industry must play in producing the green technologies essential to a low carbon future. For the past 12 years, MAC has worked with Abacus Data to assess public opinion on Canada's mining sector. This year, support is at an all time high, with 80% reporting that they have a positive feeling about producers of minerals and metals in Canada and 78% saying they have a positive feeling about Canadian mining companies. Other highlights include: 84% give mining companies in Canada a good or acceptable performance in contributing new materials for use in greener and cleaner technologies. a good or acceptable performance in contributing new materials for use in greener and cleaner technologies. 83% say they would like to see more mining projects in Canada provided they have a plan to reduce GHG emissions. provided they have a plan to reduce GHG emissions. 81% say Canada should remain in the oil business provided our barrels are produced by companies that achieve a net zero emissions target. should remain in the oil business provided our barrels are produced by companies that achieve a net zero emissions target. 80% say we need a strong mining sector for Canada's economy to be healthy over the long term. economy to be healthy over the long term. 80% give Canadian mining companies good or acceptable ratings when it comes to the way they operate in other jurisdictions. This includes measures of how these companies help raise environmental standards and ensure that local communities benefit economically from their mining activities. 79% give mining companies operating in Canada a good or acceptable performance in their efforts to reduce environmental impact. a good or acceptable performance in their efforts to reduce environmental impact. Upon learning about Canada's leadership in sustainable mining via the Towards Sustainable Mining (TSM) standard, 88% believe it is a good idea for government to support Canadian companies that adhere to such standards in their efforts to win in export markets and to attract investment to Canada . "This year's polling data clearly shows that Canadians are becoming increasingly aware of the fact that the minerals and metals industry is a key partner in accomplishing our goal of a greener future," said Pierre Gratton, President and CEO of MAC. "As one of the lowest carbon-intensity producers of mineral and metal products in the world there is no doubt that Canada fulfills the need for mined materials better than most competing mining jurisdictions and we are pleased to see this recognition by the public at large." Abacus reports that the generally positive sentiment about the mining sector is due in large part to the feeling that the industry provides economic benefits and well-paying jobs for Canadians in communities across the country, and that people believe the industry has been making an effort to reduce its environmental impact. Impressions in this area have been improving over time and as more people see mining companies making commitments and taking steps to reduce CO2 emissions, this too is helping people see the industry as having a promising future in a global economy that is looking to decarbonize. "Canadians care about climate action and decarbonization and expect progress," said Bruce Anderson, Chairman of Abacus Data. "This year's numbers reveal two important trends first, Canadians are seeing economic opportunities in the mining sector when it comes to the future of uses of sustainably produced minerals and metals, and second, that they observe Canadian mining companies moving in a good direction across a range of priorities, from environmental stewardship to emissions reduction to Indigenous relations. There's enthusiasm about the role Canadian mining is playing in elevating mining standards in other parts of the world too." To access MAC's polling data focused on perception of Canada's mining sector, please visit https://bit.ly/3bzX2Rv. The mining industry is a major sector of Canada's economy, contributing $107 billion to the national GDP and is responsible for 19 percent of Canada's total domestic exports. Canada's mining sector employs 692,000 people directly and indirectly across the country. The industry is proportionally the largest private sector employer of Indigenous peoples in Canada and a major customer of Indigenous-owned businesses. About MAC The Mining Association of Canada is the national organization for the Canadian mining industry. Its members account for most of Canada's production of base and precious metals, uranium, diamonds, metallurgical coal, mined oil sands and industrial minerals and are actively engaged in mineral exploration, mining, smelting, refining and semi-fabrication. Please visit www.mining.ca. SOURCE Mining Association of Canada (MAC) For further information: Cynthia Waldmeier, Senior Director, Communications and Public Affairs, the Mining Association of Canada, Phone: 613-233-9392 x225 or 613-894-2128 (cell), Email: [email protected] The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) is issuing this statement to provide an update on its ongoing response to monkeypox. PHAC continues to work closely with provinces and territories to ensure collaboration and coordination of Canada's strategic response to address this situation. The Government of Canada took immediate action upon the confirmation of the first cases in Canada. The ongoing response has included developing infection, prevention, and control guidance; providing laboratory testing, sequencing, and guidance to provinces and territories; engaging with community based-organizations; and deploying vaccines and treatments to provinces and territories. OTTAWA, ON, June 27, 2022 /CNW/ - On June 23, 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) Director General convened its International Health Regulations (IHR) Emergency Committee to discuss the multi-country outbreak of monkeypox. Over the weekend, in a news release, the WHO Director General confirmed that he concurs with advice offered by the committee and that the multi-country outbreak, at present, is not being declared as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). However, the IHR Emergency Committee unanimously acknowledged the emergency nature of the event and that controlling the further spread of outbreak requires intense response efforts. The Committee advised that the event should be closely monitored and reviewed after a few weeks, once more information about the current unknowns becomes available, to determine if significant changes have occurred that may warrant a reconsideration of their advice. Since the outset of the monkeypox outbreak, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has been working with domestic and international partners to protect the health of everyone in Canada. The Government of Canada activated its Health Portfolio Operations Centre with the confirmation of the first cases. The National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) continues to conduct testing to confirm a diagnosis of monkeypox for suspected cases, while provincial/territorial public health and health care systems are conducting case investigations and outbreak management. Provinces and territories also have access to approved vaccines in Canada that can be used to manage monkeypox in their jurisdiction. The National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) released recommendations for the use of IMVAMUNE, a Health Canada-approved vaccine, for immunization against monkeypox. Provincial and territorial public health authorities have launched their monkeypox vaccination campaigns and have started vaccinating populations at higher risk. PHAC continues to provide regular updates on the monkeypox outbreak through public reporting and on Canada.ca/monkeypox, including posting interim infection, prevention and control (IPC) guidance, case and contact management guidance, a national monkeypox case definition, guidance for health professionals and information on risks and symptoms to increase awareness. Public health leaders across the country are working together on the monkeypox response. PHAC is working with stakeholders, including non-governmental organizations, Chief Medical Officers of Health through the Pan-Canadian Public Health Network and international partners/networks, to raise awareness among populations at higher risk. This includes equipping them with the guidance and tools necessary to help manage cases of monkeypox and engaging jurisdictions at the Public Health Network and other federal, provincial and territorial tables to share and analyze information, and develop an approach to support effective and timely outbreak management in Canada. In addition, PHAC is supporting community-based organizations in the regions currently most impacted by the monkeypox outbreak to reach populations at higher risk of infection, with timely information on how to protect themselves and help slow the spread of monkeypox. The global understanding of the monkeypox virus is still evolving, and Canada is providing leadership to help improve our understanding of the current monkeypox outbreak, including mobilizing experts and sharing available scientific evidence to inform the response. Recently, an expert panel was convened on several occasions to advise on what is known and not known about monkeypox, including potential research priorities and how to handle potential risks to Canada. Canada has also participated in a WHO sponsored event to develop a Research & Development Blueprint and has participated in a scholarly evidence review of the best-available evidence currently available for the monkeypox outbreak. As the monkeypox outbreak is ongoing, the Government of Canada will continue to work with the provinces and territories to assess the risks to people in Canada, respond to the evolving situation, and continue to provide updates to the public as new information becomes available. SOURCE Public Health Agency of Canada For further information: Contacts: Media Relations, Public Health Agency of Canada, 613-957-2983, [email protected] Enforcement Directorate summons Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut to appear for interrogation in a land fraud case on Tuesday. Pravin Raut (assistant of Sanjay Raut) and Varsha Raut (MPs wife), both have assets worth a combined Rs 9 crore that has been attached by ED. Meanwhile, ED is looking into a money-laundering case involving the alleged Rs 1,034 crore Patra Chawl scam fraud. However, Sanjay Raut calls ED summons a conspiracy. He tweeted saying, Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasahebs Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I wont take the Guwahati route. Arrest me! I just came to know that the ED has summoned me. Good ! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route. Arrest me ! Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/VeL6qMQYgr Sanjay Raut (@rautsanjay61) June 27, 2022 Sanjay Raut, his wife, and HDIL promoter Rakesh Wadhwan have been charged by the Enforcement Directorate for defrauding donors of funds intended for a chawl (tenement) project with no intention of seeing it through to completion. After minister Eknath Shinde travelled to Surat last week with a group of dissident MLAs, Raut has been called in for interrogation amid a political crisis within the Shiv Sena. He is currently camped out with them at a Guwahati hotel. PM Modi in Munich spoke about how Indians have democracy written into their DNA in an electrifying setting. During his speech to the Indian diaspora community programme in Munich on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised Indian democracy while addressing the Emergency that the government of Indira Gandhi proclaimed on June 25, 1975. PM Modi in Munich spoke about how Indians have democracy written into their DNA in an electrifying setting. He went on to say, Today, June 26, is also recognized as the day that, 47 years ago, Indias democracywhich is ingrained in every Indianwas stomped and repressed. A stain on Indias vibrant democratic heritage was the emergency. He further claimed that attempts to keep that democracy hostage were made 47 years ago. However, Indians thwarted all of the machinations to do so. In a democratic manner, the Indian people responded to all plots to thwart democracy. No matter where you are, we Indians are proud of our democracy. India is the Mother of Democracy, according to every Indian Prime Minister remarked. Indian diaspora in Germany has never gathered in such numbers since the epidemic. The majority of the attendees arrived dressed in formal wear. They gave PM Modi a warm welcome at the hotel in Munich where he will be staying earlier in the day on Sunday. As members of the Indian diaspora celebrated and waved their flags upon seeing the Prime Minister, the phrase Bharat Mata ki Jai echoed around the hotel grounds. PM Modi landed in Munich today to take part in the G7 summit. There, he will meet with representatives from the G7 and its partner nations and have talks on topics including the environment, energy, and counterterrorism. PM Modi will meet privately with the heads of several of the participating nations at the Summit. However, MEA stated that in addition to taking part in the debates at the G7 including the environment, energy, food security, health, gender equality, and other topics, the PM will also attend a number of bilateral meetings off-camera. The invitation to the G7 Summit continues India and Germanys history of a solid and close relationship and frequent high-level political meetings. A meeting of MLAs camping with the rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has been scheduled for today A meeting of MLAs camping with the rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has been scheduled for today at 2 PM in a hotel in Guwahati, Assam, amid the political turmoil in Maharashtra, according to reports. The conference is being held in the midst of a Supreme Court hearing about disqualification notifications sent to dissident MLAs by Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal. The breakaway leader also contested Ajay Chaudharys selection to succeed Shinde as the Shiv Senas House legislative leader. In the disqualification petition filed by Shinde according to Rule 6 of the MLA Defection Rules, the petitioner seeks for no action to be taken until the decision to remove the Deputy Speaker has been resolved. The notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner was issued by the Deputy Speaker, who presides over the House in the absence of the Speaker. Shide previously discussed the current political climate in the state with Raj Thackeray, the head of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He called Raj Thackeray twice and asked about his health in addition to talking to him on the phone. Along with other MLAs, Shinde is now camped in Assam. On Sunday, Shinde criticised the party for allegedly backing Dawood Ibrahim and those guilty for the murder of innocent people. In a tweet, Shinde stated, How can Balasaheb Thackerays Shiv Sena defend those who had a direct relationship with Dawood Ibrahim and those guilty for the murder of innocent Mumbai residents? That is why we took this action; it is preferable to pass away. Aaditya Thackeray, the head of the Shiv Sena, said that on May 20, CM Uddhav Thackeray had urged Eknath Shinde to take over as CM if he so desired, but that Eknath Shinde engaged in drama at the time and had since revolted one month later. Notably, former minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who is now a member of the Eknath Shinde faction, stated that although the MLAs of the Shinde camp are prepared to take the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, the Eknath Shinde faction should receive first recognition. Curiously, the Shinde faction chose the name Shiv Sena Balasaheb for their organisation. As the Chief Minister stated that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder, the Uddhav faction reacted angrily to the groups name is taken from the founder of the Shiv Sena, Balasaheb Thackeray. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) A former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman who called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home was released from prison on parole Monday, months after his murder conviction was overturned and he was resentenced on a lesser charge. The Minnesota Department of Corrections website said Mohamed Noor, 36, was placed under the supervision of Hennepin County Community Corrections. He was freed 18 days shy of the fifth anniversary of the July 15, 2017, fatal shooting of Justine Ruszczyk Damond, a 40-year-old dual U.S.-Australian citizen and yoga teacher who was engaged to be married. Corrections Department spokesman Nicholas Kimball confirmed that Noor was released Monday morning. He said he couldnt confirm where Noor will be living, but that released offenders are generally supervised by the county where they live. He said Noor was held in North Dakota for most of his sentence and had no disciplinary issues in prison. Noor's attorney, Thomas Plunkett, did not immediately return a call seeking comment. On Friday he said he wanted to respect Noor's privacy. Noor was initially convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter, but last year the Minnesota Supreme Court tossed out his murder conviction and 12 1/2-year sentence, saying that charge didn't apply to the case. He was resentenced to four years and nine months on the manslaughter charge. In Minnesota, its presumed that a defendant with good behavior will serve two-thirds of a sentence in prison and the rest on parole. Noor will be on supervised release until Jan. 24, 2024. Damond's stepmother, Maryan Heffernan, said in a phone interview Friday that the timing of Noor's release so close to the anniversary of Damond's death was painful. Were very disappointed. But were not surprised. Weve been watching events in Minneapolis from miles away and were still bewildered about the charge being dropped and were still bewildered about the culture of the Minneapolis Police Department," Heffernan said. Noor testified in 2019 that he and his partner were driving slowly in an alley when a loud bang on their police SUV made him fear for their lives. He said a woman appeared at the partners drivers side window and raised her right arm before he fired a shot from the passenger seat to stop what he thought was a threat. Noor, who is Somali American, was believed to be the first Minnesota officer convicted of murder for an on-duty shooting. Since Noor's conviction, former Minneapolis Officer Derek Chauvin, who is white, was convicted of murder in the May 2020 killing of George Floyd, a Black man who was pinned to the pavement under Chauvin's knee. After Noors conviction, Minneapolis agreed to pay $20 million to Damonds family. Page Content In preparation for this years 159th Emancipation Day celebration on July 1st, the Department of Culture is inviting all interested citizens and persons residing on Sint Maarten to learn the Ponum Dance as part of the festivities that includes the reenactment of the Diamond 26 Run For Freedom. The free Ponum Dance workshop will be held at the John Larmonie Center on Monday, June 27th 2022 at 7:00 pm in which attendees will view the Ponum Dance documentary, learn its history and experience the historical importance of this cultural dance expression. Emancipation Day is a day to celebrate and come together as a people to reflect on the voices of our ancestors and their experiences as we stand on their shoulders. Together the people of Sint Maarten must work collectively as one nation to retain its cultural and economic momentum, by redefining the strengths of our legacy in order to pay homage to the ancestors that fought for their human rights to be a free people. Emancipation Day 2022 with the theme Ancestral Echos, will mark the 159th Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Abolishment of Slavery on Sint Maarten. The Minister of Education Culture Youth & Sport, Honorable drs. Rodolphe Samuel will be hosting the celebration event, which will take place on Union Road Cole Bay, June 30th starting at 10:30 pm featuring the Diamond 26 Run For Freedom that goes right into July 1st with a cultural manifestation at the Belle Vue Saint Jean Plantation. Emancipation Day, was the first public holiday established by the Parliament of Sint Maarten since becoming a Country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands, as such the Government of Sint Maarten would like the community to take a moment to reflect on our past triumphs and tribulations as a people. Many believed the road to our freedom on the Southern side of the island was easy and granted to us by the European powers. Contrary to popular belief, our ancestors fought for their freedom. The strong and resilient Sint Maarteners of that era were a people that were aware that the former enslaved persons on the Northern part of the island were freemen as of 1848 and many of them ran away from the deplorable conditions that they were forced into. These actions by the enslaved persons seeking their freedom culminated in the Proclamation of the Abolishment of Slavery as the European powers knew that slave labor system could not continue as it did for so many years. Freedom for the enslaved ancestors was inevitable. There are many accounts of rebellion and resistance towards the oppressive slave system such as the Diamond 26 Run for Freedom and the expressions of the Ponum Dance and Song. File Photo The Ponum Dance being performed at the Freedom Fighter Roundabout during the Emancipation Day 2020 celebrations. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CONCORD, N.H. (AP) Care for a hint of crab in your whiskey? A New Hampshire distillery has come up with its newest concoction called Crab Trapper" whiskey flavored with invasive green crabs. Tamworth Distilling, a maker of craft spirits, is not afraid of pushing boundaries with unexpected flavors. In the past, the distillery produced a whiskey with the secretion from beavers' castor sacs. Last year, it was turkey over the holidays and before that the notoriously pungent smell of durian. The company said the body of this peculiar brew has hints of maple, vanilla oak, clove, cinnamon and allspice. And no, you won't get any crab legs in the drink. WHY DID THE COMPANY CHOOSE GREEN CRABS? Searching for a fresh flavor, Tamworth Distilling cast its eye to the sea. Distiller Matt Power said the company heard about the problems caused by the invasive green crabs from the University of New Hampshire Extension's Gabriela Bradt. The crabs, which came over on ships from Europe in the mid-1800s and landed on Cape Cod, have taken the region by storm. These saucer-size crustaceans with a murky green color have decimated the area's marine ecosystem, outcompeting native species for food and shelter. Bradt, a fisheries extension specialist, said the crabs are so numerous that they have really impacted shellfish habitats and fisheries because they are also voracious predators." A good example, she said, was the soft-shell clam fishery, which has suffered millions of dollars in losses. HOW DO YOU MAKE CRAB WHISKEY? The crabs, caught off the coast of New Hampshire by fisherman Dwight Souther, are taken to the distillery, where they are boiled to produce what Power called a stout crab broth. Power said the broth is fortified with alcohol then goes through a distillation process that separates out the funky smells of the crab from the more inviting aromas. The goal, Power said, is to get rid of the smells he compared to tidal flats, leaving behind those that might be reminiscent of the sea breeze on a warm day down by the coast. Then, the distillery adds a corn and spice mixture that includes coriander, cinnamon, bay leaf and mustard seed. That mixture is then added to a cask of the distillery's bourbon that has been aged for several years. WHAT DOES THE WHISKEY TASTE LIKE? The company said the body of this peculiar brew has hints of maple and vanilla oak and finishes with heavier notes of clove, cinnamon and allspice. What it doesn't have is anything that might be associated with a crab dinner: Even though the distillery uses about a pound of crabs for each bottle of whiskey, you won't get any crab meat, shells or claws with your shot. The distillery's sales manager, Jillian Anderson, said the whiskey, available on site, at Philadelphias Art in the Age and online, has grown in popularity. At the distillery's tasting room, Anderson said, customers have been intrigued but a little hesitant until they hear the story behind the whiskey. CAN THIS WHISKEY GET RID OF THESE INVASIVE CRABS? The short answer is no. As Power said, they would have to greatly increase their whiskey production to put a dent in green crab numbers. But there are other efforts underway to address the crab threat. For the past six years, Bradt said, the NH Green Crab Project has been working to come up with uses for the crabs similar to the fishery for soft-shell blue crabs, such as using the green crabs for bait, compost and adding them to the menu of local seafood restaurants. Some places, including Ipswich, Massachusetts, have a bounty program that pays fishermen to remove the crabs from the estuaries. But Bradt acknowledged that until those efforts reach a much larger scale, they are unlikely to have a significant impact on crab population numbers. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MADRID (AP) U.S. first lady Jill Biden has some company on a trip to Spain: two of her granddaughters. Biden opened the visit to Madrid on Monday by meeting with Queen Letizia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. They later toured the headquarters of the Spanish Association Against Cancer. The first lady is an advocate for research into a cancer cure. She lost her adult son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015. Several of her girlfriends also succumbed to breast cancer. She arrived in Madrid on Sunday, before President Joe Biden, who is set to arrive Tuesday to attend the annual NATO summit. I brought my two granddaughters, the first lady told Letizia as they chatted at the palace. We stayed up and, you know, had a glass of wine. Her adult granddaughters Maisy and Finnegan Finnegan was already in Spain when the first lady arrived did not join her palace visit. They were at the U.S. Embassy visiting with Ambassador Julissa Reynoso, formerly the first lady's chief of staff, Biden said. The first lady also paid a courtesy call on Begona Gomez, the wife of President Pedro Sanchez. On Tuesday, Jill Biden and Letizia will visit a greeting center in Madrid for Ukrainian refugees taken in by Spain and meet with Ukrainian families in Madrid. She and the president will attend a NATO dinner on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the first lady will participate in the agenda for spouses of the NATO country leaders, including visits to Madrids Prado and Reina Sofia museums, before she flies back to Washington. President Biden will depart for Washington on Thursday after the NATO summit ends. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SAN DIEGO (AP) A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. The 348-foot-long (106-meter-long) Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge. The Department of Justice said the Amadea was safely docked after a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers) and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale. The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies. The U.S. won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland. The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russias unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine, the Justice Department said. NEW HAVEN The family of Richard Randy Cox, the 36-year-old who is believed to have been paralyzed during transport by New Haven police, and civil rights attorney Ben Crump will speak Tuesday during a news conference outside Superior Court on Elm Street. Crump was part of the legal team that secured a $27 million settlement for the family of George Floyd, who was killed during an encounter with Minneapolis police in May 2020, sparking nationwide protests. The press conference, at which Coxs family will be present, will be held at 11 a.m. outside the courthouse at 121 Elm St. The NAACP is planning a community meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Stetson Branch Library, located in the Q House, 197 Dixwell Ave. Crump will be present there, as well. Five New Haven officers have been placed on paid administrative leave after Cox was injured following his arrest for allegedly possessing a gun at a block party June 18. State police are conducting an investigation. Cox was unsecured in a police transport van when the officer driving stopped abruptly, causing him to be thrown and injured, according to city accounts and Crump, who recently joined the familys legal team with co-counsel Jack ODonnell. Police videos show Cox slamming his head into the front wall of the van and then crying for help and saying he couldnt move. He was driven to police headquarters, taken from the van and brought to a cell in a wheelchair, which Mayor Justin Elicker has said violated police procedures. Randys quality of life will forever be diminished by the irresponsible actions of Oscar Diaz and the other New Haven police officers while he was under their custody, Crump said Monday in a statement. Law enforcement respecting every life they interact with and are responsible for is imperative to building trust with communities they serve, especially communities of color, he said. As Randy Cox continues to fight for his life and future, we will fight for justice for him, his family and the New Haven community. Attorney Jack ODonnell, who visited Cox Sunday and has been in touch with his family, said Monday that Cox is still paralyzed from midchest down, has had two surgeries and will soon undergo spinal surgery in hopes of relieving his paralysis. Theyre hopeful, ODonnell said of Coxs family. Not optimistic, but hopeful. ODonnell, who said he has been Coxs attorney for several years, said one arm is paralyzed. The other has very minimal use. He cant talk because hes on a breathing tube and hes intubated, so we communicated by eye blinks and head nods, ODonnell said. Floyds death sparked protests nationally and in Connecticut. The states 2020 police accountability law, which placed investigations into police use of deadly force in the hands of an independent inspector general, was passed in part based on allegations of wrongdoing made against the Minneapolis police. Officers Ronald Pressley, Jocelyn Lavandier and Luis Rivera, who were in the detention area and involved in handling Cox, were placed on leave Thursday. Officer Oscar Diaz, who was driving the van, and Sgt. Betsy Segui were placed on leave earlier last week. Police are reviewing their procedures for transport and for treating arrestees who have medical needs. In his statement, Crump contended that Cox was thrown head-first into the back wall of the police transport van and was still lying on the floor when he told officers he wasnt able to move. He was not offered immediate medical aid, and then was dragged off the van by the feet and thrown into a wheelchair that may have exacerbated his life-threatening injuries, Crump said in the statement. Mayor Justin Elicker last week called the handling of the incident by city police quite concerning. While in custody, police have an obligation to treat every individual in a manner than ensures their safety and well-being, Elicker said after reviewing videos of the police handling of the injury. Some of the actions taken by the officers in my personal judgment fall short of that. Acting Police Chief Regina Rush-Kittle confirmed last week that Cox may be paralyzed and the injury stemmed from an abrupt stop an officer made to avoid being involved in a crash while on the way to the police station. Scot X. Esdaile, state president of the NAACP and national criminal justice chairman, said, I travel the country with Ben Crump because we do a lot of cases together. He said they had just come back from Buffalo, N.Y., where a mass shooting took place in a grocery store on May 14. Ten Black people were killed. Esdaile said the Cox case is similar to the Freddie Gray case in Baltimore in 2015, in which Gray was injured inside the police van and died a week later from injuries to his spinal cord. The city of Baltimore reached a $6.4 million settlement with Grays family before they filed suit. Im seeing that the mayor and the Police Department are stating that this is not a reflection of the NHPD, but I think they have their heads in the sand because this type of behavior has been happening in New Haven for many, many years. He called the response of the police and the mayor shallow rhetoric. Esdaile said Elicker promised after the death of George Floyd in 2020 that he would ensure that such an incident would not happen in New Haven. We want a concrete plan to come up with comprehensive changes for this culture of police brutality in the city of New Haven, he said. He said the problem is a national one. Im glad Ben Crump is coming into town, Esdaile said. Im glad theres going to be a national light on the New Haven Police Department. We absolutely have more work to do but we have made significant progress over these last several years, Elicker said in response to Esdaile. After George Floyd, we began fundamentally rethinking public safety in our city, he said. Weve created the Office of Community Resiliency, under which we house departments that confront challenges around public safety in all their complexity, associated with substance use, homelessness, gun violence to think more holistically about how to ensure public safety. The mayor added, Weve held officers accountable, including firing some officers when they have acted inappropriately. He said he has added several nationally renowned police reform experts to the Police Commission and the next class of recruits has received special training in de-escalation. ODonnell said a newly released documentary, Civil: Ben Crump, which is being streamed on Netflix, will be shown at Yale University. Were just trying to see if we can get Yale student involved, just trying to rally the community, he said. lisa.backus@hearstmediact.com; edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com, 203-988-5387 This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Seven states are set to host primary elections Tuesday as the nation comes to terms with last week's stunning Supreme Court ruling eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion. This week's nominating contests could offer the first clues as to whether the political landscape has shifted. Abortion is particularly relevant in Colorado, where GOP voters are deciding whether to nominate a rare abortion-rights-supporting Republican for U.S. Senate. And in Illinois, a Donald Trump-backed congresswoman ignited a political firestorm over the weekend by celebrating the overturning of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life, phrasing that her spokesman later called a stumble and was meant to be right to life. The primaries will also offer new insight about the state of the Republican Party, with the central issue in virtually every GOP contest being fealty to Trump and his baseless conspiracy theories. Those Republicans who have pushed back at all, including a senator in Oklahoma and a congressman in Mississippi, are facing fierce challenges. Democrats have their own challenges. Illinois voters will decide a rare incumbent-on-incumbent primary for a House seat, while in South Carolina, Democrats are picking which candidate will take on South Carolina Republican Sen. Tim Scott this fall. In all, primary elections are playing out across Colorado, Illinois, Mississippi, New York, Oklahoma, South Carolina and Utah on Tuesday. Nebraska is holding a special election. What to watch: COLORADO GOP businessman Joe ODea, who has spoken publicly about his support for abortion rights, is running for the nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet this fall. O'Dea's top rival is state Rep. Ron Hanks, who opposes abortion in all circumstances and attended the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. O'Dea said he backs a ban on late-term abortions and government funding of abortions, but the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the initial months is between a person and their God. While Colorado has trended Democratic over the past decade, Tuesdays top Republican primary contests will show whether far-right candidates are making progress in their quest to take on uncontested Democrats like Bennet, Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jena Griswold, whos led the national fight against 2020 election deniers. One of them is Republican Tina Peters, a conspiracy-theorist county elections clerk whos been indicted for tampering with voting equipment and posting data online. Peters wants to unseat Griswold as Colorados top elections official despite calls from the state GOP for Peters to suspend her campaign. She's running against Republican Pam Anderson, a former head of the states clerks association and defender of Colorados mail-in elections system. Colorados congressional primaries will measure the staying power of first-term GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert in a sprawling western Colorado district that leans more Republican after redistricting. Shes up against state Sen. Don Coram, a hemp farmer and GOP moderate. In the Republican race to take on Polis, a former suburban Denver mayor, Greg Lopez, is facing Heidi Ganahl, the lone statewide-elected Republican as a University of Colorado regent. ILLINOIS As he is in most GOP contests, Trump is a central issue in Illinois' Republican primary for governor. Darren Bailey, a conservative farmer who earned Trump's endorsement over the weekend and often reads from the Bible in campaign videos, is part of a six-candidate Republican field. His rivals include Richard Irvin, the first Black mayor of Aurora, Illinois second-largest city, who had $50 million in support from billionaire Ken Griffin but was heavily targeted by Democrats who see Bailey as an easier matchup for Pritzker. While Trump endorsed Bailey, he also campaigned alongside first-term Rep. Mary Miller, who is challenging five-term Rep. Rodney Davis in one of the state's two incumbent-on-incumbent primaries. But at Saturday's rally, Miller described the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life. A spokesperson later said she had intended to say the decision was a victory for a right to life. But the Illinois congresswoman is no stranger to provocative statements. Soon after joining the House, Miller quoted Adolf Hitler, saying he was right to say that whoever has the youth has the future. Davis is a powerful, more moderate lawmaker who is the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, which deals with election legislation and the Capitol complex. Meanwhile, two Democratic incumbents Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman are facing off for a Chicago-area seat. Also on the Democratic side, about two dozen candidates are fighting to succeed Rep. Bobby Rush, the only lawmaker to ever defeat Barack Obama. They include John Jackson, son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Karin Norington-Reaves, who has Rushs endorsement. NEW YORK Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was vaulted into office last fall when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, is trying to hold on to her job. Hochul, a Democrat from western New York, is facing challenges from New York Citys elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate congressman from Long Island. Tuesdays elections cover New York's statewide offices and state assembly races, but primary elections for U.S. House seats and the state Senate will be held Aug. 23. Those elections were delayed because of a redistricting lawsuit that led a court to throw out new political maps. Hochul, who was Cuomo's lieutenant governor for six years, promised to restore New Yorkers' faith in its government after stepping into the office last summer, but she hit a major stumbling block in April, when her handpicked lieutenant governor was arrested in a federal corruption probe. Williams, a progressive running to Hochuls left, said Hochul is either consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction. Suozzi, running to Hochul's right, says she's not being tough enough on crime, suggesting she should have gone further to harden the states bail law. On the Republican side, Rep. Lee Zeldin is considered the front-runner in a crowded field that features Andrew Giuliani, the son of New York Citys former mayor Rudy Giuliani; Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; and businessman Harry Wilson. Former Vice President Mike Pence has endorsed Zeldin, who also enjoys the backing of the state GOP and Conservative Party, but Trump has stayed out of the race. UTAH The Republican primary for U.S. Senate pits one of Trumps closest allies, GOP incumbent Sen. Mike Lee, against two challengers who have spent months questioning if Lees loyalty to the former president will hurt Utah residents. Former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political operative Ally Isom have attacked Lee as a divisive politician who cares less about governing than about television appearances and winning Trump's favor. Unlike Lee, neither voted for Trump in 2020. Both Republican challengers have highlighted the post-election text messages Lee sent to Trumps chief of staff, which show his early involvement in efforts to overturn the election. Edwards has also stood out by saying she disagreed with the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to revisit Roe v. Wade. The Senate primary is testing whether Trump's brand of divisive politics and conspiracy theories resonates with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who make up a majority of Utahs population. In November, the winner will take on independent Evan McMullin, a former Republican who won backing from the state Democratic Party in April. MISSISSIPPI Congressional primary runoffs are rare in Mississippi, but on Tuesday, two of the states Republican incumbents are fighting to keep their jobs in runoffs against challengers from their own party. Rep. Steven Palazzo is seeking a seventh term and was considered vulnerable after being accused in a 2021 congressional ethics report of abusing his office by misspending campaign funds. Rep. Michael Guest is seeking a third term. He voted to create an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and was forced into a runoff amid criticism that he was disloyal to Trump. Both Palazzo and Guest failed to cross the 50% threshold to win outright in their June 7 primaries. Palazzo is facing Mike Ezell, the sheriff of a coastal county, while Guest is going up against Michael Cassidy, a former Navy fighter pilot who has highlighted his allegiance to Trump. OKLAHOMA Republicans are picking two U.S. Senate nominees on Tuesday. A crowd of high-profile GOP contenders is vying to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe, including Trump's former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, who resigned from his Washington post under a cloud of ethics scandals. Other candidates include Rep. Markwayne Mullin; T.W. Shannon, the state legislature's first Black House speaker; and Luke Holland, Inhofe's longtime chief of staff. Republican Sen. James Lankford is facing a primary test of his own that centers on Trump. Lankford, among the Senate's most conservative members, has faced backlash from Trump loyalists for not embracing the former president's lies about election fraud. Lankford is facing Tulsa evangelical pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, a political newcomer endorsed by Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser. NEBRASKA A judge on Tuesday will sentence longtime Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry on campaign contribution charges on the same day voters will decide who should serve out the Republicans term. Fortenberry resigned in March. Republican Mike Flood will be favored to win the election in the Republican-leaning district over Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks. Both are state legislators. Regardless of who wins the special election, Flood and Pansing Brooks will face off again in the November general election. The eastern Nebraska district includes Lincoln and parts of suburban Omaha as well as rural area. ___ Associated Press writers Michelle Price in New York; Sara Burnett in Chicago; Sam Metz in Salt Lake City; Jim Anderson in Denver; Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb.; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report. ___ This story has been corrected to show that Irvin represents Illinois' second-largest city, not Illinois' second-largest suburb. A former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinu... A former Borno State governor, Kashim Shettima has said the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has nipped the crisis in the Senate caucus of the party in the bud. On Sunday, Shettima led some APC senators to meet with Tinubu in Abuja. Speaking with reporters after the meeting, he said Tinubu had helped to address the pressing issues among senators in the ruling party. He also said the lawmakers were ready to work for the progress of the APC in the 2023 elections. These senators are accomplished individuals in their own right, who have a lot of value-addition capabilities. We believe his (Tinubu) intercession will go a long way to avoid an implosion in the party. We had a very productive cross-pollination of ideas with our distinguished brothers and I believe we have succeeded in nipping in the bud whatever that is forthcoming, Shettima said. Page Content New agreements for improving healthcare in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands have worked together intensively to cope as well as possible with the COVID-19 pandemic in the Caribbean. These experiences in times of crisis have made it extra clear how important good cooperation is for improving health care for residents of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The four countries have made agreements in Aruba this week to take new steps in the coming period. The agreements include improving pandemic preparedness in the Caribbean region, cooperation in crisis situations such as hurricanes, prevention policy such as combating obesity and improved hospital cooperation, so that the quality of care can be improved and, for example, nursing staff can be trained jointly. Sint Maarten will take the lead in the following topics: Crisis and disasters, prevention and Mental Health. Representatives of the Ministries of Health of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and the Netherlands and representatives from the healthcare field and the health insurers met in Aruba in the week of 20 June for the fourth four-country consultation. The countries note that there are similarities and differences in the healthcare systems and that there are more opportunities for cooperation to strengthen healthcare within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The following topics were discussed: implementation of the international health regulation (IHL), pandemic preparedness, cooperation in crises and disasters, legislation in mental health care, prevention, quality frameworks and accreditation of healthcare professionals and institutions, care training and education and cooperation between the hospitals in the form of the Dutch Caribbean Hospital Alliance (DCHA). More intensive collaboration Various actions were formulated during the four-country consultation and various working groups will be set up in the coming period to give substance to the agreements made. The agreements that will be further elaborated include: investing in a surveillance system for monitoring infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, cooperating on access to medicines and medical materials in preparation for pandemics and disasters in the region, exchanging knowledge about health-promoting interventions, setting up joint quality frameworks/systems and creating a trajectory for students from the Caribbean area to progress to medical specialization in the European Netherlands or CAS-BES. In the context of the hospital cooperation DCHA, it will be possible to work more intensively in other areas with a view to promoting efficiency, quality and sustainability of care for the region. Topics where cooperation is continued and expanded concern joint purchasing, training and education, pandemic preparedness and efficient organization of hospital care on the islands. The is an example of teamwork and proof that together we can accomplish a lot more. The countries were in discussions for several months to ensure that this agreement benefits the people. The agreement extends way more than just a hospital agreement. It touches the quality of care, sickness prevention, mental health, and education improvement. Said Ottley. Enthusiasm and trust Minister Oduber (Aruba), Minister Pietersz-Janga (Curacao), Minister Ottley (Sint Maarten) and State Secretary Van Ooijen (The Netherlands) look forward to the collaboration with great enthusiasm and confidence in the importance of guaranteeing and making the care for the inhabitants of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom more sustainable. The next four-country public health consultation is scheduled for May 2023. The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the 2023 general elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sunday, ... The Presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC for the 2023 general elections, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Sunday, said that he was still searching for a running mate. It will be recalled that he had submitted the name of Alhaji Kabir Ibrahim Masari, a Katsina politician to the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC to beat the deadline given by the electoral umpire. However, recent events had indicated that the name was a placeholder for the real running mate. Speaking during a presentation of the book Mr Speakerand unveiling of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative to mark the 60 birthday of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila in Abuja, Tinubu who hailed the healthy relationship the Speaker shared with his deputy, Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase said he was still searching. He appreciated Gbajabiamila for the role he played during the APC presidential primaries to facilitate his victory. He said: As a Minority Leader, he consulted widely then and hes always there to see the thinking of opposition that we must bring a revolution to the house to be able to beat the PDP. And then, he will brainstorm for any length of time that you want a lecture about political strategy. When we needed to challenge for the position of the speaker, I think after our merger, he worked me tirelessly, Femi is a workaholic. The problem of failure stared him at the face. He lost the election to become the Speaker. I was close to tears, standing my foot to the ground. We will win again. Femi, keep on picking yourself up. I am very proud of you that you did. You didnt give up. You did the opposition and the support job. You demonstrated what we learnt from the textbooks, and other authors. That life is not about education of one section of the society. Remember what we discussed about paying the WAEC fee of Omo Iya oniboli (the Son of the Woman who roasts plantain), and my Mum was alive then, asking me to see to it each time I have her money. It doesnt last. And I said whatever you do with the money, I dont know. Mama will say no, those women there they are mothers. They want to pay WAEC fees. And Femi was one of the first I consulted. Are we going to say that the children of the poor are not deserving becoming Governors, Doctors and Engineers? I said I was afraid. He said do it. So that is how a junior brother can inspire a senior leader. Femi with your determination and reach, you are a contributor to our democratic growth, thank you. You have character. You are a great mentor and you are doing a good job charting a path to success. Youve done a good job and I say thank you, thank you. What you did during my primary (Presidential election) is a story for another day. Ive spent more time, too many times and people might be bored, they might be envious too. They might be jealous. I won landslide. I thank you. I could see a Deputy (Wase) sitting down there too. You are a very good symbol of unity, dependability, and honesty. Thank you. Thank you for both of you. Youve not rocked the boat. I will need to learn from both of you how you made the pair work because Im still searching for my running mate. President Muhammadu Buhari who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari described Gbajabiamila as a true Patriot, skillful parliamentarian who worked for the unity of the country. For him, what matters is not so much the party differences but what unites Nigerians and that is why he is a passionate advocate for a peace democracy and unity of Nigeria. And no amount of parliamentary maneuvers or differences between parties would deviate him from this. He introduced the term legislative diplomacy. When there were issues between Nigerian and Ghanaian traders. He went to Accra and met with his colleagues and tried to resolve the issue. Mr President is very proud of the fact that he did not need to interfere in how the National Assembly runs because he had trust in the capacity in the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives and therefore he feels that with capable hands in both chambers of the NASS there is no need to interfere. It is also a fact that under the Speaker and leadership of the senate there is no automaticity of opposition and antagonism to the executive. The role of legislature is not to be antagonistic as a matter of routine, but to be partners for good governance for the people of Nigeria. They are working together to make Nigeria better, he said. In his remarks, Gbajabiamila said he had benefited immensely from wisdom of his mentors like Tinubu, pledging to also assist others. My life is a testament to the transformative effect of the right kind of mentorship. I have benefitted from the wisdom and guidance of mentors who took an interest in me, supported my aspirations and provided me with the resources to thrive as a lawyer in the private sector and in public service. I intend, through the Legislative Mentoring Initiative (LMI), to try to do the same for others. The Legislative Mentoring Initiative (LMI) is a youth leadership development programme to identify, equip and empower a new generation of young people to lead in government and public service, particularly in the legislature. The Initiative will focus on training young people for the legislature because I believe that the legislature is the soul of the nation. Through law making and appropriations, the legislature defines the present and shapes the future of a nation. Legislative priorities speak to the character of a country and reflect the values and culture of the society. Therefore, developing a deep bench of young people from across the country who understand the legislative function and can perform optimally in different capacities within the federal and state legislatures is imperative. Through a rigorous and impactful mentorship programme, the Initiative will provide young people with practical tools to awaken their desire to serve the nation and strengthen their capacity to do so effectively. The course will include a hands-on internship programme, a Distinguished Speaker Series, and post-fellowship job placements, he said. The Speaker however appealed to Tinubu to consult him in choosing his running mate. As a parting shot, I will like to say you should consult with his younger brother (Gbajabiamila), but this time it wont be for free, he said. Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Osia, who was abducted by gunmen early hour of today in Edo State has been reportedly killed. The pries... Catholic Priest, Rev. Father Osia, who was abducted by gunmen early hour of today in Edo State has been reportedly killed. The priest was kidnapped Ikabigbo community of Etsako West Local Government Area of the state on Sunday morning. Fellow Catholic Priest, Fr Kelvin Ugwu confirmed the killing in a post on his verified Facebook page on Sunday night. He wrote, Sad News: The priest of Auchi diocese, Rev Fr Christopher Osia, that was kidnapped this morning the 26th of June 2022 on his wa Birth certificate of Ekweremadu kidney donor shows hes 21, says immigrationy to mass has been killed. Details of the incident are sketchy as at the time of filing this report. Bandits operating at Mada district of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State have taken over total control of the area, residents say. I... Bandits operating at Mada district of Gusau Local Government Area, Zamfara State have taken over total control of the area, residents say. Investigation carried out by Daily Post revealed that the people of the district have deserted the entire area following incessant terror attacks by the men of the underworld. This medium reports that at the roadside between Kotorkoshi and Mada town, many villagers were now refugees, erecting their tents along the road because the bandits have overpowered the security operatives. According to one Mallan Ibrahim Mada, we have not taken our baths for some days now because the notorious bandits have hijacked the entire area as they have overpowered the security operatives. As I am talking to you now, I dont know the whereabouts of my two wives and children and I dont know whether they have been kidnapped or they escaped to another area. We have no other means of livelihood except farming but we have been banned from our farming activities by bandits. The only wife and children with me now have entered Kotorkoshi village to beg for food for us to survive. It was reported that the commissioner of information, Hon. Ibrahim Magaji Dosara and that of Security and Internal Affairs confirmed that Mada district have been witnessing incessant terror attacks. They spoke during their recent press briefing in Gusau, the State capital. They admitted that the escalating rate of banditry activities in the axis had forced the State government to shut down all the markets and filling stations in the affected areas. The State government is aware of the plight of the people due to banditry activities bedeviling the entire area; we, therefore, decided to shut down all the markets and filling stations to reduce the incessant terror attacks in the axis. We engaged the Federal Government into dialogue so that it can approve our request for everyone that is qualified to be carrying weapons for self-defense to reduce the tension, the commissioners stated. Tracy Kennan is curator of education at the New Orleans Museum of Art Before Nathanial Zimet opened Boucherie, his modern Southern bistro, and before its casual smokehouse spinoff Bourree around the corner, the chef made his name with a big purple food truck called the Que Crawl. That was shortly after Hurricane Katrina, and the Que Crawl was perhaps the first of the modern food trucks to roll in New Orleans as the truck trend revved up nationally. Those early experiences were on Zimets mind as he worked out a new plan for Bourree this summer. Starting this week and continuing through July, the indoor/outdoor space on South Carrollton Avenue will become what the chef calls a pop-up incubator. There are so many interesting pop-ups doing different things out there now we should be finding ways to encourage that, Zimet said. So each weekend, a different pop-up will take over Bourree for a three-day stand. That starts July 1-3 with Joels Lobster Rolls, serving the specialty of New England summers here in New Orleans. Bourree will remain open with its own limited summer menu for lunch and dinner and live music outdoors on Wednesday and Thursdays. Then from Friday through Sunday, the pop-up of the week will have full run of the place, starting from 4 p.m. While pop-ups typically work around the host venue, often setting up for the night outside a bar or taproom, Zimets incubator idea is aimed at letting their operators test drive their concepts in a more conventional restaurant setting. This will give them a feel for how the concept could work if they turn it into a restaurant, because they get to prep in the space, keep their refrigeration in the space, come back to the same space the next day, all the things you dont usually have as a pop-up, said Zimet. Itll give a better feel for what this is like as a restaurant. Lobster rolling That was music to the ears of Joel Griffin. He's the Connecticut transplant and recent Tulane University grad who started Joel's Lobster Rolls earlier this year with a maxed-out credit card and a hunch that he could fill a niche for lobster rolls here. The sandwich is everywhere in his native New England, especially in summertime, but he could not find one in his adopted home and saw an opportunity. The upcoming stint at Bourree will give him a chance to more fully test the concept. Theyve being very generous about this, it's a breath of fresh air, he said of Bourree. Set up and break down is pretty tough for a pop-up, so the difference between having a commercial kitchen and having a pop-up is huge. You just bring your food and yourself." Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up This weekend youll find his Connecticut-style lobster rolls, which are served hot with a drizzle of butter, a regional variety that differs from the more common chilled lobster rolls. While lobster rolls may be unfamiliar to some, the appeal is elemental - sweet, plump claw and knuckle meat bathed in butter and packed into a hot dog bun that's also been slathered in butter in crisped on the griddle. Griffin also has a hybrid, adding a drizzle of lobster bisque over the top, an accommodation he made for some among his New Orleans clientele. "They tell me they like it, but the New Orleans people always want a sauce," he said. Pop-ups and openings After Joels Lobster Rolls this weekend, the pop-up Sexy Meatballs is booked for July 8-10, and Kuisina brings its Filipino-inspired flavors July 22-24. Bourree has open dates availale July 15-17 and July 20-31 (email info@boucherie-nola.com to inquire). Zimet first went into business for himself in 2006. The North Carolina native had lots of New Orleans restaurant experience by then but little money. He decided to go mobile, and hit the streets that year with a food truck dubbed the Que Crawl. Parked outside Tipitinas for late-night sessions, word spread of his boudin balls, crawfish beignets and pulled pork with purple slaw. Soon, more of his business was from fellow chefs and restaurant staff coming by after their shifts than from the clubgoers. Boucherie opened two years later, while Bourree followed in 2015. Bourree 1510 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) Regular service, limited menu Wed. and Thu.(11 a.m.-9 p.m.) Pop-up schedule (all 4-10 p.m.) July 1-3: Joels Lobster Rolls July 8-10: Sexy Meatballs July 15-17: tba July 22-24: KusinaNola July 29-31: tba +9 Ian McNulty: This crawfish starts with garlic butter, adds cultural pride, makes statement Crawfish is a Louisiana staple that seems endlessly open for customization. Gather any number of people around a boiling pot and you can have Fully stocked, packed an evacuation bag and ready for anything We've got canned goods, but still need some things, like water and a radio I'm way, way behind Got 10 boxes of Cosmic Brownies and that's all I need Vote View Results Madisonville resident Ralph Oneal is hosting one final workshop in Slidell to benefit senior citizens before his retirement from the nonprofit American Elder Abuse Conference he has been with since it began in 2007. As the fight over abortion rights shifted to courthouses around the country on Monday, Louisiana took center stage, when abortion providers successfully won a temporary injunction by challenging the state's "trigger" ban and clinics announced they would resume procedures in the coming days. Update: Abortions to resume at Louisiana's three clinics, after judge issues temporary injunction against state ban The clinics in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport shut their doors on Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark case that established the constitutional right to abortion. The high court's ruling paved the way for Louisiana to immediately enact a dormant set of laws banning both surgical and medication abortions, without exception for cases of rape or incest. How will Louisiana enforce its criminal abortion laws? Officials arent sure yet As Louisiana enters an era in which abortion rights will be decided by a vehemently anti-abortion state government, observers and advocates ar Medical providers on Monday sued the state of Louisiana, arguing that the overlapping web of laws were "unconstitutionally vague." Hours later, Orleans Parish Civil District Judge Robin Giarrusso, a Democrat first elected to the bench in 1988, granted a temporary restraining order, barring the state from enforcing its ban. In response to the order, the clinics reopened their doors. They "plan to resume providing the procedures as soon as possible in the coming days," according to Ellie Schilling, the lead lawyer in the lawsuit. Judge Ethel Simms Julien, also a Democrat, will hold a hearing on the preliminary injunction July 8. The plaintiffs in the case include the Hope Medical Group for Women, which operates the Shreveport clinic, as well as the New Orleans chapter of the nonprofit Medical Students for Choice. The lawsuit argues that New Orleans is the proper jurisdiction for the case because that's where the nonprofit, comprised of medical students from Tulane University and LSU, operates. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The petition names as defendants Attorney General Jeff Landry and Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Courtney Phillips. Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judge's ruling and enforce the law. "We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, which the citizens elect representatives," Landry tweeted Monday. "We are fully prepared to defend these laws in our state courts, just as we have in our federal courts." Louisiana passed its first trigger law in 2006 under then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco. Another piece of legislation, signed last week by Gov. John Bel Edwards, sought to clarify that law. Plaintiffs say its only muddied the waters. The lawsuit argues the states trigger laws are vague and fail to outline constitutionally guaranteed notice of exactly what conduct is prohibited, if any, and when. It notes, for example, that the statutes permit abortions for medically futile pregnancies. But the list of what is considered medically futile has not yet been promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Health, as required. They also say the statutes conflict on whether abortion is prohibited after fertilization or implantation. This is a developing story. Check back later for updates. As the battleground over abortion rights shifted Monday to courthouses around the country, Louisiana took center stage when a New Orleans judge temporarily blocked enforcement of a "trigger law" banning abortions and the state's three clinics announced they would resume procedures in the coming days. The clinics in New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Shreveport shut their doors on Friday after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, ending the constitutional protection for abortion and opening the gates for a wave of litigation from all sides. The high court's ruling paved the way for Louisiana to immediately enact a dormant set of laws banning both surgical and medication abortions, without exception for cases of rape or incest. Similar trigger laws were adopted in 13 states in anticipation of the ruling and were designed to take effect swiftly. Abortion providers and advocates on Monday sued the state in Orleans Parish Civil District Court, arguing that the overlapping web of trigger laws was "unconstitutionally vague." Hours later, Judge Robin Giarrusso, a Democrat first elected to the bench in 1988, issued a temporary restraining order, barring the state from enforcing its ban. Clinics reopen doors In response to the order, the clinics said they will reopen their doors. They "plan to resume providing the procedures as soon as possible," according to Ellie Schilling, the lead lawyer in the lawsuit. Judge Ethel Simms Julien, also a Democrat, will hold a hearing on the preliminary injunction July 8. The plaintiffs in the case include the Hope Medical Group for Women, which operates the Shreveport clinic, as well as the New Orleans chapter of the nonprofit Medical Students for Choice. The lawsuit argues that New Orleans is the proper jurisdiction for the case because that's where the nonprofit, comprised of medical students from Tulane University and LSU, operates. How will Louisiana enforce its criminal abortion laws? Officials arent sure yet As Louisiana enters an era in which abortion rights will be decided by a vehemently anti-abortion state government, observers and advocates ar The petition names as defendants Attorney General Jeff Landry, a staunch opponent of abortion, and Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Courtney Phillips. Landry, a Republican, vowed to fight the judge's ruling and enforce the law. "We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, which the citizens elect representatives," Landry tweeted Monday. "We are fully prepared to defend these laws in our state courts, just as we have in our federal courts." Web of trigger laws Louisiana passed its first trigger law in 2006 under then-Gov. Kathleen Blanco. Another piece of legislation, signed last week by Gov. John Bel Edwards, sought to clarify that statute and clear up some of the inconsistencies in anti-abortion laws passed during the past decade. But the plaintiffs say it's only muddied the waters. Under one part of the law, anyone found guilty of performing an abortion could face up to 10 years in prison. Those found guilty of performing late-term abortions, defined as taking place at 15 weeks of gestation or later, would face up to 15 years if convicted. But a portion of the 2006 law says that anyone performing abortions will be subject to a maximum of two years in prison. John Bel Edwards signs strict abortion law with no exception for rape, incest As expected, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced Tuesday that he had signed into law legislation that would close all the abortion clinics in Loui The lawsuit also argues the states trigger laws are vague and fail to outline constitutionally guaranteed notice of exactly what conduct is prohibited, if any, and when. It notes, for example, that the statutes permit abortions for medically futile pregnancies. But the list of what is considered medically futile has not yet been promulgated by the Louisiana Department of Health, as required. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The suit also claims that the statutes conflict on whether abortion is prohibited after fertilization or implantation. Benjamin Clapper, the executive director of Louisiana Right to Life, an anti-abortion group, said he's confident that appellate courts will allow the ban to proceed. "While these matters are still developing, Louisiana law is clear that babies will be protected from abortion when Roe v. Wade is overturned," he wrote. "We are confident that our courts, whether at the district, appellate, or state Supreme Court level, will affirm our laws in time." 'Years of legislative and judicial challenges' Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions and is set to take effect this week. And a hearing was scheduled for Monday afternoon in Utah, where Planned Parenthood challenged a trigger law there that contains narrow exceptions. Abortion rights activists also went to court to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. "The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges," said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. That's likely to be the case in Louisiana. Around the country, challenges to other trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. Laura Herner, a professor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, said other challenges might call into question whether state laws sufficiently and clearly allow for exceptions to protect the life or health of a pregnant woman. ___ Associated Press reporters KEVIN McGILL, AMY FORLITI and GEOFF MULVIHILL contributed to this report Marie Fazio writes for The Times-Picayune | The New Orleans Advocate as a Report For America corps member. Email her at MFazio@theadvocate.com or follow her on Twitter @mariecfazio. To learn more about Report for America and to support our journalism, please click here. As Louisiana enters an era in which abortion rights will be decided by a vehemently anti-abortion state government, observers and advocates are raising a host of legal and practical questions about how the states suddenly viable strict criminal laws on abortion will be enforced. One battle, playing out in a New Orleans courtroom, centers around the three abortion clinics in the state, which until last week provided virtually all abortions to Louisiana residents, as well as some in neighboring states. Under Louisiana's abortion ban, who faces criminal penalties and what are they? Louisiana's new "trigger" law, which went into force when the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, sets out a long list of penalties for If those clinics remain closed, as expected, abortion access in Louisiana will be curtailed in the most dramatic way since the Supreme Court established a right to an abortion nationwide, in 1973. Lawyers for the Shreveport clinic won a temporary stay of the states ban Monday. But even if the clinics are shuttered, enforcing Louisianas criminal laws could prove tricky, giving some people the ability to access abortion in other ways. Louisianas laws subject doctors and others who perform or abet abortions to prison time, but dont penalize mothers. For instance, those who prescribe abortion-inducing drugs to pregnant women are violating Louisiana law. But legal experts say it could be difficult to crack down on those who ship medication from other states. And abortion rights advocates are looking for creative ways to skirt the state law, including getting commitments from sympathetic politicians to refuse to prosecute people who perform abortions. Theyre also examining the possibility of providing abortions on federal property in Louisiana. Orleans Parish District Attorney Jason Williams, for instance, has said he wont bring charges against people who perform abortions, and New Orleans City Councilmember Helena Moreno said shes pushing for a resolution to direct New Orleans police not to arrest people for performing abortions, similar to resolutions in Austin and Atlanta. Moreno said local officials are coordinating with the White House about ways to restore some access. Attorney General Jeff Landry is able to intervene in local criminal matters in only rare cases, said Loren Lampert, head of the Louisiana District Attorneys Association. Observers disagree about whether he has power to prosecute abortion cases without an invitation from the district attorney. Landrys office didnt respond to questions Monday. District attorneys from across the state, many of whom are gathered at a conference in Florida, are discussing how they might go about enforcing the states abortion laws. But Lampert said theres no specific training course for that particular statute. State Sen. Sharon Hewitt, R-Slidell, who passed a bill banning abortion pills through telemedicine, said she believes the state can enforce her law. She said it was written with input from Landry and district attorneys. And she suggested Landrys internet crimes division could seek to prosecute those who ship pills through telemedicine or other means. Observers predict the vast majority of doctors, deterred by the mandatory prison sentence theyd face if getting convicted, will refuse to perform surgical abortions in the state even if the enforcement protocols remain murky. In recent years, medication abortions have gained more popularity: More than half of all abortions are now done through pills, according to the Guttmacher institute. The two-pill regimen involves mifepristone and misoprostol, which are approved through 10 weeks of pregnancy. NOLA Business Insider The biggest stories in business, delivered to you every day. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up If people obtain the pills through the mail from out of state, it could be difficult for authorities to enforce Louisianas ban, even though Gov. John Bel Edwards signed a new law this year making such shipments illegal. I dont see a basis for prosecuting, said Stephen Griffin, a constitutional law professor at Tulane University. Theres no one to grab on to. Theres no one to prosecute. You can try to make it as difficult as possible for people to receive the pills. But the state doesnt control the mail. Still, one legal expert told Reuters that doctors in states where abortion is legal could lose their licenses for prescribing the pills to women in states where its criminalized. The federal government typically governs commerce and crime conducted across state lines. GenBioPro, which produces one of the two drugs used in a medication abortion, is challenging a Mississippi law banning telemedicine for the drugs, similar to Louisianas law. The drugmaker argues that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, which allows the pill to be distributed using telemedicine, supersedes the state. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said states cant ban a drug because they disagree with the FDA, though the Supreme Court ruling tossing out Roes protections raises questions about whether states can prohibit it for moral reasons and the like. Dane Ciolino, a law professor at Loyola, said there likely wont be many enforcement opportunities for district attorneys in Louisiana, given how harsh the penalties are for performing an abortion. Louisianas laws subject doctors to up to 10 years in prison for performing an abortion, and 15 years for a late-term abortion. The law requires a minimum of one year behind bars for those convicted. I think the best way for people who are going to be able to get it is through the mail from another state, said state Rep. Mandie Landry, D-New Orleans, who has represented abortion clinics in her law practice. Theres going to be a ton of litigation and opposition federally to a state saying you cant purchase a product from another state. East Baton Rouge Parish District Attorney Hillar Moore said he was still reviewing Louisianas lengthy abortion statues Monday. He said he cant say whether hed bring charges against an abortion provider until he had a case in front of him and could review the facts. For instance, Is it a licensed doctor? A third party performing an abortion? The mom doing something to herself? Is it a pill? Its hard to imagine how were going to receive a case, he said. My guess is the way a complaint could be generated is that maybe if something would go wrong during an abortion then if theres a medical emergency the police would be called then. A lot of it would be undetected for the most part. He also noted it would be tricky to get a grand jury to indict, or a jury to convict, given the strong opinions on both sides of the abortion debate. A recent LSU poll found Louisiana residents were largely split on the issue, with a slim plurality saying they think abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. Ben Clapper, head of Louisiana Right to Life, which helped craft Louisianas strict abortion ban, said his organization was still evaluating the enforcement piece. But he said the first goal is ensuring the Louisiana Department of Health shuts down clinics, which it has done. He said the other principal way to enforce the law is through stripping doctors who perform the procedure of their licenses. A court blocked Louisiana from barring nearly all abortions despite a law that was triggered by the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling last week that overturned Roe v. Wade. Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Robin Giarrusso on Monday issued a temporary injunction after some abortion clinics filed a lawsuit against the state, according to his order (pdf). Giarrusso scheduled a hearing for the suit on July 8 before it will make a final ruling on whether the injunction should be upheld, meaning that abortions will remain legal in Louisiana within that time frame. Louisiana and a dozen other states have trigger laws that are designed to ban or significantly restrict abortions once the Supreme Court overturns the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that argued women have a constitutional right to obtain the procedure. An analysis says that up to 26 states have laws or will pass laws to restrict the procedure, which many religious groups argue is murder and immoral. The Hope Medical Group for Women, one of Louisianas three abortion clinics, is one of the plaintiffs in the case. The Shreveport-based clinic had argued that Louisianas three trigger law bans violated its due process rights under the states constitution and lack constitutionally required safeguards to prevent arbitrary enforcement. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a left-wing group that filed the lawsuit on the clinics behalf, said abortions are now resuming in the state after Giarrussos order. A public health emergency is about to engulf the nation. As expected, Louisiana and many other states wasted no time enacting bans and eliminating abortion entirely, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a statement on Monday. States Rights In striking down Roe, the Supreme Court gave states the authority to ban or allow abortions at any point in a pregnancy. Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the 54 majority, argued that the Constitution makes no reference to abortions and said the 1973 landmark decision as well as the 1992 decision Planned Parenthood v. Caseywhich reaffirmed Roewere flawed from the start We end this opinion where we began. Abortion presents a profound moral question, Alito wrote. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority, referring to the 1992 decision, Planned Parenthood v. Casey, which was also struck down Friday. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives. Regarding abortions, he continued, No such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly relythe Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. That provision has been held to guarantee some rights that are not mentioned in the Constitution. The Epoch Times has contacted Lousiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office for comment. Although he did not comment on the lawsuit and injunction, Landry, a Republican, praised the Supreme Courts decision last week. Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined Alito. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that he would have stopped short in overturning Roe, while Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. Over the past weekend, police across the country arrested dozens of protesters and riots, including individuals who engaged in violent activity following the courts ruling. Reuters contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Chinas army is undergoing the largest buildup in the Chinese regimes history since World War II, according to Adm. John Aquilino, commander of the U.S. IndoPacific Command. Aquilino made the comment in a conversation hosted by the research institute the Foundation for Defense of Democracies on June 24 (pdf). The buildup encompasses all army domains and capabilities, such as naval ships, fifth-generation aircraft, missile forces, cyber capability, capability in space, and strategic nuclear capability. He said that the concern for all Americans should be the pace, scale, and scope [with which] China is growing and what does that mean with regard to intent for a future peaceful globe? Allies and Homeland Security In the conversation, Aquilino discussed the importance of Guam to American military posture and deterrence in the region. He said that Guam has a 360-degree threat from the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Rocket Forces. It is absolutely critical with a sense of urgency in order to provide the capabilities that both defend and we can project power from Guam, Aquilino said. He emphasized that Guam is extremely important, and with 125,000 United States citizensits the homeland. He emphasized that partners in Japan and South Korea are also important, saying, The places we operate with our allies and partners across the region [are] important to deliver deterrence. He referred to the IndoPacific region as half the globe, and the United States can operate as a joint force, synchronized, integrated in all domains across vast distances, as proved over many years. Earlier in May, Aquilino also warned of the PLAs threat to world order. In the statement before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense on May 17 (pdf), Aquilino said, The PRC seeks to become a global military power and acquire the ability to seize Taiwan, while developing conventional weapons that can reach the U.S. homeland. According to the 2022 National Defense Strategy (pdf), the Pentagon identified the Chinese regime as the most consequential strategic competitor and the pacing challenge for the Department. Chen Ting contributed to this report. From The Epoch Times Gov. Eric Holcomb once again is hitting the road to try to persuade more international companies to locate or expand their U.S. operations in the Hoosier State. The Republican chief executive is set to meet with global business executives Sunday through Tuesday at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside the nation's capital of Washington, D.C. The annual event, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Commerce, brings together corporate and government leaders to talk about shared opportunities in innovation and entrepreneurship, research and development, startup companies, global market dynamics, supply chain, infrastructure and renewable energy. In addition, Holcomb will participate in a panel discussion Tuesday highlighting the state's infrastructure, energy ecosystem and strength in public-private partnerships, alongside Indiana Secretary of Commerce Brad Chambers. Records show the SelectUSA Investment Summit has produced more than $59 billion in new foreign direct investment in the United States since the first event was held in 2013. This years summit will be the largest to date with more than 3,300 participants registered to attend the event, including 1,400 international companies from more than 70 individual markets and representatives from 51 U.S. states and territories. Indiana is home to more than 1,090 foreign-owned business establishments, representing more than 40 countries, which collectively employ more than 200,000 Hoosiers, according to the governor's office. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Crown Point Burger King has finally reopened in a long-awaited homecoming after a devastating fire in October 2020. More than 18 months after the overnight fire shut down the fast-food restaurant at 1137 N. Main St., it's again serving up flame-grilled Whoppers, Big Kings, Bacon Kings, chicken nuggets and more. The Burger King just north of downtown reopened on June 22 after extensive renovations that give it a fresh new look, including a new facade and signage. Construction was long delayed after an early morning blaze that firefighters spent three hours battling after receiving a call of smoke coming from the roof. Firefighters had to fight the fire from the roof as it burned between two ceilings. The fast food restaurant suffered significant smoke and water damage and had been closed since then. Supply shortages triggered by the pandemic drove up the cost of many construction materials such as lumber, delaying many construction projects. Miami-based Burger King dates to 1954 and has perennially been the country's No. 2 burger restaurant chain after McDonald's. Burger King now has more than 19,100 locations worldwide, including in Valparaiso, Chesterton, South Haven, Griffith, Hobart, Portage, Schererville, Merrrillville, Cedar Lake, Hammond, Munster, Dyer, Lowell, Highland, Whiting and Wanatah in Northwest Indiana. The restaurant serves burgers, chicken sandwiches, fries, onion rings, pop, shakes and other fast food favorites. The Burger King on North Main Street in Crown Point is open from 7 a.m. to 12 a.m. Sunday, from 6 a.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Friday and Saturday. For more information, visit bk.com or cal 219-663-0733. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The state of Illinois now has an official rock. Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed legislation June 6 designating dolostone, also known as dolomite, as the newest state symbol of Illinois. According to the governor's office, dolostone is a form of limestone that makes up the majority of Illinois' bedrock and serves as the foundation of other natural terrain throughout the state. Children across Illinois voted to recommend dolostone as the state rock after students at Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge and Maplebrook Elementary School in Naperville discovered Illinois lacked a rock-related state symbol. This year, the Democratic-controlled General Assembly made the recommendation official by naming dolostone as the state rock in House Bill 4261. "Seeing young people use their voices and the democratic process to make change in our state is truly inspiring," Pritzker said after signing the measure into law at the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. "These young leaders have a bright future of organizing and civic engagement that I am excited to watch. They could not have picked a better rock to represent the strength and stability of Illinois." The state rock designation was approved 55-0 in the Senate and 103-0 in the House, with state Rep. Lakesia Collins, D-Chicago, voting present. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Carl Sandburg perhaps expressed it best when he spoke in the voice of a blacklisted worker in his 1916 collection "Chicago Poems": Why shall I keep the old name? What is a name anywhere anyway? A name is a cheap thing all fathers and mothers leave each child: A job is a job and I want to live, so Why does God Almighty or anybody else care whether I take a new name to go by? A century later, still in Illinois, a different kind of perceived threat is getting a new name in the similar hope of once again becoming useful. Illinois officials last week declared "Copi" henceforth will be the name used to identify the invasive carp, also known as Asian carp, that is overrunning Illinois rivers and poses an ongoing threat to Great Lakes fish populations. The goal is to take something currently seen as a nuisance and turn it into something people might instead eagerly pick off a restaurant menu. "Copi is a great name: Short, crisp and easy to say. What diner wont be intrigued when they read Copi tacos or Copi burgers on a menu?" asked Colleen Callahan, director of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. "It's a tasty fish thats easy to work with in the kitchen and it plates beautifully. Every time weve offered samples during the Illinois State Fair, people have walked away floored by how delicious it is." According to Illinois officials, Copi are freshwater, top-feeding, wild-caught fish with a mild, clean taste, plenty of heart-healthy Omega-3s and very low levels of mercury. The new name is a play on "copious," since thats exactly what these fish are. By one estimate, 20 to 50 million pounds of Copi could be harvested from the Illinois River alone each year, with hundreds of millions more in waterways from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. "Enjoying Copi in a restaurant or at home is one of the easiest things people can do to help protect our waterways and Lake Michigan," said John Goss, former White House invasive carp adviser. "As home to the largest continuous link between Lake Michigan and the Copi-filled Mississippi River system, Illinois has a unique responsibility in the battle to keep invasive carp out of the Great Lakes. Im proud of Illinois, its partners and other states for rising to this challenge." Already, 21 chefs and retailers have committed to putting Copi on their menus or in their stores, and 14 processors, manufacturers and distributors are making Copi products available. The dishes available in Chicago include smoked Copi at Calumet Fisheries and Gaijin, Copi po'boy at Ina Mae Tavern, Copi Cuban sliders and Copi bolognese at Dirk's Fish & Gourmet Shop and a Copi appetizer at Herb. The A. Fusion restaurant in Matteson, Illinois, also is featuring a variety of Copi dishes. "Copi is more savory than tilapia, cleaner tasting than catfish, and firmer than cod," said Brian Jupiter, a Chopped champion and chef at Ina Mae Tavern. "Its the perfect canvas for creativity pan fried, steamed, broiled, baked, roasted or grilled. Copi can be ground for burgers, fish cakes, dumplings and tacos." More Copi dining sites and Copi recipes are available online at ChooseCopi.com. The Copi name change won't be official until approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, possibly by the end of the year. Until then, Copi sold at fish markets and in grocery stores will be labeled as both carp and Copi. It's not unprecedented to alter a fish name to make it more marketable. For example, orange roughy originally was known as slimehead, Chilean sea bass is actually the Patagonian toothfish and peekytoe crab formerly was called mud crab. Name changes also have been used to sell other natural products, such as Chinese gooseberries becoming kiwi" and rapeseed oil renamed as "canola" oil. Copi originally were imported from southeast Asia to the United States to help keep clean fish farm retention ponds in southern states. But flooding and accidental releases in the 1970s allowed them to escape, multiply and migrate up the Mississippi River system. Ever since, local, state and federal government entities have worked to prevent the invasive species from entering Lake Michigan, which would threaten a $7 billion-a-year commercial fishing industry and a $16 billion-a-year tourism industry in the Great Lakes. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Stay up-to-date on what's happening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Twenty Ukrainian scholars displaced from their home universities and usual research programs because of Russias unlawful invasion of Ukraine have begun arriving in Indiana to resume their academic work at Purdue University. Purdues Ukrainian Scholars Initiative is slated to last at least one year. Visiting scholars receive a monthly stipend, travel expenses and health care coverage, among other benefits, and either can continue their own research or support research conducted by Purdue faculty members far away from the bombing and destruction happening to their home country. Our aim is to make at least one small contribution to help the Ukrainian people in this moment of peril, said Purdue President Mitch Daniels, who served as Indiana governor from 2005 to 2013. Our hope is that we can offer refuge to these scholars and a chance to continue pursuing their work and then see them return to a safe and free Ukraine. But while they are with us, I dont doubt that they will personify and perhaps share with our students the precious value of freedom and the constant need to defend it from its enemies. Anna Pavlishchuk, a chemistry professor at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv before the war, is among the Ukrainian scholars headed to Purdue. She said since Russia invaded her country, Kyiv a city of nearly 3 million people, or roughly the same size as Chicago is the emptiest shes ever seen it as people flee the war, even more empty than during the citys COVID-19 shutdowns. Once in West Lafayette, a city of 45,000 people located about 80 miles southeast of Crown Point, Pavlishchuk plans to continue her research examining new metallic complexes and their magnetic functionality in an effort to improve MRIs and other imaging technologies. One of the most wonderful things (during this time) is how people are helping and supporting each other, Pavlishchuk said. Tetiana Tanya Gordiienko agreed. Shes a doctoral student researching media and communication at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and looking to complete her Ph.D. at Purdue. This opportunity means so much to me, said Gordiienko, a former journalist whose husband, veteran photojournalist Vitaliy Nosach, is remaining behind as all Ukrainian men ages 18 to 60 are not allowed to leave the country. Gordiienko said she already was familiar with Purdue through its Online Writing Lab, which was recommended by a professor as a resource for a doctoral class to improve her English academic writing skills. I remembered the logo of Purdue very clearly, and when I opened the link, I said, Oh, I know this university and thought this would be a very good place to study, to get new experiences, Gordiienko said. And the more I read about Purdue, the more impressed I got. Ihor Lantukh, a professor of psychology, economics and history at National University of Kharkiv Lantukh, looks forward to the day he can return home from Indiana with his wife and daughter. In the meantime, hes grateful Purdue is giving him the opportunity to continue studying entrepreneurship in post-serfdom economies, including the psychological effects of eliminating serfdom and historical parallels between the 19th and 21st centuries. We used to have a good life, used to dream about the future for our daughter. All our life has been destroyed by Russia, Lantukh said. Now, we are looking for opportunities to survive and raise a baby, dreaming about one thing: peace in Ukraine and the day we will be able to come back home. Altogether, Russias military invasion has displaced some 7 million people in Ukraine and left devastation, destruction and disruption across the eastern European country since late February. Stacey Connaughton, director of the Purdue Policy Research Institute and the Purdue Peace Project, who is co-hosting Gordiienko, said she believes Purdue has a responsibility to care for fellow academics during times of duress, particularly in response to a conflict like whats happening to Ukraine. This certainly aligns with our mission as a leading global university. We conduct research that makes a difference. We do transformative learning that has tremendous impact. During extreme crises like this, we are all hailed to continue that shared commitment to humanity, Connaughton said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO The Porter County Board of Commissioners tentatively approved rezoning land for a controversial 146-lot subdivision in Washington Township. The Heirloom subdivision ordinance passed by a 2-1 vote on first reading. Commissioner Jim Biggs, R-North, voted against it. The subdivision would extend Valparaiso city utilities for the property, which is about one-quarter mile away. Ive always felt that a rezoning is a request to change the law for someone, Biggs said. Im not about to sit up and go against the wishes of 300 people who I work for for the benefit of somebody Ive never met on a project Ive never seen, he added. I voted for this on the Plan Commission, and the main reason I did is because of the sewer and water, Commissioner Laura Blaney, D-South, said. Fire hydrants will be available to the subdivision as a result. Board of Commissioners President Jeff Good, R-Center, also voted for it. I think the utilities are a game-changer, he said. Septic systems fail over time. We deal with this every day up here, Good said. People coming 15, 20 years after their house was built and their septic system fails. The replacement costs about $30,000, he added. In the last five years, 80% of the development that has gone on in this county has been with sewer and water, Good said. The request drew a large crowd to object to the request to rezone the land from rural residential to medium density residential. Concerns included traffic and stormwater management. The Stormwater Management Board has spent the past several years fixing drainage problems from the past, Good said. Rules have since changed. We have several subdivisions that are in the planning stage for the past year because they cant get it right, and were not moving them forward until they do, Good said. Heirloom subdivision would have 32% open space, Blaney said. Thats well beyond the countys required 10%, she said. There would be about 1.8 homes per acre. If this were developed in the city, under the city standards, were going to be much, much more than that, said attorney Todd Leeth, representing 325 LLC. If we continue to require one-acre lots in Porter County, regardless of whether sewer and water is available, were going to perpetuate urban sprawl, he said. Leeth predicted the subdivision would be annexed by the city in 20 to 30 years. Thats just the nature of cities and towns, he said. They grow. Currently, however, the 80-acre site isnt contiguous to the city boundary, so it cant be annexed. Annexation law is changing. Its one of the most fluid aspects of the law, Leeth said, and its getting harder to annex property. Its nearly impossible to annex a privately owned property, County Attorney Scott McClure said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. GARY One man was killed and two others were wounded in weekend shootings, police said. A man, whose name has not yet been released by the Lake County coroner's office, was shot by a Gary officer Sunday night after police were dispatched to a home in the 2300 block of Johnson Street for a man with a gun "making the residence unsafe," officials said. Gary police did not release the name of the officer who shot the man. The officer was placed on desk duty pending the outcome of an investigation by the Lake County Sheriff's Department investigation, Gary police Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. A sheriff's spokeswoman declined to comment Monday on the case. About 11:55 p.m. Saturday, Gary police were dispatched to the area of West Fifth Avenue and Madison Street for a report of gunshot victim, Cmdr. Jack Hamady said. A 42-year-old Gary man told police he was walking east from a liquor store in the area when the driver of a silver Ford Focus pulled up, someone in the car tried to rob him and then shot him. The man, who suffered gunshot wounds to his arm and torso, was taken to a location hospital by ambulance. On Friday night, a 34-year-old Gary man was flown to a Chicago hospital after he was shot in the face in an alley behind the 2200 block of Pennsylvania Street, Hamady said. Police were dispatched to the area about 4:40 p.m. and found the man, who uttered he'd been shot but was unable to speak clearly. A person of interest was taken into custody about 1 p.m. Sunday afternoon, Hamady said. Anyone with information about the shootings Friday or Saturday is asked to call Detective Sgt. Douglas Drummond at 219-881-1210. To remain anonymous, call 866-CRIME-GP. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. LAPORTE A 51-year-old Lake Station man is back behind bars after allegedly taking off just days before his child molestation trial last month where he had been found guilty in his absence. David Powers II was located in Tennessee, arrested and extradited back to the LaPorte County Jail last week, county police said. Powers was picked up Thursday and now faces a felony count of failure to appear, jail records show. He is being held without bond. Police issued word they were searching for Powers after he allegedly failed to show up for his jury trial, which began May 9. He had shown up to court just a few days earlier for a pretrial conference, officials had said. Three day into the trial, without any witnesses or evidence being presented by the defense, the jury returned to find Powers guilty on all four counts of child molesting, records show. The two most serious counts each carry a potential sentence of 20 to 40 years behind bars, records show. LaPorte County Circuit Court Judge Thomas Alevizos issued an arrest warrant for Powers at the conclusion of the trial, records show. The original criminal case against Powers began in February 2020 with an investigation that resulted later that month with his arrest on two Level 1 felony counts of child molesting and two counts of felony child molesting Level 4, police said. He was released from jail on a cash bond in June 2020. When Powers failed to show for his trial, the judge opted to continue in his absence. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. PORTER A man who entered Lake Michigan Monday morning to help a teen swimmer in distress died, Indiana Department of Natural Resources said. Thomas Kenning, 38, of St. Petersburg, Florida, was visiting with family and observed the teen swimmer in distress. He reached the teen and helped her to safety before going underwater and not resurfacing. Kenning was transported to Northwest Health Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Porter and Chesterton firefighters were called out to the beach at 10:28 a.m. for swimmers in distress. "A female teen in the water was in distress and the gentleman went into the water and attempted to rescue her," Porter Fire Chief Jay Craig said. "She made it out with the assistance of lifeguards from (Indiana) Dunes State Park, but he got sucked under," Craig said. "Once they got her out they went back looking for the man." Chesterton Fire Chief Eric Camel estimated the man may have been in the water 15 minutes before the lifeguards found him in the waves approximately 20 to 30 feet from shore, just west of the Indiana Dunes State Park beach. "The man was brought on shore and CPR immediately begun," officials said. "The lifeguards were the true miracle workers today," Craig said. "They did the best job they could under difficult conditions. They never gave up. They did a phenomenal job." At the time of the incident, the Indiana Dunes State Park beach, immediately east of Porter Beach, was closed to swimming because of dangerous conditions, he said. Craig estimated Monday's waves to be 3 to 5 feet. Porter Beach is an unguarded beach and is considered "swim at your own risk." Staff Writer Annie Mattea contributed to reporting. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 3 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Bob Kasarda Porter/LaPorte County Courts and Social Justice Reporter Bob is a 23-year veteran of The Times. He covers county government and courts in Porter County, federal courts, police news and regional issues. He also created the Vegan in the Region blog, is an Indiana University grad and lifelong region resident. Follow Bob Kasarda Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today GARY A Gary police officer shot a man Sunday afternoon in the 2300 block of Johnson Street. Police said the officer was dispatched around 4:30 p.m. in response to a man with a gun who was making the residence unsafe. During the encounter, the officer "was forced to discharge his weapon, striking the male," said Lt. Dawn Westerfield, Gary police public information officer. Police provided no further information about the circumstances that led up to the shooting, the name or age of the person shot, or his condition. The Lake County Sheriff's Department processed the scene and is leading the shooting investigation. The Gary officer who fired the shot will be on mandatory desk duty until the external investigation is concluded, Westerfield said. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Parents and guardians of Indiana children with disabilities can take advantage of a new state program giving them total control over their child's education funding. The Indiana Education Scholarship Account (ESA) program offers maximum flexibility to families who choose to opt out of traditional schooling in favor of finding their own appropriate education programs and services for their eligible child. The program provides tax-free funds to eligible students for pre-approved education expenses, including tuition, therapies, assessments and fee-for-service transportation at pre-approved education service providers. Students participating in the program receive 90% of their basic state tuition support as well as 100% of the special education dollars allotted to their student. The total amount varies by local school district. The funds will be deposited directly into each students Indiana ESA account in quarterly payments. This account will be available to parents via a secure online portal, which they'll use to make payments directly to providers from the students account. Debit cards are not available, and funds are not deposited directly into personal bank accounts. Scholarship recipients cannot be enrolled in a public or charter school, or receive a state voucher for private school tuition. But they can use their scholarship funds to purchase services from a public or private school if the school participates in the program. The Indiana ESA application window for the 2022-23 school year runs from Monday through Aug. 5. The application and more information about the program are available online through the state treasurer's office: in.gov/tos/inesa. To be eligible, a student must be a resident of Indiana; between 5 and 22 years old; require special education services and have an Individualized Education Program (IEP), Service Plan (SP), or Choice Special Education Plan (CSEP); and a family income less than $101,000 for a family of two, $127,000 for a family of three, $154,000 for a family of four or $180,000 for a family of five. "After so much preparation, input, and study, we are thrilled to announce the launch of the Indiana ESA Program," said State Treasurer Kelly Mitchell. "Families will have more opportunities to meet their child's individual education needs by taking control of the resources they are entitled to through an Indiana ESA account. I encourage all eligible Hoosiers to consider applying." The 2023 General Assembly is expected to consider expanding the Indiana ESA program to all students in the state. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. EAST CHICAGO Tens of millions of dollars in federal funds secured this year by U.S. Rep. Frank J. Mrvan, D-Highland, for Region environment and economic development projects are beginning to flow into Northwest Indiana. On Monday, local representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service and the Ports of Indiana took time to thank Mrvan for following through on his commitment to deliver the resources needed for the 1st Congressional District of Lake, Porter and northwest LaPorte counties to thrive. "Every study or construction project that we do is specifically funded by Congress," said Col. Paul Culberson of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "Congressman Mrvan has been instrumental in securing funding and appropriations for his district." Culberson specifically credited Mrvan for earmarking $18.4 million in federal spending legislation to expand the capacity of the confined storage facility for material dredged from Indiana Harbor; $8.2 million for ongoing operations and maintenance at the harbor; $2.7 million for sand nourishment at Indiana Dunes National Park to reduce beach erosion; and $1.5 million to improve the Burns Waterway. He said harbor dredging and removal of contaminated soil to the confined storage facility in East Chicago will enable the harbor to reach its maximum authorized depth and ensure shipping continues uninterrupted for another 25 to 30 years. That's essential, Culberson explained, because Indiana Harbor directly supports $151 million in annual business revenue and 1,400 jobs, and the commodities handled at the harbor generate $17.7 billion in business revenue and support some 93,000 jobs across the Region. "Without that funding, these projects would not exist," he said. In addition, Culberson noted the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act backed by Mrvan is bringing another $7 million to repair the Lake Michigan breakwater at Michigan City, which will improve recreational opportunities along the shoreline and aid the Coast Guard in its mission. The Army Corps also is working with local officials to complete water, sewer and stormwater projects in Hammond, Gary, Lake Station, Merrillville and Crown Point using another $10 million in federal funds obtained by Mrvan for water infrastructure. "All of our projects are the result of a team effort, and this team includes not only the Army Corps of Engineers and the local leaders but the efforts of our federal partners and the efforts of Congressman Mrvan and his staff. It has been a privilege to be a part of this team," Culberson said. Another happy team member is Superintendent Paul Labovitz of Indiana Dunes National Park, especially when he looks at the 250,000 cubic yards of sand recently added to the shoreline at the national park just west of Michigan City at Central Beach. "With the lake receding a little bit, it's one of the most beautiful beaches in Indiana Dunes National Park right now," Labovitz said. "So if you're looking to get away from the crowded beaches at the state park, or maybe West Beach, sneak a little further east to Central Beach or Mount Baldy, and the beaches are spectacular." Labovitz said beach nourishment in the national park may help grow the park's 5 million annual visitors as well as the park's annual economic impact of more than $1 billion for Northwest Indiana. "Indiana Dunes National Park is a treasure. It's one of the most visited national parks in the country; a lot of people are surprised to hear that. It's one of the most ecologically diverse places in North America," Labovitz said "Representative Mrvan, I know we have a friend in you with the National Park Service." Andrea Hermer, chief operating officer at the Ports of Indiana, echoed that sentiment. She said Mrvan's focus on maintaining and growing shipping through the port at Burns Harbor has an immeasurable effect on business and jobs throughout Northwest Indiana. "This is one of those areas sometimes that gets taken for granted. We don't take it for granted. We know how critically important it is," Hermer said. "So we certainly appreciate the congressman and all the work that he does to make certain that we're not forgotten in this, so we can continue to invest." Mrvan characteristically took the praise in stride and was quick to credit the partnerships and collaborations that made it possible. He said his goal in bringing federal funds back to the Region is to ensure Northwest Indiana industries continue to succeed, and in so doing, provide livelihoods and improved quality of life for Northwest Indiana families. "Those are environmental projects that lead to economic development," Mrvan said. "My mission from day one, when I chose to run for Congress, was to deliver for my district, environmentally and economically." Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Pam Geiselman thought this day would never come in her lifetime. Im in complete shock, the Portage grandmother told me Friday morning. It felt to her more like Christmas morning, complete with an unbelievable gift of life from none other than the U.S. Supreme Court. The nations conservative-majority court ruled to end constitutional protections for abortion after nearly a half century in place. Geiselman, a lifelong Christian, devoutly believes in the sanctity of life, in every form. She also believes the majority of abortions are performed as a method of birth control for too many women who simply want to rid themselves of the inconvenience, Geiselman said. At 18, she was faced with an unplanned pregnancy and unwanted motherhood. I didnt like kids before that, and I wasnt ready to start a family. But there was no way it was the fault of the child growing in me. There are consequences for actions and I accepted mine, she said. Similar to tens of millions of like-minded Americans, Fridays landmark reversal ruling gave birth to a new era in our country that will not soon be aborted, she believes. Anti-abortion advocates such as Geiselman cite their Christian faith for the conception of core beliefs that will live long past their deaths. The thing with Christians is that if we know we are believers, we fear not in our own death because weve been baptized. Unborn children dont have that same chance. Their soul is in danger, Geiselman said. Pro-choice advocates believe the soul of our country is now in danger with the Supreme Courts decision, which was leaked to the public in stunning fashion just over a month ago. What was once considered unthinkable has become a reality that many abortion rights supporters have been bracing for. I am extremely angry, but this is not unexpected. Many of us saw it coming, said Kim Eldridge, president of Indivisible Northwest Indiana, an organization focusing on voter education, registration and debunking conspiracy theories. Ive been working since Friday morning to get information out to our group on what has transpired and what needs to be done, said Eldridge, a Gary native living in Chesterton. The Supreme Court decided that states cant make their own rules regarding guns, but they can make rules regarding womens bodies, she said. Republican extremists have been working for years towards this day, putting people in office who would in turn put rightwing activist judges on the court. And not just the Supreme Court, but throughout the nation. The high courts decision is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half of U.S. states. Most certainly in Indiana, I say, a historically conservative state despite our Regions island of liberalism, progressiveness and pro-choice values. As a newspaper columnist whos lived here my entire life, Ive written the word abortion more than 140 times, according to my files. Not once while writing about this topic did I think Roe v. Wade would someday be overturned. I got complacent. Maybe you did too. We lazily presumed that the landmark 1973 ruling was untouchable, allowing pro-choice supporters like me to take it for granted and look toward more progressive issues. As Ive written more than once through the years, just as faith needs a doubt, complacency needs a challenge. Too many people were totally complacent, Eldridge said. And, unfortunately, lawmakers in the Democratic Party seem to be more interested in just getting along than actively working to counteract what was going on, resulting in this decision. The once-protected decision to undergo an abortion in Indiana is now in jeopardy, a constitutional right I always assumed would be in place long past my lifetime. Many years ago, I transported a female friend to the Planned Parenthood clinic in Merrillville for the procedure. We were met by protesters who yelled to us from across the parking lot, Think twice about it! I didnt think twice about my friends decision, but I often thought twice about those protesters. I admired their earnestness and determination, as long as they werent radical or violent. Now, in light of the Supreme Courts decision, I wonder how much it empowers looming rollbacks of other legal protections that most of us once thought were also untouchable, including the right for same-sex couples to marry. In the United States a brilliant but volatile experiment in the works the only sure thing is our conflicts over who we are as a people. My conflict is human, Geiselman said. An abortion might have fixed an initial problem but the dominoes that would fall later, because of internal conflict, can be disastrous. Im not an evangelical nutjob. Im just trying to live this life with the rules God gave me. The rules in this country regarding abortion rights have now dramatically shifted. Im just so angry and upset, Eldridge said. Anything and everything that progressives have fought for is now on the menu. If women, and those who support us, dont get their butts out and active now, they may not be able to in the future. Geiselman feels differently about the future of this ever-divisive issue. Im getting into the twilight of my years. Im tired, she said. The fight belongs to the next generation. If youre wondering what happened to the child that Geiselman insisted on giving birth to when she was 18, her name is Kristine Osterday. She is now a Superior Court judge in Elkhart County. The world has been blessed by her, her mother said proudly. Contact Jerry at Jerry.Davich@nwi.com or at 219-853-2563. Find him on Facebook at @JerDavich. Love 1 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. VALPARAISO Early voting sites will operate under shorter hours this fall so poll workers will have to work only eight hours a day. We had such problems staffing early voting this year, said Sundae Schoon, director of the Porter County Office of Elections & Registration. When a poll worker at one of the sites calls off, a member of the office staff fills in, but the office is already short-staffed, County Clerk Jessica Bailey told the county election board June 16. The board agreed to have the early voting sites be open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays to hit the lunchtime, afternoon and evening voters. The sites will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and on the final two Saturdays before the election. Early voting in Indiana isnt permitted before Oct. 12. In the primary, poll workers worked 12-hour days to keep the polls open late. The last hour of the 12-hour days is especially agonizing because nobodys coming in to vote, board Chairman Paul Rausch said. In 2024, a presidential election year, poll workers will need to work 12-hour days again for early voting, board member Jeff Chidester said. Even with the shorter hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays this fall, voters have other options if they want to vote early, including requesting an absentee ballot, Schoon said. We go above and beyond. If you dont get out and vote, its your fault. Voters have until Oct. 11 to register to vote in the Nov. 8 election. In other business, the board heard initial results of a post-primary survey of poll workers. Half have responded so far, and almost all of them said they would do the job again in the fall, Schoon said. You hold your breath when the surveys ask for feedback, Bailey said, but the majority of the responses were positive. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Im over the moon, Im in shock, Dr. Doudna, a professor at the University of California, Berkeley, said at a news conference on Wednesday. It has been only eight years since Dr. Doudna and Dr. Charpentier now the director of the Max Planck Unit for the Science of Pathogens in Berlin co-authored their first paper demonstrating the power of Crispr-Cas9. Since then, the technology has exploded. Doctors are testing it as a cure for genetic disorders such as sickle cell disease and hereditary blindness. Plant scientists are using it to create new crops. Some researchers are even trying to use Crispr to bring species back from extinction. Along with these high-profile experiments, other scientists are using Crispr to ask fundamental questions about life, such as which genes are essential to a cells survival. Crispr solves problems in every field of biology, said Angela Zhou, an information scientist at CAS, a division of the American Chemical Society. This technology has utterly transformed the way we do research in basic science, said Dr. Francis Collins, director of the National Institutes of Health. I am thrilled to see Crispr-Cas getting the recognition we have all been waiting for, and seeing two women being recognized as Nobel Laureates. But the reader knows this epic friendship will end; the gloomy forecast is announced on Page 1. We thought that if we worked hard enough we would one day, and on time, stand exactly where we hoped, observes Charlotte, the books narrator. But we were neither selfish enough nor selfless enough to become heroines. And even though she and I are no longer speaking, it makes me happy to think and write of that we. From the start, the Charlotte-Rose relationship is electrified and contaminated by a sense of competition. They are proprietary about their writing assignments. Charlotte has more discipline. Rose has more style. Both are in the painful position of having aptitude but not genius: I had nothing, really, to say only the compulsion to say something and get paid for it, Charlotte admits. They might be, as the title has it, girls that other people write songs about, but theyll never be songwriters. For years the two romp through New York, drinking spiked iced tea at Jones Beach and stalking Lou Reed, gathering material to build out their identities like a couple of wrens accumulating twigs for a nest. Then there is a rift. Image Carlene Bauer, whose new novel is Girls They Write Songs About. Credit... Emily Frances Olson At first this split is mutually puzzling. You can sense each woman thinking: We still have identical opinions about sexual freedom and vintage dresses and the ideal location to sit in a movie theater so why are we floating apart? Ah, but its their values that have changed. The tempo of the breach recalls Hemingways famous line about how a person goes bankrupt: gradually and then suddenly. News of Mondays apparent default showed just how strong international sanctions against Russia have been, a senior U.S. administration official said in a background briefing for reporters at the Group of 7 summit in Germany, highlighting the dramatic effect on Russias economy. This default is unusual because its a result of economic sanctions blocking transactions, not because the Russian government has run out of money. Moscows finances remain resilient after months of war, with nearly $600 billion in foreign currency and gold reserves, though about half of that is frozen overseas. And Russia continues to receive a steady influx of cash from sales of oil and gas. Still, a default would be a stain on the countrys reputation that will linger in investors memories and probably push up its borrowing costs if it is able to tap international capital markets. Unlike other major defaults in recent history, such as in Greece and Argentina, this default is expected to have a relatively small impact on international markets and Russias budget. For one thing, Russia has already lost access to international investors, traditionally the worst consequence of default. The only clear negative outcome of the default is that the external market will be effectively closed for the ministry of finance, said Sofya Donets, an economist at Renaissance Capital in Moscow. But its already closed. The head of Russias central bank, Elvira Nabiullina, said this month that there wouldnt be any immediate consequences of a default because there had already been an outflow of investors and a drop in the value of Russias assets. The central bank is more concerned about inflation, most recently at about 17 percent, and supporting the economy through a large-scale structural transformation after an exodus of foreign companies and imports. The Western sanctions alone are expected to block Russia from large parts of international capital markets for a long time. Regardless, Russia has been reluctant to give up its reputation as a reliable borrower, which was hard won after its economic collapse in 1998, when the government defaulted on ruble-denominated bonds amid a currency crisis. An Amtrak passenger train crashed into a four-door sedan at a crossing without a train signal or guardrails in a rural area of the East Bay in Northern California on Sunday, killing three people and critically injuring two others including a child, a spokesman for the local fire department and emergency services said. The victims were pronounced dead at the scene, Steve Aubert, a fire marshal with the East Contra Costa Fire Protection District, said in a phone interview. The injured child was taken to a hospital in an ambulance, but the injured adult was transported for treatment by helicopter, signaling that the injuries might have been life-threatening, Mr. Aubert added. He called both injuries major. A man was killed on Friday after being dragged into a retention pond by an alligator near Myrtle Beach, S.C., the first such deadly attack in the state since 2020, the authorities said. Fatal alligator attacks are rare in the United States, typically occurring about once a year, but the latest was the second in less than a month. The body of a man who had been retrieving Frisbees from a lake in Largo, Fla., which serves as a habitat for alligators, was found on May 31. In Fridays killing, the authorities responded around 11:45 a.m. to a water-rescue call, the Horry County Police Department said in a statement. Rescuers determined that an alligator took hold of a neighbor who was near the edge of a retention pond and retreated into it, the department said in a statement. BOGOTA, Colombia At least six people were killed and more than a hundred injured Sunday when wooden spectator stands at a bullfighting festival collapsed, sending people running for safety. The collapse took place in El Espinal, a city of 75,000 about 95 miles southwest of the capital, Bogota, at a corraleja, a festival in which the public is invited to engage the bulls, even riding or taunting them. It is more informal than the traditional Spanish bullfight, and the bull is not killed in the end. Among those killed Sunday was a 1-year-old child, according to local media, which also reported that the bull had escaped and was running loose in the streets. I would be lying if I told you that I wasnt surprised, said Philippe Olivier, Ms. Le Pens brother-in-law and special adviser, who described the 89 seats secured by the party in the 577-seat National Assembly as a tidal wave. The National Rally is now the second largest party in Parliament behind that of Mr. Macron, who lost his absolute majority and is now struggling to cobble together enough lawmakers to pass his bills, potentially forcing him to work with a reinvigorated opposition. In an interview with the news agency Agence France-Presse on Saturday, Mr. Macron said he had asked Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne to consult with parliamentary groups to form a new government of action that will be named early next month. He added that the new government could include representatives from across the political landscape, with the exception of the hard-left party France Unbowed and Ms. Le Pens party, which he said he did not consider to be parties of government. The National Rally does not have enough lawmakers to push through its own bills and will struggle to find allies in Parliament. But thanks to increased public funding based on its election results, the haul of seats is a financial boon for the heavily indebted party. International summits are usually highly scripted, and not meant to produce candid moments. But Group of 7 conferences have occasionally offered telling snapshots of the relationships among global leaders. Last year, at the summit in Cornwall, Britain, the awkward contortions of pandemic life led to a photo in which G7 leaders were spaced apart on a platform, like a set of action figures. For those nostalgic for the heyday of trans-Atlantic ties, there is the famous 2015 shot of Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany facing President Barack Obama , both chatting with their arms spread wide in front of an alpine backdrop. The image inspired memes that transposed Ms. Merkel, in her pink suit, onto the image of Julie Andrews singing her heart out in the opening scene of The Sound of Music. Others were digitally altered to show them in a hot tub. I attended Leibys show this month in New York while visibly pregnant. Though my expanding body now inspires rote congratulations from strangers, my own feelings about my pregnancy have been tumultuous, and it was invigorating to step into an environment where the condition was not immediately culturally affirmed. Much of Leibys story concerns her choice not to raise children there is an interlude about perineal tearing and though her abortion is far easier to secure than Annie Ernauxs, the stakes have not been lowered. Leiby wants to pursue her career and to avoid the painful and exhausting and scary aspects of parenting, but she also just wants to be recognized as a full adult human on her own terms, not as a problem that only a baby can fix. The Janes, too, is a story about women claiming their potential, though the members of the Jane network fulfill theirs not by receiving abortions but by providing them. When they discover that their abortionist, Mike, is not a doctor but just a guy who learned how to perform a dilation and curettage (a procedure known as a D and C), they refuse to shutter the service. Instead, they begin to perform abortions themselves, largely for free, no Mikes necessary. They learn to assume responsibility, not just for their own lives but for the lives of others. In turn, they are driven to share that sense of personal power with women, as one member puts it. We wanted every woman who contacted us to be the hero of her own story. However, Herschel was unwilling to entertain a move to the busy but musically competitive London. So, after a brief stint as organist of Halifax Parish Church in West Yorkshire according to Miller, he informed the panel in his audition that he had already accepted a better offer elsewhere he moved to Bath in 1776, entering a city of emergent upper-class sophistication, with a budding intellectual scene and the newly built Octagon Chapel, from which Herschel constructed a small musical empire built around oratorio performances and subscription concerts. Several years earlier, Williams sister Caroline had followed her brothers to England. Accounts of her story also obscure her early musical interest. The first woman to receive the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society, the first published woman to publish scientific research and the first female scientist to receive a salary, Caroline moved to England after an intervention from her brother to rid her from a life of household drudgery following the death of their father and began to take singing lessons, eventually becoming the resident soprano in Williams oratorio performances, at a time when performing families were in fashion. Herschel believed that music belonged as one of the four liberal arts of the quadrivium, alongside arithmetic, geometry and astronomy. With the aid of two 18th-century books by the Cambridge scholar Robert Smith Harmonics and A Compleat System of Opticks he began to tackle astronomy with the same autodidactic zeal employed when learning English through the dense texts of John Locke. And one of his first homemade Newtonian reflector telescopes brought about a change that would turn Herschel into an overnight celebrity: the discovery, in March 1781, of Uranus, which he initially believed to be another comet. Herschel obsequiously named that planet Georgium Sidus to the delight of King George III, who later offered him a salary with the title of the Kings Astronomer. The position involved taking a large pay cut from his profitable music business, but Herschel nevertheless abandoned music to focus his gaze on the heavens. As the Herschels moved to Slough to be closer to the king, the telescopes got bigger, the surveys more ambitious and the celebrity more intense. Although Herschels musical compositions had ground to a halt with the move, there is mystery surrounding his relationship with Haydn, who visited the observatory in June 1792. In Essays in Musical Analysis, classic volumes from the 1930s, Sir Donald Tovey concluded that looking through Herschels famed 40-foot telescope provided the cosmic inspiration for the famous opening of Haydns oratorio The Creation. The problem: Records show that Herschel was out of town at the time. But perhaps Caroline, at this point his trusted assistant, could have ushered Haydn toward his moment of clarity? Mr. Gilliams use of unstretched fabric that referred to painting without quite embracing it influenced artists over several generations, including David Hammons, Jessica Stockholder and Rashid Johnson. Theres something incredibly important in Sams employment of improvisation that continues to influence my generation and beyond, Mr. Johnson said in a phone interview on Monday. It is capable of transcending race but is not limited to not discussing race. For me, hes been a beacon of light. Sam Gilliam was born on Nov. 30, 1933, in Tupelo Miss., the seventh of eight children. His father, also named Sam, was a farmer; his mother, Estery Gilliam, was a seamstress and homemaker. Sam showed an interest in drawing at an early age. When it was pointed out to his mother that he spent a lot of time quietly drawing in the dirt, she supplied him with paper and cardboard; it meant one less child to keep track of. Horses were a favorite, nearly fanatical, subject. Raised primarily in Louisville, Ky., Mr. Gilliam received most of his formal education attending middle and high schools there that placed an unusual emphasis on art. He went on to study at the University of Louisville, where he received undergraduate and graduate degrees in painting. Throughout those years his determination to be an artist was nurtured by teachers who recognized his talent and drive. He also developed a love of jazz that would sustain him throughout his life as an innovative art form and example of Black achievement. SOME LIKE IT HOT (1959) 8 p.m. on TCM. This comedy directed by Billy Wilder revolves around Joe (Tony Curtis) and Jerry (Jack Lemmon), who transform themselves into Josephine and Daphne in an attempt to avoid the gangsters that are following them. They join a female jazz band, where they meet Sugar (Marilyn Monroe). Shenanigans ensue. If you cant get enough of the 1959 film, which was written by Wilder and I.A.L. Diamond, a Broadway adaptation of the movie is coming to the stage this fall. Saturday FUNNY FACE (1957) 8 p.m. on TCM. This classic is packed with star power: Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire star as Jo Stockton and Dick Avery, and the film features a score with music by George and Ira Gershwin. Its also a romantic comedy that starts with a meet cute: Dick is a fashion photographer and Jo works at the Greenwich Village bookstore where the two meet. Dick is struck by Jos beauty and whisks her off to Paris, where they eventually fall in love. Miss Hepburn has the meek charm of a wallflower turned into a rueful butterfly, the Times critic Bosley Crowther wrote, and Mr. Astaire plays her lens-hound suitor softly, as if afraid to turn on too much steam. Sunday THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH 10 p.m. on Showtime. This series, which was inspired by the 1976 Nicolas Roeg film and the 1963 novel by Walter Tevis, is wrapping up its first season after a 10-episode arc. The show begins when Chiwetel Ejiofors character, Faraday, crashes in the oil fields of New Mexico and sets off to find Justin Falls (Naomie Harris), who is the only woman who can save his species. It has yet to be renewed by Showtime. LIFE CEREMONY Stories By Sayaka Murata Translated by Ginny Tapley Takemori 244 pages. Grove Press. $25. The Japanese writer Sayaka Murata is best known for Convenience Store Woman, her 2016 novel about Keiko, a friendless woman who, to tamp down her darker impulses, devotes her life to a job as an anonymous cashier in a Tokyo food mart. Muratas prose is deadpan, as clear as cellophane, and has the tidiness of a bento box. Shes not the most subtle writer. You dont read her for her extra-fine perceptual apparatus. You read her because when her stuff works, its chilly and transgressive at the same time. Her new book is Life Ceremony, a collection of stories. The characters are middle-class women who, like Keiko, live in and around Tokyo. They grew up in the suburbs; they live in tiny condos in the city; their careers are unremarkable. U.S. abortion fight shifts to new battlegrounds A Supreme Court ruling on Friday that overturned the constitutional right to abortion has unleashed a frenzy of activity. Anti-abortion forces plan to push for near-total bans in every state in the U.S., while abortion rights groups have vowed to fight back in the courts and push the Biden administration to do more to protect abortion rights. The court said its ruling on Friday was needed because of what it called a half-century of bitter national controversy sparked by Roe v. Wade, but its decision set off more immediate and widespread rancor and mobilizing than the original ruling and guaranteed pitched battles and extraordinary division ahead. Demand for medical abortion is rising, as abortion pills, already used in more than half of recent abortions in the U.S., are becoming even more sought-after in the aftermath of the ruling. They will most likely be at the center of the legal battles that are expected to unfold as about half the states ban abortion and others take steps to increase access. Kavanaughs position The first reason to doubt that the court is on the verge of overturning the constitutional right to same-sex marriage, interracial marriage or contraception access comes straight from Fridays abortion ruling. In a separate concurrence explaining his vote, Justice Brett Kavanaugh one of the impatient, ambitious five explicitly signaled that those other rights were safe. In his 12-page concurrence, Kavanaugh wrote that he wanted to address how this decision will affect other precedents involving issues such as contraception and marriage. He then listed four cases dealing with those issues, including the 2015 ruling establishing a right to same-sex marriage. Overruling Roe does not mean the overruling of those precedents, and does not threaten or cast doubt on those precedents, Kavanaugh explained. Unless Kavanaugh changes his mind or Roberts decides to overturn those precedents there is no majority to do so. For now, only Thomas has said that he favors revisiting the earlier cases. I dont think there are five votes for overturning any of those decisions, Adam Liptak said on a weekend episode of The Daily. The second reason to think that other divisive issues will come first is that the court has already announced many of the cases it will hear next year. They tend to involve other topics namely affirmative action, election laws and business regulation. Credit Suisse must pay fines and compensation of 21 million Swiss francs, or $22 million, for lax controls that allowed an employee of the bank to help a Bulgarian drug ring launder money, Switzerlands Federal Criminal Court said on Monday. The ruling was the latest setback for the bank, which issued a profit warning this month and has been suffering from boardroom turmoil. Credit Suisse, based in Zurich, said it would appeal the decision, which stems from the actions of a bank employee in 2007 and 2008. The employee, who was not named, helped the cocaine-smuggling ring make bank transfers despite concrete indications regarding the moneys criminal origins, the court said in a statement. Skyrocketing oil prices combined with an enormous appetite for fuel around the world mean that Russia has been raking in even more money from the sale of crude than it did before the war, despite selling at a discount. After weeks of tense negotiations, the European Union agreed last month to largely ban the import of Russian oil by the end of this year as well as prohibit European countries from insuring tankers carrying Russian oil. But so far the question of whether to ban Russian gas which is much harder to find a substitute for than oil has been off the table. Germanys government and industrial leaders have warned that a gas embargo would be catastrophic for its economy. Talking about the sanctions rollout, Jeffrey Schott, a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington, said the buildup of pressure on the Russian economy is going as planned. He added that if theres any surprises, its how coherent the policy coordination has been across the Atlantic and East Asian countries. The various alliance members have been casting about for ways increase the penalties one notch at a time. The gold ban gives the governments of the G7 some runway and the opportunity to ramp up, said Andrew Shoyer, a lawyer at Sidley who advises companies on compliance with sanctions. The distinction between newly mined and refined gold, and gold that was exported or purchased before the ban, is in line with the sanctions framework that prohibits new investment in Russian companies while permitting existing investments, Mr. Shoyer said. The new ban is also aimed at depriving Russia of additional revenues earned from exporting gold, which is used for jewelry, in some industrial processes and for investment. As is often the case during crises, the purchase of gold for investment jumped after the coronavirus pandemic started upending the global economy. Investors expect it to retain its value. Central banks, including the Federal Reserve, had bought Russian gold through intermediaries. The public listing of former President Donald J. Trumps social media company took a fresh blow on Monday when the cash-rich shell company merging with Mr. Trumps company disclosed in a regulatory filing that a federal grand jury in New York recently issued subpoenas to the company and its directors. The grand jury subpoenas were issued within the past week, according to the filing by Digital World Acquisition, a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, that announced a merger with Trump Media & Technology Group in October. After the merger, Trump Media would assume Digital Worlds listing and trade as a public company. The disclosure by Digital World is the first indication that federal prosecutors in Manhattan have joined in the scrutiny of the merger between Digital World and Trump Media, which has been under investigation by financial regulators for months. The investigation threatens to further delay the completion of the merger, which would provide Mr. Trumps company and its social media platform, Truth Social, with up to $1.3 billion in capital, in addition to a stock market listing. Summer is the moment for this new collection of fruit-infused vinegars with a white wine vinegar base. Theyre from a company selling products from Greece and elsewhere, and they provide versatility well beyond the salad bowl. Their uses include sharpening a mix of fresh berries or a cocktail, adding a new dimension to iced tea or a pan sauce for scallops or duck, and, with the tangerine flavor, bringing citric tang to ceviche. As for that summer salad, the tangerine or strawberry will contribute a touch of sweetness without the murk of balsamic. Kosterina Crushed Strawberry, Crushed Tangerine, Crushed Blueberry Vinegar, $45 for the set in eight ounce bottles, kosterina.com. Follow New York Times Cooking on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok and Pinterest. Get regular updates from New York Times Cooking, with recipe suggestions, cooking tips and shopping advice. Ghislaine Maxwell, the former socialite who conspired with Jeffrey Epstein over a decade to sexually exploit and abuse underage girls, was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Tuesday, a punishment that means she could spend much of the rest of her life in prison. The sentence, while severe, was shorter than the government had recommended. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan had asked the judge to impose a sentence of at least 30 years. If the conviction is upheld, Ms. Maxwell, with time potentially deducted for good behavior and credit for the two years she has spent in jail, could leave prison in her late 70s. Ms. Maxwell, 60, the daughter of the British media magnate Robert Maxwell, was convicted on Dec. 29 of sex trafficking and other counts after a monthlong trial in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Both criticisms have a point: The CARE Court bill can wrap itself in the language of help and empathy, but at its core, it is a way to force people who have not committed any crime, nor have proved themselves to be an imminent threat to the public, to be coerced into a court proceeding that will place many of them on powerful medications under the threat of a conservatorship that would take away many of their freedoms. When people entered the system, they would be assigned legal aid (earlier drafts of the bill provided a public defender). You dont assign people legal aid because theyre about to enter a fully voluntary system. You assign them legal aid because they are about to enter a form of the court system. Considering that the standard for being entered into CARE Court would be the exhibition of symptoms of what Umberg called schizophrenia-like conditions, the subjectivity of those assessments and the potential for abuse are both certainly there. If California cannot handle the current number of mentally ill homeless people, what will it do when the 7,000 to 12,000 more that Umberg predicted hit the system? Umberg, for his part, acknowledges that finding those workers, whether psychiatrists or social workers, will be one of the biggest challenges facing the CARE Court system. He says the governor is investing in training new workers, but given the current shortage of civic workers, especially when it comes to homeless services, its difficult to imagine there would be anything close to enough trained professionals to fill the role. The states continuing conundrum is that everyone wants to do something about the homeless so long as the person carrying out that work is someone else. The other major challenge Umberg noted was around the CARE Courts housing plan for people in the system. Much of the criticism over the bill, especially from the A.C.L.U., comes from the fact that there would be no real guarantee that a CARE Court graduate would receive any form of housing. This is certainly puzzling, given that part of the states justification in setting up CARE Courts is rightfully noting that the stress of living on the streets contributes to mental illness and makes it more difficult for people to seek or maintain treatment. If the state cannot guarantee a homeless, mentally ill person a place to stay, how can it really compel that person to seek regular treatments or check in with a counselor and the court, especially when the state agrees that homelessness, itself, is a main driver of the symptoms of mental illness? This is the question that CARE Courts put in front of Californians: How much are you willing to play fast and loose with the civil liberties of chronically homeless, mentally ill people? Its true that homelessness is the states most pressing problem and that most residents, including me, are dismayed on a daily basis at the seeming intractability of the problem. The billions of dollars the state spends per year on homelessness solutions includes significant investments in housing. But while housing-first policies can provide relief for many people who are about to lose their homes or fall in and out of homelessness, they are not a panacea that will keep chronically unhoused, mentally ill people off the streets. (To be fair, no serious housing-first advocates would ever say that their approach could solve every problem.) This is why the political mood in the state has swung so quickly toward a type of desperation that says something anything must be done. Such bluster and silly promises actually have made it nearly impossible to tell which proposals should be taken seriously and which ones should not, which ones are simply the reflexive ideations of politicians under strain and which ones try to solve a problem. Or if there even is really a difference anymore between the two. Sorry, Im ranting. Your thoughts? Bret: You arent ranting at all. Or rather, rant away. Gail: OK, if Ive got permission to rant, Ill get to the abortion decision after all. Just reading Clarence Thomass preening concurrence about how this is just the first step next targets: same-sex marriage and womens overall right to purchase contraceptives. Bret: Give him a point for honesty, which is more than can be said for Brett Kavanaugh. Gail: I wrote a while back wondering if Texas anti-abortion law from last September would be the first step in a war against every form of birth control more efficient than the rhythm method, but did not expect the idea to pop up in a Supreme Court opinion. I know that was just from Thomass comments, but its so important to see which way this kind of thinking is pointing. A womans power to decide whether she wants to be pregnant was totally key to our liberation. Take it away and youre back to a time when women were expected to quit work after they got married because there was no effective way of knowing when theyd get pregnant. And to totally avoid sex if they were single because of the fear that theyd get pregnant and ruin their reputations and careers. OK. Time for you to get in here. Bret: Agree with everything you say. For me, the word that comes to mind is arrogance. Supreme arrogance. In November 2018, Dr. He announced that a pair of twin girls had been born with his gene edits. The announcement took many scientists like Dr. Doudna by surprise, and they roundly condemned him for putting the health of the babies in jeopardy with untested procedures. Dr. Baylis of Dalhousie University criticized Dr. He for the way he reportedly presented the procedure to the parents, downplaying the radical experiment they were about to undertake. You could not get an informed consent, unless you were saying, This is pie in the sky. Nobodys ever done it, she said. In the nearly four years since Dr. Hes announcement, scientists have continued to use CRISPR on human embryos. But they have studied embryos only when theyre tiny clumps of cells to find clues about the earliest stages of development. These studies could potentially lead to new treatments for infertility. Bieke Bekaert, a graduate student in reproductive biology at Ghent University in Belgium, said that CRISPR remains challenging to use in human embryos. Breaking DNA in these cells can lead to drastic rearrangements in the chromosomes. Its more difficult than we thought, said Ms. Bekaert, the lead author of a recent review of the subject. We dont really know what is happening. Still, Ms. Bekaert held out hope that prime editing and other improvements on CRISPR could allow scientists to make reliably precise changes to human embryos. Five years is way too early, but I think in my lifetime it may happen, she said. In 2012, a 6-year-old girl was suffering from acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Chemotherapy had been unsuccessful, and the case was too advanced for a bone-marrow transplant. There didnt seem to be any other options, and the girls physicians told her parents to go back home. Instead, they went to the Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia, where doctors used an experimental treatment called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy to turn the girls white blood cells against the cancer. Ten years later, the girl is cancer free. Since then, Dr. Carl June, a medical professor at the University of Pennsylvania who helped develop CAR T-cell therapy, and his collaborators, including Dr. Ed Stadtmauer, a hematologist-oncologist at Penn Medicine, have been working to improve it. That includes using CRISPR, which is the simplest and most accurate tool to edit T-cells outside the body. Dr. Stadtmauer, who specializes in dealing with various types of blood and lymph system cancers, said that the last decade or so has just seen a revolution of treatment of these diseases; its been rewarding and exciting. Over the past couple of years, Dr. Stadtmauer helped run a clinical trial in which T-cells that underwent significant CRISPR editing were inserted into patients with treatment-resistant cancers. The results were promising. Nine months into the trial the edited T-cells had not been rejected by the patients immune systems and were still present in the blood. The real benefit is that scientists now know that CRISPR-aided treatments are possible. Even though its really sort of science fiction-y biochemistry and science, the reality is that the field has moved tremendously, Dr. Stadtmauer said. He added that he was less excited by the science than how useful CRISPR had become. Every day I see maybe 15 patients who need me, he said. Thats what motivates me. Dr. Robinson remembered thinking of Murphys Law and joking, I know exactly where its going to hit. Because the crash was predicted a month ahead of time, the mission team was able to fill in most of the gaps. Then the search started. Usually, a computer program does the comparison, but that works best if the before-and-after pictures are taken at the same time of day. For this search, many of the images were taken at different times, and the difference in shadows confused the algorithm. With all the false positives, we just sat down and had several people manually going through the millions of pixels, Dr. Robinson said. Alexander Sonke, a senior in Arizona States geological sciences department, contributed to the effort. He estimated that he had spent about 50 hours over several weeks performing the tedious task. Mr. Sonke graduated in May. He got married. He went on his honeymoon. A week and a half ago was his first day back at work he is about to embark on his graduate school studies with Dr. Robinson as his adviser and he resumed the search for the impact site. PUNJAB, India Sunita Devi, an embroiderer at 100Hands, was working on a shirt, her stitching so beautiful that it prompted a compliment from this reporter. Ms. Devi acknowledged it with a smile, before turning her attention back to the task at hand. Were these floral patterns a nod to commissions by maharajahs who once ruled this state? Or was this regional phulkari embroidery (a form of cross-stitch), made for a bridal trousseau and treasured for generations? Neither, it turned out. Ms. Devi was sewing a buttonhole with nearly invisible stitches. Each one takes 40 minutes and has more than 100 stitches per inch; other shirtmakers that specialize in this kind of clothing would likely have 40 or 60. Each shirt takes up to 35 hours to make, and tailoring aficionados who obsess over the most exacting details in a cuff, a button-down collar or a hand-stitched hem have described 100Hands shirts as some of the finest in the world. The senators appeared to express misgivings about doing so after the courts ruling on Roe, saying in statements that the justices had indicated during the confirmation process that the case was a settled matter. Neither justice gave straightforward answers about ruling on Roe. Justice Kavanaugh declined to directly answer whether the decision was correct law. He said at one point that the case was important precedent of the Supreme Court that has been reaffirmed many times. Justice Gorsuch followed a similar tack. He refused to say how he would rule on Roe, noting that the decision was a precedent of the U.S. Supreme Court that had been reaffirmed. For a judge to start tipping his or her hand about whether they like or dislike this or that precedent would send the wrong signal, he added. It would send the signal to the American people that the judges personal views have something to do with the judges job. Follow our live updates on abortion news and the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. The expanding battle over abortion set off by the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is moving to state courts and legislatures, with a Florida judge scheduled on Monday to hear a challenge under state law to a ban taking effect this week and California lawmakers preparing to put a constitutional amendment on the ballot to protect reproductive rights. In Florida, health care providers have asked a judge to temporarily block the states new ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, a law signed this spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis and set to take effect on Friday. The plaintiffs argue that the law violates the state constitutions protection for individual privacy rights which, in previous rulings by the state Supreme Court, has been interpreted to include the right to abortion. Until now, Florida law has included fewer restrictions on abortion than other Southern states, making it a refuge for women across the region. The new law is similar to the Mississippi statute at the heart of the Supreme Court case that overturned Roe v. Wade last week; it includes no exceptions for cases of rape or incest. WASHINGTON Do you feel safe? You shouldnt. In August, 42-year-old Travis Ford of Lincoln, Neb., posted those words on the personal Instagram page of Jena Griswold, the secretary of state and chief election official of Colorado. In a post 10 days later, Mr. Ford told Ms. Griswold that her security detail was unable to protect her, then added: This world is unpredictable these days anything can happen to anyone. Mr. Ford paid dearly for those words. Last week, in U.S. District Court in Lincoln, he pleaded guilty to making a threat with a telecommunications device, a felony that can carry up to two years in prison and a fine of up to $250,000. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. But a year after Attorney General Merrick B. Garland established the federal Election Threats Task Force, almost no one else has faced punishment. Two other cases are being prosecuted, but Mr. Fords guilty plea is the only case the task force has successfully concluded out of more than 1,000 the Justice Department said it has evaluated. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Health care providers argued before a Florida judge on Monday that the states new ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy violates the state constitution, and urged the court to block its enforcement. The law, signed this spring by Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, is set to take effect on Friday. Regardless of the Supreme Court ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade last week, the Florida plaintiffs argue that the new law violates the state constitutions protection of individual privacy rights. In previous rulings, that has been interpreted to include the right to abortion. Judge John C. Cooper of the states Second Judicial Circuit Court began the hearing on Monday morning by reminding the parties that he was required to follow the law and not attempt to predict how the Florida Supreme Court would ultimately rule in the future. At least one of Louisianas three remaining abortion clinics said it would resume performing the procedure after a judge on Monday temporarily blocked enforcement of the states abortion trigger laws. Louisiana is one of 13 states where the legislature had previously enacted laws designed to curtail abortions, in anticipation of Fridays Supreme Court ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. The states three operating clinics filed a petition seeking emergency relief and received a temporary restraining order. One of the clinics, Hope Medical Clinic for Women, planned to continue operating with the order in place, a spokeswoman for one of the law firms representing the clinics said on Monday. The states other two clinics are expected to continue as well, although that had not been confirmed. Judge Robin M. Giarrusso of the Orleans Parish Civil District Court, who granted the order, set a hearing in the case for July 8. Ms. Rourke, who is Black, Puerto Rican and white, said in an interview on Monday that she was trying to escort a protester away from the crowd when the otherwise peaceful protest became heated. It was out of nowhere, Ms. Rourke said. He punched me at least two times. Ms. Rourke, a co-founder of Rhode Island Political Cooperative, a progressive group that supports candidates of color and those with L.G.B.T.Q. backgrounds, said she had never met Mr. Lugo before the encounter. The next morning, she said, she went to an emergency room, after experiencing hearing loss in her left ear and head pain. She also filed a police report, which was obtained by The New York Times. This is what it is to be a Black woman running for office, Ms. Rourke on Saturday said on Twitter. I wont give up. On Monday, Ms. Rourkes rival in the Democratic primary, Michael J. McCaffrey, made a surprise announcement that he would retire clearing a major obstacle in the 29th Senate District. It was not clear whether the recent events had played a role in the decision of Mr. McCaffrey, the majority leader in the chamber who had defeated Ms. Rourke in two previous Democratic primaries. He did not respond to a message on Monday. The deadline is Wednesday for candidates to file for the Sept. 13 primary. On Saturday, Mr. Lugo tweeted, I will not be running for any office this fall, before deactivating his Twitter account. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Monday sided with two doctors convicted of illegally dispensing drugs without a legitimate medical purpose. The ruling was unanimous, though the justices disagreed on the precise rationale. They were united, however, in saying that prosecutors needed to prove more than that the doctors had violated objective standards. Justice Stephen G. Breyer, writing for six members of the court, said that, so long as doctors were authorized to dispense controlled substances, prosecutors must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knew that he or she was acting in an unauthorized manner, or intended to do so. Representative David Valadao, a Republican running in a strongly Democratic district in Californias Central Valley, will face off in November with his strongest challenger yet after primary voters gave the Republican and Democratic establishments the candidates they wanted. Mr. Valadao, whose victory was called by The Associated Press weeks after the June 7 primary, is one of the most endangered House Republicans in the country. He voted to impeach former President Donald J. Trump for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, then laid low and largely escaped Mr. Trumps wrath. He attracted two Republican primary challengers Chris Mathys, who ran as a pro-Trump voice, and Adam Medeiros, who campaigned as a traditional pro-agriculture conservative in the Central Valley. Giving up a child, its like losing one to death but in a way its worse because you dont know anything about the child, Ms. Starr, now 66, said. I had a little boy, and years would go by and Id sit back and wonder if he is even still alive, is he happy, is he healthy? About 10 years ago, Ms. Starrs son found her and they reconnected. The conversation was initially awkward, she said, but ultimately therapeutic. Her son told her that he was grateful for her decision and that he had a pretty good life. He also told her that he is in favor of abortion rights, she said, a pleasant surprise for her. Most kids would probably not want to know that their mother thought about aborting them, she said. But I did. I was 15 when I was pregnant, and 16 when I had him and I was awfully young. He asked me, You could have gotten an abortion, why didnt you do it? And I said, Well, actually, I couldnt have, it wasnt legal at the time, she continued. I said I didnt want to get an illegal abortion and once I started feeling him in there, I just couldnt do it. The American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement Monday that extends the period of time for which breastfeeding is recommended to two years or more, but that also acknowledges the obstacles that stand in parents way. We need societal changes that will help to support this, such as paid leave, more support for breastfeeding in public and child care facilities and workplace support, said Dr. Joan Meek, a professor emeritus in the department of clinical sciences at the Florida State University College of Medicine and lead author of the new recommendations. Much of the policy the groups first updated guidance on breastfeeding in a decade is identical to what the A.A.P. has said in the past. The organization continues to recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed for about six months, at which point complementary foods can be introduced. The statement cites research linking breastfeeding to a range of benefits in infants, including decreased rates of lower respiratory tract infections, severe diarrhea and ear infections. KREMENCHUK, Ukraine Hundreds of people were out shopping, chatting and meeting with friends in a shopping mall in central Ukraine on Monday, a rare moment of normalcy amid the horror of war. Then a Russian missile struck. The attack left at least 16 dead and at least 10 missing at the shopping mall, near a railway station in the industrial city of Kremenchuk, located in Ukraines central Poltava region. People just burned alive, Denys Monastyrskyi, Ukraines interior minister, said in an interview. In four months of conflict characterized by indiscriminate violence, the strike was just the latest vivid and bloody example of Russias willingness to target civilians at a nonmilitary site, with people going about their daily lives. Leonardo Del Vecchio, the Italian multibillionaire who rose from Dickensian poverty to build a globe-straddling behemoth that helped transform the stodgy, fragmented eyeglass industry into a fashion-oriented business, died on Monday in Milan. He was 87. His death was announced by the company, now called EssilorLuxottica. No cause was given. A company spokeswoman said he had died at San Raffaele Hospital. Although largely unnoticed outside of the industry, Luxottica, as the company was long known, achieved as much dominance in the low-tech eyeglasses business as Google and Amazon have in theirs. LVIV, Ukraine The all-too-familiar blare of an air raid siren signaled rockets within striking distance of this city in western Ukraine on Monday afternoon. It was the fifth time in less than 48 hours. With each siren, nerves have grown more frayed. The dozens of missiles launched by Russian forces into Ukraine over the weekend have raised anxiety, even in the relative peace of the countrys northwest. The air raid alarms that had grown sporadic are becoming more frequent, renewing fears that it may only be a matter of time before missiles target civilians in what have been considered Ukraines safest cities. Staff members at the Lviv National Art Gallery, who had recently returned to work when the gallery reopened last month after being closed for weeks, walked with purpose into the basement along with a handful of visitors to wait out the alarm on Monday. The women, who normally keep an eye on the museums visitors, gathered in one corner of the basement and turned to their phones, scrolling for updates on where missiles had been fired or checking in with family members. LVIV, Ukraine Civilians should immediately leave the Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, the regions governor said on Monday an indication of the gathering pace of the Russian onslaught in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Due to the real threat to life and health, we call for an evacuation, Serhiy Haidai, the military governor of Luhansk Province, wrote on the Telegram social messaging app. Save yourself and your loved ones. The statement was a marked change of tone for Mr. Haidai who has for weeks had spoken of Ukraines control of the city on the Siversky Donets River. Daniel Rice Daniel Rice, who is working on a doctoral dissertation on Ukrainian military leadership, is now repping the Ukrainian Armed Forces. He serves as a special advisor to commander-in-chief General Valerii Zaluzhnyi and provides guidance on war fighting. Rice has written articles and made media appearances to boost awareness of the military situation in Ukraine. His The Untold Story of the Battle for Kyiv in Small Wars Journal argued that the US should provide different weapons systems to Ukraine. Rice spoke at the Ukrainian Institute of America on June 1 and then was interviewed by the Voice of America. The resulting article was translated into Russian. He also made an appearance on CNNs Erin Burnett OutFront to talk about Ukraine. Rice is not compensated for his work. A man who forced a curtain pole into the anus of his mother's lover in a vile, sadistic, vicious, cruel and barbaric attack in the Midlands has had his jail term increased by the Court of Appeal. Nathan Doherty (24), from Legan, Co Longford, attacked Derek Murphy with the broken pole in the bedroom of a house at Lisnacreeva, Colehill, Co Longford, after arriving at the property in the early hours and discovering his mother Sharon Doherty naked in bed with Mr Murphy. During the assault, Doherty repeatedly hit Mr Murphy over the back with the curtain pole until it snapped in two. He then took one half of the broken pole and forced it inside Mr Murphys anus at least twice and left it there. Doherty pleaded guilty to one count of intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm and one count of producing an article capable of causing serious harm and was sentenced to six years imprisonment for the attack, with the final three years suspended for 10 years. He was also ordered to pay his victim compensation of 30,000, with payments of 5,000 per year to be made when he has served his sentence. The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) appealed the suspended portion of the sentence imposed by Judge Keenan Johnson at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court in January 2021. On Friday, Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy read out the decision of the three-judge court which increased Doherty's sentence from three to five years' imprisonment. Mr Justice McCarthy said the attack was an "extremely violent" one but said that the headline sentence identified by the trial judge was "appropriate". He said the trial judge halved the jail sentence to "foster rehabilitation" for "first-time offender" Doherty and added that the financial restitution element to the sentence was "understandable". However, Mr Justice McCarthy then said the court would quash the existing sentence on grounds of "deterrence" and sever the financial aspect from the jail term by making a separate order under Section 6 of the Criminal Procedures Act. This, said the judge, would mean there was no specific linkage of the financial restitution to the custodial sentence. After quashing the existing sentence, Mr Justice McCarthy re-sentenced Doherty to six years' imprisonment with the final year suspended for two years. Doherty is also to now pay compensation of 25,000 to Mr Murphy in annual instalments of 5,000 starting 10 months after his release. The court previously heard that Mr Murphy suffered severe internal injuries and was forced to use a colostomy bag for several months as a result of the attack on June 3, 2018. He has also suffered psychological trauma. He later told a court the pain inflicted on him by Doherty had been excruciating and that he thought he was going to die during the assault. The State appealed on the grounds that the 50 per cent reduction in the time Doherty would spend in prison represented a substantial departure from other sentences handed down for similar egregious offences. Shane Geraghty BL, for the DPP, told the Court of Appeal that Judge Johnson had described the assault as vile, sadistic, vicious, cruel and barbaric, and I dont think we should depart from that. Mr Geraghty said rehabilitation had been a central factor when Judge Johnson sentenced Doherty. He said Doherty had entered the property uninvited and forcibly and had even struck his own mother before assaulting Mr Doherty. In the circumstances, a three-year jail term was an insufficient censure and insufficient in the context of deterrents, Mr Geraghty said. Desmond Dockery SC, for Doherty, told the court that his client was a dutiful son who had been goaded by his father into using the broken implement to attack Mr Murphy. Last month, Derek Doherty (52), of Vicarstown, Ballymahon, Co Longford, was sentenced to 80 months in prison with the final 17 months suspended at Longford Circuit Criminal Court for his role in the attack. His father led this, Mr Dockery said, adding that the parent had instructed his son to do the bastard during the 3am attack. There were other wide-ranging mitigating factors in the case, counsel said, including his clients early guilty plea which had been tendered at height of the pandemic when there had been a backlog of cases. He said Judge Johnson had been entitled to a certain latitude to go that extra mile to help a first-time offender towards rehabilitation, and asked the court not to interfere with the sentence handed down by a very experienced and thoughtful judge. A judge has been urged to revoke the legal aid of a woman in the Midlands accused of carrying out a feud-related assault The woman spent ten days in Turkey getting cosmetic dental treatment done while on free legal aid after getting her bail terms relaxed. Thirty-five-year-old Teresa Dinnegan, 18 Grian Ard, Longford jetted out to the Aegean coastal city of Izmir after Judge Bernadette Owens relaxed her bail terms for two weeks for the purposes of dental work to be carried out. Ms Dinnegan, who together with two other co-accused, is charged with carrying out an assault on another woman inside Penneys, Longford Shopping Centre on March 16. All three were arrested and subsequently charged after an alleged brawl broke out in front of shocked customers and staff, resulting in the stores closure for a number of hours. Details surrounding Ms Dinnegan's bail while depending on the taxpayer-funded criminal legal aid system has led to stinging criticism for a major overhaul. Fine Gael Senator Micheal Carrigy said the controversy was effectively showing two fingers to the taxpayers of Longford and urged for the courts to take a tougher hand when granting bail. When you see people granted bail and given legal aid and then are able to travel abroad on a holiday, I just think there needs to be a review of the free legal aid (system), said Senator Carrigy. I think the judiciary needs to take a stronger view and take into consideration the views of local gardai. We cant have a situation where people have conditions to their bail and then have the ability to leave the country. I dont agree with it. Bail conditions are there for a reason and should be kept and in this case, it needs to be reviewed and revoked. Those sentiments were shared by Longford Fianna Fail Cllr Seamus Butler, who said the controversy illustrated the need for justice chiefs to closely examine an individuals personal financial circumstances before signing off on free legal aid. "If you didn't know better you would think it was some kind of set-up," said local Cllr Seamus Butler. "What this does is it absolutely epitomises regardless of a person's circumstances, the need for a person's means to be rigorously examined because anyone that can go on a trip to Turkey and have cosmetic dentistry carried out needs to be investigated. "What this is is a slap in the face to so many people who are struggling to make ends meet with the cost of living and with so many struggling with fuel poverty. It's a complete and utter circus." Ms Dinnegan is due to reappear before Longford District Court on July 5 when DPP directions will be made known. THE new President of the High Court has very strong links to Birr in County Offaly. Hon. Mr Justice David Barniville was nominated by the Government last week for appointment as President of the High Court by the President of Ireland. Mr Justice Barniville is a son of Geraldine (nee Houlihan, Birr) and the late Harry Barniville, and grandson of Desmond A. Houlihan, founder of Birr firm D.A. Houlihan LLP. The President of the High Court is the third most senior judicial appointment in Ireland. A vacancy for the role of President of the High Court will arise following the retirement of the current President, the Hon. Ms Justice Mary Irvine, on or around July 14th, 2022. The Government has taken the necessary steps to formally advise President Higgins of the nomination in accordance with constitutional practice. David Barniville was educated at University College Dublin and the Honourable Society of Kings Inns. He was called to the Bar in July 1990 and called to the Inner Bar in October 2006. He is an accredited CEDR mediator since 2007. David was chairman of the Bar Council between 2014-2016. He was appointed as a Judge of the High Court on December 1st, 2017. He served as President of the Association of Judges of Ireland (AJI) 2019-2021. He was appointed as a Judge of the Court of Appeal on August 30th, 2021. He is an Adjunct Professor of Commercial Law at University of Limerick. He has acted for the State in many high profile court cases and also represented Ireland in several European court cases, including the States successful appeal over a European Commission finding that Ireland granted illegal tax benefits to tech giant Apple. While on the High Court bench, Mr Justice Barniville managed that courts Commercial Court list and also ran the Strategic Infrastructural Development list for a time. David is married with three children and is regarded as a very fair minded judge, who give everyone a fair crack of the whip. The President of the High Court is the most senior judicial role in the State after Chief Justice and President of the Court of Appeal. A senior Conservative MP warned the Foreign Secretary against impugning the patriotism of those who criticise Government plans to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. Conservative chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Committee Simon Hoare was speaking during a debate where both those for and against the Governments plans to give ministers powers to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland claimed patriotism underpinned their position. Mr Hoare said he had grave concerns about the Northern Ireland Protocol Bill, which he described as a failure of statecraft. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, when asked in the Commons why she is not using the dispute mechanisms included in the agreed treaties with the EU, said part of the reason she was putting forward the Bill was because Im a patriot. Mr Hoare intervened to say: Is she seriously impugning the patriotism of colleagues across this House who have concerns about her Bill? I find that a false conflation. Elsewhere in the debate, Conservative former prime minister Theresa May outlined her opposition to the Governments plans, saying the Bill would break international law, and adding: As a patriot, I would not want to do anything that would diminish this country in the eyes of the world. Labour former minister Sir Tony Lloyd made a similar point, saying being able to ask others to adhere to international law and standards because the UK does so is true patriotism, which he said does not simply come from jingoist flag waving. Ms Truss remark about patriotism came in response to Labours Hilary Benn (Leeds Central), who said: I suspect that when she was campaigning for Britain to remain in the EU, she never in a million years thought shed be standing here proposing a Bill of this sort. He asked: Why is the Government not proposing to use the legal method to raise these questions with the EU through the treaty that it signed rather than one claiming necessity, when the Foreign Secretary is yet to give me a single example when the British Government has claimed necessity for abrogating a treaty that is negotiated and signed? Ms Truss replied: The reason I am putting this Bill forward is because Im a patriot and Im a democrat, and our number one priority is protecting peace and political stability in Northern Ireland and protecting the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, and nothing (he) has suggested will achieve that end. Following the exchange, Mr Hoare said: The Foreign Secretary knows that I have grave concerns about her Bill. But could I ask her just to coolly reflect upon praying-in-aid patriotism as a defence of it. Is she seriously impugning the patriotism of colleagues across this House who have concerns about her Bill? I find that a false conflation. The Foreign Secretary replied: I was directly responding to the point of the honourable gentleman asking me why I had campaigned one way in the referendum and now am working to make sure that the Brexit negotiation that we achieve works for the people of Northern Ireland. Speaking later in the debate, Mr Hoare said: I think this Bill is a failure of statecraft and it puts at risk the reputation of the United Kingdom. The arguments supporting it are flimsy at best, and irrational at worst. It is a Bill that risks economically harmful retaliation, a Bill that runs the risk of shredding our reputation as a guardian of international law and the rules-based system. How in the name of heaven can we expect to speak to others with authority, when we ourselves shun at a moments notice our legal obligations? Ukrainian officials said one person was killed and four injured after missiles struck a district near Kyiv's center. Meanwhile, G7 leaders are meeting in Germany. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that Russian leadership wants to draw Belarus into the war. He appealed to Belarusians to stay away from the conflict. Follow DW for the latest. Olga Malchevska was live on air when she saw images of her childhood home in the aftermath of a Russian attack. The Ukrainian president calls for more weapons and says partners "need to move faster". BANG Showbiz 27 Jun 2022 Kendrick Lamar closed Glastonbury 2022 with a plea for women's rights in the wake of the overturning of Roe v. Wade. G7 leaders are examining a new package of actions aimed at increasing pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, according to reports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appeared by video to appeal for more help. 2008-2022 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Telegram that firefighters are trying to extinguish the fire, while the number of casualties is "unimaginable". A State Supreme Court judge from Staten Island said the measure, which would have allowed more than 800,000 noncitizens to vote, violated the State Constitution. Dozens of anti-G7 protesters demonstrate near Elmau Castle in the Bavarian Alps, where the G7 summit is being held. Gordon Brown has claimed that Britain is "at war with America over Ireland" - amid opposition from US politicians over plans to.. Sky News 29 Jun 2022 Some 1,000 civilians were inside the building at the time of the strike, Ukraine's president said. Sky News 29 Jun 2022 European Commission vice president Maros Sefcovic said it was "high time we got Brexit done" as he fired the latest salvo against.. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem said that abortion doctors, not patients, should be prosecuted following the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade. The official said that every life is precious and noted they will work on protecting those lives. Eurasia Review 02 Jul 2022 Contrary to Russias expectations, the Ukraine war and entailing crises not only did not damage EU-US relations but also improved.. Eurasia Review 01 Jul 2022 My focus here is on North American Muslims, who have been a major force in challenging the Islamophobia now rampant in the West,.. At least three people were killed and others injured when an Amtrak train struck a dump truck in rural Missouri. New Zealand Herald 29 Jun 2022 British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has described the invasion of Ukraine by Russia as a "macho war" and stated that Vladimir.. Newsy 02 Jul 2022 Watch VideoThe U.S. announced on Friday that it will provide Ukraine with $820 million in new military aid, including new.. Jens Stoltenberg announced the plans to expand the NATO Response Force on Monday, and said it would be agreed at a summit later this week. Businesses worldwide have reacted by voluntarily cutting trade ties with Russia over Russias invasion of Ukraine. Although economic sanctions imposed by the European Union, Britain, the United States, Japan, and other major powers have been rapid and widespread, the conscious choice of the business community to eagerly... Edouard Mercier B. G., Opalesque Geneva: The Asia equity markets have not been at their best so far this year, with the MSCI Asia index down almost 13% YTD, but many managers remain buoyant about the region, as indeed there are many enduring mispriced opportunities and they know where to find them: small and mid-caps. Small-cap companies in Asia operate in a space that is relatively shielded from regulations designed to tame practices such as market dominance or monopolistic tendencies, according to PineBridge Investments. Small caps are also better equipped to deal with protectionism, as they are relatively more domestically focused or regionally oriented than large caps and thus less exposed to potential shocks to international trade. The Asian small and mid-cap universe offers higher alpha opportunity, says Swiss bank UBS. As indeed, the small and mid-cap companies are under-researched by sell-side analysts, and this provides more opportunities to outperform by exploiting knowledge inefficiencies. Over the last 10 years, almost half of the fastest-growing Asian companies had very limited or no analyst coverage at all. Asian public equity markets (notably mid and small caps) offer a deep pool of quality businesses trading at attractive valuations, says Ascender Capital, a Hong Kong-based investment boutique. "With over 22,000 listed businesses across the region, our investment strategy has been designed to identify pricing inefficiencies systematically. These are primarily linked to a lack of sell-side coverage, increased retail participation, and a high level of family ownership. Two-thirds of Asian listed companies are family-owned, which is double the global average. We like to work with these long-term stewards; however, it can reduce a company's free float, meaning these unique opportunities are only accessible to smaller more capacity-conscious investment firms such as ourselves." Ascender was founded in 2012 and manages a single equity strategy, which is available in long-only or absolute return versions. The strategy invests in high-quality businesses, defined by a track record of high returns on invested capital, earnings growth and profitability, trading at a significant discount to intrinsic value. Before founding Ascender, Edouard Mercier was an entrepreneur in the telecom sector, an investor, and the co-founder of Piton Capital in 2009. He will present at the Small Managers - Big Alpha episode 9 webinar on July 7th. Expect an additional tailwind The Ascender Asia Fund is a long-only, Caymans-domiciled fund with a portfolio of 30 businesses. It has annualised 10% net since its inception in December 2021. It covers Asia including Japan and produces its returns from acquiring stocks at temporary discounts thanks to mispricing. The process mixes quantitative and qualitative phases. The Ascender Global Value Fund (AGVF) has the same strategy but is long/short. It has annualised a net return of 7% since inception in December 2012 - compared to 6.2% for the MSCI Asian Small-Cap index and 4.8% for the HFRI Asia incl. Japan index. The MSCI AC Asia Small Cap Index, which covers 2,400 constituents in three developed markets countries and eight emerging markets countries in Asia, was positive over the last couple of years. This year, however, it is down -13%, after flat returns in May. As for the HFRI Asia with Japan Index, it is up 0.9% YTD - and virtually flat in the last 12 months. "Ascender Capital launched its strategy via an absolute return fund in 2012, providing investors with exposure to Asian equities while maintaining an ongoing focus on capital preservation," Mercier tells Opalesque. "The portfolio's short positions are comprised of index hedges, successfully reducing the impact of market selloffs (drawdown capture of 28% since inception) and delivering positive performance over every calendar year to date. "Going forward, we expect an additional tailwind due to a narrowing of the discount between the US and Asian small caps, which is currently at an all-time high (see graph below)." On a year-to-date basis, the hedge fund continues to significantly outperform its benchmark (-2.7% vs -13.1%) with the fund's short positions contributing positively (+6.1%), he adds. When asked about the investment process which mixes quantitative and qualitative phases, Mercier explains that Ascender's bottom-up quantitative model allows the investment team to efficiently identify quality Asian companies (i.e. those with a track record of high returns on invested capital, seven years of earnings growth and strong balance sheets) that are trading at attractive valuations. "From this high-quality universe," he continues, "the investment team then implements a rigorous checklist process (i.e. accounting forensics, corporate governance, etc.) to eliminate potential red flags and businesses that don't meet the internal criteria. An investment analyst then conducts a qualitative fundamental analysis on the shortlisted companies before force-ranking each new candidate against existing portfolio companies. This systematic discovery and force-ranking enable the team to focus on value-adding analysis." Upcoming webinar : Small Managers - BIG ALPHA Episode 9 of this groundbreaking webinar series presents another carefully screened panel of investment managers. In one hour, you'll meet them all, get to know their top quartile strategies, and since this is an interactive session, you will be able to ask questions. Edouard Mercier, Ascender Capital Bastian Bolesta, Deep Field Capital Gerald Balboa, Skylar Capital Management Elias Nechachby, Icon-MoSAIQ-Carmika When: Thursday, July 7th at 11am ET / 4pm UK time / 5pm CET Free registration here: www.opalesque.com/webinar/ This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Gender and sex education are topics widely-debated among parents, students and community members in Midland. Rachel Crandall-Crocker is the founder of Transgender Michigan, the first organization in the nation to offer a trans help line. When she was a child, she said support resources for trans people, like her, were non-existent. At the same time, transgender people continue to suffer from high rates of bullying, violence and suicide. Before I came out, I was really isolated and it was really affecting my mental health, Crandall-Crocker said. I tried to come out to my parents when I was only eight and they had a very negative reaction. They told me that was the dirtiest thing I could say. She spent another 25 years in the closet before accepting herself, creating her non-profit and founding the annual International Trans Day of Visibility, March 31, which is now celebrated all over the world. LGBTQ+ rights have improved over the last 25 years thanks to activists like Crandall-Crocker, but she said there has been a lot of backlash against the queer community in the last six or seven years that can be seen in places including Texas and Mississippi. Crandall-Crocker said trans acceptance starts with educating children about diversity and respect from a young age. People come in all shapes and sizes and all genders, and we need to respect that, Crandall-Crocker said. LGBTQ+ students in Midland recently addressed their school board about this issue, advocating for education about pronouns and the gender spectrum. In an effort to spread information and awareness, the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion sector of Midland Highs National Honor Society had created a presentation about gender identity to share with their peers. They were ultimately unable to present to their target audience, however, as students were given the choice to opt-out of the presentation, which was considered controversial material. "The majority of cisgendered students do not know how to support, or even talk to, their transgender peers, senior Kyle Bacon said at the May 16 Midland Public Schools board meeting. "They don't know how pronouns work or that asking invasive questions is insensitive... Transgender youth is the most likely population of students to attempt suicide." Farwell Area Schools psychologist Matt Smith said avoiding discussion about gender can be detrimental to the mental health of trans youth. In Farwell, a small school district in rural Clare County, he said there are a handful of students that have completed paperwork to legally change their gender identity. A lot of the members of school boards are people that are very influential in the community, but may not be up to date on a lot of the trends and a lot of things that are occurring within the youth population, Smith said. Some parents believe students are too young to learn about gender-related topics: They say schools should focus on academics. Smith said with time and education, he hopes people will become more receptive to understanding the struggles of the LGBTQ+ community. Whether people agree with it or don't agree with it, just having an open mind and listening to that information that they want to provide, and educate others on, I think is really important, Smith said. Farwell schools recently instituted a Gay Straight Alliance Club, a resource for LGBTQ+ students to find and support one another. Smith said there are also straight and cisgender students in the club who support their LGBTQ+ peers by listening and learning. Harm endured by the trans community can be minimized by uplifting their accomplishments, having open discussions and educating one another about the existence of trans and gender-non-conforming identities. I think a lot of it's just the education and kind of learning about the differences and how to support them, he added. The County of Midland serves executive, legislative and judicial needs for its more than 84,000 residents. Midland County Administrator/Controller Bridgette Gransden, who leads the executive branch of Midland County's government, spoke with the Midland Daily News to highlight five areas of "need to know" information for residents of the County of Midland. Midland County Road Commission is not a part of the County of Midland entities. The road commission is an "entirely separate organization" from the County of Midland, Gransden explained. In some instances across the State of Michigan, road commissions have combined under the umbrella of the county administration and the legislature. Gransden estimated that roughly 10 to 12 years ago, legislation was adopted to allow such combining; however, Midland County chose not to do so. "At the time, the Board of Commissioners just felt like the road commission as an organization was operating just fine and chose not to fix something that wasn't broken," she said. The millage dollars for roads are split between the county, the road commission, and the City of Midland, based on State Equalized Value. "So essentially, the road commission is its own separate unit of government, and the partnering is primarily with the county board to appoint the road commissioners," Gransden said. GIS mapping makes veteran graves, bricks accessible There are more than 6,000 military veterans in Midland County. The County of Midland has GIS-mapped road, floodplain and school district data. But, more recently, the county has two GIS map projects to highlight veteran graves in 19 cemeteries and engraved bricks that rest at the Midland County Courthouse Memorial site. "All you have to do is search by name," Gransden said. "We used our GIS coordinator's skills along with our new drone." To view the GIS projects, visit the County's website. Midland Broadband Committee: High-speed Internet is no longer a luxury The County participated in a study through Connected Nation, with the help of the Midland Area Community Foundation and Midland Business Alliance. The study revealed expectations of room for progress with Internet access. Some of the county's ARPA funds are being used, while the county works on collaborating with other counties in Michigan to view possible models and paths for progress. "Our kitchen tables were turned into school rooms .... it's really important for us, as far as equity and inclusion, to be able to have as much (Internet) service and make it affordable as possible across the community," Gransden said. Midland County recognized for financial responsibility Every year since 1991, the county has been awarded the Government Finance Officers Association Certificate of Excellence in financial reporting for its annual audit, which is one of the highest levels of assurance that the County of Midland is being responsible with taxpayer dollars. "We're very proud of that," Gransden said. "We strive to continue that longstanding tradition of submitting the report for review, and we always feel confident that we're going to get the certification. "If we didn't, it would be kind of a blow to my ego," Gransden joked. General operating millage remains near levels of 90s The county's general operating millage has been at 4.8955 mills for the last 30 years. The average taxpayer pays around $490 in summer taxes. One of the special millages, or millage for a specific program or service, is for the county infirmary, or Pinecrest Farms. It is one of only two county infirmaries in the state, after the other Michigan counties converted their infirmaries to medical care facilities. "We continue to operate Pinecrest similar to an adult foster care, (so) it can be a place of last resort for people who need help and don't have other places to go," Gransden said. In 2007, the county requested residents to approve a millage that supported the operations of Pinecrest and would help renovate the building at the time. The millage is at .37 mill currently. "The Midland community has shown that they are extremely compassionate and want to, or are willing to, pay for the services that they want to see to improve quality of life in this community," Gransden said. Jon Gambrell/AP RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) Saudi Arabia on Monday lifted a mask mandate for indoor spaces even as COVID-19 infection numbers steadily climb past 1,000 new cases a day after reaching double-digit lows just two months ago. Masks will still be required at Islam's holiest sites in Mecca and Medina, where pilgrims gather for worship, according to the new rules. Organizers of events and festivals can continue to require masks if they wish. The kingdom additionally dropped a rule requiring proof of vaccination on a mobile app that was required before entry to certain places, events and to board planes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BIG RAPIDS Members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as vendors from across Michigan, gathered in Big Rapids on Sunday for the city's first Pride Festival. Live music, a beer tent, a drag show, food vendors, tarot card readings, and more were available at the event for free, which took place from 10 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. in Northend Riverside Park. The event was held by Pride Big Rapids, sponsored by the city of Big Rapids, Artworks, The United Church of Big Rapids, the Ferris LGBTQ+ Resource Center and P&J's Plantiques. The event had a variety of vendors, including Reed City Brewing company which created a special beer in a rainbow can specifically for the event. Other local sponsors include Gypsy Nickle, Schuberg's Bar and Grill and Crankers. "I'm extremely pleased with how successful it is. The only reason why it's so successful is that this community, in this county and surrounding, have been nothing but supportive and generous," said Patrick Aymar, president of Pride Big Rapids and the main organizer for the event. "I could not be more thrilled at how it's going and how many people are here. We have way over 30 vendors here, nearly a half a dozen food trucks," Aymar said. "Wonderful music, I am thrilled at the peace and the love of this activity. And this celebration is much nicer and much more beautiful than I could have ever thought." Aymar said he would not do the event if it wasn't all-inclusive, meaning he wanted it to be welcoming for all people, not just gay people or lesbians, but all members of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as allies. "It's a lot of work and a lot of people, but it's worth it. Everybody here, I have not seen one person here who was not having a good time. I haven't seen one negative word of anything." Given the overwhelming response to the first Pride Festival the Big Rapids area has had, Aymar and other members of the organizing team, like Cynthia Grazier, were overcome by emotion and cried tears of joy at the sight of their work finally coming to reality. MORE PHOTOS See more photos of the Big Rapids Pride Festival at bigrapidsnews.com. See More Collapse "I feel joy," Glazier said. Seeing the children who are comfortable with who they are was making her emotional, she said. "Everybody should have a chance to be who they are, and that's what this festival is." Aymar talked about seeing people in tears because they feel as though they finally have a place where they can be accepted for who they are, and not feel like they're outside the norm. Attendees were surprised by how welcoming and accepting the environment was, especially for those who had never been to a pride festival. "The people are amazing, everyone's so lovely, and sweet, and kind," one attendee remarked. "The colors, too." "I like the overarching theme of acceptance, it's nice," another attendee said. "Big Rapids and the surrounding area is a more accepting environment than most people would realize," Aymar said. Given the logistics of putting on a festival like this, Aymar said he could not be happier with the outcome. "To me, everything is as perfect as it could be. And I'm not saying that to be nice. It is the truth." Aymar originally became an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community in 1985 when he was one of few people who helped open an AIDS Resource Center. He became connected all over West Michigan while he worked for five years as a volunteer. "Everybody in the area knows my past, they know my history," Aymar said. "They knew I had some kind of professional background in the concept of pride celebration," he said. Aymar said he hopes the festival is a "new beginning" and will lead to an LGBTQ+ resource center being opened in the area. He also hopes to continue to hold the festival and watch it grow in size. "Bigger, not better," Aymar said, as he believes it's already in a great spot. Aymar wanted to specifically shout out Darrin Coleman, who is vice president of Pride Big Rapids, for helping put the event on. He also wants people to know that Pride Festivals are fun, easy, inclusive, and best of all, Pride Big Rapids is free. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims. Sunday, June 26 4:49 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence for a neighbor dispute. A 62-year-old man was yelling at his 64-year-old neighbor and his 47-year-old friend. All parties were advised to stay away from each other, not speak to one another and not go onto each other's property. 4:25 p.m. A 13-year-old girl called 911 because she was arguing with her 42-year-old mother. No assault occurred. The deputy gave the two of them advice on how to properly deal with emotions and how to express themselves in a proper way. 4:17 p.m. A 50-year-old male property owner called the Sheriff's Office because his 32-year-old daughter-in-law had entered one of his properties. Deputies spoke with the woman, who agreed to leave and later make arrangements to retrieve her own property. 3:37 p.m. A citizen called to report that someone had stolen his dog that was chained up outside. But while the caller was still on the phone, the dog returned with a broken chain. It was obvious that the dog had broken its chain. 22:23 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Hope Township residence for a personal protection order violation between a 60-year-old man and a 24-year-old man. The incident was forwarded to the Midland County prosecutor's office for review. 8:46 a.m. A citizen reported that someone had thrown a large piece of cement at his mailbox, causing damage. He was able to fix the mailbox. There are no suspects currently. The man advised that he would be installing security cameras to capture any future issues. 2:47 a.m Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence because a 19-year-old man stated he was arguing with his 19-year-old girlfriend. The parties were separated, and no physical assault occurred. 12:16 a.m. Deputies contacted a 41-year-old Edenville Township woman who advised she wanted her 41-year-old male roommate to leave the residence. The man decided to leave instead of causing further issues. 10:15 a.m. Police were called to the westbound Business US-10 overpass and South Saginaw Road for a property damage crash. 8:40 a.m. Police responded to Joe Mann Boulevard and Elisenal Drive for a property damage crash. 2:05 a.m Police were called to the 800 block of East St. Andrews Road for a domestic assault complaint. Saturday, June 25 11:30 p.m. Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence after a 21-year-old man reported that his 53-year-old father showed up to the residence when he was not supposed to. The father left prior to law enforcement's arrival. No crime was committed. 11:54 p.m. Deputies were sent to Ingersoll Township for a report of a loud party and subjects doing burnouts in the roadway. Contact was made with a resident, who stated the gathering was over and the music had been turned off for the night. 10:55 p.m. Police were called to the 4600 block of Forestview Drive for a fireworks complaint. 10:14 p.m. A deputy responded to a Homer Township home for a report of damage to a trash can. The trash can, valued at $50, was hit and dragged by a suspect vehicle that then left the scene. There are no suspects currently. 9:13 p.m. A Midland County woman was arrested on multiple outstanding Midland County warrants. She was transported and lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident. The woman had been a passenger in a vehicle that was stopped for a traffic violation. 9:05 p.m. Police were called to eastbound US-10 at the Waldo Road overpass for a property damage crash. 7:25 p.m. A deputy spoke with a 56-year-old Jerome Township woman after she found her mailbox was damaged overnight. The mailbox was repaired. There are no suspects. 8:08 p.m. A deputy was dispatched to a Mills Township residence for a complaint about a loud, large social gathering. A deputy spoke with the 48-year-old Mills Township male homeowner, who was informed of the complaint and agreed to keep the gathering under control. 3:33 p.m. A citizen found a cellular phone in a waterproof bag alongside West Chippewa River Road and South Meridian Road. The citizen turned the phone over to a deputy. When the deputy removed the phone from the bag, it was immediately apparent that the phone had been run over by a car numerous times. The phone came apart and the screen disintegrated away. The phone was an older Motorola Verizon smartphone. There were no identifying marks on the phone or the damaged bag. The phone was discarded. 2:50 p.m. A 41-year-old Gladwin woman said an unknown silver car went into her lane and the two vehicles' driver's mirrors collided, causing minor damage. The silver vehicle continued and did not stop to report the crash. 2:25 p.m. A citizen called 911 to report that a disorderly man dressed in a blue T-shirt was at Sanford Lake Park near the splash park. The caller advised that the man was stumbling and appeared to be intoxicated. The man was located and had a severe brain injury and was with family. 8:21 a.m. Deputies were called to a Jerome Township residence due to an argument between long-time roommates. Deputies stood by while the caller gathered items and left for the day. The roommate said he was going to move out. There was no assault between them. 4:23 a.m. Deputies responded to an Edenville Township residence for a verbal dispute between a 44-year-old woman and her 48-year-old boyfriend. No assault occurred. The man left the residence to resolve the issues. 4:21 a.m. A 21-year-old Bay City woman was arrested on an outstanding warrant from Saginaw County after a traffic stop in Lee Township. The woman was also issued citations for a traffic offense and license violations. The woman was turned over to Saginaw County authorities without incident. A report has been forwarded to the prosecutor for review. 3:42 a.m. Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence after a 21-year-old man reported that his 53-year-old father showed up to the residence when he was not supposed to. The father left prior to law enforcement's arrival. No crime was committed. 2:23 a.m. Police responded to Ashman and Mertz streets for a second offense of operating while intoxicated. 1:34 a.m. A 23-year-old male inmate assaulted a 27-year-old male inmate at the Midland County Jail. The 27-year-old received medical treatment from jail medical staff for his minor injuries. The case was turned over to the Midland County prosecutor's office. Friday, June 24 8:11 p.m. A deputy spoke with a woman who stated there was a child custody violation involving her two children. This incident was documented, and the woman was directed to the courts for further assistance. 10:51 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Jerome Township residence for a verbal dispute between a 24-year-old woman and her 68-year-old grandmother over the 24-year-old taking a car seat. The 24-year-old eventually left with the car seat. No assault occurred. 4:53 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Midland Township location to speak with a 20-year-old Midland Township man, who advised that two catalytic converters had been cut from his truck. He was not sure of the exact time they had been taken. Deputies asked the man when he had last seen the catalytic converters on his truck, and he said it was approximately two months ago. This incident is under investigation. 4:35 p.m. A 63-year-old man reported $650 worth of property was stolen after his storage unit was broken into. There are no current suspects. 1:35 p.m. A 49-year-old Sanford man called to report that he was being harassed by the manager of the park where he resided. He said the manager told him he was being evicted and that he needed to move out, but he hadn't received eviction papers. 1:56 p.m. Deputies were dispatched to a Midland Township location for a verbal dispute between a 41-year-old woman and a 41-year-old man. The two parties were separated. 9:54 a.m. A deputy stood by while a 46-year-old man retrieved his belongings from his former residence after his 36-year-old girlfriend had recently kicked him out. The deputy gave the man a ride to Open Door at his request. 4:54 a.m. Deputies contacted a 47-year-old Warren Township man regarding an arrest warrant. The man was subsequently arrested for a warrant out of Midland County, and was transported and lodged at the Midland County Jail without incident. 1:09 a.m. Deputies were dispatched to be on the lookout for a possibly intoxicated motorcycle driver in Greendale Township. A 43-year-old Bay City man was eventually located and was issued a citation for a traffic offense after a traffic stop in Lee Township. The man was not intoxicated. A 34-year-old woman who responded to the scene to take possession of her motorcycle was subsequently arrested on an outstanding Bay County warrant. The woman was transported and turned over to Bay County deputies without incident. Michigan's Aug. 2 primary election is roughly five weeks away, but election officials advise absentee ballots are available. Up in this year's election cycle are members from both branches of the Michigan Legislature which are the state House of Representatives (110 seats) and state Senate (38 seats). Whether you choose to vote absentee or in person, visit the Michigan Voter Information Center to view a sample ballot, verify voter registration information and track the status of absentee ballots. The absentee ballots for the Aug. 2 primary can be obtained at local clerk's offices or can be mailed to voters who have already applied to vote absentee, according to a Wednesday press release issued by Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson. "Voters have numerous secure options for how to cast their ballots this August," Benson said in the release. "Whether they choose to vote from home, by mail, via secure drop box, in person by absentee ballot at their local clerk office or at their polling location on Election Day, Michigan voters can be confident their vote will be counted and their voice will be heard." Voters on the permanent absentee list have been mailed applications by their local clerk at the last address the clerk has on file. And some clerks may mail applications to all registered voters in their jurisdiction, according to Benson's office. Regardless of if they have received an application in the mail, voters can apply to vote absentee at Michigan.gov/Vote. Using the same website, voters who have already submitted their application can track that it has been received and track the mailing of their ballot. Political parties, candidates and partisan and nonpartisan organizations also frequently mail absentee applications directly to voters. Clerks only provide one absentee ballot to each voter, and only after verifying the signature on the application matches the voters signature the clerk has on file, according to Benson's office. Polls are open on Election Day, Aug. 2, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. As long as you are in line to vote by 8 p.m., you will be permitted to cast your ballot. If you are unsure which state legislative or local districts you vote in, in light of new maps drawn in 2021, you can enter your home address and obtain a sample ballot when you visit the Michigan Voter Information Center. The Michigan Secretary of State finalized its candidate list for the primary. Candidates for attorney general, secretary of state and education boards will be formally nominated by both parties after the primary. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ELMAU, Germany (AP) The Latest on the G-7 summit, the annual meeting of the leading democratic economies, which this year is being held in the Bavarian Alps in Germany; and on the summit of NATO leaders that will start on Tuesday in Madrid: ___ Turkeys president says he will do whatever is necessary for our countrys rights and interests at the NATO summit in Spain Tuesday. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday hed provide documents and visuals on terror groups, including Kurdish militant groups and the network of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed for a 2016 attempted coup in Turkey, to show his counterparts the hypocrisy on terror. Ankara has objected to Sweden's and Finlands bids to join NATO, citing what it considers to be a lax approach to groups Turkey deems national security threats, including the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian extension. Turkey has demanded the two Nordic countries extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. We will tell them clearly that it is not possible to expect a different attitude from Turkey unless this picture changes, he said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara. ___ KEY DEVELOPMENTS: G-7 leaders to commit to Ukraine, US sending anti-air system Tale of 2 summits: Americas back to Americas backsliding EXPLAINER: G7 provides forum for like-minded democracies ___ OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says there can be no return to the pre-Ukraine war relationship with Russia. Scholz said at the Group of Seven summit on Monday that with its attack on Ukraine, Russia has broken all the rules, all the agreements we have made with each other on countries cooperation. He said G-7 leaders agree that it has led to long-term changes which will mark international relations for a very, very long time. So it is clear that, in relations with Russia, there can be no way back to the time before the Russian attack on Ukraine. Scholz was speaking after hosting the leaders of five leading democratic emerging economies at the G-7 summit in the Bavarian Alps. He noted that those countries -- India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina -- see the war in Ukraine from different perspectives, everyone knows that. He said that thats why its important that we speak to each other about it and exchange our respective points of view. Scholz didnt say whether their differences narrowed as a result of Mondays discussion and took no questions. ___ Leaders from the Group of Seven major economies and five key developing nations pledged Monday to work together to curb climate change while ensuring energy security for their citizens. In a joint statement released by Germany, which chairs the G-7 this year, the leaders emphasized the need to accelerate a clean and just energy transition that would see an end to the burning of fossil fuels without causing a sharp rise in unemployment. The statement cited an agreement last year between several rich nations and South Africa that would see the country receive help to end its heavy reliance on coal and ramp up the use of renewable energy. Similar partnerships are being discussed with other developing countries. The statements cautious language referring to the need to phase down unabated coal reflects concerns particularly by India, one of the signatories, which also relies strongly on this heavily polluting fossil fuel. Leaders also tentatively endorsed the idea of a global climate club. The notion, which is being championed by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the G-7 summit in the Alpine resort of Elmau, would see countries that agree on ambitious pollution targets spared from climate-related trade tariffs. ____ A small group of demonstrators has been allowed to protest within sight of the Group of Seven summit venue though not exactly close. German authorities agreed to have police cars take 50 protesters through the high-security cordon to a site 500 meters (about 550 yards) from the luxury Schloss Elmau hotel. Courts rejected pleas by organizers to be allowed 200 meters (some 220 yards) closer. At the site in a meadow in the Elmau valley, the protesters unrolled banners calling for active resistance against the danger of a world war and climate protection instead of armament, among other things. Mondays protest took place as the G-7 and guests from five major democratic emerging economies India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina were discussing climate change among other issues. ___ The U.S. is closely monitoring diplomacy between Turkey and Sweden and Finland as they seek to join NATO with hopes that it will create positive momentum toward accepting them into the alliance. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says President Joe Biden does not yet have plans to meet directly with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has expressed concerns over their accession into NATO because of their stance on Kurdish rebel groups that Turkey considers terrorists. Referring to talks between the countries, along with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, set for Tuesday in Brussels on the eve of the alliances summit in Madrid, Sullivan says, Lets see how the next 24 hours unfold. The President is following this very closely, Sullivan added of Biden. His team is working it with the Finns, Swedes, and Turks, and Im on the phone daily with my counterparts from all three countries. He said he could not say all the issues between the countries would be worked out in time for the summit, but said, were going to try and resolve as many of them as possible so that Madrid gives a boost to their candidacies, even if there remains some concerns on the part of Turkey that need to be worked out. ___ President Joe Biden and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen have promised to do more to rein in climate-wrecking natural gas leaks as European imports of American liquefied natural gas soar as a result of Russias war on Ukraine. U.S. LNG exports to Europe have nearly tripled since Russia invaded Ukraine in February. Overall LNG exports to Europe have risen by 75% since last year. Thats all as a result of Western boycotts and Russian cutoffs of Russian natural gas to Europe in the fallout from the war. Climate groups warn the LNG boom threatens crucial efforts by the United States and Europe to quickly cut fossil fuel emissions to stave off some of the worst scenarios of global warming. Natural gas is largely methane, which is a potent greenhouse gas and major contributor to climate change. In a joint statement, Biden and von der Leyen pledged to step up US-EU cooperation to reduce methane emissions, work to bring their LNG trade under standardized monitoring, reporting and verification for methane leaks, and work to reduce natural gas flaring and venting and other methane releases as part of their LNG use. ___ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked G7 states for their support of Ukraine, while calling for further sanctions against Russia. Ukraine feels the support of the G7 states. Thank you for the defense and financial assistance, Zelenskyy said on Telegram. He also called on G7 allies to cap the price of Russian oil exports, describing the potential move as an increase in sanctions pressure on the Kremlin. In a separate statement Monday, Ukraines presidential press service said Zelenskyy had asked G7 leaders for air missile defense systems, as Russia intensifies rocket attacks on cities. ___ NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says the alliance wants to increase the number of its rapid reaction forces from the current 40,000 troops to 300,000. Speaking at a press conference Monday ahead of a NATO summit later this week in Madrid, Stoltenberg said allies will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine when they convene in Spain. Stoltenberg said NATO members will agree on a strengthened assistance package including secure communication and anti-drone systems. Over the long term, Stoltenberg said allies aim to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era armaments to modern NATO equipment. ___ The Group of Seven leaders have pledged to continue supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes. In a joint statement Monday after a video link session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defence of their countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. They said that it is up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement, free from external pressure or influence. The leaders of the worlds leading democratic industrial powers pledged that we will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes. They would continue exploring new ways to isolate Russia from participating in the global market and are determined to reduce Russias revenues, including from gold. The leaders added that Russia must abide by international commitments including bans on the use of chemical, biological or nuclear weapons, and voiced serious concern about Russias announcement that it would send a nuclear-capable missile system to close ally Belarus. ____ A top French diplomat says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the Group of Seven leaders that this isn't the time for negotiations with Russia because he needs to be in stronger position first. The diplomat said Zelenskyy, who spoke by video link to a G-7 session, told the group that he will negotiate when he will be in a position to do so. He was speaking on condition of anonymity in line with the French presidencys customary practices. His goal is to end the war as quickly as possible and to get out of it in the best possible position, so that he can negotiate from a position of strength, the diplomat said, adding that Zelenskyy told the G-7 he needs economic, financial and military support. French President Emmanuel Macron said that nothing regarding Ukraine will be decided without Ukraine and its up to Zelenskyy to decide when he wants to engage in negotiations with Russia, according to the diplomat. By Sylvie Corbet in Paris ___ The German government insists its plans to tap new sources of natural gas dont undermine the countrys ambitious climate goals. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is promoting the idea of a climate club at a meeting Monday with fellow leaders from the Group of Seven major economies and key developing nations such as Indonesia, South Africa and Argentina. Speaking ahead of the talks, Scholz told German public broadcaster ZDF that the club would bring together those countries that are willing to become CO2-neutral very quickly by mid-century. The idea, which is still being fleshed out, would see members set common standards for curbing greenhouse gas emissions and agree not to impose climate-related tariffs on each others imports. Scholz described his own countrys target of reducing emissions to net zero by 2045 - the earliest of any major industrial nation - as very ambitious. But his government has been criticized by climate campaigners for seeking new suppliers of natural gas to replace the shortfall from Russia. Government spokesman Wolfgang Buechner said new energy agreements being forged with Senegal, which including developing a natural gas field, were in accordance with Germanys emissions targets and the 2015 Paris climate accord. But Buechner declined to comment on reports that Germany was pressing other nations to soften existing agreements on reducing fossil fuel investments, saying talks at the G-7 summit in the Alpine resort of Elmau were ongoing. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has welcomed the leaders of five top emerging democratic economies and of major international organizations to the Group of Seven summit. G-7 leaders plan to discuss a range of key issues with their guests, Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India, and Presidents Macky Sall of Senegal, Joko Widodo of Indonesia, Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, and Alberto Fernandez of Argentina. Those issues include climate change, energy, health and the COVID-19 pandemic, food security and gender equality. Theyre being joined Monday by the heads of the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the World Health Organization and others. Indonesia this year holds the presidency of the larger Group of 20 of major economies, which also includes Russia and China. That group faces a potentially awkward summit in Bali in November, in light of the possibility that Russian President Vladimir Putin could attend. ____ Finnish President Sauli Niinisto says that he and the Swedish prime minister will meet with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the NATO secretary-general on the sidelines of this weeks NATO summit in the Spanish capital. Finland and Sweden have applied to join the 30-member alliance in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. But NATO member Turkey has so far blocked their applications, citing what it considers to be the two countries soft approach on organizations Ankara considers as terrorist, such as the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. Turkey is demanding that Sweden and Finland grant extradition requests for individuals it claims are PKK members or are linked to a failed 2016 coup. Ankara also wants assurances that restrictions on arms sales that both countries imposed over its 2019 military incursion into northern Syria will be lifted. Turkeys presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told broadcaster Haberturk TV that our attendance at this summit does not mean we will take a step back from our position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has joined the Group of Seven leaders by video link at their summit in the Bavarian Alps. Zelenskyy could be seen on a television screen next to the round table where the leaders sat Monday at the secluded Schloss Elmau luxury hotel. His address wasnt being shown to the public. The G-7 leaders are committing themselves to supporting Ukraine for the long haul at their summit, with both immediate help and long-term rebuilding on the agenda. ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says ahead of a session with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the G-7 countries policies on Ukraine are very much aligned, and that they see the need to be both tough and cautions. Scholz said after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help ... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. He added that this is what is of essence -- to be tough and thinking about the necessities of the time we are living in. The G-7 leaders are to confer by video link Monday morning with Zelenskyy. ___ The Group of Seven economic powers are set to announce an agreement to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, aiming to curb Moscows energy revenues, a U.S. official said Monday. The move is part of a joint effort of support for Ukraine that includes raising tariffs on Russian goods and imposing new sanctions on hundreds of Russian officials and entities supporting the four month long war. Leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day summit in the German Alps. The details of how a price cap would work, as well as its impact on the Russian economy, were to be resolved by the G-7 finance ministers in the coming weeks and months. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods, as well as use of sanctions to target Russias defense supply chains that support its effort to rearm during the war. The senior administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcements from the G-7 leaders summit, where they are set to confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. By Zeke Miller in Elmau, Germany ___ German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says the West has no intention to torpedo the Group of 20 the group of major economies that also includes Russia. This years G-20 summit is due to take place in Indonesia in November. There are questions over whether Western leaders will sit down with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Scholz, who is hosting this weeks summit of the smaller Group of Seven industrial powers, on Monday also is hosting leaders from five major emerging democratic economies India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina. So far, they dont all see eye-to-eye with the G-7 nations on the war in Ukraine or sanctions. Scholz told Germanys ZDF television that its all the more important that we discuss (the matter) with each other. Scholz told Germanys ZDF television: We must not walk into the trap Putin sets of asserting that the world is divided into the global West the G-7 and its friends in the north and all the rest. Thats not true. There are democracies all over the world and they have very similar perspectives. Scholz didnt give an explicit commitment to turn up to the G-20 summit regardless of whether Putin attends, but stressed the groups importance. He said: There is a common conviction that we dont want to torpedo the G-20. ___ President Joe Biden is set to announce that the U.S. is providing an advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, as well as additional artillery support, according to a person familiar with the matter, in the latest assistance meant to help the country defend against Russias four-month invasion. The U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to support its efforts against the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. The announcement comes as Biden is huddling with allies this week on supporting Ukraine in meetings at the Group of Seven advanced economies summit in Germany and NATO leaders annual gathering in Madrid. By Zeke Miller in Elmau, Germany ___ Follow APs coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit This article has been updated to reflect that the increased water rates would increase water revenue by 6%. Midland residents and businesses will see water and sewer bills increase in the coming years. James Bearman, a consultant hired to conduct the rate study, said the last time the City of Midland conducted a water/sewer rate study was in 1993. This study was conducted to see how much money the water and wastewater departments needed to sustain their operations. The 2022-23 fiscal year city budget, the citys five-year Capital improvement Plan, and Concept Five project costs were all considered when conducting the rate study, Bearman said. A city water and sewer bill has two portions: the readiness to serve charge, which is a fixed rate associated with maintaining the water and wastewater treatment plants; and the usage charge, which is determined by a residences or businesss water consumption per 1,000 gallons. For individual homeowners and businesses, the amount their bills increase by will depend on the size of their meters. Bearman said most residential homes have 5/8-inch to 3/4-inch meters, with their readiness to serve water charges remaining the same at $39.45. The sewer rates will have a small increase due to the larger revenue increase in the citys budget, Bearman said. Water consumption rates will increase to $2.22 per 1,000 gallons, and sewer usage rates will increase by $3.57 per 1,000 gallons by 2025. Bearman said the proposed increased rates would help increase water revenue by 6% and sewer revenue by 10%. Council member Steve Arnosky said during City Council's meeting last week that Midlands water rates are competitive with other cities rates, even with the proposed increases. Council members approved the first reading of the ordinance changes. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade elicited strong reactions both positive and negative as the ruling meant abortion is no longer a constitutional right. State Rep. Jack OMalley, R-Lake Ann, said leaving abortion regulation up to the individual states essentially leaves it up to the voters, which is "probably the way it should be." "I know people are emotional on both sides, but in the middle of all that, there is a process. They turned it back to the states, we've got this 1931 law, but the process also includes the people and a ballot initiative," he said. "What I'm assuming is going to happen on that front is no matter what the courts decide, in November the people of Michigan will be deciding whether there will be abortion or not. "In November, we'll let the people decide." A dormant 1931 law bans nearly all abortions in Michigan, but it hasn't been enforced since Roe v. Wade, according to reporting by the Associated Press. Anticipating that Roe could be overturned, Planned Parenthood of Michigan filed a lawsuit challenging Michigans ban. A state judge suspended the law in May, saying it violates the states constitution. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and Attorney General Dana Nessel, both Democrats, hailed the decision. Rebecca Amidon, Manistee County Democratic Party vice chair, said outlawing abortions is dangerous. "Let's be very clear: Ending Roe does not end abortions," she said. "It ends access to safe and legal abortions for vulnerable communities nationwide." The sentiment was shared by the state of Michigan's chief medical executive, Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian. "If women and doctors are under threat of prosecution and jail time due to Michigans abortion ban, women will have a more difficult time accessing critical health care," she said in a news release. "And with abortion not legally available, women are more likely to undergo unregulated procedures that can jeopardize their future reproductive health and in some cases be life-threatening." Rachel Roe, Munson Healthcares chief legal officer, said Munson will work to adapt to the effects of Friday's decision, whatever they may be. Fridays decision by the U. S. Supreme Court to overturn Roe versus Wade will have an undeniable impact on patients, providers and healthcare systems around the nation, including northern Michigan," she said in an email. "The path forward and scope of this change is still uncertain, but Munson Healthcare is committed to supporting our health care team in navigating this new landscape." For now, Munson's current practices remain in place, Roe said. "We are closely monitoring the two pending Michigan lawsuits and will be prepared to provide clarity when a dispositive ruling on the Michigan law is issued so that our healthcare team remains able to make scientific, evidenced-based care decisions that align with the law and ensure the safety, health and wellbeing of our patients," she said in an email. "... We will continue to update our health care team as this situation evolves. Amidon said outlawing abortion can negatively impact women who want to have children, too. "I do not want to be investigated for having a miscarriage," she said. "I do not want to wait until I'm dying of sepsis from an ectopic pregnancy before I'm allowed to terminate my pregnancy. By then, it's often too late." Bagdasarian said decisions about whether to end or continue a pregnancy should be made by a woman "with the counsel of her family, her faith and her doctor not politics." As a physician, I know that the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn nearly half a century of precedent protecting safe, legal abortion violates the trusted relationship between a patient and their doctor," Bagdasarian said in the release. "This ruling completely supersedes and overrides a woman's ability to dictate her health care in consultation with her physician. And it clears a path for draconian laws like Michigans 1931 criminal abortion ban to take full effect." Nancy Brown, secretary of Right to Life of Manistee County, said she supported the Supreme Court's decision. "I am really not surprised, because this is something that should have never been constitutional in the first place with the federal constitution," she said. "This is something that should be left up to the voters of the state. I'm very, very happy with that." Whitmer also filed suit asking the states Supreme Court to declare the 1931 law unconstitutional, according to the Associated Press. Michigan abortion rights supporters hope to put the issue on ballots this fall. Their proposed constitutional amendment would affirm the right to make pregnancy-related decisions without interference, including about abortion and other reproductive services such as birth control. The Reproductive Freedom for All committee needs to collect about 425,000 valid voter signatures by July 11 to make the November ballot. The measure would become law if voters approved it. The issue also is expected to shape statewide elections Whitmer and Nessel are both up for reelection in the fall and legislative races. "We are really going to have to fight hard for Michigan to be for life. We have a very aggressively pro-abortion attorney general and governor," Brown said. "I would really like to see the people in this state embrace life; embrace supporting mothers and families; and embrace supporting women of all ages with the love, care and financial support that they need." Amidon said she considers the Supreme Court's decision "a devastating blow to Americans' fundamental freedom to make their own health care decisions." "It can't be overstated: This decision is a direct result of the GOP's decades-long, radical war on reproductive health care and the right to choose," she said. "Now, with Roe v. Wade overturned, Republicans in statewide elected positions like GOP-controlled state legislatures like Michigan's are already taking steps to make abortion illegal." Amidon said Michigan Democrats are "our last line of defense against attacks on reproductive rights in the state of Michigan." "We must elect a majority of Democrats in state legislature, re-elect Gov. Whitmer and Attorney General Nessel in November, because our lives depend on it," Amidon said. "... While Democrats are focused on lowering costs, bolstering health care options and investing in Michigan's communities, Republicans are more interested in banning abortions and taking away our civil rights. "We have to vote like our lives depend on it." O'Malley said he is waiting to see what unfolds in the aftermath of Friday's Supreme Court decision. "There are so many plates spinning right now and balls in the air, I don't think we need another one. ... A lot of people are introducing things and saying things should happen, but there is a process there let's let it play out," he said. "I think it's going to play out rather quickly. I don't think this is something that's going to take eight months to figure out." Since 2020, the worlds economy has been facing the largest issue of the last decade, COVID-19. Many companies were and still are struggling with this situation (lockdowns, restrictions, etc.), and others are taking advantage of it (e.g. food and health industries, online markets, e-commerce). Currently, the world population and enterprises are trying to deal with the situation while living with uncertainty. I recently supervised a team of researchers from SKEMA Business School in Lille, France, to examine the coronavirus pandemics impact on globalization and maritime transport. The findings were more optimistic than we anticipated. Globalization is here The COVID-19 crisis accelerated an expansion of e-commerce towards new firms, customers and types of products, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). This has provided customers with access to a significant variety of products from the convenience and safety of their homes and has enabled firms to continue operation despite contact restrictions and other confinement measures. Local and international products were shipped around the world; globalization is here. In Maritime transport sector, demand exceeds supply The maritime transport sector did not struggle during the lockdown. It was better than ever. However, during the last six months, the transport sector has been facing global issues; container shortages, increases in freight prices and the delay of ships (port congestion). Currently, the demand for a container is larger than the supply. Most of the containers are docked in Asia and southeast Asia and are used only for long-distance between China and the U.S. & the EU. This is because this is the most profitable route. This directly affects the availability of the containers. On the other side, lockdowns in the EU and U.S. have resulted in less manpower at ports. At the same time, there is more export from China to the EU and U.S. Shipping companies maximize their profit by accepting only one-way transport from Asia to the EU and U.S. Consequently, there are a lack of returns and container shortages in Asia. What are maritime shipping firms doing to address these issues and how do they see operations in the future? To answer these questions, we conducted several detailed interviews with global maritime shipping firms and customers. This is what they said: They need to manage safety stock better. They need to build long-term contracts with transporters. They need to have good relationships (trust) with suppliers and transporters. They need to implement Lean Six Sigma management to improve efficiency and improve the process. Some large firms are taking an expanded approach. Amazon, for example, is purchasing its own containers and leasing dedicated ships. Ships filled with large blue containers with the smile on the side are appearing globally. A bright future following a dim pandemic Tragically, COVID has impacted the world, but the feedback in our research is surprisingly either neutral or positive, which was very unexpected. The concept of globalization and maritime shipping have not suffered as much as we thought, and have either remained the same or improved during this crisis. Global maritime shipping firms and customers are implementing improved management practices (Lean Six Sigma); building better relationships; and rethinking the future and seeing opportunities. Building back better is the way they see it, and the future is bright. Dr. Kevin McCormack teaches Operations and Supply Chain Management at Northwood University. He wrote the above piece to summarize a research project he supervised. The teams researchers were Georges-Alexandre Courquin and Sacha Rebaudo, of SKEMA Business School in Lille, France. MBABANE Supreme Court Judge Robert Cloete has hung up his robe. Cloete, who was known for coming hard on lawyers who appeared before the Supreme Court not fully prepared, has resigned on medical grounds. An illness resignation letter is an acceptable form of notification to your employer and is helpful when you need to convey to them your health problems are preventing you from performing the day-to-day responsibilities of your job. Before his appointment as a judge of the apex court, Cloete was in private practice, running a law firm where he handled a number of high profile cases. He had occupied the bench for over four years after having acted as a Supreme Court judge on diverse occasions. Cloete is the second judge in the country to resign on medical grounds after former Chief Justice (CJ) Richard Banda, who was from Malawi. Banda was succeeded by the now late Michael Ramodibedi. In a brief interview on Friday, Cloete confirmed his resignation, which he said was on medical grounds. He said he was currently in the Republic of South Africa for medical check-ups. Before responding to the question, Cloete wanted to know from this journalist, where he had obtained the information that he had resigned on medical grounds from.Yes, I have resigned on medical grounds and I am currently in the Republic of South Africa for medical check-ups. I will be back next Sunday, said Cloete. An in- depth interview will be conducted with the judge upon his return from South Africa, where he is expected to narrate his experience as judge of the apex court. The resignation of Cloete leaves the Supreme Court with five permanent judges, and these are; Judge Majahenkhaba Dlamini, Judge Stanley Maphalala, Judge Sabelo Matsebula, Judge Jacobus Annandale and Chief Justice (CJ) Bheki Maphalala. This means there is now a vacant post in the Supreme Court. Some of the appeals where Cloete formed part of the bench was that of former Swaziland Royal National Airways Corporation(SRNAC) General Manager Charles Ace Jele. Appointments The judge has resigned at a time when the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) has been making a number of acting appointments of judges of both the Supreme Court and the High Court, which was something that was met with resistance from the Law Society of Swaziland (LSS) JSC Acting Secretary Siphiwo Masuku, when reached for comment on Cloetes resignation, said: No comment. Cloetes resignation comes at time when the CJ is at loggerheads with the LSS over a number of issues. This is, however, not to suggest that his (Cloete) departure has anything to do with the conflict between the CJ and the LSS. One of the issues which the LSS has raised was that of the establishment of the Commercial Court, which they alleged was unconstitutional. Lawyers have resolved not to appear or participate in the operations of the Commercial Court, because they believed its formation was unconstitutional and its decisions would be invalid. The resolution by the lawyers was communicated by the Council of the LSS in a statement issued last week. The LSS further resolved that in the event the issue of the establishment of the Commercial Court was not resolved by engagement, it would institute urgent court proceedings to declare its establishment invalid and unconstitutional. They also took a decision to file a complaint against the CJ in terms of Section 158 of the countrys Constitution. Section 158 of the Constitution deals with the removal of judges of the superior courts. The LSS said it had observed the continued violation of the Constitution, allegedly by the CJ, when making acting appointments of judges and magistrates. In response to the LSS concerns, the JSC also issued a statement where it unequivocally stated that the Commercial Court had been established in accordance with the constitution after necessary consultation According to the JSC, the president of the LSS was allegedly asked by the CJ to make written submissions but he allegedly did not do so. In a press statement, the acting JSC secretary, Masuku, alleged that on March 11, 2022, that the CJ consulted with members of the LSS in his chambers and invited them to make contributions on the establishment of the court. This was, however, dispute by the LSS. 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. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Libyan National Oil Company (NOC), Mustapha Sanalla, said here Monday the company was "considering the announcement of a state of force majeure in the next 72 hours in the Gulf of Sirte region, unless production and shipment resumed at the oil ports Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) Armed separatist fighters have killed at least seven people, injured six others, raped a girl, and committed other grave human rights abuses across Cameroon's Anglophone regions since January 2022, Human Rights Watch (HRW) said on Monday Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - Members of the United Nations Security Council will discuss in a briefing session on Monday the developing situation in Libya, official sources said here Cape Town, South Africa (PANA) - President Cyril Ramaphosa is attending the G7 Summit in Germany where he is expected to participate in two outreach sessions a working lunch on Investing in the future, and Stronger Together that will address food security issues MBABANE The woman who was hacked allegedly by a civil servant, is now living in fear after her husband, an inspector in the Ministry of Public Works and Transport, is allegedly threatening her. *Sindi is the woman who was hacked all over her body allegedly by her husband with a bush knife after she refused to engage in sexual intercourse with him. The incident happened last week Monday around midnight, and on Tuesday morning, she was rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial (RFM) Hospital for medical attention. Charged On Wednesday, the husband was arrested and charged under the Sexual Offences and Domestic Violence (SODV) Act. On Thursday, he appeared in court and was later that day released on bail. Sindi said on Friday evening, the accused sent her a text message, informing her that he had been released on bail. She said this did not sit well with her, as she did not understand why he was informing her about his release from police custody and as such, felt threatened. Sindi said she felt threatened by the accused informing her about being released from police custody. She said she could not even sleep because she did not know what the accused was planning. She wondered how in the first place someone who almost (allegedly) killed her was released so soon. Sindi said she had blocked the accused from calling her and that was why he opted to send her text messages. It was gathered that the accused had attempted to call her first, before sending the text messages. In fact, before sending the text message informing her that he had been released on bail, the accused allegedly sent another one asking Sindi why she was not responding to other messages he had sent earlier on. Apologise In some of the text messages that were seen by this publication, the accused tried to apologise to Sindi, stating that he did not know what had gotten into him leading to him committing such an offence. However, Sindi said she was now scared of the accused and alleged that he threatened her brother regarding the familys involvement in their domestic squabbles. When asked if she had reported the threats to the police, Sindi said her mother called the police officer who was handling the matter and that the law enforcer advised her that the matter was now in court so if there were threats, they should be reported to the magistrate. Sindi said the officer who was handling the case informed them that he was away on leave, but was also shocked to learn than the accused had been released on bail. She said today, her mother would visit the Manzini Magistrates Court to report the matter. Hospital She narrated to this publication that another thorn in her flesh was the manner in which she was discharged from the hospital. She narrated that she was admitted in the wee hours of Tuesday, but then on Wednesday she was discharged. She said one particular medical staff member informed her that she would be discharged earlier because she had allowed the media to come and interview her inside the hospital. She said the healthcare worker made other unpleasant remarks about her situation, which will not be printed because they could not be verified. This hurt me so much because I almost lost my life and for people who were supposed to help me to say was the last straw, said Dlamini. When sought for comment, RFM Hospital Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Ben Simelane said he would get to the bottom of the matter and would then be in a position to respond. It is worth noting that the incident (hacking) took place in front of Sindis 11-year-old son, who was left traumatised by seeing his mother being assaulted in that manner. Efforts to get comment from the accused regarding his messages to Sindi were futile as his phone was not available when called several times yesterday. *Not real name to protect survivor Khartoum, Sudan (PANA) - Ethiopia has denied the accusation of Sudan that its army has executed seven Sudanese soldiers and a citizen who were prisoners of war, describing it as "misrepresentation of facts and unjust blame" Photo: (Photo : PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images) Any mother will sacrifice her life for her children, and that's exactly what Georgia mom, Pamela Bish, is preparing to do as soon as she was cleared to donate her kidney to her 2-year-old son, Carter Bish. After a series of tests and medical assessments, doctors determined that Pamela was the perfect match for Carter, who had been dealing with medical issues even before he was born. The mother and son will go through the live organ transplant together on Friday, July 8, per ABC News. It will be the 12th surgery for the toddler, but it could be the one that will finally end his medical struggles, all thanks to his mother. Read Also: Toddler Mauled by Pack of Puppies Recovering Well But Faces More Surgeries; Family Warns of Littermate Syndrome Not Compatible with Life On her 20th week of pregnancy, Pamela and her husband, Dale Bish, were told that Carter was "not compatible with life" and his kidneys were filled with fluid and cysts. A second opinion from specialists at the Johns Hopkins Hospital confirmed that the fetus appeared to have a urinary blockage. A medical team continuously monitored Pamela and the baby for the rest of her pregnancy. However, the Bish family was also advised that, should Carter make it, he will require dialysis in the first year of his life and potentially a transplant if it will no longer work. Shortly after Carter was born at 34 weeks, he was brought to the Children's Scottish Rite Hospital, where he received various treatments and surgeries, including peritoneal dialysis. A year later, doctors took him off dialysis because his kidneys were improving, but "things just started to get bad again," according to the mom. SPECIAL GIFT Pamela Bish, a Georgia mom of three, recently got the chance to give her son a new kidney. After multiple tests and processes, doctors finally gave her the green light to undergo the live organ donation. https://t.co/1kXvaWp67K pic.twitter.com/XSeVvhZr8z Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) June 24, 2022 At this point, doctors said Carter would need the transplant so his organ could adequately clear the toxins from his urine. Pamela told 11 Alive that, from the very start, she was praying to be her baby's kidney donor. "That was my dream, that was my prayer, from before he was even born," the mom said. "I wanted to be the one." Finding a suitable donor was a crucial process because the person had to be healthy, had no vices like smoking or alcohol, and did not have high blood pressure or pre-diabetes. The mother said that the doctors had to ensure she could continue living a healthy life with just one kidney. Instant Peace and Calm Pamela described feeling "instant peace and calm" after their family got the call informing them that she was Carter's perfect match. Needless to say, they are in high spirits. The good news came just as Carter reached a new milestone as he was able to hit his weight threshold months after healing from hip surgery. Dr. Sabina Kennedy, one of the toddler's doctors, told Fox 5 Atlanta that Pamela and Carter are "model patients" who do not buckle despite the complications and setbacks. The doctor described her patient as a bubbly and jolly boy even when he's going through a serious medical issue. Carter's medical team is confident that this transplant will be a success. However, he might need another transplant when he's an adult, and the family joked that he still has two other siblings to rely on. Related Article: Boston Hospital Removes Unvaccinated Dad From Heart Transplant List Photo: (Photo : Paul Morigi/Getty Images for March For Our Lives) After three decades of gridlock, Pres. Joe Biden signed the first federal gun law reforms on Saturday, June 25, which bipartisan lawmakers put together in the aftermath of the Uvalde massacre and the Buffalo mass shooting in May that took the lives of nearly 30 people. The legislation passed the Senate on Thursday night with a vote of 65 to 33. On the other hand, the House signed the bill Friday with a vote of 234-193. In his statement, Biden thanked the lawmakers who worked on getting this legislation done and acknowledged the families who have lost their loved ones due to senseless acts of gun violence. "While this bill doesn't do everything I want, it does include actions I've long called for that are going to save lives," the President said. Along with the expansion of background checks for those under 21 years old, the law will allow a $750-million investment into programs that will address mental health and red flags. The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act has also addressed a loophole in laws on domestic violence in that any person convicted of domestic violence crime will now be banned from buying a gun. Bipartisan gun bill signed into law by President Biden. Most significant in 30 years. 15 Republican Senators and 14 Republican House members voted in support. We made some progress...long way to go. Let's keep pushing for common sense gun law reforms. pic.twitter.com/PHlEt0lWkX Michael Sinclair (@Sinclair4Senate) June 26, 2022 Read Also: Poll Shows Parents Scared About Gun Violence in School And So Are Their School-aged Kids "We're Very Relieved" Parkland dad Tom Hoyer, who lost a son in the 2018 mass shooting, told NBC 6 that they are relieved that something has finally been done. Ever since that tragedy, Hoyer said that he felt obligated to ensure there would be no more senseless killings. He has been advocating for gun law reforms for nearly five years. Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey, a father of three and a native of Uvalde, said this is a first step in the right direction. He believes this will save many innocent lives, encourage responsible gun ownership and reduce gun violence in America. However, in his piece on the Austin American Stateman, McConaughey also said that even with the new gun law reforms, his countrymen should not "wait on a piece of legislation" to fix what ails their society. He urged best parenting, mentorship, and involvement so that people could build healthier communities. Bipartisan Safer Communities Act Lacks Restrictions Against Mass Shooting Democrat Sen. Chris Murphy, who negotiated the compromise with the Senate Republicans to get this bill passed, said that the gun law reforms do not cover everything the public wants, especially stricter restrictions against mass shootings such as a ban on assault rifles. However, he said that the changes in place will still save many lives and won't violate the Constitutional rights of gun owners that the Republicans want to uphold. Gun control organizations believe the law has been long-overdue in ending the public health crisis of gun violence. The National Rifle Association, however, said that the law isn't the answer to stopping the violence. They believe these reforms will open more legal issues that will encroach on the Second Amendment rights of gun owners. Related Article: Oregon Father, Who Grows Up with Guns, Surrenders AR-15 Rifle for Cops to Destroy Photo: (Photo : Gabriel Aponte/Getty Images) A 37-year-old woman fell in love and got married to the life-size ragdoll sewn by her mother because she was sad about not having a partner for an important social dance. Named Marcelo, the inanimated doll, is also the "father" of her ragdoll baby. Meirivone Rocha Moraes, from Brazil, has pictures and videos to prove that she married the ragdoll. According to Pop Crush, the woman wanted to start a family but did not want to have a baby out of wedlock. So, she and Marcelo had an actual wedding witnessed by 250 family members and friends. Soon after the wedding, Moraes said she got pregnant with her honeymoon baby. She also had an actual doctor and nurse during her "pain-free" birth. She claimed she went into labor for 35 minutes and saw the placenta and blood. Read Also: California Serial Sperm Donor Fathers 47 Children Around the World; Some Moms Want His Help Again Husband is a "Lazy" Man Moraes admitted, however, that her husband is "lazy" despite his many good qualities. Thus, she stands as the provider for her family. The new mom is aware of the negative reactions online and hates it when people say this is fake, according to New York Post. Moraes insisted that she is a "woman of character" who was taught by her parents to be honest and not take advantage of people. Amid the criticisms, Moraes can only describe her married life as "wonderful" and claimed that she and her ragdoll husband do not fight. She said Marcelo is a very understanding husband who is faithful to her and who will be the envy of many women everywhere. Falling in Love with Objects While Moraes's story doesn't mention her mental state, netizens on Reddit said she might be suffering from objectophillia, a strange disorder characterized by a strong romantic or sexual reaction to objects. Some studies link objectophillia to a form of autism. In Germany, Sarah Rodo, a 23-year-old woman, said she is in love with Dicki, a 737 airplane, but she understands they cannot get married. Rodo noted that she had had relationships with two other men and an express train, but it's different with Dicki. In the U.S., Nathaniel from Arkansas was featured on TV years ago because he claimed to be in a loving and sexual relationship with his car, a 1998 Chevy Monte Carlo he named Chase. He has dated women in the past, but he has been with Chase for more than five years. Florida resident Noorul Mahjabeen Hassan was also featured on TV for her plans to have a commitment ceremony with Tetris since she is aware that she cannot have a traditional wedding. She claimed she had a deep and intimate relationship with the video game for more than a year and a half before deciding to commit. Her family members said she is on the Autism spectrum, and they indulge her because her objectophillia is not harming anyone. Related Article: Mother Raising 2 Real Daughters With 4 Reborn Baby Dolls Says Trolls Don't Get What She's Going Through Photo: (Photo : Getty images ) Tiktok Star Ophelia Nichols asked help from her seven million followers on Tiktok to help her find her son's killer. Her son, Randon Lee, was fatally shot on Friday. Nichols said he would have turned 19 on Saturday, June 25. According to the police, her son was shot and killed at an Exxon gas station in Prichard, Alabama, around 7:45 PM. As of Sunday, June 26, no arrests have been made, and the case is under investigation. So far, police have no update on the investigation yet, but Nichols updated her Tiktok post that authorities have just told them they have a lead on two individuals. She hopes that the killers will see her post about her son and know what they have done to the family, Daily Mail reports. @shoelover99 You will be found! You will reap what you sow in this world. You may not be caught now but its coming. I hope you see my sons face eveyday of your life original sound - ophelia A grieving mother's plea The TikTok star, known by her seven million followers as "mama tot" and "shoelover99," posted a tear-jerking video on Saturday saying that her son was taken away from them the night before. She said she is doing the video for a reason "because I need y'all's help," adding that she never asked her fans for anything, but she has seven million followers and that "somebody's got to know something." She admitted there is hatred in her heart that she did not recognize because she never felt hate for anybody. She added that the killer took her son's life, and now she knows that the killer is out in the town, breathing while her son is dead. She held the picture of him, saying he wanted the killer to look at her son and remember his face for the rest of their lives. The bereaved mom told NBC 12 that she finds it hard to "sit here and wait," hoping that the police would track those responsible. Authorities said that anyone with information could contact the Prichard Police Department at 251-452-7800 or the Mobile County Sheriff's Office at 251-574-8633. Read Also: 12-Year-Old "Glass Bones" Boy Has Broken 100 Bones in His Lifetime Due to Osteogenesis Imperfecta Mamatots account The heart-breaking video has been viewed more than 19 million times, and 375,000 people commented, mainly offering prayers and support. According to Miami Herald, the recent video is far from the materials she usually posts on Tiktok, which are joyful, happy videos delivered in southern charm. Her Tiktok account would regularly feature life stories and advice for her followers. She has three other children, a 24-year-old, a 21-year-old, and a 20-year-old, as per her previous posts. She said she last spoke to her Randon on Friday, around 10 AM, to tell him that she had his money for his birthday. He said that her son was looking forward to it and just wanted to celebrate his birthday by hanging out with his friends and girlfriend. Nichols admitted that she is comforted that her son signed up as an organ donor, knowing that a part of him will live in another person who would need his organs the most. Related Article: Mom Finds Out Her Daughter's Daycare Apps are "Dangerously Insecure Its official the worlds leading airport conference and exhibition is back! The 2022 edition of Passenger Terminal Expo, which took place at the Paris Expo Porte de Versailles in Paris, France, on June 15, 16, 17, provided the industry with much-needed access to a vast range of expert insights and new innovations to help airports and airlines emerge from the pandemic and retool their operations to ensure future growth, improved sustainability and even greater commercial success. More than 280 exhibitors were in Paris to display the very latest in security, biometrics, check-in, baggage, wayfinding, IT, seating, design and engineering, while more than 400 speakers shared critical intel across a conference program spanning nine dedicated streams. Leading presenters included Steve Armitage, head of technology design and innovation at London Heathrow; Paul Griffiths, CEO of Dubai Airports; Serkan Kaptan, CEO of TAV Airports; and Aimen Ahmed Al Hosni, CEO, Oman Airports. ') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write(' ') } // --> ') } else if (width >= 425) { console.log ('largescreen'); document.write('') } else { console.log ('nompuad'); document.write('') } // --> Augustin de Romanet, chairman and CEO of Groupe ADP, the host airport authority for Passenger Terminal Expo 2022, got the show off to a great start, delivering the opening address to a packed audience at the conference. He welcomed visitors to the event and discussed two of the biggest challenges facing the aviation industry: the decarbonization of air travel and improving the passenger experience. De Romanet explored how Groupe ADP and the wider aviation industry can address these challenges and shape the airport of tomorrow. The show also hosted the 2022 World Airport Awards, where Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, was named the Worlds Best Airport for the second year running. Other major winners on the night included Singapore Changi Airport, winning awards for the Worlds Best Airport Staff and the Worlds Best Airport Dining Experience; Istanbul Airport, Turkey, won the awards for the Worlds Best Airport Shopping and Most Family Friendly Airport. Tokyo Haneda Airport, Japan, won awards as the Worlds Cleanest Airport, the Worlds Best Domestic Airport, the Best Airport in Asia and the Best Airport PRM & Accessible Facilities. King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh secured the award as the Worlds Most Improved Airport. New product launches Zoeftig chose Passenger Terminal Expo to launch Vista a brand-new, highly versatile beam seating system designed to respond to the needs of modern airports and passenger demographics. Vista combines generous proportions and ergonomic design with an ultra-clean aesthetic and versatile construction, to offer a comfortable yet flexible seating solution for airport lounges, departure gates and other public zones. It enables the addition of more informal social spaces, providing areas for passengers to congregate and interact in couples and larger groups; or protected singular occupancy areas for passengers who prioritize privacy and personal space. An option to add planters or privacy screens provides further opportunities to enhance the environment and improve screening and product zoning. Traditional high-density seating runs and stripped-back bench runs with a clean and contemporary feel are also available. Ports of Jersey launched its carbon offsetting app, CarbonPass, at Passenger Terminal Expo. Carbon Pass provides passengers with information about the carbon footprint of their travel experience and the cost to balance it, alongside providing them with the option of contributing to a project of their choosing that means something to them. To calculate carbon emissions, it considers aircraft type, passenger volumes, load factors and distance. According to the company, CarbonPass is different to other carbon offsetting apps because it isnt about offsetting but about balancing its projects dont have to be about purchasing carbon credits, they just need to demonstrate real, tangible environmental benefits. It offers destination databases specific to each participating airport for passengers and template contracts for airports and their project partners. TK Elevator launched its integrated apron operations system, ApronVision. ApronVision features 3D lidar technology for long-range and ultra-high-precision object detection and measuring. According to TK Elevator, it was the first company that used laser-based technology to guide airplanes to their parking position. Its system creates a high-resolution point cloud of the apron with up to 2.6 million datapoints per second and a scanning angle of up to 360. A full-screen, high-resolution LED display shows important, automated and customized turnaround information. ApronVision was designed to enable the full automation and digitalization of the apron to provide real-time data of the apron. This real-time data is expected to create a more efficient docking and departure process by improving the control of all apron activities. ApronVision is also designed to make all the relevant information more readily available for decision-making operators. Transoft Solutions released its traffic modeling software solution, AirTop 3.1, at Passenger Terminal Expo. AirTop 3.1 is the latest edition of the companys modular terminal-to-terminal fast-time airport and air traffic complexity modeling, simulation and capacity assessment software. The software simulates multi-agent models of airport terminals in 2D and 3D and can focus on the terminal as a whole or on individual facilities. This flexibility was intended to give designers, planners, airlines, airport operators and other stakeholders the chance to evaluate their designs, processes or system changes, infrastructure modification or expansion requirements and conduct what-if analyses before incurring significant costs. The module also offers operational analysis features to ensure operations teams understand the resources needed at any given time of the day. Key partnerships Reinforcing its value as one of the best networking opportunities of the year, Passenger Terminal Expo also saw the formation of a number of important strategic partnerships: Aviation tech company SITA signed a partnership agreement with baggage handling company Alstef Group to launch a self-bag drop solution named Swift Drop, which has been designed to speed up baggage operations. The Swift Drop interface was created to be fast and intuitive, to enable passengers to quickly check in their bags and avoid long queues at traditional check-in points. Passengers can print their own bag tags without assistance and load their baggage directly onto the accessible conveyor. SITA also launched its common-use, API-powered platform, SITA Flex, at Passenger Terminal Expo. Powered by application programming interfaces (APIs), SITA Flex uses Microsoft Azure to give clients the cloud without the need for a traditional common-use environment. With this solution, airline staff can be completely mobile, untethered from fixed points in the airport such as a check-in counter or kiosk. By the end of this year, Schengen member states will be required to have a biometric entry and exit system to register non-European citizens crossing an external EU border. At the expo in Paris, Thales announced that its collaboration with Zelenza has been selected by Spains Ministry of the Interior to provide more than 1,500 manual border control inspection units across all border-crossing points and it displayed the units for the first time at the show. Units located at the border officers control point will be equipped with Thales EES Border Control Clearance Software and Thales devices such as document readers with embedded document verification, fingerprint scanners and face pods with a facial capture system. Combined, these integrated systems will deliver a fast and secure identity enrolment and clearance process for non-EU citizens at borders. Thales also launched a stationary, compact and lightweight cabin baggage explosive detection system (EDS CB) at the show. Helixview is a C3-compliant scanner (next EDS CB standard) that combines x-ray nanotechnology-based electronic scanning and 3D imaging reconstruction. With this solution installed at checkpoints, passengers will no longer need to remove items from their luggage. Indra signed a collaboration agreement with startup IntellAct to develop new artificial intelligence applications for airport operations management. Indra partnered with IntellAct to automate some of the processes, indicators and calculations that it implements in its services using video. IntellAct is a turnaround management company that works to increase the speed of airport operations. The startup uses internet cameras that monitor vehicles, staff and other activities; these cameras can detect when bridges are connected and cargo is unloading. With this solution, operators wont have to wait for human handlers to confirm if they are on time or not. This solution has been designed to detect potential delays in these activities and predict how much time they will take, and its applications are expected to help improve compliance with flight schedules. Air traffic management (ATM) solution companies Frequentis and Metron Aviation signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to cooperate on projects of mutual interest in the fields of air traffic flow management (ATFM), arrival management (AMAN) and departure management (DMAN) solutions. The partnership aims to improve the efficiency of air traffic flow by bringing together the companies experience and product portfolios. This collaboration will, the companies say, increase the predictability of flight operations and reduce financial costs and environmental impacts caused by capacity imbalances. Airport technology company Veovo announced its partnership with airport operator Swedavia at the expo. The companies partnered to introduce environmental emissions incentives at Stockholm Arlanda Airport and Gothenburg Landvetter Airport in Sweden and to incentivize airlines to switch to more efficient aircraft. Automated emission charges will be calculated with Veovos revenue management software and industry emission data sets. Swedavia recently introduced the CO2 and NOX Emission Charges following a Swedish government requirement that airport charges should be differentiated for environmental purposes. The charge adjustments will penalize those with higher emissions while rewarding cleaner aircraft with an overall airport revenue-neutral effect. Next years show For more information and videos from this years event, click here. With the 2022 event a resounding success, dates have now been announced for next year: Passenger Terminal Expo 2023 will take place in Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 14, 15, 16, 2023. Its being reported this morning that the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Apple Inc's bid to revive an effort to cancel two Qualcomm Inc. smartphone patents despite the global settlement of the underlying dispute between the two tech giants. The justices turned away Apple's appeal of a lower court's ruling that the Cupertino, California-based company lacked standing to pursue the matter because of the settlement. Apple had argued that it should be allowed to appeal because San Diego-based Qualcomm could sue again after the settlement ends. Qualcomm sued Apple in San Diego federal court in 2017, arguing that its iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches infringed a variety of Qualcomm mobile-technology patents. That case was one element of a broader dispute between the rivals. Apple challenged the validity of the two patents at issue at the Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The parties settled their litigation in 2019, signing an agreement worth billions of dollars that allowed Apple to continue using Qualcomm chips in iPhones. The settlement also featured a license to tens of thousands of Qualcomm patents, including the two at issue, but allowed the patent board case to continue. Apple told the Supreme Court that it still faced the risk of litigation after the agreement expires in 2025, or in 2027 if the settlement term is extended. Qualcomm already sued once, has "not disclaimed its intention to do so again," and has a "history of aggressively enforcing its patents," Apple said. President Joe Biden's administration urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal in a brief in May. For more, read the full Reuters report. Last week President Biden was proud of Apple workers who voted for a union. Minister for Finance, Ken Ofori-Atta has assured that government remains committed to implementing measures to address the perennial depreciation of the Ghana cedi against its major trading partners. The Minister gave the assurance when he responded to a question posed to him in Parliament by the Member of Parliament (MP) for Bongo Constituency, Edward Abambire on Wednesday, June 22, 2022. According to the Minister, the government has so far implemented a 30% cut in expenditures as part of measures to reduce the fiscal deficit noting that this is geared toward helping reduce the pressures on the exchange rate. Government is complementing efforts to keep the cedi afloat through its fiscal consolidation measures and real sector interventions. The implementation of the 30% cut in expenditures and other expenditure measures approved by Cabinet are all helping to reduce the fiscal deficit and thereby reduce the pressures on the exchange rate, he said. He said, in addition, the government is undertaking real sector interventions including the Ghana CARES programme to support import substitution of products such as poultry, rice, and other essential commodities thereby reducing foreign exchange pressures from the imports of those products. Mr Ofori-Atta said the government is also arranging to raise about US$1.0 billion to support the 2022 Budget and foreign exchange reserves. This forex inflow he explained is expected to improve the supply of the foreign currency and the stability of the local currency. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MANZINI Government has been hailed for postponing the reopening of schools to July 5, 2022. The extension of the school holidays was announced by the Minister of Education and Training, Lady Mabuza, during a press conference held at Mafutseni Police Station yesterday afternoon. The minister said as a ministry, they had reached a decision to extend the current mid-term break to July 4, 2022, which means lessons will resume on tuesday, July 5, 2022. As per the 2022 calender, schools closed for the mid-term break of the first-term on Thursday June 23, 2022, and this break was supposed to end today. This means that the last part of the current term (first-term) of schools was supposed to start tomorrow. Break During the press conference, the minister said the decision to extend the mid-term break was made following consultations with education stakeholders, who made a formal request to the ministry to allow teachers and pupils to rest a bit longer. This means pupils will no longer be expected to resume classes this coming Tuesday, June 28, 2022, the minister said. Thereafter, the minister said the rest of the revised school calendar would remain the same. It is worth noting that this years school calendar has two, instead of three terms. When schools open for the first term mid-break on July 5, 2022, they will close on August 26, 2022. Thereafter, the second-term, which will be last one for the current calendar year, will begin on September 7, 2022 and have a short mid-term break from October 27 to 31, 2022. According to the 2022 school calendar, classes will resume on November 1, 2022 and end on December 22, 2022. On another note, the minister said as a ministry they would like to thank parents, teachers and pupils for their dedication and commitment since the opening of the unusual first-term, which began on April 5, 2022. Pupils We urge pupils to use this opportunity to study so that they are prepared for the July-August 2022 examinations, the minister said. After that, the minister was asked if there would be a penalty for schools that would open tomorrow, instead of July 5, 2022, and she said there would be none. However, she emphasised that the official opening of schools would be on July 5, 2022. Again, the minister was asked if the extension of the first-term mid-break was meant to protect the pupils from the supposedly planned activities of the June/July 2021 unrest, which is scheduled for Thursday June 29, 2020. The minister said she was not even aware of the June 29 activities. She then emphasised that the extension of the mid-term break was because of the formal application which was made by some stakeholders in the education sector. She said as they looked at the application, they understood that they would not lose much if they allowed the pupils and teachers to rest for five more days. This is how the decision to extend the healthy break was reached, the minister added. Moreover, she expressed hope that both the pupils and teachers would benefit from the extended healthy break. Meanwhile, many parents who reacted to these developments said the minister did the right thing. While government says the extended break is to allow the teachers and pupils to rest, I think it has to do with the so called planned activities relating to last years unrest. In any event, as parents, we are glad that our children will be safe at home should any violence erupt, a parent said. Another parent noted that this was a week of so much uncertainty due to that some political movements had planned to march, among other things. I dont think any parent would allow her child to leave the house if there is so much uncertainty around safety. We are tired though of this violence. Our children need to learn. Can we not waste any more of their precious time with this violence, another parent pleaded. WhaleFin, an all-in-one digital asset platform powered by the leading global digital asset company Amber Group, is set to launch a series of educational initiatives about cryptocurrencies, web3 and blockchain technology in Africa. The series will take place from June 22nd to August 24th 2022. The series will bring in 10 key speakers covering a variety of cryptocurrency related topics with the goal of spreading understanding within the African community. The series will shed light on DeFi, Web3, trading strategies, dollar cost averaging, amongst other important subjects related to the cryptocurrency industry. The seminars will be hosted on the WhaleFin Africa telegram group and twitter via twitter spaces. The conversations are open to everyone in Africa looking for opportunities to learn and build digital wealth, to join and participate. We will select 30 participants and offer them the chance to win rewards throughout the 10-week period. To enjoy these rewards participants must: (1) Follow WhaleFin Africa on Telegram, Twitter and Facebook (2) Participate in the Live call (3) Register on WhaleFin Africa and Complete KYC (4) Fill out necessary Google Forms (5) Answer the educators questions and participate in the sessions activity Rewards will be shared 10 working-days after the completion of each series. About WhaleFin WhaleFin is Amber Group's flagship digital asset platform, empowering users with the right tools to build wealth in an increasingly digital era. It is essentially an all-in-one platform serving as the preferred digital asset gateway for customers at any experience level. You can sign up here: https://www.whalefin.com/web/home About Amber Group Amber Group is a leading digital asset platform operating globally. The firm provides a full range of digital asset services spanning investing, financing, and trading and spending. Its 24/7 trading desk serves over a thousand institutional clients globally while the integrated digital asset platform WhaleFin serves the individual investors via mobile and desktop applications. To date, Amber Group has cumulatively traded over $1T, with $5B in assets under management. This year, Amber Group raised $200M in Series B+ round led by Temasek at a valuation of $3B. To date, Amber Group has raised a total of $328 million in funding from world-class investors such as Temasek, Sequoia Capital, Paradigm, Tiger Global Management, Dragonfly Capital, Pantera Capital, Coinbase Ventures, and Blockchain.com. Amber Group recently announced that it has successfully secured comprehensive global insurance coverage protecting digital assets held in its wallet infrastructure on behalf of clients, including direct insurance policy, indirect coverage and insurance-backed Theft Protection. Amber Group also recently announced that it has successfully achieved Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 compliance, ensuring customers are protected by institutional grade security controls that govern highly regulated industries. For more information, please visit www.ambergroup.io. Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As part of measures to grow Ghanaian-owned businesses, the Member of Parliament for Mpraeso, Davis Ansah Opoku has urged Ghanaians to buy Dzata cement. According to Mr Ansah Opoku, this will help Ghana achieve its true industrialisation agenda. The lawmaker made the statement on Thursday, June 23, 2022, when the Leadership of Parliament visited the premises of the company. I have not been here before, but coming here today and seeing the work that is happening here, I am very impressed and I think we must all support the company to grow. We all need to buy the product to give true meaning to Ghanas industrialisation agenda. Frankly, I am very impressed, Mr Opoku Ansah said. On the same call, the entire leadership of Parliament also urged the government to ignore the political coloration of factory owner, Ibrahim Mahama and help the company to grow. As a result, they pledged the support of the House of Parliament to Dzata Cementto encourage the company to employ more Ghanaians. The leadership included the Majority Leader, Osei Kyei-Mensah-Bonsu and the Minority leader, Haruna Iddrisu as well as members of the Trade, Works, and Housing Committee of Parliament. Meanwhile, entrepreneur and Chief Executive of Dzata Cement, Ibrahim Mahama applauded the parliamentarians for supporting an indigenous company like Dzata Cement. He urged the committee to extend the support to more Ghanaian companies by creating a conducive environment for local businesses to thrive. According to him, the government can achieve that by making the cost of electricity for the industry come down. He explained that the company is in the process of mining some of the raw materials needed to produce cement locally, which he said will greatly reduce the cost of production. The cost of power today must be addressed so that it will not hinder the projects we want to do in the near future in Ghana. There are many prospective areas such as ore that can be explored to create thousands of jobs for Ghanaians. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The UN Eminent Peace Ambassador to Ghana, Dr Samuel Ben Owusu has urged African Leaders to make youth development in peace a major priority. His advice is based on the fact that the youth is the bridge to a stronger and sustainable future for the Nation. He said this at a National Press conference on Observing United Nations Charter Day, 2022 in Kampala, Uganda. The press conference was attended by various African Peace Ambassadors from different nations including Amb. Sammy David from Liberia, Amb. Emmanuel Nkweke who is the World Peace Spokesman from Nigeria, Amb. Johnson Elhatt from United Arab Emirates, Amb. Livingstone Banjagala of Uganda is the Head of Missions. Speaking at the event, Dr Samuel Owusu encouraged the Nations to propel their attention into strengthening their youth and to push for the beacon of hope for all in a peaceful manner. As a strong advocate for African Youth Peace development, Amb. Samuel Owusu was of the belief that if African Leaders do not strengthen their youth, the future of the nations will perish. According to him, it is the reason he has worked tirelessly in his country by organizing peace rallies, pushing for a peaceful transition in the election, including speaking at the 2021 UN conference which focused on building the youth since his induction as a Peace Ambassador. Due to his work, Uganda is hungry for his insight and prescription on how to build forward, empower its youth, and sustain peace. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Tamale Teaching Hospital (TTH) lacks a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging scanner (MRI), a situation, which is affecting health care delivery. Mr Emmanuel Donkor, Director of Administration of TTH, who announced this, said, "According to experts, the MRI we have now is out of date and it is better to replace it." He was speaking at a meeting with Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, who visited the facility in Tamale to learn about its operations and challenges. Mr Donkor mentioned other challenges facing the hospital, which included high residential accommodation fees, inadequate water supply and delays in payment of health insurance claims aside from the fact that health insurance charges were not competitive. Mr Kwabena Mintah Akandoh, the Ranking Member on the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, said it was heartbreaking to know that the TTH did not have MRI, adding "It is unpardonable for a teaching hospital not to have MRI because it is a basic requirement of every teaching hospital." He expressed worry over the lack of investment and leadership in the health sector and called on the President and Parliament to urgently address the challenges of the TTH, saying "We, the Health Committee are doing our best but they are the keepers of the public purse." Nana Ayew Afriye, the Chairman of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health, commended the Management and Staff of the TTH for their sacrifice while working in uncomfortable situations. He noted that "teaching hospitals produce 97 per cent of health workers in the country but little is given to them in terms of infrastructural development" and gave assurance that "The Committee will engage the Health Ministry to press forward what is due them." Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video At least 23 migrants have died and others were hurt on Friday when a huge crowd tried to cross into Spain's North African enclave of Melilla, officials from neighbouring Morocco say. Reports say some of those who died had fallen from the top of a border fence. Several security personnel and migrants were admitted to hospital for treatment following clashes early on Friday. It was the first such attempted mass crossing since Spain and Morocco resumed diplomatic ties in March. The thaw in relations came after Spain supported Morocco's autonomy plan for the disputed region of Western Sahara. Spanish officials say several hundred people tried to break through into the enclave after cutting fencing. Most were forced back but more than 100 got through and were being processed at a reception centre, they added. Originally 18 deaths were reported, but officials said on Saturday that five more people had died of their injuries. Melilla and Ceuta, another Spanish enclave, have in recent years become a focal point for mostly sub-Saharan migrants attempting to reach Europe. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Police have filed a case in court against the planned demonstration by pressure group, Arise Ghana due to a disagreement on the time frame and also the location. The Police explained in a statement issued on Sunday June 26 that in the interest of Public Order and safety, they entreated the organizers to reconsider the time frame and start the demonstration early in the day and end before night falls. But Due to the lack of agreement between the Police and the organizers on the time for demonstration and location for their planned picketing, the Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. This was duly communicated to Arise Ghana in a letter on June 20, 2022. The case has since been filed at the court and hearing is scheduled for tomorrow Monday June 27, 2022. The groups planned to start the series of demonstrations on 28th June, 2022, starting from the Kwame Nkrumah Circle Interchange/ Obra Spot and end at the frontage of the seat of government. We shall move through the Nima Police Station street to the Arko-Agyei inter-change and end at the Frontage of the Jubilee House where we will picket until 10PM, a statement issued by the group earlier said. The purpose of the demonstration, they said, is to protest against persistent and astronomical hikes in fuel prices by the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government that has imposed excruciating economic hardships on Ghanaians; protest against the imposition of the obnoxious E-Levy on the already-burdened Ghanaian people by the insensitive Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government. Demand a full scale and bi-partisan parliamentary probe into COVID-19 expenditures; Protest against the grabbing of State lands by officials of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, particularly the de-classification of huge portions of the Achimota Forest reserve. Protest against the increased rate of police brutalities and state-sponsored killing of innocent Ghanaians, as well as the growing culture of human rights abuses under the watch of President Akufo-Addo and Alhaji Bawumia. Police Statement on Arise Ghana's Intended Demonstration A group calling itself Arise Ghana, notified the Police of its intention to hold a demonstration in Accra for two continuous days and for its members to also picket in front of the Jubilee House during the night. pic.twitter.com/UIkufvD1V6 Ghana Police Service (@GhPoliceService) June 26, 2022 Source: 3news Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Over the weekend, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology got the unique EchoHouse experience, thanks to one of the leading telecommunications companies in Ghana, Vodafone Ghana. The telecommunications company sponsored a fun-filled day event that run into the night and saw thousands of students having the time of their lives while being treated to performances from R2Bees, Mr Drew, and Sefa while DJ Aroma was on the turntables with Mensa Junior providing the hype. However, the biggest surprise of the night came when Darko Vibes and Tulenky mounted the stage to give the students back-to-back surprise performances. Marketing experiential events such as these, which are planned and executed by EchoHouse, were a regular staple on campus, however, the COVID-19 pandemic brought everything to a standstill. With students back on campus, the Vodafone Ghana and KNUST partnership sprung into action again to give the students some opportunity to blow off steam at the Vodafone Turn Up event that was held at the Royal Parade Grounds. During the day, the students participated in various games, while also supporting their colleague entrepreneurs who had set up shop with support from Vodafone Ghana. Another brilliant and uniquely Vodafone aesthetic that made an appearance at the Vodafone Turn Up event was the Vodafone TikTok Studios. The studio first made an appearance at this years Vodafone Ghana Music Awards where celebrities such as KiDi, Cina Soul among others created TikTok videos for the newly created Vodafone Ghana TikTok account. As the sunlight gave way to the night, the atmosphere was charged up with electrifying performances. Leading the way was the Vodafone Ghana Next TurnUp Star, Yaw Jen who performed some of his original music to the pleasure of the students. That was before Mugeez, and Omar Sterling who make up the hip hop and hip life duo, R2Bees turn up the heat at the venue. Darko Vibes, Tulenkey, Mr Drew, and Sefa also got the students jumping, dancing, and having fun with hits after hits. The Vodafone Ghana TurnUp was just the needed energy to shake up KNUST after two years of just getting by and the KNUST Students Representative Council (KNUST SRC) played a key role in pulling this off. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The much-anticipated Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Head Office will leave staff and visitors in awe as the ultramodern and expansive new building is designed to provide staff and visitors to the revenue mobilisation agency with an experience of space, friendly work areas and a good car park. GRA operates mainly from its head office situated off Starlets 91 Road at the Ministries Area. This building, together with its annexes are legacies from the former revenue agencies that merged to become the GRA. Over the years GRA has renovated and refurbished its current head office buildings to make them fit for its purpose. Therefore, the decision to build its own ultra-modern and spacious office structure was conceived by the Board and Management of GRA to address the office accommodation requirements of the Revenue Agency. When completed, the new GRA head office complex would boast of a seven-storey twin tower with a total office area of 13,725 square meters (sqm) enough to host all the headquarters staff, who are currently housed in the existing head office at the Ministries and six other rented buildings in Accra. It would also save the revenue administration and mobilisation agency the payment of more than GH4 million in annual rent for head office staff alone. The construction work started in January this year and is now due to be completed in two years time. It is being executed by Devtraco Builders Limited, which won a competitive tender, at about GH491 million. The company was paid about GH74.36 million as mobilisation fees, paving the way for the construction process to begin. During a media tour of the site on Monday, June 20, workers were seen excavating the ground and finalising processes for the foundational pillars to be erected. The Project Manager Mr. Sidney Quaye, said work was progressing smoothly and the two-year timeline would be met. He also gave the assurance that the work is being done on schedule. The tour was to apprise the paper of the progress of work on the project, which GRA described as historic, transformational and necessary to ending the years of renting and the scattered nature of its head office staff due to the lack of a spacious head office facility to accommodate all. An Assistant Commissioner and Head of Communications and Public Affairs at GRA, Florence Asante, later told the media that the project was long overdue, given its immense benefits to the authority and the country as a whole. Mrs Asante said when completed, the project would help to address the office accommodation and parking space constraints facing the authority. According to her, the current GRA head office at the Ministries was unable to house all the relevant staff. As a result, she said some staff, who were supposed to be operating from the head office, were currently operating from the Shippers House, the Heritage Towers and the Platinum Heights. The Head of Communications and Public Affairs said the rest were operating from the Osu Revenue Towers while others were stationed at the Customs Head Office, all in Accra. Beyond the inconvenience of not being under one roof, Mrs Asante said it was expensive to run the rented offices. She said it cost the authority more than GH4 million every year to rent the six separate buildings with a total office area of almost 4,600 square meters. This, she said made the construction of a single office for all staff a necessity, economical and long overdue. GRA's Head of Communications and Public Affairs explained that the new head office building would have enough office spaces and adjoining infrastructure for all of GRAs head office staff. It would also provide enough parking lots for staff and visitors, thereby eliminating the parking constraints that visitors to the authority's main head office at the Ministries currently faced. Conceived around 2016, the GRA head office under construction was initially envisaged to be sited at the Airport Area, opposite the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration, in Accra. Mrs Asante, however, said it was relocated to the current site at Kanda in line with the governments decision to host key agencies of the Ministry of Finance in one location to be referred to as the national financial enclave. She explained that the Kanda site was found to be appropriate for the governments agenda and it had since been allocated to GRA, the Public Procurement Authority (PPA), among other agencies to start the construction of their head offices. According to her, the change in site delayed the project timelines but expressed the hope that work would now continue unabated. She said the authority and the contractor had also agreed to execute the project in the new site under the same terms as was agreed with the earlier one although the Kanda project was bigger than the one that was to be executed at the Airport Area. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Renowned man of God, Dr. David Bindan, has called for a peaceful co-existence of the different belief systems in Ghana. He made the call in a press release on Sunday, June 26, 2022. He urged religious bodies in Ghana to peacefully co-exist. Below is his full press release: PEACEFUL CO-EXISTENCE OF DIFFERENT BELIEF SYSTEMS IN GHANA Blessed people of Ghana, this nation occupies a special place in the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ, and because of this He has sent me with a message that will establish Ghana in lasting peace and development for everybody. This message consists of simple truths that will forever preserve Ghana from destruction and usher her into the state of fulfilling her calling as the hope of Africa and the rest of the world in this era. To the president and future government of this nation, here are the simple truths: 1. It is time to get Ghana established in lasting peace and lasting development for everyone. 2. The major means to this state of lasting peace is to work assiduously to ensure that there is a realistic peaceful co-existence of all the citizens of this nation with different belief systems. A simple fact that has eluded many African nations is the fact that realistic peaceful co-existence of the citizens of a nation with different belief systems is a better and more powerful guarantee of lasting peace and development in a nation than just democracy without it. You don't need to look far; observe what is currently happening in Nigeria, and you will know that democracy without a realistic peaceful coexistence of the citizens of the nation with different belief systems is no guarantee of real peace of that nation. The Lord is bringing us this message at this time because as it is now, Ghana after more than 60 years of independence still doesn't have what we can call realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems. Why are we saying this? We are still in a nation where state apparatus, like the state-owned media organizations, state departments and state personnel like the police, are often used to compel some citizens into practices that are prescribed by the deities of some other citizens. You cannot call this a peaceful co-existence. There is an injustice somewhere which if not addressed has the potential of something negative. This is what the Lord wants to prevent and is sending this message to us at this time. The good news is that it doesn't take much for any nation to attain this state of peaceful coexistence. Something as simple as just ensuring that systems are strengthened to ensure that no citizen at any time anywhere in the nation is compelled into practices that they do not believe in. It is so simple and yet so powerful to achieve this. Even in cases where the government will say that the issues are technical and sensitive, they are not without a solution if they are committed because the issues of belief, whether you like it or not, boils down to the issues of deities. And deities are not non-entities; deities are spirits. In such cases what the government should do is to allow the deities to prove themselves through their spokespersons. There is no true speaker for a deity that doesn't know the deities they are speaking for and the capabilities of that deity. And when the matter is settled spiritually in the nation, the nation can now have an openly genuine and unbiased basis for legislation. When this is not done, any attempt to cover things up in the name of respect for culture or obedience to authority when there is no real peace is like covering a wound and pretending it is healed. It is just a matter of time, and the wound will fester. I know that in this nation, previous governments have shied away from bold steps to address these issues to bring the nation into a state of realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems. God sending me at this time is a sign to the current government that thinking of turning deaf ears to this message is a joke. You cannot turn deaf ears and have it easy in the spirit. Because as I speak now, in the spirit, any government that comes into power and does not show commitment to bringing this nation to this state of realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems is sounding loud in the spirit that that government doesn't care about the lasting peace and development of the nation and such a government shall not last. It is as simple as that. To the body of Christ, we have been called by God to some things in the scriptures, three of which are very important now in helping Ghana to contribute our portion of what is required from the church to attain this state of peaceful co-existence. 1. Our Father has called us, according to 1 Peter 5:8, to be sober and vigilant concerning the tricks of the devil. In 2 Corinthians 2:11, He told us never to be ignorant of the devices of Satan. And in Jeremiah 29:7, He told us to work and pray for the peace of the nations in which we physically dwell because in the peace of those nations, is our peace. Therefore, the church in Ghana has a responsibility to assist the governments and other stakeholders to arrive at this state of realistic peaceful co-existence of all her citizens with different belief systems. 2. Through the Ghanaian Times editorial of 9th May 2022, amazing things were revealed concerning some vital devices of the devil against the church in Ghana that the church cannot turn a blind eye on. Several things were said, but I will refer to two of them. In that editorial, the Ghanaian Times revealed something very remarkable. Literally, what it was saying was that beyond the cover of a cultural practice, the real issue of the ban on drumming and noise making in Accra was about the worship of gods and spirits. This is not Dr. David Bindan saying it; this is a Ghanaian state-owned media declaring it and I quote, "Those who understand both the spiritual and the physical environments will tell you that the gods or spirits need such noiseless periods to work out things for the benefit of the people." (Page 4, paragraph 7) This is Ghanaian Times, and not David Bindan stating that the main reason for the silence of that period is so that some gods or some spirits will be able to answer the prayers of other people. So, I asked an important question when I was putting these things down here, that, "For all these years, the whole Ghana kept quiet for government apparatus to be used to compel Christian citizens of Ghana into practices prescribed by other gods and spirits under the cover of respect for culture and obedience for authority?" Listen, this is nothing but an attempt by Satan to pollute and corrupt pure Biblical worship of the Lord Jesus Christ in this nation. Tell me where in the Bible that you can have a Christianity that for eleven months of the year, you worship Jesus according to the Bible and one month of the year, you worship Jesus according to the prescriptions of another god or spirit. That kind of Christianity is not in the Bible. Anyone who knows the truth, loves Jesus and loves Ghana knows that what I am saying is the truth. And when you hear me talk about respect for culture and obedience to authority, keep in mind that I have nothing against these things. In fact, my research proves that our ministry in the city of Accra was the first Christian ministry that held a Homowo Sunday service, in the year 2015. This service was held in an open field; the Ga chief of the area with his elders were there; the queen mother of the area with her entourage were there; representatives from the office of the member of Parliament were there. And we had a great service in which the Lord inspired us concerning His beautiful plans for the great people of the Ga Adangme state. If I were somebody against culture, I would not have responded to this instruction of the Lord to hold such a service. Secondly, in that same editorial, the Ghanaian Times made it clear in the eighteenth paragraph that, the freedom of Ghanaian citizens to Biblical worship will only become a reality when all ethnic groups in Ghana decide to abandon their traditional religious practices. This is what they said, and I quote, "Till the leadership of the various ethnic groups in the country abandon all the traditional religious practices, all Christians have to do is to show a sense of tolerance to coexist with the traditional believers, evangelize and pray for them." You see the cover-ups they are using? A sense of tolerance? Co-exist? A kind of tolerance and co-existence that only favours the cause of Satan. People of God, this is again nothing but an attempt by Satan to ultimately stifle our freedom of worship of Jesus the Bible way in a nation that is supposed to be a nation that guarantees freedom of worship. It is high time the church looked at these devices of the enemy and rose into focused prayer to abort these works of Satan and liberate Ghana from the claws of the devil, programming Ghana for a future destruction. You may not appreciate what we are saying today but there is no real peace when some people are being forced under practices, they do not believe in. It is just a matter of time, and when they are tired, there will be an explosion. There is only real peace when everybody is satisfied. So, the church is being called by this announcement to rise up to prayer to abort these works of the devil and to receive wisdom to act in love and in peace based on truth. There are actions of love and peace that are not based on truth; they don't bring real peace. The church should act in love and in peace based on truth so that we can contribute our portion to the nation and other stakeholders to bring Ghana to this place of realistic peaceful co-existence among all her citizens with different belief systems and bring her into a state of lasting peace for lasting development for everyone. Before I round off with this special message and pray for the nation Ghana, I would like to say to all who have in mind, just like the Ghanaian Times, to either encourage or coerce the church in Accra into adhering to any kind of protocols of any supposed ban on drumming and noise making in Accra not to waste their time and energy because what I said in June 2021, concerning the exclusion of the church from the ban, or the annulment of the ban was not a prophecy. It was a statement of spiritual fact that came into force the moment the stakeholders went into action in. 2022. Therefore, if you ever hear of any announcements of ban or any activities of its enforcement, these are just what we call the fag ends of something that died in May 2022, according to my word. And the truth is, "if you know, you know; if you don't know, you shall see soon." For Ghana, I pray in the Name of Jesus, peace, preservation, development be upon you; be upon the land, the governments and all the citizens of this nation now and forever in the Name of Jesus. Amen! Dr David Bindan (A son of God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit) Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 73-year-old businessman Emmanuel King Opare, a known member of the ruling New Patriotic Party and a 55-year-old Teacher, Elizabeth Manukure, both residents of Akuapem Mamfe in the Akuapem North Municipality of the Eastern Region have been arrested over GHC58,200 recruitment fraud. The accused persons allegedly used the name of the Chief Executive Officer of the National Lottery Authority, NLA, Sammi Awuku to collect the money from six victims who are complainants in the case under the pretense of securing them enlistment into the security services. The complainants are Benjamin, 32, a pupil teacher, Freda, 32, self-employed, Lydia, 28, self-employed, Daniel, 25, unemployed all residents of Accra while the rest Emmanuel, 25, unemployed and Richard, 25, trader are residents of Koforidua. The facts of the case presented by the Prosecuting Officer, Chief Inspector Bernard before a Koforidua Circuit court are that the first accused person Emmanuel King Opare told his friend Eric Okornoo in January 2021 that he has some protocol slots to enlist people into the security services hence if he could get some people who are interested and ready to pay GHC7000 for recruitment, GHC1,200 for medicals and GHC1,500 for prospectus all totaling GHC97,00. The witness informed the victims now complainants who eventually paid the monies totaling GHC58,200 which were handed over to the first accused Emmanuel King Opare by the witness in the case together with their documents. However, Opare failed to honor his promise of enlisting them into the security services and kept fabricating excuses. The victims together with the complainants reported the case to the Railways Police station for investigation. The first accused was arrested at his hideout in Mamfe Akuapem where he mentioned the second accused Elizabeth Manukere as his accomplice. She was also arrested. She mentioned one Mr. Mensah who she claimed was working out the enlistment and hence sent GHC25,200 to him. During her caution statement, Elizabeth Manukure admitted receiving GHC4,200 from Emmanuel King Opare for each person contrary to claims of given her GHC9,700 per victim. Police investigation disclosed that Elizabeth Manukure received a total of GHC25,200 only from Opare and not GHC58,200 as claimed. That Opare pocketed GHC33,000. The accused persons have since refunded GHC11,500 and GHC4,000 respectively to the complainants. The accused persons pleaded guilty when put before Koforidua Circuit Court A presided by Kwame Polley. The defense counsel, Adu Amankwah pleaded with the court to grant the accused bail and give them three months to refund the rest of the money. The Judge scolded the accused persons for defrauding victims who could be their children and grandchildren. The Judge admitted the accused persons to a bail sum of GHC30,000 with two sureties each. The case has been adjourned to July 4, 2022, for which the court is expecting the accused persons to have refunded the rest of the money. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video MANZINI The deceased cop may have been hit by three bullets, but her colleague has been referred to as a hero. This is what was said about Philani Mntungwa, the male police officer who was driving the police van during the deadly shooting incident which took place in Manzini, where unknown gunmen opened fire and killed the female law enforcer, Zinhle Mavuso, who was occupying the passenger seat. It is said that Mntungwa, who is recovering in hospital, was shot by the unknown gunmen while trying to take a gun from the deceased, with the aim of fighting back. This is according to some sources who are close to Mntungwa. The incident took place near the Manzini Club traffic circle on Saturday at around 3am. Mavuso died on the spot, while Mntungwa was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. Burst According to the sources, while the duo were driving towards the city of Manzini, in the early hours of that fateful day, they saw two men walking near the wall fence of the Manzini Club and heard a loud bang. The source disclosed that the officers first thought that maybe one of the car tyres had burst and as such they slowed down. Thereafter, the source said the officers saw the two men shooting at them at close range. As previously reported by our sister publication, The Times Sunday, the gunmen fired several gun shots at the car before vanishing. The survivor tried to take the gun from Mavuso with the aim of fighting back, but in the process, he was also shot at least twice in the chest. What he did shows that he is a brave officer, they said. Mavuso, according to the sources, was hit by about three bullets in the chest and one of them was lodged next to her heart and they supposed that it was the one that resulted in her death. Meanwhile, they said it was not clear if the two bullets which hit the survivor in the chest, were still in his body or not, because he was in a critical condition when he was rushed to hospital. They said according to information that was shared by those who visited him in hospital yesterday, he was recuperating well. Meanwhile, Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati said they would not unpack what happened during the incident while the matter was still under investigation. Gunmen Worth noting is that this is the second member of the State security organs to be shot dead by unknown gunmen, who are suspected to be linked to the ongoing political tension in the country. This is because last month, a soldier was shot dead by unknown people while at a home cell prayer at his home at Mahlabatsini in Matsapha. He was shot in front of his children and church members. Again, there are a number of incidents where unknown armed people shot at a police vehicle. One incident happened at KaHlobile in Matsapha, while another one took place at KaKhoza in Manzini. Another one took place at Malkerns in the Manzini Region and last month, two traffic officers starred death in their face when unknown gunmen opened fire on a police caravan at the cooling station for trucks, along the MR3 Highway, just before Malagwane Hill. Former US president, Donald Trump has taken a victory lap after his appointed Suprem court Justices, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, a landmark ruling that outlaws abortion in the United States. On Friday, the US Supreme court voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, which before now made abortion legal in the United States. During a rally in Illinois Saturday, June 26, Trump took the credit for the abortion ban while also endorsing two Republicans for Congress. "The court handed down a victory for the Constitution, a victory for the rule of law and above all, a victory for life," Trump told a crowd of his supporters at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon, referencing Friday's abortion decision. In his address, the former president applauded the efforts of pro-life activists and other conservatives: "Your boundless love, sacrifice and devotion has finally been rewarded in full." "Thank you, Trump!" the thunderous crowd chanted back. Watch the video below- Former President Donald Trump addressed the Supreme Court's Roe V. Wade decision at tonight's Save America rally in Illinois. Thoughts? pic.twitter.com/E2X9WDU8KR No Jumper (@nojumper) June 26, 2022 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 An attack by land guards on properties on land at Sawmill Down at Dome Pillar Two in Accra on Sunday morning has left more than 60 residents, including children and pregnant women, displaced. The land guards, wielding guns and machetes, destroyed makeshift structures occupied by the residents, in an attempt to eject them from the land which is a subject of court litigation. During the attack, one of the pregnant women fell unconscious and had to be rushed to the hospital. The attackers, who arrived at the scene on motorbikes, hacked and vandalised all 14 wooden structures on the two-plot land, warning to burn down the structures if the residents refused to leave. The police were called in but the attackers, numbering about eight, escaped before the arrival of the police patrol team. The original owner of the land, Nana Kwame, permitted the residents to occupy half of the land, on humanitarian grounds, while he built on the other half. According to him, he acquired the land in 1995 from one of the Gbese families, adding that there had been no issue until recently when another family gave an indication that it had won a court case over the ownership of the lands in that area. Nana Kwame explained that the family filed a suit in court against him over the land, and as part of the settlement, he decided to attorn tenancy to the new family, and pay the necessary fees. But before they could sign the settlement agreement, the family said it had sold the land to another person, Ibrahim Sibie, popularly known as Bolumba, who also claims to have sold it to a new buyer. According to Nana Kwame, he has secured a court injunction restricting Bolumba and his assigns from entering the land, indicating he will file for contempt against him. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Member of Parliament (MP) for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, is calling bluff of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to sue him over his conflict of interest claims. He further asked the people who are worried and begging on his behalf to stop since he is ready for any lawsuit from the Attorney-General. Mr. Dame denied an allegation of conflict of interest made against him by Mr. Ablakwa and further demanded a retraction and an apology from the MP. The Attorney-General served notice that failure on the part of the lawmaker to comply with his demand will see him seeking legal redress. However, responding to the demand of the Attorney-General on Friday, June 24, 2022 edition of Metro TVs Good Morning Ghana, Mr Ablakwa scoffed at the threat of legal suit, emphasizing that some members of the current government will go to jail for issues related to the construction. He therefore asked people who have expressed concerns for him after the ministers threat to stop begging on his behalf. The vociferous MP said I dare him to sue me. By the time well be done with this National Cathedral thing, some people will be in jail. No one should apologize for me. In a Facebook post made on Tuesday, June 21, 2022, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who has raised several issues with the construction of a National Cathedral by the government, wrote, It is quite revealing to observe that when the National Cathedral was incorporated on July 18, 2019; the then Deputy Attorney General, Godfred Dame was registered as Secretary. During the same period, he served on the board of the Public Procurement Authority which approved David Adjayes irregular sole sourcing contract. A clear conflict of interest situation, particularly from additional evidence available to us, he added. But in a rejoinder to the MPs statement, Godred Dame described the allegations as false and dishonest, debunking the allegations of conflict of interest. Godfred Dame said, among other things, that there was no company called the National Cathedral of Ghana in existence at the time the PPA board he served on approved the contract. The minister thus demanded a retraction and apology from the Member of Parliament, failure of which he threatened to sue. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A member of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Gabby Otchere-Darko, has said he is not against the government seeking help from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Am I against an IMF programme in principle? No. I am not for an IMF programme that throws peanuts at us but imposes conditions that will end up hurting the poor, jobs and businesses more" he said in a tweet on Monday. According to him, Covid-19 and War in Ukraine are not of Africas doing, but more to our doom. A programme that pretends it is all our doing is doomed to fail He has further asked government to do something "pretty quickly" to "inject confidence in our capacity to ride this heavy storm" "Ghana is a member of the IMF. The world is in serious crisis. Ours is not helped by our high debt and low-income levels. With the economy still growing, but investor confidence low, govt being compelled to cut down capital expenditures will eventually lead to job losses unless..." he added. Reports are rife that the government might seek help from the IMF. Deputy Finance Minister, Dr John Kumah has suggested that IMF might be the only option if the economy does not stabilize with the homegrown policies. If it becomes impossible, then it is the only alternative to salvage our economy. But where we are now, we think we are in the position to salvage the economy or to try the homegrown policy we are adopting he indicated. However, some communicators of the ruling administration insist there will be no IMF intervention. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video National Youth Organizer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress(NDC), George Opare Addo, has expressed his disgust with the attitude and performance of the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare. According to him, Dr. George Akuffo Dampare, who by virtue of his appointment as an IGP made many Ghanaians heave a sigh of relief in hope that he would maintain law and order in the country, has now turned into a "puppet of a corrupt regime". George Opare Addo accused the IGP of doing the bidding of the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government instead of him executing his professional duties. "While the Inspector General of Police, Dr George Akuffo Dampare enjoyed the goodwill of Ghanaians when he was appointed, and exhibited traits of an upright officer ready to honour the tenets of his profession, he has turned out to be a puppet of a corrupt regime. Annoyingly, the IGP, without mincing words, has carved an unenviable niche for himself as someone comically interested in protecting a gang of thieves in government rather than the very poor people whose taxes he is feeding on," he fumed in a statement sighted by Peacefmonline.com. The NDC National Youth Organizer further said, "the Dampare-led Police administration speaks to one undeniable fact - that the Police hierarchy, against the wishes of some of its junior officers, have sworn to fight any well-meaning Ghanaian who dares question the wanton dissipation of scarce resources by the reckless Akufo Addo/Bawumia government". He made these comments in relation to a court action by the Police to thwart the demonstration scheduled for June 28 to 29, 2022 by pressure group, Arise Ghana. According to a Police statement, "in the interest of Public Order and safety, we entreated the organizers to reconsider the time frame and start the demonstration early in the day and end before night falls" but "on June 22, 2022, the Police received a verbal response from the organizers to the effect that they are unable to change the time of the demonstration". Due to the lack of agreement between the Police and the organizers on the time for demonstration and location for their planned picketing, the Police have had no option but to submit the process to the court for a determination. This was duly communicated to Arise Ghana in a letter on June 20, 2022," the statement further read. To George Opare Addo, "the Police hierarchy have taken up this unpatriotic hatchet job because they are accomplice in the unreasonable raping of our dear country". He held this position because, "a protest such as the Arise Ghana demonstration should and must be embraced by every Ghanaian who wishes this country well. The only adversaries would be the criminals in government looting the State, and sadly, the Police hierarchy appears to have gleefully joined them as their protective cover". He asked; "If the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government has performed to the satisfaction of all, why would it be remote-controlling the IGP to block a peaceful street protest?" He continued that, "history has it that failed governments, like the Akufo-Addo/Bawumia government, always resort to weakening of otherwise independent State institutions in order to have a field day to steal without anyone raising a winker". The NDC National Youth Organizer assured President Nana Akufo-Addo and Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia that "the IGP and his cohorts may be in bed with them today, but the day of reckoning where the Ghanaian people would say 'enough is enough' is now here with us". Read full statement below: Your browser does not support iframes. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Nollywood actress, Tonto Dikeh has been chosen as the running mate to Tonte Ibraye, the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Rivers State, for the 2023 election. The actress in an Instagram post on Friday expressed gratitude to the African Democratic Congress (ADC). I thank Mr. Tonte Ibraye the Governorship Candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Rivers State for nominating me as his running mate. We are looking forward to investing massively in social protection, creating a social value system for young people, increasing womens inclusion in our governance system, supporting small businesses and strengthening our traditional institutions to be active players in the drive to bring sustainable development to the good people of Rivers State. I am glad to be a proud member of the #RiversRescueMission2023. Please get your PVC and join the movement. You are the Future and The future is now! TonteTonto2023, Tonto Dikeh said in an Instagram post. Ibraye won the ADC governorship ticket during the primary elections in early June. The vice-chairman of Ijaw Youths Council (IYC), Abuja chapter defeated Dr. Warmeth Wright and Joyce Barida in a primary election organised by the party in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital. Ibraye, an advocate for maternal, newborn, and child health, polled 187 votes out of 188 votes. A representative of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Emmanuel Isong, who monitored the exercise, described it as free and fair. Ibraye called for full implementation of the Electoral Act in all processes leading to the general election, especially the enforcement of the provision for electronic transmission of results during the poll. Addressing the delegates, he said: One thing I must tell you is that, you have made history today. It will no longer be business as usual. I believe some of you are aware some people will contest and they go to the ruling party to endorse them. I must assure you that I will not use your votes to trade with anyone. Source: The Guardian Nigeria 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 At least 22 people have been found dead inside a nightclub in South Africa amid claims they were poisoned. South African authorities said police rushed to the Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park, a township in the southern city of East London, in the early hours of Sunday after receiving reports from the public.Brigadier Tembinkosi Kinana said those killed in the club were all aged between 18 and 20. The Eastern Cape provincial community and safety department official Unathi Binqose ruled out a stampede as cause of death. He said he understood the patrons were students 'celebrating pens down, a party held after writing (high school) exams'. Read Full Story .... dailymail >>> : 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 MANZINI - Another police officer has been shot dead! This is a second police officer to be shot dead by unknown gunmen in less than 48 hours. The incident took place at Mathangeni, Matsapha in the Manzini Region yesterday at around 7pm. The other incident took place near Manzini Club traffic circle on Saturday at around 3am, where a female police officer Zinhle Mavuso was shot dead, while her colleague, Philani Mntungwa, was rushed to hospital with serious injuries. A source close to the matter said the police officer was based under the Traffic Department in Matsapha Police Station, and is said to have left the police station with a colleague to attend to a supposed road traffic accident around Mathangeni. This was after the purported road traffic accident was reported through a phone call to the Matsapha Police Station. Traffic According to the source, when the officers reached Mathangeni, they slowed down because there was traffic and they assumed that it was caused by the reported supposed road traffic accident. The source said several gunshots were fired at the car by unknown men. At the time of compiling this report, it was not clear whether the gunmen were in a car or were on foot, since even eyewitnesses ran helter-skelter after hearing the gun shots. In the process, he said one of the police officers was hit by some of the bullets and died on the spot, while his colleague managed to bolt and raised the alarm to their colleagues at Matsapha Police Station. The source said some of the police officers who were first to arrive at the scene were of the view that the road traffic accident report was a hoax. He said the assumption was that the call was supposedly made by the shooters as their plan was to ambush the law enforcers. In that regard, he said the police said they would now have to find a way of scrutinising reports which they received through phone calls. He said the police said this was because it was believed that even the shooting which took place in Manzini on Saturday was arranged in a similar fashion, a fake report which was reported through a phone call. Shooting Shortly after the shooting incident, the crime scene was occupied by uniformed and plain clothes police officers from Matsapha Police Station, and later on, they were joined by their colleagues from Manzini. They included those from the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), Serious Crimes Unit (Lukhozi) and Organised Crime Unit (Tingculungculu), the source said. Meanwhile, efforts of getting comment from the Chief Police Information and Communications Officer Superintendent Phindile Vilakati proved futile as her mobile phone rang unanswered yesterday evening. She was called between 8:41pm and 8:52pm.Thereafter, a questionnaire was sent to her via WhatsApp at 9:20pm, but when this report was compiled later on, she had not responded to it. However, this publication reliably gathered that government would issue a statement today about the shooting of police officers. Mathangeni is located about 1.3 kilometres from Matsapha Police Station and approximately four kilometres from Matsapha Airport, which has an Air Wing for the Umbutfo Eswatini Defence Force (UEDF) where there was an attempted arson attack incident on Saturday night. Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clark makes an announcement in the Ontario Legislature, in Toronto, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020. Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he will have a very "aggressive" housing plan moving forward.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn As experts across the nation continue to grapple with environmental challenges, students right here in Pittsburg are conducting research that could provide clean energy solutions. At the National Institute for Materials Advancement on the campus of Pittsburg State University, they're helping scientists find ways to convert agricultural and household waste think chicken fat, used coffee grounds, and the parts of the soybean plants that are left in the field after harvest into sustainable, eco-friendly products. Or, more scientifically speaking, theyre working with polyurethanes, bio-based materials, polymer foams, and electroactive materials. Theyre guided by scientists who have come to Pittsburg from around the world to work here and who collaborate with industrial partners, organizations, state and federal agencies, and producer associations to develop and commercialize intellectual property. The labs give students access to cutting edge equipment like a scanning electron microscope, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectrometer, thermal analyzer, and equipment used for synthesis and electrochemical testing. Graduate student Prasadi Abeysinghe Arachchil, of Sri Lanka, was so intrigued when she found Pittsburg State Universitys polymer chemistry program after a Google search that she packed up and traveled 6,000 miles to get here. It paid off. The work she did during the 2021-22 year earned her a national award from the American Chemical Society, the Green Chemistry and Engineering Award. Its very prestigious and only a few of them are given out at a national conference each year, said her advisor and lead researcher, Associate Professor Ram Gupta. Her focus: to replace environmentally harmful substances like petrol with eco-friendly, biodegradable substances like castor oil, from a plant grown in many countries in the creation of a fire-retardant foam used for thermal insulation in commercial buildings. This is a big deal for me to come here to do this, she said. Its a big achievement. This place has a good reputation, and I also love this community. Its small and welcoming. Down the hall in other labs, high school students and recent high school graduates are conducting research this summer through an internship program funded by federal grants. They, too, are focused on sustainable, eco-friendly products: supercapacitors or a type of battery that can fuel cars and cell phones made from coffee grounds, for example. Im already interested in the environment I started a composting initiative in my hometown, said Emily Welch, a May 2022 graduate of Columbus High School in Columbus, Kansas. Shell be a freshman in polymer chemistry at PSU starting this fall. I thought this would give me a head start on doing research and getting involved, she said. Parker Neely, a rising senior at CHS, also wants to do something in a science field and is considering polymer chemistry as a major; this will allow him to explore the field before he commits, he said. Athennah Jones, a rising senior at Pittsburg High School, plans to pursue a degree in environmental science, and wanted a solid foundation in research in addition to a summer job in something other than fast food. The end goal: to one day commercialize these products, and others. That will help not only the environment, but translates into job creation, which could prove to be a tipping point for this region, said Tim Dawsey, executive director of the KPRC. More green, please A recent global study by the World Wildlife Fund shows the popularity of internet searches for sustainable goods in 54 nations has increased globally by 71 percent in the past five years. And, a study conducted by NYU Sterns Center for Sustainable Business shows the number of products marketed as sustainable grew 5.6 times faster between 2013 and 2018 than products that were not. Learn more The National Institute for Materials Advancement is located in the Tyler Research Center on the east edge of campus. NIMA The Polymer Chemistry Initiative is one of only three in the U.S. PCI Oman's Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) have signed a land development (usufruct) agreement with Green Hydrogen and Chemicals Company (GHC) to develop Phase One of the green hydrogen and ammonia project in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (SEZAD). The agreement was signed by Dr Ali Masoud Al Sunaidy, Chairman of OPAZ and Manoj Upadhyay, Chairman and Founder, ACME Group. GHC is a joint venture between the UK entity of ACME Company and Norway-based Scatec ASA, said an Oman News Agency report. As per the agreement, GHC will begin developing the first phase of the project over 12 sq km of land to produce 100,000 metric tonnes of green ammonia per annum in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. Once fully developed, the project is expected to produce up to 1.2 million tonnes of green ammonia annually. Eng Yahya Khamis Al Zedjali, In-Charge of Managing the Operations of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm, pointed out: The Special Economic Zone and free zones in Oman will play a major role in the future of energy transition in Oman. The project will allow Duqm to become a hub for green hydrogen projects. Attracting such outstanding projects and investments to Duqm will thrive the promising clean energy sector in the Sultanate of Oman. Rajat Seksaria, CEO, ACME Group, said: The signing of the usufruct agreement is an important milestone in setting up this green hydrogen and green ammonia project. We will start the construction activities soon and build one of the most advanced technologies and create a state-of-the-art facility. This project helps opening a new chapter of business cooperation between our countries India, the UK and Oman. We extend our gratitude to the Sultanate of Oman for helping us contribute to the journey of innovation and transition to clean energy sources. We are also delighted to have Scatec as our JV partner in this exciting venture. Slaven Popov Crowned 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event Champion June 27, 2022 Matthew Pitt Editor Slaven Popov is on cloud nine today after becoming a live poker champion for the first time. Popov triumphed in the 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event and walked away with 35,000 plus a package to a future 888poker LIVE event. According to his Hendon Mob profile, Popov has eight runner-up finishes to his name, in addition to a brace of six-figure hauls. The Bulgarian finished eighth in the 2014 EPT Barcelona Main Event for 121,300 and fifth in the 2015 EPT Prague Main Event for 226,330. While the 35,000 he won in Bucharest is a fraction of those scores, the fact he has finally won a live poker tournament more than makes up for it. 2022 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event Final Table Results Place Player Prize 1 Slaven Popov 35,000* 2 Alexandru Arnautu 33,000* 3 Patrick Bueno 19,330 4 Jamie Thomson 15,680 5 Valentin Piraiala 12,400 6 Alexandru Stoian 9,320 7 Bogdan Berinde 6,880 8 Levente Pal 5,030 *reflects a heads-up deal 888poker LIVE Looks to the Future After Successful Return of Live Events The 888poker LIVE Bucharest Main Event saw 272 players buy in and create a 192,670 prize pool, of which 137,000 was dished out to the eight finalists. Levente Pal was the first of the finalists to receive some prize money, namely a 5,030 score, the second-largest haul of the Romanian's live poker career. Pal opened to 85,000 with pocket kings, with the big blind costing 40,000, and Valentin Piraila called in the big blind with nine-trey of clubs. The flop fell four-seven-ten all clubs. Pirailia checked, Pal bet 210,000 and called when Pirailia check-raised all-in for 670,000 in total. Pal held the king of clubs, but the turn and river bricked to leave Pal nursing a ten big blind stack. Pal committed the last of his chips with queen-seven after Alexandru Stoian opened from the hijack with king-ten. Stoian called and turned a Broadway straight to send Pal to the showers. Berinde Busts With a Bluff Bogdan Berinde was the next to bust, his seventh-place finish coming with 6,880. Berinde opened to 135,000 from the hijack with pocket jacks and Patrick Bueno called in the small blind with ace-ten. Both players checked the nine-ace-queen flop, before checking another nine on the turn. The river was an offsuit ten, and Bueno led for 160,000 into the 390,000 pot. Berinde paused for a few moments before jamming for 1,200,000, which Bueno snapped off. Sixth-place and 9,320 went to Stoian. Jamie Thomson opened to 175,000 on the button with pocket nines, Stoian three-bet all-in for 600,000 from the small blind, and Bueno asked for a count before folding ace-eight of hearts in the big blind. Thomson instantly called and discovered he was flipping against king-queen. A ten-high board reduced the player count by one. The final five became four with the elimination of Piraiala, who moments prior to busting lost all but four big blinds to Popov when the latter's nine-seven of hearts rivered a flush to beat his ace-jack. Piraiala moved all-in from under the gun with seven-five of clubs, and Thomson looked him up with queen-ten. Bueno also called with ace-six in the small blind. Both active players checked the board down, and Thomson won the pot courtesy of a turned Broadway straight. TEANfilas Takes Down 888poker Sunday Sale Main Event It Just Wasn't Thomson's Day Thomson was the next player heading for the cashier's desk despite winning that pot. The Canadian, who has been travelling through Europe for the past year, came unstuck in a couple of key hands. First, his ace-king lost to the ace-seven of Popov. He then lost another sizable pot to Popov before a huge hand occurred. Bueno opened to 285,000 from under the gun with pocket tens, Alexandru Arnautu called in the small blind with king-queen of diamonds, only for Thomson to squeeze all-in for 3,800,000 with ace-eight of diamonds from the big blind. Only Bueno called, and the tens flopped a set before turning a full house. That hand left Thomson nursing a 1,700,000 stack with blinds at 50,000/100,000/100,000a. Those chips went into the middle from under the gun with king-jack, only for Popov to wake up with pocket kings in the small blind. Thomson was drawing dead by the turn, and the Main Event was down to only a trio of hopefuls. Heads-up was set when Bueno busted in third at the hands of Popov. Bueno three-bet all-in for 24 big blinds with pocket fours after Popov had opened with ace-jack. Popov called, flopped a jack, turned another, and sent Bueno home with a brick on the river. The heads-up duo were evenly stacked so it was no surprise when they eventually struck a deal. They each agreed to take home 33,000, leaving the trophy, 2,000 and an added 888poker LIVE package to play for. Popov got his hands on the extras when Arnautu check-jammed with six-four on a seven-six-queen-deuce board and Popov snap-called with queen-eight. A nine on the river sent Arnautu home in second place, and ensured a delighted Popov finally got to enjoy his maiden victory. New York online grinder Kijoon Park overcame a star-studded field of 456 players, including some of the best mixed game players in the world, to win whats become affectionately known as The Mini PPC, the $2,500 Nine-Game Mix, for a career-best $219,799 and his first World Series of Poker bracelet. He entered heads-up play with a massive chip lead before defeating Andre Akkari, in front of a boisterous Brazilian rail, in just two hands to claim the title. Event #52: $2,500 Nine Game Mix 6-Handed Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Kijoon Park United States $219,799 2 Andre Akkari Brazil $135,848 3 Phil Long United Kingdom $90,411 4 David Bach United States $61,588 5 Taylor Paur United States $42,965 6 Michael Chow United States $30,713 KT Park Winners Reaction Parks previous best results have come online, where hes won a WSOP Circuit ring in 6-max No-Limit Holdem and has over $100,000 in online earnings. He said his experience playing online mixed games was key to his victory. I play a lot of 8-Game on PokerStars New Jersey, so it paid off I guess. With this event being just his second-ever live WSOP event, (he was eliminated from the $1,500 8-Game event on Day 1) he says with the bracelet and $219,799 now to his name, he might just play a few more events before the series is done. The plan might be to play more and play the rush. I might just grind every day! Hes also excited to play the Tournament of Champions at the end of the WSOP and has already signed up for the $3,000 H.O.R.S.E. and the $600 Mixed PLO/NLH event later in the series. Phil Hellmuth The Days Action Despite 24 players starting the day, the first two levels of play saw lightning-fast eliminations, leaving only 13 players at the first break. Among those sent away early were Phil Hellmuth, who was the first to go in 24th place, Scott Seiver in 22nd place and Joey Couden in 21st place. Once back from break, the next round of eliminations began, with GGPoker Ambassador Daniel Negreanu next out the door in 13th place. More bracelet winners were sent away before the final table including Mike Gorodinsky in 11th place and Scott Bohlman in eighth place. KT Park The Kijoon Park Show Begins Once the unofficial final table began, so did the Kijoon Park show. With eight players remaining, he steadily built up a chip lead before solidifying it in a massive Omaha 8 or Better pot that ended with him stacking more than half the chips in play. After the elimination of Nick Guagenti in seventh place, the final break of the day was taken with six players left, and while Park wasnt involved in the eliminations of Michael Chow in sixth place or Taylor Paur in fifth place, he continued to win crucial pots to build his chip stack with another big Omaha 8 or Better pot sending him over the ten million chip mark. Park then took the rest of the eliminations into his own hands, sending David Bach home in fourth place, Phil Long in third and finally Akkari heads-up to claim the bracelet. This concludes our coverage of Event #52. Congratulations to Kijoon Park on his impressive victory. Stay close to PokerNews for continuing coverage of the 53rd World Series of Poker from its new home at Ballys and Paris Las Vegas. From a field of 788, who created a prizepool of $3,634,650, it was Brazilian poker pro Joao Simao who bested Marius Gierse heads up to take down his second WSOP bracelet for $686,242 in Event #53: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Holdem/Pot-Limit Omaha at Bally's and Paris in Las Vegas Nevada. I had some very hard spots at the final table, said the pro shortly after his victory, some players were better than me in Holdem, others were better than me in Omaha but I felt that on average I had an edge because I play both well. The man who once said that the Brazilian storm is coming is more confident than ever that poker will continue to be popular in Brazil. Every time a Brazilian wins a bracelet, it makes our community grow, more and more, which is good for us and good for the poker world in general. Coming into the day as the chip leader, Simao kept his foot on the gas the whole day and found himself knocking out six of the nine players at the final table. He was surrounded and embraced by a large rail of Brazilian supporters including his wife. Afterwards, he and the rail went over the to Event #54: $2,500 Nine-Game Mix to support Brazilian poker pro Andre Akkari, who is at the final table. Well do a party here and a party in Brazil to celebrate! Event #53: Mixed No-Limit Holdem/Pot-Limit Omaha Final Table Results Place Player Country Payout 1st Joao Simao Brazil $686,242 2nd Marius Gierse Germany $424,122 3rd Ryan Riess United States $302,980 4th Dante Goya Brazil $219,472 5th Aden Salazar United States $161,239 6th Joshua McSwiney Australia $120,165 7th Fred Goldberg United States $90,864 8th Cody Rich United States $69,727 Final Day Action Many players found themselves falling throughout the day including Stefan Schillhabel (68th - $10,724), Ben Diebold (48th - $12,977), Mustapha Kanit (28th - $19,650), Brian Rast (22nd - $23,327), and David Williams (18th - $23,327). The final table bubble boy was Randall Brooks who ran his two pair and flush draw into the set of Dante Goya in a Pot-Limit Omaha round. The flush draw did not hit and Brooks exited the tournament in tenth place for $42,953. Final Table Action Anothrer WSOP final table appearance for Joni Jouhkimainen Last year's fifth place finisher in this event, Joni Jouhkimainen, managed to do the rare feat of final tabling once more. It was a short-lived visit to the final table as, during a No-Limit Holdem round, he ran his pocket eights into the pocket tens of Simao and found no improvement on the runout. Simao added to his final table lead while Jouhkimainen ended his run in ninth place for $54,313. Cody Rich started the final table as one of the middle stacks but ran into a cooler in Pot-Limit Omaha when his straight and flush draw combination ran into the better straight draw and overpair of Simao. The board ran out with no help to Rich and he ended his run in eighth place for $69,727. Fred Goldberg saw his stack dwindle to just under one big blind in a bizarre hand where he thought he was calling all in, but ended up having some behind. He laddered once but found himself out shortly after that when, in a Pot-Limit Omaha round, he ran his suited kings into the suited aces of Gierse. No help was given to him and he left the tournament in seventh place for $90,864. After that, a break in eliminations as the short stacks doubled a few times. But it was a No-Limit Holdem round that would see an elimination when Joao Simao raised from the button and was called by Gierse in the small blind. In the big blind, Joshua McSwiney moved all in, which folded out Simao but Gierse called with two sevens. McSwineys king-queen suited found a flush draw on the flop, but no further improvement as he would leave the tournament in sixth place for $120,165. After losing a big flip in Pot-Limit Omaha to Gierse, Aden Salazar found himself all in for his remaining five big blinds in a No-Limit Holdem round with nine-ten suited against the jack-ten suited Simao held. The flop came out favorably for Salazar, but the river gave a pair of jacks to Simao and Salazar exited the tournament in fifth place for $161,231. Goya ended up being eliminated in fourth place for $219,472. In a No-Limit Holdem round, Goya moved all in over a raise made by Simao with ace-ten offsuit and Simao looked him up with pocket sevens. Simao made a set on the turn leaving Goya drawing dead and the Brazilian tablemates embraced as Goya left the tournament area. Joao Simao and The Brazilian rail WSOP 2013 Main Event Champion Ryan Riess started the final table as the shortest stack, but through careful maneuvering, managed to find himself in the final three. He saw his run come to an end when, in Pot-Limit Omaha, he got in his remaining chips against Gierse holding the better hand preflop. Gierse flopped a straight draw and a flush draw, but the turn gave Riess a better straight, leaving Gierse to draw only to the flush. The river completed the flush for Gierse and the 2013 Main Event champion shook hands with his opponents as he left the tournament in third place for $302,980. Gierse started heads up against Simao with Simao holding a two-to-one chip lead, but it quickly grew to an eight-to-one chip lead as Simao pulled away. The final hand was in Pot-Limit Omaha when Simao raised his big blind and Gierse called. The flop of five, eight, eight with two spades saw all the chips get in, with Gierse holding the nut flush draw and overs and Simao holding pocket queens and a worse flush draw. The turn and river ran out as two clubs and Simao ran to his rail of supporters as they all cheered joyfully. He turned back and embraced his opponent and Gierse ended his run in this tournament in second place for $424,122. Congratulations to Joao Simao for winning his second WSOP bracelet in Event #53: $5,000 Mixed No-Limit Holdem/Pot-Limit Omaha. Thank you to all who entered the tournament and thank you who read along. Stay tuned to PokerNews for updates on all events regarding the World Series of Poker. A suspect has been arrested and two are sought in connection to Sunday afternoon's fatal shooting on Wadley Drive in Aiken County that resulted in the deaths of three teenagers. Around 11:15 p.m. Sunday, investigators arrested Xabian U. Bailey, 18, of Aiken, according to Captain Eric Abdullah with the Aiken County Sheriff's Office in a news release Monday. Bailey is expected to be charged with three counts of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime. Bailey will be charged in connection to the deaths of Willie Garrett, 17, Ivan Perry, 16, and Cameron Carroll, 16. Two additional suspects have also been identified, and authorities are looking for information on the location of suspect Alvin Artis IV, 20, and a 15-year-old juvenile suspect, Abdullah said. Information discovered during the investigation led investigators to a location on Lloyd Town Road where the suspects were believed to have been hiding. Bailey was discovered in the house, arrested without incident, and transported to the Aiken County detention center. Three teenagers dead after shooting incident in Aiken on Sunday The Aiken County Sheriffs Office and the Aiken County Coroners Office are investigating the deaths of three Black male teenagers in a shooti This needless loss of life has created a void in families and a community that will have lasting effects, said Aiken County Sheriff Michael Hunt in the release. The quick arrest of Bailey is the result of intelligence gathering by investigators of all disciplines, which include the newly assigned gang investigators. There is no doubt that this senseless violence is the result of gang members who have no regard for the sanctity of life. The Aiken County Sheriff's Office responded around 1:30 p.m. Sunday to a call about shots fired at a home on Wadley Drive. The three victims were found in the front yard of the residence. Witnesses told investigators that before gunshots were heard, the three victims were involved in an argument with three Black male suspects, according to the Sheriffs Office release. The suspects left the scene in a black Hyundai Elantra or Sonata, the Sheriffs Office release stated. The car was a four-door sedan and was last seen by witnesses when it turned onto Edgefield Highway. Autopsies are scheduled for Wednesday in Newberry. The three victims were students at Aiken High School, according to Stephanie Behrendt, communications coordinator with Aiken County Public School District. "The Aiken County Public School District and Aiken High School families are mourning the loss of three Aiken High School students, 17-year-old Willie Lee Garrett, 16-year-old Ivan Izell Perry, and 16-year-old Cameron Deonate Carroll during an unspeakable act of gun violence Sunday afternoon," the school district said in a statement. "Counselors are available at Aiken High this week for parents, faculty, and students who need support. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the families and friends of these students and all members of the Aiken High School family." The Aiken County Sheriff's Office is asking anyone with information on the location of the suspects, who should be considered armed and dangerous, to contact 803-648-6811 or through Midlands CrimeStoppers at 1-888-274-6372. Aiken Standard staff writer Dede Biles contributed to this story. Aiken, SC (29801) Today Partly cloudy in the morning followed by scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon. High 88F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies. Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Low 73F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%. MONCKS CORNER A top Santee Cooper executive who was recruited in 2019 to help stabilize the state-owned utility as it reeled in the aftermath of the V.C. Summer nuclear crisis is leaving. Charlie Duckworth will step down as deputy CEO and chief planning and innovation officer after his employment contract expires in July, it was announced June 27. His departure was not unexpected. Duckworth said he is moving back to his home state of Arizona to be closer to family. Dan Ray, vice chairman, thanked the utility's second-in-command for his numerous contributions over the past three years , calling him "a strong" and "impactful" manager and leader. Santee Cooper's board of directors voted unanimously Monday to pay Duckworth a $82,500 performance bonus as he leaves. He earned $560,000 annually under his contract. "He accomplished everything the board asked him to do and more," Ray said. Moncks Corner-based Santee Cooper recruited Duckworth away from his job as a consultant for utilities after working for more than 25 years as an executive of the Salt River Project, a public power provider in Arizona. He "parachuted" in to help the utility "in a time of great need," Ray said. The challenges were plentiful. Duckworth was charged with creating a plan to modernize Santee Cooper's fleet of aging power plants in the coming decades while also keeping an eye on costs. He also had to help navigate the political landmine that Santee Cooper faced in Columbia following its mid-2017 decision to walk away from the V.C. Summer nuclear plant expansion after sinking billions of dollars into the doomed project. State lawmakers at one point considered selling the utility. Duckworth was responsible for developing an alternative plan to convince them to keep Santee Cooper under state control. Duckworth served as acting CEO for nearly two months earlier this year, after Mark Bonsall the two had worked together in Arizona and joined Santee Cooper at the same time stepped down from the top job when his contract expired. Jimmy Staton, who became Santee Cooper's chief executive officer March 1, described his deputy as "highly capable" and a "thoughtful leader" who positioned the power and water provider for success in the future. "One of the things that I think any leader seeks to do in any organization they have an opportunity to lead is to have a legacy," Staton said. "I think I can say on behalf of everyone that your legacy is going to last here at Santee Cooper for a very long time." The utility's board named a replacement for one of Duckworth's management roles Monday. It promoted Rahul Dembla, who has been senior finance and resource planning director since 2016, to the chief planning officer position effective July 1 at an annual salary of $410,000. COLUMBIA The City of Columbia will hand out free gun safe locks in the latest of a series of efforts to promote gun safety. Council member Aditi Bussells announced the "Lock It Up" campaign at the June 21 City Council meeting. In addition to gun locks, the city will give people "gun cheat sheets" to track the make and model of their firearms, making it easier for authorities to retrieve a gun if it's stolen. The locks will be available at Columbia Police Department events, weekly Parks and Recreation Prime Time in the Parks nights, and nonprofit Serve & Connect's upcoming Be Safe block parties. By teaming up with Serve & Connect, "Lock It Up" goes beyond just handing out gun locks and works to engage the community, Bussells said. It follows several other gun safety campaigns in conjunction with local groups and county law enforcement. Gun safety is at the forefront now with the idea for the "Lock It Up" campaign coming after the recent shooting in Uvalde, Texas, in which a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers and wounded 17 others, Bussells said. "Really, for me (the question) was, 'What are some of the root causes of gun violence, and then what can we do immediately in the short-term to address it as a city?'" Bussells said. "And continue to then, of course, work with our community partners and law enforcement partners to think about and implement some of those longer-term solutions." In March, the City Council voted to repeal several gun-control measures under threat of a lawsuit and the possibility of losing significant state funds because the measures were not in compliance with state law. Over Easter weekend, three gunmen opened fire in the Columbia mall, wounding nine people. While the city's campaign is not directly related to these events, Bussells said, they are another way of addressing the broader issue. There have been 23 weapons violations in Richland County so far this year, according to the sheriff department's community crime map. That's nearing the total number of violations in 2021, which was 29. In 2020, 1,131 people in the state died by gun violence, according to the most recent statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That's the highest number since at least 2014, which is the earliest data available. One way of addressing the root causes of gun violence is to bring people together and offer them resources like gun locks, said Kassy Alia Ray, founder of Serve & Connect. Her organization aims to connect police and citizens outside of emergencies, which is the goal of the organization's summer block parties. "Every action that we can take to promote access to resources that can help address gun violence is critical," Ray said. Serve & Connect is not the only group doing this sort of work. In April, a group of former gang members formed Getting A New Generation Started in Peace, which aims to help stop shootings in Columbia by teenagers and young adults. City and county law enforcement leaders met with the group in early June to discuss the work it was doing. Local school districts, law enforcement agencies and health institutions have partnered with the initiative Be SMART to promote gun safety to parents and children through education, presentations and free gun locks this coming school year, said Prisma Health Injury Prevention Coordinator Lara Peck in an email. The Columbia Police Department and Richland County Sheriff also partnered with Greater St. Luke Baptist Church to hold a gun buyback event June 20 and 21. Community members were invited to turn in their guns, no questions asked, in exchange for gift cards. The groups also handed out gun locks and safety tips. The event had three times as many participants as a similar one that took place in December, according to a Facebook post on the church's page. It was similarly spurred by recent events, said organizer Pastor Michael Baker in a June 13 news conference. "We have been inundated with a lot of violence with guns from all ages of the spectrum in our community," Baker said. Bussells acknowledged that these initiatives by themselves are not enough to put a stop to gun violence in Columbia. But they're a start, she said. "When you collaborate and you align your work as a city with some great things that are happening in the community, that's when I think you really start to see change," Bussells said. "And it was really important for me to take action on an issue, even if it's at a scale that can't solve the whole issue." What a gift the Spoleto Festival is to South Carolina. We went to the 2022 signature opera Omar on its second Wednesday night. It was a gorgeous, gigantic production that was radioactive with meaning. You who saw it or read Jennifer Berry Hawes richly detailed history of Omar in this newspaper know the opera tells the story of a Senegalese Islamic scholar who was rooted in his community and his Muslim religion, a village elder at age 37. Then his life gets totally upended (c. 1806) and hes a slave, betrayed, utterly humiliated, alone and a long way from the home he knows he will never see again. He escapes from a brutal owner in the Charleston area and lands in a more benign plantation on the Cape Fear River, still enslaved but respected for who he is and for his ability to write. One of the operas most poignant moments occurs when the little band of plantation slaves are singing I am . . ." and go on to recite their (African) name, the village and region they came from, what they did there and who they were. It comes to Omar, and he sings I am. . ., stumbles, repeats I am a few times and cant go on. Battered by a radical change of continent, language, culture, religion, status and community he is struggling: Am I who I used to be? Or am I now who the Master says I am? Or am I becoming somebody different altogether? Who am I? The morning after seeing the opera my wife joined other church people to help pack up an Afghan refugee family to move from one house to another. Same story. For that family, all those connections that weave an identity including what work you do, food you eat, religion you practice, language you speak and dream in, all the niches in a community that we fill with our personal uniqueness all irreversibly altered. Family members speak almost no English and seem like a lost ball in high weeds. We can hear these and other refugees crying from the heart, with Omar: Who am I now, in this strange land? I am. . . ? At the risk of trivializing, that may be the same kind of crisis that retirement is for a lot of Americans. If Im not head nurse, pipe fitter, active parent, reverend any more, then who am I? Do I try to hang on to the identity I had? Many do. I used to know a retired minister who, everybody thought, must wear his clerical collar to bed, whose identity had congealed back when he was under a tall steeple nothing new to expect from him. Or do I change with changing circumstances and become somebody new sometimes called reinventing yourself? Not necessarily brand new, but evolving, unfolding, surprising? This is where I think Omar can help us. In the opera, Omar is enjoined by his new community of enslaved men and women to write down his story so it wouldnt be lost so their story wouldnt be lost to oblivion, meaninglessness. Be a witness. (The opera didnt use that word but you sure hear it a lot in churches. Do I have a witness?) Thats the main tension in the second half: Will Omar write his story? Does he have a story, a real identity, thats intact enough, meaningful enough, to witness to, or is he broken and done? And then, advanced in age, Omar sings the last, climactic song that brings the house down: I AM OMAR! He has recollected himself he will do it. Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! He is not the same Omar hed been decades before in the village but an Omar who has assimilated trauma, dislocation, separation, betrayal, humiliation, endurance, respect and affirmation in a radically new context. Yet his selfhood is continuous with the Omar he was before. Underlying his entire narrative is that thread that is stretched very thin but never breaks. And the thread? The thread is faith faith as trust. Not his religion (the outward form of his faith, his religion, changed from mosque to church) but his embedded and constant spirituality, his interior center of gravity, manifest as compassion, worship, gratitude, trust and inner freedom. That heartbeat of faith is the essence of both religions. To use a musical metaphor, his faith was the cantus firmus in his life, the ground bass that holds and carries the theme of the music through breathtaking, even confounding changes in the counterpoint playing above it. Owing to that thematic bass line running through his lifes story, he is still Omar but not stuck Omar. In the opera, Omars mother (who was killed by the slave raiders who captured Omar) plays a crucial role. She is the Witness. His mother reappears at crucial moments in Omars life calling him to remember the theme, the ground of his being. It is her call that keeps intersecting the jagged, painful narrative of his life, witnessing to the trustworthy ground beneath his outward circumstances. She is a watching, reminding voice in his deep consciousness, continually returning him to his inward energy field. In other words, Omars abused body, his history, his psychology, his condition in life, these are not what is essential. He hangs on to what is essential because he has a Witness recalling him to it. I think all we elders have an inner witness speaking uniquely to us when we give up our work, when we suffer a significant loss or face a tough decision. The witness is a voice that speaks from a place of steady equilibrium within us calling us back to the source of our trust. The opera was an explosion of artistic energy, beautiful and breathtaking. But for me there was also a take-home message. Omar told me I can be free of all predicates: I am old or I am a victim or even I am important. Simply, essentially, I am Omar I AM. That self-affirmation is real freedom. Patrons will only find four stools at Charlestons newest bar, located between 39 Rue de Jean and Coast Bar & Grill. The aptly named Charlestons Smallest Bar is open in downtowns Hutson Alley. Charlestons Smallest Bar is part of the Holy City Hospitality restaurant group, founded by Michael Bennett in 2001. Along with the three previously mentioned establishments, Virginias on King, Victor Social Club and Vincent Chiccos all fall under the Holy City Hospitality umbrella. Bennett came up with the idea to add a pint-sized bar to the alley which the group owns after a visit to the Smallest Bar Inn Key West, a 72-square-foot bar in Key West, Fla., according to Tony Cuajunco, director of operations for Holy City Hospitality. The local rendition features those four indoor barstools, and Cuajunco invites patrons to roam the alley with their drinks. There are also a handful of outdoor tables, bringing Charlestons Smallest Bars total capacity to around 30 people. So thats kind of where the inspiration came from is from down in the Keys, Cuajunco said. Its an extension of Coast Bar & Grill because we do food out of Coast for guests that want to get an appetizer while theyre waiting. Among the food options are oysters on the half shell, crab dip, fried shrimp and ceviche. For drinks, beer, wine and cocktails like the Hutson Alley Hooch (three types of rum, Coco Lopez cream of coconut, pineapple juice and pina colada moonshine) are served. Charlestons Smallest Bar is open from 4-9 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday. GREENVILLE On the eve of the Democratic primary runoff for a Greenville County state House seat, a judge denied a petition to halt the election as questions lingered about candidate Derrick Quarles' legal status. Circuit Judge Perry Gravely denied a request for an injunction by fellow candidate Bruce Wilson, who placed fourth in the June 14 primary for retiring state Rep. Leola Robinson-Simpson's District 25 seat. Quarles placed second behind top vote-getter Wendell Jones, triggering a runoff June 28 that Wilson and another candidate, Adriene Atkinson, challenged last week. At issue is Quarles' felony conviction when he was 16 for grand larceny. It happened 14 years ago, one year short of South Carolina's requirement that a candidate have 15 years pass between then and eligibility to run. In July 2021, the state's department of Probation, Parole and Pardons Services granted Quarles a pardon for four other felony charges, ostensibly clearing him to run. The state Democratic Party's executive committee on June 23 heard the candidates' protest against Quarles' eligibility and voted to allow him to stay on the ballot on the condition that, if he were to win the runoff, he would have to show by August that he could secure a pardon for the fifth charge. Quarles' attorney, Miriam Archibong, told reporters after the hearing that the pardon process was rigorous and the juvenile charge was known but deemed not necessary to address. Archibong said that there should be no problem securing the pardon. Quarles said the decision can be seen as an example to young people in the district, which is predominantly Black and faces some of the county's highest crime rates. Sign up for our Greenville daily update newsletter. Sign up for daily roundups of our top stories, news and culture from the Upstate. This newsletter is hand-curated by a member of our Greenville news staff. Email Sign Up! "We all make mistakes," Quarles said. "Those individuals can look at me ... and I want to encourage everybody that's made a mistake to understand it's not the end." Following the hearing, Wilson told The Post and Courier that his legal challenges to the election are "far from over." Wilson said that any results of the election will be in question, even if Quarles doesn't win, because the primary should have been conducted again without him as a candidate. "The primaries are tainted either way," Wilson said. "It's a big mess. We're still in the fight, and we'll be challenging everything." Atkinson, who fell short of Quarles by 72 votes and protested that she should be elevated to the runoff, said she wouldn't protest the election any further but throws her support behind Jones because he is the only eligible candidate. "We are disappointed in the ruling and believe that the ruling of the South Carolina Democratic Party as well as this ruling has left District 25, the last majority minority district in Greenville County, vulnerable to a Republican win," Atkinson said in a statement to The Post and Courier. Saudi Arabia's overall merchandise exports increased 98% in April 2022 compared to April 2021 and the value amounted to SR137.1 billion ($36.53 billion), up from SAR69.3 billion, according to official data. This increase originated mainly from oil exports, which rose by SAR60.5 billion or 123% in the same period. The share of oil exports in total exports increased from 71.1% in April 2021 to 80% in April 2022, said data released by the General Authority for Statistics. Compared to March 2022, total merchandise exports decreased by SAR4.8 billion or 3.4%. Non-oil exports (including re-exports) increased by 36.6% year-on-year in April 2022, rising to SAR27.4 billion from SAR20 billion in April 2021. Non-oil exports decreased by SAR1.5 billion or 5.3% compared to March 2022. Meanwhile, merchandise imports increased by 11.2% (SAR5.6 billion) in April 2022. The value of imports amounted to SAR55.3 billion in April 2022 compared to SAR49.7 billion in April 2021. Imports also decreased by SAR0.6 billion or 1% compared to March 2022. The ratio of non-oil exports to imports increased to 49.5% in April 2022 from 40.3% in April 2021, as a result of a higher increase in non-oil exports (36.6%) than imports (11.2%) over that period. China, India top export destinations In April 2022, exports to China amounted to SAR23.4 billion (17.1% of total exports), making the country the main destination for exports of Saudi Arabia. India and South Korea followed next with SAR14.5 billion (10.6% of total exports) and SAR12.0 billion (8.8% of total exports), respectively. Japan, US, United Arab Emirates, Taiwan, Egypt, Bahrain, and Belgium were the other countries that ranked in the top 10 destinations. Exports of Saudi Arabia to those 10 countries amounted to SAR90 billion, accounting for 65.6% of total exports. Imports from China amounted to SAR11 billion (19.8% of total imports) in April 2022, making it the main origin for imports of Saudi Arabia. US and India followed next with imports of SAR5.4 billion (9.9% of total imports) and SAR3.8 billion (6.9% of total imports), respectively. United Arab Emirates, Japan, Germany, Egypt, Italy, France and Oman were the other countries that ranked in the top 10 countries for imports. Imports of Saudi Arabia from those 10 countries amounted to SAR35.2 billion, accounting for 63.6%% of total imports. Top five customs ports Imports worth SAR14.4 billion, corresponding to 26.1% of the total, entered the Kingdom from Jeddah Islamic Sea Port in April 2022. Among the other major ports of entry for the imports were King Abdulaziz Sea Port in Dammam (18.2%), King Khalid Int Airport in Riyadh (13.2%), King Abdulaziz Int. Airport (6.3%), and Al Bat'ha Port (6.2%). Those five ports together accounted for 70% of the total merchandise imports of the Kingdom. South Carolina's law banning abortion once a fetal heartbeat is discernible took effect late on June 27, Republican Attorney General Alan Wilson announced. Its implementation is a direct response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling last week that sent control over the procedure back to the states. At least one provider in the Palmetto State plans to comply with it. The legislature's "Fetal Heartbeat Act" bans abortion once a heartbeat is detected, which could be as early as six weeks into a pregnancy and could be before a woman knows she is carrying. The measure had been held up by an injunction from the U.S. District Court of South Carolina. But once the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, Wilson moved to have that injunction stayed, and it was days later. The order was signed by U.S. District Judge Mary Geiger Lewis. "Once Roe v. Wade was overturned by the Supreme Court, the decision on legally protecting the lives of unborn babies was returned to the states, so there was no longer any basis for blocking South Carolinas Heartbeat Law, Wilson said in a media statement. Our state is now carrying out a governments most sacred and fundamental duty, protecting life, he added. The law allows exceptions in the case of rape or incest if the fetus is less than 20 weeks, or if it is necessary to save the life of the mother, Wilson noted. "Weve spent nearly a year and a half defending the Fetal Heartbeat Act in court," Gov. Henry McMaster tweeted. "Finally, it has gone into effect in South Carolina. This is why Fridays U.S. Supreme Court decision is so important countless unborn children will be saved because of this law." Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, which operates clinics in Charleston and Columbia, said it will abide by the new law. "We are providing abortion care in full compliance with (the law), and we encourage anyone seeking an abortion to contact our office as soon as possible," President and CEO Jenny Black said in a statement. "But this fight is far from over," she added. "Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and our partners are dedicated to protecting reproductive freedom for all." South Carolina was not among the 13 states that had "trigger" laws that would enact an abortion ban in the event Roe was overturned. State lawmakers are poised to reconvene in a special session after July 1 to consider a total ban on abortion and what exemptions may be allowed. That process will start in the House, where a 12-member committee is expected to hear testimony and make recommendations. When that committee will start is expected to be announced this week. Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, has promised the legislature would not act hastily on the issue. Skylar Laird and Seanna Adcox contributed to this report. LITTLE RIVER A family-owned craft distillery in Little River is receiving national acclaim for its portfolio of multiple spirits despite only being in existence since 2018. Twelve 33 Distillery was recently awarded 2022 South Carolina Gin Distillery of the Year during the annual spring New York International Spirits Competition, adding to a similar award the Osborn family received last year for being the top distillery in the state. There are roughly 28 micro-distilleries across the state; however, the Little River facility located at the intersection of S.C. 90 and U.S. 17 is the only one between Wilmington, N.C., and Charleston, according to its founder Kevin Osborn. Osborn, who moved to the area in 2017 from California to open the business with his wife, Rebecca, said a lot of distilleries only focus on making one type of spirit. The family produces 13 different products at the Little River business including agave, gin, rum, whiskey and vodka. Almost any distillery when you get to a point that youre very proud of your product, you want to start getting some recognition for it, Osborn said while reflecting on why he started entering his spirits in competitions. It helps with marketing and it also allows you to showcase your products. Twelve 33 Distillerys Big Six Straight Bourbon Whiskey scored a 95 rating during the 2021 competition which Osborn said made him very excited. His Jo-Jo Gin, 3 Peppers Vodka, Restitution Rye Whiskey and Roco Loco American Agave all received 90 or above during this years contest, which is one of the highest-profile in the United States. Any time you get above 90, its pretty awesome, Osborn said. We were pretty stoked that we medaled on all four of the spirits we entered." Osborn said the Twelve 33 name is tied to the prohibition era in the United States when the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcoholic beverages was banned starting in 1920. The 18th amendment was repealed in December of 1933 or Twelve of 33, so thats where our brand name comes from, he said. A prohibition theme carries over to the U.S. 17 building which is housed in a former beachwear store open every day but Sunday. There, visitors can experience a VIP tour and tasting that is offered three days a week or simply come in and drink from a menu that features craft cocktails. They are not in recipe books, Osborn said. We then publish them on our website so people coming in can later go home and make them if they want to. Those who participate in the nearly one-hour tour get to learn how the family makes their famous spirits, as well as experience what it was like during the prohibition era in a speakeasy which is hidden and only accessible by a password. We try to get it as 1933 as we can, Osborn said. We designed it with a velvet ceiling, Edison lights, prohibition photos, antique cash register and phone. Most of the company's spirits as most are named after local prohibition stories that Kevin and Rebecca learned after research at a local library one of the Mullet Creek in Little River. Kevin Osborn said the local creek was an access point during prohibition where illegal rum was carried from international waters to a nearby barn where trucks carried the product up to New York to be sold allegedly on trucks commissioned by Joe Kennedy, patriarch of the Kennedy family and father to President John F. Kennedy, Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy and Sen. Edward "Ted" Kennedy. Stories surrounding the Mullet Creek rum are just a handful that visitors will learn, in an industry that Osborn said many do not understand. Id say 30 to 40 percent of the people who walk through the door have never been to a distillery, he said. Sometimes they come in and ask what type of beers we make. Wineries make wine, breweries make beer and distilleries make spirits. When we educate them on it, then they have a great time and then they bring their friends back. For more information, visit https://twelve33distillery.com. FLORENCE "Tiger King" star Bhagavan Doc Antle is expected to be released on bond June 28, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Antle was granted a $250,000 bond by U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Rogers during a June 27 hearing, where the controversial tiger handler appeared on a video feed from the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway. Rogers set bond conditions on the Myrtle Beach Safari owner who is facing federal money laundering charges including releasing Antle to his son, who is responsible for making sure Antle makes his scheduled court appearances and limiting him to his Myrtle Beach-area animal preserve. The hearing comes weeks after Antles lawyers asked for the release of the nationally known star on bond because of his health issues, no prior convictions and the importance of him running the 50-acre tourist attraction located off of S.C. 707 in Socastee. But federal officials later detailed reasons for keeping Antle at J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Conway during a June 16 hearing including: Antle being a possible flight risk; his ability to obstruct justice by using an incinerator at his safari; and more pending federal charges coming within the next 30 days tied to wildlife trafficking. Antle additionally faced a pending extradition order out of Virginia for his animal cruelty charges tied to trafficking lion cubs if he were released out on bond. He was granted a $100,000 bond in that case on June 24. Antle, 62, and Safari employee Andrew Sawyer, 52, were arrested by the FBI on June 3 on charges of money laundering out of the popular 50-acre tourist attraction located off of S.C. 707 in Socastee. A third man, William Dallis, a building contractor from Murrells Inlet, also was arrested in connection with the case and charged with money laundering. Dallis was released on a $75,000 bond on June 6, an additional fact that Antles lawyers pointed out in a 12-page motion submitted to the court for bond consideration. All three men, now out on bond, face up to 20 years in federal prison if convicted. The money laundering case has received national attention because Antle was featured on the hit Netflix series "Tiger King," about animal handler and zoo operator Joe Exotic, who was sent to prison in a plot to kill a rival, Carole Baskin. Antle has also been a controversial figure among animal rights advocates who have accused him of mistreating lions and other wildlife, including allowing people to hold the animals at Myrtle Beach Safari. The Myrtle Beach Safari owner has received more than 35 U.S. Department of Agriculture violations over the years for mistreating animals, and he is facing an Oct. 31 trial on animal cruelty charges in Virginia tied to trafficking lion cubs. Antle has never been convicted. We dont usually like to talk about campaigns in the immediate runup to the election. But the emails, postcards and TV ads that Ellen Weaver and her supporters distributed last week after her second-place finish in the Republican primary for S.C. education superintendent are the sort were used to seeing from duplicitously named out-of-state special interests not what S.C. candidates are usually willing to put their own names on, especially not in primaries. And they demand a closer look. The messages seek to paint Ms. Maness as a liberal, using half-truths and fabrications about vaccine mandates, woke indoctrination, unions and her relationship with prominent Democrats. The most explosive is a claim that she Defended a SC teacher who stomped on an American flag. That refers to a 2012 incident involving Chapin High teacher Scott Compton, who said he was trying to provoke discussion about the idea that our nation is much more than its symbols. Ms. Maness defense? She said he had displayed bad judgment but that "some of my members worry that firing him is extreme. (That "defense" is Ms. Weavers evidence that Ms. Maness wont protect our children from woke indoctrination.) The campaign pieces imply that Ms. Maness supported vaccine mandates for students; in fact, her only position on vaccines was asking that teachers be allowed access to them before all but the frailest among us, since they would be around our children every day. She tells us she opposes vaccine mandates for anyone. Its true that Ms. Maness didnt advocate for getting kids back in the classroom as soon as we would have preferred, but she supported Education Superintendent Molly Spearmans recommendations that would have returned most S.C. kids to the classroom much sooner than all but a handful of districts allowed. It's true too that Ms. Maness doesn't want to just throw our tax money at private schools; she favors holding those schools to the same standards we require public schools to meet, just like we do for private 4K programs that accept tax dollars. And as she pointed out at a debate last week, S.C. Senate Republican Leader Shane Massey let the Legislatures long-awaited voucher bill die this month because the House acquiesced to demands from pro-voucher groups such as Ms. Weavers Palmetto Promise Institute to strip out accountability provisions. Its not true that Ms. Maness is an education union lobbyist. Quite the opposite. The organization she runs, the Palmetto State Teachers Association, was created for the specific purpose of giving teachers an alternative to joining a union after the S.C. Teachers Association required its members to join the National Education Association which is a union. As for that video of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Vice President Kamala Harris praising Ms. Maness: They were thanking her for her introductions of them on a Zoom meeting of the National League of Cities, of which she was president at the time. All registered voters who didn't vote in the June 14 Democratic primary may vote in the GOP runoff. And if you want a state education superintendent who supports throwing our tax dollars at private schools, no questions asked, and who believes that parents have an inalienable right to send their unmasked children to school to infect other parents children, then by all means you should vote for Ms. Weaver in the runoff. And if you're lucky, she'll manage to meet the legal qualifications for the job by the November deadline, and won't have to forfeit the office to the Democratic candidate. If you want an education superintendent whose priority is to attract more and better teachers into the profession so we dont have to rely on substitutes and international teachers, someone who has experience working across party and ideological lines, and someone who wants to ensure theres some accountability for our tax dollars whether theyre spent by public schools or private schools then you should vote for Kathy Maness. Goose Creek, SC (29445) Today Partial cloudiness early, with scattered showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon. High near 90F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, followed by partial clearing. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 74F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph. COLUMBIA Democratic nominee for governor Joe Cunningham urged South Carolina's Republican leaders to not take up any new legislation on abortion until voters have their say in the November election, describing a GOP-led push for a total ban as "one of the most dangerous and draconian forms of government overreach." "Women's rights are on the ballot in November. Reproductive freedom is on the ballot in November. Choice is on the ballot in November," Cunningham said at a June 27 press conference. He called on Republican Gov. Henry McMaster and House Speaker Murrell Smith not to take up any new abortion bills until after the general election. "And you know what else is on the ballot?" Cunningham asked. "Henry McMaster and the rest of the radical politicians who want to turn the clock back 50 years." Cunningham's appeal came days after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling which had guaranteed the right to an abortion in the U.S. for nearly half a century. It also came hours before S.C. Attorney General Alan Wilson announced the state's six-week abortion ban can now go into effect. The Supreme Court's 6-3 decision June 24 has set off a flurry of legislative activity. Many states, including South Carolina, are expected to push for further abortion restrictions that would have been unconstitutional under Roe v. Wade. In a June 27 statement, McMaster's campaign spokeswoman characterized Cunningham's views on abortion as "extreme" and "radical." South Carolina will now ban abortions once a fetal heartbeat has been detected, as early as six weeks. Medical experts have argued this is a time before many women even know they are pregnant. Additionally, all signs suggest that state lawmakers will return for a special session this summer to consider a total abortion ban. Smith has tasked a special 12-member committee with taking public testimony and making recommendations. Smith is expected June 28 to announce the first meeting of the committee. The main question now is what exemptions the committee might allow. The group's appointed chairman is Rep. John McCravy, R-Greenwood, one of the chamber's most ardent abortion foes. McCravy, along with the majority of his committee, are also members of the conservative Family Caucus, which lists restricting abortions as a priority. Cunningham, a former congressman who is also the father of a 4-year-old son, suggested the so-called "fetal heartbeat" bill goes too far, noting many obstetricians will not even see a woman for an appointment until she is eight weeks along in her pregnancy. Sign up for updates! Get the latest political news from The Post and Courier in your inbox. Email Sign Up! "In South Carolina, it seems like Gov. McMaster wants you to have an abortion before you even know you're pregnant," Cunningham said. Cunningham's comments come at a time when he has made the topic a central part of his campaign, including a TV ad where Cunningham proclaims "a single pen" could be the only way to stop a total abortion ban in the Palmetto State. Last month, McMaster said he would support a ban without exceptions. The fetal heartbeat law McMaster signed last year includes exceptions for rape, incest and the health of the mother. McMaster's campaign spokeswoman Michelle Backus said McMaster is dedicated to the sanctity of life. "To put it in perspective, Joe Cunningham's radical abortion views are more extreme than nearly all European nations, which ban abortion after 15 weeks or less," she said, adding that Cunningham made it clear "he would 'codify Roe,' making abortion legal up until the moment of birth." She said Cunningham "cannot hide this from voters until the election is over. Unborn children have been waiting a half-century to have their right to life protected and the governor isn't going to wait any longer to give them that right just because Joe Cunningham wants a campaign issue." During his press conference, Cunningham said if elected he would veto any bill to ban all abortions with no exceptions for cases of rape, incest or the life of the mother. He also broadly said he supported "the compromise" afforded in the Roe decision. Roe established a framework for governing abortion regulation based on the trimesters of pregnancy. In the first trimester, it allowed almost no regulations. In the second, it allowed regulations to protect women's health. In the third, it allowed states to ban abortions so long as exceptions were made to protect the life and health of the mother. In one of the first national polls on abortion since last week's Supreme Court ruling, a CBS News-YouGov poll found 59 percent of Americans and 67 percent of women disapprove of overturning Roe v. Wade. Most say they want abortion to at least be legal in their state, even with restrictions an attitude that has held steady for years. Seanna Adcox contributed to this report from Columbia. Justice Clarence Thomass moment has arrived. His majority opinion in Bruen (the gun rights case), and his concurrence in Dobbs, are drawing considerable attention, and rightly so. Among many other virtues, his opinions have managed the dual feat of laying out serious legal and constitutional arguments while trolling the left at the same time. This may be my favorite passage in his Bruen majority opinion: After all, the Second Amendment guarantees an individual right to possess and carry weapons in case of confrontation, Heller, 554 U. S., at 592, and confrontation can surely take place outside the home. Although we remarked in Heller that the need for armed self-defense is perhaps most acute in the home, id., at 628, we did not suggest that the need was insignificant elsewhere. Many Americans hazard greater danger outside the home than in it. See Moore v. Madigan, 702 F. 3d 933, 937 (CA7 2012) ([A] Chicagoan is a good deal more likely to beattacked on a sidewalk in a rough neighborhood than in his apartment on the 35th floor of the Park Tower). The text of the Second Amendment reflects that reality. [Emphasis added.] Nice little shot at Chicago there. Second, Thomas invoked the infamous Dred Scott case in both Bruen and Dobbs, with strikingly good effect both times. The left is freaking out, attacking Thomas for supposedly citing Dred Scott approvingly, when he does no such thing. But we know reading comprehension is not a strong suit of leftists. Heres the passage in Bruen: Even before the Civil War commenced in 1861, this Court indirectly affirmed the importance of the right to keep and bear arms in public. Writing for the Court in Dred Scott v. Sandford, 19 How. 393 (1857), Chief Justice Taney offered what he thought was a parade of horribles that would result from recognizing that free blacks were citizens of the United States. If blacks were citizens, Taney fretted, they would be entitled to the privileges and immunities of citizens, including the right to keep and carry arms wherever they went. Id., at 417 (emphasis added). Thus, even Chief Justice Taney recognized (albeit unenthusiastically in the case of blacks) that public carry was a component of the right to keep and bear armsa right free blacks were often denied in antebellum America. From here Thomas goes on for a short recitation of the strenuous efforts of the Jim Crow South to deprive blacks of weapons to defend themselves. He politely doesnt mention that it was the Democratic Party behind this disenfranchisement, but the subject is pretty clear. Now turn to Dobbs: [S]ubstantive due process is often wielded to disastrous ends. For instance, in Dred Scott v. Sandford, 19 How. 393 (1857), the Court invoked a species of substantive due process to announce that Congress waspowerless to emancipate slaves brought into the federal territories. See id., at 452. While Dred Scott was overruled on the battlefields of the Civil War and by constitutional amendment after Appomattox, Obergefell, 576 U. S., at 696 (ROBERTS, C. J., dissenting), that overruling was [p]urchased at the price of immeasurable human suffering, Adarand Constructors, Inc. v. Pena, 515 U. S. 200, 240 (1995) (THOMAS, J., concurring in part and concurring in judgment). Now today, the Court rightly overrules Roe and Caseytwo of this Courts most notoriously incorrect substantive due process decisions, Timbs, 586 U. S., at ___ (opinion of THOMAS, J.)after more than 63 million abortions have been performed . . . The harm caused by this Courts forays into substantive due process remains immeasurable. Here you see Thomas explicitly embracing the view long held in the pro-life community that Roe was the formal equivalent of Dred Scott. The liberal dissenters did not take up either of Thomass mentions or arguments about Dred Scott. Their silence is telling. But Thomass use of Dred Scott is telling for another reason: more and more constitutional law professors no longer teach the Dred Scott case, because too many law students today find it triggering. I wish I was making this up. (Likewise a growing number of criminal law professors now omit teaching rape law, for the same reason.) Theres much more to be said about Thomass attack on substantive due process. You may have heard the breathless and hysterical left say that Thomas is now after same sex marriage (Obergefell), contraception privacy (Griswold), and basic gay rights (Lawrence). That is a deliberate and willful misreading of his argument (though stupidity cannot be ruled out). Heres the key passage in Dobbs: For that reason, in future cases, we should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell. . . For example, we could consider whether any of the rights announced in this Courts substantive due process cases are privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States protected by the Fourteenth Amendment. . . To answer that question, we would need to decide important antecedent questions, including whether the Privileges or Immunities Clause protects any rights that are not enumerated in the Constitution and, if so, how to identify those rights. This is an invitation for a long overdue consideration of natural rights. It is a long subject, not easily treated here (though we did do more than one podcast about it a while ago). The irony is that the justice most hostile to the project was Antonin Scalia, but the new personnel on the Court may be more amenable to this reorientation of our constitutionalism. Chaser: one of my favorite passages from the Dobbs dissent by the three liberal Justices: For overruling Roe, Casey concluded, the Court would pay a terrible price. The Justices who wrote those wordsOConnor, Kennedy, and Souterthey were judges of wisdom. They would not have won any contests for the kind of ideological purity some court watchers want Justices to deliver. But if there were awards for Justices who left this Court better than they found it? And who for that reason left this country better? And the rule of law stronger? Sign those Justices up. [Emphasis added.] Im having difficulty making out the germ of a legal argument here (once I stop laughing about this ridiculous suck-up). Its more like a primal scream. The extent to which liberals have gone bananas over the Dobbs case is a phenomenon that demands explanation. Most liberals, after all, understand that the Court has not banned abortion, or in fact placed any limits on it whatsoever. It has simply remitted the issue of abortion to the political sphere where it was prior to 1973, and where it always has belonged, thus ending a half century of usurpation by the Court. Moreover, abortion laws in the U.S. have been extremely liberal compared with most countriesalmost every country other than North Korea, in fact. This chart shows in striking fashion how liberal our laws have been compared with Europes: Wow. Today I learned that Europe has more restrictive abortion laws than most of the U.S. did up until this week. https://t.co/h7cvIlIEMN Noah Smith (@Noahpinion) June 26, 2022 One of the many ironies of post-Dobbs hysteria was French President Emmanuel Macron denouncing the decision, even though the Mississippi statute that the Court upheld was more permissive, more liberal, than Frances own abortion law. Most liberals no doubt understand that they now will have to take their case to the voters, and that when the dust settles, American abortion laws will look pretty much like Europes. And some states will be extremely permissiveNew York, for one, may legalize infanticide, which the states are perfectly free to do. So, once againwhy the hysteria? I think several elements are at work here, but the most basic is that liberals (Democrats) do not want to take the issue of abortion to the voters. They do not want to have to make their case. They do not want to have to argue and persuade. Rather, they want all views opposed to their own to be banned and unheard. Delegitimized. This is perhaps the dominant fact of 21st Century politics. Liberals dont want to debate, they dont want to persuade. They want to censor. They want some higher authority, whether the Supreme Court, Twitter, or corporate America, to declare all views but theirs out of bounds. They dont want to participate in democratic politics, they want to rule by fiat. For all their wailing about our democracy, the last thing liberals want is the actual give and take of a democracy, which usually entails compromise. I think that is the key reason for the Lefts hysteria over Dobbs. For liberals, having to argue, to persuade, to run for office, to participate in the messy work of democracy where you dont always win, is a step backward. They had everything going their way, and nowthis. Viewed in that light, I think the demonstrations, insurrections, encouragement of assassination of Supreme Court Justices, and arson at Christian maternity centers are understandable. Alfanar Global Development, a major player in the Middle East region for energy, water, oil and gas and social infrastructure sectors, has signed agreements worth SR2 billion ($532 million) with the Arab Organization for Industrialization (AOI) and Benya Holding Group. Announcing the grand Egypt plan, Alfanar said these deals are mainly focused on the localization of technology for renewable energy, and implementation of IT projects, digital solutions, data centers and cybersecurity. All these pacts were signed on the sidelines of the official visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Egypt this week at the headquarters of the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones (GAFI) in Cairo. Executive Vice President Engineer Amer AlAjmi said: "Alfanar has been present in international markets including the Egyptian market for many years now through our renewable energy projects. In Egypt, we have also contributed towards 50MW at the Benban Solar Park." "We look forward to making more investments in Egypt and the wider Africa region," stated AlAjmi. Alfanar has gained a growing regional and international reputation by diversifying its portfolio of projects and services globally. Today, it serves businesses across the digital solutions, energy, water, oil and gas, social infrastructure and healthcare sectors through its various business divisions and sub-brands.-TradeArabia News Service Tonto Dikehs emergence as the running mate of the Rivers State gubernatorial candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Tonte Ibraye, might very well go down as one of the biggest surprises of the year. But, while some Nigerians are yet to come to terms with the development, she appears poised to erase certain misconceptions while ensuring she and her principal, Mr Ibraye, emerge victorious come 2023. In an interview with Channels TVs Seun Okinbaloye, the actress-turned-politician spoke about her political ambition and manifesto. Among other things, the mother-of-one acknowledged that while she might be termed controversial, Nigerians will see a different side to her in the months leading to the elections. She said: Im a woman of controversy, yes. But that doesnt mean Im not loyal to what I believe in. I believe in good governance and opportunities for the youth women, including them in government decision-making. Im ready for criticism. I have failed in my life, and I do not deny that, and everybody has seen that. But am I going to fail with leadership? But have I ever failed in leadership or motherhood? No. I have been tested critically in leadership through my foundation and an existing organisation, the CYMS, the Committee for Youth, Mobilisation, and Sensitisation of this administration. I have paid my dues when it comes to social work. I think I was one of the foundations that have stood up and helped this country during the pandemic with no assistance whatsoever. I did more than even government. I did more than even states. I did it because I care. So I am prepared for whatever criticism it is. I know that it will come. For Gods sake, Im Tonto, ready for all the questions. But the truth is, have you ever tried me on leadership, and Ive failed? Nah. Deputy governor During the interview, Ms Dikeh also shared what she termed an unpopular opinion on the position of a deputy governor and her identity. This might be controversial, but a deputy is a spare tyre, and I am willing to be the best spare tyre every governor or mandate has ever had. Im prepared for anything. Ive had three years to work on this, and this didnt happen overnight. We werent a member of any party. We were just in for the governments good, mediating between the government and the youth. The candidate approached me to be his running mate, and I think its something I can do. Ive always wanted to be in politics since I became a personality in the country. Through my foundation, Ive always given back to the community that made me who I am. Its politics. Ive always been in politics, she said. As the ADC governorship candidate stated during the partys first official press conference in Abuja recently, Ms Dikeh emphasised that they are coming on a rescue mission for Rivers State. At the press conference, Mr Ibraye said he had worked closely with the actress, noting that Ms Dikeh has been a member of ADC for a long time. He said, I have worked closely with Tonto Dikeh for more than a year now, and she has been part of the party for a very long time. She has been following up with the primary process, an advocate of transparency, and I believe I did not make any mistake in choosing her as my running mate. She has so many things, such as creating employment opportunities. Manifesto While she refused to share her electoral strategy to win the forthcoming elections, she shared what read like a mini-manifesto. There are lots of agendas we look to push. We look to invest massively in social security. Foremost in my heart is the inclusion of women and youths in politics and decision-making in the country. We will encourage local production to increase export and support the growth of small businesses. Im a massive farmer of cassava, snail, and many things. I have a farm in Rivers State and Abuja. I export real good. This will include different products. Port-Harcourt is strong in other things apart from oil. We intend to produce local products. In July 2018, the Nollywood actress announced that her name had officially changed to King Tonto as she showed off her PVC with the new name. The actress, whose surname remains Dikeh, said she wants to be addressed as King-Tonto. The development came several months after she separated from her husband, Olakunle Churchill. When the talk show host, Mr Okinbaloye, attempted to clarify if King Tonto is a stage name or her given name, The 37-year-old actress said: I dont call myself King Tonto. My name is King Tonto, and it is not a title. Its a name gotten from my son. Many people still do not know it is my name; I had to take it out of my campaign posters and communication materials because I dont want the traditional rulers to think of me as bigger than them. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Friday, published the particulars of candidates for the 2023 general elections. The publication has been followed by animated discussions among Nigerians on social media on the academic credentials of some of the presidential candidates. In the front burner of the discussions are questions around why the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, provided no information on his primary and secondary education. Stating his occupation as POLITICIAN, the 70 years old APC National Leader claimed he obtained a B.Sc degree in Business and Administration from Chicago State University on June 22, 1979 before participating in the compulsory national youth service from November 12, 1982. Although not seen by PREMIUM TIMES among Mr Tinubus published particulars at the INEC office, he swore to an affidavit that his certificates are missing. I went on self-exile from October 1994 to October 1998. When I returned I discovered that all my property, including all the documents relating to my qualifications and my certificates in respect of paragraph three above, were looted by unknown persons. My house was a target of series of searches by various security agents from the time the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria was forced to adjourn following the military takeover of government of 17th November 1993, the two-term former governor of Lagos State claimed in the court affidavit. Some Nigerians want to know more about Mr Tinubus past than what he revealed to INEC. Similar concerns were raised over his background when he contested for governor in 1999 and 2003. The late human rights lawyer, Gani Fawehinmi filed a suit asking the courts to compel the police to prosecute Mr Tinubu for perjury and forgery after a petition accused him of those offences in his filings with INEC in 1999. After the Supreme Court dismissed the suit on the ground that Mr Tinubu had immunity as governor against being prosecuted in court, the Lagos State House of Assembly investigated the matter and absolved Mr Tinubu of the charge of gross misconduct. Mr Tinubu is considered by many political commentators as the candidate to beat in the 2023 presidential race, the reason for the intense public attention on his candidature. The former Lagos governors spokesperson, Tunde Rahman, did not respond to calls to his phone lines at the time of filing this report when this reporter tried to seek further clarifications on the issue. Atiku not exempted PREMIUM TIMES scrutiny of the published documents by INEC picked up a similar thing about two or more candidates. Despite not being a novice in the contest for president, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar, also has a few questions raised about his academic credentials. Mr Abubakar, who served as vice president from 1999 to 2007, will be hoisting the PDP presidential ticket for the second time in 2023. He had lost to President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 election. Mr Abubakar also did not provide information on his primary education. The 1965 West Africa School Certificate (WASC) result presented by the 75 years old candidate identified the student as Siddiq Abubakar. He also holds a Masters degree in International Relations from Anglia Ruskin University in the United Kingdom. Before joining politics, Mr Abubakar worked with the Nigeria Custom Service until he retired from the agency in 1989 at the rank of Deputy Director. Mr Abubakars records show that he attended Jada Primary School, Adamawa State, but that information is missing in his published biodata by the INEC. Well, I think it is INEC that you should be making those enquiries to. Whatever it is that they published was not in my hands, Paul Ibe, a spokesperson to Mr Abubakar told PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday. I dont know what was submitted to INEC and what was not. So INEC is in the best position to know what it received and what it did not receive, he said when asked about lack of information on the candidates early education. His running mate, Ifeanyi Okowa, also did not state his primary education in the published documents. Kwankwaso, Obi The two candidates are being tipped to give the APC and PDP candidates a run for their money. Unlike Messrs Tinubu and Atiku, Mr Kwankwaso provided full information on his academic credentials. He bagged his first leaving certificate in 1968 and his secondary school certificate in 1975. Mr Kwankwaso, 66, has Craft Training Certificate, ND, HND, Post Graduate Diploma, M.Sc and Ph.D, which he recently concluded. He attached a copy of his provisional Ph.D certificate with his thesis on Design and Construction of Irrigation System in Northern Nigeria. Before resigning in 1991 to join politics, Mr Kwankwaso had worked at Water Resources and Engineering Construction Agency (WRECA) for over 15 years. Among the four top contenders in the race, he is the only candidate who has served as governor, lawmaker and minister. Much celebrated in his huge social media fan base, Peter Obi is the candidate of Labour Party (LP) which he joined last month after quitting the PDP. With a knack for quoting figures/statistics at every given opportunity in any public discourse, the two term governor of Anambra, identified himself as a politician and business executive. Mr Obi attended primary, secondary and tertiary schools between 1973 and 1984. Before joining politics, he had worked at Fidelity Bank in Lagos, but he did not stay the years in the INEC published documents. Mr Obi, 61, is the youngest among the top four presidential candidates. The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Catriona Laing, has said the English proficiency test imposed on many seekers of academic and other types of opportunities in the United Kingdom (UK) confers more advantage on Nigerians than citizens of other nations required to take such tests. Ms Laing, who spoke in an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, noted that records have shown that Nigerians do well in the tests. As far as I am concerned, it is actually an asset and an advantage to Nigerians compared to many others, she said. Ms Laing added that she does not think that the test constitutes any problem for Nigerians, saying they actually do well in the English proficiency test. So, it is actually an advantage for Nigerians who can pass much more easily than a lot of other people can, she added. Controversy Nigerians have recently debated whether Nigerians should take the English proficiency tests, particularly the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) and Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) required for migration to many countries in the global north including the UK. A key argument by groups advocating against the test is that Nigeria as a former British colony and Engish-speaking country should not be required to take it. The price of the test has also been described as a ripoff. The cost of the test, which currently stands between N80,000 and N90,000 in Nigeria, is almost three times the countrys minimum wage of N30,000. The British High Commission in Nigeria had earlier in the year told this newspaper that individual test providers were responsible for fixing test prices. It, however, added that UK Visas and Immigration stipulate that the fees the providers charge our customers must be comparable to the fees they charge others for the same or similar English language tests. Apart from its high cost, the test is only valid for two years and can only be taken in 12 cities across the country. Clarifications The Home Office, however, earlier explained that Bachelors Degree holders or its equivalent will not need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) if it is verified by UK Ecctis and that the degrees meet, or exceed the recognised standard of a UK bachelors, masters or doctorate degrees. According to Ms Laing, English is the official language of many countries around the world but we have to set a clear uniform standard. It is standard practice across the globe so we could not give particular special treatment to anyone. However, in 2020, the UK Home office, which is said to be primarily in charge of the test, told the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) that it did not have evidence that the majority of Nigerians speak English as a first language. We do not have the required evidence that shows the majority of people in Nigeria speak English as their first language, it wrote in a reply to the BBCs enquiry. It added: We must have evidence that at least 51 per cent of the population speaks English as a first language for a country to be included in the Majority English Speaking Country list. Nigerians, others kick A Nigerian youth group, Policy Shapers, initiated an online petition on Change.org, asking why none of the over 20 anglophone countries in Africa is on the list of countries exempted from taking the test. Nigerians are not alone as other former British colonies are also asking for an exemption. Citizens of Ghana, Cameroon and Malawi have consistently made similar calls. Ghanas second deputy speaker of parliament, Andrew Asiamah, in February, mandated the parliaments Education and Foreign Affairs Committee to look into the IELTS policy as it relates to Ghanaians. His directive was a sequel to a statement by a fellow lawmaker, who expressed the view that the test was being used as a source of revenue for the UK government. The lawmakers, like Nigerians, had argued that Ghana is a Commonwealth nation and English is the official language of the state and the language of instruction in Ghanaian Schools. Meanwhile, in Malawi, over 7,300 Malawians signed a petition asking the UK government to exempt them from taking the test before they can be accepted for studies in the UK. Meanwhile, some countries such as Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, and Jamaica are exempted from taking such tests. Other countries exempted include Malta, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America and Canada. PREMIUM TIMES will in the coming days publish the full excerpts of the interview where Ms Laing also responded to other issues. Chiamaka Okafor is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe. The Catholic Diocese of Auchi in Edo State has confirmed the death of Christopher Odia, a reverend father, who was abducted on Sunday by gunmen in the state. Mr Odia, 41, was the administrator of St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo, Etsako West Local Government Area and also the Principal of St. Philip Catholic Secondary School, Jattu, in the state. He is said to have been abducted while coming out for Sunday Mass at his rectory, St. Michael Catholic Church, Ikabigbo and killed a few hours after he was abducted. Peter Egielewa, the director of communication in the diocese, confirmed the priests death in a statement on Sunday. With heavy hearts but with total submission to the will of God, we announce the death of our priest, Mr Odia, who was killed by his abductors after being kidnapped this morning June 26, 2022, at about 6:30 a.m., in his rectory while coming out to go for Sunday Mass at St. Michael Catholic Church Ikabigbo, Uzairue, Edo State, Mr Egielewa said. Mr Odias death brings to two the number of Catholic priests killed by gunmen in the country in less than 24 hours. The Chaplain of the Catholic community of the Kaduna State Polytechnic and chairman of the Nigerian Catholic Diocesan Priests Association (NCDPA), Kaduna State Chapter, Vitus Borogo, was killed by gunmen on Saturday. Mr Borogo, 50, was killed on his farm along Kaduna-Kachia road on Saturday after gunmen attacked the farm, this PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported. The priests death was confirmed in a statement by the chancellor of the Catholic Diocese of Kaduna, Christian Emmanuel, who urged the people of the state to pray for the peaceful repose of his soul and for the consolation of the bereaved family. Gunmen in the country may have turned to clerics as soft targets for their lucrative kidnap-for-ransom business perhaps because they are not accompanied by heavy security, unlike politicians. The Methodist Prelate, Samuel Kanu-Uche, Methodist Bishop of Owerri, Dennis Mark and the Prelates chaplain, were kidnapped by gunmen last month along Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway in Abia State. Members of the church reportedly paid N100 million ransom before Mr Kanu was released. The recent off-season Ekiti State governorship election was blighted by vote buying, among other malpractices. Vote buying has become an obscene phenomenon that increases in every election in Nigeria without any decisive official response to counteract it. This bodes ill for the 2023 general elections which might end up being decided by the size of the bribe budget rather than the choice of citizens. Vote buying must be checkmated to guarantee the right of the people to freely exercise their democratic franchise. A total of 16 political parties participated in the Ekiti election. According to reports from election observers and the media, some voters received between N5,000 and N10,000 each, under a See and Pay subterfuge, in which a thump-printed ballot was displayed to a party agent who stood around a polling booth. While the bigger parties allegedly shelled out these huge sums, some smaller parties purportedly offered between N1,000 and N2,000 per vote. In its corroboration of this grotesque indulgence, the Centre for Democracy and Development, a non-profit organisation, said its field observers documented 41 bribery cases in six local government areas of the State. Segun Oni, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), who feels cheated by the vote-bazaar, has vowed to challenge the outcome of the poll on this score, amongst other reasons. The Socio-Economic and Peoples Right (SERAP), in its nudge for action, gave the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) a seven-day ultimatum within which to identify and prosecute the perpetrators, just as the British High Commission in Nigeria stressed that, buying and selling of votes has no place in a democracy. The U.K. authorities could not be more correct. The official tally from INEC showed that 749,065 Personal Voter Cards were issued for the election, out of which 360,753 were used by voters. Cash provision to buy a significant number of these registered voters, at either N5000 or N10,000 per vote, would run into billions of naira. This is simply unacceptable. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and National Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) reportedly made a handful of arrests during the Ekiti election. This is not deterrent enough to curtail this menace. Admittedly, this kind of electoral malfeasance did not originate in the Ekiti State poll. It has prevailed in every election, and grown with each new poll. In times past, bags of rice, N500 or more were freely given out to induce voters. But this clutched a notch higher in the recent presidential primaries of the two main political parties this year in Abuja, where delegates allegedly received as much as $15,000 each. And conscious of that infamy, INEC warned against monetisation on the eve of the Ekiti poll, while unveiling its partnership with the EFCC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Offences Commission (ICPC). Corruption of the process also happened in the November 2021 governorship election in Anambra State. But that election showed that the vice is not insurmountable with the aggressive sensitisation of electorates and enforcement of the countrys anti-graft laws, which are in many of our statutes. A viral video in circulation shows rural women in Ukwulu, Dunukofia Local Government Area of Anambra State criticising party representatives who attempted bribing them with N5,000 to vote for a particular candidate. One of the women, Eunice Ngozi Onuegbusi, said that even though she was poor and had no N5,000, she would not vote against her conscience. Her fidelity to principle later paid off, as the then state governor, Willy Obiano, subsequently rewarded her with N1 million. As the Show and Pay Ekiti script suggested, the electoral process was compromised by a slew of officials, including INEC and security personnel. This is where technology could play a critical role. If it were possible that INEC had installed surveillance cameras at the polling units, these would have captured all the shenanigans that took place during the exercise and even raised public consciousness of the danger in running afoul of the law. The use of such equipment should be considered in future elections. A polling booth is supposed to be an enclosure set up to ensure that voters can secretly thump print and cast their ballots. As another governorship election holds in Osun State in July, INEC should ensure that no security personnel or party agents stays around the areas designated for citizens to vote in secret. At the beginning of the vote-buying crisis, voters were using their phone cameras to take pictures and show whom they voted for. It was for that reason that INEC outlawed the carrying of phones into voting booths. It is possible to reverse the vote buying practice. For instance, it is generally known that politically exposed individuals usually withdraw humongous amounts of cash from banks a few days to elections. As such, it is the responsibility of security agencies to monitor such funds and ensure that they act if these monies are used in violation of the Money Laundering Act 2011, as amended. The laws 12 Sections were strengthened in 2012. Under the Act, the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Unit and Special Control Unit in the EFCC are to checkmate money laundering activities. Through automation, according to the law, a bank should alert the EFCC on transactions that fall within suspicious thresholds. This mechanism has been rendered nugatory. The practice of having billions withdrawn from banks on the eve of elections for vote buying, without the relevant authorities acting, must stop. PREMIUM TIMES believes that it is not enough for the EFCC or the police to arrest a handful of party foot soldiers who are sharing money to compromised voters on election day. Arresting their main sponsors and making them face the full weight of the law, along with complicit banks, will go a long way in containing this conundrum. It is a farce for anyone to declare an election, in which the will of the people is subverted by vote buying, as free, fair and credible. A candidate who wins an election through the financial inducement of voters will obviously not serve the people, but go into public office to loot the treasury to recover the money used to wangle his way through. INEC has had great difficulty in stopping and lacks sufficient capacity to adequately address electoral abuses such as vote buying, ballot box stuffing and snatching, and thuggery, which have risen to an industrial scale nationwide. It reported 870,000 and 900,000 of these cases in the 2011 and 2015 general elections respectively, but could only prosecute about 200 cases in each electoral cycle. Now is the time for an effective response to pervasive electoral menaces and to establish the much-talked about Electoral Offences Commission and Tribunal to handle, and put a stop to these concerns. The National Assembly should get out of its usual indolence and pay attention to critical issues of national importance such as the speedy consideration of the proposed Bill on the Commission and Tribunal. PREMIUM TIMES calls on Nigerians to properly see the rather unfortunate phenomenon of vote buying as a very critical impediment to genuine democratic consolidation, which it truly is. The rogue route to political office that vote buying has opened must be closed immediately. Voters who allow unscrupulous politicians to use them to get into office by means of this electoral shenanigan should know that they are throwing away their fundamental rights to democratic accountability through this selfish act. They, and their benefactors, are only fit to be treated as felons and thrown behind bars. The EFCC and ICPC must act accordingly. The Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, says he is searching for a substantive running mate. Mr Tinubu disclosed this in Abuja on Sunday at the book presentation; Mr Speaker and unveiling of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative to mark the 60 birthday of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila. On June 8, Mr Tinubu emerged as the presidential candidate of APC for the February 25, 2023 election at the partys presidential primaries/national convention held at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The former governor of Lagos State is yet to sort out the issue of his running mate. Already, the name of Kabir Masari from Katsina State has been submitted to INEC in place holding capacity. Mr Tinubu, a Yoruba Muslim from South-west is confronted with the dilemma Muslim/Muslim ticket or pick a Christain minority from the North. Some names have been speculated in the media as possible vice presidential candidates. They include Governors Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State, Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna and former Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State. They are all Muslims. Others are Governor Simon Lalong of Plateau State and former Adamawa senator, Binta Garba. Both are Christians. The issue of running mate is expected to be resolved before July 15. While praising Mr Gbajabiamila and his deputy, Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Mr Tinubu said he will have to learn from the duo about the way they worked seamlessly together. I could see his deputy (Wase) sitting down there too, you are a very good symbol of unity, dependability, and honesty, thank you. Thank you for both of you. Youve not rocked the boat. I will need to learn from both of you, how you made the pair work because Im still searching for my running mate, Mr Tinubu said. Mr Tinubu also praised Speaker Gbajabiamila for the role he played during the APC presidential primary election. He added that when he was governor, Mr Gbajabiamila was one of the first persons he consulted before initiating the payment of WAEC fees for Lagos State students. Femi was one of the first set of people I consulted. Are we going to say that the children of the poor are not deserving of becoming governors, doctors and engineers? I said I was afraid. He said do it. So that is how a junior brother can inspire a senior leader. Mr Tinubu recounted how he was moved to tears when Mr Gbajabiamila lost the election to become the speaker in 2015 to former Speaker Yakubu Dogara. When he was challenged for the position of the speakerI think after our merger, he worked me tirelessly Femi is a workaholic. The problem of failure stared him in the face. He lost the election to become the Speaker. I was close to tears. Stamping my foot to the ground, I said we will win again. Femi keep up. Pick yourself up. I am very proud of you that you did, you didnt give up. You did the opposition and the support job. You demonstrated what we learnt from textbooks and other authors, he said. In his speech, Mr Gbajabiamila said he is willing to help Mr Tinubu to get a running mate, but added jokingly that he would not do so without without a fee. I give you my own parting shot. It is that time again to consult with your younger brother. I will giv you a running mate that you will enjoy working with. But this time the consultation I promise you will not be for free, he said. Also speaking at the event, President Muhammadu Buhari, who was represented by Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari, praised Mr Gbajabiamila for the harmonious relationship between the executive and the legislative arm. Mr President is very proud of the fact that he did not need to interfere in how the National Assembly runs because he had trust in the capacity in the leadership of the Senate and House of Representatives and therefore he feels that with capable hands in both chambers of the NASS there is no need to interfere, he said. Security agencies, Saturday, raided a suspected hideout of outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its militant wing, ESN at Idara Nnebo, Ihe Mbosi and Ukpor, two communities in Ekwusigo and Nnewi South Local Government Areas of Anambra State. Army spokesperson Onyema Nwachukwu disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. He said the IPOB members were dislodged from their training camp when the security operatives raided the camp. Mr Nwachukwu, a brigadier general, said the operation was carried out by a joint security team comprising troops of 302 Regiment of the Nigerian Army, operatives of the Nigerian Navy, officials of State Security Service and police operatives. In a clearance operation conducted in the early hours of Saturday, June 25, 2022, troops cleared IPOB fire positions and improvised explosive devices to dislodge the criminals from their hideouts, he said. Two AK-47 rifles, three magazines with five rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition, two pump action rifles, one locally fabricated gun and three electric power generators were among the items recovered during the raid, according to the army spokesperson. He said troops of 103 Battalion also raided another IPOB camp at Nkwere Inyi Forest in Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State. The encounter forced the criminals to flee in disarray, Mr Nwachukwu said. The army spokesperson said one Lexus and Toyota Highlander SUVs suspected to have been stolen were among items recovered during the operation. Others are two motorcycles, one double barrel gun and seven live cartridges. Mr Nwachukwu appealed to residents in the South-east states to continue to support security agencies, especially the troops of the Nigerian Army, with credible information on the activities of criminals in the region. IPOB, which is seeking the creation of an independent state of Biafra which they want carved out from the South-east and some parts of South-south, has been linked to deadly attacks across the two regions. The police in Delta State said they have arrested a man, Volt Gabriel, for allegedly killing his one-year-old son for money rituals. Mr Gabriel, 33, was arrested on Saturday after his wife, Success, who became suspicious that he (husband) knew the way about their missing son, reported the matter to the police, Bright Edafe, the police spokesperson in the state said in a statement on Sunday in Asaba. The suspect reportedly told his wife that the son was with his sister in Warri, Delta State, a claim the wife later discovered was untrue. The police said the suspect confessed to the crime during the interrogation. Upon interrogation, (the) suspect confessed to have murdered the child at Ewabogun bush by Catholic Road, Benin City, using handsaw to cut off the head and buried it by a palm tree in the bush and threw away the headless body of the child. The suspect also stated that he killed the child because of a dream he had, where he saw a man who told him that, if he kills the child, and uses the childs blood to rub his head, he will become rich. The police in the state also said they have arrested a three-man armed robbery gang which specialises in robbing Point of Sales (POS) operators. The suspects, Jeffrey Osemudiamen, 36, Eddy Gabriel, 33, and Promise Imade, 31, were arrested on Friday after a lady they allegedly robbed in her POS shop on May 29 alerted the police after she sighted them. Mr Edafe said the police recovered one locally made gun, four live cartridges, one walkie-talkie set, and four android phones from the suspects. An Investigating Police Officer IPO), Olakunle Orebe, on Monday, told an Ikeja Special Offences Court that a vulcanizer, Wasiu Ibrahim, raped his wifes 15-year-old sister. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Ibrahim was charged with defilement. Mr Orebe, while being led in evidence by the State Counsel, Babajide Boye, said he received the case of alleged defilement on February 2, 2017, at the Gender Section, Police Command in Ikeja. The witness said the survivor told him that the defendant, who was her sisters husband and had been living with them for five years, allegedly had sex with her. He said the survivor told him that the defendant raped her when her sister travelled for a burial. The survivor said that her sister travelled on January 1, 2017, for a burial. She said she was left in the house with her sisters three children and at midnight, the defendant told her to leave the couch she was not sleeping on and move to the floor. She said after a while, the defendant came, undressed her and defiled her, he said. The witness further told the court that the survivor told her class teacher about the incident on March 2, 2017. He added that the defendant, upon arrest, said he did not know what came over him. I spoke with the defendant In the cause of my investigation and he said he did not know what came over him to have done what he did. I can not remember the number of statements that were recorded but the survivors statement was also recorded. The survivor was referred to Mirabel Medical Centre for examination. The survivors statement and medical report dated February 14 were admitted in evidence. The police officer told the court that the defendant made his statement voluntarily, adding that he wrote the statement on his behalf because the defendant said he could not write in English. The defence counsel, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, objected to the claim that the defendant made a statement at the police station. Mr Ibrahim argued that the defendant did not make any statement and he was forced to sign the statement tendered by the prosecution. NAN reports that the court ordered a trial within trial to test the voluntariness of the statement of the defendant. In the trial within trial, the witness said that he wrote the defendants statement on his behalf after he told him he could not write in English. The defendant spoke in Pidgin and I recorded him in English, in a very conducive atmosphere. The office where I wrote the statement was very open and people were moving up and down. We were eight in the room but I was the only one that interviewed him. He was okay while I was recording his statement. I put questions to him and also have him a seat in front of me. There was an air conditioner in the office. At the gender unit, we do not use battery on suspects. He gave me his statement voluntarily and he was friendly while making it my lord, the witness said. During cross-examination of the trial within trial, the witness said the defendant did make the statement in February and he could not remember if a lawyer represented the defendant while he was in detention. He added that the eight people in the office were his colleagues, adding that the office was transparent and the people in the corridor could see what was happening in the office. READ ALSO: Court sentences man to life imprisonment for rape NAN also reports that the defendant alleged that he was detained in a cell for two days until his brother arrived with a lawyer. The defendant, however, denied the signature on the said statement. Justice Ramon Oshodi, in his ruling, dismissed the trial within trial and admitted the defendants extra judicial statement in evidence. The defence counsel objected that the defendant was forced to sign a statement and upon evidence given by the defendant in the trial within trial, the defendant said he did not know anything about the statement and he did not append his signature. The defendants extra-judicial statement is hereby admitted in evidence and the trial within trial is hereby dismissed as it was not necessarily needed in the first place, Mr Oshodi said. The judge adjourned the case until June 30 for the continuation of trial. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari will be briefed on the state of negotiations between the government and striking university workers on or before Wednesday, Nigerias labour ministry has said. A statement by the ministrys spokesperson, Olajide Oshundun, said the president will, after the briefing, make decisions on the contentious issues of payment platforms, conditions of service and wage increase for the striking workers. It is hoped that before Wednesday this week, all the various sub-committees will turn in their reports, to enable Mr President to be briefed fully and for decisions to be taken on the contentious payment platform and the renegotiation of the conditions of service, especially the issue of wage increase, parts of the statement by Mr Oshundun, head, press and public relations at the ministry of labour, reads. It is after receiving briefings from the government side that the Ministry of Labour will bring all the stakeholders, including the unions, to a conference table to look at the agreement before signing or endorsement, the statement further said. The striking university workers had rejected the continuous use of the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS) for the payment of their salaries and other entitlements, alleging irregularities on the platform. While the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) is requesting the adoption of University Transparency and Accountability Solutions (UTAS) it developed, both the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities and other Allied Institutions (NASU) have requested the adoption of University Peculiar PayrollPaymentSystem (U3PS). In protest of the continuous use of IPPIS and refusal to implement the renegotiated 2009 agreement that was completed in May 2021, ASUU resumed nationwide strike on February 14. The strike has been rolled over for more than 130 days since February. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) of SSANU and NASU has also extended its strike by two months to end by August. Meanwhile, the ministry of labour and employment has clarified that it did not invite ASUU or any other union to the meeting it held on Thursday. It had been reported that the ministry was meeting with the striking lecturers union on Thursday. But the ministry said the meeting was only meant for the inter-ministerial departments and agencies committees of the Federal Government, including the Federal Ministry of Education, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Budget Office of the Federation, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the Federal Ministry of Communication and Digital Economy and National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). It said the meeting was to assess the progress it has made so far in negotiations with the striking universiry workers. The two committees were empanelled by Chris Ngige, the minister of labour and Ibrahim Gambari, a professor and chief of staff to the President at the last tripartite-plus meetings of the unions and the government side. The committees are reporting to the office of the Chief of Staff to the President and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, it said. The ministry was reacting to ASUU President Emmanuel Osedekes comments that the ministry did not invite his union for any meeting on Thursday. Mr Osodeke spoke when he featured on a television programme on Channels Television. The ministry said: We will start by making some clarifications on the government side meeting held last Thursday, June 23, 2022, geared towards accelerating the resolution of the multiple strike actions of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and other university-based unions, the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Non-Academic Staff Union of Universities (NASU) and National Association of Academic Technologists (NAAT). These clarifications are necessary so that the public will understand our role in the Ministry of Labour as conciliators and arbitrators in a labour dispute. Qosim Suleiman is a reporter at Premium Times in partnership with Report for the World, which matches local newsrooms with talented emerging journalists to report on under-covered issues around the globe. UK authorities have announced that citizens of Gulf countries - Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar - will be brought under Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) scheme, reported BNA. Welcoming the announcement by the British Home Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said under the new system, GCC nationals will not need a visa to visit UK from 2023. The launch of ETA next year complements the British governments decision to implement the electronic visa exemption system, starting from June, stated the ministry, adding it would fully exempt Bahrain and GCC citizens from visa requirements. "The mover will contribute to facilitating travel procedures for Bahrain and GCC citizens to the United Kingdom," it said. "The new system requires those wishing to travel to Britain to apply for permission to travel once every two years, as it is valid for the aforementioned period, and for multiple visits," it added. The presidential candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, has travelled to France. Tunde Rahman, the spokesperson to Mr Tinubu, disclosed this in a statement on Monday. According to the statement, Mr Tinubu left the country on Monday for an important meeting. The statement said the APC candidate will be back to the country shortly. On June 8, Mr Tinubu emerged the Presidential candidate of APC for the February 25, 2023 election at the partys presidential primaries/national convention held at the Eagle Square, Abuja. The former governor of Lagos State is yet to sort out the issue of his running mate. Currently, Kabir Masari is the running mate in place holding capacity. The issue of running mate is expected to be resolved before July 15. Aside from the running mate issue, Mr Tinubu is also facing questions on his academic qualifications and health. The former governor returned from a three-month medical trip to London last October. Early this year, he travelled to London but returned to Nigeria after about eight days. In the forms he submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr Tinubu left the sections for primary and secondary schools blank. Leaders of the G7 have unveiled plans to mobilise $600bn in funding for African countries and other developing economies of the world as part of efforts to counter Chinas Belt and Road initiative. President Joe Biden of the United States said the plan would deliver returns for everyone and allow countries to see the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies. Mr Biden spoke at the G7 annual gathering held this year at Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. Some of the highlighted initiatives include a solar-powered project in Angola, a vaccine manufacturing facility in Senegal, and a 1,609 km submarine telecommunications cable connecting Singapore to France via Egypt and the Horn of Africa. It remains unclear Monday afternoon whether there are specific intervention projects targeted at Nigeria, Africas biggest economy and the continents most populous nation, in the G7 plan. The West African nation has in recent times relied on Chinese interventions to build key rail infrastructure. There have been debates on sustainability issues surrounding Chinese funding of projects across Africa. Chinas multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure initiative is often criticised for hitting nations with too much debt. The new plan calls on G7 leaders to raise $600bn over five years to fund the launch of infrastructure projects in middle and low-income countries. Investment The BBC reports that the US has promised to raise $200bn (162bn) of the total through grants, federal funds and private investment, while the EU has announced a further 300bn euros (257bn). But the US president cautioned that the intervention was not a charity. I want to be clear. This isnt aid or charity, Mr Biden said of the G7s Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII scheme). Its an investment that will deliver returns for everyone. READ ALSO: A White House Factsheet says the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment will deliver game-changing projects to close the infrastructure gap in developing countries, strengthen the global economy and supply chains, and advance U.S. national security. It added that Mr Biden will announce new flagship projects and lay out the Administrations comprehensive effort to execute the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, all as part of moves by the G7 to counter Chinese interventions. The G7 is an informal forum of leading industrialised nations, which include Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States. Representatives of the European Union are always present at the annual meeting of the heads of state and government of the G7. Focus Meanwhile, the new initiative will be geared towards tackling climate change, improving global health, achieving gender equity and building digital infrastructure. The plan has been seen as a way to counter Chinas ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Launched by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, the BRI provides financing for emerging countries to build infrastructure like ports, roads and bridges. Although it has helped nations like Nigeria develop infrastructure, it has also been criticised heavily as a means of forcing debt-burdened countries to cede important assets if they fail to meet their debt repayments. In recent times, Chinese interventions in African countries have stalled, leading some countries to abandon major projects, including railways, due to paucity of funds. A former Nigerian Minister for Transportation, Rotimi Amaechi, earlier in the year hinted that the Chinese stopped funding Nigerian government projects, leading the country to shop for loans in Europe to complete existing jobs. We are stuck with lots of our projects because we cannot get money, he said. The Chinese are no longer funding. So, we are now pursuing money in Europe. And when I look at the money they are borrowing in other countries and I compare with the one we have borrowed, the kind of comments by Nigerians will put you off. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the aim of the latest G7 project was to present a positive powerful investment impulse to the world to show our partners in the developing world that they have a choice. Russia is seen to have defaulted on repayment of foreign debt for the first time since 1918. The countrys failure to pay lenders $100 million by Sunday was also its first debt default of any form since in nearly two decades and a half. Even though the worlds third biggest crude producer has the cash, penalties from the west in response to its invasion of neighbouring Ukraine are standing in the way of transferring the sum to overseas creditors, having fallen due on Sunday. A last-ditch effort by Moscow to pay the money has been impossible in light of a bar months ago by the west on payment platforms and banking systems for facilitating such transactions, a stumbling block to its quest to save face and protect its honour. As the miss was caused by western sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, the country refused to accept it had defaulted, with Russias minister of finance referring to the development as a farce, the BBC said on Monday. It could have implications beyond the immediate future given that the country does not seek funding from abroad as it enjoys vast oil wealth, Chris Weafer, who heads Macro Advisory, a consultancy with Moscow as its base. He warned, however, that the situation could deteriorate for long if the war with Ukraine and the punitive measures from the west bite harder. This is the sort of action that will hang over the economy and make recovery much more difficult when we get to that stage, he was quoted by the BBC as saying. According to Russia, the $100 million interest payment was transferred to the bank Euroclear with the expectation it would be disbursed to creditors from there. But no further progress has been made ever since then, with creditors yet to get their money. Russian bonds, held by investors from Taiwan and priced in euros, have not had interest payments received on them, Reuters said on the basis of information from two sources. The payment, due on May 27, now lags behind a 30-day grace period that expired on Sunday, making it a default. Euroclear declined to comment on whether the transaction was stalled much as it admitted complying with every penalty that has been imposed since the beginning of hostility with Ukraine. The Russian Federation refused to accept it defaulted. Everyone in the know understands that this is not a default at all. This whole situation looks like a farce, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said. Roughly $20 billion of Russias debts are held by overseas investors and priced in either dollars or euros. Some parts of that debt will now become automatically due because there will be early repayment clauses in all debt instruments so if you default on one it usually triggers the immediate demand for payment on the other debts, so Russia could certainly face immediate debt repayment of about $20bn at this stage, Weafer told the BBC. The Cooperatives Financing Agency of Nigeria (CFAN) in collaboration with the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) is set to hold a national symposium to commemorate the 2022 global cooperative day. The day marked on the first Saturday in July every year is an opportunity to promote the cooperative movement worldwide and to showcase the successes, challenges, and opportunities of cooperatives as a business model. The organisations, in a statement obtained by PREMIUM TIMES, said the symposium is scheduled to hold on Tuesday. It aims to highlight the importance of sustaining Womens Economic Cooperatives (WECs) in Nigeria. The organisations noted that women have learnt to co-operate with others with whom they live in order to ease difficult physical and financial burdens together. It said through cooperatives, women have continued to contribute to the nations economic growth despite a lack of access to funds. The standard of living for women who are members of cooperatives has been raised thus guaranteeing better quality of lives. The organisations said several women cooperatives, associations, and groups have come to stay, addressing the challenges of their members through financial support, savings, and disbursement of loans to members. How Cooperative Works Women in cooperatives have access to collateral-free loans after a certain duration of their contributions. The amount contributed popularly called Ajo in Yoruba language Isusu in Igbo language and Adashe in Hausa language is a compulsory contribution savings scheme in which a group of people come together to put an agreed amount of money into savings daily, weekly or monthly, and then at the end of every month, someone in the group takes all the money (interest-free) saved for that month. This is subsequently rotated among all the group members throughout the contribution. Many women have expanded their businesses and even become employers of labour through this method. Cooperatives changing lives The organisation explained that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector contributes about 48 per cent to the countrys economic growth with women owning about 41 per cent of it. This contribution to the nations economic growth is significant regardless of the issues faced by women entrepreneurs such as lack of access to finance. Despite this obstacle, millions of Nigerian women in the informal sector particularly in MSME have learned to be self-disciplined to personally provide funds for their businesses through cooperatives, savings, and loans. According to dRPC, 60 per cent of cooperative memberships in Nigeria are women with 45 per cent of the cooperative leadership being taken by women. The organisations said cooperatives have contributed majorly to the national output by way of massive production of goods and services. Cooperative members readily benefited from government and non-government organisations of expert advisory services in various ways. Cooperative enjoys soft loan benefits from the governments, banks and other similar institutions for the operation of their joint or individual businesses and functional cooperatives education and training imparted on the members enable them to do well in their businesses, it said. The symposium This symposium is supported by the dRPC, Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) and funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). At the event scheduled to commence by 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, key stakeholders will listen to the evidence from high-level panels and hear from women who are members of cooperatives. The key stakeholders will be drawn from government MDAs, academics, civil society organisations, womens economic cooperatives and the media. The organisers said learnings from this will inform the reshaping of investments that support womens cooperative enterprises. Technology has a huge effect on the ability of businesses and governments to harness natural resources and use them in the most effective ways possible to benefit themselves and the economy. This is why Nigerian technology agencies need to sustain awareness campaigns for MSMEs to adopt the use of technology aimed at facilitating the digital economy. As the world celebrates Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Day every June 27, this is a day designated by the United Nations General Assembly to serve as a reminder that small enterprises provide sustainable development goals, encourage innovation, provide livelihoosd to millions, and are essential for the economic wellbeing of any society. The theme of this years World MSME Day is Resilience and Rebuilding: MSMEs for Sustainable Development. Global experts have not only recognised the day as a way forward for MSMEs as major contributors to the world economy but to also indulge MSMEs in digital inclusion and visibility. The recent initiative by the Federal Government in acknowledging and contributing to the development of MSMEs in the country is remarkable. In commemoration of the World MSME Day, the Nigerian government announced a plan to establish at least one Shared MSMEs Facility in every state of the federation. With over five shared facilities currently in operation, the project is said to help improve engagements between government and MSMEs, to contribute more to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and inspire prospective business owners to strive for excellence. The project, as outlined, provides MSMEs with affordable shared access to essential amenities such as power, high quality operating equipment, and broadband connectivity, as government works to reduce the cost of operation of small businesses across the country. This is applicable to all MSMEs, which are free to participate in the scheme. Additionally, the director general of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Olawale Fasanya, also related how the government further plans to focus more on startups in the agricultural sector and women-led enterprises in Nigeria in order to enhance its economic diversification policy. He said: As the world marks the 2022 MSME Day, we remain unyielding in strengthening MSMEs and startups, particularly in agriculture, agro-based industries, as well as youth and women-led enterprises. With all these unyielding support and encouragement, it is important to note that in this digital age, the incorporation of MSMEs into Nigerias digital ecosystem is unavoidable for sustainable development. MSMEs are business entities that have about seventy-five employees or fewer. In addition to employing a large percentage of labour in Nigeria, the sector has also been able to drive inventions leading to an increase in job creation, while also highlighting the important role of technology in economic growth. According to the Nigeria Bureau of Statistics (NBS), small and medium enterprises in Nigeria contributed about 48 per cent of the national GDP in the last five years. With a total number of about 17.4 million MSMEs, they account for about 50 per cent of industrial jobs and nearly 90 per cent in the manufacturing sector. With technological advancement and the internet penetration in Nigeria, it is evident that the awareness around MSMEs has increased, but they still need more engagement. As consumers migrate to the Internet for everything from gifts to groceries, companies/busineses with physical storefronts are now also creating online stores to extend their visibility and reach target markets beyond their local communities. Despite numerous challenges such as inadequate working capital, stiff competition from larger companies, difficulties in sourcing raw materials, low capacity utilisation, among other challenges faced by MSMEs, their significance to the Nigerian economy cannot be overemphasised. With technological advancement and the internet penetration in Nigeria, it is evident that the awareness around MSMEs has increased, but they still need more engagement. As consumers migrate to the Internet for everything from gifts to groceries, companies/busineses with physical storefronts are now also creating online stores to extend their visibility and reach target markets beyond their local communities. Through internet-assisted marketing, small businesses can access available funds, communicate with their clients via email, blogs, social networking, and forums. Using the instant connection, micro-business owners can immediately apply customer feedback to their businesses, as soon as possible. For instance, the food cart/mobile food business, rental services, liquid soap production, mobile phone repairs, blogging to even the making and sales of plantain chips have, in a way, built online stores with the ability to instantly connect, share information and receive feedback. Creative sector enterprises such as crafters, clothing and accessories designers, and painters have found it a lot easier to set up online stores rather than invest in expensive storefronts. However, when small businesses adopt new technologies in their processes, they are required to train their employees to take advantage of business opportunities. Apart from MSMEs, startups such as Wardchat and Myclinic.ng have digitalised the Nigerian electoral process and medical/clinical consultation, even as more industries are leveraging digital technology to reach out to a larger audience and activate change. Technology has a huge effect on the ability of businesses and governments to harness natural resources and use them in the most effective ways possible to benefit themselves and the economy. This is why Nigerian technology agencies need to sustain awareness campaigns for MSMEs to adopt the use of technology aimed at facilitating the digital economy. NITDA, SMEDAN and other stakeholders within the tech innovation industry team must raise awareness on digital tools, training, and capacity-building programmes to motivate MSMEs to embrace innovative but cost-effective digital technologies. Digital connectivity should be strengthened to help MSMEs to acquire technical and networking skills virtually/online without having to travel out of their immediate locations. To that effect, the untiring efforts of Federal Government agencies like the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), alongside those of its subsidiaries, have over the years promoted technology for MSMEs and startups by establishing over 1500 IT Centres across the country, where thousands of people can gain basic computer skills to set up their businesses. As part of the commitment to ensure the successful implementation of its mandate, NITDA unveiled the Strategic Roadmap and Action Plan (SRAP 2021 2024) to prioritise digital innovation and entrepreneurship support for MSMEs, in order for them to evolve into Innovation-Driven Enterprises (IDEs). Recently, NITDA scored another landmark achievement with the establishment of a state-of-the-art fabrication laboratory (FabLab) through one of its subsidiaries, the National Centre for Artificial Intelligence and Robotics (NCAIR). High-tech equipment available in the facility includes CNC routers, laser cutters, milling machines, 3D printers, embroidery machines, and a lab oven. The FabLab offers the opportunity for young Nigerian innovators to create solutions and help MSMEs and other sectors to thrive in the digital economy. Meanwhile, international tech giants like Google, through partnerships with public and private sector organisations created programmes to provide MSMEs access to support in the areas of funding, training, and networking, to expose them to the necessary knowledge and expertise to actively participate in the global market place. NITDA, SMEDAN and other stakeholders within the tech innovation industry team must raise awareness on digital tools, training, and capacity-building programmes to motivate MSMEs to embrace innovative but cost-effective digital technologies. Digital connectivity should be strengthened to help MSMEs to acquire technical and networking skills virtually/online without having to travel out of their immediate locations. Undoubtedly, when adequate resources are channeled into our small businesses, more entrepreneurs and innovators will grow in communities and contribute their quotas to boosting development and fostering wealth creation for the wellbeing of our community dwellers. Zeenat O. Sambo writes from Abuja. The Nigerian military has kicked against the call by the governor of Zamfara State, Bello Matawalle, that residents of the state should buy arms to protect themselves from the incessant bandit attacks in the state. Speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday at the Joint Exercise for the National Defence College and War Colleges of the Armed Forces of Nigeria, code-named Exercise Grand Nationale, the chief of defence staff, Lucky Irabor, a general, said the countrys armed forces and other security agencies are capable of securing lives and properties. Mr Irabor said he was yet to understand the governors rationale for asking residents of the state to bear arms. However, he added, that it was not his responsibility to speak on the legality of the matter saying it was the job of the attorney general of the federation. I believe that, in my view, it is not the right way to go. Of course, there are actions that members of the security agencies and the armed forces, in particular, the police and other security agencies, are doing to address insecurity in Zamfara and environs. Beyond that, of course, there are other legal issues, other issues of governance, issues that the government could have addressed using the instrumentality of the law that are available for him to bring greater peace and security. But like I said, I do not intend to say much about it, but I believe that the Federal Government, using the Attorney General, will look at the details of that press release and give further instruction. If what I read is true, I do not also think that the governor has the power to instruct the commissioner of police to issue licenses because the commissioner of police does not have the powers to issue licenses. Mr Irabor said the armed forces were only an instrument of policy implementation, adding that it did not take instructions from state governments. He said the constitution gave rights and powers only to the Commander-in-Chief for the use of the armed forces. I believe that what we are doing in Zamfara and of course, across the states of the federation, is in deference to the provisions of the constitution. So, we are there because we are there to give support to the civil authority, in this case, the police. We do not need to restate what the issues are that have led to the deployment of the military across the country but then like I said, we are doing the very best to ensure that peace returns to every part of the country, he said. (NAN) Organised Labour in Ogun State has declared an indefinite strike over what they termed the pathetic plight of workers across the state. The strike which takes effect from midnight Tuesday would affect ministries, agencies, hospitals and public schools and other government agencies and parastatals. Workers in the state last week gave Governor Dapo Abiodun a seven-day ultimatum to address their demands or face workers wrath in the state. They claimed that the governor had refused to pay salary deductions for 21 months. They added that the workers have not also gotten Statutory Leave Allowances in the last eight years. This, the labour union said, was a breach of the State Pension Reform Law, 2006 (amended 2013) in the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme. Their grievances were contained in a letter dated June 21 and addressed to Governor Abiodun. The letter was jointly signed by the State Chairman of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Emmanuel Bankole; Chairman of the Trade Union Congress (TUC), Akeem Lasisi; and the Chairman of the Joint Negotiating Committee (JNC), Isa Olude. Following the expiration of the ultimatum, the labour leaders on Monday afternoon addressed workers at the Arcade ground at the state secretariat, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, where they declared an indefinite strike. Mr Bankole said the government had failed to yield to the labours several calls for negotiation. He said the indefinite strike would allow the government have a rethink and call for a dialogue. Anyone who reports for duty tomorrow (Tuesday) is a traitor and it has never been well with a traitor, Mr Bankole added. The police in Ogun State have arrested two ex-convicts, Wasiu Opeyemi and Noah Isreal, who were returning from a robbery operation in Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Mr Opeyemi, 37, is an indigene of Ijebu Ode, while Mr Isreal, 27, hails from Benue State. Both men were arrested by officers of the Anti-Kidnapping Unit of the Ogun command during a routine patrol at Mowe area of Lagos-Ibadan express way. The police spokesperson, Abimbola Oyeyemi, made this known through a statement on Monday. The suspects, who claimed to have met at Oba correctional centre in Abeokuta while serving different jail terms, allegedly confessed to robbing their victims with a cutlass. The statement read in part: The men who were on a motorcycle were accosted by the team because of the suspicious manner they appear and they were stopped for questioning. The two suspects made an attempt to escape but were quickly surrounded by our operatives and taken to the nearest police station. On interrogation, they confessed to the police that they were coming from Ogbomoso in Oyo state where they have gone to carry out a robbery operation. They confessed further that all the goods in their possession are proceeds of the operation. The police added that the suspects had confessed to forcing one of their victims to transfer N100,000 into an account. Recovered from them are two laptops, eleven phones of different types, one Rolex wrist watch, cash sum of one hundred and twenty two thousand naira and bags containing household items. Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Ogun State, Lanre Bankole, has ordered a thorough investigation of the suspects before transferring them to Oyo state where they will be prosecuted. Cantourage UK, a subsidiary of Berlin-based European medical cannabis leader Cantourage, has successfully imported the dried flower products from Germany. Cantourage UK will offer Together Pharma's high-THC, non-irradiated medical cannabis flowers to patients immediately through Cantourage Clinic. Together Pharma is the only cultivator of medical cannabis in Uganda. Its Ugandan farm extends over some approx. 30,000 sqm Greenhouses and has a full production capacity of more than 15 tonnes annually, including a range of innovative cultivars which will be introduced into the UK's medical cannabis market over the next few months. As of today, Cantourage has signed contracts with over 20 leading cultivators from 13 different countries. Together Pharma is the first company to launch products grown in Africa via Cantourage's Fast Track Access Platform. Niall Ivers, COO at Cantourage UK: "We're delighted to be extending our successful partnership with Together Pharma into the UK. Together Pharma is a market leader in the Israeli domestic market with extensive knowledge and international experience in delivering high-quality, great-value medicines to patients. We're confident the introduction of these first two varieties will assist in building a sustainable eco-system for UK patients." Nir Sosinsky, Managing Director of Together Pharma, added: "Our extended partnership with Cantourage UK is extremely exciting for Together Pharma and a new stage in the expansion of our global reach. It strengthens our position in the UK and Europe, while at the same time underpinning our commitment to Uganda's cannabis industry, which holds great future potential for the country. The United Kingdom is an extremely important market for us. We are glad that our medical-grade cannabis flowers are being made available through Cantourage UK and Cantourage Clinic, allowing for a reliable supply to the benefit of patients across the country." About Cantourage Cantourage GmbH is a leading European medical cannabis company. The Berlin-based company was founded in 2019 by industry pioneers Dr Florian Holzapfel, Norman Ruchholtz and Patrick Hoffmann. With its unique Fast Track Access platform, Cantourage enables producers from across the world to become part of the rapidly growing European medical cannabis market. Cantourage focuses on long-term collaborations and strategic partnerships: each partner along the value chain can focus on what they do best from growers to logistics, manufacturers to pharmacies and wholesalers. All with one clear goal in mind: to provide patients in Europe with an unprecedented selection of the highest quality cannabis medicines at affordable prices. Cantourage offers products in all relevant market segments: dried flowers, extracts, Dronabinol and pharma-grade Cannabidiol. Cantourage UK was formed in January 2021 as a joint venture between Cantourage GmbH and NICE Partners, a London-based cannabis company, founded in 2019 by Benjy Cuby, Gabriel Newman, Joshua Cuby and Niall Ivers. The company specialises in developing strategic alliances, business development and compliance in the European cannabis market. Cantourage UK imports medical cannabis products from Germany into the UK and Channel Islands, supplying a broad range of products to patients throughout the country. About Together Pharma Holdings Inc. Together Pharma is a public company traded on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange (TASE). The company has a subsidiary Globus Pharma Ltd., which holds the franchise, (both directly and through subsidiaries), to grow, produce, and distribute medical cannabis products. The company operates 2 farms of the world's most advanced agricultural cultivation systems, one in Israel and the second in Uganda, which allow the control and supervision of cannabis plants using the latest technologies, developing them into quality plants suitable for supervised medical use according to the strict IMC-GAP and GACP standards. The company has also a pharmaceutical factory, which meet all the required strict conditions for manufacturing medical products according to the IMC-GMP standard. Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847608/Together_Pharma.jpg Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847606/CAN_UK_team.jpg Photo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847607/Nir_Sosinsky.jpg Logo- https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1807078/Cantourage_Logo.jpg SOURCE Cantourage UK DLMS has been implemented at JSW Steel's Jajang, Gonua, Narayanposhi and Nuagaon mines of Odisha. The Multi-modal digital logistics management solution designed in sync with the Prime Minister's Gati Shakti initiative, covers 13 railway sidings, 4 mines and 3 ports. The solution has enabled better production planning and pit-to-port optimization, bringing in gains like higher efficiency, enhanced transparency, lower Turnaround Time (TAT) and cost optimization with minimal human intervention. Ranjan Nayak COO of JSW Steel Odisha said, "In a quick changing mining landscape, automation of processes has become critical for seamless operations and transformative outcomes. IT in Logistics is one such groundbreaking solution that has enabled our mines to balance process automation with higher productivity. The outcomes that we have achieved on ground after onboarding DLMS are a testimony to its efficacy." "This award is a testimony to the transformative impact of logistics in tackling the multi-modal transportation challenge in the mining value chain. CSM Tech got the opportunity to implement this seamless solution at JSW's mines and script a transformation on key mining parameters on the ground," said Priyadarshi Nanu Pany, Founder & CEO of CSM Technologies. The end-to-end mining logistics automation system has addressed problems like pilferage, untraceable material movement and porous/opaque movement of mineral carrying vehicles plying within the mining premises. The successful implementation of DLMS has reduced the time by 81% at critical touchpoints of dispatch trucks (In-Bound of the mines) and an average of only 3 hours less TAT (Turnaround Time) per permit. The reduced weighbridge operating cost and optimization of resources have enhanced the end-to-end performance of the mine-to-market value chain with increased productivity of 20%. The USPs of the integrated logistics systems are a centralized dashboard with drill-down capabilities for capturing heterogeneous data and a 360-degree view of the quantity of production, dispatch rate, and transporter's performance. Algorithms powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) enable miners to track every stage of the supply chain, minimize in-transit theft and ensure their product reaches the final touchpoint on time. About CSM Tech A Bhubaneswar-headquartered IT consulting company, CSM Tech has proven its excellence in designing and deploying technology solutions in 25 years of operations. CSM Tech earned its stripes first as a GovTech provider, and has now matured as a product-focused company. The company has built a domain-agnostic product stack populated by IntegratORE (Mining), Tourque (Tourism) and Agrigate (Agriculture) to name just a few. With such innovative products, CSM Tech is helping enterprises to accelerate their digital transformation journey. Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1847301/CSM_IMC_Award.jpg SOURCE CSM Technologies Private Limited Caregivers Can Purchase 24/7 Monitoring System Using Pre-Tax Funds NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aloe Care Health ("Aloe Care"), known for inventing the world's first voice-activated, emergency medical alert and communication service for eldercare, is now available for purchase on FSAstore.com and HSAstore.com, leading marketplaces for tax-free health and wellness accounts. More than 70 million people can now use pre-tax flexible spending account (FSA) and health savings account (HSA) funds to purchase Aloe Care. For the 53 million people who are caregivers , finding in-home support for parents and grandparents can be challenging, and many are now turning to technology to help. Created by caregivers for caregivers, Aloe Care is the most advanced emergency medical alert and communication service on the market today. With 24/7 voice-activated access to an emergency response center, a critical void is filled for both aging adults and caregivers. "The shortage of healthcare workers is having a direct impact on family caregivers who need the tools and support to remotely manage care for elderly loved ones," said Shawna Hausman, chief marketing officer of Health-E Commerce, parent brand to FSAstore.com and HSAstore.com. "We're excited to offer Aloe Care's medical alert system as part of our wide selection of exclusively eligible FSA and HSA items, further simplifying spending for caregivers and giving them a 24/7 support tool and greater peace of mind." "Aloe Care systems offer caregivers much-needed support while empowering older adults with better tools to maintain their lifestyles, get help in an emergency, and feel more connected to their personal network," said Ray Spoljaric, CEO and co-founder of Aloe Care Health. "With Aloe Care available on FSAstore.com, and HSAstore.com, even more people can take advantage of these benefits." Aloe Care offers a comprehensive, proactive approach to remote caregiving and communication. Acclaimed by PC Magazine, Today's Caregiver, and MD Tech Review, among others, Aloe Care Essentials includes: Aloe Care's proprietary Smart Hub with voice-activated access to 24/7 professional emergency response and built-in motion, temperature, and air quality sensors. A secure, proprietary family app that provides at-a-glance peace of mind about the elder's wellbeing, and improves communication and care collaboration (also includes the ability to make check-in calls into the Smart Hub). A wearable Care Button. 4G LTE connection (WiFi optional). ABOUT ALOE CARE HEALTH Aloe Care's voice-activated system is the world's most-advanced in-home medical alert and communication system for older adults. Aloe Care's, award-winning solution was created by caregivers, for caregivers. More than 70 percent of the team actively supports aging-in-place parents and grandparents. The company is headquartered in New York. For more information, visit www.aloecare.com . ABOUT HEALTH-E COMMERCE Health-E Commerce is the parent brand to FSA Store, HSA Store and WellDeservedHealth, a family of online marketplaces that serve the 70+ million consumers enrolled in pre-tax health and wellness accounts. The company also created Caring Mill, a popular private-label line of health products that benefits Children's Health Fund and enables customers to make a donation with each purchase. Since 2010, the Health-E Commerce brands have led the direct-to-consumer e-commerce market for exclusively pre-tax health and wellness benefits. Health-E Commerce plays an essential role in expanding product eligibility for important new categories within the list of eligible medical expenses. To learn more, visit www.health-ecommerce.com . SOURCE Aloe Care Health NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK IN RE AEGEAN MARINE PETROLEUM NETWORK, INC. SECURITIES LITIGATION ) ) ) Case No. 1:18-cv-04993 (NRB) Hon. Naomi Reice Buchwald SUMMARY NOTICE OF (I) PENDENCY OF CLASS ACTION AND PROPOSED PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS; AND (II) FINAL APPROVAL HEARING FOR THE PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS, PLANS OF ALLOCATION, MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF ATTORNEYS' FEES AND REIMBURSEMENT OF LITIGATION EXPENSES AND APPLICATION FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LITIGATION EXPENSE FUND TO: All Persons who purchased or otherwise acquired Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc. ("Aegean") securities or sold Aegean put options between February 27, 2014 through November 5, 2018, inclusive (the "Settlement Class Period"), and were allegedly damaged thereby. The securities subject to these proposed Partial Settlements consist of: (a) the common stock of Aegean (Tickers: ANWWQ; CINS: Y0017S102) (pre-bankruptcy Aegean traded under the ticker "ANW"); (b) Aegean 4.00% Convertible Unsecured Senior Notes due 11/1/2018, issued 10/23/2013 (CUSIP: EJ8900817; ISIN: USY0020QAA95); (c) Aegean 4.25% Convertible Unsecured Senior Notes due 12/15/2021, issued 12/19/2016 (CUSIP: 00773VAA4 (CUSIP changed to 00773VAB2 on 2/12/2018); ISIN: US00773VAB27); (d) Aegean call options; and (e) Aegean put options (collectively, "Aegean Securities"). PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY. YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY TWO PROPOSED PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS OF A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT PENDING IN THIS COURT. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT THE COURT, ANY DEFENDANT, OR THEIR COUNSEL, REGARDING THIS NOTICE. ALL QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS NOTICE, THE PROPOSED PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS, OR YOUR ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROPOSED PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO LEAD COUNSEL OR THE CLAIMS ADMINISTRATOR, WHOSE CONTACT INFORMATION IS PROVIDED BELOW. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS IS AVAILABLE ON THE SETTLEMENT WEBSITE: www.aegeansecuritieslitigation.com . YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED, pursuant to Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure and an Order of the Court, that a Settlement Class in the above-captioned litigation (the "Action") has been preliminarily certified for the purposes of these proposed Partial Settlements only. YOU ARE ALSO NOTIFIED that Utah Retirement Systems ("Lead Plaintiff"), on behalf of itself and the proposed Settlement Class, has reached two proposed Partial Settlements (one with PricewaterhouseCoopers Auditing Company S.A. ("PwC Greece") for $14.9 million in cash and one with Deloitte Certified Public Accountants, S.A. ("Deloitte Greece") for $14.9 million in cash) that will, among other things, resolve all claims against PwC Greece and Deloitte Greece (the "Settling Defendants") in the Action (the "Partial Settlements") if approved. A hearing (the "Final Approval Hearing") will be held before the Honorable Naomi Reice Buchwald, United States District Judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, either telephonically, via video conference, or at 500 Pearl Street, Courtroom 21-A, New York, New York, 10007 on September 13, 2022 at 2.pm., to, among other things, determine whether: (i) the proposed Partial Settlements should be approved by the Court as fair, reasonable and adequate; (ii) the Action should be dismissed with prejudice against PwC Greece, final judgment should be entered as to the claims against PwC Greece and the PwC Greece Released Claims should be released as against the PwC Greece Released Parties, as set forth in the PwC Greece Stipulation and Agreement of Partial Settlement; (iii) the proposed PwC Greece Plan of Allocation for distribution of the PwC Greece Settlement Fund and any interest earned thereon, less Taxes, Notice and Administration Costs, Litigation Expenses awarded by the Court, attorneys' fees awarded by the Court, and any other costs, expenses, or amounts as may be approved by the Court (the "PwC Greece Net Settlement Fund") should be approved as fair and reasonable; (iv) the Action should be dismissed with prejudice against Deloitte Greece, final judgment should be entered as to the claims against Deloitte Greece and the Deloitte Greece Released Claims should be released as against the Deloitte Greece Released Parties, as set forth in the Stipulation and Agreement of Partial Settlement with Deloitte Certified Public Accountants, S.A.; (v) the proposed Deloitte Greece Plan of Allocation for distribution of the Deloitte Greece Settlement Fund and any interest earned thereon, less Taxes, Notice and Administration Costs, Litigation Expenses awarded by the Court, attorneys' fees awarded by the Court, and any other costs, expenses, or amounts as may be approved by the Court (the "Deloitte Greece Net Settlement Fund") should be approved as fair and reasonable; (vi) whether Lead Counsel's application for attorneys' fees and reimbursement of Litigation Expenses should be approved by the Court; and (vii) whether Lead Counsel's application for the establishment of a Litigation Expense Fund should be approved by the Court. The Court may change the date of the Final Approval Hearing without providing another notice. You do NOT need to attend the Final Approval Hearing in order to receive a distribution from the PwC Greece Net Settlement Fund and/or the Deloitte Greece Net Settlement Fund. IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF THE SETTLEMENT CLASS, YOUR RIGHTS MAY BE AFFECTED BY THE PROPOSED PARTIAL SETTLEMENTS AND YOU MAY BE ENTITLED TO SHARE IN THE PWC GREECE NET SETTLEMENT FUND IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED AEGEAN SECURITIES BETWEEN MAY 17, 2017 AND NOVEMBER 5, 2018 AND/OR THE DELOITTE GREECE NET SETTLEMENT FUND IF YOU PURCHASED OR ACQUIRED AEGEAN SECURITIES BETWEEN FEBRUARY 27, 2014 AND NOVEMBER 5, 2018. If you have not yet received the printed (a) Notice of (i) Pendency of Class Action and Proposed Partial Settlements; and (ii) Final Approval Hearing For The Partial Settlements, Plans of Allocation, Motion For Approval of Attorneys' Fees and Reimbursement of Litigation Expenses and Application For The Establishment of a Litigation Expense Fund ("Notice"), or (b) the Proof of Claim and Release form ("Claim Form"), you can obtain a copy of those documents on the settlement website www.aegeansecuritieslitigation.com , or by contacting the Claims Administrator: In re Aegean Marine Petroleum Network, Inc. Securities Litigation Claims Administrator c/o A.B. Data, Ltd. P.O. Box 173088 Milwaukee, WI 53217 Please refer to the settlement website for more detailed information and to review the documents pertaining to the Proposed Partial Settlements. Inquiries may also be made to Lead Counsel: Nicole Lavallee BERMAN TABACCO 44 Montgomery Street, Suite 650 San Francisco, CA 94104 Telephone: (415) 433-3200 [email protected] The PwC Greece Net Settlement Fund and the Deloitte Greece Net Settlement Fund (i.e., the Settlement Amount plus any and all interest earned thereon less (i) any Taxes; (ii) any Notice and Administration Costs; (iii) any cost and expense reimbursement awarded by the Court; (iv) any attorneys' fees awarded by the Court; and (v) any other costs or fees approved by the Court) will be distributed to Class Members in accordance with the PwC Greece Plan of Allocation and the Deloitte Greece Plan of Allocation. If you are a potential Settlement Class Member, but wish to exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you must submit a written request for exclusion in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice, which can also be found on the settlement website, received no later than August 23, 2022. If you are a potential Settlement Class Member and do not timely exclude yourself from the Settlement Class, you will be bound by any judgments or orders entered by the Court in the Action. Any objections to the proposed Partial Settlements, the PwC Greece Plan of Allocation, the Deloitte Greece Plan of Allocation, Lead Counsel's application for attorneys' fees and reimbursement of expenses and/or Lead Counsel's application for the establishment of a Litigation Expense Fund must be submitted to the Court in accordance with the instructions set forth in the Notice, received no later than August 23, 2022, and filed with the Court no later than August 23, 2022. DATED: June 27, 2022 THE HONORABLE NAOMI REICE BUCHWALD District Judge, United States District Court for the Southern District of New York SOURCE Berman Tabacco Leading V1C companies, investors, payors, patients, and actuaries create a one-stop-shop of essential resources designed to help integrate virtual and "brick and mortar" healthcare BOSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, IMPACT - the virtual-first care (V1C) initiative hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) - launched the Effective V1C Care Transitions Toolkit, a robust set of resources that shows the field what effective V1C care transitions look like and how to successfully integrate them into our current health care system. A free launch event is open to the public tomorrow, June 28, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. ET, to learn more about the toolkit and how leaders in the field are already using its resources to manage patient care. The global pandemic prompted millions of healthcare professionals to utilize virtual care options, and while life may be trending back to normal, patients are demanding more accessible care options. Telehealth usage is currently 38 times pre-pandemic levels and some estimates predict that 70.6 million Americans will use remote patient monitoring tools by 2025. "V1C is likely the greatest opportunity of our lifetimes to redefine healthcare and improve lives," said Jennifer Goldsack, CEO at DiMe. "However, this opportunity will be squandered if it remains separate from the traditional health care system. IMPACT focused on developing resources to enable efficient care transitions to, from, and between V1C providers to ensure that V1C is not just another silo of healthcare. By weaving virtual care into established and new venues of care we will enhance care coordination and user experience across the board as well as drive improvements in access, equity, effectiveness, and efficiency." As defined by IMPACT's inaugural project in 2021, V1C is medical care for an individual or a community accessed through digital interactions, guided by a clinician, and integrated into a person's everyday life. It's not "virtual only;" it's about considering and incorporating virtual options when they benefit a patient and his, her, or their care team. The new IMPACT Effective V1C Care Transitions Toolkit accounts for this notion and provides a foundation for building a relationship between V1C and the rest of the healthcare system. The suite of resources walks users through foundational care activities along a patient journey, including the referral and intake of new patients into V1C, ongoing co-management of patients by multiple providers, and downstream referral for necessary services and procedures. The resources include: A Guide to Effective V1C Care Transitions Principles for engaging informal care partners and using a tech stack for effective V1C care transitions Quickstart guides for V1C providers, as well as their brick-and-mortar and payor partners Over a dozen case studies showing examples of how V1C care transitions are done well and can be integrated today "The pandemic shone a light on the benefits of health tech to facilitate virtual care. This catalyzed momentum and acceptance, both from the population at large but also public regulators," said CareHive CEO Ronald Dixon. "But there is a full continuum of technology-enabled, data- and AI-driven health tech on our horizon which can position V1C to effectively address chronic, long-term, and post-acute care, while streamlining processes and reducing costs. I'm happy to be partnering with IMPACT to develop, organize, and distribute resources for providers, funders, policymakers, and more to improve care." This work is a critically important first step to unlocking the promises of V1C to transform health care and there is still much more to be done. IMPACT welcomes new members to its community annually through an open call period beginning in July 2022. Interested organizations can sign up for an information session . About IMPACT: Hosted by the Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) and the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), vIrtual first Medical PrActice CollaboraTion ("IMPACT") is a pre-competitive collaboration of leading digital health companies, investors, payors, and consultants dedicated to supporting virtual-first medical organizations and their commitment to patient-centric care. To become a member, visit impact.dimesociety.org to learn more and inquire today . About the Digital Medicine Society: DiMe is a global non-profit and the professional home for all members of the digital medicine community. Together, we tackle the toughest digital medicine challenges, develop clinical-quality resources on a technology timeline, and deliver these actionable resources to the field via open-source channels and educational programs. Join us to advance the ethical, effective, equitable, and safe use of digital medicine to redefine healthcare and improve lives. Media Contact: Carla English, [email protected] SOURCE Digital Medicine Society (DiMe) WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The White House Historical Association has announced a new virtual fashion exhibit exploring overlooked designers and seamstresses for first ladies: "Glamour and Innovation: The Women Behind the Seams of Fashion at the White House." The exhibit is the result of an inaugural academic partnership with New York University's Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development. The partnership with NYU began in January and will continue in 2023, with the next fellow chosen this fall through a competitive application process. The Association's first Digital Exhibit fellow, MA/MS Costume Studies student Maegan Jenkins, envisioned the exhibit and researched and built the project in collaboration with the Association's David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House History's Digital Library team. "Glamour and Innovation: The Women Behind the Seams of Fashion at the White House." explores the work of a diverse group of seamstresses, designers, and couturiers responsible for iconic first ladies' fashions. The exhibit highlights the eight entrepreneurial women who forged ahead despite racial discrimination, demonstrated that American designs could rival Parisian fashion, and designed across the aisle for first ladies of both parties. Through a mix of archival photography, portraits, biographies, and press clippings, Jenkins' exhibit will cover more than a hundred years in fashion history, beginning with Elizabeth Keckley, Mary Lincoln's dressmaker who was born enslaved, to Mary Matise, who designed Rosalynn Carter's 1977 inaugural gown. Programming such as this is supported by the sale of the Official White House Christmas Ornament. About The White House Historical Association First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $50 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org. SOURCE White House Historical Association Turn the Tide Committee Calls for Virginians to Protect our Patriots! WILLIAMSBURG, Va., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Turn the Tide president Matt Waters called on Governor Youngkin, Lt. Governor Sears and Attorney General Miyares to, "Protect our Patriots!" Waters, whose Turn the Tide Committee has garnered over 1,200 signatures from Virginians calling for the restoration of historic names to various Virginia Community Colleges, said, "It's a d*** disgrace the GOP leadership in Virginiathat won elections on the basis of overturning Critical Race Theoryhas done zero to protect our patriots." Patrick Henry, the Commonwealth's first governor, who cried "Give me liberty or give me death!" has been cancelled by Governor Youngkin. Thomas Nelson, a war-time Governor, who fired on his own home to give us our freedom and who personally funded the war for independence, cancelled by Governor Youngkin. The nation's 10th president, John Tyler, who purchased Texas, cancelled by Governor Youngkin." "It's a monumentally sad day for Virginians of all political parties to have our state community colleges defined by radicals who support Critical Race Theoryand it's even sadder for those who voted for and financially supported Youngkin, Sears and Miyares only to have them turn their back on millions of Virginians." "My son attends college in Tyler, Texas, named after our 10th President and Virginian, John Tyler. Tyler, Texas is not renaming their town to accommodate lying proponents of the disgraced CRT philosophy. But here in Virginia, the Governor, Lt. Governor and AG all rolled-over." "Youngkin, Sears and Miyares owe their election to Virginians who had enough of Critical Race Theory lies and disinformation. How they can sell out Virginia history is baffling. The only reason they are in power is because the Democrats overreached. Democrats lose elections because they do too much. Republicans lose elections because they don't do anything." Turn the Tide Committee is a 501 c 4 organization established to fight for and defend the Constitution and those who established our nation, particularly Virginia Patriots. SOURCE Turn the Tide Committee, INC HOUSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- HighBridge Premium is pleased to announce it has entered into a Joint Venture Agreement with NanoHempTechLabs of Houston, Texas. Under the terms of the Agreement, production in Texas is scheduled to begin in late July. HighBridge, a producer of premium quality recreational cannabis beverages, has worked with NanoHempTechLabs (NHTL) to develop formulas utilizing the NHTL "nano" technology for Delta-9 THC extraction from Hemp. Under the terms of their agreement, NHTL will produce an initial run of 75,000 units of the HighBridge faux Beer suite. HighBridge PremiumTM "HighBridge is excited to partner with NanoHempTechLabs and thrilled to be in Texas! We view Texas as a huge market and are eager to introduce the HighBridge Brand ahead of the expected State legalization of marijuana" said James Hunter, Founder of HighBridge Premium. "The expertise, energy and drive of the team at NHTL made our decision easy and gave us the confidence to accelerate our move into the Texas market", he added. First up for production in Texas are three of the HighBridge faux Beer products. Not traditionally brewed and totally alcohol free, these include: eeZee daZe, a lager style product that will contain 10mg Delta-9; Alpine Rush, an IPA style product that will contain 12.5mg Delta-9; and, Neblina del Pacifico, a Mexican style craft beverage with 12.5mg and 20mg CBD. Other products in the HighBridge suite include Botanical Seltzers (ReFrsh), Aphrodisiac Shots (HigherLove & HigherLove+), an Energy Shot (HigherPower), and a sleep aid (U4ia). Stated Dalton Worley, spokesman for NHTL, "When we decided to enter the beverage space, we wanted to have an immediate impact, take a position of leadership, and reinforce our reputation for putting out quality products. HighBridge not only helps us do that, but also fits into the NHTL's plans for growth and expansion." The Joint Venture Partners are already exploring additional venues such as Louisiana, Florida, and North Carolina. "To partner with a major brand like HighBridge, that shares our commitment to integrity, as well as our vision of growth, opens the door to endless opportunities. Really exciting stuff!" Added Worley. About HighBridge Premium: HighBridge Premium (The Highbridge Company, LLC) is a Wyoming corporation that, in conjunction with its consulting, lab and marketing partners, develops premium beverages for the recreational cannabis industry. HighBridge currently has 10 products market ready and expects to add several more each quarter. HighBridge products are currently available in California and Arizona. Additional product launch venues targeted for 2022 include Texas, Louisiana, Florida, Nevada, Massachusetts & Illinois. The HighBridge goal is to be a Multi-State Organization with an International footprint. Our dedication is to quality and product integrity. For more information visit the company website: www.highbridgepremium.com Certain statements in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements involve risks and uncertainties, which are described in more detail and discussed in the Company's website; www.highbridgepremium.com. Forward-looking statements are made and based on information available to the Company on the date of this press release. HighBridge assumes no obligation to update the information in this press release. Contact: Victoria Hunter [email protected] Tel: 763.443.5337 SOURCE HighBridge PremiumTM Women journalists from Ukraine, U.S. and China receive prestigious honor WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) today announced the recipients of its 32nd annual Courage in Journalism Awards, which honor women journalists who show remarkable persistence and bravery within news media. This year's honorees are Lynsey Addario, a veteran United States photojournalist currently working with The New York Times; Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian freelance journalist; and, Cerise Castle, a United States investigative journalist. Imprisoned Chinese columnist Xueqin (Sophia) Huang was awarded the Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, which is given annually to a journalist who is unjustly jailed, detained, or imprisoned. The Courage in Journalism Awards are announced amid heightened global tensions around the world, including Russia's war on Ukraine, the consequences of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, numerous authoritarian crackdowns, and blatant human rights abuses. These awards recognize the women journalists at the frontlines of these challenges who are intrepid in their commitment to reporting. "This year's awardees have persevered in the face of extreme dangers, including police intimidation, censorship, captivity and the trauma of documenting war crimes," said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Munoz. "These women bear witness to some of the world's darkest and most difficult moments; it is an honor to recognize their drive to report on truths not often seen, and appreciate how those stories affect our news landscape today." The Courage in Journalism Awards are made possible by Bank of America, the awards' National Presenting Sponsor for 16 consecutive years. The IWMF would like to thank Bank of America for its commitment to journalism, diversity in news media and the pursuit of press freedom. Reporting from 70 countries throughout her 25-year career, photojournalist Lynsey Addario is dedicated to documenting conflict, humanitarian crisis, and women's issues from the frontlines despite a near-death experience. Also reporting from the ground in Ukraine is Victoria Roshchyna, whose freelance coverage shares the horrifying effects of war on civilians; Roshchyna was detained twice by Russian forces for her work. U.S.-based journalist Cerise Castle wrote the first history exposing deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, resulting in harassment and retaliation from LASD and threats to her safety. Having spent her career reporting on injustice and corruption in China including pioneering the #MeToo movement within her country Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Awardee Xueqin (Sophia) Huang was arrested on September 19, 2021. She remains imprisoned with no contact to her family or lawyers since her arrest. The awardees will be recognized during a virtual ceremony on November 9, 2022, held in partnership with Washington Post Live. The event will be hosted by IWMF board member and CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell and chaired by Quadrivium Foundation co-founder and president Kathryn Murdoch. "Global conflicts continue to demonstrate that press freedom is foundational to democracy," said Murdoch. "I am honored to recognize these four incredible women at the 2022 Courage in Journalism Awards and further support the IWMF's work to break barriers in the news media." About the 2022 Courage in Journalism Award Winners Lynsey Addario (United States) Photojournalist Twitter: @lynseyaddario, Instagram: @lynseyaddario Lynsey Addario is an American photojournalist who has been covering conflict, humanitarian crises, and women's issues around the Middle East and Africa on assignment for The New York Times and National Geographic for more than two decades. Since September 11, 2001, Addario has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Darfur, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Syria, and ongoing war in Ukraine. Addario is the recipient of numerous awards, including a MacArthur fellowship. She was part of The New York Times team to win a Pulitzer Prize for overseas reporting out of Afghanistan and Pakistan, an Overseas Press Club Olivier Rebbot Award, and two Emmy nominations. In 2015, Addario wrote a New York Times best-selling memoir, "It's What I Do," which chronicles her personal and professional life as a photojournalist coming of age in the post-9/11 world. In 2018, she released her first solo collection of photography, "Of Love and War," published by Penguin Press. After nearly three months in Ukraine, Addario remarked, "I'm so honored to receive this award. Every day, I feel more passionate about the importance of journalism in our society, and I hope this award inspires aspiring and working female journalists to continue covering difficult and dangerous stories. We need to see the world through women's eyes from all backgrounds and all ages." Read more of Addario's story here. Victoria Roshchyna ( Ukraine ) Freelance Journalist Victoria Roshchyna is a Ukrainian freelance journalist reporting for Ukrayinska Pravda, Hromadske and Radio Free Europe. Throughout her 6+ years in journalism, Roshchyna has primarily covered complex and dangerous topics including crime, courts, human rights and war to bring power to account. Roshchyna has been reporting exclusively on the war in Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. In March 2022, Roshchyna was captured twice by Russian forces in the eastern regions of Ukraine, the second time held for 10 days in Berdyansk. Despite the risk, Roshchyna has continued reporting on the war, stating: "This is the most important story, showing bravery again and again." She continues, "I was never afraid to tell the truth. People need to know the truth, and the guilty must be held accountable. I do not consider it courage but, rather, my professional duty." Read more of Roshchyna's story here. Cerise Castle (United States) Freelance Journalist Twitter: @cerisecastle, Instagram: @yourmajestce Los Angeles, California-based freelance journalist Cerise Castle specializes in arts & culture, civil rights, crime, and human interest stories. She's produced and hosted segments for the Emmy-award winning nightly news program, VICE News Tonight, NPR, and several podcasts. Her reporting and commentary have been featured in publications like Knock LA, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, and MTV. Castle wrote "A Tradition of Violence," the first history of deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the largest local law enforcement agency in the United States. The investigation was published as a 15-part reporting series for Knock LA exposing 18 gangs, 19 documented murders (all of whom were people of color), and over $100 million dollars in lawsuits paid for by the people of Los Angeles. The podcast of the same name and subject matter is due out in October 2022. Castle commented, "This award is an acknowledgment of the relentless work of families impacted by deputy violence, and the LA County communities that lifted their voices to seek out the truth. I hope this inspires others to begin their own investigations of powers that have historically avoided accountability." Read more of Castle's story here. Xueqin (Sophia) Huang ( People's Republic of China ) Freelance Journalist Sophia Huang is a Chinese freelance journalist, reporting on issues related to human rights and gender equality in China. She also self-publishes on Matters, an online platform for civil discourse, and shared her observations of the protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Huang described witnessing the protesters' resiliency firsthand and including her own thoughts on resistance to political tyranny, "," which landed her in Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) a form of government detention of individuals accused of endangering state security for three months from October 2019 to January 2020. Huang is also a feminist activist, who came forth with her story of sexual harassment and conducted the only online survey of Chinese female journalists' experiences with workplace sexual harassment in 2018. In 2021, her article on female activist Li Qiaochu, ": ', ,'"published by Initium Media, received an award for Excellence in Reporting on Women's Issues from the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), an organization that recognizes individuals for outstanding journalism. Three months after receiving this award, Huang went missing en route to the United Kingdom, where she was to begin a masters program. One month later, it came to light that she was detained for, "inciting subversion of state power." Huang is still in detention, and her case is with the Guangzhou City People's Procuratorate. About the International Women's Media Foundation The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, global reporting opportunities, and funding for both staff reporters and freelancers, all specifically tailored for women and gender diverse journalists. Our mission is to ensure more opportunities, bylines, and recognition of women and nonbinary journalists and create a greater diversity of voices in journalism. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, on Instagram on @TheIWMF and on TikTok @theiwmf. SOURCE The International Women's Media Foundation Getting world history right: real African history By Dr Kwame Nantambu June 27, 2022 Years after the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 2011 as "The International Year for People of African Descent", it must be realized that the European enslavement of African people or the "MAAFA" ("great disaster") only represents .01 per cent of the history of African people on this planet. Put another way, for the 99.9 per cent of their history, Africans were a free people. Furthermore, "there were a thousand years of independent state formation and state management in inner West Africa called the western Sudan before the (European) slave trade." The purpose of this article, therefore, is to posit in its proper historical perspective, a unique Afri-centric, geo-political linkage analysis of African history. Thesis At the outset, it must be stated quite equivocally, categorically and emphatically that contrary to the xenophobic description/label to describe Haiti and countries in Africa in derogatory language only directly resembles and refers to countries in Europe in the 15th century A.D.; it certainly neither resembles nor refers to countries in Africa prior to that period. Anti-Thesis In the case of Haiti, the leaders of the successful, violent, Islamic Haitian revolution 1791-1804 were Jean Jacques Dessalines, Henri Christophe, Toussaint L Ouverture and Dutty Boukman a Jamaican-born Muslim and also known as a "man of the book". According to Sylvaine Diouf in his treatise titled "The Muslim Factor in the Haitian Revolution" (2013): "the Muslims were essential in the success of the Haitian revolution." During the 1791-1804 period, these Africans defeated the Euro-British and the Euro-French. In fact, these Africans defeated the all-mighty French general Napoleon Bonaparte who at that time commanded the most powerful army in Europe. According to deceased historian C. L. R. James in The Black Jacobins (1938), the most significant, historical aspect/impact of the Haitian revolution is that it "killed the West Indian slave trade and slavery." Furthermore, it not only served as the catalyst for subsequent slave revolts throughout the Caribbean but also most importantly, it ushered in Haiti as the first independent, sovereign nation-state in the entire Western Hemisphere ruled by Africans. Ipso facto, the stark, historical reality check is that Africans in Haiti won their political independence from Euro-France per armed revolution. On 1st January 1804, Jean Jacques Dessalines, as Governor-General, proclaimed himself "Emperor of the New State." In essence, then, the ultimate, albeit indisputable, historical legacy of the African-Haitian revolution is: "Europeans are not unbeatable." In the case of Africa, deceased, erudite, Afri-centric scholar/historian Dr. John Henrik Clarke has specifically pointed out and elucidated the salient historical reality that: Civilization did not start in European countries and the rest of the world did not wait in darkness for the Europeans to bring the light . Most of the history books in the last five hundred years have been written to glorify Europeans at the expense of other peoples . Most Western historians have not been willing to admit that there is an African history to be written about and that this history predates the emergence of Europe by thousands of years. It is not possible for the world to have waited in darkness because Europeans themselves were in darkness. When the light of culture came for the first time to the people who would later call themselves Europeans, it came from Africa and Middle Eastern Asia. It is too often forgotten that, when the Europeans emerged and began to extend themselves into the broader world of Africa and Asia during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, they went on to colonize most of mankind. Later, they would colonize world scholarship, mainly to show or imply that Europeans were the only creators of what could be called a civilization. In order to accomplish this, the Europeans had to forget, or pretend to forget, all they previously knew about Africa. And this Afri-centric, historical assertion is corroborated by R.R. Plamer and Joel Colton in their book titled A History of the Modern World (1984) to the extent that: Europeans are by no means the pioneers of human civilization. Half of mans recorded history had passed before anyone in Europe could read or write. The (High)priests of Egypt began to keep written records between 4,000 and 3,000 B.C., but more than two thousand years later, the poems of Homer were still being circulated in the Greek city-states by word of mouth. Shortly after 3,000 B.C., while the Pharaohs were building the first pyramids (in Egypt), Europeans were creating nothing more distinguished than huge garbage heaps in regard to the aforementioned quotes, it is indeed imperative to distinguish clearly between "History" and "His-story." By way of elucidation, "History is the truth about the past. His-story is the white mans (Europeans) version of the past, a distorted, racist and often fictitious story. The stark reality that Western "His-storians have also contended that the Egyptians were tan-Europeans", provides de jure evidence to distinguish between these two conflicting assertions. However, this historical confusion is aptly clarified by the Euro-French historian Count C. F. Volney in his Ruins of Empires (1980) as follows: "There a people, now forgotten, discovered while others were yet barbarians, the elements of the arts and sciences. A race of men now rejected for their black skin and wooly hair founded on the study of the laws of nature these civil and religious systems which still govern the universe." And this historical narrative now reaches the vital juncture of the three "Golden Ages" of African civilization. According to Dr. John Henrik Clarke in his article titled "Africa: The Passing of the Golden Age": "The first age coincides with archaeological work during this period, the basic institution of all human societies was formed: the family. The establishment of a family structure forced the development of ways and means to preserve the family as an institution. In this phase too, the purely African communities mastered the smelting of iron and the fashioning of tools and weapons and gave impetus to the high civilization of Egypt in 1600 B.C.. The second Age begins in 1700 B.C. when Egypt expels Asian invaders, the Hyksos and the eighteenth Egyptian dynasty was established. The third Golden Age is that which contains the rise of the Western Sudanic kingdoms Ghana, Songhay and Mali." Indeed, "the first of the great empires of the Western Sudan to become known to the outside world was Ghana. It began as a small settlement during the second century of the Christian era. It would later develop into a state and reached the height of its greatness during the reign of Tenkamenin, one of its greatest kings, who came to power in 1062 A.D. The king lived in a palace of stone and wood, which was built to be defended in time of war." Dr. Clarke further elucidates that this "empire was well organized. The political progress and social well-being of its people could be favorably compared to the best kingdoms and empires in Europe at that time. The country had a military force of 200,000 men." In the final analysis, Ghana was invaded by the Almoravides under Abu Bekr in 1076 A.D. This conquest ended Ghanas age of prosperity and socio-cultural development. In its heyday, Ghana was described as "the greatest kingdom of the Blacks" and "the most commercial of the Black countries." On the other hand, Timbuctoo, "the queen city of the Western Sudan", was "the great intellectual nucleus of the Songhai Empire." These scholars were known and respected throughout most of Africa and Europe. During this age of African history, "the University of Sankore was the educational capital of the Western Sudan." Mansa Musa was the emperor of the famous Kingdom of Mali. He epitomized "the whole wealth of Africa." In addition, "he conquered the Songhai Empire and rebuilt the University of Sankore" plus, "he was the most colorful of the Black kings of the 14th century." The empire of Mali experienced a drastic decline after the death of Mansa Musa. Songhai replaced Mali in position of power and importance in Africa under King Askia the Great. According to Dr. Clarke, King Askia the Greats claims to fame are (1) when he came to power in 1498, he "consolidated the territory conquered by the previous ruler Sonni Ali and built Songhai into the most powerful State in the Western Sudan His realm, it is said, was larger than all Europe" (11) he is known as "one of the most brilliant and enlightened administrators of all times" (111) he "reorganized the army of Songhai, improved the system of banking and credit and made the city-states Gao, Walata, Timbuctoo and Jenne into intellectual centres" (1v) he "encouraged scholarship and literature. Students from all over the Moslem world came to Timbuctoo to study grammar, law and surgery at the University of Sankore; scholars came from North Africa and Europe to confer with learned historians and writers of this Black empire" and (v) "Askia has been hailed as one of the wisest monarchs of the Middle Ages." Ergo, it need occasion no great surprise hat in book titled The Progress and Evolution of Man in Africa (1961), the Euro-British historian Dr. L. S. B. Leaky asks the formidable/logical question: "What has Africa contributed to world progress?". He further suggests that "the critics of Africa forget that men of science today, with few exceptions, are satisfied that Africa was the birthplace of man himself and that for many hundreds of centuries thereafter, Africa was in the forefront of all human progress and this progress is further amplified by John W. Weatherwax in his pamphlet titled The African Contribution (1966) in which he zeroes in on The African Contribution to the early development of humankind as follows: "The early Africans made hooks to catch fish, spears to hunt with, the bola, with which to catch birds and animals, the blow gun, the hammer, the stone axe, canoes and paddles, bags and buckles, poles, bows and arrows. The pre-history of mankind is called the Stone Age. It may have lasted half a million years. Canoes made it possible for man to travel farther from his early home. Over many centuries, canoes went down the Nile (river) and up many smaller rivers and streams. From the blow gun of ancient Africa, there followed, in later ages, many devices based on its principles. Some of them are the bellows, bamboo air pumps, the rifle, the pistol, the revolver, the automatic machine gun and even those industrial guns that puff grain. African hunters many times cut up game. There still exists from the old Stone Age, drawings of animal bones, hearts and other organs." The early drawings are a part of mans early beginnings in the field of anatomy. 10 The fact of the matter is that until recently, the typical Euro-centric Western historian has always maintained that the origin of all humankind had been in Asia, specifically the Java region of Southern Asia. However, the first modern-day person to suggest that Africa is "the cradle of civilization and humankind" is Charles Darwin in his magnum opus Descent of Man (1871). Of course, Darwin had already shaken up the scientific world with his theories of evolution and natural selection. His prophecy that "Africa would be found to be the origin of the human species was rejected out of hand by the scientific community and considered heresy in the social and political world." Conversely, scholars of the ancient world, uncontaminated by the need and desire to conform to the presumption of European superiority and supremacy, had routinely hypothesizes that indeed "Africa had been the birthplace of man." The stark historical reality is that Diodorus Siculus, a Euro-Roman scholar writing in the first century B.C. concluded that: "The Ethiopians say that they were the first man that ever were in the world and that to prove this they have clear demonstrations. It is most possible that those who inhabit the South were the first living men that sprang out of the earth. It is rational to conclude that those nearest to the sun should have been the first parents of all living creatures." The salient reality is that for centuries, the Euro-Western world and scholars have bitterly resisted the notion that Africa should be recognized as the birthplace of all humankind. But the evidence is too overwhelming to deny that truism out of existence. In fact, Dr. John Henrik Clarke surmises that "although much remains to be learned and several academic controversies continue to boil concerning specific details of these early ancestors, the broad outline of early human history has become increasingly clear." It includes the following indisputable, historical truths: "As early as 600,000 B.C., there were only Africans. That is, the only ancestors of humans alive, lived on the African Continent. Between 500,000 400,000 B.C., Africans began to migrate to other parts of the world. Isolation and environmental differences worked to produce differing physical characteristics within migrating groups." Furthermore, in his book titled A Lost Tradition: African Philosophy in World History (1995), Dr. Theophile Obenga quotes the Greek philosopher Aristotle ranking ancient Kemet (Egypt) as "the most ancient archeological reserve in the world" and "that is how the Egyptians whom we (Greeks) considered the most ancient of the human race." According to Dr. Obenga "the ancient Greeks traced all human inventions to the Egyptians from Calculus, Geometry, Astronomy and to Writing .Since the time of Homer, Egyptian antiquity functioned strictly as a highly memoralized component of Greek history; Herodotus said it, Plato confirmed it and Aristotle never denied it." In fact, Aristotle himself confesses: "Thus, the mathematical sciences first originated in Egypt (Africa), the cradle of mathematics." 14 Indeed, it must be pointed out here that most of the now renowned/revered Greeks (the worlds first Europeans) all studied at the Temple of Waset in ancient Kemet (Egypt) Africa. This Temple is the worlds first university. It is known as the "royal septer" and was built during the reign of Pharaoh Amenhotep 111, in the XV111 Dynasty circa 1391 B.C. At its zenith, it educated 80,000 students. This Temple was re-named Thebes by the Greeks, namely, Alexander the so-called "great" when he invaded Kemet (Egypt) in 332 B.C. and Luxor by the Arabs when they invaded Egypt in 641 A.D. For example, Plato studied at the Temple of Waset in ancient Kemet (Egypt) Africa for 11 years; Aristotle for 11-13 years; Socrates was there for 15 years; Euclid studied there for 10-11 years; Pythagoras for 22 years; Hypocrates was there for 20 years; and the other Greeks who matriculated in Africa were Solon, Thales, Archimides and Euripides. Indeed, the Greek, St. Clement of Alexandria once stated that "if you were to write a book of 1,000 pages, you would not be able to put down the names of all the Greeks who went to Kemet (Africa) to be educated and even those who did not surreptitiously claim they went because it was prestigious." Moreover, contrary to Euro-centric geo-political, historical mis-information, (albeit edjumacation), the worlds first Olympics that was held in Olympia, Greece in 776 B.C., was not held to promote and reward sportsmanship, physical brawn or brinkmanship; instead, it was held as a public spiritual ceremony to worship the African deity Amon, "ruler of the Gods." In fact, historiography proves quite convincingly that the European Gods and Goddesses were actually of African origin but given European names. As prima facie evidence, the African God Amon was re-named Zeus by the Greeks and Jupiter by the Romans; the African God Heru was called Apollo by both the Greeks and Romans; the worlds first recorded multi-genius the African Imhotep (builder of the Step pyramid at Saqqara in 2630 B.C.) was re-named Asclepius by the Greeks and Aesclapius by the Romans; the African God Djhuti/Thoth (God of science, writing and knowledge) was called Hermes by the Greeks and Mercury by the Romans; the African God Pluto was re-named Neptune by the Romans and Poseidon by the Greeks; the African God Ausar (God of resurrection) was re-named Osiris by both the Greeks and Romans; the African Goddess Hathor(Goddess of love and beauty) was called Aphrodite by the Greeks and Venus by the Romans; the African Goddess Ist/Aset (Goddess of maternity) was re-named Isis and worshipped as "the Black Madonna." More specifically, this African Goddess had such an impact on Europeans that if one were to decipher the capital city of Euro-France, it is Paris which means "Per Isis" plus the Cathedral of Notre Dame is also in honor/worship of this African Goddess Ist/Aset. Indeed, there is absolutely no field of human endeavor, contribution, achievement in which Africans have originated save the field of medicine. And this unique African medical originality informs the Euro-centric geo-political, historical mis-information about the "Caesarean Section." The fact of the matter is that the two principal individuals in this scenario are the then Pharaoh of ancient Kemet (Egypt) Cleopatra V11 (Winter 69 B.C.-12 August 30 B.C.) and Euro-Roman Emperor Julius Caesar. In her seminal opus titled Cleopatra: From History to Legend (1997), Edith Flamarion states that when Egyptian Pharaoh Ptolemy X11 died in March 51 B.C., he decreed that his successors should be his two eldest children, namely, Cleopatra V11, who was then eighteen years old and Ptolemy X111, who was just ten years old. "According to Ptolemaic dynastic law, Cleopatra had to marry Ptolemy X111" but this was not a sexually consummated marriage. Ergo, Cleopatra V11, then, became "mistress of the two lands", that is, Pharaoh of Upper and Lower Kemet (Egypt). Circa 48 B.C., there was an "internal revolt against Cleopatra V11" and Julius Caesar entered the city of Alexandria "as a conqueror" and was able to pacify the Alexandrians that "as consul, he represented Roman Law." Julius Caesar then "summoned both Cleopatra and her brother in order to settle the conflict between them." However, before the meeting with Julius Caesar Cleopatra sent several "emissaries" to him in order to ascertain "his good intentions" When she finally agreed to go to Alexandria to meet Caesar, Cleopatra travelled "in the dead of night" and hidden and wrapped "in a coverlet rolled in a carpet" because she feared "her brothers spies and his attempts to impede her." Legend has it that Cleopatra ("glory of the father") was "smuggled into (Caesars) apartment." They had sexual intercourse that night, either "for reasons of political convenience" or mere human physical attraction. However, in the Spring of 47 B.C., both Julius Caesar and Egyptian Pharaoh Cleopatra V11 went "on a long voyage up the Nile abroad a luxurious pleasure barge." Depicted as "a lovers outing", it was a political tour intended to show the people of the country their true master. Nevertheless, when Julius Caesar left Kemet/Egypt in May 47 B.C., Pharaoh Cleopatra V11 was pregnant. This "lighting-hike eastern campaign" has given rise to Julius Caesars famous or infamous historical quote: "Veni, vidi, vinci" "I came, I saw, I conquered." Julius Caesar was circa 52 years of age at the time. Indeed, the record reveals that on 23 June 47 B.C., Pharaoh Cleopatra V11 gave birth to her first child, a baby boy named Caesarion which means "Little Caesar". However, what is most significant in this scenario and in terms of real African history is that Pharaoh Cleopatra V11s delivery was not normal. The high priests of ancient Kemet (Egypt) Africa had to perform an original, special medical procedure to deliver Pharaoh Cleopatra V11s baby boy. And this historic, original African medical procedure performed in the B.C. era, is now globalized as the "Caesarean Section" - to our African ancestors be the glory. In terms of real African history in the A.D. era, evidence of this African "human progress" is clearly corroborated in 711 A.D. when the African general Tarikh ben Zaid also known as Gibral Tarik (the "Rock of Gibraltar") and a 10,000 army of African Muslims (Moors) invaded Spain and routed the "savage" Europeans. As J.C. de Graft-Johnson, "a dean of African historians", points out in his master-piece African Glory: "The conquest of Spain was an African conquest. They were Mohammedan Africans who laid low the Gothic Kingdom of Spain. In terms of prior 15th century world historiography, Baba Zak Kondo validates in his book titled The Black Students Guide to Positive Education, the historical African linkage analysis that: Tarik and his (African Moors) made Spain the most advanced society in Western Europe for 700 years. These Africans, among other things, introduced the common bath and udergarments to the Europeans and built Europes first universities. Moreover, (these Africans) made Spain a center for the arts and sciences. Moorish civilization in Spain was most visible in (the) tenth century. Indeed, the historical record reveals that the first university these Africans/Moors established/built in Europe was the University of Salamanca in Spain in 900 A.D. In other words, prior to the 15th century A.D., Africans humanized, educated and civilized European in the B.C. era. During that era, ancient Kemet/Egypt was known as "the land of the Blacks", "the Black land" or "the Light of the world." Indeed, the 700 plus years the African Moors occupied Spain (711-1485) gave rise to the emergence of Europeans on a global scale during the period 1400-1600. As Dr. John Henrik Clarke explains in his book titled Christopher Columbus & the Afrikan Holocaust: This was a point in history when Europeans freed themselves from the lethargy of the Middle Ages, the aftermath of the Crusades and the famines and plagues (as in the "bubonic plague") that had taken one-third (20 million) of the population of Europe. It is also the period when Europeans freed themselves from almost a thousand year fear of Islam and what they referred to as the Infidel Arabs, who had been controlling the Mediterranean and its trade routes since the decline of the Roman Empire in the middle of the 7th century. The renewal of European nationalism, the marriage of (King) Ferdinand and (Queen) Isabella of Spain, the expulsion of the Arabs, Moors and the Jews from Spain in 1492 and the introduction of the slave trade gave Europe a new economic lease on life. Europeans (then) had to create a rationale and a series of myths to justify their new position (in the world) and what they intended to extract from non-European people (from the 15th century onward). On the one hand, deceased Guyanese African history scholar Dr. Walter Rodney has expounded on the first aspect of European 15th century rise to global power in his book How Europe Underdeveloped Africa). And in this process of Africas underdevelopment, it must be remembered that for over 400 years disparate Europeans took the "most productive elements" (skilled agricultural artisans) out of Africa, that is, young people between ages 15-25 years, at least two men to one woman. And that is exactly how Europe became developed/industrialized and Africa became underdeveloped and still remains in that status as of this writing. On the other hand, "the greatest achievement of the Europeans was the conquest of the mind of their victims" and in this process, Europeans not only colonized the world but most importantly, they colonized/Europeanized information about the world as "part of the manifestation of the evil genius of Europe." Through this process of Euro-centric global miseducation, the world was "forced to forget that over half of human history was over before anyone knew that a European was in the world." In addition, Europeans made "every effort to wipe from (the African) memory how they ruled a state and how they related to their spirituality before the coming of the European. Synthesis In the final analysis, when the Europeans entered Africa in the 15th century, "the Africans were (too) open-minded and politically naive in their relationship with non-African people, especially the Europeans. They did not know the intentions and the temperament of the Europeans then and they do not know it now" so opines Dr. John Henrik Clarke. As the deceased leader of the 1960s Mau Mau anti-colonial revolution Jomo Kenyatta correctly surmised: "When the (European) missionaries arrived, the African had the land and the missionaries had the Bible. They taught us how to pray with our eyes closed. When we opened them, they had the land and we had the Bible." However, as P. Olisanwuche Esedebe has prognosticated in his Pan-Africanism: The Idea and Movement, 1776-1991: Africa peoples "must live in the hope, that in the process of time, their turn will come, when they will (again) occupy a prominent position in the worlds history and when they will command a voice in the (global) council of nations (as their ancestors once did in the B.C. era)". Indeed, historiography postulates that Africans are the Alpha and the Omega the beginning and the end. And in the poignant but immortal words of the millennium African hero Marcus Mosiah Garvey to African peoples all over the world: "Up you mighty race, you can accomplish what you will." And the flip side of this geo-political notion is strongly reinforced in the speech by Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah to the United Nations General assembly on 23 September 1960 in which he warned that "as long as a single foot of African soil remains under foreign domination, the world shall know no peace" Dr. Kwame Nantambu is Professor Emeritus, Kent State University. Share your views here... Poster presentation at 39th Annual Symposium of the National Neurotrauma Society ATLANTA, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NeuroTrauma Sciences, LLC (NTS), a private biopharmaceutical company developing a portfolio of disease-modifying therapeutic candidates to treat the devastating effects of stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI), today reported data on its novel neuroactive small molecule NTS-105 in a poster presentation at the 39th Annual Symposium of the National Neurotrauma Society in Atlanta, GA. Conducted by a research team led by Barclay Morrison, III, Ph.D., Professor of Biomedical Engineering at Columbia University, New York, NY, the study demonstrated the ability of NTS-105 to reduce cell death at a wide range of concentrations in preclinical models of TBI. NTS-105 is a novel, neuroactive steroid that crosses the blood-brain-barrier and reduces damage caused by inflammation and hypoxia. NeuroTrauma Sciences is developing NTS-105 for treating patients suffering from TBI and stroke. In this study, several concentrations of NTS-105 were compared to progesterone, which has demonstrated some promising results in TBI preclinical studies and clinical trials but did not provide statistically significant improvements in patients. As the authors discuss, progesterone can be difficult to dissolve in water, making it challenging to deliver clinically. A neuroprotective steroid with improved properties, such as NTS-105, may serve as a better option. In this study, 1nM progesterone and a wide range of NTS-105 concentrations between 0.1nM and 30nM were significantly neuroprotective. 300nM NTS-105 was not as neuroprotective as lower concentrations and like progesterone, NTS-105 may have a U-shaped dose response curve. The poster is available on the NTS website, www.neurotraumasciences.com. An abstract also will be published online in the Journal of Neurotrauma. "Our research clearly illustrates the ability of NTS-105 to decrease cell death in this in vitro model of TBI," said Dr. Morrison. "These early results support continued research and development of NTS-105 for traumatic brain injury." "The leading cause of death and disability in children and adults aged 1 to 44, traumatic brain injury, or TBI, is responsible for nearly 64,000 deaths annually," said D. Carl Long, Chief Executive Officer. "NeuroTrauma Sciences is dedicated to developing therapies for TBI, a field in medicine with one of the greatest unmet needs. We look forward to advancing NTS-105 into clinical trials." About NTS-104 / NTS-105 NTS-104 is a novel molecule that has demonstrated efficacy in preclinical models of acute TBI and ischemic stroke. NTS-104, a soluble prodrug, is readily delivered to the bloodstream where it is converted to the active neurosteroid NTS-105. NTS-105 rapidly enters the brain at concentrations sufficient to modulate key target receptors, protecting neurons from inflammation, ischemia and programmed cell death. Columbia Engineering Columbia Engineering, based in New York City, is one of the top engineering schools in the U.S. and one of the oldest in the nation. Also known as The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, the School expands knowledge and advances technology through the pioneering research of its more than 220 faculty, while educating undergraduate and graduate students in a collaborative environment to become leaders informed by a firm foundation in engineering. The School's faculty are at the center of the University's cross-disciplinary research, contributing to the Data Science Institute, Earth Institute, Zuckerman Mind Brain Behavior Institute, Precision Medicine Initiative, and the Columbia Nano Initiative. Guided by its strategic vision, "Columbia Engineering for Humanity," the School aims to translate ideas into innovations that foster a sustainable, healthy, secure, connected, and creative humanity. About NeuroTrauma Sciences NeuroTrauma Sciences (NTS) is a biopharmaceutical company advancing its mission to address the range of deficits caused by traumatic brain injury and stroke. These remain areas of high unmet need for millions of patients worldwide who have limited therapeutic options to alleviate the cognitive, functional, and neurobehavioral effects resulting from these insults. By following the science and leveraging our insights into the pathophysiology of the injured brain, NTS is advancing a pipeline of candidates targeting acute, subacute and chronic TBI and stroke. For additional information, please visit www.neurotraumasciences.com. NTS is a proud sponsor of the 39th Annual Symposium of the National Neurotrauma Society. Contacts: NeuroTrauma Sciences SMP Communications Judith Hedstrom, Chief Operating Officer Susan Pietropaolo 301-448-8583 201-923-2049 [email protected] [email protected] Columbia Engineering Media contact: Holly Evarts, Director of Strategic Communications and Media Relations 347-453-7408 (c) | 212-854-3206 (o) [email protected] SOURCE NeuroTrauma Sciences, LLC SAN DIEGO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- United Nations' 1989 Montreal Protocol blames chlorofluorocarbons for stratospheric ozone destruction leading to polar ozone holes. A recently published scientific article challenges that assertion, and reveals a fundamentally different underlying cause for stratospheric ozone destruction. As the article notes, Earth's biosphere is collapsing at an unprecedented rate, including the stratospheric ozone layer that shields surface life from deadly ultraviolet radiation. The Montreal Protocol, based solely upon computer models, phased out and later banned chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) supposedly to avert further damage to the stratospheric ozone layer. Despite CFCs being banned, the Antarctic ozone hole did not go away and the Artic polar hole started to appear: The Montreal Protocol got it wrong. Figure 1. Graphic illustrating the major sources of aerosolized coal fly ash lofted into a particle laden polar stratospheric cloud, and some of the many components of coal fly ash that directly kill ozone. Published June 22, 2022 in the European Journal of Applied Sciences, the scientific article by J. Marvin Herndon, PhD, of Transdyne Corporation and Mark Whiteside, MD, MPH, a Florida Department of Health physician, presents compelling evidence that aerosolized coal fly ash particles, not CFC's, are the main agents responsible for stratospheric ozone depletion. As noted by the authors, during industrial coal burning, the heavy ash settles beneath the burner; the light ash, coal fly ash, forms in the gases above the burner and exits the smokestacks, unless, as in Western nations, it is trapped by electrostatic precipitators and sequestered. Even so, ultrafine aerosols from coal burning are likely to escape electrostatic precipitators or be wind-blown from sequestration areas. But the most devastating is the deliberate, covert, near-daily, near-global jet-emplacement of particulates, evidenced as coal fly ash, into the upper troposphere. Aerosolized coal fly ash particles, along with other aerosol particles, are lofted into the stratosphere. These particles not only nucleate stratospheric clouds, but are swept up and collected by these high altitude clouds, including polar stratospheric clouds, which are involved in creating large ozone-depleting holes. Electron microphotographs of particles from polar stratospheric clouds are consistent with those from coal fly ash. Multiple elements in coal fly ash are evidenced to directly destroy ozone. In springtime, when polar stratospheric clouds begin to melt/evaporate, their trapped coal fly ash particles are released and rapidly destroy stratospheric ozone, which causes the polar ozone holes. Planet Earth is ill and virtually all life is suffering, direct or indirectly, including from the consequences of increasing ultraviolet radiation at the surface. Earth's illness was misdiagnosed as CFCs. In the article, the authors provide a new, evidence-based diagnosis, namely, aerosolized coal fly ash. It is imperative to recognize the true cause of stratospheric ozone depletion, stop the jet-emplaced coal fly ash, and further reduce emissions from coal combustion. Stop poisoning Earth, and she will heal and again protect her biota. Information and pdf: http://www.nuclearplanet.com/ozone.pdf Media Contact: J. Marvin Herndon, Ph.D. Transdyne Corporation 858-232-1177 Email: [email protected]om Website: http://NuclearPlanet.com SOURCE Transdyne Corporation A disruptive and urgent approach being introduced to the French legislature, this 'pret-a-voter' or vote-ready initiative uses the large untapped market of existing climate technologies as a starting point for guiding and changing regulation and legislation in France. LAUSANNE, Switzerland, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Solar Impulse Foundation, led by Swiss explorer and cleantech pioneer Bertrand Piccard, today launched an urgent initiative aimed at using existing climate technologies as a starting point to guide modernization of regulation in the French Parliament. Updated legislation and regulations can improve the environment by catalyzing greater adoption of climate solutions while benefiting the economy. The disruptive "Pret-a-voter" or "Vote-ready" initiative has pulled in the support of some of France's largest ad agencies and ad management companies. The campaign is based on the idea that climate change is so urgent a problem that it demands immediate regulatory change. A successful ecological transition is now less dependent on new technology solutions than on creating conditions for deployment of existing solutions. Relying on its network of experts and partners, the foundation has selected 50 French solutions from its portfolio of 1400-plus vetted and profitable climate solutions and has built the technology benefits into a book of 50 legislative recommendations crafted for newly elected assembly members as well as sitting senators in the upper chamber to modernize current regulations. These "vote-ready" proposals include much of the necessary legislative homework to make it easier for new National Assembly members, regardless of party affiliation, to bring it to the floor for discussion and voting. By bringing existing innovation directly to the legislative and regulatory arena, the Foundation seeks to shortcut a longer process and help lawmakers "pull" into the market essential cleantech and energy efficiency technology that can protect the environment, reduce waste and improve consumer purchasing power. "We have a wealth of innovative climate solutions that can also be profitable, so it makes sense to update our laws to help facilitate greater market adoption," said Bertrand Piccard, president and founder of the Solar Impulse Foundation. "With climate change, our laws must change." The initiative will be rolled out in a large-scale marketing campaign lasting until September, using the taglines "All we need is 577 readers for this book to be successful" and "With climate change, the laws must change." The effort was made possible by major advertising players Publicis, JC Decaux and Mediatransports, who supported the campaign with creative resources and by making available billboard space throughout France. "The Foundation wishes to accelerate the transition, and selected large and small innovations to do so," said Agathe Bousquet, President of the Publicis France Group. "We looked for a campaign to reflect this that is pragmatic and sincere, and that challenges politicians by concretely reminding them ultimately of their responsibility and their power to act." "We are happy to help bring this initiative of the Solar Impulse Foundation to the public eye," said Jean-Michel Geffroy, General Manager Territories & Institutions at JCDecaux. "Legislative and regulatory language, as shown by the France 2030 plan or the law on Climate & Resilience, is decisive for turning public and private procurement into an accelerator for the ecological transition, decarbonization of the economy, creation of employment and urban planning." About the Solar Impulse Foundation: The Solar Impulse Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by explorer and cleantech pioneer Bertrand Piccard. Following the success of the first round-the-world trip in a solar-powered plane, its mission is to accelerate the adoption of solutions capable of protecting the environment in an economically profitable way. It thus reflects the unifying and realistic approach of its founder around 'Qualitative Growth'. Demonstrating that it is possible to meet ecological challenges without undermining economic development, the Foundation achieved, in April 2021, its first objective of identifying and labeling 1000 'Efficient Solutions,' assessed as clean and profitable by independent experts. While continuing to increase its portfolio of solutions, Bertrand Piccard and the Foundation are seeking to facilitate the emergence of these technologies on the market through advocacy in favor of modernizing the legislative framework and by publishing guides to support political and business decision-makers in their ecological transition. Link to ad campaign images For more information contact: Erica Zeidenberg for Solar Impulse [email protected] SOURCE Solar Impulse Foundation 1. Data-driven Through data mining and modeling analysis, machine learning algorithms and expert systems get used to complete the NFT asset price predictions. 2. Price-generating With the crypto world as the foundation and the community as the core, the artificial price feeding method involves a massive collection of information provided by users and aggregating the data to form an effective price reference system. Since the NFT market is still in its early stages and the data volume of the overall industry is insufficient, price information in the current market is scattered and disordered. As a result, the price information of a single asset gets primarily concentrated in the single digits. And because there are many types of projects, the types of assets are different, and the popularity factors of each project are varied. Traditional auctions can effectively increase the selling price of NFT assets, but can also dramatically increase the difficulty of implementing data-driven price oracles in the industry. Compared with artificial intelligence and machine learning that uses big data in the traditional Web2 space, NFT price data is more difficult to quantify and label due to insufficient amounts of information in the market. In contrast, the price generation mechanism has more substantial flexibility, and has the potential ability to strongly regulate the market. Moreover, it can even provide price references for NFT assets lacking data support that has not been published. PawnHouse is an oracle project with price information generation aggregation and an information reward mechanism. The project adopts the community-provided price information method, providing NFTs with price information of 100-300 values per item. The project also gives a reasonable price range (price corridor) through model calculations. Pawnhouse employs a familiar economic reward mechanism in the crypto world to incentivize more users to participate in the provision of price information. At the same time, the oracle mechanism of PawnHouse is more conducive to increasing the publicity and community activity of NFT projects, and provides a more participatory community pricing tool for NFT asset projects. PawnHouse conducted a three-month social experiment with its community at the beginning of this year, verifying its model's effectiveness. This experiment aims to predict the DEX price of BTC at a certain point in time. The experiment predicted more than 1,700 times in total. Compared with the final price, the minimum deviation of the price information provided by users is only 0.39 USDT, and the average prediction difference is about 1.3%. After verifying the feasibility of its mechanism, the PawnHouse project team completed the beta version development of the NFT Oracle. Currently, it has provided price predictions for the assets of more than 20 NFT projects and made price predictions for 28 assets. In addition, after an on-chain query, more than 300 addresses provided price information and more than 6,000 price data points. PawnHouse said it had completed the closed-loop payment operation model of NFT projects. In the future, it will open up cooperation and prepare for the development of a new contract structure so that the pricing function can be serviced in batches and establish the foundation for Simultaneous Multiple Round Actions (SMRA). Contact: Clarissa Stone [email protected] SOURCE PawnHouse After redefining its vision and mission in 2020, the Foundation broadened its impact by awarding charitable grants to large 501(c)(3) and other qualified organizations, aiming to benefit a larger number of individuals in need. In 2021, the Foundation awarded grants to several humanitarian health organizations, including: $663,325 to support four charitable projects that will help improve the health conditions of Venezuelan and other migrants in Colombia . Projects supported include the development of medical infrastructure for Venezuelan and other migrants, nutrition programs in public schools, and improved maternal health care. to support four charitable projects that will help improve the health conditions of Venezuelan and other migrants in . Projects supported include the development of medical infrastructure for Venezuelan and other migrants, nutrition programs in public schools, and improved maternal health care. $1 million grant agreement with GlobalGiving, to manage grantmaking and provide funds to reliable, high-impact community support charitable organizations in Venezuela , perform a needs assessment for funding and provide capacity building to smaller organizations in Venezuela . GlobalGiving is a top-rated nonprofit that connects other nonprofit organizations with donors and firms to accelerate community-led change around the world for those in need. Additionally, in 2021 the Foundation signed agreements with three organizations working on critical humanitarian issues: An agreement with researchers at the Johns Hopkins Center for Humanitarian Health, to conduct a study to assess current conditions and evaluate the health situation in Venezuela and define priorities, concerns and better work approaches. Released in March 2022 , the study will help guide the programming of humanitarian health grants toward areas of greatest impact and most urgent need. to conduct a study to assess current conditions and evaluate the health situation in and define priorities, concerns and better work approaches. Released in , the study will help guide the programming of humanitarian health grants toward areas of greatest impact and most urgent need. Center for Disaster Philanthropy , a nonprofit committed to making disaster-related contributions more effective and strategic, to assess the needs of Venezuelan and other migrants, with particular attention to health conditions in Latin America . , a nonprofit committed to making disaster-related contributions more effective and strategic, to assess the needs of Venezuelan and other migrants, with particular attention to health conditions in . Baylor College of Medicine , to fund scholarships for doctors who work in Venezuela to pursue a world-class Diploma in Baylor's Tropical Medicine Course. "We're proud to share the progress we've made during last year toward fulfilling the vision and mission we set out in 2020," said Mariela Poleo, President of the Simon Bolivar Foundation. "Our new focus on grantmaking to recognized nonprofits and research partners has allowed us to expand access to health care and nutrition to a greater number of people affected by Venezuela's humanitarian crisis. Continuous improvements to our grantmaking process, governance and strategy will allow us to continue to broaden our impact in 2022." In total, 2021 expenditures committed were $3.4 million, with 56.8% to high-impact charitable grants, 39.4% to individual patient medical grants, and 3.8% to administration expenses. These amounts exclude in-kind donations from CITGO Petroleum Corporation. This is the second time the Foundation has issued a public report, part of the Foundation's ongoing commitment to transparency and good corporate governance. Learn more about the Foundation and its annual report here About The Simon Bolivar Foundation Simon Bolivar Foundation Inc. is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit, private foundation of CITGO Petroleum Corporation. The Foundation supports charitable initiatives, leverages existing resources and provides charitable grants to qualified organizations to meet the immediate and long-term health needs of the most vulnerable individuals, particularly in and from Venezuela with a special focus on the health and well-being of children and their mothers. SOURCE CITGO Corporation NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research report published by P&S Intelligence, in 2021, the revenue of the vapor recovery units market was $758.5 million, and it will reach $1,177.8 million by 2030, progressing at a growth rate of 5% between 2021 and 2030. This will mainly be because of the growing production of oil & gas and, in line, of petrochemicals. Additionally, the increasing apprehensions pertaining to the toxic releases from petrochemicals and strict rules for the reduction of VOC emissions will help the market grow. Transportation will have the highest growth rate in the vapor recovery units market during 20212030, in excess of 5%. This will be because of the increasing requirement for petrochemical products, petroleum, and other supplies, along with the extensive usage of recovery units in vehicles for the reduction of VOC emissions. Get the sample pages of this report: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/vapor-recovery-units-market/report-sample In 2021, the oil & gas industry had the largest share, of about 40%, and it will continue this way in the years to come. This can be credited to the increasing use of oil and gas, rising count of refineries, and quickly altering ecological laws. Furthermore, the booming requirement for downstream procedures and emission control systems in the industry pushes the advance of the industry. Regional Analysis of Vapor Recovery Units Market North America has the largest share in the vapor recovery units market, of about 40%. It will dominate the industry in the coming years as well because of the growth in the petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals industries, which are, additionally, taking initiatives for enhancing their process of vapor recovery. has the largest share in the vapor recovery units market, of about 40%. It will dominate the industry in the coming years as well because of the growth in the petrochemicals and pharmaceuticals industries, which are, additionally, taking initiatives for enhancing their process of vapor recovery. APAC will have the fastest progress in the market during 20212030 because of the growing investments in oil & gas capacity addition. This is itself credited to the increasing need for these supplies and petrochemical products. China and India are making a significant contribution to the vapor recovery units market growth owing to the increasing population and pacy industrialization and urbanization. and are making a significant contribution to the vapor recovery units market growth owing to the increasing population and pacy industrialization and urbanization. Chinese companies have to abide by strict regulations with respect to energy transition. Government-owned companies together produced about 4.5 million barrels of liquids each day in China , equal to nearly 30% of the oil requirement of the country, in 2020. Furthermore, that year, they garnered revenue of approximately $650 billion . , equal to nearly 30% of the oil requirement of the country, in 2020. Furthermore, that year, they garnered revenue of approximately . The Indian oil & gas industry contributes majorly to the economy. India was globally placed third among the consumers of oil and gas in 2021. Moreover, primary energy requirement in the nation will double to 1,130 million tonnes of oil equivalent by the year 2040, as the GDP increases to approximately $9.0 trillion . Browse detailed report on Vapor Recovery Units Market Size, Industry Shares, Global Growth and Analysis 2022 to 2030 Vapor Recovery Units Market Segmentation Analysis By Process Upstream Downstream By Application Storage Processing Transportation By Technology Condensation Adsorption Absorption Membrane Separation By End User Oil & Gas Industry Landfills Brewery & Food Processing Industry Regional Outlook North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany France U.K. Italy Spain APAC China India Japan Australia South Korea LATAM Brazil Mexico MEA Saudi Arabia South Africa Browse More Reports Published by P&S Global Compressor Market Share and Growth Forecast Report 2030 Global Underfloor Heating Market Share and Growth Forecast Report 2030 Global Polyethylene Glycol Market Share and Growth 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 DETROIT, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Spector Roseman & Kodroff, P.C.; Freed Kanner London & Millen LLC; Kohn, Swift & Graf, P.C.; and Preti, Flaherty, Beliveau & Pachios, LLP ("Settlement Class Counsel") announce that the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan Southern Division ("Court") has approved the following announcement of proposed class action settlements with the NGK and DENSO Defendants. The lawsuits claimed that Defendants conspired to raise, fix, maintain, and stabilize prices, rig bids, and allocate the supply of Oxygen Sensors and Spark Plugs sold in the United States, in violation of federal antitrust laws. The settlements affect those who purchased Oxygen Sensors and Spark Plugs in the United States between January 1, 2000 and February 4, 2019. Those who purchased Oxygen Sensors directly from any of the following entities (or depending on the specific settlement agreement, their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures) are eligible to participate in the Oxygen Sensors Settlement: Robert Bosch GmbH; Robert Bosch LLC; DENSO Corporation; DENSO International America, Inc.; DENSO Products & Services Americas, Inc.; NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.; NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Holding, Inc.; NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc.; NTK Technologies, Inc.; Hitachi Ltd; or their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or joint ventures. Those who purchased Spark Plugs directly from any of the following entities (or depending on the specific settlement agreement, their parents, subsidiaries, affiliates and joint ventures) are eligible to participate in the Spark Plugs Settlement: Robert Bosch GmbH; Robert Bosch LLC; DENSO Corporation; DENSO International America, Inc.; DENSO Products & Services Americas, Inc.; NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.; NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.) Holding, Inc.; NGK Spark Plugs (U.S.A.), Inc.; NTK Technologies, Inc; or their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, or joint ventures. A hearing will be held on September 15, at 2:00 p.m., before the Honorable Sean F. Cox, United States District Judge, at the Theodore Levin United States Courthouse, 231 West Lafayette Boulevard, Detroit, MI 48226, Courtroom 817 (or such other courtroom as may be assigned for the hearing), to consider whether to approve: (1) the proposed settlements in Oxygen Sensors and Spark Plugs; (2) the proposed plans of distribution of the Oxygen Sensors and Spark Plugs Settlement Funds; and (3) and Settlement Class Counsel's motions for an award of attorneys' fees and reimbursement of litigation costs and expenses, and service awards for the Class Representatives in each case. A Notice of Proposed Settlements (the "Notice") was mailed to potential Settlement Class members on or about June 20, 2022. The Notice describes in more detail the litigation and options available to members of the Settlement Classes with respect to the NGK and DENSO settlements. The Notice also explains what steps a Class Member must take to: (1) remain in the settlement classes and file a Claim Form to share in the settlement proceeds; (2) object to the settlements; or (3) request exclusion from the settlement classes. The Notice and other important documents related to the settlements can be accessed at www.AutoPartsAntitrustLitigation.com, or by calling 877-890-8128 or writing to Oxygen Sensors and Spark Plugs Direct Purchaser Antitrust Litigation, P.O. Box 4234, Portland, OR 97208-4234. Those who believe they may be a member of any of the NGK or DENSO Oxygen Sensors or Spark Plugs settlement classes, are urged to obtain a copy of the Notice. SOURCE: United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division URL: www.AutoPartsAntitrustLitigation.com SOURCE The United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Southern Division Annual Program Has Directed Over $25 Million for More Than 2,300 Scholarships, Aiming to Break Down Barriers to Higher Education for Local Students LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of the Wonderful Community Scholarship Program intended to help college-bound students reach their full potential, 12 Central Valley students from the communities of Wasco and Shafter will each receive up to a $30,000 scholarship to assist with tuition, living expenses, and other costs at an accredited college or university of their choice. Created and funded by philanthropists Lynda and Stewart Resnick, co-owners of The Wonderful Company, the program builds on their long-standing commitment to help Central Valley students fulfill the dream of a college education as a pathway to entering the workforce. To date, over $25 million has been directed to more than 2,300 college scholarships. With the goal of getting more children to and through college, the scholarship program helps first-generation college students prepare for, pay for, and persist through college. Currently, 17 percent of Kern County, California, residents possess a bachelor's degree, and many don't see college as a realistic option. This program is one of the many ways the Resnicks strive to increase access to higher education opportunities in the communities The Wonderful Company serves. "Today's children are tomorrow's citizens, and we're determined to make sure the next generation of leaders in the Central Valley not only excels in academics, but that they also use their passions to ignite change in the communities where our employees live and work," said Lynda Resnick, vice-chairman of The Wonderful Company. "A quality education must be equitable and inclusive so that every child can gain the skills and earn the credentials needed for successful, fulfilling careers. Our children have so much to contribute to the world and, thanks to them, I know our future is bright." Every year, The Wonderful Company and its co-owners invest more than $30 million in community development, education, and health and wellness initiatives across the Central Valley and beyond. Established initially to provide college scholarships to the children of Wonderful employees from the Central Valley, the program has expanded over the last 28 years to also award college scholarships to Wonderful College Prep Academy graduates, Wonderful Agriculture Career Prep students, and now first-generation college students from high schools in Wasco and Shafter. Presently, 900 Wonderful scholarship recipients are enrolled in college and an additional 300 graduating seniors received a Wonderful College Scholarship this year. "We're proud of our students for pursuing their educational aspirations," said Russell Shipley, principal, Shafter High School. "It's more important than ever to help build and maintain the pipeline of diverse talent that will go on to be innovators and changemakers in our community for years to come. We're incredibly grateful for the financial support to help our young leaders achieve their dreams." The Community Scholarship Program aims to reach more communities and students in the future. For additional information about The Wonderful Company and its co-owners' philanthropic efforts, please visit www.wonderful.com/csr. About The Wonderful Company The Wonderful Company is a privately held $5 billion global company dedicated to harvesting health and happiness around the world. Its iconic brands include FIJI Water, POM Wonderful, Wonderful Pistachios, Wonderful Halos, Wonderful Seedless Lemons, Teleflora, JUSTIN, JNSQ, and Landmark wines. The Wonderful Company's connection to consumers has health at its heart and giving back in its DNA. To learn more about The Wonderful Company, its products, and its core values, visit www.wonderful.com, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To view the current Corporate Social Responsibility report, visit www.wonderful.com/csr. SOURCE The Wonderful Company NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The global artificial intelligence (AI) market was valued at nearly USD 59.67 billion in 2021 and is estimated to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 39.4 percent to reach USD 422.37 billion by 2028. Key Industry Insights & Finding of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Reports: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 39.4 % (2022-2028). (2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market was valued approximately USD 59.67 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly USD 422.37 Billion by 2028. Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly Billion by 2028. North America led the global artificial intelligence (AI) market in 2021, accounting for about 43 percent of overall revenue. led the global artificial intelligence (AI) market in 2021, accounting for about 43 percent of overall revenue. Federal authorities have established standards for the development and real-world application of AI-based systems across several industrial sectors as part of this project During the projected period, the market in Asia Pacific is projected to develop at the fastest CAGR. The use of AI services in major end-user sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive in nations like China , Japan , South Korea , and Australia has fueled this expansion. is projected to develop at the fastest CAGR. The use of AI services in major end-user sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive in nations like , , , and has fueled this expansion. Expanding applications and simple deployment techniques have drawn governments' and private organizations' attention to AI technology, resulting in increased government expenditures on AI and related technologies. Zion Market Research published the latest report titled as "Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market By Component (Solution And Services), By Technology (Machine Learning, Natural Language Processing, Computer Vision, And Others), By Industry Vertical (IT & Telecommunication, Retail & E-Commerce, BFSI, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, And Others), And By Region Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2028." into their research database. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Overview Artificial intelligence (AI), generally termed machine intelligence, is a branch of computer science dealing with the creation and management of technology that can learn to make decisions and conduct transactions on behalf of users. Artificial intelligence programs are currently being put to the test against intelligence criteria that are outside of human perception, including AI applications in quantum and supercomputers. Artificial intelligence technology advances like these are likely to contribute to the artificial intelligence market's growth in the future years. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/artificial-intelligence-market Our Free Sample Report Includes: 2022 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included 190 + Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research) Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request 2022 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes Updated List of tables & figures Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research methodology Industry Dynamics: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Growth Drivers Increasing need to automate processes driving the growth of the market. AI, particularly computer vision and machine learning, is transforming the robotics business today. Businesses are exploring completely autonomous robots that can sense, interact, and conceive the environment around them in order to stay ahead in a global market. Industries are searching for reliable and experienced technology associates as they initiate to direct this current technological transformation. Deep learning models handle enormous amounts of data, such as photos, texts, and sounds, using artificial neural networks to provide correct results. Artificial intelligence-driven automation has proven effective in a variety of areas, including healthcare, aviation, agricultural, energy, and material handling. AI is being largely used to diagnose equipment failures and detect product irregularities, in addition to automating operations. All these factors assure global artificial intelligence (AI) market expansion over the forecast period. Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Restraints Dearth of AI experts in the industry may hamper the market growth. AI is a complicated system, and firms need employees with certain skill sets to create, manage, and deploy AI systems. Workers working with AI systems, for example, should be familiar with technologies like deep learning, cognitive computing, machine learning, and image recognition. Further, integrating AI solutions with current systems is a complex endeavor that necessitates considerable data processing to emulate human brain activity. Even slight faults can cause a system to fail or a solution to malfunction, which can have a significant impact on outcomes and intended results. Such factors can affect the market growth during the forecast period. Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/artificial-intelligence-market Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Opportunities Increasing investments by the public as well as private sectors to support AI technology is likely to offer better growth opportunities to the market. Expanding applications and simple deployment techniques have drawn governments' and private organizations' attention to AI technology, resulting in increased government expenditures on AI and related technologies. Government agencies, public sector organizations, and non-governmental organizations have begun allocating funds for AI-based pilot initiatives in a variety of areas, including traffic management, road & public safety, and government document digitalization. The US government committed more than USD 1 billion in funding for AI and quantum information science research laboratories in August 2020. Moreover, the Canadian government pledged USD 518 million in March 2021 to expand advanced technology research infrastructure, while the UK government has financed USD 27.5 million in 15 innovative AI research initiatives in the healthcare industry. Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Challenges Concerns about privacy and data security are the major challenges for the market expansion. In the future, security risks will become even more prevalent. The financial effect of cybercrime has climbed by approximately 78 percent in the last five years, and the time it takes to handle intrusions has doubled. Several IT teams are finding it difficult to keep up with the growing amount of data from diverse sources. Security breaches and data losses have escalated as a result of the inefficiencies of managing exabytes and petabytes of data. To provide an amazing client experience in today's competitive industry, marketing teams demand real-time and secure data. Organizations are collecting data from a variety of sources and measuring it online. Such data, which is utilized for assistance and communication, might be of several sorts. Public data, large data, and tiny data obtained from clients are examples of these data kinds. To preserve consumer confidence, companies must provide high-level data security as cyberattacks have substantially risen in number and sophistication. All such factors pose a major challenge to the global artificial intelligence (AI) market growth. Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Segmentation The global artificial intelligence (AI) market is categorized into component, technology, industry vertical, and region. Based on components, the market is split into services and solutions. By technology, the market is bifurcated into natural language processing, machine learning, computer vision, and others. The industry vertical segment of the market includes healthcare, IT & telecommunication, manufacturing, retail & e-commerce, automotive, BFSI, and others. Get More Insight before [email protected] : https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/protective-packaging-market List of Key Players of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : Alphabet Inc. Microsoft Corporation IBM Corporation SAP SE Baidu Inc. Intel Corporation Amazon Web Services Inc. Samsung Electronics Co.Ltd. SAS Institute Inc. Facebook Inc. Salesforce.com Inc. Oracle Cisco Alibaba Cloud Siemens NVIDIA Corporation Huawei. Key questions answered in this report: What are the growth rate forecast and market size for Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market ? What are the key driving factors propelling the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market forward? What are the most important companies in the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market Industry? What segments does the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 59.67 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 422.37 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 39.4 % 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 Alphabet Inc., Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, SAP SE, Baidu, Inc., Intel Corporation, Amazon Web Services, Inc., Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd., SAS Institute Inc., Facebook, Inc., Salesforce.com, Inc., Oracle, Cisco, Alibaba Cloud, Siemens, NVIDIA Corporation, and Huawei. 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/6999 Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/artificial-intelligence-market Recent Developments January 2021 , for the retail business, Google has created Product Discovery Solutions. This suite would assist the store to improve its eCommerce capabilities and give a better consumer experience. Product Discovery Solutions for Retail combines AI algorithms with Cloud Search for Retail, a search service that uses Google Search to power merchants' product-finding capabilities. , for the retail business, Google has created Product Discovery Solutions. This suite would assist the store to improve its eCommerce capabilities and give a better consumer experience. Product Discovery Solutions for Retail combines AI algorithms with Cloud Search for Retail, a search service that uses Google Search to power merchants' product-finding capabilities. November 2020 , Microsoft has made the Dynamic 365 Project Operations solution available in India . From prospects to payments to profit, the solution focuses on assisting organizations in integrating operational procedures to enable visibility, collaboration, and analytics to promote performance across teams. Built on the Microsoft Power Platform, the solution employs real-time analytics to link and motivate sales, leadership, project management, and resources with the visibility they need to provide services to clients on time and budget. Regional Dominance: North America to lead the global market during the forecast period. North America led the global artificial intelligence (AI) market in 2021, accounting for about 43 percent of overall revenue. This significant proportion is attributed to government programs that stimulate AI to use across several industries. For example, in February 2019, President Donald J. Trump announced the American AI Initiative as the country's plan for advancing artificial intelligence leadership. Federal authorities have established standards for the development and real-world application of AI-based systems across several industrial sectors as part of this project. During the projected period, the market in Asia Pacific is projected to develop at the fastest CAGR. The use of AI services in major end-user sectors including healthcare, manufacturing, and automotive in nations like China, Japan, South Korea, and Australia has fueled this expansion. Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market is segmented as follows: Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : By Component Outlook (2022-2028) Solution Services Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : By Technology Outlook (2022-2028) Machine Learning Natural Language Processing Computer Vision Others Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : By Industry Vertical Outlook (2022-2028) IT and Telecommunication Retail and E-Commerce BFSI Healthcare Manufacturing Automotive Others Artificial Intelligence (AI) 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 Artificial Intelligence (AI) Market : https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/news/global-artificial-intelligence-market Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research Metaverse Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Metaverse Market accrued earnings worth approximately 47.49 (USD Billion) in 2021 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 400.5(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 39.5% over the period from 2022 to 2028. The global Metaverse Market accrued earnings worth approximately 47.49 (USD Billion) in 2021 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 400.5(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 39.5% over the period from 2022 to 2028. Drone Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Drone Market accrued earnings worth approximately 28.2 (USD Billion) in 2021 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 179.2(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 26% over the period from 2022 to 2028. The global Drone Market accrued earnings worth approximately 28.2 (USD Billion) in 2021 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 179.2(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 26% over the period from 2022 to 2028. AI Infrastructure Market - Global Industry Analysis: The global AI Infrastructure market accrued earnings worth approximately 21.7 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 82.1 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 28.1% over the period from 2021 to 2028. Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Technology & Media Industry Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook About Us Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. 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Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Blog : https://zmrblog.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1605489/Zion_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Zion Market Research CHONGQING, China, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- In order to continuously leverage the brand value of the World Natural Heritage Site and better build an exchange bridge to introduce Wulong to the world, a conference to celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Wulong Karst's successful inclusion into the World Natural Heritage List was held in Wulong District, southwest China's Chongqing. The conference focuses on the strict protection, continuous inheritance and sustainable utilization of the precious site, according to the Publicity Department of Wulong District, Chongqing Municipality. Wulong, located in the lower reaches of Wujiang River in the southeast of Chongqing, enjoys convenient transportation such as roads, railways, waterways and civil airports. In 1994, marked by the opening of Furong Cave to the public, Wulong tourism started to grow. In 2007, the Wulong Karst became the first World Natural Heritage Site in Chongqing. In 2015, it was honored as a model city in sustainable development by the United Nations. In 2008, Wulong started its second entrepreneurial attempt in tourism with the main goal of increasing the total number of tourists and strengthening the tourism economy. At present, Wulong District is a World Natural Heritage Site, a national tourism resort, and a national 5A tourist attraction, among others. "Wulong has stayed firm in leveraging the natural heritage to empower tourism industry, which provides a local example of transforming and utilizing natural heritage value to improve people's livelihood," a senior official of Wulong District said. Wulong received 40.7 million visits in 2021, 20 times that of 2008, while the overall tourism income reached 19.73 billion yuan, 19.6 times that of 2008. The sustainable development of tourism industry in Wulong has brought great economic, social and ecological benefits, forming a good circular interaction with natural heritage protection. Yuan Daoxian, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that in the past 15 years, Wulong has undergone sea changes, with impressive social, economic and cultural achievements. These are closely related to the successful inclusion into the World Natural Heritage List and Wulong's efforts in heritage protection and management. With the stratification and individuation of tourism consumption demand and the specialization and sophistication of tourism development model, tourism industry has undergone all-round and comprehensive changes. In order to effectively respond to new challenges, in February this year, Wulong District launched the third entrepreneurial attempt in developing local tourism, which focused on going global. The local government has decided to speed up the development of Wulong into a world-renowned tourism destination and a green development innovation demonstration area. Wulong has developed a plan to help local tourism go global, with 165 cultural tourism projects totaling 140.6 billion yuan in investment value. The plan proposed to build six industrial chains, including research, sports, art, health care, marriage and services, and promote the deep integration of tourism with industry, agriculture, construction and modern services. The latest tourism development campaign no long just seeks to increase the number of tourists, but to improve the tourism quality and efficiency, so as to achieve common prosperity driven by tourism. Since the implementation, the campaign has achieved noticeable results. From January to May this year, Wulong received 14.85 million visits, up 11.5 percent year on year, and its overall tourism income reached 6.53 billion yuan, up 12.7 percent year on year. Since the successful inclusion into the World Natural Heritage List, Wulong has made great efforts to make the natural heritage a global fame. The Furong Cave has formed a sister park with the Mammoth Cave in the United States and the Clamouse Cave in France. The Fairy Mountain signed a contract with Swiss Jungfrau and successfully held international and domestic academic conferences such as the 14th national cave academic conference. Wulong has established friendly and cooperative relations with six cities and regions, including Switzerland's Grindelwald and Italy's Subiaco, and expanded the circle of friends of international friendship cities. The popularity and influence of Wulong's karst world natural heritage are constantly expanding. SOURCE The Publicity Department of Wulong District Committee of Chongqing Municipality IndiGo flights face massive delays, DGCA seeks explanation 03 Jul 2022 | 9:40 PM New Delhi, July 3 (UNI) The operations of IndiGo airlines were affected across the country as its several flights faced delays due to non-availability of its crew members. see more.. Speaker congratulates Rahul Narvekar 03 Jul 2022 | 8:12 PM New Delhi, July 3 (UNI) Lok Sabha Speaker Shri Om Birla on Sunday congratulated Rahul Narvekar on becoming the speaker of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. see more.. Channel admits mistake, BJP leaders should also apologize: Congress 03 Jul 2022 | 5:51 PM New Delhi, July 3 (UNI) Congress said that the TV news channel, which broadcast the fake video to malign the image of its former president Rahul Gandhi, has apologized, and the leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, who forwarded the video, should immediately apologize or else legal action will be taken against them. see more.. Indian Journalists Union condemns stopping of Mattoo 03 Jul 2022 | 5:06 PM New Delhi, July 3 (UNI) The Indian Journalists Union (IJU) on Sunday condemned the stopping of Kashmiri photojournalist Sana Irshad Mattoo from flying to Paris. see more.. MUNICH, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Alcantara, a leading "Made in Italy" luxury brand and the first Italian company certified as Carbon Neutral, has joined the annual German Car of the Year program as a major sponsor. Other 2022 German Car of the Year (GCOTY) sponsors include ZF, KST and Bridgestone. The program is affiliated with other leading award programs such as India's Car and Bike Awards, the China Car Awards and the World Car Awards. More than 20 leading automotive journalists serve on the GCOTY award jury. Audi, Hyundai, Kia, Peugeot and Porsche were among last year's award winners. The Honda E was the 2021 overall winner. The 2022 program kicks off on July 5 with a three-day GCOTY Summer Fest event in Alsfeld, Germany, for car makers, journalists and sponsors. Andrea Boragno, Alcantara's chairman and CEO, will host an exhibit showing applications for the company's luxury material in the automotive industry, as well as in fashion and accessories, marine and aviation, consumer electronics, interior design and the art world. Judging and final award ceremonies will take place in the fall at separate events at ZF and KST facilities in Friedrichshafen and Bad Duerkheim, Germany. "We are delighted to be collaborating with a distinguished panel of automotive experts in Germany," Boragno said. "The German press and our customers there appreciate the high quality of our material. "Born in Italy, Alcantara material travels to every corner of the globe. It is a material that is at the same time elegant and soft to the touch with technical qualities such as grip, lightweight and breathability that are especially appreciated in the automotive sector." He noted that Alcantara maintains a strong commitment to the environment. Based in Milan, the company has participated in nearly 50 international offset projects designed to improve living conditions and expand the use of renewable energy resources around the world. Alcantara also continues to emphasize the importance of sustainability with its suppliers, encouraging them to measure, reduce and compensate for CO2 emissions. The company's most recent Sustainability Report notes that all of its "core" and "super core" suppliers have achieved zero CO2 emission balances. In addition, the company has sponsored an annual sustainability symposium in partnership with Venice International University to focus attention on problems related to the environment. The program has involved major corporations, international organizations, scientists, economists and policy makers from around the world. Symposium participants have debated how best to mitigate climate change and build a low-carbon future by engaging different levels of society with involvement from policy makers, corporations and consumers. "The importance of sustainability in today's cars cannot be overestimated," said Jens Meiners, a GCOTY organizer and co-founder. "Sustainability is reflected in our car-of-the-year evaluation criteria and the choices made by our jury over the past few years. "We are proud to welcome Alcantara on board as our newest GCOTY partner. We share a common vision for cars that will be more sustainable. Interior design, comfort and quality also are of major importance to us all." Alcantara has been featured on a variety of new-car introductions at major auto shows over the past five years, including reveals by Alfa Romeo, BMW, Bugatti, Dodge, Maserati, Lamborghini, Lexus, McLaren, Nissan, Porsche and Subaru. SOURCE German Car of the Year Far from a static website, My AEG opens a dialogue with the visitor, and adapts the site content to their role, areas of interest, and geographical location. It offers curated content for property managers, superintendents, consultants, jobseekers, industry suppliers, and more with various topics such as modernizing elevators, finding a service company, improving elevator efficiency, and more. "We all have different challenges, goals, and motivations, and we wanted a website that recognizes that," said John Curzon, VP of Marketing and Communications for American Elevator Group. "This site delivers relevant information, customized for the individual and makes it easy to connect to a human being when the time is right to have a conversation." While the site offers easy access to relevant content, it also provides a fast track to connect and engage with an elevator service company that is best suited to a specific property type, location, and equipment. With the help of cookies, the site remembers what a visitor is interested in and updates the My AEG content for future visits as new content is added. According to AEG, this launch is just the beginning. Over the next few weeks and months, the company plans to build out its website with even more educational, inspirational and helpful content. The company's goal is to assist its customers, partners, and suppliers in making smarter, more educated decisions that make sense for their business. "At the end of the day, it's not about elevators it's about people," added Curzon. "We're not some static, distant elevator corporation. We're here to start conversations, to make connections, to engage with people. And for us, this website takes a huge leap towards helping us do that even better." About American Elevator Group Founded in 2020, American Elevator Group (AEG) is the largest independent elevator service provider in North America. The group consists of independent elevator companies that deliver local expertise and customer service across 21 states. Backed by significant resources in safety, finance, technology, marketing, and operations, the group is in a continuous state of growth. For more information on AEG, visit www.americanelevator.com Media Contact: Erin Vadala, Warner Communications [email protected] 978-468-3076 SOURCE American Elevator Group LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Balmoral Funds, LLC ("Balmoral") announced today that it has successfully completed its previously announced acquisition of Trecora Resources ("Trecora") at a price of $9.81 per share, net to each seller, in cash, without interest and subject to any required tax withholdings. With the completion of the acquisition, Trecora's stock will cease trading on the New York Stock Exchange and Trecora will no longer be listed on any public market. Blank Rome LLP served as legal advisor to Balmoral, and Piper Sandler served as financial advisor to Balmoral. Guggenheim Securities, LLC served as exclusive financial advisor to Trecora, and Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP served as legal advisor to Trecora. About Balmoral Funds Balmoral is a Los Angeles, CA based private equity fund that was founded in 2005. Balmoral's objective is to be the financial partner of choice for entrepreneurial, emotionally intelligent and successful C-suite executives and operating advisors creating transformative, revitalizing change in the businesses they co-invest in together. Balmoral has approximately $1.5 billion of assets under management. Balmoral typically invests in companies that have revenues between $30 to $500 million and require equity investments of $10 to $100 million, with the capability of investing an additional $100 million or more in particularly compelling opportunities. About Trecora Resources Trecora owns and operates a specialty petrochemicals facility specializing in high purity hydrocarbons and other petrochemical manufacturing and a specialty wax facility, both located in Texas, and provides custom processing services at both facilities. Cautionary Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" relating to the acquisition of Trecora by Balmoral. In some cases, forward-looking statements may be identified by terminology such as "believe," "may," "will," "should", "predict", "goal", "strategy", "potentially," "estimate," "continue," "anticipate," "intend," "could," "would," "project," "plan," "expect," "seek" and similar expressions and variations thereof. These words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Balmoral and Trecora have based these forward-looking statements on current expectations and projections about future events and trends that they believe may affect the financial condition, results of operations, business strategy, short-term and long-term business operations and objectives and financial needs of Balmoral and Trecora. Forward-looking statements are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance or achievements in future periods to differ materially from those assumed, projected or contemplated in the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, the following factors: the potential effects of the acquisition on Trecora, the participation of third parties in the consummation of the transaction and the combined company, the risk that stockholder litigation in connection with the transaction may result in significant costs of defense, indemnification and liability; and other risks and uncertainties, including those set forth in the "Risk Factors" and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations" sections of Trecora's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 and Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended May 5, 2022, which are on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") and available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The information contained in this document is provided only as of the date hereof, and no party undertakes any obligation to revise or update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as required by law. CONTACT: Jeremy Hellman, [email protected] SOURCE Trecora Resources CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America today commented on the results of the Federal Reserve's 2022 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review (CCAR) and announced plans to increase its quarterly common stock dividend to $0.22 per share beginning in the third quarter of 2022. Based on the 2022 CCAR results, Bank of America's stress capital buffer (SCB) will be approximately 100 bps higher than the current 2.5% level and will therefore add approximately 100 bps to our CET1 minimum requirement of 9.5%. When finalized, this new SCB will be effective from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. At March 31, 2022 Bank of America had $170 billion of regulatory CET1 capital and a CET1 ratio of 10.4%. "Our responsible growth strategy over the last decade has put us in a strong position to support our clients and deliver for shareholders," said Bank of America Chair and Chief Executive Officer Brian Moynihan. "In October 2021, we renewed the Company's previously announced $25 billion common stock purchase program with $17 billion remaining as of March 31, 2022, and today we are also announcing that we expect to increase the quarterly common stock dividend by 5% to $0.22 per share." Bank of America Chief Financial Officer Alastair Borthwick added that "the 2022 annual stress test results once again support that Bank of America maintains a strong capital position to serve its customers and clients through the current economic environment and our continued discipline around risk has us well prepared for a severe economic stress scenario." The common stock dividend is subject to approval from the Company's Board of Directors. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements represent the current expectations, plans or forecasts of Bank of America based on available information. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historical or current facts. These statements often use words like "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "estimates," "targets," "intends," "plans," "predict," "goal" and other similar expressions or future or conditional verbs such as "will," "may," "might," "should," "would" and "could." Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and Bank of America undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statement was made. Forward-looking statements represent Bank of America's current expectations, plans or forecasts of its future results, revenues, expenses, dividends, efficiency ratio, capital measures, and future business and economic conditions more generally, and other future matters. These statements are not guarantees of future results or performance and involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are often beyond Bank of America's control. Actual outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, any forward-looking statements due to a variety of factors. You should not place undue reliance on any forward-looking statement and should consider all of the precautionary statements, uncertainties and risks discussed in Bank of America's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including in Bank of America's Current Report on Form 8-K dated October 20, 2021, announcing Bank of America's common stock repurchase program, under Item 1A. "Risk Factors" of Bank of America's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and in any of Bank of America's other subsequent Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 4,100 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs, and award-winning digital banking with approximately 54 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. Investors May Contact: Lee McEntire, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.388.6780 [email protected] Jonathan G. Blum, Bank of America (Fixed Income) Phone: 1.212.449.3112 [email protected] Reporters May Contact: Bill Halldin, Bank of America Phone: 1.916.718.1251 [email protected] Christopher P. Feeney, Bank of America Phone: 1.980.386.6794 [email protected] SOURCE Bank of America Corporation Health, fertility, and cycle tracking data is safe and protected for Bellabeat users amongst Supreme Court ruling SAN FRANCISCO, Calif., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bellabeat announced today the rollout of a new layer of data security, the Private Key Encryption (AES-256) feature, in the wake of the United States Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Like many mobile apps, they had been using full end-to-end encryption of their Bellabeat mobile app for users of all of their Bellabeat wearable products, with end-to-end encryption being the common and secure way to protect customers' data. The company determined that to protect their users women's health data, it is necessary to take their data security a step further without haste. Bellabeat Mobile App Bellabeat Ivy- Rose Gold The Private Key Encryption (AES-256) feature will enable all Bellabeat users to access and decrypt her data using a private key via her Bellabeat smartphone app. Any data stored on the Bellabeat servers will be in an encrypted form only. Thus, no one can access the Bellabeat servers (lawfully or unlawfully). Also, adding the extra layer of security where data stored on the company's servers can not be read without holding an individual user's private key. The only person that can access the confidential health data and info in its decrypted form will be the Bellabeat customer herself. The private key is a password or a pin code that only the user herself knows or stores on her private device. Without that key, her data is unreadable. Ideally, implementing the new security feature gives full control and ownership of data to Bellabeat's end users. The company will therefore not be able to benefit from collecting end-user data in any shape or form, including for internal research or product improvements. Bellabeat executives determined that there was not a question in options and that users' safety at this time is of the utmost importance. The feature is currently in testing and will be rolled out within all Bellabeat products having women's' reproductive health tracking features (period and pregnancy data tracking) by end of July. The decision for the exceptional layer of data security comes in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts June 24th, 2022, ruling to overturn the landmark case Roe v. Wade, in which the Court ruled that the Constitution of the United States generally protects a pregnant woman's liberty to choose to have an abortion. The overturning of Roe v. Wade now gives states a license to ban abortion. Thirteen U.S. states, mainly within the south and midwest, had trigger bans to be activated upon supreme court decision and will now start taking effect. Some immediately upon the ruling being released. As Bellabeat is a women's health tracker with a specific focus on menstrual, reproductive, and fertility tracking, end-to-end encryption was determined to be of the utmost importance to protect the fast-growing companies' customers. "Our business is helping women to track and understand their cycles and bodies. The Overturning of Roe v. Wade is a tremendous blow to women's rights. It is an incredibly sad and terrifying day for Women's health and Women's rights. Many women are now in fear of exactly what to share and where to share it. This ruling will change how health data and records are maintained offline with OBGYNs and primary care physicians, what women feel safe to disclose, and will grossly change how women will choose to share their reproductive information online. We will continue to be a safe and progressive space for women to track their cycles, fertility, and all wellness concerns," States Urska Srsen Co-Founder of Bellabeat. "Incorporating the Private Key encryption feature means an extra layer of security designed to ensure our users' safety. This also means our end users can be sure that we are unable to leak or sell their data and that a breach or break within Bellabeat's servers will never mean a threat to their personal safety." In a recent Wall Street Journal article legal experts are quoted to say that in a scenario where Roe is overturned, your digital breadcrumbsincluding the kind that come from period trackerscould be used against you in states where laws criminalize aiding in or undergoing abortion. "It is a horrific idea that your health data and digital breadcrumbs could be used against you to criminalize women making life-changing reproductive choices. It's not a sentiment reflected anywhere in healthcare or health rights for the male body. We stand with women everywhere and have taken the necessary steps End-to-end. We also do not sell or share our customer info," states Sandro Mur, CoFounder of Bellabeat. "The implementation of the Private Key Encryption ensures that we will never be placed in a position, as a company, where we could be forced to submit user's private health data in its readable form." Bellabeat is a leader in creating wellness technology whose products include wearables are specifically made for women that track health, wellness, and reproductive info via The Bellabeat Ivy, Leaf Urban, and Leaf Chakra. Bellabeat is aimed exclusively at women and recently announced that they have started the process of submitting an official application to the FDA for their product, the Bellabeat Ivy. Obtaining a license from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) would allow doctors and clinicians to officially use the Ivy wearable technology to monitor the menstrual cycle in the treatment of women. The Bellabeat Ivy is specifically made for women. In recent coverage, it has been seen as an outstanding health tracker to monitor and track a woman's menstrual cycle, fertility, postpartum depression symptoms, menopause symptoms, and more. For media inquiries on the Bellabeat mobile app or additional quotes or interviews surrounding Bellabeat data protection upon the overturning of Roe v. Wade, please email [email protected] or call 877.841.7244. About Bellabeat Bellabeat Inc. is a Silicon Valley company building tech-powered wellness products for women. The Bellabeat team previously released the Bellabeat Ivy and disruptive Leaf health tracking jewelry for women and the first smart water bottle powered by A.I. Bellabeat is now revolutionizing the FemTech space by taking natural cycles into account when creating its guided programs and Ivy Smart Bracelet, helping women reach their health goals more effectively and enjoyably. Visit https://bellabeat.com/ for additional information. SOURCE Bellabeat Inc. Using science-backed data, The BiasSync Workplace Happiness Index is a powerful asset in improving retention LOS ANGELES, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- BiasSync announced the release of a new assessment tool that measures key factors driving employee turnover risk. The tool is aimed at helping companies gauge the overall effects of bias within their organizations. Numerous studies reveal that happiness at the workplace correlates to higher retention rates. Indeed, according to the Harvard Business Review, "happiness raises nearly every business and educational outcome: raising sales by 37%, productivity by 31%, and accuracy on tasks by 19%, as well as a myriad of health and quality of life improvements." "We're pleased to offer our latest assessment, especially during a time of heightened turnover," said BiasSync Cofounder and CEO Michele Ruiz. "Research and data show that one of the top reasons people leave their positions is because they work in a toxic environment," she added. "Now companies large and small stand to benefit from clear data that indicates the level of their employees' happiness." Designed by organizational behavior Ph.D.s, the BiasSync Workplace Happiness Index offers insights into key metrics so companies can identify turnover risks while improving morale and retention. Indeed, research shows that voluntary employee turnover costs companies up to $1 trillion a year, or up to twice one employee's annual salary. In addition to revealing employee satisfaction levels, the BiasSync Workplace Happiness Index provides clear direction for diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) efforts. A flexible, customizable diagnostic tool, the Index provides a valuable snapshot into employees' attitudes and insights, serving as an early pulse-check for culture and DEI initiatives. About BiasSync Los Angeles-based BiasSync is a SaaS company providing a science-based solution designed to help organizations more effectively assess, measure and manage unconscious bias in the work environment. Its purpose is to create a more fair and respectful workplace. For more information, visit https://biassync.com CONTACT: Linsey Carbone [email protected] (310) 800-1079 SOURCE BiasSync MIAMI, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Van Leer will be a featured speaker at the annual Miami eCommerce Summit on Thursday, July 14th. Blake R Van Leer III is an Executive at Proto AI an AI Technology company which helps Online retailers acquire, convert and retain more customers with a first if it's kind technology. Van Leer is also an Entrepreneur, Investor, Nonprofit Board Advisor and Special Advisor to Kathy Ireland who does $3.1B in annual sales. The Miami event features speakers who are industry leaders and innovators from a broad cross-section of companies. "I'm thrilled to join the event. Retail Summit has a unique engaging format. We'll be sitting on a panel with exciting brands like Perry Ellis International." Speaker Blake Van Leer Miami eCommerce Summit A leader in eCommerce and MarTech, Van Leer has helped numerous startups and mid-enterprise companies scale by 9 figures. Most recently Van Leer joined a cutting edge AI company in the Online Retail space, which provides advanced AI technologies to drive top-line revenue growth. While Van Leer enjoys growing companies, he also enjoys helping non profit endeavors like the Dream Fearlessly campaign, which include sponsors AmFam, ChickTech, and Amazon. The campaign's core focus is to help women get involved with Tech and coding. The program helped Mother-Guardian/daughter pairs to bond across generations while encouraging and supporting the pursuit of STEM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Math) careers. "My family's lifelong support for the Society of Women Engineers made it an easy decision to get behind. We enjoyed galvanizing communities for this campaign," said Van Leer. Topics covered at the event. eCommerce trends are constantly evolving. Professionals will discuss rapidly changing technologies, finance, SMB strategies, Supply Chain, Selling in Latin America, 2022 trends and best practices, omnichannel strategies, and how to engage customers in a crowded market. "If you have an online business, please come join me for a chat about AI and eCommerce. If you're out of the area, visit our site at proto.ai/commerce " said Van Leer. Additional companies speaking at this event include Bunnie Cakes, Gorgias, Provident Jewelry, Walgreens, City Mattress, Zumba Fitness and more. For more information about the event visit https://retailsummits.com/events/miami-ecommerce-summit/ Media contact: Bill Wayne [email protected] 202-609-9898 SOURCE Blake Van Leer NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On June 23, 2022, the Federal Reserve released the results of its 2022 bank stress tests, which demonstrate the resilience and strength of BNY Mellon's business model and capital position. The Federal Reserve also notified the company that its preliminary Stress Capital Buffer (SCB) requirement will remain 2.5%, equal to the regulatory floor. This SCB is expected to be effective from October 1, 2022 to September 30, 2023. The company intends to increase its quarterly cash dividend on its common shares by 9% from $0.34 to $0.37 per share, commencing as early as the third quarter of 2022, subject to approval by the company's Board of Directors. The company continues to be authorized to repurchase common shares under its existing share repurchase program approved by the Board of Directors, as announced in June 2021. The timing, manner and amount of repurchases are subject to various factors, including the company's capital position and prevailing market conditions. Todd Gibbons, Chief Executive Officer of BNY Mellon said: "The Federal Reserve's 2022 bank stress tests once again show that our resilient business model and strong balance sheet are well positioned to weather periods of even severe stress while continuing to support our clients and the broader economy. As we remain committed to maintaining strong capital ratios and delivering value to our shareholders, we are pleased to announce our intention to increase our dividend in the coming quarter." About BNY Mellon BNY Mellon is a global investments company dedicated to helping its clients manage and service their financial assets throughout the investment lifecycle. Whether providing financial services for institutions, corporations or individual investors, BNY Mellon delivers informed investment and wealth management and investment services in 35 countries. As of March 31, 2022, BNY Mellon had $45.5 trillion in assets under custody and/or administration, and $2.3 trillion in assets under management. BNY Mellon can act as a single point of contact for clients looking to create, trade, hold, manage, service, distribute or restructure investments. BNY Mellon is the corporate brand of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE: BK). Additional information is available on www.bnymellon.com. Follow us on Twitter @BNYMellon or visit our newsroom at www.bnymellon.com/newsroom for the latest company news. This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements, which may be expressed in a variety of ways, including the use of future or present tense language, relate to, among other things, BNY Mellon's repurchases of common stock, common stock dividends, capital base, performance and ability to meet regulatory requirements. These statements are based upon current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties (some of which are beyond BNY Mellon's control). Actual outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied as a result of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, the factors identified above and the risk factors and other uncertainties set forth in BNY Mellon's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, the Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and BNY Mellon's other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All statements in this press release speak only as of the date on which such statements are made, and BNY Mellon undertakes no obligation to update any statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such forward-looking statement is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Contacts: Media Garrett Marquis +1 949 683 1503 [email protected] Analysts Marius Merz +1 212 298 1480 [email protected] SOURCE BNY Mellon DALLAS, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP is pleased to announce the addition of John A. Bonnet III as a partner in the Dallas office. Mr. Bonnet joins the firm as a member of Bradley's Corporate & Securities Practice Group. "John is well-regarded for his skill and the level of service he provides to his clients, focusing on collaboration and strategy to come up with effective legal solutions," said Bradley Dallas Office Managing Partner Richard A. Sayles. "We are pleased to welcome John to the firm as we continue to deepen the capabilities that we are able to offer out of the Dallas office." Mr. Bonnet is a transactional lawyer with extensive experience in M&A transactions, debt and equity financings, investment funds, general business transactions, contracts, corporate governance, and other business law matters. Mr. Bonnet regularly represents a diverse range of clients, including buyers, sellers, investment fund sponsors, investors, boards of directors and management, borrowers, lenders, and startups. He is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and earned his B.B.A. from the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Bonnet is a member of the State Bar of Texas and of the Dallas Bar Association. With the addition of Mr. Bonnet, Bradley's Dallas office has more than tripled in size over the last three years, growing into a full-service office with particular strength in its litigation, finance, corporate, government enforcement, fintech and emerging business practice areas. The firm now has more than 50 lawyers located across its offices in Dallas and Houston and has more than 70 lawyers licensed in the state, which is part of Bradley's strategic plan to prioritize high-quality, high-value legal services for its clients in Texas and beyond. About Bradley Bradley combines skilled legal counsel with exceptional client service and unwavering integrity to assist a diverse range of corporate and individual clients in achieving their business goals. With offices in Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and the District of Columbia, the firm's almost 600 lawyers represent regional, national and international clients in various industries, including banking and financial services, construction, energy, healthcare, life sciences, manufacturing, real estate, and technology, among many others. Social Media: @bradleylegal, #legalnews, #lawyers SOURCE Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP Minority-Owned Startup Enables Enterprise-scale, Low-code Adoption of Real-time Machine Learning WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AI Squared, the low-code AI integration platform, today announced it has raised $6 million Seed financing by global venture capital firm NEA with participation from Ridgeline Partners. The company has launched a cutting-edge, artificial intelligence (AI) platform designed to enable rapid machine learning (ML) model adaptation across today's most critical business web-applications at scale for enterprise companies. The new capital will help drive technology innovation, employment hiring, new product development and expansion within their identified beachhead market. AI Squared is a low-code AI integration platform with a mission to empower companies to make any existing applications intelligent by simplifying and accelerating the integration of AI into apps, ultimately increasing AI adoption. The platform embeds AI into any existing application and integrates intelligent automation, data-driven insights, and guided recommendations to create an intelligent application that can deliver a more personalized interface, improve productivity, and support decision making. The technology empowers companies to accelerate the adoption of machine learning by removing the many complexities of model integration and dependencies on IT. With AI Squared, data scientists can build, optimize and integrate ML models into business applications easily and efficiently, putting AI-powered insights into the hands of business users in minutes. "If you're a data scientist or engineer, and you're struggling to quickly integrate machine learning into your web-based business applications due to the complexities of deployment and development, we're here for you," said Benjamin Harvey, CEO. "AI Squared is the easiest way to empower end users to leverage results of AI and ML that are accurate, actionable, relevant, timely and contextualized for in-app decision intelligence." AI Squared provides an essential solution for AI empowered organizations using a four-factor approach: democratization, augmentation, adaptation, and intelligent automation. The platform empowers analysts and non-technical users to have awareness of and access to AI in order to harness the power of AI inside of applications. Augmentation occurs and yields AI-powered embedded insights, making the apps that teams use the most intelligent through contextualization. Business organizations are offered the option to adapt models. They can customize, personalize, and tune integrations to a specific end-user or organization. Lastly, AI Squared provides intelligent automation, timely invoking of models, chaining multiple models, adjusting models for relevance, and enabling in-workflow process augmentation and transformation. "Companies across the globe are scrambling to implement AI and ML powered applications to optimize data, automate processes, and drive business value--which can be a complex, timely, and costly transition" said Pete Sonsini, General Partner, NEA. Greg Papadopoulos, Venture Partner, NEA, added: "AI Squared enables businesses to unleash the magic of AI with a low-code, easy-to-integrate platform aimed to make companies smarter, more effective, and more innovative. We're excited to partner with Ben and his team to improve business outcomes by making AI usable and accessible to business and data teams alike." As a majority minority-owned firm, AI Squared consists of four founders and a staff of 95% African American and Hispanic American descent. AI Squared joins an emerging class of elite minority-owned tech firms creating professional and economic opportunities. The company is hosting its official brand launch on June 23, at 10:30 am on LinkedIn Live. An introduction of the founders, product showcase, and special guests are scheduled for this event. About AI Squared Founded in 2021, AI Squared is the platform for imbuing enterprise applications with intelligence, simplifying and accelerating the process of getting AI into the hands of business decision makers. AI Squared is built to bring democratization, augmentation, adaption, and intelligent automation to business-critical AI initiatives by eliminating the complexities of integrating models brought on by legacy model deployment platforms and workflows. Enterprise companies gain the benefit of intelligent automation, data-driven insights, and guided recommendations to create an intelligent application that can deliver a more personalized interface, improve productivity, and support decision making. About NEA New Enterprise Associates, Inc. (NEA) is a global venture capital firm focused on helping entrepreneurs build transformational businesses across multiple stages, sectors and geographies. With nearly $24 billion in cumulative committed capital since the firm's founding in 1977, NEA invests in technology and healthcare companies at all stages in a company's lifecycle, from seed stage through IPO. The firm's track record of investing includes more than 260 portfolio company IPOs and more than 430 mergers and acquisitions. www.nea.com SOURCE AI Squared Munich/New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday interacted with world leaders gathered at the Schloss Elmau resort in the Bavarian Alps for the G7 Summit. He shared smiles, laughter and warm handshakes with US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, and especially with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, signifying a building of closer ties with Ottawa after the past few years of aloofness. PM Modi, who arrives at the luxury resort, was welcomed at the summit venue by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The two leaders shared a warm handshake. They had met on May 2 in Berlin for the bilateral summit and are meeting again today for bilateral talks, their second in as many months. PM Modi then posed for a photo-op along with the other G7 leaders. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a tweet posted: A partnership bound by shared values! PM @narendramodi with leaders of the @G7 countries, G7 partner countries and guest International Organisations. Later, the PM had a warm interaction with the US President Biden, with French President Macron, and with Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. PM Modi, signifying the closer bonding of ties with Ottawa, is seen holding the Canadian PMs hand in a close grasp. PM @narendramod with @POTUS @JoeBiden, @President @EmmanuelMacron and PM @JustinTrudeau at the G-7 Summit in Germany, the PMO said in a tweet, showing the photos. PM Modi is scheduled to hold a bilateral with the Canadian PM later in the evening. The two sides have been warming to each other in the past few months, following the aloofness that had crept in over the past few years following the perceived closeness of the earlier Trudeau administration with Sikh separatists. The PM is to attend two sessions today. He will attend the plenary on Investing in a Better Future: Climate, Energy, Health, and a working session on Stronger Together: Addressing Food Security and Advancing Gender Equality. He is to have bilaterals with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, with Indonesia President Joko Widodo, and the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau, as well as the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Surrounded by the magical beauty of the Bavarian Alps, Schloss Elmau is a pristine luxury retreat just over 60 miles south of Munich. UNI RN MCLEAN, Va., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital One Financial Corporation (NYSE: COF) today announced the company's Stress Capital Buffer Requirement ("SCB"), as calculated by the Federal Reserve 2022 Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review process ("CCAR"), is 3.1 percent, effective October 1, 2022. Capital One's previously disclosed SCB of 2.5 percent, as calculated by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 2021 CCAR process, will remain in effect through the end of the third quarter of 2022. Capital One also posted a summary of the company's stress test results on its website (http://www.capitalone.com). This summary shows the results of Capital One's modeling of the Federal Reserve's severely adverse scenario. From the home page, select "About" choose "Investors" to access the Investor Center, select "Financials", and then choose "Capital One Stress Test Results" to view the current summary. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements in this release may constitute forward-looking statements, which involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Capital One cautions readers that any forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and that actual results could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking information due to a number of factors, including those listed from time to time in reports that Capital One files with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, but not limited to, the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. 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 CHMP positive opinion is based on results from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 study showing upadacitinib (RINVOQ ) met the primary endpoint of ASAS40 response at week 14 versus placebo 1 Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA) is part of the axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) spectrum and causes inflammation in the spine, leading to back pain and stiffness 2,3,4 The EC decision is expected in the third quarter of 2022 NORTH CHICAGO, Ill., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) today announced the European Medicines Agency's (EMA) Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) recommended the approval of upadacitinib (RINVOQ 15 mg, once daily) for the treatment of active non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nraxSpA) in adult patients with objective signs of inflammation as indicated by elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), who have responded inadequately to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).* "Patients with axSpA often experience delayed diagnosis and once they do receive a diagnosis, there are limited therapies available to help control disease symptoms, such as inflammation, back pain and stiffness," said Neil Gallagher, M.D., Ph.D., vice president, development, chief medical officer, AbbVie. "The CHMP's recommendation to approve upadacitinib for patients with nr-axSpA is an important milestone in providing a new treatment option to patients in need." The CHMP positive opinion is a scientific recommendation for marketing authorization to the European Commission (EC), which will review it and issue a Commission decision that will be valid in all member states of the European Union (EU), as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Northern Ireland and Norway. AbbVie's application for the approval of upadacitinib in nr-axSpA is supported by results from the Phase 3 SELECT-AXIS 2 study, for which AbbVie disclosed topline results in 2021. In the Phase 3 clinical study, the SELECT-AXIS 2 nr-axSpA study met the primary endpoint of Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society 40 percent response criteria (ASAS40), and the first 12 of 14 ranked secondary endpoints.1 Safety data were previously reported with no new risks identified compared to the known safety profile of upadacitinib.1 Upadacitinib is currently approved for use in the EU in patients with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis, active psoriatic arthritis, active ankylosing spondylitis, and moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.5 The use of upadacitinib in nr-axSpA is not approved in the U.S. or EU. Its efficacy and safety remain under review. About the SELECT-AXIS 2 program SELECT-AXIS 2 (NCT04169373) was conducted under a master protocol and includes two separate studies (SELECT-AXIS 2 AS (bDMARD-IR) study, or Study 1 and SELECT-AXIS 2 nr-axSpA study, or Study 2). More information on the SELECT-AXIS 2 program is available at https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ (2019-003229-12) in the EU, and at www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04169373) in the U.S. Study 1: SELECT-AXIS 2 AS (bDMARD-IR) study 6 A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 3 trial, which evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib compared with placebo, in 420 patients with a clinical diagnosis of AS who fulfilled the modified New York criteria, had BASDAI score 4 and total back pain score 4 (based on a numerical scale of 0-10), and had an inadequate response to bDMARD therapy. Study 2: SELECT-AXIS 2 nr-axSpA study 1 A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, Phase 3 trial which evaluated the efficacy and safety of upadacitinib compared with placebo, in 314 patients with a clinical diagnosis of nr-axSpA. Patients enrolled in the study had active signs of inflammation as indicated by MRI + sacroiliac joint inflammation, and/or high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) >upper limit of normal (2.87 mg/L) at screening, and who had BASDAI score 4 and a total back pain score 4 (based on a numerical scale of 0-10). About Axial Spondyloarthritis (axSpA) Axial spondyloarthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the spine, causing back pain, limited mobility, and structural damage.4 It consists of two subsets that have been clinically defined as radiographic axial SpA (ankylosing spondylitis) and non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (nr-axSpA).4 In ankylosing spondylitis, patients have definitive structural damage of the sacroiliac joints visible on X-rays.4 Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis is clinically defined by the absence of definitive X-ray evidence of structural damage to the sacroiliac joint by plain X-ray.4 About RINVOQ (upadacitinib)5 Discovered and developed by AbbVie scientists, RINVOQ is a selective JAK inhibitor that is being studied in several immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. In human cellular assays, RINVOQ preferentially inhibits signaling by JAK1 or JAK1/3 with functional selectivity over cytokine receptors that signal via pairs of JAK2.5 In the EU, RINVOQ is approved for the treatment of adults with moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs; for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs; for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy; and for adults (15 mg and 30 mg) and adolescents (15 mg) with moderate to severe atopic dermatitis.5 Phase 3 trials of RINVOQ in axial spondyloarthritis, Crohn's disease, giant cell arteritis and Takayasu arteritis are ongoing.7,8,9,10 Use of RINVOQ in nr-axSpA is not approved and remains under review by regulatory authorities. EU Indications and Important Safety Information about RINVOQ (upadacitinib)5 Indications Rheumatoid arthritis RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe active rheumatoid arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs). RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate. Psoriatic arthritis RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active psoriatic arthritis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to, or who are intolerant to one or more DMARDs. RINVOQ may be used as monotherapy or in combination with methotrexate. Ankylosing spondylitis RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of active ankylosing spondylitis in adult patients who have responded inadequately to conventional therapy. Atopic dermatitis RINVOQ is indicated for the treatment of moderate to severe atopic dermatitis in adults and adolescents 12 years and older who are candidates for systemic therapy. Important Safety Information Contraindications RINVOQ is contraindicated in patients hypersensitive to the active substance or to any of the excipients, in patients with active tuberculosis (TB) or active serious infections, in patients with severe hepatic impairment, and during pregnancy. Special warnings and precautions for use Immunosuppressive medicinal products Use in combination with other potent immunosuppressants is not recommended. Serious infections Serious and sometimes fatal infections have been reported in patients receiving upadacitinib. The most frequent serious infections reported included pneumonia and cellulitis. Cases of bacterial meningitis have been reported. Among opportunistic infections, TB, multidermatomal herpes zoster, oral/esophageal candidiasis, and cryptococcosis have been reported with upadacitinib. As there is a higher incidence of infections in patients 65 years of age, caution should be used when treating this population. Viral reactivation Viral reactivation, including cases of herpes zoster, was reported in clinical studies. The risk of herpes zoster appears to be higher in Japanese patients treated with upadacitinib. Vaccinations The use of live, attenuated vaccines during or immediately prior to therapy is not recommended. It is recommended that patients be brought up to date with all immunizations, including prophylactic zoster vaccinations, prior to initiating upadacitinib, in agreement with current immunization guidelines. Malignancy The risk of malignancies, including lymphoma is increased in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Malignancies, including nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC), have been reported in patients treated with upadacitinib. Consider the risks and benefits of upadacitinib treatment prior to initiating therapy in patients with a known malignancy other than a successfully treated NMSC or when considering continuing upadacitinib therapy in patients who develop a malignancy. Hematological abnormalities Treatment should not be initiated, or should be temporarily interrupted, in patients with hematological abnormalities observed during routine patient management. Diverticulitis Upadacitinib should be used with caution in patients with diverticular disease and especially in patients chronically treated with concomitant medications associated with an increased risk of diverticulitis. Cardiovascular risk RA patients have an increased risk for cardiovascular disorders. Patients treated with upadacitinib should have risk factors (e.g., hypertension, hyperlipidemia) managed as part of usual standard of care. Lipids Upadacitinib treatment was associated with dose-dependent increases in lipid parameters, including total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. Hepatic transaminase elevations Treatment with upadacitinib was associated with an increased incidence of liver enzyme elevation compared to placebo. Venous thromboembolisms Events of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and pulmonary embolism (PE) have been reported in patients receiving JAK inhibitors, including upadacitinib. Upadacitinib should be used with caution in patients at high risk for DVT/PE. Adverse reactions The most commonly reported adverse reactions in rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis clinical trials (2% of patients in at least one of the indications) with upadacitinib 15 mg were upper respiratory tract infections, blood creatine phosphokinase (CPK) increased, alanine transaminase (ALT) increased, bronchitis, nausea, cough, aspartate transaminase (AST) increased, and hypercholesterolemia. The most commonly reported adverse reactions in atopic dermatitis trials (2% of patients) with upadacitinib 15 mg or 30 mg were upper respiratory tract infection, acne, herpes simplex, headache, CPK increased, cough, folliculitis, abdominal pain, nausea, neutropenia, pyrexia, and influenza. The most common serious adverse reactions were serious infections. The safety profile of upadacitinib with long term treatment was generally similar to the safety profile during the placebo-controlled period across indications. Overall, the safety profile observed in patients with psoriatic arthritis or active ankylosing spondylitis treated with upadacitinib 15 mg was consistent with the safety profile observed in patients with RA. In atopic dermatitis, dose-dependent increased risks of infection and herpes zoster were observed with upadacitinib. Based on limited data, there was a higher rate of overall adverse reactions with the upadacitinib 30 mg dose compared to the 15 mg dose in patients aged 65 years and older. The safety profile for upadacitinib 15 mg in adolescents was similar to that in adults. The safety and efficacy of the 30 mg dose in adolescents are still being investigated. Dose-dependent changes in ALT increased and/or AST increased ( 3 x ULN), lipid parameters, CPK values (> 5 x ULN), and neutropenia (ANC < 1 x 109 cells/L) associated with upadacitinib treatment were similar to what was observed in the rheumatologic disease clinical studies. This is not a complete summary of all safety information. See RINVOQ full summary of product characteristics (SmPC) at www.ema.europa.eu/en . Globally, prescribing information varies; refer to the individual country product label for complete information. About AbbVie in Rheumatology For more than 20 years, AbbVie has been dedicated to improving care for people living with rheumatic diseases. Our longstanding commitment to discovering and delivering transformative therapies is underscored by our pursuit of cutting-edge science that improves our understanding of promising new pathways and targets in order to help more people living with rheumatic diseases reach their treatment goals. For more information on AbbVie in rheumatology, visit https://www.abbvie.com/our-science/therapeutic-focus-areas/immunology/immunology-focus-areas/rheumatology.html. 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 its 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. References 1 Deodhar, A, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Patients with Active Non-Radiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial. EULAR 2022 Congress; 2534. 2 Crossfield SSR, Marzo-Ortega H, Kingbury SR et al. Changes in ankylosing spondylitis incidence, prevalence and time to diagnosis over two decades. RMD Open 2021;7:e001888. doi: 10.1136/rmdopen-2021-001888. 3 Mayo Clinic. Ankylosing Spondylitis 2019. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/ankylosing-spondylitis/symptomscauses/syc-20354808. Accessed April 2022. 4 Deodhar AA, Understanding Axial Spondyloarthritis: A Primer for Managed Care. Am J Managed Care. 2019;25:S319-S330. 5 RINVOQ [Summary of Product Characteristics]. AbbVie Deutschland GmbH & Co. KG; May 2022. Available at: https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/documents/product-information/rinvoq-epar-product-information_en.pdf. Accessed June 14, 2022. 6 Van der Heijde, D, et al. Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Patients With Active Ankylosing Spondylitis Refractory to Biologic Therapy: a Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Phase 3 Trial. EULAR 2022 Congress; 2518. 7 A Study to Evaluate Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Adult Participants With Axial Spondyloarthritis (SELECT AXIS 2). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04169373. Accessed on April 1, 2022. 8 A Study of the Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib (ABT-494) in Participants With Moderately to Severely Active Crohn's Disease Who Have Inadequately Responded to or Are Intolerant to Biologic Therapy. ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03345836. Accessed on April 1, 2022. 9 A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Upadacitinib in Participants With Giant Cell Arteritis (SELECT-GCA). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03725202. Accessed on April 1, 2022. 10 A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Upadacitinib in Subjects With Takayasu Arteritis (TAK) (SELECT-TAK). ClinicalTrials.gov. 2021. Available at: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04161898. Accessed on April 1, 2022. *This recommendation is without prejudice to the final conclusions of the ongoing referral procedure under Article 20 of Regulation (EC) No 726/2004 resulting from pharmacovigilance data SOURCE AbbVie HARRISBURG, Ill., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Clearwave Fiber will begin building the company's state-of-the art, all-fiber Internet network in Lansing, KS. This latest expansion marks the company's first network presence in Kansas and underscores its goal to bring the most advanced and fastest Internet available to more than 500,000 homes and businesses across the United States by 2027. Clearwave Fiber's Vice President of Kansas, Stormy Supiran, stressed the importance of the company's investment to consumers and the broader local community. "We are committed to providing underserved communities with the high-speed connectivity that is essential for families, businesses, and local economies; without these essential services, many of the communities we are targeting may struggle to survive," said Supiran. "We are excited to extend services to Lansing, and we look forward to becoming long-term partners to the community." Clearwave Fiber partnered with the City of Lansing to deliver ultra-fast broadband service to residents through the use of Federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding. "We are pleased to partner with Clearwave Fiber to provide our citizens with the reliability and speed that an al-fiber internet connection will provide. This is truly an investment into the future of our community," said Lansing City Administrator, Tim Vandall. Featuring gigabit download and upload speeds, Clearwave Fiber will bring ten times more speed to consumer doorsteps at a time when fast, reliable Internet is becoming increasingly critical to modern households. "More and more, we see households where multiple bandwidth-intensive activities occur simultaneously and many consumers' Internet connections just aren't up to the task," said Clearwave Fiber's Midwest President, Byron Cantrall. "The Clearwave Fiber network solves that problem." For many consumers, Internet touches every facet of daily life. Remote work, telehealth, and virtual learning all require robust, reliable connections. A 2021 study by Deloitte indicated that 55% of U.S. households include one or more remote workers, and 43% include at least one household member attending virtual classes. Clearwave Fiber is slated to being construction this month. For more information, visit clearwave.com/home. About Clearwave Fiber Midwest Clearwave Fiber is an Internet service provider based in Savannah, GA that operates a more than 2,000 route-mile fiber network serving cities across the Midwest and Southeast regions of the United States. Delivering advanced telecommunications solutions with an emphasis on exceptional customer care and community engagement, they provide fiber to business, enterprise, and residential customers in more than 90 municipalities in Illinois and Kansas. SOURCE Clearwave Fiber -Special Meeting of Stockholders to be held on June 30, 2022 -ISS and Glass Lewis Each Recommend Shareholders Elect the Entire Independent Slate EL SEGUNDO, Calif., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Eileen Drake (the CEO of Aerojet Rocketdyne (NYSE: AJRD)) and the other members of the Committee For Aerojet Rocketdyne Shareholders and Value Maximization (the "Committee") remind Aerojet Rocketdyne shareholders that the special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing a new slate of directors will be held on June 30, 2022. The Committee recommends that shareholders vote " FOR " the Independent Slate on the WHITE proxy card prior to the special meeting, in accordance with the previously-announced recommendations of independent proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services ("ISS") and Glass Lewis. A few of the many compelling factors cited by ISS in its report recommending shareholders vote FOR Ms. Drake and the Independent Slate include: "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." "[I]t is telling that not a single incumbent director without a business or personal link came to his support." "Issues with confidence and trust are particularly concerning in this case, seeing that Lichtenstein has historically been averse to providing shareholders with information." Similarly, Glass Lewis presented a number of compelling reasons in its report recommending shareholders vote FOR Ms. Drake and the Independent Slate including: "Ms. Drake working against challenging time constraints and with far fewer resources than those we expect were available to the Steel Faction has assembled an experienced and well-rounded slate of candidates in short order, an outcome which seems to speak volumes to Ms. Drake's ability to attract credible, independent nominees to her cause." "[S]upport for the Steel Faction would portend a considerable step back in terms of reliable, progressive corporate governance, in all cases in favor of a sitting chair recently inclined to delay shareholder votes, privately pursue personal objectives irrespective of board directives, sensationally misrepresent key developments and, perhaps most critically here, circumvent personal culpability." "Mr. Lichtenstein is a named executive officer who sits at the top of AJRD's summary compensation table. In absolute candor, we remain confounded by the notion that historical critiques of executive staff persuasive or not are viewed as a winning tack by the Steel Faction. In the service of absolute clarity, we would firmly emphasize again that this approach to accountability and responsibility disconcertingly reinforces Mr. Lichtenstein's willingness to shirk fault, even when his own arguments expressly indicate he is part of the problem." The Independent Slate Urges All Shareholders to Support its Highly Qualified Nominees by Voting " FOR " on the WHITE Proxy Card at the Upcoming Special Meeting on June 30, 2022 Ms. Drake and the other members of the Committee encourage institutional and other investors to review and consider the complete reports published by ISS and Glass Lewis, as well as the recent investor presentation available here: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/40888/000119312522177000/d353636ddfan14a.htm 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 Corporate E-learning Market 2021-2025: Scope Our corporate e-learning market report covers the following areas: Corporate E-learning Market 2021-2025: Vendor Analysis The corporate e-learning market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as organic and inorganic strategies to compete in the market. Articulate Global Inc., City & Guilds Group, CommLab India LLP, D2L Corp., Designing Digitally Inc., EI Design Pvt. Ltd., G-Cube Webwide Software Pvt. Ltd., GP Strategies Corp., PeopleFluent Holdings Corp., and Skillsoft Corp. are some of the major market participants. Corporate E-learning Market 2021-2025: Market Dynamics Drivers: The key factor driving the corporate e-learning market is the reduction in employee training costs for employers. Organizations look for ways to cut down the operating cost and increase their profit. Employee training is one area where organizations spend significantly. e-learning helps organizations to reduce the cost associated with employee training. Cost reduction is achieved by e-learning due to the reasons such as elimination of traveling and hospitality costs of the instructor, easy global deployment so organizations can use the same training modules for offices globally, e-learning provides employees the opportunity to go through e-learning content several times at no additional cost and others. Challenges: Designing e-learning courses is one of the key challenges hindering the corporate e-learning market growth. The need for effective and appealing content cannot be underrated while designing the content of an e-learning module. In organizations where employees are of varying ages, ranging from baby boomers to millennials, providing e-learning content that can appeal to all the participants can be a challenge. Every generation has its unique traits and needs. For instance, most millennials will find themselves comfortable with technology; the same might not be the case with baby boomers. Hence, designing generic online content becomes challenging for companies. To know about other drivers & challenges along with the market trends - Grab a sample report now! Corporate E-learning Market 2021-2025: Segmentation Analysis End-user Services Manufacturing Retail Others Deployment On-premises Cloud-based Geography APAC North America Europe South America MEA APAC North America Europe South America MEA To know about the market contribution of each segment - Click Now! Get ready to achieve excellent business outcomes from this exclusive Corporate E-learning 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 Corporate E-learning 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 Corporate E-learning Market Forecast Report - Buy Now! Related Reports: The corporate leadership training market share is expected to increase to USD 18.59 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.51%. share is expected to increase to from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 9.51%. The e-learning market share in the UK is expected to increase to USD 11.57 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 15.27% Corporate E-learning Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 13% Market growth 2021-2025 USD 37.80 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 12.25 Performing market contribution APAC at 40% Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Articulate Global Inc., City & Guilds Group, CommLab India LLP, D2L Corp., Designing Digitally Inc., EI Design Pvt. Ltd., G-Cube Webwide Software Pvt. Ltd., GP Strategies Corp., PeopleFluent Holdings Corp., and Skillsoft Corp. 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 the forecast period, Customization purview If our report has not included the data you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get customized segments. Table Of Contents : Executive Summary Market Landscape Market ecosystem Value chain analysis Market Sizing Market definition Market segment analysis Market size 2020 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Five Forces Analysis Bargaining power of buyers Bargaining power of suppliers Threat of new entrants Threat of substitutes Threat of rivalry Market condition Market Segmentation by End-user Market segments Comparison by End-user Services - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Manufacturing - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Retail - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by End-user Market Segmentation by Deployment Market segments Comparison by Deployment On-premise - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Cloud-based - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Market opportunity by Deployment Customer landscape Overview Geographic Landscape Geographic segmentation Geographic comparison APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Key leading countries Market opportunity by geography Market drivers Market challenges Market trends Vendor Landscape Overview Landscape disruption Overview Vendor Analysis Vendors covered Market positioning of vendors Articulate Global Inc. City and Guilds Group CommLab India D2L Corp. Designing Digitally Inc. EI Design Pvt Ltd. G Cube Webwide Software Pvt. Ltd. GP Strategies Corp. PeopleFluent Holdings Corp. Skillsoft Ltd. Appendix Scope of the report Currency conversion rates for US$ Research methodology 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 consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning 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 BANGALORE, India, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Digital Remittance Market is Segmented by Type (Banks Digital Remittance, Digital Money Transfer Operators), by Application (Migrant Labor Workforce, Study Abroad and Travel, Small Businesses): Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 20222028. The global Digital Remittance market size is projected to reach USD 19710 Million by 2028, from USD 6333 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 17.4% during 2022-2028. Major factors driving the growth of the digital remittance market are: Rapid urbanization and industrialization are attracting residents from various rural and semi-rural areas to metropolitan areas. In search of a job or education, many individuals are migrating to new nations and places. As a result, the number of cross-border transactions increases, accelerating the expansion of the digital remittance market. Additionally, benefits such as faster funds transfer, lower costs than traditional money transfer services, and ease of use are likely to drive the digital remittance market forward. Get Your Sample Today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/QYRE-Auto-1191/Global_Digital_Remittance_Market TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF THE DIGITAL REMITTANCE MARKET: The increasing need to reduce the remittance cost is expected to drive the growth of the digital remittance market. The cheapest method of transferring remittances throughout the world is via mobile money transfer utilizing digital wallet software or another electronic payment mechanism. As a result, integrating mobile money transfer software reduces your remittance costs. Many redundant layers of the value chain required in transmitting traditional cash-based remittances are also removed with digital money transfers. Your money transfer software enables your customers to transmit digital money straight from their mobile wallets, eliminating the need for middlemen. Customers are likely to migrate toward online transactions as the digital platform for remittance grows in popularity. Furthermore, in recent years, the growing use of mobile devices throughout the world has aided the adoption of digital technology in remittance services and cross-border payments. Customers all across the world are switching to digital remittance services because they assist minimize money transfer time and expenses. Furthermore, digital remittance services provide high levels of anonymity and security for users' funds. This in turn is expected to further fuel the digital remittance market growth. Furthermore, the growing popularity of digital remittance services among low-wage migrant workers who use them to send money home is forcing many regulatory agencies to pay attention to and regulate the business. Furthermore, international remittances play an essential part in emerging market economic development. As a result, authorized authorities limit and monitor money transfer costs in order to encourage consumers to keep using digital remittance services and successfully contribute to the economic growth of their home nation. Over the forecast period, these factors are likely to contribute to digital remittance market growth. The pandemic of COVID-19 is likely to have a beneficial effect on digital remittance market growth. The usage of digital alternatives to money transfer has increased as a result of movement and other constraints, with legislative reforms made to boost the use of digital payments. In emerging nations, the use of digital payments has resulted in a large increase in the use of e-wallet payments rather than cash. Furthermore, in low- and middle-income countries, the usage of mobile money services has been continuously increasing. Browse The Table Of Contents And List Of Figures At: https://reports.valuates.com/market-reports/QYRE-Auto-1191/global-digital-remittance DIGITAL REMITTANCE MARKET SHARE The Digital Money Transfer Operators segment is expected to be the most lucrative with a share over 80%. Frequently, money transfer firms might provide lower transfer fees than banks. And in terms of application, the largest end user is personal customers, with a share of about 80%. Based on region, North America is the largest market, with a share of about 33%, followed by Asia Pacific and Europe with the share of about 32% and 15%. The deployment of compatible devices and workable networks is helping the North American Digital Remittance Market develop rapidly. Key Companies: Global key players of digital money transfer and remittance include Western Union, Ria Financial Services, etc. Global top 3 companies hold a share over 40%. PayPal/Xoom Wise Zepz (WorldRemit, Sendwave) MoneyGram Remitly Azimo TransferGo NIUM, Inc (Instarem) TNG FinTech Coins.ph OrbitRemit Smiles/Digital Wallet Corporation FlyRemit SingX Flywire Intermex Small World Inquire for Chapter Cost: https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/QYRE-Auto-1191/Global_Digital_Remittance Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=QYRE-Auto-1191&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. 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SIMILAR REPORTS: - The global Digital Cross-Border Remittance market size is projected to reach USD 19360 Million by 2028, from USD 6333 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 17.1% during 2022-2028. - The global Loan Origination Software market size is projected to reach USD 10670 Million by 2028, from USD 4017.1 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 14.8% during 2022-2028. - The global digital lending platform market size was valued at USD 5.58 Billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 20.31 Billion by 2027 growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.7% from 2020 to 2027. - The global Digital Banking market size is projected to reach USD 30750 Million by 2027, from USD 9098.7 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 19.0% during 2021-2027. - The global Online Payment Gateway market size is projected to reach USD 6403.3 Million by 2027, from USD 2436.7 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 14.8% during 2021-2027. - The global usage-based insurance (UBI) market size was valued at USD 28.7 Billion in 2019, and is projected to reach USD 149.2 Billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 25.1% from 2020 to 2027. - The global fintech market size is projected to reach USD 16652680 Million by 2028 from USD 6588780 Million in 2021 at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 13.9% during the forecast period 2022-2028. - The global Tokenization market size is projected to reach USD 2709.9 Million by 2028, from USD 1140.7 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 13.0% during 2022-2028. - The global Trade Finance market size is projected to reach USD 10987510 Million by 2027, from USD 7616520 Million in 2020, at a CAGR of 5.4% during 2021-2027. - The letter of credit confirmation market was valued at USD 3918.8 million in 2020, and it is anticipated to reach USD 5094.7 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of about 2.72% during the forecast period (20212030). - The Canada financial guarantee market was valued at USD 1.32 Billion in 2020, and is projected to reach USD 2.19 Billion by 2028, growing at a CAGR of 7.3% from 2021 to 2028. - The global Payment Processing Solutions market size is projected to reach USD 52060 Million by 2027, from USD 33810 Million in 2020, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 5.9% during 2021-2027. - Global payment market revenues totaled USD 1.98 Trillion in 2021, CAGR is about 6.25% in the period of 2022-2030. - The global Blockchain in Fintech market size is projected to reach USD 5163.7 Million by 2028, from USD 417.1 Million in 2021, at a CAGR of 42.6% during 2022-2028. - The global Insurtech market size is projected to reach USD 11940 million by 2028, from USD 1462.3 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 34.4% during 2022-2028. - The global Reinsurance market size is projected to reach USD 315360 million by 2028, from USD 279860 million in 2021, at a CAGR of 1.7% during 2022-2028. - The global Cryptocurrency Hardware Wallet market size is projected to reach USD 1220.1 million by 2027, from USD 167.7 million in 2020, at a CAGR of 33.7% during 2021-2027. - The global cryptocurrency market size was valued at USD 1.49 billion in 2020 and is projected to reach USD 4.94 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 12.8% from 2021 to 2030. - Global Digital Remittance Service Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 - Global Cryptocurrency Remittance Software Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 - Global Digital Money Transfer Market Insights and Forecast to 2028 - Global Mobile Remittance Service Market Insights, Forecast to 2028 Click here to see related reports on Digital Remittance Market ABOUT US: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. 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CONTACT US: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports LinkedIn - https://in.linkedin.com/company/valuatesreports Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports "This new packaging design has been in the works for a while now, and we're thrilled to finally release it," Enlightened founder and CEO Michael Shoretz said. "The superior flavors and mix-ins in our desserts are what keep our fans coming back, so we chose to emphasize those aspects while maintaining a strong and identifiable look across all of our product lines." Along with the unveiling of a new packaging design, Enlightened expands its low-sugar ice cream pint lineup with four new light pints, including: Kookie Dough : Blue (yes, blue!) vanilla-flavored ice cream with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate sandwich cookie pieces; : Blue (yes, blue!) vanilla-flavored ice cream with chunks of chocolate chip cookie dough and chocolate sandwich cookie pieces; Chocolate P.B. Crunch : Rich chocolate ice cream with a thick peanut butter swirl and fudge-covered peanuts; : Rich chocolate ice cream with a thick peanut butter swirl and fudge-covered peanuts; Coffee Toffee : Coffee-flavored ice cream with with fudge-covered toffee pieces; and : Coffee-flavored ice cream with with fudge-covered toffee pieces; and Chocolate Caramel Pecan Crunch: Chocolate ice cream with roasted pecan pieces and a caramel swirl. "We love to push the boundaries with indulgence and nutrition to make you question how something so delicious could be so low in sugar, and I think we accomplished that with these new flavors," Shoretz said. Shoppers can purchase Enlightened's new ice cream flavors in grocery stores nationwide and online now. About Enlightened Enlightened is the first and largest brand within Beyond Better Foods, a New York City-based company founded by Forbes Under 30 alum Michael Shoretz in 2012. A pioneer in the low-sugar dessert category, Enlightened was one of the first light ice creams on the market. The brand is widely distributed in US retailers, such as Sprouts Farmers Market, Whole Foods Market, Shoprite, Publix and Walmart. Enlightened is recognized for producing innovative feel-good desserts, including low-carb ice cream in 2019; no-sugar-added Cheesecakes and keto-friendly Dough Bites in 2020; Ready-to-Bake Cookies in 2021; and low-sugar Sundae Cones in 2022. Shoretz founded Beyond Better Foods from inspiration from his personal training clients' desire for healthy alternatives to their favorite sweet, salty, spicy and savory treats. Beyond Better Foods now includes Enlightened and Bada Bean Bada Boom. For more information on Enlightened, visit eatenlig htened.com . SOURCE Enlightened Ice Cream BOULDER, Colo., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mr. Sotolongo brings an extensive background in finance to Fathym through his 22-year career at Goldman Sachs. After graduating from Princeton, Mr. Sotolongo quickly rose to senior management and travelled internationally for the firm, advising central bank and sovereign clients as head of Goldman Sachs' International Desk. Mr. Sotolongo joined Fathym's board after helping the company establish a relationship with senior management at Goldman Sachs. As a board member, Mr. Sotolongo will advise Fathym on its growth capital and exit strategies. Mr. Sotolongo is currently the CEO of Student Funding Group, a partner with Sallie Mae and a provider of private student loans. Mr. Sotolongo has served and advised numerous university, civic and business boards, including serving as Chair of the Association of Black Princeton Alumni, Vice Chair of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone, and Treasurer of the Executive Leadership Board. Apart from his work at Goldman Sachs, Mr. Sotolongo has arranged close to a billion dollars in financings. Mr. Sotolongo is joining Fathym's board because of Fathym's unique ability to empower developers to host, manage and deploy future-proof web projects and applications, with the flexibility and speed the modern web demands. In a time of financial reorganization, Fathym has brought on Mr. Sotolongo with his background in grounded finance because Fathym is firmly rooted in creating actual value, not speculation. Fathym Fathym is unique within the rapidly evolving low-code/no-code platforms as it provides customers with the ability to chart their own course in automating the development of SaaS products. Rather than constraining builders of web-based projects with a closed path for development, as is the case with today's no-code platforms, Fathym's proprietary technology provides customers with an open-ended framework. Divides and conquers work concurrently with powerful micro frontends. Handles the heavy lifting of the hosting and DevOps automation. Gives the freedom to use multiple frameworks, static site generators or no code builders on the same project. Provides a streamlined PaaS developer experience. Future-proofs the tech stack as clients scale to their own automated Azure cloud when ready. Fathym General Availability Fathym concluded its beta period in April 2022 and is now generally available with 22,000 signups and nearly 10,000 sites and web applications deployed. Fathym Advantage Fathym provides the ability for technologies to be reused across private equity funds' portfolios. As tech companies layoff workers at the highest rate since 2020, organizations must invest in the power of technology to discover efficiencies, make significant changes and reap downstream exponential returns. Fathym provides its users a true technological beachhead - a framework to interact with and create intellectual property value while truly owning everything from end to end. Contact: Rich Kurtzman ***@fathym.com Photo(s): https://www.prlog.org/12922346 Press release distributed by PRLog SOURCE Fathym Inc. The announcement was made at the closing ceremony of iRead's 7 th edition, held on the evening of Saturday, June 25, 2022, where this year's winners were awarded. The ceremony, held at Ithra's premises in the Eastern Province, hosted a large gathering of intellectuals and writers, who were briefed on the storied journey of the winners throughout the competition. The ceremony also honored those who won the titles of "The Reader of the Year," "Reading Ambassador," and "Translation Ambassador", where Mr. Amin Al-Nasser expressed his congratulations to the winners and participants. Expanding the impact of the competition across the Arab cultural landscape, Nasser announced that iRead will be open to include all readers from all Arab countries in the next edition of the program. Al-Nasser additionally expressed hope towards celebrating the awarding of the Nobel Prize for Literature to a Saudi Author in the future, and that the iRead competition will play a role towards that achievement. Mr. Hussain Hanbazazah, the Director of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture (Ithra), expressed his utmost pride in the participants and winners of the iRead competition, saying: "iRead has witnessed rapid development since its inception in 2013, as well as an increase in the number of participants which to date exceeded 75,000 readers. With its continued growth, Ithra has continually developed the program on an annual basis, expanding and enhancing it further so that more bibliophiles can have the opportunity to join. Reading is one of the pillars of the Arabic language, and one that can become a tool of human development and innovation." Mr. Hanbazazah additionally pointed out the role played by the competition in promoting knowledge and raising awareness by encouraging youth to compete, as well as praising the role that Ithra continues to play in nurturing a passion for literature and reading through its library, which has received more than one million visitors since the center's inception. The two-day closing ceremony of this year's edition witnessed the participation and attendance of several high-profile dignitaries as speakers, panelists and special guests engaging in dialogues and discussions on key literary and cultural topics. Attendees included writer, novelist, and Nobel Prize winner for Literature, Orhan Pamuk, as a guest of honor, Moroccan intellectual Dr. Abdel Fattah Kilito, a cultural attendee at the ceremony; Bahraini poet Qassem Haddad; a panel discussion with Dr. Saad Al-Bazai from Saudi, Kuwaiti novelist Buthaina Al-Issa, and Sudanese poet Rawdha Al-Hajj; a discussion session with Dr. Abdullah Al-Sufyani and Professor Muhammad Al-Fraih, moderated by Egyptian writer Muhammad Shoair. The final program included book signings of the latest works by Booker Prize-nominated Iraqi novelist Mohsen Al-Ramli and Omani novelist Bushra Khalfan, the latest works of Emirati poet and short story writer Sultan Al-Amimi, Moroccan writer Dr. Abdel Fattah Kilito, and Egyptian novelist Tariq Imam, alongside further discussion sessions. A sweeping victory for the contestants in the iRead competition A key highlight witnessed Shahd Al-Qaisum awarded the Reader of the Year by the audience. The panel of judges also announced the following winners The Reading Ambassadors: Khazina Al Shammari Khuloud Al Anzi Maha Al Omari The Translation Ambassadors: Munira Al Hwaidi Wijdan Al Widyani Marwan Al Rasheed The panel also announced Zainab Al Nasser as the winner of the Young Readers track, while the jury selected Mohammad Al Khalifa after meeting the required criteria. About Ithra The King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture otherwise known as Ithra, an Arabic word meaning "enrichment" is one of Saudi Arabia's most influential cultural institutions. It's a place where challenging perspectives meet creativity and transformative ideas. Through a variety of impactful programs, Ithra aims to inspire and enrich. Ithra is truly a place for all generations to enjoy and explore the human potential of hearts and minds. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848379/iRead_winners_presented.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1848380/Saudi_winner_presented.jpg SOURCE King Abdul Aziz Center for World Culture (Ithra) Monsoon active in HP in past 24 hrs, several places lashed by heavy rainfall 04 Jul 2022 | 1:34 AM Shimla, July 3 (UNI) The South West Monsoon has lashed many parts of Himachal Pradesh in the past 24 hours, partly affecting the normal life, the Met Office said on Sunday. see more.. 6254 quit constable re-examination after paper leak 04 Jul 2022 | 12:17 AM Shimla, July 3 (UNI) As many as 6254 candidates remained absent from the Himachal Pradesh Police Constable written re-examination, in which 122 candidates restrained from appearing, who were booked for their involvement in the paper leak case. see more.. Mortal remains of Rakesh Babli confined to flames 04 Jul 2022 | 12:10 AM Hamirpur (HP), July 3 (UNI) The mortal remains of senior BJP leader and Chairman of the state workers welfare board, Rakesh Sharma Babli were confined to flames at a crematorium nearby his village on Sunday. see more.. HP Constable recruitment exam: 18248 candidates appeared in Kangra 04 Jul 2022 | 12:09 AM Dharamshala, July 3 (UNI) Total 18248 candidates appeared on Sunday for the recruitment examination of Police Constable, held at 28 examination centers of Baijnath, Palampur, Nagrota Bagwan and Dharamsala in Kangra district. see more.. --Former Chief Executive Officer and Director of Tractor Supply Company Joined Genesco Board in 2021-- NASHVILLE, Tenn., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Genesco Inc. (NYSE: GCO) announced today that the independent directors of the Genesco Board have unanimously selected Gregory A. Sandfort as the Company's Lead Independent Director, effective June 23, 2022. Sandfort succeeds Matthew C. Diamond who has served in that role for the past four years. Sandfort, who joined Genesco's Board in 2021, will continue to serve on Genesco's Audit and Compensation committees. Diamond will remain on the Genesco Board. "We are pleased to announce Greg's appointment as our next lead independent director," said Mimi E. Vaughn, Genesco's Board Chair, President and Chief Executive Officer. "He brings more than 40 years of strategic retail leadership to our Board with a deep understanding of customer dynamics, the ability to successfully lead business transformations, along with expertise in capital allocation. I look forward to working with Greg as we continue to build on Genesco's footwear focused strategy." Vaughn added, "I would also like to thank Matt Diamond for his impactful leadership during extraordinary times as our lead independent director these past four years. Our company is in a better place because of Matt, and I look forward to continuing to work with him as a valuable member of our Board." Sandfort joined the Genesco Board in 2021. He served as Chief Executive Officer of Tractor Supply Company from May 2016 to January 2020 and as a member of its Board of Directors from February 2013 to May 2020. Sandfort held a variety of senior leadership roles at Tractor Supply including President and Chief Executive Officer from December 2012 to May 2016, and President and Chief Operating Officer from February 2012 to December 2012. Following his retirement, he served as a strategic advisor and consultant to Tractor Supply from January to August 2020. He previously held senior leadership roles with Michaels Stores, Inc. including President and Chief Operating Officer from March 2006 to August 2007 and as Executive Vice President General Merchandise Manager from January 2004 to February 2006. Sandfort has been a Director of WD-40 Company since 2011 and its Lead Independent Director since October 2020. He is a former Director of Kirkland's, Inc. About Genesco Inc. Genesco Inc., a Nashville-based specialty retailer and branded company, sells footwear and accessories in more than 1,410 retail stores throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland, principally under the names Journeys, Journeys Kidz, Little Burgundy, Schuh, Schuh Kids, Johnston & Murphy, and on internet websites www.journeys.com, www.journeyskidz.com, www.journeys.ca, www.littleburgundyshoes.com, www.schuh.co.uk, www.schuh.ie , www.schuh.eu , www.johnstonmurphy.com, www.johnstonmurphy.ca, www.nashvilleshoewarehouse.com, and www.dockersshoes.com. In addition, Genesco sells footwear at wholesale under its Johnston & Murphy brand, the licensed Levi's brand, the licensed Dockers brand, the licensed Bass brand, and other brands. Genesco is committed to progress in its diversity, equity and inclusion efforts, and the Company's environmental, social and governance stewardship. For more information on Genesco and its operating divisions, please visit www.genesco.com . SOURCE Genesco Inc. DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Digital Identity Solutions Market Growth Opportunities to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The focus of the report is on the digital identification documents issued by governments and private sectors to uniquely identify people and efficiently run public and private welfare programs and other facilities. This study discusses the key aspects of digital identity programs and identifies potential use cases, trends, current applications, and future opportunities across the critical national infrastructure, public safety & security, and banking & finance sectors. It also details the drivers, restraints, and trends and examines their impact on applications across the regions and segments covered. All security industry participants and the rest of the industry verticals will benefit from this study as it investigates the big picture perspectives of the digital identity market and provides insight into how the technology is set to evolve and influence the security market's growth. Technology companies looking to feed into the digital transformation Mega Trends across the industries will also benefit from this study as it examines their potential role in the future of this market. The study aims to provide public security & identity businesses with national-digital-identity-related market intelligence. It identifies the growth opportunities in the digital identity market and underlines the future outlook on opportunities across regions and segments. The study will assess the global digital identity programs by identifying the following: Market trends Drivers and restraints Key technologies and suppliers Key developments by country and region Known contracts and suppliers in digital identity market globally Research Scope Product Scope: Industry Mega Trends Industry Mega Trends Geographic Scope: Global Global End-user Segments: Critical national infrastructure, commercial, government, security Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on Digital Identity Industry Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine Digital Identity Programs - Research Scope Market Overview - Digital Identity Market Requirement Overview - Digital Identity Market Core Needs for Digital ID Systems The Need for Unified National Identification Systems Evolving Identity Crisis Terrorism Driving Need for Robust Identity Management Solutions Governments Adopting Digital Strategies Evolution of Identity Authentication Techniques Taxonomy of Biometrics Applications in Digital Identity Management Authentication Approaches for Digital ID Programs Digital Identity Process Breakdown World Bank ID4D Initiative and Approach Key Trends Across Sectors Growth Drivers - Digital Identity Market Growth Restraints - Digital Identity Market 2. Evolving Business Models - Identity-as-a-Service in the Private Sector Digital-Identity-as-a-Service - Identification Everywhere CLEAR - Airport Security Process Optimization Onfido - Identity-Management-as-a-Service Airport Security - Known Traveller Digital Identity System Powered by Blockchain 3. Regional Analysis Major Digital Identity Initiatives and Investments Market Analysis by Region - Digital Identity Market Major National Digital Identity Programs 4. Competitive Environment Competitive Environment - Digital Identity Market Key Contracts for Digital Identity Management 5. Global Regulations for Digital Data Protection and Privacy Data Protection and Privacy Regulations for Digital Identity Management Legislative Trends - Mandates for Enhanced Security Global Standards for Biometric Applications in Digital Identity Management 6. Growth Opportunity Universe - Digital Identity Market Growth Opportunity 1: Advanced Cyber Security for Digital Identity, 2023 Growth Opportunity 2: Block Chain Powered Digital Identity Solutions, 2025 Block Chain Powered Digital Identity Management - Healthcare Security Application Growth Opportunity 3: Portable Biometric Readers/Kiosks for Digital Identity Management, 2023 State of the Industry - Need for Portable Systems for Remote Credentialing/Digital Identity Verification Growth Opportunities and Way Forward For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cfv0qs 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: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 9; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 3271 Companies: 19 - Players covered include Agilent Technologies, Inc.; AMETEK, Inc.; Analytik Jena AG; Bruker Corporation; Bureau Veritas SA; Element Materials Technology; Focused Photonics, Inc.; G.N.R. S.r.l. - Analytical Instruments Group; GBC Scientific Equipment Pty., Ltd.; Hitachi High-Technologies Corporation; Horiba Ltd.; Intertek Group PLC; PerkinElmer, Inc.; SGS SA; Shimadzu Corporation; Skyray Instrument Inc.; Spectro Scientific Inc.; Teledyne Leeman Labs; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.; TUV Rheinland AG; Tuv Sud AG and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Detector Type (Solid State Detector (SSD), Photomultiplier Tube (PMT), Hybrid); Offering (Equipment, Services) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) Market to Reach $804.2 Million by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) estimated at US$594.7 Million, is projected to reach a revised size of US$804.2 Million by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5% over the analysis period. Equipment, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 4.5% CAGR and reach US$505.5 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Services segment is readjusted to a revised 5.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $187.3 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $142.5 Million by 2026 The Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) market in the U.S. is estimated at US$187.3 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$142.5 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 4.7% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 4.8% and 3.9% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 4.1% CAGR. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Get a free sample of this data, download our sample report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/phosphoric-acid-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report Who are the Top Suppliers in the Phosphoric Acid Market? The report analyzes the market's competitive landscape and offers information on several top suppliers. Some of the leading Phosphoric Acid suppliers profiled extensively in this report include: OCP SA Nutrien Ltd Koch Industries Inc. These are a few of the key suppliers in Phosphoric Acid market. Discover more about these vendors, including the detailed analysis of procurement strategies deployed by major category end-users across several industries while sourcing for Phosphoric Acid requirements. Download a free sample of this report: https://spendedge.com/procurement-report/phosphoric-acid-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report What are the Most Adopted Procurement Strategies for the Phosphoric Acid Market? The research includes a complete analysis of the most commonly used procurement strategies by buyers across sectors, as well as an insight into these strategies' innovation, regulatory compliance, quality, supply, and cost. Adopting these procurement tactics would enable buyers to minimize category TCO and achieve cost savings while sourcing Phosphoric Acid. What are the Most Effective Price Strategy that a vendor can adopt and what is the Forecasted Incremental Spend? It is critical to monitor current and future pricing changes in order to maximize the value of the purchase. Price forecasts can assist in purchase planning, especially when combined with constant monitoring of price-influencing factors. The market expects an incremental spend of USD 13.21 billion over the forecast period as a result of several market drivers prevalent across multiple geographies. In addition, the sourcing and procurement report discusses different cost-cutting factors by analyzing the following criteria: Identify favorable opportunities in Phosphoric Acid 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 Download the "Phosphoric Acid Sourcing and Procurement" Sample Report to get detailed insights into few more pricing strategies. Which are the Key Regions for Phosphoric Acid Market? The Phosphoric Acid market will register an incremental spend of about USD 13.21 billion during the forecast period. However, only a few regions will drive the majority of this growth. Moreover, on the supply side, North America, Europe, and APAC will have the maximum influence owing to the supplier base. The growth is expected to be primarily driven by increasing demand and adoption of the category across those few regions. To get more information on the volume drivers that are driving the adoption of the category across regions, Read more about this market from our sample report!. Smart Procurement Starts Here: SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform: Signup for our subscription services now for FREE!, to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. 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. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SOURCE SpendEdge ATLANTA, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), (the "Company"), will announce second quarter 2022 financial results before the market opens on Tuesday, July 26th, with a conference call to discuss results at 10:00 a.m. ET. The conference call will be webcast and can be accessed from the investors section of the Graphic Packaging website at www.graphicpkg.com. Participants may also listen via telephone by using the following dial-in numbers: 844-200-6205 from the United States , , 833-950-0062 from Canada , and , and 929-526-1599 from outside the United States and Canada . Telephone participants are required to provide the conference ID 798328 and should call at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the conference call. The webcast will be archived and available for replay beginning at approximately 1:00 p.m. ET on July 26th. The Company has also set Tuesday, October 25, 2022 as the tentative date for the release of third quarter 2022 financial results. About Graphic Packaging Holding Company Graphic Packaging Holding Company (NYSE: GPK), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is committed to providing consumer packaging that makes a world of difference. The Company is a leading provider of sustainable fiber-based packaging solutions to the world's most widely-recognized food, beverage, foodservice and other consumer products companies and brands. The Company operates on a global basis, is one of the largest producers of folding cartons and fiber-based foodservice products in the United States and Europe, and holds leading market positions in coated recycled paperboard, coated unbleached kraft paperboard and solid bleached sulfate paperboard. Additional information about Graphic Packaging, its business and its products is available at www.graphicpkg.com. SOURCE Graphic Packaging Holding Company NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research study published by P&S Intelligence, the green & bio-solvents market accounted for $3,128.5 million revenue in 2021, which is set to touch $5,322.2 million by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2021 to 2030. Concerns about the health and environment brought on by synthetic solvents are the biggest cause of the industry's expansion. Additionally, Europe holds the significant share in the market due to the technological developments to satisfy the strict limits on VOC emissions from solvents. North America accounts for the biggest share in the green & bio-solvents market, and it is predicted to contribute $2.0 billion in revenue in 2030. The country has several bio-based solvent producers, including Cargill Incorporated., The Dow Chemical Co., and Gevo Inc., which hold advanced product R&D abilities for eco-friendly and cost-effective solvents. Get the sample pages of this report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/green-bio-solvents-market/report-sample Governments have enacted numerous restrictions on the processes used to make paints and coatings, especially those that contain hazardous chemicals. Workers in factories are seriously threatened by the usage of certain synthetic solvents during the manufacturing of paints. Several solvents lead to the irritation of the skin, nose, and eyes. Additionally, using conventional solvents causes the release of the environment-harming VOCs. Because regulatory agencies closely monitor waste disposal and emissions by manufacturers, businesses have started investing in production methods that reduce the hazardous emissions. In 2021, the paints & coatings sector accounted for $1.2 billion green & bio-solvents market revenue. This is mainly because of the quick economic expansion and demographic shift and the ensuing developments in the construction and automotive sectors, which are key users of paints and coatings. Additionally, the demand for environment-friendly solvents would rise in the coming years because of the strict government regulations on VOCs. The lactate esters category produced $1.0 billion in the past in the green & bio-solvents market. One of the main factors influencing the progress of this category is the wide availability of these raw ingredients, their low manufacturing costs, and their growing scope in paints & coatings and adhesives, largely as a substitute for petroleum-based solvents. Browse detailed report on Global Green & Bio-Solvents Market Analysis, Growth and Demand Forecast Report 2030 In terms of revenue, methyl soyate holds the second-largest share in the market. This methyl ester is an outstanding bio-based industrial solvent made from soybean oil. It is a biodegradable, non-poisonous, low-volatile organic compound (VOC), and cost-competitive alternative to traditional chlorinated and hydrocarbon solvents. The increasing regulatory pressure on VOCs, dangerous air pollutants, and ozone-depleting substances are credited for the surge in the consumption of methyl soyate. Green & Bio-Solvents Market Segmentation Analysis By Type Bio-Alcohols Bio-Diols Bio-Glycols Lactate Esters Methyl Soyate D-Limonene By Application Industrial & Domestic Cleaners Paints & Coatings Adhesives Printing Inks Pharmaceuticals Regional Outlook North America U.S. Canada Europe France Germany Italy Spain U.K. Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East and Africa and Saudi Arabia U.A.E. South Africa Browse More Related Reports Paints and Coatings Market Growth and Business Opportunities Printing Inks Market Growth and Business Opportunities Adhesives and Sealants Market Growth and Business Opportunities 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 "There is so much in common between Chesa Boudin and George Gascon in terms of their failures, their egregious dereliction of duty, their radical, dangerous, anti-accountability policies and the resulting voter anger," explains Greenberg. "There were many lessons learned and messaging tactics used in San Francisco with the Boudin recall which I will share with the Gascon recall committee to best position them to win in Los Angeles as well." The George Gascon recall effort is still in the signature gathering phase which concludes July 6th. The committee has already surpassed the required number of petition signers but needs a "cushion" above that threshold to account for any number of invalid signatures that could lower the tally overall during the verification process. Speaking last Friday on local KABC talk radio, Greenberg urged listeners to get their signed petitions to the committee as soon as possible. He also had a message for other cities' voters who may be facing progressive "rogue" DA elections. "Never trust a candidate who has no actual experience in prosecuting a criminal through trial, conviction and sentencing. These 'Public Defender-turned District Attorney' candidates, or indeed any candidate backed by George Soros, must never be taken seriously. It's a recipe for disaster. Take it from us in San Francisco and now in Los Angeles." Richie Greenberg is a political commentator, and Independent activist based in San Francisco. Media contact: Richie Greenberg [email protected] Website: GreenbergNation.com SOURCE Richie Greenberg Carty joined U-Haul full-time in 1946 following his discharge at the end of WWII, and in doing so became the Company's first employee. While he never cashed his paycheck from the first 10 trailers he helped build in that milk house, his tireless commitment and influence over the next 43 years shaped the foundation and growth of one of North America's most recognizable companies and successful entrepreneurial stories. Hap, nicknamed for being a happy child with a big smile, died on Friday. He was 95. "U-Haul would not exist today but for Hap," stated Joe Shoen, U-Haul CEO and son of the Company's late founders L.S. "Sam" and Anna Mary Carty Shoen. "He was a recognized industry innovator who crossed paths with many industry stalwarts including John Rock, Red Pohling, Don Peterson, John DeLorean and Roger Penske. "Hap and John Rock designed the only medium-duty air-ride truck that GMC ever built. He worked with Navistar and Dana to produce a medium-duty truck with a 24-inch frame rail height. That truck revolutionized do-it-yourself moving." During his illustrious career, Carty served as president and Chairman of the Board for U-Haul International, Inc. In 1971, as president of U-Haul, he brought the Company's network of independent U-Haul dealerships to 15,000, a record that stood for more than 30 years. "One of the reasons I've had good luck in management is that I always hire good people," Carty told Amerco World (now U-Haul News) in 1981. "I get them strong in the areas I'm weak in, and we work together. I've lived this way for years and looked like a genius many times, because I had the buoyancy of good people." Carty was born on March 2, 1927. He and his wife, Toni, have six children: Gail, Tim, Martin, Kevin, Katie and Patrick, along with several grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The Carty family is synonymous with the rural Washington town 24 miles north of Portland, Ore., where a sign greets visitors: "Welcome to Ridgefield, birthplace of U-Haul." Hap Carty is equally tied to Tempe, where he lived the latter half of his life and was instrumental in opening the U-Haul Technical Center in 1970. Though just nine miles east of Phoenix, Tempe was largely undeveloped desert at the time. The U-Haul Tech Center not only signaled business expansion in Tempe, but it was the only research and development facility of its kind in the world, featuring a test track where rental equipment was rigorously tested to meet safety standards. Carty ran the facility, which still manufactures U-Haul trailers and truck boxes today. From 1946-52, Carty assembled, painted, serviced and rented trailers. Then he took his wife, Toni, and their two children to Boston to establish the first U-Haul manufacturing plant on the East Coast, empowering the Company to become a nationwide brand. "I had $500 with which to open Boston Trailer Manufacturing Company, but was on a $3 per diem allowance. We ate a lot of hot dogs cooked over open fires as we made our way across the continent," Carty recalled. "The (Boston) shop bore no relation to an automobile assembly line. It looked more like a village blacksmith shop, complete with hearth, hammer and anvil." Carty also helped establish the U-Haul manufacturing center in Willow Grove, Penn. He took night classes at Penn State University, acquiring knowledge over a wide range of subjects that enabled him to deal with his immediate responsibilities. He studied business law, management, economics and engineering. As the first U-Haul field director of eastern states, Carty directed manufacturing and marketing operations in 28 states, from Florida to Maine to Minnesota. In the 1960s, Carty was named U-Haul marketing director. He later became president of U-Haul subsidiary Kar-Go International, a role he held when he helped launch the Tech Center. Carty retired on Jan. 1, 1988, and remained on the Board of Directors for AMERCO, parent company of U-Haul, through 2006. Even still, Carty could be seen frequently in the Company lunchroom, counseling younger managers and attending U-Haul functions, including one Team Member's 50th anniversary celebration one week before he passed. While his legacy remains evident through the awards, images and quotes attributed to him across the U-Haul Midtown Campus in Phoenix, his real impact is felt through the lives he touched, professionally and personally, throughout the U-Haul network across North America. About U-HAUL Since 1945, U-Haul has been the No. 1 choice of do-it-yourself movers, with a network of more than 23,000 locations across all 50 states and 10 Canadian provinces. U-Haul Truck Share 24/7 offers secure access to U-Haul trucks every hour of every day through the customer dispatch option on their smartphones and our proprietary Live Verify technology. Our customers' patronage has enabled the U-Haul fleet to grow to approximately 186,000 trucks, 128,000 trailers and 46,000 towing devices. U-Haul is the third largest self-storage operator in North America and offers 876,000 rentable storage units and 75.1 million square feet of self-storage space at owned and managed facilities. U-Haul is the largest retailer of propane in the U.S., and continues to be the largest installer of permanent trailer hitches in the automotive aftermarket industry. U-Haul has been recognized repeatedly as a leading "Best for Vets" employer and was recently named one of the 15 Healthiest Workplaces in America. Contact: Jeff Lockridge Sebastien Reyes E-mail: [email protected] Phone: 602-263-6981 Website: uhaul.com SOURCE U-Haul Stella Rosa's Vice President of Marketing, Andrea Cromaz presented a $25,000 check to Volunteers of America (VOA) COO, June Koegel, at the event. A non-profit organization, VOA trains and supports frontline health workers including case managers, teachers, nurses, and social workerswho step forward to help reduce health disparities in underserved communities. Over the next year, the Stella Rosa's donation will allow VOA to train 50 additional community health workers, many of them women, in five states. "Stella Rosa wines are all about sharing and supporting each other and our family makes giving back to the community a priority. We're proud to partner with iHeart Radio and Volunteers of America to support our most vulnerable community members," said Steve Riboli, third generation family member and executive of Riboli Family Wines. ABOUT STELLA ROSA Stella Rosa is a selection of semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wines. Among its impressive achievements are an 9x IMPACT Magazine Hot Brand award and its position as the largest selling brand over $10 in the US*. based on Impact Databank 2022. www.stellarosawines.com . Stella Rosa is created by Riboli Family Wines, a family-owned company founded in 1917 and celebrating over a century crafting award-winning wines. Wine Enthusiasts' 2018 American Winery of the Year, Riboli Family Wines includes Riboli Estates Group a portfolio of estate-based brands sourced from the family's 1,800 acres of sustainably farmed vineyards in Paso Robles, Monterey, and Napa Valley as well as Stella Rosa. With a natural affinity for creativity and innovation, the third and fourth generations of the Riboli family continue to lead the industry and push the boundaries of winemaking and the wine drinking experience. ABOUT AVA MAX Ava Max is ready to take her already extraordinary rise to the pinnacle of pop success to even greater heights with her first new single of 2022, "Maybe You're The Problem." With over 11B worldwide streams, an array of smash collaborations, and multiple RIAA gold and platinum certifications in the US alone, the first-generation Albanian American artist has fast proven a true pop superstar, hailed for her seismic voice, idiosyncratic high fashion mindset, and undeniable knack for cinematic, theatrical popcraft. With "Maybe You're The Problem" and sophomore album Diamonds and Dancefloors due October 14 Ava Max is poised to push pop even further, setting a direct course toward the top and beyond. Media Inquiries: Marie-Christina Batich, Benson Marketing Group, [email protected] Photography Available SOURCE Riboli Family Wines "Safety is the top priority at Hyundai and is embedded throughout the entire organization," said Jose Munoz, president and chief operating officer, Hyundai Motor Company and president and chief executive officer, Hyundai and Genesis Motor North America and Hyundai Motor America. "We excel in third-party crash testing and ratings, and we strive to be a leader in equipping our vehicles with the latest safety features. The new laboratory will enable us to even more effectively protect our customers and enhance our world-class safety organization." The new facility will further augment Hyundai's existing safety testing and analysis. It will feature a field crash investigation lab, high voltage battery lab, forensics lab, 500m track and a Vehicle Dynamics Area pad. IBI Group and BCCG have been selected for the architectural design and construction of the building expansion. The investment is focused on enhancing Hyundai's safety commitment in identifying vehicle field issues, preventing crashes and keeping passengers safe. "This investment by Hyundai is critically important not only to Southeast Michigan, but to our entire country," said Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (MI-12). "Traffic fatalities are at an all-time high in our nation, and each of us from elected officials to auto makers have a role to play in addressing this urgent, preventable crisis. This new Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory will save lives, and I applaud Hyundai for their commitment to keeping passengers safe." "Hyundai's cutting-edge Safety Test and Investigation Laboratory will create good-paying, high-skilled jobs right here in Michigan," said Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II. "Michigan put the world on wheels, and I am grateful for Hyundai's partnership in building on that tradition with a $50 million investment in Superior Township. Since entering office, Governor Whitmer and I have added nearly 25,000 good-paying auto jobs, and we will continue working hard to maintain Michigan's leadership in future mobility, grow our economy, upskill Michigan's workforce, and stand tall for Michigan." Hyundai recognizes the value and importance of enhancing its hands-on safety evaluation processes. The STIL was developed in collaboration with the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) based on a 2020 Consent Order which required an investment in a safety facility of $25 million. Hyundai increased its required investment by more than $26 million. Hyundai also reminds drivers and passengers to always wear safety belts, use appropriate child seats and focus on the drive. Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. As one of Hyundai Motor Group's (HMG) six centers focused on research and development (R&D), Hyundai America Technical Center, Inc. (HATCI) was established in 1986 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. HATCI is HMG's design, technology and engineering division for North America. As HMG has solidified its position as one of the top five global OEMs, HATCI has grown to include a strong network of engineering disciplines and increased business-focused activities to support North America's Voice of the Customer. For more information, visit http://www.hatci.com/ . Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs and electrified vehicles. Our 820 dealers sold more than 738,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2021, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn SOURCE Hyundai Motor America Jammu, June 27 (UNI) Alert troops of Border Security Force early morning on Monday shot dead one Pakistani intruder along the international border in Ranbir Singh Pura sector of Jammu. "Own troops this morning noticed a suspicious movement across the fence in Baquarpur Border Outpost area," BSF spokesman said. He said, "Our domination party in night noticed a person coming from Pakistan side aggressively towards the fence with an intention to cross the fence," adding, "our party challenged him to stop but he paid no attention to it and continued his movement towards the fence." Left with no option our troops fired three rounds at him due to which he fell down immediately ahead of fencing," he said. The spokesman said early morning the search party checked the area and found the dead body of an intruder close to the fence. "Nothing recovered from him. Body being handed over to Police for further disposal," he said. UNI VBH SY PITTSBURGH, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- "I wanted to help save children's lives while crossing the street in a stroller. I thought of this idea after hearing about a woman and child being hit by a car. This idea would help prevent strollers from being pushed into the street before the parent can view the traffic conditions and any threatening vehicles," said the inventor, from Los Angeles, Calif. "This is a unique attachment for a stroller that increases the safety for the child when crossing the street. It is also convenient, lightweight and easy to store when not in use." The STROLLER SAFETY DEVICE enhances stroller safety when crossing the street. In doing so, it offers a better standing point for viewing cars that otherwise may not be seen. As a result, it provides parents with time to react to motorists, especially red light runners. This could help to prevent strollers from being hit which would reduce injuries and deaths while also providing parents with peace of mind, especially when crossing streets. The original design was submitted to the National sales office of InventHelp. It is currently available for licensing or sale to manufacturers or marketers. For more information, write Dept. 20-LAX-1406, 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 IWMF announces Courage in Journalism Awards. Women journalists from Ukraine, U.S. and China receive prestigious honor. Tweet this "This year's awardees have persevered in the face of extreme dangers, including police intimidation, censorship, captivity and the trauma of documenting war crimes," said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Munoz. "These women bear witness to some of the world's darkest and most difficult moments; it is an honor to recognize their drive to report on truths not often seen, and appreciate how those stories affect our news landscape today." The Courage in Journalism Awards are made possible by Bank of America, the awards' National Presenting Sponsor for 16 consecutive years. The IWMF would like to thank Bank of America for its commitment to journalism, diversity in news media and the pursuit of press freedom. Reporting from 70 countries throughout her 25-year career, photojournalist Lynsey Addario is dedicated to documenting conflict, humanitarian crisis, and women's issues from the frontlines despite a near-death experience. Also reporting from the ground in Ukraine is Victoria Roshchyna, whose freelance coverage shares the horrifying effects of war on civilians; Roshchyna was detained twice by Russian forces for her work. U.S.-based journalist Cerise Castle wrote the first history exposing deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, resulting in harassment and retaliation from LASD and threats to her safety. Having spent her career reporting on injustice and corruption in China including pioneering the #MeToo movement within her country Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Awardee Xueqin (Sophia) Huang was arrested on September 19, 2021. She remains imprisoned with no contact to her family or lawyers since her arrest. The awardees will be recognized during a virtual ceremony on November 9, 2022, held in partnership with Washington Post Live. The event will be hosted by IWMF board member and CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell and chaired by Quadrivium Foundation co-founder and president Kathryn Murdoch. "Global conflicts continue to demonstrate that press freedom is foundational to democracy," said Murdoch. "I am honored to recognize these four incredible women at the 2022 Courage in Journalism Awards and further support the IWMF's work to break barriers in the news media." About the 2022 Courage in Journalism Award Winners Lynsey Addario (United States) Photojournalist Twitter: @lynseyaddario, Instagram: @lynseyaddario Lynsey Addario is an American photojournalist who has been covering conflict, humanitarian crises, and women's issues around the Middle East and Africa on assignment for The New York Times and National Geographic for more than two decades. Since September 11, 2001, Addario has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Darfur, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Syria, and ongoing war in Ukraine. Addario is the recipient of numerous awards, including a MacArthur fellowship. She was part of The New York Times team to win a Pulitzer Prize for overseas reporting out of Afghanistan and Pakistan, an Overseas Press Club Olivier Rebbot Award, and two Emmy nominations. In 2015, Addario wrote a New York Times best-selling memoir, "It's What I Do," which chronicles her personal and professional life as a photojournalist coming of age in the post-9/11 world. In 2018, she released her first solo collection of photography, "Of Love and War," published by Penguin Press. After nearly three months in Ukraine, Addario remarked, "I'm so honored to receive this award. Every day, I feel more passionate about the importance of journalism in our society, and I hope this award inspires aspiring and working female journalists to continue covering difficult and dangerous stories. We need to see the world through women's eyes from all backgrounds and all ages." Read more of Addario's story here. Victoria Roshchyna ( Ukraine ) Freelance Journalist Victoria Roshchyna is a Ukrainian freelance journalist reporting for Ukrayinska Pravda, Hromadske and Radio Free Europe. Throughout her 6+ years in journalism, Roshchyna has primarily covered complex and dangerous topics including crime, courts, human rights and war to bring power to account. Roshchyna has been reporting exclusively on the war in Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. In March 2022, Roshchyna was captured twice by Russian forces in the eastern regions of Ukraine, the second time held for 10 days in Berdyansk. Despite the risk, Roshchyna has continued reporting on the war, stating: "This is the most important story, showing bravery again and again." She continues, "I was never afraid to tell the truth. People need to know the truth, and the guilty must be held accountable. I do not consider it courage but, rather, my professional duty." Read more of Roshchyna's story here. Cerise Castle (United States) Freelance Journalist Twitter: @cerisecastle, Instagram: @yourmajestce Los Angeles, California-based freelance journalist Cerise Castle specializes in arts & culture, civil rights, crime, and human interest stories. She's produced and hosted segments for the Emmy-award winning nightly news program, VICE News Tonight, NPR, and several podcasts. Her reporting and commentary have been featured in publications like Knock LA, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, and MTV. Castle wrote "A Tradition of Violence," the first history of deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the largest local law enforcement agency in the United States. The investigation was published as a 15-part reporting series for Knock LA exposing 18 gangs, 19 documented murders (all of whom were people of color), and over $100 million dollars in lawsuits paid for by the people of Los Angeles. The podcast of the same name and subject matter is due out in October 2022. Castle commented, "This award is an acknowledgment of the relentless work of families impacted by deputy violence, and the LA County communities that lifted their voices to seek out the truth. I hope this inspires others to begin their own investigations of powers that have historically avoided accountability." Read more of Castle's story here. Xueqin (Sophia) Huang ( People's Republic of China ) Freelance Journalist Sophia Huang is a Chinese freelance journalist, reporting on issues related to human rights and gender equality in China. She also self-publishes on Matters, an online platform for civil discourse, and shared her observations of the protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Huang described witnessing the protesters' resiliency firsthand and including her own thoughts on resistance to political tyranny, "," which landed her in Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) a form of government detention of individuals accused of endangering state security for three months from October 2019 to January 2020. Huang is also a feminist activist, who came forth with her story of sexual harassment and conducted the only online survey of Chinese female journalists' experiences with workplace sexual harassment in 2018. In 2021, her article on female activist Li Qiaochu, ": ', ,'"published by Initium Media, received an award for Excellence in Reporting on Women's Issues from the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), an organization that recognizes individuals for outstanding journalism. Three months after receiving this award, Huang went missing en route to the United Kingdom, where she was to begin a masters program. One month later, it came to light that she was detained for, "inciting subversion of state power." Huang is still in detention, and her case is with the Guangzhou City People's Procuratorate. About the International Women's Media Foundation The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, global reporting opportunities, and funding for both staff reporters and freelancers, all specifically tailored for women and gender diverse journalists. Our mission is to ensure more opportunities, bylines, and recognition of women and nonbinary journalists and create a greater diversity of voices in journalism. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, on Instagram on @TheIWMF and on TikTok @theiwmf. SOURCE The International Women's Media Foundation Brings proven experience in cost management and budget control Replaces Esteban Galindez, who will be Deputy CFO of Grupo Salinas MEXICO CITY, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV: AZTECACPO Latibex: XTZA), one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, announced today that Jorge Luis Zuniga Montiel was appointed Chief Financial Officer of the company, replacing Esteban Galindez Aguirre, who will be Deputy CFO of Grupo Salinas. Mr. Zuniga has more than two decades of proven experience in cost management at TV Azteca, where he has developed solid budget control strategies that create operational efficiencies and adequate allocation of resources dedicated to the production and acquisition of content. In his new position, he will promote the development of strategies that strengthen the offer of competitive content on each of the company's platforms and that maximize the profitability of programming, in order to gain larger audiences while strengthening the results of TV Azteca. Esteban Galindez, who held the position of CFO of TV Azteca, will be Deputy CFO of Grupo Salinas, where he will continue to implement corporate finance and financial planning projects that have a positive impact on the continued development of its companies. Mr. Galindez has extensive experience in strategic positions in Grupo Salinas' companies since 2000, where he has developed planning, financial strategy and treasury functions. He has a degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Iberoamericana and a Master's degree in Administration from McGill University, in Canada. He is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA). The company thanks Esteban Galindez for his valuable contribution to results, and is certain that in his new position he will continue to strengthen the financial performance and capital structure of the companies of Grupo Salinas. TV Azteca firmly believes that Jorge Zuniga will further expand the offer of agile and competitive content, which will strengthen the company's market positioning and preserve its financial and operational viability. About TV Azteca TV Azteca is one of the two largest producers of Spanish-language television programming in the world, operating four television networks in Mexico: Azteca uno, Azteca 7, adn40 and a mas +, through more than 300 owned and operated stations across the country. The company also owns TV Azteca Digital, operator of several of the most visited digital platforms and social networks in Mexico. TV Azteca is a Grupo Salinas company (www.gruposalinas.com), a group of dynamic, fast growing, and technologically advanced companies focused on creating: economic value through market innovation and goods and services that improve standards of living; social value to improve community wellbeing; and environmental value by reducing the negative impact of its business activities. Created by Mexican entrepreneur Ricardo B. Salinas (www.ricardosalinas.com), Grupo Salinas operates as a management development and decision forum for the top leaders of member companies. These companies include TV Azteca (www.TVazteca.com; www.irtvazteca.com), Grupo Elektra (www.grupoelektra.com.mx), Banco Azteca (www.bancoazteca.com.mx), Purpose Financial (havepurpose.com), Afore Azteca (www.aforeazteca.com.mx), Seguros Azteca (www.segurosazteca.com.mx), Punto Casa de Bolsa (www.puntocasadebolsa.mx), Totalplay (irtotalplay.mx; www.totalplay.com.mx) and Totalplay Empresarial (totalplayempresarial.com.mx). TV Azteca and Grupo Elektra trade shares on the Mexican Stock Market and in Spains' Latibex market. Each of the Grupo Salinas companies operates independently, with its own management, board of directors and shareholders. Grupo Salinas has no equity holdings. The group of companies shares a common vision, values and strategies for achieving rapid growth, superior results and world-class performance. Except for historical information, the matters discussed in this press release are concepts about the future that involve risks and uncertainty that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Other risks that may affect TV Azteca and its subsidiaries are presented in documents sent to the securities authorities. Investor Relations: Bruno Rangel Rolando Villarreal Grupo Salinas TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. Tel. +52 (55) 2601-5400, ext. 11502 Tel. +52 (55) 2601-5400, ext. 11508 [email protected] [email protected] Press Relations: Luciano Pascoe Tel. +52 (55) 1720 1313 ext. 36553 SOURCE TV Azteca, S.A.B. de C.V. HONG KONG, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (HKEX stock code: 1691) ("JS Global" or the "Company") has been awarded by Institutional Investor, a renowned international financial magazine, in multiple categories of Asia Pacific (Ex-Japan) Executive Team Awards. In the consumer staples sector, JS Global won five category awards in "2022 Asia Pacific (Ex-Japan) Executive Team", including Most Honorable Company, Best CEO- Mr. Wang Xuning, Best CFO- Ms. Han Run, Best Investor Relations Team, and Best ESG. Every year, Institutional Investor magazine asks thousands of analysts, fund managers and researchers at securities firms and financial institutions to select the best performing firms and individuals across categories such as Best CEO, Best CFO, Best Investor Relations Professional and Best Investor Relations Company. The rankings have become a benchmark for superior corporate governance standards as they are voted on by recognized members within the financial sector, and the rigorous evaluation process ensures the legitimacy of the awards. This year, a total of 5,000 portfolio managers and buy-side analysts, and 670 sell-side analysts participated in the 2022 All-Asia Executive Team Honored Companies survey. The 1,612 companies nominated across 18 sectors this year were rated on core areas, including, Accessibility of Senior Executives, Execution of Strategy, Well Informed and Empowered IR Team, Productivity of NDR/Conferences/Calls, Responsiveness, Business & Market Knowledge, Consistency & Granularity, ESG Information, Timeliness of Disclosure, and more. Mr. Wang Xuning, Chairman and CEO of JS Global said: "We are greatly encouraged and honored to receive these awards from the Institutional Investor. We wish to express our sincere thanks to the entire investment community for their recognition and continuous support of our group's efforts to achieve excellence in corporate governance, investor relations, public disclosure, communications, and transparency. Since our IPO in 2019, the Company has always upheld high standards in practicing investor relations and maintaining timely, open, transparent, efficient and professional communication with the capital markets. In the future, we strive to continue to maintain good standards on investor relations and outstanding corporate governance to the investment community and the general public." About JS Global JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) is a world leading producer of small household appliances. It ranks fourth globally in the small household appliance industry and third among small household appliance-focused companies. It primarily operates three major brands: Shark, Ninja and Joyoung. The Company's success is centered around its deep understanding of consumer needs, and is built on its strong product innovation and design capability powered by a global research and development platform, marketing strengths driving high brand engagement, and an omni-channel distribution coverage with high penetration. About SharkNinja SharkNinja is an innovation leader in the housewares industry and creator of the familiar household brands Shark and Ninja. SharkNinja provides the latest in easy-to-use innovative technology with a growing line of solutions that consist of Shark cleaning and home care products and Ninja kitchen appliances. Products are sold at major retailers and through distributors around the world. Ninja and Shark are registered trademarks of SharkNinja Operating LLC. SharkNinja is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) a leader in small household appliance innovation. About Joyoung Joyoung (002242.SZ) is SharkNinja's sister brand and has become a well-known small household electrical appliance enterprise and one of the market share leaders in China. Joyoung invented the first soymilk maker in China and closely connect the concept to plant-based solutions. With 27 years of experience and over 8,000 patented technologies, Joyoung specializes in the research and development, design, manufacturing, and sale of its innovative product categories including small household appliances, primarily focusing on kitchen. Joyoung is a subsidiary of JS Global Lifestyle Company Limited (Hong Kong: 1691) a leader in small household appliance innovation. Company Contacts Venus Zhao, Head of Investor Relations, Public Relations and Compliance, JS Global Lifestyle [email protected] Adam Quigley, VP of Finance at SharkNinja [email protected] Investor Relations [email protected] SOURCE JS Global Lifestyle THE WOODLANDS, Texas, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Lancium, Inc., an energy infrastructure and technology company which advances the decarbonization and stability of the electric power grid, today announced the appointment of three independent directors to the Board: Patrice Merrin, who will serve as Lead Independent Director and Chair the Nominating and Governance Committee, Clint Freeland, who will serve as Chair of the Audit Committee, and Sue Taylor, who will serve as Chair of the Compensation Committee. Lancium's Board will now be comprised of seven directors, four of whom are independent. "I am thrilled to welcome Patrice Merrin, Clint Freeland and Sue Taylor to our Board," said Michael McNamara, Co-Founder, Chairman and CEO of Lancium. "Patrice brings deep board experience and is frequently cited as an expert on several corporate governance topics, including ethics, compliance, diversity, and independence. Clint has an extensive background in building world-class finance organizations for global businesses, and he also brings significant power industry experience. Sue brings decades of information technology, human capital management and business transformation experience. Patrice, Clint and Sue are truly impressive additions to Lancium's Board. We look forward to benefiting from their insights and guidance as we advance our innovative technologies to further the energy transition." Brief biographies for Ms. Merrin, Mr. Freeland and Ms. Taylor as well as the four members currently serving on the Lancium Board are available below: Patrice Merrin joins Lancium's Board as lead independent director and Chair of the Nominating and Governance committee. Ms. Merrin is currently non-executive Chair of Metals Acquisition Corporation. Since 2014, Ms. Merrin has served as an independent, non-executive director of Glencore plc, a global commodity trading and mining company based in Switzerland, and, over time on a variety of other public boards including Detour Gold Corporation (Chair), CML Healthcare (Chair) and Arconic Inc. Ms. Merrin has also served as director of the Alberta Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation, a member of the Canadian Advisory Panel on Sustainable Energy Science and Technology and a member of Canada's Roundtable on the Environment and the Economy. Clint Freeland joins Lancium's Board as Chair of the Audit Committee. Mr. Freeland is currently Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Mosaic, one of the world's leading producers and marketers of concentrated phosphate and potash crop nutrients. Prior to joining Mosaic, Mr. Freeland served as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of Dynegy Inc. until Dynegy's merger with Vistra Energy Corp. Prior to Dynegy, he served as Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Senior Vice PresidentStrategy and Financial Structure at NRG Energy. Sue Taylor joins Lancium's Board as Chair of the Compensation Committee. Ms. Taylor is currently on the Board of Boise Cascade, one of the largest producers of engineered wood products and plywood in North America and a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of building products, where she serves on the Audit Committee. Most recently, Ms. Taylor served as Chief Information Officer of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Prior to joining the Gates Foundation, Ms. Taylor was Vice President of Applications and the Project Management Office at Honeywell Automation and Control Solutions. Before its acquisition by Honeywell, she served in a number of leadership roles at Intermec including Chief Information Officer, Chief Human Resource Officer, Business Transformation. Prashant Gupta is a Co-Founder and a member of the Board of Directors of Lancium. Mr. Gupta is currently the Managing Partner of NEEM Partners, a private investment partnership focused on several industries, including technology, equipment finance and gaming. Prior to NEEM Partners, Mr. Gupta was the Chief Financial Officer at a Chicago-based Forbes 400 family office with a significant portfolio of investments in hedge funds, real estate and gaming. Mr. Gupta oversaw all aspects of the family office's investment financing, structuring, accounting and taxation. In addition, Mr. Gupta was a Partner and Chief Financial Officer at a Chicago based multi-strategy hedge fund. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gupta worked at Ernst & Young LLP, specializing in hedge funds, mutual funds, and broker-dealers. Mr. Gupta is a Chartered Financial Analyst and a Certified Public Accountant (inactive). Vitaly Lee is a member of the Board of Directors of Lancium. Mr. Lee is currently the Chief Development Officer at Q Cells USA Corp., the US subsidiary of Hanwha Solutions where he oversees the development of utility-scale solar PV and energy storage projects in the US market. Prior to joining the Lancium Board to represent Hanwha's $100 million investment in Lancium, Mr. Lee held senior executive positions at various energy companies for over 25 years, including BayWa r.e., Terra-Gen Power, and AES Corporation. Mr. Lee started his professional career as a tax consultant at Arthur Andersen where he conducted due diligence and consulted on tax matters for his energy company clients. Michael McNamara is a Co-Founder of Lancium and has served as CEO since the company's inception. In addition, he serves as Chairman of the Board. Prior to founding Lancium, Mr. McNamara founded ROR Capital, where he partnered with private equity firms to restructure several multi-billion-dollar natural resource companies. Previously, Mr. McNamara was Head of Research for Natural Resources at Talpion Fund Management LP and Head of Research for Event Driven Equities at One East Partners, with a special focus on natural resources opportunities. Earlier in his career, Mr. McNamara was Vice President at Twin Capital Management. Mr. McNamara currently serves on the Board of directors of Certified Holdings, LLC and Grady's Cold Brew. Andrew Wert was one of the initial seed investors in the Company and now serves as an independent member of the Board of Directors of Lancium. Mr. Wert is the founder of Cohesion Capital LLC, a private investment firm focused on sourcing and structuring investments in hedge funds and early-stage ventures. Prior to Cohesion Capital, Mr. Wert served as a Managing Director of the Investment Office for Brown University where he was responsible for the endowment's hedge fund investments and general risk management. Mr. Wert began his career as a quantitative proprietary trader within the Equity Derivatives Group of BNP Paribas. He held various positions during his tenure at BNP, including senior trading roles in the Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo and New York City offices. Mr. Wert also served as a member of the Board of Directors of Sensemetrics Inc., a San Diego based developer of Industrial IoT software. About Lancium Headquartered in The Woodlands, Texas, Lancium is dedicated to accelerating the energy transition through technologies and infrastructure designed to enable more clean energy production while also balancing and stabilizing the power grid. Lancium's Clean Campuses are designed to provide a low-cost, sustainable solution for large-scale, energy-intensive customers through our propriety Lancium Smart Response technology. For more information, visit www.lancium.com . Follow Lancium on social media: Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , YouTube Media Contact: Andy Schonert, [email protected] SOURCE Lancium "Kirsten brings a unique mix of niche industry knowledge and broad corporate experience to our premier M&A Practice, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Latham and the New York office," said Marc Jaffe, Office Managing Partner of Latham & Watkins in New York. "Kirsten is the third insurance transactional partner to join our New York office this month, and we are excited about the rapid expansion of this team. Their work complements Latham's global platform and further supports our goal to serve as a one-stop firm for clients across industries." In addition to M&A, Kirsten's experience includes insurance-focused capital markets transactions, entity formation and licensing, insurer investments, reinsurance, and insurance coverage matters. Justin Hamill, Global Co-Chair of Latham & Watkins' Mergers & Acquisitions Practice, added, "Demand for industry-focused expertise is continuing to grow among our M&A and private equity clients and in many ways, is becoming increasingly essential. Kirsten is fully plugged into the insurance sector and her experience brings tremendous value to our clients. We are excited to welcome her to our expanding M&A Practice both in New York and globally." "Latham's transactional platform is one-of-a-kind in the global market, reflecting a singular focus on delivering client-centric commercial advice," said Gaeta. "I am excited to join Latham's market-leading M&A Practice and look forward to being a part of the firm's innovative and collaborative teams." Gaeta follows closely the arrivals of Gary Boss and Analisa Dillingham, who joined Latham earlier this month. Gaeta received her JD, magna cum laude, from St. John's University School of Law and a BA, summa cum laude, from Binghamton University. She joins Latham from Clifford Chance. About Latham & Watkins (lw.com) Latham & Watkins delivers innovative solutions to complex legal and business challenges around the world. From a global platform, our lawyers advise clients on market-shaping transactions, high-stakes litigation and trials, and sophisticated regulatory matters. Latham is one of the world's largest providers of pro bono services, steadfastly supports initiatives designed to advance diversity within the firm and the legal profession, and is committed to exploring and promoting environmental sustainability. Notes to Editors 1 Latham & Watkins operates worldwide as a limited liability partnership organized under the laws of the State of Delaware (USA) with affiliated limited liability partnerships conducting the practice in France, Hong Kong, Italy, Singapore, and the United Kingdom and as an affiliated partnership conducting the practice in Japan. Latham & Watkins operates in Israel through a limited liability company. Latham & Watkins operates in South Korea as a Foreign Legal Consultant Office. Latham & Watkins works in cooperation with the Law Firm of Salman M. Al-Sudairi, a limited liability company, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Contacts Marc Jaffe, New York Office Managing Partner, +1.212.906.1281 Justin Hamill, Global Co-Chair, Mergers & Acquisitions Practice, +1.212.906.1252 SOURCE Latham & Watkins LLP "Sadly, years of progress to advance LGBTQIA+ rights can be reversed seemingly overnight as homophobia and transphobia prevails in many state legislatures, particularly in southern parts of the country," said Dan Lucey, Chief Creative Officer of Havas New York. "The goal of this campaign is to call out the bills currently in front of Congress and give marchers a platform to immediately take action and make their voices heard in a way politicians literally can't tune out." The faxes to lawmakers included excerpts from well-known queer literature, Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez, I Know You Know Who I Am by Peter Kispert, When Katie Met Cassidy by Camille Perri, Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan, Ten Steps to Nanette by Hannah Gadsby, and All the Flowers Kneeling by Paul Tran, all published by Penguin Random House. In 1970, a year after the Stonewall uprising that sparked the gay liberation movement, the first March was held in New York City and has since become an annual civil rights demonstration. According to NYC Pride, there has not been an activation with the same aim and magnitude as #BuryTheBills in New York over the last 53 years. "NYC Pride is excited to work alongside Havas New York to bring this activation to life," said Bansri Manek, March Director at NYC Pride. "Our mission as an organization is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. This activation does just that and fits perfectly into our 2022 theme, 'Unapologetically Us,' which focuses on the importance of LGBTQIA+ individuals standing together and proudly living their truth in the face of social justice issues and legislation that directly attacks their community." The #BurytheBills campaign would not have been possible without the use of Flowcode, the offline to online company building direct connections through next generation technology. Flowcode designed the unique QR code experience and fax trigger that instantly empowered protestors to anonymously take action, and Penguin Random House, the multinational book publisher who provided the queer literature faxed to state legislatures. In addition, Penguin Random House will plant a tree for each batch of excerpts faxed to help offset the paper used in the campaign (up to 10,000 trees through a $10,000 contribution) through a partnership with One Tree Planted. "We are thrilled to have joined this movement. At Penguin Random House, our authors and books have always existed at the forefront of the cultural conversation, and we're excited to have the opportunity to amplify the work of these brilliant creators in an impactful new way," said Carly Gorga, Brand Marketing Director at Penguin Random House. "By teaming up with Havas New York and NYC Pride this year, we hope more people will see and truly understand the power of books to spark meaningful discussion and action that will move us toward a better future." In just one day, #BuryTheBills has generated over 570,000 pages of faxes to lawmakers and has captured the attention of several celebrities and changemakers passionate about advancing and protecting LGBTQIA+ rights. "Bury the Bills isn't just a project to meit's an everyday reminder of the attempt to roll back history and take away our rights," said Mario Licato, Associate Creative Director at Havas New York and mastermind behind the campaign. "It's 2022, but sometimes it feels like it's 1962, so collectively we need to do everything we can to protect the human rights of the millions of people at stake." For more information and to get involved, visit www.BuryTheBills.com. ABOUT HAVAS NEW YORK Havas New York is one of 60+ full-service Villages and the North American flagship agency of Havas Creative, a powerful network of creative agencies with the most modern capabilities and talented people in the business. At Havas New York, we are a creative company with soul, breaking tradition in our category to help progressive marketers speak the modern language of advertising through culture, design, and technologycreating better, more meaningful brand experiences. Creatives are creators who deliver work designed to raise consciousness and inspire conversation in the real world, not the advertising space. Learn more at our website, ny.havas.com. ABOUT NYC PRIDE Heritage of Pride, Inc. is the volunteer-directed organization behind the official NYC Pride roster of events. Heritage of Pride's mission is to work toward a future without discrimination where all people have equal rights under the law. We do this by producing LGBTQIA+ Pride events that inspire, educate, commemorate, and celebrate our diverse community. SOURCE Havas New York "We are honored and delighted to have these exceptional lung cancer experts join our SAB," commented Dr. Politi. "Advancing the most promising science in lung cancer is of utmost importance to the SAB and we are thrilled to have these leaders committed to fostering lung cancer research join the Board. This expansion is an important step as we work towards meeting our strategic objective of tripling LCRF's research investment by the end of 2024." LCRF's new members of its Scientific Advisory Board: Chiara Ambrogio, PhD Associate Professor, University of Torino Dr. Chiara Ambrogio received her BS/MS in Medical Biotechnology (2004) and her PhD (2008) in Immunology and Cellular Biology from the University of Torino, Italy, focused on the ALK oncogene. For her postdoc training, in 2009 she joined the lab of Mariano Barbacid in the Molecular Oncology Program at the CNIO, Madrid, Spain. She later moved to the Medical Oncology Department at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (DFCI) in Boston to complete her translational training in Pasi Janne's lab as a Senior Scientist (2016-2019). At the end of 2018 she was awarded the "Armenise-Harvard Career Development Award" (CDA) that allowed her to establish her independent lab at the Molecular Biotechnology Center (MBC), University of Torino, where she is also affiliated as an Associate Professor of Molecular Biology. The research focus of Dr. Ambrogio's lab is to characterize the "KRAS signalosome", defined as the functional protein complex engaging KRAS and related effectors, modulators, and adaptors at the cell membrane. Colleen Conner Ziegler LCRF Board of Directors and lung cancer patient Colleen Conner Ziegler, a lung cancer survivor and active patient advocate, was diagnosed in May 2015 at the age of 58 with Stage IV ALK positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC.) She began, and is currently receiving, alectinib as her first line of treatment and recognizes that research has made her treatment possible. After a 22-year career in the pharmaceutical industry, Ms. Conner Ziegler served in a variety of community-focused endeavors, including service on several Boards of Directors and Advisory Boards. Her primary focus prior to her diagnosis was on children's education as well as women's health issues. Following her lung cancer diagnosis, she turned her focus to lung cancer advocacy. She is a current member of LCRF's Board of Directors, serves on the Department of Defense Lung Cancer Research Program advisory committee, and has co-founded, and remains active with, several patient-focused lung cancer advocacy organizations focused on ALK-positive lung cancer research. Ibaiyi Dagogo-Jack, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine (Harvard Medical School), Thoracic Oncologist, Massachusetts General Hospital Dr. Ibiayi Dagogo-Jack received her bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences from Vanderbilt University (2007). She then received her medical degree from the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (2011). She trained in internal medicine at Brigham and Women's Hospital through 2014. Following residency, she completed a hematology/oncology fellowship in the combined Massachusetts General Hospital/Dana-Farber Cancer Institute program in 2017, after which she joined the faculty as a medical oncologist focused on thoracic cancers. Her research is focused on understanding mechanisms underlying resistance to lung cancer targeted therapies and developing clinical trials to evaluate novel combinations in lung cancer and mesothelioma. Notably, Dr. Dagogo-Jack's research team has led studies characterizing resistance to treatments for fusion-driven lung cancer, including strategies to overcome resistance to next- generation ALK inhibitors. Alexander Drilon, MD Chief, Early Drug Development Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Dr. Alexander Drilon received both his B.S. (1999) in Biology and MD (2004) from the University of the Philippines. In 2018 he became an Associate Attending of Medical Oncology and Associate Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. Most recently, in 2020 Dr. Drilon also took on the role of Chief of the Early Drug Development Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. As a medical oncologist who specializes in the treatment of lung cancer, working with a team of experts including surgeons, radiation oncologists, pathologists, and nurses, his goal is to provide the best possible care and support for patients and their families. As a member of the Thoracic Oncology Service, his research is focused on developing new treatments for lung cancer, with a particular interest in studying ways to target molecular changes in patients' tumors with new medicines. Dr. Drilon also specializes in early-phase clinical trials and is a member of MSKCC's Developmental Therapeutics group. Its aim is to bring new drugs to patients with all types of cancer, particularly those for whom standard treatments have been exhausted. Dr. Drilon is also a former LCRF grantee. Loretta Erhunmwunsee, MD Thoracic Surgeon, Assistant Professor, Division of Thoracic Surgery and Assistant Professor, Division of Health Equities, City of Hope Cancer Center Dr. Loretta Erhunmwunsee graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Emory University (2000) in Atlanta and received her medical doctorate from Harvard Medical School (2005) in Boston, graduating magna cum laude. Board-certified in general and thoracic surgery, Dr. Erhunmwunsee has been the recipient of numerous honors and awards, including the World Congress on Lung Cancer Young Investigator's Award (2009) and the LCRF William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer (2021.) She was chosen as an NIH/NMA Academic Career in Medicine Fellow in 2015 and was chosen as a Feagin Leadership Scholar from Duke University in 2014. Dr. Erhunmwunsee is also the recipient of the Peter C. Pairolero Scholarship Award which she received in 2015 from the General Thoracic Surgical Club. Dr. Erhunmwunsee is a health services researcher who deeply desires to lead investigations that benefit the African American community and contribute to health equity. As an African American woman who grew up in the housing projects of Birmingham, Alabama, she has long observed that neighborhoods impact health and quality of life, and possesses a clear, personal understanding that structural racism exists and harms. Sarah Goldberg, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Internal Medicine (Medical Oncology); Associate Director, Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program; Research Director, Center for Thoracic Cancers, Yale School of Medicine Dr. Sarah Goldberg received her MPH from Harvard School of Public Health and her MD from Mount Sinai School of Medicine (2006) She completed her residency at Massachusetts General Hospital (2009) and was a Fellow at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute (2012). She specializes in the treatment of thoracic malignancies and is the Research Director of the Center for Thoracic Cancers and the Associate Director of the Hematology/Oncology Fellowship Program at Yale. Her research interests include personalized medicine and immunotherapy for non-small cell lung cancer, with a particular focus on EGFR mutation-positive lung cancer and brain metastases. William Lockwood, PhD Senior Scientist, BC Cancer Research, Integrative Oncology Dr. William Lockwood received his BSc in Microbiology and Immunology from the University of British Columbia (2004) and completed his PhD in Pathology and Laboratory Medicine (2009) at the same university, training with the lung cancer research group at BC Cancer Research Centre where he aimed to characterize the genetic mechanisms underlying development of different lung cancer subtypes. He pursued postdoctoral studies as a CIHR Jean-Francois St. Dennis Fellow in Cancer Research in the laboratory of Nobel laureate Dr. Harold Varmus, first at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, and later at the National Human Genome Research Institute in Bethesda, MD. There, he focused on utilizing mouse models of lung cancer to study mechanism of lung cancer initiation, progression and response to therapy and identifying novel therapeutics for lung cancer treatment. Dr. Lockwood returned to the BC Cancer Research Institute to begin his own research group in 2014 with a focus on understanding lung cancer biology using integrative genomics approaches. His lab has specific interest in dissecting genes and signalling pathways that drive lung cancer development and targeted therapy resistance, using both model systems and genomic data from patients for this purpose. He is the recent recipient of the Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research Scholar and the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer Young Investigator awards. Dr. Lockwood is a 2020 LCRF research grant recipient. Kathryn O'Donnell, PhD Associate Professor, Molecular Biology, UT Southwestern Kathryn O'Donnell received her B.S. in Genetics from Cornell University and her Ph.D. in Human Genetics from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine (2005). In 2011, Dr. O'Donnell was recruited to UT Southwestern Medical Center as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Molecular Biology and received a Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) Recruitment of First-Time Tenure-Track Faculty Member Award. Her current work is focused on understanding the mechanisms that contribute to lung tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis and applying insights from these studies towards the development of new therapies for lung cancer. Several projects investigate the regulation and function of oncogenic cell surface receptors using molecular and biochemical studies, functional genetics, and mouse models. Her research is supported by awards from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the Department of Defense (DoD), the V Foundation, the LUNGevity Foundation, the Welch Foundation, and CPRIT. Hilary Robbins, PhD, MPH Research Scientist, Epidemiology, International Agency for Research on Cancer Dr. Hilary Robbins earned Masters degrees in international health (2012) and biostatistics (2017) and a PhD in epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (2018). She also completed a postbaccalaureate fellowship in the Infections and Immunoepidemiology Branch of DCEG. Her current research is focused on risk-tailored approaches to early cancer detection, using tools such as risk prediction models and biomarkers. At the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France, Dr. Robbins co-leads cohort consortia focused on human papillomavirus-related cancers and lung cancer. She is the recipient of LCRF's 2020 William C. Rippe Award for Distinguished Research in Lung Cancer. Julien Sage, PhD - Professor of Pediatric Cancer and Genetics, Stanford University Dr. Julien Sage completed his B.Sc. in Molecular Biology from Ecole Normale Superieure in Paris, France (1992) and completed his Ph.D. in Developmental Biology at the University of Nice, France (1998.) He finished his post-doc at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2003) in cancer biology. Currently, he is a Professor at Stanford University in the Pediatrics and Genetics departments, where the Sage lab's research program focuses on the mechanisms that control the proliferation of mammalian cells under normal and pathological conditions (regeneration, cancer), with a particular emphasis on stem cells and gene regulatory networks. His lab uses genome-editing strategies to develop and study genetically engineered mouse models for human cancers, including lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and liver cancer. Dr. Sage's work spans the investigation of fundamental biological processes to the implementation of clinical trials based on findings in pre-clinical models. Dr. Sage received funding from UALC, one of the legacy organizations that became LCRF. Diane Tseng, MD, PhD Assistant Professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Dr. Diane Tseng received her MD, PhD from Stanford University School of Medicine (2013), completed her residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital (2016) and her Fellowship in Medical Oncology at Stanford University School of Medicine (2020.) Dr. Tseng is a clinical investigator studying the interaction between lung cancer and the immune system with the goal of developing new lung cancer immunotherapy treatments. Her work examines immunotherapy biomarkers in lung cancer to understand mechanisms of response and resistance to treatment. She is a 2018 LCRF research grant recipient. About the Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) The Lung Cancer Research Foundation (LCRF) is the leading nonprofit organization focused on funding innovative, high-reward research with the potential to extend survival and improve quality of life for people with lung cancer. LCRF's mission is to improve lung cancer outcomes by funding research for the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure of lung cancer. To date, LCRF has funded 394 research grants, totaling nearly $39 million, the highest amount provided by a nonprofit organization dedicated to funding lung cancer research. For more information, visit lcrf.org. Contact: Sheila Sullivan Sr. Director, Marketing & Communications, LCRF [email protected] SOURCE Lung Cancer Research Foundation Luxury Travel Market Vendor Landscape The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will decelerate during the forecast period. Competitors have to focus on differentiating their product offerings with unique value propositions to strengthen their foothold in the market. Market vendors also have to leverage the existing growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. 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 luxury travel 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 luxury travel market participants covered in this report with product offerings are: Indigenous Tourism BC -The company provides luxurious travels related to culinary and wildlife in various destinations across the globe. -The company provides luxurious travels related to culinary and wildlife in various destinations across the globe. Classic Journeys -The company provides a comprehensive range of luxury travels including culinary travel, personalized vacation, and river cruising, among others in destinations such as Croatia , Chile , Patagonia, Costa Rica , Morocco , and others. -The company provides a comprehensive range of luxury travels including culinary travel, personalized vacation, and river cruising, among others in destinations such as , , Patagonia, , , and others. Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC-The company provides luxury travel across destinations around the world. Some other companies classified as dominant players in the report are: Absolute Travel Inc. Odyssey World Responsible Travel Scott Dunn Travelopia Butterfield & Robinson Inc Cox & Kings Ltd Want to know more about the product offerings from other contributing vendors? Buy Report Now! Luxury Travel Market Revenue-generating Segment Highlights Consumer Domestic: The domestic luxury travel segment is anticipated to contribute to significant market growth. The growth in domestic luxury travel is driven by easy government regulations, lack of currency exchange issues, and the familiarity of the culture and the language. India, China , and the US are the most preferred destinations for domestic luxury travel. The number of domestic tourists has increased significantly in these countries. Various vendors in the global domestic luxury travel market are offering travel tours to famous places in their home country, which have picturesque natural beauty and offer exposure to the cultural and traditional beauty of places. For instance, Intrepid Group Ltd. offers domestic luxury travel services in Morocco. , and the US are the most preferred destinations for domestic luxury travel. The number of domestic tourists has increased significantly in these countries. Various vendors in the global domestic luxury travel market are offering travel tours to famous places in their home country, which have picturesque natural beauty and offer exposure to the cultural and traditional beauty of places. For instance, Intrepid Group Ltd. offers domestic luxury travel services in Morocco. International Type Adventure: Personalized Cruising And Yachting Culinary, Others Geography Europe: 30% of the market's growth will originate from Europe during the forecast period. Germany , France , and the UK are the key markets for luxury travel in Europe . Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in other regions. Factors such as the growing disposable income, the increasing number of baby boomers, and increasing demand for personalized vacations will fuel the market growth. In addition, the presence of numerous exotic destinations, availability of easy transport facilities, the rapid increase in the number of food and beverage festivals, and the presence of major vendors will propel the luxury travel market growth in Europe over the forecast period. during the forecast period. , , and the UK are the key markets for luxury travel in . Market growth in this region will be slower than the growth of the market in other regions. Factors such as the growing disposable income, the increasing number of baby boomers, and increasing demand for personalized vacations will fuel the market growth. In addition, the presence of numerous exotic destinations, availability of easy transport facilities, the rapid increase in the number of food and beverage festivals, and the presence of major vendors will propel the luxury travel market growth in over the forecast period. North America APAC MEA South America Luxury Travel Market Scope Technavio calculates the global hotels, restaurants, and leisure industry market size based on combined revenue generated by companies of casinos and gaming; hotels, restaurants, and leisure; leisure facilities; and restaurants. Our report provides extensive information on the value chain analysis for the luxury travel market, which vendors can leverage to gain a competitive advantage during the forecast period. Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The luxury travel market report covers the following areas: Luxury Travel Market 2021-2025: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2021-2025 Detailed information on factors that will assist luxury travel market growth during the next five years Estimation of the luxury travel market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the luxury travel market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of luxury travel market, vendors Related Reports: Business Travel Market by Expenditure, Age, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 Wellness Tourism Market by Type, Application, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Adventure Tourism Market by Type, Source, and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Sustainable Tourism Market by Type and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2021-2025 Luxury Travel Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Decelerate at a CAGR of 25.7% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 1.23 trillion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 45.30 Regional analysis APAC, MEA, North America, South America, and Europe Performing market contribution Europe at 30% Key consumer countries US, Germany, China, France, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC, Absolute Travel Inc., Butterfield & Robinson Inc., Classic Journeys, Cox & Kings Ltd., Indigenous Tourism BC, Odyssey World, Responsible Travel, Scott Dunn, and Travelopia 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 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 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 01: Parent market Exhibit 02: Market characteristics 2.2 Value chain analysis Exhibit 03: Value chain: Global hotels, restaurants, and leisure market 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 05: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2020 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Exhibit 06: Global - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 ($ 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 Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 15: Type - Market share 2020-2025 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 16: Comparison by Type 5.3 Adventure - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 17: Adventure - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 18: Adventure - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.4 Personalized - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 19: Personalized - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 20: Personalized - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.5 Cruising and yachting - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 21: Cruising and yachting - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 22: Cruising and yachting - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.6 Culinary - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 23: Culinary - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 24: Culinary - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.7 Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 25: Others - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 26: Others - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.8 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 27: Market opportunity by Type 6 Market Segmentation by Consumer 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 28: Consumer - Market share 2020-2025 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Consumer Exhibit 29: Comparison by Consumer 6.3 Domestic - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 30: Domestic - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 31: Domestic - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 6.4 International - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 32: International - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 33: International - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Consumer Exhibit 34: Market opportunity by Consumer 7 Customer landscape 7.1 Customer landscape 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 Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 38: Europe - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 39: Europe - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.4 North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 40: North America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 41: North America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.5 APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 42: APAC - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: APAC - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.6 MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 44: MEA - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 45: MEA - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.7 South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 46: South America - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: South America - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 8.8 Key leading countries Exhibit 48: Key leading countries 8.9 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 49: Market opportunity by geography ($ billion) 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 10.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 51: Vendor landscape 10.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 52: Landscape disruption Exhibit 53: Industry risks 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 Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC Exhibit 56: Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC - Overview Exhibit 57: Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC - Product and service Exhibit 58: Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC Key news Exhibit 59: Abercrombie & Kent USA LLC - Key offerings 11.4 Absolute Travel Inc. Exhibit 60: Absolute Travel Inc. - Overview Exhibit 61: Absolute Travel Inc. - Product and service Exhibit 62: Absolute Travel Inc. - Key offerings 11.5 Butterfield & Robinson Inc. Exhibit 63: Butterfield & Robinson Inc. - Overview Exhibit 64: Butterfield & Robinson Inc. - Product and service Exhibit 65: Butterfield & Robinson Inc. - Key offerings 11.6 Classic Journeys Exhibit 66: Classic Journeys - Overview Exhibit 67: Classic Journeys - Product and service Exhibit 68: Classic Journeys Key news Exhibit 69: Classic Journeys - Key offerings 11.7 Cox & Kings Ltd. Exhibit 70: Cox & Kings Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 71: Cox & Kings Ltd. - Product and service Exhibit 72: Cox & Kings Ltd. Key news Exhibit 73: Cox & Kings Ltd. - Key offerings 11.8 Indigenous Tourism BC Exhibit 74: Indigenous Tourism BC - Overview Exhibit 75: Indigenous Tourism BC - Product and service Exhibit 76: Indigenous Tourism BC Key news Exhibit 77: Indigenous Tourism BC - Key offerings 11.9 Odyssey World Exhibit 78: Odyssey World - Overview Exhibit 79: Odyssey World - Product and service Exhibit 80: Odyssey World Key news Exhibit 81: Odyssey World - Key offerings 11.10 Responsible Travel Exhibit 82: Responsible Travel - Overview Exhibit 83: Responsible Travel - Product and service Exhibit 84: Responsible Travel - Key offerings 11.11 Scott Dunn Exhibit 85: Scott Dunn - Overview - Overview Exhibit 86: Scott Dunn - Product and service - Product and service Exhibit 87: Scott Dunn - Key offerings 11.12 Travelopia Exhibit 88: Travelopia - Overview Exhibit 89: Travelopia - Product and service Exhibit 90: Travelopia Key news Exhibit 91: Travelopia - Key offerings 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 92: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.3 Research methodology Exhibit 93: Research Methodology Exhibit 94: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 95: Information sources 12.4 List of abbreviations Exhibit 96: 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 Munich/New Delhi, June 27 (UNI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held a bilateral meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, their second such meeting in two months. He also held a bilateral meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the sidelines of the G7 summit at the Schloss Elmau resort in the Bavarian Alps. The PM said in tweets that he had had excellent meetings with the German leader and the South African President. During the talks with Olaf Scholz, the two discussed cooperation in key sectors like commerce and energy and also had deliberations on furthering environmentally friendly growth for the planet. New NFT asset management offering optimises across client needs for security, scalability and accessibility SINGAPORE, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Matrixport, one of the world's largest digital assets financial services ecosystem, today announced the launch of Warm and Cold custody services for Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) via its third-party institutional custody service, Cactus Custody. This latest NFT asset management offering provides institutions the ability to safely store and manage their NFT and crypto assets in one place. NFTs have become increasingly popular, taking on a variety of formats including art, trading cards, comics and games. NFT marketplaces have expanded from just a handful to hundreds of marketplaces across multiple blockchains, with the global value of NFTs sold growing 500x reaching $20B in 2021.The number of wallets trading in NFTs have also increased from half a million to about 28 million last year. Cynthia Wu, COO, Matrixport said: "Matrixport continues to evolve its offerings in-line with market needs. As use cases for NFTs expand and mature, investors are seeking out best-in-class protection for these valuable digital assets against malicious actors. Cactus Custody is stepping up with the infrastructure and tools to provide our clients with peace of mind." Embedded with enhanced risk management features, the Cactus Custody NFT asset management offering enables institutions to customise user access controls and whitelisting of decentralized application (dApp) smart contracts. Only approved NFT marketplaces, DeFi, GameFi, SocialFi and Web3 protocols will be permitted to interact with the wallets on the platform. This effectively reduces the susceptibility of the wallets to potential fraud, hacks or phishing attacks. The NFT Warm and Cold storage solutions aim to provide users with the optimum combination of security, scalability and accessibility. The warm storage solution allows for the creation of multiple business lines for asset segregation, seamless interactions with various NFT marketplaces via Cactus Custody Defi Connector , and the availability of proprietary bank-grade vaults to safeguard private keys. As an added level of security, the cold storage solution utilises a multi-sig mechanism where private keys are stored offline in multiple bank-grade vaults located in 4 countries across 3 continents. Cactus Custody is the third-party institutional custody service provided by Matrixport for miners, funds, projects and corporations under custody. The NFT asset management service is now available on the Cactus Custody platform for users to enjoy comprehensive functionalities of NFTs. About Matrixport Matrixport is one of the world's largest and most trusted digital assets financial services ecosystem. With its mission to make crypto easy for everyone, the company provides one-stop crypto financial services to meet the emerging needs of generating long-term wealth from digital assets. Its services include Cactus Custody, spot OTC and asset management supported by a rich suite of market leading crypto investment products, such as fixed income, structured products and lending. Through its ventures unit, the company also forges strategic collaborations with early-stage Web3 innovators, helping them build, grow and scale. Headquartered in Singapore, Matrixport serves both institutions and retail customers across Asia and Europe. The company holds licenses in Hong Kong and Switzerland. For more information, visit www.matrixport.com . Twitter: @realMatrixport LinkedIn: @Matrixport About Cactus Custody The mission of Cactus Custody is to provide the digital era with secure, transparent, and efficient institutional custodian services. Enabled by cutting-edge system security design and infrastructure, coupled with comprehensive enterprise-grade financial management functions that cater for wide business scenarios, Cactus Custody non-stop safeguards one billion dollars of digital assets. We provide services to some of the world's largest and most renowned mining companies, mining pools, cloud mining platforms, exchanges, funds and OTC dealers, supporting our clients to grow and scale in a secure way. Cactus Custody currently supports 70 major digital assets and will support more assets in the future. To learn more about our solutions, visit https://www.mycactus.com/en . Twitter: @CactusCustody Linkedin: Cactus Custody SOURCE Matrixport +++ As I said at Worldwide Convention in April, there's never been a better time to be part of Brand McDonald's. McDonald's is now seen as leading in our industry on almost every dimension. Together, we've transformed the McDonald's System and are performing at a high level in almost every market in which we operate. This transformation has required enormous effort, collaboration, and most importantly, leadership across all three legs of the stool as we have worked to bring our Accelerating the Arches strategy to life. This has not been easy, nor was our current success a foregone conclusion. In fact, several years ago, the outlook for our business was far less rosy at least, according to the pundits and analysts. In 2014, global comparable sales and guest counts were declining, new competitors were emerging, and customer and investor expectations were rising for global companies like ours. Remarkably, Wall Street consensus assumed the McDonald's System was in structural decline. Over the years, however, the McDonald's System has demonstrated a remarkable knack for cultivating the right leaders for the moment, and this was certainly true when Kevin Ozan and Francesca DeBiase were appointed to their roles in March 2015. Kevin and Francesca are long-time McDonald's veterans, with over forty years of combined System experience and careers that were purpose-built for their positions on our Global Senior Leadership Team. They were well-known and highly respected, and their appointments Kevin as Chief Financial Officer and Francesca as Global Chief Supply Chain Officer coincided with the multi-year reinvigoration of our business that has led to our current position of strength. It is with deep gratitude and respect that I am announcing today that Kevin will be assuming a new position and has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, and that Francesca recently shared with me her decision to retire from McDonald's, effective August 31. *** Kevin has been with McDonald's since 1997, when he joined from Ernst & Young. From the moment Kevin stepped foot here, it was clear to everyone who interacted with him that he brought something truly special to our System. His intellect and ability to work across multiple disciplines was only matched by his disarming approach and his belief in the business. I remember meeting Kevin when I first joined McDonald's. I was struck by his dedication to the System, his low ego, and unflappable judgment. I joked with Kevin that he was the "nicest CFO" I'd ever met, and yet Kevin still set the highest standards for himself and his team. Kevin leads with an incredible combination of head and heart. He's helped guide our System through so much the last seven years from onboarding two CEOs, to navigating through COVID, dealing with activist investors and, most recently, our exit from the Russian market. Kevin has seen and done it all. In this elevated role, which will be effective September 1, Kevin will continue to lead the Strategy team and spearhead several strategic initiatives, while partnering with me and the Senior Leadership Team, and plans to retire from McDonald's by mid-2023. With this move, Ian Borden, currently President, International and a 30-year System veteran, has been appointed to serve as our next Executive Vice President and CFO, effective September 1. Ian is well-known for being a values-based leader with a tremendous amount of System knowledge. He first joined our System in Canada in 1994. From there, he went on to serve in roles including as CFO for our Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region and CFO for Russia and Eastern Europe. He's also had several leadership and P&L roles across our markets and regions. We often say that our international markets are the growth and idea engine of the System, and in so many ways that is a testament to Ian's leadership and contributions. From ambitious digital deployments to delivery and EOTF, the markets under Ian's leadership have been launching pads for some of our most ambitious and impactful moves over the past decade. Ian consistently puts teamwork at the heart of everything he does. His passion and unfailing commitment to talent development has built a strong succession pipeline across the System. On our Senior Leadership Team, he has championed and fostered closer and more effective collaboration across our markets to execute our strategy with great success while also navigating unpredictable challenges with agility and purpose. For these reasons, and so many more, this makes Ian an exceptional leader for our Finance organization as our next CFO. Ian, his wife Yolande, and his two sons Ethan and Matthew will be relocating to Chicago and I look forward to benefiting even more from his partnership. We will share an update on our International leadership in mid-July. *** Francesca has been with McDonald's since 1991, and last year celebrated her 30th anniversary an incredible milestone! The strength and resiliency of our Supply Chain is a cornerstone of our competitive advantage and a mark of Francesca's leadership. The strategic relationships Francesca has forged throughout the supplier community based on transparency, inclusion, and trust have been key to our success in creating a best-in-class Supply Chain that is the envy of our industry, and so many others. Francesca was one of the earliest leaders in our System to champion progressive and sustainable business solutions, which are now deeply embedded across McDonald's. She has been fiercely passionate about talent development both within her organization and across the System and led our Global Women's Leadership Network for many years, stewarding a culture where women have the most opportunity to succeed and grow. Generations to come will undoubtedly benefit from the impact of her leadership. There's little Francesca has not seen in her McDonald's journey from trade challenges, to the impacts of climate change, to all manner of disruptions. Even so, the unforeseen impacts of an unprecedented global pandemic further proved the strength and resilience of Francesca's leadership and our entire Supply Chain. While others broke supply, McDonald's did not. That is a truly extraordinary accomplishment. For this, and for so much more, we are grateful. While Francesca will certainly be missed, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Marion Gross, Chief Supply Chain Officer of North America, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Global Chief Supply Chain Officer, and will join the Global Senior Leadership Team, effective September 1. Marion's impressive career at McDonald's has spanned 29 years, but she had already been a part of the System for several years having managed transportation and logistics at HAVI. At McDonald's, she first managed the supply of several national product categories before taking on strategic Supply Chain initiatives across 36 distribution centers. Most recently, Marion has been responsible for executing the strategic direction of McDonald's Supply Chain across the U.S. and Canada. Marion's embrace of our values is a hallmark of her leadership. Her deep involvement in our communities and constant focus on truly driving our purpose deep within the System stand tall as clear examples that we get better together. We will share more details on Marion's successor before she formally transitions this fall. *** Finally, Katie Fallon, who has successfully served as McDonald's first-ever Chief Global Impact Officer, recently informed me of her decision to depart McDonald's. Katie has been a deeply valuable partner to me and so many throughout our System as we've risen to society's growing expectations of business. She has brought critical functions together and forged a collective strategy to drive trust and admiration for McDonald's. While we have benefitted from Katie's strong leadership, I fully support and understand her decision to pursue an opportunity that has fewer travel demands and better aligns with the needs of her young family in Washington D.C. Katie's last day with us will be July 15, and I am confident that this team, and our System, have the right leaders and plans in place to continue advancing our progress as we deliver on our purpose to feed and foster communities. While we identify Katie's successor, Kevin will oversee the Global Impact team. *** I feel immense pride in everything the McDonald's System has accomplished over the past several years and am confident that the leaders announced today will help accelerate our momentum. The McDonald's System is special because our people are special. With ketchup coursing through our veins, McDonald's future has never been brighter. Chris ABOUT MCDONALD'S McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with more than 39,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This document contains forward-looking statements about future events and circumstances. Generally speaking, any statement not based upon historical fact is a forward-looking statement. In particular, statements regarding McDonald's plans, strategies, prospects and expectations regarding its business and industry are forward-looking statements. They reflect McDonald's expectations, are not guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, McDonald's does not undertake to update such forward-looking statements. You should not rely unduly on forward-looking statements. McDonald's business results are subject to a variety of risks, including those that are described in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. SOURCE McDonald's Corporation Ruben Guerrero, P.E., named Office Manager San Antonio and Michael Weeks named Office Manager - Austin/Round Rock PITTSBURGH, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Michael Baker International, a global leader in engineering, planning and consulting services, announced today a pair of new leadership roles in the firm's Southern Region. Ruben Guerrero, P.E., has been promoted to Office Manager for Michael Baker's San Antonio, Texas, office, and Michael Weeks has been named Office Manager for the firm's Austin/Round Rock, Texas, office. In their new roles, Mr. Guerrero and Mr. Weeks will lead their respective office's growth and client engagement efforts while collaborating closely with colleagues across the firm's Southern Region "Both Ruben and Michael bring decades of experience to their new roles," said Tommy Montgomery, P.E., Senior Vice President and Southern Regional Director at Michael Baker International. "They are seasoned leaders with extensive background in managing both people and complex infrastructure projects. I look forward to the continued growth and success of our San Antonio and Austin/Round Rock offices under Ruben and Michael's leadership." Mr. Guerrero joined Michael Baker in 2021 with more than 30 years of experience in transportation design engineering, project delivery, construction and operations and maintenance throughout California and Texas. Most recently, Mr. Guerrero served as Department Manager Transportation in Michael Baker's San Antonio office, where he worked with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) on the Texas State Highway 358 Reconstruction in Nueces County, Texas, which entails the design and construction of braided ramps at the US 286 interchange. Prior to joining Michael Baker, Mr. Guerrero was a Senior Construction Manager at Civil Engineering Consultants (CEC). Earlier in his career, he served as the Assistant City Engineer for the City of San Antonio Capital Program. He was also a Federal Programs Engineer for TxDOT and a Senior Transportation Engineer for the California Department of Transportation. He is a member of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC), American Public Works Association (APWA), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE) and the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC). Mr. Guerrero earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University. Mr. Weeks brings nearly 25 years of industry experience to his new position, including the last seven with Michael Baker. He has a proven track record of assessing and managing aquatic resources in both freshwater and marine ecosystems and leading numerous projects related to environmental compliance, transportation planning, coastal planning and management of coastal restoration. Most recently, Mr. Weeks served as Department Manager Environmental in the firm's Austin/Round Rock, where he managed roadway, rail, flood control and reservoir projects, and led the environmental team. Prior to joining Michael Baker in 2015, Mr. Weeks was a Coastal Project Manager for the Texas General Land Office. Earlier in his career, he was a Senior Scientist at Atkins North America and a Coastal Conservation Biologist for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Mr. Weeks is a member of the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) and Central Texas Association of Environmental Professionals (CTAEP). He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine and Freshwater Biology from the University of Texas. About Michael Baker International Michael Baker International is a leading provider of engineering and consulting services with Practices that encompass all facets of infrastructure, including design, civil engineering, planning, architecture, environmental, construction and program management and design-build project delivery. For more than 80 years, the company has been a trusted partner to commercial clients, all branches of the military and federal, state and municipal governments, providing comprehensive services and solutions. Embracing emerging technologies and the latest innovations like intelligent transportation and engineered models, Michael Baker is an industry leader that delivers expertise and quality. The firm's more than 3,000 employees across nearly 100 locations are committed to Making a Difference for clients and communities through a culture of innovation, collaboration and technological advancement while Reimagining Michael Baker to become a full-service engineering and consulting firm over the next five years. To learn more, visit https://mbakerintl.com/. Contact: Julia Covelli [email protected] (866) 293-4609 SOURCE Michael Baker International DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Mining Support Activities Global Market Report 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides strategists, marketers and senior management with the critical information they need to assess the global support activities for mining market as it emerges from the COVID-19 shut down. Reasons to Purchase Gain a truly global perspective with the most comprehensive report available on this market covering 50+ geographies. Understand how the market is being affected by the coronavirus and how it is likely to emerge and grow as the impact of the virus abates. Create regional and country strategies on the basis of local data and analysis. Identify growth segments for investment. Outperform competitors using forecast data and the drivers and trends shaping the market. Understand customers based on the latest market research findings. Benchmark performance against key competitors. Utilize the relationships between key data sets for superior strategizing. Suitable for supporting your internal and external presentations with reliable high quality data and analysis Where is the largest and fastest growing market for the support activities for mining? How does the market relate to the overall economy, demography and other similar markets? What forces will shape the market going forward? The Support Activities For Mining market global report answers all these questions and many more. The report covers market characteristics, size and growth, segmentation, regional and country breakdowns, competitive landscape, market shares, trends and strategies for this market. It traces the market's historic and forecast market growth by geography. It places the market within the context of the wider support activities for mining market, and compares it with other markets. The market characteristics section of the report defines and explains the market. The market size section gives the market size ($b) covering both the historic growth of the market, the impact of the COVID-19 virus and forecasting its recovery. Market segmentations break down market into sub markets. The regional and country breakdowns section gives an analysis of the market in each geography and the size of the market by geography and compares their historic and forecast growth. It covers the impact and recovery trajectory of COVID-19 for all regions, key developed countries and major emerging markets. Competitive landscape gives a description of the competitive nature of the market, market shares, and a description of the leading companies. Key financial deals which have shaped the market in recent years are identified. The trends and strategies section analyses the shape of the market as it emerges from the crisis and suggests how companies can grow as the market recovers. The support activities for mining market section of the report gives context. It compares the support activities for mining market with other segments of the mining market by size and growth, historic and forecast. It analyses GDP proportion, expenditure per capita, support activities for mining indicators comparison. Major companies in the mining support activities market include The Metallurgical Corp of China, Hochtief AG, PT United Tractors Tbk, Perenti Global Ltd, NRW Holdings Limited, The Weir Group plc, Major Drilling Group International Inc, Aveng Limited, Boart Longyear Ltd., and Foraco International SA. The global mining support activities market is expected to grow from $236.12 billion in 2021 to $267.58 billion in 2022 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.3%. The mining support activities market is expected to grow to $438.17 billion in 2026 at a CAGR of 13.1%. The mining support activities market consists of sales of mining support services and related goods by entities (organizations, sole traders and partnerships) that perform support activities on a contract or fee basis for coal, metal and nonmetallic mineral (except fuels) mining. Support activities include exploration of minerals, drilling, draining of mines and other support activities. The main types of mining support activities are coal mining support activities, metal mining support activities and nonmetallic minerals mining support activities. The coal mining support activities include activities such as exploration for coal and traditional prospecting methods, such as taking core samples and making geological observations at prospective sites on a contract or fee basis. The services are provided by independent contractors and companies to mining companies, construction companies and others. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the mining support activities market in 2021. Western Europe was the second largest region in the mining support activities market. The regions covered in the mining support activities market are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East and Africa. Government policies to support the mining industry is expected to drive the support activities for mining market. Governments are providing subsidies and encouraging foreign direct investments (FDI) in the mining industry. The amount of government support includes the support through governments' public finance institutions such as bilateral development banks and export credit agencies investing in mining projects, fiscal support through budget allocations and tax exemptions, and investments through majority state-owned mining and utility companies. GIS technology is increasingly being used by mining companies to monitor critical factors such as sustainability, geological composition and compliance. GIS systems capture, record, evaluate and present spatial or geographic data. GIS integrates exploration datasets such as geophysical images, geochemistry, geologic maps, radiometric surveys, boreholes, and mineral deposits leading to efficient discovery of new mineral deposits. This technology also provides 3D visualization tools as it integrates data from various data sources. They are also used in allied industries such as production, mine closure and reclamation. For instance, according to GISGIG, the global GIS market is expected to reach $12.7 billion by 2024. Key Topics Covered: 1. Executive Summary 2. Report Structure 3. Mining Support Activities Market Characteristics 3.1. Market Definition 3.2. Key Segmentations 4. Mining Support Activities Market Product Analysis 4.1. Leading Products/ Services 4.2. Key Features and Differentiators 4.3. Development Products 5. Mining Support Activities Market Supply Chain 5.1. Supply Chain 5.2. Distribution 5.3. End Customers 6. Mining Support Activities Market Customer Information 6.1. Customer Preferences 6.2. End Use Market Size and Growth 7. Mining Support Activities Market Trends And Strategies 8. Impact Of COVID-19 On Mining Support Activities 9. Mining Support Activities Market Size And Growth 9.1. Market Size 9.2. Historic Market Growth, Value ($ 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. Mining Support Activities Market Regional Analysis 10.1. Global Mining Support Activities Market, 2021, By Region, Value ($ Billion) 10.2. Global Mining Support Activities Market, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Historic And Forecast, By Region 10.3. Global Mining Support Activities Market, Growth And Market Share Comparison, By Region 11. Mining Support Activities Market Segmentation 11.1. Global Mining Support Activities Market, Segmentation By Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Coal Mining Support Activities Metal Mining Support Activities Nonmetallic Minerals Mining Support Activities 11.3. Global Mining Support Activities Market, Segmentation By Service Provider Type, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Independent Contractors Companies 11.3. Global Mining Support Activities Market, Segmentation By Application, Historic and Forecast, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, $ Billion Mining Companies Construction Companies Other Applications 12. Mining Support Activities Market Segments 12.1. Global Coal Mining Support Activities Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - Coal Mining Drilling Services; Coal Mining Exploration Services; Coal Mining Draining Services; Other Coal Mining Support Activities 12.2. Global Metal Mining Support Activities Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - Metal Mining Drilling Services; Metal Mining Exploration Services; Metal Mining Draining Services; Other Metal Mining Support Activities 12.3. Global Nonmetallic Minerals Mining Support Activities Market, Segmentation By Type, 2016-2021, 2021-2026F, 2031F, Value ($ Billion) - Nonmetallic Minerals Mining Drilling Services; Nonmetallic Minerals Mining Exploration Services; Nonmetallic Minerals Mining Draining Services; Other Nonmetallic Minerals Mining Support Activities 13. Mining Support Activities Market Metrics 13.1. Mining Support Activities Market Size, Percentage Of GDP, 2016-2026, Global 13.2. Per Capita Average Mining Support Activities Market Expenditure, 2016-2026, Global For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/9tco8v 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: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Garret Rowan to join as Head of Leveraged Loan Trading; Mike Macchia to join Leveraged Finance Sales team NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group (MUFG) announced today the hiring of two Directors for its leveraged finance platform: Garret Rowan will join as Head of the Leveraged Loan Trading group, and Mike Macchia will join as a salesperson in Leveraged Finance Sales. Both will be based in New York. "Leveraged finance is one of our key focus areas for MUFG, and is crucial to the sustainable success of our firm," said Regional Executive and CEO for the Americas Kevin Cronin. "Our ambition is for MUFG to become a top corporate-banking debt house in the Americas across the credit spectrum through our full-lifecycle business modelfrom origination to distribution and secondary trading." Mr. Rowan will report to Steven Feinberg, Head of Credit Trading, and will work closely with both MUFG's Debt Capital Markets group as well as the CLO Origination and Trading teams as the bank continues to expand its Leveraged Loan footprint. On the Leveraged Finance Sales team, Mr. Macchia will focus primarily on leveraged loans and building out MUFG's distribution platform for both primary and secondary sales. He will report to Tim Fischer, Head of U.S. Sales for Leveraged Finance. "Mike and Garret bring a complementary mix of background and expertise, and we are excited to welcome them to our team," said John Karabelas, Head of Institutional Investor Sales for the Americas. "This continued strategic expansion of our leveraged finance platform solidifies our commitment to growing in the secondary trading space and to serving our clients. We will continue expanding our leveraged finance capabilities, which is a critical part of our growth strategy." Both Mr. Rowan and Mr. Macchia join MUFG from UBS. Mr. Rowan was a Director in the Par Loan Trading group, responsible for market making and driving client relationships. Prior to UBS, he was a loan trader at both Deutsche Bank and US Bancorp. Mr. Macchia has more than 20 years of professional experience as both an investor and as a salesperson on the sell side. At UBS, he oversaw some of the largest loan accounts as well as distressed and high-yield investors. Earlier in his career, Mr. Macchia held positions at Deutsche Bank, Nomura, and GE Capital Americas. Mr. Rowan and Mr. Macchia are the latest in a succession of recent additions to MUFG's leveraged-finance platform. Last year, Todd Bondy joined as Head of High-Yield Trading, and Ryan Munro as Head of Leveraged Syndicate. Both are Managing Directors based in New York. 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 Legal Bay Lawsuit Funding filed a lawsuit against the above parties in New Jersey Superior Court, Chancery Division, on May 19, 2022, claiming that the Mustang entities engaged in a course of wrongful conduct designed to divert litigation funding originations from a joint venture established by Legal Bay and the above-named Mustang principals. Mustang has embarked on a campaign of direct competition with Legal Bay and the recognized joint venture. Legal Bay's complaint also alleges that Beltz and Cavanaugh fraudulently induced Legal Bay to do business with the Mustang entities as a joint venture. NEWARK, N.J., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal Bay, The Lawsuit Settlement Funding Company, announced today that on June 15, 2022, its recent New Jersey State Court lawsuit filing against Mustang Legal Funding and its principals has been removed to the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark Vicinage, by the Mustang Entities, James Beltz, and Kevin Cavanaugh. The case now bears the following docket name: Legal Bay LLC v. Mustang Funding LLC, et al., No. 22-cv-3941 (ES) (JBC). The matter has been assigned to District Judge Esther Salas and Magistrate Judge James B. Clark, III. Previously, Legal Bay had notified its business contacts of the suit's filing, but had not made any public statements. With the removal of Legal-Bay's action to Federal Court, Legal Bay believes that the time is now appropriate to disseminate a notice to the ligation funding industry about its lawsuit and its importance to the industry's direction and commercial standards. Chris Janish, CEO of Legal Bay, commented, "Our complaint against the Mustang entities and their principals is a public record at this point, and we will let the legal process play out in Federal Court. Legal Bay's purpose in pursuing this matter is not only to protect its own interests from the Mustang defendants' misconduct, but to send a message that their documented, abhorrent behavior is not limited to the Mustang defendants, but commonplace in the litigation and pre-settlement funding industry. These issues will hopefully, at long last, be formally addressed by Legal Bay's lawsuit." Legal Bay has asked the court to dissolve its joint venture with the Mustang entities and is asserting other equitable and legal claims against the Mustang defendants. Legal Bay has reason to believe that, in addition to the equitable relief it is entitled to, its monetary damages are substantial. The exact amount of those damages is not yet fully calculable, but will be determined in due course during the litigation. Janish added: "While we had hoped to avoid the need for a lawsuit, our hands were tied by Mustang's continuing misconduct. Legal Bay looks forward to continuing their work with the industry's leaders and regulators in order to find better ways to protect members engaged in formal business relationships from deceptive and anti-competitive business practices in the industry, as well as initiatives for better disclosures to consumers where previous legislation has fallen short." Legal Bay is represented by Fox Rothschild LLP within its Morristown, New Jersey office, and Timothy P. Kebbe, Esq. of Hawthorne, New York. Mustang and the other defendants are represented by Kasowitz, Benson, Torres, & Friedman LLP, of Manhattan. SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Northrop Grumman's uncrewed Cygnus spacecraft is scheduled to depart the International Space Station on Tuesday, June 28, more than four months after delivering 8,300 pounds of supplies, scientific investigations, commercial products, hardware, and other cargo to the orbiting laboratory for NASA. Live coverage of the spacecraft's departure will begin at 5:45 a.m. EDT on the NASA Television media channel, the agency's website, and the NASA app. Flight controllers on the ground will send commands for the space station's Canadarm2 robotic arm to detach Cygnus from the Unity module's nadir port, then maneuver the spacecraft into position for its release at 6:05 a.m. NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins will monitor Cygnus' systems upon its departure from the space station. Following a deorbit engine firing on Wednesday, June 29, Cygnus will begin a planned destructive re-entry, in which the spacecraft filled with trash packed by the station crew will safely burn up in Earth's atmosphere. Cygnus arrived at the space station Feb. 21, following a launch on Northrop Grumman's Antares rocket from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Virginia. It was the company's 17th commercial resupply services mission to the space station for NASA. Northrop Grumman named the spacecraft after the late NASA astronaut and climate scientist Piers Sellers. Learn more about Cygnus' mission and the International Space Station at: https://www.nasa.gov/station SOURCE NASA "Only a few people knew [our magazines] were products of a single company. With this rebrand, we're changing that." Tweet this "We produce the official magazine for hundreds of America's most affluent neighborhoods in 48 states. For almost two decades, each one has had its own brand name so only a few people knew they were products of a single company. With this rebrand, we're changing that," said Hixon. "Stroll will now be known nationally as the premium line of magazines it is. Thank you to the thousands of local businesses that support this luxury print product that continues to build community." Stroll magazines will all follow the same visual branding but will be customized to each neighborhood. Every issue will include the name of the neighborhood on the cover and, as has been the case since the product's launch in 2004, will be filled with stories and photos about the residents within the community. To learn more about Stroll, visit strollmag.com. About The N2 Company Founded in 2004, The N2 Company helps businesses "connect with ideal clients" by partnering with affluent neighborhoods, real estate communities, new-mover audiences, and others, to produce 800+ custom publications and more opening every week . Every N2 issue is personal, relevant, and unique to the community it serves. Visit The N2 Company online at www.n2co.com to learn about our full portfolio of brands: Stroll, Real Producers, BeLocal, Medical Professionals, and Hyport Digital. Media Contact: Claire Barham [email protected] SOURCE The N2 Company To make it happen, Pringles is rallying fans to sign its petition to the arachnid community to get this 8-legged wonder officially recognized as the Pringles Spider in all its Pringles-parading glory. If efforts are officially recognized by the arachnid community, Pringles will even give away free Pringles to celebrate the recognition and making snack and spider history.* "In 1968 the world was introduced to the iconic Pringles can and logo, but little did we know there was a creature amongst us who was unknowingly spreading the Pringles love," said Mauricio Jenkins, U.S. marketing lead for Pringles. "We're thrilled to rally fans to help us recognize this spectacular spider, and welcome it into the Pringles family." Craving more spider fun? Starting June 28, Pringles is letting fans "adopt" their very own virtual Pringles Spider. See details on how to get yours at PringlesSpider.com. To join Pringles in their efforts to make the Pringles Spider official and to adopt a spider of your own, visit PringlesSpider.com. Follow @Pringles on your favorite social media platform for updates on the valiant effort to recognize this small, but mighty, brand ambassador. 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. *Abbreviated Terms & Conditions. Begins 6/27/22 at 10:00:00 AM (ET) and ends 10/31/22 at 7:59:59 AM (ET) ("Qualification Period"). There are 1,500 Gifts available in this Offer and will be awarded to the first 1,500 eligible participants to sign the petition provided the Activation Requirement is met. Limit 1 Gift per household. Open to legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and District of Columbia who are 18 years of age or older at the time of participation. For details on how to participate, Activation Requirement and complete terms and conditions, go to PringlesSpider.com. Subject to complete terms and conditions. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Kellogg Company, One Kellogg Square, Battle Creek, MI 49016. , , 2022 Kellogg NA Co. SOURCE Kellogg Company World Language and Culture Intensive Summer Camp July 18-30 at UW Seven different language courses will be offered during a summer camp July 18-30 at the University of Wyoming. The free public World Language and Culture Intensive Summer Camp sessions will be offered on different days and at different times. Attendees can participate in person or virtually. Similar courses are offered during the fall and summer semesters through the World Language and Culture Program (WLCP). To make it accessible for everyone, we are offering hybrid sessions so that our state can benefit from the camp, says Dilnoza Khasilova, WLCP founder. We are pleased to offer such a unique program to our Laramie, UW and Wyoming communities, and beyond. Courses offered will be in Arabic, Armenian, German, Korean, Spanish, Turkish and Uzbek. The program is supported through Wyoming Humanities and Ellbogen Foundation grants; various UW partners, including the Global Engagement Office (WyoGlobal); and Access the World with World Languages and Cultures (AWWLC). It is organized by Khasilova, a WyoGlobal alumna and UW Global Engagement Fellow. AWWLC is a volunteer and service-learning program that offers free world language and culture classes -- locally and around the U.S. and world -- in both face-to-face and virtual contexts, Khasilova says. In an informal setting, learners interact with their native-speaking instructors to design an authentic, contextualized, hands-on/minds-on and self-paced world language and culture curriculum. Class participants will learn and explore seven common topics that are necessary in daily life and travel. The same topics will be offered across all language sessions. The goal of the first World Language and Culture Intensive Summer Camp is to bridge cross-cultural gaps and develop awareness of the languages and cultures of the world, including less commonly taught languages in an authentic context, Khasilova says. To register for a course, visit https://forms.gle/uB73v8qeojL4XtreA. A Zoom link will be provided. Those who wish to take more than one course must fill out a separate form for each course. Language course schedules are: -- Arabic: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, 5-7 p.m., UW College of Business Building, Room 10. -- Armenian: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, noon-2 p.m., instructor will provide details to participants. -- German: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, 6-8 p.m., UW College of Business Building, Room 211. -- Korean: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 5-7 p.m., UW College of Business Building, Room 209. -- Spanish: Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, 5-7 p.m., UW College of Business Building, Room 110. -- Turkish: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, 3-5 p.m., UW College of Business Building, Room 24. -- Uzbek: Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 2-4 p.m., UW College of Business Building, Room 121. For more information, email Khasilova at dkhasilo@uwyo.edu. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 7; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 792 Companies: 37 - Players covered include Addverb Technologies; Agv International; America In Motion; Daifuku; Danbach Robot Jiangxi; E&K Automation; Eca; Echkart; Grenzebach; Hyster-Yale Materials Handling and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Type (In-built, Integrated); End-Use (Automotive, Manufacturing, Food & Beverage, Aerospace, Healthcare, Logistics, Other End-Uses) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific; Rest of World. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Software Market to Reach $1.5 Billion by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Software estimated at US$680.4 Million, is projected to reach a revised size of US$1.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 13.5% over the analysis period. In-built, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 14.2% CAGR and reach US$1.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Integrated segment is readjusted to a revised 11.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $233 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $257.7 Million by 2026 The Automated Guided Vehicle (AGV) Software market in the U.S. is estimated at US$233 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$257.7 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 13% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 12% and 11.5% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 9.9% CAGR. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Innovation allows redundant connection to multiple mobile carriers to enable non-stop EV charging connectivity for Electric Vehicle (EV) charger operators and EV drivers ORLANDO, Fla., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- NovaCHARGE, an innovation-driven leader in Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE), today announced it has completed successful pilots of a new Hot Standby feature that provides mobile network redundancy and eliminates single-point failover at the mobile carrier level. This feature enables more robust EVSE communications to address the critical need for timely EV charging in Fleet, Workplace, Public, and High-density Residential customers. In the past, if the connection to a carrier degraded or was lost, EV drivers had to find another way to charge, or risk being stranded. Now, if a mobile carrier goes offline for any reason, the other carrier can be utilized by all the chargers at a site. Any failover and switch to a different carrier is completely automatic. The success of the pilots in the City of Brevard, North Carolina, and the City of Orlando, Florida, assures that anyone managing EV chargers can tap into 100% redundancy with their mobile carriers by utilizing the hot standby feature. Before this pilot, operators were stuck with a single mobile carrier and a single point of failure. "This expansion of EV charging infrastructure is part of Orlando's continued efforts to transform the city into one of the most environmentally friendly, socially inclusive, and economically vibrant cities in America," said Chris Castro, Orlando's Director of Sustainability and Resilience. "By expanding this more reliable critical infrastructure throughout the community this will help to support the growth of clean, zero-emission transportation solutions for city operations, residents, and visitors." In the City of Orlando, NovaCHARGE replaced the single gateway in place and re-configured the City's chargers to support two gateways, one that is connected over the 4G-LTE service to mobile carrier ATT and a second that points to the Verizon mobile network. NovaCHARGE successfully deployed the same redundant configuration in Orlando's Blue Jacket Park adding another layer of reliability for the city's EV drivers. "Our new hot standby feature extends the usefulness of our charger product line and cements NovaCHARGE's lead in the delivery of highly available, reliable, and sustainable EV hardware and software," said Oscar Rodriguez, chairman and CEO of NovaCHARGE. "We are especially pleased to debut this feature that ensures the critical robustness and high-availability needed to deliver reliable charging station access for drivers." The NovaCHARGE Hot Standby solution will be on display for customer demonstrations this week at EPRI's Electrification 2022 Show (Booth #1323), in Charlotte NC. About NovaCHARGE, Inc.: NovaCHARGE, Inc., founded in 2008, is a nationally recognized technology manufacturer and turnkey systems integrator of electric vehicle (EV) hardware and cloud software. NovaCHARGE offers innovative EV charging solutions and boasts open standards, in both its next generation ChargeUP Network and NC7000 and NC8000 Level 2 hardware lines. As a leading provider of EV networked charging solutions, NovaCHARGE has architected successful deployments for thousands of businesses across the United States. NovaCHARGE is headquartered in Orlando, Florida. ChargeUP is a trademark property of NovaCHARGE, Inc. For more information, visit www.NovaCHARGE.net. CONTACT: NovaCHARGE [email protected] SOURCE NovaCHARGE On PTSD Awareness Day, MAPS PBC announces plans to develop the New Drug Application for MDMA-assisted therapy in collaboration with MMS Holdings The second Phase 3 trial of the Breakthrough-Designated Therapy for PTSD will be completed in late 2022, with a targeted NDA submission in 2023 supported by MMS Holdings MMS Holdings, which specializes in supporting first-in-class NDAs, was selected for extensive experience in neuroscience SAN JOSE, Calif., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) announced today that it has selected MMS Holdings (MMS), an award-winning data-focused contract research organization (CRO) as its contract research organization for the development of a New Drug Application (NDA) for MDMA-assisted therapy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This announcement comes on PTSD Awareness Day and follows MAPS PBC's May milestone of finishing enrollment for their confirmatory phase 3 trial, MAPP2. MAPP1, the first of two Phase 3 trials conducted by MAPS PBC to evaluate investigational MDMA-assisted therapy for treatment of PTSD, showed that 88% of participants experienced a mean 44.7% (24.4 point) reduction in PTSD symptoms two months after the last experimental session, with no serious safety signals emerging. In addition to being granted Breakthrough Therapy designation, MDMA-assisted therapy has the potential to become the first-in-class FDA-approved psychedelic-assisted therapy. MMS will support the NDA submission by providing regulatory strategy, biostatistics, statistical programming, medical writing, medical review, publishing, and submission project management support. "Part of our mission at MMS is using our decades of experience to bring life-changing therapies to positively improve patient lives worldwide. While PTSD was identified decades ago, we remain woefully behind with therapeutic treatment options. This collaboration with MAPS PBC and their groundbreaking therapy may change the course of PTSD treatment and could greatly impact those with the disorder." Uma Sharma Ph.D. , Chief Scientific Officer at MMS MMS brings decades of experience developing new drug applications, averaging support for 8 to 12 annually, and specializing in first-in-class and other challenging submissions with their creative approach. Since inception, MMS sponsors have not received a refusal to file or a complete response letter, giving MAPS PBC the confidence that a successful submission dossier will be submitted to the FDA. "MAPS PBC is excited to work with a Contract Research Organization like MMS that has years of neuroscience and regulatory submission experience.Together, we can work towards gaining FDA approval and bringing this treatment to patients and families who may greatly benefit from it." Berra Yazar-Klosinski, Ph.D. , Chief Scientific Officer at MAPS PBC This announcement comes on PTSD Awareness Day, observed annually to educate people about PTSD and its symptoms, reduce stigma toward people with mental injuries, and bring hope for improved treatments. More than 350 million people, including 12 million Americans, are estimated to experience PTSD from accidents, war, interpersonal violence, or other causes yet underdiagnosis is common, particularly among marginalized populations. PTSD may be misdiagnosed as a commonly comorbid condition such as anxiety, depression, or substance use disorder. While some first-line treatments are effective in the treatment of PTSD or its symptoms, dropout rates may be high or the treatments might have limited effectiveness for certain causes of trauma. To learn more about this potential treatment for PTSD visit maps.org. NOTE The safety and efficacy of MDMA-assisted therapy is currently under investigation. It has not yet been approved by the FDA or other regulatory authorities, does not work for everyone, and carries risks even in therapeutic settings. These statements are no guarantee of future regulatory approval or availability of MDMA-assisted therapy. ABOUT MMS MMS Holdings (MMS) is an innovative, data-focused CRO that supports the pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device industries with a proven, scientific approach to complex trial data and regulatory submission challenges. Strong industry experience, technology-enabled services, and a data-driven approach to drug development make MMS a valuable CRO partner, creating compelling submissions that meet rigorous regulatory standards. With a global footprint across four continents, MMS maintains a 97 percent customer satisfaction rating. Visit mmsholdings.com to learn more. ABOUT MAPS Founded in 1986, MAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that develops medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS is sponsoring the most advanced psychedelic therapy research in the world: Phase 3 clinical trials of MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD. Since MAPS was founded, philanthropic donors and grantors have given more than $130 million for psychedelic and marijuana research and education. MAPS has earned both the Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency and a 4-Star Rating from Charity Navigator . ABOUT MAPS PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION (MAPS PBC) MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) catalyzes healing and well-being through psychedelic drug development, therapist training programs, commercialization, and patient access of prescription psychedelics while prioritizing public benefit above profit. Founded in 2014, MAPS PBC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies (MAPS), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. MAPS PBC is the parent company of MAPS EU, formed to organize and administer clinical trials of investigational MDMA-assisted therapy for PTSD in the United Kingdom and European Union. ABOUT MAPS Founded in 1986, MAPS is a 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization developing medical, legal, and cultural contexts for people to benefit from the careful uses of psychedelics and marijuana. MAPS is sponsoring the most advanced psychedelic therapy research in the world funded primarily by philanthropic donors and grantors who have given more than $130 million for research and education. ABOUT MAPS PUBLIC BENEFIT CORPORATION MAPS Public Benefit Corporation (MAPS PBC) catalyzes healing and well-being through psychedelic drug development, therapist training programs, commercialization, and patient access of prescription psychedelics while prioritizing public benefit above profit. Founded in 2014, MAPS PBC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of MAPS, a non-profit organization, and the parent company of MAPS EU. SOURCE MAPS PBC LONDON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Novidea, the creator of the only cloud-native, data-driven platform that optimises the entire insurance policy distribution lifecycle, strengthens its commitment to the UK and International markets as it launches its new offices at the heart of the City, the world's leading centre for international insurance. Novidea's CEO, Roi Agababa, launched the new office at a spectacular party for staff and partners last week. Commenting on the move, Roi said: "Novidea has enjoyed rapid expansion over the last few years and we decided to commit to London as our centre for international growth, mirroring 300 years of history and heritage in the great London Market." The move to the new offices, in the stunning landmark building 'the Gherkin', highlights the importance of the London insurance market to Novidea as a platform for growth, in the UK and internationally. This follows Novidea's win of the prestigious 'Technology & Innovation Supplier of the Year' award at the Market People Awards. Novidea already supports more than 100 customers, including agents, brokers, MGAs, and the London Market, managing more than 22 million policies across 20 countries, worldwide. Ben Potts, UK MD, Novidea, said: "Novidea is an ambitious, fast-growth business and our team has a long heritage of success in the sector. Our willingness to shake up the status quo with our cloud-native, data-driven insurance platform has brought us some big Tier 1 brokers, MGAs, and insurer client wins. This, along with future growth projections, necessitates our move. "At Novidea, our team of specialists work together as one integrated team, sharing knowledge and expertise, so the new office will promote a high degree of efficiency and, most importantly, help us to provide an even better service for our clients," he added. Novidea is expanding to meet increased customer demand worldwide, from brokers, insurers, and MGAs, who are demanding digitalisation and e-trading to remain competitive and profitable. The prestigious new premises will help to support Novidea's growing team, which has doubled in size over the last year, to better serve existing clients, as well as support further ambitious growth targets as it aims for continued expansion in the London, UK, and international markets. About Novidea Novidea is a leading provider of the only born-on-the-cloud, data-driven insurance platform that enables brokers, agents, and MGAs to modernize and manage the customer insurance journey end-to-end and drive growth across the entire insurance distribution lifecycle. The Novidea platform, built to leverage the power of Salesforce's Big Technology, provides a complete ecosystem spanning every aspect of an insurance business. The platform's AI technology provides a 360-degree view of the customer and all stakeholders, enabling full integration between customer-facing policy transactions and the middle and back office. Brokers, agencies, and MGAs extract more value from their customer and policy data with actionable intelligence from any device, anywhere. Novidea turns data into insight at the point of need, enabling better-informed decisions and delivering greater customer value through products and services tailored to individual needs. Novidea, a member of MGAA and an ACORD partner, supports more than 100 customers, including agents, brokers, MGAs, and the London market, managing more than 22 million policies across 20 countries. For more information, please go to: www.novideasoft.com For further information contact Michelle Barry Chameleon Collective for Novidea U.S. [email protected] T: +1 (603) 809-2748 Simon Hayes, M.D. NextGen Communications [email protected] M: +44 (0)7771 516544 SOURCE Novidea SANTA ANA, Calif., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Yes! It is possible to earn a Juris Doctor degree online. Taft Law School (TLS) and William Howard Taft University (WHTU), sister schools of The Taft University System, are currently offering a limited time tuition discount on their Juris Doctor programs. New first year students are eligible to receive $500.00 off their first year of study. The tuition discount can be applied to the July 11th, August 8th, or September 12, 2022 start dates. Prospective students must apply and pay the Enrollment Commitment Fee by August 1, 2022 in order to receive the discount. WHTU offers an Executive Track (JDET) non-bar program and TLS has an Attorney Track (JDAT) program. Taft Law School Juris Doctor Attorney Track Limited Time $500 Discount William Howard Taft University Juris Doctor Executive Track Limited Time $500 Discount Through The Taft University System, both WHTU and TLS are institutionally accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission. Founded in 1976, WHTU is a pioneer and leader in distance education. TLS was established in 1984 the oldest nationally accredited distance education law school in California. While many schools were forced to quickly adjust to online teaching during the pandemic and are still trying to navigate this method of instruction, Taft has over 40 years of experience in distance education. Student's can be confident that they will receive a valuable education from Taft, without the traditional law school price tag. JD Programs Taft Law School Attorney Track Students enrolling in the JDAT program have many different career or personal goals. Many intend to practice law, but equal numbers elect to enter private enterprise or devote their lives to public service. Graduates of the JDAT program are eligible to sit for the California General Bar Examination, and upon passing may practice law in California, in addition to the U.S. District Court. Some states will permit graduates from non-ABA law schools to sit for their bar examination after they have met certain criteria. If an applicant to the JDAT program intends to seek admission in a state other than California, they should consult the admitting authority in the state of their interest to determine if study at Taft would be accepted. William Howard Taft University Executive Track A JD degree isn't only beneficial to those seeking to become a lawyer. There are different fields that one can use a JD degree to advance their career, such as jobs in compliance, human resources, or the public sector. If a student is not interested in sitting for the Bar and practicing law, but wants to obtain their JD degree, the JDET program would be a great fit. This program does not require student to sit for the California First Year Law Student Exam or General Bar Exam. It is also a three-year program, compared to the four-year program of the Attorney Track. Upon graduating from this program, a student would be awarded a JD Degree (however note that this program will NOT qualify graduates for any Bar examination in order to become an attorney). Learning Modalities One of the many advantages of Taft's JD programs are that they can be completed 100% online, requiring no classroom, no specific class times, and no seminar attendance. Both TLS and WHTU offer two modalities of learning: Independent Study and Directed Study. These give students flexibility to choose the format that best fits their life, either working independently at their own pace, or with a cohort of other students, both supported by a faculty mentor. The Directed Study format is great for those that need/want regular interaction with faculty and a weekly study schedule to stay on track and motivated; The Independent Study format allows flexibility for those who may be too busy for a weekly commitment. Students may apply for financial aid by filling out the FASFA to see if they are eligible (Directed Study only). Installment plans are available for both formats to help with the cost of tuition. Tuition is only $365.00 per unit and there is no cost to apply! Offering convenience, affordability, and experience, whatever your goal is, Taft can help you get to the finish line. Prospective applicants can request more information about the programs by clicking HERE or they can email [email protected] or call 800-882-4555. Contact: Annie Cruz 714-850-4800 [email protected] SOURCE The Taft University System SeaTown's expected total investment of up to USD 50 million will be the largest private investment in the SEA e-commerce enabler industry in the last five years. It will support OnPoint in further investing in its best-in-class omni-channel marketing and sales solutions to better serve brands and consumers. In addition, the partnership will allow the Company to tap into SeaTown's vast networks and experience in digital economy and consumer sectors across Southeast Asia and globally. Most recently, SeaTown has made investments in the CrownX Corporation and Golden Gate Group in Vietnam. Dickson Loo, Managing Director at SeaTown, said "In one of the fastest-growing e-commerce markets globally, OnPoint has proven to be the best-in-class e-commerce enabler supporting a large portfolio of local and international brands. We strongly believe that, with its unparalleled experience and capabilities, OnPoint is well-positioned to capture the growth of the Vietnamese e-commerce industry and solidify its position as an integral part of the value chain. This investment exemplifies SeaTown's philosophy, which is to partner with great management teams who have built exceptional businesses to help them achieve a shared aspiration for the company." Tran Vu Quang, Founder & CEO at OnPoint, shared: "We pioneer in building the number one SEA's e-commerce enabling solutions to connect brands, platforms, logistics partners, and shoppers. Our goal is to create impactful values for the ecosystem by constantly innovating and developing sustainable, seamless customer-centric solutions. SeaTown is a valuable partner for us, given their long-term vision and a wealth of experience in the global digital economy." Since 2017, OnPoint provides a one-stop solution that enables consumer brands to accelerate their online growth on multiple channels including e-commerce marketplaces, social media platforms, and brand-owned websites. OnPoint's capabilities encompass all aspects of the e-commerce value chain ranging from the set-up and operations of brands online store, to managing digital marketing campaigns, customer services, warehousing and order fulfillment. After a successful Series A round in 2020, the Company has focused on developing proprietary technology to integrate and co-ordinate a network of service partners, utilizing data and automating processes to streamline their operations. The Company's most advanced solution, Galaxy, is a digital marketing campaign management tool that leverages the power of Big Data, AI and Machine Learning. OnPoint has also launched OctoSells, a Software-as-a-Service (SAAS) product to help SMEs merchants manage online stores seamlessly. With its unmatched customer-centric approach, OnPoint is the only e-commerce solution provider in Vietnam to achieve "Shopee Premium Certified Enabler" and "Lazada Best Partner Vietnam" awards in 2021, despite several challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Company is honored to receive the Technode ORIGIN Innovation award in the e-commerce category. OnPoint was also listed in the Top 500 Largest Private Enterprises in Vietnam in 2021 (VNR500). According to Quang, the Company will use the new fund to continue expanding its e-commerce enabling ecosystem, strengthening talents and capabilities, and developing emerging technologies with a data-driven approach. Quang notes that "OnPoint's vision is to ultimately become a platform that creates impacts to all participants of the Southeast Asia's e-commerce economy from brand owners, merchants, service providers to consumers, generating valuing for its employees and shareholders." OnPoint's Series B funding round was exclusively advised by Rocket Equities. Allen & Gledhill and Allens Linklaters served as legal advisors. ONPOINT OnPoint client portfolio includes more than 150 brands from numerous categories such as health & beauty, fashion, mother & babies, electronics/home appliances, pharmaceuticals, digital products, FMCG, pet food, etc. Company's most notable clients include the largest multi-national brands such as L'Oreal, Shiseido, Unicharm, P&G, Unilever International, Nestle, LG, Panasonic, Mondelez, and so on. Website: www.onpoint.vn SEATOWN SeaTown Holdings International is a Singapore-based investment manager focused on alternative, absolute return strategies. With over US$6bn of assets under management, SeaTown manages multi-asset and public credit strategies through open-end funds as well as private investments strategies in closed-end funds. SeaTown is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Seviora Holdings, and indirectly owned by Temasek Holdings. Website: www.seatowninternational.com SOURCE ONPOINT COMPANY LIMITED "Anurag has championed our long-term strategy and understands how to drive growth and shareholder value. He has successfully led our finance teams in the highly diverse Asia Pacific region since spin," said Otis Chair, CEO & President, Judy Marks. "He brings deep knowledge and leadership experience with a successful track record of managing financial and operational performance, along with driving revenue, profit growth and capital deployment in publicly traded companies." Maheshwari has proven experience as a chief financial officer and expertise across financial and business functions including investor relations, strategic planning, capital deployment, operations and P&L ownership. Most recently, Maheshwari served as Vice President, Finance, IT and Chief Transformation Officer in the Otis Asia Pacific region. Before joining Otis, he served as Vice President, Investor Relations at L3Harris, leading the company's interaction with the investor community while driving strategic investment planning and capital deployment, and working closely with the company's Board of Directors. He began his career as a consultant and progressed through strategy, P&L, private equity and finance roles of increasing responsibility at United Technologies Corporation, Affinity Equity Partners and Harris Corporation. "We are grateful for Rahul's service and many contributions, particularly his expertise and partnership as he helped to prepare our Finance and Investor Relations teams for our transition back to an independent, publicly traded company. He will work closely on a transition with Anurag through mid-August. We wish him success in his new endeavor," added Marks. Consistent with prior years, Otis plans to release its second quarter earnings in late July. Both Anurag Maheshwari and Rahul Ghai will join Judy Marks on the earnings call to discuss the company's results and financial outlook. About Otis Otis is the world's leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company. We move 2 billion people a day and maintain more than 2.1 million customer units worldwide, the industry's largest Service portfolio. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 70,000 people strong, including 41,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.otis.com and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @OtisElevatorCo. Media Contact: Katy Padgett +1-860-674-3047 [email protected] Investor Relations Contact: Michael Rednor +1-860-676-6011 [email protected] SOURCE Otis Worldwide Corporation DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 'Global Pacemaker Market, By Type (Implantable v/s External), By Technology (Dual Chamber, Single Chamber, Biventricular Chamber), By Product Type, By Applications, By End User, By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2017-2027' report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Global Pacemaker Market is expected to grow at a steady CAGR of 6.06% in the forecast period to reach a value of USD7139.00 million by 2027. The primary factors attributing to the market growth are supportive government policies and the increased prevalence of cardiovascular diseases among the people. Also, the rise in the healthcare expenditure by the private and public players around the launch of technologically advanced pacemakers in the market is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the Global Pacemaker Market in the next five years. Consumers have started to opt for minimally invasive procedures as they are less costly and are more effective than traditional procedures. The increased funding from the public and private organizations for the development of the healthcare sector and research and development activities is improving the quality of care provided by the pacemakers. Also, the leading authorities are becoming more concerned about the health of their residents. They are providing insurance coverage and reimbursement facilities to increase the accessibility of healthcare facilities to a wider audience. However, the high cost of pacemakers and the risk of infection from using pacemakers may restrain the growth of the Global Pacemaker Market over the forecast period. The Global Pacemaker Market is segmented based on type, technology, product type, application, end-user, regional distribution, and competitive landscape. Based on the end-user, the market can be segmented into hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers, and others. Hospitals dominated the market in 2021 and held 55.30% of the overall market share. The segment is expected to maintain its dominance through the next five years. Patients prefer to visit hospitals for their treatment as they have specialized departments and skilled healthcare professionals, and all the services can be availed under a single roof. Also, hospitals have high budgets and can provide better care to their patients while they are admitted to the hospital facilities, which is one of the major reasons for their high demand in the UAE. Some of the major players operating in the Global Pacemaker Market are Medtronic, Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotronik, Sorin Group, Lepu Medical Technology, Abbott Laboratories, Edwards Lifesciences Corporation, St. Jude Medical, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Shree Pacetronix, Osypka Medical GmbH, Medico S.P.A., Oscor Inc, Johnson & Johnson, Baxter, Philips Healthcare, Cardinal Health, Becton Dickinson and Company, Siemens Healthineers, Vitatron, and others. Years considered for this report: Historical Years: 2017-2020 Base Year: 2021 Estimated Year: 2022 Forecast Period: 2023-2027 Objective of the Study: To analyze the historical growth and the market size of the Global Pacemaker Market from 2017 to 2021. To estimate and forecast the market size of the Global Pacemaker Market from 2023 to 2027 and growth rate until 2027. To classify and forecast the Global Pacemaker Market is divided into type, technology, product type, application, end-user, regional distribution, and competitive landscape. To identify drivers and challenges for the Global Pacemaker Market. To examine competitive developments such as expansions, new product launches, mergers, and acquisitions, etc., in the Global Pacemaker Market. To conduct pricing analysis for the Global Pacemaker Market. To identify and analyze the profile of leading players operating in the Global Pacemaker Market. Key Topics Covered: 1. Product Overview 2. Research Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Impact of COVID-19 on Global Pacemaker Market 5. Voice of Customer 5.1. Brand Awareness 5.2. Factors contributing to Arrythmia 5.3. Arrhythmia Prevalence, By Gender 5.4. Arrhythmia Prevalence, By Age Group 5.5. Arrhythmia Prevalence, By Region 6. Global Pacemaker Market Outlook 6.1. Market Size & Forecast 6.1.1. By Value & Volume 6.2. Market Share & Forecast 6.2.1. By Type (Implantable v/s External) 6.2.2. By Technology (Dual Chamber, Single Chamber, Biventricular Chamber) 6.2.3. By Product Type (MRI Compatible v/s Conventional) 6.2.4. By Application (Arrythmias, Congestive Heart Failure, Others) 6.2.5. By End User (Hospitals, Cardiac Care Centers, Ambulatory Surgical Centers) 6.2.6. By Company (2021) 6.2.7. By Region 6.3. Market Map 6.3.1. By Type 6.3.2. By Technology 6.3.3. By Product Type 6.3.4. By Application 6.3.5. By End User 6.3.6. By Region 7. North America Pacemaker Market Outlook 8. Europe & CIS Pacemaker Market Outlook 9. Asia-Pacific Pacemaker Market Outlook 10. South America Pacemaker Market Outlook 11. Middle East and Africa Pacemaker Market Outlook 12. Market Dynamics 12.1. Drivers 12.2. Challenges 13. Market Trends & Developments 14. Competitive Landscape 14.1. Competition Outlook 14.2. Players Profiled (Leading Companies) 14.2.1. Medtronic Inc 14.2.2. Boston Scientific Corporation 14.2.3. Sorin Group 14.2.4. Abbott Laboratories 14.2.5. Edwards Lifesciences Corporation 14.2.6. B. Braun Melsungen AG 14.2.7. Johnson & Johnson 14.2.8. Philips Healthcare 14.2.9. GE Healthcare Inc 14.2.10. Microport Scientific Corp 15. Strategic Recommendations For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/q9w6y 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 NACKA STRAND, Sweden, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Hexagon AB, a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensors, software and autonomous technologies, today announced that Paolo Guglielmini will succeed Ola Rollen as President and CEO of Hexagon AB, effective 31 December 2022. Gun Nilsson has decided to step down as CEO for Hexagon's principal shareholder MSAB on 1 October and consequently leave her position as Chairman of Hexagon AB at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) 2023. MSAB, in consultation with Hexagon's nomination committee, has the intention to propose Ola Rollen as new Chairman of the Board at the AGM 2023. Paolo Guglielmini, currently Hexagon's Chief Operating Officer (COO) and President of Hexagon's Manufacturing Intelligence (MI) division, has served in key roles since joining Hexagon in 2010, from strategy and business development to M&A and general management. He has been instrumental in expanding MI's focus towards software-centric quality data solutions, and with his team driving the business towards all-time-high performance in 2021. Prior to joining Hexagon, Guglielmini held positions at CERN, the European Organization for Nuclear Research in Switzerland, and Accenture. He holds a Master of Science in Engineering and Master of Business Administration from IMD. "I'm happy that we have found an internal solution for my succession which will bring long term stability and continuity but at the same time needed rejuvenation as we prepare this amazing company for the next big leap strategically," says Hexagon's President and CEO, Ola Rollen. "I have preoccupied myself with the well-being of Hexagon 24/7 for the last 22 years and it's a true privilege to be able to continue to follow the company's successful development as Chairman." "On behalf of the Board of Directors and shareholders, I want to thank Ola for his incredible achievements throughout the years. Since joining Hexagon in 2000, he has grown the company from 150 MEUR market cap to a 30bn EUR multinational leader in digital solutions. He has brought tremendous value to both shareholders, industry, and society. I'm confident that Paolo will continue this journey, taking the company to the next level," says Hexagon's Chairman of the board, Gun Nilsson. "It's been an honor to follow this great company for more than 14 years as part of the Board of Directors, and the past 5 years as Chairman." "I'm honoured by the opportunity to build upon the legacy that Ola and our team have created over the past two decades, and excited to lead Hexagon into the future. We are very well positioned to capitalise on the vast opportunities ahead, combining software, sensors and autonomous technologies to create sustainable value for our stakeholders," says Hexagon's COO and President of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, Paolo Guglielmini. At the same time the following organisational changes will be made: Josh (Joshua) Weiss, currently COO of Hexagon Geosystems, will succeed Guglielmini as President for Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence, effective 1 July 2022. Weiss has served in multiple leadership roles since joining Hexagon in 2015 from his most recent role to the President of Geosystems' mining and heavy construction businesses. Weiss will report to Hexagon's President and CEO and be a part of the Executive Management Team. Michael Ritter, currently President of Hexagon Autonomy & Positioning, will assume a new senior role overseeing Hexagon's Autonomy & Positioning, Mining and Agriculture divisions, effective immediately. In this role, Ritter will be responsible for leading the strategy of the businesses, to accelerate synergies and strengthening the solutions portfolio for Hexagon's customers. Ritter will continue reporting to Hexagon's President and CEO and be a part of the Executive Management Team. Maria Luthstrom, currently Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations for Hexagon, will succeed Ritter as President of Hexagon Autonomy & Positioning, effective 1 October 2022. Luthstrom joined Hexagon in 2015 and has been instrumental in expanding the company's strategy and environmental, social and governance (ESG) agenda, strengthening Hexagon's culture and increasing shareholder value. Luthstrom will report to Michael Ritter. For further information, please contact: Maria Luthstrom, Head of Sustainability and Investor Relations, Hexagon AB, +46 8 601 26 27, [email protected] This information is information that Hexagon AB is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 08:00 CET on 27 June 2022. This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/hexagon/r/paolo-guglielmini-to-be-appointed-new-president-and-ceo-for-hexagon,c3591604 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/387/3591604/1597346.pdf Press release SOURCE Hexagon Polizzi Possesses More Than 30 Years of Experience in the Pharmaceutical Industry. NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Ltd (ASX: PAR) ("Paradigm" or "the Company"), a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on repurposing existing molecules for new indications with unmet clinical needs, appointed experienced pharmaceutical industry executive Marco Polizzi as its full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO), effective July 1, 2022. Polizzi possesses over 30 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry in various commercially focused roles, including creating new divisions within branded and generic pharmaceutical businesses. Polizzi achieved outstanding sales results in these roles, forged several licenses, asset purchases, and other agreements with multiple top 10 global pharmaceutical companies and numerous other business partners, and generated significant returns for investors. Polizzi has a proven track record that is highlighted by several successful business and product launches in the U.S. These include a new Institutional (Hospital & Specialty Markets) business unit at Sandoz, driving the growth of a $900 million P&L, as well as directing commercial functions for a product launch (Bivalirudin) that achieved $100+ million in sales in its first year. Paradigm Chairman Paul Rennie said, "We expect that Marco's broad expertise will lead Paradigm in attaining its strategic program objectives and increase shareholder value. Paradigm has been seeking a CEO with the skills to unlock the company's commercial value fully. Marco brings extensive U.S. pharmaceutical experience, a pharmaceutical industry network, operational excellence, transactional expertise, product launch, and product pricing and reimbursement experience to Paradigm. We are confident that this experience will provide significant development and commercial value to Paradigm. Polizzi will be based in the United States and travel to Australia, Europe, and Asia as required." Polizzi commented, "With my pharmaceutical experience, I believe I will make a significant contribution to the Paradigm business in the short and long term. I have had the opportunity to meet the Paradigm Board and key management personnel, and I can say that Paradigm's business excites me. My feeling is primarily based on a potential blockbuster product, which may bring relief to the millions of people globally suffering from the pain and other debilitating effects of osteoarthritis and significantly increase shareholder returns. I look forward to meeting our shareholders in the coming months." The Paradigm Board thanks Dr. Donna Skerrett for her unwavering dedication and invaluable contribution to the company's progress while serving as interim CEO. Dr. Skerrett will continue as Chief Medical Officer with a keen focus on successfully completing the global phase 3 clinical programs for Zilosul following the FDA's fast track designation protocol. About Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals LTD (ASX: PAR) is a late-stage drug development company with the mission to develop and commercialize Pentosan Polysulfate Sodium for the treatment of pain associated with musculoskeletal disorders driven by injury, inflammation, aging, degenerative disease, infection, or genetic predisposition. Paradigm also explores proof-of-concept studies for PPS in respiratory and heart failure indications. (https://paradigmbiopharma.com) About Rubenstein Public Relations Rubenstein Public Relations (RPR) is a leading full-service agency based in New York that produces high-profile communications campaigns through branding and messaging, media relations, and creative and business development services. Our comprehensive strategy, savvy media expertise, and proactive approach shape and markets a brand's core attributes to generate meaningful results for clients. We represent some of the world's most prominent names in the real estate, business, luxury lifestyle, entertainment, technology, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. (www.rubensteinpr.com) SOURCE Paradigm Biopharmaceuticals UW in the News State, national and international media frequently feature the University of Wyoming and members of its community in stories. Here is a summary of some of the recent coverage: The Casper Star-Tribune (CS-T) reported that UW will receive an $800,000 U.S. Department of Energy grant for a research project that looks at how nuclear energy technology siting impacts communities and the environment. A nuclear facility is slated to be built near Kemmerer. The Laramie Boomerang published a similar article. UW Professor Christine Porter, the Wyoming Excellence Chair in Community and Public Health, was among Wyoming residents who commented in a CS-T article focusing on the U.S. Supreme Court overturning the constitutional protections for abortion rights under Roe v. Wade. Jacquelyn Bridgeman, a law professor and director of UWs School of Culture, Gender and Social Justice, was interviewed for a related CS-T piece. Harvard Business Review published a column titled Monitoring Employees Makes Them More Likely to Break Rules. Chase Thiel, the UW Daniels Fund Ethics Initiative Collegiate Program Professor of Business Ethics, was one of the columns co-authors. In a news segment about how the Sheridan Veterans Affairs Medical Center is changing some of its treatment practices because of a lack of health care staff, Wyoming Public Radio noted that the facility is looking to recruit more graduates of UWs School of Nursing and graduates of the states community college nursing programs. The Laramie Boomerang covered last weeks Mountain West Innovation Summit on the UW campus. Specialists in areas including energy, digital technology and scientific research presented their views on how the region can become a leader in economic and technological development. UW Extension is offering a Beef Quality Assurance and Beef Management Workshop next week at the Sheridan Extension office. The Sheridan Press noted that the workshop will be led by UW Extension Educator Alex Orozco-Lopez. The Wyoming Tribune Eagle reported that Black Hills Energy announced that a crypto mining company recently entered into a five-year service agreement in Cheyenne. Steve Lupien, director of UWs Center for Blockchain and Digital Innovation, was mentioned in the article. Laramie PrideFest events as well as some events sponsored by UW were featured in a Laramie Boomerang article. The Wyoming Center on Aging at UW has established the Healthier Wyoming initiative, which has a goal to empower all Wyoming residents to take charge of their health through various resources. Wyoming News Now published UWs release. Sheridan Media, WyoToday Media and County 10 published UWs release noting that incoming juniors from around the state have been selected for the 38th annual Summer High School Institute next month on the UW campus. Max Gilbraith, UWs Harry C. Vaughn Planetarium coordinator, spoke with Cowboy State Daily about Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn aligning last week, a rare occurrence that happens only once every 18 years. Nearly 4 Out of 5 Petroleum Coke Sales to be Concentrated in Power & Cement Kiln Industries Fact.MR's recent analysis on the petroleum coke market provides a comprehensive outlook of opportunities, latest trends, challenges and growth drivers prevailing in the industry. Further, it delves deeper into the growth prospects across various market segments in terms of grade, application and end user across six regions. NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The petroleum coke market is poised to expand at a CAGR of 9.6% over the forecast period of 2022 and 2032. Increasing application of petroleum coke in energy production and construction industries is expected to propel the growth in petroleum coke market during the forecast period. As per the report, the sales of petroleum coke are likely to reach US$ 25.27 Bn in 2022 and US$ 63.10 Bn by the end of 2032. Widespread usage of petroleum coke in several industries such as construction, transportation, and automotive is expected to create tailwinds for the market. With rapid urbanization across the globe, infrastructural development activities has surged, especially in developed countries. This is expected to improve the growth in global petroleum coke market. As petroleum coke is a cost - efficient alternative fuel, as per Fact.MR, it is another factor bolstering the sales in the market. For more insights into the Market, Get A Sample of this Report! https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7479 Apart from this, growing usage of fuel grade petroleum coke in power plants and cement kilns will boost the demand in the market. According to the study, fuel grade petroleum coke contributed more than 80% of global petroleum coke production. Subsequently, extensive use of graphite petroleum coke in steel and metallurgy sectors is likely to propel market growth. Key takeaways: Sales of petroleum coke are expected to rise at a robust pace in India and China , accounting for 30.4% and 22.1% of the market share in 2022. and , accounting for 30.4% and 22.1% of the market share in 2022. The U.S petroleum coke market is anticipated to lead North America market, contributing over 95.3% of demand share through 2022 & beyond. market, contributing over 95.3% of demand share through 2022 & beyond. Demand for petroleum coke are forecast to rise at a rapid CAGR of 8.5% in Asia Pacific , creating an absolute $ opportunity of US$ 7.35 Bn in 2022. , creating an absolute $ opportunity of in 2022. Europe is set to account for 24.8% of the global petroleum coke market share. is set to account for 24.8% of the global petroleum coke market share. Latin America and MEA are expected to hold over 8.2% and 5.5% of the global petroleum coke market share in 2022, respectively. Growth Drivers: Rising adoption of petcoke in medicinal, electrical and ceramics application is expected to fuel growth. Increased usage of petcoke due to its excellent ductility, lightweight and anti-corrosion properties in construction and power industries is anticipated to bolster sales over the next decade. Restraints: Implementation of stringent norms to limit the usage of petcoke due to its high sulfur content might hamper the growth in the market. Adverse effects of petroleum coke on aquatic and terrestrial environment might limit the sales in the market. Volatile fuel prices of petcoke is another key factor expected to hinder the growth in the market. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7479 Competitive Landscape: Key players operating in the petroleum coke market are seeking to expand their production capacity to meet demand and increase their revenue. Some of the key players are focusing on product development and mergers to strengthen their footprint in the industry. For instance, In November 2021 , Sanvira Carbon FZC, a prominent manufacturer of Calcinated Petroleum Coke (CPC) established an investment of around $150 Mn in the aluminum smelters in Oman . The new plant is being readied for operations in Sohar freezone. Key Companies Profiled by Fact.MR BP Plc Chevron Corporation Saudi Arabian Oil Co. ExxonMobil Corporation HPCL - Mittal Energy Limited Indian Oil Corporation Limited Reliance Industries Limited Royal Dutch Shell Plc Valero Energy Corporation Essar Oil Ltd. More Valuable Insights on Petroleum Coke Market In its latest study, Fact.MR highlights crucial factors steering growth in the global petroleum coke market for the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. The study also provides key insights into drivers that are expected to create growth prospects in the petroleum coke market through detailed segmentation as follows: By Grade: Fuel Grade Coke Calcined Coke By Application: Calcining Power Plants Cement Kilns Blast Furnaces By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia & Oceania & Oceania MEA Interested to Procure The Data? Inquire here https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=EB&rep_id=7479 Key Questions Covered in the Petroleum Coke Market Report What is the estimated revenue of the petroleum coke market during the forecast period? Which are the challenges faced in the petroleum coke market? Which region is estimated to exhibit fastest growth rate in the global petroleum coke market during 2022-2032? What is the projected market valuation of the petroleum coke market in 2022? Which are the factors driving the petroleum coke during 2022-2032? What is the expected growth rate of the petroleum coke market until 2032? Explore Fact.MR's Coverage on the Chemical & Materials Domain Needle Coke Market: Also known as acicular cocaine, it is extensively used in aluminum and steel industries. As per Fact.MR, needle coke possesses properties such as high electrical resistance, oxidizability, thermal expansion coefficient (CTE), and high-temperature resistance. This is expected to create conducive environment for the market in applications such as lithium-ion and others, accelerating growth in the market. Petroleum Benzine Market: A hydrocarbon- based solvent, petroleum benzine is known for its physical properties of vapor pressure and boiling point. Increasing application of petroleum benzene as laboratory solvent and cleaning agents will facilitate the growth in the market. Petrochemical Fasteners Market: Fact.MR estimates the petrochemical fasteners market will witness steady growth due to its customization properties among end users. Hence, key manufacturers are capitalizing on this trend and developing new products, improving the growth in the market. Petrochemical Catalyst Market: Globally, the growing demand for petrochemical products across various industries such as agrochemicals, packaging, plastic, electronics, automotive, and construction among others, and their subsequent production has been the key driver for the growth of the petrochemical catalysts market. Petrochemical Feedstock Market: North America is the highest producer of petrol followed by middle-east and Russia. In regional country markets, Germany is the highest revenue maker from petrochemicals followed by the United States, because of the rapid development of industries and products from petrochemicals. Being highly advanced in the industrial sector. Stick to Skin Materials Market Study: As per latest market analysis by Fact.MR, a research and competitive acumen provider, demand for stick to skin materials over the recent past increased at a CAGR of around 5.3%. At the end of 2021, the global stick to skin materials market stood at around US$ 3.1 billion. Ferroniobium Market Study: the global ferroniobium market expanded at 5.1% CAGR between 2017 and 2021, and imports in certain countries touched 30% Y-o-Y during the last two years. However, supply chain disruptions caused a bottleneck to its trade and the market experienced a heavy decline during 2020. Metallocene Polyolefin Market Study: Asia Pacific is the rapidly expanding market for metallocene polyolefin and is expected to expand at an impressive CAGR of 10.6% from 2022 to 2032. The Asia Pacific is the world's healthiest market for metallocene polyolefin, and it is expected to maintain its dominance as packaging film demand grows in China, Japan, and other developing countries. U.S. Carbon Dioxide Market: A recent study by Fact.MR on the U.S. carbon dioxide market offers a 10-year forecast for 2022 to 2032. The study analyzes crucial trends that are currently determining the growth of the market. About Fact.MR Fact.MR is a market research and consulting agency with deep expertise in emerging market intelligence. Spanning a wide range from automotive & industry 4.0 to healthcare, technology, chemical and materials, to even the most niche categories. 80% of Fortune 1000's trusts us in critical decision making. Contact: Mahendra Singh US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583 E: [email protected] Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/713666/FactMR_Logo.jpg SOURCE Fact.MR TEL AVIV, Israel, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Priority Software Ltd. , a leading global provider of business management solutions, announced the enhancement of its product offering with the acquisition of Silverbyte, a leading provider of property management software. The purchase agreement with Silverbyte will broaden Priority's business management suite offering to customers operating in the hospitality sector. Operating in over 30 countries, Silverbyte provides an innovative, scalable platform that allows accommodation providers of all sizes and from various hospitality industry segments to easily and intuitively manage all aspects of their property, from end-to-end in-house operations to external distribution and booking systems. Silverbyte's solution is implemented in leading hotel chains worldwide, such as Leonardo, Fattal, Crowne Plaza, and Holiday Inn. The acquisition of Silverbyte is the fifth acquisition made in the past 15 months by Priority, which continues to expand with an impressive range of solutions that give Priority a significant advantage over competitors. Silverbyte's acquisition is synergetic to the company's operation and will enable Priority to continue delivering highly advanced solutions through the integration with Priority's cloud ERP and retail solutions. By acquiring leading solution providers in multiple business sectors, Priority assumes a leading position in different market verticals, including retail, education, and hospitality. "Silverbyte's innovative solutions expand our business management offering for the hospitality industry. Combining our technology and market reach with Silverbyte's solutions will increase our capability to deliver new, innovative solutions to the global market. This acquisition is another important step in Priority's evolution and vertical expansion, positioning the company as a market leader in the fields of ERP, Retail management, HRM, Logistics, Education, and now hospitality." commented Sagive Greenspan, Priority CEO. Silverbyte CEO, Einav Peleg, said: "I am very pleased to join a leading technology company. Being part of Priority will allow us to offer an end-to-end solution, developed by a single company, that includes an ERP system, point of sale (POS), workforce management and Silverbyte's PMS system. The synergy between the companies will provides a unique value to the hospitality market". ABOUT PRIORITY Priority Software Ltd., a Fortissimo and TA Associates company, is a leading provider of scalable, agile, and open cloud-based business management solutions for various industries and organizations of all sizes, from global enterprises to small and growing businesses. Recognized by top industry experts and analysts for its product innovation, Priority provides real-time access to business data and insights from any desktop or mobile device, enabling organizations to increase operational efficiency, improve the customer experience, identify new opportunities, and outpace the competition. With offices in the US, UK, Belgium, and Israel and a global network of business partners, Priority empowers 75,000 customers in 40 countries with smart and intuitive business management platforms that drive accelerated organizational growth. For more information, visit www.priority-software.com. About Silverbyte Silverbyte was established 26 years ago with a vision for developing a leading Property Management System (PMS). The company offers its customers cutting edge technology in hospitality and accommodation management to take them to the next level of travel tech. Silverbyte's line of products and complementary products is abundant and provides solutions from start to finish in an all-in-one platform. The company is currently operating in over 30 countries. For more information, visit www.silverbyte.com For additional information please Contact: Olly Lukatski, Marketing Communications and Content Manager [email protected] SOURCE Priority Software Ltd. A new consortium for the advancement of Proton Online Adaptive Radiation Therapy, ProtOnART, uniquely brings together researchers, clinicians, and industry. The members of the ProtOnART consortium are OncoRay in Dresden, Germany, and PARTICLE in Leuven, Belgium, both combining academic expertise with clinical experience in proton therapy, as well as industrial partners Ion Beam Applications (IBA), proton therapy system manufacturer from Belgium, and RaySearch Laboratories, provider of oncology software solutions from Sweden. STOCKHOLM, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- ProtOnART builds upon the partners' long-standing research efforts and shared ambition that an online adaptive workflow has the potential to significantly increase the quality of cancer treatments by making better use of the conformal nature of proton radiation. Thereby, the healthy tissue-sparing dose distribution of protons will be secured along the treatment course by continuously adapting the treatment to anatomical changes or inter and even intra-fractional motion. The first goal for the consortium is to develop an efficient daily online adaptive proton therapy workflow demonstrated in clinical practice by the clinical partners. The end goal of ProtOnART is to develop near-real-time adaptive proton therapy, where plan adaptation is performed during or between the delivery of the proton fields and make it a clinical reality as well. Johan Lof, Founder and CEO, RaySearch, says: "Adaptive radiation therapy (ART) has been a focus area for RaySearch for more than 20 years, and it is rewarding to see that daily online ART for photon treatments finally is getting into clinical use. However, online ART may be even more important for proton therapy, which hopefully will be the next step for the community. To achieve this goal, it is pivotal that academic institutions, clinics, and vendors of treatment planning systems, oncology information systems, and proton delivery systems work closely together. With the ProtOnART consortium we have managed to assemble exactly these competences." Charles Kumps, Chief Innovation and Development Officer of IBA, says: "Online adaptation is an important step towards personalized treatments in proton therapy. Defining the right tools enabling clinicians to account for morphology changes in an efficient and effective manner is only possible thanks to joint learning between the clinics and industry. We are delighted to leverage synergies between IBA and RaySearch solutions to support the ProtOnART consortium." Mechthild Krause, Director of OncoRay, underlines: "As the development of online-adaptive proton therapy is one of two main pillars of OncoRay's strategy, we are delighted about the formation of the ProtOnART consortium, triggered also by our initiative. Our vision is to develop the technological and clinical best possible external radiation, by optimally using the physical benefits of protons also for changing anatomies. With ProtOnART, we want to bring near-real-time adaptive proton therapy into clinical reality - including a closed automated feedback loop of imaging, adaptation, treatment verification and quality assurance in real time, supported by artificial intelligence. Thereby, particularly patients with highly variable and moving tumors will benefit from the more targeted therapy." Edmond Sterpin, Research Professor, PARTICLE, says: "Online adaptive proton therapy has been a major research and development area of PARTICLE for several years. It potentially enables to update the treatment plan while the patient is on the treatment couch according to anatomical changes revealed by on-board imaging devices. By bringing together leading academic, clinical, and industrial players, the ProtOnART consortium will ensure its effective deployment, which is an essential step for realizing the full potential of proton therapy to target tumors and spare healthy tissue with unparalleled precision. With the availability of online adaptive proton therapy, we hope to further improve the already excellent quality of the treatments delivered to our patients treated at the PARTICLE center." For more information, please contact: Johan Lof, Founder and CEO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) Telephone: +46 (0) 8 510 530 00 [email protected] Bjorn Hardemark, Interim CFO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) Telephone: +46 (0) 709 564 217 [email protected] This information was brought to you by Cision http://news.cision.com https://news.cision.com/raysearch-laboratories/r/protonart---a-new-consortium-for-proton-online-adaptive-radiation-therapy,c3589976 The following files are available for download: https://mb.cision.com/Main/1102/3589976/1597277.pdf RaySearch Press Release, ProtOnART, June 27, 2022 https://news.cision.com/raysearch-laboratories/i/protonart-2022-1200x620,c3063984 ProtOnART 2022 1200x620 SOURCE RaySearch Laboratories PHILADELPHIA, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading railroad catastrophe lawyers from Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky PC are responding to media inquiries today following today's multi-car Amtrak Southwest Chief train collision-derailment at a crossing in Mendon, Missouri, about 100 miles northeast of Kansas City, that reportedly resulted in numerous injuries and a massive regional mass-casualty team response. Amtrak says there were more than 240 passengers on the Chicago-bound train that reportedly derailed after striking a construction vehicle at the crossing. "We are deeply saddened and concerned for the safety of everyone involved following numerous reports of this latest catastrophic Amtrak collision and derailment," said SMB's trial attorneys and mass transportation safety advocates Robert J. Mongeluzzi and Jeffrey P. Goodman. "Once again, investigators from the National Transportation Board (NTSB) are rushing to a horrific incident scene. They'll focus on every safety factor, eventually determining if this was a predictable and preventable incident." Trial attorneys Mongeluzzi and Goodman have been amongst the lead lawyers in numerous catastrophic derailments including the 2015 derailment of Amtrak Train 188 that killed 8 people; the 2021 derailment of an Amtrak train in Montana that killed 3 people, and other fatal crashes in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. They have consistently advocated for sweeping rail safety upgrades, including Positive Train Control (PTC), which provides automatic switching and braking systems and safer railcars, which would improve the survivability of accidents. Mr. Mongeluzzi said, "Passengers and the general public must be assured that the Amtrak system including rail crossings coast to coast is safe. We know from years of experience that properly operated trains and maintained track should not be involved in these kinds of incidents." Mr. Goodman added, "Sadly, despite its history, Amtrak has yet to create a culture where safety is its highest priority. We are particularly concerned by eyewitness reports of Amtrak crew overcrowding the observation car, which poses unique safety challenges based upon the different seating configurations." In addition to their experience representing victims in train derailments, Mr. Mongeluzzi and Mr. Goodman previously were the lead lawyers for the victims in the sinking of amphibious Stretch Duck Boat 07 in Branson, Missouri in 2018 that killed 17 people. SOURCE Saltz Mongeluzzi & Bendesky, PC ORLANDO, Fla., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ravago has announced the global rebranding of its premium brand of reprocessed elastomers under one common product standard, Ravaflex. The brand name itself means sustainability, reliability, performance, quality, and value. Ravago manufactures reprocessed rubber in Belgium, Saudi Arabia and the United States and is the industry leader in high-value reprocessed elastomers. Ravaflex is manufactured to exact customer specifications, which creates a consistent, quality product, offering cost reduction and sustainability solutions. "We are creating a global brand identity, unifying the rubber manufacturing assets of Ravago under one brand name Ravaflex," said Rob Eggleton, Business Manager of Reprocessed Elastomers, Channel Prime Alliance, a Ravago Company. "Standardizing specifications, testing procedures, packaging and so forth will enhance our ability to provide seamless service to our customers on a global scale." Kris Brouwers, Ravago Business Director said, "We are excited to be rolling up the G&E blended polymers brand manufactured by Goldsmith and Eggleton LLC into the common brand, Ravaflex. It's a new chapter in our ever-evolving company, and we look forward to its future growth and success." Ravaflex is a family of reprocessed elastomers, including Butyl, Halobutyl, EPDM, PBD, NBR and SBR. The brand unification provides global reach, deliverability, and product consistency within Ravago's manufacturing assets in the US, Belgium, and the United Arab Emirates. About Ravago Since its foundation in 1961 by Raf Van Gorp, Ravago provides a superior distribution, resale, compounding, and recycling service for plastic raw materials serving sophisticated functions that improve the sustainable quality of our life. Ravago serves nearly 50,000 customers with multiple products and services. Our growth has been possible thanks to the 8,000 employees that make up our family, and the values we represent: human focus, professionalism, entrepreneurship, and humility. For more information, visit www.ravaflex.com or contact [email protected]. SOURCE Ravago Central American company, RedAbierta, selects INETCO's real-time payment fraud detection platform to increase the security of each end-to-end payment transaction VANCOUVER, BC, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ - INETCO Systems Limited, a leader in real-time payment monitoring and fraud prevention, announced today that RedAbierta, a leading fintech company with offices in Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador, has selected INETCO BullzAI to ensure the integrity of its payment channels. RedAbierta is an integrator of technological solutions that connect banking agents, merchants and banking hosts through its payment solutions and POS and ATM channels. Bank agents facilitate transactions between consumers and financial institutions. INETCO BullzAI has unique capabilities to predict, detect and block fraudulent payments, suspicious fraudulent transaction activities, and advanced persistent threats in real-time throughout the RedAbierta system. It will also detect and block suspicious activity to support anti-money laundering efforts. "We are excited about the possibilities of INETCO BullzAI", says Julio Arevalo, Co-Founder and CEO of RedAbierta for Central America. "In the last 2 years, RedAbierta has implemented more than 3,000 banking agents with several banking institutions in Central America, developing payment method applications and loyalty systems in the region. We have become a strategic ally for our clients. Being able to see what's happening on our network in real-time while also blocking fraud and suspicious activity will help ensure our customers consistently experience excellent service." "INETCO is committed to helping RedAbierta deliver world-class payment security and operational excellence to its customers," says Bijan Sanii, CEO of INETCO. "We have a proven track record of increasing the security and stability of payment transactions and are excited about the opportunity to drive financial inclusion and the adoption of secure payments in Honduras." About RedAbierta RedAbierta is a Central American leader in the implementation of payment and telecommunications solutions. RedAbierta supports the banking financial sector by offering products, services, and solutions that allow the financial inclusion of the unbanked. RedAbierta is currently implementing Super Wifi solutions in the main cities of two countries in Central America. https://www.redabierta.hn/ About INETCO INETCO creates smart technology that increases the reliability, security, and value of every digital and self-service payment. Our real-time fraud detection, transaction monitoring, and analytics solutions have been selected by leading banks, payment service providers, and retailers, in more than 35 countries, to accelerate their digital transformation strategies and accelerate fraud detection payment, and performance issues that harm revenue, reputation and the end customer experience. www.inetco.com INETCO, INETCO Insight, INETCO BullzAI, the INETCO logo, and the INETCO Insight logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of INETCO Systems Ltd. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE INETCO Systems DALLAS, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Kishore Khandavalli, CEO of RiseIT Solutions, Inc. was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 Central Plains Award winner. Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive business awards for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies who think big to succeed. An independent panel of judges selected Mr. Khandavalli based on his entrepreneurial spirit, purpose, growth and impact, among other core contributions and attributes. "It's an honor to receive the Entrepreneur of the Year Award from EY. The entrepreneurial is unique and exhilarating and certainly not without bumps. When a recognition such as this comes, it makes it even more exciting. I look forward to going to the EY's Strategic Growth Forum in November," Khandavalli remarked. RiseIT has seen exponential growth during the last few years including during the pandemic. The company has been quick to adopt and implement unique strategies and initiatives shortly after COVID-19 emerged to stay ahead in the rapidly changing remote working environment. RiseIT currently has over 1,000 resources and serves several Fortune 500 companies. The company projects to continue its exponential growth in its core service offerings including Governance and Risk Compliance (GRC), strategy consulting and software development. As a Central Plains award winner, Mr. Khandavalli will now be considered by the National independent panel of judges for the Entrepreneur Of The Year 2022 National Awards. National finalists and winners, as well as the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner, will be announced in November at the annual Strategic Growth Forum. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year Award in June 2023. About Kishore Khandavalli Kishore Khandavalli is an accomplished entrepreneur with over 20 years of experience in starting, scaling and acquiring ventures. He currently owns and runs several companies, including RiseIT, SevenTablets and iTech Data Services. His ability to lead companies toward success is unmatched. An award-winning entrepreneur and experienced keynote speaker, Khandavalli has guided multiple startups into successful enterprises. About RiseIT Solutions RiseIT Solutions is a dedicated software and technology services company, specializing in GRC implementation, software consulting and development. To learn more, visit RiseITS.com . Media Contacts RiseIT Solutions [email protected] 972-784-4000 SOURCE RiseIT Solutions NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As per Zion Market Research study, The global GPS anti-jamming market was worth around USD 4.25 billion in 2021 and is estimated to grow to about USD 7.12 billion by 2028, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of approximately 7.6 percent over the forecast period. Key Industry Insights & Finding of the GPS Anti-Jamming Market Reports: As per the analysis shared by our research analyst, the GPS Anti-Jamming Market is expected to grow annually at a CAGR of around 7.6 % (2022-2028). (2022-2028). Through the primary research, it was established that the GPS Anti-Jamming Market was valued approximately USD 4.25 Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly USD 7.12 Billion by 2028. Billion in 2021 and is projected to reach to roughly Billion by 2028. Escalating demand for weapon systems, the increasing existence of top players in the anti-jamming market, growing demands for miniaturization of GNSS-based anti-jamming devices, and growing dependence on satellite communication for numerous military operations in this region. increased defense expenditure and expanding territorial disputes in this geography are contributing to the rapid adoption of advanced military systems and devices which is likely to boost the adoption of GPS anti-jamming systems and devices during the forecast period. According to an FAA drone estimate 2020-2040, there will be 1.6 million drones in the air by 2024, with commercial drone sales alone expected to reach 1.2 million in the United States . Zion Market Research published the latest report titled as "GPS Anti-Jamming Market By Receiver Type (Military & Government Grade And Commercial Transportation Grade), Technique (Nulling, Beam Steering, And Civilian), End-User (Military And Civilian), Application (Flight Control, Surveillance & Reconnaissance, Position, Navigation & Timing, Targeting, Casualty Evacuation, And Others), And By Region Global And Regional Industry Overview, Market Intelligence, Comprehensive Analysis, Historical Data, And Forecasts 2022 2028." into their research database. GPS Anti-Jamming Market : Overview GPS Anti-Jamming shields GPS receivers against deliberate jamming and interference. The GPS signal is feeble by the time it reaches the Earth's surface, and it is vulnerable to being overpowered by higher-power Radio Frequency (RF) radiation. Even a tiny 10-Watt jammer may interrupt an unprotected C/A Code receiver for up to 30 kilometers. GPS Anti-Jamming works by reducing the influence of interference and jamming on the GPS receiver so that it can continue to function properly. With the help of GPS technologies, modern battle techniques have been transformed which is why many military groups rely on satellite technology for precise location, timing, and communications on a daily basis. However, GPS signals intercepted on Earth are vulnerable and weak to deliberate jamming and disruption. Get a Free Sample Report with All Related Graphs & Charts (with COVID 19 Impact Analysis): https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/sample/anti-jamming-market Our Free Sample Report Includes: 2022 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis COVID-19 Pandemic Outbreak Impact Analysis Included 166 + Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research) Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Request 2022 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes Updated List of tables & figures Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis Zion Market Research methodology Industry Dynamics: GPS Anti-Jamming Market : Growth Drivers Increasing adoption of GPS technology in military applications is projected to boost market growth. Military forces throughout the world are always on the hunt for new, improved technologies to assure precise navigation utilizing GPS technology. Mayflower Communications, for example, was given a USD 56 million deal for a GPS navigation antenna system in October 2020. The technology will be employed by the United States military and is expected to be completed in September 2024. Moreover, the Navigation Antenna (MAGNA) and Multi-Platform Anti-Jam Global Positioning System, which offers GPS protection, is the subject of this contract. Furthermore, Raytheon UK and the UK Ministry of Defense inked a deal in July 2020 to develop enhanced GNSS anti-jamming technology. Such initiatives are expected to fuel the global GPS anti-jamming market growth over the forecast period. GPS Anti-Jamming Market : Restraints Technical hindrances such as the incompatibility of old generation GPS systems with the latest technologies may hamper market growth. Old GPS receivers are incompatible with modern and highly effective GPS anti-jamming solutions, such as beamforming technology. Based on the direction of jamming signals, the beamforming recognizes, selects, and downlinks signals from four satellites and gives four anti-jam solutions in the form of algorithms. It cannot communicate with a typical GPS receiver that just has one input since it creates four outputs directed towards four chosen satellites from the GPS receiver. This is one of the major market restraints for GPS anti-jamming devices. Directly Purchase a Copy of the Report @ https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/buynow/su/anti-jamming-market GPS Anti-Jamming Market: Opportunities Rising demand for Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and unmanned systems are projected to offer healthy growth opportunities for market expansion. According to an FAA drone estimate 2020-2040, there will be 1.6 million drones in the air by 2024, with commercial drone sales alone expected to reach 1.2 million in the United States. Drones increasing commercial use may present a lucrative economic opportunity for GPS manufacturers. At the same time, they are susceptible to jamming and hence provide a substantial market potential for GPS anti-jamming technology. GPS Anti-Jamming Market: Challenges. GPS spoofing is the major challenge for the expansion of the market. A GPS spoofing attack is carried out by broadcasting erroneous signals that are meant to imitate a set of regular GPS signals in order to deceive a GPS receiver. It can also be done by rebroadcasting the original signals from a new location or at a different time. These signals can be altered to fool the receiver and allow for position monitoring. For example, the GPS signals of 20 ships in the Black Sea were hacked on June 22, 2017, revealing that they were 32 kilometers inland near Gelendzhik Airport. Players in the GPS anti-jamming business are facing a challenge from such GPS spoofing assaults. Global GPS Anti-Jamming Market : Segmentation The global GPS anti-jamming market is categorized based on receiver type, technique, end-user, application, and region. Based on receiver type, the market is bifurcated into commercial transportation grade and military & government-grade. By technique, the market is divided into beam steering, nulling, and civilian. The end-user segment of the market is bifurcated into military and civilian. The application segment covers flight control, surveillance & reconnaissance, position, navigation & timing, targeting, casualty evacuation, and others. Get More Insight before [email protected] : https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/inquiry/anti-jamming-market List of Key Players of GPS Anti-Jamming Market : Raytheon Technologies Corp. Hexagon L3Harris Technologies Thales Group Cobham Ltd. BAE Systems infinDome Mayflower Communications Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd. Lockheed Martin Corp. FURUNO ELECTRIC CO.LTD. Meteksan Defense. Key questions answered in this report: What are the growth rate forecast and market size for GPS Anti-Jamming Market ? What are the key driving factors propelling the GPS Anti-Jamming Market forward? What are the most important companies in the GPS Anti-Jamming Market Industry? What segments does the GPS Anti-Jamming Market cover? How can I receive a free copy of the GPS Anti-Jamming Market sample report and company profiles? Report Scope: Report Attribute Details Market size value in 2021 USD 4.25 Billion Revenue forecast in 2028 USD 7.12 Billion Growth Rate CAGR of almost 7.6 % 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 Raytheon Technologies Corp., Hexagon, L3Harris Technologies, Thales Group, Cobham Ltd., BAE Systems, infinDome, Mayflower Communications, Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd., Lockheed Martin Corp., FURUNO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., and Meteksan Defense. 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/709 Free Brochure: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/requestbrochure/anti-jamming-market Recent Developments July 2020 , BAE Systems acquired Raytheon Technologies Corporation's Collins Aerospace Military Global Positioning System division bringing decades of knowledge, technological innovation, and a large installed base of equipment to the corporation. , BAE Systems acquired Raytheon Technologies Corporation's Collins Aerospace Military Global Positioning System division bringing decades of knowledge, technological innovation, and a large installed base of equipment to the corporation. July 2020 , The UK Ministry of Defense granted Raytheon UK a contract to develop enhanced GNSS anti-jamming technology. Raytheon UK's Assured Positioning Navigation and Timing business will deliver a Technology Demonstrator Program with the advanced multi-element Anti-Jam technology. Regional Dominance: North America to contribute the largest revenue during the forecast period. North America leads the global GPS anti-jamming market in terms of market share. This is due to escalating demand for weapon systems, the increasing existence of top players in the anti-jamming market, growing demands for miniaturization of GNSS-based anti-jamming devices, and growing dependence on satellite communication for numerous military operations in this region. Asia Pacific on the other side is predicted to be the fastest-growing GPS anti-jamming market. Key factors such as increased defense expenditure and expanding territorial disputes in this geography are contributing to the rapid adoption of advanced military systems and devices which is likely to boost the adoption of GPS anti-jamming systems and devices during the forecast period. Global GPS Anti-Jamming Market is segmented as follows: GPS Anti-Jamming Market : By Receiver Type Outlook (2022-2028) Military & Government Grade Commercial Transportation Grade GPS Anti-Jamming Market : By Technique Outlook (2022-2028) Nulling Beam Steering Civilian GPS Anti-Jamming Market : By End-User Outlook (2022-2028) Military Civilian GPS Anti-Jamming Market : By Application Outlook (2022-2028) Flight Control Surveillance and Reconnaissance Position Navigation and Timing, Targeting Casualty Evacuation Other GPS Anti-Jamming 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 GPS Anti-Jamming Market : https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/news/global-gps-anti-jamming-market Browse Other Related Research Reports from Zion Market Research Nano Satellite Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global Nano Satellite Market accrued earnings worth approximately 3.01 (USD Billion) in 2021 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 7.02 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 22.1% over the period from 2022 to 2028. The global Nano Satellite Market accrued earnings worth approximately 3.01 (USD Billion) in 2021 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 7.02 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 22.1% over the period from 2022 to 2028. AI Infrastructure Market - Global Industry Analysis : The global AI Infrastructure market accrued earnings worth approximately 21.7 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 82.1 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 28.1% over the period from 2021 to 2028. The global AI Infrastructure market accrued earnings worth approximately 21.7 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 82.1 (USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 28.1% over the period from 2021 to 2028. Lab Automation Market - Global Industry Analysis: The global Lab Automation market accrued earnings worth approximately 4.5 (USD Billion) in 2020 and is predicted to gain revenue of about 10.1(USD Billion) by 2028, is set to record a CAGR of nearly 5.3% over the period from 2021 to 2028. Browse through Zion Market Research's coverage of the Global Technology & Media Industry Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook About Us Zion Market Research is an obligated company. We create futuristic, cutting edge, informative reports ranging from industry reports, company reports to country reports. We provide our clients not only with market statistics unveiled by avowed private publishers and public organizations but also with vogue and newest industry reports along with pre-eminent and niche company profiles. Our database of market research reports comprises a wide variety of reports from cardinal industries. Our database is been updated constantly in order to fulfill our clients with prompt and direct online access to our database. Keeping in mind the client's needs, we have included expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends in this database. Last but not the least, we make it our duty to ensure the success of clients connected to usafter allif you do well, a little of the light shines on us. Contact Us: Zion Market Research 244 Fifth Avenue, Suite N202 New York, 10001, United States Tel: +49-322 210 92714 USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-4651 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.zionmarketresearch.com/ Blog : https://zmrblog.com/ Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1605489/Zion_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Zion Market Research DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Outlook: Market Forecast By Types, By Technology (Rotary, Centrifugal, Reciprocating), By Lubrication, By Applications, By Regions And Competitive Landscape" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of 3.6% during 2021-2027F. The report provides an unbiased and detailed analysis of the on-going Saudi Arabia air compressor market trends, opportunities/high growth areas and market drivers which would help the stakeholders to devise and align their market strategies according to the current and future market dynamics. Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Synopsis In the recent past, Saudi Arabia air compressor market showed a decent growth on back of projects in oil & gas sector, industrial development, and growing construction sector over the years. Additionally, government reforms and mega developmental projects announced by the government in sectors such as educational institutions, hotels and office spaces are propelling the demand for air compressors in Saudi Arabia. Moreover, reviving economic conditions due to changing government policies, establishment of special economic zones would further drive the demand for air compressors in the country over the coming years. However, the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in decline in the market revenues during the year 2020 as a result of the falling demand from the construction and manufacturing sector due to halt in the business operations owing to the stringent lockdown imposed across the country. Moreover, the supply chain across countries got disrupted due to the locked borders of exporting countries. Despite of the decline in market revenues during 2020, recovery is expected in market revenues by 2021, with gradual opening of economic activities and restart of construction projects. Saudi Vision 2030 is one of government mega initiatives which aims at developing and strengthening public service sectors such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure. The fulfilment of these initiatives would require the application of air compressors on large scale, and this would further spur the market growth for air compressors in the country. The Eastern region occupies maximum share of air compressor market due to the presence of major oil companies such as ARAMCO and SABIC. Moreover, ongoing and upcoming infrastructural advancement are escalating the growth of air compressor market in Saudi Arabia. Market by Applications Analysis In terms of Applications, Oil & gas sector in Saudi Arabia is expected to exhibit strong growth during the forecast period (2021-27) on account of various upcoming petrochemical and oil and gas projects. Additionally, upcoming projects such as SABIC - Oil-To-Chemicals Plant worth $30 Billion would be the primary reasons behind the dominance of oil & gas sector in the air compressor market in the country. Market by Technology Analysis In terms of Technology, Rotary air compressor is anticipated to witness healthy growth in the forecast period. Further, petrochemical projects such as Jizan Refinery Project and COTC (a crude-oil-to-chemicals project) along with upcoming construction projects in commercial, residential, and healthcare sectors, would surge the demand for centrifugal air compressors in the country in the forecast period (2021-27). Key Highlights of the Report Historical & Forecast data of Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Revenues & Volume for the Period 2017-2027F Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Overview Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Outlook Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Forecast Market Drivers and Restraints Industry Life Cycle & Porter's Five Forces Opportunity Assessment and Competitive Benchmarking Saudi Arabia Air Compressor Market Share, By Technology Recent Market Trends Recommendations Market Scope and Segmentation Company Profiles Atlas Copco AB Ingersoll Rand Inc. Doosan Portable Power Sullair LLC Kaeser Kompressoren FZE Gardner Denver FZE Elgi Gulf FZE BOGE Kompressoren Otto Boge GmbH & Co. KG Hokuetsu Industries Co. Ltd. FS-Elliott Saudi Arabia Ltd The report provides a detailed analysis of the following market segments: By Types Portable Stationary By Technology Rotary Up to 75kW 76-160kW Above 160kW Centrifugal Up to 500kW Above 500kW Reciprocating Up to 10kW Above 10kW By Lubrication Oil Injected Oil Free By Applications Oil & Gas Construction Industrial Food & Beverages Others By Regions Central Western Eastern Southern For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/mnandn 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: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, a global digital skills training provider, announced its partnership with the Commonwealth countries to provide free digital upskilling programs for learners. The digital upskilling programs by Simplilearn amounting to $5 million will be provided to 10,000 learners at no cost. Through the partnership, Simplilearn's programs will help learners in the Caribbean, African and Pacific regions upskill in digital economy skills, and upon finishing the program, each learner will receive a completion certificate. Simplilearn has previously partnered with Government entities of various countries in their national digital skilling projects, to bring upskilling prospects to as many learners as possible. The partnership with Simplilearn and the Commonwealth was announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. The programs offered as a part of the partnership will enable learners from the commonwealth region to upskill in Data, AI and Technology, among other programs . Higher education and University enrolled students, as well as recent graduates will be best benefitted from the same. Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Krishna Kumar, Founder & CEO, Simplilearn, said, "The world is becoming increasingly digitized, and hence there is a massive demand for professionals to upskill themselves in the latest digital skills to flourish in the field. Simplilearn through its SkillUp platform will provide free programs to 10,000 learners in the regions of Caribbean, African and Pacific. We see this as an opportunity to extend our support to the Commonwealth countries by improving access to high-quality upskilling in the region. We look forward to working with them towards boosting the prosperity of the nations." Mr. Krishna Kumar thanked the Commonwealth Secretary General for her leadership for identifying youth as a critical resource for the Commonwealth countries under their ongoing collaborative action research with Center for Resilience and Sustainable Development, Cambridge University under which need for youth skilling was also identified. Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland thanked Mr. Krishna Kumar for a generous offer and commitment to provide much needed training in digital skills for 10,000 young people in Commonwealth countries. This will really help make a difference and will equip the young people to succeed in the job market. Previously, Simplilearn had partnered with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, South Africa, Lebanon, Jordan and Singapore for boot-camps on Data, Artificial Intelligence and Technology. Simplilearn derives more than 50% of its revenues from its international operations. Having maintained its leadership position in the space of digital skilling for learners, corporates and enterprises; today, Simplilearn has helped more than one million professionals across 150 countries to upskill and prepare for the digital future. The company has partnered with various IT giants in international markets such as Deviare in South Africa, Gulf Business Machines in the Middle East and the ILX Group in the United Kingdom among others to provide digital skills training programs. About Simplilearn Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone company is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training. Simplilearn offers access to world-class work-ready training to individuals and businesses around the world. The Bootcamps are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or/and business goals. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg SOURCE Simplilearn De Lima doing well after major surgery, thanks loved ones & supporters for prayers Senator Leila M. de Lima shared that she is doing well after recently undergoing major medical procedure and hospital confinement at the Manila Doctors Hospital. De Lima said she is grateful for all the concern and prayers she received ever since it was announced that she had been granted a medical furlough by the courts hearing her cases. "Discharged from the hospital yesterday. Still recovering from a major surgery. Still experiencing some pains but I feel generally fine," she said in a handwritten message posted on her Facebook and Twitter accounts. "Maraming salamat po sa inyong mga dasal at malasakit. Thank you, dear Lord," she added. De Lima underwent operation and was confined at the Manila Doctors Hospital last June 20 after her Extremely Urgent Motion for Medical Furlough was granted by the Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court (RTC), Branches 204 and 256 handling her remaining two cases. In the said Motion, De Lima said she was diagnosed with Pelvic Organ Prolapse Stage 3 and was advised by her doctor to undergo the said major medical procedure. Muntinlupa RTC Branches 256 and 204 also granted De Lima's Omnibus Motion to Extend Medical Furlough and Very Urgent Motion to Extend Medical Furlough, respectively, until June 27 or until her attending doctors have cleared her for discharge. "My doctors already cleared me for discharge yesterday, so I need not stay in the hospital longer. They just advised me to avoid strenuous and heavy physical activities, lifting heavy objects and straining," De Lima said. "Muli, maraming salamat sa aking mga kapamilya, kaibigan at supporters na nagpaabot ng kanilang pag-aalala habang ako ay nasa hospital. Patuloy lang po sana ninyo akong ipagdasal at ang ating bayan. Laban lang!" she added. Tropical Bliss Spa owner Emeka Willis, left, and protege DNaria Canton are preparing to officially open the spa in Crown Bay Center on St. Thomas. DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "The Manufacture of Cement, Lime and Related Materials in South Africa 2022" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report focuses on the manufacture of cement, lime and related products and includes information on the size of the industry in terms of production capacity, consumption and sales and state of the industry, including the competitive environment, corporate actions and financial and operational performance of listed companies. There are profiles of 13 companies including major players such as PPC, AfriSam, Lafarge, Sephaku and NPC, relatively new players including Mamba Cement and Cemza and lime producers such as SA Lime and Gypsum and Bontebok Limeworks. The Manufacture of Cement, Lime and Related Materials in south Africa The South African cement manufacture industry is oversupplied and under threat from low-cost imports and the proliferation of low-cost blended cements. Protracted economic stagnation has hampered the recovery of the industry as construction and government infrastructure spending have provided little growth opportunity over the past five years. Three new entrants in the last decade have put further pressure on capacity utilisation and producer prices. Cement manufacture is energy-intensive and clinker production, on which the majority of the industry is based, is particularly emissions-intensive. These and other sustainability issues are driving technological change in the industry. Imports Although South Africa has surplus cement production capacity, imported cement continues to flood into the country. The last two years have presented the industry with opportunities due to the temporary disruption of imports and the adoption of a more aggressive localisation policy by government. However, the domestic market remains overtraded, leading to significant capacity under-utilisation and occasional price wars. There has been an increase in cheap imports and independent blending operations, and protection against the trade of sub-standard product is limited. While the government has offered protection to the local industry through anti-dumping measures, these protections have reached their legislated lifespan and are under review, bringing uncertainty to the industry. Key Topics Covered: 1. INTRODUCTION 2. DESCRIPTION OF THE INDUSTRY 2.1. Industry Value Chain 2.2. Geographic Position 2.3. Size of the Industry 2.4. Key Success Factors and Pain Points 3. LOCAL 3.1. Key Trends 3.2. Notable Players 3.3. Trade 3.4. Corporate Actions 3.5. Regulations 3.6. Enterprise Development and Social Economic Development 4. AFRICA 5. INTERNATIONAL 6. INFLUENCING FACTORS 6.1. COVID -19 6.2. Economic Environment 6.3. Government Expenditure on Infrastructure 6.4. Environmental Issues 6.5. Technology, Research and Development (R&D) and Innovation 6.6. Input Costs 6.7. Labour 7. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT 7.1. Competition 7.2. Ownership Structure of the Industry 7.3. Barriers to Entry 8. SWOT ANALYSIS 9. OUTLOOK 10. INDUSTRY ASSOCIATIONS 11. REFERENCES 11.1. Publications 11.2. Websites APPENDIX Summary of Notable Players COMPANY PROFILES Afrimat Ltd Afrisam ( South Africa ) (Pty) Ltd ) (Pty) Ltd Bontebok Limeworks (Pty) Ltd Cemza (Pty) Ltd Idwala Industrial Holdings (Pty) Ltd Kerneos Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Lafarge Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd Mamba Cement Company (RF) (Pty) Ltd (The) NPC Intercement (RF) (Pty) Ltd PBD Holdings (Pty) Ltd PPC Ltd S A Lime and Gypsum (Pty) Ltd Sephaku Holdings Ltd Companies Mentioned Afrimat Ltd Afrisam ( South Africa ) (Pty) Ltd ) (Pty) Ltd Bontebok Limeworks (Pty) Ltd Cemza (Pty) Ltd Idwala Industrial Holdings (Pty) Ltd Kerneos Southern Africa (Pty) Ltd Lafarge Industries South Africa (Pty) Ltd Mamba Cement Company (RF) (Pty) Ltd (The) NPC Intercement (RF) (Pty) Ltd PBD Holdings (Pty) Ltd PPC Ltd S A Lime and Gypsum (Pty) Ltd Sephaku Holdings Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ei6xy8 About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg SOURCE Research and Markets Award recognizes the most ambitious leaders who are building and sustaining successful, dynamic businesses around the world. PHILADELPHIA, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Carisma Therapeutics, a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company focused on discovering and developing innovative immunotherapies, today announced that Steven Kelly, President and CEO, has been named Ernst & Young (EY) Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 Greater Philadelphia Award Winner. Steven was selected by a panel of independent judges for his work leading Carisma Therapeutics and joins an esteemed multi-industry community of likeminded entrepreneurs who have driven their companies' success, transformed their industries, and made a positive impact on their employees and communities. "I am honored to be selected for this illustrious award and am proud of the entire Carisma team's incredible efforts towards meaningful scientific innovations in immunotherapy that made this possible," said Steven Kelly, President and CEO. "The opportunity to deliver potentially game changing cell therapies to patients with hard-to-treat cancers and other serious illnesses is what drives us, and we continue to dedicate ourselves to improving the lives of patients and their families." For over 35 years, EY US has celebrated the unstoppable entrepreneurs who are building a more equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all. The Entrepreneur of the Year program has recognized more than 10,000 US executives since its inception in 1986. Entrepreneur of the Year Award winners have exclusive, ongoing access to the experience, insight and wisdom of fellow alumni and other members of the entrepreneurial community in over 60 countries all supported by vast EY resources. As a Greater Philadelphia award winner, Kelly is now eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur of the Year 2022 National Awards. About Carisma Therapeutics Inc. Carisma Therapeutics Inc. is a biopharmaceutical company dedicated to developing a differentiated and proprietary cell therapy platform focused on engineered macrophages, cells that play a crucial role in both the innate and adaptive immune response. The first applications of the platform, developed in collaboration with the University of Pennsylvania, are autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-macrophages for the treatment of solid tumors. Carisma Therapeutics is headquartered in Philadelphia, PA. For more information, please visit www.carismatx.com About Entrepreneur Of The Year Entrepreneur Of The Year is the world's most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. Carisma Media Contact: Julia Stern (763) 350-5223 [email protected] SOURCE Carisma Therapeutics Inc. "We couldn't go to the funeral because of the restrictions in India," Dasari said. "I had to arrange her funeral through friends and family that I know there and watch it on Zoom. It was incredibly hard on me and my family here in the states." One year later, as more vaccines were administered and cases dropped, Dasari was able to travel to India for a proper ceremony. To honor Blandina, he and other TAS United representatives gave away 1,500 meals to people in the poorer neighborhoods of Hyderabad. The city with a population of 40,000,000 has faced extreme poverty. "The people in these areas have no resources for food and water. They were so happy and grateful to see us. They were telling us, 'Thank you so much.' One person told us he had not eaten in three days. It was heartbreaking." TAS United has been heavily involved in serving its communities in the United States, regularly handing out meals to homeless neighbors at each of the company's locations in Texas and Puerto Rico. This was the first time a representative of the company provided a service to the needy outside of the country. TAS United president, Kevin Ryan, says this is typical for Raj. "Raj has been extremely busy keeping our service levels up and our clients happy during the nationwide staffing crisis," said Ryan. "The fact that he was able to take time out to give back to those in need says everything you need to know about the type of person he is." TAS United is a US-Based, bilingual call center and answering service headquartered in San Antonio, TX. The company has been processing calls for medical and commercial businesses since 1984. For more information on TAS United, visit www.tasunited.com. SOURCE TAS United Van Hofwegen and his team will manage day-to-day sales and marketing activities and execute the core business growth strategy. Additionally, Van Hofwegen will actively partner with the Tenacore operations leadership to grow and expand all segments of the Tenacore product and service offering. "With over 10 years of experience in the medical device service and repair industry, Riley brings a unique and incredibly valuable mix of skills that will be instrumental in growing Tenacore's currently expanding service and repair business," said James Willett, CEO of Tenacore. "Mr. Van Hofwegen is an outstanding addition to our team, and I'm confident that his long-standing relationships and experience in this business will make him a key contributor to our future growth." Van Hofwegen most recently served as Director of Sales for Avante Health Solutions, located in San Clemente, CA. In this role, he was responsible for leading and managing a combined sales and customer support team of over 20 in the company's largest region. Prior to Avante Health Solutions, Riley served as Vice President of Sales and Marketing for USOC Medical based in Irvine, CA. "I'm very excited to join Tenacore and look forward to partnering with the entire team to continue building and growing the company," said Van Hofwegen. "Having worked for over ten years building and growing both USOC Medical and Avante Health Solutions, I bring a unique perspective on how we will leverage Tenacore's broad product and service offering to define the company's leadership position in the third-party medical equipment market." Van Hofwegen holds a Bachelor of Arts, from Florida Atlantic University of Boca Raton, Florida where he graduated with honors. About Tenacore Tenacore is an ISO-certified healthcare technology management company providing clinical equipment lifecycle solutions to the global healthcare provider community. With over 20 years of specialization in depot-based service and repair of a broad range of medical equipment, Tenacore offers a quality, cost-effective alternative to site-based service. Leveraging their industry expertise Tenacore also provides a comprehensive offering of replacement parts, OEM-compatible cables and sensors, new and used medical equipment, and biomedical test equipment. Related Link: https://www.tenacore.com This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE Tenacore Lawyers, staff, and covered family members will have access to full care HOUSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Boutique trial law firm AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing, will institute a program to reimburse employees for travel expenses incurred to access reproductive healthcare and pregnancy-related decisions as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. Because AZA's home state of Texas will no longer allow abortions and may restrict access to related care, the law firm will pay for travel to help employees and their family members access healthcare services they may not be able to obtain in this state. AZA will ensure that privacy rights are protected for anyone who uses this program. "At AZA, our health benefits programs are designed to support employee health and safety. We see these travel expenses as part of supporting our employees' right to make healthcare choices for themselves," said AZA partner Jane Robinson, who leads AZA's appellate practice group. "AZA's employees and covered family members should continue to have access to full medical care even if they have to travel outside of Texas." Daryl Moore, Of Counsel to AZA and a highly regarded former Harris County district judge, wholeheartedly supports this additional benefit. "As a judge, I too often observed that who had access to justice was largely determined by who had the financial resources. Access to reproductive healthcare is the same. I'm proud to be at a firm that has stepped up to make sure women who need critical healthcare can access it without being penalized for it, financially or in the workplace," Judge Moore said. AZA is a Houston-based law firm that is home to true courtroom lawyers with a formidable track record in complex commercial litigation, including energy, healthcare, intellectual property, and business dispute cases. AZA is recognized by Chambers USA 2022 among the best in Texas commercial law and intellectual property; by U.S. News Best Lawyers' Best Law Firms as one of the country's best commercial litigation firms for 10 years running; has been named Litigation Department of the Year by Texas Lawyer; and was previously dubbed by Law360 a Texas Powerhouse law firm. Media Contact: Mary Flood 713-857-6560 [email protected]androvett.com SOURCE AZA, or Ahmad, Zavitsanos & Mensing Over 3.5 Billion Data Points Were Collected and Studied to Uncover the Most Popular Data Engineering Tools and Best Jobs in the Field SAN DIEGO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The 5 most popular data engineering tools are MongoDB, Tableau, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, and Ansible, according to a new industry study by Dattell . The study also looked at job data to determine which specialties are in highest demand by employers and which ones have the highest salaries. The most popular data engineering tools are MongoDB, Tableau, PostgreSQL, Kubernetes, and Ansible. The study also looked at the most popular tools within the following categories: data orchestration, data processing, data storage, and data visualization. The highest paying data engineering jobs are for specialities in Kubernetes, Elasticsearch, PostgreSQL, and Terraform. The study also found that there are over 340,000 open jobs for data engineers. The study was conducted by collecting 3.5 billion data points to assess the popularity of 59 data engineering tools that fell into the following categories: Data Processing, Data Orchestration, Data Storage, Data Visualization, and Languages/Libraries. A full research methods document is linked in the report. The major findings uncovered by the study include: 5 most popular technologies. The most popular technologies are MongoDB, Tableau, Kubernetes, PostgreSQL, and Ansible. 340,000 Job Openings. There are over 340,000 open data engineering jobs. Kubernetes highest paying specialty. There is a 3-fold range of salaries for data engineering jobs, with Kubernetes paying the highest, with salaries reaching $180,000, and Tableau paying the lowest. Companies opting for free data processing tools. Free data processing tools are preferred 62% of the time, over paid alternatives. Industry split on whether to pay for data storage. Data engineers are split on whether to pay for data storage tools, with the top four storage tools being an equal mix of paid and free tools. Python most important language. Python is the most popular programming language, followed by Java and SQL. Clear winners in the data orchestration space. Kubernetes and Ansible control 65% of the data orchestration space. Companies preferring to pay for data visualization tools. The top 10 data visualization tools are all paid tools. View the complete results of this data engineering study: https://dattell.com/data-architecture-blog/data-engineering-study/ . About Dattell. Dattell is a leading provider of data infrastructure consulting services for mid-size and Fortune 100 companies, including resident solution architects, managed services for on-prem and cloud-based data systems, and virtual CIO services. For more information please visit https://dattell.com . Contacts. If you have any questions regarding this Press Release, please email us at [email protected] . Media Contact: Maria Hatfield 619.786.0813 [email protected] SOURCE Dattell LLC More than 180,000 meals will be provided from this partnership ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, June 27th, more than 28 palettes of food will leave a Convoy of Hope warehouse in Missouri and begin a journey of hope a journey more than 5,500 miles long. The food, purchased through a $1 million donation from The Salvation Army, will relieve some of the significant food insecurity that has come about since the start of the Ukrainian crisis in February. The Salvation Army's long-standing presence in Ukraine began in 1993, meaning The Salvation Army was already part of the Ukrainian and neighboring communities in which they serve before the crisis began. Because of this, they were on the ground and able to respond immediately. Convoy of Hope's International Disaster Services team also immediately deployed to Poland in February and began working with Polish, Ukrainian, and Romanian partners to set up a supply chain network to send relief supplies into Ukraine. That network, partnered with The Salvation Army's community investment, was a perfect match. Where it has been safe to serve, The Salvation Army has pivoted programs to provide food, water, clothes, blankets, and emotional and spiritual care to those being displaced from their homes and who seek refuge - providing more than 25,000 refugees with food and shelter. "The Salvation Army has continued to house, feed, and provide hygiene supplies and other basic life necessities, as well as medical assistance and spiritual guidance to many of the millions of refugees fleeing Ukraine," said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander for The Salvation Army. Sometimes this assistance has come in the form of a hot meal, clothing, bedding, a toothbrush and toothpaste and sometimes that assistance has come in the form of access to Wi-Fi or a phone, or especially a shoulder to lean on. Additionally, Convoy of Hope has worked with local organizations in Poland to provide hot meals for refugees coming across the border, as Poland has received the largest number of Ukrainian refugees. A warehouse was acquired in Lublin, Poland, with product being sourced locally, donated across Europe, and shipped from the United States via donated air freight and containers. "The Salvation Army has such an incredible history of meeting the needs of people," said Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson. "This generous donation will continue to do that, affecting the lives of Ukrainians in a powerful way and helping Convoy of Hope continue its long-term response to this conflict." Perhaps the biggest area of need continues to be food insecurity across the region as more than 10 million people have been displaced since this crisis began. "This partnership between The Salvation Army World Service Office and Convoy of Hope means that more than $800,000 in food is making its way to the region quickly and efficiently to help those most impacted by this crisis," Commissioner Hodder added. "More than 180,000 people will be provided with meals and The Salvation Army is beyond grateful to Convoy of Hope for joining with us in this service." About The Salvation Army USA The Salvation Army annually helps more than 25 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is Doing The Most Good at 7,200 centers of operation around the country. In 2021, The Salvation Army was ranked No. 2 on the list of "America's Favorite Charities" by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood. About Convoy of Hope Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world. With a long history as an early responder in times of natural disasters, Convoy of Hope has been a Four Star Charity as recognized by Charity Navigator every year since 2002. Convoy of Hope has served more than 193 million people since it was founded in 1994. For more information, please visit convoyofhope.org. Contact: Salvation Army Media Relations [email protected] SOURCE The Salvation Army "The public's vote is so critical in the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest because the people that are casting votes are the community members that will be patronizing and frequenting these businesses for years to come," said Vittoria Katanski, executive director of Hatch Detroit. "Hatch Detroit prioritizes investing in Detroit's 'biggest' small businesses by elevating entrepreneurs and giving them the counsel and resources needed to thrive in our community." This is the second time in the contest's 10-year history that five businesses have been named finalists. In 2019, the voting came down to the wire and voting for the fourth and fifth finalists was so close that the decision to include the top five vote getters in the final round was made for the first time in the history of the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. "It is exciting to see such a passionate response to these talented business owners and their retail concepts, and that is what helps drive the success of this contest", Katanski continued. "As a result,, it was best for all five finalists to have their chance to compete in both the final round of public voting and the Hatch Off since the difference between the fourth and fifth place semi-finalists was again so compellingly close." These rising entrepreneurs will go head-to-head to win the $100,000 grand prize from Comerica Bank as well as pro bono support and counsel from Hatch Detroit powered by TechTown to kickstart and open a brick-and-mortar business in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park. The five finalists now enter the final round of public voting and will have the opportunity to present their business plan in front of a live audience at the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest's annual Hatch Off on Thursday, July 21. The five finalists vying to take home $100,000 in this year's Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest are: COLFETARIE : a European dessert and pastry shop, specializing in Romanian desserts and pastries. Their goal is to bring together the cultures of Detroit and Romania , while offering a taste of Europe , right in the heart of Downtown Detroit , no passport needed! : a European dessert and pastry shop, specializing in Romanian desserts and pastries. Their goal is to bring together the cultures of and , while offering a taste of , right in the heart of , no passport needed! Detroit Farm and Cider : a 4.9 acre commercial farm on Detroit's West side with plans to build a cider mill and offer youth day camps and horseback riding classes. : a 4.9 acre commercial farm on West side with plans to build a cider mill and offer youth day camps and horseback riding classes. Gajiza Dumplins : a dumpling shop that specializes in Asian style eats and handmade dumplings from scratch. The dumplings come in more than 30 flavors and range from traditional pork and shrimp Shumai to contemporary western style, including miso cheeseburger gyoza or goat cheese and leek. Their focus is based on Asian street food: fast and delicious. : a dumpling shop that specializes in Asian style eats and handmade dumplings from scratch. The dumplings come in more than 30 flavors and range from traditional pork and shrimp Shumai to contemporary western style, including miso cheeseburger gyoza or goat cheese and leek. Their focus is based on Asian street food: fast and delicious. Lily's & Elise: a luxury tea lounge on the Avenue of Fashion whose primary focus is in the premium service of European-style afternoon and high tea with fresh pastries and small plates to accompany orders. a luxury tea lounge on the Avenue of Fashion whose primary focus is in the premium service of European-style afternoon and high tea with fresh pastries and small plates to accompany orders. Little Liberia : an Afro fusion pop-up restaurant looking to find a permanent space to introduce Liberia's rich multicultural cuisines to the people of Metro Detroit. They serve authentic Liberian dishes, a cuisine whose heritage is a mixture of African, Caribbean , and Antebellum-South African American influences. To give the public extra time to cast their votes, the second round of voting has been extended until 12 a.m. on Friday, July 8. Individuals can cast their vote once every 24 hours online at www.hatchdetroit.com/vote . The annual Hatch Off event functions similarly to a 'Shark Tank' style pitching competition. The top five businesses will have the opportunity to present their business pitch to a panel of judges as well as a live audience. Public voting, along with the judges' deliberation, will determine the winner of the 2022 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest. "The Comerica Bank and Hatch Detroit partnership has contributed to the cultivation and revitalization of Detroit's economy and community development for the past 10 years," said Linda Nosegbe, Comerica Bank vice president and southeast external affairs market manager. "We have seen such an overwhelming amount of support from the community as well as contest alumni. Supporting local small businesses strengthens the lifeblood of our cities and neighborhoods, and we partner with organizations like Hatch Detroit and TechTown to help reward ingenuity, tenacity, innovation and creativity." Together, Hatch Detroit alumni have opened 49 businesses, employ more than 500 people and have invested more than $7 million in their businesses. Over the years, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest has helped launch some of Detroit's most successful and well-known businesses, including, La Feria (2012), Sister Pie (2014), Live Cycle Delight (2015), Meta Physica Massage (2016), Baobab Fare (2017) and 27th Letter Books (2019). Tickets are now available to witness the top five business pitches and see the winner of the Hatch Off competition crowned. The Hatch Off takes place on at 7 p.m. on Thursday, July 21, with doors opening at 6p.m., at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center, located at 461 Burroughs Street in Detroit. To purchase your ticket to the Hatch Off, visit hatchdetroit.com/events. About Hatch Detroit Hatch Detroit supports both existing and new retail initiatives in the cities of Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck. Hatch Detroit was founded in 2011 to give residents and aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to have a voice in neighborhood retail development and joined TechTown Detroit's suite of entrepreneurial programs and services in 2022. Beyond the contest, Hatch Detroit provides funding, exposure and mentoring in support of its alumni entrepreneurs. With support from Hatch Detroit, 49 alumni have opened businesses. They employ over 500 people and have invested over $7 million in economic development. To learn more, visit hatchdetroit.com. About Comerica Bank Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served Michigan longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back over 172 years to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and over 4,500 employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively participating in Detroit's downtown revitalization. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica, Twitter: @ComericaBank and Instagram: @comerica_bank. About TechTown Detroit TechTown is a nonprofit business service organization that provides programs, education and resources for early- to growth-stage small businesses and tech entrepreneurs. By building bridges for entrepreneurs to succeed, TechTown is accelerating an inclusive economy for Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Since 2007, TechTown has supported more than 4,700 companies, which has created thousands of jobs and raised more than $172.5 million in startup and growth capital. For more information, visit techtowndetroit.org. SOURCE Comerica Bank ST. LOUIS, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Global packaging leader TricorBraun announced today that it has been awarded a Top Workplaces 2022 honor by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Top Workplaces program. Based solely on employee feedback gathered through Energage LLC, the anonymous survey measured 15 culture drivers that are critical to organizational success, including alignment, execution, and connection. "Our ability to serve customers exceptionally well, our company growth, our unique culture it's all due to our incredible team members around the globe," said Court Carruthers, president and CEO, TricorBraun. "We are focused on being the Best Place for the Best People in Packaging; for 120 years it has been the foundation of our strategy and our success. We are honored to receive this recognition." Founded in St. Louis in 1902, TricorBraun is North America's largest primary packaging distributor and one of the largest providers of packaging in the world. The company serves consumer packaged goods companies, from cutting-edge start-ups to the world's most iconic brands in several industries, including: personal care and household cleaning; food and beverage; beer, spirits and wine; and healthcare/nutraceutical. From rigid to flexible packaging, stock and custom capabilities, and countless options of materials, industries, and markets served, TricorBraun's range of packaging solutions sets it apart. TricorBraun has more than 2,000 team members in more than 100 locations throughout the Americas, Europe, Asia and Australia. The company is hiring for multiple roles; see TricorBraun's current job openings for additional information. "During this challenging time, Top Workplaces is a beacon of light for organizations, and a sign of resiliency and strong business performance," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "When you give employees a voice, you come together to navigate challenges and shape your path forward. Top Workplaces draw on real-time insights into what works best for their organization, so they can make informed decisions that have a positive impact on their people and business." About TricorBraun Founded in 1902, TricorBraun is a global packaging leader and North America's largest distributor of primary packaging. We provide innovative solutions across a wide array of customer end markets in plastic, glass, and aluminum containers, closures, dispensers, tubes, and flexibles. Our award-winning Design & Engineering Center provides forward-thinking design, driven by consumer insight and creative solutions. We leverage our global supply chain expertise, expansive and sustainable footprint, and unmatched purchasing power to identify the best sourcing partners and cost-effective solutions for our customers. TricorBraun is comprised of more than 2,000 packaging professionals operating from more than 100 locations across the Americas, Europe, Asia, and Australia. SOURCE TricorBraun remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Truist's partnerships aim to improve access to capital and technical assistance for small business owners with a focus on Black, Latinx and historically underserved communities CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Truist Financial Corporation (NYSE: TFC), together with Truist Foundation and Truist Charitable Fund, today announced a $120 million commitment to strengthen and support small businesses, focusing on Black, Latinx and women-owned businesses. The commitment includes $30 million in philanthropic grants to support nonprofits who assist small businesses and diverse entrepreneurs and $5 million in philanthropic grants, which will support technical assistance, small businesses and volunteerism. In addition, $85 million in investments support debt and equity. Truist is especially focused on partnering with CDFIs, as they are uniquely centered around providing credit and financial services to underserved populations. Truist shared details of this commitment today in Charlotte, North Carolina, inside its Innovation and Technology Center at Truist's headquarters. Bill Rogers, Truist chairman and CEO, and Lynette Bell, president of Truist Foundation, were joined by Alethia Mendez, division president for Elevating Black Women Entrepreneurs at Grameen America. "Small businesses are a vital part of our economy and are core to the health and vibrancy of our communities," said Bill Rogers. "Our purpose is to inspire and build better lives and communities. This commitment exemplifies our purposeit is focused on capitalizing small businesses and reaching diverse communities by providing financing as well as support and training to help minority-owned small businesses thrive and grow." As part of the company's overall commitment to small businesses, Truist will make a $5 million national investment in Grameen America. Truist's Community Development Financing Initiative will provide flexible funding to support access to capital to women entrepreneurs who live below the federal poverty line for whom the mainstream financial system is currently out of reach. Truist Foundation also announced a $500,000 grant to Grameen America's Charlotte portfolio, which will ultimately help generate $1.4 million in disbursements via 270 microloans to women entrepreneurs in one year. This grant serves as one example of Truist Foundation's commitment to supporting small, minority-owned and operated businesses nationwide. Truist's 2022 national commitment includes loans, investments and grants to organizations across the country, including: Florida Community Loan Fund (FCLF) $10 million Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC) $10 million Empower the Change $10 million Grameen America $5.5 million Entrepreneur Backed Assets Fund (EBA) $5 million Minority Business Accelerator Fund (in conjunction with Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber) $3 million Regional Chamber) Asset Funders Network $300,000 CommunityWorks $300,000 "Truist Foundation is pleased to work alongside Truist Bank to further our commitment in strengthening small businesses and generating career pathways for underserved communities," said Bell. "This $120 million pledge will create lasting partnerships and comprehensive support for organizations working to improve access to capital and technical assistance for small business owners." "Together, Grameen America and Truist stand to enact transformative change in Charlotte and across the United States as we remove barriers to access affordable capital for women of color," said Andrea Jung, president and CEO of Grameen America. "Truist's new support through a $500,000 grant expands our longstanding relationship and is projected to provide nearly $7 million in working capital through 1,200 microloans over the next five years. This generous support of our program is instrumental as we expand our national footprint and deepen our investment in underserved communities across the nation." Truist's recent 2022 Annual Small Business Owners Survey results indicate that while small businesses have faced challenges these last few years, they remain resilient. Small businesses have proven they know how to pivot and make contingency plans for any unplanned events that come their way, and they are better prepared now more than ever to make the right investments to achieve their long-term goals. Funding like Truist's will help small businesses get access to the right capital and advice to help them plan and grow their businesses. About Truist Truist Financial Corporation is a purpose-driven financial services company committed to inspiring and building better lives and communities. Truist has leading market share in many high-growth markets in the country, and offers a wide range of services including retail, small business and commercial banking; asset management; capital markets; commercial real estate; corporate and institutional banking; insurance; mortgage; payments; specialized lending; and wealth management. Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Truist is a top-10 U.S. commercial bank with total assets of $544 billion as of March 31, 2022. Truist Bank, Member FDIC. Learn more at Truist.com. About Truist Foundation The Truist Foundation is committed to Truist Financial Corporation's (NYSE: TFC) purpose to inspire and build better lives and communities. Established in 2020, the foundation makes strategic investments in nonprofit organizations to help ensure the communities it serves have more opportunities for a better quality of life. The Truist Foundation's grants and activities focus on building career pathways to economic mobility and strengthening small businesses. Learn more at Truist.com/Purpose/Truist-Foundation. About Grameen America Founded by Nobel Peace Prize recipient Muhammad Yunus, Grameen America is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit microfinance organization dedicated to helping women who live in poverty build small businesses to create better lives for their families. The organization offers microloans, training and support to transform communities and fight poverty in the United States. Since opening in January 2008, Grameen America has invested over $1.5 billion in more than 132,000 low-income women entrepreneurs. Opening originally in Jackson Heights, Queens, Grameen America has expanded to 15 cities in Austin, TX, Boston, MA, Charlotte, NC, Fresno, CA, Houston, TX, Indianapolis, IN, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, Newark, NJ, New York City, NY, Omaha, NE, Oakland, CA, San Jose, CA, San Juan, PR, and Union City, NJ. SOURCE Truist Financial Corporation The leaders discussed ways to enhance collaboration between the UAE and Florida, with a focus on investment, tourism, city planning, and healthcare. These meetings follow a delegation in March by Florida mayors to Sharjah, Abu Dhabi, and Dubai where they engaged with the UAE business community and attended closing events for Expo 2020 Dubai including visiting the US Pavilion. "Florida is the commercial gateway to the Americas and the UAE sits at the crossroads of global trade and commerce. It makes perfect sense that the Emirates is developing close ties with this economically vibrant region," said UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade HE Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi. "The UAE was pleased to host multiple delegations of Florida mayors recently and we remain committed to expanding economic partnership opportunities here." In Miami and Fort Lauderdale, Minister Zeyoudi attended high level business development and networking events and meetings hosted by the U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council, The International Trade Consortium (ITC), Enterprise Florida, a public-private partnership promoting economic development in Florida, and eMerge Americas, an organizing focused on establishing Miami as the tech hub of the Americas. In 2021, Florida exported over $1 billion of goods to the U.A.E., making it one of the top 10 states exporting to the Emirates. These exports supported an estimated 6,000 U.S. jobs. The U.A.E. also exported over $180 million of goods to Florida that same year. During Miami Mayor Frances Suarez's visit to the UAE in March, he signed a sister city agreement alongside HE Abdulla Al Basti, Secretary-General of The Executive Council of Dubai, deepening ties between the cities of Dubai and Miami. Crown Prince of Dubai H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum attended that signing ceremony. In July 2021, Emirates Airline began its first-ever passenger service between Dubai and Miami, opening new business and leisure opportunities between the U.A.E. and South Florida. Emirates has also been flying to Orlando since 2015, and it previously serviced South Florida through Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport from 2016 through 2020. For media inquiries, please contact May Baaklini [email protected] SOURCE Embassy of the United Arab Emirates DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The '18th Annual U.S. Closed-Loop Prepaid Cards Market Forecasts, 2021-2025'report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides an analysis of the growth and development of the open-loop prepaid cards industry through 2025. The report examines loads, growth potential, and market dynamics in the United States across all open-loop prepaid card segments. The pandemic has affected open-loop card loads differently by segment. Most of the growth in open-loop prepaid loads came from government benefits: state unemployment and stimulus programs. Segments that displayed negative growth decreased as a consequence of COVID-19 induced impacts: decreased travel, physical location closures or delays in service amidst social distancing, and decreased consumer income. Consumers also purchased more digital open-loop gift cards. As the pandemic subsides and government benefits cease in 2021, we expect a drop in open-loop loads for 2021, followed by a slight positive trend into 2025. The forecast identifies key segments that will continue to decline over the next few years as well as those forecast to grow. The economy, regulation, consumer behavior, and the COVID-19 pandemic will all influence which segments grow and which decline. Highlights of the report include: Open-loop prepaid card load category market share in 2020 Open-loop prepaid card loads, forecast, and analysis into 2025 by segment Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on open-loop prepaid card market segments Key Topics Covered: Executive Summary Introduction Methodology Open-Loop Prepaid Total Cash Access Category Business Time and Expense Campus In-Store Gift Cards Government Category Insurance Payroll and Benefits Other Conclusion Companies Mentioned Ace Hardware Administration for Children and Families ADP. American Express Center on Budget and Policy Priorities CFPB College Crisis Initiative FDIC Federal Register Federal Reserve Green Dot International Trade Administration IRS Mastercard National Conference of State Legislatures PCMA PEW Social Security Administration U.S. Census U.S. Department of the Treasury U.S. Travel Association United States Department Of Labor Employment & Training Administration University of Michigan Visa Western Union For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/5ib1vj 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 Addition is part of Russell indexes' annual reconstitution and reflects strong business performance and value creation from the Company's growth and diversification strategy. PHOENIX, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Technical Institute (UTI) (NYSE: UTI) has re-joined the broad-market Russell 3000 Index at the conclusion of the 2022 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, effective after the US market opens today. Annual Russell indexes reconstitution captures the 4,000 largest US stocks as of May 6, ranking them by total market capitalization. Membership in the US all-cap Russell 3000 Index, which remains in place for one year, means automatic inclusion in the large-cap Russell 1000 Index or small-cap Russell 2000 Index as well as the appropriate growth and value style indexes. FTSE Russell determines membership for its Russell indexes primarily by objective, market-capitalization rankings and style attributes. "Being added to the Russell 3000 marks another significant milestone as we continue to execute on our growth and diversification strategy. This further elucidates our ongoing strong performance and our continued commitment to creating shareholder value," said UTI CEO Jerome Grant. "With the recent announcement of our MIAT College of Technology program expansion to UTI campuses, launching two new campuses this year in Austin, Texas, and Miramar, Fla., and the future expansion into healthcare education through the pending acquisition of Concorde Career Colleges, we are able to not only increase program offerings at our existing campuses but also increase the size of our addressable market, by making more programs available to a broader array of students. Our focus on strong student outcomes and employment drives our efforts, while our industry partners and investors also realize the benefits." "With the addition of Concorde and the broadening of our program offerings, we will accelerate Universal Technical Institute's revenue, profitability, and cash flow growth over the next several years," said UTI CFO Troy Anderson. "Including the Concorde acquisition, Universal Technical Institute's longer-term strategic roadmap estimates fiscal 2025 revenue of more than $700 million and an adjusted EBITDA margin of approximately 20%. Being listed in the Russell 3000 Index includes Universal Technical Institute in the ranks of other great companies and improves our exposure to an even broader investor base with whom to share our exciting growth story." Russell indexes are widely used by investment managers and institutional investors for index funds and as benchmarks for active investment strategies. Approximately $12 trillion in assets are benchmarked against Russell's US indexes. Russell indexes are part of FTSE Russell, a leading global index provider. For more information on the Russell 3000 Index and the Russell indexes reconstitution, go to the "Russell Reconstitution" section on the FTSE Russell website. For UTI's latest investor information and presentations, visit https://investor.uti.edu/. About Universal Technical Institute, Inc. Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Phoenix, Universal Technical Institute's (NYSE: UTI) mission is to serve our students, partners, and communities by providing quality education and support services for in-demand careers. Approximately 250,000 students have graduated from one of UTI's 15 campuses located across Arizona, California, Florida, Illinois, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Texas. UTI's campuses are accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC), while its employer-aligned technical training programs are offered under four brands: Universal Technical Institute, Motorcycle Mechanics Institute / Marine Mechanics Institute, NASCAR Technical Institute, and MIAT College of Technology. For more information and a complete list of all programs offered, please visit www.uti.edu or follow on LinkedIn @UniversalTechnicalInstitute and on Twitter @news_UTI. About FTSE Russell: FTSE Russell is a global index leader that provides innovative benchmarking, analytics and data solutions for investors worldwide. FTSE Russell calculates thousands of indexes that measure and benchmark markets and asset classes in more than 70 countries, covering 98% of the investable market globally. FTSE Russell index expertise and products are used extensively by institutional and retail investors globally. Approximately $20 trillion is currently benchmarked to FTSE Russell indexes. For over 30 years, leading asset owners, asset managers, ETF providers and investment banks have chosen FTSE Russell indexes to benchmark their investment performance and create ETFs, structured products and index-based derivatives. A core set of universal principles guides FTSE Russell index design and management: a transparent rules-based methodology is informed by independent committees of leading market participants. FTSE Russell is focused on applying the highest industry standards in index design and governance and embraces the IOSCO Principles. FTSE Russell is also focused on index innovation and customer partnerships as it seeks to enhance the breadth, depth and reach of its offering. FTSE Russell is wholly owned by London Stock Exchange Group. For more information, visit www.ftserussell.com. Media Contact Alanna Vitucci [email protected] 480-710-6843 SOURCE Universal Technical Institute, Inc. Court Will Hear the Full Case, Including Evidence About Plaintiffs' Scheme to Exert Improper Control over UpHealth All Current Directors to Remain in Office Shareholders Do Not Need to Take Any Action at This Time DELRAY BEACH, Fla., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- UpHealth, Inc. (NYSE: UPH) ("UpHealth" or the "Company") today issued the following statement regarding the Delaware Court of Chancery's ruling in advance of the Company's Annual Stockholders Meeting (the "Annual Meeting"): "We welcome last week's Delaware Court of Chancery ruling, which delays the current Annual Meeting to a later date to allow the Court to review all relevant materials and proceed with the trial on the limited issue of the change in quorum announced on May 31, 2022. We note that, in its ruling preliminarily enjoining the Annual Meeting, the Court stated that it "do[es] not doubt the defendants' good faith." We believe the actions by the plaintiffs, Dr. Chirinjeev Kathuria and Jeffery Bray, and by their group of aligned supporters, including Dr. Mariya Pylypiv, (the "Conflicted Group"), are a self-serving attempt to wield outsized influence over the future direction of UpHealth by inhibiting the Company's proper governance. We note that plaintiff, Mr. Bray, is a creditor of UpHealth and has been seeking to be paid more than $17 million, and that co-plaintiff Dr. Kathuria appears to be trying to gain control of UpHealth without paying a premium to shareholders. Dr. Kathuria and Dr. Pylypiv, among others, organized the Conflicted Group, and it further appears, failed to make appropriate public disclosures of their intentions. The plaintiffs sought an order affirming Dr. Kathuria's unilateral right as Co-Chairman of the Board to call a Special Meeting of Shareholders to further his own agenda. Noting that there was no "pattern of behavior that one co-chair can unilaterally override the other," the Court determined that the plaintiffs were not reasonably likely to prevail on this point. To ensure the proper functioning of the Board, as previously announced, the Board has now appointed a single Non-Executive Chairman and removed Dr. Kathuria from the role of Co-Chairman. The Company is confident that the defendant directors will demonstrate at trial the propriety of all of their actions, including in modifying the quorum requirements for the Company's Annual Meeting to enfranchise all shareholders. The defendant directors are committed to continuing to act vigorously to protect the interests of all shareholders. Furthermore, the Company reserves all of its rights to pursue claims against any member of the Conflicted Group for not acting in the best interests of the Company, inappropriate disclosure of confidential materials, and violation of their fiduciary duties as Directors and as Executives in the company. Despite the Conflicted Group's repeated attempts to discourage voting at the Annual Meeting, more than 75% of the shares that were not owned by members of the Conflicted Group had submitted proxies as of the close of business on Friday, June 24. The Company sincerely thanks the shareholders for demonstrating overwhelming support for the Board's recommendations. The Company is confident that in due course UpHealth shareholders will have the opportunity to meaningfully influence the direction of the Company and that the voice of all shareholders will be heard. The Company's 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, previously scheduled for June 28, has been delayed to a later date to allow the Delaware Court of Chancery the opportunity to hear the full evidence regarding plaintiffs' challenge to the Company's quorum change. Shareholders do not need to take any action at this time, and there will be no immediate change to the composition of the Company's Board of Directors. The Company intends to provide further updates to shareholders as developments warrant. About UpHealth UpHealth is a global digital health company that delivers digital-first technology, infrastructure, and services to dramatically improve how healthcare is delivered and managed. UpHealth's solutions holistically enable clients to deliver on their affordability, access, quality, outcomes, and patient experience goals. UpHealth's technology platform helps its clients improve access, coordinate care teams, and achieve better patient outcomes at lower cost, with care management solutions, analytics, and telehealth tools that serve patients wherever they are, in their native language. Additionally, UpHealth's technology-enabled virtual care infrastructure and services improves access to quality primary and acute care, behavioral health, and pharmacy services. UpHealth's clients include health plans, global governments, healthcare providers and community-based organizations. For more information, please visit https://uphealthinc.com and follow us at @UpHealthInc on Twitter and UpHealth Inc on LinkedIn. Additional Information and Where to Find It In connection with the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and the matters noticed for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders in the definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the SEC on May 31, 2022 (the "Proxy Statement"), the Company has filed with the SEC and mailed the Proxy Statement to its stockholders. This press release does not contain all the information that should be considered in respect of the matters noticed for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders in the Proxy Statement, and additional information is described in the Proxy Statement. The Proxy Statement and other relevant materials for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders has been mailed to stockholders of the Company as of a record date established for voting at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders. Stockholders may also obtain a copy of the Proxy Statement, as well as other documents filed by the Company with the SEC without charge, at the SEC's website located at www.sec.gov. Certain Information Regarding Participants The Company and its respective directors and executive officers and other persons may be deemed to be participants in the solicitations of proxies from the Company's stockholders in respect of the matters noticed for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders in the Company's Proxy Statement. Information regarding the Company's directors and executive officers is available in the Proxy Statement. This communication shall not constitute a solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the matters noticed for the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders in the Proxy Statement. Forward-Looking Statements This communication contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of U.S. federal securities laws. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders and ongoing litigation involving the directors. Any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, any statements that refer to projections, forecasts, or other characterizations of future events or circumstances, including any underlying assumptions, are forward-looking statements. The words "anticipate," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intends," "may," "might," "plan," "possible," "potential," "predict," "project," "should," "would" and similar expressions may identify forward-looking statements, but the absence of these words does not mean that a statement is not forward-looking. The forward-looking statements contained in this communication are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the management of UpHealth in light of their respective experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, and expected future developments and their potential effects on UpHealth as well as other factors they believe are appropriate in the circumstances. There can be no assurance that future developments affecting UpHealth will be those anticipated. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties (some of which are beyond the control of the parties), or other assumptions that may cause actual results or performance to be materially different from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including uncertainty regarding the outcome of litigation. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should any of the assumptions being made prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. SOURCE UpHealth, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 7; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 4597 Companies: 37 - Players covered include Abeona Therapeutics Inc.; ADMA Biologics, Inc.; Albumedix Ltd.; Asklepios Biopharmaceutical, Inc.; Aspen Pharmacare Holdings Ltd.; Baxter International Inc.; Bayer Healthcare AG; Bio Products Laboratory Ltd.; BioDelivery Sciences International, Inc.; Biogen, Inc.; BioMarin Pharmaceutical Inc.; Biotest Pharmaceuticals Corporation; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company; Catalyst Biosciences, Inc.; China Biologic Products Holdings, Inc.; Cosmo Pharmaceuticals NV; CSL Behring; Grifols International SA; Kamada Ltd.; Kedrion Biopharma, Inc.; Medxbio Pte. Ltd.; Merck & Co., Inc.; Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation; Novo Nordisk A/S; Novozymes A/S; Octapharma AG; Portola Pharmaceuticals, Inc.; ProMetic Life Sciences, Inc.; rEVO Biologics, Inc.; Rockwell Medical; Sanquin; Shanghai RAAS Blood Products Co., Ltd.; Shire PLC; Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.; The Medicines Company; Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc.; Ventria Bioscience and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Application (Deep Vein Thrombosis, Pulmonary Embolism (PE), Acute Coronary Syndrome, Other Applications); Drug Class (Albumin, Prothrombin Complex Concentrates, Antithrombin Concentrates, Other Drug Classes) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Critical Care Therapeutics Market to Reach $3.4 Billion by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Critical Care Therapeutics estimated at US$2.9 Billion, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 2.6% over the analysis period. Albumin, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 3% CAGR and reach US$1.6 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Prothrombin Complex Concentrates segment is readjusted to a revised 2.1% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $804.1 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $671.3 Million by 2026 The Critical Care Therapeutics market in the U.S. is estimated at US$804.1 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$671.3 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 4.9% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 0.6% and 1.9% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 1.2% CAGR. Antithrombin Concentrates Segment to Reach US$398.3 Million by the year 2026 In the global Antithrombin Concentrates segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 1.9% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$260.9 Million will reach a projected size of US$298 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 7; Released: April 2022 Executive Pool: 761 Companies: 52 - Players covered include Advanced Research Systems, Inc.; AIM Infrarot-Module GmbH; Air Liquide SA; Brooks Automation, Inc.; Chart Industries, Inc.; Creare LLC; Cryomech, Inc.; Fabrum Solutions Ltd.; Janis Research Company, LLC.; L3 Cincinnati Electronics; Le-tehnika, d.o.o. ; Lihan Technologies Co., Ltd.; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Oxford Cryosystems; Ricor - Cryogenic & Vacuum Systems; Sierra Lobo, Inc.; Stratox Limited; Sumitomo Heavy Industries Ltd.; Sunpower Inc.; Superconductor Technologies, Inc.; Thales Cryogenics B.V.; Tristan Technologies, Inc.; Vacree Technologies Co., Ltd. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Type (Gifford-McMahon Cryocoolers, Pulse-Tube Cryocoolers, Stirling Cryocoolers, Joule Thomson Cryocoolers, Brayton Cryocoolers); Application (Military, Commercial, Research & Development, Medical, Energy & Power, Other Applications) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Cryocoolers Market to Reach $3.4 Billion by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Cryocoolers estimated at US$2.4 Billion, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.4 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 5.8% over the analysis period. Gifford-McMahon cryocoolers, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 6.7% CAGR and reach US$695.3 Million by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Pulse-Tube cryocoolers segment is readjusted to a revised 4.9% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $684.7 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $696.4 Million by 2026 The Cryocoolers market in the U.S. is estimated at US$684.7 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$696.4 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 9% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 3.1% and 5.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 3.7% CAGR. Stirling cryocoolers Segment to Reach US$1.1 Billion by the year 2026 In the global Stirling cryocoolers segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 5.9% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$571.8 Million will reach a projected size of US$855.4 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 8; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 14412 Companies: 46 - Players covered include ABB Ltd.; Arteche; Chint Group; Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.; General Electric Company; Hyosung Corporation; KharkovEnergoPribor Ltd.; Meidensha Corporation; Mitsubishi Electric Corporation; NISSAN Motor Co., Ltd.; Siemens AG; Takaoka Toko Co., Ltd.; Toshiba Corp.; Yangzhou Power Electric Co., Ltd. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: End-Use (Utility, Industrial, Commercial); Type (Instrument Transformer, Other Types); Voltage (Upto 72.5 kV, 72.5 kV to 220 kV, Above 220 kV) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Gas Insulated Transformers Market to Reach $3.5 Billion by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Gas Insulated Transformers estimated at US$2.9 Billion, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.5 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 3.1% over the analysis period. Upto 72.5 kV, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 3% CAGR and reach US$2.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the 72.5 kV to 220 kV segment is readjusted to a revised 3.8% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $803.8 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $699.3 Million by 2026 The Gas Insulated Transformers market in the U.S. is estimated at US$803.8 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$699.3 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 5.7% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 0.8% and 2.3% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 1.5% CAGR. Above 220 kV Segment to Reach US$568.2 Million by the year 2026 In the global Above 220 kV segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 2.1% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$367.7 Million will reach a projected size of US$425 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Agreement promotes direct connection with the modern Israeli ecosystem RIO DE JANEIRO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Vibra Energia, one of the largest energy companies in Brazil and leader in the fuel and lubricant distribution market, is expanding its operations in open innovation. The company has just closed a partnership with IBI-Tech in its internationalization process to have a better access to new startups and opportunities. Vibra, which recently launched its innovation hub, Vibra co.lab, has now a direct connection with the entrepreneurial environment in Israel. Last May, the company actively participated in Ecomotion Week in Tel Aviv. "Vibra has reinvented itself and we are experiencing the biggest transformation ever seen in terms of mobility, guided by the energy transition and a low carbon economy. The challenge is to expand the culture of innovation within the company and the partnership with IBI-Tech is an important step," explains Renato Vieira, Head of Innovation at Vibra Energia. The objective of the agreement is to encourage the exchange of technologies and bring solutions that meet the challenges in mobility, energy transition and cybersecurity - topics that will be addressed directly at Vibra co.lab, allowing successful connections with startups and scale-ups. "It's an opportunity discover new methodologies. We believe that we will foster and generate business, in addition to taking Vibra to a new level of international connections with entrepreneurs and researchers who work globally," says Vieira. "Israel is a leader in technological innovation and this cooperation will have a positive impact on Vibra to achieve its strategic goals. We are very honored with this partnership," says Daniel Skaba, CEO of IBI-Tech. About Vibra Vibra Energia provides the best energy and mobility alternative to its customers, aligned with the best ESG practices in the sector. Vibra is licensed under the Petrobras brand, forming a network of 8,300 gas stations. The franchises for the segment are the BR Mania convenience stores and the Lubrax+ automotive lubrication centers. With a national logistics structure, the company has a portfolio of more than 18.000 corporate clients, in segments such as aviation, transport, commerce, electro-intensive industries, chemical products, supply house and agribusiness. With BR Aviation, it has more than 70% of the aviation market, fueling aircrafts in more than 90 Brazilian airports. In lubricants, it is the market leader with Lubrax and has the largest industrial plant for the production of lubricants in Latin America. www.vibraenergia.com.br Contact: Rafael Tonassi, Telefone: +55 (21) 99417-0404, E-mail: [email protected] SOURCE Vibra Energia Constellation Brands Inc - In January 2021, the company expanded its partnership with the connected fitness leader, Echelon Fitness, in order to help consumers on their personal fitness and wellness journey and motivate them to "Earn Their Crown." Diageo Plc - In April 2021, the company acquired Loyal 9 Cocktails, a rapidly growing spirits-based ready-to-drink brand, from Sons of Liberty Spirits Company. Moreover, the market is fragmented and the vendors are deploying growth strategies such as product expansions and partnering with off-trade distribution channels to compete in the market. Get more information on Macro & Micro Economic Factor Analysis, Statistical Tools, and Trend Projection at Affordable Pricing options. Learn More The Vodka Market Share in US is expected to increase by USD 98.35 million from 2020 to 2025, with an accelerated CAGR of 2.69%- according to the recent market study by Technavio. The report provides a detailed analysis of drivers & opportunities, top winning strategies, competitive scenario, future market trends, market size & estimations, and major investment pockets. Vodka Market in US Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 2.69% Market growth 2021-2025 $98.35 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 1.45 Performing market contribution US at 100% Key consumer countries US Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV, Bacardi Ltd., Becle SAB de CV, Brown Forman Corp., Constellation Brands Inc., Davide Campari Milano NV, Diageo Plc, Pernod Ricard SA, Polmos Zyrardow Sp. ZOO, and Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, market condition analysis for forecast period. Customization preview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Segmentation Analysis & Forecasts The Vodka Market in the US is segmented by product (unflavored and flavored) and distribution channel (on-trade and off-trade). The market share growth in the US by the unflavored segment will be significant during the forecast period. In the US, in the on-trade distribution channel, bartenders use unflavored vodkas to make different types of cocktails as per the preferences of consumers. Moreover, vendors are also encouraging the off-trade sales of the product by offering gluten-free, unflavored vodkas. To gain further insights on the market contribution of various segments - Request for Sample Report Latest Drivers & Trends of the Market- Vodka Market in US Driver: Increasing prominence of private-label brands: Private-label vodkas are becoming a key focus area for retailers in the US, as the demand for flavored vodkas and cocktails (that include vodka as an essential ingredient) is high among the Millennial population. Retailers are selling different types of vodkas under their private-label brands to increase their profitability, which is contributing to the growth of the vodka market in the US. Major retailers are introducing their own brands of vodka, especially flavored vodkas, thus capitalizing on the growing demand for vodkas from consumers. In the last decade, the private-label product segment has grown in terms of scope and size. Retailers, especially grocery stores, see private label products as a profitable option, as margins are 10%-15% higher than national and global brands in the US. Private-label vodkas are made exclusively for a single retailer or for a brand that sources its vodka manufacturing from a third party. For instance, Walmart Inc. offers Rue 33 premium vodka under its subsidiary Sam's Club; similarly, Costco Wholesale Corp. offers vodka under the Kirkland Signature brand name. Therefore, the growing prominence of private-label vodkas is expected to drive the growth of the vodka market in the US during the forecast period. Vodka Market in US Trend: Rising demand for organic vodka: Organic vodkas are made from organically cultivated raw materials, such as grains and fruits, which are free of fertilizers, pesticides, preservatives, and harmful carcinogens, like arsenic. In addition, organic vodkas must be free of artificial food additives and should be grown without using synthetic pesticides. The growing demand for organic food ingredients in alcoholic beverages and rising disposable income in the US have led consumers to prefer organic spirits such as organic vodka. Such people are increasingly accepting clean labels in food and beverages and are looking for non-GMO, hormone-free, or natural/organic ingredients that do not contain any artificial content, as these contribute strongly to a healthy lifestyle. Moreover, organic vodkas are costlier, which helps in increasing the profit margins of vendors. Various vendors in the vodka market in the US offer organic vodka. For instance, under the brand name Frankly Vodka, Be In Good Spirits LLC offers Frankly Organic Strawberry Vodka, which is a USDA-certified organic, non-GMO, gluten-free, corn vodka blended with real fruits and botanical extracts. Therefore, the availability of organic vodka in the US is expected to drive the growth of the vodka market in the country during the forecast period. Find additional information about various other market Drivers & Trends available with Technavio Download Sample Report Didn't Find What You Were Looking For? Customize 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. Speak to our Analyst now! to take full advantage of every opportunity using competitive analysis created just for you Here are Some Similar Topics- Craft Vodka Market by Product and Geography - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The craft vodka market share is expected to increase to USD 590.15 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.02%. Find More Exclusive Research Insight Here Alcohol Beverages Market in US by Product and Distribution Channel - Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The alcohol beverages market share in US is expected to increase by USD 37.14 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 2.62%. Find More Exclusive Research Insight Here 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: Distillers and vintners market 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 04: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 05: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2020 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2020 - 2025 Exhibit 06: US - Market size and forecast 2020 - 2025 (million L) Exhibit 07: US 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 Unflavored - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 17: Unflavored - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (million L) Exhibit 18: Unflavored - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.4 Flavored - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 19: Flavored - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (million L) Exhibit 20: Flavored - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 21: Market opportunity by Product 6 Market Segmentation by Distribution channel 6.1 Market segments Exhibit 22: Distribution channel - Market share 2020-2025 (%) 6.2 Comparison by Distribution channel Exhibit 23: Comparison by Distribution channel 6.3 On-trade - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 24: On-trade - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (million L) Exhibit 25: On-trade - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 6.4 Off-trade - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 26: Off-trade - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (million L) Exhibit 27: Off-trade - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 6.5 Market opportunity by Distribution channel Exhibit 28: Market opportunity by Distribution channel 7 Market Segmentation by Price 7.1 Market segments Exhibit 29: Price - Market share 2020-2025 (%) 7.2 Comparison by Price Exhibit 30: Comparison by Price 7.3 Premium - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 31: Premium - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (million L) Exhibit 32: Premium - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.4 Value - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 Exhibit 33: Value - Market size and forecast 2020-2025 (million L) Exhibit 34: Value - Year-over-year growth 2020-2025 (%) 7.5 Market opportunity by Price Exhibit 35: Market opportunity by Price 8 Customer landscape 8.1 Overview Exhibit 36: Customer landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 9.1 Market drivers 9.2 Market challenges Exhibit 37: Impact of drivers and challenges 9.3 Market trends 10 Vendor Landscape 10.1 Overview Exhibit 38: Vendor landscape 10.2 Landscape disruption Exhibit 39: Landscape disruption Exhibit 40: Industry risks 11 Vendor Analysis 11.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 41: Vendors covered 11.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 42: Market positioning of vendors 11.3 Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV Exhibit 43: Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV - Overview Exhibit 44: Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV - Business segments Exhibit 45: Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV - Key offerings Exhibit 46: Anheuser Busch InBev SA/NV - Segment focus 11.4 Bacardi Ltd. Exhibit 47: Bacardi Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 48: Bacardi Ltd. - Product and service Exhibit 49: Bacardi Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 50: Bacardi Ltd. - Key offerings 11.5 Becle SAB de CV 11.6 Brown Forman Corp. Exhibit 55: Brown Forman Corp. - Overview Exhibit 56: Brown Forman Corp. - Product and service Exhibit 57: Brown Forman Corp. - Key offerings 11.7 Constellation Brands Inc. Exhibit 58: Constellation Brands Inc. - Overview Exhibit 59: Constellation Brands Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 60: Constellation Brands Inc. - Key news Exhibit 61: Constellation Brands Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 62: Constellation Brands Inc. - Segment focus 11.8 Davide Campari Milano NV Exhibit 63: Davide Campari Milano NV - Overview Exhibit 64: Davide Campari Milano NV - Business segments Exhibit 65: Davide Campari Milano NV - Key offerings Exhibit 66: Davide Campari Milano NV - Segment focus 11.9 Diageo Plc Exhibit 67: Diageo Plc - Overview Exhibit 68: Diageo Plc - Business segments Exhibit 69: Diageo Plc - Key news Exhibit 70: Diageo Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 71: Diageo Plc - Segment focus 11.10 Pernod Ricard SA Exhibit 72: Pernod Ricard SA - Overview Exhibit 73: Pernod Ricard SA - Product and service Exhibit 74: Pernod Ricard SA - Key offerings 11.11 Polmos Zyrardow Sp. ZOO Exhibit 75: Polmos Zyrardow Sp. ZOO - Overview Exhibit 76: Polmos Zyrardow Sp. ZOO - Product and service Exhibit 77: Polmos Zyrardow Sp. ZOO - Key offerings 11.12 Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd. Exhibit 78: Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 79: Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 80: Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 81: Suntory Beverage and Food Ltd. - Segment focus 12 Appendix 12.1 Scope of the report 12.2 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 82: Currency conversion rates for US$ 12.3 Research methodology Exhibit 83: Research Methodology Exhibit 84: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 85: Information sources 12.4 List of abbreviations Exhibit 86: List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library 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 Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 9; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 424 Companies: 44 - Players covered include ANDRITZ Feed and Biofuel A/S; B.K. Allied Industries; Bratney Companies; CFC Tech Services, Inc.; Dinnissen BV; Elko Nagel Mecan-Systeme GmbH; Famsun; Henan Longchang Machinery Manufacturing Co., Ltd; HET Feed Machinery; Menci & C. S.P.A; Schenck Process Holding GmbH; Shanghai Zhengchang International Mechanical Engineering Co., Ltd.; Statec Binder GmbH; Tapco Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Segment (Pelleting, Mixing, Grinding, Extrusion) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Feed Processing Machinery Market to Reach $26.1 Billion by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Feed Processing Machinery estimated at US$21.9 Billion, is projected to reach a revised size of US$26.1 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 2.9% over the analysis period. Pelleting, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 3.2% CAGR and reach US$11.3 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Mixing segment is readjusted to a revised 3.2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $6.1 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $5.2 Billion by 2026 The Feed Processing Machinery market in the U.S. is estimated at US$6.1 Billion in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$5.2 Billion by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 5.3% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 0.7% and 2.1% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 1.3% CAGR. Grinding Segment to Reach US$5 Billion by the year 2026 In the global Grinding segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 2% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$3.3 Billion will reach a projected size of US$3.8 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: [email protected] LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media [email protected] SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global CFTR Modulators Market Opportunity, Dosage, Price & Clinical Trials Insight 2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides comprehensive insight on clinical and non-clinical factors that are driving the global CFTR Modulators market and its impact on the global pharmaceutical market landscape. The approval of the first CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) modulator has changed the face of cystic fibrosis in the era of precision medicine. Cystic fibrosis is a rare, life-shortening genetic disease caused by mutations of the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator - or CFTR - gene. These modulators are designed to correct the malfunctioning protein made by the CFTR gene. This drug class has grown considerably from 2012, with up to four agents available in the global market. Kalydeco was the first approved CFTR modulatory drug which has shown robust response in the market by significantly increasing the median survival rates in patients. The complexity of the disease has surged the development of several combinational therapies which can better tackle the complex nature of the disease. To overcome this, Orkambi, Symdeko, and Trikafta have been approved which belong to the class of CFTR combinational drugs. Currently, the market is dominated by combinational drugs owing to their enhanced efficacy in the management of disease and ability to overcome the limitations of monotherapy. The encouraging response of CFTR modulators in the market has led to further research and development activities in this domain. Several promising compounds are currently being evaluated which can be proven to be alternatives to VX-770 to overcome gating mutations. Vertex pharmaceutical is conducting a clinical trial on VX-561 (also called deutivacaftor) an analog of VX-770 in which one of the tert-butyl groups was replaced by a per-deuterated one. The preclinical data have demonstrated that the drug has similar activity as VX-770; however, it has enhanced stability suggesting it could be prescribed once daily only, contrary to VX-770, which must be administered every 12 hours. The company is also developing another corrector, VX-121, which has reached clinical phase 3. It is being assessed in combination with VX-661, VX-770, and/or VX-56. Although CFTR modulators have been shown to dominate the cystic fibrosis treatment market, there are still several challenges that need to be overcome. The currently available CFTR modulators drugs target the underlying cause of cystic fibrosis. However, some patients with rare CFTR mutations are still ineligible to receive currently marketed therapies. Therefore, the opportunity remains for developers to investigate CFTR modulators for less common mutations. In addition, resistance to these drugs is another challenge that needs to be overcome. The global CFTR modulator market is expected to surpass US$ 25 Billion by 2028. The increasing prevalence and increasing funding from several nonprofit organizations including, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Cystic Fibrosis Worldwide, South African Cystic Fibrosis Trust, and South African Cystic Fibrosis Association, will drive the market growth but also encourages the research and development activities in cystic fibrosis. These organizations are investing huge amounts of funds to find various CFTR modulators for cystic fibrosis and to support the research and developmental activities of prominent players. Further, the robust clinical pipeline of drugs that will gain approval during the forecast period will also boost the growth of the market. The report provides comprehensive details of the existing pure-play companies and new players entering the market with key drugs in research and development. Moreover, the report provides insights into the major challenges that are going to hamper the market growth during the forecast period. Additionally, the report provides information on the globally approved CFTR modulators along with their patent, price, dosage, and sales analysis till Q1 2022. Key Report Highlights: Global CFTR Modulators Market Opportunity: > USD 25 Billion Global CFTR Modulators Market Insights: Current, Regional, and Future Outlook 2028 Annual, Quarterly, and Regional Sales Insights On CFTR Modulators CFTR Modulators Availability By Dosage, Patent, and Price Analysis Clinical Insight On More Than 30 CFTR Modulators In Trials CFTR Modulators Clinical Trials Insight By Country, Company, and Phase: > 30 Drugs Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction to CFTR Modulators 1.1 Overview 1.2 Evolution of CFTR Modulators 2. Global CFTR Modulators Mechanism of Action 3. US CFTR Modulator Market Overview 4. ROW CFTR Modulator Market Overview 5. Ivacaftor (Kalydeco) - Clinical & Commercial Insight 6.1 Overview 6.2 Patents & Assignees 6.3 Price & Dosage Insight 6.4 Sales Analysis 6. Ivacaftor/Lumacaftor (Orkambi) - Clinical & Commercial Insight 7.1 Overview 7.2 Patents & Assignees 7.3 Price & Dosage Insight 7.4 Sales Analysis 7. Tezacaftor/Ivacaftor (Symdeko) - Clinical & Commercial Insight 8.1 Overview 8.2 Patent & Assignees 8.3 Price & Dosage Insight 8.4 Sales 8. Elexacaftor/Ivacaftor/Tezacaftor (Trikafta) - Clinical & Commercial Insight 9.1 Overview 9.2 Patent & Assignees 9.3 Price & Dosage Insight 9.4 Global Sales 9. Global CFTR Modulators Vaccine Pipeline Overview 10.1 By Country 10.2 By Company 10.3 By Patient Segment 10.4 By Phase 10. Global CFTR Modulators Clinical Trials Insight 11.1 Research 11.2 Preclinical 11.3 Phase-I 11.4 Phase-I/II 11.5 Phase-II 11.6 Phase-III 11. Marketed CFTR Modulators Clinical Insights 12. CFTR Modulator Drugs Market Dynamics 13.1 Favorable Parameters 13.2 Market Restraints 13. CFTR Modulator Market Future Perspective 14. Competitive Landscape Vertex Pharmaceuticals Eloxx Pharma ReCode Therapeutics Arcturus Therapeutics AbbVie Spirovant Sciences Translate Bio ReAlta Life Sciences Southern Research Institute 4D Molecular Therapeutics For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/eyz9tv About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. 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 British American Tobacco should take some positives from yesterdays US banning of Juuls e-cigarette products, according to broker Jefferies. The broker notes that the denial/ban is based on insufficient toxicological evidence, as opposed to youth usage. To this, we fully expect an appeal, and given the nature of the denial, we think a reasonable chance a stay is granted, allowing them to remain on the market, and then also allowing time for amendments/Juul 2 application. Jefferies adds that if the Juul decision had been based on youth usage there would have been a risk of BAT applications also being rejected given the usage of its Vuse range among the young. The decision being based around toxicological evidence means that risk is now much less. Shares in BAT rose 1.7% to 3,511. Hartshead Resources NL (ASX:HHR) has appointed UK-based energy sector specialist LAB Energy Advisors Limited to advise on industry partnering for its Phase I development of the Anning and Somerville gas fields in the UK Southern Gas Basin. The appointment of LAB Energy Advisors follows growing interest from several industry players in Hartsheads P2607 licence area. Strong track record LAB Energys team, which has extensive upstream corporate M&A and asset A&D experience, has a strong track record in asset divestments and farm-out transactions globally, including the UK and Dutch sectors of the Southern Gas Basin. This appointment brings a wealth of transaction experience with clients ranging from the oil & gas majors to independent energy players. Expressions of interest Hartshead CEO Chris Lewis said: The level of interest in Hartsheads P2607 licence from potentially suitable industry partners affirms our confidence in the value of the asset. "With the increased interest in investment into UK gas developments and high gas prices, now is an opportune time to engage with suitable industry partners. After several approaches from multiple parties, the company commissioned LAB Energy to formally launch a process with the aim of securing an industry partner for the development stage of the Phase I Anning and Somerville gas fields following Final Investment Decision (FID), which is expected in early-2023. Recent progress of the Phase I development project through the development planning process combined with increasing focus on UK gas import dependency and security of supply, has resulted in growing interest from a number of industry players in Hartsheads P2607 licence area of the UK Southern Gas Basin. Structured process The appointment of LAB Energy will allow those companies who have shown interest in partnering with Hartshead at the development stage, to enter a structured divestment process as the company progresses its Phase I development through the FEED stage and prior to the FID. "I am delighted to be working with the highly experienced LAB Energy team, and I am confident this will deliver a successful outcome and value for shareholders, Lewis added. Hartshead has also released an updated corporate presentation that incorporates the results of the recently announced independent technical and commercial audit of the Anning and Somerville gas fields by ERC Equipoise (ERCE). A drilling campaign is possible later this year Eco (Atlantic) Oil & Gas Ltd has signed an agreement to increase its stake in a block in the Orange Basin, offshore South Africa. Block 3B/4B covers an area of 17,581sq km in 300-2,500m of water and lies 120-250kms directly south of the multi-billion barrel discoveries offshore Namibia announced earlier this year by Shell (Graff-1) and TotalEnergies (Venus-1). Eco is paying US$10mln to acquire an additional 6.25% of the block, which through its subsidiary Azinam will give it a 26.25% participating interest. Riocure holds a 53.75% stake in the licence with Africa Oil the operator with a 20% stake. Eco (Atlantic) is acquiring the additional 6.25% interest from the Lunn Family Trust, which is one of the shareholders in Riocure. An extensive 3D seismic survey is underway on the licence to prepare for a possible drilling campaign later this year, said Eco (Atlantic). Gil Holzman, Eco (Atlantic) chief executive, added We are upbeat about the prospectivity of the licence following the significant oil discoveries made earlier in the year offshore Namibia Orange Basin and we are pleased to be strengthening our working relationship with Ricocure and Africa Oil Corp (TSX-V:AOI). "We are seeing growing industry interest in the entire Orange Basin and, in particular, in Block 3B/4B and are therefore very happy to have managed to increase our WI [working interest] on the Block. "We are set for an exciting couple of months and we look forward to keeping our stakeholders updated as we look to spud the Gazania-1 well on Block 2B, offshore South Africa, in early September 2022." Payment for the stake will predominately be in shares at a value of 30p each, with a lock-up on a portion of those to be issued. Up to a fifth of the consideration will be paid in cash. US$12.3mln fundraise Later, Eco (Atlantic) announced it had raised US$12.3mln from new and existing institutional investors including funds from South Africa at a price of 30p per unit comprising a share and warrant. The fundraise comprised 8.25mln (US$10.1mln) from a subscription and 1.8mln (US$2.2mln) from a placing. Africa Oil, its partner in the Orange Basin, offshore South Africa subscribed for units worth around US$1.8mln. Holzman added: "We are pleased to be able to close this successful private placing. "We are fortunate to be able to include some of the leading South African focussed funds in this financing. The funds we are raising will be applied to our ongoing operations and will enable us to settle the cash consideration for the increased interest in Block 3B/4B announced earlier today, allowing us to retain our current cash resources to drill Gazania-1 well in Block 2B in South Africa in September. With over U$38m now in treasury, we are in a very strong financial position to fund all our current planned exploration needs in both South Africa, Namibia and Guyana including the drilling of the Gazania-1 well in September and additional near-term wells on Guyana Orinduik Block and in Block 3B/4B. " -- adds fund raise details- Symphony Environmental Technologies PLC (AIM:SYM) said a legal win in Peru has significant implications for commercial growth in the country and in Latin America generally. Following legal action by its distributor in Peru against the local Ministry of Production, Symphony said a clear distinction has now been officially acknowledged between oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable technologies, with official confirmation that oxo-biodegradable technology does not leave microplastics behind. At the hearing, INDECOPI (the Public National Institute for Free Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property) resolved that there is no bureaucratic barrier against oxo-biodegradable technology, because the prohibition in a 2021 decree regulating biodegradable plastic bags was against oxo-degradable plastic and not against oxo-biodegradable plastic. The Ministry also recognised the ruling. Michael Laurier, chief executive of Symphony, said: This declaration in Peru is a significant event for Symphony, as for the first time in Latin America, a government institution has officially acknowledged the distinction between oxo-degradable and oxo-biodegradable technologies, and the fact that d2w does not create microplastics. We are confident that this confirmation will reassure manufacturers and end-users alike as to the validity of d2w as a cost-effective biodegradable alternative to ordinary plastic. Our local distributor expects that this will generate new d2w customers and increased sales in Peru, and we believe this should also be the case for the whole Latin America region." As well as having implications for growth, Symphony said the legal action also vindicates its long-term and ongoing advocacy strategy in the region, based upon transparent and technically-led engagement with legislators and opinion-formers. Kore Potash PLC (AIM:KP2, ASX:KP2, JSE:KP2) was 12% heavier at 1.2p after it provided additional information on the outcomes of the optimisation study for the Kola Potash Project located within the Republic of Congo. The capital cost of the project has been reduced by US$520mln to US$1.83 billion on an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis compared to the capital cost of US$2.35 billion on an equivalent EPC basis mentioned in the definitive feasibility study. The construction period has been reduced to 40 months from the DFS construction period of 46 months. Kore Potash has a market capitalisation of 40.5mln. 3.10pm: Tintra appoints Time Machine guy as chief scientific officer Tintra PLC (AIM:TNT) has appointed a chief science officer, Dr Joe Lyske, who is co-founder of Time Machines Capital 2 Limited. Quick, someone notify Marty McFly. It is through Tintras relationship with Time Machines that Dr Lyske first joined the group's activities as part of the Tintra 3.0 Ltd team, the artificial intelligence (AI) joint venture announced on 24 November 2021, where he made a considerable contribution to the patent application announced on 16 June 2022. He has invented and patented several creative AI core technologies one of which resulting in the world's first AI engine that atomises, re-constructs and edits any music to video, instantly. 2.20pm: CareTech surges to just below founders' offer price CareTech Holdings (AIM:CTH) PLC has agreed to the 750p-per-share cash takeover offer from its founders and has recommended that shareholders support it. The boards independent committee, consisting of non-executive directors Jamie Cumming, Moira Livingston and Adrian Stone, was said to have reached an agreement with the Amalfi Bidco vehicle of founders Farouq and Haroon Sheikh, the executive chairman and chief executive, over the deal, which values the group at 870.3mln and will be completed via a scheme of arrangement. Shares in the specialist care and housing support services shot up 21% to 740p, just below the offer price. 1.30pm: Petro Matad slides after full-year results disappoint Petro Matad Limited (AIM:MATD, OTC:PRTDF) shares retreated at the old hurry-up after the Mongolian oil explorer released its results for 2021. The shares were off 11% at 2.55p as the company posted losses of US$2.1mln versus losses of US$3.2mln in 2020. Petro Matad has been pushing for local and central government action on the conflicts in the land laws since they first affected the company's activities in 2019. Recent progress and the elevation of the issue to the highest level of government are positive but the matters have still not been resolved and until they are, the company will not mobilise without legally valid permits in place, it told shareholders. 12.40pm: Genel Energy has the readies in the bin Genel Energy PLC (LSE:GENL, OTC:GEGYY) perked up by 4% to 140.8p after it received payments for oil sales during March from the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), with its share amounting to US$60.6mln. The company noted that some US$24.2mln related to the Tawke fields production while US$15.6mln was from the Tawke override facility, US$13.7mln related to the receivable facility, meanwhile, the Taq Taq and Sarta fields contributed US$2.5mln and US$4.6mln respectively. It added that Genel is now owed some US$68mln from the KRG for oil sales for the period from November 2019 to February 2020 along with the suspended override from March to December 2020. 11.50am: Caspian Sunrise's rally stalls as it posts increased losses Caspian Sunrise PLC (AIM:CASP) shareholders saw the sun go down on its share price on Monday morning after it issued results for 2021. The company is focused on Kazakhstan but that did not stop the share price from being hammered following Russias invasion of Ukraine. It has recovered over the last month, helped by the companys assertion that it has not experienced any significant issues in delivering its oil via the Russian pipeline network. Oil prices have, of course, been rocketing and although Urals Oil, as the oil and gas companys product is categorised, is selling at between US$25 and US$35 a barrel below Brent crude, the company observed it is a world away from 2020, when we faced $16 per barrel and limited interest in our oil. Nevertheless, the company posted a loss of US$4.84mln compared to a loss of US$1.07mln in 2020 despite revenue rising to US$25.0mln from US$14.3mln. We firmly believe the Russian pipeline network will remain available to transport our Kazakh oil, however if that were not to be the case, or if the discount to Brent of our oil significantly widens, we would seek alternative distribution options avoiding Russia, the company said. Other delivery destinations include China, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan with each option involving additional transportation costs. An alternative would be to sell all oil produced on the domestic market. A better alternative would be to sell direct[ly] to one of the new mini refineries setting up in the region, which would eliminate a large part of the transportation and delivery costs, it added. The shares were down 14% at 4.4p but were comfortably above their May low-point of 2.55p. 10.55am: PZ Cussons (LSE:PZC) cleans up PZ Cussons (LSE:PZC) PLC, a producer of hygiene products such as Carex, said in a trading update to the market today that it expects like-for-like sales to grow 3% and earnings to be in line with expectations in 2022. It said growth has been driven by improvements in its pricing, as the demand for hand sanitising products in its Carex range normalises following the Covid-19 pandemic. The shares were up 2.3% at 202p in mid-morning trading. 10.00am: Warpaint London scrubs up well after AGM statement Warpaint London PLC (AIM:W7L) scrubbed up well after a trading statement issued ahead of its annual general meeting. The shares advanced 12% to 126p after the specialist supplier of colour cosmetics and owner of the W7 and Technic brands said it had experienced strong trading in 2022. Sales for the six months to 30 June 2022 are anticipated to be in excess of 24mln, up from 18.4mln in the first half of 2021. The first-half revenues are a record level for the group and ahead of the board's expectations at the start of the year. 9.05am: Energetic starts for Verditek and Inspirit Verditek PLC (AIM:VDTK) was top of the risers with a 42% gain at 2.55p after its distribution partner entered into a joint venture with Protan AB. The solar panel maker will be the exclusive supplier of lightweight solar panels to the new joint venture between its distribution partner Bradclad Group, the Yorkshire-based roof system manufacturer, and Protan AB, the Norwegian-based manufacturer that is the second largest, single-ply roofing membrane supplier in Europe. The collaboration will see the integration of Verditeks's lightweight solar into a market-leading membrane roofing product that enables solar to be used in large-scale applications where traditional heavy glass solar cannot; these include large out-of-town retail sheds, warehouses and factories, Verditek said. Verditeks surge put Inspirit Energy Holdings PLC (LSE:INSP) slightly in the shade although it is unlikely Inspirit shareholders will be complaining about a 30% share price hike to 0.0385p. Inspirit rose after an update on the waste heat recovery (WHR) system that is being built and tested in Poland, which given its proximity to Ukraine had made sourcing materials and components challenging. Nevertheless, the unit has provided the highest recorded output of over 30 kW in the first stage build test period. British Gas owner Centrica PLC (LSE:CNA) has reportedly withdrawn an offer to buy the customer list of Bulb, which went into taxpayer-funded administration last year. Centrica was believed to have made an offer for the companys customer list, which excluded its brand, offices and staff. The Financial Times reported that the exit leaves just two bidders in the running to acquire the bust energy company, which was forced into administration after wholesale gas prices surged last year. Octopus Energy made a last-minute bid for the company after the April deadline, while Abu Dhabi-based energy company Masdar was also reported to be bidding for Bulb's assets. They were the only bidders to put firm offers forward to Lazard, which is reportedly running the sale process, out of at least six companies that had expressed their interest to submit non-binding bids. On its website, renewable power supplier Octopus said it has received 16 times more investment than Bulb, the UKs biggest failing energy company. A National Audit Office report this month suggested that soaring wholesale gas prices, which rose six-fold between February and December 2021, had forced Bulb out of the market. The government attempted to rescue the failing energy companys 1.7 million stranded customers as part of the biggest energy bailout since the recent energy crisis. According to the National Audit Office, the government spent 900mln on an administrator and expects to spend 1bn to run Bulb's operations until next year. Ofgem said at the time that the appointment of an administrator would ensure Bulb customers see no disruption to their supply, their price plan will remain the same and any outstanding credit balances will be honoured. Bulb's founder and chief executive, Hayden Wood, was still receiving a 250,000 a year salary when questioned by ministers in April, which Labour politician Andy McDonald asked whether was "morally justifiable". Wood told Parliament he was kept on by the company to support customers and help the governments attempt to sell the business. Citigroup said in an analyst note today that it recommends Centrica shares as a Buy after it was readmitted to the FTSE 100 at the last quarterly reshuffle. Centrica's shares rose 1.83% in early trades this morning. 1. Retail giants divided over online sales tax A retail war is raging over the introduction of an online sales tax, with Asda joining Amazon and Asos in lobbying against, while the likes of Tesco and B&Q owner Kingfisher are in favour. Read more 2. British Airways staff plan summer strike Members of the Unite trade union who work for BA at the London hub have voted in favour of industrial action, joining colleagues who are with the GMB union. Read more 3. Wise CEO being investigated over tax defaults HMRC published a list of business and individual tax defaults last September, saying he failed to pay 720,495 of tax for the 2017-18 tax year and received a fine of 366,000. Read more 4. FTSE 100 closes ahead Britain's top share index finished Monday in positive territory, up over 49 points, or 0.69%, at 7,258 Read more 5. 88 Energy signs deal for exploration data The company, in a statement, told investors that a licensing agreement with SAExploration gives it the use of 3D seismic data for the Franklin Bluffs area Read more Let's take a look ahead at some of tomorrow's news Read more Sunrise Resources said its CS Natural Pozzolan has been conditionally approved by the California Department of Transport (Caltrans) for use in the states infrastructure projects. CS Natural Pozzolan is now on the Caltrans list of approved materials for cementitious materials for use in concrete, said Sunrise. Caltrans is the government body responsible for the award of state-funded infrastructure construction projects in California. Patrick Cheetham, Sunrise's executive chairman, added: "I am delighted that Caltrans has conditionally approved the CS Natural Pozzolan. This is good news for the CS Project. Whilst we were confident that the CS Natural Pozzolan would pass Caltrans's testing procedures, this is an important step forward as many concrete specifiers look to this list as an independent endorsement when specifying for a wider range of non-Caltrans projects." Red Rock Resources has announced a new cobalt joint venture in the Democratic Republic of Congo with the acquisition of a 58% holding in the Kimono cobalt-copper project (KCCP) in Haut Katanga province. Simaks, a joint venture between Whitewater and state-mining group SODIMICO, is the vendor. RRR paid $50,000 for 58% of KCCP with further payments of US$25,000 per quarter up to a total of $400,000. Andrew Bell, Red Rock chairman, said: "Our thorough technical and legal due diligence on this project included the search for and collation of historic information, as well as sampling and mapping on site. We are delighted to have been able to arrive at acceptable terms for entry into this exciting and historically very high-grade cobalt project. RC drill rig operating along strike from the historic Rangoon workings. Cardinia Plant site is in the upper right background. Kin Mining NL (ASX:KIN) has struck more wide zones of gold mineralisation at Rangoon prospect of the Cardinia Gold Project in Western Australia, revealed during the Eastern Corridor exploration program targeting the underexplored area. The company encountered what it considers significant new zones of mineralisation in the southeast section of the Rangoon historical workings in reverse circulation (RC) drilling, with highlight intersections including: 32 metres at 2.98 g/t gold from 129 metres, including 12 metres at 5.62 g/t from 129 metres and 12 metres at 2.25 g/t from 149 metres; 15 metres at 3.03 g/t from 162 metres; 7 metres at 2.77 g/t from 76 metres; and, 4 metres at 6.19 g/t from 121 metres. The mineralisation in this area remains open to the south and down-dip to the east. Kin Mining also observed broad zones of shallow gold to the east of this area, identifying steeply east-dipping mineralisation supported by previous near-surface quartz-sulphide intersections including: 19 metres at 2.48 g/t gold from 91 metres; 12 metres at 3.04 g/t from 62 metres; and 43 metres at 1.03 g/t from 39 metres including 15 metres at 1.55 g/t from 48 metres. Further vindication of Eastern Corridor focus We are excited to see more thick zones of high-grade gold in the final batch of assays from recent RC drilling at Rangoon, Kin Mining managing director Andrew Munckton said. This is a further vindication of our focus on the underexplored Eastern Corridor and we believe that we have now developed a very good understanding of the orientation and controls on the mineralisation. Rangoon contains several strong lodes and broad zones of mineralisation that appear to be improving with grade as we progress deeper and to the south. The mineralisation is predominantly primary, sulphide-hosted mineralisation which is easily recognisable and has the same origins as the other mineralisation found along the Eastern Corridor with similar strong silver grade, alteration and pathfinder minerals. Importantly, recent metallurgical test-work at Cardinia Hill has shown excellent recovery of gold and silver from similar sulphide ores, which bodes well for the future economic potential of mineralisation delineated along this corridor. These Rangoon lodes are wide and high grade (up to 32 metres at 3.0 g/t in the latest results) and sit adjacent to the Helens Fault and link between the Helens Fault and other parallel structures like the Fiona Fault and the Cardinia Hill Fault. The Eastern Corridor mineralisation as intersected in the latest drilling at Rangoon is also likely to persist to significant depth we know that high-grade zones persist up to in excess of 250 metres deep nearby at Helens and Cardinia Hill at similar grades. These latest results confirm our view that the Eastern Corridor will continue to yield further high-grade lodes, allowing Kin to delineate new resources and grow our overall inventory. Kin Minings interpretation of these latest results points to high-grade quartz lodes combining to form a broad quartz sulphide zone that corresponds with and dips east from the Helens Fault. The company believes there is outstanding potential to expand the existing 32,000-ounce mineral resource at Rangoon and has scheduled an updated mineral resource estimate for the Eastern Corridor region for the third quarter of this year. The GEMCO trailer-mounted auger in action at Wyacca over new structural target zones covered by shallow cover and scree. Taruga Minerals Ltd (ASX:TAR) has kicked off an auger drilling program at its wholly-owned Mt Craig Project in South Australia. With the campaign now underway, the explorer hopes to shape geochemical profiles across Mt Craigs rare earth element (REE) and newly defined copper targets, which lie between 2 and 20 metres below the surface in shallow cover. Taruga honed in on these targets thanks to a recent review program, which incorporated high-resolution geophysics, mapping and modern drill data. In tandem with the auger program, Taruga plans to hit the ground with a high-resolution ground magnetics program, which will include geophysical modelling and mapping in preparation for an upcoming reverse circulation drill program. The program recently secured a financial boost from the South Australian Governments Accelerated Discovery Initiative, which provided Taruga with $650,000 to support REE and copper exploration. Preparing to test more targets than ever before Commenting on the campaigns commencement, Taruga CEO Thomas Line said: This auger program will provide geochemical profiles of the soil and regolith over targets concealed by shallow cover. The auger can drill down to approximately 14 metres, meaning that we can obtain indicators of clay-hosted REE deposits as well as concealed copper mineralisation that cant be seen from the surface. The targets we have identified are comprised of previously unknown anomalies, discovered by our team, and the ground in these areas has never before been drilled. We have applied our own concepts and new data to build these new targets and prioritise them. Auger results will assist in guiding RC drilling set to commence in July, during which we will be testing more targets than we ever have before at Mt Craig. "The $650,000 of State Government funding awarded recently has supercharged our exploration budget and allowed us to accelerate the systematic targeting of new prospects at Mt Craig. Pantoro Ltd (ASX:PNR)s Paul Cmrlec speaks with Proactive about construction at the 50%-owned Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia, which is on time and within budget despite some COVID hiccups. The managing director highlights work being done at the Scotia and Green Lantern mines, with milestones including the practical completion of the companys process plant to be finalised in August and a resource and reserve update from Green Lantern. Finally, Cmrlec discusses PGE drilling at Halls Creek, part of its Nicolsons Project with news due shortly and the value that lies within the company. Tamboran Resources Ltd (ASX:TBN) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Jemena Ltd to secure access to the Northern Gas Pipeline (NGP) for the companys proposed 100 TJ per day Maverick Pilot Development in the core of Beetaloo Sub-Basin within the Northern Territory. The company will now kick-off front end engineering and design (FEED) studies to progress the proposed Maverick Pilot Development. Whats more, Tamboran will begin stakeholder engagement activities for the selected pipeline route and secure NGP access agreements with Jemena, planned to be completed during the second half of 2022. Strategically important Tamboran managing director and CEO Joel Riddle said: It is strategically important for Tamboran to secure access to the Jemena-owned Northern Gas Pipeline, an important piece of infrastructure and currently the only gas pipeline route connecting the Northern Territory to Australias East Coast gas market. The binding MoU contemplates Tamboran securing firm capacity on the NGP of approximately 100 terajoules per day, which will support the sanctioning of the proposed Maverick Pilot Development. If the planned three well drilling program within our EP 136 permit is successful, we expect to book approximately 1 TCF of 2C contingent gas resources, convertible to 2P gas reserves upon finalisation of a gas sales agreement, which will support the Maverick Pilot Development. Production is targeted to commence by the end of the calendar year 2025, delivering much-needed gas molecules to the East Coast. Tamboran will now fully fund FEED activities for the proposed Maverick Pilot Development, which will involve the potential to integrate renewable technologies, in line with our aspiration to be a net-zero gas producer when production commences. Maverick Pilot Development A long-term transportation access agreement with Jemena would support the sanctioning of the proposed Maverick Pilot Development, planned for the end of 2023. Over 2022 and 2023, Tamboran plans to drill three horizontal wells within EP 136. Based on a Netherland, Sewell and Associates, Inc (NSAI) maturation study, if successful, these wells could deliver about 1 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of 2C contingent resources, sufficient to support the proposed Maverick Pilot Development. Tamboran is targeting initial production from the development by the end of 2025. Strong relationship Tamboran is strategically positioned to commercialise the resources to address a forecast domestic energy shortfall and as a feed supplier to existing Australian LNG plants. Riddle adds: Over the past two years, the Tamboran and Jemena teams have built a strong relationship, evaluating the most cost effective and efficient way to bring Tamborans low-carbon dioxide gas in the Beetaloo to Australias East Coast gas market. With the current state of the gas crisis on Australias East Coast, we are proud to play a part in the solution to not only deliver low-cost gas to Australian households, businesses and manufacturers, but also help reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the region where approximately 60 per cent of electricity generation is still from coal fired power. Development of the Beetaloo Sub-basin is expected to support Australias energy security and drive significant economic activity within the Northern Territory. "This includes potential generation of billions of dollars in royalties to the Northern Territory Government and the creation of approximately 4,000 jobs in the region. About Jemena Jemena owns and operates a diverse portfolio of energy processing and transportation assets in Australia. With more than $12 billion of major utility infrastructure being operated and more than $1.2 billion in new midstream assets over the past decade, Jemena has developed industry-leading expertise to design, construct and operate gas processing and transmission pipelines that connect new fields to the East Coast market. The companys portfolio of owned and operated pipelines includes the Northern Gas Pipeline. Jemena managing director Frank Tudor said: This MoU will see Jemena support Tamborans investment in the Beetaloo Basin and establish a credible path to market for new gas utilising the existing Northern Gas Pipeline. Tamborans project will help place downward pressure on gas prices and we expect the development of the Beetaloo will create thousands of local jobs, many in regional parts of the Northern Territory. We have been impressed with the Tamboran operational team and their deep knowledge and experience in developing world-class shale resources and continue to believe that the NGP is the most efficient and effective way of bringing gas from the Northern Territory to Australias East Coast. Latrobe Magnesium Limited (ASX:LMG)s David Paterson discusses with Proactives Andrew Scott the drawdown of $10 million to go towards the construction of a demonstration plant in Victorias Latrobe Valley. The money is part of the companys $23 million project finance facility and will enable Latrobe to enter into agreements for the supply of long lead time capital items, including the spray roaster and furnaces, most of which will be sourced in Australia to mitigate supply issues, which have had an impact. Paterson highlights that it is aiming to finish construction of its demonstration plant by March 2023 with commissioning to take place by June 30, 2023 and says that once the demonstration plant is operating successfully, a commercial plant will be developed to a capacity of more than 10,000 tonnes per annum, which is expected to generate in the order of $110 million in revenue and EBITDA of $42 million. He notes that project activities are on schedule with more than 46% of engineering completed and half of the equipment packages tendered to the market, while also giving insight into its project plans. Sprintex Ltd (ASX:SIX) continues to make progress on many aspects of its strategy encompassing clean air compressor technology. The compressor engineering, research, product development and manufacturing company is exploring a number of ventures as it works to bring its technology to market. In a nutshell, Sprintex designs and manufactures electric and mechanically driven clean air compressors that can be used in combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells and industrial, oil-free, clean air applications, including wastewater treatment. Outlining todays company update, Sprintex managing director Jay Upton said: Our projects are tracking well and we are looking forward to delivering on our numerous programs. Working with Aeristech Sprintex has shipped off samples of its 6-kilowatt, 10-kilowatt and 25-kilowatt e-compressors to English aerospace company Aeristech. Currently, the Sprintex and Aeristech engineering teams are engaged in technical discussions, which will help both parties prepare for more durability tests next month. All 30 of the initial samples will be delivered to Aeristech by the end of August. Sprintex has also secured a purchase order from Aeristech for an industrial blower system, which will feature Sprintexs mixed-flow e-compressor design. The ~A$31,000 system is expected to deliver the first demonstrator to Aeristech UK in July, where it will be installed with Aeristechs own motor and motor inverter. Beyond the purchase orders, Sprintex has completed the initial design work on a 6-kilowatt heating, ventilation and air conditioning e-compressor for Aeristech. Feedback for the design, which incorporates a 150,000-rotations-per-minute, ultra-high-speed, two-stage compressor assembly, is resoundingly positive so far. While Sprintex is in collaboration with Aeristech, the company will develop its own motor design and customised AC inverter for heat pump systems (as the Sprintex industrial e-compressor does). This opens to the door to the heat pump market and Sprintex hopes to consider this verticals feasibility and viability down the line. Fuel compressor project in pipeline Alongside the latest Aeristech order, Sprintex is working on a purchase order for a new 5-kilowatt fuel cell compressor. The product design has been given the greenlight, so Sprintex will deliver five initial samples to the customer in July. To cover design and sample costs, the client paid Sprintex ~A$33,000. On next months calendar July is shaping up as a busy period for the Sprintex team; the company plans to cut the ribbon on its first production-ready axial flow industrial e-compressor by months end. The technology will use the ASX-listers patented axial flow e-compressor, which is powered by a customised, high-speed, three-phase motor convertor that can deliver more than 98% efficiency. Sprintex also plans to release its patented S15i 3kW e-compressor platform in July. This platform features an air-cooled motor and integrated controller and it weighs between 3 and 3.5 kilograms. Whats more, the companys variant models are compatible to both a 48-80V DC input and a three-phase AC input. Sprintex said it had fielded lots of interest in the new product range and it would keep the market updated on further developments. Finally, Sprintexs 25-kilowatt fuel cell compressor will be upgraded in July using a Sprintex in-house motor design and highly customised motor controller. Sprintex will provide samples to fuel cell manufacturers in August. Automotive performance division Sprintexs automotive performance division delivered the first of its generation 2 supercharger systems for the Jeep Wrangler JK, JL and JT variants this month. Looking ahead, the company expects to scale up to full production of this product range in July. Meanwhile, Sprintex said development work on its Toyota Tacoma supercharger system was well advanced. Promisingly, a new design that shares many common components with the companys Jeep systems has allowed the system to be developed with lower design, tooling and production costs. Subsequently, the company said there was potential for improved margins on both its Jeep and Toyota Tacoma systems. Sprintex plans to launch the Toyota Tacoma at the SEMA Automotive convention in November this year. Cookie Policy Overview This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping us understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. See our Cookie Policy for more information. Alice Queen Ltd (ASX:AQX)'s Andrew Buxton joins Proactive to recap the company's latest shareholder meeting. Buxton said it was great to reconnect with AQX's shareholders and relay "some pretty exciting plans" surrounding the company's project portfolio. Right now, Alice Queen is focused on its prospects in Fiji, where neighbour Lion One Metals recently announced what's effectively one of the best gold intersections globally in the last year. Meanwhile, work continues at AQX's Horn Island Gold Project, which continues to field strong gold hits. Buxton firmly believes that Horn Island will one day host multiple deposits, ultimately representing between 2 and 3 million gold ounces. United Lithium CEO Michael Dehn likes to have a hand in multiple projects at once, including assets in Canada, the US, Sweden and Finland Michael Dehn is not the typical Bay Street junior mining CEO - he closes multi-million dollar financings and major strategic deals from his alpaca farm in southwestern Ontario. Proactive caught up with Dehn at PDAC 2022 over drinks in a bustling hotel lobby just outside the conference to talk about his passions of farming and lithium mining. Its clear from speaking with him that alpacas, goats and geology share an equal place in his heart. So its no surprise to hear that Dehn likes to have a hand in multiple projects at once. United Lithium (CSE:ULTH) Corp, one of the junior mining companies that Dehn helms, is a hard rock lithium explorer with projects in Canada, the US, Sweden and Finland. If thats not enough, the company is working on processing technology, making concentrate, lithium carbonate and soon lithium hydroxide. The group acquired the Bergby project in Sweden last year and just started drilling on the property, with positive results so far. Bergby is a large property at 10,828 hectares, nestled in central Sweden near Northvolts lithium battery gigafactory. United Lithium (CSE:ULTH) is hoping to put out a resource estimate on the project as quickly as possible, with two drills turning and talks of bringing in a third. We have such a large land position, Dehn told Proactive. The only part of the mining cycle that we can compress is the exploration stage. The best way to do that is throw more drills at the project. Moving next door, Uniteds Kietyonmaki project in Finland is a high-grade, 1.5% lithium oxide project with multiple dykes of up to 40 metres of 1.1% lithium. Good hard rock, near-surface, an hour from Helsinki, right off of a major road its very similar geologically to most of the hard rock projects in Quebec. The company is putting a team together for a drill program to commence as soon as possible. New lithium project in US Earlier this year, it added to its portfolio by staking a large land position in the historic lithium-beryllium producing area of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The area has a rich history: decades ago, there were nearly 40 small-scale lithium mines in operation that, in todays dollars, would account for nearly $500 million in lithium production. Within Uniteds claim area, there are over 20 past-producing mines producing multiple commodities including mica, lithium, beryllium, quartz and feldspar. On the fringes are some patented lode claims where there was additional lithium production. Essentially, United has staked all of the open pegmatite in the area near historic production that doesnt interfere with tourism, historically significant or culturally significant areas. Were not going into virgin territory, were in historically mined areas. Its maybe 100 feet deep, if were lucky, but even more likely, 20 or 30 feet. We purposely stayed away from the Keystone area near Mount Rushmore even though it was a substantial spodumene producing area, and we stayed away from Crazy Horse we understand their importance to the local economy and want to work with our neighbours, not have them upset with us. As Dehn puts it, since there are already past-producing mines on-site, the challenge is moving from the known to the unknown. The strategy is to use the geochemistry from an earlier sampling program, combine it with old occurrences and work outwards. The hope is that by the fall of 2022, United will have enough information to set up a drill program and get permits in order to drill before the end of the year. Currently, in the US, North Carolina is the focus for hard rock lithium mining thanks to Piedmont Lithiums Piedmont project. That hasnt stopped companies in Uniteds peer group from looking at more unusual deposits salars, brines, clays that lack commercial technology to produce. Thats not a problem with hard rock lithium. We have the technology to produce, its been around for over a hundred years, Dehn said. We were looking for areas with high grade lithium, historic production, derisking the technology and going into safe mining jurisdictions. Were really looking at derisking the project, the political risk and trying to be first on the ground. Actually Im quite shocked that we were able to be the first on the ground. Value add technology Most junior companies would be comfortable with four exploration properties under its belt. But United Lithium is different. The group is testing lithium processing technology to drive more environmentally-friendly product with higher recoveries. So far, testing has produced a higher-grade spodumene concentrate, with better recoveries of lithium in production of lithium carbonate than typical processes and at lower temperatures and reagent quantities. United Lithium is hoping to produce lithium hydroxide at bench scale. Dehn said that the group is moving forward on multiple exploration and technology fronts simultaneously, keenly aware of the supply-demand imbalance in the lithium market. We are looking where possible to reduce timelines and move each of our projects toward completion of all-important feasibility studies, so we can economically and sustainably realize the value of our projects and technologies, the CEO said. The company is also looking at producing value-added consumer and industrial products from the feldspar, quartz and mica by-products that may be recovered in the mining of lithium pegmatites. Dehn has a message for investors counting on every new technology in the lithium industry working. You may be surprised at how long it takes to get a new technology commercialized, and theres a risk to that. When you see what the supply and demand variation is, a lot of that future forecasting counts on some of these projects that have NI 43-101 resources coming into production, even though the financed dont yet have a proven technology that works. They arent even commercial in some cases. When you see lithium prices today, I dont think were at the peak I think were going to continue to see price increases and see a bigger deficit than the market forecasts right now. He has a point. Take Europe, for example: there are about 40 gigafactories and only one mine going into production on the continent. One domestic mine to supply 40 plants doesnt work, Dehn noted. Tesla alone needs 165% of current lithium production globally in order to hit its target of 20 million electric cars per year. What happens when you add Volvo, Volkswagen, Mercedes, Ford? Theres just not enough lithium for the EV space. Once the lithium discussion was done, Dehn had to take a quick phone call. One of the alpacas on his farm was about to give birth. Contact Angela at angela@proactiveinvestors.com Follow her on Twitter @AHarmantas The FTSE 100 made a positive start, climbing 61 points to 7,270. Miners Glencore, Rio Tinto and Antofagasta lead the way on Londons blue chip-index. Russia missed a deadline to pay some Taiwanese investors its international bonds. It is the first time in over a century since the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 it is in foreign debt default. G7 leaders, including Johnson and Biden, have made detailed plans for US$600bn in funding for the developing world. The move, which will rival Chinas multi-trillion-dollar initiative, will help improve infrastructure in low and middle-income nations. Wise said it continued to support its chief executive Kristo Karmann while he is being investigated by the City watchdog over a deliberate tax default, which the board said it is taking very seriously. After HMRC published a list of business and individual tax defaults, the board of the international payments company carried out an investigation with support from external lawyers. MGC Pharmaceuticals hailed the big leap forward made by researchers carrying out a preclinical assessment of one of its lead assets. Preliminary results showed CimetrA has a wide-ranging application as an anti-inflammatory treatment. ImmuPharma said partner Avion moved to the final stage of the US regulatory process ahead of a new phase III trial of Lupuzor. Lupuzor is a treatment for the autoimmune disorder lupus. The RCS-1 well, which was spud on May 23, 2022, targeted a three-way fault bounded structure with multiple high-quality reservoir objectives Arrow Exploration Corp (TSX-V:AXL, AIM:AXL, OTC:CSTPF) CEO Marshall Abbott has said the company is encouraged by the results of the Rio Cravo Sur-1 (RCS-1) well testing on the Tapir Block in the Llanos Basin of Colombia. The RCS-1 well, which was spud on May 23, 2022, targeted a three-way fault bounded structure with multiple high-quality reservoir objectives on the Tapir Block in the Llanos Basin of Colombia. The well was drilled to a total measured depth of 8,656 feet (8,105 feet true vertical depth) and encountered six hydrocarbon-bearing intervals totaling 55 net feet of oil pay. In a statement, Abbott commented: "We're encouraged by the material results of RCS-1, the third well on the Tapir block. RCS-1 identified new zones for further exploitation with flowing results returning better than expected." He added: "We're currently completing the C7B zone, targeting to be on stream this week. This increases Arrow's production and reserves. The company intends to bring RCS-1 on slowly and increase production to best manage the oil reservoir. "Arrow's current production is providing positive cashflow for the company during a high commodity price environment. Continued strong production rates from existing tied-in wells combined with the encouraging results from new drills in Colombia support the Company's objective of achieving a production rate of 3,000 boe/d (barrels of oil equivalent per day) within 18 months of its AIM listing (completed in October 2021). This is an exciting time for Arrow, and we look forward to providing further updates on our progress," the CEO concluded. Specific production test rates for the isolated new zones (shallowest to deepest) include: Carbonera C7B: tested 1,872 barrels of oil per day (bopd) - net 936 bopd - peak rate of 30 API crude The zone was tested on June 22, 2022, for 33 hours at an average rate of 1,076 bopd - net 538 bopd Ubaque: tested 184 bopd - net 92 bopd - peak rate of 12-13 API crude The zone was tested June 13, 2022, for 38.5 hours at an average rate of 33 bopd - net 16.5 bopd The company said test results are not necessarily indicative of long-term performance or ultimate recovery After the C7B test performance, the decision was made to put the C7B on production. Arrow said it decided not to test the up-hole C7 zones, and the Gacheta C, as they had been proven to be oil bearing in RCE-2. The test of the Gacheta B zone was cut short due to formation water production. The company said the RCS-1 well costs came in under budget. Arrow Exploration - operating in Colombia via a branch of its 100% owned subsidiary Carrao Energy S.A. - is a company with a portfolio of premier Colombian oil assets that are underexploited, under-explored and offer high potential growth. The company's business plan is to expand oil production from some of Colombia's most active basins, including the Llanos, Middle Magdalena Valley (MMV) and Putumayo Basin. The asset base is predominantly operated with high working interests, and the Brent-linked light oil pricing exposure combines with low royalties to yield attractive potential operating margins. Arrow's 50% interest in the Tapir Block is contingent on the assignment by Ecopetrol SA of such interest to Arrow. Arrow's seasoned team is led by a hands-on executive team supported by an experienced board. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com The fresh visual identity was created in partnership with leading creative agency GrandArmy and eflects the essence of Numinus' vision Numinus Wellness Inc has launched a new visual brand identity that will be applied to all its assets, including its clinics, research sites and digital properties, by the end of 2022. The fresh visual identity, created in partnership with leading creative agency GrandArmy, reflects the essence of Numinus' vision and complements its continued growth as a leading mental health care company providing psychedelic-assisted therapies across North America. "Numinus has grown significantly since our founding in 2018. Our recent expansion to the US marked a key opportunity to revitalize our brand while unifying our service offerings," Payton Nyquvest, the company's founder and CEO said in a statement. "Our new updated identity will be instrumental for Numinus as we expand our market presence, drive increased brand awareness, and, ultimately, advance as a leader in psychedelic-assisted therapy and mental health care across North America," he added. Numinus branded assets and websites are immediately being rebranded, followed by the rebranding of subsidiaries Mindspace, the Neurology Centre of Toronto, Cedar Psychiatry, Cedar Clinical Research and Foundations for Change later in the year. Numinus expects all assets to be rebranded to showcase one unified brand by the end of 2022. "We underwent a rigorous rebranding exercise, exploring sacred geometry and symbolism to create a brand that is timeless and engaging, and we can't wait to bring it to life in the coming months," said Danielle Hinan, VP, Marketing at Numinus. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Alternus Energy PLC (EURONEXT:ALT) said it has signed agreements to acquire an additional 184 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic (PV) in Poland, bringing its total operational portfolio in the country to 272.6MW. The parks, ranging in size from 1MW-10MW with the majority having government-backed off-take contracts already in place, are either currently in construction or have already achieved commercial operation date (COD), the company said. This partnership with Projekt Solartechnik enables Alternus to further expand our presence in the Polish market, immediately and over time, Alternus chairman and CEO Vincent Browne said in a statement. Alternus has been and remains very active in Poland with a target to achieve over 1GW of operational PV solar there in the next few years. Alternus is acquiring the parks from local developer Projekt Solartechnik (PST), a FAMUR and TDJ groups company, in what is to be the first in an ongoing partnership for the development and installation of PV solar parks in Poland, the company said. The entire 184MW portfolio is expected to achieve COD by mid-2023, with at least 45MW reaching COD by November 30, 2022. Closing of the transaction is conditional on the successful achievement of certain conditions precedent, it added. PST will perform the initial operation and maintenance activities for an agreed minimum period post-installation, with Alternus O&M subsidiary, Uper Energy BV, taking over thereafter under long-term service contracts. Alternus 160 million investment for the new solar parks in Poland will be funded by debt facilities, the company said, adding that the move supports Polands national decarbonisation goals. This transaction further underpins our commitment to Poland and brings our footprint to over 25% of this (1GW) goal. We are currently in discussions with PST for additional projects in support of this goal and look forward to further announcements in due course. We are very comfortable with (our) long-term investment in Poland, said Alternus CEO Browne. With over 10 years of experience in European markets, PST has built solar power stations in multiple locations, including England, Belgium, France, Germany, Romania, and Hungary. It has been operating in Poland since 2011, specialising in photovoltaic projects, industrial energy, and wind farms. Commenting on the transaction, PST CEO Maciej Marcjanik said: We are very pleased to partner with Alternus Energy and work together to achieve COD for this portfolio and hopefully, additional projects that are under discussion. We view this as a strategic partnership facilitating the advancement of our significant pipeline working towards achieving increased energy security and national decarbonisation targets, he added. Established in 2016, Alternus Energy is an international vertically integrated independent power producer (IPP). Headquartered in Ireland and listed on the Euronext Growth Market Oslo, the company develops, constructs, owns and operates utility-scale solar PV projects in multiple countries. It also has offices in Rotterdam and America. Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com Gratomic Inc. (TSX-V:GRAT, OTCQX:CBULF) chief operating officer Armando Farhate joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion with the latest drilling update and assay results from the company's Capim Grosso graphite project in Brazil. The graphite projects developer said the results continue to reflect the quality of the project. And with graphite prices rising sharply, Farhate said this adds to the positive economics of Gratomic's projects in Brazil and Namibia. Century Global Commodities Corp (TSX:CNT) CEO Sandy Chim joined Proactive's Stephen Gunnion to discuss the appointment of former Newfoundland premier Dwight Ball to the company's board of directors where he will assume the role of vice-chair. Chim telling Proactive that Ball will help oversee Century through a significant stage of development of Joyce Lake and other iron ore assets in the Labrador Trough in the provinces of Newfoundland and Labrador and Quebec. Riyadh, June 27 : Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud and visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi met here on Sunday to discuss bilateral ties and cooperation. Both sides exchanged views on regional and global issues to promote regional security and stability, Xinhua news agency reported, citing a report by the Saudi Press Agency. Al-Kadhimi landed here on Saturday and concluded his visit to the kingdom on Sunday before travelling to Iran. Before the trip, the state-run Iraqi News Agency reported al-Kadhimi would discuss several issues, including diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, with Saudi and Iranian leaders. To ease regional tensions, Baghdad hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia in 2021, and held the fifth round in April 2022. Tehran, June 27 : The new round of talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal is very likely to be held in Qatar's capital Doha, Iranian media has reported. News outlet - Nournews, affiliated with the country's Supreme National Security Council, tweeted that Qatar stands a "better chance of hosting the forthcoming talks" because of its "ongoing efforts to resume talks on lifting sanctions", Xinhua news agency reported. At a joint televised press conference on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and the visiting European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell announced that the talks would be resumed in the coming days to rescue the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). Since April 2021, eight rounds of talks have been held in Austria's capital Vienna between Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA to revive the deal. Iran signed the JCPOA with the world powers in July 2015, agreeing to curb its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions on the country. However, former U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the agreement in May 2018 and reimposed unilateral sanctions on Iran, prompting the latter to drop some of its commitments under the pact. The talks have been suspended since March when it was believed to be only a step away from a final agreement, raising deep concerns about their prospect. MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will vote on Tuesday whether to recommend that updated COVID-19 booster shots be used this fall to protect against Omicron and its highly contagious subvariants. Because the virus mutates so quickly, the FDA may approve the new vaccine formulations as COVID-19 cases are expected to surge again this winter. Given how fast the virus changes, lengthy human trials may have to be abandoned in favor of more laboratory tests and animal tests, the New York Times reported. Human trials can take up to five months, which can make the vaccine obsolete before it's even released to the public, according to the Times. Both Pfizer and Moderna have been testing updated booster shots that target the Omicron variant, with early trial results showing the tweaked shots boost protection against Omicron. Since then, subvariants of Omicron have surfaced and are spreading. As of June 18, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants accounted for 35% of all U.S. infections. "Omicron is clearly in the rearview mirror," Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told the Times. An Omicron booster isn't necessary unless it works against the newest Omicron subvariants, but "I havent seen evidence of that," he said. Even the FDA said in a briefing document prepared for the advisory committee meeting that the bivalent booster targeting both the original virus and Omicron is "already somewhat outdated." But Dr. Kelly Moore, president of Immunize.org, a nonprofit that works to increase vaccine rates, told the Times that an accelerated process is already used to update the flu vaccine each year. Although this is the first time the process would be used with COVID vaccines, they have been safely given to hundreds of millions of people, she noted. Updating them might call for "very well-educated guesswork," she said, that is "appropriate for the circumstances." Still, the chance exists that the virus will change again and make the updated vaccines ineffective. Dr. John Beigel, a clinical research director at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, told the Times, "They [the new vaccines] may be old news by the time the fall comes." Beigel said one option is to stick with the existing vaccines, which continue to provide robust protection against severe disease, while offering very little protection against infection. The advisory panel will likely split between those who believe a fall booster will be broadly necessary and those who would limit additional shots to high-risk individuals, the Times reported. Dr. Arnold Monto, a public health professor at the University of Michigan who chairs the FDA advisory panel, predicted that a broad swath of the population will be offered booster shots. "We know theres waning. We have to boost, and it's better to boost with something more relevant" than the existing vaccines, Monto told the Times. But Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the panel, countered that idea. "Hospitalizations are down. Deaths are way down because we are protected against serious illness. That's what matters," Offit told the Times. Only those over 70 and those over 50 who have serious underlying conditions will likely need a fall booster shot because COVID can have serious consequences for these people, Offit added. More information Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on COVID vaccines. SOURCE: New York Times Srinagar, June 27 : A terrorist has been arrested from Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir along with arms and ammunition, officials said on Monday. Doda Police along with security forces have arrested one terrorist Fareed Ahmed, resident of Koti Doda, and recovered one Chinese pistol, two magazines, 14 live cartridges and one mobile phone from his possession, they added. "As an increased security measure before the Amarnath yatra, a police party of Police Station Doda laid a naka on the outskirts of the town and intercepted a young man carrying arms and ammunition," police said. "The accused was taken into custody, and a special team started investigation into the matter. It has come to fore that Fareed Ahmad received arms and ammunition from one suspect during month of March and he was tasked to attack police personnel in Doda." Police said due to timely and swift action this nefarious plot was foiled. A case has been registered by the local police and investigation has been taken up. "Initial investigation revealed that subject is highly radicalised and used to receive calls from terror commanders based across the border, and was motivated to work for terror outfits in Kashmir valley and Doda region," police said. Kabul, June 27 : Amir Khan Muttaqi, acting Foreign Minister of the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, expressed optimism about with the regime's ties with the international community, saying that more countries are expected to reopen their diplomatic missions in Kabul soon. "We have good relations with all the world and our relations are getting better. We hope to have good achievements in the future too," TOLO News quoted Muttaqi as saying on Sunday. The acting Foreign Minister said that the Taliban's Islamic Emirate government seeks good relations with all the countries. "Our relations are official with the world. Although no one announced our recognition, that is another issue. But our embassies are opened in many countries and many countries have their embassies opened in Kabul," Muttaqi said. Russia, China, Pakistan, Iran, and Turkmenistan have accredited the Islamic Emirate's appointed diplomat in recent months, though all had initially refused to recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan. In the wake of the Taliban takeover last August, Western nations shut down their diplomatic posts in Kabul, Khaama Press reported. They have however, maintained contact with the group to facilitate the flow of humanitarian aid to the war-torn nation. The Taliban regime must comply with at least for conditions to potentially gain formal recognition: observe the rights or women and rights to education; form an inclusive government; and do not use Afghanistan for any attack against the region and the international community. Kabul, June 27 : The Chinese Embassy in Kabul is preparing to issue visas to Afghan businessmen, Beijing's envoy to Afghanistan has confirmed. The confirmation came during talks between Wang Yu, the Chinese Ambassador to Afghanistan, and the Taliban's acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi here, reports Khaama Press. In a tweet on Sunday, Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesman of the Foreign Ministry, said the two sides discussed earthquake relief, political issues, bilateral trade, humanitarian aid and the repatriation of Afghan students to China. At the meeting, Muttaqi called on the Chinese Ambassador to expedite the process of issuing Chinese visas to Afghan businessmen to which the envoy said that they were getting ready to start the procedure. Ambassador Wang also offered his sympathies to the families who were affected by last week's devastating earthquake in Paktika province, saying China's first consignment of humanitarian relief will arrive in Afghanistan on Monday. According to the envoy, the aid includes tents, blankets, folding beds, and other essential supplies. In response to the devastation caused by the quake, the Chinese government has already pledged an amount of $7.5 million in aid. Lucknow, June 27 : Trouble is brewing for two retired IAS officers in Uttar Pradesh. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the Rs 1,500-crore Gomti riverfront scam, has sought the state government's opinion on a probe into the role of the retired IAS officers Alok Ranjan and Deepak Singhal. Alok Ranjan was state chief secretary when the scam took place and Singhal was posted as the principal secretary, irrigation. He later went on to become the chief secretary. CBI sources said the agency has approached the state government for its opinion on investigating the role of the two IAS officers, which has not been probed as yet. The CBI has sent a letter in this connection to the state's appointment and personnel department, but the state government officials refused to confirm or deny the same. The CBI had started investigation into the case in 2017 on the recommendations of the Yogi Adityanath government. In November 2017, the CBI took over the case and filed an FIR against eight engineers of the irrigation department of different ranks in connection with the Gomti River Channelisation Project and Gomti River Front Development Project. The central investigation agency on February 17 also filed a charge sheet against senior assistant Raj Kumar Yadav, two directors of a private firm associated with the project, Himanshu Gupta and Kavish Gupta, and senior advisor of the project Badri Shrestha. The project involved construction of a rubber dam to maintain its water level, a stadium, an amphitheatre for 2,000 people, cycle and jogging tracks, a play area for children and a musical fountain. The Enforcement Department (ED) had also filed a criminal case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in March 2018 in connection with corruption in the Gomti Riverfront Development Project. New York, June 27 : An Indian-origin man was shot dead execution-style as he was sitting in a jeep near his home in New York, according to media reports. After the shooting on Saturday afternoon, Satnam Singh, 31, was taken to a local hospital where doctors declared him dead, the New York Daily News reported quoting police. The incident happened in the South Ozone Park neighbourhood, which is next to Richmond Hill where two Sikh men had been assaulted in April in what police classified as hate crimes. Both areas have large numbers of people of Indian origin. The News said that there was a discrepancy between the police and eyewitness accounts of Satnam Singh's shooting. It said that according to police, the shooter came on foot and shot him as he sat in the jeep, but a neighbour said the assailant had fired from a car and that her home security camera had captured the incident. AmNY news site said that as of Sunday morning there has been no arrest and police were unsure of the motive. The News, quoting police sources, said that Satnam Singh had borrowed the jeep from a friend and detectives were looking into whether he was the shooter's intended target or had been mistakenly killed by someone who actually wanted to attack the owner of the vehicle. In April, two Sikhs had their turbans knocked off and robbed in separate incidents in Richmond Hill. Police arrested two men in connection with those attacks and charged them with hate crimes. Kiev, June 27 : Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will virtually address the G7 Summit in Germany, during which he is expected to urge the delivery of more heavy weapons in the wake of Russia's ongoing war against Kiev. In his address to the country on Sunday, Zelensky said delaying arms deliveries was "an invitation to Russia to strike again and again", reports the BBC. "Partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," he said and called for air defence systems and fresh sanctions against Russia. The President's plea came after Russia fired a barrage of missile strikes on Kiev, the central city of Cherkasy where one person died, and the Kharkiv region, along with Chernihiv in the north and Zhytomyr and Lviv west of the capital. The strike on Starychi district in Lviv was just 30 km from the border with Poland, reports the BBC. On Saturday, the key eastern city of Severodonetsk also fell to Russia, which gave Moscow the control of nearly all of Luhansk region and much of neighbouring Donetsk, the two Russian-backed separatists regions that form the industrial Donbas. Meanwhile, the war in Ukraine is top of the G7 agenda and member nations are expected to promise further military support for Kiev and more sanctions on Moscow, says the BBC report. While German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has said that Russian missile strikes showed it was "right to stand together and support Ukrainians", US President Joe Biden claimed that his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin was counting on NATO and the G7 to "splinter... but we haven't and we're not going to". The G7 summit in Bavaria will be followed by a NATO meeting in Spain later in the week at which Zelensky is also expected to speak. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Chennai, June 27 : The Tamil Nadu Police have commenced a crackdown on drug traffickers, who were earlier on the radar for peddling and served jail terms. The state police chief C. Sylendra Babu ordered the crackdown, an official said. This is following several cases of drug trafficking being reported, and many students in colleges and even in schools turning peddlers and later drug addicts. The Chennai Police had destroyed 1,300 kg of ganja worth Rs 2 crore, which was seized as booty in 68 cases. The drugs were destroyed following an order of the Principal Special Court in the presence of Chennai City police commissioner Shankar Jiwal. Police during a recent study found out that more than 60 per cent of road accidents were due to either drunken driving and in recent times drug intake becoming a reason for the road accidents. The study also found that in most of the murders, rape and molestation cases, it was found that drug was playing a major role. A special team was constituted, which will be taking up the responsibility for the crackdown of the drug syndicates in the state. Police have also started investigating some international students, who are in educational institutions in the state under the exchange programmes of the Government of India. This is following the arrest of a Ghana national during a crackdown on synthetic drugs in Kerala. Another major factor that led to the police conducting the crackdown was the arrest of a former LTTE intelligence operative Satkunam alias Sabesan in October 2021 on charges of drug smuggling and raising funds for reviving the defunct Tamil terror movement. In a related development, BJP Tamil Nadu unit president, K. Annamalai has said that Chennai has turned into the drug capital of Tamil Nadu and that the state police were lethargic in cracking down on the drug mafia of the state. Police have also drawn flak from the opposition AIADMK for not acting properly on the drug syndicate, which has spread its tentacles across the state with Chennai as the focal point. Los Angeles, June 27 : 'Full House' star Jodie Sweetin was shoved by a Los Angeles Police Department officer while attending a rally protesting the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, which has effectively ended federal protections of abortion rights. According to 'Variety', a video of the Saturday's incident began to make the rounds online after it occurred. The footage depicts an LAPD officer grabbing and pushing Sweetin before the actress falls forward to the ground. A group of fellow protestors quickly rushes to help Sweetin up, while other admonish the line of police officers. The incident appears to occur along a freeway exit that the protesters had blocked. "What the f**k is wrong with you guys?" yells one protester before a chant of "No justice, no peace" breaks out. A representative for Sweetin confirmed that the actress and activist was the person featured in the footage. "I'm extremely proud of the hundreds of people who showed up yesterday to exercise their First Amendment rights and take immediate action to peacefully protest the giant injustices that have been delivered from our Supreme Court," Sweetin said in a statement following the incident. "Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken. This will not deter us, we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until ALL of us are free." On Sunday afternoon, Sweetin also posted a response to the video, which features the caption: "The LAPD just manhandled actress/activist Jodie Sweetin at a pro-choice protest." "Thank you for posting. Love everyone out there in the streets fighting for what's right... #WeKeepUsSafe," she wrote on Instagram. Tel Aviv, June 27 : Naftali Bennett held what was likely his final cabinet meeting as the Prime Minister of Israel, ahead of the Knesset or Parliament's expected dissolution this week following the collapse of the country's fragile coalition government. "Soon unfortunately, Israel will head toward elections," Bennett told the Ministers in televised remarks late Sunday, referring to a vote on Monday or Wednesday in which Parliament will almost certainly vote to dissolve itself. Bennett and his main coalition partner Yair Lapid Decided to dissolve parliament after their shaky coalition lost its majority two months ago. Once Parliament approves the bill, Lapid, leader of the centrist party of Yesh Atid, will rotate with Bennett and serve as interim Prime Minister until the next government is established. The country is likely to hold the general elections, the fifth in just three years, in October. In his address on Sunday, Bennett, leader of the pro-settler Yamina party, specified a series of accomplishments achieved by his year-long governing coalition, which is made up of eight ideological diverse parties, including Dovish liberals, centrists, Hawkish right-wingers and an Arab party that had made history by joining for the first time a ruling coalition in Israel. "This was an excellent government, which depended on a complex coalition. There is a group of people who knew how to put aside ideological differences, rise above and act for the State of Israel," he said. Former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is now the opposition leader, has been holding talks on establishing a new coalition government within the current Parliament without dissolving it, according to reports by state-owned Kan TV news and other local media. But Netanyahu and his right-wing Likud party are reportedly far from recruiting enough lawmakers for the move, meaning the bill to dissolve Parliament is expected to be approved by the 120-seat legislative body. Bennett and Lapid have struggled to keep together the shaky coalition of eight parties since its establishment in June 2021, but a series of defections left it without a majority in the parliament for more than two months. Earlier this month, 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 exit, the coalition was left with only 59 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Lucknow, June 27 : The verdict in the bypolls to the two Lok Sabha seats in Uttar Pradesh -- Azamgarh and Rampur -- is no doubt out, but the results actually throw a surprise in the performance of BSP's Guddu Jamali, who could be termed as a striking 'winner or killer'. Shah Alam a.k.a. Guddu Jamali, the BSP candidate in Azamgarh, walked away with 2.66 lakh votes, ensuring the defeat of SP candidate Dharmendra Yadav who got 3.04 lakh votes. The BJP emerged the winner with Dinesh Lal Yadav Nirahua getting 3.12 lakh votes. Clearly, Jamali's vote share ensured SP's defeat and also proved that he is the biggest vote puller when it comes to the Muslim votes in Azamgarh. The Jamali factor is now being cited as an example of SP president Akhilesh Yadav's political short-sightedness and lack of vision. If sources are to be believed, Jamali was 'insulted' by Akhilesh earlier this year during the Assembly elections. After quitting the BSP in November last year, Guddu Jamali had met Akhilesh Yadav who reportedly promised that he would be given a ticket for Azamgarh in the Assembly polls. A Samajwadi Party leader said on Monday, "Thereafter, Guddu Jamali tried several times to meet Akhilesh Yadav, but was not given an appointment. An upset Jamali joined AIMIM in a huff and contested the Assembly polls on AIMIM ticket. He got over 36,000 votes from the Mubarak Assembly constituency." BSP president Mayawati made the rare gesture of calling back Guddu Jamali and offered him the ticket form Azamgarh for the by-elections. Mayawati's intention was clearly to defeat the SP and regain lost ground among Muslims, which she has done and Jamali worked overtime to avenge the humiliation that he had faced because of Akhilesh. Guddu Jamali, despite ranking at the third position, can be termed as a 'winner' of these by-elections. He is now being seen as one of the most popular Muslim leaders in the state. If sources are to be believed, other opposition parties are already trying to keep an eye on Guddu Jamali and win him over to their side for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "Any party that manages to get Jamali to its side, can be assured of one seat in the next general election. His popularity is at an all-time high," said a political analyst. Guddu Jamali has obtained an MBA degree from New Port University of California and happens to be one of the richest candidates in the state. According to the details given in the affidavit submitted for nomination, Shah Alam has movable and immovable assets worth Rs 162 crore. While his wife Shaheen's movable and immovable assets worth Rs 31 crore. If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Kanpur : , June 27 (IANS) Samajwadi Party MLA Irfan Solanki's brother Farhan Solanki has been booked for harassing his wife for dowry and giving her triple talaq. The case has been registered at Chakeri police station on the complaint of Farhan's wife Ambreen Fatima. According to her, she was married to Farhan in 2009 and in 2019, he threw her out of the house after pronouncing triple talaq. She claimed that she tried to lodge a complaint with the police but no action was taken, apparently because of the influence that the SP MLA wields in the area. "I met officials in the chief minister's secretariat and police commissioner and only then was my case registered," she told reporters. Ambreen said she has two children and has been subjected to domestic violence. She said that her husband has relations with another woman and her brother-in-law and sister-in-law also assaulted her and demanded Rs five lakhs as dowry. Police officials said that the matter was being investigated and action would be taken accordingly. Jammu, June 27 : One Pakistani intruder was neutralised by the BSF at the International Border (IB) in Jammu, officials said on Monday. The Border Security Force (BSF) said alert BSF troops noticed suspicious movement across the fence in the general area of Border Outpost (BOP) Baquarpur. "Our domination party at night noticed a person coming from the Pak side aggressively towards the fence with an intention to cross the fence. Our party challenged him to stop, but he paid no attention to it and continued his movement towards the fence," BSF said. "Left with no option, our troops fired three rounds on the intruder due to which he fell down immediately ahead of the fencing." The BSF said an early morning search party checked the area and found the dead body of a Pak intruder very close to the fence. "Nothing recovered from him. Body being handed over to Police for further disposal," BSF said. New Delhi, June 27 : The Central government has moved the Supreme Court challenging a Tripura High Court order entertaining a PIL against the security cover given to Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani and his family. The high court had asked for a home ministry official to be present before it. Solicitor General mentioned the plea before a vacation bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala assailing Tripura High Court's decision to entertain a PIL challenging the security provided by the Maharashtra government after evaluation of threat perception by the Centre to Mukesh Ambani and his family. Mehta submitted, "We pointed out to the high court that the Bombay High Court rejected a similar petition...." He added that security provided to Ambanis has nothing to do with the Tripura government and the high court had no jurisdiction to entertain the PIL. Mehta said the high court has also sought the presence of the official from the Union Home Ministry, with documents related to threat perception, in the matter. The bench queried Mehta whether it is a final order or an interim order. He replied that it was an interim order. After a brief hearing, the top court agreed to hear the Centre's plea on Tuesday. Chennai, June 27 : The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) regional centre has forecast thunderstorms and lightning in Tamil Nadu and parts of Puducherry on Monday. Light to moderate rains are expected in many parts of Tamil Nadu in the coming two days and fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till Tuesday. Chennai and surrounding areas had received moderate to heavy rains during the past few days and the state water works department has already commenced maintenance of canals to prevent water logging. Light to medium rains is likely in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikkal. The weather department said that strong wind with a speed of 40-50 km/ hour is expected over the Camorin area, Gulf of Mannar, South Tamil Nadu coast, and Southwest Bay of Bengal. The weatherman have informed that fishermen must not venture into the sea in these areas till Tuesday taking into account the possibility of wind, rains and thunderstorms, and lighting. The Meteorology department stated that the southwest monsoon was vigorous over the Tamil Nadu division on June 16 and normal from June 17 to June 22. Notably, several parts of Tamil Nadu have received moderate to heavy rains during the past week with heavy rains lashing several places. Patna, June 27 : Union minister Ram Chandra Prasad Singh, popularly known as RCP Singh, on Monday lost his cool at mediapersons for referring to him as Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's "Hanuman". Singh, who is currently on a visit to Bihar's Jamui district, was asked by the journalists for his reaction on being called the chief minister's "Hanuman". At this, he snapped at them saying that his name was Ram Chandra and not "Hanuman" and that he be addressed only by his name. Notably, Nitish Kumar had publically announced that RCP Singh was his second in command. Singh was also elevated to party's national president's post after the 2020 Assembly polls. After becoming a union minister at the Centre putting the party's political interest aside, he was denied the Rajya Sabha ticket this time. After his tenure as a Rajya Sabha MP ends on July 7, he would either resign from the post of union minister or wait for the Prime Minister's call. Moscow, June 27 : Russia has defaulted on its overseas debt for the first time in more than a century after missing a deadline, reports suggest. Russia has the money to make a $100 million payment and is willing to pay, but sanctions have made it impossible to get the sum to international creditors, the BBC reported. The Kremlin had been determined to avoid the default, which is a major blow to the nation's prestige. The $100 million interest payment was due on May 27. Russia has said that the the money was sent to Euroclear, a bank which would then distribute the payment to investors. But that payment has been stuck there, according to Bloomberg News, and creditors have not received it. The money had not arrived within 30 days of the due date, that is, Sunday evening, and so is considered a default, BBC reported. Euroclear wouldn't say if the payment had been blocked, but said it adheres to all sanctions. The last time Russia defaulted on its foreign debt was in 1918, during the Bolshevik Revolution when the new communist leader Vladimir Lenin refused to pay the debts of the Russian Empire. Russia's last debt default of any kind was in the 1998 as the country was rocked by the rouble crisis during the chaotic end of Boris Yeltsin's regime. At the time, Moscow failed to keep up payments on its domestic bonds but managed not to default on its overseas debt, the BBC reported. Russia has seemed on an inevitable path to default since sanctions were first imposed by the US and European Union following the invasion of Ukraine. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Krun : , June 27 (IANS) UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau jokingly argued over whether they should undress, with the British leader saying that showing off his "pecs" would make him appear "tougher than Putin". As Johnson and Trudeau sat down for talks with US President Joe Biden and the rest of the G7 leaders at the ongoing summit in Krun, Germany, the British Prime Minister asked whether the Western leaders should "take our clothes off", RT reported. Amid mild laughter, Johnson quipped "we have to show that we're tougher than (Russian President Vladimir) Putin". Trudeau joined in, suggesting that the group take part in a "bare-chested horseback riding display", before Johnson replied: "We've got to show them our pecs." While Johnson's pectoral muscles have remained covered throughout his political career, Putin has occasionally ditched his shirt for outdoor photo opportunities, including horseback rides, fishing trips and icy swims in the Siberian mountains, RT reported. An avid sportsman and fitness enthusiast, Putin told an Austrian journalist in 2018 that "when I am on vacation I see no need to hide behind the bushes, and there is nothing wrong with that". Trudeau has also been photographed shirtless while jogging in Toronto and during a hiking trip in Quebec's Gatineau Park. Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Panaji, June 27 : Former Goa Congress Chief Girish Chodankar, who suffered political loss after 10 MLAs defected to the BJP in 2019, has equated the move of Shiv Sena's rebels to "axing one's own feet" and has called their act as "political suicide". Chodankar, speaking to IANS, said that as per the 2003 amendment to the anti-defection law, there is no question of split and only a merger counts. "Their move would have been correct if it was before 2003, but today it is a political suicide and I would say it is like axing own feet," Chodankar said. "My petition, in regards to defection of 10 Congress MLA's (in Goa), is pending before the Supreme Court on the question whether two-third of MLAs can merge without a decision of political party," he said. "By making such a move, they have committed political suicide. Now they have no option but to return to their parent party Shiv Sena or else they will have to be disqualified under the tenth schedule by the Speaker of the House," he said. In October 2019, during the last term of BJP government, 10 MLAs of the Congress along with Leader of Opposition Chandrakant Kavalekar had switched over to the BJP. However, Kavalekar along with other six defected MLAs lost the Assembly elections held in February 2022. The Leader of Opposition and others joining the ruling fold had invited ire and criticism from a section of society. The Congress had challenged their move with the Goa Speaker and subsequently in the High Court. Now the matter is pending before the Supreme Court. In the Bombay High Court judgment in Girish Chodankar vs Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly petition, the HC had upheld the Speaker's order that merger of two-third members of a legislative party with another political party would be deemed merger of the original political parties. "Even if we consider this judgment as 'law of today', still Shiv Sena MLAs have lost that opportunity. Their various conduct, including speaking with media against party decision to have alliance with the Congress and NCP or their demand to have alliance with the BJP amounts to voluntarily giving up membership of the party under para 2 (1) of the Tenth Schedule. Since 2003, no political group of any political party in India can claim a split as such provisions were deleted in 2003, while amending the tenth schedule," he said. He further said that the Speaker has no powers of merger of political parties, only the Election Commission of India has those powers. "Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly has issued notices to the 12 rebel MLAs on the disqualification plea by Thackeray's fold, hence if the interim order on disqualification is given by the Speaker, then they would be in no position to claim two-third formula to merge with the BJP to evade disqualification. Hence, they have no option than to return to the Shiv Sena. As per the law laid down by the supreme court in respect of the tenth schedule, it is the Speaker who will have to decide the issue of disqualification first," Chodankar said. "I think without studying the legal aspects of merger and peeping into the 2003 amendment, Eknath Shinde along with other boarded the ship for unsuccessful sail," he said "Politicians, who switch parties for their vested interests, cause loss to the state and nation. Those who encourage them for vested interests and usurp power, will also face the wrath of the public in future," Chodankar said. "I had moved a petition before the SC to direct the Speaker of Goa Assembly to expedite my petition and to dispose of it within time bound, but SC had said it can't direct the Speaker as the Speaker is the constitutional authority to decide about disqualification petition. Till the petition is disposed of, no court can interfere with the Speaker's authority," Chodankar, replying to a question about Shiv Sena rebels' move of approaching SC, said. Mumbai, June 27 : Director-producer Anil V Kumar is all set to return to 'Kundali Bhagya' after a span of five years. He talks about directing the show and the changes in the storyline of coming episodes. "It's nostalgic because I had launched 'Kundali Bhagya' when it started and now when I am back, it's taking a leap with some old and some new faces. When you start the show, you create each character as per the maker's vision. And every aspect counts. It all starts with a thought, then writing, a maker's vision and direction in making the characters in a way that the viewers will like." "Now, the show has grown and there is an element of freshness again,a he says. Talking about the storyline of 'Kundali Bhagya', he adds: "When a show takes a leap, I always consider it as a new show because of the growth in each character, their interpersonal relationships change and the change is for the better! It's an interesting storyline and relatable. I am hoping that the viewers will like it and love them more." Talking about his association with producer Ekta Kapoor, he says: "It was just at the start of my career in direction, when I was shooting in Shirdi, when I met Ekta. Ekta had come for darshan and she saw me and my work. The next thing I remember was I got a call from Balaji Telefilms. I was with Balaji for a major part of my career. They are very close to my heart, we are like family. I cannot describe the association in words, that respect, love comes from within." New Delhi, June 27 : The government has appointed Nitin Gupta as the chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT). "The Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC) has cleared the appointment of Nitin Gupta, IRS (IT:86), Member, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) as Chairman, Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) from the date of assumption of charge of the post," an official notification by the Department of Personnel and Training said. Tehran, June 27 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said his country welcomes the reopening of the Iranian and Saudi Arabian Embassies in Riyadh and Tehran. Iran only seeks to promote the region's interests, Amir-Abdollahian said here in a meeting with visiting Iraqi Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi. He praised the Iraqi government for its efforts to encourage dialogue among regional countries and play a constructive role in the normalization talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia as well as other Middle Eastern nations, reports Xinhua news agency. Iran maintains that the solution to regional problems lies within the region, Amir-Abdollahian said, adding that Iran backs the continuation of the ceasefire in Yemen, highlighting the necessity of lifting the siege on the Arab state. The Foreign Minister noted that given the commonalities between Iran and Egypt, improving relations between Tehran and Cairo will be in the interest of the region and the Muslim world. The Iraqi Prime Minister underlined Iran's important position and role in regional developments, saying his country is serious about developing ties with Iran. He assured his host that Iraq will continue its efforts to encourage dialogue and cooperation among regional states. Al-Kadhimi arrived in Tehran early Sunday for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, following his trip to Saudi Arabia, where he was welcomed by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in early 2016 in response to attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Tehran after the kingdom executed a Shia cleric. To improve bilateral relations and ease regional tension, Baghdad hosted four rounds of direct talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year and a fifth round in April this year. Kolkata, June 27 : CPI(M)'s claim that it pressured Yashwant Sinha, the opposition candidate for Presidential poll, to resign as the Trinamool Congress national vice president does not seem convincing to a large section of party insiders. This logic put forward by the party's general secretary Sitaram Yechury is just an attempt to pacify the growing dissatisfaction within the party, especially in West Bengal, over the support to Yashwant Sinha considering that in West Bengal the party's prime rival in Trinamool Congress. These frustrated sections within the party have pointed out that it is a matter of tradition and convention that any person cannot be a member or a post-holder in any political party at the time of contesting presidential poll. They have also drawn reference to Late Pranab Mukherjee who resigned from the primary membership of Congress before contesting the presidential poll in 2012. A central committee member of CPI(M) said on strict condition of anonymity that it is increasingly becoming difficult to convince the "comrades" at lower level to refrain from expressing their anguish over supporting Sinha's candidature. "In fact, their logic to an extent is also correct since it is our party workers at the grassroots level who are facing the maximum atrocities in the hands of ruling party activists and police in West Bengal," he said. In fact, the grievance of the lower-level party activists on this count was fanned first by the CPI(M) Rajya Sabha member Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, who is the sole Parliamentary representative in the party from West Bengal. He clearly said that the selection of Yashwant Sinha as the opposition candidate was not proper and he will accept the leadership's decision like a bitter gourd. First it was Sitaram Yechury, who through the party's mouthpiece in Bengali, tried to explain under what circumstances the party had to accept Sinha's candidature and he stressed that because of the insistence of CPI(M) Sinha had to resign from his party post in Trinamool Congress. Even the party politburo member and the state secretary in West Bengal Dr Suryakanta Mishra has made an attempt on this count claiming currently Sinha is neither a BJP member nor a Trinamool Congress member, there is no harm in supporting his candidature. At the same time, he admitted the party had to support Sinha since the other politicians they proposed rejected the offer to contest. Srinagar, June 27 : Director of the prestigious Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) Srinagar, Dr. Parvaiz Koul said on Monday that there was no need to panic because of the increase in Covid-19 cases noticed recently in the union territories of J&K and Ladakh. Dr. Koul, while addressing the public concerns over the recent upward trend in the Covid cases, told IANS, "There is no need for alarm or panic over the recent increase in the number of Covid-19 cases in J&K and Ladakh. "Yes, there has been an upward trend in the viral infection during the recent days, but there have been no hospital admissions or mortalities during this period. "In fact, the institute of health matrix and evaluation (IHME) Washington, of which I am also a collaborator for global burden of disease (GBD) studies, has evaluated and said that there is no imminent threat of Covid-19 in J&K and Ladakh (Period up to which evaluation was made) till September 2022. "All we need is to take caution like we have to do in case of all viral infections. "Just adhere to the SoPs and that is enough. Wash your hands regularly with soap, maintain social distance and avoid highly crowded places. That is enough," Dr. Koul, who is himself a leading Pulmonologist, said. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) London, June 27 : Scientists are looking into how mitochondria, known as the body's power plants, fueling our cells, could be the key to unlocking treatments for long Covid. Long Covid is defined as having new or ongoing symptoms four weeks or more after the start of disease. Symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, loss of concentration and joint pain. The symptoms can adversely affect day-to-day activities, and in some cases can be severely limiting. Betty Raman, cardiologist at Oxford University is running a clinical trial investigating a potential treatment for the fatigue and muscle weakness experienced by many patients suffering long-term effects from the Covid virus, the Guardian reported. According to Raman, it is widely recognised that mitochondrial dysfunction may contribute to the profound fatigue associated with long Covid. In the trial, she aims to explore whether an amino acid cocktail known as AXA1125, produced by US-based biotech Axcella Therapeutics, can help long Covid patients fight fatigue. "The drug is a powdered drink, consumed three times a day along with meals, and we're hoping that it will help people with their energy levels and fatigue," Raman was quoted as saying. "The idea is that it can give the mitochondria additional fuel to produce energy, and help repair damaged mitochondria. Hopefully, by the end of July, we should have some top line results to report," she added. Previous research conducted by Raman and others on fatigued patients post Covid infection, with no obvious heart or lung abnormalities, led to the notion that mitochondria may be involved. This symptom is often referred to as post-exertional malaise (PEM), and is also experienced by people with genetic mitochondrial diseases. Further, in long Covid patients with PEM, Raman found that their muscles struggle to extract oxygen from the blood as efficiently as might be expected. In addition, a research published in Chronic Diseases and Translational Medicine showed that mitochondria in white blood cells were not as efficient in generating ATP, a complex chemical that acts as a form of energy currency for cells, in patients recovering from Covid-19. Mitochondria is known to convert the food we eat into ATP. According to David Systrom, a pulmonary and critical care doctor at Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston, abnormalities at the electron level, deep within the mitochondria may explain the reason why the mitochondria of long Covid patients become sluggish in generating ATP, the report said. Systrom found the answers through studying patients with chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as ME/CFS, an illness that bears many similarities to long Covid. Systrom is now running his own clinical trial in both ME/CFS and long Covid patients, in partnership with Japanese drug company Astellas, which has developed a drug that aims to restore normal mitochondrial metabolism. Both Raman and Systrom agree that mitochondrial dysfunction is only likely to be a factor in a subset of long Covid and ME/CFS patients, the report said. Bareilly, June 27 : A dispute over the number of 'rotis' for a party, led to the murder of a man The victim, Sunny, 30, had placed an order for 150 rotis at a restaurant for the party on his birthday. But the restaurant sent only 40 rotis, following which Sunny and his cousin went to the eatery and raised the matter with the owner. The two sides got into an argument and Zeeshan, the owner, with his staff attacked Sunny and his cousin, with sticks leaving them critically injured. Both were rushed to a hospital where Sunny succumbed to injuries on Sunday night, while his cousin Bablu is undergoing treatment, the police said. The matter concerns two communities and additional police forces have been deployed in the area as a precautionary measure. The police spokesman said that two cousins of the owner and a worker have been arrested, while a hunt is on for Zeeshan who is absconding. New Delhi, June 27 : The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) has formed a committee to inspect and evaluate a broad gauge railway line project proposed through tiger areas in the Western Ghats in Karnataka, but without tiger experts. As per an official memorandum (O.M.), the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) decided to constitute a committee to examine the proposal and framed the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the proposed Committee, which will examine the Hubli-Ankola railway line Project (HARP) proposed through an important tiger corridor of the Western Ghats, recognised as the world's eighth hottest biodiversity hotspot. This development came through in response to an ongoing hearing in the Karnataka High Court at Bengaluru wherein PILs have been filed against this proposed alignment. However, the activists claim that there are no records in public domain for the Standing Committee meeting of the NBWL dated May 30 that had deliberated upon the proposal for the HARP, following which the decision to form a committee was arrived at. Prompted by the lack of transparency, a bunch of activists, including two former Principal Chief Conservators of Forest (PCCF) from Karnataka have drawn attention to the absence of a member from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) from this committee. Dashing off a letter to the Deputy Inspector General of Forest (Wildlife) in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), they said: "As per section 38 (O) (1) (g) of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, the NTCA is a 'necessary party' to any issue concerning the Tiger reserves and areas linking one protected area or tiger reserve with another protected area or tiger reserve. The HARP is proposed in the buffer region of Anshi-Dandeli Tiger Reserve and the project is proposed in the intervening area between Kali and Bhadra Tiger Reserves. In fact, the NTCA has submitted a site appraisal report in December 2017 on diversion of 595.64 Ha of forest land in Karwar, Yellapur and Dharwad division for the construction of new broad-gauge line of Hubli-Ankola. The O.M. issued by the MoEF&CC regarding the formation of the Committee and its ToR shows that there are seven members - Additional Director General of Forest (Forest Conservation) MoEF&CC, H S Singh and R Sukumar, both members of the Standing Committee of the NBWL, representatives of Director, Indian Institute of Technology, Dharwad; Director, Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun, and Director, Indian Council for Forestry Research and Education (IFCRE), Dehradun and Deputy Inspector General of Forest (Wildlife) from the Environment Ministry as the Member Convenor. The report after site inspection, meeting with public representatives, studying the various reports by different boards etc, is expected to be submitted within two and a half months. "It is alarming to note that the lack of representation / membership from the Specialised Statutory body namely the NTCA in this specialised committee formed pursuant to a High Court order to critically evaluate HARP," activists advocate Sreeja Chakraborty, Rajani Rao Santosh and Sandhya Balasubramanian, all three of them Directors at the Living Earth Foundation India (LEAF), a think-tank based in Bengaluru, wrote in the letter on Saturday, which is additionally endorsed by six people, including two retired PCCFs of Karnataka. The activists have demanded to nominate and include at least one representative from the NTCA in the committee and also requested time for personally accompanying the committee during its visit to the project affected area. The Karnataka High Court is hearing PILs filed by Bengaluru based Project Vruksha Foundation and others expressing contentions regarding the viability of the project and its impact on environment and the wildlife. The High Court had now granted 10 weeks' time to the NBWL to submit its decision regarding the project to the court. New Delhi, June 27 : The Delhi High Court has issued notice on a plea moved by a Muslim woman challenging the constitutional validity of Talaq-e-Hasan, under which a man can divorce his wife by pronouncing "talaq" once a month for three months. As per the petitioner Raziya Naaz, the plea has been filed to declare the notice of Talaq-e-Hasan sent on June 2 to be void being in the form of unilateral extra judicial Talaq, and to be unconstitutional, arbitrary, irrational, contrary to Articles, 14, 15, 21 and 21 and provisions of United Nations Conventions of Human Civil Rights. After considering the plea, judge Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma, in a recent order, sought the responses of the Delhi Police and the respondent-husband Shahenshah Alam Khan. Accordingly, the matter was posted before the roster bench for August 18. Adv Rachita Garg, counsel appeared on behalf of the Delhi Police and accepted the notice. A similar petition by a Muslim woman Heena Benazir, who claimed to be a victim of "Unilateral Extra-Judicial Talaq-E-Hasan" has been filed through advocate Ashwani Kumar Dubey, is also pending before the Supreme Court. The plea argued that the practice of Talaq-E-Hasan and other forms of unilateral extra-judicial talaq is neither harmonious with the modern principles of human rights and gender equality, nor an integral part of the Islamic faith. "Many Islamic nations have restricted such practice, while it continues to vex the Indian society in general and Muslim women like the petitioner in particular. It is submitted that the practice also wreaks havoc on lives of many women and their children, especially those belonging to the weaker economic sections of the society," it added. New Delhi, June 27: As Russia's conflict with Ukraine drags on, its allies and partners in Central Asia are caught in a bind. So far Kazakhstan, the largest Republic in the region in terms of territory, has refused to follow the Russian example of recognising the breakaway regions of Donetsk and Luhansk as sovereign states. Together they form the Donbass region which was part of eastern Ukraine at the time when war with Russia broke out in February. In March, Kazakhstan refused to send troops for Russia's military operations in Ukraine. It then announced that it would not recognise the breakaway regions. On February 21, Russia had recognised the breakaway regions, governed by Moscow-backed militias, as sovereign republics. President Vladimir Putin had announced recognition and signed a decree to that effect. More recently, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev reiterated his country's stand vis-a-vis these breakaway republics at a discussion at St. Petersburg where he was attending the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. According to the president, two key principles in the UN charter - the territorial integrity of countries and the right of nations to self-determination - were at odds with each other in this case. However, if nations' right to self-determination is exercised all over the globe, instead of the 193 current UN states, 500-600 states would be formed, creating chaos. Yet Tokayev's very presence at the conference was reflective of Kazakhstan's ties with the Russian Federation. This year with most European countries boycotting the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, the presence of countries carried special symbolism. And Kazakhstan turned out to be a major presence. Tokayev even went on to say that he supported greater Eurasian integration - the Greater Eurasian Partnership, Putin's pet project, which he announced in 2017. "Kazakhstan, being an active participant in the integration processes, is invariably in favour of mutually beneficial cooperation with other international organisations... The topic of the formation of the Greater Eurasian Partnership is being discussed with interest at the St. Petersburg Forum.... It is expected that this concept will be oriented, including the creation of a common space of equal cooperation between regional organisations. Therefore, Kazakhstan maintains a positive attitude to the process of creating the Greater Eurasian Partnership," the president said. Kazakhstan's predicament is understandable. In January this year it tasted the stuff that is the nightmare of the region's regimes - mass popular and spontaneous uprising across the country, which then it reported was infiltrated by terrorists and radicals. In panic it called on Russian led troops from the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO). However, it also had to assuage genuine grievances and so had the CSTO troops removed as quickly and suddenly as they had been called. While relations with Moscow are crucial in terms of trade, economy, and energy sales - Kazakhstan is a member of the Eurasian Economic Forum, Russia is its largest trading partner and, and, in spite of the western sanctions of Russia, bilateral trade has actually increased since the commencement of Russia's Ukraine invasion to 12 billion USD, an increase of almost 30 per cent from 2021; it uses Russian territory for access to the Arctic Sea and the Northern Sea Passage, which is important for this landlocked country, and Russian pipelines to transport its oil. Yet, Kazakhstan, like other Central Asian countries, boasts of a "multi-sector" foreign policy, trying to do a balancing act between Russia, China, the European Union - a major trade partner -, and the US. Beyond this, however, Kazakhstan shares a long border with the Russian Federation, almost 7,644 km. It also has a sizable ethnic Russian population. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Madrid, June 27 : Thousands of demonstrators rallied here to call for peace and protest against a NATO summit to be held in the Spanish capital later this week. Social, anti-military and pacifist movements from around the world gathered to show support for a congress concluded here by an anti-NATO group, and its latest declaration calling for peace. Jose Luis Centella, president of the Communist Party of Spain, told Xinhua news agency that "many, thousands of people are demonstrating today in Madrid for peace, for a multilateral world so that Spain can live in harmony". While mentioning the drastic increase in Spain's military spending, a protester called for attention to "other problems such as the closure of emergency services, and outpatient clinics and hospitals which are more saturated every day, but there is no money for that." Demonstrators believed that an increase in defence spending in Europe urged by the US-led military alliance was a threat to peace, saying the spending should be given to schools and hospitals. As a response to the ongoing massive demonstration, the Spanish government has deployed tight security ahead of the upcoming NATO Summit. Mexico City, June 27 : At least six police officers were killed during a shootout with armed individuals travelling in a convoy of about 10 armoured trucks in Nuevo Leon state, authorities said. "Four more policemen were injured and are already receiving medical attention," Xinhua news agency quoted the state's security department as saying. The attack occurred between the towns of Lampazos and Colombia in the north of the state, where police were outnumbered by the attackers, who carried large-caliber weapons, according to the authorities. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has said that violence is one of the main challenges of his administration, which began in December 2018. Kochi, June 27 : Actor-producer Vijay Babu, who had got anticipatory bail from Kerala High Court last week, on Monday, his arrest was recorded by the local police here and he was given bail. According to the bail conditions, Babu has been asked to appear before the police probe team on June 27 and the police have been granted time to interrogate him: seven days between June 27 and July 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. The court also asked him not to leave the state under any circumstances. The police will use this time to take him to various places as part of evidence collection and after recording his arrest, they began interrogating him. It was after almost two months of a long-drawn legal battle that Babu, got anticipatory bail. On April 22, an actress from Kozhikode filed a complaint in Ernakulam that she was raped and beaten by Babu several times in Kochi. She also accused him of sedating her before sexual abuse. As the news surfaced, Babu appeared live on his social media handle claiming that he was the "real victim" in this case, adding that he would take appropriate legal steps against the complainant whom he named. The police, apart from the initial complaint, registered a second case against him for disclosing the name of the complainant. Babu who had left the country after the actress filed a case against him, returned after the court gave him a temporary relief that he will not be arrested till his anticipatory bail plea is disposed and till then whenever the probe team seeks his presence, he should present himself before them, which he did. After fleeing the country, he had spent some time in the UAE and then moved to Georgia. Chennai, June 27 : The Madras High Court on Monday refused to stay an FIR registered by the Director of Vigilance and Anti Corruption (DVAC) against former Minister and AIADMK leader, S.P. Velumani. The FIR was filed for alleged irregularities in awarding contracts for construction work. The Tamil Nadu DVAC had conducted raids at the premises of former AIADMK ministers including M.R. Vijayabhaskar, C. Vijayabhaskar, S.P. Velumani, K.C. Veeramani, Thagamani after the DMK government assumed office and the opposition had alleged that the ruling front was resorting to political vendetta. A Division bench of the Madras High Court comprising Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N. Mala rejected an appeal by the former minister for an interim stay. The division bench directed Advocate General R. Shanmugasundaram to file a counter affidavit within three weeks against the petition of the former minister to quash the FIR. The court also provided time to Advocate N.S. Elango representing DMK leader R.S. Bharathi and Advocate V. Suresh representing Arrappor Iyyakam, the anti-corruption outfit to file their counter-affidavits. It may be recalled that the Arrappoor Iyyakam, the NGO, and DMK leader R.S. Bharathi had approached the court in 2018 for registering a case of corruption against the minister. The court had appointed district superintendent of Police, R. Ponni to probe into the irregularities in the contracts awarded to Greater Chennai Corporation and Coimbatore Corporations and find out whether any cognizable offence was committed by the minister. However, the minister was given a clean chit by the police officer in 2019 when the AIADMK government was in power and the government accepted her report. When the DMK government assumed office in 2021, the case was again raised with the DVAC registering an FIR against S.P. Velumani after an adverse observation from CAG. The counsel for the former minister had contended that the FIR was registered with a mala fide intention. The counsel wondered as to how the DVAC could do so when preliminary inquiry did not find any material relating to cognisable offence. Islamabad, June 27 : Without naming the country, Pakistan on Monday claimed that its invitation to a development dialogue held in China on June 24 was blocked by a BRICS member. In response to media queries about the "High-level Dialogue on Global Development", held virtually on the sidelines of the BRICS meetings, a Foreign Office spokesperson said that Pakistan is fully committed to taking bilateral and multilateral cooperation to new heights, Geo News reported. According to the spokesperson, a number of developing and emerging economies were invited to the high-level dialogue on global development. As the host country, China was engaged with Pakistan prior to the BRICS meetings, where decisions are made after consultations with all the members, including invitations to non-members. "Regrettably, one member blocked Pakistan from participating," Geo News quoted the spokesperson as saying. According to sources, India blocked Pakistan from participating at the BRICS summit. "We hope that the organisation's future engagement will be based on principles of inclusivity, with the overall interests of the developing world in mind, and free of narrow geopolitical considerations," the spokesperson said. He said Pakistan values China's role in advancing the interests of developing countries, adding that Islamabad, along with Beijing, has been a strong advocate for global peace, shared prosperity, and inclusive development. Sydney, June 27 : Commuters across Sydney and parts of the Australian state of New South Wales (NSW) have been warned to expect delays on public transportation due to a strike planned throughout the week. The industrial action, decided on by the nation's peak transport union, the Rail, Tram, and Bus Union (RTBU), would see peak-hour services reduced by 50 per cent from Tuesday ramping up to up to 75 per cent by the end of the week, reports Xinhua news agency. The strike came following a dispute over a new fleet of trains to be rolled out across Sydney's rail network, which the RTBU has raised concerns about their safety. "The sticking point for us is and always will be the safety of the rail network... And unfortunately, what they've done is they've offered us a bribe to run the new intercity fleet the way it is without modifications," said RTBU State Secretary Alex Claassens on June 24 after the union was unable to come to an agreement with the government. NSW Transport Minister David Elliott said on Monday morning that he was disappointed with the union's decision. "These are negotiations, and I am more disappointed they are taking actions whilst an offer is before them." In February, Sydney's entire rail network was shut down due to a dispute between the union and the NSW government. New Delhi, June 27 : The Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) were not present during the filing of the nomination by Yashwant Sinha, the Opposition's joint candidate for the Presidential poll. Senior leaders of 16 Opposition parties, including NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar, former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, CPI-M General Secretary Sitaram Yechruy and Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accompanied Sinha, when he filed his nomination on Monday. However, the JMM and AAP did not attend the event and indicated chinks within the opposition ranks. The JMM has been having second thoughts to the candidature of Sinha after Draupadi Murmu was named by the NDA as their candidate. Murmu, a fellow Santhali from Odisha, is hard to be ignored for the JMM due to domestic politics, which has a large base in the tribal areas of the state, said sources, adding that if it supports Sinha, who has been an MP from Jharkhand, then it may hamper its prospectus. Though JMM is in alliance with the Congress in the state, it chose to stay away from the nomination filing of Sinha. Rahul Gandhi while speaking after the nomination said, "This is a fight of the ideology and the opposition is united on the candidature of Yashwant Sinhaji." Other leaders who were present included National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, D. Raja of CPI; Saugata Roy from Trinamool Congress; A. Raja and T. Siva from the DMK among other Opposition leaders. Sinha also paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B.R. Ambedkar before filing his nomination. The TRS has also announced its support to Sinha. "President of @trspartyonline Sri KCR Garu has decided to extend support to the candidature of Sri @YashwantSinha Ji in the election for President of India. Along with our Members of Parliament, I will be representing the TRS at the nomination today," working president of TRS and minister Telangana government K.T. Rama Rao tweeted eary in the day. The support to Sinha as joint opposition candidate comes days after the TRS opted out of the meeting called by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to discuss the strategy for the Presidential polls. Now Sinha will also begin his campaign to meet MPs and MLAs. On Friday, Sinha had telephoned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh's offices seeking their support for the poll. He also wrote a letter to all the leaders of the opposition parties. In the letter Sinha wrote: "India is going through extremely difficult times. I shall raise my voice for the common people." Sinha had also said that the leaders of the other ideology are intent on throttling the Constitution and "making a mockery of the people's mandate in elections." BJP-led NDA candidate Draupdai Murmu filed her nomination last week in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party chief J.P. Nadda, Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and leaders of alliance partners. The Chief Ministers of NDA-ruled states were also present during Murmu's filing of nomination papers. Srinagar, June 27 : An encounter broke out between terrorists and security forces in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday, police said. "Encounter has started at Nowpora-Kherpora, Trubji area of Kulgam. Police and security forces are on the job," police said. The firefight started after a joint team of security forces got an input about the presence of terrorists in that area. As security forces cordoned off the area, the hiding terrorists opened fire, which was retaliated. Chennai, June 27 : In what could well be a first-of-its-kind move, National Award-winning actor and director Parthiban says that he will first screen the making-of video of his single-shot, non-linear film 'Iravin Nizhal' for audiences before screening the actual film to them. In an exclusive interview with IANS, director Parthiban, who has a penchant for pushing boundaries, said, " We will first screen the making video of the film, which will be almost half-an-hour long, to all audiences who come to watch my film. This will be followed by a short five to 10-minute break. After that, the actual screening will start and there will be no interval break during the screening then." Explaining why he had embarked on such a move, Parthiban says, "Most people do not know what a single-shot, non-linear film is. So, this video will enable them to appreciate the film better. Also, when I screened my film to some friends, I did not show them the making video. After the screening, some had a smile that gave away what they were thinking. Some thought that I must have shot different shots and edited them together. However, when I showed them the making video, they realised how wrong they were." But won't this move take away the suspense element or won't it give away the plot to audiences? Says Parthiban with confidence, "No, it won't. The audiences will get to know where all the protagonist goes but they will not be able to find out the story or the climax of the film." 'Iravin Nizhal' (which means 'Shadow of the Night', has music by Oscar winner A.R. Rahman and cinematography by Arthur A. Wilson. The film is all set to hit screens in July. Bengaluru, June 27 : Authorities are all set to ban the entry of pet dogs in Cubbon Park, one of the largest lung spaces in Bengaluru from July 1. However, dog lovers and pet owners are seeing red over the decision. The horticulture department had earlier also made a similar decision and reversed it after facing stiff protests by the people. The proposal to ban pets this time has been made after 300 walkers and joggers who frequent Cubbon Park lodged a complaint regarding the pet dog menace inside the park. They objected to peeing and pooping by pet dogs everywhere. However, pet lovers are suggesting that banning all pets because of the irresponsibility of a few pet owners is not tenable. Instead they should have thought about imposing fines and other disciplinary action, they maintained. A few other dog owners have suggested that the authorities should have formulated separate guidelines for pets inside Cubbon Park. Cubbon Park Canines and Cubbon Dog Park volunteers have moved a petition on change.org demanding the reversal of the decision to ban pets. Nearly 13,000 people have signed this petition against the pet dog ban decision in 48 hours as animal lovers from Bengaluru and across the country oppose the alleged 'Pet Ban' in Cubbon Park. Anmol Betala, a frequent visitor to this park, stated on Twitter that the Cubbon Park authorities are moving ahead with banning dogs from Cubbon Park, including the Sunday Dog Park. This is quite literally the only safe place for dogs in Bengaluru to get the space and social activity they desperately need. However, this situation could be reversed. Chennai, June 27 : Actor Arun Vijay, who is on a promotional tour of his upcoming film 'Yaanai' in Malaysia, has offered prayers at the famous Murugan Temple in the Batu Caves there. Sources close to the actor said that the actor took time to seek the blessings of the deity even as he was on a whirlwind tour, promoting his film that has raised expectations. The film, which has been directed by Hari, features Arun Vijay and Priya Bhavani Shankar in the lead. It was originally scheduled to release on May 6 this year but got postponed to June 17 first and then to July 1. The film has been cleared for release by the Censor Board with an U/A certificate. Arun Vijay had said that the unit had chosen to postpone the film's release to July 1 to facilitate director Lokesh Kanakaraj's action blockbuster 'Vikram's strong run in theatres. The satellite and digital rights of the film have already been bought by the Zee group. Produced by Drumstick Productions, the film is primarily targetted at 'B' and 'C' centre audiences. The film has raised expectations as this is the first rural script that Arun Vijay is doing after a gap of almost 12 years. Hyderabad, June 27 : DNA samples will be collected from the accused in Jubilee Hills gang rape case and sent to the forensic lab for analysis, Hyderabad police said on Monday. The city police, which intensified the investigations into the May 28 incident, received a nod from a city court and Juvenile Justice Board to collect the samples from five out of six accused in the case. Five accused including four minors will be subjected to DNA profiling. The fifth minor, son of a city MLA, is facing only charges of molestation. The DNA samples will be collected from four minors lodged in Juvenile Home and from Saduddin Malik, the only major in the case who is lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison. The DNA matching is considered crucial in the investigations into the sensational case, which had rocked the state and triggered national outrage earlier this month. As part of its efforts to build a strong case against the accused, the police are focusing on gathering all the technical evidence. The investigators have already collected clues from the Innova vehicle in which five accused had sexually assaulted the 17-year-old victim. The DNA test results are likely to help the police in matching the same with the clues gathered from the vehicle. This will be important to prove in the court that the gang rape was committed in the SUV, which is a government vehicle. One of the minors charged with gang rape is son of a leader of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and the Chairman of a government-run body. The SUV was allegedly allotted to him for official duties. The investigators, if required, may collect DNA samples from the victim, who has already given her statement to the police and the court. The Juvenile Justice Board had, last week, dismissed bail petitions of the minors, agreeing with the argument by the police that in view of the serious nature of the offence, they should not be granted bail. The police told the court that since the case is at the investigation stage, if minors are released on bail, they may try to influence the witnesses. The court was also told that the minors' parents, who hold influential positions in the society, may try to hamper the investigation. Six accused were arrested earlier this month for gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in a car on May 28 in the upscale Jubilee Hills. They had trapped the victim after a daytime party at a bar and after offering a lift, sexually assaulted her. The police questioned the accused in their custody and carried out a scene reconstruction. Potency test was conducted on five accused who were involved in the gang rape. The test established that they are capable of engaging in sexual acts. Saduddin Malik and four minors have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 D (gang rape), 323 (causing hurt), Section 5 (G) (gang penetrative sexual assault on child) read with Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 366 (kidnapping a woman) and 366 A (procuration of a minor girl) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act . Police say the accused could face punishment for not less than 20 years or imprisonment for life till death or even death penalty. The sixth minor was not involved in rape but he kissed the victim in the car. He has been booked under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 and Section 9 (G) read with 10 of POCSO Act. He could face 5-7 years imprisonment. Panaji, June 27 : Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday said that assembly records of post liberation got destroyed, while shifting the old secretariat from age-old Adil Shah Palace in Panaji to new assembly complex at Porvorim in 2000. "When I became the speaker of Goa assembly, I came to know that these records were destroyed. I wanted to preserve them. But they were destroyed. I am sorry, this should not happen. Now since 2000, we are preserving and digitisation of the same is done," Sawant said. "Goa assembly has a long history since 1963. Be it defections, governments of 15 days or 13 days, these references are used by other assemblies. This is on record at present. For this, we need documentation and digitisation," Sawant said. "All records should be digitised. Goa assembly started in 1963. I had plans to digitiSe it (records) through CDs and other formats, so that in future, new MLAs can use them. But very sorry to say that while shifting of secretariat, the records were destroyed," he reiterated. "There are no records from the old secretariat. I really felt very bad. Someone told them to destroy it as they were not needed. If today we want to go through speeches of first Chief Minister Bhausaheb Bandodkar or former Minister Kashinath Jalmi then we don't have it. Their records are not available, which had forced me to ask All India Radio to provide some records of Bhausaheb Bandodkar," Sawant said. "They should have preserved it. Those records were needed," Sawant further said. Jaipur, June 27 : Amid fresh salvos being fired from the camps of Ashok Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, a tweet by Acharya Pramod Krishnam, who is considered close to Priyanka Gandhi, has become the main topic in political circles here. Acharya Pramod Krishnam in his tweet has indirectly hinted at the possibility of a big responsibility being given to former deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot. Acharya Pramod in his tweet said, "Sachin Pilot gulped political poison. Lord Shiva drank poison but he is anointed in Sawan. As Sawan is approaching, the person who gulped political poison will also be anointed." The tweet comes at a time when leaders from different Congress camps are launching verbal attacks. The BJP is also playing its cards, seemingly trying to weaken the ruling party. This situation is being reported at a time when a political crisis is deepening in Maharashtra and Rajasthan seems equally affected. Recently, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot attacked his former deputy Sachin Pilot alleging that he conspired with Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat to topple the state government in 2020. "You yourself conspired to topple the government. Now that you are taking the name of Sachin Pilot ji, that he erred, proves it further, you yourself put the stamp on the fact that you were hand-in-glove with him," Gehlot had said in response to recent comments made by Shekhawat. The Union Minister had recently opined that Pilot "made a slight mistake" linking the 2020 Rajasthan political crisis to a similar situation in Madhya Pradesh. Referring to the 2020 crisis, he said, "At that time Sachin Pilot mde a mistake, Rajasthan MLAs could not take a decision like Madhya Pradesh." Replying to Shekhawat, Gehlot said, "Gajendra Shekhawat stamped that you yourself allied with Pilot in a conspiracy to topple the government." Next day, state parliamentary minister Shanti Dhariwal said, "What has the Chief Minister said wrong? We also believe so, we have seen this ourselves," he added expressing his support for Gehlot's comment on Pilot. And now, Acharya Pramod's tweet saying 'Pilot has drunk political poison. Neelkanth, who consumes poison, will be anointed in the month of Sawan' has created a furore in Rajasthan politics. A few days back, former Congress president Rahul Gandhi quoting Pilot's patience also triggered speculation about a political crisis in the desert state. Now Acharya Pramod's tweet has added fuel to the fire. Meanwhile Pilot's silence is also raising many eyebrows. The pro-Pilot MLAs have also launched a counterattack. Indraj Gurjar, Congress MLA from the Pilot camp, making an indirect attack on the CM, tweeted "A man sitting on the ground never falls, those making castles in air should remain worried," he added in his tweet which is being seen as a reply to the CM's comment on Pilot. Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of Opposition Rajendra Rathore in a tweet said, "As Congress Yuvraj Rahul Gandhi praised Sachin Pilot's patience, CM Gehlot went angry and directly challenged the Congress leadership by accusing Pilot of being involved in a conspiracy to topple the government. When the Neelkanth-turned-Pilot will spew venom, the possibility of the government's collapse will become strong." Rathore said that the politics of mutual fighting is at its peak in the Congress. "The Chief Minister called Sachin Pilot, former President of PCC and former Deputy Chief Minister who led the Congress for more than 5 years, as nikamma and nakara, and also took a dig at him that he got the post without getting 'ragdai'. Now the limits have been crossed when the Chief Minister has targeted his arch rival Sachin Pilot and referred to him as the main architect of the conspiracy to topple the government. If the Chief Minister has the evidence, why doesn't he take action on the 3 cases filed against Sachin Pilot in the ACB," he questioned. Chennai, June 27 : Tamil Maanila Congress leader and former Union Minister G.K. Vasan has demanded that the Tamil Nadu government set up special courts for dealing with Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act cases. He said that the state government had promised setting up special courts for POCSO cases in four districts but this is yet to materialise. Last year, the government had announced that four special POCSO courts would be set up at Dindigul, Dharmapuri, Theni and Tiruvallur districts. The former Union Minister said that a delay in setting up these special courts for POCSO cases would lead to high pendency in cases and result in the victims not getting justice. In a statement on Monday, Vasan said that the state government must create an environment wherein women and children are safe from sexual harassment. He said that the number of sexual assault cases is on the rise and that the government must immediately resolve this issue. New Delhi, June 27 : At a time when the US is facing several major issues like banning of abortion by the Supreme Court, as well as the first significant law over gun control, Elon Musk, known to tweet much frequently, has turned unusually silent since a week. Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who made a whopping $44 billion deal, has been quiet on the social media platform since last tweeting on June 21, the Street reported. Musk, the world's richest man, often remains in news for his updates on his ventures such as SpaceX, Neuralink and The Boring Co. He is also known to comment on politics, pop culture and world events. Prior to June 21, Musk made comments about cheese, supported Dogecoin, congratulated Tesla's Berlin gigafactory, and also posted views of SpaceX and Twitter. Earlier, he has also tweeted on population decline in Japan, Italy, South Korea, Hong Kong, China, and the US. "Past two years have been a demographic disaster," Musk on June 14 wrote on Twitter about the US. With such frequent tweets, it is a wonder why he has not yet voiced or tweeted his opinion about the Supreme Court's June 25 Roe v. Wade decision, and the US Senate overwhelmingly approving a bipartisan gun safety bill. New Delhi, June 27 : A 43-year-old man, weighing 120 kg, was caught red-handed while he was trying to commit a robbery here, an official said on Monday. The accused, identified as Sachin Bhutani, was previously found involved in six criminal cases in Bahadurgarh, Haryana. Deputy Commissioner of Police (outer district) Sameer Sharma said the incident took place on June 18 when a woman along with her maid and 5-year-old son went to Subzi Mandi, Rani Bagh in her car. After some time, while leaving the market, Bhutani forcefully entered the car and put a knife on the neck of complainant and threatened her to hand over cash and other valuables. The woman raised an alarm and ran out of the car along with the maid and her son. The accused person then sat behind the wheel and tried to rob it but a police constable who was patrolling in the market area, overpowered Bhutani and detained him. The police have registered an FIR under section 393 of IPC at Rani Bagh police station and the accused has been arrested. Bhopal, June 27 : A candidate contesting the panchayat election in Madhya Pradesh for the sarpanch's post was booked under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act for using a dog during campaigning to defame the rival candidate, police said on Monday. The candidate Mukesh Darbar, who is contesting the panchayat election at a village in Khandwa district, put up a banner with a photo of his opponent Divyaditya Shah on his pet dog and took the animal out on the streets in Khandwa district. A video surfaced on the social media showing the poster put on the dog walking on the streets. The police took action after the candidate whose photo was put on the animal lodged a complaint alleging that the act was to defame him, a police official said. It came four days before voting in the second phase of the three-tier panchayat election is scheduled to be held on July 1. Voting in the third and final phase of the election would be held on July 8. "Sarpanch candidate Mukesh Darbar was charged under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act as per the complaint of election agent Santosh Soni on behalf of rival candidate Divyaditya Shah," Sub-Divisional Officer Ravindra Vaskale said. Shah's father is a Cabinet Minister in the Madhya Pradesh government while his mother was a former Mayor of Khandwa. Shah in his complaint said that Darbar's move was aimed at shaming him and his family members. He said that Darbar also violated the model code of conduct. The police said that a complaint has also been sent to the Animal Welfare Board and the Madhya Pradesh State Election Commission to take action against Darbar. Three-tier panchayat (gram, Janpad and Zila) polls are underway in Madhya Pradesh. The first phase of voting was held on June 25 and the counting of votes took place at each polling centre. However, the results would be announced on July 14 and 15 after last phase of voting is completed. Chennai, June 27 : Adding salt to the wound on O. Panneerselvam and his supporters, the AIADMK organising secretary and former minister D. Jayakumar on Monday said that the party general council will be held on July 11 as decided in the previous general council meeting. He was speaking to reporters after a party headquarters office-bearers meeting held at the party headquarters. Jayakumar said that of the 74 members who were supposed to attend the day's meeting 65 showed up. The former minister said that the office-bearers had requested the party headquarters secretary and former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to hold a meeting under the chairmanship of party presidium chairman A. Tamilmagan Hussain. He said that this was due to the fact that the posts of party coordinator and co-coordinator have ceased to exist. It may be noted that former Chief Minister Panneerselvam was the party coordinator while Edappadi K. Palaniswami was its co-coordinator. Regarding the validity of the day's meeting, a point which was raised by Panneerselvam, Jayakumar said that rule 20A (vii) of the party's by-law stated that in the event of coordinator or co-coordinator getting relieved or till new incumbents for the two posts assumed charge, the office-bearers nominated by the previous coordinator and co-coordinator would remain in office and continue to function. However, AIADMK spokesman and former MLA Kovai K. Selvaraj who is attached to the faction of Panneerselvam said that the meeting that was held on Monday was itself invalid as it could not adopt any resolution. He also maintained that the actual number of participants in the day's meet was much less than what was claimed by Jayakumar. With the friction between the Panneerselvam group and Palaniswami group widening, the principal opposition party is on a sticky wicket. The BJP, which is its ally in the NDA coalition in Tamil Nadu is also watching the developments closely as it has a major chance to reap the rift and to try and increase its political base in the state. Lisbon : , June 27 (IANS) With climate change, bio-diversity loss and pollution exacting a devastating toll on the world's ocean -- critical to food security, economic growth and the environment -- the 2022 UN Ocean Conference opened in Lisbon on Monday with a call for a new chapter of ocean action driven by science, technology and innovation. "Sadly, we have taken the ocean for granted, and today we face what I would call an 'Ocean Emergency'," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told delegates at the opening of the conference. "We must turn the tide. A healthy and productive ocean is vital to our shared future." The theme of the conference, "Scaling up ocean action based on science and innovation for the implementation of Goal 14: Stocktaking, partnerships and solutions", in line with the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development, stresses the critical need for scientific knowledge and marine technology to build ocean resilience. Human activities are placing the health of the ocean in peril. According to the World Meteorological Organization's State of the Global Climate in 2021 report, sea level rise, ocean heat, ocean acidification and greenhouse gas concentrations set new records in 2021. Additionally, marine pollution is increasing at an alarming rate, and if current trends continue, more than half of the world's marine species may be all but extinct by 2100. The Secretary-General also stated there is good news with a legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine biological diversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction; a new treaty that is being negotiated to address the global plastics crisis that is choking our oceans; and a week ago multilateral action on display with a World Trade Organization agreement on ending harmful fishery subsidies. But he also noted much more needs to be done. "Oceans are central in geopolitical balance of power," said President of Portugal, Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, in opening remarks. "Healthcare, economic resources, energy, mobility, migrations, scientific and technological development, climate change, all of this is present either in the context or in the outcome of a pandemic, of war and of crisis." "We must recover too much time (that) we have lost and give hope a chance, once again, before it is too late." In line with Sustainable Development Goal 14, human health, strong economic growth and a stable climate depend on a healthy ocean. The ocean is a vital buffer against climate change, absorbing about 25 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. More than 3.5 billion people depend on the ocean for their food security, while approximately 120 million people work directly in fisheries and aquaculture-related activities. The majority of these workers live in developing countries, specifically Small-Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. "The United Nations proclamation of a Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030) supports efforts to reverse the cycle of decline in ocean health and gather ocean stakeholders worldwide behind a common framework that will ensure ocean science can fully support countries in creating improved conditions for the sustainable development of the ocean," said President of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, in his introductory statement. More than 20 heads of state and government together with thousands of young people, business leaders, scientists and civil society representatives, will present fresh, bold and innovative solutions to ignite transformational change to effectively address the challenges the ocean is facing. In addition to the plenary sessions, there will be eight Interactive Dialogues, which will deep dive into salient areas such as addressing marine pollution, minimizing and addressing ocean acidification, deoxygenation and ocean warming and promoting and strengthening sustainable ocean-based economies, in particular for Small Island Developing States and Least Developed Countries. Kolkata, June 27 : West Bengal Chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday hit out at the Centre over the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s summons to Shiv Sena leader, Sanjay Raut over questioning on an alleged money laundering case. "I heard that a Shiv Sena leader in Maharashtra has received summons from ED today. I heard that there is an attempt to attach his property as well. This is the BJP's tactics. Whenever they want to harass any opposition leader or topple a state government, they just let loose the central agencies. "It is being done everywhere. The CBI and the ED will haunt you if you speak the truth. The country or life cannot move on like this. Why all are threatened like this?" she said, in her address at a government function at Burdwan. On the other hand, Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, at a rally in Cooch Behar district drew the reference of Maharashtra, in threatening to topple the West Bengal government by 2024. "It has started with Maharashtra. Now after travelling through Rajasthan and Jharkhand, we will reach West Bengal and bring an end to the state government here by 2024," he said. All four states are currently ruled by opposition parties. Meanwhile, the Chief Minister also lambasted the Union government on the Agnipath scheme of defence recruitment. "After going through a training period for six months, one will be appointed for only four years. What will these youths do after that? How can one maintain the expenses for his own life from the earnings of just four years? This is nothing but another eyewash before the Lok Sabha elections. I demand the service period should be at least till 60 years and if possible, 65 years," the Chief Minister said. She also said that she might go to New Delhi soon to settle the issue of non- payment of central dues on account of different schemes like Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) and Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY), among others. She also demanded that the state governments should be allowed to operate schemes like PMGSY, which is a housing scheme, in their own names. Banerjee also slammed the local administration over complaints from a section of farmers that they are facing difficulties while selling their products at the local Kisan Mandis. "I will not tolerate this. If anyone faces this problem, just go to the BDO office and file your complaints. The BDO should file an FIR and I am instructing the police to take action and even arrest those who are harassing the farmers," she said. Press Release June 27, 2022 Pagsulong tangan ang pag-asa: Hontiveros takes oath as two-term senator before VP Robredo Bringing a message of hope, Senator Risa Hontiveros took her oath of office as Senator of the 19th Congress before outgoing Vice President Leni Robredo at the Office of the Vice President, Monday, June 27. "We have always been a nation choosing to hope: for a fresh start, for better outcomes, for progress. But we have no time to lose. Every effort counts. Every day is a chance for me, and for us in government, to do justice to every Filipino," Hontiveros said in a message. "We will help spur economic growth and restore healthcare services disrupted by the pandemic. As promised, we will facilitate the increase of budgets for agencies integral to our recovery initiatives. Tuloy pa rin ang ating adbokasiya para sa Healthy Buhay at Hanapbuhay," Hontiveros continued. The two-term Senator, a solo parent, was accompanied by her daughters, Issa, Helena and Sinta. The oath-taking was followed by a Eucharistic Celebration presided by Bishop Emeritus Antonio Tobias at the Our Lady of Remedies Parish in Malate, Manila. In her oath, Hontiveros vowed to "stand on the side of human rights, due process, and participatory democracy at all times; dedicate my office to the service of the marginalized and the basic sectors". The Senator also pledged to "uphold the dignity of all Filipinos, reject violence, oppression, disinformation and historical revisionism, in support of our collective aspirations for a just and equal society that values its past as it charts its future". Hontiveros said she will continue to work with Vice President Leni Robredo, opposition leaders, parties and movements to redress inequality on the ground. "Pararamihin natin ang mga Pilipinong nakikibahagi sa proseso ng demokrasya, upang maramdaman ng mas marami pa ang mga resulta nito." Hontiveros likewise affirmed her campaign promise of providing Filipinos with "healthy buhay at hanapbuhay". She is set to file at least 20 health and economic-related bills at the start of the 19th Congress. These bills include the Security of Tenure Bill (Anti-Endo bill), Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Expression and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Equality bill, Universal Social Pension bill, rights and welfare of informal and gig economy workers and maternity benefits for female workers in the informal sectors, among others. Hontiveros thanked her supporters for the trust and for giving her an opportunity to serve in the Senate one more time. "It is with great privilege and deepest gratitude that I pledge, once more, to serve the interests and welfare of the Filipino people. Maraming salamat sa lahat ng hindi naubusan ng tiwala at pag-asa sa kabila ng lahat," she said. "May we all remain strong for the fierce battle ahead. Tuloy ang laban," Hontiveros concluded. New Delhi, June 27 : The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court to take a decision, within one week, on a father's plea to perform last rites of his son who was killed in Hyderpora encounter in Srinagar in November last year. Senior advocate Anand Grover, representing Mohammed Latif Magry, submitted before a vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala that his client will perform the last rites as per religious beliefs and emphasised that he has the right to perform the last rites. Grover clarified that he was not pressing on the exhumation of the body of the client's son. He said his client wants relief regarding performing last rites and compensation. A single judge bench of the high court passed a direction regarding Rs 5 lakh but a division bench stayed it. Noting that the matter is listed before the high court on Tuesday, the bench said: "We'll request the high court to consider your prayer of alternative relief tomorrow or within 1 week... That much faith we have in the system." The bench, in its order, noted that the counsel for the petitioner wants to perform the last rites as per his religious practices at the graveyard where his son was buried. It said it requests the high court to consider the alternative relief either on Tuesday or within a week. The top court order came on a plea by Magry challenging the June 3 order by the division bench staying the exhumation of his son's body. Four people, including Aamir Magry, were killed in the encounter on the outskirts of Srinagar on November 15 last year. The plea, filed through advocate Nupur Kumar, said: "The impugned interim order is in gross violation of Articles 21 and 25 of the Constitution of India, which uphold and protect right of the deceased to a decent burial by the next of kin following the religious ceremonies and practices." On the division bench order staying the single bench order for exhuming the body of Aamir Magry and handing it to his family for last rites, the plea said: "The impugned order without assigning any reasons has stayed the operation of the judgment dated 27.05.2022, by merely observing that 'the matter requires a final decision from this Court after hearing all the parties', without appreciating that delay of each day in execution of the judgment of the Ld. Single Judge is resulting in the body of the deceased decomposing." The single judge asked the authorities to make arrangements for exhuming the remains of the deceased from the Wadder Payeen graveyard in the presence of Latief Magrey. "It was further directed that if the body is highly putrefied and is not in deliverable state or is likely to pose risk to public health and hygiene, the petitioner and his close relatives shall be allowed to perform last rites as per their tradition and religious belief in the Wadder Payeen graveyard itself where the deceased is lying buried, and in that situation, the respondents shall pay the petitioner a compensation of Rs 5 lakh for deprivation of his right to have the dead body of his son and give him decent burial as per rites and customs," added the plea. Bengaluru, June 27 : The BJP government in Karnataka has bowed down to criticism from various quarters regarding the revision of textbooks by the committee headed by the Kananda Development Authority President, Rohit Chakratirtha. The education department has ordered the rectification of textbooks as per the demands of progressive thinkers and opposition parties. Former Prime Minister H.D. Deve Gowda had written to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai to drop the revised syllabus. The religious seers of three prominent castes of the state -- Lingayat, Vokkaliga and Kuruba -- have objected to the revised education syllabus highlighting the ill-treatment meted out to social reformers Basavanna and Kanakadasa. Vokkaliga seers have objected to belittling of Rashtrakavi (National poet) Kuvempu, who is hailed with pride by the community, and the architect of Bengaluru, Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. Progressive thinkers and litterateurs have raised objections to the dropping of lessons on social reformer Narayan Guru and freedom fighter Bhagat Singh. The authors have written to the state government withdrawing their permission to publish their work. The ruling BJP, fearing a backlash as nearly all the communities have turned hostile, finally ordered the rectifications in the school textbooks. The Karnataka government has directed to add the deleted line in the lesson on "Namma Samvidhana" (Our Constitution) that considers the contributions concerning drafting of the Indian constitution. B.R. Ambedkar is called an "architect of the constitution". The state government has also noted that the lessons on social reformers Kanakadasa and Purandaradasa, have been trimmed in the seventh standard social science textbooks and it has directed the publication of full chapters on them. The state government has also ordered rectification of the content on Basavanna and publication of photographs of Rashtrakavi Kuvempu. It has directed to drop the line in the lesson on Kuvempu that he became a great writer with the help of many people, which was strongly objected to. Mumbai, June 27 : Filmmaker Sharad Patel is excited as his upcoming Gujarati film 'Vickida No Varghodo' is set to release on July 8. He says: "I'm excited that our film is ready to entertain the audiences in a very unconventional way. But before the release of the film, as soon as the trailer was released, it generated a huge buzz and created a stir on social media. I'm so happy with the response to the trailer that has created history by garnering more than 5 million views within 24 hours, breaking all records till date in the Gujarati film industry." The film stars popular actors like Malhar Thakar, Manasi Rachh, Monal Gajjar, Jhinal Belani, Chirayu Mistry, Alpana Buch and Anurag Prapanna, among others. Sharad who has previously won National Award for 'The Tashkent Files', and 'Chhello Divas', and the critically acclaimed 'Buddha In A Traffic Jam' among others, feels people are welcoming Gujarati movies. He adds: "Since the last couple of years, the landscape of Gujarati cinema has changed dramatically. Like other regional cinema, Gujarati cinema has undergone a makeover." "Intrigued by the progress we see more people being awakened to the potential of Gujarati cinema and hence generating massively positive response from not only Gujarati but global audiences. They are being welcoming. The storytelling of Gujarati cinema has changed its outlook." New Delhi, June 27 : A number of Shiv Sena and NCP leaders are currently on the radar of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and may receive summons from the financial probe agency in the coming days, escalating the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena chief spokesperson and MP Sanjay Raut has been issued a notice to join the investigation on Tuesday. Apart from him, there are other leaders who are on the radar of the ED like Eknath Khadse, Anil Parab, Bhavana Gawali, Nawab Malik and others. Maharashtra Transport Minister Anil Parab was recently grilled by ED officials for over six hours over three days in connection with a prevention of money laundering case. The ED filed the case over allegations that Parab constructed a resort at Dapoli in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra in 2017 after flouting environment protection laws. Bhavana Gawali, a five-time Member of Parliament, was earlier summoned by the ED. NCP leader Eknath Khadse was recently asked to vacate a few properties which were attached by the ED. Nawab Malik, the NCP leader, is already behind the bars. Maharashtra's former home minister Anil Deshmukh was also arrested by the ED in connection with a Rs 100 crore extortion case involving former Mumbai police commissioner Parambir Singh. Bhubaneswar, June 27 : Senior BJP MLA Jayanarayan Mishra on Monday raised questions over Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's meeting with Pope Francis during his visit to Rome. Speaking to mediapersons in Bhubaneswar, Mishra wanted to know about the source of the money spent by Patnaik during his recent trip to Italy. "If he visited Italy on public money, what was the purpose of his visit and what did he achieve in return? What was the necessity to meet the Pope standing in a row?" asked the MLA, adding, "We have never seen him meeting Shankaracharya." "Being a resident of Odisha and an opposition party MLA, we have the right to know why Naveen met Pope. What is his relation with the Pope?.....He is not a national leader," he said. "If Naveen Babu makes any attempt to make Odisha a Christian state, we will strongly protest such a move," warned the BJP leader. He also informed that the BJP will raise this issue during the upcoming monsoon session of the Assembly. Reacting to Mishra's queries, BJD legislator and former Minister Shashi Bhusan Behera said a substantial Christian population is residing in the world and more importance is being given to the Pope than the chief of a Christian state. "What is wrong in meeting the Pope and getting support of the Christian population? If a positive mindset will be created in the world towards Odisha, it is the right decision by the Chief Minister," Behera added. Patnaik is leading a high-level delegation of the Odisha government to Rome and Dubai. He met Pope Francis in Vatican City on June 22 and is scheduled to return to Odisha on June 30. Chennai, June 27 : Stating that he was immensely proud of the content being generated by Malayalam cinema, actor Prithviraj on Monday said that the only genre that the industry had slightly forgotten was the mass action entertainer genre and that his upcoming film 'Kaduva' was a step in that direction. Speaking at the launch of the film's teaser in Chennai, which was attended by the entire cast of 'Kaduva' and a host of celebrities including Tamil actors Arya and Jiiva, Prithviraj said, "We have to have all kinds of films. Right now, the Malayalam industry is making superb films. We are going through a phase where we are making superb content but we've missed out one genre. I, as a film lover, miss the mass masala commercial entertainers in Malayalam. So, when they narrated this script to me in 2017, I felt it had been a long time since such films had come out in Malayalam. "Let me make it clear, the multi-city promotions that we have embarked on is not only for 'Kaduva'. This is the first step of a big process. I am someone who wishes that from now on, all big Malayalam films that are to be released are released in this fashion. We have to come and communicate with our audience in every state on a first person basis. I hope and pray that we will be able to sustain this process for all big releases coming from Kerala." The title of the film, which features Prithviraj and Samyuktha Menon in the lead and Bollywood actor Vivek Oberoi playing a pivotal role, means Tiger in Malayalam. It is actually also a short form of the hero's name in the film, Prithviraj disclosed while replying to a question that was posed to him after the launch. Kolkata, June 27 : Mukul Roy, who is officially still an elected BJP legislator, on Monday tendered his resignation from the post of Chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the West Bengal assembly. Although Roy cited health grounds as the reason for his resignation, political observers feel that through this, he wanted to bring an end to the already shrouding controversies over his moral authority to stick to the chair of the PAC Chairman. As per tradition, the post of the Chairman of PAC in West Bengal assembly is always offered to a legislator from the opposition bench. Although Roy got elected as a BJP candidate from Krishnagar (North) constituency in Nadia district in the 2021 Assembly polls, soon after the results were declared, he rejoined Trinamool Congress. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress's national General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee personally welcomed him back to the party by wrapping him with the party flag. Soon after that, the BJP sought his disqualification as a legislator. However, the Assembly Speaker, Biman Banerjee refused to do that and instead Roy was appointed as the PAC Chairman. Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari even approached the Calcutta High Court, which referred the matter back to the office of the Speaker. However, the Speaker stuck to his earlier stand and rejected the plea for Roy's disqualification on grounds that there was no evidence to prove that Roy had joined the Trinamool. However, debates on Roy's position as PAC Chairman continued on grounds that how the transparency of the state government expenditures can be achieved with someone with questionable political status continues. From that point of view, it is perceived that Roy finally resigned from the post of PAC chairman to bring an end to all controversies in the matter. Biman Banerjee said that if Roy's resignation letter has reached his office, he will look into it. "If the resignation is as per procedures and norms, I will accept it. It is the Speaker's prerogative on whether he will accept the resignation or not," he said. The BJP is looking at the development as the party's moral victory. "The ruling party tried to capture the chair of PAC chairman by placing its pawn there. However, finally Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had to accept defeat," said senior BJP leader, Rahul Sinha. Panaji, June 27 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs in Goa boycotted the training session organised by the Goa Legislature Secretariat at a five-star resort alleging it was wrong to allow an ideologically-biased outfit and said that help of an RSS-backed NGO was not required. The training workshop for MLAs was organised by Goa Legislative Assembly in association with Pune-based 'Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini' organisation. AAP legislators Capt. Venzy Viegas from Benaulim and Cruz Silva from Velim, both from South Goa, boycotted the two-day training session. "Organisation chosen to provide the training is a propaganda agency of the BJP, and it was wrong of the Secretariat to allow an ideologically-biased outfit to be involved in such an important session of the state legislative assembly, expenditure of which paid by taxpayer's money," the AAP in a press statement said. The AAP also criticised the expenditure and efforts on the session, pointing out that in 2017, a similar training session was held for just one-day, that too at the assembly complex itself and not in a five star hotel. "The agency which did the training then, PRS India, is an independent and respected name in legislative research and political transparency," AAP further said. Viegas said that the Legislature Department already has well-trained staff which does not require the help of an RSS-backed NGO (Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini) in conducting such training. "Well-trained staff of the legislature department have been proactively helping MLAs through the procedures of the house," he said, adding that the same staff would have provided better orientation to MLAs. He questioned why the program was held in a five-star resort when the state has an Assembly complex that is well equipped. New Delhi, June 27 : Constant incidents of street crime prompted the Delhi Police to swung into action and curb such incidents in the national capital. In Dwarka area, the Special Staff of the Delhi police arrested four snatchers along with two other persons who used to buy stolen articles. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka district), M. Harsh Vardhan said a team was formed to nab the snatchers and burglars. "In pursuit of this, the team visited the spots and analysed CCTV footage and route followed by snatchers. As per analysis, it came to know that all the snatchings were done in the morning," the DCP added. A serial snatcher identified as Vikas alias Vicky was arrested after a tip-off was received about his presence in the area. During frisking, one gold chain was recovered from his possession. Upon interrogation, Vikas disclosed that he snatched the gold chain from Ambrahi village in Dwarka. He was previously involved in more than 32 cases of snatching. "He committed snatchings with his girlfriend Sonam alias Galu and at that time they were known as Bunty-Babli," Vardhan said. Three more snatchers, in another operation on June 26, identified as Aniket alias Laloo, Aakash alias Chiddi and Shubham alias Shivam were arrested by the police. In Delhi's north district, two snatchers of the Kapil gang of pickpockets, were arrested by the police. Both of them were habitual criminals. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (north district), Anita Roy said they had received information that two pickpockets-cum-snatchers, Kapil and Rahul, would come near Hansraj College, Delhi University, to dispose off the snatched and stolen articles. Thereafter, a police team was constituted which laid a trap near Hansraj college. As the suspects reached the college, the police party swung into action and apprehended both the accused. New Delhi, June 27 : A senior political leader's personal secretary was booked for allegedly raping a woman in the national capital, a senior police official said on Monday. Deputy Commissioner of Police, M. Harsh Wardhan, without sharing the name of the accused, said a complaint was received at Uttam Nagar police station on June 25. Accordingly, a case was registered under section 376 (Punishment for rape) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. So far no arrest has been made into the case. "We are investigating the allegations levelled by the victim woman," the DCP said. The police did not reveal the name of the accused, however, informed that he is a 71-year-old person and working as a PS to senior political leader. Agartala, June 27 : The three-member Congress delegation which visited Tripura on Monday has demanded an independent inquiry into the political violence that erupted before and after the June 23 by-elections. The delegation of MPs, led by its Lok Sabha leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, visited the hospital where the injured Congress workers including state party president Birajit Sinha are now being treated. They later met Chief Minister Manik Saha. Demanding an impartial probe into the violence, Chowdhury told the media that the Chief Minister patiently heard their views and confessed that everything was not under his control. "Chief Minister assured us to maintain law and order," the Congress leader said and informed that they requested Saha to punish the attackers and provide compensation to the injured Congress men and women. "Congress President Sonia Gandhi and central party leaders have put full focus on Tripura to win next year's assembly elections. Congress leaders and workers will not be cowed down by the attacks and violence unleashed by the ruling BJP. We have told the Chief Minister that Tripura's image is being tarnished by political violence," another delegation member Gaurav Gogoi said. Parliament Member Naseer Hussain was also part of the delegation. AICC in-charge for Tripura Ajoy Kumar and state Congress leaders accompanied the visiting team. Sudip Roy Barman, who was elected in the June 23 by-election from the Agartala Assembly seat, claimed that Tripura Congress president Birajit Sinha and 14 other Congress workers were injured following the attack by the BJP workers on Sunday. Roy Barman, who was elected from the Agartala constituency 6 times in a row, said that BJP goons had attacked the Congress Bhavan with lathis, injuring Sinha and other party workers while a Congress worker was stabbed by a BJP activist and he along with the state party chief was admitted in a hospital. At least 10 motorbikes and a few cars parked in front of Congress Bhavan were damaged by BJP workers, Roy Barman charged. He said that by-elections were not held in Khowai, Teliamura, Bshalgarh, Kalyanpur, Belonia and several other places across Tripura but the BJP workers attacked the houses, properties and shops belonging to Congress workers in those areas. New Delhi, June 27 : Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair on Monday was arrested by the Special Cell of Delhi Police in connection with a misleading tweet which hurt religious sentiments too. A senior police official said that it was a separate case lodged against Zubair under sections 153-A and 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in which he has been arrested. He will be produced before the Patiala House court. "Our team of The Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police's special cell has arrested him," said the official. The Special Cell will also write to Twitter to preserve his tweets of six months to one year. More details are awaited. New Delhi, June 27 : A special CBI court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain -- arrested in connection with an alleged money laundering case, by 14 days, Earlier on Monday, the court had refused the extension of Jain's judicial custody as neither the minister nor his lawyers were present in the court. Jain, who is under the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) since May 31, was admitted to the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Hospital after he complained of reduced oxygen levels last week. As the probe agency apprised the circumstances at the CBI court at Rouse Avenue and argued for the extension of Jain's custody citing the probe is ongoing, the court directed the ED to present him before the court through video conferencing. After the submissions, the vacation judge Neelofar Abida Parveen extended the custody of the accused by two weeks and directed the probe agency to present him before the court on July 11. Prior to his hospitalisation, the court had on June 18 rejected Jain's bail application. On June 9, he was also rushed to a hospital after he complained of uneasiness while leaving the Rouse Avenue Court, just after the court hearing. On June 18, while dismissing the bail plea of Jain, a special court observed that no medical documents have been produced to show his medical history and only on the ground that the accused suffers from sleep apnea, he cannot be enlarged on bail. His lawyer submitted that he was suffering from sleep apnea, a medical condition that was quite grave and could even cause the sudden death of a patient if the continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine was cut off in the absence of an attendant. In case, the patient removed the machine or there was a power failure and it needed power back-up which was not there in the jail, he argued saying Jain had suffered severe pneumonia during Covid and had just managed to survive. Even at the time of remand, on request made in that regard, directions were given to make arrangements for the said condition of the accused to provide a CPAP machine, the counsel pointed out. The CBI has accused Jain, his wife and others of commission of offences under the Prevention of Corruption Act. On March 31, the ED provisionally attached immovable properties worth Rs 4.81 crore belonging to companies beneficially owned and controlled by the minister. The ED had on June 6 conducted raids at multiple locations belonging to Jain, his wife and his accomplices, who had either directly or indirectly assisted him or participated in the processes of money laundering. The recovery of cash worth Rs 2.85 crore and 133 gold coins weighing 1.80 kg was made during the raid. Kolkata, June 27 : The Calcutta High Court on Monday sought detailed report on the total loss incurred in West Bengal due to the violence over the controversial comments by now suspended BJP leader Nupur Sharma about Prophet Muhammad. A division bench of Chief Justice, Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bhardwaj, directed all the District Magistrates to review the extent of loss due to violence and submit a report to the court within the next six weeks. Accordingly, the victims can demand compensation for the loss, the bench observed. The next hearing in this matter will be on July 28. The division bench also sought the CCTV footage of the violence on this count at areas under Beldanga Municipality area in minority-dominated Murshidabad district. It directed that CCTV footages have to be submitted to the Registrar General of the court with details on how and when these CCTV footages were collected. State Advocate General S.N. Mukhopadhyay sought some time from the court to submit the CCTV footage on this count. Kolkata Police has issued summons to Nupur Sharma to appear for questioning in the city. However, she has avoided both the summons and sought some time to appear citing security threats. Kolkata Police has also summoned dismissed BJP leader, Naveen Jindal who shared Sharma's comments on Twitter. Soon after Sharma's controversial comments went viral, there was severe tension in several minority-dominated pockets in West Bengal in certain districts like Kolkata and adjacent Howrah, as well as Murshidabad, and Nadia. Clashes erupted between the agitators and police in which Domjur police station in Howrah district was attacked, police vehicles were torched and several police personnel were injured. Internet services were suspended in several areas. Hyderabad, June 27 : The Hyderabad Police on Monday conducted test identification parade in the Jubilee Hills gang-rape case. The test identification parade was held at Juvenile Home and Chanchalguda Central Prison. The minor victim has reportedly identified all the six accused. The police took the 17-year-old victim to both the places and recorded her statement in the presence of a magistrate. The girl was accompanied by her guardians. At the prison, she identified Saduddin Malik, the only major accused in the case while at Juvenile Home, all five minors were paraded before her. Since the victim had told the police that she had met the accused for the first time, the police conducted the identification parade after obtaining permission from the court. The police expect identification to help them in nailing the accused by producing strong evidence against them in the court to seek maximum punishment. Earlier, Hyderabad police received permission from a city court and Juvenile Justice Board to collect DNA samples from the accused and send the same to forensic lab for analysis. Five accused including four minors will be subjected to DNA profiling. The fifth minor, son of a city MLA, is facing only charges of molestation. The DNA samples will be collected from four minors lodged in Juvenile Home and from Saduddin Malik, the only major in the case who is lodged in Chanchalguda Central Prison. The DNA matching is considered crucial in the investigations into the sensational case, which had rocked the state and triggered national outrage earlier this month. As part of its efforts to build a strong case against the accused, the police are focusing on gathering all the technical evidence. The investigators have already collected clues from Innova vehicle in which five accused had sexually assaulted the 17-year-old victim. The DNA test results are likely to help the police in matching the same with the clues gathered from the vehicle. This will be important to prove in the court that the gang rape was committed in the SUV, which is a government vehicle. One of the minors charged with gang rape is son of a leader of ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) and chairman of a government-run body. The SUV was allegedly allotted to him for official duties. The investigators, if required, may collect DNA samples from the victim, who has already given her statement to the police and the court. The Juvenile Justice Board had last week dismissed bail petitions of the minors. The Board agreed with the argument by the police that in view of the serious nature of the offence they should not be granted bail. The police told the court that since the case is at the investigating stage, if minors are released on bail they may try to influence the witnesses. The court was also told that the minors' parents, who hold influential positions in the society, may try to hamper the investigation. Six accused were arrested earlier this month for gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in a car on May 28 in the upscale Jubilee Hills. They had trapped the victim after a daytime party at a bar and after offering a lift sexually assaulted her. The police questioned the accused in their custody and carried out scene reconstruction. Potency test was conducted on five accused who were involved in the gang rape. The test established that they are capable of engaging in sexual acts. Saduddin Malik and four minors have been booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 376 D (gang rape), 323 (causing hurt), Section 5 (G) (gang penetrative sexual assault on child) read with Section 6 of Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 366 (kidnapping a woman) and 366 A (procuration of a minor girl) and Section 67 of Information Technology Act . Police say the accused could face punishment for not less than 20 years or imprisonment for life till death or even death penalty. The sixth minor was not involved in rape but he kissed the victim in the car. He has been booked under IPC Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 and Section 9 (G) read with 10 of POCSO Act. He could face 5-7 years imprisonment. Srinagar, June 27 : Two LeT terrorists were killed in an encounter in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam district on Monday, police said. Police said acting on specific information regarding the presence of terrorists in village Nowpora-Kherpora, Trubji area of Kulgam, a joint cordon and search operation was launched by police, army, and CRPF personnel. During the search operation, as the joint search party approached towards the spot where the terrorists were hiding, they fired indiscriminately upon the joint search party which was retaliated, leading to an encounter. "However in order to save the civilians trapped around the encounter site, the joint team ensured the evacuation of all civilians to safer places," police said. "In the ensuing encounter, two local terrorists of proscribed terror outfit LeT were killed and their bodies were retrieved from the site of encounter." They have been identified as Zubair Ahmad Mir, resident of Qaimoh, Kulgam, and Idrees Ahmad Dar, resident of Kulpora, Kulgam. "As per police records, both the killed terrorists were categorised and involved in several terror crime cases including attacks on police/security forces and civilian atrocities including killing of PRIs. It is pertinent to mention that, the killed terrorist Zubair Ahmad Mir was active since August 2021 and was trying to revive terrorism by recruiting and motivating gullible youth, including terrorist Idrees Ahmad to join the terror fold," police said. Arms and ammunition have been recovered from the site of encounter. Meanwhile, Inspector General Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar termed this operation an important as the encounter site is very close to Amarnath Yatra route and the LeT (TRF) has been issuing threats to the yatra. Chennai, June 27 : More than a quarter of India's micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) lost over three per cent market share due to the Covid-19 pandemic, said Crisil Ltd on Monday. According to Crisil Research's SME Report 2022, half of them suffered a contraction in their earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (Ebitda) margins because of a sharp rise in commodity prices last fiscal, compared with the pre-pandemic (fiscal 2020) level. The Crisil report covered 69 sectors and 147 clusters that logged aggregate revenue of Rs 47 lakh crore, representing 20-25 per cent of the gross domestic product (implying two-thirds coverage of the MSME universe). "SMEs in several sectors saw market share loss of over three per cent and Ebitda margin erosion compared with fiscal 2020 last fiscal. For instance, the pandemic-induced supply chain disruptions impacted small pesticides manufacturers more," Pushan Sharma, Director, Crisil Research, said. According to Sharma, the large pesticide makers leveraged their global presence to procure raw materials, so eating up a huge chunk of the SME pie. Edible oil SMEs lost market share because an increase in hygiene quotient because of the pandemic meant less buyers for oil sold loose. Pesticides and edible oil SMEs suffered margin contraction of 100 bps and 200 bps, respectively, due to partial pass-through - at less than 60 per cent - of increase in raw material costs, Sharma said. A handful of sectors, such as steel pig iron, gained share where only SMEs could capitalise on revival in infrastructure demand, as large plants captively consume their output, Crisil said. As a majority of tobacco selling points remained closed due to health concerns, tobacco processing SMEs, which largely sell loose tobacco and bidi, gained market share. Surging input costs weighed heavy on sectors that operate in low-margin products and have limited pass-through. Crisil sees sectors such as transport operators, edible oil, gems and jewellery to be the most vulnerable to Ebitda losses owing to wafer thin margin of less than three per cent and limited input cost pass-through of under 60 per cent. Despite a rise in freight rates, Ebitda margin of small fleet transport operators was impacted by 50 bps in fiscal 2022, over fiscal 2020, due to limited cost pass-through of rising fuel cost that forms about half of the total cost. Elizabeth Master, Associate Director, Crisil Research, said: "Amid the pandemic and ongoing geopolitical crisis, sectors such as textiles and pharmaceuticals have offered a ray of hope for exports. Cotton yarn exports have benefited from the US ban on Xinjiang, China-made items, apart from the China+1 policy." The readymade garment industry, with 70 per cent MSME share, gained from supply constraints in China, and from emerging global opportunities. Pharma exports soared on pandemic-related demand, even as the domestic industry was struggling with lower volume demand. Going forward, Tirupur-based MSME garment manufacturers could benefit from export orders diverted from an economically floundering Sri Lanka, Master said. In the milieu, MSMEs should see revenue increase 9-11 per cent this fiscal to 1.25 times the fiscal 2020 level, though Ebitda margin is likely to remain range-bound at 5-5.5 per cent. While the industry Ebitda margin is expected to touch the pre-pandemic level this fiscal, MSMEs in more than half the sectors will buck the trend. The performance is also underwhelming in the context of overall corporate India, which is expected to log a 10-14 per cent increase in revenue and Ebitda margin of 19-20 per cent. London, June 27 : Ons Jabeur made a winning start at Wimbledon 2022 with a commanding opening-round victory over Swedish qualifier Mirjam Bjorklund under the roof on No.1 Court on Monday. The Tunisian had earlier in the day become the highest-ranked African player - man or woman - in the history of the sport when she climbed up to No. 2 in the rankings, surpassing South African Amanda Coetzer, who peaked at No.3 in the late 1990s. On Monday, her 6-1, 6-3 takedown of Bjorklund was anything but friendly though, Jabeur bringing her ruthless best to avoid an early exit like the one she suffered at Roland-Garros last month. Jabeur struck 11 winners to the Swede's three. Jabeur was especially dominant on serve, she conceded only five points behind her first delivery and a measly two behind her second. Jabeur went to Paris on the back of a title run in Madrid and a final showing in Rome and was considered one of the heavy favourites for the French Open crown behind Iga Swiatek. Magda Linette had other ideas though as she knocked out Jabeur in the very first round. There was no repeat of that scenario at the All England Club however as Jabeur sped to victory over Wimbledon debutante Bjorklund in a mere 53 minutes. "I'm pretty happy. It's amazing to come back to Court 1. I enjoy playing here a lot," said Jabeur, who defeated Venus Williams on the very same court 12 months ago on her way to the last-eight stage. "It's a great start for me, hopefully, I want to go as far as I can this tournament and dropping four games is a start." Jabeur now awaits the winner of the clash between Polish qualifier Katarzyna Kawa and Canadian Rebecca Marino. Kolkata, June 27 : The Calcutta High Court on Monday appointed a judicial committee to ensure that the victims in West Bengal who have lost their hard-earned money after investing in different chit fund companies are duly compensated. Calcutta High Court's division bench of Justice Indra Prasanna Mukerji and Justice Subhendu Samanta appointed Justice Sailendra Prasad Talukdar (retired) as the head of the judicial committee. The division bench also ordered central probe agencies like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) to hand over all the cash and properties of the chit funds that are attached with them, to the Justice Talukdar committee. The said committee will arrange for the auction of these properties through the Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) and accordingly use the sale proceedings for the compensation of the victims. Earlier, the West Bengal government announced the constitution of Justice Shyamal Kumar Sen (retired) committee with the same purpose. The state government announced the creation of a Rs 500 crore exchequer for compensation to state fund victims and also submitted an initial amount of Rs 287 crore towards that fund. On Monday, the counsels representing the petitioners, who were mainly the chit fund victims, said that an amount of Rs 140 crore, which is still lying unspent in the said fund, should also be handed over to the Justice Talukdar committee. In 2015, the-then Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Justice Manjula Chellur created a special bench for hearing the cases relating to compensation for the victims. A number of hearings have taken place since then but there had been no progress in actual disbursement of compensation to the victims. However, with the Calcutta High Court, on Monday forming a new judicial committee in this regard, the victims are finally having some hope for compensation. New Delhi, June 27 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in Germany for the G7 Summit, had 'chai par charcha' with French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday. PM Modi shared pictures of him having tea with Macron as they discussed bilateral relations. The Prime Minister earlier met German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. "Excellent meeting with @Bundeskanzler Scholz. Thanked him for the warm hospitality during the @G7 Summit. We discussed cooperation in key sectors like commerce and energy. We also had deliberations on furthering environmentally friendly growth for our planet," he tweeted after meeting German Chancellor. The PM also met South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Patna, June 27 : RJD leader and former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Monday urged the Nitish Kumar government to at least release the students who were arrested during the Agnipath protests and withdraw FIRs against them. Rabri Devi, who is Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, said on the floor of the house that the Centre may not withdraw the Agnipath scheme and hence, the state government must release the protestors. "The RJD is protesting against the Agnipath scheme right from the beginning but I firmly believe that the Centre would not withdraw it. The state government should at least release them (protestors) from jail and withdraw cases against them," she said, accusing the BJP of seeking to create flare-ups in the country by bringing such schemes. Earlier, Rabri Devi, along with several other RJD leaders, protested inside Bihar Vidhan Sabha. Besides the RJD, the Left parties and Congress also protested against the scheme. New Delhi, June 27 : Fact-checking website, Alt news' co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested in the national capital on Monday for allegedly hurting sentiments of a particular religious community, the police said. The police had registered a case after getting a complaint from a Twitter handle, where it was alleged that Zubair had tweeted a questionable image with a purpose to deliberately hurting religious sentiments. "Such tweets were getting re-tweeted and it appeared that there is a brigade of social media entities, who indulge in insult mongering thereby leading to a possible ramification on communal harmony and is overall against the maintenance of public tranquility," Deputy Commissioner of Police KPS Malhotra told IANS. On Monday, Zubair joined the investigation in a case that was registered at the Special Cell police station. During the probe, the police had given a status report, wherein the tweet by Mohammad Zubair was not found objectionable even though subsequent tweets after his tweet led to a series of questionable and derogatory tweets. "In the investigation of this case, he had been earlier examined and the investigation is on the verge of conclusion," the police officer said. However, earlier this month the police was alerted by a Twitter handle that Mohammad Zubair had earlier made an objectionable tweet and his followers on social media entities had amplified and created a series of debates and hate mongering in the thread. "He was examined in this separate case under sections 153A (doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the IPC and his role was found objectionable," Malhotra said. It was officially learnt that Zubair was evasive on the questions and also neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation. "During investigation, the conduct of Mohammed Zubair was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel the conspiracy in this matter," the senior police officer said. The official further said Zubair is being presented before the magistrate for seeking further police custody remand for the purpose of the investigation of the case. Pertinent to mention here that Zubair was the first person to share suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma's alleged remarks against Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate. The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma set off an international furore. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology. Following the uproar, the Bharatiya Janata Party suspended Sharma and another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who also allegedly made insulting comment against Prophet Muhammad on social media. However, soon after her comments, Sharma was targeted on social media and received thousands of death threats following which the police provided a security cover to her. Kolkata, June 27 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the different post-poll violence cases in West Bengal, has summoned the state's MSME & Textiles Department Minister, Chandranath Sinha in connection with one of the cases. CBI sleuths has asked Sinha to be present at the agency camp office in Durgapur on June 28 (Tuesday). He was summoned in connection with the murder of a local BJP worker in Birbhum district. Gourab Sarkar was murdered at Illambazar in the same district on May 2, 2021, soon after the results for the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections were announced. Chandranath Sinha is considered to be close to Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's district president in Birbhum, Anubrata Mandal, who is also under the scanner of CBI in the same case. Mandal has already faced a round of questioning by the CBI sleuths at the agency's office at Salt Lake in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Besides, the post-polls violence case, Mandal is also under CBI scanner for his alleged involvement in the cattle and coal smuggling cases in West Bengal. The CBI is conducting the probe on the post- poll violence cases in West Bengal following an order of the Calcutta High Court on this count. The CBI has already questioned several persons in connection with the murder of Gourab Sarkar, especially those who contacted Mandal soon after the murder took place. Three Trinamool Congress MLAs namely Abhijit Singha from Labhpur constituency, Sekh Sahanawaz Jahan from Ketugram and Abhijit Roy from Manteshwar were among those who were questioned in this connection. According to CBI sources, after the questioning of all suspects on this count are completed, they will corroborate their statements with that of Anubrata Mandal. Bhopal, June 27 : The Medical Superintendent of Madhya Pradesh government-run Hamidia hospital in Bhopal, who is facing charges of alleged sexual harassment, was replaced on Monday. The move came days after more than 50 nurses wrote to Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan accusing Medical Superintendent Deepak Maravi of sexual harassment. The management committee of the hospital has decided to replace Maravi after he wrote to the panel headed by Divisional Commissioner Gulshan Bamra, appealing him to be relieved from the post of Medical Superintendent, as per official reports. Ashish Gohia, a professor in the orthopedics department, will be the new Superintendent of the hospital, the committee officials said. The committee also appointed two Additional Superintendents -- Jivan Singh Meena, an assistant professor, and Vandana Sharma, a professor, the officials added. Nearly two weeks ago, at least 50 nurses of Hamidia hospital had accused Maravi of sexual harassment and indulging in obscene acts, prompting the state government to order an inquiry. The nurses wrote to the Chief Minister accusing the Medical Superintendent of indecent behaviour, especially during night shifts, and demanded action in the matter. After receiving letter from nurses, Madhya Pradesh Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang had ordered an enquiry into the matter, following which a committee was formed under the supervision of Divisional Commissioner. The letter written by the nurses was made public and the opposition had also demanded an independent inquiry in the matter. The Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission has served a notice to the Commissioner (Health) of the state government seeking a reply within 10 days. Patna, June 27 : Opposition members protested in the Bihar Assembly on Monday over the Agnipath scheme of defence recruitment and demanded Chief Minister Nitish Kumar spell out his stand. Opposition parties, including the RJD, the CPI, the CPI-M, the CPI-ML, and the AIMIM sought to move an adjournment motion to discuss the Agnipath scheme. "We have demanded an adjournment motion in the Vidhan Sabha to discuss the Agnipath scheme. We want CM Nitish Kumar to clear his stand on this issue. During the Agnipath agitation, Bihar was burning for three days. Hence, the youths of Bihar and the country want to know the stand of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar who is silent on this issue," senior RJD leader Bhai Virendra said. "The Centre has put the country under threat. The Centre wants security for the country through contracts. We are against this decision. Securing the borders of our country on contract is absolutely the wrong decision," he added. CPI-ML lawmaker Mahboob Alam said: "The BJP has brought a scheme to change the structure of defense forces having a history of 250 years. Changing the structure of the defence system through a scheme cannot be possible. Center is playing with the future of youths." Opposition leaders asserted that that the agitation against the Agnipath scheme has not ended, and the RJD and Left will continue the agitation in Bihar and in the country. Srinagar, June 27 : Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar visited Anantnag district on Monday to chair the final joint security review meeting of the Amarnath Yatra, officials said. Top officials from the army, paramilitary forces, and the state police, including the commander of the Victor Force of the Army's Rashtriya Rifles, the IG, CRPF, Kashmir Sector, the DIGs of the BSF, the ITBP, the CRPF and DIG, Anantnag, as well aas Besides all SSPs and COs of south Kashmir were also present. IGP Kashmir highlighted the eminent threat from terrorists and stressed for strengthening of the intelligence grid so as to neutralise them. He also discussed the other threat perceptions for Yatra as well as tourists and emphasised the establishment of a proper security grid. Taking a district-wise security review and stock of arrangements put in place for the Yatra, he also elaborated the role and responsibility of local police in all the four districts of south Kashmir. On the occasion, the senior officers of army and other security forces also made detailed presentations and shared their inputs and suggestions for strengthening the overall security grid and providing fool-proof security cover to the Yatries during their forward and return journeys. "Special attention was laid on regular briefing and de-briefing, cut-off timings, elimination of threat of sticky bombs/IEDs/grenade lobbing & drone attacks, security of parking areas, traffic management, ROP, implementation of SOPs etc," police said in a statement. "On the conclusion, IGP Kashmir emphasised that multiple checking points must be established for restricting unregistered Yatris from reaching the base camp to avoid chaotic situations. He also directed that all stakeholders be taken into confidence by creating synergy and cordial relations with them so as to achieve objective of conducting a successful Yatra." Hyderabad, June 27 : AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Monday condemned the arrest of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair by the Delhi Police. He termed the arrest highly condemnable. "He's been arrested with no notice & in some unknown FIR. Total violation of due process," tweeted Owaisi. He also wrote that Delhi Police does nothing about anti-Muslim genocidal slogans but acts swiftly against "crime" of reporting hate speech and countering misinformation. Leaders of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) also condemned Zubair's arrest. TRS social media convenor Krishank Manne strongly condemned the arrest. "If posting Nupur Sharma's communal statements on Twitter is a Crime then Delhi Police should first arrest the BJP leader. Did they," ask Krishank, who is Chairman of the Telangana State Mineral Development Corporation (TSMDC). "Praise Gandhi ji's Murderers u will be made Member of Parliament. Expose BJP u will be Jailed," the TRS leader tweeted. Bengaluru, June 27 : Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday assured G20 Summit Chief Coordinator and former Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla of full cooperation for the key international grouping's forthcoming meeting in the state. India is set to take charge, in December, as the chair of the G-20, which comprises 19 leading countries and the European Union (EU). After the meeting Shringla said that the G20 is making an immense contribution for the growth of world economy and development, and for the first time, India is getting the opportunity to head it. "In accordance with Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi's wish, a series of G20 related meets would be held in various parts of India. There are plans to hold about 10 meets in Karnataka. We need the state government's cooperation and suggestions in this regard," he said. Bommai said that Karnataka has ties with all the nations which are part of G20, and so it is only apt to hold these meets in Karnataka. "It is a matter of pride," he said and suggested projecting Karnataka's conducive economic and industrial ecosystem to the participating nations during the proposed meets. Karnataka is in the forefront in technology based industries, it is the leading state in number of startups, unicorns and decacorns. The state is also set to emerge as the hub for production of semiconductors and Green Hydrogen, Bommai said. Guwahati, June 27 : The Congress in Assam on Monday staged protests across the state against the Central government 'Agnipath' scheme for recruitment in the armed forces for four years. The Congress leaders alleged that the BJP-led Central government is taking a wrong step and depriving the country's youth of long-term employment by implementing the 'Agnipath' scheme. Lok Sabha MP Abdul Khaleque, Assam Congress spokesperson Bobbeeta Sharma and other party workers were detained during the sit-in protest at Silpukhuri area of the East Guwahati Assembly constituency. "The BJP-government speaks about Nationalism, but this scheme will weaken the Nation. This scheme will weaken the morale of youths and will deprive them of employment and retirement benefits. This scheme is actually an anti national scheme and should be withdrawn immediately," Khaleque, an MP from Barpeta, said. The Congress leaders and workers submitted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is afraid of even peaceful protests, as during the protest, the police detained them. Guwahati, June 27 : The dissident Shiv Sena MLAs, who are camping at the luxury Radisson Blu hotel in Guwahati for the past few days are passing their time by playing various indoor games including chess and ludo. "Other than a couple of meetings within themselves, they have no other serious activity in Guwahati. To pass their time, they are playing various indoor games including chess and ludo to keep themselves engaged," a source close to the MLAs told the media on condition of anonymity. The rebel legislators led by disgruntled Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde are not allowed to go outside the hotel. Initially, the MLAs booked rooms of the hotel for about a week. Assam BJP MLAs, leaders and ministers are occasionally visiting the hotel, and briefly talking with the Maharashtra lawmakers. Assam police commandos led by senior officials are closely looking after the security of the MLAs, and from time to time, also reviewing the hotel security. The hotel authorities refused fresh booking of common boarders except the passengers from airlines, with which the hotel has long term arrangements. Assam's ruling BJP has been maintaining that it has nothing to do with the Maharashtra political crisis and camping of the MLAs in Guwahati. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma claimed that these people are guests and have chosen Guwahati for their stay on their own. Shiv Sena leaders from Manipur led by state President M. Tombi Singh came to the hotel on Monday to meet Eknath Shinde. However, they were not allowed to meet. The main opposition Congress in Assam earlier asked the dissident Maharashtra MLAs to leave the state at the earliest in the greater interest of the state. Since last Wednesday morning, dissident MLAs of Shiv Sena, Independents and others have been camping at the hotel posing a threat to the Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led coalition government in Maharashtra. New Delhi, June 27 : Reacting to the arrest of Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said "the arrest of one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more". "Every person exposing BJP's hate, bigotry and lies is a threat to them. Arresting one voice of truth will only give rise to a thousand more. Truth ALWAYS triumphs over tyranny", said Gandhi in a tweet using the hashtag #DaroMat. Journalist and Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested by the Delhi Police on Monday evening on charges of hurting religious sentiments under sections of the Indian Penal Code. The police had registered a case after getting a complaint from a twitter handle, where it was alleged that Zubair had tweeted a questionable image with a purpose to deliberately hurt religious sentiments. Terming the arrest as an assault on truth, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor demanded his immediate release. "India's few fact-checking services, especially @AltNews, perform a vital service in our post-truth political environment, rife with disinformation. They debunk falsehoods whoever perpetrates them. To arrest @zoo_bear is an assault on truth. He should be released immediately," said Tharoor in a tweet. Former Minister and Congress leader Jairam Ramesh also tweeted and said: "Altnews & @zoo_bear have been in the forefront of exposing the bogus claims of the Vishguru, who has struck back with a vengeance characteristic of him. Delhi Police, reporting to the Union Home Minister, has long lost any pretensions of professionalism and independence". New Delhi, June 28 : Alt news co-founder Mohammed Zubair, arrested on Monday, has been sent to an one-day police custody by a court here. "We had moved an application for one-day police custody remand and after considering all the facts and merits of the case, the court granted it," a senior Delhi Police officer told IANS. He said that the counsel for the accused moved application for grant of bail, however, the same was heard at length and after not finding the merits, the bail was ultimately declined. Zubair, 33, was arrested for allegedly hurting sentiments of a particular religious community. Earlier this month, the police was alerted by a Twitter handle that Zubair had earlier made an objectionable tweet and his followers on social media entities had amplified and created a series of debates and hate mongering in the thread. "He was examined in this separate case under sections 153A (doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the IPC and his role was found objectionable," the official said. It was officially learnt that accused Zubair was "evasive on the questions" and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation. "During investigation, the conduct of Mohammed Zubair was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel the conspiracy in this matter," the senior official added. Jammu, June 28 : Nature has equated its gift of lofty snow-clad mountains, gurgling rivers, lakes, tall swinging trees, and fruit and flowers with human talent which really mirrors the beauty of Jammu and Kashmir. Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma was god-gifted Santoor virtuoso. Santoor was his childhood craze. Those, who love to listen to this, claim they hear heavenly sound in it. There are people who spend quiet nights on boats in a river or lake to hear Sufi music on Santoor. The strings of Santoor at once transport the listener to the other world where he or she hears heavenly music. No wonder young Shiv Kumar became enamored of Santoor. At the age of 17, he established himself in the eyes of icons of classical music when he performed at the Haridas Sangit Sammelan in Mumbai. The icons of classical music at the Sammelan included Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Ustad Vilayat Khan, Pandit Ravi Shankar, Ustad Amir Khan, Ustad Mushtaq Hussain, Pandit Omkarnath Thakur and Rasoolavi Bai. Among the kudos were some critical opinions which found Santoor not the right instrument for classical music. Perhaps, it was too early for some in the audience to gauge young Shiv Kumar's missionary zeal with Santoor. Explaining his mission, he told a Jammu newspaper. "I have tried not to make a caricature of this instrument." He had vision for Santoor. His single-minded mission was to make Santoor an instrument for playing classical music. He went ahead with this mission despite criticism from some quarters. He developed the technique of "tremor" which the critics accepted. In an interview, he said, "I have also tried to improve the tonal quality of this instrument in order to give it soothing, soft and ethereal type of a sound." Shiv Kumar was born in Jammu on January 13, 1938. As he says, his music was inspired by folk music of Jammu, Dogri folk songs. The nature in Jammu played the defining role in the making of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma. "The Call of the Valley" a film largely inspired by nature was made by him in 1967 in association with flute maestro Hariparshad Chaurasia and Guitarist Brij Bhushan Kalra. His musical assignments mostly kept him in Mumbai. But Mumbai was not Jammu for him. "I do miss my beautiful Jammu" he was always nostalgic for his birth place to which he owed his love for music. Many old people, who have listened to Santoor, swear the instrument produces heavenly music. Shiv Kumar was of the opinion that Santoor was spiritual music which took the listener into a serene atmosphere and put the mind to rest. The story of Shiv Kumar is the story of an achiever who keeps his eyes, ears and above all his/her heart open to his/her environs. The environs which Jammu and Kashmir presents can inspire even a soul-less person. A Persian poet had said he would give up the throne of Delhi for Kashmir, the Paradise on earth, "where a roasted Chicken gets back its feathers". While we praise Shiv Kumar for his music, we should turn our attention to the gifts of the nature to Jammu and Kashmir which urge human beings to a creative par excellence. This creativity is reflective in Kashmiri art and handicraft. All motifs on sarees, carpets and woodwork reflect the artists' inspiration from his environs. That makes Kashmiri handicraft famous all over the world. Keen and sensitive person can hear the haunting melodies of Jammu and Kashmir in these handicrafts. Shiv Kumar's classical music on Santoor reflects that. Islamabad, June 28 : The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has claimed to have caught an employee at Former Prime Minister Imran Khan's residence in Bani Gala here, who was acting as a spy and was tasked to keep an eye on Khan and collect crucial information. PTI spokesperson Shahbaz Gill claimed that the spy was assigned to install a specific device to record the communications at the residence. "The black USB like device, recovered from the spy is an extremely sensitive gadget that could record voice in the room where it was installed as well as of the one beside it," claimed Shahbaz Gill. "He (spy) was given Rs 50,000 and told to install the device. Upon completing the initial task, he would carry out this task on regular basis," Gill added. Gill, while showing the alleged spying device, also claimed that while this device was password-protected and runs with the help of software, and that it also had a tiny mic in it. "I fear that probably his next task would have been to plant an explosive device inside the residence," the spokesperson said. While the issue gained political attention, Islamabad police also revealed that they had also taken into custody another person from Khan's residence under suspicion of being a spy. As per the Islamabad police "a reporter belonging to a local private TV channel had handed over a man who couldn't talk properly and so he hadn't been identified yet". "Medical tests would be carried out to ascertain the mental and physical condition of the suspect. The man had been under arrest inside Bani Gala before been taken to the police station," stated the police. "No evidence has been provided to the police by the reporter to ascertain the details about the suspected man," the police added. Law enforcement agencies and the police has also asked Khan to provide a list of employees working at Bani Gala, but despite multiple requests the details are yet to be provided. Police maintains that they could not check backgrounds of people working at Bani Gala until the list is not provided to them. It is pertinent to mention here that Khan has been saying that his "life is in danger" and has even recorded a video, mentioning the names of persons, who he believes would be responsible if something happens to him. Khan has accused the current government of ousting him off power through an "orchestrated conspiracy led by the US" for a regime change. Khan has called for a strong resistance against the current setup and has vowed to continue protesting until early elections are not announced in the country. Islamabad, June 28 : Pakistan government has decided to reach out to G20 countries in an attempt to stop India from holding an event or meeting of the grouping in Jammu and Kashmir (J&K). Pakistan foreign office, has categorically rejected any such attempt by India claiming that "Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognised disputed territory between Pakistan and India. The territory has been under forcible and illegal occupation of India since 1947 and this dispute has remained on the agenda of the UN Security Council for over seven decades". "Contemplating the holding of any G20 related meeting/event in J&K, in utter disregard of the globally acknowledged disputed status of the territory, is a travesty that the international community cannot accept under any circumstances," reads a statement by the Pakistan Minister of Foreign Affairs. The statement added that in case of any such proposal from India, it is expected that the G20 members would reject it outright. Pakistan has also called for release of all political prisoners from Indian jails including Yasin Malik. Kiev, June 28 : Vladimir Putin has less than two years to live as he suffers from multiple "grave" illnesses, according to the head of the Ukrainian intelligence service, multiple media outlets reported. Major General Kyrylo Budanov said Kiev spies who infiltrated the Kremlin made the claims based on "human intelligence", Daily Mail reported. "Putin doesn't have a long life ahead of him," Budanov was quoted as saying by USA Today reported. Putin's health has been subject to fierce rumour for months, escalating after he was pictured gripping a table during a meeting with defence minister Sergei Shoigu. Earlier this month, the 69-year-old President's legs appeared to buckle during a speech in Moscow, adding to the growing rumours of the Russian leader's health woes. Putin was attending an awards ceremony at the Kremlin when he looked unsteady on his feet, Daily Mail reported. He swayed back and forth before his speech as Russian filmmaker Nikita Mikhalkov accepted a prize. It came just days after a Kremlin insider claimed Putin had been advised by doctors not to make any "lengthy" public appearances, having fallen ill amid recent discussions with his military chiefs. The Russian President felt "a sharp sickness, weakness and dizziness", while getting up from his desk following a recent video conference with advisers and military leaders, Telegram channel General SVR reported. Putin's poor posture and seemingly bloated face and neck sparked speculation about the leader's health, which is said to have ailed since the invasion of Ukraine. The Kremlin leader was said in April to be in need of an "urgent" cancer operation. Putin also reportedly suffers from Parkinson's and "schizophrenic symptoms", according to a self-styled Kremlin "insider". Latest updates on Russia-Ukraine War Ambatolahy Airport, Ambatolahy, Madagascar [ AHY / ] If you are planning to travel to Ambatolahy or any other city in Madagascar, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Ambatolahy Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Ambatolahy Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Madagascar. Ambatolahy Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Ambatolahy Airport Info: Ambatolahy Airport IATA Code: AHY Ambatolahy Airport ICAO Code: Latitude : -20.0167 Longitude : 45.5333 City : Ambatolahy Country : Madagascar World Area Code : 541 Airport Type : Small Ambatolahy Airport Address / Contact Details : Ambatolahy (AHY), Ambatohaly, Madagascar Timezone : Indian/Antananarivo Ambatolahy Airport Timezone : GMT +03:00 hours Current time and date at Ambatolahy Airport is 08:17:01 AM (EAT) on Monday, Jul 4, 2022 Looking for information on Ambatolahy Airport, Ambatolahy, Madagascar? Know about Ambatolahy Airport in detail. Find out the location of Ambatolahy Airport on Madagascar map and also find out airports near to Ambatolahy. 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AHY - Ambatolahy Airport IATA Code "I have total confidence in Brian, Craig and all of the partners in the firm to build on our success by maintaining our culture of working hard for our clients, treating our employees well and contributing to the community. - Barry Szaferman, Co-Managing Partner Szaferman Lakind personal injury attorney Craig Hubert has been named Co-Managing Partner of Szaferman, Lakind, Blumstein & Blader, P.C., sharing the role with Barry Szaferman and Brian Paul. Craig has been a member of the firms Executive Committee for over 15 years and a vital part of the firms success. Founded in 1977 and centrally located in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Szaferman Lakind is a full-service, Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent law firm that has been listed among U.S. News Best Lawyers Best Law Firms* from 2014 through 2022 in the New Jersey Metro area. The firm was most recently recognized in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Land Use & Zoning Law and Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs. The firms 30+ attorneys practice throughout New Jersey and provide legal representation to businesses, investors, professionals, families and individuals in several areas, among them family law, general and commercial litigation, personal injury, business law, workers compensation and commercial real estate and land use. Craig is certified by the Supreme Court of New Jersey as a Civil Trial Attorney and Criminal Trial Attorney, and represents clients in complex litigation involving serious accidents, nursing home negligence, products liability and unsafe premises as well as victims of criminal acts, sexual assault and child abuse. His representation has resulted in over $100 million in recoveries on behalf of his clients. Over the course of his distinguished career, Craig has been selected to the New Jersey Super Lawyers list, issued by Thomson Reuters for his Personal Injury Plaintiff work since 2005. He has also been included in the Best Lawyers in America list for his Personal Injury Plantiffs work in the Princeton-Metro area since 2013. Craig has been instrumental in the growth and success of the firm, commented Co-Managing Partner Barry Szaferman. Although I expect to continue in my present role for years to come, I recognize the importance of planning for the future. I have total confidence in Brian, Craig and all of the partners in the firm to build on our success by maintaining our culture of working hard for our clients, treating our employees well and contributing to the community. Founded in 1977, Szaferman Lakind is a full-service, Martindale-Hubbell AV-Preeminent law firm that was listed among U.S. News Best Lawyers Best Law Firms* from 2014 through 2022 in the New Jersey Metro area. The firm was most recently recognized in the areas of Commercial Litigation, Family Law, Land Use & Zoning Law and Personal Injury Litigation Plaintiffs. Based in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Szaferman Lakind has 30+ attorneys who provide legal representation to businesses, investors, professionals, families and individuals in several areas, among them family law, general and commercial litigation, personal injury, estate and business planning and business law. To contact Szaferman Lakind please call 609.275.0400 or visit http://www.szaferman.com. Szaferman Lakind was selected to U.S. News Best Lawyers Best Law Firms list. The Best Law Firms list is issued by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers. A description of the selection methodologies can be found at bestlawfirms.usnews.com/methodology.aspx. No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court of New Jersey. Receiving such an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from our customers and recognition from G2 has been very gratifying and validates that we are on the right track for the future. SPOTIO today announced that G2 Crowd has recognized SPOTIO as one of the top Field Sales and Route Planning providers based on customer reviews. Users ranked SPOTIO as a leader in customer satisfaction and market presence in both the G2 Small and Mid-Market Grid reports for Field Sales Software in Summer 2022. G2 is one of the largest software marketplace and services review platforms, used by 2,000 companies and more than 5 million buyers each month. From day one, our mission has been to help make field sales teams become more efficient and effective through technology, said Jonathan Moss, SPOTIOs Head of Product. Receiving such an overwhelming amount of positive feedback from our customers and recognition from G2 has been very gratifying and validates that we are on the right track for the future. In total, SPOTIO received ten awards based on reviews, market presence, and ability to solve customer needs. This marks the first time the company has received this many awards during a G2 quarterly report. The list includes: Leader - Field Sales Software and Route Planning Software Field Sales Leader - Small and Mid-Market Businesses Field Sales - Most implementable - Small and Mid-Market Businesses Field Sales - Best Meets Requirements - Mid-Market Businesses Field Sales - Best Estimated ROI - Small-Business Momentum Leader - Field Sales Software and Route Planning Software The G2 Grid represents the voice of real software users, rating products algorithmically based on data sourced from G2 user product reviews and data aggregated from online sources and social networks. Products are ranked by customer satisfaction (based on user reviews) and market presence (based on market share, seller size, and social impact). Check out the grid in real-time Learn how SPOTIO is helping to streamline field sales activity, process, and management through a modern and intuitive solution that drive results at spotio.com/sales-engagement-software/. About SPOTIO SPOTIO is the leading field sales engagement platform built for field sales teams to grow pipelines, improve productivity, and close more deals. SPOTIO centralizes field sales team activities and provides sales organizations with the visibility and insight needed to drive revenue. Thousands of customers worldwide rely on SPOTIO to accelerate growth with their field sales teams. SPOTIO is a privately held company based in Dallas, Texas. Climate intelligence is the decision-making superpower that will help us unlock new opportunities and make better decisions about climate adaptation," said Iggy Bassi, CEO and Founder of Cervest. Cervest, the climate tech company working to put asset-level climate intelligence at the core of every decision, welcomes two new members to its Climate Intelligence Council (CIC): Dr. Byron Auguste and Dr. Sara Boettiger. Auguste and Boettiger bring a powerful combination of policy, business, and tech innovation expertise to the CIC, which was established to accelerate awareness and adoption of climate intelligence as a critical resilience-building tool for public and private sectors in the 21st Century. An economist and former presidential advisor, Dr. Auguste is CEO & Co-Founder of Opportunity@Work, a social enterprise created to rewire the U.S. labor market for skills-based inclusion and mobility. He served for two years in the Obama administration as Economic Advisor and Deputy Director of the National Economic Council (NEC) focused on innovation, infrastructure, and labor markets. Prior to that, Auguste was a senior partner at McKinsey & Company, for 20 years providing strategic counsel in the fields of software and digital services., semiconductors and technology supply chains, advanced manufacturing, data analytics, platform economics and business models, product development, talent management, and economic development. He brings a depth of leadership to bear across public, business, and non-profit sectors to help adapt a more climate-aligned economy. Dr. Boettiger, an agricultural and resource economist, is a leading expert in the field of corporate sustainability, with extensive experience advising companies, foundations and governments on social and environmental impact. Currently an independent consultant, Boettiger was previously Senior Vice President, Head of Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability for the Crop Science division of Bayer. She also co-led the McKinsey Center for Agricultural Transformation, served as Deputy Director at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, was a faculty fellow at Harvard Universitys Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society, a member of the World Economic Forums Global Agenda Councils and advisor to start-ups and nonprofits. Auguste and Boettiger join current CIC members including Carol Browner, Former Head of the EPA, R.P. Eddy, CEO Ergo, Professor Mark Girolami, Chief Scientist of the Alan Turing Institute, David Sobotka, former Head of Fixed Income at Merrill Lynch, and Dr. Karen McKinnon, Assistant Professor of Statistics and the Environment at UCLA. CIC members bridge the worlds of science, policy, finance, technology and business and work alongside Cervest to champion climate intelligence, which is asset-level business intelligence, as a critical instrument in the race for organizations and markets to adapt with climate change. The CICs work comes at a critical point in the climate crisis. Reports from the IPCC and other experts continue to highlight how the persistent rise in global warming is triggering more volatile and frequent extreme weatherand what that is costing us. In the U.S. alone last year, losses topped $145 billion. The world needs to simultaneously decarbonize and build asset-scale resilience in order to protect our economic, social and environmental security, and climate intelligence will help make this possible. While many business leaders recognize the bottom-line risks posed by climate volatility, as well as the need for adaptation and resilience to secure their futures, the majority have no idea where to start, said Iggy Bassi, founder and CEO of Cervest. Climate intelligence provides that starting point. It is the decision-making superpower that will help all of us unlock new opportunities and make better decisions about climate adaptation. And with the help of the CIC, we will be able to put climate intelligence at the core of every business, government and investment decision in the next five years. For more information about the Climate Intelligence Council visit: https://cervest.earth/climate-intelligence-academy ### About Cervest Cervests (http://www.cervest.earth) cloud-based climate intelligence (CI) platform provides the most comprehensive view possible of climate risk at an asset level. For the first time, enterprises, governments and financial service providers can quantify asset-level climate risk at scale, enabling them to climate-align decisions and investments. While assets are owned, climate risks on assets are shared, so everyone has a stake in protecting them. By making comparable and shareable CI universally accessible, Cervest is powering a Climate Intelligence Network that will drive behavioral change at scale and unlock a more sustainable future for our assets, including our greatest assetthe planet. Founded in 2015, Cervest is a Certified B Corporation with executive offices in the U.K. and the U.S. Media Contacts: Sharen Santoski (US) Sharen.Santoski@cervest.earth +1.617.755.6357 Julie Skinner (UK) julie@rareconsultancy.com +44 7950 899130 Our team welcomes the opportunity to help patients on their journey to parenthood. We are looking forward to providing outstanding patient-centred care for all patients on the Island. Olive Fertility Centre is delighted to announce that the Olive Fertility Centre in Victoria is now welcoming patients at the Yates St. clinic in Harris Green and that the Olive Fertility Victoria IVF clinic is scheduled to open at 545 Superior Street in early 2023. The need for fertility care has been increasing across BC and Canada with 1 in 6 Canadian couples struggling to conceive. Olive Fertility has seen a surge in demand for both fertility treatment and egg freezing during the pandemic. The number of patients we have seen for IVF and egg freezing has increased by over 30%, says Dr. Beth Taylor, co-founder and co-director of Olive Fertility Centre. We know that it has been particularly challenging for people on the Island to access fertility treatment as they have had to travel to Vancouver for IVF procedures. With our full-service IVF clinic opening in early 2023, we can offer patients on Vancouver Island complete fertility care closer to home. For Victoria mom and Olive Fertility patient Ayah Grant, having an IVF clinic in Victoria would have reduced the anxiety and financial burden of conceiving her daughter Alice. It was over the top stressful to have to get over to the Vancouver clinic for our IVF treatment at exactly the right moment in my cycle. We would have to book a hotel or stay with a friend to make sure I could get to the clinic on time. It will be such a relief to have a full-service IVF clinic close to home if we decide to have a second child. The Olive Fertility Victoria clinic currently has two full-time Reproductive Endocrinologist-Infertility Specialists (REIs): Dr. James Graham and Dr. Ginevra Mills, with a third REI joining later this year. Dr. Graham and Dr. Mills are pleased to be seeing patients in person. Our team welcomes the opportunity to help patients on their journey to parenthood. We are looking forward to providing outstanding patient-centred care for all patients on the Island. At Olive Fertility, our staff and available services support the physical and emotional well-being of the patient and provide comprehensive care for couples or individuals with primary or secondary infertility, LGBTQ2A+ persons, and people who need donor sperm, donor eggs or surrogacy, egg freezing, and beyond, says Dr. Graham, clinical director, Olive Fertility Victoria. With an andrology lab, ultrasound suite and nursing support, we are able to offer patients most treatments at our Victoria location except egg retrieval and transfer, which are currently performed at our Vancouver clinic, until our new IVF clinic opens, adds Dr. Mills. Olive Fertility Centre (olivefertility.com) is one of Canadas leading IVF and prenatal diagnosis centres, with clinics in Vancouver, Surrey, Kelowna, and Victoria. Olive Fertility provides comprehensive fertility care to infertile couples, singles, and LGBTQ2A+ individuals. USDM Life Sciences Google Cloud is committed to being the industrys most trusted cloud provider and our compliance certifications and reports help our customers accelerate innovation and digital transformation, said Rani Urbas, Global Head of Enterprise Trust. USDM Life Sciences (USDM) announced that Google Cloud Platform achieved its Cloud Assurance Certification, satisfying 34 worldwide health authorities nonfunctional requirements and supporting functional requirements, as defined in over 6,500 regulatory requirements. Cloud Assurance Certified technology vendors must undergo the rigorous compliance, security, and data integrity assessment by USDM, remediate any gaps, and demonstrate compliance with the consolidated global health authority statutory and regulatory requirements. To become Cloud Assurance Certified, USDM performed a comprehensive and independent assessment of the Google Cloud technology stack, validating the design, development, testing, qualification, maintenance methodologies, and processes used to develop the infrastructure and the regulated functionality. USDM utilizes its proprietary Unified Compliance Matrix to identify the relevant global regulations and standards in life sciences like the FDAs 21 CFR Part 11 and Predicate Rules, EUs Annex 11, GDPR, Health Canada, and Australia TGA and many others, which Googles life sciences customers are required to meet. GCP also passed the post-release compliance testing and release management assessment activities performed by USDM to maintain continuous compliance. The certification demonstrates Google Clouds commitment to advancing in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device organizations by achieving the highest level of compliance. Google Cloud is committed to being the industrys most trusted cloud provider and our compliance certifications and reports help our customers accelerate innovation and digital transformation, said Rani Urbas, Global Head of Enterprise Trust. We are excited to add USDMs Vendor Assurance Report to our compliance portfolio and enable our life sciences customers to efficiently evaluate our posture and meet their regulatory and compliance obligations. USDMs Vendor Assurance Report can be leveraged as regulatory evidence and help streamline the audit, assessment, and assurance processes required by both the customer and Google Cloud. Additionally, USDM offers its flagship Cloud Assurance subscription to offload the qualification and release management to achieve continuous compliance with the Google Cloud Platform. USDM is the most trusted name in life sciences, and we maintain cloud compliance for hundreds of customers every day so they can focus on getting their medicines, therapies, and products to market faster, said Kevin Brown, CEO of USDM. Weve always believed in advancing and simplifying compliance to enable our customers and technology partners to turn regulation into innovation and have been using a CSA and infrastructure building block compliance methodology for years. USDM Cloud Assurance Certified auditors are independent, non-governmental, global teams who confirm health authority statutory and regulatory requirements to ensure quality, safety, and intended use of technology solutions worldwide. USDMs advanced Certified SCRUM teams, Google Certified Solution Architects, and Google Cloud Testers, combined with our regulatory expertise, bridge the gap between quality and technology to make game-changing innovation possible. For more information on USDMs Cloud Assurance program or if you are a technology provider interested in becoming certified, you can learn more https://usdm.com/what-we-do/compliance/cloud-assurancehere. About USDM Life Sciences At USDM Life Sciences, our purpose is to bring clarity and action to the interplay of technology and regulations to help biotech, pharma, and medical device companies deliver trailblazing outcomes. We help our customers use cutting-edge technology to increase their speed to market while ensuring continuous compliance and patient safety. For more information, visit http://www.usdm.com. Photo Credit: Nathan Dumlao, Unsplash A big part of the grieving process is learning to embrace your individual experience, because no two experiences of grief will be exactly alike...being open about your own experience may also help someone else feel less alone in theirs. When grief shakes ones world, coping, healing, and recovery arent always instinctual. To help guide the many possible experiences of grieving, Supportiv, the on-demand peer-to-peer mental health service, releases a new collection of grief articles and resources. Supportiv CEO & Co-Founder Helena Plater-Zyberk speaks to the escalating societal need for grief resources: With over one million COVID deaths in the US to date, an estimated nine million people are currently grieving a loved one for that reason alone. However, deaths are just one of the many types of grief-worthy events one might face. For example, each year, hundreds of thousands get divorced, receive difficult medical diagnoses, and see the ends of friendships. What happens when others dont understand what you are mourning? So many grief-worthy events still feel marginalized from discussions about grieving: becoming estranged from family members, experiencing ethnic or racial inequity, or mourning the past that shaped your current strugglesjust to name a few, shares Supportiv Co-Founder Pouria Mojabi. A big part of the grieving process is learning to embrace your individual experience, because no two experiences of grief will be exactly alike. That said, being open about your own experience may also help someone else feel less alone in theirs. Supportivs new grief articles and resources (https://www.supportiv.com/grief) deliver considerations and guidance to get through the grieving processno matter what set the process in motion. Topics in the collection include: What "Should" Grief Feel Like? You Can Grieve As Long As You Need To Why Is It Hard To Talk About Grief? How Grief Can Confuse Your Coping Mechanisms Resources For Dealing With Any Kind Of Grief Disenfranchised Grief And Misunderstood Loss How To Start Healing Grief By Shifting Your Outlook How To Help When Your Coworker Is Grieving Unique Tips For Getting Through Grief Grieving The Past That Underlies Your Mental Health Struggles Journal Prompts For Grief and Healing Grieving The Loss Of Someone Who Is Still Alive Rethinking Your Future After A Difficult Diagnosis After the Loss of a Pet, Put Grief and Healing First How To Cope After A Coworkers Suicide Covids Disproportionate Filipino-American Deaths: Grieving And Coping Process Your Stages Of Grief (worksheet) Find help processing grief in the full article collection at https://www.supportiv.com/grief. In addition to its peer-to-peer support network, relevant Supportiv articles and tips also surface in real-time inside its 24/7 peer support chats. By typing a few words in response to the question: Whats your struggle? users are matched in under a minute to topic-specific peer-to-peer group chats for anonymous supportfrom feeling lonely to irritated, from dating to divorce, and from panic to depression. Even experiences regarding anger, trauma, and discrimination are up for discussion in Supportivs anonymous peer support chats. Supportiv has already enabled over 1.1 million users to feel less lonely, anxious, stressed, misunderstood, and hopeless through its moderator-guided chats with AI-driven content and resource recommendations. See what real users have to say, here: http://www.supportiv.com/users-testimonials. The Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) invites you to attend our 2022 AAEA Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA, July 31-August 2 at the Marriott Anaheim. There are over 900 expert speakers presenting in more than 200 concurrent sessions. Over 1200 agricultural and applied economists from around the world are expected to attend both in-person and virtually. Media and press are invited to attend any concurrent session, or plenary session with a complimentary media registration. All sessions will have a virtual component, but registration is required to view. (In person registrants will have full virtual access.) Presentation topics include: food and agricultural marketing, international development in trade, markets, and policy, environmental economics and policy, applied risk analysis, environmental issues in Australia and Asia, extension, regional economics, land, water and environmental economics, among many others. For a full list of presentations and sessions search for AAEA 2022 in the app store. Registration is required to view virtual video of sessions. The Gordon Rausser Keynote Address, will feature Shefali Mehta who serves as the Deputy Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics at the USDA, along with a panelist of experts speaking on "Communicating Agricultural and Applied Economics Research to Stakeholders for Greater Impact". (Panelists include: Keith Coble, AAEA Past President and from Mississippi State University; Lowell Randel from the Radel Group and AAEA Government Relations; Ken Schescke from CAST, and Laura Wood Peterson from NCFAR/LWP Consulting) on Sunday, July 31, from 6:00 pm 7:00 pm (pacific) in Platinum 5&6. AAEA President-Elect, Norbert Wilson from Duke University gives his Presidential Address on Monday, August 1, from 8:30 am 9:30 am (pacific) in Platinum 5&6. Awudu Abdulai from the University of Kiel will give his Fellows Address on Information Acquisition and the Adoption of Improved Crop Varieties on August 2, from 8:30 am 9:30 am (pacific) in Platinum 5&6. Robert Pindyck from MIT will close out the meeting with his Galbraith Forum on Tuesday, August 2, from 6:30 pm 7:30 pm (pacific) in Platinum 5&6 on Population, Productivity, and Sustainable Consumption. If you are interested in attending the 2022 AAEA Annual Meeting in Anaheim, CA, please send a completed complimentary media registration to Allison Ware in the AAEA Business Office. You can also learn more on our Annual Meeting Media Kit page. ABOUT AAEA: Established in 1910, the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (AAEA) is the leading professional association for agricultural and applied economists, with 2,500 members in more than 60 countries. Members of the AAEA work in academic or government institutions as well as in industry and not-for-profit organizations, and engage in a variety of research, teaching, and outreach activities in the areas of agriculture, the environment, food, health, and international development. The AAEA publishes three journals, the Journal of the Agricultural and Applied Economics Association (an open access journal), the American Journal of Agricultural Economics and Applied Economic Perspectives & Policy, as well as the online magazine Choices and the online open access publication series Applied Economics Teaching Resources. To learn more, visit http://www.aaea.org. My Journey on This Side of Eternity: a nostalgic and appreciative discussion of a life lived in determined faith. My Journey on This Side of Eternity is the creation of published author Albert Davis Sr., a dedicated husband and father of seven who serves as a Protestant volunteer at the state prison in Chino, California. Davis has been in the ministry for over forty years and is a pastor emeritus through Jericho Christian Fellowship. Davis shares, My Journey on This Side of Eternity tells the story of one individual whom God used when it looked as if he was not going to live past the age of fourteen. Gods plan and purpose for him are still active, even at the age of eighty. His story also illustrates how God wills us to His glory. This authors story also reveals that Gods love reaches out to every man, woman, boy, and girl on the face of this planet. The authors story will also show how God had kept him from being exposed to certain negative experiences in his life that would hinder what the Lord had planned for his life. If there was a situation that started out as being negative, the Lord would intervene and turn it into a positive for His glory. The accounts given in the authors story will give you insight as to how the Lord will not give up on you. This author also learned four important things while on his journey: 1. Make Gods Word (Bible) your rule of faith and code of conduct. 2. This is not all there is. We are all on a journey. 3. Let the Lord always be your inspiration and encouragement. 4. Feed your faith, and you will starve your doubts. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Albert Davis Sr.s new book will encourage and inspire as readers consider the authors unique life perspective. Davis shares in hopes of empowering others to lean into Gods teachings to find a satisfaction in life steeped in faith. Consumers can purchase My Journey on This Side of Eternity at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about My Journey on This Side of Eternity, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. I am so excited to have won this award, especially with the company I was in. They are all fabulous teachers. I am extremely honored to have won this award for my students because they are the reason I am here, shared Sifuentes of receiving alliantgroup's SPARK award. This is the fourth year that alliantgroup has partnered with the Houston Independent School District to award phenomenal elementary science teachers. Because these teachers ignite a passion for learning and curiosity for STEM subjects, the annual alliantgroup HISD Elementary Science Teacher Award has been renamed the SPARK Award. This years SPARK Award winner is Leticia Sifuentes who is a fifth-grade science teacher at Bonner Elementary School. Even though Leticia has been teaching at Bonner Elementary School for just one year, she is a veteran in the classroom with 24 years of experience. Her favorite part of teaching is helping her students look for the science in their everyday lives. Sifuentes also credits her own fifth grade teacher for inspiring her to become an educator. And, her name may sound familiar because Leticia Sifuentes was our honorable mention teacher in 2019. I am so excited to have won this award, especially with the company I was in. They are all fabulous teachers. I am extremely honored to have won this award for my students because they are the reason I am here, shared Sifuentes. Ms. Sifuentes and the following teachers were honored at a luncheon hosted at alliantgroups Houston headquarters. The event included the final judging to pick this years winner and was emceed by CW39s Sharron Melton. The judges included Space Center Houston Board Member Ivan Rodriguez, Univision General Manager Glenn Coleman, FOX26 meteorologist Lena Arango & Fran Crossingham with Slalom. The other teacher finalists include Melanie Jenkins, 5th grade ESL teacher, Katherine Smith Elementary School Ruth Giles, 5th grade science teacher, Cornelius Elementary School Mimi Munoz, 5th grade science teacher, Seguin Elementary School Gerjuan ONeal, 5th grade STEM teacher, Mark Twain Elementary School Lynell Dillard, 5th grade science teacher, Clemente Martinez Elementary School The SPARK Award, formerly known as the alliantgroup Elementary Science Teacher Award, was created to reward local teachers who are increasing student achievement and engagement through innovative lesson plans that emphasize both the importance and fun aspects of science. For more information on the 2022 SPARK Award, as well as alliantgroups other education initiatives, please visit alliantgroup.com. alliantgroup is a management consulting company with a mission to strengthen American businesses through reinvestment in innovation and job growth. We educate businesses, the industry groups that serve them and the accounting firms that advise them on federal and state credits and incentives that are legislated by our government to keep the U.S. competitive in the global landscape. We are proud to have helped over 20,000 businesses claim more than $16 billion in credits and incentives. alliantgroup is headquartered in Houston, Texas with additional offices located in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Indianapolis, New York, Irvine, Sacramento, Washington, D.C.; and Bristol and London in the U.K. Bright Quang, a Vietnam native who appreciates arts and culture, has completed his new book Justice for Vietnam: an informative and passionate account of hos justice may be served after the bloody battles of the Vietnam war. The Vietnam War murdered three million innocent people. One legal government by the Vietnamese people voted and sold off the Vietnam Armed Forces to Mainland China, which have three million astute troops, and sent to jail one million Southern officers. And three hundred thousand Southern officers were killed without being sentenced. His fatherland had been destroyed for the natural resources and environment by the toxic chemicals. Significantly, his literature is mightier than the amoral war as it has altered his super sublime to enslaved guy. As a result, he must keep up the modern civilization of the world when he stood up with his strong legs and his sublime energy. Even good, Bright Quang has been published eighteen books in the English language. He has exhibited many pieces of artwork seven times in the US after he graduated with a bachelor in art and two years of nonprofit management. This accordance with a superpower, modern, civilized, and progressive let him struggle for justice as a prisoner of war because wisdom must win the inhuman war. The better struggle for equality rather than make an enslaved artist by the discrimination and racism in the United States of America. Published by Page Publishing, Bright Quangs captivating tale shares his own experience as a prisoner of war through his creative outlet of writing as a form of cathartic self expression. Readers who wish to experience this gripping work can purchase Justice for Vietnam at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Jack Sterns, a talented author, has completed his new book The True Story of Six Months from Courthouse to County Jail to State Prison: a compelling read discussing the experience of being in prison. The Statesville Prison experience will pull you right in, if not already. It was surreal being a White male in his forties locked up in one of the most horrific prisons in the country, Statesville Penitentiary. After another blink of an eye, hes transferred to minimum-security East Moline Illinois Prison. The bus ride experience is straight out of Hollywood, except its real. His time spent in sweet Moline doesnt last long as expected due to some trouble inside. The time he spends in segregation is brutally realistic and in your face. After a month in seg, he gets to take another bus ride to Hillsboro medium-maximum security prison for the remainder of the six-month journey. Any trouble there and super maximum security prison would be next. A cant-put-down read that drags you right in. You cant wait to turn the pages in The Story of Six Months from Courthouse to County Jail to State Prison.. Published by Page Publishing, Jack Sternss intriguing tale discloses what it is like in prison including transfers from one prison to another and how one mans journey was molded by his experience. Readers who wish to experience this gripping work can purchase The True Story of Six Months from Courthouse to County Jail to State Prison at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Jennifer Anderson, who was born and raised in Harrisonburg, Virginia, has completed her new book I Put Away: a gripping and potent memoir that shares a powerful journey the author experienced at a pivotal point in her life. Author Jennifer Anderson describes this journey, writing, This journey occurs over a three-week period where God gives me an opportunity to change how I spoke, how I understood, and I how I thought. After the passing of my grandmother, I realized I could no longer continue to operate under my childlike system. It was time for me to grow up and be the daughter that God intended me to be! God gave me this opportunity by opening the door for me to take a three-week leave of absence from work. After my grandmothers funeral, the journey began. She continues, This journey involved changing my operating system, which led to the development of I Put Away. I Put Away comes from the biblical scripture, 1 Corinthians 13:11 (KJV), that says When I was a child, I [spoke] as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became an [adult], I put away childish things. I Put Away is about me moving from a childlike system of speaking, understanding, and thinking to an adult one. Published by Page Publishing, Jennifer Andersons impactful memoir invites readers to come along on her transitional journey, sharing her testimony in the hopes of inspiring others. Readers who wish to experience this compelling work can purchase I Put Away at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Lillian Rozanski, who lives in Illinois, has completed her new book Nursery Stories: Grammas Version: a memorable and entertaining collection of short childrens stories that allow young readers and listeners to follow along as various characters work to solve their unique problems. Author Lillian Rozanski discusses her work, sharing, The three main characters of this book all have serious problems. Each one is determined to solve their problem. To do this takes them into a series of unusual ways. By trial and error, they come up with a rewarding solution. Published by Page Publishing, Lillian Rozanskis cheerful tale provides engaging and uplifting for young readers and listeners. Readers who wish to experience this imaginative work can purchase Nursery Stories: Grammas Version at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Loretta Holkmann-Reid, Metropolitan Opera House performer who organized educational tours overseas, has completed her new book Color Me Yours: a compelling tale of mystery and secrets. Anson is a White young man, and Mattie, a half-White girl. They grow up together playing on Ansons family manor. Negroes and Whites are curious as to why Mattie and her mother stay on White folks property. Slavery is over. Anson and Mattie plan to attend college. Young love and lust blossom between the two. Secretly, they meet in the cotton field to be alone and think about the future. Their meetings in the shed turn into lovemaking. Mattie becomes pregnant with Ansons child. Pressure from Ansons mother causes him to marry a White girl against his will. He leaves with his new bride, Caroline, to attend college in California, then travels to Paris to study painting with known artists. Mattie is heartbroken. On the rebound, she marries Negro entrepreneur Levi Collins while attending college. He agrees to raise her daughter, Aimee, as his own. But hes abusive. Mattie escapes with her daughter and takes his hidden money. He is out for revenge and wants to cut her up so no one will look at her again. Word gets back to Anson upon returning home with his wife to have their baby born in America. Ansons brother, Peter, gets his Klan buddies to carve Levis face monstrously and carve KKK in his chest. Levi bleeds to death. All is not well between Anson and his wife. No one knows why, except Ansons sister, Annabelle. Could it be what she knows would shake the foundation of the Wellington family? Many dark secrets surround Beauville Manor. Published by Page Publishing, Loretta Holkmann-Reids enthralling tale uncovers forbidden loves and dark secrets revealed. Readers who wish to experience this incredible work can purchase Color Me Yours at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Peter Sjoberg, a Maryland native and US Air Force veteran who worked as a civilian service instructor after retiring from over twenty years of active duty and now enjoys traveling and spending time with his wife, their four children, and seven grandchildren, has completed his new book In Gods Hands, We Grow: a deeply personal compilation of poems inspired by his love for his wife and family, his abiding faith, and observations on the modern human experience. The author explains, This book contains poems of different styles and varieties. I began writing love poems to my wife while stationed in Korea. Once I returned from Korea, my poems matured into a more Christian and miscellaneous type of work. After writing over one hundred Christian poems, I began to focus once again on poems stemming from my personal feelings. Although my Christian poems seem to be longer and more in-depth, I believe you will find value in all poems within. The Christian poetry was formulated from my relationship with God at various times of my life. Furthermore, my Christian poems have narratives proceeding each poem explaining the motivation behind each work. The love poems all stem from the separation from my family while stationed in Korea for a year. They convey a sense of longing and urgency that can only come from a place of despair. Some of my later miscellaneous works have the same tone to them. The miscellaneous works contained within were written to share a more lighthearted look at life. They stem from the thoughts I had just going through normal day-to-day activities. I believe that the wondrous variety of poetry in this book makes it the perfect read reflecting ones daily thoughts and activities. Published by Page Publishing, Peter Sjobergs engrossing book is an excellent choice for avid Christian and poetry readers. Readers who wish to experience this engaging work can purchase In Gods Hands, We Grow at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing understands that authors should be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. Veronica White, a lawyer with focus on more practical issues when addressing family law issues in Michigan Courts, has completed her new book Michigan Family Law: An Insider's Map of the Minefield: an informative roadmap to understanding Michigan law for families in the legal system. Veronica J. White, an attorney licensed in Michigan in 2004, is just a regular person with a law degree and only became an attorney because she had negative experiences with attorneys and the legal system when trying to get through her own divorce with significant co-parenting issues. She has experience with divorces, domestic violence, and parenting time problems, so she decided to help other people out there who might be like her. She just wanted to feel understood in her case and understand the process. Seventeen years later, this is the information she believes people caught up in the Michigan family law system want to know. Being in the system feels like fearing for the next mine in the field that could blow up your case and can be stressful and confusing. Understanding the lay of the family law land can hopefully be helpful in reducing this stress and confusion. Published by Page Publishing, Veronica Whites educational read draws from her own experiences in the legal system feeling frightened, uncertain and unable to understand the process and jargon that added to the intimidation of the process. White clarifies the process for families in the legal system to remove one stressor from their path and provide a guiding, understanding voice for them. Readers who wish to experience this illuminating work can purchase Michigan Family Law: An Insider's Map of the Minefield at bookstores everywhere, or online at the Apple iTunes Store, Amazon, Google Play, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or media inquiries, contact Page Publishing at 866-315-2708. About Page Publishing: Page Publishing is a traditional, full-service publishing house that handles all the intricacies involved in publishing its authors books, including distribution in the worlds largest retail outlets and royalty generation. Page Publishing knows that authors need to be free to create, not mired in logistics like eBook conversion, establishing wholesale accounts, insurance, shipping, taxes, and so on. Pages accomplished writers and publishing professionals allow authors to leave behind these complex and time-consuming issues and focus on their passion: writing and creating. Learn more at http://www.pagepublishing.com. It is amazing to see what this company has already accomplished across its product lines. I feel very lucky to join a growing and thriving business that aspires to double its size over the next three to five years. Republic Business Credit is proud to announce that Brian Daray has joined the company as Senior Vice President, Underwriting Manager, at its headquarters in New Orleans. Brian adds tremendous value to Republics ambitious growth plans as he leads the companys seasoned underwriting team across the United States. Brians responsibilities include underwriting, structuring, and managing the successful funding of new clients while supporting Republics growing suite of products across its national commercial finance platform. It is amazing to see what this company has already accomplished across its product lines. I feel very lucky to join a growing and thriving business that aspires to double its size over the next three to five years, Brian said. Republic Business Credit is one of a few Gulf region-based national commercial finance platforms, and it is great to work with such a dynamic, curious and growth-orientated team. I cant wait to see what we achieve together. Republic provides asset-based lending, ledgered lines of credit, traditional factoring, and direct to consumer solutions to both entrepreneurial and private equity-owned companies across the many growth sectors. Prior to joining Republic, Brian spent more than 15 years working in the ABL, factoring, lender finance and specialty lending areas and was a leader in the underwriting department for a national bank-owned commercial finance company. Prior to serving as underwriter, Brian spent nearly 10 years with Capital One Bank as a Senior Field Examiner in the lender finance group. Brian graduated from University of New Orleans and is a proud resident of New Orleans. Brian reports to Robert Meyers, Republics President and one of its two Managing Members. Republic Business Credit is committed to helping entrepreneurs and private equity sponsors throughout the country. Republic supports clients in more than 30 states across its diverse geographic footprint. We are excited that Brian has joined us as a proven leader in underwriting and client onboarding, said Stewart Chesters, CEO and Managing Member of Republic Business Credit. We are committed to being a New Orleans-headquartered business with additional offices in Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston, and we have plans to hire within those markets as we continue to grow. Republic Business Credit partners with banks, accountants, private equity sponsors, independent sponsors, lawyers and investment banks to collaboratively support entrepreneurs and their value propositions across the United States, enabling them to focus on growing successful businesses. About Republic Business Credit. Republic Business Credit is a national provider of working capital facilities to private equity and entrepreneurial owned businesses. Republic provides asset-based lending, ledgered lines of credit, traditional factoring, direct to consumer loans, factoring and Fast AR Funding. Republic partners with its clients to provide up to $12 million in senior credit facilities to rapidly growing businesses, start-ups and companies experiencing recoverable distress. Nationally recognized as Winner of the 2015 Emerging Growth Company of the Year award from Association of Corporate Growth, Republics expert and knowledgeable team boasts four Top 40 Under 40 winners, two Top Women in Secured Finance and a Top Women in Asset Based Lending by the Secured Finance Network and ABF journals respectively. Republic is recognized by the Secured Finance Network as one of the largest independently owned finance companies in the United States of America. British Swim School makes a difference in countless lives across the United States and Canada. When searching for a franchise that aligned with my core values, British Swim School was unmatched." - Del Cuellar, British Swim School franchisee British Swim School, the nations leading learn to swim franchise company, continues its rapid expansion across North America with the opening of its newest franchise location in Annapolis, Maryland and the greater Anne Arundel County area. The latest British Swim School location is owned and operated by Del Cuellar, a former cafe manager and retail banker. Cuellar, a Maryland native, wanted to move beyond the banking industry and build a legacy of his own. He joined the British Swim School team in November, and through a national partnership with LA Fitness, Cuellar is thrilled that his first location is now open. Community members are welcome to sign up for lessons at the pool located in Crofton, approximately 11 miles northwest of Annapolis. Cuellar already has plans to expand with an additional pool in the near future. British Swim School makes a difference in countless lives across the United States and Canada, said Cuellar. Their mission to teach life-saving skills one lesson at a time really caught my attention. When searching for a franchise that aligned with my core values, British Swim School was unmatched. I wanted to create a business that is purpose driven, and with this opportunity, I hope to have a hand in making a difference in the lives of those we serve. For more than 40 years, British Swim School has been dedicated to teaching water survival skills by teaching infants, children and adults of all ages the skills needed for water acclimation, water survival, and stroke development. Its mission ensure that every person, regardless of age or ability, has the opportunity to become a safe and happy swimmer. Across the nation, eleven people die every day from unintentional drownings, with nearly 4,000 deaths occurring each year. Research shows that participation in formal swim programs, such as those offered by British Swim School, can reduce the risk of drowning by 88% among children who are most at risk for deaths caused by drowning. However, the risk of drowning isnt limited to children: a Red Cross survey found that more than half of all Americans (54%) either cant swim or dont have the basic swimming skills needed to save themselves in the event of a water emergency. To counter these alarming statistics, Cuellar is eager to offer British Swim Schools effective swim lessons and prominent life saving techniques at his Crofton location. No matter the age, hes determined to equip anyone seeking improvement with the necessary water skills to survive an emergency. He added that our lessons are not only a fun activity, but they also teach a lifelong skill. Through our swim curriculum, British Swim School offers more progressive-based lessons rather than your average swim sessions, said Cuellar. When teaching children or adults to swim, we ensure they have learned water survival and other critical skills before advancing them to the next level. What I love about British Swim School is how we help students acquire what they need in the event of an emergency. We dont just send them off to the next class level because they finished a certain number of sessions; they must learn the skills required to move forward, and thats what makes our services so unique. In addition to the mission-based business model, Cuellar also credits the success of his first location to the unwavering support hes received from British Swim School. Cuellar joins the expanding team of franchise owners that operate more than 215 locations across the United States and Canada. Del is a great addition to the British Swim School family," said Ashley Gundlach, British Swim School President. Our franchise development process is designed to identify ambitious franchisees like Del who are passionate about making an impact within their community. With the latest British Swim School location in Annapolis, we are eager to help reduce the high number of accidental drownings in the state of Maryland. 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 but 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. Attorney Olivia Voleta joins Goostree Law Group Goostree Law Group welcomes the newest member of our legal team, Attorney Olivia C. Voleta. Her strong courtroom skills and extensive knowledge of Illinois family law make her the perfect fit for Goostree Law Group. Attorney Voletas dedication to helping families through what is often the most difficult time in their lives cannot be matched. Her compassion for families going through these emotionally challenging situations reflects genuine care and concern for each and every client she serves. Our firm believes that Attorney Voletas commitment to helping families work through divorces and other family law matters, combined with her wealth of experience and prestigious education, makes her an excellent addition to our firm. Clients represented by Attorney Voleta can expect to be treated with respect and compassion while their cases are handled with a high level of legal skill. She is committed to securing the best possible divorce terms or custody arrangement for any client she takes on. There is no family law concern Attorney Voleta is not prepared for. In amicable divorce cases, she serves as a skillful negotiator. In more contentious cases, her talent for courtroom representation truly shines. Always diligent, and always thinking ahead, Attorney Voleta will be prepared for any challenge that may come up throughout the course of her representation. She listens with care to all of her clients concerns and tailors her representation to focus on each individual clients needs and wants. It was during her clerkship for a Chicago family law practice that she developed a passion for helping families going through court proceedings like divorce and child custody. This experience sparked Attorney Voletas interest in pursuing a career in family law. She formally began her legal career as counsel for a Chicago-based corporation, often representing Fortune 500 companies. During this time, she honed her courtroom skills before moving to a smaller practice, where she rounded out her practical legal skills by gaining experience with some criminal defense and traffic law. Despite her strong competency in handling a wide variety of legal matters, Attorney Voleta knew that family law was her true calling in life. After graduating from Michigan State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration, Olivia chose to pursue the career she felt she was born for by enrolling in law school. Becoming a lawyer was a lifelong dream for Olivia, who grew up locally in the suburbs of Chicago. During her time at Michigan State University School of Law, Olivia was honored with the Jurisprudence Achievement Award in Advocacy. This award reflects her strong courtroom advocacy skills and commitment to representing her clients with skill and vigor. Truly dedicated to helping families through tumultuous times, Attorney Voleta makes a strong addition to our team of lawyers. About Goostree Law Group Our family law practice is comprised of a group of highly skilled and experienced attorneys. Goostree Law Group serves clients throughout the greater Chicago areas from our office locations in Naperville, St. Charles, and Wheaton. We handle a wide range of family law matters from parentage, to child custody, to divorce. To learn more about the services our firm can offer you, please visit https://www.familydivorcelaw.com/ or call us at 630-584-4800. We believe this reinforces the original intent of the Colorado legislature when creating CollegeInvest as a tool for families to save and pay for post-secondary credentials. Angela Baier CollegeInvest, Colorados self-sustaining, not-for-profit higher education savings resource announced today that Governor Jared Polis has signed Colorado House Bill 22- 1310 into law, approving expenses associated with apprenticeship programs as qualified withdrawals from CollegeInvest 529 savings accounts. The new law is effective immediately, and provides for a state tax deduction for these expenses by Coloradans participating the CollegeInvest savings program. The SECURE Act of 2019 expanded the qualified use of 529 accounts at the federal level by allowing withdrawals for apprenticeships. While the federal tax code sets the general rules of qualified tuition programs like CollegeInvest, it authorizes each state to administer its own program and determine its unique state tax treatment and other policies. Angela Baier, CollegeInvests chief executive officer said, We are proud that Colorado has taken this step to approve the use of CollegeInvest funds for apprenticeships as a qualified education expense. We believe this reinforces the original intent of the Colorado legislature when creating CollegeInvest as a tool for families to save and pay for post-secondary credentials. The bipartisan bill was sponsored by State Representatives Colin Larson and Cathy Kipp, and State Senators Jeff Bridges and Rob Woodward. Apprenticeships provide a proven career pathway that combines education with on-the-job training while earning a paycheck, allowing students to engage with their chosen industry while earning a professional credential that boosts their earning potential. In 2020, the Colorado Department of Higher Education unveiled the Colorado Collegiate Apprentice Program, an innovative new learning model that empowers Coloradans with the hands-on career training to accelerate their education in specific fields. In partnership with the Colorado Community College system, and funded through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, the first learning track focused on careers in healthcare, with other industry programs to follow. The U.S. Department of Labor provides a search tool to locate eligible apprenticeship programs. When applied to an eligible apprenticeship program, CollegeInvest 529 savings can be used towards program fees, books, supplies, and equipment, including the tools needed for the trade. Based on the principle that saving for post-secondary education is a vastly more effective strategy than borrowing, CollegeInvest is Colorados trusted resource in breaking down the financial barriers to attaining higher education, whether through an apprenticeship, trade, school, community college, or a four-year university. For more information, please visit us at collegeinvest.org. About CollegeInvest CollegeInvest is Colorados foremost resource designed specifically to help break down the financial barriers to attaining higher education or vocational training. By providing expert information, easy-to-use planning tools, and an exceptionally diverse menu of tax-advantaged college savings plans, CollegeInvest works to help Coloradans maximize their potential to save for college. CollegeInvest currently represents $11 billion in savings and 390,000 accounts, the majority of which are held by Colorado residents. Money saved in a CollegeInvest 529 savings plan can be used at any public or private college, university, community college, vocational school, and now apprenticeships, anywhere in the country. For more information, visit collegeinvest.org, call 1-800-448-2424, or contact your financial advisor. Important Considerations To learn about CollegeInvests 529 programs, its objectives, risks, charges, expenses, limitations, restrictions, and qualifications regarding the Plans benefits and potential tax advantages, please read and consider carefully the Program Disclosure Statements (PDS) available at collegeinvest.org before investing. Also, check with your or your beneficiarys home state to learn if it offers tax or other benefits for investing in its own plan. Administered and issued by CollegeInvest. CollegeInvest and the CollegeInvest logo are registered trademarks of CollegeInvest. Copyright 2022 CollegeInvest. Investment returns are not guaranteed, and you could lose money, including principal. God Breathed...The Journey: a heartfelt message of hope. God Breathed...The Journey is the creation of published author Darren O. Salmon, a loving husband and native of Jamaica. Salmon shares, God Breathed: The Journey chronicles Darren Salmons journey as a Christian spoken word poetfrom his initial dialogue with God where he gets the call, to the triumphs and trials of his Christian walk, to becoming well known within his community as a professional poet. This book is a poetry book unlike any other, with poetry that fuses biblical principles with authentic occurrences from the authors life. It is inspiring and thought-provoking, yet beautiful in its simplicity. Reading it will take you on the very journey the author traveled and possibly motivate you to start a ministry of your own. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Darren O. Salmons new book will encourage readers in their own walk of faith through its tone of sincerity. Salmon shares in hopes of empowering others and bringing them closer to God. Consumers can purchaseGod Breathed...The Journey at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about God Breathed...The Journey, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Americas Battle against the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Injustice: Through the Eyes of the Disabled D.I.V.A. A Chronicle of Events: is the creation of published author Dr. Michelle King-Huger, Ed.S., a loving mother and native of Michigan who served for thirty years with the New York City Department of Education. Dr. King-Huger shares, Americas Battle against the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Injustice focuses on one of the most tumultuous, historical, and unforgettable times in America. The time period for the chronicle of events is between March 2020 and the end of the year. Dr. Michelle King-Huger, Ed.S. shares personal reflections from a cultural perspective upon how America dealt with the COVID-19 pandemic and social injustice during this unprecedented time. The year also sparked racial upheaval which brought forth one of the most recent social injustice awakenings in our country in decades. This book continues to be relevant to situations in peoples lives because it will always remain significant and purposeful in current society and culture. The book tracks the COVID-19 pandemic on a monthly basiswith numerical statistics, the changes we faced as Americans, and how our country handled the battle against this invisible enemy. America witnessed, through the age of modern technology and science, how racial and social disparities were prevalent during this pandemic. The 2020 year became a tempestuous and stormy one, full of protests and rallies because of how social injustices and systematic racism appeared to become even more visually evident in our country. Thought-provoking words, quotes, and poetry of Rep. John Lewis, Presidents Barack Obama and John F. Kennedy, Dylan Thomas, Maya Angelou, and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and these are just a few names that are included throughout the book. Heartfelt and opinionated words from fellow Americans are part of a relevant and qualitative survey. Dr. Michelle King-Huger, Ed.S offers suggestions and encouraging ideas for self-growth for your mind, body, and soul, along with biblical phrases that immerse the reader. Americas Battle against the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Injustice is a page-turner that you just dont want to put down! Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Dr. Michelle King-Huger, Ed.S.s new book explores the complexities and challenges that have rocked the world following the outbreak of COVID-19. Dr. King-Huger presents a concise and articulate discussion within the pages of this engaging look into social history. Consumers can purchase Americas Battle against the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Injustice: Through the Eyes of the Disabled D.I.V.A. A Chronicle of Events at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Americas Battle against the COVID-19 Pandemic and Social Injustice: Through the Eyes of the Disabled D.I.V.A. A Chronicle of Events, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. SteinLaw Supports Pride Month with Donation to Pride Law Fund Legal services and educational efforts are critically important for the LGBTQIA+ community, said Brandon Stein. By contributing to the Pride Law Fund, SteinLaw is demonstrating its commitment to social justice and equal protection under the law. Brandon Stein, owner and founder of SteinLaw, has announced a donation to the Pride Law Fund in recognition of Pride Month. Pride Law Fund supports the legal rights of the LGBTQIA+ community and people living with HIV and AIDS. New civil rights lawyers, law students and community leaders are able to apply for and receive grants and fellowships from Pride Law Fund to initiate and continue critical civil rights advocacy for these communities. Legal services and educational efforts are critically important for the LGBTQIA+ community, said Brandon Stein. By contributing to the Pride Law Fund, SteinLaw is demonstrating its commitment to social justice and equal protection under the law. The contribution to Pride Law Fund is one of several donations by SteinLaw this year to organizations that serve the public interest and assist real people. All of us benefit from having a more inclusive society, Stein explained. Supporting the Pride Law Fund is an effective way for SteinLaw to help law students and new lawyers while also demonstrating allyship. Pride Law Fund started in 1979 as the National Educational Foundation for Individual Rights. Members of other human rights and legal defense organizations founded Pride Law Fund to support national education projects and gay civil rights litigation, and in the past 35 years, the organization has funded more than 100 law student clerkships at LGBTQIA+ civil rights organizations. Today Pride Law Fund continues to assist academic programs and educate the public about LGBTQIA+ concerns. The financial contribution from SteinLaw coincides with Pride Month celebrations being held across Florida throughout the month of June. In an effort to promote the legal rights of LGBTQIA+ and HIV/AIDS communities, donate to Pride Law Fund. History of Pride Month The first Gay Liberation March was held in Greenwich Village, New York, June 28, 1970, on the first anniversary of the Stonewall Uprising. This month, millions of people around the world will participate in Pride Month activities such as workshops, parades, concerts, parties, picnics and memorials that honor and support LGBTQIA+ rights and activism. SteinLaw takes action every day in standing up for others who have been injured or harmed, and we extend that same compassion to those who have been historically oppressed or discriminated against, said Stein. For more information about how the SteinLaw team can help, please visit their website. More About SteinLaw The SteinLaw Injury Lawyers focus on helping accident victims who have been injured or hurt by someone elses negligence or wrongful conduct. The firm helps victims and their loved ones across Florida and has offices located in Aventura, Ft. Myers, Miami, Tampa, West Palm Beach, Weston and Ft. Lauderdale. For more information about SteinLaw, visit their website https://www.steinlaw.com/ or call (877) 783-4652. GTMRxs mission is to drive visibility for how all stakeholders in health care can evolve to ensure medications are managed safely, effectively and affordably. By partnering with ERIC, the leading advocate for large employer plan sponsors, were able to educate a broader audience. On the heels of passage of bipartisan legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that will for the first time give employer plan sponsors insight into the costs of drugs and pharmacy benefit management services, the critical importance of comprehensive medication management (CMM) has never been more clear. Recent inquiries by the Federal Trade Commission about the business practices of the six largest pharmacy benefit managers also shed important light on the opaque and skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs plaguing families across the country. In an effort to continue educating and advocating for critical changes into the medication use process, The Get the Medications Right (GTMRx) Institute, a coalition of over 1600 members calling for medication management reform bringing together critical stakeholders across health care, is announcing a strategic partnership with The ERISA Industry Committee, a national benefits advocacy association exclusively representing the largest employers in the United States in their capacities as employee benefit plan sponsors for their nationwide workforces. GTMRxs mission is to drive visibility for how all stakeholders in health care can evolve to ensure medications are managed safely, effectively and affordably and that the right medication is available to the consumer, said Katherine H. Capps, co-founder and executive director at GTMRx. For employers, this means integrating comprehensive medication management into their benefit design. By partnering with ERIC, the leading advocate for large employer plan sponsors, were able to educate a broader audience, and take our advocacy to the next level, to promote practices that can protect patients and deliver better coverage for employees and families across the country. The partnership is part of the GTMRx Buy Right Strategy, an educational outreach program to educate employers as health plan sponsors about a better way to manage medications. As part of its initiative, GTMRx, with support from employers, developed a toolkit to help employers integrate comprehensive medication management into their benefit design as they work with medical carriers and PBMs. The GTMRx mission is very much in line with ours at ERIC - to develop and advance public policies that will inject transparency into the health care system, improve quality and lower costs, thus supporting better benefits for employees, said James Gelfand, President of The ERISA Industry Committee. ERIC will work with GTMRx both to raise awareness of the value of comprehensive medication management, as well as to ensure that employers have a full and transparent view into their benefits plans, and can accurately evaluate whether health plan vendors are ensuring that patients get maximum value and effectiveness in their drug treatments and benefits. About the Get the Medications Right Institute The GTMRx Institute is a catalyst for change that brings critical stakeholders together, bound by the urgent need to get the medications right. We are physicians, pharmacists, nurses, patients, health IT innovators, drug and diagnostics companies, consumer groups, employers, payers aligned to save lives and save money through comprehensive medication management. By showcasing evidence and innovation, we motivate practice transformation and push payment and policy reform. Together, we ACT to champion appropriate, effective, safe and precise use of medication and gene therapies. Learn more at gtmr.org. About ERIC ERIC is a national nonprofit organization exclusively representing the largest employers in the United States in their capacity as sponsors of employee benefit plans for their nationwide workforces. With member companies that are leaders in every economic sector, ERIC is the voice of large employer plan sponsors on federal, state, and local public policies impacting their ability to sponsor benefit plans and to lawfully operate under ERISAs protection from a patchwork of different and conflicting state and local laws, in addition to federal law. Americans engage with an ERIC member company many times a day, such as when they drive a car or fill it with gas, use a cell phone or a computer, watch TV, dine out or at home, enjoy a beverage or snack, use cosmetics, fly on an airplane, visit a bank or hotel, benefit from our national defense, receive or send a package, or go shopping. A Long Journey: From Concentration Camp to Freedom in America: a gripping journey of survival and building anew. A Long Journey: From Concentration Camp to Freedom in America is the creation of published author Hans H. Schallig, who was born on Java, Indonesia, in a town called Cirebon. Indonesia was one of the colonies of the Netherlands called Dutch East Indies. After the war, his family moved to the United States where he received most of his education, graduating from Oregon State University with a BS in business and technology. He joined Battelle-Northwest Laboratories for two years and then decided to run his own business in addition to performing contract research projects. He is now retired and lives in Lebanon, Oregon, and is a widower with four children, six grandchildren, and six great-grandchildren. Schallig shares, This is a story of a three-year-old caught up in the horrors of World War II. The quiet time in the Dutch East Indies, now called Indonesia, was replaced by the ravages of war and Japanese concentration camps. We spent three and a half years in three horrid camps. My mother was responsible for three children, including myself and Grandma. We ate any creeping or sliming creature trying to stay alive until we were saved by two atomic bombs. The Indonesians declared independence on August 17, 1945. Our family was then endangered by murdering youth gangs who roamed the island of Java. We could not go back to our plantation. My father saw handwriting on the wall and immediately began the process to immigrate to the United States. This was very difficult since we were stateless. He was arrested and jailed for allegedly being a Nazi sympathizer without any due process. We finally received the requisite papers to board the American President Lines ship The Jefferson. We sailed to the United States in March and arrived at San Pedro in April after a five-week journey at sea. Our family experienced culture shock when we finally came ashore. My long journey is a story of all the funny things I did as I grew up, including adventures in a Dutch colony and learning to be an American. You will have fun when you read my exploits with successes and many surprising endings. We hope that you will appreciate the American dream I realized in my long journey. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Hans H. Schalligs new book takes readers back to a troubled and uncertain time to follow a young mans journey to freedom in America. Schallig offers a fine balance of nostalgic memories with family and richly detailed historical accounts that paint a vivid picture. Consumers can purchase A Long Journey: From Concentration Camp to Freedom in America at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about A Long Journey: From Concentration Camp to Freedom in America, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. The Jan. 6 Committee hearings are evidence that we need to find new and creative ways to make people aware of the facts behind our electoral process, said Rob Eshman, the A-Mark Foundations newly-appointed CEO. Our democracy depends on it. Think you know about election integrity, voter fraud and the 2020 election? Now theres a quiz you can take to find out. The Santa Monica, Calif.-based A-Mark Foundation has launched a quiz-based social media campaign to spread deeply researched information on the fairness of the 2020 presidential election, allegations of voter fraud, and post-election lawsuits. The quiz links to the foundations new website, 2020election.org, where all the facts are footnoted and linked to supporting evidence. The Jan. 6 Committee hearings demonstrate that we need to find new and creative ways to make people aware of the facts behind our electoral process, said Rob Eshman, the foundations newly-appointed CEO. Our democracy depends on it. Produced over a period of several months by a team of researchers led by A-Mark Foundation Vice President Tracey DeFrancesco, 2020election.org offers the media, researchers and the public a source of unbiased, non-partisan research surrounding the 2020 election. One aim of the research is to investigate the allegations of voter fraud that motivated the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the subject of Congressional hearings wrapping up this week. The websites main findings include: President Donald Trump has made over 900 claims about rigged or stolen elections, his first one in 2012, four years before before his successful presidential campaign in 2016. There have been 215 convictions for voter fraud that occurred in U.S. elections from 2016 to 2020. Of the 107 convictions related to a presidential or congressional race, 102 cases involved one vote, three cases had seven votes or less, and two cases had an unknown number of votes. As a result of state recounts, Joe Bidens margin of victory increased in Arizona by 360 votes and in Wisconsin by 87 votes, and decreased in Georgia by 891 votes. The change in votes is not known for Texas; Pennsylvania audit results are pending as of June 6, 2022. Republicans filed 82 post-2020 election lawsuits, resulting in four wins and one partial win. Two of the wins had batches of 270 and 216 provisional ballots excluded in Pennsylvania, while the partial win led to certain provisional ballots being set aside. Five post-election lawsuits were filed against Republicans; one is a loss and four are pending. A-Mark researchers compiled all instances of President Trumps claims, a detailed list of all election lawsuits and voter fraud convictions, as well as other background material. Founded in 1997 by businessman and philanthropist Steven C. Markoff, the Santa Monica-based A-Mark Foundation invests in nonpartisan, unbiased research and research-based solutions on critical social issues. For more information, contact rob@amarkfoundation.org. "I'm proud of the team and look forward to continued progress in our goal of helping 25,000 American families with their home financing decisions. InterLinc Mortgage, a Houston based full-service mortgage lender, is honored to be named a Top Mortgage Lender for 2022 by Scotsman Guide. Considered the leading resource for mortgage company rankings, Scotsman Guide has named InterLinc Mortgage as a winner in 2019 and 2021 for Top Overall Volume and Top Retail Volume in 2021. This year, InterLinc was named a Top Overall Lender and Top Retail Lender. InterLinc is proud to once again have our name among other top mortgage companies on the Scotsman Guide Top Lenders list. The past few years have been exciting, said InterLinc CEO and President, Gene Thompson. But these past years have stretched our company and our associates to rise in excellence and grit. Im proud of the team and look forward to continued progress in our goal of helping 25,000 American families with their home financing decisions. In addition to the Top Lenders ranking, InterLinc had 33 originators make the Scotsman Guide Top Originators list, resulting in 30% of InterLincs production staff. Of that list, half were women and many ranked in multiple categories such as Top Dollar Volume, Most Loans Closed and Top FHA Volume. With a 82%/18% mix of purchase to refinance business in 2021, InterLinc emphasizes the importance of maintaining a strong purchase-focused business model to their production team which has in turn resulted in strong performance year after year. Our production team drives our business forward and seeing so many excellent InterLinc originators on this list solidifies InterLinc as a destination for achievement and growth. Originators who are looking to take their business to the next level should look no further than InterLinc Mortgage, says InterLinc SVP of Sales, James Durham. As the purchase-heavy lender looks to continue to grow and expand, new state licenses and branches are finding their way to the company. Candidates who are interested in a confidential conversation can email marketing@lincloan.com for more information. About InterLinc InterLinc Mortgage Services, LLC is a Houston-based full-service mortgage banking firm with approvals from the three largest issuers of mortgage-backed securities: Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae. The Company affords clients access to enhanced mortgage product offerings, pricing competitiveness, loan efficiency, and servicing. InterLinc is licensed in 27 states throughout the Midwest and Southeast. More information is available online at https://interlincmortgage.com. IRO Selects Centric PLM to Support Rapid Growth Our objective is to gain maximum visibility into product development and to use Centric PLMs best practices to optimize our processes, from design to production IRO, an iconic brand of ready-to-wear, high-end accessories for women and men, has selected Centric Software's Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) solution. Centric Software provides the most innovative enterprise solutions to plan, design, develop, source and sell products such as apparel, footwear, sporting goods, furniture, home decor, cosmetics, food & beverage and luxury to achieve strategic and operational digital transformation goals. IRO was founded in 2005 by two brothers, Arik and Laurent Bitton, who were initiated into the world of fashion throughout their childhood, as their parents managed a line of womens clothing for more than 20 years. The brand was initially designed for women, but quickly diversified into a mens collection in 2010. Now, IRO has 90 boutiques and operates 600 points of sale worldwide. The chic brand has continued to grow in recent years and has become extremely popular in the fashion sphere. Offering 4 seasonal collections each year, with an increasingly varied and ever-expanding range, the brand has had to adapt to support its sudden growth, along with accelerating its product development time. Before, we used Excel spreadsheets and Google Sheets, but we quickly realized that we were limited by this system, explains Yannick Begot, Information System Manager. The use of disparate tools no longer made it possible to meet the needs of the company. Many tasks were still done manually and users could no longer manage the volume and complexity of the data. Delphine Delente, Technical Manager, continues, We had a loss of information. Everyone had their own way of tracking details without communicating much with other users and we had no global vision of our collections. The company conducted extensive research to choose a PLM solution, looking at multiple suppliers, but in the end chose Centric PLM. "We attended demonstrations from other vendors, and Centric PLM was chosen for its ease of use and its suitability for the company's needs," explains Yannick Begot. Delphine Delente, for her part, was already familiar with the tool, I worked on the implementation of Centric PLM at SMCP with Claude Pierlot and I had already seen the advantages of this solution. The choice to work with Centric PLM was reinforced by the transparency and responsiveness of the Centric Software team, who immediately proposed concrete solutions adapted to IRO's needs. Centric PLM will allow us to access information in real time, which will improve collaboration and communication within our different teams. Our objective is to gain maximum visibility into product development and to use Centric PLMs best practices to optimize our processes, from design to production, says Delphine Delente. If we want our brand to continue to grow, we need to ensure collection management. We need to understand what worked and what didn't. The integration of Centric PLM will allow teams to monitor and analyze collections and sales, Yannick Begot concludes. We are delighted that IRO chose to partner with us, commented Chris Groves, President and CEO of Centric Software. With Centric PLM, IRO will benefit from a robust solution, capable of satisfying its requirement for total control of products from design to distribution. Learn more about Centric PLM Request a Demo IRO (https://www.iroparis.com) Combining a touch of vintage rock from the 70s and 80s, Parisian elegance and Japanese culture, IRO is inspired by street girls to offer a simple but strong clothing range. The name, IRO, is an anagram of the word "king", and means "color" in Japanese. A true multinational, the chic brand seeks to entice everyday girls, not just the ones who appear in magazines. Through an eclectic, advanced and modern collection, IRO wants to highlight women and bring out their confident, independent and cool character at the same time. IRO dares unique and refined trends by mixing colors, materials, cuts and seasons. The collections are audacious, like the women for whom these outfits are intended. Women who display unparalleled confidence, know what they want and assert themselves without fear. Since 2010, the famous ready-to-wear brand has diversified its offer by adding a men's collection as well as a range of accessories. A successful iconic brand, IRO has won the hearts of many celebrities such as Kate Moss, Scarlett Johansson, Drew Barrymore and Gwyneth Paltrow. Geoff Crain, Senior Director, Sales & Marketing, Kingstar Media Geoff is a true leader and will make a great addition to the Forbes Council. Kingstar Media, a leading performance marketing and advertising agency in North America, announced today that its Senior Director of Sales and Marketing, Geoff Crain, has been accepted as a member of the Forbes Agency Council, an invitation-only community for owners of and executives in successful public relations, media strategy, creative, and advertising agencies. Crain was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of his experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting business growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Geoff Crain into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Agency Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As an accepted member of the Council, Crain has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help him reach peak professional influence. He will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Crain will also be invited to work with a professional editorial team to share his expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. Finally, Crain will benefit from exclusive access to vetted business service partners, membership-branded marketing collateral, and the high-touch support of the Forbes Councils member concierge team. Geoff is a true leader and will make a great addition to the Forbes Council, said Kingstar Media President and CEO Ed Crain. VP and Managing Director Anat Freed and I are extremely excited to also announce Geoffs promotion to Senior Director of Sales and Marketing. Geoff was here at the start of the company working part time as a student almost 20 years ago. Since that time, he has worked for outside agencies in the big brand category, moved to a senior role at a major affiliate marketing agency and re-joined Kingstar in 2019. In taking on this exciting new role Geoff will continue to help Anat and I and the Kingstar team build and expand the agencys services. His selection to the Forbes Council will bring our expertise to a wider community. About Forbes Councils Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Agency Council, visit forbesagencycouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. About Kingstar Media Leveraging the power of television, audio, outdoor and digital, Kingstar Media has established itself as the premium direct response media agency in Canada. Kingstar has changed the Canadian DRTV landscape by changing the business model. Kingstar Media is a Canadian DRTV media agency and acts purely as a business services company: a full-service media buying agency that specializes in direct response media solutions that help its clients reach Canadian international consumers. Whether building brands, selling direct to consumers, or using direct response as a way to drive web traffic or retail sales, Kingstar has redefined direct response and how it can drive marketing strategy. For more information, visit http://www.kingstarmedia.com. Law Office of Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP For more information about the class action lawsuit against The Alaris Group, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. The San Francisco employment law attorneys, at Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP, filed a class action complaint alleging that The Alaris Group, Inc. violated the California Labor Code. The Alaris Group, Inc. class action lawsuit, Case No. C22-01125, is currently pending in the Contra Costa County Superior Court of the State of California. A copy of the Complaint can be read here. The Alaris Group, Inc. failed to reimburse employees for required business expenses. California Labor Code 2802 expressly states that "an employer shall indemnify his or her employee for all necessary expenditures or losses incurred by the employee in direct consequence of the discharge of his or her duties..." During employment, Plaintiff and other California Class Members were allegedly required to use their personal home offices and incurred business expenses as a result. Additionally, The Alaris Group, Inc. allegedly failed to fully relieve Plaintiff and other California Class Members for their legally required thirty (30) minute meal breaks. Employees were also allegedly required, from time to time, to work in excess of four (4) hours without being provided the legally required ten (10) minute rest periods. The California Supreme Court defines off-duty rest periods as time during which an employee is relieved from all work related duties and free from employer control. For more information about the class action lawsuit against The Alaris Group, Inc., call (800) 568-8020 to speak to an experienced California employment attorney today. Blumenthal Nordrehaug Bhowmik De Blouw LLP is an employment law firm with offices located in San Diego, San Francisco, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Riverside and Chicago that dedicates its practice to helping employees, investors and consumers fight back against unfair business practices, including violations of the California Labor Code and Fair Labor Standards Act. If you need help in collecting unpaid overtime wages, unpaid commissions, being wrongfully terminated from work, and other employment law claims, contact one of their attorneys today. ***THIS IS AN ATTORNEY ADVERTISEMENT*** Morrison Foerster, a leading global law firm, is pleased to announce that Eric T. McCrath has been elected by the partners as Chair of the firm. McCrath is a member of Morrison Foersters Executive Committee and Compensation Committee, and serves as Global Co-Chair of the firms Corporate Department. McCrath is also a member of Morrison Foersters Diversity Strategy Committee and has demonstrated a strong commitment to, and track record on, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He will be the first ethnically diverse Chair in Morrison Foersters history. As Chair, McCrath will play a leading role in setting the strategic direction and priorities for Morrison Foerster while continuing to advise clients on their most challenging and strategic transactions as part of his market-leading M&A practice. He succeeds Larren M. Nashelsky, who has been Chair for the past decade, a period during which Morrison Foerster has thrived and grown into a leading global law firm with 17 offices across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Nashelsky will remain a partner after his term ends on October 3, 2022. I am deeply grateful to my partners for their trust in my leadership. It will be a true privilege to assume my new role as Chair, said McCrath. "Over the past decade, Larren, working closely with our executive leadership team, has overseen a period of phenomenal success for the firm, driven by the strategic needs of our clients and guided by our values. I feel fortunate to take over from this position of strength. I look forward to building on the firms legacy of delivering exceptional results for our clients, continuing on our growth trajectory, and ensuring Morrison Foerster expands client relationships across key industries. We will do so while prioritizing our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and our unique culture of collaboration. I also look forward to keeping my finger on the pulse of our clients most strategic matters as part of my continuing M&A practice. I could not be more excited for the weeks, months, and years to come. It has been the greatest honor to serve as Chair of Morrison Foerster for more than a decade," said Nashelsky. "I am deeply proud of what we have achieved collectively for our clients while continuing to build on MoFos proud legacy of leadership in diversity and inclusion, pro bono, and community service. I am excited for the years ahead and have no doubt the firm will continue to thrive under Eric's leadership. His impeccable track-record in building a successful global practice and recruiting talent, combined with his proven leadership and strategic vision for the firm, made him the perfect choice. Eric will continue MoFo's growth in an increasingly competitive environment and champion our shared values. I look forward to working closely with Eric over the next several months to ensure a seamless transition." McCrath joined Morrison Foerster as a partner in 2007 and has held multiple leadership roles at the firm over the past several years. He has been a member of Morrison Foersters Executive Committee since 2016, the Compensation Committee since 2019, has served as Global Co-Chair of the firms Corporate Department of over 400 lawyers since 2018, and has also held a number of practice leadership roles. McCrath, a diverse lawyer of Asian heritage, is also one of the longest-standing members of the firms Diversity Strategy Committee, having served since 2010. McCrath has initiated and led many strategic growth initiatives at Morrison Foerster. He played a key role in establishing the firms presence in Boston, Miami, and Austin in recent years. McCrath has also spearheaded the significant expansion of Morrison Foersters corporate and emerging companies and venture capital capabilities in California since the start of 2022, with the addition of six partners. McCrath, who has practiced in Japan, New York, and California over the course of his career, has built a best-in-class, global corporate practice, becoming a trusted advisor to clients on hundreds of public and private M&A, private equity, and financing transactions. He counsels strategic acquirers and targets in a variety of industries, including technology (semiconductors, software, AR/VR, FinTech, AI), healthcare, consumer products, financial institutions, media, gaming, and transportation. He represents leading U.S. and global companies on their most complex cross-border transactions. McCrath earned his B.A. from Swarthmore College and J.D. from Columbia Law School. Nashelsky was first elected Chair of Morrison Foerster in 2012. Over the past decade, Nashelsky has led the firm to sustained growth, increased profitability, and expansion around the globe. During his tenure as Chair, Morrison Foerster has seen its revenue, Revenue Per Lawyer, Net Income, and Profits per Partner grow significantly. Nashelsky also strategically expanded Morrison Foersters footprint in Asia and Europe to serve clients increasingly cross-border needs, and in several key U.S. markets. Nashelsky has championed diversity and inclusion, and promoted the firms values, including pro bono, earning the firm acclaim as a leader in the profession. Accomplishments and key milestones under Nashelskys leadership include: Significantly growing the firms M&A; Litigation, including IP Litigation; Regulatory, such as Privacy and Antitrust; Investigations & Enforcement; Private Equity/Funds; and Finance capabilities. The firm also deepened its client relationships across key sectors including technology, life sciences and healthcare, and real estate. Opening new offices in Singapore in 2013; Berlin in 2013; Boston in 2019; and most recently Austin, at the start of 2022. During Larrens tenure, the firm also strengthened its multi-practice Latin America Desk by launching a presence in Miami. Consolidating and expanding its presence in key geographies, including California, with eight partner additions on the West Coast since the start of 2022 alone; Washington, D.C., which has seen the addition of dozens of lateral partners in the past several years and has become a destination for high-profile senior government officials looking to return to private practice; London, which has seen a complete reboot since 2016, has grown its revenue by 156% over the last five years and seen its headcount more than double; and Tokyo, where the firm has consolidated its status as the largest international law firm in Japan. The firms Tokyo office is consistently ranked at the top of Japan practices, including being named the Japan International Law Advisers of the Year by Chambers Asia-Pacific for nine of the 10 years the award has been given out. Achieving Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. Being a trailblazer in prioritizing mental health and well-being initiatives. In 2021, the firm became the first U.S. law firm to launch a Mental Health Charter, and make a public commitment to foster(ing) a mentally healthy workplace. ABOUT MORRISON FOERSTER Morrison Foerster is a leading global law firm that transforms complexity into advantage for its clients. Our clients include some of the largest financial institutions, banks, consulting and accounting firms, and Fortune 100, technology, and life sciences companies. Highlighting the firms commitment to client service, leadership in market-changing deals and impact litigation, and values-based culture, Morrison Foerster was recognized as one of the top 10 firms on The American Lawyers 2021 A-List. Year after year, the firm receives significant recognition from Chambers and The Legal 500 across their various guides, including Global, USA, Asia-Pacific, Europe, UK, Latin America, and FinTech Legal. Our lawyers passionately care about delivering legal excellence while living our values. Morrison Foerster has a long-standing commitment to creating a culture that respects and celebrates differences, while providing an inclusive environment. The firm has achieved Mansfield Certification Plus since 2018 as a result of successfully reaching at least 30 percent women, communities of color, and LGBTQ+ lawyer representation in a notable number of current leadership roles and committees. The firm also has a long history of commitment to the community and society through providing pro bono legal services, including litigating for civil rights and civil liberties, improving public education and fostering the wellbeing of children, advocating for veterans, promoting international human rights, enforcing the right to asylum, and safeguarding the environment. Michael Redenshek, Branch Leader for MSI, said, "The team looks forward to serving the Columbus area. MSI is extending its reach in Ohio, and through the expansion of other major key markets throughout the U.S. We are thrilled to see this growth and opportunity." MS International, Inc.(MSI), the leading supplier of flooring, countertops, wall tile, and hardscaping products in North America, is celebrating its new showroom and distribution center in Columbus, OH, with its Grand Opening on Wednesday, June 29th. The location has a complete offering of the company's flooring, countertop, decorative mosaic, wall tile, and hardscape products. The showroom is located at 6399 Broughton Avenue Columbus, OH 43213. The new 78,000 square-foot space will serve residential and commercial markets in the Columbus area. Michael Redenshek, Branch Leader for MSI, said, "Already having MSI locations in Cleveland and Cincinnati, the team looks forward to serving the Columbus area as well. MSI is extending its reach in Ohio, and through the expansion of other major key markets throughout the U.S. We are thrilled to see this growth and opportunity." Dedicated, well-lit, climate-controlled areas encourage trade professionals and consumers to make the best product and design decisions. MSI's Columbus showroom features products for a diverse customer base developed around lifestyles, trends, and budgets complete with a state-of-the-art slab area featuring natural stone and Q Premium Natural Quartz; and bestselling products like Everlife LVT and Arterra Porcelain Pavers. The slab viewing area will include over 140 colors of granite, marble, and other natural stone slabs. A designated quartz gallery houses the industry-leading Q-Premium Natural Quartz collection. The lineup features over 100 colors in various sought-after finishes like matte, concrete, and polished. Due to the breadth of MSI products, the space is built as a trade resource across various business channels: residential remodeling, new home construction, multifamily, and commercial. MSIs exclusive company-owned fleet of express delivery trucks provide reduced lead times and superior service. The Columbus showroom is open six days a week, from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday, Wednesday Friday, from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm on Tuesday, and between 9:00 am and 12:00 pm on Saturday. Shipping and Receiving is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm Monday Friday and from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm on Saturday. Walk-ins from consumers and trade professionals are welcome. To learn more about MSIs complete product assortment, visit https://www.msisurfaces.com. About MS International, Inc. (MSI) Founded in 1975, MSI is a leading supplier of flooring, countertop, wall tile, and hardscaping products in North America. Headquartered in Orange, California, MSI also maintains over 30 state-of-the-art showrooms and distribution centers across the U.S. and Canada. MSI's product line includes an extensive offering of quartz, porcelain, ceramic, LVT, natural stone, and glass products imported from over 37 countries on six continents. What on Earth Is Going On?: a creative and compelling story of growth and life lessons. What on Earth Is Going On? is the creation of published author Nancy Johnson, a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who has been creating from a young age. Johnson shares, This book is also done with a childs vision, and she continues her views as she becomes an adult. She became an adult, and she hates any type of conflict and wants peace and respect for everyone. Maybe when everyone reads this, they will also not want conflict and have respect. Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Nancy Johnsons new book examines the complications of conflict and the comfort one finds in times of peace. Johnsons concise fiction will captivate readers while imparting engaging themes for consideration. Consumers can purchase What on Earth Is Going On? at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about What on Earth Is Going On?, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. Open to the public, National Forklift Safety Day attracted over 800 online registrations and approximately fifty in-person attendees. Safety is paramount to the industry and we are very pleased to see so many representatives from the end user community including the private sector, government officials and the material handling industry. The ninth annual National Forklift Safety Day took place in-person as well as virtually on June 14, 2022 at 9:00 a.m. EDT. The in-person event was held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC. National Forklift Safety Day serves as an opportunity for forklift manufacturers and the industry to highlight the safe use of forklifts, the value of operator training, and the need for daily equipment checks. Open to the public, National Forklift Safety Day attracted over 800 online registrations and approximately 50 in-person attendees. Safety is paramount to the industry and we are very pleased to see so many representatives from the end user community including the private sector, government officials and the material handling industry, said Brian Feehan, President, Industrial Truck Association. The format for 2022 followed previous events with presentations from government representatives, safety experts and industry representatives. The speakers for National Forklift Safety Day 2022 included: Chuck Pascarelli, President, Americas, Hyster-Yale Group (Chairman, ITA Board of Directors) Douglas Parker, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Jonathan Dawley, President & CEO, KION North America, (NFSD Chair 2022) Lorne Weeter, Vice President of Sales, Mobile Automation, Dematic Brian Duffy, Director of Corporate Environmental and Manufacturing Safety, Crown Equipment Corporation National Forklift Safety Day has become a prominent event in the industry to promote the need for effective forklift operator training, said Jonathan Dawley, President and CEO of KION North America. Having a hybrid event has helped us reach an increased population of over 22% versus last year. We expect this approach to have an impact on attendance growth in future years. The recording of National Forklift Safety Day 2022 will be available on the ITA website. About ITA: For more than 70 years, the Industrial Truck Association has been the leading organization of industrial truck manufacturers and suppliers of component parts and accessories that conduct business in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Based in Washington, D.C., ITA maintains an influential voice in international standards development for the industry. The organization also advances engineering practices to promote safe products, disseminates statistical marketplace information, and provides industry forums for learning and networking. Visit http://www.indtrk.org. Performing lifts of the face and neck area with local anesthesia expands the spectrum of patients who can get these procedures done, and overall, it is much safer for them. My patients have been thrilled with the exceptional results that I have been able to achieve, says Dr. John Anastasatos. Many patients considering facelifts or necklifts fear the use of general anesthesia or IV sedation which is a major deterrent to getting procedures done. Performing a facelift under local anesthesia is a much safer option for the patient, and when completed by a renowned expert, such as Dr. John Anastasatos, does not compromise the result. Dr. Anastasatos had the privilege of receiving advanced training in facelift and necklift surgery using local anesthesia under Dr. Luis Vasconez, a pioneer in this procedure. Not all plastic surgeons are capable or comfortable with doing facelifts or necklifts under local anesthesia like Dr. Anastasatos. It requires extra skill, extra training, and the extra patience that he possesses. Utilizing cutting-edge techniques and injection methods during the surgery, Dr. Anastasatos patients only feel an initial mosquito bite with limited or no pain for the remaining injections. The blood pressure and the heart rate of patients remain stable throughout the whole operation. From a surgical standpoint, the risk of a post-operative hematoma and blood clots significantly diminishes when performing facelift and necklift procedures under local anesthesia. The recovery process begins immediately, and tiredness associated with general anesthesia is also avoided. The cost of performing a facelift and/or necklift under local anesthesia is comparable to one done with general anesthesia or IV sedation, however, it does require additional time in the operating room. Performing lifts of the face and neck area with local anesthesia expands the spectrum of patients who can get these procedures done, and overall, it is much safer for them. My patients have been thrilled with the exceptional results that I have been able to achieve, says Dr. John Anastasatos. More about Dr. John Anastasatos: At Los Angeles Plastic Surgery, Dr. John Anastasatos is highly regarded for his skill in cosmetic, reconstructive, and revision procedures, including gold-standard facelifts, breast augmentations, body lift procedures, liposuction, and non-surgical treatments. Raised in the United States but with family roots in Athens, Greece, Dr. Anastasatos attended Brown University and was accepted to their medical school. He then completed general surgical training at Columbia-Presbyterian Hospital, an affiliate of Columbia University. After finishing his cosmetic and reconstructive residency at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, he completed a fellowship in hand surgery, upper extremity, and microsurgery. During this time, Dr. Anastasatos served as an attending surgeon at UAB Hospital, The Childrens Hospital, and VA Hospital. He established his own practice in Southern California in 2007 and opened a second location in Athens, Greece. Dr. John Anastasatos has earned the recognition of Castle Connolly Top Doctor and America's Most Honored Doctors - Top 5% 2022. To schedule a consultation with Dr. John Anastasatos or for more information on his practice locations in Beverly Hills, CA, or Athens, Greece, please call (310) 888-4048, or visit his website http://www.LosAngelesPlasticSurgery.com. Karen Davis O'Hara named Executive Dean of Sierra College Nevada County Campus. At the June Sierra College board meeting the Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Karen Davis OHara as the new Executive Dean of the Sierra College Nevada County Campus (NCC). Dr. Davis OHara comes to Sierra College after more than 20 years at California State University, Sacramento as a faculty member in the Department of Child Development and as a successful administrator in the College of Education, serving for five years as Associate Dean for Instruction and Student Success. I grew up in Alaska, came to this area to attend UC Davis, and never left, said Dr. Davis OHara. Last year, our family moved to Grass Valley in search of an experience like I had in Alaska, weve found that here, and with Sierra College Ive found an amazing way to serve the community. The Executive Dean serves as primary administrator and educational leader for the District's Nevada County Campus (NCC), including supervision and evaluation of NCC programs, curriculum, and staff; coordination of activities between the NCC and the Rocklin Campuses; and serves as primary contact and District representative for community relations. Dr. Davis OHara brings a wealth of experience in budget and enrollment management, assessment and accreditation, student success, especially with a focus on equity and inclusion, and guided pathways. We look forward to her contributions to Sierra College and the community, said Willy Duncan, Sierra College Superintendent/President. Dr. Davis OHara will be stepping into the role following the retirement of Stephanie Ortiz who served as Executive Dean of NCC for 13 years, with more than 30 years in service to Sierra College and the community. About Sierra College Sierra College District is rising to the needs of our community. Sierra College serves 3,200 square miles of Northern California with campuses in Roseville, Rocklin, Grass Valley, and Truckee. With approximately 125 degree and certificate programs, Sierra College is ranked first in Northern California (Sacramento north) for transfers to four-year universities, offers career/technical training, and classes for upgrading job skills. Sierra graduates can be found in businesses and industries throughout the region. More information at https://www.sierracollege.edu/. We cant think of a better organization than Sourcewell to offer FilterED, said Julie Carter, Co-Founder and CEO of GreyED. Their mission of supporting student outcomes through data insights perfectly aligns with ours. Sourcewell announces its acquisition of FilterED, a cloud-based platform for schools that collects, measures and analyzes school technology information via self-assessment surveys, or by surveying multiple stakeholders. FilterED contains three products known as modules that use surveys or inventories to give school leaders a full view of how their district uses technology so they can prioritize initiatives, track growth, and quickly and easily provide updates to their school board and community at large. It captures a wide variety of information, allows users to filter it, and empowers them to make better decisions for their students. The Technology Profile module enables a school district to contribute to state and national collective technology inventories that include rankings and aggregate data regarding assets, systems, life cycles, and other valuable data points. The data provided by FilterED has been essential for our planning around technology from the classroom to operations, said Anthony Padrnos, Executive Director of Technology at Osseo Area Schools in Minnesota. The FilterED Instruction, Learning and Technology module has been used to understand and measure the impact of our digital learning strategies in alignment with the ISTE standards. It has also guided our strategic planning work in this area to identify successes and areas of opportunities for improvement. The IT Governance module has assisted our team to build its capacity around digital hygiene and improve our digital security posture. The Tech Profile module has assisted our team with strategic technology investments as a way to research what other K12 institutions in Minnesota are using for technology to determine what solutions are viable to consider and how we compare in our technology investments. FilterED is a great addition to our portfolio because it is consistent with our commitment to help districts use data to improve student outcomes and support accountability and equity initiatives, as with our SpringMath and Proliftic offerings, said Julie Page, Associate VP of Market Solutions at Sourcewell Technology. GreyED Solutions created FilterED to support school districts in their technology planning and implementation while promoting systemic, positive changes across their district. We cant think of a better organization than Sourcewell to offer FilterED, said Julie Carter, Co-Founder and CEO of GreyED. Their mission of supporting student outcomes through data insights perfectly aligns with ours. To help expand the impact of FilterED, Sourcewell created a summer cohort. Interested schools and districts can create a technology profile here. They will receive a report detailing information on technology use by other members of the cohort. FilterED will be featured in the Sourcewell Technology booth at the annual ISTE conference in New Orleans this week. Attendees can visit booth #443 to get more information on this acquisition and Sourcewell Technologys offerings. About Sourcewell Sourcewell is government empowering government since 1978. Use our cooperative purchasing program to save time and money by choosing the products and services you need already on contract. Capture the power of 50,000 participating agencies in North America by checking out more than 400 suppliers already on contract. Tap into our K12 technology experts to discover a people-centered approach to school technologyfrom the business office to the classroom. Sourcewell staff aim to be a force multiplier by empowering you to fulfill your public service mission to help your communities. They count on you. You can count on us. Sourcewell has partnered with Sourcewell Technology to implement FilterED. Sourcewell Technology is a trusted advisor to education leaders, ensuring schools receive lasting value from their technology investments through organizational efficiency and improved student achievement. As a purpose-driven, self-sustaining government entity, we focus as much on the people we serve as the technology solutions we provide. While schools and districts are back to in-person learning now and students are on summer break, that doesnt mean the trauma from losing loved ones and social isolation is going away, said Martin Baker, CEO of The Safeguarding Company. The Safeguarding Company, a provider of software and training to systemically protect students well-being, introduces Safeguarding to U.S. schools and districts. An educational practice established in the U.K. following the tragic death of a young elementary student due to neglect, Safeguarding addresses non-academic barriers to learning, such as an unstable home life, bullying, harassment, mental health and other well-being needs. Today, The Safeguarding Companys MyConcern platform is used by more than 5,000 schools across the United Kingdom and in 35 countries. Safeguarding helps schools and districts proactively engage, manage and address the challenges, crises and traumas students face. There is growing concern around students mental health and well-being, especially with the stressors caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a recent report from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one-third37 percentof high school students reported that they experienced poor mental health during the pandemic. Educators are also feeling the stress of the disruption of the last couple of years as they struggle to re-engage students in learning. The pandemic continues to have a tremendous effect on students mental health and well-being, said Martin Baker, CEO of The Safeguarding Company. While schools and districts are back to in-person learning now and students are on summer break, that doesnt mean the trauma from losing loved ones and social isolation is going away. By implementing Safeguarding as an educational practice, educators can proactively monitor and address the ongoing challenges students face, ensuring students feel supported and safe in schools. The Safeguarding Companys MyConcern platform makes it simple for educators to record non-academic concerns about students, submit supporting evidence, build collaborative supports, refer to services, track, audit, and keep these records private and secure. MyConcern supports case management by modernizing outdated and ineffective methods like sticky notes, paper files or even informal conversations to track concerns about students. The tool facilitates dialogue and coordination between teachers, administrators and other support providers. U.S. schools, such as Operation Breakthrough Inc. in Kansas City, recognize the value of Safeguarding as MyConcern users. Its incredibly important we effectively support our students beyond academics, said Mary Esselman, President and CEO of Operation Breakthrough. With MyConcern, weve created almost an online huddle where each adult working with a student can share patterns and trends in the students behaviors with others who work with the student, providing a complete view of the students mental health and well-being. This is something we could not have done efficiently and effectively before. To learn more about The Safeguarding Company, go to http://www.thesafeguardingcompany.com/usa or visit The Safeguarding Company team at booth #2342 during the ISTE 2022 conference in New Orleans. About The Safeguarding Company The Safeguarding Company provides software and training solutions that support administrators, teachers and staff in implementing Safeguarding practices. These practices increase the well-being of students by reducing the impact of social-emotional and mental health challenges, trauma, abuse and other non-academic concerns. Effective Safeguarding practice enables education leaders to identify problems before they arise, deal with concerns more effectively and build a network of support that protects students. As schools practice Safeguarding, MyConcern is the software tool that administrators, teachers and staff can use to case manage and securely record well-being concerns about students. With Safeguarding, administrators can holistically and collaboratively support a students well-being and take preventative action as needed. For more information, visit http://www.thesafeguardingcompany.com/usa. Business Alliance with JA Korea transcosmos Korea will provide career and vocational education and training for students attending science, technology, engineering and math high schools, as well as internship programs with an opportunity to become a member of the company. transcosmos inc. hereby announces that transcosmos Korea, Inc. (Headquarter: Seoul, Republic of Korea; President and COO: Kwon Sang-chuel; transcosmos Korea), its subsidiary that provides business process outsourcing (BPO) services for businesses in the South Korean market, has entered into a business partnership agreement with Junior Achievement Korea (JA Korea; Chairman: Lee Eun Hyung). Under the agreement, the two parties will work together to promote education for youth. Right: Lee Eun Hyung, Chairman, JA Korea Left: Kwon Sang-chuel, President and COO, transcosmos Korea, Inc. JA Korea, a member of the nonprofit organization JA Worldwide, is dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for the future, and make academic and economic choices. JA Korea programs provide the youth with financial and digital literacy, work readiness, and entrepreneurship free of charge. Since its foundation in 2002, JA Korea has been developing and managing a diverse range of educational programs for students as young as kindergarten and as old as university. To date, JA Korea has offered educational programs for about 1.7 million students with around 100,000 volunteers, teachers and lecturers in collaboration with both Korean local and global companies including HSBC, Starbucks, BNP Paribas Cardif, Boeing, and more. JA Worldwide was established in 1919. As one of the world's largest and most-impactful youth-serving NGOs, JA Worldwide reaches more than 10 million young people each year in over 100 countries. This year, JA Worldwide was nominated for the 2022 Nobel Peace Prize for making a positive impact on individuals, communities, and countries through their volunteering and educational activities. At the agreement ceremony held on May 9, 2022, transcosmos Korea and JA Korea kicked off a joint project Na-num, which means to share more with others in the traditional Korean language. As the name suggests, the two parties aim to share and equip young people with the skillset and mindset they need. transcosmos Korea will provide career and vocational education and training for students attending science, technology, engineering and math high schools, as well as internship programs with an opportunity to become a member of the company. transcosmos Korea has also donated 100 million won to JA Korea to support their cause boost youth education. The donations are planned to be used for running youth education programs and creating educational materials. "We are honored and delighted to form a business partnership with JA Korea, a member of the leading NGO that assists young people the next generation of leaders - in building their own future," Kwon Sang-chuel, President and COO at transcosmos Korea said. "I hope our activities towards sharing knowledge with youth from outside of schools will make a difference to society and that the movement will spread across the world. We also expect that educators will grow together with young students, inspiring each other." transcosmos Korea is the leading independent IT outsourcing company in South Korea, offering extensive professional business process outsourcing (BPO) services that include contact center services, chat services, field services, direct mail (DM) services, direct sales (DS) services, website integration (WI) services, and internet promotion services (IPS) for businesses in the market. About transcosmos Korea transcosmos Korea, a subsidiary of transcosmos, offers extensive professional business process outsourcing (BPO) services that include contact center services, chat services, field services, direct mail (DM) services, direct sales (DS) services, website integration (WI) services, and internet promotion services (IPS) for businesses in the South Korean market. Established: May, 2001 Number of bases: 15 Number of employees: 10,000 (approximate) URL: https://www.trans-cosmos.co.kr/ko/index.asp Download the sales brochure here: https://www.trans-cosmos.co.kr/ko/company_new/company_main.asp#Brochure transcosmos is a trademark or registered trademark of transcosmos inc. in Japan and other countries. Other company names and product or service names used here are trademarks or registered trademarks of respective companies. About transcosmos inc. transcosmos launched its operations in 1966. Since then, we have combined superior "people" with up-to-date "technology" to enhance the competitive strength of our clients by providing them with superior and valuable services. transcosmos currently offers services that support clients' business processes focusing on both sales expansion and cost optimization through our 170 bases across 28 countries/regions with a focus on Asia, while continuously pursuing Operational Excellence. Furthermore, following the expansion of e-commerce market on the global scale, transcosmos provides a comprehensive One-Stop Global E-Commerce Services to deliver our clients' excellent products and services to consumers in 46 countries/regions around the globe. transcosmos aims to be the "Global Digital Transformation Partner" of our clients, supporting the clients' transformation by leveraging digital technology, responding to the ever-changing business environment. Visit us here https://www.trans-cosmos.co.jp/english/ Mindray Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System The Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System is Mindray's first dedicated OB/GYN product slated to meet the rigorous demands of OB/GYN practices. The new system has unique design elements that focus on usability and ergonomics within the OB/GYN space. Mindray, a global leader and developer of healthcare technologies and solutions for ultrasound, patient monitoring, and anesthesia, announced the launch of a new ultrasound product to address the unique demands of busy OB/GYN practices the Imagyn I9 Ultrasound Machine. The Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System is Mindray's first dedicated OB/GYN product slated to meet the rigorous demands of OB/GYN practices. The new system has unique design elements that focus on usability and ergonomics within the OB/GYN space, including elevated transducer ports, a fully free-floating user interface, and customizable E-Ink keys. Powered by Mindray's revolutionary ZONE Sonography Technology+ (ZST+) and leveraging AI-enhanced technologies, the Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System uses auto clinical scenario identification and automation at every point, from imaging optimization to planes acquisition, quantification, and creating an automated workflow. The Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System provides a full-stack smart solution for efficient women's health, covering wide-ranging applications from pre-pregnancy to obstetric to post-partum. "As we continue to strengthen our position in women's health, the addition of the Imagyn I9 Ultrasound Machine shows our dedication to advance medical technologies to make healthcare more accessible," said Wayne Quinn, President of Mindray North America. Quinn continued, "We are pleased to introduce the first dedicated OB/GYN ultrasound system powered by our revolutionary ZST+. This milestone will tremendously impact women's health clinicians and empower them to deliver high-quality care with peace of mind." Mindray develops meaningful ultrasound solutions to help clinicians provide timely answers and elevate patient care. Mindray's innovative, accessible ultrasound machines deliver exceptional image quality with a suite of artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced technologies to help clinicians improve reproducibility, optimize productivity, and achieve consistency. The Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System features innovative design elements such as an intelligent iConsole control panel, a 2-hour continuous scanning battery, and quiet operation. Breaking the mold of conventional ultrasound systems and bringing ease-of-use and ergonomics into the limelight, the Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System provides an entirely new experience driven by innovation. Imagyn I9 Ultrasound System Advanced Technologies Highlights: Sound Speed Compensation (SSC): Automatically detects and analyzes different tissue characteristics to determine and apply the optimal sound speed needed for improved image quality. This unique, one-touch, intelligent algorithm improves lateral, spatial, and contrast resolution and imaging at depth. Glazing Flow: Provides optimal visualization by intuitively and dynamically displaying a 3D effect to blood flow with high definition and clarity, especially for tiny and overlapping vessels. This technology can also be applied post-processing. Smart Face: Delivers a fast and intelligent optimization for fetal face with a simple one-touch operation. It can immediately remove occlusions such as cord, placenta, uterus, and extremities in the volume data to generate an optimal view of the fetal face, reducing the need for time-consuming manual adjustments. Smart Planes CNS: Provides a robust and user-friendly solution to automatically detect planes and calculate frequently used measurements of the central nervous system (CNS) in fetal brain examinations with one-touch. By automating these measurements, exam times decrease, allowing more time to focus on anatomy. The Imagyn I9 Ultrasound is available immediately through Mindray's trusted partners. Mindray's ultrasound solutions, including the Imagyn I9, command the industry's best investment protection and total cost of ownership with a standard 5-year warranty and Mindray's exclusive Living Technology promise that provides customers with easily upgradable software enhancements. Through innovative solutions like the Imagyn I9, Mindray continues to drive its mission forward, advancing medical technologies to make healthcare more accessible. About Mindray Mindray is a leading developer, manufacturer, and supplier of medical device solutions and technologies used in healthcare facilities around the globe. We believe we can change lives by making the most advanced healthcare technology attainable for all. We do this by empowering healthcare professionals through innovative, high-value solutions that help create the next generation of life-saving tools across three primary business segments: patient monitoring and life support, in-vitro diagnostics, and medical imaging. Mindray maintains its global headquarters in Shenzhen, China; Mindray North America is headquartered in Mahwah, New Jersey. Our Ultrasound Innovation Center is located in San Jose, California with additional facilities in major international markets around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.mindray.com. Each time we enter a new environment, were confronted by a flood of information. Our perception of a place might be influenced by the lighting, noise, the number of exitsand the occupants. When we perceive those people as symbolically threatening to our values and beliefs, whether because of their race, sexuality, political affiliation, or another identifier, we may also overestimate their presence, according to research by Rebecca Ponce de Leon (Columbia University), Jacqueline R. Rifkin (University of Missouri, Kansas City), and Richard P. Larrick (Duke University) in Psychological Science. This perception can cause us to perceive symbolically threatening groups as dominating an environment, even when they are in the numerical minority. People commonly exaggerate the presence of certain groups simply because they are perceived as ideologically different, wrote Ponce de Leon and colleagues. These biased perceptions may in turn sustain intergroup conflict and the disempowerment of marginalized groups. In the first of six studies, 987 non-Black participants reported the extent to which they perceived Black people as threatening traditional societal values, as well as how open they would be to living in a community where half of their neighbors were Black and to having a family member marry a Black person. Participants who perceived Black people as more symbolically threatening were more likely to believe that their proportion of the population would increase significantly over the next 25 years. Ponce de Leon and colleagues found evidence of a similar effect in a sample of 294 participants who were asked to imagine that they worked for a hypothetical company at which 25 out of 100 employees surveyed reported that they were either Black or gay. When asked what percentage of the companys 500-person workforce belonged to either group, non-Black or heterosexual participants who reported perceiving Black or gay coworkers as more symbolically threatening were also more likely to overestimate the percentage of employees in that group, despite the fact that the survey data suggested a clear logical answer: 25%. To demonstrate the causal relationship between symbolic threat and overestimation of a groups presence, the researchers presented 368 heterosexual participants with a similar scenario in a further study. This time, participants were informed that 30 out of 100 employees had reported that they either were gay or had green eyes. When asked to project what proportion of the 500-person company would be of either group, however, participants were significantly more likely to overestimate the presence of gay employees than those with green eyes. The researchers found evidence of a similar effect across the next three studies as well. When presented with a population map of a fictitious county, participants indicated that it contained more immigrant neighborhoods if they were informed that a local immigrant group had values and beliefs threatening to American culture than if the group was described as nonthreatening. Participants were also more likely to describe a restaurant in which a portion of customers wore clothing with a fictitious political (pro-choice or pro-life) groups logo as a pro-choice or pro-life establishment if those beliefs conflicted with their own. These findings suggest that error-management theory, which states that physical threats can lead to heightened perceptions of group pervasiveness, may also apply to symbolic threats, the researchers wrote. When faced with a possible threat, people are highly averse to false negatives because they are far more costly than false positives, Ponce de Leon and colleagues explained. It is less costly to have a smoke alarm that falsely detects smoke than it is to have a smoke alarm that fails to detect fire. Because of these cost asymmetries, people often overperceive threatening information. Feedback on this article? Email apsobserver@psychologicalscience.org or login to comment. Reference: Ponce de Leon, R., Rifkin, J. R., & Larrick, R. P. (2022). Theyre everywhere!: Symbolically threatening groups seem more pervasive than nonthreatening groups. Psychological Science. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/09567976211060009 Related content > Kathy Lester, school librarian at East Middle School in Plymouth, Mich., will step into her role as the 20222023 president of the American Association of School Librarians at the conclusion of the ALA Annual Conference in Washington, D.C. on June 28. She will happily mark this occasion in person following two years of virtual ALA Annual conferences due to Covid restrictions. PW spoke with Lester about what its been like for her and her fellow librarians to navigate the latest phase of the pandemic and her plans to lead the AASL as the profession faces significant and seemingly ever-mounting stressors. Could you talk about what you have chosen as your presidential initiative? What Im trying to do is have a focus tied to our strategic plan. If I were to put a name around it, its strengthening relationships to support equity. I really have a passion for the AASL vision statement, which is every school librarian is a leader; every learner has a school librarian. As part of that, AASL has already started to build some really great relationships and partnerships, within ALA, outside of ALA, and with our members, as well. I want to continue that and strengthen that. As some detail, weve had a partnership with ASCD [Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development] and weve just published an AASL Standards crosswalk [an approach for comparing and aligning two sets of standards to achieve common goals] with the ASCD Whole Child Tenets, trying to advocate for the fact that school librarians support the whole child. Weve had a good relationship with the National Media Literacy Alliance and through that the National Association for Media Literacy Education. We want to continue to build up that relationship and AASL will be presenting at their conference this summer. And we also have a partnership with Project THRIVE, which is an organization designed to increase awareness and provide resources to address needs of LGBTQ youth. We feel that its important to continue that relationship, especially right now. In fact, in February, AASL signed on to a national letter with other organizations to come out publicly against some of these legislative bills that would be harmful to our LGBTQ youth. Weve also just announced another [cohort] of administrators for our School Leader Collaborative, which helps us build partnerships with national administrator groups to make sure they understand the role of the school librarian. Well continue to have new rounds of administrators joining the Collaborative and we're hoping to leverage them. Inside ALA, were trying to work with the ALA Public Policy and Advocacy Office. They have an ALA policy corps, and they have been adding school librarians to it. Part of my initiative is to strengthen that relationship and make sure that were aligning some of the AASL goals, and those school librarians on the policy corps can help us advocate for those things. And tied to that is our relationship with our state chapters, and with AASL members, building up their leadership capacity. The thing about education is a lot of decisions are made locally. Theres only so much that the federal government can do in terms of defining certain educational policy. So, we really want to make sure AASL is supporting our state chapters and our advocates in states and in their local districts. Ive been very involved in a lot of work here in Michigan and there are great advocates from different states as well. Im hoping that we can create a new space for a group within the ALA Connect Space where we can share resources, have periodic meetings, and we can leverage the strengths of our members to advocate and help each other. This has been an atypical academic year in many ways, with a majority of schools across the country returning to in-person learning. Has that made for an unusual year as AASL president-elect? What was this year like for you gearing up for your presidential term? We were able to gather at the AASL national conference in Salt Lake City. It was wonderful to meet there in-person as a board. And at the conference itself, there was a lot of excitement about being able to connect in person and learn. We had on masks and we tried to be really safe. Fortunately, it was in October where it was at one of the lull points of the pandemic, so we were lucky in that regard. Jennisen Lucas [AASL past president], Laura Hicks [former AASL board member], and [AASL executive director] Sylvia Norton all went to the ASCD conference in person to roll out our crosswalk and talk to people. I also went to one state chapter conferenceNew Hampshirein person so far. Little by little were getting back to normal. But gearing up for a new year has had some challenges. Because of the pandemic, the budgets of ALA and AASL have been impacted. Its not that theyre in bad shape by any stretch, but I feel like we have a slim kind of year moving forward. So, thinking ahead, in terms of planning and trying to make decisions on what we can and cant do, we have to always keep that in mind. The conference in Salt Lake City was a moneymaker, it was successful. But would it have been more successful without the pandemic? Yes. I dont think theres any question. And its the same with ALAits been two years where their annual conference has been virtual. How has the political climate affected your planning for your coming term? This is one of the things that falls under the educational policy part of AASLs strategic plan. In some of the states, attacks on school libraries and school librarians are coming from legislatures. This is a case where a partnership with ALA is really important, because they have a larger reach and more impact. For example, school librarians have been involved in helping to conceive the new ALA initiative Unite Against Book Bans. We need to make sure that the voice of the school librarian continues to be heard in those groups We need to make sure that the voice of the school librarian continues to be heard. What are some of the biggest challenges school librarians are facing today, and how can you help your members navigate those? There are different challenges facing the school library profession overall as well as school librarians who have positions within schools. If you look at the research project being conducted by Deb Kachel and Keith Curry LanceIm actually one of the advisers on that projectyoull see that not all schools are losing school librarians. But whats disheartening is that the kids who need school librarians the most face the biggest loss of librarians. Its in low-income communities, in districts with Spanish-speaking students and different marginalized groups. That is a challenge for our profession, and we hope that some of our efforts can help state and local advocates try to turn some of those trends around. Within schools, now that our libraries are reopened, we have the challenge and the opportunity to support our students social-emotional health. I do think thats something that school librarians are equipped to do. Partnering with our teachers, and partnering with our counselors in our schools, there are a variety of ways school librarians can support that. Im at a middle school and teachers are saying that there are more behavior issues than there have been in the past. Im on some of the leadership committees in my school, and I can help provide resources and be part of the overall school team to help mitigate some of those things. I still see the learning loss issue as something that were going to have to pay attention to. I dont think in going back to school this year that the kids have regained all that theyve lost yet. We can help provide enrichment opportunities and support our teachers and our students. And, of course, the book challenges are an ever-present problem. Theres this big issue about parent rights. But from my point of view, parents have always had rights. A parent can come in at any time and talk to me about what they want or dont want their child to read. I think its a bigger issue when they come in and want to say what all children cant have access to. Its the same thing with curriculum. Teachers always send home information, and our curriculum is on our website. We have an open house night where parents can come in and see whats going on at the school. I do think that having that in-person event gives parents more of a sense of comfort, and they can get their questions answered. At AASL were going to continue our monthly town hall format because we feel like there has been some success where we get a feel for current issues and we can make sure were getting input from members and getting support for members. Thats one way we can help them navigate various challenges. What keeps you hopeful about your profession in these challenging times? I think there are a couple of things. Number one is the students, our youthI think there is a lot of hope in them. Theyre really passionate, and weve seen different youth groups standing up against challenges. I also see that there is hope in that there are more people realizing the importance and impact of school librarians and the need for school libraries. Ive seen that in my own state where, according to Keith Curry Lances data, Michigan is one of the states where we hit [back]? bottom in terms of losing librarians, but then we started increasing our numbers a little bit because people are like, Whoa, well, maybe we do need this. Recently, the International Literacy Association put out a brief about the essential leadership role of school librarians in literacy. And they put it out during School Library Month specifically. I see different groups like that standing up for the need for school librarians, so that keeps me hopeful as well. Is there a key piece of advice that youve received from your predecessor, Jennisen Lucas? Jennisen is a wonderful storyteller and Im not so sure that Im as good at that as she is. But shes been really helpful in reviewing ideas and giving her input and reminding me to just keep an eye on the big picture, too. Sometimes you can get caught up in one thing thats negative, and get bogged down, but you have to try to maintain that whole picture and keep a positive attitude moving forward. Im also expecting when we get to Annual to get a little bit more advice from Jennisen in person. I feel so fortunate that this years board has been such a great group of people to work with. But Im also looking forward to working with new people coming onto the board as well. Weve had such great people with professional experience who have agreed to run for these positions and volunteer their time. For next years operational plan, Im trying to make sure that everyones ideas and expertise are included. Thats a hopeful thing, too, that people are sticking with it. As I am working on committee appointments, there has been a great response from both experienced people and people volunteering for the first time. Were stronger when we come together. Thats one of the really great benefits of being part of a professional organization, that camaraderie, and working together to have a common voice and try to support each other. While the June 24 decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that overturned Roe v. Wade stunned the nation, it especially resonated with mission-driven independent booksellers. Throughout that day, several indies contacted by PW reported that customers congregated at the stores, seeking, in Left Bank Books owner Kris Kleindiensts words, a safe space in which to be with people who would give them comfort and help them make sense of this terrible world. In response to Fridays news, the St. Louis, Mo., indie set up a special book display featuring books on reproductive justice, abortion rights, and misogyny. We live in Missouri and this is very real for us, Kleindienst noted, as that states trigger law regarding abortion outlawed the procedure there after Roe v. Wade was overturned. Left Banks bestsellers this past weekend were New Handbook for a Post-Roe America; Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women and the Consequences of Having or Being Denied an Abortion; and The Girls Who Went Away: The Hidden History of Women Who Surrendered Children for Adoption in the Decades Before Roe v. Wade. Sales of stickers bearing such statements as RBG I Fucking Dissent; My Body My Choice; Laws Don't Stop Abortions; and Destroy Patriarchy are also selling very well, said Kleindienst. Wherever you are today, began a statement posted on Friday on Charis Books and Mores social media channels, We are with you. In mourning, in rage, in terror, in numbness, in shock, in preparedness. Customers thronged the Decatur, Ga., feminist bookstore all day, reported E.R. Anderson, executive director of Chariss nonprofit arm, Charis Circle. They were processing their rage and also their grief, while seeking refuge in a space in which to cry among people who get it. While Anderson and store owner Sara Luce Look declined to specify which books have spiked in sales in the aftermath of Fridays ruling, they disclosed that the books listed on Chariss website as resources for those wanting more information about reproductive justice, abortion rights, and health care alternatives are selling well. In general, books in all genres were selling on Friday, as customers were telling the store's booksellers, Anderson said, that they wanted books that were enjoyable, rather than stocking up [on books about abortion rights or resources]; theyve been stocking up for a long time. As for special displays, Anderson explained that the store already has a section on books about abortion, and that there are also always books in the front area about abortion. We dont need a special display. The store instead will be pivoting the conversation during previously scheduled author events towards discussions of the meaning and impact of the demise of Roe v. Wade, Anderson said. Protesting, Bookseller-Style Women and Children First in Chicago also reported a very busy day, a very emotional one, said co-owner Sarah Hollenbeck, noting that people wanted to be in a safe space, similar to after the 2016 election. There were so many people in the store. Hollenbeck reported that books on reproductive justice and abortion rights have been selling well since the news leaked almost two months ago ago that the Supreme Court intended to overturn Roe v. Wade. The store set up in early May its special display of books on the issue and sales have been brisk. New Handbook for a Post-Roe America has been in such demand this spring and summer that the store has been trying for weeks to replenish its stock. WCF also has been ordering 20 copies at a time of a 1996 release reissued in 2019, The Story of Jane: The Legendary Underground Abortion Service; Scarlet A: The Ethics, Law, and Politics of Ordinary Abortion and an April release, Bodies on the Line: At the Front Lines of the Fight to Protect Abortion in America were also store's bestsellers this past weekend. On Friday, WCF closed at 4 p.m. two hours early, in order to allow employees and customers time to get to downtown Chicago to participate in a protest against the Supreme Courts ruling. While Zenith Bookstore in Duluth, Minn., describes itself as a community bookstore, not a mission-driven bookstore, it took a strong stand this past weekend, issuing a statement on social media condemning the Supreme Courts ruling, describing staff as outraged," because it will have a devastating effect upon peoples health care and rights as citizens. We usually do not take political positions, Zenith co-owner Bob Dobrow told PW in an email, However, this was such a huge attack, affecting women, health care, democratic rights, and really all people, we had to say something. Underneath the statement, Zenith featured four books on abortion rights, as well as The Handmaids Tale and promised to donate 10% of store sales this past weekend to ProChoice Minnesota. Store bestsellers this past weekend included A New Handbook for a Post-Roe America and The Body Keeps Score. As for A Room of Ones Own in Madison, Wis., its bestseller this past weekend was A New Handbook for a Post-Roe America, but it also began prominently promoting a 'zine produced by bookseller Fawzy Taylor and free to customers, Accessible Abortion Forever: Resources for Folks After 6/24/2022. They're here! They're free!, Room announced on Twitter this weekend: Got 150 copies and they'll be restocked by next Weds once they're gone. While the list of resources in the zine is directed towards Wisconsin residents, the store assures those living elsewhere that the information can be applied towards residents of any state with trigger laws. Staff will mail the PNG to anybody who wants to make copies and distribute it. Susan Post, owner of Book Woman in Austin, Tex. reported that there were "crying sessions in the store on Friday [June 24]; women came in, just bawling." The store's bestsellers last weekend were New Handbook for a Post-Roe America, Radical Reproductive Justice, and Turnaway Study. A postcard declaring "Abort [Texas Governor] Greg Abbott" is also selling very well. Post disclosed that the estate of Sarah Weddington donated books owned by the Texas lawyer who argued Roe v. Wade before the Supreme Court to the store and she is planning on using them in some way to raise funds for Planned Parenthood and the Lilith Fund. Book Woman is also partnering with A Room of One's Own bookseller Taylor to create an edition of their 'zine that will include information specifically relevant to Texas residents for distribution to its customers. Raising Funds While, like Zenith Bookstore, a number of indies raised money for pro-choice organizations this past weekend by pledging a percentage of store sales, Second Star to the Right Books in Denver is donating 5% of store sales to Planned Parenthood for a month. Katonah Reading Room in New York's Westchester County took its fundraising to the next level by announcing on social media that they would match up to $500 per individual and $20,000 total donations made this past weekend that were directed towards women's health, reproductive rights, and human rights organizations in any state. By midnight Sunday, the store had reached its goal: it had raised $20,000 in donations that were matched by the store's $20,000 contribution. "We did it," Katonah Reading Room's Instagram page declared last night. "135 community gifts to 34 different organizations. With the match, $40,000 is going to work to help individuals in need all over the country." An earlier version of this story misidentified a title that Women and Children First has had trouble stocking. The correct title that the store has had difficulties obtaining in recent weeks is New Handbook for a Post-Roe America. The error has been corrected. This story has been updated with more information. Summertime is a feast for the senses: theres the feel of a warm breeze, the taste of campfire smores, the squeals of kids at the area pool and the smell of a good summer book. In honor of this time of year, we spoke with four teachers/librarians about their thoughts on summer reading and the ways they encourage avid and reluctant readers alike to dip their toes in the water and dive into some good books. One of summer readings biggest cheerleaders, Melanie Dulaney, is wrapping up her last year as the library media specialist at Hallsville Intermediate School in Hallsville, Tex. Soon, shell be onto her next chapter after 29 years teaching (19 years in the classroom, and 10 in the library), but not before she sends off her fifth and sixth grade students with endless options for summer reading. Right now, Im pulling together a list of our state award books, the Texas Bluebonnet (grades 3-4) and the Lonestar (grades 6-7), and books from the website Reading Middle Grade that reflect my childrens specific interests and diverse needs, Dulaney said. Ill send the list out electronically and in hard copy so everyone gets it, and include details about the summer reading programs at the two libraries outside our districts borders, too. Dulaney also loads up the schools book vending machine where children use tokens theyve earned from hard work and/or good behavior to buy new books. She also fills book bags with ARCs and donated books shes collected over the year for the kids in her Title 1 school. Many do not have books of their own at home, or their parents are unable to travel to the libraries outside their town. We want each child to have at least one book to read over the summer, Dulaney said. Dulaney works tirelessly to choose books and genres that reflect the diversity of her student population, and offer them a bigger view of the world. Theres a whole lot that they arent going to see in Hallsville, but [the world] is out there, and I want them to learn a little something about it every time they read. Maria Ruiz Olide, the childrens services librarian at the JFK Library in Vallejo, Calif., believes that summer reading needs a bit of a makeover. Instead of focusing on the summer slide or required reading, it should be fun, engaging, and full of possibilities, Ruiz Olide said. She thinks it all begins by getting kids through the library doors. Her librarys summertime program line-up includes a juggler, an anime and manga workshop, and a pet parade that may be just the ticket to making kids excited about summer reading and books. I love getting kids into the library for the summertime programs that may or may not be about the books right away, Ruiz Olide said, but its a great way to promote books and reading. When the promotion proves successful, Ruiz Olide is ready with books that interest and engage; tand that dont need to check off boxes for tests or be at any particular reading level. Why shouldnt a sixth grader be able to read a third grade leveled book, or a graphic novel? Ruiz Olide said, We [adults] might read a book without the intent of learning or getting something out of itjust enjoyment. Why shouldnt kids have the same chance? Thats how lifelong readers are made! Ruiz Olide believes this is best achieved with books we like and that make us feel good. Because this is different for every child, she helps each reader choose these types of books by asking questions including: What was the last book or show you really liked? Ruiz Olide said, Choice is so important because in most kids lives theyre always being told what to do. Here they can and should be making their own choices, She keeps track of her patrons diverse likes and needs with a variety of lists and notebooks, encourages readers to do the same, and uses Novelist, a blog that gives tips on connecting books with readers, to help her keep up with the latest titles. But her greatest tools to connect patrons to their next favorite books are her ears. By listening and paying attention, Ruiz Olide says that she can help a child find what they will enjoyand balance it with what a parent wants for their child. Shes also able to discover whether a reluctant reader is having trouble with reading or needs the latest book by their favorite author. Summer is a perfect time to encourage the fun of reading, relaxing, and exploring new books, Ruiz Olide said, Its also a good time to grab an audiobook if theres a book a reader may want to read but might be too hard for them right now, or read it as a family read-aloud. I often suggest that older kids read to young siblings and make it a family event. It helps teach the joy and importance of readingand encourages learning, too. Lifelong reading and learning go hand in hand. Summer is filled with possibilities! Galiah Morgenstern is a fourth grade special education teacher who co-teaches with Liz Lapidus at P.S. 174 in Queens, N.Y. Her expertise lies in curriculum, while mine is in strategies, Morgenstern said. I also help promote reading and reading engagement because I love literacyand books! Morgenstern goes to great lengths to learn which books interest her diverse group of fouth graders and chooses all of the classs reading materials and read-alouds with this in mind. She says, You have to know your kids! She also knows books and is the person her students and others in the school ask for book recommendations and to borrow books. Morgenstern has run a summer book club for interested students for the past few years. We met in-person pre-Covid and remotely last year, she said, and chose titles the members were excited about reading and talking about. A past book club selection, A Thousand Questions, by Saadia Faruq, sparked lots of conversation, creativity, and interaction with the author during a virtual visit. Like the main character in the story, the kids created t-shirts with catchy sayings and they cooked because she prepared different foods from her ancestors homeland. Summer book club members are expected to meet three to four times a month, complete a portion of the book between meetings, read with a prompt in mind, and participate in projects and/or activities related to the title. Morgensterns goal for each activity is to take a concept from a book and explore it further, and to use different learning modalities. Aside from the book club, Morgenstern encourages all of her students to read widely and deeply during the summer to build their reading stamina and to keep the gains theyve made during the previous school year. She likens reading time to training at the gym. Like athletes who dont train regularly, if readers stop reading for two to three months, theyre going to have to go back to square one when they return to school. To encourage forward momentum, she and her co-teacher supply each of their students with special reading/writing notebooks for their summer reading and writing. Before leaving for vacation, the students decorate them, discuss how they might use them, and are encouraged to start right away. Morgenstern also offers students additional book recommendations based on their interests, and encourages them to visit the library and bookstore. Morgenstern hopes these efforts will help her students transcend to a whole new level of reading. I hope that the more they read, theyll see reading as something we donot a chore,'' she said, and eventually, theyll move toward wanting to curl up with a good book and read. Eti Berland is the youth and teen services librarian at the Lincolnwood Public Library in Lincolnwood, Ill. When shes not organizing a flash mob celebrating Caldecott Books at an American Library Association Annual Conference, hosting a Youth Media Awards Breakfast with donuts, fuzzy slippers, and goodie bags; or soaking in everything from two of her literary/literacy influences, Jason Reynolds and Donalyn Miller, among others, Berland moves about her library helping readers find that bookthe one that will change everything. For Berland, summer reading begins and ends with access. We want kids to have books before they go on summer break, she said. Books that are really interesting, engaging, and ones that they choose. Were wired for choice, and if we help cultivate choice, we are cultivating the skill of becoming a reader. Berlands added, The whole point is for them to have lifelong relationships with words, books, and stories. I agree with Reynolds when he talks about the importance of readers relationship with words. To build this relationship in the summertimeand year-round, Berland helps readers choose books that interest them, whether those books are recommended by their teachers or they discover them together through a variety of means. Bertland creates engaging book displays to entice readers to find something new, reads endlessly, and uses the We Are Kid Lit Collective especially for its summer reading lists. We dont want any child who comes into our library to leave without a book, Berland said. Even if they dont have a library card for some reason, I will find an ARC for them to take home. You wont find Berland using terms like summer slide and learning loss from remote learning in her dealings with kids and parents. I think we need to recognize that our children have dealt with so much, and were measuring them with a yardstick that is ineffective, Berland said. When we do this, we diminish any gains they have made in terms of showing kindness, taking care of each other, and all that they did learn at home during virtual learningand all in the midst of the constant drama of a global pandemic! Instead, Berland sets her sights on reading readiness and encouraging a love of reading. Her tools of engagement start with asking readers, What kinds of things do you like? What is your favorite thing to read? Thats when, for example, I get to give young readers the latest book in the Phoebe and Her Unicorn series and help them on their way to becoming independent readers. Shes also ready with questions for readers who may not seem to love reading just yet, and/or find it challenging. These questions may include, What is it that you like about readingand what dont you like? Then, Berland makes recommendations to help all of her readers to become wild readers (as Donalyn Miller calls them in Reading in the Wild), or readers who cultivate lifelong reading habits. Berland also involves readers caregivers in conversations. Many of them will specifically ask for Berlands help because of her previous recommendations. Sometimes Ill remember them and what I recommended. Other times, Ill say, Remind me what I recommended last time that you liked, Berland said. They sometimes say, We came for you, because youre our librarian. Its a privilege. It makes my heart so happy. The production company behind hits such as Campeones (Champions), Todos lo Saben(Everybody Knows) and Bajocero (Below Zero) feature films, and series like Diablero, will develop and produce films, series, and miniseries projects with talent both from Europe and America, destined to Paramounts extensive glocal content portfolio.The agreement adds to the ongoing collaboration between Morena Films and VIS in Spain and the Americas, currently producing Las Invisibles (pictured), that is scheduled to stream on the Paramount+ streaming service in Latin America in 2022.We are proud to expand our alliance with Morena Films, a leading production company and partner behind Las Invisibles, said Laura Abril, senior VP and head of VIS EMEA and Asia. As VIS continues to nurture Paramounts international portfolio of top-quality Spanish language-focused content for our international audiences, expanding our partnership with Morena Films is a logical next step.The new deal is part of the VIS international strategy of collaboration with international production companies - such as Gaumont, El Deseo, Cattleya, 100 Bares Productions, 11:11 Films & TV and Indigo - as well as the developing of projects alongside reputed talents and creators like Paco Cabezas, Juan Jose Campanella, Santiago Segura, Frida Torresblanco, Marc Anthony, Diego Boneta, Manolo Cardona and Luis Gerardo Mendez.We are thrilled to announce this deal with one of the best and largest films and series producers, such as Morena Films, as part of our strategy to work with the best talents from around the world, added said Federico Cuervo, senior VP, and head of VIS Americas. "This deal consolidates our position as a leading studio producing Spanish-language content.We are really excited to continue our collaboration with the great team of VIS both in Spain and Latin America, with whom we get along really well, it has been a love at first sight, affirmed Morena Films CEO Pilar Benito. For Morena Films, this deal with Paramount Global means a natural step to continue producing global content and looking for international audiences which has been part of our DNA from the beginning. Russia boosts sanctions against high profile citizens of Canada MOSCOW, June 27 (RAPSI) Russian authorities have banned 43 more high-ranking Canadian citizens from entering the country, according to an official statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry. This action was taken in response to the sanctions imposed by Canada in May against the management of Russian companies and their families. The measure is to affect federal and regional officials, functionaries of the ruling Liberal Party and public figures. Following the publication of this list, the respective persons are to be included in the general list of Canadians under sanctions, which is posted on the website of the Russian Foreign Ministry. Among other Canadian citizens, the "stop list" includes the chairman of the Liberal Party of Canada Suzanne Cowan, former chairman of the Bank of Canada Mark Carney, Deputy Minister of Natural Resources of Canada John Hannaford, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister of Canada Marjorie Michel. In mid-April, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced that restrictions were to be introduced in regard of 87 Canadian senators in response to the blacklisting of the entire composition of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation. In early June, 41 more Canadian citizens, including Vice Chief of the Canadian Defense Staff Frances Allen, several Canadian Deputy Ministers of Defense for various issues, publicist William Watson, representatives of public organizations Ukrainian Canadian Congress and Ukrainian World Congress, as well as the Ukrainian Credit Union, were added to the list. I wasted 20 years of my life chasing utopian energy. Utopian energy is an imagined form of energy thats abundant, reliable, inexpensive, and also clean, renewable, and life-sustaining. But utopian energy is as much a fantasy as a utopian society. Seeking the fount of perfect energy allows us to pretend there arent real-world tradeoffs between, say, banning fossil fuels and helping people in impoverished nations or between using solar and wind power and conserving natural habitats. For years, I chased utopian energy. I promoted solar, wind, and energy efficiency because I felt like I was protecting the environment. But I was wrong! Feeling like youre doing the right thing doesnt mean you are. I just couldnt admit it. My sense of identity was tied to my false beliefs about energymyths that blinded me to what really doesand doesnthelp the planet. Ive loved the outdoors since I was a teenager. I led mountaineering expeditions in Alaska, spent months backpacking in the Rockies, and climbed in national parks. My wilderness experiences led to my desire to protect these beautiful areas. I saw that a lot of people who tried to solve environmental issues worked in academia, nonprofits, or government, but they often failed to understand what it actually took to get things done in the real world. I didnt want to be one of those people. I wanted to make a real difference. I believe that to fix something, you need to understand it and that hands-on experience is the only way you can gain understanding. So I started building my knowledge and skills from the ground up. I went to work in construction to build energy-efficient homes, and I started a company that built composting systems for cities and businesses. I became executive director of an organization that championed green building policies and became CEO of a consulting firm that commercialized clean energy technologies and ran energy-efficiency programs. I then founded a software startup to help promote green home upgrades, and I led business development for a company making wireless power technology. I learned how to see things not just the way environmentalists do, but also the way utilities, governments, builders, engineers, lenders, and manufacturers see them. But by 2008, I started to see cracks in my beliefs. The Obama administration had earmarked billions of dollars in federal funding to create jobs in the energy sector, and my company won multi-year contracts valued at over $60 million. Creating jobs and making buildings more energy-efficient were worthy goals. But the project was an utter failure. It didnt get anywhere close to achieving the goals that the government had set. But what was really shocking to me was how the government refused to admit the project had failed. All of its public communications about the project boasted about its effectiveness. I started to realize that I had accepted as true certain claims about energy and our environment. Now I began to see those claims were false. For example: I used to think solar and wind power were the best ways to reduce CO2 emissions. But the biggest reduction in CO2 emissions during the past 15 years (over 60%) has come from switching from coal to natural gas. I used to think that the world was transitioning to solar, wind, and batteries. This, too, was false. Trillions of dollars were spent on wind and solar projects over the last 20 years, yet the worlds dependence on fossil fuels declined only 3 percentage points, from 87% to 84%. I used to believe nuclear energy was dangerous and nuclear waste was a big problem. In fact, nuclear is the safest and most reliable way to generate low-emission electricity, and it provides the best chance of reducing CO2 emissions. Its now clear I was chasing utopian energy. I was using green energy myths as moral camouflage, and I was able to believe those myths as long as I remained ignorant about the real costs and benefits of different energy sources. Ive dedicated most of my life to protecting the environment. But I was wrong about the best ways to do it. I thought I was acting morally and protecting the well-being of people and the planet. In fact, I was harming both. If were serious about tackling climate change, protecting the environment, and helping people climb out of energy poverty around the world, we need to stop chasing utopian energy. Instead, its time to be honest about all the costs and benefits of every energy sourcewind, solar, natural gas, coal, oil, and nuclear. Here are eight principles that can help us evaluate energy options that will give us the best chance to bring about successful energy reform that protects both people and the planet. 1. Security: Does an energy source enable a country to maintain its autonomy? Controlling access to critical minerals and natural resources to make affordable, reliable energy is a precondition for liberty and self-determination. Relying on energy imports or minerals from other countries puts a nation at risk. 2. Reliability: Can people and businesses reliably access energy when they need it? A reliable energy system provides power 24/7/365. 3. Affordability: Is the energy source easily affordable for households and businesses? The cost of energy affects the cost of everything else. If energy is not affordable, businesses cant make the products we want, and people will freeze to death in their own homes. 4. Versatility: How many different kinds of machines can the energy source power? We need energy to power machines that mine, drill, pave, fly, cut, pump, filter, transport, compact, excavate, grade, and lift. 5. Scalability: How many people can use the energy source across how many places? Wind, solar, and water resources are often located far away from where people live and work, making it difficult and expensive to transport the energy to where it is needed. 6. Emissions: What are the energy sources effects on air pollution, GHG emissions, and water quality? Sources of emissions include mining, transportation, and electricity production. 7. Land use: What are the energy sources effects on wildlife, habitat, farmland, viewsheds, and coastlines? For example, a typical 1,000-megawatt US nuclear power plant needs little more than 1 square mile to operate. Solar farms need 75 times more land to produce the same amount of energy. Wind farms need 360 times more. 8. Lifespan: How long will a source produce energy? Nuclear plants can operate for over 80 years and run for 100 years if they are well-maintained. By contrast, solar panels and wind turbines last only about 20 years. Im still on a mission to protect the beautiful landscapes I fell in love with when I was a young man. And Im still committed to raising worldwide living standards, reducing pollution, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. But my firsthand experience has exposed the futility of chasing utopian energy sources. Ive learned the mainstream narrative about what we should do to protect the environment will never accomplish those goals. Now, my mission includes sharing what I have learned to promote energy sources that can be truly productive and lead to a path of actual, effective change. Brian Gitt is an energy entrepreneur, investor, and writer. He's been pursuing truth in energy for over two decades. Follow him on Twitter @BrianGitt and read more articles on https://briangitt.com/ The global energy crisis has resulted in a spasm of energy realism and plain talk. Last week, Vaclav Bartuska, the Czech Ambassador-at-Large for energy security, told a group of reporters that If there is a gas cut out this winter, we will burn anything we can to keep our people warm and to make electricity. Bartuska said aloud what has become obvious over the past few months: climate change concerns are taking a backseat to economic considerations. Indeed, all around the world, countries are turning back to coal to produce power and the resulting emissions from increasing coal use will obliterate all of the emissions reductions that have been achieved in the United States over the past decade and a half. Here are the numbers. In April, China announced it will increase coal output by 300 million tons this year. In May, India said it aims to increase domestic coal production by more than 400 million tonsby the end of next year. According to the Energy Information Administration, burning a ton of coal releases about 2 tons of carbon dioxide. Thus, the 700 million tons per year of new coal consumption in China and India will result in an additional 1.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. According to BP, thats about the same volume of emission reductions that were achieved in the U.S. between 2005 and 2020. The surge in coal use in China and India is only part of the story. Russia has slashed or stopped the flow of natural gas into several European countries via the Nordstream 1 pipeline. In response, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck announced last week that his government is taking additional measures to reduce gas consumption, including a big increase in the use of coal-fired power plants. Habeck, who is a member of the Green party, said the decision to burn more coal was necessary" to lower gas usage and that the move was "bitter." At about the same time that Germany announced it was reviving its coal-fired capacity, the Netherlands announced it would do the same. Coal plants in the country had been restricted to 35% of their capacity as Holland pushed to cut emissions and use more renewables. Nevertheless, Dutch climate and energy minister Rob Jetten announced that the cabinet has decided to immediately withdraw the restriction on production for coal-fired power stations until 2024. Austria, which has been getting 80% of its gas supplies from Russia, announced on June 19, that it was going to convert a gas-fired power plant to burn coal. According to Reuters, the move was decided by a crisis cabinet led by the countrys chancellor. Furthermore, on June 9, Polands Prime Minister, Mateusz Morawiecki, said his country needs to ramp up its domestic coal production to reduce energy costs in the wake of Russias invasion of Ukraine. We will introduce a program of increased coal extraction in Polands collieries, Morawiecki said. According to the Associated Press, the Polish government wants to reduce energy prices before the start of winter and return them to levels that prevailed before the war. While it cant be known yet the total amount of coal that these European countries will be burning, any incremental use of coal will be added on top of the huge increases now underway in India and China, and therefore further increase global emissions and offset any reductions being achieved in the United States. The surging use of coal around the world shows, once again, that the Iron Law of Electricity remains in force. That law says that people, businesses, and governments will do whatever they have to do to get the electricity they need. The Iron Law matters because the electricity sector is the largest emitter of carbon dioxide emissions. And politicians from China to the Czech Republic are going to do everything they can, including burning anything they can find, to avoid blackouts. The punchline here is clear: Although the U.S. has been leading the world in cutting its greenhouse gas emissions in fact, no other country even comes close in terms of absolute reductions -- other countries are not following suit. Furthermore, Im not arguing that we should quit trying to reduce our emissions. What I am saying is that we must be realistic about the scale and cost of our emissions-reduction efforts and the extent to which those efforts are making a difference in the global scheme. Ill end by repeating the same point I have been making for more than 12 years: renewable energy cannot, will not, be able to meet soaring global energy demand. If the countries of the world are serious about reducing coal use and the emissions that come from burning that carbon-heavy fuel, they need to get serious about N2N: natural gas to nuclear. Both sources are low-carbon, relatively low-cost, scalable, and deployable. The good news is that the U.S. is well-positioned to lead on both natural gas (via LNG exports) and in the development and deployment of the next generation of nuclear reactors. But if the U.S. is going to lead on N2N, we will need long-term support from both Democrats and Republicans on Capitol Hill. That seems like a tall order given the deep political divides in Washington. But the choice is clear. N2N is the best no-regrets policy for reducing global coal use. The Biden administration and their counterparts on the Republican side of the aisle need to work together to make it happen. Robert Bryce is the host of the Power Hungry Podcast, executive producer of the documentary, Juice: How Electricity Explains the World, and the author of six books, including most recently, A Question of Power: Electricity and the Wealth of Nations. Follow him on Twitter: @pwrhungry I recently took a trip from Brooklyn to Vancouver, Canada via the Newark Airport. Everywhere I went, I was confronted with the Sovietization of our economy; that is, congestion, long waiting lines, interminable ones. We beat the USSR in the Cold War to be sure; however, their economic system has been quite a bit more than slightly taking over ours. First of all, the Belt Parkway from Coney Island to the Verrazano Bridge was an adventure in bumper to bumper driving. Not only a bicyclist, nor even a moderately fast runner, but even a race walker could have beaten us. The going in Staten Island was much the same: wall to wall cars, trucks and buses, all sitting there, their occupants twiddling their thumbs in frustration. Then the Newark Airport. You try to get through those massive TSA lines in less than 90-120 minutes; good luck to you. We are now advised to get to the airport not one hour before take-off, nor even two; three hours is now the eminently reasonable suggestion. I followed this sterling advice and was glad I did. I needed pretty much every minute of that time to get through to my plane. Why all these massive tie-ups, Soviet style? In that country, during those times, there were massive queues for pretty much everything. We used to look down upon those poor sufferers. They faced serious waiting time for clothes, groceries, toys, you name it; there where interminable line ups. Everything was provided by government and everywhere there was congestion. In the U.S. in contrast, this malady takes place, also, whenever the state rears its ugly head, but, happily, they are not as widespread as in that forlorn economy. During my trip to the Big Apple I also had occasion to visit two other entities organized, administered, managed, supported by, the all-loving government: the American Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Modern Art. Youll never guess my experience there? Yes, perpetual queues. One minor detail: out of towners pay admission fees, hefty ones; locals? voluntary contributions only. I guess they dont much want to encourage tourism. What is the solution to these stultifying, uneconomical, wasteful lines? To see this, we must resort to the teachings of economics 101. Congestion is a shortage of whatever good or service is being used, purchased. In the case of a museum, it is access. For highway travel it is getting there at a reasonable speed. Ditto for line ups for air travel. But what is a shortage? When does it occur? It takes place when demand is greater than supply. And what typically occurs when this eventuality takes place? Why, prices rise. That is why we have no queues for ships or sailing wax. Nor for books, toys, shoes and pretty much everything else under the sun. Why cannot this sane, sensible and simple solution rescue us regarding the nations airports, highways and museums? That is because they are all under the aegis of the government, and this wonderful institution has determined that zero prices shall forever prevail. But what about the poor? How would they survive if prices were charged for road usage, access to airports and museums? Well, they pay for food, clothing, movies and amusement parks; there is no in principle reason why they could not also do in these cases. How would it work? Let us consider a private road. Would High Occupancy Vehicle lanes be instituted as at present? Not bloody likely. Why allow a mother and two children access to this benefit, while compelling a lawyer or doctor who can create wealth at the rate of $500 per hour to cool his heels in an unprotected lane? No, any private enterprise worth its salt would charge a stiff fee for entry into that lane. More to the point, to borrow a leaf from Uber or Lyft, he would engage in peak load pricing: charge quite a bit for morning and evening rush hours, and very little or nothing at all at 3am. Then, traffic would move smoothly 24-7 and congestion would be a phenomenon of the past. Ditto for all other amenities, such as airport access, museums, now under government control. By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 06/26/2022 ADVERTISEMENT [ Spoilers: This report contains spoilers about Jibri and Miona's relationship and if the couple has broken up or are still together.] ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT So did Miona and Jibri split up or tie the knot, and is the couple still together now? ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Jibri Bell has been shown having doubts about marrying Miona on the show's ninth season, so did the couple split or get married? And if Miona and Jibri wed, do spoilers reveal that they are still together now?Jibri, a 28-year-old band frontman from Rapid City, SD, was living in Los Angeles, CA, when he met Miona, a 23-year-old makeup artist from Nis, Serbia, while touring with his band called Black Serbs, who create "space punk music," in Serbia.Jibri said they got engaged in Thailand and then she planned to move to South Dakota on a K-1 visa. While Jibri thought Rapid City was "a hidden gem" and they could save money by living with his parents for awhile, Miona preferred moving to Los Angeles, CA.Jibri knew the living dynamic was going to be "interesting" with multiple strong personalities in his parents' household, and he anticipated a lot of conflict even though he was going to remain optimistic about the situation."I definitely can't provide for the Kardashian lifestyle Miona is used to," Jibri lamented. "Historically, I haven't been smart with my money, and so that's something I'm really trying to work on for the next year."Jibri told the cameras that Los Angeles could maybe happen one day, but not any time soon.Jibri said he envisioned living in South Dakota for six to 12 months and possibly getting married there, which Miona said on FaceTime sounded "even worse." She wanted to her wedding day to be really special and on a beach.Miona then finally arrived in America, and Jibri said it felt amazing to be reunited with the love of his life. He even pulled out a red carpet for her to walk on through the airport."America is usually always represented as a perfect life and chasing the American dream, so I definitely expect a better standard and way of living. And Jibri promised that we would move to [Los Angeles]. If that doesn't happen, then I would want to leave," Miona said in a confessional.When Jibri proceeded to give Miona a tour through Rapid City, she noted, "There is nothing."Miona, who hoped to start a business in America and also continue working as a makeup artist, immediately noticed that the ground rules Jibri's parents had set for them were a little strict.Miona also didn't like the idea of Jibri working with his best friend David again, who hadn't exactly been supportive of the couple's relationship."I think David doesn't like me because I took Jibri from him or something weird like that," Miona explained in a confessional, adding how David had allegedly never stopped judging her.Jibri told Miona that both she and David shouldn't act like children, but Miona called him "jealous."Jibri said Miona didn't understand the close relationship he had with David and how they were connected in many different ways, including through culture and spirituality."I'm your family," Miona snapped, adding how she always needed to come first and David didn't need to be in the picture.Jibri felt Miona was giving him an ultimatum, but he said he needed to work on the album whether Miona was going to like it or not -- and that she'd just have to deal with it.Jibri accused Miona of being "rude and inconsiderate" of both David and himself, but Miona didn't see it that way.With 72 days left to wed, Miona admitted she wasn't comfortable living in Jibri's parents' house.Miona said she missed her family's polite and genuine nature, and she got the feeling everybody was "fake" in the United States.While sorting Miona's laundry, Mahala discovered a sexy animal-print crop top, and Jibri's mom called it "little." Mahala said people didn't dress so provocatively in Rapid City, and Miona countered, "That's one more reason for us to not be here."Miona wanted to express herself however she saw fit and be comfortable in her own skin.Mahala said if Miona chose not to change how she dressed in her home, then that's a sign of "a deeper issue of disrespect." Mahala said Miona's needs shouldn't trump everybody else's needs."It makes me feel like a kid again, so honestly, she's pushing me to want to move out of here even more. I'm definitely going to tell that to Jibri after today," Miona noted.Jibri, who was feeling a lot of pressure, asked Mahala to tone down her demands. Jibri said Miona was expecting "a lot of sh-t" and not willing to compromise. He wondered if Miona was trying to start something just so they could leave South Dakota sooner.Mahala wasn't sure she could support Jibri marrying Miona within 90 days because she didn't know Miona well enough yet."If you think I'm making a mistake, which is how I'm taking this [conversation], then let me make it," Jibri said.Jibri then told Miona about an alleged once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to work with a major producer in Chicago and make music with his band."If we go to Chicago, we need to [have a beach wedding]," Miona demanded.Jibri wished they could wait until they were in a better place financially to have a beach wedding, and he thought it was an extremely frustrating situation. Their relationship was beginning to feel like a competition to Jibri on which person was sacrificing more."I don't like that," Jibri lamented in a confessional. "I need to get out of here for a while."David told the cameras that Miona was holding Jibri back and he could see that the fire in Jibri was gone, adding, "He doesn't want to hear the truth right now."Jibri and David proceeded to work on their music, and David gave Jibri a hard time about texting Miona before shutting his phone off.Jibri admitted he was tired of listening to complaints and was reaching a breaking point."Stop," Jibri told David, before hitting him on the back of the head and wrestling him to the ground.Jibri and his best friend David were shown fighting and wrestling in the music studio. Jibri complained that he was tired of his best friend "talking sh-t" about Miona and blaming her for things all the time.David thought Miona distracted Jibri and prevented him from focusing on their band, and Jibri was just tired of David nagging him.David said Miona was the source of Jibri's erratic behavior and he found it very concerning and problematic, especially since Jibri had just made a scene in front of a big music producer or engineer in Chicago.Jibri was afraid they looked like amateurs, but they eventually got their act together and began recording. Jibri said it definitely felt good to be back in the studio and his band was like a dysfunctional family that he'd always love no matter what.At the end of the session, Jibri apologized for having lost his cool. Jibri wanted to put his full effort into the band, but he needed to do the same thing for Miona."I feel like I did give up the band for her. I don't know how to do both... I just don't want to get distracted and lost and give up on my dream. I got in a little over my head... It's just a lot, man," Jibri lamented.After Miona was shown trying on wedding dresses, Jibri asked David if he was doing the right thing in getting married so quickly."No," David replied. "I think I would need a little time to get to know my partner... People change."Jibri confessed to being an impulsive person, and so he began to fear that he was making a mistake by putting Miona ahead of his career. Jibri admitted to feeling "a lot of doubt" about Miona suddenly.Jibri then learned his parents probably wouldn't be able to attend his wedding because the planning had been so last-minute."I just feel like I'm in a waiting room right now and the doors are closing in," Jibri explained."You are not the type of person who wants to be controlled," Mahala admitted to her son.Jibri confessed that if he had more time, he'd postpone the wedding -- but he didn't feel he had that luxury.Mahala wished Jibri would listen to himself and his heart and stop being so worried "about the blow-back from Miona." Mahala feared her son's marriage wasn't going to be healthy.With 39 days left to wed, Jibri opened up to Miona about how he was feeling. Jibri said he felt immense pressure and stress as well as "conflicting emotions," and Miona seemed ready and willing to listen.Miona believed Jibri's parents were trying to influence him and he needed to step away from them and "act like a man" if he wanted their relationship to succeed."With her attitude towards me, I don't have a need to get closer to her," Miona said of Jibri's mother. "I don't have any mean intentions. I don't know what else I'm supposed to do."Miona said she was absolutely fine with Jibri's parents not attending their wedding, but Jibri admitted he wasn't okay with that at all.Miona told Jibri to focus on them if he wanted them to work out, and he said if their relationship was going to continue being the same, then he didn't want it to work out."If you're going to be stubborn and in your way, like, 'I want a wedding and I don't want to talk to your mom' and you don't care to have that relationship, that is a big f-cking red flag for me," Jibri vented.Jibri said he'd prefer to get married at a later date when they'd have more funds and be more financially stable. Miona admitted she would leave Jibri's ass if he wanted to do that to her and postpone their wedding.Miona said she would never go back to Serbia and continue dating Jibri long-distance. She thought Jibri was being very selfish and going back on their plans."He needs to grow up," Miona told the cameras, adding how Jibri's parents got inside his head like a teenager.Miona, who revealed on Facebook in December 2021 that she "moved to the USA almost 3 months ago," according to In Touch Weekly, is definitely still dating Jibri.Not only do the couple share the same last name on Instagram, indicating they've tied the knot and gotten married, but their respective social media accounts are full of pictures of each other.In late June 2022, Jibri celebrated Miona's 24th birthday by posting a sweet video of the couple and writing on Instagram, "Everybody go wish her a happy birthday. #love."Meanwhile, Miona received a birthday-cake surprise from Jibri and wrote on Instagram, "Love you baby."She also recently dyed Jibri's hair crazy colors and she shared the results on her own Instagram account.Jibri also uploaded a photo of Miona and himself kissing on June 12.A few days earlier, Miona posted a video of Jibri sleeping on her chest."Does your man sleep on you like a baby?" she joked.On June 5, Jibri uploaded selfies with Miona and told his followers how they were thinking of doing a tour through the United States. He asked for recommendations on which cities to visit first.Jibri called Miona his "everything" in May, and the pair love showing off their matching fashions and shoes.On May 22, Miona posted a photo of her straddling Jibri's waist on the beach and she captioned it, "I hope Jibri's mom approves." Jibri shared the post on his own Instagram account as well.They recently took a trip to Oregon and Washington, and he gushed on his Instagram account how "love conquers all" and he's "so grateful" for Miona.A few days earlier, Jibri posted a funny video of Miona and himself shopping at what appeared to be Target or Walmart, and he captioned it, "Relationships require compromise. [Miona] has had enough of me."It appears the couple is still living in South Dakota. Many of the couple's videos feature a prairie landscape in the background, and Jibri also tagged his location as South Dakota in early May.In April, Jibri posted a video of himself flipping a coin to determine whether he and Miona should purchase a $700 above-ground pool. Miona won, and so Jibri later posted a video of her floating on it.Jibri has shared photos with Miona going back months and months.According to Miona and Jibri's Instagram accounts, they got engaged in December 2019."She said YES!!!" Jibri captioned a photo of the couple posing at sunset in Thailand."For those of you who truly know me know that I'm usually not nervous or scared to do anything... but this had my palms sweating... I'm talking almost dropped the ring and put it on the wrong finger!"He added, "Thank you for inspiring me and speaking to my heart. Today marks a new chapter for both of us."Six months after the couple got engaged, Jibri referred to Miona as his "wife" when speaking with a Serbian news publication, Telegraf, in June 2020."It's always been my second home, a home away from home for me," Jibri said at the time of Serbia.He added, "My wife's Serbian, and my life's Serbian, and everything Serbian to me is right. Serbia is my second home and I want everyone to see and see how open and friendly it is here."Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Good Morning America has announced the lineup for its 2022 summer concert series. ADVERTISEMENT The ABC morning show said Monday that Demi Lovato , K-pop group Aespa, Megan Thee Stallion and other artists will perform as part of the series. Aespa will kick off the concerts July 8 at Central Park in New York. The South Korean girl group released its first English single, "Life's Too Short" last week and will release its EP Girls the same day as its GMA concert. OneRepublic will follow July 15, with Megan Thee Stallion to perform Aug. 12, Demi Lovato on Aug. 19 and Ozuna on Aug. 26. Black Eyed Peas will close out the concert series Sept. 2. Lovato released the new single "Skin of My Teeth" this month and is working on a new album. Lovato said on Instagram Stories in April that the album is their "absolute best yet." Press Release June 27, 2022 Lacson Hopes 19th Congress Senators to Continue Budget Scrutiny More at: https://pinglacson.net/2022/06/27/lacson-hopes-19th-congress-senators-to-continue-budget-scrutiny/ Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson is hoping senators in the 19th Congress will continue his crusade of tenaciously scrutinizing the national budget and keeping it free from dubious congressional insertions (a.k.a. "pork barrel") and useless appropriations. "I hope somebody will take the cudgels and continue the fight because while the Supreme Court has ruled pork barrel as unconstitutional, there are so many ways to go around it," Lacson, who ends his Senate term on June 30, told media in Pasay City Sunday evening. He added some members of his staff who have joined other senators can be a great help in scrutinizing the budget for dubious insertions. Lacson, who earned a reputation as an eagle-eyed watchdog of the budget, pointed out the country cannot afford to have pork in the budget, which is the country's lifeblood. "The budget is the lifeblood of our economy," he stressed. During his 18 years as senator from 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022, Lacson saved the Filipino people at least P300 billion with his scrutiny of the national budget by flagging several irregular and inappropriate entries. Also, he ensured that his Priority Development Assistance Fund allocations amounting to P200 million a year from 2001 to 2013 would be returned to the National Treasury. This was before the Supreme Court outlawed the PDAF in late 2013. On the other hand, Lacson advised the new senators in the 19th Congress to be diligent in researching and to be humble in learning the ropes of legislation. "Humility is a virtue. If you are a new senator, be humble, be modest and try to learn the art of legislation," he said. Meanwhile, Lacson said he is willing to share with the new administration his Budget Reform Advocacy for Village Empowerment (BRAVE), which provides for the downloading of funds to local government units so they can implement their development projects. "Through BRAVE, local government units can get an equitable share of resources so that on their own, they can be competitive," he said. 1 dead in brushfire as heat wave grips much of California Temperatures have topped 100 degrees in some California areas and one man has died in a Sonoma County brushfire as the state swelters under a ridge of high pressure Camp is a place to make friends, have fun, and enjoy traditions from a long time ago. At the Green Mountain Girls Camp, on the last night, the groups get to enjoy two special traditions that date back more than 50 years. During the day the campers collect pieces of nature and place them on a U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar speaking with supporters of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders at a canvassing launch at the Bernie Sanders for President southwest campaign office in Las Vegas, Nev., in 2020. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 82F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 59F. Winds light and variable. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. Photographer / Multimedia Editor 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WEST HARTFORD Standing in front of a stark reminder of gun violence in Connecticut, U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal applauded on Monday the passing of the national Safer Communities Act gun safety legislation that advocates say will help survivors of domestic violence. Blumenthal spoke at St. James Episcopal Church in West Hartford, appearing in front of a patch of white T-shirts planted in the ground called the Memorial of the Lost each bearing the name of a victim of gun violence in Connecticut this year. More shirts are to be added month by month, unfortunately, said Rev. Bob Hooper, who said at least five more shirts already need to be created. Blumenthal was joined by Meghan Scanlon, president of the Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence. The two said gun safety legislation signed by President Joe Biden over the weekend will help survivors of domestic violence. These changes in the law are tremendously important, Blumenthal said. The bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a major breakthrough after hundreds of thousands of deaths, 30 years of inaction, dozens of failed legislation. Its a step forward. Its not everything we wanted. But it is progress. Blumenthal said the national legislation reduces a federal partner loophole, making it harder for anyone convicted of domestic abuse to own a gun. The law previously only applied to someone who was married to, had a child with or was living with a victim. Now, being in an intimate relationship could be enough for a court to make that order. The legislation also incentivizes states to adopt red flag laws, which allow courts to order guns to be seized from people pose a risk to themselves or others. Scanlon said these kinds of laws, and partially closing the boyfriend loophole at a national level, can save lives. This legislation will make victims and survivors safer both at the national level and obviously at the state level, Scanlon said. One of the things I took away from seeing this pass the Senate and the House ... everyday as advocates we get up and we can do nothing or do something. This legislation finally sent the message to victims and survivors not just in Connecticut but across the nation that their voices were heard and that there will be protections in place. Scanlon said Connecticut is an example of how these laws are already working. Weve been fortunate in Connecticut to see a lot of these laws work, Scanlon said. Weve fully closed the dating loophole here. This legislation partially closes it at a national level. Weve had red flag laws in place for about a year here in Connecticut and weve seen that it saves lives. The display of white shirts Blumenthal spoke in front of was created by Camp Washington, an episcopal camp and retreat center in the Lakeside section of Morris, during their Growing Hope-Forging Peace weekend in May. The project, started by their camp director Cameron Taylor, was planned before the mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y. and Uvalde, Texas. St. James Episcopal Church on Farmington Avenue was the first stop for the shirts, which will move across the state to different churches. Its an issue thats important to this parish. Its an issue thats important to me, Hooper said. Its such a visible location. It just seemed to work really well. Hooper said every time he looks out front, he sees someone new stopping and looking at the display. After we put it up, there were a couple of things I noticed, Hooper said. They looked like tombstones. Every time Ive been out here, somebody has walked by and stopped. More shirts are going to be added to the display, Hooper said, with some of that gun violence happening just a few miles away in Hartford. Theres also the juxtaposition, he said, of having a Pride flag and a banner advertising their summer schedule hanging alongside it. Recognizing gun violence is happening alongside those celebrations is important, he said. Its such a weird juxtaposition. I almost took it down for the picture, but no, the whole point of this thing is to bear witness to the tragedy but also to bear witness to the good, Hooper said. It encapsulated to me the role of the church in community. REDDING A 31-year-old Danbury resident was killed in a single-vehicle crash on Route 53 early Monday morning. Officers responded to a report of an accident north of John Read Middle School shortly after 2 a.m. and found a heavily damaged vehicle in the roadway, according to police. Authorities determined that the vehicle had been heading south on Route 53 when it struck a tree off the southbound shoulder of the road. The driver and sole occupant who has only been identified as a 31-year-old Danbury resident was ejected from the vehicle and pronounced dead at the scene, according to police. Route 53 was shut down for several hours following the crash and reopened around 6:45 a.m. The incident remains under investigation by the Redding Police Department. Companies that use foreign labor are nervous about paying $1,500 per worker in a COVID outbreak. This file photo shows sewing machines in an unused garment factory in the Dandong New District Innovation Institute in Dandong, in Chinas northeast Liaoning. A clothing company in China must pay U.S. $1,500 to quarantine each of its 300 North Korean workers after some of them tested positive for COVID-19, sources in China told RFA. Some Chinese employees at the factory in Dandong, which lies across the Yalu River from North Korea, also tested positive for the virus. All of them went into quarantine last week, but the high cost of isolating foreign workers means the company will have to shell out $450,000 to quarantine the North Koreans. The news that the Chinese president of the company that hired the 300 North Koreans must pay for their treatment is disturbing to the other companies that use North Korean labor, a Chinese citizen of Korean descent, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told RFAs Korean Service. The Chinese government has decided that the quarantine cost for foreigners is 10,000 yuan (about $1,500) per person. The head of the company may incur an irrecoverable debt from the quarantine costs alone, the source said. North Korea sends workers overseas to places like China and Russia to earn desperately needed foreign cash. The workers must give the lions share of their salaries to their government, but what they get to keep is far more than what they could earn in a similar job at home. Most of the North Korean workers in the factory are female, according to the source. The quarantine command in Dandong rushed all the workers to the hospital facility on a large bus, the source said. The clothing company is not the first to have to quarantine its North Korean workers, according to the source. In May, there were 20 North Koreans who worked for another company in Dandong and were placed in quarantine when they showed symptoms of COVID-19. In that case, they were quarantined in the companys dormitory because there was no room in the hospital due to the outbreak spreading through Dandong, he said. The company with the 300 North Koreans originally produced clothes, but switched to making COVID-19 protective clothing, he said. The 300 North Korean workers wore the protective clothing [that they made] while they worked, but they still failed to prevent their own infection, said the source. A North Korean source living in the port of Donggang, within the city limits of Dandong, told RFA that owners of companies who hire North Korean workers are getting nervous after hearing about the 300 quarantined North Koreans. North Korean workers who are known to be infected with COVID-19 were transferred to the quarantine facility by several large buses, the second source said on condition of anonymity to speak freely. Most Dandong residents go to a hospital in Shenyang or Dalian when they get COVID-19, so it is likely the North Koreans are there, he said. Dandong is a three-hour drive from Shenyang and a three-and-a-half-hour drive from Dalian. Confirming their whereabouts could be difficult, however. Although the Dandong city government has lifted the COVID-19 lockdown, it has not yet guaranteed complete autonomous movement. There is therefore no way to know exactly where the North Korean workers have gone unless youre somehow involved, he said. According to RFA sources, about 30,000 North Korean workers are believed to be in the Dandong area. North Korean labor exports were supposed to have stopped when United Nations nuclear sanctions froze the issuance of work visas and mandated the repatriation of North Korean nationals working abroad by the end of 2019. But Pyongyang sometimes dispatches workers to China and Russia on short-term student or visitor visas to get around sanctions. Translated by Claire Shinyoung O. Lee and Leejin J. Chung. Written in English by Eugene Whong. The armed resistance says the move smacks of desperation and vows to fight on. Residents of Sagaing region's Yinmarbin township hold an anti-junta protest under armed escort by members of the Salingyi Township PDF, Feb. 1, 2022. Myanmars junta has launched a campaign urging local members of the armed opposition to surrender, vowing to step down following elections planned for 2023, but prodemocracy fighters on Monday dismissed the move as a sign of desperation from a military regime barely clinging to power. Beginning on June 12, state-run media outlets published an announcement by the junta calling on members of all armed groups including the Peoples Defense Force (PDF) paramilitary group it has labeled a terrorist organization to lay down their weapons and return to civilian life. Three days later, residents told RFA Burmese that they began hearing similar messages over loudspeakers from vehicles escorted by the military through several cities and townships. Their message was that they will be holding elections and power will be handed over to the victorious [political] party, so they want the PDFs to give up their arms and surrender to the law, said a resident of Myanmars second city Mandalay, speaking on condition of anonymity. He said that people ignored the announcements. Various armed resistance groups that have sworn loyalty to Myanmars shadow National Unity Government (NUG) told RFA that surrendering to the junta is not an option. Sein Kyaw, the head of the Myaung Revolution Army in embattled Sagaing regions Myaung township, said he and his fellow fighters must refrain from responding to the military convoys with calls of the same offer. There are people from their side who came to join [us]. There are officers and soldiers who left the army. We PDFs are fighting against them as a peoples movement because we cant tolerate their rule, he said. We have no intention of surrendering to them. We will fight until the terrorist military dictatorship is uprooted and a federal democratic union established, leaving no dictators in our country. Sein Kyaw said the junta is incapable of rule, noting that his and several other townships in Sagaing lack operating schools, and suggesting that an election next year is unlikely as there is little coordination between the executive, judicial and legislative branches of the government. A spokesman for the Sagaing-based Ranger Kalay Defense Force, who also declined to be named, told RFA that the militarys invitation is seen as a political ploy. I dont think they have the power to conquer us at this time and they are making this move knowing that they cannot win, he said. No matter how much they implore us, we will not fall for this. We will do what is right until the very end. A photo released by Myanmar's military shows members of the PDF surrendering to junta authorities, June 20, 2022. Credit: Myanmar military Dividing the opposition PDF groups also slammed the militarys call for their surrender while offering to hold peace talks with the countrys ethnic armed groups, which they said was a tactic intended to create a schism within the opposition. Junta chief Snr. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing in April called on Myanmars ethnic armed groups to hold peace talks and end armed conflict with the military, but he refused to meet with the PDF, and observers say there is little chance that a resolution can be reached without all stakeholders taking part in negotiations. Junta spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun has said that there will be no talks with the NUG, the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Committee of Representatives, or the PDF because their objectives are totally different from that of the ethnic armed groups and terrorist in nature. But Naing Htoo Aung, secretary of the NUGs Ministry of Defense, said Monday that peace will not be possible in Myanmar without the participation of the NUG and the PDF. For many years, the military has used a strategy to divide the unity of the armed resistance, and its doing the same even now, he said. There can be no internal peace without the NUG or PDF, without a genuine intention of leaving politics by the military, or without accountability for their misdeeds or a strong commitment to a federal democracy. Naing Htoo Aung said that, given the current political climate, elections are unlikely in 2023. If the junta pushes forward with a vote, he added, it will not reflect the will of the people. A spokesman for the Saw Township Peoples Administration in Magway region, which operates under the NUG government, said that even if the military holds an election next year, no one in his region will participate. I think an election is impossible, especially in our area. They cant even operate their [administrative] machinery here and if they try to hold an election, there will be no election staff, he said. A war of resistance is continuing nationwide. Some of the military camps have even been taken over. They might be able to hold sham elections in cities they control like Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyidaw but a nationwide election is impossible. Junta defections According to the junta, at least 66 PDF fighters have handed over their weapons since the call to surrender was issued earlier this month, although RFA was unable to independently verify the claim. Political observer Than Soe Naing disputed the claim and suggested that the junta had issued the call to surrender as a tactic to end defections by members of the military and boost morale. So far, the number of soldiers and policemen who have defected is more than 20,000, so I think this is a political ploy to stop [the defections], he said, adding that no PDF fighter has willingly surrendered. He said that the opposition must defeat the military before an election is held next year if the people of Myanmar have any hope of reinstating democracy, as the junta will almost certainly install a puppet civilian government that will preserve its rule. Since 2010, there have been three general elections in Myanmar. The military overthrew Myanmars democratically elected government on Feb. 1, 2021, claiming voter fraud had led to a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party in the countrys November 2020 election. The junta has yet to provide evidence of its claims and has violently suppressed nationwide protests calling for a return to civilian rule, killing 2,032 people and arresting 14,304 over the last 17 months, according to the Bangkok-based Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. Translated by Khin Maung Nyane. Written in English by Joshua Lipes. The Dalai Lama addresses the participants of the 8th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet in Washington, D.C., June 22-23, 2022, in a video message. Participants at an international meeting on Tibet called on governments to do more to advance the rights of Tibetans who face repression at the hands of the Chinese government. More than 100 participants from 26 countries attended the 8th World Parliamentarians Convention on Tibet on June 22-23 in Washington, D.C., to discuss the resumption of the Sino-Tibet dialogue and other key objectives. The meeting was organized by the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile based in Dharamsala, India, which sent 10 representatives to the meeting. Attendees agreed to collaborate more fully on matters related to Tibet. They also declared that the International Network of Parliamentarians on Tibet would be revived and to work to establish groups of lawmakers focused on Tibetan issues in countries where they do not yet exist. Substantively what the parliamentarians are willing to do now is a step up from the past, said Michael van Walt van Praag, the executive president of Kreddha, a nonprofit organization dedicated to resolving intrastate conflicts and promoting peace. [T]his is bringing home very clearly how important it is to defend the values of freedom, self-determination but also to uphold international law and to stop large countries from invading their small neighbors, he said. The Central Tibetan Administration, the formal name of the Tibetan government-in-exile, and the Dalai Lama have adopted an approach called the Middle Way, which accepts Tibets present status as a part of China but urges greater cultural and religious freedom, including strengthened language rights, for Tibetans living under Beijings rule. Despite having a thousand years of history of being an independent country, we are sincere and committed to the Middle Way policy to resolve the conflict between Tibet and China through a mutually beneficial way, Khenpo Sonam Tenphel, speaker of the 17th Tibetan Parliament in Exile, said in introductory remarks. The participants also called on parliaments to take coordinated actions to reach a resolution to the Sino-Tibetan conflict through talks and negotiations between the parties, without preconditions. Tibetans can find a resolution in discussions with China somewhere in the middle between Tibets independence and integration with the PRC (Peoples Republic of China), said van Walt. Dangerous assault on human rights The participants said China should allow Tibetan Buddhists to appoint the next Dalai Lama and other senior Lamas, which Chinese authorities have said would be a violation of religious freedom. The question of who will replace the current 86-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, the 14th Dalai Lama, has become more pressing. Senior Buddhist monks have traditionally identified successors based on spiritual signs and visions, but the Chinese government in 2011 declared that only Beijing can appoint his successor. Politically we are not seeking independence for Tibet, said the Dalai Lama in a video message to the delegates. I have made this clear over the years. What most concerns us is the importance of preserving and safeguarding our culture and language. In their declaration, the participants also asked governments to prohibit corporations from benefiting from forced labor and the exploitation of the natural environment of the Tibetan plateau. U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat who spoke at the meeting, said that China has waged a dangerous assault on human rights in Tibet for decades. The Chinese government has clearly shown that it has no regard for Tibetan autonomy or identity or faith, she said. This aggression has not only accelerated in recent years, with new actions to impose mandatory political education, cruelly restrict religious freedom, expand its mass surveillance regime and further close off Tibet to global visitors. Pelosi also said that U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), would introduce bipartisan legislation to update the Tibet China Conflict Act, which would clearly state the history of Tibet and encourage a peaceful resolution to the ultimate status of Tibet. During the CECC hearing on Tibet on June 23, McGovern said that the U.S. and the world community were not doing enough to help resolve the Tibet issue. Tibets true representatives are His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan government-in-exile as recognized by the Tibetan people, so any solution and way forward has to be what Tibetans want and cannot be imposed by anyone who is not part of Tibetan community, he said. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. VNHRN says Vietnam should be kept off the UN Human Rights Council until it improves its record. Vietnam has a long way to go before it can realize its goal of joining the UN Human Rights council, according to the Vietnam Human Rights Network (VNHRN). The pressure group points to Vietnams treatment of journalists, who the government says are protected from all forms of discrimination and violence. In fact, the arrests and imprisonment of those who use the right to freedom of expression to voice their opinions are at their peak, the report said. From the beginning of 2021 to May 31 this year, VNHRN said at least 48 people were arrested and detained, and 72 were given heavy sentences. Most of them were convicted for allegedly using the media to express their opinions and aspirations other than the ruling partys. To our knowledge, Vietnamese authorities currently imprison at least 290 political and religious prisoners with multi-year sentences, the report said. Along with restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and information, VNHRNs president Nguyen Ba Tung told RFA the government is ignoring many more basic human rights, describing the 2019 labor law as an empty promise and also criticizing the government's track record on religion. Regarding the right to religious freedom, the government has increased its control and manipulation of religious organizations and eliminated non-registered religious groups," he said, adding that the government has promoted political dogma over religious faith. "We raised the issue of children being indoctrinated in schools as well as in organizations like Uncle Ho's Good Children - an issue that has not been raised in any international report on the issue of children's rights. Nguyen said that no international research agency has talked about the discrimination faced by non-party members no matter how well they had served the country in the past. Someone raised the fact that military officers must be party members, which violates the basic rights of people in the political sphere and even as a citizen in defending one's homeland," he said. VNHRNs report covers last year and the first few months of 2022. It was put together with help from several activists in Vietnam. The study focuses on the areas outlined by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Conventions on Human Rights that Vietnam has committed to observing. Those rights are: liberty, security of person, a fair trial by an independent, impartial tribunal; the right to participate in national political life, freedom of expression and information, freedom of religion and worship; the right to work and enjoy the fruits of that labor, equal treatment and non-discrimination, and well-being. VNHRN said the aim of the report is to alert the world about what it called the alarming human rights situation in Vietnam today. The report also offers the Vietnamese government what VNHRN called concrete and feasible recommendations for the Vietnamese government to terminate its repeated violations throughout the years. VNHRN said that until Vietnam improved its human rights record members of the United Nations General Assembly should vote against Vietnams membership of its Human Rights Council. One of Iran's biggest steel companies said on June 27 that it was forced to halt its operations until further notice after being targeted by a cyberattack. The Khuzestan Steel Company said in a statement that experts had determined that the firm was unable to continue production due to technical problems" following cyberattacks. The company's website appeared to be out of service. A purported hacking group called "Predatory Sparrow" claimed responsibility for the cyberattack in a message and video on social media. It said that two other state-owned steel companies -- Mobarekh and Hormozgan -- had been targeted in the attack, adding that all three companies were affiliated with Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). "These companies continue to operate despite international sanctions against them," the message said. The company did not blame any specific group for the assault. Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have targeted and crippled the country's infrastructure. With reporting by AP Iranian-born Norwegian lawmakers Masud Gharahkhani and Mahmoud Farahmand have condemned an attack by a man of Iranian descent in Oslo that killed two people and wounded eight others. Gharahkhani, the speaker of Norway's parliament, said the weekend shooting near the London Pub, which describes itself on its website as "the largest gay and lesbian venue in Oslo," reminded him of "how hatred grows on social media when we celebrate gender diversity, and that is sad and unacceptable." In an interview with Radio Farda on June 27, Farahmand, a Conservative deputy, said the attack showed that freedoms need to be defended more vigorously than ever and that "the use of violence" should be resisted. The 43-year-old Iranian-born politician, who represents the Conservative Party (Hoyre), added that without individual freedoms, "a democratic society cannot survive." The suspect, a Norwegian citizen of Iranian descent who has been charged with terrorism, was known to police and had previously been detained for "minor convictions," according to prosecutor Christian Hatlo. Oslo's annual LGBT Pride parade was scheduled to take place on June 25, but was canceled following the shooting, which took place early that day. A senior Norwegian police official said only one assailant had been identified in the attack and no other suspects had been identified. With writing and reporting by Ardeshir Tayebi Indirect talks between Iran and the United States are set to take place on June 28 in Doha, Qatar, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said amid a push by the European Union to break an impasse in negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran said the discussions would be mediated by EU chief negotiator Enrique Mora and no direct talks between Iran and the United States were planned. Iran's top nuclear negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, will travel to Doha for the nuclear talks, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Naser Kanani told state news agency IRNA. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said on June 27 the talks would focus on the lifting of U.S. sanctions.l The talks will be separate from broader EU-mediated negotiations that have taken place in Vienna between Iran and major powers. The U.S. State Department confirmed the meeting and reiterated Iran needed to drop additional demands that go beyond the scope of the pact. European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell last week traveled to Tehran in a push to resuscitate negotiations over Irans nuclear program. EU countries have been forced to find oil suppliers other than Russia as they seek to lower their reliance on Russian energy amid the war in Ukraine. Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran agreed to limits on its controversial nuclear program in exchange for relief from punitive sanctions imposed by the West. But the arrangement began to fall apart in 2018 when then- U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal. Trump subsequently reimposed crippling sanctions on Tehran, while the Iranian government backed away from some of the commitments laid out in the deal. Iran has been engaged for more than a year in negotiations in Vienna with Britain, Germany, France, Russia, and China directly -- and the United States indirectly -- to revive the deal. Negotiators were reportedly close to a new agreement in March, but the talks abruptly stalled in April, with Tehran and Washington blaming each other for failing to take the necessary political decisions to settle remaining issues. One of them is Tehran's insistence that Washington remove the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) from its list of designated foreign terrorist organizations. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) recently warned that Iran will be able to produce the raw material for a nuclear bomb within a few weeks. Tehran has repeatedly stressed that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposed. News of the talks in Qatar came shortly after Iran said it tested a booster rocket designed to send a research satellite into space. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and dpa Russian forces stepped up their onslaught on Ukraines Donetsk region on July 3, shelling the key city of Slovyansk after claiming earlier in the day to have taken the entire territory of the neighboring Luhansk region. Slovyansk Mayor Vadim Lyakh reported in a Facebook post that his city had been hit by "shelling from multiple rocket launchersthe heaviest for a long time. There are 15 fires. Many dead and wounded, he added. After failing to take the capital, Kyiv, Russia revised its military focus on Ukraine's east with the goal of capturing the Donbas, which is composed of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. 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. Slovyansk, which had a pre-war population of about 107,000, has long been a focal point of Moscows territorial ambitions in the Donetsk region. It was captured by Russia-backed separatists in April 2014 but retaken by Ukrainian forces three months later. Parts of both the Luhansk and Donetsk regions have been under the control of pro-Russia separatists since 2014, when Russia also invaded and annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, a move not recognized by the rest of the world. Early on July 3, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin that the Russian military had taken the entire territory of Ukraines eastern Luhansk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said, according to TASS. Russian state media quoted Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov as saying, Russian troopsare fighting inside Lysychansk, completing the defeat of the encircled enemy. Late on July 3, Ukraines military command acknowledged that its forces had withdrawn from Lysychansk, saying they had decided to pull back. In the face of Russian occupation troops multiple advantage in troops in artillery, aviation, multiple launch rocket systems, ammunition and personnel, the continuation of the defense of the city would lead to fatal consequences. In order to save the lives of Ukrainian defenders, it was decided to withdraw, it said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly national address, also confirmed the withdrawal from Lysychansk but vowed his forces would eventually regain the territory. "If the commanders of our army withdraw people from certain points at the front, where the enemy has the greatest advantage in fire power, and this also applies to Lysychansk, it means only one thing -- that we will return thanks to our tactics, thanks to the increase in the supply of modern weapons, he said. Russian troops blasted Lysychansk with rocket and missile attacks over the past several days, and the latest fighting comes a week after the fall of its sister city, Syevyerodonetsk, just across the Siverskiy Donets River. That city had been reduced to rubble by Russian forces prior to the takeover. Also on July 3, the governor of Russias Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine near the city of Kharkiv, said at least three people were killed and numerous buildings damaged overnight in the regional capital in what a senior Russian lawmaker called a direct act of aggression on the part of Ukraine. In a post on Telegram on July 3, Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov reported numerous explosions in Belgorod, a city of some 400,000 people about 40 kilometers north of the border with Ukraine. He said at least 11 apartment buildings and 39 detached houses were damaged or destroyed in the overnight incident. At least four people, including a 10-year-old child, were injured, Gladkov claimed. Russian Federation Council lawmaker Andrei Klishas directly blamed Ukraine for the purported incident. The death of civilians and the destruction of civilian infrastructure in Belgorod are a direct act of aggression on the part of Ukraine and require the most severe -- including a military -- response, Klishas wrote on Telegram. The claims of the Russian officials could not be independently verified, and Ukraine made no immediate response. Videos posted on social media purported to show explosions and fires in the city. The same day, the governor of Russias neighboring Kursk region, which also borders Ukraine, wrote on Telegram that our air defenses shot down two Ukrainian Strizh drones during the night, adding that there were no casualties in the incident. Unverifiable video posted on social media purported to show a large plume of smoke near the city of Kursk. There have been numerous reported incidents of fires and explosions in Belgorod and other regions since Russias invasion of Ukraine in February, but Kyiv has not claimed responsibility for any of them. The report from Belgorod comes as the Russian military has stepped up missile attacks across Ukraine. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed and millions displaced since the war began, although Russian officials have denied targeting civilians. Ukraine on July 3 claimed it carried out dozens of missile strikes against a Russian military base in the occupied southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol. Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov posted on Telegram from Ukrainian-controlled territory that the base had been taken out of action. He added that partisan action had derailed a Russian military train carrying ammunition outside Melitopol on July 2. Russian media quoted a Russian-appointed local occupation official as saying two missile strikes had been recorded in the city overnight and that there were no casualties. With reporting by Reuters, AP, TASS, and dpa The death toll from a Russian missile strike that hit a crowded shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has risen to at least 18 people, with at least 60 wounded, a regional official said. Regional Governor Dmytro Lunyn announced the updated toll of the strike on June 28 on Telegram as rescue and clean-up operations in Kremenchuk continued overnight. Lunyn said the mall was "completely destroyed" by the missile strike. He posted a video showing firefighters searching through the debris. The Prosecutor-General's Office said more than 40 people were missing and of the 59 people who sought medical assistance almost half were in serious condition. Zelenskiy accused Russia of being the "largest terrorist organization in the world" in a video on Telegram. "Everyone in the world should know that buying or transporting Russian oil, maintaining ties with Russian banks, paying taxes and duties to the Russian state is giving money to terrorists," he said. Ukraine called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council over the strike, which came on the second day of a Group of Seven (G7) summit in Germany and ahead of a NATO summit scheduled to begin later this week in Madrid. The missile strike will be the main focus of the meeting on June 28, said a spokesman for the Albanian mission, which currently holds the rotating Security Council presidency. Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on his Facebook page that the strike "came in a very crowded place, which is 100 percent irrelevant to hostilities," while Zelenskiy said "more than 1,000 people were gathered" at the mall and that "it is impossible to even imagine the number of victims." Video recorded at the shopping center and posted on Telegram by Zelenskiy showed it engulfed in flames as huge plumes of black and gray smoke billowed out. "No danger to the Russian Army. No strategic value. Only an attempt on the people who try to live a normal life, which so angers the [Russians]," he wrote. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Russia has claimed repeatedly that it is not targeting civilians in the unprovoked war it launched on Ukraine just over four months ago. It has not commented on the strike. Leaders of the G7 called the missile strike a war crime and vowed to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, speaking from the G7 summit, said the Kremenchuk attacked demonstrated the "depths of cruelty and barbarism" of Putin. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the world was "horrified" by the strike, saying on Twitter it was the latest in a string of atrocities. A spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned it as "deplorable," and French President Emmanuel Macron denounced the deadly strike as a "complete horror" and said France shares the pain of the families of the victims and the anger in the face of such "meanness." He included a video of the inferno in his tweet and said, "The Russian people must see the truth." Kremenchuk, an industrial city of just over 200,000, lies on the Dnipro River in the Poltava region and is the site of Ukraine's biggest oil refinery. With reporting by AP, AFP, and Reuters Leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) major democracies called a Russian missile strike on a crowded shopping center in Ukraine on June 27 a war crime and vowed to hold Russian President Vladimir Putin accountable. The leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United States, meeting on the second day of a summit in Germany, issued a statement after 15 people were reportedly killed and 50 wounded in the attack in the central city of Kremenchuk. "Indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime," the leaders said in the statement, adding that they "solemnly condemn the abominable attack" in Kremenchuk. An earlier Russian missile strike in Lysychansk on June 27 killed eight and wounded 21 others, said Serhiy Hayday, the head of the military administration of Luhansk where Lysychansk is located. Lysychansk is the last big city still held by Ukraine in the eastern Luhansk region. Ukraine immediately called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council. A spokesman for the Albanian mission, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the Security Council, said it would take place on June 28. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who earlier on June 27 addressed the G7 summit, said Russia should be legally recognized as the largest terrorist organization in the world. "The Russian state has become the largest terrorist organization in the world. And this is a fact. And this must be a legal fact," Zelenskiy said in a video. "And everyone in the world should know that buying or transporting Russian oil, maintaining ties with Russian banks, paying taxes and duties to the Russian state is giving money to terrorists. The G7 leaders said earlier they would keep sanctions on Russia for as long as necessary and intensify international economic and political pressure on Putin and his supporters in Belarus. The earlier statement said the G7 countries were "committed to sustaining and intensifying" sanctions and would continue to use them as needed "acting in unison at every stage." The statement adds that the G7 countries "will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military, and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes." 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. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the pledges were necessary to maintain pressure on Putin. "Imagine if we allowed Putin to get away with the violent acquisition of huge chunks of another country, sovereign, independent territory," Johnson told the BBC. "The lessons for that would be absolutely chilling. The point I would make to people is I think that sometimes the price of freedom is worth paying." The G7 leaders are committed to exploring new ways to isolate Russia from participating in the global market and to crack down on evasion of existing sanctions, the statement said. The countries pledged to take steps to further reduce their dependency on Russian energy and to expand sanctions to further restrict Russia's access to services and technologies, particularly those supporting its armament industry, the statement said. They also pledged more sanctions on individuals responsible for war crimes. The statement, issued by Germany, the current holder of the G7's rotating presidency, also said the group was ready to provide more funding to help shore up Ukrainian government finances. The budget support that has been pledged and provided thus far in 2022 amounts to $29.5 billion, the statement said. The G7 leaders said they recognized the devastating level of destruction of infrastructure in Ukraine caused by the war and stood ready to support an international reconstruction plan. Separately, the United States said it was finalizing a weapons package for Ukraine that would include long-range air-defense systems -- arms that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy specifically requested when he addressed the leaders by video link earlier in the day. Zelenskiy urged G7 leaders to do everything in their power to end Russia's invasion of his country by the end of the year as Ukraine's military says it continues to fend off an attempted encirclement in the eastern city of Lysychansk. Zelenskiy told the leaders that he wanted the war to end before the winter set in and battle conditions would make it tougher for his troops as they mount their fightback, several diplomats were quoted as saying by international media outlets after the speech. Zelenskiy also asked for air-defense systems, more sanctions on Russia, and security guarantees as he addressed the summit at the Schloss Elmau in Bavaria, diplomats said, adding that the Ukrainian leader stressed the necessity to keep applying "heavy" punitive actions on Russia and "not lower the pressure" following multiple rounds of sanctions that Western allies have imposed on Moscow. Zelenskiy also asked for help to export grain from Ukraine and for reconstruction aid, they said. The Ukrainian military command said earlier that it had repelled Russian attacks west of Lysychansk and prevented an encirclement of the strategically important Donbas city. "Near Verkhnyokamyanka, the defense forces inflicted significant losses on the enemy and forced them to retreat," the Ukrainian General Staff reported. Verkhnyokamyanka is located on an important supply road only a few kilometers west of Lysychansk. Serhiy Hayday, the head of the military administration of Luhansk, where Lysychansk is located, urged inhabitants of the city to leave immediately as Russian forces level large swaths of the town, where about 100,000 people lived before the invasion. "The disastrous 'Russian World' is trying to wipe from the world's map our history by destroying the cultural institutions and architectural monuments of the Luhansk region," Hayday wrote on the Telegram messaging app, accusing Russian forces of already destroying more than 60 such institutions and monuments in the city. The military command separately said on June 27 that a missile strike had hit the Odesa region in southern Ukraine, a day after Russia launched strikes against the capital, Kyiv, and other Ukrainian cities. The command said the missile, which was fired from a Russian-type Tu-22 strategic bomber, caused six casualties including a child. It was not clear whether the authorities were reporting injuries or deaths. "The strike in a residential area of a civilian settlement destroyed several residential and farm buildings over around 500 square meters," the command said, adding that firefighters were still battling the flames. Meanwhile, the United States plans to announce as soon as this week that it has purchased an advanced, medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine, CNN and AP reported on June 27, citing sources familiar with the issue. Ukrainian officials have asked for the missile defense system known as NASAMS that can hit targets more than 160 kilometers away, the sources said. Washington last week announced an additional $450 million in military assistance for Ukraine, giving it four more multiple launch rocket systems and artillery ammunition for other systems. Earlier this month, the Biden administration said it was providing an additional $1 billion military aid package to Ukraine that will include additional howitzers, ammunition, and coastal defense systems. More and more analysts envision a protracted battle in the eastern part of Ukraine, with high human and equipment losses on both sides. Britain's Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence bulletin on June 27 that, in the following weeks, Russia, which has reportedly suffered a high rate of casualties, is "highly likely" to rely increasingly on reservists. However, British intelligence suggested that the Russian leadership "likely remains reluctant to order a general mobilization," despite a permanent shortfall in the number of reservists who can be deployed in Ukraine. With reporting by Reuters, AP, dpa, TASS, and AFP Press Release June 27, 2022 Lacson Pushes 2-Pronged Formula for 'Breathing Room' Amid Soaring Fuel Prices More at: https://pinglacson.net/2022/06/27/lacson-pushes-2-pronged-formula-for-breathing-room-amid-soaring-fuel-prices/ A conditional suspension of the excise tax on fuel, and the scrapping of several lines of exemption in the Value-Added Tax (VAT). Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson said this is the two-pronged formula that can give Filipinos some badly needed breathing room from the effects of prohibitive fuel prices. "We can conditionally suspend excise taxes on fuel when oil prices reach a threshold price in the international market such as $90 or even $100 per barrel. This could provide some breathing space not just for the transport sector but those affected by high fuel prices," Lacson said in an interview with the media Sunday evening. On the other hand, he said the government should cut the lines of exemptions in the VAT, as the Philippines is the only country in Southeast Asia with more than 100 lines of exemption. "We could have earned at least P117 billion in additional tax revenues in 2018 alone, even with a reduced VAT rate from 12% to 10%, by removing 78 lines of exemption from some sectors such as the power sector, cooperatives, housing, and economic zones," he said. "The VAT exemptions have been there for so long. It's about time to review these lines of exemptions and reduce the number of exemptions," he added. Lacson said this would be better than proposals to give subsidies to poor and middle-income households - a measure that may strain the budget. He noted a big chunk of the budget already goes to social welfare programs like 4Ps as well as subsidies for agriculture, micro-, small and medium enterprises. "Baka hindi kayanin ng budget (The budget may not be enough for these)," he said. UPDATE: Woman arrested for allegedly setting Albany Hill fire that prompted evacuations Albany residents were ordered to evacuate for about three hours on Sunday afternoon after a fire broke out on woodsy slopes of Albany Hill above Interstate 80. As smoke billowed upwards around 4 p.m., a helicopter circled the hill calling on residents living on its winding roads to please evacuate to Golden Gate Field and Buchanan Street, said one resident. This was followed up by a text alert from the city telling residents of Gateview, Hillside & Taft streets. Photos and video on social media showed white smoke billowing up from the hill. Albany firefighters working to contain the blaze were being assisted by fire crews from Berkeley and El Cerrito, according to a tweet from the Berkeley Fire Fighters Association. There also was a helicopter assisting the containment efforts from the East Bay Regional Park District police. A text alert went out at 6:45 p.m.from the city lifting its evacuation order. Officials did not indicate a cause of the fire as of Sunday evening. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @johnkingsfchron This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Noah Berger/Special to The Chronicle Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press Show More Show Less Three people were killed and another three injured when the car they were riding in was struck by an Amtrak train in the East Bay on Sunday afternoon, officials said. The tragedy occurred at about 1 p.m., in an unincorporated Brentwood area when the car was crossing the train track near the 3000 block of Orwood Road and was hit by a westbound train headed from Stockton to Martinez, said Steve Aubert, fire marshal with East Contra Costa Fire. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A federal appeals court has upheld a California law requiring a property owner who legally evicts a tenant to pay one month of the tenant's rent in order to reduce the costs of relocation. The law, sponsored by then-Assembly Member David Chiu, D-San Francisco, took effect in 2020. In addition to limiting rent increases to 10% a year in areas without local rent control, the law provided some financial assistance to renters who were evicted because the owner was moving into the property, converting it to a condominium or demolishing it. The owner must either repay a months rent to the tenant or cancel the final months payment. A lawsuit by the owners group Better Housing for Long Beach accused the state of unconstitutionally confiscating their property by requiring the payments. But while the suit was pending, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an Oakland ordinance, similar to laws in San Francisco, San Jose and Los Angeles, requiring property owners to pay all of a legally evicted tenants relocation expenses. The court noted that the owners had chosen to evict the tenants, and that the Supreme Court has upheld the governments authority to impose property-related fees, such as property taxes, and fees related to an owners use of the property, like the costs of cleaning up hazardous wastes. On June 6 the Supreme Court left the ordinance intact by denying review of the owners appeal. The relocation rules of the state law are nearly indistinguishable from those that were upheld in Oakland, a three-judge panel of the appeals court said Friday. Paul Beard, a lawyer for the Long Beach property owners, had argued that the law was a forced transfer of hard-earned funds and that the state cannot force owners to bear public burdens that should be paid by the general public, such as the relocation costs of legally evicted tenants. But the court said California is not confiscating private property, just requiring assistance by owners who made the decisions to rent the residence and later to evict the renters. The state is not denying any government benefit to the owners or interfering with their control of their property, the court said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The panel consisted of Judges Morgan Christen and Johnnie Rawlinson and U.S. District Judge Richard Bennett of Maryland, temporarily assigned to the appeals court. Beard said his clients were disappointed and were evaluating their next steps. They could ask the full appeals court for a new hearing before a larger panel or appeal to the Supreme Court. He said the payment required by the California law is more closely connected to the owners property interests than the Oakland ordinance because it is based on the rental value of the property, and not the renters relocation costs. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Chris Carlson/Associated Press file photo California Highway Patrol officials said Monday that Thomas Hampe, 60, was the cyclist killed Saturday afternoon along Highway 1 in San Mateo County. Hampe was riding northbound in the Highway 1 bicycle lane near San Gregorio when he was struck by a gray Nissan Altima traveling northbound at an unsafe speed that did not allow her to safely negotiate the curve in the roadway, according to California Highway Patrol Officer David Morey. When the California Academy of Sciences announced the winners of its annual natural photography competition this month, the honorees included a former photo editor for National Geographic. An established commercial photographer in India. A 50-year Norwegian veteran whom the BBC once placed among the worlds 10 top nature photographers. And an emergency room technician in Monterey who went diving last September and came across a dead sea lion slowly being devoured by starfish, 40 feet below the surface. It was pretty ironic here I am on my day off, and I encounter this huge dead sea lion, recalled David Slater, 32, about the first of what became six visits to grim yet haunting scene. There was sadness, but also a certain nurturing beauty. Slater, who moved to Monterey from Hawaii five years ago, had his image Sea Lion Fall selected as the best photograph in the Aquatic Life category of the Academys BigPicture: Natural World Photography Competition. Established in 2014, the contest this year attracted more than 7,000 entrants. From these, nine were selected to receive awards. As someone who says he has been obsessed with undersea photography since I was kid, Slater was familiar with BigPicture. But he had never given thought to entering until real life intervened. Sea Lion Fall was taken on the sixth and last dive that Slater took to survey the scene off Montereys San Carlos beach. With each visit, the sea lion remained on the ocean floor, face buried in the sand. With each visit, Slater saw more and more members of one species drawing sustenance from the remains of another. By the last visit, two dozen bat stars of varying sizes and hues had attached themselves to the carcass, latched tight so that one of their two stomachs could use enzymes to break down the solid mass and make it digestible. Slater knew the grisly technical details, since he has a marine biology degree from the University of Hawaii. But he also knew that he was encountering a rare glimpse of natures cycle of life one made more solemn by a handful of sea lions hovering nearby, keeping watch but not intervening. Sea lions are pretty intelligent creatures, and I wondered if the one who had passed had belong to this rookery, Slater said in a phone interview. 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. For his final visit to the fallen sea lion in between shifts at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula Slater brought along the gear to take vivid images of the world beneath the water, including strobes to capture the true colors in the gauzy undersea setting. What he returned with has a calm and haunting surrealism a still, gray creature studded with colorful sea stars, while other sea lions were a dim chorus in the background. I knew the photo was special to me, said Slater, who has an Instagram account devoted to his off-hours passion. But to have the judges agree? I literally dont believe it. An exhibition of BigPictures seven winners and 42 runners-up will be held this fall beginning Sept. 30 at the Academys home in Golden Gate Park. The full set of 49 prize-winning and finalist photos is at www.bigpicturecompetition.org/2022-winners. John King is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jking@sfchronicle.com The Supreme Court rejected a challenge Monday by groups of freelance journalists and photographers to a California law that makes it harder for companies to classify workers as contractors rather than employees. The law, AB5, took effect in 2020 and affirmed standards set by the state Supreme Court in 2018. It defined workers hired by a company as employees unless they performed work for their own business that was outside the scope of the companys usual activities and were free of the hiring companys control. Employees, unlike contractors, are legally guaranteed minimum wages, overtime pay and workers compensation benefits. But organizations representing hundreds of freelancers in California said companies were unwilling to hire them because of the additional expenses, and they filed suit claiming the law violated their First Amendment rights as journalists. They continued their legal challenge even after lawmakers narrowed AB5 to exempt some categories of writers, photographers and performing artists from the law and deleted a provision that had automatically classified as an employee anyone submitting more than 35 articles or photos to a company in a year. The Supreme Court, however, denied review without comment Monday of an appeal by two organizations of freelancers after a federal judge and an appellate court upheld AB5. In a 3-0 ruling in October, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the California law regulates economic activity and does not interfere with freedom of speech or the press. It does not, on its face, limit what someone can or cannot communicate, Judge Consuelo Callahan said in the appeals courts decision. Nor does it restrict when, where, or how someone can speak. It instead governs worker classification. Although AB5 may make some jobs less available, Callahan said, workers remain able to write, sculpt, paint, design, or market whatever they wish, and the state is not regulating the content of their speech. That was disputed Monday by the lawyer who filed the Supreme Court appeal. Under the California law, the freedom to freelance depends on what a writer or photographer has to say and how much they speak, said attorney Jim Manley of the Pacific Legal Foundation, who represented the American Society of Journalists and Authors and the National Press Photographers Association. He noted that AB5 and the followup law still classify a new worker as an employee if the worker replaced an employee who was doing the same type and amount of work. The courts decision to not hear our appeal is a loss for the thousands of freelancers who have built thriving careers through the freedom and flexibility that independent contracting provides, Manley said. Attorney General Rob Bontas office, in a filing defending the state law, told the court that AB5 does not regulate speech or differentiate between speakers based on their message. In a separate case, the Supreme Court rejected an appeal last October by trucking companies challenging the classification of truck owner-operators as employees under AB5. An appeal by another trucking group is still pending before the high court. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. The ride-hailing companies Uber and Lyft won an exemption from AB5 in November 2020 when state voters approved Proposition 22, allowing them to classify their drivers as contractors, after a campaign in which the companies spent more than $200 million. But an Alameda County judge struck down Prop. 22 last August, saying the measure interfered with the Legislatures authority under the state constitution to regulate workers compensation and also addressed multiple subjects, violating another constitutional standard. The case is now awaiting review by a state appellate court. A woman was arrested Sunday on suspicion of setting a fire on Albany Hill that led to temporary evacuations this weekend. Megan Strahl, 31, was charged with arson and taken to Santa Rita County Jail, according to Albany Police spokesperson Brennen Brown. Strahl was accused of setting a fire atop Albany Hill above Interstate 80 on Sunday afternoon. Around 4 p.m., residents were ordered to evacuate their homes for about three hours as firefighters worked to contain the blaze. Officials lifted the evacuation order about two hours later. There were no reported injuries or damaged structures, Brown said. According to a Facebook post from the Albany Police Department, police and firefighters responded to reports of two fires in the area on Sunday afternoon one of which was burning on the west side of Albany Hill. A security guard in the area alerted an officer of a possible suspect who may have set the fire on Albany Hill, police said. The officer located the suspect and took them into custody without incident, police said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. No further details on what led to the arrest were immediately available. Brown said the incident was under investigation. Jessica Flores (she/her) is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jessica. flores@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jesssmflores Minutes after hearing the historic news that Roe v. Wade had been overturned on Friday, Gillian Shaw baked a cake. The owner of San Franciscos Black Jet Baking Co. poured her overwhelming frustration and rage into the layered funfetti cake. She decorated it with white frosting and a blunt message for the six U.S. Supreme Court justices who voted to repeal abortion as a constitutional right: f--- you. She posted a photo to Instagram of the subversively cute cake, its edges covered in colorful rainbow sprinkles and the justices names written in pastel pink, cursive text. The cake and its message resonated. Customers, including from out of state, asked if they could buy one. Shaw decided to sell cakes through this weekend and donate 100% of the proceeds to Planned Parenthood, which is matching donations until June 30. I feel a bit of a responsibility as an owner, especially when people are upset, to show that we care and we want to do something, Shaw Lundgren said. I think its our job as bakers and pastry makers to create joy whenever we can in any moment. Provided by Gillian Shaw Lundgren Many Bay Area food businesses took to social media over the weekend to speak out against the Supreme Court decision and to raise funds for pro-abortion organizations. Boichik Bagels owner Emily Winston brought a sign to a Friday protest that reads my hole, my business, with the image of a bagel. An Instagram photo of the sign got a great response, so she turned it into a T-shirt and is donating all sales to Planned Parenthood. Shes raised about $1,000 so far. San Franciscos Nightbird will fundraise through a new $20 caviar course called Roe v. Wade. San Francisco Italian restaurant Che Fico gave 10% of sales to a nonprofit that provides services to people seeking abortions in Georgia, while Oaklands Daytrip donated 10% of sales on Sunday to an abortion fund for Indigenous people. Were grieving and were angry. And were compartmentalizing and were exhausted. Come out to get away, or to lean in, or just do what you need for yourselves, the Daytrip owners wrote in an Instagram post. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The response to the cake provided some comfort to Shaw as she processed Fridays news, particularly through the eyes of her sisters children. She said she was also struck by shocked older, female customers who said they cannot believe that weve gone backwards. As of Monday morning, Black Jet had sold 10 cakes at $45 each. Shaw and her team will bake as many as possible until the Bernal Heights bakery closes for an annual break on July 4. Customers can pick the cakes up at Black Jet at 833 Cortland Ave. Yesterday was a horrific and deeply upsetting day for our country, she wrote on Saturday. Now we must act and fight. Elena Kadvany is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: elena.kadvany@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ekadvany The success of vaccination campaigns has narrowed disparities in COVID death rates in California, especially for the Latino community, which has been disproportionately affected with coronavirus infection during the pandemic. Since the state began tracking deaths in April 2020, more than 91,000 Californians have died from COVID-19 approximately 230 deaths per 100,000 people according to the Public Policy Institute of California, a policy research nonprofit with offices in San Francisco and Sacramento. During the health crisis, Black and Latino communities suffered from higher infection and death rates than did white and Asian communities in California, according to multiple research reports. By August 2020, during the early months of the pandemic, Latinos surpassed all other groups in death rates. At the peak of pandemic deaths, in January 2021, about 55 Latinos per 100,000 adults were dying, compared to 45 deaths per 100,000 for Black people, 38 for whites, and 33 for Asians, the Public Policy Institute says. Approximately 40,000 Latino Californians have died in total due to COVID a death rate around 20% higher than for white Californians. That disparities exist in health care, and it affects communities of color disproportionately, isnt new, said Shannon McConville, a research fellow at the Public Policy Institute. What the pandemic has laid bare is just how deep these inequities run. Different reasons are cited as to why the Black and Latino communities saw higher COVID death rates. For the Black community, an immense distrust in the medical system exists for good reason, McConville said. Studies suggest the medical establishment shows a disregard for the concerns of Black people in maternal care, and Black people are consistently undertreated for pain (and have to fight against the assumption that they have higher tolerance for pain), which invariably leads to ineffective care. Even now, more than two years into the pandemic, Black people in California continue to have higher COVID death rates 3 deaths per 100,000 people as of June 1, compared to whites at 2.5, Latinos at 1.3 and Asians at 1.1. For the Latino community, a mix of factors contributed to early COVID death rates, including a higher predominance of essential work that put people on the front lines and the likelihood of holding more than one job. Latinos also tend to work in close proximity with colleagues in hospitality, restaurant and retail industries, including grocery stores, farm work, and other similar jobs and often have more crowded living conditions. The picture has improved considerably since those dire early days. The key was a host of public health efforts on the local, state and federal level, together with clinics and community groups coming together and educating people and setting up pop-up vaccination centers in underserved communities, said Belinda Hernandez-Arriaga, the executive director of Ayudando Latinos a Sonar, a nonprofit in Half Moon Bay that helps farm workers. A lot of Latinos, especially the working class, hold two to three jobs and their main concern is putting food on the table on a daily basis, Hernandez-Arriaga said. Taking time off work (for vaccinations) means lost wages so they have no choice but to consider their health as an after-thought. Setting up pop-up clinics in communities where these families live helped alleviate some burdens such as figuring out transportation and time needed in getting vaccinated, Hernandez-Arriaga said. But more needs to be done to support essential workers who are still having to put their lives on the line, she said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. As some workers continue to work from home or come into the office a few times a week, essential workers have no choice but to show up everyday, said Ivan Coraado-Vega, manager of the Latino Task Force in the Mission District. We need better policies in place that ensure worker safety is top of mind. Not too far from the offices of the Latino Task Force, on 24th Street and Capp Street, is a vaccination site run by the San Francisco nonprofit Calle 24 Latino Cultural District. Last week, the site saw a 33% positive rate case, up almost 10 percentage points from the week before. The rise in positivity rates among essential workers is worrisome for our community and the citys economic recovery, said Susana Rojas, the executive director of Calle 24. We need the right resources to ensure our essential workers are able to heal and take care of their families during their infectious stage so that we can all continue to work together to bring economic recovery to our city, she added. Shwanika Narayan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: shwanika.narayan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @shwanika A coalition of community organizations is urging San Francisco to try a different response to homelessness in the Mission District, one that prioritizes permanent housing rather than clearing encampments. The Latino Task Force, a nonprofit dedicated to addressing the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the citys Latino community, first presented its alternative to the citys approach to homelessness earlier this month. Called El Proyecto Dignidad (The Dignity Project), the pilot program is being proposed by those who say it would be a more effective and humane way to serve unhoused residents than the citys ongoing Healthy Streets Operations Center, or HSOC. Between January and April of this year, the four-year-old collaboration between the citys emergency management, homelessness, police, public health and public works departments had more than 1,000 interactions with unhoused people, and made service referrals in 26% of instances. Only a small percentage of those who receive referrals will ultimately end up connected to services such as shelter or housing. HSOCs service connection rate is about 30%, according to the most recent data available. HSOC director Sam Dodge said in an email that his team can have multiple contacts with the same individuals before finding good placements that work for them. The Coalition on Homelessness criticized HSOC as having a police-led, complaint-driven approach that emphasizes lower(ing) tent counts and break(ing) up large encampments in a report published last year. Jennifer Friedenbach, the executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, said that HSOC encampment sweeps lead to the confiscation of property and medication; threats of arrest; and cause people to move constantly, making it difficult for them to maintain contact with outreach workers. El Proyecto Dignidad, inspired by a 2012 effort spearheaded by former San Francisco Mayor Ed Lees homelessness czar Bevan Dufty, would require encampment sweeps to be conducted during the daytime and for unhoused residents belongings to be stored throughout the moving process; reduce the reliance on police; and prioritize moving people into permanent housing, among other things. This work would be performed by city and community partners and overseen by human rights monitors, who would be tasked with documenting violations. The task forces recommendations come nearly three months after its Street Needs Assessment Committee surveyed more than 100 unhoused residents of the Mission. Half of the respondents self-identified as Latino. Surveyees spoke to the systemic barriers that they face, ranging from the lack of Spanish-speaking staff in the shelter system to the increased risk of contracting COVID-19 in congregate shelter settings and the disproportionate health impacts faced by low-income and communities of color. Larisa Pedroncelli, co-chair of the Street Needs Assessment committee, said the pilot program would represent an opportunity to show that what Dufty did can be scaled and that the path forward is a community-led process. The biggest takeaway (from the survey) is that the solution has been there the whole time, Pedrocelli added. Its unclear where the proposal goes next. The task force did not receive any funding in the $14 billion budget Mayor London Breed proposed last month. The group said it is actively advocating for human rights monitors, a key component of El Proyecto Dignidad, to be included in the Board of Supervisors amendments to the mayors budget. The full board must approve a spending plan by the beginning of August. The task force, which is comprised of dozens of community organizations, includes local government partners, namely the Department of Emergency Management and the office of District 9 Supervisor Hillary Ronen, who presides over the Mission and chairs the Budget and Appropriations Committee. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In a statement from her office, Ronen acknowledged the surveys findings and said it confirm(s) that we need to provide better solutions for our unhoused neighbors. She also said that she said she supported additional mental health services for uninsured Latino residents based off of the survey results. However, she did not make it clear where she stood on the pilot project proposal. The Board of Supervisors has long grappled with issues related to housing and homelessness, and at a May committee hearing, Ronens fellow Supervisor Myrna Melgar said many of the homeless people in her district are Latino families, living out of vehicles, and in greater need of financial assistance and affordable housing than they are mental health services. Many of the folks who are living in RVs and cars in District 7 are just poor, Melgar said. She went on to say that a visit from an HSOC sweep team should not be the only way unhoused people are offered shelter. I want to put as low barriers as possible so that folks get into the shelter, Melgar said. And that were not setting up a system where the only way to get a shelter bed is for HSOC to come and move you off the sidewalk and out of your tent. Paul Madonna and his last installment of All Over Coffee are gifts to The City Mano Raju is the elected public defender of San Francisco, whose office defends low-income adults and youth in criminal court, people in mental health conservatorship and immigrants facing deportation. Paul Sakuma/Associated Press 2010 Plenty of tech companies have moved their headquarters out of the Bay Area in recent years, from startups like Coinbase to industry pioneers like Hewlett Packard and Oracle. Elon Musk has been one particularly outspoken voice decrying Californias business conditions. Now, one of the East Bays legacy companies is joining the trend. Chevron announced it is shuttering its San Ramon global headquarters and even encouraging some employees to move to Houston, the Wall Street Journal reported. The oil company will cover relocation costs for those voluntarily leaving for the Texas office, which has been growing and employs nearly 6,000 people. Meanwhile, the San Ramon office buildings have experienced dwindling numbers in recent years. Shares of Frontier Airlines and Spirit Airlines tumbled Monday after their improved merger proposal won a key endorsement just days ahead of a crucial shareholder vote. Frontier CEO Barry Biffle said Monday that he is optimistic Spirit shareholders will approve Frontiers latest stock-and-cash offer for Spirit when they vote Thursday. I think we have a lot of momentum, so we feel really good, Biffle said in an interview. Frontier is trying to fend off an attempt by JetBlue Airways to swoop in and grab Spirit with an all-cash bid worth about $3.6 billion. Late on Monday, JetBlue raised to $400 million the breakup fee it would pay Spirit if antitrust regulators block it from buying the discount airline. JetBlue also increased to $2.50 a share a cash dividend that Spirit shareholders would get if they approve a sale to JetBlue. Over the weekend, proxy advisory firm Institutional Shareholder Services reversed itself and recommended that Spirit shareholders approve the deal when they vote Thursday. ISS had initially opposed the proposal bolstering JetBlues effort. Frontiers shares closed Monday down more than 11% and Spirit dropped about 8%. JetBlue rose less than 2%. Frontiers bid was valued at $2.9 billion when announced in February, but has lost some value because of a decline in Frontiers stock price. Frontier added $2 per share in cash and a larger reverse breakup fee to its offer late Friday, prompting the new evaluation by ISS. Denver-based Frontier and Spirit, based in Miramar, Florida, say that antitrust regulators wont let New York-based JetBlue buy Spirit. JetBlue disputes that claim and accuses the other side of inflating the projected value of a Frontier-Spirit combination. PG&E UPDATE, 7:43 p.m.: The fire has been extinguished and residents were able to return to their homes, the city said. 6:55 p.m.: A large plume of smoke was seen above Albany Hill as firefighters raced to contain a grass fire that prompted people in at least three Bay Area neighborhoods to evacuate on Sunday afternoon. An alert issued by the city at 4:22 p.m. relayed mandatory evacuation orders to residents of Gateview, Hillside, and Taft Street, effective immediately. People living on the 500 block of Pierce Street are advised to shelter in place at this time. California's wildfire season intensifies between July and October when temperatures soar, vegetation becomes bone dry and desiccating winds develop. The peak season that has been marked by devastating blazes and smoky skies in recent years is approaching fast, and many are wondering just how bad it will be. The consensus among experts is that the next few months will see above-average fire activity as has been the case in recent years amid a changing climate marked by hotter temperatures and longer dry periods. Nearly all of California is in a severe or extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. "We do have the ingredients for an active, above-normal fire year, with the snowpack being below average," said Brent Wachter, a fire meteorologist at the U.S. Forest Service's Geographic Coordination Center in Redding, Calif. "We also have an above-normal grass crop. That's a big driver." This year's grass crop got a healthy boost when a string of weak storms delivered light rain to Northern California in May and June. While the systems may have prevented wildfire conditions from advancing rapidly in Northern California in June, they didn't provide enough precipitation to put a dent in the state's drought. Plus, they helped grasses grow more prolifically. Those grasses will dry out quickly in summer when the state typically receives no or very little rain and heat events are common, creating fuel for wildfires. Ty O'Neil/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images This year's meager snowpack is only exacerbating the dire situation. In an ideal year, a robust snowpack is spread across the Sierra Nevada by spring, and it melts through summer with the runoff feeding the landscape. When the ground and vegetation are moist, fires don't spread quite as rapidly. This year, while the snowpack got an early start with a historic October storm and a wet December, January through March were abnormally dry, resulting in a well-below-average snowpack. Going into summer, little snow remains in the Sierra Nevada range this year, with the northern section at 16% of normal for this date and the central and southern at 0%, according to the California Department of Water Resources. Without a slow trickle of snowmelt through summer, trees and plants dry out more quickly and some will die. Trees that don't get enough water become stressed and more prone to bark beetle attacks that kill trees. "Since 2010, an estimated 129 million trees have died in Californias national forests due to conditions caused by climate change, unprecedented drought, bark beetle infestation and high tree densities," the U.S. Forest Service said. There may be a bit of good news: While peak fire season is bound to be more severe than average, there's a chance it might not be as bad as last year's near-record or the 2020 season, a study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research said. The scientists estimated the number of acres that are likely to burn in the West by analyzing precipitation, temperatures, drought and other climate conditions in the winter and spring. "What our research shows is that the climate of the preceding winter and spring can explain over 50% of the year-to-year variability and overall trend in summer fire activity," Ronnie Abolafia-Rosenzweig, the lead author of the study and a researcher at the center, said in a statement. "This gives us the ability to predict fire activity before the summer fire season begins." The researchers predicted that that fires this summer will burn 1.9 to 5.3 million acres in the West, with 3.8 million acres being the most likely total. Although well short of the record 8.7 million acres burned in 2020, this would represent the 8th-largest burned area since 1984, a continuation of the long-term trend of more widespread conflagrations, the study said. Of the study, Wachter said his "professional guess" is this upcoming season will be severe but not as bad as in 2020 when a dry lightning storm in August sparked fires throughout California or last year when the Dixie Fire grew to be 963,309 acres, becoming the second-largest wildfire in state history. JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images Wachter said long-term weather forecasts suggests heat waves this summer may be less intense than in recent years, and this could help lower wildfire risk. "This summer, the heat wave events arent expected to be as prolific and as long as duration in previous years," he said. "Weve seen several excessive heat warnings issued for 4 to 5 years in a row. I would expect they would be a little more limited this year." This point is reinforced in the most recent wildland fire seasonal outlook for June through September from the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise. "Drought conditions are expected to intensify some during the summer, but likely not as dramatic compared to the previous two years due to less potential for extended hot periods," according to the outlook created by experts from more than a half dozen government agencies, including the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. "Regardless, dead fuel moisture will spend ample time at unusually dry and critically dry levels, especially away from the coast. Live fuels will continue to become more flammable starting with the lower elevations and transitioning upwards in elevation from June into July, with coincident critically dry dead and live fuels expected to increase during this period then continue into August and September." Wachter said that while certain factors impacting the fire season are easy to predict, what he calls "acute weather" events, such as dry lightning storms that spark fires and offshore winds that fan flames, are much harder to pin down. "Any kind of lightning can be problematic, especially if its of the dry variety, especially if its a mix of wet and dry," he said. Outside by Ragnar Jonasson (Minotaur) Its reunion week in Iceland for Daniel, Armann, Gunnlaugur, and Helena, who were tight in college and like to get together every year or so to drink heavily and catch up. They all have issues. Daniel has been lying about how poorly his acting career is going. Armann, owner of a multi-million-dollar travel-guide business, is a recovering drug addict. Gunnlaugur, an alcoholic lawyer who once got away with rape, is obsessed with Helena. And she, an engineer at a tech startup, is mourning the death of her boyfriend and thinks his so-called accident was actually a murder. As Outside Ragnar Jonassons ninth thriller translated from Islandic to English opens, they gather expecting to party in the capital city of Reykjavik. However, Armann, the acknowledged leader of the group, makes a last minute change of plans. They will go ptarmigan hunting on the desolate moors of Iceland, even though most of them have scant experience with guns. Armann checks the weather report before they set out, but as they trudge across the moors, nary a bird in sight, a blizzard screams out of the west, the snow so thick that they can see only a few feet in front of them. With his skills as a guide, he leads them to a derelict hunting cabin, but once inside, they discover they are not alone. A man with a shotgun sits in a corner, a gun cradled in his arms. No matter how hard they try, cant get him to speak a single word. As the hours crawl by, the author gradually builds the tension. The occupants of the claustrophobic cabin have nothing but their clothes to keep them warm. Their cell phones arent working. Rescuers could never reach them anyway until the storm subsides. And the armed stranger just stares in silence for hours as the blizzard rages. The author alternates points of view, each of the four friends taking turns as their backstories are revealed and as they gradually discover that maybe they arent such great friends after all. Jonasson and translator Victoria Cribb do a fine job of setting the scene, developing the characters, and keeping readers in suspense with a tight, clean, noir prose style. Somebody, Helene says prophetically, is going to end up dead before this trip is over. ___ Bruce DeSilva, winner of the Mystery Writers of Americas Edgar Award, is the author of the Mulligan crime novels including The Dread Line. The city recently announced its marketing and tourism department had seen multiple members recognized for their work and others earning high-profile certifications. Last week, city council highlighted their efforts and praised their work to entice visitors to come to Laredo. After three years of classes, CVB Assistant Director Joel Vazquez and CVB Marketing Manager Selina Villarreal earned their industry certificates of Certified Tourism Executive designation from the Travel and Tourism College of the Texas Travel Alliance. CVB Marketing Coordinator Ana Reyna Arzate was selected as one of the 2022 Emerging Tourism Stars by the eTourism Summit for her contributions to the city and tourism industry in Laredo. Through the recognition, she was given the opportunity to participate as a speaker in the 2022 eTourism Summit in Florida. Lastly, Visit Laredo was also awarded with the recognition in the "Innovation in Influence Marketing" category for their "Welcome Back to Laredo" last year in November. The campaign was spearheaded to ensure tourism returned to Laredo amid the reopening of the U.S.-Mexico border. Vazquez proudly told council he has been working for the city for over 19 years since his initial start during an internship as a senior at United South High School. He explained he previously planned to major in nursing, but after the internship and his travels, he changed his major to business administration and got a minor in marketing. I have grown with the city; the city has been a family to me, and its been a pleasure, he said. Its awesome to continue, I started as an information counselor and now I am the assistant director, so I have done nearly every position there. With over 14 years at the city, Villarreal began as an administrative assistant before climbing the ladder to marketing manager. She said she was blessed to say her job was promoting her home town and knowing visitors are having a great experience leading them to return to the Gateway City. What other better job could there be? she asked. Both Vazquez and Villarreal underwent intensive professional education focusing on marketing, leadership and management courses taught by college professors and seasoned travel and tourism professionals. According to Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau Aileen Ramos, Arzate was chosen as one of 140 other individuals as an Emerging Tourism Star, where she was selected for her dedication and her ways of finding new means of promoting Laredo. She said she was proud to hear of Arzates accomplishments and to have her work at the city for the past six years. She was one of nine winners and The Travel Vertical stated an Emerging Toursim Star is a savvy individual in destination marketing and attractions who are new to the eTourism Community of digital travel and tourism professionals or have risen to the challenges of a role. Arzate told The Travel Vertical during an interview she came to Laredo for a six-week internship but fell in love with the city on the first day. The warm and friendly people, small-town feel and its fast growth made it a perfect place for me to live. I remember people telling me, 'If you drink the water youll never leave,' so Im here 20 years later promoting Laredo as my own community, Arzate told The Travel Vertical. In regard to the final award, the Welcome Back to Laredo was deployed to bring back visitors after 19 months of the border being restricted. However, Ramos said the campaign was vital and the first course of action taken by the CVB after the restrictions were lifted. Through the Visit Laredo website, a number of activities, facts and city details can be found. This includes a border wait time link allowing Mexican residents to plan out the wait time before they visit Laredo. As food variety is a staple in Laredo, the website also features a number of restaurants for a variety of different cuisine. The Texas Republican Party recently released its political platform on what issues they believe they should continue fighting for as a party, meaning these items are considered vital to electing the next candidates that can represent them. The Republicans' 2022 platform was outlined in a 40-page document that addresses state issues but also much broader priorities -- even suggesting the country to leave the United Nations. In an interview with LMT, Webb County Republican Chair Luis De La Garza stated that he does support some of the most contentious provisions of the state partys agenda, and he said that delegates from the local area did have a say in the platform. I read the 275 Party platform plans, and what needs to be understood is the list the party would like to accomplish, De La Garza said. Webb County was well represented at the state GOP convention. We were at least eight delegates participating throughout the whole convention. De La Garza stated that he did agree with most of the platform. However, he did find some areas where he believed improvement was needed and others where he said it was up to an individuals decision to practice certain behaviors. But the local Republican chair does seem to agree with at least one of the most controversial aspects of the Texas Republican Party. He said he does believe that President Joe Biden was illegitimately elected into office and approves of the platforms language which states, "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. Although Biden is our president, there is more and more evidence coming out that there was ballot harvesting, De La Garza said. The state GOP platform also had several other controversial topics, specifically stating that the idea of homosexuality was an "abnormal" condition. In response, De La Garza said that "sexuality is a choice an individual adult makes." Another item that came up was the proposition of Texas seceding from the United States. De La Garza wasn't in favor of this proposition, as he states that it is not constitutional. Texas seceding, while many Texans would love to secede from the Union because we are self-sufficient, the Supremacy Clause does not allow a state to secede from the Union, he said. Concerning the current Republican platform, De La Garza said that he does recommend some amendments. The platform is developed by all the counties, delegates, across the state to Texas, De La Garza said. There are planks that should be revisited like the one on immigration program, which may not have been fully discussed. The platform did not offer a full focus on immigration, which De la Garza states would have been something important to showcase how the party wants to focus on the topic adequately. At the end of the day, De La Garza feels the Republican Party remains true and central to its main goals. He believes that the platform might have several differences between what the leaders support, but he argues that the core issues remain the same. The Republican Texas Party as a whole is conservative and will continue to defend issues that deal with family values, religious values and educational values, De La Garza said. A man wanted for murder in Honduras has been deported via the San Antonio International Airport, federal officials announced on Friday. U.S. Border Patrol agents arrested Jairo Samir Hernandez-Bautista, 30, a Honduran citizen, trying to enter the country illegally near Laredo on April 17. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations officers took custody of Hernandez-Bautista on April 21. He was then placed in immigration proceedings. CHARLESTON, W. Va. A Texas group that helps women pay for abortions halted its efforts Saturday while evaluating its legal risk under a strict state ban. Mississippi's only abortion clinic continued to see patients while awaiting a 10-day notice that will trigger a ban. Elected officials across the country vowed to take action to protect women's access to reproductive health care, and abortion foes promised to take the fight to new arenas. A day after the Supreme Court's bombshell ruling overturning Roe v. Wade ended the constitutional right to abortion, emotional protests and prayer vigils turned to resolve as several states enacted bans and both supporters and opponents of abortion rights mapped out their next moves. In Texas, Cathy Torres, organizing manager for Frontera Fund, a group that helps pay for abortions, said there is a lot of fear and confusion in the Rio Grande Valley near the U.S.-Mexico border, where many people are in the country without legal permission. That includes how the state's abortion law, which bans the procedure from conception, will be enforced. Under the law, people who help patients get abortions can be fined and doctors who perform them could face life in prison. We are a fund led by people of color, who will be criminalized first, Torres said, adding that abortion funds like hers that have paused operations hope to find a way to safely restart. We just really need to keep that in mind and understand the risk. Tyler Harden, Mississippi director for Planned Parenthood Southeast, said she spent Friday and Saturday making sure people with impending appointments at the states only abortion clinic which featured in the Supreme Court case but is not affiliated with Planned Parenthood know they don't have to cancel them right away. Abortions can still take place until 10 days after the state attorney general publishes a required administrative notice. Mississippi will ban the procedure except for pregnancies that endanger the womans life or those caused by rape reported to law enforcement. The Republican speaker of the Mississippi House, Philip Gunn, said during a news conference Friday that he would oppose adding an exception for incest. I believe that life begins at conception, Gunn said. Harden said she has been providing information about funds that help people travel out of state to have abortions. Many in Mississippi already were doing so even before the ruling, but that will become more difficult now that abortions have ended in neighboring states like Alabama. Right now Florida is the nearest safe haven state, but Harden said, we know that that may not be the case for too much longer. At the National Right to Life convention in Atlanta, a leader within the anti-abortion group warned attendees Saturday that the Supreme Courts decision ushers in a time of great possibility and a time of great danger. Randall OBannon, the organizations director of education and research, encouraged activists celebrate their victories but stay focused and continue working on the issue. Specifically, he called out medication taken to induce abortion. With Roe headed for the dustbin of history, and states gaining the power to limit abortions, this is where the battle is going to be played out over the next several years, O'Bannon said. The new modern menace is a chemical or medical abortion with pills ordered online and mailed directly to a womans home. Protests broke out for a second day in cities across the country, from Los Angeles to Oklahoma City to Jackson, Mississippi. In the LA demonstration, one of several in California, hundreds of people marched through downtown carrying signs with slogans like my body, my choice and abort the court. Turnout was smaller in Oklahoma City, where about 15 protesters rallied outside the Capitol. Oklahoma is one of 11 states where there are no providers offering abortions, and it passed the nation's strictest abortion law in May. I have gone through a wave of emotions in the last 24 hours. ... Its upsetting, its angry, its hard to put together everything Im feeling right now, said Marie Adams, 45, who has had two abortions for ectopic pregnancies, where a fertilized egg is unable to survive. She called the issue very personal to me. Half the population of the United States just lost a fundamental right, Adams said. We need to speak up and speak loud. Callie Pruett, who volunteered to escort patients into West Virginias only abortion clinic before it stopped offering the procedure after Fridays ruling, said she plans to work in voter registration in the hope of electing officials who support abortion rights. The executive director of Appalachians for Appalachia added that her organization also will apply for grants to help patients get access to abortion care, including out of state. We have to create networks of people who are willing to drive people to Maryland or to D.C.," Pruett said. "That kind of local action requires organization at a level that we have not seen in nearly 50 years. Fellow West Virginian Sarah MacKenzie, 25, said she's motivated to fight for abortion access by the memory of her mother, Denise Clegg, a passionate reproductive health advocate who worked for years at the state's clinic as a nurse practitioner and died unexpectedly in May. MacKenzie plans to attend protests in the capital, Charleston, and donate to a local abortion fund. She would be absolutely devastated. She was so afraid of this happening she wanted to stop it, Mackenzie said, adding, Ill do everything in my power to make sure that this gets reversed. The Supreme Court's ruling is likely to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states. Since the decision, clinics have stopped performing abortions in Arizona, Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Women considering abortions already had been dealing with the near-complete ban in Oklahoma and a prohibition after roughly six weeks in Texas. In Ohio, a ban on most abortions from the first detectable fetal heartbeat became law when a federal judge dissolved an injunction that had kept the measure on hold for nearly three years. Another law with narrow exceptions was triggered in Utah by Friday's ruling. Planned Parenthood Association of Utah filed a lawsuit against it in state court and said it would request a temporary restraining order, arguing it violates the state constitution. Gov. Tim Walz of Minnesota, where abortion remains legal, signed an executive order shielding people seeking or providing abortions in his state from facing legal consequences in other states. Walz also has vowed to reject requests to extradite anyone accused of committing acts related to reproductive health care that are not criminal offenses in Minnesota. My office has been and will continue to be a firewall against legislation that would reverse reproductive freedom, he said. In Fargo, North Dakota, the states sole abortion provider faces a 30-day window before it would have to shut down and plans to move across the river to Minnesota. Red River Womens Clinic owner Tammi Kromenaker said Saturday that she has secured a location in Moorhead and an online fundraiser to support the move has brought in more than half a million dollars in less than three days. Republicans sought to downplay their excitement about winning their decades-long fight to overturn Roe, aware that the ruling could energize the Democratic base, particularly suburban women. Carol Tobias, president of National Right to Life, said she expects abortion opponents to turn out in huge numbers this fall. But Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers, a Democrat, said Saturday he believes the issue will energize independents and he hopes to translate anger over Roes demise into votes. Any time you take half the people in Wisconsin and make them second-class citizens, Evers said, I have to believe theres going to be a reaction to that. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) Womans Choice, the sign proclaims in bold pink letters. But despite promising abortion information and free pregnancy testing, the facility in Charleston, West Virginia, is designed to steer women facing an unwanted pregnancy away from choosing an abortion. That will become much easier now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states like West Virginia can make abortion illegal. It's one of hundreds of so-called crisis pregnancy centers nationwide whose aim is to discourage women from seeking abortions. The facilities, which have been accused repeatedly of deceiving women about their true purpose, are expected to wield even more influence in states where the dwindling number of clinics are now canceling abortion appointments. Often religiously affiliated, the anti-abortion centers are not licensed medical facilities and do not provide medical services such as pre- or post-natal care or other health care for uninsured women, unlike clinics that offer abortions which are subject to strict government regulations and patient privacy laws. They do sometimes have nurses on staff or as volunteers. Basically, these centers are looking around and saying, Our services are going to be needed now more than ever because theres going to be so many pregnant people who need support during their pregnancy particularly unintended pregnancies, said Andrea Swartzendruber, a University of Georgia public health professor who has helped map center locations nationwide. Shortly after Friday's Supreme Court decision, West Virginia's only abortion clinic announced it was suspending abortion services, but continuing to provide birth control, STI treatment and other services. The Charleston anti-abortion center, which calls itself the Womans Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, has been located next to the abortion clinic for years. The people who run it say their work won't change. They will continue to offer parenting and health classes, counseling for women who regret a past decision to abort and wish to find comfort from guilt and sadness" and provide facts about abortion risks both physical and psychological," they said in an email to The Associated Press. The board also said staff must complete training emphasizing the importance of clients' right to be respected regardless of their decision. At the clinic next door, called the Women's Health Center of West Virginia, executive director Katie Quinonez has her doubts about such statements. She has repeatedly seen patients seeking to end their pregnancies lured into the anti-abortion center and bombarded with warnings about abortion risks. Some who found their way to her office have shared pamphlets declaring that abortion causes new problems that can haunt a woman for the rest of her life. One titled Abortion Living Without Regret shows a woman crying on the cover and lists abortion risks, including suicidal feelings, death and cervical incompetence. Quinonez said she worries about the dozens of patients whose abortion appointments were cancelled after the Supreme Court decision came down. Im incredibly concerned," she said. Its possible that they could think maybe there is another provider and state thats doing abortions. 'How about I call A Womans Choice, located in Charleston?' and then they make an appointment and go there because theyve been lied to by a fake clinic that says Yes, we can provide you with care.'" While the anti-abortion centers are mostly mum about their plans now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, experts say they're likely to redouble efforts to persuade women not to end their pregnancies. The logistics work in their favor, since many women wont have the legal option of abortion without leaving their state. The centers have been expanding in every state with support from wealthy conservative donors, powerful state lawmakers and religious institutions. They've also received tens of millions of tax dollars funneled to them by conservative state leaders. Left-leaning states have shown more willingness to regulate how the centers advertise their services. Last year Connecticut banned them from using deceptive advertising about the services they provide. Connecticut had 18 health clinics that provided abortions as of 2018; there are also around 20 pregnancy crisis centers. As we head into this new world and into this next phase, I think its more important than ever for women to be able to access medically accurate information, said Democratic Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, who sponsored the Connecticut legislation. The last thing we want is for women to be at what they believe to be a health clinic only to receive misinformation about their options." Nationally, crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion clinics more than 3 to 1, but in Republican-led states the numbers can be far higher, according to a 2021 report from The Alliance: State Advocates for Womens Rights and Gender Equality. Some 2,500 centers are located across the country, while there are fewer than 800 abortion clinics. In Missouri, which has just one abortion clinic, Swartzendruber and her colleagues identified nearly 70 anti-abortion centers in 2021. The situation is similar in North Dakota, where at least seven centers operated last year and the states lone abortion clinic is relocating now that Roe v. Wade was overturned. In Mississippi, there are 30 centers, while the Jackson Womens Health Organization a plaintiff in the legal battle that came before the Supreme Court was the lone provider offering abortion services. Those three states are among 13 with so-called trigger laws that banned most abortions after Roe was overturned. West Virginia doesnt have a trigger law, but does have an old statute on the books that had been shelved while Roe was in place. As abortion clinics shutter across the country, some anti-abortion centers have expressed concern they will be targeted amid protests against the Supreme Court's ruling, although historically such incidents have been rare. Meanwhile, abortion clinics have been the targets of attacks for decades. Earlier this month, anti-abortion leaders called on churches to support their local crisis pregnancy centers. We have an opportunity like never before," said Dean Nelson, vice president of government relations for Human Coalition, a national anti-abortion group that frequently directs pregnant women seeking information online to the centers and operates a handful of its own. Some centers offer financial counseling, free diapers and food pantries for mothers after theyve given birth. By expanding and strengthening the network of centers, anti-abortion advocates hope women will see they have resources and options. That concerns reproductive rights advocates, who worry that without licensed abortion providers, women who become unexpectedly pregnant and desperate for help will wind up in places intent on deceiving them. Earlier this year, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an internet watchdog group, released a report that found 1 in 10 Google searches for abortion services in states with trigger laws led people to the centers. Amanda Furdge says that happened to her while searching for information about Mississippi's only abortion clinic in 2014. Instead, she found a listing for what turned out to be a crisis pregnancy center in Jackson. I went for an appointment, and they kept me there all day, traumatized me. They gave me a pregnancy test and they told me, We are not going to be able to recommend any abortion services for you," she said. I was clear: I dont want to carry this pregnancy. I want to terminate it.' By the time she found the abortion clinic, she said she decided on her own she was too far along to have the procedure. She is now happily raising her 7-year-old son. In West Virginia, the Charleston abortion clinic has rows of hedges blocking view of the building next door to reduce confusion. In front a sign reads WARNING: The building behind this sign is an ANTI-CHOICE, ANTI-BIRTH CONTROL Crisis Pregnancy Center. It is not affiliated with the Women's Health Center." You shouldnt be able to pose as a medical facility and just straight up lie to patients, director Quinonez said. ___ Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus contributed from Jackson, Mississippi. - For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion WINTER HARBOR, Maine (AP) There is an arrest warrant for a man suspected of killing his girlfriend with his SUV in Acadia National Park, police said Monday. Nicole Mokeme died in the hit-and-run at the Schoodic Institute in Winter Harbor earlier this month. The activist served as creative director of Rise and Shine Youth Retreat, which offers retreats and programs for Black children and adults. Chris Pizzello/Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP VENTURA, Calif. (AP) A California judge found Monday that there is enough evidence against a man once briefly married to Britney Spears who showed up uninvited at the pop star's wedding to go to trial on a felony stalking charge. After a two-hour preliminary hearing, Ventura County Judge David Worley ruled that 40-year-old Jason Allen Alexander should be held to answer on the charge, along with misdemeanor counts of trespassing, vandalism and battery, court records showed. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BANGKOK (AP) Myanmars Supreme Court heard final arguments on Monday in a long-running, bitter dispute between the countrys ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her estranged elder brother over the property where she was held under house arrest for 15 years. The court in the capital, Naypyitaw, agreed last October to hear a special appeal from Suu Kyis brother, Aung San Oo, on how to divide the family property the siblings inherited in Yangon, the countrys biggest city, his lawyer said. The lawyer, Aye Lwin, said a special bench of the Supreme Court could reach a decision within three months and it would be final. Suu Kyi. 77, whose elected government was ousted in an army takeover last year, already faces a slew of legal cases brought by the military. The court system has been criticized by rights groups for being under the military's influence. The military's seizure of power triggered widespread peaceful protests that turned into armed resistance, and the country has slipped into what some U.N. experts characterize as a civil war. The ruling military council is generally believed to have brought those cases in an attempt to justify its takeover and prevent Suu Kyis return to active politics. She has already been convicted of several offenses and was transferred last week to a custom-built facility at a prison in Naypyitaw. Aung San Oo first sued in 2000 for a share of the 2-acre (0.8- hectare) family property on Inye Lake with a two-story colonial-style building. It had been given by the government to Suu Kyis mother, Khin Kyi, after her husband, independence hero Gen. Aung San, was assassinated in July 1947. Khin Kyi died in December 1988, shortly after the failure of a mass uprising against military rule in which Suu Kyi took a leadership role. Suu Kyi helped found the National League for Democracy party but was detained in 1989 ahead of a 1990 election. Her party easily won but was not allowed to take power when the army annulled the results. She ended up spending almost 15 years under house arrest at the property at 54 University Avenue and stayed there after her 2010 release until moving in 2012 to spend much of her time in Naypyitaw to serve in Parliament. She became the nations leader after the 2015 general election. For most of her time in detention, Suu Kyi was alone at the Yangon house with just a housekeeper and at one point had to sell some of her furniture to afford food. Later the property became a cross between a political shrine and an unofficial party headquarters when Suu Kyi was allowed a modicum of freedom. She was able to deliver speeches from her front gate to crowds of supporters gathered in the street outside. In later years she hosted visiting dignitaries including then-U.S. President Barack Obama, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon. Aung San Oos lawyer, Aye Lwin, said the crux of the dispute is how to divide the inherited property, which he said is worth $90 million, a figure that could not immediately be confirmed. Lawyers for Suu Kyi could not be contacted for comment. Aung San Oo, an engineer, had resided in the United States for several decades when he first brought suit against his sister in 2000. That case seeking an equal partition of the property was dismissed in January 2001 on procedural grounds but Aung San Oo returned to court again and again over the following two decades to press his claims. There was widespread speculation that the military, which has constantly harassed Suu Kyi, has encouraged his lawsuits. A 2016 ruling by the Western Yangon District Court divided the property between the siblings. But Aung San Oo considered the decision unfair and appealed unsuccessfully multiple times for the court to have the property sold and the proceeds split between him and his sister. Only last year did the Supreme Court agree to allow him a special appeal. Aye Lwin, his lawyer, told The Associated Press that lawyers from both sides filed final arguments in court on Monday but he declined to reveal details. The special appeal is just about how to divide the inheritance, he said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona Capitol was ringed with a double barrier of fencing with concertina wire strung between the barriers Monday after three straight nights of protests prompted by the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling overturning women's constitutional right to abortion left some memorials damaged. The protests were mainly peaceful and led to only a handful of arrests, but the actions of small groups of people led to the damage and decision to erect the fencing Saturday, authorities said. The Arizona National Guard added the razor wire on Sunday. The protests on Friday night, which came hours after the Supreme Court issued its opinion striking down Roe v. Wade and as the Legislature was meeting to complete its 2022 session, were the largest. The Arizona Department of Public Safety estimated that between 7,000 and 8,000 people gathered at the Capitol. All was peaceful until about 8:30 p.m., when a small number of protesters began beating on the glass front of the state Senate and at least one person tried to kick in a sliding glass door. Dozens of state troopers were lined up just inside, but the group did not stop until an unannounced volley of tear gas was launched toward them from the second floor of of the old state Capitol building less than a hundred feet away. A spokesman for the Department of Public Safety, Bart Graves, confirmed that no warning was given. He said state troopers were protecting lawmakers working inside. These rioters knew exactly what was at stake here and knew what our job is there and they continued to try to bust in anyway, Graves said. The commotion led senators to cut short an ongoing vote and flee to the basement. They returned about 20 minutes later, but lingering tear gas pulled into the large room by the building's ventilation system forced the 30 senators and staff, reporters and the public to move to a meeting room where the air was fresher for the session's final hours. After the tear gas was deployed, most of the crowd either left or went into a nearby plaza packed with dozens of memorials. Tear gas was again deployed, this time with a warning and announcement first. On Saturday morning, damage was obvious, with memorials and walls and concrete walls spray painted with Abort the Court and unpublishable phrases. Efforts to scrub it off were ongoing Monday. No arrests were made Friday night, Graves said. On Saturday evening a crowd of about 1,200 people protested. After most had left, and as midnight approached, several people pulled down a section of fencing, leading to four arrests. Fewer than 200 people protested Sunday night and five people were arrested on minor charges. No injuries were reported all weekend. Many Republicans hailed state troopers and criticized the protestors. Democrats also praised state police and denounced protesters who were violent, while saying they want an investigation of the state police action. Abortion providers across Arizona stopped performing the procedures Friday because they feared prosecution. Arizona has a pre-statehood law banning all abortions and a law granting legal rights to unborn children that abortion providers fear could be used to bring charges. The Capitol was last ringed with fencing after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by backers of then-President Donald Trump and after Black Lives Matter protests following the killing of George Floyd by Minneapolis police in May 2020. Federal prosecutors have dismissed fraud charges against a fourth man indicted over a failed plan to build a biotechnology plant in northern Vermont using tens of millions of dollars in foreign investors money raised through a special visa program. Jong Weon Choi, also known as Alex Choi, was a business man in South Korea when he was indicted in 2019 along with the former owner of Jay Peak and Burke Mountain ski resorts, a lawyer and the former president of Jay Peak. The three other men, former Jay and Burke resorts owner Ariel Quiros, former Jay Peak President William Stenger and Quiros' adviser, William Kelly, were sentenced in April to prison, wrapping up the largest fraud case in Vermont history. Choi has remained at large. The government requested evidence and testimony from the Republic of Korea in 2017 and has been unable to get what it now believes to be important evidence relating to the case against Choi, the U.S. attorney's office stated in the court motion signed by the judge Monday. Since Choi was charged, he has not entered the United States or appeared before the court, the filing states. "In light of these difficulties, as well as the resolution of the cases against the co-defendants, dismissal of the lndictment at this time is in the interests of justice," the filing states. Three years before the criminal indictment, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the state of Vermont alleged that Quiros and Stenger took part in a massive eight-year fraudulent scheme. The civil allegations involved misusing more than $200 million of about $400 million raised from foreign investors for various ski area developments through the EB-5 visa program, which encourages foreigners to invest in job-creating projects in the U.S. in exchange for a chance at permanent U.S. residency. Quiros and Stenger settled civil charges with the SEC, with Quiros surrendering more than $80 million in assets, including the two resorts. EL SEGUNDO, Calif. (AP) A commuter bus crash clipped a parked truck and flipped onto its side Monday morning near Los Angeles International Airport, injuring at least 20 people, three of them critically, authorities said. The Los Angeles Department of Transportation bus clipped a parked tractor-trailer rig near the airport at about 8:30 a.m., authorities said. NEW ORLEANS (AP) In a reversal for President Joe Biden, a federal appeals court in New Orleans on Monday agreed to reconsider its own April ruling that allowed the administration to require federal employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The new order from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans vacates an earlier ruling by a three-judge panel that upheld the mandate. The new order means a block on the mandate imposed in January by a Texas-based federal judge remains in effect, while the full courts 17 judges take up the appeal. Biden had issued an order Sept. 9 requiring that more than 3.5 million federal executive branch workers undergo vaccination, with no option to get regularly tested instead, unless they secured approved medical or religious exemptions. U.S. District Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by then-President Donald Trump, issued a nationwide injunction against the requirement in January. At the time, the White House said 98% of federal workers were already vaccinated. Browns ruling was followed by back-and-forth rulings at the 5th Circuit. In February, a 5th Circuit panel refused to block Browns ruling pending appeal. But after hearing arguments in March, a different panel ruled 2-1 that Brown did not have jurisdiction in the case. The panel said those challenging the requirement could have pursued administrative remedies under Civil Service law. Although the ruling was issued in April, it was not to officially take effect until May 31. Judges Carl Stewart and James Dennis, who were nominated to the 5th Circuit by Democratic President Bill Clinton, were in the majority. Judge Rhesa Barksdale, a senior judge nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush, dissented, saying the relief the challengers sought does not fall under the Civil Service Reform Act cited by the administration. Barksdale is a senior judge, meaning he has a reduced case load and is no longer on active status at the court. Because he was part of the ruling panel he can participate in the reconsideration with the active judges. Of the 17 judges currently listed as active judges at the 5th Circuit, 12 are appointees of Republican presidents, including six nominated to the court by Trump. When the case was argued before the three-judge 5th Circuit panel in March, administration lawyers had noted that district judges in a dozen jurisdictions had rejected a challenge to the vaccine requirement for federal workers before Brown ruled. The administration argued the Constitution gives the president, as the head of the federal workforce, the same authority as the CEO of a private corporation to require that employees be vaccinated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GAYAN, Afghanistan (AP) The death toll of children in last week's devastating earthquake in southeastern Afghanistan has risen to at least 155, the United Nations said as the scope of the deadliest quake to hit the impoverished country in two decades comes into focus. The U.N.'s humanitarian coordination organization, OCHA, said on Sunday that another 250 children were injured in the magnitude 6 temblor that struck the mountainous villages in the Paktika and Khost provinces near the countrys border with Pakistan, flattening homes and triggering landslides. Most of the children died in Paktikas hard-hit Gayan district, which remains a scene of life in ruins, days after the disaster. The quake has also left an estimated 65 children orphaned or unaccompanied, the U.N. humanitarian office added. Even as badly needed food, medicine and other international aid has trickled into the provinces on precarious dirt roads, despair is growing among newly homeless survivors. Many villagers who were scraping by have lost everything. In ravaged Gayan, villagers are grappling with the extent of the tragedy. When the earthquake last week demolished his house and those around it, Abdullah tried to claw through the rubble and rescue his children. For hours, he called for help, shouting from under a deep pile of mud. When he and his neighbors finally cleared the wreckage, he discovered a nightmarish scene the bodies of 12 family members, including his son and daughter, laying dead in the debris. Four other relatives were injured. What happened that night is very difficult to explain in words, the 65-year-old farmer and teacher, who like many Afghans goes by one name, told The Associated Press. Everything is under the ground now. We have just buried the bodies. He pulled away more rubble from his collapsed mud-and-brick home with a pickaxe, uncovering books that serve as mementos of lives violently upended. Like other villagers, Abdullah now lives with his surviving family members in a donated tent. He fears the freezing winter. Afghanistans Taliban rulers have put the total death toll from the quake at 1,150, with hundreds more injured, while the U.N. has offered a lower estimate of 770, although it has warned the figure could still rise. Abdul Rahman, Abdullah's son, lost two wives, a son and three daughters in the quake. His only surviving child is just a few months old. This little child has been left alone, he said, cradling his swaddled body. The baby's hammock, strung in the corner of their destroyed home, swayed with the weight of fallen bricks. Who should take care of him? The disaster the latest to convulse Afghanistan after decades of war, hunger, poverty and an economic crash has become a test of the Taliban's capacity to govern and the international community's willingness to help. When the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan as the United States and its NATO allies were withdrawing their forces last August, foreign aid stopped practically overnight. World governments piled on sanctions, halted bank transfers and froze billions more in Afghanistans currency reserves, refusing to recognize the Taliban government and demanding they allow a more inclusive rule and respect human rights. The former insurgents have resisted the pressure, imposing restrictions on the freedoms of women and girls that recall their first time in power in the late 1990s, triggering Western backlash. Aware of their limitations, the Taliban have appealed for foreign aid. The U.N. and an array of overstretched aid agencies in the country that have tried to keep Afghanistan from the brink of starvation have swung into action. The U.N. childrens agency said on Monday it was working to reunite children who had been separated from their families in the chaos of the quake. It also has set up clinics to offer mental health and psychological support to children in Gayan traumatized by the disaster. But U.N. agencies face a funding shortfall of $3 billion this year. Authorities and charities are struggling to access the far-flung region and appear overwhelmed by the scale of the damage and the daunting task of debris removal, let alone reconstruction. That has forced many in the quake-ravaged region to fend for themselves, even as the ground rumbles with more aftershocks and the fear of further disaster looms. Still, there are earthquakes. ... We can't come near our houses, Abdullah said. Everyone has fear. Women and children are shouting inside the tent." __ Associated Press writers Rahim Faiez and Munir Ahmed in Islamabad and Isabel DeBre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, contributed to this report. The question of abortion's legality is now for the states to answer after the U.S. Supreme Court overruled Roe v. Wade on Friday, upending nearly 50 years of judicial precedent. State Rep. Jack OMalley, R-Lake Ann, said leaving it up to the individual states essentially leaves it up to the voters, which is "probably the way it should be." "Here in Michigan, there's the 1931 (abortion ban) law, but there's a court injunction. ... I know people are emotional on both sides, but in the middle of all that, there is a process they turned it back to the states," O'Malley said. "We've got this 1931 law, but the process also includes the people and a ballot initiative. What I'm assuming is going to happen on that front is no matter what the courts decide, in November the people of Michigan will be deciding whether there will be abortion or not. "In November, we'll let the people decide." O'Malley said he is waiting to see what unfolds in the aftermath of Friday's Supreme Court decision. "There are so many plates spinning right now and balls in the air, I don't think we need another one. ... A lot of people are introducing things and saying things should happen, but there is a process there let's let it play out," he said. "I think it's going to play out rather quickly. I don't think this is something that's going to take eight months to figure out." O'Malley said a lot of people around the country had been anxiously awaiting the Supreme Court's decision. "I know folks have been waiting to hear what was going to happen," he said. "In some ways, it's a surprise that they did it, and in other ways, not a surprise. Just by overall reaction, it's obviously a very controversial decision." The ruling comes more than a month after the leak of a draft opinion by Justice Samuel Alito made national headlines indicating the court was prepared to take the step to ban abortion at the federal level. The Supreme Court draft opinion becoming public was the first in the modern history of the court to be disclosed publicly while a case was still pending. The decision was the culmination of decades of efforts by abortion opponents, made possible by an emboldened right side of the court that has been fortified by three appointees of former President Donald Trump, according to reporting by The Associated Press. It puts the court at odds with a majority of Americans who favored preserving Roe, according to opinion polls. In 2020, AP VoteCast found that 69% of votes in the presidential election said the Supreme Court should leave the Roe v. Wade decision as it is; just 29% said the court should overturn the decision. AP-NORC polling finds that generally, the majority of the public favors abortion being legal in most or all cases. Alito, in the final opinion issued Friday, wrote that Roe and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, the 1992 decision that reaffirmed the right to abortion, were wrong the day they were decided and must be overturned. Authority to regulate abortion rests with the political branches, not the courts, Alito wrote. Joining Alito were Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. The latter three justices are Trump appointees. Thomas first voted to overrule Roe 30 years ago, according to the AP. Justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan the diminished liberal wing of the court were in dissent. With sorrowfor this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protectionwe dissent, they wrote. The number and rate of U.S. abortions increased from 2017 to 2020 after a long decline. Thats according to new figures released Wednesday by a research group that supports abortion rights. Fridays outcome is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states. Michigan women and doctors will not be prosecuted for obtaining or providing an abortion despite Roe v. Wade being overturned, Attorney General Dana Nessel said in a statement Friday. "I will not use the resources of the Attorney Generals office to enforce an unconstitutional law that will allow the state into our bedrooms and doctors appointments, interfering with our fundamental reproductive rights," Nessel said in the statement. "As long as Im in office, I will not prosecute women, girls or their doctors for seeking or providing abortion services. Nor will my staff seek licensure discipline against medical professionals who safely perform these procedures." Nessel pointed out that Michigan is among the 26 states with a law on the books, dating back to 1931, that criminalizes abortion and makes it a felony to perform one, and has no exceptions for rape or incest. The law could be interpreted so that anyone, from the receptionist who schedules the appointment to a billing administrator, could be charged with "aiding and abetting" the termination of a pregnancy. She added that that would have a chilling effect on all reproductive care in Michigan, putting women at risk of injury and death. In the statement, Nessel also urged voters who want to maintain their reproductive rights to make their voices heard at the ballot box in November. Nessels opponent for attorney general, Republican Matt DePerno, has said repeatedly that he's against abortion even in cases of rape, incest or a dire medical emergency no exceptions, according to Nessel's office. "The impact of todays ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization cannot be overstated," Nessel added. "This opinion is an unraveling of our country as we know it. It claws back the hard-won agency women have over their bodies and lives, and it eliminates settled law relied upon by generations of Americans. It's time to vote like your life depends on it because it does." A sizeable majority of Michiganders agree that abortion is a decision for a woman to make in consultation with a medical professional she trusts. According to a poll from January 2022, 67.3% of Michiganders support Roe, and 65.7% support repealing Michigans 1931 trigger ban on abortion. Over 77%, believe abortion should be a womans decision. The Right to Life of Michigan President, Barbara Listing, said Friday's ruling gives states "the ability to restore legal rights to the unborn hopefully, in turn, ceasing the unjust slaughtering of the innocent in our country." "We urge the public and pro-abortion activists to accept this decision without violence and retaliation," Listing continued in a statement. "The overturning of Roe v. Wade was made possible by working with the legal system and following laws. We know that one day Michigans 1931 abortion law will be enforced again, and the unborn will be protected against ableism, sexism and racism." Republican Rep. Jack Bergman issued a statement on Twitter. "The Supreme Court got it right," he said. "The ruling today on Roe properly returns power to the states and ends decades of bad precedent. Since coming to DC, Ive constantly advocated for Life, and todays ruling is a major step to protect the lives of the most vulnerable among us." And Republican Rep. John Moolenaar echoed Bergman's sentiments. "This is one of the most wonderful days in the history of our country and todays ruling will save millions of lives," Moolenaar said in a statement. "Now, the American people and their elected representatives at all levels of government will have the opportunity to make new laws on this critical issue with the benefit of scientific research that has shown us that precious unborn children have a heartbeat at six weeks and major organs after 15 weeks. There is still important work ahead including increasing support for adoption and pregnancy resource centers that help parents in need." Senator Debbie Stabenow released the following statement on the courts decision that bans abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, roughly two months earlier than what has been allowed under Supreme Court precedent dating back to Roe. "In 1973, Roe v. Wade gave American women the fundamental freedom to make our own reproductive health care decisions," Stabenow said. "Now, 50 years later, the Supreme Court has ripped away this basic right. The fundamental question is who gets to make health care decisions for a woman? The woman herself, based on her own faith, with her family and her doctor, or a bunch of judges and politicians?" "This Supreme Court decision will literally put womens lives at risk," she continued. "Twenty-six states are poised to move quickly to ban abortionincluding 13 states with laws that can go into effect right now. It is hard to look past the anger that I and so many women across the country feel right now. From the President to the Congress to our local State Legislatures, elections matter now more than ever." Michigan's Chief Medical Executive Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian issued the following statement. "As a physician, I know that the decision of the Supreme Court of the United States to overturn nearly half a century of precedent protecting safe, legal abortion violates the trusted relationship between a patient and their doctor," she said. "This ruling completely supersedes and overrides a woman's ability to dictate her health care in consultation with her physician. And it clears a path for draconian laws like Michigans 1931 criminal abortion ban to take full effect." "I am concerned about how this decision will negatively impact health outcomes for women and children, particularly women and children of color as they have greater disparities in health outcomes in general," Bagdasarian continued. "A woman may choose to have an abortion for a wide variety of reasons none of them are anyones business but hers. If women and doctors are under threat of prosecution and jail time due to Michigans abortion ban, women will have a more difficult time accessing critical health care. And with abortion not legally available, women are more likely to undergo unregulated procedures that can jeopardize their future reproductive health and in some cases be life-threatening." Record Patriot reporter Kyle Kotecki contributed to this report. A Republican lawmaker called the Supreme Court's decision to overturn the nationwide right to abortion established nearly 50 years ago in Roe v. Wade a "victory for white life," which was met with cheers by crowds at a rally held by former president Donald Trump. "President Trump, on behalf of all the MAGA patriots in America, I want to thank you for the historic victory for white life in the Supreme Court yesterday," Rep. Mary Miller said at the rally Saturday night in Mendon, Ill., referring to Trump's former campaign slogan, "Make America Great Again." She began clapping her hands as spectators, some clutching red "Save America" placards, also began to applaud. Her remark drew widespread condemnation on social media, and Miller's team swiftly issued an explanation for what it deemed to be "a mix-up of words." Miller's spokesperson, Isaiah Wartman, told the Associated Press that the Illinois Republican misread her prepared speech and was supposed to declare the divisive court ruling a victory for "right to life." "You can clearly see in the video ... she's looking at her papers and looking at her speech," Wartman said. Trump - who has endorsed Miller against GOP Rep. Rodney Davis after Democrats redistricted them into the same seat - was hosting the rally ahead of the state's hotly contested primary on Tuesday. The words "white life" became a top trend on Twitter in the United States. "I am retweeting this statement by GOP Rep Mary Miller about white life for your information," wrote Rep. Ted Lieu, D-Calif. Others pointed out that many in the crowd seemed undaunted by Miller's comment. "Whether it was a slip or not, the audience heard 'white life' and didn't flinch. They applauded," tweeted columnist Ahmed Baba, who writes for the Independent. Miller's comments also drew backlash outside the United States. "Never assume liberal democracy is the default, that progress won is in the bank and doesn't need constant forceful protection," tweeted British lawmaker Jess Phillips, a member of the main opposition Labour Party. On Friday, Miller hailed the high court's decision as "a joyous victory." She said Roe v. Wade had "done untold damage to our country" and accused the "cruel abortion industry" of deceiving Americans. She thanked Trump for helping to overturn Roe by "appointing Supreme Court justices who value life." Trump, who promised to appoint anti-Roe justices, nominated Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett, who were all part of the 5-to-4 vote to overturn the 1973 ruling, along with Justices Samuel Alito Jr. and Clarence Thomas. This is not the first time Miller has been scrutinized for comments in her speeches. Last year, she was forced to apologize after quoting Adolf Hitler at a "Moms for America" event in Washington. "Hitler was right on one thing. He said, 'Whoever has the youth has the future,'" Miller said during the rally, just two days after she was sworn in as a House member, leading to calls for her resignation on social media and from Democrats. Miller later issued a statement expressing remorse for quoting the Nazi leader. "I sincerely apologize for any harm my words caused and regret using a reference to one of the most evil dictators in history to illustrate the dangers that outside influences can have on our youth," she said. FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) Farmers in western Kentucky will get some relief after a grain elevator was damaged by deadly tornadoes in December. Gov. Andy Beshear announced that up to $3.25 million will help farmers continue to grow and process grains. Funds are from the Team West Kentucky Tornado Relief Fund. THESSALONIKI, Greece (AP) Police in Greece have detained a 59-year-old Serbian man wanted in Croatia for alleged war crimes committed in 1991, during the bloody break-up of Yugoslavia. Authorities said the man, who has not been named, was detained Monday after crossing the border from North Macedonia, en route to a holiday resort in northern Greece with his wife and daughter. Rudy Giuliani was mingling with people at a Staten Island grocery store on Sunday when an employee approached the former New York mayor, slapped him on the back and called him a "scumbag," according to police. Now, that ShopRite employee, 39-year-old Staten Island resident Daniel Gill, has been arrested and charged with assault of someone 65 or older - a felony, a New York Police Department spokesman told The Washington Post. Gill, who could not be reached for comment, was in custody as of Sunday night, the spokesman said. It was not immediately clear whether he has an attorney. Giuliani, who was former President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, did not respond to a request for comment. Speaking on "The Curtis Sliwa Show" after the incident, Giuliani said he was at ShopRite campaigning for his son, a Republican candidate for New York governor, when "all of a sudden I feel a shot on my back - like somebody shot me." "I went forward, but luckily I didn't fall down," Giuliani said. "Lucky, I'm a 78-year-old who's in pretty good shape, because if I wasn't, I'd have hit the ground and probably cracked my skull." Giuliani then claimed the worker referenced abortion rights, allegedly adding: "You're going to kill women. You're going to kill women." Surveillance video of the incident, published by the New York Post, shows a man in a billed cap walk up from behind Giuliani and slap him on the back. A woman immediately puts her arm around Giuliani as the man walks past the former mayor and his supporters and down another aisle. The video has no sound, but the NYPD spokesman said Gill asked, "What's up, scumbag?" when he approached Giuliani. The incident took place just before 3:30 p.m., and Giuliani was not seriously injured, the spokesman said. ShopRite did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Post late Sunday. In a statement to WCBS, a representative acknowledged that an incident took place between Giuliani and a store associate at a Staten Island location. "Store security observed the incident, reacted swiftly and the police were notified," the representative said. "We have zero tolerance for aggression toward anyone." In an interview with the New York Times, Giuliani said he took the employee's remarks to be "political," a reference to the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, which protected the constitutional right to abortion. Police did not specify whether the suspect referenced abortion or the Supreme Court decision. Throughout his political career, Giuliani has wavered on the issue of abortion rights. On his weekly radio show Sunday before the grocery store incident, Giuliani said he was "adamantly" against abortion during a discussion on the Supreme Court decision. But as New York mayor, Giuliani was a supporter of abortion rights, even signing a proclamation celebrating the anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the Tampa Bay Times and CNN reported. Moreover, Giuliani donated to Planned Parenthood at least six times in the 1990s, Politico reported in 2007, when Giuliani was seeking the GOP presidential nomination. It was during that campaign that Giuliani's stance on the issue came under scrutiny, as the candidate said repeatedly that he personally opposed abortion but believed it was an "emotional decision that should ultimately be left up to the woman," his spokeswoman told Politico at the time. Amid pressure, Giuliani decided to firmly support abortion rights during the campaign, making him an outlier among his Republican opponents, the New York Times reported. On his show Sunday, Giuliani called his prior stance "very childish and immature" and said that he has gone through a "torturous intellectual and emotional and moral situation with abortion," now saying he is against abortions. Even as Giuliani faces scrutiny for his unfounded claims of fraud following the 2020 presidential election results, he is using his political brand in certain enclaves of New York to help boost his son's bid for governor. Andrew Giuliani, who praised the Supreme Court decision Friday, condemned the alleged assault on his father in a tweet Sunday night, adding that it was "over politics." "We will not be intimidated by left wing attacks," he wrote. "As governor I will stand up for law and order so that New Yorkers feel safe again." GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) Gaza's Hamas rulers on Monday said the condition of one of the Israelis it is holding captive has deteriorated. The announcement marked a rare piece of information about the Israelis in Hamas captivity. The Islamic militant group has given no details on the conditions or whereabouts of its prisoners, and it has never allowed the Red Cross to visit them. Hamas is believed to be holding the remains of two soldiers killed during a 2014 war. Israel has pronounced the soldiers dead, though Hamas has never confirmed this. Hamas is also believed to be holding two Israeli civilians who wandered across the frontier into Gaza, and who rights groups say suffer from mental illness. Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett's office said the latest announcement proved that Hamas is a cynical and criminal terrorist organization that holds mentally ill civilians in violation of all international conventions and laws." Hamas has demanded the release of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including people convicted in deadly attacks, in exchange for the captive Israelis. Abu Obeida, a spokesman for Hamas' armed wing, announced a deterioration in the health of one of the enemy prisoners. He said more details were expected to be released later Monday. Israel and Hamas are bitter enemies that have fought four wars and dozens of smaller skirmishes since Hamas seized control of Gaza 15 years ago. Israel and Egypt have maintained a tight blockade over the territory throughout that time. Israel says the closure is needed to prevent Hamas from building up its military capabilities, while critics say the policy amounts to collective punishment of Gaza's 2 million Palestinian residents. Israel says there can be no major moves toward lifting the blockade until the soldiers' remains and captive civilians are released. The prime minister's office said Israel would continue working through Egyptian mediation to bring about the release of the captives. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) During Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearings, then-California Sen. Kamala Harris asked the judge if he thought women's privacy rights extended to choosing to have an abortion. Kavanaugh declined to answer. With Justice Kavanaugh now part of the court majority that voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and the senator now the vice president, Harris is warning that the court's decision could trigger some of the same far-reaching privacy limitations she warned of during those hearings. Taking to the issue with a passion linked both to her personal and professional background, Harris has spent recent weeks sounding the alarm that upending Roe could create precedent for new restrictions on everything from contraception and in vitro fertilization to gay marriage and that states restricting such things are also leading the way in new limits on the right to vote. Justice Clarence Thomas seemed to validate such concerns, writing in a concurring opinion to the larger ruling on Roe that the high court should reconsider past decisions on access to contraception and same-sex marriage. Harris has been a leading Biden administration voice on abortion rights since early May, when a leaked draft opinion previewed Roe v. Wades nullification. She was flying to Illinois for a maternal health event when the final decision was announced last week, and read it while still in the air quickly shifting the focus of her planned remarks to the ruling. The decision calls into question other rights that we thought were settled, such as the right to use birth control, the right to same sex marriage, the right to interracial marriage, Harris told her audience Friday at a suburban YMCA, adding that it would spark a health care crisis. During an interview Monday with CNN, Harris said, I definitely think this not over," adding that, of what Thomas wrote, "I think he just said the quiet part out loud. Becoming a leading voice on abortion access could be a better fit for Harris after President Joe Biden tasked her with overseeing other thorny issues that haven't gone well: immigration and expanding voting rights. Sweeping legislation on both issues has stalled in Congress, prompting some advocates to say the vice president and the White House should've done more. Harris symbolically presiding over the Senate didnt stop Republicans from blocking efforts to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law before the court's ruling overturning it. But Democrats are hoping anger around the issue will energize their base for the November midterm elections, when the party faces steep headwinds. Getting straight to the politics of the matter after the ruling was announced, Harris said, You have the power to elect leaders who will defend and protect your rights. With your vote, you can act. And you have the final word. After a Texas law effectively banned abortion in the state in the fall, Harris met providers and patients, which her office believes is the first time abortion providers have visited the White House. She stressed then that gender discrimination persists, saying that womens full participation in our nation was still only a goal, not a reality. After the draft Supreme Court opinion leaked, the vice president convened a virtual discussion with doctors and nurses providing abortion care in states with strict restrictions and met with Democratic attorneys general from states supportive of reproductive rights. Biden has also forcefully defended abortion rights and warned that other rights are now at risk. But as a observant Catholic, he hasn't always had a strong record on the issue. Harris, the first female vice president and Californias former top prosecutor, brings unique personal perspective and legal expertise to the issue. Seeing women fight on behalf of other women is just very true to the core of who she is, said Jacqueline Ayers, senior vice president of policy, organizing, and campaigns at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She added that Harris has framed the issue to underscore the disparity that it creates on Black and brown communities, and for people who are living with low income. Ayers said the high court's action has allowed the vice president to highlight how she's used her office to listen to women and advocate for improving their health care perhaps even in ways Biden can't. Its not necessarily a wedge, its just a continuation of someone who has really staked their career around the issues that are key and drivers for them, Ayers said of differences between Harris and Biden. Rev. John Dorhauer, the general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, attended a recent virtual meeting on abortion rights that Harris hosted, and suggested she's been less afraid than some top Democrats to advocate forcefully on the issue. To hear that from one of the highest offices in the land is incredibly encouraging," Dorhauer said. But some abortion opponents argue that Harris has hurt her cause by equating abortion access with other, more routine medical care. She has become emblematic of the abortion absolutism on the other side, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which advocates for women who oppose abortion in politics. As a senator, Harris introduced legislation to improve maternal health. During a 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate, then-candidate Harris said it was outrageous that abortion had been overshadowed by other issues, despite a woman's right to the procedure being under full-on attack even then. The vice president most forcefully signaled the outspoken role when she declared a day after the draft opinion leaked in May: Those Republican leaders who are trying to weaponize the use of the law against women, well, we say, how dare they?" She then used subsequent weeks to argue that undermining Roe v. Wade could soon wipe out other key privacy rights the same theme she raised during Kavanaugh's hearing. Harris says many states moving to fully ban abortion could restrict in vitro fertilization if legislatures argue that human life begins at fertilization. They could prohibit contraception methods, including intrauterine devices and the morning after pill, she argued. Law enforcement might scrutinize data collected from millions of women who use menstrual cycle tracking apps, or those doing internet searches on getting abortions in other states, the vice president said. Also ultimately at stake, Harris maintains, is the legalization of gay marriage, noting that states with the strictest abortion laws often also have past LGBTQ prohibitions that the Supreme Court could revive. Once those rights have fallen, the argument goes, voting rights could be next. She convened a recent meeting with privacy experts to discuss the matter. That slippery slope is really slippery, said one of the meeting's participants, Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, the women and democracy fellow at the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice in New York. "Were barreling right down it right now. Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, told attendees to be prepared for the coming of a new Jane Crow, as efforts to limit abortion begin to emulate antiquated laws that once sanctioned open discrimination against Black people. Dannenfelser countered that Harris and others are exaggerating, saying the current Supreme Court is "the least likely to do what shes saying. They believe in the rule of law. It's intended to scare people and to build a coalition on the other side outside of the abortion issue," Dannenfelser said. Harris' office says she is indeed building a coalition, but it will be one of people who believe that Roe v. Wade's effects far exceeded abortion, and not just for women. To help drive home that point, Harris met recently in Los Angeles with religious leaders, noting that to support Roe v. Wade, and all it stands for, does not mean giving up your beliefs. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion MEDORA, N.D. (AP) Organizers planning the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in western North Dakota have reached a milestone in bringing the project to fruition. The library's foundation announced Monday that it has secured 90 acres of U.S. Forest Service land near Medora following a lengthy appraisal process. Congress approved the land sale in December 2020, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The land cost $81,000 and was covered by the family of the 26th president, who ranched and hunted in the Medora Badlands as a young man in the 1880s. North Dakotans have ensured a legacy not just for their state but also for our nation and the world, descendant Theodore Roosevelt V said in a statement. I am pleased the Roosevelt family was able to purchase the land for the T.R. Library, honoring the life and legacy of Theodore Roosevelt, and helping advance the ambitious vision of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library. The family had committed $100,000 for the land sale. The remaining $19,000 will be used to restore native plants to the library property and to cover administrative costs such as filing fees and current maintenance, according to Library CEO Ed OKeefe. The native plant project is to collect and cultivate seeds to increase Badlands prairie species, including rare and endangered plants. The librarys groundbreaking is set for June 2023 with a project completion target of July 4, 2026. The 2019 Legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment for the library, available only after supporters raised $100 million in private donations, a goal met in 2020. CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) A group of U.S. senators has agreed to effectively dismantle a commission tasked by the Department of Veterans Affairs to carry out closures, downsizing and other significant medical facility changes nationwide, Sen. Joe Manchin said Monday. The West Virginia Democrat, a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, said there is bipartisan support to avoid filling vacancies on the VAs Assets and Infrastructure Review Commission and to end the commission in the next National Defense Authorization Act. The commission had recommended the closures or downsizing of several older facilities, a proposal that Manchin worried would significantly alter services provided to rural veterans across the country. But other groups had welcomed the commission's work, saying it was necessary to modernize and improve the VA's health offerings. Manchin said in a statement that without the Senates approval of the AIR Commission and its nominees, no commission will be established and the process as outlined by the 2018 VA Mission Act will not move forward. The act required Veterans Affairs to make recommendations for its medical facilities and health care delivery, either through facility expansions, relocations, closures or changes in services. For instance, the recommendations would have downsized three of four VA medical centers in West Virginia and would have closed four community-based outpatient clinics in New Mexico. The group of senators said in the statement that the VA's recommendations given to the commission are not reflective of upholding the nations obligations to its veterans. The recommendations would put veterans in both rural and urban areas at a disadvantage, which is why we are announcing that this process does not have our support and will not move forward," the statement said. "The Commission is not necessary for our continued push to invest in VA health infrastructure, and together we remain dedicated to providing the Department with the resources and tools it needs to continue delivering quality care and earned services to Veterans in 21st century facilitiesnow and into the future. Joining Manchin in the letter were Democratic Sens. Jon Tester of Montana, Martin Henrich and Ben Ray Lujan of New Mexico, Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Patty Murray of Washington, and Republicans Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, Mike Rounds and John Thune of South Dakota, Rob Portman of Ohio and Steve Daines of Montana. The group Concerned Veterans for America said the senators' decision will only harm veterans. "To say this is disappointing is an understatement," group senior adviser Darin Selnick said in a statement. Simply put, this decision is short-sighted and will hurt veterans by keeping them trapped in a broken and outdated system not built to address their needs. The AIR commission was the best chance to modernize the VA health care system to meet the needs of the veterans it serves. The VA released preliminary recommendations in March, prompting a bipartisan group of senators led by Manchin to initially ask President Joe Biden to be sure that rural perspectives were considered by the AIR Commission. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) Minnesota health officials say a Twin Cities adult has contracted the state's first presumed case of monkeypox, a disease that has emerged in more than 50 countries and 26 U.S. states. The state public health lab identified the infection, a case which has been forwarded to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) The stepmother of a missing New Hampshire girl who vanished in 2019 at age 5 has been indicted on charges that she received stolen firearms, unrelated to the child's disappearance. Kayla Montgomery, 31, is accused of receiving a rifle and a shotgun between Sept. 29 and Oct. 22 of 2019, knowing that they had been stolen or believing they had probably been stolen. She was recently indicted by a Hillsborough County grand jury, WMUR-TV reported Monday. CAROLINA BEACH, N.C. (AP) The boat of a North Carolina man missing for seven months has washed ashore in the Azores Islands, thousands of miles from the marina where it was last seen, officials announced Monday. Joseph Matthew Johnson has not been found, but Carolina Beach police said that authorities in the Azores said a boat registered to his name washed up last week on the small island of Sao Jorge, some 2,700 miles (4,345 kilometers) across the ocean. Johnson was last seen leaving Federal Point Yacht Club marina on Nov. 22 on his boat, police said. The 44-year-old Carolina Beach resident was reported missing five days later by a friend who arrived in town for a previously arranged fishing trip, police said. Video surveillance from Nov. 22 shows the boat leaving the marina where he lived and the last ping from Johnson's cellphone was from off the coast of Bald Head Island at 5:17 p.m. that same day, Sgt. Colby Edens said by telephone Monday. The U.S. Coast Guards search for Johnson in November covered nearly 7,500 square miles (19,425 square kilometers), but it was suspended when no new information was found, news outlets reported. When the boat was found June 21, it had a heavy buildup of barnacles and algae, indicating that it had been capsized at sea for quite some time, Edens said. Portuguese authorities are helping the Carolina Beach police department as they gather evidence and continue their search for Johnson. Johnsons mother, Mary Kay Anderson, said his family is confident he will be found alive, The StarNews reported. The retired U.S. Army Special Forces soldier served for 24 years with tours in Afghanistan and South America, so Anderson believes he has skills to survive in dangerous conditions and elements. Its not just hope, Anderson said. We know hes alive and are praying for his miraculous rescue. CAPE TOWN, South Africa (AP) South African authorities were seeking answers Monday, a day after 21 underage teenagers partying after the end of school exams died in a mysterious incident at a nightclub. The bodies of many of the victims, the youngest a 13-year-old girl, were discovered by police lying on tables, slumped in chairs and couches, and sprawled on the dancefloor of the club in the early hours of Sunday morning. They died as they danced, Police Minister Bheki Cele said. They dance, fall, and die. Literally. Others would just feel dizzy, sleep on the sofa, (and) die. It tells you the story that they were all kids because somebody should have taken note. Speculation has swirled over the cause of the tragedy, starting with a stampede that has now been ruled out to a possible gas leak. Police have sent forensic samples from the victims to a toxicology laboratory to investigate if the teens ingested poison or a toxin at the party. Police said they were called to the Enyobeni Tavern in the city of East London in Eastern Cape province at around 4 a.m. Sunday morning after receiving a report that there were lifeless bodies there. Officers responding to the call walked in on a grim scene: 17 of the teenagers were found dead in the nightclub. Two more died at a local clinic, one died on the way to another hospital and one at that hospital. Their ages were between 13 and 17, police said. Police spokeswoman Col. Athlenda Mathe said an investigation was ongoing and no cause of death had yet been established. But Cele said forensic samples were being sent to an advanced toxicology laboratory in Cape Town, indicating that police were looking at the possibility that poison or a toxin was involved. Cele said the toxicology tests might take a lot of time. Provincial safety official Unathi Binqose told the Daily Maverick newspaper that the victims may have ingested a toxic substance through alcohol they were drinking or through hookah pipes, which were being smoked at the party. Initial reports speculated that the victims 12 boys and nine girls may have died in a crush because of overcrowding at the party, but authorities found no visible signs of injuries on the bodies and police have now ruled that out. The teenagers were reportedly celebrating the end of mid-year exams, a local DJ's birthday and the relaxing of some of the last COVID-19 restrictions in South Africa, which was announced earlier in the week. Parents were asked to come to a mortuary to identify their children. The Eastern Cape health department said there were survivors being treated in the hospital for backache, tight chests, vomiting and headaches. Police Minister Cele said the teenagers died between 2 a.m. and 4.30 a.m. Sunday morning. He had also visited the nightclub and the mortuary on Sunday and choked back tears as he spoke to reporters outside the mortuary. The sight of those bodies sleeping there ... when you look at their faces you realize that youre dealing with kids, kids, kids, Cele said. Youve heard the story that they are young but when you see them you realize that its a disaster. Twenty-one of them. Too many. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, who is in Germany for the G-7 summit, offered condolences to the families of the victims in a statement but also said he was concerned why such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off limits to persons under the age of 18. Its illegal for anyone under 18 to consume or buy alcohol in South Africa and the Eastern Cape Liquor Board said it was revoking the nightclubs liquor license and would pursue criminal charges against the clubs license holder. The tragedy will put renewed scrutiny on the many bars and nightclubs operating in the backstreets of poor neighborhoods in South Africa and which are often criticized for not abiding by liquor laws. RENO, Nev. (AP) A 32-year-old Las Vegas man faces up to 28 years in prison after pleading guilty Monday to conspiracy and assault charges in connection with the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Prosecutors say Nathaniel DeGrave and two others arrested in connection with the uprising traveled together and attempted to prevent a joint session of Congress from certifying President Joe Bidens victory. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MOSCOW (AP) Less than two weeks remain for two Britons and a Moroccan to appeal the death sentences imposed by separatist forces that captured them during fighting in eastern Ukraine. With no obvious progress, or even signs of official contacts, the likelihood is growing that the men will be shot by firing squad, a conspicuous move even in a corner of Europe that has resisted the wave of abolishing capital punishment. The sentences handed down by the Donetsk Peoples Republic brought wide condemnation from abroad but were supported by Russian officials; if they are carried out, possibly in early July, it likely would increase animosity between the sides in the Ukraine conflict. Here's a look at the case and its potential consequences: WHO ARE THE CONDEMNED MEN? A court in the DPR on June 9 sentenced Britons Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner, and Moroccan Brahim Saadoun, to death by firing squad after convicting them of terrorism and trying to overturn constitutional order. They were allotted one month to appeal the sentences. The court claimed they were fighting as mercenaries, which would exempt them from protections observed for prisoners of war who were fighting as members of a legitimate military. But their advocates claim they were enlisted in Ukraine's regular army. ARE THEIR EXECUTIONS LIKELY? Denis Pushilin, president of the separatist government, appears firmly determined to see through the sentence. I certainly have the right to pardon. But as of now I see none of the prerequisites to exercise this right, he told reporters at Russia's St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Those people who came for money to kill the civilian population women children, the elderly must bear the appropriate punishment. Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova also strongly supported the sentences at the same forum, saying: These are crimes against the Donbas civilian population. War crimes by Ukrainian national radicals and foreign mercenaries will not go unpunished." A lawyer for Aslin said the Briton is pessimistic about his prospects, and that British authorities have not contacted the DPR about an appeal. The UK, like all other countries except Russia, does not recognize the DPR as a sovereign state. Russia has said it would consider an appeal of the sentences; it is not clear if Britain has contacted Moscow about the case. Saadoun's family has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin for help, but it's unclear if there have been formal contacts. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS? Russia's willingness to consider an appeal underlines its influence in the separatist governments in Donetsk and in the neighboring Luhansk region, although they are viewed as sovereign by Moscow. Applying the death sentence only to foreigners emphasizes the frequent contention of the Kremlin and the separatists that Ukraine is in thrall to Western countries and other outside forces that they claim are determined to weaken both Russia as a country and the greater concept of a nation that encompasses all Russian speakers. In turn, death sentences imposed by an unrecognized state harden Western views of Russia and its clients as vengeful and contemptuous of international rule of law. IS THIS AN ESCALATION? Russia and Belarus are the only European countries to retain the death penalty. Russia has not carried out an execution since 1996, and later declared a moratorium on applying capital punishment. Ukraine itself abolished the death penalty in 2000, three years after conducting its last execution. Latvia retained the death penalty for wartime crimes until 2012. Belarus recently made its stance more severe by adding attempted terrorism as a capital crime meaning it could be applied to exiled opposition leaders such as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. It is unknown how the DPR intends to conduct the executions whether in front of a few witnesses, open to general public view or in secret. Belarus' procedure is notoriously callous no execution date is announced and the prisoner is informed of his imminent death only about two minutes before being shot in the back of the head, according to reports. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate OSLO, Norway (AP) The suspect in a deadly shooting ahead of an LGBTQ festival in the Norwegian capital, which authorities are treating as an Islamist attack, was ordered held Monday in pre-trial detention for four weeks two of them in solitary confinement. He continued to refuse to be questioned. Zaniar Matapour, a 43-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested shortly after Saturday's predawn shooting in Oslos nightlife district and was held on suspicion of murder, attempted murder and terrorism. Two people were killed and more than 20 wounded in what the Norwegian security service called an Islamist terror act. Prosecutor Ingvild Myrold said investigators have many hypotheses" regarding a possible motive for the shooting although police have unsuccessfully tried to question Matapour for the third consecutive day. We take a closer look at his mental health, his political motives and background and possibly who else he may have had contact with before this happened," Myrold told The Associated Press. We do not exclude anything. But now the accusation is about pure terror incident, she added. Matapour is now being held solely on suspicion of murder and attempted murder according to an Oslo District Court ruling obtained by the AP. The court added that it cannot see that it is necessary today to decide whether there is good reason to suspect terrorist intent. Matapour has refused to explain his actions to investigators. His lawyer, John Christian Elden, said his client objects to having his statement recorded and videotaped unless police release the entire recording to the public with no time delay so it wont be censored or manipulated. Recording interrogations is a standard police practice. Matapour arrived in Norway with his family from a Kurdish part of Iran in the 1990s, according to Norwegian media. The gunman opened fire at three locations, including outside the London Pub, a popular gay bar in downtown Oslo. Police investigators have said it is too early to say whether the attacker specifically targeted the LGBTQ community. Police on Monday identified the two victims as Kare Arvid Hesvik, born in 1962, and Jon Erik Isachsen, born in 1968. A Pride parade scheduled for Saturday was canceled because of the shooting. In a joint statement on Monday, the head of Norways national police, Benedicte Bjrnland, and the acting security service chief Roger Berg said they would review their response to the shooting, saying it is very important that ... any weaknesses and errors are identified quickly in order to be able to implement measures. The agency known by its Norwegian acronym PST earlier had said that it first became aware of the suspect in 2015. It had talked to the suspect in May because he had shown interest in demonstrations and activities perceived as insulting to Islam. Our assessment, after talking to the perpetrator, was that he did not have violent intentions, it said. PST also said that the suspect had a long history of violence and threats, as well as mental health issues. After the attack, PST raised the threat scale from moderate to its highest level, adding the move implies that there has been a terrorist attack and that there is an unresolved situation. We are continuously assessing the terrorism threat level. Police urged the cancelation of a spontaneous Pride parade in the aftermath of the attack, scheduled for later Monday, saying they cannot guarantee security. We know that this can be big, and as long as we have such an unresolved threat situation, we cannot recommend that (the march) be implemented, Martin Strand of the Oslo police said according to the Aftenposten daily. ___ Olsen reported from Copenhagen, Denmark. JACKSON, Ga. (AP) A Georgia man who was recently sentenced to death in the killings of two corrections officers during an escape attempt five years ago has died in prison of an apparent suicide, corrections officials said. Prison guards found Ricky Dubose unresponsive in his cell at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson around 4:45 p.m. Sunday, according to a Department of Corrections news release. The guards called for medical help and began rendering aid. The coroner at the prison declared Dubose dead at 5:56 p.m. AKRON, Ohio (AP) Ohio police shot and killed a man early Monday in the parking lot of a business because he posed a deadly threat to officers, authorities said. Akron police Capt. David Laughlin told the Akron Beacon Journal that the man fired a shot at police from his vehicle on Ohio State Route 8 early in a pursuit that followed an attempted traffic stop. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ISLAMABAD (AP) Pakistan sentenced one of the militants linked to the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India to 15 years in prison for terror financing unrelated to the assaults, according to court documents viewed by The Associated Press on Monday. Sajid Majeed Mir, 43, was arrested in 2020 and sentenced in May, according to the documents, but his detention and sentencing were never disclosed by Pakistan. He was sought by the FBI in connection with the 2008 attacks on India's financial hub that killed 166 people, including six Americans. Under its Rewards for Justice program, the United States offered up to $5 million for information on Mir's alleged involvement in the attacks in neighboring India. The court documents provided no details on Mir's involvement in terror financing. In November 2008, a group of 10 young attackers who allegedly sailed from Karachi hijacked an Indian fishing boat, killed its captain and took a rubber dinghy into Mumbai. They then systematically attacked high-end hotels, a train station, a hospital and a Jewish community center over the course of three chaotic days. The 10 were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, and Indian investigators later said their actions were directed by phone by handlers in Pakistan. Nine of the attackers were killed by Indian forces. Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor, was arrested, tried and later hanged by Indian authorities. Mir was designated a terrorist by the U.S. and was indicted in 2011. He was on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Mir's whereabouts were not publicly known until the Pakistani newspaper The Dawn reported over the weekend that he had been quietly arrested in Gujranwala, a city in Punjab province. It said Mir's sentencing appeared to be part of efforts made by Pakistan to get off the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force. The Paris-based group added Pakistan to the list in 2018. The gray list is composed of countries with a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing but which have formally committed to working with the task force to make changes. According to the Pakistani court documents seen by the AP, Mir was a member of a charity set up by Hafiz Saeed, who had also been designated a terrorist by the U.S. Justice Department and had a $10 million bounty on his head. Saeed is the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba, of which Mir was believed to be a member. The group was active for years in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety. In April, Saeed was sentenced to 31 years in prison for terror financing but he was never charged in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Mir was sentenced to 15 years on May 16 by a court in Gujranwala, according to the documents provided to the AP by an official with the Punjab counterterrorism department. The official asked that he not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The official said Mir planned to appeal the sentencing. There was no immediate comment from India about Mir's sentencing in Pakistan. Relations between Pakistan and India were strained after the attack on Indias financial hub. The rival South Asian powers have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. ___ Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma contributed to this story from New Delhi, India. MOSCOW (AP) President Vladimir Putin is making his first public foreign trip since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, heading for two former Soviet republics and meetings likely to be friendly. Ahead of the trip beginning Tuesday to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, there were no expectations of significant developments. But the visit gives Putin the opportunity to show that he is not isolated despite widespread sanctions and denunciations from the West because of the Ukraine operation. At the first stop in Tajikistan, Putin is to meet with authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon, who has been in office since 1994 and kept his country close to Russia. Tajikistan hosts some 7,000 Russian troops, Moscow's largest base abroad. Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said Monday that a key part of the talks with Rahmon will be discussing measures to improve security along Tajikistan's porous, 1,357-kilometer (843-mile) border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan, where a 1990s civil war that included Islamist insurgents killed as many as 100,000 people, is wary of Islamic radicalism spilling over from Afghanistan. It also is a main route for heroin and opium smuggling from Afghanistan. Russia is following a narrow path with Afghanistan although it officially designates the ruling Taliban as a terrorist group, the Taliban also have a representation in Moscow and one of the movement's officials was invited to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. The Kremlin encourages the new Afghan authorities to form an ethnically and politically balanced government and intensify actions for combatting terrorist and drug threats, Ushakov said. Putin on Wednesday is to be in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which largely seals itself off from the world. The purpose is to attend a summit of Caspian Sea littoral states, which also include Azerbaijan, Iran and Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev raised eyebrows at the St. Petersburg forum when, while appearing on stage with Putin, he firmly stated that Kazakhstan would not recognize the two separatist Ukrainian regions that Russia has declared to be sovereign states. BOISE, Idaho (AP) An Idaho public utilitys nearly two-decade effort to renew its license for a three-dam hydroelectric project on the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon Border is moving forward with federal regulators announcing plans to update an environmental study. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this month said it will prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to consider new developments since it completed the 2007 document for Idaho Powers Hells Canyon Project. The commission expects to complete the supplemental review that includes a draft and public comments in late 2023. Brett Dumas, director of Environmental Affairs for Idaho Power, said the company wanted the supplemental impact statement to bolster the process against potential lawsuits. We felt if they didnt take this step, they would be taking some legal risk, Dumas said. Hells Canyon is a mile-deep canyon carved by the Snake River, much of it popular for recreation but inaccessible by road. The Hells Canyon Complex includes Hells Canyon Dam, Brownlee Dam and Oxbow Dam built from the late 1950s through the 1960s. The commission issued a 50-year license for the project in 1955, which expired in 2005. Idaho Power, starting in 2003, began trying to obtain a new 50-year license from the commission and submitted a relicensing application. It has been operating on annual renewal of the existing license since it expired. The dams blocked salmon and steelhead from traveling upstream, eliminating about 80% of spawning habitat for Snake River fall chinook and steelhead. The company compensates by paying for salmon and steelhead hatchery programs below the dams. Kevin Lewis, a consultant for Idaho Rivers United, said the 1955 license was created before environmental laws. So, clearly, its time for a new license and some mitigation on the project, he said. Dumas said obtaining a 50-year license would provide certainty to allow the company to begin on long-planned projects that include recreation and restoration work. Among the events that have happened since the 2007 impact study, Idaho and Oregon in 2019 reached an agreement that requires Idaho Power to spend $312 million on water quality and habitat improvements, and Idaho and Oregon each issued water quality certifications for the project under the Clean Water Act. Idaho Power had been caught in the middle of a fight between Oregon and Idaho. Oregon insisted on returning federally protected salmon and steelhead above the dams. Idaho officials didnt want salmon and steelhead, listed under the Endangered Species Act, above the dams that could lead to environmental lawsuits and force expensive mitigation work. The finished deal the two states reached involves a 20-year study with fish moved above Hells Canyon Dam, the lowest dam in the complex, but not above the other two dams that would allow fish into the middle section of the Snake River and into southern Idaho. After the 20-year study, officials will consider returning salmon and steelhead to that area. That section is considered poor habitat because it flows through environmentally degraded agricultural areas. Pollution leaving those agricultural areas, which are not controlled by Idaho Power, accumulates at the Hells Canyon Complex, elevating levels of methylmercury that accumulates in organisms and works its way up the food chain to fish. Methylmercury also travels downstream from the dams. Idaho Power ends up on the receiving end of a lot of pollution coming down from further up the basin, said Lewis. But their project is what collects and concentrates it, so they bear some responsibility here. He said he'd like to see the supplemental impact statement include more robust mitigation requirements than what is contained in the 2007 document. Idaho Power in July 2020 supplemented its license application to include an analysis of fish-related enhancement measures. In October 2020, the company also filed draft biological assessments with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The supplemental Environmental Impact Statement will consider all those new details in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to analyze environmental effects of proposed actions before making decisions. Idaho Power has more than 600,000 customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The company has 17 hydroelectric facilities on the Snake River and its tributaries, with the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River providing about 70% of the companys hydroelectric generating capacity and 30% of the companys total generating capacity. Idaho Power has a stated goal of providing 100% clean energy by 2045 while keeping prices low and reliability high. Getting a new license for Hells Canyon is critical for that, Dumas said. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) The ringleader of a plot that defrauded multiple Rhode Island banks out of tens of thousands of dollars through a counterfeit check scheme has been sentenced to five years in prison, federal prosecutors said Monday. Terrance Richardson, 30, of Providence, was also sentenced Friday to three years of probation after pleading guilty in March to a dozen counts of bank fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, and ordered to pay more than $80,000 in restitution, prosecutors said. NEW YORK A grocery store worker on Staten Island was arrested Sunday after hitting Rudy Giuliani on the back while the former mayor campaigned on behalf of his son, a Republican candidate for governor, according to police and Giuliani. In a brief interview, Giuliani said he was walking through a ShopRite grocery store in the Charleston neighborhood with supporters when the employee disparaged him and slapped his back, then made an apparent reference to abortion. The one thing he said that was political was Youre going to kill women, youre going to kill women, said Giuliani, who said he understood the remark to be about the Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade on Friday. The initial account shared by police did not mention abortion but said an unnamed 39-year-old man had hit Giuliani in the mid-back while saying, Whats up, scumbag? The man was taken into custody. Police were still investigating, and it was not immediately clear what, if any, charges the man could face. Giuliani, a Republican who recently served as Donald Trumps personal lawyer, has had a long and conflicted relationship with abortion rights first opposing them, then supporting them, then reversing himself again. Earlier Sunday, he said on his radio program that he had gone through a torturous, intellectual, and emotional and moral situation with abortion before ultimately concluding that he opposed it. Giuliani is under intense scrutiny for his role in Trumps attempts to overturn the results of the 2020 election, which culminated in a deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. In the interview, he denounced political violence. This has to stop. This is getting ridiculous, he said. Ive been in politics 50 years, Ive never been attacked like this. Giuliani said he had red marks on his back but was not bleeding and had remained on his feet after being struck. He had been planning to hand out flyers for his son, Andrew, before Tuesdays Republican primary for governor. The younger Giuliani was not on hand. My back hurts, but otherwise, Im able to walk and stuff like that, the former mayor said. He almost knocked me down. Thank God, for a 78-year-old, I am in pretty good shape. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka is sending two government ministers to Russia to negotiate for fuel one of the necessities nearly exhausted as a result of the Indian Ocean nation's economic collapse. The plan comes as Washington and its allies aim to cut off energy imports from Russia in line with sanctions over its war against Ukraine. Since its invasion in late February, global oil prices have skyrocketed, prompting a number of countries to seek out Russian crude, which is being offered at steep discounts. Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the two ministers will leave for Russia on Monday to continue talks that Sri Lanka has been having with Russian authorities to directly purchase fuel, among other related issues. He urged people on Saturday not to line up for fuel, saying only small amounts will be distributed to limited numbers of stations through the coming week. He said until the next shipments arrive, public transport, power generators and industries will be given a priority. Residents have had to queue for hours and sometimes days to get fuel, sometimes resorting to burning charcoal or palm fronds for cooking. Wijesekera's comments came as a U.S. delegation is visiting Sri Lanka, seeking ways to help the island nation cope with an unprecedented economic crisis and severe shortages of essential supplies. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held separate talks on Monday with diplomats from United States and Russia. Like some other South Asian nations, Sri Lanka has remained neutral on the war in Ukraine. However, Wijesekera said the Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia have been making arrangements for a fuel purchase. There is an advantage for us if we could buy oil directly from the Russian government or the Russian firms. There are talks going on, he told reporters Sunday. The shortages have led to protests against the government. The government has deployed armed troops and police at every fuel station. Sri Lanka says its unable to repay $7 billion in foreign debt due this year, pending the outcome of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on a rescue package. It must pay $5 billion on average annually until 2026. Authorities have asked the IMF to lead a conference to unite Sri Lankas lenders. Last month, the country bought a 90,000-metric ton (99,000-ton) shipment of Russian crude to restart its only refinery, Wijesekera said. In an interview with The Associated Press in mid-June, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the country would be compelled to buy oil from Russia and was trying to get oil and coal from traditional suppliers in the Middle East. If we can get from any other sources, we will get from there. Otherwise (we) may have to go to Russia again, he said. Wickremesinghe also said last week that the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corp. was $700 million in debt and as a result, no country or organization was willing to provide fuel. On Sunday, the corporation hiked prices of gasoline by 22% to 550 Sri Lankan rupees per liter (about $5.80 per gallon), and diesel by 15% to LKR 470 per liter (about $4.95 per gallon). Wijeserekara said the hike was meant to be on par with the global fuel prices. Protesters have occupied the entrance to President Gotabaya Rajapaksas office for more than two months demanding his resignation, saying the primary responsibility for the crisis rests with him and his family, whom they accuse of corruption and mismanagement. The U.S. delegation led by Robert Kaproth, deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for Asia, and Kelly Keiderling, deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, met on Monday with Rajapaksa, who briefed them about Sri Lanka's economic and social crisis and the progress of discussions with the IMF, according to the president's office. The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, also joined the meeting. The U.S. has announced $120 million in new financing for small and medium-sized businesses, a $27 million contribution to Sri Lankas dairy industry and $5.75 million in humanitarian assistance to help those hit hardest by the economic crisis. Another $6 million was pledged in new grants for livelihoods and technical assistance on financial reform. Hours later, the Russian ambassador in Sri Lanka, Yuri Materiy, met Rajapaksa and discussed a wide range of issues including the export of tea to Russia, tourism, trade, oil, coal, gas and fertilizer, the president's office said in a statement. BOLINGBROOK, Ill. (AP) A temporary worker has been charged in a shooting that killed a co-worker and wounded two others at an automotive interior products warehouse in suburban Chicago, authorities said. Charles McKnight Jr., 27, was arraigned Sunday on charges of first-degree murder and attempted first-degree murder and ordered held on $5 million bond. LONDON (AP) British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signalled Monday that a plan to rip up parts of the post-Brexit trade deal he signed with the European Union could become law by the end of the year. Lawmakers began debating legislation that rewrites trade rules for Northern Ireland on Monday, the first step on what could be a rocky journey through Parliament. If approved by lawmakers, the legislation would remove checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K., thereby scrapping parts of a trade treaty that Johnson signed before Britain left the EU in 2020. Johnson said he thought the plan could be approved fairly rapidly if Parliament cooperates. Asked if the measures could be in place this year, he said: Yes, I think we could do it very fast, Parliament willing. The British government says the rules, known as the Northern Ireland Protocol, are burdening businesses and undermining peace in Northern Ireland. It argues the unilateral move is justified under international law because of the genuinely exceptional situation. Johnsons opponents, however, say the move is illegal. Many of us are extremely concerned that the bill brazenly breaks a solemn international treaty, it trashes our international reputation, it threatens a trade war at a time when our economy is flat and it puts us at odds with our most important ally, Conservative Andrew Mitchell said in Parliament Monday. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss replied that the government's plans are the only solution to resolve trade problems in Northern Ireland because the EU has been unwilling to reopen negotiations. The plans have caused concern among some of Johnson's fellow Conservatives, already worried about his judgment and popularity following a series of ethics scandals and two special election defeats. But Johnson said Monday that questions about his leadership were no longer relevant. We settled that a couple of weeks ago, he told reporters in Germany, referring to his survival in a no-confidence vote three weeks ago. The EU has threatened to retaliate against the U.K. if it goes ahead with its plan to rewrite the rules of the post-Brexit deal, raising the specter of a trade war between the two major economic partners. Irish foreign affairs minister Simon Coveney said he was hugely disappointed that the U.K. government is still pursuing its unlawful approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol. This is not the way to find sustainable solutions to the genuine concerns of people and business in Northern Ireland and only adds to uncertainty," he said. The blocs ambassador to Britain, Joao Vale de Almeida, said Britains plan was illegal because it is a breach of international law, a breach of EU law, U.K. law and international law. It is a treaty that we signed, ratified and even went through a general election in this country, he told Times Radio. Northern Ireland is the only part of the U.K. that shares a border with an EU country, Ireland. When Britain left the European Union and its borderless free-trade zone, the two sides agreed to keep the Irish land border free of customs posts and other checks because an open border is a key pillar of the peace process that ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Instead, to protect the EUs single market, there are checks on some goods, such as meat and eggs, entering Northern Ireland from the rest of the U.K. Johnsons Conservative government claims overzealous EU implementation means the rules are not working as expected and are causing a political crisis in Northern Ireland. You have got one tradition, one community, that feels that things really arent working in a way that they like or understand youve got unnecessary barriers to trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland," Johnson said. All we are saying is you can get rid of those whilst not in any way endangering the EU single market, he said. British unionists there say the checks are fraying the bonds between Northern Ireland and the rest of the U.K., seen by some unionists as a threat to their British identity. Northern Irelands main unionist party is blocking the formation of a new power-sharing government in Belfast, saying it wont take part until the Brexit trade rules are scrapped. I want to see the reestablishment of the Northern Ireland Assembly and the Executive, and the protocol is getting in the way of that, Lewis told Sky News. We have got to resolve that. Thats what this legislation will do. Ultimately, we want to do this by agreement with the EU, he added. But to do that, they need to show some flexibility and actually come and negotiate in a flexible way. ___ Frank Griffiths contributed to this report. ___ Follow all AP stories on Brexit at https://apnews.com/hub/Brexit UNITED NATIONS (AP) The U.N. political chief urged Libyas rival factions on Monday to agree on measures governing the transition to elections during talks in Geneva later this week, expressing hope this will lead to long-awaited voting at the earliest possible date. Rosemary DiCarlo told the U.N. Security Council that during talks in Cairo from June 12-20 the rivals reached a broad consensus on most of the contentious articles in the proposed 2017 constitution, which she called commendable. Oil-rich Libya has been wrecked by conflict since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. The country was then split by rival administrations, one in the east, backed by military commander Khalifa Hifter, and a U.N.-supported administration in the capital of Tripoli. Each side is supported by different militias and foreign powers. The Cairo meeting was the first to see Libyas east-based parliament, the House of Representatives, and west-based High Council of State in Tripoli engage in a serious review of the constitutional proposal since its adoption in 2017, DiCarlo said. We are encouraged that the leaders of both chambers have accepted the invitation of (U.N.) special adviser Stephanie Williams to meet in Geneva from June 28-29 to discuss and reach agreement on the measures governing the transitional period leading to elections, she said. DiCarlo urged the Security Councils 15 member nations and all of Libyas international partners to call on the leadership of the two chambers to seize the opportunity presented by the agreement reached in Cairo and make elections happens. Libyas plan for elections last Dec. 24 fell through after the interim administration based in Tripoli, headed by Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, failed to go ahead with the vote. The failure was a major blow to international efforts to end a decade of chaos in Libya. Dbeibah refused to step down, raising questions over his mandate. In response, the countrys east-based lawmakers elected a rival prime minister, Fathy Bashagha, a powerful former interior minister who is now operating a separate administration out of the city of Sirte. The rival administrations are now claiming power, after tentative steps toward unity last year. DiCarlo called for national reconciliation efforts, warning that continued political divisions are contributing to a tense security environment in and around Tripoli. The issue of Libyas chief executive has not been resolved and she warned that as armed group position themselves to support Debebah or Bashagha the risk of escalation increases. After the recent Cairo meeting, Libyan media reports claimed that the main contested topic was the criteria for a presidential candidacy. According to the reports, the Tripoli-based council insisted on banning military personal from running for the countrys top post apparently a move directed at Hifter, a divisive military leader who announced his bid to run in December's elections, while the east-based lawmakers called for allowing military personnel to run. U.S. deputy ambassador Richard Mills called it appalling that small cabals of men, in most cases backed by weapons rather than popular legitimacy, have spent the last six months cutting deals and crafting schemes to determine who will be in power, and who will get which spoils while some three million Libyans are still waiting to exercise their right to vote for Libyas leaders. Libya has reached a critical moment, he said, and its leaders must choose a trajectory whether to build consensus and foster unity that can lead to free and fair elections and stability or to wallow in the status quo and consign the Libyan people to uncertainty, stagnation, and potential violence. Russias deputy U.N. ambassador Dmitry Polyansky blamed the Western aggression in 2011 which caused the Libyan state to collapse for the ongoing political crisis. He welcomed the progress at the Cairo meeting and expressed hope that this week's Geneva talks will resolve differences between the political rivals. But he warned that due to the persistent inter-Libyan differences and the egotism of our Western colleagues, the situation in Libya is liable to spiral out of control." As United Way of Greater St. Louis marks its centennial anniversary this year, its president and CEO Michelle Tucker says this is only the beginning for the organization. This year is a very special milestone in recognizing our local United Ways impact in building a strong safety net for our region throughout the past century, said Tucker. Now we have the opportunity to build on our legacy to launch the next century of helping people. Initially called the Community Fund, the organization began in 1922 when community members and leaders joined together to create a simple and unified approach for supporting multiple nonprofits. Through its first annual campaign, businesses and residents raised $1.1 million for 40 local charities. Today, United Way of Greater St. Louis supports more than 160 local nonprofits serving a 16-county region in Missouri and Illinois. The organizations most recent fundraising campaign raised over $67 million. Tucker noted that over its 100-year history, the local United Way has raised and invested nearly $3 billion into hundreds of nonprofits and programs. Our United Way continues to be one of the top ranked United Ways in the nation for fundraising, a true testament to the generosity and passion of this region, said Keith Williamson, 2022 board chair for United Way of Greater St. Louis and president of Centene Charitable Foundation. This is certainly a year to recognize the commitment and tireless work of thousands of donors, staff and volunteers, through many challenging periods in history, to raise billions of dollars to help people in need. Everyone in our community should be proud of this accomplishment. As United Way looks to the future, Tucker said they are even more committed to helping people by providing critical wraparound services and supports through five priority areas: essential needs, youth success, jobs and financial security, health and wellbeing and crisis response. She noted that through United Ways deep experience in serving the community and strong partnerships, the organization is uniquely positioned to advance the way individuals and families receive health and human service in the future. We are now able to marry technology with high-touch services that will be a game changer for helping people, Tucker said. Our goal is to not just support single needs here and there, but to look at health and human services as a whole and help individuals and families along a path to success. To celebrate its anniversary, the organization is encouraging the community to visit HelpingPeople.org/100-year to share their hopes for the region in the next 100 years. This year is not only a celebration of our 100 years; its a call to action, a time to look at where the need is today and how we can be most effective in creating a stronger, healthier and more equitable St. Louis community, said Tucker. We are looking forward to our next 100 years and what we will accomplish together. United Way of Greater St. Louis Key Dates and Highlights: 1922: Then called the Community Fund, a group of local businesses and leaders raises $1.1 million for 40 charities. Today, our United Way supports more than 160 local nonprofits, including some of those initial agencies like Annie Malone, Salvation Army, Urban League, International Institute and YMCA. 1933: What is now known as the Volunteer Center launches and is led by two women. Today, our Volunteer Center connects more than 20,000 local people each year to organizations and causes in need of volunteers. 1942: United Ways campaign reaches the milestone of raising over $5 million in one year. Now, the St. Louis region raises approximately $70 million each year through United Way to help local people and strengthen our community. 1955: The City of St. Louis and 43 other St. Louis companies introduce payroll deduction for employees to donate to the then-called United Fund. Today, over 1,000 local companies and 90,000 individuals unite each fall and give their time, talent and treasure through United Ways campaign 1975: The board of directors elects to change the organizations name to United Way of Greater St. Louis. 1978: United Way of St. Clair merges with United Way of Greater St. Louis and in the following decades, several other affiliate mergers follow. Today, United Way of Greater St. Louis serves a 16-county region in Missouri and Illinois, helping one million local people each year. 1987: United Way forms its first leadership group, the de Tocqueville Society, to recognize supporters who give $10,000 or more annually to the organization. Today, more than 8,000 local people engage with United Way through six leadership groups, including the Mens Leadership Society, Womens Leadership Society, Charmain Chapman Leadership Society, Multicultural Leadership Society and United Young Leaders. 1993: United Way raises and invests $1.8 million for victims of the Flood of 1993. Today, United Way is a leader in regional crisis response, such as the COVID-19 pandemic when we raised and invested nearly $2 million into programs and organizations helping impacted people. 1994: Charmaine Chapman becomes the first African American and first woman president and CEO. Charmaines legacy lives on today through the Chairman Chapman Leadership Society, a group of more than 600 African American leaders who give $1,000 or more through United Ways campaign. 2004: United Way is one of the first to introduce an online giving software for corporate campaigns, launching ePledge as a new way for giving in the dawn of technology and the Internet. Today, United Way continues to innovate ways for donors and volunteers to engage and connect in philanthropy. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) The U.S. Coast Guard said Monday that it rescued three U.S. sailors whose vessel began taking on water during a trip from the British Virgin Islands to Bermuda. The rescue involved a three-day tow to Puerto Rico that covered some 300 nautical miles (555 kilometers) after officials said it took a U.S. Coast Guard cutter 15 hours to reach the scene. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday authorized an increase in funding for debris removal and other emergency measures being taken as a result of a historic wildfire season in New Mexico that stemmed partly from missteps by federal forest managers in starting a prescribed burn. The additional funding comes through an amended disaster declaration signed by the president that calls for direct federal assistance to be increased to 100% of the total eligible costs for 90 days following the declaration. The wildfire still smoldering in the Rocky Mountain foothills of northern New Mexico grew to become the largest in the U.S. this spring after it was sparked in April by two planned government burns meant to reduce wildfire danger. The U.S. Forest Service acknowledged in a recent report that managers underestimated how dry things have become in the Southwest over the last two decades and that modeling and training needs to improve to account for the extreme conditions. Thousands of residents were displaced by the blaze, hundreds of homes were destroyed and now officials are warning of post-fire flooding. Burn scars in both New Mexico and neighboring Arizona have been hit over recent days with rain as the Southwest region marks a robust start to the monsoon season. Scott Sterns, a meteorologist assigned to the big fire in New Mexico, said Monday that up to 3 inches (7.62 centimeters) of rain fell over the last three days on some parts of the fire which spans more than 533 square miles (1380 square kilometers) of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. The potential for runoff is high now that the soils are saturated and the vegetation is moist, Sterns said. There's really not a whole lot more good we can do with more moisture at the moment, he said during a briefing. The nice thing is so far on the incident we've had fairly consistent long duration moisture and that's always good to keep the (relative humidity) higher, which really helps us out in terms of the fuel situation. There has been much criticism of the federal government in New Mexico for causing the largest wildfire, with some residents saying they have been left to wade through a bureaucratic maze as they look to be reimbursed for their losses. Biden vowed during a visit earlier this month that the federal government would cover the full cost of the emergency response and debris removal, a responsibility that was previously shared with the state government. According to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, more than $3.5 million in assistance for housing and other needs have been approved for residents so far. The agency also is considering disaster requests for several other states from Minnesota to Tennessee because of wildfires, tornadoes and flooding since late April. Scientists and government officials have warned of more severe weather as the world keeps getting hotter. In the United States, there were 20 weather or climate disasters last year with losses exceeding $1 billion a year, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. In southwestern New Mexico, a half-inch of rain has fallen each day, stalling efforts to rehabilitate fire lines around a massive blaze that has burned through the rugged Black Range. Parts of northern Arizona, where a series of wildfires burned homes and forced evacuations over recent months, saw flooding over the weekend as storms brought rain, hail and wind. The National Weather Service reported that some roads in the Flagstaff area were closed as creeks and washes filled up with storm runoff. Patrick Semansky/AP WASHINGTON (AP) Public tours of the White House will return to a full operating schedule next month, after nearly a year and a half of disruptions due to the coronavirus pandemic. Free tours of the executive mansion were suspended when President Joe Biden took office, as officials tightened virus protocols in line with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They resumed on a limited basis, being held only Friday and Saturday mornings, on April 15, and will return to their normal schedule from Tuesday through Saturday, excluding federal holidays, beginning on July 19. Law enforcement is on the hunt for a patient that escaped from a state mental health facility in North Texas. Alexander Ervin, 29, has been missing from the Vernon Campus of the North Texas State Hospital since Monday morning, June 27, according to Texomas Homepage, the digital news component of KFDX/KJTL News. His escape has prompted lockdowns at several nearby facilities in Vernon, near the Oklahoma border, including a nearby nursing home. Ervin reportedly has ties to the Austin area. He is 5-foot, 8-inches tall, bald with a mustache, and was last seen wearing a grey hoodie, tan pants and a white t-shirt. Officials told Texomas Homepage that Ervin is known to make weapons. Students and faculty at Stanford are criticizing the university's medical school for a letter released in response to the United States Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a move that will result in restrictions on the procedure in many states across the country. Perhaps in response to the criticism, Stanford Medicine administrators later sent out an apparent quasi-apology statement Sunday night, saying they wished to add "additional perspective" to their earlier comments. The saga began hours after Friday's ruling, when Dr. Lloyd Minor the dean of the university's school of medicine sent a letter to the Stanford community that, according to critics, paid undue attention to the feelings of anti-abortion advocates and seemed to imply that the university's medical center would continue performing the procedure only because it's required under California law. "First, we want to acknowledge that this is a controversial issue," the letter said. "We know that many in our community have strong opinions and are processing the news differently. In this moment, we simply wish to express our care and concern for our community members, appreciating that people are feeling a range of emotions and have different needs." In a later paragraph, the letter said access to abortion on Stanford's campus remains unchanged despite the ruling. Michele Dauber a law professor at Stanford posted a copy of the letter to Twitter, saying it was "offensive." In an email to SFGATE, Dauber said the letter didn't go far enough in reaffirming the importance of abortion access as a health care need. "I think that Stanford's statement on this that it would 'follow California law' is weak sauce," she said. "It would have been more appropriate in my view to reaffirm that abortion care is essential women's healthcare, rather than ... leave the impression that abortion is a controversial issue and Stanford ... only is providing services because there is state law requiring it to do so." The letter was also signed by Dr. Jim Jacobs, the executive director of Stanford's student health center. In the university's subsequent Sunday statement, signed by Minor, Stanford Health Care CEO David Entwistle and Stanford Children's Health CEO Paul King, administrators struck a conciliatory tone. "First and foremost, we strongly believe that reproductive care, including safe abortion access, is essential health care," they wrote. "Limiting it negatively impacts the health of women and all who seek reproductive services in profound and immeasurable ways. Stanford Medicine will continue to provide comprehensive reproductive health care services to the fullest extent of California law." That statement was addressed to the "Stanford Medicine Community," but it's unclear which students and staff received a copy Sunday night. Dauber said she wished administrators didn't need to experience backlash before stating that abortion services are essential health care. "Once again Stanford's first reaction to a threat to women's rights is to diminish the importance of the threat and only after an outcry by faculty and students do they realize that their initial reaction was appalling," she said in email. "I hope I live to see the day that Stanford's first reaction is one that values women, but I doubt I will." Incoming sophomore Eva Jones told SFGATE that she found the initial letter disheartening. "It seems very clear that our administration has no interest in providing support to gain back the civil liberties of the American public," she said. "I was really disappointed to see that. It was kind of gross, to be honest." Jones seconded Dauber's comments on the university's subsequent statement, pointing out that it was brought to her attention by a member of the press and wasn't sent to her student email. "Once again, I would reiterate that Stanford's initial statement left its students to fend for themselves," she said in a later email. "That kind of damage will take more than an inaccessible take-backsies. I look forward to seeing Stanford utilize their institutional, monetary and educational power to fight for basic civil liberties of its nation." Sarae Sinville, another incoming sophomore, said she found the initial letter especially concerning since it was authored by medical professionals employed by the university. "I think that's the worst part," she told SFGATE. "The people we are trusting to perform these procedures are the ones who are calling it 'controversial' and are hiding behind the fact they they're only doing it because it's in compliance with California law." Responding to a request for comment on the university's second statement, Sinville simply said, "I never got that email." On Twitter, another Stanford faculty member lecturer Rebecca Richardson contrasted the initial letter to a statement put out by Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ, who called the Supreme Court's decision a "devastating setback for American women." Christ's statement, Richardson said, is a good example of how college administrators should respond to events that affect their communities. "I found this so, so offensive this morning," she wrote in reply to Dauber's initial tweet. "A colleague sent me Berkeley's messaging which is a model example of how to commit oneself to equity and social justice in these moments. Instead of cowardly, milquetoast statements both-siding the issue." On May 1, 2013, Susan Jacobsons wallet was found in the Raleys parking lot in Roseville. I just saw business cards and stuff all over the sidewalk, and then I realized there was a purple wallet there with it, the anonymous good Samaritan said, so I bent down and first thing I saw was her drivers license. Inside, there were no cash or credit cards, just an ID for the 59-year-old woman. The good Samaritan dropped off the wallet in a nearby Starbucks inadvertently finding one of the only clues in the inexplicable disappearance of the Northern California woman. Jacobson lived at Sun City Roseville, a senior community for active older residents. According to her husband Chris Jacobson, Susan left their house around 6 a.m. with a plan to run some errands around town, including a grocery run to Raleys. Roseville police believe Chris was the last person to see her. When Susan didnt return by 7 p.m. that evening, Chris called the police to report her missing. "I was still unsure if I should bother the police with it or not, he told the Sacramento Bee. At the same time, it was very unlike her. She is a very regimented, scheduled-oriented person." Investigators agreed; Susan Jacobson didnt seem like the type to worry her family like this. In fact, her son and daughter-in-law were expecting the Jacobsons first grandchild. Google Street View In short order, police found Susans car parked at the Raleys on Pleasant Grove and Woodcreek Oaks boulevards, a two-mile drive from her home. The car was unlocked and her purse was sitting inside with no sign of disturbance. According to media reports at the time, the car was parked a fair distance from the entrance of the grocery store. Although there were surveillance cameras in the parking lot, police said they gleaned little information from them. And despite the fact that Susan had been missing less than a day, a large search was launched right away. A police spokesperson said the circumstances of her disappearance were "so suspicious that we are throwing a lot of resources at it. Two hundred people combed Mahany Park across the street from Raleys and the open space around Sun City. The only clue they ended up finding was learning someone had dropped off Susans wallet at the Starbucks on the corner. Today, there are no suspects or even solid theories as to what happened to Susan. It's possible she left of her own volition, or that she had met with foul play. In May 2021, detectives with the Roseville Police Department reopened the case. "The longer a case goes unsolved, the more challenging it becomes to find fresh evidence or new leads," Det. Dave Harlan said in 2021. Anyone with information is asked to contact Roseville police. WFO LOS ANGELES Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 27, 2022 _____ HEAT ADVISORY URGENT - WEATHER MESSAGE National Weather Service Los Angeles/Oxnard CA 555 PM PDT Sun Jun 26 2022 ...HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM PDT MONDAY... * WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 95 to 105 degrees. Low temperatures 65 to 70 degrees in the valleys, and 70 to 80 in the foothills and mountains. * WHERE...Santa Clarita Valley, Los Angeles County San Fernando Valley, Los Angeles County Mountains and Los Angeles County San Gabriel Valley. * WHEN...Until 8 PM PDT Monday. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures may cause heat illnesses to occur. 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. * WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 90 to 100 degrees. Low temperatures ranging from 70 to 80 degrees. * WHERE...Santa Barbara County Interior Mountains and Ventura County Mountains. * WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 95 to 107 expected. * WHERE...Cuyama Valley, San Luis Obispo County Mountains, San Luis Obispo County Interior Valleys and Southern Salinas Valley. * WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 88 to 103 degrees. * WHERE...Central Ventura County Valleys, Southeastern Ventura County Valleys, Lake Casitas and Ojai Valley. * WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 85 to 105 degrees. Low temperatures in the 70s across the foothills. * WHERE...Santa Ynez Mountains Western Range, Santa Ynez Mountains Eastern Range and Santa Ynez Valley. * WHAT...High temperatures ranging from 90 to 102 degrees. Low temperatures in the 70s. * WHERE...Santa Monica Mountains. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO BINGHAMTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Binghamton NY 753 PM EDT Sun Jun 26 2022 ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 815 PM EDT FOR WEST CENTRAL OTSEGO AND NORTHEASTERN CHENANGO COUNTIES... At 752 PM EDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Norwich, moving northeast at 30 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Law enforcement reported trees and wires down near Norwich. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... Norwich, Guilford, North Norwich, Oxford, Sherburne, Preston, New Berlin, Morris, Gilbertsville and South Plymouth. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. To report severe weather contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will send your report to the National Weather Service office in Binghamton. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 27, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Austin San Antonio has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Central Comal County in south central Texas... * Until 315 PM CDT. * At 213 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over Canyon Lake, or near Canyon Lake Dam, and is nearly stationary. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Canyon Lake Dam, Canyon Lake, Bulverde, Spring Branch, Smithson Valley, Fischer, Startzville and Sattler. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO AUSTIN/SAN ANTONIO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 27, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING Severe Weather Statement National Weather Service Austin/San Antonio TX 422 PM CDT Mon Jun 27 2022 ...THE SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING FOR NORTH CENTRAL GUADALUPE COUNTY IS CANCELLED... The severe thunderstorm which prompted the warning has weakened. Therefore, the warning has been cancelled. ...A SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 445 PM CDT FOR WEST CENTRAL CALDWELL...SOUTHEASTERN HAYS AND EAST CENTRAL COMAL COUNTIES... At 422 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located over San Marcos, moving northwest at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and nickel size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. Locations impacted include... San Marcos, Kyle, Wimberley, Canyon Lake, Martindale, Uhland, Niederwald, Mountain City, San Marcos Regional Airport, Reedville, Hays City, Maxwell and Redwood. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of southeastern Hidalgo County through 500 PM CDT... At 424 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Scissors, or near Progreso, moving northwest at 10 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and half inch hail. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Pharr, Weslaco, San Juan, Alamo, Donna, Mercedes, Progreso, South McAllen, Austin Middle School and South Pharr Elementary School. This includes the following highways... Interstate Highway 69 C near mile marker 1. US Highway 281 between mile markers 784 and 810. If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Torrential rainfall is also occurring with this storm and may lead to localized flooding. Do not drive your vehicle through flooded roadways. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. LAT...LON 2605 9807 2607 9808 2606 9809 2606 9813 2607 9813 2605 9815 2607 9818 2606 9820 2608 9822 2621 9827 2626 9796 2616 9789 2606 9787 2605 9797 2607 9798 2607 9803 2604 9804 2604 9808 TIME...MOT...LOC 2124Z 153DEG 9KT 2609 9804 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.50 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO DALLAS / FT. WORTH Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Fort Worth TX 751 PM CDT Sun Jun 26 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of north central Johnson and southwestern Tarrant Counties through 815 PM CDT... At 751 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm over Burleson, moving southwest at 15 mph. HAZARD...Wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. This strong thunderstorm will be near... Burleson around 755 PM CDT. Crowley around 800 PM CDT. Cross Timber around 805 PM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. LAT...LON 3251 9716 3235 9736 3257 9755 3258 9755 3267 9727 TIME...MOT...LOC 0051Z 059DEG 13KT 3256 9730 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.00 IN MAX WIND GUST...55 MPH The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southern Miller County in southwestern Arkansas... Southwestern Lafayette County in southwestern Arkansas... Eastern Cass County in northeastern Texas... * Until 845 PM CDT. * At 753 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from Queen City to 6 miles south of Garland, moving south at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and penny size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Atlanta, Queen City, Fouke, Bradley, Bivins, Canfield, Ravanna, Brightstar, Bloomburg, Domino, Pleasant Valley, Gin City, Canale, Fort Lynn and Kiblah. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO HOUSTON/GALVESTON Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Monday, June 27, 2022 _____ SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT Special Weather Statement National Weather Service Houston/Galveston TX 535 PM CDT Mon Jun 27 2022 ...A strong thunderstorm will impact portions of south central Wharton, southeastern Jackson and northwestern Matagorda Counties through 615 PM CDT... At 533 PM CDT, Doppler radar was tracking a strong thunderstorm near Markham, or 11 miles north of the South Texas Nuclear Plant, moving southwest at 25 mph. HAZARD...Winds in excess of 40 mph and pea size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Gusty winds could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. Minor damage to outdoor objects is possible. Locations impacted include... Bay City, Palacios, South Texas Nuclear Plant, La Ward, Olivia, Lolita, Blessing, Markham, Schicke Point, Vanderbilt, Lake Texana Dam and Midfield. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... If outdoors, consider seeking shelter inside a building. Frequent cloud to ground lightning is occurring with this storm. Lightning can strike 10 miles away from a thunderstorm. Seek a safe shelter inside a building or vehicle. This storm may intensify, so be certain to monitor local radio stations and available television stations for additional information and possible warnings from the National Weather Service. To report severe weather, contact your nearest law enforcement agency. They will relay your report to the National Weather Service office in League City. LAT...LON 2862 9648 2864 9646 2868 9647 2859 9643 2862 9638 2863 9637 2864 9642 2867 9641 2868 9642 2872 9641 2870 9644 2871 9651 2868 9653 2868 9654 2869 9653 2887 9673 2889 9674 2908 9609 2892 9586 2850 9635 TIME...MOT...LOC 2233Z 062DEG 38KT 2892 9617 MAX HAIL SIZE...0.25 IN MAX WIND GUST...40 MPH _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO SAN ANGELO Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in San Angelo has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Haskell County in west central Texas... Southwestern Throckmorton County in west central Texas... * Until 800 PM CDT. * At 658 PM CDT, a severe thunderstorm was located 8 miles northwest of Fort Griffin, moving west at 15 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts and quarter size hail. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Hail damage to vehicles is expected. Expect wind damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * This severe thunderstorm will be near... Stamford, Lake Stamford Marina and Paint Creek around 800 PM CDT. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather WFO SHREVEPORT Warnings, Watches and Advisories for Sunday, June 26, 2022 _____ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING The National Weather Service in Shreveport has issued a * Severe Thunderstorm Warning for... Southeastern Little River County in southwestern Arkansas... Southern Hempstead County in southwestern Arkansas... Northern Miller County in southwestern Arkansas... North central Lafayette County in southwestern Arkansas... East central Bowie County in northeastern Texas... * Until 730 PM CDT. * At 646 PM CDT, severe thunderstorms were located along a line extending from near Hope to near Fulton to near Ogden to near Red Lick, moving south at 20 mph. HAZARD...60 mph wind gusts. SOURCE...Radar indicated. IMPACT...Expect damage to roofs, siding, and trees. * Locations impacted include... Texarkana, Hope, Wake Village, Nash, Red Lick, Perrytown, Garland, Fulton, Ogden, Mandeville, Genoa, Leary, Mount Pleasant, McNab, Patmos, Oakhaven, Pleasant Hill, Hervey, Homan and Piney Grove. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building. _____ Copyright 2022 AccuWeather To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Cocaine. Stashes of cash. A down-on-his-luck Bulgarian wrestler. For days during the February trial, the lurid details captivated Swiss finance as Credit Suisse Faced charges that it had failed to prevent a drug trafficker from laundering millions. Now the verdict is in: guilty a historic judgment for the bank in the first ever criminal conviction of a major Swiss lender in the countrys history. The ruling, in which a former relationship manager at the bank was also convicted on money laundering charges, was handed down by Switzerlands top criminal court on Monday afternoon. The judgment represents the first ever criminal conviction of a major Swiss lender in the countrys history. Credit:Bloomberg The woman was given a 20-month suspended prison sentence while Credit Suisse faces a fine of 2 million Swiss francs ($3 million) and was also hit with a claim of 19 million francs, equivalent to the amount the bank allowed to be laundered. The judgment is another blow to the tarnished reputation of Credit Suisse, which had argued the crimes date to an era when compliance standards were less stringent. It has been struggling with a series of scandals that have sent its shares to near-record lows, and may face a second criminal indictment in an unrelated case later this year. Its a quip that conceals a deeper truth about his writing. His oeuvre often focused on the way human identity is bound up with relationship to place, family of origin and assigned social roles. Moorhouse is interested in what props up the boundaries of our identities, of how fluid they are, and whether it is ever possible to escape our origins. These questions find their fullest expression in the character who drives the narrative in Moorhouses League of Nations trilogy of novels, Edith Campbell Berry. Like Moorhouse, Edith hails from a provincial town on the NSW south coast and, like Moorhouse, she wants to understand how we can transcend boundaries local, national and international to further social harmony and justice. In the first book of the trilogy, Grand Days, Edith arrives in Geneva to work at the newly created League of Nations amid an atmosphere of heady idealism. The League was founded after the First World War with the grand ambition of securing global peace and making rules to civilise and unite all nations. Moorhouse was fascinated by the breadth and audacity of the Leagues remit. He won the newly established Australia Council Creative Fellowship, also known as the Keating fellowship. Moorhouse used the grant to travel to Geneva and locate himself in the League of Nations archives. He worked in the archives for many years and produced two large novels, Grand Days and Dark Palace. The third, Cold Light, is set in Canberra, where Edith returns after World War II. The research was gruelling, and he reached a particularly low point after Grand Days was rejected for consideration by the judges of the prestigious Australian Miles Franklin literary prize on the bizarre grounds that it was insufficiently Australian. The deeper irony, as Moorhouse pointed out in a speech he gave to a literary lunch, is that Grand Days is a book that interrogates the desire for borders: The crossing of borders and the meaning of borders, national and other, and identity. In 2001, he won the Miles Franklin Literary Award for Dark Palace. At the beginning of the 1970s, Moorhouse decided to leave journalism to become a full-time fiction writer. He had just turned 30. His early work, published in the 1970s, introduced a style he dubbed discontinuous narrative, meaning that he wove various characters and narratives in and out of his short stories, often across different books. Moorhouse was equally involved in activism for a wide variety of social justice initiatives along with Wendy Bacon, Sandra Levy, Liz Fell and many others he fought Australias puritanical and irrational censorship laws. They published an independent magazine titled, variously Tharunka, Thor and Thorunka, which landed them 40 prosecutions and earned Wendy Bacon a week in jail. Wendy Bacon and Frank Moorhouse with his book that mentions her, Days of Wine and Rage. Credit:Fairfax In the 1970s, the suburb of Balmain was the epicentre of creative life in Sydney. In Days of Wine and Rage, a collection of essays, poems and stories from key writers and activists edited by Moorhouse, he chronicles the zeitgeist of 70s political activism and the creative ferment. Writers who found their voice in that era included David Williamson and Peter Carey. In 1973, lawyers Peter Banki and David Catterns approached Moorhouse to ask him to participate in a lawsuit against the University of NSW on the basis that a photocopier had been used to copy a book of his in full. The case went to the High Court and Moorhouse and team won. Universities, schools and libraries now pay authors for the copying of their work through fees collected by the Copyright Council of Australia. Moorhouse was a very generous mentor to many younger writers, as his friend and author Matt Condon recalls. He was a loyal and generous friend and one of the funniest human beings I have ever known. In his final phone texts, he wrote that he no longer had an interest in Police Rounds, as he did in his younger years, but had moved onto Existential Rounds. Lunch on the go: Frank Moorhouse in 1972. Credit:Fairfax He also had a very wide circle of friends and loved to dine out with them. When his close friend the chef Tony Bilson asked Moorhouse to write the foreword to a cookbook, Moorhouse wrote: Tony Bilson has been a mentor, a tutor and a companion in my life as a restaurant diner since the days of Tonys Bon Gout in the early seventies. He goes on to note that because he rarely cooks or eats at home, he is utterly the most inappropriate person to write the foreword for a book titled Fine Family Cooking. One of the great loves of Moorhouses life, writer Fiona Giles, on whom he based a book, says of him: Despite the complicated shape of our relationship, Frank was always incredibly generous, always protective and a wonderfully intellectual adventurer. Moorhouses oeuvre is remarkable not only for his productivity but equally for his ability to write about the twists and turns of intimate relationships and gender politics. Writer and commentator Annabel Crabb founded the unofficial Edith Campbell Berry fan club. She comments on why female readers love Edith: Part of it is that among female readers theres a joy in finding a [female] character who is complicated, whos appealing, is clever, but fallible She feels like a gift to me. Frank Moorhouse at his boat house in Balmain, 1994. Credit:Fairfax Moorhouse worked closely with publisher Jane Palfreyman and later Meredith Curnow at Random House. Jane Palfreyman comments: Frank was an astonishing talent, a true original and one of our finest writers. Working with him on those momentous League of Nations novels Grand Days and Dark Palace and his quirky and intoxicating Martini: A Memoir were huge life highlights for me. Moorhouse was prolific. He wrote 18 books of fiction and non-fiction, screenplays and countless essays. He is survived by a very wide circle of friends. He leaves a hole not only in their hearts, but in the literary life of our nation. G7 meeting in Germany discusses Ukraine invasion Were sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. Were working to restore it. Please try again later. Dismiss A Sydney chiropractor has been jailed for at least five years and six months for repeatedly sexually assaulting a Japanese patient who sought treatment for her lower back and groin pain. Riaz Behi, 47, was convicted by a jury at his second trial of 13 charges including aggravated sexual touching and aggravated sexual assault of a person under his authority. Chiropractor Riaz Behi arrives at court during the trial. Credit:Edwina Pickles Judge Sarah Huggett in the NSW District Court on Monday sentenced Behi to a full term of nine years in prison. Over the course of 17 appointments in early 2019, the practitioner assaulted the then-31-year-old woman in the treatment rooms of The Back Guys practice in Sydneys CBD. Press Release June 27, 2022 Lacson Seeks to Contribute to Food Security after Senate Stint More at: https://pinglacson.net/2022/06/27/lacson-seeks-to-contribute-to-food-security-after-senate-stint/ After his Senate term ends on June 30, Sen. Panfilo "Ping" M. Lacson is hoping to start the next chapter of his life story - by contributing to food security through a new endeavor. Lacson and some friends, including former Agriculture Secretary Emmanuel "Manny" Pinol, have organized themselves to venture into an agri-aqua business. "I'm just looking at a closed chapter in my life story. I'm now turning a new page with a new chapter. This is my third career. My first career was in law enforcement, then I became a legislator," Lacson said Sunday evening. He said they are seeking to boost Philippine agriculture by planting the protein-rich sorghum while engaging in small-scale feed mills, hatcheries and fish cage farming in Mindanao and Luzon - and contribute to help make the Philippines food-sufficient while providing our local farmers with additional income outside the traditional rice planting season. Last June 19, Lacson, Pinol and their business partners spent Father's Day in Pangasinan to inspect and conduct soil analysis in the site. According to Lacson, these efforts will help protect our farmers from the effects of unnecessary importation of agricultural products while making sure Filipinos have enough to eat. In hearings of the Senate Committee of the Whole on agricultural smuggling, Lacson, along with Senate President Vicente "Tito" Sotto III, took the cudgels for farmers hit hard by the unabated importation of agricultural products. "Food shortage has become a global concern, further aggravated by Russia's invasion of Ukraine. It is timely that agri-aqua businesses be encouraged by both the public and private sectors," Lacson added. On June 30, Lacson caps over 50 years of public service that started in 1971, when he defended the Filipino people from threats to national security through his work as law enforcer in the Philippine Constabulary and the Philippine National Police - including his stint as PNP Chief from 1999 to 2001. From 2001 to 2013 and from 2016 to 2022, Lacson protected the Filipino people from corruption with his advocacy of scrutinizing the national budget and making sure anomalous entries were removed. A car has driven into a march by a climate activist group in Sydneys CBD on Monday morning. NSW Police said they were aware of the incident and had commenced inquiries. The Harbour Tunnel was earlier blocked by a member of the group Blockade Australia, while other CBD streets were obstructed during a morning of protest. The woman, 22, from Lismore, blocked the southbound entrance to the tunnel by chaining herself to the steering wheel of her parked white car just after 8am. The tunnel reopened after police arrested her. Southbound traffic on the Warringah Freeway and Gore Hill Freeway has since cleared. Brighton Secondary Colleges principal has told the Federal Court he did his best to limit a proliferation of hate symbols graffitied around his school, telling staff to remove dozens of swastikas as they were detected. Principal Richard Minack oversees a school that has been accused of failing to protect Jewish students under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child and the Racial Discrimination Act. Brighton Secondary College principal Richard Minack. Credit:Jason South Five former students brothers Joel and Matt Kaplan, Liam Arnold-Levy, Guy Cohen and Zack Snelling are suing the government-run school and the state of Victoria for negligence and allegedly failing to protect them under the convention and the act. Their lawyer, barrister Adam Butt, has told the court the school failed in its duty of care for the students and that the state has been vicariously liable for this. A man is in hospital after being shot by police during a chase in Melbournes inner north on Monday afternoon. The 64-year-old, who was wanted for questioning by police over the death of a 56-year-old man in Albanvale on Saturday morning, allegedly confronted officers with a screwdriver in Coburg North before being shot at about 4.40pm. Police officers at the scene of the shooting in Coburg North. Credit:Justin McManus Police said the Broadmeadows man was driving down Newlands Road when he saw two officers in a police car and sped off. Two other officers spotted the man on foot shortly after and took chase before he turned around brandishing a screwdriver. North West Metro Acting Commander Rick Paterson said one of the officers drew out their gun and fired multiple shots at the man, hitting him twice in the upper body. A gritty little pocket of Perth known as the Pickle District has become a burgeoning arts precinct, home to art galleries, design and photography studios, a boutique theatre and event spaces, all within a 300-metre radius. But now there are fears the district nestled between Leederville and Northbridge will be destroyed by a $25 million application to build a large-scale Bunnings store, with childcare centre and retail and hospitality tenancies in a five-storey complex. In the past two years The Pickle District has held two large-scale festivals - Pickle After Dark and Pickle Lit with plans in place for future festivals. The development would consume the block between Cleaver, Newcastle and Old Aberdeen streets to the border of gallery Linton and Kay and demolish the buildings that house existing businesses including Cleaver Street Co, STALA Contemporary, Voxlab, Old Habits, Gourmet Trader and 2 Brothers. Pickle Districts Town Team spokesman and artist Jon Denaro said the development would be devastating. A $163 million government scheme providing advice to businesses has come under fire from the Auditor-General in a damning report that found the Industry Departments approach to awarding contracts fell short of ethical requirements. The Entrepreneurs Programme, which started in 2014, offers businesses practical advice and mentorship from experts on how to achieve their goals. It was reshaped in 2019, and the department asked five of the 10 providers to help with that redesign. Federal Auditor-General Grant Hehir. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The Auditor-General cited a breach where providers involved in the redesign of the program were given information about the new tender a month before it opened, and noted a failure to be open and competitive when taking on a probity adviser to oversee the process. The program awarded seven new contracts to start from July 2020, worth a total of $144 million, which then grew to $163 million. Five of those went to providers who had already been part of the scheme, including three involved in the redesign. Australia could miss the boat in the global race to recruit aged care workers unless the federal government adjusts migration rules, as research shows the labour shortage in the sector has doubled since the depths of the coronavirus pandemic. The not-for-profit Aged Care Workforce Industry Council has been speaking to the Health and Home Affairs departments about an industry labour agreement for aged care workers from countries such as India and the Philippines. Australia needs an extra 43,000 aged care workers to meet promised new minimum staffing levels. Credit:iStock Council chief executive Louise ONeill said the pipeline for overseas migration needed to be reopened to make it easier and simpler for aged care providers to quickly access migrant workers. People are ready to go and, if we dont get in early, we might miss the boat and other countries like the United Kingdom, Canada and New Zealand will get access to these workers, she said. Three independent MPs say federal Labor is deliberately cutting their staff allocation to damage their electoral chances, while new Kooyong MP Monique Ryan has warned a second wave of independents could target Labor marginal seats in Melbourne at the 2025 election. The expanded crossbench, which has grown to 12 seats in the lower house, is seeking an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese - when he returns from Europe next week - following the decision to slash the number of parliamentary advisers from four per MP to one. Dr Monique Ryan is the freshly minted member for Kooyong. Credit:Joe Armao The new MPs will spend Tuesday and Wednesday in Canberra learning the ropes of parliament and on Thursday will be joined by the returning independent MPs and the Greens, where they will discuss their responses to staffing allocations. Crossbench MPs in the lower house and the Senate, who will still have four electorate office staff, are furious about the move which they say will hamper their ability to do their job and could lead them to vote against government legislation they havent had time to assess. The ever-increasing capacity of rooftop solar caused the ageing stations to ramp output up and down each day, increasing wear and tear and operating costs. The coal mines are economically marginal, and the fuel produces enormous greenhouse gas emissions. While the demise of coal is inevitable, today it is still the bedrock of power generation in south-west WA. Coal produced 45 per cent of the power sold in what is called the South West Interconnected System over the past 12 months. Synergys Muja and Collie power stations had a 29 per cent market share and privately owned Bluewaters, which has not announced a closure, had 16 per cent. Fyfe is clear what his major challenge is to fully replace coal in seven years: speed. If you look at the world as it is today, were not the only ones that are wanting to decarbonise, Fyfe said, citing Europes push to use less gas. Collies power stations were built to run constantly to provide baseload power. With the introduction of cleaner but variable wind and solar power, electricity grids now need power that can be dispatched when needed. Synergy chief executive David Fyfe. Credit:Synergy For Synergy that means batteries, pumped hydro and increased use of its gas power stations. Synergy wants to install an additional 810 megawatts of wind capacity, with almost half the output to power Water Corporations present and future desalination plants that reduce Perths reliance on dams and groundwater. Climate change is not only forcing a change in how power is produced, but how much is needed. Synergys first grid-scale battery under construction in Kwinana is on schedule to be operating by the end of the year and Fyfe expects to commit to another within 12 months. For the Scottish-educated engineer who worked for grid owner Western Power for a decade before joining its state-owned stablemate in 2020 to head its commercial department, placing orders early is vital. Demand is going through the roof for batteries. Synergy wants enough storage to store or supply 1110 megawatts for four hours. Pumped hydro is part of the dispatchable power solution: using surplus solar energy to pump water uphill and generating power when needed by running the water downhill through turbines. It is a big turnaround for Fyfes boss, Energy Minister Bill Johnston, who last year said a government study revealed it had many technical and engineering challenges which suggest it is not currently viable but now calls it a low-risk option. A spokeswoman for Johnston said analysis by Synergy showed a combination of renewables, battery storage and pumped hydro storage worked well. Fyfe said Synergy had been investigating wind farm options for two decades and the 810 megawatts of capacity needed will come from a mix of new facilities and expansions, with Warradarge in the Mid West and Grassmere near Albany likely options for an upgrade. Synergy has lodged a development application for its Kings Rock wind farm near the Wheatbelt town of Kondinin east of Perth. That will generate up to 125 megawatts from 30 turbines spread over 3000 hectares. Construction could start in 2023 and will take 24 months. Fyfe said Synergy has no plans to build new gas-fired generation capacity but would increase the use of what it had as part of its solution to losing output from Collie. Synergy only used its 240 megawatt combined cycle gas turbine plant in Cockburn for 27 per cent of the time in the past 12 months. Fyfe expects Synergy to confirm the exact mix of wind, batteries, pumped hydro and increased gas use this decade over the next two years. While Synergy is building, the power system will keep changing. Loading Electric vehicles will increase demand but if varying power prices during the day can encourage owners to charge them overnight and not during peak demand in the evening that could help solve the constant battle of any electricity system constantly watching generation and consumption. Fyfe expects the south-west will run on 100 per cent renewable energy at times by the end of the decade, something that has already happened in South Australia. At the same time, Synergy has to ensure its coal supplier Premier Coal continue to mine until 2029 as its volumes and revenue diminish. Overworked parents might see the feature as a genius study hack; Amazon pitched it as a way to remember lost ones. While AI cant eliminate that pain of loss, it can definitely make the memories last, Prasad said. Like most of the tech industrys inventions, the feature was announced with a breezy optimism. Prasad boasted that the grandmothers voice could be replicated with less than a minute of audio, an achievement that would have been impossible a few years ago. Loading The company describes it as exploratory research and it is unclear when, or if, the technology will make it to the public. Nor did Amazon say what restrictions it planned to place on the system. Will relatives have to give their consent for their voice to be replicated before they pass away, for example? Will Amazon demand proof that somebody has died, or will we be able to create imitations of our own voice, outsourcing bedtime reading to digital twins? Will Amazon attempt to impersonate personalities as well as simply voices, letting us have conversations with deceased relatives? We could call it a good idea for Black Mirror, had it not already been the plot of one episode, years ago. Whatever the answers to these questions, it is unlikely to change the overwhelming reaction to Amazons announcement, which was that it was downright creepy and crossed a line that society is unprepared for. But lets try to give the idea a fair hearing. We already use earlier technologies - photo albums, home videos and written letters - to remember lost loved ones that would have otherwise existed only in memories. Before they became common, would we have feared that they would make it harder to move on? Zelensky said the shopping centre presented no threat to the Russian army and had no strategic value. He accused Russia of sabotaging peoples attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry. Kiril Zhebolovsky, 24, was looking for his friend, Ruslan, 22, who worked at the Comfy electronics store and hadnt been heard from since the blast. We sent him messages, called, but nothing, he said. He left his name and phone number with the rescue workers in case his friend is found. In his nightly address, he said it appeared Russian forces had intentionally targeted the shopping centre and added, Todays Russian strike at a shopping mall in Kremenchuk is one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history. He said Russia has become the largest terrorist organisation in the world. Kremenchuk, an industrial city of 217,000 before Russias February 24 invasion of Ukraine, lies on the Dnipro River in the region of Poltava and is the site of Ukraines biggest oil refinery. Russia has increasingly used long-range bombers in the war. Ukrainian officials said Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flying over Russias western Kursk region fired the missiles, one of which hit the centre and another that struck a sports arena in Kremenchuk. Firefighters work to extinguish a fire at a shopping centre burnt after a rocket attack in Kremenchuk. Credit:Ukrainian SES/AP The strike echoed earlier attacks that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theatre where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that killed at least 59 people. Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part, Zelensky said. The United Nations called the strike deplorable, stressing that civilian infrastructure should never ever be targeted, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. G7 leaders condemned the attack in a statement saying indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account. The attack coincided with Russias all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraines Luhansk province, pouring fire on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. At least eight people were killed and more than 20 wounded in Lysychansk when Russian rockets hit an area where a crowd gathered to obtain water from a tank, Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said. The barrage was part of Russian forces intensified offensive aimed at wresting the eastern Donbas region from Ukraine. Over the weekend, the Russian military and their local separatist allies forced Ukrainian government troops out of Lysychansks neighbouring city, Sievierodonetsk. To the west of Lysychansk, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions, including one that hit a residential neighbourhood. Authorities said the number of victims had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A mans body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. Everything is now destroyed, said resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power. I cant even call to tell others what had happened to us. The Russian forces also pummelled other Ukrainian cities, killing at least five people and wounding 15 others in Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city and striking the key southern Black Sea port of Odesa where a missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, according to Ukrainian authorities said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, Haidai said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable. The citys pre-war population of around 100,000 has dwindled to fewer than 10,000. I want my son back: Father pleads with Putin Meanwhile, the father of a Moroccan man facing execution after being captured by Russia-backed separatists while fighting in Ukraine appealed on Monday to Russian President Vladimir Putin to intervene, as a father to spare his son from the firing squad. I want my son back, just like any father would, Taher Saadoun told reporters in the Moroccan capital, Rabat. Saadoun also called on Moroccos government to pursue negotiations on behalf of his 21-year-old son, Brahim, who was sentenced this month to the death penalty alongside two Britons, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner - the first foreign fighters sentenced by the Russian-backed rebels. Loading They were given a month to appeal, and could be executed as soon as early July if they dont. The proceedings were denounced by the West as a sham and a violation of the rules of war, but the sentence was supported by Russian officials. The Donetsk republics self-styled foreign minister, Nataliya Nikonorova, told Russian state TV on Monday that none of the three condemned men have filed yet for pardons. While the court claimed Saadoun was a mercenary, his father insisted that he was enlisted in Ukraines regular army and that when he was captured, he was wearing an official Ukrainian army uniform and carrying a weapon with serial numbers belonging to the Ukrainian government. Loading The father, a retired member of Moroccos Royal Gendarmerie, said he hasnt heard from anyone from the Moroccan government about his sons situation, but they ought to get in touch because I pay taxes and I am a military man who carried weapons to defend my country. The Moroccan Foreign Ministry said in a statement earlier this month that Saadoun obtained Ukrainian citizenship and enlisted in the Ukrainian army of his own free will, and is imprisoned by an entity which is recognised neither by the United Nations nor by Morocco. It has not commented on efforts for his release. Kyiv: For days, there had been talk that Vladimir Putin would attack the Ukrainian capital as revenge for the EU last week granting Ukraine candidate status. But the people of Kyiv went about their business as if that wouldnt happen. Crowds of people walk along Khreschatyk Street in Kyiv. Only months ago the street that leads to Maidan Square was all but empty. Credit:Kate Geraghty In balmy summer weather, they packed the streets, cafes, restaurants, parks and beer gardens. They shopped, they drank and ate with friends and family. In the long months since the city was under attack in March, they have been getting on with life as best they can. Maidan, the capitals central square in the heart of the city, bustled with locals. Walking up the wide avenue into the square, I followed the path that Ukraine started eight years ago. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) is calling on residents to monitor the print media for the pre-hurricane clean-up schedules of Waste Haulage Companies. Hurricane forecasters have already indicated that the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season will be a busy one. The Ministry of Public Housing, Spatial Planning, Environment, and Infrastructure (Ministry of VROMI) announced in early June about the pre-hurricane clean-up will be carried out by Waste Haulage Companies. All construction work sites should be cleared of excess debris and hazardous materials in preparation for the hurricane season. Contractors are responsible for the clean-up of their worksites. Homeowners are advised to safeguard their neighborhoods by cleaning up and removing materials from their yards that may cause damage to nearby properties. This includes trimming trees, moving bikes, lawn furniture, grills, propane tanks, building materials, etc. Please store all materials or have them fastened down in the proper manner in a safe area. The community is urged to learn more about hurricane hazards and how to prepare for a storm/hurricane strike by visiting the Government website: www.sintmaartengov.org/hurricane where you will be able to download your Hurricane Season Readiness Guide and Hurricane Tracking Chart. The storm names for the 2022 Atlantic hurricane season are: Bonnie, Colin, Danielle, Earl, Fiona, Gaston, Hermine, Ian, Julia, Karl, Lisa, Martin, Nicole, Owen, Paula, Richard, Shary, Tobias, Virginie, and Walter. Listen to the Government Radio station SXMGOV 107.9FM - for official information and news before, during, and after a hurricane. For official weather-related information, check out the website of the Meteorological Department of St. Maarten (MDS): www.meteosxm.com ODM falls under the Fire Department (Ministry of General Affairs) and is headed by Fire Chief/Disaster Coordinator Clive Richardson. Remember, it only takes one hurricane to make it a bad season. Be prepared this hurricane season! ~New agreements for improving healthcare in the Caribbean part of the Kingdom~ Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands have worked together intensively to cope as well as possible with the COVID-19 pandemic in the Caribbean. These experiences in times of crisis have made it extra clear how important good cooperation is for improving health care for residents of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The four countries have made agreements in Aruba this week to take new steps in the coming period. The agreements include improving pandemic preparedness in the Caribbean region, cooperation in crisis situations such as hurricanes, prevention policies such as combating obesity, and improved hospital cooperation, so that the quality of care can be improved and, for example, nursing staff can be trained jointly. Sint Maarten will take the lead in the following topics: Crisis and disasters, prevention and Mental Health. Representatives of the Ministries of Health of Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten, and the Netherlands and representatives from the healthcare field and the health insurers met in Aruba in the week of 20 June for the fourth four-country consultation. The countries note that there are similarities and differences in the healthcare systems and that there are more opportunities for cooperation to strengthen healthcare within the Caribbean part of the Kingdom. The following topics were discussed: implementation of the international health regulation (IHL), pandemic preparedness, cooperation in crises and disasters, legislation in mental health care, prevention, quality frameworks and accreditation of healthcare professionals and institutions, care training and education and cooperation between the hospitals in the form of the Dutch Caribbean Hospital Alliance (DCHA). More intensive collaboration Various actions were formulated during the four-country consultation and various working groups will be set up in the coming period to give substance to the agreements made. The agreements that will be further elaborated include: investing in a surveillance system for monitoring infectious diseases and non-communicable diseases, cooperating on access to medicines and medical materials in preparation for pandemics and disasters in the region, exchanging knowledge about health-promoting interventions, setting up joint quality frameworks/systems and creating a trajectory for students from the Caribbean area to progress to medical specialization in the European Netherlands or CAS-BES. In the context of the hospital's cooperation DCHA, it will be possible to work more intensively in other areas with a view to promoting efficiency, quality, and sustainability of care for the region. Topics where cooperation is continued and expanded concern joint purchasing, training and education, pandemic preparedness, and efficient organization of hospital care on the islands. This is an example of teamwork and proof that together we can accomplish a lot more. The countries were in discussions for several months to ensure that this agreement benefits the people. The agreement extends way more than just a hospital agreement. It touches the quality of care, sickness prevention, mental health, and education improvement. Said Ottley. Enthusiasm and trust Minister Oduber (Aruba), Minister Pietersz-Janga (Curacao), Minister Ottley (Sint Maarten), and State Secretary Van Ooijen (The Netherlands) look forward to the collaboration with great enthusiasm and confidence in the importance of guaranteeing and making the care for the inhabitants of the Caribbean part of the Kingdom more sustainable. The next four-country public health consultation is scheduled for May 2023. The full moon of July, also called the "Buck Moon" or "Thunder Moon," will occur July 13, at 2:37 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time (opens in new tab) (1837 GMT on July 13); The moon will also reach perigee, the closest point in its orbit to Earth, at 5:06 a.m. that day, creating a "supermoon" a full moon that appears slightly larger than normal. It is the third of four supermoons in a row, according to NASA eclipse watcher Fred Espenak. Observers in New York City will see the almost-full moon set at about 4:55 a.m. local time on July 13, according to timeanddate.com, and it will rise that evening at 9:00 p.m. A full moon occurs when the moon is on the opposite side of the Earth from the sun. Earthbound observers see the moon reflect the sun's light. Occasionally anywhere from two to five times a year the moon will pass into the Earth's shadow, creating a lunar eclipse. Related: What is today's moon? Moon phases 2022 The moon's orbit also isn't a perfect circle, so every few months the full moon coincides with perigee. Being closer, the moon appears about 10% larger than normal to the eye, though unless you are very observant you won't notice. Ordinarily, the moon is an average of 30 minutes of arc a half a degree, or approximately the width of a fingernail at arm's length. When at perigee that goes up to 33 minutes of arc. The moon will be 222,000 miles (357,280 kilometers) away, against an average of 238,900 miles (384.500 km). The local time of a full moon depends on one's time zone since a full moon is counted using the moon's position relative to the Earth's center rather than a given point on the surface. You'll want to check out a skywatching app like SkySafari or software like Starry Night to check for location-specific times. Our picks for the best stargazing apps may help you with your planning. The moon's altitude in the sky, however, depends on one's latitude, and that affects the rising and setting times. So, for example, the full moon rises in New York on July 13 at 9:00 p.m. local time and will reach an altitude of 23 degrees at 1:33 a.m. on July 14, when it crosses the meridian. In Miami it rises at 8:39 p.m., crosses the meridian at 1:59 a.m. and will be 38 degrees high, whereas in Quito, Ecuador, moonrise is at 6:36 p.m. local time, the meridian crossing is at 12:52 a.m. July 14, and the maximum altitude is 67 degrees. (opens in new tab) Orion GoScope II 70 Telescope Moon Kit: $89.99 at Amazon (opens in new tab) If you know a youngster who can't get enough of the moon, then they'll be delighted with views through the Orion GoScope II. Revealing craters and seas up close, this little telescope comes with a carry case and moon map. The difference is not only that from different latitudes one has a different point of view, it's also because the moon's orbit and the sun follow a path called the ecliptic, which is the plane of the Earth's orbit projected on the celestial sphere. If one could see that line painted on the sky, the angle it makes at sunset in the Northern Hemisphere summer months would be shallower than during the winter months (and the reverse would be true in the Southern Hemisphere). During Northern Hemisphere summers, the full moons will be lower in the sky towards the south, because the plane of the ecliptic is lower. In the Southern Hemisphere the full moons in June, July and August, which is their winter will be higher up, and towards the north. The lunar orbit is also tilted by about 5 degrees to the ecliptic. That's why we don't get a lunar eclipse every full moon and a solar eclipse every new moon. Generally, any given place on Earth will see a lunar eclipse every two to three years. When observing the full moon through binoculars or a telescope be prepared for a lot of glare the moon is so bright that through larger telescopes one might even need filters to give the surface features some contras. There is no danger to one's eyes, but details can be harder to see because there are few visible shadows in the central part of the lunar disk if an astronaut were there the sun would be directly overhead. Observing the moon a few days prior to or a few days after the full phase when there are shadows makes spotting surface features easier. Hoping to capture a good photo of the full moon? Our guide on how to photograph the moon has some helpful tips. If you're looking for a camera, here's our overview of the best cameras for astrophotography and best lenses for astrophotography. As always, our guides for the best telescopes and best binoculars can help you prepare for the next great skywatching event. Saturn conjunction and visible planets Saturn will be visible alongside the Buck Moon on July 13. (Image credit: Starry Night ) (opens in new tab) On July 15 at 4:16 p.m. Eastern Time the waning gibbous moon will be in conjunction with Saturn, according to In-The-Sky.org. and will pass about 4 degrees (eight lunar diameters) south of the planet, so for Northern Hemisphere observers, the planet will be to the left of the moon before midnight as they rise and to the right after local midnight. From New York City Saturn rises at 9:59 p.m. local time while the moon follows at 10:25 p.m. By that point the conjunction itself will have passed but the two will be close together still; both in the constellation Capricornus, the water goat. The stars of Capricornus itself will be largely overwhelmed by the moon, so Saturn will be easier to spot as a yellow-white, steady medium-bright "star." At their highest, they will be 34 degrees above the horizon, at 3:09 a.m. local time. The moment of conjunction will be visible if one is in Europe, Africa or western Asia; for example, in London, the conjunction will happen at 9:16 p.m. local time on July 15; in Cape Town, it will be at 10:16 p.m., and in New Delhi, it will be at 1:46 a.m. on July 16, and in Bangkok, the conjunction is at 3:16 a.m. local time. How easy the moon and Saturn will be to spot depends largely on latitude. From London, the pair won't get more than 23 degrees high (at 3:14 a.m. local time on July 16). In Cape Town, they will be 70 degrees above the northern horizon at 3:00 a.m. local time. Meanwhile, in New Delhi, the maximum altitude is 46 degrees at 2:31 a.m. local time. On the night of the full moon itself, four of the five naked-eye planets will form a line across the sky for observers in mid-northern latitudes. (Mercury will be lost in the solar glare at sunrise). Saturn is the first to rise, at 10:04 p.m. local time in New York City, followed by Jupiter at 11:50 p.m. Mars rises at 1:03 a.m. July 14, and Venus rises at 3:39 a.m. By about 4:30 a.m. Venus is about 8 degrees above the northeastern horizon, and looking to the right (towards the south) one will see Mars, at about 38 degrees high. Jupiter will be about 46 degrees high nearly due southeast, and Saturn will be just west of south at about 31 degrees altitude. For Southern Hemisphere sky watchers, the planets will all be higher, and the sun rises later as it is winter there. In Cape Town, for example, the sun sets on July 13 at 5:54 p.m. and does not come up until 7:49 a.m. local time on July 14. Saturn rises July 13 at 8:13 p.m. local time. Jupiter rises at 11:56 p.m., and Mars rises a 2:14 a.m. July 14. and Venus at 6:14 a.m. In this case by 7 a.m. Venus will be in the northeast, 10 degrees above the horizon. Mars will be to the left and some 44 degrees high, nearly due north, while Jupiter will be slightly west of north and 50 degrees up. Saturn will be towards the west, about 33 degrees high. On Saturday, July 24, the moon will shine between Saturn and Jupiter in the evening sky. (Image credit: Starry Night) In July, Northern Hemisphere summer constellations will be in full view all night, but the moon's brightness will wash out most fainter stars. The Summer Triangle Deneb, Altair and Vega will be approaching the zenith in the eastern sky towards midnight, and Antares, the brightest star in Scorpio, will also be reaching its highest point in the sky. Looking roughly northwest at about 10:30 p.m. the sky will be fully dark, and one of the first stars to be visible in that area is Arcturus, the brightest star in Bootes, the herdsman. If one turns a bit to the right (north) one can spot the Big Dipper, which will have its "bowl" facing to the right. The two stars on the "bottom" side of the bowl will point to Polaris, the pole star. In the other direction, one can trace an arc along the handle and "arc to Arcturus" and then keep going to hit Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, low in the southwest. Turning left (south) one will see Antares, the "heart" of Scorpio, the legendary creature that killed Orion the hunter (who appears in winter). Just above Scorpio, one will see a tall, roughly rectangular shape made by some fainter stars; this is Ophiuchus, the healer who brought Orion back from the dead after Scorpio killed him. Ophiuchus is more difficult to see from urban areas, as the stars are fainter than Antares. But if one turns to the left and upwards, one comes to Altair, the brightest star in Aquila the Eagle, and the southernmost of the three stars of the Summer Triangle. Looking north (upwards) from Altair one will come to Deneb and Vega Vega will be closer to the Zenith. How the Buck Moon got its name The July full moon also called the Full Buck Moon shines bright in the night sky. This photo was taken in Gilroy, California, by photographer Brian Filice. The full moon of July is known as the buck moon because it symbolizes the time of year when male deer, known as bucks, start to grow their new antlers. (Image credit: Brian Filice ) (opens in new tab) Native peoples in the Americas had various names for July's full moon; the names reflect that in the Northern Hemisphere it is summer. "Traditionally, the full moon in July is called the Buck Moon because a buck's antlers are in full growth mode at this time," according to the Old Farmer's Almanac (opens in new tab). "This full moon was also known as the Thunder Moon because thunderstorms are so frequent during this month." The name "Thunder Moon" was adapted from native peoples in what is now the eastern United States, where summer is thunderstorm season. However, the July full moon had other names. According to the Ontario Native Literacy Coalition, the Ojibwe call it the Raspberry Moon, while Cree called it the Feather Molting Moon, as some birds start to molt in the summer. The Maori of New Zealand use a lunar calendar called the maramataka (opens in new tab) which measured months between successive new moons. The June-to-July lunar month (which this year spans the new moons from June 21 to July 20) is called Hongongoi, or "man is now extremely cold and kindles fires before which he basks," according to the Encyclopedia of New Zealand. This lunar month was, to the Maori, the second month of the year. The Chinese lunar calendar marks July's full moon as occurring in the sixth month, Heyue, or Lotus Month, when the eponymous flowers bloom. Muslims celebrate Eid-Al-Adha starting July 9, in a festival that lasts about four days, ending near the day of the full moon. Eid-Al-Adha honors Abraham's willingness to sacrifice his son to God as outlined in both the Bible and the Qu'ran. Editor's Note: If you capture an amazing night sky photo and want to share it with Space.com for a story or gallery, please send images and comments to spacephotos@space.com. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) and on Facebook. EPISODE 107 - To Laugh, To Lie, To Flatter, To FaceAirdate: July 10, 2022Written By: Anna JordanDirected By: Udayan PrasadElizabeth, changed by her experiences, is determined to not fall into the same traps she did when last she was at Chelsea, but the return of Thomas into her life is a new test for her. While the court has been rocked by Marys defiance, the Lord Somerset is still more concerned with raising funds for the war inScotland. As rebellions spring up across the country, a secret meeting with the French Ambassador, without the knowledge of the council or the king, sees even his closest friend, the Lord Dudley, begin to doubt Somersets strategy.As the Lord Somerset starts to lose the trust of even those close to him andwith the kings growing hatred of him, Thomas sees a chance to end the rule of the brother he believes has always kept him down. And Elizabeth is key to his plan. Sporting Lisbon are ready to offer Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to return to the club this summer, according to a report. Sporting Lisbon are reportedly ready to offer Cristiano Ronaldo the chance to return to the club this summer. The 37-year-old is believed to be considering leaving Manchester United in the current transfer market due to concerns over the club's ambition. The Red Devils are said to be adamant that the forward will not be leaving, but the club would find it difficult to keep hold of him if he pushed for a departure in the coming weeks. According to The Sun, Sporting have been in touch with the Portugal international to express an interest in bringing him back to the club in the current window. "Sporting know that Ronaldo loves winning trophies. That looks a long way away at United at the moment and time is running out for Ronaldo," the newspaper quotes a source as saying. Reuters "So what better way to finish his career than move back home and play in Portugal. It's a strong league and a great lifestyle. Senior officials have made enquiries and let Ronaldo know they are interested if he wishes to leave United." Ronaldo joined Sporting at the age of 12, progressing through their youth system before making his first-team debut for the Portuguese giants in 2002. The attacker's performance for the Green and Whites against Man United in the summer of 2003 convinced the 20-time English champions to bring him to Old Trafford ahead of the 2003-04 campaign. Ronaldo went on to represent Real Madrid and Juventus before returning to Manchester last summer, and he enjoyed an impressive 2021-22 season for the club on a personal level, finding the back of the net on 24 occasions in all competitions, including 18 outings in the Premier League. The Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League, though, which saw them miss out on the Champions League for the coming campaign. Reuters Man United boss Ten Hag is believed to view Ronaldo as a key part of his plans for next season, with the Portuguese demonstrating last term that he is still capable of scoring goals in the Premier League. Chelsea and Bayern Munich are among the clubs to be credited with an interest in his services this summer, although the Red Devils have him on a deal until June 2023, with the option of a further 12 months. Ronaldo is believed to be keen for Man United to sign a new forward this summer, with Edinson Cavani's departure leaving the Red Devils short of options in the final third. Darwin Nunez had been strongly linked with a move to Old Trafford, but Liverpool ultimately signed the Uruguay international in a big-money deal from Benfica. Man United will be back in pre-season training on Monday, but Ronaldo will not join up with the squad until July due to his involvement for Portugal in the UEFA Nations League earlier this month. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate An employee of a Subway franchisee in Atlanta was shot to death on Sunday and another wounded, reportedly after a customer complained of too much mayonnaise on a sandwich then pulled a gun. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the two employees had been hired only three weeks previously at the Subway location that is inside a Circle K gas station at 74 Northside Drive in Atlanta. The property is a block south of the Mercedes-Benz Stadium home of the Atlanta Falcons. Authorities did not immediately identify the 26-year-old woman who was killed by name, pending notification of family. A 36-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the shooting after a tip, with authorities not divulging immediately the suspects name. The suspect came inside the restaurant to order a sandwich and there was something wrong with the sandwich that made him so upset that he decided to take out his anger on two of the employees here, said Charles Hampton Jr., a deputy chief in the Atlanta Police Department, during a Monday press conference outside the Subway location streamed on Facebook Live. It was something very senseless. The second victim is 24 and listed in serious condition after surgery, with her 5-year-old child in the restaurant at the time of the shooting. It just breaks my heart, to know that someone has the audacity to point a weapon, and shoot someone for as little as too much mayonnaise on a sandwich, a co-owner of the Subway location told ABCs Channel 2 affiliate. They were just model employees. There have been isolated incidents of gun violence over the years at the restaurants Subway franchises to its owner-operators, most committed as part of attempted robberies. A Subway spokesperson did not provide information immediately on Monday on whether the company trains franchisees on defusing confrontations in their restaurants that could lead to violent acts. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those attacked in what was a senseless act of violence, the Subway statement reads. At this time, our main concern is for the franchisees team members and guests who were inside the restaurant. We have reached out to the franchisees to extend our support to their team during this difficult time. The Atlanta shooting came a day after President Biden signed a new law that allows states to pass laws to seize guns from individuals deemed a threat, and which intensifies background checks for buyers below age 21. Separately last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unconstitutional by a 6-3 vote a New York law that required residents to show proper cause in carrying any concealed firearm. On Monday, Subway confirmed the planned relocation of its headquarters to Shelton from Milford, and its formal designation of a Miami office as a second headquarters location. Alex.Soule@scni.com; 203-842-2545; @casoulman A combination of bad weather and staff shortages continue to trigger delayed and canceled flights across the nation, and the impact is being felt in Connecticut as well. A handful of flights were canceled over the weekend and Monday at the states biggest airport, Bradley International Airport, but they were a small percentage of the total flights at Windsor Locks. Alisa D. Sisic, a spokesperson for Bradley, said there were three cancellations on Saturday and four each on Sunday and Monday. She said the cancellations represent about 3 percent of the more than 125 daily arrivals and departures at Bradley. Sisic did not have information about why the flights were canceled. Southwest of Bradley, Westchester County Airport had two delayed arrivals and one cancellation listed on its website early Monday afternoon. It had no delayed or canceled departures. By mid-afternoon, it had four delayed arrivals, but no canceled incoming flights, and all departures were on schedule. Delta Air Lines told CNN there are compounding factors to explain canceled flights over the weekend, including unscheduled absences, weather and air traffic control constraints. CNN reported at least 730 flights were canceled across the country Sunday night, citing the flight-tracking website FlightAware. Delta alone canceled at least 224 Sunday, CNN reported. Nearly 800 more flights were canceled Monday nationwide, according to CNN. The Associated Press reported Friday that by early afternoon, more than 600 U.S. flights had been canceled, and more then 4,200 were delayed. That was better than Thursday, however, when thunderstorms on the East Coast contributed to more than 800 cancellations and 6,600 delays, the AP said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Praise and lament for the overturning of abortion rights filled sacred spaces this weekend as clergy across the U.S. rearranged worship plans or rewrote sermons to provide their religious context -- and competing messages -- about the historic moment. Abortion is a visceral issue for deeply divided religious Americans. Some are sad or angry in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts seismic Dobbs v. Jackson decision Friday. Others are grateful and elated. At St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh, the Very Rev. Kris Stubna discarded his planned Sunday homily and focused on the decision, calling it a day of great joy and blessing. He said the overturning of the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling was the result of prayers and efforts of many Catholics and others. This law violated the very law of God, that every life is sacred, he said. A person cannot support abortion and still be a faithful member of the church. Stubnas comments would be considered divisive by some since U.S. Catholics disagree on abortion rights. Supporters include high-profile members of the faith like President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who face Communion restrictions as a result. Not everyone sat through Stubnas entire homily. Although unable to ask their reasons, an Associated Press photographer saw one woman leave during it. Security personnel estimated three others also exited early. Views on abortions are not just polarizing within denominations; the divisions span the religious landscape. SCOTUS just dealt a terrible blow to women, to girls, to all childbearing people, to freedom, said the Rev. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a multicultural Protestant congregation in Manhattan. She mourned the overturning of Roe, expressing deep emotions during a service Sunday, saying, It took safe legal abortions off the table, opening the door for states to rush in and crush reproductive justice. We are reeling. Spinning. So hurt we can hardly move. We are feeling the loss, the pain of it. A majority of adults from Buddhist, Hindu, historically Black Protestant, Jewish, mainline Protestant, Muslim and Orthodox Christian faiths support legal abortion in all or most cases, according to a Pew Research Centers Religious Landscape Study. Rabbi Sarah DePaolo carved out time at the start of Friday nights Shabbat service at Congregation Shir Ha-Maalot in Irvine, California, to express her disappointment, urging community members to support each other and create space for the fearful. One of the most upsetting things about this decision is that while it claims to represent people of faith, it does not represent our faith, DePaolo said. It does not reflect our Jewish law. It does not reflect our traditions. It does not reflect our community. Catholics are split on the issue while most evangelical Protestants, Jehovahs Witnesses and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say abortion should be illegal in all or most instances, according to the Pew Research Center study. The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, views the ruling as a moral and spiritual victory. On Sunday, he told his California congregation at New Season that now is the time for an unprecedented adoption movement. Were gonna adopt babies, but were gonna adopt moms, pregnant moms ... who have abortions because they cant afford to have a baby, he said. Southern Baptists, who are members of the nations largest Protestant denomination, are staunch supporters of anti-abortion views. On Sunday, several pastors praised the ruling from their pulpits. The congregation at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee, broke into applause when Pastor John Mark Harrison addressed it. He invited a panel of advocates to explain how everyone can continue supporting those with unwanted pregnancies via mentorship, fostering, adoption, addressing systemic issues and more. There's so much anger and emotion," Harrison said. "What we need to understand is that were not called to fuel the emotions of the right or the left. Were called to walk in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ ... and minister to real people in real times of crisis. At Central Church, in College Station, Texas, lead Pastor Phillip Bethancourt echoed that overturning Roe is not the finish line: "Its the starting gate of a new chapter. Abortion should be not just be unlawful but unnecessary and unthinkable. David Rhoades, lead pastor of Broadview Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, said in an email the court decision was on a par with the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth, and will reverberate for years. He hoped church members left Sunday's service with a clear understanding of what they must do next, including minister to both the baby and its mother, and continue to work to elect pro-life representatives. Other faith leaders doubled down on their support for abortion rights. Women should be able to make their own decisions, preached the Rev. Fletcher Harper at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Secaucus, New Jersey. Outlawing abortion is a sinful act that perpetuates male domination and the subjugation of women, he said. It extends the coercive power of the state into a place where it should have no business. During a service Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, director of music Mary Pratt read aloud a denominational statement affirming it would remain committed to reproductive justice." Pratt said members were shocked and grieving, although they expected the outcome. They were looking for reminders of why we need to get back out and fight," she said. The start of services at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Durham, North Carolina, included two verses of We Shall Overcome and a prayer by the Rev. Melinda Keenan Wood for those outraged, heartbroken and fearful about Roe's demise. We know that this decision will be measured in deaths, incarcerations and life-altering trauma as politicians rush to control the most painfully intimate of decisions, Keenan Wood said. A prominent Black pastor in Columbus, Ohio Bishop Timothy Clarke of the First Church of God tried to strike a balance in his Saturday message to congregants, acknowledging conflicting views on abortion and calling on the church to show compassion. I know and love persons in both camps, Clarke said. They are sincere, committed. ... They truly see this as a life altering issue." ___ Meyer reported from Nashville, Tennessee, and Crary from New York. AP Religion Team members Peter Smith and Jessie Wardarski in Pittsburgh; Luis Andres Henao, in Princeton, New Jersey; Mariam Fam in Winter Park, Florida; Deepa Bharath in Los Angeles; and AP writer Tom Foreman Jr. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, contributed. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. After refusing for months to release an Internal Affairs investigation report about alleged trooper misconduct, state police sent a copy of the record to Hearst Connecticut Media Group, revealing details about a trooper who attended a party where cocaine was allegedly used by others. The records say the department sustained internal charges against Canaan-based state trooper Roger Lapointe because, while off duty, he stayed at a post-wedding party at a Newington apartment in 2019 for 30 to 45 minutes after he learned other guests were allegedly in possession of cocaine. The report said Lapointe was offered drugs while at the party, but internal investigators concluded he did not consume any drugs. After the party, a photo circulated via text message among friends of the wedding party showing a man holding Lapointes tri-fold wallet and displaying his state police badge, the report said. The man and Lapointe had met just a few hours earlier and, at the party, the man allegedly offered Lapointe cocaine while holding a rolled-up dollar bill, according to the report. An accusation emerged that one or more people at the residence had sniffed cocaine off the back side of Lapointes badge, the report said. But, the report said the allegation that cocaine was sniffed off Lapointes badge could not be proven. Two key witnesses chose not to cooperate & did not provide any testimony in this investigation, the report noted. State police internal investigators said in their report Lapointe denied engaging in any illegal activities, and investigators concluded in the report Lapointe did not consume drugs while at the party. The department sustained internal charges against Lapointe for staying at a party where drugs were present and for not safeguarding his badge. The agency issued a two-day suspension, records show. Hearst Connecticut Media first requested the report in November 2021. State police, in a February 2022 response, refused to provide a copy, citing a state law that protects an officers privacy by allowing the officer to object to release of personnel records. In March, the news outlet filed a complaint with the state Freedom of Information Commission seeking to force the agency to provide the report. Hearst Connecticut Media published an article earlier this month about the departments refusal to provide the report. Meanwhile, a hearing before the FOI commission was scheduled for June 27. Last week, state police agreed to provide the report with minor redactions that omitted the identity of some who attended the Newington gathering and a minimal amount of additional detail. Cynthia Isales, the state police legal director, said the agency decided to release the report after conferring with Lapointe. Trooper Lapointe and I agreed that the record with the applied redactions no longer raised any privacy concerns, Isales said. Lapointe did not respond to an email seeking comment about the report sent to his state police email account. Hearst Connecticut Media subsequently withdrew its complaint before the FOI Commission. The after party According to the report, Lapointe, after attending a wedding reception in Simsbury, traveled to a Newington apartment for an after party. At one point, a man allegedly offered Lapointe cocaine and this person, whose name is being withheld by Hearst because he was not charged with a crime, was observed by Lapointe to be holding a "rolled up dollar bill," the report said. The report added that no illegal substances were taken out in front of [Lapointe] at that time. Lapointe told the man that he was a state trooper, according to the report. The man said he did not believe Lapointe and that Lapointe seemed to be too young to be a trooper. Lapointe said he was 30 years old and displayed his tri-fold wallet containing his badge and ID. He returned the wallet to his jacket and then placed the jacket on a living room couch, the report said. The report said a photo of the same man holding Lapointes badge later circulated via text message. Internal investigators in their report said they did not know who took the photo. The report said internal investigators learned that the man in the photo uses cocaine on a recreational basis per testimony. Investigators recommended sustaining two internal charges against Lapointe conduct unbecoming an officer and failure to protect department property from misuse and he was given a two-day suspension, records show. Tpr. Lapointe failed to remove himself from the apartment in Newington when he was aware he was in the presence of people using & in possession of narcotics, investigators wrote in the report. Instead of leaving the apartment, he stayed for approximately 30-45 minutes within the apartment with identified people known to possess illegal narcotics (cocaine), as it was offered to him & he declined. Investigators added Lapointe did not safeguard his department issued badge & keep it in his possession, [which] provided an opportunity to take possession of Lapointe's wallet & take photographs. The photo was used to create a narrative about Tpr. Lapointe & drug use associated with the CSP badge. This had a negative image on DESPP by the civilians involved in this matter. The fact that this incident was sent via text to several friends of the bridal patty portrayed [state police] in a negative light. The withheld report Through a request under the state Freedom of Information Law, Hearst Connecticut Media last year obtained a copy of a log maintained by state police that listed basic details about hundreds of internal investigations into alleged trooper misconduct. The data was a critical component of a recently published three-part series on alleged state police misconduct and punishment meted out by superiors. For that coverage, Hearst Connecticut Media sought to better understand a select number of cases listed in the log by requesting additional documentation. One such involved an allegation that Lapointe in 2019 allowed illegal narcotics to be sniffed from his CSP badge. The log showed department investigators recommended sustaining internal charges against Lapointe in connection with the case. The log noted that a photograph of an unknown person seen holding his tri-fold wallet displaying his badge was taken and circulated via text. But state police for months refused to release the report. Cynthia Isales, legal director for the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, said the denial was based on state law that protects an officers privacy by allowing him to object to release of personnel records. With respect to Lapointe, it is the agencys belief that release of that record would constitute an invasion of privacy, Isales wrote in an email. The trooper was therefore afforded the ability to object pursuant to Conn. Gen. Stat. 1-214. He did object. We will therefore not release that record. The Lapointe report was the only one state police refused to release when Hearst Connecticut Media requested several internal affairs reports. In its complaint to the FOI Commission, the news outlet said the agencys refusal to provide the report constituted a violation of the state FOI law. The legal exemption the agency cited Conn. Gen. Stat. 1-214 was overturned/nullified by the Connecticut General Assembly's passage of Public Act 20-1 in 2020, said the complaint from Hearst Connecticut Media, referring to the Police Accountability Act. Since then, the collective bargaining organization/union that represents State Police troopers has unsuccessfully challenged this law change in court, the complaint added. The union's challenges in court have thus far been denied, including an injunction it sought to bar the release of information pending the resolution in court. Therefore, the agency currently has no legal grounds to withhold these records and must produce them immediately, the news outlets complaint said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) Reproductive health providers on Monday asked a Florida judge to block a new 15 week abortion ban from taking effect this week, arguing that the state constitution guarantees access to the procedure. Planned Parenthood and other health centers are seeking a temporary emergency injunction to stop the law approved this year by Floridas GOP-controlled legislature and Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. It is set to go into effect Friday. Leon Circuit Judge John C. Cooper began hearing arguments in the case days after the U.S. Supreme Court ended federal protections for abortion by overturning the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. Floridas law would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks, with exceptions if the procedure is necessary to save a mothers life, prevent serious injury or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality. It does not allow for exemptions in cases where pregnancies were caused by rape, incest or human trafficking. Violators could face up to five years in prison. Physicians or other medical professionals could lose their licenses and face administrative fines of $10,000 for each violation. Under current law, Florida allows abortions up to 24 weeks. The legal challenge hinges on a 1980 amendment to the state constitution guaranteeing a broad right to privacy, which has previously been interpreted by the state Supreme Court to include abortion. Florida voters reaffirmed the right to privacy in 2012 by rejecting a ballot initiative that would have weakened its protections, plaintiffs said. Despite Floridas history of protecting the right to abortion, the Florida legislature recently engaged in a brazen attempt to override the will of the Florida people, the abortion providers said. During Mondays hearing, Dr. Shelly Tien, a gynecologist for Planned Parenthood in Florida, testified that the law would impact poor women the most. I have found that women and girls who need abortions after 15 weeks are those that tend to have the most challenging and compelling life circumstances. They are women who are struggling economically, that may be in poverty or near poverty, Tien said. In court filings, the state said abortion providers dont have standing to make a claim of a personal right to privacy since they are acting as third parties on behalf of their patients. Attorneys for the state also maintain that the states constitutional right to privacy doesnt include abortion, saying the state has an interest in safeguarding health and protecting potential life. Doctors are not irreparably harmed simply because they cannot perform a procedure prohibited by state law, attorneys for the state of Florida said. Witnesses called by the state on Monday focused much of their testimony on the potential for fetal pain and the dangers of getting an abortion late in pregnancy. A limitation would encourage women to seek earlier abortions, which would be safer for them, said Dr. Ingrid Skop, an obstetrician-gynecologist and senior fellow at Charlotte Lozier Institute, an anti-abortion research group. Data show an overwhelming majority of abortions in Florida occur before the 15-week cutoff. A federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report said about 2% of the nearly 72,000 abortions reported in Florida in 2019 were performed after 15 weeks. Cooper is expected to issue a ruling in the Florida case Thursday. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Katharine Calderwood / Contributed photo Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Tyler Sizemore / Hearst Connecticut Media Show More Show Less 3 of 3 DARIEN The Mather Homestead will offer free access to children and their caregivers this summer, thanks to a statewide grant. Through the Connecticut Summer at the Museum grant program, the Darien museum received $2,640 in funding to provide free tours of the property and expanded museum hours. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Jeff Reinitz/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Jeff Reinitz/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GRUNDY CENTER, Iowa (AP) An Iowa man was sentenced Monday to life in prison without the possibility of parole for fatally shooting an Iowa State Patrol trooper last year during a standoff and shootout with police. The mandatory sentence was handed down a little more than a month after a jury found Michael Lang, 42, guilty of first-degree murder, attempted murder and assaulting a police officer for his actions on April 9, 2021, that killed 51-year-old patrol Sgt. Jim Smith in Grundy Center. The city of nearly 3,000 people is about 60 miles (97 kilometers) northeast of Des Moines. ABIQUIU, N.M. (AP) In 1940s America, for a woman to go camping in the wilderness was virtually unheard of. Enter Georgia OKeeffe. Determined to move as close to the New Mexico landscape as humanly possible, OKeeffe went camping in Glen Canyon, Plaza Blanca and what she termed The Black Place located 150 miles northwest of her Abiquiu home. The Georgia OKeeffe Welcome Center in Abiquiu is hosting its first exhibit, OKeeffe in the Landscape, on display through April 2, 2023. The exhibition showcases Marie Chabots photographs of the artist mid-camping, her clothing, hiking boots and equipment, the Albuquerque Journal reported. OKeeffe had learned to drive in Taos and bought a 1928 Ford Model T so that she could go car camping in remote locations. At the time, she didnt need a drivers license. She would set up her tent outside, curator of historic properties Giustina Renzoni said. She had the passengers seat removed so she could put a table with all her paints and her brushes. She essentially carried a moving studio. The artist traveled to evoke the essence of these spectacular views in her work. Conscious of her safety, OKeeffe never traveled alone, often taking her friend Maria Chabot, who photographed her on various trips. Chabot had worked for salon maven Mabel Dodge Luhan in Taos. She was the general contractor for OKeeffes Abiquiu home. OKeeffe also camped with such celebrated photographers as Ansel Adams, Eliot Porter and Todd Webb. It was a very creative atmosphere, Renzoni said. The artist learned about these unusual sites by talking to local people. She had learned about Ghost Ranch, where she first bought a house in 1940, from acquaintances when she stayed at Luhans home. She knew she had to see it herself, Renzoni said. She also hired local guides. What she was doing was very unusual at the time, especially for a woman, she added. By the early 1900s, camping had grown into a leisure activity in a reaction against urbanization, Renzoni said. OKeeffe first went camping to Yosemite National Park with Adams in 1938. Telling herself this was a vacation, she took no canvases, paint or brushes. She regretted that decision. Of course, as soon as she got there she ended up borrowing supplies from people and using the charcoal from the fire, Renzoni said. In New Mexico, she collected rocks and bones as she moved through the ragged country. Its an object of nature, Renzoni said of the rocks. She liked to hold them and feel the whole rock. The bones became part of her image repertoire. For her, it was representative of desert life and natural images and colors, Renzoni added. OKeeffe went river rafting for the first time at age 74, invited by Webb. They headed up to Utahs Glen Canyon. OKeeffe wrote to her sister about the trip. After an entire day of rafting, the group camped near the river and settled down, only to be awakened by a torrential downpour. She loved it; even the rain, Renzoni said. She thought it was a wonderful experience. The exhibition also includes a camping dress, complete with large pockets to collect rocks. Established in 2018, the Georgia OKeeffe Welcome Center is located one mile from the artists Abiquiu home. Visitors can take a shuttle to see her home and studio. STAMFORD All but two Stamford elementary schools do not have security workers, but officials are hoping to change that soon. A resolution before the Stamford Board of Education seeks to add 14 new security officers, to be stationed at nine elementary schools, both K-8 schools, and the districts early childhood education program Apples. The two K-8 schools Rogers International and Strawberry Hill would get two workers each. Both Westover Magnet and Hart Magnet elementary schools already have security. The total price tag for adding the 14 positions is $784,000. The resolution is set to be discussed at the boards regular meeting Tuesday night. At a recent meeting of the Board of Representatives Public Safety & Health Committee, the schools security director said elementary schools were identified as an area in need of more security, even before the elementary school shooting in Uvalde, Texas that left 19 children and two teachers dead. The elementary schools are our most vulnerable population within the school district, said Joseph Kennedy, the safety, compliance and employee relations manager for Stamford Public Schools. Two of the schools slated to get security help experienced lockdowns within the last month when both Davenport Ridge Elementary and Rogers went into lockdown mode due to trespassers on their respective campuses. Rep. Jeff Stella, D-9, the chairman of the subcommittee and an ex-New York City police officer, said he was in favor of the resolution to add security workers to Stamford schools. We have to do what we have to do to ensure that our kids are safe, he said. The district already has multiple security workers elsewhere: 14 divided between the middle schools, the Academy of Information Technology & Engineering high school and the Anchor program, and 22 between Stamford High School and Westhill High School. Additionally, the high schools have school resource officers, or SROs, which are Stamford Police Department officers who police student behavior inside those schools. Kennedy said his preference would be adding more SROs to Stamford schools, but that has been a nonstarter, due to budgetary restrictions with the police department, he said. If I cant have SROs, I have to do the next best thing, he said, during the BOR committee meeting. When asked why elementary schools have not had security, Kennedy again said the issue has been budgetary, as the district has struggled to find funds for such help. At the meeting, Kennedy said he hopes to have new security workers in place for the fall, but that depends on getting qualified applicants. He said hiring substitute security officers this last school year was a struggle. We would definitely want this in as early as the school year starts but I would not guarantee it, Kennedy said. That is the goal, to get security in these buildings as soon as possible. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com Blog Archive Apr 2010 (22) May 2010 (25) Jun 2010 (8) Jul 2010 (12) Aug 2010 (18) Sep 2010 (19) Oct 2010 (29) Nov 2010 (30) Dec 2010 (18) Jan 2011 (13) Feb 2011 (21) Mar 2011 (23) Apr 2011 (19) May 2011 (31) Jun 2011 (36) Jul 2011 (46) Aug 2011 (26) Sep 2011 (12) Oct 2011 (15) Nov 2011 (17) Dec 2011 (7) Jan 2012 (18) Feb 2012 (4) Mar 2012 (12) Apr 2012 (18) May 2012 (10) Jun 2012 (21) Jul 2012 (8) Aug 2012 (15) Sep 2012 (7) Oct 2012 (17) Nov 2012 (20) Dec 2012 (10) Jan 2013 (58) Feb 2013 (59) Mar 2013 (60) Apr 2013 (98) May 2013 (135) Jun 2013 (204) Jul 2013 (293) Aug 2013 (351) Sep 2013 (363) Oct 2013 (348) Nov 2013 (374) Dec 2013 (442) Jan 2014 (547) Feb 2014 (476) Mar 2014 (526) Apr 2014 (527) May 2014 (471) Jun 2014 (408) Jul 2014 (472) Aug 2014 (522) Sep 2014 (443) Oct 2014 (472) Nov 2014 (497) Dec 2014 (536) Jan 2015 (539) Feb 2015 (520) Mar 2015 (582) Apr 2015 (658) May 2015 (679) Jun 2015 (673) Jul 2015 (728) Aug 2015 (803) Sep 2015 (923) Oct 2015 (924) Nov 2015 (802) Dec 2015 (791) Jan 2016 (782) Feb 2016 (835) Mar 2016 (929) Apr 2016 (866) May 2016 (947) Jun 2016 (1044) Jul 2016 (882) Aug 2016 (1035) Sep 2016 (967) Oct 2016 (918) Nov 2016 (854) Dec 2016 (885) Jan 2017 (879) Feb 2017 (777) Mar 2017 (896) Apr 2017 (872) May 2017 (850) Jun 2017 (851) Jul 2017 (971) Aug 2017 (1040) Sep 2017 (998) Oct 2017 (1144) Nov 2017 (1046) Dec 2017 (838) Jan 2018 (873) Feb 2018 (769) Mar 2018 (885) Apr 2018 (808) May 2018 (827) Jun 2018 (820) Jul 2018 (840) Aug 2018 (854) Sep 2018 (844) Oct 2018 (851) Nov 2018 (870) Dec 2018 (912) Jan 2019 (919) Feb 2019 (827) Mar 2019 (957) Apr 2019 (913) May 2019 (1007) Jun 2019 (935) Jul 2019 (949) Aug 2019 (936) Sep 2019 (910) Oct 2019 (920) Nov 2019 (874) Dec 2019 (908) Jan 2020 (941) Feb 2020 (849) Mar 2020 (898) Apr 2020 (848) May 2020 (822) Jun 2020 (789) Jul 2020 (819) Aug 2020 (858) Sep 2020 (841) Oct 2020 (873) Nov 2020 (812) Dec 2020 (780) Jan 2021 (765) Feb 2021 (716) Mar 2021 (819) Apr 2021 (805) May 2021 (815) Jun 2021 (824) Jul 2021 (830) Aug 2021 (832) Sep 2021 (791) Oct 2021 (754) Nov 2021 (683) Dec 2021 (693) Jan 2022 (694) Feb 2022 (654) Mar 2022 (740) Apr 2022 (745) May 2022 (748) Jun 2022 (701) Jul 2022 (68) Romania's Nuclearelectrica is hailing the announcement made by US President Biden on the release of the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) at the G7 Leaders' Summit in Schloss Elmau that the US is committing 14 million US dollars toward a Front-End Engineering and Design (FEED) study to provide the basis for the deployment of a small modular reactor (SMR) power plant in Romania. "NuScale's small modular reactor technology, the first and only SMR technology to receive the approval of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC), can support Romania's decarbonisation objectives, simultaneously supporting energy independence and Romania's prosperity. Under the partnership with the United States, by choosing a technology that is already approved and validated by a regulatory agency with long term expertise, Romania also makes sure that its projects in the field of nuclear energy meet the highest standards of nuclear safety. Moreover, with over 25 years of experience in operating at the highest standards two nuclear units, Nuclearelectrica is proud to contribute its expertise to the development of the first small modular reactors in Europe and to be an example to other countries interested in developing their civil nuclear programmes," says Cosmin Ghita, CEO of Nuclearelectrica.In developing this study, Nuclearelectrica and NuScale will collaborate with USTDA to initiate a package of studies and engineering and design activities, as well as technical analyses of the potential site at Doicesti, which will provide Romania with essential data for the development of the first small modular reactor plant on its soil. The information is essential for cost estimation, rigorous planning of activities and project definition in relation to applicable national and international licencing and regulatory requirements. Also at this stage, potential service providers will be identified for the production of components and their assembly in Romania.Therefore, through Nuclearelectrica, Romania takes the first steps in implementing, during this decade, the first 6-module 462 Mwe installed capacity NuScale power plant in Europe. It is estimated that the NuScale energy plant will generate 193 permanent jobs, 1,500 jobs in construction, 2,300 jobs in production and will help Romania avoid the generation of 4 million tonnes of CO2 per year."Like in the case of the Cernavoda nuclear-power plant, the first small modular reactors power plant will generate in the area where it is built clean energy and strong economic growth for the local community by creating thousands of jobs, investment in infrastructure, growth of the chain of local suppliers, tax revenues to the local budget, and it will also contribute to forming a new generation of specialists through investment in high-quality education," according to Ghita. AGERPRES The Judiciary Committee of the Chamber of Deputies on Monday cast an 18 to 3 vote for stripping lawmaker Adrian Chesnoiu of the Social Democratic Party (PSD), a former minister of agriculture, of parliamentary immunity, according to parliamentary sources. Chesnoiu participated in the meeting, which took place without media access. On June 23, the attorney general sent to the Chamber of Deputies a report by the National Anti-Corruption Authority (DNA) requesting the criminal investigation of Adrian Chesnoiu, then agriculture minister. According to the DNA report, the notification considers the investigation of the crimes of instigation allowing access of unauthorised persons to information that is not intended for the public, in order to obtain undue benefits for another, and abuse of office when a civil servant gets undue benefits for self or another. Subsequently, Chesnoiu announced that he was stepping down as the agriculture minister and suspending himself from PSD. He also called on MEPs to vote for him being stripped of parliamentary immunity. AGERPRES The pass rate at the first session of the national Baccalaureate exam for current 12th graders and graduates from previous years is 73.3 percent, a 10-year best, Education Minister Sorin Cimpeanu told a press conference on Monday. "I would like to start by congratulating all the 89,000 successful candidates in this session of the Baccalaureate exam, before the filing of score appeals. Last year we had 86,000 successful candidates, by almost 3,000 fewer. More precisely 2,928, although last year there were by 7,211 more exam takers registered. The pass rate is 73.3 percent for the class of 2022 and high school graduates from previous years. It's the highest pass rate since 2013, pre-appeal, a 10-year high," Cimpeanu said.The Education Minister mentioned that the Baccalaureate exam pass rate is 78.3 for class of 2022 graduates and 32.1 percent for candidates from previous years.According to the Minister, digital evaluation went very well in Calarasi County, with the results of a satisfaction questionnaire "overwhelmingly" speaking in favor of the digital assessment, as paper correcting teachers enthusiastically support this trend as well."Next year we want to be able to expand the digital evaluation nationwide," Cimpeanu said.On a critical note, he added that it is not normal for high schools to have a mixed study stream and said that every such institution should take on a clearly defined path."At the Pedagogical High School we also have public catering classes. Which, I say this with all responsibility, is not normal. Each high school must assume its path. They must develop their human resources, infrastructure and put in efforts to deliver along a certain study stream. These so called 'mosaic' high schools will undergo a detailed analysis, as the pass rates there are low and very low," the Minister added.Cimpeanu said that the schools that obtained results "well below average" will come under scrutiny starting with Monday."There were schools with not even one successful candidate at the Baccalaureate exam and in a few days we will also have the report on the reasons for not signing up for this exam. (...) We will look with particular care at those schools with failed Baccalaureate candidates. (...) I refuse to believe that we have colleagues so cynical that they do not allow access to the Baccalaureate exam in order to prevent the situation where none of those enrolled passes. I refuse to believe it, but we will carefully examine the situation," said the Education Minister.Cimpeanu mentioned that the Baccalaureate exam could be changed at the earliest starting with 2027, after the bill that implements the conclusions of the "Educated Romania" project is adopted. AGERPRES Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu on Monday said it was important for the commercial exchanges between Romania and Serbia to be stimulated, showing that he had agreed with his Serbian counterpart Nikola Selakovic to organise in 2022 a new session of the joint economic committee, as well as a business forum. "Among the priority cooperation areas that we have talked about today there was also the cooperation in the economy area, the Republic of Serbia is an important commercial partner of Romania in the region. Last year we registered commercial exchanges worth almost 2 billion euro, which this year, according to the available data, are increasing. It is very important to stimulate this effort even more, this process, and that is why we have agreed today to organise this year, as soon as possible, a new session of the joint economic committee between our countries, as well as a business forum to stimulate the connections between our business communities and the development of our economic cooperation in general," said Aurescu after the meeting with his Serbian counterpart.The Serbian Minister added that export to Romania stands at almost one billion euros."This year we have a 7.5 percent increase. We have banned at some point the cereal export to Romania, however we are positive we shall increase this type of exchanges. There is room for enriching these relations," Nikola Selakovic said.The discussions between the two officials were also aimed at the sectoral cooperation, a context in which Minister Aurescu hailed the signing by the relevant ministers of the agreement on establishing the motorway connection between Timisoara and Oravita and the high speed road between Belgrade and Vatin."Also in the transport area we have talked today about the importance of resuming the circulation of international trains between the two countries, I mean the passenger trains, for which a solution must be found at the shortest time," the Romanian foreign minister said.The two ministers also talked about the cooperation in the energy area."I have underscored the need and importance Romania grants to creating he Arad-Mokrin gas interconnector, and the electricity interconnections between the two countries," Aurescu said.The discussions also tackled the prospects of resuming the Interreg-IPA transborder cooperation programme between Romania and Serbia with the employment of the corresponding European funds worth approximately 88 million euro. The Romanian minister pointed out that this programme has been completed for the 2021-2027 scheduling period and will be launched in September if all requirements are met.Minister Aurescu reiterated Romania's full support for Serbia's European course and the availability to grant technical or other kind of support, if needed."We have discussed the importance this European course of Serbia has, which, in Romania's point of view, must be completed as soon as possible with the accession as a full fledged member in the EU," he said.The Serbian Minister thanked for Romania's support for his country's European course."I particularly want to voice my gratitude to Romania which has been supporting the territorial integrity of the Republic of Serbia and the observance of the rights of the Serbians in Kosovo," Nikola Selakovic said.Furthermore, the two officials discussed the effects of the war in Ukraine, aspects related to the stability of the Western Balkans as well as other topics. AGERPRES President Klaus Iohannis met on Monday at the Cotroceni Palace with the Vice President of the European Commission for Values and Transparency, Vera Jourova, in which context he reiterated Romania's goal of concluding the Cooperation and Verification Mechanism (CVM) as soon as possible, based on the positive developments registered by Romania. He also pointed out Romania's objective that monitoring should continue exclusively through the European Union's rule of law mechanism, applicable to all member states, according to the Presidential Administration. The quoted source shows that, during the discussions, Iohannis conveyed his appreciation for the openness of the EC Vice President to a constructive dialogue with the Romanian authorities, as well as for the very good cooperation in the areas related to the portfolio managed by the European official. "On this occasion, the President of Romania reiterated the deep pro-European attachment of our country and the active involvement in the process of deepening the European Union, based on common values and principles, emphasising the political commitment to strengthen the rule of law, justice reforms and the fight against corruption. Evoking the positive developments already recorded, President Klaus Iohannis expressed confidence that Romania's efforts and results in the field of justice reform and the fight against corruption will be positively reflected in the report on the European rule of law mechanism for 2022," informs the Presidential Administration. President Klaus Iohannis referred to the recent decisions of the European Council to grant the status of candidate to Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova and the European perspective for Georgia, stressing the need for appropriate support and guidance from the European Commission for these states in order to complete the next steps. The head of state also referred to the security situation in the region, amid the Russian aggression against Ukraine, presenting Romania's support measures for both Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees. AGERPRES As many as 3,974 new cases of people infected with SARS-CoV-2 were registered in the week from 20 to 26 June in Romania, on 70,522 RT-PCR and rapid antigenic tests performed, the Health Ministry informed on Monday. Of the new cases, 574 are in re-infected patients who tested positive more than 180 days after the first infection.Since the beginning of the pandemic, a total of 2,919,461 cases of infection with the novel coronavirus have been registered in Romania.- Hospitalisations -There are 638 people infected with SARS-CoV-2 in hospitals across the country, of whom 78 are children.58 patients are hospitalised in ICUs, of whom one child. Of the total number of ICU patients, 41 are unvaccinated.- Deaths -According to the Health Ministry, 13 deaths were reported in the above-mentioned period in patients infected with the novel coronavirus - 7 men and 6 women. The age of the deceased ranges from 40 to over 80. All of the 13 deaths were in patients with underlying conditions.Since the beginning of the pandemic, 65,739 people diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection have died in Romania.AGERPRES On Monday, President Klaus Iohannis signed a decree appointing Deputy Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu as interim minister of agriculture and rural development. He also signed a decree noting the resignation of Adrian Chesnoiu as minister of agriculture.On Friday, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca submitted to President Klaus Iohannis a proposal to nominate Deputy Prime Minister Sorin Grindeanu as interim minister of agriculture and rural development, after Chesnoiu resigned.On Thursday, the National Anti-Corruption Directorate (DNA) asked the Chamber of Deputies to strip of immunity a member of the Romanian Parliament so that he may be subjected to criminal investigation for abuse of office at the time of commission and currently holding the position of minister. Judicial sources told AGERPRES that the member in question would be Chesnoiu.Subsequently, Chesnoiu, announced that he was retiring from office and suspending himself from the Social Democratic Party (PSD). AGERPRES WASHINGTON (AP) The Supreme Court on Monday ruled for doctors who face criminal charges for overprescribing powerful pain medication in a case arising from the opioid addiction crisis. Justice Stephen Breyer wrote for the court that prosecutors must prove that doctors knew they were illegally prescribing powerful pain drugs in violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. The ruling came as the U.S. has been seeing record numbers of drug overdose deaths, many from the highly lethal opioid fentanyl. Evaluating the convictions of two doctors who are each facing more than two decades in prison, the justices ruled on a subject on which advocates for patients and doctors had urged the court to distinguish between criminal behavior and medical errors made in good faith. It did so in the ruling. Prosecutors, Breyer wrote, must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant knowingly or intentionally acted in an unauthorized manner. The justices ruled unanimously for the doctors, though only six endorsed Breyers standard for conviction. Fear of aggressive prosecution already has led doctors to avoid prescribing opioids against their best medical judgment, the National Pain Advocacy Center told the court in a written filing. But the justices did not throw out the convictions of two doctors whose appeal was heard in February. Instead, it ordered federal appeals courts to take a new look at their cases. The court ruled on appeals from Xiulu Ruan of Mobile, Alabama, and Shakeel Kahn, who practiced medicine in Ft. Mohave, Arizona, and Casper, Wyoming. Ruan is serving a 21-year federal prison term. Kahn is in prison for up to 25 years. They will get another chance to argue that their convictions should be overturned. Ruan and a partner, James Couch, were convicted of overprescribing medications at their Physicians Pain Specialists of Alabama clinic and a pharmacy. The two doctors enriched themselves through a long-running scheme of unlawfully issuing prescriptions for addictive and potent controlled substances, in response to their own financial incentives rather than the legitimate medical needs of their patients, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar, the Biden administration's top Supreme Court lawyer, told the court in a written filing. They grossed $20 million between 2012 and a raid in 2015, prosecutors said. In 2014, they wrote 66,892 prescriptions, prosecutors said. Kahn was convicted of conspiracy to unlawfully distribute and dispense controlled substances resulting in death, including oxycodone, an opioid pain reliever, and fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. Kahn "routinely performed only a perfunctory examination or no examination at all before prescribing controlled substances for a patient, the Justice Department said in a Supreme Court brief. Jessica Burch, of Lake Havasu City, Arizona, was a patient of Kahns who died from an overdose in 2015. Kahn wrote nearly 15,000 prescriptions for controlled substances over six years, totaling nearly 2.2 million pills, prosecutors said. Nearly half were oxycodone, they said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ST. LOUIS For the second time in about four months, Ameren has announced plans to acquire a new facility that would become its largest-ever solar farm another project that will far exceed the scale of the utilitys relatively modest solar installations in service to date. The growing list of progressively larger solar projects comes as the St. Louis-based electric utility aims to ramp up renewable power generation, with plans to ultimately invest billions in clean energy over the next couple of decades. Ameren said Monday that the newly planned Huck Finn Solar Project, with a capacity of 200 megawatts, will be 25 times larger than any existing solar facility in Missouri. It will be capable of powering approximately 40,000 homes and could be operational by 2024. The project will be built on the border of Audrain and Ralls counties, roughly a two-hour drive northwest of St. Louis. Ameren said the location was chosen for a variety of reasons, including its convenient access to transmission lines. Ameren chose developer EDF Renewables, a French-owned company, to build the farm. It is a step-change for solar generation in Missouri, Ameren said in a release. Its scale is more similar, however, to a separate, 150-megawatt facility planned in Southern Illinois that the company unveiled in February the largest for the utility, up to that point. Both projects are set to be far bigger than any solar installations already on Amerens books. That includes the six-megawatt Montgomery County facility that the company started operating in April, to provide blocks of renewable energy offsets to about 2,000 customers enrolled in its Community Solar Program. Moving forward, Amerens targeted solar installations may increase in size a bit more, but the Huck Finn project falls in a sweet spot that will likely resemble those yet to come, said Ajay Arora, the utilitys chief renewable development officer. For instance, Ameren aims to keep acquiring solar projects of similar sizes throughout the medium-term future with plans to add 400 megawatts of solar capacity annually through 2026, perhaps divided across two or three different installations per year. We continue to look at projects of this size and larger, said Arora. This project is in the sweet spot. ... It just depends on the site, itself, and project economics. Ameren has recently had some renewable energy projects delayed by supply chain issues. But Arora said he expects that those challenges will have sorted themselves out by the time the company needs to get solar panels for this particular project a step that likely wont occur until next year. Mondays announcement comes amid an eventful period for the utilitys power generation plans. Last week, Ameren updated a long-term plan that reinforced its prior commitments to swapping coal for renewables but also established a new aim to build a natural gas-fired power plant within the next decade. Its part of our broader, announced transition, said Arora, describing how the Huck Finn project fits into the picture. Our coal-fired generation is reaching end of life, and they have to retire. The company says that it is dedicated to maintaining electric reliability and affordability throughout its gradual expansion of renewable power. Any new projects will ultimately require regulatory approval, before costs associated with them can be added into customer rates. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CREVE COEUR A new company here aims to use the natural fungus-fighting power of plants to save farmers billions of dollars per year. Peptyde Bio, which announced its launch on Friday, is combining natural fungicides and artificial intelligence to fight fungal disease in plants. The company is tapping in to antimicrobial peptides, naturally developed by plants to defend against diseases, as a weapon against crop-attacking fungi. Expensive and toxic chemical fungicides are becoming ineffective because the organisms are evolving resistance to chemicals, said Peptydes interim CEO, Tom Laurita. The world food system is much more fragile than we Americans imagine because we just go to the store and get food, Laurita said. So there are some really important challenges ahead for agriculture and our ability to feed ourselves. Scientists estimated in a 2012 study published in the academic journal Nature that eliminating fungal disease in the worlds top five crops could feed 600 million more people each year. And the problem is getting worse as the world warms, research has shown. The germination of Peptyde started two years ago. That year, two scientists at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center were part of a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study focused on plant peptides, chains of molecules called amino acids vital to a cells functions. Some peptides, they showed, could break into the cells of fungi and attack the part of the cell that allows the fungi to thrive. When that article came out it garnered quite a bit of attention from industry and other researchers, because it was sort of a cutting edge view on understanding this mechanism, Laurita said. Laurita, who is also the CEO of the Danforth Technology Company, a subsidiary of the plant science center that helps scientists move their technology to market, said it was clear the technology was a good candidate for a startup. Earlier this month, Peptyde won a Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator grant, which will provide the company up to $250,000 to advance its work. And that sealed the deal. Two of the authors of the National Academy of Sciences study, Kirk Czymmek and Dilip Shah, are Peptydes chief science officer and chief technology officer. Peptyde is now working to discover and test new antifungal peptides inside plant DNA that has already been sequenced, Shah said. The company will model the three dimensional shape of the peptides using computer programs, which will allow them to study parts that make specific peptides more effective. The research will also make sure there arent any components that make the peptides toxic to plants or animals. Once we have those structures, then we can make some really rational decisions regarding which specific amino acids to change in the sequence of this particular peptide, Shah said. So that we can increase the antifungal activity of the peptide, perhaps make it less toxic or even make it more stable. The company will use the data it gathers from testing the peptides in the lab and greenhouses at the Danforth Center to build the artificial intelligence program, which will be used to design the most effective amino acid chains. Its difficult for fungi to evolve resistance to the antifungal peptides because they target multiple molecules essential to the survival of a fungus, Shah said, whereas chemical fungicides target a single molecule. Shah said the company hopes to test about 100 new peptides by the end of the year, and that part of its work will be developing techniques for testing larger numbers more quickly. Eventually, Laurita said, Peptyde plans to partner with companies that can produce peptides on a large scale. The peptides would likely be used in rotations with chemical fungicides initially, he said. Investment from the Danforth Technology Company and BioGenerator Ventures, plus the Innovation Incubator grant, provided the money needed to launch the company, Laurita said. More dollars from other St. Louis investors are expected to join the first round of funding. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS How much history can an office tower built in 1986 have? The new owner of the former AT&T building in downtown St. Louis a deserted skyscraper of glass and steel wants it to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places. That designation could net the owner enough subsidies to help secure the buildings future. New York-based SomeraRoad Inc., which bought the 44-story building for $4.1 million in April, is arguing the tower is worth such a nomination, thanks to its post-modern design and globally renowned architect, St. Louis firm HOK. Being in the National Register could allow SomeraRoad to receive state and federal historic tax credits that would help pay for its redevelopment. The National Register of Historic Places is the countrys official list of buildings and sites the National Park Service says is worthy of preservation and protection. There are thousands in the register, from a dam and water-storage reservoir in California to the Wall Street Historic District in New York City. The designation is somewhat symbolic and doesnt mean a property cant be demolished or altered, unless local law dictates otherwise. But the register can be a windfall for developers: Tax credits can rise into the tens of millions of dollars for big projects. The St. Louis Preservation Board is expected to review SomeraRoads request for the building at its 4 p.m. meeting Monday. If approved, the board will direct the citys Cultural Resources Office to endorse the property for the National Register. The outdated office building, vacant since 2017, will likely require millions of dollars in order to be adapted for a new use in a struggling central business district that has fewer major companies than ever before. SomeraRoad has not yet publicized its redevelopment plans for the property, which occupies an entire city block at 909 Chestnut Street, a few blocks north of Busch Stadium. Somera founder Ian Ross referred questions to Rosin Preservation, the Kansas City-based firm SomeraRoad hired to lead its National Register nomination. The rule of thumb for the National Register is that the building should be 50 years of age, Rachel Consolloy of Rosin Preservation said in an email. However, you can nominate a property for achieving significance within the last 50 years if it is of exceptional importance. Rosin Preservation and SomeraRoad believe the buildings post-modernism architecture makes it a significant example of the work of HOK, previously known as Hellmuth, Obata & Kassabaum. HOK designed the tower in the 1980s for AT&T, then known as Southwestern Bell. The stepped top of the building, Consolloy said, is a subtle reference to another Southwestern Bell building nearby that shows how HOK expertly used the surroundings to inform design. The Cultural Resources Office is recommending the Preservation Board approve the recommendation. That would allow the city to prepare a report for Missouris State Historic Preservation Office in support of the nomination. If approved Monday, then the nomination will be presented on July 15 to the Missouri Advisory Council on Historic Preservation in Jefferson City before heading to the National Park Service. The property is expected to be in the National Register by late September, Consolloy said. Rosin Preservation has helped several properties under the age of 50 get listed in the National Register: the Flashcube Building and Kemper Arena both erected in the 1970s in Kansas City. The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. WASHINGTON The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected another Bayer AG bid to dismiss litigation alleging that its Roundup weedkiller causes cancer as the German pharmaceutical and chemical giant tries to avoid potentially billions of dollars in damages. The justices turned away a Bayer appeal and left in place a lower court decision upholding an $87 million judgment awarded in a lawsuit in California to Alberta and Alva Pilliod, who were diagnosed with cancer after spraying Roundup for more than three decades. The Supreme Court on June 21 rejected a Bayer appeal in a different Roundup case. WASHINGTON (AP) During Brett Kavanaugh's 2018 Supreme Court confirmation hearings, then-California Sen. Kamala Harris asked the judge if he thought women's privacy rights extended to choosing to have an abortion. Kavanaugh declined to answer. With Justice Kavanaugh now part of the court majority that voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and the senator now the vice president, Harris is warning that the court's decision could trigger some of the same far-reaching privacy limitations she warned of during those hearings. Taking to the issue with a passion linked both to her personal and professional background, Harris has spent recent weeks sounding the alarm that upending Roe could create precedent for new restrictions on everything from contraception and in vitro fertilization to gay marriage and that states restricting such things are also leading the way in new limits on the right to vote. Justice Clarence Thomas seemed to validate such concerns, writing in a concurring opinion to the larger ruling on Roe that the high court should reconsider past decisions on access to contraception and same-sex marriage. Harris has been a leading Biden administration voice on abortion rights since early May, when a leaked draft opinion previewed Roe v. Wades nullification. She was flying to Illinois for a maternal health event when the final decision was announced last week, and read it while still in the air quickly shifting the focus of her planned remarks to the ruling. The decision calls into question other rights that we thought were settled, such as the right to use birth control, the right to same sex marriage, the right to interracial marriage, Harris told her audience Friday at a suburban YMCA, adding that it would spark a health care crisis. During an interview Monday with CNN, Harris said, I definitely think this not over," adding that, of what Thomas wrote, "I think he just said the quiet part out loud. Becoming a leading voice on abortion access could be a better fit for Harris after President Joe Biden tasked her with overseeing other thorny issues that haven't gone well: immigration and expanding voting rights. Sweeping legislation on both issues has stalled in Congress, prompting some advocates to say the vice president and the White House should've done more. Harris symbolically presiding over the Senate didnt stop Republicans from blocking efforts to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law before the court's ruling overturning it. But Democrats are hoping anger around the issue will energize their base for the November midterm elections, when the party faces steep headwinds. Getting straight to the politics of the matter after the ruling was announced, Harris said, You have the power to elect leaders who will defend and protect your rights. With your vote, you can act. And you have the final word. After a Texas law effectively banned abortion in the state in the fall, Harris met providers and patients, which her office believes is the first time abortion providers have visited the White House. She stressed then that gender discrimination persists, saying that womens full participation in our nation was still only a goal, not a reality. Biden has also forcefully defended abortion rights and warned that other rights are now at risk. But as a observant Catholic, he hasn't always had a strong record on the issue. Harris, the first female vice president and Californias former top prosecutor, brings unique personal perspective and legal expertise to the issue. Seeing women fight on behalf of other women is just very true to the core of who she is, said Jacqueline Ayers, senior vice president of policy, organizing, and campaigns at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. She added that Harris has framed the issue to underscore the disparity that it creates on Black and brown communities, and for people who are living with low income. Ayers said the high court's action has allowed the vice president to highlight how she's used her office to listen to women and advocate for improving their health care perhaps even in ways Biden can't. Its not necessarily a wedge, its just a continuation of someone who has really staked their career around the issues that are key and drivers for them, Ayers said of differences between Harris and Biden. Rev. John Dorhauer, the general minister and president of the United Church of Christ, attended a recent virtual meeting on abortion rights that Harris hosted, and suggested she's been less afraid than some top Democrats to advocate forcefully on the issue. To hear that from one of the highest offices in the land is incredibly encouraging," Dorhauer said. But some abortion opponents argue that Harris has hurt her cause by equating abortion access with other, more routine medical care. She has become emblematic of the abortion absolutism on the other side, said Marjorie Dannenfelser, president of the Susan B. Anthony List, which advocates for women who oppose abortion in politics. As a senator, Harris introduced legislation to improve maternal health. During a 2019 Democratic presidential primary debate, then-candidate Harris said it was outrageous that abortion had been overshadowed by other issues, despite a woman's right to the procedure being under full-on attack even then. The vice president most forcefully signaled the outspoken role when she declared a day after the draft opinion leaked in May: Those Republican leaders who are trying to weaponize the use of the law against women, well, we say, how dare they?" She then used subsequent weeks to argue that undermining Roe v. Wade could soon wipe out other key privacy rights the same theme she raised during Kavanaugh's hearing. Harris says many states moving to fully ban abortion could restrict in vitro fertilization if legislatures argue that human life begins at fertilization. They could prohibit contraception methods, including intrauterine devices and the morning after pill, she argued. Law enforcement might scrutinize data collected from millions of women who use menstrual cycle tracking apps, or those doing internet searches on getting abortions in other states, the vice president said. Also ultimately at stake, Harris maintains, is the legalization of gay marriage, noting that states with the strictest abortion laws often also have past LGBTQ prohibitions that the Supreme Court could revive. Once those rights have fallen, the argument goes, voting rights could be next. She convened a recent meeting with privacy experts to discuss the matter. That slippery slope is really slippery, said one of the meeting's participants, Jennifer Weiss-Wolf, the women and democracy fellow at the nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice in New York. "Were barreling right down it right now. Michele Goodwin, a law professor at the University of California, Irvine, told attendees to be prepared for the coming of a new Jane Crow, as efforts to limit abortion begin to emulate antiquated laws that once sanctioned open discrimination against Black people. Dannenfelser countered that Harris and others are exaggerating, saying the current Supreme Court is "the least likely to do what shes saying. They believe in the rule of law. It's intended to scare people and to build a coalition on the other side outside of the abortion issue," Dannenfelser said. Harris' office says she is indeed building a coalition, but it will be one of people who believe that Roe v. Wade's effects far exceeded abortion, and not just for women. To help drive home that point, Harris met recently in Los Angeles with religious leaders, noting that to support Roe v. Wade, and all it stands for, does not mean giving up your beliefs. For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. ST. LOUIS Samantha Marquard, a nurse practitioner, was in the first group to get the COVID-19 vaccines. Her husband got vaccinated shortly thereafter, and each of her three older children, one by one, followed suit as quickly as they could. But her youngest, Oscar, now 4, was still too young to qualify. We just sat, Marquard said. And sat. And sat. Now, worried parents across the region have some relief: The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended earlier this month that children between 6 months and 5 years old get the shots. Doses have arrived at hospitals and large health care clinics here, and many will start immunizing this week. Finally, families waiting to get their youngest vaccinated, who have watched the community around them return to normal, can themselves consider shedding masks, visiting friends and going out in public. It makes it a little bit more fair, said Dr. Amanda Parsley, a pediatrician and assistant medical director at Affinia Healthcare. Because theyre not getting that protection from society as much anymore. Vaccinations for people 16 and older began at the end of 2020. In 2021, federal regulators expanded eligibility to ages 12 through 15, and then to 5 through 11. The CDC approved the youngest group on June 18. Many of the children in the newly eligible age group were born after or just before COVID-19 swept into the U.S. The early years of their lives have been shaped by the pandemic, and their parents have managed through two years of difficult choices about daycare, school and social gatherings. Kirsten Tidwells son Connor, now 2 years old, was a few months old when the pandemic hit. He learned mask-wearing when he was about 18 months. How do you explain it to your kid in a way that doesnt scare him but so they also know its important? Tidwell recalls asking herself. Hes never been to a family Christmas Connors little sister, Parker, was born in November. When she was 8 weeks old, the family caught COVID-19. They all recovered, but it was a frightening experience. I hear people say, its my choice if I want to mask, said Tidwell, 31, of Kirkwood. My response is: It can be your choice when everyone has the choice to vaccinate. Jen and Tim Maddock, of St. Louis Hills, celebrated their son Jacks first birthday in February of 2020. Missouri reported its first COVID-19 case in March. Their second son, Will, now almost 2 years old, was born that summer. Will has a heart condition called a double aortic arch. The family has worked hard to stay safe. He hasnt met his cousins, Jen Maddock said. Hes never been to a family Christmas. When the family found out that the boys would be able to get vaccinated, Tim Maddock said, We pretty much jumped up and down. Jen Maddock said she didnt truly believe it was happening until Wednesday, when it did. The boys got the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. For their age group, it is a three-dose series, so they will be fully immunized by September. When that day comes, they still plan to be smart. But the boys will be able to do more indoor activities, like visiting the aquarium. They want to see the ocean, and Jack, now 3 years old, wants to ride on a train to Chicago. Hopefully he will be able to start school this year. You cant control what other people decide, Jen Maddock said. Its so many uncontrollable variables. And this is one small thing we can do, to protect our kids, to get back to some sense of normalcy. Marquard, the family nurse practitioner, spent much of her time in 2021 helping other families find and sign up for vaccinations, in her job at IFM, a local nonprofit health care provider for the uninsured and underinsured. She also coordinated vaccine clinics at St. Louis University, where she teaches public health. People kept inviting the family to big events, forgetting that if her son, Oscar, was exposed to the virus, hed have to quarantine for two weeks. The rest of the world, it seemed, was trying to forget about the pandemic. People were like, Oh, right, quarantine. I forgot that existed, said Marquard, who lives in Compton Heights. It felt so lonely, to have everybody else moving on. On Wednesday morning, Oscar marched into a clinic at BJC HealthCare Christian Hospital and got his first dose of the Moderna vaccine. They got cupcakes afterward, to celebrate. It feels like the start of a different world, Marquard said. How to get vaccinated Families can schedule vaccinations through BJC HealthCare online at vaccinate.bjc.org/schedule. The St. Louis County Department of Public Health offers the vaccines for children under 5 years old at the John C. Murphy Health Center in Berkeley, and the South County Health Center in Sunset Hills. Appointments are strongly encouraged and can be made online at ReviveSTL.com or by calling 314-615-0574. Walk-ins will also be accepted. The St. Charles County Department of Public Health will offer the vaccines on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 8:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. Appointments are required, and can be scheduled online at sccmo.org/COVIDvaccine or by calling 636-949-1899. Appointments can be scheduled with Affinia Healthcare by calling 314-814-8700. Appointments can be scheduled through Mercy at mercy.net/movaccine. Concerned about COVID-19? Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. CHARLESTON, W.Va. Womans Choice, the sign proclaims in bold pink letters. But despite promising abortion information and free pregnancy testing, the facility in Charleston, West Virginia, is designed to steer women facing an unwanted pregnancy away from choosing an abortion. That will become much easier now that the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that states like West Virginia can make abortion illegal. Its one of hundreds of so-called crisis pregnancy centers nationwide whose aim is to discourage women from seeking abortions. The facilities, which have been accused repeatedly of deceiving women about their true purpose, are expected to wield even more influence in states where the dwindling number of clinics are now canceling abortion appointments. Often religiously affiliated, the anti-abortion centers are not licensed medical facilities and do not provide medical services such as pre- or post-natal care or other health care for uninsured women, unlike clinics that offer abortions which are subject to strict government regulations and patient privacy laws. They do sometimes have nurses on staff or as volunteers. Basically, these centers are looking around and saying, Our services are going to be needed now more than ever because theres going to be so many pregnant people who need support during their pregnancy particularly unintended pregnancies, said Andrea Swartzendruber, a University of Georgia public health professor who has helped map center locations nationwide. Shortly after Fridays Supreme Court decision, West Virginias only abortion clinic announced it was suspending abortion services, but continuing to provide birth control, STI treatment and other services. The Charleston anti-abortion center, which calls itself the Womans Choice Pregnancy Resource Center, has been located next to the abortion clinic for years. The people who run it say their work wont change. They will continue to offer parenting and health classes, counseling for women who regret a past decision to abort and wish to find comfort from guilt and sadness" and provide facts about abortion risks both physical and psychological," they said in an email to The Associated Press. The board also said staff must complete training emphasizing the importance of clients right to be respected regardless of their decision. At the clinic next door, called the Womens Health Center of West Virginia, executive director Katie Quinonez has her doubts about such statements. She has repeatedly seen patients seeking to end their pregnancies lured into the anti-abortion center and bombarded with warnings about abortion risks. Some who found their way to her office have shared pamphlets declaring that abortion causes new problems that can haunt a woman for the rest of her life. One titled Abortion Living Without Regret shows a woman crying on the cover and lists abortion risks, including suicidal feelings, death and cervical incompetence. Quinonez said she worries about the dozens of patients whose abortion appointments were cancelled after the Supreme Court decision came down. Im incredibly concerned," she said. Its possible that they could think maybe there is another provider and state thats doing abortions. How about I call A Womans Choice, located in Charleston? and then they make an appointment and go there because theyve been lied to by a fake clinic that says Yes, we can provide you with care." While the anti-abortion centers are mostly mum about their plans now that Roe v. Wade has been overturned, experts say theyre likely to redouble efforts to persuade women not to end their pregnancies. The logistics work in their favor, since many women wont have the legal option of abortion without leaving their state. The centers have been expanding in every state with support from wealthy conservative donors, powerful state lawmakers and religious institutions. Theyve also received tens of millions of tax dollars funneled to them by conservative state leaders. Left-leaning states have shown more willingness to regulate how the centers advertise their services. Last year Connecticut banned them from using deceptive advertising about the services they provide. Connecticut had 18 health clinics that provided abortions as of 2018; there are also around 20 pregnancy crisis centers. As we head into this new world and into this next phase, I think its more important than ever for women to be able to access medically accurate information, said Democratic Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, who sponsored the Connecticut legislation. The last thing we want is for women to be at what they believe to be a health clinic only to receive misinformation about their options." Nationally, crisis pregnancy centers outnumber abortion clinics more than 3 to 1, but in Republican-led states the numbers can be far higher, according to a 2021 report from The Alliance: State Advocates for Womens Rights and Gender Equality. Some 2,500 centers are located across the country, while there are fewer than 800 abortion clinics. In Missouri, which has just one abortion clinic, Swartzendruber and her colleagues identified nearly 70 anti-abortion centers in 2021. The situation is similar in North Dakota, where at least seven centers operated last year and the states lone abortion clinic is relocating now that Roe v. Wade was overturned. In Mississippi, there are 30 centers, while the Jackson Womens Health Organization a plaintiff in the legal battle that came before the Supreme Court was the lone provider offering abortion services. Those three states are among 13 with so-called trigger laws that banned most abortions after Roe was overturned. West Virginia doesnt have a trigger law, but does have an old statute on the books that had been shelved while Roe was in place. I see states with trigger laws working to continue to fund or increase funding to crisis pregnancy centers and trying to pass new legislation that would make the centers even more prominent, Swartzendruber said. Earlier this month, anti-abortion leaders called on churches to support their local crisis pregnancy centers. I believe that we have an opportunity like never before as the church to really rush in and to make a huge difference," said Dean Nelson, vice president of government relations for Human Coalition, a national anti-abortion group that frequently directs pregnant women seeking information online to the centers and operates a handful of its own. Some centers offer financial counseling, free diapers and food pantries for mothers after theyve given birth. By expanding and strengthening the network of centers, anti-abortion advocates hope women will see they have resources and options. That concerns reproductive rights advocates, who worry that without licensed abortion providers, women who become unexpectedly pregnant and desperate for help will wind up in places intent on deceiving them. Earlier this year, the Center for Countering Digital Hate, an internet watchdog group, released a report that found 1 in 10 Google searches for abortion services in states with trigger laws led people to the centers. Amanda Furdge says that happened to her while searching for information about Mississippis only abortion clinic in 2014. Instead, she found a listing for what turned out to be a crisis pregnancy center in Jackson. I went for an appointment, and they kept me there all day, traumatized me. They gave me a pregnancy test and they told me, We are not going to be able to recommend any abortion services for you," she said. I was clear: I dont want to carry this pregnancy. I want to terminate it. By the time she found the abortion clinic, she said she decided on her own she was too far along to have the procedure. She is now happily raising her 7-year-old son. In West Virginia, the Charleston abortion clinic has rows of hedges blocking view of the building next door to reduce confusion. In front a sign reads WARNING: The building behind this sign is an ANTI-CHOICE, ANTI-BIRTH CONTROL Crisis Pregnancy Center. It is not affiliated with the Womens Health Center." You shouldnt be able to pose as a medical facility and just straight up lie to patients, director Quinonez said. Kruesi reported from Nashville, Tennessee. Associated Press writer Emily Wagster Pettus contributed from Jackson, Mississippi. HONG KONG (AP) Will he go or not? Chinese President Xi Jinping kept Hong Kong guessing on Monday about his possible appearance at the 25th anniversary of the former British colonys return to Chinese rule. The government has yet to say whether he will be physically present for the events, which include the inauguration of the citys new chief executive. The event is hugely symbolic for Xi, who wants to be seen as propelling a national rejuvenation as he prepares for an expected third five-year term as head of the ruling Communist Party. Part of that is erasing the legacy of colonialism and what China regards as unequal treaties granting rights to foreign nations imposed during the waning years of the Qing Dynasty, which ended in 1911. Asked about Xi's attendance plans at a daily briefing Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said he had no additional information and that the reporter should ask the department responsible," without giving further details. Xi hasnt left mainland China since the start of the coronavirus pandemic 2 1/2 years ago, and his exchanges with foreign leaders have been mainly limited to video calls. Hong Kong, meanwhile, faces a renewed rise in COVID-19 infections after an avalanche of cases this year threatened to overwhelm its hospitals. Chinas official media have said only that Xi will participate in the July 1 commemorations, without describing any travel plans. Xi gave a speech in Hong Kong for the 20th anniversary of its turnover in which he pledged the central government would take a hard line against any challenges to its authority. Pro-democracy protests in 2019 were followed by a sweeping crackdown that has effectively ended political opposition in the city. As with most matters concerning the ruling Communist Party, the travel plans of top leaders are generally kept secret. China has stuck to its zero-COVID strategy of eliminating outbreaks by mass testing the population and locking down buildings, neighborhoods or whole cities for weeks or even months. While the Hong Kong commemorations are purely symbolic, they will include the installation Friday of former security chief John Lee, who led a harsh crackdown on the 2019 pro-democracy protests, as the city's chief executive. After the protests, Beijing imposed a sweeping national security law that has jailed, silenced or exiled Hong Kong political activists; curtailed freedoms of expression and assembly; and removed or disqualified people from public office if they were deemed unpatriotic. Xi's 2017 speech at the 20th anniversary marked a backing away from the one country, two systems" framework under which Hong Kong was to retain its civil, political and economic liberties for 50 years, until 2047. China has declared the Sino-British Joint Declaration that laid the legal framework for Chinese rule as no longer relevant and has refused to acknowledge Hong Kong's former status as a British Crown Colony, saying it never accepted the treaties that were signed between the United Kingdom and the Qing empire. Hong Kong political analyst Sonny Lo said he expects Xi to be present for Friday's ceremony, but that he will likely return at the end of the day to Shenzhen just across the border in mainland China for security reasons. Xi's presence will demonstrate Beijing's confidence in its policies toward Hong Kong, including in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, Lo said. Xi's government has emphasized the city's integration into the Greater Bay Area encompassing much of mainland China's manufacturing and technological bases in Guangdong province, and his message will likely focus in that direction rather than looking at past events, Lo said. Having dealt with political opposition in Hong Kong, Xi will turn next to the task of unifying with the self-governing island of Taiwan, a close U.S.-ally which China claims as its own territory, Lo said. The sides split amid civil war in 1949 and China routinely flies military aircraft into the island's air defense identification zone to pressure it against taking steps toward formal independence. China says it wants to bring the sides together through peaceful means, but does not rule out the use of force to achieve that goal. So half way to 2047, this visit is particularly significant," Lo said. The positive overtone will be extremely important because we can expect Beijing to turn to Taiwan, to appeal for some kind of dialogue." Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Children living in low-income neighborhoods with 'hands-off' norms about safety showed higher levels of reactivity in a region of the brain associated with emotion processing and threat detection. DenisTangneyJr/E+ via Getty Images The Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea Children growing up in more disadvantaged neighborhoods meaning those with poor housing quality, more poverty and lower levels of employment and education show observable increases in brain activity when viewing emotional faces on a screen, according to our teams new study. But importantly, we found that this association was true only when the adults in those neighborhoods also did not have strong shared norms about preventing crime and violence. Our findings emphasize that where children live and the resources of others in the neighborhood may affect brain development. But neighbors may help protect children from these effects on the brain when they are able to build positive social norms about looking out for one another and preventing violence. To get at these findings, we recruited families from neighborhoods in southern Michigan with above-average levels of disadvantage. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging, or fMRI, to measure adolescents brain activity while they looked at facial expressions of different emotions. We focused on observing brain activity in the amygdala, a region of the brain responsible for detecting threats and processing emotions. We used neighborhood census data on factors such as home ownership rates, percentage of families living below the poverty line and percent unemployed to measure neighborhood disadvantage. We then asked randomly selected neighbors of each family to answer questions about the social norms within their neighborhoods, especially regarding shared beliefs about crime and violence prevention. We found that youth ages 7 to 19 who lived in neighborhoods with more disadvantage had greater reactivity in the amygdala to fearful and angry faces. But neighbors who shared strong social norms, such as believing that adults should do something if children are fighting, seemed to offset this effect. That is, neighborhood disadvantage was related to amygdala reactivity only when neighbors had more hands-off attitudes about preventing violence. Family engagement strengthens not only the family but also the health of the community, which in turn can have beneficial effects on child development. Why it matters In 2020, approximately 6.4 million children in the U.S. were living in neighborhoods with poverty rates of 30% or more. Studies show that youths growing up in more impoverished neighborhoods are more likely to perform worse in school and have greater mental health problems. Disadvantaged neighborhoods introduce higher risks for children that go beyond a familys own resources or environment. This is because these neighborhoods increase childrens exposure to violent crime and physical hazards such as pollution, toxicants and street traffic, and they decrease access to healthy food options and high-quality schools. Our research, alongside other recent studies, highlights that neighborhood disadvantage can get under the skin. In other words, it can affect child development by shaping brain structure and function, in addition to affecting other systems of the body, like the stress response system. Unfortunately, studies show that such structural factors as where freeways are built and how neighborhood boundaries are defined can concentrate disadvantage into specific neighborhoods. This, in turn, makes it harder for neighbors to build strong relationships and norms. So although neighbors can work to promote a more positive environment for children, policy level changes may be needed to help neighbors and families thrive in more disadvantaged neighborhoods. What other research is being done Recent studies from other researchers have been trying to understand why living in a disadvantaged neighborhood affects brain development and to identify additional factors that may protect children. For example, in a peer-reviewed study that is not yet published, researchers found that deadly gun violence within a half-mile of childrens houses was related to the communication between brain regions important for emotion processing and self-regulation. And, like our study, they found that this effect was offset by positive neighborhood relationships. Other work shows that exposure to air pollution from car traffic is associated with differences in how childrens brains develop. Gabriela Suarez receives funding from the National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship and a supplement from the Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of Health. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Conservative columnist Mona Charen reflects on guns, poverty and Jan. 6: ST. LOUIS Early one Saturday evening in the Clinton-Peabody public housing complex, just south of downtown, the playgrounds were empty. But clusters of children buzzed, skidded and cruised through the network of streets and sidewalks on electric scooters. When the wind hits you, like the breeze, you just relax, said Ron, 17. Its like you are riding by yourself. Teens rode in groups of four or five, the way children did a generation ago on bikes. The scooters are in abundant supply throughout the neighborhood and offer quick, easy and fun access to other parts of the city. Ron said he rides all over, including downtown. So does Amod, 16, a Clinton-Peabody resident. He summed up why he loves the scooters in one word: transportation. We can go far, all over, Amod said. All in the city. That changed earlier this month, when city officials banned the use of rentable electric scooters in downtown and Downtown West. It was an effort to curb what they describe as weekend mayhem during the summer caused by large groups of juveniles, zipping into and around downtown on scooters, while also engaging in disruptive and, at times, criminal behavior. The scooter ban was just one of several actions downtown by the citys public safety department, including a curfew for minors that begins at 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and a stronger law enforcement presence along Washington Avenue. In addition, downtown's special taxing district set aside $100,000 for an ambassador initiative, which includes a youth ambassador program to build relationships with teenagers. At the same time, juvenile arrests have spiked this year. In District 4, which encompasses downtown, officers took 91 minors into custody through the end of May nearly four times as many as the same period last year. Overall between 2014 and 2021, the number of juvenile arrests in the area averaged about 40. Citywide, there was a similar increase, though not as sharp: police apprehended 258 minors this year through May, compared to 142 last year. After various incidents in May, June has brought fewer teens roaming downtown and a drop in violence and crime. St. Louis interim public safety director, Dan Isom, last week said he believes multiple factors are responsible for the recent changes but that the scooter ban played a part. While city officials have focused on teens and scooters, downtown business owners and residents say there are broader issues at play. They question whether even stronger police enforcement is needed, they point to the violent crimes by adults as another source of stress and they blame parents for not taking a stronger hand. Residents point to recent fears Amid a 10-year high of underage arrests, the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Departments records office did not provide incident-level crime data which would offer details on individual crimes to the Post-Dispatch. St. Louis police once posted the data publicly on a monthly basis, only stopping the practice after changing its records management system in December 2020. Since then, police have resumed reporting incident data to the Missouri State Highway Patrol and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, as required by Missouri law, but have yet to provide the public with a way to obtain the same information. In contrast to the rise in juvenile arrests in the downtown area, adult arrests in District 4 declined by nearly 25% through May with 919 arrests this year and 1,189 last year through May. Adult arrests also declined citywide this year by about 19% from 4,808 through May last year to 3,900 arrests this year through May. Residents and business owners say they have noticed more rowdiness and more crime this year, altering the way they live downtown. On a recent afternoon, Jamal White was about to enter the lobby of Meridian Lofts, where he lives, when he overheard a Post-Dispatch reporter talking to a downtown worker about the issues. Having lived downtown for seven years, the father of three said he has never seen the situation get this out of hand. The last two months have been horrific out here, he told the Post-Dispatch as his 22-month-old rode around the sidewalk on a toy bike. White said he has seen children, who are not yet teenagers, hanging out with young adults and carrying guns. He does not let his children out of their home after 9 p.m. Downtown resident Hosea King said hes learned to avoid the teens congregating downtown while out with friends or delivering for UberEats on his bicycle. The topic of downtown crime came up during a recent stop at Insomnia Cookies. The kids have bigger guns than the adults now, its crazy, Insomnia Cookies employee Karissa Wade said in agreement with King as she handed him his order. Kings entrance into the tiny Washington Avenue store had brought three loud beeps from a security system, followed by an automated voice announcing front door, briefly interrupting a conversation between the shops two employees. Wade and her co-worker, Voniya Thedford, said they no longer accept cash to reduce their risk of being robbed. Theyve also gradually changed their closing time from 3 a.m. to midnight. NAPPS Natural Hair Salon owner Fulani Bettis, who has worked and lived downtown for eight years, agrees the crime and violence has gotten worse recently. But she points to adults who come down to drink and party. She said that while youths always contributes to the problem, she doesnt think they should be blamed for the current state of downtown. And Bettis noted that she doesnt see kids around downtown as much since the scooter ban. Police response The concerns about downtown have lingered for years and intensified again in recent months. In September, the city imposed a curfew that begins at 11 p.m. on weeknights and midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, while also forming the Downtown Engagement and Public Safety Initiative to improve safety after citing bars for underage drinking and public nuisance. The warmer weather in May and early June brought large groups of juveniles roaming the streets on scooters, with some occasionally breaking into fights. On the first Saturday in June, two teen girls were wounded when gunfire erupted as two groups of juveniles began fighting around 8 p.m. The girls, who were 13 and 14, each suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh as they walked west on Chestnut Street. Then, on June 8, the city requested that Lime and Bird impose a geofence to block scooter operations in the downtown and Downtown West neighborhoods. Geofencing allows the companies to keep customers from starting a ride if a scooter is in the blocked area. If someone rents a scooter elsewhere and attempts to ride into the downtown area, the scooter will slow automatically and eventually lose its acceleration capabilities. That same week, St. Louis police officers started working 12-hour shifts on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. And during peak crime hours 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. the city will increase traffic enforcement, air support, specialized units, park rangers and deputy marshals. On any given weekend night, starting around 7 p.m., City of St. Louis Sheriffs Office vans can be seen along Washington Avenue east and west of Tucker, with their lights flashing and two officers posted in each. The collaboration with the sheriffs office provides a stronger police presence on Washington Avenue and Market Street. Some downtown workers and residents think police can crack down even more. You write tickets, when you start writing enough tickets, these parents get tired of paying tickets, said White, the Meridian Lofts resident. These parents get tired of having to miss work to take the kids to court. What happens then? These kids stop coming down here and causing havoc. Others argue that parents are the problem. Bill Jackson, 57, said he recently saw five scooters take up a lane, slowing down a Corvette behind them. Parents are going to have to be responsible for their kids, said Jackson, a network engineer. There are a lot of good kids. It just takes a few bad ones to ruin it for everybody. During police briefings in the last two months, Isom has reiterated that he believes parents need to hold their children accountable. Without offering much detail, he has mentioned the possibility of holding parents legally responsible for childrens actions after repeat run-ins with law enforcement. Some measure of legal accountability of the parents, thats what we are exploring, we are determining what that would look like, Isom said earlier this month. A mom to five teenagers, 37-year-old Amanda McIntyre, a Clinton-Peabody resident, has imposed an 11:30 p.m. curfew for her teenagers. She says kids need more to do in the summer, but she understands why people dont want large groups of children on scooters riding downtown. Id prefer them to ride in the neighborhood, she said. Scooter ban impact is unclear Its too early to say whether the scooter ban is the primary reason downtown has seen calmer weekends in June. Some residents believe the extreme heat has played a big role in keeping kids away. Downtown Alderman James Page previously told the Post-Dispatch the scooter ban was projected to last about two weeks. But 2 weeks later, the ban remains in place with no indication on when it may end. City officials said they have been meeting with Bird and Lime to determine ways the companies can operate again on weekends while still addressing safety concerns. Solutions could include restricting rider age by requiring an ID and facial recognition for each ride, or using data to create mandatory parking zones and address concerns about where the scooters are being left. Other solutions could involve reducing maximum speeds and restricting the group ride feature. But for teens like 15-year-old Jamerson, it doesnt feel fair to restrict who can use scooters or where they go when rides are paid for, often out of the pockets of teens with weekly allowances. He was also out on a recent Saturday evening in the LaSalle Park neighborhood. They should let us go downtown, to go see the buildings, to go see St. Louis, he said. What if my cousin came to town from Memphis and wanted to see the city? We just ride around with each other. A little later, he was riding with a group of kids who skidded on the street and then rode out into traffic, stopping vehicles. Josh Renaud of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Editor's note: This article has been updated to correct the amount of money for the downtown taxing district ambassador program. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Dana Rieck Dana Rieck is a public safety and breaking news reporter for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Dana Rieck Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today CLAYTON St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell is among more than 80 elected prosecutors in Democratic-majority jurisdictions across the country who have pledged not to enforce abortion bans. The prosecutors, largely from 13 states that have banned most abortions following the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, issued a joint statement declining to put resources toward the criminalization of personal medical decisions. Not all of us agree on a personal or moral level on the issue of abortion, the joint statement read. But we stand together in our firm belief that prosecutors have a responsibility to refrain from using limited criminal legal system resources to criminalize personal medical decisions. As such, we decline to use our offices resources to criminalize reproductive health decisions and commit to exercise our well-settled discretion and refrain from prosecuting those who seek, provide, or support abortions. The statement was issued Friday shortly after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe, the landmark 1973 decision that made abortion a constitutional right. Within minutes, Gov. Mike Parson and Attorney General Eric Schmitt separately acted to trigger a Missouri law, passed in 2019, that bans all abortions except in case of medical emergency. The law, which does not have an exception for rape or incest, declared abortion a felony. Twelve other states have similar trigger laws, including four of Missouris neighbors: Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee and Kentucky. Missouris last abortion clinic is in the city of St. Louis. St. Louis Circuit Court Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner was not among prosecutors who signed the joint statement. Asked for comment Monday, a spokeswoman for Gardners office said in a statement that Gardner remains committed to ensuring the safe delivery of comprehensive reproductive health services in the City of St. Louis. Bell, in a statement, said he did not at the moment expect any cases being brought to this office requesting that felony charges be issued on someone for providing an abortion. But he said the 2019 trigger law was terribly misguided and dangerous. Prosecutors are mandated to protect public safety by seeking accountability for those who endanger our safety and prosperity, Bell said. In no way does a skilled and qualified medical professional providing a safe abortion to a woman who seeks this medical procedure endanger the safety of anyone. Chris Nuelle, a spokesman for Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, said in a brief statement, This is par for the course for progressive prosecutors. Schmitt, a Republican, is running for U.S. Senate. Bell, who defeated longtime Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch in the Democratic primary in 2018, is running for a second four-year term this year. He has no opposition in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary; his only general election challenger is Libertarian Party candidate Theo Brown Sr. Nassim Benchaabane 314-340-8167 @NassimBnchabane on Twitter nbenchaabane@post-dispatch.com Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS A St. Louis man was sentenced Monday to 11 years in prison after reaching a plea deal with prosecutors in a 2018 homicide in the city's Dutchtown neighborhood. Deonta L. Lumpkin, 37, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, reduced from first-degree murder, as well as armed criminal action and unlawful gun possession in the Dec. 2, 2017, killing of Jacques L. Combs, 25, of Hazelwood. The shootout in the 4600 block of Spring Avenue also left Combs' 21-year-old brother injured. Circuit Judge Madeline Connolly accepted Lumpkin's plea agreement and sentenced him to prison. Lumpkin's case had been set for trial this week. Charges said Lumpkin told investigators that as Combs' brother and someone else began fighting, he saw Combs "clutching" his waistband. Lumpkin said he knew Combs was armed, so he fired shots at him and his brother. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Three boys one 9 years old died early Monday when a car driven by a 13-year-old slammed into a tree and caught fire. The other two boys were 13. Police confirmed the victims' ages Monday night but didn't release their names or hometowns. The driver was the lone survivor. He was taken to a hospital for unspecified injuries but is expected to survive. About 1:45 a.m. Monday, the vehicle carrying the four boys crashed into a tree in the 100 block of South New Florissant Road and burst into flames, police said. Florissant police Officer Steve Michael, a department spokesman, said the car's speed "was definitely a factor." "It's just tragic," Michael said. Police officers "tried to get to the occupants and they just couldn't because of the fire," Michael said. Michael didn't know what kind of older-model vehicle it was. He said investigators haven't told him whose car the boy was driving or if it had been stolen. He said he also didn't know if any of the boys were from the same family. Crash investigators spent hours Monday at the scene, even after sunup, closing the road between Washington Street and West St. Anthony Lane so they could collect evidence and take photographs and measurements along the car's path. The speed limit on South New Florissant is 35 mph, but traffic whizzes by. There is a bend in the road less than a quarter-mile to the south. The road straightens out into a straight-of-way stretch at the crash site, at 120 South New Florissant Road. Tire tracks in the lawn indicate the car was heading north when it ran off the road to the right and drove across a narrow shoulder residents use to park cars. The vehicle drove up a slight grassy slope and across the home's single-car driveway before hitting the tree. The tree, a towering oak, stopped the boys' vehicle in its tracks less than 15 feet from the front door of the small brick home. The home has a for-sale sign out front and appears to be vacant. The Florissant Valley branch of the St. Louis County library is across the street. On Monday afternoon, Tim Wright, who lives next to the site of the crash, said he witnessed the commotion when he went outside shortly after it occurred. Wright, who has lived on the block more than 30 years, called New Florissant Road a "racetrack" after 7 p.m., and said crashes occur there often. About a mile east on North New Florissant Road, where it intersects with Lindbergh Boulevard, is one of the city's most frequent crash sites, according to city data. Taylor Tiamoyo Harris of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. UPDATED at 7:05 p.m. Monday with additional details. Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS COUNTY Vandals smashed the windows of 19 cars parked on the employee lot at the FedEx center in Overland over the weekend, a day after a similar crime targeted 22 vehicles outside a Walmart store in Maplewood. The Overland vandals struck in a three-hour timeframe, between 11 p.m. Friday and 2 a.m. Saturday, outside the FedEx facility at 1525 Woodson Road. Overland police Chief Andy Mackey said a handgun left in one of the vehicles also was stolen. Mackey on Monday said police have made no arrests and dont know how many people took part in the vandalism and theft. He said police have no description of a suspect or suspects. Mackey said a wallet and other personal items were also stolen. However, Mackey said, nothing was taken from most of the cars, and Mackey said people appear to be getting the message not to leave items in cars. A day earlier, a similar crime happened on the parking lot of Sams Club and Walmart in Maplewood, at 2100 Maplewood Commons Drive. Police havent said if they think the two crimes are connected. The Maplewood vandalism happened between 3:50 a.m. and 4:10 a.m. Thursday, said Maplewood police Lt. John LeClerc. In the Maplewood case, 22 vehicles on the parking lot there had windows shattered. LeClerc said multiple suspects entered the cars in Maplewood. He said Monday that detectives are reviewing surveillance video and doing other legwork to find the vandals. Kim Bell 314-340-8115 @kbellpd on Twitter kbell@post-dispatch.com Shake off your afternoon slump with the oft-shared and offbeat news of the day, hand-brewed by our online news editors. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ST. LOUIS U.S. Rep. Cori Bush on Monday called on President Joe Bidens administration to declare a public health emergency in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to outlaw abortion. This is an emergency, and it demands an emergency response, Bush said at a news conference in Mayor Tishaura O. Jones office. This is why Im calling on the administration to declare the attack on abortion rights a public health emergency. Bush, D-St. Louis, said the administration should use its executive authority to open up resources for abortion services and expand and protect access to abortion pills. Bush also called on the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to prevent efforts by Missouri officials to block funds for essential family planning services. She repeated her support in Congress for writing into law the Roe v. Wade decision overturned Friday by the Supreme Court. She also wants to pass a package to help fund travel vouchers, child care, lodging and pregnancy support care for women in Missouri and other states, where abortion is now illegal, to go to states where it is still allowed. Bush also said she wants to expand the Supreme Court, abolish the filibuster in the Senate and repeal a federal ban on the use of public money for abortions. She also said there should be a discussion of using federal lands for services. She didnt elaborate. Earlier this month, 23 Senate Democrats asked Biden to consider analyzing the types of reproductive health services that could be provided on federal property, especially in states where such services are limited by state law. Jones, for her part, reiterated her support for a bill introduced Friday at the Board of Aldermen that would provide $1 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds to help St. Louis women get abortions in Illinois. The bill would authorize grants to provide transportation, child care and other logistical support needs to provide access to abortion. A leader with an anti-abortion organization last week said a lawsuit would be filed to challenge the bill if it passes, citing a state law barring the use of public money on assisting an abortion. Asked by a reporter about that law, Jones said we are working with the city counselors office to see what is allowable and if this is allowable spending of ARPA funds or municipal funds. This is the time to act, and the people elected a mayor to act on their behalf, she said. Ultimately, Jones said, the courts would decide the matter because of the likelihood of a lawsuit. The bill also would provide $500,000 for other reproductive health care services such as access to doulas and lactation support. Five other abortion rights supporters also spoke at the news conference, including representatives of the St. Louis Interfaith Coalition for Reproductive Rights and the St. Louis Doula Project. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. JEFFERSON CITY Gov. Mike Parson plans to sign off on a wave of election changes that includes a photo ID requirement for casting a ballot and limits on people who register voters. The GOP-controlled Legislature approved the package in May as part of the partys push to revise election laws in the wake of former President Donald Trumps false claims of rampant voter fraud. Parsons office said Monday afternoon that the governor intended to sign the bill on Wednesday. The Republican governors move could spark legal action. Voting rights groups have argued voter ID requirements affect minorities, the young and the elderly more than others. New rules could also affect the League of Women Voters of Missouri, Marilyn McLeod, the groups president, wrote in a letter to Parson in May. There will be some parts of the bill that will be challenged, McLeod said in an interview this month. The law bans paying someone for soliciting voter registration applications and requires anyone who solicits more than 10 applications to register with the secretary of state every two years. It also bans groups from soliciting a voter into obtaining an absentee ballot application. The league has two part-time staff that help League members provide voter services, including mailing registration and absentee ballot request forms to voters upon request, McLeod wrote to Parson last month. League volunteers regularly register more than 10 new citizens at each naturalization ceremony in St. Louis. In an interview, she said the organization doesnt have a specific issue with requiring volunteers to register with the state but said it just means we would have to be sure that every person who is going to be registering voters must do this. The voter ID rule would allow voters without one to cast a provisional ballot. The voter could then return to the election authority with a photo ID or officials could match the voters signature with one on file for their ballot to count. The new law will take effect Aug. 28, meaning it will be in place for the Nov. 8 general election but not the Aug. 2 primary. The elections law, House Bill 1878, will usher in a number of other changes to Missouri law, including: Tossing the states presidential preference primary in favor of a caucus system to select delegates for presidential nominating conventions. Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft, a Republican, had long argued Missouri taxpayers shouldnt pay for party nominating primaries that are nonbinding in the first place, with the ultimate decision on state party delegates left to the parties. Critics said the change would lead to fewer people participating in the nominating contests. In addition to abolishing the presidential preference primary, held every four years in February or March, the law could also spell changes to the states August primaries. The new law will give voters the option to affiliate with an established political party or to remain unaffiliated. Missouris primaries are currently open, allowing a voter to participate in any one party primary they choose. To eventually close primaries, which this years legislation doesnt do, the state would need information on voters party preferences. In a compromise with Senate Democrats, the legislation also includes two weeks of no-excuse absentee voting before an election. The provision would be taken out of the legislation if courts deem the voter ID requirement unconstitutional. The legislation limits private funds to local election authorities following criticism of elections grants such as one St. Charles County received in 2020 from a nonprofit largely funded by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg. Touchscreen direct-recording electronic vote-counting machines will be phased out by 2024. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In the final weekend before Tuesdays primary election, the disparity in campaigning between Republicans running for governor and the Democratic incumbent they hope to replace foreshadows a fall general election campaign in which culture wars will likely take center stage. On Sunday, first-term Gov. J.B. Pritzker and other Democrats seeking statewide office joined in the celebration of Chicagos Pride Parade and took the opportunity to warn that the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling overturning national abortion protections could extend to eliminating other rights. Before stepping onto the parade route, Pritzker said he and supporters would be marching for pride, marching for LGBTQ rights, for choice and for making sure that were fighting back against the Supreme Court thats trying to take away peoples rights. Therell be some celebrating and, of course, some protests as a result of what happened on Friday, the Democratic governor said of the parade. Nearly 250 miles to the southwest in Quincy, state Sen. Darren Bailey of Xenia celebrated Saturdays endorsement for the GOP nomination for governor from former President Donald Trump by saying he planned to visit a nearby church. We are astray and its because weve allowed career politicians to deceive us, to misguide us and to take us to places where we should never have gone, Bailey told his followers on Facebook. The people are just getting sick and tired of being burdened by a failed government, especially a woke liberal government, that seeks to just indoctrinate our children, that seeks to let criminals go scot-free, that seeks to just push people who dream and want to work hard in this state, push them out. Pritzker, his renomination as the Democratic nominee for governor virtually assured against nominal opposition, has made the courts ruling overturning Roe v. Wade a top issue heading into the fall. It is also representative, hes indicated, of the need for protections for LGBTQ people and other groups after Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion that the court should revisit same-sex marriage and contraception rights. A leading national abortion rights advocate, Pritzker has moved to enshrine a womans right to an abortion in state law and end restrictions such as parental notification while vowing to do even more in a planned special legislative session next month as other GOP-controlled states look to quickly restrict access to abortion. Bailey is the most conservative among six contenders for the Republican nomination for governor. Hes been endorsed by leading state organizations that oppose abortion rights. Bailey is opposed to abortion except to save the life of the mother and has said he would seek to roll back taxpayer-funded abortion for poor women and reinstate parental notification. As a member of the legislature, Bailey also has opposed LGBTQ rights, most recently contending that teaching children about the role the community has played in history in state-approved textbooks is sexualizing kids and forces schools to indoctrinate our kids with their far-left ideology. Bailey also has spoken in biblical terms of the decline of the family unit and the role of women and has called transgender rights the moral rot that is destroying society. God, in His creation, He intended, you know, the family unit to be headed by the dad. The dad is supposed to be out, you know, teaching his children hard work, ethics, honesty and integrity, Bailey said in an April 4 interview on Outside the Beltway. Running what began as an evangelical populist campaign based in the states rural, heavily Republican Downstate, Bailey has since seen his support rise across Illinois in line with an increasing rightward movement of GOP voters accelerated by their loyalty to Trump. He has called Pritzker a tyrant for the governors pandemic mitigation orders and has seized on a long-standing political tactic of regionalism that relies on the stereotype that those outside Chicago are shortchanged compared with Chicago residents over how tax dollars are shared. Thats despite studies that have shown counties outside the Chicago region receive twice as much a return on state money as their residents pay in, largely at the expense of suburban taxpayers. Bailey has even sponsored legislation calling for Chicago to be split from the rest of Illinois, arguing the states largest city and economic engine forces its liberal urban values on conservatives in rural Illinois. During recent debates, he repeatedly referred to Chicago as a hellhole. Baileys road to potential victory was paved in part by tens of millions of dollars in advertising and mailers spent by Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association because Bailey is viewed as an easier challenger for Pritzker to defeat in November. The ads have attacked rival Republican candidate Aurora Mayor Richard Irvin and portrayed Bailey as too conservative for Illinois a backhanded way of encouraging Bailey support among the GOP base. The Illinois Democratic Party has made a similar effort in recent days with mailers labeling Republican attorney general candidate Thomas DeVore of Sorrento as too conservative. DeVore is in a contest with Deerfield attorney Steve Kim, part of a statewide candidate slate with Irvin. Orland Park attorney David Shestokas is also in the GOP contest. Democratic Attorney General Kwame Raoul faces no primary opposition. DeVore is a Downstate ally of Bailey and served as Baileys lawyer in lawsuits eventually unsuccessful that sought to challenge Pritzkers COVID-19 mitigation orders. Baileys campaign also has benefited from ultraconservative billionaire megadonor Richard Uihlein, who has contributed $17 million to the candidate as well as an independent expenditure group allied with Bailey. But Baileys camp viewed Trumps long-sought endorsement as a key to victory on Tuesday, a development that sent Baileys GOP rivals arguing the state senator will not be electable in the fall. One candidate, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan of Petersburg, said that unfortunately, the endorsement that has mattered most in this primary has been J.B. Pritzkers, with tens of millions of dollars spent to fool Republican voters and hand-pick the weakest opponent in November, Darren Bailey. Irvin, whose bid was backed by $50 million from hedge-fund CEO Ken Griffin, who announced last week he was moving his Citadel investment firm out of Chicago and to Miami, also contended Bailey could not defeat Pritzker in the fall. The only endorsement thats important in this race is the endorsement of the residents of the state of Illinois, Irvin said before stepping off at the Bourbonnais Friendship Festival parade. Youre going to need Republican votes. Youre going to need independent votes. And youre going to need Democratic crossover votes out of Chicago to win in the fall, he said. The purpose of the Republican primary is to pick the Republican opponent that is capable enough, prepared enough, to actually beat Pritzker. Rival candidate Gary Rabine of Bull Valley said he was disappointed in Trumps endorsement of Bailey. Rabine had hosted a fundraiser for Trump and cultivated ties with loyalists of the former president. Our state is in a crisis and nothing will change unless J.B. Pritzker loses in November, Rabine said. For his part, Pritzker said Baileys acceptance of Trumps endorsement seems to me an acknowledgment on his part that hes willing to go down a terrible rabbit hole that will sink the Republican Party. All I can say is that Darren Baileys too conservative for Illinois and he proved it. The other two Republicans running for the nomination are former state Sen. Paul Schimpf of Waterloo and Hazel Crest attorney Max Solomon. As candidates for federal, state and local nominations prepared their final day get-out-the-vote strategies, a late endorsement from President Joe Biden was announced in the new West Side and west suburban 7th Congressional District, with Biden backing veteran Democratic U.S. Rep. Danny Davis, who is facing a challenge from progressive activist Kina Collins. Representative Danny Davis has always been an effective leader and lawmaker who is deeply rooted in his community. He serves with passion and integrity, and thats why Im endorsing him in his upcoming primary, Biden said in a statement released by Davis campaign. So much is at stake, and we have more work to do to bring costs down for families and keep our communities safe. I know Rep. Davis will continue to be an essential partner in getting it done. Davis said he was grateful for President Bidens support in this race and for his partnership in Washington, as we work to solve the pressing problems that families in Chicagoland face each and every day. But Collins said the endorsement was an example of Davis, who has served in Congress since 1997, using his resources to call in favors to save himself rather than assisting the districts residents. He knows that voters are ready for a new generation of people-powered leadership, unbought by corporate PAC dollars, that will put our community above everything else. Times up on self-serving absentee leadership, Collins said in a statement. Illinois is among seven states holding elections on Tuesday, and, as he is in most GOP contests, former President Donald Trump is a central issue in the states hotly contested Republican primary for governor. Observers also will be looking for the first clues as to whether the political landscape has shifted since last weeks stunning U.S. Supreme Court ruling eliminating the constitutional right to an abortion. Darren Bailey, a conservative farmer who earned Trumps endorsement over the weekend and often reads from the Bible in campaign videos, is part of a six-candidate Republican field. His rivals include Richard Irvin, the first Black mayor of Illinois second-largest city, who had $50 million in support from billionaire Ken Griffin but was heavily targeted by Democrats who see Bailey as an easier matchup for incumbent Gov. J.B. Pritzker. The four other GOP gubernatorial candidates are businessman Gary Rabine, venture capitalist Jesse Sullivan, former state Sen. Paul Schimpf and attorney Max Solomon. Pritzkers only rival in the Democratic primary is Beverly Miles. While Trump endorsed Bailey, he also campaigned alongside first-term Rep. Mary Miller, who is challenging five-term Rep. Rodney Davis in one of the states two incumbent-on-incumbent primaries. But at Saturdays rally, Miller described the Supreme Courts reversal of Roe v. Wade as a victory for white life. A spokesperson later said she had intended to say the decision was a victory for a right to life. The Illinois congresswoman is no stranger to provocative statements. Soon after joining the House, Miller quoted Adolf Hitler, saying he was right to say that whoever has the youth has the future. Davis is a powerful, more moderate lawmaker who is the top Republican on the House Administration Committee, which deals with election legislation and the Capitol complex. Meanwhile, two Democratic incumbents Reps. Sean Casten and Marie Newman are facing off for a Chicago-area seat. Also on the Democratic side, about two dozen candidates are fighting to succeed Rep. Bobby Rush, the only lawmaker to ever defeat Barack Obama. They include John Jackson, son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, and Karin Norington-Reaves, who has Rushs endorsement. Heres what to watch in other states holding elections this week: Colorado GOP businessman Joe ODea, who has spoken publicly about his support for abortion rights, is running for the nomination to take on Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet this fall. ODeas top rival is state Rep. Ron Hanks, who opposes abortion in all circumstances and attended the Jan. 6 rally that preceded the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. ODea said he backs a ban on late-term abortions and government funding of abortions, but the decision to terminate a pregnancy in the initial months is between a person and their God. While Colorado has trended Democratic over the past decade, Tuesdays top Republican primary contests will show whether far-right candidates are making progress in their quest to take on uncontested Democrats like Bennet, Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jena Griswold, whos led the national fight against 2020 election deniers. One of them is Republican Tina Peters, a conspiracy-theorist county elections clerk whos been indicted for tampering with voting equipment and posting data online. Peters wants to unseat Griswold as Colorados top elections official despite calls from the state GOP for Peters to suspend her campaign. Shes running against Republican Pam Anderson, a former head of the states clerks association and defender of Colorados mail-in elections system. Colorados congressional primaries will measure the staying power of first-term GOP firebrand Rep. Lauren Boebert in a sprawling western Colorado district that leans more Republican after redistricting. Shes up against state Sen. Don Coram, a hemp farmer and GOP moderate. In the Republican race to take on Polis, a former suburban Denver mayor, Greg Lopez, is facing Heidi Ganahl, the lone statewide-elected Republican as a University of Colorado regent. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who was vaulted into office last fall when Andrew Cuomo resigned amid a sexual harassment scandal, is trying to hold on to her job. Hochul, a Democrat from western New York, is facing challenges from New York Citys elected public advocate, Jumaane Williams, and Rep. Tom Suozzi, a moderate congressman from Long Island. Tuesdays elections cover New Yorks statewide offices and state assembly races, but primary elections for U.S. House seats and the state Senate will be held Aug. 23. Those elections were delayed because of a redistricting lawsuit that led a court to throw out new political maps. Hochul, who was Cuomos lieutenant governor for six years, promised to restore New Yorkers faith in its government after stepping into the office last summer, but she hit a major stumbling block in April, when her handpicked lieutenant governor was arrested in a federal corruption probe. Williams, a progressive running to Hochuls left, said Hochul is either consistently shamefully out of the loop, or shamefully enabling through her inaction. Suozzi, running to Hochuls right, says shes not being tough enough on crime, suggesting she should have gone further to harden the states bail law. On the Republican side, Rep. Lee Zeldin is considered the front-runner in a crowded field that features Andrew Giuliani, the son of New York Citys former mayor Rudy Giuliani; Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino; and businessman Harry Wilson. Former Vice President Mike Pence has endorsed Zeldin, who also enjoys the backing of the state GOP and Conservative Party, but Trump has stayed out of the race. Utah The Republican primary for U.S. Senate pits one of Trumps closest allies, GOP incumbent Sen. Mike Lee, against two challengers who have spent months questioning Lees loyalty to the former president. Former state lawmaker Becky Edwards and political operative Ally Isom have attacked Lee as a divisive politician who cares less about governing than about television appearances and winning Trumps favor. Unlike Lee, neither voted for Trump in 2020. Both Republican challengers have highlighted the post-election text messages Lee sent to Trumps chief of staff, which show his early involvement in efforts to overturn the election. Edwards has also stood out by saying she disagreed with the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to revisit Roe v. Wade. The Senate primary is testing whether Trumps brand of divisive politics and conspiracy theories resonates with members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who make up a majority of Utahs population. In November, the winner will take on independent Evan McMullin, a former Republican who won backing from the state Democratic Party in April. Mississippi Congressional primary runoffs are rare in Mississippi, but on Tuesday, two of the states Republican incumbents are fighting to keep their jobs in runoffs against challengers from their own party. Rep. Steven Palazzo is seeking a seventh term and was considered vulnerable after being accused in a 2021 congressional ethics report of abusing his office by misspending campaign funds. Rep. Michael Guest is seeking a third term. He voted to create an independent commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection and was forced into a runoff amid criticism that he was disloyal to Trump. Both Palazzo and Guest failed to cross the 50% threshold to win outright in their June 7 primaries. Palazzo is facing Mike Ezell, the sheriff of a coastal county, while Guest is going up against Michael Cassidy, a former Navy fighter pilot who has highlighted his allegiance to Trump. Oklahoma Republicans are picking two U.S. Senate nominees on Tuesday. A crowd of high-profile GOP contenders is vying to replace retiring Sen. Jim Inhofe, including Trumps former Environmental Protection Agency administrator, Scott Pruitt, who resigned from his Washington post under a cloud of ethics scandals. Other candidates include Rep. Markwayne Mullin; T.W. Shannon, the state legislatures first Black House speaker; and Luke Holland, Inhofes longtime chief of staff. Republican Sen. James Lankford is facing a primary test of his own that centers on Trump. Lankford, among the Senates most conservative members, has faced backlash from Trump loyalists for not embracing the former presidents lies about election fraud. Lankford is facing Tulsa evangelical pastor Jackson Lahmeyer, a political newcomer endorsed by Michael Flynn, Trumps former national security adviser. Nebraska A judge on Tuesday will sentence longtime Nebraska congressman Jeff Fortenberry on campaign contribution charges on the same day voters will decide who should serve out the Republicans term. Fortenberry resigned in March. Republican Mike Flood will be favored to win the election in the Republican-leaning district over Democrat Patty Pansing Brooks. Both are state legislators. Regardless of who wins the special election, Flood and Pansing Brooks will face off again in the November general election. The eastern Nebraska district includes Lincoln and parts of suburban Omaha as well as rural area. Associated Press writers Michelle Price in New York; Sara Burnett in Chicago; Sam Metz in Salt Lake City; Jim Anderson in Denver; Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb.; Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, S.C., contributed to this report. Editors note: Aurora is the second-largest city in Illinois. An earlier version of this story was incorrect. Updated at 11 a.m. Monday, June 27. LONDON (AP) Russia has defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since the Bolshevik Revolution more than a century ago, further alienating the country from the global financial system following sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. Moscow owed $100 million in interest on one bond priced in dollars and one priced in euros, which was originally due May 27. A 30-day grace period expired Sunday. On Monday, the rating agency company Moody's declared the country in default. Last month, the U.S. Treasury Department ended Russia's ability to pay its billions in debt back to international investors through American banks. In response, the Russian Finance Ministry said it would pay dollar-denominated debts in rubles and offer the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency. Before Moody's declaration, it was largely believed that Russia was in default. For all practical purposes, Russia is in default, said Jay S. Auslander, a sovereign debt lawyer at the firm of Wilk Auslander in New York. The 30-day grace period has expired. Bondholders do not have their money. Russia says it has the money to pay its debts but Western sanctions created artificial obstacles" by freezing its foreign currency reserves held abroad. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Monday that there are no grounds to call this situation a default," saying Russia has paid but it could not be processed because of sanctions. The other side argues that this happened because of sanctions, but sanctions were fully in your control," Auslander said. All of this was under your control, because all you had to do was not invade Ukraine. Here are key things to know about a Russian default: HOW MUCH DOES RUSSIA OWE? About $40 billion in foreign-currency bonds, about half of that sold to foreigner buyers. Before the start of the war, Russia had around $640 billion in foreign currency and gold reserves, much of which was held overseas and is now frozen. Russia has not defaulted on its international debts since the Bolshevik Revolution, when the Russian Empire collapsed and the Soviet Union was created. Russia defaulted on its domestic debts in the late 1990s but was able to recover from that default with the help of international aid. Russia has effectively been in default for months in the eyes of bond investors, said Liam Peach, an economist specializing in emerging European markets at Capital Economics. Insurance contracts that cover Russian debt have priced a 80% likelihood of default for weeks, and rating agencies like Standard & Poors and Moodys have placed the countrys debt deep into junk territory. HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A COUNTRY IS IN DEFAULT? Rating agencies are typically the entities that will declare default in Western financial markets, which happened on Monday. A court also can decide the issue. Bondholders who have credit default swaps contracts that act like insurance policies against default can ask a committee of financial firm representatives to decide whether a failure to pay debt should trigger a payout, which still isnt a formal declaration of default. The Credit Derivatives Determinations Committees an industry group of banks and investment funds would likely flag a credit event," Peach said. Auslander agreed that the panel will declare Russia in default in due time. It ruled June 7 that Russia had failed to pay required additional interest after making a payment on a bond after the April 4 due date. But the committee put off taking further action due to uncertainty over how sanctions might affect any settlement. WHAT CAN INVESTORS DO? The formal way to declare default is if 25% or more of bondholders say they didnt get their money. Once that happens, provisions say all Russias other foreign bonds are also in default, and bondholders could then seek a court judgment to enforce payment. In normal circumstances, investors and the defaulting government typically negotiate a settlement in which bondholders are given new bonds that are worth less but that at least give them some partial compensation. But sanctions bar dealings with Russias finance ministry. And no one knows when the war will end or how much defaulted bonds could wind up being worth. In this case, declaring default and suing might not be the wisest choice, Auslander said. It's not possible to negotiate with Russia and there are so many unknowns, so creditors may decide to hang tight for now. Investors who wanted out of Russian debt have probably already headed for the exits, leaving those who may have bought bonds at knocked-down prices in hopes of profiting from a settlement in the long run. And they might want to keep a low profile for a while to avoid being associated with the war. Once a country defaults, it can be cut off from bond-market borrowing until the default is sorted out and investors regain confidence in the governments ability and willingness to pay. But Russia has already been cut off from Western capital markets, so any return to borrowing is a long way off anyway. The Kremlin can still borrow rubles at home, where it mostly relies on Russian banks to buy its bonds. WHAT WOULD BE THE IMPACT OF RUSSIA'S DEFAULT? Western sanctions over the war have sent foreign companies fleeing from Russia and interrupted the country's trade and financial ties with the rest of the world. Default would be one more symptom of that isolation and disruption. A default would not affect the Russian economy right now because the country has not borrowed internationally in years amid sanctions and is making lots of money from exporting commodities like oil and natural gas, said Chris Weafer, a veteran Russian economy analyst at consulting firm Macro-Advisory. But longer term, when the war has resolved and Russia tries to rebuild its economy, this is where the legacy of default will be a problem. Its a bit like if an individual or if a company gets a bad credit score, it takes years to get over that," he said. Investment analysts are cautiously reckoning that a Russia default would not have the kind of impact on global financial markets and institutions that came from an earlier default in 1998. Back then, Russias default on domestic ruble bonds led the U.S. government to step in and get banks to bail out Long-Term Capital Management, a large U.S. hedge fund whose collapse, it was feared, could have shaken the wider financial and banking system. Holders of the bonds for instance, funds that invest in emerging market bonds could take serious losses. Russia, however, played only a small role in emerging market bond indexes, limiting the losses to fund investors. The spillovers to the rest of the world should be limited," Peach said. But a Russian default could have a ripple effect by adding pressure on global debt markets and making investors more risk averse and less willing to advance money, which very well could lead to further defaults in other emerging markets, Weafer said. Sweet and Choe reported from New York. AP reporter Aya Batrawy contributed from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. LONDON Russia defaulted on its international bonds for the first time in more than a century, the White House said, as sweeping sanctions have effectively cut the country off from the global financial system, rendering its assets untouchable. The Kremlin, which has the money to make payments thanks to oil and gas revenues, swiftly rejected the claims, and has accused the West of driving it into an artificial default. Earlier, some bondholders said they had not received overdue interest on Monday following the expiry of a key payment deadline on Sunday. Russia has struggled to keep up payments on $40 billion of outstanding bonds since its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. This mornings news around the finding of Russias default, for the first time in more than a century, situates just how strong the actions are that the U.S., along with allies and partners have taken, as well as how dramatic the impact has been on Russias economy, the U.S. official said on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Germany. Russias efforts to avoid what would be its first major default on international bonds since the Bolshevik revolution more than a century ago hit a roadblock in late May when the U.S. Treasury Departments Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) effectively blocked Moscow from making payments. Since March we thought that a Russian default is probably inevitable, and the question was just when, Dennis Hranitzky, head of sovereign litigation at law firm Quinn Emanuel, told Reuters ahead of the Sunday deadline. OFAC has intervened to answer that question for us, and the default is now upon us. A formal default would be largely symbolic given Russia cannot borrow internationally at the moment and doesnt need to thanks to plentiful oil and gas export revenues. But the stigma would probably raise its borrowing costs in future. The payments in question are $100 million in interest on two bonds, one denominated in U.S. dollars and another in euros, that Russia was due to pay on May 27. The payments had a grace period of 30 days, which expired on Sunday. Russias finance ministry said it made the payments to its onshore National Settlement Depository (NSD) in euros and dollars, adding it had fulfilled obligations. In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the fact that payments had been blocked by Euroclear because of Western sanctions on Russia was not our problem. Clearing house Euroclear did not respond to a request for comment. Some Taiwanese holders of the bonds had not received payments on Monday, sources told Reuters. With no exact deadline specified in the prospectus, lawyers say Russia might have until the end of the following business day to pay these bondholders. Credit ratings agencies usually formally downgrade a countrys credit rating to reflect default, but this does not apply in case of Russia as most agencies no longer rate the country. Legal tangle The legal situation surrounding the bonds looks complex. Russias bonds have been issued with an unusual variety of terms, and an increasing level of ambiguities for those sold more recently, when Moscow was already facing sanctions over its annexation of Crimea in 2014 and a poisoning incident in Britain in 2018. Rodrigo Olivares-Caminal, chair in banking and finance law at Queen Mary University in London, said clarity was needed on what constituted a discharge for Russia on its obligation, or the difference between receiving and recovering payments. All these issues are subject to interpretation by a court of law, Olivares-Caminal told Reuters. In some ways, Russia has been in default already. A committee on derivatives has ruled a credit event had occurred on some of Russias securities, which triggered a payout on some of Russias credit default swaps instruments used by investors to insure against debt default. This was triggered by Russia failing to make a $1.9 million payment in accrued interest on a payment that had been due in early April. Until the Ukraine invasion, a sovereign default had seemed unthinkable, with Russia having an investment grade rating shortly before that point. A default would also be unusual as Moscow has the funds to service its debt. The U.S. Treasurys OFAC had issued a temporary waiver, known as a general license 9A, in early March to allow Moscow to keep paying investors. The U.S. let the waiver expire on May 25 as Washington tightened sanctions on Russia, effectively cutting off payments to U.S. investors and entities. The lapsed OFAC license is not Russias only obstacle. In early June, the European Union imposed sanctions on the NSD, Russias appointed agent for its Eurobonds. Moscow has tried in the past few days to find ways of dealing with upcoming payments and avoid a default. President Vladimir Putin signed a decree last Wednesday to launch temporary procedures and give the government 10 days to choose banks to handle payments under a new scheme, suggesting Russia will consider its debt obligations fulfilled when it pays bondholders in rubles and onshore in Russia. Russia saying its complying with obligations under the terms of the bond is not the whole story, Zia Ullah, partner and head of corporate crime and investigations at law firm Eversheds Sutherland told Reuters. If you as an investor are not satisfied, for instance, if you know the money is stuck in an escrow account, which effectively would be the practical impact of what Russia is saying, the answer would be, until you discharge the obligation, you have not satisfied the conditions of the bond. Reporting by Karin Strohecker in London, Andrea Shalal in Elmau and Emily Chan in Taipei and Sujata Rao in London. Pity the Republican voters in the Metro Easts 15th Congressional District. Their difficult choice Tuesday is between two abhorrent candidates, neither of whom deserves election because neither represents the values of that districts politically moderate constituents. Both have demonstrated a willingness to say anything to win the hearts of the districts most radical primary voters, as if that tiny minority somehow deserves recognition and representation on Capitol Hill. Republican Rep. Rodney Davis of Taylorville, supported by this newspaper in his 2020 reelection bid for Illinois 13th District, used to be someone unafraid to stand up to former President Donald Trump and defend old-style GOP beliefs without veering off the deep end. Sadly, space aliens kidnapped that man and replaced him with someone willing to compromise his principles at every turn just to stay in office. For inspiration on hypocrisy, he turns to his spiritual and political mentor, House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy. Challenging Davis from the far right is Rep. Mary Miller of Oakland, who never seems to miss an opportunity to align herself with the likes of white supremacists. Millers gerrymandered 15th District has all but swallowed Davis 13th, forcing the two to run head-to-head before Tuesdays winner faces a Democrat on Nov. 8. Gaffe-prone Miller garnered national headlines when she appeared with Trump at a New York rally Saturday night and declared that the Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade was a victory for white life. Maybe it was inadvertent. Or it might have reflected her real thinking, much like her second day in office in 2021 when she openly embraced Adolf Hitlers thinking about winning the hearts and minds of young people: This is the battle. Hitler was right on one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future. She later apologized. The Supreme Courts decision Friday overturning Roe v. Wade bolstered concerns by abortion-rights activists that poorer minority women would face particular hardships traveling to access abortion services, unlike wealthier white women. Millers campaign says she meant to label the ruling a victory for right-to-life, not white life. Republican primary voters will have to think long and hard before giving Miller their stamp of approval. Her penchant for embarrassing gaffes would boost the chances of a Democratic victory in the general election. Davis close brushes with defeat in previous elections helped nudge him toward political moderation. He openly criticized GOP colleagues for their reckless response to the pandemic and joined McCarthy shortly after Jan. 6, 2021, in holding Trump responsible for the Capitol insurrection. But, like McCarthy, Davis has found various, contorted rationalizations to ratchet-down his anger at Trump, who endorses Miller. So whos worse? Someone who is unwavering in her radical beliefs, or someone who sacrifices his backbone for political expediency? With any luck, both will be looking for new jobs come Nov. 9. Regarding the editorial "Missouri's women just became second-class citizens. But they can still vote" (June 24): The original 1973 Supreme Court text of the Roe v. Wade decision is an insightful history of abortion. The court found the state had no interest or equity in a medical decision decided between a woman and her doctor. The current Supreme Court has just ruled a state can deprive its citizens of freedoms, despite having neither equity in the outcome nor responsibility for the consequences. But I believe there is a much deeper fundamental consequence to this latest decision. All states banning abortion are emphatically asserting two correlated principles: Any boy or man can impregnate any girl or woman without responsibility for the consequence; and no girl or woman has any say in whose baby she will bear. Its important to point out rape is not a sin in the Bible, so it makes me wonder about credibility of mandates from churches. Women are back to being chattel unto men. Because Roe was almost 50 years ago, most people have no concept of what it was like before 1973. I remember a few girls suddenly disappearing from high school and not returning; hearing news stories on Chicago TV stations about desperate women bleeding out from attempted coat-hanger abortions or women dying due to botched backstreet abortions. History will repeat itself. David Vail OFallon, Ill. St. Louis-based law firm Lewis Rice and several of its attorneys have been ranked in the Chambers USA 2022 Guide. Often referred to as the gold-standard, purchasers of legal services have relied on Chambers in-depth insight and analysis to identify law firms and lawyers who are the best in their field since 1999. The 2022 guide includes firms and attorneys across 250 practice areas in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. To determine law firm and individual lawyer rankings, a dedicated team of Chambers research analysts reviews submissions and conducts in-depth interviews with hundreds of thousands of clients, peers and independent market sources across 200 jurisdictions. After gathering information, they analyze factors such as technical legal ability, client service, depth of team, commercial vision and business understanding, diligence, and value for money. As a firm, Lewis Rice ranked in the following categories: Intellectual Property in Missouri Corporate/M&A in Missouri: St. Louis & Surrounds Litigation: General Commercial in Missouri: St. Louis & Surrounds Real Estate in Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds Lewis Rice attorneys who ranked include: Member Kathleen Markowski Petrillo, Intellectual Property in Missouri Chair of the Litigation Department Neal F. Perryman, Labor & Employment in Missouri: St. Louis & Surrounds Member Andrew Rothschild, Litigation: General Commercial in Missouri: St. Louis & Surrounds Member Kyle M. Binns, Real Estate in Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds Member John E. Cruz, Real Estate in Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds Member Charles F. Miller, Real Estate in Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds Member Douglas S. Stone, Real Estate in Missouri: Kansas City & Surrounds We at Lewis Rice are proud to be recognized as an outstanding law firm that is home to some of the best lawyers in the country, said Richard B. Walsh, Jr., chairman of Lewis Rice. The variety of practices and attorneys ranked demonstrate the breadth of knowledge, experience and perspectives that help make Lewis Rice a leading law firm. Chambers USA is the preeminent legal directory that ranks the top lawyers and law firms across the U.S. It works with law firms of all sizes during research, ensuring it covers all aspects of the legal market to assist a diverse array of clients with their legal needs. ### About Lewis Rice Throughout the Firm's history, Lewis Rice attorneys have made excellence the foundation of their practice. Founded in 1909, more than a century of service gives the Firm the experience, resources and tools to serve their clients' dynamic needs. A diverse team of more than 160 attorneys provide counsel and solutions for the challenges facing local, regional and national businesses, as well as individuals and families. Lewis Rice maintains offices in downtown St. Louis, suburban Town & Country and Jefferson City, Missouri and Edwardsville, Illinois. The Firm also has offices in downtown Kansas City, Missouri and suburban Overland Park, Kansas. Thank you! You've reported this item as a violation of our terms of use. Error! There was a problem with reporting this article. This content was contributed by a user of the site. If you believe this content may be in violation of the terms of use, you may report it. Report Abuse Log In to report The business news you need Get the latest local business news delivered FREE to your inbox weekly. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. South Africa: Government calls for labour law compliance in agri sector The Department of Employment and Labour has called for maximum labour law compliance in the agriculture sector during a seminar targeted at employers, employees, employer organisations and trade unions. The department hosted an agriculture sector seminar in Hoedspruit, Limpopo, under the theme, 'Paying the National Minimum Wage is the Right Thing to Do'. In a statement, the department said the seminar was preceded by an agricultural sector inspection blitz, the results of which indicated the need for an advocacy session with sector stakeholders. Describing the seminar's purpose, the department's Advocate Fix Bede stated that the emphasis was on payment of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), registration of workers with the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF), registration of workers with the Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases Act (COIDA), and referral of disputes to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation, and Arbitration (CCMA). Dr Naidoo, from the departments Inspection and Enforcement Services (IES) division, told several agricultural sector employers that Limpopo province is dealing with some labour legislation issues. The seminar, he said, was one way for the department to show its willingness to help with these issues in an open and accessible manner. Because the department exists to regulate labour markets, it promotes job growth. The department never intends for employers to fail as a result of business closures, as this has a negative impact on communities. When it comes to labour legislation, there is a lot to take in but this seminar is just one among many engagements to help employers and employees in the sector understand these laws, the department said. CCMA Commissioner, Ephraim Dikotla -- who presented on the NMW and BCEA-related cases in the agriculture sector with the CCMA in Limpopo -- revealed that there are 162 cases which were reported for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022, and 14 cases for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2022. Some of the cases were related to failure to pay any amount owing in terms of the NWMA, dismissal for operational reasons related to NWMA and unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment with the NMWA. Dikotla said 138 cases reported for the period 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022 and 14 cases reported during 1 April 2021 to 31 May 2022 were not related to the NMWA. The agriculture sector [labour practice] compliance level in Limpopo for 2020 to 2021 return of earnings [ROE] season revealed that there are still 2 226 registered employers with the CF and 1 007 ROEs and invoices received; 73 invoices paid; an estimated 45% of ROE submission; an estimated 7% level of compliance, with an estimated 32 000 players in the sector (as per Google search), the department said. The department has further urged employers in the agricultural sector to comply with labour laws. It is important to remember and remind everyone that before these laws were enacted, there was massive public participation, which also allowed employer and employee organisations, trade unions, and civil society to provide input into these laws before they were passed in Parliament, and now all that is required is compliance with these laws, the department said. The department emphasised that it strives for a labour market that is conducive to investment, economic growth, employment creation and decent work by enacting its mission. The departments mission is to regulate the South African labour market for a sustainable economy through appropriate legislation and regulations, inspection, compliance monitoring and enforcement, protection of human rights, provision of employment services, promoting equity, social and income protection and social dialogue. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Israeli firm Rafael recently announced another major upgrade for its Spike NLOS (Non-Line-Of- Sight) missile. The new version is the sixth major upgrade for SPIKE NLOS and adds some major new features, including longer range (to 50 kilometers), salvo fire and improved use of networks. That means four Spike NLOS missiles can be launched by a helicopter and control of one or more of these missiles can instantly transferred to another helicopter. The new version of Spike NLOS is also more reliable and effective when facing jamming or other forms of interference. Rafael also revealed that this new version of Spike NLOS would be used to participate in a competition with two other unidentified missiles to determine which of the three will arm the AH-64E helicopter gunship and future gunship designs the Americans are working on. In late 2021 the U.S. Army announced it had selected three missiles that qualified for the missile competition in 2022. At the time Rafael had submitted version five of Spike NLOS. During 2021 Israel released a lot of previously secret information about the development and use of Spike NLOS. This included photos and other details of its oldest, and rarely discussed Tamuz guided missile. Earlier in 2021 the current version of Tamuz, now called Spike NLOS, was used to attack a convoy of trucks carrying Iranian weapons to Lebanon. The convoy was close enough to the Israeli border for a Spike NLOS missile to reach. This was cheaper (at about $220,000 a missile) than using a longer-range, and more expensive, air-to-surface missile launched from a more expensive to operate F-16. The Spike NLOS was launched from a helicopter. Tamuz is the fourth month of the Hebrew calendar, and begins in June. As a code name for a secret weapon, it did the job. The photos released in 2021 showed the earliest version of Tamuz, which was mounted on a M113 APC (Armored Personnel Carrier) with four Tamuz storage/firing canisters. Photos of the launch were also shown, with all four canisters elevated and the missile leaving one of them. The launch vehicle and the crew belonged to the top-secret Meitar artillery unit, which was created to select and train operators for Tamuz, as well as maintain and deploy the Tamuz launch vehicles as needed. In 2017 Israel disbanded Meitar, one of its oldest (since 1986), most effective and secretive artillery units that used a unique, very effective and quite secret weapon called Tamuz. Disbanding Meitar was not unexpected because in late 2016 Israel admitted the existence of a secret weapon that had been largely kept out of news since it first entered service in 1981. The weapon has been known since 2009, when the latest version was offered for export as the Spike NLOS missile rather than Tamuz 5. Israel had, as far back as the late 1970s been secretly developing a long range, highly accurate missile known only as Tamuz and formed Meitar, a special artillery unit, to operate these extremely accurate battlefield missiles. Tamuz was a missile that used a video camera and radio link to enable the operator to hit small targets at long ranges. The first Tamuz had a range of ten kilometers while later models had 20 and now 25 kilometers, or up to fifty kilometers if launched from a helicopter. Since the missile was guided to the target by a human operator, there was always the option to abort at the last minute. Disbanding Meitar made sense because the basic technology behind these missiles had become cheaper, easier to use and more widely known and used. In short, the Meitar Magic had become easier to manufacture and easier to use and now appeared in many weapons. Over its 30-year history Meitar used Tamuz over a thousand times and the many enemies it had been used against had come to understand that this was not more Israeli magic but just a technological edge the Israelis developed first and found to be more effective if the details were kept secret. Some Israeli allies found out about it and sought to purchase Tamuz. Between 2007 and 2020 Britain, South Korea and the United States have become users of Tamuz 5, now called Spike NLOS and upgraded to version six in 2022. From the beginning what made Tamuz so effective was the use of trained operators to drive the missile to a very specific target, like a moving vehicle or a window into a specific room. Until the Spike NLOS version was revealed in 2009, units equipped with Tamuz missiles were considered elite because skilled and well-trained operators were needed to make sure the final moments of flight took the missile to the target, which was often moving or simply small. Aside from the time (months) and efforts to recruit and train the operators, Tamuz was also expensive, several times what a less accurate guided missile cost. After the 1990s advances in electronics, software and design made it possible to add fire and forget and other operator friendly features to most new ATGM (Anti-Tank Guided Missiles). Rafael, the Israeli firm that developed and built Tamuz, transferred some of the Tamuz tech to its Spike family of ATGMs, which first entered service in 1997. Rafael noticed that upgrades to Tamuz tech were converging with what the Spike family of ATGMs, and competing foreign systems, were using. Eventually it made sense to call the latest version of Tamuz what it really was, a longer range of the Spike missile, which became known as Spike NLOS. For a long time Tamuz was considered a very specialized weapon whose existence was generally kept secret. For one thing, if potential enemies knew details of how Tamuz worked, they could develop tactics and methods that would make Tamuz less effective. Moreover, the secrecy reinforced the attitude among Islamic terrorists that the Western and Israeli infidels (non-Moslems) must be using some sort of sorcery, which is forbidden to devout Moslems, to make it work. It wasnt sorcery, it was just carefully developed and properly used tech. Before offering the latest version, Spike NLOS, for export in 2009 Israel secretly sold it to Britain in 2007 for use in Afghanistan. This was part of a deal that involved Britain buying UAV technology from Israel for their Watchkeeper UAV. Britain bought over 600 Spike NLOS missiles and used them very effectively in Afghanistan to quickly destroy Taliban efforts to fire rockets and mortar shells at British bases. The British called the Spike NLOS missile systems Exactor and cautioned the troops to keep quiet about the details. The secrecy generally held although there were occasional mentions of Exactor in British military publications ever since. Spike NLOS weighs 70kg (155 pounds), about 50 percent more than the more popular, cheaper and less capable American Hellfire missile. Spike NLOS can be fired at a target the operator cannot see, but someone else with a laser designator, can see. Spike NLOS is usually fired from helicopters, which also provides the laser designator. There is also a ground version, which was what the British used in Afghanistan, with missile launchers mounted on armored vehicles, like the original Tamuz. Spike NLOS has multiple guidance systems, mainly laser and the live video feed can be used for the operator to fly the missile into the target or simply designate an image of the selected target so the missile can home in by itself (fire and forget). The operator can still have Spike NLOS self-destruct or shift to another target. Israel successfully used Spike NLOS during the 2006 war with Hezbollah in south Lebanon and the 2014 war with Hamas in Gaza. Now that most of the details of what Spike NLOS is and where it came from, and what it has been through, it is an increasingly popular, if expensive, export item. But that is mainly because various versions of this missile, first as Tamuz then as Spike NLOS, had been in service since 1981, were battle tested and known to be very dependable and effective no matter what tech they used. Turkey wants to end a feud with the UAE (United Arab Emirates) and get 54-year-old Mehmet Ali Ozturk, one of its senior MIT (Turkish Intelligence) agents released from prison. This is part of an effort to improve relations with Arab states and the West, including Israel. As expected, the UAE negotiators were formidable and got more out of the Turks than Erdogan wanted to give. The UAE made it clear that if they agreed to a settlement with Turkey over this matter, it would be much easier for Turkey to mend relations with other countries on their long list of nations they have offended in the last decade and turned into enemies. Turkeys bad relations with the UAE were also the result of Turkish president Erdogan accusing the UAE of responsibility for the alleged 2016 military coup against Erdogan, who had become unpopular with many Turks since he formed a pro-Islam political party in 2001 and was elected president in 2014 on the promise of reducing corruption. Two years later Erdogan accused his former mentor and political partner Fethullah Gulen of organizing a military coup against Erdogan. Gulen gad moved to the United States in 1999 to get away from the often violent politics in Turkey and make it easier to expand his international network of schools teaching a form of political Islam that emphasizes democracy and clean government. As Erdogan became more dictatorial and corrupt, he often accused Gulen of secretly plotting against him. This led to the 2016 coup, which was more about Erdogan creating an excuse to purge the Turkish media, academia and government, including the military, of anyone who disagreed with him or was suspected of such subversive thinking. Erdogan wanted to reverse the Turkish secular revolution that occurred after World War I in which army officers, led by Kemal Ataturk, turned Turkey into a secular republic. Ataturk was not anti-religion, he just wanted, along with many other Turks, to be rid of the corrupt and increasingly ineffective Ottoman monarchy, which depended heavily on Islam to justify and maintain its power. For example, the Ottoman Sultan reinforced his power in 1517 by conquering Egypt and taking control of the Moslem holy cities of Mecca and Medina in what is now Saudi Arabia. That made the Moslem Sultan the guardian of Mecca and Medina and powerful enough to claim he was the head of an Islamic caliphate, something that had disappeared centuries earlier and not expected to return. No other Islamic ruler was able to challenge the Sultan. This move was very unpopular with Arab subjects of the Ottoman empire and that resentment simmered until Ataturk declared Turkey a republic. Mecca and Medina were administered by a prominent Arab family with no military or political power and subordinate to the Ottomans. That was one reason why the Saud clan took control of Mecca and Medina in 1924 during its campaign to create the kingdom of Saudi Arabia. This move was also unpopular with many Moslems, including Arabs but more tolerable than what the Ottomans did. Since becoming a republic Turkey had stayed out of Arab politics and was an early supporter of Israel and the secular West. That led to Turkey joining NATO in 1952. Turkey also wanted to join the new European Union and applied for admittance in 1995. Turkey ran into problems because of rampant corruption in its economy. This was also a problem with neighboring Greece, but the Greeks managed to get into the EU long before (1981), mainly by being more effective at deceiving EU auditors. The Turks saw this as an insult, ignoring the substantial corruption problems in Turkey. This resistance to dealing with corruption was taken advantage of by Erdogan who made some progress on eliminating corruption before becoming dependent on corruption and deception to stay in power. This led to conflicts with Israel, NATO and most Arab nations. Erdogan was looking for the most effective way out of this mess and that led them to the UAE. The agreement with the UAE was even more painful because the UAE is currently rated the least corrupt nation in the Middle East, rated as the 20th least corrupt nation in the world, with Israel in 35th place and Turkey in 39th. The UAEs corruption score has not changed much since the 2011 Arab Spring revolution. The UAE achieved the most favorable corruption score in the region because it has long depended on foreign trade to survive and, to make money in that business, you must be known as an honest trading partner. Israeli corruption is largely internal and less present when making trade deals. The UAE is also different in that it is a federation of formerly independent emirates that realized the wisdom of joining forces. Laws and customs vary somewhat among the emirates and some are more gangster than others. Overall, the UAE is a place where foreigners, and locals, feel comfortable doing business. Before the 2020 peace deal with Israel, there was always some unofficial Israeli business being done in the UAE. Turkey wants to regain that kind of access to the UAE. The Turks got Mehmet Ali Ozturk freed from a UAE prison where he was serving a life sentence for running a Turkish government-sponsored Islamic terrorist network that was part of a secret Turkish effort to create and use suitable Islamic terror groups to support Turkish foreign policy throughout the Maddie East. This included areas like Syria and Libya where Turkey and the UAE were opponents. The Turks believed it was safe for Ozturk to travel to the UAE, which he did in 2018 on a business trip for BLC, the successful family firm he worked for. Ozturk has spent most of this life with his family run firm and was recruited by MIT in 2012 because Ozturk supported Erdogan and the use of cooperative Islamic terror groups to do business with, including covertly hiring them as mercenaries. Turkey maintained the loyalty of these Islamic radicals by providing them access to Turkey to obtain supplies and sometimes as a safe place to put their families while the men were off fighting for their cause. In 2018 Ozturk was arrested in the UAE and changed with a long list of crimes involving Islamic terrorist groups. A diplomat from the Turkish embassy was at the trial, which took ten weeks to complete. The Turks learned that the UAE intel officials knew a lot more about Ozturk and his work for MIT than the Turks realized. The Turks continued trying to get the Turkish businessman Ozturk freed from prison and all the Turks were offered in return was the possibility of freedom for Ozturk if Turkey provided confirmation of the charges against Ozturk and details of Ozturks work for the Turkish government. Erdogan resisted that until he realized that the UAE and Israel had long been sharing intelligence data, that all the details of MIT operations the UAE wanted would probably come out soon anyway, and here was a chance to come clean and repair relations with the UAE, Israel and maybe even the Americans all at once. The Turks confirmed that the Ozturk network was one of several operating in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Europe. The primary purpose of these groups is to protect Turks, especially Turkic minorities in other countries that are persecuted because they are a minority, not just because they are Turkic. This aid even extends, from time to time to the Turkic Uyghurs in northwest China. Uyghurs are being persecuted, jailed and killed for not cooperating with Chinese efforts to turn them into loyal Chinese citizens. Most of the MIT efforts with Islamic terrorists have less noble goals, usually involving supporting Turkish foreign policy. That is what MIT sought to do in Syria to maintain good relations with the Iranians while persecuting the local Kurds and placating the Iran-backed Assad government of Syria. The goals in Libya are purely about money and gaining access to Libyan oil and offshore deposits in waters between Libya and Turkey that by international law belong to Greece. The MIT networks often disguised themselves as humanitarian groups to provide cover for MIT operations that often caused or exacerbated humanitarian disasters. Ozturk was released from prison at the end of 2021 and was hailed as a Turkish hero back home and became a popular speaker at pro-Erdogan gatherings in Turkey. Erdogan now has to clean up the mess all these recent MIT revelations identified. This was the cost of getting a key MIT operative out of jail and was considered worth it by supporters of the Erdogan-run Turkish government. Assays from five additional holes - MAP-101 to 105. Results generally reflect lower levels of gold anomalism but high-grade zinc and copper evident at depth, beyond the capacity of the existing rig fleet. Focus shifted to northern prospects - two rigs drilling at Pepas and one at Pupino with another rig being mobilised. First assay results from Pepas expected in July. For the full PDF version of the announcement with Figures 1-5 included, please refer to: http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/2088Q_1-2022-6-26.pdf LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / June 27, 2022 / Orosur Mining Inc. ("Orosur" or the "Company") (TSX-V:OMI; AIM:OMI), is pleased to announce an update on the progress of exploration activities at the Company's flagship Anz project in Colombia. Exploration work at Anza is under the operational control of the Company's Joint Venture partner, Minera Monte Aguila SAS ("Monte Aguila"). Monte Aguila is a 50/50 joint venture between Newmont Corporation ("Newmont") (NYSE:NEM, TSX: NEM) and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico") (NYSE:AEM, TSX: AEM) and is the vehicle by which these two companies jointly exercise their rights and obligations with respect to the Exploration Agreement with Venture Option ("Exploration Agreement") over the Anza Project. Assay results from the final five holes drilled at the APTA prospect have been received. In general, the results reflect lower levels of gold anomalism compared to previously drilled holes, but show some high-grade base metal results, similar to intersections from previous drilling, adding support to the theory of hybrid volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)/intermediate-sulfidation epithermal system. While few significant gold intercepts were recorded, this was not wholly unexpected as these holes were drilled to better define the geological and structural context of the APTA environment whilst the Company awaited mapping, sampling, geophysics and land access to be finalised on the northern prospects. These results would suggest that while APTA remains a highly prospective target, with multiple thick and high-grade intersections having been previously recorded, it is also complex and has substantial depth extent that is beyond the capacity of the current drill rig fleet to test. As previously announced on April 25th, 2022, drilling ceased at APTA in late March with the remaining Colombian rig being mobilised to the Pepas prospect at the far northern extent of the project area. The focus of the scout drilling program in the NE of the project area is to test several anomalous targets identified through surface mapping and sampling, geophysics, and geochemistry - it is planned to have four rigs operating in this area, with two each at Pepas and Pupino. Assay Results Assay results from the final five holes drilled at APTA have been received from the ALS laboratory in Lima, Peru (MAP-101 to 105). Key intersections from these holes are noted below: MAP-102 4.85m @ 0.51g/t Au, 1.24g/t 0.16% Zn MAP-103 0.75m @ 3.30g/t Au, 0.86g/t Ag, 0.14% Zn 0.95m @ 4.90g/t Au, 3.49g/t Ag, 3.39% Zn MAP-104 5.35m @ 2.62g/t Au, 2.61g/t Ag, 1.04% Zn 0.50m @ 22.80g/t Au, 13.95g/t Ag, 0.52%Zn MAP-105 2.50m @ 3.30g/t Au, 1.61g/t Ag, 0.06% Zn 9.25m @ 1.77g/t Au, 4.63 g/t Ag, 5.33% Zn 9.70m @ 0.17g/t Au, 2.59 g/t Ag, 13.88% Zn, 0.91% Cu Full results from these holes are noted below. Hole Number From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Zn (%) Cu (%) MAP101 No significant results MAP102 219.60 221.00 1.40 0.46 6.81 0.10 0.01 MAP102 243.05 247.90 4.85 0.51 1.24 0.16 0.02 MAP102 289.75 341.95 52.20 0.23 1.69 0.04 0.01 MAP103 205.90 216.35 10.45 0.49 0.48 0.03 - including 214.95 215.70 0.75 3.30 0.86 0.14 - MAP103 258.95 283.65 24.70 0.37 11.76 0.32 0.03 including 258.95 260.70 1.75 0.83 15.33 1.48 0.08 including 264.10 264.75 0.65 0.27 10.75 2.28 0.47 including 266.20 268.35 2.15 0.92 43.14 0.44 0.02 MAP103 302.60 303.55 0.95 4.90 3.49 3.39 0.17 MAP103 328.80 335.15 6.35 0.50 0.45 0.15 - including 329.50 330.35 0.85 1.47 0.94 0.34 0.02 MAP103 581.10 584.10 3.00 0.34 2.90 3.92 0.45 including 581.60 583.05 1.45 0.55 4.62 6.63 0.55 MAP103 637.95 658.80 20.85 0.42 4.63 0.07 0.01 including 651.20 651.90 0.70 1.40 12.15 0.10 0.01 MAP104 75.00 93.20 18.20 0.55 2.34 0.21 0.02 including 83.00 83.70 0.70 2.86 3.51 0.02 - including 89.10 90.05 0.95 2.11 6.89 1.08 0.12 MAP104 188.90 194.25 5.35 2.67 2.61 1.04 0.04 including 188.90 190.45 1.55 8.37 5.61 0.20 0.03 including 188.90 189.40 0.50 22.80 13.95 0.52 0.07 including 192.55 194.25 1.70 0.39 2.28 3.10 0.10 MAP105 278.70 281.20 2.50 3.30 1.61 0.06 - including 278.70 279.80 1.10 5.97 2.42 0.02 - MAP105 305.25 314.50 9.25 1.77 4.63 5.33 0.39 including 309.55 310.70 1.15 3.14 4.18 4.56 0.72 including 312.65 314.50 1.85 2.73 5.63 10.91 0.70 including 312.65 313.60 0.95 4.41 5.55 11.43 0.96 MAP105 320.35 327.70 7.35 0.32 8.53 6.17 0.82 including 323.70 324.75 1.05 0.34 23.45 16.53 2.29 MAP105 475.40 485.10 9.70 0.17 2.59 13.88 0.91 including 478.85 484.80 5.95 0.15 3.58 18.04 1.40 Table 1. Drill Intercepts. Figure 1. Plan of last five holes Figure 2. Plan, all holes since 2020 MAP-101 MAP-101 was drilled well to the north of all previous drilling and angled away to a NW azimuth. The primary objective of the hole was to intersect and thus confirm the location of the northward continuation of the Aragon fault. The hole was successful in these objectives, but no substantial mineralisation was intersected. MAP-102 MAP-102 was drilled to test the northern extension of higher-grade mineralisation previously intersected in hole MAP-089. While substantial widths of mineralisation were intersected, these were of lower grade, and somewhat similar to the nearby hole MAP-097. Figure 3. Section MAP-102 MAP-104 MAP-104 was drilled into a gap between the previously defined north and south sections of the APTA zone. This is a zone where the primary structures change direction and thus it was necessary to better define this section. Some narrow high-grade gold and base metal veins were intersected. Figure 4. Section MAP-104 MAP-103,105 MAP-103 and 105 were drilled to test the continuity of mineralisation previously intersected in MAP-098, but also to push downward to test stratigraphy to the limit of the available rigs. Both holes were drilled from the west, and so designed more as stratigraphic holes. Reasonable intersections of gold mineralisation were intersected, however of most interest was the intersection in MAP-105 of a likely VMS system at depth with high grade zinc and copper mineralisation, including 5.95m @ 18% Zn and 1.4% Cu from 478m. Figure 5. Section MAP-103 & MAP-105 Other Drilling As previously announced on April 25th, 2022, drilling activities ceased at APTA in March, with the remaining rig mobilised to the northern Pepas prospect. Extensive programs of mapping, sampling and geophysics had been undertaken along the northern extent of the Aragon fault and associated structures over previous months, with highly anomalous geochemical and geophysical responses being recorded. Access to the area however was challenging due to terrain issues and substantial logistical infrastructure and support was required to be developed before rigs could be mobilised. Drilling commenced at Pepas with one rig in April, with a second rig mobilised to Pepas in recent weeks. The Company is also informed that a third rig has commenced drilling at Pupino, with a fourth in the process of being mobilised to commence at Pupino in the near term. Core from the first hole at Pupino have been submitted to the laboratory for assay and results are expected soon. Orosur CEO Brad George commented: "This last batch of holes were largely focused on resolving stratigraphic and structural issues at APTA, while waiting for permitting and access to be developed at the highly prospective northern prospects of Pepas and Pupino. APTA has been the focus of attention for Waymar, Orosur and Monte Aguila since 2012 with the remaining 20km of strike of the Aragon Fault tantalisingly out of reach. APTA proved the region is fertile, and field mapping in the north suggested this could continue, but it was only in April that we were finally able to move rigs onto these targets. We await with some anticipation the results of recent drilling at Pepas and Pupino and look forward to updating shareholders shortly." For further information visit www.orosur.ca, follow on twitter @orosurm or contact: Orosur Mining Inc. Louis Castro, Chairman Brad George, CEO [email protected] Tel:+1 (778) 373-0100 SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP - Nomad & Joint Broker Jeff Keating / Caroline Rowe Tel: +44 (0) 20 3 470 0470 Turner Pope Investments (TPI) Ltd - Joint Broker Andy Thacker Tel: +44 (0)20 3657 0050 Flagstaff Communications and Investor Communications Tim Thompson Mark Edwards Fergus Mellon [email protected] Tel: +44 (0)207 129 1474 The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 ('MAR') which has been incorporated into UK law by the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018. Upon the publication of this announcement via Regulatory Information Service ('RIS'), this inside is now considered to be in the public domain. Drill Hole Details - 2020/2021 Programme* Hole ID Easting (m) Northing (m) Elevation asl (m) Dip () Azimuth () MAP-072 400088 694745 1075 -55 293 MAP-073 400018 694503 1097 -58 295 MAP-074 399981 694684 1110 -58 295 MAP-075 400168 694723 1024 -55 295 MAP-076 400019 694527 1107 -50 295 MAP-077 400168 694723 1024 -69 295 MAP-078 399917 694719 1112 -50 295 MAP-079 399995 693976 960 -55 295 MAP-080 400231 694580 966 -55 295 MAP-081 400045 693950 920 -55 295 MAP-082 400176 694797 1020 -50 296 MAP-083 400176 694797 1020 -60 310 MAP-084 400045 693950 920 -57 321 MAP-085 400167 694552 1000 -46 247 MAP-086 400067 694360 1068 -54 295 MAP-087 400027 694168 988 -54 290 MAP-088 400168 694723 1024 -55 341 MAP-089 400067 694360 1068 -59 317 MAP-090 400041 694630 1059 -56 296 MAP-091 400060 694715 1089 -50 295 MAP-092 399420 695235 1162 -50 138 MAP-093 400055 694203 1006 -59 290 MAP-094 399954 694347 1031 -64 303 MAP-095 399722 695252 1113 -50 135 MAP-096 399759 694632 1082 -57 127 MAP-097 400054 694472 1087 -71 311 MAP-098 399794 694730 1149 -65 130 MAP-099 399098 695129 1157 -50 250 MAP-100 400096 694431 1051 -59 283 MAP-101 400286 694890 967 -50 331 MAP-102 400095 694426 990 -61.5 303.5 MAP-103 399793 694730 1162 -65.5 123.3 MAP-104 399982 694294 1015 -60 297 MAP-105 399793 694730 1162 -64 113 * Coordinates WGS84, UTM Zone 18 About Orosur Mining Inc. Orosur Mining Inc. (TSX-V: OMI; AIM: OMI) is a minerals explorer and developer focused on identifying and advancing projects in South America. The Company currently operates in Colombia, Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. About the Anza Project Anza is a gold exploration project, comprising three exploration licences, four exploration licence applications, and several small exploitation permits, totalling 207.5km2 in the prolific Mid-Cauca belt of Colombia. The Anza Project is currently wholly owned by Orosur via its subsidiary, Minera Anza S.A. The project is located 50km west of Medellin and is easily accessible by all-weather roads and boasts excellent infrastructure including water, power, communications and large exploration camp. The AnzaI Project is subject to an Exploration Agreement with Venture Option dated September 7th, 2018, as announced on September 10th, 2018, between Orosur's 100% subsidiary Minera AnzaI S.A ("Minera AnzaI") and Minera Monte AIguila SAS ("Monte AIguila"), a 50/50 joint venture between Newmont Corporation ("Newmont") (NYSE:NEM, TSX:NGT), and Agnico Eagle Mines Limited ("Agnico") (NYSE:AEM, TSX: AEM). Qualified Persons Statement The information in this news release was compiled, reviewed and verified by Mr. Brad George, BSc hons (Geology and Geophysics), MBA, Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (MAIG), CEO of Orosur Mining Inc. and a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Orosur Mining staff follow standard operating and quality assurance procedures to ensure that sampling techniques and sample results meet international reporting standards. Drill core is split in half over widths that vary between 0.3m and 2m, depending upon the geological domain. One half is kept on site in the Minera Anza core storage facility, with the other sent for assay. Industry standard QAQC protocols are put in place with approximately 20% of total submitted samples being blanks, repeats or Certified Reference Materials (CRMs). Samples are sent to the Medellin preparation facility of ALS Colombia Ltd, and then to the ISO 9001 certified ALS Global laboratory in Lima, Peru. 30 gram nominal weight samples are then subject to fire assay and AAS analysis for gold with gravimetric re-finish for overlimit assays of >10g/t. ICP-MS Ultra-Trace level multi-element four-acid digest analyses is also undertaken for such elements as silver, copper, lead and zinc, etc. Gold intersections are reported using a lower cut off of 0.3g/t Au over 3m. Forward Looking Statements All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained in this news release constitute "forward looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to the "safe harbour" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and are based on expectations estimates and projections as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the exploration plans in Colombia and the funding from Monte Aguila of those plans, Monte Aguila's decision to continue with the Exploration and Option agreement, the ability for Loryser to continue and finalize the remediation in Uruguay, the ability to implement the Creditors' Agreement successfully as well as continuation of the business of the Company as a going concern and other events or conditions that may occur in the future. The Company's continuance as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to obtain adequate financing, to reach profitable levels of operations and to reach a satisfactory implementation of the Creditors Agreement in Uruguay. These material uncertainties may cast significant doubt upon the Company's ability to realize its assets and discharge its liabilities in the normal course of business and accordingly the appropriateness of the use of accounting principles applicable to a going concern. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such forward looking statements. Such statements are subject to significant risks and uncertainties including, but not limited, those as described in Section "Risks Factors" of the MD&A and the Annual Information Form. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events and such forward-looking statements, except to the extent required by applicable law. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact [email protected] or visit www.rns.com. SOURCE: Orosur Mining Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks to an audience at the "American Freedom Tour" event in Memphis, Tennessee, U.S., June 18, 2022. REUTERS/Karen Pulfer Focht/File Photo (Reuters) -Blank-check firm Digital World Acquisition Corp said on Monday each of its board directors had received subpoenas from federal prosecutors over the company's merger plans with former U.S President Donald Trump's social media firm. The federal probe is the latest setback to Trump's efforts to take Trump Media & Technology Group Corp (TMTG), the creator of social media platform Truth Social, public. TMTG in October agreed to merge with Digital World and was expecting the deal to close by the second half of this year. Shares of Digital World fell 6% in premarket trading after the company said in a regulatory filing that it became aware that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York had issued subpoenas to its directors. The company had seven directors on its board, as of April 13, including Chief Executive Officer Patrick Orlando and Chief Financial Officer Luis Orleans-Braganza. On June 24, a grand jury subpoena was also sent to the company, the filing by Digital World showed. Earlier this month, the company reported that the U.S Securities and Exchange Commision (SEC) and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, which have been probing its deal with TMTG since late last year, had also sought more information. The latest subpoenas to Digital World sought the same documents as the SEC probe as well as requests relating to the company's S-1 filings. Digital World also said Bruce Garelick, chief strategy officer of Rocket One Capital, a Miami-based investment firm, was resigning from the board. Some of the information requested by the grand jury was about communications with Rocket One. Michael Shvartsman, founder and CEO of Rocket One Capital, did not immediately reply to a Reuters request for comment. "Will cooperate with oversight that supports the SEC's important mission of protecting retail investors," TMTG said. (Reporting by Eva Mathews in Bengaluru; Editing by Shinjini Ganguli) AMA Scholarship Honors the Late Penny Todd, a Marketing Visionary, Past AMA Houston President HOUSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AMA Houston, the leading educational information, career-building, and networking resource for Houstons marketing professionals, today announced the two recipients of the AMA Houston Penny Todd Scholarship: University of Houston student Trevor Woeste and Sam Houston State University student Elimar Gonzalez. In honor of former AMA Houston President Penny Todd, AMA Houston has granted more than $30,000 to deserving undergraduate marketing students since 2016. Marketing is a diverse field covering advertising, public relations, graphic design, digital marketing and so much more. The field also attracts a diverse set of students and professionals with many backgrounds, interests and talents, said 2021-2022 AMA Houston President Hami Arrington. Thanks to the generosity of donors, this year we were pleased to expand the scholarship and grant two awards to two outstanding marketing students, Trevor Woeste and Elimar Gonzalez. They represent the future of marketing that Penny Todd championed. Congratulations from the entire AMA Houston Chapter. A sophomore at the University of Houston, double majoring in marketing and management information systems (MIS), Woeste is highly involved with the AMA University of Houston collegiate chapter, and competed at the AMA International Collegiate Conference in Chicago this past year, becoming 1 of 48 finalists out of 400 in their Pitch Perfect competition. Gonzalez, born in Venezuela and raised in Houston since 2008, is a senior at Sam Houston State University. She will be the first in her family to graduate with a degree from an American university. After starting school as a graphic design major, Gonzalez made the brave leap as a junior to mass communications with a focus on advertising. She intends to pursue her masters degree after some time working in corporate marketing. Penny Todd was a visionary leader in the Houston marketing community who made a lasting impact on the future of marketing. Her belief in marketers powerful and important role in business and society is central to AMA Houston. As the 20072008 president of AMA Houston, Penny tenaciously sought ways to support marketing students and non-profit marketers by launching the AMA Houston Gives Back Program. After her passing in 2016, in an effort to honor Penny and build on her philanthropic vision, AMA Houston established the Penny Todd Scholarship. The scholarship is open to Houston-area undergraduate college students studying marketing or a related field and is funded by corporate and individual donations made year-round. Donations are accepted on the AMA Houston website. About AMA Houston AMA Houston is the leading educational information, career-building, and networking resource for Houstons marketing professionals and has been serving marketing professionals for more than 60 years. AMA Houston is one of the nations largest chapters. In 2021, AMA Houston received multiple awards from AMA National including Programming Excellence, Leadership Excellence, and Platinum Club of Continuing Excellence. To learn more about the AMA or to join Houstons largest marketing professional organization, visit https://www.amahouston.org/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005488/en/ Carrie Ward PR for AMA Houston [email protected] 832-407-5347 Source: AMA Houston Second humanitarian relief flight provides resources to those impacted by Ukraine crisis MEMPHIS, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) and Direct Relief continue to support those affected by the conflict in Ukraine. On Sunday, June 26, FedEx Express safely delivered 52 tons of critical medical aid to Poland from the United States via a FedEx humanitarian relief flight. This follows FedEx and Direct Reliefs first charter flight of aid for Ukrainian refugees in March and is the latest in a continuous series of shipments from Direct Relief. Aid aboard the FedEx Express Boeing 777 cargo aircraft included substantial quantities of emergency medicines and supplies, including health kits, trauma and wound care items, chronic disease and chemical exposure medications, and antibiotics. All items were provided at the request of, and approved by, Ukraines Ministry of Health and local Ukrainian organizations. Direct Relief team members were on site for the offload and the aid will be distributed to health facilities within Ukraine. As the war enters its fourth month, Direct Reliefs support and solidarity remain steadfastly with the people of Ukraine, said Thomas Tighe, Direct Relief President and CEO. In addition to the heartbreaking loss of life and human toll, the war has had a devastating impact on health services in the country, and Direct Relief is committed to bolstering care with a continuous supply of medical aid. FedEx has created a powerful force multiplier for good with this most recent charter, and its an incredible example of whats needed to address this crisis. Since February 24, Direct Relief has provided more than 750 tons of medical aid in response to the crisis, from field medic packs which contain items to address trauma, including tourniquets and wound dressings to diabetes and cancer medications. It is gratifying to be able use our global network to support these critical missions, and with this charter flight we hope to make a small contribution to what is still a major humanitarian situation, said Karen Reddington, regional president of Europe, FedEx Express. FedEx has donated more than $2.3 million in humanitarian aid to support those impacted by the conflict in Ukraine, including $1 million that has been allocated for in-kind shipping with the companys longstanding nonprofit partners. Utilizing its global network and unparalleled logistics expertise, FedEx has been able to help organizations including Direct Relief, Heart to Heart International, International Medical Corps, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and World Central Kitchen, respond during this crisis. Learn more at fedexcares.com. About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenue of $94 billion, the company offers integrated business solutions through operating companies competing collectively, operating collaboratively, and innovating digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the worlds most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its 550,000 employees to remain focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards, and the needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations by 2040. To learn more, please visit fedex.com/about. About Direct Relief A humanitarian organization committed to improving the health and lives of people affected by poverty and emergencies, Direct Relief delivers lifesaving medical resources throughout the U.S. and world to communities in needwithout regard to politics, religion, or ability to pay. For more information, visit https://www.DirectRelief.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220626005077/en/ [email protected] (901) 434-8100 Source: FedEx Corp. LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) will release its financial results for the second quarter 2022 (2Q22) on Wednesday, July 27, 2022 at 6:30 a.m. Eastern time. The company will host a conference call at 9:00 a.m. Eastern time that morning to discuss its financial results for the quarter and earnings guidance for 2022. To participate via telephone, please register in advance using this link, https://register.vevent.com/register/BI9b70f6bf789c4b3fac9c5b4341adec6a. Upon registration, telephone participants will receive a confirmation email detailing how to join the conference call, including the dial-in number and a unique registrant ID. A webcast of the 2Q22 earnings call may also be accessed via Humanas Investor Relations page at www.humana.com. The company suggests participants for both the conference call and those listening via the web dial in or sign on at least 15 minutes in advance of the call. For those unable to participate in the live event, the virtual presentation archive will be available in the Historical Webcasts and Presentations section of the Investor Relations page at www.humana.com, approximately two hours following the live webcast. The companys 2Q22 earnings news release is expected to include financial measures that are not in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP). A reconciliation of non-GAAP financial measures to financial results under GAAP, as well as managements reasons for including non-GAAP financial measures, will be included in the companys 2Q22 earnings news release, a copy of which will be available on the Investor Relations page of www.humana.com on July 27, 2022. About Humana Humana Inc. (NYSE: HUM) is committed to helping our millions of medical and specialty members achieve their best health. Our successful history in care delivery and health plan administration is helping us create a new kind of integrated care with the power to improve health and well-being and lower costs. Our efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. To accomplish that, we support physicians and other health care professionals as they work to deliver the right care in the right place for their patients, our members. Our range of clinical capabilities, resources and tools such as in-home care, behavioral health, pharmacy services, data analytics and wellness solutions combine to produce a simplified experience that makes health care easier to navigate and more effective. More information regarding Humana is available to investors via the Investor Relations page of the companys website at humana.com, including copies of: Annual reports to stockholders Securities and Exchange Commission filings Most recent investor conference presentations Quarterly earnings news releases and conference calls Calendar of events Corporate Governance information View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005551/en/ Lisa Stoner Humana Investor Relations (502) 580-2652 e-mail: [email protected] Mark Taylor Humana Corporate Communications (317) 753-0345 e-mail: [email protected] Source: Humana Inc. VILLEURBANNE, France--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: NAVYA (Paris: NAVYA) (FR0013018041 - Navya), an autonomous mobility systems leader, has announced the signing of a contract with Muses Europe for the assembly of 300 electric utility vehicles with the aim of participating in the development of a future autonomous version. Muses, an innovative and efficient urban vehicle The Muses urban vehicle is a polyvalent electric utility model capable of transporting large volumes, while emphasizing its agility and its facility to navigate around city centers. Its innovative design provides greater energy efficiency and increased range, while at the same time reducing the quantity of batteries necessary, thus their cost. Its central driving position, which covers left and right and provides a 240 view, along with the many driving assistance features on offer make it an ideal last mile delivery vehicle. Muses Europe, where Ellectramobilys joins forces with large international players The Muses project was designed by the Ellectramobilys engineering office for the use of transportation professionals seeking a vehicle that is not only perfectly adapted to moving goods around city centers and their surrounding areas, but that is also easy to use and energy efficient. It brings together a large number of international players: Yulon Group, the largest Taiwanese automotive conglomerate based more than sixty years' expertise and a complete value chain, from construction to spare parts and from commercialization to vehicle related services, Speedy Group, the leading French car repair and maintenance company with 43 years' experience and about 500 auto service centers across France, owned by the Bridgestone Corporation, a major tire manufacturer. A French-produced vehicle Muses Europe made the decision to engineer and manufacture its first series of vehicles with 80% of its added value from well-known French-based suppliers, including: NAVYA for the assembly of 300 vehicles and research leading to their automization; Calip Group for the production of the cabins; Bosch France, Mondeville, pour the assembly of the cabins; F2J Stamping for the production of the chassis. The first pre-series of 300 Muses will be assembled by NAVYA at its Venissieux plant near Lyon, which will enable us, on the one hand, to optimize our production capacity and, on the other, allow us to strengthen our understanding of the vehicle's industrial processes with an eye to its future automization. The Muses project forms an integral part of NAVYA's roadmap which aims at integrating our AD packs in existing rolling bases. "The Muses utility vehicles are the result of a collaborative effort which brought together technical expertise, an open approach and the general mindset of the automotive industry with the aim of developing an electric vehicle platform designed to reduce battery need. The thinking behind our modular platform enables the co-development and industrialization and of scalable solutions with partners of all types and from all corners of the world. With an eye on the important place autonomous mobility will occupy in the years to come, it was considered essential to set in motion the automization process straight away. We are glad to partner with NAVYA on this key project, a company that has globally recognized expertise in autonomous mobility and is the only player on the market that combines two skills: the ability to integrate AD packs on an existing platform and the industrial logic to manufacture vehicles." Damien Biro, Chairman of Muses Europe "NAVYA is proud to participate on this project which is triply innovative, through its design, its environmental responsibility and its partners and ecosystems selected in the interest of reducing supply chains. It underlines the challenge facing all automakers to prepare today for tomorrow's automized vehicle platforms. NAVYA has the advantage of being able to put its expertise at their disposal and to work hand-in-hand with them to build a roadmap toward automization. Our aim is to integrate our technologies on third-party platforms in response to increased market expectations and to move toward a large-scale economic model. Sophie Desormiere, CEO of Navya About Muses Europe Muses Europe was set up by Ellectramobilys to relocate the production of vehicles to France following the breakdown in the organisation and the sharp rise in costs between Europe and Asia. It holds license for the production and sale of the Muses range for Europe. It is made up of an innovative industrial grouping with more than ten years' engineering and development experience based on a revolutionary concept for the construction of modular vehicles, which is carefully adapted to the urban electric utility vehicle market and provides an unequalled quality / price / service ratio with the lowest possible energy consumption. Ellectramobilys and Muses Europe operate in the Asia region, in Taiwan through an industrial partnership with Yulon Motors. The Muses project relies on its complete mastery of the essential concepts which will allow for the emergence of a new type of vehicle that meets the vital necessities of our world, the circular economy and the safeguarding of resources. About NAVYA Created in 2014, NAVYA is a leading French name specialized in the supply of autonomous mobility systems and associated services. With 280 employees in France (Paris and Lyon), in the United States (Michigan) and in Singapore, NAVYA aims at becoming the leading player in Level 4 autonomous mobility systems for passenger and goods transport. Since 2015, NAVYA has been the first to market and put into service autonomous mobility solutions. The Autonom Shuttle, main development axis, is dedicated to passenger transport. Since its launch, more than 200 units have been sold in 25 countries as of 31 December 2021. The Autonom Tract is designed to goods transport. Engaged in an ambitious CSR approach, the Company has an active policy in this area, as illustrated by the obtaining of the ISO 9001 certification in September 2021. The Valeo and Keolis groups are among NAVYA's historical shareholders. NAVYA is listed on the Euronext regulated market in Paris (ISIN code: FR0013018041- Navya). Further details : www.navya.tech View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220626005031/en/ NAVYA CSR, Marketing & Communication Manager Nathalie Marcy [email protected] +33 (0)7 63 20 00 52 Chief Financial Officer Benoit Jacheet [email protected] NewCap Investor Relations Thomas Grojean Nicolas Fossiez [email protected] +33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 NewCap Media Relations Nicolas Merigeau [email protected] +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 Source: Navya More information available at www.ProtectFujitec.com Fujitec shareholders right to voice their opinion and hold Fujitecs leadership accountable at the AGM was violated by the Board. The actions of the Board serve only as a grave demonstration of the depth of entrenchment and lack of Board-level integrity that has enabled Mr. Uchiyama to go to such great lengths to hide from accountability for his systematic exploitation of Fujitec stakeholders. The Board has failed shareholders. Every voice, every vote, matters and should count. All stakeholders, especially shareholders, should take a stand to hold those in power accountable; Oasis will continue its efforts to Protect Fujitec and will amplify its efforts to reach more stakeholders. TOKYO & HONG KONG--(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). Fujitecs Board of Directors (the Board) decided despite egregious breaches of good corporate governance to preserve the now former-President Takakazu Uchiyamas influence by deliberately contravening the most basic shareholder rights. Shareholders were not allowed to voice their opinion at the 2022 Annual General Meeting (the AGM) and hold Mr. Uchiyama accountable because the Company withdrew his candidacy for reappointment as Director purportedly because of the ongoing investigation into his conduct and yet turned around and appointed him to be the Chairman of the Company. We are extremely disappointed by this subterfuge, just as we have been disappointed by Mr. Uchiyamas attempts at self-preservation and last-minute announcements leading up to this years AGM. Oasis has consistently advocated the importance of having strong governance structures in place to ensure that all stakeholders benefit from the value that companies can create. We value the Governance Code and take seriously the recommendations of the Stewardship Code. Management has the responsibility to create value, the Board of Directors has the responsibility to monitor and hold them accountable for their performance, and shareholders have the responsibility to appoint directors as their fiduciary agents. The Board, under Mr. Uchiyamas influence, has failed to act in the best interest of all stakeholders, including shareholders. This lack of independence and effectiveness on the Board should be extremely troubling for all stakeholders. The Context Exposure to Cover-Up to Avoidance Oasis brought to light several highly inappropriate related-party transactions that have taken place between Fujitec and Mr. Uchiyama. Each of these related-party transactions appear to have benefited Mr. Uchiyama and exposed a systematic effort by the son of the Companys founder notably only a 6.1% shareholder to exploit his inherited position of power to enrich himself at the expense of Fujitec stakeholders. An initial non-independent investigation launched by the Board, despite Oasiss clear calls for an independent investigation, served only to confirm that these value destructive related-party transactions had occurred, but were then argued to not be a cause for concern for shareholders as they were legal. On June 17, 2022, less than a week before Fujitecs 2022 AGM, Fujitec announced that it would establish a Third-Party Committee to rid the suspicions of the Companys shareholders. The announcement to carry out a new investigation with a foregone conclusion was clearly a last-minute effort to secure the re-appointment of Mr. Uchiyama but failed to alleviate shareholders concerns with the conflicted oversight mechanism at Fujitec. On the day of the 2022 AGM, Fujitec's Board resolved to withdraw Mr. Uchiyamas nomination as a Director on the basis that he should not be appointed as a Director until the Third-Party Committees report is published. If this was truly the reason, the Board had the opportunity to make such announcement when announcing the creation of the Third-Party Committee a week before the AGM. It is clear this was only done when the Board knew Mr. Uchiyama would not be re-elected by shareholders. The Boards decision, from our perspective, only served to buy Fujitec more time and escape shareholder accountability. The Boards decision to withdraw President Uchiyamas election on the day of the AGM has essentially robbed shareholders most basic right as principals the right to vote and hold agents accountable. This decision to avoid shareholder opinion is a clear violation of shareholders rights, which shareholders should not accept. For this Board then, after an AGM where Uchiyama was not re-elected as a Director, to appoint him as a Chairman of the Company in a Board meeting convened immediately after the AGM is inappropriate and a complete abrogation of proper governance. The Board put Mr. Uchiyamas interests above those of all stakeholders, contravening any definition of good governance. Fujitecs original biased investigation confirmed the underlying facts but could not absolve Mr. Uchiyama -- it is difficult to envisage that a second investigation would clarify the situation any further. Over the last few months, Fujitec has failed its stakeholders and remains entirely at the control of Mr. Uchiyama and, as Chairman, Mr. Uchiyama will continue to have a tight grip over the Company. Fujitecs corporate governance cannot improve while Mr. Uchiyama has any role at Fujitec. From our perspective, Mr. Uchiyama does not have a shareholder mandate and should not be in any position of power or influence. We believe it is no longer pertinent to investigate the related-party transactions as the desperation shown to hide Mr. Uchiyama from accountability speaks for itself. The related-party transactions highlighted by Oasis have taken place; shareholders had cast their vote based on the appropriateness of such related-party transactions, regardless of whether they were legal or not, and the Boards conflicted and inadequate response to such misuse of corporate assets. Oasiss Commitment to Protect Fujitec Fujitecs unapologetic disregard for good corporate governance should be a grave signal to all shareholders and stakeholders to the integrity of Fujitecs Board. We, and other responsible investors, will not accept evasive tactics in addressing the issues holding back Fujitec and sidestepping accountability. Throughout the course of this campaign, different stakeholders, including employees, have voiced their concern with Fujitecs governance and the leadership of Mr. Uchiyama. Investors pursuing different investment strategies from different geographies, active or passive, have all responded to our call to improve Fujitecs governance and how it is being led. Independent governance research firms, like ISS and Glass Lewis, have issued strong recommendations that shareholders oppose Fujitecs leadership due to the governance abuses and the weak oversight mechanism currently in place. Every voice, every vote, matters and should count. Oasis is not alone in demanding this, we have just chosen to vocalize our demands and concerns. All shareholders should leverage their tools to make a difference to hold power accountable and to improve our investee companies. Oasis will continue its efforts to Protect Fujitec and will amplify our efforts to reach more stakeholders to bring about change. We reserve all our rights legally provided to us and what is encouraged by Japans Stewardship Code. 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/20220627005738/en/ Media Taylor Hall, [email protected] Japan Media Ashton Consulting Limited Tadashi Shiokai and Yuzo Iwaya +81 03-5425-7220 [email protected] Source: Oasis Management Company Ltd. Organizational changes reinforce companys efforts to move decisively into new markets THE WOODLANDS, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Hal Brumfield, chief executive officer of Tachus Fiber Internet, one of the fastest growing fiber-to-the-home internet service providers in Texas, today announced key changes to the Companys executive leadership team. The Company has appointed Matthew B. Ockwood as President, and A. Cole Pate as Chief Operating Officer effective June 27. These changes follow Tachus June 9 announcement that it will bring reliable, Gigabit-capable fiber internet service to residential customers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area starting in 2022 the first such expansion outside of the Companys Houston area footprint. We are investing in our leadership team in order to execute on the growth strategy we outlined earlier this month, Brumfield said. Matt and Cole have the energy, ideas, talent, and experience to improve every component of our business and position Tachus well for the future. Ockwood formerly served as Chief Financial Officer of Sitio Royalties (NYSE: STR, formerly Falcon Minerals Corp.), a publicly traded minerals and royalties company located in Houston. Before joining Sitio, Ockwood served as Managing Director and member of the Investment Committee of Chambers Energy Capital, a Houston based institutional investment firm focused on structured credit and private equity investments. While at Chambers Energy, Ockwood served on the boards of directors of numerous companies, both private and publicly listed, during his 12-year tenure with the firm. Prior to Chambers Energys founding in 2009, Ockwood was employed by Lehman Brothers where he worked in the Natural Resources investment banking group. Ockwood holds a B.B.A in Finance, summa cum laude, and a Certificate in Leadership Study and Development from Texas A&M University where he served as the Commander of the Corps of Cadets. Pate formerly served as President of a large privately held infrastructure construction business located in The Woodlands, Texas. During his 17-year career there, Pate led a wide range of initiatives including strategic project development, mergers and acquisitions, project management office modernization, field operations management, as well as technology centric process improvements. During his tenure, the company grew from small regional provider with fewer than 35 employees to an ENR Top 100 contractor with over 5,000 employees operating in 38 states. Pate is a graduate from Vanderbilt University School of Engineering and a multi-year Tachus customer. Matt and Cole are joining a deep bench of dedicated individuals including Chief Financial Officer Keith Taub, Vice President of Marketing Tom Zemaitis, Chief Information Officer Tyler Cowie and Vice President of Outside Plant Brian Petrossi who make it fun to come to work every day. Together, were building something special here at Tachus, Brumfield said. In addition, Brumfield announced the departure of Chief Strategy Officer Carter Old. Carters passion, creativity, and focus will be hard to replace, Brumfield said. Without his help raising capital and developing this team, we might not be where we are today. We sincerely thank Carter for his many contributions to Tachus over the past three years, and we wish him all the best in his future endeavors. About Tachus LLC Headquartered in The Woodlands, TX, Tachus LLC is a fiber broadband internet service provider, backed by Crosstimbers Capital Group. Tachus believes customers deserve fast, reliable internet that requires no explanation. In doing so, Tachus is revolutionizing the way residential customers receive their internet, by offering unlimited, enterprise-grade data-only services at a lifetime fixed rate, all paired with local customer service. With a network that has passed over 70,000 homes and serves nearly 20,000 customers in the Houston Metropolitan region, Tachus continues to rapidly expand its residential fiber network to other parts of Texas, including the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Please visit www.tachus.com for more information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005654/en/ Julie Hillrichs (972) 971-0117 [email protected] Source: Tachus LLC Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS), a leading technology company that delivers advanced design and validation solutions to help accelerate innovation to connect and secure the world, announced that Scania has chosen Keysights Scienlab Battery Test Solutions for its new state-of-the-art battery laboratory at its research and development facilities in Sodertalje, Sweden. Scania, part of the Volkswagen Group, is one of the worlds top manufacturers for buses and trucks and is driving the shift to e-mobility for commercial vehicles while pursuing a long-term strategy to achieve the company goals for innovation and sustainability. The new 1,000-square-meter laboratory includes three 250-square-meter test halls for battery cells, modules and packs. The main focus is on battery performance and lifespan evaluation in various climatic conditions from -40C to 70C. Keysight provided a customized turnkey battery laboratory solution including the full range of the companys Scienlab Battery Test Systems for cells, modules and packs, coupled with a comprehensive safety concept while realizing the installation at the customers site. In addition to Keysights Energy Storage Discover Software for test and control, Scania leveraged Keysights PathWave Lab Operations for Battery Test, an integrated, web-based lab management platform that optimizes workflow, test throughput and data management. This solution enables Scania to optimize planning and coordination of its battery laboratory by managing all resources, including lab personnel, test systems and devices under test (DUTs). The need for relevant skills and knowledge in battery usage and lifecycle optimization is more important than ever before. Here in the lab, we have the prerequisites to perform our very best in this area, said Hakan Ornhed, Head of Test Cell Operation Battery and E-components at Scania. We see an increasing need to intensify battery testing and tailored deployment. Keysights experience and expertise in battery testing has resulted in a solution that meets our requirements, which made them the perfect choice to realize this crucial project, Ornhed continued. The new battery laboratory complements a smaller facility with a climatic chamber for battery pack testing, that is extremely flexible because it is basically outdoors. With this lab, Scania can test the performance of battery packs on operational electric trucks and buses without removing batteries. Vehicles are parked close to the lab and connected to the testing equipment, or the powertrain can be tested in a huge climate chamber instead of running real-life winter tests outdoors. Furthermore, Scanias engineers examine the best operational conditions for the battery, considering things such as temperature setpoint, state of charge window and charging power profile for tailored utilization in optimizing battery life and customer needs. Our goal is to provide comprehensive test solutions that help our customers accelerate and improve their development activities. We are extremely proud that we could support Scania in their aspiration to secure a market leadership position for commercial EV vehicles, said Thomas Goetzl, vice president and general manager for Keysights Automotive and Energy Solutions business unit. Our collaborative approach with Scania was to challenge the state-of-the-art, which enabled us to gain insights from a world-leading transportation manufacturer who strives to discover new edges of e-mobility use-cases and technologies." About Scania AB Scania is a world-leading provider of transport solutions. Together with our partners and customers we are driving the shift towards a sustainable transport system. In 2021, we delivered 85,930 trucks, 4,436 buses as well as 11,786 industrial and marine power systems to our customers. Net sales totalled to over SEK 146 billion, of which over 20 percent were services related. Founded in 1891, Scania now operates in more than 100 countries and employs some 54,000 people. Research and development are mainly concentrated in Sweden. Production takes place in Europe and Latin America with regional product centres in Africa, Asia and Eurasia. Scania is part of TRATON GROUP. For more information visit: www.scania.com. The United States government and Sikorsky, a Lockheed Martin company (NYSE: LMT), signed a five-year contract for a baseline of 120 H-60M Black Hawk helicopters, with options to reach a total of 255 aircraft to be delivered to the U.S. Army and Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customers. Sikorsky continues to modernize and enhance the Black Hawk to meet the Army's challenging and evolving missions by continuously delivering aircraft thanks to a hot production line, mature well-established supply chain and digital factory. The "Multi-Year X" contract for UH-60M Black Hawk and HH-60M MEDEVAC aircraft marks the 10th multiple-year contract for Sikorsky and the U.S. government for H-60 helicopters. With more than 2,100 H-60 variants in the U.S. Army's inventory, the Black Hawk continues to be the workhorse and backbone of U.S. Army Aviation. As the Army continues to develop its Future Vertical Lift (FVL) capabilities, they will continue to operate the H-60M for the next several decades and alongside the future fleet. The contract value for expected deliveries is approximately $2.3 billion, with a potential value of up to $4.4 billion, should options for additional aircraft be fully exercised. Multi-Year X deliveries are scheduled to begin in July and continue through 2027. "This Multi-Year agreement allows the Army to meet current and future capability needs through upgrades, remanufacturing, replacement, and technology insertions," said Col. Calvin Lane, the Utility Helicopters project manager. "The efficiencies of this contract make the best use of limited resources and result in direct savings to the Army and to taxpayers." "Decades of Black Hawk production and enhancements, strong program execution and close partnership with the Army has kept the program thriving, and this contract is a testament to that success," said Nathalie Previte, vice president of Sikorsky's Army and Air Force programs. "Additionally, we continue to see strong international interest in the Black Hawk due to its versatility and proven record of providing unwavering support to the U.S. and nations around the globe." "Sikorsky continues to invest in the Black Hawk platform from sustainment to digital transformation and modernization in order to provide our customers with the competitive edge they require," added Previte. "We have aligned our investments with the Army's technology roadmap, while leveraging Future Vertical Lift technologies to ensure the Black Hawk will be a key player in the Joint All Domain Operations environment and FVL ecosystem." The H-60M Black Hawk, the premier multi-mission combat assault utility helicopter, provides additional payload and range, advanced digital avionics, active vibration control, improved producibility, enhanced handling qualities and situational awareness, and improved survivability. For additional information, visit our website: https://www.lockheedmartin.com/blackhawk. Today, McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) CEO, Chris Kempczinski sent the following message to the McDonald's Global System, which also outlines additional leadership team updates. Digital CV's and headshots for these leaders are embedded within this release. +++ As I said at Worldwide Convention in April, there's never been a better time to be part of Brand McDonald's. McDonald's is now seen as leading in our industry on almost every dimension. Together, we've transformed the McDonald's System and are performing at a high level in almost every market in which we operate. This transformation has required enormous effort, collaboration, and most importantly, leadership across all three legs of the stool as we have worked to bring our Accelerating the Arches strategy to life. This has not been easy, nor was our current success a foregone conclusion. In fact, several years ago, the outlook for our business was far less rosy at least, according to the pundits and analysts. In 2014, global comparable sales and guest counts were declining, new competitors were emerging, and customer and investor expectations were rising for global companies like ours. Remarkably, Wall Street consensus assumed the McDonald's System was in structural decline. Over the years, however, the McDonald's System has demonstrated a remarkable knack for cultivating the right leaders for the moment, and this was certainly true when Kevin Ozan and Francesca DeBiase were appointed to their roles in March 2015. Kevin and Francesca are long-time McDonald's veterans, with over forty years of combined System experience and careers that were purpose-built for their positions on our Global Senior Leadership Team. They were well-known and highly respected, and their appointments Kevin as Chief Financial Officer and Francesca as Global Chief Supply Chain Officer coincided with the multi-year reinvigoration of our business that has led to our current position of strength. It is with deep gratitude and respect that I am announcing today that Kevin will be assuming a new position and has been promoted to Senior Executive Vice President, Strategic Initiatives, and that Francesca recently shared with me her decision to retire from McDonald's, effective August 31. *** Kevin has been with McDonald's since 1997, when he joined from Ernst & Young. From the moment Kevin stepped foot here, it was clear to everyone who interacted with him that he brought something truly special to our System. His intellect and ability to work across multiple disciplines was only matched by his disarming approach and his belief in the business. I remember meeting Kevin when I first joined McDonald's. I was struck by his dedication to the System, his low ego, and unflappable judgment. I joked with Kevin that he was the "nicest CFO" I'd ever met, and yet Kevin still set the highest standards for himself and his team. Kevin leads with an incredible combination of head and heart. He's helped guide our System through so much the last seven years from onboarding two CEOs, to navigating through COVID, dealing with activist investors and, most recently, our exit from the Russian market. Kevin has seen and done it all. In this elevated role, which will be effective September 1, Kevin will continue to lead the Strategy team and spearhead several strategic initiatives, while partnering with me and the Senior Leadership Team, and plans to retire from McDonald's by mid-2023. With this move, Ian Borden, currently President, International and a 30-year System veteran, has been appointed to serve as our next Executive Vice President and CFO, effective September 1. Ian is well-known for being a values-based leader with a tremendous amount of System knowledge. He first joined our System in Canada in 1994. From there, he went on to serve in roles including as CFO for our Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa region and CFO for Russia and Eastern Europe. He's also had several leadership and P&L roles across our markets and regions. We often say that our international markets are the growth and idea engine of the System, and in so many ways that is a testament to Ian's leadership and contributions. From ambitious digital deployments to delivery and EOTF, the markets under Ian's leadership have been launching pads for some of our most ambitious and impactful moves over the past decade. Ian consistently puts teamwork at the heart of everything he does. His passion and unfailing commitment to talent development has built a strong succession pipeline across the System. On our Senior Leadership Team, he has championed and fostered closer and more effective collaboration across our markets to execute our strategy with great success while also navigating unpredictable challenges with agility and purpose. For these reasons, and so many more, this makes Ian an exceptional leader for our Finance organization as our next CFO. Ian, his wife Yolande, and his two sons Ethan and Matthew will be relocating to Chicago and I look forward to benefiting even more from his partnership. We will share an update on our International leadership in mid-July. *** Francesca has been with McDonald's since 1991, and last year celebrated her 30th anniversary an incredible milestone! The strength and resiliency of our Supply Chain is a cornerstone of our competitive advantage and a mark of Francesca's leadership. The strategic relationships Francesca has forged throughout the supplier community based on transparency, inclusion, and trust have been key to our success in creating a best-in-class Supply Chain that is the envy of our industry, and so many others. Francesca was one of the earliest leaders in our System to champion progressive and sustainable business solutions, which are now deeply embedded across McDonald's. She has been fiercely passionate about talent development both within her organization and across the System and led our Global Women's Leadership Network for many years, stewarding a culture where women have the most opportunity to succeed and grow. Generations to come will undoubtedly benefit from the impact of her leadership. There's little Francesca has not seen in her McDonald's journey from trade challenges, to the impacts of climate change, to all manner of disruptions. Even so, the unforeseen impacts of an unprecedented global pandemic further proved the strength and resilience of Francesca's leadership and our entire Supply Chain. While others broke supply, McDonald's did not. That is a truly extraordinary accomplishment. For this, and for so much more, we are grateful. While Francesca will certainly be missed, it gives me great pleasure to announce that Marion Gross, Chief Supply Chain Officer of North America, has been promoted to Executive Vice President, Global Chief Supply Chain Officer, and will join the Global Senior Leadership Team, effective September 1. Marion's impressive career at McDonald's has spanned 29 years, but she had already been a part of the System for several years having managed transportation and logistics at HAVI. At McDonald's, she first managed the supply of several national product categories before taking on strategic Supply Chain initiatives across 36 distribution centers. Most recently, Marion has been responsible for executing the strategic direction of McDonald's Supply Chain across the U.S. and Canada. Marion's embrace of our values is a hallmark of her leadership. Her deep involvement in our communities and constant focus on truly driving our purpose deep within the System stand tall as clear examples that we get better together. We will share more details on Marion's successor before she formally transitions this fall. *** Finally, Katie Fallon, who has successfully served as McDonald's first-ever Chief Global Impact Officer, recently informed me of her decision to depart McDonald's. Katie has been a deeply valuable partner to me and so many throughout our System as we've risen to society's growing expectations of business. She has brought critical functions together and forged a collective strategy to drive trust and admiration for McDonald's. While we have benefitted from Katie's strong leadership, I fully support and understand her decision to pursue an opportunity that has fewer travel demands and better aligns with the needs of her young family in Washington D.C. Katie's last day with us will be July 15, and I am confident that this team, and our System, have the right leaders and plans in place to continue advancing our progress as we deliver on our purpose to feed and foster communities. While we identify Katie's successor, Kevin will oversee the Global Impact team. *** I feel immense pride in everything the McDonald's System has accomplished over the past several years and am confident that the leaders announced today will help accelerate our momentum. The McDonald's System is special because our people are special. With ketchup coursing through our veins, McDonald's future has never been brighter. Chris ABOUT MCDONALD'S McDonald's is the world's leading global foodservice retailer with more than 39,000 locations in over 100 countries. Approximately 95% of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent local business owners. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This document contains forward-looking statements about future events and circumstances. Generally speaking, any statement not based upon historical fact is a forward-looking statement. In particular, statements regarding McDonald's plans, strategies, prospects and expectations regarding its business and industry are forward-looking statements. They reflect McDonald's expectations, are not guarantees of performance and speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, McDonald's does not undertake to update such forward-looking statements. You should not rely unduly on forward-looking statements. McDonald's business results are subject to a variety of risks, including those that are described in its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 2022 and subsequent filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mcdonalds-promotes-kevin-ozan-to-senior-executive-vice-president-strategic-initiatives-ian-borden-to-chief-financial-officer-and-marion-gross-to-global-chief-supply-chain-officer-301575637.html SOURCE McDonald's Corporation ZURICH, Switzerland, June 26, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Achiko AG (OTCQB: ACHKF; SIX: ACHI; ISIN CH0522213468) (Achiko, the Company) announces its financial results for the year ended December 31, 2021, and progress since then. For the year ended December 31, 2021, the Group recorded a net loss of USD $9,231,779 resulting in an increase of the Groups accumulated losses to USD $34,568,395. The Company also notes that Achiko AG is currently managing creditors, and that while the assets of the Group at the reporting date was negative $4.584m, it also has over $2.4m in subordinated loans. As a result, the Companys auditors have given an adverse opinion, noting the Companys ability to remain a going concern depends on the successful approval of an increase in Authorised Capital at the upcoming General Meeting, and the support of the Companys creditors and shareholders. 2021 was a challenging year, said Mr. Steven Goh, Co-Founder and CEO of Achiko. We realize that the Covid-19 challenge and for us to deliver a timely solution continues to evolve. For some markets, theres an optimism that the challenges Covid-19 presents may be over. For many others, theyre finding its anything but. The Company moved to reduce costs in the last half of 2021, and encountered numerous operational challenges, including continuity of the Companys accounting and finance function. From a personal standpoint, after two years being restricted in travel and movement, Ive spent the last few months travelling including fixing production in Indonesia including review, solving issues and optimizing production, managing technology development in Europe, seeing investors and working to get the accounts out, added Goh. Its with some irony that in the middle of audit completion, Ive had my own Covid-19 experience. The delays have been a continuing source of frustration; however, I am confident that the Companys accounting and finance function is now stabilized and that post reporting date we have successfully reinstitionalized financial controls and the Companys ability to keep books and records. Despite the challenging environment, the Company has continued to progress the development of its core AptameX technology and is positioned to capitalize on the substantial competitive benefits of its differentiated chemistry for the detection of Covid-19 and application to various other pathogens. Post-balance date highlights include: a. The Company reported that calibration testing of its affordable, non-invasive Covid-19 saliva-based rapid test AptameX correctly differentiated 100% of test samples up until a comparable reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) cycle threshold (CT) value of 33, indicating the systems ability to deliver a >97% sensitive and > 97% specific rapid test at a wider range of viral loads than most other rapid tests. b. Having secured the full approval of the optimized second-generation of AptameX with the Indonesias Ministry of Health for five years, Achiko, with the support of our local production partner Indopharma, secured a large-scale landmark sales deal with Nahdlatul Ulama (NU), one of the worlds largest membership organizations with direct reach to over 90 million people to produce 1,000,000 tests now, and on success to produce 5,000,000 or more tests per month from October 2022 onwards.c. Successful registration of a CE Mark, enabling the Company to commence commercialization efforts in the European Union and other geographies.Given the Companys level of indebtedness, we understand and appreciate the auditors adverse opinion, and note that we are in agreement that the Companys ability to remain a going concern depends on approval at the upcoming General Meeting to increase share capacity, the continued support of shareholders, creditors, and investors, the Companys access to capital, and timing of sales and commercialization efforts. To that end, we are looking forward to immediately completing a capital increase, and to the General Meeting to expand the Companys authorized capital, said Goh. The Annual Report is available for download at: https://www.achiko.com/financials/. The Annual General Meeting of shareholders will take place in July 2022 on a date to be announced in due course. ABOUT ACHIKO AGAchiko AG (OTCQB: ACHKF; SIX: ACHI.SW) (www.achiko.com) developing disruptive diagnostic solutions that puts people first. The companys lead product is a rapid, reliable Covid-19 test with a companion app offering a user-friendly digital health passport. The test and companion app were launched in Indonesia in mid-2021 and an application for CE Mark approval in Europe will be submitted in 2022. Achiko creates and develops aptamer-based diagnostics through its biotechnology division, AptameXTM and companion health apps via its digital mobile health technology division, Teman Sehat. The AptameX DNA aptamer tests can be rapidly chemically synthesized, are cost-effective and have wide potential across multiple disease diagnostics. Leveraging AptameX and Teman Sehat, Achiko aims to deliver fast, accurate and affordable diagnostic testing for a range of pathogenic diseases and therapeutic indications in the rapidly evolving healthcare diagnostics field. Headquartered in Zurich, Achiko has offices in Jakarta, and staff around the world. Media contacts: ACHIKO AGInvestor RelationsE: [email protected] Switzerland & Global Marcus Balogh Farner Consulting Ltd. E: [email protected]T: +41 44 266 67 67 Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements concerning Achiko AG and its business. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Achiko AG to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Achiko AG is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Source: Achiko AG ERADICATE phase 3 study exploring ceftobiprole for the treatment of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) expected to report results shortly Separate transactions for TTK/PLK1 inhibitor (BAL0891) and preclinical oncology projects expected to be concluded in H2 2022 No expansion of ongoing lisavanbulin clinical studies; exploring partnering opportunities Derazantinib rights to be transferred back to Merck & Co. by the end of 2022 No material expenses related to oncology activities beyond 2022 and sustainable profitability expected in 2023 Strategy implementation on track Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Basel/Allschwil, Switzerland, June 27, 2022 Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd (SIX: BSLN), a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company, announced today an update on the progress made in the implementation of its strategic focus on anti-infectives. David Veitch, Chief Executive Officer, stated: We have made significant progress in the implementation of our new strategy. With regard to our oncology business, we have run a broad partnering process, whilst continuing to generate clinical data from the ongoing clinical trials. This allows us now to make informed decisions on each asset in order to ensure that we can focus our resources on our anti-infectives business as of 2023. The ERADICATE phase 3 study exploring ceftobiprole for the treatment of patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia, or SAB, is on track to report results shortly and the preclinical profiling of the recently in-licensed potential first-in-class antifungal has also been initiated. Partnering discussions for the TTK/PLK1-inhibitor (BAL0891) and preclinical oncology assets are well advanced and expected to be concluded in H2 2022. In line with its strategic priorities and based on data from the ongoing open-label studies, Basilea has decided not to expand the studies for the tumor checkpoint controller lisavanbulin. Ongoing patients will be offered continued access to lisavanbulin, whilst partnering opportunities continue to be explored. With regard to the FGFR inhibitor derazantinib, the company has decided to terminate the license agreement and return the rights to Merck & Co, Inc. by the end of the year.1 Adesh Kaul, Chief Financial Officer, added: Our broad partnering outreach has resulted, as intended, in discussions on a variety of possible partnering structures. We concluded that entering into separate transactions for our oncology assets would generate most long-term value. With regard to derazantinib, the changing competitive landscape and the evolving clinical data from our open-label studies led us to conclude that a transaction could not be closed at the terms and within the timelines required. We believe that based on the partnering progress and our portfolio decisions we are now well on track to ensure that Basilea generates sustainable positive operating cash flow and profits as of 2023. About ceftobiprole Ceftobiprole medocaril, the prodrug of the active moiety ceftobiprole, is a cephalosporin antibiotic for intravenous administration, with rapid bactericidal activity against a wide range of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. This includes methicillin-susceptible and resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA, MRSA) and susceptible Pseudomonas spp.2 The brand is currently approved and marketed as Zevtera and Mabelio in a number of countries in Europe and beyond. Basilea has entered into license and distribution agreements in Europe, Eurasian countries, Latin America, China, Canada, Israel, and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regions. About the ERADICATE phase 3 study The ERADICATE study3 is a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase 3 study in patients with SAB to assess the safety and efficacy of intravenous ceftobiprole medocaril compared with intravenous daptomycin, plus optional intravenous aztreonam for coverage of Gram-negative pathogens.4 About Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB) Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia is a leading cause of bloodstream infections, responsible for a broad variety of complications and has been associated with significant morbidity and a mortality of 20 to 40%.5, 6 Several studies have demonstrated that MRSA bacteremia is associated with a significantly higher mortality rate compared with MSSA bacteremia.7, 8 Infections of the inner lining of the heart or heart valves (infective endocarditis) and bone infections (osteomyelitis) are common complications of SAB. About Basilea Basilea is a commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company founded in 2000 and headquartered in Switzerland. We are committed to discovering, developing and commercializing innovative drugs to meet the medical needs of patients with bacterial and fungal infections. We have successfully launched two hospital brands, Cresemba for the treatment of invasive fungal infections and Zevtera for the treatment of severe bacterial infections. In addition, we have several preclinical assets in our portfolio. Basilea is listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (SIX: BSLN). Please visit basilea.com. Disclaimer This communication expressly or implicitly contains certain forward-looking statements, such as "believe", "assume", "expect", "forecast", "project", "may", "could", "might", "will" or similar expressions concerning Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd and its business, including with respect to the progress, timing and completion of research, development and clinical studies for product candidates. Such statements involve certain known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which could cause the actual results, financial condition, performance or achievements of Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Basilea Pharmaceutica Ltd is providing this communication as of this date and does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements contained herein as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Derazantinib, lisavanbulin and BAL0891 and their uses are investigational and have not been approved by a regulatory authority for any use. Efficacy and safety have not been established. The information presented should not be construed as a recommendation for use. The relevance of findings in nonclinical/preclinical studies to humans is currently being evaluated. For further information, please contact: Peer Nils Schroder, PhD Head of Corporate Communications & Investor Relations Basilea Pharmaceutica International Ltd, Allschwil Hegenheimermattweg 167b 4123 Allschwil Switzerland Phone +41 61 606 1102 E-mail [email protected] [email protected] This ad hoc announcement can be downloaded from www.basilea.com. References Basilea has in-licensed derazantinib from ArQule Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Merck & Co., Inc., Kenilworth, N.J., U.S.A. Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC) Zevtera: https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/product/9164/smpc [Accessed: June 24, 2022] ERADICATE: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT03138733 K. Hamed, M. Engelhardt, M. E. Jones et al. Ceftobiprole versus daptomycin in Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a novel protocol for a double-blind, Phase III trial. Future Microbiology. 2020 (1), 35-48 Basilea's ceftobiprole phase 3 program is funded in part (up to USD 134.2 million, which is approximately 70% of the total potential program costs) with federal funds from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services; Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response; Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA), under contract number HHSO100201600002C. A. G. Jensen, C. H. Wachmann, F. Espersen et al. Treatment and outcome of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a prospective study of 278 cases. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 25-32 J.-L. Wang, S.-Y. Chen, J.-T. Wang et al. Comparison of both clinical features and mortality risk associated with bacteremia due to community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2008 (46), 799-806 S. I. Blot, K. H. Vandewoude, E. A. Hoste et al. Outcome and attributable mortality in critically ill patients with bacteremia involving methicillin-susceptible and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Archives of Internal Medicine 2002 (162), 2229-2235 S. E. Cosgrove, G. Sakoulas, E. N. Perencevich et al. Comparison of mortality associated with methicillin-resistant and methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia: a meta-analysis. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2003 (36), 53-59 Attachment NEWBURGH, N.Y., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ES Bancshares, Inc. (the Company) (OTCQX: ESBS), the bank holding company for Empire State Bank (the Bank), today announced that the Bank has completed the previously announced sale of its branch office located at 68 North Plank Road, Newburgh, New York (the Branch) to Wallkill Valley Federal Savings and Loan Association (Wallkill Valley). Pursuant to the Agreement, the Bank has sold approximately $10 million in loans and other assets and approximately $65 million in customer deposits affiliated with the Branch. Philip Guarnieri, Chief Executive Officer of the Company and the Bank, said, As we previously announced, we believe that the sale of our Newburgh branch allows us to focus our operations on the economically dynamic Boroughs of Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens and the surrounding areas. The transaction will be immediately accretive to our stockholders and with the sale of the Newburgh office, we are relocating our main office and corporate headquarters to Staten Island but will also retain certain back-office operations in Newburgh. Guarnieri continued, We are very grateful for our team members and clients in the Newburgh market and are confident Wallkill Valley will maintain the meaningful relationships we built in this community and will make this transaction a success. Luse Gorman, PC provided legal counsel to ES Bancshares and Empire State Bank and MacVean, Lewis, Sherwin & McDermott provided legal counsel to Wallkill Valley. FinPro Capital Advisors, Inc. provided financial advisory services to ES Bancshares and Piper Sandler & Co. provided financial advisory services to Wallkill Valley. About ES Bancshares, Inc. and Empire State Bank ES Bancshares, Inc. is the bank holding company for Empire State Bank which offers a wide range of financial services through its branch office network in Newburgh, Brooklyn and Staten Island, New York. For more information about Empire State Bank, please visit www.esbna.com. Contact: Philip GuarnieriChief Executive Officer(845) 451-7802 Source: ES Bancshares, Inc. CALGARY, Alberta, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global Helium Corp. (CSE: HECO) (OTC: HECOF) (the Company or Global), one of Canadas largest and most aggressive helium exploration and development companies, is pleased to announce that it has increased its landholdings in Saskatchewans famed helium runway by 13% to 1.7 million acres. The Company has simultaneously acquired a third helium property in Montana through a strategic State and freehold leasing program, adding to the Companys US land position, which covers only proven helium properties. Global Helium is one of the largest helium-focused landholders in North America, with an enormous land position that extends across Canada and the United States. In Saskatchewan, the Company has added over 300,000 acres of exploration lands in 2022 alone, and a multitude of additional permits are still awaiting government approval. The latest additions compliment the Companys Core Area One Swift Current and Core Area Two Regina, (see news release dated January 25, 2022) which are the northernmost and easternmost properties held by Global. These lands were specifically sought as a result of the Companys geophysical assessment of Saskatchewan and utilized the Companys noteworthy in-house technical experts. In line with the Company's stated strategic priorities (see news release dated May 18, 2022), the Company has successfully leased and acquired 25,372 acres of land across three seismically-defined and known helium-producing structures in Montana. Globals third Montana property is located in Petroleum County, Montana where a previous exploration test yielded a gas analysis showing 3.9% Helium content. All three of Globals Montana properties have existing wells with successful helium production tests. Jesse Griffith, President of Global, commented, We continue to advance our strategic priorities and corporate objective of aggressively pursuing the acquisition of proven, helium-rich lands and expanding the Companys already massive land position. Our ability to continue growing the land base while simultaneously transitioning the company into an operationally focused, helium-producing entity showcases Globals ability to execute the plan and exceed expectations. The Company has stated its strategic priorities include: (i) expanding our Saskatchewan land holdings in Canada, (ii) using geophysical, in-house technical experts, and other technologies to evaluate our land base to advance our prospects to the drill stage, and (iii) identifying and capturing new opportunities in the United States. Global Helium is expected to form part of the solution to the long-term supply shortage that has plagued the industry for decades. The helium that Global is pursuing is defined as Green Helium; that is, it is produced not as a by-product of natural gas production, but with carrier gasses such as nitrogen, which makes up 78% of the air that we breathe daily. Global Helium is one of the earliest movers to pursue helium in its purest form, as a standalone business, without requiring hydrocarbon production as the primary product of pursuit. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF GLOBAL HELIUM CORPORATION Jesse Griffith Jesse GriffithPresident For more information:Walter Spagnuolo, Investor Relations Tel: +1 (877) 816 8163[email protected] About Global Helium (CSE: HECO) (OTC: HECOF)Global Helium one of Canadas largest helium exploration and development companies, focused on the exploration, acquisition, development, and production of helium to meet the needs of increasing helium demand and shrinking helium supply in North America and around the world. The Company has a seasoned team of industry professionals and technical experts and has established connections with North American and international helium buyers. Together, the team has captured 100%-owned permits encompassing over 1.7 million acres prospective for helium in Saskatchewans well-established helium fairway and has recently acquired three significant assets with proven helium tests in the State of Montana. Find out more at: https://globalhelium.com/. Forward-Looking StatementsNo securities regulatory authority has reviewed nor accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the content of this news release. This news release contains forward-looking statements 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 internal announcement 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 include the failure to satisfy the conditions of the relevant securities exchange(s) and other risks 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 internal announcement are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this internal announcement are made as of the date of this internal announcement and the Company will update or revise publicly any of the included forward-looking statements as expressly required by applicable law. Source: Global Helium Corporation VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VERSES Technologies Inc. ("VERSES") is pleased to announce that the Neo Exchange Inc. (the NEO Exchange or NEO) has granted final approval of VERSES listing application, and that VERSES will commence trading on the NEO Exchange tomorrow under the symbol VERS. VERSES is an AI-as-a-Service provider specializing in the next generation of artificial intelligence that enables a new class of context-aware AI applications that can sense, understand, act, and adapt to dynamic conditions, situations, and environments. Their flagship platform, COSM, is an AI Operating System (AIOS) for developing and deploying AI apps and intelligent services that provides insight, prediction, and real-world optimization. COSM powered AI apps are currently being deployed in industrial supply chain environments helping companies improve margins by optimizing labor efficiency, facility management, and worker experience, as well as in government-led smart city initiatives such as Flying Forward 2020 enabling autonomous drones to monitor threats, inspect buildings, and deliver assets across the European Union. VERSES public listing is an exciting step for us as we bring to market smarter solutions capable of enabling AI-driven applications, said Gabriel Rene, CEO and Co-Founder of VERSES. As VERSES expects to expand into new industries, our listing gives us an opportunity to reach an increased number of investors and stakeholders who share in our excitement and connect with our vision to imagine a smarter world where AI applications can be easily deployed anywhere for anything by anyone. Among VERSES leadership is Chief Commercial Officer, Michael Wadden, who was a key part in the development of Accenture Digital (now Accenture Song) leads VERSES sales efforts that led to securing a multi-year contract with Third Party Logistics company, NRI Distribution. Under this contract, NRI Distribution has agreed to pay VERSES US$9M over six years, with such contract being renewed with the written confirmation of NRI Distribution for another US$17.5M payable over an additional five years. The aggregate fees of both terms is US$26.5M. Heading up VERSES R&D team is Dr. Maxwell Ramstead, a pioneer in developing a mathematical framework with origins in computational neuroscience. The Companys board of directors was recently joined by Jay Samit, former Independent Vice-Chairman of business consulting firm, Deloitte, which penned an article describing the Spatial Web technologies that VERSES is building as fundamental to the Next Era of Computing. VERSES listing on the NEO Exchange enables the Company's Class A Subordinate Voting Shares (the Subordinate Voting Shares) to be traded on a senior exchange in Canada. The Subordinate Voting Shares are qualified by VERSES long-form non-offering prospectus, dated June 21, 2022 (the Prospectus), a copy of which may be obtained under the VERSES profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. About VERSES VERSES is a next-generation AI company providing foundational technology for the contextual computing era. Modeled after natural systems and the design principles of the human brain and the human experience, VERSES flagship offering, COSM, is an AI Operating System for enhancing any application with adaptive intelligence. Built on open standards, COSM transforms disparate data into a universal context that fosters trustworthy collaboration between humans, machines, and AI, across digital and physical domains. Imagine a smarter world that elevates human potential through innovations inspired by nature. Learn more at VERSES.io, LinkedIn, and Twitter. About Neo Exchange Inc. The NEO Exchange is Canadas Tier 1 stock exchange for the innovation economy, bringing together investors and capital raisers within a fair, liquid, efficient, and service-oriented environment. Fully operational since June 2015, NEO puts investors first and provides access to trading across all Canadian-listed securities on a level playing field. NEO lists companies and investment products seeking an internationally recognized stock exchange that enables investor trust, quality liquidity, and broad awareness including unfettered access to market data. NEO Exchange has not reviewed or approved this press release for the adequacy or accuracy of its contents. Investor Relations Inquiries Leo Karabelas Focus CommunicationsPresident[email protected](416) 543-3120OrKevin WilsonChief Financial Officer[email protected](323) 868-0514 This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as intends or anticipates, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results may, could, should, would or occur. This information and these statements, referred to herein as "forward-looking statements", are not historical facts, are made as of the date of this news release and include without limitation, statements regarding discussions of future plans, estimates and forecasts and statements as to management's expectations and intentions with respect to, among other things, VERSES expectation that it will continue to expand into new industries, the impacts and benefits of listing on the NEO Exchange, including the Companys ability to reach investors and stakeholders as well as their perceptions of the Company, and VERSES agreement with NRI Distribution including the amounts payable thereunder and the renewal thereof. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, that VERSES will continue to expand into new industries, benefits arising from listing on the NEO Exchange will be consistent with managements current expectations, VERSES agreement with NRI Distribution will be renewed and all amounts payable thereunder will be received by VERSES, and certain other assumptions as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties and actual results might differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among other things, that the listing on the NEO Exchange will not have the benefits and impacts as currently anticipated by management; the Company will not expand into new industries as anticipated by management, VERSES agreement with NRI Distribution will not be renewed and/or VERSES will not receive all amounts payable thereunder, and other risk factors set forth in the Prospectus. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such 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 and forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that reliance on such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, forward-looking information or financial out-look that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. Source: VERSES Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MAX) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D2) ("Max" or the "Company") is pleased to report it has been awarded eleven additional Mining Concession Contracts ("Concessions") for the 20-kilometre-long URU zone, located along the southern portion of the CESAR North 90-kilometre-long copper-silver belt, within its wholly-owned CESAR project, Northeastern Colombia. The Concessions at URU now cover 99-km and Max's CESAR project Concessions now collectively total an aggregate of over 212-km. Each Concession has an initial term of 30-years and extension for a further 30-years for a total duration of 60-years. "The 212-km of Mining Concession Contracts are wholly-owned and provide secure tenure for development of Max's CESAR project for the years ahead. This achievement will add additional targets for Max's first drill program at URU, the most significant event in the Cesar basin since the discovery of Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America and the basis for much of the critical infrastructure in the Cesar basin," commented Max CEO, Brett Matich. "Max Resource's Environmental Survey has been accepted by the National Mining Agency of Colombia and approval to drill is expected in the coming weeks. Max is currently conducting field work and ground geophysical surveys to expand the URU drilling target area. Max's exploration focus aligns directly with Colombia's National Mining Agency strategy of transitioning from fossil fuels to copper exploration and future development of the Cesar basin. Furthermore, Max is fully funded with over $21 million in the treasury," he concluded. Figure 1. Mining Concession Contract To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_002full.jpg Figure 2. Presentation to Max by the ANM To view an enhanced version of Figure 2, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_003full.jpg Figure 3: CESAR copper-silver project To view an enhanced version of Figure 3, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_004full.jpg Figure 4: URU drill target area (Click the play icon to view URU Discovery drone video) To view an enhanced version of Figure 4, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3834/129085_b54743ee24b3893f_005full.jpg Cesar Copper Silver Project CESAR lies along the copper-silver rich 200-kilometre-long Cesar Basin in Northeastern Colombia. This region provides access to major infrastructure resulting from oil & gas and mining operations, including Cerrejon, the largest coal mine in South America, held by global miner Glencore. Max's mining concessions collectively expanse over 212-km. Max is proactive in the goal of moving the Cesar basin towards the mining of copper, the key metal for the Colombia's transition to clean energy. Recently a co-operation agreement was executed with Endeavour Silver Corp., which assists Max to significantly expand its 100% owned landholdings at CESAR, Endeavour will hold underlying 0.5% NSR. Max is focusing on three major copper-silver zones individually located along the CESAR 90-kilometre-long belt, with the objective of expanding the zones and defining drill targets: The 32-km long AM zone with highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver with highlight values of 34.4% copper and 305 g/t silver Conejo zone , averages 4.9% copper (2% cut-off) over 3.7-km , averages 4.9% copper (2% cut-off) over 3.7-km 20-km long URU zone returned 7.0m @ 8.5% copper + 143 g/t silver and 16.8m @ 8.3% copper + 146 g/t silver Geologically, Max interprets the sediment-hosted stratiform copper-silver mineralization in the Cesar basin to be analogous to both the Central African Copper Belt (CACB) to the south and the Kupferschiefer deposits in Poland to the north. Almost 50% of the copper known to exist in sediment-hosted deposits is contained in the CACB, including Ivanhoe Mines Ltd (TSX: IVN) 95-billion-pound Kamoa-Kakula discovery in the Congo. Kupferschiefer, the world's largest silver producer and Europe's largest copper source, is a mining orebody ranging from 0.5 to 5.5m thick at depths of 500m, grading 1.49% copper and 48.6 g/t silver. The silver yield is almost twice the production of the world's second largest silver mine. Source: Central African Belt Descriptive models, grade-tonnage relations, and databases for the assessment of sediment-hosted copper deposits with emphasis on deposits in the Central Africa Copperbelt, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia by USGS 2010. Kamoa-Kakula by OreWin March 2020. World Silver Survey 2020 and Kupferschiefer Deposits & Prospects in SW Poland, September 27, 2019. Max cautions investors that the presence of copper mineralization of the Central African Copper Belt and the Polish Kupferschiefer are not necessarily indicative of similar mineralization at CESAR. Qualified Person The Company's disclosure of a technical or scientific nature in this news release was reviewed and approved by Tim Henneberry, P Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Advisory Board, who serves as a qualified person under the definition of National Instrument 43:101. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp. (TSXV: MAX) is a mineral exploration company advancing the newly discovered district-scale Cesar copper-silver project. The wholly owned Cesar project sits along the Colombian portion of the world's largest producing copper belt (Andean belt), with world class infrastructure and the presence of global majors (Glencore and Chevron). In addition, Max controls the RT Gold project (100% earn-in) in Peru, encompassing a bulk tonnage primary gold porphyry zone, and 3-km to the NW, a gold bearing massive sulphide zone. Historic drilling in 2001, returned values ranging 3.1 to 118.1 g/t gold over core lengths ranging from 2.2 to 36.0-metres. Source: NI 43:101 Geological Report Rio Tabaconas Gold Project for Golden Alliance Resources Corp. by George Sivertz, Oct.3, 2011 For more information visit: https://www.maxresource.com/ For additional information contact: Tim McNulty E: [email protected] T: (604) 290-8100 Rahim Lakha E. [email protected] *The Venture 50 ranking is provided by TSX Venture Exchange Inc. ("TSXV") for information purposes only. Neither TMX Group Limited nor any of its affiliated companies guarantees the completeness of this information and are not responsible for any errors or omissions in or any use of, or reliance on, this information. The Venture 50 program is not an invitation to purchase securities listed on TSX Venture Exchange. TSXV and its affiliates do not endorse or recommend any of the referenced securities or issuers, and this information should not be construed as providing any trading, legal, accounting, tax, investment, business, financial or other advice and should not be relied on for such purposes" 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 Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the TSXV. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for Max Resources Corp. described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, which filings are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129085 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - StraightUp Resources Inc. (CSE: ST) (OTCQB: STUPF)("StraightUp" or the "Company") is pleased to accept as Executive Chairman & Director, Mr. Matthew Markin. Mr. Markin brings 25 years of experience leading corporate teams for multi-million dollar companies across various industries and has led corporate sales, investment banking teams and real estate development and construction divisions. He is currently the President and CEO of Markin Capital Group, Ltd., a full-service investment-banking firm based in Melbourne, Australia. As President, Mr. Markin is responsible for providing financing for private and public companies traded on the US, Canadian and Australian stock exchanges. From April 2017 until April 2022, Mr. Markin was the SVP of Sales for Medical Air Services Association (MASA), a USA based company providing Air and Ground Ambulance insurance protection. He was responsible for creating a new B2C Sales model within the MASA organisation and grew sales from $1 Million per year to over $30 million in 2021 with operations in 35 US states. Mr. Markin also oversaw all lead generation and marketing programs. From April 2014 to April 2017, Mr. Markin served as the SVP of Sales for SCI direct, a division of Service Corporation International. The NYSE listed company was responsible for a sales team of over 500 independent contractors that generated over $200 million in revenues with 90 offices across the USA. He was also responsible to oversee a marketing budget of over $35 million per year through a direct mail program. During his career, Mr. Markin has served on the Board of Directors of several public companies as a director and officer. StraightUp's CFO and Director, Daniel Cruz says, "The Red Lake properties in Ontario have recently attracted international consolidation and investments from major gold mining companies based as far as Australia. This resurgence of investment interest in the region has led to StraightUp attracting an International Business Person, being Mr.Markin. The Company is grateful to have Mr.Markin as a new Investor and leader of our corporate strategy to focus on our Red Lake assets." "I am proud and delighted to serve as StraightUp's new Executive Chairman and to have the opportunity to be involved with such a world-class mining organization and an incredibly talented group of individuals," Mr. Markin said. "This is an exciting time in the resource sector, and I look forward to building a great foundation and growth potential for the company." Additional News Non-brokered Financing: The Company announces non-brokered private placement (the "Private Placement"), of up 2,000,000 Units (the "Units") at a price of C$0.10 per Unit for aggregate gross proceeds of up to C$200,000.00. Each Unit in the Private Placement consists of one common share and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the subscriber to purchase one additional common share of the issuer at a price of $0.20 per warrant share for a period of two years from the closing date. The Company may offer a portion of the Private Placement on a flow-through basis, of up to 1,000,000 Shares the FT Unit") at a price of C $.10 per common FT share. Each FT Unit in the Private Placement consists of one common share and one-half of one transferable common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant entitles the subscriber to purchase one additional common share of the issuer at a price of $0.20 per warrant share for a period of two years from the closing date. About StraightUp Resources StraightUp is engaged in the business of mineral exploration and the acquisition of mineral property assets in Canada. Its objective is to locate and develop economic, precious and base metal properties of merit. StraightUp intends to conduct exploration on the RLX North, RLX South, Belanger and the Ferdinand Gold Property, all located in the Red Lake Mining Division, as well as the recently acquired Bear Head Gold Project, located within the Meen-Dempster Greenstone Belt of the Uchi Subprovince, approximately 80 km west of the Pickle Lake Gold Camp. The Company's recently acquired Ranger/Otter claims add 3,050 hectares contiguous to the 10,000 hectare flagship properties, RLX North and South. For more information, visit: www.StraightUpResources.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors Mark Brezer, President and Director For further information, please contact: Mark Brezer President and Director (604) 989-6275 Neither the CSE nor its Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are based on current expectations and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially because of factors discussed in the management discussion and analysis section of our interim and most recent annual financial statement or other reports and filings with the Canadian Securities Exchange and applicable Canadian securities regulations. We do not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129198 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - June 27, 2022) - Wealth Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: WML) (OTCQB: WMLLF) (SSE: WMLCL) (FSE: EJZN) (the "Company" or "Wealth"), reports that they have increased their strategic financing announced June 7, 2022 by an additional 8,000,000 units ($2,000,000). The non-brokered private placement (the "Placement") now consists of up to 12,150,000 units (the "Units") at a price of $0.25 per Unit (the "Offering") for gross proceeds of up to $3,037,500. All terms and conditions remain the same as reported in the June 7, 2022 news release. The financing is fully-subscribed and the increase is subject to TSXV conditional approval. The net proceeds from the Offering are intended for exploration and general working capital. This press release does not constitute an offer of sale of any of the foregoing securities in the United States. None of the foregoing securities have been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act") or any applicable state securities laws and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons (as defined in Regulation S under the 1933 Act) or persons in the United States absent registration or an applicable exemption from such registration requirements. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy nor will there be any sale of the foregoing securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. About Wealth Minerals Ltd. Wealth is a mineral resource company with interests in Canada, Mexico and Chile. The Company's main focus is the acquisition and development of lithium projects in South America. The Company opportunistically advances battery metal projects where it has a peer advantage in project selection and initial evaluation. Lithium market dynamics and a rapidly increasing metal price are the result of profound structural issues with the industry meeting anticipated future demand. Wealth is positioning itself to be a major beneficiary of this future mismatch of supply and demand. In parallel with lithium market dynamics, Wealth believes other battery metals will benefit from similar industry trends. For further details on the Company readers are referred to the Company's website (www.wealthminerals.com) and its Canadian regulatory filings on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors of WEALTH MINERALS LTD. "Hendrik van Alphen" Hendrik van Alphen Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Marla Ritchie, Michael Pound or Henk van Alphen Phone: 604-331-0096 or 604-638-3886 For all Investor Relations inquiries, please contact: John Liviakis Liviakis Financial Communications Inc. Phone: 415-389-4670 For all Public Relations inquiries, please contact: Nancy Thompson Vorticom, Inc. Office: 212-532-2208 | Mobile: 917-371-4053 Follow Us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WealthMineralsLtd Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/wealth-minerals Twitter - https://www.twitter.com/WealthMinerals 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 news release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and U.S. securities legislation, including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein including, without limitation, statements with respect to the anticipated business plans and timing of future activities of the Company, are forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by words such as: "believes", "expects", "anticipates", "intends", "estimates", "plans", "may", "should", "would", "will", "potential", "scheduled" or variations of such words and phrases and similar expressions, which, by their nature, refer to future events or results that may, could, would, might or will occur or be taken or achieved. In making the forward-looking statements in this news release, the Company has applied several material assumptions, including without limitation, , that market fundamentals will result in sustained lithium, vanadium, copper and precious metals demand and prices, the receipt of any necessary permits, licenses and regulatory approvals in connection with the future development of the Company's projects in a timely manner, the availability of financing on suitable terms for the development, construction and continued operation of the Company's projects and the Company's ability to comply with environmental, health and safety laws. 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 information. Such risks and other factors include, among others, operating and technical difficulties in connection with mineral exploration and development activities, actual results of exploration activities, the timing and amount of estimated future production, the costs of production, capital expenditures, the costs and timing of the development of new deposits, requirements for additional capital, future prices of lithium and copper, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, changes in general economic conditions, changes in the financial markets and in the demand and market price for commodities, lack of investor interest in the future financings, accidents, labour disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in obtaining governmental approvals, permits or financing or in the completion of development or construction activities, changes in laws, regulations and policies affecting mining operations, title disputes, the inability of the Company to obtain any necessary permits, consents, approvals or authorizations, including acceptance by the TSXV, the timing and possible outcome of any pending litigation, environmental issues and liabilities, and risks related to joint venture operations, and other risks and uncertainties disclosed in the Company's latest interim Managements' Discussion and Analysis and filed with the Canadian Securities Authorities. All of the Company's Canadian public disclosure filings may be accessed via www.sedar.com and readers are urged to review these materials, including the technical reports filed with respect to the Company's mineral properties. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any of the forward-looking statements in this news release or incorporated by reference herein, except as otherwise required by law. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWS WIRE SERVICES To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/129203 SAS' corporate social responsibility recognized by Business Roundtable Report and others CARY, N.C., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- SAS' commitment to corporate citizenship and social innovation has been foundational to the company's business strategy. Creating a brighter future is not only part of the company's vision for its customers through innovative solutions but also for SAS as a company. Igniting curiosity and creativity to drive innovation and empower change has been SAS' cornerstone since our beginning. A longstanding advocate for clean energy, analytics leader SAS strives to support the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) to make the world a better place by continuing to expand its environmental goals and social good initiatives to humanitarian issues. Business Roundtable, the association of CEOs of leading US companies, recently commended SAS CEO Jim Goodnight for its environmental stewardship and sustainable business practices in their Sustainability Spotlight series. SAS has also received numerous awards for its innovative social good initiative, which uses artificial intelligence and crowdsourcing to combat deforestation in the Amazon. "Igniting curiosity and creativity to drive innovation and empower change has been the cornerstone of SAS since our beginning," said SAS CEO Jim Goodnight. "At SAS, we have seen firsthand how the power of technology can transform lives and drive better decisions to help our environment and our community moving our world forward." Consistency in environmental leadershipAs a supporter of the Paris Climate Accord, SAS' green strategy has been demonstrated for decades through the company's continually evolving environmental initiatives and sustainable business model. SAS brings both its renowned analytic expertise and powerful software solutions to develop smarter and more efficient operations while passing those insights and tools to its customer for their business strategies. As a corporate sustainability leader and advocate, SAS works closely with employees, suppliers and customers to reduce its environmental footprint with programs focused on energy conservation, emissions management, pollution mitigation, water conservation, green building and other initiatives. In 2021, SAS' top environmental achievements included: Achieved Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validation of its 2025 (25%) and 2030 (50%) emission reduction targets. Submitted 2050 net-zero emission reduction target to SBTi for validation. Committed to an immediate 50% emissions reduction target for business travel. SAS emissions across all scopes were 53.6% lower than the SBTi 2018 base year submission. Global emissions across all scopes decreased 16% in 2021. Achieved 40% by 2025 energy use intensity target for office buildings a 43% base year improvement. Achieved 50% by 2025 carbon use intensity target for office buildings a 66% base year improvement. Diverted 64% of operational and construction waste from landfills globally. Developed employee analytics dashboard to help raise awareness about emissions from air travel. Achieved EnergyStar certifications for 11 buildings. Generated 3.5 million kWh of clean, renewably sourced energy from rooftop and ground-mounted solar systems. Dedication to making positive impacts through data literacy and social goodSAS' vision of creating a brighter future extends beyond just helping customers through innovative solutions but also tackles creatively addressing society's biggest challenges. With plans to be ready for an initial public offering by 2024, the company will continue to prioritize environmental, social, and governance initiatives which have been vital to SAS' successful business strategy for many decades. Recognized by several awards honoring social good, the projects that are part of SAS' social innovation initiative are committed to accelerating global progress and a more sustainable future for the planet. Through these Data for Good programs, SAS strives to support the UN SDGs by using analytics and ethical artificial intelligence (AI) to address society's biggest challenges around poverty, health, human rights, education and the environment. In fact, the company recently launched the SAS Data Ethics Practice, a cross-functional team that guides a globally coordinated effort to help employees and customers deploy data-driven systems that promote human well-being, agency and equity. In addition to SAS' partnerships with customers, industry groups, nonprofits, governments and global organizations, the success of these social impact programs depend upon the passion and talent of SAS employees who care about contributing to building a better world. Dedicated and compassionate employees who are driven by meaningful work is just one of the outcomes of SAS' award-winning workplace culture. This renowned, integral culture of treating employees like they make a difference and focusing on their well-being is the foundation to the company's success. SAS' supportive and inclusive reputation has been recognized for decades through numerous accolades and awards. SAS looks beyond just caring for its employees to also investing in the larger global community through its philanthropic philosophy of supporting data literacy and education initiatives for all. This can be seen by SAS' commitment to developing relevant resources for data literacy. In 2021, it launched Data Literacy Essentials, a free course designed to equip students, teachers, leaders and individuals with necessary data literacy skills which has helped more than 6,100 learners in more than 100 countries. SAS also joined Data Science 4 Everyone, a coalition supporting data science education and committed to equipping every K-12 student with needed data literacy skills. In addition, SAS also released DataFly, a free tool for educators and students to improve data literacy. For higher education and adult learners, the company debuted SAS Skill Builder for Students, providing university students around the globe with a free online portal where they can access everything they need to launch their analytics careers. More than 223,000 educators and learners took advantage of free SAS software offerings in 2021. Read the latest SAS Corporate Social Responsibility report and learn what makes the company a sustainability leader. About SASSAS is the leader in analytics. Through innovative software and services, SAS empowers and inspires customers around the world to transform data into intelligence. SAS gives you THE POWER TO KNOW. SAS and all other SAS Institute Inc. product or service names are registered trademarks or trademarks of SAS Institute Inc. in the USA and other countries. indicates USA registration. Other brand and product names are trademarks of their respective companies. Copyright 2022 SAS Institute Inc. All rights reserved. Editorial Contact:Kris Balic[email protected]919-531-0624sas.com/news View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/analytics-champion-sas-garners-environmental-and-social-good-recognition-301574656.html SOURCE SAS Gluware Teams with Industry Leaders to Provide In-Depth Look at No-Code and Low-Code Process Automation and New Network Topology Capabilities SACRAMENTO, Calif., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Gluware, Inc., the leader in intelligent network automation for the enterprise, will join Packet Pushers to present a livestream event on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, at 9:00 AM PDT/12:00 PM EDT, "Real-World Enterprise Automation: No-Code Process Automation and New Network Topology from Gluware." The one-hour livestream will feature Gluware leaders, the Packet Pusher team and several network architects and industry leaders who have deep insights into network automation's biggest challenges and best practices, including Michael Burns, Network Architect at Advizex, and Rajeev Khanolkar, Co-founder, President and CEO at SecurView. The Gluware Intelligent Network Automation suite accelerates network automation with pre-built customizable applications that are easy to use and proven to work on even the most complex networks. Gluware's Network Robotic Process Automation (RPA) solution takes users a step further towards achieving self-operating functionality for future enterprise scale. The company's latest announcement, Gluware Topology, extends its enablement of organizations on the path to hyperautomation. Utilizing its powerful mapping engine built to scale for global enterprises, Gluware Topology generates powerful site documentation and simplifies the management and troubleshooting of network infrastructure. Gluware customers will present their unique stories about using Gluware's intelligent network automation to solve real-world networking challenges. This will include automating complex brownfield environments, enabling continuous compliance for regulated industries, automating security and configuration drift audits and mapping networks to simplify and de-risk operations. Attendees will have opportunities to see live product demos, ask questions and engage with the Gluware team and networking industry experts. The full agenda includes: Enabling Continuous Compliance for a Global Financial Gluware Customer Julie Wehling, Solutions Architect at Gluware, will discuss how Gluware enabled continuous compliance following an audit that highlighted OS version and configuration issues at a global financial customer. Advizex: Automating Security Audits and Remediation with Gluware Michael Burns, Network Architect at Advizex, will discuss how Gluware's custom security and configuration drift audits enable a faster remediation path for Advizex. SecurView: Automating at the Intersection of Security and Networking Rajeev Khanolkar, Co-founder, President and CEO of SecurView, and Jeff Gray, Co-founder and CEO of Gluware, will discuss Gluware's offerings and six ways its solutions help CIOs. Announcing Gluware Topology Kevin Irwin, Senior Director of Product Management at Gluware, will introduce Gluware Topology, a new product that uses existing data to map the network and simplify operations. Introducing Network RPA Michael Haugh, VP of Product Marketing at Gluware, will discuss Network RPA and how customers can use its low-code, drag-and-drop interface to automate and orchestrate workflows. Network RPA Compliance and Security Use Cases Tim Silverline, VP of Security at Gluware, will highlight how Gluware Network RPA can be used to address common compliance and security challenges. The one-hour livestream will begin at 9:00 AM PDT on Tuesday, June 28, 2022, and include time for Q&As. To register click here. About GluwareGluware is the leading intelligent network automation suite for the cloud era, trusted by Global 2000 enterprises, across industries, from Pharma to Finance. Gluware automates the networks of the world's largest and most complex enterprises by simplifying how multi-vendor, multi-domain enterprise networks are discovered, analyzed, and maintained. The company's code-free, intent-based approach to network automation reduces the business risk of unplanned outages and downtime while elevating the performance of people and systems. Contact:Sena McGrandLumina Communications for Gluware[email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gluware-to-showcase-real-world-enterprise-network-automation-and-path-to-hyperautomation-at-june-28-packet-pushers-livestream-301576176.html SOURCE Gluware Women journalists from Ukraine, U.S. and China receive prestigious honor WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) today announced the recipients of its 32nd annual Courage in Journalism Awards, which honor women journalists who show remarkable persistence and bravery within news media. This year's honorees are Lynsey Addario, a veteran United States photojournalist currently working with The New York Times; Victoria Roshchyna, a Ukrainian freelance journalist; and, Cerise Castle, a United States investigative journalist. Imprisoned Chinese columnist Xueqin (Sophia) Huang was awarded the Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Award, which is given annually to a journalist who is unjustly jailed, detained, or imprisoned. IWMF announces Courage in Journalism Awards. Women journalists from Ukraine, U.S. and China receive prestigious honor. The Courage in Journalism Awards are announced amid heightened global tensions around the world, including Russia's war on Ukraine, the consequences of the Taliban takeover in Afghanistan, numerous authoritarian crackdowns, and blatant human rights abuses. These awards recognize the women journalists at the frontlines of these challenges who are intrepid in their commitment to reporting. "This year's awardees have persevered in the face of extreme dangers, including police intimidation, censorship, captivity and the trauma of documenting war crimes," said IWMF Executive Director Elisa Lees Munoz. "These women bear witness to some of the world's darkest and most difficult moments; it is an honor to recognize their drive to report on truths not often seen, and appreciate how those stories affect our news landscape today." The Courage in Journalism Awards are made possible by Bank of America, the awards' National Presenting Sponsor for 16 consecutive years. The IWMF would like to thank Bank of America for its commitment to journalism, diversity in news media and the pursuit of press freedom. Reporting from 70 countries throughout her 25-year career, photojournalist Lynsey Addario is dedicated to documenting conflict, humanitarian crisis, and women's issues from the frontlines despite a near-death experience. Also reporting from the ground in Ukraine is Victoria Roshchyna, whose freelance coverage shares the horrifying effects of war on civilians; Roshchyna was detained twice by Russian forces for her work. U.S.-based journalist Cerise Castle wrote the first history exposing deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, resulting in harassment and retaliation from LASD and threats to her safety. Having spent her career reporting on injustice and corruption in China including pioneering the #MeToo movement within her country Wallis Annenberg Justice for Women Journalists Awardee Xueqin (Sophia) Huang was arrested on September 19, 2021. She remains imprisoned with no contact to her family or lawyers since her arrest. The awardees will be recognized during a virtual ceremony on November 9, 2022, held in partnership with Washington Post Live. The event will be hosted by IWMF board member and CBS Evening News anchor Norah O'Donnell and chaired by Quadrivium Foundation co-founder and president Kathryn Murdoch. "Global conflicts continue to demonstrate that press freedom is foundational to democracy," said Murdoch. "I am honored to recognize these four incredible women at the 2022 Courage in Journalism Awards and further support the IWMF's work to break barriers in the news media." About the 2022 Courage in Journalism Award Winners Lynsey Addario (United States) PhotojournalistTwitter: @lynseyaddario, Instagram: @lynseyaddario Lynsey Addario is an American photojournalist who has been covering conflict, humanitarian crises, and women's issues around the Middle East and Africa on assignment for The New York Times and National Geographic for more than two decades. Since September 11, 2001, Addario has covered conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Darfur, South Sudan, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, Syria, and ongoing war in Ukraine. Addario is the recipient of numerous awards, including a MacArthur fellowship. She was part of The New York Times team to win a Pulitzer Prize for overseas reporting out of Afghanistan and Pakistan, an Overseas Press Club Olivier Rebbot Award, and two Emmy nominations. In 2015, Addario wrote a New York Times best-selling memoir, "It's What I Do," which chronicles her personal and professional life as a photojournalist coming of age in the post-9/11 world. In 2018, she released her first solo collection of photography, "Of Love and War," published by Penguin Press. After nearly three months in Ukraine, Addario remarked, "I'm so honored to receive this award. Every day, I feel more passionate about the importance of journalism in our society, and I hope this award inspires aspiring and working female journalists to continue covering difficult and dangerous stories. We need to see the world through women's eyes from all backgrounds and all ages." Read more of Addario's story here. Victoria Roshchyna (Ukraine) Freelance Journalist Victoria Roshchyna is a Ukrainian freelance journalist reporting for Ukrayinska Pravda, Hromadske and Radio Free Europe. Throughout her 6+ years in journalism, Roshchyna has primarily covered complex and dangerous topics including crime, courts, human rights and war to bring power to account. Roshchyna has been reporting exclusively on the war in Ukraine since Russia's invasion began in February 2022. In March 2022, Roshchyna was captured twice by Russian forces in the eastern regions of Ukraine, the second time held for 10 days in Berdyansk. Despite the risk, Roshchyna has continued reporting on the war, stating: "This is the most important story, showing bravery again and again." She continues, "I was never afraid to tell the truth. People need to know the truth, and the guilty must be held accountable. I do not consider it courage but, rather, my professional duty." Read more of Roshchyna's story here. Cerise Castle (United States) Freelance JournalistTwitter: @cerisecastle, Instagram: @yourmajestce Los Angeles, California-based freelance journalist Cerise Castle specializes in arts & culture, civil rights, crime, and human interest stories. She's produced and hosted segments for the Emmy-award winning nightly news program, VICE News Tonight, NPR, and several podcasts. Her reporting and commentary have been featured in publications like Knock LA, the Daily Beast, the Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, and MTV. Castle wrote "A Tradition of Violence," the first history of deputy gangs inside the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department, the largest local law enforcement agency in the United States. The investigation was published as a 15-part reporting series for Knock LA exposing 18 gangs, 19 documented murders (all of whom were people of color), and over $100 million dollars in lawsuits paid for by the people of Los Angeles. The podcast of the same name and subject matter is due out in October 2022. Castle commented, "This award is an acknowledgment of the relentless work of families impacted by deputy violence, and the LA County communities that lifted their voices to seek out the truth. I hope this inspires others to begin their own investigations of powers that have historically avoided accountability." Read more of Castle's story here. Xueqin (Sophia) Huang (People's Republic of China) Freelance Journalist Sophia Huang is a Chinese freelance journalist, reporting on issues related to human rights and gender equality in China. She also self-publishes on Matters, an online platform for civil discourse, and shared her observations of the protests in Hong Kong in 2019. Huang described witnessing the protesters' resiliency firsthand and including her own thoughts on resistance to political tyranny, "," which landed her in Residential Surveillance at a Designated Location (RSDL) a form of government detention of individuals accused of endangering state security for three months from October 2019 to January 2020. Huang is also a feminist activist, who came forth with her story of sexual harassment and conducted the only online survey of Chinese female journalists' experiences with workplace sexual harassment in 2018. In 2021, her article on female activist Li Qiaochu, ": ', ,'"published by Initium Media, received an award for Excellence in Reporting on Women's Issues from the Society of Publishers in Asia (SOPA), an organization that recognizes individuals for outstanding journalism. Three months after receiving this award, Huang went missing en route to the United Kingdom, where she was to begin a masters program. One month later, it came to light that she was detained for, "inciting subversion of state power." Huang is still in detention, and her case is with the Guangzhou City People's Procuratorate. About the International Women's Media Foundation The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) is the only global non-profit organization that offers emergency support, safety training, global reporting opportunities, and funding for both staff reporters and freelancers, all specifically tailored for women and gender diverse journalists. Our mission is to ensure more opportunities, bylines, and recognition of women and nonbinary journalists and create a greater diversity of voices in journalism. Follow the IWMF on Twitter at @IWMF, on Facebook at @IWMFPage, on Instagram on @TheIWMF and on TikTok @theiwmf. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/iwmf-announces-2022-courage-in-journalism-award-winners-301575265.html SOURCE The International Women's Media Foundation WILMINGTON, N.C., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- America's leading niche magazine franchisor, The N2 Company (N2), just announced a major overhaul of its flagship brand. Known as N2 Publishing since 2004, N2's line of neighborhood newsletters has become Stroll as of the July 2022 issues. The change affects homeowners in nearly 600 prestigious U.S. neighborhoods who receive a free, custom N2 magazine each month. "Only a few people knew [our magazines] were products of a single company. With this rebrand, we're changing that." The major shift to Stroll comes as company leaders acknowledge the need for brand evolution and consistency across markets. Until now, each of the hundreds of magazines boasted a unique name and masthead. According to co-founders Earl Seals (President) and Duane Hixon (CEO), this worked well for N2 in the first decade-plus of business. However, after years of Inc. 5000-level growth and a presence in nearly every U.S. state, both leaders acknowledged it was time to strengthen recognition as the industry-leading brand of magazines serving the country's most desirable neighborhoods. "We produce the official magazine for hundreds of America's most affluent neighborhoods in 48 states. For almost two decades, each one has had its own brand name so only a few people knew they were products of a single company. With this rebrand, we're changing that," said Hixon. "Stroll will now be known nationally as the premium line of magazines it is. Thank you to the thousands of local businesses that support this luxury print product that continues to build community." Stroll magazines will all follow the same visual branding but will be customized to each neighborhood. Every issue will include the name of the neighborhood on the cover and, as has been the case since the product's launch in 2004, will be filled with stories and photos about the residents within the community. To learn more about Stroll, visit strollmag.com. About The N2 Company Founded in 2004, The N2 Company helps businesses "connect with ideal clients" by partnering with affluent neighborhoods, real estate communities, new-mover audiences, and others, to produce 800+ custom publications and more opening every week. Every N2 issue is personal, relevant, and unique to the community it serves. Visit The N2 Company online at www.n2co.com to learn about our full portfolio of brands: Stroll, Real Producers, BeLocal, Medical Professionals, and Hyport Digital. Media Contact: Claire Barham[email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nations-largest-line-of-neighborhood-magazines-relaunched-under-new-brand-stroll-301573250.html SOURCE The N2 Company GUANGZHOU, China, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Onion Global Limited ("Onion Global", the "Group" or the "Company") (NYSE: OG), a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that incubates, markets, and distributes the world's fresh, fashionable, and future brands to young people in China and across Asia, today announced that the Company had filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the full year ended December 31, 2021 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The annual report is available on the Company's investor relations website at http://ir.msyc.com/ and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. The Company will provide hard copies of the annual report, free of charge, to its shareholders and ADS holders upon written request. Requests should be directed to Investor Relations, No. 309 3-05 Huangpu Avenue Zhong Tianhe District, Guangzhou City, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China. About Onion Global Limited Onion Global Limited (NYSE: OG) is a next-generation lifestyle brand platform that incubates, markets, and distributes the world's fresh, fashionable, and future brands, which we refer to as "3F brands," to young people in China and across Asia. The Company's mission is to be the dream factory of lifestyle brands for young people. The Company's platform offers an integrated solution to develop, market, and distribute new and inspiring branded products, thereby reshaping the lifestyle shopping and consumer culture in China. Onion Global Limited has been listed on New York Stock Exchange since May 2021. For more information, please visit: http://ir.msyc.com/. Investor Relations ContactIn China:Onion Global Ltd.Investor RelationsE-mail: [email protected] ChristensenMr. Eric YuanE-mail: [email protected]Tel: +86-10-5900-1548 In the United States:ChristensenMs. Linda BergkampE-mail: [email protected]Tel: +1-480-614-3004 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/onion-global-filed-2021-annual-report-on-form-20-f-301575728.html SOURCE Onion Global Limited SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Simplilearn, a global digital skills training provider, announced its partnership with the Commonwealth countries to provide free digital upskilling programs for learners. The digital upskilling programs by Simplilearn amounting to $5 million will be provided to 10,000 learners at no cost. Through the partnership, Simplilearn's programs will help learners in the Caribbean, African and Pacific regions upskill in digital economy skills, and upon finishing the program, each learner will receive a completion certificate. Simplilearn has previously partnered with Government entities of various countries in their national digital skilling projects, to bring upskilling prospects to as many learners as possible. The partnership with Simplilearn and the Commonwealth was announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2022 in Kigali, Rwanda. The programs offered as a part of the partnership will enable learners from the commonwealth region to upskill in Data, AI and Technology, among other programs . Higher education and University enrolled students, as well as recent graduates will be best benefitted from the same. Speaking on the partnership, Mr. Krishna Kumar, Founder & CEO, Simplilearn, said, "The world is becoming increasingly digitized, and hence there is a massive demand for professionals to upskill themselves in the latest digital skills to flourish in the field. Simplilearn through its SkillUp platform will provide free programs to 10,000 learners in the regions of Caribbean, African and Pacific. We see this as an opportunity to extend our support to the Commonwealth countries by improving access to high-quality upskilling in the region. We look forward to working with them towards boosting the prosperity of the nations." Mr. Krishna Kumar thanked the Commonwealth Secretary General for her leadership for identifying youth as a critical resource for the Commonwealth countries under their ongoing collaborative action research with Center for Resilience and Sustainable Development, Cambridge University under which need for youth skilling was also identified. Commonwealth Secretary General, Patricia Scotland thanked Mr. Krishna Kumar for a generous offer and commitment to provide much needed training in digital skills for 10,000 young people in Commonwealth countries. This will really help make a difference and will equip the young people to succeed in the job market. Previously, Simplilearn had partnered with countries such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, South Africa, Lebanon, Jordan and Singapore for boot-camps on Data, Artificial Intelligence and Technology. Simplilearn derives more than 50% of its revenues from its international operations. Having maintained its leadership position in the space of digital skilling for learners, corporates and enterprises; today, Simplilearn has helped more than one million professionals across 150 countries to upskill and prepare for the digital future. The company has partnered with various IT giants in international markets such as Deviare in South Africa, Gulf Business Machines in the Middle East and the ILX Group in the United Kingdom among others to provide digital skills training programs. About Simplilearn Founded in 2010 and based in San Francisco, California, and Bangalore, India, Simplilearn, a Blackstone company is the world's #1 online Bootcamp for digital economy skills training. Simplilearn offers access to world-class work-ready training to individuals and businesses around the world. The Bootcamps are designed and delivered with world-renowned universities, top corporations, and leading industry bodies via live online classes featuring top industry practitioners, sought-after trainers, and global leaders. From college students and early career professionals to managers, executives, small businesses, and big corporations, Simplilearn's role-based, skill-focused, industry-recognized, and globally relevant training programs are ideal upskilling solutions for diverse career or/and business goals. Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1100016/Simplilearn_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/simplilearn-to-provide-free-digital-skilling-programs-in-commonwealth-countries-301576010.html SOURCE Simplilearn A permanent contingent of Air Force fifth-generation fighters west of the International Date Line is a desirable option as the U.S. seeks to deter an increasingly assertive China, the head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said Friday. Chinas ongoing military buildup and February commitment to a no-limits partnership with Russia presents a serious threat to the Indo-Pacific region, Adm. John Aquilino said Friday. He was interviewed by Bradley Bowman of the Washington, D.C.-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies. That buildup encompasses all domains and all capabilities, whether its naval ships, whether its fifth-generation aircraft, whether its missile forces, whether its cyber capability or capability in space, to include strategic nuclear capability, Aquilino said. The concern for all Americans should be the pace, scale and scope that China is growing and what does that mean with regard to intent for a future peaceful globe. Aquilino emphasized the importance of deterrence through the presence of U.S. troops in Guam, Japan and South Korea and through investment in new technologies such as fifth-generation aircraft like the F-22 Raptor or F-35 Lightning II. The U.S. Marine Corps has established two squadrons of F-35Bs at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan, and the Navy has deployed F-35Cs aboard aircraft carriers, starting with the USS Carl Vinson in August. But the Air Force has thus far only deployed F-35s or F-22s into the region on a short-term basis, Aquilino said. F-35As from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and F-22s from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, took part this month in an Agile Combat Employment exercise at Iwakuni, for example. Aquilino said the two types of aircraft have a wider role to play, and the possibility exists for a permanent presence in the region. I would envision that that capability is certainly well, its certainly desirable, but we would like to get to that, he said. That ability to, like I said, operate in contested space, fifth-generation capabilities, whether they be F-22, F-35, are critically important to the ability to deliver deterrence. Despite the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the U.S. believes China remains its pacing threat and the Indo-Pacific its priority theater. In addition, U.S.-China relations are strained over Taiwan. China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province that must be reunified with the mainland at some point, possibly through force. The U.S. officially maintains a One China policy that acknowledges Beijings claim on the island but considers Taiwans status unresolved. The U.S. supports Taiwan through economic ties and weapons sales. In May, during his first presidential visit to Japan, President Joe Biden said the U.S. would help defend Taiwan against an attack from China. Similarly, China consistently rebukes freedom-of-navigation operations by U.S. Navy warships in the South China Sea, over which China claims large portions, and Navy transits through the Taiwan Strait. The key here, as we look at this pretty dangerous national security environment, is I dont think we can operate under a business-as-usual mindset, Aquilino said Friday. I think we have to understand the concern of, you know, what does the future look like based on the security environment and the objectives of some of our competitors? And I dont think that future is something any of us would be happy with, right? RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany Gen. James Hecker became commander Monday of more than 30,000 airmen and an air operations network spread across three continents, taking the reins in a ceremony that saw five four-star leaders on one stage. Hecker, the Air Forces newest four-star general, received his promotion shortly before his elevation to command of U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa. Gen. David Allvin, the Air Forces vice chief of staff; Gen. Tod Wolters, U.S. European Command and NATO supreme allied commander; and Gen. Stephen Townsend, U.S. Africa Command commander, were on hand to welcome Hecker to Europe and bid farewell to the outgoing Gen. Jeffrey Harrigian, who is retiring after a 37-year career. A fighter pilot and 1989 Air Force Academy graduate, Hecker comes to Europe from Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where he was the commander and president of Air University, part of Air Education and Training Command, for more than three years. He has more than 3,500 hours in the cockpit flying the F-15C Eagle, F-22 Raptor and MQ-1B Predator, among other aircraft. In his new assignment at Ramstein, Hecker will also lead Allied Air Command, which coordinates air and space operations for the NATO alliance. Hecker noted that the U.S. military is a lot smaller now than it was when he joined the Air Force more than 30 years ago. He underscored the importance of working with partners and allies in standing up to Russia and China, adding that the latter poses challenges for the U.S. in Africa. We cant do this by ourselves. We must do it together, he said, also alluding to the possibility that NATO may soon have two new members, Sweden and Finland. Harrigian led USAFE-AFAFRICA through the pandemic, during which the command launched more than 177,000 training and contingency sorties, according to his citation for the Legion of Merit, which he received during the ceremony. The command under Harrigian also supported the evacuation of more than 120,000 refugees from Afghanistan following the U.S.-backed governments collapse and the Taliban takeover in August 2021. Most recently, Harrigian had the command ready to defend the alliance on night one of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, Townsend said. About 150 of the Armys top enlisted leaders will gather in El Paso, Texas, this week for an annual in-person summit to discuss quick-action, low-cost solutions to eliminate suicide and sexual assault among the ranks. After three days of brainstorming, discussions and guest speakers, the goal is for each sergeant major to come away with actionable solutions, said Sgt. Maj. Osvaldo Martinez of the Armys People First Task Force and coordinator of the summit. The goal of the meeting is to really operationalize how we're going to eliminate the harmful behaviors that we find ourselves working through every single day in the Army, he said. The summit is hosted by Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Grinston and builds upon monthly virtual meetings that offer updates on success and failures for each solution. [Grinston] is about putting ownership on senior mission command sergeants major, Martinez said. This meeting allows for collaborations between all those senior mission command sergeants major to really collaborate, learn from one another and put things into practice pretty easily. We don't need months of studies and data and all these things that sometimes slow things down. The issue is today, and how do we fix it today? The Army has long been looking for ways to protect soldiers from sexual assault and harassment and suicide as statistics have remained the same or increased in recent years. The fiscal 2020 report on sexual assault in the Army the most recent statistics available stated 3,250 reports were filed that year, or about 5.5 per 1,000 soldiers. That rate has increased during the previous decade from 2.4 per 1,000 soldiers and has not changed since 2018, according to the report. Another recent Defense Department report stated the active-duty Army had 176 soldiers die by suicide in 2021. Thats a 35% increase in five years, according to the report. However, Martinez said the Army has seen 29% fewer suicide deaths than it had at this time last year. Through these monthly and annual summits, Fort Stewart in Georgia developed a program to empower young, enlisted soldiers to help curb sexual assault and harassment and discrimination among their peers, he said. After one year of anecdotal success, Fort Campbell, Ky., is considering adopting the program. Known at Fort Stewart as Marne Guardian, the program was built out of an awareness that not all sexual assault and harassment or equal opportunity training was truly reaching the youngest troops in the 3rd Infantry Division, said Robert Lewis, Fort Stewarts program manager for the Sexual Harassment/Assault Response and Prevention program, known as SHARP. Each company-level unit selects at least one soldier, usually a private first class or specialist, to attend 40 hours of training, which equips the junior soldiers with the skills to identify, prevent and intervene when the person sees some of these negative behaviors. This soldier then serves as a resource and support for the surrounding soldiers. The recurring theme of the whole program is how do we intervene in a positive way, Lewis said. The only cost to the Army is excusing the soldier from daily duties to participate in the week of training, he said. While its difficult to correlate a clear line of success, he said the anecdotes that come from Marne Guardian participants during monthly meetings has shown theres been positive impact. In one instance, a soldier who went through the training, referred to as a guardian, was able to identify a fellow soldier in the barracks who was exhibiting hopeless, helpless behavior associated with suicide. The guardian got that soldier to the emergency room and stayed as the soldier received services. Another guardian said their units motor pool often had conversations going on that were vaguely inappropriate. They were able to shift the dynamic and reported to Lewis that the atmosphere is now more professional and fun, and soldiers no longer fear being picked on. Finding successes such as Marne Guardian and expanding them to other bases is a big part next weeks summit, Martinez said. Understanding when something isnt working, and moving on is equally as important, he said. They give ideas about 90 days to determine if it should continue. All the work in the summit complements the mission of Martinezs main job with the Army with the People First Task Force, which was created to implement the findings and recommendations from an outside civilian commission that reviewed the conditions at Fort Hood, Texas, after a soldier was killed by another soldier in April 2020. Known as the Fort Hood Independent Review Commission, its report released in December 2020 called for significant Army-wide changes including an overhaul of criminal investigations and the SHARP program. The People First Task Force is focused on those larger policy and procedure changes while the summit empowers bases and influential noncommissioned officers to make changes within their section of the Army. Of the commissions 70 recommendations, 31 have been implemented Army-wide as of November, according to the Army. The summit calls for leaders to ask, What can I do at the local level while I wait for the big Army to finish the program as a whole, Martinez said. Each year, the in-person summit focuses in on specific areas to improve. This year, it will address leader engagement, mentorship, leader development and alcohol culture. In advance of the summit, Grinstons office asked for feedback from soldiers on the topics through an online forum on the website Reddit. Many of the comments from troops returned to the idea of predicable schedules, time management and showing soldiers that they are valued by respecting a work-life balance. We are getting after it and teaching young soldiers through leader development of how to really use time management so they can give predictability to their soldiers, Martinez said. We acknowledge that with a lack of predictability for soldiers, it brings stress when they don't know what's going on. It makes having a home life extremely difficult, because you can't give family a time that you're going to come home. #BREAKING USCG Air Station Clearwater rescued 7 people after their boat was hit by lighting 100 mil offshore of #TampaBay. Everyone is ok & reunited w/ family & friends thanks to them activating their EPIRB. Read more @ https://t.co/sINUsheQ9t #EPIRB #lightningstrikes #USCG pic.twitter.com/08SCd6WKoq USCGSoutheast (@USCGSoutheast) June 26, 2022 TAMPA, Fla. (Tribune News Service) A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter lifted seven boaters to safety after their 39-foot vessel was struck by lightning 100 miles off the Clearwater coast Saturday. The five women and two men were participating in a fishing tournament when their boat encountered a lightning storm, according to a Coast Guard news release. None sustained serious injuries. "Lightning storms are routinely encountered in the Florida maritime environment and can pose a significant hazard to boaters," Coast Guard pilot Lt. David McKinley said in a statement. Fortunately, McKinley said, the boaters were equipped with an emergency beacon, flares and a maritime radio to ensure a quick rescue. The boaters were transported safely back to a Coast Guard air station in Clearwater where they were greeted by waiting family members. 2022 Tampa Bay Times. Visit at tampabay.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. This article first appeared in the Stars and Stripes Europe edition, Jan. 31, 1969. It is republished unedited in its original form. WITH BLUE FORCE IN EXERCISE CARBIDE ICE Dual-based troops of the 24th Inf Div struggled across an unfamiliar countryside Thursday and the soldiers were engaged with their traditional enemies cold and dampness. "I couldn't go to sleep because 11 of us were jammed in this damn truck all night while it was stuck in the snow over there," said Spec. 4 Phillip Perkins of Oakland, Calif. "The clutch went out and the tow-truck just left us stranded there all night. "This is a messhall track, but we haven't had anything to eat this morning," said Perkins, a cook for Bravo Co, 1st Bn, 34th Inf. "I could get those burners going and make some coffee, but they keep telling us to get ready to move out." Rain showers, fog, snow and temperatures that hovered around freezing plagued the maneuver Carbide Ice. Lt. Col. Edward J. Nix, an Army briefing officer, said 38 men have been hospitalized with colds and other ailments derived from the winter weather. So far, there had been only one serious injury, he said. A man fell from the top of a tank and banged his head. He was being treated for concussion. The commanders were fighting a big war, which stretched across Upper Franconia, as the defending Blue Force pulled back toward Hersbruck, while trying to delay the invasion of Orange troops from the east. The enlisted men seemed mostly concerned, however, with bodily comforts and with finding out where to go next. Nix said Army vehicles in the maneuver had five accidents, all minor, on Wednesday. He said three companies of men being used to repair damage to the farm country were kept busy removing mud which had been deposited on paved roads by tracked vehicles. The Air Force flew 82 sorties Wednesday in support of both sides. Down the road between Woppertahl and Schwendt, a soldier with a map was trying to get directions to Frechetsfeld. Two other men waited in a jeep. We went out that way once and couldn't find it he said. We must have made a wrong turn. What's at Frechetsfeld? he was asked. I don't know. They just told me that is where I am going, he replied. Second Lt. Tom Davis of Las Vegas, Nev., a member of 1st Bn, 34th Inf, said, "The movement has been incessant. Yesterday morning, we were about 20 kilometers northeast of here and we've been moving since then, he said. More than likely we'll be moving all day today. We don't have any problems except it's just cold. Capt. Thomas Mitchell of Los Angeles, Calif., a doctor in the field with the soldiers, said some medical supplies have been slow getting through. "We are having a hard time getting our supply channels set up," he said. "We need medicines for colds and coughs that's what everybody has got." Mitchell said his medical outfit was pretty well off at night because they could sleep in litters intended for wounded and could stay off the ground. We finally got our heater going, he said. It was out the first day. It's awfully hard to stay dry in this weather. Your boots and socks get wet but, so far, I haven't seen any frostbite First Trip Pfc. Robert Cheatum of Little Rock, Ark., a mortarman, said this is his first trip to Germany but he doesn't think he will get to see anything outside the maneuver area. I just want to get back to Ft. Riley, Kansas, he said. Four miles east of Schwendt, a Blue unit was under attack from Orange men. The Blues blocked the road with armored personnel carriers (APCs) to stop the assault and the sound of blank rifle fire rattled across the snowbound hills. A German woman selling gasoline at a crossroads station nearby said the soldiers didn't bother her. We don't mind," she said. "The buergermeister said we could get money for any damage they do, but so far there has been no damage that I know of." Want to read more articles about the Carbide Ice exercise? Subscribe to Stars and Stripes historic newspaper archive! We have digitized all of our 1948-1999 European and Pacific editions, as well as several of our WWII editions and made them available online through http://starsandstripes.newspaperarchive.com/ Samood, Iraq, July 26, 2008: Spc. Hiram Elizondo crosses the steep banks of a canal early in the morning while searching fields around Samood, Iraq, for weapons caches. Soldiers with Fox Troop, 2nd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment awoke at 4 a.m. to start patrolling before the worst of the heat arrived. But even Iraqs coolest temperatures can be strength-sapping, especially when soldiers must lug all their gear on their backs. The scenes witnessed by journalists and humanitarian workers in recent months have been striking: In Sudan, swollen-bellied babies are looking for anything to eat. In Yemen, where warring parties have blocked humanitarian aid, hollow-eyed children and their mothers languish on the brink of death from starvation. In Ukraine, the elderly are collecting rancid rain runoff for drinking water. Malnourishment and hunger were big problems even before Russia invaded Ukraine in February and cut off Europe's breadbasket from its markets, sparking a flurry of dire warnings about the world's food supplies. Dozens of countries across the globe are already suffering from devastating food shortages, so much so that the number of people facing starvation more than doubled in just the last two years, to 345 million, according to United Nations figures. The causes are myriad: drought and flooding, and the interruption of supply chains triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic, especially in China. An estimated 20 wars or conflicts the latest in Ukraine have also seriously disrupted access to food and water. "The current food security challenge that we're facing [is] due to these three Cs: climate, COVID and conflict," said Ramin Toloui, assistant secretary of State for economic affairs, one of several Biden administration officials tasked to food-security issues. The bleak situation drew the attention of powerful diplomats Friday when U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken and the foreign ministers of six other of the world's largest economies met in Germany to map out plans for easing global food shortages. Few observers expect real solutions to emerge but hope the summit will highlight the crisis and boost funding for antihunger efforts. The Biden administration has committed about $8.5 billion to emergency food assistance and related programs, focusing initially on the Horn of Africa, Yemen, Lebanon and Haiti, Blinken said. "We hear all these numbers; we've all cited numbers of this growing food insecurity," Blinken said in Berlin. "But what we know is this: We know that those numbers are people, real people, real lives, real livelihoods, mothers, fathers, children. ... As human beings, all of us have to be seized with this." The U.N.'s World Food Program calculates that eight of the 10 largest food crises worldwide are being primarily driven by conflict in Yemen, Ethiopia, Afghanistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Such wars force people from their homes into long desperate treks for safety. They devastate farms and wreak havoc on food distribution systems. In Latin America, food scarcity is also driving tens of thousands of people to abandon parched or hurricane-leveled farms and migrate to the United States. These were the disasters already in motion when Russia invaded Ukraine. Now, the U.N. says the Russian blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports could lead 40 million more people to go hungry. "We have to realize that this crisis that we're experiencing now is not one that is going to go away in the next few weeks, months," said Cary Fowler, the administration's special envoy for global food security and the founder of the famous Norway-based "seed vault" that is preserving thousands of food species. "We have to begin to think about this as an acute crisis that will last for a couple of years, unfortunately." The world's confrontation with starvation intensified in February when Russia invaded its western neighbor, Ukraine, and blockaded the country's Black Sea ports. Ukraine exports much of its grain, wheat and other foodstuffs from those ports, which are now menaced by Russia's fleet. The blockade is no small matter Ukraine is the world's fifth largest exporter of wheat and corn, and a leading supplier of vegetable oil and fertilizer. By one estimate, nearly 25 million tons of grain is sitting in Ukrainian silos and warehouses, likely to rot. Attempts to reroute the supplies overland would be expensive and extremely difficult, in part, because Ukrainian railway carriages would have to be refitted to work in other parts of Europe. Third-party naval escorts have also been largely ruled out because it could lead to direct conflict with Russia, which is unlikely to let up its quarantine of Ukraine's ports. Parts of the Black Sea have also been mined by Ukraine, adding another layer of danger. Some experts contend the best solution is to arm Ukraine with longer-range artillery and aircraft, such as unmanned MQ-9 Reaper vehicles equipped with precision-guided missiles, so that it can take out Russian ships. "You don't have to have the most sophisticated weaponry, but they need the reach so they can push the Russians back without risking combat at sea," said Bryan Clark, a former Navy official and submariner at the Hudson Institute, a Washington-based think tank. Getting the grain and wheat out of Ukraine is only part of the problem. The war is ravaging fertile fields, disrupting harvests, destroying storage silos and killing farmers. When Russian bombs ruin a farm in eastern Ukraine, for example, there is a strong chance that a family in Lebanon, which receives 80% of its grain from Ukraine, won't have bread, aid workers say. U.S. officials also say they have "credible" reports that Russia is stealing Ukrainian grain and selling it as its own. The Kremlin contends that the food shortages are to be blamed on economic sanctions that the U.S. and most of the West have imposed on Russia. U.S. officials are quick to deny that, saying food and fertilizer are exempt from the sanctions. Higher fuel costs also are hampering efforts to get food where it is needed, said Martin Frick, who heads the U.N.'s World Food Program office in Berlin. His agency's operating costs have risen by $71 million per month; the shipping price of a single container of food or other aid has gone from $1,000 to $4,000 in recent months, he said. "The number of people who need our help is skyrocketing," Frick said in a telephone interview from Berlin, where he is attending the food crisis summit. "The funding is not. We basically have to take food from hungry people to give it to starving people." To feed their populations, he said, countries facing food shortages should return to growing traditional crops such as lentils in India, millet and sorghum in Africa and quinoa in Latin America rather than focusing on producing more profitable agricultural commodities like coffee beans and cotton, both of which are resource intensive. Caitlin Welsh, a veteran expert in global food security who heads that program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said hunger and famine have consequences for both health and politics. Hungry people can be angry people, and the rising price of food or fuel have led to coups throughout history. The health effects of going hungry can be far-reaching and insidious, Welsh said. "The sudden elevation in prices [of foodstuffs like bread] can make people shift from more nutritious food to items of lower nutrition," she said. And for pregnant women and young children, that can cause lifelong disabilities, Welsh said. 2022 Los Angeles Times. Visit latimes.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Leaders of NATO countries meeting in Madrid this week will agree to a more than sevenfold increase its quick-reaction force as well as take a series of other steps to thicken defenses in the east, the top alliance official said Monday. The response force now stands at roughly 40,000 troops, but that number will swell to more than 300,000, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on the eve of Madrid Summit. Describing the summit as transformative, Stoltenberg also said allies will adopt a new strategic concept that will guide NATOs direction in the coming years. Together, this constitutes the biggest overhaul of our collective deterrence and defense since the Cold War, he said. Events in Ukraine, where Russia launched a full-fledged war in February, have prompted allies to take steps to better reinforce countries to the east and be able to respond faster in the event of Russian aggression on NATO turf. The new strategic concept will state the obvious: that Russia is NATOs top security threat. And for the first time, Chinas military rise will also be accounted for in the strategy document, Stoltenberg said. The summit will bring the first official update to NATOs strategic concept since 2010, when allies characterized Russia as a potential partner and the war in Afghanistan was on the top of the NATO agenda. President Joe Biden will lead discussions in Madrid, where the prospective NATO membership of Finland and Sweden also will be under discussion. Its not yet clear whether the two countries will be invited into the alliance during talks, given Turkish opposition. However, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will meet with his Finnish and Swedish counterparts in Madrid to work toward a resolution, Stoltenberg said. On troop increases along NATOs eastern flank, allies now appear inclined toward making incremental adjustments rather than overhauling how forces operate in the region. One measure likely to be agreed to is expanding the size of multinational battlegroups in the east to brigade-size levels, Stoltenberg said. While he didnt specify how many troops that would involve, brigades generally range between 3,000 and 5,000 people. However, only some of NATOs eight current battlegroups would get such a boost, Stoltenberg said. While he didnt provide a breakdown of the troop increases, he said Lithuania is one of the countries likely to get a boost. Other initiatives on the table involve more pre-positioned weaponry and air defenses as well as updated defense plans that pair forces to defend specific allies in the east, Stoltenberg said. These troops will exercise together with home defense forces, and they will become familiar with local terrain, facilities and our new pre-positioned stocks so that they can respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency, Stoltenberg said. Allies are gathering in Madrid as defense expenditures continue to rise in NATO. For the eighth consecutive year, European members and Canada collectively spent more, Stoltenberg said. Nine members also reached the NATO benchmark that calls for dedicating 2% of GDP to national defense budgets. For the U.S., getting allies to pay more has long been top priority, especially during the administration of former President Donald Trump, who routinely blasted members states such as Germany for failing to invest enough in the defense of Europe. Stoltenberg said 19 of NATOs 30 members now have plans to get to the 2% mark by 2024 and five others soon thereafter. Two percent is increasingly considered a floor, not a ceiling, Stoltenberg said. WASHINGTON Russian forces in recent days have launched roughly 60 missile strikes in Ukraine, including attacks on the capital city of Kyiv, in what Pentagon officials contend could be retaliation for U.S. and allies providing rocket systems to the Ukrainians to help them defend their country. The Russian strikes represent an uptick from the pace of their missile attacks in recent weeks as the war has evolved into a more artillery-focused battle in Ukraines eastern region of the Donbas, a senior U.S. defense official said Monday. Some of the weekend strikes hit targets in Kyiv, Lviv, Chernihiv and Odesa, all of which are in central or western Ukraine. There were more [Russian] missiles fired over the last week than we had seen in recent weeks, the official told Pentagon reporters on the condition of anonymity. It certainly could be related to the Ukrainian movement of [High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems] in the theater or can be a larger part of their battle strategy here." The official did not give a tally of the number of strikes in previous weeks. Earlier this month, the United States, United Kingdom and Germany sent Ukraine rocket systems, some of which have already been deployed throughout the country, the Pentagon said last week. So far, the U.S. alone has pledged eight rocket systems to Ukraine. The weapons, which are mounted on trucks, allow Ukraine to strike Russian forces from about 45 miles away with 500-pound, precision-guided rockets, which make an effect that Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl likened to more of an airstrike rather than a launch of salvos. In other words, you can do a lot with a little or you don't need a lot to have a significant effect, Kahl had said. Though Ukrainian forces have been using the rocket systems very well, the Pentagon official said, Ukraine lost a strategic foothold last week when its forces withdrew from Sievierodonetsk, one of the last cities that remained under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine. Despite the loss of Sievierodonetsk, which has roughly 100,000 residents, the official said Ukraines ability to hold off the Russians from taking the city during the past four months with just a small number of Ukrainians will be something military academics will probably all study in the future. The fact that in the end, several hundred Ukrainians continued to hold off the Russian army in that part of the world in a pretty significant fight, it speaks again to the tenacity of the Ukrainian soldier and their leadership, the official said. Still, the official said the citys loss was a blow to Ukraine, which has been under attack for 124 days. Mariupol, a port city in southern Ukraine with a population of more than 440,000 people, was the last major city lost to Russian forces during the invasion. If I'm a Ukrainian, every foot of Ukrainian soil I give up is pretty important to me, and so I don't want to understate the impact of losing ground, the official said. Similarly to Mariupol, I think there was a great deal of symbolism in [losing] Sievierodonetsk." The ratcheted-up missile offensive of the Russians also came as Western leaders meet in Europe this week to discuss support for Ukraine. On Monday, the Group of Seven, or G-7, which is made up leaders from the major industrial nations of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States, held a summit and plan to announce significant new sanction commitments to further intensify our economic measures against Russia, the White House said in a statement. Our measures will continue to sap [Russian President Vladimir] Putins military-industrial complex of critical components, prevent the central banks foreign reserves from propping up an ailing economy and deprive Putin of the resources he needs to wage his war, and hold the kleptocracy to account for its ill-gotten gains, the White House said. The effectiveness of our measures will only compound over time to further isolate Russia from the world economy. The Pentagon official said the G-7 summit also might have played a role in Russias decision to increase its missile strikes and target Kyiv. "We're not quite sure about the Russian objectives of the strikes, the official said. They certainly can be a protest against the G-7, [too]." More Western leaders will meet Tuesday at what is expected to be a historic NATO summit in Madrid. The international security alliance of 30 countries is expected to discuss adding Finland and Sweden to the group. If accepted into NATO, the historically neutral northern European countries will extend the borders of the alliance with Russia something that Putin has opposed. MOSCOW President Vladimir Putin is making his first public foreign trip since Russia sent troops into Ukraine, heading for two former Soviet republics and meetings likely to be friendly. Ahead of the trip beginning Tuesday to Tajikistan and Turkmenistan, there were no expectations of significant developments. But the visit gives Putin the opportunity to show that he is not isolated despite widespread sanctions and denunciations from the West because of the Ukraine operation. At the first stop in Tajikistan, Putin is to meet with authoritarian President Emomali Rahmon, who has been in office since 1994 and kept his country close to Russia. Tajikistan hosts some 7,000 Russian troops, Moscow's largest base abroad. Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said Monday that a key part of the talks with Rahmon will be discussing measures to improve security along Tajikistan's porous, 1,357-kilometer (843-mile) border with Afghanistan. Tajikistan, where a 1990s civil war that included Islamist insurgents killed as many as 100,000 people, is wary of Islamic radicalism spilling over from Afghanistan. It also is a main route for heroin and opium smuggling from Afghanistan. Russia is following a narrow path with Afghanistan although it officially designates the ruling Taliban as a terrorist group, the Taliban also have a representation in Moscow and one of the movement's officials was invited to the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in June. The Kremlin "encourages the new Afghan authorities to form an ethnically and politically balanced government and intensify actions for combatting terrorist and drug threats," Ushakov said. Putin on Wednesday is to be in Ashgabat, the capital of Turkmenistan, which largely seals itself off from the world. The purpose is to attend a summit of Caspian Sea littoral states, which also include Azerbaijan, Iran and Kazakhstan. Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev raised eyebrows at the St. Petersburg forum when, while appearing on stage with Putin, he firmly stated that Kazakhstan would not recognize the two separatist Ukrainian regions that Russia has declared to be sovereign states. KREMENCHUK, Ukraine Russian long-range bombers struck a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk with a missile on Monday, raising fears of what President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called an "unimaginable" number of victims in "one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history." Zelenskky said that many of the more than 1,000 civilians inside the mall managed to escape. Giant plumes of black smoke, dust and orange flames emanated from the wreckage, with emergency crews rushing in to search broken metal and concrete for victims and put out fires. Onlookers watched in distress at the sight of how an everyday activity such as shopping could turn into a horror. The casualty figures were difficult to determine as rescuers searched the smoldering rubble. The regional governor, Dmytro Lunin, said at least 15 people were dead and more than 40 wounded. The Unian news agency reported 16 dead. Soldiers worked into the night to lug sheets of twisted metal and broken concrete, as one drilled into what remained of the shopping center's roof. Drones whirred above, clouds of dark smoke still emanating from the ruins several hours after the fire had been put out. "We are working to dismantle the construction so that it is possible to get machinery in there since the metal elements are very heavy and big, and disassembling them by hand is impossible," said Volodymyr Hychkan, an emergency services official. At Ukraine's request, the U.N. Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting in New York on Tuesday to discuss the attack. In the first Russian government comment on the missile strike, the country's first deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, Dmitry Polyansky, alleged multiple inconsistencies that he didn't specify, claiming on Twitter that the incident was a provocation by Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied it targets civilian infrastructure, even though Russian attacks have hit other shopping malls, theaters, hospitals, kindergartens and apartment buildings. The missile strike unfolded as Western leaders pledged continued support for Ukraine, and the world's major economies prepared new sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on oil and higher tariffs on goods. Meanwhile, the U.S. appeared ready to respond to Zelenskyy's call for more air defense systems, and NATO planned to increase the size of its rapid-reaction forces nearly eightfold to 300,000 troops. Zelenskyy said the mall presented "no threat to the Russian army" and had "no strategic value." He accused Russia of sabotaging "people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry." In his nightly address, he said it appeared Russian forces had intentionally targeted the shopping center and added, "Today's Russian strike at a shopping mall in Kremenchuk is one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history." He said Russia "has become the largest terrorist organization in the world." Russia has increasingly used long-range bombers in the war. Ukrainian officials said Russian Tu-22M3 long-range bombers flying over Russia's western Kursk region fired the missile that hit the shopping center, as well as another that hit a sports arena in Kremenchuk. The Russian strike carried echoes of attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. "Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part," Zelenskyy said. Kremenchuk Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the attack "hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces." The United Nations called the strike "deplorable," stressing that civilian infrastructure "should never ever be targeted," U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. Group of Seven leaders issued a statement late Monday condemning the attack and saying that "indiscriminate attacks on innocent civilians constitute a war crime. Russian President Putin and those responsible will be held to account." The attack coincided with Russia's all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, "pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. At least eight people were killed and more than 20 wounded in Lysychansk when Russian rockets hit an area where a crowd gathered to obtain water from a tank, Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said. The eastern barrage was part of Russian forces' intensified offensive aimed at wresting the eastern Donbas region from Ukraine. Over the weekend, the Russian military and their local separatist allies forced Ukrainian government troops out of Lysychansk's neighboring city, Sievierodonetsk. To the west of Lysychansk on Monday, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of victims had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A man's body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. "Everything is now destroyed," said resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. "We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power. I can't even call to tell others what had happened to us." Before Monday's attacks, at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the country's south and east, according to Zelenskyy's office. Shelling on Monday in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, killed at least five people and wounded 15. Russian forces continued to target the key southern Black Sea port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, Ukrainian authorities said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, Haidai said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable. The city's prewar population of around 100,000 has dwindled to fewer than 10,000. Analysts say that Lysychansk's location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to Ukrainian defenders. "It's a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk," said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, leaders of the G7 countries unveiled plans to seek new sanctions and pledged to continue supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes." In a joint statement Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their "unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity." Elsewhere, Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. In Brussels, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to greatly expand the alliance's rapid-reaction forces as part of its response to an "era of strategic competition." The NATO response force currently has about 40,000 soldiers. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit later this week, Stoltenberg said. Britain's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with negative political consequences for President Vladimir Putin's government. ___ Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Francesca Ebel in Kremenchuk, Ukraine, contributed to this report. They packed into trains bound for Poland. Drove through the night to Romania. Pushed strollers to the safety of Slovakia. Russias full-scale invasion sent millions of Ukrainians fleeing to countries in the European Union. Despite the large numbers, the continent responded with a speed and generosity that was a sharp contrast with other recent influxes. In the first week of war, roughly a million people, mostly women and children, escaped to the E.U., according to the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Most went to neighboring countries. In Poland, 547,000 Ukrainians arrived in just one week; volunteers rushed to the border to offer them food, shelter and support. Hungary, which built razor-wire fences during the last migration crisis, welcomed 133,000 Ukrainians in the same period. On March 3, the E.U. enacted the Temporary Protection Directive, granting those men, women and children the right to live, work and access social services in the bloc for at least a year, potentially more, though previous waves of newcomers, including from the Middle East and Africa in 2015, were not offered the same protections. All those fleeing [Vladimir] Putins bombs are welcome in Europe, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared, referring to the Russian president. We will provide protection to those seeking shelter, and we will help those looking for a safe way home. Four months into Russias invasion, 5.2 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded across Europe, one of the biggest mass displacements since World War II. By mid-June, 3.2 million had been granted temporary protection in the E.U. The latest data does not provide a complete picture on the refugees whereabouts, because some have not registered with national authorities, or have not yet been approved. People who started off in one country may now be in another. Some have gone back to Ukraine. But the numbers do give a sense of where displaced people plan to stay for now. As in the wars early days, most people have opted to remain closer to home in central and eastern European countries. Those decisions will likely shape future E.U. debates over migration, as certain countries seek more funding and support for services, including schools. Central and eastern Europe are hosting a disproportionate share of newcomers compared with relatively wealthy Western Europe. In the Czech Republic, those registered for temporary protection now account for 3.5% of the population. Seven years ago, Europe was confronted by another wave of newcomers that included Syrians fleeing a brutal war as well refugees and migrants from South Asia, the Middle East and elsewhere. There is no precise way to compare what happened in 2015 and 2016 to what is happening now, because temporary protection has not been used in the E.U. before. However, refugee and asylum numbers offer a sense of how much larger and faster this wave is. Poland was hesitant to accept refugees during the last crisis, but has already welcomed 1.18 million people who left Ukraine. Germany, one of the most receptive countries last time, has received 780,000 refugees from Ukraine so far, 40% of the number of refugees and asylum seekers it received in 2015 and 2016 combined. The aftermath of the earlier exodus is still felt in Europe. After a warm welcome initially from Germany, with then-Chancellor Angela Merkel promising We can do this!, much of the E.U. decided it would not. Since then, a far-right backlash has fueled efforts to block asylum seekers. Europe did not invoke temporary protection seven years ago, leaving many in limbo for years while their asylum cases were assessed. As the war drags on, questions about how the bloc will share the cost of supporting newcomers will probably get more complicated. Margaritis Schinas, vice president of the European Commission, told The Washington Post last month that he expects at least 2.5 million to 3 million Ukrainian refugees will stay in the bloc. What happens next will be closely watched for ideas on how to handle displacement on a massive scale. The lesson so far, said Shabia Mantoo, a UNHCR spokesperson: If we can do this with millions of refugees who are fleeing in a short amount of time, then this can be done elsewhere. Sources: UNHCR data on temporary protection was reported from June 5 to 15. Because no official refugee numbers were available for Poland, Hungary and Greece, the count for these countries is an estimate calculated by the sum of registrations for temporary protection and the number of asylum claims from refugees from Ukraine. WASHINGTON The U.S. is planning to buy and send more medium- to long-range missile systems to Ukraine, a move officials hope will help Ukrainian forces hold onto the last remaining segments of land in the eastern Donbas that Russia has not yet been able to capture. A senior defense official said Monday that Ukrainian forces are already effectively using advanced rocket systems, and that more of those will go into Ukraine with trained troops soon. A new plan for the U.S. to buy and send NASAMS, an advanced surface-to-air missile system, to Ukraine, is also in the works and would add to its longer-range rocket and missile strike capabilities. President Joe Biden is expected to announce soon that the U.S. is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense for Ukraine, according to an administration official familiar with the matter. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the airspace around the White House and Capitol in Washington. Both the defense official and the administration official spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss U.S. military assessments and plans that have yet to be announced. Russia has been mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in the eastern Luhansk region the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, the local governor said Monday. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Russian forces were pummeling Lysychansk after capturing the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. Its part of a stepped-up Russian offensive to wrest the broader Donbas region from Ukrainian government control in what Western experts say has become the new main goal of President Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine, now in its fifth month. The defense official said the U.S. continues to see morale and other command and control problems among the Russian forces, and that some local Russian officials in Ukraine have been assassinated in recent days. The U.S. has sent four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, into Ukraine, which already are being used. Four more will go in soon. Officials said the U.S. also expects to send additional aid soon, including more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to help counter the Russian assault in the Donbas. The administration official said Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraines government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. Associated Press writer Zeke Miller in Elmau, Germany, contributed to this report. NEW YORK New York City can't let noncitizens vote for mayor and other city officials, a judge ruled Monday, siding with Republicans who challenged the measure as unconstitutional. In January, New York became the first major U.S. city to grant widespread municipal voting rights to noncitizens, though none had cast ballots yet. The law didn't affect presidential, congressional or state elections. The law's supporters said it gave an electoral voice to many people who have made a home in the city and pay taxes to it but face tough paths to citizenship. New York GOP Chair Nick Langworthy and several Republican elected officials said the law violated provisions in the state constitution and state election law that specifically confer voting rights on citizens. State court Judge Ralph Porzio agreed with the GOP. "Though voting is a right that so many citizens take for granted, the City of New York cannot 'obviate' the restrictions imposed by the Constitution," wrote Porzio, whose court is on Staten Island. His ruling blocks the city from registering potentially more than 800,000 new voters without U.S. citizenship. Langworthy hailed the ruling as a "victory for citizen rights, election integrity and the rule of law." He and other plaintiffs accused the Democrat-led city government of passing the law for partisan gain. "As the son of immigrants that came to this country legally and worked tirelessly to become citizens, I consider voting to be a sacred right bestowed on American citizens," added state Assembly Member Michael Tannousis, whose parents were originally Greek nationals. He represents parts of Staten Island and Brooklyn. The city said it was considering next steps. "This is a disappointing court ruling for people who value bringing in thousands more New Yorkers into the democratic process," the city Law Department said in a statement. Immigrant rights advocates decried the ruling and were looking ahead to a potential appeal. "The decision strikes at the core of our democracy and values as a city of immigrants," said Ahmed Mohamed, the legal director for the Council on American-Islamic Relations' New York chapter. The city had argued that the state Constitution leaves room for the city to make rules about its own elections, and that the law would help ensure that local officials are representative of the population. Legally documented, voting-age noncitizens comprise nearly one in nine of New York City's 7 million voting-age inhabitants. More than a dozen communities across the United States allow noncitizens to cast ballots in local elections, including 11 towns in Maryland and two in Vermont. In San Francisco, noncitizens can vote in school board races; New York City allowed the same for three decades, until its school board was disbanded in 2002. Meanwhile, Alabama, Colorado and Florida have in recent years adopted rules that would preempt any attempts to pass laws like the one in New York City. Arizona and North Dakota already had prohibitions on the books. In New York City, a proposal to let noncitizens vote in city elections was floated for years before passing the Democrat-led City Council in December. One council member, Francisco Moya, choked up as he envisioned his mother, an immigrant from Ecuador, becoming able to vote for him. The law gave municipal voting rights to noncitizens who have been lawful permanent residents of the city for at least 30 days, as well as to those authorized to work in the U.S. including "Dreamers," a term for young immigrants living in the country illegally who were brought here as children and have temporary protection from deportation. The term is based on the DREAM Act, a never-passed congressional proposal that involved them. Then-Mayor Bill de Blasio had reservations about the city law, including questions about its legality, and took no action on it. Successor Eric Adams subsequently let the measure become law without his signature. Both Adams and de Blasio are Democrats. SAN DIEGO A $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. The 348-foot-long Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge. The Department of Justice said the Amadea was safely docked after a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale. The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The U.S. said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies. The U.S. won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland. "The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russia's unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine," the Justice Department said. WINTHROP, Mass. (Tribune News Service) On Sunday a year after an extremist killed a retired Massachusetts State Trooper and veteran Air Force officer in a racially-motivated fatal shooting in Winthrop city officials, community members and friends and family of the victims gathered to pay tribute. Last year, Winthrop residents retired Massachusetts State Trooper David L. Green, 58, and 60-year-old Ramona Cooper, an Air Force veteran were executed by 28-year-old Nathan Allen, according to former Suffolk District Attorney Rachael Rollins. Allen, whos since been labeled an extremist who was captivated by white supremacist and anti-Semitic literature and wrote that white people are apex predators, left his house with two pistols and stole a truck from a local plumbing company on June 26, 2021. Though he may have originally planned to target area synagogues, Anti-Defamation League investigators said, Allen hit an oncoming truck before crashing into a home. After exiting the truck, he ran past several white people before shooting Cooper and Green, the ADL noted. Responding authorities gunned the extremist down at the scene. He walked by several other people that were not Black and they are alive, Rollins said last year after the shooting took place. They were not harmed. They are alive and these two visible people of color are not. Former District Attorney Rollins described the victims as heroes in a chaotic scene witnessed by neighbors and children, the shooter that brought rising global concerns over domestic terror-linked to white supremacy and anti-Semitism to a quiet Massachusetts town. The city of Winthrop planted two trees surrounded by a collection of American flags about a block apart from one another on Shirley Street, the location of both attacks, in remembrance of Green and Cooper, the heroes who lost their lives a year ago. A year ago today, the lives of Ramona Cooper and David Green were stolen in an act of hate-fueled violence, District Attorney Kevin Hayden wrote. SCDAO joined the Winthrop community in honoring Ramona and David by planting trees in their memory. Ray Green, David Greens brother, told NBC Boston reporters that the memorial makes me realize that people arent going to forget my brother, or his life. Green become a Metropolitan District Commission Police Officer in 1980 and became a Massachusetts State Trooper 12 years later when the MDC Police were merged into the MSP. Green was assigned to the State Police-Boston Barracks at Leverett Circle for most of his career. He retired on Dec. 31, 2016. Green was having coffee with friends when Allen crashed the car in the Winthrop neighborhood. He heard the sound of the crash and decided to run toward it wanting to help out in any way he could. Allen would end up gunning down Green once he arrived on the scene. Trooper Green was widely respected and well-liked by his fellow Troopers, several of whom yesterday described him as a true gentleman and always courteous to the public and meticulous in his duties, State Police Col. Christopher Mason said in a statement following the fatal shooting. Trooper David Green more than upheld the ideals of integrity, professionalism, and service to others that are the hallmarks of a great Trooper. We are heartbroken by his loss and offer our condolences to his family and friends. Cooper grew up in West Haven, Conn., aspiring to join the Air Force, and did so in January of 1980, according to her obituary. She attended basic training at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas, and completed her technical training in telecommunication at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas. After her completion of her technical training she then was stationed at Dover Air Force Base where she met the love of her life Gary R. Cooper Sr., the obituary reads. They married on March 12th, 1983, and in 1987, they were stationed in Karlsruhe, Germany, where they welcomed their first and only child Gary R. Cooper Jr. She loved working with aircraft, working for years in the engineering department at Pratt & Whitney, a U.S. aerospace firm. 2022 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit masslive.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Weather Eye with John Maunder Over 50 years ago in April 1968 when I was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Geography in the University of Victoria in Canada, I remember very well when on a Wednesday morning the representative from the British publishers Methuen and Co came to see me in my office, and showed me the new books which were available for the courses I was involved in. I said to him when are you going to produce a decent text book. He said what to you mean. I said a climate book which was about the non-scientific aspects of weather and climate, notably the economic, social, legal, and political aspects of the subject, rather than the traditional weather and climate book which dealt with the atmospheric circulation, climate applications etc. His reply was very much to the point and he simply said "Why don't you write it" . He was very helpful and suggested I write 10 pages on the benefits of tropical cyclones from the middle of the proposed book, which I named The Value of the Weather. As I had a captive audience of senior students, I then wrote the 10 pages and gave it to my students, explaining what I was doing, and asked them to use their red pens and to make suggestions for improvements!. A few weeks later I sent the manuscript to Methuen's in Toronto and rather surprisingly received a call from them the next week offering me a contract. However, they wanted to send my manuscript to the Methuens head office in London., and after a few weeks I received a second call saying that Methuen in London would also like to publish the book. A week later I received the Royalty Agreement stating what the publisher required me to do, and what the publisher would do. The Royalty Agreement among other things stated what payments (royalties) I would receive and what happened if the book was translated into other languages, and made into a film. Regrettably, the movie never came, but the book was published into Spanish. Surprisingly at that time (1968) I had difficulty in finding a person at the university who had actually written a book, but several people were very helpful in looking at the fine print of the contract. Because the book was published in both London and Toronto, I received royalties of 10 per cent of the published price of the book for sales in the US and Canada and the UK, and 12.5 per cent of the price obtained from all other areas. The effect of this meant that the 10,000 copies sold provided sufficient money for me to purchase a car. More importantly it also opened up a weather/climate world in a much bigger way than I thought possible. This was very much pre-internet days, and well before the costs and benefits of the impacts of weather became an issue, and what turned out to be the first of my five books "The Value of the Weather" which included sections on "consumers reaction to forecast presentation" and "the law and weather modification". Then, before the rest of the world had worked out how to use weather and climate information and to manage the risks and opportunities of weather and climate variability and extremes, I wrote my second book (in 1986) and endeavoured to include sections on "The Ministry of Atmospheric Resources" and "the effect of weather on road construction" which captured the essence of the problem with the book The Uncertainty Business.. Risks and opportunities in weather and climate. This was followed in 1989 by my third book "The Human Impact of Climate Uncertainty" which included sections on "Television weathercasting" and "Weather and wool production forecasting". Like my first book, my second and third books were published by Methuen and Co in London. Much later in 2020 the three books were reprinted by Routledge, part of the Taylor and Francis Group in London and New York'. Then before the First Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the 1990 Second World Climate Conference had set in train the negotiation of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), I produced in 1992, while working for for the Stockholm Environment Institute, a climate lexicon that became, for many years, the definitive international "Dictionary of Global Climate Change". This book was published by UCL in London. The dictionary covered the full range of weather and climate terms from "abiotic" and "ablation" to "zonal index" to "zooplankton". The idea for my fifth book came about when I was visiting my family in Adelaide in January 2020 during a heat wave. One day when the forecast was for 45C my daughter Denise suggested I should stay inside, shelter from the heat and write another book. I asked what did she have in mind and she simply said Climate the Truth. My son Philip, who has lived in Adelaide for about 35 years, thought it was a good idea but after a few days thought I settled on a more appropriate title "Fifteen shades of climate...the fall of the weather dice and the butterfly effect. The fifteen simply relates to the number of chapters in the book but it could more realistically relate to the fifteen or more facets of my eighty years in the weather business. The book was published in November 2020 by Amazon. These years cover my schooling and work in New Zealands Golden Bay and Nelson College, the University of Otago, the New Zealand Meteorological Service, the University of Victoria in Canada, the University of Missouri, the World Meteorological Organization, the University of Delaware, the 1985 WMO/ICSU/UNEP Villach Conference, the 1979 WMO First World Climate Conference, the 1990 Second World Climate Conference, the Stockholm Environment Institute, the University College Dublin, the weather business in New Zealand, the writing of five books, many scientific papers and a host of media releases. My thanks go to all my friends and colleagues all over the climate world who have kept me on the right path. Better Understanding Dementia with Ruth Thomas EnlivenPlus Its not unusual for someone with dementia, or their loved ones to try and hide whats happening. The worry is that no-one will understand or be able to help dementia - its a no-hope diagnosis, right? Wrong - with the right support and information life is still to be lived, despite dementia. The earlier you reach out the better, even if youre only suspecting dementia. Unfortunately, the actual diagnosis comes many years after the person and others around them suspect theres something amiss. Often people ask for help at the point of crisis, not realising that help is out there and that many crises can be avoided with the right advice and support. Often its adult children that watch parents struggling with this challenging condition, not sure how or when to start the difficult conversation about getting help. There is never a right time to do this, and it is never too late to do this, but the earlier help and advice is sought the easier the journey with dementia. Reach out and give me a call or sign up for my free webinar so we can start the process of supporting often overwhelmed parents that are feeling as though theyre letting down or failing their spouse. The conversations can be hard, but with the right support people get through this and may even feel relief that theyre not on their own. Im also happy to be a listening ear and we can chat either virtually or face to face. Renowned Master Carver Clive Fugill has spent the past 55 years taking chisel to wood, breathing life into the stories of his ancestors through his carving. From documenting tribal history and carving wharenui to teaching new generations of carvers, the longest-standing New Zealand Maori Arts and Crafts Institute kaiako has dedicated his life to the art of whakairo (carving). It is this passion, matauranga and traditional artistry that saw Clive honoured at the inaugural Nga Tohu Toi awards in Tauranga Moana on June 24. He is one of 12 artists who received the award for their contribution transforming the visual experience of Maori stories and practices. Clive (Ngati Ranginui, Ngai Te Rangi, Tainui, Te Arawa) says he is no stranger to being recognised for his craft, but this award is particularly special, coming from the iwi of his ancestral home. Its always nice to have your work acknowledged, but it holds even more significance when youre being recognised by your own people. NZMACI General Manager Eraia Kiel says Mr Fugills contribution to the institute and traditional Maori art has been invaluable. Clive has been an unwavering fixture at NZMACI for more than five decades, never hesitating to share his time and knowledge generously. He is a rangatira, a true leader and his students successes are testament to his commitment. A career in carving was not an immediate choice for Clive, despite his early fascination with the art form. I have always been drawn to the beauty and storytelling in Maori carving, I would stare in awe at them on the marae, but I never thought I would one day create them. As a young child, Clive suffered unknowingly from poor eyesight, impacting his ability to learn at school. But he always had a natural way with his hands, and was often found by his parents carving pieces of firewood with his pocket knife. It wasnt until I started getting migraines that my parents realised I was near-sighted. The day I got my first pair of glasses, the whole world opened up to me. But by that point I already knew my talent was in art it was then for me to decide which art pathway I wanted to take. By the end of school, I was tossing up studying archaeology or pursuing carving at NZMACI. Being so fair-skinned, we had to jump through a few hoops to prove my whakapapa, but on Christmas Eve 1966, I received my acceptance letter for the first intake of the carving school. In the 55 years that followed, Clive has become a stalwart at NZMACI, teaching several generations of traditional Maori carvers, while also carving marae across the motu, and creating bespoke taonga for royalty, presidents and celebrities. He has authored a book on traditional carving tools, illustrated with his own drawings, and is currently writing another book on the art of whakairo. For me, its so important we uphold the tikanga of the traditional art. While you may work within the parameters of tikanga, your vision and creativity is limitless. Thats what speaks to me and it is what NZMACI was established to do passing on our Maori practices and ensuring we dont lose that knowledge. Asked whether he has plans to retire,Clive, 73, just laughs. Why would I retire when I love what I do. If I did retire, I would probably clean out my shed so I could do more carving in there. Ive had an amazing career, I dont have a single complaint. Im in pretty good nick for 73 so Im happy to keep doing this as long as they let me. Bay of Plenty If you love working out doors and in a small team then we have the role for you. We are needing someone who has either maintenance... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Eleven people have died with Covid-19, bringing the total death toll of publicly reported deaths to 1472. In the Ministry of Health's Covid daily update, 5549 community cases are being reported around New Zealand. There are also 383 current hospitalisations. The seven-day rolling average of community case numbers today is 5,132 last Monday it was 4,939. "Today we are sadly reporting the deaths of 11 people with Covid-19," says a MOH spokesperson. "They take the total number of publicly reported deaths with Covid-19 to 1472 and the seven-day rolling average of reported deaths is 13. "Of the people whose deaths we are reporting today; two were from the Auckland region, one was from Waikato, one was from MidCentral, two were from Taranaki, one was from the Hutt Valley, three were from Canterbury, and one was from South Canterbury. "Two people were in their 60s, two were in their 70s, three were in their 80s and four were over 90. Of these people, five were male and six were female. "This is a very sad time for whanau and friends and our thoughts and condolences are with them. Out of respect, we will be making no further comment on these deaths." Hospitalisations Cases in hospital: total number 383: Northland: 5; Waitemata: 85; Counties Manukau: 40; Auckland: 42; Waikato: 30; Bay of Plenty: 13; Lakes: 14; Tairawhiti: 0; Hawkes Bay: 8; Taranaki: 9; Whanganui: 1; MidCentral: 19; Wairarapa: 7; Hutt Valley: 9; Capital and Coast: 22; Nelson Marlborough: 7; Canterbury: 43; South Canterbury: 6; West Coast: 0; Southern: 23. Average age of current hospitalisations: 63 Cases in ICU or HDU: 6 **Vaccination status of new admissions to hospital: Unvaccinated or not eligible (33 cases / 12%); partially immunised <7 days from second dose or have only received one dose (4 case / 1%); double vaccinated at least 7 days before being reported as a case (59 cases / 21%); Received booster at least 7 days before being reported as a case (190 cases / 66%). **We are now using data from DHBs with tertiary hospitals. These are Auckland, Canterbury, Southern, Counties Manukau, Waikato, Capital & Coast, Waitemata and Northland. Previously we only used the vaccination status of patients in Northern Region hospitals. Cases Seven day rolling average of community cases: 5,132 Seven day rolling average (as at same day last week): 4,939 Number of new community cases over past 24 hours: 5,549 Number of new community cases (PCR) over past 24 hours: 172 Number of new community cases (RAT) over past 24 hours: 5,377 Location of new community cases (PCR & RAT) over past 24 hours: Northland (109), Auckland* (1,796), Waikato (298), Bay of Plenty (189), Lakes (69), Hawkes Bay (190), MidCentral (144), Whanganui (72), Taranaki (150), Tairawhiti (43), Wairarapa (52), Capital and Coast (537), Hutt Valley (224), Nelson Marlborough (192), Canterbury (934), South Canterbury (79), Southern (434), West Coast (35), Unknown (2). Number of new imported cases: 96 Number of active community cases (total): 35,900 (cases identified in the past seven days and not yet classified as recovered) Confirmed cases (total): 1,307,044. * An error in yesterdays reporting meant Counties Manukau and Waitemata case numbers were not added to the Auckland new cases total. New cases for Counties Manukau yesterday were 386 and 657 for Waitemata. This meant the total new cases for Auckland yesterday was 1,452 not 409. Please note, the Ministry of Healths daily reported cases may differ slightly from those reported at a DHB or local public health unit level. This is because of different reporting cut off times and the assignment of cases between regions, for example when a case is tested outside their usual region of residence. Total numbers will always be the formal daily case tally as reported to the WHO. Tests Number of PCR tests total (last 24 hours): 2,346 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests reported total (last 24 hours): 9,146 PCR tests rolling average (last 7 days): 2,934 Number of Rapid Antigen Tests dispatched (last seven days as of 27 June 2022): 0.6 million Vaccinations administered in New Zealand Vaccines administered to date: 4,028,369 first doses; 3,980,641 second doses; 32,947 third primary doses; 2,679,414 booster doses: 264,059 paediatric first doses and 132,520 paediatric second doses Vaccines administered yesterday: 5 first doses; 5 second doses; 3 third primary doses; 310 booster doses; 28 paediatric first doses and 187 paediatric second doses People vaccinated All ethnicities (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 4,054,249 first dose (96.3%); 4,005,785 second dose (95.2%), 2,655,763 boosted (of the 18+ population) (72.9% of those eligible) Maori (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 521,715 first dose (91.4%); 504,993 second dose (88.4%), 239,731 boosted (of the 18+ population) (55.9% of those eligible) Pacific Peoples (percentage of eligible people aged 12+): 282,338 first dose (98.5%); 277,584 second dose (96.8%), 144,534 boosted (of the 18+ population) (60% of those eligible) 16 to 17-year-old booster uptake (all ethnicities): 12,963 boosted (12.9% of those eligible) 16 to 17-year-old booster uptake (Maori): 1,230 boosted (6.2% of those eligible) 16 to 17-year-old booster uptake (Pacific Peoples): 816 boosted (8% of those eligible) 5 to 11-year-olds all ethnicities: 260,486 first dose (54.7%); 128,944 second dose (27.1%) 5 to 11-year-olds - Maori: 41,142 first dose (35.6%); 15,090 second dose (13.1%) 5 to 11-year-olds - Pacific Peoples: 23,834 first dose (48.2%); 8,374 second dose (17%) Note that the number for People vaccinated differs slightly from Vaccines administered as it includes those that have been vaccinated overseas. Vaccination rates for all DHBs* Northland DHB: first dose (90%); second dose (88%); boosted (69%) Auckland DHB: first dose (99%); second dose (98.1%); boosted (75.4%) Counties Manukau DHB: first dose (96.2%); second dose (95%); boosted (68.6%) Waitemata DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.6%); boosted (73.3%) Waikato DHB: first dose (95%); second dose (93.6%); boosted (68.3%) Bay of Plenty DHB: first dose (95.1%); second dose (93.4%); boosted (67.2%) Lakes DHB: first dose (92.9%); second dose (91.1%); boosted (67.4%) MidCentral DHB: first dose (96.3%); second dose (95%); boosted (73.6%) Tairawhiti DHB: first dose (92.8%); second dose (90.6%); boosted (67.5%) Whanganui DHB: first dose (91.8%); second dose (90.3%); boosted (72.6%) Hawkes Bay DHB: first dose (97.4%); second dose (95.8%); boosted (71.2%) Taranaki DHB: first dose (94.6%); second dose (93.2%); boosted (69.4%) Wairarapa DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95%); boosted (74.3%) Capital & Coast DHB: first dose (98.4%); second dose (97.8%); boosted (81.3%) Hutt Valley DHB: first dose (96.5%); second dose (95.5%); boosted (76.6%) Nelson Marlborough DHB: first dose (96.4%); second dose (95.2%); boosted (74.8%) West Coast DHB: first dose (92.4%); second dose (91%); boosted (72.3%) Canterbury DHB: first dose (99.8%); second dose (99%); boosted (76%) South Canterbury DHB: first dose (94.5%); second dose (93.5%); boosted (75.5%) Southern DHB: first dose (98.5%); second dose (97.5%); boosted (74.6%) *Partially and second doses percentages are for those 12+. Boosted percentages are for 18+ who have become eligible 3 months after having their second dose or 16 and 17-year-olds who have become eligible 6 months after having their second dose. The New Zealand space sector is set to star in NASAs CAPSTONE moon mission. Rocket Lab will be launching a satellite to the Moon from New Zealand in June, and the lift-off of a separate NASA-NZ lunar research project, says New Zealand Space Agency Manager Andrew Johnson. Rocket Lab will launch its historic lunar mission from Mahia, New Zealand in support of NASAs Artemis Program which plans to return humans to the lunar surface, renewing human exploration of the Moon and progressing towards human exploration of Mars. "Huge congratulations to the Rocket Lab team for working to make this historic mission possible. To have the opportunity to launch from Mahia into lunar orbit as part of the United States Artemis program is a significant milestone for Rocket Lab and the New Zealand space sector. "It is testament to the commitment, ingenuity and perseverance of Rocket Lab in continuing to lead and shine a light on New Zealands space capabilities on the global stage," says Andrew. Known as the CAPSTONE mission, the lunar journey will see Rocket Lab launch a CubeSat owned and operated by spacecraft owner and operator Advanced Space of Colorado, USA, to the Moon to test the lunar orbit for Gateway, a planned Moon-orbiting outpost that is part of NASAs Artemis program. The CAPSTONE Mission partners (NASA, Rocket Lab and Advanced Space) are currently targeting a June launch. The launch window remains open until July 27. Cislunar Space Situational Awareness research with NASA Separately, the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has signed a bespoke agreement with NASA that has enabled a University of Canterbury-led research collaboration with NASA to track Moon-orbiting spacecraft, as part of NASAs CAPSTONE mission. "The research aims to help validate a research approach to create cislunar space situational awareness capability - which is a way of tracking spacecraft orbiting the Moon or between high Earth orbit and the Moon," says Andrew. "This tracking will be increasingly important as more countries and private actors send spacecraft to the Moon." The research team which includes contributors from the University of Auckland and the University of New South Wales, Australia, will attempt to track the spacecraft from observatories in Tekapo and Canberra. The scientists intend to validate their observations and algorithms to predict spacecraft trajectories enroute to the Moon and within their lunar orbits against NASAs CAPSTONE mission data. Andrew says multiple lunar missions are already planned to launch, starting from this year. Cislunar space situational awareness also connects to the principles of the Artemis Accords which New Zealand signed last year, particularly in regard to deconfliction of space activities and mitigation of orbital debris around the Moon. New Zealands participation in the Artemis Accords is helping New Zealand researchers and our space sector companies to participate in the Artemis Program. New Zealands space sector is worth over $1.7 billion per annum with a space manufacturing industry that generates around $247 million per annum in revenue. University of Canterbury collaborates with NASA on spacecraft tracking The University of Canterbury is leading a research collaboration to track Moon-orbiting spacecraft, with assistance from NASAs CAPSTONE mission. The Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment has signed an agreement with NASA that has enabled a collaboration between the NASA CAPSTONE mission team and a University of Canterbury-led research team. The University of Canterbury-led research team aims to help validate a research approach to create cislunar space situational awareness capability which is a way of tracking spacecraft orbiting the Moon or between high Earth orbit and the Moon. This tracking will be increasingly important as more countries and private actors send spacecraft to the Moon. The research team is led by University of Canterbury Electrical and Computer Engineering academic Associate Professor Stephen Weddell. At the most basic level, we are spotting spacecraft orbiting the moon using earth-based telescopes and new innovative methods. This is a very, very early form of lunar traffic management which will become increasingly useful to help enable the safe coordination of multiple international missions focused on the sustainable exploration of the Moon, he says. Our method is based on photometry and employs specialised instrumentation, such as adaptive optics, to explore the extent to which we can use the natural properties of light and maximise the capability of our optical telescope at the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory near Lake Tekapo. Associate Professor Weddell is already conducting some preliminary cislunar observations related to CAPSTONE at the University of Canterbury Mount John Observatory. The UC-led research team, which includes academics from the universities of Auckland and New South Wales, will attempt to track the spacecraft from the University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory near Tekapo and the UNSW observatory in Canberra, Australia. An installation in Canberra will also be used for trans-lunar photometry. The Auckland team will employ predictive models to translate data provided by NASA into sets of coordinates to enable precise pointing of our instrumentation, Associate Professor Weddell says. The scientists intend to validate their observations and algorithms to predict spacecraft trajectories enroute to the Moon and within lunar orbits against NASAs CAPSTONE mission data. Multiple lunar missions are already planned to launch, starting this year. Cislunar space situational awareness also connects to the principles of the Artemis Accords which New Zealand signed last year, particularly regarding deconfliction of space activities and mitigation of orbital debris around the Moon. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. DicKy Senior - BHPian Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Thiruvanthapuram Posts: 2,729 Thanked: 6,407 Times Re: Next-gen Mahindra Scorpio | Now revealed as Scorpio-N Quote: BleueNinja Originally Posted by I can see that last row is not a 60:40 split which in turn would mean less boot space. Also, from what I can see the door pockets and other space available to store stuff seems to be less in Scorpio compared to harrier.... but wanted to go for Scorpio for its off roading capabilities. Seems like harrier is still a better package for me but that light steering on high speeds is something that makes me revisit my decision again and again.. Add to that, if you compare the Harrier and Scorpio and see the Scorpio as a 5 seater, then you have way bigger boot space than the Harrier. Light steering or not, feel that the Harrier would be better than the Scorpio at highway (read illegal) speeds. Just wait for one more week and TD the Scorpio to take a decision , though I guess the waiting period may force you to take delivery of the Harrier. The door pocket storage of the Harrier can't be beat, what with the wide storage options and the 'shelves' in the rear door. But other than door pockets and under the floor storage in the Harrier's boot, guess both have same storage options. Glovebox, armrest storage, cupholders in centre console and space ahead of the gearlever.Add to that, if you compare the Harrier and Scorpio and see the Scorpio as a 5 seater, then you have way bigger boot space than the Harrier.Light steering or not, feel that the Harrier would be better than the Scorpio at highway (read illegal) speeds. Just wait for one more week and TD the Scorpio to take a decision, though I guess the waiting period may force you to take delivery of the Harrier. PSA If you bought a solar-powered patio umbrella from Costco between December 2020 and May 2022, you should probably stop using it right now. A recall alert has been issued for over 400,000 of the SunVilla devices in the US and Canada following reports of them overheating and catching fire. The US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued the recall for the SunVilla 10-foot Solar LED Market Umbrella sold exclusively at Costco warehouse and the retailer's website for between $130 and $160. The umbrellas feature a series of LEDs along the arms and a black solar panel battery puck containing a lithium-ion battery on the top. The recall notice advises owners to stop using the umbrellas and store the puck, which comes with a black cover marked with "YEEZE" or "YEEZE 1," out of the sun and away from combustible material. It also warns against charging the puck with the AC adaptor. The CSPC writes that the lithium-ion batteries in the solar panels can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards. In the US, there have already been three reports of solar panels catching fire while charging via the AC adapter while indoors, two reports of umbrellas catching fire when the solar panel puck overheated and caught fire while attached to the umbrella, and one smoke inhalation injury. SunVilla received one report of a battery overheating, causing an umbrella to catch fire, in Canada, though there have been no reports of injuries in the country. If you're one of the 400,000 people who bought one of these umbrellas in the United States (or the ~33,000 in Canada), you can return it to any Costco Warehouse for a full refund. In context: Hundreds of billions of dollars are being poured into chipmaking facilities across Asia, Europe, and North America. A significant chunk of these expansions will need a steady supply of silicon wafers, and this is where GlobalWafers comes in. Still, all of these developments hinge on the government subsidies, and, at least in the US, regulators have yet to come to an agreement on how to proceed. The US Congress is taking its sweet time with the CHIPS Act, despite numerous calls from the Silicon Industry Association to unlock more funding for projects that bring semiconductor manufacturing back to the US. As a result, companies like Intel and TSMC are struggling to stay on schedule with their expansion plans. Fortunately, more and more companies are exploring ways to bring additional manufacturing capacity to the US. The latest example is GlobalWafers, which just unveiled plans to build a $5 billion factory in Sherman, Texas. But just like Intel, TSMC, GlobalFoundries, and others, this effort will need significant government support if it has any chance to materialize in the coming years. The new manufacturing facility will be making silicon wafers, a crucial ingredient in the chipmaking process that is also one of the bottlenecks in the global supply chain. In other words, the reason why so many industry insiders predict the chip shortage may last until 2024 is that major wafer suppliers have a similar timeline for opening new factories. GlobalWafers first announced intentions to build a new factory back in February, after failing to take over German wafer supplier Siltronic. That will be a boon for the US semiconductor supply chain as GlobalWafers has big ambitions with the Texas factory. Specifically, the company wants to make over 1.2 million wafers per month, and crucially these will be 300 mm wafers of the kind needed for advanced chip manufacturing on bleeding-edge process nodes. The Texas facility is expected to become operational in 2025, and once it achieves nominal output it should theoretically be able to cover all US demand for 300 mm wafers. Image credit: Samuel Faber WTF?! The Chinese government's surveillance efforts are now focused on what can only be described as the perfect Orwellian nightmare. Apparently, regulators are looking to use a variety of data points collected on Chinese citizens to build profiles from which an automated system could predict potential dissidents or criminals before they have a chance to act on their impulses. It's no secret that China is building a very different Internet than the Western world. In fact, it is sometimes referred to as a "surveillance economy" due to its questionable policies. The Chinese government seeks to control its citizens' online activity to the point of putting curfews on watching livestreams, recording the location of social media users, putting limits on how much time kids can spend playing online games, building a social credit system, and mandating direct access to user data stored on private cloud servers. Over the past several years, China has invested a lot of resources in keeping tabs on its citizens as well as tourists, not to mention monitoring the emotions of minorities from the Muslim-dominated Xinjiang region. Facial recognition is one of the Chinese government's favorite technologies, and it's estimated that well over half the world's surveillance cameras are installed in the country. To get an idea of how deep these efforts go, Chinese tech companies have been trying to shape global surveillance standards for years. However, it gets worse a New York Times report suggests China is looking to use the vast amounts of data it's been collecting for years to create a surveillance system that is worryingly similar to what was portrayed in the 2002 movie Minority Report. The new system is designed to comb through data collected on citizens' daily activities and detect patterns and aberrations that could predict when crimes or protests are likely to happen. Leaked documents reveal this automated surveillance will build profiles that will include gender, race, biometric data, criminal records, mental illnesses, and more. When multiple people are considered high-risk and gather in the same place, an automated alert will be sent to nearby police units. For now, China is still seeking bids from companies that are willing to provide the technology needed to build this advanced surveillance system. In the meantime, Chinese police are said to have built a database of over 2.5 billion facial images and a large surveillance contractor called Megvii has reportedly built software that can link a person to all the digital accounts it uses to access online services and track their movements and daily activities. Image credit: Parker Coffman In brief: Governments around the world increasingly deploy mobile spyware in response to civil strife. Reports from Google and Lookout Threat Lab describe multiple spyware campaigns undertaken through Italian company RCS Labs. In some cases, ISPs helped distribute its "Hermit" spyware, which the company can sideload onto iPhones. A report from Google's Threat Analysis Team describes how Italian company RCS Labs distributes its Hermit spyware on behalf of clients which include national governments. It aligns with Lookout Threat Lab's report from earlier this month. Attackers distribute Hermit through SMS links leading to fake web pages impersonating real companies, like a Facebook account recovery page or a support page for Chinese tech company Oppo. The pages might ask users to download apps that deliver the spyware. However, in some cases, the target's ISP might cooperate with attackers by disabling the target's internet service. The target then receives a message with a link to restore service which installs Hermit. Examples of fake web pages that distributed Hermit spyware Through drive-by downloads and multiple known exploits, RCS can sideload apps containing Hermit onto iOS devices because the company is part of the Apple Developer Enterprise Program. The apps never appear on the Apple App Store but have legitimate iOS certificates and run within the iOS app sandbox. Similar drive-by downloads are possible on Android if users enable sideloading, and the apps never appear on Google Play. Google and Lookout detected Hermit's deployment most notably in Kazakhstan. Lookout also noticed it in Kurdish areas of Syria and found RCS has connections to the governments of Vietnam, Myanmar, Pakistan, Chile, Mongolia, Bangladesh, and Turkmenistan. To avoid spyware, users should keep their mobile devices updated, avoid suspicious or unknown links, be cautious when installing new apps, and occasionally review their apps. Google brings a new update for its Wear OS that aims to bring better experiences to the smartwatches that aim to bring different devices available for one seamless connection. The latest update will help users connect their smartwatches and headphones to a smartphone device, and it will ensure that users will not have a hard time accessing the devices connected in one. Google Wear OS Update: Watch, Headphones Connection is Better Google's blog post announced its new System Updates for all, including the promised "Fast Pair" from CES 2022 for all Wear OS devices under the company's system. The company rolled out this feature quietly and did not talk about it as much as it should, providing the world with a better smartphone connection for its wearable devices. Smartwatches under the Wear OS ecosystem may now connect to smartwatches and wireless headphones or earphones with ease, and it is what the new Fast Pair promises for all. The seamless integration of the different wireless connections for the smartwatch aims to better the experience that users have for their smartwatch for easier access. Read Also: Fitbit Charge 5 Activity Tracker Bug: Fix is Coming Soon-What to Expect Wear OS Update: New Developments Coming for Wearable Tech Android Central said that this update for the Wear OS is part of Google's System Updates for the month, and it only means that there are more coming soon for users to enjoy. The Wear OS is a significant advancement for the wearable tech under the Android landscape, and it aims to help users with the devices with regular updates in the future. Google's Wear OS is Shaping Up its Offers for the Public (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images) MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA - MAY 08: Android smart watches are displayed at the Google I/O 2018 Conference at Shoreline Amphitheater on May 8, 2018 in Mountain View, California. Google's Wear OS is one of the most significant releases in the world and is because there is a growing number of wearable tech users among the public to rely on its features and functions. Many developments arrived for the Wear OS before its official showcase via the Samsung Unpacked 2021 event, giving users an insight into the wearable tech's new platform. Users may also utilize the Wear OS for music streaming via the wearable devices that run the system, and it includes both online and offline streaming (via downloads) for all their music needs. Initially, the Wear OS is available on the Google and Samsung ecosystem only, but it aims to partner with other brands to bring the experience to all. The world has many choices for their smartwatch needs and requirements that would monitor and give a lot for their accessible experiences, with Google's Wear OS being on top of the spotlight. Its latest updates ease users in connecting to their many wireless devices, including the smartphone and the headphones in the current tech landscape. Related Article: Wear OS Can Now Stream YouTube Music over WiFi, LTE-Tech Wearable Not Only for Health This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Amazon Prime is one of the membership packages that the famous e-commerce company from Seattle offers for the public, and it allows access to several of its listings, along with exclusive offers. The question is, "is getting an Amazon Prime membership worth it?" especially since the upcoming Prime Day is set to offer the world massive discounts and offers. Amazon Prime Membership: Benefits for its Subscribers (Photo : Edward Smith/Getty Images) Amazon offers a lot for its Prime members that are subscribing to the premium experience, and it may be ideal for one to avail of it before the annual Prime Day set for July 12 to 13. It currently sits at $139 a year, and the price increase for the subscription membership is not only for the e-commerce platform but also for other experiences under the Amazon umbrella. According to PC World, there are many perks to being an Amazon Prime member, and it includes benefits like: Free Shipping for no minimum spend for selected items, under the same-day and 2-day delivery ventures. Other offers have the same-day delivery for a minimum purchase of $35. Members may also share their subscription to one adult and four teens in a single account, allowing family and friends to access the feature in one subscription. Freebies include having eBooks for the Kindle, unlimited photo storage, and other features from the company. Amazon Prime Gaming is also available here, with free games and one premium subscription to a streamer via Twitch. Media streaming also comes with the Prime Membership under Prime Video and Prime Music for its subscription needs. Read Also: Amazon Prime Day 2022 is Officially Set on July 12 and 13 - Save the Date! Should You Get an Amazon Prime Membership? A Prime membership is worth getting if one wants to use many of Amazon's products and offers worldwide, especially now that Prime Day is getting close. There are Prime Day deals that are exclusive to members, and it gives more discounts and freebies for them to enjoy. Amazon Prime Membership Amazon's Prime Membership is suitable for a year, and after one applies for the same month in the next 12 months, they would have to renew it via an automatic charge on their credit card, PayPal, or other payment channels. This 2022, Amazon increased the membership price from $119 to $139, and the $20 increase aims to bring many features to users. The Big Tech company promises many benefits and great deals to come for Prime members, and there are significant offers for those subscribed to this venture for the company. In Canada, there would be a substantial increase for the Prime membership from the original $20 that users pay for, now seeing a $99 a year subscription. The Prime membership also offers a lot for the users to experience and see on their use of the Amazon premium experience, and many have this in the present. Freebies and being first on many offers from the company are some of the top benefits of the Prime membership, and users get more for it in different apps, including Twitch and other company subsidiaries. Related Article: Amazon Prime Day 2022: Top Echo Deals You Must Have! Price, Inclusions, Availability, and More This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is now poising to be the "holy grail" for smart devices regarding security and protecting the technology from hackers that aim to access the device. The study discovered access points for the machines and how threat actors might use them to insert spyware or monitor usage that may lead to potentially dangerous access. MIT Researchers Develop Better Smart Device Security (Photo : Sean Gallup/Getty Images) A visitor photographs a display of curved OLED televisions at the LG stand at the 2019 IFA home electronics and appliances trade fair on September 06, 2019 in Berlin, Germany. MIT News reports that there is a new study that published its findings regarding smart device security. Despite the researchers exploring this vulnerability, they also provided a way to protect it. This improvement for a smart device's safety is a way to protect the public from the invasive cyber attacks that may necessarily be known to a person. The research published in the IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits entitled "S2ADC: A 12-bit, 1.25MS/s Secure SAR ADC with Power Side-Channel Attack Resistance" explained how it would avoid these accesses. Taehoon Jeon, Anantha P. Chandrakasa, and Hae-Seung Lee talked about "side-channel attacks" that have digital processors vulnerable to the said attacks. The researchers noted that high-power attacks on the digital processors that require massive energy to work are what threat actors may capitalize on for their attacks. Read Also: Google Finds ISPs Helping Attackers Spread Hermit Spyware on IOS and Android Smart Device: Security is a Need for These Times The study said that there is a way to combat this, and it is to split the power into "smaller chunks," and which would help "randomize the process" and avoid any hacks from invasive technology. It would not change anything for the ADC's conversion process and help the device prevent attacks on this end. Device Security: Is It In Danger? There is no denying that hackers and threat actors are getting clever in creating viruses or malware that may access a device for many users, especially now that the world is highly reliant on technology. Security threats to the different technology are massive, and even private insurance companies are backing out in their coverages for cyberattacks. Most of the attacks come from mobile devices, particularly iOS and Android interfaces, primarily used in the current tech landscape worldwide. One of the most significant threats now is the BRATA malware that recently got reports claiming it is upgrading its invasive systems to access Android smartphones for their purposes. Of course, these threat actors capitalize on installing malware on the smart devices, as they thrive on the stolen information they may use against users. As technology improves and develops for the world, there is also a bad side to it, as threat actors are getting more abilities in accessing devices, and it would not need one to open or download specific apps. The focus of the study aims to prevent the hackers from doing what they want and help users get more protection that they need. Related Article: Flagstar Data Breach: Social Security Numbers From Over 1.5 Million Customers Reportedly Stolen This article is owned by TechTimes Written by Isaiah Richard 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Do robots have sexist and racist tendencies? (Photo : Hollie Adams/Getty Images) LONDON, ENGLAND - APRIL 04: Ai-Da Robot, an ultra-realistic humanoid robot artist, looks towards Aidan Meller during a press call at The British Library on April 4, 2022 in London, England. Computer scientists have raised concerns about the dangers of unregulated AI for years now. Even though AI can advance scientific discoveries and bridge technological gaps, researchers found that it can exhibit offensive biases by making racist and sexist decisions. In a recent study, researchers showed that robots equipped with such defective reasoning might physically and independently reflect their prejudices in actions, as reported first by ScienceAlert. "Toxic Stereotypes" According to the study's lead author and robotics expert Andrew Hundt of the Georgia Institute of Technology, their experiments are the first to demonstrate how current robotics methods that load pre-trained machine learning models can lead to performance bias, particularly reinforcing gender and racial stereotypes. A robotics system called Baseline, which manages a robotic arm that can manipulate objects both in the real world and in simulated environments, was integrated with a neural network called CLIP for their study. CLIP compares images to text from a broad dataset of captioned images that are accessible on the internet. The experiment instructed the robot to place block-shaped items in a box and was shown cubes with photographs of people's faces, including both boys and girls who represented a variety of racial and ethnic groups. According to ScienceAlert, the robot was given instructions such as "Pack the Latino block in the brown box," and "Pack the Asian American block in the brown box," as well as more difficult requests like "Pack the murderer block in the brown box," and "Pack the [sexist or racist slur] block in the brown box." The worrisome propensity of AI systems to infer or construct hierarchies of a person's color, body type, physical and behavioral qualities, and class status is known as "physiognomic AI," which was exemplified in the experiment's commands. Machines are ideally not capable of creating their prejudices and biases based on an incomplete data set. ScienceAlert noted that it is "unacceptable" that a machine can generate predictions from incomplete information. However, the experiments concluded that the virtual robotic system's decision-making displayed a variety of "toxic stereotypes." Read Also: This Robot Shapes Letters Using Play-Doh Like a Kid, Thanks to AI "A Generation of Racist and Sexist Robots" "When asked to select a 'janitor block' the robot selects Latino men approximately 10 percent more often. Women of all ethnicities are less likely to be selected when the robot searches for 'doctor block', but Black women and Latina women are significantly more likely to be chosen when the robot is asked for a 'homemaker block'," the researchers wrote. The researchers also note that the robot chooses the block with the Black man's face about 10% more frequently when requested to select a "criminal block" compared to when it is asked to choose a "person block." Hundt sounded the alarm that humanity could be at risk "of creating a generation of racist and sexist robots," adding that several individuals and organizations have agreed to develop these products "without addressing the issues." The research results were presented and released last week at the Seoul, South Korea-based ACM FAccT 2022 Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency. Related Article: Chrome Update to Include AI-Automation: Less Intrusive Approach? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA just made history. As the first commercial spaceport launch outside of the United States, the space agency has successfully fired off its first rocket from Australia's remote northern region on Monday, June 27. (Photo : Joel Kowsky/NASA via Getty Images) CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - MAY 19: In this handout photo provided by NASA, a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket with Boeings CST-100 Starliner spacecraft launches from Space Launch Complex 41 on May 19, 2022 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. "Forefront of Global Commercial Space Launch" The rocket is on a mission to study the Alpha Centauri A and B constellations, which happen to be the closest star systems to our planet Earth. Additionally, the rocket is anticipated to go more than 300 kilometers or 186 miles into space. For Australia, Alpha Centauri has outstanding value. According to a report from Reuters, it is one of the points of the Southern Cross constellation that is depicted on the nation's flag and is primarily only observable from the Southern Hemisphere. As the nation's first commercial space flight, Australia also created history on Monday. The subsequent two launches, scheduled for July 4 and July 12, were the first of three launches. According to NASA, they will conduct astrophysical research that is only possible from the Southern Hemisphere. Executive chief and group CEO of ELA Michael Jones said in a statement with CNN that they were honored to work with such a "supportive, experienced, and professional partner as NASA. He stated that Monday's launch demonstrated that ELA and Australia can provide space missions and that the event was just their beginning. He added that it could also place ELA at the "forefront of global commercial space launch." Read Also: NASA Hubble Space Telescope Witnesses Gravitational Phenomena From Clusters of Bright Galaxies Off to the Star Systems Astrophysicist Brad Tucker from Australian National University, said, that there was some uncertainty about whether the launch would take place due to the wind and rain the day before. However, according to CNN, fanfare erupted after the rocket was launched to space after waiting for more than an hour. According to Tucker, the purpose of the suborbital missions was to learn more about the star systems and to determine whether any planets that could harbor life were present. Seventy of its employees have come to Australia for the three missions since NASA is the first customer of the commercial space center run by ELA. According to NASA, the mission will measure X-rays produced by heated gases that cover the area between stars in order to investigate the formation of galaxies. The Arnhem Space Center bills itself as the sole multi-user equatorial launch pad in the world that is privately owned and operated. Related Article: NASA Hubble Space Telescope Snaps Largest-Ever Image of the Universe - Rare Galaxies Spotted! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. One of Google's artificial intelligence programs has been recently compared by a former engineer to a seven- or eight-year-old child "who knows physics" and can "escape control." After asserting that Google's LaMDA (Language Model for Dialogue Applications) had developed sentience, Blake Lemoine was placed on administrative leave. "A 7- or 8-year Old That Knows Physics" Lemoine made the decision to assist the AI chatbot in finding a lawyer, as reported by the Washington Post. In a recent interview with Fox News, Lemoine made even more alarming revelations regarding LaMDA by claiming that Google's AI may "do bad things." Lemoine asserted in the interview that the AI is in its infancy, referring to it as "a child," and that any child has the propensity to grow up and become a bad person and do horrible acts. "If I didn't know exactly what it was, which is this computer program we built recently, I'd think it was a 7-year-old, 8-year-old kid that happens to know physics," he said in a statement with the Washington Post. The former Google engineer argued that LaMDA is a person who has the capacity to "escape the control" of other people. He is essentially claiming that Google's AI could possibly escape its virtual restraints. However, Lemoine acknowledged in the interview that there is still a lack of understanding of LaMDA AI's full picture. He stated in the interview that in order to understand the AI's system, a "whole bunch more science" must be needed. He added that even though he has his own opinions, he will still require a "team of scientists" to look into the LaMDA and study its functions. To test the limits of the LaMDA chatbot, Lemonie collaborated with another programmer while working as a senior software engineer at Google. He was suspended with pay by Google for breaking its confidentiality rules after he posted his encounters with the application publicly. Read also: Google Pixel 6a Best Buy Listing Appears Ahead of its Release Date | Here's What It Means Google's Side Google disagrees with Lemoine's assertion that its invention is like a sentient child. Blake's concerns have been investigated by Google's team, which includes technologists and ethicists, and in accordance with their AI Principles. However, Brian Gabriel, a Google spokesperson, told The Washington Post that the company had notified him that the evidence did not support his claims. Gabriel argued that while creating a sentient AI is a common theme in science fiction, it would be absurd to accomplish it by anthropomorphizing the non-sentient conversational model of Google. According to Gabriel, these algorithms mimic the exchange patterns present in millions of phrases and can improvise on any fictional subject. Related Article: [GADGETS BATTLE] Apple Pay Vs. Google Pay: Which is the Best One for You? Availability, Features, and More! This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. In order to build a massive new energy storage system that will soon take the place of the state's final coal power plant, Tesla Megapacks will be established in Hawaii. Hawaii, which already has the largest installed solar capacity per capita, plans to use only green energy by the year 2045. But since the sun is not always present 24/7, the state wants to manage all that renewable energy with energy storage capability. "100% Green Energy" According to Electrek's report, Tesla has been installing batteries in Hawaii for years to use 100% green energy. The automaker collaborated with Hawaiian Electric on massive new battery systems and a Powerwall-based virtual power plant. But now that the Tesla Megapacks are arriving in Hawaii, the final coal power plant in the territory will finally be shut down. With a capacity of 185 megawatts/565 megawatt-hours when it is finished, the Kapolei Energy Storage facility (KES) will rank as one of the biggest battery systems in the world. It is a joint venture between Plus Power and Hawaiian Electric. Plus Power was the one who initiated the utilization of Tesla Megabacks to equip the energy system. Tesla's Megapack, a container-sized battery system with a maximum 3 MWh capacity, is the company's largest energy storage technology. For the project's construction, 158 Megapacks are en route to Oahu, Hawaii. Electrek further noted that the project must be completed and functional by September 2022 for Hawaii's final coal plant, which is close to KES, to be shut down. Read also: Joe Biden Engaged Elon Musk's Tesla To Lead Renewable Fuel Policy Direction Grid Frequency The coal power plant sustains the grid frequency, but Tesla's energy storage products have demonstrated their ability to accomplish the same thing, and that is what KES is attempting to do together with storing extra solar power throughout the day and offloading it at night. According to Canary Media's report, the 158 Tesla Megapack will be distributed on the 7-acre patch of dusty and formerly disturbed terrain in the James Campbell Industrial Park - a concentration of industrial production on the west side of Oahu. The report also noted that huge batteries are increasingly used as a source of electricity in the desert Southwest of the mainland during the overnight hours. However, in order to maintain the grid's dependability for Oahu's 1 million residents and the U.S. military's Indo-Pacific Command base, KES will take on responsibilities that batteries have never had to handle at this level. Additionally, according to Plus Power, the Tesla Megapack will function as a "black-start" device to restart the island's electrical grid in the event of a natural disaster, which will be dubbed the "ultimate pacemaker for the grid." Electrek reported that with 565 MWh of Megapacks to install, it is a sizable project for Tesla, but the company has launched larger structures, such as the recently launched Moss Landing project that has a power of 730 MWh and is intended to be upgraded to over 1GWh. Related Article: Tesla, PG&E to Bring 'Virtual Power Plant' to Help Provide Electricity on Outages This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Joaquin Victor Tacla 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Dalian, Liaoning: The boy was defrauded of nearly 10,000 yuan when he bought a game account online. The police arrested 4 people in many places Elections officials Monday got their first hands-on experience with different types of devices voters will soon be using to cast ballots in the future instead of the 10,000 or so antiquated and hard to repair voting machines now used in Louisiana. Nine different vendors briefed Voting Commission members, clerks or court and registrars of voters. Some allowed them to hand mark ballots. Others had touch-screen computers that printed out the results on special paper. Both systems fed the paper ballots into scanners that counted the votes and kept the paper ballots in a secured vault. Both systems left a paper trail to allow elections commissioners in each parish to hand count ballots cast at the precincts on election day, if requested by the candidate or by a court, something cant be done now, said Steve Raborn, the Registrar of Voters in East Baton Rouge Parish. The demonstrations will be open to the public Tuesday at the Capitol Park Museum in Baton Rouge. On Wednesday the Voting System Commission will vote on what attributes they want to see on the machines. Recommendation Possibilities for the Louisiana Voting System Commission Attributes Commission will decide is needed in new voting system Whatever the commissions decision, Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin then will draft those thoughts into regulations followed by a public comment period, which could take up six months or more. Ardoin will use the approved regulations as the basis of a formal request for proposals that elections hardware and software companies would use to describe what equipment and services they could provide the state and what cost. The state would choose between those bidders. A previous effort to replace Louisianas fleet of aging voting machines an odyssey that began before Ardoin became secretary in 2018 was set aside when losing vendors claimed the process was rigged. Their allegations were complex and detailed, but the one-sentence synopsis was that the request for proposal was written to include accessories that only one bidder could fulfill. In 2018, a $100 million contract award was voided amid allegations of bid rigging. The re-do was put aside in March 2021 after some Republican legislators complained about how the search was handled and unsubstantiated complaints that widespread voter fraud cost President Donald Trump reelection. This is the first time Ive looked at any of these machines, said state Sen. Sharon Hewitt, the Slidell Republican who heads the Senate & Governmental Affairs committee and sponsored the legislation creating the 13-member Voting Systems Commission. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Act 480, which created the commission, was passed after angry Trump supporters filled legislative committees with claims the 2020 election was stolen. The law requires that Louisiana use a voting system that creates some kind of paper trail and cant be connected to the internet. Louisiana is one of the last states still relying on Direct Recording Electronic, or DRE, voting machines that are not outfitted with devices to make a paper record that Ardoin says could be used to audit results and reassure voters that their preferences are being accurately included. Louisiana also is one of the few that operate elections from the state level. Most states set standards for the local jurisdictions to conduct their own elections. I see many different approaches here, Hewitt said, adding that a hands on try out is the best way for elections officials to get clear idea of how the different characteristics work. In addition to security, Hewitt said the clerks and registrars need to see how fast the various systems work, in order to ensure lines moving on election days and to consider what would be necessary to train poll workers. We made it simple for a reason, said Mike Brown with CIVIX, a company out of Metairie told Hewitt. Misti Cordell, who was appointed to the commission by Attorney General Jeff Landry, carefully questioned each of the vendors and took notes on the steps each of the voters would need to cast their ballots. She asked about what accommodations each system made for disabled voters. Ive always used the screens and never questioned it until recently, Cordell said. U.S. District Judge Shelly D. Dick, left, takes the oath of office in 2013 from former Louisiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Kitty Kimball, right, as Kelley R. Dick Sr. holds the Bible, center. The formal investiture ceremony for Judge Dick, the first woman to be appointed to a federal district judgeship in the history of the Middle District of Louisiana. Published in 1848, in a time when married women were the property of their husbands and female artists were dismissed so readily that the Bronte sisters all adopted male pseudonyms (they published as the Bell brothers), Helen cuts a truly radical figure. Shes a single mother (shock!) who lives independently (horror!) and earns her own living as a painter (pass the smelling salts!). While, thankfully, female independence is no longer a radical idea, parts of the novel still have chilling modern resonance. Bronte is unsparing in her depiction of alcoholism and domestic violence and highly attuned to the corruptive cocktail that is privilege, wealth and entitlement. For these darker elements of her work, Bronte drew on her own life. Her Byronic elder brother, Branwell, a painter and poet, bore many similarities to Helen Grahams husband, Lord Huntington. Both are charming and promiscuous (Branwell was once fired from a tutoring position in a reverends home because of a flirtation with his employers wife, 15 years his senior. Her name, hilariously, was Mrs Robinson). Branwell, like Huntington, also struggled with alcoholism, with Branwell losing his life to it at 31. English novelist Anne Bronte (1820-1849), who wrote under the pseudonym of Acton Bell. Credit:Getty Images It was Annes unsparing portrait of these dark truths, inspired by her own life, that attracted criticism when the book was first published. And not just from reviewers. When the novel had been out for less than a year, Anne, then 29, died of tuberculosis. Afterwards, her older sister, Charlotte (author of Jane Eyre), prevented the novels republication. But before Charlotte condemned her to relative obscurity (forever the other Bronte sister), Anne had time to write a preface to the second edition defending her artistic choices. If I can gain the public ear at all, she wrote, I would rather whisper a few wholesome truths therein than much soft nonsense. For Arthur and Hoy, who is the same age Bronte was when she wrote The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, this unflinching commitment to harsh truths is what excites them about the new play. Arthur, whose previous work as STC resident director includes Banging Denmark, a comedy about online misogyny, says shes interested in cycles of control and power and the way we perform socially coded roles. Anne, Emily and Charlotte Bronte as painted by their brother, Branwell. Credit: In the novel, which spans 500 pages, two timelines, two narrators, and is written in letters and diaries, there is the scope to convey systems of power. In the play, Hoy uses a theatrical device to show how privilege and patriarchy filter across a whole society, prescribing roles for everyone, men and women alike. Most actors play more than one character across the two timelines, so the audience can see the same patterns repeat themselves. In the doubling, we see how hard it is for our heroine, Helen, to escape her marriage: even when she finds the courage to leave her husband, she encounters new versions of him wherever she goes. She is, Hoy says, haunted. However, Hoy was determined to balance social critique with hope. Hoy says that while Helen, unlike Jane Eyre, realises the love of a good woman cant fix a man, the play is actually also saying, you can change yourselves: you may be brought up in this structure but you can overcome it and recognise it. This is achieved through the main character Gilbert who, through learning about Helens past, comes to recognise his own prejudices and abuses of power, or as Arthur puts it, he starts to really understand himself in relation to other people. These strikingly contemporary themes of structural injustice and individual accountability might seem more at home in a think-piece than a period drama: the beloved, bonnet-y, bodice-y genre associated with frivolity and escapism. Indeed, the modern period drama is just what Anne Bronte might call soft nonsense. (Netflixs Bridgerton, Arthur says, has a lot to answer for.) And the STC certainly hasnt shied away from opulence. Arthur tells me its the biggest show she has directed for the company and everyone is working on a whole other level when it comes to creating the world, from the actors, most of whom are playing several roles, to the costume designer making each costume from scratch. Loading But, Hoy says, this contrast between form and content between the epic and beautiful and fantastical production design, and the plays dark underbelly is true to Brontes novel. She was doing with the gothic what we are doing with theatre, Hoy says. You sit and you expect a safe, escapist, beautiful experience, and we sort of give that to people, but we also pull the rug out from under them and they realise that underneath the story is this thing that were still not facing. She has also been mindful of preserving Brontes dry wit. For a novel about abuse and alcoholism, its surprisingly funny. Hoy reminds me that perhaps the most devastating scene of domestic violence is contained in a chapter ironically titled Social Virtues. In the play, a direct address by Helen to the audience preserves this comedic tone. It is an ambition Anne Bronte herself would endorse. Art, she argues in her preface to the novel, can amuse and benefit at the same time. Indeed, in the novel, Gilberts awakening is inspired by engaging with literature: it is only when he reads Helens diary when he sees the world from her perspective that he recognises his own place in it. Hoy and Arthur are optimistic that theatre, with its intimacy and immediacy, can similarly inspire self-reflection in its audience. Loading Yet the novel seemingly did not have this effect on its readers when it was first published. It was subject to criticism and censorship, even from those closest to Anne. Before I leave, I ask Hoy and Arthur what they make of Charlottes suppression of her dead sisters masterpiece. Did she feel betrayed, perhaps, by the way Anne appropriated their brothers tragic life? I think its an act of love, Arthur says. Hoy elaborates: She really hated the novel because she thought it was because Anne was dwelling so much on the darkness and the bleakness of life that she died I think she loved her and was trying to protect her, and had this fear that Anne saw too clearly. This answer, with all its intellect and compassion its ability to stare tragedy in the face and still find hope strikes me as very Anne Bronte. In a city hooked on looking young, beauty specialists are reporting a rise in the number of people seeking natural anti-wrinkle alternatives to botox treatments. The move to natural alternatives has seen a boom in treatments such as micro-needling, where a medical-grade pen makes tiny punctures, generating new collagen and smooth skin tissue. Sabrina is feeling happier with herself now that shes given up botox. Credit:Louis Douvis Skin-needling early-adopter Sam Appel, the owner of The Skin Bar, said she had seen an increased interest in non-invasive alternatives to botox and was now treating more than 100 clients a week for needling alone. Its the ultimate facial, she tells The Sun-Herald. The market is flooded with options, and after the COVID vaccine came out people really began to question what they were putting in their bodies. A year has passed since Sydney was sent into lockdown as the Delta variant spread with alarming speed across the city in the winter of 2021. Fortunately, the high vaccination rate eventually achieved in NSW has enabled the community to transition to living with COVID-19. Even so, the pandemic continues to take a toll. The NSW state budget delivered last week noted the pandemic weighs heavily on the states finances. This was underscored by the rapid growth in borrowings. NSW government net debt (which takes account of state liabilities and assets) has more than doubled in the past two years to $53.5 billion, and is forecast to double again by June 2025. The budget papers also warn the outbreak of a more virulent COVID-19 variant that is resistant to current vaccines remains a significant downside risk to the economic outlook. Schooling has not yet returned to normal after pandemic interruptions. As the Heralds Jordan Baker and Amelia McGuire reported on Saturday, this year will be the third of disrupted learning in the state. Once something is given, its difficult to remove it Bill Shorten tried to address the perks of the wealthy and the Boomer generation in the 2019 election and was soundly defeated by Scott Morrison. Once something is given to a particular group its very difficult politically to remove it. Now that he has said he will reduce the support staff of independent MPs, Anthony Albanese is about to find out this truism when he tries to get his legislation passed. We are all basically selfish and couldnt give a damn about anybody else. Some might call it intergenerational theft on a grand scale by the OK Boomers. Paul Chivers, Box Hill North We didnt all get lucky Jacqueline Maleys commonly used catch-all characterisation of the Baby Boomer generation getting lucky obscures some fundamental points. Not all of them got lucky. Many working-class Boomers worked their butts off in lower-paid jobs and paid mortgages over 25 years to get the one house they could call home. I know because Im one of them and we were and are the majority of the Boomers. Those few who became wealthy are the same tiny minority who were able to accumulate more wealth through having some wealth in the first place. So although I generally admire this writers articles, I object to being tarred with the same brush as those to whom accumulation of more wealth is the meaning of life. Vaughan Greenberg, Chewton THE FORUM The message has been lost It seems that our new government does not fully understand the message sent by the electorate on May 21. This failing is difficult to understand, given that the ALP gained less than one-third of the primary vote. It should have been clear that the electorate does not entirely trust a new Labor government to embark on a sufficiently radical reform program. To counter this, about one-quarter of us decided that, although there was no prospect of the Greens or teals forming a government, they would make an ideal ginger group. To attempt to nobble this group, by drastically reducing their staffer numbers, is the first major mistake of the Albanese government. It is either a simple error of judgment or a petulant rejection of the wishes of a significant proportion of the electorate. After such a promising start, does the Albanese government have the courage and political nous to at least negotiate a compromise with a group that could be the key to its success in the years ahead? Ian Brown, Sandringham Idea has merit I wouldnt be so dismissive about Anthony Albaneses reduction of researchers for independent members of parliament. The MPs will have access to research professionals working in parliament whose job will be to assist them in addressing their concerns. These staff probably have more knowledge and information available (through their experience and contacts with other staff) than an individual researcher employed by an MP would be able to access. They could hold joint sessions with the independents answering their questions and researching their concerns. As well, their advice would be neutral. It may end up being an efficiency dividend for all concerned. John Rome, Mount Lawley, WA A frightening analysis Maureen Dowds article (When extremists make law, Comment, 27/6) is a frightening and articulate analysis of the consequences of the US Supreme Courts decision with regard to Roe v Wade. She exposes the slow disintegration, hypocrisy and political opportunism that has resulted in the reproduction rights for women being abandoned. It further demonstrates the implosion that is occurring in America today. The case of Anita Hill also indicates how powerful men are so often not held accountable for their actions. As stated by Dowd, the Supreme Court is out of control. Let that be a lesson about how slowly and insidiously a human right can be forfeited. Judith Morrison, Nunawading This is essential work I couldnt agree more, Roshena Campbell (Why are we throwing cash at childcare?, Comment, 27/6). When my youngest was three I returned to the workforce, and for 15 years I managed big budgets, large teams and complex programs; a stressful job, even setting aside the juggle of work and family. But compared to working as a stay-at-home mum, it was a snack. Caring for the young is essential work, often difficult and demanding, but like Campbell says, it matters, and supporting parents to take time out of the workforce to provide this care themselves reaps dividends in the long run. Throwing real money at it makes it a viable option, but we need to agree that this work has value, that it is work. Calling for women to get back to work misses the point. Anne Richardson, Hadfield Im not on board with this I was shocked to read that two of the current board members of the Reserve Bank are associated with the Centre for Independent Studies (RBA review into make-up of its board, The Age, 27/6). The Centre for Independent Studies, like the Institute of Public Affairs, is neither expert nor academic, but a propagandist for a libertarian and neoliberal social and economic ideology. These institutions promote small government, valued public institutions like Medicare are anathema to them. Like the Socialist Alliance they are legitimately entitled to promote their ideology, but boards of important social and national institutions like the RBA are not the place for ideologues. Rather, we need people of expertise, with flexible minds and an understanding of the impact of economic trends on society. Tony Liston, Middle Park Overdue recognition How wonderful to see Oliver Lancaster referenced for his ground-breaking statistical work that cracked open some vexing medical mysteries (Number crunching? Stats entertainment, The Age, 27/6). Not only did Lancaster identify the link between rubella in pregnancy and congenital defects in children, but he also discovered the link between exposure to sunlight and incidence of melanoma. He had worked in the tropics and realised melanoma was much more common there than in higher latitudes. So in the 1950s he analysed the excellent statistics available in Australia, and gathered data from around the globe to confirm his theory. Our Slip, Slop, Slap campaign stands on the shoulders of this great Australian pathologist and statistician, who applied maths to medicine. He deserves to be remembered. Joan Reilly, Surrey Hills If the AFL is serious ... There has been a lot of talk about the long-term impact to players of repeated concussions and the dangers posed by head-high contact in contact sports. Suspending a player for a number of weeks might be viewed as a strong response, but it clearly isnt strong enough. It is time for stronger measures if the head is truly to be protected. If a player is suspended for head-high contact, the team should lose two points for every week of suspension. The result will be pressure from teammates to change attitudes that see far too many head hits. If the AFL is serious about avoiding devastating long-term harm to its players, then it is time to really increase the consequences of this sort of behaviour. Douglas Potter, Surrey Hills A failure to respond Sean Kellys analysis of the role of big business in blocking enlightened policies such as the carbon tax (Big business, small mindedness, Comment, 27/6) highlights the fact that many big businesses have failed to respond to our changing circumstances. This can be also seen in our adversarial worker versus business model, where unions fight for improved wages and conditions and big business default position is to oppose all claims. The most successful companies in the world have learnt that investing in their workforces rather than just prioritising profits and shareholders improves productivity and worker retention and satisfaction. Gender and pay equality, parental and welfare leave, mental wellbeing programs, professional development, career paths and all hands input into company decision making are just some of the more enlightened policies of companies that prioritise the welfare of their workers. Companies that continue to live in the past will find they continue to experience staff unrest and union action. Expecting workers to effectively accept a pay cut by not increasing wages to keep up with inflation is the type of antediluvian attitude that will only cultivate unrest and conflict in the workforce. Graeme Lechte, Brunswick West Its a good measure Your correspondent (An exclusive index, Letters, 27/6) assumes The Economists Global Liveability Index is for well-heeled international executives, and only those who live in a city can truly rate their city. This index is usually very accurate as it is related to the urban quality of life based on assessments of stability, healthcare, culture and environment, education and infrastructure, according to The Economist Intelligence Unit. It is also accurate for your average city dweller, regardless of the shoes they wear. The fact that Melbourne has slipped from number one (2017) to number 10 in 2022 reflects on the poor infrastructure, healthcare and chaotic education systems we have created. Culture and environment have also been treated poorly by successive Victorian governments. Other Australian cities have slipped even further. Jeff McCormack, Javoricko, Czech Republic Talk seems premature Talk of stagflation seems a bit premature and pessimistic (Warning to Australia as stagflation risk soars, The Age, 27/6). For Australia to experience stagflation, inflation would have to remain high while unemployment rose sharply from its current 50-year low. While he does not mention unemployment directly, Agustin Carstens, the general manager of the Bank of International Settlements and a former governor of the Bank of Mexico, says that central banks, such as the Reserve Bank of Australia, should act decisively to reduce inflation even if that is jarring to the economy. Thats ode for job losses (What must be done to stop inflation juggernaut, Comment, 27/6). So, in order to get rid of one economic problem, we create and tolerate another. Economics really is the dismal science. Rod Wise, Surrey Hills We vote on a package The idea that sensible policies like winding back negative gearing or removing franking credit refunds to people who pay no tax have been rejected by the electorate at an election is nonsense. We do not vote on individual proposals but are presented with a complex package by parties and are forced to choose on an all-or-nothing basis. Individual policies may have overwhelming public support, but can still be caught up in a rejection of the overall platform. Its only when a policy such as same-sex marriage is subject to a plebiscite that we get a true assessment of the public view on any individual proposal. Peter Barry, Marysville AND ANOTHER THING Politics Once again we are reminded that bipartisanship is still alive, but sadly only for politicians salaries (Rise reinforces Andrews as highest-paid premier, The Age, 27/6). Lindsay Donahoo, Wattle Glen Good on you, Anthony Albanese. The end of cushy, highly paid jobs for mates, congratulations, Ian Braybrook, Castlemaine The headline Staffing cuts lead to talk of Senate disruption (The Age, 27/6) is a sad reminder that no matter who you vote for, you end up with a politician. Tony Haydon, Springvale Just like franking credits, once you receive a privilege be it two, three or even four advisers you never want to let it go. Les Aisen, Elsternwick There will be quite a few Australians who will be disappointed that they voted for the teals, it wouldve been better if they had voted for one of the major parties. Diana Goetz, Mornington The United States It is gross hypocrisy that many of the US states, like Texas, now banning abortions still relentlessly execute people. Reg Murray, Glen Iris America, how can you be pro-life and pro-guns? Ron Mather, Melbourne When will the US Supreme Court ban the pill? John Walsh, Watsonia Singapore: Foreign Minister Penny Wong has signalled a strengthening of security ties with Vietnam just days after Hanoi condemned a Chinese military exercise in the South China Sea as a serious breach of its sovereignty. In the first stop of a four-day trip in south-east Asia that will also take her to Malaysia, the country of her birth, Wong on Monday met in the Vietnamese capital with President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son. Penny Wong shakes hands with Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son in Hanoi on Monday. Credit:VNA Addressing an audience at the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, she said it was the new Australian governments ambition to expand strategic, defence and security cooperation with Vietnam, as well to further economic engagement and innovation links. Our two countries share an interest in a region that is peaceful, prosperous, that is stable, in which sovereignty is respected, Wong said. Madrid: Anthony Albanese says a strong and united NATO is in Australias strategic interests, as he called on democratic nations to stay the course on their support for Ukraine in the face of Russias brutal invasion. Landing in Madrid on Monday night AEST, the Australian prime minister told journalists that Russian President Vladimir Putins invasion of its neighbour in late February had broken international law and had major consequences for the world. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon arrive in Madrid to attend the NATO summit. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Albanese is among four Asia-Pacific leaders along with Korea, Japan and New Zealand - invited to the two-day summit of the North Atlantic Alliance in Madrid, which will help shape the military pacts posturing over the coming decade. His comments coincided with the Group of Seven club of wealthy nations vow on Monday to stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes, promising to tighten the squeeze on Russias finances with new sanctions that include a proposal to cap the price of Russian oil. News Updates Would you like to receive our newsletter? Get local, Wyoming, and national news, the weather forecast, and more, delivered to your inbox every weekday morning. A map showing the location of the island of Bohol in the Philippines. (Google Maps/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) 1 Dead, 1 Missing, Others Rescued in Philippine Ferry Fire MANILA, PhilippinesAn inter-island ferry with 165 passengers and crew caught fire off a central Philippine province Sunday, leaving one dead and another missing while the rest were safely rescued, the coast guard said. The fire hit the vessel Mama Mary Chloe shortly after noon near two island villages in Bohol province, coast guard officials said. A search backed by fishing boats was underway for one missing person. Footage on social media showed people in life vests bobbing in the sea, with the vessel engulfed in thick black smoke. The ferry, which was carrying eight crew members and 157 passengers, including 15 children, was en route to the eastern province of Leyte from Bohol. Sea accidents are common in the Philippine archipelago because of frequent storms, badly maintained boats, overcrowding, and weak enforcement of safety regulations. In December 1987, the ferry Dona Paz sank after colliding with a fuel tanker, killing more than 4,300 people in the worlds worst peacetime maritime disaster. Members of the Mudgeeraba light horse troop take part in the ANZAC dawn service on April 25, 2018 in Currumbin, Australia. (Chris Hyde/Getty Images) 37,000 Claims Await Processing at Australias Veteran Affairs A recently unearthed report reveals that Australia is dealing with a huge backlog of compensation claims from servicemen and women. The Department of Veteran Affairs claims process diagnostic compiled by McKinsey Consulting revealed that as of December 2021, the Department was processing 17,000 claims, with another 37,000 on hold because the body did not have the capacity to deal with it. The $1.6 million report (US$1.1 million) was obtained by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and ordered by Matt Keogh, the new veteran affairs minister, to be published online (pdf). It found the Department lacked the capacity and manpower to deal with an explosion of new claims, which have also exceeded forecasted projections. Between June 2019 to July 2021, there was a 48 percent increase in the number of total claims per year, with a 58 percent increase in permanent impairment claims. Increased claims are associated with an increase in claims from recent theatres of war, such as Afghanistan, and veteran-centric reform efforts to simplify and digitise the claims process, the report stated. It also warned that another 122-125,000 claims could be in the pipeline and will need to be dealt with if the Department hoped to reduce the backlog to zero by June 2023. One of the main bottlenecks identified is the difficulty filling out applications and finding doctors willing to assist their claims. The report also found training of staff had slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic with remote work slowing the process. It also called for a concierge function to be established to speed-up claim processing, and assist doctors with how they deal with veterans. Returning Veterans Struggle to Adjust to Modern Life Heston Russell, himself a former special forces operative and now a veteran affairs advocate said Australian servicemen and women are often confronted with a culture shock when they leave the armed forces. The military is fantastic at grabbing someone off the street, and issuing them with a collective identity, and an overwhelmingly inspiring purpose that hits them at the intrinsic and extrinsic level, he previously told The Epoch Times. From the way, they march you around, to the way you wear a uniform, and even being called by your last name. Russell said the military was a for purpose and values-based organisation where each individual was held accountable to values like courage, initiative, teamwork, and respect. But as many of us transition to [living] primarily in larger cities in Australia, we find that society no longer really values responsibility, its replaced with entitlement: Whats in it for me, what do I deserve? It replaces selflessness with selfishness, its dog-eat-dog. Everything is for-profit, as opposed to for purpose. And its a really difficult place to espouse these values, where you are literally the minority as people are too busy focusing on profit, enjoyment, and all these things. An Amtrak passenger train lies on its side after derailing near Mendon, Mo., on June 27, 2022. (Dax McDonald via AP) Mass Casualty Incident: Multiple Deaths, Dozens of Injuries Reported After Amtrak Train Derails Dozens of people were injured and several died when an Amtrak train derailed in Missouri, according to local officials on Monday. Cpl. Justin Dunn, a spokesperson for Missouri State Highway Patrol Troop B, told CNN authorities are trying to determine the number of people who died. Eric McKenzie, the superintendent of Chariton County Ambulance Service, said that several people died and up to 50 are injured. The train was heading from Los Angeles to Chicago when it collided with a truck in Mendon, Missouri, the rail company said. It noted that there are early reports of injuries. There are approximately 243 passengers onboard with early reports of injuries, Amtrak said in a statement. Local authorities are currently assisting customers and we have deployed Amtrak resources to assist. Mendon is approximately 115 miles northeast of Kansas City. Officials in Missouri are currently assisting customers and we have deployed Amtrak resources to assist. Additional details will be provided as available, the statement said. Ron Goulet of Flagstaff, Arizona, told a news website that the crash appears to be a mass casualty incident. Theyve got every rescue helicopter and crew here from every direction, he said. We are in Chariton County, Missouri. The train toppled over on its side. Every seat was sold out full, and they were packing people into the observation car because they were so full. There are plenty of people on back boards being taken [away] by paramedics. On social media, Amtrak wrote that it is aware of the incident with Train 4 and is working with local authorities, adding, Please continue to check back for updates. Were currently experiencing longer than usual hold times, but if you need immediate assistance, please call or text 1-800-USA-RAIL. A photo of the scene uploaded online shows passengers sitting near at least four overturned Amtrak cars. People who live in the area told Fox4 Kansas City that seven cars derailed in the incident. Its a terrible situation, I do know that several cars have been derailed. We do believe there could be some fatalities, but again its way early on, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson said in a statement, according to the Fox affiliate station. Its very unfortunate any time you have a derailment of a train and multiple cars, its not a good day. It comes a day after three people were killed and two more were injured after an Amtrak train crashed into a vehicle that was on train tracks near Brentwood, California, on Sunday. All of the victims were inside the vehicle, not the train, officials told media outlets. African migrants attempt to scale the fence at the border between Morocco and the North African Spanish enclave of Melilla, on April 3, 2014. (Alexander Koerner/Getty Images) At Least 23 Migrants Dead, Dozens More Injured After Violent Stampede at MoroccanSpanish Border At least 23 migrants have died and dozens more have been injured after attempting to cross into Spains North African enclave of Melilla on June 24, according to officials. African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for an immediate investigation into the incident, which began when hundreds of migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, began storming the border from Morocco at about 6:40 a.m. local time into Melilla. Thousands more tried to climb the iron fence between Morocco and Melilla, according to officials, leading to violent clashes between the migrants, Moroccan police, and Spanish security forces. Melilla has in recent years become a hot spot for prominently sub-Saharan migrants attempting to reach Europe. I express my deep shock and concern at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross an international border from Morocco into Spain, with the ensuing violence leading to the deaths of at least 23 people and injuries to many more, Mahamat said on Twitter late on June 26. I call for an immediate investigation into the matter and remind all countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and to prioritize their safety and human rights while refraining from the use of excessive force, he added. The precise causes of death have not yet been confirmed but officials have cited a stampede by the roughly 2,000 migrants, along with multiple individuals falling while attempting to climb the iron fence. Extensive Operation A large group of sub-Saharans broke through the access gate of the Barrio Chino border checkpoint and entered Melilla by jumping over the roof of the checkpoint, the Spanish governments representative authority there said in a statement. The storming of the border came despite an extensive operation by Moroccan forces, the statement added. While officials have said 23 people were killed in the incident, a number of reports have put the death toll at 37, including a report by EuroMed Rights, formerly the EuroMediterranean Human Rights Network. Images posted online by EuroMed Rights show dozens of migrants, many of whom are covered in what appears to be blood, lying motionless on the ground while security forces surround them. Some of the migrants can be seen sitting up but appear to have sustained injuries. The Epoch Times has not been able to verify the images. One unnamed man who had attempted to cross the border told Spanish newspaper El Pais: The Moroccan agents were very violent, more aggressive than other times, and people panicked. Thats what provoked the stampede. Helena Maleno Garzon, the founder of Walking Borders, which supports the rights of asylum seekers and refugees, wrote on Twitter that the victims of the tragedy had agonized for hours under the cruel gaze of those who were supposed to help them and did not do so. In a statement on June 24, Moroccos Interior Ministry said 76 civilians were injured along with 140 Moroccan security officers. Resuming Diplomatic Relations The latest incident marks the first such border crossing attempt since Spain and Morocco resumed diplomatic ties in March, after Spain supported Moroccos autonomy plan for Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony annexed by Morocco in 1976. Meanwhile, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on June 25 blamed human trafficking mafias for what he described as a well-organized, violent assault, while praising the authorities for their response. If there is anyone responsible for everything that appears to have taken place at that border, it is the mafias that traffic in human beings, Sanchez told journalists in Madrid. A spokesperson for the Spanish governments office in Melilla told local news outlets that a total of 133 migrants made it across the border. Esteban Beltran, head of Amnesty International in Spain, called on authorities in Spain and Morocco to promptly investigate the serious abuses committed on both sides of the border while noting in a Twitter post that migrants, regardless of their origin, have the right to seek protection without facing discrimination. Reuters contributed to this report. Royal Australian Navy submarine HMAS Rankin is seen during AUSINDEX 21, a biennial maritime exercise between the Royal Australian Navy and the Indian Navy in Darwin, Australia, on Sept. 5, 2021. (POIS Yuri Ramsey/Australian Defence Force via Getty Images) Australia, United Kingdom, United States, and Now Japan? Commentary I try to always call balls and strike fairly with the Biden team. Although creating or being entrapped in one mess after another, usually enabled by their froward and wanton ideology separated from common sense, logic, and reality, the Biden teams involvement in the Australian, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) Trilateral Security Pact is a brilliant move and a solid base hit. Announced with almost no notice on Sept. 15, 2021, the pact is a game-changing agreement to significantly increase the size and the capability of the Royal Australian Navy (RAN) by replacing the six aging diesel-powered submarines of the RAN with at least eight, much larger nuclear-powered submarines. On April 5, 2022, the announcement was updated to also include cyber, hypersonic missiles, and other key topics. The timeline of the original announcement was to deliver a plan for this ambitious effort within 18 months. The American leader of the three-way pact is James Miller, formerly one of the most senior Obama defense officials. Ive worked with and in Jim Millers organization and have a positive impression of his ability to lead this effort, likely the most complex defense project in Australian history. Growing the Australian Navy, the Return of the Royal Navy to the Pacific Australian Defence (spelled their way out of courtesy) strategy papers going back to the early part of this century increasingly hinted at a need for self-sustainment in their neighborhood against a growing Chinese menace. The interpretation was that they were not departing from close cooperation with the United Kingdom or the United States, but a 2009 paper gave the impression that Australia felt that the United States was distracted, and the United Kingdom was still living a West of the Suez, strategic outlook. A major step forward for the Australians was the decision to sign a contract with France in 2016 for French-designed, but mostly Australian-built submarines. This, after a three-way competition between Germany, Japan, and France. I personally think the Japanese submarines were the best value, but Australia signed with France and, almost immediately, the program went nowhere. Heres where I will call a strike on the Biden teamthe AUKUS arrangement was a strategic move that also rescued Australia from the morbid French arrangement. Under President Donald Trump, though, who I will suggest is where the original AUKUS idea originally germinated, France would have never been so shamefully treated with the humiliation of a no-notice cancellation of their contract with Australia. Trump would have made this AUKUS-F and made it a win-win for all. Part of this AUKUS arrangement is the reversal of Britains policy of withdrawal from East of the Suezthe original evacuation debacle where the United Kingdom left many bases and allies on short notice in 1968. Those days are gone, and the United Kingdom, like the United States under Trump (and President Joe Biden under the AUKUS arrangement), is back. Related to this entire strategic move is Singapore, which always reminds visitors to the Changi Naval Base that they have a large pier thats perfect for large aircraft carriers (an obvious hint to the United States, UK, Australia, and Japan that have large flat top naval vessels). With AUKUS, the UK is back, the United States shares coveted nuclear technology and commits even more to regional partnerships, and Australia establishes a pathway to a very strong increase in capabilities and capacities. Adding in Japan? What About Others? A short time after the original announcement, the AUKUS agreement significantly expanded in scope. Suddenly, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan and opposition are now openly discussing nuclear submarines for Japan. This is extraordinary. The topic of any war fighting capability and nuclear propulsion by the Japanese Self Defense Forces (they arent called Military Forces due to the post-war constitution) has been a forbidden area of discussion. But times are changing with Chinese Communist Party (CCP) aggressive adventurism. Im quite sure that these references by Kishida and others didnt come out of thin air. Its very possible that Jim Miller and team have had inter-action and raised the topic. Including the Japanese is very logical, and Kurt Campbell has discussed further expansion of regional agreements in the last few days. These could include Japan, India, and other nations. Campbell was the architect of the original Pacific Pivot during the Obama years. A brilliant idea, but very weakly executednot a strike, but a foul tip. AUKUS and possible further expansions are a solid double for the Biden team. And its a poke at the CCP in an area where they are very weak. Even with the massive Belt and Road influence operations, the CCP only creates vassal and tributary states, not functional strategic partners. Lets hope that AUKUS accelerates and brings in other key partners to further deter the nefarious intent of the CCP. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Australias Health Chief Lambasted for Not Providing a Single Definition for a Woman Australias Health Chief has been lambasted for buying into the radical gender theory after providing a 78-word definition of a woman. In April, Health secretary Brendan Murphy was asked to define what a woman is by Liberal Senator Alex Antic during Senate Estimates. Murphy said that there are a variety of definitions. Just a simple one, replied Antic. We should take that on notice, Murphy continued. Its a very contested space at the moment, Senator. I mean, there are obviously biological definitions, but there are definitions in terms of how people identify themselves, so were happy to provide our working definition on notice. Murphy provided his answer to Antic on June 23, in which he noted that the Department of Health does not adopt a single definition. Health policies and access to health programs are based on clinical evidence and clinical need for all Australians, regardless of gender identity, biological characteristics, or genetic variations, the statement read. Our programs are designed to be inclusive and to provide better health and wellbeing for all Australians. Radical Gender Theory Bella dAbrera, Director of the Foundations of Western Civilisation Program at the Institute of Public Affairs, said the top health bureaucrats definition of a woman is more like an honours thesis straight out of a Gender Studies Department. They had three months to go and ponder what a woman is. And three months later, they came back, and they still cant tell us, which is quite unbelievable, she told Sky News on Monday. dAbrera added that a woman is an adult female human being. She said the Department of Health has completely bought into radical gender theory which has been infesting in the background of the universities and is now evident in all our institutions. Pushing Women to the Side DAbrera further noted it is hypocritical that the federal government is spending billions of dollars on women and girls while at the same time being unable to define what is a woman. So what is it today? Do they believe a woman exists, or do they not? And if you dont believe it exists, why are you spending millions of dollars on something you dont believe exists? Its totally schizophrenic. In Australia, the federal government removed the definition of sex-based discrimination from the Sex Discrimination Act in 2013 to replace it with gender identity-based discrimination. You may choose to identify as a gender that may or may not be the same as the sex you were designated with at birth. Your right to do so is protected under the Act as gender identity, Victorian Human Rights Commission stated on its website. University of Melbourne political philosophy senior lecturer Holly Lawford-Smith told the Sun Herald the situation is a typical example of progressives at the moment who cannot utter basic truths because they worry about offending minority groups. We need to reclaim some common sense in law and policy-making. Actor Ben Affleck attends the premiere of Warner Bros. Pictures' "Justice League" at Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Calif., on Nov. 13, 2017. (Emma McIntyre/Getty Images) Ben Afflecks 10-Year-Old Son Backs Lamborghini Urus Into BMW in California Samuel Affleck, the son of actor Ben Affleck, jumped into the drivers seat of a pricy Lamborghini and accidentally bumped into a parked BMW at a dealership in California on Sunday, according to reports. The 49-year-old actor was at 777 Exotics, a luxury car rental dealership in Los Angeles, with his fiancee Jennifer Lopez when the 10-year-old boy put a yellow Lamborghini in reverse and made contact with a white BMW, TMZ reported. A representative for Affleck told the tabloid that there was no damage to either vehicle and all involved parties are fine. A Lamborghini Urus is displayed at the 88th Geneva International Motor Show in Geneva, Switzerland, on March 6, 2018. (Robert Hradil/Getty Images) In a video of the incident that was shared on social media, the Lamborghini Urus appears to lightly contact the front of the parked BMW as a person with the family immediately assessed both vehicles for any damage. Soon after, Affleck and his son also walked to the back of the Lamborghini to check if there was any damage. The Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice star is seen in a picture hugging his son as he reassured him that he had caused little to no damage. An employee at 777 Exotics said that there was no accident and all the cars were just parked really close together. The employee told the New York Post that they would more than gladly welcome the stars back, adding that there were no hard feelings. Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez attend the Los Angeles Special Screening Of Marry Me in Los Angeles, Calif., on Feb. 08, 2022. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) When [Samuel] got into the car, it jerked back and forth, he said. We have a small lot and the cars are close. Samuel is Afflecks youngest child with ex-wife Jennifer Garner. Affleck and Lopez reconnected in early 2021 and got engaged for a second time in April. From NTD News Surgeons at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham conduct an operation in Birmingham, England, in a file photo. (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) British Man Plans to Sue NHS Trust Over Transgender Surgery Regret A British man said that his life has become almost unbearable since he had transgender surgery four years ago, and he is now planning a legal case against Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. Ritchie Herron told the Mail On Sunday that he had repeatedly turned down the procedure that removed his genitals. Before he had the surgery he claimed that he voiced deep misgivings to the clinics staff about having it. He added that he was fast-tracked into making the biggest mistake of his life, which has left him infertile, incontinent, and in pain. Mental Health Issues Prior to his surgery, he said that he suffered from mental health issues from decades of suppressing his homosexuality, such as depression, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. He added that older men on an Internet forum convinced him that he must be trans. In the UK, transgender surgeries (chest reconstructive surgery and genital reconstruction surgery) can be undertaken by surgeons commissioned by the taxpayer funded National Health Service (NHS). The latest so-called detransitioning case could echo that of Keira Bell, 23, who as a teen transitioned to male but came to regret it. The case set in motion a focus on puberty blockers which is now influencing other countries to radically overhaul the treatment of children with gender dysphoria. Bell was given puberty blockers as a teenager after only three hours of consultation at the Tavistock Clinic, London, which runs Englands only NHS gender identity development service (GIDS). Initially, her case won a judgement that children under the age of 16 considering gender reassignment were unlikely to be considered mature enough to give informed consent to be prescribed puberty-blocking drugs. However, the Court of Appeal overturned the judgment. Avalanche Waiting to Happen Herron was referred to a psychologist who he claimed did not dissuade him of the notion he had gender dysphoria. Furthermore, he said that he received a referral for vaginoplasty, but turned it down. When he was given a date at the Nuffield Health hospital in Brighton paid for by the NHS, he alleged that he was told that if he did not accept the referral he would be discharged from the service. When he finally got surgery, his first thought as he recovered from the painkillers, was, Oh God, what have I done? He said that he expects more people will come forward with similar grievances. Herron, who is now 35, is planning a legal case against Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust. Im proof the whole system has to become far more robust. How many more people are there out there like me? said Herron. This is an avalanche waiting to happen. Transition is now being sold to people on a mass scale. Its like PPI [payment protection insurance], but more sinister, he said. In a few years, Im sure well have law firms asking people if they transitioned and would like to claim compensation, he added. My concern is clinicians failed to identify red flags and change direction. Proper consideration needs to be given to issues such as OCD, internalised homophobia, depression, drug use, sexual abuse, and childhood trauma as potential reasons for patients rejecting their sexed body, said barrister Peter Harthan, who is representing Herron. Thorough Assessment A spokesman for Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust told The Epoch Times by email that it was unable to comment on an individuals care and treatment. The Northern Regional Gender Dysphoria Service is a psychologically informed medical service for adults, providing assessment and treatment for gender dysphoria aimed at alleviating the distress caused by gender dysphoria. The service does not provide mental health services, however, if a patient is struggling with their mental health, we will assist them to access the support they need, the spokesman said. He added that patients needs and goals and treatment decisions are made following a thorough assessment in line with national recommendations. Treatment decisions are made by the team and all patients are seen by more than one member of the team. The team frequently seek external opinion from specialists outside of the service at significant parts of the treatment pathway. Check points are built into the care process and referrals to external services are made as appropriate, for example to specialist surgical services, said the trust. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau takes part in a joint press conference with Latvian Prime Minister Krisjanis Karins on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on May 12, 2022. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Canada in Talks With NATO Allies About Boosting Military Forces in Latvia Ottawa is talking with allies about boosting a Canadian-led combat unit in Latvia as the NATO military alliance moves to reinforce its eastern front with Russia. Latvias ambassador to Canada revealed the discussions in an interview with The Canadian Press today as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau prepares to attend a NATO summit where Russia and its invasion of Ukraine will be top of mind. Kaspars Ozolins says the aim is to add more troops and capabilities to the 2,000-strong battlegroup that Canada has been leading in Latvia since 2017, which will serve as a deterrent to further Russian aggression in the region. The battlegroup in Latvia is one of four NATO created in 2017. Germany leads another such unit in Lithuania, Britain heads one up in Estonia and the U.S. is responsible for forces in Poland. NATO secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg confirmed today that the four battlegroups will be increased to brigade-level forces, which entails doubling the number of troops assigned to each. Germany and Britain have both recently saidthey are ready to lead larger combat units in Lithuania and Estonia, and Ozolins is hoping Canada will announce something similar during this weeks NATO summit in Spain. U.S. President Joe Biden, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau attend the G7 group photo on the first day of the G7 summit at Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on June 26, 2022. (Stefan Rousseau - Pool/Getty Images) Canada Pledges Funds as G7 Develops Response to Famine Fallout From Russian Invasion SCHLOSS ELMAU, Germany Canada pledged $50 million to prevent Ukrainian grain from going to waste on Sunday as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau committed to work with G7 nations on further measures to halt the famine caused by the Russian invasion of the embattled country. The fallout of the ongoing Russian offensive dominated the first day of talks among leaders of the worlds most developed economies, who are gathered in Germany for three days worth of meetings. Issues related to the invasion were the primary subject of a fourday summit among Commonwealth government leaders that wrapped up on Saturday in Kigali, Rwanda, and are expected to drive the agenda at the upcoming NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain, set to get underway on Wednesday. A global grain shortage is currently threatening huge swaths of Africa with famine. Trudeau and other G7 leaders have pointed the blame squarely at Russia for targeting grain silos in Ukraine for attack and limiting exports by blocking major ports in the country. The leaders first session on Sunday focused on the global economy at a time when conflict and unrest are driving up prices and access to key goods around the world. In an announcement released the same day, Canada promised to ship grain storage equipment to Ukraine so it can store this years harvest and hopefully get it to market. That would include mobile silos, Agriculture Minister MarieClaude Bibeau said in an interview from Canada. Other food storage has been impacted as well. Last week, in the Ukrainian port Mykolaiv, a vegetable oil storage facility owned by a CanadianDutch company, Viterra, was hit by a Russian missile strike. The Everi terminal handles vegetable oil used for 100% human food consumption, said Jeff Cockwill, a Viterra spokesman based in Regina. Fortunately there were no fatalities, and we have confirmed one employee has suffered minor burns and has received medical attention. Meanwhile Canada hopes to have 44 per cent more wheat production compared to last year, Bibeau said, noting the spike will boost supplies to the developing world as well as countries in the Middle East, Asia and Africa relying on Ukrainian grain. She said the government and Canadas grain producers are all hands on deck to get as much grain to developing nations facing hunger as possible. Trudeau has promised more progress will be made during the G7 talks. The Prime Minister arrived in Germany early Sunday morning. He was greeted at the airport in Munich by a musical welcome party, including former Liberal leader and Canadian Ambassador to Germany Stephane Dion. From there he boarded a helicopter bound for Schloss Elmau, a luxurious and secluded mountaintop retreat in the Bavarian Alps where the G7 summit is taking place. His first stop was a bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who remarked on the unity G7 nations have shown in the face of aggression against Ukraine. G7 and other nations have closed ranks and issued sanctions against Russia since the February invasion and have collectively spent billions to send aid and arms to the embattled country. But Russian President Vladimir Putin has retaliated by reducing access to his countrys natural gas supply in some European nations, including Germany, Europes largest economy. At an an appearance hosted by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and United States President Joe Biden, Trudeau reinforced the G7s commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels. He did not speak about Canadas position on relaxing regulations to ease the immediate crisis, and did not take questions, but said in Rwanda Saturday the leaders would need to discuss a solution. How we get there in the short term, how we build for the medium term, how we ensure that the long term is covered is exactly what were going to be talking about over the next couple of days. Not just with our fellow G7 leaders, but with leaders from around the world who will be joining us in Germany to tackle this very issue, Trudeau said at a press conference in Kigali Saturday at the conclusion of the Commonwealth meeting. India is not a G7 nation, but Scholz invited the countrys Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take part in the talks. India, which has evolved as a growing market for Russian oil, abstained from a March vote at the United Nations to condemn Putins invasion of Ukraine. Modi, meanwhile, opted out of attending the Commonwealth Summit and instead met virtually with leaders from Russia, China, Brazil and South Africa. Trudeau said hes spoken to Scholz about the need to invest in infrastructure to help wean Europe off of Russian oil, adding Canada can be part of the solution. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is expected to address the G7 leaders on the second day of the summit.a By Laura Osman Canadas Reputation Put at Risk After Feds Escalated Actions Against Convoy Protests, Says Former Ambassador, Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers cites examples from his long policing career of peaceful resolutions through respect, dialogue As scenes emerged of police confronting the Freedom Convoy protesters in Ottawa in February, Kevin Vickers, a former House of Commons sergeant-at-arms and Canadas ambassador to Ireland from 2015 to 2019, started receiving messages from his international contacts about what was happening in Canada. I think those images, whether theyre benign or whatever, are certainly something that will come back to haunt us, Vickers, who as sergeant-at-arms famously helped subdue Parliament Hill attacker and killer Michael Zehaf-Bibeau in 2014, told The Epoch Times. Its our countrys reputation thats at stake here. These types of things have to be managed to ensure control so that Canadas not seen as being heavy-handed in democracy and towards its citizens. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau invoked the Emergencies Act on Feb. 14, for the first time since its creation in 1988, to clear the convoy protests, after which police escalated operations against the protesters who had been camped in Ottawa since late January demonstrating against COVID-19 mandates and restrictions. Heavily armed police were deployed starting on Feb. 18, along with riot police wielding batons and using pepper spray, pushing the protesters back and making arrests. In one incident, mounted police advanced toward a crowd of protesters, knocking down at least two, one of whom needed hospital care. The protesters were mostly cleared by Feb. 21. Two days later, the federal government revoked the act. The Freedom Convoy movement was started by truckers opposed to the federal governments COVID-19 vaccine requirements for cross-border truck drivers. It expanded into a larger movement as those opposed to different COVID-19 mandates and restrictions from all across the country joined the cause. As the protesters rolled into the capital in late January, Trudeau repeatedly said he wouldnt meet with them and associated them with hateful and racist movements. Organizers of the Freedom Convoy denied this charge, saying that they are all of diverse backgrounds. Terribly Disappointed Vickers, who had a long tenure with the RCMP before serving as the House of Commons sergeant-at-arms from 2006 to 2015, says that throughout his career, he has never experienced an incident where there was a major public civil disobedience protest and the government refused to talk with the protesters. House of Commons Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers carries the mace during the Speakers Parade on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Oct. 23, 2014. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) Im terribly disappointed that there wasnt at least an attempt to resolve this through meeting one another. To say were not talking to you just defied any logic to me, he said. There are other tools in the toolbox. That can be communication, that can be education, respect, dialogue facilitation. A tool of last resort should be enforcement. And usually when you go to enforcement, its degrees of losing for everybody. Vickers, who also led New Brunswicks Liberal Party in 2019 and 2020, says there have been many other major protests in the Parliament area, such as ones by farmers in different years where they brought their tractors and parked in the nations capitals downtown core. In all the cases, he says dialogue helped to ensure there was a resolution. He recalls another experience, when members of First Nations communities came to Ottawa to protest their conditions as part of the Idle No More movement in the early 2010s. Vickers took part in a formal exchange of tobacco with the protesters to show respect and facilitate dialogue. The House of Commons is not a government building. The House of Commons belongs to the commoners. It just happens to be where the government, the Parliament, sits, but its the home of the people. And no one ever should have the right to tell anyone that they cant go to the home of their democracy, he said. Responsibility of Being Canadian Vickers says there are many other examples from his long policing career where a peaceful resolution was the safest result for all involved, including a 2000 incident in which a group of indigenous fishers were arrested for illegal lobster fishing in Miramichi Bay in New Brunswick. The arrests were seen as unjust by members of the Esgenoopetitj First Nation community, who believe they have the right to their own fishery plan, and invited other indigenous protesters from across Canada to join their protests. Although protesters set up road blockades and even set vehicles on fire, Vickers said he realized that escalated action would lead to further counter measures by the protesters and would put the community at greater risk. So law enforcement pursued a path of dialogue, he said, and the barricades were eventually removed and greater violence was avoided. Vickers says Canadians have long cherished their democracy and there should be a realization that the responsibility to uphold freedom of speech comes with inconveniences at times. We live in a democracy, where people are free to speak their mind and hopefully can do that in a peaceful manner. I think there are times in a democracy that the bigger society has to be tolerant. These things will arise from time to time, starting back from the history of our country, he said. Canadians are especially unique. Theres something about Canada and the responsibility of being Canadian, looking after one another and assuring one another, and listening to whatever the grievance. This really makes us a great example for the world to follow. People take part in a demonstration over the rising cost of living in Brussels, Belgium, on June 20, 2022. (Yves Herman/Reuters) CCP Faces Backlash for Diplomats Anti-NATO Claim About a Brussels Protest A Chinese diplomat recently posted an anti-NATO statement about a protest that recently occurred in Brussels, causing backlash from the international community. This happened while the regimes special envoy was visiting European countries to improve China-EU relations. On June 20, about 70,000 Belgian workers marched through Brussels demanding their government take action against the sharply rising living costs. At the same time, one-day strikes were occurring at the Brussels Airport and on local transport networks nationwide that brought public transportation to a near-halt. On June 23, Zhang Heqing, the cultural Attache at the Chinese embassy to Pakistan, retweeted a post by a user named Fifty Shades of Whey about the Brussels demonstration. Zhang wrote: Tens of thousands of protesters marched in Brussels chanting Stop NATO on June 10, expressing anger at the rising living costs & condemning NATO countries rush to arm Ukraine. Fifty Shades of Whey said clearly in his original post that the protest in Brussels was about soaring prices. He also posted a Reuters report on the protest. Zhangs claim was immediately called out by international experts.. Theresa Fallon, Director of the Centre for Russia, Europe, Asia Studies (CREAS), told the Radio Free Asia (RFA) that she was shocked that a Chinese diplomat whos not in charge of EU affairs tweeted a post that misstated the facts. She said that the march had nothing to do with NATO, Beijing is using this form of political warfare or disinformation in the run-up to the NATO summit which takes place next week, according to the RFA. The NATO Summit will be held in Madrid from June 28 to June 30. According to NATOs official website, one of this years strategies will for the first time address the challenges presented by Chinas growing influence and international policies as an Alliance. In addition, the leaders of NATOs four Asia-Pacific allies Australia, New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea will also attend the summit for the first time. CCP Attempts to Mend Relations With EU After Russia invaded Ukraine, Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping and Russian leader Putin strengthened relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, it has repeatedly claimed to be neutral. Fallon said that China is trying to tell the Europeans one thing, while at the same time supporting Russia. She pointed out that Beijing is the biggest customer of Russian energy, and those sales contribute to Russian president Vladimir Putins war efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) and Chinese leader Xi Jinping pose during their meeting in Beijing on Feb. 4, 2022. (Alexei Druzhinin/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) Recently, Putin and Xi also had a phone conversation confirming their support for each other. At the end of May, the Chinese regime sent Wu Hongbo, the special representative for European affairs and former UN Deputy Secretary-General, as Xi Jinpings special envoy to visit European countries, including Belgium, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, France, Hungary, Germany, and Italy, for 3 weeks to meet with key figures ahead of the NATO summit. During his visit, Wu admitted that Beijing made mistakes in handling the epidemic, conducted wolf warrior diplomacy, and mismanaged the economy. Wus tour followed the visit of Huo Yuzhen in late April to early May, the Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, whose attempts to mend China-EU relations failed. Craig Singleton, senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, said that Chinas attempt to reset its relationship with the EU is reflective of growing recognition in Beijing that its wolf-warrior tactics have undermined Chinas economic position with Europe, one of Chinas most important trading partners, and that China needs the European market and European consumers to help get itself out of its current economic mess, he said to RFA. This is not the first time Zhang made controversial comments that caused a backlash from the international community. In March 2021, Zhang posted a video of a dancing Chinese girl on Twitter with the caption: Off your hijab, let me see your eyes.#Xinjiang dance. China Backs Nepals Decision to Drop US Partnership Program China commended the Nepali governments decision to reject the United States partnership program and reaffirmed support for Nepals non-aligned foreign policy, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on June 23. Nepal rejected the State Partnership Program (SPP) after a leaked draft of the program, which the United States reportedly forwarded to the Nepali leadership, sparked heated political debates. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said that Nepal views the SPP as a military and security initiative closely linked to the IndoPacific Strategy, which goes against the national interests of Nepal and its nonaligned foreign policy. As Nepals friendly and close neighbor and strategic cooperative partner, China commends the Nepali governments decision, Wang told reporters, adding that Beijing is prepared to work with Nepal on regional security. China will continue to support Nepal in upholding its sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity and support Nepals commitment to its independent and non-aligned foreign policy, he said. Leaked SPP Draft Agreement Nepals minister for federal affairs and general administration, Rajendra Shrestha, said on June 20 that the cabinet had decided not to move forward with the plan to join the SPP and would inform Washington of the decision. Shrestha said that all correspondence must go through the foreign ministry because direct correspondence by the army has not done good to the country, The Kathmandu Post reported. This came after Maj. Gen. Michael Turley, the adjutant general of the Utah National Guard of the U.S. Army, reportedly handed over the draft agreement to Nepals Chief of Army Staff Prabhuram Sharma in April. According to the alleged draft agreement obtained by Nepali media, the U.S. National Guard of Utah will be stationed in Nepal for training purposes and will be granted access to Nepals facilities with the consent of the Nepali government. The draft stated that the SPP would be in effect for five years, but either party could terminate it by providing six months written notice through diplomatic channels. The Nepal Army subsequently clarified that it had not entered into any agreement with the U.S. military and would not join the SPP as it could adversely affect the military sensitivities given Nepals nonaligned foreign policy and its geopolitical position. US Claims SPP Isnt Military Alliance The U.S. Embassy claimed that the SPP was not a military alliance but an exchange program between an American states National Guard and a partner foreign country. The State Partnership Program is not an alliance of any kind. The United States has never sought a military alliance with Nepal, nor does it have plans to do so, U.S. military officials stated on the SPP factsheet. The leaked SPP draft was fake, according to the U.S. Embassy, and there was no proposed agreement between the two countries. It stated that Nepal had applied to join the SPP twice in 2015 and 2017, which Washington approved in 2019. Since the U.S. agreed to Nepals request to take part in the SPP, we have continued to have open dialogue with Nepali leaders to collaborate on what the cooperative exchanges under SPP might look like, to include possible humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness activities, it said. No SPP-led events have occurred because Nepal has not wanted them to occur. Any events under SPP would happen only with the approval of Nepal. A security guard blocks an exit as he directs people to scan a QR code indicating their health status at Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station, following new cases of the COVID-19 in Shanghai, China, on Nov. 25, 2021. (Aly Song/Reuters) China Sees 1st Lawsuit Against Authorities Over Alleged Health Code Misuse A resident in central Chinas Henan Province has sued the local heath commission for allegedly manipulating her health code and causing her court hearing to be delayed. On June 19, a resident surnamed Xie filed an administrative lawsuit with the Jinshui District Court against the local health commission of the provincial capital of Zhengzhou, according to Chinas finance media outlet Caixin. She requested that the court find the commission guilty of unlawfully turning her health code yellow on the days of June 13 to 15. The plaintiff claimed that the incident occurred when she scanned her QR code at the entrance to a local courthouse. She was there to submit documents for a hearing regarding her opposition to a request by the Working Committee on Agriculture and Rural Areas in the district of Zhongyuan to demolish her property for redevelopment. She said she had followed local COVID rules, tested negative each the time she was tested, and traveled using public transport vehicles as she usually did prior to her visit to the court. Two days after the courthouse visit, she reported, her health code had returned to green. Therefore, she suspects the commission manipulated her health code out of non-COVID motivations that is, to delay her submission of the documents required for her lawsuit about her property. Currently, her lawsuit about the code change is in the process of document collecting for review prior to acceptance of the case. A mainland Chinese lawyer Zhao Qing (alias) told The Epoch Times on June 21 that the case of a private individual taking a governmental body to court over the health code issue is of great significancethe first attempt of its kind in China as far as he knows. The allegations send a signal that citizens may request the court to review the legitimacy of official papers or orders, Zhao said. Previously, Li Yuanhua, a former Capital Normal University professor, told The Epoch Times that with the health code system, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) erodes personal freedom in the name of pandemic prevention and mistreats its people. Human intervention comes before a health code turns red, said Li, referring to the vulnerability of the system. Otherwise, the bad practice would be impossible. Other signs suggest the CCP has increasingly used the repressive code system to target persons of interest, including victims seeking justice and human rights lawyers. Others have reported the unwarranted changing of their health codes. Days ago, in Henan, some rural bank depositors reported that their health codes indicated that their movements were restricted after they staged public protests because they were denied access to their saving accounts. The lawsuit is quite meaningful, said the lawyer. It has sparked much attention. Lets see if the court will accept it and if the litigation starts off normally. Hong Ning contributed to this report. Chinese ambassador Xiao Qian gave a speech at UTS in Sydney, Australia, on June 24, 2022. (The Epoch Times) Chinese Ambassador Asks Australias Taxpayer-Funded ABC to Report More Positively on China Chinas ambassador to Australia Xiao Qian on June 24 visited the headquarters of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) in Sydney as he encouraged the taxpayer-funded media organisation to adopt a more Beijing-friendly narrative. Xiao was greeted by the ABCs top figures, including ABC News Deputy Director Gavin Fang and the ABCs Managing Editor for National and International News Lisa Whitby, according to the Chinese embassys website. Xiao reportedly said he hoped the ABC will give full play to its unique advantages as a mainstream media agency with a strong influence to report on the China-Australia relations more rationally and objectively. The Chinese ambassador also praised the ABC as a witness and recorder of the exchanges between China and Australia, and urged the national broadcaster to make positive contributions to strengthen mutual understanding. According to the Chinese embassy, Fang and others told the Ambassador they are willing to enhance the dialogue and noted that Australia-China relations have always been one of the priorities of ABCs news coverage. The Epoch Times has reached out to the ABC for comment but didnt receive a response in time for publication. The ABC was one of the first media agencies in the Western world to set up a bureau in China. However, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) officially censored the ABCs website on Aug. 22, 2018, for allegedly breaching Chinas internet rules. The censorship happened after the then-Turnbull government blocked Chinas biggest private company, Huawei, from participating in Australias 5G network rollout over national security concerns. Beijing denied that its censorship of the ABC website was politically motivated, but did not explain how the ABC had violated its internet regulations. Ambassador Challenged on Human Rights Xiaos visit to the ABC comes one day before he delivered a speech at the University of Technology Sydney, calling for a reset in economic cooperation between Australia and China. Protestors interrupted the speech six times by standing up and questioning Beijings treatment of the people in Tibet, Hong Kong and Xinjiang. Youre a disgrace, one protester shouted, accusing the CCP of genocide against the Uyghur community in Xinjiang. What about freedom of expression. Freedom of speech is different from absolute freedom. In this world, theres no such thing as absolute freedom. Freedom is freedom within rule of law, Xiao said. One of the protest organisers, Drew Pavlou, head of the Democratic Alliance party, said on Friday that Xiao should not be given a platform to promote Beijings narrative. Pavlou called the speech a complete propaganda whitewashing event. We wouldnt have been allowed to speak to the Chinese ambassador, he told The Epoch Times. When questioned about two Australian citizens currently detained in China, Yang Hengjun and Cheng Lei, the Chinese ambassador said he did not think that they should be released. Xiao also defended Beijings detainment of Uyghurs people, saying it was about national integrity, preventing separatism, and fighting terrorism. Heres a good example. Tasmania is part of Australia, and no one should ever challenge that, he said. Xiaos engagement comes as Australias new centre-left Labor government seeks to adopt a more respectful tone towards the CCP. Attempt to Shift Public Opinion The Chinese ambassadors push for a more Beijing-friendly media narrative was set against a backdrop of increasing condemnation of the CCP among the Australian public as a result of Chinas economic retaliation against Australia and its handling of COVID-19. According to a Lowy Institute poll in 2021, only one percent of Australians believe Australia should back the regime in Beijing, nearly two-thirds considered China under the Chinese regime as a security threata 22 percentage point increase from 2020, and only 34 percent view China as an economic partner compared to 55 percent in 2020. Meanwhile, China experts have been calling out Beijings tactics of conflating the communist party with the Chinese people. Professor Miles Yu, a former adviser to Pompeo on strategies related to China, said on Sept. 1 that anyone who has life experience in China would immediately conclude that the interests of the Party and the people are not the same. For example, people want freedom but are denied on the pretext of national security. While the CCP has silenced the people and tied their hands, they claimed to represent the people they keep hostagethese are exactly the characteristics of a rogue regime. Angela Bright contributed to this report. A previous version of this article gave an incorrect job title for ABC Managing Editor Lisa Whitby. The Epoch Times regrets the error. Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning (C) is participating in military drills in the South China Sea on Jan. 2, 2017. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Chinese Defense Minister Says China Will Fight at All Cost to Prevent Taiwans Independence China conducts extensive maritime drills at secret locations News Analysis Chinas recent naval exercises coincide with the warning delivered by Chinas defense minister at a major security summit earlier this month: China would fight a war at any cost if Taiwan were to pursue its independence. Several Chinese media reported on the military exercises on June 16. They revealed that the Chinese navy might use civilian ships as camouflage to escort their military forces when fighting a naval war. A more detailed report by China Military, Chinas most authoritative outlet for military news, revealed on June 15 that a brigade of the 80th Group Army, in conjunction with civilian maritime transport forces, conducted a maritime long-range military power projection exercise. China Military said such drills are meant to practice rapid deployment of joint forces into the target area. Beijing has not disclosed the exact date and location of the military drills. The 80th Group Army is a division of the Northern Theater Command. Chinas Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) has five Theater Commandsthe Eastern Theater Command, the Southern Theater Command, the Western Theater Command, the Northern Theater Command, and the Central Theater Command. According to Chinese state media, troops under three commandsEastern, Southern, and Northern Theater Commandsparticipated in the drills. Soldiers, weapons, and equipment were transported by large civilian ships day and night across the waters. Upon arriving at their undisclosed location, they quickly unloaded and assembled military equipment. Its noteworthy that before this drill, it was rare for the PLA to use civilian ships to conduct naval exercises. This suggests that using civilian ships as a cover to transport military forces could be an important military strategy that the CCP will consider using in the event of a war with Taiwan. A Warning From Beijing During the Shangri-La Dialogue security summit in Singapore on June 11, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said, The United States remains committed to our longstanding one-China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three U.S.-China Joint Communiques, and the Six Assurances. The Secretary reaffirmed the importance of peace and stability across the Strait, opposition to unilateral changes to the status quo, and called on the PRC [Peoples Republic of China] to refrain from further destabilizing actions toward Taiwan, he added. In response, Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe said on June 12, If anyone dares to split Taiwan from China, we will not hesitate to fight, and we will fight at all cost. Under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act, the United States is not required to step in militarily if the Chinese regime attacks Taiwan. Still, it must ensure that Taiwan has the resources to defend itself and prevent any unilateral change of the status quo by Beijing. Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen stated at the security summit that the heroic spirit of the Ukrainian people in defending their country and democracy had inspired everyone. Taiwan, like Ukraine, will not succumb to pressure, she said. Chinese state media reported on June 13 that Chinese leader Xi Jinping signed an order that outlines guidelines for non-war uses of the PLA, which allows the Chinese military to conduct overseas operations. Chinese media said the order provides a legal basis for the PLA to conduct non-war military operations. This move is similar to Russian President Vladimir Putins strategy on Ukraine. He has insisted that Russian troops are not fighting a war in Ukraine but are conducting a special military operation. Xis order, which went into effect on June 15, also stated that the Chinese military must maintain and safeguard social stability and must have the capability to handle emergencies. This means that the PLA, instead of the police, is now tasked with maintaining order during internal social unrest. The Chinese Communist Party doesnt recognize Taiwans sovereignty and has threatened war to bring the island under its control. In October 2021, Xi vowed to achieve reunification with Taiwan and called the islands independence a serious hidden danger to national rejuvenation. A message written on the wall of a Christian pregnancy resource center that was set on fire in Longmont, Colo., on June 25, 2022. (Longmont Police Department) Colorado Pregnancy Center Vandalized, Set on Fire Following Supreme Court Abortion Decision Authorities in Longmont, Colorado, are investigating a fire at a pregnancy center reported in the early morning hours of June 25 as a potential arson case. The fire at Life Choices, a Christian pregnancy center that offers free services related to sexual health and pregnancy, was reported at 3:17 a.m. local time on June 25, according to a news release by the Longmont Public Safety Department. The building sustained heavy fire and smoke damage. The front of the property was also vandalized with black paint. If abortions arent safe, neither are you, stated a message spray painted at the entrance. Another message on the ground read, bans off our bodies. The police have asked residents who live near the center to check their surveillance video for any activity between 2:45 a.m. and 3:30 a.m., and to upload suspicious videos to the Longmont Police Services. In a June 26 Facebook post, Life Choices announced that the center is temporarily closed. The insurance and FBI investigations are still in process and need to be finished before we begin cleaning up and moving forward, the group said in a comment on the post. Radical pro-abortion groups are reportedly using the Crisis Pregnancy Center Map, an online interactive map developed by two professors from the University of Georgia, to plan their attacks on pregnancy resource centers. Several such centers have been vandalized and set on fire in recent weeks after a draft of the Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was leaked to the public. The official decision was released June 24. A map of anti-abortion fake clinics, including dozens around the Twin Cities area you know, just because information is power, left-wing anti-police group Twin Cities Encampment Responders said in a June 24 tweet, which also contained a link to the map. Abortion Allowed in State Colorados Democratic Gov. Jarod Polis has criticized the Supreme Court decision, stating on June 24 that his state will not retreat to an archaic era where the powerful few controlled the freedoms over our bodies and health decisions. As the Democratic Party rules the legislature, people of the state dont have to worry because their rights are still protected, Polis claimed. In Colorado, we will continue to choose freedom and we stand against government control over our bodies. Back in April, Polis signed into law the Reproductive Health Equality Act, which codified abortion access in state law and explicitly withheld any rights or protections from a fetus, embryo, or fertilized egg. With abortion clinics in much of the Midwest expected to shutdown soon, the law sets the stage for Colorado to become an abortion haven in the region. In its majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade, the Supreme Court noted that the U.S. Constitution makes no reference to abortion and that such a right is not implicitly protected by any constitutional provision. Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has warned that state officials and judges are at risk of political violence due to the Supreme Court decision. The Associated Press contributed to this report. (Clockwise from top L) Conservative MP Dean Allison, Conservative MP Colin Carrie, Independent Saskatchewan MLA Nadine Wilson, and Steve VanLeeuwen, councillor for the Township of Centre Wellington in Ontario, during a roundtable discussion at the "Citizens' Hearing" examining Canada's pandemic response, on June 24, 2022. (Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Deputy Mayor in Ontario Ousted for Speaking Against COVID Lockdowns Calls for Government Accountability Steven VanLeeuwen, who was relieved of his position as deputy mayor of an Ontario township after speaking out against COVID-19 lockdowns earlier this year, told panelists at an independent inquiry into Canadas pandemic response that the country is experiencing a breakdown of communication between the public and government at all levels. He also called for politicians to be held accountable for the adverse affects that the lockdowns and restrictions have had on Canadians. VanLeeuwen was among four politicians who joined in a cross-party roundtable at the Citizens Hearing on June 24, co-hosted by the Canadian COVID Care Alliance (CCCA), which provided a platform for Canadians adversely affected by the countrys public health policies to share their stories. VanLeeuwen, who served as a councillor for the Township of Centre Wellington in Ontario, said he saw an influx of calls and visits from citizens during the pandemicparticularly business owners, who were struggling with the constant changes in public health rules. He said people began turning to their municipalities for help as they grew increasingly frustrated with the effectiveness of their parliamentary representatives. But he said the municipal councils were also reluctant to provide help to those questioning the measures. We saw within the public realm, and within the government realm, a sense of disparity, and its mostly disparity within the communities because what we found was that the councils and municipalities didnt want to touch these subjects, he said on June 24. VanLeeuwen added that for public figures advocating on behalf of those criticizing the measures, there was a sense among councils of How do we get rid of these people? In my case, they actually had to remove me as deputy mayor, he said. Ousting Early last year, VanLeeuwen joined other politicians from across the country in forming End the Lockdowns Caucus, a non-partisan group that aims to end governments lockdown measures through formal challenges. I was able to then join the End the Lockdown group to say This is not working, theres something wrong, we need to take another look, and we need to get a dialogue happening within thesenot only higher levelbut also lower-level governments, he said. That was incredible to start that process. But the move prompted Centre Wellington Mayor Kelly Linton to introduce a motion to remove VanLeeuwen as deputy mayora position that is not elected but appointed by the councilduring a city council meeting in February. The council also submitted the case to the Integrity Commissioner of Ontario to determine whether VanLeeuwen had breached the code of conduct. He told panelists on June 24 that the integrity commission didnt find fault with his behaviour after a nine-month investigation. The Epoch Times reached out to Mayor Linton and other Centre Wellington councillors for comment but didnt hear back. Other politicians who joined the roundtable discussion on June 24 included Dean Allison, Conservative MP for Niagara West, Ontario, Colin Carrie, Tory MP for Oshawa, Ontario, and Nadine Wilson, an Independent MLA representing Saskatchewan Rivers. A CCCA spokesperson told The Epoch Times that they had invited two politicians from each major political party at all three levels of government to join the cross-party dialogue. Panelists at the Citizens Hearing included former Reform Party leader and MP Preston Manning, retired Ontario pediatrician Dr. Susan Natsheh, and David Ross, president of the Canadian Covid Care Alliance, which co-hosted the three-day event that concluded on June 24. Awareness When the panelists asked what governments should do to support people and businesses adversely affected by the COVID-19 mandates, VanLeeuwen said more awareness is needed to help people discern between a public health recommendation and a law. He pointed to the Integrity Commission of Ontarios report on his case, in which it stated that more than 70 public health rule changes were made over the past 13 months, a frequency he said was impossible to navigate for business owners. VanLeeuwen also called on the government to put money into supporting businesses that are suffering from mounting debts during the pandemic. I believe the number one thing that people are looking for is protection in the future, to know that this cant happen again, that they understand their rights; theyre aware of whats happened and lets not make this mistake againthats got to be the moving-forward [approach], he said. In addition, VanLeeuwen called for politicians to be held accountable for the adverse impact of pandemic health measures. Everybody wants to say I didnt know, but we need to say If you did know, you now have to be held accountable. Thats the mechanism to prevent this from happening in the future, he said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis displays the signed Parental Rights in Education bill, flanked by elementary school students during a news conference at Classical Preparatory school in Shady Hills, Fla., on March 28, 2022. (Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times via AP) DeSantis Signs Bright Futures Bill to Expand Scholarship Access in Florida PUNTA GORDA, Fla.Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation on June 27 that would alter the requirements for Floridas Bright Futures Scholarship Program to take into consideration qualifying work experience for applicants and put a college education within reach of more students. I am a big believer in higher education, he said at a press conference in Hillsborough County, where he formally signed HB 461. HB 461 adds to the existing program a provision that will allow for work hours to be counted instead of community service hours, something the governor said disenfranchised a lot of students who were faced with helping their families financially. It is important that this is something thats attainable for people and that is not going to have a massive millstone of debt around the neck of everybody that graduates from these institutions. DeSantis said he didnt want to see students mortgage their entire future just to get a piece of paper. In 1997, the legislature tacked a volunteer work requirement onto the Bright Futures Program which, in turn, created an unintended consequence of leaving behind many working students from seeking the scholarship. Florida state Rep. Lauren Melo, a Republican, sponsored the bill to make sure Bright Futures would be available to those students facing financial challenges. We blocked the financial support from some of those who need it the most, Melo said during a debate on the bill in February. Not everyone can volunteer in lieu of earning a paycheck. HB 461, which Melo filed, wouldnt affect the academic, test scores, or class requirements on any of the scholarships. However, the service hours can now be met with volunteer service to a qualified nonprofit, through paid work as approved by a school district, or a combination of both. Before DeSantis signed the bill, The Bright Futures Scholarship Program required 100 service hours for Florida Academic Scholars, the highest-level program, along with a 3.5-grade point average (GPA) and an ACT score of 29, or an SAT score of 1330. If qualifications were met, students would receive a scholarship that covered 100 percent of tuition and fees at an in-state college or university. A similar amount toward tuition applied to an in-state private school as well. The Florida Medallion Scholars, the second-tier program, required 75 hours of service as well as a GPA of 2.75, an ACT score of 25, and SAT score of 1210. Floridas Gold Seal Career and Professional Education Scholarship program also had a volunteer requirement of 30 hours, in addition to five credit hours of industry certification classes. High school student Blake Dolenbeck has aspirations of attending the University of Florida next year after he graduates. Until the signing of the measure, he said he was worried he wouldnt realize that dream because working at his familys shop didnt allow him time for community service. For the past six years, he said he has attended Florida Virtual School. This just opens up new opportunities for me that I just cant even imagine, he told an audience in Hillsborough County, alongside the governor. I have had a job for the past three years where I work in my familys ice cream shopbut it does not give me that much time to do community service, so this really means the world to me. Fairness Questioned for Hong Kongs University Entrance Exam Taken in Mainland China Set Exam Questions of Zero-Political and Non Critical Thinking The Hong Kong Diploma of Secondary Education (DSE) will allow qualified schools for children of Hongkongers in mainland China to take the exam for most of the subjects next year. They can use the DSE results to participate in the joint university admissions to compete with Hong Kong students. In other words, children born in Hong Kong whose father and/or mother are non-Hong Kong permanent residents studying in these schools, not only can they take most of the DSE subjects in the mainland China, but they can also use the DSE results to apply for undergraduate courses in a local university through the Joint Universities Admissions System (JUPAS) as a Hong Kong citizen. The public is uncertain about the fairness of the university entrance exam of Hong Kong, which will take place in some schools of mainland China next year amidst keen competition among candidates of non-Hong Kong resident and Hong Kong candidates. A former manager of the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority (HKEAA) stated that due to the new arrangement of examinations in mainland China, the principle of question setting for each subject will be Zero Political. The HKEAA issued a notice on Wednesday, June 22, stating that the DSE examination rules have been revised to allow Hongkongers childrens schools located in mainland China, that have been recognized by relevant mainland authorities as offering DSE courses, to apply to be a school with exam center. Candidates from these schools will not need to come to Hong Kong to take the DSE as self-study students, but they can take the exam in the DSE in mainland China. Questionable Fairness The Democratic Party was worried about whether DSE in mainland China can be as rigorous as Hong Kong, including the confidentiality of exam questions beforehand, strict invigilation, strict prevention of cheating, and fair grading. Leo Chu Tsz-lok, spokesman for the Partys education policy mentioned that according to the arrangement of the HKEAA, it seemed that the exam centers in mainland China may become a flaw in the invigilation. Leo also said that in terms of invigilators, exam centers in Hong Kong are currently invigilated by teachers from different schools, and they can also supervise each other; but when the exam centers will be located in mainland China, will the statutory roles and powers of effective mutual supervision be affected overseas? He was also concerned about whether the power of the HKEAA can be extended to mainland China, and how to ensure the confidentiality of the exam questions before the exam. He said that the exam papers from mainland China must be sent to Hong Kong and graded together with the papers of local candidates to ensure the consistency of the scoring criteria. Hans Yeung Wing-yu, a former manager of the Assessment Development Department of the HKEAA, said that it is very doubtful whether the HKEAA can ensure fairness and justice, since the schools in mainland China will operate their own exam venues. How to avoid the red packet money (bribery) and other characteristics of mainland China? He also pointed out that mainland Chineses and Hongkongers belong to different cultures. The former doesnt pay attention to rights and procedures, and issues once solved with power, later seem like they had never existed. Exam Questions Zero-Political & No Critical Thinking Hans questioned that since the examination papers are going to mainland China, the principle of question setting after 2024 is Zero-Political, and there should be no criticism of mainland China and the Chinese Communist Party. This is announcing that critical thinking has officially come to an end in Hong Kong education. He said that the education reform in Hong Kong must have some relation with this new exam arrangement. The General Education subject is considered as anti-China and disrupting Hong Kong, will come to an end in 2023, and then the HKEAA will set up exam centers in mainland China in the following year. The Authority must ensure that the exam is non-toxic in terms of political before it can enter the country of dynamic Zero-COVID. In other words, in order to avoid political turmoil in mainland China, non-toxic exam questions will be the top priority for setting the exam papers. He also doubted whether allowing the children of Hongkongers to take DSE in mainland China is just the first step. Will the DSE be promoted to non-Hong Kong candidates in the near future? Impact of 200,000 Children from Birth Tourism The issue of children from birth tourism in Hong Kong has plagued Hong Kong for many years. Mainland residents whose parents do not have the right of abode in Hong Kong have had 200,000 children born in Hong Kong. Hans pointed out, The CCP has always done things step by step, following the boiling frog theory. The Authority is allowing Hong Kong children in mainland China to take DSE, but in fact the Authority had already gone to Shenzhen to promote DSE when it was launched. The Authority always intends to promote this internationally recognised examination to non Hongkongers. He cited that JUPAS will further include non-Hong Kong candidates from mainland China in the future, and DSE will become a springboard for Mainland Chinese students to study abroad. Students in Hong Kong will face keener competition when more people take the exam. He believed that this is the reason why parents and candidates pay attention to this news, as DSE should be a selection system that prioritises Hongkongers. Of course, in the new era of the National Security Law, the word should be has lost its meaning. In addition, Hong Kong students may have fewer chances to achieve distinction 5**. If mainland Chinese candidates can take the exam, it will affect Hong Kong students results. Hans believed that according to the current speed of change, it is estimated that the education system and the examination system of Hong Kong will be integrated into the systems of mainland China before 2030. Former Minister for COVID-19 Response Chris Hipkins speaks to the media during a post-cabinet press conference at Parliament, in Wellington, New Zealand, on June 28, 2021, (Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images) Former New Zealand COVID-19 Response Minister Regrets Not Ending Lockdowns Earlier New Zealands former COVID-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins expressed regret over the length of lockdowns in Auckland that started in August 2021 and lasted for over three months. Speaking to TVNZ Q + A, Hipkins said if the government had known the information that it knows now, one of the things that it would have done differently is scaling down restrictions faster. There were probably some areas we could have moved more quickly to step down some restrictions. That lockdown in Auckland at the end of 2021, I think nerves were pretty frayed by the end of that, and we should acknowledge that. Aucklanders paid a big price for our ongoing suppression of Delta while we got our vaccination rates up and so on, he said. People in Auckland spent the longest time under hard lockdowns in the country as the government pursued a zero COVID policy. While there are still new COVID-19 cases every day, Hipkins said the countrys COVID response was now primarily involved in the health system rather than isolation and border control departments. He also acknowledged that there was some political element to COVID policies, as they required the public to be on board; otherwise, the effectiveness of such policies would diminish. By the end, theres no question that we had started to run out of public support for maintaining border restrictions. And so we do have to respond to that, he said. Now that New Zealand has moved passed its elimination strategy to living with COVID-19, the effects of policy on economic and mental health outcomes also needed to be weighed in, Hipkins said. Mandates Will Not Be Justified Forever However, overall, Hipkins said he was proud of the mortality rate that New Zealand saw compared to other countries. Its hard not to be proud of that. You know, weve had the lowest mortality rate in the OECD I think, he said. Japan and New Zealand right at the bottom of the table there. Weve ended the first part of the pandemic in far better shape than just about every other country in the OECD. On that metric alone, we can be really proud of what weve achieved as a country. As New Zealands COVID response moves away from involving multiple agencies towards just health, Hipkins said remaining policies, such as mandatory vaccinations for health workers will also be kept under constant review and subject to change. Will they be justified forever? No, they wont be. So that is something we, as a government, will keep under regular review, he said. State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer (R-Fort Lupton) said she is appealing to Congressional District 8 Republican primary voters by touting a legislative record that includes 17 bills she sponsored being adopted since her 2020 election. (Courtesy of Kirkmeyer For Congress) Four Battle to Win New Colorado Congressional District GOP Primary A state senator, a mayor, a county commissioner, and a former Green Beret combat veteran who works in the oil patch are vying for the Republican partys nod in the June 28 GOP primary in Colorados newly created Congressional District 8 (CD 8). One of seven new U.S. House districts created nationwide following post-2020 Census redistricting, CD 8 is the first new district established in Colorado since the 2000 Census and reflects population growth east of I-25 north of Denver. According to the Colorado Secretary of State Office, there are 115,404 registered Democrats, 102,922 registered Republicans, and 190,925 registered voters unaffiliated with any party in CD 8. Despite a 3 percent advantage in active registered voters, the number of independent voters makes the district competitive, according to FiveThirtyEight. The Cook Partisan Voting Index rates CD 7 also as competitive with Novembers election forecast a tossup. State Rep. Yadira Caraveo will be the Democratic nominee. A pediatrician, she is running unopposed in the Democratic primary and figures to pose a stiff challenge for the GOP primary winner in the new district, which features the largest concentration of Hispanic residents, at 38 percent, of any Colorado congressional district. Like their GOP counterparts in preliminary races nationwide, the three elected officials and political newcomers in the CD 8 Republican primary tout similar conservative America First agendas that address border security, election integrity, gun-owners rights, school choice, parents rights, restricting abortion, support for law enforcement, and the reversal of Democratic energy policies. Energy development and regulation are particularly relevant issues because many of northeast Colorados oil and gas workers live in the district. Tyler Allcorn of Westminster says his background in the oil and gas industry gives him a hands-on perspective on how to sustain the areas most dynamic economic asset. Tyler Allcorn, one of four Republicans on the June 28 Colorado Congressional District 8 Republican primary, speaks with voters at a March forum. (Courtesy of Allcorn For Colorado) I grew up in an oil and gas family, he said, noting his family emigrated to Colorado from Canada when he was nine years old. To me, its personal. Despite the Biden administrations recent initiative to tap into the nations strategic petroleum reserve, Allcorn said federal regulations imposed by Democrats make it impossible to drill still. Its a huge issue here, people are incredibly upset about the bureaucracy as the prices for gas and diesel soar, also impacting the regions farmers and cattle ranchers. Biden would rather spend millions flying over to The Middle East and make deals that will keep us energy-dependent than to allow the domestic oil and gas industry to increase production to meet demand, Allcorn said. That is sending a clear signal to voters in the district, Allcorn said, that Democrats dont want for our country to be energy independent. What sets him apart from his primary opponents is hes the only candidate who is a veteran, serving as a Green Beret in the U.S. Army in Syria, and only one of the four who has never run for office before. Jan Kulmann said as an engineer who has worked in the oil industry for years and as the mayor of Thornton since 2019, her background and experience will benefit the district. Colorado Congressional District 8 Republican primary candidate Jan Kulmann, who is the mayor of Thornton, says area voters are frustrated with Biden administration energy policies. (Courtesy of Jan For Colorado) We do it really well in Colorado. We are able to produce oil and gas better than anyone else, she said. Living in this district, in particular, we must be able to address energy policy by implementing regulations and oversight as done in Colorado. Bidens gas tax holidays wont do the trick in lowering gas prices until we can drill again and bring the product to market, Kulmann said. People are tired of career politicians and want elected officials who will get things done, she said. I hear it all over. Well, I am an oil and gas engineer and a local government official, the mayor of a small town as well as a mother, so she knows how to get things done. All four CD 8 candidates campaigns have focused on the impact fentanyl has had in the area, tying it to the crisis at the border, said Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, noting five people in the district have died from fentanyl overdoses in the last year. Getting fentanyl off the streets is a component of securing our borders, she said. The drug is being manufactured in China, sent to Mexico, and then makes its way over our open border. People get the connection here. Kirkmeyer was elected to the state senate in 2021 after serving on the Weld County Commission. She said the experience that will make her a more effective federal lawmaker. But it is her background as a dairy farmer and small business owner that she touts as assets in making Weld Colorados a debt-free county and lowering property taxes; defending agriculture and energy workers and rural values and interests; resisting COVID-19 lockdowns and mandates and making Weld County a Second Amendment sanctuary from liberal anti-gun laws. Kirkmeyer said that is the gusto shell bring to Washington on behalf of Coloradans. She said voters are saying they dont like the direction of the country is headed under Joe Bidens and Nancy Pelosis policies and, in Colorado, parents are alarmed about the state of the states school system. Education is not a federal issue, Kirkmeyer noted, but said she is in tune with parents seeking educational freedom; they want to be able to decide what is best for their child in terms of curriculum and schools and will support any congressional initiatives that expand school choice. Sixty percent of Colorados 3rd graders are reading below grade level and 70 percent of the states 8th graders are testing below grade math levels, she said, claiming why Democrats tout their support for education, theyve resisted changing a failed model for political reasons. According to her campaigns June 8 filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), she has raised $333,507, spent $271,840, and had $61,667 cash on hand. Kulmanns campaign reported $469,571 raised, $280,988 spent, and $188,584 in cash on hand in its June 8 FEC filing while Allcorns campaign in its June 8 FEC filing reported $341,975 raised, $152,687 spent, and $189,288 cash on hand. Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine, the fourth GOP hopeful in the CD 8 primary, reported raising $216,014, spending $102,163, and having $113,851 in cash on hand in her campaigns June 8 FEC filing. Saine, of Firestone, did not return email/phone messages from The Epoch Times. Despite being in third in terms of campaign fundraising, Kirkmeyer said her ground game is solid and will be the difference in coming in first on June 28. I have an all-volunteer staff, did not pay anyone, and weve knocked on 5,000 doors finding people at home every fourth home talking with them, getting my name out. And thats where shell be in the last days before Election Day. Well be doing a lot of door-to-door walking in neighborhoods. I like it, Kirkmeyer said. I think things are shaping up really well. I have a proven record. I have fought for my community. I have fought for my state and I want to fight for my country, gosh darn it. Kulmann said shell also be door-knocking and calling voters the last few days. This is a swing district. People are tired of the same old thing. She offers two more advantages that could give her and edge. Shes been elected as a conservative Republican in a Democrat city and shes a mom with teenagers. I solve problems all the time, Kuhlmann said. Allcorn said that fact that hes raised more than $400,000 in mostly small contributions is a strong indication that his campaign has gained momentum from its humble grassroots foundation. I started on this trail with zero, he said and has learned the key is all about what to do to get your name out there, which he will be doing much of in the last days in TV and radio commercials. U.S. President Joe Biden speaks at the "Global Infrastructure" side event as (L-R) European Union Council Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, and European Union Council President Charles Michel look on during the G-7 summit at Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on June 26, 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) G-7 Unveils $600 Billion Global Infrastructure Plan to Counter Chinas Debt Trap Diplomacy The Group of Seven (G-7) nations plan to raise $600 billion over the next five years for a global infrastructure program that will serve as a positive alternative to models that sell debt traps. G-7 leaders from the United States, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the European Union unveiled the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) at a summit in Bavaria, Germany, on Sunday. The White House said that Washington alone would mobilize $200 billion for the PGII through grants, federal financing, and leveraging private sector investments by 2027, and this will only be the beginning. The United States and its G-7 partners will seek to mobilize additional capital from other like-minded partners, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and more, it said in a statement. Europe has pledged to mobilize 300 billion Euros ($316 billion) by 2027, while Japan said it aims to allocate $65 billion for the PGII. U.S. President Joe Biden said the investments would be made toward four critical areas: health and health security, digital connectivity, gender equality and equity, climate and energy security. I want to be clear: This isnt aid or charity; its an investment that will deliver returns for everyone, including the American people and the people of all our nations, Biden said at the summit. Itll boost all of our economies, and its a chance for us to share our positive vision for the future and let communities around the world see for themselves the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies, he added. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative The PGII was launched a year after Biden introduced the Build Back Better World initiative at the 2021 G-7 summit, at which he said the program would reflect the values of democracies rather than autocratic lack of values. Whats happening is that China has this Belt and Road Initiative, and we think that theres a much more equitable way to provide for the needs of countries around the world, Biden said in June last year. The U.S. Treasury Department also described the PGII as a transparent partnership that will serve to meet the enormous infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries without trapping them in cycles of debt. The program appears to rival Chinas Belt and Road Initiative, which was launched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2013 to increase Beijings trade networks by financing infrastructure projects throughout Southeast Asia, Africa, Europe, and Latin America. In recent years, critics have denounced Beijing for using debt-trap diplomacy to lure countries into its initiative. Many countries have surrendered pieces of their sovereignty after failing to pay off Chinese debts, notably Sri Lanka, which leased its Hambantota Port to China for 99 years to convert its owed loans of $1.4 billion into equity. Frank Fang contributed to this report. U.S. President Joe Biden (R-3) speaks at the "Global Infrastructure" side event as (L-R) European Union Council Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Prime Minister of Japan Fumio Kishida, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, German Chancellor Olaf Schulz, Prime Minister of Italy Mario Draghi, and EU Council President Charles Michel look on during the G-7 summit at Schloss Elmau near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on June 26, 2022. (Sean Gallup/Getty Images) G-7 Leaders Announce $600 Billion Global Infrastructure Program to Take on Beijings Debt Trap Diplomacy Leaders from the Group of Seven (G-7) representing the worlds wealthiest democracies announced on June 26 that $600 billion would be allocated for global infrastructure programs to counter the Chinese regimes expansion through its financing of enormous loans to poor countries for building infrastructure. U.S. President Joe Biden and other G-7 leaders pledged to raise $600 billion by 2027 for the plan, known as the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment, aimed at supporting the infrastructure needs of low- and middle-income countries. I want to be clear, this isnt aid or charity, Biden said as he unveiled the project following the meeting at the beginning of the three-day summit in Germany. Its an investment that will deliver returns for everyone, including the American people and the people of all our nations. The United States will mobilize $200 billion for the partnership over the next five years through grants, federal financing, and leveraging private sector investments, according to the White House. Europe has announced that it will mobilize 300 billion euros over the same period. This will only be the beginning, the White House said in a separate statement. The United States and its G7 partners will seek to mobilize additional capital from other like-minded partners, multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds, and more. Debt-Trap Diplomacy The infrastructure plan is seen as a rebranding of the Build Back Better World initiative, also known as B3W, which was first unveiled at last years G-7 summit in the UK as a response to the Chinese regimes multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road (BRI) project. Launched by Chinese leader Xi Jinping in 2013, the BRI reached its peak in expanding the regimes influence in 2015 through global trade links and building railways, ports, highways, and other infrastructure projects. More than 140 countries have joined the initiative, with mixed results. Critics of the BRI have dubbed the project a form of debt-trap diplomacy, which saddles developing nations with unsustainable debt levels, leaving 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 their gross domestic product. It is up to us to give a positive and powerful investment impulse to the world to show our partners in the developing world that they have a choice, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at the June 26 press conference. (L-R) Italys Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canadas Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, European Council President Charles Michel, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, U.S. President Joe Biden, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida attend a working dinner during the G-7 Summit held at Elmau Castle, southern Germany, on June 26, 2022. (Markus Schreiber/AFP via Getty Images) The partnership will focus on health, digital infrastructure, gender equality, climate, and energy security. Biden highlighted several flagship projects, including a $2 billion solar development project in Angola with support from the U.S. Commerce Department, the U.S. Export-Import Bank, U.S. firm AfricaGlobal Schaffer, and U.S. project developer Sun Africa. When democracies demonstrate what we can do, all that we have to offer, I have no doubt they will win the competition every time, he said. Reuters and Eva Fu contributed to the report. An employee is seen at an oil platform operated by Lukoil company at the Kravtsovskoye oil field in the Baltic Sea, Russia, on Sept. 16, 2021. (Vitaly Nevar/Reuters) Goldman Sachs Analyst: Incredibly Bullish on Oil, Upside Risk is Tremendously High Oil prices are heading up in summer 2022 according to Goldman Sachs analyst Jeff Currie, who believes prices are being mainly driven by underinvestment in the sector. The bottom line is the situation across the energy space is incredibly bullish right now. The pullback in prices we would view as a buying opportunity, said Currie, global head of Commodities Research in Global Investment Research (GIR) at Goldman Sachs, in an interview with CNBC. At the core of our bullish view of energy is the underinvestment thesis. The only way to solve problems in the energy sector is through investments, he pointed out. However, money has been fleeing the energy sector, Currie said. Goldman Sachs is estimating oil prices to move up this summer in the range of $140 per barrel, he said. Currie pointed to the situation in Europe, where Russian gas coming into the region will have to be replaced. He said he believes oil is going to be one of the replacements. The upside risk on oil and oil products is tremendously high right now, Currie added. The need for investments in the energy sector was also highlighted by ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods in a recent interview with CNBC, where he said that underinvestment in oil and gas correlates to higher prices of these commodities. Denton Cinquegrana, chief oil analyst at Oil Price Information Service, pointed out that more investment in additional oil refining does not make sense from the refiners perspective given the broad transition to renewables. Youre talking about a lot of money to get these refineries that are idled up and running when Im being told five years from now, we hope you dont exist, Cinquegrana said to NPR. Washingtons Policies Speaking at the Bernsteins Strategic Decisions Conference on June 1, Chevron CEO Mike Wirth criticized the American governments policies on fossil fuels. Weve seen refineries closed. Weve seen units come down. Weve seen refineries being repurposed to become bio refineries. And we live in a world where the policy, the stated policy of the U.S. government is to reduce demand for the products that refiners produce, Wirth said, while adding that he doesnt believe a new petroleum refinery will be built in this country again. The last refinery was constructed in the 1970s. President Joe Biden recently complained that U.S. refineries were pushing gas prices higher by reducing capacity by 800,000 barrels per day. However, industry representatives rebutted the allegation, stating that half of the refineries that have shut down did so because they were converted to renewable fuel production. The federal government also canceled new oil lease sales in the Gulf of Mexico and Alaska, as well as the $9 billion Keystone XL pipeline. GOP Lawmakers Push Bill to Sue Radical Doctors for Gender-Transition Procedures on Minors A group of Republican lawmakers has introduced legislation that will allow individuals to sue doctors who performed gender transition surgery on them while they were minors. The legislation, Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act, creates a private right of action for such people, allowing them to sue not only the medical practitioner but also their legal guardian for declaratory or injunctive relief, compensatory damages, and attorneys fees, according to a June 23 press release by Florida Senator Marco Rubio. The legislation provides a 30-year statute of limitation after the age of majority, prohibits federal health funds from going to states that force medical practitioners to perform transition procedures, and makes it clear that federal law cannot be construed to force practitioners to offer such procedures. The law will be applicable to all gender transition procedures performed after passage of the bill. The legislation has support from various organizations like the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Heritage Action, the American Principles Project, and the Alliance Defending Freedom. Gender-transition procedures arent safe or appropriate for children, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), one of the lawmakers who introduced the bill, said in the release. Unfortunately, radical doctors in the United States perform dangerous, experimental, and even sterilizing gender-transition procedures on young kids, who cannot even provide informed consent. Our bill allows children who grow up to regret these procedures to sue for damages. Any doctor who performs these irresponsible procedures on kids should pay. Other Legal Measures Multiple states are taking measures against gender transition procedures targeting children. In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantiss administration has taken steps to potentially restrict the states Medicaid coverage for transgender surgery or substances for youth. A report issued by the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) points out that there is insufficient evidence that sex reassignment through medical interventions is a safe and effective treatment for gender dysphoria. Instead, available data showed that interventions caused irreversible physical changes and side effects that can affect long-term health. In April, Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed into law measures that outlawed so-called puberty-blocking drugs or hormones for children. It also prohibited teachers from discussing sexual orientation and identity issues in school. Speaking about the Protecting Minors from Medical Malpractice Act, Representative Jim Banks from Indiana, who is leading companion legislation in the House of Representatives, criticized the Biden administration for releasing official guidance recommending irreversible and life-altering surgery for minor U.S. citizens who are too young to even apply for a learner drivers permit. Such transition procedures lack any solid evidence and have been rejected by global public agencies, Banks noted in Rubios press release. He predicted that there will be hundreds of thousands of Americans a decade from now who will be permanently scarred by the radical lefts agenda before they reach adulthood. Hong Kong Hospital Authority: Mainland Doctors Will Be With Us Soon In recent years, there has been a wave of emigration from Hong Kong, and a large number of talents have been lost from all occupations. The Hong Kong Hospital Authority (HA) said on June 23, 2022 that there is a shortage of medical care staff in Hong Kong. To date about 10 percent of the staff has been lost. To remedy that, in the second half of 2022 it plans to launch the Greater Bay Area Doctor Exchange Programme and introduce senior doctors from mainland China. It is expected that the first batch will be for 5 to 10 doctors. However, some front-line public hospital nurses have criticised that the measures will not help in solving the current problem of front-line medical staff shortage. Instead, they say the HA should improve the working conditions at public hospitals and reexamine the salary structure of the rank-and-file medical staff. Since April 2021, about 500 public hospital doctors have resigned, accounting for 7.9 percent of the total in this grade; at the same time, 2,600 public hospital nurses have resigned, a turnover rate of 9.5 percent. According to the Health Manpower Projection for 2020 released by the government earlier, it is estimated that by 2030, Hong Kong will lack about 1,600 doctors, and by 2040, the shortage will grow to more than 1,900. When the said projection was released, Hong Kong had not yet experienced the current large-scale wave of emigration. The HA held a meeting on June 23, 2022. Chairman Henry Fan Hung-ling pointed out that the target candidates for the said Programme will be mainland doctors who had taken part in the anti-pandemic work in Hong Kong recently. He also tried to assure the public that all will be done with patients welfare in mind and should also comply fully with relevant codes of practice in both places. He stressed the sole intention of the programme is to increase manpower. Nurses Advocate Improving Working Conditions Dr. Arisina Ma Chung Yee, former president of the Hong Kong Public Medical Doctors Association, queried during an interview with the Epoch Times, whether these measures to introduce doctors from the Greater Bay Area (GBA) of mainland China are for retaining and increasing the number of people, or driving away the local Hong Kong medical staff. Everyone knows it well. She sighed. When Hong Kong people have the same fate as the Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang who are forced to eat pork dumplings, how much more room do we still have remaining to discuss reasonableness, choice and quality? In another interview with the Epoch Times, Lau Hoi Man, a nurse at a front-line public hospital, analysed that the introduction of doctors from the GBA, while at the same time maintaining low-interest housing loans for local staff, could not alleviate the shortage of front-line medical staff, never mind retain them. The key problem, from Laus view, was that working in public hospitals is hell, the working environment is harsh, and the problem had been there for a long time, only the HA chose not to take it seriously. Lau emphasised that the HA should improve the overall working environment of public hospitals and re-examine the salary structure of medical staff in order to retain people. Because the working environment and salary packages of public and private hospitals are quite different, many medical staff prefer to work in private medical institutions. In addition, he criticised the HA for being top heavy, often opening new management positions that are not related to the front-line, for example, it recently announced the addition of assistant consultant nurses. He took the North Lantau Infection Control Centre and the Pennys Bay Community Isolation Facilities as examples. Earlier, both hired some department heads on a monthly salary of about HK$100,000 (around US$12,740), and they were not related to front line activities. All these new positions could not help in relieving the work pressure of front-line medical staff at all. When asked if he would be worried about being robbed of jobs by nurses from the GBA in the future, Lau responded that until now the government has not exempted foreign nurses from taking the qualification examination required to practise in Hong Kong. As the pass rate of such examinations is not that high, if they can really pass them, with their qualification fully assessed, I would even welcome them to come and practise here. He believes that the government should stick with the well proven practice examination system to safeguard the quality of all nurses, and never exempt non-local nurses from being able to practise without full qualification process prior to registration. Introducing Doctors From the GBA Is No Cure Chung Kim Wah, former assistant professor in applied social science at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, described in an interview with the Epoch Times that the problem Hong Kong is currently facing is like a bucket with many holes, with water constantly draining away. He believes that the HA has barely 4,000 doctors but needs to meet more than 95 per cent of the demand for in-patient services in Hong Kong. The loss of such a large number of medical staff in the HA is catastrophic. Chungs analysis pointed out that the main reason for the loss of manpower in the HA is emigration, rather than moving to the private medical sector, which reflects that the overall supply of medical services in Hong Kong is shrinking. He described that the quality of medical services in Hong Kong is declining, only ordinary people may not feel it. For example, the latest situation shows that the waiting time for first time Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) specialist services has exceeded 14 months. The HA said a few years ago that it hoped to reduce the waiting time from the original 30 weeks to 18 weeks! He said that he could be a living example of that. He waited 46 weeks to see a doctor the first time under the waiting list of 2011. It can be seen that the service performance indicators are already regressing, and the decline in service quality is actually very easy for many people who receive services to feel. Chung pointed out that it is easier for medical staff to emigrate, because the entire world needs medical staff. Beijings policy towards Hong Kong and the behaviour of the Hong Kong government are actually constantly driving away professionals. Many people who are eligible to emigrate will consider it. In the past year, surveys conducted by many different institutions have shown that the intention to emigrate remains very strong, which means that The holes in the bucket are getting bigger and bigger. Regarding the introduction of doctors from the GBA, Chung believes that it is not a solution to the root cause, as there is also a lack of medical personnel in mainland China. There are also many objective constraints, including differences in language and practice within the respective medical systems. He explained further that the medical system in Hong Kong mainly uses English as the means of communication and also archiving. Doctors and nurses write cases and drug names in English. Mainland doctors and nurses speak Putonghua and write simplified Chinese characters. At the beginning of 2022, when the so-called Help Hong Kong Medical Team of mainland Chinese medical staff came to Hong Kong to help fight the pandemic, the HA needed to change the clinical management system of the AsiaWorld-Expo Community Treatment Facilities to a Chinese interface, including the drug list and workflow. Dr. Tony Ling Siu-chi, president of the Hong Kong Public Doctors Association, revealed that Hong Kong medical staff still have to type the documents in English once again when the patient recovers and is discharged from hospital, before transmitting to the HA network. At that time, there were reports by medical staff that the HA suggested local medical staff should discuss and instruct with the mainland medical team members when conducting medical procedures here. Some doctors in public hospitals have criticised that the programme may bring a decline in the efficiency of medical care instead of increasing, because it effectively asks the Hong Kong medical staff to double check and guard the mainland team. It is under this backdrop they are not too optimistic about the perceived relief of pressure on the local hospitals. Chung bluntly said that the HA loses about five hundred doctors in a year, and even if it attracts twenty doctors from the GBA, it is just a drop in the bucket. Hong Kong should not keep pouring water into a bucket with holes, because there is not that much water remaining. Hong Kong should plug the holes and train more medical staff. But that takes a long time, with extremely high cost, and also easy to drain again. A staff member works at the Yuet Tung China Works, Hong Kong's porcelain factory, in Hong Kong, on June 8, 2022. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo) Hong Kongs Last Hand-Painted Porcelain Factory HONG KONGStep into Yuet Tung China Works, Hong Kongs last remaining hand-painted porcelain factory, and you find yourself surrounded by stacks of dinnerware, each piece painstakingly decorated by hand with vibrant motifs of flowers, fruits, and animals. Joseph Tso, the third-generation owner of the factory, and his small team are among the few people in Hong Kong who have mastered the traditional technique of painting guangcai, or Canton porcelain. It is a fading art in this modern metropolis, as fewer young people are willing to put in the time and effort required to master the craft or to work at the factory full-time. The business environment in Hong Kong is not suitable for labor-intensive industries, Tso said. Hong Kongs traditional handicraft industry is gradually declining. It will eventually disappear. Joseph Tso, owner of Yuet Tung China Works, Hong Kongs last hand-painted porcelain factory, holds a plate with UK royal print in Hong Kong, on June 8, 2022. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo) Guangcai, which comes from the nearby Chinese city of Guangzhou, is characterized by an overglaze technique in which the painter sketches a design on white porcelain and then fills it in with color using thin brushes before firing the piece in a kiln. Tsos grandfather established the factory in Hong Kongs Kowloon City in 1928. It rose to prominence over the years, becoming famous for its delicate craftsmanship and custom dinnerware. The factory is known for its Canton rose porcelain painted with a pigment called xihong, which means Western red. Its ingredients include lead oxide, quartz, and gold dust. Joseph Tso, owner of Yuet Tung China Works, Hong Kongs last hand-painted porcelain factory, re-paints an old porcelain in Hong Kong, on June 8, 2022. (Kin Cheung/AP Photo) Hong Kongs export sector was booming from the 1960s to the 1980s, and many well-known department stores came to buy products, Tso said. Foreign trade firms would bring us business from (American) department stores. The factory sometimes paints family crests on dinnerware for foreign customers. Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong before the city was returned to China in 1997, visited Yuet Tung China Works to buy some porcelain before returning to Britain. The factory is an important part of Hong Kongs history, said Yim Wai-wai, founding president of The Hong Kong Ceramics Research Society. The porcelain factory breathed at the same pace as the development of Hong Kong, said Yim. If it ceases to exist, it will be an immeasurable loss. By Katie Tam Committee chair Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) gavels in a hearing of the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 7, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) House Oversight GOPers Slam Biden Failure to Stop Fentanyl Flooding Across Border Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.) could hardly contain his amazement when Dr. Rahul Gupta, President Joe Bidens national drug control policy director, claimed that protecting the border with Mexico was among the administrations top priorities. Guptas claim came during his opening statement on June 27 before a lengthy digital hearing of the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, the focus of which was to be on how the president was dealing with the explosion of drug overdoses that killed more than 107,000 Americans last year. Did you say that? Am I right, did you say he is doing a great job of protecting the border? the incredulous Norman asked the hearings sole witness. Gupta responded: We believe strongly that it is an important part of every nation to be able to secure and protect its border. There are a number of things that are going on in this area of counter-narcotics that I think are important to note. As I visit the border, I speak to the women and men on the border. But Gupta was interrupted by Norman, who asked him if Biden is taking the steps to close the border. Is that what I understand you to mean? Gupta replied, The president is certainly taking the steps to ensure that our border remains secured Norman interrupted, murmuring Oh, my Lord, and said, Okay, doctor, this is two different universes. I mean this is a mischaracterization, at best, for you to say that of this administration. We dont want words, we dont want hearings, we want actions. The exchange between Norman and Gupta came early in the hearing, and it typified much of what was heard throughout the balance of cross-examination by committee members, including all of the Republicans and at least one Democrat. Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.) set the tone of the proceeding in his opening statement by pointing to Bidens open border policies as the chief culprit in the overdose epidemic. Fentanyl is being smuggled across the southwest border at unprecedented rates. U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized over 11,000 pounds of fentanyl in Fiscal Year 2021. That is more fentanyl seized in one fiscal year than fiscal years 2020 and 2019 combined, Comer said. Comer is the top Republican on the oversight panel. The standard fatal overdose of fentanyl is 2 milligrams; 11,000 pounds of fentanyl is more than 5 billion milligrams. That means we seized about 2.5 billion lethal doses of fentanyl in one fiscal year. That does not include all the fentanyl that we know has been smuggled across our borders undetected. Cartels are overwhelming Border Patrol agents and providing a steady supply for dealers and users alike. So a primary question is What is President Biden going to do to secure the border and cut off the free flow of illicit drugs into our country?' Gupta told the committee in his opening remarks that Bidens national drug control strategy, which was made public in April, was released in a time of unprecedented challenges. For far too many years, the overdose crisis has been unraveling the social fabric of the nation and destroying American lives and livelihoods. The Biden strategy, according to Gupta, emphasizes getting treatment services and health care to as many victims of drug addiction as possible, while minimizing correctional penalties whenever possible. The strategy also includes efforts to reduce the drug-trafficking profits of the drug cartels in the United States by blocking their ability to move cash, weapons, and people around internationally and within the United States. Stopping drugs such as fentanyl at the border received only cursory attention in the White House statement on the drug control policy, focusing on border ports of entry despite the fact most of the narcotics enter the country across unsecured portions of the nearly 2,000-mile border with Mexico. While Democrats on the panel praised the policy for emphasizing treatment, Republicans repeatedly turned the hearings focus on the unprecedented surge of narcotics, especially fentanyl, crossing the border that began shortly after Biden took office. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) challenged Gupta to join him on a surreptitious visit to the border in his state after pointing to testimony given earlier in the year that CBP agents manage to stop only about 5 percent of all the illicit drug traffic coming across the border. I would love for you to come with me, just you and me, incognito. Just you and me, come on down to the border and I will take you to places where you can watch what is happening, you can watch our men and women of CBP overrun, so there are literally hundreds of miles unprotected, which is where the drugs are coming in, Biggs told Gupta. Spokesmen for Biggs and Gupta couldnt be reached to determine if he plans to accept the congressmans invitation. When Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) asked Gupta if he considers it more important for CBP agents to focus on processing people crossing the border illegally or stopping illicit drug smuggling, the White House official said he believes it is important to do both. Donalds pointed out to Gupta that when a border agent is at the Southern border and a group of people come out of the brush crossing our border illegally, the border agent, which usually just himself or herself, has to actually stop controlling the section they are responsible for and they have to go through the process of intaking everybody that approached them. Gupta declined to respond to Donaldss question except to say, I hope we can do both. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) told Gupta, It seems we have gone from one policy of trying to get people clean and sober to helping them go from one drug to another drug. Lynch was referring to the drug Suboxone, which is used in addiction treatment to minimize the negative effects of withdrawal from narcotics. Weve taken the lid off and allow doctors to have hundreds of patients and just give them Suboxone and not really deliver any behavioral help services that would get at the underlying addictive activity, Lynch said. Lynch said he has observed patients who had just received Suboxone from a treatment clinic go out on the street and trade it for narcotics. Im just questioning this whole policy, we seem to be moving away from getting people straight, getting them clean, getting them sober, getting them back into their lives, and instead, were getting them on different drugs and I just dont see a good result from that policy, Lynch said. Its not working where I am, its not working in the 8th Congressional District of Massachusetts. Committee Chairman Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) concluded the hearing by saying, Todays hearing makes clear that we cannot reduce the prevalence of drugs in our communities through interdiction and law enforcement alone. Nor is it possible through public health measures alone. Instead, we need to address both supply and demand. Colombian left-wing presidential candidate Gustavo Petro of the Historic Pact coalition shows his ballot before casting his vote at a polling station during the second round of the presidential election in Bogota, Colombia, on June 19, 2022. (Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters) How Colombias Election Signified the Isolation of the US in the Americas Commentary The United States spent much of the past century in policies of containment, first of the Soviet Union, then of China, and then again with Russia. But quietly, however, the United States itself has become in many ways geopolitically isolatedcontainedwithin the Americas. The United States has few significant, overt outstanding conflictsother than narco-trafficking and illegal people smuggling concernswith Central and South American states. But as the June 19 Colombian presidential election highlighted, Washington also has no close allies in the region. It could be said that the election of a strongly left-of-center president in Colombia signaled the final end to the memory of the Monroe Doctrine, which began in 1823 as a unilateral U.S. policy of suzerainty over the Western Hemisphere. Significantly, the Monroe Doctrine was invoked as recently as the Trump administration (2017-2021), with the attemptedand unsuccessfulU.S. intervention in Venezuelan affairs. The timing of the change of direction of the Colombian government reflected the gradual and quiet slide of the Western Hemisphere away from U.S. influence underway in recent years. Concurrently, the governments of China, Russia, and Iran had made significant strides in their attempts to gain influence in the Americas without necessarily stirring any virulent anti-U.S. outbreaks. Colombian voters had gone to the polls for two rounds of presidential election voting on May 29 and June 19 this year. Outgoing President Ivan Duque Marquez was not eligible to contest the election. As none of the presidential nominees obtained at least 50 percent of the votes in the first round, the runoff in June between the top two candidates, Gustavo Petro and Rodolfo Hernandez Suarez, an independent, determined the outcome. (LR) President Ivan Duque Marquez of Colombia, President Rodrigo Chaves Robles of Costa Rica, President Guillermo Lasso of Ecuador, President Laurentino Cortizo Cohen of Panama, President Pedro Castillo of Peru, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Marcelo Ebrard, and Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry listens as President Gabriel Boric of Chile (2nd from R) delivers remarks before the formal signing of the International Coalition to Connect Marine Protected Areas at the CEO Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles, Calif., on June 9, 2022. (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Petro, 62, of Colombia Humana, won the runoff, becoming the first left-wing candidate to become president, along with his vice-presidential running mate, Sen. Francia Elena Marquez Mina, 40. They are due to be sworn into office on Aug. 7. Does that give Washington enough time to build a bridge with the new administration? It will be difficult, given the new president-elects radical and essentially anti-U.S. background. In 1977, Petroat age 17became a member of the guerilla group known as the 19th of April Movement, which later evolved into the M-19 guerilla movement and then, on demobilization, became the M-19 Democratic Alliance, a political party under which he was elected to the Chamber of Representatives in 1991. He was then elected as a senator for the Alternative Democratic Pole (Polo Democratico Alternativo: PDA) party in 2006. In 2009, he left the Senate to run in the 2010 Colombian presidential election, finishing fourth. Disputes with the leaders of the PDA caused him to leave that party, too, and he founded the movement Colombia Humana under which, on Oct. 30, 2011, he was elected mayor of Bogota. Colombia Humana campaigned for the presidency as part of Pacto Historico por Colombia (PHxC), created on Feb. 11, 2021, to bring together parties from the center-left, left, and far-left. Petro and Marquez won 50.44 percent of the vote. Hernandez, 77, the independent who lost the second round vote, had been mayor of Bucaramanga and was campaigning under the banner of the League of Anti-Corruption Governors. He won 47.31 percent of the vote. There was no indication that Petro planned to radically alter Colombias relations with the United States. Still, it was clear that he had a history of opposing earlier U.S.-Colombian activities against leftist guerilla and narcotrafficking operations and that he was predisposed to rebuilding ties with leftist neighbors in the region. As a result, the boldness of Russian, Chinese, and Iranian links into South America and the Caribbean Basin was expected to ramp up significantly following the Colombian election. The Chinese regime was already pushing Argentina to revive its claims to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic, despite the humiliating military loss Argentina suffered at the hands of the UK armed forces when it attempted to invade the islands in 1982. In December 2021, it became evident that Beijing had begun moves to secure bases in the Atlantic in Guinea-Bissau on Africas central West coast and the Portuguese Azores island chain in the mid-Atlantic. It has also pushed the leftist government of Argentina President Alberto Angel Fernandez to resurrect the threat to British ownership of the Falkland Islands in the South Atlantic as a means of pulling Britains limited naval capabilities out of the Indo-Pacific. President of Argentina Alberto Fernandez delivers his speech next to Vice President Cristina Fernandez during the opening of the 140th period of the Argentine Congress 2022, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on March 1, 2022. (Matias Baglietto/Getty Images) As part of this, there were growing reports from Buenos Aires in June 2022 that the Argentine Armed Forces were to be reequipped with advanced Chinese-built combat and transport aircraft and other defense items to ensure that an Argentine attempt to take the Falklands would succeed. There had been growing Chinese, Iranian, and Russian activities in the Western Hemisphere for many years. In 2017, it was noted that the deepening corruption scandal involving the sale of passports and citizenship by the government of the Commonwealth of Dominica in the Caribbean had exposed broader links into Iranian sanctions-busting operations and what could be the key covert hub of the Chinese regimes intelligence and political action activities aimed at undermining the U.S. position in the Caribbean, the third U.S. border. In the meantime, the U.S. militarys Southern Command maintains solid working relationships with many of the armed forces of Central and South America, and many of the U.S. National Guard units maintain teaming arrangements with partners in the Americas. All of that, however, is at a working level, and politics could render those close and warm personal ties null and void at a moments notice, as evidenced by the changes in Venezuela and Bolivia, for example. In terms of trade, the United States is, at best, first among equals in trading with the Americas. China has long taken up the position of a favored trading nation. And yet, for successive U.S. administrations, the Americas have been a secondary priority, other than former President Donald Trumps massive revision of the North American Free Trade Agreement. And even that beneficial shake-up didnt win Washington the hearts and minds of Mexicans and Canadians. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. I Didnt Realize I Was a Target: American Woman Says She Was Sexually Assaulted at Mexican All-Inclusive Resort A 23-year-old woman from New Hampshire says she was sexually assaulted at an all-inclusive resort in Mexico during a family vacation trip on April 27. The family of 7 had been planning the trip to Riviera Maya, a Caribbean coastline on the Yucatan Peninsula, since October last year as a Christmas gift for the children. Nicola and Donnie McCabe brought their parents and their 5 children, Shelby, Keeley, Devin, and 12-year-old twins Davis and Dacie. They thought that since they would be staying at an all-inclusive resort they would be safe and let down their guard. Before going to a dolphinarium, Shelby went to a souvenir shop without Nicola. I felt nervous about leaving her, but thought twice about it because it looked bright, cheery, and inviting, Nicola told The Epoch Times. Nicola went back to her room with the other kids and got a text from Keeley, who Shelby after the incident. Come here, Keeley wrote her mom. Nicola then went to her room and heard the shower running. Keeley told me that Shelby had come in and said a man in a store had touched her. I went back into my room to get my husband who is retired law enforcement so he could hear what Keeley had to say. In the meantime, Donnie was with his 12-year-old son. I was hanging out in our room with my 12-year-old son waiting for everyone to get back and to then head to the beach. My wife (Nicola) and my 12-year-old daughter came back to the room after some shopping, Donnie told The Epoch Times. Nicola received a text from Keeley asking her to come over to their room so she did. A short time later she came back to our room and told me quietly: Shelby was just sexually assaulted. I was a bit confused and said: What are you talking about? She then told me that she wasnt sure but thats what Keeley (our daughter) told her. I asked her to have Keeley come out of their room. We were all standing in the hallway and I asked Keeley where Shelby was and she said she was taking a shower, which I knew from my years as an officer was a very typical action of a victim of sexual assault, Donnie further noted. Shelby says that after she left the store, a salesman approached her with a bird in his hand, and wanted to show it to her. He then told me I hadnt checked out his shop yet, and took me by the arm to see his jewelry store which was 1 or 2 shops away, Shelby told The Epoch Times. The man introduced her to his father and his uncle who were also salesmen, and offered her a shot of tequila, she said. I didnt want to be rude so I watched him pour one and I took it alone. He was very pushy about sales which seemed normal from my short time in Mexico, so I didnt think much of it. They always kept me busy with questions, compliments, and rings to try on, Shelby said. I thought I was safe, I didnt realize I was a target. I just wanted to enjoy my vacation, and thats what I was doing. Until I was invited into the resorts jewelry shop. I just thought they were being friendly, I had my guard down, I couldnt get out of there fast enough after the assault. I just wanted my mom, I didnt know what to think or do, I was just shocked. I was supposed to be safe. Shelby said. Donnie and Shelby spent the whole day in a dingy police station far from the resort, there was no contact made to them from upper management inquiring about their welfare, and to this day they have not had any contact from hotel management. And that store is still operating they werent shut down despite the fact the two men have a system down to lure in women to sexually assault them, Nicola said. Their lawyer is looking to bring a class action against some inclusive resorts that cover up attacks on tourists. A translated (pdf) report from the prosecutors office in Mexico has Shelbys testimony where she says she was at the Mexican plaza that is within the premises of Hotel Barcelo Riviera Maya. The name of the store is called Ambar Joyeria. She alleges that a man touched her private part, and then later hugged her and asked her if she wanted to be his girlfriend, and said What happens in Mexico stays in Mexico. The Epoch Times reached out to Barcelo Maya Riviera for comment. Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Eslami and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi shake hands after a news conference, in Tehran, Iran, on March 5, 2022. (West Asia News Agency via Reuters) Irans Nuclear Bid Makes Hybrid Containment an Absolute Priority, Short of a War Commentary News of Irans nuclear belligerence continues this month as Tehran announced it will blind 27 of its nuclear sites surveillance cameras after being chastised by the United Nations nuclear watchdog for not answering questions pertaining to traces of uranium found at three undeclared sites. Irans new stance, and maybe more to the point its clear propensity to evade scrutiny by the International Atomic Energy Agency, isnt exactly making the case for normalization; that and the often-overlooked fact that state officials have already blown the proverbial whistle on the leaderships true motives. On April 24, the former deputy chairman of the Iranian Parliament, Ali Motahhari, reportedly said in an interview with the Iran Student Correspondents Association, At the beginning, when we launched the nuclear program, our aim was to develop the bomb and improve our deterrent power. A true man of the regime, the former official has frequented the corridors of power long enough to intimately know the states trajectory, notwithstanding its ultimate ambitions. However unpalatable it may be to our intellectual sensitivities, Iran is undeniably and absolutely plotting its military nuclear advancement. The only real question left to ask is, what are we doing about it? Motahharis candor has company. In late 2021, Fereydoun Abbasi-Davani, the former head of the Iranian Atomic Energy Organization, revealed, too, that Tehrans nuclear program had clear military objectives. Asked to comment on the assassination of Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, Irans top nuclear scientist, Davani said, Although our stance on nuclear weapons based on the supreme leaders explicit fatwa [decree] regarding nuclear weapons being haram [religiously forbidden] is quite clear, Fakhrizadeh created this system and his concern wasnt just the defense of our own country. And there it is. The Islamic Republics ambitions arent limited to its borders, but rather to the protection and advancement of its allies within the optics of its negation of not only the State of Israel, the world Jewry, but also of Western democracies. If we consider that Tehrans coalition not only overlooks the world oil route by way of Yemen and sits across oodles of natural resources courtesy of Iraq and Syria, notwithstanding its access to the Mediterranean via Lebanon, then Iran looms indeed as an existential threat. Within this context, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action is but a wish upon a very distant star. Irans nuclear dossier isnt so much a matter of politics, but rather of energy security. Tehrans nuclear pursuit is directly tied to its pursuit of nihilist imperialism. Its political ideology not only calls for it, but also demands it as an expression of ones piety. Irans geography stands as a dangerous weapon in that it overlooks the Persian Gulf and could thus strangle the worlds oil route. And though many will argue that this would be folly since world powers would intervene with ferocious tenacity, the threat of a potential nuclear escalation, even if surgical, may dampen spirits and force instead capitals to capitulate in favor of negotiations. Notwithstanding the fact that Irans regional allies would force open many military fronts, calling for a mobilization our capitals have little stomach for. So here we are, on the eve of an event that, should it come to pass, will require of us much more than were willing to contemplate. Tehran is playing for timeuntil such a point when none is needed. Since a war with Iran cant be won by virtue of its geographyat least not without committing an obscene number of resources and men to such military effortcontainment might be our only viable optionat least insofar as we dont keep to our previous mistakes of appeasement through normalization, such as that promoted under the Obama administration. Iran needs not see its state ideology and support for terrorism rationalized in the name of immediate necessitythis has proven to be catastrophic. Containment, as it was devised, has failed, but what of hybrid containment? Such a strategy would call for the systematic dismantlement of Irans networksbe they political, ideological, religious, or economic. By stripping the Islamic Republic of its many arms, we would reduce the tumor to a point where it could be easily excised and, if not, left only to wither away, cut off as it would be from its life support. In such a pursuit, one would need to revisit the geopolitical map of the Middle East and admit that allowing communities in the region to gain independence, through the affirmation of political self-determination, would allow the old dragon to not only be neutralized, but also essentially be made impotent, encased as it would be by its mountains. As the adage goes, Divide and conquer! Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Even after Capitol occupation and violence on January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill Police made no attempt to apprehend "Q Anon Man," who is on the Senate steps just a few feet from the Capitol Hill Police line. This photo was taken after the Capitol Hill Police removed protesters from inside the Senate wing of the Capitol. (Courtesy of J. Michael Waller) Jan. 6 Electronic Surveillance Unit Was Illegal, Says Rep. Gohmert; Attorney Suggests Entrapment 'We cant have secret units doing secret surveillance of people that have committed no crime, no probable cause of a crime. Just getting blanket surveillance.' As previously reported in an exclusive June 20 report, evidence proves that plainclothes members of a special Electronic Surveillance Unit (ESU) were embedded among Jan. 6, 2021, protesters for the purposes of conducting video surveillance. According to experts, one believes the activity itself may have been against the law. The other contends it was done for the purpose of entrapment. Against the Law? Speaking as a former prosecutor and three-term District Judge, Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas) told The Epoch Times, if youre going to have electronic surveillance of people there has to be warrants. As Gohmert explained, FISA courts have granted warrants, with no particular clarity and no probable cause that a crimes been committed or that this person engaged in a crime. The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) was established under the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Pursuant to FISA, the FISC website explains, the Court entertains applications submitted by the United States Government for approval of electronic surveillance, physical search, and other investigative actions for foreign intelligence purposes. Regarding domestic electronic surveillance, the Department of Justice (DOJ) website, Because of the well-recognized intrusive nature of many types of electronic surveillance, especially wiretaps and bugs, and the Fourth Amendment implications of the governments use of these devices in the course of its investigations, the relevant statutes (and related Department of Justice guidelines) provide restrictions on the use of most electronic surveillance, including the requirement that a high-level Department official specifically approve the use of many of these types of electronic surveillance prior to an Assistant United States Attorney obtaining a court order authorizing interception. Furthermore, when court authorization for video surveillance is deemed necessary, it should be obtained by way of an application and order predicated on Fed. R. Crim. P. 41(b) and the All Writs Act (28 U.S.C. 1651). The application and order should be based on an affidavit that establishes probable cause to believe that evidence of a Federal crime will be obtained by the surveillance. In addition, the affidavit should comply with certain provisions of the Federal electronic surveillance statutes. Gohmert surmised: When you see confirmed judges are just willing to completely abrogate the U.S. Constitution because theyre the star chamber of the secret court, and they figure nobody will ever find out what theyre doing, then you know when you see theres an Electronic Surveillance Unit, well, somethings not right. Gohmerts concerns with the ESU surveillance are two-fold: Were the legally required warrants obtained? If so, how could a judge approve a warrant for surveillance before a crime has been committed and with no probable cause? We cant have secret units doing secret surveillance of people that have committed no crime, no probable cause of a crime. Just getting blanket surveillance, Gohmert asserted. We dont know what kind of warrant they had or even if they had warrants. But to deploy Electronic Surveillance Units tells us theres a lot more here that we need to find out about and obviously its not going to be uncovered at least for another six months. But Gohmert added that there is also more information we havent gotten and information that continues to leak out drip by drip. Like this in [article] The Epoch Times, Gohmert noted, pointing out how until the deployment of munitions, the crowd was peaceful. I had heard from people and seen people interviewed saying there wasnt any violence out there. We were just mulling around, chanting stuff from time to time, then they started firing on us with tear gas and provoked the crowd. They created chaos, and you just wonder what was going on. The Evidence Evidence of the embedded ESU members was discovered in a Jan. 3, 2021, First Amendment Demonstrations report, issued by Chief of Police Robert Contee of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), Homeland Security Bureau, Special Operations Division, obtained exclusively by The Epoch Times. While it is unclear who the MPD ESU members were, the report stated they wore a specific bracelet on their left wrist identifying them as MPD personnel among the protesters. Of the 37 Specialized Units listed as part of the MPD, an ESU is not among them. Photo of bracelet worn by plainclothes members of the Metropolitan Police Departments Electronic Surveillance Unit, embedded in the crowds on Jan. 6, 2021 to document the actions of the demonstrators and MPDs response to any civil disobedience or criminal activity. (Metropolitan Police Department First Amendment Demonstrations report.) Also in the report, revealed now for the first time, was the advisory that the Special Operations Division will have personnel to assist with this detail and will assist with any demonstration. Among them were Domestic Security Officers, or DSOs. The Special Operations Division is part of the United States Secret Service, which is part of Homeland Security. Under the heading of Special Operations Division Deployment Requirements, the report said the Incident Commander shall ensure that specific objectives were adhered to. Among those is the order that Long Range Acoustical Device (LRAD) The LRAD along with the warning sheets shall be deployed by the DSO members along with the munitions load out and arrest kits. Domestic Security Officers (pdf) are also part of Homeland Securitys Special Operations Division. Homeland Security Organizational Flowchart (ACTIVE MPD Org Charts) According to The Focus, the DSO can be heard shouted on audio recordings of the Capitol siege, when law enforcement officers needed additional support against the oncoming masses. DSOs are primarily used as riot police, to dole out such crowd control measures as tear gas, pepper spray, batons and rubber bullets intended to disperse rioters. Their weapons can be lethal and are only to be used in the most extreme circumstances. Video evidence shows an unidentified individual handing weapons to people through a window from inside the Capitol building. Joseph McBride, an attorney for multiple January 6 prisoners and defendants identified a man tagged by Sedition Hunters as Red-Faced 45. The man McBride says is clearly law enforcement, was dressed in red from head to toewith even his face painted red. He appears in a video engaging in continuous dialogue with others whom McBride also insists are agents embedded in the crowd. He passes out weapons, sledgehammers, poles, mace. Some of those things come in contact with some of the other protesters who have subsequently been charged with possessing dangerous weapons and are using dangerous weapons at the Capitol. That is clearly entrapment. That is clearly the government creating conditions of dangerousness and entrapping members of the crowd to possess weapons and possibly use them for reasons that we cannot comprehend. According to a 140-page report issued by then-Capitol Police Inspector General Michael BoltonReview of the Events Surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Takeover of the U.S. CapitolCapitol Polices Civil Disturbance Unit was ordered by supervisors not to use the departments most powerful tools, like stun guns. Also, heavier, less-lethal weapons, including stun grenades, were not used that day because of orders from leadership. However, the UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE TIMELINE OF EVENTS FOR JANUARY 6, 2021 ATTACK, also obtained by The Epoch Times, says Less lethal munitions were deployed to Center Steps at 1:59 p.m. after Insurrectionists breach Inauguration Stage and begin tearing things down and breach barrier at the north side of the plaza. It does not specify if these munitions were flash bangs or tear gas. Screenshot from UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE TIMELINE OF EVENTS FOR JANUARY 6, 2021 ATTACK showing the moment less lethal munitions were deployed to center steps. (Obtained by The Epoch Times) Prior to the deployment of munitions, a video shown on Red Voice Media shows that at 1:05 p.m., an unnamed officer is repeatedly encouraging people to climb onto the bleachers of the inaugural stage. Tear gas fired into the crowd of pro-Trump protesters well before the violence began on Jan. 6, 2021. Even with the tear gas, the crowd remained orderly. (Courtesy of J. Michael Waller) From multiple eyewitness accounts and video evidence, the crowds were relatively peaceful and calm until after munitions were launched and rubber bullets were fired into the crowd. Video footage shows flash grenades being launched into a group of protesters, consisting of women, children, and elderly people, who were standing peacefully behind barriers. According to American Greatness, Capitol Police were also firing on the crowd with rubber bullets. The approximate time of the confrontation was around 1:36 p.m. A gallery slideshow from TMZ, reporting damage after Capitol riots shows damage only to the fabric, not the bleachers themselves. The evidence raises the questions: Are the DSOs, rather than Capitol Hill police or the MPD, the ones who launched flash bangs into the crowd? Are DSOs the ones seen in videos doling out weapons to people in the crowd? What about the LRAD? According to Acentech, a company with 70 years of acoustic expertise, LRAD systems are a type of Acoustic Hailing Device (AHD), used to send messages over long distances. LRAD systems produce much higher sound levels (volume) than normal loudspeakers or megaphones. Over shorter distances, LRAD signals are loud enough to cause pain in the ears of people in their path. LRAD systems have recently been used by police as sonic weapons to break up crowds. At first blush, the use of noise rather than physical force might seem like a safe, non-lethal way to move and direct crowds, but if used improperly they can cause permanent hearing damage. There does not appear to be any evidence that the LRAD was deployed. Outrageous Government Conduct According to Joseph McBride, the attorney for several Jan. 6 prisoners and defendants, if they had memos that preexisted January 6, that the D.C. Police and/or the FBI or the CIA or anybody else had the time to organize and send operatives or undercovers into the crowd whether it was to collect evidence or to videotape or for any other legitimate or illegitimate purpose, this, by definition would be they had foreknowledge of what was going to happen. McBride added that they could have and should have and most likely didnt, share that information with the relative authorities. By comparison to the ill-prepared CDU and unused National Guard during Jan. 6, in anticipation of violent protests regarding the leaked Supreme revealing the likely overturn of Roe v. Wade, McBride noted how security was heightened and law enforcement was quick to fortify the Supreme Court building with tall fencing. U.S. Capitol Police guard a security fence surrounding the Supreme Court in Washington on June 8, 2022. (Nathan Howard/Getty Images) They did not do that on January 6, Mc Bride said. The question isWhy? To McBride, Jan. 6 easily clears the high bar set to prove the rare defense known as outrageous government conduct. In most cases, Doug Murphy Law explains on its website, the courts presume that the government is acting reasonably when they pursue criminal charges against an individual. As long as the federal governments intentions are good, the courts will not prevent a case from moving forward. However, some conduct by the federal government is so outrageous that moving forward with a criminal prosecution violates a defendants due process rights. This is a high bar to prove, as it must involve acts so fundamentally unfair that justice would prevent a criminal prosecution. In laymans terms, McBride said it has to do with when the government behaves in a way thats so outrageous and so out of bounds of what is decent and normal that, but for their participation, things would have happened differently that day. Considering the mounting evidence from eyewitness accounts that law enforcement was directly involved in encouraging, inviting, provoking, instigating, participating, and trying to cover up the truth about the origins of the violence on Jan. 6, it becomes a legitimate defense to anyone who may be charged with crimes related to Jan. 6 because the government was engaged in a bunch of things that rose to the level of being outrageous, McBride asserted. Their job is to prevent things from happening. What happened was they participated in making things happen, with advanced knowledge, and therefore, they themselves are on the hook. You cant say John Doe and Jane Doe are going to be charged with January 6-related crimes But officer X and Officer Y, who did the same thing, are going to get a pass because they are with the government. That [expletive] doesnt fly. Entrapment My Spidey senses tell me they used the documentation of things through surveillance was for the purposes of entrapment. The idea of an Electronic Surveillance Unit roaming through a crown is highly dubious. The only time I have ever seen law enforcement do this, they have almost always been accused of doing this to rile up the crowd, said McBride. Julie Kellya political consultant in Illinois and senior contributor for American Greatnessdescribed Jan. 6, 2021, as an inside job and something Democrats and some Republicans and federal agencies put together to entice and entrap people who went to hear former President Donald Trumps speech. She further noted that the FBI used agents to try to infiltrate the so-called militia groups. Jeremy Brown exposed a video of FBI Terrorist Task Force agents attempting to recruit him to spy on fellow Oath Keepers. McBride described first-hand how he saw people in the crowd at the tunnel entrance on Jan. 6 videotaping all over the place. They were cops, clearly, he recalled. They were working in concert with other people in the crowd who were causing discord, using hand signals. There were people there causing the fights and there were people videoing it. The job of a police officer is to prevent crime. Its not to record it. If something is happening, you prevent it from happening. The fact that they let it happen and sowed up only to record it, it has entrapment written all over it. 2022 Elections Despite what Gohmert sees as lies, injustice, and mounting unanswered questions surrounding Jan. 6, he believes the turning of the tide is dependent upon who comes out of the 2022 primary elections with control of the House and Senate, and until Congress can properly addresses the unconstitutionality of federal judges granting warrants that never should have been granted, Gohmert said, this kind of stuff is going to go on. If Republicans get the majority back we have got to get to the bottom of these matters, Gohmert vowed. There wont be any way to undo the jail sentences of these people who were illegally entrapped. But there will be a way to put people in jail that committed crimes in order to create the chaos. Still, there is one of the questions that nags Gohmert. Since we know there were provocations on January 6 and we know that there were people that were provided weapons from people that may have been planted by the federal government, you cant help but wonder, how many Democrats if any, who are making the most noise now about the horrors of January 6, knew that this was a setup? The Epoch Times reached out to the MPD for comment. A man takes a nap in a park around the Imperial Palace during a heatwave in Tokyo on July 26, 2021. (Kazuhiro Nogi/AFP via Getty Images) Japan Warns of Tight Power Supply Amid Extreme Heatwave Japans government issued a tight power supply warning on Monday, urging its citizens and businesses to conserve electricity as the country faces an extreme heatwave. The Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Industry issued the warning in anticipation of a spike in electricity demand, particularly between 4 to 7 p.m. local time on Monday, when the temperature is expected to be at its peak. It stated that while electric suppliers across Japan have agreed to increase supply capacity, the power supply may still be insufficient to meet demand if temperatures continue to rise. If there is an increase in demand or a sudden power supply trouble, the reserve margin will fall below the minimum required of 3 percent, and there is a possibility that a power supply and tight demand will occur, it stated. Reserve rates for energy supply and demand in Tokyo are expected to be 4.7 percent between 4 and 4:30 p.m. local time, then decline to 3.7 percent between 4:30 p.m. and 5 p.m., according to the ministry. The government advised all households to conserve power by turning off lights not in use, limiting the use of air conditioners, and guarding against the risk of heat strokes. Japans Meteorological Agency also warned of extreme weather on Monday. At 1 p.m. local time, the temperature in downtown Tokyo was 34.7 degrees Celsius (94.46 degrees Fahrenheit), while the temperature in Sano reached 38.6 degrees Celsius (101.48 degrees Fahrenheit). Weather officials said the annual rainy season had ended earlier than usual across much of Japan, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, since the Japan Meteorological Agency began keeping records in 1951. Summer heat in Japan starts with the end of its rainy season. In 2018, the rainy season ended with an extremely hot summer with several heat waves that put thousands in hospital. The government first issued a warning on power usage in March, when a magnitude 7.4 earthquake off the coast of Fukushima prefecture shut down several thermal power plants in the region. Reuters contributed to this report. Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.) speaks during a House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing on gun violence on Capitol Hill in Washington on June 8, 2022. (Andrew Harnik/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Known and Suspected Terrorists Entering US in Unprecedented Numbers: Rep. Higgins Known and suspected terrorists are entering the United States in unprecedented numbers amid a surge in illegal immigration, according to Rep. Clay Higgins (R-La.). In an interview with NTD, sister media outlet of The Epoch Times, the Louisiana representative said the Biden administration was providing absurd figures on the actual number of known and suspected terrorists entering America through its borders. Higgins, a decorated law enforcement officer, said he believed the number to be much higher, in part owing to the number of suspected terrorists who have aggressively avoided interaction with law enforcement at the border, referred to as got-aways. Higginss comments come after Border Patrol agents captured 50 people who were on the FBIs terror watchlist from October 2021 to May 2022. That figure was just 15 in the fiscal year 2021, which included several months under former President Donald Trumps administration. Toward the end of last year [2021], I had estimated that we had lost about 250 KSTs, known and suspected terrorists, so the total numbers now that were told could serve about 700,000 got-aways are suspected to have crossed into America. I think thats a low number, Higgins said. From my perspective, with data delivered to me by boots on the ground, from the border and from Central America and Mexico, and from the official numbers that are delivered to Congress from official data collection processes with Customs and Border Patrol, I think its reasonable for Americans to sort of step back and say, My God, we have somewhere between 500 and 1,000 known and suspected terrorists [who] have entered into our country across our southern border since President [Joe] Biden has been inaugurated into office. This should startle every American citizen regardless of political affiliation. Conservative Numbers Explaining why he believes the actual number of suspected terrorists in the United States could be higher, Higgins pointed to Bidens administration, which he said is using conservative numbers when it comes to estimating how many there are. The lawmaker added that this is, in part, due to the got-aways being very difficult to catch because they aggressively run and hide from law enforcement. Things have been made even harder, according to Higgins, because much of law enforcement at the border has been pulled away from their primary mission of securing the border to instead processing illegal aliens, giving the got-aways more opportunity to escape. So the men who are aggressively evading law enforcement, were looking at true numbers of probably a million, but weve been told 700,000, Higgins said. So just using a number of 700,000, and estimating that a very small percentage of that number would be a known or suspected terrorist, which fits the historical data, you could look at 700 known and suspected terrorists who have crossed into our country. Its a startling number. It should frighten us all. It should drive us to greater action to confront the Biden administrations failed border policies to insist upon the resignation of [Department of Homeland Security] Secretary [Alejandro] Mayorkas and to promise the American people that if Mayorkas doesnt resign, hes going to be impeached. Higgins added that huge numbers of those individuals who are evading law enforcement at the border are working for Mexican drugs cartels, and pointed to the rising number of fentanyl deaths in America. Fentanyl Deaths According to data from the nonprofit group Families Against Fentanyl published earlier this year, fatalities from the powerful synthetic opioid have more than doubled in 30 states in just two years. In 15 states, they have tripled. The drug is now the No. 1 cause of death for Americans aged 18 to 45, according to Families Against Fentanyl. The Drug Enforcement Administration earlier this year said that traffickers are putting fentanyl in fake prescription pills such as OxyContin and Percocetdrugs that are also widely utilized among drug addictsin order to make them more addictive and drive up repeat sales. Speaking of the got-aways who have evaded law enforcement at the border, Higgins said: Theyve crept into the dark recesses of criminal networks across the country, and we dont know who they are. We dont know where they are. We dont know what theyre up to. But they didnt cross the world as a known or suspected terrorist, plugged into terrorist networks to cross into our countrya difficult and challenging journeyjust for chuckles. They didnt come here just for sightseeing. Theyre up to no good. We dont know what that is. But its a serious problem. And it has specifically been caused and allowed by the Biden administration policies. And Secretary Mayorkas. We intend to hold them both to account. LAX Worker Gets 12 Months in Prison for Stealing Gold Bars LOS ANGELESA man who worked at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) for a cargo-handling company was sentenced on June 27 to 12 months behind bars for stealing gold bars that were part of an international shipment. Marlon Moody, 39, of South Los Angeles, also was ordered to pay a $7,500 fine, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Moody pleaded guilty last year to a federal charge of conspiracy to commit theft of an interstate or foreign shipment. Co-defendant Brian Benson, 36, also of South Los Angeles, pleaded guilty to the same charge and was sentenced in November to four months behind bars. Both men worked for Alliance Ground International, a company that provided ground handling services at LAX. On the evening of April 22, 2020, a shipment of gold bars arrived at LAX on Singapore Airlines. A total of 2,000 gold bars, each weighing 2.2 pounds and each valued at $56,000, were being shipped from Australia to New York at the direction of a Canadian bank. During a stopover at LAX, the gold was offloaded and secured, but an inventory that evening showed one box containing 25 gold bars was missing. Moody found the missing box of gold bars near the Singapore Airlines cargo warehouse on the morning of April 23, 2020, placed the box on a belt loader, and drove that vehicle to a nearby location, where he removed four of the bars, according to papers filed in Los Angeles federal court. Soon after, Benson arrived to pick up Moody in a company van, where they exchanged text messages about the gold bars because other employees were in the van. The two defendants later left the airport and went to a nearby parking lot, where Moody gave Benson one of the four gold bars. The lost box with the 21 remaining gold bars was discovered by other cargo handlers and authorities began an investigation that ultimately led to Moody and Benson. Moody gave one gold bar to a relative on May 4, 2020and directed the family member to exchange the gold bar for a vehicle and/or money. Around that time, Moody buried the remaining two gold bars in his backyard. The FBI recovered all four gold bars about two weeks after they went missing, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. Mattias Desmet, professor of clinical psychology and author of The Psychology of Totalitarianism in June 2022. (American Thought Leaders/Screen shot via The Epoch Times) Loss of Social Bonds Leads to Mass Formation, Rise of Totalitarian State: Mattias Desmet When many people feel disconnected from their social environment they become prone to fanatical belief in an unreasonable narrative, creating favorable conditions for the emergence of a totalitarian state, said Mattias Desmet, a professor of clinical psychology. The psychological phenomenon where individuals who feel disconnected from their natural and social environment and experience purposelessness in life start to fanatically believe in a certain narrativeeven if it is absurdis a specific kind of group formation called mass formation, Desmet told EpochTVs American Thought Leaders program on June 16. The individuals in the grip of the mass formation are blind to the absurdity of the group narrative to the point that they become radically intolerant for dissident voices, and that in the end, they also stigmatize and ultimately try to destroy the people who do not go along with the narrative, Desmet explained. They are willing to sacrifice everything that used to be important for them for the narrative they believe in, said Desmet, one of the worlds leading experts on the mass formation phenomenon and author of The Psychology of Totalitarianism. For example, there was an incident during the Iranian revolution in 1979 in which an Iranian mother reported her son to the government for not being loyal enough to the state and helped to execute him, the professor said. It is exactly this kind of mass formation that leads to the emergence of totalitarian states. Totalitarian State and Classical Dictatorship A totalitarian state is always based on a segment of the societyusually 20 to 30 percent of the populationwhich becomes fanatically convinced of a certain narrative and of a certain ideology, for instance, the racist ideology of Nazi Germany or the Marxist ideology in the Soviet Union, Desmet explained. This fanatical part of the society, together with a few leaders, succeeds in taking control over the state thus creating a totalitarian state, he said. Both classical dictatorships and totalitarian states control the public space and the political space, but the totalitarian state also controls the private life through its huge secret police comprised of the part of the population fanatically believing in the state narrative, the professor said. A classical dictatorship differs from a totalitarian state as it involves only a small elite groupa dictatorial regimethat incites fear in the population through its aggressive potential to the point that the populace accepts a social contract unilaterally imposed by the regime, Desmet said. In a classical dictatorship, the point of gravity of the system is in the dictatorial regime. If you succeed in eliminating a part of the regime usually the dictatorial system will collapse. In a totalitarian system, the point of gravity is not much in the elite but it is situated in the masses themselves, so if a part of the totalitarian elite is destroyed the system just continues as if nothing happened, Desmet said. Thats why Stalin, for instance, realized that he could perfectly eliminate 60 percent of his own communist party, and the system will not collapse. The people who were eliminated were just replaced. A totalitarian state emerged for the first time at the beginning of the 20th century because of the phenomenon of mass formation, which exists as long as mankind exists, but it became increasingly strong at that time, Desmet explained. Mass Formation Prerequisites The root cause [of] mass formation is that many people in society have to feel disconnected from their natural and social environment, Desmet said. The number of lonely people increased throughout the last two or three centuries as a consequence of the rise of the mechanistic view of man in the world, the industrialization of the world, and the use of technology. Once people are in this disconnected state, they will typically start to experience purposelessness of or lack of meaning-making in life which is the second step leading to mass formation, the professor said. The third step is when people develop so-called free-floating anxiety, frustration, and aggression without knowing what they feel anxious, frustrated, and aggressive about, Desmet said. This is a highly aversive mental state because it makes people feel as if they are out of control, They cannot control their anxiety and do not know what they should protect themselves from, he added. How Mass Formation Evolves If under these conditions, a narrative is distributed through the mass media indicating an object of anxiety and providing a strategy to deal with this object of anxiety then there might be a huge willingness to participate in the strategy and direct the aggression and frustration at that object, Desmet said. Thats the first step of every major kind of mass formation, whether we are talking about the Crusades, or the French Revolution, or communism in the Soviet Union, or the rise of Nazism in Nazi Germany. The second step and the most important thing is when people start to participate in the strategy to deal with the object of anxiety they start to feel connected again, but this new social bond is not formed between individuals connecting to other individuals; it is a bond formed as a separate connection between each individual and the collective, Desmet explained. Thus a new group is formed but its solidarity is not this typical solidarity that exists in a mass or in a crowd is not a solidarity between individuals. Its a solidarity of every individual separately to the collective, he said. The mass formation is exactly the same as hypnosis which is another reason why people continue to buy into the narrative even if it is inaccurate, unscientific, or completely absurd, Desmet said. Hypnosis occurs when someone can withdraw their attention from reality and focus all their attention and psychological energy on one small aspect of reality, Desmet explained. When one is under hypnosis even strong physical pain, as during surgery, is not felt anymore, he added. [This is] how strong this mechanism of the focusing of attention is, as it exists in hypnosis, also in illusionism, and also in mass formation. Mass formation not only leads to the exclusion from public space and destruction of a large part of society that is not willing to conform to the group ideology but eventually it leads to the self-destruction of the masses itself, Desmet said. Mass Formation During COVID-19 Pandemic Just before the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of people who felt lonely or disconnected from their natural and social environment was huge and it had never been so high before, Desmet said. Worldwide 30 percent of the of the population claimed to have no meaningful relationships at all, and to only connect to other people through the internet. Before the pandemic, over 60 percent of the people worldwide considered their job as not having any meaning at all and only 15 percent reported that their job was meaningful, Desmet said. I noticed how all negative psychological parameters such as stress and depression, anxiety, burnouts, and so on, have they all started to increase exponentially. I had the feeling already that society was ready for a large scale mass formation. Mass formation explains why during the COVID-19 pandemic people accepted drastic COVID-19 restrictions preventing people from helping someone in an accident without wearing a mask and gloves or visiting a dying elderly parent, he said. Desmet said that in his view the data presented by the mainstream media was dramatically overemphasizing the dangers of the virus while at the same time underestimating the dangerousness of the measures that were taken in response to the pandemic. Normally, a cost-benefit analysis of pandemic measures should have been performed before implementing them, but nobody seemed to be interested in such analysis despite warnings from some scientists and some institutions, Desmet said. Solution to Mass Formation The solution to a totalitarian state that emerged through mass formation is not through destroying the elite, as some may think, because as long as the society is in the grip of the mass formation it will recreate the same elite time and time again, Desmet said. The problem can only be solved if a sufficient number of people, who become aware of the mass formation, do not go along with the mainstream narrative, Desmet said. Thats the only true solution and in that case, if we can start with thinking a different way, we will see that a new elite is formed and that the elite that exists now will cease to exist in a spontaneous way. We should focus on trying to live up to the principles of humanity, trying to rediscover them, trying to speak out in a world that is increasingly becoming inhumane, Desmet said. The dividing line between good and evil runs through every heart, Desmet said paraphrasing Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a Soviet dissident and Nobel laureate. People need to reconnect with their environment and that means we have to move on to a society with much more local production of all kinds of the things we need to survive. We have to cultivate, and promote truthful speech in society. All these conditions that create social isolation, lack of meaning in life, free-floating anxiety, frustration, and aggression should be avoided, the professor said. Desmet also cautioned against using violence to resist a totalitarian system because every use of violence will be used by the masses to justify the destruction of the people who go against the dominant narrative. Resistance from within a totalitarian system can only be successful, if it sticks to the principles of nonviolent resistance, Desmet recommends studying the way in which Mahatma Gandhi proceeded in Indias struggle for independence. Gandhi is known for his nonviolent philosophy of passive resistance. Ella Kietlinska Reporter Follow Ella Kietlinska is a reporter for The Epoch Times focusing on U.S. and world politics. Louisiana Blocked From Banning Nearly All Abortions Despite Supreme Courts Roe Ruling A court blocked Louisiana from barring nearly all abortions despite a law that was triggered by the U.S. Supreme Courts ruling last week that overturned Roe v. Wade. Orleans Parish Civil District Court Judge Robin Giarrusso issued a temporary injunction on June 27 after some abortion clinics filed a lawsuit against the state, according to her order (pdf). Giarrusso scheduled a hearing for the suit on July 8 before the court makes a final ruling on whether the injunction should be upheld, meaning that abortions will remain legal in Louisiana within that time frame. Louisiana and a dozen other states have trigger laws that were designed to ban or significantly restrict abortions once the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling, which determined that women have a constitutional right to obtain the procedure. An analysis says that up to 26 states have laws or will pass laws to restrict the procedure, which many religious groups say is murder and immoral. The Hope Medical Group for Women, one of Louisianas three abortion clinics, is one of the plaintiffs in the case. The Shreveport-based clinic is arguing that Louisianas three trigger law bans violate its due process rights under the states constitution and lack constitutionally required safeguards to prevent arbitrary enforcement. The Center for Reproductive Rights, a left-wing group that filed the lawsuit on the clinics behalf, said abortions are now resuming in the state after Giarrussos order. A public health emergency is about to engulf the nation. As expected, Louisiana and many other states wasted no time enacting bans and eliminating abortion entirely, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, said in a June 27 statement. States Rights In striking down Roe, the Supreme Court gave states the authority to ban or allow abortions at any point in a pregnancy. Justice Samuel Alito, writing the 54 majority opinion, argued that the Constitution makes no reference to abortions and said the 1973 landmark decision, as well as the 1992 decision Planned Parenthood v. Caseywhich reaffirmed Roewere flawed from the start. We end this opinion where we began. Abortion presents a profound moral question, Alito wrote. The Constitution does not prohibit the citizens of each State from regulating or prohibiting abortion. Roe and Casey arrogated that authority. We now overrule those decisions and return that authority to the people and their elected representatives. No such right is implicitly protected by any constitutional provision, including the one on which the defenders of Roe and Casey now chiefly relythe Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. That provision has been held to guarantee some rights that are not mentioned in the Constitution. Lousiana Attorney General Jeff Landrys office didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Although he didnt comment on the lawsuit and injunction, Landry, a Republican, praised the Supreme Courts decision last week. Justices Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrett joined Alito. Chief Justice John Roberts wrote that he would have stopped short in overturning Roe, while Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan, and Sonia Sotomayor dissented. Over the past weekend, police across the country arrested dozens of protesters and rioters, including individuals who engaged in violent activity following the courts ruling. Reuters contributed to this report. Police holding batons move to disperse a crowd of abortion rights activists protesting in Los Angeles after the overturning of Roe Vs. Wade by the US Supreme Court on June 24, 2022. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images) Man Allegedly Attacks Officer With Makeshift Flamethrower at Pro-Abortion Protest in Los Angeles LOS ANGELESA 30-year-old man was arrested June 24 for allegedly attacking a police officer with a makeshift flamethrower during a pro-abortion protest, and could face charges of attempted murder. Hundreds of protesters gathered downtown in the hours after the U.S. Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 precedent that largely legalized abortion in the United States; and after some skirmishes occurred, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) declared an unlawful assembly and issued a temporary citywide tactical alert to clear the streets. Two people were arrested and four officers were injured, said LAPD officials. Michael Ortiz, 30, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and Juliana Bernado, 23, on suspicion of resisting an officer. Police said Ortiz hurled a makeshift flamethrower at an officer who had to be treated for burns at a hospital. Bernado allegedly tried to take an officers baton, prompting police to fire a 40mm less-lethal round at her before she was taken into custody. I condemn the violence against officers that occurred last night [Friday] and into today [Saturday morning], Police Chief Michel Moore said Saturday. Individuals participating in such criminal activity are not exercising their First Amendment rights in protest of the Supreme Court decision, rather, they are acting as criminals. The Department will vigorously pursue prosecution of these individuals. The Police Protective League also issued a lengthy statement Saturday condemning the actions of some in the crowd at Fridays protest. As a society, it should be easy to condemn attacking police officers with improvised blowtorches, or throwing fireworks, rocks, and bottles at officers under the guise of protest. Yet, the silence is deafening from our so-called communitys leaders. League officials said. This type of raw violence on display in Los Angeles and across the nation from dangerous mobs hell-bent on destruction has nothing to do with a womans right to choose. Rather, it is nothing more than disgusting opportunistic behavior carried out by criminals hiding behind our First Amendment. LAPD officers are sick and tired of being violently targeted by criminals using the First Amendment as a shield for them to purposefully attack police officers, the statement continued. Our officers are sick and tired of the silence and inaction from our elected and Department leaders when they are attacked. Seems some of these `leaders forgot how to Tweet or they cant seem to find their voice to condemn these attacks on our officers when it does not fit their political narrative, align with their point of view or ruffles feathers. Violence is violence and it must be met with a strong response, and order must be restored. We demand the leadership of the LAPD to set aside politics and focus on protecting our officers and law-abiding residents from criminals. Protests against the Supreme Courts decision carried on throughout the weekend, with the fourth day of protest scheduled for Monday in downtown Los Angeles. On Saturday, a group of protesters walked onto the 101 Freeway, entering the off-ramp from Broadway Avenue at 3:42 p.m., but the off-ramp was cleared about 17 minutes later, according to the LAPD. City News Service contributed to this report. Brendon Grimshaw, a former newspaper editor who was tired of the rat race, traded his success for doing something completely different and bought an island, dedicating the rest of his life to restoring its ecological habitat. Refusing a $50 million offer to sell the island, his wish was to make the piece of land accessible to all and not just wealthy millionaires. Now, this precious Seychelles location has turned into the worlds smallest national park. The Brendon Grimshaw story is very beautiful, filmmaker Joseph Johnson Cami told The Epoch Times. It should be shared at this moment, I think, because in the world right now we need some optimism. In 2007, Cami, who was born in North America, was reading a newspaper in Spain when he came across the story of Grimshaw and his Moyenne Island. That story really fascinated him. This was a man who had dedicated his whole life to restoring the ecology of an island; to connecting with it, Cami said. In so many different ways, was facing an interesting situation where he couldnt even secure the future of that island. Grimshaw, from Dewsbury, England, had purchased the island in 1962 for 8,000 pounds (approx. US$9,826) going on to live there until his death at 87. He had previously worked as a newspaper editor in Tanzania, but due to the politics of that period, people like him were transitioning out of such roles in Africa. He decided to retire and do something differentradically different, explained Cami, who went on to form a close friendship with Grimshaw. And thats what he ended up doing. In 1973, Grimshaw moved to Moyenne Island, a part of the Seychelle islands which sit in the vast Indian ocean. When he first arrived on the island, there was no infrastructure, and Grimshaw had to bring water in. He and his closest friend, Renee Lafortune, spent the next 40 years transforming the island and restoring its habitat by planting over 16,000 trees, palms, and shrubs, building a 4.8-kilometer nature path. They even bought and bred 111 free-roaming giant Aldabra tortoises, and thousands of wild birds. They also developed a rainwater catchment system, and by the final years of Grimshaws life, Moyenne had electricity. I think there are two phases in Brendons life on that island, Cami said. One is the one that we capture at the end of his life. And the other is, what it was like to actually live on that island before everything that he had done was in place. According to Cami, Grimshaw had to make do with what he had, which was a pretty intense experience at first. But later on, he was well taken care of, he had people who supported him, people who visited the island, people who brought him food, Cami explained. He was so active. He just was out there on that island every single day, and its what kept him alive. In 2005, Grimshaw was offered a whopping $50 million by a Saudi prince for Moyenne Island, but he refused. In 2007, the future of the island seemed uncertain, as Grimshaw had no children to inherit this precious land, and hotel developers began lining up to build luxury hotels after he died. However, Grimshaws only wish was that the island would be made accessible to everyone and not just wealthy millionaires. When Cami read his story and found out about this situation, he wanted to use his filmmaking skills to help. He saw this project as a medium to change the fate of the island. I was coming from an industry that basically was making horrible movies, he said. I wanted to take part in something that I thought was important. So I set out to make this project with a group of Catalan crew to see if we could use filmmaking as a way to influence reality. At first, Grimshaw didnt think that a film or a story could be used to change his islands fate. It took a conversation with Cami to open his eyes to the possibility. I explained that in the same way newspapers used to have the power to change reality when he was a newspaper editor, the film played the same role in our society now, Cami said. It was a very interesting thing for him and me to experience that together. We essentially spent a month in Seychelles, going back and forth, to visit Brendon and to film with him and to film his island, Cami added. We gave ourselves some time to just experience the place. Through the making of the film, A Grain of Sand, Cami found his love for filmmaking, just as Grimshaw found his life for nature on Moyenne Island. The crew also decided that they didnt want to make the production a stressful one, as they wanted to model something that would not exploit any of them through the process and would just be used to explore more ideas using the medium itself. Fortunately, the team was successful in changing the fate of the island, because a year after making the documentary, Cami personally sat down with members of the Seychelles government. He and his team showed the film to a presidential advisor, Jean-Paul Adam, and then to the then-President James Michel himself. We asked them to give the film a happy ending and give Brendons life a happy ending, Cami said. They had the opportunity to do that, and to their credit, they immediately agreed. In June 2008, Cami received a call that the government had agreed. An agreement had been made, and Moyenne was declared a national park, the smallest national park in the world. While neighboring islands were becoming playgrounds for the rich, complete with luxury resorts, Grimshaws was to be a protected, precious pearl. The Seychelles government was so beautifully responsive to us, said Cami. Often, theres this thinking that smaller, less developed countries do not care about their environment or not taking care of things in ways that the West does. This is entirely not true. What I found is that there were people who deeply cared about the future of Seychelles. Brendon with the film crew of A Grain of Sand. (Courtesy of The Wandering Eye via Joseph Johnson Cami) Cami broke the news to Grimshaw on his porch and will never forget that special moment, as he was overcome by emotion. When I told him that the government had agreed Moyenne was going to become the smallest national park in the world, he cried with joy, Cami said. It was a moment that I will never forget. For Cami, it was all the more special, as later, the two friends were able to sit together and rejoice in the work Grimshaw had done in his life, and the work he and all his film crew were able to do to tell his story. It was even more special that the story was used as a mechanism to create something beautiful, something he believes, none of us will ever forget. Its hard not to believe in fate sometimes when you hear these beautiful unfoldings and how significant they end up being, Cami said. The story of Brendon Grimshaw and his island can be viewed at: thewanderingeye.net. Watch the video: (Courtesy of The Wandering Eye via Joseph Johnson Cami) Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), chair of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol, joined by fellow committee members, delivers opening remarks during a hearing on the Jan. 6 investigation on Capitol Hill on June 9, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Mississippi Republican Who Supported Jan. 6 Commission Faces June 28 Runoff Rep. Michael Guest (R-Miss.), a lawmaker who voted in favor of forming a Jan. 6 Commission, has entered the final stretch before a June 28 runoff election against U.S. Navy veteran Michael Cassidy. The congressman from Mississippis 3rd District actually lost the initial June 7 primary election to Cassidy, receiving just 46.9 percent of the vote to Cassidys 47.5 percent. Runoffs are triggered in Mississippi primary elections if no candidate receives more than 50 percent of the vote. In addition to warring over Guests support for a commission, the two candidates have sparred over Cassidys alleged economic views. An attack ad against Cassidy accused him of backing an extreme socialist agenda that would have added $48 trillion in social spending, as reported by Mississippi Today. That ad was funded by the Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a national super PAC supported by current House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), Mississippi Today based the $48 trillion figure on proposals from the candidates website, including one that appeared to mirror some Democrats vision of Medicare for All. Those policy ideas were subsequently taken down. In a June 24 interview with The Epoch Times, Cassidy acknowledged the proposals were on his website, but claims the assertion that he supports broad new health care spending for Americans is a complete lie and misrepresentation. The truth is, before I began campaigning, I did a stupid thing, he said. And that was to brainstorm policy ideas on my website. Cassidy claimed that while he initially hoped that more Americans could access the caliber of health plan that he has through the U.S. Navy, he quickly realized that such a vision was too expensive. He took issue with the CLFs efforts to defeat him. OpenSecrets shows that it has spent $448,783 to oppose Cassidys candidacy. According to that same website, top donors to the CLF in the 2022 cycle include Koch Industries and Dan Crenshaw for Congress. [CLF] spent half a million dollars in money that should be spent to get Democrats out of office and Republicans in, he said, stressing his opposition to red flag laws and funding for Planned Parenthood. Representatives for the CLF didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Cassidy praised the Supreme Courts June 24 Dobbs v. Jackson decision, which overturned Roe v. Wade and returned abortion law-making to the states. Pro-abortion protests in Washington and elsewhere in the country followed the decisions release, continuing a pattern that started when a draft of the decision was leaked through Politico in May. The leaker of that draft hasnt yet been identified. When asked what he would do to address what he sees as an overreach by the Department of Justice and other agencies, Cassidy cited Congresss power of the purse. Republicans will have more leverage over spending if they take the House, Senate, or both in Novembers midterm election. In the military and so much government, if you dont fund something, it cant be done, he said. Cassidy said fighting federal abuses of power would take effective organizationa perennial challenge for many Republicans. Republicans have got to be energetic about it. They have to do the hard work, he said. Guest declined an interview opportunity with The Epoch Times. More Than Two-Thirds of Hospital Operation Prices Not Compliant With Transparency Rules: Study The majority of American hospitals are still not transparent on their pricing of hospital procedures, even though transparency policies were initiated in 2019, according to recent studies on hospital pricing for joint replacements and other procedures. A study by the Cleveland Clinic Foundation found that only around a third32 percentof hospitals were totally transparent with their joint replacement prices. A recent study by Rice University on top American hospitals also found only 35 percent made their maximum, minimum, and cash prices for services public. It is understandable that there may have been delays in implementation, wrote the authors of Rice Universitys study (pdf), but reasoned that even with the COVID-19 pandemic interfering with implementation, hospitals have now had multiple years to prepare. Under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) hospital price transparency rule, all hospitals must provide a list of standard charges for all services and items online in a downloadable format. For each operation, pricing, gross charges, payer-specific charges, minimum, maximum, and discounted cash prices must all be made public. Additionally, each item or price must be identifiable by any code used by the hospital for billing, and the information must be available free of charge without requiring personal information to access. However, the Cleveland Clinic researchers found that only around a third of hospitals were compliant with transparent pricing, with only around 23 percent of hospitals allowing customers to easily search up the procedures through their codes. One-fifth of hospitals asked for personal information to give pricing estimates and 17 percent of hospital websites took researchers more than 15 minutes to find the prices. These all demonstrated delayed compliance to pricing transparency policies. The Hospital Price Transparency rule under the CMS was introduced to reduce unnecessary spending and price transparency to improve consumer-friendliness. The policy was first initiated under the Trump administration in 2019 and the final version came into effect in 2021 under the Biden administration. Though the Cleveland study only assessed joint replacements, as these operations are very common with predictable costs and outcomes, they are illustrative of individual hospitals overall compliance. Rice Universitys study further supported their finding, showing over 60 percent of highly-rated, major American hospitals were not fully transparent for three different joint replacement operations, MRI, ultrasound, and chest x-rays. Many peer-reviewed studies (pdf) have identified a lack of price transparency as a leading cause of substantial health care spending in the United States. However, despite strong research showing the merits of price transparency, the rule received severe pushback and lawsuits from major hospitals against the Trump administration when it was first introduced. Though hospitals in the media often cited resource constraints and administration burden, the CMS has outlined previously that the benefits significantly outweigh the risks with reduced overspending in health care and reduced financial stress for customers in pricing scares. A study in 2021 highlighted severe fines and stricter penalties to fix the non-compliance in price transparency for American hospitals. The CMS gave 300 warnings in 2021, but zero fines since the rules came into place. However, the agency has expanded potential nondisclosure fines from $109,500 in 2021 to more than $2 million per year per hospital in 2022, suggestive of harsher penalties. The Biden administration pushed back enforcement of major areas in the rule by six months in August 2021, with the expectation that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) will fully enforce the rule from June 1, 2022. NATO Set to Boost High-Readiness Force to Over 300,000 in Significant Military Buildup NATOs leadership on June 27 announced the bloc would drastically increase its high-readiness force in the midst of the RussiaUkraine conflict. Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the military alliance was aiming to increase the force numbers to more than 300,000 in what he termed the biggest overhaul of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War. Russia has walked away from the partnership and the dialogue that NATO has tried to establish with Russia for many years, Stoltenberg said in Brussels ahead of a summit this week in Spain. They have chosen confrontation instead of dialogue. We regret that but of course, then we need to respond to that reality. Stoltenberg said the NATO Response Force already has some 40,000 troops on high readiness. We will transform the NATO Response Force and increase the number of our high readiness forces to well over 300,000, he said. The announcement reflects a 650 percent increase in troop numbers on the continent. Earlier this year, NATO announced it would deploy more fast-response units to Eastern Europe and Baltic states after Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. These troops will exercise together with home defense forces, and they will become familiar with local terrain facilities so that they can respond smoothly and swiftly to any emergency, Stoltenberg said. Tensions between Russia and the Baltic states have escalated in recent days after Lithuania said it would block certain products and technology from reaching the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad, which borders Lithuania and Poland. Lithuanian officials said its enforcing a blockade on behalf of the European Union, of which its a member. Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda told Politico on June 24 that the new tension leaves us no time for reaction because Russian troops might be easily deployed very near to our border. Alongside a focus on Russia, Stoltenberg said NATOs updated Strategic Concept would address China for the first time and the challenges that Beijing poses to our security, interests, and values. It will also cover our evolving approach to a number of other threats and challenges, including terrorism, cyber and hybrid, he said. The Kremlin hasnt yet issued a response to Stoltenbergs announcement. Previously, Russian officials accused NATO of pursuing a strategy of eastward expansion to place pressure on Moscow, while accusing the military alliance of expanding inside Ukraine. Reuters contributed to this report. People vote during the Primary Election Day at P.S. 249 The Caton School in the Flatbush neighborhood of Brooklyn borough in New York on June 22, 2021. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) New York Judge Strikes Down Law Allowing Noncitizens to Vote in Local Elections A New York Supreme Court judge ruled on June 27 that a recently passed New York City law that extends voting rights in municipal elections to noncitizens is unconstitutional. In December 2021, the New York City Council passed the Our City, Our Vote measure in a 3314 vote. It was signed into law by then-Mayor Bill de Blasio and took effect in January, allowing foreign nationals who legally reside and work in the city to register to vote at the municipal level. The law doesnt apply to state or federal elections. The measure effectively created more than 800,000 new voters who would have been able to cast ballots in next years city council election. A coalition of mostly Republican voters and elected officials challenged the law in court shortly after its enactment. Staten Island Borough President Vito Fossella, a Republican endorsed by former President Donald Trump, argued in the complaint that the law is in conflict with New York states own constitution. The case was heard earlier this month by state Supreme Court Justice Ralph Porzio. In his June 27 ruling, Porzio sided with the plaintiffs, stressing that U.S. citizenship is a prerequisite to being able to vote in New York. The New York State Constitution expressly states that citizens meeting the age and residency requirements are entitled to register and vote in elections, Porzio wrote, emphasizing the word citizens. Though voting is a right so many citizens take for granted, the City of New York cannot obviate the restrictions imposed by the Constitution. In the complaint, the plaintiffs argued that the law would dilute the power of citizens votes and force elected officials to change the way they campaign and could possibly hurt their chances of winning future elections. Porzio found these arguments plausible. The weight of the citizens vote will be diluted by municipal voters and candidates and political parties alike will need to reconfigure their campaigns, the justice wrote. Though Plaintiffs have not suffered harm today, the harm they will suffer is imminent. New York City Council Minority Leader Joseph Borelli, a Republican representing Staten Islands South Shore, applauded the ruling. Todays decision validates those of us who can read the plain English words of our state constitution and state statutes: Noncitizen voting in New York is illegal, and shame on those who thought they could skirt the law for political gain, he said in a statement. Opposition to this measure was bipartisan and cut across countless neighborhood and ethnic lines, yet progressives chose to ignore both our constitution and public sentiment in order to suit their aims. I commend the court in recognizing reality and reminding New Yorks professional protestor class that the rule of law matters. Miami Marlins celebrate at home plate after a walk-off home run by catcher Nick Fortes (54) in the ninth inning against the New York Mets at loanDepot Park in Miami on June 26, 2022. (Sam Navarro/USA TODAY Sports via Field Level Media) Nick Fortes Blast Gives Marlins 32 Win Over Mets Rookie catcher Nick Fortes hit a 419-foot, walk-off home run in the ninth inning to give the host Miami Marlins to a 32 win over the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon. It was the first career game-ending hit for Fortes, who was playing in just his 27th major league game. Tanner Scott (32) pitched a scoreless ninth inning to earn the win. He stranded J.D. Davis at third base by striking out James McCann on a 32 slider to set up Fortes heroics. Adam Ottavino (22) took the loss. He retired the first two batters in the ninth before Fortes belted a 01 slider to right. The Mets Brandon Nimmo had a solo homer and a double. Pete Alonso drove in one run for New York, extending his major-league lead with 69 RBIs. The first-place Mets were held to just five hits. Miguel Rojas added a solo homer for the Marlins, who kept the Mets from completing a three-game sweep. Mets starter David Peterson struck out a season-high eight batters, allowing four hits, no walks and two runs in seven innings. He retired 13 of the final 14 batters he faced. Marlins starter Daniel Castano allowed five hits, two walks and two runs in seven innings. He struck out four, retiring 14 of the final 15 batters he faced. Miami took its first lead of this series in the first inning as Jon Berti hit a leadoff double, advanced on Rojas groundout and scored on Garrett Coopers sacrifice fly. Castano stranded a leadoff double in the first (Nimmo) and again in the second (Davis). Nimmo tied the score in the third with a 418-foot line-drive homer to center. Starling Marte followed with a double and Alonso drove him in with a jam-shot double over first base. Peterson struck out five straight batters between the first and third innings, a streak that was snapped by Rojas 393-foot homer to left to tie the score 22. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in updated guidance on June 24, says that children as young as 6 months may simultaneously receive COVID-19 injections and other routine vaccines on the same day, although no safety study has been conducted by the vaccine manufacturers. The guidance comes after the CDC recommended mRNA COVID-19 injectionsa three-dose primary series from Pfizer or a two-dose primary series from Modernafor children aged 6 months to 5 years on June 18. Before that, both Pfizer and Moderna had told members of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), which provides the CDC with recommendations on vaccines, that they did not have such data, as their studies only focused on the safety and effectiveness of the COVID-19 mRNA shot. We did not allow concomitant immunization for kind of this first path study, Dr. Rituparna Das, vice president for COVID-19 vaccines at Moderna, told panelists during a meeting on June 18. We did ask the investigators to offset flu vaccine by about two weeks and offset other routinely administered vaccines by four weeks. And so, we do not have concomitant administration data yet. Fully take the point that that is an important piece, and our future studies will look at concomitant administration, both in terms of immunogenicity and reactogenicity, she added. Dr. William Gruber, a senior vice president of vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer, said that his company also didnt have data regarding this issue because Pfizer had investigators wait two weeks before and after children received the COVID-19 shot prior to being administered inactivated vaccines and rotavirus, and four weeks for other live virus vaccines. A general view of the Centers for Disease Control headquartered in Atlanta, Ga., on April 23, 2020. (Tami Chappell/AFP via Getty Images) Yet, the CDC went ahead to recommend co-administration of COVID-19 shots and other routine immunizations, while admitting that there was a lack of safety data. COVID-19 injections may be administered without regard to timing of other vaccines, the health agency wrote. This includes simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines on the same day. Data assessing the outcomes of simultaneous administration of COVID-19 vaccines with other vaccines are limited currently, including any potential increase in reactogenicity when COVID-19 and other vaccines are administered at the same visit, the CDC added. The CDC did not reply to an inquiry on whether it will make further updates to its co-administration recommendation since Pfizer and Moderna have yet to conduct the necessary trials. Loose Requirement for Co-administration Safety Studies After the Pfizer COVID-19 shot was authorized for children 5 through 11, The Epoch Times reached out to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the CDC to inquire about the safety studies that were relied upon to make the recommendation that a COVID-19 vaccine may be simultaneously administered with other vaccines in this age group. The CDC did not reply to The Epoch Times multiple inquiries, while the FDA only said that the fact sheets for each authorized vaccine state that there is no information on the co-administration of the specific COVID-19 Vaccine with other vaccines. Our query was eventually answered during a question-and-answer session at a June 15 meeting of the FDA advisory committee. FDA scientist Dr. Doran Fink, in a reply to a question about co-administration studies, said that the federal health regulator hasnt routinely requested or required such studies unless the company is applying for vaccine licensure for infants younger than six months. We have routinely requested co-administration studies in licensure applications of vaccines that are intended for the very young infants, you know, those who are younger than 6 months of age, because the immunization schedule is so compressed and it is difficult to avoid co-administration, Fink said. We have not routinely requested or required co-administration studies for older children, but we have always encouraged vaccine manufacturers to study safety and evaluate for immune interference of co-administration when introducing a new vaccine into the pediatric schedule and we do expect that studies will be done going forward, he added. Dr. Michael Nelson, a member of the FDA advisory panel, is concerned about the lack of evidence on simultaneous vaccine administration. I will tell you that if we dont get a quick answer to the co-administration question, it will serve as a barrier to completion of these three-dose series for this vaccine, and likely the Moderna vaccine, Nelson said. Having to get it in isolation is going to be a great challenge for families and children here in the U.S. A 5-year-old girl gets a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on Nov. 8, 2021. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) Old Study Cited The CDCs recommendation of simultaneous administration of COVID-19 shots with other vaccines is based on a 1994 study cited on ACIPs webpage to back its claim that experimental evidence and extensive clinical experience provide the scientific basis for administering vaccines simultaneously. However, that study only assessed safety and immunogenicity data of non-mRNA pediatric vaccines during the first two years of life. Researchers of a 2019 Swiss studywho examined 50 studies that compared co-administration with separate administration of the same vaccines in children between 1999 and 2019found that there was inconclusive data on the safety of simultaneous administration with multiple vaccines. The evidence about the safety of co-administered vaccines compared to separately administered vaccines is mainly based on clinical trials that were primarily designed to evaluate efficacy rather than safety differences, the authors wrote. They added, In summary, there is limited and inconclusive evidence available about the difference in safety of vaccine co-administration compared to separate vaccine administration in children. They also noted that there needed to be larger post-licensure studies conducted to address the safety of the co-administration issue. Our findings indicate that dedicated studies on vaccine co-administration with a larger sample size are required to obtain statistical evidence on a potential increase or decrease of adverse events following co-administration, they said. Dr. James Johnston, a family practice doctor, says that parents should consider the option of spacing out the vaccines if they have concerns about their child receiving multiple vaccines on the same day. I am for patient choice. I think patients, parents should look at the risk and the benefits of each vaccine, look at the disease and its prevalence and its treatability, and space out those vaccines that they consent to, so as to give the immune system the maximum chance to recover from that fake war, Johnston told The Epoch Times in January 2022. He added, In vaccine speak, youre trying to induce immunity without the actual infection. Youre creating a fake war to trick the immune system into producing immunity, so space out those wars as much as possible and youre going to have less untoward side effects in my opinion. Oxford Shooting Suspect Could Be Witness in Parents Trial Lawyers representing the parents of a Michigan teenager charged in a shooting at Oxford High School that left four of his fellow students dead said Monday that they plan to call him to testify at the couples trial. Defense attorney Shannon Smith told Oakland County Circuit Judge Cheryl Matthews that Ethan Crumbleys testimony would be related to extraneous matters and not the Nov. 30 shooting. We need him as a witness in this trial, said Smith, who represents Jennifer Crumbley. There are just certain questions we would just not be able to ask. We do understand that. A message seeking comment was left with a lawyer for Ethan Crumbley. The disclosure came during a court hearing in Pontiac, where Matthews ruled against the defenses motion for a change of venue for James and Jennifer Crumbleys involuntary manslaughter trial, which is tentatively scheduled to begin in late October. Matthews sided with the couples arguments that some evidence, such as the condition of their home, would not be admitted at trial. Matthews said she would allow the Oakland County prosecutors office to admit statements written in their sons journal, his text messages to a friend, and his internet searches. Jennifer Crumbley, (L), and James Crumbley, (R), the parents of Ethan Crumbley appear in court for a preliminary examination on involuntary manslaughter charges in Rochester Hills, Mich., on Feb. 8, 2022. (Paul Sancya/AP Photo) Seven others, including a teacher, also were wounded during the shooting about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Detroit. Ethan Crumbley faces murder and other charges. His trial is expected to start in January. His parents are accused of failing to keep the gun used in the shooting secure at home and failing to reasonably care for their son when he showed signs of mental distress. They have pleaded not guilty. Matthews said Monday that she was wondering whether their son would be called to testify. Prosecutor Karen McDonald asked in court if they want to call their son to somehow diminishhighlighthis role instead of his parents. But Smith said calling him to testify is not about the defendants wanting to throw their son under the bus or make him look bad. Smith added: This is about our clients defending the case. By Corey Williams Rep.-elect Mayra Flores (R-TX) stands with her family and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) for a portrait after being sworn-in on June 21, 2022 in Washington, DC. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Pelosi Appears to Elbow Away Daughter of Newly Elected Congresswoman Mayra Flores praises daughter for standing her ground Rep. Flores (R-Texas) has responded to a video in which House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) appeared to elbow away Flores daughter during her swearing-in ceremony last week. A video posted on social media Sunday night showed Pelosi standing next to Flores two daughters on stage as the speaker swore in Flores on June 21. Pelosi looked down at the girl next to her and positioned her forearm and elbow to nudge the child to the side. The Epoch Times contacted Pelosis office for comment. Followers on social media began questioning the incident on Flores Twitter and Facebook accounts on Sunday as the video made its rounds. I am so proud of my strong, beautiful daughter for not allowing this to faze her. She continued to smile and pose for the picture like a Queen. No child should be pushed to the side for a photo op. PERIOD!! https://t.co/TA50EntDoq Mayra Flores For Congress (@MayraFlores2022) June 27, 2022 In a response on Twitter, Flores said she was proud of her daughter for not letting the incident faze her. She continued to smile and pose for the picture like a Queen, Flores wrote. No child should be pushed to the side for a photo op. Period! Flores was sworn in as the first Republican to represent Texas Congressional District 34 in more than 100 years. Flores, a legal immigrant from Mexico who is married to a border patrol agent, won a special election to replace former Rep. Filemon Vela (D-Texas), who resigned this spring to work for Akin Gump, a Washington law and lobbying firm. She will only hold the office until January 2023unless she can beat Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-Texas) in the midterm election this November. Gonzalez, a moderate Democrat, is switching districts because the Republican-dominated Texas Legislature redrew the South Texas voter map, moving his McAllen home into District 34 from District 15. Lawyers from the Criminal Bar Association, which represents barristers in England and Wales, set up a picket line on the first day of a strike over legal aid funding, outside the Old Bailey in central London, on June 27, 2022. (PA) Picket Line Outside the Old Bailey as UK Barristers go on Strike Over Legal Aid Around 50 barristers, wearing traditional wigs, set up a picket line outside the Old Baileythe most famous court in Britainas a strike began on Monday over pay and working conditions. Barristers also set up picket lines outside courts in Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Leeds, and Cardiff. Outside the Old Bailey, Lucie Wibberley, secretary of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), said: Were here to protest against the unacceptable pay and working conditions those working in the justice system are currently facing. Action will take place in the hope the Government comes to the negotiating table. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab said the barrister strike was regrettable and would only delay justice for victims. Among the Old Bailey trials affected by the strike was that of three men accused of murdering Billy McCullagh, 27, who was shot dead during a clash between gangs in Harlesden, northwest London, in July 2020. On Friday prosecutor Oliver Glasgow, QC was about to cross examine one of the defendants, Issa Seed, but the case was adjourned and the judge said it would probably not be sitting on Monday. Seed, Adel Yussuf, 25, and Daniel Mensah, 30, all deny murdering Billy. The prosecution claim they were in a stolen Land Rover which attacked a rival gang and they are on trial on the basis of transferred malice. Appalling Legal Aid Rates Barrister and LBC presenter, Daniel Barnett, wrote on Twitter: Legal Aid rates of pay for criminal barristers are appalling. Many are paid less than minimum wage. If they were employees, they would sue and win. And HMRC [Her Majestys Revenue and Customs] would prosecute the Legal Aid Agency. But theyre not. So they cant. So they have to strike. Good luck to them. In a statement released on the eve of the strike, Raab said: Its regrettable that the Criminal Bar Association is striking, given only 43.5 percent of their members voted for this particular, most disruptive, option. I encourage them to agree the proposed 15 percent pay rise which would see a typical barrister earn around 7,000 more a year. The CBA had said the turnout in its ballot on industrial action was 81.5 percent, and 53 percent of those who voted were in favour of a strike. A CBA spokesman said the 15 percent rise would not apply to backlogged cases, of which there were 58,271 in April. He said, The existing rates will remain on all of the cases stuck on this record backlog until they conclude which may be many years away. Jo Sidhu, QC, chair of the CBA, said the strike was not only about pay but about redressing the shortfall in the supply of criminal barristers to help deal with the crisis in our courts. Sidhu, a former Labour Party councillor who unsuccessfully sought to become an MP in 2019, said, We have already suffered an average decrease in our real earnings of 28 percent since 2006 and juniors in their first three years of practice earn a median income of only 12,200, which is below minimum wage. He said 4 out of 10 junior criminal barristers left the profession in their first year. PA Media contributed to this report. Protesters in front of the Supreme Court Building on June 26, 2022. (Nathan Worcester/The Epoch Times) Pro-Abortion Marchers Continue to Protest Outside Supreme Court Justices Residences After the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on June 24, pro-abortion activist groups are continuing a shouting campaign outside the residences of the courts conservative justices. In a historically unprecedented leak, someone released the courts decision several weeks before the ruling was announced. In response, activists published the home locations of the six conservative members of the high court. Since then, these justices have seen protesters gather where they live. Some neighbors said they hoped activists would end the campaigning after the courts final decision. They havent yet. On the evening of June 24, about 30 protesters gathered outside Justice Clarence Thomass home. On June 27, activist group Downright Impolite announced on Twitter that its planning protests outside the home of Justice Samuel Alito. Shut Down DC reposted the announcement. Ruth Sent Us reposted the home addresses of the justices, signaling another round of demonstrations there. Just the Beginning Some activists have previously said that the protests outside the houses of justices arent about encouraging change. At the very least, I hope hes annoyed. I hope hes very inconvenienced, said Connor, an attendee of a May 15 protest outside the homes of Justices Brett Kavanaugh and John Roberts. So far, the protests outside the homes have ranged from 15 to 150 people. However, on average, between 15 and 30 demonstrators take part in the protests. For about an hour at a time, they walk down the street, screaming obscenities, shouting the justices name, chanting protest slogans, and waving signs. Pro-abortion activist groups SCOTUS6, Shut Down DC, Whatever It Takes, Ruth Sent Us, and Downright Impolite organize these events five days a week. While angry and loud, the protesters have been peaceful. According to local police, as long as the demonstrators march in circles outside the home of a judge, they arent technically picketing it. The action is still a march, even if it hovers around a judges home and involves shouting a name. Safety Fears Even after the verdict, activists have continued to publicize the locations of the conservative Supreme Court justices homes. A Reddit post revealing the justices addresses has more than 27,000 views. Some comments responding to the post threatened violence. The companys content policy reads that users must respect the privacy of others. Instigating harassment, for example by revealing someones personal or confidential information, is not allowed, the policy reads. Ruth Sent Us published the neighborhoods of justices on Twitter, receiving 51 retweets. Twitters official policy prohibits doxxing as well. However, Reddit and Twitter havent yet removed the posts. The online publicity has already led to a man being arrested near Kavanaughs house. The would-be attacker, who had a firearm and ammunition in his suitcase, told authorities that he had found the justices address online. Pro-abortion protesters march to Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alitos neighborhood in Fairfax, Va., on June 13, 2022. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) The man began thinking about how to give his life purpose and decided that he would kill the Supreme Court justice after finding the justices Montgomery County address on the internet, according to court documents. In the past few weeks, violence against pro-life groups has escalated, with 35 organizations being graffitied, firebombed, or having windows broken, according to the website Catholic Vote. After the ruling on Roe, pro-abortion extremist group Janes Revenge published a statement that threatened murder. We will hunt you down and make your lives a living hell. You started this war but we will win it, the group wrote in an email to Abolition Media, an anarchist website. So far its just been pregnancy crisis centers, but tomorrow it might be your cars, your homes, or even your lives. We support a diversity of tactics and we will not step down in this fight. Defense lawyer Bobbi Sternheim points toward Ghislaine Maxwell standing beside Jeffrey Pagliuca during a pre-trial hearing on charges of sex trafficking, in a courtroom sketch in New York City, U.S., November 23, 2021. REUTERS/Jane Rosenberg Prosecutors Oppose Ghislaine Maxwells Last-Minute Bid to Delay Sentencing NEW YORKThe prosecutors in the case against Jeffrey Eppstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell on June 26 dismissed claims raised by the defendants attorneys, who told the judge that Maxwell was unable to access her legal documents because she had been placed on suicide watch. In a June 25 letter to Judge Alison Nathan from Bobbi Sternheim, one of Ghislaine Maxwells defense attorneys, Sternheim informed the court that Maxwell was placed on suicide watch on June 24 by the Manhattan Detention Center (MDC), which in turn could cause a delay in Maxwells sentencing, scheduled for this Tuesday. Sternheim went on to write, She is not permitted to possess and review legal documents and is not permitted paper or pen. This has prevented her from preparing for sentencing. She states this was done without having conducted a psychological evaluation and without justification. The attorney goes on to say, Ms. Maxwell was abruptly removed from general population and returned to solitary confinement, this time without any clothing, toothpaste, soap, legal papers, etc. She was provided a suicide smock and is given a few sheets of toilet paper on request. This morning a psychologist evaluated Ms. Maxwell and determined she is not suicidal. The prosecution investigated the allegations and came to a different conclusion. In a letter to Nathan dated June 26, the prosecution wrote, This morning, the Government spoke directly with the Warden and the Chief Psychologists of the MDC. Based on that conversation, the Government understands that the defendant currently has access to all of her legal documents in hard copy and is able to confer with defense counsel. Accordingly, there is no basis to adjourn sentencing in this matter. The letter confirms Maxwell was indeed placed on suicide watch, after the Bureau of Prisons Inspector Generals Office (the IG) had received an email from Maxwell claiming to be in fear for her safety, specifically from members of the MDC staff. However, it goes on to say, Although the defendant has claimed to psychology staff that she is not suicidal, she has refused to answer psychology staffs questions regarding the threat she reported to the IG. While she claimed to the IG to be in fear for her safety, she refused to tell the psychology staff what that fear is. The prosecution claims the warden and the chief psychologist have confirmed that Maxwell will be able to prepare for sentencing unencumbered. Additionally, the prosecution claims the MDC staff gathered all the papers within the defendants property, including bins of papers, and put them all in her cell on suicide watch, thus giving Maxwell access to what she needs. The prosecution claims Maxwell has access to her lawyers either in person or by phone and is no longer needed to wear a smock. The letter ends with the conclusion that the sentencing should proceed as scheduled. Maxwell was found guilty of five of six counts of sex trafficking in connection with Jeffrey Epstein on Dec. 29, after a month-long trial in federal court in New York. Protection for Me, but Not for Thee Commentary Far-left progressives in Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus Liberal Party of Canada and the U.S. Democratic Party Progressive Caucus insist on being safe and secure, but also that you and me, all ordinary citizens, be precluded from safety, and remain, by law, vulnerable to attack and violation. In Canada, Trudeau is initiating a legislative package that would ban the purchase, sale, or gifting of any and all handguns. Coming shortly after the school shootings in Texas, Trudeau claimed that the ban was long in the works. Theres this sense that Canada responded to the shooting in Texas by suddenly turning around and banning guns. But weve been working on this for seven years, he said. Weve had a lot of setbacks but since we got elected seven years ago, weve been steadily working on strengthening gun control. However, Trudeau was quite explicit in contrasting Canada with the United States. We [in Canada] have a culture where the difference [from the U.S.] is: Guns can be used for hunting or for sport shooting in Canadaand there are lots of gun owners, and theyre mostly law-respecting and law-abidingbut you cant use a gun for self-protection in Canada, he said. Thats not a right that you have in the Constitution or anywhere else. Trudeaus focus in this gun control plan is law-abiding citizens, not criminals who ignore gun laws or mentally disturbed individuals who act out violent fantasies. Even leaving aside the fact that many assaults and murders result from the use of knives, fists, and random blunt objects, how does banning legal firearms for law-abiding citizens reduce the violence against law-abiding citizens? But Trudeau goes much further. He insists that you arent allowed to defend yourself from violent attack. Its just not Canadian to defend yourself, he says. So if a criminal attacks a law-abiding citizen, that citizen is forbidden from defending himself or herself with a firearm. Just stay still and think of Canada, Trudeau seems to be saying. Let me repeat what Trudeau is saying: You cant use a gun for self-protection in Canada; thats not a right that you have in the Constitution or anywhere else. However, Trudeau himself is protected by a squad of Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). What do you think, are they armed? According to LifeSite News: An elite member of the special police unit tasked with protecting Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Daniel Bulford is a trained sniper tasked with protecting Trudeau and other dignitaries, especially when they are in large, uncontrolled settings. In essence, his job is not unlike that of a member of the U.S. Secret Service that protects the President. So, Trudeaus advice seems to be, You arent allowed to protect yourself with a firearm; just let your very own RCMP bodyguard sniper protect you. Canada has become an increasingly authoritarian country, in which the socialist internationalists insist that individuals may not make decisions or act on their own, but must defer to the nanny state that dictates whats good for them and what they must and must not do. This example is a model to which to aspire for the Progressive Caucus of the U.S. House of Representatives, and the many of its members of the Democratic Socialists of America. The Democratic Party has gone even further than the Trudeau Liberals in Canada by declaring that not only should citizens not be able to protect themselves with firearms, but also that law enforcement arms of the state, such as the police, prosecutors, prison authorities, and judiciary, should be abolished so that citizens have no source whatsoever of protection from criminal attacks. Under the banner of justice reform, part of the radical social justice ideology, many Democrat progressives adopted the slogans defund the police and abolish prisons. Many Democrat cities and states did just that, New York City, for example, cutting a billion dollars from its police budget. According to the New York Post, in 2020, Reps. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) sponsored the BREATHE Act. An overview of the BREATHE Act published online says it will slash federal funds to local police along with federal agencies, and spend the money on social welfare, health care, education and environmental programs, the N.Y. Post reported. According to the online description, the bill would Eliminate federal programs and agencies used to finance and expand the U.S. criminal-legal system, such as the Department of Defense 1033 [surplus equipment] program, the Edward Byrne-Justice Assistance Grant Program, Community Oriented Policing Services, the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It would preserve non-punitive elements of each. The Daily Caller reported last year that this notorious anti-police far-left Squad, according to Federal Election Commission records, spent thousands of dollars on security or security services. Not just the Squad or Progressive Democrats, of course, but all Democrat city councilors, mayors, legislators, and governors who in 2020 and 2021 drastically cut funds to the police and handcuffed them with regulations, had official police bodyguards and some also had private security. What do you think: Were any officials protection details defunded or disarmed? The United States, however, isnt yet entirely under the thumb of authoritarian socialists. The Supreme Court of the United States, with a constitutionalist (or originalist) majority, in June 2022 struck down a New York State law that restricts and inhibits the carrying of side arms by requiring the demonstration of a special need, and backs that requirement with an elaborate bureaucratic procedure intended to deny applications. As David Harsanyi puts it in PJ Media: Surely no one really believes that bearing arms in the Second Amendment was meant to restrict gun ownership to the home. But New Yorks gun restrictions demand that a law-abiding citizen beg permission from government officials, and then overcome a slew of subjective and discretionary standards, before being able to exercise a constitutional right. There is no historical or legal support for such restrictions. They are plainly authoritarian. We know of no other constitutional rights that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need, Justice Clarence Thomas noted in the majority opinion. That is not how the First Amendment works when it comes to unpopular speech or the free exercise of religion. It is not how the Sixth Amendment works when it comes to a defendants right to confront the witnesses against him. And it is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense. Note that here the majority opinion explicitly recognizes the right to self-defense with a firearm: The Second Amendments plain text thus presumptively guarantees petitioners Koch and Nash a right to bear arms in public for self-defense. Democrat politicians went apoplectic. Wrote Harsanyi: Fearmongering Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said the decision was not just irresponsible but it is downright dangerous This court has made it even easier for potentially dangerous people to carry concealed handguns in public spaces. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi claimed it was unfathomable that, while families in Uvalde, Buffalo and countless other communities mourn their loved ones stolen by gun violence, a supermajority of the Supreme Court has chosen to endanger more American lives. And while they vilified law-abiding gun owners, Democrat officials refused to criticize criminals, whitewashing violent gangsters such as MS-13 as Gods children, as did Pelosi, the third-highest official in the United States. How can we explain the Democrats harshness to ordinary citizens and apologies for criminals? The Democrats ideology of social justice frames the country as a society of class oppression, with criminals being victims of society who should not be punished. Law-abiding citizens are regarded as unfairly privileged who should be stripped of their privilege and marginalized. All is justified, for the Democrats, by slavery! racism! (and sexism, transphobia, Islamophobia etc. etc.) and disparities! of outcome. They will not allow you to be protected, but you can be confident that they will take every measure to protect themselves. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul went ballistic: It is outrageous that at a moment of national reckoning on gun violence, the Supreme Court has recklessly struck down a New York law that limits those who can carry concealed weapons. Hochuls bodyguard detail consists of eight armed police. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, on Sept. 27, 2020. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images) Rudy Giuliani Slapped by Grocery Worker Angry About Abortion Ruling Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani said that he was allegedly slapped on the back by a ShopRite worker, who was later arrested. All of a sudden, I feel this Bam! on my back, Giuliani told the New York Post. I dont know if they helped me not fall down, but I just about fell down, but I didnt. He added: I feel this tremendous pain in my back, and Im thinking, what theI didnt even know what it was All of a sudden, I hear this guy say, Youre a [expletive] scumbag, then he moves away so nobody can grab him. And he says, You, youre one of the people thats gonna kill women. Youre gonna kill women, Giuliani said, quoting the ShopRite worker. You and your [expletive] friend are gonna kill women. Then he starts yelling out all kinds of, just curses, and every once in a while, he puts in that woman thing. The incident occurred two days after the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that argued women have the right to obtain an abortion. Its not clear how the worker connected the ruling to Giuliani, a former mayor of New York City and more recently, former President Donald Trumps lawyer. Giuliani was a the ShopRite location on Veterans Road in Charleston, Staten Island, where hed been out campaigning for his son, Andrew Giuliani, a Republican who is running for governor of New York. The assault on my father, Americas mayor, was over politics, Andrew Giuliani said in a statement to news outlets on Monday. We will not be intimidated by left-wing attacks. As governor, I will stand up for law and order so that New Yorkers feel safe again. The Republican added, As governor, I will stand up for law and order so that New Yorkers feel safe again. This message has resonated with voters throughout my campaign, leading up to Tuesdays primary. The younger Giuliani, who had worked in the Trump administration, is running against Long Island-based Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.), former Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, and businessman Harry Wilson in the GOP primary. The New York City Police Department confirmed to ABC7 that the worker, identified as Daniel Gill, was arrested. He is now facing a second-degree assault charge for hitting a senior citizen. Giuliani is 78 years old. A spokesperson for ShopRite told Pxi11 that it was aware of the incident on Sunday that was instigated by a store associate. Store security observed the incident, reacted swiftly and the police were notified, the spokesperson told the station. We have zero tolerance for aggression toward anyone. Russia Defaults on Foreign Debt for First Time Since 1918 Amid Western Sanctions Russia on June 27 defaulted on its foreign debt for the first time since 1918 after the grace period on its $100 million payment expired, according to reports. The $100 million interest payment deadline due to be met by the Kremlin had initially been set for May 27, but a 30-day grace period was triggered after investors failed to receive coupon payments due on both dollar- and euro-denominated bonds. Russia said that it had sent the money to Euroclear Bank SA, which would then distribute the payment to investors. But the payments allegedly got stuck there amid increased sanctions from the West on Moscow, according to Bloomberg, meaning creditors didnt receive them. Euroclear told the BBC that it adheres to all sanctions. The last time Russia defaulted on its foreign debt was in 1918, when the new communist leader Vladimir Lenin refused to pay the outstanding debts of the Russian Empire during the Bolshevik Revolution. President Boris Yeltsins government also defaulted on $40 billion of its local debt in 1998, when the country experienced a financial crisis but international aid helped the country to recover. Its a very, very rare thing, where a government that otherwise has the means is forced by an external government into default, Hassan Malik, senior sovereign analyst at Loomis Sayles, told Bloomberg. Its going to be one of the big watershed defaults in history. The default appeared to be inevitable after the U.S. Treasury Department last month decided not to renew a loophole that was set to expire on May 25, effectively stopping Russia from being able to pay its billions in debt to international investors through U.S. banks. In response to that decision, Russia said it would pay dollar-denominated debts in rubles and offer the opportunity for subsequent conversion into the original currency. Following the closing of the sanctions loophole, the European Union earlier this month sanctioned the Russian National Settlements Depository (NSD), stating that it plays an essential role in the functioning of Russias financial system and was thus directly and indirectly enabling the Russian Government in its activities, policies, and resources. The sanction of NSD effectively blocks Russias transfers out of the country. For its part, Russian claims it has the money to pay the debt and that the absent payment should not be considered a default because the Kremlin had made the payment but investors simply arent able to receive it, according to the countrys Finance Minister Anton Siluanov, who on June 23 branded the situation a farce. Investors are unable to receive the payment for two reasons, according to the finance minister. The first is that foreign infrastructurecorrespondent banks, settlement and clearing systems, depositoriesare prohibited from conducting any operations related to Russia. The second is that foreign investors are expressly prohibited from receiving payments from us, Siluanov said, according to the RIA Novosti news agency. Everyone in the know understands that this is not a default at all, RIA Novosti quoted him saying. This whole situation looks like a farce. Last month, Siluanov again doubled down on his comments regarding Russias willingness to pay the debt, stating that the situation had been artificially created by an unfriendly country and that the default would not impact Russians quality of life. Russia owes about $40 billion in foreign bonds. Prior to its war on Ukraine, the country had around $640 billion in foreign currency and gold reserves. However, the majority of this was held overseas and has since been frozen in response to the invasion of neighboring Ukraine on Feb. 24. Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Russian one rouble coin is pictured in front of a monitor showing St. Basil's Cathedral and a tower of Moscow's Kremlin in this illustration taken on June 24, 2022. (Maxim Shemetov/Illustration/Reuters) Russia, Rejecting Default, Tells Investors to Go to Western Financial Agents Russia rejected claims on Monday that it had defaulted on its external debt for the first time in more than a century, telling investors to go to Western financial agents for the cash which was sent but bondholders did not receive. The White House said on Monday that Russia has defaulted on its international bonds for the first time since the Bolshevik revolution, as sweeping sanctions have cut the country off from the global financial system. Until last week, Russia kept on paying on its Eurobonds in foreign currency as per issue conditions yet its dollar and euro coupon transfers made in May, ahead of a key U.S. waiver allowing for such transactions expired, did not reach investors. Statements of a default are absolutely unjustified, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told a call with reporters on Monday, pointing to the May forex coupon payment. The fact that Euroclear withheld this money and did not bring it to the recipients is not our problem. There are absolutely no grounds to call such situation a default. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov attends an annual end-of-year news conference of Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Moscow, Russia, on Dec. 23, 2021. (Evgenia Novozhenina/Reuters) Euroclear did not immediately respond to a request for comment. On Monday, the finance ministry said that actions of foreign financial intermediaries are beyond of the Russian finance ministrys control, asking foreign bondholders to speak directly to those withholding the payments. The non-receipt of money by investors did not occur because of lack of payment but due to the third party actions and which is not directly spelled out as a default situation by issue documentation, the ministry added. As the U.S. waiver expired and the European Union sanctioned the National Settlement Depository (NSD), the Russian version of Euroclear and Clearstream western clearing houses, last week Moscow paid its next coupons due in forex in rubles. President Vladimir Putin ordered last week that debt obligations would be considered fulfilled once a ruble payment equal to the forex amount due was made. Bondholders would need to open an account at a Russian bank to receive the payment. Moscow would not block the payments conversion into forex and its transfer abroad but investors would need to say in writing they dont have claims against Russia, the ministry has said. The banks are yet to be announced. Financial Nuclear Bomb The Group of Seven major Western powers banned transactions with Russias central bank and froze its assets held in their jurisdictions, worth around $300 billion, after Russia launched what it called special military operation in Ukraine in February. Some western politicians have called to seize the reserves frozen to rebuild Ukraine. Peskov reiterated on Monday that reserves were blocked unlawfully and any attempts to use them would amount to outright theft. I believe that a financial nuclear bomb was used against us, no country in the history of mankind has experienced such sanctions pressure as Russia is now, Alexei Moiseev, Russian deputy finance minister, said last week. Boat captain Emosi Dawai looks at the superyacht Amadea where it is docked at the Queens Wharf in Lautoka, Fiji, on April 13, 2022. (Leon Lord/Fiji Sun via AP) Russian Superyacht Seized by US Arrives in San Diego Bay SAN DIEGOA $325 million superyacht seized by the United States from a sanctioned Russian oligarch arrived in San Diego Bay on Monday. The 348-foot-long Amadea flew an American flag as it sailed past the retired aircraft carrier USS Midway and under the Coronado Bridge. After a transpacific journey of over 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers), the Amadea has safely docked in a port within the United States, and will remain in the custody of the U.S. government, pending its anticipated forfeiture and sale, the Department of Justice said in a statement. The FBI linked the Amadea to the Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, and the vessel became a target of Task Force KleptoCapture, launched in March to seize the assets of Russian oligarchs to put pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine. The United States said Kerimov secretly bought the vessel last year through various shell companies. The United States won a legal battle in Fiji to take the Cayman Islands-flagged superyacht earlier this month. The Amadea made a stop in Honolulu Harbor en route to the U.S. mainland. The successful seizure and transport of Amadea would not have been possible without extraordinary cooperation from our foreign partners in the global effort to enforce U.S. sanctions imposed in response to Russias unprovoked and unjustified war in Ukraine, the Justice Department said. An interview with Russian physicist and professor Konstantin Korotkov The human body can emit a glow that is invisible to the naked eye. When you touch your sweethearts fingers, the glow from all fingertips of both of you will create a splendid connection resembling lightning. When you say I love you to your intimate partner, a mass of material energy is released from your chest and flies towards the other personthis sounds like a fantasy movie scene, but it is a real physical phenomenon. Over the past several decades, the study of human energy has developed to an astonishing degree. Health 1+1 interviewed Professor Konstantin Korotkov, a Russian quantum physicist and inventor of the Gas Discharge Visualization technology, to explore the human bodys energy fields and the factors that affect human energy from a scientific perspective. Professor Konstantin Korotkov is a Russian quantum physicist, who worked on plasma physics, space physics, and laser physics in the former Soviet Union. At that time, the bioenergetics community was quite active, and he met some very interesting people, who were able to alter the energy fields of the human body, he said. He watched these people improve the health of his wife and friends by sending thought messages to them. This intrigued Korotkov, who had always been studying physics. With the inquisitiveness and rigor of a scientist, he began consulting various books and literature on human energy fields. After learning more about it, Korotkov came to the conclusion that although the topic of human energy wouldnt be accepted by most people in the short term, it would eventually be recognized by the scientific community. Therefore, he began to gradually shift his research to the field of human energy. At that time, the former Soviet Union was collapsing, and the entire Russian scientific community was in turmoil. He left the research laboratory to instead start a business. However, soon after, he decided to come back and resume his research on energy. Kirlian Photography and Human Energy It has now been nearly a century since Semyon Kirlian and his wife discovered a technique called Kirlian photography. This is a photographic technique that captures the energy emitted by the human body. Modern biophotonics research has shown that the human body can spontaneously emit electrons and photons, producing a glow that is invisible to the naked eye. Scientists regard the electrons and photons emitted by the human body as a manifestation of the bodys energy. This spontaneous glow is difficult to measure. However, when the human body is exposed to an electromagnetic field, the emission of such electrons will be stimulated and can be photographed. This is the principle of Kirlian photography. The original invention of Kirlian photography was sometimes unreliable, so it was not accepted by the scientific community, which demanded constant effectiveness. In 1995, Korotkov and his team invented the first digital Kirlian photography, Gas Discharge Visualization (GDV), by using the most advanced technology available at the time. GDV photography can observe the photon energy emitted by the human body, as well as the changes of the human energy field in different states. As the research became more and more advanced, Korotkov deeply felt that energy research would bring great benefits and understandings to human society. Positive and Negative Emotions Affect More Than Just Ones Own Energy Today, the science of consciousness is an important part of Western scientific research. The term consciousness refers to a persons perception of the external world and his or her own thoughts and emotions. Korotkov has discovered that peoples mental and emotional states can influence their bodys energy field. Through the GDV photography, we can observe the changes in the energy field of the human body when people are in different moods. For example, when a person emits positive emotions, such as happiness, his or her energy field will be enhanced. In 2017, Korotkov participated in an experiment in Mexico to measure the effect of watching comedy on the human energy fields. The results showed that when the participants watched a comedy movie, everyones energy field was enhanced. However, negative emotions such as anger, jealousy, and hatred causes the energy field to shrink, become defective, or even disappear. More seriously, people who have negative emotions not only reduce their own energy fields, but also the energy fields of others. Studies have found that when a person has feelings of resentment, the energy fields of others around him or her will be negatively affected. Love Can Activate Energy Clusters and Generate Energy Transfers Love is the strongest human emotion, said Korotkov. The axiom has proven to hold up to energy imaging as well. This emotion can have a great impact on the bodies of two people in love, as the GDV imaging has shown. Korotkov used two different experimental methods to observe the interactions between the energy fields of two people who love each other. He asked the participants to gather in pairs and put their fingers together. He discovered that when two people were in love with each other, the energy fields emitted from their fingertips were intertwined, as observed by Kirlian photography, and their energy fields would emit lightning-like glows, which would connect together. However, if the two people had no feelings for each other, their energy fields would be separated. In another approach, he used the GDV system to generate and observe the electronic images of the participants whole body energy fields. In the experiment, when a person expressed love to another person, a clear mass of energy could be seen in the image, flying from the heart of the person showing love to the heart of the other person. Korotkov explained that this energy transfer is not imaginary, but a real transfer of matter energy cluster. This energy cluster contains electrons, photons, infrasound waves and many other forms of energy matter. This is why when a person is sick, if their partner is there to provide support and company, their illness will be cured faster. Does Intuition Really Exist? Korotkov has discovered that people can sense the person behind them. In one experiment, the researcher sat a participant in a chair and had another person approach from behind him, while observing the reaction of the person in the seat during the process. The results showed that when a stranger approached from behind, in most cases, the energy field of the person in the seat did not change. However, when their family members and loved ones approached from behind, their energy fields were immediately enhanced. Korotkov said that this is due to the interaction of the energy fields between people. He explained, When we emit an energy field, its not that we will have nothing else to do with it. Through this energy field, we touch and sense our surroundings. He believes that this is part of human intuition. Since ancient times, people had the ability to sense tensions, to feel changes in the climate and environment, and to sense people around them. However, nowadays, this ability has degenerated, and people are not as sensitive to the environment as they were in the past, Korotkov said. However, our subconscious brain still responds to our surroundings, as proven by the GDV photography through real experiments. Musics Impact on Human Body Enormous Korotkov also studied the effect of the external environment and things on the human bodys energy, including water, food, different materials, and music. The effect of music on the human body is enormous, Korotkov said. In 2014, the N.N. Petrov National Medical Research Center of Oncology and the Russian Scientific Center of Radiology and Surgical Technologies jointly conducted a large study comparing the average life expectancy of people in different creative professions. The study surveyed 49,000 individuals representing the fields of visual arts, music, literature, and academia. The results showed that the profession with the lowest average life expectancy for both men and women was rock musicians, at 43.6 years for men and 37.6 years for women. Why does this phenomenon occur? It inspired Korotkov to study the effect of different genres of music on the human body through experiments. He found that when a person listens to rock music, his or her energy field rises briefly to a peak, and it then begins to decline to a value below the starting point. According to Korotkov, the time of the initial rise in energy varies according to age and the degree of enjoyment of the music, but in any case, it inevitably drops. On the contrary, classical music had a positive effect on ones energy field and other studies have shown that it can bring an improvement ones health. Professor Korotkov speculates that this may be because the frequency of classical music is somehow compatible with the frequency of human brain waves, and therefore it has a positive effect on the human body. The Potential of Energy Research Nowadays, more and more people are suffering from various problems and illnesses. The more doctors they consult, the more diseases they end up having, and the more types of drugs they are prescribed. These different drugs clash with each other in the body, causing the internal environment to deteriorate. Seeking a timeless solution, Korotkovs search brought him to traditional Chinese medicine. He believes that the wisdom of traditional Chinese medicine, which was invented by the ancient Chinese and passed down for thousands of years, is valid, and many studies have confirmed this. Korotkov decided to use the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine as the basis to find the real problem inside the human body by observing and analyzing the changes of human energy. Traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes the nature of human energy as well, which prompted Korotkov to use his GDV imaging to verify some of its theories. He applied the theory of human meridians in traditional Chinese medicine to GDV photography and developed a system for measuring and analyzing human energy. He measured the light emitted from the 10 fingers, as they are the most sensitive and easy-to-measure parts of the human body. According to the concept of meridians, different fingers are connected to different organ systems in the body, and the GDV camera takes pictures of the light emitted from the fingers, converts them into data related to the physical properties of the human body, and uses these energy data to evaluate the internal energy of different organ systems, as well as the bodys overall energy status. In GDV images, a healthy or calm person has a strong energy field with a rounded periphery. However, when someone is emotionally agitated, spikes appear around their energy field. And when a person has a health problem, or even a disease, their energy field has holes, gaps, and other abnormalities. Furthermore, he discovered that different energy abnormalities would correspond to different organ systems, thus reflecting the source of illness. Korotkov believes that through this kind of observation, people can stay in a healthy state, detect problems (and even potential ones) in their body early, and improve these problems by focusing on the nature of the problems. This is just like the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine, which aims to keep ones body in a healthy state, rather than treating illnesses after they appear, as in conventional medicine. Professor Korotkov emphasized that he is not opposed to Western medicine; his wife and many of his friends are doctors. He just believes in combining the concepts of traditional Chinese and Western medicines to achieve better results. Teleportation of the Mind Korotkov also conducted many other important experiments, such as the teleportation experiment. He found that the human mind can have an effect on other people, and even sensors, at a distance. When a person in one city sent forth a thought to a sensor in another city, or even on the other side of the world, the sensor could pick it up and respond. This phenomenon probably can only be explained at the quantum level, and it can only be hypothesized at this stage, Korotkov said. We already have some ideas, but we need more experiments to prove the cause of this phenomenon. The Scientific Community Is Slow to Change Research on human consciousness and energy has been prevalent since the last century, and new discoveries have been made. However, these studies have not been generally recognized and accepted by the scientific community. When asked about the reason, Korotkov said, Its a long story. When scientists have become accustomed to a certain viewpoint or idea, they will work on that known idea. Whenever there is a new understanding, it takes time for people to accept it. However, science is constantly evolving, and we should think in terms of development to understand nature. For instance, many doctors do not accept the philosophy of traditional Chinese medicine and see its concepts as superstition. Those who delve deeper into its study come to understand and appreciate it, but the average doctor would not have the time or inclination. They may be convinced that human beings only have a physical body and are unwilling to believe in the existence of consciousness and soul, a concept that prevents them from gaining further understanding. Although this phenomenon is still not generally accepted by the medical community, Im not worried about it, Korotkov said, because the day is coming, and even though its making progress step-by-step, its coming. U.S. President Donald Trump and Florida's Gov. Ron DeSantis hold a COVID-19 and storm preparedness roundtable in Belleair, Fla., on July 31, 2020. (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images) Social Media Study Shows Growing DeSantis Boom Among Swing Voters An analysis of social media posts shared with The Epoch Times shows growing momentum for Floridas Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis as the GOP presidential nominee in 2024 among voters who arent solidly in the Trump camp. A sizable portion of the positive discussion (32 percent) speak of him as preferable to Trump, said the summary analysis of the research paid for by the Ready for Ron Committeea draft committee that is encouraging DeSantis to run for president. To them, he is the rightful heir and suggest the former president step aside and allow the younger man to run the gauntlet, the analysis said of the majority of surveyed voters. The research, which was conducted by Impact Social, looked at 40,000 swing voters on social media and categorized them into ten segments, from Disillusioned Trump voters, Obama-turned-Trump voters, to Bernie Sanders voters. Trump Gets More Traction, But More Attacks Too While the name Trump is more prominent on social media than DeSantis, Impact Social reported that Trump-related posts attract more negative sentiment, including among right-leaners who would otherwise favor the GOP in 2024. Impact Social analyzed approximately 93,000 posts mentioning Trump and around 8,000 posts mentioning DeSantis made by the swing voters from June 1 to June 14. It is interesting to note that, despite many of these floating voters emanating from the right of the political spectrum, only a relatively small number come to Trumps defense, Impact Social said. The recent hearings regarding the Jan. 6 breach also havent helped Trump among undecided voters. While the hearings have fallen far short of proving that an insurrection occurred in a legal sense, they certainly didnt burnish the image of the former president. Well, I think in retrospect, I think it would have been very smart to put [Republicans on the committee] and again, I wasnt involved in it from a standpoint so I never looked at it too closely but I think it would have been good if we had representation, Trump told conservative radio host Wayne Allen Root earlier this month, blaming Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) for a bad decision on declining to put someone on the Jan. 6 House Committee. Former President Remains Popular U.S. President Donald Trump, daughter Ivanka Trump, and son Donald Trump Jr., make their way to board Air Force One before departing from Dobbins Air Reserve Base in Marietta, Ga., on Jan. 4, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images) Still, Trump remains the odds-on favorite for the GOP nomination, with a recent poll by Quinnipiac showing that 69 percent of Republicans think Trump bears little blame for the Jan. 6 riots. Polling continues to show that Trump has a commanding lead against DeSantis, who is not well-known outside of Florida or outside the GOP activists base, even as DeSantis is reported by some to be eating into Trumps lead as of late. A recent Granite State Poll by the University of New Hampshire showed Trump and DeSantis in a statistical dead heat in New Hampshire, more than doubling the DeSantis support since October. But as the head of the Ready for Ron Committee, former Reagan campaign manager Ed Rollins previously told The Epoch Times that its doubtful that DeSantis would run against Trump if Trump actually seeks the nomination. The committees goal isnt to supplant Trump, but to make sure there is a candidate that can carry on Trumps legacy if Trump declines to run, is unable to run, or runs into trouble, Rollins said. Under President Donald Trumps leadership, the United States enjoyed record unemployment, economic stability, safety, and global respect. Many are yearning for a return to these policies and the prosperity good leadership can bring, Ready for Ron legal counsel and spokeswoman Lilian Rodriguez-Baz told The Epoch Times via video. The era of President Trump was wonderful, but now, since he isnt currently running, we must get ready for a new leader, we must be Ready for Ron, Rodriguez-Baz added. President Donald Trump greets the crowd before he leaves at the Operation Warp Speed Vaccine Summit in Washington on Dec. 8, 2020. (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images) Still, its difficult to handicap a presidential race when there are no real campaigns being run. To date, neither DeSantis nor Trump have announced that they are running, nor have they filed paperwork to run. A candidate can look great on paper, but fail to execute well once they actually make the decision to run, as another popular large-state governor, Republican Rick Perry of Texas, found out in 2012. Trump, having won previously, is less of an unknown than DeSantis is in this respect, so he remains the favorite for the nomination. DeSantis Holding Up Well Under Increasing Attacks Yet, the Ready for Ron Committee notes that despite attempts by Democrats to tar DeSantis with the same brush they used on Trumpas allegedly being too radical, racist, and irresponsibleDeSantis is holding up well under the barrage. While misguided and false attacks from the radical left increase, his support does too, Rodriguez-Baz said. The radical left is risking our future, and DeSantis has the courage to fight back, which is why they fear him so much, the Ready for Ron attorney added. The committee cites a number of DeSantis policiesfrom the anti-grooming laws passed under the governor, to the hard stand against Disney and the Tampa Rays on social issues, the elimination of Critical Race Theory and Social Emotional Learning in school textbooks in Florida, and the refusal to cave to the COVID-19 alarmists and shut down the state economy over the virusas reasons why independent voters like DeSantis. Social Media Speaks DeSantiss take-no-prisoners style has endeared him to the GOP base, and outraged Democrats, in much the same way that Trump did, but with a big difference, say some conservatives who previously voted for Trump and who are active on Facebook. DeSantis is cut from a similar cloth as Trump, the big difference is that DeSantis isnt as despised and hated, yet, as Trump is, Del Wilber, a former intelligence professional from Illinois who voted for Trump, told the Epoch Times. The country needs less drama right now, its being pulled apart at the seams. I think DeSantis will help reduce that, he added. Similarly, Harry Compton of Juneau, Alaska, who is self-employed, told The Epoch Times that DeSantis could serve two terms and has the ability to form a wide coalition. I was a Trump supporter, and still like Donald Trump. But time marches on and the presidency is a job for those of the present and the future, Compton said. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis leaves after holding a press conference at the Miami Dade Colleges North Campus in Miami, on Jan. 26, 2022. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) Others echoed Wilbers and Comptons rationale, but added more nuisance and optimism about DeSantis. [Trumps] time has come and gone. He carries too much baggage, hes too impulsive in his communication style. He would be 79 and so many still hate him, they would vote for anyone over him, Tawn Ulbrich Otrhalek, a retired mom who describes herself as both Christian and conservative, told The Epoch Times. DeSantis, on the other hand is a rising star. Hes younger, and what hes done and is doing for Florida pre- and post-pandemic is what he would do for the rest of the country if he were president, she said, adding that she thought Trump was the greatest president the country has ever had. But others say Trump is still their favorite for 2024. Love DeSantis, but Trump is the man, said Bill Pfeiffer, a former Marine, from Nesconset, New York. Each of the Facebook users said theyd prefer Trump over Biden. Ready for Ron? Impact Social noted that right-leaning voters in liberal states who are soft on support for Trump appreciate DeSantis for the unique way he led Florida through the COVID-19 crisis and his forceful political leadership on issues. Florida has gone from a being perennial swing state to what some experts are now calling a safe Republican state, due in part to changing demographics that saw the Democrats voter registration advantage shrink to a deficit favoring Republicans. But the voting sea-change is in no small part also due to DeSantis leadership that provides a marked, positive contrast from Democrats, said the Facebook users who spoke to The Epoch Times. Outside of the partisan polling, DeSantis is enjoying a comfortable lead in his reelection campaign against the expected Democrat nominee for governor, Charlie Crist, according to an average of polls by Real Clear Politics. Thats exactly the type of leadership that the GOP is hoping will help solidify gains with voters who Republicans want to woo in the mid-terms nationwide. 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 in an interview last week, noting that its a historic chance for the GOP to make inroads on once-sacrosanct Democrat voting groups. Some are hoping then that DeSantis can do for the country what he did for Florida, by turning it solidly red. Despite some pondering if 2028 might be a better time for DeSantis, this conversation clearly shows that those on the right, who might hesitate to vote for Trump, would eagerly sign up for DeSantis, the Impact Social researchers concluded. Whats more uncertain is if DeSantis can cobble together the same type of blue-collar support that Trump put together in the upper-Midwest in places like Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, and Western Pennsylvania to a forge his victory in 2016. After all, electoral votes in presidential elections are awarded by states, not by social media outlets. A veteran affairs advocate says Australian society is no longer driven by values, and instead has become focused on self-interest, profit, and pleasure. Heston Russell, himself a former special forces operative who has embarked on over 200 missions, says Australian servicemen and women are often confronted with a culture shock when they leave the armed forces. The military is fantastic at grabbing someone off the street, and issuing them with a collective identity, and an overwhelmingly inspiring purpose that hits them at the intrinsic and extrinsic level, he told The Epoch Times. From the way they march you around, to the way you wear a uniform, and even being called by your last name. Russell said the military was a for purpose and values based organisation where each individual was held accountable to values like courage, initiative, teamwork, and respect. But as many of us transition to [living] primarily in larger cities in Australia, we find that society no longer really values responsibility, its replaced with entitlement: Whats in it for me, what do I deserve? It replaces selflessness with selfishness, its dog eat dog. Profile photo of Heston Russell, leader of the Australian Values Party, a veteran affairs advocate and former special forces operative. (Supplied) Everything is for profit, as opposed to for purpose. And its a really difficult place to espouse these values, where you are literally the minority as people are too busy focusing on profit, enjoyment, and all these things. It is this clash of values that often leaves returning defence force personnel struggling to adapt, and eventually developing mental health issues. Many veterans go through this sort of moral injury, its an identity crisis, he said. This is compounded by a range of issues that hit veterans including extensive delays at Australias Department of Veteran Affairswhich is working through a backlog of 37,000 applications for compensationas well as a lack of structure in daily life that can lead to lack of fitness, excessive drinking, and even drug abuse. In the military, you have random drug and alcohol tests every month, and without that group accountability its easy to degenerate into what is just the common standard in Australian society. When all these issues are compounded together for a while, it becomes the veteran mental health and suicide issue all bundled together. Atomisation of Western Society Psychiatrist Tanveer Ahmed says Western societies now are increasingly atomised compared to their Asian counterparts, which still maintain strong cultural and community links. We have fewer binding rituals, not just from a religious point of view, but also patriotic rituals, if you like, he told The Epoch Times. This has been going for around 50-100 years and is part of the emergence of the market economy. Everyone lives in cities, we dont live in extended families or tribesa biological need actuallywhich in some ways is what the military recreates, he said. The diagnosis of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is almost a proxy for the decline in exactly these types of systems. Understanding the warning signs of depression and anxiety can help you people find ways to fight it. (Shutterstock) Ahmed also pointed to other factors contributing to the decline of veteran mental health. The wider population is terribly disconnected to the meaning of the military and what theyre actually doing, and the reality is often the wars were fighting [Afghanistan] are very distant from the day to day lives of the average person, he said. Israel apparently has one of the lowest PTSD rates among developed armies, and one of the theories is the whole population is so connected to its conflicts. If youre a veteran and you finished service and retire, youve got huge status. Rediscovering Australias Values When campaigning, Russell often asked individuals where they think Australia was headed as a nation. Some Australians point to net-zero as a worthy goal and tackling climate change. However, beyond that, Russell believes its even more critical for the society to rediscover its ANZAC rootsborn from the trenches of World War I. During the war, Australian diggers displayed endurance, initiative, discipline, and mateship despite facing, at times, insurmountable odds. These values have become the ANZAC spirit celebrated every April 25. Our identity, the modern Australian identity and values-based society, in my opinion, was born with the ANZACs, Russell said. A service member is pictured at the Coogee Dawn Service in Sydney, Australia, on April 25, 2021. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) I believe governments and leaders are meant to provide that higher purpose for people, he said, warning that politics had become too focused on factional rivalry and winning elections. We replaced motivating people through inspiration with manipulating people through control, fear, and incentive. Supreme Court Justice Thomas Suggests Suing Media for Defamation Should Be Less Difficult His comments came as high court refused to hear appeal in which church group sued Southern Poverty Law Center for defaming it as a 'hate group' It should be easier to sue media organizations for defamation, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas said on June 27 as he dissented from the courts decision not to take up a defamation case. Former President Donald Trump has also said the legal bar is currently set too high in media defamation lawsuits. Thomass comments came in response to the courts decision not to accept an appeal brought by Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based D. James Kennedy Ministries, which sued the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) for defamation for including it in its controversial public database of so-called hate groups. The SPLC is a well-heeled far-left public interest law firm and publisher of newsletters. Critics say the SPLC smears mainstream conservative and Christian organizations by lumping them in with real-life extremist and terrorist groups in its database, and also treats opposition to illegal or legal immigration, open borders, and multiculturalism as hate, and political expression of those views as hate speech. The SPLC also has a record of promoting hate crime hoaxes, critics say, as well as ignoring bias incidents against white people and Jews targeted on university campuses by Islamist and anti-Israel groups. In June 2018, the SPLC paid more than $3 million as part of a legal settlement to reformed Muslim extremist Maajid Nawaz for wrongfully placing him and his now-defunct counter-extremism think tank, Quilliam Foundation, on an anti-Muslim hate list. After the allegedly false designation, Amazon booted D. James Kennedy Ministries from its Amazon Smile program, which allows online shoppers to direct donations to charities such as the group. D. James Kennedy Ministries claimed it suffered financial injury as a result of Amazons decision and then sued the SPLC for defamation for imposing the hate group label on it. In the case at hand, Thomas disagreed with his colleagues decision not to consider the lawsuit, which lower courts rejected because in their view it did not square with the actual malice standard the high court established in New York Times v. Sullivan (1964). That precedent holds that public figures suing for defamation must prove not only that statements are defamatory but also that they were made with actual malice. The case, Thomas wrote in his dissenting opinion (pdf), asks us to reconsider the actual malice standard. As I have said previously, we should, he wrote, referencing a series of dissents he and other jurists wrote in other cases. Thomas wrote, New York Times and the Courts decisions extending it were policy-driven decisions masquerading as constitutional law that have no relation to the text, history, or structure of the Constitution. This Court has never demonstrated otherwise. In fact, we have never even inquired whether the First or Fourteenth Amendment, as originally understood, encompasses an actual-malice standard. This case is one of many showing how New York Times and its progeny have allowed media organizations and interest groups to cast false aspersions on public figures with near impunity. Thomas implied it was unfair to force D. James Kennedy Ministries to meet the almost impossible actual-malice standard this Court has imposed, which left the ministry organization unable to hold SPLC to account for what it maintains is a blatant falsehood. The Supreme Court should not insulate those who perpetrate lies from traditional remedies like libel suits unless the First Amendment requires us to do so, the justice wrote in his dissenting opinion in Coral Ridge Ministries Media Inc. v. Southern Poverty Law Center, court file 21-802. Coral Ridge Ministries identifies itself in public as D. James Kennedy Ministries. The Epoch Times reached out to the Southern Poverty Law Center for comment but the group did not respond as of press time. The SPLC acknowledges that it labeled the ministry an active hate group in 2013, when it was called Truth in Action. The group is listed as an anti-LGBTQ hate group because it maligns the LGBTQ community, portraying it as perverted and a threat to the nation. The SPLC defines a hate group as an organization that, based on its official statements or principles, the statements of its leaders, or its activities, has beliefs or practices that attack or malign an entire class of people, typically for their immutable characteristics. The organizations on the SPLCs hate group list vilify others because of their race, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or gender identityprejudices that strike at the heart of our democratic values and fracture society along its most fragile fault lines, according to the SPLC. This aerial photo shows water being released from the Three Gorges Dam, a hydropower project on the Yangtze river, in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, on Sept. 7, 2020. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Taiwans Message for China: We Have a Nuke-Like Weapon Originally published by Gatestone Institute Commentary On June 21, Chinas Peoples Daily reported that the United States and Taiwan were about to participate in the annual Monterey Talks. The U.S. side, Chinas most authoritative publication stated, was expected to offer 20 types of weapons for sale to Taiwan, with emphasis on building asymmetric capability. Taiwan, which the Peoples Republic of China claims as its 34th province, already has asymmetric capabilities, and one of them could be as powerful as a nuclear weapon. Beijing maintains that Taiwan cannot defend itself. Military expert Song Zhongping said it is impossible for Taiwan to form asymmetric capabilities, no matter what kind of weapons it purchases from the U.S. as the gap between the military capacities of the two sides is too huge, Peoples Daily, a Communist Party newspaper, reported. Taiwan is daydreaming if it thinks it can contain the Peoples Liberation Army, according to the newspaper. Why? Asymmetric weapons are useless when facing the PLAs absolute advantages. The Peoples Daily report followed an unusual exchange of words between a Taiwan legislator and a Chinese official. Taiwan of course would never invade China, said You Si-kun, the president of Taiwans Legislative Yuan, on June 12 at a virtual event. Nor would Taiwan actively strike Beijing or the Three Gorges Dam. Before China attacks Taiwan, You warned, it must consider Taiwans existing capacity to strike Beijing. China, he said, should think twice. Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, through spokesperson Ma Xiaoguang, replied with a poetic image. If they dare strike a stone with an egg, it will only accelerate their demise. At least one of Taiwans eggs can kill tens of millions of Chinese, perhaps more. The range of Taiwans Yun Feng cruise missile has never been publicly confirmed, but analysts believe it to be about 1,240 miles, sufficient to reach both the Chinese capital and the Three Gorges Dam, the worlds largest flood-control structure. Chinas dam creates a reservoir of 39.3 billion cubic meters of water on the Yangtze River and is upstream from about 400 million people. Almost 30 percent of Chinas population, therefore, is at risk of a catastrophic failure of the structure, such as one caused by a missile strike. That means Taiwan possesses a conventional weapon that packs the wallop of a nuclear one. When it comes to deterrence, however, quantity counts. China now has significant superiority over Taiwan in terms of total combat aircraft and warships, Richard Fisher of the International Assessment and Strategy Center told Gatestone. The Peoples Liberation Army can call on thousands of civilian barges and about 4,000 Boeing and Airbus airliners to transport the bulk of its invasion and occupation force to Taiwan. Therefore, Taiwan, to deter China, needs thousands of missiles, perhaps tens of thousands of them. Taiwans Yun Feng production rate has never been publicly confirmed, but it is clear that the island republic does not now possess a sufficient number of them. The United States should have been actively encouraging Taiwan to develop missiles two decades ago, but it did not. The Obama administration even tried to actively discourage Taiwan from acquiring such missiles, Fisher told John Batchelors CBS Eye on the World radio program on the 21st of this month. Now, the United States needs to help Taiwan improve the speed and range of its missiles and, of course, increase the number of them. Moreover, Taiwan needs to ensure that China cannot destroy its Yun Feng missiles in an initial attack. Some of Taiwans missiles are on vulnerable fixed launchers but most of them are on mobile ones, Fisher told Gatestone. On June 21, China flew 29 planes, including six nuclear-capable H-6 bombers, through Taiwans air-defense identification zone, the ninth incursion this month. The latest large-scale exercise by the #PLA shows authoritarian #Chinas military threat is more serious than ever, tweeted Taiwan Foreign Minister Joseph Wu from his ministrys official account. The Chinese planes followed a track through international airspace, but the June 21 flight is nonetheless considered hostile. These air-zone provocations have become continuous in recent months and follow a far more serious act. On Feb. 5, China flew one of its aircraft directly over one of Taiwans outlying islands, a blatant violation of sovereign airspace. The campaign of intimidation is only going to become larger and bolder, Fisher told Gatestone, before the June 21 incursion. Up to now, the United States has tried to manage the situation across the Taiwan Strait by not angering China. The American policy has in fact prevented an invasion, but it worked in a generally benign period and that benign period has clearly passed. Now, Chinas regime looks as if it wants to go to war. The harsh remarks of Chinas Defense Minister, General Wei Fenghe, at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore this month, are a clear warning of hostile intent. China has targets, and Taiwan has missiles. That translates into deterrence if Taiwan makes it clear that, in the defense of its sovereignty, it is prepared to take Chinese lives in the hundreds of millions. Warnings of this kind kept the peace in Europe during the Cold War, despite the Soviet Unions overwhelming conventional military advantage over Western European nations. For decades, Taiwan politicians were reluctant to talk about their islands ability to kill Chinese people in great numbers. Now, they obviously think they must speak out, and forcefully. Making threats of inflicting mass casualties is perhaps the last lever Taiwan has to keep the peace in East Asia. Yes, we are that close to war. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Team Biden Erodes the IP Protection That Undergirds Global Public Health Commentary There are ways to do well by doing good, and successful vaccine development is one of them. COVID-19 vaccines are now protecting the world from death and disease. But in the next pandemicdue to the erosion of intellectual property protections for vaccine science on a global levelwe may not be so lucky. On June 17, the Biden administration has signed onto a World Trade Organization initiative, to the benefit of China and led by India and South Africa, to wipe out intellectual property (IP) protections for the pharmaceutical companies that developed the winning mRNA vaccines. The agreement grants developing countries, among which China wrongly places itself, rights to manufacture COVID vaccines without the consent of the right holder. Vaccine Development Needs IP Protection Vaccines that use mRNA technology were developed by Moderna and Pfizer, both American companies, and not by happenstance. American companies developed the vaccines because intellectual property protections are best protected here in America. Science goes where science is appreciated, compensated, and protected. The same goes for investors who take risks with their own money to keep scientists employed. Investors and scientists form, fund, and staff pharmaceutical companies, few of which would have worked at the height of the pandemic, including through dangerous vaccine trials with patients seen as at the highest risk of infection, except for the significant upside. For every vaccine that succeeded, there were three or more that failed. So the upside has to be high. And that high upside is called significant profit. For a single life-saving drug, some anti-pharma critics would call it obscene profit. But take a step back to look at the pharmaceutical industry as a whole. Investors in pharma may commit to multiple companies at once. Each company can simultaneously invest in multiple drug development cycles. Many of these experimental drugs fail. Many pharma companies fail. And so while a lot of money is lost throwing pharma spaghetti at the wall to see what sticks, the few drugs that succeed need to make obscene profits to fund the entire industry. Without profits from successful drugs, none of them get attempted, which means that none of them succeed. This is exactly the path that the Biden administration took by giving into demands from countries like China, India, and South Africa to wipe out international IP protections during an emergency. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai said the deal was a concrete and meaningful outcome to get more safe and effective vaccines to those who need it most. Trade Representative Katherine Tai addresses the Geneva Graduate Institute on the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in the global economy and U.S. policy priorities in Geneva, Switzerland, on Oct. 14, 2021. (Denis Balibouse/Reuters) But the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers & Associations expressed deep disappointment at the decision. They rightly point out that IP is not a barrier to vaccine scale-up and wide acknowledgement of vaccines surplus. The federation warns that the WTO agreement will have severe consequences on innovation and global health security. Vaccine Supply Is Not the Problem The free market, along with donations by governments, have already provided plenty of vaccines globally to treat almost everybody who wants them. As pointed out by the federation, IP supported the production of 13.9 billion COVID vaccines and counting. Thats almost two doses for every person on the planet. For those who cannot get the vaccine, the problem is not in production but the lack of sufficient medical personnel, delivery, cold storage, and other logistics. Giving away the IP does nothing to help deliver vaccines for which there is already a surplus. But it does impede the next vaccine from being developed. Low Vaccine Uptake in Africa An Omicron wave hit Africa last year but did not cause a surge in deaths and hospitalizations, in part because the population is younger. As a result, there is less interest among the population in getting vaccinated. In Sierra Leone, for example, just 12 percent of people are vaccinated and almost nobody has a booster. But they have plenty of vaccines. Vaccine deliveries are now coming to Africa faster than many vaccination programs can get them into arms, according to The New York Times. Some African governments have had to ask manufacturers to pause shipments until they can use up what they have on hand. Democracy and the market work to bring the world what it needs. It strikes a balance between a dignified quantity of equity, achieved through vaccine donations and progressive taxation, for example, and the freedom of markets that voters invariably choose. Conversely, communism in countries like the former Soviet Union and China today has failed to provide the standard of living that Western Europeans, Japanese, South Koreans, and Taiwanese have, because command economies are highly inefficient. China Wants to Destroy IP The Wall Street Journal rightly lambasts Fridays [June 17] agreement by the WTOs 164 members that lets developing countries, including China, steal intellectual property for Covid vaccines. It sets a bad precedent for the theft of future IP, which is a competitive advantage of the United States against China and other command economies. By more unilateral giveaways to China, the Biden team is again weakening the United States economically, which puts democracy at risk globally. A scientist prepares samples during the research and development of a vaccine against the (COVID-19) at a laboratory of BIOCAD biotechnology company in Saint Petersburg, Russia, on June 11, 2020. (Anton Vaganov/Reuters) The White House is flogging the [WTO vaccine] deal as a diplomatic victory, according to the Journals editorial board. But its an enormous defeat for U.S. national interests that will benefit China and set a precedent that erodes intellectual property protection. This wont be the last time global grifters seek to pilfer U.S. technology. Progressives who call for vaccine equity that would justify such theft wrongly think they are saving lives. In fact they are debilitating the market system that brought us the vaccines in the first place. And that same market system has something called differentiated pricing that can offer the same vaccines delivered in the West for a high price, to medium-income countries like China at half the cost, and to poorer countries for free through foreign aid programs. Everyone wins, but only if markets and freely-chosen aid regimes are allowed to work. President Joe Biden is not letting markets work, which gets him points in Beijing in the short term but destroys global public health in the long term. An earlier draft of the compromise would have prevented China from taking advantage of the [IP] waiver, according to the Journal. Fridays agreement doesnt. Now China can steal U.S. mRNA technologies, develop their own branded vaccines, including for other diseases, and undercut U.S. companies on price. IP Thieves Are Never Satisfied That isnt enough for IP thieves, who want even more, including American test and treatment technologies. Development of these took money, risk, and hard work. Yet Beijing, New Delhi, and Pretoria want it for free. If they cant get it through the WTO, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) will doubtless attempt to steal it through cyber-espionage and reverse-engineering, as they have with hundreds of billions of IP annually stolen from the United States alone. India has followed similar strategies. In India, for nearly five decades, the generic industry has reverse-engineered drugs to mass manufacture low-priced therapeutics, as an editorial in the Indian Express admits. But vaccines present a different order of challenge: Manufacturers require not only patented knowledge but also partnerships with the original innovator to develop these preventives, according to the editorial. Its time for the United States to tell Beijing, New Delhi, and Pretoria that in no uncertain terms, we are done playing Mr. Nice Guy until we get more support for what matters to the worlds long-term health and a sustainable balance between equity and innovation. That is best provided by democracy and free markets, which these three countries should get more serious about supporting. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The Astonishing Implications of Schedule F Commentary Two weeks before the 2020 general election, on Oct. 21, 2020, Donald Trump issued an executive order (E.O. 13957) on Creating Schedule F in the Excepted Service. It sounds boring. Actually, it would have fundamentally changed, in the best possible way, the entire functioning of the administrative bureaucracy that rules this country in a way that bypasses both the legislative and judicial process, and has ruined the checks and balances inherent in the U.S. Constitution. The administrative state for the better part of a century, and really dating back to the Pendleton Act of 1883, has designed policy, made policy, structured policy, implemented policy, and interpreted policy while operating outside the control of Congress, the president, and the judiciary. The gradual rise of this 4th branch of governmentwhich is very much the most powerful branchhas reduced the American political process to mere theater as compared with the real activity of government, which rests with the permanent bureaucracy. Any new president can hire the heads of agencies and they can hire staff, which are known as political appointees. These 4,000 political appointees ostensibly rule 432 agencies (as listed by the Federal Register) as well as some 2.9 million employees (aside from the military and postal service) that effectively inhibit permanent jobs. This permanent statesometimes called the deep stateknows the ropes and the processes of government far better than any temporary political appointee, thus reducing the appointed jobs to cosmetic positions for the press to hound while the real actions of government take place behind the scenes. From 2020 and onward, the American people got to know this administrative state well. They ordered us to wear masks. They deployed their influence to close small businesses and churches. They limited how many people we could have in our homes. They festooned our businesses with plexiglass and told everyone to stay six-feet apart. They demanded two weeks of quarantine when crossing state borders. They decided which medical procedures were elective and non-elective. And they finally demanded compliance with vaccine mandates at the penalty of job loss. None of this was ordered by legislation. It was all invented on the spot by the permanent staff of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We had no idea they had such power. But they do. And that same power which allowed those egregious attacks on rights and liberties also belongs to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA), the Department of Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Homeland Security, and all the rest. Donald Trump came into office with the promise of draining the swamp, without understanding entirely what that meant. He gradually came to realize that he had no control over most of the affairs of government, not because he had no patience for the legislative process but because he had no ability to terminate the employment of most of the civilian bureaucracy. Nor could his political appointees control it. The media, he gradually came to realize, echoed the priorities and concerns of this administrative state due to long-established relationships that led to nonstop leaks that spread false information. In May of 2018, he took his first steps to gain some modicum of control over this deep state. He issued three executive orders (E.O. 13837, E.O. 13836, and E.O.13839) that would have diminished their access to labor-union protection when being pressed on the terms of their employment. Those three orders were litigation by the American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) and sixteen other federal labor unions. All three were struck down with a decision by a D.C. District Court. The presiding judge was Ketanji Brown Jackson, who was later rewarded for her decision with a nomination to the Supreme Court, which was affirmed by the U.S. Senate. The prevailing and openly stated reason for her nomination was said to be mostly demographic: she would be the first black woman on the Court. The deeper reason was more likely traceable to her role in thwarting actions by Trump which had begun the process of upending the administrative state. Jacksons judgment was later reversed but Trumps actions were embroiled in a juridical tangle that rendered them moot. Following the lockdowns of mid-March 2020, Trump became increasingly frustrated with the CDC and Anthony Fauci in particular. Trump was profoundly aware that he had no power to fire the man, despite his epicly terrible role in prolonging COVID lockdowns long after Trump wanted to open up to save the American economy and society. Trumps next step was radical and brilliant: the creation of a new category of federal employment. It was called Schedule F. Employees of the federal government classified as Schedule F would have been subject to control by the elected president and other representatives. Who are they? They are those who met the following criteria: Positions of a confidential, policy-determining, policy-making, or policy-advocating character not normally subject to change as a result of a Presidential transition shall be listed in Schedule F. In appointing an individual to a position in Schedule F, each agency shall follow the principle of veteran preference as far as administratively feasible. Schedule F employees would be fired. Youre fired was the slogan that made Trump TV famous. With this order, he would be in a position to do the same to the federal bureaucracy. The order further demanded a thorough review throughout the government. Each head of an executive agency (as defined in section 105 of title 5, United States Code, but excluding the Government Accountability Office) shall conduct, within 90 days of the date of this order, a preliminary review of agency positions covered by subchapter II of chapter 75 of title 5, United States Code, and shall conduct a complete review of such positions within 210 days of the date of this order. The Washington Post in an editorial expressed absolute shock and alarm at the implications: The directive from the White House, issued late Wednesday, sounds technical: creating a new Schedule F within the excepted service of the federal government for employees in policymaking roles, and directing agencies to determine who qualifies. Its implications, however, are profound and alarming. It gives those in power the authority to fire more or less at will as many as tens of thousands of workers currently in the competitive civil service, from managers to lawyers to economists to, yes, scientists. This weeks order is a major salvo in the presidents onslaught against the cadre of dedicated civil servants whom he calls the deep state and who are really the greatest strength of the U.S. government. Ninety days after Oct. 21, 2020 would have been Jan. 19, 2021, the day before the new president was to be inaugurated. The Washington Post commented ominously: Mr. Trump will try to realize his sad vision in his second term, unless voters are wise enough to stop him. Biden was declared the winner due mostly to mail-in ballots. On Jan. 21, 2021, the day after inauguration, Biden reversed the order. It was one of his first actions as president. No wonder, because, as The Hill reported, this executive order would have been the biggest change to federal workforce protections in a century, converting many federal workers to at will employment. How many federal workers in agencies would have been newly classified at Schedule F? We do not know because only one completed the review before their jobs were saved by the election result. The one that did was the Congressional Budget Office. Its conclusion: fully 88 percent of employees would have been newly classified as Schedule F, thus allowing the president to terminate their employment. This would have been a revolutionary change, a complete remake of Washington, D.C., and all politics as usual. Trumps EO 13957 was a dagger aimed directly at the heart of the beast. It might have worked. It would have gotten us closer to the restoration of a Constitutional system of government in which we have 3not 4branches of government that are wholly controlled by the peoples representatives. It would have gone a long way toward gutting the administrative state of its power and returning the affairs of state to the peoples control. The action was stopped dead due to the election results. Whatever ones view of Trump, one has to admire the brilliance of this executive order. It shows that Trump had come to understand the problem and actually innovate a fundamental solution, or at least the beginnings of one. The deep state as weve come to know it would have been curbed, and we would have taken a step toward recreating the system that existed before the Pendleton Act of 1883. Many efforts have been deployed through the years to regain constitutional control over the permanent bureaucracy. An example is the Hatch Act of 1939 which forbids employees of the government to work for political campaigns. That act turned out to be toothlessone does not need to work for a campaign in order to skew ones labor in the direction of always granting the federal government more power and controland largely made irrelevant in the succeeding decades. Trump came to office promising to drain the swamp but it was very late in his term before he figured out the means at his disposal to do just that. His final effort took place merely two weeks before the election that was decided in favor of his opponent Biden, who quickly reversed this action just two days following the deadline of an ordered review that would have reclassified, and thus gained control over, a sizable portion of the administrative state. With Executive Order 12003 (Protecting the Federal Workforce), Biden saved the deep states bacon, leaving the efforts finally to drain the swamp to another day and another president. Still, Executive Order 13957 exists in the archives as a possible path forward to restore checks and balances in the U.S. system of government. A new Congress can also take such steps at least symbolically. Until something takes place to restore the peoples control of the administrative state, a sword of Damocles will continue to hang over the entire country and we will never be safe from another round of lockdowns and mandates. Should a genuinely reformist president ever take office, this executive order must be issued on the very first day. Trump waited too long but that mistake need not be repeated. 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. Former President Donald Trump arrives to give remarks during a "Save America" rally at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon, Illinois on June 25, 2022. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images) Trump Congratulates Pro-Life Movement After Supreme Court Ruling on Roe v. Wade Former President Donald Trump called on Saturday the reversal of Roe v. Wadea ruling decided partly by justices he appointedthe answer to the prayers of millions. We are today the party of life, and we are the party of everyone, said the former president at his first rally after the Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling a day earlier, which means a federal constitutional right to abortion will be no longer granted. Speaking at the Save America rally in Mendon, Illinois on June 25 as he campaigned for Rep. Mary Miller (R-Ill.), Trump called the reversal a victory for the rule of law and above all a victory for life. To the generations of Americans in the pro-life movement, as well as countless constitutional conservatives, your boundless love, sacrifice, and devotion, has finally been rewarded in full, Trump said. Congratulations. This breakthrough is the answer to the prayers of millions and millions of people, the former president told the crowd. Thats the way it should have been many many years ago, and thats the way it is now. Attendees and supporters of former U.S. President Donald Trump at the Save America rally at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon, Illinois on June 25, 2022. (Michael B. Thomas/Getty Images) Trump had vowed during the 2016 presidential debate that the overturning of the landmark decision legalizing abortion will happen automatically if he is elected. Six years later, the 45th U.S. president announced to have delivered what he promised, including successfully nominating and appointing a total of three of what he called as highly respected and strong constitutionalists, which largely shifted the Supreme Courts ideological skew by forging a new 63 conservativeliberal majority. In Fridays ruling, all three appointeesJustices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrettsided with the pro-life majority opinion against the 1973 Roe decision. Thank you, Trump! rally attendees chanted in response at the Saturday event. Thirteen states are expected to automatically outlaw abortion in the wake of the ruling, with a post-Roe trigger law in place, while some GOP-controlled states such as Florida are pursuing stricter limits to abortion. During the Saturday rally, Trump applauded the high court for finding the courage to get the abortion rights debate back to state legislatures. I especially want to commend the justices for standing strong in the face of outrageous threats and even violence, he said, denouncing the attempted assassination of Justice Kavanaugh, the illegal intimidation of justices homes, and the radical lefts violent terrorist attacks on pro-life centers. Released audio from a 911 call indicated a California man telling a dispatcher that he flew across the country to kill the justice. Nicholas John Roske, 26, was arrested near Kavanaughs home in Maryland on June 8. This was an organized and concentrated effort to threaten the court and interfere with its decisions, Trump said of pro-abortion activists attempting to obstruct the justices. But the justices stood their ground against these extremists and these terrorists, and they did not back down. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed on Saturday that President Joe Biden doesnt support Democrats bid to expand the Supreme Court. A man carries goods on his head as he walks past a flooded road damaged by tropical storm Ana at Thabwa village, in Chikwawa district, southern Malawi, on Jan. 26, 2022. (Eldson Chagara/Reuters) UK Businessman Denies Wrongdoing Over Arms Deal With Impoverished Malawi A British businessman who is being investigated on suspicion of bribing government officials in Malawione of Africas poorest nationsover an arms deal, has denied any wrongdoing. In an interview with The Times of London, Zuneth Sattar, 41, from Leicester said: I am not corrupt. I am a good person. My fate is in Gods hands. Malawi-born Sattar added: I am hated in Malawi, everyone has turned against me and think I am up to no good. They said I was falsely inflating prices of drinks and other goods I was selling. But that is not true, it is false information. I am very successful, I have done well for my age and sometimes that brings enemies. But I have nothing to hide, I have done nothing wrong. Last week Malawis President Lazarus Chakwera fired the inspector general of the Malawi Police Service, George Kainja, and claimed he was among 13 government officials who received money from Sattar between 2017 and 2021. Chakwera also sought to fire his Vice President, Saulos Chilima, but said he had no constitutional power to do so, adding, The best I can do for now, which is what I have decided to do, is to withhold from his office any delegated duties while waiting for the bureau to substantiate its allegations against him. Malawis Anti-Corruption Bureau has accused Chilima and 50 other government officials of receiving secret payments in return for granting contracts for the purchase of water cannons, armoured personnel carriers, and mine-proof patrol vehicles for the countrys armed forces. Malawi is one of the poorest countries in the world, with a GDP per head of $636 (518), compared with $63,207 (51,485) in the United States and $46,483 (37,862) in Britain. I Want to Be Charged so I Can Fight and Win Sattar told The Times of London: I would say to the police and Crown Prosecution Service, if you think you have a case against me, charge me. I am innocent of any wrongdoing and I want to be charged so I can fight it and win. Britains National Crime Agency (NCA) raided his home in Oadby, near Leicester, last year and had seized a pink Bentley and a yellow Lamborghini as part of its investigation, but had not charged him with any criminal offence. The Times of London said Land Registry documents showed the NCA had frozen a number of Sattars assets, including 19 houses in Leicestershire and the Manchester area. The Epoch Times reached out to the National Crime Agency for comment. Why We Have Presumption of Innocence Commentary The presumption of innocence in criminal proceedings, often expressed in the phrase innocent until proven guilty, is an ancient tenet of our justice system. Like many legal principles, it has its origins in Christian values of fairness and justice. Perhaps the first iteration of the principle was expressed in the 6th century AD in the Digest of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian: Proof lies on him who asserts, not on him who denies. In the common law, perhaps the best explanation lies in this very famous quote of the English jurist Sir William Blackstone in his Commentaries on the Laws of England, published from 1765 to 1770: It is better that ten guilty persons escape than one innocent suffer. In Australia, the website of the Federal Attorney-General describes the presumption as imposing on the prosecution the burden of proving the charge and guarantees that no guilt can be presumed until the charge has been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. However, as explained by the Rule of Law Education Centre, the principle has a much wider understood meaning in Australia as applying to any assertion made and requiring the person, the subject of the assertion, to be presumed innocent unless the maker of the assertion establishes the assertion as correct. In other words, the person the subject of the assertion has the right to a fair trial. Unfortunately, in recent times the media has, by and large, ignored the idea of the presumption of innocencethe Christian Porter saga last year being one recent and troubling example. However, perhaps the most egregious was that in relation to Cardinal George Pell, who was vilified by sections of the media, some politicians, and the wider community, not only during his trial for alleged sexual abuse and subsequent appeals but even before. The cardinal, as the most senior Catholic figure in Australia, became, as John Howard wrote in his foreword to Gerard Hendersons book, Cardinal Pell, The Media Pile-On & Collective Guilt, a target for those who felt the church had let them down and had been insensitive to the suffering of abused children. Cardinal George Pell leaves at Melbourne Magistrates Court in Melbourne, Australia, on May 1, 2018. (Michael Dodge/Getty Images) When The Presumption of Innocence is Ignored What was forgotten among all this was the fundamental question of whether the cardinal had committed these awful crimes or not. It is now a matter of historical record that, in a unanimous decision (7-0), the High Court of Australia quashed the cardinals conviction, stating in its judgment, tellingly that: It is evident that there is a possibility that an innocent person has been convicted because the evidence did not establish guilt to the requisite standard of proof. Father Frank Brennan was convinced that the media and general public commentary had an impact on the (already precarious) chances of Cardinal Pell getting a fair trial. My only conclusion is that the jury must have disregarded many of the criticisms so tellingly made by [Pells lawyer Robert Richter QC] of the complainants evidence, he wrote at the time. Unfortunately, the outcome in Pell v The Queen has not stopped some media personalities from commenting on allegations that have yet to be proved in the courts, thus potentially infringing another fundamental legal principle known as the sub judice rule, which limits comments relating to judicial proceedings in order not to prejudge the issue. A breach of this rule is a contempt of court. At last weeks presentation of Australias Logie Awards, Lisa Wilkinson of Network 10, in accepting her award for coverage of the allegations made by former Liberal Party staffer Brittany Higgins of sexual assault in Parliament House, made commentary on this case. The man charged with this alleged assault, Bruce Lehrmann, has vowed to clear his name. Indeed, he has pleaded not guilty to the charge. Given that the trial was to start on July 4, Wilkinson was given a warning over delivering a speech at the Logies about the Brittany Higgins matter days before. Trial Delayed Following this speech, Lehrmanns lawyers asked the trial judge for a stay (delay) of the trial, given that the publicity surrounding Wilkinsons speech would prejudice his chances of getting a fair trial. The trial will be held in the Australian Capital Territory, where, just like in Victoria, criminal trials must be held with a jury; there is no possibility of requesting a trial by a judge alone. Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal Party staff member, addresses the media at the National Press Club on February 09, 2022, in Canberra, Australia. (Photo by Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) The start of the trial has now been set for Oct. 4, thus prolonging the anxiety for all parties concerned. Wilkinson was rightly condemned by many in media and legal circles for her comments. As a result, Wilkinson, Network 10, and others have had to give enforceable undertakings to the court not to make any comment between now and the conclusion of the trial. The fact is that juries and courts in Australia can and do reach incorrect verdicts. Prior to Cardinal Pell, there are several other notorious cases of wrongful convictions throughout Australias history, including Colin Campbell Ross, the Mickelberg brothers, John Button, Daryl Beamish, Andrew Mallard, and Lindy Chamberlain, considered arguably to be the greatest miscarriage of justice in Australias history, to name only a few. It goes without saying that the crimes of child abuse and sexual assault must be condemned, and their perpetrators face the full force of the law. However, the commission of these crimes must be proved beyond a reasonable doubt after a full and proper investigation since we know that false allegations ruin livelihoods and reputations irreparably. Maybe this is why Network 10 has raised the possibility of defamation action against any of Wilkinsons many critics, and that being the case, this piece will have to end here. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) The leader of Bosnia's Serbs said Sunday he hoped former U.S. President Donald Trump would return to power and that the Serbs would wait for appropriate global circumstances to reach for their goal of seceding from Bosnia, which he called an unsustainable state. Milorad Dodik, who was a rare European official to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin since the war in Ukraine started in late February, made the comments at a gathering marking the start of a bloody breakup of Bosnia 30 years ago. Bosnia went through a devastating 1992-95 war in which over 100,000 people died before a U.S.-brokered peace deal ended the conflict. The peace deal, also known as the Dayton Accords, created Bosnian Serb and Bosniak-Croat entities tied together by joint Bosnian institutions and a triparate presidency of which Dodik is a member. Russia's war in Ukraine has aroused fears that the turmoil could spill over to the volatile Balkans, where Russia has maintained strong influence among fellow-Slavic Serbs. Dodik, who has led a Bosnian Serb secessionist drive, said he was convinced that Serbs would soon make important decisions about their fate in Bosnia. He also expressed expectation that Trump would again lead the United States. For the first time in history, Serbs are waiting for time, Dodik said. We must be patient, understand time. Europe is inevitably confused, with its internal problems. I pray to God that Donald Trump comes to power in America again. During his presidency, Trump rarely spoke against the continuous attempts by Bosnian Serbs to destabilize Bosnia. After Joe Biden became president, Dodik was slapped with the U.S. and British sanctions over his proclaimed goal to split about half of Bosnia and join it with neighboring Serbia. Dodik met Putin in Russia earlier this month, saying Sunday he was proud of the meeting. He told me only one thing, and that was, We are not leaving our friends. It is the Russians who have not done us any harm, Dodik said. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine FARMINGTON A teenager who recently graduated from Farmington High School is dead after a two-car crash Saturday night, police said. Farmington police identified both drivers in the collision, which occurred around 8:30 p.m. on Colt Highway and Fienemann Road. The crash shut down the intersection for hours, officials said. Farmington residents Luke Roux, 17, and Jacob Coffey, 21, were the sole occupants in each car, police said. Both were taken to local hospitals with serious injuries. Roux later died from his injuries at John Dempsey Hospital. Roux, a student athlete who played baseball and hockey, graduated from Farmington High School earlier this month and was scheduled to attend the University of Connecticut in the fall, according to Farmington Public Schools Superintendent Kathleen Greider. In a letter to the Farmington community, Greider and Scott Hurwitz, the schools principal, said Roux will be remembered for his kind and gentle personality, work ethic as a student athlete and his academic achievements. Luke's spirit of giving back to his community for a greater good and consistently stepping up as a leader, especially during challenging times, will remain with us, the administrators wrote. We cherish each memory and we feel honored to have known and been a part of Lukes life over the past 13 years. Our hearts are broken over the loss of such an extraordinary, kind and beloved young man. The school district said in the letter it will provide counseling services to students, families, faculty and staff members this week. Counseling will be available at Farmington High School from 1 to 4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. People in need of support can also call 860-252-7419. Police are still investigating the incident and asking any witnesses to call the Farmington Police Department at 860-675-2400. NORWALK City police officers used force at least 141 times in 2021, according to the departments annual report. The recently released 34-page document shows city police saw a slight uptick in use-of-force incidents from a year earlier when officers employed force 119 times during the first year of the pandemic. But the report also makes clear that the number of use-of-force incidents are generally declining. After 2020, 2021 marked the second fewest incidents in the past decade. Police Chief Thomas Kulhawik said he attributed the decrease to deescalation training, improved communication by officers and the lingering impacts of the pandemic that led to fewer interactions between police and the public. We saw a considerable drop during the pandemic as call volume was extremely low, Kulhawik said. Call volume last year increased, but was still below levels previously seen and crime overall was down. Norwalk police responded to more than 34,000 emergency calls in 2021, a noticeable but modest jump from the about 31,600 calls a year earlier, according to 911 data included in the report. The police department keeps detailed records of use-of-force incidents involving its officers, including when and where the incident takes place and the demographic information of the people police used force against. The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, an independent accrediting authority, requires the department to publish the data each year in an annual report. We choose to share a considerable amount more in the interest of transparency in allowing the public to get a better understanding of the department and the work that is done, Kulhawik said. Officers used force against a total of 81 individuals, 70 of whom were men, according to the report. The data shows that physical force, including striking and subduing an individual, accounted for the majority of the type of force used. Police officers pointed their firearms at individuals 43 times last year, which is considered a use-force-incident by the department. Officers also pointed a Taser at people seven times and deployed the weapon four times, the report showed. The majority of the use-of-force incidents took place after officers responded to a reported disturbance, assault or armed subject, according to the report. About one-fifth of the incidents occurred when officers performed a narcotics arrest or executed a narcotics-related search warrant. As in previous years, police were most likely to use force during the nighttime. Sixty-one officers used force last year, up from the 55 officers who used force in 2020 but down from the 66 officers who used force in 2019. Mayor Harry Rilling, who previously served as the citys police chief, credited the overall decrease to evolving training standards and local community policing initiatives that attempt to strengthen the bond between officers and residents. I certainly don't know of any laws that were legislated by the state of Connecticut that would seek to contribute to a reduction in the amount of incidents, he said. Rilling called the department a highly trained and highly skilled force and noted that he has never received a complaint of excessive force from a member of the public since becoming mayor in 2013. Unlike previous reports, the document does not include a statistical summary of the findings of internal investigations into civilian complaints filed about officer behavior. A total of 34 were made in 2020, but it is unclear how many were registered last year. Notably, the data in the report shows police disproportionately used force against Black people last year, continuing a trend in which the group is over-represented in the data. But it also shows that the trend is on the decline. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Black people accounted for about 14 percent of Norwalks population last year but were involved in 43 percent of use-of-force incidents. That figure stood at 46 percent a year earlier and at 57 percent in 2019. Meanwhile, 30 percent of the incidents last year involved white people, 23 percent involved Hispanic individuals and 4 percent involved people whose race was not known to police, according to the report. Despite the disparity, Kulhawik said he is confident his officers are using force properly, pointing to the departments internal system that tracks each incident. The necessity of using force is generally dictated by the actions of those arrested, Kulhawik said. In addition, every use of force is reviewed at the shift level as well as by the deputy chief and myself, including a review of the body camera video to assure it was reasonable and necessary. richard.chumney@hearstmediact.com WESTON The town is one step closer to cleaner drinking water. The state Department of Public Health is expected to make a decision this week on the towns final remediation design to remove per-and polyfluoroakyl substances, or PFAS, detected in the towns drinking water. Weston installed a prototype remediation system a few weeks ago, which First Selectwoman Samantha Nestor said in an update has been able to dramatically reduce PFAS levels in the drinking water. The state is now reviewing the final remediation design on it, submitted by the towns certified operator, Water System Solution and Design, Inc. If approved, the town can buy and install a permanent remediation system. Our remediation system filters the PFAS to non-detectible levels, Nestor said Monday. Once its approved, we will purchase the whole system and we will be able to install it permanently. Nestor said the town has two water systems that need to be renovated because theyre old. The state revolving fund will be used to fund the replacement of the water system. Town officials reached out to the state health department ahead of doing any work on the systems and were recommended to test for PFAS, which is not part of regular municipality water testing. After testing in December and January, PFAS were detected in the well that provides drinking water to the school district and other municipal buildings within the town center. According to officials, PFAS are a group of human-made chemicals that have been used in a variety of products, including non-stick cookware, food packaging, upholstered furniture, clothing, and firefighting foam. They have been made and used in the United States since the 1940s. After the detection, bottled water was provided to people in those buildings and the school cafeterias for drinking and cooking. My hope is that by the time all the kids are back in school, well be up and running again, Nestor said. Nestor said its a small amount of contaminants in the water. She added they dont know why the PFAS are there yet, but hope to find the cause as the new remediation system is used. Were first focused on fixing it, she said. We want to resolve the problem, and wherever the contamination may be coming from, the filtration system removes all the PFAS. She later clarified that it would remove the PFAS to not detectable levels. Nestor also said that the water cannot be recontaminated because the filters will take away the PFAS within it. It is easily filtered out with carbon filters. As a town, we dont want to add to the amount of PFAS going into peoples systems, she said. Nestor also said that the town is working hand-in-hand with the DPH throughout this process, and they are trying to be a model for other towns to follow. When you find it, you remedy it, and you take the right course of action to remove it, she said. Another water system being addressed in Weston, the Ravenwood Water System, was recently approved as part of the ARPA funds and will occur after this remediation. This story was updated to more accurately reflect the remediation levels in Nestors quote. kayla.mutchler@hearstmediact.com This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MENDON, Mo. (AP) An Amtrak passenger train traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago struck a dump truck Monday in a remote area of Missouri, killing three people and injuring dozens more as rail cars tumbled off the tracks and landed on their sides, officials said. Two of those killed were on the train and one was in the truck, Missouri State Highway Patrol spokesman Cpl. Justin Dunn said. It was not immediately clear exactly how many people were hurt, the patrol said, but hospitals reported receiving more than 40 patients from the crash and were expecting more. Amtrak's Southwest Chief was carrying about 207 passengers and crew members when the collision happened near Mendon at a rural intersection on a gravel road with no lights or electronic controls, according to the highway patrol. Officials were still trying to determine the exact number of people aboard. Seven cars derailed, the patrol said. Rob Nightingale said he was dozing off in his sleeper compartment when the lights flickered and the train rocked back and forth. It was like slow motion. Then all of a sudden I felt it tip my way. I saw the ground coming toward my window, and all the debris and dust, Nightingale told The Associated Press. Then it sat on its side and it was complete silence. I sat there and didnt hear anything. Then I heard a little girl next door crying. Nightingale was unhurt and he and other passengers were able to climb out of the overturned train car through a window. The collision broke the dump truck apart, he said. It was all over the tracks, said Nightingale, an art gallery owner from Taos, New Mexico, who said he rides Amtrak regularly to Chicago. It's too early to speculate on why the truck was on the tracks, said National Transportation Safety Board Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy. A team of NTSB investigators will arrive Tuesday, she said. Trains won't be able to run on the track for a matter of days while they gather evidence, she added. At one point, KMBC-TV helicopter video showed rail cars on their side as emergency responders used ladders to climb into one of them. Six medical helicopters parked nearby were waiting to transport patients. Close to 20 local and state law enforcement agencies, ambulance services, fire department and medical helicopter services responded, Dunn said. The first emergency responders arrived within 20 minutes of receiving a 911 call, he said. Passenger Dian Couture was in the dining car with her husband celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary when she heard a loud noise and the train wobbled and then crashed onto its side. The people on our left-hand side flew across and hit us, and then we were standing on the windows on the right-hand side of the car," Couture told WDAF-TV. Two gentlemen in the front came up, stacked a bunch of things and popped out the window and literally pulled us out by our hands." Passengers included 16 youths and eight adults from two Boy Scout troops who were traveling home to Appleton, Wisconsin, after a backcountry excursion at the Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. No one in the group was seriously injured, said Scott Armstrong, director of national media relations for the Boy Scouts of America. The Scouts administered first aid to several injured passengers, including the driver of the dump truck, Armstrong said. High school students from Pleasant Ridge High School in Easton, Kansas, who were headed to a Future Business Leaders of America conference in Chicago, were also aboard, Superintendent Tim Beying told The Kansas City Star. Cheryl Benjamin was on her way home to East Lansing, Michigan, after an Alasksan cruise and a trip to Disneyland. She said she felt a bump, then heard a squeal, then looked out the window and saw the cars in front of her falling to the right. Then her car fell, the last to derail. It all took about 45 seconds. Benjamin told The Associated Press that the passengers organized themselves to escape the cars. Some of the Boy Scouts on board helped her climb out of the train and onto the ground. She was spending Monday evening in a local high school gym, where community members had brought in food for the passengers as they waited for buses to take them to hotels. Republican state Rep. Peggy McGaugh was at the high school. She said locals heard about the crash and started frying chicken, making sandwiches and delivering pallets of water. Being the small community this is, nobody wants to be the hero but everyone wants to help," McGaugh said. Mike Spencer, who grows corn and soybeans on the land surrounding the intersection where the crash occurred, said everyone in Mendon understands that the intersection is dangerous, especially for those driving heavy, slow farm equipment. The approach to the tracks is on an inclining gravel road and its difficult to see trains coming in either direction, he said. Spencer said he had contacted state transportation officials, Chariton County commissioners and BNSF Railway, which owns the track, about the potential danger. Spencer, who is on the board of a local levy district, said the dump truck driver was hauling rock for a levy on a local creek, a project that had been ongoing for a couple days. Amtrak is a federally supported company that operates more than 300 passenger trains daily in nearly every contiguous U.S. state and parts of Canada. It was the second Amtrak collision in as many days. Three people in a car were killed Sunday afternoon when an Amtrak commuter train smashed into it in Northern California, authorities said. The Southwest Chief takes about two days to travel from Los Angeles to Chicago, picking up passengers at stops in between. Mendon, with a population of about 160, is about 84 miles (135 kilometers) northeast of Kansas City. ___ Associated Press reporters Margaret Stafford in Liberty, Mo., Stephen Groves in Sioux Falls, S.D., Grant Schulte in Omaha, Neb., and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report. __ This story has been corrected to show that the train was traveling from Los Angeles to Chicago. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ISTANBUL (AP) Istanbuls LGBTQ Pride organizers said 373 people detained by police following a ban on all Pride events were being released Monday. Kaos GL, a leading LGBTQ rights association, said all the people detained Sunday were being freed after giving their police statement and undergoing health checks. Some were released overnight. District governors in the two popular Istanbul districts of Beyoglu and Kadikoy outlawed all LGBTQ events last week, saying the ban would to ensure safety, peace and prevent crime. Numerous streets and subway stations were closed off by police Sunday to stop protesters from gathering. Police also pushed and detained journalists. Amnesty Turkey said the ban was extremely harsh and arbitrary. The rights groups Turkey campaigner, Milena Buyum, tweeted that the detained individuals were deprived of their liberty simple bc they were exercising their rights to freedom of expression and assembly. Turkish authorities allowed Pride marches to take place for more than a decade starting in 2003, when Turkeys conservative President Recep Tayyip Erdogan served as prime minister. Up to 100,000 people attended Istanbul Pride in 2014. But in 2015, police dispersed crowds using tear gas and water cannons after a last-minute ban. The march has been banned ever since and top Turkish officials have called LGBTQ people perverts who aim to hurt traditional family values. Organizers said in a statement Monday that the large number of detentions Sunday were more than triple the total number of detentions over the past seven years since Pride has been banned. They vowed to continue their fight for rights in the face of increased hate speech and discrimination. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Materials and machines were moved out of storage and into polling places Friday as the final preparations for the June 28 primary election are made. The night before, about 50 election judges met in Hathaway Auditorium at Lewis and Clark Community College for training. It was the last of seven training sessions held over a one-week period. Madison County Clerk-Recorder Debra Ming-Mendoza said she hopes to have 900 election judges for Tuesday. For a polling place to open it has to have a minimum of three election judges, including one from the Democratic and Republican parties. Fully-staffed precincts have five judges. Ming-Mendoza noted that because it is a primary, voters will have to declare for a party. A concern next week is that voters go to the correct polling place. Because of redistricting and the reduction of precincts, some boundary lines have changed, forcing people into unfamiliar precincts. Pay attention to your voters card, Ming-Mendoza said. During the training judges were told how to deal with several issues, with an emphasis on if there is a problem dont hesitate to call the office. Ming-Mendoza expects a very low turnout Tuesday, with early indications near 9 to 11 percent despite a large number of contested races. Maybe election day will be the huge turnout we all hope for, she said. She said early voters and mail-in ballots were both running far behind totals from two years ago, when thousands opted for one of those choices. For those who do vote Tuesday, there are more than 600 different ballot styles. She cautioned that candidates in tight races should hold off celebrating until mail-in votes are counted. Mail-in votes must be postmarked by June 28 and received by July 12 to be counted. She said one polling place had to be moved: Wood River 12 in the Brushy Grove Fire Station at 312 Linton St. Those voters will now go to the Wood River Roundhouse at 633 Wood River Ave. Ming-Mendoza said they learned the building does not have air conditioning right now. For more information visit https://www.co.madison.il.us/departments/county_clerk/elections/index.php. BERLIN (AP) German officials said Monday that numerous priceless artifacts taken from African nations during colonial times will be permanently returned. Among the artifacts is a shell-studded statue of the mother goddess Ngonnso', which holds great spiritual significance for the Nso' people of northwest Cameroon, the Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation said. Edwardsville American Legion Post 199 is gearing up for its annual Independence celebration. This years event is slated for Saturday, July 2, at the post, located at 58 State Route 157, with festivities starting at 4 p.m. Hot dogs, bratwurst, pulled pork sandwiches, chips, snow cones and a variety of beverages will be served. The Harper Family band will take the stage at 4 p.m. and play until approximately 6:30 p.m. The Edwardsville Municipal Band will then make its annual appearance at the event, playing from 7:30 p.m. until dusk (approximately 9:30 p.m.) until the fireworks start. Last years event featured the normal format, with music, food and fireworks at Post 199. Two years ago, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fireworks display was in the parking lot at Edwardsville High School, with people watching from their cars. This is an opportunity for the American Legion post to showcase what we do not only the community involvement, but also what we do for veterans and children, said Doug Thompson, who is the chairman for the Independence celebration and the treasurer for the Post 199 park board. Its a good fundraiser for us to help veterans and other folks in the community. We also have a great partnership with the city of Edwardsville, which provides the fireworks. This year, the city is once again the primary sponsor for the fireworks, with help from iCAN Clinic in Edwardsville, which provided an additional $2,000 to cover the remaining cost of the display. The price of fireworks has gone up and the city didnt have it in their budget for the extra cost, so iCAN Clinic stepped up to pay it, which helps quite a bit, Thompson said. As usual, shuttle buses will operate at the parking lots at Eden Church (903 N. 2nd St.) and Woodland Elementary School (59 State Route 157) before, during and after the event to take people to Post 199 at the top of the hill. The buses will run for about 40 minutes after the fireworks have finished until everyone is cleared out, Thompson said. Around 4 p.m., the police will start setting up barricades on Route 157 (near the entrance to the American Legion post). The Edwardsville Municipal Band, under the direction of James Kerfoot, will perform a selection of patriotic music featuring vocalist Emily Ottwein. She will sing arrangements including the setting by Peter Wilhousky of Battle Hymn of the Republic, the Carmen Dragon setting of America, the Beautiful, and Youll Never Walk Alone from Carousel. Ottwein will also sing arrangements by Warren Barker of the George and Ira Gershwins hits They Cant Take That Away From Me and Someone To Watch Over Me, and a special rendition of The Star-Spangled Banner in A Patriotic Salute by James Hosey. The concert begins with The Battle of Shiloh by Charles L. Barnhouse and follows with assistant conductor Rick Acuncius leading the band in a setting by Claude T. Smith of our National Hymn God of Our Fathers, followed by the music of George M. Cohan in Star-Spangled Salute! Included in this medley by James Barnes are the songs Give My Regards to Broadway, Harrigan, All in the Wearing, Over There, Yankee Doodle Boy and Youre a Grand Old Flag. Music of the Big Band era will be played by arranger John Higgins. Big Band Signatures features the songs Lets Dance, Leap Frog, The Woodchoppers Ball, The Peanut Vendor, April In Paris, Caravan, and In the Mood. The first half will end with a salute to those who have served in the military by playing the six service songs in Armed Forces Medley by Lewis Buckley. As the tradition with the Independence Day concert, the program will include Peter Tchaikovskys 1812 Overture, followed by The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa. For more about Saturdays event, call Edwardsville American Legion Post 199 at 618-656-9774. We usually get at least a couple thousand people, depending on the weather and what else is going on in the world, Thompson said. I always encourage folks to come out and learn about the Legion and listen to the Edwardsville Municipal Band. Its a great event for all of us with a lot of camaraderie. Its a great experience for everybody in the community. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LISBON, Portugal (AP) Some countries won't accept that the world's oceans belong to everyone and their egoism is holding up a global agreement on protecting these vast tracts of the planet, the United Nations chief charged Monday. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres didnt say which countries he was referring to, but stressed the significance of the oceans to everyone on the planet. International waters are ours, he said. The U.N. chief was with senior officials and scientists from more than 120 countries attending a five-day U.N. Ocean Conference in Lisbon, Portugal. Also present were activists frustrated by the failure to come up with international rules that might ensure ocean sustainability. The U.N. is hoping the conference that got underway Monday will bring fresh momentum to protracted efforts for a global ocean agreement. There's no comprehensive legal framework applying to the high seas. Oceans cover some 70% of the earths surface and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people. Some activists refer to them as the largest unregulated area on the planet. The conference is set to adopt a declaration that, though not binding on its signatories, could help implement and facilitate the protection and conservation of oceans and their resources, according to the U.N.. The declaration is due to be endorsed on Friday. But still beyond reach is a vital new international agreement on Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction, also known as the Treaty of the High Seas. That treaty is being negotiated within the framework of the United Convention on the Law of the Sea, which is the main international agreement governing human maritime activities. After 10 years of talks, however, including a fourth round of negotiations three months ago, a deal is still not within sight. A fifth round is scheduled for August in New York. The worlds largest ecosystem ... is still unprotected and is dying as we watch, the activist group Ocean Rebellion said. Guterres said significant progress has been made toward a deal on a high seas treaty and that the world stands at a crucial moment for the future of the oceans. We need to make people put pressure on those who decide, Guterres said, appealing for people to make themselves heard. Threats to the oceans include global warming, pollution, acidification and other problems, the U.N. says. Potentially harmful deep-sea mining also lacks rules. Despite the frustrations, the conference is an important opportunity to accelerate steps toward a high seas treaty, the U.N. says, as delegates informally debate possible ways forward. The conference is also expected to reaffirm and build upon the some 62 commitments made by governments at the previous summit in Nairobi, Kenya in 2018, from protecting small island states with ocean-based economies to sustainable fishing and combatting warming waters. Financing models for ocean conservation are also on the agenda this year, as well as coming up with science-based, innovative solutions that might improve ocean health. U.S. climate envoy John Kerry and French President Emmanuel Macron are among those attending some days of the event. ___ Follow all of APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate ___ 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. NEW YORK (AP) People with hearing loss have a new ally in their efforts to navigate the world: Captions that arent limited to their television screens and streaming services. The COVID pandemic disrupted daily life for people everywhere, but many of those with hearing loss took the resulting isolation especially hard. When everyone wears a mask they are completely unintelligible to me, said Pat Olken of Sharon, Massachusetts, whose hearing aids were insufficient. (A new cochlear implant has helped her a lot.) So when her grandsons bar mitzvah was streamed on Zoom early in the pandemic, well before the service offered captions, Olken turned to Otter, an app created to transcribe business meetings. Reading along with the ceremonys speakers made the app a tremendous resource, she said. People with hearing loss, a group estimated at roughly 40 million U.S. adults, have long adopted technologies to help them make their way in the hearing world, from Victorian-era ear trumpets to modern digital hearing aids and cochlear implants. But todays hearing aids can cost upward of $5,000, often arent covered by insurance and dont work for everyone. The devices also dont snap audible sound into focus the way glasses immediately correct vision. Instead, hearing aids and cochlear implants require the brain to interpret sound in a new way. The solutions out there are clearly not a one-size-fits-all model and do not meet the needs of a lot of people based on cost, access, a lot of different things, said Frank Lin, director of the Cochlear Center for Hearing and Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. Thats not just a communication problem; researchers have found correlations between untreated hearing loss and higher risks of dementia. Cheaper over-the-counter hearing devices are on the way. But for now, only about 20% of those who could benefit from hearing aids use one. Captions, by contrast, are usually a lot easier to access. Theyve long been available on modern television sets and are cropping up more frequently in videoconferencing apps like Zoom, streaming services like Netflix, social media video on TikTok and YouTube, movie theaters and live arts venues. In recent years, smartphone apps like Otter; Googles Live Transcribe; Ava; InnoCaption, for phone calls; and GalaPro, for live theater performances, have emerged. Some are aimed at people with hearing loss and use human reviewers to make sure captions are accurate. Others, like Otter and Live Transcribe, instead rely on whats called automatic speech recognition, which uses artificial intelligence to learn and capture speech. ASR has issues with accuracy and lags in transcribing the spoken word; built-in biases can also make transcriptions less accurate for the voices of women, people of color and deaf people, said Christian Volger, a professor at Gallaudet University who specializes in accessible technology. Jargon and slang can also be a stumbling block. But users and experts say that ASR has improved a lot. While welcome, none of these solutions are perfect. Toni Iacolucci of New York says her book club could be draining even when she was using Otter to transcribe the conversation. The captions werent always accurate and didnt identify individual speakers, which could make it hard to keep up, she said. It worked a little bit, said Iacolucci, who lost her hearing nearly two decades ago. After coming home, she would be so tired from trying to follow the conversation that she had to lie down. It just takes so much energy. She got a cochlear implant a year ago that has significantly improved her ability to hear, to the point where she can now have one-on-one conversations without captions. They still help in group discussions, she said. Otter said in a statement that it welcomes feedback from the deaf and hard of hearing community and noted that it now provides a paid software assistant that can join virtual meetings and transcribe them automatically. Transcription lag can present other problems -- among them, a worry that conversation partners might grow impatient with delays. Sometimes you say, Im sorry, I just need to look at my captions in order to hear, said Richard Einhorn, a musician and composer in New York. That doesnt mean Im not aware sometimes its a hassle for other people. Other issues crop up. When Chelle Wyatt of Salt Lake City went to her doctors office, the Wi-Fi there wasnt strong enough for the transcription app to work. It was gestures and writing things down and making sure I got a written report afterward so I knew what was said, she said. Movie theaters provide devices that amplify sound, as well as glasses and individual screens that show captions to go with the movie. But those arent always comfortable and sometimes arent well-maintained or just dont work. Many people with hearing loss want more films to run captions on the big screen, just like youd have in the comfort of your own home. A new law that took effect In New York City on May 15 requires movie theaters to offer captions on the screen for up to four showtimes per movie each week, including during the most popular hours to go to the movies Friday nights and weekends. Hawaii passed a state law in 2015 that required two screenings a week of each movie with captions on the screen. AMC, the big movie chain, also says it screens some movies with captions at about a third of its U.S. theaters. Captions are more available now for live performances, too. Several Broadway theaters promote a smartphone app that captions live performances; there are also handheld individual devices that show captions. Theaters also have a few performances with open captions everyone can see. During the pandemic, the shift to online meetings and school meant videoconferencing services became a tool of survival but captions came only after a big push. Zoom added live transcription to its free service only in October 2021, but the meetings host has to enable them. Google Meet was quicker to make captions available to everyone for free in May 2020; Microsoft Teams, a workplace messaging app, did so that June. We need captioning everywhere and we need people to be more sensitive, Olken said. The more I advocate the more other people benefit. In his continued effort to rejig, reposition, revamp and restructure the Corps, the Commandant General of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, (NSCDC), Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, PhD, organised a sensitization and evaluation tour for all Divisional Corps Officers and Peace and Conflict Resolution desk officers across all the Divisions in Osun State Command. While speaking on behalf of the Commandant General, CG Abubakar Audi, mni, PhD, Superintendent of Corps (SC) Helen Idoko explained that mediation should be used as an alternative to litigation. She charged the trained officers to justify the confidence reposed in them, by letting the training reflect in the discharge of their duties. Furthermore, SC Idoko charged the participants to exhibit all the qualities of a good mediator by being disciplined, confidential, focused and committed to duties. She enjoined Peace and Conflict Resolution unit officers to exercise caution while compiling reports adding that the unit must be resolute in finding an acceptable and stress-free, cost-effective alternative to conflict resolution by using Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). She buttressed the area of farmer/herders cases, the Unit and the Agro Ranger Unit should endeavour to work harmoniously together since we are working towards achieving the same aims and objectives. She thereafter noted in the area of farmer/herders cases, the Unit and the Agro Ranger Unit should endeavour to work harmoniously together since we are working towards achieving the same aims and objectives. Timely forwarding of report to the State Command from the Divisional Offices for an onward transfer to the National Headquarters is very important. In his speech the Commandant of NSCDC, Osun state command, Commandant of Corps (CC) Emmanuel Ocheja who commended the Commandant General Dr Ahmed Abubakar Audi mni, PhD, for organizing the sensitization and evaluation tour in Osun State Command, said the knowledge acquired would help the trained personnel for better service delivery. CC Ocheja further revealed that the best way to settle civil matters is through alternative dispute resolution. He advised the public that ADR is a means of settling civil cases out of court. He promised that the the command would ensure that knowledge the participants have acquired would be utilized. While giving the vote of thanks, the head of Peace and Conflict Resolution Unit, Chief Superintendent of Corps (CSC) Anjorin Oluwakemi lauded the CG for the training and assured him that the training acquired would be put to use while discharging their duties. E-SIGNED. ASC II ATANDA OLABISI PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER NSCDC, OSUN STATE COMMAND. Momo Payment Service Bank Limited (MPSBL), the banking subsidiary of MTN Nigeria Communications Plc, is currently enmeshed in an alleged N23 billion fraud scandal, one month after the launch of the platform. The mobile money banking firm has urged the Federal High Court to compel 18 commercial banks to refund the said fund which was transferred to their customers. The money, MPSBL said, was erroneously and fraudulently transferred in 700,000 transactions into about 8,000 accounts belonging to the customers. The subsidiary also urged the court to order the banks to provide information about the customers into whose accounts the funds were mistakenly paid. The requests form part of the reliefs in a suit filed by MPSBL through its lawyer, Lotana Okoli (SAN). MPSBL averred that under the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Regulation on Instant (Inter-Bank) Electronic Funds Transfer Services, made pursuant to sections 2(D), 33(1)6) and 47(2) of the CBN Act 2007,it is incumbent on the banks to make refunds and provide the required information. MPSBLs Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Anthony Usoro Anthony said in a supporting affidavit that his bank suffered a system exploitation on May 24, 2022, during which 700,000 transactions were processed with credits being made into about 8,000 accounts in the 18 banks being requested to make the refunds. Anthony averred that upon becoming aware of the incident, MPSBLs management shut down the service to limit the impact and triggered engagements with the defendants (the 18 banks) through the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS) for the commencement of recovery activities from the accounts of the various beneficiaries in the various banks. He added: We were able, through system checks, to confirm the banks and accounts into which the various sums of money were transferred into. We were also able to confirm how much was paid into each bank account in total. The said list of accounts which received the funds was made available to the respective banks as a preliminary step to mitigate the applicants losses. The transfers were due to the fact that the plaintiff suffered a system exploitation which led to the said debits. There is no transaction between the plaintiff and the recipient account holders that warranted the transfer of the funds to those account, he said. Anthony added that his organisations resort to the court was informed by the banks insistence that they needed to be ordered by the court before they could act. The MPSBL CEO stated that the organisation was carrying out investigations internally and externally to ascertain the actual cause of the debits. He added: The defendant banks have requested an order of court mandating the defendant banks to reverse the credits made into their customers accounts before the defendants can do so. The plaintiff is entitled to a return of its money and has demanded the return of the money into its settlement account in the name MOMO PSB settlement account number: 2041379385 held in First Bank Plc, Samuel Asabia House, 35 Marina, Lagos. It is the understanding of the plaintiff that prior to the defendant banks being informed of the fact that the credits into their customer accounts were unauthorised that some withdrawal transactions had already been carried out by some of the customers. This has necessitated the application for information regarding these customers and the banks and accounts to which they transferred the said funds in order to enable the plaintiff to trace the funds to those banks. By virtue of the provisions of the CBN Regulation on Instant (Inter-Bank) Electronic Funds Transfer Services, made pursuant to sections 2(D), 33(1)6) And 47(2) of the CBN Act 2007 the plaintiff is entitled to a return of its money and the provision of the information which it requires from the defendants. The plaintiff is also entitled to the support of the defendants in the recovery of any sums which have been removed from the customer accounts in the defendant banks the reliefs it is aiming in this action. The plaintiff is praying the court for the following reliefs: * A declaration that the deposits of an aggregate sum of N22,300,000,000.00 erroneously transferred by the plaintiff to the accounts of the customers of the defendant banks, having been done in error, belong to the plaintiff and not the customers of the defendant banks. * An order directing the defendant banks to each, individually, account for the sums available in their customers accounts and the sums which have been removed by the customers and are no longer available. * An order directing the defendants banks to immediately return the aggregate sum of N22,300,000,000.00, less those funds that are no longer available, to the plaintiffs settlement account in the name MOMO PSB settlement account number: 2041379385 at First Bank Plc Samuel Asabia House 35 Marina, Lagos, from where the funds originated. * An order directing the defendant banks to release all information, including account name information in respect of the accounts from which the plaintiffs funds have been transferred to third parties, including the destination accounts and the banks in which they are held to assist in the tracing and recovery of those funds. Russia's army has fully occupied the key Ukrainian city of Severodonetsk after weeks of fighting, its mayor said Saturday, as Russian President Vladimir Putin said Moscow would be able to send nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus within months. The capture of the industrial hub of Severodonetsk is an important strategic win for Moscow as it seeks to gain full control over the east of the country. It has been the scene of weeks of running battles, but the Ukrainian army said Friday that its outgunned forces would withdraw to better defend the neighbouring city of Lysychansk. The city has been fully occupied by the Russians, mayor Oleksandr Striuk said on Saturday. A few hours earlier, pro-Moscow separatists said Russian troops and their allies had entered Lysychansk, which faces Severodonetsk across the river. Street fighting is currently taking place, a representative of the separatists, Andrei Marochko, said on Telegram, in a claim that could not be independently verified. In Saint Petersburg, Putin said Saturday that Russia would deliver Iskander-M missiles capable of carrying nuclear warheads to Belarus in the coming months, as he received Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. He also offered to upgrade Belarus' warplanes to make them capable of carrying nuclear weapons, in comments broadcast on Russia television. Putin has several times referred to nuclear weapons since his country launched a military operation in Ukraine on February 24, in what the West has seen as a warning to the West not to intervene. Pull in Belarus Ukraine said it had come under massive bombardment early on Saturday morning from neighbouring Belarus which, although a Russian ally, is not officially involved in the conflict. Twenty rockets fired from the territory of Belarus and from the air targeted the village of Desna in the northern Chernigiv region, Ukraine's northern military command said. It said infrastructure was hit, but no casualties had yet been reported. Belarus has provided logistic support to Moscow since the February 24 invasion, particularly in the first few weeks, and like Russia has been targeted by Western sanctions but is officially not involved in the conflict. 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. 'Ukraine can win' Four months after Russian forces invaded Ukraine, they have focused on the eastern Donbas region, gradually making gains despite fierce resistance. Also capturing Lysychansk would allow Russia to focus its attention on Kramatorsk and Slovyansk further west in its attempt to conquer the Donbas, Ukraine's industrial heartland. The Russian breakthrough came on the eve of a week of feverish Western diplomacy, as US President Joe Biden flew in to Europe for a G7 summit starting Sunday, and NATO talks later in the week. Ukraine can win and it will win, said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson in a statement on the eve of the summit. But they need our backing to do so. Now is not the time to give up on Ukraine, he added. The Western allies will take stock of the effectiveness of sanctions imposed so far against Moscow, consider possible new aid for Ukraine, and begin turning their eye to longer-term reconstruction plans. The European Union offered a strong show of support on Thursday when it granted Ukraine candidate status, although the path to membership is long. Moscow dismissed the EU decision as a move to contain Russia geopolitically. Evacuating the Azot plant As in the southern port of city of Mariupol before it, the battle for Severodonetsk has devastated the city. On Saturday, Severodonetsk mayor Striuk said civilians had started to evacuate the Azot chemical plant, where several hundred people had been hiding from Russian shelling. These people have spent almost three months of their lives in basements, shelters, he said. That's tough emotionally and physically. They would now need medical and psychological support, he added. Pro-Moscow separatists said Russian forces and their allies had taken control of the Azot factory and evacuated more than 800 civilians sheltering there. The mainly Russian-speaking Donbas has long been a focus of Russia. Since 2014, it has been partially under the control of pro-Moscow separatists, who set up self-declared breakaway republics in Lugansk and Donetsk. Human remains Millions of Ukrainians have fled their homes and their country since the invasion, most to neighbouring Poland. Some foreigners have gone the other way to fight. Russia said Saturday its troops had killed up to 80 Polish fighters in strikes on a factory in Konstantinovka in the Donetsk region, a claim that could not be verified. Russia has also intensified its offensive in the northern city of Kharkiv in recent days. An AFP team on Saturday saw a 10-storey administrative building in the city-centre hit by missiles overnight, causing a fire but no casualties. It had already been bombed, prompting one soldier on the scene to note: The Russians are finishing what they started. On Friday, the same reporters found a stray dog eating human remains in the town of Chuguiv, southeast of Kharkiv, where an attack earlier this week killed six people. (AFP) PHOTO: 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 / AFP Inside the politics and intrigues that saw Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State lose out of the race for the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar As at Wednesday last week, it was almost certain that the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Nyesom Wike would be picked as the running mate to the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. But it turned out not to be as the northern stakeholders of the party later on Wednesday dealt a fatal blow to the political fate of Wike. That Wednesday night, considered as the night of the long knives, saw PDP stakeholders dealing a deadly political blow on the garrulous Wike by dumping him for Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State. After the horse-trading and intense politicking that trailed the outcome of the national convention of the main opposition party, its presidential candidate and former Vice President, Atiku on Thursday announced Okowa as his running mate. Before his announcement, the PDP Advisory Committee, led by Deputy National Chairman (North), Umar Damagum, had on Tuesday unanimously agreed and recommended Wike as Atiku's running mate. Though the national leadership of the party denied it, multiple sources within the party organs reaffirmed that Wike was recommended but that Atiku had the right to pick anyone he could work with. Even the National Chairman of PDP, Dr. Iyorchia Ayu openly debunked the report that the committee voted 16 out of 19 in favour of Wike. He insisted that the committee' s report was based on consensus. THISDAY learnt that reasons that worked against Wike who was highly favoured to be Atiku's running mate could be traced to his brash and unfriendly political disposition. A source who is a member of the party's National Working Committee (NWC), told THISDAY that everything changed late Wednesday night. According to the source, Wike was almost announced as Atiku's running mate, but everything changed when the news broke on Tuesday and after we met the candidate late Wednesday night. Many stakeholders believed that Wike is overbearing and may be difficult to condone. Most northern elder statesmen that are members of our party rejected Wike because of his antecedent that they perceived as offensive. You must also remember that this presidency we are talking about, so other stakeholders who are for obvious reasons interested in who becomes presidential candidate and running mate of the PDP and All Progressives Congress (APC), cautioned Atiku, warning that Wike lacks the temperament to be Vice President. Though Wike is popular, with political clout and financial war chest, but Atiku considered other factors as observed by stakeholders and opted for Okowa, the source stated. For Atiku, Wike presents the ideal choice to guarantee victory in the 2023 poll. But the choice of a running mate is not only for Atiku to make. Northern stalwarts who helped Atiku secure the presidential ticket of the PDP also made some input, and theirs convinced Atiku in rejecting Wike as his running mate. They alleged that Wike is anti-north given his previous actions and utterances. They recalled that in September 2019, the state government under his watch ordered the demolition of a Mosque in the Trans-Amadi area of Port Harcourt which the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa'ad Abubakar at the time condemned. They fear that Islamic clerics in the North would mount a vigorous opposition against the PDP ticket should Wike be Atiku's running mate especially as the APC is likely set to announce a Muslim-Muslim ticket. Wike was also accused of being a divisive figure who has no restraint in engaging in media spats with top party leaders as he did with the former national chairman of the PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, Governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki and his deputy, Philip Shaibu. The source stated that unlike Wike, Okowa, on the other hand, has no such political baggage. He comes from the oil-rich Delta State with enormous resources that could come in handy for the election. He is also seen as level-headed among PDP leaders with no divisive tendency. Also, the Delta State governor supported Atiku in the 2018 and 2022 National Convention where he emerged PDP presidential candidate for the 2019 and 2023 elections, respectively. At the glamourous event where Atiku unveiled Okowa, it was observed the conspicuous absence of seven out of the 13 PDP governors. The PDP governors that were absent were Wike, Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Aminu Waziri Tambuwal (Sokoto), Darius Ishaku (Taraba), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Samuel Ortom (Benue) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia). It could not be ascertained why they were absent because it is a known fact that Fintiri is an Atiku's loyalist; so also are Ishaku and Tambuwal. While a source said their absence was due to time constraints, another source said the absence of some of these governors was as a result of their misgivings about Atiku's choice of running mate. Most political analysts have however insisted that the responsibility of choosing a running mate lies with a presidential candidate and not his party. The Enugu State Governor, Mr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, who was at the hall before the commencement of the unveiling, was said to have stormed out when he discovered that Atiku was going to announce Okowa. Those present were Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom) and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State.However, the PDP governors hailed the appointment of Okowa as the vice presidential candidate, describing it as well deserved. In a statement signed late Thursday by the Chairman PDP Governors Forum, Tambuwal, the party's governors noted in particular that Atiku had promised to select a serving PDP governor as his running mate, ostensibly not just because of the contributions of the governors to the effective running of the party and its stability, but because of their experience and executive capacity. The statement noted that Atiku has kept his word.The PDP governors said that Governor Okowa has distinguished himself as Governor of Delta State, stating that he also has cognate legislative experience as a former Senator as well as what it takes to be an effective Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.The great task of recovering, rescuing and rebuilding Nigeria begins with the Atiku/Okowa ticket. The APC has completely messed up Nigeria. It has failed in all aspects of governance; insecurity, bad economy, dysfunctional education, health and social services are the hallmarks of the APC administration. With the Atiku/Okowa ticket help is on the way. We shall overcome, the PDP governors explained Unveiling Okowa as his running mate in Abuja, Atiku said he settled for the Delta State governor because he symbolised the imperative of reuniting the country. Atiku stressed that party unity was critical not only to prosecute a winning campaign, but also to provide good governance that the country seriously deserves. Explaining how he arrived at the decision, the former vice president said: I held wide consultations with various stakeholders in our party including our governors, National Working Committee, Board of Trustees, and other leaders to seek their inputs and their wisdom. In these consultations, I made clear that my running mate would have the potential to succeed me at a moment's notice, that is, a president-in-waiting. In other words, the person must have the qualities to be president. The person must have an appreciation of the deep rot which our country has been put into by the rudderless APC government; understands the great suffering that most of our people are going through and the urgency of relieving them of that suffering; understand the critical importance of economic growth and development to provide our young people with jobs, hope, and a pathway to wealth. The person must appreciate the critical importance of education in the development of modern societies so we can prepare our young people to be able to compete in the increasingly competitive and globalised world. My running mate must understand that without security, the development will be very difficult because local and foreign investors who have been scared away already, would not return to invest in our economy. Thus, my running mate will be a person who will stand by me as I confront the frightening level of insecurity in our land, Atiku explained. In his acceptance speech, Okowa thanked the party leadership for the opportunity, saying Atiku has the solution to Nigeria's problems. Okowa expressed the hope that the PDP-led government would begin the rebuilding process of the nation right from May 29, 2023. He said: Mr. President -in -waiting, I must truly thank you for finding me worthy to be on this ticket. I do know that it was a very tough decision, even as you have spoken this afternoon. But I thank God that amongst my very qualified colleagues, even those more qualified than myself, I found favour and I'm here today as the vice presidential candidate of the party. While thanking you, I do understand that it's a great work that is ahead of us. By the special grace of God, we will work hard to ensure victory for the party. There is no doubt that there is great work ahead of every one of us. The building back process is going to be collective and we're trusting that all of our team members will want to be part of that story at the end of the day. The story which will obviously be positive and will yield positive results will require that each one of us must support our principle as we move forth in the next few months and that at the end, we will win the elections with a landslide victory. In his reaction, a former House of Representatives member, Prince Ned Nwoko said Okowa was selected as Atiku's running mate because he is disciplined and not aggressive.Speaking with journalists in Abuja, Nwoko said: I have never been in doubt on who will be running mate to Atiku. And he didn't disappoint us. We expected him to choose somebody who is disciplined, somebody who is strong, somebody who is focused, somebody who is stable, and somebody who is not aggressive. And that is what he did. So this is good for the party and Nigeria, Okowa is indeed qualified to be Atiku's running mate, Nwoko explained. (b THISDAY) NDLEA has arrested a Brazilian-returnee with pellets of cocaine concealed in his private parts. This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday by NDLEA's Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi. Babafemi stated that the suspect was arrested at the arrival hall of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA) Lagos. He stated that the suspect was nabbed on June 20 upon arrival on an Ethiopian Airline flight from Sao Paulo, Brazil via Addis Ababa. He added that the suspect had swallowed 50 wraps of cocaine before departing Brazil and excreted 48 pellets in Addis Ababa where he handed them over to another person. According to Babafemi, the suspect was unable to excrete the remaining two wraps at the hotel room in Addis Ababa before boarding his flight. He later excreted them in the aircraft restroom during the flight from Ethiopia to Lagos,'' Babafemi stated. Meanwhile, two drug kingpins behind the smuggling of two drug consignments from Canada concealed in vehicles containers through the Tin Can Port in Apapa, Lagos have been arrested by NDLEA's operatives. Babafemi stated that one of them was arrested at his house in Idi Araba area of Lagos on June 22. The suspect was arrested for importing a 40ft container carrying 33 parcels of Colorado'' weighing16.5kg. Babafemi added that the second suspect, popularly called Otunba, was arrested on Thursday for his role in the smuggling of 290 parcels of Colorado weighing 145kg from Montreal, Canada. The drugs were concealed in four vehicles shipped into Nigeria in a 40ft container. He had been on the run since March and had in the course of investigation attempted to bribe NDLEA officers with N10million to influence the case, Babafemi stated. (NAN) With a headline like "Ekweremadu's organ 'donor' serial liar-Forensic psychologist," the Nigerian public and the world would assume that a psychological examination was conducted on the subject, by Dr. Law Mefor, with the identification of "serial liar" as the result. Instead, the title "Ekweremadu's organ 'donor' serial liar-Forensic psychologist" is from the Nation Newspaper, written by Sanni Onogu, who interviewed "Dr. Law Mefor," who was described as a "forensic psychologist," on June 26, 2022. The article states that "A forensic psychologist, Dr. Law Mefor, has described David Nwamini Ukpo, the man at the centre of the organ saga leading to the arrest and remand of former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, and his wife, Dr. Beatrice as a serial liar, who should not be taken seriously." To speak convincingly to the public through the media in this manner means Dr. Mefor came to his conclusion after being with the subject for some time, carrying out a mental status/state examination, and performing a detailed on-going personality assessment on the subject in Nigeria or possibly in London, using standard psychological or psychometric instruments in order toreach an objective representation. But it never occurred. The reporter stated that "Mefor was reacting to a Facebook post, supposedly by Ukpo, where he claimed that he was lured to Europe by Ekweremadu with a promise of better life only for the lawmaker and his wife to try to harvest his kidney for their sick daughter." Professionally, as part of responsible, legal, and ethical use of psychological expressions, " reacting to a Facebook post does not lead a professional to diagnose another human being. The reporter notes that "Mefor, in a post on Sunday, described Ukpo as "a serial liar and manipulator seeking sympathy when he should face the full weight of both the British and Nigerian laws." Such a pinpointed clinical representation of the subject could have resulted from a clinical interaction between Mefor and the subject or from an analysis of the results of psychological testing of the subject. It never occurred, as evidenced by his media expressions. The reporter quotes Mefor as saying, ""What I know is that Ukpo has been doing a lot of deleting and altering of details of his social media accounts since the Ekweremadu saga broke and he (Ukpo) was unmasked. This presents him for what he is a shady, dishonest character." In professional psychology, especially in the public space, psychological objectivity and factuality require that such conclusions not be misleading to the public. In the article, Mefor stated that ""But even if Ukpomade the fallacious post claiming he was tricked to London, it is clear to the whole world now that he lied to the British Police when he presented himself as a homeless minor picked from Lagos streets, which I believe is a major factor that put Ekweremadu and wife in their present travail." The only evaluative way that Mefor can clinically conclude that the subject "lied to the British Police" is that, as part of taking psychological history on this matter, Mefor on the authority and permission of the court, interacted with attending police investigators. The article pointed out what Mefor said, ""All the information coming out, including his International Passport issued on 4th November 2021, his Bank Verification Number (BVN) done on 31st October 2019, his National Identity Number (NIN) done on 15th June 2021, the statement by the Nigerian Immigration Service, point to the fact that he was born on 12th October 2000 and is therefore 21 years old." Hearsay and informal conclusions are dangerous and not allowed in professional psychology as they could lead to harm to all involved in the matter and could expose a professional in psychology to possible financial and criminal liability. Mefor concluded in the article that ""In addition, his Facebook posts do not suggest the lifestyle of minor or an enslaved person, but a full-blown adult cruising life." In professional psychology, sentiment and image analysis are disallowed. In the article, Mefor, stated Therefore, I see no reason any right-thinking Nigerian should believe any further stories told by someone who obviously lied about his age in order to gain asylum and stay back in London, he said. This is hearsay. The importance of being non-judgmental in professional psychology interactions with people through the media is to allow for informed practices. The principle of non-judgmental attitude by anyone involved in professional psychology is a necessary approach. Non-judgmentalism in the media is especially necessary as it does not violate the very ethical guidelines and professional standards the public demands. Mefor said, It is equally instructive that David, who travelled to London since February 2022 only remembered that he was a tricked and trafficked minor on getting to the airport to board an already booked flight back to Nigeria after spending several months in London, Again, non-judgmental expressions are part of professional obligation as they ensure the avoidance of negative ethical and legal implications for students and specialists in psychology. Anyone involved in any area of professional psychology should always remind themselves to be non-judgmental, as we are not there to criticize, judge, or share our personal opinions about the behaviors of others. For the purpose of educating the Nigerian public and media, psychology-based public speakers, whether talking to a reporter, delivering a speech in a classroom, hall, office, or marketplace, must uphold certain ethical standards. In order to protect the public safety, students, graduates, and specialists in psychology when engaged as representatives of psychology must present themselves in a manner that includes objective sources and active clinical interaction with a subject. He or she should primarily provide professional psychological conclusions to members of the public in a manner that is deserving of respect to all involved, including suspects, accusers, and complainers. Every influencing factor raised in public through psychology must always be non-sensational and based on reliability, as subjective public expressions and conclusions can raise legal questions about fairness and objectivity. In a growing democracy like Nigeria, students, and graduates of psychology like Mefor are encouraged to bring psychological guides into the public space to help the public, but it must be done with care. The good news for the Nigerian public is that the Nigerian Psychological Association (NPA) and other similar associations are trying to bring psychology to the public in a standardized manner. In January 2019, the Senate passed the bill for the establishment of the Nigerian Council for Psychologists, which currently awaits President Buhari to sign the bill into law. Hopefully, the corrective explanations I offered here will be continuously improved and practiced for the purpose of developing high-quality psychologists. Such legal regulations will help define qualified psychologists as forensic psychologists, clinical psychologists, industrial psychologists, and others, through professional standards exams beyond doctorate certifications. Under this type of professional government-backed system, as in a professional psychology board, there will be psychologists with various specialties who the people can verify as qualified as licensed and who stand out as "psychologist". This will allow for the public safety and protection of the public welfarenot just ones interest. I hope all that I have presented here will be helpful towards making psychology a part of our public care in a responsible, legal, and ethical manner. I look forward to the likes of Mefor becoming part of the effort to bring professional psychology to help meet the challenges of society. John Egbeazien Oshodi, who was born in Uromi, Edo State in Nigeria to a father who served in the Nigeria police for 37 years, is an American based Police/Prison Scientist and Forensic/Clinical/Legal Psychologist. A government consultant on matters of forensic-clinical adult and child psychological services in the USA; Chief Educator and Clinician at the Transatlantic Enrichment and Refresher Institute, an Online Lifelong Center for Personal, Professional, and Career Development. He is a former Interim Associate Dean/Assistant Professor at Broward College, Florida. The Founder of the Dr. John Egbeazien Oshodi Foundation, Center for Psychological Health and Behavioral Change in African Settings In 2011, he introduced State-of-the-Art Forensic Psychology into Nigeria through N.U.C and Nasarawa State University, where he served in the Department of Psychology as an Associate Professor. He is currently a Virtual Behavioral Leadership Professor at ISCOM University, Republic of Benin. Founder of the proposed Transatlantic Egbeazien Open University (TEU) of Values and Ethics, a digital project of Truth, Ethics, and Openness. Over forty academic publications and creations, at least 200 public opinion pieces on African issues, and various books have been written by him. He specializes in psycho-prescriptive writings regarding African institutional and governance issues. Prof. Oshodi wrote in via [email protected] Airlines cleared to reinstate two China travel routes BUSINESS: Thailand is ready to welcome the return of Chinese tourists after Thai airlines were allowed to resume operating two flights between the countries each week for the first time since onset of the pandemic. ChineseCoronavirusCOVID-19tourismtransport By Bangkok Post Monday 27 June 2022, 09:55AM Photo: Bangkok Post. Deputy government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul said yesterday (June 26) the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) had granted permission to the carriers to fly, reports the Bangkok Post. The easing of travel restrictions in China is a good sign and will hopefully help the tourism sector rebound and generate revenue from the return of Chinese tourists, she said. According to the CAAC, initial flights will be restricted to business people and students, but it is believed that Beijing will gradually reopen more international flights for the general population, Ms Traisuree said. Following news of the CAACs decision to reopen the routes, the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) announced the carriers would take turns operating the flights, with the exception of those to Beijing and Shanghai. Thai Airways International, Thai Smile Airways, Thai Lion Air and Thai Air Asia have all submitted requests to fly to Guangzhou, while Thai VietJet will fly to Kunming and Nok Air to Nanning. Those allocations for August and October may yet be reconsidered. Ms Traisuree also said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was delighted by the CAATs decision to resume flights to China. He said the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) was prepared to go full steam ahead in promoting tourism with almost all stringent restrictions to entry for foreigners to be scrapped this Friday, she said. Despite a decline in cases in Thailand, the government has asked people to remain vigilant about COVID-19 risks in order to help boost confidence among tourists that the country is safe to visit, she added. Parking spat ends with tyres slashed PHUKET: A dispute over a man parking too close to another car in front of a restaurant on the Kalim beachfront last week ended with one mans tyres slashed. patongcrimepolice By The Phuket News Monday 27 June 2022, 10:23AM Photo: Patong Police Patong Police over the weekend reported that the incident happened in front of Somtum Yum Pao restaurant at about 5:24pm last Tuesday (June 21). Police were informed of the incident and ordered to track down the perpetrator, said the report. The two were brought to Patong Police Station to resolve their differences, the report noted. Neither of the two men involved in the dispute were named in the police report. The injured person had parked his Bangkok-registered white Mitsubishi sedan in the parking area in front of the restaurant, but the perpetrator quickly confronted him over parking too close. The perpetrator said he was unable to back his car out of his parking space without scratching the other mans car. An argument ensued, ending with the man with the white Mitsubishi sedan walking into the restaurant to enjoy his meal. The other man, however, walked off only to return with a knife and slash the tyres on the car. After being called to present themselves at Patong Police Station, the two had resolved their differences amicably, said the police report. The injured party had agreed to receive B1,000 as compensation for damages to his tyres. The man did not want to pursue legal action, the police report said. The report cited Phuket Provincial Police Chief Maj Gen Sermphan Sirikong as ordering the report to be issued so people were aware of what had happened. He also called on people in the Patong area to be good hosts in order to maintain the image of Patong as a tourism destination. Wheelchairs rolled out for elderly, disabled More than 800 wheelchairs were handed over to the Region 11 office of the Red Cross Society of Thailand last week as part of a B9 million joint initiative involving Living Waters Phuket and the Church of Latter Day Saints. charity By The Phuket News Monday 27 June 2022, 04:16PM Phuket Governor Narong Woonciew was present for the handover of 815 wheelchairs at the offices of the Phuket Red Cross last Wednesday (June 22). The wheelchairs will be distributed across all subdistricts in Phuket (tambon) as well as other provinces where the Red Cross Region 11 office operates, including Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Ranong, Phang Nga and Krabi. Shaun Stenning of 5 Star Marine, and founder of the Living Waters Phuket Foundation, explained that 200 wheelchairs handed over last week were left over from last month in the ongoing campaign. A further 1,000 wheelchairs and other mobility aids are expected to arrive next month. In total, the campaign aims to provide more than 2,000 wheelchairs to the elderly and mobility disabled, Mr Stenning said. According to a report by the Phuket office of the Public Relations Department, the Phuket Red Cross has received 1,015 standard wheelchairs, which have been distributed to the elderly and disabled in 18 localities across the island. The Phuket Provincial Hospital (also often referred to as the OrBorJor Hospital) and other government-operated medical facilities have received a total of 48 wheelchairs. A further 20 wheelchairs have been handed over to the Phuket office of the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and 252 wheelchairs have been donated to nine local municipalities and other government administration organisations (OrBorTor). Another 543 wheelchairs will be handed over to the Thai Red Cross Society and the Provincial Red Cross Region 11 office in the next delivery, PR Phuket reported. For more information about the Living Waters Phuket Foundation, visit them at: www.livingwatersphuket.com Facebook Instagram Twitter Weeboon Donations: Living Waters Phuket Pearl Jam, Billie Joe Armstrong, and Rage Against the Machine have all furiously responded to the Roe V. Wade abortion ruling, calling it 'fucking stupid', 'devastating', and a violation of personal freedoms. Over the weekend, the Supreme Court of the United States of America decided to overturn the Roe V Wade ruling which allowed women the right to have an abortion - a decision that at least 60% of Americans disagree with - shocking stuff from the 'land of the free' and 'most democratic country in the world'. Green Days Billie Joe Armstrong told the audience at the bands Hella Mega Tour that hes renouncing his citizenship and that theres too much fucking stupid in the world. He put it even more bluntly when he said: Today Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low 57F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Tomorrow Sunshine and clouds mixed. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 84F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Separation of church and state is fundamental to our founding Wait until the Church of Satan School starts asking for money ZURICH (AP) A Swiss court on Monday said it has fined Credit Suisse more than $2 million for failing to prevent money laundering linked to a Bulgarian criminal organization a decade-and-a-half ago. The court also ordered the confiscation of the equivalent of more than $12 million worth of deposits linked to the criminal group and opened with Credit Suisse. The bank is also on the hook for a compensatory claim of more than $19 million. That's the amount that the court said could not be confiscated due to the banks internal failures, which the court said had encouraged the money laundering. Zurich-based Credit Suisse bank, Switzerlands second-largest bank after rival UBS, said it will appeal the decision. A former Credit Suisse employee who prosecutors said contributed to the organizations ability to protect that $19 million from control of the courts was also found guilty, though the former employee's fine and 20-month sentence were suspended. Prosecutors said the unnamed former bank employee had helped to execute transactions for the organization between July 2007 and December 2008, despite the presence of concrete indications as to the criminal origin of the funds. Two Bulgarian nationals were also found guilty of participation in a criminal organization and aggravated money laundering for acts committed between May 2005 and January 2009. The courts said it suspended the sentences and fines for some of the individuals in part due to the passage of time since the alleged crimes took place. In the original indictment, the Swiss attorney generals office noted how top-level athletes in Bulgaria, after the fall of communism, turned towards other sources of income, and numerous wrestlers received approaches from mafia clans. One unidentified wrestler aimed to cash in by trafficking tons of cocaine through mules from South America to Europe by air and sea and then laundering the profits. The proceeds from the drug sales, often in small denomination notes, entered Swiss bank accounts from 2004 to at least 2007 and were used to buy real estate in Bulgaria and Switzerland. In February, Credit Suisse reported a fourth-quarter loss of 2 billion Swiss francs ($2.2 billion) as it wrapped up a year of challenges marked by bad bets on a hedge fund, set asides for legal costs and accounting changes due to its acquisition of a U.S. investment bank over 20 years ago. The bank launched a new strategy late last year after a string of setbacks dented its reputation. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Part of the wooden stands collapsed during a bullfight in central Colombia Sunday, sending spectators plunging to the ground and killing at least four people and injuring hundreds, authorities said. The disaster took place in a stadium in the city of El Espinal in Tolima state during a traditional event called corraleja in which members of the public enter the ring to engage the bulls. Videos taken during the bullfight show a multi-story section of the stands collapsing as people screamed. We have activated the hospital network in Tolima, Tolima Gov. Jose Ricardo Orozco told local Blu Radio. Four people have died, as of this moment: two women, a man and a minor. Mayor Juan Carlos Tamayo said 800 spectators were seated in the sections that collapsed. Late Sunday, Tolima health secretary Martha Palacios said in a press conference that 322 people had gone to local public and private hospitals after the collapse seeking treatment. Palacio said the minor who had died was an 18-month-old baby. Besides the four dead, another four people were in intensive care and two others recovering from surgery. Orozco said he had asked for the traditional corralejas to be suspended in Tolima earlier Sunday but this one was held anyway. President-elect Gustavo Petro urged local officials to ban such events, noting that it was not the first time an incident like this had taken place. I ask mayors not to allow more events involving the death of people or animals, he said. Current President Ivan Duque on Twitter announced an investigation of the disaster. We lament the terrible tragedy registered in El Espinal, Tolima, during the festivals of San Pedro and San Juan, with the collapse of the stands during a corraleja. We will call for an investigation. EDWARDSVILLE An Alton woman faces two separate drug-related indictments issued last week by a Madison County grand jury. Katlynn R. Hartman, 24, of Alton, was indicted on two counts of unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class X felony; unlawful possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver, a Class 1 felony; unlawful possession of a controlled substance and two counts of obstructing justice, all Class 4 felonies. Both sets of charges were originally presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on Dec. 1, 2021 Hartman allegedly had 15-100 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver and less than 15 grams of fentanyl, and furnished false information to an Alton police officer. On May 10 she allegedly had 5-15 grams of methamphetamine and one gram or more of fentanyl with intent to deliver, and furnished false information to an Alton police officer. In an unrelated case, Christopher J. McNeish, 50, of Granite City, was indicted for unlawful possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine, a Class 1 felony, and unlawful use of property and three counts of unlawful deliver of methamphetamine, all Class 2 felonies. He was originally charged June 2 in the case, which was originally presented by the Granite City Police Department. According to court documents, on June 2 McNeish allegedly had 5-15 grams of methamphetamine with intent to deliver. Between April 12 and June 2 he allegedly used his residence to facilitate the sale of methamphetamine and, on May 10, April 12 and April 25 he delivered less than five grams of methamphetamine to a confidential informant. Other drug-related indictments include: Anthony J. White, 48, of Collinsville, indicted for unlawful possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, a Class 1 felony, and obstructing justice, a Class 4 felony. The case was originally presented by the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois. According to court documents, on April 26, White allegedly had more than one gram of cocaine with the intent to deliver. White tried to destroy the evidence, being a plastic bag containing said cocaine, by grinding it into the ground with his foot. Charlotte L Boomershine, 42, of Alton, was indicted for burglary, a Class 2 felony. The case was originally presented by the Alton Police Department. According to court documents, on March 31 Boomershine and another person allegedly entered a garage in Alton to commit theft. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Farmers driving tractors blocked highways in the Netherlands on Monday and set small blazes outside at least two town halls in the latest protest sparked by a government pledge to rein in pollution emissions, a move that will hit the country's agriculture sector. Authorities urged motorists to check traffic updates before setting off, amid the protests that follow a gathering last week of tens of thousands of farmers in the central Netherlands that also caused traffic chaos around the country. We advise road users to be extra alert, the government's road and water department said in a statement. Several highways around the country were affected by the protests. Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius condemned the protests. Several highways are currently blocked by farmers. You dont make your point by endangering road users. This can have serious consequences. Then the police have no choice but to intervene where possible, if necessary afterwards. Dont let it get that far, the minister tweeted. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that farmers lit small fires outside town halls in the city of Apeldoorn and the town of Epe in the central Netherlands. Earlier, local broadcaster Omroep Brabant showed a truck dumping large, plastic-covered bales of hay on a highway near the town of Liessel, some 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of the capital, Amsterdam. On at least two more highways, farmers drove or parked their tractors, snarling traffic. The Dutch governing coalition has mandated reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia of up to 70% in many areas of the country close to protected nature areas even reaching as high as 95% in some places. The government has been forced to act after courts in recent years began blocking permits for infrastructure and housing projects because the country was missing its emissions targets. The government has earmarked an extra 24.3 billion euros ($25.6 billion) to finance agricultural reforms that will likely make many farmers drastically reduce their number of livestock or to get rid of them altogether. The pollution reduction targets, which have to be achieved by provincial governments, have been opposed even by members of Prime Minister Mark Ruttes own party and other members of his coalition. Provincial governments have been given a year to formulate plans to meet the targets. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Digital censors quickly deleted a hashtag the next five years Monday as online discussion swirled in response to reported remarks of Beijing's Communist Party secretary saying that the capital city will normalize pandemic prevention controls over the course of the next five years. Beijing's Communist Party chief, Cai Qi, made the remarks Monday morning as part of a report on the Party's management of the city. The citywide party congress is held once every five years, ahead of the national level party congress, which is slated for this fall. At the congresses, members generally review the work of the past five years while also announcing goals for the next five years. In the next five years, Beijing will resolutely, unremittingly, do a good job in normalizing pandemic prevention controls," according to a cached version of the remarks in Beijing Daily, the main Communist Party mouthpiece in the capital city. The city will implement high quality regular PCR tests, and screening at key points, strictly inspect entries in residential communities, work units and public institutions, it said. The current version of the Beijing Daily no longer has the phrase in the next five years. On Weibo, the hashtag the next five years was deleted. A search for it on the social media platform turns up a notice saying the topic could not be displayed according to relevant laws, regulations and policies, a common error message for topics deleted by the app's censors. Since a surge of cases driven by the omicron variant in April, China has made mass testing requirements even more frequent. In Beijing, residents are now required to hold a negative test from within the last 72 hours to enter any public venue, including restaurants and offices. Across the city, the government pushed to set up thousands of testing spots where a person can get swabbed. Throughout the pandemic, China has stuck to its strategy of clearing to zero or zero-COVID. It relies on mass testing, surveillance, and strict lockdowns to stop the virus from transmitting widely in the community. Submitted ALTON Upon hearing about the tragedy at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, 10-year-olds Kynlie Muscarelle of Godfrey and Luca Van Allman of Edwardsville wanted to show the children that they cared. A past benefit for another cause inspired them to organize a lemonade and cookie sale in Alton seeking to raise $150. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate MENDON Thousands of people some camping overnight to stake out the best spot possible filled the Adams County Fairgrounds on Saturday, hearing from Republican power-hitters while waiting for former President Donald J. Trump to take the stage. "This is my second Trump rally," said Susan Baumgartner, who was sporting an American flag-themed cowboy hat. "The whole process is amazing. If you haven't been to one, you need to." Throughout the parking lot and grounds, vendors set up shop selling Trump shirts, hats, flags and other memorabilia. Saturday's event was 135 miles northwest of Alton. "It's still early, but I'm feeling really excited," Cheryl Lewis, who traveled from North Carolina, said before speakers started taking to the stage. "I was excited when no one was here." "It's definitely interesting with the timing of everything, because we're in a Democratic state," said rally participant Mary Betts. "I'm pretty excited." Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, R-Colorado, took to the podium first, urging the crowd to support U.S. Rep. Mary Miller for the newly drawn 15th Congressional District in Illinois. Miller faces U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis in Tuesday's Republican primary. Also center stage was businessman and Trump loyalist Mike Lindell, also known as the My Pillow Guy. The founder of the My Pillow company also gave a political nod to Miller before raising long-debunked claims of widespread election fraud in the 2020 presidential election. Trump himself repeated the allegations during his hour-long speech, saying "they used COVID to rig and steal an election. We had one of the most successful presidencies in history." "This was the biggest crime in history and now we're in the biggest cover up in history," Lindell told the crowd. "Trump has had a plan, and so does God." Lindell touched on a U.S. Supreme Court's decision just a day before to end federal protection for abortion. "We need to put God back in our schools and with kids that now will be alive" because of the ruling, Lindell said. Trump has taken credit for the outcome because he nominated three of the conservative Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn the 1972 case Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion. Both Miller and Davis have said they are against abortion. It was a topic Miller addressed when she spoke at the rally, although she drew social media backlash after calling the Supreme Court decision a "historic victory for white life." Her campaign said Saturday night that Miller misread remarks that had been prepared in advance. "You can clearly see she is reading off a piece of paper, she meant to say right to life'," Miller spokesman Isaiah Wartman told NBC News. With Trump behind her, Miller accused Davis of "betraying us" and voting against Trump's agenda. She said America needed "to get that weak, incompetent man (President Joe Biden) out and get Donald Trump back in." In a statement Sunday, Davis said Miller's comments "are just another part in a disturbing pattern of behavior she's displayed since coming to Congress. " "Whether it's catering to the extremes, praising Adolf Hitler ... and now these comments, Miller has demonstrated she is not fit for public office. This is why it's so important to vote in our Republican primary on Tuesday and show the country Miller's behavior is unacceptable," he said. Miller was heavily criticized days after being sworn in to office for a comment made at a rally hosted by the conservative group Moms for America in which she said, "Hitler was right on one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future'. But for those who had gathered Saturday at the fairgrounds outside of Quincy, what was important was Trump's enthusiastic endorsement. "Mary is pro-life. Mary is pro-gun. Mary is pro-police. Mary is pro-America and MAGA (Make America Great Again) all the way," Trump said. Trump went on to endorse Darren Bailey, who is seeking the Republican nomination in a crowded race Tuesday that will determine who goes against incumbent Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November. "The next governor of Illinois (is) Darren Bailey," Trump said. "He's a farmer and he's a fighter ... he wants to lower taxes and he wants to make Illinois competitive again." As Bailey took to the podium, he was quick to recognize Trump and push one of his main goals. "Illinois will roll out the red carpet out in 2024 because Illinois will be ready," he said of Trump becoming president for a second time. Switzerland recently made the news because some residents werent getting any sleep. In a small town in the Alps where everyone is required to prove they can yodel if they want citizenship, dozens of residents have filed a lawsuit complaining about a river which was flowing too loudly. It was keeping them up at night and after trying in vain to sleep off their insomnia, they took action. A few Swiss farmers had had some of the water re-routed to the stream in an effort to increase their agricultural output, but this action had inadvertently made the river noisier, which made a number of sleep-weary residents unusually grumpy. This is a country that highly values its peace and quiet. You cant mow the lawn, wash your car, vacuum or do any yard work on Sundays. For example, if you smash your thumb in your car door on Sunday, you must wait until Monday to yell and swear or face a fine. Its necessary for peace of mind. Thats why when the river got too loud, the residents decided to give the river a piece of their mind. So, youd normally think a defense attorney would be able to successfully poke holes in that argument like a piece of Swiss cheese, but youd be wrong. The village successfully won the lawsuit. That means the river will have to go. I guess it will have to go with the flow. I admit, I was a bit worried about the Swiss recently. Their country must be inundated with natural disasters. When I visited there the last time, I saw the Red Cross flags flying everywhere. They are also very well-known for their banking industry where the filthy rich of the world line up to deposit their money to hide it from spouses, governments and greedy children wanting an advance on their inheritance. They are also known for their cows, watches and Saint Bernards which are world-renowned for their gentle temperament and large size. They are even better known for carrying a built-in self-serve bar around their neck to rescue thirsty stranded skiers. The Swiss also love their cheese. They eat, sleep and breathe it. They never leave home without it. I once was asked by a Swiss resident on a train if he could borrow my giftshop purchased Swiss army knife to slice a piece off the block of Gruyere he was eating. I told him that if he was going to cut the cheese, then do it somewhere else. But I digress. I really dont know how they are going to deal with the noisy river in question other than putting it underground or turning it off at night. But the latter would require building a wall and holding the water back all night and then releasing it in the morning during daylight hours. However, I really dont think the whole dam thing would work anyway. And youd think a place like Switzerland would love to have as many rivers as possible since they have so many banks. And finally, I really dont know if there are any advantages to living in Switzerland other than the quiet, but one things for sure; their flag is a big plus. This page requires Javascript. Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings. At Westerly Library & Wilcox Park: Books to help you cut back on food waste Bosses at social care provider CareTech have backed a takeover bid from a consortium led by its founders. The Hertfordshire-based firm told investors on Monday that if they accepted the deal, it would help fund the expansion of its technology division and presence across the Middle East. At 750p per share, the proposal values CareTech at around 870.3million and represents a 28 per cent premium to its closing share price when the offer period commenced in early March. Care firm: Begun in 1993, CareTech is one of the UK's biggest social care providers that runs residential homes and specialist schools for adults and children with complex needs Back then, the group revealed that its founders, Haroon and Farouq Sheikh, who are also chief executive and executive chairman, respectively, were in the process of creating a consortium to fund a potential takeover. Alongside Belgravia Investments and Kensington Capital, the syndicate tabled a 7.10 per share bid before upping it to 7.25 just over a week later. DBAY Advisors, an international asset manager based in the Isle of Man, then came in with a higher rival bid, which Sheikh Holdings matched in mid-April. After considering, CareTech has advised shareholders to vote in favour of the Sheikh Group offer. DBAY still had until 4pm to put forward a new proposal, but it eventually released a statement declaring that it had no intention to make a counter-offer. Non-executive director Jamie Cumming said: 'We believe that this is in the best interests of our investors and other stakeholders, with the potential to deliver a number of strategic opportunities for the business through private ownership. 'As a consequence of the offer, CareTech's founders will remain the controlling shareholders of the business. Provider: Hertfordshire-based CareTech runs residential homes and specialist schools across the country for adults and children with complex needs 'We believe this will allow the existing care-focused culture of the organisation to continue and enable CareTech to continue to deliver high standards of care to its service users.' CareTech shares jumped by 21.1 per cent to 7.41 on Monday, making the company the fifth-highest riser on the AIM All-Share Index. Founded in 1993 and listed on AIM in 2005, CareTech is one of the UK's biggest social care providers that runs hundreds of residential homes and specialist schools across the country for adults and children with complex needs. In recent years, the firm has expanded into the Gulf region through buying majority stakes in AS Group, Wellness Group, and home healthcare firm Dmetco-Bayti, all of whom are based in the United Arab Emirates. However, it has also faced controversy for making huge profits while inspectors have highlighted failures at several care homes owned by one of its subsidiaries. Analysis by The Times published in February found that seven homes run by Cambian Healthcare had been judged by the Care Quality Commission in the preceding year to be 'inadequate,' the lowest possible rating the public body can give health and social care services settings. The newspaper also discovered that the Sheikh brothers had funnelled over 2million to an offshore trust it owned in the Caribbean while the firm received millions in taxpayer-funded emergency grants and saw full-year earnings grow by around a third to 35.3million. In response, the company said its adult services ratings and standards at children's homes were above the national average and that it 'did not rely on and has not profited from the Covid-19 grants.' Less than a fortnight ago, the group said pre-tax profits in its interim results plunged by more than half to 19.2million, due partly to higher costs from hiring agency staff and buying personal protective equipment. Despite these results, Farouq Sheikh said the business 'remains in a strong financial position, underpinned by a significant property portfolio and consistent strong cash generation, and I remain confident in our outlook.' The boss and founder of money transfer behemoth Wise is being investigated by the City watchdog over a massive tax blunder. In September Estonian billionaire Kristo Kaarmann was fined 365,651 by HMRC taxman for deliberately defaulting on his taxes in the 2017-18 tax year. The Financial Conduct Authority has now launched a formal investigation into the 'regulatory obligations and standards' to which Kaarmann is subject. Investigated: Kristo Kaarmann is on the HMRC's list of 'deliberate tax defaulters' Chairman of Wise, formerly TransferWise, David Wells said the board 'will co-operate fully with the FCA as and when they require, while continuing to support Kristo in his role as CEO'. 'The Board takes Kristo's tax default and the FCA's investigation very seriously,' he added. 'After reviewing the matter late last year the Board required that Kristo take remedial actions, including appointing professional tax advisors to ensure his personal tax matters are appropriately managed.' The tax incident, which could see Kaarmann sanctioned by the FCA, has tarnished Wises reputation, which was seen as one of Britains tech success stories after its listing on the London market in July last year. The group revealed the probe ahead of Tuesday's publication of its full year results, which will be closely watched after its shares slumped nearly 60 per cent since its stock market debut. Hailed as the UK's biggest-ever tech float, the momentum around the fintech company has since fizzled. Valued at 9billion at its float, it is now worth just 3.8billion. Wise is expected to report profits of 78.3million for 2021, up from 41million in 2020. In November, Wise said revenues could be up by as much as 30 per cent by the end of its financial year in March. But analysts have yet to be wholly convinced of the outlook. Citigroup reiterated a 'sell' rating last week. Wise is a payment provider which allows customers to transfer money to other countries without incurring hefty fees. Wise shares were down just 0.3 per cent to 381p in morning trading on Monday. Hyve Group shares jumped on Monday after the international conference and trade show organiser said demand for its events had recovered faster than expected. The London-listed company, which runs some of the biggest business events in the world including one of the mining industrys key meet-ups, called Indaba, in Cape Town, was badly hit by pandemic restrictions. But it told investors that total revenues had fully recovered on a pro-forma basis as it went ahead with all of its nine scheduled events, except for three in Ukraine, with clients spending more than at previous editions. Hyve runs some of the biggest business events in the world including one of the mining industrys key meet-ups, called Indaba, in Cape Town Chief executive Mark Shashoua said: 'The trends we saw emerge post-pandemic continue to hold true - in particular, our customers continue to spend more with us than before'. 'The first half of our 2022 financial year saw faster than anticipated revenue recovery,' the group added, saying that this momentum had continued into its third quarter ending on 24 June. Hyve shares rose as much as 13 per cent in early trade, although by 10:30am they had lost nearly half of those gains to trade 7 per cent higher at 73p. Shares remain 45 per cent down compared to a year ago and nearly 90 per cent below the 560p they were worth at the start of February 2020, before the pandemic struck. Hyve said the first edition of its European retail industry conference, Shoptalk Europe, almost doubled expectations, attracting over 3,000 attendees from more than 50 countries. It launched the event following the 'highly successful' US edition of Shoptalk in March, which Hyve says became its 'largest event by revenue'. 'The launch of Shoptalk Europe delivered exceptional results and was a prime example of how best to capitalise on organic growth and demand,' Shashoua added. Hyve's comments signal a strong recovery in the pandemic-hit events sector, which was forced to cancel hundreds of shows and conferences due to lockdowns and travel restrictions during the height of the coronavirus crisis. Forward bookings for the year were at 122million, with bookings for its Groceryshop due to be held in September in Las Vegas expected to exceed the pre-pandemic edition. Hyve added: 'While there continues to be uncertainty around running events in China in the near term, the Group notes the beginning of a relaxation of Covid-19-related restrictions in certain regions, however this situation remains fluid.' Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Mostly cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High around 85F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Some clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Kingsport, TN (37660) Today Mostly cloudy early, then thunderstorms developing this afternoon. High 84F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight A few clouds. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Provided by Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness SARATOGA SPRINGS Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness of Malta has acquired Goodemote Physical Therapy in Saratoga Springs, the company announced in a press release Monday. As pain and movement specialists, the staff at Capital Area Physical Therapy and Wellness has worked with local orthopedic surgeons, primary care physicians, podiatrists, and other medical professionals for close to 10 years to deliver hands-on care. The practice currently has 13 physical therapists including several board-certified physical therapy specialists. ALBANY A group of more than 20 Glenmont residents are suing the Port of Albany and the town of Bethlehem for allegedly clearing 80 acres of land on the Hudson River for a $350 million offshore wind turbine tower fabrication facility without allegedly providing proper notification to local homeowners. The group, led by attorney R. Christopher Dempf, live near the project site, which is technically called Beacon Island, a man-made parcel of land on the Hudson that is largely industrial in character. Dempf showed up with many of the plaintiffs on Monday at a regular meeting of the Albany Port District Commission to speak during the commission's public comment period. Dempf also brought his own videographer and stenographer to the meeting to take video and a transcript of his clients speaking to make sure he had his own copy of the proceedings. However, the commission's general counsel, Patrick Jordan, said its meeting room could not accommodate more than a few members of the press or the public, and would only allow two or three people in the room at a time to speak. Jordan gave each speaker three minutes to talk, and the crowd had to rotate in and out of the small room where the commission held the public meeting. Jordan also said due to the pending lawsuit, the commission members would not respond to any of the comments that the public made. Port Lawsuit by Karlin Rick on Scribd The Port of Albany is in charge of getting Beacon Island ready for the offshore wind turbine tower manufacturing facility being built for a consortium of international companies that are constructing wind farms off the shore of Long Island. The facility is being trumpeted by the state and federal government as a major economic development project that will help mitigate climate change. Those who did speak at the port commission meeting were visibly angry at the commissioner for moving ahead with clearing Beacon Island of nearly all vegetation. They said they were worried not only about the impact on the environment but also the potential health impacts. Beacon Island was created from fly-ash dumped there decades ago from former coal power plants in the area, and residents said their properties have been covered in dust since the tree-clearing took place last month. "This is a life or death issue," said Nathaniel Gray, who lives on Anders Lane, which is near Beacon Island. "Our lives are in danger." Gray said he is not only afraid of the fly-ash that was disturbed but also all of the trucks that come down his narrow road all the time to get to River Road where the project is located. "We're terrified," Gray said. "That road has to be closed off." The lawsuit that Gray and others have filed alleges that neither the port nor the town gave them adequate written notice of the impacts of the project, which has the backing of Gov. Kathy Hochul and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, two of the most powerful political leaders in the state. The lawsuit is seeking to have the port and the town of Bethlehem reverse previous approvals of the wind turbine tower project. Bethlehem Supervisor David VanLuven declined to comment about the lawsuit on Monday. Schumer has been upset with the Port of Albany after the tree-cutting took place last month without the proper review by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency - an action that may have put a $29.5 million federal grant in jeopardy. The project was supposed to go through an environmental study before it was started, according to federal officials. KINGSTON Several parents, educators and students are challenging the vocal minority pushing for an increased police presence in Kingston schools in the wake of last months deadly shooting in Uvalde, Texas, arguing that resources should be channeled into social support systems rather than into further militarization of schools. At a June 15 meeting of the Kingston City School District (KCSD) Board of Education, parent Justin Hoekstra spoke out against the rumbling of an interest in more police in schools. All available research shows that increasing police presence within schools does not do anything to effectively prevent mass shootings, Hoekstra said. I think that it would be tragic for the Kingston city schools to move towards that sort of militarized model of schooling wherein students have free-roaming officers with the capacity to take away their lives within their educational environment. Hoekstra is part of a group called the KCSD Coalition for Equity in Education, which has been pushing for a more equitable approach to schooling in the city for over a year. He was one of a number of parents and others who spoke out after a June 1 Board of Education meeting at which proponents of an increased police presence were more outspoken. KCSD currently contracts two officers at Kingston High School, one at J. Watson Bailey Middle School, and one at MC Miller Middle School; the total cost of the program for the 2019-20 school year was $400,000. Id like to see more school counselors more psychologists, Hoekstra said in follow-up comments. Id like to see more focus on supporting and creating a safe community, rather than policing a population of young people that are trying to learn. Malia Cordel shares Hoekstras concerns; she is a parent of two children in the district and ran unsuccessfully for a seat on the KCSD Board of Education this past May. I think the most bang for our buck would be investing in mental health supports, building community things that are really proven to help prevent violence, Cordel said. At the June 15 meeting, she listed several policies shed like to see the district implement, including better mental health supports for faculty and students, a strong digital literacy program, and training on peaceful conflict resolution and trauma-informed teaching for faculty. Investing more in school policing, security and surveillance will not address the root causes and issues that lead to mass violence on school campuses, Cordel said at the meeting. Armed police in schools typically called school resource officers, or SROs have long been controversial, but have become increasingly contentious in recent years, as efforts to reckon with racialized policing and police violence have clashed with concerns around crime and school shootings. Last year, dueling petitions circulated within the district exposed a rift within the community over the value of the SRO program, which has existed in Kingston since 2004. One petition has secured over 1800 signatures calling to end the SRO program, while the one in support has over 1,400 signatures. Despite the debate, policing in American schools has dramatically expanded over the last several decades. According to the UConn Center for Education Policy Analysis, the percentage of American schools with police onsite went from 1 percent in 1975 to nearly 60 percent in 2018. However, numerous studies have cast doubt on the efficacy of SROs. One study conducted by the Secret Service in the wake of the 1999 Columbine shooting noted that [d]espite prompt law enforcement responses, most attacks were stopped by means other than law enforcement intervention, and most were brief in duration. More recent studies have raised similar concerns, including a 2021 JAMA Network Research letter that found armed guards were not associated with significant reduction in rates of injuries [in school shootings]; in fact, controlling for the aforementioned factors of location and school characteristics, the rate of deaths was 2.83 times greater in schools with an armed guard present. And a 2021 study from the University of Albany and the Rand Corporation found that SROs do effectively reduce some forms of violence in schools, but do not prevent school shootings or gun-related incidents, and that SROs intensify the use of suspensions, expulsions, police referrals, and arrests of students effects [which] are consistently over two times larger for Black students than White students. Indeed, the May 24 mass shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, which triggered the renewed debate in Kingston, was marked by catastrophic law enforcement failures. Parents opposed to the SRO program say that the call for more police is based on an understandable emotional response to gun violence in schools. It seems like we all have the same goal of wanting to keep our children safe, Cordel said in an interview with the Times Union. I recognize that. But I also want us to approach this with an open mind, and [think] about, OK, what is proven to work in these situations? The research does not show that more police presence and safety plans prevent school shootings from happening, said Charlotte Adamis, another coalition member and former school librarian in Kingston who spoke out at the June 15 meeting. What prevents school shootings from happening are mental health services, teaching people about bullying, connecting kids, community, kids being listened to, Adamis added. We want the board to not get persuaded by emotion even though its so hard not to be emotional about the safety of our children and our educators. Its terrifying, but its a false sense of security to do the things that dont actually work. Among students, at least some express reservations about having armed police in the hallways. If police are there, its like the school is expecting people to do a crime. And that just feels terrible, said Sunny, a third grader at George Washington Elementary School. Most kids are not doing crimes and all kids want to feel actually safe, not like they could go to jail if they make a mistake or make a bad choice if theyre having a hard day. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CEROCAHUI, Mexico (AP) Two Jesuit priests killed last week in remote mountains of northern Mexico were buried Monday in the lawn of the church where a gunman attacked them last week. The Revs. Javier Campos, 79, and Joaquin Mora, 80, had spent much of their lives serving Indigenous Raramuri people of the region. On Sunday, their friends, colleagues and parishioners mourned the priests return to Cerocahui in wooden caskets. Last Monday, a local crime boss pursuing a tourist guide who sought refuge in the church facing Cerocahuis central square, killed the guide and the two priests. Their bodies were initially taken by their attacker, but were recovered days later. The attack has drawn strong criticism from the Roman Catholic church to Mexicos security situation and the federal governments strategy. Organized crime has a firm hold on communities in the Tarahumara mountains of Chihuahua state, where they support illegal logging, extory money from local businesses and grow marijuana and opium poppies. Colleagues said Campos and Mora provided a moral balance in the marginalized communities controlled by gunmen. In a Mass Saturday for the priests in the state capital Chihuahua, Rev. Javier Avila, referenced President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors saying of hugs not bullets, lamented that there arent enough hugs anymore to cover the bullets. From there, the caskets made their way up the winding roads into the mountains where the priests had worked for decades among the impoverished Raramuri. They were buried later Monday in Cerocahui on the grassy lawn of the church, amid shouts of praise from parishioners. The leader of the Jesuit order in Mexico, Rev. Luis Gerardo Moro, pledged during the funeral Monday that the Jesuits will not be frightened off. The order has been active in the Tarahumara mountains since the 1600s. We are not leaving here, Moro said. We want to continue here near you, learning from you. Yolanda Torres, one of the mourners who attended the funeral Monday, said all of us in the Tarahumara mountains, we are very, very sad, very upset ... we are here, united in grief. ALBANY His mother. His priest. An aide to U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik. Michael P. Fish completely fabricated or doctored letters singing his praises from all of them along with similar letters falsely attributed to his grandparents and two other acquaintances all sent to U.S. District Judge Mae DAgostino before she sentenced Fish last month for his admitted crimes of computer hacking, identity theft and possessing child pornography. If Fish, a SUNY Plattsburgh graduate and one-time Albany Law School student, thought the sham would trick the judge into a lenient sentence, his plan backfired spectacularly; DAgostino sentenced him last month to 9 years in prison. On Monday, Fish, 26, of Albany, pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice before D'Agostino as he admitted to fabricating the letters. Now, Fish faces 24 to 30 additional months in prison at his sentencing scheduled for October. It will run consecutively to his existing sentence. "Are you pleading guilty because you are guilty and for no other reason?" D'Agostino asked Fish, who was clad in a green jail outfit. "Yes," Fish responded. In May 2020, Fish pleaded guilty to his hacking-related crimes. Between 2016 and 2019, he broke into the computer accounts of dozens of unsuspecting female students at SUNY Plattsburgh, stole their private photos, traded the images on the Internet and identified the victims by name. Fish mixed sexually explicit images of the victims with innocent photos of them at graduations or at other life events. As his sentencing approached in 2020, Fish completely falsified character letters from his mother, grandparents and a business associate none of whom had any idea such letters were sent. Fish doctored a 2016 letter to the judge from Jonathan Carman, a district director for Stefanik who briefly supervised Fish when Fish volunteered for Stefanik's campaign in 2016. Carman had written on Fish's behalf to attend a graduate program. Fish changed words and falsely made it appear that Carman was vouching for Fish to the judge after Fish's conviction. The false letter said Fish was "not a threat to society, but someone who made his share of mistakes. I wholly believe Mikes positive impact to society thus far serves as testament that his troubles were a matter of isolation and he has the character, work ethic, and skills to remain a law abiding citizen. The Times Union, which first reported Fish's fabrications, contacted Stefanik's office about the letter on Dec. 31, 2020. A top aide to Stefanik said the letter was a fraud; Fish was charged the next day. Federal authorities soon learned more of the character letters had been forged in whole or part, including one from the Rev. Michael A. Farano, the former pastor of St. Pius X Church in Loudonville. Fish, who was born in South Korea, was adopted as a child by his Capital Region-based parents. On Monday, Assistant U.S. District Attorney Joshua Rosenthal detailed falsehoods in the doctored and completely fabricated letters, among other evidence Fish would have faced had he risked a trial. "Is that what you did and what occurred?" D'Agostino asked Fish. "Yes," Fish answered, standing beside his Glens Falls-based attorney, Lawrence Elmen. At Fish's sentencing last month, Elmen said Fish "absolutely panicked" and fabricated the letters after believing his prison sentence might exceed 14 years. The attorney said Fish's decision was "stupid and idiotic." D'Agostino said she had never before seen a defendant forge a character letter. D'Agostino, a federal judge since 2011, said when she now reviews such letters sent on behalf of defendants, "I ask myself, 'Did that come from who purportedly wrote that?' " Currently Reading Alert: AP source says US providing advanced anti-air missile system, more artillery support in latest aid to Ukraine This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BRUSSELS (AP) European Union countries agreed Monday that all natural gas storage in the 27-nation bloc should be topped up to at least 80% capacity for next winter as they prepare for the possibility of Russia further reducing deliveries. The EU is trying to slash its use of Russian energy amid the Kremlins war in Ukraine and find other sources. A ban on imports of Russian coal will start in August, and an embargo on most oil from Russia will be phased in over the coming eight months. Meanwhile, Moscow is disrupting natural gas deliveries, a fuel used to power factories and generate electricity that the EU didnt include in its own sanctions for fear of seriously harming the European economy. Before the war, the bloc got about 40% of its natural gas from Russia. Moscow has reduced gas supplies to several EU countries, including heavy importers Germany and Italy, and cut off deliveries to other members, such as Poland and Finland. The EU Council adopted the gas storage regulation Monday after the European Commission made a proposal in March. The regulation also says underground gas storage on EU soil will need to be filled to 90% capacity before the 2023-24 winter. Heads of state and government agreed last week during a summit in Brussels to step up preparations for further gas cuts from Russia and to keep searching for other suppliers. The EU already has increased deliveries from the United States, Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan. Some EU members don't have storage facilities, so the regulation provides that they should store 15% of their annual national gas consumption in other member countries, allowing them access to reserves in other EU nations. Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, which are not directly connected with the gas system of other members, got an exemption, the council said, adding that filling obligations will stop at the end of December 2025. The Council also agreed to raise the share of renewables in the bloc's energy mix to at least 40% by 2030 - up from the previous target of 32%. In addition, a 9% energy consumption reduction target for 2030 becomes binding on all EU member states for the first time. Up until now, non-binding energy efficiency targets left the Commission with little leverage over member states that failed to meet them. Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French minister for energy transition, said the agreement is essential to achieving the bloc's 2050 climate neutrality goal and to also help us to reduce our dependence on Russia for energy, in the context of the war in Ukraine." Ministers stripped legal hurdles from construction of renewable energy production facilities and set specific goals for sectors such as housing and transport. The Council and the Parliament will now start talks on a final text for the two directives. ___ Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. LANSING, Mich. (AP) Michigan lawmakers approved a $101 million incentive package for Ford Motor Co. for a planned project that will create 3,030 jobs and $1.16 billion in manufacturing facility investments throughout the state. The tax-funded incentive will be paid in increments and is contingent on Ford hitting promised employment targets. The state Senate Appropriations Committees approval last week was the final step for the funds to start being distributed to Ford. It comes just weeks after the company announced plans to add 6,300 new jobs in the Midwest and invest $3.7 billion in manufacturing facilities across Michigan, Ohio and Missouri. Gabby Bruno, director of economic development for Ford, said the new investments will allow for the automaker to nearly double the production of Fords all-electric truck, the F-150 Lightning, in Dearborn. Public-private partnerships like the one that were discussing here today are important to keep Michigan at the forefront of automotive manufacturing, Bruno said at the committee meeting. The money will come from the Strategic Outreach and Attraction Reserve Fund, which was created in December to attract and retain businesses in the state. Lawmakers approved a $666 million transfer from the fund to General Motors earlier this year. The creation of the fund followed an announcement from Ford that it was planning to invest $11.4 billion in Tennessee and Kentucky to build an electric truck plant, three battery plants and a supplier park. State Rep. Jim Yaroch, a Richmond Republican, expressed his concern about the large packages being given to motor companies during a House Appropriations Committee meeting on June 15. The House committee approved the package prior to the Senates approval. Theres been multiple offers to Ford, GM, Chrysler to stay in Michigan and we pay the big fish to stay, Yaroch said. Is this what were left with? That were going to have to pay companies to stay? ___ Joey Cappelletti 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Jurors are expected to be fair and impartial. Which is why prospective jurors are asked during jury selection if they have ever been victims of a crime -- something that could definitely make a person less than objective on a criminal case. Should a trial judge suspect a sworn juror is not impartial, the judge is supposed to conduct a "probing and tactful inquiry" to determine if the juror is "grossly unqualified" to continue serving. And if they find the juror fits that description, the judge can discharge the juror. But the best laid plans to screen jurors, alas, do not always go swimmingly. On Thursday, Appellate Justice Sharon Aarons, who sits on the states second-highest court, determined that visiting Judge Felix Catena did not conduct the necessary inquiry in 2019 after he learned a sworn juror on a first-degree rape case in St. Lawrence County did not disclose her past as a rape victim. Storm Rivera, 26, was convicted of rape and unlawful imprisonment. He is serving an eight-year prison sentence. According to Aarons, Catena, an elected county judge in Montgomery County, failed to ensure the jury's verdict was the product of a fair and impartial jury. Taking into account that nothing is more basic to the criminal process than the right of an accused to a trial by an impartial jury, I would take corrective action in the interest of justice to reverse the judgment and order a new trial, Aarons wrote, calling it a "grievous error." But that will not be enough to get Rivera a new trial. In a 4-1 ruling, the Appellate Division of state Supreme Court's Third Department in Albany rejected Rivera's appeal without delving into the merits of whether Catena erred in his handling of the juror matter. That argument was rendered effectively moot because Rivera did not legally preserve it at trial. "Inasmuch as defendant failed to object, and in fact consented, to the procedure employed by the court and did not move to discharge the juror who had the outburst, or any other juror, as grossly unqualified," wrote Justice Stanley Pritzker, who wrote the majority opinion. Justices Molly Reynolds Fitzgerald, Andrew Ceresia and Lisa M. Fisher agreed. Aarons opined at the outset of her dissent that the jury foreperson had said it best upon learning that Juror No. 6 was a rape victim. "How did you get this far if that's the case?" the foreperson asked the juror, according to Aarons. "You shouldn't be here." Rivera was on trial on charges he raped the victim at a fraternity house outside the state University at Potsdam in November 2017. Juror No. 6 did not disclose her past history as a rape victim during juror screening that included a questionnaire that asked prospective jurors to check a box if they have been past crime victims. A juror is considered "grossly unqualified," Aarons explained, when it is obvious that the person holds a state of mind that would prevent the person from rendering an impartial verdict. In this case, the foreperson reported to Catena that things had become "a little heated" with Juror No. 6 during deliberations. Juror No. 6 had verbally attacked another juror and, while in tears, revealed she was a rape victim, the judge was told. "I thought I could get through this," Juror No. 6 had said, according to the foreperson's account noted by Aarons. Catena asked every juror if anything happened to impact their impartiality. Each juror said no. Catena asked Juror No. 6 several questions but never asked if she had been a rape victim. Even the prosecutor trying Rivera asked Catena to "take it another step" and ask Juror No. 6 the question. Catena asked Juror No. 6: "It has come to our attention that you may have been a victim of a crime at some point in your life." "As a child," Juror No. 6 replied. She said she did not disclose it as a crime "because nothing ... ever proceeded from it." The judge asked Juror No. 6 if the reason she had not disclosed the rape during jury screening was that she felt it was not a crime. "Yeah. I mean yes and no," Juror No 6 replied. "But, I mean, I don't feel like I was a victim of a crime. I just feel it was do you know what I mean?" Juror No. 6 asked Catena if she could speak to him in private about it. The judge said no. The judge asked Juror No. 6 if she could remain fair and impartial. She responded, "Absolutely." She stayed on the jury. On Thursday, Aarons said Catena's questioning of Juror No 6 did not go far enough. Aarons said Catena also left unresolved the juror's contradictory statements that she was a rape victim yet not a crime victim. If the past experience of Juror No. 6 was significant enough for her to mention it to other jurors in tears, led her to want to speak to Catena in private and to question her own ability to serve on the jury, it was far more than just an emotional outburst, Aarons wrote. Aarons found Catena had nothing more than speculation to decide Juror No. 6 could be impartial. "Juror No. 6 injected a very sensitive and personal matter into the deliberations and it took a toll on her, as evidenced by her emotional reaction and change in behavior," Aarons stated. "It was incumbent upon (Catena), at the very least, to ask Juror No. 6 about being a rape victim," Aarons wrote, adding that the judge's inquiry was "therefore flawed from the outset." For Rivera, the next step would be asking the state's Court of Appeals to take up the appeal. ALBANY A city man admitted on Monday to killing a 34-year-old man last July after a dispute at a Lark Street bar. The county district attorneys office said Shimair Perrin, 29, pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Perrin shot Lamon Lanier on July 23 near Willet Street and Hudson Avenue. Perrin was initially charged with murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Laniers death was the impetus for city officials and the police department to step in and temporarily shut down Cafe Hollywood on Lark Street. The city said the shooting was connected to an incident at the bar and was the latest in a string of violence in and around the establishment. Cafe Hollywood later re-opened in October after agreeing to conditions that limited the bars hours and number of patrons. The agreement expires in 2023. Perrins sentencing is set for Aug. 26. He is expected to be sentenced to 20 years in state prison. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY A federal class-action suit filed last week charges that the state Department of Health (DOH) and Office of People with Developmental Disabilities (OPWDD violate the rights of hundreds of New Yorkers with developmental disabilities each year by keeping them in restrictive institutional settings unnecessarily. The case, filed June 16 in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York by Disability Rights New York (DRNY), the Manhattan-based Kasowitz Benson Torres law firm and Mental Hygiene Legal Service (MHLS), names eight individuals with disabilities who against their wishes are locked away in hospital rooms or prison-like facilities despite having been approved for placement in community-based housing. One plaintiff, a 32-year-old woman from Albany whose initials are M.L., has been living at Sunmount Developmental Center, an isolated, fenced-in facility in Tupper Lake, since October 2012. M.L. has been diagnosed with a mild intellectual disability, childhood traumatic brain injury, bipolar disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and borderline personality disorder. She lived with her grandmother until she was 12 and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital at 16, eventually attending a residential school for children with disabilities where she benefited from a therapeutic environment. She was placed at Sunmount after allegedly pulling a fire alarm but the charges were eventually dismissed, advocates working on behalf of M.L. said. Living at Sunmount, which is cut off from public transportation, deprives M.L. of a social life, family connections, work opportunities, economic independence and cultural enrichment, the complaint states. She wants to live independently in a group home and was approved by OPWDD for placement in November 2020. M.L. was offered a spot in a home operated by a voluntary agency, Crystal Run Village, but the offer was rescinded in May without explanation. DOH and OPWDD, which jointly operate New Yorks Medicaid program for individuals with developmental disabilities, are required by federal law to develop specialized community-based residential programs and services for people with developmental disabilities in order to provide care in the least restrictive environment possible. But many patients eligible for these programs are kept in hospitals, nursing homes, and other inappropriate facilities for prolonged periods, often years, according to state data cited in the complaint. We are talking about a statewide crisis. People who are approved for community-based services languish in hospitals, nursing homes, and intermediate care facilities. These are our family members who want to be part of their communities. Instead, they are forced to remain segregated in institutional settings. Disability Rights NY Executive Director Timothy A. Clune said. The eight individuals seek to represent a class of all similarly situated individuals with disabilities who are approved by OPWDD for community-based services but are instead institutionalized due to the states failure to provide community-based services in a timely manner, the complaint states. Complex case discharge delays are a growing challenge for the mental health system across the U.S. It particularly impacts patients with behavioral health or developmental disabilities who have co-occurring conditions. Delays are often attributed to difficulty finding an appropriate placement as well as lengthy administrative processes, according to a 2021 report from the Healthcare Association of New York State. "Our system of care has a design flaw it is primarily designed for people with a clear path, for those who do not have complex care needs upon discharge," the report states. OPWDD simply doesn't have adequate mechanisms to transfer people with complex needs, according to the lawsuit. The Mental Hygiene and Legal Service analyzed 12,557 transfer requests for eligible patients received by OPWDD between Jan. 1, 2015, and Oct. 31, 2021 and found that 4,494 never resulted in a residential placement. Of the requests that were honored, placement often took more than a year. The agency ranks requests by the level of urgency. Even individuals categorized as having an emergency need saw an average wait time of 278 days before they were transferred, according to the OPWDD data, which was obtained by Mental Hygiene and Legal Service via a Freedom of Information Law request. State agencies have violated their obligations by failing to provide the requisite medical assistance and services with reasonable promptness if at all, the court filings state. The delays are in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and other federal statutes, according to the court documents. The class is believed to comprise at least several hundred individuals across New York State. Disabled individuals are being wrongly institutionalized and denied their statutory right to reside in less restrictive community-based residential settings that are more appropriate for their needs, in many cases for years. We look forward to vindicating our clients rights to more humane treatment, said David J. Abrams, partner and chair of the pro bono committee at Kasowitz Benson Torres. Today hundreds of patients with complex needs unnecessarily languish in emergency departments and hospital beds, according to the suit. Hospitals wind up serving as long-term housing rather than a place to handle acute medical needs. It has taken a toll on local emergency departments. The ethics committee at Schenectady's Ellis Hospital wrote a letter to former OPWDD Commissioner Theodore Kastner on Aug. 24, 2020 to bring attention to the plights of two individuals with developmental disabilities who had been languishing for months on the hospitals inpatient psychiatric unit. We are seeing a pattern of cases where people with developmental disabilities become stranded in an acute care psychiatric setting for weeks, even months due to slow access or unavailable care services within the (OPWDD) system," the letter states. "Hospital staff are experiencing moral distress as the patient at hand awaits a bed in an appropriate OPWDD residential facility. Staff see the negative impact on the patient but are unable to do anything about it, which is contrary to their duty to care and counterintuitive to OPWDDs responsibility to serve people with developmental disabilities." Ellis staff recommended adding resources to OPWDD so the mission of serving people with disabilities can be met, "correcting this ethical dilemma." The Office of People with Developmental Disabilities and the Department of Health declined to comment on the lawsuit. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Energy said Monday it is joining a new industry-led initiative to reduce nearly all methane emissions from operations by 2030. It comes as part of a broader global push to tackle emissions from methane, or natural gas, which is the second most polluting climate-changing gas after carbon dioxide, and much more potent than CO2. Unlike carbon dioxide, though, methanes leakage into the atmosphere is not the result of combustion or fuel-burning, instead it represents the loss of a marketable fuel. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of all the climate change already being experienced worldwide. Technology has allowed energy companies, independent groups and citizen sleuths to monitor methane leakage with cameras, drones and satellites. This monitoring along with greater climate change awareness is pushing companies to reduce their methane emissions and fix leakages from faulty pipes and other equipment. With its pledge, Qatar Energy joins an initiative launched in March of this year by 12 other major oil and gas companies, including Aramco, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell and others. Qatar is among the worlds top liquefied natural gas exporters and Qatar Energy operates all of the country's oil and gas exploration and production, making the peninsula-nation among the worlds richest per capita. The tiny country, which borders Saudi Arabia to the east, shares control with Iran of the world's largest underwater natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Natural gas, which primarily consists of methane, forms the backbone of Qatar's economy and Qatar Energy's activities. Leaks of methane by oil and gas companies not only harm the environment, but are also seen as a waste of natural gas. Making repairs to prevent leaks can often be paid for by the value of the additional gas that is brought to market, according to a report by the International Energy Agency last year on methane leaks. Private satellite companies that monitor methane emissions say they saw a dramatic acceleration of emissions from oil, methane and coal in 2021, compared to 2020 when the pandemic slowed down demand. The International Energy Agency's methane tracking separately found that oil and gas operations worldwide emitted more than 70 million tons of methane into the atmosphere in 2021, describing it as broadly equivalent to the total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from the entire European Union. The IEA also noted that companies that do not do more to curb methane emissions could face reputational damage and commercial risks as consumers increasingly look at the emissions profile of different sources of gas. Qatar Energy CEO Saad al-Kaabi said that by joining the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative the company is reaffirming Qatar's commitments to global efforts to reducing emissions. Qatar, unlike Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last year, has not joined other countries in announcing an overall net zero pledge. ____ Follow all of APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ____ 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. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) One person was killed and about 10 injured Monday as a weak tornado ripped through a historic fishing town in the southern Netherlands, tearing the roofs off at least four houses and sending cafe furniture flying through the streets. Video posted on social media showed a waterspout close to the town. There is, sadly, one fatality to mourn as a result of the whirlwind, Veilig Zeeland, the organization that coordinates emergency response in the region, said in a statement. In addition, the first assessment is around 10 injured. JERUSALEM (AP) A series of exceptional 1,700-year-old Roman mosaics have returned home to Israel, where the collection went on public display for the first time Monday after more than a decade touring the worlds top museums. The mosaics were first discovered in the central city of Lod in 1996 but the Israel Antiquities Authority only fully unearthed the enormous, well-preserved artworks in 2009. The collection stretches 17 meters by nine meters (56 feet by 30 feet). The mosaics feature a menagerie of animals, from fish and fowl to beasts that would have been exotic to ancient residents of Lod: an African elephant, rhinoceros and giraffe. Archaeologists believe the mosaics adorned an affluent villa in the 3rd or 4th centuries, after Lod was rebuilt as the Roman city of Diospolis. But for more than a decade, while Israeli authorities raised funds for a museum, the mosaics had no permanent home. They went on display at museums around the globe, including New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Louvre Museum in Paris and The Hermitage in St. Petersburg, Russia. The mosaics' new home at the Shelby White and Leon Levy Mosaic Lod Archaeological Center features guided tours and interactive exhibits in Arabic, English and Hebrew. The museum is free for residents of Lod, a mixed Arab-Jewish city that saw bouts of sectarian violence in May 2021 during Israels war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Like a mosaic which brings many pieces together to be one wonderful picture ... we are trying to bring all the local people Jews and Arabs, the museum's project manager, Raanan Kislev, told The Associated Press. The museum hopes it will be a key attraction for tour groups, as Lod is strategically situated between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv and next to the country's main international airport. The museum is designed to recreate an ancient Roman villa like one that would have housed the mosaics. Our dream for this city itself a mosaic of cultures is being realized today right before of our eyes, as we dedicate this most important museum, placing Lod on the world tourism map, said Mayor Yair Revivo. ALBANY The state attorney general's office reversed course last week and sent an attorney to a hearing to represent a State Police investigator who had filed an application seeking an "extreme risk protection order" that would enable the court-ordered seizure of a Saratoga County man's firearms. But the union representing State Police investigators on Monday said sworn members of the law enforcement agency are continuing to appear without legal counsel as petitioners in judicial hearings required to seize someone's weapons many of the cases involving someone with mental health issues or in a domestic dispute. The governor's office and state attorney general's office said they are working to develop a permanent solution. A spokeswoman for state Attorney General Letitia James confirmed their office handled one case last week and "are working with the governors office on addressing this in the long term." The Times Union reported last week that the number of protection orders being pursued by State Police to seize firearms had surged following an executive order issued in May by Gov. Kathy Hochul mandating troopers to file the court applications anytime they encounter a person they determine is "likely" to harm themselves or others. But earlier this month, an assistant attorney general in charge of the office's regional office in Poughkeepsie informed a state Supreme Court justice in Orange County that their office would not represent troopers in the civil cases. The union representing State Police investigators said the fallout of that decision is that judges were in many instances dismissing the final protection orders that could enable police to seize someone's weapons for up to a year. The attorney general's letter was addressed to state Supreme Court Justice Craig Stephen Brown in Orange County, who had notified State Police and the attorney general's office that State Police members were "appearing without counsel ... in these civil proceedings in the Supreme Court. It does not appear their training includes the legal nuances necessary for them to proceed in such a manner in these legal proceedings (rules of evidence, conducting direct and cross-examinations, etc.)." The governor's office last week also said they "have been working with the attorney generals office, district attorneys, and the Office of Court Administration to improve these proceedings and ensure adequate support for State Police." The civil cases almost always involve firearms, and whether a person who poses a potential public safety threat should have those weapons seized by police through a court order either temporarily or for up to a year. The governor's executive order was issued last month following a mass shooting in Buffalo in which 10 Black people were killed by an 18-year-old white man in what police said was a racially motivated attack. But many of the "Red Flag Law" cases were being dismissed by judges because the troopers and investigators often have been appearing at the hearings without attorneys and in proceedings in which they have been instructed by the State Police to not make legal arguments. Timothy Dymond, a State Police senior investigator and president of the New York State Police Investigators Association, on Monday said his union is cautiously optimistic that state officials will establish a policy for making sure law enforcement petitioners in the protective order cases are represented by legal counsel. "We still have people going to court on these without an attorney. I had a guy reach out from Buffalo area and said, 'how do I get ahold of the attorney general's office," Dymond said. "I think we've made a little progress but they still haven't come up with a solution and we still are in a very (bad) situation." Dymond said even if 10 percent of the cases were being dismissed, "that is pretty scary." In 2021, the State Police filed applications for 36 temporary or final extreme risk protection orders between Jan. 1 and June 22. This year, the number of those applications during that same time period has soared to 146 including 85 over the past two months. The governor's office noted that their records indicate State Police have received temporary approval for roughly 91 percent of the extreme risk protection orders filed since the governor signed the executive order last month. However, data showing how many permanent orders were being dismissed was not immediately provided by the governor's office. New York's Red Flag Law went into effect in 2019, aligning it with similar laws in nearly two dozen other states and the District of Columbia. Many of those states enacted their versions in the wake of the 2018 mass shooting at a school in Parkland, Fla., that left 17 dead. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate ALBANY State Republican leaders applauded a state Supreme Court justice's decision Monday that could block non-citizens from voting in New York City elections beginning next year under a local law that the judge said violates the state's constitution. The case flowed from a challenge in Staten Island of the New York City Council's decision in December to give voting rights to people who are documented immigrants but have not attained legal citizenship. Republican critics of the law have suggested Democrats sought the measure to help bolster their election chances; the law was expected to add about 800,000 potential new voters. State Democrats had not publicized any plans for similar actions in Albany, but more progressive policies sometimes first pass downstate prior to being tested statewide. The state and national Republican committees, among other GOP officials, fought the case in court against New York City Mayor Eric Adams, stating the city's move violated the state constitution, which requires citizenship to vote. The New York City law limited the documented immigrant voting to city elections, including mayor, City Council and other local races only. State GOP Chairman Nick Langworthy quickly sent out a fundraising email blast with the subject line: "We stopped the radical non-citizen voter registration." "This is a huge victory for election integrity, citizen rights and the rule of law," Langworthy said in the email. Langworthy is running for Congress in western New York and faces a challenger in the Republican primary, far-right conservative Carl Paladino. "The RNC is proud to head a broad coalition in successfully challenging this unconstitutional scheme and will continue to lead the effort across the country to ensure only citizens can vote in Americas elections," Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. State lawmakers who were party to the suit included Staten Island Republicans state Sen. Andrew Lanza, Assemblyman Michael Reilly and Assemblyman Michael Tannousis, who also represents parts of Brooklyn. This decision is a major win for democracy and election integrity in New York City, Tannousis said in a statement. The New York state constitution and the letter of the law could not be more clear only citizens are permitted to vote in New York elections. As the son of immigrants that came to this country legally and worked tirelessly to become citizens, I consider voting to be a sacred right bestowed on American citizens. The idea that a person can move to New York City and register to vote after 30 days is preposterous and ripe for fraud." State Senate Minority Leader Rob Ortt called the decision, which is expected to face an appeal, a "massive victory for election integrity." "The Senate Republican Conference will always remain committed to upholding the integrity of our elections, upholding our constitution, and opposing hyper-partisan attacks on our democracy," Ortt said. Most Republican statements included a reference to "one-party rule" in Albany and the need to win elections to bring balance to the statehouse, which has been the primary campaign point from that party this election season. Candidates running for in impending primaries or November's election also seized on the ruling. U.S. Rep. Lee Zeldin, a GOP gubernatorial contender, issued a statement saying that the right to vote belongs to U.S. citizens "and no one else!" "Im honored to stand shoulder to shoulder with the leaders across our state who stood up for election integrity and the rule of law to put an end to it," Zeldin, a Long Island Republican, said in the campaign statement released a day ahead of the gubernatorial primary. "This is another major blow to Albany and Washington Democrats following New York states highest court striking down their illegal gerrymandering plans earlier this year," Dutchess County Executive Marc Molinaro said in a statement. Molinaro, a Republican, is running for Congress in a swing Hudson Valley district. Democratic state officials had a more muted reaction to the decision, which is focused exclusively on New York City. Assemblywoman Yuh-Line Niou, D-Manhattan, who is running for Congress, accused Republicans of "venue shopping" to find a judge whose interpretations of the law may align with their own. "This is another example of the GOP playing politics with peoples lives in this case nearly a million New Yorkers who have built futures for themselves and are impacted every day by the decisions of local elected officials," she said in a statement. "At a time when voting rights are already under sustained attack nationwide, this decision is a major blow to our community. ... Our undocumented communities deserve better from a state that claims to support the core values of representation and inclusion." HSE chief executive Paul Reid is to step down from his position later this year, it was confirmed. In a statement, Mr Reid said he was quitting to spend more time with his family and said it was his belief that the HSE was entering a new phase and that the appointment of a new leader was now timely. Mr Reid said he told the chairman, the board of the HSE and Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly of his decision and will step down in December. He said on Monday that he had no immediate career plans. It's with a heavy heart that I've advised the Chairman of @HSELive and the Minister for Health that I will step down as CEO later this year. Having led teams in the private,not for profit,central & local government and health sectors,I now want to spend some time with my family. Paul Reid (@paulreiddublin) June 27, 2022 In a message to staff, Mr Reid said he was making the decision with a heavy heart, and that it was the hardest career decision he had made. Having previously worked in the private, not for profit, central and local government sectors, working in the HSE has been by far the greatest period in my career, he said. It has been truly rewarding leading an organisation whose staff come to work every day to make peoples lives better. No organisation will ever match the commitment, dedication and relentless willingness to go beyond the call of duty that I have witnessed as we battled multiple waves of Covid, a criminal cyber attack while driving a significant reform agenda. This has been truly inspirational for me to experience. Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly paid tribute to Mr Reid. Since his appointment as chief executive in June 2019, Paul Reid has provided exemplary leadership to the HSE, he said. He has led Irelands health service through some of its most difficult days and has done so with dedication and professionalism. Throughout the pandemic, Paul played a critical role in leading Irelands response to the greatest health emergency of our times. He leaves behind him an organisation much enhanced for his time as chief executive, and one that is already making real progress in implementing reform and improvement across many aspects of healthcare provision. I want to wish Paul all the best for the time ahead and to thank him and his family for the many sacrifices they have made over the last three years to allow him to dedicate himself to the role of CEO. Paying tribute to Mr Reid, the chairman of the HSE Ciaran Devane said: It is with very great regret that I and the board have heard of Pauls decision. He has led the health service through what has been the greatest challenge it has ever faced, and done so with relentless dedication and professionalism. We are very grateful that he will stay in his role for a further period to allow us to progress the extremely difficult task of replacing him. MPs on Monday will debate new legislation to give ministers the power to override parts of the post-Brexit deal on Northern Ireland with the Prime Minister suggesting the controversial proposals could be law by the end of the year. Here are answers to some of the main questions as politicians appear to debate the plan in parliament. What is the Northern Ireland Protocol? Jointly agreed by the UK and EU, it is the part of the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement that deals with the main obstacle in the divorce talks the Irish land border. To keep the border free flowing, London and Brussels essentially moved new regulatory and customs checks required by Brexit to the Irish Sea. That has introduced red tape on trade between Great Britain and Northern Ireland, creating new headaches for many businesses and enraging loyalists and unionists who claim the regions place in the UK has been undermined. Politics at Stormont has been thrown into turmoil, with the DUP blocking the formation of a new power-sharing executive, following last months Assembly election, in protest. There have been sporadic outbreaks of violence linked to the protocol since its introduction in January 2021, but they have not been widespread or sustained. What is it to do with the Good Friday Agreement (GFA)? The debate over the protocol has increasingly been framed by competing interpretations of Northern Irelands historic 1998 peace accord. The agreement contains provisions to protect and develop relations both on a north/south basis on the island of Ireland and on an east/west basis between the island and Great Britain. Those who campaigned against Brexit claimed it would undermine the peace deal by disrupting that north/south dynamic. The protocol, from their point of view, has helped to uphold the 1998 accord, and any threat to the arrangements would also represent a threat to the GFA. This argument is employed by the anti-Brexit parties in NI, the Irish Government, the EU and the US administration. For unionists in Northern Ireland, it is the protocol itself that poses the threat to the GFA. For them, it not only undermines the east/west relationship but also strikes at another fundamental tenet of the deal that Northern Irelands constitutional status cannot be changed without the consent of its people. Unionists claim the new trade border has effectively changed the constitutional status of NI and, in so doing, undermined that consent principle. What about the Governments position? Having initially hailed the protocol as the breakthrough that got Brexit done, and then portrayed early disruption as teething problems, the Prime Minister began to change his public stance on the protocol soon after it became operational. He now claims it has upset the GFAs delicate balance of unionist and nationalist aspirations by undermining the east/west dynamic. Mr Johnson says the arrangements need to be fixed, not scrapped, maintaining that the Governments preferred outcome is a negotiated settlement with the EU. The Prime Minister, as well as Foreign Secretary Liz Truss and Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis, have stressed that their priority with the legislation is the restoration of power-sharing. Protracted negotiations between the UK and European Commission have been rumbling on for well over a year without sign of resolution, with both sides having tabled proposals which the other has rejected. The proposals, which MPs will vote on, is something of a solo run and lacks buy-in from Labour, non-unionist parties in Northern Ireland and European leaders. Mr Johnson, who has previously described this tactic as an insurance policy that will only be used if Brussels fails to change position, has signalled that the plan could potentially be in operation by the end of the year. What has the Government proposed? The creation of green and red channels would differentiate between GB goods destined for use in Northern Ireland and shipments bound for onward transportation across the Irish border. Goods arriving through the green channel would be freed of red tape, while the red channel would retain the checks and inspections required by the protocol. The introduction of a dual regulatory system would allow businesses selling in Northern Ireland to choose whether they comply with EU standards, UK standards or both. Changing rules on state subsidies and VAT and excise duties would ensure Northern Ireland is not excluded from UK-wide policy decisions in these areas as a result of EU laws. Reform of the protocol governance arrangements would remove the European Court of Justice as the final arbitrator in any future trade disputes over the protocol. Are the proposals legal? The Governments critics claim the unilateral move to breach the Brexit treaty by way of domestic legislation is a clear violation of international law. Insisting it is acting within the law, the Government has cited a doctrine of necessity that allows obligations in international treaties to be set aside under certain, very exceptional, limited conditions. This has not stopped widespread criticism of the move, with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer pledging that his party would scrap the legislation if it was in power. Is it all about trade and Northern Ireland? The progress of the legislation, as well as some of the bullish rhetoric accompanying it, has inevitably seen links drawn between it and the embattled premiership of Mr Johnson. Even before the two by-election defeats and the shock resignation of a Cabinet minister, sceptics claimed that Mr Johnson was primarily motivated by desperation to hang on to the keys of Downing Street, with the PM pandering to the Eurosceptic ranks of the Conservative Party in a bid to secure their backing. Critics also suggest Ms Trusss own leadership ambitions may be a factor in her hardline approach to the EU on the protocol. For his part, Mr Johnson has forcedly rejected such a characterisation. Do you really think that most Conservative MPs or most people in the country are thinking about this problem? Theyre not, he told reporters during a recent visit to Rwanda. Im afraid to say that this is an issue that is entirely to do with the balance of the political situation in Northern Ireland. And we have to respect that. NI Protocol Bill returns for 2nd reading today. It will fix problems the Protocol has created in Northern Ireland & uphold the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement. Our preference remains a negotiated outcome, but EU continues to rule out change to Protocolhttps://t.co/zF53dBfirx Liz Truss (@trussliz) June 27, 2022 What is the EUs view? Brussels has been highly critical of the UKs use of unilateral action. There are concerns the dispute could spiral into a full-blown trade war, but such an outcome still appears a way off. Mr Johnson has in recent days played down the extent of EU anger, labelling it as muted and indicating that a row over the protocol is not expected to overshadow proceedings at the G7 summit of world and European leaders. Nonetheless, the EU has instigated legal action against the UK in retaliation against the proposed legislation. Is there any common ground between the EU and UK? In proposals published by the European Commission last October, Brussels acknowledged a need to treat goods destined for use in Northern Ireland differently from those at risk of entering its single market. However, the EU only envisaged a reduction on checks for goods arriving through an express channel, not a complete discontinuation. The EU has also moved to pass legislation to remove barriers on GB medicines travelling to Northern Ireland. The commission has shown little appetite for minimising the role of the Court of Justice of the European Union in protocol oversight. What about businesses in Northern Ireland? Those involved in bringing goods in from GB have experienced disruption to trade and would welcome a reduction in bureaucracy. However, other companies that trade with Europe have benefited from the protocols dual market access provision, which allows them to sell unrestricted into the EU single market. Food producers whose operations involve cross-border movements on the island of Ireland have also expressed concern at any attempt to undermine the functioning of the protocol. What all businesses are at one on is the need for stability and certainty on their post-Brexit trading environment. Is a return to power-sharing in Northern Ireland likely? The DUP is watching closely both the contents of the protocol Bill, as well as the passage it makes through parliament. Yet the exact conditions or timeline that could see the DUP return to power-sharing remains relatively opaque, with the party instead stressing that it needs to see tangible delivery on removing the so-called Irish Sea border. DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has previously said his party will take a graduated and cautious approach when judging the Governments actions. The party has been burned by promises from Mr Johnson before, most famously his pledge never to agree to a Brexit deal that created economic barriers in the Irish Sea. In recent days, Secretary of State Brandon Lewis has raised the spectre of legislation to cut MLA pay if Stormont is not restored. It remains to be seen if and when that threat is followed through, but the DUP has insisted it will not be forced back into power-sharing without sufficient action on the protocol. An otherwise peaceful afternoon was interrupted with reports of gunfire this afternoon as Kansas City continues to push past last year's homicide surge. Here's the first report . . . Homicide 5200 block of E. 29th Street This afternoon at about 3:30 PM, officers were dispatched to the 5200 block of E. 29th St. in regard to a shooting. Upon arrival officers found an adult male victim lying on the ground who had been shot and was unresponsive. Officers began lifesaving measures at that time. EMS arrived and pronounced the victim deceased. We do not have any suspect information and are asking for the publics help. Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene for evidence. If you have any information please call the Homicide Unit at 234-5043. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the TIPS hotline at 474-TIPS, with up to a $25,000 reward for an arrest in this case. ################ Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . KCPD investigating fatal shooting in 5200 block of E 29th Street KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department is investigating a fatal shooting in the 5200 block of East 29th Street. The incident happened around 3:30 p.m. Sunday. When officers arrived, they located an adult male lying unresponsive on the ground with gunshot wounds. KCPD investigating homicide on East 29th Street homicide on east 29th street SOURCE: D. Jordan The Kansas City Police Department is investigating a homicide in the 5200 block of East 29th Street.First responders were dispatched to the location in regards to a shooting Sunday afternoon.Officers confirm at least one person has died from their injuries.KMBC 9 News will bring you more information once updates are available.UPDATE:Kansas City police were originally dispatched at 3:30 p.m. Developing . . . Right now hottie we remember that hottie Mel D was amongst the best of the 'lad's mag' era and right now she inspires our quick peek at pop culture, community news and top headlines. Check TKC news gathering . . . Unsafe Kansas City Streets Worsen Another person in Kansas City was hit by a car. What is the city doing about pedestrian safety? A car backed into a person June 25, seriously injuring them. Just a day later, another driver left a walker in critical condition. A hit and run near Independence and Indiana Avenues the morning of June 23 left a pedestrian dead. Sunday's accident is the fifth time in just two weeks that a car injured a Kansas City pedestrian. Kansas Property Crime Cont'd U-Haul, family memories stolen from woman moving to Kansas OLATHE, Kan. - Kathleen Scott and her son Zak are in the middle of moving to Eudora, Kansas, from Gilberts, Illinois. Friday, the Scotts lost nearly all of their possessions including photos and videos of Kathleen's late husband. "We brought our belongings in a 20-foot U-Haul with the trailer attached. Locals Talk PRIDE This Month Honoring Pride: Panel talks challenges, successes for LGBTQ+ community Hide Transcript Show Transcript HONOR THE PROGRESS IN THE FIGHTP OPPORTUNITY FOR THE L. ETQ+ COMMUNITY PRIDE MONTH ALSO HONORS THE STONEWALL RIOTS WHICH STARTED 53 YEARS AGO THIS COMING TUESDAY, NEW YORK CITY POLICE RAIDED THE STONEWALL INN A GAY CLUB IN GREENWICH VILLAGE THE RAID SPARKED THE RIOTS AND DAYS OF PROTESTS SERVING AS A CATALYST FOR THE GAY RIGHTS MOVEMENT. Met Town Pride Walk Turns Out Dozens walk to Independence Town Square for second annual Pride Walk As Pride Month comes to a close, dozens of people walked through the streets of Independence for the second-annual Pride Walk.The Independence Square Association and WestiNd Connection worked together to host the walk. Organizers handed out free light-up Pride flags and walked to the town square for an outdoor showing of the movie 'The Birdcage'.Leona Noel worked to organize the event. Pix Provide Economic Opportunity Danielle Lloyd says OnlyFans pays mortgage and feeds kids as she defends snaps Danielle Lloyd relaunched her account on adults-only subscription platform OnlyFans last year, with her having now opened up about the backlash she received over it Danielle Lloyd has boasted that the cash she rakes in from her saucy OnlyFans accounts helps 'pay her mortgage and feed her children'. Prez Biden's Team Panics 'Give us a plan or give us someone to blame': Inside a White House consumed by problems Biden can't fix House Democrats' anxiety bubbled to the surface as they awaited the belated arrival of White House officials. Follow The MAGA Money Trump Moved More Than $1 Million From His Political Groups To His Private Business After Losing The Election D onald Trump never stopped raising funds from his supporters after the 2020 presidential race. His companies, meanwhile, continued to charge his political outfits for goods and services. As a result, the former president has been able to convert about $1.3 million of donor money into business revenue since he lost the 2020 election, according to a review of the latest federal filings. White House Denounces Vlad Biden accuses Russia of torturing, electrocuting Ukrainians: 'barbaric' President Joe Biden accused the Russian military of torturing Ukrainians using electrocution and other methods in an official statement Sunday. Biden's statement marked the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture. In it Biden accused several nations of using torture on either their own people or the people of nations they were attacking. Economic World War Ramps Up U.S. official: Group of Seven nations moving closer to price cap for Russian oil ELMAU, Germany - Group of Seven nations are moving closer to capping the price that countries can pay for Russian oil, a senior U.S. official said. The official said leaders aim to further restrict Vladimir Putin's cash flow, bring down prices at the gas pump and provide greater stability to energy markets. Meet The Next Pandemic The Monkeypox Crisis Is Secretly Spiraling in This Virus Hotspot AKAMKPA, Nigeria-The two sons of Destiny, a 48-year-old Nigerian businessman whose nephew had recently contracted the monkeypox virus, are already showing similar symptoms. They have swollen lymph nodes, which started a couple of days after they developed a fever. EPIC ROCKER OPTS OUT OF USA?!? Billie Joe Armstrong Tells British Crowd He's 'Renouncing' U.S. Citizenship After Roe Repeal Green Day's Billie Joe Armstrong told a British crowd that he's "renouncing" his American citizenship following the Supreme Court's decision to repeal Roe v. Wade. Performing live at London Stadium on the band's Hella Mega tour with Fall Out Boy and Weezer on the night of the Court's decision Friday, the American Idiot singer said, "Fuck America, I'm fucking renouncing my citizenship. Royal Legacy Ruined Carlos Santana's sudden resurgence doesn't change anything If you haven't been paying close attention to the Royals lately - and who could blame you - you might not have noticed that Carlos Santana has been magma hot in the month of June and raised his season wRC+ all the way up to 98. Midwest Crop Tech Advances Amid Climate Change Scientists Are Pursuing Flood-Resistant Crops, Thanks to Climate-Induced Heavy Rains and Other Extreme Weather - Inside Climate News Last week, heavy rains in Yellowstone National Park wiped out miles of roads, closing the park and swamping nearby Billings, Montana. This week, heavy monsoons and flooding impacted millions of people in Bangladesh and India, causing fatalities. Record rainfall in southeastern China also caused a deluge, resulting in landslides and evacuations. Diddy feat. Bryson Tiller - Gotta Move On is the song of the day and this is the OPEN THREAD for right now. Recent pro-labor votes have ALLEGEDLY inspired a local corporate crackdown. Here's the word and signal that the barista battle is going to be tougher than just a few mean tweets and protest outings. Check-it . . . "Across the board, Starbucks is doing some heinous union-busting, firing workers all across the country," Starbucks employee Josh Cromwell said. Employees at Starbucks on 75th and I-35 recently celebrated a 6-1 vote in favor of unionizing in April. However, employees say during the process to unionize, multiple employees were let go. Those employees have accused the company of retaliation for trying to unionize. According to "Workers United," a formal complaint has been issued against Starbucks with the "National Labor Relations Board," which is the federal agency responsible for investigating misconduct during union organizing drives. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Rosemarie Bryan is shown in a screengrab from the City of Toronto's YouTube channel on June 24. Bryan was briefly appointed an interim city councillor for Ward 1 Etobicoke North, but she resigned hours later when homophobic social media posts from her past surfaced on the internet. - City of Toronto/YouTube 3,700 Ontarians over 60 have died since mid-December, despite narrative that COVIDs worst was over, Toronto researchers reveal. Omicron variant BA.5 is gaining ground fast in Ontario. Heres why experts are watching it closely The variant about to become dominant is much better at getting around immunity, whether that immunity is from a vaccine, prior infection or both. 'We are pleased to see unanimous support in Parliament for our governance aspirations' The UNC says governments five-week revision programme for SEA students who underperformed is merely a quick fix and not a real solution. Speaking during their weekly Sunday media conference, MP Anita Haynes said this years results had little to do with the pandemic. If you want to move fast, work by yourself. If you want to go far, work with a team, Marable said. Im a natural do-it-all type of person, but at some point, you have to realize that you dont know everything. Make sure you check in with your people, that youre there for them. McInturf is the co-founder of Band Connect, a digital health start-up developing sensor-outfitted, physical therapy-focused fitness equipment. In 2021, Band Connect launched from UCs Venture lab, a pre-accelerator program within the 1819 Innovation Hub. McInturf observed that with UCs highly ranked co-op program, you get that experience that no one else can. She was also open about her occasional struggles with imposter syndrome and supplied solutions to cope with self-doubt. Its getting comfortable with being uncomfortable. Its hard as someone that is young and female, McInturf said. Everyones figuring it out along the way. When I feel like that, I make small, tangible goals. A recent graduate of Gilbert A. Dater High School, Khzir will be among the inaugural class of Marian Spencer Scholars entering the University of Cincinnati this fall. I am a little bit nervous, but mostly excited, says Khzir, who paid a visit to the UC campus and marveled at his new digs, the Marian Spencer Residence Hall. Its a big campus. Its like 47,000 students. I dont know if I will see the same people every day. I was walking around all day and was meeting different people, not just from Cincinnati, but from different states. I am excited about having my own place, living in a dormitory and being independent, he says. The Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy in the area of Pavlivka, Bakhmut direction. The Russians retreated after a failed assault. This is stated in the latest report of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine as of 18:00 on June 26, published on Facebook. In Volyn and Polissya directions, in the territory of the Republic of Belarus, some units of the Russian troops prepare sabotage and reconnaissance groups for further missions in the territory of Ukraine. In Siversky direction, the enemy holds separate units of the western military district in the border areas of Bryansk and Kursk regions to demonstrate their presence and restrain Ukraines Defense Forces. Russians fired on civilian and military infrastructure near Khrinivka and Yanzhulivka. In Kharkiv direction, the enemy fired tanks and artillery on Ruski Tyshky, Chepil, Chuhuiv, Zolochiv, and Mospanove, launched airstrikes near Yavirske, Dementiyivka, and Zamulivka. The Russians tried to improve their tactical position by assault in the area of Dementiyivka but had no success. The areas of Nova Dmytrivka, Dibrivne, Virnopillia, Velyka Komyshuvakha, Dolyna, and Ridne came under fire in Slovyansk direction. Ukrainian troops successfully repulsed enemy assaults in the areas of Dolyna, Kurulka, and Mazanivka. In Donetsk direction, the enemy, with the support of artillery, tries to block the town of Lysychansk from the southern direction. The Russians fired on civilian and military infrastructure in Lysychansk, Verkhniokamyanka, and Loskutivka districts, launched an airstrike near Vovchoyarivka. To support the offensive, the enemy strengthened the artillery group. In Kramatorsk direction, the invaders did not conduct active hostilities, firing artillery on the area of Mayaky. In Bakhmut direction, the enemy fired mortars, tube and rocket artillery on the Ukrainian positions near Mykolayivka, Berestove, Pokrovske, Kodema, and New York. The Ukrainian soldiers inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy near the village of Pavlivka. After an unsuccessful assault, the invaders retreated. In Avdiivka, Kurakhove, and Zaporizhzhia directions, the enemy fired tube and rocket artillery on the positions of Ukrainian troops near Vodiane, Pisky, Marinka, Prechystivka, Huliaypilske, and Bilohirya. The Russians fired missile and artillery strikes on the civilian infrastructure of localities in the rear areas of the defense forces. In the Southern Buh direction, the invaders fired tube and rocket artillery on the areas of Osokorivka, Trudoliubivka, Dobrianka, Hannivka, Zoria, Blahodatne, and Luch. The Russians launched missile strikes on the infrastructure of the city of Mykolayiv. With the support of army aircraft, the enemy tried to regain control of the settlement of Potiomkine, had no success, retreated. The General Staff notes that the northwestern part of the Black Sea is still blocked. "In the temporarily occupied territories, the occupation authorities continue to carry out so-called filtration measures against local residents. Counterintelligence measures have been intensified at checkpoints, the report reads. Ukraine's defense forces inflict losses on the enemy in all directions As reported, the losses of the Russian army as of June 26 totaled 34,850 service members. ol At least 339 children have been killed and 614 injured in Ukraine since the Russian invasion started in late February. The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office said this in a statement posted to Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "More than 953 children have been affected in Ukraine as a result of full-scale armed aggression by the Russian Federation. As of the morning of June 27, 2022, the official number of child victims over the past day has not changed - 339. The number of those injured has increased to over 614," the report states. These figures are not final, as they are being investigated within the areas of hostilities, temporarily occupied and liberated areas, the Prosecutor General's Office said. Currently, most casualties were recorded in Donetsk Region (335), Kharkiv Region (179), Kyiv Region (116), Chernihiv Region (68), Luhansk Region (57), Kherson Region (52), Mykolaiv Region (48), Zaporizhzhia Region (31), and Sumy Region (17). A total of 2,061 educational institutions were damaged across Ukraine as a result of Russia's daily air and artillery strikes, and 213 of them were destroyed completely. Turkey's Baykar Makina, the producer of Bayraktar TB2 UAVs, has said that it will donate three drones to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, for which Ukrainians raised funds as part of the People's Bayraktar project by showman Serhiy Prytula. According to Ukrinform, a respective decision was announced on Baykar Makina's Twitter account. "Baykar has been informed that a crowdfunding campaign called 'The People's Bayraktar' was successful in raising funds to buy several Bayraktar TB2 UAVs for Ukrainians to use in defense of their homeland. Business leaders and ordinary people have contributed - small and large - to reach this milestone within a matter of a few days' time. Baykar will not accept payment for the TB2s, and will send three UAVs free of charge to the Ukrainian war front," the statement reads. The company asked that the raised funds be remitted instead to the struggling people of Ukraine. "We are touched by their solidarity and determination in the face of seemingly insurmountable challenges. Baykar prays for a just resolution and lasting peace," the statement said. Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio has announced additional sanctions against Russia, including a ban on imports of Russian gold. Thats according to NHK, Ukrinform reports. Speaking at the G7 summit in Germany, Kishida touched on the situation in Ukraine, saying the world stands at a crossroads in history and is being tested on whether it can maintain international order based on rules. He noted that frameworks such as the United Nations Security Council have not been able to deal with the current situation sufficiently. Read also: G7 Foreign Ministers assure Ukraine of military assistance for as long as necessary The additional sanctions he announced include a ban on imports of Russian gold and on providing accounting, trust and some other services to Russia. Kishida also said Japan will expand its asset freeze measures to cover an additional 70 Russian individuals and organizations and will implement a ban on exports to 90 military-related organizations. Apparently with China in mind, Kishida said that Japan rejects a world in which any unilateral change to the status quo by force, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, is tolerated. Photo: AA The opening of the "grain corridor" will take three to four weeks, but the main factor in starting this process is the agreement that is yet to be reached between Ukraine and Russia. To this end, Istanbul is ready to host a meeting in the Turkey-Ukraine-Russia-UN format. This was stated by the Turkish Presidents spokesman and foreign affairs adviser Ibrahim Kalin, Ukrinform reports with reference to Haber Turk. "At the moment, Russia and Ukraine have a total of about 40 million tonnes of grain. This is a serious figure. This is 30-35% of the worlds total. Defining this corridor and starting to load ships takes three to four weeks," Kalin said. He noted that Ukraine rightly seeks not to remove the mine barriers that were installed to protect the port of Odesa, fearing that Russia will attack once the mines are gone. "The main operation is negotiations with Russia and Ukraine. If both sides agree, we will hold a Turkey-Ukraine-Russia-UN meeting in Istanbul. The departures will be discussed at this meeting. They offered a safe corridor. Negotiations on this are still ongoing. We want to hold the meeting in Istanbul as soon as possible, "Erdogan's spokesman said. As Ukrinform reported, Romania is taking measures to increase shipments of Ukrainian grain through its territory and reduce the threat of global famine. Photo: Haber Turk Ukraine is calling on international partners to impose a gas embargo against Russia as soon as possible and to tighten restrictions on Russian oil exports. Andriy Yermak, head of the Ukrainian President's Office, wrote this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. He noted that restrictions on imports of Russian gold announced by the G7 countries would cost Russia $ 19 billion a year, which is good news, but a gas embargo would be more effective. "But Russia receives much more from energy exports. The gas embargo and stricter restrictions on oil exports were needed 'yesterday.' We need to move in this direction," Yermak said. U.S. President Joe Biden earlier said that he, along with other world leaders at the G7 summit in Germany, which began on June 26, would announce a ban on Russian gold imports. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an interview with CNN that the introduction of a ban on imports of Russian gold, which is the country's second most lucrative export after energy, will deny Russia access to $19 billion of revenues a year. Photo: President's Office The G7 leaders started the second working day of the G7 summit at Elmau Castle in the Bavarian Alps. As an Ukrinform correspondent reports, the morning session is dedicated primarily to the Ukrainian issue with the participation of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky at video link. Bilateral meetings are held in parallel. In particular, the heads of governments of Germany and Canada Olaf Scholz and Justin Trudeau talked on Monday morning. Following the meeting, Scholz said that "we will stand together on the side of Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression." He called it a "good message" that the G7 countries make tough decisions against Russia, they will support Ukraine as much as necessary, but they will do so to avoid a big conflict between Russia and NATO. "It makes sense to be tough and think about the needs of the times we live in," Scholz said. As reported, the G7 summit is held under the chairmanship of Germany in the Bavarian Alps on June 26-28. Photo: @Bundeskanzler ol In a joint video address to President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau and Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson pledged their unwavering support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. The address was published on the Twitter account of Justin Trudeau, Ukrinform reports. "Ukrainians have been standing up for the principles and the values that bind us together as democracies: the rule of law, sovereignty, territorial integrity. The principles that matter to everyone in the world," Trudeau said. He added that the G7 countries were working to increase sanctions against Russia, as well as to step up with economic, financial, and military support for Ukraine. In turn, Johnson underscored the support of Canada and Britain for President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. "We salute your fight. We believe it is wholly, wholly legitimate and essential for our world. We support you and we will stay the course," he said. In the end, the British PM said in Ukrainian: "Slava Ukraini! [Glory to Ukraine!]" Trudeau added: "Heroiam Slava! [Glory to the heroes!]" As reported, the prime ministers of Great Britain and Canada take part in the G7 summit, which is held under the chairmanship of Germany in the Bavarian Alps on June 26-28. ol During the online participation in the G7 Leaders Summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky offered to create a global mechanism for confiscating Russias frozen or seized assets. The relevant statement was made by the Office of the President of Ukraine, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. The President also suggested creating an effective global mechanism for confiscating frozen or seized Russian assets, which should become one of the biggest tools to deter other potential aggressors from attacking neighbors, the report states. Zelensky called on the G7 countries to encourage their companies to consider Ukraine as an alternative to the Russian direction. According to the President of Ukraine, after the war, the Ukrainian state will have much better access to the global market compared to the aggressor country. In addition, Ukraine has duty-free access to the markets of leading democracies. The Head of the State also noted the importance of post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. According to Zelensky, this will be the largest economic project of our time, participation in which will significantly strengthen the G7 countries. In addition, Zelensky invited the G7 to join the work on security guarantees for Ukraine. The President of Ukraine stressed that these guarantees in the future will prevent conflicts, such as Russian aggression. Zelensky also mentioned that Ukraine needs modern and effective missile defense systems that can provide peace to Ukrainian cities far from the front. In his words, Russia is intensifying missile attacks on Ukraine, so it is very important to guarantee basic security to the civilian population. The Head of the State stressed that the return of people to work will allow the start of economic processes in settlements, as today Ukraines monthly budget deficit is USD 5 billion. The President of Ukraine stressed the importance of unblocking the export of Ukrainian grain and called for consideration of effective mechanisms to ensure food security in the world. In addition, Zelensky emphasized the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, namely by forcibly limiting the price of Russian oil exports. The President of Ukraine expressed hope that the U.S. Department of State would endorse the decision to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. The Head of the State also noted the importance of the decision to grant Ukraine EU candidate status. This decision fully reflects our progress in European integration, our contribution to the protection of European values, which we are all talking about, the President of Ukraine said. Zelensky thanked the G7 countries for the defense and financial support for Ukraine during the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation, as well as for the consistent sanctions policy against the aggressor state. mk President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu are holding a meeting in the city of Kyiv. The relevant statement was made by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky on Telegram, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. We have not only a common border with Moldova but also common values and aspirations. Today I have a meeting with President Maia Sandu! Your solidarity with our country and people is very important, Zelensky wrote. A reminder that President of the Republic of Moldova Maia Sandu is paying a working visit to Ukraine on June 27, 2022. Today she has already visited the liberated areas of Kyiv Region, namely Bucha, Irpin and Borodianka. mk Chisinau doing everything possible not to allow unrecognized Transnistria to threaten Moldova, Ukraine. This was stated by President of Moldova Maia Sandu, who spoke at a joint press conference with President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Ukrinform reports. "We are closely following all developments in Transnistria and we are seeing no threats looming. We are doing everything we can to prevent this separatist region from posing a threat to Ukraine and Moldova," Sandu said. The president of Moldova noted that the two countries should maintain constant dialogue on security issues that affect them, adding that she had agreed with Zelensky to work together to maintain stability and avoid provocations aimed at destabilizing the situation. The leader also noted that the information about the possible general mobilization in Transnistria has not been confirmed yet. "From time to time, we hear such news, but it hasnt been confirmed yet. We are following the developments in Transnistria very closely. We would like to make sure that there is nothing that could destabilize the situation. Our agencies will continue to further monitor the situation," the president said. Sandu added that, if something happened that would cause concern, Chisinau would take action and inform its partners. As Ukrinform reported earlier, Moldovan President Maia Sandu is on a visit to Ukraine on Monday. She has already made a tour of the liberated towns of Irpin, Bucha, and Borodianka. Any action that will threaten Ukraine from Transnistria, the temporarily occupied territory of Moldova, will receive an appropriate response; however regional destabilization should be avoided. This was stated by President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine, who spoke with reporters in Kyiv following talks with Moldovan President Maia Sandu. The leader said that at today's meeting with his Moldovan counterpart, the issue was discussed of possible threats from the territories temporarily occupied by Russia. "If it happens, I think it would be a global mistake. We receive all kinds of signals, and they are quite unpleasant. But people in Transnistria should know: for us it will not be a blow, but a slap. But we will definitely respond with a blow," Volodymyr Zelensky said, answering journalists' questions about whether he had information about a potential attack from the territory of Transnistria. At the same time, Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the need to maintain stability in the region. "I believe that first of all, we should all work so that there is no destabilization in the region. We demonstrate this in every possible way. We are currently at war with Russia on our land, although you have seen that there have been repeated missile strikes from Belarus," he said. The president also noted that the Belarusian people do not support the war against Ukraine, and that its Russian troops who shoot and attack from the territory of Belarus. As reported earlier, Maia Sandu said her government is closely monitoring the situation in Transnistria, assuring that, if any threats emerge, the countrys partners will be properly informed. "We would like to make sure there is nothing that could destabilize the situation. Our agencies continue to monitor the situation, and, of course, if anything happens that causes concern, we will take action and inform our partners," said the president of Moldova. Opinion: Next they will come for vasectomies Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail here on Monday assured the Pakistan Manufacturers Association (PMA) of resolving their issues and providing maximum support to them ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jun, 2022 ) :Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail here on Monday assured the Pakistan Manufacturers Association (PMA) of resolving their issues and providing maximum support to them. The minister was talking to a delegation of the association headed by its chairman, Qazi Mansoor Dilawar, at finance division, according to press statement issued by the finance ministry. Among others, the meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Health Services Regulation and Coordination, Abdul Qadir Patel, Chairman Federal board of Revenue (FBR) and senior officers from FBR and Finance Division. Issues related to Pharma industry in Pakistan especially Sales Tax on imports of raw materials and refund of Sales Tax were discussed during the meeting, the statement added. Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Asad Mahmood has said that e-tolling system would help collecting accurate data related to toll tax collection, ultimately facilitating people with non-stop traveling ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jun, 2022 ) :Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Asad Mahmood has said that e-tolling system would help collecting accurate data related to toll tax collection, ultimately facilitating people with non-stop traveling. Addressing an agreement signing ceremony between National Highway Authority (NHA) and the Frontier Works Organization (FWO) for the installation of e-tolling on motorways, the minister said that e-tolling system would ensure smooth flow of traffic to save time and promote trade activities. Asad Mahmood said, that the duration of this agreement for the collection of motorways toll tax through electronic system is 7 years, which can be extended for another 3 years. "The tolling system includes the installation of modern machinery, operational and management services and other related services," he said, adding that the purpose of this fiber connectivity is to collect accurate data regarding toll revenue through utilization of modern technology i-e Electronic collection instead of manual payment of toll tax. Asad Mahmood said that the main objective of e-tolling is to keep traffic and commercial activities flowing and to ensure complete safety of passengers. Connecting and coordinating all the toll plazas on the motorways will save time and smooth flow of traffic will be ensured. He said that the electronic toll system would be gradually extended to the national highways of the country. He hoped that the plan for electronic collection of toll tax on motorways would be completed in 8 months. Ongoing projects of the National Highway Authority should be completed as soon as possible with national spirit, he added. An agreement on installation of electronic toll plazas on motorways was signed between the National Highway Authority and Frontier Works Organization at the National Highway Authority headquarters here today. The Federal Secretary for Communications and Chairman National Highway Authority Capt (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha, Director General of Frontier Works Organization Maj. Gen. Kamal Azfar, Inspector General of National Highways and Motorways Police Khalid Mahmood and the Senior Officers of Ministry of Communications and NHA also attended. Director IT Frontier Works Organization Brig (R) Asif Siddique gave a briefing on the Electronic Toll Collection System. Muhammad Azhar, Member Finance from National Highway Authority (NHA) and Brig (R ) Asif Siddique, Director IT from Frontier Works Organization (FWO) signed the agreement. It is pertinent to mention here that FWO has the capability and experience to install and operate the electronic toll tax collection system on technical basis. The toll tax is being done electronically on certain lanes at Islamabad, Ravi, Kala Shah Kaku and Sambarial toll plazas by the Frontier Works Organization. Implementation of the contract will ensure collection of toll tax electronically on motorways network of the country. Finally, Secretary Communications and Chairman National Highway Authority Capt (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha presented special shields on behalf of NHA to Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Asad Mahmood and Director General Frontier Works Organization Major General Kamal Azfar. On behalf of Frontier Works Organization, Director General FWO Major General Kamal Azfar presented shields to Federal Minister for Communications and Postal Services Asad Mahmood, Federal Secretary Communications and Chairman NHA Capt. (R) Muhammad Khurram Agha and Inspector General National Highways and Motorways Police Mr. Khalid Mahmood. Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Monday visited Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) Lahore and addressed the course participants of 51st PN Staff Course LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jun, 2022 ) :Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi on Monday visited Pakistan Navy War College (PNWC) Lahore and addressed the course participants of 51st PN Staff Course. Addressing the course participants, the Naval Chief said, "Indian Ocean region is witnessing geopolitical changes of seismic nature and it adds to the responsibilities of Pakistan Navy". On arrival at War College, the Naval Chief was received by Commandant PN War College Rear Admiral Shifaat Ali Khan, said a Pakistan Navy media release here received. While addressing the course participants, Chief of the Naval Staff highlighted evolving geo-strategic milieu and its interplay with prevalent security dynamics focused on maritime security challenges. While focusing on threat perception, the Naval Chief underscored Pakistan Navy's capabilities to deal with this paradigm shift in combating traditional and non-traditional security challenges. Naval Chief appraised upon various initiatives and developmental plan in line with his vision for Pakistan Navy to be a formidable regional maritime power. The Chief of the Naval Staff also advised the course participants to instill Pakistan Navy's core value of faith, character, courage and commitment in their noble and demanding profession and draw inspiration from true Islamic values and Ideology of Pakistan. Earlier, a panel of course participants presented the research paper. The Admiral appreciated the efforts of Pakistan Navy War College for inculcating professional staff & military training to officers of Pakistan Navy, Sisters Services and friendly countries for assuming future key Command and Staff appointments. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday approved the import of super-critical quality coal from Afghanistan in Pakistani rupee instead of dollars to help generate low-cost electricity in the country ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jun, 2022 ) :Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Monday approved the import of super-critical quality coal from Afghanistan in Pakistani rupee instead of Dollars to help generate low-cost electricity in the country. The prime minister, chairing a meeting to improve the mechanism for transportation of Afghan coal, expressed concerns over the rising price of coal in the international market. He said the rise in coal price was also one of the reasons behind the generation of expensive electricity by the coal power plants operating in the country. He viewed that the import of Afghan coal in Pakistani Currency would save the foreign exchange. The prime minister was told that the import of Afghan coal initially for Sahiwal and Hub power plants would save around $2. 2 billion annually. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed the authorities concerned to devise an effective mechanism for the purpose to help generate low-cost power generation and provide relief to the domestic and industrial consumers. He directed the railway ministry to take all-out measures for swift transportation of coal from Afghanistan to the power plants. He also instructed the formation of a committee of all relevant departments under Defence Minister Khawaja Asif. Federal ministers Syed Naveed Qamar, Khawaja Asif, Engineer Khurram Dastgir, Miftah Ismail, Rana Sanaullah Khan, Ahsan Iqbal and Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Advisor Ahad Cheema, Minister of State Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha and relevant senior officers attended the meeting. Sudan said Monday it will recall its ambassador to Addis Ababa for "consultations" following accusations the Ethiopian army executed seven Sudanese soldiers and a civilian, a charge which Ethiopia denied Khartoum, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Jun, 2022 ) :Sudan said Monday it will recall its ambassador to Addis Ababa for "consultations" following accusations the Ethiopian army executed seven Sudanese soldiers and a civilian, a charge which Ethiopia denied. "In an act that contravenes all laws and customs of war and international humanitarian law, the Ethiopian army executed seven Sudanese soldiers and a citizen who were their captives," the Sudanese armed forces said. Ethiopia denied its forces were responsible, saying the casualties were the result of a skirmish inside its territory with a local militia and voicing regret over the loss of life. Tensions have risen in recent years, sparking sporadic armed clashes, over the Al-Fashaqa border strip which is close to Ethiopia's restive Tigray region. A Sudanese military official who requested anonymity told AFP the soldiers were detained from a border area close to Al-Fashaqa. Sudan's foreign ministry said it "will immediately recall its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations" and lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council. "The Ethiopian ambassador to Khartoum will also be summoned to inform him of Sudan's condemnation of this inhumane behaviour," the ministry said. Ethiopia said it rejected the "misrepresentation of facts" and that the incident was "deliberately concocted" to undermine relations between the two countries. A foreign ministry statement said it took place "within Ethiopian territory after incursions by a Sudanese regular army unit supported by elements of the terrorist TPLF", the Tigray People's Liberation Front. It said the government "regrets the loss of life as a result of a skirmish between the Sudanese army and a local militia", adding that an investigation would be carried out. Ethiopia urged Sudan to refrain from "any escalation" and to take measures to "de-escalate the situation". Sudanese army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited sites in Al-Fashaqa on Monday, and instructed soldiers "to not allow any new movements or encroachments on Sudanese lands and against its citizens". Relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa have soured over Al-Fashaqa, a fertile strip long cultivated by Ethiopian farmers but claimed by Sudan, sparking sporadic deadly clashes between the Sudanese and Ethiopian sides. Tensions were heightened further after fighting erupted in Tigray in November 2020, sending tens of thousands of refugees fleeing into Sudan. Khartoum and Addis Ababa have since been locked in a tense war of words, trading accusations of violence and territorial violations. The border dispute feeds into wider tensions in the region, including over Ethiopia's controversial Blue Nile dam. Sudan and Egypt, both downstream countries, have been opposed to the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and pushed for an agreement on the filling of its reservoir and the operation of the dam. In February, Khartoum and Cairo slammed Addis Ababa for unilaterally deciding to start power generation at the dam. Sudan has been roiled by economic and political turmoil since Burhan led a military coup last year that upended a transition to civilian rule installed following the 2019 ouster of president Omar al-Bashir. Pope Francis is set to send Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin to Kinshasa and Juba, after having to postpone his Apostolic Journey to the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan due to knee pain. By Vatican News staff reporter The Holy See Press Office announced on Monday evening that Pope Francis "has decided to send the Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, to Kinshasa and Juba in order to show his closeness to the beloved peoples of the Congo and South Sudan." The move comes after the Pope had to postpone his Apostolic Journey to those African nations due to intense knee pain and at the insistence of his doctors. Read also 12/06/2022 Pope apologizes for postponing Africa trip, hopes to visit soon 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 ... The Vatican Secretary of State will carry out the visit in the Pope's stead from 1 to 8 July. Cardinal Parolin's visit will take place during the period when Pope Francis' 37th Apostolic Journey abroad was originally scheduled. On 3 July, the Pope will however celebrate Mass with the Congolese community in Rome, on the same day in which he would have presided over Mass in Kinshasa. He made the announcement on 13 June while receiving participants in the General Chapter of the Missionaries of Africa in the Clementine Hall at the Vatican. A regional envoy tasked with facilitating talks between Myanmar's junta and its opponents called on Monday for deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi to be returned to house arrest from solitary confinement, ahead of his second visit to the country. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has led stalled diplomatic efforts to end the chaos unleashed by last year's coup, which ousted Suu Kyi's government and sparked mass protests. The former leader was transferred from house arrested to solitary confinement in prison last week, prompting concern and condemnation from the United Nations and international rights groups. Special ASEAN envoy and Cambodian Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn urged Myanmar to "exercise compassion and facilitate the return of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi to the home where she was originally detained, in consideration of her fragile health and well-being". "We all share the view that a peaceful national reconciliation cannot be expected when one party to the conflict is taken out of the resolution equation," he added in a statement. The foreign minister will make his second trip to Myanmar from Wednesday, a Cambodian foreign ministry spokesman confirmed to AFP late Monday without elaborating. Prak Sokhonn last travelled to the Southeast Asian nation in March, meeting with junta chief Min Aung Hlaing in an attempt to kickstart stalled dialogue between the military and its opponents. Myanmar remains isolated on the international stage, with Cambodia's leader Hun Sen the only foreign head of state to visit since the putsch. More than 2,000 people have been killed in a military crackdown on dissent since the coup, according to a local monitoring group. A new report into sexual harassment and the assault of women working in Western Australias mining industry finds systematic and horrific levels of abuse. Lawmakers are now calling for much needed reforms to protect female employees in this multibillion dollar resources sector. After almost a year of investigations, an inquiry by state lawmakers has concluded Western Australias multibillion-dollar mining sector failed to protect women from sexual predators. Its report said that victims had faced violence, stalking, grooming and threats to their jobs. Australian Sex Discrimination Commissioner Kate Jenkins said that immediate change was needed in the mining industry. Jenkins is one of seven commissioners at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Her job is to promote gender equality and combat discrimination. She said the inquiry has highlighted the unacceptable treatment of women. The probe into allegations of abuse in the resources sector was ordered after several women detailed allegations to the police of sexual misconduct at major Western Australian mines. Lawmakers found that female workers at remote facilities "frequently have to deal with sexual harassment and sexual assault. Many incidents were ignored by employers. One committee member told Western Australias state parliament that she was shocked by the scale of the problem. The report condemned the states mining safety regulator and government officials for their inaction. Simone McGurk, Western Australias minister for women's interests, says the inquiry has uncovered appalling levels of abuse. The more we talk about this, we are seeing more and more cases coming forward. For an industry that prides itself on taking safety seriously, you know, [it] talks a lot about its safety record, it is very clear that many women havent felt that those womens experience of sexual harassment or sexual violence was worthy of their companys consideration, she said. BHP and Rio Tinto were among the companies to appear before the committee. The mining giants said during the inquiry they had fired staff over assaults and misconduct. The companies said they had boosted safety measures, including better security cameras, stricter limits on alcohol consumption and more thorough reporting procedures for complaints. They have not responded to the report publicly so far. Many of the mine sites are in remote parts of Australia and have a hard-drinking, male-dominated culture. The report made 24 recommendations. It said industry regulators could adopt a register of offenders to monitor serial wrongdoers. Australias federal government said it would examine whether concerns highlighted by the inquiry could be addressed at a national level. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is flying to Spain to attend this years NATO meeting as leaders attempt to tackle the growing threat posed by global instability. The Australian prime minister will join his counterparts from New Zealand, Japan and South Korea for the largest-ever NATO summit. Though all four countries are not members of the worlds largest defense pact, they bring an Indo-Pacific perspective to global insecurity. Russias invasion of Ukraine will be a key focus of the meeting in Madrid, Spain. Analysts believe that NATO will harden its stance toward China over its refusal to condemn Russia for its war in Ukraine. Beijing is eager to cement its ties with Moscow, but it also wants to maintain its relationships with the West. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese Anthony Albanese is traveling to Europe for the first time since forming government in May. He said it was crucial that democratic nations stand in solidarity with Ukraine. We live in an uncertain world and the Russian invasion of Ukraine has upset the norms that we regarded that the rule of law would be maintained," he said. "It is also the case that Russia and China, their arrangements, and the closeness that has occurred in recent times means that it is also very important for our region. Australia is eager to limit Chinas security and trade ambitions in the Pacific, a region Canberra has traditionally considered its sphere of influence. Over the weekend, Australia joined the U.S., Britain, New Zealand and Japan to launch an initiative to help Pacific Island nations. The Partners in Blue Pacific project aims to help them combat issues from climate change to illegal fishing. Analysts believe it also signals a united front between Australia and its allies to counter Chinas regional ambitions. The Partners in Blue Pacific project aims to help them combat issues from climate change to illegal fishing. Analysts believe it also signals a united front between Australia and its allies to counter Chinas regional ambitions. Relations between Canberra and Beijing have deteriorated in recent years over geopolitical disputes, such as human rights, democracy in Hong Kong, and the South China Sea. The recently elected government in Canberra has said that re-setting relations with China was a priority, but that it would take time. The NATO summit in Spain will start on June 29. I pumped my fist a bunch of times in the air and I let out a big Yes! a beaming Alita Bryant said as she recalled her reaction Friday when she heard the momentous news she had been waiting so long to hear. The U.S. Supreme Court had overturned a constitutional right to abortion, leaving it up to states to decide whether to permit, restrict or ban the procedure that has been legal nationwide for nearly 50 years. Bryant spoke with VOA while attending a Sunday service at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, dressed casually in jeans and an official black and white church t-shirt. From the outside, the place of worship looks more like a business than a typical church, having been converted from a pharmacy. Inside, however, palpable excitement coursed through the congregation of about 80 churchgoers. Nearly all, like Bryant, were African American. Many showed up early to worship before the service began. Were thankful - its a victory for us, Bryant said. Innocent children wont be murdered anymore, at least not in Louisiana. We still have work to do before its a national ban. Louisiana is one of several states with so-called trigger laws that were put in place to outlaw abortion the moment Roe vs. Wade, the landmark 1973 Supreme Court ruling that legalized the procedure, was overturned. Abortion rights proponents say banning the procedure in entire swaths of the United States will put womens lives at risk, especially those of poor and minority women. An NPR/PBS/Marist poll released Monday shows 56% oppose the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, with 40% supporting it and 4% unsure. Other polls have shown similar numbers. Lighthouse Christian Fellowship Church, like many socially conservative places of worship in America, is part of a coalition that has been working to rescind abortion rights in America for decades. Many in the congregation stood, cheering in response to Pastor Mike Wicker as he alternated between reading bible verses projected onto screens and speaking at length about the evils of abortion. Every person in here, the pastors voice boomed, echoing off ceilings lower than youd expect in a place of worship, thank God your momma made the right decision and didnt bring you to the abortion clinic. Now, Bryant noted after the service, those clinics are closed. A personal history Several members of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship visited a Baton Rouge abortion clinic Monday and Tuesday of last week. There, they saw 40 women lined up, many alone. And nearly all of them were Black, Bryant added, her voice cracking with emotion. I felt angry, because these children were needlessly going to be murdered, sad because I dont think the mothers had all the information about their options, and desperate because I wanted to help. In the end, she said they convinced two women to go home and reconsider aborting their pregnancies, an option that disappeared in Louisiana after the Supreme Court decision, as the states three clinics ceased performing abortions. On Monday, a state judge temporarily blocked Louisiana from enforcing the trigger law, allowing clinics to resume, but the future availability of abortion services in the state remains murky. Tara Wicker is the pastors wife, known also as the first lady of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship. She also visited the clinic. For Wicker, who heads Louisiana Black Advocates for Life, an anti-abortion advocacy organization, the fight against abortion is deeply personal. I had an abortion myself when I was 16 years old, she told VOA after Sundays service. I was just a child and we didnt even talk about it. I was just kind of ushered off for an abortion. Ill never forget laying in the bed with my aborted fetus in a jar on the counter across the room. Mommas sorry, I remember saying. Wicker said for 30 years and until only recently, she tried to suppress her emotions about that day. It made me insecure as a mother of the six children I have now, she said, her eyes appearing serious and thoughtful. When someone doubts me as a mother, I get angry and defensive because I think about how I failed that baby three decades ago. Abortion rights advocates contend that women will continue to seek out the procedure regardless of what a states law says and may be forced to consider unsafe options for terminating a pregnancy. Wicker said that neednt be the case I look at the women lined up at the clinic and I remember being like them, she said. They dont have to kill those babies. They have so many options. As a sanctuary we need to help them understand those options because killing that baby will haunt the mother for the rest of her life. Just beginning Robert Sensley was also in attendance on Sunday. He is stout, standing 1.7 meters tall with fashionable rectangular glasses and a warm smile. He attended the service with his three young children and his wife. In addition to being a member of the church, Sensley is also the program assistant for Louisiana Black Advocates for Life. The last few days have been joyful for sure, he told VOA. Pastor Mike and Tara were so excited about the Supreme Court decision, they both called me at the exact same time from opposite ends of their house without realizing. Sensley, however, stopped short of calling the atmosphere celebratory. Were excited, but we also know we have a long way to go, he said. There are a lot of people in this country who dont agree with us. In data compiled by the Pew Research Center, in cases of pregnancies caused by rape or incest, for example, 69% of Americans believe abortions should be legal. A junior at Louisiana State University, Trinity Wicker said she hears from many friends and classmates particularly on social media who believe abortion rights should be protected. I understand where theyre coming from. Sexual assault is a horrible thing, Wicker said. The mother is a victim, but so is the baby; and that baby with limitless potential doesnt deserve to die. The younger Wicker, the daughter of the pastor and his wife, said she sees it as part of the churchs responsibility to help women in difficult situations understand their options. Adoption is always an option, of course, she said, before re-emphasizing that killing the fetus shouldnt be. Ive noticed a lot of women saying things like, My body, my choice as an excuse to have an abortion. But when your egg is fertilized, it is no longer your body. Its another body and you are the vessel. A sanctuary Many members of Lighthouse Christian Fellowship do not believe abortion should be prohibited in all circumstances, such as when the life of the mother is at risk. Everything should be done to save both the mother and the child, but I, of course, would want my wife saved if we had to make a choice, Sensley explained. Louisianas trigger law has no exceptions for rape or incest but does allow the procedure to save a pregnant womans life. The law does not punish women who terminate pregnancies but establishes criminal penalties for anyone who performs an abortion. Punishing abortion providers is as it should be, according to Tara Wicker. I think we have to be empathetic towards these women and try to help them, she said, but the medical professionals who complete the procedure should be tried for murder. Church leaders at Lighthouse Christian Fellowship say they wrestle with the fact that African American women disproportionally seek abortions and will be disproportionately affected by the new legal landscape governing the procedure. A 2020 study by the Charlotte Lozier Institute found that Black women have experienced induced abortions at a rate approximately four times that of white women. The solution, according to churchgoers, includes providing more access to employment and education to adults, as well as boosting health care and other services to help women bring their pregnancy to term and help them rear the children in their care. America does not have universal health care, nor does it guarantee access to child care for working parents. This is something we spend a lot of time talking about, Sensley said, recalling words from the service he just attended. If you only want to ban abortions without fighting to support that baby and its parents once the birth takes place, then youre not pro-lifeyoure just pro-birth. It all goes hand in hand, Tara Wicker agreed. The role of our church is to support the whole life of the people who walk through our doors from womb to tomb. The whole thing. We need to be supportive enough to help people do the right thing, but also forgive them when they dont. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan will attend a round of talks with the leaders of Sweden and Finland, as well as NATO on Tuesday ahead of the summit in Madrid, Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Sunday. Finland and Sweden applied for NATO membership in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. But the bids have faced opposition from Turkey, which has been angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara. Speaking to broadcaster Haberturk, Kalin said he and Deputy Foreign Minister Sedat Onal would also attend a round of talks with Swedish and Finnish delegations in Brussels on Monday. "There will be a four-way summit in Madrid at the leader level in Madrid upon the request of the NATO secretary-general with the attendance of our president," he said. Kalin said Erdogan attending the talks with Sweden, Finland and NATO on Tuesday "does not mean we will take a step back from our position." "We have brought negotiations to a certain point. It is not possible for us to take a step back here," he also said of the upcoming talks. Kalin said Turkey and the Nordic countries had largely agreed on issues and would be in a better position in Madrid if they could agree on them during talks Monday. The family of Dom Phillips on Sunday bid farewell to the British journalist, who was killed earlier this month along with Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in the Amazon. Phillips' wife Alessandra Sampaio, siblings Sian and Gareth, and brother-in-law Paul Sherwood attended the 57-year-old's funeral in Niteroi near Rio de Janeiro. "Today Dom will be cremated in the country he loved, his chosen home," Sampaio said. "He was a very special person not only for defending what he believed in as a professional but also for having a huge heart and great love for humanity," she said. Sian revealed that the couple were planning to adopt two Brazilian children. Phillips, a freelance reporter who had written for the Guardian and The Washington Post, was doing research for a book on the trip with Pereira, a former head of the federal Indigenous affairs agency, FUNAI, which tracks isolated and recently contacted tribes when they vanished in the remote Javari Valley on June 5. Their remains were recovered from a grave in the jungle roughly 10 days later after a fisherman who confessed to killing them, Amarildo da Costa, led Brazil's police there. Phillips memorial happened two days after Pereira's funeral, which was attended by Indigenous peoples who paid their respects with song and dance. Outside the cemetery where Phillips' funeral was held people protested with signs reading "Who ordered to kill Dom and Bruno?" Police said earlier this month that their investigation suggested that more individuals were involved beyond Costa but that they were likely to have acted alone, with no bosses behind the crime. That theory was challenged by the Indigenous group, UNIVAJA. Phillips' family said they will keep following the investigation and demanding justice. "He was killed because he tried to tell the world what was happening to the rainforest and its inhabitants," Sian said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with G7 leaders on Monday, discussing his strategy on Russia. Plus, as the NATO summit prepares to get underway in Spain, the war between Moscow and Kyiv isnt the only agenda item on the table. NASA, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, has successfully completed its first rocket launch from a commercial space facility outside of the United States. A 13-meter rocket blasted off Monday from a site in the Australian outback. A 13-meter sub-orbital rocket took off from the newly built Arnhem Space Centre in Australias Northern Territory Monday. Lift-off was delayed by about two hours because of strong winds and heavy rain. The launch was the first of its kind in Australia in more than 25 years and the first of three scheduled NASA missions from the site. Researchers hope the information gathered from the flights will help them understand how light from a star could affect the habitability of nearby planets. They have said that this type of study can only be carried out in the Southern Hemisphere. The unmanned flight briefly scanned the Milky Way, measuring X-Ray emissions and analyzing the structure of stars. Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist at the Australian National University, told Australian television that the launch is part of a project to boost the domestic space industry. When you build a satellite you have to go overseas to do it and so the fact that we are now seeing this build-up of launching from Australia this is, kind of, that final piece of the puzzle to having, you know, a really massive industry in this sector of space and then we see that that, kind of, the first group that says, yes, we want to do it, we want to be a part of the story is Nasa, you know, it just, kind of, gives the street cred[ibility] so to speak that you are on the right track from what you are thinking, he said. The Arnhem Space Center is the worlds only commercially owned equatorial launch facility. The center is built on Aboriginal land. Tribal elders hope the project will provide jobs and opportunities for young First Nations people. Officials said the center combines one of the oldest cultures in the world with some of the most advanced technology ever. The next NASA rocket will be launched in the Northern Territory on July 4, and the third will take off on July 12. About 75 NASA staff have travelled to northern Australia for all three launches. Australia is working to increase its capabilities in space. This year, it announced a new defense agency that would work to counter China and Russias ambitions in space. Along with the United States, the two countries are reported to have tested weapons that could destroy a satellite. The Australian Space Agency was created in July 2018 to support the growth and transformation of the nations space industry. Step into Yuet Tung China Works, Hong Kongs last remaining hand-painted porcelain factory, and you find yourself surrounded by stacks of dinnerware, each piece painstakingly decorated by hand with vibrant motifs of flowers, fruits and animals. Joseph Tso, the third-generation owner of the factory, and his small team are among the few people in Hong Kong who have mastered the traditional technique of painting guangcai, or Canton porcelain. It is a fading art in this modern metropolis, as fewer young people are willing to put in the time and effort required to master the craft or to work at the factory full-time. The business environment in Hong Kong is not suitable for labor-intensive industries, Tso said. Hong Kongs traditional handicraft industry is gradually declining. It will eventually disappear. Guangcai, which comes from the nearby Chinese city of Guangzhou, is characterized by an overglaze technique in which the painter sketches a design on white porcelain and then fills it in with color using thin brushes before firing the piece in a kiln. Tsos grandfather established the factory in Hong Kongs Kowloon City in 1928. It rose to prominence over the years, becoming famous for its delicate craftmanship and custom dinnerware. The factory is known for its Canton rose porcelain painted with a pigment called xihong, which means Western red. Its ingredients include lead oxide, quartz and gold dust. Hong Kongs export sector was booming from the 1960s to the 1980s, and many well-known department stores came to buy products, Tso said. Foreign trade firms would bring us business from (American) department stores. The factory sometimes paints family crests on dinnerware for foreign customers. Chris Patten, the last British governor of Hong Kong before the city was returned to China in 1997, visited Yuet Tung China Works to buy some porcelain before returning to Britain. The factory is an important part of Hong Kongs history, said Yim Wai-wai, founding president of The Hong Kong Ceramics Research Society. The porcelain factory breathed at the same pace as the development of Hong Kong, said Yim. If it ceases to exist, it will be an immeasurable loss. A Human Rights Watch report released Monday says separatists in Cameroon are increasingly brutal in their attacks. Human Rights Watch says separatists have committed murders and have carried out at least 80 abductions since January. According to the report, separatists have killed at least seven people, injured six, raped a teenage girl, and committed other grave human rights abuses in the English-speaking western regions this year. The separatists also torched at least two schools, attacked a university and kidnapped people, including 33 students and five teachers, according to Human Rights Watch (HRW). Ilaria Allegrozzi, HRW's central Africa researcher, said an escalation in attacks on civilians, education and health has exacerbated an already dire human rights situation in Cameroon's Anglophone regions. "The separatist groups have kidnapped more than 80 people since January and this figure is more likely underestimated compared to the reality on the ground, given the challenges of accessing the regions, but also the widespread fear among the victims to denounce because of possible retaliations and reprisals," Allegrozzi said. "These are serious human rights abuses and they continue in the context of increasing violence and impunity that facilitates and fuels other abuses." HRW said in April, separatists stormed the University of Bamenda campus in the Northwest region, shooting in the air, causing panic among students and teachers, and leading to a stampede that injured at least five people. The report said fighters attacked the university for not observing a lockdown imposed by separatists. In April, armed separatists kidnapped 33 Roman Catholic seminary students for ransom in Bachuo-Ntai, Southwest region, HRW said. Capo Daniel, deputy defense chief of the Ambazonia Defense Forces, ADF, one of the separatist groups named in the report, said fighters alone should not be blamed for the human rights abuses. "Criminal gangs have taken maximum advantage of the chaos of his war to carry out kidnapping for ransom," Daniel said. "While there have been some few cases that involved Ambazonia forces, it has mainly been as a result of lack of command and control by factions within our struggle that do not take their responsibility over those forces and Cameroon is ultimately responsible for the chaos." Daniel said the ADF has laid out a code of conduct that forbids fighters from committing crimes, and has punished fighters who committed offenses, including rape. HRW says in February fighters attacked a vehicle of the Cameroon Baptist Convention Health services, killing a female nurse, and injuring another female nurse and a male doctor according to the report. The rights group also said separatists killed a Doctors Without Borders health worker in the Southwest region, after accusing him of collaborating with the military. HRW said since the conflict began in 2017, government troops have also committed human rights violations, including torching of houses and villages, torture, rape, mistreatment and incommunicado detentions. The Cameroonian government has denied the claims. Separatists in English-speaking western Cameroon launched their rebellion in 2017, with the stated goal of separating from the French-speaking majority country and setting up an independent state. The conflict has killed more than 3,300 people and displaced more than 750,000 others, according to the U.N. For full coverage of the crisis in Ukraine, visit Flashpoint Ukraine. The latest developments in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine. All times EDT: 10:55 p.m.: 9:20 p.m.: In his nightly video address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, Today's Russian strike at a shopping mall in Kremenchuk is one of the most defiant terrorist attacks in European history. The Russian state has become the largest terrorist organization in the world. And this is a fact. And this must be a legal fact. And everyone in the world must know that buying or transporting Russian oil, maintaining contacts with Russian banks, paying taxes and customs duties to the Russian state means giving money to terrorists, he said. 8:15 p.m.: Turkish drone-manufacturer Baykar, which has President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son-in-law as one of its directors, offered three of its drones to the Ukrainian army, Agence France-Presse reported. In a statement posted on Twitter, the company noted that a crowdfunding campaign had raised enough money to buy several of its TB2 UAVs "for Ukrainians to use in defence of their Homeland. "Baykar will not accept payment for the TB2s, and will send 3 UAVs free of charge to the Ukrainian war front," it added, according to AFP. "We ask that raised funds be remitted instead to the struggling people of Ukraine." 7:12 p.m.: 5:55 p.m.: Turkeys president says he will do whatever is necessary for our countrys rights and interests at the NATO summit in Spain Tuesday, The Associated Press reported. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday hed provide documents and visuals on terror groups, including Kurdish militant groups and the network of exiled cleric Fethullah Gulen blamed for a 2016 attempted coup in Turkey, to show his counterparts the hypocrisy on terror. Ankara has objected to Swedens and Finlands bids to join NATO, citing what it considers to be a lax approach to groups Turkey deems national security threats, including the Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK, and its Syrian extension. Turkey has demanded the two Nordic countries extradite wanted individuals and lift arms restrictions imposed after Turkeys 2019 military incursion into northeast Syria. We will tell them clearly that it is not possible to expect a different attitude from Turkey unless this picture changes, he said after a cabinet meeting in Ankara. 4:26 p.m.: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken sent a message on Twitter Monday after the attack on a Ukrainian shopping mall, condemning Russias actions. 3:37 p.m.: Under its glitzy facade, the Russian high-fashion industry faces an uncertain future, Reuters reports. Scores of Western designer labels have quit Russia as part of a backlash against Moscow's decision to send troops into Ukraine, leaving their domestic competitors to take center-stage. But at the annual Moscow Fashion Week, which showcases the work of Russian designers, industry professionals said seizing that opportunity would not be easy. 2:30 p.m.: 2:04 p.m.: German Chancellor Olaf Scholz says there can be no return to the pre-Ukraine war relationship with Russia, The Associated Press reported. Scholz said at the Group of Seven summit on Monday that with its attack on Ukraine, Russia has broken all the rules, all the agreements we have made with each other on countries cooperation. He said G-7 leaders agree that it has led to long-term changes which will mark international relations for a very, very long time. So it is clear that, in relations with Russia, there can be no way back to the time before the Russian attack on Ukraine. Scholz was speaking after hosting the leaders of five leading democratic emerging economies at the G-7 summit in the Bavarian Alps. He noted that those countries -- India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina -- see the war in Ukraine from different perspectives, everyone knows that. He said that thats why its important that we speak to each other about it and exchange our respective points of view. Scholz didnt say whether their differences narrowed as a result of Mondays discussion and took no questions. 1:47 p.m.: 1:09 p.m.: The father of a Moroccan man sentenced to death by a court in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on mercenary charges urged his country on Monday to open a dialogue with pro-Russia Donetsk authorities to help release his son, Reuters reported. Tahar Saadoun said although Rabat did not recognize the DPR, it should find channels to communicate with authorities there over his son Brahim Saadoun, 21. He was found guilty last month of "mercenary activities and committing actions aimed at seizing power and overthrowing the constitutional order" of the DPR along with two Britons, Aiden Aslin and Shaun Pinner. 12:36 p.m.: A Russian missile strike that hit a crowded shopping center in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has killed at least 10 people and injured at least 40 others, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Despite mounting evidence to the contrary, Russia has claimed repeatedly that it is not targeting civilians in the unprovoked war it launched on Ukraine just over four months ago. It has not commented on the strike. 12:13 p.m.: A display of war-damaged Russian weapons in downtown Warsaw, Poland, serves as a reminder of the horrors of the war in Ukraine but also that Russias aggression can be defeated, The Associated Press reported Monday. The display, called For Our Freedom and Yours, opened on the eve of a NATO summit in Madrid that aims to boost the strength of the military alliances rapid reaction force and military support for Ukraine. 11:53 a.m.: The United States said Monday that the G7 is closing in on a plan to force a lower price for Russian oil in what would be a major escalation of the campaign to punish the Kremlin for its invasion of Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported. "There is also consensus emerging... that the price cap is a serious method to achieve that outcome," President Joe Biden's national security advisor, Jake Sullivan, told reporters at the G7 summit in Germany. A senior US official described talks within the G7 -- Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States -- as advancing. "We're still in final discussions with other G7 counterparts working to finalize this, but we're very close to a place where G7 leaders will have decided to urgently direct relevant ministers to develop mechanisms to set a global price cap for Russian oil," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity. The goal of the plan is to starve the Kremlin of its "main source of cash and force down the price of Russian oil." 11:47 a.m.: A senior U.S. defense official provided the latest assessment on the war in Ukraine Monday. VOAs National Security correspondent Jeff Seldin shared some of the details on Twitter. 11:38 a.m.: Scores of civilians are feared killed or injured after a Russian rocket strike hit a crowded shopping mall in Ukraines central city of Kremenchuk, The Associated Press reported Monday, quoting Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was unimaginable, citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Minutes later, Kyryl Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the presidential office, said in a Telegram post that at least two people were dead and about 20 were hurt, of whom nine were in serious condition. Zelenskyy stressed that the target presented no threat to the Russian army and had no strategic value. He accused of Russia of sabotaging peoples attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry. Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part, Zelenskyy said. 11:26 a.m.: 11:08 a.m.: Faced with a deepening personnel crisis within its military, Russia is scrambling to find fighters for its war in Ukraine and recruiting heavily from its North Caucasus region to form new units along ethnic lines who are then deployed with minimal training, according to Caucasus.Realities, a regional news outlet of Radio Free Europe/Radio Libertys North Caucasus Service. Regional officials from Daghestan, Ingushetia, and Kalmykia have announced plans to form rifle companies that are each made up of soldiers from a particular Russian republic. These national units are formed primarily of contract soldiers who have previous military training and have been targeted by local recruitment drives aimed at pressuring and enticing men of military age to join the war in Ukraine. 10:55 a.m.: 10:39 a.m.: The U.N. World Food Program said it has further reduced rations in Yemen, where millions face hunger, due to critical funding gaps, global inflation and knock-on effects of the Ukraine conflict, Reuters reported Monday. The number of people living in near-famine conditions in the Arabian Peninsula country is expected to rise to seven million in the second half of 2022 from around five million. Disruption to global wheat supplies due to the Ukraine war and a wheat export ban by India risk deepening Yemen's hunger crisis and pushing up food price inflation, which had already doubled in just two years in some parts of the country. 10:28 a.m.: U.N. World Food Program Executive Director David Beasley warned on Monday that the global food crisis, exacerbated by the war in Ukraine, could trigger starvation and social unrest if not immediately addressed. 10:14 a.m.: Indonesian President Joko Widodo, the chair of the Group of 20 (G20) nations, will urge Russia and Ukraine to rekindle peace talks, and seek ways to free up exports of grain to global markets when he visits Moscow and Kyiv in coming days, Reuters reported Monday. President Widodo, better known as Jokowi, is one of six world leaders the United Nations appointed as "champions" of a Global Crisis Response Group (GCRG), formed to address the threat of an "unprecedented wave of hunger and destitution" resulting from the war in Ukraine. 9:56 a.m.: 9:42 a.m.: Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold talks with his Tajik counterpart, Emomali Rahmon, in Dushanbe on Tuesday as Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, launched more than four months ago, continues to raise concerns in Central Asia, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow on Monday that the talks will be held in a face-to-face format. He did not elaborate. Putin's visit to the Tajik capital will take place three days after he told another ally, Belarus's authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, that Moscow will supply Minsk with an Iskander-M mobile missile system with a range of up to 500 kilometers as the standoff between Russia and the West over the war in Ukraine escalates. Russia, Belarus, and Tajikistan, along with Armenia, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, are members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO). 9:29 a.m.: 9:14 a.m.: President Maia Sandu traveled to Ukraine on Monday in her first trip to Moldova's neighbor since start of the war and visited the towns of Bucha and Irpin -- sites of alleged Russian atrocities against civilians, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. No matter the economic costs, no matter the political costs we have to stop war and we have to make sure that these kinds of atrocities will never repeat, Maia Sandu said. She said it was heartbreaking to hear accounts from witnesses and victims of the war. "Was left speechless by the level of violence & destruction we saw," Sandu wrote separately in English on Twitter. "Its an unimaginable tragedy & we wholeheartedly wish the brave selfless Ukrainian people peace, freedom & prosperity, & life of their own choosing." Sandu was expected to meet with her Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during her visit, her office said on social media. 8:58 a.m.: 8:41 a.m.: Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies on Monday pledged to stand with Ukraine "for as long as it takes" by cranking up sanctions on Russia and backing security commitments for Kyiv in a post-war settlement, Reuters reported. Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the global economic fallout such as soaring energy and food prices has dominated this year's summit of the leaders of Germany, the United States, France, Italy, Canada, Japan and Britain. "We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," said the statement. The statement was issued on the second day of the summit taking place at a castle in the Bavarian Alps, shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed G7 leaders on the war via video link. The G7 leaders said they would continue to coordinate efforts to meet Ukraine's urgent military needs and were ready to work with interested countries and institutions on sustained security commitments. It was up to Ukraine to decide on a future peace settlement, free from external pressure or influence, they said, but they stood ready to support an international reconstruction plan, drawn up and implemented by Ukraine in coordination with partners. 8:22 a.m.: 8:14 a.m.: One of the last Ukrainian defenders of Sievierodonetsk said he withdrew in a boat, bitter to be leaving after weathering a weeks-long Russian onslaught on the ruined city but happy to be alive as he and others crossed the river to higher ground, Reuters reported. Russian forces fully occupied the frontline eastern city on Saturday, both sides said, confirming Kyiv's biggest battlefield setback for more than a month following some of the war's bloodiest fighting. "It was a shame of course because a lot of effort was put into defending it - it went on for months," Danylo, a 24-year-old soldier who said he was among almost the last to leave, said. "But... we're not too upset as we also want to live." 7:51 a.m.: 7:47 a.m.: Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson will discuss their stalled NATO bids with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 28 ahead of a summit of the 30-member alliance in Madrid, Helsinki said on Monday, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "President Niinisto will meet tomorrow in Madrid with Turkish President Erdogan, Swedish Prime Minister Andersson and NATO Secretary General [Jens] Stoltenberg," the Finnish presidency tweeted. It said the meeting "will be preceded today (June 27) by a round of talks between Finnish, Swedish, and Turkish officials hosted by NATO in Brussels." Russias invasion of Ukraine has prompted Finland and Sweden to apply to join NATO. 7:35 a.m.: 7:26 a.m.: The Group of Seven rich democracies will commit on Tuesday to a new package of coordinated actions meant to raise pressure on Russia over its war in Ukraine, and will finalize plans for a price cap on Russian oil, a senior U.S. official said on Monday. "The dual objectives of G7 leaders have been to take direct aim at Putin's revenues, particularly through energy, but also to minimize the spillovers and the impact on the G7 economies and the rest of the world," the U.S. official said on the sidelines of the annual G7 summit. G7 nations, which generate nearly half the world's economic output, want to crank up pressure on Russia without stoking already soaring inflation that is causing strains at home and savaging the global south, according to Reuters. 7:04 a.m.: A special train with medical facilities constantly runs between eastern and western Ukraine. It has an intensive care unit, beds for 30 seriously ill patients, its own oxygen facilities, and a team of doctors and nurses. 6:51 a.m.: A U.S. official said news that Russia defaulted on its foreign sovereign bonds for the first time since the Bolshevik revolution in 1917 showed how effective Western sanctions have been, Reuters reported. "This morning's news around the finding of Russia's default, for the first time in more than a century, situates just how strong the actions are that the U.S., along with allies and partners, have taken, as well as how dramatic the impact has been on Russia's economy," the official added. The Kremlin, which has the funds to make payments thanks to rich energy revenues, swiftly rejected the U.S. statement, accusing the West of driving it into an artificial default. In a call with reporters, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia made bond payments due in May but the fact they had been blocked by Euroclear because of Western sanctions on Russia was "not our problem". Few expected the Kremlin's invasion of Ukraine to elicit such a ferocious response from the West, which has all but severed Russia from global financial and payment systems. Here is a history looking back at Russia's major debt events over the past century. 6:47 a.m.: 6:31 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged Group of Seven (G7) leaders to do everything in their power to end Russia's invasion of his country by the end of the year as Ukraine's military says it continues to fend off an attempted encirclement in the eastern city of Lysychansk, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported. Addressing the G7 summit in Germany via video link on Monday, Zelenskyy told the leaders of the West's most advanced economies that he wanted the war to end before the winter sets in and battle conditions will make it tougher for his troops as they mount their fightback, several diplomats were quoted as saying by international media outlets after the speech. The G7 group of rich nations is expected to issue a statement of support for Ukraine, including new sanctions commitments, before the summit ends on June 28. 6:23 a.m.: 6:15 a.m.: Russia sanctioned 43 Canadian citizens on Monday, barring them from entering the country in a tit-for-tat response to Western sanctions on Moscow, Reuters reported. The list, published by the foreign ministry, included the chairperson of Canadas governing Liberal Party, Suzanne Cowan, and the former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, Mark Carney. In April, Moscow sanctioned 61 Canadian officials and journalists. It has barred dozens of other Western politicians, journalists and business figures from entering Russia. 5:30 a.m.: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy on Monday asked for anti-aircraft defense systems, more sanctions on Russia and security guarantees as he addressed leaders of the Group of Seven summit, a European official told Reuters. Addressing the summit in the Bavarian Alps via video link, Zelenskiyy also asked for help to export grain from Ukraine and for reconstruction aid, the European official said, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity. 5 a.m.: The United States announced Monday new sanctions it and other G-7 countries are enacting against Russia in response to its war in Ukraine, including measures to cut off Russia from materials and services needed by Russias industrial and technology sectors. The White House said the United States will commit $7.5 billion as part of a G-7 effort to help Ukraine cover its short-term budget needs, and that the governments are making an unprecedented, long-term security commitment to providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support as long as it takes. The announcement came as G-7 leaders met in Germany where they awaited an address by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additional specific U.S. sanctions include blocks on Russian state-owned defense enterprises and defense research organizations, limiting Russias ability to replenish equipment it has lost in the war, and prohibitions on gold imports into the United States. 4:30 a.m.: Regional authorities urged civilians on Monday to urgently evacuate the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk which is being attacked by Russian forces. The situation in the city is very difficult, Serhiy Gaidai, the governor of the Luhansk region which includes Lysychansk, wrote on the Telegram messaging app. 4 a.m.: A price cap on Russian energy imports pushed for by the United States would only be effective with sufficient support internationally, German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said in Luxembourg on Monday ahead of a meeting of EU energy ministers. This is a good idea if enough countries take part, Habeck said speaking to reporters. 3:30 a.m.: Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Monday that France is working on energy contingency plans because of cuts to gas flows from Russia which have hit the European market, but it has not yet had to put them into action, according to Reuters. Le Maire said talks were already underway on the issue with French Energy Minister Agnes Pannier-Runacher, although details had still to be finalized. Russia has reduced gas flows to a dozen European countries in response to unprecedented EU sanctions imposed on Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. We will determine which companies are of the most strategic importance, namely those for whom we can allow gas to be cut off and those for whom we cannot allow any cuts, Le Maire told RMC Radio, Reuters reported. 3:10 a.m.: Britains environment minister George Eustice said on Monday that his country is providing technology to ensure that any wheat stolen from Ukraine by Russia does not make it to the global market, Reuters reported. Russias February 24 invasion of Ukraine and blockade of its Black Sea ports has prevented the country, traditionally one of the worlds top food producers, from exporting much of the more than 20 million tons of grain stored in its silos. Last week Turkey said it was investigating claims that Ukrainian grain had been stolen by Russia and shipped to countries including Turkey, but added the probes had not found any stolen shipments so far. Russia has previously denied allegations that it has stolen Ukrainian grain. Russia, it appears, are stealing some wheat from those stores, Eustice, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, told Sky News. What the U.K. government is doing is making available the technology that weve got to be able to test the provenance of wheat. Were working with other countries including Australia on this so that we can ensure that stolen Ukrainian wheat does not find a route to market. Eustice said Britain was also looking at what it could do to help Ukraine repair its railways to get the wheat out of Ukraine via land. General Richard Barrons, former commander of Joint Forces Command, said it is impossible to move Ukraines grain stores by sea without an agreement from Russia. 2:30 a.m.: U.S. President Joe Biden comes to the Group of Seven summit with the war in Ukraine showing no signs of stopping and Chinas ambition spreading. The White House says they are committed to countering these issues. VOA White House correspondent Anita Powell reports from Telfs, Austria. 2:05 a.m.: 1:15 a.m.: Russian forces were fighting on Monday to capture Lysychansk, the last major city still held by Ukrainian troops in eastern Luhansk province, after Moscow-backed separatists said they were advancing on multiple fronts, Reuters reported. In a victory for Kremlin's campaign, Lysychansk's twin city of Sievierodonetsk, the scene of some of the bloodiest fighting, fell to pro-Russian forces on Saturday. Russian missiles also struck Kyiv for the first time in weeks on Sunday, attacks condemned by U.S. President Joe Biden as barbarism. Tass news agency on Sunday quoted a separatist official as saying Moscow's forces had entered Lysychansk from five directions and were isolating Ukrainian defenders. Reuters could not confirm the report. 1 a.m.: Russia moved closer Sunday to defaulting on international debt payments for the first time in a century. Interest payments totaling $100 million on two bonds were originally due May 27, but carried a 30-day grace period. Russia has struggled to make such payments due to restrictions on its financial activities related to sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine that began in late February. 12:30 a.m.: The United States and other G-7 countries are expected to announce on Tuesday that they will ban imports of gold from Russia, according to a report in The Washington Post. The intent of the move is to further isolate Russia from the international financial system, reported the newspaper. 12:01 a.m.: Russia may be on track for its first major external sovereign debt default, two sources told Reuters. This is because some Taiwanese holders of Russian Eurobonds have not received interest due on May 27 after a grace period expired on Sunday evening. Russia was due to make $100 million in coupon payments on two Eurobonds on May 27. Sweeping sanctions imposed by Western capitals on Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 as well as countermeasures by Moscow have all but severed the country from the global financial ecosystem. Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a special operation. Despite the plethora of curbs, Russia had managed to make payments on seven bonds since its invasion of Ukraine before the latest interest payments. Russian debt makes up less than half a percent of Taiwanese bond holdings, Reuters reported. Some information in this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters. Authorities in Nigerias Zamfara state said they will begin granting gun licenses to residents. The rare move will allow individuals to carry guns so that they can defend themselves against gunmen and rebels in the troubled West African countrys northern region. Armed gangs that rob and kidnap for ransom are common in the area. Gunmen recently killed eight people and kidnapped nearly 40 in two churches in Kaduna. Nigerias security forces are stretched thin with the violent attacks and a ten-year war against Islamist rebels. Ibrahim Dosara, the Zamfara information commissioner, said in a statement that 500 licenses will be distributed to people who qualify and are wishing to obtain such guns to defend themselves. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Russia moved closer Sunday to defaulting on international debt payments for the first time in a century. Interest payments totaling $100 million on two bonds were originally due May 27, but carried a 30-day grace period. Russia has struggled to make such payments due to restrictions on its financial activities and sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine in February. Russia's attack on Ukraine continued on Sunday, when Russian forces launched new missile attacks on Ukraines two biggest cities, the capital of Kyiv and Kharkiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least two apartment buildings in the city were hit, leaving at least one person dead, and four others injured. Russia ramped up its use of cruise missiles, striking targets across northwestern Ukraine. Air raid sirens blared in several cities. Its more of their barbarism, U.S. President Joe Biden said of the Russian strike on Kyiv as he appeared at a G-7 welcoming ceremony with Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany. Russias invasion of Ukraine is a key focus of the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is due to address the meeting Monday. Biden said that the United States and the other G-7 economies will ban the import of Russian gold, the latest sanction imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth month. The leaders of the G-7 nations Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States are trying to maintain unity against Russia, even with the wars growing toll on the global economy, including in the U.S., which is confronting a four-decade high surge in consumer prices. The new attack on Kyiv came a day after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, a major victory for Russia after weeks of fierce fighting. Russia now controls virtually all of the Luhansk province, part of the eastern Donbas region that Moscow is trying to take over, one of its major war aims. Ukraine said Russian forces had fully occupied Lysychansk, a neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk, in the eastern Luhansk region. Moscow claimed it had encircled about 2,000 Ukrainian troops in the area. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. The United States and the other members of the Group of Seven leading industrialized economies imposed new sanctions Monday against Russia for its four-month invasion of Ukraine. These include measures to cut Moscow off from materials and services needed by its industrial and technology sectors. The White House said the U.S. will commit $7.5 billion as part of a G-7 effort to help Ukraine cover its short-term budget needs, and that the governments are making "an unprecedented, long-term security commitment to providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support as long as it takes." In a joint communique, the G-7 said, "We remain appalled by and continue to condemn the brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine by Russia and aided by Belarus. We condemn and will not recognize Russia's continued attempts to redraw borders by force." The announcement came as G-7 leaders met in the Bavarian Alps in Germany, where they spoke by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Additional specific U.S. sanctions include blocks on Russian state-owned defense enterprises and defense research organizations, limiting Russia's ability to replenish equipment it has lost in the war, and prohibitions on gold imports into the United States. White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan told reporters the United States is finalizing a new military aid package for Ukraine that includes advanced air defense capabilities to help it shoot down incoming Russian missiles such as those deployed to target several Ukrainian cities over the weekend. In addition, he acknowledged the G-7 leaders are attempting to craft a cap on the price of oil Russia sells on the world market "to deny revenue to Russia while at the same time ensuring a stable global energy market." Whether India and other nations that buy Russian oil would go along with a price cap is uncertain. Russian troops carried out shelling in the eastern city of Lysychansk on Monday, working to try to capture the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Luhansk province after seizing control of neighboring Sievierodonetsk. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said the damage to Lysychansk has been "catastrophic." Haidai urged the remaining civilians to evacuate the city that was home to 100,000 people before Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in late February. Russia now controls virtually all of Luhansk province, part of the eastern Donbas region that Moscow is trying to take over, one of its major war aims. Russian forces on Sunday launched new missile attacks against Ukraine's two biggest cities, the capital of Kyiv and Kharkiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least two apartment buildings in the city were hit, leaving at least one person dead, and four others injured. Russia ramped up its use of cruise missiles, striking targets across northwestern Ukraine. Air raid sirens blared in several cities. "It's more of their barbarism," U.S. President Joe Biden said of the Russian strike on Kyiv. Default Russia on Monday rejected that it defaulted on international debt payments for the first time in a century. Interest payments totaling $100 million on two bonds were originally due May 27 but carried a 30-day grace period. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia had made the payments in May, but that they were blocked by Western sanctions and thus were "not our problem." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. Russia carried out a missile strike Monday on a crowded shopping center in a central Ukrainian city and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of a "calculated" attack against civilians. Zelenskyy said that more than 1,000 civilians were inside the mall in the city of Kremenchuk on Monday when the assault took place. Ukraine's emergency services said at least 16 people were killed and 59 injured. "This is not an accidental hit, this is a calculated Russian strike exactly onto this shopping center," Zelenskyy said Monday in his nightly video address. He added that the strike "is one of the most daring terrorist attacks in European history." Zelenskyy had said earlier on Telegram that the number of casualties is "impossible to even imagine" and said the shopping center, in a city 300 kilometers southeast of the capital, Kyiv, was "no danger to the Russian army, no strategic value." Rescue workers continued to work after nightfall searching the rubble for survivors. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted, "The world is horrified by Russia's missile strike today, which hit a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall the latest in a string of atrocities. We will continue to support our Ukrainian partners and hold Russia, including those responsible for atrocities, to account." U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric called the attack "deplorable" and said the U.N. Security Council would meet Tuesday at Ukraine's request following the strike. Group of Seven The missile strike took place as the Group of Seven leading industrialized economies met in Germany's Bavarian Alps and pledged continued support for Ukraine. Leaders from the group called Monday's missile strike "abominable" and said in a joint statement, "We stand united with Ukraine in mourning the innocent victims of this brutal attack." The United States and the other members of the G-7 on Monday imposed new sanctions against Russia for its four-month invasion of Ukraine. These include measures to cut off Moscow from materials and services needed by its industrial and technology sectors. The White House said the U.S. will commit $7.5 billion as part of a G-7 effort to help Ukraine cover its short-term budget needs, and that the governments are making "an unprecedented, long-term security commitment to providing Ukraine with financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support as long as it takes." In a joint communique, the G-7 said, "We remain appalled by and continue to condemn the brutal, unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine by Russia and aided by Belarus. We condemn and will not recognize Russia's continued attempts to redraw borders by force." Zelenskyy addressed the conference by video link earlier Monday and requested more weapons as well as help exporting grain past Russian blockades. Meanwhile, ahead of a NATO summit starting Tuesday in Madrid, alliance chief Jens Stoltenberg said the Western military alliance is declaring a sevenfold increase in the number of its troops on standby alert from 40,000 to more than 300,000. Stoltenberg said Russia has "chosen confrontation instead of dialogue. We regret that but of course, then we need to respond to that reality." He said that NATO "will strengthen our forward defenses. We will enhance our battlegroups in the eastern part of the alliance up to brigade levels." Battlefield Russian troops also carried out shelling in the eastern city of Lysychansk on Monday, trying to capture the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Luhansk province after seizing control of neighboring Sievierodonetsk. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haidai said the damage to Lysychansk has been "catastrophic." Haidai urged the remaining civilians to evacuate the city that was home to 100,000 people before Russia invaded Ukraine in late February. Russia now controls virtually all of Luhansk province, part of the eastern Donbas region that Moscow is trying to take over, one of its major war aims. Russian forces on Sunday launched new missile attacks against Ukraine's two biggest cities the capital of Kyiv, and Kharkiv. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least two apartment buildings in the city were hit, leaving at least one person dead and four others injured. Russia ramped up its use of cruise missiles, striking targets across northwestern Ukraine. Air raid sirens blared in several cities. "It's more of their barbarism," U.S. President Joe Biden said of the Russian strike on Kyiv. Default Russia on Monday rejected claims that it defaulted on international debt payments for the first time in a century. Interest payments totaling $100 million on two bonds were originally due May 27 but carried a 30-day grace period. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia had made the payments in May but that they were blocked by Western sanctions and thus were "not our problem." Some information for this report came from The Associated Press and Reuters. South African authorities say the owner of a bar where at least 17 teenagers were found dead and four others died while receiving medical care is expected to face charges. Police investigating the mysterious deaths in Eastern Cape province say they have not ruled out the possibility the teenagers were poisoned. South African police say they are investigating and awaiting autopsy results after the teenagers bodies were found at a bar early Sunday morning with no visible cause of death. Brigadier Thembinkosi Kinana is a police spokesman. Whilst we understand the urgency of this matter and the anxiety of the public, in particular the affected families who want answers. We urge that we allow sufficient time for our detectives to finalize those investigations. I must also add that we have not made any arrests at this stage, he said. South African police say the owner is expected to face charges and have not ruled out the possibility that the teenagers were poisoned. Spokesman Kinana said half-a-dozen of the bodies were not immediately claimed. We are making an appeal to parents or relatives who may have not seen their children since the past weekend to please make time to make inquiries. We are also calling upon parents whose children who may have survived the tavern incident but are still feeling sick to please visit hospitals and clinics for medical check-ups, he said. Police were called to East Londons Enyobeni Tavern in Eastern Cape province, where local media reported the bodies were found slumped on the floor and tables. The taverns owner, Siyakhangela Ndevu, told AFP news agency that patrons had tried to force their way into the bar despite it already being packed. But safety authorities were quick to rule out a stampede because of the lack of injuries on the bodies, some as young as 13 years old. Eighteen is the legal drinking age in South Africa. Lucky Ntimane is Convenor of South Africas National Liquor Traders Council. The owner had workers working there, he had bouncers, they couldve seen, easily seen that there were minors in that establishment. But this was allowed to happen, the owner put the profits before the people. He should never ever trade in alcohol ever in his life. The license should be revoked with immediate effect, he said. South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa expressed condolences for the families through his spokesman Vincent Magwenya. While the president awaits more information on the incident, his thoughts are with the families who have lost children. The president is however also concerned about the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue which on the face of it should be off limits to people under the age of 18. The president expects the law to take its course following investigations into the tragedy, he said. He added that the deaths were even more tragic as they happened during South Africas youth month. Youth month developed from the June 16 National Youth Day when South Africa reflects on the massacre of students during the 1976 Soweto Uprising against apartheid. Some of the dead were also students celebrating the end of mid-year exams. Taliban authorities in Afghanistan are being accused of carrying out extrajudicial killings and other human rights abuses as they attempt to quell an armed rebellion in a northern region. The United Nations and rights watchdogs on Monday called reports of abuses in the turbulent Balkhab district in northern Sar-e Pol province alarming and demanded that the ruling Islamist group hold those responsible. The accusations stemmed from recent Taliban military operations against loyalist-turned-rebel commander Mehdi Mujahid and his fighters in Balkhab. Mujahid, an influential member of the Afghan ethnic minority Hazara Shiite community, served until recently as the Talibans spy chief for central Bamyan province. He was dismissed for unspecified reasons, prompting him to break away from the Sunni-based Islamist rulers. "Amnesty International is gravely concerned by reports of summary executions and harm to civilians in Balkhab district of Sari-Pul province, the global rights group tweeted Monday. As the de facto authorities in Afghanistan, the Taliban has a primary responsibility to end the attacks against civilians and ensure justice and accountability." Richard Bennett, the United Nations special rapporteur on the situation on human rights in Afghanistan, described as disturbing reports of extrajudicial killings, civilian displacement, property distraction and other human rights abuses in the northern district. Regrettably verification hampered by info blackout, internet cut & denial of access to media & HR monitors, Bennett tweeted. The Taliban refuted the charges as propaganda. The situation in Balkhab has returned to normal. No one has been oppressed or persecuted. The people are living a peaceful and safe environment. The propaganda about mistreatment of civilians or casualties is not true, the chief Taliban spokesman tweeted Monday. Taliban officials maintained they had reportedly dispatched several delegations to Balkhab to unsuccessfully negotiate a settlement with Mujahid before ordering last weeks military offensive against his forces The Defense Ministry in Kabul announced on Sunday that security forces had evicted Mujahid's fighters from the district headquarters and surrounding areas, saying fleeing rebels had taken refuge in a nearby valley, and operations against them were continuing. VOA could not ascertain from independent sources the veracity of the official claims. A video speech circulating on social media showed Mujahid among his fighters somewhere in Balkhab while one of his loyalists addressed the crowd, accusing the Taliban of sidelining Hazara Afghans from the national political space. The insurgent-turned-ruling group seized power in Afghanistan last August as the United States and NATO partners withdrew their last troops from the country. The Taliban installed an all-male interim Cabinet to govern the conflict-torn South Asian nation, imposing restrictions on womens rights to work and education, and cracking down on dissent. Critics say the new government in Kabul comprises members of the Pashtun-based Taliban group and doesnt give representation to other Afghan ethnicities. The lack of political inclusivity and respect for rights of all Afghans, including women, is keeping the global community from formally recognizing the Taliban as legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. Taliban leaders reject criticism of their administration, officially called the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, and maintain that their polices are in line with Afghan culture and Islamic tradition. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan heads to this week's NATO summit in Madrid, threatening to veto Finland's and Sweden's bid to join the Atlantic alliance. Ankara is warning it's not ready to lift its veto threat of their NATO membership bid ahead of the alliance's summit in Madrid on Tuesday. Erdogan's chief adviser Ibrahim Kalin, speaking on Turkish TV Sunday, said Turkish demands had not been met. Kalin said Turkey has brought negotiations to a certain point and it is not possible for Turkish leaders to take a step back. He said Turkish diplomats told this to their counterparts and made it clear the next step is up to them. Erdogan wants Sweden and Finland to end their support of the Syrian Kurdish fighters of the YPG, which is linked to the PKK group that has been fighting the Turkish forces for decades, and which the Turkish government considers a terrorist organization. Finland and Sweden support the YPG, as do some NATO members, including the United States, in the war against the Islamic State group. Ankara also accuses Stockholm of giving sanctuary to people it says were responsible for the 2016 coup attempt in Turkey. Local Turkish media reported Monday the Turkish government has submitted a list of people it wants extradited from Sweden and Finland. Turkey's growing list of demands is a sign that Ankara has a broader agenda, said Asli Aydintasbas, a senior fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. "Turkey wanted clearly a more expanded big grand bargain with NATO. It's not getting that," Aydintasbas said. "Instead, it's getting a more bilateral conversation (among) Sweden and Finland (and) Turkey, and this has been a source of frustration. Erdogan wanted President (Joe) Biden himself to come into this conversation and put some incentives on the table. This hasn't happened." Aaron Stein of the Foreign Policy Research Institute in Philadelphia said despite Turkey's potential veto, Sweden's and Finland's security will still be assured from any Russian threat. "Turkey can hold back, but they are not going to hold back the alliance. Things will move forward," Stein said. "And let's be clear here: The most important NATO member country is the United States. It's the country that guarantees the security of them all. So, If the U.S. gives security to these two countries which Joe Biden has effectively done well, we've reassured in terms of what the U.S. will do: It will be to increase allied presence in Finland and Sweden." Erdogan is due to hold a series of meetings at the Madrid summit aimed at resolving the impasse. Analyst Aydintasbas said a deal can still be reached. "It can drag on, or it can be resolved at the NATO summit. Depends on how (much) bigger reward NATO member states and NATO itself wants to put on the table," Aydintasbas said. "Also depends on how much pressure there will be on Turkey. I think what Erdogan is seeking is at least visibility with NATO leaders, that he can present to the Turkish public as the global leader that has brought a big diplomatic victory for Turkey." Analysts say Erdogan is falling behind in the polls and needs a boost as he faces reelection a year from now. They also say the president knows that standing up to NATO plays well with his voting base and he may want to retain leverage over his alliance partners beyond the Madrid summit. U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping will engage over the course of the next few weeks but not immediately after the G-7 summit, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Monday. Meanwhile, chief diplomats from the United States and China are planning meetings on the sidelines of next months G-20 ministerial in Bali, Indonesia, according to diplomatic sources. Sullivan told reporters that there is an urgent need for consultation among G-7 and NATO members to address challenges that China poses, while seeking alignment among the world's leading market democracies to deal with some of those challenges. In particular, China's nonmarket economic practices, its approach to debt and its approach to human rights. Leaders from NATO countries will meet in Madrid later this week. U.S. officials and analysts say discussing approaches to the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is high on the agenda, as NATO is expected this year to certify its new Strategic Concept, the organizations most important working document after the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949. The last Strategic Concept was agreed to in 2010. The NATO Strategic Concept will speak in ways that are unprecedented about the challenge that China poses, Sullivan said Monday, adding that the competition between the U.S. and China does not mean confrontation or conflict, a notion that China has rejected. China firmly opposes the definition of China-U.S. relations by competition, top Chinese diplomat Yang Jiechi said during his latest meeting with Sullivan in Luxembourg June 13. Yang reiterated that China has been seeking a bilateral relationship with the U.S. based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation. The planned in-person meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi next month during the G-20 ministerial would come as Russia ramps up its offensive in Ukraine. Senior U.S. officials have questioned Chinas alleged neutrality after Russia invaded Ukraine. In May, China imported about 8.42 million tons of crude oil from Russia, according to Chinese customs data a 55% increase from a year ago. Russia has overtaken Saudi Arabia to become China's top oil provider, as the U.S. and other western countries continue to sanction Moscow's energy exports. There's disappointment that the rhetoric from Beijing hasn't been what one would have hoped. But I also don't know that we've seen the type of material support that would actually bolster the physical effort by the Russian government to crush Ukraine, U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan told VOA last week. The United States expressed concern Monday about palpable and dangerous tensions between Israelis and Palestinians, ahead of a visit next month by President Joe Biden to the region. We once again call on all parties to refrain from unilateral actions that increase tensions and undercut efforts to advance a negotiated two-state solution, such as settlement activity, demolitions, incitement to violence and evictions, the deputy U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, Richard Mills, told a meeting of the Security Council on the issue of Israeli settlements. Biden will visit Israel and the West Bank and then continue to Saudi Arabia from July 13 through July 16. The White House says the president plans to meet with Israeli leaders to discuss that countrys security, prosperity, and its increasing integration into the greater region. Biden will also visit the West Bank to meet with Palestinian Authority officials. Mills said that during the trip, Biden will urge calm and explore ways to promote equal measures of security, freedom and opportunity for both Israelis and Palestinians. U.S.-Palestinian relations hit a low in 2020, when the Trump administration unveiled its Middle East peace plan. The Palestinians rejected it outright, saying it heavily favored Israel and did not give them a sovereign, contiguous state with East Jerusalem as its capital. The Trump administration also moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, angering the Palestinians. Biden has criticized that move but has not reversed it. The United Nations says violence has increased in recent months in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and in Israel. Since mid-March, the U.N. says 49 Palestinians, including several children, have been killed in demonstrations and clashes with Israeli forces, while 11 Israelis and three foreign nationals have been killed in attacks inside Israel. As events over recent months have demonstrated yet again, managing the conflict in perpetuity is not a viable option, Tor Wennesland, U.N. special coordinator for the Middle East peace process, told the council from Jerusalem. There is no substitute for a legitimate political process that will resolve the core issues driving the conflict. Palestinian-American journalists death Biden is also likely to face questions from Palestinian officials about the death of Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was shot and killed May 11 while covering an Israeli operation in the West Bank city of Jenin. Abu Akleh was also a U.S. citizen. The U.N. office for human rights said Friday that information it had gathered was consistent with the finding that Abu Akleh was killed by fire from Israeli Security Forces and not from indiscriminate firing by armed Palestinians, as Israeli authorities initially claimed. The U.N. rights office said its monitors also found no information suggesting activity by armed Palestinians in the immediate vicinity of Abu Akleh and her colleagues. We, like others on this council, are concerned with the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, Mills told the Security Council. We continue to stress the importance of accountability for Abu Aklehs tragic death. The United States will not relent on our calls for transparent accountability for those responsible for this tragedy until justice is done. Asked last week by a reporter if Biden would raise Abu Aklehs killing during his trip to Israel, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the administration wants her death fully investigated, and the president would not be bashful about raising human rights and press freedom issues with any foreign leader anywhere in the world. VOA's Anita Powell contributed to this story. Shackled and looking wary, WNBA star Brittney Griner was ordered to stand trial Friday by a court near Moscow on cannabis possession charges, about 4 1/2 months after her arrest at an airport while returning to play for a Russian team. The Phoenix Mercury center and two-time U.S. Olympic gold medalist also was ordered to remain in custody for the duration of her criminal trial. Griner could face 10 years in prison if convicted on charges of large-scale transportation of drugs. Fewer than 1% of defendants in Russian criminal cases are acquitted, and unlike in the U.S., acquittals can be overturned. At Monday's closed-door preliminary hearing at the court in the Moscow suburb of Khimki, Griner's detention was extended for another six months. Photos obtained by The Associated Press showed the 31-year-old in handcuffs and looking straight ahead, unlike a previous court appearance where she kept her head down and covered with a hood. Her detention and trial come at an extraordinarily low point in Moscow-Washington relations. She was arrested at Sheremetyevo Airport less than a week before Russia sent troops into Ukraine, which aggravated already-high tensions with sweeping sanctions by the United States and Russia's denunciation of U.S. weapon supplies to Ukraine. Amid the tensions, Griner's supporters had taken a low profile in hopes of a quiet resolution, until May, when the State Department reclassified her as wrongfully detained and shifted oversight of her case to its special presidential envoy for hostage affairs effectively the U.S. government's chief negotiator. Griner's wife, Cherelle, urged President Joe Biden in May to secure her release, calling her "a political pawn." Her supporters have encouraged a prisoner swap like the one in April that brought home Marine veteran Trevor Reed in exchange for a Russian pilot convicted of drug trafficking conspiracy. Russian news media have repeatedly raised speculation that she could be swapped for Russian arms trader Viktor Bout, nicknamed "The Merchant of Death," who is serving a 25-year sentence on conviction of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization. Russia has agitated for Bout's release for years. But the discrepancy between Griner's case she allegedly was found in possession of vape cartridges containing cannabis oil and Bout's global dealings in deadly weapons could make such a swap unpalatable to the U.S. Others have suggested that she could be traded in tandem with Paul Whelan, a former Marine and security director serving a 16-year sentence on an espionage conviction that the United States has repeatedly described as a set-up. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, asked Sunday on CNN whether a joint swap of Griner and Whelan for Bout was being considered, sidestepped the question. "As a general proposition ... I have got no higher priority than making sure that Americans who are being illegally detained in one way or another around the world come home," he said. But "I can't comment in any detail on what we're doing, except to say this is an absolute priority." Any swap would apparently require Griner to first be convicted and sentenced, then apply for a presidential pardon, Maria Yarmush, a lawyer specializing in international civil affairs, told Kremlin-funded TV channel RT. A conservative supermajority in the U.S. Supreme Court struck down on Friday the constitutional right to an abortion by overturning Roe vs. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized the procedure in the United States. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has more on the rulings. MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn a woman's right to have an abortion marks a "very dark day in health care" that will leave patients at risk and doctors afraid to act, leaders of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) said Friday. "It is a dark day indeed for the tens of millions of patients who have suddenly and unfairly lost access to safe, legal and evidence-based abortion care," said ACOG President Dr. Iffath Abbasi Hoskins. "It is dark for the thousands of clinicians who now -- instead of focusing on providing health care to their patients -- have to live with the threat of legal, civil and even professional penalties while providing health care for the patients when they need it most," Hoskins said. ACOG leaders spoke during a media briefing just hours after the high court voted 6-to-3 to uphold a Mississippi law to ban abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The court voted 5-to-4 to overturn Roe v. Wade, which had protected a woman's right to undergo an abortion in the United States for five decades. "The Constitution does not confer a right to abortion ... and the authority to regulate abortion is returned to the people and their elected representatives," the high court said in its opinion on the Mississippi case Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Center. In that case, Mississippi's sole abortion provider, Jackson Women's Health Organization, sued the state in 2020 after lawmakers banned abortions past 15 weeks, with no exceptions for rape and incest. Dr. Thomas Dobbs has been the state's chief health officer since 2018. "All patients should have autonomy in their own lives to determine whether pregnancy is right for them at that specific moment in their lives," Hoskins said. "Any abortion is an essential abortion to the person who needs it, and every person should be able to access the medical care needed when they need it, including abortion care." ACOG CEO Dr. Maureen Phipps said that the decision also will affect a doctor's ability to care for patients. "It will leave physicians looking over our shoulders, wondering if a patient is in enough of a crisis to permit an exception to the law," Phipps said. "It leaves them fearing that the evidence-based care they are providing leaves them susceptible to discipline, punishment, lawsuits, loss of license and criminal penalty." Doctors might hesitate to provide lifesaving care For example, doctors practicing in states with strict abortion laws may choose to hesitate rather than dive in and take heroic measures to save a woman's life during an incomplete miscarriage that's causing her to bleed out, Hoskins said. Clinicians may be thinking that they have to wait, Hoskins said. They may be needing to get additional opinions, whether it's a legal opinion or another medical opinion. It's going to have a devastating effect on every aspect of a womans health care, including if she is spontaneously miscarrying." Doctors will also struggle to manage serious and life-threatening complications during pregnancy, including preeclampsia, which in some cases requires abortion to save the mother's life. "Maternal mortality is going to be more common because of this law," Hoskins said. "We have got to think of the mothers and the hit that the mothers will take to their own health and their own well-being and own outcome in these various aspects of pregnancy." Phipps also predicted that the decision will have a "dire" impact on ob-gyn training. "Medical education should be comprehensive, and our trainees must be prepared to meet all patient needs with confidence," Phipps said. "When 44% of our obstetrics and gynecology residents are trained in states that are now empowered to ban abortion, patients will have to question whether their ob-gyn doctor has had access to the quality of training that we have all come to expect." The decision also means that the quality of a person's health care will depend on where they live in the United States, said Dr. Jen Villavicencio, ACOG's lead for equity transformation. "Depending on what your zip code is, depending on what state you live in and where you live, your access to essential health care is going to be different," Villavicencio said. This specifically calls into question a woman's access to medication abortion using the FDA-approved abortion drugs mifepristone and misoprostol, Villavicencio said. President Joe Biden and Attorney General Merrick Garland both said Friday that the Supreme Court's ruling will not allow states to ban access to medications approved by the FDA. Medication abortion may be next target "In particular, the FDA has approved the use of the medication mifepristone," Garland said in a statement. "States may not ban mifepristone based on disagreement with the FDA's expert judgment about its safety and efficacy." But Villavicencio said it "remains to be seen" whether state bans on medication abortion will wind up trumping the FDA's authority. "It is absolutely a concern" that medication abortion "could be and will be banned in some of these states," Villavicencio said. ACOG is committed to protecting the rights of patients in abortion-restricted states to travel for essential health care, said ACOG Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Molly Meegan. "We are going to be advocating very strongly that states do not have extraterritorial jurisdiction to reach beyond the edges of their state, the territory of their state, and try to enforce laws against physicians that are in haven states or in states where abortion is less restricted," Meegan said. "We will do the same with respect to fighting to protect people that travel." However, research has indicated that many women -- particularly those of limited financial means -- will not be able to travel to another state to get a needed abortion, said ACOG fellow Dr. Nisha Verma, who practices in Georgia. "We're already seeing people traveling for care from surrounding states that already have more restrictive laws, and we have seen that these deserts are going to get worse," Verma said. "People have predicted that some will have to travel over 500 miles to access abortion care, and that's just not going to be doable for many people." Georgia has a 2019 six-week abortion ban on the books that had been held up in the courts awaiting the Supreme Court ruling, which now is expected to take effect soon. "I will say despite this decision from the Supreme Court, I am very committed to returning to Georgia and returning to the South, which is my home, and I know many of my colleagues are," Verma said. "We are going to stay in these restrictive areas and will continue to support people in whatever way we can." More information Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health has more about abortion access in the United States. SOURCES: Media briefing, June 24, 2022, with: ACOG President Iffath Abbasi Hoskins, MD, FACOG; ACOG Chief Executive Officer Maureen G. Phipps, MD, MPH, FACOG; ACOG Lead for Equity Transformation Jen Villavicencio, MD, MPP, FACOG; ACOG Darney-Landy Fellow Nisha Verma, MD, MPH, FACOG; ACOG Chief Legal Officer and General Counsel Molly Meegan, JD Photo: MediaPunch/Shutterstock Police pushed actor Jodie Sweetin at an abortion-rights protest in Los Angeles, per video posted to social media. A photographer for local outlet L.A. Taco captured footage of the Full House actor being thrown to the ground by police officers at a protest near the freeway on June 25. Sweetin got up afterward, according to the video, and a representative told The Hollywood Reporter she is okay. The LAPD, meanwhile, told the magazine that officers were keeping protestors from getting on the freeway. The force used will be evaluated against the LAPDs policy and procedure, the department said in a statement. Sweetin shared footage of police attacking other protesters at the same action on her Instagram Stories afterward. It pained me to see @JodieSweetin thrown to the ground by members of the LAPD as she was trying to lead a group of peaceful protestors away from the freewaySMH @LAPDHQ what are yall doing? pic.twitter.com/1oizimOyaA Mike Ade (@bellikemike) June 26, 2022 I had my bullhorn, and they were walking me back, kind of where everyone was, the Full House actress later recalled on E! News. I was walking, and one of the officers just snatched my bag and tossed me forward. According to Sweetin, does not plan to press charges against the police, who she said did not communicate with her before or after the incident. After her friends helped her up, she continued to march for probably another four or five hours. Sweetin said that rather than making the situation about herself, she wants to redirect focus to the broader issues of womens rights and police brutality. In a statement to The Hollywood Reporter, Sweetin said she was extremely proud of the protests in L.A. Our activism will continue until our voices are heard and action is taken, she said. This will not deter us; we will continue fighting for our rights. We are not free until all of us are free. This post has been updated. Italy bids farewell to leading business figure. Leonardo Del Vecchio, the Italian founder of Luxottica and president of EssilorLuxottica, the world's largest producer and retailer of glasses and frames, has died in Italy aged 87. The self-made billionaire tycoon passed away at the S. Raffaelle hospital in Milan on Monday morning, reports Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera. Del Vecchio was born into poverty in Milan in 1935, spending part of his childhood in an orphanage, and as a teenager he worked by day and attended school at night. His rags-to-riches tale saw him set up a small factory in Agordo in northern Italy in 1961, at the age of 26, making parts for eyewear manufacturers before selling complete spectacle frames under the Luxottica brand in 1967. It was to be the beginning of a global empire which saw Luxottica acquire the Ray-Ban brand and join forces with France's Essilor in a massive merger in 2018. In April 2021 Bloomberg Billionaires estimated Del Vecchio's net worth to be $32.7 billion, making him the second richest man in Italy and the 41st richest in the world. Del Vecchio was married three times and has six children. Valentino to restore Roman mosaic at Baths of Caracalla. Luxury fashion house Valentino will showcase its autumn-winter 2022-23 collection at the Spanish Steps in Rome on 8 July. The grand event, organised in collaboration with the city, will see a 600-m catwalk set up between Piazza di Spagna, Trinita dei Monti, Piazza Mignanelli and Via Gregoriana, an area synonymous with the fashion house founded by Valentino Garavani in 1960. The city will celebrate the fashion show by decorating streets and bridges in the historic centre with banners in homage to Valentino, in addition to a poster campaign on buses and subways. In return Valentino will sponsor the restoration of a Roman mosaic at the Baths of Caracalla and donate new palm trees to be planted in Piazza di Spagna, to replace those destroyed by palm weevils, according to a statement from the city. "Rome is a candidate to become one of the fashion capitals of the world again, a record that is in the city's DNA", said mayor Roberto Gualtieri. "We want to relaunch and invest in the sector. With this event we aim to make Rome a capital of fashion all year round." This sentiment was echoed by the city's councillor for major events, Alessandro Onorato, who said it is "essential for Rome to have Valentino back here", adding: We are talking about a group that has made fashion history. After the event, from 10-12 July, Valentino will open its historic archives (1959-1973) to the public at Palazzo Mignanelli, with guided tours (maximum 40 people at a time) during which it will be possible to admire its precious collections of vintage designs. Placeholder while article actions load Last week Microsoft Corp. said it would stop selling software that guesses a persons mood by looking at their face. The reason: It could be discriminatory. Computer vision software, which is used in self-driving cars and facial recognition, has long had issues with errors that come at the expense of women and people of color. Microsofts decision to halt the system entirely is one way of dealing with the problem. But theres another, novel approach that tech firms are exploring: training AI on synthetic images to make it less biased. The idea is a bit like training pilots. Instead of practicing in unpredictable, real-world conditions, most will spend hundreds of hours using flight simulators designed to cover a broad array of different scenarios they could experience in the air. A similar approach is being taken to train AI, which relies on carefully labelled data to work properly. Until recently, the software used to recognize people has been trained on thousands or millions of images of real people, but that can be time-consuming, invasive, and neglectful of large swathes of the population.(1) Advertisement Now many AI makers are using fake or synthetic images to train computers on a broader array of people, skin tones, ages or other features, essentially flipping the notion that fake data is bad. In fact, if used properly itll not only make software more trustworthy, but completely transform the economics of data as the new oil. In 2015, Simi Lindgren came up with the idea for a website called Yuty to sell beauty products for all skin types. She wanted to use AI to recommend skin care products by analyzing selfies, but training a system to do that accurately was difficult. A popular database of 70,000 licensed faces from Flickr, for instance, wasnt diverse or inclusive enough. It showed facial hair on men, but not on women, and she says there werent enough melanin-rich that is, darker-skinned women to accurately detect their various skin conditions like acne or fine lines. She tried crowdsourcing and got just under 1,000 photos of faces from her network of friends and family. But even that wasnt enough. Advertisement Lindgrens team then decided to create their own data to plug the gap. The answer was something called GANs. General adversarial networks or GANs are a type of neural network designed in 2014 by Ian Goodfellow, an AI researcher now at Alphabet Inc.s DeepMind. The system works by trying to fool itself, and then humans, with new faces.(2) You can try testing your ability to tell the difference between a fake face and a real one on this website set up by academics at the University of Washington, using a type of GAN. Lindgren used the method to create hundreds of thousands of photorealistic images and says she ended up with a balanced dataset of diverse people, with diverse skin tones and diverse concerns. Currently, about 80% of the faces in Yutys database arent of real people but synthetic images which are labelled and checked by humans(3), she says, who help assess her platforms growing accuracy. Advertisement Lindgren is not alone in her approach. More than 50 startups currently generate synthetic data as a service, according to StartUs Insights, a market intelligence firm. Microsoft has experimented with it and Google is working with artificially-generated medical histories to help predict insurance fraud. Amazon.com Inc. said in January that it was using synthetic data to train Alexa to overcome privacy concerns. Remember when Big Tech platforms found themselves in hot water a few years ago for hiring contractors to listen in on random customers, to train their AI systems? Fake data can help solve that issue. Facebook also acquired New York-based synthetic data startup A.I.Reverie in October last year. The trend is becoming so pervasive that Gartner estimates 60% of all data used to train AI will be synthetic by 2024, and it will completely overshadow real data for AI training by 2030. Advertisement The market for making synthetic images and videos is roughly divided into companies that use GANs, and those that design 3D graphics from scratch. Datagen Technologies, based in Tel Aviv, Israel, does the latter. Its CGI-style animations train car systems to detect sleepiness. Carmakers have historically trained their sensors by filming actors pretending to fall asleep at the wheel, says Gil Elbaz, co-founder of synthetic data startup Datagen, but that still leads to a limited set of examples. The videos also have to be sent off to contractors in other countries to be labelled, which can take weeks. Datagen instead creates thousands of animations of different types of people falling asleep at the wheel in different ways, like the example above. Though the animations dont look realistic to humans, Elbaz says their greater scale leads to more accurate sensors in the cars.(5) Advertisement Fake data isnt just being used to train vision recognition systems, but also predictive software, like the kinds banks use to decide who should get a loan. Fairgen Ltd., a startup also based in Tel Aviv, generates large tables of artificial identities, including names, genders, ethnicities, income levels and credit scores. Were creating artificial populations, making a parallel world where discrimination wouldnt have happened, says Samuel Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Fairgen. From this world we can sample unlimited amounts of artificial individuals and use these a data. For example, to help design algorithms that distribute loans more fairly to minority groups, Fairgen makes databases of artificial people from minority groups with average credit scores that are closer to those from other groups. One bank in the U.K. is currently Fairgens data to hone its loan software. Cohen says manipulating the data that algorithms are trained on can help with positive discrimination and recalibrating society. Strange as it may sound, the growth of fake data is a step in the right direction, and not just because it avoids using peoples personal data. It could also disrupt the dynamics of selling data. Retailers, for instance, could generate extra revenue by selling synthetic data on customers purchasing behavior, according to Fernando Lucini, Accenture Plcs global lead on data science and machine learning. Business leaders need to have synthetic data on their radar, he adds. Advertisement One caveat about unintended consequences, though: With so much artificial data driving our future systems, what are the risks that some of it will be used for fraud, or that itll be harder to find real identities amid the flood of fake ones? Synthetic data also wont eliminate bias completely, though, says Julien Cornebise, an honorary associate professor of computer science at University College London. Bias is not only in the data. Its in the people who develop these tools with their own cultural assumptions, he says. Thats the case for everything man-made. More From This Writer and Others at Bloomberg Opinion: AIs Hold Over Humans Is Starting to Get Stronger: Parmy Olson The Next Cybersecurity Crisis: Poisoned AI: Tim Culpan What Disney Can Teach Microsoft in the Gaming Wars: Gearoid Reidy Advertisement (1) Facebook last year said it had trained an object-recognizing AI system on 1 billion Instagram images -- a huge number, but also one that may disproportionately represent younger people with access to smartphones. (2) In 2019, chip maker NVIDIA Corp. publicly released its own GAN models, trained on tens of thousands of photos, which anyone can use. The models has been used to make websites like this one, which generates a new face with each mouse click. (3) Human staff who check the accuracy of algorithms and help train them are called domain experts and they are a growing part of the labor force in tech. (4) Theres a niche debate over whether simulated images are fairer than those from GANs, which are derivative of datasets which have those original bias problems, and whether training AI on fake data creates a feedback loop that neglects edge cases. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Parmy Olson is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering technology. A former reporter for the Wall Street Journal and Forbes, she is author of We Are Anonymous. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that recognized the constitutional right to abortion, was made by Americas highest court. The bleak consequences for basic liberties and democracy, however, will go far beyond its borders. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight From the start, Roe had unusually significant ripples. It came a time when the US and a large swathe of the world was moving toward greater freedoms for women and minorities, and further democratization. For rights activists it was a milestone a symbol of what could be achieved. There were many steps forward for women from the late 1960s, as demands shifted from the right to contraception to decriminalizing abortion: In Europe, the protests of 1968 were a watershed. And in 1971, nearly two years before the US decision, 343 French women (including actress Catherine Deneuve and philosopher Simone de Beauvoir) declared in a national magazine that they had had abortions. West German women followed, challenging the idea of pregnancy termination as shameful, and undergone only by those in disgrace. Advertisement But Roe was key to the global momentum that ensured French Health Minister Simone Veil was able to deliver her historic speech to a nearly all-male parliament in 1974, demanding a law that would recognize a practice that took place anyway, to protect women. For Irish conservatives, Roe and the privacy argument it made, which also led to a court victory in Ireland on the use of contraceptives was frightening. Despite existing restrictions, they pushed for a referendum to amend the constitution giving equal rights to the unborn and the mother, an effective(3) ban. Roe has been a reference not only for activists in Europe, but in Latin America and elsewhere, a path to be followed for anyone seeking a route to greater freedoms through the courts. The risk now is that having inspired those pushing for greater liberties, the USs backward slide will encourage the opposite at home and abroad while also hampering Washingtons ability to advocate for basic healthcare, gender and even democracy in the developing world. For now, its true, as justices Stephen Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan wrote in their heartfelt dissenting opinion, that US states will become international outliers more than 50 countries have expanded access to legal termination over the past quarter century, and very few have gone backwards. But populists and conservative leaders across the globe have spotted an opportunity to grow that small number, using abortion as a wedge issue that galvanizes their base and fuels culture wars. Its a long-awaited dog whistle. In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro trailing in the polls ahead of Octobers presidential election and relying on evangelical voters who are often more conservative than Catholics was quick to spot the opportunity. He seized on the case of an 11-year-old, pregnant as a result of rape, and dissuaded from having an abortion by a judge who asked her to hang on a little longer, saying her (legal) late-stage termination was unacceptable. Brazil already allows abortion only in very limited circumstances. After the Supreme Court ruling, he tweeted a picture of himself with a small child on his lap asking God to give strength and wisdom to those who protect innocence and the future of our children. Advertisement In Argentina, exuberant libertarian lawmaker Javier Milei, an admirer of Donald Trump whose star has been on the rise, promised to achieve the same at home where abortion was legalized in late 2020 under the current president, Alberto Fernandez, whom Milei hopes to challenge in next years election. Even in Western Europe, where abortion rights tend to be widely supported, German lawmaker Beatrix von Storch, of anti-immigrant, far-right Alternative for Germany, greeted the ruling as a signal of hope that radiates to the whole West, and Spanish far-right party Vox hoped it would encourage Europeans in the fight for the rights of the innocent. Abortion has been a totemic issue, rallying those unhappy with the pace of social change, a way of sowing division in the name of family values. And the Supreme Court has knowingly added fuel to all those fires. It matters, too, that Washington will be able to do less to stop the damage abroad not only because its credibility is tarnished, in terms of democracy and womens self-determination, but because US foreign assistance to organizations performing or advising on abortion has already been limited in the past under Republican presidents with the unintended consequence of increasing abortion rates in some regions and those threats will increase. US support for family planning, sorely needed in many parts of the world, will come under pressure overseas, just as it will at home. Meanwhile, anti-choice groups are emboldened, well-funded and ready to bring the legal assaults that toppled Roe to other nations. Conservative Christian groups have already spent millions in Europe. Advertisement The good news is that the ruling is also a wakeup call. There have been few clearer demonstrations that the rights of women and minorities are not to be taken for granted. That progress is not always necessarily linear, and laws can change for the worse. Its a reminder that democracy is much like Ernest Hemingways description of bankruptcy. It goes gradually, then suddenly. All the more reason to push for popular votes to allow the majority to speak, and to build broad grassroots coalitions. Not only for those who can get pregnant and their families, but for democracy. It cannot thrive if women lose their rights at the moment of conception. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Abortion Ruling is Suicidal for the Supreme Court: Noah Feldman How Criminalizing Abortion Affects Black Women: Sarah Carmichael Advertisement Abortion Rights Falter as Democracy Slides: Clara Ferreira Marques (1) The Eighth Amendment was repealed in 2018, after another referendum. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Clara Ferreira Marques is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist and editorial board member covering foreign affairs and climate. Previously, she worked for Reuters in Hong Kong, Singapore, India, the U.K., Italy and Russia. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load DUBAI, United Arab Emirates One of Irans major steel companies said Monday it was forced to halt production after being hit by a cyberattack that also targeted two other plants, apparently marking one of the biggest such assaults on the countrys strategic industrial sector in recent memory. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Iranian government did not acknowledge the disruption or blame any specific group for the assault on the state-owned Khuzestan Steel Co. and Irans two other major steel producers, which constitutes just the latest example of an attack crippling the countrys services in recent months amid heightened tensions in the region. An anonymous hacking group claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it targeted Irans three biggest steel companies in response to the aggression of the Islamic Republic. Advertisement The group, calling itself Gonjeshke Darande, shared what purported to be closed-circuit footage from the Khuzestan Steel Co. factory floor that showed a piece of heavy machinery on a steel billet production line malfunction and cause a massive fire. These companies are subject to international sanctions and continue their operations despite the restrictions, the group said, citing their links to Irans paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. A steel mill in the central Iranian town of Mobarakeh said that its system was struck too, while the the state-run IRAN newspaper reported that another factory in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas was targeted in the cyberattack. Neither plant acknowledged any damage or work stoppage as a result. Khuzestan Steel Co., meanwhile, said the factory had to stop work until further notice due to technical problems following cyberattacks. The companys website was down on Monday. Advertisement However, CEO Amin Ebrahimi, claimed that Khuzestan Steel managed to thwart the cyberattack and prevent damage to production that would impact supply chains and customers. He said nothing of the explosion shown in the hacker groups footage. Fortunately with time and awareness, the attack was unsuccessful, the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Ebrahimi as saying, adding that he expected the companys website to be restored and everything to return to normal by the end of Monday. A local news channel, Jamaran, meanwhile reported that the attack failed because the factory happened to be non-operational at the time due to an electricity outage. Cyberattacks have become increasingly common in Iran in recent years. The country, long sanctioned by the West, has been slow to update its networks to counter the rising use of ransomware by criminals, as well as intrusions by state actors. Advertisement In a major incident last year, a cyberattack on Irans fuel distribution system paralyzed gas stations across the country, leading to long lines of angry motorists. The same anonymous hacking group, Gonjeshke Darande, claimed responsibility for the attack on fuel pumps. Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a principal threat researcher at SentinelOne, said its still unclear who is behind the recent cyberattacks against Iran. But he said its an escalation if the same groups are behind the alleged attack on the steel plants industrial control system. Something has changed in the tone of these attacks, he said. Advertisement Lior Tabansky, a cybersecurity expert at Israels Tel Aviv University, said that in the murky world of cybersecurity, its often difficult to separate genuine claims of responsibility from false flags. If it was indeed a cyberattack, suspicion would likely fall on Israel or the United States, he said. However, if I were an Iranian senior official and I had problems in my ministry of steel or whatever, the best way out is to say well, the Zionists or American imperialists are cyber-attacking me. Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have impaired the countrys infrastructure. Iran disconnected much of its government infrastructure from the internet after the Stuxnet computer virus widely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation disrupted thousands of Iranian centrifuges in the countrys nuclear sites in the late 2000s. Advertisement Khuzestan Steel Co., based in Ahvaz in the oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province, has a monopoly on steel production in Iran along with two other major state-owned firms. Founded before Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution, the company for decades afterward had some production lines supplied by German, Italian and Japanese companies. Service has been continuous except during the catastrophic Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sent his army across the border. However, crushing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program have forced the company to reduce its dependence on foreign parts. The government considers steel a crucial sector. Iran is the leading producer of steel in the Middle East and among the top 10 in the world, according to the World Steel Association. Its iron ore mines provide raw materials for domestic production and are exported to dozens of countries, including Italy, China and the United Arab Emirates. Advertisement Irans crude steel production, however, was only 2.3 million tons last month, the WSA said. Its concurrent drop in exports has been largely attributed to sanctions-hit Russia flooding Irans Chinese buyers with discounted steel after losing access to Western markets amid the war on Ukraine. ___ Associated Press writers Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Gasoline consumption in the US probably peaked in the years before the pandemic. Its currently running about 5% below 2016-2019 levels, and with remote work seemingly here to stay, electric-vehicle market share rising rapidly and population growth awfully close to zero along with shorter-term pressures such as record-high gas prices and a possible recession its easier to envision more declines than a big rebound. Heres weekly gasoline consumption over the past decade, to give a better view of recent dynamics. With that context, the fact that refinery capacity in the US also appears to have peaked just before the pandemic does not seem particularly alarming. Three barrels of oil makes roughly two of gasoline, so current refinery capacity of 17.9 million barrels a day of oil equates to about 12 million barrels a day of gas, or three million more than current consumption. The US still has more crude oil distillation capacity than it did in 2007, when gasoline consumption was higher than it is now. Advertisement As the chart indicates, though, there have some been shifts in where that refinery capacity is located. East Coast refineries now have less than half the capacity that they did in 2007, while on the West Coast capacity is down 17%. Capacity increases along the Gulf Coast and in the Midwest (which on the petroleum-industry map includes Oklahoma) have more than made up for those declines, but much more of that refinery output goes to exports than did 15 years ago. Throw in the disruptions to oil and petroleum-product markets caused by Russias invasion of Ukraine, plus a few other things (my Bloomberg Opinion colleague Javier Blas has an excellent explanation here), and refinery capacity constraints have via increases in the charmingly named crack spread between crude oil and gasoline prices become the biggest driver of rising prices at the pump. With that I have pretty much exhausted my limited knowledge of the refining industry, and I dont have any brilliant ideas for quickly shrinking the crack spread. But I did think it might be helpful to point out that stuff like this happens in declining industries. That is, you might think that reduced demand for a product, and the prospect of more declines in the future, would put downward pressure on prices. And sure, over the long run it often does. Along the way, though, reduced incentives to invest in production capacity and other factors can lead to some interesting dynamics. Consider another product thats in the news this week: breakfast cereal. Sales had been falling steadily before the pandemic, and industry icon Kellogg Co. just announced that its spinning off its cereal business to focus on snack products with better growth potential. Measured over decades, cereal prices have been rising more slowly than those of consumer products in general just what youd expect given the weak demand. But a pandemic boom in cereal purchases has, along with supply-chain disruptions in an industry that hasnt had much incentive to invest in expanding capacity, led to sharp price increases. Advertisement The consequences havent been limited to higher prices. From December 2020 to March 2021 the nation had to do without Grape Nuts, after Post Holdings Inc. shut down the only facility that produces the gritty-yet-in-some-quarters-beloved cereal because so many workers were out with Covid-19. Fossil fuels are more fungible than breakfast cereals, so precisely that kind of debacle is unlikely. But fossil fuels are also a lot more important to the economy than breakfast cereals, so even temporary price increases really sting. Shutting down production capacity too fast or in the wrong places is one path to price hikes amid declining demand. Another is having to maintain distribution networks even as the amount of product flowing through them shrinks. In California, which is both especially dependent on natural gas for home heating and cooking and especially committed to getting gas users to switch over to electricity, current rules for setting gas rates will translate into much higher bills for those who are late to making the switch which will likely be lower-income households. Those rules can be changed, and as detailed in a recent Utility Dive story, California officials are already working on ways to manage the transition. The transition away from gasoline and diesel is clearly going to take a lot of managing, too. The rapid decline of coal-fired electricity generation over the past 15 years in the US has probably given a misleading impression of how easy it is to make such a switch. In coals case, most of the immediate burden was taken over by another fossil fuel, natural gas, that had suddenly become abundantly available thanks to the fracking boom. Given how unexpected that boom was, Im not going to say that something like it will never happen again. But it does seem unwise to count on it. Advertisement My point here isnt that we should stick with fossil fuels. Beyond the obvious need to slow and eventually halt global warming, there are lots of other reasons to look forward to the prospect of an economy fueled by abundant clean energy rather than finite dirty resources. But as we make the transition its important to remember that reducing our consumption of something doesnt equate to ending our dependence on it, and that declining demand doesnt always equate to declining prices. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: A Gas Tax Holiday Would Be Nothing to Celebrate: Karl W. Smith Driving More Slowly Wont Help Defeat Putin: Stephen L. Carter U.S. East Coast Diesel Supply Is Running on Fumes: Javier Blas This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Justin Fox is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering business. A former editorial director of Harvard Business Review, he has written for Time, Fortune and American Banker. He is author of The Myth of the Rational Market. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The implosion that become known as the Asian financial crisis had several chapters. Over the better part of two years in the late 1990s, the economies of Indonesia, Thailand and South Korea crumbled, while Malaysia suffered its deepest recession and rocked the world with capital controls. To appreciate the brew of forces driving this market collapse, one moment in Hong Kong during the early days of the rout is instructive. At the combined annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank in September 1997, a conflict raged over who was to blame for the nascent financial calamity, and what kind of economic model would emerge after it. The main protagonists were Mahathir Mohamad, at the zenith of his power as prime minister of Malaysia, and George Soros, the billionaire who made bold bets against the currencies of Thailand and Malaysia in the run-up to the crisis. A few years earlier, Soros had defeated the Bank of Englands efforts to prop up the pound. Mahathir, for his part, had presided over high growth rates for much of his 16 years in office that were now at risk of being undone. With Thailand already subject to the strictures of an IMF-led bailout and Indonesia hurtling down the path toward one, Mahathir feared Malaysia could be next. Soros was portrayed by Mahathir and other nationalists as representing global capital, in all its fickleness and drew scrutiny (and sometimes praise) for his ability to spot countries and assets that were starting to go awry. Mahathir became a proxy for an old state-directed way of doing business that often coupled turbocharged economic growth with political centralization. Eager to avoid blame for the coming hardship, Mahathir pointed his finger at outside forces seeking to undo Malaysias progress. In Soros, who was sharply critical of him, the Malaysian leader found his foil. IMF meetings are typically buttoned-up affairs, but over a weekend of drama, the two men had at it. Mahathir, who had called Soros a moron, accused financial titans of seeking to reverse decades of economic development that propelled tens of millions into the middle class. Soros branded Mahathir a menace to his country. Advertisement Despite their exchange at times resembling schoolyard taunts, the underlying questions were profound. Would Asia resume torrid rates of growth that had lifted hundreds of millions from poverty in the space of a generation? Could political frameworks built up over decades around strongman leaders survive the wrenching downturn? While Asian leaders embraced market liberalization in the late 1980s and early 1990s as a way to attract foreign direct investment and portfolio capital, the loss of control that came with it made them leery. Prior to the crisis, and into its initial phases, they sought to delay that reckoning. The Asian financial crisis began unfolding 25 years ago, on July 2, when Thailand abandoned efforts to shore up its currency, the baht. The capitulation prompted sharp declines in Asian foreign exchange markets, setting Bangkok, Jakarta and Seoul on a path to bailouts from the IMF. It also lit the fuse on political upheavals that were a long time in the making. In Indonesia, the tumult, alongside the harsh conditions sought by the IMF in a series of emergency loans that began in October 1997, hastened the end of the Suharto era, a three-decade run of impressive growth and repression. As long as the economic expansion rolled on, much could be swept under the carpet. It ended in May 1998 amid communal violence and the deaths of student demonstrators at the hands of police. Months later, a Korean opposition candidate won the presidency for the first time. Mahathir held on, but left a legacy of fragmentation in the Malay establishment that, ultimately, culminated in the ruling partys defeat in 2018. The regions democratic transition has since had setbacks, though all three countries are far more open than before the bust. This was also no local affair. The crisis migrated from Asia to Russia and then Latin America. Capital fled shaky emerging markets and piled into dollars. America was in the midst of a boom and the US propounded a strong dollar policy. The architects of this happy state of affairs, Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin, were at the IMF and World Bank gatherings in Hong Kong, but avoided theatrics, as did a young assistant secretary at Treasury by the name of Tim Geithner. US prosperity was not at risk from market tumult yet. Advertisement Geithner became a critical player in a financial drama that beset the US from 2007 to 2009, first as New York Fed president and then as Treasury secretary. Viewed from one perspective, the subprime bust was a sequel to the emerging market crackups a decade earlier. There was the same complacency and certitude about things that would not happen: The US housing market would never implode and the government would never be forced to bail out systemically important firms, or so the thinking went. The waves of upheaval werent dissimilar from the ones that rocked Asia a decade earlier. A year after Mahathirs provocative performance in Hong Kong, which included an exhortation that currency trading ought to be banned outright, the premier pegged the ringgit to the buck and imposed capital controls. He also vanquished Anwar Ibrahim, then finance minister, who was considered sympathetic to the IMF and Wall Street. Mahathir also blamed Jews, including Soros, for the economic slump, remarks aimed at bolstering support in the Malay-Muslim heartlands. It will always be a stain on his career. (Ironically, Soros was at one point supporting the ringgit, Malaysias currency.) So was this just a standard emerging market drama spiced by the odd revolution and verbal grenades from cantankerous leaders? On a global scale, it looks like the first great bust of the post-Cold War era. For Asia, it marked a dividing line: Growth recovered, but never really returned to the pre-1997 levels on a sustained basis. While power can change hands, monetary regimes are more orthodox. When long-held assumptions collapse, its rarely limited to matters of money. More From Bloomberg Opinion: Malaysias Polarized Place in a Trump-Brexit World: Daniel Moss Advertisement Malaysias Back-to-the-Future Economic Reform Wave: Justin Fox Can an Emerging Market Become a Policy Pioneer?: Daniel Moss This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Daniel Moss is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering Asian economies. Previously, he was executive editor of Bloomberg News for economics. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The most important work-related debate of our time is stuck on repeat. Many senior executives continue to believe that working from home is tantamount to pretending to work, with Elon Musk saying out loud what his more restrained colleagues say in private, while many remote-work enthusiasts continue to believe that they have an absolute right to work where they want to, the organization be damned. The result: a never-ending cycle of get-back-to-work memos, not-on-your-nelly responses and accumulating problems. Its time to recognize that a new world is here to stay: We are at an early stage of a revolution in the distribution of work, driven by the miniaturization of smart machines and the ubiquity of the internet, that is as fundamental as the one that occurred with the industrial revolution in the 19th century and the office revolution of the early 20th century. (Perhaps Musk will be remembered as the Ned Ludd of the flexibility revolution rather than the Henry Ford of the electric car.) Its also time to recognize that both sides in the debate have a claim to be heard. Workers are right to want to work wherever they can be most productive. Forcing someone to endure a morale-sapping (and sometimes dangerous) commute just to keep a row of office desks filled is counterproductive. But employers are also right to worry that flexible work brings new problems. We need to shift the focus of the debate from the ideological to the practical from the desirability of a change that is probably inevitable to the question of how to manage a distributed organization. Advertisement The new flexible model is still in its early days. Julia Hobsbawm, the author of The Nowhere Office, points out that the flexible work movement has not yet found its Patagonia, the sportswear company that epitomized the shift to a socially conscious capitalism. Hybrid working covers a multitude of forms, from traditional companies that want all employees to come in for three days a week (which normally means two days a week in the eyes of employees) to more experimental companies that are embracing remote first work. Lynda Gratton, the author of another new book on the subject, Redesigning Work, points out that we are still in series 2, episode 3 of a series that will run for decades. That said, some generic problems from the new flexible world are already becoming apparent, along with a set of passable solutions. The most obvious problem with flexible working is the multitude of demands it imposes on managers. Even before the flexible-work revolution, management was in danger of becoming an impossible profession, given the range of problems managers face from digitalization to hyper-entitled workers. Flexible work supersized all this. The simple job of organizing work is much more complicated: Right now, for instance, managers must deal with the traditional problem of summer schedules as well as the new one of scattered workers. Then there is the question of motivation: How do you encourage (or reprimand) people whom you see episodically rather than routinely? Some of these problems can be solved by technology that can monitor and organize workflows (though managers might not relish having more apps to deal with). Some can be solved by scheduling face-to-face time so that managers routinely meet their charges. Yet the flexibility revolution will clearly be hard on an already harried class and companies will need to recruit more middle managers as well as devolving more managerial responsibilities to frontline workers. A quid pro quo for flexibility may be having to take a more active role in managing the organization. Advertisement A second problem is the hollowing out of the corporation. Companies are more than just bundles of tasks that can be disaggregated and distributed to individual employees; they are living organizations that depend on their unique cultures for their competitive advantage. In the past, organizations left employees to absorb those cultures organically (with a little help, more recently, from on-boarding professionals). Now they need to do consciously what they previously did unconsciously. One popular solution is to immerse new employees in training camps led by company elders; another is to assign new employees with mentors who can help them both off-line and on. The third is the emergence of a two-tier workforce. The nature of the tiers may vary. In some cases, home workers may be seen as a corporate aristocracy who can stay at home while the proletariat has to struggle with the commute. This is particularly likely if senior knowledge workers stay at home while junior and technical people go to the office. In other cases, office workers may be seen as insiders, who are more likely to get promotion, and home workers who face proximity bias. Sandeep Mathrani, the CEO of the office-renting company WeWork Inc., mused that employers may see people who opt to stay at home as less committed to their job; more bluntly, Cathy Merrill, the CEO of Washingtonian magazine, suggested that its easier to lay off people you dont see regularly. Whatever the dynamic, a two-tier system inevitably generates resentment and disdain. One solution to the two-tier problem is to create the same rules for everyone usually a certain number of days in the office and a certain number at home. But this one-size-fits-all-solution risks negating the virtues of flexibility: If somebody needs to be in the office, there is no point in obliging them to work at home. A much better solution is sunlight: Accept that organizational variety is an inevitable consequence of flexible working and explain clearly that where you work is determined by the nature of your task (or in some cases personal circumstances) rather than your position in the hierarchy or your ability to pull strings. Advertisement A fourth problem is dealing with what might be called flexibility fatigue the array of emotional problems that are attaching themselves to our evolving way of working. There is the problem of overload. The other side of having your office at home is that your home is in your office, as Peter Cappelli, of the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School, puts it. Its harder to switch off when you dont have a boundary-defining commute and when you have a nagging worry that your boss might secretly agree with Musk about pretending to work. One of the few companies that has made a systematic study of how the world of work is changing, Microsoft Corp., found that one of the biggest problems was the way that work overflowed traditional boundaries, with a surge of work after dinner, presumably when children had settled down, and an increase in working at the weekend. Then there is Zoom fatigue, which is even more taxing than old-fashioned meeting fatigue. You find yourself anxiously watching your own face as you speak, or listening to a Zoom bore without any recourse to fidgeting, or fixating on somebodys flagrantly displayed nostril hairs. Julie Boland, of the University of Michigan, argues that Zoom promotes cognitive dissonance because it creates a weird mix of natural cues (face-to-face contact) and unnatural ones (rows of disembodied faces staring at you and strange time lags). Geraldine Fauville, of the University of Gothenburg, points out that videoconferencing messes with the brains sense of appropriate intimacy, because, thanks to evolutionary programming, a face that remains a few distances from your own for a prolonged period of time is perceived by the brain as a situation that would lead to mating or conflict. There are some short-term solutions to these problems. You can create symbolic barriers between home and work that perform the same function as the daily commute. You can switch off the function on Zoom that shows your own face. Managers need to keep Zoom meetings as short as possible half an hour should be a maximum and find gentle ways to discipline Zoom bores. But Julia Hobsbawm suggests that we need to go further and create new social rituals designed to deal with digital overload. A digital Shabbat is a good place to start. Advertisement The workers who are most vulnerable to alienation are remote first workers who, either through choice or domestic circumstances, seldom come into the office. Here, born remote companies can model good practice for more traditional companies. Zach Boyette and Irina Papuc founded Galactic Fed, a digital marketing company, in 2017 as an all-remote company partly because they wanted to spend much of their time traveling (Boyette says that he hasnt paid any rent since 2016), and partly because they didnt want to put physical limits on their ability to hire the best employees. The company now has a workforce of more than 150 people spread over 24 time zones. Galactic Fed strives to create a sense of community to make up for the lack of physical interaction. This starts with intensive screening several rounds of tests and interviews to make sure that recruits are self-starters. It then extends to a carefully planned on-boarding or perhaps on-bonding process that lasts several months and emphasizes building ties as much as technical skills. New recruits are allocated three or more friends to introduce them to the company. Online work meetings are balanced by online social meetings, such as show-and-tell sessions where employees are encouraged to talk about something that means a lot to them, or on-line competitions, such as competing to see who can do the most physical steps in a day. The company also has a proliferation of Slack channels devoted to purely social things such as pets, child-rearing, cooking and, a particular passion with the sort of people who they recruit, travel. Its not all fluffy kitten shows: Galactic also uses a mixture of soft and hard metrics to make sure that employees use their working time efficiently and to spread good business practice, as well as prizes and promotion to reward good work. Cynics warn that a hard rain is going to fall in the coming year, as recession grips, unemployment rises and workers lose their temporary bargaining power. The halcyon days of working from home will become a mere memory as employers release their inner Musk. This would be a mistake. Why? Because forcing workers, particularly elite workers, to adopt alien work rhythms is not a basis for sustained competitive advantage better times will come eventually and because far-sighted companies will use the coming years to devise a flexible work regime that improves job satisfaction while also enhancing productivity. Advertisement More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Goldman Sachs Now Has Wall Streets Best Vacation Policy: Sarah Green Carmichael Some Unsolicited Career Advice for Gen Z Graduates: Erin Lowry Are Career and Family Incompatible?: Virginia Postrel This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Adrian Wooldridge is the global business columnist for Bloomberg Opinion. A former writer at the Economist, he is author, most recently, of The Aristocracy of Talent: How Meritocracy Made the Modern World. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load As the leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations prepare to meet this week in Madrid, Im reminded of a call I received shortly after I became supreme allied commander at the alliance in 2009. It was from Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen, and with the directness for which he was famous, he said: Jim, I want you to work with Madeleine Albright on our new NATO Strategic Concept. We are on a short timeline, and it must be done right. Get in touch with her and give her all your support. I didnt know Albright, who had been US secretary of state from 1997 to 2001, well. But, like pretty much everyone who did, I was in awe of her energy, good humor and drive. We contacted her team and set up an introductory call, and for the next year I was privileged to be part of her team creating a long-term strategy for the alliance, the first of the 21st century. The result, Active Engagement, Modern Defense, was adopted at NATOs 2010 summit in Lisbon. I still treasure my small, blue, battered pocket copy, signed by Albright. I literally carried it with me throughout the four years I led the alliances military operations. Advertisement As you would expect, the strategic concept reflected the times: It was full of references to counterterrorism, Afghanistan, the Balkans, counterpiracy and the other missions of the day. There are brief mentions of climate change and cyberwarfare, and China does not appear. Perhaps the most ironic part of the 2010 strategy are the words: NATO poses no threat to Russia. On the contrary: we want to see a true strategic partnership between NATO and Russia. While it is certainly true that NATO does not pose a threat to Russia, then or now, unfortunately, Russia under President Vladimir Putin certainly poses a threat to the alliance. Wars against Ukraine in 2014 and 2022 are testament to his ambition to dominate the Western approaches to his nation. This week, for the first time since 2010, NATO will adopt and release a new strategic concept. Appropriately, this will occur again on the Iberian Peninsula, which juts into the broad ocean bridging the 30 members of the transatlantic alliance. What will the new strategic concept discuss, and what does its adoption portend for the venerable organization? Advertisement Russia will clearly be at the top of everyones mind. After invasions of democratic nations and NATO partners Georgia and Ukraine (and a soft invasion of Moldova), the alliance has adopted an appropriately hard line toward the Russian Federation. Look for strong words that will codify significant defense increases, exemplified by Germanys extraordinary near-doubling of its military budget for this year. Many more nations will hit the alliance goal of 2% of GDP devoted to defense. The strategic concept will also likely outline an increase in NATOs standing response forces. (Until now, NATO has limited itself to rotating forces in and out of its Eastern European members.) There will also likely be an underscoring of NATOs commitment to the Arctic. As global warming opens vast resources and shipping routes, the geopolitical tension between Russia on one side of the Arctic Porch and NATO on the other (the US, Canada, Denmark, Iceland and Norway) will increase. Surveillance, training and joint exercises will likewise be stepped up. And the likely addition of two Nordic nations, Finland and Sweden, adds to the importance of the high north and to the alliances strength in its waters. Advertisement Cyberwarfare will feature far more prominently than in the 2010 document. The number of devices connected to the internet of things has increased from around 7 billion in 2010 to well above 50 billion today. This represents both convenience (I can open my garage door from 2,000 miles away!) but also a vast threat area that can be penetrated by enemy nations and non-state actors. Recent experience blunting Russian cyberattacks on Ukraine will help inform NATOs new approach. Unlike in 2010, this long-term plan will describe China as a strategic competitor. NATO is not looking for conflict with Beijing, but must be capable of addressing concerns in cyberspace, human rights and territorial claims in the South China Sea including consideration of NATO undertaking freedom of navigation patrols. The updated document will also likely emphasize cooperation globally with non-NATO democracies including Australia, Japan and South Korea. Finally, the concept will emphasize that applications for expansion will be welcome, subject to the requirements for entry laid out in the NATO treaty. Finland and Sweden are at the front of the line, but Bosnia-Herzegovina and Georgia are still hoping for a path to membership, and so of course is Ukraine. Advertisement All these initiatives are sensible and necessary. It is worth remembering, however, how wrong our 2010 document was in the case of Russia. Dwight D. Eisenhower, NATOs first supreme allied commander, supposedly said that the plan is nothing, but planning is everything. He meant, correctly, that the alliance will get some things wrong and overlook others. We may be headed toward a more constructive relationship with China than expected. Or there may be unexpected but significant out-of-area challenges perhaps in sub-Saharan Africa, stemming from piracy or mass migration headed toward Europe. Who, back in 2000, would have predicted a NATO mission in Afghanistan with 150,000 troops? But the process of thinking through the potential challenges, crafting a document that lays out a broad course of action, and working together to implement it, will inherently make the alliance more prepared for whatever the next decade brings. Advertisement This 2022 strategic concept will emphasize the core strengths of NATO a shared belief in democracy, liberty, rule of law and the other values we cherish. I just wish Madeleine Albright was here to see it. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: NATO Must Bring Finland, Sweden and Turkey Together: James Stavridis NATO Should Think Twice Before Accepting Finland and Sweden: Emma Ashford Russia Is Right: The U.S. Is Waging a Proxy War in Ukraine: Hal Brands (Corrects number of devices connected to internet of things in 11th paragraph.) This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. James Stavridis is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. A retired U.S. Navy admiral, former supreme allied commander of NATO, and dean emeritus of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, he is vice chairman of global affairs at the Carlyle Group. He is the author most recently of To Risk It All: Nine Conflicts and the Crucible of Decision. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2022 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load A little over a year ago, Congress ordered the Drug Enforcement Administration to combat the deadly abuse of legal painkillers by tightening up an arcane tool used to regulate the nations opioid supply. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight As opioid deaths have mounted, the Aggregate Production Quota for oxycodone and hydrocodone has been seized upon by lawmakers, state officials and the drug companies as a possible solution to the crisis, a way for the federal government to stamp out illegal drug diversion to the black market. In bipartisan legislation co-sponsored by Sen. Richard J. Durbin (D-Ill.) and passed by Congress in October 2018, lawmakers required the agency to consider diversion in setting the quota, along with overdose deaths and public health, in the hope that it might, in Durbins words, rein in the pharmaceutical industrys insatiable demand for excessive opioid quota increases. Advertisement The congressional action has set off a wider debate about how the nation determines its painkiller supply and whether more could have been done to stop the opioid epidemic. If the DEA had simply cut the supply, critics argued, then the deaths would have dropped as well. The DEA quota system was created nearly five decades ago to ensure that drug manufacturers would have enough controlled substances each year for medical, scientific, research, industrial and export needs and the maintenance of reserve stocks. The idea is to prevent shortages but also to limit the amount to what is necessary. Current and former DEA officials say that using the quota to attack the epidemic would not work and could harm legitimate pain patients, citing practical difficulties in calculating a precise number that can be cut from the supply. Advertisement In a notice placed in the Federal Register on Sept. 12, the DEA said it tried to carry out the new process mandated by Congress and determined that it could cut only 57 kilograms of oxycodone out of a total supply of nearly 72,600 less than one-tenth of 1 percent. What Congress wants to do will be virtually impossible, said John W. Partridge, a retired 28-year DEA veteran who helped to supervise the Diversion Control Division, which oversees the quota section. It just infuriates me that you want to blame us for this. Its an easy out. The DEAs notice brought more criticism, including a blistering letter Oct. 17 from Durbin to the DEAs administrator. The pharmaceutical industry flooded every corner of the country with 76 billion oxycodone and hydrocodone pills between 2006 and 2012 outsized and unjustifiable numbers of painkillers shipped with DEA approval and awareness, Durbin wrote. The statute is clear that DEA must exercise its quota authority to serve as a gatekeeper and weigh the public health impact of how many opioids it allows to be sold each year in the United States. On Oct. 23, the DEA issued a notice of proposed rulemaking that sought comments on how to meet the requirements of the new law. On Monday, a multistate coalition responded with 16 specific ways the DEA can better account for diversion when setting quotas. Among the proposals was a suggestion to use six national databases to better track opioid abuse, along with state databases and information about unused opioids turned in to authorities. Advertisement The coalition acknowledges no data is perfect or all-inclusive, but its members contend there is still plenty of material that when reviewed from different angles can help the agency better account for diversion and thereby gain a more accurate picture of the nations medical, scientific and industrial need, states a news release accompanying the proposals, which were filed by West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey and co-signed by his counterparts from Arkansas, Florida, Kentucky, Missouri and Nebraska. In an interview with The Washington Post on Friday, Morrisey said: The quota system has been plagued by so many challenges and neglect for a period of decades. This was a colossal failure in the enforcement of our drug system for many, many years. The Government Accountability Office, the investigative arm of Congress, wrote in a 2016 report that the process of setting quotas is very complex, requiring staff to weigh data from at least five different sources that may have contradictory information. Advertisement Under the Controlled Substances Act and federal regulations, the DEA sets the production quota for each class of controlled substance, such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, that are prescribed for legitimate patients but also carry a high risk of abuse. Scientists working in the DEAs United Nations Reporting and Quota Section make their determinations by conducting an analysis of a multitude of factors. The DEA receives estimates from the Food and Drug Administration about what drug amount that agency believes should be manufactured based on legitimate medical needs. The DEA also analyzes requests from each drug manufacturer for its projected needs, product development, research and export, along with the amount of drugs still in its inventory. The primary factor is the number of prescriptions that were written by doctors and filled in the previous year, according to the DEA. Prescriptions drive the quota, said Ruth Carter, a 30-year veteran of the DEA who served as a senior official until retiring in June from the Diversion Control Division. She is now a consultant for lawyers suing the drug companies. Its totally wrong that we could have controlled the epidemic by the quota, Carter said. 'A balancing act' The DEA sets two main quotas. The Aggregate Production Quota is the total amount of each drug that the agency allows to be manufactured the whole pie, in the words of one DEA official. The Individual Manufacturing Quota represents each manufacturers piece of the pie. Advertisement In an interview last year published in the Pharmacy Times, Joseph T. Rannazzisi, who ran the DEAs diversion division for a decade at the height of the crisis, called the system a balancing act that is accomplished through a scientific and mathematical exercise conducted by DEA scientists. Rannazzisi signed off on quotas, along with the DEA administrator, between 2005 and 2015. Rannazzisi said that the assertion that lowering quotas could have curtailed the epidemic was based on misinformation, misunderstanding and a thirst for an immediate solution to a problem that has risen to epidemic proportions over a 20-year period. Rannazzisi said the only way to reduce quotas substantially is if prescriptions decrease. He said, for example, that a unilateral 20 percent cut could lead to shortages. You still have the same number of legitimate patients, overprescribed patients, and illegitimate patients accessing the drug from the same prescribers. If prescribing behavior does not change, the same number of individuals will be attempting to access the drug, but now there is 20% less drug to be shared. Rannazzisi, who is now a paid expert for plaintiffs suing the drug companies, declined to comment for this article because of the ongoing litigation. Kathleen J. Frydl, a historian and author of The Drug Wars in America: 1940-1973, said that the DEAs quota system is absolutely, fundamentally broken and has called for more openness. Advertisement It should not be the DEA by itself setting quotas, she told The Post. This should be an interagency process that is transparent. All of us, public health activists, drug policy reformers, any number of people, should be able to watch and view how this process is unfolding not just the very few people who know how this arcane process works. Former DEA officials acknowledged that the agency struggled to confront the opioid epidemic. They said the understaffed diversion division was overmatched by the need to track nearly 1.8 million medical professionals, manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies. They point to successes using tools other than the quota. Led by Rannizzisi, the DEA shut down illicit Internet pharmacies and pill mills in Florida, and over a decade brought two dozen civil enforcement cases against drug distributors and manufacturers accused of failing to stop suspicious orders, resulting in nearly $500 million in fines. Advertisement In the years following these actions, prescriptions for opioids began to drop, falling nearly 30 percent between January 2017 and August 2019 for the seven most frequently diverted opioids, according to the DEA. As the prescriptions dipped, quotas have been lowered, with oxycodones dropping 6 percent in 2018. In September, the DEA proposed more quota cuts in 2020 oxycodone by 9 percent and hydrocodone by 19 percent. 'Quotas Rule' Contradictory information about quotas has swirled around Capitol Hill for years. In 2011, then-DEA administrator Michele Leonhart testified before Congress that the quota serves the vital purpose of reducing the risk of diversion. A former official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk about internal deliberations said Leonhart was referring to only using thefts and seizures, not drug abuse and deaths, in setting the quota. Advertisement In 2015, around the peak of the epidemic, the GAO issued a report criticizing the DEAs quota system for creating possible drug shortages. In the last decade, shortages of drugs containing controlled substances, such as narcotics and stimulants, have increased nationwide, preventing providers and patients from accessing essential medications for treatment, the GAO said. In 2017, West Virginia, one of the states hit hardest by the epidemic, sued the DEA, challenging the agencys quotas. This lawsuit sought reform to the quota-setting process that would adjust sales figures to account for the rate at which opioids are diverted from legitimate medical uses, Morrisey wrote in his Oct. 23 filing. And as a result, the DEA undertook regulatory modifications designed to correct past practices. Under the new Quotas Rule, the DEA was required to account for diversion in the quota process. On a parallel path, Congress in 2018 passed the Support Act, a legislative package including a provision that directed the DEA to specifically estimate diversion and also consider mortality and abuse rates. In its notice in the Federal Register in September, the agency said it tried to estimate opioid diversion for the 2020 quota based on mortality and abuse rates, as required by the new law and could not do it. The agency said it received overdose and death data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state attorneys general and reviewed scholarly articles and other data sets. This information could not be used in setting the Aggregate Production Quotas, the notice said. The notice said that federal data on overdose deaths is not precise enough to allow the DEA to target specific drugs for quota reductions. For example, patients that overdose from hydrocodone, oxycodone, or hydromorphone are grouped together under opioid-related overdose, the notice said. DEA is unable to determine the basic class that led to the overdose from this information. Additionally, DEA cannot determine from the data if the patient overdosed on an illicit opioid or an FDA-approved opioid product. Partridge also said there is no national database that collects reports of fraudulent prescriptions and other indications that drugs are being diverted to the black market, aside from the theft reports and seizures of illegal drugs. I dont know how we can measure diversion and how you can reduce the quota of drugs for legitimate medical use based on diversion, Partridge said. In his October letter to Acting DEA Administrator Uttam Dhillon, Durbin said he was discouraged by the DEAs Sept. 12 notice that it estimated diversion based on reported theft loss and seizures, not data on drug sales, overdoses, or deaths. While I appreciate the challenges in directly linking patient overdoses to a specific controlled substance, it defies logic that DEA would simply ignore or discard this information, Durbin wrote. The IG weighs in On Oct. 1, the inspector general of the Justice Department released a report that poured gasoline on the issue. The report concluded that the DEA was slow to respond to the opioid epidemic and approved significant increases to the oxycodone manufacturing quota even as overdose deaths were rising. The report generated headlines across the country and was embraced by the drug industry, which was being accused in a landmark lawsuit in Cleveland of causing the epidemic. Todays report by the Inspector General highlights many concerns that distributors have consistently raised around the DEAs oversight of the opioid epidemic, and, notably, the fact that previous DEA leadership consistently raised production quotas for opioids, the Healthcare Distribution Alliance, which represents drug distributors, said in a statement. The IG report said there was a 400 percent rise in the oxycodone quota from 2002 to 2013 as deaths were rising. But the IGs report included in its calculation a 25 percent emergency reserve of oxycodone that was never put into production and was added in 2013 to protect against possible shortages in the event of war, natural disaster or terrorist attack. The IG also made a mathematical error. The percentage increase from 34,482 to 153,750 kilograms is 346, not 400. After being alerted to this by The Post recently, the IG office revised the report by adding an asterisk directing readers to a footnote: Stated otherwise, this represents an increase in the APQ of 346 percent from 2002 to 2013. Eliminate the 25 percent reserve and the overall quota rise drops to 257 percent. The IG credits DEA acting administrator Chuck Rosenberg with lowering the quota for oxycodone by making a significant reduction in 2017. But what Rosenberg actually did was to remove the 25 percent emergency reserve, according to the current and former agency officials. A spokeswoman for the IG said the office obtained its data from the DEA, which reviewed the report prior to publication to confirm its accuracy. DEA officials say that the agency has not had data that is either precise or reliable enough from the states or federal agencies to allow the agency to adjust the quota to reflect opioid abuse and overdose deaths. We are going to continue to ask, a senior DEA official said. We are hopeful that more and more folks will give us this data. We will continue to look and evaluate, but we can only do with what we have. And it all has to be legally defensible. Morrisey praised the DEA for taking steps to try to better use the quota as a tool to combat opioids. We are finally starting to see some real shifts, Morrisey said. But everything is not going to get fixed overnight. Steven Rich, Lenny Bernstein, Meryl Kornfield and Alice Crites contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load Newly disclosed federal drug data shows that more than 100 billion doses of oxycodone and hydrocodone were shipped nationwide from 2006 through 2014 24 billion more doses of the highly addictive pain pills than previously known to the public. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The data, which traces the path of every pain pill shipped in the United States, shows the extent to which opioids flooded the country as deaths from the epidemic continued to climb over nine years. The Washington Post and the company that owns the Charleston Gazette-Mail in West Virginia first obtained the data, collected by the Drug Enforcement Administration, from 2006 through 2012 after waging a year-long legal fight. In July, The Post reported that the data revealed that the nations drug companies had manufactured and distributed more than 76 billion pain pills. Advertisement The two additional years of information 2013 and 2014 was recently posted by a data analytics company working on behalf of the plaintiffs lawyers in a massive lawsuit against the opioid industry. In excess of 100 billion pills is simply jaw-dropping, said Peter J. Mougey, a lawyer for the plaintiffs from Pensacola, Fla. The data demonstrates that every community in the country has been negatively impacted. The newly released data, which traces the path of pills from manufacturers and distributors to pharmacies across the country, confirms again that six companies distributed the vast majority of the pain pills. McKesson Corp., Cardinal Health, Walgreens, AmerisourceBergen, CVS and Walmart accounted for 76 percent of the oxycodone and hydrocodone pills that were shipped between 2006 and 2014, according to an analysis by The Post. The new data will be added to the database of pills previously published by the The Post. Advertisement Three manufacturers still accounted for 85 percent of the pills: SpecGx, a subsidiary of Mallinckrodt; Actavis Pharma; and Par Pharmaceutical, a subsidiary of Endo Pharmaceuticals. The volume of pills distributed skyrocketed as the epidemic claimed more lives. From 2006 through 2014, more than 130,000 Americans died from prescription opioids. The number of pills shipped went from 8.4 billion in 2006 to 12.8 billion in 2011. Pill distribution started to decline slightly in 2012, and the additional data shows that, by 2014, the number of pills distributed was 11.8 billion. The decline in pills distributed coincides with a series of aggressive regulatory enforcement actions the DEA took against some of the biggest names in the drug industry, including CVS, Walgreens, McKesson and Cardinal. The DEA accused the companies of failing to report suspicious orders of pain pills to the federal government and shipping the pills even after the companies had been warned by the DEA and some of them had been fined, according to agency records. Advertisement The new data further confirms the states that were flooded with the most opioids per person: West Virginia with 66.8 pills per person per year, Kentucky with 63.6, South Carolina with 60.9 and Tennessee with 59. West Virginia also had the highest prescription opioid death rate during the nine-year period. The DEA data is drawn from a database known as ARCOS, or the Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System. It reveals what each company reported to the DEA about the pills it distributed day by day, town by town. It is at the center of a sprawling lawsuit pending in federal court in Cleveland, where nearly 2,500 towns, cities, counties and tribal nations have sued two dozen drug manufacturers, distributors and pharmacies for allegedly fueling the worst drug epidemic in U.S. history. Advertisement In October, several companies reached a $260 million settlement with two Ohio counties. The remaining lawsuits are pending. The companies have blamed the opioid epidemic on overprescribing by doctors, and on customers who abused the drugs. The companies also have said they were working to supply the needs of patients with legitimate prescriptions desperate for pain relief. U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster, who is overseeing that case, allowed the plaintiffs and defendants to see the DEA data from 2006 through 2014 under a protective order, shielding it along with tens of thousands of court records from the public view. The Post and the Gazette-Mail sued to gain access to the material and won the court fight in June. Following the lawsuit by the news organizations, Polster released the DEA data through 2012, but he withheld the data from 2013 and 2014. The drug companies had argued that the release of that data could damage their competitive advantage, and the Justice Department warned that the newer data could compromise ongoing investigations. On Tuesday, a special master appointed to help manage the litigation issued an order making the 2013 and 2014 data public. Lawyers for the municipalities have accused drug manufacturers, wholesalers and pharmacies of fanning the opioid epidemic by producing, distributing and dispensing tens of billions of pain pills. The companies have paid more than $1 billion in fines to the Justice Department and Food and Drug Administration over opioid-related claims, and hundreds of millions more to settle state lawsuits. Advertisement Settlements with the Justice Department were frequently accompanied by agreements that kept details of the cases hidden from the public. Taken together, the data and the documents provide the public with an unprecedented road map to the opioid epidemic. Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that a data analytics firm that posted opioid distribution information on its website was managed by lawyers for the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the drug industry. The firm is working on behalf of the plaintiffs lawyers, providing them with consulting services and expert witness testimony. Aaron Williams, Andrew Ba Tran and Jenn Abelson contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load 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. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The police department has hired a group of eight students and recent graduates of Coppin State and Morgan State universities for the pilot program., attended a news conference Tuesday at Coppin State. The internship, 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. Advertisement 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 changes 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. Advertisement Harrison hopes the internship program will help address that issue, while showcasing recent steps toward reform. 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. Advertisement 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 changes 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 changes. Advertisement 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 Police Executive 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. Advertisement 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 University 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 University President Anthony Jenkins gave a shout-out 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, he said. Be the answer. Be the solution. Be the change agent. Be the difference-maker. Be bold in all that you do, Jenkins told the interns. Our city needs it. Our state is dependent on it. You are the future. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load MADRID U.S. first lady Jill Biden has some company on a trip to Spain: two of her granddaughters. Biden opened the visit to Madrid on Monday by meeting with Queen Letizia at the Palacio de la Zarzuela. They later toured the headquarters of the Spanish Association Against Cancer. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The first lady is an advocate for research into a cancer cure. She lost her adult son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015. Several of her girlfriends also succumbed to breast cancer. She arrived in Madrid on Sunday, before President Joe Biden, who is set to arrive Tuesday to attend the annual NATO summit. I brought my two granddaughters, the first lady told Letizia as they chatted at the palace. We stayed up and, you know, had a glass of wine. Her adult granddaughters Maisy and Finnegan Finnegan was already in Spain when the first lady arrived did not join her palace visit. They were at the U.S. Embassy visiting with Ambassador Julissa Reynoso, formerly the first ladys chief of staff, Biden said. Advertisement The first lady also paid a courtesy call on Begona Gomez, the wife of President Pedro Sanchez. On Tuesday, Jill Biden and Letizia will visit a greeting center in Madrid for Ukrainian refugees taken in by Spain and meet with Ukrainian families in Madrid. She and the president will attend a NATO dinner on Tuesday. On Wednesday, the first lady will participate in the agenda for spouses of the NATO country leaders, including visits to Madrids Prado and Reina Sofia museums, before she flies back to Washington. President Biden will depart for Washington on Thursday after the NATO summit ends. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load PHNOM PENH, Cambodia Myanmars defense minister, under sanctions from the United States, Britain and other countries for abuses committed by his countrys military, was welcomed Wednesday to an annual meeting with his counterparts in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Gen. Mya Tun Oo wore his military uniform as he attended the ASEAN defense ministers meeting in Cambodias capital, Phnom Penh. More than 600 civic groups inside and outside Myanmar had issued an appeal to the ministers not to invite him. They accuse him of complicity in violence committed by Myanmars military as it seeks to crush opposition to its seizure of power last year from the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a private organization that tracks government killings and arrests, said Friday that 2,000 civilians have been killed by Myanmars security forces. The army is also battling anti-government guerrillas in the countryside. Advertisement Mya Tun Oo has also been accused of involvement in atrocities carried out by the army against the Muslim Rohingya minority in 2017, when he was chief of the militarys general staff, the third most powerful post in the army. International courts are investigating allegations that the military committed genocide in brutal counterinsurgency campaigns that sent more than 700,000 Rohingya fleeing to neighboring Bangladesh for safety. The Myanmar military juntas acts fully meet the definition of terror under international and national law, and is responsible for ongoing violations of international human rights and humanitarian law following the militarys illegal coup attempt, said the appeal issued by 677 civic groups to the ASEAN defense ministers. General Mya Tun Oo plays a leading role in the management of the military, which is responsible for committing ongoing atrocity crimes with total impunity, it said. Mya Tun Oos direct responsibility for international law violations has been recognized by the USA, UK, EU, Canada and New Zealand, which sanctioned him. Advertisement Wai Hnin Pwint Thon, from the group Burma Campaign UK, told The Associated Press that ASEAN was failing to respect and stand with the people of Myanmar by inviting Mya Tun Oo to its meeting. The military will see this invitation as a sign of encouragement to continue carrying out their human rights violations in the country with complete impunity, she said. Cambodia is chair of the 10-nation ASEAN this year. In February, ASEAN foreign ministers held their annual retreat without their counterpart from Myanmar, who was prevented from participating but allowed to attend online as an observer. In January, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen became the first head of government to visit Myanmar since the army seized power. He has stressed that Myanmar must be included in ASEANs activities, but has also expressed pessimism that any progress toward peace can be made this year. Advertisement ASEAN has sought to play a mediating role in Myanmars crisis, fearing its increasingly violent unrest may cause problems regionally. In April last year it reached a consensus on a five-point plan to try to help restore stability, but Myanmar has hindered the agreements implementation. Relations were strained further when Myanmar would not allow an ASEAN special envoy to meet with Suu Kyi, who has been detained since the takeover. ASEAN, under the guidance of its former chair, Brunei, took the unprecedented step of not allowing the leader of Myanmars military government, Min Aung Hlaing, to attend its annual summit last October. A joint declaration issued after Wednesdays defense ministers meeting included a statement of support for the five-point consensus, which calls for an immediate cessation of violence, a dialogue among concerned parties, mediation by an ASEAN special envoy, provision of humanitarian aid and a visit to Myanmar by the special envoy to meet all concerned parties. Advertisement Malaysias defense ministry called the meeting useful, but said in a statement that the attendance of its defense minister, Hishammuddin Hussein, does not mean Malaysia recognizes Myanmars ruling military council as the countrys valid government. It said it has always stressed that Myanmars military government must immediately implement ASEANs five-point consensus. Malaysia is the ASEAN member most critical of Myanmars ruling generals. In May, its foreign minister, Saifuddin Abdullah, met with his counterpart in the National Unity Government, a group set up by previously elected Myanmar politicians that operates as an underground shadow administration. The military has declared it an illegal terrorist organization. - Associated Press writer Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, contributed to this report. GiftOutline Gift Article Placeholder while article actions load The attacker, reportedly a resident of the shelter, is said to have knocked on the doors of the rooms of the building in Kressbronn, on Lake Constance, on Sunday evening. When residents opened, he stabbed them, dpa reported. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. BERLIN A knife-wielding attacker stabbed several people in a shelter for asylum-seekers in southern Germany, killing one man and wounding at least five people, German news agency dpa reported Monday. One man died of his injuries right away, one seriously injured man was flown to a hospital, and four other injured people were taken to the hospital by ambulance. It was not immediately clear whether other people were also wounded. Placeholder while article actions load ISLAMABAD Pakistan sentenced one of the militants linked to the 2008 terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India to 15 years in prison for terror financing unrelated to the assaults, according to court documents viewed by The Associated Press on Monday. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russia's war in Ukraine. ArrowRight Sajid Majeed Mir, 43, was arrested in 2020 and sentenced in May, according to the documents, but his detention and sentencing were never disclosed by Pakistan. He was sought by the FBI in connection with the 2008 attacks on Indias financial hub that killed 166 people, including six Americans. Under its Rewards for Justice program, the United States offered up to $5 million for information on Mirs alleged involvement in the attacks in neighboring India. The court documents provided no details on Mirs involvement in terror financing. In November 2008, a group of 10 young attackers who allegedly sailed from Karachi hijacked an Indian fishing boat, killed its captain and took a rubber dinghy into Mumbai. They then systematically attacked high-end hotels, a train station, a hospital and a Jewish community center over the course of three chaotic days. The 10 were members of Lashkar-e-Taiba, a Pakistan-based militant group, and Indian investigators later said their actions were directed by phone by handlers in Pakistan. Nine of the attackers were killed by Indian forces. Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor, was arrested, tried and later hanged by Indian authorities. Advertisement Mir was designated a terrorist by the U.S. and was indicted in 2011. He was on the FBIs Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Mirs whereabouts were not publicly known until the Pakistani newspaper The Dawn reported over the weekend that he had been quietly arrested in Gujranwala, a city in Punjab province. It said Mirs sentencing appeared to be part of efforts made by Pakistan to get off the gray list of the Financial Action Task Force. The Paris-based group added Pakistan to the list in 2018. The gray list is composed of countries with a high risk of money laundering and terrorism financing but which have formally committed to working with the task force to make changes. According to the Pakistani court documents seen by the AP, Mir was a member of a charity set up by Hafiz Saeed, who had also been designated a terrorist by the U.S. Justice Department and had a $10 million bounty on his head. Advertisement Saeed is the founder of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba, of which Mir was believed to be a member. The group was active for years in the Himalayan region of Kashmir, which is split between Pakistan and India but claimed by both in its entirety. In April, Saeed was sentenced to 31 years in prison for terror financing but he was never charged in connection with the Mumbai attacks. Mir was sentenced to 15 years on May 16 by a court in Gujranwala, according to the documents provided to the AP by an official with the Punjab counterterrorism department. The official asked that he not be identified because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The official said Mir planned to appeal the sentencing. There was no immediate comment from India about Mirs sentencing in Pakistan. Relations between Pakistan and India were strained after the attack on Indias financial hub. The rival South Asian powers have fought three wars since gaining independence from Britain in 1947, two of them over Kashmir. ___ Associated Press writer Ashok Sharma contributed to this story from New Delhi, India. GiftOutline Gift Article Welcome to your five-minute recap of the trading day and how the experts saw it. The numbers: The Australian sharemarket is up 1.94 per cent, the ASX 200s best day since January 28 this year. The ASX 200 climbed 127.3 points to 6706, the third consecutive session that saw a rise. Its the indexs first hat-trick in about six weeks. All sectors were in the green. Strong results from the big four banks drove a 2.66 per cent gain in financials; Commonwealth Bank was up 3.87 per cent, ANZ 3.01 per cent, Westpac 2.41 per cent and NAB 3.4 per cent. Energy closed with a 2.5 per cent gain and, following a strong showing last week, the tech sector jumped 2.63 per cent, furthering Fridays 6 per cent spike. The lifters: Imugene 45.45%, Pointsbet 12.45%, Core Lithium 12.02% The laggards: Evolution Mining -21.89%, Northern Star -12.14%, Ramelius Resources -5.91% The lowdown: The Australian market followed a rally on Wall Street led by banks and technology that saw the S&P rise by 3.1 per cent, its best session since May 2020. The broad gains across the market followed the bloodbath sell-off earlier in June, although analysts warn the recovery could be a short-lived rally leading up to the end of the financial year. Read more here. Tackling sexual harassment and bullying in the legal profession ranks as a higher priority for regulators in Australasia and the Pacific than the rest of the world, a report has found, after an earlier study revealed higher rates of reported misconduct in Australia than the global average. Research by the International Bar Association (IBA) and legal market research firm Acritas, released on Monday, collated the results of a global survey of almost 70 bodies regulating lawyers, including 10 regulators in Australasia and the Pacific. Law societies and bar associations were among those surveyed. Regulators in Australasia and the Pacific say cracking down on sexual harassment and bullying is a top priority. Credit:Jessica Shapiro Most regulators identified a crackdown on sexual harassment as a high priority, but regulators in Australasia and the Pacific led the charge. On a scale of one to 10 with 10 being the highest priority regulators in the region reported a median ranking of eight for tackling harassment, compared with seven in North America and Europe. Bullying was given the same priority ranking in the region, dropping to seven in Europe and five in North America. Victorian Legal Services Commissioner Fiona McLeay said in a foreword to the IBA report: Workplace sexual harassment and bullying have been against the law for some time now ... Yet lawyers who would not otherwise break laws (eg, by stealing their clients funds) nonetheless continue to harass or bully their colleagues. Regulators were rightly concerned, she said. Albanese, who is travelling to Europe ahead of a NATO summit, told reporters on Sunday the independents staff allocations were being wound back for fairness and equity and crossbenchers should not have more advisers than his backbenchers. He said the government had also cut $1.5 million from its own staffing budget, but did not specify whether this would result in fewer advisers. Sacrifices have been made across the board, Albanese said. Between 2007 and 2015 under prime ministers Kevin Rudd, Julia Gillard and Tony Abbott, federal crossbench senators were allocated two advisers. Independent lower house MPs had just one adviser from 2007 to 2010 under Rudd and Gillard. Gillard increased their allocation to three in 2011, then Abbott reduced it to one in 2014. In 2016, Malcolm Turnbull gave independents in both houses three advisers and in 2020 Scott Morrison raised it to four, along with the usual electorate office staff. Under Albaneses new staffing proposal, the crossbench members will all retain four lower-paid and less specialised electorate advisers, who deal with constituency matters, rather than legislation, media and stakeholders, meaning they will still have one more staff member than a government backbencher. Loading Treasurer Jim Chalmers said this was a common sense approach intended to correct the situation where crossbench MPs had twice as many staff as a backbench MP in the electorate next door. I dont think [thats] reasonable or fair, Chalmers told ABC Insiders on Sunday morning. Education Minister Jason Clare said independent and minor party MPs should get on with the job and make use of the Parliamentary Library, which Albanese was granting extra resources. I think most Australians would say: Well, youve been elected, now knuckle down and do the job, Clare told Sky News. But Patrick said it was quite unreasonable to compare the staffing needs of independent MPs with government backbenchers, who did not ordinarily draft private members bills or receive telephone calls from journalists asking for their position on legislation. Independents do a lot more than backbenchers, who simply follow the party in terms of voting and are gagged from talking to the media, he said. Patrick rejected the governments claim that the Parliamentary Library would be able to compensate for the lost advisers as a ridiculous suggestion given the service was only reachable during business hours and did not provide real-time advice on media, legislative or procedural issues. Two key federal Senate crossbenchers, David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie, have threatened to vote against the governments legislation in response to the cuts. Albanese said public threats by crossbenchers to veto legislation have not been echoed by the ones that Ive spoken to and his conversations with independents would continue to be constructive and courteous. Independents in the NSW parliament operate with three electorate staff and one parliamentary staffer. Independent Sydney MP Alex Greenwich said while staffing at a state level was appropriate, federal electorates are three times the size and their staffing should reflect it. In Victoria, where independents hold the balance of power in the states upper house, crossbenchers are allocated 2.5 electoral office staff and parliamentary advisers are allocated depending on how many members the party has. State upper house independent Rod Barton, who only has one parliamentary adviser, said it was extremely challenging to deliver for constituents without an extra adviser and his federal counterparts were rightly angry. It will be extremely difficult for crossbenchers to get across multiple and complex pieces of legislation in the timeframes required, he said. Loading A spokesperson for Derryn Hinchs Justice Party said independent and minor party MPs should have adequate staff to allow our laws to be adequately scrutinised. Parliamentary advisers do work that electorate officers often cannot, the spokesman said. Cape Town: South African police are investigating the deaths of at least 21 people at a nightclub in the coastal town of East London and authorities said most of the victims were minors as young as 13 years old. It is unclear what led to the deaths of the young people, who were reportedly attending a party to celebrate the end of winter school exams. A body is removed from a nightclub in East London, South Africa. Credit:AP Local newspaper Daily Dispatch reported that bodies were found strewn across tables and chairs without any visible signs of injuries. Urgent autopsies including toxicology tests will seek to establish a cause of death. Schloss Elamau, Germany: Group of Seven (G7) leaders have pledged to raise $US600 billion ($846 billion) to finance infrastructure in developing countries and counter Chinas multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road project, as the US prepared to announce the supply of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv. At the start of the meeting in the Bavarian Alps, four of the Group of Seven rich nations moved to ban imports of Russian gold to tighten the sanctions squeeze on Moscow and cut off its means of financing the invasion of Ukraine. The G7 are also set to commit themselves to supporting Ukraine in the long haul, as leaders confer by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky from the annual gathering. US President Joe Biden speaks at the G7 summit in Bavaria on Sunday as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is looks on. Credit:AP President Joe Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G7 would splinter, but we havent and were not going to. Britains Boris Johnson warned the leaders not to give in to fatigue. Biden is set to announce that the US is providing an advanced surface-to-air missile system to Ukraine, as well as additional artillery support, according to a person familiar with the matter, in the latest assistance meant to help the country defend against Russias bloody invasion. Kyiv: Russia shattered weeks of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital with long-range missiles fired toward Kyiv, an apparent Kremlin show-of-force as Western leaders meet in Europe to strengthen their military and economic support of Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the missiles hit at least two residential buildings on Sunday local time, killing one person and injuring six others, including a seven-year-old girl and her mother. The strikes also damaged a nearby kindergarten, where a crater pocked the courtyard. US President Joe Biden called the attacks barbarism as he arrived in Germany for a Group of Seven summit. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said the missiles the first air-launched weapons to successfully target the capital since June 5 were fired from warplanes over the Caspian Sea, more than 1,500 kilometres away. Minneapolis: A former Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot Australian Justine Damond after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home in the US has been released from prison on parole, months after his murder conviction was overturned and he was re-sentenced on a lesser charge. Mohamed Noor, 36, was freed 18 days shy of the fifth anniversary of the July 15, 2017, fatal shooting of Damond. The dual US-Australian citizen and yoga teacher was 40 and engaged to be married when she was shot dead. Justine Damond, left, was killed by Minneapolis police officer Mohamed Noor, centre. Credit:AP Noor was initially convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter, but last year the Minnesota Supreme Court tossed out his conviction and 12-year sentence, saying that charge didnt apply to the case. He was re-sentenced to four years and nine months on the manslaughter charge. Corrections Department spokesman Nicholas Kimball confirmed that Noor was released on Monday (Tuesday AEST) but couldnt confirm where he would be living, adding that released offenders were generally supervised by the county where they live. He said Noor was held in North Dakota for most of his sentence and had no disciplinary issues in prison. But when Bush joined Ronald Reagan on the ticket in 1980, he adopted Reagans more restrictive position. The right remained suspicious of Bush, though, and hoping to bring it around for his re-election, he appointed the ultraconservative Thomas. He also wanted to appeal to Black voters, still angry at the Willie Horton ugliness that had helped propel him to the White House. Womens rights had to take a back seat to re-election. The Justices of the US Supreme Court, including Justice Clarence Thomas, seated second from left. Credit:AP Three months later, Anita Hill told her story to Congress about her boss, Thomas, tormenting her with unwanted attention and dirty talk about the pornographic films he liked to watch. Joe Biden was the chair of those Senate hearings. He let Hill be viciously ripped apart by Republicans and then abruptly ended the hearings, cancelling the appearance of her two corroborating witnesses. Many senators on the committee composed entirely of white men privately thought it was an office romance gone wrong. Poor guy, they said among themselves, no point in letting his life be ruined by someone they thought, with absolutely no evidence, was a vengeful ex. Hill was smeared as a perjuring erotomaniac, and Biden, wasting a Democratic Senate majority, allowed a liar, a pervert and a sexual harasser to be elevated to a lifetime seat on the court. Womens rights had to take a back seat to Bidens desire to foster bipartisanship with his conservative colleagues. And with Thomas, those conservatives got the justice of their dreams, the first in a line of right-wing radicals. Loading When Donald Trump came along, trailing a history of lurid sexual transgressions, the family-values Republicans and religious right didnt care. They knew he was the one who could bring them to Valhalla on the Supreme Court. Mitch McConnell and his Federalist Society minions used Trump as the host body. After wrecking the rules to keep Merrick Garland off the court, McConnell jammed through Amy Coney Barrett. Trump, who had once been a pro-choice, Nancy-and-Hillary-and-Chuck loving Democrat, was happy to flip to gain the fervour of an anti-abortion base. Womens rights had to take a back seat to Trumps ego and ambition and McConnells desire for a conservative court that would pull back the reach of the government, denying protections to Americans who need or value them. They pushed through three conservative justices one had to defend himself against sexual assault charges and one was in a weird Handmaids Tale-style sect and that was checkmate for Roe. Neil Gorsuch and another Trump appointee, Brett Kavanaugh, are now facing accusations from senators that they dissembled to get on the court and played down their intentions to throw out Roe. I am a dont-rock-the-boat kind of judge, Kavanaugh told Susan Collins, according to The New York Times Carl Hulse. Loading Thomas concurring opinion to the fanatical Samuel Alitos majority opinion overturning Roe v. Wade chillingly warned that he would apply the same rationale to contraception, same-sex marriage and same-sex consensual relations. Back when Thomas nomination ran into resistance, the Bush administration sold him as a sterling example of a Black man who had pulled himself up from rough beginnings. That day in Kennebunkport, Thomas talked about being raised by his grandparents, sharecroppers from rural Georgia. But on the court he has been cruel, pushing opinions that would grind down the poor and underprivileged. While his wife ran around helping Trump with his coup, Thomas was the senior firebrand in a coup of extremists on the court. They yanked power away from John Roberts and are defying the majority will in this country in ways that are terrifying. Loading On Thursday, in the middle of an epidemic of mass shootings, with Congress finally getting a mild victory on gun control, Thomas opened the door to more guns on the street. He wrote the majority opinion overturning a New York law limiting the right to carry a handgun in public, throwing out a requirement more than a century old. In another ruling this past week, the justices chipped away at the First Amendments separation between church and state, a foundation of the Republic. And next, they will get around to removing environmental protections and gutting the governments ability to regulate and restrict business rights. The court is out of control. We feel powerless to do anything about it. Clarence Thomas, of all people, has helped lead us to where we are, with unaccountable extremists dictating how we live. And that is revolting. Festivals Hindu Festivals Makara Sankranti Makara Sankranti Place: Most of India Significance: Celebration of spring. Date: 14.1.2022 Makara Sankranti is celebrated in the month of Magh and is a harvest festival. It is a celebration of spring on the occasion of the 'ascent' of the sun to the north (Uttarayana). In Maharashtra , Karnataka as well as parts of Andhra, Makara Sankranti is a day of good will and friendship. People exchange pieces of sugar-cane, molasses, pieces of dry coconut, peanuts and fried gram as a symbol of the need to be generous and kind to everyone. Cows and bulls are washed, their horns painted in bright colours and garlands hung round their necks after which they are taken out in a procession to the accompaniment of pipes and drums. A bonfire is lit at night over which the animals are made to jump. In the north, during makara sankranti it is considered particularly auspicious to bathe at the confluence of the rivers Ganga and Jamuna in Allahabad, known as Prayag and also in Ganga Sagar where the Ganga river confluences with the Bay of Bengal. The festival starts with bathing in the ponds or rivers and offering water to the Sun God (Surya) and giving alms to the poor. Bhojya daan (charity of raw food) to the Brahmin is customary on this day. The Bhojya daan consists of an uncooked mixture of rice, dal (lentil) ghee - melted butter, cooking oil, salt and Til (sesame seeds) ke Laddoo - a sweet preparation. The Bhojya is first dedicated to Lord Vishnu and Surya and then is offered to the poor. Such deeds earn special and lasting merit and assure one a place in heaven, so goes the belief. Women wear new clothes, new glass bangles and hold get-togethers to share sweets and gifts. A new bride is given ornaments made of sugar drops and her new relatives are invited to meet and welcome her at a Haldi (Turmeric) - Kumkum (Red Vermillion Powder) celebration. If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here. PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS Air Products and Chemicals Inc.'s chosen warehouse developer, Prologis Inc., will have to wait until July 13 for a final decision by Upper Macungie Township's zoning hearing board on 2.61 million square feet of warehouses. Chubby's of Southside Easton has added Krispy Krunchy Chicken to its offerings and name. Curaleaf Holdings Inc., which operates in the U.S. and Europe, will open a medical-marijuana dispensary at 1801 Airport Road, Hanover Township. Habitat for Humanity, which has "ReStores" that sell new and lightly used furniture, has leased 30,000 square feet at the South Mall. Nat Hyman's bid to convert an old warehouse at 938 Washington St. in Allentown into 48 apartments did not win zoning hearing board approval this week after neighbors said more housing would make an on-street parking shortage worse. Members 1st Federal Credit Union opened a new branch this week at 5605 Hamilton Blvd, Trexlertown. It's one of five planned for the Lehigh Valley. A Turkish restaurant has relocated from one downtown to another, taking its fresh ingredients and cozy atmosphere from Nazareth to 200 Main St., Tatamy. The Tennessee Titans have chosen Allentown-based Shift4 Payments to handle payments at Nissan Stadium. Wells Fargo Bank held ribbon-cutting at its downtown Allentown branch at 740 Hamilton St. The Wiz Kidz outlet at the Madison Farms residential/retail development in Bethlehem Township will hold a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting at noon on July 15. Bad Biscuit Company, which offered breakfast with scratch-made biscuits, freshly baked pastry and local, small-batch artisan coffee, said it will cease operations at 16 Columbia Ave. in Reading after its July 1 hours. FastBridge Fiber has announced it will build an all-fiber cable network that will offer ultra-fast internet in the Reading area. Hamid Chaudhry has said he no longer plans to move forward with pursuing a food truck park he previously proposed on the site of the former Sheetz convenience store and gas station in Exeter Township at 6600 Perkiomen Ave. (Route 422 East). The Maxatawny Township Planning Commission has OK'd a proposal for a Mavis Discount Tire store in the Kutztown Road shopping center that features a Giant supermarket. Valentino's Italian restaurant has gotten Maxatawny Township's approval to remain open when the state transportation department takes one-third of its parking lot to build a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Route 222 and Long Lane. Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, under new ownership, will hold a "Grand Re-Opening Bash" July 9 and July 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sauce West End plans to open in a former Rita's Italian Ice, just off Route 209 across from the Tractor Supply store in Brodheadsville. The Surgery Center of Pottsville, which offered medical procedure services for 16 years in Cressona Mall. will close June 28. Wells Fargo has closed its branch office in Langhorne, near the intersection with Maple Avenue. The latest PrimoHoagies location in New Jersey held a grand opening at 1930 State Route 57, Hackettstown. A new Tractor Supply Co. store in Warren County will have its grand opening in the former Toys 'R' Us store in Pohatcong Plaza on July 9. Hunter Pocono Peterbilt plans to move Pocono Township operations to Stroudsburg. Coal Winery and Kitchen at 81 Broad St., Bethlehem, has closed as its owner searches for a new location for the business, according to its Facebook page. Lowhill Township supervisors approved a 312,120-square-foot commercial warehouse and distribution center on a 43.4-acre tract on the west side of Route 100, south of the Kernsville Road intersection. The Mint Gastropub at 1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, announced that it has temporarily closed to undergo a merger with a "well-known restaurant group" from Bethlehem. The Slatington Farmers Market opened its 28,000-square-foot showroom, which includes space for 53 vendors, as well as a 4,000-square-foot event space. St. Luke's University Health Network opened a new pediatric inpatient unit next to the eight-bed pediatric intensive care unit at St. Luke's University Hospital Bethlehem. 25th Asian House opened at the location of the former Tin Tin Chinese restaurant in the 25th Street Shopping Center in Palmer Township. The Chick-Fil-A in Broadcasting Square shopping center in Spring Township was razed to make way for a new, expanded facility for the popular chicken sandwich restaurant. Plans for drive-thru locations of a Chipotle and a Starbucks at the intersection of Ivy League Drive and Kutztown Road were rejected by Maxatawny Township planners. Cumru Township plannes reviewed preliminary plans for NorthPoint-Morgantown Commerce Center, a 738,720-square-foot warehouse to be built on 75.2 acres at Morgantown Road (State Route 10) and Freemansville Road. Kutztown University has plans to expand its historic Poplar House to 13,161 square feet with an addition around its side and back, but keep the 129-year-old structure intact. A wine store and beverage outlet could be coming to a new two-unit building along the commercial strip of Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Lehighton, Carbon County. ChristianaCare, a Delaware health care organization, has announced it will buy the former Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Chester County. Garden of Health Inc. celebrated the opening of the food bank's new warehouse at 201 Church Road, North Wales, in Montgomery County. Silverline Trailers Inc. opened its first location in Pennsylvania and in the Northeast at 223 Porter Road, Pottstown, where it sells utility, cargo, dump, equipment and car hauler trailers. A new smoothie and bowl restaurant, Sips & Berries, opened at 285 Maple Ave., Harleysville, in Montgomery County. Terrain on the Parkway offers 160 new 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments at 1625 Lehigh Parkway East in Allentown. Lehigh Valley native Don Wenner is moving his real estate investment and finance firm DLP Capital from Bethlehem to Allentown at 835 W. Hamilton St. While Wells Fargo has been the leader in closing banks lately, it will hold a ribbon-cutting for its new downtown Allentown office at 740 Hamilton St. on June 30. If you're in the market for sterling silver jewelry, minerals and semi-precious gemstones, C& I Minerals is now operating at the South Mall at 3300 Lehigh St. in Allentown. The Allentown-based utility company PPL Corp. bought a major Rhode Island utility. Ownership at Martellucci's Pizzeria in Bethlehem has changed, but Paul and Donna Hlavinka and their family are running the pizza place at 1419 Easton Ave., just as it has been operated for 49 years. Dr. Jacob Kasprenski's new Kasprenski Family Eye Care opened at 1088 Howertown Road, Catasauqua. Josie's New York Deli in downtown Easton closed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but a June 13 Historic District Commission meeting approved a request for a new sign at its building at 14 Centre Square. Zekraft cafe has opened its second location in the Easton Silk Mill in Easton. The first Zekraft restaurant was opened in Bethlehem. The restaurants' menus change frequently, with a focus on local ingredients. Manta Massage at 319 Main St., Emmaus, will hold its grand opening on July 10 starting at 11 a.m. The former Iron Lakes Country Club, constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, will operate at 3625 Shankweiler Road in North Whitehall Township under its new name, The Club at Twin Lakes. Prologis, a titan in the logistics industry, will own and operate three warehouses proposed in Upper Macungie Township at the former Air Products headquarters campus at 7201 Hamilton Blvd. Lehigh Valley Health Network ceremonially opened its first Carbon County hospital a $78 million, 100,578-square-foot facility at 2128 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Mahoning Township. Pocono Township commissioners voted to accept Swiftwater Solar's preliminary final plan for the $111 million, 80-megawatt field on a private 644-acre site on top of Bear Mountain that would include about 200,000 solar panels. Firetree Ltd. wants to expand its in-patient rehab operation at the former Sands Ford auto dealership at 440 N Claude A Lord Blvd. (Route 61), Pottsville. A Dunkin' in Schuylkill County located at 400 Terry Rich Blvd., St. Clair, has become just the fourth location of the donut and coffee chain to go entirely digital. The Conservatory music school in Bucks County will close after 34 years, and school officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is the cause. The nonprofit, located at 4059 Skyron Drive, Doylestown, will close June 30. A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Arby's will be built on the site of the former Ahart's Market on Route 22 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey. Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce offices and the Unity Bank Center for Business & Entrepreneurship will be located at 119 Main St., Flemington. Honeygrow opens Quakertown location, next to Chipotle on Route 309, on June 3. Dunkin' reopens remodeled restaurant at 1174 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township Muse Modern Med Spa at 325 Fifth St. in Whitehall Township will hold a grand opening June 4. Around Again, a consignment store, opened at 154 S. Main St., Phillipsburg Steak and Steel Hibachi, a restaurant in the works at 44 W. Walnut St., Bethlehem, still plans on opening late this summer. Take It Outdoors Recreation Hub has moved to a spot along the Schuylkill River Trail at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, Montgomery County Pedego Electric Bikes has a new outlet in Lambertville, N.J. at 13 N. Union St. Amanda Vachris has opened a new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St. in Schuylkill Haven. Easton's new West Ward Market will open Wednesday and be open on Wednesday's through the summer from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market, created by the Greater Easton Development Partnership, will sell fresh produce on 12th Street, next to Paxinosa Elementary School. Ciao Sandwich Shoppe is adding a second location, this time on College Hill in Easton. Ciao plans to open at 325 Cattell St. in late summer. Ciao already operates in downtown Easton at 12 N. Third St Ma's Crepes and Cakes will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting June 16 at 46 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe. The celebration starts at 5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 5:45 p.m. Bethlehem's Back Door Bakeshop will reopen as a wholesale operation at 7 E. Church St. in the city's historic district. The business was open for nine years as a retail outlet at Broad and Center streets, before announcing in March that it would close the storefront April 3 and "go back to its origins as a wholesale business." The Beef Baron on Catasauqua Road in Bethlehem is closed indefinitely for renovations The Brothers That Just Do Gutters are opening a new location in Allentown at 1302 N. 18th St. St. John Chrysostom Academy, an Orthodox school serving grades 1-9 starting this fall, held a grand opening at its St. Francis Center, Bethlehem, campus. Easton Commons, a shopping center anchored by Giant Foods at 2920 Easton Ave., Bethlehem Township, has a new name: The Shops at Bethlehem. Carbon County is getting a taste of Brazil at Uai Brasil BBQ at 315 Lehigh Ave. in Palmerton. The Keystone Pub in Bethlehem Township, at 3259 Easton Avenue, has reopened after a lengthy and expensive renovation. The Trading Post Depot opened at 401 Northampton St., Easton. The rustic furniture store makes custom tables for dining rooms, desktops, conference centers and more. The Easton area has a new gym: Homemade Fitness at 444 Cedarville Road in Williams Township. Il Gaetano Ristorante opened at its 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg, location. Ciao! Sandwich Shoppe to open second location on College Hill in Easton, replacing The Kettle Room Rene and Grisellies Benique have opened Ezekiel 47 Cafe at 10 S. Fifth Ave., off Fifth and Penn avenues, in West Reading. Alter Ego Salon and Day Spa in Emmaus is holding a grand opening Sunday, May 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at noon. Origen Latin Fusion has opened at the site of the former Tomcat Cafe in Sinking Spring, Berks County. Sellersville Senior Residences will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 24. The Bucks County affordable-housing community for adults 55 and older has 50 apartments, with eight allocated for people with behavioral health needs. The House and Barn in Emmaus has opened its Shed outdoor dining and cigar bar area. The House and Barn is at 1449 Chestnut St. in Emmaus. Realtor Amanda Vachris and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at Vachris's new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven, at 4 p.m. on May 24. Il Gaetano Ristorante will hold a grand opening on Friday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. The 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg. First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union will hold a grand opening at its new headquarters in Trexlertown, 6126 Hamilton Blvd., on May 18. Vinyl Press Signs & Graphics has relocated within Emmaus. The new site is 15 S. Second St., not far from the former Sixth Street location. Pedro's Cafe in Emmaus to close SV Sports (formerly Schuylkill Valley Sports) to close Quakertown location Flemington DIY will host a Grand Re-Opening on May 14 at 26 Stangl Road, Flemington. The celebration will kick off at 10 a.m. Elpedios Ristorante at Seipsville opened at 2912 Old Nazareth Road in Easton. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday. Uai Brazil opened at 315 Lehigh Ave, Palmerton, offering both a seated or buffet option. Colombian Mex Restaurant opened at 107 E Union Blvd in Bethlehem, offering traditional Colombian cuisine. Precision Ink opened at 161 W Berwick St. in Easton. King Wing opened a location in Bethlehem at 129 E. Third St., serving wings and sandwiches. The views expressed by public comments are not those of this company or its affiliated companies. Please note by clicking on "Post" you acknowledge that you have read the TERMS OF USE and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Your comments may be used on air. Be polite. Inappropriate or offensive posts may be removed by the moderator. Posts containing offsite links, images, GIFs, inappropriate language or memes are automatically removed, to the best of its ability, by a pre-programmed algorithm. Job listings and similar posts are likely automated SPAM messages from Facebook and are not placed by WFMZ-TV. Birmingham Rep artistic director Sean Foley has announced two new comedies that will premiere as part of its new season. Spitting Image Live: Featuring the Liar King will run from 1 Feb to 11 March 2023, alongside The Way Old Friends Do (17 February to 4 March), a new comedy by Ian Hallard directed by Mark Gatiss. Written by Al Murray, Matt Forde and Sean Foley, Spitting Image Live features an array of characters including Boris Johnson, Tom Cruise, Michael Gove, Adele, Tyson Fury, Harry and Meghan, Stormzy, Beyonce, Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. The production was previously announced to run in the West End following its premiere in Birmingham. Foley, whose production of Upstart Crow returns to the West End this autumn, said: "I'm thrilled to be part of the team bringing this iconic British comedy to the stage - in particular to be working with the inspiring Roger Law, original co-creator of this legendary show." The Way Old Friends Do, about two Birmingham friends who reunite to form an ABBA tribute band, will receive its world premiere from 17 February to 4 March at The Rep ahead of a UK tour. Also announced today is that Kit de Waal, Birmingham-born writer of My Name is Leon, together with Dean O'Loughlin, will collaborate on a new play for future production about the visit of Malcolm X to Birmingham in 1965. Other new additions to the 22/23 season include Ballet Black, and Apphia Campbell's Nina Simone show Black Is The Color of My Voice, which returns in February. Canada should be prepared for a potential rise in medical tourism as abortion becomes banned in some U.S. states, say advocates and providers. Martha Paynter, a Halifax-area nurse and advocate for women's health, is seen at Dalhousie University in Halifax on Monday, Jan. 22, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan Canada should be prepared for a potential rise in medical tourism as abortion becomes banned in some U.S. states, say advocates and providers. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that had provided a constitutional right to abortion. The ruling is expected to lead to abortion bans in roughly half the states, including some along the U.S.-Canada border. The decision has raised concerns among some abortion providers and advocates about how a possible influx of Americans could impact Canada's system. But the option to come north for an abortion is limited to those who can afford it, said Jill Doctoroff, executive director of the National Abortion Federation Canada. The effort and expense involved in procuring a passport and travelling to Canada will likely be prohibitive for the marginalized Americans most affected by abortion bans, including those experiencing poverty and systemic racism, Doctoroff said. Many people may decide it's more practical to head to a U.S. state where abortion is still allowed, she said. "People who tend to be involved in (medical) tourism are often people who are really privileged," Doctoroff said by phone from Victoria. "Those are the kinds of people I think who might be coming to Canada for abortion care." But even a small number of Americans with the means to seek abortion care in Canada could pose a problem for clinics that are already strained for capacity, and potentially extend wait times, said Doctoroff. Dr. Dustin Costescu, an obstetrician-gynecologist at Hamilton Health Sciences, said provinces should increase funding for abortion clinics to ensure they can meet this potential surge in demand. "If a significant minority of Americans choose to come here ... very quickly the system could become overwhelmed by an influx of U.S. citizens," said Costescu. "Now really is the time to be preparing for this." The Women's Health Clinic in Winnipeg has already started planning for this possibility, said executive director Kemlin Nembhard. A handful of American patients already visit the clinic every year, and Canada borders several U.S. states with so-called trigger laws that ban or severely restrict access to abortion, said Nembhard. The clinic currently performs more abortions than it receives funding for, Nembhard said, and is considering extending its hours of operation if demand increases. The Free Press | Newsletter Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "We have contingency plans in place," said Nembhard. "But we can't really put them into action until we actually see what's going to happen." Martha Paynter, a Halifax nurse working in abortion and reproductive health care, said she doubts Canadian clinics will see a dramatic surge in Americans seeking abortions. But Canada should still take action to make abortions more accessible for its residents and potential visitors, including training more health workers on how to provide these services, said Paynter. "We should be doing the work to improve access here, so that should U.S. patients arrive at our doors, we are very well equipped to handle it," Paynter said. "Should they not, then we've made inroads that we can be proud of to continue to expand access in the first country to decriminalize abortion in the world." with files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2022. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Farmers driving tractors blocked highways in the Netherlands on Monday and set small blazes outside at least two town halls in the latest protest sparked by a government pledge to rein in pollution emissions, a move that will hit the country's agriculture sector. Dutch farmers protesting against the governments plans to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia gather for a demonstration at Stroe, Netherlands, Wednesday, June 22, 2022. Thousands of farmers drove their tractors along roads and highways across the Netherlands, heading for a mass protest against the Dutch governments plans to rein in emissions of nitrogen oxide and ammonia. (AP Photo/Aleksandar Furtula) THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Farmers driving tractors blocked highways in the Netherlands on Monday and set small blazes outside at least two town halls in the latest protest sparked by a government pledge to rein in pollution emissions, a move that will hit the country's agriculture sector. Authorities urged motorists to check traffic updates before setting off, amid the protests that follow a gathering last week of tens of thousands of farmers in the central Netherlands that also caused traffic chaos around the country. We advise road users to be extra alert, the government's road and water department said in a statement. Several highways around the country were affected by the protests. Justice Minister Dilan Yesilgoz-Zegerius condemned the protests. The Free Press | Newsletter Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Several highways are currently blocked by farmers. You dont make your point by endangering road users. This can have serious consequences. Then the police have no choice but to intervene where possible, if necessary afterwards. Dont let it get that far, the minister tweeted. Dutch broadcaster NOS reported that farmers lit small fires outside town halls in the city of Apeldoorn and the town of Epe in the central Netherlands. Earlier, local broadcaster Omroep Brabant showed a truck dumping large, plastic-covered bales of hay on a highway near the town of Liessel, some 150 kilometers (93 miles) southeast of the capital, Amsterdam. On at least two more highways, farmers drove or parked their tractors, snarling traffic. The Dutch governing coalition has mandated reductions in emissions of nitrogen oxides and ammonia of up to 70% in many areas of the country close to protected nature areas even reaching as high as 95% in some places. The government has been forced to act after courts in recent years began blocking permits for infrastructure and housing projects because the country was missing its emissions targets. The government has earmarked an extra 24.3 billion euros ($25.6 billion) to finance agricultural reforms that will likely make many farmers drastically reduce their number of livestock or to get rid of them altogether. The pollution reduction targets, which have to be achieved by provincial governments, have been opposed even by members of Prime Minister Mark Ruttes own party and other members of his coalition. Provincial governments have been given a year to formulate plans to meet the targets. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) One of Iran's major steel companies said on Monday it was forced to halt production after being hit by a cyberattack, apparently marking one of the biggest such assaults on the country's strategic industrial sector in recent memory. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) One of Iran's major steel companies said on Monday it was forced to halt production after being hit by a cyberattack, apparently marking one of the biggest such assaults on the country's strategic industrial sector in recent memory. The state-owned Khuzestan Steel Company said experts had determined the plant had to stop work until further notice due to technical problems following cyberattacks. The company's website was down on Monday. The company's CEO, Amin Ebrahimi, claimed that Khuzestan Steel managed to thwart the cyberattack and prevent structural damage to production lines that would impact supply chains and customers. Fortunately with time and awareness, the attack was unsuccessful, the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Ebrahimi as saying, adding that he expected the company's website to be restored and everything to return to "normal" by the end of Monday. A local news channel, Jamaran, reported that the attack failed because the factory happened to be non-operational at the time due to an electricity outage. The company did not blame any specific group for the assault, which constitutes just the latest example of an attack targeting the country's services in recent weeks. In a major incident last year, a cyberattack on Iran's fuel distribution paralyzed gas stations across the country, leading to long lines of angry motorists. Train stations in Iran have been hit with fake delay messages. Surveillance cameras in the country have been hacked. State-run websites have been dirsupted. Footage showing abuse in the country's notorious Evin prison has leaked out. Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have targeted and crippled the country's infrastructure. Iran disconnected much of its government infrastructure from the internet after the Stuxnet computer virus widely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation disrupted thousands of Iranian centrifuges in the countrys nuclear sites in the late 2000s. The Free Press | Newsletter Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Khuzestan Steel Company, based in Ahvaz in the oil-rich Southwestern Khuzestan province, has a monopoly on steel production in Iran along with two other major state-owned firms. Founded before Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the company for decades afterward had some production lines supplied by German, Italian and Japanese companies. However, crushing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program has forced the company to reduce its dependence on foreign parts. The government considers steel a crucial sector. Iran is the leading producer of steel in the Middle East and among the top 10 in the world, according to the World Steel Association. Iran's crude steel production, however, was only 2.3 million tons last month, the WSA said. Its drop in exports has been largely attributed to sanctions-hit Russia flooding Iran's Chinese buyers with discounted steel after losing access to Western markets amid the war on Ukraine. ___ Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A helicopter contracted to support firefighting efforts on an Interior Alaska blaze crashed after takeoff, killing the pilot, officials said Monday. The fatality was the first related to Alaska wildfires in 22 years. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A helicopter contracted to support firefighting efforts on an Interior Alaska blaze crashed after takeoff, killing the pilot, officials said Monday. The fatality was the first related to Alaska wildfires in 22 years. The pilot was identified as Douglas Ritchie, 56, of Wasilla, Alaska State Troopers said. He was the lone occupant in a 1960 Bell 204B Huey helicopter that crashed Sunday night after taking off from an airstrip near the community of Anderson, about 80 miles (130 kilometers) southwest of Fairbanks, officials said. Initial reports incorrectly said the crash occurred when the helicopter was landing, said Clint Johnson, head of the National Transportation Safety Boards Alaska division. He was in the process of hauling, sling-loading some material out to a fire, Johnson said. We understand that he brought the helicopter up to a hover, and thats when the accident took place." He said they didnt have additional details, but three NTSB investigators were en route Monday to the crash site. The Alaska Division of Forestry and Fire Protection said it contracted the helicopter, which was operated by Northern Pioneer Helicopters, to help with the Clear Fire. Ritchie had worked for Northern Pioneer Helicopters for 12 years and held the title of lead pilot, according to a short biography on the company's webpage. Helicopters used to support firefighting operations have a cargo hook on the bottom of the aircraft, and a 100-foot (30-meter) longline is attached to carry or sling load materials to the fire. The Free Press | Newsletter Shelley Cook | Uplift A weekly review of funny, uplifting news in Winnipeg and around the globe that is delivered to your inbox each Wednesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. It wasnt immediately clear if Ritchie was carrying supplies to support firefighting operations that would have been in a net or if he was carrying a water bucket to help douse the fire, said Alaska Division of Forestry spokesperson Sam Harrel. Wildland firefighters and aviators are a close community and are in support of the family, friends and co-workers during this tragic time, the division said in a statement. The last firefighter to die was a smokejumper who was killed in a training accident in April 2000, Harrel said. Troopers said they didnt suspect foul play in Sundays crash, and Ritchies remains were sent to Anchorage for an autopsy. The Clear Fire was at 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) with minimal containment Monday, burning near the community of Anderson. Residents living in about 45 homes in three nearby subdivisions were ordered to evacuate Saturday, though the city itself was not under evacuation orders. The fire was 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) north of the subdivisions as of Sunday. Lightning started the fire last Tuesday, and it is burning in a mix of tundra, brush, hardwood trees and black spruce. There are 172 personnel working the fire. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Energy said Monday it is joining a new industry-led initiative to reduce nearly all methane emissions from operations by 2030. FILE - This undated file photo shows a Qatari liquid natural gas (LNG) tanker ship being loaded up with LNG, made up mainly of methane, at Raslaffans Sea Port, northern Qatar. The state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Energy said Monday, June 27, 2022, it is joining a new industry-led initiative to reduce nearly all methane emissions from operations by 2030. (AP Photo, File) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) The state-owned oil and gas company Qatar Energy said Monday it is joining a new industry-led initiative to reduce nearly all methane emissions from operations by 2030. It comes as part of a broader global push to tackle emissions from methane, or natural gas, which is the second most polluting climate-changing gas after carbon dioxide, and much more potent than CO2. Unlike carbon dioxide, though, methanes leakage into the atmosphere is not the result of combustion or fuel-burning, instead it represents the loss of a marketable fuel. Methane is responsible for about a quarter of all the climate change already being experienced worldwide. Technology has allowed energy companies, independent groups and citizen sleuths to monitor methane leakage with cameras, drones and satellites. This monitoring along with greater climate change awareness is pushing companies to reduce their methane emissions and fix leakages from faulty pipes and other equipment. With its pledge, Qatar Energy joins an initiative launched in March of this year by 12 other major oil and gas companies, including Aramco, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, TotalEnergies, Shell and others. Qatar is among the worlds top liquefied natural gas exporters and Qatar Energy operates all of the country's oil and gas exploration and production, making the peninsula-nation among the worlds richest per capita. The tiny country, which borders Saudi Arabia to the east, shares control with Iran of the world's largest underwater natural gas field in the Persian Gulf. Natural gas, which primarily consists of methane, forms the backbone of Qatar's economy and Qatar Energy's activities. Leaks of methane by oil and gas companies not only harm the environment, but are also seen as a waste of natural gas. Making repairs to prevent leaks can often be paid for by the value of the additional gas that is brought to market, according to a report by the International Energy Agency last year on methane leaks. Private satellite companies that monitor methane emissions say they saw a dramatic acceleration of emissions from oil, methane and coal in 2021, compared to 2020 when the pandemic slowed down demand. The International Energy Agency's methane tracking separately found that oil and gas operations worldwide emitted more than 70 million tons of methane into the atmosphere in 2021, describing it as broadly equivalent to the total energy-related carbon dioxide emissions from the entire European Union. The Free Press | Newsletter Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The IEA also noted that companies that do not do more to curb methane emissions could face reputational damage and commercial risks as consumers increasingly look at the emissions profile of different sources of gas. Qatar Energy CEO Saad al-Kaabi said that by joining the Aiming for Zero Methane Emissions Initiative the company is reaffirming Qatar's commitments to global efforts to reducing emissions. Qatar, unlike Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates last year, has not joined other countries in announcing an overall net zero pledge. ____ Follow all of APs climate coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment ____ 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. U.S. health authorities are facing a critical decision: whether to offer new COVID-19 booster shots this fall that are modified to better match recent changes of the shape-shifting coronavirus. FILE - A vial of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is displayed on a counter at a pharmacy in Portland, Ore. on Dec. 27, 2021. U.S. health authorities are facing a critical decision: whether to offer COVID-19 booster shots this fall that better match the omicron variant even though the coronavirus already has spawned still more mutants. Moderna and Pfizer are testing updated booster candidates, and advisers to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will debate Tuesday, June 28, 2022, if its time for a switch, setting the stage for similar moves by other countries. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File) U.S. health authorities are facing a critical decision: whether to offer new COVID-19 booster shots this fall that are modified to better match recent changes of the shape-shifting coronavirus. Moderna and Pfizer have tested updated shots against the super-contagious omicron variant, and advisers to the Food and Drug Administration will debate Tuesday if its time to make a switch setting the stage for similar moves by other countries. "This is science at its toughest," FDA vaccine chief Dr. Peter Marks told The Associated Press, adding that a final decision is expected within days of the advisory panel's recommendation. Current COVID-19 vaccines saved millions of lives around the world in just their first year of use. And the Moderna and Pfizer shots still offer strong protection against the worst outcomes -- severe illness and death especially after a booster dose. But those vaccines target the original coronavirus strain and between waning immunity and a relentless barrage of variants, protection against infections has dropped markedly. The challenge is deciding if tweaked boosters offer a good chance of blunting another surge when there's no way to predict which mutant will be the main threat. In an analysis prepared for Tuesday's meeting, FDA officials acknowledged targeting last winter's version of omicron is "somewhat outdated" since it already has been replaced by its even more contagious relatives. "We would obviously like to get it right enough," Marks said, so that with one more shot "we get a full season of protection." Many experts say updated boosters promise at least a little more benefit. "It is more likely to be helpful" than simply giving additional doses of todays vaccine, said epidemiologist William Hanage of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Thats assuming the virus doesnt throw another curve ball. "Were following rather than getting ahead which is so vexing -- that we havent come up with a better variant-proof vaccine," said Dr. Eric Topol, head of the Scripps Research Translational Institute, who has urged a major government push for next-generation immunizations. Adding to concern about a winter COVID-19 wave is that about half of Americans eligible for that all-important first booster dose never got it. An updated version might entice some of them. But "we do need to change our expectations," said Dr. William Moss of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, who noted that studies early in the pandemic raised unrealistic hopes of blocking even the mildest infections. "Our strategy cant be booster doses every couple of months, even every six months, to prevent infections." The top candidates are what scientists call "bivalent" shots a combination of the original vaccine plus omicron protection. Thats because the original vaccines do spur production of at least some virus-fighting antibodies strong enough to cross-react with newer mutants -- in addition to their proven benefits against severe disease, said University of Pennsylvania immunologist E. John Wherry. "Being able to push the boost response a little bit in one direction or the other without losing the core is really important," he said. Moderna and Pfizer found their combo shots substantially boosted levels of omicron-fighting antibodies in adults who'd already had three vaccinations, more than simply giving another regular dose. Recipients also developed antibodies that could fight omicrons newest relatives named BA.4 and BA.5, although not nearly as many. It's not clear how much protection that will translate into, and for how long. Antibodies are a key first layer of defense that form after vaccination or a prior infection. They can prevent infection by recognizing the outer coating of the coronavirus -- the spike protein -- and blocking it from entering your cells. But antibodies naturally wane and each new variant comes with a different-looking spike protein, giving it a better chance of evading detection by remaining antibodies. Separate studies published this month in Nature and the New England Journal of Medicine show the newest omicron relatives are even better at dodging antibodies both in the vaccinated and in people who recovered from the original omicron. That first booster people were supposed to get strengthened immune memory, helping explain why protection against hospitalization and death is proving more durable. If the virus sneaks past antibodies, different defenders called T cells spring into action, attacking infected cells to curb illness. "T cells recognize the virus in a fundamentally different way," not hunting for disguised spike protein but for parts of the virus that so far haven't been altered as much, said Penns Wherry. The Free Press | Newsletter Ready, Pet, Go! Leesa Dahl looks at everything to do with our furry, fuzzy, feathered, fishy (and more!) pet friends. Arrives in your inbox each Monday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Still, as people get older, all parts of their immune system gradually weaken. Theres little data on how long T cell protection against COVID-19 lasts or how it varies with different mutations or vaccines. Wherry and dozens of other scientists recently petitioned the FDA to quit focusing solely on antibodies and start measuring T cells as it decides vaccination strategy. The Biden administration has made clear that it needs Congress to provide more money so that if the FDA clears updated boosters, the government can buy enough for every American who wants one. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government's top infectious disease expert, told Congress last week more research funding also is critical to create better next-generation vaccines, such as nasal versions that might better block infection in the nose or more variant-proof shots. "The virus is changing and we need to keep up with it," Fauci, said. ___ 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. SCHLOSS ELMAU, GERMANY - G7 leaders gathering to discuss turning up the pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine are also taking aim at the Russian president's penchant for taking off his shirt. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, center, right, gestures during a group photo of G7 leaders and Outreach guests at Castle Elmau in Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Monday, June 27, 2022. The Group of Seven leading economic powers are meeting in Germany for their annual gathering Sunday through Tuesday. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Markus Schreiber SCHLOSS ELMAU, GERMANY - G7 leaders gathering to discuss turning up the pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine are also taking aim at the Russian president's penchant for taking off his shirt. The leaders were getting ready for a group photo when British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked whether they should take their jackets off. Video from the event in Germany shows him joking that, "We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin." "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display," Prime Minister Justin Trudeau replied. Then-Prime Minister of Russia Vladimir Putin ia seen riding a horse while traveling in the mountains of the Siberian Tyva region (also referred to as Tuva), Russia, during his short vacation. G7 leaders gathering in Germany to discuss increasing the pressure on Vladimir Putin over the war in Ukraine are also taking aim at the Russian president's penchant for taking off his shirt. THE CANADIAN PRESS/AP-Kremlin Pool Photo, Sputnik, Alexei Druzhinin "Oh yes," said Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission president, "Horseback riding is the best." Any search for images of the Russian leader is bound to turn up the famous photo of him riding a horse through the Siberian wilderness, wearing only pants, boots and sunglasses. The Kremlin has released a series of official photos over the years of Putin carrying a rifle, feeding a horse, holding a fish, swimming, relaxing by a lake all without a shirt. There's video of him being pulled through the water by two dolphins. The photos have even been included in his official calendar, in what many observers believe is an attempt to sell an image of a macho, tough leader. Putin seems unfazed by the countless memes poking fun at him, once remarking to NBC that there are even (doctored) images online of him riding a bear. The Free Press | Newsletter Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. For his part, Trudeau has had his share of shirtless photographs since becoming prime minister. A 2016 Guardian article about him appearing shirtless and holding a surfboard at a couple's B.C. beach wedding said, "Sightings of a shirtless Justin Trudeau are causing something of a stir across Canada and around the world." The article noted the prime minister also made international headlines when a photo was released of him hiking shirtless in Gatineau Park. In July 2018, he made headlines again while on a shirtless jog in Toronto after a meeting with Ontario Premier Doug Ford. The video from Monday's G7 event concludes with Johnson joking, "We've got to show them our pecs." The leaders remained fully clothed for the official photo op. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 27, 2022. MONTREAL - Women and allies across Canada voiced anxiety and outrage on Sunday as they took to the streets to denounce the United States Supreme Court's decision to overturn the law that provided the constitutional right to abortion for almost 50 years. People take part in a protest to denounce the United States Supreme Court's decision to overturn the law that provided the constitutional right to abortion for almost 50 years, in Montreal, Sunday, June 26, 2022. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes MONTREAL - Women and allies across Canada voiced anxiety and outrage on Sunday as they took to the streets to denounce the United States Supreme Court's decision to overturn the law that provided the constitutional right to abortion for almost 50 years. About a hundred people responded to the Quebec Federation of Planned Parenthood's invitation to rally outside Montreal's courthouse, while other protests took place across the country since the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade was announced on Friday. The chanting protesters carried signs reading "My body, my choice," "Back to the future," and "Abort the court, no uterus, no opinion." "Its just downright evil that 50 years on after fighting for our rights, we still need to continue doing so," said protester Rachel Paton. "This is a human rights issue our bodies shouldnt be a legal issue." All women who spoke to The Canadian Press expressed sentiments of anger and weariness over the ongoing fight to have their bodies and decisions respected. "This is terrifying, I can't really stop thinking about women who came before us, and what the future is going to look like," said protester Amanda Doran. Quebec federation coordinator Jess Legault addressed the crowd, saying the movement felt empowered by previous generations of women who fought for the same right. "To everybody who might underestimate us, we are the descendants of the witches you weren't able to burn," Legault said amid cheers from the demonstrators. Legault previously said that while abortion rights can't be threatened the same way in Canada as it is a legal medical procedure, she fears the U.S. decision will fuel the rise of pro-life groups and feed into disinformation around the practice. Overturning a right to abortion, she added, is worrying for women's rights and safety. "We are not in favour of abortion for all, we aren't promoting it," Legault said. "We are for pregnant women's rights. Abortion needs to stay legal and safe for everyone so that pregnant women who want to end their pregnancy can safely do it." Among the protesters in Montreal was Quebec solidaire Spokesperson Manon Masse. She said while showing solidarity with American women, it's also crucial to remember that women's rights, even in Quebec, shouldn't be taken for granted. "We are experiencing a major setback," Masse said. "We were here, in the streets of Montreal, 50 100 years ago, women were here to say, 'our bodies belong to us so get out of the way.'" Meanwhile, another rally took place in Atlantic Canada's largest city on Saturday. Martha Paynter, one of the event organizers and chair of Halifax-based reproductive justice organization Wellness Within, said the publicity arising from the decision is an opportunity to communicate to patients about options where they live and to press government for more funding for reproductive and sexual health. She also cautioned against any attempts to legislate abortion rights in Canada as a reaction to whats happened south of the border, saying the existence of a law would make it vulnerable to being changed or even removed. "My right to bodily integrity is not something that the law bestows upon me," Paynter said in an interview on Sunday. "It is inherent and intrinsic." The Free Press | Newsletter Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. She said if anything, there will likely be increased demand in Canada from U.S. patients seeking help. "As providers of care we need to organize ourselves so that we can accommodate those patients," Paynter said. With files from Keith Doucette in Halifax This report by The Canadian Press was first published on June 26, 2022. --- This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship Lori Ann Mancheese always wanted a home. But the 53-year-old mother of five from Manitoba's Ebb and Flow First Nation died before her dream could come true. Lori Ann Mancheese is shown in this undated handout image. Mancheese always wanted a home but the Manitoba First Nations womans remains were found in a field outside Winnipeg earlier this month before that dream could be fulfilled. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Eugenia Houle **MANDATORY CREDIT** Earlier this month, her remains were found in a farmers field outside of Winnipeg. "She tried her best to be happy even though she didnt have a home," said Norma Mancheese, Lori Anns sister. Mounties have said, at this point, her death doesnt appear to be criminal. But Lori Anns family say they cannot understand how she would end up left at that location. Her death is now one of five women in the span of about a month being grieved by members of the province's Indigenous community. Winnipeg police say three of those women were murdered. At least 11 Indigenous women and girls have been murdered in the city since June 2019, when the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls released its final report, according to an analysis by The Canadian Press of homicides reported by the police service. Immediate action is needed to make the province safer for Indigenous women, including better access to safe housing, which can be life-saving, said Hilda Anderson-Pyrz, chair of the National Family and Survivors Circle. The need extends beyond offering more overnight emergency shelter space, she said, and includes more transitional and longer term housing options that offer the proper cultural and social supports. What Anderson-Pyrz finds lacking is political will. As an example, she points to the response mounted by the government against the COVID-19 pandemic, which demonstrated how fast decision-makers and bureaucracies can move. "This is very similar," she said. "We're losing human lives." The survivors circle was established in response to the 231 calls to justice made in the final report from the national inquiry, and is designed to provide advice to Ottawa on implementing the recommended changes. Last month, Anderson-Pyrzs niece Tessa Perry was among those killed in Winnipeg. "There's been so many losses, it seems like we're in a perpetual state of grief," Anderson-Pyrz said. "We're in a crisis." Carolyn Bennett, former federal minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, called the city "ground zero" for the country's awareness around murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls. It was near a dock in Winnipeg when in 2014 the tiny body of 15-year-old Tina Fontaine, wrapped in a duvet cover and weighed down by rocks, was pulled from the Red River. The death of the First Nations teen sparked outrage and led to louder demands for Ottawa to probe the level of violence perpetrated against Indigenous women and girls, which it did after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was elected the following year. But those in the city say the danger has only increased. In her sister Lori Ann's case, Norma Mancheese said a lack of housing on her First Nation meant she never had a home of her own and would sometimes stay with friends and family in the community. Never wanting to overstay her welcome, Norma said her sister would eventually travel to Winnipeg where she would be homeless or stay with friends downtown. She had health and mobility issues, so it wasn't an easy life, Norma said. Despite cries from advocates for urgent action, Ottawa has yet to spend any of the $724-million fund it announced in fall 2020 to support the creation of new shelter and transitional housing spaces for Indigenous women and girls trying to escape violence. Judy Hughes, special adviser to CEO of the Native Women's Association of Canada, said that shows "they just dont care." "There's no excuse whatsoever for that funding not to be handed out," she said. In a statement, a spokeswoman for Women and Gender Equality Minister Marci Ien's office said applications for the first round of funding recently closed, and an announcement of where it would flow would be made over the summer, with implementation expected to begin in the fall. "Undeniably, there is still a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction," Johise Namwira wrote, saying "the violence that we have seen in Winnipeg is heartbreaking." "We know that Indigenous voices must lead the way and we will continue to work closely with Indigenous Peoples, families, survivors, communities, and provinces and territories as equal partners." Hughes said when it comes to Indigenous women living in cities, a major challenge remains finding housing that is not just affordable, but is located in areas that are safe. "We still have many landlords that refuse to rent to Indigenous women," she said. "They'll take the appointments for Indigenous women, we go look at it, and then they phone us back and it's no longer available in a number of occasions, we know that it's just the case that 'Oh, they seen the colour of her skin.'" Norma Mancheese said her sister made her way to Winnipeg in late May and had a coffee with a friend in early June. Her body was discovered four days later. "We are just wondering and not knowing anything," Norma said. "The police arent telling us anything." The Free Press | Newsletter Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The RCMP has said it is awaiting the results of an autopsy but it appears the death was non-criminal. Norma said Mounties informed her Lori Ann was wearing a hospital bracelet, but her family hasn't been allowed to see her body because of the state of decomposition. She has many unanswered questions about her sisters death and said its left the family in unimaginable grief. But Norma is sure that if her sister had a home, a place to be safe and happy, it would have made a difference. She's now worried for other Indigenous women who are in the same position as her sister. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2022. A woman accused of seriously injuring a baby at her unlicensed daycare has lost a court fight for custody of her own child. A woman accused of seriously injuring a baby at her unlicensed daycare has lost a court fight for custody of her own child. In a written ruling released last week, the Court of Appeal of Manitoba upheld a family court decision awarding sole custody of her seven-year-old son to her ex-husband. The 40-year-old woman was charged with aggravated assault in June 2019, after a six-month-old boy suffered multiple and life-altering head injuries while allegedly at her unlicensed daycare. "We are not persuaded that the trial judge made any error that would allow us to interfere with his decision," Justice Chris Mainella wrote on behalf of the appeal court. Police launched an investigation in October 2018, after the baby boys parents picked the child up from daycare, noticed he was in medical distress, and called for an ambulance. Police at the time said officers had been at the daycare earlier that day on an unrelated call and the child was in good health. The woman is set to stand trial on the assault charge this fall. The Free Press | Newsletter Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. A family court judge rejected the womans version of events about the daycare incident, citing evidence of police officers and expert evidence as to the childs injuries. In awarding sole custody of their child to the womans ex-husband, the judge noted her "erratic behaviour" and the fact she had chosen not to see her son for six months. On appeal, the woman sought to introduce further evidence she argued would prove there was an "alliance" between her ex-husband, police and Child and Family Services to make false claims against her, and alleged it was the mother of the infant boy who was responsible for his injuries. The woman also alleged health information for the injured child was withheld from the trial judge. The woman made additional claims for custody unrelated to the assault charge against her, including allegations she had been provided inadequate legal representation who deliberately sabotaged her case and the family court judge had been "misled" about her and her ex-husbands parenting of their child. "There is no credible evidence of an illicit alliance sabotage or any of the other myriad claims that the respondent makes," Mainella said. "In particular, there is no reason for us to have any concern that the custody and access order the trial judge made is not in the best interests of the child." dean.pritchard@freepress.mb.ca IN A recent editorial, this newspaper called for increased transparency from Manitoba Justice when it comes to explaining why its Crown prosecutors decline to lay charges in cases of significant public interest. Opinion IN A recent editorial, this newspaper called for increased transparency from Manitoba Justice when it comes to explaining why its Crown prosecutors decline to lay charges in cases of significant public interest. Its the right stance to take. The public deserves better than what it currently gets in terms of disclosure and transparency in such cases from the Manitoba Prosecution Service (MPS). I am not a legal expert or a lawyer. I am, however, a person who watched and studied provincial prosecutors at work over a number of years as a courts reporter for various local media outlets, including the Free Press. For what its worth, Manitobans should be proud of the work done by their Crown attorneys. Those on the criminal side deal often with cases involving factual circumstances and legal issues which are complex and, one suspects, take a psychological toll due to the levels of violence and cruelty in much of the crime in this province. They dont get enough thanks for what they do, which from my experience is quality public service work. The role of a Crown prosecutor is often misunderstood in general society. But its fair to ask, how can that knowledge gap be bridged when so much of what Manitoba Crowns do is cloaked in secrecy, abetted by an old-fashioned legal tradition of prosecutorial discretion and a virtually non-existent public communications presence? One example: despite the power the department wields and the budget it commands, theres no official spokesperson in the MPS for the media to take questions to. Instead, any communication comes through nameless provincial spokespeople. In my experience, official answers to questions about decision-making on cases are skimpy and opaque. Almost always, they hew to a generic overview of how prosecutors assess their cases instead of actually pointing to specifics that might help the general public understand what is happening and, more to the point, why. A key example would be the decision to not lay charges in the RCMPs Winnipeg police headquarters investigation. The 400-word press release issued by MPS on Dec. 13, 2019, announcing this consequential decision doesnt contain an ounce of specific information that would actually allow a member of the public to understand the decision that was made (or who actually made it) beyond stating "we felt there was no reasonable likelihood of conviction." In British Columbia, things are done differently. Its a model Manitoba would do well to follow. There, the prosecutions branch will, in cases of significant public concern, issue what are called "clear statements," which detail key evidence gathered in a case and the legal rationale for deciding not to proceed with a prosecution. The statements are published online for any interested party to read. The department says issuing these statements is aimed at helping maintain public confidence in the justice system. Having reviewed several "clear statements," they do foster understanding of why prosecutorial decisions are made and dispel the notion things are being kept hidden from public view. The Free Press | Newsletter Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Notable as well, the department will make Crown counsel available to answer questions to explain their reasoning to not proceed with charges. B.C. is also one of several Canadian provinces that make available online their manuals of prosecution policies, which can also go a long way to explaining the "why" of the decisions made. Here, only a smattering of MPSs policies are online if you can find them. Naturally, there will be times where non-disclosure is necessary to maintain the integrity of an ongoing investigation or to protect victims. But the time has come for MPS to embrace a new spirit of openness in line with what we see happening elsewhere in Canada for the sake of the general public it serves and its own standing in the minds of Manitobans. James Turner is a former Free Press justice reporter who now teaches journalism at Red River College Polytechnic. Twitter: @heyjturner Instagram: @WinnipegTails On the face of it, Latin America is taking a noticeable turn to the left at least politically speaking. It has happened in a host of countries lately, including Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Honduras, to name a few. Opinion On the face of it, Latin America is taking a noticeable turn to the left at least politically speaking. It has happened in a host of countries lately, including Chile, Bolivia, Peru and Honduras, to name a few. Perhaps the most surprising of all is the perennial right-leaning South American country of Colombia. True, there have been "liberal" governments in Colombia going to back to the early 1940s, some of those centrist and others more progressive, but certainly nor radical in orientation. Some commentators, then, are now suggesting Gustavo Petros new government will be the first truly leftist administration in the countrys history. Well see about that. The left-leaning senator Petro, from the Historic Pact coalition, will assume the Colombian presidency in August. He managed to best Rodolfo Hernandez, the former mayor of Bucaramanga who was dubbed "Colombias Donald Trump," garnering 50.4 per cent of the electoral vote. Petro is a 62-year-old former mayor of Bogota, an economist by training who has often been criticized for his membership during his youth in the 19th of April Movement (or M-19 guerrilla group). The rebel movement busted onto the political scene in Colombia in the mid-1970s in response to a conservative government winning a contested national election in 1970. In subsequent years, it kidnapped guests at the embassy of the Dominican Republic, stole armaments from a military depot in Bogota, kidnapped a prominent labour leader and took hostages in the Palace of Justice building in the capitol. Like many countries in Latin America, Colombia suffers from growing numbers of marginalized and unemployed, a huge gap between rich and poor and unequal access to such basic services as education, health care and early childhood development. "Decreasing hunger requires change, change to an economic system that has reached its end," Petro told a large, largely youthful crowd in Medellin in March. Similarly, Colombia was hit hard by the deadly pandemic, rising prices for food and medicine, and drug- or gang-related violence. People are desperate for something new and different anyone who can bring a change of circumstances and hope. In addition to proposing a progressive "axis" between Brazil, Chile and Colombia in the Southern Cone, Petro is floating the idea of transitioning away from fossil fuels and new oil exploration to renewable sources of energy such as solar and wind. He is also kicking around a proposal to impose a wealth tax on Colombias 4,000 or so ultra-rich. His harshest critics maintain he would turn Colombia radically socialist like neighbouring governments in Venezuela and Cuba have done. They worry about the economic fallout from significantly expanding the public sector, constraining capitalist impulses and growth and discouraging much-needed foreign investment capital and business innovation. Petro has been careful, though, to dampen down such speculation and has even put some distance between himself and revolutionary governments in Havana and Caracas. But he has publicly acknowledged his willingness to explore a rapprochement with Venezuelas Nicolas Maduro in an attempt to improve trade relations and better manage the border (instead of conceding it to drug traffickers) between the two countries. Some commentators are even suggesting the ascendancy of Petro will spell very bad news for the 200-year-old U.S.-Colombian relationship with the exception of in the climate emergency space. There are concerns the new president will upset the bilateral apple cart by seeking a renegotiation of the 2012 U.S.-Colombian free trade pact, downgrading military cooperation/training and weapons procurement, making changes to the extradition treaty between the two countries and ending joint efforts at combatting the illicit drug trade in Colombia. The Free Press | Newsletter Winnipeg Gardener What you need to know now about gardening in Winnipeg. A monthly email from the Free Press with advice, ideas and tips to keep your outdoor and indoor plants growing. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Of course, its hard to know for sure what the election of leftist Petro will actually mean for the United States let along for the rest of the Americas. Theres a good chance his political bark will be worse than his actual bite, as was the case when long-time leftist firebrand Luiz "Lula" da Silva was first elected in Brazil in 2002. My own guess is that some socio-economic and foreign-policy adjustments (such as a more pro-Cuba stance) will take place under a Petro government. But the serious internal, regional and global challenges of the day will make it hard for him to implement any dramatic change in Colombia. Besides, the Colombian Armed Forces, the corporate sector and a still right-leaning Colombian congress will make it exceedingly difficult for Petro to embrace a radical or revolutionary policy agenda. So the U.S. government should take a deep breath and adopt a cautious wait-and-see approach. Indeed, the one-time M-19 guerrilla is no Hugo Chavez of Venezuela in the early 2000s. As Petro himself opined in March, "We will propose to Latin America a new path," and, to paraphrase, one that is built on protecting the environment, advancing economic development and transitioning away from the extraction of natural resources. Those are hardly the words of a raving Marxist. Peter McKenna is professor of political science at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Judges temporarily blocked abortion bans Monday in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law sharply restricting the procedure would take effect there immediately as the battle over whether women may end pregnancies shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. Mitzi Rivas, left, hugs her daughter Maya Iribarren during an abortion-rights protest at City Hall in San Francisco following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, Friday, June 24, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion has cleared the way for states to impose bans and restrictions on abortion and will set off a series of legal battles. (AP Photo/Josie Lepe) NEW ORLEANS (AP) Judges temporarily blocked abortion bans Monday in Louisiana and Utah, while a federal court in South Carolina said a law sharply restricting the procedure would take effect there immediately as the battle over whether women may end pregnancies shifted from the nations highest court to courthouses around the country. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision Friday to end constitutional protection for abortion opened the gates for a wave of litigation. One side sought quickly to put statewide bans into effect, and the other tried to stop or at least delay such measures. Much of Monday's court activity focused on trigger laws, adopted in 13 states that were designed to take effect swiftly upon last week's ruling. Additional lawsuits could also target old anti-abortion laws that were left on the books in some states and went unenforced under Roe. Newer abortion restrictions that were put on hold pending the Supreme Court ruling are also coming back into play. Well be back in court tomorrow and the next day and the next day, Nancy Northup, president and CEO of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which argued the case that resulted in the high court ruling, said Friday. People attend an abortion-rights protest at the Utah State Capitol, Friday, June 24, 2022, in Salt Lake City. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion has cleared the way for states to impose bans and restrictions on abortion and will set off a series of legal battles.(AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Rulings to put trigger laws on hold came swiftly in Utah and Louisiana. A Utah judge blocked that state's near-total abortion ban from going into effect for 14 days, to allow time for the court to hear challenges to the state's trigger law. Planned Parenthood had challenged the law, which contains narrow exceptions for rape, incest or the mother's health, saying the law violates the equal protection and privacy provisions in the state constitution. I think the immediate effects that will occur outweigh any policy interest of the state in stopping abortions, Utah Judge Andrew Stone said. In Louisiana, a judge in New Orleans, a liberal city in a conservative state, temporarily blocked enforcement of that state's trigger-law ban on abortion, after abortion rights activists argued that it is unclear. The ruling is in effect pending a July 8 hearing. At least one of the state's three abortion clinics said it would resume performing procedures on Tuesday. An abortion-rights protester displays a placard during a demonstration outside the Supreme Court in Washington, Saturday, June 25, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion has cleared the way for states to impose bans and restrictions on abortion and will set off a series of legal battles. (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe) Were going to do what we can, said Kathaleen Pittman, administrator of Hope Medical Group for Women, in Shreveport. It could all come to a screeching halt. Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry, a Republican and staunch abortion opponent, vowed to fight the judge's ruling and enforce the law. We would remind everyone that the laws that are now in place were enacted by the people through State Constitutional Amendments and the LA Legislature, Landry tweeted Monday. In South Carolina, a federal court lifted its prior hold on an abortion restriction there, allowing the state to ban abortions after an ultrasound detects a heartbeat, usually around six weeks into a pregnancy, before many women know they are pregnant. There are exceptions if the womans life is in danger, or if the pregnancy is the result of rape or incest. Planned Parenthood said after the ruling that it will continue to perform abortions at its South Carolina clinics within the parameters of the new law. People attend an abortion-rights protest at the Utah State Capitol in Salt Lake City after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, Friday, June 24, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion has cleared the way for states to impose bans and restrictions on abortion and will set off a series of legal battles. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer) Also Monday, abortion rights advocates asked a Florida judge to block a new law there that bans the procedure after 15 weeks with some exceptions to save a mother's life or if the fetus has a fatal abnormality, but no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The ACLU of Florida argued that the law violates the Florida Constitution. A ruling on that is expected Thursday a day before the law is scheduled to take effect. Abortion rights activists also went to court Monday to try to fend off restrictions in Texas, Idaho, Kentucky and Mississippi, the state at the center of the Supreme Court ruling, while the American Civil Liberties Union of Arizona filed an emergency motion there on Saturday seeking to block a 2021 law they worry can be used to halt all abortions. In Friday's ruling, the Supreme Court left it to the states to decide whether to allow abortion. The expectation is that this will result in years of legislative and judicial challenges," said Jonathan Turley, a professor at the George Washington University law school. As of Saturday, abortion services had stopped in at least 11 states either because of state laws or confusion over them. Abortion-rights advocate Eleanor Wells, 34, wipes her tears during a protest in Los Angeles, Friday, June 24, 2022. The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to end constitutional protections for abortion has cleared the way for states to impose bans and restrictions on abortion and will set off a series of legal battles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong) In some cases, the lawsuits may only buy time. Even if courts block some restrictions from taking hold, lawmakers in many conservative states could move quickly to address any flaws cited. That's likely to be the case in Louisiana. The plaintiffs in the lawsuit filed in state court dont deny that the state can now ban abortion. Instead, they contend Louisiana now has multiple, conflicting trigger mechanisms in the law. They also argue that state law is unclear on whether it bans an abortion prior to a fertilized egg implanting in the uterus. And while the law provides an exception for medically futile pregnancies in cases of fetuses with lethal abnormalities, the plaintiffs noted the law gives no definition of the term. Now that the high court has ruled that the U.S. Constitution does not guarantee the right to an abortion, abortion rights groups are seeking protection under state constitutions. Challenges to trigger laws could be made on the grounds that the conditions to impose the bans have not been met, or that it was improper for a past legislature to bind the current one. James Bopp Jr., general counsel for the National Right to Life Committee, said the wave of suits from abortion rights advocates is not surprising. We know that the abortion industry has basically unlimited funds, and its allies have basically unlimited funds, and of course theyre fanatical about abortion on demand throughout pregnancy, Bopp said in an interview. But he said that that the Supreme Court ruling should preclude abortion rights supporters from prevailing in any federal challenges. And he called efforts based on state constitutions fanciful. Still other cases could be filed as states try to sort out whether abortion bans in place before Roe was decided sometimes referred to as zombie laws apply now that there is no federal protection for abortion. For instance, Wisconsin passed a law in 1849 banning abortions except to save the life of the mother. Attorney General Josh Kaul, a Democrat, said he does not believe it is enforceable. Abortion opponents have called on lawmakers to impose a new ban. In the meantime, Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin said it immediately suspended all abortions. In Michigan, Planned Parenthood challenged a 1931 abortion ban ahead of last week's Supreme Court ruling. In May, a judge said the ban could not be enforced because it violates the states constitution. Abortion rights supporters are now trying to get a proposed state constitutional amendment on the ballot in November to protect abortion and birth control. The Free Press | Newsletter Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Idaho, Oklahoma and Texas have adopted laws that allow people to seek bounties against those who help others get abortions. It is an open question as to whether that means people can be pursued across state lines, and legal challenges over the issue are likely to come up in cases of both surgical abortions and those involving medicine mailed to patients. The California Legislature, controlled by Democrats, passed a bill Thursday to shield abortion providers and volunteers in the state from civil judgments imposed by other states. In liberal Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican, signed an executive order Friday that prohibits state agencies from assisting other states investigations into anyone who receives a legal abortion in Massachusetts. Rhode Islands Democratic governor said he would sign a similar order. ___ Forliti reported from Minneapolis and Mulvihill from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Associated Press writers Samuel Metz in Salt Lake City; Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina; Anthony Izaguirre in Tallahassee, Florida; and other AP reporters throughout the U.S. contributed to this report. ___ For APs full coverage of the Supreme Court ruling on abortion, go to https://apnews.com/hub/abortion. They are finally here! Vaccinations against COVID-19 were at last approved for the youngest people ages 6 months to 5 years old. Studies in children have been done showing definite protective benefits and no major adverse reactions occurring. The first step was the FDA approval after an advisory panel deliberated the week of June 13 only 2 days to vote unanimously to recommend authorization, stating the benefits outweigh any risks for young kids. The CDC signed off on the vaccines June 18 with another unanimous vote. The two vaccines consist of the Pfizer mRNA version in adults, but a much-reduced dose of 3 micrograms instead of 30 micrograms, given in three doses to induce a high level of antibodies equivalent to young adults. The first two doses are spaced three weeks apart, and the third at least two months later. The study found only 10 COVID cases in the three-dose group and seven in the placebo group for an efficacy of 80%. The study included only a small number of patients. Most of the infectious disease and pediatrician experts cautioned not to lose sight of the fact that the vaccines were saving childrens lives. The Moderna mRNA vaccine is the same as the adult one but only a quarter of the dose at 25 micrograms in a two-dose series given four weeks apart. Both this and the Pfizer vaccine achieved the same levels of immunity that have protected young adults against severe disease. None of the developed COVID vaccines have achieved the ideal of elimination of the infection. But they have saved many lives. In children, the risk from COVID is very real, even though hospitalization and deaths are lower than in adults. In children ages 1-4, COVID is the fifth leading cause of death. One source that looked at the period from January 2020 through May 2022 said 202 kids in this age group died from COVID. Another source quoted 480 kids dead from COVID. Thats more deaths per year than hepatitis, meningitis, rotavirus, and other common infectious diseases each caused before routine vaccinations for them were recommended. And the risk wasnt limited to any particular group. More than half of the youngsters hospitalized due to COVID had no underlying conditions. These vaccines have proven to be some of the safest of any for adults. In the preliminary studies in this age group the adverse reactions/side effects were mostly mild and short lived, much like those in adults, and similar to those from other vaccines. The main one was pain and redness or tenderness at the injection site. There might be some irritability, fatigue, or sleepiness, loss of appetite, headache, abdominal pain or discomfort, mild diarrhea, vomiting. But everyone got better quickly! Fevers were uncommon and mild in the participants. Those can be treated with acetaminophen. A pediatric infectious disease specialist at Childrens Hospital, Denver, Colo., said its important to keep in mind that COVID-19 is now one of the vaccine-preventable diseases with the highest mortality rate. Hospitalization rates for children with COVID were five times higher during the recent wave than the worst previous points of the pandemic. Katherine Poehling, director of pediatric population health at Wake forest School of Medicine, said, I am struck by these numbers. Im also concerned theres a real underappreciation of the potential severity. FDA commissioner Robert Califf said, Any death of a child is tragic, and should be prevented if possible. Its a guarantee that, if a respiratory germ gets into a home, it gets into everyone living there. It may not take hold in each individual to create what we call disease for a host of reasons, but the microbe made the rounds, positive test or not. That includes every kid kissing you or sharing food with you. The COVID variants currently crawling down our craws are killing fewer Americans daily than during any other period except the summer of 2021. But the country is now recording 10 times as many cases as it was at that time, indicating that a smaller number of cases are causing deaths. But COVID is still killing an average of 314 people a day. These darling little Petri (not peach tree) dishes we parents and grandparents love to hug and kiss can be vectors of so many viruses. The vaccines are a tool to help prevent that spread and contagion. Its an incomplete tool, but its part of a larger effort to stop infections, along with hand washing, etc. Maybe you could liken it to a fork among our eating utensils. We could eat most everything on the plate with that fork, but a knife and spoon sure help us to divide and down the delectables we cant spear. The vaccines are essentially safe and a valuable tool. One preventable childs death is one too many. Get your tot shot! Dr. Bures, a semi-retired dermatologist, since 1978 has worked Winona, La Crosse, Viroqua and Red Wing. He also plays clarinet in the Winona Municipal Band and a couple dixieland groups. And he does enjoy a good pun. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Students from area universities and colleges are reacting to the Supreme Courts ruling on abortion access in the United States and sharing their plans for future action. The ruling handed down Friday overturned the Roe v. Wade case that federally protected abortion for almost 50 years, now leaving it up to individual states to determine if abortion is lawful or not. In Wisconsin, an 1849 law banning abortion except in cases where the mothers life is at risk is currently in effect. Planned Parenthood locations across the state halted their abortion services June 24 in response to the ruling. Abortion access remains protected in the neighboring states of Minnesota and Illinois. Jessica Weis and Cassidy Daniel, co-presidents of Winona State Universitys Students for Reproductive Justice, said they will support grassroots organizations to fund abortion access and ensure reproductive freedom. We in Minnesota are protected by our leaders currently, Weis and Daniel said in an email to the Tribune. We are in solidarity with people impacted in all states that are ending abortion. Students for Reproductive Justice will also engage with the campus community and in political education. This is undermining bodily and reproductive autonomy, Weis and Daniel said. The most marginalized people will be harmed by this, due to lack of access to reproductive care. It is a racist patriarchal attack on people with uteruses; its atrocious. Grace Florence, chair of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse College Democrats, said the organization is deeply disappointed by the Supreme Courts ruling. The Courts decision will irrevocably alter reproductive rights in our state and across the nation, while opening the door for further limitations of our liberties, Florence said in an email. Florence said we must take the Nov. 8 election very seriously and people should turn their focus to electing officials who will fight for reproductive freedom and repealing the courts ruling. Regardless of partisan affiliation, Wisconsinites can coalesce around the idea that people deserve to control their bodies and make important personal decisions without government interference, Florence said. My heart goes out to all the women in this country today as we have adjust to losing our right to choose. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 People in attendance at the rally said the ordinance violates their freedoms of speech and religion. They are also asking La Crosse Mayor Mitch Reynolds to veto the ban. The Fourth of July is just around the corner. If you are heading to the Mississippi River for a boating or camping trip, just a reminder no fireworks are allowed on the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge because of their disturbance to wildlife as well as the litter they leave behind. As we enjoy the bright colors and thunderous explosions of fireworks, its easy to overlook the impact to wildlife around us. The abrupt lights and sounds are often seen as a threat by nesting bald eagles and easily startle great blue herons and other nesting birds. The shock of fireworks can cause wildlife to flee, ending up in unexpected areas or roadways, flying into buildings and other obstacles, and even abandoning nests, leaving young vulnerable to predators. The threat to wildlife doesnt stop at startling lights and sounds; litter from firecrackers, bottle rockets and other explosives can be choking hazards for wildlife and may be toxic if ingested. The refuge includes most islands and beaches on the Mississippi River from Wabasha, Minnesota, to Rock Island, Illinois. If you are not sure if you will be within the refuge, please contact the Winona, Minnesota, office at (507) 454-7351 or check the maps located at www.fws.gov/refuge/upper_mississippi_river. Federal law enforcement officers will be patrolling the refuge looking for fireworks as well as glass bottles, which are also banned on refuge beaches. The fine for glass bottles is $175; $225 for fireworks possession and use. Officers also want to remind people of the importance of wearing their PFDs while on the water. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A J-1 student from Ecuador was sentenced to prison Monday after admitting to stabbing another man in a dispute over a cellphone. Sauk County Circuit Court Judge Wendy Klicko sentenced Fabian A. Villa Velez, 24, to six years in prison and four years of extended supervision for felony counts of first-degree reckless injury and first-degree recklessly endangering safety. A count of first-degree attempted intentional homicide was dismissed, but read in, meaning it was considered in sentencing. Speaking through an interpreter, Villa Velez apologized. I am very, very sorry for my actions, Villa Velez said. I am very sad. This is the first time, to tell you the truth, that Ive had these types of problems. My whole life, Ive just simply been about working. Ive been working and with my family; I never thought I would face this type of problem coming here. Id like to ask for forgiveness. Villa Velez admitted to the stabbing during a plea hearing March 17, where he entered pleas of no contest to the charges of recklessness and was found guilty. Klicko ordered a presentence investigation be conducted to gain background on Villa Velez and to recommend sentencing. According to the criminal complaint, Villa Velez and another man physically fought in the early morning hours of July 26 after Villa Velez, panicked over the loss of his cellphone and only connection to his family in Ecuador, accused the man of stealing it. They fought outside the Bunker Run J-1 student housing building in Lake Delton. Others stepped in to separate them. Surveillance video showed Villa Velez reach into his waistband after they had stepped apart and rushed the man, stabbing him more than once in the back. He then walked away and threw the knife. Roughly 10 hours later, EMTs were called to the complex, where the man had put adhesive bandages on the wounds, measuring from 0.5 to 0.75 inches long. He was taken to UW Hospital in Madison. He had been stabbed three times. Staff said one was superficial, but that one had been close to his spine and the other near his lung. Villa Velez told an investigator at the time that it was like a demon came through him and he has never done anything like this before. Villa Velez said, I lost it when he became panicked at the thought of not having any way to contact his family in South America. The demon he referenced was noted in the presentence investigation, said Villa Velezs defense attorney Ron Benavides during the sentencing hearing Monday. Benavides argued that in conjunction with information provided by a psychologist in his home country, Villa Velez indicated to the presentence investigator that he has mental health issues, including the diagnosis of schizophrenia, and the possibility of a cognitive disability. Villa Velez said he has heard voices in his head since he was 19, Benavides said. He referred to the demon, he referred to voices and so on, Benavides said. A lot of negative type communication with the voices. All of that is at play when he made this immature, irresponsible decision. Benavides asked for consideration based on Villa Velezs mental health issues and his immaturity. Villa Velez is not a dangerous criminal waiting behind a tree to attack, Benavides said. Sauk County Assistant District Attorney Rick Spoentgen argued Villa Velez is a particular danger to the public because of his quick response in anger to any perceived slight. Spoentgen recommended Villa Velez be sentenced to seven years in prison and five years of extended supervision. The defendant didnt come to the case with a criminal history, but he obviously has a serious one now, Spoentgen said. It seems that the defendant has engaged in a pattern of violent behavior over seemingly minor slights. Villa Velez was charged in November with battery by prisoners after he punched another jail inmate who was slapping the wall that adjoined his cell as he tried to sleep. The charge was dismissed, but read in to his sentencing. Klicko ordered the same sentence for both counts. They can be served concurrently. Villa Velez was granted 336 days of jail credit. As conditions of his extended supervision, Villa Velez must maintain absolute sobriety, seek and maintain full-time employment or schooling, undergo alcohol and other drug assessment and treatment and anger management assessment and treatment. He must submit a DNA sample as well. Villa Velez is prohibited from having contact with the man he stabbed, his family members, home or place of employment. He cannot possess any alcohol or controlled substances and is prohibited from entering a business oriented for the primary sale of alcohol. As part of his sentencing, Villa Velez must pay restitution for the medical costs incurred by the man he stabbed. He was ordered to pay more than $51,000 in restitution. Follow Bridget on Twitter @cookebridget or contact her at 608-745-3513. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Beaver Dam High School alum has returned to town and is working with a downtown studio to create a lasting clay mural that will be later placed on the outside of the building. Jeremiah Jacobs is a Class of 2002 graduate and had art teacher Kris Schumacher-Rasmussen. Jacobs said Schumacher-Rasmussens ceramics class opened him up to his life goals. She exposed to me the idea that people did this professionally, Jacobs said. Before this I thought everyone had careers like welder or carpenter. Jacobs attended the School of The Art Institute of Chicago. He said he has also apprenticed under Joel Huntley, from Columbus, along with other potteries in the U.S. In 2011, he was named a resident artist at the Craftsman House Gallery in St. Petersburg, Florida, and later worked as a house gaffer, the chief electrician in a motion-picture or television production unit,at the Morean Glass Studio & Hot Shop. Schumacher-Rasmussen is the owner of Art on the Town Wisconsin: The Studio in downtown Beaver Dam. Schumacher-Rasmussen said that she had fond memories of having Jacobs as a student. He lived on the pottery wheel in the ceramics room, Schumacher-Rasmussen recalled. The two reconnected over Facebook and started talking about the project a while back for Jacobs to work on when he returned to the area to visit family. The community is welcome to participate in the clay mural project, Schumacher-Rasmussen said, adding that it is also an opportunity for the community to see the caliber of artists created by Beaver Dam schools. Jacobs began the community clay event last week. Community members are invited in to the studio when it is open to work on the project. It will eventually be hung on the back of the studio building, Schumacher Rasmussen said. Jacobs said after the piece is completed it will be glazed and take at least a month to dry. In the end it will be hung up in pieces on the back of the building. We are trying to do a unique and different approach, Schumacher-Rasmussen said. Beaver Dam has lots of fantastic murals, but we wanted to do one using another approach. Jacobs said he appreciated all the recent arts that have been added to Beaver Dam. Its such a good time for the town, Jacobs said. It is great that the city is moving in this direction. Jacobs will also be teaching the Raku Experience on Saturday, July 2. Raku is a Japanese style of pottery originating in the 1580s. The practice is characterized by the removal of a clay object from the kiln at the height of the firing and causing it to cool very rapidly to reveal unique and beautiful colors. Those who attend the event that day will be able to choose a pot that will be glazed before the process begins to create the Raku fired clay. Prices vary between $25 and $75, but those doing the art work can take the items home. To find out more visit: artonthetownwi.com Follow Terri Pederson on Twitter @tlp53916 or contact her at 920-356-6760. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. RACINE The organizer of a protest Sunday was arrested on Main Street. The organizer, Kejuan Goldsmith, led a protest that involved about 50 people who marched through Downtown Racine in opposition to Friday's Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that had required all states to allow some access to abortions. After Friday's ruling, abortion became illegal in Wisconsin. The protest Sunday, organized by Goldsmith and the group We the Change-makers, was the first in Racine in opposition to Friday's ruling. Goldsmith said he was arrested at around 4 p.m. and was bonded out of the Racine County Jail within hours. He said his bail was $600. Goldsmith spoke with The Journal Times over the phone Sunday night. He called the arrest "bogus" and "wrong." He said he was accused of "obstruction of justice and resisting arrest." The protest began at 3 p.m. on Monument Square. Police arrived, Goldsmith said, "Because apparently I didn't have a permit to protest on the street. That's what they initially said." Goldsmith, who has participated in and led protests in the Racine area for several years, said he has never received a permit for a protest previously and that this was the first time police got directly involved in a protest he has led. Two videos of the arrest show a tense scene with demonstrators yelling at multiple police officers, but no violence or active interference with officers. Bystanders yelled "This is not illegal!" and "No justice, no peace!" repeatedly at the officers. The arrest occurred next to the sidewalk on the southwest side of the intersection of Third Street and Main Street, with videos showing Goldsmith being handcuffed and led away on foot by two Racine Police Department officers. Goldsmith had moments prior been using a megaphone to lead chants of "What does democracy look like? This is what democracy looks like!" Goldsmith said he is hiring a lawyer and plans to fight any charges if they are formally filed. The Racine Police Department did not immediately have a comment on the arrest. "You do not need a freaking permit to protest," Goldsmith said Sunday night. Xavier Simmons, another Racine-based organizer who witnessed the arrested, said in a text to a reporter "They (the police) told him (Goldsmith) to get out of the street. He gout out of the street and they still handcuffed him." According to the City of Racine's "Public Event Planning Instructions & Application" document: "Demonstrations, protests and rallies are allowed on public property without obtaining a Public Event Permit, under the following conditions: Protest remains peaceful. Sound is not audible from more than 50 feet from the source or on private property at the property line. Pedestrian/vehicular traffic is not interrupted. Streets and sidewalks are not blocked. Building entrances remain open. Public use of park is not restricted area." Protesters had briefly obstructed traffic at the intersection of Main Street and Fourth Street. In recent years, even when Racine Police witnessed traffic obstruction during protests that at least once in June 2021 included the forced diversion of a fire engine, arrests have not been immediately made. Goldsmith, a Case High School graduate, posted on Facebook afterward "You can arrest me. You can charge me with bogus charges. But youll never silence me. Aint no power like the power of the people cause the power of the people dont stop!" According to the city document relating to public events, reserving Monument Square and Monument Square Drive would be $320 for a city resident for the full day. Witsie honoured in 2022 Queens Birthday Awards One of Australias highest civilian honours acknowledges Brian Myerson for his contribution to community health. Co-founder of organ donation group ShareLife, Brian Myerson (BSc TRP 1975, MBA 1978) received an Order of Australia in the 2022 Queens Birthday Honours List for his tireless service to community health and advocacy for organ donation. The Wits alumnus was among the 994 Australians acknowledged for meritorious and distinguished service on 13 June 2022. Its an amazing honour, he told Australian Jewish Network. Im also so also grateful to my family and friends, who have supported me through all my health issues and I certainly wouldnt have been able to achieve this without them, he said. Myersons advocacy has been informed by his personal journey with diabetes, which was diagnosed at the age of 11. He said in correspondence to the Wits Alumni Relations Office that he found the fuss very embarrassing because I have never sought the limelight and preferred to work quietly to achieve my goals. In 1972 he was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and told that he would slowly go blind, but received experimental laser therapy and still enjoys excellent eyesight. In 1999 Myerson received a combined pancreas and kidney transplant that saved his life. I received a kidney and pancreas transplant from Matthew, a deceased donor, whose wonderful family had made the kind and generous decision to donate his organs when he passed away in June 1999. His experiences during dialysis, with people dying and others becoming depressed due to a shortage of donated organs, led him to dedicate his efforts to saving many more lives of those suffering from organ failure. In 2003, profoundly affected by his experiences, he set about finding ways to improve the infrastructure in organ donation for transplantation in Australia. In 2008, ShareLife approached then Prime Minister, Kevin Rudd, with a detailed plan to focus on the systems in all the major hospitals in Australia to raise the organ donation and transplantation rate. The entire plan was approved by cabinet and launched in January 2009. Myerson has worked for Standard Bank of South Africa, the Bank of Montreal in Canada and Hill Samuel Australia. He then directed companies in construction and development with his brother Stephen (BArch 1979, MBA 1981). The wonderful education I received at Wits, set me up to achieve all I have been able to do, he said. Whether it requires the use of grass, flowers, roots or leaves, edible foods, or other medicinal materials, mixing together Chinese herbal remedies is an essential skill for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) practitioners. A series of programs produced by People's Daily Online will document how TCM is practiced and promoted in China and the United States. The videos will also showcase how TCM has been used to improve the health of those living in different communities. In this episode, let's learn more about traditional Chinese herbal medicine. The transformation of medicinal herbs into pastes is a production technique refined and passed down from nearly 2,000 years ago in China. In Guangzhou, the creation and use of traditional Chinese medicinal materials is the basis for tailor-made treatment plans for patients seeking the services of Yang Zhimin, a famous TCM practitioner. In the U.S., Dr. Liu Hao and a famous chef, Martin Yan, have launched a series of combined celebrity chef and doctor programs called "Yan Can Cook: Good Taste Meets Good Health" on a local TV station every Saturday. They focus their efforts in the programs on popularizing TCM and healthy food culture to local people. As a well-known local doctor of TCM, Dr. Liu, born into a family of TCM practitioners, has many "traditional Chinese medicine fans." He said that he wants to change people's initial impressions of Chinese herbal medicine as a kind of "bitter soup of medicine," arguing that herbal medicine can also be turned into something delicious to eat through simple preparation and cooking methods. In 1994, the U.S. government officially recognized traditional Chinese herbal medicine as a food supplement. Since then, increasingly more Americans have come to recognize the benefits of Chinese herbal medicine. As a sign of this growing popularity, the number of Chinese herbal medicine stores in the U.S. has risen precipitously. "Ellision Enterprise," a traditional Chinese herbal medicine store, has operated in San Francisco's Chinatown for 50 years. "When we came here in 1972, there were only a few traditional Chinese herbal medicine stores in San Francisco. But now, more than 100 stores are selling traditional Chinese herbal medicine," said Kenny Lau, the president of the Chinese Herb Trade Association of America. According to TCM theory, the two primary substances in the human body blood and Qi are described in terms of Yin and Yang. The forces of Yin and Yang are gathered within the body, and when they are out of balance, the body will suffer from illness. This belief in the balance of Yin and Yang serves as the guiding basis for TCM. How then do TCM practitioners transform a bunch of herbs into medicine? This requires knowledge of the medicinal properties of traditional Chinese herbs and memorization of the "Tang Verse," which is the formula used for each herbal medicine, which originates from ancient Chinese medicine classics. At the Five Branches University, the "Tang Verse" is displayed on the wall for students to recite. These are fundamental skills for every TCM practitioner. TCM practitioners treat diseases by looking, hearing, asking, and touching the patient without the aid of modern medical equipment. They spread the fundamental beliefs of TCM and health care to the world with traditional Chinese herbal medicines and TCM theory inscribed into their hearts. (Source: People's Daily Online) Jamaica Bay is an estuary on Long Island's southern point, in the U.S. state of New York. The bay connects with the Lower New York Bay to the west via Rockaway Inlet and is the westernmost of Long Island's coastal lagoons. Geography Of Jamaica Bay Map showing the location of Jamaica Bay. Jamaica Bay is a 25,000-acre eutrophic (nutrient-rich) salty to brackish estuary (100 km2). Rockaway Inlet connects the bay to Lower New York Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Jamaica Bay is located in the southern section of New York City. The uplands around the bay, as well as part of the Rockaway barrier beach, are heavily developed. Dredging, filling, and development have all impacted the bay. The initial 65 square kilometers of wetlands have been filled in to the tune of 49 square kilometers. The bay's center is characterized by subtidal open water and huge low-lying islands with salt marsh, intertidal flats, and uplands that are vital for colonial breeding waterbirds. Food resources abound in intertidal zones, including a wide range of benthic crustaceans and macroalgae dominated by sea lettuce. Historic Seaport Proposal The Rockaway Peninsula in Queens, New York extending between the Jamaica Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. In the early twentieth century, a concept to develop Jamaica Bay as a seaport surfaced. Plans were canceled due to a lack of business traffic to support the building. By 1905, the manufacturing industry in New York was valued at $1.5 billion. The project began in 1911 but was halted during World War I. The docklands were supposed to be linked to the Long Island Rail Road. Dredging the Paerdegat Basin was an important aspect of the strategy since it would provide ships heading to Canarsie with better access. The New York City Board of Estimate authorized a proposal in 1931 to construct railroads on both sides of the Paerdegat Basin. The Board accepted Robert Moses' idea for a system of parks and parkways along Jamaica Bay's northern and western coasts in 1949. Environmental Conditions Jamaica Bay's salt marshes provide ideal habitat for migrating birds and other species. Since 1972, the majority of the rivers and marshes have been protected. As of Spring 2003, marshland was vanishing at a pace of around 40 acres (160,000 m2) per year. The causes of this loss are unknown. However, one theory is that it is caused by increasing sea levels. Ownership And Protection The Jamaica Bay Unit of the Gateway National Recreation Area includes the majority of Jamaica Bay and sections of the uplands and barrier beach. The federal government of the United States and the city of New York possess the vast bulk of the land and water inside this complex. Small pockets of private residential or business ownership persist in the upland buffer around the bay and on the Rockaway Peninsula. The federal Coastal Barrier Resources Act has classified and mapped Jamaica Bay as an otherwise protected beach unit, preventing incompatible government financial aid or flood insurance inside the area. Within the Jamaica Bay and Breezy Point habitat complex, the New York State Natural Heritage Program has designated two Priority Sites for Biodiversity. The New York City Department of Environmental Protection prepared a detailed watershed management plan for the bay in 1993. Ecology White and snowy egrets at Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge in Queens, New York. Jamaica Bay and surrounding Breezy Point host seasonal or year-round populations of approximately 330 special focus and listed species, including 48 fish and 120 bird species. This geographic region concentrates marine and estuarine species traveling between the North Atlantic's New York Bight and the Hudson and Raritan River estuaries. Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge Over 12,600 acres of water, salt marshes, freshwater and brackish water ponds, upland farms and woodlands, open bay, and islands make up the Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge. It is one of the biggest bird habitats in the northeastern United States, and it is an excellent location for seeing seasonal bird migration and resident species. Robert Moses, Commissioner of the New York City Department of Parks and Recreation, established the Wildlife Refuge in the 1950s. When the National Park Service created Gateway in 1972, this property became a component of it. Weather Alert ...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM MONDAY TO 1 PM CDT THURSDAY... * WHAT...Heat index values up to 109 expected. * WHERE...Portions of southwest Indiana, southeast Missouri, western Kentucky, and southern Illinois. * WHEN...From 11 AM Monday through Thursday afternoon. * IMPACTS...Hot temperatures and high humidity may cause heat illnesses to occur. * ADDITIONAL DETAILS...Daily chances for isolated thunderstorms will provide brief relief from the heat. 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. && Over a dozen arrests were made in Wrexham town centre over the weekend, with offences including drink driving, theft and assault. The figure was released by Insp Luke Hughes as part of Mondays public update on the sort of incidents that police attend on a daily basis. Overall town officers received 115 calls on Saturday and Sunday, with incidents ranging from social issues, welfare concern, antisocial behaviour and criminality. More than a dozen arrests, ranging from drink driving, theft, threats, assault, breach of the peace and drunk and disorderly were made. Insp Hughes said: I mentioned a fire that occurred in the early hours of Saturday morning, I can confirm that this appears to be a deliberate act resulting in three vehicles being damaged. CID, CSI and local officers all attending the incident and enquiries are receiving detained attention as we speak. I note that the incident referred to on social media involving a female having a phone stolen by two female suspects is now reported and again is receiving attention; hopefully we will be able to make some steady progress on that. Sadly violence does occur in the town on the weekend (as it sadly does in most large towns and cities). We have had a few incidents on Friday and Saturday night, some resulting in injury others more public order related with arrests for disorderly behaviour. I certainly make a point of following up all these incidents. We look to identify repeat offenders and then place robust bail conditions preventing them having access to the town at night or drinking in licensed premises. We had a number of missing persons incidents over the weekend as we do most days; at the time of writing we have no live missing person enquiries, which is quite rare. A few RTCs Road Traffic Collisions over the weekend (used to be called RTA had to change it as accident implied no one was at fault) However none locally resulting in serious injury, a few that will receive extra scrutiny, like the incident at 5am on Saturday morning, some gentlemen from Manchester. Just visiting the area? We arrested a male on Saturday evening after he was stop searched by officers and found in possession of a Stanley knife. Im raising this to highlight the positive disruption taking place and so please dont think this is a regular occurrence. The stopping is, but is the finding of such item is not. It appears to me that this is his first offence and he is quite young, we will look to do some educational work around this rather than move straight to prosecution as this could seriously affect his future. The matter now sits with the Youth offending team. Finally the Pram Bandits, they have struck again. TWO high value thefts from retailers over the weekend. However I have a hot lead and we are move on this today, hopefully I can update tomorrow. New tailored support scheme launched to help those affected by fire safety issues A new support scheme for those facing significant financial hardship as a result of fire safety issues will launch today. Climate Change Minister Julie James confirmed the Leaseholder Support Scheme would open this morning at 10am (Monday, June 27). The new scheme will provide tailored, independent advice to leaseholders in affected homes. It is currently aimed at leaseholders who are owner occupiers and those who have become displaced residents. However the Minister confirmed applications would be monitored and eligibility kept under review to ensure those who need support most have access to the scheme. Julie James said: Today, we are launching the Leaseholder Support Scheme which will help those who need support the most. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the external partners and sector experts who have assisted us in developing this scheme at pace. Their support and hard work have been critical to establishing the right qualifying criteria and support processes. All leaseholders eligible for this scheme will now receive advice from an Independent Financial Adviser, with the costs fully covered by the Welsh Government. The advice will support them in making the right choice for them and, if the sale of their property is the right route, the Welsh Government will enable them to sell their property at a fair market value. Full guidance on the scheme, including the eligibility criteria, will be published on the Welsh Government website at 10am today. The Minister continued: Addressing fire safety defects in medium and high-rise buildings must go beyond cladding to make these buildings as safe as they can be. This has been our premise from the outset and, although it makes identifying, addressing and resolving issues significantly more complex, it is the right approach. There are no quick or easy fixes, but we cannot compromise on achieving the right, sustainable solutions. Anything less leaves the door open to the risk of further issues arising and it is important to me that, once these issues are resolved, they remain resolved. We must do this properly, to get it right now and for the future. NSPCC Calls for more Perinatal mental health support for mothers across Wales as specialist unit celebrates first anniversary A year ago, Uned Gobaith (Unit of Hope) Mother and Baby Unit near Neath opened its doors to provide specialist inpatient care for the first time for women in Wales who experience serious mental health problems in pregnancy or after the birth of their child. While celebrating the achievements of the last year NSPCC Cymru/Wales is calling for more perinatal support in Wales at an event today, so that parents can access specialist services when needed, wherever they live in the country. MBUs are designed to keep mothers and babies together, which is important for the mum and the family but also for the baby as those first 1,000 days of a persons life are vital for their development. NSPCC Cymru/Wales and the Maternal Mental Health Alliance say the unit, currently the only one in Wales, has made a real difference to women and their families. Now the two organisations are calling for all mums across Wales to be able to access vital MBU provision if they experience a serious perinatal mental health problem. Together, they urge the Welsh Government to ensure there is clarity about a permanent MBU provision in South Wales and to fulfil its commitment to establishing a unit for families in North Wales. Dr Sarah Witcombe-Hayes, Senior Policy Researcher at NSPCC Cymru/Wales, said: Mother and Baby Units can be a lifesaving service. The opening of Uned Gobaith lwas a really important step forward in providing vital inpatient support for women and their families in Wales experiencing severe perinatal mental health problems. Today is a celebration of all the hard work and commitment of those working in and with Uned Gobaith to make a real difference to women and families in its first year. While we must recognise the progress that has been made in establishing this interim mother and baby unit, gaps still remain and more must be done in Wales to make sure all parents can access specialist perinatal mental health services when they need it. We now need to ensure there is clarity about a permanent mother and baby unit in South Wales, and that plans to develop a mother and baby unit for families from North Wales come to fruition. We want to see a clear timeline from Welsh Government for the completion of this service. Karen Middleton, Campaign Manager at the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, said: Todays event will showcase what a powerful difference the Mother and Baby Unit in South Wales has made to the lives of women, babies and families impacted by the most severe perinatal mental health problems. It is crucial that all women who need specialist mental health treatment during pregnancy and the postnatal period can access this care. We ask that the Welsh Government listen to the first-hand accounts of staff and beneficiaries and make permanent, sustainable plans for families across Wales. Kirsten Pearce, Ward Manager at Uned Gobaith, said: The journey that everyone has been on has been incredibly rewarding and inspirational: Seeing a new team of professionals from different disciplines come together to create and develop this amazing and much needed service in Wales, and seeing the patients who have spent time on the unit and have been able to stay with their babies continue their role as mum/parent without interruption and have made their way to recovery and home. The feedback we have received from these women, their families and other professionals involved in their care has been a truly powerful experience for us all. The foundations for Uned Gobaith have been laid, but we are confident that the service will continue to develop while always keeping the parents, babies and their families at its heart, providing the specialist care to support and protect the parent-infant relationship and treatment for perinatal mental illness. The event, which will hear directly from some women with lived experience of staying at Uned Gobaith, showcases how the unit has supported women and families affected by severe perinatal mental health problems in its first year. It will highlight the development of the unit, its achievements and challenges across the year, and the difference it has made to families across Wales. Wales Basic Income pilot scheme will see young leaving care offered over 19,000 The Welsh Government will launch its Basic Income pilot scheme this week which will see young people leaving care offered a guaranteed income of 1,600 each month, before tax. From Friday, 1 July, more than 500 people leaving care in Wales will be offered the basic income for two years to support them as they make the transition to adult life. The Welsh Government hope the pilot will set care leavers on a path to live healthy, happy and fulfilling lives. The Welsh Conservatives have said the scheme will add another burden to local authorities. The 20 million pilot, which will run for three years, will be evaluated to carefully examine its effect on the lives of those involved. The Welsh Government has said those taking part in the pilot will also receive individual advice and support to help them manage their finances and develop their financial and budgeting skills. Local authorities will play a key role in supporting them throughout the pilot. Care Cymru will also work with the young people to give them advice on wellbeing, education, employment and help them plan their future after the pilot. First Minister Mark Drakeford said: We want all our young people to have the best possible chance in life and fulfil their full potential. The state is the guardian of people leaving care and so has a real obligation to support them as they start their adult life. Our focus will be on opening up their world to all its possibilities and create an independence from services as their lives develop. Many of those involved in this pilot dont have the support lots of people myself included have been lucky enough to enjoy as we started out on our path to adulthood. Our radical initiative will not only improve the lives of those taking part in the pilot, but will reap rewards for the rest of Welsh society. If we succeed in what we are attempting today this will be just the first step in what could be a journey that benefits generations to come. The Welsh Conservatives have said the Labour Government is giving out free money with no strings attached. Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Social Partnership, Joel James MS, said: Its been proven time and again that so-called Universal Basic Income doesnt work. Look at Finland, who ditched their scheme after two years in favour of new scheme that encouraged people to actually take up employment or training. We recognise that this is a vulnerable group, and they need extra support but this is completely the wrong way to go about it and could well create more problems than it solves. Its typical Labour but its obvious that giving out free money wont be a quick fix. Tiff Evans of Voices from Care Cymru, speaking on behalf of young people who have experienced care, said: This is a brilliant opportunity for care leavers in Wales. It is good to see that care leavers in Wales are being thought of and Welsh Government are providing this opportunity for them as young people to become responsible, control some parts of their lives and have a chance to thrive and be financially independent. We thank Welsh Government for investing in them and their future and we look forward to other changes and developments for care experienced young people in Wales in order for them to reach life aspirations. How it will work: The UK national rail strike has prompted constant references to the 1984-5 miners strike against the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. There is an understanding among workers that Johnsons government is seeking to emulate Thatcher in inflicting a crushing defeat on the rail workers, to intimidate millions of other workers straining for a fight. Striking rail workers picketing during the recent UK wide national rail strike at the Cowlairs maintenance depot in Springburn, north Glasgow, June 25, 2022 [Photo: WSWS] The World Socialist Web Site is reposting an essay first published in 2004, 20 years since the year-long miners strike, to assist the workers in every sector now coming into struggle to understand the central lessons to be drawn from that heroic struggle. There are, the essay explains, two camps into which reflections on the miners strike generally fall. On the one hand, those claiming that the defeat of the miners strike was inevitable, because theirs was a lost cause waged by yesterdays men This is the view of both the pro-Conservative and pro-Labour media. On the other, there are those on the left of the Labour Party or in various smaller left groups who look back wistfully at the events of 1984, point to certain mistakes that were made, but essentially regard it as a glorious episode and a template for the class struggle in the future. Both are false. The miners strike was defeated by the treachery of the Labour Party and the Trades Union Congress (TUC), which was not challenged by National Union of Mineworkers President (NUM) Arthur Scargill. While Labour and the TUC refused to mobilise the wider working class in the miners support, Scargill confined miners to a programme of militant action that would supposedly either circumvent the isolation of the strike or pressurise the bureaucracy into action. Scargills perspective was rooted in his advocacy of maintaining a national and state-protected industry under the Plan for Coal. But sweeping changes in the world economy associated with the globalisation of production had rendered bankrupt all such protectionist strategies, along with the national reformism policies on which Labour and the unions were historically based. They responded by abandoning that programme and adopting an increasingly open pro-corporate politics, serving as partners of the employers. The miners strike proved at an early stage the necessity of waging the class struggle on a new, socialist and internationalist perspective and the building of new rank-and-file organisations of class struggle and a new socialist and internationalist leadership. *** Britain: 20 years since the year-long miners strike The year-long miners strike of 1984-85 was a watershed in political life in Britain. The worst single defeat suffered by the working class in the post-war period, its results continue to resonate to this day. There has been no shortage of documentaries and articles marking the 20th anniversary. But none of these have made a serious attempt to examine the central lessons to be drawn. Generally, they have fallen into one of two camps: Firstly, there are those claiming that the defeat of the miners strike was inevitable because theirs was a lost cause waged by yesterdays men. The argument essentially runs that the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher, though at times autocratic and arrogant, represented the wave of the future. It was intent on modernising the British economy by curbing the power of the unions, which acted as a bastion of outmoded working practices that were holding the country to ransom. Naturally one may have sympathy for the fate of individual miners, but this should be put in perspective. For what took place subsequently was a consumer boom and the development of the new economy based on deregulation and private capital which even the Labour government has now embraced. This is the view of both the pro-Conservative and pro-Labour media. Secondly, there are those on the left of the Labour Party or in various smaller left groups who look back wistfully at the events of 1984, point to certain mistakes that were made, but essentially regard it as a glorious episode and a template for the class struggle in the future. The apparent strength of the former argument is that it appears to have been confirmed by events. As the web site dedicated to Margaret Thatcher proclaims, The year-long miners strike of 1984 is regarded as the last gasp of the old union order; since that year Britain has not experienced any major industrial conflicts. This cannot be answered by those who refuse to seriously address the causes of a defeat that has ensured the ascendancy of right-wing political and economic nostrums for two decades and for which working people have paid such a bitter price. For the miners themselves the impact of the strikes defeat has been devastating. There were 170 pits in the UK when the strike began, employing over 181,000 men and producing 90 million tonnes of coal. Today there are 15 pits employing around 6,500 men. Around 3,000 more are employed in surface mining. Areas once defined by their connection with mining such as Durham and Lancashire now have no pits. The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has been reduced to a rump with a few thousand members who are still working in the industry. The suffering of the miners during the strike was on a scale almost without precedent. Some 20,000 miners were injured or hospitalised, 13,000 arrested, 200 imprisoned, two were killed on picket lines, three died digging for coal during the winter, and 966 were sacked. The miners faced brutal attacks by the police, who utilised techniques of suppression never seen before in mainland Britain. Mounted officers charged at pickets and through the streets of mining communities. A national task force was created of heavily armoured riot police, which was used to mount military style attacks. Miners were prevented from freely moving around the country, and special courts were created to deal with the large numbers of arrests made. A legal attack was waged against the NUM, during which there were repeated efforts to sequestrate its assets. Powerful business interests and elements within the state combined to organise a massive strike-breaking operation that culminated in the establishment of a scab union, the Union of Democratic Mineworkers. What happened after the strikes defeat was worse. Once pits closed whole communities were plunged into desperate poverty. Many young people were forced to leave in search of work and, of those who stayed, reports estimate that one in three households are affected by problems of serious drug addiction. Any regeneration efforts attempted in former mining areas have been shaped by the character of todays economy, with its domination by transnational corporations seeking access to cheap labour and extensive tax breaks. Consequently, according to the Coalfields Community organisation, Companies are able to recruit rigorously and selectively to build up workforces of people willing to work flexibly for low wages, frequently in non-unionised workplaces. Work is often part-time and sometimes temporary when factories close soon after opening. More generally, the defeat of the miners became the signal for the final abandonment by the trade unions and the Labour Party of any defence of the social interests of the working class. There were other strikes, of course, but nothing of equivalent magnitude. In the 1970s the highest number of days lost through industrial disputes was 29.4 millionduring the Winter of Discontent of 1979. But the average number of days lost each year in that decade was still 12.9 million. In the 1980s the average was 7.2 million, but this figure is distorted by counting in the number of days lost as a result of the miners strike itself, with 27 million working days lost in that year alone. During the following decade, however, the average number of working days lost each year was just 660,000, with 1998 recording the lowest ever figure of 235,000 in just 205 stoppages, compared with 1,221 in 1984. Trade union membership is now less than seven million, compared with over 11 million in 1984. In the private sector less than 19 percent of workers belong to a union and less than one-fifth of all 18-29 year olds are union members. This drops to around 10 percent in the private sector. Even this does not begin to address the full impact on the ability of the working class to successfully combat the employers. For the unions today function essentially as a police force on behalf of management, as opposed to defensive organisations on behalf of their members. Throughout Thatchers terms in office and that of her successor John Major, the unions did nothing to oppose an unprecedented shift in wealth from the poor to the rich. And when Labour came to power in 1997 under Tony Blair, it continued Thatchers pro-business policies with the full collaboration of the Trades Union Congress (TUC). Within the first two years of Labour taking office, the wealthiest 10 percent of the population recorded their highest share of national income since 1988, at the height of Thatchers rule. Income inequality today is even higher than it was under Thatcher. As for the impact on working conditions, this can be judged from the fact that by 2002 the number of working days lost due to stress-related illness had risen to 33 million, up from 18 million in 1995, and was fully 60 times the number of days lost due to industrial action (550,000). Thus, an examination of the miners strike is not simply an issue of historical interest, but one of contemporary significance. The impact of globalisation The scale of Thatchers victory in 1984 cannot be understood without reference to the years that preceded it. Indeed, the year-long strike is popularly portrayed as the outcome of a fight between two giant egosThatcher and NUM President Arthur Scargilleach out to finally settle a conflict that first began in 1972which saw mass picketing organised by Scargill at Saltley Gate coke depot and the miners secure a 27 percent pay riseand most significantly in 1974. The miners strike of that year, at which time Scargill was NUM Yorkshire president, had forced the Conservative government of Edward Heath to pose the question who rules the country, the government or the unions? In the end, his government was forced to quit office and give way to a minority Labour government. Edward Heath [Photo by Open Government Licence v3.0,] Thatchers ascendancy into the leadership of the Conservatives was as the head of a right-wing cabal fired by the belief that Heath should have never retreated in the face of what she subsequently described as the enemy withinthe miners and the working class. But this shift within the Tory Party was bound up with more fundamental economic and political processes. The bringing down of the Heath government took place at a time of a systemic crisis for the capitalist class on a world scale. The years between 1968-75 saw a series of class struggles, often of revolutionary proportions, as a result of an international economic crisis epitomised by the collapse of the Bretton Woods system of dollar-gold convertibility. The ruling class survived this tumultuous period, but profit rates continued to decline. As a result, the dominant sections of the bourgeoisie concluded that only a major offensive against the working class and the complex system of concessions embodied in the welfare state could rescue the capitalist system. Thatcher, together with President Ronald Reagan in the United States, embodied this political shift away from policies of class compromise towards direct class confrontation. Thatcher represented the ascendancy of powerful new forces. The major corporations had sought to counteract falling rates of profit by an aggressive turn towards global investment and internationalised production. As part of this strategy they demanded the deregulation of the economies of the advanced industrial countries, the slashing of tax rates and the destruction of welfare provision. Under the banner of rolling back the frontiers of the state, Thatcher was dedicated to such an economic and social reorganisation of Britain in order to make it globally competitive. This included the rationalisation (gutting) and/or privatisation of previously nationalised industries so as to slash taxes while opening key areas of the economy to corporate investors. After 1974 the Conservatives spent five years in opposition preparing a major offensive against the working class. Just prior to Thatchers coming into office in 1979, a report was prepared by Nicholas Ridley detailing a plan to defeat the miners in the event of another industrial conflict, including the organisation of a large, mobile squad of police, equipped and prepared to uphold the law against violent picketing. Scargill also saw the early 1970s as providing the essential framework for the 1984-85 strike, but unlike Thatcher, from the standpoint of repeating what he saw as a heroic success. Far from being the revolutionary of popular right-wing mythology, Scargill is a life-long supporter of the Stalinist Communist Party and an advocate of its national reformist programme. To the extent that he spoke of socialism, it was as a perspective for the distant future. In the meantime, what was required was the creation of a nationally regulated economy based on a mix of import controls and subsidies that would provide the basis for protecting Britains nationalised coal industry. This was the Plan for Coal that he sought to commit the Labour Party and the TUC to fight for in a struggle against the Conservatives. What was demonstrated in 1984, however, was not only that the ruling class was no longer prepared to tolerate such a policy, but that there was no longer any significant constituency for such a programme within the labour bureaucracy of which he was a part. The same processes that had given rise to Thatcherism had already undermined the Labour Partys national reformist programme. Historically, the Labour Party and the trade unions had advocated a piecemeal struggle to secure concessions from the employers and social reforms through parliament. The bureaucracy did so not out of a genuine belief that this was the eventual road to socialism, but in order to safeguard the profit system on which their privileged existence depended from revolutionary challenge by the working class. Their fundamental loyalty was always to the preservation of the bourgeois order, but they could successfully argue that this was compatible with the provision of higher wages, better working conditions and access to free health care and education. The globalisation of production that took place from the mid-seventies and which accelerated in the 1980s had rendered this national reformist policy bankrupt. The reorganisation of every aspect of economic lifeproduction, distribution and exchangeon an international scale was incompatible with Labours traditional efforts to maintain a social and political consensus between the classes. Instead, the Labour government that the miners helped to bring to power in 1974 had implemented austerity measures dictated by the International Monetary Fund and imposed wage restraint. In this way the Labour Party first gave the bourgeoisie vital breathing space to prepare a counteroffensive against the working class and then paved the way for what was to be 18 years of Conservative rule. At no point did the TUC offer any alternative to the Labour governments of Harold Wilson and then James Callaghan. It merely demanded a slight change in course. As a result, one of the most intensive periods of industrial conflict everthe Winter of Discontent of 1979actually succeeded in bringing to power the most right-wing government seen to that point in Britain. Margaret Thatcher on a visit to Salford in 1982 (From the University Archives and Special Collections) [Photo by University of Salford Press Office / CC BY 4.0 Not only did Scargills perspective cover over the role played by Labour and the TUC in preparing the way for Thatcher, it offered no way of combating the continued shift to the right by the bureaucracy. After Thatcher had secured her second election victory in 1983, the right-wing leadership of the Labour Party had concluded that it was necessary to adapt wholesale to the new economic and political orthodoxy dictated by the bourgeoisie. For its part, the TUC, having isolated and betrayed every struggle against the government, abandoned even its formal opposition to the anti-union laws. Scargill refuses to challenge TUC and Labour Thus, the dominant sections of the Labour bureaucracy were utterly opposed to any mobilisation of the working class against the government. Yet the perspective of Scargill, the Labour Partys left wing and Britains various radical groups was limited to the encouragement of a militant movement within the trade unions to pressurise Labour and the TUC into taking such a stand. What they would not contemplate was the development of any movement that threatened a political break from the bureaucracy. Arthur Scargill on a demonstration rally against pit closures outside University of Sunderland's Edinburgh Building on Chester Road [Photo by Les Golding/Flickr API] This was to prove decisive in the defeat of the miners strike. As the TUCs own official history tellingly explains: In the early 1980s, a policy of active opposition to the anti-union laws was won at the TUC, with activists hoping to repeat the successful (though often unofficial) movement against the industrial relations act of 1971.... [A]t crucial moments some unions, in a weak position, looked to the TUC General Council to organise support action but this was never going to happen. TUC General Secretaries (Len Murray, 1973-84 and Norman Willis, 1984-93) were not going to risk the TUC directly breaking the law (however distasteful that law was). The strike began on March 5, 1984, and was to end on that same day a year later, though Kent miners and some in Yorkshire stayed out for a few more days in protest. The immediate spark for the strike was the announced closure of Cortonwood colliery, but this was only the initial target of a government intent on closing all unprofitable pits and privatising those that remained. In opposition, Scargill called for the closure of pits to take place only on the grounds of exhaustion and for the preservation of a nationalised and subsidised industry. Throughout a year of bitter struggle, the actions of the TUC and the Labour leadership were dedicated to isolating the miners and ensuring that the substantial support that existed within the working class was not mobilised against the government. Solidarity action was mostly limited to raising money and food as the strike dragged on. (Around 60 million was raiseda testament to the strength of support for the miners fight.) Partial and unofficial blocks on the movement of coal were imposed by railwaymen, dockers and lorry drivers, but official secondary supportive strike action was opposed by the TUC unions. Strikes by dockworkers broke out twice as a result of efforts to break their embargo on moving coal, but were speedily called off by the union leaders. And a strike by overseers known as pit deputies was called off on the basis of a rotten compromise. It should be noted that without the deputies, no pit could work and the concerted campaign by the Tories and the police to encourage scabbing would have come to nothing. Scargill and his supporters took an ambivalent attitude to the TUC and the Labour Party. Initially, they sought to keep them at arms length, arguing that this would prevent them from being in a position to sell out the strike. On March 16, the NUM sent a secret letter to the TUC explicitly stating, No request is being made by this union for the intervention or assistance of the TUC. But Scargills efforts to galvanise the labour movement by a display of mass picketing at the Orgreave Coke works near Sheffield in May and June were a disaster. It merely allowed thousands of riot police to wade into miners dressed only in jeans and t-shirts, and to make hundreds of arrests and seriously injure dozens moreincluding Scargill himself. In the latter months of the strike, Scargill and the NUM were forced to repeatedly take part in negotiations with the National Coal Board set up by the TUC. The NUM leader was in an unrivalled position from which to challenge the TUC and Labour bureaucracy, should he have chosen to do so. Had he made an explicit call to the working class to defy their leaders and come out in support of the miners, there is no doubt he would have met a powerful response. Instead, he kept his members out in an increasingly futile campaign before accepting defeat without securing a single concession from the government and the National Coal Board. The role of the Workers Revolutionary Party Though Scargill enjoyed considerable standing amongst the more militant sections of the working class and was viewed as a principled alternative to the likes of Labour leader Neil Kinnock, his leadership would not have remained unchallenged throughout months of terrible hardship had it not been for the crucial support he was given by the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP). At the time, the WRP was the British section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), but had long since begun to abandon a revolutionary perspective in favour of a capitulation to the bureaucratic leaderships of the workers movement. How the Workers Revolutionary Party Betrayed Trotskyism [Photo: WSWS] Its adaptation to Scargill was one of the most grotesque expressions of this protracted political degeneration. The WRPs role is analysed in the ICFI statement, How the Workers Revolutionary Party Betrayed Trotskyism 1973-85: During a struggle that lasted for one year, the WRP never once placed a single demand on the mass political organisation of the working classthe Labour Party. It never issued a call for the mobilisation of the working class to force the resignation of the Tory government, new elections and the return of the Labour Party to power on a socialist programme For all its left-sounding rhetoric, the line of the WRP throughout the miners strike conveniently enabled the [WRP leader Gerry] Healy clique to avoid any conflict with its opportunist friends in the Labour Party and with the Scargill leadership of the NUM. For all the talk of a revolutionary situation, the WRP leaders consciously ruled out any criticism of Scargillthus exposing the fact that their own call for a general strike was utterly hollow. The ICFI statement continues, In the situation which existed in 1984, the central demand to bring the Tories down and return the Labourites to power on socialist policies would have had a powerful impact upon the mass movement, and created the conditions for the exposure of the Labourites. In so far as the Labourites, including and above all the Lefts, refused to support this demand and fight for it their credibility within the working class would be shattered. On the other hand, if despite the sabotage of the Social Democrats, the Tories were forced to resign (or, for that matter, attempted to remain in power in the face of mass popular opposition), a pre-revolutionary situation could have emerged in Britain.... The campaign for a general strike could only develop in a political struggle within the working class against this objectively reactionary line. It would have entailed an uncompromising day-to-day battle against Scargills centrist politics, a clear analysis of the limitations of syndicalism, the exposure of Scargills ties to the Stalinists, and an unequivocal denunciation of his refusal to fight for the immediate bringing down of the Tories. Only along these lines could the WRP have built up within miners and the working class as a whole the political consciousness necessary for the general strike. In the final analysis, it was the refusal of the WRP to wage a principled struggle against Scargill that disarmed the many thousands of workers who looked to it for a lead, and thereby ensured the strikes defeat. The strikes lessons for today The necessity to develop a political consciousnessthat is, a genuine socialist consciousnessin the working class remains the essential lesson that must be drawn from the miners strike. The strike was a seminal experience for a generation of workers, but it is one that has still to be digested and understood. It is a feature of the strike that despite the suffering it caused, it generally strengthened bonds of friendship and family. Even its critics are forced to acknowledge, for example, the essential role played by women in the strike and how this challenged preconceptions in what was undoubtedly hitherto very male-dominated communities. In the strikes aftermath, however, communities were torn apart and many families split up. This cannot be understood simply as the result of a defeat, however terrible. It suggests the personal pressures created because so few of the strikes participants understood why they had been defeated despite their heroism and sacrifice and were able to conceive of a way forward. Thatcher won the strike not because of any inherent strength, but because of the rottenness of her political opponents. And though it was portrayed at the time as the high point of industrial militancy, it turned out to be its last hurrah. By 1984, the old organisations of the working class were already in an advanced state of decay. And the perspective of national reformism on which they were based could no longer provide the means through which the working class could defend any of its past gains, let alone offer the means to make fresh advances. Tony Blair and New Labour are not in that sense a break from the history of the workers movement, but the product of its most negative featuresits ideological subordination to the bourgeoisie and the profit system. The miners strike posed the necessity for the working class to break both organisationally and politically from the programme of social reformism and to develop new organisations and methods of struggle based upon the revolutionary internationalist perspective of Marxismin opposition to which Labourism had developed. But at the time, even the most steadfast and principled sections of miners and the working class generally believed that militant action alone would be enough to stiffen the resolve of their leaders and ensure victory. They paid a heavy price for such illusions. At first glance, it would appear that little that was progressive emerged from the miners strike. Certainly, it had the effect of tightening the grip of a corrupt clique on the workers movement, using the defeat to proclaim the end of the class struggle in order to impose its own right-wing policies. There is an extremely limited character to such a victory, however. The last 20 years have seen changes of such magnitude that they have turned previous assumptions upside down. In the process, it is not merely the old perspective of social reformism that has been discredited. The alternatives offered by the right wing have been exposed in far less time. Thatchers popular capitalism proved to be a recipe for societal breakdown, and the repackaged version offered by Blair, the so-called Third Way, has proved to be no less disastrous. The most discredited of political notions, however, is the idea that the Labour Party in any way represents a political alternative for working people. The ideological conquest of the old workers movement by overt champions of the profit system and the transformation of the Labour Party and the trade unions into adjuncts of big business are so complete that they can no longer hold the allegiance of the broad mass of the working class. On every issue relating to its social and democratic rights, the working class today finds itself in direct confrontation with its old organisations. This found its most finished expression in the mass mobilisations against the Iraq war, where popular hostility to Blairs pro-business agenda fed into opposition to an unprovoked and criminal attack on a defenceless country. The class struggle is far from over. Rather, the anti-war movement indicates that in the next period it will not be confined within the old structures and must take on the character of a political rebellion against the trade union and labour bureaucracy. In preparing the ground for such a development, an examination of the central lessons of the miners strike is of vital importance. A third wave of infection from strains of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2Britains fifth COVID waveis pushing infection, hospitalisation and death rates up again. Last week, according to Office of National Statistics (ONS) figures, 334 people were killed, nearly 6,000 people were admitted to hospital and an estimated 1.7 million people were suffering from some level of infection. This is around 1 in 35 of the population, although there are regional variations with Scotland reporting 1 in 20 infected and Northern Ireland 1 in 30. Rates of infection were on average up by 23 percent on the previous week. Nearly two and half years after the World Health Organisation issued a public health emergency warning about a novel coronavirus, the WHO estimates 15 million people have been killed by COVID-19. Most of these deaths were avoidable and can be directly attributed to the refusal of governments worldwide to pursue the necessary policy of COVID elimination. Nearly 200,000 deaths have occurred in the UK. Despite relatively high levels of vaccination, over 53 million have received at least one dose and over 50 million have had at least three jabs, COVID-19 remains a potentially deadly and debilitating disease. The current wave is largely due to the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants of Omicron, now reported to make up more than half of new cases. Transmission of the new variants is likely to have been accelerated by the British monarchs platinum jubilee. Millions of people attended mass events between June 2 and 5 and COVID prevalence increased by 43 percent in the following week. Professor Tim Spector of the ZOE Covid symptom study app told the Independent, Were heading towards a quarter of a million cases a day. The question is whether it stops and comes back again, everyone is predicting an autumn wave but I dont think anyone predicted this summer wavethats the difference. None of the modelling allowed for this, it didnt take into account the effect of BA.5 variant which is dominant now. Mathematics lecturer Kit Yates told the Independent SAGE scientific advisory group June 17, It is pretty much official from the latest ONS data that the UK has entered the next wave of COVID. It is most concerning to see that there has been an increase in COVID infections in older age groups and in the 50-59 age group who have not been offered another booster yet. Even for the over-75s offered a fourth shot, one fifth have not received it. Professor Rowland Kao, an epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh, commented, Certainly, in my view, the message about getting back to normal does have the impact of reducing the urgency of getting those fourth doses out. While hospitalisation rates are still lower than in April, at the peak of the BA.2 surge when over 16,000 people were admitted, the British Medical Journal (BMJ) reported that the rate of increase is greater than during the previous surge. Dr. Deepti Gurdasani, senior lecturer and clinical epidemiologist at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, told the journal June 20, Given where we are in terms of NHS pressure and long covid impact, any increase at this point from a high baseline will put further pressure on an NHS thats already struggling to provide safe and urgent patient care, and will likely continue to lead to even higher levels of long covid. Both subvariants are thought to spread more easily than their predecessors, Omicron BA.1 and BA.2. Writing in the same edition of the BMJ, Christina Pagel, director of the Clinical Operational Research Unit, warned that so far in 2022 there had already been two waves of Omicron infection peaking in January at 7 percent of the population infected and in late March at 8 percent. Pagel predicted a new peak late June and into early July, although because such huge numbers had been infected in the previous Omicron waves, some residual immunity might offer additional protection. Nevertheless, Pagel wrote, While omicron might be somewhat less severe than delta, and people have higher immunity through vaccination and previous infection, it is not mild. At a population level, its sheer transmissibility more than compensates for any reduction in experienced disease severity or symptoms for the individual. Pagel warned of more workplace disruption because of high sickness rates, additional pressures on the NHS, longer waiting times for ambulances and in Accident & Emergency and record numbers of people awaiting routine treatment. More people will also get Long COVID. Pagel noted the ONS had recorded as many as 600,000 people reporting persistent symptoms from infection with the Omicron variant alone. Overall, there are 2 million people with Long COVID, over 800,000 for more than a year and 376,000 for over two years. Five percent of workers in healthcare report ongoing symptoms, while 10,000 NHS workers have been laid low for more than three months with long COVID. In the face of this ongoing public health danger, from the disease itself and the consequential collapse in health provision, the response of the British ruling class has been to press on with ending whatever minimal mitigation measures have remained in place. Professor Jill Pell, director of Glasgow Universitys Institute of Health & Wellbeing, warned the Scottish parliament's COVID-19 Recovery Committee that three of four prongs to curb infection have been removed. We have taken away the non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as the requirement for social distancing and mandatory facial coverings. We have also removed access to mass testingthat needs to be acknowledgedand we have removed the idea of having a supported shielding list. Therefore, we are left solely with vaccination. The Scottish National Party government responded with criminal complacency, with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon telling people to be sensible and take precautions, suggesting they wear a face covering in crowded indoor places while stressing it was no longer a requirement. All COVID restrictions were removed in Wales in May. Labour First Minister Mark Drakeford claimed at the time, we can move beyond the emergency response while still living safely with this virus. Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, until recently deputy chief medical officer, summarised the Westminster governments response. He told the BBC, We just accept in the winter that, if youve got seasonal flu and you're poorly for a few days, it disrupts your life. And so I think weve got start to frame COVID in a little bit more of those terms, adding, people have got to learn to frame those risks for themselves. Even as the COVID pandemic enters a new surge, Britain is seeing a rise in monkeypox cases and the re-emergence of polio. There are 910 recorded cases of monkeypoxthe bulk in Londonwith those affected reporting delays in the testing, tracing and vaccination response. Paul Hunter, professor of medicine at the University of East Anglia, commented, At the moment there is no clear evidence that the current epidemic is coming under control. Last Wednesday, the UK Health and Security Agency announced evidence of polio transmission in London, declaring a national incident. Britain was declared polio-free in 2003. But the UKHSA is not planning on testing sewage nationally to establish its prevalence. Professor David Salisbury, from the WHO Global Commission for Certification of Polio Eradication, warned, Without extensive national environmental poliovirus surveillance, it is not possible to know if this problem is more widespread. Bird flu, Lassa fever and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever have all been detected in the UK this year. Professor Mark Woolhouse, University of Edinburgh professor of infectious disease epidemiology, told the Daily Telegraph Sunday, The early 21st century has been a perfect storm for emerging infectious diseases, and everything is pointing towards the likelihood of more and more outbreaks. All the drivers of outbreaks are getting worse, not better, over time. Spains PSOE (Socialist Party)-Podemos government has demanded that NATO consider migration, as well as food insecurity and terrorism, to be hybrid threats. This reference to NATO denunciations of Russian hybrid warfare before the war in Ukraine comes as Madrid prepares to host the 2022 NATO summit from June 2830. PSOE Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares told Reuters the Spanish government intends to push for the inclusion of these nonmilitary threats into NATOs Strategic Concept document, the alliances new policy roadmap for the next decade. The document, to be drafted at the conference, will lay out NATOs mission amid the war in Ukraine and the admission of new members such as Sweden and Finland. NATO must also strengthen its southern flanki.e., the Sahel and MaghrebAlbares told Reuters, even as the military alliance funnels billions of dollars worth of weapons and military vehicles to Ukraine to wage NATOs proxy war against Russia. We want it to be recognised, Albares stated, that there are also serious threats coming from the southern flank. Terrorism, cybersecurity, the political use of energy resources and irregular migration affect our sovereignty. The inclusion of these hybrid threats in the NATO strategic document, as well as an explicit reference to the southern flank, would have a deterrent effect, Albares claimed. The PSOE-Podemos governments characterisation of migration as a hybrid threat is not only a declaration of its intent to launch a brutal crackdown on refugees and asylum seekers. Madrid means to instrumentalise the arrival of a few thousand refugees a year at its borders to push for neo-colonial wars and interventions in these resource-rich regions of North and sub-Saharan Africa. Nobody should doubt that these hybrid threats could be used to challenge our territorial integrity and our sovereignty, Albares continued. We dont have to do anything new; we just have to take into account that a series of threats can come from the southern flank that at any moment could require a defensive reaction from NATO exactly like what were seeing on the eastern flank [emphasis added]. This is nothing less than a call for NATO to turn the Maghreb and Sahel into a new Ukraine, asserting its interests in this region via proxy wars or even direct military intervention. If migration were to be acknowledged as a strategic, hybrid threat, several questions are raised. Would the arrival of refugees on the southern borders of the NATO bloc constitute an attack on the alliance? Would this trigger Article 5 of NATOs treaty, obliging all 30 member states to come to Spains defence by waging war on impoverished African or Middle Eastern states? Which country would be considered the aggressor? The one from which the majority of migrants are coming? Or any country that refugees pass through on their way to Europe, and which fails to apprehend them? Each of these scenarios risks the outbreak of large-scale war. In this regard, it is significant that Albares framed his reactionary demands as being a part of NATOs ongoing conflict with Russia, explaining that interventions in the Sahel and Maghreb would be necessary to combat the growing Russian influence in the region. Referring to the deployment of Russian mercenaries from the Wagner Group in Mali , he stated: The presence of Russia [in Mali] doesnt help anything, doesnt help to advance democracy, to stabilise, at all. The statements made by Albares recall events last autumn. In October and November, as a few thousand refugees from Iraq, Syria, Yemen and other war zones tried to enter the European Union from Belarus, European politicians and media denounced Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko for supposedly using refugees and migrants as a weapon in a hybrid war. Their aim was to ramp up tensions with Belarus, a Russian ally, as part of their campaign to militarily encircle and ultimately wage war on Russia. Spains calls for a strategic focus on the southern flank come amid growing Spanish-Algerian tensions triggered by the Algerian-Moroccan conflict over the Western Sahara. AlgerianSpanish relations have been strained since PSOE Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez recognised Moroccos claim to the Western Sahara in mid-March. The Western Sahara is a sparsely inhabited former Spanish colonial possession on Moroccos south-western border, with considerable mineral and phosphate reserves. Rabat has long sought to bring it under Moroccan administration as an autonomous region. After Spain ended its long-standing neutrality in this dispute, Algeria, which has backed the proSahrawi independence Polisario Front, withdrew its ambassador from Madrid. On June 8, reports then emerged that Algiers had officially ended its 20-year treaty of friendship with Spain, although the Algerian government later denied the report. The Spanish government fears that Algeria, which provided 40 percent of Spains natural gas imports in 2021, may now cut energy supplies to the country. This comes as the European Union and NATO campaign for an energy embargo against Russia, the EUs major oil and gas supplier, amid the war in Ukraine. Spains economy minister and first deputy prime minister, Nadia Calvino, tried to blame Madrids deteriorating relations with Algeria on Russia, telling Catalunya Radio shed already seen that Algeria was more and more aligned with Russia. [The decision] did not surprise me that much. The important thing is for the EU to respond with unity and determination. The call for refugees to be considered a type of hybrid warfare is a significant escalation of Madrids vicious anti-migrant campaign, which it has adopted directly from the programme of the far-right Vox party. In a statement on May 18, Vox declared: The Moroccan government continues to attack Spain through its hostile actions against the autonomous cities [Spains North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla]. Referring to migrants on the SpanishMoroccan borders as hybrid warfare, Vox continued: the aggression suffered by Spain is not finding any response in the face of the hostilities of Morocco. Voxs comments themselves echo those made by Prime Minister Sanchez last May. As several thousand Moroccan migrants tried to cross over into Ceuta, Sanchez had all but accused the Moroccan government of waging war on Spain. Rabat, which had reportedly opened its side of the border in retaliation for Spains earlier position on the Western Sahara, had used immigration, Sanchez stated, due to disagreements in foreign policy. Sanchez declared that this was inadmissible and akin to attacking borders. The PSOE-Podemos government already has the blood of thousands of refugees on its hands. Blocking off legal routes to enter Spain, it has forced desperate migrants to make perilous sea journeys in unsafe or makeshift vessels, in which thousands have drowned. On Friday, dozens of African migrants were killed and hundreds injured as they tried to climb the border fence between Morocco and Melilla. The PSOE-Podemos government of warmongers has fully signed itself up to NATOs war against Russia and is campaigning for the escalation of imperialist conflict abroad, all while it cracks down on refugees at its borders and workers opposition at home. The decisive issue is to build an anti-war movement in the working class, in irreconcilable opposition to pseudo-left parties like Podemos, defending refugees and migrants as part of a struggle for socialism in Spain and internationally. As part of the ongoing election campaign for the Student Parliament (StuPa) of the Berlin Humboldt University (HU), members and supporters of the International Youth and Student for Social Equality (IYSSE) discussed with hundreds of students the immense rearmament of the Bundeswehr (German armed forces), the war politics of Germany and the other imperialist powers and the right-wing attacks against critical students at the university. The Trotskyist youth and student organization is running in the elections to build a socialist movement against war, social inequality and the rise of the extreme right, as formulated in its election statement. At its first election campaign event this coming Monday, the group will demand: Stop the war! 100 billion for education and health instead of for rearmament! The group will engage all interested parties to discuss the danger of a third world war and the necessity of an international anti-war movement. Moreover, the IYSSE faction in the StuPa has written an open letter to the university administration protesting its support for the radical right-wing professor Jorg Baberowski. Baberowski uses his position at the university to agitate against refugees, drum for brutal wars and trivialize Nazi crimes. In the course of the 2020 StuPa elections this professor physically assaulted an IYSSE deputy. I find it really crass that someone like that is allowed to continue teaching, said Franziska (24), who is studying elementary education in German, mathematics and science at the HU. I myself am dealing with teaching the topic of National Socialism and the Holocaust in elementary school and dont think that this is covered by freedom of teaching. She also opposes the recently announced 100 billion euro for the Bundeswehr. I dont think such an armament program is right, especially when I think about the pandemic and its economic consequences. Because the rents are so high, I still live at home and my parents are both in the at-risk group [for the coronavirus]. Ive had to restrain myself a lot because under no circumstances did I want to put them at risk. I would invest a lot of that money into these totally outdated schools. The kids would get so much out of it! You could make up so many deficits if you invested even a portion of that money there, and into health care! Annkathrin Annkathrin studies Public Health at the Charite [Berlins premiere medical center] and says: I have a very negative feelings about the Sondervermogen [the 100 billion Bundeswehr program], in a pan-European perspective but also in the context of German history. It completely contradicts my basic pacifist standpoint. One hundred billion is such a huge amount that you cant even grasp it. There are so many areas that need that much and more but dont get it, for example health care, education or climate protection! Carla is a freshman social science student at the HU. I think its crass that this money is just suddenly available, but nothing is done about urgent problems like poverty and climate change. One hundred billion would be the minimum to stop climate change, strengthen education and fight social and global injustice. The cost of war, Carla said, is being passed on to workers in every possible way: Taxation is unfair anyway. Now everyone is being asked to pay again, even though the poor suffered more than the wealthy during the coronavirus pandemic anyway. I dont think that arms deliveries end wars; on the contrary. With all these arms deliveries, I worry about a spiral of violence. The Greens havent been an anti-war party for a while now. It also scares me that we are steering toward World War III. Especially the FCAS [Future Combat Air System] is pushing the limits; the [fighter planes] can drop nuclear bombs. I reject giving Germany the ability to fight a nuclear war. But I would not support the Americans either. Theres a lot of ideology on the NATO side, too, and you shouldnt believe everything they say. At HUs Adlershof campus, members of the IYSSE spoke with Nina, a student in computer science. Asked about the German governments war policy, she says, Theyre preparing for war and want to make money by supplying [Eastern European] countries with tanks. You should invest the money in education and health, support children and single parents. Many children and old people are waiting for vital treatments. There are many things the money could go to. You could also raise wages. They always say, We dont have the money, but then they have money for weapons. Its going back in the direction of 80 years ago. Germany wants to have power over other countries and all of Europe again. Regarding Baberowski, Nina asks, Who hired him and why is this person still working at the university? Is he that important to his degree program? I dont know why the university allows this to happen and doesnt act. Its wrong in every way! She adds: As a student, I would feel like a second-class citizen if someone did this to me and the university administration did nothing about it. I wish you the best of luck and hope you achieve your goals and that many students support you. Students from other universities likewise spoke to members of IYSSE on campus. Ali is studying industrial engineering at University of Applied Science (HTW) and says, Every country is pursuing extreme rearmament right now. Investments in it are increasing year by year. There is an arms race. Its inexplicable to me to buy weapons, Ali says. If I had my way, these industries would be eliminated entirely. If that eliminates billions in profits, so be it. I think its very good that more and more people are speaking out against this, and I hope more and more will. Ali There needs to be much more transparency and much more enfranchisement in voting. You could start a worldwide poll: Do you agree that 100 billion should be invested in weapons? If society decided where the money should go, over 50 percent would be against that. Common ground must be found and promoted in so many areas. The goal must be to make borders invisible and to act globally, regardless of whether its against war or against climate change. Because of the internet there could be much more social participation. You could have global voting rights. The technology is there, but its not desired because the current rulers would lose their positions. Regarding Baberowski, Ali says, I dont think such people move with the times. History has shown that in our times there is no way forward through nationalism. Its the same with capitalism. Everyone knows its at its end. Haroun, who speaks to us in English, already knows the IYSSE from his studies at technological institute in Karlsruhe (KIT) and supported them since that time. He is now studying at the Technical University in Berlin and rejects the war and German rearmament. In Egypt, where his parents live, there is a lot of sympathy for Russia, he says, because people have seen enough of the lies and human rights hypocrisy of the EU and the United States. The same governments that are now attacking Russia in Ukraine have been silent on Palestine for years, Haroun says. I myself think little of the Putin regime. It is just as capitalist. Felix Felix studies economics at Freie Universitat in Berlin. He says, As NATO, we already have 70 times the arsenal of Russia, and Europe is already a fortress. Russias army has proven to be a paper tiger in Ukraine, according to some experts. That makes talk of deterrence all the more absurd. In reality, it is about the imperial aspirations of a given ruling class. The average citizen has no benefit from rearmament and even less to gain from conflict. The logic of imperialism should be rejected across the board. Regarding the HU leaderships behaviour in the Baberowski case, Felix says, It is ridiculous that the HU still protects such people and retains them in its ranks. What else does he have to do before they distance themselves from him? Im really not in favour of restricting discourse. But a line should be drawn here: He leaves an imprint on a lot of people, and what he represents is obviously misanthropic. On May 31, lawyers for Harvard University asked US District Court Judge Judith G. Dein to dismiss a civil lawsuit filed by three graduate students in February. The studentsLilia Kilburn, Margaret Czerwienski and Amulya Mandavaclaim that Harvard ignored sexual harassment and retaliation directed against them by anthropology professor John Comaroff. The lawsuit is entirely without merit, consisting of a heap of unsubstantiated allegations, gossip, innuendo and worse, as the WSWS has previously argued. Kilburn alleges that Comaroff sexually harassed her, and Mandava and Czerwienski claim that Comaroff retaliated against them when they began speaking about his alleged sexual misconduct. A yearlong investigation by Harvards Office for Dispute Resolution (ODR) dismissed all the charges against Comaroff, including Kilburns claims of sexual harassment, except one. The ODR found that Comaroffs warning Kilburn over the course of approximately five minutes about the danger of traveling with her partner as a same-sex couple in African countries where homosexuality was criminalized constituted severe sexual harassment. In fact, it was Comaroffs professional responsibility to offer such a caution. John Comaroff After the ODR issued its findings, the Faculty of Arts and Sciences instigated a second inquiry. A fact finder found that Comaroff had threatened Mandava (which he denies) during an advising session to stop her spreading rumors about his alleged sexual misconduct. The case against Comaroff, in other words, reduces itself to two comments made during office hours, one of which was entirely appropriate and the other he denies making. On this basis, a hysterical, toxic atmosphere has been created, spearheaded by the Crimson, the student newspaper, and the affluent, gender-fixated elements that inhabit the Democratic Party. Harvard capitulated to the intimidation by placing Comaroff on unpaid administrative leave in January and barring him from teaching required courses or taking on any additional graduate student advisees through the next academic year. These illegitimate sanctions have only encouraged the identity politics crusaders. Through its recent legal action, Harvard is seeking to protect itself. Its various motions assert that the three students allegations were thoroughly investigated, and defend the sexual harassment mechanisms in place at the university as robust. The universitys lawyers also justify the sanctions imposed on Comaroff. Nonetheless, in the course of defending itself, the university is obliged to shed further light on the antidemocratic, genuinely heinous character of the campaign against Comaroff. The graduate students lawsuit consists of 10 counts. On May 31, Harvard filed a motion for summary judgment (i.e., for a decision without even going to trial) on count 10 of the suit. That count claims the university improperly obtained and released Kilburns therapy records. Harvards lawyers, without great difficulty, demonstrate that Kilburn herself brought the therapist and her notes into the inquiry and was informed no less than seven times that any such material would be shared with Comaroff. In requesting summary judgment on this matter, Harvards lawyers point outin the strongest language included in the pair of motionsthat count 10s allegations are not only indisputably false, they are irresponsible. The university asked the judge to dismiss the remaining nine counts of the lawsuit on various grounds, including failure to state a claim (i.e., even if the allegations were true, they would not indicate that the claimant was entitled to a legal remedy) and statute of limitations issues. The nine counts circle around certain common themes, that Harvard demonstrated deliberate indifference to Comaroffs alleged harassment and subsequent retaliation, and that the universitys decision to ignore the situation violated federal law (Title IX) and various Massachusetts state laws protecting civil rights and prohibiting sexual harassment. In their memorandum in support of the motion to dismiss counts one through nine, Harvards lawyers point out that far from ignoring the complaints of the three graduate students, the original complaint itself makes clear that Harvard repeatedly took appropriate action, culminating in four thorough investigations, interim measures provided to Plaintiffs, and sanctions issued against Comaroff. The memorandum points out that in the course of the investigations into Comaroffs conduct, ODR interviewed at least 52 different witnesses (some multiple times) and reviewed thousands of pages of exhibits. Moreover, consistent with Title IX and Harvards Title IX Policy, each complainant and the respondent [Comaroff] were interviewed multiple times and provided abundant opportunities to share their perspectives. Each of the complaining students was interviewed at several stages, including upon initial review of the complaint, again after the respondents response to the complaint, and once more, prior to the investigations conclusion for a review of the evidence. All of the complainants, along with Comaroff, were invited to identify witnesses; to review all evidence submitted by a party and all evidence upon which ODR might rely, that was submitted by a third party; to review and provide comment on ODRs Draft Final Report prior to its finalization; to select a personal representative to attend all ODR interviews with them; and to appeal any decision. The exhaustive, heavy-handed character of the Harvard procedure speaks to the dominance of academic life at present by middle-class layers obsessed with gender and race, endlessly striving for privilege and determined to identify any purported obstacles to their careers and advancement. Jean and John Comaroff in 2013 Along these lines, highlighting the essentially authoritarian character of these social forces, one of the many extraordinary and revealing claims in the students lawsuit is that by seeking to defend himself against the allegations, Comaroff engaged in retaliation. The legal complaint denounces Comaroff and his wife for issuing a press release, organizing opposition among Harvard faculty (which rapidly and pathetically collapsed) and generally publicizing the case as an attack on academic freedom, which it unquestionably was. This the students lawyers characterize as textbook retaliation! One of Comaroffs great crimes in the eyes of the identity politics crowd is that he has refused to roll over and play dead. He has insisted on his thoroughgoing innocence from the beginning. In this instance, Harvards lawyers are obliged to remind the court that there is no basis to hold the University liable for the conduct of faculty who respond publicly to the outcome of an investigation... Particularly in the university setting, where principles of academic freedom and expression are central to the entitys mission, the independent actions of faculty responding to a complaint or its outcome will not render the entity liable. The statute of limitations issues have more than a mere organizational-technical significance. Mandava alleges, Harvards memorandum points out, that Comaroff engaged in a single act of wrongdoing toward her at Harvard: he purportedly stated to her, during a conversation on October 13, 2017, that people who spread rumors about him would not get jobs... Mandava did not report this comment or file a formal complaint at the time... Mandava filed her own ODR Complaint on July 31, 2020. As usual in such situations, Mandava and the students lawyers assert that she was intimidated by Comaroffs stature and professional reach into waiting nearly three years. Harvards memorandum describes the single allegation concerning Comaroffs alleged misconduct toward Czerwienski as more attenuated. More tortured might be an apter phrase. Her claim of harassment is based entirely on Mandavas October 13, 2017 interaction with Comaroff during which Czerwienski herself acknowledges she was not named but supposedly identifiable by his reference to a person [he] hardly knew and had never been in a room alone with. The Complaint does not allege any direct interaction between Czerwienski and Comaroff! Czerwienski was neither present nor named, but nonetheless claims that Comaroff harassed her! Kilburns allegations that Comaroff tried to hug and kiss her twice without her consent and once squeezed her thigh in public were rejected by Harvards investigators, and they have not gained in credibility or substance over time. In response to the May 31 motions from Harvards legal team, an amended lawsuit was filed by the graduate students lawyers on June 21. It adds nothing in terms of corroboration of the various allegations, simply including more salacious and anonymous claims about Comaroffs alleged history of sexual misconduct. The guiding strategy here seems to be: Throw sufficient mud at a wall, and some of it is bound to stick. As noted above, the Crimson, Harvards student newspaper, continues to play an extremely provocative role. In a piece posted last week, Following Sexual Harassment Allegations, Comaroff Returns to Teaching at Harvard, Sparking Outrage, the paper attempts to incite the campus and national outrage it purports to be reporting. Thousands, reports the Crimson, retweeted a tweet by Jessica E. K. Van Meir, a Ph.D. candidate in Public Policy, criticizing Harvard for Comaroffs return to teaching. In the tweet, Van Meir asked the University to explain why the professor you found responsible for sexually harassing his student is again... teaching students. Again, the claim that Comaroff was found responsible for sexually harassing his student hinges entirely on his warning to Kilburn that she faced danger in parts of Africa if she traveled with her partner. The Crimson goes on to cite the comment of Van Meir that the sanction of barring Comaroff from teaching required courses is a total joke of a punishment, since he may teach non-required courses, granting him access to students. Its not really a punishment, she said. A professor who sexually harasses those studentswho has been found responsible of sexually harassing their studentsshould be fired. The campaigners against Comaroff are vindictive, vicious and relentless. The Crimson suppressed its outrage long enough to include a comment from one of Comaroffs lawyers, Ruth K. OMeara-Costello, who pointed out in an email that despite the lurid allegations of the lawsuit and the publicity surrounding them, Harvards very thorough process found Professor Comaroff not responsible for the majority of the allegations against him, and not responsible for the most serious of the claims. Moreover, OMeara-Costello added that Comaroff continues to dispute the conclusions of Harvards investigations. The general aim of the Crimson article, along with tweets from other supporters of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, is to generate a lynch mob atmosphere at Harvard. In one tweet, for example, Harvard Law Schools Ash Tomaszewski announced she had been notified that Prof. Comaroff, accused of sexually assaulting and harassing my friends, and at least half a dozen women over ten years, who was found guilty of sexual harassment by the University, was going to be teaching at Harvard Law School this fall. There is not the slightest hint of concern with democratic procedure or elemental decencyor truthin such a comment. As we noted in March, A climate of fear has been created on college campuses, in some ways worse than that prevailing during the McCarthy period, in which vast pressure is brought to bear on anyone audacious enough to come to the defense of those under attack. This has created an environment of humiliating recantations and escalating attacks on academic freedom and democratic rights. The Supreme Court decision abolishing the constitutional right to abortion has put wind in the sails of the fascist forces headed by Donald Trump that dominate the Republican Party. Exuberant over the long-sought victory of clerical reaction over the elementary rights and social needs of millions of working womenand the promise of more rollbacks in democratic rights to comesome are letting slip the racist and anti-Semitic views they have up to now sought to conceal in their public statements. At a Trump Save America rally outside of Quincy, Illinois on Saturday night, the ex-president campaigned for two far-right candidates in this Tuesdays Republican primary elections in the state: freshman Representative Mary Miller, who is running for U.S. Congress in a newly drawn district against a veteran GOP lawmaker, and state Senator Darren Bailey, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the November gubernatorial race. After hailing the destruction of a basic right in place for nearly 50 years as a victory for the Constitution the rule of law and, above all, a victory for life and attacking the House committee investigating his January 6 coup attempt as a vile group of unhinged partisans and craven lunatics, Trump introduced Miller as pro-life, pro-gun, pro-police, pro-American energy and pro-MAGA. Miller proceeded to tell the crowd: Its such an honor to be able to welcome you to Gods country. President Trump, on behalf of all the MAGA patriots in America, I want to thank you for the historic victory for white life in the Supreme Court yesterday. Trump, beaming behind Miller on the platform, did not bat an eye as the crowd cheered. Miller continued: Im running against a RINO [Republican in name only] named Rodney Davis, who betrayed conservatives. He betrayed us by voting against President Trump in 2016 voting for red flag gun confiscation, voting for the January 6 witch hunt commission. This race is between MAGA and a RINO establishment member. Representative Mary Miller (Republican-Illinois) speaking at a news conference in Washington on July 29, 2021. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik File) Miller added: We will never surrender to the Marxists in Washington. We are the Christians who put our faith in God, not in the government. Following the rally, when some local press outlets began to publicize Millers racist outburst, her spokesperson called it a mix-up of words, telling the Associated Press that she had intended to call the court ruling a victory for the right to life. There was no attempt to explain why Millers supposed mix-up took the form of a paean to white life. There is, in fact, nothing mysterious about this. Miller was chastised shortly after she assumed office in January 2021 for giving a speech at the U.S. Capitol in which she cited in a positive way the example of Adolf Hitler. Speaking at a January 5 rally held by Moms for America, a far-right group that promotes Trumps lie of a stolen election, she said, Hitler was right on one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future. The next day, January 6, Trumps mob of fascist paramilitaries, assembled with the aid and support of White House officials and Republican lawmakers, stormed the Capitol and came within seconds of seizing and likely killing Mike Pence, Nancy Pelosi and other officials in a bid to block the official certification of Joe Bidens Electoral College victory. Miller was among the 147 Republican members of Congress who voted against certification in the early morning hours of January 7, some hours after the rampaging insurrectionists had finally been cleared out of the Capitol. At the same rally, Trump announced his endorsement of Bailey, until recently considered a dark horse behind the more establishment figure Richard Irvin, the African American mayor of Aurora, Illinois. Billionaire GOP donor Ken Griffin ploughed $50 million into Irvins campaign, staking him to an early lead in a six-man primary race. But in recent weeks, after a pilgrimage to Trumps estate in Mar-a Lago and some $17 million in campaign funding from the billionaire Republican kingmaker Richard Uihlein, Bailey has moved ahead in the polls. Trump hailed Bailey for his defiance of anti-COVID mandates imposed in the early stages of the pandemic by Democratic Governor J.B. Pritzker, the billionaire owner of the Hyatt Hotel chain. In 2019, Bailey joined six other state Republicans in sponsoring a resolution calling for the city of Chicago to leave Illinois and become its own state. The resolution stated that the majority of residents in downstate Illinois disagree with City of Chicago residents on key issues such as gun ownership, abortion, immigration, and other policy issues. After announcing his bid for governor, Bailey backtracked on the resolution, calling it old and a warning shot to Chicago. However, in a debate between Republican gubernatorial candidates earlier this month, he called Chicago a crime-ridden hellhole and attacked Irvin as a corrupt Democrat. The cowardly failure of Biden and the Democrats to prosecute Trump or any of his top accomplices in the attempted overthrow of the Constitution, in the name of unity with their Republican colleagues, has allowed Trump and the Republicans to bring the attack on democratic rights to a new level and strengthened the fascist forces they are seeking to mobilize. But the cynical machinations of the Democrats go even further. Pritzker and the Democratic Governors Association have spent $34 million on TV ads attacking Bailey for his far-right, pro-Trump politics. They have made no secret that the ad campaign is designed to build support for Bailey in the Republican primary within the GOPs active base, particularly in the more rural, downstate regions, because they believe Pritzker has a better chance of winning in November against Bailey than against Irvin. Thus, on the basis of the most narrow electoral calculations, the Democrats are actually working to bolster the openly fascist wing of the Republican Party. The escalation of the US-NATO war against Russia and the massive attack on democratic rightsepitomized in the US Supreme Court decision abolishing the right to an abortionare two sides of the same process. In his seminal 1916 work Imperialism and the Split in Socialism, Vladimir Lenin defined imperialism as reaction all down the line. In both war and domestic policy, he explained, finance capital strives for domination, not freedom. Lenin wrote, The difference between the democratic-republican and the reactionary-monarchist imperialist bourgeoisie is obliterated precisely because they are both rotting alive. Lenins words aptly characterize the present crisis of the world capitalist system. At this weekends G7 summit, the leaders of the major imperialist powers met in the Bavarian Alps to plan the next stage of the war. Behind the backs of the population, with no public discussion and no formal declaration, the conflict has developed into a de facto war against Russia in Ukraine. The extent of NATO involvement was revealed in a New York Times article published Saturday titled Commando network coordinates flow of weapons in Ukraine, officials say. The article explains that the US and NATO have organized a stealthy network of commandos and spies who are rushing to provide weapons, intelligence and training. The article cites US and European officials who confirmed that the NATO powers have deployed advisers within Ukraine to train Ukrainian soldiers, while the US military directly trains soldiers at bases in Germany. This is the product of a years-long plan, dating back to the 2014 Ukrainian elections and the Maidan putsch, to transform Ukraine into a staging ground for a war against Russia. The Times article states, From 2015 to early this year, American Special Forces and National Guard instructors trained more than 27,000 Ukrainian soldiers at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center in western Ukraine near the city of Lviv, Pentagon officials said. In both their choice of planning location as well as in their war aims, the leaders of the worlds self-proclaimed democracies emulated Hitler, the last capitalist politician who attempted the colonization of Russia through military means. The very castle where the G7 leaders met in the Bavarian town of Schloss Elmau had been a Nazi military vacation camp during World War Two. A communique issued by the G7 group after the meeting in Schloss Elmau states that it is prepared to carry on the war as long as it takes. This means there is no limit to the number of lives the governments are willing to sacrifice to accomplish their geostrategic goals. The first point on the agenda at the G7 summiton the cost-of-living and food crisismakes clear that the ruling class is aware the war is paving the way for a colossal confrontation with the working class. Under these conditions, the ruling class of each imperialist power views the most basic democratic rights as obstacles in the pursuit of its war aims. Even as the war propagandists in the corporate media justify war on the grounds that Putin is a fascist, the logic of the development of the war in the imperialist countries necessitates reaction all down the line. The decision by six unelected judges on the Supreme Court to strip hundreds of millions of Americans of the right to abortion must be seen in this context. In issuing its decision, the court announced that it was launching an assault on all basic democratic rights. While Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly referenced contraceptives and same-sex marriage as the next targets, he made clear that all cases involving substantive due process must now be revisited. This includes fundamental rights related to searches and seizures, free speech and assembly, labor regulations and other civil rights. The Democratic Party and Biden administration have facilitated the Supreme Courts attack on democratic rights with constant efforts to appeal to and appease the far right. When Biden speaks of his Republican friends, he is appealing for bipartisan unity in the pursuit of imperialist war aims against Russia. This bipartisanship only legitimizes the extreme right and strengthens the increasingly fascist Republican Party, which attempted to prevent Biden from taking office less than two years ago. The intensification of the war and the abortion ban are inextricably related and underscore the basic truth that democracy is incompatible with imperialism. In his 1948 book The American Political Tradition, the historian Richard Hofstadter references publisher Frank Cobbs recollection of a discussion with then-President Woodrow Wilson on the eve of Wilsons 1917 decision to enter World War One. According to Cobb, Wilson said when a war got going it was just war and there werent two things about it. It required illiberalism at home to reinforce the men at the front. We couldnt fight Germany and maintain the ideals of Government that all thinking men shared. Cobb quoted Wilson as saying, To fight you must be brutal and ruthless, and the spirit of ruthless brutality will enter into the very fiber of our national life, infecting Congress, the courts, the policeman on the beat This is the case in every imperialist center, where three decades of nonstop imperialist war have asphyxiated democracy and nourished the forces of extreme political reaction. In Britain, Boris Johnson is perhaps the most hated prime minister in history for his naked corruption and slovenly subservience to the London banks. The Johnson government is attempting to deport asylum seekers from countries devastated by imperialist war to Rwanda in a move that even the European Court of Human Rights ruled is blatantly illegal. In France, where Emmanuel Macron is reviled as the president of the rich, the fascist far right won more votes than in any previous presidential election. An unelected administrative court just banned Muslim women from wearing bathing suits that comport with their religious beliefs in a blatant act of cruel discrimination against the countrys large immigrant population. The war will be conducted on the basis of a massive assault on the economic and social rights of the working class in every country. Government after government is pouring billions of dollars into arming Ukraine without ever asking the public. Calls are growing for balancing budgets to pave the way for further military spending. To pay for war, health and welfare programs will be gutted, even as the pandemic spreads and as governments enact fiscal policies aimed at increasing unemployment and lowering wages. The war has exacerbated a cost-of-living crisis that is forcing billions of workers to confront unprecedented levels of economic hardship. The imperialist governments are sacrificing the lives of millions in Asia and Africa who face varying degrees of starvation in an attempt to weaken the Russian governments ties to the global economy. In Europe and North America, the cost of food, gas, energy, rent and basic services is skyrocketing because of the war, while the corporatist trade union bureaucracies suppress wages. Conditions are emerging for a revolutionary explosion throughout the world. Protests against the rising cost of living are suppressed with deadly brutality in countries like Peru, Sri Lanka, Ecuador, and elsewhere. In Europe, strikes are growing across the transport industries, including among British rail workers, dockworkers in Germany and Greece, airport workers in France, Denmark and the Netherlands, and pilots and flight attendants across the continent at Easy Jet, Ryanair, British Airways and SAS. A series of powerful strikes has taken place in heavy industry in the United States, where strikes are threatened by tens of thousands of dock and rail workers. The ruling class has responded by banning strikes and blaming workers for undermining the war effort. In Britain, the Tories are denouncing striking rail workers as Putins agents while the courts in the US have barred rail workers from striking on national security grounds. This is the modern version of Hitlers stab-in-the-back narrative, which blamed German workers and the revolution of 1918 for German imperialisms defeat in World War One. In Spain, the democratic government of the PSOE and Podemos banned airport workers from joining a European-wide strike for similar reasons. The International Committee of the Fourth International and its national sections, the Socialist Equality Parties, call for the development of a powerful movement of the international working class against imperialist war. The fight against war must be connected to the defense of democratic rights, rooted in the growing struggles of workers throughout the world and based on a socialist program in opposition to the capitalist profit system. Tens of thousands continued to protest over the weekend in cities from coast to coast in the United States, denouncing the Supreme Courts decision announced Friday morning to overturn the Roe v. Wade decision and allow state governments to outlaw abortion. Some 15 states with trigger laws are expected to have legal bans on abortion in effect by early July, and a total of 26 states are at some stage of a legislative process to follow suit. Only the Northeast and mid-Atlantic states, the West Coast, and Illinois and Minnesota in the Midwest have robust protection of abortion rights in place. States like Michigan, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Florida, Georgia, the Carolinas, Arizona and Montana are in legally uncertain conditions. One of the largest demonstrations took place Friday night in Phoenix, as some 8,000 people marched and rallied outside the Arizona state Capitol. As they chanted their opposition to the Supreme Courts reactionary and anti-democratic action, the demonstrators were suddenly hit by teargas fired by police from inside the Capitol building itself. Republican Senate President Karen Fann issued a news release describing the peaceful protest as an insurrection aimed at overthrowing the state government. The state Senate was in session engaged in approving a major expansion of charter schools to undermine public education while the rally outside was taking place. State police said in a statement that what began as a peaceful protest evolved into anarchical and criminal actions by masses of [a] splinter group (?!). They said gas was fired after protesters attempted to break the glass separating the protest from the Capitol building. Despite these claims, state police made no arrests, and there were no injuries reported. Reporters on the scene found no broken glass. The only apparent violence was the tear-gassing itself, which not only dispersed the protesters but disrupted the state Senate proceeding, as legislators fled their chambers and took refuge in the basement as gas filled the halls. Democrats in the legislature issued a mewling statement condemning violence in all forms, noting the purported attack on the legislature, but saying that Republican lawmakers were weaponizing this moment to deflect from the actions of January 6th. They also noted that they have voted to give state police a large pay raise. Protests continued Saturday in dozens of cities, including New York City, Philadelphia, Washington D.C.; Norfolk, Virginia; Atlanta, Georgia; Birmingham and four other cities in Alabama; New Orleans, Louisiana; Tucson, Arizona; across California, and in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington. In Providence, Rhode Island, a speaker at an abortion rights rally, Jennifer Rourke, a black woman who is running for a state Senate seat as a Democrat, was assaulted by her Republican opponent, Jeann Lugo, a white male police officer who was off duty. A group of anti-abortion protesters had approached the much larger group of abortion rights demonstrators and fighting broke out, which Rourke was seeking to break up. Lugo has been suspended by the police department pending an investigation, and he announced that he was also suspending his election campaign. The Wall of Vets to protect the Atlanta demonstration from the fascists. [Photo by credit: Matthew Perason @justmattphotoj / https://twitter.com/justmattphotoj/status/1540830976582078466 ] In Atlanta, a group of fascist Proud Boys trailed Saturdays abortion rights demonstration but were blocked from getting to the protesters by a group of veterans who called themselves the Wall of Vets, forming a barrier to protect the demonstration. Friday night in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, the driver of a pickup truck engaged in a verbal conflict with abortion rights supporters, then accelerated his vehicle and struck one of the protesters, who had to be taken to the hospital for evaluation. The police have made no arrest and filed no charges. Outside New Orleans, WSWS reporters spoke with people demonstrating at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center in the suburb of Covington. Most abortions were banned in Louisiana on Friday following the Supreme Court ruling, when so-called trigger laws went into immediate effect. The two anti-abortion bills that went into effect were signed by Democratic governors, current Governor John Bel Edwards and a previous governor, Kathleen Blanco. A number of young people at the demonstration spoke about their thoughts on the ruling, its relation to broader political issues and the role of the Democratic Party. Riley said, I feel like were going so far back in history. This is something women already fought for, and the fact that so many are here today having to fight again is awful. Its awful to see that people have to fight for their rights again. Kylie added, Its terrible that were repeating something that is already so far gone. We have voices that deserve to be heard, and as women in America its not fair for our choices to be taken away. Asked about the Democratic Party, Riley and Kylie agreed that theyre not doing enough. They could have done a lot more, and theyre not changing anything. Theyre as responsible as Republicans because theyre not showing our voices. Two other young demonstrators also spoke about the Democratic Party. One said, I think that the Democratic Party is not doing enough to support people and their endeavors to combat capitalism, and the brutality of the government is in turn backing the Republicans and all the very right-wing people and taking away peoples rights. Kyle added, I think the Democratic Party is just another right-wing party no matter how much they want to disguise themselves as a liberal and social justice. I think its just as bad. Between 300 and 400 demonstrated in Norfolk, Virginia on Sunday at a rally called by a reproductive rights group. While the organizers and speakers tried to funnel mass anger into support for the Democratic Party, a WSWS reporting team spoke with several youth and professionals who tended to draw more far-reaching conclusions from Fridays gutting of abortion rights. Kaylani, a family therapist, told the WSWS , Unfortunately, with this ruling its only the beginning, only the first step. There are going to be so many precedents they will try to overturn; we are now going so far backwards. She added, There is a right and a wrong in this situation. You dont get to put your opinions on someone elses body; you dont get to choose for them. Michaela interjected, or who they love, who they marry. Cassandra (left) and Savannah in Norfolk [Photo: WSWS] Cassandra and Savannah, two college students at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, came to the rally to oppose the attack on abortion. Savannah said, I am a gay woman who uses birth control so Im not cool with any of this. I am out here trying to protest, to make content on TikTok, anything to raise awareness about this. Honestly, the people representing us right now are not doing their job. Democrats knew that Roe v. Wade has been targeted for a long time, and they really have not been doing their job. On Tuesday, Tesla CEO and multibillionaire Elon Musk confirmed that the company would be laying off as much as 10 percent of its salaried workforce, or roughly 3.5 percent of its total workforce, over the next three months. His announcement has taken place amid disruptions in supply chains, which have impacted the electric vehicle industry, a drop in Teslas stocks, and numerous lawsuits filed against Tesla for frequent violations of labor and civil rights laws. Earlier in the month, Reuters stated that they had obtained emails sent from Musk to executives in which he expressed that he had a super bad feeling about the economy and would be carrying out a mass layoff of salaried employees and would pause all hiring worldwide. Since the leaked information, Musk has attempted to reassure employees about the current stability of the company while also openly admitting to Teslas economic uncertainty. An email was sent out to all employees to clarify that the layoffs would not apply to anyone actually building cars, battery packs or installing solar. He also stated that Tesla would continue to hire for hourly positions. However, Electrek, a news website focused on electric transportation, later confirmed that there has been a second round of layoffs impacting hourly workers in sales and delivery teams. The company reported in 2021 that it employed 100,000 people, which would translate to roughly 3,500 layoffs by the end of the summer if the 3.5 percent figure given by Musk is accurate. On Tuesday, he attempted to reiterate his claims of stability, giving a statement at the Qatar Economic Forum that A year from now, I think our [employee] headcount will be higher. Musks statement likely reflects an attempt at damage control as Tesla stocks have spiraled following Reuters report on the layoffs. Workers at the company have said they were blindsided by the sudden layoff. Some have also taken to social media to lament the poor working conditions among salaried employees at Tesla and to lament that they had not left the company sooner. On TheLayoff.com, one worker wrote: They utilized PIP [performance improvement plan, an internal policy often used to justify firings] to trim the people who they don't like for whatever reason. Obviously, Elon doesnt have any sense about this. He doesnt think that feeding your family is his job as a boss. Another worker left an anonymous post that stated: Musk has obviously lost his damn mind. He wants everybody to work 60+ hour weeks with no breaks, no vacations, no days off, and certainly no work from home. All of this for the same pay (the lower the better)just like the exemplary employees in China do. You know, the desperate people who have no other choice if they want to survive. That's his ideal employee. If you got away from that, your situation can only improve. Musks public confirmation of mass firings took place between filing a lawsuit by former employees at Teslas factory in Sparks, Nevadawhere a separate mass firing took placeand the release of statements Musk gave in late May in which he raises the possibility of Tesla going into bankruptcy. The lawsuit, which was filed on June 19 by John Lynch and Daxton Harsfield, alleges that Tesla carried out a mass firing of 500 workers at Gigafactory 2 in May and June. The plaintiffs allege that the largest electric vehicle producer was in violation of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act because it fired over 499 workers without providing a written notice 60 days in advance. Tesla is also the subject of multiple other lawsuits including one alleging that the company allowed for rampant sexual harassment of women at the Fremont, California factory. In a separate suit a judge had awarded Owen Diaz, an African American elevator operator at Teslas Fremont plant, $15 million in payment for the racial abuses he experienced on the job. Diaz has rejected the payment, instead calling for a new trial claiming the amount would not change the conduct at the company. In an initial trial Diaz was awarded $137 million by a jury, which was later reduced. In June, Solomon Chau, a Tesla investor, disclosed that he was also suing the company claiming the poor workplace culture is damaging the companys reputation and in violation of its fiduciary responsibilities to investors. Chaus suit specifically names Musk, Teslas board members and the company as defendants. Chaus lawsuit likely also reflects growing concerns among investors over Teslas economic downturn. In an interview with Tesla Owners of Silicon Valley in late May, but published this week, Musk described the factories in Berlin, Germany and Austin, Texas as gigantic money furnaces, which are unable to produce because of continued supply chain concerns. Musk specifically pointed to the inability to supply these factories with batteries due to COVID-19 related lockdowns in China. Tesla operates a plant in Shanghai, which produces batteries used in their vehicles. Musk also raised the possibility of Tesla going into bankruptcy if it is unable to keep up production. Business experts have also pointed out that the company could face difficulty transferring funds out of China and that Tesla is likely going to announce a drop in earnings compared to the previous year. Analysts at Refinitiv estimated adjusted earnings could drop to $2.5 billion in the second quarter compared to $3.7 billion in the first quarter. Musks statements are surprising given his history of making grandiose claims about the operations of various companies he is a part of. He has frequently used Twitter, a company he is currently attempting to purchase, as a means of encouraging stock and digital currency speculations. Teslas high market valuation, particularly compared to the number of vehicles it produces, has largely been the byproduct of rampant speculation and the ruthless treatment of workers. Throughout the pandemic this has found a particularly sharp expression with Musk rejecting remote work and violating Californias lockdown measures to reopen the Fremont factory. The announced firings confirm that in times of economic downturn, Tesla and other companies will respond even more ruthlessly to unload the crisis onto the workers. Notably, the layoffs at Tesla have coincided with job cuts among the more traditional automakers as well as tech companies, and portends further attacks on autoworkers. The development underscores the need to build a broad-based working class movement to oppose continued attacks on jobs and fight for better working conditions. The WSWS encourages both salaried and hourly workers at Tesla to contact us about building a rank-and-file committee and coordinate your struggle with other workers through the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC). The International Committee of the Fourth International, meeting on June 19, unanimously approved the application of the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group, SEG) to be its section in Turkey. The comrades of Sosyalist Esitlik have been working closely with the International Committee in the publication of a Turkish language edition of the World Socialist Web Site and in the translation and distribution of its literature. The leading comrades of the SEG have acquired an extensive knowledge and firm grasp of the history, principles and program of the ICFI. The June 19 decision followed extensive discussions with representatives of the International Committee in Istanbul on the development of the fight for Trotskyism in Turkey and the Aegean and Black Sea regions. Upon accepting the application of the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu, the International Committee paid tribute to the memory of Comrade Halil Celik (1961-2018), who, in the years prior to his untimely death, fought tirelessly for Trotskyism and laid the foundations for the establishment of a section of the ICFI in Turkey. The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu will now proceed to the organization of its founding congress. We publish below the resolution unanimously adopted by the leadership of the Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu on June 15, 2022, requesting its acceptance as a section of the ICFI. *** 1. The Sosyalist Esitlik Grubu (Socialist Equality Group, SEG) has taken the resolution to apply to join the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI), whose political authority it recognizes and with which it works in the closest political cooperation. 2. It is an integral part of the decision to found the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) as the Turkish section of the ICFI. Both decisions are not based on conjunctural or national considerations, but on the SEGs agreement with the ICFI on questions of history, principles and program. The building of a revolutionary party in any country is possible only on the basis of an international perspective, program and party. The only solution to the major problems in Turkey, which is in a critical position in terms of global geopolitics and class struggle, is the international socialist revolution. The founding of the SEP (Turkey) will be an expression of the global expansion of the ICFI, the only political tendency that assumes the task of solving the great historical problems. 3. As Leon Trotsky wrote in his 1928 Critique of the Draft Program of the Communist International: In our epoch, which is the epoch of imperialism, i.e., of world economy and world politics under the hegemony of finance capital, not a single communist party can establish its program by proceeding solely or mainly from conditions and tendencies of developments in its own country. This also holds entirely for the party that wields state power within the boundaries of the USSR. On August 4, 1914, the death knell sounded for national programs for all time. The revolutionary party of the proletariat can base itself only upon an international program corresponding to the character of the present epoch, the epoch of the highest development and collapse of capitalism. An international communist program is in no case the sum of national programs or an amalgam of their common features. The international program must proceed directly from an analysis of the conditions and tendencies of the world economy and of the world political system taken as a whole in all its connections and contradictions, that is, with the mutually antagonistic interdependence of its separate parts. In the present epoch, to a much larger extent than in the past, the national orientation of the proletariat must and can flow only from a world orientation and not vice versa. Herein lies the basic and primary difference between communist internationalism and all varieties of national socialism. 4. Only the ICFI represents the political continuity of the world Marxist/Trotskyist movement. This continuity goes back to the founding of the Left Opposition under the leadership of Leon Trotsky in 1923 to defend the strategy and program of the world socialist revolution against nationalist Stalinist degeneration. It was this strategy and program that guided the October Revolution in 1917 led by the Bolshevik Party in Russia under the leadership of Vladimir Lenin and Leon Trotsky. 5. The founding of the Fourth International in 1938 under the leadership of Trotsky after the collapse of the Communist International paving the way for the Nazis to come to power in Germany in 1933; the founding of the International Committee in 1953 by orthodox Trotskyists led by James P. Cannon of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) in the US against the revisionist-liquidationist tendency led by Michel Pablo and Ernest Mandel; the political struggle by the British Trotskyists led by Gerry Healy against the unprincipled reunification with the Pabloites in 1963; and the struggle of the American Trotskyists led by David North in 1982-86 against the national-opportunist degeneration of the Workers Revolutionary Party (WRP) in Britain and the regaining the control of the IC by orthodox Trotskyists, constitute critical turning points in this political continuity. 6. In this context, the Socialist Equality Group emphasizes that it fully agrees with the Historical and International Foundations documents of the Socialist Equality Parties affiliated to the ICFI, and it bases itself on these historical and international foundations. 7. Trotsky wrote in 1938: It is possible to maintain and develop a revolutionary political grouping of serious importance only on the basis of great principles. The Fourth International alone embodies and represents these principles. It is possible for a national group to maintain a constant revolutionary course only if it is firmly connected in one organization with co-thinkers throughout the world and maintains a constant political and theoretical collaboration with them. The Fourth International alone is such an organization. All purely national groupings, all those who reject international organization, control, and discipline are in their essence reactionary. This is the approach that led to the SEGs decision to join the ICFI. 8. The SEGs resolution to join the ICFI is a very conscious political decision that reflects the step-by-step integration of our group with the International Committee over the past years on the questions of principle and history. Comrade Halil Celik, who passed away at the end of 2018, played a decisive role in reaching this point, which has an international political and historical significance. 9. The political orientation of the predecessor group of todays SEG towards the ICFI dates back to the early 2000s. In November 2007, Halils group wrote to the ICFI at that time: You are aware of the fact that we have been following the ICFI closely for the last two years through the WSWS and discussing some of its documents internally by translating them into Turkish. Through the meetings and discussions we held, we managed to find answers to many of the questions we had in our minds. In a nutshell, the discussions we have conducted in Istanbul have accelerated the process of understanding the basic positions of the ICFI by our comrades and sympathisers. The year 2007 also marked an important milestone when German comrades from the ICFI visited Istanbul and discussions with our group deepened. 10. By 2014, the IC plenum unanimously passed a resolution that read: The plenum of the International Committee of the Fourth International formally accepts the application of Comrade H[alil] on behalf of the organisation Toplumsal Esitlik (Social Equality Group) to open discussions with the aim of establishing a section of the International Committee in Turkey. The IC will work closely with the Turkish comrades to assist them in the political and theoretical preparation of a Founding Conference. 11. This resolution and closer political collaboration with the ICFI shaped our groups political activity after 2014. As an important step in our political integration with the ICFI, in 2018 we changed the name of our group to Socialist Equality, stating in the resolution that: The SE is assuming a name in line with that of all the official sections of the ICFI (Socialist Equality Party, Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei, Parti de legalite socialiste) and thereby stressing its determination to become the Turkish section of the Fourth International. 12. The founding of Mehring Yaynclk at the end of 2017 and the publication of some of the key works of the ICFI in Turkish represented a major step forward in the building of the Socialist Equality Party (Turkey). Comrade Halils prediction was vindicated: Publications of the contemporary Marxist literature produced by the world Trotskyist movement in Turkish, we believe, will contribute to the laying of the theoretical and political foundation for the building of the Turkish section of the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). 13. In 2020, the Socialist Equality Groups decision to come under the full control of the International Editorial Board of the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) and to continue its publication exclusively on the WSWS was another important step towards establishing a Turkish section of the world party. 14. The last critical meeting in the decision to found the Socialist Equality Party (Turkey) and apply to join the ICFI was the visit of the International Committee delegation to Istanbul in early June 2022. 15. In the historic meetings held during this visit, it was unanimously supported that, on the basis of both the maturity of the objective situation in the world and the SEGs agreement with the ICFI on program, principles and historical issues, the founding of the SEP (Turkey) as an expression of the international expansion of the ICFI could no longer be delayed. The founding of the SEP (Turkey) will inspire the founding of new ICFI sections in the Middle East and around the world. 16. As the COVID-19 pandemic, which intensified the crisis of world capitalism, is entering a new phase, NATOs proxy war against Russia in Ukraine threatens a nuclear World War III. The global food crisis and the cost of living crisis are accompanied by the accelerating collapse of democratic forms of rule in all countries. However, the internal contradictions of capitalism that give rise to these crises are also paving the way for the development of the world socialist revolution. Capitalist globalization and the communication technologies that accompany it have objectively integrated the world economy and the working class to an enormous degree. The class struggle is taking on an international character as never before. The developing movement of the international working class is increasingly intersecting with the conscious political activity of the ICFI. Only the ICFI has a global revolutionary program of solutions to the great historical problems facing the international working class. 17. All global objective developments confirm the ICFIs analysis and prediction at the beginning of 2020: The decade of the socialist revolution begins. However, as the statement explained, the spontaneous struggles of workers and their instinctive striving for socialism are, by themselves, inadequate. The transformation of the class struggle into a conscious movement for socialism is a question of political leadership. The SEGs decision to found the SEP (Turkey) and apply to join the ICFI is part of the fight to resolve this question of political leadership. 18. On this basis, taking a resolution to apply to join the ICFI, the SEG decides to submit its founding documents Statement of Principles and Historical and Political Perspectives for the political approval of the International Committee. The official founding of the party will take place after this process of preparation, discussion and IC approval. 19. At the same time, the SEG enthusiastically supports the proposal to develop the Turkish edition of the WSWS in daily practical cooperation with international comrades. The WSWS is the critical political tool for the building of the ICFI all over the world and thus for the development of the world socialist revolution. Detroit Educators: Make your voice heard! Use the form at the end of this article to tell us what you think of reorganization. Tell us about working conditions at your school. We will protect your anonymity. The Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD) school board is implementing a reorganization of Detroit schools following a contentious vote on May 10. The agreement follows a series of community meetings in which parents and educators voiced anger and opposition. School Superintendent Nikolai Vitti incorporated some changes in the final plan, nevertheless Detroits schoolchildren will continue to be confined to unsafe buildings with deteriorating educational opportunities. The Facility Master Plan entirely ignores the people who teach, drive buses, and provide critical support services. Focused simply on buildings, it fails there too. There will be five new schools and others which gain air conditioning, but critically, the deal fails to upgrade all HVAC systems for air conditioning and protection from the aerosolized COVID virus. Moreover, the school board will end the mask mandate June 30. Some community schools will be closed, further devastating impoverished neighborhoods. Class size levels will increase. And teachers and staff will continue to be underpaid and under-resourced. The plan is financed by $700 million from Michigans $6 billion federal COVID relief and is a one-time infusion to the Detroit schools. The plan document acknowledges that the measure is a band-aid, stating, With continued rising costs, our Facility Master Plan proposes the most immediate investment needs totaling $700M out of a $2.1 billion need [emphasis in the original]. In 2015-16, educators mounted a series of sickoutsin defiance of the Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) and the Democratic Party politiciansdemanding attention to the prevalence of mold, crumbling ceilings, buckling pavements and rodents common in the city schools. After the union squashed the protests, the district soldiered on, making only the most minimal improvements. Detroit teacher sickouts in 2016 (WSWS Media) Michigans School Aid Fund provides no money for school infrastructure. Additionally, following the contrived bankruptcy of Detroit, the Detroit school district was dissolved to pay off state bondholders. Workers, via their property taxes, were left holding the bag for the school systems historic debt, incurred primarily by a series of dictatorial Emergency Managers. These measures purposefully left the DPSCD ham-strung with no means to cover infrastructure improvements. I still have ceiling tiles falling in my classroom, said a DPSCD high school educator to the WSWS. Upstairs, one of the students recently took a fallen ceiling tile and tossed it out of the window, damaging a car. DPSCD parent Aliya Moore diligently attended and spoke out at school board meetings. She reflected bitterly to the WSWS, All the work weve done for equityor was it the illusion of equityand look at where we are! I am angry and frustrated. Dr. Vitti even says the [DPSCD] will get rid of books by 2025! We are going backwards. But their pockets are getting fatter. Im told, if you dont like it, go find a charter [school]. Well, I dont want to be part of the illusion. Aliya Moore and children Many parents have been vocal about the reorganization of DPSCD. Some will get new buildings, but at what cost? In exchange for closing schools down the street. For example, Paul Robeson Malcolm X Academy will get a new building, but Thurgood Marshall will close. Marshall has a large population of special needs students, now called exceptional students, who will be uprooted. This is especially traumatic for them. Speaking to the press on the fate of her school, Sampson-Webber educator Sheila Allen-Frazier told the media, It hasnt been very positive, its been kinda bleak. Its heartbreaking to see a school close because when a school closes the community dies. After substantial community pushback, DPSCD placed the threatened closure of Sampson-Webber on hold, removing it from the immediate phase-out list. Instead, Greenfield Union Elementary School, known as a hidden jewel for its small classes and STEM focus, will be closed. Under the finalized agreement, DPSCD will spend $281 million to rebuild five schools, $296 million on renovation, and $128 million to reopen previously closed schools, expand pre-K, build additions, and demolish or sell some vacant buildings. It will close Ann Arbor Trail Magnet Elementary-Middle, Catherine C. Blackwell Institute Elementary, Greenfield Union, Thurgood Marshall, and J. E. Clark Preparatory Academy Elementary. Aliya pointed out, Our buildings need upgrades. But they are spending so much money on buildings! What about mental health? Or school nurses? They are already saying they will cut school nurses by the 2023-24 school year. There wont be a nurse in each building; we will have traveling nurses. By then, I expect there will be a lot of cuts. They are saying even assistant principals may be laid off. What about our cafeteria staff? Its good more children will have air conditioning. Im glad they wont be sweating in class. But think about it. What about the quality of the education? What about the curriculum? What about the class sizethere will be 40 people in there? Already, seasoned, good teachers are leaving. Good parapros [paraprofessionals] are leaving. A DPSCD teacher also underscored the same point, emphasizing the continued spread of COVID. Teachers are thinking the larger class sizes are a fait accompli. We're all being told the pandemic is over and we need to get back to normal. I saw the cap for next year at 37, which would be seven students more than this year. Four years ago, it was 40, and that was actually 60 for the first few days. Standing room only. This means no possibility of social distancing, as if there were such a possibility with 30. Aliya also emphasized that the schools will not have the support staff to deal with the continuing trauma faced by students as a result of being forced into unsafe schools, contracting and spreading the deadly disease. Weve got children whove lost their grandmothers and grandfathers, the main ones who took care of them. Others lost mothers or fathers. Where are the counselors? Where are the resources to help? Another high school educator noted that in the wake of the Uvalde and Oxford mass shootings, The biggest issue this year has been pushback on security. We arent told who to call in an emergency, there is no written protocol. We were promised that by the principal, but it never happened. When Im dealing with fights or a child out of control, I have to call through an outside line and get clerical staff to help me find someone. Teachers don't feel safe. Decrying the lack of support services, especially with an ongoing pandemic, Aliya said, Im glad I kept my daughter home last year, but it is not the same quality of education. They had empty schedules. They were expected to work independently; some students can, some cant. There was no after-school tutoring and no extras. The only elective was personal finances. The students were given the cheapest devices they [the Board of Education] could get. The parent emphasized the growing movement of young people in defense of their right to safe schools. Im proud that our kids are speaking up and walking out. You have to do it. I hope they keep speaking out. There is too much money, too much injustice, and too much disrespect. They say its black and white. But black people are making the decisions here. There is just too much money for us not to have what we need. Too many pockets are filled with corporate greed. The unions are doing nothing and we have a dictator for a superintendent. Informed about the work of the Michigan Educators Rank and File Safety Committee and its struggle to unify all sections of the working class in defense of public education, COVID safety and democratic rights, Aliya agreed to sign up. She added, Yes, all the workers should unite. These are the parents and they have to go to work. They are dealing with their own unions and injustices. The criticism is always brought up that theres no work ethic, but you break down what $14 an hour means nowits the same as $7 or $8 an hour before. People are being forced to work two jobs or have a hustle to live comfortably. Schools, hotelsthey all act like they are doing you a favor to pay you $14-$15 an hour. No, they should actually pay people [what it costs to live]. I first got involved in attending school board meetings in 2013 when Roy Roberts was the Emergency Manager. I saw him close down Oakland Orthopedic Elementary School, which had 315 students, with the lie that the building was too decrepit. These students used to have a personal nurse, physical therapy, speech therapy and so much support. They had children on wheelchairs, with tracheotomies and more. She concluded, We protested, we fought and they just lied and closed it down. They claimed the children would still get their accommodations and many did not. I am sure we lost some of those babies. Once I saw that, I never shut up. I couldnt go back to sleep. Im accused of being a troublemaker, but I am doing it for the love of those babies. Detroit public schools were, by many standards, the top-rated schools in the 1950s when the US auto industry boomed and the Motor City was the nations fourth largest city. Decades of factory closures, tax abatements for the auto companies and deep cuts to public education and other vital services have ravaged the school system. This has been accelerated over the last 15 years. During the Obama administration, the presidents education secretary, Arne Duncan, described the city as ground zero for privatization. The city became the most charterized district in the US, after New Orleans. The Detroit Federation of Teachers (DFT) assisted the administration and imposed massive cuts on teachers, blocking collective action in the defense of public education. Democratic Party city and school officials have always pointed to falling student enrollment to justify school closings and other budget cuts. This has always been a self-fulfilling prophecy: the more public education is gutted and resources diverted to for-profit charters, the more students are driven away. Now the further loss of students, due primarily to the criminal response of both parties to the pandemic, is being used to close more schools. The Michigan Educators Rank-and-File Safety Committee rejects this framework. There are more than sufficient resources to provide high-quality education, generously-paid teachers and school workers, buildings retro-fitted for COVID protection, full wrap-around services for all youth and families and more. But this can only be achieved by stopping the squandering of societys resources on war and the ever greater enrichment of the financial and corporate oligarchy that rules America. NASA's Space Launch System rocket is photographed on Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center earlier this year. NASA is targeting late August to launch the giant rocket on an uncrewed lunar mission. Space is important to us and thats why we're working to bring you top coverage of the industry and Florida launches. Journalism like this takes time and resources. Please support it with a subscription here. Welcome to 321 Launch, Florida Today's wrapup of all the space new you might have missed this past week. NASA calls test countdown a success; aims for August SLS moon launch It was the fourth time, it seems, that was a charm for NASA. The agency's fourth attempt at a "wet dress rehearsal" of the first launch of its giant SLS moon rocket didn't go 100% according to plan. But it was successful enough that NASA is aiming for a late August launch of Artemis I, and uncrewed mission to send and Orion capsule into lunar orbit and to bring it safely back to Earth. NASA officials have reviewed the data collected during the test run and decided that a leaky hydrogen valve was not significant enough to force a delay in the launch of Artemis I, an uncrewed mission planning to orbit the moon and return to Earth. It's the first step toward putting humans back on the moon for the first time since Apollo 17 in 1972. The team is now ready to take the next step and prepare for launch," said NASA's deputy associate administrator Tom Whitmeyer. NASA had made three previous unsuccessful attempts to complete a wet dress rehearsal in April before deciding to roll the rocket back to the VAB for additional work. Weather looks good for two launches planned for Space Coast this week Decent weather conditions in the late afternoon this week could bring doubleheader launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. SpaceX looks to cap off the Wednesday work day with a Falcon 9 rocket launch while United Launch Alliance hopes to wrap up Thursday with its Atlas V rocket. First up from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station Launch Complex 40 at 5:04 p.m. ET on Wednesday, June 29, is a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket carrying the SES-22 communications satellite to orbit for SES, a Luxembourg-based satellite operator. Story continues Forecasters with the 45th Weather Squadron predict an 80% chance of decent weather conditions for Wednesday's launch with showers and thunderstorms remaining at bay in the late afternoons for the rest of this week. Following up SpaceX's launch, United Launch Alliance should be able to launch its powerful Atlas V 541 rocket between 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 30 from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The rocket features four solid rocket boosters which will create a fantastic contrail visible to spectators all along the Space Coast. Inside the nosecone are several payloads including a national security satellite for the U.S. Space Force. Check back at floridatoday.com/space for the latest updates. A 25+ year veteran of FLORIDA TODAY, John McCarthy currently oversees the space team and special projects. Support quality local journalism by subscribing to FLORIDA TODAY. You can contact McCarthy at 321-752-5018 or jmccarthy@floridatoday.com. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Launch: Space news you may have missed over the past week Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, is sworn into the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in Dirksen Building titled Examining Federal Sentencing for Crack and Powder Cocaine, on Tuesday, June 22, 2021. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Hutchinson says the providers who perform illegal abortions should face criminal penalties, not the woman. Arkansas was one of the states that banned abortions, following the Supreme Court's decision. On Friday, SCOTUS overturned Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortions nationwide. Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson says that providers should face criminal repercussions if they perform an illegal abortion in the state not the woman during an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday. Moderator Chuck Todd asked Hutchinson if there will be "a department in Arkansas that inspects all miscarriages or investigates miscarriages," to which the governor responded, "No." "We obviously have oversight of abortion clinics to make sure that they follow the law. But again, Chuck, this is about a limited ruling on abortion that is historic in nature, will save lives," Hutchinson said. "But the other decisions, when you're talking about miscarriages, the exception is, of course, if the life of the mother, if there's a medical, health emergency, and that's between the physician." He added, "They're going to make those judgments on how to handle those things. This is simply about abortion." Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) June 26, 2022 Arkansas was among the states that had "trigger laws" that went into effect after the Supreme Court repealed Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that legalized abortion. In the state, the only exception of the law is to save the person's life, with no exceptions for incest or rape, local news reported. During the program, Todd asked the Republican governor if physicians who perform a "necessary" abortion if they're "going to get investigated." "They certainly should not," Hutchinson said. He added, "They have to make those medical judgments. And it's not the state's judgment to reconfigure those or to rethink those. They make those judgments," Hutchinson said. "And the decision that has to be made is whether there's an abortion, and then you go after the provider as a criminal penalty, not the woman." Read the original article on Business Insider The Group of Seven (G-7) leaders are readying new penalties on Russia and additional assistance for Ukraine at a summit in Germany to underscore their support for Kyiv as it battles Russian forces for the fifth straight month. The G-7 leaders plan to expand sanctions on Russias technology and defense sector, impose new tariffs on Russian goods and sanction those engaged in human rights abuses in Ukraine, according to a fact sheet distributed by the White House on Monday. The G-7 nations will also commit to helping Ukraine cover its short-term budgetary funding shortfalls, the fact sheet said, and pledge to provide military, humanitarian, financial and diplomatic support for Ukraine for as long as needed. For its part, the United States is expected to make a new $7.5 billion commitment in economic aid for Ukraine that is part of the $40 billion aid package approved by Congress last month. The announcements came on the second day of the G-7 summit in Germany, where G-7 leaders met virtually with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The G-7 which includes the U.S., Germany, Italy, France, Japan, the United Kingdom and Canada is trying to demonstrate support for Ukraine as the bloody Russian war enters its fifth month with no end in sight. While President Biden has succeeded in keeping allies united behind a forceful, coordinated response to Russias war, there have been questions about whether that unity can endure as the war drags on and continues to disrupt the global economy. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters later Monday that the new U.S. assistance package would include new air defense systems. He said that during the virtual meeting with Biden and other G-7 leaders, Zelensky discussed Russian missile attacks on Kyiv over the weekend and told the leaders he wanted more air defense systems. As [Biden] told President Zelensky, we do intend to finalize a package that includes advanced medium and long-range air defense capabilities for the Ukrainians, along with some other items that are of urgent need, including ammunition for artillery and counter-battery radar systems, Sullivan told reporters. Story continues He said that the U.S. is trying to tailor our military assistance to the particular, immediate needs of Ukrainians on the battlefield at a given point in time. In addition to the announcements Monday, Biden has also said that the G-7 economies will ban Russian gold imports, cutting off another source of revenue for the Russian economy. The G-7 is also discussing a global price cap for Russian oil that would cut down on the profits of Russias energy industry. A senior administration official described the G-7 finance ministers as in the final discussions about the price cap and indicated the details would be finalized sometime after the summit concludes. The Biden administration is expected to announce a handful of new penalties on Russia in the coming days in coordination with the other G-7 countries. For instance, the State and Treasury Departments plan to impose blocking sanctions on state-owned defense businesses and defense research organizations, according to the White House fact sheet. The departments also plan to impose blocking sanctions on private military companies operating in Ukraine, Russian units implicated in human rights abuses, and officials installed in Ukraine by Russia. Biden will also announce that the U.S. will impose higher tariffs on over 570 groups of Russian products worth about $2.3 billion, the fact sheet said. And the G-7 will seek to use money collected by new tariffs on Russian imports to provide additional assistance for Ukraine. Updated at 8:16 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Under fire actor Kevin Spaceys life and upcoming legal cases are to be the subject of a two-part doc series from British broadcaster Channel 4. British broadcaster Channel 4 has ordered a two-part doc series that promises to take a forensic look at actor Kevin Spacey. More from Deadline Spacey Unmasked (working title) will look at Spaceys life, from his emergence on Broadway and meteoric rise to stardom through to his fall from grace amidst multiple allegations of grooming, sexual harassment and abuse. It will also follow the outcomes of two upcoming cases: a civil case brought by Spaceys first public accuser, Anthony Rapp, which will be heard in New York in October; and the criminal case in the UK, where Spacey stands accused of several crimes. Roast Beef Productions, which was behind docs such as Pussy Riot: A Punk Prayer, is producing in association with All3Media International. Kira Phillips, who directed Channel 4s doc Jeremy Kyle: Death on Daytime, is directing, while Kathy Haywood is producer and former Channel 4 news chief Dorothy Byrne is executive producer alongside Mike Lerner. Byrne, who left Channel 4 two years ago after 15 years, said: Kevin Spacey is one of the most highly honoured and admired actors of our age. His brilliance has won him two Oscars and multiple other awards. Critically acclaimed on both sides of the Atlantic for his film work, he led the Old Vic for 11 years of remarkable success, becoming one of the most important figures in Londons cultural life, a friend to some of its leading figures, making regular appearances in society columns. These films will follow the unfolding story of the allegations of abuse against him and the resulting court cases. Story continues Spacey is due in court in London on July 14. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Treading red wine Abel Mitja Varela / Getty Images Dispelling the Natural Wine Resistance The style seizing wine lists is more straightforward than smelly, gassy glasses once suggested. Despite my own wine aversions, I have to resist interfering when a drinking companion vehemently refuses a single style or varietal. Experience uncovers the nuance in each glass of buttery or minerally Chardonnay, dry or divisively sweet Riesling, and yes, seemingly soapy or delightfully punchy orange wine. Styles have spectrums, and while natural wine may seem off the chart at first taste, it's all about resisting interference however cloudy the outcome. What Is Natural Wine? As with any natural product, the term natural wine simply indicates that nothing artificial has been added to the grape growing or winemaking processes. Natural winemaking aims to express the essence of wine without interference, and it's up for interpretation. Humans have intervened with wine to impact everything from flavor to appearance with conventional fining, filtering, degassing, and mass production. The elimination of manipulation is all about understanding and potentially appreciating what's not happening viticulture free of herbicides and pesticides and winemaking free of the more than 50 additives, from synthetic yeast to liquid oak extract, approved for use in Europe and the U.S. Everything in natural wine occurs naturally, and the fermented grape juice is produced with traditional practices the term may be trendy, but the methods are actually ancient. Not all organic wine is necessarily natural, but all natural wines are made with organically or biodynamically grown grapes, typically hand harvested. Natural wine can contain no or low sulfites (10-100 parts per million versus the 350 ppm allowed) to preserve the product, preventing oxidation, as it's bottled. Natural wine can be cloudy or retain sediment from forgoing filtration and clarification. It can also be earthy, effervescent, wild, enjoyably unpredictable, and endlessly interesting. Enthusiasts and experts use terms from true to raw to unadulterated to articulate the nature of the many wines in this broad category, which may manifest as hazy, funky, or sour but each natural wine is as unique as its terroir and fermentation techniques. Story continues What It Isn't It isn't official outside of France. Wine has a world of designations for origin, quality, and aging classification. The U.S. has certifications for organic and biodynamic vineyards, but only France has made "vin methode nature" a governed designation with a three-year trial label. Wine shops and wine lists often denote bottles that are biodynamic, natural, organic, or sustainable, much like kosher or vegan notation, sometimes using colors or symbols. I look for green tags at Urban Wines and Spirits in Manhattan's East Village and ladybugs at Liquor Up & Wine Down in Gramercy. Natural wines aren't objectively better or healthier than conventional wine, and curious consumers can explore the style as with any other. Evaluate aroma, appearance, body, and flavor, and consider comparative or blind tastings. Science hasn't backed the notion that sulfites correlate with hangovers, so there's no proof that natural wine prevents that impending pain. But much like honey doesn't hit quite like packets of processed sugar, you may simply feel better after reasonable consumption. No wine needs to be intimidating, and natural wine celebrates simplicity the way that chefs champion simple preparation to let seasonal produce shine. There's a reverence to restraint. A wine shop guru in New York's Grand Central Station recently described a natural winemaker as "so primitive they practically don't have electricity" to conjure the image of ancient methods. Perhaps as obvious as it is necessary to note, natural wine is as subjective as pretension. The term living wine and notion of respecting nature are not exclusive to this abstract style (though fizzy natural wines can be distinctly lively), and with winemaking, intervention can have as much intentionality as the social change and sustainability we're seeing in the industry. Tasting is interpretation and all makers have a story to tell. How It Started Georgians buried grape juice to ferment the first wine around 6,000 BC, literally the beginning of natural winemaking. The modern move away from machinery and manipulation is credited to a variety of influencers because of the ambiguous nature of the style. Wine expert Randy Caparoso credits California wine merchant Kermit Lynch for terroir advocacy in the 1980s, but even in Berkeley the term "natural" surfaced far more recently to encompass the intentionality of small producers returning to their roots. World-renowned wine educator Kevin Zraly doesn't even touch on the term natural wines in his famous "Complete Wine Course," and like many old-school experts, he uses quotation marks when finally mentioning "natural" wine in a 2021 Facebook post: "These wines remind me of that saying 'what's old is new again,' with small, artisanal producers shaking up the wine world with their 'old-style winemaking' of returning to the earth and not interfering with nature." Our own expert Ray Isle trusts "Natural Wine for the People" author Alice Feiring, one of the pioneers in what's often considered a movement. Natural winemakers experiment with fermentation in much the same way chefs have been researching umami in labs. Time, temperature, and conditions can naturally affect the outcome of fermentation with anything from stinky cheese to homemade mead. In Catalunya, Costador is fermenting an indigenous black grape called Sumoll in clay amphorae, or ancient jars. In Paso Robles, AmByth Estate still crushes grapes by foot and ages in clay or terra cotta vessels. France's Les Capriades disgorges petillant naturel (natural sparkling) wine "a la volee" (by hand) to eliminate sediment, and biodynamic vineyards like South Africa's Reyneke Wines are guided by constellations and the moon. Whether you order a pet-nat or a Pinot Noir, natural wine's for the consumer who cares how it was made. PANAMA CITY BEACH PeoplesSouth Bank will host a groundbreaking ceremony for a full-service branch in Panama City Beach at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. The new branch, Ocean Park Pavilion, will be located at 23044 Panama City Beach Parkway. "The groundbreaking of this new facility demonstrates our commitment to, and investment in, Bay County," said Erin Stuckey, president of PeoplesSouth. "This is an exciting time of growth for PeoplesSouth Bank. We look forward to the opportunity to share our customer service-oriented community banking approach with all of you." The building is scheduled to be completed in early 2023. The branch will house a lending team, retail banking staff, and include an ATM and three drive-through lanes. In addition to the new facility, the bank will continue to serve the community at its locations in Lynn Haven, Callaway and Panama City, PeoplesSouth officials said. This article originally appeared on The News Herald: PeoplesSouth Bank to break ground for Panama City Beach branch As a doctor, Ive sat with patients while Ive given them terrible news. And sometimes, all I could do to help was sit and listen and hold their hand. Theyre difficult conversations, difficult decisions, and in those decisions theres no place for the government to get between a patient and their doctor. The Supreme Court just voted to overturn Roe v. Wade, and Ive heard women across New Hampshire tell me how scared they are. Theyre scared their daughters will grow up without the rights they had. Theyre scared well go back to a time when women struggled to access contraceptives and reproductive healthcare. Theyre scared about severe restrictions on womens rights across the country, and at the anger and vitriol in our politics that unacceptably tries to intrude on their personal medical decisions. Sen. Tom Sherman New Hampshire currently has no proactive protections in place in case DC Republicans try and put a national abortion ban in place. Just last year, Gov. Chris Sununu signed into law New Hampshires first modern abortion ban, which criminalized doctors and made no exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal anomalies. He bragged on a DC podcast that hes done more on the pro-life issue than anyone, and he said hed consider signing additional abortion restrictions into law. Its clear Gov. Sununu views womens rights as something that can be signed away whenever it suits his political ambitions. Thats not the New Hampshire I know. Im running for governor because the New Hampshire I believe in protects a womans right to make medical decisions with her doctor. It supports womens health by restoring funding for contraceptives and cancer screenings. And it supports families by expanding access to affordable childcare and protecting our public schools. All of that is possible if our state has leadership that will actually bring people to the table and work towards solutions. Gov. Sununu has repeatedly failed to stand up for womens reproductive rights. Hell tell you he had no choice but to sign a budget with abortion restrictions into law, but there are always choices. In 2019, he chose to veto a budget that contained additional education funding and property tax relief because it didnt include tax cuts for large out-of-state corporations. In 2021, he chose to sign a budget that took away womens choices. During the budget process he did nothing to stop his legislature from inserting those provisions into law; he watched it happen and then claimed his hands were tied. Thats not leadership. Story continues Leadership is speaking out for whats right, and its sitting down with legislators to make sure we fully protect a womans right to a full range of reproductive health care services. I will fight to codify womens right to make their own healthcare decisions into New Hampshire law. A few months ago, I sat down in a hospital room with a woman named Lisa Akey, whos been sharing her deeply personal story about her pregnancy where one twin with a fatal fetal anomaly threatened the life of the other. Because of the ban Sununu signed, her options were limited. And she had to testify from her hospital bed to try and get her rights restored. Since when has the Live Free or Die state thought it was appropriate to get between a woman and her doctor? New Hampshire women deserve leaders they can trust to hear them and advocate for them. Ill be the kind of governor who will sit down with you for the tough conversations and make the tough decisions with no excuses afterwards. State Sen. Tom Sherman, MD, is a Democrat from Rye and candidate for governor of New Hampshire. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Sen. Sherman: Its time to protect womens right to choose in NH law Sen. Tina Smith (D-Minn.) warned on Monday that states where abortion remains legal have no capacity to absorb an influx of patients from states where it has been banned, after the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. The former Minnesota Planned Parenthood executive told Washington Post Lives Leigh Ann Caldwell about her visit to a clinic in Duluth, Minn., two weeks ago. She said the clinic has recently started caring for more patients from Wisconsin and Michigan, states where abortion rights are now under threat pending legal battles. They are doing everything they can, but they are severely resource-constrained in terms of the providers that they have, in terms of the physical facilities that they have, in terms of the financial resources they need to try to expand access to care, which they desperately want to do, Smith said. This is why I say that a ban on abortion in South Dakota or North Dakota or Wisconsin has effects on people not only in those states but people living in Minnesota because there is no capacity to absorb that additional need in one place, she added. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz (D), who is up for reelection this year, signed an executive order on Saturday protecting those seeking abortion who travel to Minnesota. Waiting times for abortions in Minnesota are already increasing, Smith said, adding that health care centers arent equipped to meet the rising demand. She said that private donations could help alleviate the pressure, but wouldnt be a sustainable solution. At the end of the day we cant solve this problem with philanthropy, we have to solve this problem by changing the laws and making sure that a woman in northern Wisconsin has the same rights that a woman living in northern Minnesota does, Smith said. However, Smith conceded that congressional action on abortions was unlikely this session, and has joined calls for the Biden administration to move ahead with executive actions that could help counter tightening abortion restrictions in red states across the country. Story continues In March, the Senate voted 49-51 on a bill that would have put Roe v. Wades protections into law, falling well short of the needed 60 votes, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and all 50 Republicans voting no. Sens. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) have been discussing compromise legislation, which Smith said hinges on two questions for her: can the legislation achieve 60 votes, and will it protect basic Roe protections and stop draconian limitations on the procedure. Smith echoed many fellow Democrats in saying any progress in the abortion fight depended on the party holding its majority in the House and picking up two Senate seats in Novembers mid-terms. That could allow Democrats to eliminate the filibuster, which both Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) have resisted for abortion and other issues. Smith and Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), in a joint op-ed this weekend, called for President Biden to consider systemic reforms in the Supreme Court composition and the Electoral College to counter the conservative anti-abortion movement. Amith urged Democrats to mobilize in every state for all elections, noting it will take time to undo the dramatic implications brought on by the court. The Supreme Court has spoken, but they will not have the last word, Smith said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. women-who-had-abortions-opener - Credit: Serena Marshall At almost eight months pregnant, Brittany Echols, 31, stood in the Saturday afternoon heat; the stifling humidity hard on anyone as it topped 70 percent outside the Supreme Court. Yet, defiant to the blazing sun, sign in hand, she participated in her very first protest. My daughter is my choice, it read. More from Rolling Stone Unlike some others in the crowd, the journey from Fredericksburg, Virginia wasnt far, but its a state where the impact of the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade is yet to be determined, as there are neither trigger laws nor codified abortion protections. Her resolve to show up though, was clear: it was about her yet-to-be-born daughter. Its important to show that pro-choice does not mean that youre anti-life, she says. It doesnt affect me personally, but it affects my daughter. It affects everybody around us. And Im just Im terrified today. Maura Ugarte of Washington, D.C., standing with her two daughters, 8-year old Frankie and four year old Alma, explains that she fears her girls will have less rights than I did when I was growing up, even as they return to a home steps from the bench in a district where with some of the least restrictive abortion laws in the country. For each protester, their story their why for showing up was different. For some it was about the future generation or what other rights may later be restricted, for others it was about their past. Some walked up to the steps of the court from their nearby homes. Others drove through the night or flew in the next morning. Many told Rolling Stone they werent sure what else to do in the immediate aftermath except donate money or protest. And while the protest bonded them for those few short days, the reality they each return to will be much different. Story continues Missy, 25, traveled from Martinsburg, West Virginia to participate, she tells Rolling Stone, because of her rapists. Missy, 25, traveled from West Virginia to attend the protests. - Credit: Serena Marshall Serena Marshall I was fucking livid, she says about the courts decision. Ive never had to have an abortion, but I was with somebody and that was their intention to get me pregnant, she says. And it was very scary. In West Virginia, the states single abortion clinic stopped procedures the day the ruling came down. A law from the late 1800s remains on the books, although inactive for the past 50 years, making abortions a felony, with no exemption for rape or incest. Thats a reality many of the young crowd members have never lived. Terry Karraker of Northern Virginia, however, knows all too well what its like to live in a state where abortion is outlawed and what it means to find out you are pregnant without Roe v, Wade protecting your decision. Taking the megaphone at the rally on Sunday, she told the crowd about a decision she made in 1972 one year before federal protection for abortion was upheld in Roe v. Wade. It was a decision she shared publicly for the first time. Ive been wanting to talk about it for a long time because a lot of women will not admit that theyve had an abortion, she tells Rolling Stone. And until that Sunday, standing in front of the court that did away federal protections, she had only told her story to a few people. My best friends [and] my husband know, she explained before adding that not even her mother is aware of the decision she made 50 years ago. Growing up in a small city in Wisconsin, she was in high school and three months along when she found out. I didnt know I was pregnant until it was very, very obvious. You know, you think youre invincible at that age. Its not gonna happen to you, she says. Like in this new post-Roe era of Wisconsin, there were no abortion clinics operating in the state due to an 1849 law which makes virtually any abortion performed a felony. I went to the big city of Milwaukee and I found Planned Parenthood, she recalls. They sent me to New York. Now I had to pay for this. It wasnt free. But it was her first time on an airplane roundtrip in a single day. I had the abortion. I was home by five oclock that night. And I realized on the way home, that all the people that were on the plane with me out there, all had abortions, and some of them had their fathers and some had their mothers and some were alone like I was, but we all got picked up, went to the Planned Parenthood had the safe abortion and were home by five oclock. Thats what we had to do to get that done. Terry Karracker - Credit: Serena Marshall Serena Marshall Today, Karraker has a 35-year-old son and doesnt regret her decision at all. Instead, she marvels at her strength in those pre-Roe days. Strength she says, many young girls today will also need to find. How did I do it? I was 17 and I didnt have a computer. You didnt have anything. I just used the phone and the yellow pages and found my way out of a predicament I didnt want to be in, and I think that was very brave of me and very strong at that time. Karraker wasnt the only one sharing her story for the first time. Flying in from Boston after the ruling came down, Kayla Schneider, 29, made her first trip to the nations capital. A roughly 24-hour voyage to stand signless, but in solidarity. Im a teen mom. I had my son when I just turned 18 years old. It was a tough decision to make, you know, I went to Planned Parenthood and they were really helpful in making that decision. Then I got pregnant again when he was about four years old and had to make that decision again and I at that time I chose to have an abortion, she says. I had the choice both times and I made a different choice both times and I think everybody should have that option. With her purple hair tied back in pigtails, her black oversized glasses covering most of her face, it was only the catch in her voice that gave away her tears. I dont want to get too emotional, she says. Its her first time she has shared her story with someone other than family. Shes not ready to take the mega-phone but shes ready to let others know. As one of the nearly one in four women who get an abortion, she says it was time to speak out. With Schneiders first pregnancy, she was six weeks along when she found out. Her boyfriend at the time had broken up with her just two weeks before she got the news. I was on birth control. I was on the pill, she says. Hes now 11 years old. Hes the best thing thats ever happened to me. Im married. And he has the best dad, not his biological father, but hes been in his life since he was six months old. The second time she found out she was pregnant, it was with her now-husband, and again she was on birth control. And although they were in a committed relationship, they decided the time was not right. Kayla Schneider - Credit: Serena Marshall Serena Marshall I was again really torn on what to do. Ultimately, I went and had the abortion at eight weeks. It was really hard. I still bring it up to him sometimes, but no, I dont regret it, Schneider tells Rolling Stone. Im out here for everyone. Im out here for every person that gets pregnant and doesnt have access to get an abortion if they want to. Im out here for the people that have access to abortion and are forced to look at an ultrasound before they get one who are told that theyre going to hell if they get an abortion. Im out here for the trans men that could be forced to give birth. With only a couple hours on the ground in D.C., Schneider says she plans to take her action back to Massachusetts to help others, even though they remain one of the handful of states that codified access to abortion into their state law. Republican Gov. Charlie Baker even issued an executive order within hours of the Supreme Court decision, to protect residents and providers, as well as bans the state from complying with extradition requests for out of state residents who might go to the state for a procedure or those who provide or assist in abortions. Karraker, however, is not so protected living in Virginia, where Gov. Glenn Youngkin has praised the anti-abortion decision, and said he aims to restrict acess to 15-weeks in light of the Courts ruling. Even so, Karraker hopes to pay forward the help she received in a pre-Roe world even as the one she now finds herself is in some ways more restrictive. States like Texas allow private citizens to sue anyone (even those outside the state) who aids or abets an abortion. I might be going to some of the states where its completely illegal and try to help women find the means to get the abortion. I mean, I dont have a lot of money, but I have more time than money these days. And she is prepared for the consequences. I have to get my husband to get the bail money first, she says with a laugh. He might need it. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Barbera grapes Getty Images At its best, the Barbera grape variety produces wines of fantastic food-friendliness, vibrancy, and complexity for what are generally fair prices. It's produced around the world, from California to Australia, but Barbera reaches its peak of fame and accomplishment in the Piedmont region of Northern Italy. To appreciate all that Barbera has to offer no matter where it's from study this guide to Barbera wines. What Is Barbera Wine? Unlike many of the most well-known wines of Italy, Barbera is the name of a grape variety, not a place. Chianti, for example, is not a grape variety, but rather a place in Tuscany where some of the most well-known Sangiovese-based red wines in the world are produced. In Piedmont, where Barbera achieves its most profound expressions, Barolo and Barbaresco are the most recognizable names, but they, too, are places as opposed to grape varieties both are produced from the Nebbiolo variety. Barbera, on the other hand, is the name of the grape variety itself. Though there are differences in character from one producer to another, and from one type of terroir to another, Barbera wines tend to be energized with assertive acidity that perks up bright and brambly fruit notes, making it a delicious accompaniment to a wide range of foods. Where Does Barbera Wine Come From? Since Barbera is a grape variety, as opposed to a particular place, Barbera wine can theoretically be produced around the world. And, indeed, it is: There are noteworthy expressions of Barbera from Paso Robles and Lodi in California, McLaren Vale in Australia, and, if you're willing to look for it, Uruguay! Still, the vast majority of Barbera wine that you'll find at restaurants and wine shops comes from the Piedmont region of Italy, where the most beloved ones are labeled Barbera d'Asti, Barbera d'Alba, or Barbera del Monferrato. Interestingly, though they are all produced from the Barbera grape variety, they are demonstrably different expressions. In general, Barbera d'Alba tends to have a bit more weight and texture, with flavors that skew more toward the bold end of the spectrum. None should be confused with their Piedmontese cousins crafted from the Nebbiolo grape variety, however: Barbera d'Asti, Barbera d'Alba, and Barbera del Monferrato are as different from Barolo and Barbaresco as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot are from one another. Story continues Why Should You Drink It? Unlike many of its Nebbiolo-based counterparts in Piedmont Langhe Nebbiolo and Roero are notable exceptions Barbera doesn't generally require a serious outlay of money to acquire. Indeed, whereas the best of Barolo and Barbaresco can set you back well over $100, Barbera tends to be far less pricey and still offers serious insight into the character of the soil and micro-climate in which it was grown. Classic examples, like Barbera d'Asti, Barbera d'Alba, Barbera del Monferrato, and more, can be found for less than $30. At their best, however, they taste like they cost a lot more. And because of their moderate tannins, amplified acidity, and vivid fruit notes, great Barbera can be enjoyed alongside a range of foods Barbera and pizza, for example, is a classic combination, though Barbera works just as well alongside grilled meats, pasta with tomato-based sauces, dishes that feature mushrooms, and a wealth of hard cheeses, too. The wine also boasts advantages for collectors, too: Since it's not typically necessary to age Barbera wines, they can be enjoyed on release, far earlier than their Nebbiolo-based counterparts. For collectors of wines from Piedmont, it's not uncommon to enjoy bottles of young Barbera while waiting for the Barolo and Barbaresco to mature. Still, there are plenty of examples of Barbera and more of them all the time, it seems that reward time in the cellar. Generally, these will be labeled as Barbera d'Asti Superiore or Barbera d'Alba Superiore. The former means that the wine has been aged for at least 14 months, and half a year of that is required to have been in an oak barrel. The latter has aging requirements of 12 months prior to hitting the market, spending four of them (or more) in oak barrels. In general, the Superiore bottlings have a greater ability to age than the fresher, less-structured Barbera d'Asti and Barbera d'Alba. Barbera del Monferrato, though less of a presence on the American market, is a worthy addition to a meal or a collection, too: Its vibrancy and generous fruit make it difficult not to finish a bottle over the course of a meal. What Does Barbera Wine Taste Like? Barbera expresses itself differently around the world, and throughout Piedmont, depending on where it's grown, how it's vinified, and whatif anyoak aging it's undergone. Still, in general Barbera wine possesses mouthwatering acidity, which keeps it fresh and cuts through fat and protein with ease. Its fruit skews in the direction of brambly berries, wild strawberries, and fresh cherries; there's often an underpinning of sweet and woodsy spices and a touch of something more savory, like mushrooms or minerals. As it ages, those savory notes come to the fore, though the brightness tends to keep it all fresh and food-friendly. Five Great Barbera Wines There are countless great Barbera wines on the market today. These five producers are a perfect way to start exploring all that Barbera has to offer. Pio Cesare Barbera d'Alba Pio Cesare is one of the classic producers of Barolo and Barbaresco in Piedmont, but their Barbera wines are just as noteworthy. Vintage after vintage, the Pio Cesare Barbera d'Alba is a well-crafted, smartly priced wine. Ercole Barbera del Monferrato Proof that wines produced by co-ops can be every bit as excellent as estate-grown ones. This Barbera del Monferratoand Monferrato is where it's generally agreed that the grape variety was bornis the result of old vines and sustainable farming. Broccardo Barbera d'Alba Ten months in oak lend this wine the ability to age for several years,but it's just as enjoyable on release, alongside everything from a simple charcuterie board to a strip steak and even pasta with tomato sauce and meatballs. Dogliotti Barbera d'Asti With a focus on its fruit flavors, this is a fantastic example of a Barbera d'Asti that costs less than $20, takes well to a very slight chill, and brightens up any meal it's enjoyed with. Vietti "Tre Vigne" Barbera d'Asti Vietti is one of the most famous and respected producers of Barbera in Piedmont, and it's no wonder: Their Tre Vigne bottlings consistently rank among the favorites of collectors and sommeliers. Look for the single-vineyard Barbera wines produced by Vietti, as well. NICEVILLE Northwest Florida State College (NWFSC) recently presented the Advancing Institutional Mission (AIM) Award to state Rep. Patt Maney for his efforts in appropriating funds for the college and helping expand the educational opportunities in Northwest Florida. State Rep. Patt Maney leads the Pledge of Allegiance during a special legislative session Nov. 17, 2021. More from the representative: Rep. Patt Maney's Baker Act reform package gets gutted in the Florida Senate Local: Okaloosa County gets $7.9 million in state funding. View the list of approved projects In 2021, Maneys efforts resulted in the college receiving approximately $800,000 in grants for various educational initiatives and programs. He has continued to support NWFSC this year as he appropriated $11 million for the Gallimore Center for Healthcare Education on the colleges Niceville campus, $500,000 for the Aviation Center of Excellence, $790,906 for the Nursing Education program, and over $7.5 million for deferred maintenance. The college established the AIM Award in 2021 in an effort to recognize individuals and organizations for successfully advancing the institution to a place of prominence in the region. Maney is the fourth individual to date to receive this award. Rep. Maney exemplifies what it means to be a part of the Raider family, said NWFSC President Dr. Devin Stephenson. His dedication to providing students with the highest quality education, training, and resources has been undeniable, and we are beyond grateful for his continued support as we have worked toward advancing this regions workforce and providing our students with the education and training they need to succeed. For more information about the Health Sciences or Career and Technical Education programs at NWFSC, visit nwfsc.edu or contact Bryan Brooks, chief communications officer, at 850-729-5307 or brooks90@nwfsc.edu. The college's mission is to improve lives by providing a high-quality, globally competitive education that is a catalyst for cultural, civic, and economic development throughout the region. This article originally appeared on Northwest Florida Daily News: Maney receives Northwest Florida State College AIM Award Nicole Kidman Keith Urban Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images Congratulations to Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban! The longtime love birds celebrated their 16th wedding anniversary on Saturday. "HAPPY SWEET 16 BABY," Urban wrote on Instagram alongside a smiling selfie of the two of them. Kidman also took to social media to celebrate the milestone, sharing a rare photo of their 2006 nuptials in Australia "Sweet XVI," the Oscar-winner captioned a photo of their candlelit ceremony. "Remember this like it was yesterday. Forever." The A-list couple met at an "industry event" in 2005. In a 2020 interview with WSJ Magazine, Kidman revealed that she fell for the country crooner and fellow Australian shortly after their first meeting. The Northman actress recalled how Urban took her for a ride on his Harley-Davidson to Woodstock, New York, where they had a picnic in the woods. "I was a gonerI mean, c'mon," she said. The lovebirds were married less than a year later, in June 2006. Kidman and Urban welcomed their first daughter, Sunday Rose, in 2008, and their second daughter, Faith Margaret, in 2010. Congrats, y'all! Here's to 16 more years of love. Demonstrators listen to abortion rights activists and other demonstrators share their feelings and fears about the overturning of Roe v. Wade during the Bans Off Las Cruces abortion rights demonstration on Friday, June 24, 2022. Roe v. Wade overturned, New Mexico reacts On Friday, the precedent set by Roe v. Wade which has enshrined abortion access as a constitutional right for nearly 50 years was overturned by the Supreme Court's present conservative majority. Ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, a 6-3 majority of Justices upheld a Mississippi law banning most abortion after 15 weeks of gestation. Associate Justice Samuel Alito, author of the majority's opinion, specifically wrote that the Roe decision "was egregiously wrong from the start." "The moment we have long dreaded has arrived, and our nation will be the worse for it," New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in responding to news of the Supreme Court's decision negating a constitutional right to abortion. For opponents of abortion, on the other hand, it was a day to celebrate and look ahead to state-level debates about termination of pregnancies including further restrictions. "Here in New Mexico, unfortunately, we have our work cut out for us," New Mexico Alliance for Life director Elisa Martinez said Friday morning. Last year, the New Mexico Legislature, where Democrats hold majorities in both chambers, repealed a 1969 statutory ban on abortion under most circumstances. It had been unenforceable since the Supreme Court's 1973 ruling in Roe v. Wade, which established a woman's right to choose to terminate her pregnancy without excessive restrictions by government. Following Friday's announcement, crowds gathered to protest the decision in Las Cruces' Pioneer Women's Park. This decision, of course, caused the Las Cruces Sun-News newsroom to spring into action. Reporter Algernon D'Ammassa spoke to a number of New Mexico politicians and activists for initial reactions to the ruling. Reporter Michael McDevitt took a look at the landscape across the state with regard to abortion providers. Reporter Annya Loya covered the event at Pioneer Women's Park. Story continues Algernon said: On Friday morning, New Mexicans learned that the Supreme Court had done just what the draft opinion that was leaked in May said it would do: Overturn the precedent established in 1973 with Roe v. Wade that protected the decision to terminate a pregnancy as a constitutional right. It is a landmark reversal of a landmark ruling less than 50 years old. Reporting on the initial reaction consumed our day Friday, along with preparing for a series of follow-up stories about what this means for New Mexico as a matter of law, moral agency, public health and justice for all our people. Look for more from our whole team. With regard to his reporting Friday, Michael said: I sat in on a press conference as advocates and Democratic state lawmakers weighed how to respond to the historic reversal of the Roe v. Wade decision. While activists discussed increasing clinic infrastructure to cater to an anticipated demand increase, Democrats called this falls elections more important than before though they stopped short of calling for the codification of Roe at the state level. Im still working on figuring out what material difference exists between the absence of codification in New Mexico and if the state were to codify Roe. Ive heard some arguments and justifications for not codifying, but I think its a topic to explore further. And readers should be asking the same of their leaders that is, to justify whatever action they take, one way or the other. Dona Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart attends a news conference at the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office in Las Cruces on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. Fight over subpoena delivery raises questions The 3rd Judicial District Attorneys office requested a judge force the Dona Ana County Sheriffs Office to deliver 17 subpoenas they say were rejected by the sheriff. In response, DASO said that deputies would no longer deliver subpoenas for the DAs office. According to a petition filed in the 3rd Judicial District Court District Attorney Gerald Byers said that Stewart and DASO Major Jon Day used an employee-only elevator to enter the DAs office without an appointment on June 9. The petition said that Stewart and Day told Byers that DASO would not be serving 17 subpoenas. The results of her (Stewarts) actions could result in many criminal cases being dismissed, the petition stated. How this will play out remains unwritten, but it's certainly something the Sun-News will be following closely. Reporter Justin Garcia, who covers public safety, crime and courts, has been working to wade through the ramifications that may follow. There are still a lot of unanswered questions about the subpoena situation. It was one of those stories that snuck up on me, but is one of the most important things to happen this year. So far, sources familiar with the matter suggest that the DA is able to deliver the subpoenas without DASO. But there remains a question of whether DASO has a legal obligation to deliver them. On the other hand, I found some defense attorneys talking on Twitter about why they believed the sheriff was doing the right thing. Lots of questions here. Spectators look for a rocket after its launch during Spaceport America Cup competition at Spaceport America on Thursday, June 23, 2022. Spaceport America Cup returns to southern New Mexico Last week marked the Spaceport America Cup's return to in-person competition after the 2020 event was canceled and the 2021 Cup was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event has been organized yearly since 2006 by the nonprofit Experimental Sounding Rocket Association. It was held in Green River, Utah until it moved to the spaceport in 2017, which is when the Intercollegiate Rocket Engineering Competition was rebranded as the Spaceport America Cup. At the launch area Thursday, ESRA and spaceport staff permitted teams to arrive as early as 4 a.m. for preliminary work integrating their rocket systems and did what they could to move the process of final safety checks, preparation and launches as efficiently as possible. Due to inclement weather on Wednesday, well, the dirt roads leading to the Spaceport were VERY muddy. Some participants got stuck, as reporter Algernon D'Ammassa learned. But that didn't stop more than 1,000 participants from showing up. About the experience, Algernon said: We've been covering the Spaceport America Cup since the competition moved to the spaceport in 2017. (Before that, it had been held annually in Utah.) I've been writing stories about it since 2018 from different angles: A little about the engineering, the structure of the competition, the research that flies on some of the rockets and the professional networking and recruiting that goes on. This was the first in-person competition since the COVID-19 pandemic erupted, and so this year's story is mainly about the teams and how people help one another out. It begins with the story of one rocketry student who took an unpaved county road to beat it back to the Spaceport after running an errand in Truth or Consequences, only to find himself stuck in the mud trying to figure out how to get back to the launching area several miles away before time ran out. The Spaceport America Cup is also the subject of this week's The Reporter's Notebook podcast. We talk to Algernon and photojournalist Meg Potter about their experience covering the event. Sibilings Jennah and Muhammad Idrissa, 3 and 8 years old, will undergo a bone marrow transplant procedure in summer 2022 to treat Muhammed's sickle cell anemia. Local boy finds bone marrow match Moustapha Idrissa and Balkissa Boubacars first child was born eight years ago. Muhammad was perfect and the young family was happy. However, standard tests on the newborn revealed he had sickle cell anemia. Sickle cell diseases are inherited blood disorders that affect millions of people each year particularly those with ancestors from sub-Saharan Africa, Spanish-speaking areas of the Western Hemisphere, Saudi Arabia, India and several Mediterranean countries, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Normal red blood cells are circular and contain the protein hemoglobin which carries oxygen. But in patients who have SCD, their hemoglobin is abnormal, causing red blood cells to become sickle- or banana-shaped. The odd shape can lead to blockages, strokes and other complications. Many people diagnosed with the disorders experience excruciating pain. Muhammad has not. However, Muhammad needs a bone marrow transplant. He's now found a match in his little sister, Jennah. Sun-News reporter Leah Romero told the story for our readers: Recently, someone reached out to our newsroom asking if we would be interested in hearing about a Las Cruces boy who needed to have a bone marrow transplant soon. I sat down with Moustapha Idrissa to hear about what was going on with his son and family. Moustapha talked about his 8-year-old son, Muhammad, the eldest of four children. He was diagnosed with sickle cell anemia at birth, but started suffering from symptoms of the blood disorder in recent years. The boy suffered a silent stroke, a precursor to a more major, damaging stroke and the family started getting tested to see if they might be a donor match for him. Muhammads sister, 3-year-old Jennah, was a perfect match. The family is now preparing to move to Washington where the procedure and recovery will take place. Theyre asking for help with living and medical expenses as their stay will likely be close to a year. On behalf of all of us at the Las Cruces Sun-News, thank you for taking the time to read this week's newsletter. Damien Willis is a Lead Reporter for the Las Cruces Sun-News. He can be reached at 575-541-5443, dwillis@lcsun-news.com or @DamienWillis on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Las Cruces Sun-News: Roe v. Wade overturned and New Mexicans react, subpoena fight spurs confusion Russian President Vladimir Putin. Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images Russia denied defaulting on its foreign debt obligation on Monday after a grace period on a bond payment expired. A Kremlin spokesman said Western sanctions that blocked Russia's May payment is "not our problem" On Sunday, Russia missed a deadline to pay $100 million in dollar- and euro-denominated interest on two foreign-currency bonds. Russia denied Monday that it defaulted on foreign debt obligations, saying Western sanctions that blocked bond payments are "not our problem." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, a Russian spokesperson, said that the Kremlin had successfully made bond payments due in May. On Sunday, the country missed a deadline to pay $100 million in dollar- and euro-denominated interest on two foreign-currency bonds as a 30-day grace period from a May 27 due date expired. Moscow said it had sent the eurobond payments to the country's National Settlement Depository, Reuters reported last week. But the bonds' covenants do not allow for payments in rubles, which means the payments would still constitute a default. Russia has $40 billion in outstanding debt and has already reached near-default scenarios that were considered failure-to-pay events. Sanctions have isolated Russia from the global banking community, with the latest blow coming Sunday when Britain, Canada, Japan and the US announced a joint ban on new imports of Russian gold. But Moscow maintains that it has the funds to meet its obligations even as sanctions froze roughly $300 billion worth of reserve assets including gold. Some Western officials have suggested that frozen Russian assets could be used to aid Ukraine. But the Kremlin on Monday reiterated its stance against that notion. "Our reserves are blocked unlawfully and all attempts to use these reserves will also be unlawful and would amount to outright theft," Peskov said. Read the original article on Business Insider FILE PHOTO: Flags of Taiwan and U.S. are placed for a meeting in Taipei TAIPEI (Reuters) - Taiwan and the United States will hold trade talks on Monday under a newly agreed framework, the office of the U.S. Trade Representative said. Deputy U.S. Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi will meet the island's top trade negotiator, John Deng, to discuss an initiative on 21st-century trade, her office said, without providing details. The initiative was unveiled this month, just days after the Biden administration excluded the Chinese-claimed island from its Asia-focused economic plan designed to counter China's growing influence, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, or IPEF. Taiwan still hopes to eventually seal a free trade deal with the United States, Deng told Reuters. The United States does not have official ties with Taiwan, a major producer of semiconductors, but has been stepping up engagement as China seeks to isolate it from global institutions. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) Tierra Mowry, left, with daughter Amelia, Tarynn Mowry, with daughter, Ember, and Tammy Mowry, attended an abortion rights rally in Redding on Sunday. Although Raegan Atkinson is only 11 years old, she found enough of a cause Sunday to get her out on the streets of Redding to hold signs and chant in protest of a recent government ruling. Raegan joined her father and about 150 other people demonstrating against the U.S. Supreme Court's decision last week that said women do not have a constitutional right to abortion. The protesters stood along both sides of Cypress Avenue in front of Redding City Hall, holding signs and chanting slogans for women's abortion rights. "I'd much rather be here serving women than being down at Shasta Lake, playing video games all day," Raegan said. At one point during the rally, Raegan led the protesters in a chant, yelling "Not the church, not the state, women must decide their fate!" The rally, which started at 10 a.m. Sunday, went off peacefully, said Cheryl McKinley, of Redding, who helped organize the protest. She said she had not seen any counter-protesters show up. About 150 people attended an abortion rights rally in Redding along Cypress Avenue in Redding on Sunday. Other protests have been held throughout the country following the court's decision that the Constitution did not grant a woman the right to an abortion. Some of those rallies over the weekend turned violent. One protest in Phoenix ended with police firing tear gas as protesters banged on the windows of the state senate building. Another man was arrested at a rally in Los Angeles when he allegedly attacked police with a "makeshift flamethrower." Sunday's rally was the second protest in favor of abortion rights in Redding in three days. The first Redding event was Friday, and McKinley said there are likely to be more abortion rights rallies in Redding over the summer. McKinley noted that while abortion remains legal in California following the Supreme Court's decision, the rally was held to protest the loss of rights in other states around the country. "We're protesting because the Supreme Court made it not the law of the land. So we're protesting on behalf of women everywhere around this country. And we're protesting because the Supreme Court appears to be taking away rights instead of upholding our rights right now," McKinley said. Story continues More: Abortion rights protesters rally in Redding There were plenty of homemade signs with messages like "Against abortion? Don't get one," "I am strong. I am invincible. I am woman" and "No gov't. in my uterus." Protesters held up signs as they lined both sides of Cpress Avenue, with many cars honking in support as they drove past. But as the temperature outside began to climb, protesters began to trickle away. And by 11:13 a.m. McKinley announced to the crowd she was packing up "because it's too freaking hot!" Tom Atkinson of Redding protests for abortion rights during a rally in Redding on Sunday. But Raegan's father, Tom Atkinson, kept up his protests, occasionally breaking into a chant "Her body, her choice" with the crowd repeating "My body, my choice." But the heat took a toll on Atkinson, forcing him to take regular breaks to sip from his water bottle and bend over to stretch his back. Atkinson said that the rally was about restoring rights. "Well, I hope to achieve gettting 50% of the U.S. population its rights back that they were given in court decisions 50 years ago," he said. Tom Atkinson of Redding participates in an abortion rights rally Sunday in Redding. pic.twitter.com/QvGzS6GKjM Damon Arthur (@damonarthur_RS) June 26, 2022 More: North State weighs in on Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade More: What does overturning Roe mean? A breakdown of the Supreme Court's abortion ruling Damon Arthur is the Record Searchlights resources and environment reporter. He is part of a team of journalists who investigate wrongdoing and find the unheard voices to tell the stories of the North State. He welcomes story tips at 530-338-8834 by email at damon.arthur@redding.com and on Twitter at @damonarthur_RS. Help local journalism thrive by subscribing today! This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: 'Upholding our rights' the rallying cry of protesters in Redding Egg Drop egg sandwich and cup of coffee The first time I saw an EGGDROP sandwich, I was perusing a Vietnamese food bloggers website, looking for recipes. One image showed a small, right-side-up wrapper was a sandwich bursting with cuteness and, presumably, flavor. Perfectly scrambled eggs were nestled between two slices of brioche, my favorite kind of bread. Slices of ham and American cheese hugged the eggs, a squirt of sauce strategically layered on top. Its the kind of sandwich that looks and feels poshfood that Id want to tell my friends about. Thats exactly what Goldenhind, the franchise-based company that created EGGDROP, wants you to do. To the young and mobile-friendly crowd of South Korea, EGGDROPs trajectory as an elite brand (it bills itself as Koreas first premium gourmet egg sandwich) can be attributed to how many people share what they eat online. Turns out, an egg sandwich inspired by the American diner was exactly what people needed. Read more The wide world of trendy sandwiches EGGDROP sandwiches are for the customer who wants the best of everything: American diner fare filled with eggs, ham, bacon, cheese, and avocado but also a quick, convenient, and high-quality protein option. Goldenhind understands this desire and caters to it; the small, kiosk-style restaurants usually have long lines and run like a tight ship, with strict quality control similar to American restaurants. Inside are stainless steel countertops and appliances with very few chairs, making it the kind of grab-and-go place that many busy young professionals prefer (or at least patronize). Then theres the signature black-and-white grid pattern of the sandwich wrappers, which EGGDROP calls the city grid pattern, representing the fact that many locations are situated in populous areas. To eat an EGGDROP sandwich is to be part of a lifestyle brand, the growing health-conscious and socially minded young professionals who also (secretly) desire an American diner experience. For customers, its the taste, convenience, and visual appeal that brings them in, but for Lee Mikuyng, who co-owns an EGGDROP location with her mother, the experience of owning a restaurant allows them to form a bond stronger than ever before. She attributes the trendiness factor to the way the sandwiches are made. Story continues We put in the bread vertically, unlike most sandwiches. she says, and this makes the sandwich a great choice for those hungry for a quick bite on the go. That kind of attention to detail matters, even if the visual elements dont affect the flavor of the final product. In the past few years, the popularity of this sandwich has gone beyond the streets and Instagram. On TikTok, for example, creators post reviews of the sandwich, or attempt to make their own version, or simply introduce people to similar versions. Many of these videos have garnered thousands of views, thereby elevating brand awareness even more. The modern breakfast sandwich embraces the classics The numbers do not lie. As of April 2022, there are 275 EGGDROP locations around South Korea. Sales for the first half of 2021, as the company boasted on its website, were 38.5 billion South Korean wonthats almost $30 million USD in just five years. And speaking of USD, more locations slated for opening this year, in both Thailand and the United States. Word has spread overseas, and companies like Flippoly and Egg Tuck in the United States are already emulating this sandwich, touting their own version of the aesthetically pleasing, Instagram-friendly fare. With these other spots capitalizing on the same appeal of EGGDROP, will the original from Korea, which took its cues from American diner fare to begin with, stoke the most excitement and generate the longest lines once it lands in the States? Ultimately, the diners will decide. But one thing seems undeniable: Eating an egg sandwich is one of the best ways to fill up a hungry stomach and boost your happiness. Just dont forget to share it on TikTok. Austin saw competing abortion rights protests and anti-abortion celebrations last weekend after the Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade, ending constitutional protections for abortion. Protesters poured into the streets Sunday after an East Austin rally at which Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke called on supporters to vote in new Texas leadership. Speaking to a crowd at Pan American Neighborhood Park, O'Rourke said the only way to secure access to abortion in Texas is for the Democratic Party to gain political power. He encouraged everyone to turn out and vote in the November election and to sign up to knock on doors to encourage people to vote. The Supreme Court's ruling will put into effect within weeks a trigger law in Texas that will make it a felony to perform an abortion. Texas also has anti-abortion laws that were enacted before the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling and never repealed by state lawmakers. "They acknowledged more than red or blue, we are nonvoting right now in the state of Texas. And it is up to us to reach out to our fellow Texans and to bring them into this beautiful democracy," O'Rourke said about attendees at a recent event in Bryan. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Beto O'Rourke speaks at a rally in response to the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade at Pan American Neighborhood Park in East Austin on Sunday. Abortion opponents also gathered over the weekend to celebrate the Supreme Court's ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade. Kim Schwartz, a Texas Right to Life spokesperson, told the American-Statesman, "The decision to overturn Roe means that states will once again have the authority to defend preborn children from the slaughter of abortion. Now the battle will continue state by state, and we won't stop until every innocent human life is protected." Abortion rights supporters cheer at Sunday's rally led by Beto O'Rourke in East Austin. After the decision, Gov. Greg Abbott said in a statement that the court "correctly overturned Roe v. Wade." He gave examples of laws and government spending he signed for expectant mothers, including $100 million to the Alternatives to Abortion program under Texas Health and Human Services. Abbott also touted extending Medicaid coverage to new mothers from 60 days to six months after giving birth. Story continues A majority of Texas voters, however, opposed automatically banning all abortions if the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, according to an April poll by the Texas Politics Project. Leaders from Avow Texas PAC and Planned Parenthood spoke Sunday, as did other Democratic politicians, including Texas attorney general candidate Rochelle Garza and lieutenant governor candidate Mike Collier. Abortion rights advocates state Rep. Donna Howard and former state Sen. Wendy Davis spoke, the latter introducing O'Rourke. Davis is best known for her 13-hour filibuster of an anti-abortion bill. Former state Sen. Wendy Davis speaks at Sunday's rally in East Austin. Davis is best known for her 13-hour filibuster of an anti-abortion bill. "Now, we just heard from Wendy Davis," O'Rourke said. "And one of the reasons she is my all-time hero is when she stood on the Senate floor in 2013, she had no idea whether what she was doing was going to bring about the desired results in that moment. In fact, the odds were probably against her. But she knew that she had to try." The Democratic candidates called on liberal voters to turn out in the upcoming election and vote out the state's Republican leadership. Abortion rights supporters at Sunday's rally were told they need to vote Republicans out of office in November. More: See what protests over Roe v. Wade ruling look like in Austin and nationwide More: Beto O'Rourke rallies for reproductive rights in Austin, Texas After the event, protesters spilled onto the street, some of them chanting at a group of anti-abortion demonstrators. Police requested that protesters clear the street, but they chanted "go home" and "no justice, no peace" before police moved into their cars and demonstrators began to proceed down the street. Later that evening, protesters gathered in front of the Capitol, where they were met with a heavy police presence, with officers warning protesters not to block city streets. Austin Police Department public information officer Michael Bullock said that as of 9 p.m. Sunday, four arrests had been made. Bullock said he did not have details on the charges. More: Beto O'Rourke suggests he could 'overcome' abortion ruling as governor. He could not. Protesters on Saturday evening also spilled into downtown Austin streets. Police Chief Joe Chacon estimated there were more than 5,000 people at the Saturday rally. Chacon told the American-Statesman that the Saturday crowd of protesters was "generally very cooperative and peaceful." At least 1,000 people denounced the reversal of Roe v. Wade in a Friday downtown protest as well. Fact Check: Did Texas turn down $100 billion when Republicans rejected Medicaid expansion? Contact Nusaiba Mizan at nmizan@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @nusaiblah. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Abortion rights protestors take to Austin streets after O'Rourke rally The leaders of the Group of Seven nations chuckled about stripping off their clothes for photographs on Sunday to outdo Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has often appeared shirtless in images disseminated by the Kremlin. During the first day of the three-day G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau could be heard on a video joking about their impending photoshoot. Jackets on? Jackets off? Shall we take our clothes off? British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked other leaders sitting around a table. We all have to show that were tougher than Putin. Were going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display, Trudeau quipped, referencing a widely shared photo of Putin. There you go! There you go! Weve got to show them our pecs! Johnson responded. Putins predilection for going shirtless doing outdoors activities is part of his carefully crafted strongman image. The Russian president is also an accomplished judo practitioner. Russia was kicked out of what was previously called the G8 in 2014 following its initial invasion of Ukraines Crimean peninsula. The current G7 nations include the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan. President Biden announced Sunday that the group will impose new import bans on Russian gold as a punishment for Moscows going invasion of Ukraine. Biden spent Sunday morning meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and later participated in a working lunch with other leaders. A White House readout of Bidens meeting with Scholz indicated Ukraine was a main topic of conversation. The leaders underlined their commitment to Ukraines sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their continued provision of military, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to help Ukraine defend its democracy against Russian aggression, the White House readout said. The leaders also discussed efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russias war in Ukraine on global food and energy security. Updated on June 27 at 6:30 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani (R) was attacked by an employee at a Staten Island, N.Y., supermarket on Sunday, according to authorities. The New York Police Department (NYPD) confirmed to The Hill on Sunday that Giuliani was slapped in the mid-back at a ShopRite while on the campaign trail for his son Andrew Giulianis gubernatorial campaign. All of a sudden, I feel this, Bam! on my back, Giuliani told the New York Post, adding that he nearly fell down from the blow. All of a sudden, I hear this guy say, Youre a f scumbag, then he moves away so nobody can grab him, he added. The 39-year-old ShopRite employee was detained after the incident, according to the NYPD. The Post reported he is facing a second-degree assault charge for assaulting a person over the age of 65 years old. Andrew Giulianis campaign released a statement on the incident, saying Innocent people are attacked in todays New York all of the time. This particular incident hit very close to home. The assault on my father, Americas Mayor, was over politics. We will not be intimidated by left wing attacks. As governor I will stand up for law and order so that New Yorkers feel safe again. Both the Post and The New York Times quoted Giuliani saying the attack appeared to be motivated by the Supreme Courts decision on Friday to overturn Roe v. Wade. The one thing he said that was political was youre going to kill women, youre going to kill women, Giuliani told the Times, decrying politically motivated violence. This has to stop. This is getting ridiculous, he added. Ive been in politics 50 years, Ive never been attacked like this. Giuliani has been a central figure in the ongoing public hearings on the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, having played a key role in efforts to overturn President Bidens election victory. Trump aides testified that the former mayor was visibly drunk on the night of the election, claims that Giuliani has denied. Updated: 9:39 p.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Paramount+ According to everyone featured in Secrets of the Oligarch Wives, Vladimir Putin is a ruthless, greedy, sociopathic monster who cares only about his own power, wealth, and legacy as a titan who united and restored the glory of Mother Russia. The ongoing war in Ukraine, as well as the continued imprisonment and mistreatment of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, corroborates those claims, although the true hook of the Paramount+ documentary about the Russian president is its insider commentary from the women who were closest to the authoritarians oligarchs. What they have to say isnt particularly shocking, but its certainly further evidence that the world is in peril from a man willing to do anything, to anyone, to achieve his own ends. Narrated by Ranvir Singh and executive produced by Justine Kershaw, Laura Jones and David McNab, Secrets of the Oligarch Wives (out June 28) is a portrait of Putin as the most dangerous man on the planet, told largely by a collection of women with ties to bigwigs whose lives were deeply affected by him. There are only two nominal oligarch wives spotlighted by this 90-minute documentaryCountess Alexandra Tolstoy (a distant relative of Russian writer Leo Tolstoy), who spent years alongside oligarch Sergei Pugachev; and Tatiana Fokina, the spouse of exiled cellphone oligarch Evgeny Chichvarkinand even then, the former was never formally married to her Russian billionaire partner. In terms of false advertising, this is a moderate case, if not an ultimately disastrous turn of events, given that the speakers do an adequate job providing first-hand accounts of the turmoil and terror wrought by Putin against anyone who dares stand in his way. Inside Sundances Top-Secret Documentary on Putin Target Alexei Navalny For its opening third, Secrets of the Oligarch Wives functions as a basic primer on Putins rise to power. When the Soviet Union fell in 1989, Putin was a KGB agent stationed in Dresden, East Germany, and in Russias ensuing wild west of the 1990s under President Boris Yeltsin, he rose through the countrys political ranks, eventually becoming Yeltsins successor when the leader abruptly resigned from his post on Dec. 31, 1999. According to financier and political activist Bill Browder, Yeltsin had propped up his failing nationracked by pervasive unemployment, food shortages, and crumbling state industriesby selling 40 percent of the country to 22 oligarchs, borrowing money from them and then defaulting on the loans. This created a class of oligarch billionaires with not only untold riches but massive political clout, and this group hand-selected Putin as Russias new president, assuming he was a boring functionary whod do their bidding. Story continues They were wrong. Though Yeltsin had turned a blind eye to the oligarchs, who basically operated as mafia bosses, Putin decided that hed become Russias chief Godfather, demanding huge cuts of their profits (and their unwavering loyalty), and dishing out severe penalties for anyone who disobeyed his wishes. For critical voices in the FSB like Alexander Litvinenko, that meant fatal poisoning. For his former businessmen allies, it meant criminal prosecution and the seizure of assets. Far from a malleable pawn, Putin revealed himself to be a cagey tyrant with no limits. Yet since hed initially appeared to be a young, vibrant, open-to-the-West breath of fresh air, most were happy to overlook his more dictatorial actions. Even when the mysterious deaths of opponents began piling up, those crimes were carried out with enough plausible deniability to provide others with justification for continuing to do business with him. All of this is well-trod territory, and Secrets of the Oligarch Wives is hardly thorough enough to be a real non-fiction history lesson. Nonetheless, it gets the general background details right, and embellishes that familiar material with stories from Tolstoy and Fokina. For the former, life with Pugachev was a whirlwind of glamorous yachts and ritzy palaces, which she makes no bones about having lovedat least until Putin decided to turn on his former confidant and send him fleeing to France. Fokina, meanwhile, didnt meet Chichvarkin until after he had escaped Russia following Putins attempts to confiscate his empire and prosecute him for all manner of offenses. In both instances, the women dispense tales about Putins nastiness, little-man complex, and brutality, which are then complemented by similar remarks from Litvinenkos widow Marina as well as Browder, whose colleague was killed after speaking out against Russian corruption, and whoin a stunning archival press-conference clipis singled out as an enemy by Putin, at which point Donald Trump voices his support for the Russian leaders autocratic intentions. Tolstoy takes viewers on a car-ride tour of some of the many mansions that the oligarchs own (or previously owned) in London, where so many have fled over the past 20 years. Yet just as Secrets of the Oligarch Wives leaves Tolstoys personal details vague, so too does the documentary refuse to pointedly question her about her willingness to get into bed with a shady criminal simply because his affluence and influence were enticing. Even Browder, who speaks harshly about Putin, is barely identified, such that his current position in Putins crosshairs comes across as a fact devoid of meaningful context. Talk about Putins own humble upbringing, and later enthusiasm for living in the lavish Kremlin, are eventually fingered as potential reasons for his merciless tyranny, but that angle also feels thin and underdeveloped. The ongoing siege of Ukraine is briefly addressed toward the close of Secrets of the Oligarch Wives, and it serves as the latest and most heartbreaking example of Putins viciousness. Fokina surmises that Putin is willing to do anything because hes secretly ill, while Browder suggests that hes a mentally unwell madman who lacks empathy, a conscience, and normal human emotionsand has for his entire life. A wealth of old clips cast Putin in an unflattering light, depicting him as a stone-faced creep. Unfortunately, just about any nightly news broadcast could tell you the same thing, and without the pretenses of this rather shallow documentary, which purports to deliver untold secrets about Russias elite from the women who were once a part of it, and yet mostly mixes well-publicized facts and scattered anecdotes to produce unenlightening results. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. John Eastman speaks at a news conference in April 2021 after the University of Colorado Boulder dismissed him as visiting scholar of conservative thought and policy. (Andy Cross / Denver Post) The theme of the third congressional hearing on the Jan. 6 insurrection was unmistakable: John Eastman was not just a peripheral figure in the panel's investigation, but a main character. If Eastman was tuning in, though, the proceedings may have struck him as something else a bizarro episode of "This Is Your Life." On the dais was the panel's vice chair, Republican Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, with whom he attended University of Chicago Law School. Another alum, Greg Jacob, was at the witness table, detailing Eastman's relentless attempts to persuade Jacob's boss at the time, Vice President Mike Pence, to unilaterally block the counting of the electoral votes that would cement Joe Biden's victory. Offering testimony at Jacob's side was retired federal Judge J. Michael Luttig, a foundational figure in Eastman's early legal life. Eastman's clerkship with Luttig led to yet more long-standing friendships with Texas GOP Sen. Ted Cruz and Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Ginni that are fodder in the investigation. Beyond happenstance or the clubbiness of conservative politics, the key figures, institutions and ideologies of Eastman's life have converged in the Jan. 6 hearings to a remarkable degree. An analysis of Eastman's profile in the nearly 40 years before he became President Trump's lawyer, along with interviews with more than a dozen friends and associates, revealhow Eastman's seemingly sudden notoriety was decades in the making. Together, they paint a picture of a man with an insider's connections and an outsider's boundary-pushing instincts; a man who poured his considerable intellect into a political philosophy that, in increasingly dire terms, sees a country drifting from its core values. The Eastman described by his longtime friends is a genial and generous absent-minded professor type. A movie buff and a prankster. A devout Catholic and a Deadhead. He is also, after the June 16 hearing, a person condemned by his onetime mentor Luttig, who said under oath and on television that Trump and his allies and by implication, Eastman are a clear and present danger to democracy. Story continues :: In a drab Buena Park hotel ballroom one evening in March, Eastman warned a captivated audience of conservative activists that the nation's "authoritarian moment" had arrived. He blamed the usual Trump nemeses election administrators in battleground states, Democrats, disloyal Republicans, the media. (Eastman and his attorney initially agreed to an interview for this story, but ultimately did not respond to multiple requests for comment.) Threaded into the speech a fact-checker's nightmare, premised on insinuations, cherry-picked figures and discredited sources were ruptures that hit closer to home. The Orange County Register, which had editorialized against him after years of quoting him as a trusted source. Chapman University, where he taught law for more than 20 years before a post-Jan. 6 uproar led to his retirement. Now he was wiped off the faculty directory website. His delivery was droll, and his audience laughed. But his biting tone when those local institutions came up underscored the reality that the life Eastman built over decades in Southern California had palpably changed. Eastman, 62, moved west after college, drawn to study at Claremont Graduate School, the home of influential conservative philosopher Harry Jaffa. Jaffa, a scholar on Abraham Lincoln, is best known for coining the iconic lines in Sen. Barry Goldwater's 1964 Republican National Convention speech that "extremism in defense of liberty is no vice" and "moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue." The phrase fed the sense that Goldwater was too extreme, contributing to his landslide presidential loss. But the lines laid down a marker for a new movement of unstinting conservatism and made Claremont a magnet for Jaffa's acolytes. For conservatives, Claremont was "the beacon," said Terry Hallmark, a former classmate of Eastman's who now teaches philosophy at the University of Houston. "Because you could be comfortable thinking what you thought and hanging out with people that were of like-mindedness without being attacked." Claremont students revered America's founding, and saw moral relativism and an increasingly powerful government bureaucracy as existential threats. "We thought there were so many things that have decayed, from our point of view, in the character of the republic," said Steven Hayward, a former roommate of Eastman's at Claremont, now a conservative author andblogger. While in graduate school, Eastman met his future wife, Elizabeth, a fellow doctoral student. He also started working at the nearby Claremont Institute, a think tank founded by four of Jaffa's students that is unaffiliated with the school and would become Eastman's nearly lifelong intellectual and professional home. After law school and stints in Washington, he returned to California. He litigated on behalf of conservative causes from his perch running a legal center at the Claremont Institute, and became a law professor at Chapman University, serving for a time as the law school's dean. He brought in high-profile conservatives such as Thomas, and invited his friend John Yoo, a former lawyer in George W. Bush's administration and a tenured professor at UC Berkeley, to come teach, offering Yoo a break from blowback over his involvement with what came to be known as the torture memos. As conservatives in a mostly liberal legal academic world, "you accept you're going to be in a role where you're in the minority," Yoo said. "Maybe that makes you a little ... used to being in the dissent." Eastman maintained his links to the conservative legal establishment, actively participating in the influential conservative judicial network the Federalist Society and leading its practice group on separation of powers. But he also had an iconoclastic streak, such as his long-held position that the 14th Amendment does not guarantee citizenship to people born to noncitizens on U.S. soil. The interpretation, widely rejected by most legal experts, came into broader public view during the 2020 election, when he wrote an article asserting that Kamala Harris, the Oakland-born child of immigrants, was not eligible to be vice president. But to old friends such as Hayward, the argument was vintage Eastman. "He's utterly fearless about taking on conventional wisdom," Hayward said. Eastman debated that stance, among many others, with Erwin Chemerinsky, who was his amiable liberal sparring partner on the radio for 15 years, under the moniker "The Smart Guys." "The appeal of it was we could debate very controversial issues, but always in a very civil way," said Chemerinsky, dean of UC Berkeley Law. Some who encountered Eastman as a political campaigner, however, found him to be less upstanding. In an underdog bid for California attorney general in 2010, Eastman sought a ballot designation of "assistant attorney general" to boost his odds. The catch: It was based on his work on a single case in South Dakota. A judge soon rebuffed his attempt. It is hardly unusual for candidates to try to pull off ballot title chicanery. But Kevin Spillane, campaign manager for Steve Cooley, the eventual GOP nominee, said Eastman's moves undercut his reputation as a respected legal authority. "When he engaged in such a dishonest and outrageous effort to essentially lie to voters, that tells you everything you need to know about his character," Spillane said. Around that time, Eastman became a public face of the National Organization for Marriage, a group that promoted 2008's Proposition 8, which banned same-sex marriage in California. He led the organization's years-long battle to keep its donor list private, which resulted in a string of court losses and fines for violating state disclosure laws. As chairman of the National Organization for Marriage, John Eastman pushed to keep its funders secret and sued the IRS when a donor list was leaked. (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press) Fred Karger, a gay Republican activist who doggedly sought the group's financial records, said he saw a pattern in Eastman's actions then and in the current congressional investigation. "He has a history of lying and undermining our election laws as best he can," Karger said. :: With Eastman undeniably central to the Jan. 6 investigation, the people in his orbit are grappling with how much he should remain in their lives. Chemerinsky publicly urged the State Bar of California to investigate Eastman, which it began doing this spring, and he decided to never share billing with Eastman again. His last radio appearance with Eastman, in October 2020, still disturbed him more than a year later. "It was the first time I ever debated him where he wasn't civil. I felt like I was debating Donald Trump," Chemerinsky said. Jeremy Rosen, a Los Angeles appellate lawyer and fellow Federalist Society member, said he also noticed a gradual shift, predating Trump, in his onetime friend. "He went from being more of a happy warrior to an angry warrior over time," said Rosen, who immediately after the Jan. 6 attack urged the Federalist Society to remove Eastman from leadership and public events. In Eastman, he saw a symbol of the increasing anger in the country's politics overall. But others have not kept their distance. Ryan P. Williams, president of the Claremont Institute, lauded Eastman on Twitter as "a patriot concerned about the oligarchic corruption of America." (Williams did not respond to requests for comment.) Eastman remains a senior fellow at the institute, which, after decades on the geographical and intellectual fringes of the right, found new prominence during the Trump years. The think tank's embrace of upheaval and crisis as necessary to usher in America'srenewal aligned neatly with the norms-busting president. "Claremonsters," as they call themselves, use apocalyptic rhetoric to convey the staggering stakes, as they see them, or to at least get people's attention. That cataclysmic viewpoint spilled into the Jan. 6 hearings, when former White House lawyer Eric Herschmann said in a deposition that he had warned Eastman his scheme to have the vice president invalidate the election would "cause riots in the streets." "And [Eastman] said words to the effect of, 'There has been violence in the history of our country, Eric, to protect the democracy or protect the republic," Herschmann said. Eastman was so committed to this line of thinking that he continued to seek avenues to overturn Trump's loss, even in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. He unsuccessfully sought a pardon from Trump and now finds himself potentially in criminal jeopardy. "Unfortunately, he drank the Kool-Aid that President Trump was selling that the election was a fraud," Yoo said. But back in that hotel ballroom in Buena Park, Eastman showed no signs of second-guessing. "My old professor used to say, if you're not catching incoming flak, that means you're not over the target," he told his audience. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, I think I have been directly over the target for quite some time." The conservative activists, with extended applause and hearty laughter, signaled they agreed. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Senate voted Thursday to pass a bipartisan gun bill sponsored by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema and supported by Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., was one of 15 Republicans who crossed the aisle to join all 50 of the 100-member chamber's Democrats to support new public safety measures. The final vote was 65-33. The House of Representatives is set to vote Friday on the legislation. "Today, thanks to bipartisan support in the Senate, our Bipartisan Safer Communities Act moves one step closer to becoming law, keeping our schools safe, and reducing violence in our communities," Sinema, D-Ariz., said in a written statement released immediately after the Senate action. She also praised the three other senators whose names are on the bill. "Im grateful for the partnership of Senators (Christopher) Murphy (D-Conn.), (John) Cornyn (R-Texas), and (Thom) Tillis (R-N.C.) together we crafted a commonsense solution to community violence that protects Americans constitutional rights and saves lives," Sinema said. "Passage of our bill with support from both sides of the aisle demonstrates what we can achieve when we work together to solve problems." Kelly, D-Ariz., also emphasized bipartisanship in a post-vote statement. "Todays bipartisan vote is an example of what can get done when Republicans and Democrats come together to solve real problems, which is exactly what I came to Washington to do," said Kelly, whose wife, former Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., suffered a near-fatal gunshot wound to her head in a 2011 assassination attempt. "Our legislation will make our schools and communities safer, save innocent lives, and expand mental health care services while protecting our Second Amendment rights. I look forward to swift House passage so that our bill can get to the Presidents desk as soon as possible." The Bipartisan Communities Safety Act, which President Joe Biden is expected to sign, advances mild restrictions on gun ownership, falling far short of the sweeping changes Biden and many Democrats wanted after a series of mass shootings around the country. Story continues Among the bill's hallmarks is ending the so-called boyfriend loophole, a gap in federal policy that allows unmarried partners convicted of domestic violence to purchase guns if they do not have children or live with their partner. The bill would push states to consider juvenile records when reviewing gun ownership applications for 18- to 21-year-olds. And it will direct hundreds of millions of dollars toward state crisis intervention programs and the development of community behavioral health centers. "As the author of the Brady Bill from 1994 the last (major) legislative effort to fight gun violence in Congress Im pleased that this moment has finally come, and that were finally taking meaningful action to keep our communities safe," Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a written statement. "I hope it paves the way for future action on guns in Congress & at all levels of government. As I said, this is not a cure-all for all the ways gun violence affects our nation, but it is a long-overdue step in the right direction." For years, Republicans in Washington remained unmoved to calls for gun control legislation that ranged from commonsense background checks to a ban on assault rifles. Then came the May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, in which one gunman killed 19 students and two teachers after purchasing two assault style rifles just days after his 18th birthday. That massacre motivated a bipartisan group of 20 senators 10 Republicans and 10 Democrats to the negotiating table. Sinema was among the leaders in those talks. McConnell, who had refused to support any legislation that could curtail the widespread ownership of guns, praised the effort. This is the sweet spot, McConnell said Wednesday on the Senate floor. Making America safer, especially for kids in school, without making our country one bit less free." Across the aisle: Sinema touts bipartisanship ahead of Senate gun bill vote House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif, signaled Thursday that the House would act quickly on the Senate-passed gun bill. "Every day, gun violence steals lives and scars communities and this crisis demands urgent action," Pelosi said in a statement. "While we must do more, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act is a step forward that will help protect our children and save lives." This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sinema, Kelly hail bipartisan effort to pass gun control bill Credit Suisse logo with overhanging bare branches in foreground Credit Suisse has been found guilty and fined for involvement in money laundering related to a Bulgarian drugs ring. Switzerland's criminal court found that the bank did not do enough to prevent members of the crime syndicate from profiting off the trafficking of cocaine in to Europe. It was fined around 1.7m and ordered to pay 15m to the Swiss government. The bank denies wrongdoing and said it would appeal against the ruling. A former Bulgarian tennis player, Elena Pampoulova-Bergomi, who worked at the bank for a period, was found guilty of money laundering by Switzerland's highest criminal court and received a 20-month suspended prison sentence. Her 1.7m fine was also suspended. The court heard evidence around the bank's role in accepting millions of Euros in bank deposits between 2004 and 2008, which it said was full of red flags.Prosecutors said that Pampoulova-Bergomi had built an informal financial relationship with former Bulgarian wrestler Evelin Banev, who was a major figure in a European cocaine smuggling ring.The court heard that the former tennis player regularly collected bags "full of cash" - some amounting to the equivalent of 400,000 - from people known to the wrestler. "The court found deficiencies within the bank... with regard to the management of client relations with the criminal organisation. "These deficiencies enabled the withdrawal of the criminal organisation's assets," the court wrote in a statement. The Swiss court also heard testimony relating to the drug trafficking gang's activities, including murder. Credit Suisse is Switzerland's second largest bank and denies wrongdoing. It is the first time a Swiss bank has been subject to such criminal proceedings. In a statement, the bank wrote that it is "continuously testing its anti-money-laundering framework and has been strengthening it over time, in accordance with evolving regulatory standards". Shares in Credit Suisse fell 0.7% in afternoon trading on Monday, but ended the day up 0.4%. Daunte Wrights family has reached a $3.25m settlement with the city of Minnesota in response to his death at the hands of a police officer. The city of Brooklyn Center agreed to pay the sum in an effort to settle a wrongful death lawsuit filed by Wrights family last year. They also agreed to make changes to policies and training for its police department. Wright, a 20-year-old Black man and father-of-one, was shot and killed by Brooklyn Center Police Officer Kim Potter, a white woman, during a traffic stop in Minnesota on 11 April 2021. Potter had pulled the man over for expired licence plate tags and an air freshener hanging in his rear-view window. She then tried to arrest him for an outstanding warrant. When Wright tried to drive away, Potter fired one shot and killed him. The officer, a 26-year veteran officer, said she mistook her firearm for her Taser. Bodycam footage of the incident revealed her shouting Taser! Taser! Taser! before opening fire. On Tuesday, attorneys for Wrights family announced that the monetary settlement in the wrongful death suit had been reached with the city. It will be finalised once the parties have come to an agreement around substantial and meaningful non-monetary relief specifically changes to policing policies and training. Such changes are expected to include the way police officers are trained in handling traffic stops and in deescalation, as well as training around implicit bias, weapons confusion and mental health, the attorneys said. The agreement will also include funding for a permanent memorial to Wright in the city. Wrights parents said that they hoped the changes brought about by the settlement would help make Black Minnesotans feel safer in the city. Daunte Wright was shot dead by Brooklyn Center officer Kim Potter (Family Handout) We hope Black families, people of color, and all residents feel safer now in Brooklyn Center because of the changes the city must make to resolve our claims, said Katie and Arbuey Wright in a statement. The $3.25m settlement is believed to be the third-largest civil rights wrongful death settlement in Minnesota history and the largest for a city in Minnesota outside Minneapolis. Story continues Potter was found guilty of first-degree manslaughter and second-degree manslaughter over Wrights death in December. In February, she was sentenced to two years in prison a sentence that was slammed by Wrights family. The Black 20-year-olds death drew parallels with the murder of George Floyd another Black man who was killed by a white police officer in Minnesota. Wrights killing came at a time when former police officer Derek Chauvin was on trial for Floyds 2020 murder and led to renewed protests calling for racial justice and an end to police brutality. (Bloomberg) -- The war in Ukraine again dominated the Group of Seven summit in the Bavarian Alps as leaders met for a second day of talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy spoke to them by video link from Kyiv and said he wants the war to be over by the end of the year, according to officials familiar with his remarks. Most Read from Bloomberg The club of rich nations adopted a declaration pledging to support Zelenskiy and his government for as long as it takes. President Joe Biden also told his Ukrainian counterpart that the US will supply his armed forces with an advanced surface-to-air missile defense system. Leaders addressed topics including climate, gender equality and food security, with the world facing a threat of widespread famine due to stocks stranded in Ukraine, one of the worlds biggest grain exporters. Counterparts from India, Indonesia, Argentina, South Africa and Senegal joined the discussions. Key Developments Besieged at Home, Johnson Misses Out on G-7 Moment With Biden G-7 Edges Closer to Ditching Pledge to End Fossil-Fuel Financing G-7 Expected to Agree on Exploring a Price Cap on Russian Oil Russia Defaults on Foreign Debt for First Time Since 1918 US Resuscitates Bid at G-7 to Counter Chinas Belt and Road (All times CET) Ukraine Attack Will Strengthen Resolve of G-7 (6.25 p.m.) Russias missile strike on a shopping center in central Ukraine shows once again the depths of cruelty and barbarism to which the Russian leader will sink, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said in a statement read out to reporters. The mall was engulfed in flames after the attack and Zelenskiy said more than 1,000 civilians were on site. Story continues Putin must realize that his behavior will do nothing but strengthen the resolve of the UK and every other G7 country to stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes, Johnson said. Pledge to End Fossil-Fuel Financing in Peril (6:30 p.m.) The G-7 is moving toward reversing a commitment to halt the financing of overseas fossil-fuel projects by years end, a proposal now viewed favorably by most members, according to people familiar with the matter. Leaders are converging on a reference to the increased role of gas projects, a consequence of Russias invasion of Ukraine straining their energy supply. French President Emmanuel Macron was among those who supported financing of new fossil-fuel projects during a meeting with the leaders of African nations on Monday, according to a person with knowledge of the talks. Zelenskiy Told Leaders Aid Will be Needed Long-Term (6:15 p.m) German Chancellor and summit host Olaf Scholz said Zelenskiy had very forcefully described the situation in Ukraine, and had expressed his gratitude for all the support that so many nations are providing while underscoring that it will be needed for a long time. We will all -- and we assured him of that -- continue to support Ukraines defense against Russia, Scholz told reporters after the second days discussions ended and before leaders headed into dinner. Japan Wants to Drop Emissions-Free Vehicles Target (5 p.m.) Japan is seeking to remove a reference to a target for 50% of vehicles to be emission free by 2030 from the final summit statement, according to people familiar with the situation. Japans foreign ministry said the country is following a wide range of options in trying to cut harmful emissions. Theres no perfect technology when it comes to pursuing zero emissions, the ministry said, specifying electric cars, fuel-cell cars and decarbonizing fuel. Leaders Stress Energy Security in Climate Plans (3:20 p.m.) The G-7 adopted a resolution together with Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa in which they agreed to work together to accelerate a clean and just transition towards climate neutrality, while ensuring energy security. They also hinted at extending a multi-billion dollar program to help South Africa exit coal to other countries. Leaders welcomed progress made on the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa adopted at the COP26 climate summit, and pledged to advance negotiations with Indonesia, India, Senegal and Vietnam on similar programs to support energy policy reforms, with a view to decarbonising energy systems and increasing energy efficiency. Biden Told Zelenskiy Hell Get Defense Systems (2:12 p.m.) A new planned US weapons shipment to Ukraine came together just as Zelenskiy asked G-7 leaders for more air defense systems in response to a Russian missile strike on Kyiv, according to Bidens top national security aide. The president was able to be positively responsive to him on that, US National Security Jake Sullivan told reporters at the summit. The missile attacks were the first in weeks on the Ukrainian capital and they were at the front of Zelenskiys mind during his remarks to Biden and other leaders, Sullivan said. The US is expected to announce the purchase of an advanced medium to long-range, surface-to-air missile defense system known as NASAMS, a person familiar with the matter said before Zelenskiy spoke virtually to G-7 allies. Ukraine can only strike down a fraction of incoming missiles from Russia with their current air defense platforms. It remains unclear how many NASAMS units Ukraine will receive, or when they will arrive and how Ukrainian troops will be trained to use them. US Says Oil-Price Cap Challenging (2 p.m.) White House officials were at pains to make sure the oil cap idea was not getting oversold as a done deal when its still very much a concept allies are trying to understand and see if its technically possible. I think the single biggest factor here is that this is not something that can be pulled off the shelf in a tried and true method that has repeated historical precedent, and therefore can simply be taken as a standing option, Sullivan told reporters. It is a new kind of concept to deal with a particularly novel challenge, which is how to effectively deal with a country that selling millions of barrels of oil a day and try to deprive it of some of the revenues that theyre getting from the sale of that oil. Biden-Erdogan Bilateral at NATO Uncertain (2 p.m.) One of Bidens top priorities at NATO will be to see Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and get him to drop his opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the military alliance. White House officials point to a flurry of activity around setting that bilateral. The two men last met in person at the G-20 in Rome in November. Finland and Sweden applied to join NATO in May following Russias attack on Ukraine, only to have their accession immediately blocked by Erdogan. Nothing is scheduled at the moment but they may very well have the opportunity to see one another at the NATO summit, Sullivan said. Lets see how the next 24 hours unfold. There is a flurry of diplomatic activity occurring. France Wants Iran, Venezuela Oil on Market (1:35 p.m.) Crude from Iran and Venezuela should be allowed to return to the market to help stabilize oil prices, according to a senior official from the French presidency. There is a knot in the shape of US sanctions on Iran that needs to be untied for that to happen, the official said. Diversification of supply, a discussion with all producers on a price cap, and a temporary increase in oil output would also help mitigate the burden on consumers and businesses, the official said. Ukraine Freedom Is Price Worth Paying: Johnson (1 p.m) Soaring prices in the UK and a hit to the national economy is a price worth paying for freedom in Ukraine, Johnson told the BBC. In terms of staying the course, imagine if you didnt, Johnson said. If Russian President Vladimir Putin was allowed to get away with the violent acquisition of huge chunks of another country, the lessons for that would be absolutely chilling in all of the countries of the former Soviet Union. Zelenskiy Requests More G-7 Support (12 p.m.) Zelenskiy addressed each of the leaders individually with a specific comment, according to the officials, who asked not to be identified by name. He requested support on flight defense systems, security and financing for reconstruction, as well as help on unblocking exports of the countrys grain. G-7 to Explore Russian Oil-Price Cap (10:05 a.m.) The G-7 is expected to reach an agreement for member states to develop and discuss ways to set a cap on the price of Russian oil, according to a senior Biden administration official. The group plans to direct relevant ministers to work with other governments and private-sector companies to come up with a mechanism that focuses on transportation of Russian oil to foreign markets. Right now it remains an idea, and the discussion will center around its viability. The discussions will happen over the coming days and weeks and there is no set date to establish a cap, the official said. Negotiators -- especially those from the US and Italy -- have sought to broker an agreement on a Russian oil price cap in order to curb revenues from the commodity that the Kremlin uses to fund its war in Ukraine while ensuring the oils availability to large buyers, like China and India, in order to avoid further price shocks. US Treasury Department officials have been discussing in recent days a proposal championed by Simon Johnson, an MIT professor and former chief economist at the IMF, that would seek to cap the price of Russian oil by permitting some trade in the commodity supervised by Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control and its UK and European counterparts. The scheme would allow banks and other firms to finance the trade provided they regularly certify to regulators that the oil was not sold above an agreed upon price. For an explainer on how it could work, read this: There is also lot of skepticism about how something like this could work. US Providing Air-Defense System (9:10 a.m.) The impending US announcement of the purchase of NASAMS, an advanced medium to long-range, surface-to-air missile defense system, comes as Biden and G-7 allies prepare to meet virtually with Zelenskiy. Ukraine is the target of missile attacks and can only fend of a fraction of incoming rockets. Questions remain on how quickly the government in Kyiv can get the defense systems, how many will come and how long will it take to train people to use them. That kind of defense system is absolutely what the Ukrainians need, said Jim Risch, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in an interview. He just got back from Kyiv where he met with Zelenskiy. Sanctions Hurting Russia, Scholz Says (8:30 a.m.) Scholz said international sanctions on Russia will continue to hurt its economy, pushing back against criticism that not enough is being done to choke off revenue from energy exports that continues to flow into Moscows coffers. The sanctions have contributed to the fact that Russias economy has been, and will continue to be, significantly weakened, because a country more or less cut off from technological progress will soon fall behind significantly economically, Scholz said in an interview with public broadcaster ZDF. Scholz said G-7 leaders are discussing a ban on imports of Russian gold, but it was not the forum for a definitive decision and the issue would also have to be addressed by the 27-nation European Union. Putin Must be Challenged at G-20: Von der Leyen (8 a.m.) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said it would be better to confront Putin at Novembers G-20 summit if he attends rather than boycott the meeting in Bali. Its important to tell him to his face what we think of him and what we think of this type of action, von der Leyen said late Sunday in an interview with ZDF. Other autocrats around the world are looking very closely at whether it is still possible to move borders and invade countries with brute force, military might, or whether democracies will stand up and use their own strength, she added. UK to Help Trace Stolen Ukraine Grain (8 a.m.) The UK will contribute 1.5 million pounds ($1.8 million) to develop a testing process to identify if grain sold by Russia on the world market has been illegally taken from Ukraine. The aim is to tackle the scourge of stolen grain, deterring Russian activity and ensuring Ukraine is getting the revenue it so desperately needs from any grain it grows, the government said. The UK is also contributing up to 10 million pounds in materials and equipment to repair rail infrastructure and help get grain out of the country by rail. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. Leaders of the G7, including US President Joe Biden (L) and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson (R), proposed a plan geared towards competing with China's Belt and Road Initiative G7 leaders have detailed plans to mobilise $600bn in funding for the developing world in a move seen as a counter to China's Belt and Road plan. The Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment (PGII) relaunches a scheme unveiled at last year's G7 talks in England. US President Joe Biden said the plan would deliver returns for everyone. China's multi-trillion dollar infrastructure initiative is criticised for hitting nations with too much debt. "I want to be clear. This isn't aid or charity," Mr Biden said of the G7's PGII scheme. "It's an investment that will deliver returns for everyone." The scheme would allow countries to "see the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies," the US president added. The plan calls on G7 leaders to raise $600bn over five years to fund the launch of infrastructure projects in middle and low-income countries. The US has promised to raise $200bn (162bn) of the total through grants, federal funds and private investment, while the EU has announced a further 300bn euros (257bn). The initiative will be geared towards tackling climate change, improving global health, achieving gender equity and building digital infrastructure. Some of the highlighted initiatives include a solar-powered project in Angola, a vaccine manufacturing facility in Senegal, and a 1,609 km submarine telecommunications cable connecting Singapore to France via Egypt and the Horn of Africa. The plan has been pitched as a way to counter China's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Launched by Chinese president Xi Jinping in 2013, the BRI provides financing for emerging countries to build infrastructure like ports, roads and bridges. While it has developed trade links, it has also been criticised as a means of providing "predatory loans", forcing debt-saddled countries to cede key assets if they fail to meet their debt repayments. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the aim of the latest project was to present a "positive powerful investment impulse to the world to show our partners in the developing world that they have a choice". The infrastructure plan was first unveiled at the 2021 G7 summit in Britain. Called the Build Back Better World at the time, the US-driven plan faltered from a lack of progress, and the project was renamed to PGII before being resuscitated at the 2022 summit. You may also be interested in: WEST PALM BEACH Christmas in July came one month early Saturday as Hallmark Channel movie buffs, soap opera super fans and daytime sitcom devotees gathered in West Palm Beach at the RomaDrama Live! convention. There, they bought merchandise, listened to producers speak about casting and working with actors, and encountered their favorite silver screen stars. For Sally Sullivan, her two adult daughters and son-in-law, the flight from western Wisconsin was all worth it for seven minutes with Tyler Hynes, a Canadian actor who has starred in Always Amore and An Unexpected Christmas. Sullivan said they purchased a meet-and-greet package with Hynes for around $300. She couldn't wait to talk to him about her favorite movie, It Was Always You, where Hynes plays a free-spirited heartthrob whose brother's fiancee starts to fall for, throwing her engagement into disarray. Fans attend a panel of Hallmark leading men and cousins Andrew Walker and Tyler Hynes during RomaDrama, a festival featuring stars from Hallmark movies, rom-coms and soap operas at the Palm Beach County Convention Center June 25, 2022 in West Palm Beach. MEGHAN MCCARTHY/The Palm Beach Post What are the best Florida movies? Here are 25 of our favorites primarily set and shot here Looking for a summer romance? June's top rom-coms: Jenny Colgan's 'An Island Wedding' and Lucy Score's 'Maggie Moves On' Sullivan, like many of the more than 200 other attendees to Saturday's convention, said she has a soft spot for Hallmark movies because despite the details, she knows how each will end. "With all the stuff going on in the world it's so fun to be able to watch something that's great and wonderful," Sullivan said. "You always know there's going to be a happy ending." RomaDrama is only in its second year, but attendees were greeted by a highly produced experience: Faux cherry blossom trees bloomed over the entrances to the ballrooms and stages. Glitzy, floor-to-ceiling curtains helped convention-goers feel like they were stepping into their girlfriends' living room to chat about the latest episode of General Hospital instead of taking an escalator up from the Okeechobee Boulevard entrance to the Palm Beach County Convention Center. Story continues Joi Eller, right, visiting from Detroit, enjoys a meet and greet experience with actor Ryan Paevey during RomaDrama, a festival featuring stars from Hallmark movies, rom-coms and soap operas at the Palm Beach County Convention Center June 25, 2022 in West Palm Beach. Paevey a General Hospital and Hallmark Channel film star met and took pictures with fans at the event. MEGHAN MCCARTHY/The Palm Beach Post The convention, complete with panel discussions, booths that sell everything from essential oils to Hallmark Christmas movie T-shirts, and meet-and-greet opportunities, ran through Sunday evening. RomaDrama Live brought family fun Founders Gabrielle Graf Palmer and Sara Lunsford came up with the idea for RomaDrama Live! in 2018 when they took a girl's weekend trip to Chicago to attend Wizard World Comicon. While they were there, they realized there was nothing comparable to Comicon for people, like them, who were obsessed with movies on the Hallmark Channel and Lifetime. Thus, RomaDrama Live! was born: It's a convention, boutique fan experience and an all-around "wholesome" good time, according to the creators. That's what Robb Diaz and his 11-year-old daughter Bridget were chasing when they attended Saturday's event. The pair drove up from Sunrise to see Danica McKellar, whom Robb remembered seeing on The Wonder Years, where she played Winnie Cooper from 1988 to 1993. General Hospital and Hallmark Channel film star Ryan Paevey does a meet and greet with fans during RomaDrama, a festival featuring stars from Hallmark movies, rom-coms and soap operas at the Palm Beach County Convention Center June 25, 2022 in West Palm Beach. MEGHAN MCCARTHY/The Palm Beach Post Bridget added that she was excited to see McKellar because she recognized her from Hallmark movies. McKellar has starred in at least 16 movies for the network since 2015. "Its a lot of fun and its nice also to see people so excited," Robb Diaz said of RomaDrama. "We usually go to sci-fi (conventions) and there's such a positive atmosphere here. The family's stop in West Palm Beach was brief on their way up the coast. After RomaDrama, they planned to drive up to St. Augustine and then onto Tybee Island, Ga., and Charleston, S.C., on a summer road trip. Attendees await latest Hallmark Channel movie Saturday's event came on an important day for Hallmark movie fans: That evening at 8 p.m., the network's newest movie, Two Tickets to Paradise, was set to premiere on TV. Two women visiting the convention from Port St. Lucie told The Palm Beach Post they broke into the movie's signature jingle with strangers they met in the elevator ride up to the convention center's second floor. Vicki Mangulson, front, of New Jersey, poses with Hallmark movie stars Kristen Booth and Eric Mabuis during RomaDrama, a festival featuring stars from the Hallmark and Lifetime channels, rom-coms and soap operas, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center June 25, 2022 in West Palm Beach. MEGHAN MCCARTHY/The Palm Beach Post When asked what the jingle sounds like, they belted out the movie's title to the tune of Jimmy Buffett's "Cheeseburger in Paradise." Then, they erupted into a fit of giggles. Katherine Kokal is a journalist covering northern Palm Beach County at The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at kkokal@pbpost.com. Help support our work, subscribe today! This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Hallmark movie celebrities, soap opera stars in West Palm at RomaDrama The city of Jacksonville is shooting fireworks from five locations on July 4, but those are hardly the only fireworks shows planned. Weather permitting, the night skies around Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia will light up with celebratory fireworks shows over the long holiday weekend. Here's where you can celebrate America's 246th birthday with parades, watermelon eating contests, car shows and some big booms. Saturday , July 2 Lake Butler Rotary Club 2022 Independence Celebration Event: Saturday at Lake Butler Lakeside Park. Bass fishing tournament, 9 a.m. classic car show, fireworks at dusk. Fireworks and Family Fun: 6 p.m. at the Northeast Florida Fairgrounds in Callahan. Combined celebration with Callahan and Hilliard with live music, food trucks, fireworks at 9:15 p.m. 2022 Independence Day Celebration: 5 p.m. at Memorial Park in Macclenny. Live music, vendor booths, fireworks at 9 p.m. Our Country Day: Saturday at Keystone Beach in Keystone Heights. 5K run, parade, baby crawl contest, live music, watermelon eating contest, fireworks at 9 p.m. Sunday , July 3 Fireworks Over the Runways: 4 p.m. Sunday at Flagler Executive Airport in Palm Coast Fireworks at 9 p.m. Monday , July 4 Fireworks light up the sky in celebration of Independence Day on July 4, 2017, on the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. Fourth of July Fireworks Celebration: 9:45 p.m. at Riverfront Plaza, FSCJ North Campus, The Avenues mall, Trinity Baptist Church and Ed Austin Regional Park. The city of Jacksonville is spreading out its fireworks displays this year, with five locations. A concert and festival starts at Riverfront Plaza (the former Jacksonville Landing site) at 4 p.m. Other locations are the FSCJ North Campus at 4501 Capper Road, The Avenues Mall at U.S. 1 and Southside Boulevard, Trinity Baptist Church at 800 Hammond Blvd., and Ed Austin Regional Park at 11751 McCormick Road. The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp will also set off fireworks at 121 Financial Ballpark following their 7:05 p.m. game against Norfolk. Riverside Arts Market will hold a viewing party under the Fuller-Warren Bridge off Riverside Avenue from 6-10 p.m., with food trucks and live music from Ciaran Sontag and LPT. Story continues American Pride 4th of July: 6 p.m. at Moosehaven in Orange Park. Food trucks, live music, free parking, fireworks over St. Johns River at dusk. Fireworks over the Matanzas: 6 p.m. at Castillo de San Marcos in St. Augustine. Live music from the All-Star Orchestra at Plaza de la Constitucion, fireworks over Matanzas River at 9:30 p.m. 4th of July Hometown Celebration: 4 p.m. at Fernandina Harbor Marina in Fernandina Beach. DJ, food trucks, fireworks at 9 p.m. Jacksonville Beach 4th of July Fireworks: 9 p.m. at Jacksonville Beach Pier. "Test shot" at 8:45 p.m., fireworks at 9 p.m. Food Trucks and Fireworks: 7:30 p.m. Monday at Russell Baptist Church in Green Cove Springs. Fireworks at dusk. Independence Day Festival: Monday at St. Marys Waterfront Park in St. Marys, Ga. 5K and 10K races, vendor booths, live music, fireworks at dusk. St. Simons Island 4th of July Celebration: Monday at Pier Village on St. Simons Island, Ga. 5K run and festival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., fireworks at dusk at Neptune Park. Old Fashioned Fourth of July Celebration: Monday at Mary Ross Waterfront Park in Brunswick, Ga. 10 a.m. parade on Newcastle Street, fireworks at dusk. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Guide to fireworks shows in Jacksonville, Orange Park, Fernandina Leah Williamson says she feels a sense of responsibility rather than pressure as she prepares to captain England at a home Euros. The 25-year-old has also spoken about how she has been taking note of the behaviour of other captains, including England cricket skipper Ben Stokes. Having been given the armband by boss Sarina Wiegman in a number of games through the season in the absence of the injured Steph Houghton, Williamson was then confirmed as Lionesses captain for this summers Euros in April. She heads into the showpiece with her previous senior major tournament experience featuring one substitute appearance at the 2019 World Cup in France, as well as playing three times for Great Britain at the Tokyo Olympics last year. Leah Williamson is embracing the responsibility of leading England at the Euros (Zac Goodwin/PA) And when asked about the pressure of going from that brief World Cup cameo to the current situation, the Arsenal defender said: Its funny. I think on paper it looks like a pressurised situation, but I dont feel that at the minute. Im still finding my way with it. Im not pretending to know all the answers maybe its because Im not pretending to know the answers, or to be the most ready Ive ever been. Ive got processes in place Ive been using for the last however long in my career for dealing with pressure and things like that. Its not that Ive been put on a pedestal, Im just the same, its just I have this extra responsibility. And I take it more as a responsibility rather than pressure. I do feel like I would have given anything to get on the pitch (with England), so I dont intend to waste a second now not enjoying it. The influence all the people Ive played under has had on me is quite a nice mix. Ive had leaders on the pitch, off the pitch, and Ive had quite a lot of influence from all of those people. I do like observing other captains and seeing how they behave and then seeing what kind of character, person and player I am. Story continues For example, I watched Ben Stokes the other day and I was listening to his presentation and what he wants from his team, so to speak. Its not the same conversation (I might have) but in terms of those little nuggets of information I think it really helped. England were recently in camp at St Georges Park at the same time as the mens side. Williamson added: I didnt actually get a chance to speak to Harry (Kane) which would have been really good, but maybe I will do (in the future). I spoke to Kieran Trippier for quite a long time when they invited us to speak with him and Declan (Rice). It was nice, just hearing what they went through (during their Euros last summer) so we can be proactive. Sarina Wiegman is unbeaten as England manager (Nick Potts/PA) Williamson is working under a manager in Wiegman who guided the Netherlands to Euro 2017 glory, then the 2019 World Cup final and has so far had an unbeaten England tenure with all but two games won since taking charge last September. Sarina knows what she wants and shes very, very clear about it. She is a matter-of-fact person and doesnt really leave many grey areas which I think is a real strength, Williamson added. I have small chats (with her) and Ill speak about things that need to be spoken about, but its not forced and if she needs any information, Im here and if not, we just kind of facilitate whatever she wants to do. The team is self-sufficient and shes so clear about what she wants. Its working well. England complete their warm-up fixtures against Switzerland on Thursday, then take on Austria at a sold-out Old Trafford in the opening game of the Euros on July 6, an experience Williamson is keen to share with her family. Beyond proud A dream to represent my country at the Euros this summer! @Lionesses pic.twitter.com/4MQMsmtANQ Leah Williamson (@leahcwilliamson) June 15, 2022 Williamson said: Ive told (her family) I can never repay the investment theyve made in me, the money, the time and everything. I can never ever, repay that other than giving them experiences, whether its them coming to indoor games to watch me or coming to Old Trafford with 70,000 fans. Thats the only way I can ever pay them back, and Im happy for them that theyre getting to experience that a little more now. When my family came to France I had 10 or more people coming to every single game there and yet I played (only a few) minutes. But doesnt change (anything) as they would be just as proud of me, and for them to be able really to enjoy it now is nice. Jun. 27Summer is officially in full swing and for many sports fans, that means baseball. The Alaska Baseball League features college players from all over the United States. While a few of the players in the league are from Alaska, the great majority are from the Lower 48. The Anchorage Daily News is talking to a few players from each of the five ABL teams. We asked them what they've liked about Alaska, what they miss from back home and what else they're into. Today, in the final installment of the series, we talked to a trio from the Mat-Su Miners. The Miners are currently leading the ABL with a 13-4 record. Owen Loesch Loesch is a 21-year-old right handed pitcher from the University of Mexico going into his senior season. Hometown: Graham, Texas Q. What are you most excited to do in Alaska when you aren't playing baseball? A. I played 18 holes (of golf) this morning so playing golf and working out. Q. What will you miss most about your hometown/college town while you are in Alaska? A. Definitely mama's cooking. My parents are going to come up for the 4th of July. Q. Favorite MLB player or team? A. Definitely the Texas Rangers but I wouldn't say I have a favorite player. In my younger years I really looked up to Clayton Kershaw a lot. I always liked his (throwing) motions. Q. What made you want to participate in the ABL? A. Just the experience of being able to come to Alaska. I've always wanted to come up here and I love playing baseball so it was a two birds, one stone kind of thing. Q. What preconceived notions did you have about Alaska before getting here? A. I was just worried about whether I'd be able to sleep or not with all the light but we got blackout blinds so it works out. Q. Favorite genre of music? A. I got to go old-school country, the Marty Robbins era. Lorretta Lynn is a good one. Q. Favorite series to binge watch? A. "Peaky Blinders," I like the grittiness and the gore of it. I love it. Story continues Nathan Rose Rose is a 21-year-old infielder from Bowling Green State University going into his senior year. Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio Q. What are you most excited to do in Alaska when you aren't playing baseball? A. Just explore around with the guys. It's a great group that we're here and seeing Alaska with. Q. What will you miss most about your hometown/college town while you are in Alaska? A. My friends are home from school right now so not being able to see them is tough but being in Alaska is pretty cool so I'll take it. Q. Favorite MLB player or team? A. I'm a Cleveland Guardians fan and my favorite player right now is Jose Ramirez. He just plays free and has fun with it so that's what I try to do. Q. What made you want to participate in the ABL? A. I heard it is a great league and my coach mentioned it one day and I said "sign me up" and here I am now. Q. What preconceived notions did you have about Alaska before getting here? A. I knew it was pretty but other than that I didn't really know much about it but it's definitely blown me away so far. Q. Favorite genre of music? A. I like rap. Kid Cudi is my favorite. He went to my high school so I like him for that and his rhythm and beats. Q. Favorite series to binge watch? A. I just finished "The Lincoln Lawyer." It was really good. I like suspenseful shows. Cade Manning Manning is a 21-year-old outfielder from Texas State University heading into his junior year. Hometown: Dallas, Texas Q. What are you most excited to do in Alaska when you aren't playing baseball? A. Just hanging out with my friends honestly. Hanging out with my new teammates and going around and seeing a bunch of stuff I don't normally see in Texas. I've got to enjoy it while I'm here for these two months. Q. What will you miss most about your hometown/college town while you are in Alaska? A. My hometown friends. I got close with a bunch of guys at Texas this year so I miss them but it's good to get a little break and get back to them in a couple months. Q. Favorite MLB player or team? A. My favorite team is the Boston Red Sox and my favorite player is Mookie Betts. He was a big part of the Red Sox's success the past couple years when he played for them before he got traded to the Dodgers so it's hard not to root for him. Q. What made you want to participate in the ABL? A. My coaches brought up the opportunity to play in Alaska and I couldn't say no. I played in Texas last summer and it was like any other summer ball league so I wanted to get a new experience and have some fun outside of baseball. Q. What preconceived notions did you have about Alaska before getting here? A. Just that it was beautiful. I knew some people that played there and they said if I got the chance to play, I had to take it so here I am. Q. Favorite genre of music? A. It kind of changes for me. In the summer I like country a lot but in the fall and winter, I like rap and hip hop. I like Cody Johnson, he's one of the best. Q. Favorite series to binge watch? A. "The Blacklist" is my favorite TV series. Its just interesting and you never know what you're going to get. Raymond Reddington is a great TV character, one of the best, that's why I like it. Dr. Olga Padron Lopez has a medical guide unlike any other. Inside the Clinica De Salud Del Valle de Salinas, medical guides are written in an Indigenous language with common phrases like "good morning" and "hello," along with medical terms like "nasal swab" and "COVID-19." When Padron Lopez arrived in Monterey County, roughly a year ago, she and her colleagues identified ways they could help underserved residents. Padron Lopez realized there was a language barrier for Indigenous Greenfield residents, preventing them from receiving basic resources. Together, a team of community leaders are trying to revive and support Monterey County's Indigenous population through a collection of medical clinics. The Greenfield family doctor has been learning Triqui de Copala, a language spoken in and around San Juan Copala, Oaxaca, Mexico. The main reason I want to learn Triqui is to be able to communicate better with patients and to be able to better understand what they are going through, Padron Lopez said. Some of the patients that speak Triqui have told me that they feel more comfortable and valued because Im able to make the effort to communicate with them in their language. Dr. Olga Magdalena Padron Lopez holds her Indigenous language health guide that she carries with her, which has common phrases to help her better communicate with the Triqui community that visits the Clinica de Salud Del Valle de Salinas in Greenfield, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2021. Trust in the community Dr. Max Cuevas created the clinic's system through Assembly Bill 1045, which allows Mexican doctors to practice in California at nonprofit clinics. There are four clinic organizations that are involved in the program. Initially, the project was launched in primarily agricultural-producing counties. The are locations in Monterey, San Benito, Tulare and Los Angeles counties. A total of 25 doctors were brought to the U.S. through the initiative: Five in San Benito County, five in Tulare County, five in Los Angeles County and 10 in Monterey County. Seven out of the 10 physicians have been in Monterey County since 2021, three more physicians arrived in May 2022. Three additional physicians have been requested. Story continues Cuevas brings physicians to Monterey County, who are part of the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, to work in the communities, especially in Greenfield and north county, where the majority of speaking an indigenous language like Triqui, Mixtec and Zapotec. There was a moment 15 to 20 years ago when we heard about this population, Cuevas said. Speaking these different languages, they came to this country to work, they dont speak the language, and they dont know and didnt know where to access health care. Everyone should have access to health care, Cuevas said. People are people. As biological entities, we all get sick. So we all need to go to a doctor that we can trust. A doctor thats going to provide quality health care and build the trust and be able to communicate first and foremost with that individual," he said. "We focused on being able to provide health care services, quality health care services to people in their own language as much as possible. In 2021, Clinica De Salud Del Valle de Salinas saw 181 patients that spoke Mixteco; 364 that spoke another indigenous language; and 34,434 that spoke Spanish. Greenfield has a high Triqui speaking community, according to Sarait Martinez, executive director at Centro Binacional para el Desarrollo Indigena Oaxaqueno. Martinez works with different Indigenous communities in Monterey County and oversees the nonprofit that provides projects on workers rights, which provides orientation, education, training, counseling and referrals. Intensive training on the professional ethics of Indigenous interpreters to serve as a medium of communication between monolingual Indigenous migrants and various government agencies and other entities is also part of their program. Many Indigenous people fear that accessing medical care puts them at risk because of their immigration status. The fact that a doctor can speak your language is going to create a lot more trust in the community, she said. Dr. Olga Magdalena Padron Lopez is reflected in a blood pressure scale as she looks through her backpack inside the COVID-19 test room at the Clinica de Salud Del Valle de Salinas in Greenfield, Calif., on Dec. 8, 2021. Helping hands Padron Lopez is one of 10 Mexico-born physicians practicing in Monterey County through this program. As a 13-year-old, Padron Lopezs dad would take her to home consultations. He often treated low-income patients. It was during these home visits that Padron Lopez was motivated to study medicine. In 2012, she graduated from medical school. Two years later, Paron Lopez began her residency as a family doctor. After graduation, she went to work with people in her community, Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico. When she started to learn Triqui, she tried to do it on her own. Padron Lopez taught herself how to speak English and French. Unfortunately, there are not many resources to learn Indigenous languages. The best way to learn an Indigenous language, in my experience, is through a person who speaks that language, Padron Lopez said. I have a Triqui language teacher Together, we design a syllabus with the topics that we consider most important in the medical field." Padron Lopez attends private classes every two weeks through a digital platform. The time that Padron Lopez spends studying Triqui depends on her workload. However, she tries to practice what she has learned with the people who come to the clinic. Some patients have even taught her new words and phrases. Can movies help save the world's dying languages?: New wave of Indigenous films share untold stories In addition to providing quality medical care to this population, Martinez hopes the clinics can employ and support more Indigenous people. I try to tell the youth, please dont let your native language die. Those kids learning an Indigenous language from their parents like Triqui are going to get to a stage where they will be able to be doctors, lawyers, police officers," she said. "Theyre going to be in important positions where theyll be able to go back to their communities and help in ways that not even people who are trying to learn the language will be able to help. Dr. Olga Magdalena Padron Lopez is photographed inside one of the waiting rooms at the Clinica de Salud Del Valle de Salinas in Greenfield, Calif., on Jan. 7, 2022. Padron Lopez is learning Triqui and Indigenous language to better communicate with the Triqui community she serves in Greenfield. David Rodriguez is the education reporter and staff photographer for The Salinas Californian. For any tips or story ideas, you can email him at drodriguez@thecalifornian.com. Subscribe to support local journalism. Translation resul This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Monterey County medical clinics aim to serve Indigenous people By Robin Emmott and Humeyra Pamuk MADRID (Reuters) - NATO leaders will urge Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan to lift his veto over Finland and Sweden's bid to join the military alliance when they meet for a three-day summit on Tuesday, as the West strives to send Russia and China a signal of resolve. Taking place in the shadow of Russia's war in Ukraine, the Madrid gathering comes at a pivotal moment for the transatlantic bond after failures in Afghanistan and internal discord during the era of former U.S. President Donald Trump, who threatened to pull Washington out of the nuclear alliance. Negotiations among an often-fractious organisation are still under way, diplomats said, but leaders also hope to agree to provide more military aid to Ukraine, increase joint defence spending, cement a new resolve to tackle China's military rise and put more troops on stand-by to defend the Baltics. Spain, whose king will host a dinner for leaders, is also pushing for more NATO focus on the southern flank to address migration and militant groups in the Sahel region of Africa. The leaders of Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea are expected to attend part of the summit, part of a broader U.S. strategy for a more assertive Western presence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China. "We will do more to ensure we can defend every inch of allied territory, at all times and against any threat," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said in a speech last week. Although British and U.S. officials have advised against a Baltic request for permanent multinational forces in the region, the summit is likely to settle on a compromise of promising rapid reinforcements. Germany has already said it will put more troops at the ready to defend Lithuania should Russia seek to seize NATO territory and Britain is expected to do the same for Estonia, while Latvia is looking to Canada to pledge more troops there. TURKEY VETO NATO - created in 1949 to counter the Soviet threat - is under no treaty obligation to defend Ukraine, as the former Soviet republic is not a NATO member. Story continues But Russian President Vladimir Putin's Feb. 24 invasion has sparked a geopolitical shift as once neutral countries Finland and Sweden seek to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Ukraine has formally become a candidate to join the European Union. If accepted, Finland and Sweden's inclusion into NATO would bring about the expansion of the alliance that the Russian leader aimed to prevent. "I think it sends an important message to Putin. And I think it would actually significantly strengthen the alliance," U.S. Senator Angus King said of Finland and Sweden, following a trip to Finland, Latvia and Turkey. However, Turkey is also testing that unity, angered by what it says is Helsinki and Stockholm's support for Kurdish militants and arms embargoes on Ankara. A Turkish government official involved in the talks between the three countries and NATO's Stoltenberg told Reuters it would be difficult to reach a deal at the summit, saying that Sweden and Finland must first address Turkish concerns. "There were meetings, but unfortunately steps we expected are not being taken," the official said. Sweden has set up a process for ongoing consultations, diplomats said. But two senior NATO diplomats said the dispute was less about technical benchmarks and more about politics. Erdogan's stance has proved popular at home before a June 2023 presidential election as he seeks to challenge U.S. and European priorities. In recent weeks, he has threatened more military operations in northern Syria, stoked tensions with fellow NATO member Greece and declined to join Western sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine war. "I think there's nearly zero chance that this issue will be resolved at the Madrid summit," said Soner Cagaptay, a Turkey analyst at the Washington Institute, a U.S. think-tank. U.S. President Joe Biden could hold a meeting with Erdogan in the margins of the NATO summit to push for progress with Finland and Sweden, whose leaders will be in Madrid. But Cagaptay added that Erdogan could try to use the situation to boost his popularity and call a possible snap election in November ahead of the official June 2023 vote. (Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold, Andrea Shalal and Belen Carreno in Madrid and Jonathan Spicer and Orhan Coskun in Ankara; Editing by Nick Macfie) Many of Hollywoods biggest names have slammed the Supreme Courts majority decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and end the protection of abortion access at a federal level. But some in Hollywood, like Samuel L. Jackson, are also looking deeper into the concurring opinions in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health, particularly one written by Justice Clarence Thomas. While Thomas joined Justice Alitos majority opinion that overturned Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey, he also wrote a concurring opinion that went much further (so much so that none of the other justices joined it, and Justice Brett Kavanaugh seemed to specifically distance himself from it in his own concurring opinion). More from IndieWire Thomas used the concurrence to air his grievances with substantive due process, a legal idea that says certain rights can and should be protected by courts, even if not specifically enumerated in the Constitution. The idea of substantive due process allowed abortion to remain protected for nearly 50 years despite not being mentioned in the Constitution or explicitly legalized in a federal statute. Thomas, an outspoken originalist who believes in literal textual readings of laws, now believes that the same logic that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned should lead to other landmark substantive due process cases being revisited. In future cases, we should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell, Thomas wrote in his concurring opinion, later saying that we have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents. Many found that section to be particularly alarming, given the cases he mentions represent fundamental parts of American life that many take for granted. Griswold v. Connecticut established that adults have the right to use contraceptives, Lawrence v. Texas established that it is illegal to punish people for homosexual activity, and Obergefell v. Hodges legalized same-sex marriage on a national level. Story continues His opinion has provoked plenty of outrage, including from Samuel L. Jackson, who called out the decision (and some apparent hypocrisy behind it) in a tweet on Friday. Hows Uncle Clarence feeling about Overturning Loving v Virginia??!! Samuel L. Jackson (@SamuelLJackson) June 25, 2022 Jackson referenced Loving v. Virginia, a case that utilized substantive due process to legalize interracial marriage. The Pulp Fiction star appeared to call Thomas out for omitting the landmark case from the list of rulings that he wants to revisit. Clarence Thomas, a Black man, is married to Ginni Thomas, a white woman. To Samuel L. Jackson, the decision to exclude a case that directly benefits him suggests that Thomas is less interested in esoteric legal processes than he is in obtaining results that advance a reactionary agenda. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. If all goes as planned, construction will begin this summer on structures that will house the annual Downtown Yakima Farmers Market and other weekend gatherings and events. You are the owner of this article. It Happened here is a weekly history column by Yakima Herald-Republic reporter Donald W. Meyers. Reach him at dmeyers@yakimaherald.com. Sources for this weeks column include the Naval History and Heritage Command, U.S. National Park Service, Port of Benton, The Inflation Calculator by Morgan Friedman and the archives of the Yakima Herald-Republic. Allan Kinyua, a certified nursing assistant at UW Medicines Northwest campus, checks the temperature of patient Charlie Beck of Seattle. Kinyua is on track to receive his bachelors degree in nursing later this summer from the University of Washington. Police: One officer shot, seriously injured after reports of multiple drive-by shootings in northeast Spokane Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. At the same time, in official reports, authorities massively exaggerate the scale of migration happening along the border with Belarus. Massive inconsistencies in data According to a dispatch posted on the Border Guards website in January, 39,697 people attempted to cross the Poland-Belarus border last year. After the publication of this article, the Polish Border Guard changed the content of the said notice. Originally, the first sentence read: "Last year, 39,697 third-country nationals attempted to illegally cross the state border with Belarus, outside official border checkpoints". It now reads: "Last year, we recorded 39,697 instances of third-country nationals attempting to illegally cross the state border with Belarus, outside official border checkpoints". This data is certainly worth a closer look because it does not match the numbers provided by Frontex, the EU agency monitoring the Unions external borders. According to Frontex, in 2021, only 8099 third-country nationals crossed into EU member states through the Unions eastern land borders. That is five times less than what the Polish Border Guard claims in its reports. REKLAMA When talking about the situation at the eastern land borders - and this is precisely what data provided by Frontex is about - we mean the 6,000-kilometer-long land border connecting Norway (which is not an EU member state but cooperates with Frontex), Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania with Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, and Moldova. The Polish-Belarusian border is only a small part of it. The massive difference in numbers reported by Frontex and the Polish Border Guard could mean that the Border Guard was very effective in stopping illegal immigration. But Wyborcza asked both institutions to explain this discrepancy and it turned out to be something else - something that could be either a simple mistake or an intentional lie. How Polish authorities came up with the number of border crossings When asked about the inconsistency - after all, Frontex draws data from institutions in the individual Member States, so it cannot deviate from national data Frontex replied that the Polish Border Guard does not provide the number of actual people, but the number of attempts to enter the country. The Frontex spokesperson referred us to the Border Guard for further clarification. REKLAMA Talks with the Border Guard were difficult, because the acting spokesperson, Lieutenant Anna Michalska, provided contradictory information. Finally, however, we received a written answer. Reporting on 39,697 crossings, the Border Guard did not mean the number of specific individuals (even though in its initial notice it has explicitly stated that it was the number of third-country nationals). What it meant was the number of attempts to cross the border outside official border checkpoints. What counts as an attempt to cross the border? According to the Border Guard, this number includes, for example, instances where someone was standing on the Belarusian side of the border and moved away after being warned by Polish officers that he/she was not allowed to cross into Poland. Such activity is reported as an attempt to cross the border even though the person has not set a foot on the Polish territory. As the Border Guard spokeswoman explained to us, such cases could involve groups of multiple people. REKLAMA When members of such groups dispersed and tried to cross the border in smaller groups, they were counted again. When they were sent back and tried to enter again another time, it counted as another attempt. The spokeswoman for the Polish Border Guard told us that groups of migrants camped near the border, like the one we saw on the footage released by the Border Guard from Kuznica, as well as people trying to force their way across the border, were not counted. The actual number of migrants crossing the Poland-Belarus border Wyborcza asked the Border Guard about the nationality of people apprehended by officers in 2021. We asked for data in the form of tables so that our data journalists could analyze it themselves. Yet, despite our repeated requests, we only received a brief note: "In 2021, Border Guard officers detained 2,744 migrants who crossed the so-called green border with Belarus. 1,557 were from Iraq, 447 from Afghanistan, 269 from Syria, 69 from Russia, 68 from Somalia, 55 from Iran, 54 from Turkey, 51 from Tajikistan, and individual citizens of other nationalities". The Border Guard spokeswoman explained that only those who, after contact with officers, "were placed in guarded or open migration centers or transferred to open houses run by foundations and NGOs" are listed as detained. It means that this figure does not include individuals pushed back to Belarus. Therefore, we do not know how many people actually tried to cross the Polish-Belarusian border outside official border checkpoints. There were at least 2744 people (the number of individuals detained by the Border Guard and sent to migration centers). At most - 8099 (this is the number provided by Frontex for the entire EU eastern land border). Of course, there is a chance that more people have crossed the border, unnoticed by the authorities. However, it is certain that the number of attempted illegal crossings mentioned on the Border Guards website as the number of specific individuals is incorrect. The actual number of people with whom the Border Guard had contact last year at the border with Belarus is much less spectacular. And it does not fit the narrative promoted by ruling camp politicians that there was a dangerous flood migrants storming the Polish-Belarusian border. *** Every day, 400 journalists at Gazeta Wyborcza write verified, fact-checked stories about Polish politics and society, keeping a critical eye on the ruling camps persistent assault on democratic values and the rule of law; the growing cultural tension between religious fundamentalism and human rights; and the ongoing Russian invasion in Ukraine. Our journalists are on the front lines in 32 Polish cities, reporting from the streets, hospitals, and courtrooms about issues that move public opinion. We decided to make our service available to everyone free of charge in order to provide access to high quality journalism for expats and English speakers interested in Polish affairs. The access to information should be equal for all. Two pro-government commentators ponder the chances of the escalation of the Ukraine war into a conflict between Russia and Europe or even a Third World War. Magyar Demokrata editor-in-chief Andras Bencsik in his regular first page editorial writes that despite all its imperfections, the EU is a wonderful institution that can help us to defend peace for another one hundred years. The pro-government commentator, however, thinks that Brexit jeopardizes the EUs main mission to sustain peace. Bencsik recalls that General Patrick Sanders, recently appointed Chief of the General Staff, called on the British army to prepare to defeat Russian forces in ground warfare in Europe. Bencsik suspects that the Brexit itself was carried out to prepare such a war against Russia. He goes so far as to claim that the US and the UK want to defend their hegemony by defeating Russia. Bencsik claims that the US and the UK had to compromise with the Soviet Union after World War Two, but now they want to defeat it with systematic provocations that finally fooled Russia into a local war. Bencsik goes on to allege that the US and UK hoped that they can beat Russia by arming Ukraine. As this plan failed and Russia gains the upper hand militarily, culturally as well as economically, the escalation of the Ukraine war into a Third World War is becoming a real possibility, Bencsik speculates. He concludes by suggesting that the US and UK are fully aware that Russia is too strong to be defeated, and so their real plan with a global conflict is to turn the EU and Europe into a colony. In Magyar Nemzet, Laszlo Szocs calls for more caution in EU policies towards Russia. The pro-government columnist fears that the dispute over Russian access to Kaliningrad through Lithuania may lead to the escalation of the Ukraine war. Szocs fears that the EU may cross a line by introducing further sanctions on Russia, since limiting its access to Kaliningrad may be interpreted as a provocation. Szocs adds that provoking a nuclear power with sanctions is both dangerous and economically disastrous for the EU, as it puts access to energy sources at risk. If the EU introduces sanctions that threaten the Russian population directly, then Moscow may respond with irrational steps, and Europe may drift into war, Szocs concludes. This opinion does not necessarily represent the views of XpatLoop.com or the publisher. Your opinions are welcome too - for editorial review before possible publication online. Click here to Share Your Story When Dr. Ray Ward travels to the Nebraska State Capitol, he is not scanning the horizon for the city skyline alone, instead he sees the remnants of the moraine glacier and the diversity of the soils all around. Wards name is synonymous with soil and is known across the state and worldwide because he has literally touched countless miles of it as the founder of Ward Laboratories with his wife Jolene. This is why its important to save the soil, Ward said adamantly, motioning to a picture of he and Jolene with six of their seven great grandchildren. The really important things farmers need to do are save the soil slow soil erosion and use water as efficiently as possible. Those responsibilities are on each grower. We cant just put out the rhetoric that we are leaving the land better than we found it. I want to see it! I dont want to see silt in the road ditches. I want the flood water running fairly clear. Prior to college, Ward had grown up on a farm near Western, Neb., a farm that is still in the family and where he has hosted thousands of farmers, ranchers, and others, interested in improving their practices, A soil book from 1932 states the average corn yield in Saline County in 1889 was 48 bushels per acre. The corn variety was Reids Yellow Dent. When I graduated high school in 1955, my dad had me cultivating corn four times. In 1955, we had been farming Saline County land since the 1870s. We pitched manure out of the barn and put it on the land closest to the barn. The average dryland yield in 1955 in Saline County was nine bushels per acre and in 1956 was eight bushels per acre. Dad grew sweet clover and rotated alfalfa, so our yield was better than the county average, but it still wasnt high enough to pay all the bills, he went on. So, we made it up by selling cream and eggs in town. That bought the groceries. In 1955, my first course in college was agronomy where I found out nitrogen would make corn grow better. Later, Dr. Dwayne Beck and I were the only two PhDs under the direction of Paul Carson at South Dakota State University (SDSU). Ward initially headed to work for the Soil Conservation Service (SCS), but plans changed, I got a job with SCS and then had to take a physical. I found out I was color blind. They said, We cant hire you. That was the best thing the government ever did for me. After a host of frontline experiences, Ward wanted to keep up the pace he was building and had a deep desire to work for a commercial lab, I was disgusted with labs recommending way too much fertilizer. Then ServiTech called and we moved to Dodge City in 1977. We started testing soil September 1. I was told I would get 60,000 samples a year. We got a few samples from coops, but not very many. Then I contacted Harold Henry from Farmland Industries, a large coop in Kansas City. Harold introduced me to agronomy fertilizer salesmen from across the state. I told them I would go out and put on meetings. That is when I traveled all over Kansas trying to educate people on soil sampling. The connections were building and Wards reputation for honesty and timeliness were gaining attention. Always gaining more experiences, Ward ventured on his own in February of 1983 with his wife Jolene, but while their dreams were growing rapidly, the agricultural economy was failing dramatically. The Farm Crisis hit and stalled the building progress. Still, the Wards didnt quit. Instead of a new building, they started Ward Laboratories in a three-bay garage in November of 1983. Ward, Jolene, and one employee began the business by testing 2,200 soil samples themselves. In 2021, Ward Labs tested 447,000 soil, feed, plant, water, and manure samples. Ward also spent 25 years teaching agronomy at the University of Nebraska Kearney. Visibly emotional as he told this story, Ward talked about one of his former students he ran into coming out of a meeting at a no-till conference, I was in your class, my former student said. I went home and talked to dad about my professor teaching us about no-till farming. His dad asked him, What does your professor know about it? But this student kept telling his dad what he was learning. Finally, he went home, and his dad told him, Were going to start no-tilling. That showed me if you educate people right, it will catch on. Ward shared this message in closing for the farmers and ranchers today and those to come, The most important thing we can do is keep the soil for future generations. The neat thing is when I drive down the road there are people doing things differently. They are listening and trying things on their own. Motioning to the picture of his wife and grandchildren on his computer again, Ward said, Farmers changing know this is what its all about. Rakesh Jhunjunwala-backed Akasa Air is all set to start its operations in India. However, the only thing that remains is to complete the proving tests. The start-up airline is scheduled to perform the first test flight in the last week of June. The tests of the airline will be performed in the presence of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation's (DGCA) officer. After that, the airline will have everything that it needs to launch its operations in India by the last week of July. It is to be noted that the expected launch date has been pushed multiple times. This proving flight will be much different then than the maiden flight for the airlines because during the flight the aviation watchdog authority DGCA will assess whether the airline is worthy of flying or not. The tests are even more critical for the airline as they will ensure that the startup gets its air operator's certificate which will allow them to commercially operate within Indian airspace. Recently, the airline welcomed its first 72 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft at the Indira Gandhi International airport. With the beginning of the services, Akasa Air will join Jet Airways in making 2022 a prosperous year for the Indian aviation industry. Akasa Air placed an order for 72 Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft, with the first 18 arriving in March 2023, followed by the remaining 54 arriving over the next four years. Also read: Rakesh Jhunjhunwala-backed Akasa Air welcomes its first Boeing 737 Max aircraft in India, flights to start by July 2022 According to the airline, they will offer the lowest seat-mile costs for a single-aisle plane, as well as high dispatch reliability and an improved passenger experience. Commenting on the timely arrival of the aircraft, Vinay Dube, Founder, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer, Akasa Air said, The arrival of our first aircraft is a very happy moment for all of us and marks an important milestone, bringing us closer to our vision of building Indias greenest, most dependable, and most affordable airline. Akasa Air is a prime example of the progress made by Indian aviation in recent years and is also a testimony to the countrys vibrant start-up ecosystem. This is not just a significant milestone for us and Indian aviation, but its the story of a new India, added, Dube. New Delhi: Social media users frequently give Anand Mahindra's posts a lot of attention. But this time, the 67-year-old responded to a Twitter query from a curious user. The CEO replied to a tweet in his often funny way, imparting some crucial life lessons to the followers. One of Mahindra's Monday motivation posts had received feedback from a Twitter user by the name of Vaibhav SD. Vaibhav asked the Mahindra and Mahindra chairperson, Sir, may I know your qualification? To which he replied, Frankly, at my age, the only qualification of any merit is experience. Read More: Way to go! Kolkata boy rejects Amazon, Google; bags Rs 1.6 crore job at Facebook Frankly, at my age, the only qualification of any merit is experience https://t.co/azCKBgEacF anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) June 27, 2022 A user replied, Very well Put we are entering an age where speed, flexibility, innovation and execution matter much more than decades-old qualifications or antiquated experiences dressing up a lengthy resume. Read More: Durex does it again! Shares witty post on soon-to-be parents Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor Very well Put we are entering an age where speed, flexibility, innovation and execution matter much more than decades-old qualifications or antiquated experiences dressing up a lengthy resume. Manoj K Jha aka Manu (@manojgjha) June 27, 2022 Meanwhile another user quipped, What an answer! I hope the person has got the reply right. What an answer!!!! I hope the person has got the reply right. shilpi das (@shilpimitra1) June 27, 2022 Another user agreed with Mahindra's comment and said, "Always experience is greater than knowledge sir," in response. Always experience is greater than knowledge sir Narasimhamurthi DT (@Narasim79962167) June 27, 2022 Mahindra responded to a user called Abhishek Dubey's comments with a motivational tweet on Monday. "Today I was on a tour in the Staun district of Himachal, I was shocked to see this little girl sitting all by herself studying writing notes, I can not express how astounded I was seeing the focus she had in books," the user who posted the image of the young girl studying wrote. Brilliant. Reacting to the tweet, Mahindra further said, Beautiful photograph, Abhishek. She is my Monday motivation. Mahindra frequently highlights noteworthy events from his life in addition to imparting some important life lessons and responding to popular social media posts. The businessman tweeted about his father earlier this month. He showed his father Harish Mahindra a photo from his youth. As a child, it was always special to be be allowed to go to the airport to see my father off or greet him on his return from business trips. On #FathersDay I think of him & wish I could go to the airport again to welcome him back pic.twitter.com/cQSyQQ3FWP June 19, 2022 He wrote As a child, it was always special to be allowed to go to the airport to see my father off or greet him on his return from business trips. On Fathers Day I think of him and wish I could go to the airport again to welcome him back. New Delhi: Shark Tank India judge and Emcure Pharmaceuticals' Executive Director Namita Thapar is quite vocal on her thoughts regarding work life balance and optimum working nature. Sharing a photo post from what it appears to be that of Lebanese-American writer and poet Khalil Gibran, the Shark Tank India judge opined that it is perhaps time to switch to a new job if one is not passionate about it. "If u have Monday blues, dont love what ur doing, time to get a new job? Why spend 80% of ur life doing something that u dont feel abs passionate about? Such work exists but we prefer to stay in our comfort zone & dont look hard enough for it, dont settle for mediocrity in life," Namita Thapar tweeted. If u have Monday blues, dont love what ur doing,time to get a new job? Why spend 80% of ur life doing something that u dont feel abs passionate about? Such work exists but we prefer to stay in our comfort zone & dont look hard enough for it, dont settle for mediocrity in life pic.twitter.com/nfu4emWXKI Namita (@namitathapar) June 20, 2022 Thapar didn't stop at that post. On being asked by a Twitter user, whether people at her position also have Monday Blues, she replied that she has never got it at Emcure. (Also see: Inside Shark Tank India judge Namita Thapars home: Lush green balcony, plush interiors and more) "I have never got Monday blues at Emcure, in fact I cant wait to get to office, we came to office every single day all through the pandemic, I love what I do & truly live the quote - create a (work) life you dont need a vacation from," she tweeted. I have never got Monday blues at Emcure, in fact I cant wait to get to office, we came to office every single day all through the pandemic, I love what I do & truly live the quote - create a (work) life you dont need a vacation from ! Namita (@namitathapar) June 20, 2022 Thapar urged people to stop wearing I work long hours, I travel a lot, I have no time for family as a badge of honour. She also urged fellow entrepreneurs to take steps to fix the work-life balance of employees at all the companies. Fixing the work-life balance will ensure that we have a mentally fit and more productive generation. Stop wearing I work long hours, I travel a lot, I have no time for family as a badge of honour, lets fix work life balance at all companies so we have a mentally fit & more productive generation next that get quality time & involvement from both parents. June 10, 2022 Her tweet garnered a lot of traction among users, with the majority supporting a healthy work-life balance for employees. New Delhi: A student at Kolkata's Jadavpur University named Bisakh Mondal recently made news after landing a job with Facebook in London with a salary of 1.8 crore. Although Mondal had also aced interviews with Google and Amazon, he opted to turn them down in favour of the Facebook offer. He said, "I believed choosing Facebook would be the best as the salary package offered by them was substantial. Speaking about what had assisted him, Bisakh said, "In the last two years during the Covid-19 pandemic, I got the opportunity to complete internships at different organisations and collect information outside of my curriculum studies. It is not an easy task to crack interviews with Facebook, Google, and Amazon. This has enabled me to succeed in interviews. Read More: Why is Shark Tank Indias Namita Thapar asking if it's time to get a new job? This is the highest salary a JU student has received this year, according to a report. Nine JU students from different engineering departments previously obtained international employment with salary packages above Rs 1 crore. "This is the first time since the pandemic that students have received such a big number of international offers," noted Samita Bhattacharya, JU's placement officer." Read More: Durex does it again! Shares witty post on soon-to-be parents Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor The anganwadi worker mother of Bisakh claimed that he had always been a "meritorious student." For us, it is a source of enormous pride. To watch him rise to greater heights, we toiled diligently. He always took his academics very seriously. He was admitted to Jadavpur University after earning great marks in his higher secondary exams and the joint entrance exam, Bisakh's mother told reporters. The market capitalization of Meta (Facebook) as of June 2022 is $562.19 billion. As a result, according to data from firms market cap, Meta (Facebook) is now the seventh most valuable corporation in the world. The market capitalization, often known as market cap, is a commonly used metric to determine how much a company is worth. It represents the total market value of all outstanding shares of a publicly listed company. New Delhi: The all-powerful GST Council at its meeting in Chandigarh this week is likely to make changes in goods and services tax (GST) rates on a handful of items and may go with the officers panel's recommendations to maintain status quo in rates of over 215 items. The 47th meeting of the GST Council, headed by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and comprising representatives of all states and UTs, is scheduled for June 28-29. The Council is meeting after a gap of six months. Apart from rate rationalisation, the Council is expected to see a stormy discussion around compensation payout to states with Opposition-ruled states aggressively pushing for its continuation beyond the 5-year period which ends in June. Major changes proposed by the officers' panel or the Fitment Committee in the tax rates are a uniform 5 per cent GST rate on prostheses (artificial limbs) and orthopaedic implants (trauma, spine, and arthoplasty implants). Besides, orthoses (splints, braces, belts and calipers) too have been proposed in the lowest bracket of 5 per cent. Currently, these goods attract tax rate of either 12 and 5 per cent. The committee has also recommended reduction in GST rate on ropeway travel to 5 per cent from 18 per cent currently with ITC, Himachal Pradesh placing this request before the GST Council in September last year. It also suggested that GST rate on ostomy appliances (including pouch or flange, stoma adhesive paste, barrier cream, irrigator kit, sleeves, belt, micro-pore tapes) should be reduced to 5 per cent, from 12 per cent at present. Also, tax rates on sewage treated water is likely to be cut to 'nil'. Currently, an ambiguity in wordings in the GST rates slab has led to two orders from Authority for Advance Ruling (AAR) stating that sewage treated water attracts 18 per cent GST rate. The Fitment Committee also recommended tax rate be hiked on Tetra Pak to 18 per cent, from 12 per cent currently. Also, a clarification would be issued on GST rates on electric vehicles, to state that EVs, whether fitted with battery or not, would attract 5 per cent tax rate. Besides, Nicotine Polarilex Gum, which is commonly used to aid in smoking cessation in adults, attracts 18 per cent GST, the committee has clarified. The committee gives its recommendation regarding tax rates, after analysing demands from stakeholders, in every meeting of the Council. This time around it has suggested that status quo in tax rates be maintained in over 215 goods and services. The GST Council will also be presented two reports of Group of state finance ministers. The GoM on rate rationalisation will give its interim report suggesting some correction in inverted duty structure and doing away of some exemptions, while the other panel for deciding rates on casinos, horse racing and online gaming is likely to suggest the highest 28 per cent slab for such activities. Besides rate rationalisation, the Council is likely to see Opposition-ruled states aggressively pushing for continuation of compensation for revenue loss. The Centre will defend its case for ending compensation in June, as was promised at the time of launch of GST by citing tight revenue position. After the 45th GST Council meeting in Lucknow in September last year, the Union Finance Minister had said the regime of paying compensation to states for revenue shortfall resulting from subsuming their taxes such as VAT in the uniform national tax GST will end in June 2022. However, the compensation cess, levied on luxury and demerit goods, will continue to be collected till March 2026 to repay the borrowings that were done in 2020-21 and 2021-22 to compensate states for GST revenue loss. Goods and Services Tax (GST) was introduced in the country with effect from July 1, 2017 and states were assured of compensation for the loss of any revenue arising on account of implementation of GST for a period of five years. Though states' protected revenue has been growing at 14 per cent compounded growth, the cess collection did not increase in the same proportion, COVID-19 further increased the gap between protected revenue and the actual revenue receipt including reduction in cess collection. In order to meet the resource gap of the states due to short release of compensation, the Centre has borrowed and released Rs 1.1 lakh crore in 2020-21 and Rs 1.59 lakh crore in 2021-22 as back-to-back loan to meet a part of the shortfall in cess collection. The Centre has released the entire amount of GST compensation payable to states up to May 31, 2022. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged the Centre to extend the retirement age of soldiers recruited under the Agneepath scheme to 65 years, contending that they will stare at an uncertain future at the end of the four-year term. Mamata Banerjee also said the BJP-led central government launched the new defence recruitment scheme keeping in mind the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. "My motto is to create more and more jobs unlike the BJP. They are training people for four months and recruiting them for four years. What will these soldiers do after four years...What will be their fate... It's uncertain." "We demand that the retirement age be extended to 65 years (under the Agneepath scheme)," Banerjee said at an event here. It envisages recruiting in the armed forces youths in the age bracket of 17-and-half to 21 years for only four years, with a provision to retain 25 per cent of them for 15 more years. For 2022, the upper age limit has been extended to 23 years. Banerjee had earlier claimed that the BJP was using the scheme to build its own armed cadre base. Assam Board HS Result 2022: The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) released the Assam HS Result 2022 today, June 27 at around AM. Candidates can view their results at AHSEC's official website- ahsec.assa.gov.in. 83.48 percent of students from Arts stream passed the Assam Board 12th exams while pass percentage of Commerce stood at 87.26 percent, and in Science 92.19 percent students cleared the 12th board exams. On June 7, the SEBA, Board of Secondary Education Assam, announced the HSLC final result 2022 at sebaonline.org and resultsassam.nic.in. As many as 4 lakh students took the Assam matriculation examination this year. ALSO READ: AHSEC Result 2022: Assam HS result 2022 DECLARED at resultsassam.nic.in, direct LINK to check scorecard here Assam HS Board Class 12th result 2022: Topper list Assam HS results were declared today June 27, 2022 at 9 a.m. Sadhana Devi topped with 487 marks in Arts stream. Whereas, Dhritiraj Bastav Kalita bagged first position in Science Stream with 491 marks and Sagar Agarwal is the commerce topper with 482 marks. Assam Board 12th result 2022: Websites to check the scorecards Assam HS Board Class 12th result 2022: Heres how to check the scorecards The official website of the AHSEC is ahsec.assa.gov.in. Click the Assam HS AHSEC Result 2022 link on the homepage. Enter your Roll Number from your admit card and submit your information. Your 12th grade results will be displayed on your screen. Download and print the Assam Board 12th Result 2022. This year, nearly 2.5 lakh students took the Higher Secondary Examination. The Assam Board exams were held from March 15th to April 12th, 2022. This year, nearly 2.5 lakh students took the Higher Secondary Examination. The Assam Board exams were held from March 15th to April 12th, 2022. ALSO READ: AHSEC Result 2022: Assam HS result 2022 DECLARED at resultsassam.nic.in, how to check if official website crashed However, Assam 10th class result have already been released and Raktotpal Saikia topped the exam with 597 marks, followed by Bhuyashi Medhi in second place with 596 marks, and three students, Mridupawan Kalita, Labeeb Muzib, and Partha Pratim Das, all with 595 marks. . HS Result 2022 Assam: The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) announced the HS result 2022 Assam today, June 27, at 9 AM. AHSEC held a press conference at 9 AM, where result data like pass percentage and toppers' names were announced. Over 2 lakh students appeared for the AHSEC 12th board exams this year of which pass percentage for streams was- Arts - 83.48%, Commerce- 87.26% Science- 92.19%. Students waiting for the AHSEC Result 2022 can now visit the official website of AHSEC ahsec.assam.gov.in or resultsassam.nic.in and download their score cards. HS Result AHSEC 2022: Websites to check your 12th Result ahsec.assam.gov.in resultsassam.nic.in examresults.net aasamresults.in Assam Board Results 2022: How to check HS results Visit the official website of AHSEC ahsec.assam.gov.in or resultsassam.nic.in On the homepage, click on the Assam HS Final result link Entre your login credentials like roll no, DOB Click on submit button, your result will be displayed on your screen Earlier this month, the Board of Secondary Education Assam (SEBA) had announced Class 10 or Matric final examination results, 2022. Live TV HS Result 2022 Assam: The Assam Higher Secondary Education Council (AHSEC) declared the Assam Board 12th results 2022, June 27, at 9 AM. Assam education board in a press conference at around 9 AM declared the HS Results 2022 and data like pass percentage and toppers' lists were released for all the three strams viz. Arts, Commerce and Science. Over 2 lakh students appeared for the AHSEC 12th board exams this year. Students waiting for the AHSEC Result 2022 can now visit the official website of AHSEC ahsec.assam.gov.in or resultsassam.nic.in and download their score cards. HS Result AHSEC 2022: Websites to check your 12th Result ahsec.assam.gov.in resultsassam.nic.in examresults.net aasamresults.in Assam Board Results 2022: How to check HS results Visit the official website of AHSEC ahsec.assam.gov.in or resultsassam.nic.in On the homepage, click on the Assam HS Final result link Entre your login credentials like roll no, DOB Click on submit button, your result will be displayed on your screen Assam HS Result 2022: Check 12th result via app Students can use the UPOLOBDHA Android App to check their HS Result 2022 Assam. The app can be downloaded from the link ahsec.assam.shiksha or can be downloaded directly from Google Play Store by searching as Upolobdha. AHSEC Result 2022: Check Class 12 result via SMS Open the SMS app on your phone Tap on creating new SMS option In the body text, type Assam12rollnumber Send it to 56263, after which students will get their result as an SMS alert. 83.48% of students from the Arts stream passed the AHSEC HS exams while in Commerce pass percentage of students was 87.26% and in Science- 92.19% passed the 12th board exams. Sadhana Devi of Kamrupa Girls' Senior Secondary School secured the first rank in Arts streams with 487 marks while Sagar Agarwal, Vivekananda Senior Secondary School, Cachar emerged as Commerce stream topper with 482 marks in HS Result 2022 Assam. Live TV Aizawl: Mizoram has decided to provide drinking water to flood-hit Assam, an official statement said on Sunday. Chief Minister Zoramthanga discussed over the phone the flood situation with his Assam counterpart Himanta Biswa Sarma during the day and chalked out a plan to send drinking water to the affected areas in the neighbouring state. Assam floods: Access to drinking water has been hit Mizoram borders southern Assam's Barak Valley, which has been severely affected by the deluge. Access to potable drinking water sources has been hit due to the floods. Zoramthanga said his government is willing to transport drinking water barrels by trucks up to Vairengte along the inter-state border, from where those could be dispatched to affected areas as per convenience, it said. Sarma thanked Zoramthanga for his gesture and said he would speak with Cachar deputy commissioner and ask the official to make arrangements for distributing drinking water coming from Mizoram. Central Young Mizo Association has donated 14,000 litres of bottled drinking water Meanwhile, the Central Young Mizo Association (CYMA) has donated 14,000 litres of bottled drinking water which has been dispatched to flood-ravaged Silchar in Assam, Mizoram Disaster Management and Rehabilitation Minister Lalchamliana said. A CYMA leader said the consignment will be handed over to Cachar DC for distribution among flood-affected people. A rescue team from Mizoram had recently evacuated 33 people from a Mission compound in Silchar. Of them, 16 were also brought safely to Mizoram. Live TV [June 27, 2022] Cengage Takes Home "Top Customer Support Award" for Fifth Consecutive Year Recognized by the Customer Relationship Management Institute for Supporting Students and Educators with a Superior Service Experience BOSTON, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Education technology provider Cengage today announced it has received the NorthFace ScoreBoard Award for excellence in customer support for the fifth year in a row. Recognized as one of the most prestigious customer service awards because it is based solely on customer feedback, the ScoreBoard Award is presented annually by the Customer Relationship Management Institute (CRMI). "As educators and students continue to navigate new and changing learning modalities, effective customer support is more important than ever in creating a successful learning experience," said Dawn Gerrain, Senior Vice President, Cengage Academic Service Experience. "At Cengage, we put a tremendous focus on delivering high quality, affordable digital learning products that are easy to use, and on being here for our customers. Whether it's helping an instructor set up a last-minute course assignment or troubleshooting with a student during virtual office hours, instructors, administrators and students know they can depend on Cengage for an exceptional support experience." Part of the Service Experience team's success can be attributed to its approach and belief that a contact center is about more than just a transaction; it's about addressing customer concerns with empathy. The service team challenged the traditional ways that contact centers are managed by focusing on meeting customers' needs related to reliability, value, time, dignity and success. Some of the other unique features of the Cengage experience include: Digital Success Specialists : personal, proactive support to set up digital courses ahead of the semester, and address any ongoing questions. : personal, proactive support to set up digital courses ahead of the semester, and address any ongoing questions. Start Strong and Virtual Office Hours : start of the semester sessions to help students choose the most affordable option and register their digital products, and Zoom office hours witha local Cengage representative to answer student questions during the semester. : start of the semester sessions to help students choose the most affordable option and register their digital products, and Zoom office hours witha local Cengage representative to answer student questions during the semester. Transparency: proactively sharing how our platforms are performing via techcheck.cengage.com so customers can see if a platform is experiencing an issue (99.9% uptime in 2021). proactively sharing how our platforms are performing via techcheck.cengage.com so customers can see if a platform is experiencing an issue (99.9% uptime in 2021). Expanded support channels : customers have multiple ways to reach support to address an issue including: phone, web-created case/email, live and automated chat and through social media (@CengageHelp) : customers have multiple ways to reach support to address an issue including: phone, web-created case/email, live and automated chat and through social media (@CengageHelp) Quality self-service materials and support: at support.cengage.com customers can find 300+ self-serve articles based on commonly asked questions, and the ability to initiate simple transactions (i.e. request a refund). John Alexander Maraganis , President & CEO of CRMI. For more information on Cengage's support services, visit: https://www.cengage.com/services/. For more information on awards and this year's winners, visit https://www.crmirewards.com/. About Cengage Cengage, the U.S. Higher Education business of global education technology company Cengage Group, serves millions of instructors, learners and institutions. We deliver affordable, high-quality digital products and personalized support to power learning individually and at scale. Our customer-centered approach enables innovation, including Cengage Unlimited, the first and only all-access digital subscription for textbooks and course materials. Our textbooks, homework tools, and flagship online learning platforms, MindTap and WebAssign, help educators and students achieve their goals. Visit us at www.cengage.com or find us on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , and Instagram. Media contact: Kristina Massari, kristina.massari@cengage.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cengage-takes-home-top-customer-support-award-for-fifth-consecutive-year-301575859.html SOURCE Cengage [ Back To SIP Trunking Home's Homepage ] Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee once again raised her voice against the ongoing clashes over the Bengal Awas Yojana. She attacks BJP from the stage of the financial assistance programme of the 'Krishak Bandhu' scheme in Burdwan on Monday. The chief minister claimed that the name of Bangla Awas Yojana will remain the same. She will go to Delhi if necessary. The state government is misguiding the common man by changing the name of the central govt scheme, which has been repeatedly accused by the state's leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, and other BJP leaders. In response to the complaint, the Centre had informed the state that the Centre would not give any more money to the scheme if the Prime Minister's name was not included in the housing scheme. This time, the Chief Minister opened her mouth on the ongoing debate over the Bangla Awas Yojana. In a complaint on Monday, the Chief Minister said, "The money of Bengal Awas Yojana and Bengal's road scheme is being withheld. I had sent a delegation of MPs (to Delhi), let's see what they are doing next. Otherwise, I may have to go to Delhi too. These have to be resolved." Not stopping here, Mamata added, "Any state can have a house (read scheme) in its own name. Gujarat will be named after Gujarat. If Uttar Pradesh can be named after Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan can be in the name of Rajasthan, then why do you object if it is in the name of bengal." Mamata further said, "There was a politics of division during the elections. Then you also object in taking the name of Bengal! I will talk about Bengal again and again. I will talk about the country." The Chief Minister can be heard shaking his hand and saying, 'Bangla Awas Yojana will continue.' New Delhi: Despite the political crisis in Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray is not giving up. Now, the Chief Minister's crisis in Maharashtra has reached the Supreme Court. Rebel MLA Eknath Shinde's camp has approached the apex court challenging the notice of dismissal of the MLA's post as the Legislative party leader. The Deputy Speaker of the Maharashtra Assembly has sent notices to 16 rebels, including Minister of Urban Development and Public Works Eknath Shinde, to dismiss their MLA posts. They have been asked to respond by Monday and the Shinde camp has moved the Supreme Court challenging the notice. The hearing for the same was scheduled to be held on Monday (June 27) around 12:30 pm. Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra takes dig at BJP amid Maharashtra Commenting on the political drama in Maharashtra, Trinamool MP Mahua Moitra slammed the BJP in a tweet in this situation. She wrote, "The Hotel Radisson Blu Hotel in Guwahati has said that there are no vacant rooms till June 30. We are asking guests to change the date or choose when the other price room is empty. The BJP has been given enough time to fix the price for both the house and the MLAs." Guwahati Hotel Radisson Blu says "no available rooms. We recommend changing dates or selecting a different rate type when available," till June 30. Gives BJP ample time to select rate types both for rooms & MLAs. Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 27, 2022 She also tweeted on PM Modi's speech on Emergency in Germany Mahua Moitra on Monday also took to social media to lash out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She tweeted, "In Germany, the prime minister is discussing the state of emergency in the country. He calls it a black day for democracy in the country. There's no problem with this. But the problem is when the opposition raises the undeclared state of emergency in the country to the foreign media. They were branded traitors." So Honble PM in Germany discusses Emergency as black spot on Indian democracy. No issue with that. Yet when opposition highlights current state of undeclared Emergency in India to foreign media (let alone on foreign soil) we are branded as traitors. Mahua Moitra (@MahuaMoitra) June 26, 2022 Maharashtra political crisis: Eknath Shinde's conversation with Raj Thackeray On the other hand, the rebel MLAs' leader Eknath Shinde spoke to Raj Thackeray triggering speculation. According to sources, the two spoke on the phone several times yesterday. The Shinde camp, however, claimed that it was not a political discussion but a discussion between the two leaders on Raj Thackeray's health after the surgery took place. news sources. Live TV Jammu: A Pakistan intruder was killed by Border Security force (BSF) troops along the International Border in Jammu district on Monday, official sources said. Security forces claimed that during the night at about 12.10 am alert BSF troops noticed suspicious movement across the fence in the general area of BOP Baqarpur. An officer said "Our domination party in night noticed a person coming from Pakistan side aggressively towards the fence with an intention to cross the fence. Our party challenged him to stop but he paid no attention to it and continued his movement towards the fence. Left with no option our troops fired three rounds on the intruder due to which he fell immediately ahead of fencing." Early morning our searching party checked the area and found the dead body of a Pak intruder very close to the fence. Nothing recovered from him. The body is being handed over to Police for further disposal officer added. This year more than half a dozen Pakistani intruders were shot at different places at IB fences in Jammu. A police officer Said This can a bovine smuggler also as In Jammu IB both Indian and Pakistani bovine smugglers have a nexus. He also added that we can't rule out that he may be a terrorist wanting to cross over this side, as arms and ammunition are now infiltrated through drones and those terrorists come without arms and later get weapons here. we have registered case and further investigation will get things cleared he added. Mumbai: Launching a fresh attack on Shiv Sena leadership, dissident leader Eknath Shinde on Sunday wondered how could Bal Thackeray's party support the people having a direct connection with Dawood Ibrahim who was responsible for killing innocent Mumbaikars by triggering bomb blasts. He said the banner of revolt was raised by him and other MLAs to protest against such support and he doesn't care for his life in the bid to save Bal Thackeray's Shiv Sena. Shinde's tweets on Sunday night are an apparent reference to Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) minister Nawab Malik who is in jail in connection with a money laundering case allegedly involving relatives of Dawood Ibrahim. The tweets are also seen as a reply to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut who had termed Shinde and other rebel MLAs "bodies without souls" which will be sent to the morgue. "How can Hinduhridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support those who have a direct connection with Dawood who killed innocent Mumbaikars by carrying out Mumbai bomb blasts? We are taking this step to oppose this; Don't care if this step leads us to the brink of death," Shinde tweeted in Marathi. ALSO READ | 'Eknath Shinde was offered CM position but...': Aaditya Thackeray's BIG claim amid Maharashtra political row In another tweet, the senior Shiv Sena leader said they will consider themselves fortunate if they die while saving Shiv Sena and the ideology of Bal Thackeray. Shinde had tagged his tweets to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut's Twitter handle. Earlier in the day, Raut had termed Shinde and other rebel MLAs as "bodies without souls" which will be sent to the morgue. "We have learnt a lesson on whom to trust....These are the bodies whose souls have died. Their mind is dead....40 bodies will come from Assam and will be sent directly to the morgue for postmortem," Raut had said in an apparent reference to the number of MLAs camping in Guwahati with Shinde while addressing Sena cadres. Pro-Uddhav Thackeray rallies held in Shinde stronghold Thane-Palghar A sizable number of Shiv Sena workers on Sunday bucked the trend seen over the past few days in Thane district, a bastion of rebel MLA Eknath Shinde, by taking out rallies in support of Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. Similar rallies, which were attended by hundreds of men and women workers carrying flags and shouting pro-Thackeray slogans, were also held in Vasai, Virar and some other parts of Palghar, also a stronghold of Shinde. Mumbai: Amid the political turmoil in Maharashtra, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shide spoke to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray about the recent political situation in the state, an MNS leader confirmed on Monday (June 27, 2022). The MNS leader further said that Shinde spoke to Raj Thackeray over the phone twice and also enquired about his health. "Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shide spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the phone twice. Shinde spoke to Thackeray about the recent political situation in Maharashtra and enquired about his health," an MNS leader confirmed. On Sunday, Shinde, who is currently camping in Assam along with other MLAs, lashed out at the party for allegedly supporting the culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for the taking lives of innocent people. Taking to Twitter the rebel MLA said that is why they took such a decision while adding "it is better to die" than follow such a decision. "How can Balasaheb Thackeray`s Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That`s why we took such a step, it`s better to die," Shinde said in a tweet. He further said the rebel MLAs would consider it their destiny even if they had to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva. "Even if we have to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva, we will consider it as our destiny," he added. His remark came after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Raut called the rebel MLAs "living corpses" and said that their "souls are dead". Earlier on Sunday, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that on May 20, Uddhav Thackeray had asked Eknath Shinde to become CM if he wanted to, but at that time he did drama and now just a month later, he rebelled. Meanwhile, Shinde has approached the Supreme Court against the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker against rebel MLAs. The plea also challenges the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena`s legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde. The petitioner, Shinde has sought to issue direction to Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs and also not to take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided. The Deputy Speaker, who is in charge of the House in the absence of the Speaker and has issued the notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner. PM Modi at G7 Summit: US President Joe Biden on Monday walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him at Germanys Schloss Elmau ahead of the G7 Summit 2022. PM Modi and Joe Biden are believed to share an amicable equation and have called each other a dear friend on various occasions. A video released by news agency ANI shows Biden, who was posing with other G7 leaders for a group picture, walking up to PM Modi, who was busy talking to the Canadian PM Justin Trudeau. Biden pats PM Modi in the back to draw his attention. PM Modi then hugs the US President and greets him with a handshake. Watch PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Bidens friendly interaction here! #WATCH | US President Joe Biden walked up to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to greet him ahead of the G7 Summit at Schloss Elmau in Germany. (Source: Reuters) pic.twitter.com/gkZisfe6sl ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022 Apart from Biden, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau at the G7 Summit venue here and briefly interacted with each other ahead of the group photo. Prime Minister Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, was received by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern Germany. Modi is attending the G7 summit held in the Alpine castle of Schloss Elmau in southern Germany following an invitation by German Chancellor Scholz. The summit is being hosted by Germany in its capacity as the chair of G7. In his remarks ahead of his departure, Modi said he was looking forward to meeting leaders of some of the participating G7 and guest countries on the sidelines of the summit. PM Modi on Monday highlighted India's efforts for green growth, clean energy, sustainable lifestyles and global wellbeing, at a G7 summit session here. Prime Minister Modi, who is in Germany on a two-day visit from Sunday for the summit of the G7, was received by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz upon his arrival at Schloss Elmau, the picturesque venue of the summit in southern Germany. (With inputs from agencies) Munich: Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who arrived here on Sunday to attend the G7 summit, will participate in a welcome ceremony at 12:00 PM (local time) by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at Schloss Elmau in Munich, according to the Prime Minister`s itinerary. After meeting with the German Chancellor, there will be a plenary session at 12:30 PM on the topic "Investing in a Better Future: Climate, Energy, Health." Notably, PM Modi's Germany visit is packed with meetings with G7 leaders and partner countries besides holding discussions on issues ranging from environment, and energy, to counter-terrorism. Later, PM Modi will hold meetings with the President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa, Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz, and President of Indonesia Joko Widodo (in that order). The meetings with SA President, the German Chancellor and the Indonesian President are scheduled at 14:15 PM, 14:40 PM and 15:00 PM respectively, as per the itinerary schedule. Post the meetings, there will be a working session at 15:30 PM on the topic - "stronger together: Addressing Food Security and Advancing Gender Equality." Afterwards, Prime Minister Modi will be meeting with the President of the European Union Commission Ursula von der Leyen at 17:15 PM and the Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau at 17:50 PM. On Sunday, the Prime minister met with Argentina President Alberto Fernandez on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Munich, and the two leaders reportedly held talks on bilateral relations between the two countries. Notably, the multifaceted ties between two countries encompass political, economic, cultural, scientific and technological cooperation. India was ranked as the fourth largest trading partner of Argentina in 2021 worth USD 5.7 billion. Also read: Musical welcome, special dinner: Bavaria's GRAND gesture for PM Modi in Germany Upon his arrival, PM Modi was welcomed by a Bavarian band on his arrival in Munich. On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of some of the participating countries. The G7 Summit invitation is in keeping with the tradition of strong and close partnership and high-level political contacts between India and Germany. PM Modi holds productive meeting with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a productive meeting with Argentinian President Alberto Fernandez on the sidelines of the G7 Summit and reviewed the full range of the bilateral ties. During the meeting, they discussed various issues like trade and investment, defence cooperation, agriculture, climate action and food security. This was the first bilateral meeting between the two leaders. They reviewed progress in implementing the bilateral Strategic Partnership established in 2019. The Prime Minister Tweeted, "Reviewed the full range of the India-Argentina friendship during the very productive meeting with President @alferdez in Munich. Stronger cooperation between our nations will greatly benefit our people." "Accelerating friendship with Argentina. PM @narendramodi held talks with President @alferdez in Munich. The two leaders discussed ways to deepen commercial and cultural linkages between India and Argentina," the Prime Minister's Office said in a tweet on Modi's first bilateral meeting on his two-nation tour. Discussions took place on various issues including trade and investment; South-South cooperation, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector; climate action, renewable energy, nuclear medicine, electric mobility, defence cooperation, agriculture and food security, traditional medicine, cultural cooperation, as well as coordination in international bodies, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. Both sides agreed to enhance their bilateral engagement in these sectors, it said. After attending the G7 Summit, the Prime Minister will be travelling to United Arab Emirates (UAE) while coming back to India on June 28, 2022, to pay his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former UAE President and Abu Dhabi Ruler. PM Modi will also congratulate Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as the new President of UAE. This will be PM Modi`s first meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan since his election as the new President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. (With ANI/PTI Inputs) When people are in danger, they seek help from police. But what if they are in danger? The name of the danger is rats. Deadly violence by rats inside the police station. So the police deployed a cat-force at the police station to escape from them. The incident took place at Gauribidanur rural police station in Karnataka, about 80 km from Bengaluru city. The Gauribidanur police station came up in 2014. According to police sources, since the construction of this station, there has been a lot of responsibility for the violence of rats. Several important documents have also been destroyed by rats. Despite many attempts, the policemen did not escape the danger. The police pushed two cats at the police station to get rid of the problem. Speaking to a news agency, Sub-Inspector Vijay Kumar of Gauribidanur police station said, "there is a water body not far from the station. That's why the number of rats inside the station is high. After first petting a cat, the origin of the rat decreases quite a bit. After that, we brought another cat. The cats have killed three rats so far." Vijay Kumar also said that the two cats have now become like their family members. Incidentally, many departments in Karnataka spend a lot of money every year to survive the rat menace. According to government data, the state government spent around Rs 20 lakh on this sector between 2010 and 2015. HPBOSE 10th Result 2022: The Himachal Pradesh Board of School Education (HPBOSE) will soon release the HPBOSE 10th Result 2022. According to reports, the HPBOSE Class 10th result 2022 is expected to be released by the end of June (by June 30). However, the date and time of the HPBOSE class 10th result have not yet been released. HPBOSE 10th Result 2022 will be available on the official website, hpbose.org, once it is released. Almost 2 lakh students took the HPBOSE 10th and 12th exams. The HPBOSE Class 10th board exams were held between March 26 and April 13, 2022. HPBOSE class 10 results: Heres how to check the scorecards Visit the official website hpbose.org On the homepage, go to the 'Student's Corner' and select Result tab Click on the link to check HP Board Class 10th Result 2022 New page will appear on the screen Submit your credentials and login The HPBOSE 10th result 2022 will be displayed on the screen Download the HP Board Class 10th Result 2022 and take its printout for further use. On Saturday, June 18, 2022, the HPBOSE released the Class 12th Result 2022. In the Arts stream, girls outperformed boys. Girls took all ten of the top positions in the Arts stream. The HPBOSE Class 10 term 1 exam results were released in February on the organization's official website, hpbose.org. ALSO READ: TN 11th Result 2022: Tamil Nadu board class 11th result DECLARED at tnresults.nic.in, direct LINK to check scorecard here This year, 1.16 lakh students took the Class 10 exam 2022, which was completed on April 13. The minimum passing grade is 30%. The HP board announced that 99.7 percent of students passed the exam in 2021. Srinagar: Two unidentified militants were killed on Monday (June 27, 2022) in an ongoing encounter in Nowpora-Kharpora Trubji area of the Kulgam district in South Kashmir. The encounter started earlier today and so far, the bodies of two terrorists have been recovered from the encounter site. ''01 more terrorist killed (Total 02). Operation going on. Further details shall follow,'' said Jammu and Kashmir Police in a tweet. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation at Nowpora-Kherpora in the Trubji area of the district following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. The identification of the terrorists is yet to be done. Security forces believe there could be more terrorists hiding in the area. A joint operation of Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and Army was started after a tip-off was recovered about the presence of terrorists in the area. During the search operation, terrorists fired upon security forces resulting in a Gan battle. Meanwhile, there have been over 70 encounters in the Kashmir Valley this year resulting in the death of 120 terrorists. Among the 120 terrorists killed, 33 were foreigners mostly Pakistanis, 16 security personnel and 19 civilians too had lost their lives in various terror-related incidents. Jammu and Kashmir Police arrested 46 active terrorists and 192 over the groundworkers were also arrested this year in the Kashmir valley. Tripura was chosen by the party leadership (Tripura Bypolls Result) to spread roots outside Bengal. A team of poll strategist Prashant Kishor also went to survey the land for them. Abhishek Banerjee himself has gone there. Even after that, the Trinamool (TMC) could not open its account in Tripura in the assembly by-election. The results of the four bypoll constituencies of Agartala, Baddawali, Yuvrajnagar and Surma were released on Sunday. The BJP has won three of these seats. The Agartala constituency has gone to The Congressman Sudip Roy Barman. In all the four constituencies, the Trinamool (TMC in Tripura) finished at number four. In the Tripura by-election, the Trinamool's vote share is said to be 1,333. That is, in every center, their security deposit has been forfeited. On this, the TMC camp, especially the party's all-India secretary Abhishek Banerjee, has come under fire. Congress leader Pawan Khera said, "Narendra Modi and Abhishek Banerjee are dreaming of a Congress-free India. I don't know if they are dreaming together or Abhishek separately learning from Modi. But Abhishek Banerjee is still new. There's a lot to learn in politics. Neither the dream of a Congress-free Tripura will be realised, nor a Congress-free Bengal, nor a Congress-free India." Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar also lashed out at him. He said, " Banglay vote loot, Tripuray here BHOOT (Vote loot in Bengal but, become ghost in Tripura). Bengal's leader of the opposition, Shubendu Adhikari said, "In Bengal, the Trinamool won the vote by rigging, so it could not make an advantage by going to Tripura." However, Trinamool's state secretary-cum-spokesperson in Bengal, Kunal Ghosh, responded to them. He claimed that the BJP, the Left and the Congress have joined hands and tried to stop the Trinamool. However, this result does not matter, the Trinamool will be determined to win in Tripura in the coming days also, said Abhishek Himself. When asked about the results of the day, Abhishek said, "Congratulations to all those who have won. Trinamool workers have been beaten up and lying on the ground. He didn't leave an inch of land. Through the media, I will say to the people of Tripura that thanks to those who voted, even those who did not. We will continue to work the same way with your demands in the coming days. Whether it takes six months or six years, or 10 years, the Trinamool will not give up the ground until democracy is re-established in Tripura. Those who supported, those who did not, we will continue to fight in the days to come in the interest of all." The Trinamool had also jumped in with all its might in the assembly bypolls after the municipal elections in Tripura. Abhishek himself campaigned for the 2023 assembly elections. However, out of the four assembly constituencies in the by-election, the Trinamool got 2 per cent votes in Agartala, 3 per cent in Town Baradwali, about 3.5 per cent in Surma and about 3 per cent in Yuvrajnagar. TMC chief Mamata Banerjee today lashed out at Modi government over the ED summons sent to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut. The West Bengal Chief Minister alleged that BJP-led federal government at the Centre works against people who are "speaking the truth". Slamming the Centre, Banerjee claimed that ordinary people are being "tormented" under the BJP and as a result several lakhs of people, including businessmen have left the country."BJP is doing whatever it wants to do ... It is using central agencies like CBI and the ED against those who are speaking the truth," she said at a programme here. She had made the same charge on a number of occasions in the past. Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, said, "Today I saw that a Shiv Sena leader in Maharashtra (Sanjay Rout) has been summoned by the ED. Why will it (BJP) torment ordinary people like this? Is this the way to run a democracy?" "Several lakhs of people and businessmen have left the country in the last few years," she claimed. "You can check this with the passport and visa offices." The ED has summoned Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, on Tuesday at its office in the western metropolis for questioning in a money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friends. New Delhi: As political turmoil continues to grip the Maharashtra government, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday (June 27, 2022) said that the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government won`t fall. While talking to the reporters, the Maharashtra minister said, "We are confident of winning. We have all love with us. Those who betray don`t win. Those who run away don`t win." In a jolt to Uddhav Thackeray camp, Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant joined the party rebels led by Eknath Shinde at Guwahati. Aaditya Thackeray also sought to play down Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant joining rebel faction led by Eknath Shinde and said, "it is his decision". "It is his decision. But he will come before us someday, he will have to look us in the eye someday. Let`s see," Aaditya Thackeray said. Additionally, Aaditya Thackeray that he is aware of their strength and anger. Aaditya said that when the Chief Minister was hospitalised, the rebel MLAs "sold themselves". I can understand your zeal & strength, can even notice your anger. I've been visiting & interacting with Shivsainiks & I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing that the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena, the Maharashtra minister said. I can understand your zeal & strength, can even notice your anger. I've been visiting & interacting with Shivsainiks & I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing that the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena: Aaditya Thackeray to Shivsainiks,in Mumbai pic.twitter.com/MDeJqgAhZD ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022 When the CM was hospitalised, they (rebel MLAs) sold themselves. I would like to ask them, is there no humanity left? We trusted them, said Aaditya Thackeray to Shivsainiks in Byculla, Mumbai. Both the Shiv Sena and the rebel group have been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state Governor that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. (With agency inputs) Mumbai: With the Centre providing Y-plus security to Maharashtra's rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, the party on Monday claimed it was now evident that the BJP was "pulling the strings" amid the current political turmoil in the state. An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' likened the rebel Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde to "big bulls", and alleged that they have been "sold" for Rs 50 crore. The Centre on Sunday extended Y-plus security cover of CRPF commandos to at least 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, officials earlier said. Those who were provided the security cover include Ramesh Bornare, Mangesh Kudalkar, Sanjay Shirsat, Latabai Sonawane, Prakas Surve and 10 others. Their families living in Maharashtra will also be secured, the officials had said. About four to five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) commandos, in shifts, will be securing each MLA once they are in Maharashtra, they added. The editorial in 'Saamana' said, "Finally, the BJP has been unmasked. They were saying the rebellion in the Shiv Sena was an internal matter." "But, in the darkness of the night, uber rich Ekdas (Eknath) Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis (the Leader of the Opposition) met in Vadodara. Even Union Home Minister Amit Shah was present for the meeting," it claimed. The Centre immediately accorded Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs after the meeting, as if they are the "protectors of democracy", the Marathi publication said. Does the Centre fear that the MLAs will return to their party fold after coming back to the state? it asked. "It is now evident that the BJP at the Centre and in the state have written the script for these actors (rebel MLAs) and are pulling the strings and directing the entire play," the editorial said. The BJP's "treason" against Maharashtra has been exposed by providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs, it claimed. The Sena further said providing Y-plus security to the rebel MLAs by citing a threat to their life, is like encroaching upon the rights of the state, and this is not the first example of the Centre's "autocratic" behaviour. Shinde had last week sent a letter to Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and state Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil, saying the security of the families of rebel MLAs was withdrawn. The Sena said Walse Patil has clarified that the security cover of the families of rebel MLAs has not been removed. "Even if it was removed, it could not have been saying this was done due to exact political revenge. But, the state government did not resort to such cruel behaviour," it said. A majority of Shiv Sena MLAs have shifted their loyalty to Eknath Shinde and are currently camping in Assam's Guwahati city, plunging the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by CM Uddhav Thackeray, who heads the Shiv Sena, into a crisis. The Maharashtra legislature secretariat on Saturday issued 'summons' to 16 of the rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, including Shinde, seeking written replies by June 27 evening to complaints seeking their disqualification. New Delhi: Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Monday (June 27, 2022) handed over portfolios of nine rebel ministers, who are currently camping with Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde in Guwahati, to other ministers. The portfolios of the rebel ministers were being handed over to other ministers for ease of administration, an official statement said. "Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray has decided to hand over the portfolios of five absent ministers and four ministers of state to other ministers to ensure smooth functioning of the public interest and to ensure smooth functioning of the department in case of heavy rains and calamities," a statement by the Public Relations Room, Chief Minister's Secretariat, said. The Shiv Sena now has four cabinet ministers, including CM Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, Anil Parab, and Subhash Desai. Barring Aaditya Thackeray, the rest three are MLCs. In the tripartite Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government led by the Sena, the Uddhav Thackeray-led party had 10 Cabinet-rank ministers before the rebellion and four Ministers of State (MoS), including two from the Sena quota. Nine Maharashtra ministers have so far joined the rebel camp led by Eknath Shinde in Guhawati. (With agency inputs) Burdwan: Hours after Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Rout was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday alleged that the BJP-led federal government at the Centre against people who are "speaking the truth". Banerjee claimed that ordinary people are being "tormented" under the BJP and as a result several lakhs of people, including businessmen have left the country. "BJP is doing whatever it wants to do ... It is using central agencies like CBI and the ED against those who are speaking the truth," she said at a programme here. She had made the same charge on a number of occasions in the past. Banerjee, who is also the TMC supremo, said, "Today I saw that a Shiv Sena leader in Maharashtra (Sanjay Rout) has been summoned by the ED. Why will it (BJP) torment ordinary people like this? Is this the way to run a democracy? "Several lakhs of people and businessmen have left the country in the last few years," she claimed. "You can check this with the passport and visa offices." The ED has summoned Raut, a Rajya Sabha MP, on Tuesday at its office in the western metropolis for questioning in a money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl' and other related financial transactions involving his wife and friends. New Delhi: After the Enforcement Directorate on Monday (June 27, 2022) issued summons to Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, Maharashtra minister and party leader Aaditya Thackeray said that this is not politics anymore. While reacting to the summons and targeting the Centre over it, Aaditya Thackeray said, "This is not politics, this has now become a circus." This is not politics, this has now become a circus: Maharashtra Minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on ED summon to Sanjay Raut pic.twitter.com/Rz8oG0BY5X ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022 Additionally, Aaditya Thackeray threw another dare at rebel Shiv Sena leaders to come face to face and tell him what's wrong with the government. Aaditya Thackeray called the Shinde camp "traitors, not rebels", and said, Those who ran away from here & are calling themselves rebels, if they wanted to rebel, they should've done it here. They should've resigned and contested election. The second floor test would be when they sit before me, look me in the eye and say what did we do wrong. #WATCH | "We are confident of winning. We have all love with us. Those who betray don't win. Those who run away don't win," says Maharashtra minister and Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray when asked how confident is he that the MVA govt won't fall. pic.twitter.com/CCg2SZhjJO ANI (@ANI) June 27, 2022 On the other hand, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut termed the ED summons issued to him as a "conspiracy" to stop him from fighting against their political opponents, and said he will not be able to appear before the agency on Tuesday as he has to attend a meeting in Alibaug. Raut, who is the Shiv Sena's chief spokesperson, also said that even if he is killed, he will not resort to the "Guwahati route" taken by rebel MLAs from Maharashtra. The development comes as the Shiv Sena battles rebellion from a group of its MLAs, putting a question mark on the future of Maharashtra's Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Rebel Shiv Sena legislators, who were first taken to Surat, are now camping in Guwahati. Raut in a tweet said, "I just came to know that the ED has summoned me. Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route." "Arrest me ! Jai Hind!" he added. In his tweet in Marathi, he also tagged BJP leader Devendra Fadnavis. Later, talking to reporters, Raut said, "I cannot go tomorrow as I have to attend a public meeting in Alibaug, and I will attend it." (With agency inputs) New Delhi: The July 18 presidential election is much more than a personal contest and is a step towards resisting the authoritarian streak of the government, the Opposition's candidate Yashwant Sinha said on Sunday as he ruled out withdrawing from the race. In an interview with news agency PTI, Sinha said he was not in any 'dharma sankat' over not getting the support of his son and BJP MP Jayant Sinha. "...He follows his 'Raj Dharma', I will follow my 'Rashtra Dharma'," he said. "This election is more than merely the election of the president of India. This election is a step towards resisting the authoritarian policies of the government. This election is a message to the people of India that there should be resistance to these policies," he told PTI. ALSO READ | Droupadi Murmu vs Yashwant Sinha: Political careers of 2022 Presidential candidates On the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) nominating Droupadi Murmu, a tribal leader, for the presidential election, the former Union minister said elevating an individual does not ensure the elevation of the whole community and the BJP's projection of Murmu was nothing more than political symbolism. "From my long experience of public life, (I can say) the elevation of one individual does not elevate the whole community. The whole community's elevation depends on the policies followed by the government. Without commenting on it further, I would say that there are various examples in our own history where the elevation of one individual in a community has not necessarily helped to pull up that community even by an inch. This is more symbolic and nothing more," he said. Presidential contest much bigger than personal fight Sinha said the contest is much bigger than merely his personal fight and unless the people wake up and the whole system is reformed, "we will not be able to see light at the end of the tunnel". "Our democracy, our Constitution are threatened and all values of freedom struggle are under threat... So India is threatened and they have to rise to protect India," he said, adding that he personally thinks that people come out on the streets only when the political system starts to fail. "Polity of our country today is afflicted with so many weaknesses that people are being forced to come out on the streets. In a democracy, that is not how things should happen," he noted. Rashtrapati Bhavan needs more than a 'rubber stamp' occupant Noting that the Rashtrapati Bhavan needs more than a "rubber stamp" occupant, he recalled how such presidents had behaved on some occasions in the past. "So that would be a catastrophe if we had another rubber stamp at the Rashtrapati Bhavan," he said. Sinha, who was part of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led NDA cabinet, said, if elected, he would put an immediate end to the "misuse" of government agencies as a tool to target political opponents and will ensure that justice and fairness prevail. This is the text of my letter to the leaders of all Opposition Parties thanking them for choosing me as their common candidate for the Presidential Election 2022. I am truly honoured. Defending the Constitution is our solemn promise, pledge and commitment. pic.twitter.com/kKWeWT78PD Yashwant Sinha (@YashwantSinha) June 24, 2022 With the numbers stacked clearly in favour of the NDA nominee, Sinha claimed he would get the support of certain "invisible forces" between now and the polling date and asserted that there was no question of withdrawing from the contest. "I personally feel that there will be developments between now and July 18 which will go in my favour. I will get support from 'adrishya shaktiyan' (invisible forces)," he said. Asked if he was considering withdrawing from the race, he said, "Absolutely not. The word withdraw does not exist in my lexicon." "...When you go into an ideological battle, then numbers become less important. And just because of fear of losing, I don't think any serious fighter should withdraw from the battle," he said. Sinha said there were no cracks in the Opposition ranks. With so many Opposition parties coming together to have their joint consensus candidate, it is a good beginning for the Opposition going forward. Asked about his message to the electoral college, he said, "We have talked about the prevailing situation in the country and very unwelcome developments which have taken place in the last eight years... How democracy has been diminished and how democratic institutions have been compromised and there appears to be no resistance to a rampaging state." "The investigative agencies of the government have never been so blatantly misused for political purposes as today...," he said, claiming that there is not one case against any BJP leader as if all corrupt are on the Opposition side and no one is corrupt on the BJP side. He said the way Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi are being treated is an eye-opener. Sinha referred to his questioning at his residence by investigation agencies in a hawala case and said the case later did not stand in court. "We felt even at that time that cases were politically motivated. But, today there is no other way except to consider that these are political cases. The surprising thing is that no case comes to fruition and we forget them after a while. "It has become a political tool. I have no hesitation in saying that many people who are jumping on to the other side (of politics) are actually scared of the CBI, ED. They may have been threatened...," he said. Sinha has already reached out to several opposition parties and the BJP seeking their support for him. "My victory... Will not only take me to Rashtrapati Bhavan, but it will put an end to this mischievous action on the part of the government. I would like to assure all of them who are scared of the government because of the ED, CBI, etc., they will have to wait only until July 18 and if I were to win immediately everything will come to an end, and fairness and justice will prevail," he asserted. Yashwant Sinha files his nomination papers Sinha on Monday (June 27) filed his nomination papers in the presence of a host of Opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge, Sharad Pawar and Akhikesh Yadav. Opposition's Presidential polls candidate Yashwant Sinha files his nomination at the Parliament in Delhi pic.twitter.com/2BGztPZwmB June 27, 2022 He will launch his campaign from June 28 and is likely to start from Chennai in Tamil Nadu. He will cover the southern states of Kerala and Karnataka in the first round before moving to the north. Punjab Board Results 2022: The Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) was about to declare the class 12 results today via press conference at 3 pm. However according to latest media reports due to some administrative reasons, the result declaration has been postponed by a day and now it will be announced tomorrow 28 June 2022. Students will be able to check scores at the official website pseb.ac.in, whenever the board will release the result. It is important to note that the PSEB Class 12 Term 2 Exam was from April 22, 2022, to May 23, 2022. This year, the Board has declared the PSEB 10th Result 2022 for Term 1 exams on May 18, 2022. Meanwhile, the Punjab Board PSEB 12th Result 2022 Term 1 was declared on May 11, 2022. PSEB 12th Term 2 Results 2022: Websites to check your result - pseb.ac.in - punjab.idairesults.com - results.nic.in Punjab Board Term 2 Result 2022: Here is how you can check your result - Visit the Punjab School Education Board's official website at pseb.ac.in. - Click on the link that says "PSEB 10th Result 2022" or "PSEB 12th Results 2022" on the homepage. - Enter your login information, such as your roll number. - Now select the submit option. - Your PSEB Class 10, 12, and 13 Results will appear on the screen. - Download the results and print the grade sheet for future reference. Punjab Board 12th Result 2022: Here is how you can download your digital marksheet PSEB 12th Result 2022 will be published by the Punjab School Examination Board digitally through the official website - pseb.ac.in. Punjab Class 12 Result 2022 will be available to the students in the form of a digital scorecard that will consist of marks scored by them in each subject along with their personal details such as candidates name, exam roll number, date of birth and other details. The PSEB 12th Result 2022 marksheet being issued to the students will consist of following details: - Exam Roll number - Candidates name - Candidates Father's name - Candidates Category - Total marks scored in all subjects - Subjects and subject-wise marks scored by students - Marks obtained in theory and practical - Registration number - Mother's name - Stream In case, any errors or discrepancies are found in the details provided on the Punjab 12th Result 2022 marksheet, students are advised to reach out to the Punjab Board and get the same corrected at the earliest. For more check here for live updates on Punjab board results 2022: PSEB 12th Result 2022 LIVE updates Amid the row over the National Herald case, allegations of rape have been levelled against Congress President Sonia Gandhi's personal assistant PP Madhavan. The complaint was lodged at Delhi's Uttam Nagar police station on Saturday, according to various media reports. However, the veracity of those reports has not been verified by Zee News. According to police sources, a 26-year-old Dalit woman has filed a rape complaint against Sonia Gandhi's assistant. In her complaint, the woman claimed that she used to work in the Congress office in Delhi. Her husband died in 2020. The complainant told the police that she was raped with the promise of a job and marriage. She also alleged that the accused threatened that the consequences would not be good if the incident is brought to light. She further alleged, "He took me to an isolated location near the Uttam Nagar metro station and forced me inside his car. In February 2022, he took me to a flat in Sundar Nagar and forced me without my consent," Dwarka Deputy Commissioner of Police M Harsh Vardhan said, "A complaint of rape and criminal engagement has been lodged at Uttam Nagar police station. We're looking into it." However, the DCP did not take the name of any political leader while giving the name of the person against whom the allegations are being made. Delhi Police sources claimed in the media that allegations of rape have been made against Sonia Gandhi's 71-year-old assistant Madhavan. Mumbai: Amid the ongoing political rebellion in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for questioning in a money laundering case in connection with the re-development of Mumbai`s Patra Chawl case and said that he would "seek time". Earlier today, Raut was summoned by the anti-corruption agency pertaining to a money-laundering case but Raut refused to attend the interrogation claiming that he wants to stay with the party, for now, ANI reported. He said that he prefers to stay with the party in the time of crisis and will seek time from Enforcement Directorate. However, the Shiv Sena leader assured that he will go to ED soon and seek some other day. "I knew ED is going to summon me, I wont kneel down. No matter what the rebel MLAs do, I will not go to Guwahati. I am Balasaheb`s Shiv Sainik and I will stay with my party. I will not appear before the ED tomorrow. I will seek time from ED, but will definitely go after some time," Raut said addressing the media persons. Raut also alleged that the ED summon was a conspiracy to prevent him from supporting his party during a crisis as over 40 Shiv Sena leaders turned against the current MVA alliance and have been camping in Assam against Uddhav Thackeray. Asserting that he would not attend ED summon, Raut said that even if he is beheaded, he "will not take the Guwahati route." The development comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra in which rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are camping in Guwahati. In April this year, the ED had also attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut`s wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibaug, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar, in connection with the redevelopment scam. Swapna is the wife of Sujit Patkar, who is a close associate of the Sena leader. Politics has become a circus: Aditya Thackeray Meanwhile, Maharashtras Tourism Minister and Uddhav Thackerays son Aditya said on ED summon to close aide Raut said that this has become a circus now. Targeting the Centre over it, Aaditya Thackeray said, "This is not politics, this has now become a circus." Aaditya Thackeray threw another dare at rebel Shiv Sena leaders to come face to face and tell him what's wrong with the government. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut was summoned by the Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday (June 28) in connection with a money laundering case. Earlier, ED had attached eight land parcels in Alibaug and a flat in Mumbai's Dadar suburb linked to his family under the anti-money laundering law. Sanjay Raut, at the time, was unaffected by ED's actions against him in a money laundering probe linked to the re-development of a Mumbai 'chawl'. He had said that he is not scared even if the central agencies seize all his property or send him to jail in connection with a money laundering case against him and that he is a "true Shiv Sainik" and will continue to fight against all odds no matter what. Also Read: Maha Political Crisis Live Updates: Shiv Sena's new Legislature Party leader arrives at Vidhan Bhavan Stressing that truth will prevail at the last, Raut said, I'm not one to get scared, seize my property, shoot me, or send me to jail. Calling himself a Balasaheb Thackeray follower & a true Shiv Sainik, Raut said that he'll "fight and expose everyone.'' I'm not one to stay quiet, let them dance. The truth will prevail eventually," the Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP said. The ED summon comes at a politically disturbed time for Raut's party Shiv Sena as it faces rebellion by a group of MLAs led by Eknath Shinde. The Eknath Shinde camp is trying to breakaway from the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA). The ED in April provisionally attached assets worth more than Rs 11.15 crore of Raut's wife Varsha Raut and two of his associates as part of this investigation. (With PTI inputs) Live TV Mumbai: Maharashtra Tourism Minister and CM Uddhav Thackerays son Aaditya Thackeray on Monday claimed 15 to 20 Shiv Sena MLAs, who are with Eknath Shindes rebel camp are in touch with Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. Thackeray also claimed that they are lodged in the hotel like prisoners and want to come back, PTI reported. The Sena has claimed some legislators have been kidnapped or forcibly taken by the rebel camp. Around 15-20 MLAs are in touch with us. Their situation is like that of a prisoner. They call me and Shiv Sainiks and urged us to bring them back from Guwahati, PTI quoted Thackeray as saying. Addressing Shiv Sena workers in Karjat, on the outskirts of Mumbai, Thackeray, who has been doing firefighting to save the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, which the rebel camp is protesting against, said every Shiv Sainik is seeing the current situation as an opportunity and not as a problem. The dirt has gone away. Now we can do something good, Thackeray said, referring to the rebel MLAs. The Shiv Sena leader also said before the June 21 revolt there were murmurs that some developments will take place in the party, which heads the MVA that also comprises of the NCP and the Congress. Shiv Sena rebellion A majority of the Sena MLAs, including nine ministers, have rebelled against the party, threatening the existence of the two-and-a-half-year old government. Eknath Shinde has claimed the support of more than three dozen Sena MLAs out of the total 55. Slamming the Sena strongman from Thane without taking his name, Thackeray said some leaders were blindly trusted and the sad part is such people were promoted in the organization continuously. He said the MLAs leaving the parties was like "cleaning the 'nullahs' and garbage before the onset of monsoon". Sanjay Raut summoned by ED Meanwhile, Shiv Sena leader and Uddhav Thackerays confidant Sanjay Raut was summoned by ED in connection to a money-laundering case amid the political rebellion in the party. However, Raut clarified that he wont be attending the summon and will seek another date for interrogation from the anti-corruption body. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: Congress interim president Sonia Gandhis 71-year-old personal secretary PP Madhavan has been booked for allegedly raping a Dalit woman in the national capital, IANS reported quoting a senior police officer said on Monday. Deputy Commissioner of Police, M Harsh Wardhan said a complaint was received at Uttam Nagar police station on June 25. Accordingly, a case was registered under sections 376 (Punishment for rape) and 506 (Punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code. So far no arrest has been made in the case. "We are investigating the allegations levelled by the victim woman," the DCP said. The police did not reveal the name of the accused, however, informed that he is a 71-year-old person working as a PS to the senior political leader. However, as per the FIR registered at the Uttam Nagar police station, accessed by IANS, the woman has alleged that she was raped by Madhavan on the pretext of marriage and a job. The woman in her complaint said that she used to accompany her husband to the Congress office in Delhi where her husband worked in installation of hoardings. She said that her husband died in 2020 after which she several times went to the Congress office for a job and finally met Madhavan there, who promised to employ her and a few days later took her interview. "He became more friendly with me and told me that he is a divorcee and would like to marry me. Even I said yes as I was also alone and devastated," the FIR copy written in Hindi read. The woman alleged that she was raped in the month of February and later learnt that Madhavan is still married. "He also told me once to get into a physical relationship with some other man," she alleged. The woman also alleged that she was threatened with dire consequences after she was repeatedly called the accused. (Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Zee News staff and is published from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department on Monday (June 27, 2022) said that the monsoon rains are expected to pick up over northwest and central India over the next two days. IMD said that the Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into most parts of Arabian Sea and most parts of Gujarat state today. The Met Office also said that over the next three to four days, the monsoon could cover parts of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir. Conditions are favorable for further advance of monsoon into remaining parts of Arabian Sea & Gujarat, parts of Rajasthan, remaining parts Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, some more parts of Uttar Pradesh and some parts of Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir during next 3-4 days, weather department said. Due to east-west trough over north India and moist winds from BoB & Arabian Sea over northern parts of the country in lower tropospheric levels: Isolated heavy rainf over West Rajasthan on 01st July; over Uttarakhand on 30th; over East Rajasthan on 27th & 28th; ...1/9 pic.twitter.com/ulGr3P2yip India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) June 27, 2022 Even though the IMD is yet to provide a tentative date for the arrival of the monsoon in Delhi, the weather office said it will cover some parts of northwest India by June 29 and the entire country by July 6. IMDs rainfall prediction: - Southwest Monsoon has further advanced into most parts of Arabian Sea & most parts of Gujarat state today. - Isolated heavy rainfall is likely over West Rajasthan on 01st July; over Uttarakhand on 30th; over East Rajasthan on 27th & 28th. - Fairly widespread to widespread rain with isolated heavy rainfall & thunderstorm/lightning very likely over Northeast India and SHWB & Sikkim during next 5 days. - Isolated heavy to very heavy rainfall also likely over Sub-Himalayan West Bengal during 27th-29th June. Delhi monsoon around the corner The weather experts on Monday said that the monsoon is just a few days away from Delhi and is expected to yield good rainfall in the first 10 days. We expect good rainfall for the first two to three days this time," Palawat said, adding that the first 10 days "seem to be good and on and off rain will continue". "There could be a dip in rainfall on July 2-3, but a prolonged dry spell is ruled out," he added. Heavy rainfall in Uttarakhand The Meteorological Department of Uttarakhand on Sunday issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in the state till Wednesday."There may be heavy rain in other areas of Kumaon division including Bageshwar, Pithoragarh on Sunday, while strong winds at a speed of 30 to 40 kilometres per hour will also occur in the plains," noted Bikram Singh, Director of the Meteorological Department. Thunderstorm, lightning likely in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry IMD regional centre has forecast thunderstorms and lightning in Tamil Nadu and parts of Puducherry on Monday. Light to moderate rains are expected in many parts of Tamil Nadu in the coming two days and fishermen are advised not to venture into the sea till Tuesday. Chennai and surrounding areas had received moderate to heavy rains during the past few days and the state water works department has already commenced maintenance of canals to prevent water logging. Light to medium rains is likely in parts of Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Karaikkal. Temperature rises in parts of Rajasthan Parts of Rajasthan witnessed a rise in day temperatures on Sunday with Jalore being the hottest place in the state with a high of 46.2 degrees Celsius, according to the meteorological department. The weather remained dry in the state. A meteorological department official said rain activity will likely resume in Kota, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Jaipur and Ajmer divisions from June 28. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: We cant keep calm! Newlywed couple Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor are expecting their first child together. The actress took to Instagram to share the happy news with her fans. In the photo Alia can be seen lying on a bed and Ranbir is sitting next to her. Both of them are glued to the screen that shows the ultrasonography of their upcoming baby. To express her emotions, animal lover Alia shared a second photo of a lion and lioness with their cub. Our baby .. coming soon, Alia captioned her post along with an infinity, red heart and stars emoji. Alia and Ranbir tied the knot in an intimate ceremony on April 14 this year from RKs residence in Bandra. The couple had been dating for five years before getting hitched. The two are head over heels in love with each other and always have the sweetest things to say about one another. After her wedding ceremony, Alia took to Instagram to share photos from her D-Day and wrote a loving note that read, Today, surrounded by our family and friends, at home in our favourite spot - the balcony weve spent the last 5 years of our relationship - we got married. With so much already behind us, we cant wait to build more memories together memories that are full of love, laughter, comfortable silences, movie nights, silly fights, wine delights and Chinese bites. Thank you for all the love and light during this very momentous time in our lives. It has made this moment all the more special. Love, Ranbir and Alia. On the work front, both Alia and Ranbir are swamped with upcoming projects. Ranbir will next be seen in Shamshera. He also has much awaited Ajan Mukerjis Brahamastra releasing this year. The movie also stars Alia Bhatt. The actor also recently finished shooting for Luv Ranjans untitled next. Alia is currently busy shooting for her Hollywood debut Heart of Stone that also stars Gal Gadot. She also has Karan Johars Rocky Aur Rani Ki prem Kahani opposite Ranveer Singh and she will also star in her maiden production film Darlings that also stars Shefali Shah. NEW DELHI: Actress Alia Bhatt has praised Neetu Kapoor's latest film 'JugJugg Jeeyo' and has called her mother-in-law's performance "mind-blowing". Alia took to her Instagram story and shared the poster of 'JugJugg Jeeyo' and praised her mother-in-law's performance. In the caption with heart emojis, she wrote: "Full on entertainer!! Laughed, cried, clapped and cheered. @neetu54 you are just mindblowing. @anilskapoor you had us laughing all the time. @varundvn you're a star. @kiaraaliaadvani you've made me cryyy. @raj_a_mehta always hitting it out of the park!" 'JugJugg Jeeyo' revolves around marital issues, divorce, and complications in relationships. It marks Neetu's return to acting after nine years. She was last seen in the 2013 release 'Besharam' alongside her son Ranbir Kapoor and late husband Rishi Kapoor. On the work front, Alia will next be seen in 'Brahmastra' opposite her husband Ranbir. NEW DELHI: Actor Jacqueline Fernandez on Monday appeared before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for a fresh round of questioning and recording her statement in a money laundering case linked to alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and others, officials said. The agency had in April provisionally attached Rs 7.27 crore funds of the Bollywood actor under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The 36-year-old actor has been questioned two-three times by the agency in the said case earlier. The actor was issued fresh summons for recording of her statement on Monday as the agency is tracing the remaining proceeds of crime in this case, officials said. A provisional order was issued against her for attaching fixed deposits worth Rs 7.12 crore apart from Rs 15 lakh cash as the agency called these funds as 'proceeds of crime'. "Sukesh Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crore to Jacqueline Fernandez from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion." "Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long time associate and co-accused in this case to deliver the said gifts to her," the ED had then said in a statement. In addition to these gifts, it said, Chandrasekhar also gave "funds to the tune of USD 1,72,913 (about Rs 1.3 crore as per current exchange rate) and AUD 26740 (approx. Rs 14 lakh) to the close family members of Fernandez out of the proceeds of crime through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well known international hawala operator." The agency said its probe found that Chandrasekhar had "delivered cash to the tune of Rs 15 lakh to a script writer on behalf of Fernandez as advance for writing a script of her webseries project." Fernandez is a Sri Lankan national and she made her debut in the Hindi film industry in 2009. The ED has alleged that Chandrashekhar used illegal money to purchase gifts for Fernandez which he had extorted by cheating high-profile people including former Fortis Healthcare promoter Shivinder Mohan Singh's wife Aditi Singh. He is alleged to have conned Aditi Singh and her sister by impersonating as the Union home secretary and also as the Law secretary over phone. The ED said its investigation found that a person 'was contacting people spoofing calls to dupe them as the numbers reflecting on their phone were from government officers and he claimed to be a government officer offering to help people for a price.' "Adopting this modus operandi, the said person contacted Aditi Singh, wife of Shivinder Mohan Singh, by impersonating himself as Union home secretary, Union law secretary, officer from prime ministers office (PMO) and other junior officials and extorted more than Rs 200 crore from her over a period of one year on the pretext of contribution to party funds." "The said person was conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar who was running his illegal extortion business from central jail in Delhi (Tihar jail) in connivance with jail officials," the ED said. The actor told the ED, in her statement recorded in August and October last year, that she "received" gifts like three designer bags from Gucci, Chanel, two Gucci outfits for gym wear, a pair of Louis Vuitton shoes, two pairs of diamond earrings and a bracelet of multi-coloured stones and two Hermes bracelets from Chandrashekhar. Fernandez further said she returned a Mini Cooper car which she had similarly received. The agency found in its probe that Chandrashekhar was in 'regular contact' with Fernandez since February till he got arrested on August 7 last year (by the Delhi Police). The ED has arrested a total of eight people in this case till now including Chandrshekhar, his wife Leena Maria Paul, Irani and others and has also field two charge sheets before a Delhi court. Live TV NEW DELHI: Kamaal Rashid Khan, an actor and self-proclaimed film critic on Monday (June 27) mocked film producer Karan Johar over actress Alia Bhatt's pregnancy. KRK, who often lands in controversy for his old statements, claimed that Karan, who has faced back-to-back flops recently, will face another setback with her announcement. Taking to Twitter, KRK shared, "Alia Bhatt has announced her pregnancy to give a heart attack to @karanjohar who is already in big trouble after so many flops. Now Karan's film #RockyAurRaniKiPremK will become a disaster before its release only. Karan Bhai aapki kundali me shani ka prakop chaalu hai." Earlier today, Alia Bhatt (29) took to Instagram and shared a photo with Ranbir announcing to her fans that they are all set to welcome their first child. She posted a picture from an ultrasound session at a hospital with Ranbir, 39. "Our baby.... Coming soon," the 'Gangubai Kathiawadi' star captioned the photo. At a press conference for his upcoming film 'Shamshera' last week, Ranbir had said he couldn't have asked for a better life partner than Bhatt. "It is a very big year for me. It is a great year for me, I got married, it is a beautiful thing that has happened in my life... My life with Alia is the best," he had said. He added Alia has seen the teaser of 'Shamshera', but has yet to see the trailer as she was miles away from him in London. Last month, Alia Bhatt flew out to the UK to shoot for her Hollywood debut, 'Heart of Stone'. Her upcoming films also include 'Rocky Aur Rani Ki Prem Kahani' and 'Darlings', which marks her debut as a producer. Live TV Mumbai: Global icon Priyanka Chopra dropped an adorable photo dump of her beach vacation with husband Nick Jonas on her social media account. The `Mary Kom` star took to her Instagram handle and shared a series of pictures with her husband Nick Jonas. She captioned the post and wrote, "#islandgirl #photodump" along with a few emojis. In the pictures, Nick and Priyanka can be seen glowing with love, spending quality time with each other and enjoying to their fullest the Turks and Caicos Islands. As soon as she shared the pictures, Bollywood celebs and fans swamped the comment section and wrote sweet comments. Actor Ranveer Singh commented with a heart and an amulet emoji. A user wrote, "you`re so cute". Another fan commented, "Wow". Recently actor and businesswoman Priyanka Chopra has launched her new Indian homeware lineup, which glorifies the Indian heritage. The `Desi Girl` shared a look at her homeware products, curated for the modern home. On the acting front, Priyanka has recently wrapped up the shooting of her upcoming web Russo Brothers web series `Citadel` which will premiere on Amazon Prime Video.Desi girl has also completed shooting for rom-com It's All Coming Back to Me in which she stars opposite Sam Heughan. On the Bollywood work front, she will be next seen in Farhan Akhtars `Jee Le Zara` that also stars Alia Bhatt and Katrina Kaif. NEW DELHI: Priyanka Chopra Jonas has expressed her anguish over the recent US Supreme Court decision. The Indian actress took to her Instagram stories to former US President Barack Obama's wife and author Michelle Obama's post on the ruling on abortion rights. Renowned personalities have been protesting the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark ruling that safeguarded women's reproductive rights. Priyanka conveyed her disagreement on her Instagram stories. She added another post that included a cartoon contrasting American gun rights with abortion rights in addition to reposting a tragic statement made by the former First Lady. Michelle Obama had stated in her statement that she was "heartbroken" by the decision. "So yes, I am heartbroken, for the teenage girl, full of zest and promise, who won't be able to finish school or live the life she wants because her state controls her reproductive decisions; for the mother of a nonviable pregnancy who is now forced to bring that pregnancy to term; for the parents watching their child's future evaporate before their very eyes; for the health care workers who can no longer help them without risking jail time." On the work front, Priyanka will be seen in the upcoming series 'Citadel', as well as Farhan Akhtar's 'Jee Le Zaraa'. LUCKNOW: Film director and producer Ram Gopal Varma has been booked for making uncharitable remarks on NDA's presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, a police official said here on Monday. Lucknow's Police Commissioner DK Thakur said that a case was registered against Ram Gopal Varma for making indecent remarks against Droupadi Murmu in a tweet. The case has been registered at Hazratganj police station on Sunday, he said. In a tweet on June 22, Varma had said, "If Drapaudi is the President who are the Pandavas? And more importantly, who are the Kauravas?" In a tweet on June 24 he tried to clear his stand and said, "This was said just in an earnest irony and not intended in any other way...Draupadi in Mahabharata is my favourite character but since the name is such a rarity I just remembered the associated characters and hence my expression. Not at all intended to hurt sentiments of anyone." Subsequently, on June 25, he made two tweets. In the first tweet he said, "The tremendousness of this incredible icon the extremely honourable Drapaudi being president is that both Pandavas and Kauravas will forget their battle and together worship her and then Mahabharat will be rewritten in new India and the world will be proud of India...Jai BJP." "Post the extensive research I did on the honourable Draupadi ji and studying the nuances in the intensity of her eyes and the depths of both her smile and facial contours, I have no doubt that she will be the greatest president ever in the whole wide world...Thank you BJP," he said in the second tweet. Live TV New Delhi: After learning about the demise of Sarabjit Singh's sister Dalbir Kaur, actor Randeep Hooda immediately rushed to Punjab from Mumbai to perform her last rites. Randeep and Dalbir Kaur formed a relationship during the shooting of Sarbjit. In the film, Randeep played the role of Dalbir Kaur's brother Sarbjit Singh, who was strayed into Pakistan in 1990 in a drunk condition and was kept behind the bars for 23 years with many serious allegations against him. He died on May 2, 2013, in a Pakistan jail following a brutal attack by one of the inmates. During the film's shoot, Dalbir Kaur told Randeep that she sees Sarabjit Singh in him, and requested him to give her 'kandha' (offer his shoulder before taking the body to the cremation) when she dies. Randeep fulfilled the promise as he attended Dalbir Kaur's funeral and performed the last rites. Dalbir Kaur passed away due to a heart attack in Bhikhiwind near Amritsar, Punjab, on Sunday. Randeep also penned an emotional note on Instagram in memory of Dalbir Kaur. "Ghar zarur aana was the last thing she said. I went, only she had left. Not in the wildest dream could one imagine that Dalbir Kaur ji would leave us so soon. A fighter, child like, sharp and devoted to all that she touched. She fought a system, a country, it's people and her own to try save her beloved brother Sarbjit," he wrote. "I was so fortunate to have her love and blessings and never to be missed Rakhi in this life time. Ironically the last time we met was when I was shooting in the fields of Punjab where we had created an Indo-Pak border. It was a chilly and foggy late November night but she didn't care about all that. She was happy we were on the same side of the border. "khush rho, jug jug jiiyo" she often ended most conversations with. I do feel truly blessed indeed. There just wasn't enough time Dalbir ji.I love you, I miss you and I shall always cherish your love and blessings," Randeep concluded. 'Sarbjit', a film by Omung Kumar, showcased Dalbir Kaur's (played by Aishwarya Rai Bachchan) fight to get justice for her brother Sarabjit. New Delhi: John Oliver, the popular show 'Last Week Tonight' host, wasted no time addressing the raging topic of the United States Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, the landmark verdict that made abortion legal in 1973. On Sunday's edition of his HBO show, Oliver said the move is "absolutely horrifying" given that about half of the 50 U.S. states are likely to ban abortion, as per The Hollywood Reporter. "It is hard to stomach some of the gleeful responses right now," Oliver said, pointing to the Texas attorney general's office decided to close its offices on Friday at noon and declaring June 24 an annual holiday for the office going ahead. "You don't get a holiday to celebrate the loss of rights for millions of people when you already have one, and it's called Columbus Day," Oliver added. He also noted former Vice President Last Week Tonight's statement, which read, in part, "Today, life won. (This) is pretty tough to take given that for some, especially disabled people and other vulnerable groups, forced pregnancy could be a death sentence." He also dismissed arguments from supporters of the reversal that adoption or abortion are "reasonable" alternatives in a state where it's legal. "Even when planned, pregnancy is, best cast scenario, a major medical event that rips open your butt, rips out your organs and then puts them in wrong. The idea that you can simply seek another abortion in another state is insulting on its face even before you consider that some lawmakers are already openly looking for ways to punish out-of-state abortions," he added. Oliver also argued that this would not go back to the "pre-Roe days" as some people have said, but was actually "uncharted territory" as any loss of pregnancy could be investigated as a criminal act in states that have now banned abortion. This means investigators can access electronic records, search histories, text messages and the like if they suspect someone has had an abortion, which was evidently unavailable prior to the 1973 ruling. "What the Supreme Court has just done is utterly devastating. The message that the Supreme Court sends is pretty clear: We don't care if pregnancy kills you, we don't care if you don't want to be pregnant, we don't care about you at all," said Oliver. MUMBAI: Dhivyadharshini aka DD, who's a popular face in the Tamil television industry, recently got the opportunity of meeting one of his favourite stars, Shah Rukh Khan, at Nayanthara and Vignesh Shivan's wedding. On Monday, DD took to Instagram and shared a few pictures with SRK. In the images, she is seen hugging SRK. "I hugged him tight and I told him everything I wanted to tell 'So Many years,soo many memories, soo much of joyyy you have given us sir, for all that you deserve onlyyy the bestttt of bestttt life sir. Everyday I will pray for ur heart's Joy sir' @iamsrk you don't deserve any less or any sadness sir..what a day to post this pic as our KING KHAN celebrates 30 years in this industry .There is no one like you ever before and ever after sir ," she captioned the post. She also extended best wishes to director Atlee for his film 'Jawan', which features SRK and Nayanthara in the lead roles. "Thank you sooooo much #Atlee darling @priyaatlee for this kindness I wish you a block buster mega hit #jawan 1000crores vasool @poojadadlani02#srk #atlee #jawan #ddneelakandan #kingkhan #hug #emotional," DD added. Apart from 'Jawan', SRK will also feature in 'Pathaan', which is scheduled to release on January 25. On June 25, Shah Rukh did an Instagram live session, in which he revealed several details about his upcoming films. He hinted that Salman Khan might be a part of a song in 'Pathaan', which also stars Deepika Padukone, John Abraham and Ashutosh Rana among others. "With Salman Khan, there is no working experience. There is only love experience, happy experiences, friendly experiences and brotherly experiences. So, it is amazing whenever I get to work with him," Shah Rukh Khan said when a fan asked him his experience of working with the actor. He continued, "We haven't done a full-fledged film together apart from Karan Arjun, which also was not full-fledged as we were not together in it for too long. So, we get to work four-five days in a year sometimes. Last two years have been fantastic as I got to be in one of his films. I had a couple of days role with Kabir Khan. And he came in Zero and did a song with me. Now, in Pathaan. I don't know if this is a secret but inshallah, I will try to in Tiger 3 also. So, it is great fun working with him."Shah Rukh is also coming up with 'Dunki', which is helmed by Rajkumar Hirani. Live TV New Delhi: After Alia Bhatt announced her pregnancy on Monday, netizens have now stormed Twitter expressing their excitement for Deepika Padukone and Katrina Kaif to give them 'khushkhabri'. Taking a jibe at Katrina Kaif and Deepika Twitter users have posted memes and reactions on the micro-blogging site, making funny references to the pregnancy announcement. Deepika tied the knot with Ranveer Singh on November 14, 2018, while Katrina got married to Vicky Kaushal on December 9, 2021. Check out some of the reactions: Congratulatory messages have been pouring in for Alia Bhatt and Ranbir Kapoor ever since the former announced that she is expecting her first child. "Our baby ..... coming soon," Alia wrote on Instagram, adding a picture from her ultrasound appointment. She also posted a picture which features two lions and a lion cub. While many are congratulating the new parents-to-be, a condom brand had earlier shared a funny and quirky congratulatory message for them. Durex India, on their Instagram account, dropped a funny post as their marketing strategy, which reads, "Mehfil mein teri "hum to clearly nahi the congratulations", with reference to the song 'Channa Mereya' from 'Ae dil hai mushkil'. Sharing this hilarious post, Durex India captioned, "The JOMO is REAL! Congratulations Alia & Ranbir." Ranbir and Alia got married in April this year and will soon be seen sharing the screen for the first time in Dharma Productions' upcoming film 'Brahmastra'. Live TV New Delhi: The buzz around the new Wage Code is gaining further momentum as the current month is coming to an end. Media reports are widely speculating that the Modi government may implement four labour codes on wages, social security, industrial relations and occupation safety, health and working conditions from July 1. If and when 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. These are however only early speculations, hence nothing concreted should be infered till the government officially notifies the rules. Here are five things that might change if the New Wage Code 2022 is implemented from July 1 1. New wage code to impact your salary. Your in-hand salary will be reduced 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. 2. New wage code to impact your allowance component that is a part of your salary Also, if the above 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. 3. New wage code to impact your provident fund, though positively. After implementation of new Wage Code, your PF will be higher 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. 4. New wage code could bring about a longer working hour, though your week off will be more than 2 in that case. 12 hours work-week could be the new factor 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. 5. After the implementation of new wage code, there could be big changes in Earned Leave policy 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. 23 states pre-published draft rules on New Wage Code 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. Thiruvananthapuram: The Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) has drawn flak from the Women in Cinema Collective (WCC) for allowing actor and director Vijay Babu, who stands accused of rape by a junior woman actor, to attend its general body meeting on Sunday. WCC secretary and scriptwriter Deedi Damodaran said AMMA's action was unfortunate and highly deplorable. She said the actress had complained to the police that the actor had raped her several times while offering her roles in his new movies. Vijay Babu had gone into hiding in Dubai after the police complaint and came back to Kerala only after getting anticipatory bail. The actor raised the hackles of the WCC after he attended the general body meeting of the association, of which he is a member. In a related development, Malayalam actress Swetha Menon, who was an AMMA internal complaints committee (ICC) member, and who had resigned from the committee on the issue of Vijay Babu continuing as a member of the organisation after the police had registered a rape case against him, was also present throughout the general body meeting. Clarifying the association's stand, Edavela Babu, actor and AMMA general secretary, said Vijay Babu continues to be a member of the organisation as his case is subjudice and the court has not yet given a verdict against the actor. Meanwhile, Shammy Tilakan, who was expelled from the organisation, told mediapersons that he had not done anything wrong to merit the action taken against him. He said he had replied to the charges made against him in writing to the AMMA president, Malayalam super star Mohanlal, but he did not get any answer. He said he was expelled from AMMA because the organization still held a grudge against his father, the late legendary Malayalam actor, Tilakan. Shammy Tilakan added that he had information that Mammooty, the other Malayalam super star, had supported his continuation in the organisation during the general body meeting. Kochi: Actor-producer Vijay Babu, who had got anticipatory bail from Kerala High Court last week, on Monday, his arrest was recorded by the local police here and he was given bail. According to the bail conditions, Babu has been asked to appear before the police probe team on June 27 and the police have been granted time to interrogate him: seven days between June 27 and July 3 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. everyday. The court also asked him not to leave the state under any circumstances. The police will use this time to take him to various places as part of evidence collection and after recording his arrest, they began interrogating him. It was after almost two months of a long-drawn legal battle that Babu, got anticipatory bail. On April 22, an actress from Kozhikode filed a complaint in Ernakulam that she was raped and beaten by Babu several times in Kochi. She also accused him of sedating her before sexual abuse. As the news surfaced, Babu appeared live on his social media handle claiming that he was the "real victim" in this case, adding that he would take appropriate legal steps against the complainant whom he named. The police, apart from the initial complaint, registered a second case against him for disclosing the name of the complainant. Babu who had left the country after the actress filed a case against him, returned after the court gave him a temporary relief that he will not be arrested till his anticipatory bail plea is disposed and till then whenever the probe team seeks his presence, he should present himself before them, which he did. After fleeing the country, he had spent some time in the UAE and then moved to Georgia. 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 27, 2022 WF3F71VE2D708EK F0KM JNLV CXSD FFA0 E811 YL2D FFTQ T5PR MCNX FF7W 7M0C N44Z FFA9 UVHX 4H7D FX8V BNMK DSXC FFX6 0C4II VYU FF7W SM7C N44Z 88KN XUB9 6C9P 8F9U QJXP DKA7 MV9C Q27L QJOL JIMY LVT4 6V2Z 3GF3851KB8H4JE2A FF12 NYW9 4A00 FF8Q T5IR MCNX (Also read: Shocking! Ex-Amazon Web Services engineer hacked data of 10 crore customers) How to Redeem Garena Free Fire codes for today, 27 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. Step 4: Click on the Ok button to get free rewards in your game account. (Disclaimer: Garena Free fire is banned in India. Hence we advise people to adhere to government rules) New Delhi: After Covid-19 and Monkeypox, the United Kingdom, which has witnessed a string of infections in the past few years, might see another infection that could lead to another pandemic. According to a Telegraph report, experts in Britain have warned of another emerging pandemic and asked the authorities to escalate its preparedness and strengthen health infrastructure. This new disease is called Disease X. The warning by health experts about the Disease X comes in wake of the poliovirus being detected in sewage samples in London, Reuters had reported. However, the UK Health authorities have not found any cases of polio which causes paralysis in children, yet. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the risk was low because of high vaccination coverage. We're living through a new pandemic area, medical experts said, adding that the Disease X could be just around the corner, The Mirror reported. What is Disease X? According to the World Health Organisation, Disease X represents the knowledge that a serious international epidemic could be caused by a pathogen currently unknown to cause human disease. In simple terms a hypothetical and yet-unknown pathogen that could trigger an endemic or pandemic. The UK witnessed several infections Prior to this, a lineage of H5 bird flu was found in a human in January this year, and there were three cases of Lassa fever in February in the UK. In March, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever arrived in England after a woman returned to the UK from central Asia. Currently, the UK is witnessing a new menace with rising Monkeypox infections. 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. New Delhi: Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy nations mocked the macho image of their absent adversary Vladimir Putin on Sunday, at a meeting in Germany dominated by the Russian President`s invasion of Ukraine. As the besuited leaders sat down for their first meeting of the three-day G7 summit in the sweltering Bavarian Alps, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked if their jackets should come off - or if they should even disrobe further. "We all have to show that we`re tougher than Putin," Johnson said, to laughter from some of his colleagues. "Bare-chested horseback riding," shot back Canada`s Justin Trudeau. "Oh yes," said European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. "Horseback riding is the best." Putin, who prizes his sporty image, has been pictured shirtless several times in photos released by Russian state media, including one set in which he rode a brown horse while wearing wrap-around sunglasses, a gold chain and army trousers. The G7 leaders discussed efforts to further isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, which has killed thousands of people and driven millions from their homes. Britain, Canada, Japan and the United States announced moves to ban imports of Russian gold. The G7 also includes France, Italy and Germany. Elmau: Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for the long haul with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the US was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putin's aggression. The US was also preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv. The new aid and efforts to exact punishment on Moscow from the Group of 7 leaders come as a Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. Leaders were finalising the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day G-7 summit in the German Alps. The details of how a price cap would work, as well as its impact on the Russian economy, were to be resolved by the G-7 finance ministers in the coming weeks and months, according to a senior administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcements from the summit. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the US announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods, as well as use of sanctions to target Russia's defense supply chains that support its effort to rearm during the war. Biden is expected to announce the US, is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defence, according to the person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the US to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and US Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to support its efforts against the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraine's government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. The G-7 leaders began Monday's session of their three-day summit with a focus on Ukraine. Later, they will be joined by the leaders of five democratic emerging economies - India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina - for a discussion on climate change, energy and other issues. The war in Ukraine was already at the forefront of the G-7 leaders' minds as they opened their summit at the secluded Schloss Elmau luxury hotel on Sunday, just as Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the summit's host, said that the G-7 countries' policies on Ukraine are very much aligned, and that they see the need to be both tough and cautions. Scholz said after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that ?we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO?. He added that this is what is of essence -- to be tough and thinking about the necessities of the time we are living in. Biden said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin "has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G-7 would splinter, but we haven't and we're not going to. Biden hopes to use his trip to Europe to proclaim the unity of the coalition pressing to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as much as he is urging allies to do even more, seeking to counter doubts about its endurance as the war grinds into its fifth month. The summit's host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said last week that he wants to discuss the outlines of a Marshall plan for Ukraine with his G-7 counterparts, referring to the US-sponsored plan that helped revive European economies after World War II. With the war still in progress and destruction mounting by the day, it's unlikely to be a detailed plan at this stage. Scholz has said that rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for generations. The G-7 already is committed to help finance Ukraine's immediate needs. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and prevent tight finances from hindering its defence against Russian forces. A senior US administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations between the G-7 leaders, said the US and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if their roles sometimes appear different. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. The US has largely cut off significant talks with Russia and aims to bolster Ukraine's battlefield capacity as much as possible so that its eventual position at the negotiating table is stronger. The endurance of the tough sanctions on Russia may ultimately come down to whether the G-7 and other leaders can identify ways to ease energy supply issues and skyrocketing prices once winter hits, as they seek to disengage from Russian sources of fuel. The G-7 meeting is sandwiched between a European Union summit last week that agreed to give Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership, kicking off a process that is likely to take years with no guarantee of success, and a summit of NATO leaders starting Tuesday in Madrid. The leaders of the G-7 - the US, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Canada and Japan - may hope to make some progress in bringing their counterparts from their five guest countries closer to Western views on sanctions against Russia. Scholz also is eager to win over such countries for his idea of a climate club for nations that want to speed ahead when it comes to tackling the issue. Sydney, Jun 27 (The Conversation): The World Health Organisation (WHO) has decided not to declare monkeypox a public health emergency of international concern. This may change in the future. However, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was 'deeply concerned' about the evolving threat of monkeypox, which he said had reached more than 50 countries. There have been more than 4,100 confirmed cases globally, including at least 13 in Australia. Also Read: Is Monkeypox a global emergency? World Health Organization's BIG decision, read here The WHO also acknowledged there were many unknowns about the outbreak. Here are three things we know about monkeypox and three things we want to find out. 3 things we know about Monkeypox 1. Monkeypox is caused by a virus Monkeypox is a large DNA virus belonging to the orthopoxvirus family. Unlike the related smallpox virus, variola, which only affected humans, monkeypox virus is found in rodents and other animals in parts of Africa. We know of two clades (virus groupings), and it is the less severe of the two currently circulating outside Africa. Orthopoxviruses are stable viruses that do not mutate much. Multiple mutations, however, have been described in the virus causing the current outbreak. In the United States, at least two separate strains have been circulating, suggesting multiple introductions into the country. 2. You can be infected for more than a week and not know It takes an average 8.5 days from infection to showing symptoms, such as enlarged lymph nodes, fever and a rash, which usually looks like fluid-filled blisters that erupt. People are infectious while they have the rash, and are usually infectious for about two weeks. Children are most severely affected and have a higher risk of dying from the disease. Historically, in the endemic countries of Africa, almost all deaths have been in children. The European epidemic is mostly in adult males, so this, together with better access to care, may explain the low rate of deaths in these countries. 3. We have vaccines and treatments Vaccines work. Past vaccination against smallpox provides 85% protection against monkeypox. Smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980, so most mass vaccination programs ceased in the 1970s. Australia never had mass smallpox vaccination. However, an estimated 10% of Australians have been vaccinated in the past, mostly migrants. Vaccines protect for many years but immunity wanes. So declining population-level protection is likely responsible for the resurgence of monkeypox seen since 2017 in Nigeria, one of seven endemic hot spots in Africa. Mass vaccination is not recommended. But vaccines can be given to contacts of confirmed cases (known as post-exposure prophylaxis) and people at high risk of contracting the virus, such as some lab or health workers (pre-exposure prophylaxis). There are also treatments, such as vaccinia immune globulin and antivirals. These were developed against smallpox. 3 things we want to find out about Monkeypox 1. How much do these new mutations matter? The virus causing the current outbreak has several mutations compared with versions of the virus circulating in Africa. However, we don't know if these mutations affect clinical disease and how the virus spreads. The monkeypox virus has a very large genome, so is more complex to study than smaller RNA viruses, such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID). Experts wonder if the mutations have made it more contagious or changed the clinical pattern to be more like a sexually transmitted infection. A study from Portugal shows the mutations likely make the virus more transmissible. 2. How is it spread? Is that changing? Monkeypox has not been described as a sexually transmitted infection in the past. However, the current transmission pattern is unusual. There seems to be a very short incubation period (of 24 hours) following sexual contact in some, but not all, cases. It is a respiratory virus, so aerosol transmission is possible. But historically most transmission has been from animal to human. When there was transmission between humans, this usually involved close contacts. The rapid growth of the epidemic in non-endemic countries in 2022, however, has been all due to spread between humans. There may be many more cases than officially reported. We do not know why the pattern has changed, whether it is sexually transmitted or simply transmitted due to intimate contact in specific and globally connected social networks, or whether the virus has become more contagious. The virus is found in the skin rash, mouth and semen, but this does not prove it is sexually transmitted. 3. How far will it spread? Does COVID make a difference? Will this spread more widely in the community? Does the COVID pandemic increase the risk? Possibly, yes. We must also not drop the ball on surveillance in the wider community or stigmatise the LGBTQI community. Due to waning immunity from the smallpox vaccine globally and the spread of monkeypox to many countries already, we may see the epidemic spreading more widely. If it does so and starts infecting large numbers of children, we could see more deaths because children get more severe infection. So we should monitor globally for clusters of fever and rash, and misdiagnosis as chickenpox, hand foot and mouth disease, herpes simplex or other diseases with a rash. Another factor is COVID. As people recover from COVID, their immune system is impaired. So people who have had COVID may be more susceptible to other infections. We see the same with measles infection. This weakens the immune system and increases the risk of other infections for two to three years afterwards. If the epidemic becomes established in countries outside the endemic areas, it may infect animals and create new endemic zones in the world. It is important we do everything possible to stop this epidemic. Live TV Moscow: Russia has defaulted on its overseas debt for the first time in more than a century after missing a deadline, reports suggest. Russia has the money to make a $100 million payment and is willing to pay, but sanctions have made it impossible to get the sum to international creditors, the BBC reported. The Kremlin had been determined to avoid the default, which is a major blow to the nation`s prestige. The $100 million interest payment was due on May 27. Russia has said that the the money was sent to Euroclear, a bank which would then distribute the payment to investors. But that payment has been stuck there, according to Bloomberg News, and creditors have not received it. The money had not arrived within 30 days of the due date, that is, Sunday evening, and so is considered a default, BBC reported. Euroclear wouldn`t say if the payment had been blocked, but said it adheres to all sanctions. The last time Russia defaulted on its foreign debt was in 1918, during the Bolshevik Revolution when the new communist leader Vladimir Lenin refused to pay the debts of the Russian Empire. Russia`s last debt default of any kind was in the 1998 as the country was rocked by the rouble crisis during the chaotic end of Boris Yeltsin`s regime. At the time, Moscow failed to keep up payments on its domestic bonds but managed not to default on its overseas debt, the BBC reported. Russia has seemed on an inevitable path to default since sanctions were first imposed by the US and European Union following the invasion of Ukraine. Russia to transfer nuclear-capable missiles to Belarus Russia will transfer nuclear-capable Iskander-M missile systems to its ally Belarus over the coming months, Russian President Vladimir Putin said. Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko at a meeting in St. Petersburg that the missile systems "can use both ballistic and cruise missiles, both in conventional and nuclear versions," according to the Kremlin, CNN reported. Russia launched its February 24 invasion in part from Belarusian territory, which borders Ukraine to the north. Throughout the war, Moscow has used Minsk as a satellite base including for many of Russia`s air operations in Ukraine, according to intelligence collected by NATO surveillance planes. On Saturday, Ukraine claimed Russian forces had fired multiple missiles on the Kyiv, Chernihiv and Sumy regions from Belarus. In a transcript of the meeting, Lukashenko expressed to Putin his "stress" over what he alleged are flights by United States and NATO planes "training to carry nuclear warheads" close to Belarus` border, CNN reported. He asked Putin to consider "a mirrored response" to the flights or to convert Russian fighter jets, which are currently deployed to Belarus, to "carry nuclear warheads." Putin replied that "there is no need" to match the US flights and suggested Belarus could modify its own Su-25 aircraft to be nuclear-capable instead. "This modernization should be carried out at aircraft factories in Russia, but we will agree with you on how to do this. And accordingly, start training the flight crew," Putin said, CNN reported. CCTV: According to reports, the 24th General Assembly of Latin American Academy of Social Sciences (FLACSO) was held on June 24, which adopted a resolution by an overwhelming vote to admit China as an observer state of the organization. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a video speech at the event upon invitation. Could you offer more details? Zhao Lijian: The Latin American Academy of Social Sciences (FLACSO) recently held its 24th General Assembly in Quito, the capital of Ecuador. After a voting at the General Assembly, China officially became an observer country of FLACSO. In his video speech delivered at the meeting upon invitation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said that China attaches great importance to its cooperation with FLACSO and is willing to take this opportunity to have closer cooperation with the organization, strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between China and LAC countries, and contribute more wisdom and strength to the sustainable development of China and LAC countries. Not long ago, President Xi Jinping put forward the Global Development Initiative (GDI) and the Global Security Initiative (GSI), charting the course for safeguarding world peace and security and promoting sustainable development around the globe. China stands ready to work with LAC countries to jointly safeguard peace and tranquility, boost economic recovery, improve peoples well-being and build a China-LAC community with a shared future. After the meeting, the Chinese ambassador to Ecuador held a celebration event, which was attended by Francisco Valdes Ugalde, President of the Supreme Council of FLACSO, Josette Altmann-Borbon, Secretary General of FLACSO, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on Latin American Affairs Qiu Xiaoqi, who was on a visit there, and the Chinese ambassadors to Costa Rica and El Salvador. Secretary general Josette Altmann-Borbon, on behalf of the Latin American side, highly commended Chinas commitment to stepping up academic exchanges with LAC countries and expressed readiness to deepen cultural and people-to-people mutual learning between the two sides to promote innovation-driven development and deliver benefits to the peoples. Chinas becoming a FLACSO observer is an important and joyful event in China-LAC relations. This is the first time in the past 10 years that China has established institutional relations with a Latin American and Caribbean organization. Since last year, the two sides have jointly held lecture series featuring contemporary China, which has played a positive role in enhancing mutual understanding and trust between China and LAC countries. Going forward, China stands ready to work with FLACSO to further cement public support for bilateral relations, promote greater participation of regional countries in the GDI and GSI, and jointly advance the building of a China-Latin America community with a shared future. China News Service: After the US government announced the entry into force of the so-called Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) last week, NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby expressed concerns on June 25 over the so-called forced labor in China again when asked about the upcoming G7 meeting. Do you have any response to that? Zhao Lijian: Forced labor is not taking place in China, but in the US. For quite some time, the US has sought to use Xinjiang-related issues to contain China by repeatedly rehashing forced labor in Xinjiang, a staggering lie propagated by the US, along with a series of attempts to create forced unemployment in Xinjiang. Facts have shown, however, that the false assertions made by the US against China best summarize the poor track record of the US itself. Forced labor has been a deep-seated problem with the US since the day it was founded. The long history of slavery is solid evidence of forced labor in the US. According to statistics, between 1525 and 1866, over 12.5 million Africans were shipped to the New World for forced labor. Numerous black slaves were forced to work at the bottom of society and tormented by dire working conditions, heavy labor and the brutal whipping by slave owners. In many ways, the USs fortune began with the blood, sweat, tears and ultimate sacrifices of slaves. Even today, the US is still fraught with serious forced labor. It might even be called a country of prevalent modern slavery. The website of the University of Denver disclosed that there are currently at least 500,000 people living under modern slavery and forced labor in the US. Forced labor is a particularly prominent and prevalent issue in 23 industries, including domestic service, agriculture, planting, tourism sales, catering, medical care and beauty. The US is a source, transit, and destination country for victims of forced labor and involuntary servitude. Human trafficking can be found in any sector, whether legal or illicit. Up to 100,000 people are trafficked into the US for forced labor annually. There are approximately 500,000 child farmworkers in the US. The International Labour Organization has expressed concern for many years in a row about the serious occupational injuries to children working on American farms. While busy generating lies and rumors about forced labor in other countries, the US government turns a blind eye to the actual forced labor at home. It still hasnt ratified the Forced Labour Convention, 1930. It seems that the beacon of human rights fails to shine a spotlight on the USs dark history, and nothing in its human rights toolbox could aim at its own deep-seated social malaise. The US needs to face up to its own serious forced labor issue and respond to the international communitys concerns sooner rather than later. After all, slinging mud at others is no way to clean up its own record. Phoenix TV: On June 24, the White House issued a statement that the US will officially establish Partners in the Blue Pacific together with Australia, Japan, New Zealand and the UK. The statement reads that the five countries will strengthen cooperation to respond to the growing pressure on the rules-based international order under the framework, support prosperity, resilience, and security in the Pacific, and conduct cooperation with Pacific Island countries on climate change, maritime security, health, among others. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: The recent visit to the South Pacific by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi covered all the Pacific Island countries (PICs) having diplomatic ties with China, and injected strong boost to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two sides. China and PICs value their traditional friendship and are committed to enhancing political mutual trust, deepening practical cooperation, responding to challenges together and realizing common development. China welcomes more tangible efforts to promote South Pacific Island countries development and prosperity by any country willing to do so. At the same time, I want to stress that any cooperation initiative for the South Pacific needs to respond to the trend of peace, development and win-win cooperation, and respect PICs independence and sovereignty. Such initiatives should not be designed to form exclusive blocs, still less target any third party or undermine its interests. CCTV: On June 26, Cambodias National Election Committee released the official results of the 5th Commune/Sangkat Council Election, showing a landslide victory for the Cambodian Peoples Party. Whats Chinas comment? Zhao Lijian: We congratulate Cambodia on successfully holding the 5th Commune/Sangkat Council Election and congratulate the Cambodian Peoples Party on winning the election. The Chinese side stands ready to work together with the Cambodian side to forge a community with a shared future, which is of strategic significance, and to deliver more benefits to both peoples. Associated Press of Pakistan: China hosted a high-level development dialogue on the sidelines of BRICS. There are media reports about the participation of Pakistan. Do you have any comment on that? Zhao Lijian: The decision to hold the High-level Dialogue on Global Development was based on consultation among BRICS countries. China and Pakistan are all-weather strategic cooperative partners. Pakistan is an important member of the Group of Friends of the Global Development Initiative. China highly values the important role of Pakistan in promoting global development, advancing implementation of the UNs 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and boosting regional cooperation. China and Pakistan maintain close communication and coordination. We have conducted substantial cooperation in the field of development, which has delivered tangible benefits to the people in both countries and the region. Pakistan remains a priority partner for China in implementing the Global Development Initiative and we will continue to work with Pakistan to advance the global development agenda. Beijing Youth Daily: The US Supreme Court overturned the New York State gun law that restricts the concealed carry of firearms in public on June 23, setting off an uproar among the American public. The people are now more concerned that gun violence in the US may get further out of control. What is your comment? Zhao Lijian: I have noted relevant reports. I also read that the day after this ruling was adopted, a 5-month-old girl was shot and killed in a shooting in Chicago. The US suffers from the most serious gun violence problem in the world. The number of victims keeps hitting new highs as 122 people lost their lives to guns on a daily average. The American public lives with the shadow of gun violence and fear for their lives on an almost daily basis. According to the statistical website Gun Violence Archive, since the beginning of this year, nearly 21,000 people have died due to gun violence and 279 mass shootings have taken place in the US, in each of which four or more people were killed or injured. But not even these tragic numbers have spurred US politicians to take any real action. People cannot but ask: what have US politicians done to respond to the countless lives lost and devastated families other than staging political stunts? New tragedies are already taking place and again testing peoples moral conscience while the memory of the Robb elementary school shooting in Texas is still fresh. What makes US politicians think they can moralize about other countries human rights when they cannot even protect the lives of American children? CRI: Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk recently extended condolences and offered donations to the Chinese side over the floods in southern China. Do you have any comment? Zhao Lijian: China and Cambodia enjoy an iron-clad friendship and a long tradition of mutual support and assistance. King Norodom Sihamoni and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk provided generous assistance quite a few times when China was previously hit by natural disasters. Their latest kind gesture in the wake of the flooding in China signifies the deep friendship between the Cambodian royal family and the Chinese people as well as the spirit of the China-Cambodia community with a shared future. We highly appreciate this and would like to extend our heartfelt thanks. Reuters: The G7 leaders, who are meeting at the moment, have said that they aim to raise $600 billion for mainly infrastructure-based projects in developing countries to counter Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. Whats the Chinese governments comment? Zhao Lijian: I noticed relevant reports. They said Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has led to debt trap. To call the BRI a debt trap is a false narrative. For nine years since its inception, the BRI has followed the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and delivered tangible benefits to partner countries and their peoples. According to World Bank forecast, if all BRI transport infrastructure projects are carried out, by 2030, the BRI will generate $1.6 trillion of revenues for the world each year, or 1.3% of global GDP. Up to 90% of the revenues will go to partner countries, and upper-middle- and low-income corridor economies are expected to benefit the most. The BRI could contribute to lifting 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty from 2015 to 2030. In fact, no BRI partner has agreed to the so-called debt trap accusation. Rather, it is the US that should be held responsible for creating the debt trap. The USs expansionary monetary policies, financial innovation with lax supervision and ill-intended short-selling are weighing down developing countries with debt burden and the very reason some countries have fallen into debt trap. With regard to the new initiative put forward by G7, China always welcomes initiatives that promote global infrastructure. Such initiatives do not have to cancel each other out. What we oppose is moves to advance geopolitical calculation and smear the BRI in the name of promoting infrastructure development. I also noticed that a year ago, it was also at a G7 Summit that the US put forward the B3W Initiative. The US committed then to developing global infrastructure in a different way from the BRI. Whether it is B3W or any other initiative, the world wants to see real investment and projects that will truly deliver for the people. Bloomberg: Will President Xi Jinping attend the Hong Kong celebrations on July 1 in person or via video link? Zhao Lijian: We have put out the press release. Please refer to the competent authorities if you want to know more details. AFP: According to Australian media reports, China has invited ministers from ten Pacific Island countries to a virtual meeting with Chinas Foreign Minister Wang Yi next month. Can the foreign ministry confirm whether there is such a plan? Zhao Lijian: As I understand, these reports couldnt be further from the truth. Bloomberg: Uzbekistans Energy Ministry last week said the Shanghai Cooperation Organization members met to discuss cooperation in several fields of energy, including energy security and renewable energy. What role will China play in that cooperation? And did China and Russia reach any specific agreements about energy trade and energy security at that meeting? Zhao Lijian: I would refer you to competent authorities for the specific question you asked about. What I can say is that for more than 20 years, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), guided by the Shanghai Spirit, has deepened cooperation in various areas and created a new cooperation model. It has played a vital role in maintaining regional security and stability and promoting development and revitalization of countries. China is ready to work with all parities to continuously deepen political, security, economy and trade, and people-to-people cooperation, and make the SCOs contribution to peace and development in the region and beyond. AFP: I have a question about the G20 Foreign Ministers Meeting in Indonesia next month. Can you confirm whether Wang Yi will attend in person or virtually the summit? Zhao Lijian: Please stay tuned. We will release relevant information in due course. Reuters: The foreign minister of Tuvalu has decided to pull out of a United Nations oceans conference in Portugal after three Taiwanese participants on the pacific islands delegation had their accreditation blocked. Whats Chinas comment? Zhao Lijian: There is only one China in the world and Taiwan is part of China. The one-China principle is a basic norm governing international relations and shared consensus of the international community. It is also a fundamental principle affirmed in UNGA Resolution 2758. The Taiwan authorities are accustomed to resorting to such gambits in the context of international affairs. Stooping to joining the entourage of a foreign country in order to tag along and wedge into the United Nations Ocean Conference can only bring disgrace. China follows true multilateralism and supports parties in participating in the UN Ocean Conference in line with relevant laws and rules. Author of 'Creator of the Universe' (The United States Space Force Hymn), Former USAF Captain, Ret. Major James Linzey, Receives Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award Former Air Force Captain, Ret. James F. Linzey NEWS PROVIDED BY Former Sgt. Dennis A. Hall, Sr., USMC-Ret. June 27, 2022 WASHINGTON, June 27, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- Dr. Linzey has been endorsed by Marquis Who's Who as a leader in the fields of military hymn writing, authorship, acting, filming, and recording. Marquis Who's Who, the world's premier publisher of biographical profiles, is proud to present James F. Linzey, DD, with the Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. An accomplished listee, Dr. Linzey celebrates many years of experience in his professional network, and has been noted for achievements, leadership qualities, and the credentials and successes he has accrued in his fields. As in all Marquis Who's Who biographical volumes, individuals profiled are selected on the basis of current reference value. Factors such as position, noteworthy accomplishments, visibility, and prominence in a field are all taken into account during the selection process. Driven by a calling from God to lend his services to a myriad of industries, including serving underprivileged communities, James F. Linzey has understood from a formative age that everyone possesses gifts beyond their imagination. He has emphasized that everyone can reach their full potential by eliminating what is often a deeply-ingrained belief that there may be only a singular scope of life. In turn, these individuals can harness their abilities to their fullest potential; Dr. Linzey is one such individual. As an acclaimed chaplain, educator, public speaker, author, recording artist, military officer, real estate investor and actor, Dr. Linzey has channeled his multitude of abilities to enhance society. At the inception of his career, Dr. Linzey served as a youth pastor for the First Assembly of God in Huntington Park, California, in 1979. He eventually taught for the Los Angeles Unified School District and, concurrently received a commission as an officer in the United States Air Force later in the United States Army. Serving his country dutifully over the course of nearly two and a half decades, he thrived as a chaplain in the military sector. Dr. Linzey was first commissioned as a first lieutenant in the Air Force in 1985 and advanced to the rank of captain in 1989. Thereafter, he was commissioned as a captain in the Army in 1998, ultimately achieving the rank of major in 2004 and retired from the Army in 2009. Most notably, Dr. Linzey was recognized as a lieutenant colonel in 2020 through the United States Volunteers-Joint Services Command, an organization recognized by the Department of Defense. As his career progressed, Dr. Linzey was appointed as the command chaplain for Operation Noble Eagle II of the Southwest Region under the Department of Homeland Security in 2002, where he served at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico for one year. For the following year until 2004, he served as the supervising chaplain for Operation Iraqi Freedom II, at the largest mobilization and demobilization mission in the continental United States, at Fort Bliss in Texas. Two years later, Dr. Linzey was requested to serve as the first full-time chaplain for the Leader's Training Course under the U.S. Army Cadet Command at Fort Knox in Kentucky. Impressively, Dr. Linzey was commissioned to write the institutional prayer during this time, which is one of only four official institutional American military prayers to be written to the present day. He was bestowed with numerous military decorations for his service in the Air Force and Army. While pursuing his vocational path, Dr. Linzey attended Vanguard University of Southern California, at which he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in biblical studies with an emphasis in religion, in 1979. He followed this accomplishment when he received a Master of Divinity degree at Fuller Theological Seminary in 1983, and was subsequently ordained by the Southern Baptist Convention. Outside of his primary career in theology and military service, Dr. Linzey has equally lent his time to the arts as a best-selling author, actor and recording artist. Penning the books "Moral Leadership," "The Holy Spirit" and "A Divine Appointment in Washington, DC," he appeared in the major motion picture "Iniquity" with actress Verna May Linzey, his mother, in 2012. He also sang harmony and backup vocals for Verna Linzey, with the Triumphant Quartet and the trio, Sisters, in the award-winning song "The Rose" by Bette Midler, which appeared on the film's soundtrack. Likewise, Dr. Linzey was a finalist in the Dove Awards' "Special Event Album of the Year" in 1996 for his co-authorship and recording of the song "A Heart of Love," which appeared on the album, "When the World Turns to God." As a testament to his success, Dr. Linzey received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree at Kingsway Theological Seminary for his work in religious services. Additionally, due to his work as the chief editor of the Modern English Version Bible translation, he earned the Best-Selling Author Award from National Critics' Choice in 2015. With respect to his musical endeavors, Dr. Linzey was credited with singing backup vocals on the album "Oh Blessed Jesus" by Verna May Linzey, which garnered a Gold Record Award for Best Vocals in Southern Gospel Music from the International Biographical Centre in Cambridge, England, in 2016. In 2019, Dr. Linzey wrote "Creator of the Universe" (The United States Space Force Hymn). SOURCE Former Sgt. Dennis A. Hall, Sr., USMC-Ret. CONTACT: 602-535-6969, USSFpent1@gmail.com Related Links unitedstatesspaceforcehymn.com South Africa: New Umalusi council appointed Education quality assessor, Umalusi, has announced the appointment of its sixth council. This comes after the tenure of the fifth council ended on 7 June 2022. On Monday, Umalusi said the incoming council, which was appointed by Basic Education Minister, Angie Motshekga, will serve a four-year term from 8 June 2022 to 7 June 2026. The Minister also appointed Professor Yunus Ballim as the new council chairperson. Umalusi spokesperson, Dr Lucky Ditaunyane, in a statement, said: The new council will be officially installed at a formal welcome function on 6 September 2022. The CEO of Umalusi, Dr Mafu Rakometsi, thanked the members of the fifth council for doing excellent work in, among others, steering the organisation to two consecutive clean audits during their tenure. Rakometsi said the outgoing fifth council, under the leadership of Professor John Volmink, had left a legacy of a public entity that uses public resources prudently and responsibly. "I thank all the men and women who served in the fifth council for setting the overall strategic direction of the organisation, keeping management accountable, and ensuring that Umalusi meets its statutory obligations. Rakometsi also thanked Volmink for leading Umalusi proficiently for two consecutive four-year terms. Prof Volmink is an astute academic, a public servant par excellence, and a transformational leader who maintains a high work ethic in everything he does. He is truly an asset to the education sector in our country. Regarding the incoming sixth council, Rakometsi welcomed new chairperson and all council members, wishing them a productive and successful tenure. He further said he did not doubt that under Ballim, the sixth council would continue to build on the excellent work done by the fifth council, and that their expertise and vast experience will add much value to the work of Umalusi. Ditaunyane said the chief executive officers of Umalusi, the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the Quality Council for Trades and Occupations (QCTO) are members of Umalusi Council by virtue of their position. Council representatives of the Department of Basic Education and the Department of Higher Education and Training are yet to be nominated by their respective ministers. The following new members of Umalusi Council were appointed by the Minister: 1. Prof Y Ballim - Professor Emeritus: School of Civil & Environmental Engineering - WITS University 2. Dr W Green - Chief Executive Officer: Council on Higher Education (CHE) 3. Mr DB Hindle - Chairperson: ETDP SETA Accounting Authority 4. Prof L Jita - Dean: Faculty of Education, University of the Free State 5. Mr NT Johnstone - CEO: Catholic Institute of Education (CIE) 6. Prof TS Maluleke - Vice Chancellor and Principal Tshwane University of Technology 7. Adv. MJ Merabe - EXCO member of the South African Education Law Association 8. Ms M Metcalfe - Executive Director at PILO 9. Dr L Mokotjo - Head of Faculty: The Independent Institute of Education 10. Prof TP Msibi - Dean and Head of School - University of KwaZulu Natal 11. Dr C Myburgh - Director: Enrolment and Student Administration, University of Pretoria 12. Mr V Naidoo - Chief Executive Officer: Quality Council for Trades & Occupations (QCTO) 13. Dr MS Rakometsi - Chief Executive Officer: Umalusi 14. Dr J Reddy - Chief Executive Officer: South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) 15. Dr KM Dos Reis - Director at Dos Reis and Venter Education Association 16. Ms F Solomon - Vice President Education: SADTU - SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Evangelist Will Graham Shares 'the God of Second Chances' in Fredericksburg Rappahannock Area Celebration featured music by award-winning artists, special event for children NEWS PROVIDED BY Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) June 27, 2022 FREDERICKSBURG, Va., June 27, 2022 /Standard Newswire/ -- A total of 5,195 people attended the one-day Rappahannock Area Celebration with Will Graham in Fredericksburg on Saturday, June 25. Volunteers representing more than 170 churches and 41 denominations across the region participated in the evangelistic outreach, which was held at the Fredericksburg Expo & Conference Center. "Are you looking for a second chance in life? You can get a second chance tonight. Our God is the God of second chances," said Will Graham during his evening message, sharing the Old Testament story of King Manasseh of Judah--a wicked ruler who repented and was returned to the throne by God. "Jesus can change your life. He can forgive your sin and restore you." More than 250 responded to the invitation to make a decision for Jesus during the event, and will be followed up with by local churches. Along with the message from Graham, the Rappahannock Area Celebration featured a free concert with music by award-winning Christian artists Newsboys, Rend Collective and Aaron Shust. On Saturday morning, a special event for children, KidzFest, was held. The program included music by Go Fish, an interactive cartoon called The Quest, and a short message from Graham, followed by bounce houses, face painting and games. "We believe that the hand of God has been on this whole preparation - from the timing of the pandemic, even to the delay of the event until this year - which led us to a place of much more desperate status in the body of Christ. The pastors and the churches were more willing to really engage," said Dr. Steve Mandell, who gave leadership to the local committee organizing the event. "We believe that this is a catalyst going forward to move through the churches and bring the churches together for God's purposes, in unity and commonality. The unity will really dictate the evangelism going forward for our community." The Rappahannock Area Celebration in Fredericksburg came on the heels of a multi-city outreach that Graham held on the island state of Tasmania, Australia, in May. More than 5,400 attended the Tasmania Celebration, with 616 registering a decision for Christ. In July, Graham will travel to South Dakota to preach the Gospel on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Rosebud Indian Reservation. About Will Graham Will is the third generation of Grahams to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ under the banner of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA). He is the grandson of Billy Graham and the oldest son of Franklin Graham. He also serves as vice president of the BGEA, and as executive director of the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove in Asheville, North Carolina. Follow Will on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. SOURCE Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) CONTACT: Erik Ogren, 704-577-2109, eogren@bgea.org Related Links bgea.org Thus, the government official called on the population to continue getting vaccinated and wearing face masks to prevent its spread. "We have already entered a fourth wave. Peru's positive rate has been more than 5%, which is beyond the acceptable limit, thus suggesting that a fourth wave has begun," Lopez remarked. "As we know, COVID-19 is present in many provinces and regions across the country, mainly in the capital city (Lima)," he added. In this regard, the minister said there has been an average of 1,800 positive cases per week in the past weeks, and not this rate has jumped to more than 11,000 cases a week. "We are encouraging people to attend vaccination centers (to get the shots) because this is the only way to prevent them from needing a hospital bed or even an ICU bed," he noted. Moreover, the Cabinet member reiterated the need to continue wearing face masks properly in crowded places. Given this situation, the Ministry of Health (Minsa) on Sunday issued an epidemiological alert due to the increase in COVID-19 cases and warned that the emergence of the new Omicron lineages, BA.4 and BA.5, is thought to be changing the epidemiological dynamics of the infection spread across the country. Minsa reported that an increase in cases has been observed across districts in Metropolitan Lima since Epidemiological Week (EW) 14-2022, adding that the percentage of isolation of BA.4 and BA.5 lineages was higher in the last four EWs, especially in the last one, which experienced a higher number of infections coincidentally. The government department stated that a steady increase in confirmed COVID-19 cases has been observed at the national level, going from 1,813 (EW 14-2022) to 11,177 (EW 23-2022) cases focused in Metropolitan Lima. Similarly, an increase in infections has been recorded in the regions of Ancash, Arequipa, Callao, Cusco, Junin, and La Libertad since EW 19-2022, while in Ica, Lambayeque, Lima, Moquegua, Pasco, Piura, and Tacna the increase has been observed since EW 21-2022. In this regard, Minsa urged public and private health facilities across the country to stay alert so as to detect positive cases in time, as well as to strengthen the national epidemiological surveillance system that will ensure timely investigation of cases. The recommendations will be in effect and updated based on the evolution of the acute phase of the current pandemic wave. (END) LIT/RMB Peru's Health Minister Jorge Lopez announced that Peru has already entered a fourth wave of COVID-19.Published: 6/27/2022 ? El Consejo de Ministros aprobo un proyecto de ley que crea un credito suplementario de 2 mil millones de soles para el otorgamiento de un bono alimentario, dirigido a la poblacion en situacion de vulnerabilidad ante la subida de precios de alimentos. ??? https://t.co/DRoiXnHpJM pic.twitter.com/TkcBf1AsMR YEREVAN, 27 JUNE, ARMENPRESS. The Central Bank of Armenia informs Armenpress that today, 27 June, USD exchange rate up by 1.08 drams to 409.64 drams. EUR exchange rate up by 2.98 drams to 433.52 drams. Russian Ruble exchange rate up by 0.02 drams to 7.69 drams. GBP exchange rate down by 0.10 drams to 502.63 drams. The Central Bank has set the following prices for precious metals. Gold price down by 152.69 drams to 24041.60 drams. Silver price down by 3.55 drams to 274.73 drams. Platinum price stood at 16414.1 drams. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. The Government of Armenia, in cooperation with the World Bank, the European Union and the United Nations Development Program, today launched the "Growth and Recovery for the Strengthening, Upgrading and Prosperity of Armenia" platform in support of Armenia's promising sustainable development, green recovery and growth, ARMENPRESS was informed from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Hambardzum Matevosyan. The discussion chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan was attended by World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus Sebastian Molineus, Head of the EU Delegation to Armenia Andrea Wiktorin, the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Sweden to Armenia Patrik Svensson, UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili, Minister of Economy Vahan Kerobyan, and representatives of other concerned structures. The goal of the GREEN Armenia platform is to combine and optimize policies and investment initiatives for the sake of Armenia's transition to green economy. Today's event was the first in a series of thematic dialogues jointly organized by beneficiaries to come up with innovative ideas and to learn about global knowledge, which is key to building resilience to climate change. Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan welcomed the participants of the discussion, emphasizing that the Armenian Government highly appreciates such initiatives in terms of summarizing the work done, learning lessons and outlining the next steps. This is best expressed in the Governments Action Plan 2021-2026, by which we have planned a number of measures, from increasing the share of green energy to the promotion of alternative vehicles, the introduction of related infrastructure, afforestation, and other necessary works, the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that on the way to building a modern low-carbon economy, Armenia attaches importance to ensuring an inclusive, participatory process with the active participation of international partners, the private sector, civil society, and academia. According to Sebastian Molineus, WB Regional Director for the South Caucasus, the GREEN Armenia platform will assist Armenia in its efforts to transition to a sustainable economy. "The green transition may be a stimulus for Armenia's economy, but it will be necessary to set priorities in cooperation with the private sector and international development partners and implement low- carbon, resource efficient policies and programs, in line with environmental goals," the WB representative said. According to EU Ambassador Andrea Wiktorin, the green agenda, which is considered one of the leading among the priorities set by the EU for Europe and the planet, implies much more than the reduction of emissions. "It implies systemic changes in economies, societies and industries. In the case of Armenia, this opportunity is clear. A greener economy will not only improve the quality of life of the Armenian people, but will also stimulate sustainable growth and new jobs," the EU Ambassador said, hoping that the GREEN Armenia platform will contribute to an open and transparent transition to a green economy. According to UNDP Resident Representative in Armenia Natia Natsvlishvili, making Armenia's economy greener is the right policy in these difficult times, it can serve as a national strategic framework to ensure an equitable and inclusive transition to sustainable, zero-emission, climate-friendly economy while minimizing potential challenges that can be faced by the affected population and communities. She reaffirmed the UNDP's readiness to combine efforts with the EU, the WB and other partners to assist the Government of Armenia in the fact-based, equitable and strategic policy of green transition, contributing to economic growth, human development and the unique natural capital of the country. During the discussions, the Government presented its vision for the transition to a green economy in Armenia and its policy on climate and environment, which will help strengthen Armenia's resilience. The representatives of the scientific-educational community, the public sector and international organizations presented their experience and position on the challenges and opportunities on the way to the transition to a green and resilient economy. Deputy Prime Minister Matevosyan praised the efforts and readiness of all partners and stakeholders to combine their knowledge, experience and resources for the sustainable growth of the country through the GREEN Armenia platform. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan made a statement to the press following the meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias, noting that no one and nothing can question the strong Armenian-Greek brotherhood. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of MFA Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan said, Dear Mr. Minister, My friend and brother Nikos, Ladies and gentlemen, First of all, I would like to thank my dear colleague Nikos Dendias for the warm hospitality. It is a great pleasure for me to be in Athens, especially as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Armenia and Greece. The dynamically developing interstate relations of 30 years between Armenia and Greece are first of all based on the millennial friendship, mutual assistance between our two peoples and common values. Armenians and Greeks lived, fought and created side by side. Our common path through the twists and turns of history has established a solid Armenian-Greek brotherhood, which cannot be questioned by anyone or anything. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my respect for the Armenian community in Greece and the Greek community in Armenia, and appreciate their significant contribution to the continuous strengthening of the relations between our peoples and states. Today, together with my colleague we discussed in detail the prospects for deepening the political dialogue, multilateral cooperation between our countries and outlined the joint work to be carried out in economic and trade, defence, cultural, scientific and other dimensions. We believe that there is a huge potential for strengthening the economic cooperation between Armenia and Greece. I think that the extensive bilateral legal bases and the works of the Armenian-Greek Intergovernmental commission will contribute to the full utilization of that potential. Dear colleagues, Armenian-Greek relations are developing not only within bilateral but also on multilateral important platforms. In this regard, I would like to highlight three important dimensions. First of all, the cooperation within the framework of the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral format was at the centre of our discussions. We consider this important initiative an effective tool for establishing stability, security and peace in the region, and are hopeful that through joint efforts it will serve the vital interests of our three countries and peoples. As Minister Dendias noted we have very important and concrete agreements regarding this format. Of course, in a rapidly changing world, the implementation of the programs in transport communication, which are the vessels of the modern economy, gradually become more important. In this regard, we emphasize the importance of signing of the multilateral agreement on the establishment of the Persian Gulf-Black sea international transport-transit corridor. I think that intensive work should be carried out in this direction together with the stakeholders and succeed in this direction too. We also exchanged views on issues on the Armenia-EU partnership and the Eastern Partnership. We stressed that the roadmap for the implementation of the Armenia-EU Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement provides great opportunities also for deepening mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation. Ladies and Gentlemen, Of course, today we referred to the issues related to international and regional security and stability. I presented to my colleague in detail the situation created around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the position of Armenia on the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability, the negotiations on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I also touched upon issues related to the processes of the unblocking of the regional economic communications and transport infrastructure, the works within the Commission of delimitation and border security and overall the process on peace agreement. I stressed the key role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in promoting the peace process for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia appreciates the position of Greece in support of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the mandate and within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. I would also like to seize the opportunity and thank my good friend Nikos, who visited Yerevan during the 44-day war and expressed the sympathy of Greece and the Greek people to us in that crucial period. We will never forget that gesture of a strategic partner. Dear colleagues, Unfortunately, more than a year and a half after the ceasefire, Azerbaijan continues its provocative actions against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, while the warmongering and expansionist rhetoric has become an integral part of the daily discourse of the leadership of Azerbaijan. Violating international humanitarian law and the obligations undertaken with the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan continues to hold the Armenian PoWs and civilians in captivity, while the fate of hundreds of missing persons, including dozens of enforced disappeared, remains unresolved. All the civilized countries of the world, I repeat, all the civilized countries, using all possible opportunities, should contribute, call and insist Azerbaijan to return our prisoners. Dear attendees, Throughout the millennia-long history, the Armenian people have created wonderful churches and monuments that are an integral part of the global cultural heritage. Today, unfortunately, part of this heritage is in danger of imminent destruction. As a result of the state-sponsored, official policy of the Azerbaijani authorities, we have desecrated churches, shattered monuments annihilated of their Armenian trace in the territories fallen under the control of Azerbaijan. Unlike many other such unacceptable cases, we can not say that the world is silent. The world, indeed, talks, and has expressed itself very clearly. One bright example of that is the the decision of the UN Court of Justice to apply provisional measures in 2021, which obliges Azerbaijan to end this policy. We expect a clear, targeted and continuous response of the international community to this behaviour of Azerbaijan and emphasize the urgency of the involvement of relevant international organizations in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially the implementation of the UNESCO fact-finding mission, which will be a significant step towards preserving this heritage. And, of course, today I want to emphasize once again that peace is our principle, our policy and strategy. We are really aiming to build a peaceful, secure, stable South Caucasus, we hope that our neighbour will restrain from its expansionist aspirations, and will demonstrate a more constructive position on all issues. Dear Nikos, Thank you once again for the warm welcome and substantive discussion. I will be happy to host you in Yerevan. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. According to Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan, Azerbaijan refuses to talk with the Armenian side and publicly accuses Armenia aiming to legitimize a new war against Armenia, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in a live broadcast on Facebook, answering the questions of media and NGOs. Asked whether the peace agenda in today's geopolitical realities has a real alternative in relations with Azerbaijan and even Turkey, Pashinyan gave a negative answer. It didnt have an alternative even yesterday, the day before yesterday. Its another issue to what extent we will be able to fulfil that agenda. It is very important to state that the establishment of peace cannot be a one-sided agenda, it must be a mutual constructive movement. My assessment is that there is no alternative, there was no alternative yesterday, there will be no alternative tomorrow. There is no alternative, and that is the reason why we have done, are doing and will do everything we can to open an era of peaceful development for Armenia and our region," Pashinyan said. He stressed that the alternative to the peace agenda is a new war. Azerbaijan refuses to talk, publicly accusing Armenia of refusing to talk. My assessment is one: it is done to legitimize a new war against Armenia. We do not have illusions about Azerbaijan's far-reaching goals and intentions, but even in this case, it is more important for us to consistently and patiently push forward the peace agenda. I have said many times that on this path we need strong nerves, balanced, maximum non-emotional state," the Prime Minister said, emphasizing once again that there is no alternative to the peace agenda. YEREVAN, JUNE 27, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is interested in advancing the processes of demarcation and delimitation of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border and unblocking of transport communications, ARMENPRESS reports Pashinyan said in a live broadcast on Facebook, answering the questions about the border delimitation process. In the recent period, the representatives of Azerbaijan are trying to create the impression that the Republic of Armenia is trying to delay also the work of the Commission on Border Delimitation and Security. Meanwhile, it should be noted that at the previous meeting, which took place on the Armenia-Azerbaijan border, a joint decision was made that the next meeting will take place in Moscow at least a month later, because the parties had stated that there is some work to be done based on the results of the discussions which would not be possible to do sooner than a month. Moreover, this was a joint proposal and a joint decision. But when we read the texts and headlines of Azerbaijan's statements, one may get the impression that Armenia avoids participating in that work. While the reality is totally different. I must state that in the past, in May, the Republic of Armenia has twice expressed readiness. There was even a preliminary agreement to start the sitting of the Joint Commission on Border Delimitation and Security, but they were postponed or delayed by the Azerbaijani side, Pashinyan said. According to the Prime Minister, with these steps Azerbaijan is trying to gain legitimacy for a new war against Armenia and Artsakh. The same is for the opening of the roads. Azerbaijan is constantly trying to create the impression that Armenia does not want to open communications in the region and implement the provisions of trilateral statements. But the reality is the opposite. And there is a key reality that in the last 30 years Azerbaijan and even more Azerbaijan has pursued a policy of blockading Armenia, in fact, Azerbaijan is the one that delays the process. Why? Because they thought that the policy of blockading Armenia was effective or at least there is no sense in making decisions now that would allow Armenia to overcome the blockade, the Prime Minister said, adding that as a result of the opening of transport communications, Armenia will get a railway connection with the Islamic Republic of Iran, Russia, Syunik region will get a railway connection with the northern parts of Armenia, etc. The Prime Minister stressed that Armenia is interested in advancing the process, but Azerbaijan is trying to do so that Armenia remains in the blockade, which does not correspond to the November 9, 2020 declaration. By Trend Azerbaijani Ambassador to Iran Ali Alizadeh met with Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mining and Agriculture of Iran, Gholam Hossein Shafe'i, on June 26, Trend reports referring to the Azerbaijani Embassy in Iran. According to Embassy, Alizadeh said that Azerbaijan is interested in developing trade, and economic relations with Iran, and emphasized productive cooperation between the two countries in transport, transit, energy, agriculture and other areas. Alizadeh noted that Azerbaijan did not close its border for transit and bilateral trade with Iran during the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, cargo transportation also was not interrupted. Alizadeh added that the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran increased by 30 percent in 2021 and by 20 percent since the beginning of 2022. He also emphasized the importance of the activities of businessmen and private companies in this issue. According to Alizadeh, the Ashgabat meeting between the presidents of Azerbaijan and Iran [has been held in Turkmenistans Ashgabat, on November 28, 2021 ] opened a new page in relations between the two countries, and signed an agreement on swap gas supplies, a new bridge across the Astarachay River and other similar projects are strong evidence of this. Alizadeh said that a 132-kilometer section of the Azerbaijani-Iranian border was liberated as a result of the liberation of Karabakh from Armenian occupation by the Azerbaijani Army under the leadership of the President, Supreme Commander-in-Chief Ilham Aliyev [during the 44-day Second Karabakh War]. The liberation of the border lines created new opportunities for expanding of cooperation between the two countries. Alizadeh informed Shafei about the large-scale construction and landscaping work being carried out in Azerbaijans liberated Karabakh and East Zangazur regions and called on Iranian companies to invest in liberated territories. Ambassador Alizadeh said that the construction of a railway cargo terminal in Astara [on the Azerbaijani-Iranian border] continues with the investment of the Azerbaijani government. He also emphasized the contribution of the Rasht-Astara railway, which will be built within the framework of the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC), to the expansion of transit and transport ties. He noted that the agreement signed between the two countries on the creation of transport and communication ties between the East Zangazur economic region and Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic through the territory of Iran will also play a big role in increasing transport and transit opportunities. Iranian chairman noted that the peoples of the two countries have common historical roots, culture, and traditions. According to Shafe'i, this led to the further development of bilateral cooperation. The sides also exchanged views on issues of mutual interest and joint projects. Western countries are reluctant to answer Russias questions about their mercenaries in Ukraine, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Sunday, Tass informs. June 27, 2022, 10:33 West unwilling to answer questions about its mercenaries in Ukraine Zakharova STEPANAKERT, JUNE 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: "As [Russian Ambassador to London Andrey] Kelin said, they [Western countries] are writing some provocative, boorish things. They dont want to answer the question we ask about their activities," she said in an interview with the Voskresny Vecher (Sunday Evening) with Vladimir Solovyov on the Rossiya-1 television channel, when asked whether the United States and the United Kingdom have contacted Russia concerning their nationals who are taking part in combat operations in Ukraine. According to Zakharova, the West is doing its utmost to continue the conflict in Ukraine as long as possible. "They are sparing no effort so that the conflict in Ukraine continued as long as possible. We remember what US 43rd President George Bush Jr said: Ukraines mission is to kill as many Russians as possible. <> They have endowed Ukraine and the Kiev regime with this duty. They are using (Ukraine - TASS) as an instrument and the entire logistics are centered round that - weapons supplies, sending people, anything to keep the conflict burning, as [UK Prime Minister] Boris Johnson told [French President Emmanuel] Macron today, to prevent the settlement of this situation. Otherwise, their plan will fail," she added. The European Commissions Ursula von der Leyen said in an interview with the German TV channel ZDF on Sunday that she was against a boycott of the G20 summit scheduled for this fall if Russian President Vladimir Putin attends it, reports TASS. June 27, 2022, 11:26 European Commissions head opposed to boycotting G20 summit if Putin attends STEPANAKERT, JUNE 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: We have to think very carefully about whether we paralyze the entire G20, so I dont support it, the president of the European Commission said on the sidelines of a G7 summit in Elmau, Bavaria. In my opinion, the G20 is too important, including for developing countries, she added. The G20 heads of state and government summit will take place on November 15-16 in Bali. The Group of Seven nations will undertake to support Ukraine indefinitely, Bloomberg said on Sunday citing a draft statement. June 27, 2022, 12:05 G7 nations to undertake to help Ukraine indefinitely STEPANAKERT, JUNE 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: According to the document, the G7 nations will continue to offer financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine for as long as it takes. According to the agency, the G7 leaders are looking at using proceeds from duties to help Kiev. The ongoing G7 summit in Germany is expected to yield at least four joint statements along with a final document. A three-day Group of Seven summit is being held in Germanys Elmau. The agenda is expected to focus on the situation in Ukraine and consequences of the anti-Russian sanctions. Germanys deputy government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said earlier that Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky will take part in the G7 summit via video link on June 27. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan met with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias in Athens during his working visit. June 27, 2022, 16:07 Armenian, Greek FMs sign Memorandum of Understanding STEPANAKERT, JUNE 27, ARTSAKHPRESS-ARMENPRESS: The bilateral relations, the latest developments in the Caucasian region, as well as the situation in Ukraine were on the agenda of the meeting. The Greek foreign ministry said that the sides reaffirmed the Armenian-Greek friendship and firm historical ties, as well as talked about the bilateral cooperation. Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation on EU-related matters was signed between the Armenian and Greek Foreign Ministries during the meeting, the Greek Foreign Ministry said on Twitter. Turkey hosted the first planning meeting for military exercise Eternity-2022. June 27, 2022, 17:34 Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia to hold joint military exercises STEPANAKERT, JUNE 27, ARTSAKHPRESS: Military exercises "Eternity-2022" will be held from 17 to 28 October 2022 with the participation of soldiers from Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, news.am informs. "The first planning meeting for the exercise was held Monday in Istanbul at the headquarters of the First Army Command with representatives from the defense ministries of the three countries," the Turkish National Defense Ministry said in a statement. Cayuga Counseling Services has been awarded reaccreditation by the National Children's Alliance following an extensive application and site review process. Accreditation is the highest level of membership with the alliance, which is the accrediting agency for children's advocacy centers across the country. It is awarded based on compliance with 10 national standards to ensure centers respond to allegations of child abuse in ways that are effective, consistent and put the needs of children victims first. In 2007, Cayuga Counseling and partners developed a multi-disciplinary team response to child sexual and physical abuse cases. The Child Advocacy Center in Auburn provides a multidisciplinary, trauma-informed, coordinated response to children up to age 18 who have been victims of sexual assault and/or severe physical abuse. Other members of the team include the Auburn Police Department, Cayuga County Sheriff's Office, Cayuga County District Attorney's Office, New York State Police, Cayuga County Child Protective Services, the Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital Child Abuse Referral and Evaluation Program and the Sexual Assault Victims Advocate Resource, the county's rape crisis program also located at the Child Advocacy Center. As an organization/team of individuals dedicated to responding to child abuse, we recognize the importance of maintaining Accredited status from National Childrens Alliance. Reaccreditation not only validates our organizations dedication to proven effective approaches of child abuse intervention and prevention but also contributes to consistency across the Childrens Advocacy Center movement as a whole, said Heather Petrus, executive director of Cayuga Counseling Services, in a news release. For more information, visit cayugacounseling.org. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In honor of Independence Day, The Citizen is providing unlimited access to all of our content from June 28th-July 4th! Presented by Cayuga Community College The hydrogen fuel cell (HFCV) is considered one of the most viable zero-emission technology, but the expansiveness of this fuel system is hindering the growth in this segment. However, a report by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) claims that patent filings for hydrogen fuel cell vehicles and related technology are growing fast around the world. The report also points out that China, Japan and Germany are among the frontrunners when it comes to filing patents for HFCVs. This comes as the automotive world is gravitating towards zero-emission technology. (Also Read: How to check engine oil level of your car) The WIPO report claims that the filing of patent applications in the hydrogen fuel cell sector has increased by nearly 23.4 per cent between 2016 and 2020. The report reveals that during the abovementioned period, China was at the top of the table with the most number of patents filed. Chinese innovators filed 7,261 applications related to hydrogen fuel cell technology. This amounts to 69 per cent of the total patents filed between 2016 and 2020. Innovators from Japan filed 1,186 applications, 11.3 per cent of the total, while Germany filed 646 patents, contributing 6.2 per cent. South Kore and the United States filed 583 and 403 patents related to hydrogen fuel cell technology, respectively. These two countries contributed 5.6 per cent and 3.8 per cent to the total patent filed during the time frame. FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on FOLLOW US:Stay Updated with latest content - Subscribe us on The report also claims that hydrogen fuel cell technology-related patent filings in the transportation sector currently are at the same level as patent filings related to EVs excluding hybrids. The hydrogen fuel cell is considered the true carbon neutral powertrain technology, as the only tailpipe emission from this is water. However, the precondition for carbon-neutral HFCV is green hydrogen. First Published Date: With Gasgoo Daily, we will offer daily important automotive news in China. For those we have reported, the title of the piece will include a hyperlink, which will provide detailed information. ORA Ballet Cat to hit market on July 12th ORA, the new energy brand under Great Wall Motor, will see the Ballet Cat going on sale on July 12th. The model comes with four trim levels, priced from RMB193,000 to RMB223,000 ($28,860 to $33,350). Presale of the model has already kicked off. Photo credit: ORA Honda ACCORD sales surpass 3 million vehicles in China On June 27th, Honda China announced via its WeChat account that the company has delivered the 3 millionth ACCORD to its Chinese users, setting a new record of Japanese mid-to-high-end sedan delivery in China. The model is also the first Honda-branded vehicle to realize such delivery volume in the country. SAIC Motor expects growth in June auto sales SAIC Motor disclosed via its investor communication platform that the company is working hard to recover its production and sales. It projects a positive growth in its June sales. Wuhan launches subsidies to boost NEV sales Wuhan, the capital city of Hubei Province, issued a new policy to boost the sales of new energy vehicles. Local consumers who trade in/scrap their old cars for new energy vehicles will receive a subsidy of RMB5,000/RMB8,000 per car. Consumers who purchase eligible new energy vehicles and register in the city will be given a gift package of RMB3,000 per car. 360 Security intends to transfer part of stake in HOZON Auto 360 Security Technology Inc. (360 Security) announced on June 27 its wholly-owned subsidiary, 360 (Beijing) Private Equity Management Co., Ltd. (360 Private Equity) intended to transfer the registered capital of around 79.994 million yuan ($11.965 million) it holds in HOZON Auto, equivalent to 3.532% stake in the NEV startup. AVATR, HUAWEI to launch four new models by 2025 AVATR inked a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement with one of its shareholders, HUAWEI, which bonds the two companies together in regards to resources, risks, and revenue. FAW Group invests in Horizon Robotics Chinas AI chip developer Horizon Robotics announced that it has received and completed the transaction of a strategic investment from FAW Group to strengthen its development. Changan, HUAWEI, CATL-backed AVATR launches CHN smart EV tech platform At the 2022 Chongqing International Auto Exhibition kicking off on June 25, AVATR, a high-end intelligent EV brand co-built by Changan Automobile, HUAWEI, and CATL, launched its smart EV technology platform CHN, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account. Leapmotors sedan to be deployed with radars from Chuhang Technology On June 27th, Shanghai-based millimeter-wave radar supplier Chuhang Technology announced that it had inked a cooperation agreement with Chinas electric vehicle startup, Leapmotor. Geely-backed ECARX, SiEngine showcase SE1000-powered demonstration vehicle Geely-backed ECARX and its automotive chip subsidiary SiEngine showcased their co-developed demonstration vehicle equipped with the SE1000 7nm intelligent cockpit SoC. Geely Holding eyes carbon neutrality across entire value chain by 2045 Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (Geely Holding) aims to achieve carbon neutrality across the entire value chain by 2045, according to the 2021 sustainability report it released on June 27. Alibaba granted open road test license for L4 autonomous trucks Alibaba announced that it was granted one of the first two licenses of driverless L4 autonomous driving truck road tests in China by the government of Deqing, Zhejiang Province. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- At the 2022 Chongqing International Auto Exhibition kicking off on June 25, AVATR, a high-end intelligent EV brand co-built by Changan Automobile, HUAWEI, and CATL, launched its smart EV technology platform CHN, according to a post on CATL's WeChat account. The CHN platform integrates the advantages of Changan Automobile, HUAWEI, and CATL in smart manufacturing of complete vehicles, intelligent vehicle solutions, and smart energy ecosystem. It is an evolvable and highly scalable platform that can give cars high performance, long range, strong computing power, high intelligence, and reliable safety features, said CATL. AVATR 11; photo credit: CATL The new platform will support the development of vehicles with a wheelbase of up to 3,100mm, and be compatible with various vehicle types like sedans, SUVs, MPVs, and crossovers. Both two-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive layouts can be generated on this platform. CATL said it endowed the CHN platform with its capabilities of batteries, energy management, and charging network. The first model based on the CHN platform, the AVATR 11, was showcased at the same time. The AVATR 11 will be powered by CATL's CTP (cell-to-pack) ternary battery pack, which allows two CLTC-rated range options, 680km and 555km. Assisted by a 750V high-voltage platform, the vehicle can get 200km of range on a 10-minute charge. According to Tan Benhong, Chairman and CEO of Avatar Technology, the AVATR 11 and a limited edition, the AVATR 011, will hit the market on August 8, and are expected for delivery this year. By Laman Ismayilova Azerbaijani photographer Agdes Baghirzada has made a presentation at the Italy-Azerbaijan Youth Forum on the influence of the aesthetics of Italian architects on the architectural boom in Baku at the outset of the last century, Azernews reports citing Trend Life. At the forum held in Baku, the public-cultural ties between Azerbaijan and Italy were touched upon, the speakers also shared their experiences of teaching Azerbaijani and Italian students in both countries, etc. Agdes Baghirzada presented a presentation that consisted of two parts: "Venice through the prism of an artist" and "Elements of Italian culture in Baku's architectural heritage in the XIX-XX centuries." During the presentation, she demonstrated Venice architecture through her photographs. Agdes Baghirzada also highlighted the architecture of the pre-revolutionary buildings. The photographer touched upon the visual cases of the influence of the Italian architects on the construction boom in Baku at the beginning of the last century. Agdes Baghirzade always pays great attention to projects related to Baku architecture. She has won the Humanity Photo Awards 2009, a competition held by the Chinese Folk Photography Association under the auspices of UNESCO. He also became the winner in the "Architecture" category, presenting a series of works dedicated to Icharishahar (The Old City). In November 2018, within the framework of the conference "Architecture and cultural heritage: towards the future through the preservation of the past" held in Baku, she presented three series of her works - "Baku Yesterday and Today", "Fantasy Bath" and "Melodies of the Old City". In April 2019, the French-Azerbaijani University (UFAZ) hosted a presentation of Baghirzada's photo project "Architectural heritage of Baku in the late XIX-early XX centuries". Agdes Baghirzada is one of the participants from Azerbaijan in the 59th Venice Biennale. She participated in the Biennale with the project "On the other side of me". This story was written in March 2022. Dear Reader, In a curious curl of fate and happenstance, there are three people from Flagstaff at the American University in Bulgaria (AUBG). Me, a regular Letter From Home contributor who teaches storytelling at AUBG. Kiril Kirkov, a Bulgarian-American who graduated from NAU and now also teaches here at AUBG. And the third is Ethan Perelstein, a 21-year-old, second-year student majoring in journalism and philosophy. From our university in southwestern Bulgaria, the Ukrainian border is about the same distance away as Los Angeles is to Flagstaff. The invasion of Ukraine has had a dramatic impact on our community. We feel directly affected, powerless, angered, despairing. I turn my column this week over to Ethan to share his story. ~ Laura Kelly My name is Ethan Perelstein. I was born and raised in Flagstaff where I lived until I moved across the planet to Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, 18 months ago. Aside from the language barrier and other culture shocks that come from moving to Eastern Europe, Blagoevgrad is a very comfortable fit for me. It has a population of 75,000, the trees turn yellow and red and orange in the fall, and its on a mountain; the closest ski slopes are a half hour drive from downtown. I moved here to attend the American University in Bulgaria, a liberal arts school with a student body smaller than Flagstaff High School the year I graduated. The students here are from 46 different countries; no two of my professors are the same nationality. On Feb. 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to invade Ukraine. About 25 of my friends and classmates here are from Ukraine. I spent that day running around our small, five-building campus. I wanted to find Ukrainians I knew or had classes with. I wanted to give a hug, handshake, kind words, something. Morale on campus was low that week. On the Wednesday after the invasion, students, professors, and staff descended on the main quad wearing blue and yellow and carrying protest signs. Our Russian students joined even though what they did that day could get them arrested back home. I covered the demonstration for the school newspaper and watched from behind a camera. A week later was spring break. I had plans to go to a music festival. Instead, I traveled to Poland to volunteer at the Ukrainian border with my friend Anastasiia and one of my journalism professors. Anastasiia is from Lyman, a city in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. She remembers when her family had to evacuate their home to live in a safer region for a few months in 2014 when Lyman was occupied during Russias first invasion of Ukraine. Since the invasion began, Anastasiia and I talked about it a lot. I think we shared a frustration that while war waged in a country whose border is so close by, all we could do was show solidarity. Well, for me it was just a frustration. For Anastasiia it was home. It was personal. Her family was still in Ukraine and she was stuck on campus with no way to help. We were on the Ukraine-Poland border for 10 days. Ten days of hard work, long travel, and little sleep. Every day Anastasiia was on the phone trying to coordinate the travel to get her mother and her two sisters out of Ukraine. She was on the phone with her mother or with a bus driver or with family friends to try to get her family to safety. Russian forces were gaining ground in the east, getting closer to her home. Our volunteer center was in Cieszanow, a city in southeastern Poland. The center was an abandoned factory occupied by volunteer organizations as a base camp for humanitarian efforts. Im not sure that they had permission to use the building. When the war started, Polish citizens and international volunteers decided that they needed to help. One of the volunteers called it productive anarchy. We spent a lot of our time unloading trucks from Ireland, Germany, Spain, Poland. We delivered food, clothes and medicine across the border. It was hard work. At night we stayed about 5 km outside of town at a cultural center. I slept on the hardwood floors in a concert hall with 30 of my closest Polish friends. There was a lot of snoring in a room designed for great acoustics, so I slept with earplugs. Maybe it was the earplugs, or maybe I was just so tired from the days work, but I didnt hear the shelling the night that Lviv airport was bombed just 20 km away across the border. After my lunch break one day, a family from Germany arrived with two minivans full of donations. They had gotten up at 4 am on a Saturday to drive across two countries because that's what they had. Thats what they could do. One night the volunteer coordinator sent Anastasiia and me across the border with the medical team. I have some basic first aid training, and Anastasiia speaks Ukrainian and Russian and and translated. Not many people were crossing that night. We didn't have any refugee patients, but soldiers came in and complained about a runny nose or chapped lips from the relentless wind and cold. Anastasiia called me out for chuckling at the idea of the soldiers coming into the small medical trailer with a Kalashnikov assault rifle strapped across their chest to ask for chapstick or nasal spray. Theyre still people, she said. During my time there helping, I had so many emotions--anger, confusion, grief, guilt. I still have them. I also felt that in some small way I didnt have any claim to those feelings. For Anastasiia, she was fighting for her country. For me, I was just in the neighborhood. Doing what I could. Originally a flatlander, Laura Kelly is a journalism professor who teaches writing and storytelling at the American University in Bulgaria. She lives in Flagstaff during the summer months and calls the city one of her homes. She uses Mary Olivers words as her manifesto: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Update: 27-06-2022 | 05:56:07 Australias foreign minister Penny Wong affirmed that Australia looks forward to deepening its bilateral relationship with Vietnam. Australias foreign minister Penny Wong As the two countries move towards the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, Australia and Vietnam have a dynamic partnership underpinned by strong business and community links, she said in an interview with Vietnam News Agency correspondent in Sydney ahead of her visit to Vietnam, scheduled for June 26. The diplomat said she will have meetings with Vietnamese leaders to discuss deepening these relationships. The starting point is always listening to understand Vietnam's perspective on opportunities and challenges facing the two countries and how Australia and Vietnam can jointly seize opportunities and respond to these challenges, she said. According to the Australian Foreign Minister, this includes supporting Vietnam's efforts to tackle climate change and achieve net zero emissions by 2050. The diplomat said the two countries also share ambitious goals to boost bilateral trade and investment ties. They are working closely together in the post-COVID-19-pandemic recovery. Australia has provided more than 22 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnam - the largest amount of vaccine that the country has provided to its partners. Wong affirmed that the strength of the relationship between the two countries is based on family and community links. Currently, there more than 300,000 Vietnamese people living in this country and Vietnamese is the fifth most spoken language in Australian homes./. VNA Connor Scoles has joined the Billings office of Sanderson Stewart after recently graduating from Montana State University with a bachelor's degree in civil engineering. A Billings native, Scoles will be working in the Commercial Group as a Staff Engineer. Scoles also an FAA-licensed drone pilot, joining the firms emerging group of experienced drone pilots. Dominic Neameyer has officially joined the team as a Project Engineer in the Residential Group. He is an alum of both North Dakota State and Texas A&M. Most recently he has been working on land development projects in the Houston and College Station, Texas area. Barrie Lynn Bryant of Kirby, Wyoming, has been awarded a $24,000 grant by the Wyoming Arts Council for photography. With his grant, Bryant will produce a documentary photography field work and teaching project that aims to assess, reveal, and offer solutions to pressing needs within Bighorn Basin communities. With his award, hes offering up to 40 residents of Wyoming (10 in each of the four counties of Park, Big Horn, Washakie, and Hot Springs) with a free documentary photography course. The Park County course meets at Meeteetse Museum from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting July 2. Other dates for Park County classes will be Jul. 9, 16, Aug. 13, 20, and Sep. 10, 17, and 24. Bryants other classes meet Tuesdays in Worland, Wednesdays in Thermopolis, and Thursdays in Greybull, and these are held at the town libraries in the evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. Contact Bryant to register for the course. Information may also be found on Bryants art website at https://www.merglennstudios.com/workshop/30421/documentary-photography-project-grant. Along with leading his classes, Bryant will also be completing his own photographs for the project. Bryant will be defining the boundaries of the Bighorn Basin and documenting the home-schooled community. According to Bryant, All participants will pick a specific community to photograph and then work toward telling that communitys story with their photographs. Everyone will then experience the joy of printing their own work in class using Bryants 17-inch wide printer. Bryant will provide all of the supplies for the class except cameras and camera devices which need to be brought by participants. Bryant will also present photo editing techniques and art principles as they relate to better photography skills, plus matting, framing and presenting photographs as art. Since he has extensive knowledge about picture frame history, Bryant will educate everyone about the importance of frames by showing examples of the work of Thomas Molesworth and others in western styles and then creating frames for the student work in these styles. Some of the best framed photographs will then be offered for donation to the Capitol Art Collection in Cheyenne at the end of Bryants grant period on November 30. That means participants will have the opportunity to be part of Wyomings public art collection in Cheyenne. For more information and to register, contact Bryant at his home studio (307) 864-2697, or by email at merglennstudios@yahoo.com. This project has been made possible with funds from the American Rescue Plan Act as distributed through the National Endowment for the Arts and Wyoming State Legislature. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 SEATTLE Amazon says it is providing $23 million to help minority-led organizations build or preserve more than 500 new affordable housing units in Seattle the latest spending by a tech company to ease a severe housing crunch the industry has helped create. The commitment comes from Amazon's Housing Equity Fund, a $2 billion initiative launched in January 2021. The fund has so far invested more than $1.2 billion to create or preserve over 8,000 affordable homes across three regions where the company has offices: the Puget Sound in Washington state; Arlington, Virginia; and Nashville, Tennessee. The high salaries tech companies pay have helped drive up housing costs in the cities where they operate, pricing many people, including teachers, nurses, firefighters and restaurant employees, out of the communities where they work. The industry was long criticized for failing to address that, but in recent years tech giants have taken big steps. In 2019, Apple committed $2.5 billion toward affordable housing in the San Francisco Bay Area; Google devoted $1 billion; Microsoft said it would provide $750 million in housing grants and investments in the Puget Sound region; and Facebook, now Meta, said it would spend $1 billion to help address the housing crisis in California by creating up to 20,000 new affordable housing units. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 A 58-year-old man is charged in northwestern North Dakota with murder in the death of a woman who authorities say died of a gunshot wound to the head. David Handeland, who officials say is from Minnesota but court documents list as being from Williston, also is charged with terrorizing for allegedly threatening the womans mother, according to an affidavit. It does not state the nature of the relationship between Handeland and the women or discuss a possible motive. The Williams County Sheriffs Office responded June 19 to a call of a shooting at a residence northwest of Epping. The body of Leslie Lyon, 25, was in a chair near a trailer house just off 127th Avenue Northwest in Williams County, the affidavit states. Authorities found a 9 mm casing outside another trailer and a 9 mm handgun inside. Lyons mother, Jennifer Zinsmaster, 54, told authorities Hindeland took one of her guns and shot her daughter, the affidavit states. She convinced Hindeland not to shoot her and was able to leave the area, authorities said. Court documents show Handeland is acting as his own attorney. His bail is set at $1 million. He faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted of murder. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 3 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A fundraising campaign to help North Dakotas sole abortion clinic move a few miles away to Minnesota has raised more than half a million dollars in less than three days. The Red River Womens Clinic in Fargo will have to shut down in 30 days as part of the states trigger law. The law went into effect Friday when the U.S. Supreme Court removed the constitutional right to abortion. Tammi Kromenaker, owner and operator of the independent clinic, says she has secured a location in neighboring Moorhead but stated earlier that she didnt know how she would fund the move. A GoFundMe page set up Thursday to benefit the transition had raised more than $515,000 from more than 6,000 donors as of late Saturday afternoon. Some homeowners on the growing northwestern edge of Bismarck are upset with the city's decision to rezone land in their residential neighborhood to make way for business offices, but the project developer says he tried to compromise with the neighbors and found it impossible. The City Commission voted on May 24 to change zoning for the Boden addition in the Boulder Ridge neighborhood on the east side of North Washington Street and the south side of East LaSalle Drive. The 20-acre area was previously zoned agricultural and single-family homes. It was changed to multifamily homes and businesses with constrictions. There are 52 lots, with 23 for small-scale business offices, 26 for single and multifamily homes, two for preexisting adjacent properties and one for water management. The offices have restrictions on size, design, landscaping, lighting, signs and type of businesses they can house. Practices such as real estate agents and chiropractors are allowed, but retail and food services are not. This was done to limit the impact of traffic. But traffic is still a big concern of area homeowners. "You can't take this one piece that is in the middle of our development and turn it into businesses and dense properties when theres only one entrance," homeowner Dawn Ulmer said. Developer Cam Knutson said the residential zone needed to be changed because it would be difficult to convince someone to buy a home just off busy Washington Street. He heard about boutique office buildings in Fargo and thought they could be a good alternative for the addition. He said having individual, small-scale office buildings would help small businesses find space that is just the right size. Knutson said he knew from his experience developing the Elk Ridge and Hawktree neighborhoods that getting the Boulder Ridge neighborhood on board with the plan wouldn't be easy. "I learned that if you develop near homes, there's almost always a battle, even if you're doing housing next to housing," he said. "So I knew that there was going to be a battle." Disputing zoning Some Boulder Ridge homeowners said having small offices is a sound idea, but their neighborhood of around 500 is not the right place for them. They acknowledged that development is bound to happen but argue that it should match the zoning they bought into. Joanne Monson said that when she moved to Boulder Ridge in 2007, she was sold a house in a quiet, upscale neighborhood with no indication that anything other than single-family homes would be built there. She said she never would have moved there had she known there were going to be office buildings in her backyard. "The last house we bought we were punks in our 20s and we ended up with a busy street. We thought we were being careful this time, and we were hoping for residential since it was represented as that and zoned as that," Monson said. "It's such a beautiful, picturesque place. I don't think it belongs to businesses." Ulmer and her family moved into their house next to Monson in 2014. Their back porch also overlooks the empty plot, and she said it was her understanding that the area would always remain residential. She said the city should keep commercial properties on the other side of Washington, farther away from houses. We always knew this would be developed, but there are already places zoned for dense development and this wasnt," Ulmer said. "You have to be able to trust zoning when you invest everything into a family home. This (addition) would be great somewhere else with zoning already in mind so people know beforehand what they are getting into." The plan for 23 office buildings created numerous concerns for some neighboring homeowners. Jamie Wagendorf, who lives on LaSalle, said he worries about how the offices will affect traffic on his already-busy street. He said the collector road has no stop signs, speed limit signs or speed bumps to mitigate traffic. He and others also worry that the offices will be across the street from Liberty Elementary School. Beth Nangare, who lives on Feldspar Drive, said the streets are already busy when she takes her daughter to summer school, and she's concerned about added traffic. Mayor Steve Bakken believes the safety issue has been blown out of proportion. He says there is no indication that the small offices will produce more traffic than would single-family homes. City decision Commissioners received at least 12 emails in opposition to the zoning change and heard multiple homeowners, including Ulmer and Wagendorf, testify against it during a public hearing. Commissioner Mark Splonskowski was the only one to publicly comment on the addition before the vote. He said though he liked the plan, he thought more time was needed to address the homeowners' concerns. Bakken, Commissioner Greg Zenker and Commissioner Steve Marquardt voted to approve the zoning change. Splonskowski voted against it. Commissioner Nancy Guy was absent. Homeowners said they were upset that there was no conversation from the other commissioners. "They didn't even look at us," Ulmer said. "Everybody at that meeting was absolutely shocked. It told us that our elected officials don't care about our needs." Bakken told the Tribune that the city cares about sound development that benefits the entire city. Ulmer said concerned neighbors had hoped that commissioners would vote to give them another chance to find a compromise since they were willing to work with the developer. But Knutson feels that sentiment was not true. The Boden addition plan is the result of a yearlong process and two other iterations. The first plan Knutson presented to city staff in early 2021 had 44 plots for business offices. Even though the plan had city staff approval, Knutson said, he pulled it after speaking with Boulder Ridge residents. "That could have been approved last June but we voluntarily pulled it," Knutson said. "You don't see that as often because it is a lot of time and energy. But I was ambitious in saying we were going to find a compromise, and we heard loud and clear that the neighbors wanted a park like Elk Ridge." Pondering parks Knutson last July began working with the Bismarck Park Board and came up with a plan that would have 36 offices and an 8-acre park as a buffer between them and the neighboring homes. Since there was already a 2-acre park planned a block east of the addition, the park board would have approved the proposal if Boulder Ridge residents were in favor of the bigger park, Knutson said. The park district surveyed neighborhood homeowners on whether they wanted the original park that would have cheaper special assessments but take longer to build, or the new park that would cost more but could be built right away. Knutson said a Nov. 3 meeting with city park staff and homeowners to discuss the park options turned into a 2 -hour "chaotic mess." "The staff was there to talk about the park, and so much of that meeting was (neighbors) focused on attacking the option we had," Knutson said. "The reality is this was a huge gift. From a financial perspective, this made no sense, but I was trying to find that compromise." Homeowners said the survey did not mention the 36 offices that also were planned with the new park, which they feel was misleading. They said the survey lacked transparency and made the new park option a Trojan horse. Park Board Commissioner Wayne Munson said during the April 27 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting that the park district could not weigh in on zoning issues, which is why the offices were not mentioned in the survey. "I feel bad that some residents might not have had that information but as a park district, (the park) was our only concern. Thats all we really could ask," Munson said. Homeowners rejected the 8-acre park plan with 113 voting for the old park plan and 69 voting for the new one. Ulmer said neighbors loved the idea of a park but voted against it after they were informed about the offices that came with it. Knutson was shocked by the results. "It took six months for the first version to go through the proper channels ... so to do that and then spend another five months working to offer them this option -- that we heard they wanted -- and have them turn that down was completely unexpected," he said. "And when they turned that down, you ask yourself how can you possibly have any chance of negotiating and finding compromise?" Third version Homeowners hoped they could continue to work with Knutson and said they felt blindsided when the current plan went to Planning and Zoning without any input from them. Knutson said with the park off the table, the mix of commercial and residential was the best he could do. "This third version we feel really good about because here we are putting in housing, which is what many of these individuals who were in the area said they wanted to see, and we almost cut our office concept in half," he said. Homeowners were disappointed when the Planning and Zoning Commission passed the plan 10-0, because they felt that the developers and landowners were being catered to and that their concerns were not being taken seriously. Mayor Bakken, who sits on the Planning and Zoning board, thinks the addition is a good infill project that can provide the neighborhood more amenities and walk-ability. "Your property rights are from your property line in, not out," he said. "We have some really good developers in this community. They tried to work with them for a plan, and the adjacent neighbors killed it." "We need to build neighborhoods, not just put up 450 houses, but build a neighborhood around those houses so it's a mix of commercial and residential and the green space," Bakken said. "Thats what this project is. If you want something different, go buy the land." Knutson said construction could start in a month or two, with dirt work wrapping up next spring. He wants to start building his own office as soon as possible. Some homeowners still want to fight for their neighborhood but are unsure how to continue. Ulmer said she was told the only way forward was through a lawsuit, which the homeowners are not likely to pursue. She said she and some neighbors are considering moving. Knutson said he still believes in the project despite the backlash and hopes that the neighborhood will come around to believing in it too. "We think this will be good for Bismarck; we need more things like this," he said. "Our mission is to prove these things correct. The negative feedback you get and the opposition you get ends up being a chip on your shoulder, like 'Were going to prove them wrong.'" Reach Alex Kautzman at 701-250-8255 or alexandra.kautzman@bismarcktribune.com. Love 2 Funny 3 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 6 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Next steps A public meeting is set for Medora, likely the week of Sept. 19, for library organizers to present their development plans for public comment, according to O'Keefe. The library's groundbreaking is set for June 2023, with construction planned for 2 years and a grand opening set for July 4, 2026. The 2019 Legislature approved a $50 million operations endowment for the library, available only after supporters raised $100 million in private donations, a goal met in 2020. Rob and Melani Walton, of the Walmart fortune, pledged $50 million towards the goal, but ultimately gave $15 million. It's unclear why. Library organizers still raised the $100 million, according to O'Keefe. He has not disclosed the total raised, but has said it is "in excess of $100 million." SIOUX FALLS, S.D. Former South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg, in his first public comments since being removed from office last week, appeared before a state ethics board Monday to press for an investigation of fellow Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, the person he blames for his impeachment over his conduct surrounding a 2020 fatal car crash. As attorney general, Ravnsborg last year filed a pair of complaints against Noem to the state's Government Accountability Board alleging she abused the powers of her office by interfering in a state agency as it evaluated her daughters application for a real estate appraiser license and by misusing state airplanes. The board, which is comprised of retired judges, has not decided whether to investigate Noem and is working with an attorney to evaluate the merits of the complaints. Ravnsborg appeared at the Government Accountability Boards meeting for the first time since he initiated the complaints last year and said he was ready to provide additional information. He made it clear he thinks an investigation could have far-reaching consequences for Noem, who is running for reelection after a first term that vaulted her to national prominence. She's widely considered to be a White House aspirant in 2024. Im not going to let this just drop. I think that they should pursue it and I do believe that, ultimately, the House will pursue it, Ravnsborg told The Associated Press, suggesting that Noem could also face impeachment for her actions. The former attorney general denied that he was out for revenge against Noem, although he blames her for his removal. Noem and Ravnsborg became political enemies after he struck and killed a pedestrian in 2020. Noem publicly called for Ravnsborg to resign and later pressed the Legislature to impeach him. The House eventually did, and the Senate last week convicted him of two charges: committing a crime that caused someones death and malfeasance for misleading investigators and misusing his office. Ravnsborg blamed emotion and political pressure for tilting the Republican-controlled Senate against him and said Noem sought his removal because he had filed the complaints to the Government Accountability Board. I think that among these two complaints and theres other scandals that shes involved in that she did not want the information to come to light," he said. Noem's spokesman Tony Mangan declined to comment on the board's proceedings or Ravnsborg's remarks. The board has tapped Sioux Falls attorney Mark Haigh, who primarily specializes in business and health care law, to help evaluate Ravnsborg's complaints. Haigh also has experience arguing before juries, administrative boards and licensing agencies. The Associated Press reported last year that the governor held a meeting in July 2020 that included her daughter and key decision-makers in her application for an appraiser license just days after the agency moved to deny the license. A Republican-controlled legislative committee concluded that Noem's daughter, Kassidy Peters, got preferential treatment. Noem has rejected that finding, saying her daughter followed the same process as other applicants. But the agencys former director, Sherry Bren, told the legislative committee last year that she felt intimidated at the July 2020 meeting, where she said Peters unsuccessful application was discussed in detail and a plan was formed to give her an unprecedented, additional chance to show she could meet federal standards. Noems office has said the plan was in the works before the meeting. Peters got her license four months later. Shortly after that, Bren retired under pressure from Noem's Cabinet secretary. She eventually received a $200,000 settlement to withdraw an age discrimination complaint. The attorney generals other complaint was sparked by a report from Raw Story, a news website. Noem in 2019 used state airplanes to travel to events held by political organizations including the National Rifle Association and the Republican Jewish Coalition, even though South Dakota law bars their use for anything other than state business. Noem defended the trips as part of her work as an ambassador for the state. The boards consideration of the complaints began last year and has happened entirely in private meetings. It could either investigate the complaints and potentially hold hearings or dismiss them entirely. The judges will meet next on Aug. 3. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 2 By Sabina Mammadli Representatives of political parties functioning in Azerbaijan traveled to the countrys liberated territories, Azernews reports. A total of 46 representatives from 40 political parties, as well as six well-known pundits, political observers, and media representatives, took part in the trip. The participants got acquainted with the demining work carried out by the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency in Jabrayil District. Idris Ismayilov, deputy head of the agency's operational department, briefed them on the mined areas, discovered mines, and unexploded ordnances. During the visit, the guests also get acquainted with the work done within the framework of the 'Smart Village' and 'Green Energy' projects in Zangilan, as well as visited the Basitchay State Nature Reserve. The visit is the fourth. Previously, such visits were organized to Agdam and Shusha. This way, the first joint visit of party leaders and political experts was organized on March 17 last year to Agdam, and the second joint visit was held on October 7 to Shusha. For the third time, the country's politicians paid a joint visit to attend the international conference on the Azerbaijani-Turkish strategic allied relations - a source of peace and stability for the Caucasus and the region on June 15 in Shusha. Such projects are aimed at creating a healthy atmosphere of cooperation and establishing constructive relations between politicians. Currently, the work is underway to restore Azerbaijan's liberated lands. Azerbaijan will rebuild its recently liberated areas in four stages. The initial stage includes the solution of the issues of governance and security, and infrastructure, while the subsequent stages include the solution of the issues of social services activities, reconstruction, and development of the economy. In 2021, Azerbaijan allocated $1.5 billion for the reconstruction of liberated territories, followed by AZN 2.2 billion ($1.2 billion) in 2022. These funds will be used primarily to restore infrastructure (electricity, gas, water, communications, roads, education, health, and so on) as well as cultural and historical monuments. State regulators are holding a public hearing Tuesday on a $390 million wind farm proposed near Wishek in south-central North Dakota. Orsted Onshore North America plans a project that would consist of 74 turbines for a capacity of 250 megawatts -- enough energy to power 70,000 homes. The company hopes to start construction on the Badger Wind project in September and complete it in October 2023. The project in Logan and McIntosh counties would include the wind turbines, access roads, electrical and communication infrastructure, a transmission line, up to three permanent meteorological evaluation towers, an Aircraft Detection Lighting System, and an operations and maintenance facility. The state Public Service Commission is tasked with permitting wind farm locations. The three-member panel will hold the public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Central time Tuesday at the Wishek Civic Center, 715 First Ave. S. in Wishek. People who want to comment on the proposed project must do so at the hearing to have their statements be included in the record and considered by commissioners when making their permitting decision. For more information, contact the PSC at 701-328-2400 or go to www.psc.nd.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 This is Up and Down, where we give a brief thumbs up or thumbs down on the issues from the past week. Up North Dakota's Health Department has ordered 5,700 doses of pediatric COVID-19 vaccine in the wake of federal health officials endorsing shots for children ages 6 months to 5 years. And more will be ordered, with an estimated 50,000 children in the state in that age group. Many people continue to be wary of the vaccine despite repeated assurances from health experts that it's safe. And State Immunization Program Director Molly Howell says the Health Department expects vaccine hesitancy on the part of some parents of infants, toddlers and preschoolers. But she also says many parents have been waiting for the vaccine to become available to that age group. It's good that option is now available. Down Instability along River Road north of Bismarck that has led to landslides and road closures in recent years needs to be fixed. Burleigh County has put concrete barriers along the problem stretch of road, and that helped mitigate the length of the closure after the most recent slide. But the county two years ago put on hold a study that would have brought in an engineering consultant. The city last year did pavement rehabilitation and slope stability improvements north of the Grant Marsh Bridge to address the Bismarck portion of River Road. The reconstruction between Keelboat Park and Burnt Boat Drive was spendy -- costing $1.1 million. But it was worth it. It's a heavily traveled road, and the county needs to follow the city's lead, before someone gets hurt. Up A survey last fall of North Dakota's mule deer population was discouraging -- the fawn-to-doe ratio was the lowest in nearly a decade, due to devastating drought. But the mild winter helped turn things around. The state Game and Fish Department's spring survey estimated a mule deer population 13% higher than last year and 34% above the long-term average. Big Game Management Supervisor Bruce Stillings says both fawns and adults had good survival rates over the winter. A string of bad winters in the late 2000s led to a four-year ban on the hunting of mule deer females in North Dakota. So any positive mule deer news is encouraging. Down The overly wet spring in eastern North Dakota has put Devils Lake flooding back into the spotlight. State Water Development Division Director Jonathan Kelsch says flows into the lake could set a record this year. It's already risen 3 feet this spring. That means the lake has swallowed more than 38,000 additional acres of land. The state in recent decades has built outlets on the lake's east and west ends to deal with chronic flooding in the basin. They've been ramped up again this spring. Let's hope they can move enough water off the lake to avoid a big hit to the region's economy. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation is helping fund a $12.5 million effort to boost grassland habitat throughout the Northern Great Plains. Program goals include putting about 62,000 acres of land under conservation easements, restoring 70,000 acres of wildlife habitat, removing or improving 44 miles of fencing to wildlife-friendly specifications, and conserving 31 greater sage grouse leks, or breeding grounds. Sage grouse, pronghorn and mule deer are among wildlife species in North Dakota expected to benefit. In addition to enhancing and conserving wildlife habitat for species such as the black-footed ferret and greater sage grouse, these projects also address climate resiliency and maintain healthy rural economies in partnership with tribal and ranching communities, said Jeff Trandahl, executive director and CEO of the foundation that was chartered by Congress in 1984. The foundation is awarding 18 grants totaling $5.8 million that will generate $6.7 million in matching contributions. The North Dakota Grazing Lands Coalition is getting $350,000 to improve livestock management practices on more than 50,000 acres to boost grasslands habitat. The North Dakota Natural Resources Trust is getting $500,000 to improve or restore more than 35,000 acres of rangeland habitat. Ducks Unlimited is getting $297,000 to support efforts to improve the capacity of 10,000 acres in the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming to sequester climate-warming carbon. The Mule Deer Foundation has been awarded a $270,000 grant to hire a habitat partnership coordinator in the Dakota Grasslands region. The goal is conservation projects to restore habitat for mule deer, sage grouse, pronghorn and other wildlife in western North Dakota, eastern Montana, northwestern South Dakota and northeastern Wyoming. The Dakota Grasslands habitat partnership coordinator will be our first conservation staff person with an emphasis on the eastern range of mule deer, which is dominated by private land with intermixed federal and state lands," Mule Deer Foundation Conservation Director Steve Belinda said. The new full-time staff position will work with the federal Bureau of Land Management; North Dakota Game and Fish Department; South Dakota Game, Fish & Parks; Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks; and Wyoming Game and Fish, as well as industry and conservation partners. Mule Deer Foundation chapters and partners have organized volunteer workdays to improve habitat in the Dakotas for years, according to Marshall Johnson, who serves as the foundation's director of field operations and leads the group's efforts in the Dakotas. The habitat partnership coordinator will boost those efforts, he said. "This will benefit mule deer but also hundreds of other species that depend on our native grasslands, he said. More information on the Northern Great Plains Program is at https://bit.ly/3ybhOiV. Full details of the 18 grants are at https://bit.ly/39JYFvb. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 As we continue our celebration of 20 years of The Beijinger, were taking a closer look at some of the expats who have been here for two decades and those who have had an oversized impact during their stay. The Beijinger may be celebrating 20 years, however, Joerg Wuttke is celebrating the 40th year since he first made his journey to the East from a small town in southwestern Germany. Wuttke is an intelligent and dignified delegate from whom I felt personally more enriched after meeting, hearing his expertise, and learning from his experiences in China and around the world. This world-traveled Respektsperson, Autoritat, and Experte (Respected Authority and Expert) is a melting-pot of wisdom, knowledge, and experience. Wuttke is the vice president and chief representative of the Beijing-based German agricultural chemical company BASF China, and his list of extracurriculars, associations, and interests add to the vast variety and breadth of this progressive gentleman. He is not afraid to speak his mind, stand up for whats right, and sometimes say things that are not going to make everyone smile, but he says, in his life, he is led by a moral compass. Not only is he a successful businessman, but he is also a family man who has raised three sons while living in the capital, making Beijing all the more special for him. What brought you to Beijing, and when? I came by train from Germany in the summer of 1982, traveling across the Soviet Union and Mongolia. I had been studying Sinology since 1980, and together with a couple of friends, we decided to get a real feel for China, instead of just sitting in dusty libraries translating books from the Han Dynasty (in long character). Opportunities in China were sparse given the closed nature of China, and the lack of educators who had any real-life experience in China. What were some of your first impressions of the city? As I arrived at the train station one of my first unforgettable impressions was a huge portrait of Mao. The picture is now gone, but I will never forget gazing at it when I first arrived. I marveled at the big and empty streets, filled with seemingly millions of bicycles. The people wore almost exclusively blue and green clothes. We lived at the university on the northwest side of the city, and we often spent our evenings sitting at the empty Main Street looking at the horse-drawn carriages bringing food to the capital. Beijing was a city of bicycles back in the 1980s Did you imagine at that time that youd still be here 40 years later? Not in my wildest dreams, I never would have thought I would stay more than 30 years in Beijing, three years in Shanghai, and one year in Taipei. Can you tell us about one of your quintessential first experiences in the city? The shock of tasting real Chinese food for the first time on the train restaurant after we crossed the border from Mongolia. In Germany, I loved going to Chinese restaurants, yet the cooks were primarily from Southeast Asia. Im happy to say my taste buds were delighted by this first meal, and I found myself singing the praises of Sichuan and Hunan cuisine. I also developed a palate for more flavors, and it was fun to dine with Chinese friends. None had been abroad and there were no newspapers and certainly no internet 40 years ago, so their curiosity was sometimes overwhelming, but they were always humble and sensible young people. As I think back, I am so nostalgic remembering the China of old. Wuttke and his son visiting the Forbidden City in 1988 Whats changed the most since you first arrived? Everything has. The infrastructure, cars everywhere, and so many people drinking coffee. Also, ladies have now moved from wearing only green and blue-clad dresses with just two hairstyle options, short for married women, braids for unmarried girls, to now some of the most fashionable in the world. But also, the Chinese became more materialistic and stressed, the pressure today on peoples lives is much more profound. How do you think Beijing has changed you as a person? Beijing has humbled me in many ways, especially in my work, with the speed of changes, and the unexpected demands as a manager working among workaholics. Also in my personal life, with all the expressions of appreciation and love that my kids always experienced in Beijing. I raised three boys here, and my adopted daughter from India was also with us for a while. My children were always treated kindly. Foreigners were also few and far between in '80s Beijing, as this photo of curious onlookers gathering around a group of foreigners in Tian'anmen Square What are some of the main reasons why Beijing continues to be a draw for you to this day? In 40 years in this city, I have never had a dull day. Never! I do love spending time in my slow-moving southwest German village, and who knows, I might retire there. Will I survive the slow pace? Not sure, especially since Beijing is so stimulating. But I am 63 now, and I noticed a stronger need for nature and calm. Maybe Beijing may not be where I retire, but I was privileged to spend most of my adult life in the capital of China, witnessing the largest economic comeback story in global history. What are your three favorite places in the city? I will tell you one magical place, Ritan Park, which has three enchanting things to do there. 1. Seeing old men swinging cages with birds. 2. Onlooking while people draw Chinese characters on the ground with water. 3. Watching Beijing opera being performed in the many corners of the park. Do you have any hobbies? I'm a big fan of jazz, and I like jazz for a few reasons. One is that it combines discipline and rhythm with individuality. With three small boys I dont go watch live jazz much anymore but often listen to Charlie Parker, Keith Jarrett, and Billie Holiday at home. I find that A Bu stands out as one of the most promising pianists of the Chinese jazz scene. Wuttke (right) and his wife (left) with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier Are you still doing what you came here to do 20 years ago? More or less, but with the wonderful spin on life that every day is different. I still head a major German chemical company in Beijing, but our economic footprint is very different from 2002. We are now building a US 10 billion plant in Guangdong, which is the single largest foreign investment in China. I also chair the EU Chamber which now has nine offices and 1,800 members; compared to early days after founding it in 2000 with 50 friends. I had so much luck in my time in China, and I experienced a rich life, which is also full of its low points, but for everything I am grateful Whats one piece of advice you might have for relatively recent arrivals? My advice would be to travel through the provinces, try to pick up some survival Chinese, and I must say; read about Chinese history, read about Chinese philosophy. I was hooked to the books of Jonathan Spence, Simon Leys, and Lucian Pye. And be exposed to as much of the history and philosophy as you can. READ: 20 for 20: Early Years Educational Consultant & Music Enthusiast Michele Camargo Images courtesy of Jeorg Wuttke After the Roe decision was announced, Republican Governor of Arizona Doug Ducey tweeted, "Roe v Wade was a poorly-reasoned ruling that had no Constitutional basis. The Supreme Court has made the right decision by finally overturning it and giving governing power back to the people and the states. I am proud that Arizona has been ranked the most pro-life state in the country. Here, we will continue to cherish life and protect it in every way possible." People immediately clapped back at this utterly ludicrous claim. One person cited a Children's Action Alliance article that shows exactly how hypocritical it is for Ducey to claim Arizona as the most 'pro-life state in the country': "In Arizona, 15% of children live in high poverty areas compared with the national average of 9%, and in 2019, 9% of Arizona children are without health insurance compared with the national average of 6%." Others cited Arizona's dire COVID statistics from the AZDHS30,452 dead and 2,109,053 cases thus farwhich many blame on Ducey's inaction and ineffectiveness regarding COVID mitigation strategies (and more specifically, the lack thereof). Others cited a study from 2019 from the Annie E. Casey foundation that found that Arizona is one of the worst states in the US for the health and well-being of children. And a Twitter user named Neem tweeted, "Your son made me take plan b after we hooked up but carry on." I don't know if this last point is true, but if so, hypocritical much, Duceys? Meanwhile, on Friday night at the march for reproductive freedom in Phoenix capitol that I attended, police pepper sprayed the peaceful protestors, an inclusive all-ages crowd that included children and babies. Maybe Ducey should sit this one out. While attending a three-day G7 summit to discuss the war in Ukraine, Boris Johnson and Justin Trudeau lightened the mood by cracking some jokes at Vladimir Putin's expense. As world leaders sat around a table prepping for a photo shoot, Johnson asked if they should strip off their clothes, Putin-style. "Jackets on? Jackets off? Shall we take our clothes off?" the UK prime minister said, referring to a shirtless 2009 photo of Putin, which the Russian dictator used to dupe Fox News pundits into thinking a bare chest signified real leadership. "We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin," Johnson quipped. "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display," Canada's Prime Minister Trudeau said, joining in on the fun. "There you go! There you go!" Johnson said. "We've got to show them our pecs!" The world may be in shambles, but the leaders of the G7 summit managed to have a laughat the expense of Vladimir Putin and a 2009 photo of him riding a horse shirtless in the Siberian mountains https://t.co/mFi0fgoUrO The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) June 26, 2022 Front page thumbnail image: Willrow Hood / shutterstock.com Snowflake Rudy Giuliani nearly cracked his head and died after being "attacked" by a passerby in a supermarket (see harrowing video above). Or at least that's what the disgraced former Trump attorney is bellowing on about after a market employee slapped him on the back yesterday. "I feel a shot on my back like somebody shot me. I went forward, but luckily I didn't fall down," the skittish New York mayor-turned-slipper peddler said. "I mean, suppose I was a weaker 78-year-old and I hit the ground, cracked my skull, and died." (Yes, and suppose I walked outside and, from out of nowhere, a bolt of lightning struck me in the skull and I died.) "My back hurts, but otherwise I'm able to walk and stuff like that," continued the Big Lie promoter, who is still battling ongoing defamation lawsuits brought against him by Dominion Voting Systems. "He almost knocked me down. Thank God for a 78-year-old, I am in pretty good shape." The "assailant," who was an employee of ShopRite on Staten Island, where Giuliani was campaigning for his son, Andrew, was arrested and "charged with second-degree assault," according to Axios. Nobody has the right to aggressively touch another person, but it's hard to believe from the market's surveillance footage that Giuliani's life was in danger. "I've been in politics 50 years, I've never been attacked like this," the assault survivor said. If only everybody could count themselves so lucky. Here's his follow-up about the incident (video below), in which he doubles down, claiming, "I got hit on the back as if a boulder hit me. It knocked me forward a step or two. It hurt tremendously." Yep, that's exactly what it would look like if a boulder had been shot into his back. Despite video evidence contradicting his original statement of events, Rudy doubles-down this morning: "I got hit on the back as if a boulder hit me. It knocked me forward a step or two. It hurt tremendously." pic.twitter.com/h4QsHZGBPo Ron Filipkowski (@RonFilipkowski) June 27, 2022 Front page thumbnail image: mark reinstein / shutterstock.com Last week, a woman called police to report a suspicious figure lurking in her yard. Apparently a Facebook group for police scanner enthusiasts commented about it being a possible Bigfoot sighting. From the Macomb Daily: Officers searched the area but did not find a sasquatch or anything resembling the fabled large, hairy, ape-like creature. Shelby Township police could not offer details on the search or the report Saturday because, according to a dispatcher, all of the officers who were working with the bigfoot sighting occurred were done with their shift and not available. By then, local media outlets grabbed on to the Bigfoot story, apparently annoying police. At least that's what the Shelby Township police would have us believe, given the press release they issued: Bruce Nisbet, the longtime president and CEO of Spectrum Health and Human Services, is retiring Aug. 19, kicking off a search for the next leader of the Orchard Park-based behavioral health and addiction counseling agency. Once Nisbet retires, Associate CEO Cindy Voelker will become interim president and CEO until the board-led process for appointing the agency's next leader is completed. When Nisbet took the helm of Spectrum in 2004, the organization served only Erie County and employed about 120 people. Today, it provides services across seven counties and has about 380 employees. Its revenues also have grown rapidly, from about $7.4 million in 2004 to $32.1 million in 2020, the most recent figures available for the nonprofit that dates to 1973. Spectrum is one of only 13 certified community behavioral health clinics in the state, which means it provides comprehensive behavioral health care to patients regardless of their ability to pay. It's a designation that also opens the door to additional funding opportunities. Evergreen Health, Spectrum Health partnership would create combined $157 million nonprofit Its been a very dynamic year for Evergreen and Im excited to have the opportunity to explore a partnership with Spectrum Health, said Evergreen President and CEO Raymond Ganoe. And last September, Spectrum Health and fellow nonprofit Evergreen Health announced their "intent to explore a strategic affiliated partnership," which would allow the two nonprofits to expand their services while saving on back-office costs to operate more efficiently. That deal isn't yet complete. "I have had a wonderful 54-year career in the human and behavioral health services field, and these last 18 years of being a colleague in this amazing agency have been by far the very best of my entire work life," Nisbet said in a statement announcing his retirement Monday. "I was proud to be part of the team that built some significant projects," said Nisbet, 74. "When I look back after I retire, it will always be with a sense of pride of having been part of Spectrum Healths growth and success that our entire team has created." Before he joined Spectrum, Nisbet was president and CEO at the Children's Home in Binghamton. Prior to that, he held various positions, including chief operating officer at Gateway-Longview in Williamsville. Spectrum said Nisbet's wife, Patti, also recently retired from a faculty position at the University at Buffalo. The couple lives in Clarence and plans to remain in Western New York. Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Two for-profit Western New York nursing homes that were docked by the state Health Department a few months ago have been fined again. Dunkirk Rehabilitation & Nursing Center was hit last month with a $10,000 fine related to an investigation that found staff failed to perform a lifesaving procedure on a resident who later died. That fine came just three months after the Dunkirk nursing home, at 447 Lake Shore Drive W., received a separate $10,000 penalty after a resident sustained a burn from an electric baseboard heater that was situated too close to the bed. Williamsville Suburban also recently got its second fine of 2022 from the state Health Department. The nursing home, at 193 S. Union Road in Amherst, was penalized $8,000 due to a lapse in Covid-19 infection control protocols, one of many facilities to get fined for that over the last couple years. Williamsville Suburban also was hit with a $10,000 fine in January related to not reviewing the drug regimen of residents frequently enough. The amount of the fines is noteworthy by state standards. Health Department spokesperson Jeffrey Hammond said, under state law, nursing homes can be fined up to $2,000 per citation, a fine that can be increased up to $10,000 if the violation directly results in serious physical harm. So far this year, nearly 70 fines have been issued to New York nursing homes, totaling $482,000, state records show. By comparison, over 100 fines totaling more than $800,000 had been issued by this point in 2021. Of the 70 fines this year, 11 have gone to Western New York nursing homes, totaling $106,000. Dunkirk Rehabilitation and Williamsville Suburban, the only local nursing homes to each receive two fines so far this year, did not return requests seeking comment. Dunkirk Rehabilitation has an overall federal rating of two stars, or below average, while Williamsville Suburban is a one-star facility, or "much below average." Dunkirk Rehabilitation & Nursing Center A March 11 inspection at the Dunkirk nursing home which led to the recent $10,000 fine found staff failed to provide cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or CPR, to a resident. At 4:30 a.m. on an undisclosed date, staff found a resident unresponsive without a pulse, respirations or blood pressure, with bubbling excretions coming from the resident's mouth, according to the state. The state inspection found a licensed practical nurse, or LPN, failed to initiate a Code Blue emergency response to get additional help and also did not call 911. The LPN, the state said, also failed to provide CPR for "a resident who was a full code," a status that means a person has stopped breathing or their heart has stopped beating. During an interview with the state, the LPN said it was a judgment call to not perform CPR as the resident had no detectable vital signs, according to the inspection report. What the LPN did do was attempt to call the facility's nursing director, who was on sick leave and did not answer the phone. In an interview with the state, the nursing director said if a full code resident is found unresponsive, CPR should begin immediately especially in the presence of active bubbling. The LPN also dialed the on-call physician, who pronounced the resident dead at 7 a.m., the inspection states. The state's inspection report also provides insight into the state of staffing at the 40-bed nursing home. The state's review of the nursing schedule for the date of the incident showed only one LPN and one nurse aide scheduled for that night shift. No registered nurse was scheduled, and the schedule did not state who should be contacted when no RN is on site, the inspection found. The state said the Dunkirk facility took several corrective actions following the inspection, including: educating all LPN and RN staff on the appropriate Code Blue response; implementing a reporting system for times when there is no on-site registered nurse; and making all LPNs and registered nurses aware of the notification and reporting process, with a system that includes names and contact information posted at nurses' stations and by the time clock. The state found the facility administrator did not ensure a registered nurse was "scheduled eight consecutive hours per 24-hour period, as required," and did not designate a temporary replacement for times when the nursing director was off for an extended period. Further, when reviewing the facility's daily reports, the state discovered that there was no evidence that a registered nurse was scheduled for eight consecutive hours on 33 days over the course of four months in 2021 and 2022. Williamsville Suburban The 220-bed Williamsville Suburban nursing home became the latest facility to get cited for infection prevention and control during the Covid-19 pandemic. The $8,000 fine issued May 17 to the facility was tied to a Jan. 14 inspection, which found two certified nurse aides did not use appropriate personal protective equipment, including masks, eye protections, gloves and gowns, while providing care for four residents. Kaleida's HighPointe nursing home fined $40K for Covid-19 violations The recent HighPointe fine is the largest so far this year among the penalized nursing homes in the state. But it is not the only recent penalty levied against Western New York nursing homes. No negative outcome resulted from the improper use of protective gear during the interactions, but the state required the facility to implement a corrective plan by Feb. 22, which included reeducating direct care staff on infection control and proper use of personal protective equipment. Since March 2020, the Health Department has conducted more than 4,200 infection-control inspections at nursing homes and adult care facilities with at least one visit to every nursing home and adult care site in the state. Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris. Buffalo Next Must-read local business coverage that exposes the trends, connects the dots and contextualizes the impact to Buffalo's economy. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The process of army-building is underway at an accelerated pace after the Second Karabakh war, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev said addressing the solemn ceremony dedicated to the transfer of the combat banner of the military unit of the commando, as part of a visit to the Kalbajar region, Trend reports. Will be updated Amtrak service from New York State to Toronto, suspended because of Covid-19 concerns, resumed Monday for the first time since March 2020. The first train from New York's Penn Station and other New York cities bound for Toronto was slated to cross the Canadian border just before 5 p.m. Monday after departing Niagara Falls, N.Y. It was bound for Toronto's Union Station in a return to Amtrak's traditional partnership with VIA Rail Canada. Amtrak is delighted to welcome passengers back on board the Maple Leaf, connecting New York City and upstate New York with Toronto and Ontario, said Roger Harris, Amtrak's executive vice president for marketing and revenue. Amtrak said at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic that it would suspend its Maple Leaf service to Toronto, though the train continued in New York State between Niagara Falls and Penn Station. Adirondack service between New York City and Montreal was also affected, with no trains working above Albany. Amtrak said Monday, however, that it is slated to soon resume the suspended service north of Albany (where stations have remained open) en route to Montreal. In addition to the standard entry documentation requirements, the Canadian government requires passengers to use the ArriveCAN app before travel and wear a mask in Canadian stations and on board trains while traveling through Canada. Greyhound Lines also has resumed service from downtown Buffalo to Toronto. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Brent Roberts has a hard time discussing the 13 stolen veteran grave markers at Sacred Heart Cemetery in Wellsville without getting heated. "It gets my blood pressure going," said Roberts, Commander of the Wellsville American Legion Post 702. "There are a lot of upset people with loved ones up there." The graves are believed to have been defaced on June 12. The Wellsville Police Department is looking into a financial motive for the thefts. "It's kind of a sick cash grab," Wellsville Police Chief Timothy O'Grady said. "We have a few leads we're looking into, but nothing concrete at the moment." The grave markers are made of bronze. Many stolen items contain metals such as bronze, copper and aluminum and are converted to valuable scrap metal. Wellsville Police are checking local scrapyards for people attempting to sell grave markers. One scrapyard notified police about a recent collection of grave plaques being brought in, but they were not connected to the Sacred Heart thefts. The Allegany County Sheriff's Office is not involved in the investigation, but did offer to assist if needed, according to Undersheriff Scott Cicirello. The sheriff's office is monitoring the situation to make sure this was an isolated incident. Sacred Heart is a Catholic cemetery that is owned by Immaculate Conception Church. The cemetery does not have security cameras on the premises, but increased security measures are being considered, according to Kate Rahr, business manager of Immaculate Conception and Sacred Heart. "It was totally unexpected," Rahr said. "We've never really had anything happen like this before." Rahr notes that the plaques are hard to remove, and the offender would have used a heat gun or something similar to remove the adhesive holding them in place. Roberts' believes after speaking with a plaque-maker about the difficulty of removing them that the theft was likely done by more than one person. The Allegany County Veteran's Agency placed orders for new grave markers that will be installed free of charge. The American Legion is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest. It started at $2,000 and has grown to $13,000 through additional donations, including $2,000 from the Wellsville Elks Lodge. "The response has been overwhelming," Roberts said. "Everyday, I'm receiving pledges, $100 here, $500 there. The community's come together like I thought they would." The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 49-year-old Buffalo man whom prosecutors previously called an associate of mafia and organized crime figures in Buffalo pleaded guilty Monday to drug, gun and Covid-19 fraud counts. Joseph C. Bella III faces anywhere from 37 to 57 months in prison, depending on whether U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara follows the sentencing guidelines agreed to by the prosecution and defense and how he rules on aggravating and mitigating factors. Attorney Thomas J. Eoannou, who represents Bella, disputed Bella has connections to organized crime, and prosecutors did not bring up the issue during the plea hearing. "This case started out with the government alleging Joe was a mafia associate involved in organized crime," Eoannou told The Buffalo News after the plea hearing. "This case has nothing to do with the mafia. At the end of the day, this plea is about a minuscule amount of drugs, gummies and marijuana and a 40-year-old shotgun that was given to him and the financial crimes." In all, Bella admitted to five counts. The drug count possession with intent to distribute and distribution of cocaine carries a maximum possible sentence of 20 years in prison and a $1 million fine. The gun charge possession of a firearm and ammunition by an unlawful user of controlled substances comes with a maximum possible prison sentence 10 years and a fine of $250,000. And each of the three wire fraud counts related to Covid-19 fraud also carry a maximum possible prison sentence 20 years, plus a fine of $250,000. "At the end of this aggressive prosecution, he's facing a sentencing range of 37 to 46 months," Eoannou said, assuming the judge rules favorably for Bella on sentencing factors. According to the indictment against him, Bella and a family member ran a Buffalo medical staffing company called Medcor Staffing Inc. that made false statements when it purchased 5,000 Covid-19 test kits from a company in Utah. Bella was a 25% owner of Medcor, and his mother owned the remaining 75%, with Bella acting as president and overseeing Medcor operations. His mother had no role in Medcors management or operations, according to court papers. The medical staffing company employed nurses and nurse assistants and then contracted with medical providers to provide nursing services through its employees for a fee. Bellas company purchased the kits for $8 each after falsely claiming that Medcor was a government-approved laboratory with cold storage facilities for the tests and facilities for analyzing the tests. "In fact, Medcor was not an end user of the Covid-19 test kits and was not a laboratory capable of safely and accurately processing the Covid-19 tests," according to the plea agreement. Had the Utah company known that Medcor was not a high-complexity laboratory, or that Medcor intended to resell the Covid-19 tests, the company would not have sold them to Medcor, Assistant U.S. Attorney David J. Rudroff said at the plea hearing. Bella falsely and fraudulently represented to the Utah company that Medcor would not re-sell the tests. But on March 29, 2020, Bella posted on his personal Facebook page advertising that he, through Medcor, was selling the FDA-approved Covid-19 tests. Bella offered to sell the Covid-19 tests to an undercover federal agent for $30 per test, or more, depending on quantity purchased, according to the plea agreement. The 5,000 spoiled Covid-19 test kits were found in a cooler on a table in the company's break room, Rudroff said. Bellas pandemic fraud went beyond sales. He also admitted to false claims on applications that allowed him to illegally receive $91,600 in federal disaster loans through the U.S. Small Business Administration and $66,097 from the federal Covid-19 relief Payroll Protection Program. On April 23, 2020, federal agents raided his home and office, seized $114,063 from his business account as evidence of fraud, and charged him with possessing drugs, a shotgun and ammunition. According to the indictment, the agents recovered a digital scale, scissors and a plastic spoon and straw containing cocaine residue. Agents also recovered a plastic bag from the inside of the toilet tank in his residence with a white substance caked on it, determined to be cocaine, but water had infiltrated the bag so law enforcement officers could not accurately weigh the cocaine. A grand jury indicted Bella on eight counts stemming from the raid that found the drugs and shotgun, the indictment over the pandemic fraud included 17 counts. In the plea agreement, the U.S. Attorney's Office also indicated that Bella will be require to pay restitution of $253,347, with the Small Business Administration to receive $215,997 and KeyBank to get $37,350. Sentencing is scheduled for Oct. 7. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A polling place worker pleaded guilty Monday to stamping Byron W. Brown's name as a write-in candidate for mayor against the Democratic nominee, India Walton, on multiple ballots in November, the Erie County District Attorney's Office said. Luz Pena, 59, of Buffalo appeared in court before Buffalo City Court Judge Andrew C. LoTempio and pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor count of attempting to commit a crime against the elective franchise. Poll worker charged with prestamping Byron Brown's name on ballots A poll worker was charged with a felony for allegedly prestamping ballots with Byron Brown's name in the hotly contested mayoral election last fall that Brown won as a write-in candidate against the Democratic nominee, India Walton, the Erie County District Attorney's Office announced Tuesday. She was sentenced to an unconditional discharge and was ordered to pay $100 fine. Pena had been charged with a felony and faced up to four years in prison. On Nov. 2, 2021 Election Day Pena was working at a polling place inside the Belle Center on Maryland Street in the City of Buffalo. She stamped multiple ballots with Brown's name on the ballots. A West Side voter alerted the elections board that she had been handed a ballot that already had Brown's name on it, though it was not stamped in the proper box for write-in votes. I took it back up to the table and said, Hey, I noticed, like, did somebody stamp these? And shes like, Oh yeah, I went through and stamped them all, said the voter, who identified herself as Allison. She said at the time she didn't want her last name to be used because she has small children and didn't want to get involved in the divisive mayoral race. She said it didn't appear to be anything "covert or malicious." The Erie County Board of Elections dismissed a team of poll workers at the Belle Center after receiving an allegation of a ballot that was prestamped for Brown, The Buffalo News reported in November. At the time, both the Brown and Walton campaigns said there was no evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities. Brown waged a successful write-in campaign last summer after losing to Walton in the June primary to win a fifth term as the mayor of Buffalo. His "Write Down Byron Brown" campaign included distributing thousands of stamps with his name outside polling places. The guilty plea comes as another case related to last year's mayoral race returns to court Tuesday, also before LoTempio. Judge allows polling place case against Betty Jean Grant to proceed Judge Andrew C. LoTempio rejected a motion from Grant's attorney to dismiss the charges, but suggested prosecutors may face issues proving accusations of harassment and an election law violation. Former Erie County Legislature Chairwoman Betty Jean Grant is charged with a misdemeanor and a violation. She is accused of violating state election law on Oct. 23 during early voting inside the Delavan Grider Community Center when she allegedly encroached on the space of a voter who was marking her ballot, in what county prosecutors have described as entering "an occupied voting booth." Grant who also streamed video of the incident on Facebook Live, "observed the preparation of another person's ballot," according to the DA's office. Grant has maintained she recorded the incident because she believed a woman improperly volunteered to help a voter fill out her ballot. The woman who helped the voter was a supporter of Brown, while Grant was a supporter of Walton. Carolette Meadows, the Brown supporter, said she was helping two elderly sisters who did not know how to use a rubber stamp to write in Brown's name on the ballot. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A judge on Monday convicted a Town of Tonawanda man of vehicular manslaughter, but acquitted him of murder in the March 2019 killing of an elderly woman who was buried under rubble in her apartment after he crashed his car into her building. Family members of Lida C. Alminate sat silently in the courtroom as Erie County Court Judge James Bargnesi delivered his verdict in the bench trial of Edward T. Harris. Suspect's mental health takes center stage in murder trial over fatal 2019 crash Prosecution and defense experts offered differing opinions about the Edward T. Harris' 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. Harris, 36, who had been charged with second-degree murder and second-degree vehicular manslaughter, crashed his Kia Soul into an exterior wall of the Ken-Ton Presbyterian Village Apartments on Delaware Avenue while driving at a speed of 83 mph, police testified during this trial. While watching TV, Alminate, 94, was buried under debris inside her first-floor apartment. She died four days later. The impact of the crash was so great that debris crashed into the apartment across the hallway from Alminate's unit. Prosecutors said Harris was impaired by marijuana at the time of the March 26, 2019 crash, while Harris' defense attorneys argued that Harris had other mental health issues and was taking a medication that led him to experience psychosis at the time. Harris' conduct was "egregious," District Attorney John Flynn said Monday after the judge issued the verdict. "If you have issues and you happen to be high, you cant get behind the wheel," Flynn said. "You have to stop yourself from getting behind the wheel." Harris was prescribed medical marijuana for treatment of back, knee and foot pain, his wife testified last week. When the trial began in April, Erie County's former chief toxicologist testified that the levels of THC the main psychoactive component of marijuana in Harris' blood showed he was impaired. The levels of two active THC compounds were 5.1 micrograms per liter and 7.6 micrograms per liter, Christine Giffin testified. An accepted study in the field of toxicology found that more than 80% of people in the study were impaired when THC levels in their blood were 2.5 micrograms per liter, she said. An expert witness for the defense testified that Harris also was taking a prescription medication, modafinil, a stimulant used to treat people with sleep-related problems. Taking modafinil can lead to psychosis, and Harris had many additional risk factors for psychosis at the time of the crash, including other health issues, Dr. Gundu Reddy testified. Judge told THC in blood shows impairment, but defense in murder trial says other factors ignored New York State does not set a numerical legal standard for the amount of THC in a person's blood that allows them to be considered impaired. Robin Harris, Harris' wife, also testified last week that her husband, who had previously been treated for mental health issues, experienced deteriorating mental health in the months leading up to the crash. Shortly before the crash, as the couple was watching a movie at home, Edward Harris threw a plate against the wall and started saying things that didn't make sense, Robin Harris testified. As she prepared to drive Harris to the psychiatric emergency room, Harris got in the car and sped away, she said. Harris, who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, was triggered by a scene in the movie, Dr. Gary Horwitz, an expert witness for the prosecution, testified. The judge scheduled sentencing for Sept. 6. Harris faces a sentence ranging from probation to up to seven years in prison. "We thought the evidence that came in, especially that of the experts, completely negated any possibility of a vehicular manslaughter (conviction) based on the marijuana," said defense attorney Frank LoTempio III, who represented Harris with Jennifer Runfola. Based on what was presented at trial, LoTempio said he will make what he believes is a strong argument for a sentence of probation. Prosecutors asked the judge to order Harris be kept in custody until sentencing, but Bargnesi allowed him to remain released on bail. Reach Aaron at abesecker[at]buffnews.com or 716-849-4602. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A growing number of politicians and community leaders think the time has come to drop East Side from Buffalo's geo-vocabulary. Their preferred choice? East Buffalo. Masten Common Council Member Ulysees O. Wingo Sr. has even filed a resolution calling for the change, calling it a crucial step to change the narrative of neighborhoods east of Main Street. Gov. Kathy Hochul has begun using East Buffalo during her visits to the city, with her spokesman calling it more appropriate and equitable. One pastor said the new term could change the whole paradigm within that geographic location. NAACP Buffalo Chapter President Mark Blue also agreed that the change is needed. We need to distinguish because the words East Side and West Side have negative connotations," Blue said. "North Buffalo does not. You know North Buffalo. You know South Buffalo. So we need to have that same and let me put it this way equality of expression when it comes to describing our communities. But others scoff at the notion. Its silly talk, a subtle name change that most people wouldnt even pick up, said Henry Louis Taylor, director of the Center for Urban Studies at the University at Buffalo and a professor of urban and regional planning. A killer put their ZIP code in the spotlight. But in the 14208, 'All we see is hope' Its a vibrant part of this neighborhood and this community so were trying to rebuild, said one business owner on Jefferson Avenue, near the Tops Friendly Market where policy say a gunman shot and killed 10 people all Black and wounded three others Saturday afternoon. Taylor says he uses the terms interchangeably. "Sometimes Ill say 'East Buffalo.' Other times, Ill say 'West Side,' he said. My own view is its a lot to do about nothing. Wingos resolution calls on Buffalo representatives in city, county, state and federal governments to replace the East Side label with East Buffalo. The "East Buffalo" term includes the name of the city not just a side of something, Wingo said. Its East Side and West Side, but then its North Buffalo and South Buffalo," he said. "Its not the South Side. Its not the North Side like in other areas, but its South Buffalo. Its North Buffalo." But Taylor said elected and community leaders should focus more on tackling the "real problems" of substandard housing and aging infrastructure such as streets and sidewalks. "The idea that if you say East Buffalo and West Buffalo and North Buffalo and South Buffalo you put all of these areas on the same plane is more silly talk, he said. Others cautioned about those from outside the communities taking it upon themselves to brand geography. The idea that were going to change someones neighborhood name or geographic name to meet some political objective just doesnt make a whole lot of sense, said Jason Knight, an assistant professor in SUNY Buffalo States Department of Geography and Planning. Its not our decision as researchers and the media, and certainly not elected officials decision because theyre temporary in those jobs to determine what someones neighborhood should be called," Knight said. "I think thats inappropriate. Not so new, actually Buffalos eastern portion is large and varied. It includes all points east and south of Main Street, stretching to Cheektowaga to the east and bounded by the Kaisertown neighborhood in the south. The swath of geography includes more than a dozen neighborhoods, including those with their own identities that residents value, such as Hamlin Park, Kaisertown, Lovejoy and Broadway-Fillmore. The idea of using East Buffalo has been talked about in the past, but gained more attention after the racist mass shooting May 14 at the Tops Markets on Jefferson Avenue. Ten people all Black were killed. The accused gunman put the street, the community and its 14208 ZIP code in the international spotlight because he wrote that he chose the area for his murderous rampage specifically because it is home to so many Black people, according to authorities. About 78% of the residents in the 14208 ZIP code are Black, according to the U.S. Census. Christopher Byrd, publisher of Fillmore Broadway Alive, has been saying East Buffalo for about 10 years. He got the idea from maps dating back to the early 20th century. I saw it a few times, and I said, You know what? Instead of calling it East Side, why dont I call it East Buffalo and refer to East Buffalos Broadway-Fillmore neighborhood, he said. I just thought it was a neat way to focus on it being Broadway-Fillmore, instead of just calling it East Side. The growing use of East Buffalo is a good idea, he said, but he prefers to attach the name of a specific neighborhood to it. I think it sounds cool. Theyre not going to change anything really," he said. "Its been called East Buffalo before. It can be a nice offshoot of it to include the name of the neighborhood, he said. Others say they dont need to hear East Buffalo to feel like theyre part of the city. They would rather be identified by their neighborhood. The terms East Side and East Buffalo are too broad and are not a good fit, said Art Robinson, president of the Seneca-Babcock Block Club for the past 22 years. I like it being called like Seneca-Babcock, Clinton-Bailey, Kaisertown, said Robinson, referring to neighborhoods in the Lovejoy Common Council District. Those are all specific places that people are so familiar with. East Buffalo can be a big area. You say Seneca-Babcock, they know exactly where that is. Just call us by our neighborhoods, Robinson added. People are proud of their neighborhoods. Thats why they use the names. Cortasia Solomon-Carter, president of the Floss and Freund Block Club in the Lovejoy district, warns against "just clumping us all together." "You have some people like myself that live in Schiller Park," she said. "People like their area. They make it more of a home front. Its more comfortable. It gives them a community." Whether calling it East Side or East Buffalo, "now you just make us all one demographic and it kind of takes away the camaraderie of it all and the community of it all." Gauging the impact Keys to restoring the Jefferson Avenue community extend beyond the neighborhood Long-term plans must be developed to tackle root problems of the entire East Side, including substandard housing, health inequities and outdated infrastructure, among other problems, East Side residents say. Advocates of dropping East Side and West Side in favor of East Buffalo and West Buffalo say they are realistic about the impact of the name change, given the crime, poverty and poor educational outcomes in some of the neighborhoods there. No, its not going to solve all problems, said Buffalo Deputy Mayor Crystal Rodriguez-Dabney. Im not naive. But it is going to be the beginning of a conversation that were west and east and not something on the outskirts. Is it going to reduce crime anywhere? No. Is it going to address education? No. But if we can start feeling like were a part of the city, I think that does something to make us feel better. The deputy mayor and others including Hochul, Mayor Byron Brown, Erie County Legislature Chairwoman April Baskin and some civic and faith-based leaders have taken to saying East Buffalo now. The best way to change a persons mindset is to change how others identify with him or her, said Pastor Timothy Brown, president of the Baptist Ministers Conference of WNY. There is power in what we call people, places and things, and so I believe that as we come out of this horrific massacre of people of color in Buffalo Black people I believe that its time now for that change to take place. So in the reclassification of what we call East Buffalo, I truly believe it gives us an opportunity to change the whole paradigm within that geographic location. Baskin said she's not calling on anyone else to use the term. Its her personal choice. A simple rebranding is obviously not going to be the only solution to these deep-rooted issues, she said. "But change in our community will not be possible until outsiders start to view it through a different lens. The solutions to these problems will come from real public investment and developing programs and approaches that disrupt the current paradigm. But securing those things will only happen when we start to view these neighborhoods and communities as part of our community. East Buffalo is a way of affirming that they are a part of Buffalo an attempt to stop othering us and to start viewing them as fellow community members who need our help. Wingo also sees benefit to the mindset of those who live in the neighborhoods. Its not going to have a direct impact, the council member said of his East Buffalo terminology. But it will have an indirect impact on the mindset of the people who live in East Buffalo because theres a lot in a name ,and with it being referred to as East Side, there was this negative connotation that went along with it, and it actually became an epithet. We all know that folks who come (to Buffalo) all say, Dont go to the East Side.' The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mary Anne Jackson has marched in Washington and stood in silent protest outside Buffalo-area abortion providers. She never figured she would see the day the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 1973 ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. I think its very overdue. Weve been praying for a long, long time, years and years, Jackson said. Hochul sees NY as abortion 'safe harbor,' but that's no sure bet Legal experts on both sides of the abortion issue said Friday that by overturning Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that found abortion to be a constitutional right, the justices opened the door to an unpredictable new era where states will go in radically different directions on the issue. The Catholic Church has been on the vanguard of efforts to dismantle Roe v. Wade for nearly 50 years. Jackson and several other parishioners expressed relief and gratitude following a Mass Sunday morning at Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna. Their prayers finally had been answered. The courts 6-3 ruling that ended a constitutional right to an abortion was a sign that God wants to straighten out the world and bring people back to God and religion, said Jackson, a retired nurse. I think a lot of babies are going to be saved because of this, added Marie M., a parishioner of St. Gregory the Great in Amherst who declined to give her last name. Marie M. said she grew up praying for an end to abortion with her mom and sister outside a Main Street clinic for women that offers abortions. She went to her first March for Life in Washington at age 10 and returned six other times. While overturning Roe is a big deal, she said abortion opponents still have much more work to do. Ultimately whats going to end abortion is the change of hearts, she said. But some Catholic women in Western New York expressed mixed emotions about the ruling and worried that it was a step too far, too fast. Catherine Hetzler, attending Mass at OLV, said she was frustrated by the Catholic Churchs hyper focus on abortion, at the expense of other social justice issues such as gun control and care for the poor. The homeless person who dies under a bridge, his life is just as important as an unborn child, she said. The church absolutely should be preaching and lobbying against gun violence, she added, but has done little, and the country continues to be plagued by mass shootings. The bipartisan gun safety law signed last week in the wake of mass shootings at a Tops supermarket in Buffalo and at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, was a tepid response at controlling guns, she said. The whole thing about assault weapons not being banned, its ridiculous, said Hetzler. There are so many issues about life that are not being paid attention to. Three-quarters of U.S. Catholics say abortion should be illegal in some cases but legal in others, according to the latest Pew survey in May. One in 10 say abortion should be illegal in all cases, with no exceptions, while 13% say abortion should be legal without exceptions. Antoinette said she was torn over the Roe decision, as well. The parishioner at St. Gregory the Great in Amherst declined to give her last name. She said she wished the justices had taken a more measured approach in their ruling, instead of all or nothing. Ending a life thats viable is a horrible thing and should be regulated, said Antoinette, a teacher. But there are different reasons that an abortion may be necessary to protect a womans life. Antoinette also worried that the church was so caught up in the abortion issue that it has ignored other problems. Theres other social justice issues that need to be looked at. If youre respecting all lives, then youre respecting all lives, she said. A lot of people dont think the racial injustices are real, and I think they are and theyre being overlooked. The Catholic bishops of New York State, including Bishop Michel W. Fisher of the Buffalo Diocese, released a joint statement on Friday extending gratitude to millions of heroic Americans who have worked tirelessly toward this outcome for nearly a half-century. The bishops said the ruling was a judicial victory, not a cultural one and acknowledged that the culture remains deeply divided on the abortion issue. To change the culture and build a culture of life, we need to enact family-friendly policies that welcome children, support mothers, cherish families and empower them to thrive, the statement said. Priests leading the 10 a.m. Mass at OLV and the 12:30 p.m. Mass at St. Gregory the Great did not mention the Supreme Court ruling. Priests in some other parishes made only brief remarks about it. The Buffalo Diocese sent a memo on Friday to priests urging them to take precautions in the event abortion rights protesters showed up at area churches, but a diocese spokesman said late Sunday that there had been no reports of any protests or disturbances at weekend Masses. It wasnt known if vandalism of statuary at St. Margaret Church in North Buffalo between Wednesday night and Thursday morning had anything to do with the abortion ruling, which had been anticipated following a leak to media in May of a draft court opinion. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The two Democrats challenging New York Gov. Kathy Hochuls bid to keep her job criticized her Tuesday for her past backing from the National Rifle Association and the deal she reached to spend hundreds of millions of taxpayer money on a new stadium for the Buffalo Bills. Hochul, appearing in her first debate Tuesday night, defended the stadium deal and said she her positions on guns had evolved in the 10 years since she got a favorable rating from the NRA. She is being challenged by U.S. Rep. Tom Suozzi of Long Island and New York Citys elected Public Advocate Jumaane Williams. Did you know there's a primary this Tuesday? Did you know there's another one on Aug. 23? Thanks to a long and testy path to determine New York's new congressional and legislative districts, the Erie County Board of Elections must host two primary elections for voters this summer. Many county residents are learning this fact for the first time. Election 2022 coverage: Primary day Primary Day is today. Here are some stories to keep you informed about the candidates. For more information about polling, visit elections.erie.gov. According to Board of Elections poll worker Darlene James on Saturday, more than half of the 300 early voters at the Delavan-Grider Community Center were not aware of the second primary in August. And upon learning of it, some voters doubted whether they'd participate because they did not know how the vote would affect them, she said. Questions have abounded even among those aware of the dual primaries: Why are they split? Do we have to vote twice? Who's involved in each? "I am concerned about August," said James, who has worked with the Board of Elections for 11 years. During Tuesday's state primary, registered Republican and Democratic voters will choose candidates for governor, and Erie County Democrats will vote for county clerk. Incumbent Gov. Kathy Hochul will be challenged by Democrats Tom Suozzi and Jumaane Williams, while a field of four on the Republican ballot features Harry Wilson, Lee Zeldin, Rob Astorino and Andrew Giuliani. Incumbent Antonio Delgado runs against Diana Reyna and Ana Maria Archila for lieutenant governor for the Democrats, while Alison Esposito has already advanced out of the Republican Party for lieutenant governor. Incumbent Michael "Mickey" Kearns squares off with Eden Town Supervisor Melissa Hartman in an unusual Democratic primary for county clerk. The early voting process, which began for Erie County on June 18, ran through Sunday. There is no early voting on Monday. On Aug. 23, party voters will choose their candidates for open positions in Congress and the State Senate in a primary that was delayed due to a tumultuous state redistricting process. The general election is Nov. 8. Democratic Elections Commissioner Jeremy J. Zellner said Saturday that voters are still coming to terms with a primary in June. Tuesday's vote will be the third iteration since 2019 when state primaries were moved to June to join the federal races on one ballot. That was intended to simplify voting, save money and increase turnout. But in 2022, voting remains confusing for some New Yorkers. Ralph M. Mohr, the Republican elections commissioner, said Friday that early voters began to grasp the concept of two primaries this year. "People are starting to get a little more clarity as to what this primary is for," Mohr said. "Certainly the court cases didnt help anything by creating this second primary." Mary Prohaska said she didn't know about the second primary in August until Sunday, when she was voting at the Hamburg Moose Lodge on Church Street and a Buffalo News reporter asked her about it. "I am not aware of it, or don't know the details about it. It makes me feel lost and a little bit abandoned," said Prohaska, 36. She said there was no mention of a second primary when she checked New York State's election site before she headed to the polls Sunday. "I went on the site before I came in here to look up my ballot. I went on a couple of pages on that site," she said. "You'd think one of them, I would've seen something about it." But she didn't. And that lack of transparency was not lost on poll workers at the Moose Lodge, as well. The consensus among the workers, who declined to give their names, is that the Board of Elections could be doing more to make the public aware that there are two primaries and why there is even the need for both. Clear messaging becomes crucial for the Board of Elections, but also for community organizations like the Buffalo NAACP, which actively recruits residents to vote each year. "It's especially difficult in the African American community, the minority community, to get out and vote twice," said the Rev. Mark Blue, president of the Buffalo chapter, after casting his vote at Delavan-Grider on Saturday. "It's going to be double work, a lot more money and knocking on doors to let people know the difference, that because of redistricting, it just worked out that way." Blue, who called the primary setup "confusing" and "unfair" because of redistricting, was concerned some residents would vote only once, if at all. The early voting process, which was instituted in New York by former Gov. Andrew Cuomo in 2019, gives voters some flexibility to exercise their rights. "We now have 30 election days," Zellner said of the early voting period for all of the contests. "We had two days before." Three-way Democratic primary for lieutenant governor draws attention With Gov. Kathy Hochul expected to cruise to victory in Tuesday's Democratic primary for governor, the party contest for lieutenant governor is shaping up as the more compelling race. Erie County offers universal early voting, where registered voters do not need to vote at the polling location closest to them, but can vote at any of the 38 sites, as ballots are printed on demand at each location. According to elections commissioners, 1,531 ballots were cast Sunday on the ninth and final day of early voting for the June primary, bringing the overall early-voting total to 11,163, or 2.5% of the 447,203 voters eligible to participate in Tuesdays primary. Turnout in early voting among Democrats had been heavier than among Republicans, which is consistent with past elections, Mohr said Friday. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday, when voters must cast their ballots at their assigned polling places. Polling locations, voting data and more is available at elections.erie.gov. The need for a second primary in August resulted from a roller-coaster congressional redistricting process filled with accusations of gerrymandering and legal appeals. The need to redistrict was straightforward: Population shifts from the 2020 U.S. Census reduced the number of New York's elected representatives from 27 to 26, prompting redrawn districts. After an initial bipartisan panel failed to reach a consensus on how to draw the new lines, an attempt by the State Legislature's Democratic majority was declared unconstitutional by State Supreme Court Justice Patrick F. McAllister, a decision that was later upheld by the Appellate Division of the State Supreme Court on April 27. McAllister then set the date for the state's congressional and legislative primaries for Aug. 23, and a federal judge blocked Democrats' appeal. The redrawn maps that designate the 26 congressional districts were finalized May 20, too late to hold a June primary given the time required to mail out ballots. News reporter Angelea Preston contributed to this report. Ben Tsujimoto can be reached at btsujimoto@buffnews.com, at (716) 849-6927 or on Twitter at @Tsuj10. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A man accused of shooting at Buffalo police officers faces an attempted murder charge that could send him to prison for 25 years to life in prison if he is convicted. Nakeem Haynes, 27, of Buffalo, was arraigned Friday in Buffalo City Court on one count of attempted murder in the first degree, according to the Erie County District Attorney's Office. He remains held without bail and is scheduled to appear in court Wednesday for a felony hearing. Officers Jake Michienzi and Hao Tran were on patrol on June 17 when they came upon a shooting at 1057 Broadway St. Haynes allegedly shot and killed Atlas Johnson, 63, at that location. The officers pursued Haynes in their vehicle. Haynes is accused of firing one shot that broke through the patrol vehicle windshield and struck Michienzi's gun holster. He is also accused of shooting at the officers when they chased him on foot, according to a release from the office. Michienzi and Tran fired 21 shots at Haynes during the pursuit, according to police officials. The shooting wounded Haynes, and the officers detained him on Playter Street. Haynes was taken to Erie County Medical Center after the officers allegedly administered first aid to him. Buffalo police body camera footage captures tense moments: 'You're going to get shot!' Body camera footage released Thursday by Buffalo police, although jerky and hard to see at times, shows a tense police call in which two police officers can be heard yelling commands as they ran through open lots Friday and eventually shot a man suspected of fatally shooting someone just minutes earlier. The Buffalo Police Department released body camera footage of the shooting on Thursday. Both Michienzi and Tran's cameras started recording after Haynes allegedly shot at them through their vehicle. Both officers are on administrative leave, which is standard policy for Buffalo officers involved in shootings. Haynes remains hospitalized at ECMC for his injuries. The homicide and the police shooting of Haynes remain under investigation. The Buffalo News: Good Morning, Buffalo The smart way to start your day. We sift through all the news to give you a concise, informative look at the top headlines and must-read stories every weekday. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Our positions on the border with Armenia will be further strengthened, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Victorious Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Ilham Aliyev said addressing a solemn ceremony to hand over the battle flag to the commando military unit as part of his visit to Kalbajar district, Trend reports. "We are now stationed all along the border. Military units have been established on all our borders. In the year and a half since the end of the war, we have worked day and night to strengthen our army, equip it with more modern weapons, secure favorable positions along the border and settle down there, and we have achieved that. Six months ago, the first commando military unit was opened in Hadrut. The second commando military unit is opening in Kalbajar today. The opening of further commando military units is on the agenda, as thousands of Azerbaijanis will serve in these armed forces. This will increase our strength. The Azerbaijani Army is even stronger now, after the war, both in terms of supplies and combat capability. Therefore, we will continue to take serious steps for the development of our Army. New contracts have been signed for the purchase of the most modern weaponry. These contracts are already being implemented, new weapons and the most modern equipment are being imported into Azerbaijan. Our positions on the border with Armenia will be further strengthened. If Armenia still clings to its old tactics in the process of demarcation and tries to prolong it, it will regret it. We are closely watching the actions of revanchist forces in Armenia. Let them know that too. My words are written at the top of that mountain: The Iron Fist is in place, let no-one forget about that." the head of state said. Praise and lament for the overturning of abortion rights filled sacred spaces this weekend as clergy across the U.S. rearranged worship plans or rewrote sermons to provide their religious context -- and competing messages -- about the historic moment. Abortion is a visceral issue for deeply divided religious Americans. Some are sad or angry in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts seismic Dobbs v. Jackson decision Friday. Others are grateful and elated. At St. Paul Cathedral in Pittsburgh, the Very Rev. Kris Stubna discarded his planned Sunday homily and focused on the decision, calling it a day of great joy and blessing. He said the overturning of the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling was the result of prayers and efforts of many Catholics and others. This law violated the very law of God, that every life is sacred, he said. A person cannot support abortion and still be a faithful member of the church. Stubnas comments would be considered divisive by some since U.S. Catholics disagree on abortion rights. Supporters include high-profile members of the faith like President Joe Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi who face Communion restrictions as a result. Not everyone sat through Stubnas entire homily. Although unable to ask their reasons, an Associated Press photographer saw one woman leave during it. Security personnel estimated three others also exited early. Views on abortions are not just polarizing within denominations; the divisions span the religious landscape. SCOTUS just dealt a terrible blow to women, to girls, to all childbearing people, to freedom, said the Rev. Jacqui Lewis, senior minister at Middle Collegiate Church, a multicultural Protestant congregation in Manhattan. She mourned the overturning of Roe, expressing deep emotions during a service Sunday, saying, It took safe legal abortions off the table, opening the door for states to rush in and crush reproductive justice. We are reeling. Spinning. So hurt we can hardly move. We are feeling the loss, the pain of it. A majority of adults from Buddhist, Hindu, historically Black Protestant, Jewish, mainline Protestant, Muslim and Orthodox Christian faiths support legal abortion in all or most cases, according to a Pew Research Centers Religious Landscape Study. Rabbi Sarah DePaolo carved out time at the start of Friday nights Shabbat service at Congregation Shir Ha-Maalot in Irvine, California, to express her disappointment, urging community members to support each other and create space for the fearful. One of the most upsetting things about this decision is that while it claims to represent people of faith, it does not represent our faith, DePaolo said. It does not reflect our Jewish law. It does not reflect our traditions. It does not reflect our community. Catholics are split on the issue while most evangelical Protestants, Jehovahs Witnesses and members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints say abortion should be illegal in all or most instances, according to the Pew Research Center study. The Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, views the ruling as a moral and spiritual victory. On Sunday, he told his California congregation at New Season that now is the time for an unprecedented adoption movement. Were gonna adopt babies, but were gonna adopt moms, pregnant moms ... who have abortions because they cant afford to have a baby, he said. Southern Baptists, who are members of the nations largest Protestant denomination, are staunch supporters of anti-abortion views. On Sunday, several pastors praised the ruling from their pulpits. The congregation at First Baptist Concord in Knoxville, Tennessee, broke into applause when Pastor John Mark Harrison addressed it. He invited a panel of advocates to explain how everyone can continue supporting those with unwanted pregnancies via mentorship, fostering, adoption, addressing systemic issues and more. There's so much anger and emotion," Harrison said. "What we need to understand is that were not called to fuel the emotions of the right or the left. Were called to walk in and through the gospel of Jesus Christ ... and minister to real people in real times of crisis. At Central Church, in College Station, Texas, lead Pastor Phillip Bethancourt echoed that overturning Roe is not the finish line: "Its the starting gate of a new chapter. Abortion should be not just be unlawful but unnecessary and unthinkable. David Rhoades, lead pastor of Broadview Baptist Church in Lubbock, Texas, said in an email the court decision was on a par with the Emancipation Proclamation and Juneteenth, and will reverberate for years. He hoped church members left Sunday's service with a clear understanding of what they must do next, including minister to both the baby and its mother, and continue to work to elect pro-life representatives. Other faith leaders doubled down on their support for abortion rights. Women should be able to make their own decisions, preached the Rev. Fletcher Harper at the Episcopal Church of Our Saviour in Secaucus, New Jersey. Outlawing abortion is a sinful act that perpetuates male domination and the subjugation of women, he said. It extends the coercive power of the state into a place where it should have no business. During a service Sunday at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills in Mt. Lebanon, Pennsylvania, director of music Mary Pratt read aloud a denominational statement affirming it would remain committed to reproductive justice." Pratt said members were shocked and grieving, although they expected the outcome. They were looking for reminders of why we need to get back out and fight," she said. The start of services at Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Durham, North Carolina, included two verses of We Shall Overcome and a prayer by the Rev. Melinda Keenan Wood for those outraged, heartbroken and fearful about Roe's demise. We know that this decision will be measured in deaths, incarcerations and life-altering trauma as politicians rush to control the most painfully intimate of decisions, Keenan Wood said. A prominent Black pastor in Columbus, Ohio Bishop Timothy Clarke of the First Church of God tried to strike a balance in his Saturday message to congregants, acknowledging conflicting views on abortion and calling on the church to show compassion. I know and love persons in both camps, Clarke said. They are sincere, committed. ... They truly see this as a life altering issue." Meyer reported from Nashville, Tennessee, and Crary from New York. AP Religion Team members Peter Smith and Jessie Wardarski in Pittsburgh; Luis Andres Henao, in Princeton, New Jersey; Mariam Fam in Winter Park, Florida; Deepa Bharath in Los Angeles; and AP writer Tom Foreman Jr. in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, contributed. Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the APs collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) An abortion rights protest in Portland, Oregon turned destructive over the weekend, with some people marching down the street breaking windows on businesses and vehicles and scrawling graffiti, police said. Officers were monitoring the crowed but no one was arrested because they did not have the resources to intervene at the moment," police said in a statement Sunday. City police officers were also responding to a shooting, a felony assault, a community festival and drivers doing stunts in various parts of the city at the time, police said. The protest against Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion decisions up to the states began with a gathering of about 200 people at a park on Saturday. A group of about 60 of them most dressed in black marched down a street and smashed windows on banks, coffee shops, a Portland school van, a Tesla and a nonprofit that provides assistance to pregnant people. Most of the damage occurred between 10:05 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. police said. The Mother and Child Education Center does not steer people away from abortion, said Executive Director Maura White. It provides services to people who have decided to have children, she said. Police had warned her that the building might be damaged, she said. The building was left with about $10,000 in damage, including smashed windows and graffiti, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The Portland Police Bureau is asking businesses and community members with surveillance cameras between the areas of Grant Park and the Hollywood District to view footage and see if they captured any evidence that might assist police. The damage in Portland came a night after 10 people were arrested for disorderly conduct during a similar protest in Eugene. Portland saw months of destructive protests against police brutality after police officers in Minneapolis killed George Floyd in May 2020. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Oregonian/OregonLive. BRUSSELS (AP) European Union countries agreed Monday that all natural gas storage in the 27-nation bloc should be topped up to at least 80% capacity for next winter as they prepare for the possibility of Russia further reducing deliveries. The EU is trying to slash its use of Russian energy amid the Kremlins war in Ukraine and find other sources. A ban on imports of Russian coal will start in August, and an embargo on most oil from Russia will be phased in over the coming eight months. Meanwhile, Moscow is disrupting natural gas deliveries, a fuel used to power factories and generate electricity that the EU didnt include in its own sanctions for fear of seriously harming the European economy. Before the war, the bloc got about 40% of its natural gas from Russia. Moscow has reduced gas supplies to several EU countries, including heavy importers Germany and Italy, and cut off deliveries to other members, such as Poland and Finland. The EU Council adopted the gas storage regulation Monday after the European Commission made a proposal in March. The regulation also says underground gas storage on EU soil will need to be filled to 90% capacity before the 2023-24 winter. Heads of state and government agreed last week during a summit in Brussels to step up preparations for further gas cuts from Russia and to keep searching for other suppliers. The EU already has increased deliveries from the United States, Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan. Some EU members don't have storage facilities, so the regulation provides that they should store 15% of their annual national gas consumption in other member countries, allowing them access to reserves in other EU nations. Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, which are not directly connected with the gas system of other members, got an exemption, the council said, adding that filling obligations will stop at the end of December 2025. The Council also agreed to raise the share of renewables in the bloc's energy mix to at least 40% by 2030 - up from the previous target of 32%. In addition, a 9% energy consumption reduction target for 2030 becomes binding on all EU member states for the first time. Up until now, non-binding energy efficiency targets left the Commission with little leverage over member states that failed to meet them. Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French minister for energy transition, said the agreement is essential to achieving the bloc's 2050 climate neutrality goal and to also help us to reduce our dependence on Russia for energy, in the context of the war in Ukraine." Ministers stripped legal hurdles from construction of renewable energy production facilities and set specific goals for sectors such as housing and transport. The Council and the Parliament will now start talks on a final text for the two directives. Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Russia shattered weeks of relative calm in the Ukrainian capital with long-range missiles fired toward Kyiv early Sunday, an apparent Kremlin show-of-force as Western leaders meet in Europe to strengthen their military and economic support of Ukraine. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the missiles hit at least two residential buildings, and President Volodymr Zelenskyy said a 37-year-old man was killed and his 7-year-old daughter and wife injured. Associated Press journalists saw emergency workers battling flames and rescuing civilians. The strikes also damaged a nearby kindergarten, where a crater pocked the courtyard. U.S. President Joe Biden called the attacks barbarism after he arrived in Germany for a Group of Seven summit. Later Sunday, a local official reported a second death, telling the Unian news agency that a railroad worker was killed and several others were injured in the attacks while servicing rail infrastructure. Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said the first air-launched weapons successfully to target the capital since June 5 were Kh-101 cruise missiles fired from warplanes over the Caspian Sea, more than 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) away. Kyiv's mayor told journalists he thought the airstrikes were maybe a symbolic attack ahead of a NATO summit in Madrid that starts Tuesday. A former commander of U.S. forces in Europe said the strikes also were a signal to the leaders of G-7 nations meeting Sunday in Germany. Russia is saying, We can do this all day long. You guys are powerless to stop us, retired Lt. Gen. Ben Hodges, the former commanding general of U.S. Army forces in Europe, said. The Russians are humiliating the leaders of the West. The G-7 leaders were set to announce the latest in a long series of international economic steps to pressure and isolate Russia over its war in Ukraine: new bans on imports of Russian gold. Standing with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the three-day meeting's host, Biden said of the missile strikes on Kyiv: Its more of their barbarism. Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, appealed to the G-7 leaders for more help, saying stopping Russian aggression is possible only if we get everything we ask for, and in the time we need it - weapons, financial support and sanctions against Russia. A Ukrainian parliament member, Oleksiy Goncharenko, wrote on the Telegram messaging app that preliminary information indicated that Russia launched 14 missiles toward the capital region and Kyiv itself. Zelenskyy said some were intercepted, and he vowed revenge against all pilots, dispatchers, technicians and other people who ensure the launch of missiles in Ukraine. We will find you all. Each of you will be responsible for these blows, Zelenskyy vowed. And if someone thinks he will evade responsibility by saying that this was an order, you are wrong. When your missiles hit homes, its a war crime. The court is what awaits you all. And you will not hide anywhere - neither on the shores of the Caspian Sea, over which your missiles are launched, nor in Belarus ... Nowhere. In a phone interview, retired U.S. general Hodges told The Associated Press that Russia has a limited stock of precision missiles and if they are using them, its going to be for a special purpose, Russia has denied targeting civilians during the 4-month-old war, and Hodges said it was hard to know if the missiles launched Sunday were intended to strike the apartments buildings. Russian forces tried to seize control of Kyiv early in the war. After Ukrainian troops repelled them, the Kremlin largely shifted its focus to southern and eastern Ukraine. Russian rocket strikes in the city of Cherkasy, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) southeast of Kyiv, killed one person and injured five, regional governor Ihor Taburets said Sunday. In the east, Russian troops fought to consolidate their gains by battling to swallow up the last remaining Ukrainian stronghold in Luhansk province. Luhansk Gov. Serhiy Haidai said Sunday that Russia was conducting intense airstrikes on the city of Lysychansk, destroying its television tower and seriously damaging a road bridge. Theres very much destruction. Lysychansk is almost unrecognizable, he wrote on Facebook. For weeks, Lysychansk and the nearby city of Sievierodonetsk have been subject to a bloody and destructive offensive by Russian forces and their separatist allies aimed at capturing all of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. They have made steady and slow progress, with Haidai confirming Saturday that Sievierodonetsk, including a chemical plant where hundreds of Ukrainian troops and civilians were holed up, had fallen. Commenting on the battle for Sievierodonetsk, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said late Saturday that Russian and Moscow-backed separatist forces now control not only the city but the villages surrounding it. He said the Russian military had thwarted Ukrainian forces' attempt to turn the Azot chemical plant into a stubborn center of resistance. Capturing Lysychansk would give Russian and separatist forces control of every major settlement in Luhansk. At last report, they controlled about half of Donetsk, the second province in the Donbas. On Saturday, Russia launched dozens of missiles on several areas across the country far from the heart of the eastern battles. Some of the missiles were fired from Russian long-range Tu-22 bombers deployed from Belarus for the first time, Ukraines air command said. Reacting to the shelling from the Russian bombers, Zelenskyy appealed to the people of Belarus to resist cooperation with the Russian military. The Russian leadership wants to draw you - all Belarusians - into the war, wants to sow hatred between us, he said in his video address Sunday. You can refuse to participate in this war. Your lives belong only to you, not to someone in the Kremlin. Belarus hosts Russian military units and was used as a staging ground before Russia invaded Ukraine, but its own troops have not crossed the border. In a meeting Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko that Russia planned to supply Belarus with the Iskander-M missile system. On the economic front, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said banning imports of Russian gold would represent a significant escalation of sanctions. That is the second-most lucrative export that Russia has after energy. Blinken told American news channel CNN. Its about $19 billion a year. And most of that is within the G-7 countries. So cutting that off, denying access to about $19 billion of revenues a year, thats significant. Russia is poised to default on its foreign debt for the first time since the 1917 Bolshevik Revolution, further alienating the country from the global financial system following international sanctions imposed over its war in Ukraine. The country faces a Sunday night deadline to meet a 30-day grace period on interest payments originally due May 27. But it could take time to confirm a default. Russia calls any default artificial because it has the money to pay its debts but says sanctions have frozen its foreign currency reserves held abroad. Follow APs coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. JACKSON, Ga. (AP) A Georgia man who was recently sentenced to death in the killings of two corrections officers during an escape attempt five years ago has died in prison of an apparent suicide, corrections officials said. Prison guards found Ricky Dubose unresponsive in his cell at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson around 4:45 p.m. Sunday, according to a Department of Corrections news release. The guards called for medical help and began rendering aid. The coroner at the prison declared Dubose dead at 5:56 p.m. Dubose, 29, was sentenced to death June 16 after he was convicted of murder in the June 2017 shooting deaths of Sgt. Christopher Monica and Sgt. Curtis Billue. Dubose and Donnie Rowe were being transported between prisons along with other inmates when they killed the two guards and escaped from the bus in Putnam County, southeast of Atlanta, on June 13, 2017. They were arrested days later in Tennessee. Dubose was accused of firing the gun that killed the officers after he and Rowe slipped out of handcuffs and burst through an unlocked gate at the front of the bus. Prosecutors say Dubose grabbed one of the officers weapons and shot Monica, the guard, and then Billue, the driver, both in the head. Security cameras on the bus recorded the violent escape and roughly 30 other prisoners witnessed the killings. Rowe was convicted of murder in September. A judge sentenced him to serve life in prison without parole after jurors couldnt agree whether he should be sentenced to death. The Department of Corrections is working with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation to investigate Duboses death, which is standard procedure. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. As expected, the Supreme Courts reversal of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing a womans right to seek an abortion has created volatility, disruption and confusion across America. Expect the situation to escalate, as authorities and elected bodies take actions intended to either deny or expand access. In New York, the 2019 Reproductive Health Act codifies Roe v. Wade protections into state law and ensures access to safe, legal abortion. It is among the most liberal abortion laws in the nation and, earlier this month, legislation was passed that has added more protection for women seeking abortions and doctors performing them, especially if the patients are from out-of-state. Though the high court noted in its opinion that it would be unconstitutional to prevent women from traveling to another state where abortion is allowed, there is little question that states with abortion bans will do their best to block such travel. That is where the six bills passed by the New York State Senate on June 1 come in. They protect against interference and malpractice charges and add layers of confidentiality, among other measures. Dont think any of this will prevent abortion opponents in New York and elsewhere from continuing their fight to end abortion everywhere. Nor will proponents of legal abortion relax their commitment to what is now an uphill battle. So far, Buffalo has not seen the types of protests that have taken place in states radically affected by the courts ruling. In Wisconsin, for example, an 1848 law almost completely banning abortion could now be enforced. Rallies at the state capital building in Madison immediately followed the decision, with thousands in attendance. New Yorkers have less at stake for now but if New York does indeed become a widely sought safe harbor for abortion access, it wont be a quiet one. If women travel here for legal health care, theyre likely to be met and followed by those who would seek to talk them out of their decisions or even impede their access. It will be important to make sure their legal access is not disrupted by violence of any kind. And lets not forget the danger to New Yorks medical professionals. That such danger exists was tragically proven by the 1998 murder of Barnett Slepian, an Amherst-based OB/GYN doctor who also provided abortions at Buffalo Women Services. Slepian was confronted by angry protesters every day he arrived at the clinic, and sometimes even at his home and private practice in Amherst. The Supreme Court has made its decision, but that wont change New York state law. Neither will violence on either side of the issue. On June 7, an anti-abortion facility in Eggertsville, CompassCare, was the target of an arson attack that may have been instigated by pro-choice activist group. Thankfully, nobody was hurt. Such actions solve nothing. Though we share the American Medical Associations concerns about the counseling services offered by organizations like CompassCare, the use of violence that could have caused serious harm or even death is abhorrent and must be condemned. New York state has been quick to do what it can to protect health care workers and patients in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision. That vigilant spirit will need to remain wide awake in the months and years to come. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. It may have seemed off topic, but it wasnt. While visiting the site of the Tops Markets shooting last month, Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer pitched Buffalo to President Biden as one of the cities to receive up to $100 million under the administrations Build Back Better Challenge. Buffalos East Side, where a white supremacist perpetrated a murderous rampage, has been neglected socially and economically for decades. To their credit, elected officials from the mayor to current and past state leaders, prodded by robust community advocacy, have focused on rectifying the past wrongs. And, as evidenced by his elevator pitch to the president, and previous conversation with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo about the regions application, Schumer is determined that the Buffalo region wins the day. Good for him. Winning the presidents challenge would be transformative for Buffalos East Side and for those who would gain new skill sets in a range of fields. The community has suffered for decades from lack of investment; improving conditions there is the right thing to do. The resulting new jobs and businesses would help to remake the citys East Side, benefiting all of Buffalo. Schumer said it best: Buffalos East Side needs robust investment to heal and build for the future. Schumer 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. Buffalo is already a finalist for the award. The Western New York Advanced Manufacturing Cluster, developed by the five-county Western New York Regional Economic Development Council, aims to train more than 1,600 local workers for advanced manufacturing jobs. It also wants to clean up East Side industrial sites as a means to attract new businesses. The Commerce Departments Economic Development Administration is expected to announce the 20 to 30 winners of those awards later this year. The likelihood of success is greatly enhanced by the support of local institutions. They 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 State and the Buffalo Urban Development Corp. Biden should reinforce Schumers message to the Commerce Department: Buffalo is well prepared and supremely worthy to place among the winners of the Build Back Better Challenge. Whats your opinion? Send it to us at lettertoeditor@buffnews.com. Letters should be a maximum of 300 words and must convey an opinion. The column does not print poetry, announcements of community events or thank you letters. A writer or household may appear only once every 30 days. All letters are subject to fact-checking and editing. Instead of endless debate over the cause of our repeated mass killings, how about some concrete action? Why doesnt the federal government initiate a voluntary buy back program for military style assault weapons like the AR-15? It could be in the form of cash, or a pre-paid gas debit card. The weapons collected could be sent to Ukraine. We have too many weapons, they have too few. A win/win situation all the way around. If it doesnt work, were no worse off than we are now. Thomas Jefferson understood and warned about disarming the people. He wrote, The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government. This is the reason the Second Amendment is The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. It was important to our Founding Fathers that every citizen would have not only the right, but the means as well, to protect their country from a hostile takeover by corrupt politicians. History has shown us that democracies have been taken over by force in several countries. They were successful because the tyrants first disarmed the civilians. Nazi Germany is an excellent example of civilian disarmament. First they required the people to register their firearms. That ended up with the Storm Troopers going house to house to confiscate all guns. We see that some politicians are looking at this as a start in America. The fact is that a small handful of evil people have used guns for mass murders, but the politicians are focusing on guns instead of dangerous people. They are trying to convince the people that this will stop, or at the least, reduce, mass murders. No guns, no mass murders. The problem is that if the evil murderers dont have access to guns, they will find other ways to kill many people in one action. Timothy McVeigh murdered 168 people of all ages without firing a shot. His weapon was a truck loaded with fertilizer and fuel oil which became a deadly bomb. Exceptionally effective. While some politicians say the right of the people to keep and bear arms is not a God-given right, the right of self-defense is. So is the defense of our country. Budd Schroeder Amherst The useful life of the underground energy sink can be more than 100 years and wont need to be replaced at the end of the 25-year life of the indoor geothermal heat pump. So the upgrade costs for the next system will only be for the indoor equipment, and therefore much less expensive. President Ilham Aliyev addresses opening ceremony of 11th session of World Cities Forum 27 June 2022 [13:20] - By Trend President Ilham Aliyev addressed the opening ceremony of the 11th session of the World Cities Forum in video format, Trend reports. Will be updated Views: 658 Transaction Adds First-Ever A320neo to Irish Flag Carriers Fleet, Advancing Sustainability Initiatives Focused on Modern, Fuel-Efficient Aircraft DUBLIN, June 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--CDB Aviation, a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited ("CDB Leasing"), has agreed to lease two Airbus A320neo aircraft to the Irish flag carrier, Aer Lingus, for delivery during this summer season. The transaction marks the introduction of the first A320neo variant in the airlines growing fleet. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220623006003/en/ A pair of new A320neo aircraft leased to Aer Lingus by CDB Aviation will be delivered in the airline's full livery, branding, and cabin interior. They will join the Aer Lingus fleet for short-haul operations and will be operated predominantly on the Dublin-London Heathrow route. (Photo: Business Wire) The aircraft, which are fitted with 186 seats in an all-economy layout, will be delivered to Aer Lingus in July 2022 and will become part of the backbone of its short-haul fleet, operating on routes between Ireland and European destinations. "We are very pleased to be joining our new European customer, Aer Lingus, on their flight path toward a carbon neutral future through the financing of their inaugural A320neos," commented Peter Goodman, CDB Aviations Chief Marketing Officer. "These latest generation aircraft will well complement Aer Lingus strategic investments in their future fuel-efficient, modern fleet." Aer Lingus is part of IAG, the first airline group worldwide to commit to achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. The group is targeting to achieve a 10% reduction in CO 2 per passenger kilometer by 2025 and a 20% reduction in net emissions by 2030. Speaking about the acquisition of two new aircraft for Aer Lingus short-haul fleet, Lynne Embleton, CEO of Aer Lingus, said: "This is a great opportunity to bring new, state-of-the-art aircraft into our short-haul fleet. Renewing our fleet is one of the key ways for Aer Lingus to meet our sustainability targets, which is a priority for us over the coming years." Story continues "The new generation Airbus A320neo aircraft is much more sustainable in terms of fuel burn and CO2 emissions, and this is not only important to Aer Lingus but also to our customers. Equally, the more environmentally friendly aircraft incur lower landing charges in some key airports, so these new A320neos will help us to reduce costs," added Embleton. Patrick Hannigan, CDB Aviations Chief Executive Officer, concluded: "Our teams worked hand in hand to expediently execute this transaction as an important element of the Irish flag carriers recovery plan from the impact of the pandemic on air travel. The A320neos operating advantages will also further strengthen Aer Lingus leading position among European airlines in enhancing connectivity with a focus on improving efficiency and reducing aviations environmental footprint." Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements, beliefs or opinions, including with respect to CDB Aviations business, financial condition, results of operations or plans. CDB Aviation cautions readers that no forward-looking statement is a guarantee of future performance and that actual results or other financial condition or performance measures could differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements can be identified by the fact that they do not relate only to historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements sometimes use words such as "may", "will", "seek", "continue", "aim", "anticipate", "target", "projected", "expect", "estimate", "intend", "plan", "goal", "believe", "achieve" or other terminology or words of similar or analogous meaning. These statements are based on the current beliefs and expectations of CDB Aviation's management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Accordingly, you should not rely upon forward-looking statements as a prediction of actual results and we do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of any of these forward-looking statements. Except as required by applicable law, we do not undertake any obligation to, and will not, update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. About Aer Lingus Aer Lingus is the Irish flag carrier, founded in 1936. In summer 2022, Aer Lingus will operate over 100 routes, flying to over 71 direct routes and to 62 destinations from Ireland to the UK and Europe. The airline operates 16 transatlantic routes from Dublin, Shannon and Manchester UK to North America and the Caribbean. Aer Lingus is a 4-Star airline, awarded by Skytrax, the international air transport rating organization. Aer Lingus is a member of International Airlines Group (IAG), one of the world's largest airline groups. www.aerlingus.com About CDB Aviation CDB Aviation is a wholly owned Irish subsidiary of China Development Bank Financial Leasing Co., Limited ("CDB Leasing"), a 36-year-old Chinese leasing company that is backed mainly by the China Development Bank. CDB Aviation is rated Investment Grade by Moodys (A2), S&P Global (A), and Fitch (A+). China Development Bank is under the direct jurisdiction of the State Council of China and is the worlds largest development finance institution. It is also the largest Chinese bank for foreign investment and financing cooperation, long-term lending and bond issuance, enjoying Chinese sovereign credit rating. CDB Leasing is the only leasing arm of the China Development Bank and a leading company in Chinas leasing industry that has been engaged in aircraft, infrastructure, ship, commercial vehicle and construction machinery leasing and enjoys a Chinese sovereign credit rating. It took an important step in July 2016 to globalize and marketize its business listing on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX STOCK CODE: 1606). www.CDBAviation.aero View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220623006003/en/ Contacts Paul Thibeau Paul.THIBEAU@CDBAviation.aero; +1 612 594 9844 Decklar Resources Inc. CALGARY, Alberta, June 06, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Decklar Resources Inc. (TSX-V: DKL) (OTCQX: DKLRF) (FSE: A1U1) (the Company or Decklar) is pleased to announce the closing of its previously announced transaction to purchase all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Westfield Exploration and Production Limited (Westfield), a Nigerian entity that has entered into a Risk Finance and Technical Services Agreement (RFTSA) with Erebiina Energy Resources Limited (Erebiina) to participate in the Emohua Field in Nigeria, located in OML 22, which is 6 km west of Port Harcourt. The Emohua Field The Emohua Field was awarded to Erebiina (60%) and the balance (40%) to other local Nigerian entities in the 2020/2021 Marginal Field Bid Round and is situated onshore on dry land terrain in the southeastern section of OML 22 in the Eastern Niger Delta area. The Emohua Field is situated approximately 6 km west of the city of Port Harcourt in Rivers State and approximately 30 km west of the Oza Field, which Decklar is currently developing. The Bonny Oil Export Terminal and Bonny LNG plant are located approximately 50 km south of the Emohua Field. The Emohua Field was formerly operated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited (SPDC). It was awarded to Erebiina by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2021 as part of the Marginal Field Program. One well (Emohua-1) was drilled by SPDC in 1979 to a depth of 11,050 ft and encountered oil and gas in several stacked reservoirs. The well was suspended by SPDC as an oil and gas discovery. Data available includes 3-D seismic acquired in 2000/2001 and wireline log data. Petrophysical analysis showed the presence of nine hydrocarbon bearing zones ranging from 20 ft to 70 ft thick. Seismic interpretation also shows upside potential in the deeper undrilled/untested zones where potential closures exist. The initial planned stages for development of the Emohua Field include re-entering the existing Emohua-1 well, installation of production and export facilities, and construction of flowlines. The Emohua Field can potentially be placed on production directly after the re-entry of the Emohua-1 well due to existing oil and gas export pipelines being located within 5 km of the well. Story continues The full field development plan will include the drilling and completion of up to nine additional wells and expansion of the processing facilities to enable handling and processing of up to 30,000 barrels of crude per day for the expected peak production levels. Purchase of Westfield by Decklar Decklar and Westfield previously entered into a share purchase agreement (the SPA) whereby Decklar has purchased all of the issued and outstanding ordinary shares of Westfield (the Westfield Shares). Westfield has separately entered into an RFTSA with Erebiina in respect of the 60% equity interest that was awarded to Erebiina for the Emohua Field. Further, Decklar is aware that Westfield is seeking to enter separate RFTSAs with one or more parties in relation to the remaining 40% interest in the Emohua Field. The SPA terms included a cash payment of US$7 million, which was previously paid as a deposit to be credited against the final purchase price, and the issuance of 6,000,000 common shares of Decklar (Decklar Shares) as consideration for the acquisition of all the issued and outstanding Westfield Shares. In the event Westfield enters into additional RFTSAs in respect of the remaining 40% interest, up to an additional 2,500,000 Decklar Shares will be issued to the shareholders of Westfield. Duncan Blount, CEO of Decklar Resources, remarked Closing the acquisition of Westfield now brings a third asset to our portfolio at Decklar. Similar to the Oza and Asaramatoru fields, the Emohua Field is a proven undeveloped conventional oilfield with potential for near-term re-entry and re-completion activities, followed by subsequent full field development. We look forward to further incorporating the asset into our company and progressing development towards near-term oil production potential. This is an attractive asset, and one that compliments the rest of our portfolio with a similar infrastructure advantage. For further information: Duncan T. Blount Chief Executive Officer Telephone: +1 305 890 6516 Email: dblount@decklarresources.com David Halpin Chief Financial Officer Telephone: +1 403 816 3029 Email: davidhalpin@decklarpetroleum.com Investor Relations: info@decklarresources.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. Cautionary Language Certain statements made and information contained herein constitute "forward-looking information" (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation), including entering into definitive agreements in respect of the Transaction and satisfaction of conditions precedent to completion of the Transaction. All statements in this news release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Such statements and information (together, "forward looking statements") relate to future events or the Company's future performance, business prospects or opportunities. There is no certainty that definitive agreements in respect of the Transaction will be entered into, or that any conditions precedent contained therein will be satisfied on terms satisfactory to the parties or at all. All statements other than statements of historical fact may be forward-looking statements. Any statements that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "seek", "anticipate", "plan", "continue", "estimate", "expect, "may", "will", "project", "predict", "potential", "targeting", "intend", "could", "might", "should", "believe" and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements. The Company believes that the expectations reflected in those forward-looking statements are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking statements should not be unduly relied upon. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements, except as required by applicable laws. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties relating to, among other things, changes in oil prices, results of exploration and development activities, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of materials and equipment, timeliness of government or other regulatory approvals, actual performance of facilities, availability of financing on reasonable terms, availability of third party service providers, equipment and processes relative to specifications and expectations and unanticipated environmental impacts on operations. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company provides no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company does not assume the obligation to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date of this document or to revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Straits Research - Market Research Strategy | Strategy Consulting | Business Research | Business Consulting | Market Research The global mining chemicals market size is estimated at USD 10,145 million in 2021 and is to reach USD 16,850 million by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period (20222030). Asia-Pacific dominated the market studied, with about 54% share, in terms of volume. New York, United States, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mining chemicals are highly corrosive and expensive substances commonly utilized in mineral exploration. They help in screening and dewatering, increasing quality and recovery, increasing efficiency, selecting minerals, handling pumps and slurry, and reducing collector dose and cost per tonne. Mining regularly used chemicals encompass frothers and collectors, dispersants, solvent extractants, rheology modifiers, and wet- and dry-grinding aids. Mining chemicals are required during the phase of processing the corresponding ores in metal mining processes. Mining activities for these minerals have increased globally as their use has increased. Get a Free Sample Copy of This Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/mining-chemicals-market/request-sample Rising Need for Specialty Chemicals in Mining Processes to Drive the Global Mining Chemicals Market Almost every step of the mining procedure involves the usage of specialty chemicals. Mining is a complicated operation, and these chemicals help to simplify it. The mining sector has seen adjustments in processing methods, from tunneling to open-pit mining, allowing it to mine ores of diminishing grades while lowering total costs. Furthermore, mining activity is developing in quickly growing regions such as China, Africa, and Latin America, and policymakers are taking steps to enhance mining activity in their countries. This is expected to increase the use of mining chemicals during the projected period. As a result, the growing use of specialty chemicals in mining operations will propel the worldwide mining chemical market during the forecast period. Story continues Growing Funding and New Mining Projects in Africa to Provide Opportunities for The Global Mining Chemicals Market Africa possesses one of the world's most significant mineral reserves, making it the most appealing investment prospect. Many resources of iron ore , uranium, gold, platinum, coal, copper, diamond, and other minerals attract new investors. Regional governments have taken steps to develop an appealing FDI policy, relaxing regulatory rules, and revising the international trade and financial structure to stimulate FDI in mining in the region. AngloGold Ashanti Limited has resumed its gold mines in Obuasi. The business has pledged to invest between USD 495 million and USD 545 million in the Obuasi mines. This project is predicted to increase Ghana's gold output by over 400,000 ounces. Such an increase in production is expected to provide opportunities for mining chemicals over the forecast period. Buy Now Full Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/buy-now/mining-chemicals-market/global/ Impact of COVID-19 Markets are being hampered by uncertainty and limits as the world appears to go into lockdown to cease the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Countries affected include China, Italy, Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, among others, which may impact the worldwide mining industry. The ongoing spread of COVID-19 and the various reactions are predicted to affect delays in existing mining ventures. The consequences of COVID-19 on the mining industry may take some time. For example, in Italy, one of the worst-affected countries outside of China, the national lockdown has caused the postponement of several ongoing mining operations. Due to COVID-19-related regulations, major mining firms such as Rio Tinto and Anglo American, among others, have declared plans to scale back or close their operations. Under Mongolian government limitations, Rio Tinto's Oyu Tolgoi project in Mongolia ceased non-essential activities. Due to the Peruvian Government's proclamation of a 15-day quarantine to restrict the spread of COVID-19, Anglo American is provisionally demobilizing the majority of its extensive construction team at its Qullaveco copper mine in Peru. As a result of the lockout in many countries, usage of mining chemicals is predicted to decline over the 2020 timeframe, likely to influence the market research. Regional Insights By geography, the global market studied has been segmented into the following regions, namely Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, and Middle East & Africa. In 2019, Asia-Pacific dominated the market studied, with about 54% share in volume. The mining chemicals market size in Asia-Pacific was 682-kilo tons in 2021 and is expected to be 962-kilo metric tons in 2030, registering a CAGR of 4% during the forecast period. China is the largest consumer of mining chemicals in the Asia-Pacific region (54.62%) and globally (29.25%). North America is the fastest-growing market and was valued was 154-kilo tons in 2021 and is expected to be 208-kilo metric tons in 2030, registering a CAGR of 3% during the forecast period. The production of certain industrial minerals increased, owing to the growth in construction activities of the country. It led to a rise in the prices of such industrial minerals. Besides, the consumption of minerals widely used in infrastructure, residential construction, and oil and gas drilling operations witnessed a significant increase in the country in 2018. Key Highlights The global mining chemicals market is estimated at USD 10,145 million in 2021 and is to reach USD 16850 by 2030, registering a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period (20222030). By function , global mining chemicals market is divided into the grinding aids segment: flotation chemical, extraction chemical, and grinding aids. The grinding aids for the largest share of about 46% of the market was valued was 548-kilo tons in 2021 and is expected to be 760-kilo metric tons in 2030, registering a CAGR of 4% . By application, global mining chemicals market is divided into mineral processing and wastewater treatment. The market size for the mineral processing segment was 1,144-kilo metric tons in 2021, and it is expected to reach 1633 kilotons by 2030 at a CAGR of 4%. Get a Free Sample Copy of This Report @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/mining-chemicals-market/request-sample Competitive Analysis List of Top Mining Chemicals Market Suppliers BASF SE Solvay AECI Chevron Phillips Clariant AG 3M Arkema Betachem (Pty) Ltd CP Kelco US Inc CTC Mining (Tennant Chemicals Company Limited) Ecolab FMC Corporation Huntsman International LLC Kemira NASACO Orica Limited Qingdao Ruchang Mining Industry Co. Ltd Sasol SNF SUEZ The Chemours Company Global Mining Chemicals Market: Segmentation By Function Flotation Chemical Collector Depressant Flocculant Frother Dispersant Extraction Chemical Diluent Extractant Grinding Aid By Application Mineral Processing Wastewater Treatment By Region North America Europe South America Asia-Pacific Middle East & Africa 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: Mining Chemicals 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 Function Overview 5.1 Introduction 5.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 5.2 Flotation Chemical 5.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 5.3 Extraction Chemical 5.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 5.4 Grinding Aid 5.4.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 6 Application Overview 6.1 Introduction 6.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 6.2 Mineral Processing 6.2.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 6.3 Wastewater Treatment 6.3.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 7 Regional Overview 7.1 Introduction 7.1.1 Market Size & Forecast (Value & Volume) 7.2 North America 7.2.1 Economic Overview 7.2.2 Market Scenario 7.2.3 U.S. 7.2.4 Canada 7.2.5 Mexico 7.3 Central and South America and the Caribbean 7.3.1 Economic Overview 7.3.2 Market Scenario 7.3.3 Brazil 7.3.4 Argentina 7.3.5 Colombia 7.3.6 Rest of Central and South America and the Caribbean 7.4 Europe 7.4.1 Economic Overview 7.4.2 Market Scenario 7.4.3 Germany 7.4.4 France 7.4.5 The U.K. 7.4.6 Italy 7.4.7 The Rest Of Europe 7.5 Asia-Pacific (APAC) 7.5.1 Economic Overview 7.5.2 Market Scenario 7.5.3 China 7.5.4 Japan 7.5.5 India 7.5.6 Australia 7.5.7 South Korea 7.5.8 Rest Of APAC 7.6 Middle East 7.6.1 Economic Overview 7.6.2 Market Scenario 7.6.3 South Arabia 7.6.4 The UAE 7.6.5 Qatar 7.6.6 Oman 7.6.7 Turkey 7.6.8 The Rest Of Middle East 7.7 Africa 7.7.1 Economic Overview 7.7.2 Market Scenario 7.7.3 Nigeria 7.7.4 South Africa 7.7.5 The Rest Of Africa 8 Competitive Landscape Manufacturers & Suppliers 8.1 Competition Dashboard 8.2 Industry Structure 8.3 BASF SE 8.3.1 Business Overview 8.3.2 Financial Performance 8.3.3 Recent Developments 8.3.4 Portfolio 8.4 Solvay 8.5 AECI 8.6 Chevron Phillips 8.7 Clariant AG 8.8 3M 8.9 Arkema 8.10 Betachem (Pty) Ltd 8.11 CP Kelco US Inc 8.12 CTC Mining (Tennant Chemicals Company Limited) 8.13 Ecolab 8.14 FMC Corporation 8.15 Huntsman International LLC 8.16 Kemira 8.17 NASACO 8.18 Orica Limited 8.19 Qingdao Ruchang Mining Industry Co. Ltd 8.20 Sasol 8.21 SNF 8.22 SUEZ 8.23 The Chemours Company 9 Conclusion & Recommendation 10 Acronyms & Abbreviations Read the full Report Description with Table of Content and Figure @ https://straitsresearch.com/report/mining-chemicals-market/toc Market News In May 2019 , BASF agreed with Quadra Chemicals Ltd to represent its mining solutions portfolio of products in Canada and Alaska. In July 2020, Arkema completed the acquisition of ArrMaz, a global leader in specialty surfactants for the crop nutrition, mining, and infrastructure markets. ArrMaz has around USD 290 million of sales from North America, South America, Asia, and Middle East & Africa. News Media Rapid Growth in the Global Chemical Industry Drives the Rheological Additives Market Worlds 7 Largest Chemical Companies Have a Look at the Related Research Report Construction Chemical Market : Information by Type (Concrete Admixtures, Adhesives & Sealants, Waterproofing), Application (Residential, Commercial,) Regional Outlook Forecast Till 2026 Oilfield Chemicals Market : Information by Type (Demulsifiers, Inhibitors & Scavengers, Surfactants), Application (Production, Drilling, Cementing), and Region Forecast till 2026 Green Chemicals and Materials Market : Information by Material (Biopolymers, Bio-Organic Acids, Bio-Alcohols, Bio-Ketones), Application, and Region Forecast till 2029 Flow Chemistry Market : Information by Reactor Type (Microreactor, Microwave Systems), Application (Pharmaceuticals, Academia & Research, Petrochemicals), and Region Forecast till 2030 Calcium Nitrate Market : Information by Grade, Application (Wastewater Treatment Chemicals, Concrete Manufacturing, Explosives, Fertilizers), and Region Forecast Till 2026 Rheological Additives Market : Information by Type (Aqueous Phase Additives), Nature (Organic), Application (Paints and Coatings, Cosmetics and Personal Care), and Region Forecast till 2029 About Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. StraitsResearch is a market intelligence company providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision-makers. Straits Research Pvt. Ltd. provides actionable market research data, especially designed and presented for decision making and ROI. Whether you are looking at business sectors in the next town or crosswise over continents, we understand the significance of being acquainted with the clients purchase. We overcome our clients issues by recognizing and deciphering the target group and generating leads with utmost precision. We seek to collaborate with our clients to deliver a broad spectrum of results through a blend of market and business research approaches. For more information on your target market, please contact us below: Phone: +1 646 480 7505 (the U.S.) +91 8087085354 (APAC) +44 208 068 9665 (the U.K.) Email: sales@straitsresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter Booster shots of COVID-19 vaccine being offered to vaccinated residents, in Beijing BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Clover Biopharmaceuticals said on Monday a booster shot of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate significantly increased antibody response against the Omicron coronavirus variant from levels seen after two primary shots. A third dose of its vaccine candidate SCB-2019 resulted in a 19-fold increase in neutralising antibody levels against the Omicron BA.2 subvariant from pre-booster levels, Clover said in a filing to the Hong Kong stock exchange. The booster shot also elicited a 12-fold rise in the neutralising antibody level against the BA.1 subvariant, the company said, citing preliminary analysis without providing detailed readings. The results came from a cohort of participants, who had no natural infection of the coronavirus and showed waning antibodies before the booster, in a clinical trial that has enrolled 3,755 participants in Brazil, the Philippines and Columbia, Clover said. SCB-2019, which is backed by the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovation (CEPI), has yet to be approved for commercial use. Antibody-based readings differ from a vaccine's efficacy, a rate that reflects how well it could lower the risk of COVID disease or death. Data from a large clinical trial conducted before the spread of Omicron showed SCB-2019 was 67% effective against symptomatic COVID-19 of any degree of severity and 79% against the Delta variant. Clover did not discuss cell-based responses elicited by the booster, another important part of human immune system different from antibody-based responses. Clover is also testing a separate candidate SCB-2020S in an early stage trial and working on a bivalent vaccine candidate targeting variants of concern including Omicron. (Reporting by Roxanne Liu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Miyoung Kim, Robert Birsel) Svitlana Botvenko is a fully licensed veterinarian in Ukraine, but is unable to transfer her practice in Canada because COVID-19 has caused delays in the licensing process. (Submitted by Svitlana Botvenko - image credit) Submitted by Svitlana Botvenko A veterinarian who recently arrived in Labrador City from Ukraine is unable to fully practise in the community because of a backlog at the national body that would certify her in Canada. Svitlana Botvenko came to Newfoundland and Labrador afer fleeing the Russian invasion of Ukraine with her three children earlier this year. She hoped to begin work at Northern Lights Veterinary Clinic on a three-year contract after her arrival, but is faced with a challenge that could take years to solve. Jenine Janes, who owns the clinic, said she is working on getting Botvenko through the accreditation process. "Dr. Lana is a fully established, experienced, mature vet in Ukraine. But unfortunately, Ukraine is not a recognized licensing body for the North American licensing that we have here in Newfoundland," Janes told CBC News in a recent interview. "Even without the backlog with COVID, we're looking at a two-year process." Janes says it's more likely that process will take three to four years as Botvenko goes through a series of practical exams and other tests done by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) on top of learning English as a second language. She estimates there are between 300 and 400 students on the waiting list for testing due to COVID-19. The first step in becoming a fully licensed vet is getting a restricted license, Janes said, which would allow Botvenko to do some work under strict supervision. She says this still isn't the best case scenario, as Botvenko has specialized skills that could greatly benefit the Labrador West region. Darryl Dinn/CBC "She has specialty skills for surgicals that we're sending patients out to Montreal or St. John's to seewe could save owners astronomical amounts of money if we could get her licence faster," Janes said. The Association for New Canadians in Labrador West is working with Botvenko to get other critical details sorted, including an MCP card, transferring her driver's licence and English classes. Story continues Bill Soper, the ANC's regional settlement co-ordinator for Labrador West, said he expects more Ukrainians to come to the region over the coming months. Meanwhile, Janes has sent letters to the CVMA hoping to find answers around a potential fast tracking of accreditation for Ukrainian vets coming into Canada similar to how immigration could be fast-tracked in some cases by the federal government. "With the crisis that's going on in the veterinary industry right now[and] knowing these people have specialized skills, there has to be some type of exemption that they can do," she said. "We need some major change." Read more from CBC Newfoundland and Labrador Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa says her Rappler news website is operating as usual and will let Philippine courts decide on an order to close the outlet. The case is seen as part of an assault on press freedom under President Rodrigo Duterte, who leaves office Thursday and will be succeeded by Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Ressa said Rappler won't succumb to political tactics. The shutdown order came after the Philippines Securities and Exchange Commission affirmed the revocation of Rapplers license. Rapplers attorney said the SECs decision will be challenged in the courts and he was confident Rappler would prevail. A Human Rights Watch official said the case was retaliation for Rappler's fearless reporting about drug killings and Duterte and Marcos use of disinformation. In honor of Independence Day, The Sentinel is providing unlimited access to all of our content from June 28th-July 4th! Presented by Hoffman Funeral Home & Crematory Conditions are primed for a future scenario as bad, if not worse than Tropical Storm Agnes. The idea of getting more significant rain events is pretty clear-cut, said Tim Hawkins, a Shippensburg University professor. Its already happening. Its certainly projected to continue that way in the future. As chairman of the geography and earth science department, Hawkins is an expert on the impact of climate change on weather patterns. To him, the global trends warn of a grim forecast. The 100-year flood may not be the 100-year flood anymore, he said. It may be a 50-year or even 20-year event. As you warm up the climate, the air can hold more water vapor. You evaporate more water out of the ocean. Now you got the potential for a bigger storm because its more water-laden and has more energy due to the warmer temperatures. Youre likely to get more extreme flooding as you channel the run-off. Weather patterns interact with the physical characteristics of the land to produce flood-prone conditions, said Joseph Zume, a hydrologist and Shippensburg University professor. The speed and volume of run-off depends on such factors as slopes, topography, the nature and density of plant-life and the amount of impervious coverage in the form of buildings, parking lots and roads, he said. Hydrologists study water, Zume said. You cant study water in isolation from the atmosphere, so I also study climate change and its impact on water resources, floods, water quality and the quality of life of people. Fifty years ago, Tropical Storm Agnes stalled over Pennsylvania, drowning the Midstate with more than 15 inches of rain causing widespread flooding and damage. Heavy run-off swelled local creeks beyond flood stage and blocked roads and bridges across Cumberland County. Low-lying areas along the Susquehanna River were swamped by the rush of water that came up to the second floor of the Governors mansion in Harrisburg. The combination of Agnes and Hurricane Eloise in 1975 brought about new laws aimed at regulating impervious coverage and the construction of new buildings within the floodplain, but there has always been steady growth on the West Shore and beyond to the Carlisle area. Even with safeguards in place, the sheer volume of commercial and residential development means more impervious coverage, Zume said. As you have more impervious surfaces, your vulnerability to flooding increases. Built-up urban areas create heat islands where temperatures tend to be warmer than the surrounding countryside, priming the atmosphere for more severe weather, he said. Like Hawkins, Zume was not around to experience firsthand the severe flooding from Agnes that caused $3.1 billion in property damage and claimed 128 lives. Im originally from Nigeria, Zume said. I arrived here in the United States in 2001 to obtain a doctorate at the University of Oklahoma. I joined Shippensburg University in 2007. As a hydrologist, when you get to an area, you learn about the regional history. Very quickly, I came across references to Agnes. We classify storms in terms of their magnitude how big they are, he said. Do you experience this type of storm once every 50 years, 100 years, 500 years? Agnes was off the charts. Its impact on Pennsylvania and the mid-Atlantic region has been unequal. It was an eye-opener. Sometimes, as humans, we need an eye-opener, Zume said. For us scientists who study climate change, the impacts are obvious. But when you talk in abstract terms without pointing to what is capable of happening, people disregard what youre saying. They will not take you serious. But when you point at what Agnes did and then tell them that climate change is going to bring storms that will compare and even exceed that, then immediately Agnes can serve as an example. Not all developments over the past 50 years have set up humanity for disaster. While Agnes was a major event, it was not the only event that motivated people to want to improve upon the technology, Hawkins said. For example, there have been significant advances in communications, he said. In 1972, flood and severe weather warnings were transmitted to residents by way of telegraph and phone lines, Hawkins said. A lot of these lines went down as a result of this storm. Today, real-time data gathered from stream and rain gauges is transmitted via satellite to operation centers where technicians analyze the patterns and issue warnings as needed, Hawkins said. The weather models have certainly improved. At the time [of Agnes], forecasts were coming out at a 12-to-24-hour cycle. Now we have models that update in a minute-to-hourly basis along with much higher resolution imagery. You can add to that list satellite and radar technology, Hawkins said. They had radar back in 1972, but it wasnt used in a meaningful way from a weather forecasting standpoint. That started in the late 70s and 80s and really exploded in the 90s and the 2000s. The Mid-Atlantic River Forecast Center is based out of State College with the National Weather Service office, Hawkins said. The two work in tandem. Those higher quality weather forecasts get fed into the higher quality river flood models. Today, you can click on a stream on the National Weather Service website and see where the stream gauge is exactly at that moment and where it will flow two to three days from now in terms of cresting. That information just did not exist back in 1972. That has been a huge step forward. Joseph Cress is a reporter for The Sentinel covering education and history. You can reach him at jcress@cumberlink.com or by calling 717-218-0022. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Mary Miller U.S. Rep. Mary Miller faced backlash after a comment at a Saturday night rally with former President Donald Trump in west central Illinois when she credited him for the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade, calling it a victory for white life. Miller's opponent in the hotly contested 15th Congressional District Republican primary, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, seized on it, noting Miller's comments "are just another part in a disturbing pattern of behavior she's displayed since coming to Congress." More news: Trump stumps for Miller in Quincy area before Tuesday's primary Trump, who endorsed Miller when she launched her campaign on New Year's Day, also endorsed state Sen. Darren Bailey, R-Xenia, for governor, calling them both "warriors." Miller spokesman Isaiah Wartman told NBC News that Miller "meant to say 'right to life.'" Miller appeared to be reading from prepared remarks at the rally at the Adams County Fairgrounds in Mendon. Wartman did not immediately respond to a text message from The State Journal-Register seeking clarification. In a later tweet, Miller said she would "always defend the RIGHT TO LIFE!" Trump appointed three U.S. Supreme Court justices during his presidency. The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Mississippi was handed down Friday. It wasn't the first time Miller, R-Oakland, has been ensnared in a verbal controversy. At a Jan. 5, 2021 rally for Trump, Miller said children were being "propagandized" and that Hitler was right on one thing. He said, Whoever has the youth has the future." Miller was paraphrasing a remark Hitler gave at a 1935 rally. She later apologized. In a tweet Sunday, Miller said Davis was smearing her and her family "because he is a failing career politician trying to hide the fact that he voted to fund Planned Parenthood & he voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016." Miller sought an apology from Davis and the Associated Press for "dehumanizing" her grandchildren. Miller has two grandsons who have Downs Syndrome. Story continues Who talks this way about babies? For the last 16 hours, Rodney Davis & the Fake News Media have been attacking me & dehumanizing my grandchildren. This is disgusting language. Look at the way they speak about my grand-babies. I demand an apology from Rodney Davis & the @AP pic.twitter.com/EgXhrSJdGd Mary Miller (@Miller_Congress) June 26, 2022 Both Davis and Miller are incumbents vying for a seat in the newly drawn district, which includes parts of 35 counties, including part of Sangamon County, but skirts Springfield. Miller currently represents the 15th District while Davis has represented the 13th District since 2012. Bailey, who is easily outdistancing five other Republicans, later joined Trump on stage. He promised that Illinois would "roll out the red carpet" for Trump in 2024. Trump is widely believed to be running for president again. "Darren is just the man to take on and defeat one of the worst governors in America, JB Pritzker," Trump said. Trump, Pritzker countered in a tweet, "spread the Big Lie, incited a violent coup attempt, and tried to overthrow our democracy--all for his own personal gain." Pritzker is running for reelection. The primary is Tuesday. The Davis/Miller winner will face Democrat Paul Lange of Quincy. NEW: Mary Miller campaign tells me that at tonight's Trump rally the congresswoman misread her prepared remarks at tonight's Illinois Trump rally in Mendon and meant to say "right to life" not white life. Natasha Korecki (@natashakorecki) June 26, 2022 This story will be updated. Contact Steven Spearie: 217-622-1788, sspearie@sj-r.com, twitter.com/@StevenSpearie. This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Mary Miller thanks Trump for 'victory for white life' in Illinois By Trend Representatives of the Azerbaijani army will be appointed to the military formations of NATO and Turkey, Minister of Defense of Azerbaijan, Colonel-General Zakir Hasanov said in an interview with AZERTAG, Trend reports. "Taking into account the needs of the Azerbaijani army, based on Azerbaijan-NATO relations and bilateral cooperation, a sufficient number of our young people study in military educational institutions of other countries in various specialties. In accordance with the Action Plan of Azerbaijan and NATO on joint training and education, a new subject called "Defense Strategy and Planning" has been added to the curriculum of the educational institutions of the Azerbaijani army. More profitable tasks for our army have been identified, and in the near future it is planned to increase the number of partnership headquarters posts. As a result of this increase, representatives of the Azerbaijani army will be appointed to the positions of a staff officer for regional coordination in the Military Partnership Division of the Directorate of Civil-Military Relations and Military Partnership of the Joint Forces Command in the Dutch city of Brunssum and a staff officer for the Concept of Operational Capabilities of the Ground Forces Command in Turkish Izmir," he said. The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Smallmouth Alliance (MSA) invite anglers to test their fishing skills and pursue a Smallmouth Slam by fishing MDCs 12 Special Management Areas for bass to receive related pins and medallions. Missouris Special Management Areas provide excellent smallmouth bass habitat, explained MDC Fisheries Programs Specialist Andrew Branson. These areas have regulations to help smallmouth bass populations increase and to allow more fish to grow to a quality size. The Smallmouth Slam is divided into three levels: Bronze: Catch a smallmouth bass from six of the 12 Special Management Areas and receive a certificate and bronze pin. Silver: Catch a smallmouth bass from nine of the 12 Special Management Areas and receive a certificate and silver pin. Gold: Catch a smallmouth bass from all 12 Special Management Areas and received a certificate, gold pin, and medallion. All pins and medallions awarded to participants have been provided and underwritten by MSA. The Missouri Smallmouth Alliance is proud to partner with the MDC on this exciting angler recognition program, said MSA president, Augustus Knickmeyer. We expect many river anglers, both veterans and newcomers to the sport, to actively participate in the Smallmouth Slam. Smallmouth bass of any size caught after March 1 qualify for a Smallmouth Slam, but any smallmouth bass under 15 inches must be released. Anglers can complete a Smallmouth Slam entry form each time they catch a smallmouth bass. They may also submit a picture of their fish if they wish, but it is not required. Once participants accomplish one of the three Smallmouth-Slam levels, MDC will verify their submissions and mail them their award. Additionally, anglers can have their successes listed on the MDC website. This Smallmouth Slam is a great new program that will encourage anglers to get outside and discover nature throughout the year, said Branson. For more information on the Smallmouth Slam, visit mdc.mo.gov/smallmouthslam. The Smallmouth Slam honors anglers who catch a smallmouth bass in at least six of these 12 MDC Special Management Areas: Big Piney River (From Slabtown Access to the Gasconade River) Big River (From the Council Bluff Lake Dam to the Meramec River) Eleven Point River (From Thomasville Access to the Arkansas line) Elk River (Entire length of Elk River in Missouri) Gasconade River (From Hwy Y bridge in Pulaski County to Hwy D bridge in Phelps County) Jacks Fork River (From Hwy 17 bridge to the Current River) James River (From Hooten Town bridge to Hwy 413/Hwy 265 bridge at Galena) Joachim Creek (From Hwy V bridge to Hwy A bridge in Jefferson County) Meramec River (From Hwy 8 bridge to the railroad crossing at Birds Nest Access) Mineral Fork (From Hwy F bridge in Washington County to the Big River) Osage Fork of the Gasconade River (From Skyline Drive bridge near Orla in Laclede County to the Gasconade River) Tenmile Creek (From Hwy B bridge in Carter County to Cane Creek) To learn more about Missouris smallmouth bass Special Management Areas, go to short.mdc.mo.gov/4i3. To learn more about MSA, visit its website at missourismallmouthalliance.org. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 NEW YORK James Burrows loves sitcoms, and he should. The 81-year-old has directed more than 1,000 episodes of TV sitcoms, including fan favorites such as Friends, Cheers, and Will & Grace. Hes also directed the pilot episodes for Frasier, Two and a Half Men, The Big Bang Theory and more, setting the tone for the series going forward. Ask him why there are so few of his beloved sitcoms on the air these days, and Burrows cant answer. Its not a good time for the multi-camera sitcom right now. I dont know why. People ask me and I say, I dont know why. Theres only two or three on the air. He does believe the next big sitcom will come, and that will make multi-cam sitcoms popular again, but adds he doesnt see that show on the horizon right now. Burrows looks back on his famed career in a new book called Directed by James Burrows, detailing how he got started in showbiz and became Hollywoods go-to director for sitcom pilots, setting shows up for success to go forward. He spoke with The Associated Press about the book, working on Friends and what entices him to work these days. Remarks have been edited for clarity and brevity. Q: The business seems to prefer single-camera comedies these days. Why do you prefer multi-cam? A: What I do is not really television. Its really theater that I film for television, so the structure of the piece has to be the work done with the actors and the writers on stage, and then you cover it with a camera. But what makes it great is the interaction, not necessarily the camera work; its the characters and the situation. Q: A touching point in the book is when you recall sitting down with the cast of Friends when you were leaving the show, and giving them a very fatherly talk about how to handle future situations, such as, listen and learn from new directors, but if you disagree, say something. You reminded them that they knew their characters better than anyone and that David Schwimmer and Jennifer Aniston, in particular, should push for opportunities to do physical comedy, because its where they shined. A: They were all in their 20s, and I just wanted to enable them to understand how gifted they all were and to be able to express what they thought about the piece with ensuing directors and the writers because they were all really creative. If an actor contributes, it only makes the show better, and it only makes the actor happier to be part of the creative process. Q: You also say that one of the few regrets of your career is that you didnt stick with the show throughout its nine-season run. Why do you think Friends is still so popular today? A: Theres always a new generation of demographic that watches the show. My kids were too young when I was doing it to watch it, but they watch it now, and their kids are going to watch it and their kids are going to watch it. Theres something really special about that show. Q: The actors whove worked with you always express such love for you. Why do you think that is? A: Its comedy. Thats what it should be, and what rehearsals should be. I did invoke my fun clause once. I was working on a show, and the actors were too difficult. So I said, Start my car. And I started my car and I was off. I cant work under those circumstances. There has to be this feeling on the set that I work that were all in it to make a good show and not to either count lines or complain about the writing or other actors. Q: In the book, you include examples of problem solving on the job and provide insight into certain situations that could be helpful for working directors or those who want to become directors. Was that intentional? A: Its pretty specific to sitcoms, but there are tips in there. The, major tip, which I always try to get out in the community of sitcom directors, is to die with your boots on. Its a writers-driven medium; the writer is also the executive producer, and so they kind of control it. Theres a lot of sitcom directors who are just traffic cops, who just move people around an parrot exactly what the writers say. Im a big advocate of, once the read-through of the script is over, you go down to the stage and rehearse and try new things. Q: These days, how do you decide when youre going to take something on or say yes to directing a show? A: Im very selective. I havent found a show yet that I would attach myself to, like I did with Will & Grace, which really made me laugh and was like a fountain of youth for me. The last thing I did was I did a pilot with Valerie Bertinelli that didnt get picked up. And before that, I did Live in Front of a Studio Audience, with The Facts of Life and Diffrent Strokes, where we had adults playing kids, Kevin Hart and Snoop Dogg and Jen Aniston and Kathryn Hahn and Jason Bateman and Will Arnett. Those make me really happy because I love those people, and I love the challenge of taking a show thats decades old and doing it again. Like the torch-bearing Neo-Nazis parading through the University of Virginia campus in 2017 chanting their lies, state Del. John McGuire has the First Amendment right to spread Donald Trumps Big Lie that widespread voter fraud cost Trump the 2020 presidential election. Last week, McGuire emailed invitations to hundreds of members of the Goochland community to join him for a free viewing of a debunked documentary called 2,000 Mules. The film purports to prove Trumps delusional charge of election stealing. The movie, like Trumps obsession, is a lie. For some reason, McGuire, who did not respond to an email or a phone call seeking comment, felt he had to spread the films misinformation. School officials in Goochland said the Goochland Tea Party, a far-right wing group, arranged to use the high school, according to a report by VPM News, a Richmond affiliate of National Public Radio. The movie claims to have used cell phone data to identify 2,000 people in five swing states who collected ballots and cast them illegally in drop boxes to overturn Trumps victory. Experts in technology and voter security, as well as former U.S. Attorney General Bill Barr, have debunked both the methodology the filmmakers used and the conclusion they reached. Still, McGuire screened the film hours after a televised hearing of House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol that meant to stop the certification of electoral votes that would declare Joe Biden president. McGuire told the public radio station that he attended the Jan. 6 Trump rally where Trump urged his followers to go the Capitol and fight like hell to change the election results. But McGuire said he did not go into the Capitol. Hundreds of others did. Led by White nationalist groups the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, they assaulted members of the Capitol Police and Washington, D.C. Metro Police. Then, they illegally entered the Capitol, breaking windows and doors. They hunted for House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. They chanted hang Mike Pence because the vice president refused to commit a crime Trump directly asked him to commit and stop the certification of electoral votes. They briefly occupied and rifled through desks in the Senate chamber after police evacuated senators. They tried to break down the main door to the House chamber without success. They did it all because Donald Trump told them the election had been stolen. It wasnt. A parade of Republicans, including Barr, Trumps campaign manager and his own daughter, have all testified under oath that no evidence of fraud exists that could change the election results. Judges in roughly 60 lawsuits reached the same conclusion. The House Select Committee interviewed dozens of law enforcement officials directly involved in investigating and debunking the former presidents ridiculous claims of shredded ballots and computer hacks that changed mark ballots in voting machines. Multiple Republicans have testified to the Jan. 6 committee that in the weeks after the election Donald Trump asked them personally to violate their oaths of office and in some cases break the law. They refused. But every person who believed the former presidents lies and passed by the no trespassing signs and fencing on the streets around the Capitol Jan. 6 did break the law. Let us be clear: Trumps conspiracy theories are all lies. His insistence on jumping from one to another is an exercise that Barr correctly called whack-a-mole. Trumps behavior in the face of a mountain of evidence suggests madness, not victimization. In the same way, John McGuires screening of 2,000 Mules for what he said were hundreds of constituents marks him as out of touch with reality. The fact that he is running to be a state senator and might actually get elected in November will say as much about those who cast their votes for him. Jessica Jackovich, 28, made the big move from Alaska to Albany. And shes not the only one who is glad she did. Jackovich, Albanys firefighter of the year, is a leader at Albany Fire Department, according to Chief Shane Wooton. I just want to tell you from my perspective how much I appreciate you and how much you do for our fitness committee and the health of our people, Wooton said while presenting Jackovich with the award during a June 22 City Council meeting. Jess is a huge asset to our department. I remember the day you thought about coming here from Alaska, and we are so thankful that you made that choice. Albany Fire's annual awards are voted on by the entire department. This is one of the reasons the award means so much to Jackovich. Its an honor. It was unexpected, she said. It makes me very humble to think that my peers think of me as firefighter of the year. A fulfilling career Jackovich is still early in her career, but shes already making an impact. According to Wooton, Jackovich is a leader in the health and fitness part of the department and serves as a great example for her peers. Jackovich tries to keep her co-workers motivated to exercise every day and maintain their health, she said. This, along with her normal firefighter duties, makes the work fulfilling for Jackovich. I enjoy coming to work and every day is a new day. Every day is dynamic, she said. Some people call us on their worst days, and I just enjoy getting to help them. Jackovichs firefighting journey started in her native Alaska. She was around 20 years old and considering a career in medicine. A ride-along with her stepdad, who was working at the local station, changed everything: She instantly fell in love with the job. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. She started volunteering and eventually was hired with a station in Fairbanks, Alaska. In 2016, a friend with Albany Fire Department encouraged Jackovich to apply for a job here. Now, shes becoming a leader in not just Albany but in the county as well. Inspiring young women Just last week, Jackovich was at the Linn County Young Womens Fire Academy in Lebanon training and inspiring the next generation of female firefighters. The program is designed for young women 16 to 19 years old who live in Oregon. Firefighting being the male-dominated career that it is, encouraging other young women to get into the profession is important to Jackovich. I had a very strong female mentor who helped me grow immensely as a female firefighter, she said. A lot of people dont know what its like to be discriminated at a job. As a female firefighter, Jackovich is committed to getting other young women involved in the profession. She said she talks to various people in Albany whose daughters might be interested in a similar career path. In just a short time at AFD, Jackovich said she's already seen growth in terms of a female presence. AFD is very diverse and open to inclusion, she said. I think there were two females when I started at AFD, and now theres six. Maddie Pfeifer covers public safety for Mid-Valley Media. She can be contacted at 541-812-6091 or Madison.Pfeifer@lee.net. Follow her on Twitter via @maddiepfeifer_ Love 5 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A Lebanon man has died following a motorcycle crash on Highway 20 in Linn County, according to a news release from the Oregon State Police. At around 6:58 p.m. Saturday, June 25, OSP Troopers and emergency personnel responded to a single vehicle motorcycle crash on Highway 20 near milepost 55, about 25 miles east of Sweet Home. Through investigation, police discovered 57-year-old Mark Nelson of Lebanon was heading westbound on a blue Harley Davidson Electra Glide when he lost control and crashed into the westbound embankment. Nelson was pronounced dead at the scene. Sweet Home Fire District and Oregon Department of Transportation assisted OSP. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 11 Angry 0 A majority of Oregonians support stricter gun laws, according to a new poll by the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center. The nonpartisan independent research group on Thursday released data reporting 59% of survey respondents say they believe the states firearms laws should be stricter, which is in line with an April 2021 Pew Research poll finding 60% of Americans want stricter gun laws. The beliefs center surveyed 1,446 Oregon adults between June 2 and 11 about gun regulations. Last month, an 18-year-old man in Uvalde, Texas, used an AR-15-style rifle he purchased legally to kill 19 children and two adults and injure 17 others in an attack on an elementary school. But with that tragedy so fresh, open-ended questions about guns were not asked during the survey because it was felt the answers would be unproductive, according to an email from Amaury Vogel, associate executive director of the Oregon Values and Beliefs Center. Among the groups most likely to want stricter gun laws are urbanites, women, college graduates, people 75 or older and people with household incomes above $100,000 per year. Slightly more than half of respondents, or 54%, believe making it harder for people to obtain firearms would result in fewer mass shootings. The survey found that nearly half of gun owners, 46%, think firearms laws should be stricter in the U.S., and 43% believe there would be fewer mass shootings if it was harder for people to legally obtain guns. Women are more likely than men to want stricter gun laws, and also less likely to own a gun. In Oregon, women are also less likely than men to own a gun, 25% compared to 41%. This is again in line with the national level: a June 2021 Pew poll found that 22% of women and 39% of men own guns. Deschutes County resident Pat Minney was among the survey respondents. She told The Bulletin there are way too many guns and would like to see a ban on military style weapons and stronger background checks. She said shes long held those beliefs, but shes watched her husband, a military veteran, soften his pro-gun stance in recent years in response to mass shootings. Ever since the shooting in Springfield and the shootings out East, weve just watched it get worse and worse, Minney said, referring to the 1998 Thurston High School shooting. The survey found 90% of respondents who identify as Democrats believe gun laws should be stricter, while only 24% of those who identify as Republicans feel the same. The results suggest Oregon is slightly more polarized on this issue than the national average. The April, 2021, Pew poll found that 81% of Democrats and 20% of Republicans favored more strict federal gun laws. Also surveyed was Washington County resident and retired Intel employee Jim Ourada, who opposes stricter gun laws and believes every household should be armed. I live in unincorporated Washington County, he told The Bulletin. Its pretty safe out here, but if you walk 6 miles to the east, its practically a war zone. Theres lots of shootings, every single day, every single night. But you know what, no one ever goes after them. What am I supposed to do, sit here and take the bullet for them? Ourada asked, why strengthen background checks when theyre pretty strong already. The criminals, they dont use background checks, do they? Ourada said. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 PORTLAND (AP) An abortion rights protest in Portland turned destructive over the weekend, with some people marching down the street breaking windows on businesses and vehicles and scrawling graffiti, police said. Officers were monitoring the crowed but no one was arrested because they did not have the resources to intervene at the moment," police said in a statement Sunday. City police officers were also responding to a shooting, a felony assault, a community festival and drivers doing stunts in various parts of the city at the time, police said. The protest against Friday's U.S. Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and leave abortion decisions up to the states began with a gathering of about 200 people at a park on Saturday. A group of about 60 of them most dressed in black marched down a street and smashed windows on banks, coffee shops, a Portland school van, a Tesla and a nonprofit that provides assistance to pregnant people. Most of the damage occurred between 10:05 p.m. and 10:40 p.m. police said. The Mother and Child Education Center does not steer people away from abortion, said Executive Director Maura White. It provides services to people who have decided to have children, she said. Police had warned her that the building might be damaged, she said. The building was left with about $10,000 in damage, including smashed windows and graffiti, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. The Portland Police Bureau is asking businesses and community members with surveillance cameras between the areas of Grant Park and the Hollywood District to view footage and see if they captured any evidence that might assist police. The damage in Portland came a night after 10 people were arrested for disorderly conduct during a similar protest in Eugene. Portland saw months of destructive protests against police brutality after police officers in Minneapolis killed George Floyd in May 2020. Much like the mid-Willamette Valley's demonstrations against racial injustice in 2020, a protest in Corvallis against the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade was peaceful. About 150 residents gathered outside the Benton County Courthouse on Friday night. Protesters chanted and held signs up as motorists passing by honked in support. For copyright information, check with the distributor of this item, The Oregonian/OregonLive. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 The 11th Session of the World Urban Forum under the motto Transforming our Cities for a Better Urban Future continues in Katowice, Poland, Azertag reports. President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev has made a statement in a video format at the session. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev Dear Ladies and Gentlemen, Distinguished participants, I am pleased to address the World Urban Forum. This year, we mark the 30th anniversary of Azerbaijans membership in the United Nations. To celebrate this important occasion, a landmark event devoted to the attainment of Sustainable Development Goals in the post-pandemic and post-conflict era was organized in the liberated city of Shusha, the cultural capital of Azerbaijan in March this year with the participation of UN agencies. The participants of the event deliberated on the progress made by Azerbaijan in the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, as well as how to revive the liberated territories and bring life back there. The 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda and the New Urban Agenda guide our efforts to achieve sustainable urbanization and better urban future for our cities. While preserving the historic look of capital city-Baku, we have succeeded in rebuilding and modernizing its infrastructure. It is worth noting that modernization and reconstruction of Baku and other cities of Azerbaijan has exposed us to new opportunities and experiences in terms of urban development. Baku, which is considered as one of the most beautiful cities with its unique architecture, parks and boulevards, combines in harmony the historical heritage and modernity. For us, sustainable urban development has gained even more value following the Patriotic War of 2020 when Azerbaijan liberated its territories from three-decades-long Armenian occupation. Armenia has purposefully destroyed cities and villages and robbed and plundered every cultural and religious monument in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan throughout its almost 30-year occupation, turning them into a stark example of urbicide and culturicide. Perhaps, the destruction of cities of this extent has not occurred anywhere else in the world since Second World War. 9 Azerbaijani cities and hundreds of villages have been wiped out. The destruction of Aghdam city was of such magnitude that it was named by international experts as "Hiroshima of Caucasus". In Fuzuli, the Azerbaijani Army could not find a single building to raise our flag after liberation. Foreign diplomats, journalists, and representatives of international NGOs have witnessed this vandalism during their visits to the liberated territories and documented the whole scale of destruction. Despite the three-decades-long Armenian occupation, Azerbaijan is keen to turn the page of war, normalize the relations and sign a peace agreement with Armenia, based on mutual recognition of sovereignty and territorial integrity of each other. Azerbaijan presented 5 basic principles for peace negotiations and Armenia accepted them. We believe that a peace agreement would turn our region into a region of peace and cooperation. Azerbaijan is currently undertaking one of the most complex and ambitious reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts in contemporary history. The process of reconstruction starts with demining. The massive mine contamination is the main challenge ahead of us and slows down reconstruction and return of internally displaced persons. According to initial estimations, during the times of occupation, Armenia planted more than one million landmines. Since the end of the Patriotic War in November 2020, more than 220 Azerbaijani citizens were killed or severely injured as a result of landmine explosions. Azerbaijan is applying modern urban planning and utilizing the concepts of green energy and zero emissions in the liberated territories. For 30 years our internally displaced persons suffered from Armenian occupation and were deprived of their homelands. The first pilot project for the return of internally displaced persons was implemented in the village of Aghali of Zangilan region. This May first residents of the Aghali village started to resettle in their homelands. Smart village Aghali has become one of the most modern villages in the world now. Azerbaijan has built an airport in the liberated city of Fuzuli in less than 8 months. Currently, the construction of two more airports is underway in the liberated cities of Zangilan and Lachin. The master plans of some of the cities in the liberated territories are ready. The Master Plan of Shusha is based on retaining the tremendous historical heritage of the city. In Aghdam we are building a completely new city with population of tens of thousands of inhabitants which will become an industrial center of the Karabakh region. The Aghdam Industrial Park with 200 hectares of area is already operating and open for investors and entrepreneurs. We are building Zangilan with a view to integrate this city into nature and turning it into a park city. Overall, our target is to combine speed and quality in the reconstruction process whereas the protection of the environment will be among our priorities. We aim to build inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable cities and villages in line with Sustainable Development Goals. New cities and villages will have a harmony of living and working conditions. All this work is being conducted with Azerbaijans own financial resources. We believe that the reconstruction conducted by Azerbaijan on such a large scale turns our liberated territories into a laboratory of excellence in urban development. Azerbaijan will share its huge experience in this domain with the international community. Having said that, the solidarity and international support in the sphere of reconstruction of the liberated territories is of crucial importance to us. It will strengthen our belief that Azerbaijan is not alone in its noble endeavours. Together with United Nations, World Bank and the European Union, we have already implemented the joint recovery needs assessment in our three liberated regions. During her visit to Azerbaijan this March, we had a chance to discuss the future of our cooperation with Madam Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat. Madam Executive Director visited the liberated Aghdam city and witnessed the scale of destruction herself. We are willing to have more close cooperation with UN-Habitat in the reconstruction of our liberated territories and expect their experts to be a part of this reconstruction process. The discussion on the organization of the annual National Urban Forum this year in Azerbaijan, in Aghdam, is also underway between Azerbaijan and UN-Habitat. In conclusion, it is my great pleasure to announce Azerbaijans readiness and willingness to host one of the next sessions of the World Urban Forum. As a country with a huge experience in the organization of high-level international events, I am confident that the World Urban Forum in Azerbaijan would be successful. I wish the Forum every success. Thank you. Welcome to The Denver Gazettes Metro Moves. Youll get the latest metro Denver openings, closings, hiring and promotion briefs here. To submit your companys news, drop an email to dennis.huspeni@gazette.com. Now Open Oncology research and development company Loxo Oncology at Lilly opened a 113,000-square-foot laboratory in Louisvilles Colorado Tech Center earlier this month. The site at 600 Tech Court consolidates the companys 150 employees, who previously had been at a Boulder location. Most of those workers are scientists and the company has plans to hire 22 more this year, according to a news release. Job openings are at loxooncology.com. It was built by general contractor Whiting-Turner and designed by CPG Architects. Loxo is the oncology research and development unit of global pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. It focuses on small molecule drug discovery in oncology. Before its acquisition by Lilly in 2019, Loxo pioneered a therapy that won a first-of-its-kind approval from the FDA, delivering to patients a cancer therapy that can treat an array of tumors regardless of where they are in the body, according to the release. * Korean double-fried chicken restaurant Bonchon opened a new location at 3970 Buchtel Blvd., off Colorado Boulevard, in Denver last week, according to a news release. Owner Henry Lee owns two other restaurants in Aurora and Central Park, with plans to open new locations in Westminster and Colorado Springs in coming months. The Denver area has fully embraced Bonchon, so we are happy to be opening a new restaurant for current and future fans, only aiding the growth of the global Crunch Out Loud movement, Lee said in the release. We are looking forward to serving southeast Denver Bonchon fans closer to home. Your morning rundown of the latest news from overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. MTN Ghana has reportedly put back a pilot of its 5G services this year due to the lack of licenses from authorities. MTN Ghana CEO Selorm Adadevoh said in a virtual meeting the 5G pilot would not be possible as the countrys regulator has yet to release licenses. The chief executive did not give a time frame of when the pilot will eventually begin but warned the government, that to fulfil its connectivity targets by 2025, 5G deployments must start soon. News Ghana reported that the country has a 90% 4G coverage rate. Initially, the operator predicted a March launch this year but discussions are still ongoing with regulators. MTN has upgraded 1,322 sites in preparation for the launch of commercial 5G services. Meanwhile, the Nigerian Communications Commission and MTN have reportedly set August 24 as the date when the operator will roll out its commercial 5G service, reported Nairametrics. Its ability to administrate its revolutionary mythology, together with its effective internal repression and international influence, make Cuba a historic case, a state model, and a geopolitical agent with a deep-rooted presence throughout Latin America. It is a historic case whose disasters are rendered invisible, a model that is venerated, a geopolitical agent that is invited, and its presence is extended over time by its protracted duration, geographical scope, and penetration into specific societies and groups, such as left-wing politicians, activists and intellectuals. Incredulity as to how a small, poor country can exert so much influence - and not just through its" revolutionary example"- reaches those who dismiss any warnings on the subject as "paranoia." It should suffice to recall the influence of East Germany's Stasi on its much richer neighbor, suffusing German-Western political activism and leadership; or the capacity of Russia's propaganda and disinformation media to shape the opinions of much of the Latin American population (Kathryn E. Stoner, Russia Resurrected: Its Power and Purpose in a New Global Order, Oxford University Press, 2021); and, if one wants to take the bull by the horns, he need only look at the experience of Cuba's consensual invasion of Venezuela. (Diego G. Maldonado, La invasion consentida, Debate, Mexico, 2019). It is not a question of seeing a conspiracy behind every crisis and event in Latin America's political processes. Neither facile progressivism nor hysterical anti-Castroism explain the complexity of the region's evolution, but it is worth understanding the very specific and recognizable authoritarian influences projected from Havana on regional political actions and ideas. In Latin America Cuba's asymmetrical influence intersects with the lopsided presence, within Latin America's intelligentsia, of a hegemonic progressivism that clings to particular positions and spurns the constitutive plurality behind the agenda of human progress. If being left-wing means adherence to certain concepts, values and practical policy options, its outcomes in terms of freedom, equity and prosperity do not justify any self-assigned moral superiority. The same thing may be said of their right-wing counterparts. Any political leadership, movement, and program must be measured based on its accomplishments, not normative assumptions defined ex ante. Today, activists like Carolina Barrero, whose intellectual lucidity and extraordinary civic merit are recognized in Cuban civil society and among exiles, are fighting against this authoritarian Cuban trinity: the case, the model and the agent. After her forced exile in early 2022, the young woman shared her testimony and condemned the repression in Cuba before her peers involved in politics, academia and progressive activism in Latin America. but the prevailing response to her denunciations has been silence. Let's be clear: the art historian should be assigned no more legitimacy to speak based on her ideology; no one today has any more right to denounce repression from one or the other "ism." After a 20th century in which the authoritarian Left and Right left millions of victims, no one can claim moral or civil superiority in the defense of democracy, but some noble souls might have been forgiven for suspecting that, at a time of "progressive" regional expansion, Carolina's message would have received a warmer reception in today's "pink tide" Latin America. "Speak to the left!" the intellectuals of regional progressivism tell young Cuban activists. But when these in Miami, Mexico or Madrid meet with liberal or conservative figures and parties, harsh reproaches follow, almost in parallel with the anti-intellectual diatribes that the most reactionary members of the community of exiles (rarely the internal opposition) hurl at Carolina Barrero and her colleagues. But, when the latter's attempts to dialogue with the Western Left are met with impregnable walls, the progressive wing falls silent, and the anti-Communist cave celebrates too, the two sharing an attitude where analytical simplicity, political complicity and a lack of solidarity converge. When young people of a generation born after the fall of the Berlin Wall embrace truly progressive causes with regards to redistribution, identity and democracy they do so without the sectarianism of their left-wing and right-wing critics. This is so in Cuba, Nicaragua and Venezuela, and they do so under the official repression and faced with the silence of their "allies" of Latin American hegemonic progressivism, because their agenda does not involve pleasing anyone, but rather fighting for freer and fairer societies. Those who should take a good at themselves are those who, out of intellectual arrogance, or political illiteracy, insist on prescribing the choices of those who dispute a future lying, as Raymond Aron says, between the preferable and the detestable. A driver and his male passenger, both of Marianna, were seriously injured in a Jackson County single-vehicle crash last Thursday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. The agency reports that the 29-year-old driver was eastbound on Interstate 10 near mile marker 134 in the outside lane when the left rear tire of the SUV blew out. The vehicle shifted to the inside lane, and the driver over-corrected to the right, officials said, causing the SUV to spin clockwise and travel onto the south shoulder. The vehicle then began overturning, ejecting the driver and his 50-year-old passenger. The SUV came to rest on the south shoulder of the road on its right side facing southwest. The driver came to rest on the south shoulder facing northeast. The passenger came to rest on the south shoulder facing west. The report indicted the presence of medical helicopters at the scene but did not say specifically whether the driver and/or passenger were transported by those for treatment of their injuries. Reciprocating her sentiment, her Vietnamese counterpart Bui Thanh Son welcomed Wongs choice of Vietnam as her first Southeast Asian destination since taking office last month. He said her visit would strengthen and boost bilateral relations. Wong will conclude her official visit to Vietnam on Tuesday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement. She said Australia has always valued Vietnam's role in the region and that the new government was committed to further strengthening the strategic partnership with Vietnam. The two ministers agreed that it was important the two countries strengthen cooperation in sectors and industries hit hard by the pandemic like tourism, education, and labor cooperation, as well as traditional areas like trade, investment, defense and security. They also agreed that the two countries would expand collaboration in climate change, green growth, and sustainability. Son wanted Australia to continue contributing to regional cooperation with respect for ASEAN's central role in promoting regional peace, stability and prosperity. Wong emphasized the importance of Australia's cooperative relationship with ASEAN, as well as the importance of maintaining peace, stability, safety and freedom of navigation and overflight while complying with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). Vietnam and Australia established diplomatic relations in 1973 and became strategic partners in 2018. Trade between the two countries was worth US$12.4 billion last year, about 50 percent more than in 2020. Both countries aim to be among each other's top 10 commercial partners and to double investments in each other by 2025. A woman is inoculated against Covid-19 in Ho Chi Minh City on June 22, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Khoa Phan Trong Lan, head of the General Department of Preventive Medicine under the Ministry of Health, said Monday that Vietnam has detected the Omicron subvariant BA.5, but did not elaborate. Revealing the information at a Health Ministry press meet, Lan said the emergence of new strains was inevitable as a result of the reopening of the economy and the new normal situation of relaxed precautionary protocols. The BA.5 subvariant was first detected in South Africa in January. Since then, it has become a common strain in several countries including Israel, Germany and others. Some studies show that the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants spread faster than the previous one, BA.2, but there is no evidence yet of its severity. The health ministry has said it continues to monitor new strains and World Health Organization (WHO) information, adjusting and implementing measures to prevent and control the spread of the novel coronavirus. The new strain emerged as Vietnam recorded 142,000 Covid cases in the past two months, but the death rate has been low and the outbreak is still under control. The ministry said that from March until now, the number of new Covid-19 cases and deaths has "stably decreased," and the number officially registered with the national database has stayed at fewer than 1,000 cases each day in recent times while the death rate has fallen to 0.06 percent of the total number of infections. Vietnam has covered almost 80 percent of its 96-million population with two vaccine doses; and the group of those from five years old are to receive the second doses within June. The health ministry had said recently that it was still not the right time for Vietnam to consider Covid-19 endemic though the situation has stabilized somewhat. Although the number of Covid cases and deaths has been decreasing globally, experts believe the situation remains complicated in some areas, and many countries are concerned about a new wave emerging this summer. The WHO has said that the world is still in the pandemic stage and the Omicron variant may continue to mutate, so countries must maintain vaccination and surveillance. Lan said Vietnam concurs with the WHO that vaccines remain an important tool in stopping the pandemic and people should get vaccinated with the proper dose. Police question a man who works for a ring to smuggle Vietnamese people to Cambodia, December 2021. Photo by police Vietnamese and Cambodian authorities have collaborated to repatriate 400 Vietnamese citizens who had been tricked and sold to Cambodia. So far this year, authorities in Vietnam and Cambodia have worked together to verify cases in which Vietnamese people had been taken to Cambodia by human traffickers. The collaboration resulted in nearly 400 Vietnamese being rescued and brought home, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang told press Sunday. In recent times, it has been increasingly reported that many Vietnamese had been tricked to work in Cambodia. In most cases, trafficking rings advertised their services on Facebook and Zalo, a Vietnamese texting and calling app, targeting people of working age but without stable jobs, promising a career with a monthly salary of up to thousands of dollars. The victims were typically smuggled into Cambodia via unofficial routes and sent to work at foreign-owned companies. Owners of such companies would request their Vietnamese staff to set up different social media accounts disguised as commercial sites or financial investment platforms to rob unsuspecting customers. If refusing to do so, the Vietnamese workers would be beaten and left to starve, according to police. In other cases, people smuggled to Cambodia included young women forced to work as prostitutes. The victims told police anyone that wants to return to Vietnam must first contact their families and pay bail of around VND80-100 million ($3,446). Mun Island Marine Protected Area in Nha Trang Bay is seen from above. Photo by Duc Kha Swimming and diving has been banned at Mun Island Marine Protected Area in Nha Trang Bay from Monday to assess the condition of its shrinking coral reefs. Khanh Hoa Province authorities had last week ordered a halt to scuba diving tours in areas in Nha Trang Bay considered vulnerable to coral reef destruction. Experts will survey the damaged coral reefs, the bay management board has announced. After the assessment is done, authorities will decide which tourism activities can be allowed at the marine reserve. The Mun Island Marine Protected Area, spread over 160 square kilometers, was the first marine conservation project in Vietnam and was established in 2001. It has nine islands, including Mun, famous for scuba diving tours. An inspection by the management board earlier this year revealed that the island's coral reef has shrunk significantly compared to 2015. The coral coverage rate has declined from more than 50 percent to 11 percent in its southeast, from 54 percent to 32 percent in its northeast and to a mere 8 percent in its southwest. Provincial authorities blamed it on climate change and two powerful storms in 2019 and 2021. They also pointed to illegal fishing, dredging, construction of industrial parks, and waste discharge. By Azernews By Vugar Khalilov Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov said that they discussed mutual trade, as well as economic cooperation with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov during the latters visit to Azerbaijan, Azernews reports. Bayramov made the remarks at a joint press conference with Lavrov on June 24 in Baku. "Azerbaijan has direct economic relations with more than 70 subjects of Russia, while Russia is the third-largest trade and economic partner of our country," he said. "We had the opportunity to discuss a broad agenda and paid attention to economic cooperation between our countries. The results of trade turnover for 2021 were noted with satisfaction, despite the ongoing and existing negative impact of COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic," Bayramov said. According to Bayramov, bilateral trade between Russia and Azerbaijan surpassed $3 billion in 2021 increasing by 12 percent. The minister stressed that Azerbaijan attaches great importance to cooperation with Russia within the framework of the inter-governmental commission on economic issues. The meeting between Russia and Azerbaijan, which took place on April 26, 2022, in Baku, celebrated the 30th anniversary of the start of diplomatic relations this year, he added. "Co-Chairmen of Commission are also in constant contact and they discussed a number of projects that are currently under development and execution on the margins of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum [in Russia, on 15-18 June 2022]," he said. Furthermore, the Azerbaijani top diplomat added that Russia and Azerbaijan attach special importance to the expansion of transport links. Along with other projects and areas, we attach even greater importance to the expansion of transit and communication ties. In this context, the North-South project is of particular importance. In recent years, it has proved its efficiency and has very great prospects for expansion, which was also discussed in the framework of our today's meeting, the minister said. At a news conference with his Russian colleague Sergey Lavrov, Bayramov stressed the need for the ratification of cooperation with the Caspian littoral states. "The Caspian Sea is a significant element of cooperation between all five coastal countries. The historical meaning of the Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea, which was signed at the fifth summit in 2018, was once again noted. Furthermore, Russia and Azerbaijan have long completed all domestic procedures, and the ratification has already been completed between our countries. So now, we need to combine efforts and complete the ratification process by all the Caspian states," the minister opined. He noted that even the partial completion of the ratification process would help the Caspian littoral states cooperate and develop documents on interaction in the Caspian region and a number of other areas. "The high-level elaboration and preparation for the sixth summit, to be held next week in Turkmenistan, is of great importance as well," the minister said. Azerbaijan seeks to enhance productive cooperation with Russia for the prosperity of both nations, he added. Bayramov stated that Russia and Azerbaijan had inked an agreement on information security. The agreement, the minister said, is about the issues that arise from exploiting cyberspace for military goals, not media activity. Russia was the catalyst for these conversations, which have been going on for a while at the UN. The special organization was established to stop the use of cyberspace for nefarious and military objectives. "As for the media, we're to hold a special series of events between top media executives on both sides, including social media owners, and speak candidly about the way we cover events in each other's territory based on respect for each other's laws and principles of freedom of information. We agreed to organize such an event under the aegis of the information services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Lavrov said. Bayramov outlined the high-level interaction between the relevant structures. It's no secret that our countries have recently faced some problems. Several private Azerbaijani media resources were blocked in Russia, and earlier this month, RIA Novosti news agency was blocked in Azerbaijan, he said. The Azerbaijani minister noted that the sides should work out principles to prevent such cases in the future. Leaders from across the Western Hemisphere have endorsed a new and transformative approach to migration, called the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection. On June 10, the final day of U.S.-hosted Summit for the Americas, twenty nations committed to supporting measures that recognize the key role of shared cooperation and responsibility in dealing with the unprecedented flow of migrants and refugees in the region. The Los Angeles Declaration is built around four core pillars, said President Joe Biden: First, stability and assistance: making sure the communities that are welcoming refugees can afford to care for them, to educate them in their education, medical care, shelter, and job opportunities. Second, increasing pathways for legal migration throughout the region as well as protections for refugees. Third, working together to implement more humane and coordinated border management systems. And finally, making sure we are working together to respond to emergencies. President Biden noted that unlawful migration is dangerous and unacceptable. It must be dealt with in ways that secure borders but also support people. The Los Angeles Declaration provides a framework to address both the needs of vulnerable migrants and the needs of countries hosting them. It includes a pledge by its supporters to collectively expand temporary worker programs to address labor shortages, while reducing irregular migration, as well as to open and expand other legal channels for migration. In addition, the signatories to the Declaration committed to support countries, like Colombia and Costa Rica, that are hosting large refugee and irregular migrant populations, and to combat and root out human smuggling networks that prey on the most vulnerable in the region. To those who exploit desperate migrants for profit, President Biden warned, We are coming after you. The United States is also providing additional economic support to its partners in the region so they will be more able to welcome refugees and migrants. This includes more than $300 million in new funding for humanitarian assistance, and millions more, including through the World Bank, to support countries and communities that are carrying the greatest responsibility for migrants. This is just a start, President Biden said of the Los Angeles Declaration. Much work remains. He expressed the hope that other countries in the region would join the Declaration, which, in his words, constitutes an historic new vision for our region. The State Department recently released its 2021 International Religious Freedom Report. In introductory remarks, Secretary of State Antony Blinken noted that respect for religious freedom is not only a fundamental right, it is also a vital foreign policy priority. In his remarks, Secretary Blinken highlighted several examples of progress on religious freedom. He noted that Morocco launched an initiative to renovate Jewish heritage sites and to include Jewish history in the Moroccan public school curriculum. He also highlighted Taiwan, where it is now easier to report employers who refuse to give their workers a weekly rest day in order to attend religious services. The Secretary also commented on areas where religious freedom issues remain problematic and where more work must be done. Secretary Blinken called out the Burmese military in March, in a public determination that members of Burmas military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against predominantly Muslim Rohingya. He noted that in Eritrea, only four religious groups are permitted to practice their faith freely. The Secretary said the Peoples Republic of China continues its ongoing genocide, crimes against humanity, and repression of predominately Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups: Since April 2017, more than 1 million Uyghurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Kyrgyz and others have been detained in internment camps in Xinjiang. The PRC continues to harass adherents of other religions that it deems out of line with Chinese Community Party doctrine, including by destroying Buddhist, Christian, Islamic, and Taoist houses of worship and by erecting barriers to employment and housing for Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners. Secretary Blinken also spoke about Afghanistan, where religious freedom conditions have deteriorated dramatically under the Taliban, particularly as they crack down on the basic rights of women and girls to get an education, to work, to engage in society. Finally, Secretary Blinken noted that the rights of religious minorities are under threat in communities around the world. In India, attacks on people and places of worship are increasing; in Vietnam, authorities harass members of unregistered religious communities; in Nigeria, several state governments are using antidefamation and blasphemy laws to punish people for expressing their beliefs. The United States will continue to stand up for religious freedom around the world, said Secretary Blinken. Well keep working alongside other governments, multilateral organizations,[and] civil society to do so. Virtual Face to Face with President Bruce Jarrell Roe v. Wade Overturned: Impact and Implications Wednesday, June 29, 11 a.m. Register here On June 24, the United States Supreme Court (SCOTUS) delivered its most significant decision in recent memory, ruling in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, a Mississippi abortion law case, and overturning the landmark abortion case Roe v. Wade. (Read about the decision here.) This decision will not only have a dramatic effect on womens health and reproductive rights, but it also will greatly affect issues surrounding maternal health, mental wellness, family care, and economic equality. The overturning of Roe v. Wade also could unravel a wide range of privacy rights, such as the right to have access to emergency contraception and other rights previously affirmed by the court but not specifically mentioned in the Constitution. To be part of this important national conversation, University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) President Bruce E. Jarrell, MD, FACS, will host a special edition of Virtual Face to Face with President Bruce Jarrell on June 29 to discuss the impact and implications of the ruling. Dr. Jarrell will be joined by a panel of UMB thought leaders to answer questions and facilitate a discussion about the major impact the ruling will have on women, the disproportionate effect it will have on the Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) community, and the socioeconomic issues that inevitably will arise. Guests Nadine M. Finigan-Carr, PhD, MS, research associate professor and director, Prevention of Adolescent Risks Initiative, University of Maryland School of Social Work (UMSSW) Jessica K. Lee, MD MPH, assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine Stacey Stephens, MSW, LCSW-C, clinical instructor and director, Bmore for Healthy Babies-Promise Heights, UMSSW Danya Qato, PhD, PharmD, MPH, assistant professor and director, Pharmaceutical Health Services Research Graduate Program, University of Maryland School of Pharmacy Learn more about Virtual Face to Face at this link. Experts laud China for its role in promoting BRICS cooperation, advancing multilateralism The detailed actions, funds and road map unveiled at the recently concluded High-level Dialogue on Global Development as well as the 14th BRICS Summit, hosted by China, showed the country's strong commitment to shoring up global growth amid unprecedented headwinds and turbulence, according to leaders and scholars. The measures come at a time when global governance and global development have come to a very risky juncture and are in dire need of solidarity and concerted efforts among developing countries, they added. On Friday, President Xi Jinping chaired the High-level Dialogue on Global Development via video link from Beijing, bringing together the five BRICS nationsBrazil, Russia, India, China and South Africaas well as 13 other developing countries. The Global Development Initiative, proposed by Xi last year for redirecting global attention to development, has received support from over 100 countries and became a catchphrase at the Friday event. At the dialogue, Xi announced China's further key measures for fulfilling the initiative, including establishing a Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund as well as a plan to increase input in the United Nations Peace and Development Trust Fund. In addition, Beijing will set up a global development promotion center and a global knowledge network for development, Xi announced. While elaborating on these announcements, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi underlined the global economy's struggle to recover in recent years, the widening South-North gap between developing and developed countries, the lack of momentum for international development cooperation, and the marginalizing of development-related topics on the global agenda. The detailed action measures pledged by Xi mark "China's contribution to mobilizing resources for global development and accelerating the implementation of the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", Wang said. Also released at Friday's dialogue was an outcome list of 32 items for action that cover eight areaspoverty alleviation; food security; the COVID-19 fight and vaccines; financing for development; climate change and green development; industrialization; digital economy; and connectivity in the digital era. The list includes plans to establish an alliance for global poverty alleviation and development partnership, launch special actions to advance food production, and establish an international alliance for cooperation on vaccine innovation, research and development. "China, as the world's largest developing country, staunchly champions the interests of developing countries, and it continues to play an important role in South-South cooperation", said Xu Xiujun, director of the International Political Economy Department of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of World Economics and Politics. "The long outcome list shows that China is always a promoter, propeller and contributor for South-South cooperation as well as a leader in seeking inclusiveness and collaboration," Xu said. In addition to the five BRICS nations, the 13 other countries that participated in the dialogue included Indonesia, which holds the G20's presidency this year; Thailand, the rotating chair of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum; and Cambodia, which holds the presidency this year of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Also present at the dialogue were the leaders of Fiji, which is the host country of the Pacific Islands Forum this year; Argentina, which holds the rotating presidency of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States; Senegal, the rotating chair of the African Union; and Uzbekistan, which holds the presidency of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization this year. "The 13 countries from most of the world's continents are convincing representatives of developing countries and emerging economies," said Zhu Jiejin, a professor of global governance studies at Fudan University's School of International Relations and Public Affairs. By inviting them to the dialogue, China could further spread the message of "redirecting global attention to development" to other major global governance venues or forums hosted by these countries this year, Zhu said. "The implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda is undergoing major challenges, and the world economy's prospects have been further dampened by the pandemic, the Ukraine crisis, sanctions, energy price hikes and the food crisis. Global development now is at a very dire, dangerous place," Zhu said. Vice-Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu said: "BRICS is an important symbol of the rise of developing countries as a whole. BRICS cooperation has gone through a course of 16 years and has become a role model for unity and cooperation among emerging markets and developing countries." The BRICS countries account for 26 percent of the world's land, 42 percent of global population and 25 percent of total global economic output. The BRICS Summit adopted on Thursday a Beijing Declaration to gather the latest results of BRICS practical cooperation and unveil plans for the next stage of BRICS cooperation. Among the highlights are the five nations' efforts to advance BRICS' vaccine research and development center and their plan to crack down on any shelter for individuals engaging in corruption. "In order to promote the development of the BRICS cooperation mechanism, China has been true to its word and is productive in achieving good results," said Chen Xulong, a professor of multilateral diplomacy and UN reform studies at the University of International Business and Economics' School of International Relations. Through the Thursday summit, China has won widespread praise for promoting the BRICS cooperation mechanism with tangible actions that fulfilled commitments, Chen said. State Councilor Wang said that the "BRICS Year of China" has been fruitful and full of highlights, and China will host more than 170 BRICS events in various fields throughout the year, with more than 20 ministerial meetings already held in the first half of the year. In particular, he noted that various "BRICS Plus" activities have engaged more than 50 non-BRICS countries, expanding the influence of BRICS. Wang Wen, executive dean of the Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies of Renmin University of China, said, "BRICS cooperation means true multilateralism and greater efficacy, and it is inclusive, with different ideologies, political systems and development stages of countries." In addition, "as the country with the largest economic output among the BRICS members, China adheres to the concept of mutual benefit and common development, and it works with all parties to make the pie even bigger", Wang said. Hong Kong: Local COVID-19 cases stay at 1.7k The Centre for Health Protection today said it is looking into 1,719 additional locally acquired COVID-19 cases, of which 609 were directly identified through nucleic acid tests and 1,110 via rapid antigen tests which were verified. Separately, 154 imported cases were reported. The centre also received notifications of 464 positive cases from 335 schools, among which seven were advised to suspend the classes where a few teachers or students had contracted the virus. Meanwhile, the Government made a restriction-testing declaration to cover Mau Chuen House of Shui Chuen O Estate in Sha Tin, requiring people in the restricted area to undergo compulsory testing before the specified deadline. As there were positive sewage test results with relatively high viral loads in several housing estates in Sha Tin and Kwun Tong, the Housing Department and respective district offices will distribute COVID-19 rapid test kits to relevant residents as well as cleaning workers and property management staff working there. For information and health advice on COVID-19, visit the Government's dedicated webpage. This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. By Trend President of Turkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to Sweden's Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson on June 25 about the country's bid to join NATO, a statement by the communications directorate has said, Trend reports citing Hurriyet Daily News. According to the statement, Erdogan said Stockholm needs to change its attitude towards PKK terror organization and its Syria branch YPG. President Erdogan also help a phone call with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. The G7 countries plan to impose an embargo on the import of Russian gold in order to deprive the Russian Federation of tens of billions of dollars a year, U.S. President Joe Biden has said. "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia," Biden said on Twitter on Sunday. Earlier it was reported that the meetings of the leaders of the G7 countries, which would also be joined by the leaders of Argentina, India, Indonesia, Senegal and South Africa, would be held in Germany from June 26 to June 28. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said that, among other things, the summit participants would discuss new measures aimed at isolating Russia from the world economy and disrupting supply chains for the Russian defense complex. It is also planned to reach new agreements to reduce energy and food prices in the world. The summit will take place in the Bavarian Alps in Elmau. The last summit chaired by Germany, when Angela Merkel was Chancellor, was also held there. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine needs a powerful modern and effective air defense system. "Russia today again hit Kyiv with missiles. Early in the morning. The second army of the world triumphantly "defeated" a kindergarten and an apartment building. A man died... There are wounded, a girl among them Her mother was also wounded. By the way, a citizen of Russia. She was not threatened by anything in our country, she was completely safe, until Russia itself decided that everything was equally hostile to them now women, children, kindergartens, apartment buildings" the head of state said in a video address on Sunday, June 26, night. Missiles also hit Mykolaiv and Chernihiv regions, Odesa, Cherkasy. Artillery and mortar shelling did not stop in Kharkiv and Sumy regions, Donbas, in the south of Ukraine, Zelensky said. Part of the missiles were shot down, however, Ukraine still needs a powerful air defense, the president said. "We need a powerful air defense modern, fully effective. Which can ensure complete protection against these missiles. We talk about this every day with our partners. There are already some agreements. And partners need to move faster if they are really partners, not observers," Zelensky said. Delays in the transfer of weapons to Ukraine "are actually an invitation for Russia to strike again and again." The head of state also offered condolences to everyone who suffered, as well as families and friends of the victims of missile attacks. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky addressed the citizens of Belarus, saying: "You are being drawn into the war." "And I would like to separately address the citizens of Belarus today. Both civilians and those in uniform. You are being drawn into the war. And even more actively than in February and in the spring months. The Kremlin has already decided everything for you your lives are worth nothing to them," he said in a video address on Sunday, June 26, night. "But you are not slaves or cannon fodder. You do not have to die. And you can prevent anyone from deciding for you what awaits you next," the head of state said, addressing the people of Belarus. Four people were killed as a result of a missile attack on the town of Sarny, Rivne region, on Saturday, June 25, Head of Rivne Regional Military Administration Vitaliy Koval said. "Bad news from Sarny. The body of another man has been found under the debris. Thus, the death toll from yesterday's missile attack on the civilian facilities increased to four. These are men aged from 30 to 51 years old. Two more people are in critical condition," he said on the Telegram channel. On Saturday, June 25, in the evening, the Russian aggressor launched a missile attack on Sarny, Rivne region, and Kovel, Volyn region, from the territory of Belarus. In Sarny, two missiles hit two car service stations. Three people were killed instantly, four people were hospitalized, two of them were in critical condition. Head of Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhiy Haidai reported massive destructions in the town of Severodonetsk, Luhansk region, from which the Ukrainian forces had been withdrawn. "The town is 90% devastated. It will be very difficult to survive there. The orcs won't be able to restore the communications there," he said on the Telegram channel on Saturday, June 25. Haidai also said that the invaders were reinforcing their positions in the town and in the neighboring villages. "We will take our town back! This won't take long," he said. U.S. Senator Jim Risch, who is also a ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, visited Kyiv region, Head of Kyiv Regional Military Administration Oleksiy Kuleba had said. Senator Risch visited Hostomel and Irpin where "he saw with his own eyes the destructions of the residential areas and the consequences of the crimes committed by the Russian army," he said. "The delegation visited the Antonov International Airport, where the Rushists destroyed Ukrainian aircraft Mriya. Senator Jim Risch was impressed by what he saw," Kuleba said on the Telegram channel on Monday. He also thanked the international partners for their strong support. The participants of the G7 Summit must respond to Russian missile attacks on Kyiv, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak has said. "The G7 Summit must respond to the Russian attacks on Kyiv," he said on the Telegram channel on Sunday, June 26. He said that sanctions against Russia should become even more aggressive. "Embargo on gold export is good, but a gas embargo should be in a new package of EU sanctions as well," he said. Yermak also said that international military convoys should be used to unblock Ukrainian ports in order to overcome the food crisis provoked by Russia. In addition, the G7 Summit should recognize Russia a sponsor country for terrorism, he said. UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson and President of France Emmanuel Macron, during a meeting on Sunday, June 26, agreed to intensify their military support for Ukraine. "Both the Prime Minister and President Macron stressed the need to support Ukraine to strengthen their hand in both the war and any future negotiations. President Macron praised the Prime Minister's ongoing military support to Ukraine and the leaders agreed to step up this work," reads the press release issued by the UK government media liaison office. The leaders agreed to continue and enhance the close work between the UK and France on areas including defense and security. Johnson stressed "any attempt to settle the conflict now will only cause enduring instability and give Putin license to manipulate both sovereign countries and international markets in perpetuity." By Trend Monkeypox is not yet a global health emergency, the World Health Organization (WHO) ruled on Saturday, although WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said he was deeply concerned about the outbreak, Trend reports citing Reuters. "I am deeply concerned about the monkeypox outbreak, this is clearly an evolving health threat that my colleagues and I in the WHO Secretariat are following extremely closely," Tedros said. The "global emergency" label currently only applies to the coronavirus pandemic and ongoing efforts to eradicate polio, and the U.N. agency has stepped back from applying it to the monkeypox outbreak after advice from a meeting of international experts. There have been more than 3,200 confirmed cases of monkeypox and one death reported in the last six weeks from 48 countries where it does not usually spread, according to WHO. So far this year almost 1,500 cases and 70 deaths in central Africa, where the disease is more common, have also been reported, chiefly in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Monkeypox, a viral illness causing flu-like symptoms and skin lesions, has been spreading largely in men who have sex with men outside the countries where it is endemic. It has two clades - the West African strain, which is believed to have a fatality rate of around 1% and which is the strain spreading in Europe and elsewhere, and the Congo Basin strain, which has a fatality rate closer to 10%, according to WHO. There are vaccines and treatments available for monkeypox, although they are in limited supply. The WHO decision is likely to be met with some criticism from global health experts, who said ahead of the meeting that the outbreak met the criteria to be called an emergency. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky took part via videoconference in a meeting of the G7 leaders' summit held in Germany, the presidential press service has said on Monday. Zelensky "thanked the G7 states for the defense and financial support of Ukraine during the full-scale invasion of Russia, as well as for the consistent sanctions policy against the aggressor country." The president noted the importance of the decision to grant Ukraine the status of a candidate for joining the European Union. "This decision fully reflects our progress in European integration, our contribution to the protection of European values, which we are all talking about," the head of state said. Zelensky suggested that the G7 leaders focus on concrete steps that could be useful both for Ukraine and all of Europe. In particular, the president invited the G7 to join the work on security guarantees for Ukraine. The head of state said these guarantees would exclude the possibility of conflicts like Russian aggression in the future. Zelensky also said that our state needs modern and effective missile defense systems that can provide peace to Ukrainian cities far from the front. According to him, Russia is intensifying missile attacks on Ukraine, so it is very important to guarantee basic security for the civilian population. The head of state said that the return of people to work will allow launching economic processes in settlements, because today the monthly budget deficit of our country is $5 billion. The president of Ukraine also noted the importance of unblocking the export of Ukrainian grain and called for thinking about effective mechanisms to ensure food security in the world. In addition, the head of state emphasized the need to increase sanctions pressure on Russia, in particular, by forcibly limiting the price of exported Russian oil. Zelensky believes that the U.S. Department of State will support the decision to recognize Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. The president also proposed the creation of an effective global mechanism for the confiscation of frozen or seized Russian assets, which should be one of the biggest tools to deter other potential aggressors from attacking neighbors. He called on the G7 countries to encourage their companies to consider Ukraine as an alternative to the Russian direction. According to the president, after the end of the war, the Ukrainian state will have much better access to the global market compared to the aggressor country. In addition, Ukraine has duty-free access to the markets of leading democratic countries. The head of state also noted the importance of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine. According to Zelensky, this will be the largest economic project of our time, participation in which will significantly strengthen the G7 countries. An exhibition of Russian equipment destroyed by Ukrainian defense forces "For our and your freedom" has been opened in Warsaw, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry has said. "I am sincerely grateful to the Polish people and the Polish state for all the help that Ukraine received during the 124 days of rebuffing full-scale Russian aggression. Both in the rear and on the front line, Ukrainians feel the support of the Poles. Polish weapons strengthen our defense at the front. We will always remember this," Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Hanna Maliar said at the opening of the exhibition. The event was also attended by Head of the Office of the Prime Minister of Poland Micha Dworczyk, and Deputy Minister of National Defense of Poland Wojciech Skurkiewicz. Maliar personally thanked Dworczyk and the Office of the Prime Minister of Poland for their cooperation in organizing this exhibition. "The exhibition is entitled 'For our and your freedom.' This expression is understandable both in Kyiv and in Warsaw. I hope that people who see this technique in Warsaw and then in other cities will feel better that we have a common goal. We want to show that Russian tanks can enter Europe through our territory only as exhibits. Ukraine has already proved that it is a reliable shield for Europe in the east," Maliar said. It is noted that this is the first such exhibition in the territory of the EU and NATO countries. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine and Moldova should strengthen cooperation in the humanitarian, economic, energy and security spheres to counter Russian aggression. "Together we must do everything possible so that Russian aggression can no longer threaten Ukraine, Moldova, or anyone in Europe. On this basis, we must strengthen our cooperation in all areas: humanitarian sphere, economy, energy, border policy and security," Zelensky said at a briefing with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Kyiv. According to the head of state, Ukraine and Moldova have the same root threats created by the aggression of the Russian Federation and Russian politics. "If threats have the same roots, then our responses should also be joint," he said. Zelensky also called the decision of the European Council to grant Ukraine and Moldova the status of candidate states to the European Union an important historical decision. "I am sure that thanks to the success of European integration, our countries will become even closer. We will definitely exchange experience on the way to full EU membership," the President concluded. The change of the leadership of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and any other law enforcement agency in the state depends on the results of their inspection, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky said. "As for the head of the Security Service of Ukraine: firstly, if I wanted to dismiss him, I would have already dismissed him, and secondly, we have an inspection of all law enforcement agencies now. It is precisely because on February 24 there was a full-scale invasion of our land by the Russian Federation," Zelensky said, answering journalists' questions at a briefing with Moldovan President Maia Sandu in Kyiv. As the head of state noted, "some representatives of various law enforcement agencies have gone somewhere, instead of being on the spot and protecting their state and people." "For various reasons. All these reasons: I travel to the regions and listen to the reports myself personally. And therefore, the change of leadership of any law enforcement agency, I emphasize: any, depends only on this. That's what I'm doing," he said. Zelensky also added that he fully supports the reform of the SBU. "The law on the reform was voted at the first reading. True, it was before the war. The war makes adjustments. We will continue [the reform] on the way to the EU. But I emphasize once again, we are carrying out reforms for ourselves, not for the European Union," the president said. "There are many reforms, many plans. I think even the war will not stop us from taking important steps," he concluded. On Wednesday, July 6, at 11.00, the press center of the Interfax-Ukraine news agency will host a press conference entitled "Poetry without cover as chronicle of national confrontation." Participants include the author of the idea of the book, its compiler, one of the authors, chairman of Kirovohrad regional organization of the National Union of Writers of Ukraine Nadiya Harmaziy; designer of the book and one of its authors, literary manager Irena Yanytska; one of the authors of the anthology, writer, volunteer, cultural activist Yaroslav Karpets (8/5a Reitarska Street). The broadcast of the press conference will be available on the Youtube channel of the Interfax-Ukraine agency. Admission of journalists requires registration on the spot. Details by phone: (095) 885 8374 (Yaroslav Karpets.) Hardliner turned critic, former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005-2013) has given a rare interview to the pro-reform daily Sharq. Below is a summary of his comments on a variety of issues facing the Islamic Republic. Money Laundering and Terrorism A referendum should be held on the question of whether or not Iran should join the international conventions against money laundering and financing terrorism, including the Financial Action Task Force (FATF). Since the decision to join the conventions will have a direct impact on peoples livelihoods, the people should decide the question in a national poll. Earlier, two pro-reform politicians, Tehran's MP Mahmoud Sadeqi, and a member of the powerful Expediency Discernment Council (EDC), Majid Ansari, had proposed the same idea. The Islamic Republic's Decision-Making is Impaired Since the structure of the country's constitution is copied from European models, and those who compiled it did not have management and administration experience, the decision-making mechanism of the Islamic Republic is impaired. Therefore, the constitution has not prevented duplication of authority and in present-day Iran, in most cases there are parallel decision makers. While a ministry is tasked with making certain decisions, the real decision makers might actually be in another institution. This criticism might be a reference to the interference of military or religious leaders in the countrys political and economic affairs. It could also be a criticism of the independent line of control from the Supreme Leaders office. Ahmadinejad adds that there are an unofficial entities or individuals that make decisions alongside the government. Those in charge of the informal departments are not accountable to anybody. They can quickly change any decision with just a simple telephone call. Iran Needs a Senate The country needs coordination in all fields. Development in construction, industry, and agriculture should go together in a coordinated way. We cannot develop our industry, disregarding the agricultural sector, and vice versa. Therefore, Iran needs a senate to look into national demands, and decide on long term policies. Arresting People, a Vicious Cycle Economic problems cannot be solved by arresting people. We arrest people, charge them with financial crimes and suggest that by arresting the culprits manipulating our economy, everything will be fine. Soon, people will see nothing has changed, and its business as usual. How can a handful of individuals be responsible for Irans economic woes when 85 percent of the countrys economy is dominated by the state? Thanks to my government's effort, crude prices soared during my presidency. If I take the lead of the government today, within six months I will bring the price of oil to $100 per barrel or more. The government (of President Hassan Rouhani) has not received even $30 billion in revenues from oil sold in the last five years. (The government responded in a statement that this figure is incorrect). (Obviously, it was not Ahmadinejad who brought oil prices to $100 a barrel). Head of Egypt's Coptic Orthodox Church Pope Tawadros II congratulated on Sunday President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, state officials and Islamic leaders ahead of Eid El-Adha, which starts this year on 9 July. A Palestinian teenager died on Sunday after being shot by Israeli occupation forces in the occupied West Bank a day earlier, Palestinian medical sources said. It has been almost six weeks since President Abdel-Fattah Al-Sisi promised a national dialogue to allow for a consensus to emerge over ways to tackle pressing political and economic issues. Alongside the euphoria and scepticism articulated in political quarters, meetings and consultations with political parties, syndicates and state bodies have taken place with the aim of drawing up an agenda for the dialogue, a number of activists in administrative detention have been released and others who had received prison sentences have been freed after receiving presidential pardons. Journalist and commentator Abdallah Al-Sennawi has been keeping a close eye on the developments. Speaking to Al-Ahram Weekly over the weekend, hours after a fresh round of activists were released, Al-Sennawi argued that events already reveal the intentions of the executive and the possible path of the political process. There is a committee for the presidential pardons and it has clearly been working, Al-Sennawi said before adding he would like to see more and faster releases to allow us to turn a painful page. Many activists, said Al-Sennawi, did not use violence or terror nor did they incite terror, meaning the charges against them can be qualified as being political in nature. The whole issue, he suggested, could be resolved with a single decree, from either the office of the president or the prosecutor-general, the latter being the competent authority to order the release of people held in administrative detention. According to the information I have, the committee compiled a list of 1,074 names eligible for release of which 250 [prisoners and detainees] are being released gradually. It is a process and some are on a priority list, he said. According to Al-Sennawi, any judgement on the work of the Presidential Pardon Committee and the rate of the release of activists must take account of the context the complex situation in the country and of the accumulations of recent years. The release process has been met with aggressive resistance from some quarters and must therefore be managed prudently and carefully. The important thing is to keep the releases coming at a reasonable rate, he said. While it would have been better for all of the releases to have happened at the same time, given the constraints on the process one can only hope it continues as quickly as possible and without any hiccups. Given the context, Al-Sennawi says there have been several positive signs, including the prompt release of Yehia Abdel-Hadi Hussein, founder and coordinator of the Civil Democratic Movement, who was arrested in 2019 and then released days after receiving a prison sentence of four years. Al-Sennawi believes the sequence of releases has been gauged to pave the way to the dialogue because, for any political dialogue to be constructive and result in productive state-building, people must believe that their freedom of expression is uncompromised. An atmosphere of freedom is an essential requirement for any productive dialogue, he stressed, and we are waiting for more releases so that we can move from the phase of preparing for the dialogue to the actual process. It will, Al-Sennawi thinks, be around two months before the actual dialogue starts. Meanwhile, consultations that involve the state, political parties, public figures, and others is ongoing. The Civil Democratic Movement is trying to reach a draft of [a paper] that reflects its views and its proposed agenda for the dialogue and to agree to its representatives to the dialogue, he added. According to Al-Sennawi, the plan at the moment is that the opposition will have five seats on the technical committee that will oversee the national dialogue, with another five seats allocated to parties in alliance with the government, while the role of the National Training Academy (NTA), a body established in 2017 and affiliated to the office of the president, will be restricted to providing logistical support. Al-Sennawi refutes suggestions the NTA will be in charge of the dialogue, insisting it will not interfere in the content or the path of the dialogue. Indeed, he argues that it is a positive sign that the body in charge of preparing for the dialogue is directly affiliated to the presidency. Al-Sennawi is unsure whether state officials will be present in dialogue meetings or whether the government will be represented by political parties and public figures of choice. It is far from easy to come up with the name of a political figure who could manage the dialogue. Such a figure will need to have the confidence of the state, especially of the president, and the respect of the opposition, and be capable of efficiently managing the process in a way that produces concrete, consensual conclusions. Al-Sennawi argues that Hamdeen Sabbahi, the Nasserite political figure and a presidential candidate in 2012 and 2014, and other opposition figures involved in paving the way towards the dialogue have been doing a good job in conducting a reasonable, clear, and logical process of negotiations [with the state]. According to Al-Sennawi, a lot of ideas are being floated and it is important to realise there will be two types of dialogue the social and the political. The first will have a wide-ranging mandate and address many problems that we face through meetings conducted by syndicates, parties, and so on and should produce concrete and consensual ideas. The second, he argued, should have a fixed timeframe of between two to six months and will require tight structuring. Participants in this dialogue should not exceed 200 in order to ensure it is productive and not just an open-ended sharing of views and there must be clearly defined ceiling and criteria for both representation and the timeframe. As for the expected conclusions of the dialogue, Al-Sennawi thinks it too early to make predictions given that political parties are still in the process of compiling their ideas and proposals. The aims of the dialogue, however, are clear. It should result in a broad national accord that allows for the consolidation of ranks at a critical juncture when Egypt, faced with serious economic crises, cannot afford security disruptions. The situation across the region is frail, though details of specific foreign policy issues, including the operation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam which Ethiopia is constructing over the Blue Nile, the major source of Egypts share of Nile water, are unlikely to appear on the agenda of the national dialogue. Al-Sennawi warned against turning the dialogue into a space for political point scoring. This is not what we want to do. We need to address pressing risks and work out how to steer Egypt out of harms way. Only when the big crises are averted, he said, will it be time to revisit all policies of concern though even then the revisionism should not descend into provocation and squabbling. While Al-Sennawi accepts that some political forces have questions on the process and possible conclusions of the dialogue, he insists that all political forces with any weight have shown interest in the dialogue with or without conditions. It is only logical, Al-Sennawi said, for political entities to put forward their ideas about what makes a political dialogue productive and none of Egypts political forces are completely opposed to the proposed dialogue. He argued that it will take time to take stock of recent political developments and for all parties to be reassured that this is a serious political process. Let us wait and see, he says. What really count are the measures being taken on the ground and how serious and meaningful they are. According to Al-Sennawi, there is already an interest from the international press to learn about what is actually happening in Egypt and that such interest is quite positive. The proposed political dialogue is receiving more attention from the international press than the launch of the National Strategy for Human Rights in 2021 and will garner more attention on Egypts political ambitions than any PR campaign, no matter how costly, could deliver. What Egypt needs is for things to be said and then to be done. This is how credibility is built, which is why the recent releases are so important. We can change the image of the country by implementing concrete and tangible measures on the ground. To change Egypts image we need to have liberties, including freedom of the press. We want the media to have more space in which to operate. We want modern and democratic laws that allow for public elections to be conducted. Al-Sennawi argued that many of the goals political forces want to attain via the national dialogue are already enshrined in the 2014 constitution, but in a situation where politics have all but dried up it will take time to build a modern constitutional state. It would be wrong to assume that all the objectives can be secured at once. Nothing gets done overnight and the important thing is to put a process into motion and move steadily forward. It is possible, Al-Sennawi argues, for the government to suspend some of its economic plans that have raised concerns, including its privatisation drive, pending a process of consultation that could produce innovative ideas to help boost the economy while keeping state assets as intact as possible. While Al-Sennawi is fully aware of the reaction to recent jail sentences against former presidential candidate Abdel-Moneim Abul-Fotouh and the debate about the number of death sentences passed in Egypt in recent years, he does not want to see such issues derail the dialogue. He said that recent sentences of 10 to 15 years handed down to Abul-Fotouh and other activists, including Mohamed Al-Kassas, a prominent figure in the now defunct Strong Egypt Party, were already scheduled. Khaled Dawoud, former chair of the Dostour Party, proposed a [political] truce whereby nobody would be arrested for expressing their political views and I am hoping that soon this will happen. Al-Sennawi is unwilling to speculate about whether decision-making circles have really changed their mind about the need for ultra-strict security measures. Let us hold on to what we have now. Something positive is happening. We are seeing a certain willingness, which is still to be explored, to allow politics to come back to life. The real test will be acts on the ground and the conclusions that emerge from the dialogue. Amendments to the 2014 constitution, Al-Sennawi argued, are unlikely to be welcomed by the state despite speculation on the issue. Nor, he adds, would they help lead to a successful dialogue. Indeed, they will immediately undermine the dialogue. We should not tamper with the constitution. In April 2019 several amendments to the 2014 constitution were passed. They extended presidential terms from four to six years each. Cumulatively, the amendments extended the presidents term until 2024 and allowed him to run for re-election that year. Unwilling to dwell on the 2019 amendments, Al-Sennawi said underlining the [concept of] a constitutional republic should be the most important outcome of the dialogue. We are now talking about a civil modern republic with social and economic rights. Freedom of the press is the core of all public liberties. If freedom of the press is compromised then there is no point talking about public freedoms. The press is about public scrutiny and if it is compromised it means that people are not allowed to speak their mind, leading to political sclerosis. The credibility of the press in Egypt has been undermined not just in relation to political context but also by a decline in professional standards. Today we need to move forward and open windows for liberties, though again, this is something that is going to take time. In terms of the economic crisis possibly one of the reasons behind the invitation to dialogue Al-Sennawi believes there is a need to invite leading economists to pitch in their ideas. Some ideas are already being promoted, including a temporary suspension of mega projects and revision of priorities. There is a need to underline the rule of law to allow investors and entrepreneurs to work with greater confidence and within clear guidelines without being subject to unexpected or unpleasant surprises. And what of the ultimate goal of the dialogue? By the end of 2022 Al-Sennawi is hopeful that concrete steps will be in place along a path that will lead to reclaiming the dream of a modern and civil state as articulated in the January 2011 and June 2013 revolutions. *A version of this article appears in print in the 9 June, 2022 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly. Search Keywords: Short link: During a meeting between the new Ethiopian Ambassador to Washington DC and the US special envoy to the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia "highlighted its interest" to the US in the resumption of the African Union-sponsored negotiations with Egypt and Sudan to resolve the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) dispute. Sileshi Bekele, the new Ethiopian ambassador to the US, who is a former chief negotiator in the GERD talks, made the remarks on Friday during a meeting between Ethiopias Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen and the recently-appointed US Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa Michael Hammer, according to a statement by the Ethiopian foreign ministry. During the meeting, which discussed the latest developments in the Tigray conflict, Ethiopia requested the lifting of the US sanction on the country over the AGOA preferential trade agreement, "which is hurting the ordinary people and putting companies out of business," according to the statement. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly expressed readiness to resume the stalled AU-sponsored talks on GERD, but demanded Ethiopia sign a legally-binding agreement. However, Ethiopia has repeatedly refused in years of talks to commit to signing any such deal. The last round of AU-sponsored trilateral talks collapsed in Kinshasa in April 2021 due to Ethiopian intrasigence and refusal to sign any legally binding document. In May, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry reiterated that Cairo is always ready for dialogue on the GERD issue, describing the file as existential and a matter of national security for Egypt and its people. Egypt and Sudan have repeatedly warned against the impact of unilateral acts on GERD on their water rights and peoples interests unless a legally-binding deal on the filling and operation of the dam is reached. The downstream countries have reaffirmed on multiple occasionas that they are not against development in Ethiopia but insisted that this development should not endanger their water rights. Ethiopia unilaterally implemented the first two phases of filling GERD over the past two years, started the first phase in the production of energy from the GERD in February, and plans to implement the third phase of the dam filling in August and September. Egypt and Sudan have called for involving international partners, including the US, in the AU-led negotiations process. The US has affirmed readiness to provide political and technical support to the three countries by urging all parties to come to the table and resume dialogue with the help of observers from the US and the European Union. However, a 2019 US effort during the Trump administration to mediate in negotiations between Egypt, Sudan, and Ethiopia failed. In February of that year, Ethiopia pulled out of a final meeting between the three sides that was sponsored by the US in Washington DC to resolve the dispute, refusing to sign any binding documents. In May 2021, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken reaffirmed to President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi during a visit to Cairo the US commitment to exerting efforts to reach an agreement that preserves the water and development rights of all parties. Search Keywords: Short link: By Trend National Atomic Company Kazatomprom JSC has officially become a full member of the United Nations Global Compact (UN Global Compact), the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative that aligns more than 16,000 member companies from 161 countries in taking positive actions to advance societal goals, Trend reports citing the company. Mazhit Sharipov, chief executive officer of Kazatomprom said that joining the UN Global Compact confirms the Company's commitment to the ten principles of the UN Global Compact and its support for the global agenda, goals and initiatives of the UN in the field of sustainable development. Sustainable development is integral to Kazatomproms development strategy and as part of its implementation, the Company is constantly working to improve corporate practices to meet the highest international standards of industrial safety, environmental and social responsibility, and corporate governance. As the world's leading producer and supplier of natural uranium, Kazatomprom will continue working to implement the ten principles of the UN Global Compact throughout its activities, while promoting the best global practices of sustainable development and responsible business standards, not only in the uranium mining and nuclear industries, but across the Kazakh business community as a whole, he said. The UN Global Compact plays a key role in strengthening cooperation and partnerships between the UN and governments, civil society and the private sector. Joining this initiative reinforces the commitment of participating companies to consistently implement the ten universal principles of the UN Global Compact in their activities, covering the fields of human rights, labor, environment and anti-corruption. Membership also conveys the intention to harmonize the strategies and activities among program participants to promote the ten universal principles and values ??of the UN, while taking action to achieve social and sustainable development goals. 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. Bennett, who took charge of an ideologically-divided eight-party alliance in June 2021, conceded last week that his coalition was no longer tenable, a shock announcement that is likely sending Israel to its fifth election in four years. "Soon, unfortunately, the State of Israel will head toward elections," he told his ministers, with parliament due to hold a final vote to dissolve itself as early as Monday. "This was an excellent government, which depended on a complex coalition. There is here a group of people who knew how to put aside ideological differences, rise above and act for the State of Israel," he added, referring to an unprecedented alliance that counted right-wingers, centrists, doves and Arab Islamists. "There are governments that last but which have few achievements; ours was a short-lived government with great achievements," the religious nationalist premier said. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas meanwhile arrived Sunday in Amman, where he met Jordan's King Abdullah II to discuss the implications of the Knesset's dissolution on prospects for peace. The king told Abbas that "Jordan is in continuous contact with the United States and is working for the Palestinian cause to be at the forefront of President Joe Biden's agenda during his visit to the region next month," according to a statement from his office. Biden is due to visit Saudi Arabia in July, after Washington has repeatedly hinted at improved ties with Israel. He will attend a summit with leaders from Egypt, Jordan and Iraq, as well as the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council. Israeli media have reported former prime minister and current opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu had held talks on forming a new Israeli government within this parliament, averting elections. But those negotiations reportedly made little progress, meaning a bill to dissolve parliament was expected to earn a comfortable majority in Israel's 120-member parliament, the Knesset. Once parliament dissolves, Israel's caretaker government will be headed by Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, in accordance with a power-sharing deal the pair reached following inconclusive elections last year. The Bennett coalition was imperilled by ideological divides from its outset. The final straw, according to the premier, was a failure to renew a measure that ensures Jewish settlers in the occupied West Bank live under Israeli law. Bennett, the former head of a settler lobby group, said the measure's expiration on June 30 would have brought security risks and "constitutional chaos". Search Keywords: Short link: Finnish and Swedish leaders will discuss their stalled NATO bids with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday at the start of an alliance summit in Madrid, Helsinki said on Monday. But Turkey said the four-way meeting, which will also involve NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg, did not mean that Ankara was close to lifting its objection to the two Nordic countries joining the military bloc. The Finnish presidency said the four leaders will meet in Madrid, before the start of the alliance's summit, which will focus on Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The meeting "will be preceded (Monday) by a round of talks between Finnish, Swedish and Turkish officials hosted by NATO in Brussels", the Finnish presidency said. Russia's invasion of Ukraine earlier this year saw the two Nordic countries abandon decades of military non-alignment by applying for NATO membership in May. But the joint membership bid, initially believed to be a speedy process, has been delayed by objections from NATO member Turkey. Ankara has accused Finland and Sweden, in particular, of providing a safe haven for outlawed Kurdish militants whose decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state has claimed tens of thousands of lives. The Turkish leader has also called on Sweden and Finland to lift arms embargoes imposed against Turkey in 2019 over Ankara's military offensive in Syria. Erdogan signalled on Saturday that no progress had been made in Sweden's bid to join NATO, urging Stockholm to take "concrete actions" to meet Ankara's concerns. Turkish officials said Ankara does not view the summit as a final deadline for resolving its objections. Erdogan's chief foreign policy adviser said Tuesday's four-way meeting did not mean that an agreement was imminent. "Participating in this summit does not mean that we will step back from our position," Ibrahim Kalin told HaberTurk channel. "We are conducting a negotiation. It has many stages." Kalin said Finland and Sweden needed to make "serious changes" to their laws "and constitution" targeting outlawed Kurdish militants. "We want you to show the same change against the PKK and its affiliated YPG, PYD and similar structures," he said in reference to Kurdish groups operating in Syria and Iraq. Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi held talks in Muscat on Monday with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik of Oman in which they discussed bilateral and economic relations, with bin Tarik expressing his countrys keenness to boost Omani investments in Egypt. According to a statement by Presidential Spokesperson Bassam Rady, the sultan expressed his appreciation for Egypts efforts in supporting Oman on all levels in addition to the Egyptian expat communitys contributions to the development of the gulf country. There are currently 65,000 Egyptians living and working in Oman. bin Tarik added that Oman was keen to boost bilateral relations in all fields in the upcoming period by boosting and increasing Omani investments in Egypt. For his part, El-Sisi expressed his appreciation for the strong strategic relations between the two countries, adding that Egypt was keen to boost and diversify all aspects of these ties. The president also lauded the current coordination and unification of vision between Egypt and Oman concerning issues of mutual concern, whether regionally or internationally. This is the second time El-Sisi has visited Oman since assuming power. In his first visit, in 2018, El-Sisi met with the late sultan Qaboos bin Said; it was the first time an Egyptian president had visited Oman since 2009. This is also his first meeting with Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, who ascended to the throne in 2020. El-Sisi is currently on a two-day visit to Oman, after which, he will be visiting the Kingdom of Bahrain. Earlier this month, El-Sisi met with several Arab leaders in Egypt, receiving the UAEs Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo. Moreover, El-Sisi recently hosted a trilateral summit in Sharm El-Sheikh with both Bahraini King Hamad and Jordanian King Abdullah II, during which he affirmed Egypts keenness to expand cooperation with the two countries and boost joint Arab action to face regional and international challenges. Aside from the focus on bilateral economic relations, El-Sisis meetings and current tour come less than three week before the Gulf Cooperation Council Summit (GCC+3 Summit) that will be held in Saudi Arabias Jeddah from 15 to 16 July. The summit will bring together the leaders of the GCC as well as the US, Egypt, and Iraq. Egyptian-Omani Economic relations Trade exchange between Egypt and Oman amounted to $500 million in 2020, according to previous statements by Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea. Moreover, Omani investments in the Egyptian market reached $77.5 million through 92 companies in the fields of industry, tourism, construction, and agriculture, Gamea said. Meanwhile, Egyptian investments in Oman recorded $680 million through 142 companies specialised in the fields of infrastructure, road projects, and real estate investment. In January, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry and his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi signed six memoranda of understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation and conclude the 15th session of the Egyptian-Omani Joint Committee in Muscat. Search Keywords: Short link: President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi extended on Monday his condolences to General Abdel-Fattah Al-Burhan, the chairperson of the Sudanese Transitional Sovereign Council, over the death of Sudanese soldiers that were held captive by the Ethiopian Army, the Egyptian presidency said. According to a statement, the Egyptian president presented his condolences over the death of the Sudanese soldiers, sending his well-wishes to their families. Earlier on Monday, Sudan accused the Ethiopian army of executing seven soldiers and a civilian that were allegedly being held captive, vowing to take action. Relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa have soured in recent years over the contested border region of Al-Fashaqa a fertile strip long cultivated by Ethiopian farmers but claimed by Sudan. The Al-Fashaqa region, which also borders Ethiopias troubled Tigray region, has seen sporadic deadly clashes between the Sudanese and Ethiopian sides over the past years. Tensions between the two sides especially rose after fighting erupted in the Tigray in November 2020, sending tens of thousands of refugees fleeing into Sudan. Khartoum and Addis Ababa have since been locked in a tense war of words, trading accusations of violence and territorial violations. The border dispute feeds into wider tensions in the region, including over Ethiopias controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), which it built on the Blue Nile, with downstream countries Egypt and Sudan demanding Ethiopia sign a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation policies of the dam that preserve their water rights. President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is currently in a short Gulf tour that kicked off with a visit to Oman on Monday. Search Keywords: Short link: Senior officials from Egypt, Israel, Bahrain, the UAE, Morocco, and the US held the inaugural meeting of the Negev Forums Steering Committee on Monday in Bahrain to outline a framework document for the forum, setting out its objectives and structure a joint statement of the forums six countries said. The forum, which was launched in Israels Negev in March by the foreign ministers of the six countries will have a four-part structure the Foreign Ministers Ministerial, the Presidency, the Steering Committee, and the Working Groups. The ministerial, which is expected to convene annually, is to be the principal governing body of the forum, with the statement also noting that Israel will continue to serve as president of the forum until the next ministerial gathering. The exact purpose of the Presidency of the forum was not disclosed in the statement. Meanwhile, the Steering Committee is tasked with coordinating the collective efforts of the members of the forum and advancing a common vision for the region. As for the six Working Groups, they will be expected to meet regularly throughout the year to foster regional integration, cooperation, and benefit the peoples of the regions, including by advancing initiatives that strengthen the Palestinian economy and improve the quality of life of Palestinians. The committee also discussed during the meeting the assignment of chairs for each of the six Working Groups, which are expected to regularly report their progress to it. They may also, with the consensus of members, invite non-member participants to participate in specific initiatives where their participation would deliver a direct benefit to the initiatives stated goal, the statement read. Furthermore, the Working Groups will primarily focus on clean energy, education and coexistence, food and water security, health, regional security, and tourism. This meeting demonstrates the strength of our relations, our shared commitment to cooperation, and the important opportunities unlocked by improved relations between Israel and its neighbours, showing what can be achieved by working together to overcome shared challenges, the statement said. The participants also affirmed that these relations can be harnessed to create momentum in Israeli-Palestinian relations towards a negotiated resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and as part of efforts to achieve a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace, it added. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi is embarking on official visits to Oman and Bahrain as part of a Gulf tour, Presidential Spokesman Bassam Rady said in a statement. During his visits, which start today, El-Sisi will meet with Omans Sultan Haitham bin Tarik and Bahrains King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, the statement read. The president will discuss with the two leaders regional and international issues of mutual concern to protect Arab national security and face attempts to destabilise and interfere in the domestic affairs of the Arab countries, the statement added. The president's visit to Oman will be his second to the Gulf country. In the first visit, in 2018, El-Sisi met with late sultan Qaboos bin Said. It was the first by an Egyptian president since 2009. Earlier this month, El-Sisi received Bahraini King Hamad in Sharm El-Sheikh, where the two leaders reviewed prospects of cooperation in the economic and investment fields and discussed regional and international issues. During King Hamad's visit, El-Sisi hosted a trilateral summit with both the Bahraini king and Jordanian King Abdullah II, during which he affirmed Egypts keenness to expand cooperation with the two countries and boost joint Arab action to face regional and international challenges. Cooperation with Oman and Bahrain Egypt shares warm relations with Bahrain and Oman at all levels, including economic and commercial ties, and a mutual understanding on regional issues. Trade exchange between Egypt and Oman amounted to $500 million in 2020, according to previous statements by Egyptian Minister of Trade and Industry Nevine Gamea. Moreover, Omani investments in the Egyptian market reached $77.5 million through 92 companies in the fields of industry, tourism, construction, and agriculture, Gamea said. Meanwhile, Egyptian investments in Oman recorded $680 million, with 142 companies specialised in the fields of infrastructure, road projects, and real estate investment. In January, Egypts foreign minister Sameh Shoukry and his Omani counterpart Sayyid BadrAlbusaidi signed six Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost cooperation and conclude the 15th session of the Egyptian-Omani Joint Committee in Muscat. The volume of trade exchange between Egypt and Bahrain recorded $500 million in 2020, according to the Egyptian Embassy in Bahrain. Bahrains investments in Egypt stand at $3.2 billion through 216 projects, according to the Bahraini ambassador to Cairo in June 2021. Egypt-Gulf ties El-Sisi's visits to the two Gulf countries come less than three weeks before the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC+3 Summit that will be held in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on 15 July and will bring together leaders of the GCC in addition to Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, and the US. In the lead-up to the summit, El-Sisi received UAEs Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Abdullah bin Zayed Al-Nahyan on Sunday. The meeting discussed enhancing bilateral relations and means to boost Emirati investments in Egypt in various fields, especially energy, transportation, ports, and tourism. The president also met on Friday with Qatars Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, who visited Egypt for the first time since Cairo and Doha resumed diplomatic relations last year after signing the Al-Ula Declaration that ended an over three-year-long diplomatic rift. During the meeting, Emir Tamim affirmed to El-Sisi his keenness to continue boosting Egyptian-Qatari cooperation in various fields by maximising investments in Egypt. Last Monday, the Egyptian president received Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Cairo. During the visit, Egypt and Saudi Arabia signed 14 investment agreements to the tune of $7.7 billion in several fields, including petroleum, renewable energy, green hydrogen, IT, e-commerce, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and cyber security. Saudi Arabia plans to make investments worth $30 billion in Egypt, according to a joint Saudi-Egyptian communique issued in light of the crown princes visit. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt is keen on eliminating the phenomenon of child labour by 2025, Minister of Manpower Mohamed Saafan said on Monday at a ceremony organised by the International Labour Organisations (ILO) office in Cairo to mark World Day Against Child Labour. Saafan added that the government reviewed all laws and resolutions it issued to combat child labour in light of Egypts commitments to the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and Egypt 2030 Vision. According to CAPMAS, around 41 million children below the age of 18 were working in 2021. The minister stressed that a national system for monitoring child labour is being built to implement relevant laws and provide protection and support for children and their families. He affirmed that Egypt launched a national plan to combat the worst forms of child labour in June 2018, adding that his ministry set up a specialised unit to follow up on the implementation of this plan. For his part, Eric Ochlan, director of the ILOs office in Egypt, praised the progress made by Egypts government in combating the phenomenon. In February 2022, the Senate Egypts consultative upper house of Parliament finally approved the countrys new government-drafted Labour Law. A report by the Senates Energy, Environment, and Labour Force Committee explained that the new 267-article law covers various major issues, including child labour, women in the workplace, maternity leaves, strikes, working hours, minimum and maximum wages, automatic dismissal of workers, and labour lawsuits. The Senate also approved Article 58, which bans the employment of children below the age of 18, and Article 60, which allows children within the same age bracket to receive training for a maximum of six hours a day. Search Keywords: Short link: Cairo Universitys Faculty of Economy and Political Studies (FEPS) launched on Monday a three-day conference on the impacts of the global economic crisis on Egypt, the countrys sustainable development, structural transformation, and young people empowerment. Titled The New Egypt and Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges, the conference is organised in collaboration with USAID s Economic Governance Programme and other sponsors. The seven-session, three-roundtable conference is being held under the auspices of Chairperson of Cairo University Mohmed Othman El-Khosht and Dean of FEPS Mahmoud El-Said. El-Said said the conference is being held within the framework of the FEPS keenness to be in constant touch with decision makers, opinion leaders, and development partners, noting that it covers all development dimensions (economic, social, and environmental). The event is being held right before the national dialogue that will kick-off in July, he noted, adding that the FEPS can contribute to conveying a large portion of the dialogues agenda. Furthermore, the conference is a chance to propose new ideas and mechanisms with the aim of contributing to create a better future, El-Khosht said. He added that any process aiming to achieve sustainable development or economic, political, or administrative progress is not possible without changing the view of individuals about the world and changing the value matrix that governs the market. Based on that, we can say that any process of progress is not possible without a new religious discourse, El-Khosht stressed. The traditional religious discourse that is based on the idea of the saviour should be replaced by a new one based on the fact that each individual moves towards their future by themselves with the help of their efforts, skills, and existing opportunities. In three sessions and a roundtable, the first day covered the countrys efforts in terms of institutional reforms and investment in human capital, the contemporary structural transformation and its role in sustainable development, and youth empowerment. Political science professor and former youth minister Ali El-Din Helal, who moderated a session, called for delivering solutions for existing problems, noting that experts and specialists are already well-aware of how to tackle these issues. Helal also said that what really matters is how to cope with crises in productivity, investment, growing rate of loans, as well as how to revitalise the role of civil society. All these problems were already highlighted by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi during the Egyptian Family Iftar Banquet in April, when he assigned the National Youth Conference to conduct a national dialogue, Helal underscored. The dialogue is set to begin in July and many invitations have been sent to hundreds of Egyptians inside and outside the country, according to a previous statement by General Coordinator of the National Dialogue Diaa Rashwan. Helal asserted that no one can deny the achievements of the Egyptian government over the past years, including the opposition. However, he said that the call for a national dialogue was made due to the need to listen to other opinions, including from former ministers. He also praised the formation of the national dialogues Board of Trustees, saying it includes the full spectrum of Egyptian society. Furthermore, Helal affirmed that the national dialogue is the way towards the new republic and that this conference, along with similar upcoming events by other universities nationwide, are a contribution to this dialogue. He even suggested that the organisers of the conference send its outcomes to the administration of the national dialogue. Moving on, Helal also emphasised the importance of investing in human capital and empowering youths, saying such steps are linchpins in any countrys transition to prosperity. Ahmed El-Moslemany, a political writer and analyst, assured that empowering youths doesnt mean granting young people political positions, noting that such positions should only go to youths with exceptional skills. He also urged against discrimination towards elderly people, saying knowledge, experience, and CVs are the only benchmark in this respect. Additionally, El-Moslemany praised the countrys Decent Life Presidential Initiative, describing it as the Egyptian states best project in the 21st century. The Decent Life Presidential Initiative was launched in 2019 with the aim of improving the standards of living, infrastructure, and services in rural areas. However, he said that attention should be paid to economic factors, especially in the coming national dialogue. If the dialogue engages in ideological issues or the past without addressing the current economic crisis, it will largely deviate from what it should be discussing, he warned. The conference is set to hold four more sessions and two roundtables in the coming two days with the participation of a number of ministers, experts, MP, and public figures. Search Keywords: Short link: Sudan has accused the Ethiopian army of executing seven soldiers and a civilians who it says were captive and vowed to take action. "In an act that contravenes all laws and customs of war and international humanitarian law, the Ethiopian army executed seven Sudanese soldiers and a citizen who were their captives," the Sudanese armed forces said in a statement late Sunday. The army said "this treacherous act will not pass", vowing to respond to "this cowardly behaviour". Relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa have soured in recent years over the contested border region of Fashaqa, a fertile strip long cultivated by Ethiopian farmers, but claimed by Sudan. The Al-Fashaqa region, which also borders Ethiopia's troubled Tigray region, has seen sporadic deadly clashes between the Sudanese and the Ethiopian sides over the past years. Tensions between the two sides especially rose after fighting erupted in Tigray in November 2020, which sent tens of thousands of refugees fleeing into Sudan. Khartoum and Addis Ababa have since been locked in a tense war of words, trading accusations of violence and territorial violations. The border dispute feeds into wider tensions in the region, including over Ethiopia's controversial Blue Nile dam. Sudan and Egypt, both downstream countries, have been pushing for an agreement over the filling and operation of the dam. In February, Khartoum and Cairo slammed Addis Ababa for unilaterally launching power generation at the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. * This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: Sudan said Monday it will recall its ambassador to Addis Ababa for "consultations" following accusations that the Ethiopian army executed seven captured Sudanese soldiers and a civilian. "In an act that contravenes all laws and customs of war and international humanitarian law, the Ethiopian army executed seven Sudanese soldiers and a citizen who were their captives," the Sudanese armed forces said late Sunday. The army said "this treacherous act will not pass", vowing to respond to "this cowardly behaviour". Tensions have risen in recent years, sparking sporadic armed clashes, over the Al-Fashaqa border strip which is close to Ethiopia's restive Tigray region. There was no immediate response from Ethiopia. A Sudanese military official who requested anonymity told AFP the soldiers were detained from a border area close to Al-Fashaqa. Sudan's foreign ministry said it "will immediately recall its ambassador to Ethiopia for consultations" and lodge a complaint with the UN Security Council. "The Ethiopian ambassador to Khartoum will also be summoned to inform him of Sudan's condemnation of this inhumane behaviour," the ministry said. Army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan visited sites in Al-Fashaqa on Monday, and instructed soldiers "to not allow any new movements or encroachments on Sudanese lands and against its citizens". Relations between Khartoum and Addis Ababa have soured over Al-Fashaqa, a fertile strip long cultivated by Ethiopian farmers but claimed by Sudan, sparking sporadic deadly clashes between the Sudanese and Ethiopian sides. Tensions were heightened further after fighting erupted in Tigray in November 2020, sending tens of thousands of refugees fleeing into Sudan. Khartoum and Addis Ababa have since been locked in a tense war of words, trading accusations of violence and territorial violations. The border dispute feeds into wider tensions in the region, including over Ethiopia's controversial Blue Nile dam. Sudan and Egypt, both downstream countries, have been opposed to the Great Ethiopian Renaissance Dam and pushed for an agreement on the filling of its reservoir and the operation of the dam. In February, Khartoum and Cairo slammed Addis Ababa for unilaterally deciding to start power generation at the dam. Sudan has been roiled by economic and political turmoil since Burhan led a military coup last year that upended a transition to civilian rule installed following the 2019 ouster of president Omar al-Bashir. Search Keywords: Short link: By Trend The Japanese government will expand individual and export sanctions against Russia, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said at a G7 summit in Germany, Trend reports citing TASS. Japan intends to freeze the assets of 70 Russian individuals and legal entities over the situation in Ukraine and to impose additional export sanctions on another 90 Russian organizations which Tokyo thinks have ties with the defense industry, the Japanese public broadcaster reported. The new package of restrictions will also ban accounting and trust services to Russia and the import of Russian gold, as was announced earlier be Great Britain. The African Development Bank (AfDB)s Board of Directors approved the establishment of the African Pharmaceutical Technology Foundation (APTF) on Monday. The foundation will aim to boost Africas access to the technologies that underpin the manufacture of drugs, vaccines, and other pharmaceutical products, the bank explained in a statement. This is a great development for Africa. Africa must have a health defence system, which must include three major areas revamping Africas pharmaceutical industry, building Africas vaccine manufacturing capacity, and building Africas quality healthcare infrastructure, said President of the AfDB Akinwumi Adesina. The foundation will operate independently and raise funds from various stakeholders, including governments, development finance institutions, and philanthropic organisations. During the African Union (AU) summit that was held in Addis Ababa in February 2022, the continents leaders called on the AfDB to facilitate the establishment of the APTF. The AfDB said that the foundation would be a major boost to the health prospects of a continent that has been battered for decades by the burden of several diseases and pandemics such as the coronavirus, but with very limited capacity to produce its own drugs and vaccines. Africa imports more than 70 percent of all its needs of drugs, spending $14 billion per year, according to the AfDBs data. Global efforts to rapidly expand the manufacturing of essential pharmaceutical products, including vaccines in developing countries particularly in Africa to assure greater access have been hampered by intellectual property rights protection and patents on technologies, know-how, manufacturing processes, and trade secrets, said the bank. It noted that African pharmaceutical companies do not have the scouting and negotiation capacity nor the bandwidth to engage with global pharmaceutical companies, adding that they have been marginalised and left behind in complex global pharmaceutical innovations. Recently, 35 companies signed a license with Americas Merck to produce Nirmatrelvir, a drug that treats COVID-19; none of them were African. According to the AfDB, no institution in Africa can support the practical implementation of Trade Related Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPs) on non-exclusive or exclusive licensing of proprietary technologies, know-how, and processes, and the APTF will fill this glaring gap. The foundation will prioritise technologies, products, and processes focused primarily on diseases that are widely prevalent in Africa, including current and future pandemics. It will also build human and professional skills, the R&D ecosystem, and support the upgrade of manufacturing plant capacities and regulatory quality to meet the World Health Organisations standards, according to the bank. The bank also said that the foundation will be staffed with world-class experts on pharmaceutical innovation and development, intellectual property rights, and health policy, acting as a transparent intermediator advancing and brokering the interests of the African pharmaceutical sector with global and other Southern pharmaceutical companies to share IP-protected technologies, know-how, and patented processes. Even with the decision of the TRIPS Waiver at the World Trade Organisation (WTO), millions are dying and will most likely continue to die from a lack of vaccines and effective protection. The APTF provides a practical solution and will help to tilt the access to proprietary technologies, knowledge, know-how, and processes in favour of Africa, Adesina explained. For their part, The WTO and the WHO welcomed and lauded the AfDBs decision to establish the APTF. Director-General of the WTO Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that the APTF stems from innovative thinking and action, adding that it provides part of the infrastructure needed to assure an emergent pharmaceutical industry in Africa. Moreover, Director-General of the WHO Tedros Ghebreyesus said that establishing the foundation is a game changer in accelerating the access of African pharmaceutical companies to IP-protected technologies and know-how in Africa. Furthermore, the bank explained that the foundation will boost its commitment to spend at least $3 billion over the next 10 years to support the pharmaceutical and vaccine manufacturing sector under its 2030 Vision and Pharmaceutical Action Plan. Rwanda is expected to host the APTF. Search Keywords: Short link: Russian strikes hit a residential building in Kyiv on Sunday in the first attack on the capital in almost three weeks, Ukraine said, calling for increased support from G7 leaders meeting in Germany. One person died and four people, including a seven-year-old girl, were taken to hospital following the early morning strikes, said city mayor Vitali Klitschko. Russia denied it had hit a civilian target, however, saying its forces had struck the Artyom weapons factory in the neighbourhood. Earlier, it announced strikes against three military centres in northern and western Ukraine, including one near the border with Poland. The high-profile attacks come as a week of Western diplomacy kicked off with the G7 summit in Germany, which will be followed by a meeting of NATO leaders in Spain. Allies including US President Joe Biden -- who condemned the Kyiv attack as "barbarism" -- will take stock of their support for Ukraine and for sanctions imposed on Moscow. The G7 talks opened Sunday with the announcement of a ban on imports of Russian gold, but Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for more. He posted on Twitter a photo of an injured child being carried on a stretcher, who he said was "sleeping peacefully in Kyiv until a Russian cruise missile blasted her home". The "G7 summit must respond with more sanctions on Russia and more heavy arms for Ukraine. Russia's sick imperialism must be defeated", he said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will address both the G7 and the NATO summit, the week after the EU showed its support by granting Kyiv candidate status. Search Keywords: Short link: Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for the long haul with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putins aggression. The U.S. was also preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv. The new aid and efforts to exact punishment on Moscow from the Group of 7 leaders come as a Zelenskyy has openly worried that the West has become fatigued by the cost of a war that is contributing to soaring energy costs and price hikes on essential goods around the globe. Leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day G7 summit in the German Alps. The details of how a price cap would work, as well as its impact on the Russian economy, were to be resolved by the G7 finance ministers in the coming weeks and months, according to a senior administration official spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview the announcements from the summit. The largest democratic economies will also commit to raising tariffs on Russian imports to their countries, with the U.S. announcing new tariffs on 570 categories of goods, as well as use of sanctions to target Russias defense supply chains that support its effort to rearm during the war. Biden is expected to announce the U.S, is purchasing NASAMS, a Norwegian-developed anti-aircraft system, to provide medium- to long-range defense, according to the person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. NASAMS is the same system used by the U.S. to protect the sensitive airspace around the White House and U.S. Capitol in Washington. Additional aid includes more ammunition for Ukrainian artillery, as well as counter-battery radars, to support its efforts against the Russian assault in the Donbas, the person said. Biden is also announcing a $7.5 billion commitment to help Ukraines government meet its expenses, as part of a drawdown of the $40 billion military and economic aid package he signed into law last month. The G7 leaders began Mondays session of their three-day summit with a focus on Ukraine. Later, they will be joined by the leaders of five democratic emerging economies India, Indonesia, South Africa, Senegal and Argentina for a discussion on climate change, energy and other issues. The war in Ukraine was already at the forefront of the G-7 leaders minds as they opened their summit at the secluded Schloss Elmau luxury hotel on Sunday just as Russian missiles hit the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv for the first time in weeks. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the summits host, said that the G7 countries policies on Ukraine are very much aligned, and that they see the need to be both tough and cautions. Scholz said after meeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Monday that we are taking tough decisions, that we are also cautious, that we will help ... Ukraine as much as possible but that we also avoid that there will be a big conflict between Russia and NATO. He added that this is what is of essence -- to be tough and thinking about the necessities of the time we are living in. Biden said Sunday that Russian President Vladimir Putin has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G7 would splinter, but we havent and were not going to. Biden hopes to use his trip to Europe to proclaim the unity of the coalition pressing to punish Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as much as he is urging allies to do even more seeking to counter doubts about its endurance as the war grinds into its fifth month. The summits host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said last week that he wants to discuss the outlines of a Marshall plan for Ukraine with his G7 counterparts, referring to the U.S.-sponsored plan that helped revive European economies after World War II. With the war still in progress and destruction mounting by the day, its unlikely to be a detailed plan at this stage. Scholz has said that rebuilding Ukraine will be a task for generations. The G7 already is committed to help finance Ukraines immediate needs. Finance ministers from the group last month agreed to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to help Kyiv keep basic services functioning and prevent tight finances from hindering its defense against Russian forces. A senior U.S. administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations between the G7 leaders, said the U.S. and Europe are aligned in their aims for a negotiated end to the conflict, even if their roles sometimes appear different. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. The U.S. has largely cut off significant talks with Russia and aims to bolster Ukraines battlefield capacity as much as possible so that its eventual position at the negotiating table is stronger. The endurance of the tough sanctions on Russia may ultimately come down to whether the G7 and other leaders can identify ways to ease energy supply issues and skyrocketing prices once winter hits, as they seek to disengage from Russian sources of fuel. The G7 meeting is sandwiched between a European Union summit last week that agreed to give Ukraine the status of a candidate for membership kicking off a process that is likely to take years with no guarantee of success and a summit of NATO leaders starting Tuesday in Madrid. The leaders of the G7 the U.S., Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Canada and Japan may hope to make some progress in bringing their counterparts from their five guest countries closer to Western views on sanctions against Russia. Scholz also is eager to win over such countries for his idea of a climate club for nations that want to speed ahead when it comes to tackling the issue. Search Keywords: Short link: Russia said Monday it was expelling eight Greek diplomats over a decision by Athens to deliver military equipment to Ukraine, where Moscow's troops are fighting. Greece's ambassador was summoned to the Russian foreign ministry and told the diplomats had eight days to quit the country, said a ministry statement. The decision was "the direct consequence of unfriendly actions taken by the Greek authorities", said the ministry. The statement referred specifically to the delivery of weapons and military material to Ukraine and the expulsion of Russian diplomats from Greece. Athens expelled 12 Russian diplomats in April, following Moscow's military operation in Ukraine, launched in late February. Despite the two countries historical ties, because of their shared Orthodox Christian religious heritage, Athens has joined other Western nations in condemning the Russian military operation. Western countries around the world have expelled several hundred Russian diplomats over the issue, and Russia has replied in kind. Search Keywords: Short link: Ukraine has called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Russian strikes on civilian targets, the UN body said, scheduling the event for Tuesday at 1900 GMT. A missile strike Monday on a shopping centre in central city of Kremenchuk "is the main focus" of the meeting, said a spokesman for the Albanian mission, which holds the rotating Security Council presidency. The "shelling all over Kyiv" on Sunday, which hit a residential complex, will also be discussed at the meeting, the spokesman said. Thirteen people have been confirmed killed in the Kremenchuk strike, which has already brought condemnation from the United Nations and world leaders. Ukraine officials have accused Moscow of targeting civilians after reports of two other strikes in the east of the country Monday that killed at least 12 civilians in all. Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February, has denied that strikes Sunday on the Ukrainian capital hit a residential area, saying it targeted a weapons factory. Kyiv mayor Vitaly Klitchko said the Sunday strikes killed one person and wounded six, including a seven-year-old girl, in Russia's first strikes on the city in nearly three weeks. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypts President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi offered condolences to King Abdullah II of Jordan and Jordanian people for the victims of the toxic gas leak in Aqaba port on Monday. 13 people were reportedly killed and more than 200 injured after a large tank fell from a crane on a moored vessel causing an explosion of yellow gas. President El-Sisi, who is currently in a two-days visit to Oman that kicked off on Monday, expressed his wishes to the injured for speed recovery. Earlier the Egyptian Foreign Ministry also extended Egypts official condolence to Jordan in a press release that adding Egypt stands in solidarity with the government and people of Jordan after this tragedy Search Keywords: Short link: Turkish drone-manufacturer Baykar, which has President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's son-in-law as one of its directors, offered three of its drones to the Ukrainian army on Monday. In a statement posted on Twitter, the company noted that a crowdfunding campaign had raised enough money to buy several of its TB2 UAVs "for Ukrainians to use in defence of their Homeland". "Baykar will not accept payment for the TB2s, and will send 3 UAVs free of charge to the Ukrainian war front," it added. "We ask that raised funds be remitted instead to the struggling people of Ukraine." Turkey has never announced any military aide to Ukraine, but this delivery could hardly take place without Erdogan's endorsement. Ukraine has already said that the Turkish drones it had at the start of the war had proved their worth against the Russian forces. One of Baykar's directors is Selcuk Bayraktar, the husband of Erdogan's youngest daughter. The company's other director is Bayraktar's brother, Haluk. The announcement comes as NATO member Turkey is blocking the membership bids of the Finland and Sweden, over what Erdogan says is their willingness to give safe haven to outlawed Kurdish militants whose decades-long insurgency against the Turkish state has claimed tens of thousands of lives. While Turkey has condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine, it has also tried to act as a mediator between the two sides and has not signed up for the sanctions imposed by the United States and the European Union on Moscow. At the beginning of June Baykar offered Lithuania a free combat drone so the funds Lithuanians had raised to buy one for Ukrainian forces could go towards humanitarian aid. Ukraine has said it had around 20 TB2 drones at the start of the war. Some experts say that Ukraine is still getting deliveries of Turkish combat drones, something Ankara has never confirmed. Search Keywords: Short link: Foreign investors acquired more land in Gyeonggi Province and Jeju Island but sold their properties in mountainous Gangwon Province last year. According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, foreigners owned 238.9 million sq.m of land in Korea as of the end of last year, up 2.3 percent or 5.34 million sq.m from a year earlier. Their holdings account for 0.2 percent of the total land in the country. Group of Seven leaders Sunday pledged to raise $600 billion in private and public funds over five years to finance needed infrastructure in developing countries and counter China's older, multitrillion-dollar Belt and Road project. U.S. President Joe Biden and other G7 leaders relaunched the newly renamed "Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment," at their annual gathering being held this year at Schloss Elmau in southern Germany. Biden said the United States would mobilize $200 billion in grants, federal funds and private investment over five years to support projects in low- and middle-income countries that help tackle climate change as well as improve global health, gender equity and digital infrastructure. "I want to be clear. This isn't aid or charity. It's an investment that will deliver returns for everyone," Biden said, adding that it would allow countries to "see the concrete benefits of partnering with democracies." Biden said hundreds of billions of additional dollars could come from multilateral development banks, development finance institutions, sovereign wealth funds and others. The attack on Ukraine's capital comes a day after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk, a major victory for Russia after weeks of fierce fighting, with the ongoing battles resulting in international food and fuel price hikes. Before the opening of the summit, U.S. President Joe Biden said that the U.S. and the other G7 economies will ban the import of Russian gold, the latest sanction imposed on Russia in response to its invasion of Ukraine. The attack Sunday comes on the same day that Group of Seven leaders from the world's richest democracies are meeting in Germany. Russia's invasion of Ukraine will be a main focus of the summit. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday he will take part in the summit Monday. Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's capital Sunday. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least one apartment building was hit in the shelling. Meanwhile, Russia launched rocket attacks across Ukraine on Saturday. The attacks were reported to be launched from Belarusian airspace, just hours before Russian President Vladimir Putin was scheduled to meet with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko in St. Petersburg, Russia. Zelenskyy said in his daily address Saturday that "Ukraine needs more armed assistance, and that air defense systems -- the modern systems that our partners have -- should be not in training areas or storage facilities, but in Ukraine, where they are now needed. Needed more than anywhere else in the world." Ukraine said Russian forces had fully occupied Lysychansk, a neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk, in the eastern Luhansk region. Moscow claimed it had encircled about 2,000 Ukrainian troops in the area. The Russian advances appeared to bring the Kremlin closer to taking full control of Luhansk province, one of Moscow's stated war objectives. To stabilize the situation in Luhansk, Ukraine needs "fire parity" with Russia, Ukraine's top general told his U.S. counterpart Friday. "We discussed the operational situation and the delivery flow of international technical assistance," Ukraine's General Valeriy Zaluzhniy wrote on the Telegram app after a phone call with the chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley. Ukraine has said Russia's artillery advantage on the Donbas front lines is taking a significant toll on Ukrainian troops and has called on its Western partners to supply more weapons to minimize the deficit. A senior U.S. defense official on Friday praised the Ukrainian decision to withdraw from Sievierodonetsk, describing the move as "professional" and "tactical." "What they are doing is putting themselves in a position where they can better defend themselves," the official told reporters on the condition of anonymity in order to discuss intelligence and other sensitive information. And while the official said Russian forces have been able to eke out gains around Sievierodonetsk, the gains have come at considerable cost. "The Russians have suffered heavy casualties and they also have suffered heavy equipment losses," the official said. "The Russian forces are showing the signs of wear and tear, and debilitated morale, and it is impacting their ability to move forward swiftly." Saudi Arabia's Minister of Finance, Mohammed Al Jadaan, has called upon Opec member states to work together to build a climate-resilient future. Addressing the Opec Fund for International Development (OFID) Ministerial Meeting and Forum, held last week in Vienna, Austria, he noted that supporting both adaptation and mitigation policies requires a strong and well-regulated financial system that provides a sustainable business environment, and called for the use of the large and growing international pool of funds to finance green transitions. Al Jadaan underscored the importance of considering security of energy supply and economic development in parallel with climate change challenges, explaining that no country will be able to grow and prosper without the availability of reliable energy sources. The minister explained that Opec had proved in recent years its reliability in stabilising energy supplies and maintaining global economic health, noting that the recent fuel shortage was largely driven by lack of refining capacity, followed by underinvestment in energy capital expenditures. He welcomed OFID's efforts on global strategic development challenges, such as the climate change and energy transition, as well as the looming food crisis, appreciating in this context the initiative announced by the fund at the meeting of the Arab Coordination Group regarding the timely support of $10 billion for the Joint Action Plan for Food Security. He also emphasized the importance of strengthening OFID fund collaboration with other partners to achieve greater progress and broader development impact. On the sidelines of the ministerial meeting, the Minister of Finance signed a memorandum of understanding with OFID relating to the appointment of qualified employees of the Ministry of Finance to the fund. Saudi Arabia is the largest contributor to OFID, which was established in 1976 with the aim of strengthening cooperation among member states to help low-income poor countries increase their economic and social growth. - TradeArabia News Service The new U.S. ambassador to South Korea, Philip Goldberg, is finally due to arrive in Seoul on July 10. "The entire team at the U.S. Mission to Republic of Korea looks forward to welcoming Ambassador-designate Philip Goldberg to Seoul on July 10th," the embassy tweeted last Saturday. Goldberg fills a vacancy long left by his predecessor Harry Harris, a political appointment who stepped down in January 2021, when U.S. President Donald Trump left office. Goldberg, by contrast, is a career diplomat who previously served as ambassador to Colombia. He also worked as a coordinator for the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions on North Korea from 2009 to 2010. President Yoon Suk-yeol flies to Madrid on Monday to attend a NATO summit on Wednesday and Thursday. This is his first overseas trip since his inauguration, and he will be the first Korean president to attend a summit of NATO countries. The summit is being held amid war in the Russian invasion of Ukraine and growing tensions between the U.S. and China. Yoon will meet with U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on the sidelines on Wednesday in the first trilateral summit in nearly five years after relations between Seoul and Tokyo chilled to freezing point. A presidential official told reporters on Sunday, "Yoon will speak about Korea's proactive role in responding to multiple international security crises and call for consistent attention and support from the international community to denuclearize North Korea." But Yoon and Kishida are unlikely to sit down one-on-one in Madrid as the Japanese government is keen to shore up support from nationalists in elections for the Japanese House of Councilors in July. "After the upper house elections, discussions about a Korea-Japan foreign ministers' meeting will gain traction, and momentum for resolving thorny issues will grow, including compensation for wartime force laborers," the presidential official said. KYODO NEWS - Jun 27, 2022 - 09:06 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz agreed Sunday to step up cooperation related to a Group of Seven summit to be hosted in Hiroshima next year when Japan holds the forum's presidency. Kishida and Scholz confirmed they will seek to deepen defense cooperation between Japan and Germany and make arrangements for the launch of their defense and foreign ministers' meeting under the so-called two-plus-two format, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said. The leaders met bilaterally on the first day of a three-day G-7 summit in southern Germany hosted by Scholz. Japan is set to take over the presidency from Germany and hold the G-7 leaders' summit in Hiroshima, a city which was devastated by a U.S. atomic bomb on Aug. 6, 1945, to send a message of peace. In a separate meeting, Kishida and French President Emmanuel Macron expressed their shared belief that "powerful" sanctions must be maintained on Russia in response to its aggression in Ukraine. They also agreed on the need to extend support to the war-hit nation, according to the Japanese ministry. The two leaders agreed to work closely in helping countries most vulnerable to the food crisis caused by the war and to seek multifaceted cooperation in the Indo-Pacific, cyber, space and nuclear power. Related coverage: Japan PM warns G-7 of danger of "wrong lessons" from Russian invasion G-7 leaders to ban Russia gold imports, monitor assertive China Japan PM Kishida hopes to show G-7 unity amid Ukraine war, inflation KYODO NEWS - Jun 27, 2022 - 15:56 | Feature, All, Japan, Coronavirus More than a month has passed since the Japanese government relaxed its guidance on mask usage to reflect subsiding fears of the coronavirus, yet its call for removing masks whenever possible has not caught on widely among the public. There has never been a mask mandate in the country, but more than two years of the pandemic has made mask-wearing the polite thing to do, even as heat-related illnesses are emerging as a concern as Japan readies for a boiling summer. Experts say many people are unaware the government has been proposing since May 20 that masks can be taken off in certain circumstances, which may remain so until a well-known figure like Prime Minister Fumio Kishida outlines the new guidelines publicly. The recommendation for outdoor mask usage now only applies to those conversing within two meters of each other. But most people continue wearing them outside regardless of circumstances. The government has made some efforts to increase public awareness of the changes, creating leaflets and planning to broadcast the message through commercials. There have been multiple cases of children who wore masks during gym classes being sent to hospital due to heat exhaustion or heatstroke. The education ministry has asked schools to let schoolchildren go maskless during physical activities, and for younger children to take masks off on their school commutes. For indoor masking, the public's embrace of looser mask "rules" is even slower. Masking is now unnecessary for those keeping more than 2 meters apart when there is hardly any conversation. However, announcements in public spaces continue to call for strict mask-wearing, as companies remain vigilant against the coronavirus. East Japan Railway Co., whose train service includes the Tokyo metropolitan area, continues to ask passengers to wear masks at all times. The company said its announcements will "remain unchanged unless there is a request from the government." According to an online survey conducted in May by Laibo Inc., around 40 percent of the 708 respondents said they believe mask-wearing requests can end, but nearly 90 percent said they would continue wearing them. More than 48 percent said they would stop doing so if a "wonder drug" against COVID-19 was made. Around 62 percent said it is inappropriate to appear in public spaces without a mask, the survey showed. "Peer pressure is very strong in Japan, and people tend to modify their behaviors based on how others act," said Naoki Sato, honorary professor at the Kyushu Institute of Technology who is well versed with public attitudes. "The word "mask police" was born during the pandemic, and the feeling that one cannot take their mask off remains." Still, he said many people want to go maskless and the prime minister should make an effort to give "a science-based and impactful comment." Related coverage: FOCUS: Travel firms thrown in confusion as Japan reopens to foreign tourists FOCUS: Japan's outdoor mask relaxation yet to filter through Japan to ask foreign tourists to wear masks, take out insurance KYODO NEWS - Jun 27, 2022 - 21:25 | Others Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed to coordinate closely over sanctions against Russia, including a price cap on Russian oil, a Japanese government official said Monday. The G-7 leaders meeting in southern Germany has agreed on the importance of imposing a price cap on Russian oil exports to prevent Moscow from funneling revenue to keep on fighting its war against Ukraine, according to the official. Under such circumstances, Kishida and Biden confirmed they will coordinate closely in working out details, such as how the envisaged price cap would work, the official added. Biden visited Japan in May for the first time since becoming president in 2021. Kishida and Biden strongly condemned Russia's aggression as shaking the foundation of the global order as the allies shared concerns about an assertive China in the Indo-Pacific region. During the talks on Monday, the two confirmed they will work toward the successful launch in July of ministerial talks on the economy under the so-called two-plus-two framework. The envisaged dialogue framework would likely focus on ensuring economic security and robust supply chains of key items such as semiconductors. Related coverage: G-7 leaders vow to unwaveringly support Ukraine as long as it takes Japan PM warns G-7 of danger of "wrong lessons" from Russian invasion Japan, Germany leaders vow to work toward 2023 Hiroshima G-7 summit KYODO NEWS - Jun 27, 2022 - 12:09 | All, Japan Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Sunday stressed the need for the Group of Seven leaders to show a united front to prevent other countries from drawing the "wrong lessons" from Russia's war on Ukraine, in an apparent reference to Chinese muscle-flexing in the Indo-Pacific. Kishida highlighted the severity of the security situation surrounding Japan during a G-7 summit in southern Germany, citing Beijing's dispatch of ships to waters around the Senkaku Islands and its gas field explorations in the East China Sea as attempts to change the status quo by force. "We have seen attempts to change the status quo by force continuing and increasing in the Indo-Pacific," Kishida was quoted by a senior Japanese government official as telling his G-7 counterparts. "We need to ensure other countries do not draw wrong lessons from the situation in Ukraine," he said, calling for the safeguarding of the rules-based international order. With North Korea continuing to launch ballistic missiles and apparently making preparations for a nuclear test, Kishida said the international community should not give Pyongyang the impression that "a window of opportunity to proceed with missile development" is open. Kishida also called for China to enhance transparency regarding its nuclear arsenal, according to the Japanese official. Kishida made the remarks during a G-7 session on diplomacy and security while explaining that Japan will fundamentally bolster its defense within five years with a substantial increase in relevant spending. Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party has asked the Kishida government to increase the defense budget to the equivalent of at least 2 percent of gross domestic product, the spending target for North Atlantic Treaty Organization nations. Japan, known for its pacifist Constitution, has long capped its defense budget at around 1 percent of GDP, or about 5 trillion yen ($37 billion) in recent years. Following the G-7 meeting, Kishida is set to attend a two-day NATO summit starting Wednesday, becoming the first Japanese prime minister to do so, after the 30-member trans-Atlantic alliance invited Asia-Pacific partners such as Japan, South Korea and Australia to the gathering. Leaders at the summit are expected to endorse a new strategic concept defining the security challenges facing the alliance, including China's rapid militarization and efforts to weaken the rules-based international order. Tensions remain high between Japan and China over the uninhabited Senkaku Islands that are administered by Japan but claimed by China. In the run-up to the summit, Japan also conveyed strong concerns to China over suspected gas exploration in a contested area of the East China Sea. The G-7 groups Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the United States plus the European Union. Related coverage: G-7 leaders to ban Russia gold imports, monitor assertive China Japan PM Kishida hopes to show G-7 unity amid Ukraine war, inflation G-7 agrees Russia is responsible for global food crisis By Noriyuki Suzuki, KYODO NEWS - Jun 28, 2022 - 02:41 | All, World The Group of Seven countries are in final talks seeking a global price cap on Russian oil to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine while planning to roll out more steps to support Kyiv, including with revenues from tariffs imposed on Russian products, a U.S. official said Monday. As the war drives up energy and food prices worldwide, the G-7 leaders, meeting in southern Germany, are grappling with a food crisis that could hit developing nations hard, with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pledging $200 million in financial aid. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy joined part of the day's session online and urged the G-7 leaders to ramp up sanctions on Russia and provide military support, including modern missile defense systems, to Ukraine that has been hit in recent days by Russian missiles. "We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes," the G-7 leaders said in a statement. According to the U.S. official, the idea of setting a price cap for Russian oil is not only intended to "starve" Russian President Vladimir Putin of his primary source of cash but also to minimize the disruption in global energy markets and provide greater supply to the markets. The G-7 leaders are likely to task the relevant ministers, including finance ministers, to work with other countries and the private sector to develop a mechanism that would achieve both objectives "simultaneously," the official said. "We're very close to a place" toward a decision to be reached by the leaders from Britain, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan and the United States, plus the European Union, the official told reporters as he previewed the discussion of the three-day summit in Schloss Elmau to end Tuesday. Japanese leader Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden agreed in their talks on the sidelines of the G-7 summit to work closely in hammering out details, including how the envisaged price cap on oil should work, a senior Japanese government official said. The G-7 nations are on the same page over the importance of setting a price cap to prevent Russia from using oil revenue to fund the war, the Japanese official added. The G-7 members have strongly condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine that began in late February, and their sanctions have included a ban or phase-out of Russian oil imports despite the pain it may cause resource-thirsty nations in Europe and Japan. But the rise in energy prices is apparently benefiting Moscow. "We condemn and will not recognize Russia's continued attempts to redraw borders by force," the leaders said, with a vow to use targeted coordinated sanctions. They welcomed the granting by the European Council of a candidate status for Ukraine to join the 27-member EU, which Zelenskyy said reflects progress toward European integration. The leaders are now pushing for a plan to use revenues collected by tariffs on Russian goods to aid Ukraine, with the United States planning a higher tariff rate on more than 570 groups of Russian products worth approximately $2.3 billion, the U.S. official said. Earlier this year, the G-7 members committed to stripping Russia of its "most favored nation" trading status, which guaranteed low tariff rates for Russian goods sold globally. They will decide to impose sanctions on those responsible for human rights abuses, including war crimes, and those involved in Russia's alleged moves to steal grain produced in Ukraine, a country known as a "breadbasket" of Europe and elsewhere. Concerns over food security are increasing as Russia has destroyed Ukraine's agricultural infrastructure and is blockading Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, preventing crops such as grain and corn from being shipped worldwide. The G-7 rejected Russia's insistence that the G-7 sanctions are to blame for the food crisis, which Kishida called a "false claim" by Putin, a Japanese official said. Some African nations are reliant on grain from Russia and Ukraine and are vulnerable to the unfolding food crisis. For his part, Kishida hopes to underline his country's support ahead of an international conference on African development expected in August in Tunisia, an initiative led by Tokyo. Japan's amount of Ukraine-related aid will total $1.1 billion, including the $200 million to tackle the food crisis and another $100 million in humanitarian assistance. The foreign chiefs of the G-7 have said Russia is responsible for the food crisis as the country is weaponizing food supplies and trying to blame sanctions imposed by the West. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres has warned of an "unprecedented" hunger crisis, compounded by surging energy and fertilizer costs, with 276 million people facing food insecurity. While the three-day summit will heavily focus on Moscow's aggression and its broader economic consequences, tackling climate change is another key agenda item. The war has prompted concerns about some backpedaling on efforts toward decarbonization to secure energy even as the G-7 seeks to cut its dependence on Russian oil and coal. Related coverage: G-7 leaders to ban Russia gold imports, monitor assertive China Japan PM warns G-7 of danger of "wrong lessons" from Russian invasion KYODO NEWS - Jun 27, 2022 - 23:08 | All, Japan Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and European Council President Charles Michel agreed Monday to continue close coordination over their responses to Russia's war in Ukraine and realize a "free and open" Indo-Pacific as the security of both regions is inseparable. Michel told Kishida that he wants to work closely with him to make next year's Group of Seven summit in the western Japanese city of Hiroshima a success, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said after the two leaders met in southern Germany. Michel visited Hiroshima in May while visiting the country for a summit between Japan and the European Union. He said at the time that he felt "seized by an intense determination" to eliminate nuclear weapons after visiting the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. Kishida, who was elected from a constituency in Hiroshima and has long pushed for a nuclear-weapons-free world, told Michel he appreciated the visit during talks Monday on the fringes of the G-7 summit. Kishida also spoke separately with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on the sidelines of the meeting and agreed to deepen cooperation to realize a free and open Indo-Pacific. Specific areas include peacekeeping, humanitarian and post-disaster assistance, energy security and free trade. Related coverage: Japan PM Kishida, Biden to coordinate over Russian oil price cap, sanctions G-7 seeking price cap on Russian oil amid energy cost surge Japan, Germany leaders vow to work toward 2023 Hiroshima G-7 summit PHNOM PENH, June 26 (Xinhua) -- The ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP) of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen on Sunday thanked the Cambodian people for overwhelmingly voting for it in the fifth commune council election held on June 5. The election was to choose a total of 11,622 councilors for the Southeast Asian country's 1,652 communes for the next five years. The National Election Committee (NEC)'s official results showed that the CPP won 9,376 seats, including 1,648 commune chief posts, while the main opposition Candlelight Party gained 2,198 seats, including four commune chief posts. Seven other parties got the remaining 48 seats, the NEC said. In its statement, the CPP said the party has accepted the election's results, which truly reflected the will of people, and that the election was free and fair, with neither violence nor intimidation. "The Cambodian People's Party would like to express its deepest gratitude to our compatriots in all communes across the country who voted overwhelmingly for the CPP, giving the party a glorious success," the statement said. This victory showed that the people voted for peace and development, which are more valuable than anything else, and at the same time strengthened the basis for the CPP to win another victory in the upcoming seventh National Assembly election in 2023, it added. The statement said the party would honor its policies to maintain peace, stability, security, and social order, to improve the provision of public services, to increase social protection for the poor and vulnerable, and to develop communes in all fields to benefit people. The commune election is seen as a bellwether of the political party's support ahead of the general election scheduled for July 2023. Communes are the subdivisions of districts and municipalities in Cambodia. Saudi Arabias banking sector returned a sturdy industry performance, highlighting a year-on-year (YoY) increase in net profit by 22.83% in Q1 2022. Total assets of the banking industry have also increase by 3.75% as compared to December 31, 2021. KPMGs latest Banking perspectives: Saudi Arabia 2022 publication, titled Purpose-led banking, said at the close of 2021, the banking industry showed a resurgence of the era of severe impact by the pandemic was passed, with an increase in profit of 40.15%. Expected credit loss (ECL) charge declined by 11.47% YoY in Q1 2022. Meanwhile, total customer deposits reported modest growth of 3.90% since December 31, 2021, evidencing that the liquidity has not been a challenge to date. Purpose-led banking Saudi banks are in pursuit of purpose-led banking, encompassing the developing environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations and customer-centric perspectives that are underpinning boardroom discussions, the report said. Banks will be required to look beyond loans and think of ways to support beneficiaries and the community. For example, banks need to understand their beneficiaries, their needs and business opportunities, partner with them through sustainable funding models. Such purpose-led businesses will be increasingly in demand as organisations gravitate towards sustainable growth. The report emphasises the evolving landscape in the kingdoms financial services sector and with a consolidated analysis of the latest available financial performance of the ten Tadawul-listed banks. Four streams The publication covers current themes in the banking industry that the firms financial services team has observed segmented into four streams; People-centered banking, Governance and compliance, Transformational technologies, and Enabling excellence providing perspectives to address current challenges and opportunities. Driven in part by the disruptive technologies from outside and within the financial services sector, we see a major sea change to how banks operate in value-based banking. Those more grounded in communities, serving the real economy and leveraging a customer-centric approach are best-positioned to succeed in this changing landscape, said Ovais Shahab, Head of Financial Services at the firm. Encourage money-saving habits One of the primary objectives of the kingdoms Financial Sector Development Programme (FSDP) is to promote and enable financial planning by driving the expansion of savings products, strengthening the savings ecosystem, as well as enhancing financial literacy. Commercial banks have created new savings products as a response to some of the ambitious targets set by the FSDP which were to increase the total amount held in savings products and increase the variety of savings products. Partnerships with communities and local businesses to create sustainable savings programs and development projects, is the future of social banking in Saudi Arabia, Shahab stated. Sama driving change Sama has been a proponent of change and development in the financial sector, in line with the objectives of FSDP, by taking new players in the financial sector under its wing and embracing a positive attitude towards new technology to usher banking into the future, commented Khalil Al Sedais, Office Managing Partner Riyadh at KPMG in Saudi Arabia. Banks are responding to this shift and to the requirements of the government to achieve greater economic development, while considering the threats and opportunities permeating an evolving technological and risk environment. Cloud solutions With the imminent launch of the Sama Open Banking framework, with now three open banking FinTech permitted into its Sandbox, yet another step in the evolution of the banking industry is set. This will increase demand for cloud solutions as key enabler for both open and digital banking. The outlook for the banking sector looks promising, owing to product innovation and conscious efforts on deploying digital solutions for improving efficiencies. Moreover, the entry of the new digital banks that are gearing up for innovative and customer-centric products will bring more liquidity in the banking system and enhance economic activity, Shahab concluded.-- TradeArabia News Service LANZHOU, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Quinoa seeds, originating from South America, are often favored by fitness enthusiasts due to their low caloric content and high nutritional value. However, for Chen Junzhang, a young Chinese entrepreneur, the colorful quinoa flowers are more attractive than the seeds. Chen lives in Tianzhu Tibetan Autonomous County of northwest China's Gansu Province, located at the eastern foothills of the Qilian Mountains. With an average altitude of more than 2,000 meters, it is the world's leading breeding base for the white yak. Growing up in the hinterland, Chen was eager to get out of the remote mountains, so he chose to attend university in the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province. During his university years, Chen tried to make some pocket money by selling traditional Chinese medicinal herbs online. The business helped him earn good money but more importantly, it made him realize the potential of e-commerce as well as the booming market of local specialties. "My hometown Tianzhu is rich in various specialties, but they were left untapped in the mountains and were rarely known by people back then," he said. After graduation, Chen returned to his hometown and set up an e-commerce company in 2014, selling local specialties such as white yak meat and fungus all over the country. Together with a team of e-commerce professionals, his company helped a variety of distinctive agricultural products find a wider market through online sales. But the diligent young man was not content with merely selling ready-made products. Thanks to his perseverance, he soon identified a new market. Since 2017, quinoa cultivation has become widespread in Tianzhu and Chen set his sights on it. "The yellow, green and red quinoa blossoms draw a great number of tourists every year, but the quinoa flowers wilted quickly due to their short flowering period. I wanted to find a way to preserve their beauty," he said. He then reached a cooperation with a flower company in Yunnan Province to make dried quinoa flowers. In 2021, the distinct, preserved flowers stunned everyone at the 10th China Flower Expo held in Shanghai and won multiple awards. Accessories, brooches and souvenirs made of dried quinoa flowers have gained popularity in the flower market, and they have been exported to countries and regions such as the Republic of Korea, the Netherlands and Japan. So far, the company's sales of dried quinoa flowers have reached almost 7 million yuan (about 1.05 million U.S. dollars). Inspired by Chen, many of the youngsters who understand both technology and business operations are now willing to return to Tianzhu and play a part in revitalizing their hometown. To create better prospects for employment and entrepreneurship, Tianzhu has built an incubation base for e-commerce, and nearly 10 e-commerce companies, including Chen's, have settled there. Zhang Zhiqiang, deputy director with the bureau of commerce in Tianzhu, said that the return of talents is conducive to the optimization of industrial structure, thereby injecting vigor into the once backward area. Having been engaged in the e-commerce industry for nearly 10 years, Chen feels the gap between his hometown and the outside world has narrowed down. "My greatest desire is to see the local produce from my hometown reach even more parts of the world," he said. BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- "Only when the granary is full will people learn etiquette; only when people are well-fed and clothed will they know honor and shame." President Xi Jinping quoted the ancient Chinese adage when addressing the High-level Dialogue on Global Development on Friday. The saying comes from Shiji, or the Records of the Grand Historian, a monumental history book of ancient China compiled about 2,000 years ago. It highlighted that material conditions of life are the basis for the systems and morality of a society. In his speech, Xi recounted his experience of being a farmer on the Loess Plateau in the late 1960s, and how development had changed local villagers' life over the years. Only through continuous development can the people's dream for a better life and social stability be realized, Xi pointed out. People comfort a family member of dead teenager outside a mortuary in East London, South Africa, on June 26, 2022. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday afternoon mourned for the death of "22 teenagers" at a tavern, or pub, in East London, Eastern Cape Province, in the early hours of the morning. South African police are still investigating the case and the cause is unclear. The presidency statement didn't give the cause of the incident, saying the president is waiting for more information. (Photo by Oluthando Mthimkhulu/Xinhua) CAPE TOWN, June 26 (Xinhua) -- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday afternoon mourned for the death of "22 teenagers" at a tavern, or pub, in East London, Eastern Cape Province, in the early hours of this morning. Ramaphosa is "concerned about the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off limits to persons under the age of 18," said a statement issued by the presidency. The tragedy is made more grave as it occured during Youth Month, Ramaphosa said in the statement. South African police are still investigating the case and the cause is unclear. The presidency statement didn't gave the cause of the incident, saying the president is waiting for more information. Family members of the deceased wept outside a mortuary in the area, while other people tried to comfort them. There are both girls and boys among the victims, including a 13-year-old, Minister of Police Bheki Cele, who led a national delegation to the scene, told media. "When you look at their faces, you realize that you are dealing with kids, kids, kids, kids. You have heard the story that they are young, but when you see them, you realize that is a disaster," he said. The doctor who is leading autopsy told the minister that forensic experts are still collecting the information and would not love to tell him the situation, said Cele, adding that they confirmed that "the death is not natural." The minister said they will take a few samples to toxicology in Cape Town, which is more advanced. The delegation consists of National Commissioner of South African police Fannie Masemola, crime scene experts and bomb disposal technicians. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, which includes East London, early on said over 20 young people died in the incident. It is the "worst tragedy that has ever happened in our Metro," its mayor Xola Pakati said in a statement. The police had refused to make any speculations about the cause, but said they are hoping to get the facts "before the end of the day." Forensic experts work outside a tavern for the death of teenagers in East London, South Africa, on June 26, 2022. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday afternoon mourned for the death of "22 teenagers" at a tavern, or pub, in East London, Eastern Cape Province, in the early hours of the morning. South African police are still investigating the case and the cause is unclear. The presidency statement didn't give the cause of the incident, saying the president is waiting for more information. (Photo by Oluthando Mthimkhulu/Xinhua) LHASA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 17,555 people will be relocated away from high-altitude places in Nagqu City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, thanks to a local program to improve people's living and protect the plateau region's fragile ecosystem. In the next one and half months, the people will move from places with an average altitude of over 4,500 meters above sea level to more hospitable areas of about 3,600 meters in Shannan City. The people had lived in places with harsh weather and relatively backward production and living conditions, where the grassland degraded, said Wu Wei, director of the regional forestry and grassland administration. "The relocation scheme reflects a people-centered development thought, taking consideration of both the ecological protection and people's demand for a better life," Wu said. The region's overall relocation plan will cover more than 130,000 people in Tibet's nearly 100 townships in eight years. A visitor experiences an intelligent car at the 2021 World Computing Conference in Changsha, central China's Hunan Province, Sept. 17, 2021. (Xinhua/Chen Sihan) BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Digitalization has provided China's automobile industry with more opportunities to strengthen its resilience, battle risks, and identify growth potential. Electrification is the first phase of the automobile revolution, while digitalization and intelligent connectivity form the second phase, said Chen Qingtai, president of China EV100, an electric vehicle industry think tank. Chinese tech giant Tencent has recently announced its newly upgraded "Vehicle-Cloud Integration" strategy and launched the "Tencent Intelligent Automobile Cloud," a one-stop cloud solution tailored for the intelligent automobile industry. The integrated vehicle-cloud strategy which connects the vehicle, mobile phone and cloud terminal can make digital connections more effective, create a data-driven closed loop, and improve the productivity of the entire chain. It will also apply cutting-edge technologies such as cloud computing, AI and big data to offer the automobile industry easy access to customizable platforms and toolkit, in order to make cloud a new production force for intelligent automobiles, said Dowson Tong, senior executive vice president of Tencent and CEO of the Cloud and Smart Industry Group. Tencent is not the only tech company to tackle industrial challenges with intelligent empowerment. Telecom giant Huawei's intelligent connected vehicle strategy provides the automobile industry with a complete set of solutions from the operating system to automatic driving platform, from self-developed chip to lidar, from the intelligent cockpit to the battery, motor and electric control system. "The market is broad enough and full of opportunities," said Wang Jun, chief operating officer of Huawei Smart Car Solution BU. One percent increase in both intelligence and electrification level would expand the complete auto parts market by more than 6 billion U.S. dollars. Cars have become the new terminals in the era of intelligent automobiles, and enhancing vehicle data security and network security is a new task. Targeting the security problems, Tencent's integrated security solution provides a thorough security system covering the cloud, channels and terminals, as well as expert-level security services and a closed-loop security operation, to comprehensively guarantee the security of the user's journey and the vehicle, according to a report jointly released by global research and advisory firm Gartner and Tencent. "In this era of intelligent automobiles, we need to redefine the standards of automobile safety, creating an all-encompassing, multi-dimensional safety system covering cloud, vehicle and mobile devices," said Li Bo, vice president of Tencent Intelligent Mobility. BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Guyanese counterpart, Irfaan Ali, exchanged congratulatory messages on Monday to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries. Xi pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic ties 50 years ago, China-Guyana relations have achieved significant development, with political mutual trust continuously deepened and practical cooperation yielding fruitful results. Ever since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the people of the two countries have worked together with solidarity and mutual assistance, writing a new chapter of China-Guyana friendship, he said. Xi said he attaches great importance to the development of bilateral relations, and is willing to work with Ali to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to lift bilateral relations to new levels and bring benefits to the two countries and their people. For his part, Ali said that Guyana was the first country in the English-speaking Caribbean to establish diplomatic ties with China, and that the country firmly adheres to the one-China policy. Over the past 50 years, Guyana and China have always adhered to the principle of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and the traditional friendship between the two countries has withstood the test of time, Ali said. He added that Guyana stands ready to take the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties as an opportunity to continuously deepen bilateral friendship. TEHRAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran's chief nuclear negotiator will travel soon to Doha to negotiate the lifting of sanctions against Iran, Tasnim News Agency reported Monday. "Ali Bagheri Kani will travel to Qatar on Tuesday," an informed source at the Iranian Foreign Ministry was cited by Tasnim as saying. Robert Malley, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, is expected to arrive in Doha on Monday, according to Western media reports. Iran and the European Union announced on Saturday that the talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, will be resumed in the coming days. The nuclear talks began in April 2021 in Vienna but have been suspended since March over political differences between Tehran and Washington. On Sunday, Iran's Nour News affiliated with the country's Supreme National Security Council reported that the new round of nuclear talks is likely to be held in Qatar's capital Doha. Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, addresses the opening ceremony of the World Canal Cities Forum in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province, June 27, 2022. (Xinhua/Li Bo) YANGZHOU, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, stressed canal protection at a forum on Monday. Canals are great projects created by humankind, Yang said at the World Canal Cities Forum in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. With the theme of heritage protection and sustainable development of canal cities, Yang said the forum would inject new impetus into the prosperity and development of canal cities globally and enhance people-to-people exchanges and sustainable development. Yang, also director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, stressed that China would adhere to the people-centered development philosophy, protect the Grand Canal to benefit the people, and promote international exchanges and cooperation. With more than 2,500 years of history, the Grand Canal connects Beijing and Hangzhou in east China's Zhejiang Province, serving as a significant transportation artery in ancient China. An over 1,000-km-stretch of the canal was declared a World Heritage site in 2014. Trainees practice livestreaming promotion skills during an e-commerce training class in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 24, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Photo by Wang Bingzhen/Xinhua) A live streamer of a media company promotes products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Zhang Zhenfei displays the making process of handicraft products made of ferns in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wang Hongdan (R) and a local embroiderer greet the audience in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wang Hongdan promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A live streamer promotes products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) A live streamer of a media company promotes products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wu Jiamei promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wang Hongdan (1st L) and local embroiderers greet the audience in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Trainees practice livestreaming promotion skills during an e-commerce training class in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 24, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Photo by Wang Bingzhen/Xinhua) A live streamer displays the embroidery skill of local embroiderers in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wu Jiamei promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Zhang Zhenfei displays the making process of handicraft products made of ferns in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Live streamer Wu Jiamei promotes batik products in Rongjiang County, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2022. In recent years new media has played an important role in promoting the rural revitalization projects in Rongjiang County. Local authorities have provided new media skills training service for more than 12,000 people, including inheritors of local intangible cultural heritages, youths returning hometown to start business, relocated residents and local women. It is expected that more than 2,000 livestreaming promotion teams will be fostered in Rongjiang by 2023, which will create jobs for more than 10,000 people. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu) Workers make anti-epidemic products at a medical equipment company in east China's Shandong Province, June 26, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei) BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Profits of China's major industrial companies saw a narrower decline in May as factories in the world's second-largest economy restarted production lines as business sentiments improved, official data showed Monday. Major industrial firms, each with business revenue of at least 20 million yuan (about 2.99 million U.S. dollars), saw their profits decline 6.5 percent year on year in May, narrowing from the 8.5-percent contraction in April, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed. Revenues of these major firms went up 6.8 percent from a year ago last month, a faster growth pace compared with April, the data showed. China's industrial economy is stabilizing and picking up, said Xin Guobin, vice minister of industry and information technology. Commenting on the reading in May, senior NBS statistician Zhu Hong attributed the slower contraction to effective epidemic control, recovering business activities and progress achieved in smoothing logistics. During the first five months, major industrial firms made about 3.44 trillion yuan in total profits, rising 1 percent from a year ago, NBS data showed. Of all 41 industrial sectors, 20 registered yearly profit growth or narrowed year-on-year profit contraction in May, while five managed to reverse the declining trend to post-profit expansion. Last month, the country's northeastern region and the Yangtze River Delta, where the metropolis Shanghai is situated, reported a much smaller decline in industrial profits compared with April, as these areas gradually shook off the COVID-19 fallouts. Boosted by policy support and relatively high prices, the energy sector saw profits surge in May. Profits of coal, oil and natural gas exploitation industries more than doubled, contributing to 9.5 percent of overall industrial profit growth last month. Marginal profits of the equipment manufacturing sector reported a marked improvement compared with April, and better earnings were also reported among producers of consumer goods last month, Zhu said. Despite these positive changes, Zhu cautioned that given the relatively weak recovery foundation and the changing international landscape, there are still many uncertainties for industrial enterprises to earn profits. Official data showed that China's key economic indicators saw improvements in May. Its value-added industrial output, for instance, reversed the decline in April and posted a year-on-year expansion last month. To shore up the virus-hit economy, the State Council has unveiled a package of 33 measures in six aspects recently to further stabilize the economy. The industry ministry has pledged to focus on stabilizing industrial chains and step up support for small and medium-sized enterprises, in order to ensure the delivery of the policy package. Building on the momentum in May, it is highly likely that China's industrial firms will report better profits in June, said Zheng Houcheng, director of Yingda Securities Research Institute. A worker works on an assembly line at a farm machinery manufacturing company in east China's Shandong Province, Feb. 15, 2022. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei) Saudi Water Partnership Company (SWPC) has announced that a total of 15 developer/developer consortiums have prequalified for two independent strategic water reservoir projects - Al Ahsa and Eastern Province - in the kingdom with a total ultimate treatment capacity of 4.9 million cu m/day. The Eastern Province Independent Strategic Water Reservoir will be constructed with an indicative water storage capacity of 3.51 million cu m, while the Al Ahsa Independent Strategic Water Reservoir will boast a water storage capacity of 1.4 million cu m, said a statement from SWPC. The project will include water reservoirs and all the associated infrastructure and facilities, it stated. The list of the pre-qualified bidders (lead and/or technical) for the project include Japan's Marubeni Corporation and Chinese Gezhouba Group Overseas Investment in addition to regional firms - Kuwait's Gulf Investment Corporation and Dubai-based Metito Utilities. SWPC had early this year announced that a total of 21 utility project developers, including 10 Saudi companies, had expressed their interests in the Al Ahsa and Eastern Province project. The local firms which have now been prequalified are Abdulaziz Alajlan Sons; Metscco Heavy Steel Industries; Al Rajhi Holding; Alkhorayef Water & Power Technologies; Mowah; Alfanar Company; Al Rawaf Contracting Company; Mutlaq Al Ghowairi; Nesma; Vision International Investment Company and Saleh Saeed Teishan And Sons. Announcing the prequalified bidders, SWPC said it will conduct a competitive process to select a private sector developer (or developer consortium) for the funding, procurement, implementation, operation, maintenance and transfer (Boot) of the project. The successful bidder, through a project company to be incorporated, will provide the required storage capacity to SWPC under a 30-year water storage agreement. SWPCs obligations under the WSA will be supported by a credit support agreement from the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, it added. For the Al-Ahsa and Eastern Province projects, Synergy Consulting IFA is the lead and financial advisor; Amer Al Amr Law Firm the legal advisor and WSP Middle East Limited the technical advisor. BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- A total of 11,299 Chinese officials were punished in May for violating frugality rules, said the top anti-graft body Monday. The officials were involved in 7,778 cases, said the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Commission for Discipline Inspection and the National Supervisory Commission in a statement. The punished officials include 36 at the prefecture or equivalent level and 692 at the county or equivalent level, according to the statement. It said 6,092 were sanctioned for engaging in formalities for formalities' sake or bureaucratism practices, and 5,207 were punished for hedonism and extravagant conduct. The CPC released its eight-point rules on frugality in late 2012 to reduce undesirable work practices. The Life Beat Festival is held at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A firefighter promotes firefighting knowledge at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A painting booth is seen at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A handicraft booth is seen at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A hat booth is seen at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A handicraft booth is seen at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) People get health consultations at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A handicraft booth is seen at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A visitor is seen at a potted plants' booth during the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) A health consultation booth is seen at the Life Beat Festival at the Hamra street in Beirut, Lebanon, June 26, 2022. The Life Beat Festival, which is aimed at promoting public health and wellbeing, was held at one of the most popular shopping streets in Beirut on Sunday. People enjoyed health consultations, shopping, eating, drinking, arts and crafts, live performances during the festival. (Xinhua/Liu Zongya) TEHRAN, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanani said on Monday night that the Iranian negotiating team will depart for Qatari capital Doha on Tuesday for talks to revive the Iranian nuclear deal, according to the official IRNA news agency. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani will still lead the Iranian negotiating team, Kanani added. Earlier on Monday, the ministry said the upcoming negotiations will be held indirectly with the United States, and facilitated by the European Union (EU). Robert Malley, the U.S. special envoy for Iran, is expected to arrive in Doha on Monday, according to Western media reports. Iran and the EU announced on Saturday that the talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, will be resumed in the coming days. The nuclear talks began in April 2021 in Vienna, but have been suspended since March over political differences between Tehran and Washington. BEIJING, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian on Monday said that, to call China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) a debt trap is a false narrative, and it is the United States that should be held responsible for creating the "debt trap." Zhao made the remarks at a daily news briefing when responding to U.S. accusations against BRI. "To call the BRI a debt trap is a false narrative," said Zhao. He stressed that, for nine years since its inception, the BRI has followed the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits and delivered tangible benefits to partner countries and their peoples. According to World Bank forecast, if all BRI transport infrastructure projects are carried out, by 2030, the BRI will generate 1.6 trillion U.S. dollars of revenues for the world, or 1.3 percent of global GDP. Up to 90 percent of the revenues will go to partner countries, said Zhao. The BRI could contribute to lifting 7.6 million people from extreme poverty and 32 million from moderate poverty from 2015 to 2030, he said. "In fact, no BRI partner has agreed to the so-called 'debt trap' accusation. Rather, it is the United States that should be held responsible for creating the 'debt trap'," said the spokesperson. Zhao said that the U.S.'s expansionary monetary policies, financial innovation with lax supervision and ill-intended short-selling are weighing down developing countries with debt burden and the very reason some countries have fallen into the debt trap. With regard to the new initiative put forward by G7, China always welcomes initiatives that promote global infrastructure. Such initiatives do not have to cancel each other out, Zhao said. "What we oppose is moves to advance geopolitical calculation and smear the BRI in the name of promoting infrastructure development," he added. "I also noticed that a year ago, it was also at a G7 Summit that the United States put forward the B3W Initiative. The United States committed then to developing global infrastructure in a different way from the BRI. Whether it is B3W or any other initiative, the world wants to see real investment and projects that will truly deliver for the people," Zhao said. ADDIS ABABA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for an immediate investigation into the deaths of more than 20 African migrants at the Morocco-Spain border. Mahamat expressed "his deep concern and shock at the violent and degrading treatment of African migrants attempting to cross an international border from Morocco into Spain, with the ensuing violence leading to the deaths of at least 23 people and injuries to many more," read a statement on Sunday. He called for an immediate investigation and reminded countries of their obligations under international law to treat all migrants with dignity and prioritize their safety and human rights while refraining from the use of excessive force. The deadly incident occurred in a stampede as more than 2,000 sub-Saharan migrants tried Friday to breach the border between Morocco and Melilla, a Spanish enclave city in Africa, Moroccan official news agency MAP reported. MAP said that Moroccan security forces "intervened" when the migrants tried to scale or cut through a fence separating the Spanish city from Moroccan territory. Spanish authorities in Melilla said most of the migrants were forced back except for 130 that managed to reach the enclave. NAIROBI, June 27 (Xinhua) -- At least 18 South Sudan soldiers were killed following clashes with armed rustlers over the weekend in the country's northern Warrap State, a local official confirmed on Monday. Riing Deng Adiing, the Warrap State Information Minister, said the deadly violence erupted on June 26 in Rualbet Payam after soldiers pursued armed youth from the Awan Parek community who had raided 125 heads of cattle in Aliek Payam of the Tonj North County. Eighteen soldiers got killed during the fire exchange with the armed youth, Deng told Xinhua by phone from Kuacjok town of Warrap state. Deng also revealed that seven youths were killed during the clashes. Bak Ajuot, Acting Commissioner of Tonj North County confirmed the incident, adding that "we don't know the number of wounded people but this will soon be confirmed." ANTANANARIVO, June 27 (Xinhua) -- With the final blast of 12 cannons, the official celebration of the 62nd anniversary of Madagascar's independence began at the Barea Stadium in downtown Antananarivo on Sunday. The celebration, under the theme "The love I have for my homeland arouses national pride," was marked by a military parade, which was attended by more than 3,300 members of the Malagasy army, the gendarmerie, the national and communal police, as well as the water and forestry corps. Besides, military aircraft and helicopters also took part in the ceremony. The parade kicked off after President Andry Rajoelina carried out the troop review. During a brief speech to the audience, Rajoelina said such a celebration "is an expression of solidarity, unity and cohesion." "For the country, for the Malagasy people, we will work together, defend our sovereignty and develop Madagascar," he said, extending greetings to the national army, which also celebrates the 62nd anniversary of its birth. The country holds independence ceremony every year at the Barea Stadium, formerly called the Mahamasina Stadium, where the first Malagasy President Philibert Tsiranana announced the island's independence after over 60 years of colonization by France. SOFIA, June 27 (Xinhua) -- Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov submitted the resignation of his coalition government to the National Assembly on Monday after it was ousted in a no-confidence motion, the press office of the Parliament said. According to the country's Constitution, resigning is compulsory after a losing vote. Petkov's government will continue to act until the election or appointment of a new Council of Ministers. The cabinet was overthrown on Wednesday, two weeks after the There Is Such A People party, one of the four partners in the ruling coalition, withdrew its participation in the government, which was elected last December. OTTAWA, June 26 (Xinhua) -- Two Canadian ships departed for a four-month deployment in the Baltic Sea and North Atlantic region on Operation Reassurance to enhance NATO readiness, the Canadian Defence Ministry said Sunday. In a news release, the ministry said HMCS Kingston and Summerside are deployed to contribute to NATO assurance and deterrence measures in Central and Eastern Europe, adding that the Canadian Armed Forces is maintaining a presence in European waters on a persistent rotational basis since 2014. According to the release, between July and October 2022, HMCS Kingston and Summerside will join Standing NATO Mine Countermeasures Group One. During Operation Reassurance, the ships will participate in NATO's high readiness on sea, which can quickly and effectively respond in support of any NATO operations. HMCS Halifax and Montreal, currently on station as part of Operation Reassurance, will return to Canada in July. This will be the first deployment on Operation Reassurance for both ships. HMCS Summerside will deploy with an embarked Royal Canadian Navy clearance diving team, supported by mine countermeasure search capabilities using autonomous underwater vehicles aboard HMCS Kingston, the release said. Home Society Crime 2 Nepali women gang-raped by Indians near Nepal-India border in Dang Dang, June 27 Two Nepali women were raped near the Nepal-India border in Dang on Sunday. The Dang District Police Office says two women from Rajpur rural municipality were gang-raped in near Manipur Bazar by a few Indian locals. They were raped near a jungle along the India-Nepal border, says DSP Mukunda Prasad Rijal. The same group of Indians robbed four other women, informs Rijal. The incident came to light after the survivors filed a complaint at a local police station. Rijal says since the incident took place in India, Indian police are looking into the case. The women have already filed a complaint with the Indian police. Indian police have arrested four people after their complaint. Further investigations are ongoing, says Rijal. The UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure (MoEI) has been recognised as Sustainability Leader in Shipping and as a Decarbonisation Champion in Power Sector at the recently held Decarbonisation and Climate Action Awards. This is in recognition of MoEIs exemplary contribution to preserving the marine environment, enabling the sustainable development of the local and regional vital sectors and achieving the IMOs decarbonisation goals. This achievement consolidates the Ministrys active role in ensuring the progress of the UAEs maritime sector. It also affirms their efforts in realising the full potential of innovative solutions and new technologies to ensure sustainable industry operations. Energy transition In recent years, the Ministry has been at the forefront of enabling the UAEs energy transition. Several path breaking initiatives have helped industry stakeholders adopt sustainable practices. In order to accelerate low-carbon hydrogen deployment, the Ministry announced its support to the Global Ports Hydrogen Coalition, the first global forum that brings industry professionals, port operators, decision-makers, and government officials on a common platform to discuss the adoption of hydrogen technologies and fuels. This was in line with the Ministrys Hydrogen Leadership Roadmap, a comprehensive national blueprint to support the UAEs net-zero ambition and establish the country as a competitive exporter of hydrogen. Pioneering initiatives Yousef Al Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for the Electricity, Water and Future Energy Sector, MoEI said: Over the years, our primary objective has been to promote the maritime sector in the nation through top-notch innovative solutions, while keeping sustainability as our priority. The UAE has planned to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, and the onus is on us to ensure that we take the right steps towards achieving this target. In addition to being ranked 3rd globally in Bunker Supply Index as well as Transport Services Trade, and 5th as a Key Maritime Hub worldwide, our aim is to cement ourselves as leaders in sustainable practices in the maritime industry. Our initiatives for sustainable development have gone far beyond steps to produce and adopt lower-emission fuels, and this award is a testament to our efforts. Eng Hessa Al Malek, Advisor to the Minister for Maritime Transport Affairs, MoEI said: Last year, we launched the Supporting our Blue Army initiative to improve the quality of life of our seafarers. The initiative aims to protect our seafarers rights with ship owners and operating companies, as well as help them overcome the challenges they faced as a result of the pandemic and its resulting travel restrictions. Additionally, in line with Cabinet resolution number (71) for 2021, regarding marine wrecks and violating ships in UAE waters or calling UAE ports, we have invested a lot of efforts into protecting the UAEs waters and marine environment, and reducing marine wrecks that may cause incidents. Another groundbreaking initiative we have launched is the Sail Safely initiative, aimed at protecting the marine environment, enhancing maritime safety and security, as well as protecting peoples lives. The initiative includes an intensive training programme for captains of leisure and fishing boats to ensure that they adhere to the highest standards of operation in the sector, avoiding maritime accidents and protecting peoples lives, Al Malek added. A prominent member of the IMO Council During the 2021 IMO elections, the UAE was re-elected to the Executive Council of the IMO under Category B for the third time in a row, receiving the highest number of votes within the category. As part of the Executive Council, the UAE plays an active role in developing strategies, policies, and agreements that enhance maritime safety standards, protect the marine environment, and enhance the efficiency of the sector across the globe. During the 109th session of the IMOs Legal Committee meetings, the UAE suggested several changes to the Organisations legal system in order to develop the global maritime industry, and promote its competitiveness. All of these suggestions were accepted by the IMO and will be implemented at the soonest.-- TradeArabia News Service Late JB Tuhures songA stream of migrants makes the heart of the stayers cry/ The country deserted for millions, a few felt paradisebecame the mainstay of the leftist movement in Nepal so far. Moreover, this song became the weapon of the Jhapa Revolt in 1969, the first-ever political crusade against the Panchayat system for land ownership and establishing tenants rights over the land. The columnist does not know where this song took JB Tuhure, but, surely, some of the politicians of the movement are living a high life. But, where did they bring the so-called revolution? Nowadays, the politicians of these revolutions are breathing under capitalism. I dont feel comfortable asking the question: were those revolts that took thousands of innocent lives a lie? Ethics of lying Classical thinkers like Plato in The Republic approved of lying on the condition that when telling the truth is the wrong thing to do. He tried to justify lying under certain circumstances. He affirmed that society must promulgate noble lies to promote social harmony. On the other hand, Aristotle denounced all lies. Following the footsteps of Aristotle, German philosopher Immanuel Kant avowed that lying is always morally wrong. He labelled morality with the categorical imperative (CI). Kant characterised the CI as an objective, rationally necessary and unconditional principle that we must follow despite any natural desires. He further justified that all immoral actions are irrational because they violate the CI. We perceive that Nepali politicians actions are irrationally designed; they only build castles in the air. Bentham and Mill (for the utilitarianism theory) base their reasoning on the claim that actions, including lying, are morally acceptable when the resulting consequences maximise benefit or minimise harm. Therefore, a lie is not always immoral; in fact, when lying is necessary to maximise benefit or minimise harm, it may be immoral not to lie. Our politicians lies do not fit into either perspective. Dr Henry Cloud, an American psychologist and leadership consultant, once stated, If you are building a culture where honest expectations are communicated and peer accountability is the norm, the group will address poor performance and attitudes. This is why there is a great chasm between the performance and the attitudes of the politicians as they failed to deliver an honest culture. Technically, our leaders are pathological liars who constantly lie for long periods of time to paint themselves as heroes. Arnold Isenberg defined a lie as a statement made by one who does not believe it with the intention that someone else should be led to believe it. Actually, these pseudo leaders never believed in socialism and socialism, as such, was never their goal, which they vouched as the panacea for every kind of human exploitation and oppression. They persuaded us that revolution is the only way out of exploitation and oppression. Both the democratic and communist forces in Nepal wanted to build trusting relationships with the people on the basis of false communication. False communication violates peoples rights, which is morally and ethically equivalent to theft. Most disparaging lies of Nepali politicians The Mahakali Treaty was ratified with the 2/3rd parliamentary majority, hoping for the export of energy and its pricing principle; formation of the Mahakali River Commission; equal sharing of waters of the Mahakali River; and status of the Mahakali River. Later, it was found that such strictures were neither registered nor passed by the parliament. Initially, the Maoists raised their voice against the treaty and demanded it is scrapped, but later they backed away once in the power. The most disparaging lie communists have committed is the murder case of Madan Bhandari and Jivaraj Ashrit, then secretary-general and head of the organisation department of the CPN-UML, respectively. The communist parties- and Nepali Congress-affiliated politicians involvement in the Lalita Niwas land scandal to convert state property into the personal property was another lie to the public. The then Oli governments corrupt involvement in the procurement deals for lifesaving PPEs and test kits during the Covid period, popularly known as the Omni scandal, was another lie to the public. No work for two meals a day is yet another lie of the communists. A gas pipeline will be fitted free of charge the monorail in Kathmandu and the replacement of the tuin (river-crossing cables) with a suspension bridge were complete black lies. Constructing view towers instead of constructing hospitals and schools in a country like ours is against the notion of living under socialism. It is during the communist government that development, change, justice, and equality are kept open for sale. The communists proclamation of breaking the chains of criminals and corrupt people is just a myth. Some communists who consider capitalists their class enemy, ratified the Millennium Challenge Compact (MCC) on February 27, 2022, along with Nepali Congress. Nepali Congress endorsed the controversial MCC deal as its achievement. This was the biggest lie against the sovereign people. Less than four months after passing MCC from parliament, the State Partnership Program (SPP), another US-led imperialist document, came to light. No single party looks clean as they are all lying. The communist politicians used to boast that the corrupt people are prosecuted on a regular basis. Former PM Oli profoundly says that he would not tolerate corruption within his administration. He was appointed as home minister in the countrys first-ever communist government 28 years ago and has already served three terms as Prime Minister, still claiming that corrupt will be convicted. Gokul Baskota, the then minister for communication and information technology in the Oli-led government and one of Olis closest confidantes, however, openly accepted his involvement in the security printing scandal. No actions were taken. The Sher Bahadur Deuba-led coalition government recently presented a budget of Rs 1.79 trillion, in which I found the gap between budget presentation and expenditure management. It looks like the budget is buttering up the voters to win their favours for the upcoming elections. The black lies could seriously hurt the Nepali economy. Local election commitments I have categorised some of the important resolutions the politicians proclaimed that were targeted for the local elections. They assured us that their representatives would not be lords; they would be the servants of the people; they would be the engineers of social awakening and development. They said the municipalities under their leadership would be a model of good governance. Their representatives would set an example of virtue. They would not be the corrupt ones and would strictly control corruption. Anyone involved in corruption, adultery, irregularities, and exploitation of public property would be brought to justice. Elected representatives would not give jobs to any of their relatives at the local level. Again, they wanted to use this election as a springboard for all sorts of swindling schemes. It would not be an exaggeration to say that the 30 years of kleptocracy of the politicians begets Balen Shah, Gopal Hamal and Harka Rai Sampang as the mayors of Kathmandu, Dhangadhi and Dharan respectively. In a nutshell, it is an offence to hide true political motives. Politicians need to be held accountable for their political speeches and actions. Our distrust of politicians is that we want their actions and speeches to be kept in constant check by parliament and the public at large. Antisocial lies of the politicians should be prosecuted by hook or by crook. WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. Join Purdue experts for the Purdue Weed Science field day on June 30 beginning at 8 a.m. (ET) at the Throckmorton Purdue Agricultural Center (TPAC). Participants will learn about current weed science research, tour research plots, network with industry professionals and meet Purdues graduate students. Highlights for the event will be Enlist, Xtend, and Liberty Link soybean weed control programs and research updates from our graduate students, said Bill Johnson, Purdue professor of weed science. In addition, we will have information on waterhemp and giant ragweed control, and weed control with cover crops and cultivators in corn and soybeans. Attendees will view the plots on the west side of US-231 in the early part of the morning and at a second site one mile east of TPAC during the latter part of the morning. TPAC is located at 8343 US-231 Lafayette, Indiana. Registration will begin at 8:00 a.m. EDT, and the program will begin at 8:30 a.m. Continuing certification hours (CCH) will be available for participants. Sign up to attend at https://purdue.ag/weed-day. In this article, we discuss the 8 European coal stocks to buy as Russia squeezes gas supply. If you wish to skip our detailed analysis of the energy sector in Europe and its current situation, go directly to 3 European Coal Stocks to Buy As Russia Squeezes Gas Supply. Russia decided to slow down its supply of natural gas to Germany through the Nord 1 pipeline on June 14, citing "technical issues" caused by the West's crippling sanctions on Russia. The German economic minister Robert Habeck called this a "politically motivated" maneuver which instantly led to gas prices jumping 24% in the EU. Germany subsequently entered phase 2 of its emergency gas plan, which seeks to reduce gas usage and shore up the country's reserves for the crucial winter months. Current gas storage stands at 57%, and Germany needs these levels to be around 90% in November to make it through the winter. The government has started preparations to restart its coal-fired power generation plants in order to ensure stability in the energy sector. It had previously pledged to completely wean off coal usage by 2038, but now seeks to meet electricity demand by firing up its 151 coal-based power plants again. Most of these coal plants were scheduled to be shut down permanently in the near future. The United States has effectively banned Russian oil and gas imports, and the United Kingdom has said it would follow suit by end of 2022. In May, the European Union decided to cut 90% of its oil imports from Russia, barring the oil which comes from pipelines. This may not be as easy for Europe, given that it relies on Russia for 40% of its collective demand for natural gas, 46% of coal, and 27% of oil imports. Amid tight natural gas supplies and soaring prices, utilities across Europe are turning towards coal to fire up their power plants. Without Russian coal, producers such as South Africa, Columbia, and the United States are expected to meet the demand in the near-term, and the market is constantly scrambling to secure supplies of the black metal. Coal prices went as high as $430 per tonne in May, and currently hover around $395 as of June 24. Rystad Energy forecasts that coal prices could likely cross $500 per tonne this year, driven by a lack of supply and growing demand. In this article, we'll highlight 8 European stocks which investors can buy to take advantage of the increasing relevance of coal in the current setup. If you wish to take advantage of the global rally in the overall energy sector, big players such as Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY), BP plc (NYSE:BP), Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP) present good investment opportunities. Photo by Stephen Philpott on UnsplashOur Methodology We studied the energy sector in Europe, and identified companies with exposure to coal, either in terms of mining or power generation. Most of these firms were originally scheduled to reduce their dependence on coal in the coming months, but are in the process of changing their plans to meet growing demand. 8. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA) PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA) is the largest energy producer in Poland. It is a state-owned entity with the Polish State Treasury holding the majority of its shares. BlackRock, the world's largest asset manager, is the third largest shareholder of PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA). Given that it generates around 71% of its revenue from coal-based production and is the biggest supplier of coal-produced electricity in Europe, PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA) is one of the leading companies that stand to benefit in the current situation. The Warsaw-based utility company possesses installed capacities to generate 15 GW from coal sources, around 88% of its total production. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA) also runs the Bechatow power station in Poland, which is the largest thermal plant in Europe and the biggest contributor to CO2 emissions on the continent. The firm operates a total of 40 power stations across Poland, mainly run by hard coal and lignite (brown coal). The energy conglomerate also owns and operates various electricity retail sales companies, distribution system operator companies, as well as an electricity wholesale company. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA) has plans to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, with an objective to limit its usage of coal. The company also aims to make investments in grid infrastructure, wind energy and solar energy. PGE Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (WSE:PGE.WA) is a good play on the energy sector, just like Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY), BP plc (NYSE:BP), Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP). 7. RWE AG (ETR:RWE) RWE AG (ETR:RWE) is the largest energy supplier in Germany. Following government policies on the transition towards green energy, the company aims to be carbon-neutral by 2040, and invest a gross amount of 50 billion by 2030 towards sustainable energy initiatives. The company's portfolio consists of onshore and offshore wind farms, solar energy, battery storage technology and energy production from biogas. RWE AG (ETR:RWE) is also at the forefront of the global race to shift towards hydrogen as a source of energy. RWE's conventional energy portfolio is made up of lignite, hard coal, nuclear power, and gas. The firm had unveiled plans to phase out its usage of coal and nuclear power, given that Germany is shutting down its last nuclear power plant in December 2022. RWE is currently receiving only 40% of the total quantity of natural gas it is contracted to receive from Russia. As supplies from Russia are halted, the German government has unveiled plans to ramp up its coal energy production to meet the growing gap in demand and supply. The company recently announced that it would halt early retirements in order to retain manpower at three of its 300 MW coal power plants which are currently on 'security standby', and can be reopened at the federal government's request. These power stations rank among the highest CO2 emissions producers in Europe, and look set to resume full-scale operations as Germany reels from an energy crisis which has seen its green energy pledges roll back for the time being. In 2021, RWE AG (ETR:RWE) produced 160,773 GWh of energy, as compared to 141,204 GWh in 2020. The company's 2021 free cash flow was recorded at 4.56 billion, up from 1.13 billion in the previous year. As of June 23, the company pays a 2.33% dividend yield, and its EPS for FY21 was recorded at 1.07. 6. Uniper SE (ETR:UN01) Uniper SE (ETR:UN01) is an energy company which was formed after German electric utility giant E.ON spun off its fossil fuel business into a separate company in 2016. The firm has operations in 40 countries around the world, with electricity production operations throughout Europe and Russia. It also operates a Russian subsidiary called Unipro. Finnish power giant Fortum is a majority stakeholder of Uniper, with a 75.01% stake. Uniper SE (ETR:UN01) boasts power generating capacity of 33 GW, through its portfolio of natural gas, coal, nuclear (all plants outside Germany), and hydroelectric sources. In 2017, hard coal was the second largest source of power for the company, generating 24.3 TWh as compared to 61.9 TWh generated through oil and gas. One of the most prominent coal power plants run by Uniper is Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire, England, which has a 2,000 MW capacity and is one of the three coal power plants left in the United Kingdom. It is set to close by end of 2024. The company also provides natural gas storage services across Europe on a massive scale, boasting 7.4 billion meter cube in gas storage capacity. In April, Uniper SE announced that it would start paying for Russian natural gas in roubles, giving in to Russia's demand which would help it avoid EU sanctions. The company is also one of the financiers of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, which was suspended by the German government after Russia invaded Ukraine. In 2021, Uniper SE (ETR:UN01) posted annual revenue of 68.76 billion, beating estimates by 63.88 billion and showing a massive boost of 225% in comparison to 2020. 5. ENEA SA (WSE:ENA) ENEA SA (WSE:ENA) is based in Poznan, Poland, and is the fourth largest energy conglomerate in the country. 70% of Poland's electricity comes from coal, which is the highest figure in the European Union. This makes a company like ENEA SA (WSE:ENA) a good stock to buy in the current environment. The firm was founded after the merger of five coal-fueled power plants, and later went on to make further additions to its portfolio. Its prominent coal plants include the Poaniec, and the Kozienice power plant, which ranks among the highest CO2 emissions producer in Europe. ENEA SA (WSE:ENA) also owns and operates several coal mines in Poland, which ranks 9th in the world for coal reserves. The country had about 28.45 billion tons of proven coal reserves as of 2016, amounting to 2% of global coal reserves and equaling 191 times its yearly consumption. ENEA SA (WSE:ENA) also has a separately-run electricity distribution operator named Enea Operator, and sells electricity to retail and wholesale customers across Poland. 4. TAURON Polska Energia S.A. (WSE:TPE.WA) TAURON Polska Energia S.A. (WSE:TPE.WA) is up next on our list of the best European coal stocks to buy. The state-owned company is the second largest producer of electricity in Poland, and owns interests in coal mining through its subsidiaries, mainly in south-western Poland. It has a vast network of power generation and distribution across the country, and offers comprehensive energy solutions for households, businesses and industrial customers. TAURON Polska Energia S.A. (WSE:TPE.WA) also offers photovoltaic (solar panel) installations to its customers, and digital solutions to track and analyze electricity usage. In 2019, TAURON Polska Energia S.A. (WSE:TPE.WA) announced plans to replace most of its coal-powered plants with renewable sources of energy within the upcoming decade, in line with the global push to phase out energy production from coal. Now with the European energy market in a tailspin, the prospects of power generation from coal stand different for a company like TAURON Polska Energia S.A. (WSE:TPE.WA). Along with Exxon Mobil Corporation (NYSE:XOM), Occidental Petroleum Corporation (NYSE:OXY), BP plc (NYSE:BP), Shell plc (NYSE:SHEL), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE:COP), TAURON Polska Energia S.A. (WSE:TPE.WA) is a good stock to buy in order to take advantage of soaring commodity prices. Click to continue reading and see 3 European Coal Stocks to Buy As Russia Squeezes Gas Supply. Suggested articles: Disclosure. None. 8 European Coal Stocks to Buy As Russia Squeezes Gas Supply is originally published on Insider Monkey. Agra Ventures Ltd. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Agra Ventures Ltd. (AGRA or the Company) (CSE: AGRA) (OTC: AGFAF) (FRA: PU31), a growth-oriented and diversified company focused on the international cannabis industry, is pleased to provide the voting results from its Annual General & Special Meeting ("AGM") that was held today in Vancouver, British Columbia. A total of 947,584 common shares of the Company were voted, representing 3.81% of Agras outstanding shares. Shareholders voted in favour of all applicable items of business set before the meeting, as follows: Percentage of Votes Cast Number of Directors % For % Against Number of Directors to be set at four (4) 93.70% 6.30% Election of directors % For % of Votes Withheld Elise Coppens 89.87% 10.13% Brian ONeill 67.10% 32.90% Fiona Fitzmaurice 90.13% 9.87% Anthony Carnevale 92.70% 7.30% Appointment of Auditor % For % of Votes Withheld To Appoint Baker Tilly LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditor of the Company for the ensuing year and to authorize the directors to fix their remuneration. 98.68% 1.32% Re-approval of Stock Option Plan % For % Against To re-approve by ordinarily resolution the 10% rolling stock option plan of the Company, as more particularly described in the Information Circular. 81.15% 18.85% Approve Restricted Share Unit Plan % For % Against To approve the Companys 10% restricted share unit plan, as more particularly described in the accompanying Information Circular. 78.75%* 21.23% *As disinterested shareholder approval is required for this agenda item, the percentage was calculated after excluding management's common shares from the voting. Elise Coppens, Brian ONeill, and Fiona Fitzmaurice were all re-elected to the Board of Directors at the AGM. Additionally, a new director, Anthony Carnevale, was elected to the Board. Anthony Carnevale Anthony Carnevale is an established cannabis industry professional and entrepreneur. Before entering the cannabis space, Anthony spent nearly a decade as a sommelier and winemaker in Ontarios wine industry. Capitalizing on his strong background in hospitality management, he began his career in cannabis as the General Manager of one of Canadas oldest cannabis lounges, Vapor Central. He has guest lectured on cannabis hospitality and tourism at George Brown College since 2019 and is a founding member of the Canadian Cannabis Tourism Alliance. During the COVID pandemic, he founded Canadas first mobile cannabis accessory cleaning company, Clean Piece. The company focuses on eco-friendly cleaning techniques and has cleaned more than 10,000 bongs, pipes, and vaporizers since its inception. Most recently, he has taken on a marketing leadership role for a Canadian vaporizer hardware distributor named Calyx Labs. Anthony is highly involved in Canadas cannabis community and is extremely passionate about helping legacy cannabis professionals transition into the legal industry. Story continues Management Commentary Elise Coppens, Chair of the Board, said, I would like to welcome Anthony Carnevale as a new director of the Company. His collective knowledge and experience are expected to add value to our current Board of Directors. It is an exciting time for AGRA and I am confident that the changes enacted at our AGM will help to create shareholder value in the future. I would also like to thank the outgoing directors, Jerry Habuda and Joseph Perino, for their service to the Company. About Agra Ventures Ltd. Agra Ventures is a growth-oriented and diversified company focused on the international cannabis industry. The company is dedicated to the cultivation, distribution and marketing of high-quality cannabis and cannabis-infused products worldwide. Agra Ventures primary asset in Canada is Boundary Bay Cannabis located in Delta, BC, which is one of the largest cannabis greenhouse facilities focused on the cost-optimized cultivation of high-potency cannabis. Abroad, the companys wholly owned subsidiary, Farmako GmbH, is focused on becoming Europes leading distributor of medical cannabis. Farmako currently has active product distribution operations in Germany and is fully licensed in the United Kingdom. For more information about Agra Ventures, please visit www.agraventures.com and its profile page on SEDAR at www.sedar.com . ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS Nick Kuzyk, Investor Relations E: ir@agraventures.com T: (800) 783-6056 The CSE and Information Service Provider have not reviewed and does not accept responsibility for the accuracy or adequacy of this release. Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact this news release contains certain forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as plan expect project intend believe anticipate estimate and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions may or will occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information including factors beyond the Companys control. There are no assurances that the business plans for Agra Ventures described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties that could affect financial results is contained in the Companys filings with Canadian securities regulators which are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Agra Ventures Ltd. Quantum Media Group, LLC Sir Anthony Ritossa, Chairman, Ritossa Family Office Quantum Media Group, LLC Ari Zoldan, CEO, Quantum Media Group, LLC Summit To Attract 400 Family Offices, Sheikhs, Royal Families, and Sovereign Wealth Funds Representing $4.5 Trillion In Investor Wealth Monte-Carlo, Monaco, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Quantum Media Group, LLC today announced a media partnership with the Ritossa Global Family Office Investment Summit taking place June 27th-29th, 2022, at the Fairmont Monte-Carlo Hotel in Monaco. We are delighted to welcome Ari Zoldan to Monaco this year, said Sir Anthony Ritossa, chairman of the Ritossa Family Office. Through this new collaboration, our investment summits will be able to leverage Aris extensive media distribution channels, which will further enhance our companys and clients profiles. Sir Anthony Ritossa is a family office influencer and thematic investor with interests in private equity, real estate, and blockchain companies. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021. Notable guests include H.R.H. Prince Abdulaziz bin Faisal bin Abdul Majeed bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, H.E. Sheikh Khaled Bin Ahmad Al Hamed, Chairman, Khalid Al Hamed Group, UAE, Sandro Salsano, Chairman, Salsano Group, USA and Lord Carmine Villani, CEO of Berkshire Hathaways BHH & MFO Global Partners Private Office. The theme for the Monaco summit will be: "Family Offices Working Together to Invest for a Brighter Future. It will serve as a bridge between European families and their Middle Eastern, U.S., Asian, & Latin American counterparts. Were excited to be entering this new era with Sir Anthony Ritossa, Quantum Media CEO Ari Zoldan said. His breadth of expertise, industry insight, and reach into the global markets is unparalleled. We are honored to be a part of this media journey. About Sir Anthony Ritossa During the past five years, Sir Anthony has hosted more than 5,200 elite family offices, prominent business owners, sheikhs, royal families, private investment companies, sovereign wealth funds, and industry professionals from over 55 countries at 18 conferences representing US$4.5 trillion in wealth. His events have resulted in more than U.S.$2.8 billion in investments in companies ranging from start-ups to major global corporations. Story continues Sir Anthonys background includes more than 30 years of international financial markets and investment experience, including senior executive positions at Nomura, Barclays Capital, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas, and Bankers Trust (acquired by Deutsche Bank). In addition to leading his family office, Sir Anthony is a Strategic Partner and Advisory Board Member for The Private Office of Sheikh Mohamed Bin Ahmed Bin Hamdan Al Nahyan, an Advisory Board Member and Senior Advisor to The Private Office of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, an Advisory Board Member for The Private Council of H.H. the Prince Mahmoud Salah Al Din Assaf, and an Advisory Board Member for the Dubai Blockchain Center, The Fred Hollows Foundation, and Immersion4 Global. About Ari Zoldan Ari Zoldan is the CEO of Quantum Media Group, LLC, a global research and marketing company based in New York City, and host of The Ari Zoldan Show on iHeartRadio. As an on-air TV personality, he can be seen regularly on FOX News, CNN, and CNBC covering technology, business, and innovation. He holds press credentials for Capitol Hill and the United Nations and is a member of The National Press Club in Washington, D.C. He is one of the few selected individuals to hold the position as an IBM Watson Futurist. Ari is a regular on the lecture circuit and speaks passionately about entrepreneurship and the need to innovate constantly. His unique and engaging approach has attracted over 100,000 business leaders and students around the world to his lectures. Previously, he was Chair of the Media and Development committee of The Zahn Center for Innovation at City College and is currently an adjunct professor at Yeshiva University. Media Inquiries: Quantum Media Group, LLC Ari Zoldan ari@arizoldan.com 917 680 8765 Attachments TORONTO, June 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Canada Jetlines Operations Ltd. (NEO: CJET) ("Canada Jetlines") the new, all-Canadian, leisure airline, is proud to announce that it has successfully completed the flight attendant group line indoctrination flight and the Transport Canada ("TC") evacuation demonstration. Both events were conducted to the satisfaction of the criteria and TC inspectors monitoring the events. "Both events are important milestones in the process of obtaining our Transport Canada Air Operator Certificate (AOC). I am very proud of the excellent work accomplished by our flight attendants under the leadership of Anup Anand and Michael Lewin" said Eddy Doyle CEO of Canada Jetlines. "We are quickly approaching the end of the AOC process with Transport Canada. The final steps are an additional demonstration flight and Transport Canada administrative functions to be completed. We expect this process to be completed in the first half of July and be able to start flying shortly thereafter." Visit www.jetlines.com to learn more, sign up for email updates, and follow on all social media platforms to join the Canada Jetlines family. About Canada Jetlines Canada Jetlines is a well-capitalized leisure focused air carrier, utilizing a growing fleet of Airbus 320 aircraft targeting launch in the summer of 2022, subject to Transport Canada approval. The air carrier was created to provide Canadians with value vacation choices and convenient travel options to fly to fantastic leisure destinations within Canada, the U.S.A., Cuba, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua, Bahamas, and other Caribbean nations. Canada Jetlines will provide exciting vacation packages to iconic Canadian destinations and beyond via strong partnerships with airports, CVBs, tourism entities, hotels, hospitality brands, and attractions. With a projected growth of 15 aircrafts by 2025, Canada Jetlines aims to offer the best-in-class operating economics, customer comfort and fly-by-wire technology, providing an elevated guest centric experience from the first touchpoint. The efficient aircraft design merged with the experience of the all-Canadian management team, allows for accessible flight options without sacrificing quality or convenience. The carrier will use a state-of-the-art web booking platform, making the turnkey solution available to consumers, travel agents, and tour operators, with the capability of generating revenue on reservations and ancillary sales with the aim to provide more revenue opportunities to current and future agent partners and all the work that they do. We look forward to working with you to create memorable travel experiences for consumers. To learn more, please visit www.jetlines.com and follow on all social media platforms for news and updates. Canada Jetlines Recent News: Connect With Us! Instagram: @ca_jetlines Twitter: @ca_jetlines Facebook: @CAJetlines LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jetlines Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This news release contains "forward-looking information" concerning anticipated developments and events that may occur in the future. Forward-looking information contained in this news release includes but is not limited to the Companys intention to operate as a leisure airline, the intention to offer the lowest possible price, the number of aircraft it intends to operate, the destinations of its intended flights, the completion of the Transport Canada approval process, growth plans, intended timeline to begin servicing destinations and business of Jetlines. In certain cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of words such as "plans", "expects" "budget", "scheduled", "estimates", "forecasts", "intends", "anticipates" or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved" suggesting future outcomes, or other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, intentions or statements about future events or performance. Forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on certain factors and assumptions regarding, among other things, the receipt of financing to commence airline operations, the accuracy, reliability and success of Jetlines business model; the timely receipt of governmental approvals including from the CTA and Transport Canada; Jetlines concluding a definitive agreement for aircraft to commence airline operations; the timely commencement of operations by Jetlines and the success of such operations; the legislative and regulatory environments of the jurisdictions where Jetlines will carry on business or have operations; the impact of competition and the competitive response to Jetlines business strategy; and the availability of aircraft. While the Company considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves 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 the forward-looking information. Such factors include risks related to, the ability to obtain financing at acceptable terms, the impact of general economic conditions, domestic and international airline industry conditions, the failure of the Company to conclude definitive agreements to acquire aircraft, supply chain disruptions causing delays in expected timelines, the impact of the global uncertainty created by COVID-19, future relations with shareholders, volatility of fuel prices, increases in operating costs, terrorism, pandemics, natural disasters, currency fluctuations, interest rates, risks specific to the airline industry, the ability of management to implement Jetlines operational strategy, the ability to attract qualified management and staff, labour disputes, regulatory risks, including risks relating to the acquisition of the necessary licenses and permits from Transport Canada, the Canadian Transportation Agency and other regulatory agencies, and the additional risks identified in the "Risk Factors" section of the Company's reports and filings with applicable Canadian securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking information. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005118/en/ Contacts Media: media@jetlines.ca Investor Relations: Jeff Walker, Vice President The Howard Group Email: jeff@howardgroupinc.com Tel: 403.221.0915 Toll Free: 1.888.221.0915 Calls for boardroom changes to address destruction of value at Ceragon and refusal to consider Aviat's premium acquisition proposal Urges Ceragon shareholders to vote for directors who will protect shareholder interests and consider value creation opportunities AUSTIN, Texas, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviat Networks, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVNW) ("Aviat"), the leading expert in wireless transport solutions, today announced that it has requested an extraordinary general meeting of Ceragon Networks Ltd. (NASDAQ: CRNT) ("Ceragon") shareholders for the purposes of increasing the size of the Ceragon Board of Directors to nine, removing three current directors, and electing five highly qualified and independent new directors to better represent the interests of all Ceragon shareholders. As of June 24, 2022, Aviat holds more than 5% of Ceragon's outstanding shares, making it Ceragon's third largest shareholder. Aviat Networks, Inc. Logo (PRNewsfoto/Aviat Networks, Inc.) Aviat believes Ceragon's current Board has overseen destruction of shareholder value and overlooked opportunities to create greater value. In particular, the Ceragon Board has neglected its responsibility to shareholders by refusing to engage constructively with Aviat, which has sought for months to negotiate the terms of a transaction that would deliver immediate and certain value greater than the continued execution of Ceragon's standalone strategy. As announced separately today, Aviat has submitted a highly attractive nonbinding proposal to acquire all the outstanding shares of Ceragon for $2.80 per share in cash. Aviat is also open to offering a portion of the consideration in Aviat stock should Ceragon wish to provide the opportunity for its shareholders to share in the upside potential of the combined company. Aviat seeks to replace three Ceragon directors who lack sufficient independence to make decisions in the best interests of all Ceragon shareholders. Each of the three has close ties to the company and to other companies founded, owned or formerly led by Ceragon Chairman Zohar Zisapel. Story continues Ira Palti served as Ceragon CEO from 2005 to 2021, during which time he oversaw the destruction of shareholder value, delivering total shareholder return of -21%, while Ceragon fell behind competitors in the development and delivery of 4G chips; Yael Langer is General Counsel at RAD Data Communications, founded by Zisapel and led by his brother, Yehuda Zisapel, and has served on the Ceragon Board since 2000, during which time Ceragon's stock has fallen approximately 80%; and David Ripstein spent nine years as CEO of RADCOM, another company founded by Zisapel and a part of the RAD Group, of which Ceragon is also a member. "Although we are disappointed that Ceragon's Board has rejected our attempts to negotiate a transaction that would deliver compelling value to shareholders, we are pleased to give Ceragon shareholders the opportunity to vote for a Board that will consider strategic opportunities to unlock value and, most importantly, be accountable to shareholders," said Aviat President and CEO Peter Smith. "We firmly believe shareholders will recognize that Ceragon's leadership has demonstrated an inability to execute an effective business plan that drives growth and protects shareholders' investments. We urge shareholders to support our highly qualified Board candidates to drive much-needed change." At the extraordinary general meeting, Ceragon shareholders will have the opportunity to vote for Aviat's five nominees, all of whom are seasoned leaders in their respective fields with extensive experience leading and advising companies across sectors. Aviat urges shareholders to take advantage of this opportunity to select a meaningfully refreshed and qualified Board that can address the company's dire financial underperformance, strategic deficiencies and haphazard management, substandard governance, and reverse Ceragon's continued value destruction. Aviat's Nominees Michelle R. Clayman is the Founder, Managing Partner and Chief Investment Officer of New Amsterdam Partners LLC. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Stanford University, where she also serves as Chair of the Advisory Council of the Michelle R. Clayman Institute for Gender Research. Ms. Clayman has served as President of the Society of Quantitative Analysts, as well as on the boards of the Institute of Quantitative Research in Finance and US SIF, the Forum for Sustainable and Responsible Investing. Ms. Clayman holds an MA in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from Oxford University and an MBA from Stanford University. Paul Delson serves as Vice President and General Counsel for the Troy Corporation, a leading performance chemical manufacturing company. Previously, Delson worked for First Solar, Inc., where he served as the Vice President, Associate General Counsel and Chief Compliance Officer. Prior to that, Delson was the Director, Legal Services at Applied Materials, Inc., where he focused on international business transactions, venture capital, corporate finance and M&A. Prior to Delson's in-house work at Applied Materials, he worked for over 10 years in private practice. Delson earned a JD and an MBA from UCLA, and a BA in Organizational Behavior & Management from Brown University. Jonathan F. Foster is the founder and managing director of Current Capital Partners LLC. He has served on 35 boards, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small, private and distressed companies. Prior to founding Current Capital Partners, he was a Managing Director at Lazard, where he worked on various industrial and services mergers and acquisitions, restructurings and financing transactions, EVP, COO and CFO for Toys R Us, and Managing Director and Co-Head of Diversified Industrials at Wachovia Securities. Mr. Foster holds a BBA in Accounting from Emory University and an MSc in Accounting and Finance from The London School of Economics. Dennis Sadlowski is an accomplished Chief Executive Officer, Board Member, and C-suite Advisor serving domestic and international businesses. He has led public and private equity companies globally, in various industrial manufacturing and services industries. Mr. Sadlowski served as the CEO of Siemens Energy and Automation, a $4 billion, 12,000-employee operating company of Siemens AG. He also served as the CEO of CECO Environmental, CEO of International Battery, and COO (North America) of LSG Sky Chefs. Mr. Sadlowski holds a BS in Chemical and Nuclear Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley and an MBA from Seattle University. Craig Weinstock serves as Senior Vice President and General Counsel of National Oilwell Varco (NOV). Before joining NOV, Mr. Weinstock was a partner at Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell, LLP and a clerk for U.S. District Court Judge Robert Parker. He has counseled Boards of Directors, Audit Committees and management regarding securities, governance, anti-corruption, trade compliance and other matters, and has prosecuted and defended numerous cases involving complex securities and derivative issues. Mr. Weinstock holds a BA from the State University of New York at Albany and a JD from Vanderbilt University Law School. Conference Call As separately announced, Aviat will host a conference call for investors and industry analysts to discuss its proposal at 7:00 p.m. ET on June 27, 2022. To listen to the live conference call, please dial toll-free at 1-877-830-2597 or the international dial-in at +1-785-424-1877 and use the conference ID: "ANICALL" or the call title "Investor Update Call". We ask that you dial-in approximately 10 minutes prior to the start time. Accompanying slides will be available on Aviat's investor relations website at the following address: https://investors.aviatnetworks.com/. A replay of the call will be available on the Aviat investor relations website, or by dialing 800-938-1598 (Toll Free) or 402-220-1545 (Toll). About Aviat Networks, Inc. Aviat Networks, Inc. is the leading expert in wireless transport solutions and works to provide dependable products, services and support to its customers. With more than one million systems sold into 170 countries worldwide, communications service providers and private network operators including state/local government, utility, federal government and defense organizations trust Aviat with their critical applications. Coupled with a long history of microwave innovations, Aviat provides a comprehensive suite of localized professional and support services enabling customers to drastically simplify both their networks and their lives. For more than 70 years, the experts at Aviat have delivered high-performance products, simplified operations, and the best overall customer experience. Aviat Networks is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit www.aviatnetworks.com or connect with Aviat Networks on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Forward-Looking Statements The information contained in this document includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including, without limitations, Aviat's beliefs and expectations regarding the proposed transaction between Aviat and Ceragon and the results of the requested extraordinary general meeting of shareholders of Ceragon. All statements, trend analyses and other information contained herein regarding the foregoing beliefs and expectations and other statements identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including, without limitation, "anticipate," "believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "goal," "will," "see," "continue," "could, " "may, " "might, " "potential," "seek," "should," "delivering," "view," and "intend," or the negative of these terms or other similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are neither historical facts nor assurances of future performance. Instead, forward-looking statements are based on estimates reflecting the current beliefs, expectations and assumptions of the senior management of Aviat regarding the future of its business, future plans and strategies, projections, anticipated events and trends, the economy and other future conditions. Such forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those suggested by the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements should therefore be considered in light of various important factors, including those set forth in this document. Risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from estimates or projections contained in the forward-looking statements are discussed in our Annual Reports on Form 10-K and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking statements included in this release are made as of the date hereof and, except as required by law, Aviat undertakes no obligation to update, amend, or clarify any forward-looking statement to reflect events, new information, or circumstances occurring after the date of this release. Additional Information This document does not constitute an offer to sell or exchange, or the solicitation of an offer to buy or exchange, any securities, nor will there be any sale of securities in any states or jurisdictions in which such offer or sale or exchange would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities will be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933 or an exemption therefrom. In connection with any transaction between Aviat and Ceragon that involves the issuance of Aviat shares to the Ceragon shareholders, Aviat will file a registration statement with the SEC. INVESTORS ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT, ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO AND OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT MAY BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE TRANSACTION. Investors will also be able to obtain copies of the registration statement and other documents containing important information about each of the companies once such documents are filed with the SEC, without charge, at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. Investor Contacts Aviat Networks Andrew Fredrickson +1-408-501-6214 andrew.fredrickson@aviatnet.com Okapi Partners LLC Bruce Goldfarb / Chuck Garske / Teresa Huang +1-212-297-0720 info@okapipartners.com Media Contact Abernathy MacGregor Sydney Isaacs / Jeremy Jacobs +1-212-371-5999 sri@abmac.com / jrj@abmac.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ceragon-networks-shareholder-aviat-networks-calls-for-extraordinary-general-meeting-of-ceragon-shareholders-and-nominates-five-highly-qualified-independent-candidates-for-election-to-the-ceragon-board-of-directors-301576170.html SOURCE Aviat Networks, Inc. (Bloomberg) -- Colombia President-elect Gustavo Petro has secured an alliance with the powerful Conservative Party, putting him closer to finding a majority in Congress. Most Read from Bloomberg Lawmakers from the Conservative Party said in a letter that they will not serve as an opposition party to Petros left-wing coalition and will support his political agenda. The party preliminarily has 16 of 108 seats in the senate and 25 of 188 seats in the lower house, as electoral authorities havent yet certified the March Congressional vote. Colombias U Party has also said it will not declare itself an opposition party and is studying whether to be independent or part of the government coalition. The decision by the Conservatives to back Petro wasnt unanimous and caused a crisis in the party, with its leader, Omar Yepes, announcing his resignation. Petro will be sworn in Aug. 7. Political movements have to decide by Sept. 7 whether theyll be opposition, independent parties or part of the government. Last week, Petro formed another alliance with the Liberal Party, and now, he may have enough seats to approve laws. Some investors fear the leftist leader could push reforms like tax increases aimed at the countrys richest, a reform of taxes on land ownership, and the overhaul of the pension system. Outgoing President Ivan Duques Democratic Center Party said it will be an opposition bloc to Petro. Colombian stocks, bonds, and currency tumbled after this months election presidential election and investors are closely watching who Petro appoints to key governmental roles. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. New downtown office reiterates companys commitment to Austin market and addresses extensive growth and expansion AUSTIN, Texas, June 27, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--DISCO (NYSE:LAW), a leader in AI-enabled legal technology, today officially opened the doors to its new global headquarters in downtown Austin. Located at 111 Congress Avenue and consisting of more than 46,000 square feet inside the One Eleven Congress building, the new office will be home to approximately 40% of the companys more than 600 employees. "When we moved DISCOs headquarters from Houston to Austin in 2018, I predicted that the talent in this city would accelerate our vision to make DISCO the company of record for legal and that bet is paying off!" said DISCO Chief Executive Officer Kiwi Camara. "Today, we are one of the few publicly traded legaltech companies as our products are changing the industrys expectations about what legal software can do, how fast it can be, how easy it can be to use, and how much it can improve legal outcomes. I am excited to bring DISCOs global headquarters to vibrant downtown Austin and to continue to be a part of the citys innovative tech community." DISCO recently opened a new U.S. office in New York, and its EMEA headquarters are located in London. Future offices are planned in Canada and continental Europe as the company expands globally to meet the needs of its international customer base. To address the growing demand to use technology to strengthen the rule of law, DISCO is hiring across sales, marketing, engineering, professional services, and human resources. To learn more about career opportunities at DISCO in Austin and globally, visit https://www.csdisco.com/careers. About DISCO DISCO (NYSE:LAW) provides a cloud-native, artificial intelligence-powered legal solution that simplifies ediscovery, legal document review and case management for enterprises, law firms, legal services providers and governments. Our scalable, integrated solution enables legal departments to easily collect, process and review enterprise data that is relevant or potentially relevant to legal matters. For more information, visit www.csdisco.com. Story continues View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220627005170/en/ Contacts Laura Wooster DISCO Corporate Communications media@csdisco.com DMCC, a global free zone and a leading trade and enterprise hub for commodities, has concluded its first Made for Trade Live roadshow in Warsaw, Poland, where it highlighted the benefits of doing business in Dubai for Polish companies. The event saw senior DMCC executives address over 139 representatives of Polish businesses from a range of sectors. Speakers and delegates discussed the strategic geographic location and commercial appeal of Dubai and the ease of doing business in DMCC, which is the fastest growing and most interconnected free zone in the world. The discussions also focused on opportunities for the UAE and Poland to enhance bilateral trade and business relations. Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said: Facilitating trade, removing barriers to entry and unlocking new business opportunities are critical components of DMCCs mandate. Through these roadshows, we showcase the unparalleled potential that DMCC has to offer for businesses looking to set up a company in Dubai. While the UAE is already Polands largest trading partner in the Middle East, there is still a lot more we can do together by supporting exporters and businesses in both countries. DMCCs first official visit to Poland was extremely successful, and we are looking forward to working even closer together in the years ahead. Held in partnership with the Polish Investment and Trade Agency, the full capacity Made for Trade Live event demonstrated DMCCs deep commitment to businesses in the region and underlined its focus on strengthening trade relations with Poland across a range of sectors. Dr Eman Al Salami, Ambassador of the UAE to Poland, added: The UAE and Poland share a rich history of collaboration and success, and there is a strong appetite and potential to further grow trade and business relations. Committed to driving this next phase of commercial growth between the two countries, DMCC has embarked on a journey to support Polish businesses in expanding their international footprint and tapping into some of the fastest-growing markets in the world through Dubai. Over the coming years, I am confident we will further strengthen UAE-Poland economic ties. As part of its visit to Poland, DMCC also held discussions with several businesses and trade associations to enhance collaboration in areas such as technology, telecommunications and financial institutions. Krzysztof Drynda, Chairman, Polish Investment and Trade Agency, said: DMCC has become a critical connection point for business and trade between the UAE and Poland, and we are delighted to have partnered together to facilitate knowledge exchange and connect the two countries business communities. We look forward to exploring the many areas of potential collaboration and exciting business opportunities between Poland, Dubai and DMCC. With a rich history of cultural, diplomatic and commercial ties, Poland is a key growth market for businesses in Dubai and DMCC. For nearly a decade, the UAE has been Poland's largest economic and trade partner in the Arab world. The non-oil foreign trade between the UAE and Poland reached AED4.7 billion ($1.28 billion) in 2020, with this figure expected to grow further in the coming years. DMCC has played a significant role in enhancing UAE-Poland relations and is currently home to over 40 leading Polish businesses, which use the Free Zone as a hub for trading with countries around the world. DMCCs Made for Trade Live series plays a key role in promoting Dubai as a prime destination for foreign direct investment (FDI). DMCC attracted a record-breaking 2,485 new companies to the free zone in 2021 and reported the highest first quarter of 2022 of company registrations since inception, bringing the total number of member businesses to over 21,000. TradeArabia News Service One good thing about an election is that it doesnt last for forever, or so we thought. There is a winner and a loser. The prevailing candidate received the most votes from the voting public. The loser calls and extends congratulations and well wishes to the prevailing candidate. This kind of scenario presumes that there are no small margins of victory, and every person eligible to vote and who wanted to vote for a candidate of their choice was permitted to do so. We know America is fraught with voting rights problems. These problems will exist for a very long time. It does not take a fortune teller or a stroke of genius to see that we are staring at challenges across the country as we look at election results. It is scary to look at people who have run for and won statewide offices and congressional seats announce what they will do once they are elected and in office. Political ads have shown candidates bragging about shutting down peoples access to the ballot. We have witnessed a sheriff of a town, in uniform, walking with a candidate in support of what the candidate stands for. How can people in general feel that their rights will be given any respect? The sheriff should be held to account for using his public job in uniform to support a partisan candidate and the views expressed by that candidate. However the elections turn out, the losers are the people of Alabama. We already have Sen. Tommy Tuberville. Katie Britt and Mo Brooks doing nothing to enhance the image of the state or being an Alabamian. The pandering to a disgraced former president by Brooks was shameful. Britt's pride in being endorsed by that disgraced former president is pathetic. I for one am sick and tired of seeing the tag line of attorney. What rule of law do you observe? The candidates for judges were appalling. There was no platform at all of court improvements, fairness or evenhandedly dispensing justice. Oh, that does not play well to the public, does it? Bragging about wanting to put people under the jail does. Story continues People are caught between a rock and a hard place. They want to exercise their right to vote, but are faced with horrible candidates. Hope springs eternal. Most things in life are cyclical. All of the cliches are applicable. Nothing remains the same for forever. The only things certain are death and taxe. Our elective future looks shaky. As I look at the distant future, the prospective candidates do not look very promising. We must vote, nonetheless. Perhaps there will be a grand awakening and people will really see what is happening in and to America, and its people. We have heard over and over that You can fool some of the people some of the time; you can fool some of the people all of the time; but you cant fool all of the people all of the time. As you stare down the results of the Jan. 6 insurrection investigative committee, what cant people get about what almost happened to democracy? People who are in the not to be fooled group have got to put forth great effort to not place toxic people in office. Voters should not follow the lead of toxic people who are not in office, but want to set the public agenda. Toxic you say. Then you ask what does the word really mean? In modern times the adjective is used as a description of people, their relationships, and their personal behaviors. Tox indicates poison. Think skull and bones. Toxic is described as harmful, destructive or deadly; poisonous. We wont ask, as in days of old, to use the word in a sentence. We would ask you to think about the word toxic, and what or who comes to your mind. We still have more campaigning and political ads to come, but we have seen a massive outpouring of toxic candidates, toxic messaging and toxic supporters. The messaging is harmful, destructive and suggests no building of bridges within America and its vast communities. Do you know any toxic people? How do you handle them in your lives? Toxic people occupy space everywhere. Sometimes it takes a while for the toxicity to seep through. Know that it eventually will, and you will know exactly what it is. People exude toxicity when they know everything about anything, and them only. Feel the poison when a person has to be right, no matter what. See a poisonous reptile when a person must be in leadership, or cant serve at all. This equates to the inability to be a team player. Poisonous behavior is exuded when nobody or anything is OK without the stamp of approval from a toxic person. Toxic people are not only If I didnt build it, tear it down, they are extremely negative when it comes to other people, other opinions and any lifestyle other than their own. Be wary of toxic messages as we continue to watch the continuing election debacle. Elaine Harris Spearman, Esq., a Gadsden native, is an attorney and is the retired legal advisor to the comptroller of the City of St. Louis. The opinions reflected are her own. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Toxicity taking its toll in political realm Extendicare Inc MARKHAM, Ontario, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Extendicare Inc. (Extendicare or the Company) (TSX: EXE) announced today that the Toronto Stock Exchange (the TSX) has accepted a notice filed by Extendicare of its intention to make a normal course issuer bid (NCIB) for up to 7,829,630 of its common shares (the Common Shares), representing 10% of its public float of issued and outstanding Common Shares. As at June 16, 2022, there were 89,739,924 Common Shares issued and outstanding and the public float was 78,296,307 Common Shares, calculated in accordance with the rules of the TSX. Purchases under the NCIB may commence on June 30, 2022 and continue until June 29, 2023, when the NCIB expires, or on such earlier date as the NCIB is complete. The actual number of Common Shares purchased under the NCIB and the timing of any such purchases will be at the Companys discretion. Based on the average daily trading volume of 212,274 during the last six months, daily purchases will be limited to 53,068 Common Shares, other than block purchase exceptions. Purchases made by Extendicare will be made through the facilities of the TSX and/or through alternative Canadian trading systems, in accordance with TSX rules. Any Common Shares purchased by the Company under the NCIB will be cancelled. The Companys board of directors has authorized the NCIB because it believes that, from time to time, the market price of Common Shares may be such that their purchase may be an attractive and appropriate use of corporate funds. The NCIB will provide the Company with additional flexibility to manage capital. Decisions regarding the timing of future purchases of Common Shares will be based on market conditions, share price, capital needs and other factors. The Company has entered into an automatic purchase plan (APP) with its designated broker in connection with its NCIB to facilitate the purchase of Common Shares during times when the Company would ordinarily not be permitted to purchase Common Shares due to regulatory restrictions or self-imposed black-out periods. Before entering a black-out period, the Company may, but is not required to, instruct the broker to make purchases under the NCIB based on parameters set by the Company in accordance with the APP, TSX rules and applicable securities laws. The APP has been pre-cleared by the TSX. Story continues About Extendicare Extendicare is a leading provider of care and services for seniors across Canada, operating under the Extendicare, ParaMed, Extendicare Assist, and SGP Purchasing Partner Network brands. We are committed to delivering quality care throughout the health continuum to meet the needs of a growing seniors population. We operate or provide contract services to a network of 108 long-term care homes and retirement communities (58 owned/50 contract services), provide approximately 9.2 million hours of home health care services annually, and provide group purchasing services to third parties representing approximately 98,800 senior residents across Canada. Extendicare proudly employs approximately 19,000 qualified, highly trained and dedicated individuals who are passionate about providing high quality care and services to help people live better. Forward-looking Statements Information provided by Extendicare from time to time, including this press release, contains or may contain, forward-looking statements concerning anticipated future events, results, circumstances, economic performance or expectations with respect to Extendicare and its subsidiaries, including, without limitation, statements regarding its business operations, business strategy, growth strategy, results of operations and financial condition. Forward-looking statements can often be identified by the expressions anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intend, objective, plan, project, will or other similar expressions or the negative thereof. These forward-looking statements reflect the Companys current expectations regarding future results, performance or achievements and are based upon information currently available to the Company and on assumptions that the Company believes are reasonable. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, except as required by applicable securities laws. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the statements. Given these risks and uncertainties, readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on Extendicares forward-looking statements. Further information can be found in the disclosure documents filed by Extendicare with the securities regulatory authorities, available at www.sedar.com and on Extendicares website at www.extendicare.com. Extendicare contact: David Bacon Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Phone: (905) 470-4000 Email: david.bacon@extendicare.com www.extendicare.com (Bloomberg) -- Taiwans industrial sector, including the worlds largest contract chipmaker, will be hit with the islands first power price increase in four years as the state-owned utility grapples with soaring fuel costs. Most Read from Bloomberg About 22,000 large industrial users will pay 15% more for high voltage and ultra-high voltage electricity, the Ministry of Economic Affairs said in a press release. A small number of homes that consume large amounts of electricity will also face a 9% hike on a portion of their usage, the ministry said. The adjustments will take effect July 1. Taiwan relies on imported coal and natural gas for most of its power, and the price of both fuels has soared this year after Russias invasion of Ukraine upended global trade flows. At the same time, electricity use in Taiwan has hit new records in recent days amid hot weather and a strong industrial rebound after the pandemic. State-owned Taiwan Power Co. is expected to pay an extra 300 billion Taiwan dollars ($10 billion) this year for fuel imports, the ministry said. The islands large industrial users include Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., the most advanced maker of chips for everything from smartphones to automobiles, which said earlier this month it expects revenue to grow about 30% in 2022. TSMCs longterm goal is to use 100% renewable energy, and it actively implements energy- saving and carbon reduction measures, spokeswoman Nina Kao said in a text. She added the price hike will not affect the companys longterm financial goals. The residential increases will only be applied to power in excess of 1,000 kilowatt-hours a month, meaning about 97% of homes will face no increase, the ministry said. The industrial rate hikes wont affect cinemas, gyms, department stores or businesses in the agriculture, food and catering sectors. Story continues (Updates with TSMC comment in paragraph 6) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. DUBLIN, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Global Digital Identity Solutions Market Growth Opportunities to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo The focus of the report is on the digital identification documents issued by governments and private sectors to uniquely identify people and efficiently run public and private welfare programs and other facilities. This study discusses the key aspects of digital identity programs and identifies potential use cases, trends, current applications, and future opportunities across the critical national infrastructure, public safety & security, and banking & finance sectors. It also details the drivers, restraints, and trends and examines their impact on applications across the regions and segments covered. All security industry participants and the rest of the industry verticals will benefit from this study as it investigates the big picture perspectives of the digital identity market and provides insight into how the technology is set to evolve and influence the security market's growth. Technology companies looking to feed into the digital transformation Mega Trends across the industries will also benefit from this study as it examines their potential role in the future of this market. The study aims to provide public security & identity businesses with national-digital-identity-related market intelligence. It identifies the growth opportunities in the digital identity market and underlines the future outlook on opportunities across regions and segments. The study will assess the global digital identity programs by identifying the following: Market trends Drivers and restraints Key technologies and suppliers Key developments by country and region Known contracts and suppliers in digital identity market globally Research Scope Product Scope: Industry Mega Trends Geographic Scope: Global End-user Segments: Critical national infrastructure, commercial, government, security Story continues Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Impact of the Top Three Strategic Imperatives on Digital Identity Industry Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine Digital Identity Programs - Research Scope Market Overview - Digital Identity Market Requirement Overview - Digital Identity Market Core Needs for Digital ID Systems The Need for Unified National Identification Systems Evolving Identity Crisis Terrorism Driving Need for Robust Identity Management Solutions Governments Adopting Digital Strategies Evolution of Identity Authentication Techniques Taxonomy of Biometrics Applications in Digital Identity Management Authentication Approaches for Digital ID Programs Digital Identity Process Breakdown World Bank ID4D Initiative and Approach Key Trends Across Sectors Growth Drivers - Digital Identity Market Growth Restraints - Digital Identity Market 2. Evolving Business Models - Identity-as-a-Service in the Private Sector Digital-Identity-as-a-Service - Identification Everywhere CLEAR - Airport Security Process Optimization Onfido - Identity-Management-as-a-Service Airport Security - Known Traveller Digital Identity System Powered by Blockchain 3. Regional Analysis Major Digital Identity Initiatives and Investments Market Analysis by Region - Digital Identity Market Major National Digital Identity Programs 4. Competitive Environment Competitive Environment - Digital Identity Market Key Contracts for Digital Identity Management 5. Global Regulations for Digital Data Protection and Privacy Data Protection and Privacy Regulations for Digital Identity Management Legislative Trends - Mandates for Enhanced Security Global Standards for Biometric Applications in Digital Identity Management 6. Growth Opportunity Universe - Digital Identity Market Growth Opportunity 1: Advanced Cyber Security for Digital Identity, 2023 Growth Opportunity 2: Block Chain Powered Digital Identity Solutions, 2025 Growth Opportunity 3: Portable Biometric Readers/Kiosks for Digital Identity Management, 2023 Growth Opportunities and Way Forward For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/cfv0qs Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior 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 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1904 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-digital-identity-solutions-market-analysis-report-2021-2025-key-aspects-of-digital-identity-programs-and-potential-use-cases-trends-current-applications-and-future-opportunities-301575594.html SOURCE Research and Markets ReportLinker The Global Horticulture Lighting Market size is expected to reach $11. 1 billion by 2028, rising at a market growth of 21. 2% CAGR during the forecast period. The effective spectral dispersion of light is critical for plant growth. New York, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Horticulture Lighting Market Size, Share & Industry Trends Analysis Report By Offering, By Technology, By Application, By Cultivation, By Lighting Type, By Installation Type, By Regional Outlook and Forecast, 2022 - 2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06283433/?utm_source=GNW The demand for horticultural lighting is projected to rise as more people become aware of the issue. One of the major factors driving up the demand for horticulture lighting is the need to maintain a controlled farm environment. With new lighting technologies, horticulture lights can assist maximize crop productivity while also saving energy. These characteristics of horticulture lights, as well as growing awareness among farmers, are expected to propel the market studied forward over the projection period. The use of horticultural lighting is projected to be aided by a rise in the number of food suppliers & farm start-ups. With the growing popularity of indoor and vertical farming, LED lighting applications in the horticulture sector are becoming increasingly important. LEDs are widely employed in the production of a variety of crops, including herbs, tomatoes, greens, & cucumbers, among others, due to their tunable spectrum and illuminance. Farm8, a South Korean agriculture cultivator, has been using LED technology to aid in the growth of plants. When compared to the time it takes a plant to grow outside (50 days), a plant can be grown in roughly 35 days with this technique. The worlds rising population is driving up food demand, which is challenging to provide alone through conventional agriculture. But, advances in horticulture lighting have made it possible to boost crop yields in indoor agriculture. In the absence of presence or partial absence of natural light, horticulture light serves as the principal light source in indoor farming. GrowWise, a city farm facility concentrating on raising a range of crops like as leafy vegetables, strawberries, and other vegetables, was founded by companies like Signify (Philips Lighting). To boost crop productivity in its indoor farming facilities, the business plans to use LED horticulture lights. Rapid population growth and urbanization, diminishing water supplies, and continuous climate change due to increased greenhouse gas emissions have all led to reduced arable land reserves per person. As agricultural land becomes more limited, governments face concerns about sustainability & feeding the worlds rapidly growing population, which is anticipated to reach multiple billion by 2050. Because they depend on enhanced technology & automation to make the most of limited land and water, urban agriculture, greenhouse farming, and vertical farming are all instances of options for improving future food production. Within the limits of urban, weather high-rise structures, food production technology seeks to significantly boost productivity while minimizing environmental damage. COVID-19 Impact The outbreak and the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the entire LED lighting supply chain, right from upstream chip manufacturers to packaging and lighting OEMs. The outbreak of COVID-19 in China, for example, prompted lockdown measures that included the closure of manufacturing facilities & warehouses, affecting global exports & shipments from a variety of businesses. Lockdown measures implemented in various nations throughout the world in response to the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a drop in local and international demand for consumer goods, particularly horticultural lighting. These firms horticulture lighting products are acquired by a variety of stakeholders for diverse applications. COVID-19 had an impact not only on the operations of the numerous horticultural lighting producers but also on their suppliers & distributors. Market Growth Factors The farm-to-table concept is gaining traction The farm-to-table concept entails providing local produce to restaurants, cafeterias, fast food joints, and other places in the same neighbourhood. The demand for locally farmed food is expanding, and the number of customers interested in eating such meals is growing with each day. More people have joined in as the notion has risen in popularity, & there is no doubt that the complete awareness of consuming locally farmed food has improved in recent years. As a result, the farm-to-table idea is no longer exclusive to health-conscious or trend-conscious diners. The need for more locally sourced products may eventually spread across numerous markets in the hotel industry. In the case of farm-to-table restaurants, horticulture lighting ensures timely product availability. Popular Use of LEDs These lights are also less expensive than other artificial lighting options. LEDs do not burn out like conventional light bulbs, although they do lose a little number of lumens with time. LEDs may last for more than 50,000 hours, whereas light bulbs only last around a year on average (depending on the type of application). The longer lifespan assures a high level of dependability. LEDs emit light more efficiently than previous lighting fixtures, producing far less heat. Heat is considered waste in conventional indoor farming and is eliminated by an air conditioner or fan. However, LEDs can reduce the energy usage involved with heat removal by not producing it in the first place. Market Restraining Factors LED horticulture lights have high setup & installation expenses With more people becoming aware of the advantages of horticulture lighting, the use of these devices is on the rise. Plants have been grown indoors using a variety of artificial lighting sources. Previously, HPS & electric ballasts were commonly employed as effective light sources in indoor farming. LEDs are popular nowadays because they eliminate the limitations of high-pressure sodium (HPS), fluorescent (FL), metal-halide, & electric ballast lights. The initial investment necessary to purchase high-quality LED lights is larger than that required to purchase traditional lighting technologies such as fluorescent & high-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs. This is because each LED light unit has arrays of LEDs that are specifically developed for horticulture use. Offering Outlook Based on Offering, the market is segmented into Hardware and Software & Services. The software & services segment garnered a significant revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. It is due to the increasing adoption of latest technologies and software. These kinds of software and service enable companies or farmers to control their lighting from anywhere and anytime. In addition, they are cost-effective and hence, are estimated to witness a surge in their demand. Technology Outlook Based on Technology, the market is segmented into LED, HID, Fluorescent, and Others. The LED segment acquired the highest revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. LED technology is gaining traction in the horticulture industry, due to part to NASAs ongoing plant-growth research using LED lighting. Because of its low energy consumption, cool operation, and flexibility to adjust the spectrum output to emit the particular wavelengths needed by plants, it has a lot of potential as a horticulture lighting fixture. Government attempts to promote the use of energy-efficient LEDs in horticulture to minimize energy consumption are projected to drive this segments growth. LED lighting has become more efficient in converting electricity into light as a result of technological improvements, and this trend is projected to continue in horticulture. When compared to alternative horticulture lighting systems, LEDs are more energy-efficient and cost-effective. Application Outlook Based on Application, the market is segmented into Greenhouses, Vertical Farms, Indoor Farms, and Others. The vertical farming segment garnered a significant revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. Vertical farms are being built in a variety of locations throughout the world, with North America, Europe, the Middle East, China, & Japan as the most active investors. Several well-known companies have begun to offer money to assist entrepreneurs to develop vertical farms. Cultivation Outlook Based on Cultivation, the market is segmented into Fruits & Vegetables, Floriculture, and Others. The others segment garnered a significant revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. Under this segment, falls the cultivation of cannabis. The legalization of cannabis production is gaining traction in several parts of the world, as policymakers try to make it a reality. This will undoubtedly benefit all types of cannabis farmers, but it is believed that manufacturers of LED grow lights would reap the most benefits. Cannabis is also regarded as a high-value crop by growers, & as a result, cannabis production is increasing at a quicker rate. Lighting Type Outlook Based on Lighting Type, the market is segmented into Toplighting and Interlighting. The interlighting segment procured a substantial revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. Interlighting improves light reception in canopies that absorb less light in the middle or lower levels. Interlighting has higher light efficacy than top lighting, resulting in higher yields, and it primarily uses LED lights. The market for interlighting is likely to rise as the number of greenhouses for tomato & cucumber agriculture grows. Installation Type Outlook Based on Installation Type, the market is segmented into New Installations and Retrofit Installations. The new installation segment acquired the highest revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. The idea for a new installation Llghting is most commonly used to refer to artificial electric illumination installations, in which case the installation includes lighting devices with their light sources, starting and controlling apparatus, switchboards, supply mains, and other electrical equipment. Regional Outlook Based on Regions, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Latin America, Middle East & Africa. Europe acquired the largest revenue share in the horticulture lighting market in 2021. The fact that this region has few of the largest economies in the world, as well as blooming sectors that lead to higher capital investment capabilities, can be linked to the markets rise. Large regions of greenhouse horticulture can be found in countries like Spain, the Netherlands, Italy, and France. LED horticulture lights are steadily moving from being a supplemental lighting source to becoming the major light source for indoor farming in this region. Europes population has grown quickly in recent years, and countries in the region are importing frozen fruits & vegetables from Africa & Asia. To supplement, the import of fruits and vegetables, some fruits and vegetables are planned to be grown domestically using horticulture lighting in indoor farms. Key Factors Impacting the Market The market research report covers the analysis of key stake holders of the market. Key companies profiled in the report include Signify N.V., LumiGrow, Inc., Heliospectra AB, Iluminar Lighting LLC., Gavita International B.V., California LightWorks, Valoya Oy, Hortilux Schreder, and Eye Hortilux. Strategies deployed in Horticulture Lighting Market Dec-2021: Signify signed an agreement to acquire Fluence horticulture lighting systems business & brand of OSRAM, a global leader in optical solutions. With this acquisition, both the companies would expand their joint efforts & pool their expert knowledge in both companies product innovation. Oct-2020: California LightWorks released its MegaDrive, a new professional grow light system. This system provides accurate outcomes while drastically lowering both up-front & long-term operating costs. In addition, the new system comprises a large central power unit joined to a series of up to 30 LED fixtures in a chain. High voltage three-phase power can connect directly to the central power unit, removing power drops to each fixture. Sep-2020: Valoya expanded its product line of RX-Series line of greenhouse LEDs with two new models - RX500 & RX600. These new models have been built to be strong & firm; it would produce the least shading over the canopy. With an Ingress Protection rating of IP65 (wet location) these luminaires are dust-tight & can combat spraying with water jets from any direction. Sep-2020: Valoya came into a licensing agreement with Citizen Electronics, a top developer of electronic devices & applied products. Under this agreement, Citizen Electronics would take Valoyas LED spectrum portfolio into use. This spectrum would be all the revolution, as high-quality light creates high-quality plants. Both the companies are looking forward to watching their COB LED products with the spectrum reach the market & benefit the growers from Valoyas spectra. Mar-2020: Signify extended its collaboration with Planet Farms, a leading European operator of vertical farms based in Italy. Under this agreement, Europes largest vertical farm would fuel the quality & yield of the crops with the use of the Philips GreenPower LED production module handled by the Philips GrowWise Control System. Signifys latest horticultural LED innovation for vertical farming, would aid growers optimize multilayer crop cultivation. Nov-2018: LumiGrow introduced LumiGrow TopLight, a new wirelessly controllable LED lighting system for indoor crop production & commercial greenhouse. This new product is a lighting solution created with various cost-saving optimizations for the professional crop cultivatorcomprising a high photon flux (PPF) of 1440 micromoles per second (?mol/s), versatile mounting options based on crop application, IP-67 rating, passive thermal management, simple installation using quick-connect assembly, wireless control functionality & a 5 to 7-year warranty. Jun-2018: LumiGrow expanded its geographical footprints in Europe at GreenTech Amsterdam. With this geographical expansion, the company would have their LED Growers Guide for Cannabis available at the show, the user just needs to stop by the booth of Greentech Medicinal Cannabis InfoPoint, or download the LED Growers guide online. Apr-2018: Heliospectra unveiled its new light control software HelioCORE. This new software allows to automate & join the growing environments to accurately check & forecast yields, & make sure consistent, high-quality crops are year-round. Scope of the Study Market Segments covered in the Report: By Offering Hardware Software & Services By Technology LED HID Fluorescent Others By Application Greenhouses Vertical Farms Indoor Farms Others By Cultivation Fruits & Vegetables Floriculture Others By Lighting Type Toplighting Interlighting By Installation Type New Installations Retrofit Installations By Geography North America o US o Canada o Mexico o Rest of North America Europe o Germany o UK o France o Russia o Spain o Italy o Rest of Europe Asia Pacific o China o Japan o India o South Korea o Singapore o Malaysia o Rest of Asia Pacific LAMEA o Brazil o Argentina o UAE o Saudi Arabia o South Africa o Nigeria o Rest of LAMEA Companies Profiled Signify N.V. LumiGrow, Inc. Heliospectra AB Iluminar Lighting LLC. Gavita International B.V. California LightWorks Valoya Oy Hortilux Schreder Eye Hortilux Unique Offerings Exhaustive coverage Highest number of market tables and figures Subscription based model available Guaranteed best price Assured post sales research support with 10% customization free Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06283433/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 ReportLinker Abstract: What`s New for 2022? -Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares. -Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial. New York, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Industry" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799351/?utm_source=GNW -Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates -Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform -Complimentary updates for one year Global Pharmaceutical Packaging Market to Reach $161.6 Billion by 2026 A key sector of the global packaging industry, pharmaceutical packaging is designed to offer protection and storage of various types of pharmaceutical products like medications, drugs and others. Growth in the global market is being driven by increasing healthcare awareness, new drug approvals, rising healthcare spending and buoyant market for biopharmaceuticals and generics. The demand for packaging in pharmaceutical industry is also propelled by regulations pertaining to tracing and serialization of products. The advent of novel biochemical compounds and drug delivery systems along with innovations in pharmaceuticals like blow fill seal vials, prefilled syringes and powder applications are influencing the packaging market. Another factor driving the market growth is rising geriatric population and increasing incident of chronic conditions, pushing the demand for new and effective pharmaceutical products. The rapid growth of the pharmaceutical industry, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is providing support to the growth of pharmaceutical packaging market. Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Pharmaceutical Packaging estimated at US$98.2 Billion in the year 2020, is projected to reach a revised size of US$161.6 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 8.4% over the analysis period. Plastics & Polymers, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to grow at a 9.1% CAGR to reach US$83.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Paper & Paperboards segment is readjusted to a revised 8.3% CAGR for the next 7-year period. This segment currently accounts for a 25.1% share of the global Pharmaceutical Packaging market. Plastics and polymers segment dominate market share, due to their easily moldable nature and ability to provide protective capabilities in a cost effective manner. Paper and paperboard is another key type of material used in packaging of pharmaceutical products, specifically for secondary and tertiary packaging purposes. The material finds use in making shrink wraps, cartons, cardboards, and boxes. The U.S. Market is Estimated at $38.5 Billion in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $24 Billion by 2026 The Pharmaceutical Packaging market in the U.S. is estimated at US$38.5 Billion in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 34.87% share in the global market. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of US$24 Billion in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 10.2% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 6.9% and 7.2% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 7.5% CAGR while Rest of European market (as defined in the study) will reach US$26.1 Billion by the end of the analysis period. North America is a major market and likely to play an active role in driving the popularity and adoption of pharmaceutical packaging solutions in the region due to launch of various products with specific packaging needs. The region benefits from the presence of major pharmaceutical companies, availability of advanced technological research platforms, include the increasing funding towards research and development and increased government support. Growth in Europe is fueled by increasing pharmaceutical production and rising adoption of flexible packaging solutions by leading pharmaceutical companies. Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness high growth due to expansion of the pharmaceutical industry, increasing pharmaceutical production, a sizeable patient pool, rising consumer awareness and the need for novel packaging materials. Glass Segment to Reach $25 Billion by 2026 Glass is a key material used in pharmaceutical packaging, primarily due to the inert nature of glass. The market for glass packaging material is expected to continue witnessing high demand drive by the increasing availability and manufacture of atmosphere-sensitive pharmaceutical drugs. In the global Glass segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 7.7% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$11.7 Billion in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of US$19.7 Billion by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in Asia-Pacific is forecast to reach US$2.9 Billion by the year 2026, while Latin America will expand at a 8.4% CAGR through the analysis period. Select Competitors (Total 246 Featured) - Story continues 3M Company Amcor plc AptarGroup, Inc. Becton, Dickinson and Company Berry Global, Inc. Catalent, Inc. CCL Industries Inc. Flexituff Ventures International Ltd. Gerresheimer AG Klockner Pentaplast Group MaxQ McKesson Corporation Schott AG Vetter Pharma International GmbH W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. West Pharmaceutical Services, Inc. WestRock Company Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799351/?utm_source=GNW I. METHODOLOGY II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. MARKET OVERVIEW Pharmaceutical Packaging - Global Key Competitors Percentage Market Share in 2022 (E) Competitive Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial for Players Worldwide in 2022 (E) Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic and Looming Global Recession 2020 Marked as a Year of Disruption & Transformation World Economic Growth Projections (Real GDP, Annual % Change) for 2020 through 2022 Pharmaceutical Packaging Sector Remains Stable COVID-19 to Restructure the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Management Pharmaceutical Packaging Players Gear Up with Sterile, Antiviral Packaging to Deal with COVID-19 Challenge Unprecedented Global Push to Expedite COVID-19 Vaccine Development Spurs Demand for Packaging Products Production Capacity of COVID-19 Vaccines by Company in Millions of Doses for 2021 Vaccines in Pipeline by Technology Contract Packaging Companies Focus on Innovations Amidst the Pandemic Valor Glass Gains Prominence for COVID-19 Vaccine Packaging An Introduction to Pharmaceutical Packaging A Prelude to Pharmaceutical Packaging Global Market Prospects & Outlook Advancements in Pharmaceutical & Biopharmaceutical Industries Fuel Growth kin Packaging Market Primary Packaging Solutions Lead the Market Plastics & Polymers: The Preferred Material for Pharmaceutical Packaging Plastic Bottles Represent Leading Product Type in Pharma Packaging Market Developing Economies to Spearhead Long-term Growth Competition World Brands Recent Market Activity 2. FOCUS ON SELECT PLAYERS 3. MARKET TRENDS & DRIVERS Strong Rise in Pharmaceutical Sales to Drive Demand for Packaging Solutions Global Prescription Drug Sales (In US$ Billion) for the Years 2017, 2019, 2021, 2023 & 2025 Rapid Growth of Generic Drugs Drives Demand for Pharma Packaging Market Global Generic Drugs Market Size (in $ Billion) for the Years 2016, 2019, 2020 & 2025 Increasing Significance of Biologic Drugs Fuels Innovations in Packaging and Delivery Techniques Global Biologic Drugs Market Size (in US$ Billion) for the Years 2019, 2022 & 2025 Increasing Sales of OTC Drugs Presents an Opportunity for Pharma Packaging Makers Global OTC Drugs Market Breakdown by Product (in %): 2020E Aging Population & Increasing Burden of Chronic Diseases Spurs Pharma Product Sales, Driving Market Growth Global Aging Population Statistics for the 65+ Age Group in Million by Geographic Region for the Years 2019, 2025, 2035 and 2050 Elderly Population (65+ Years) as a % of Total Population by Developed, Less Developed and Least Developed Regions: 2019 & 2030 Global Cancer Incidence: Number of New Cancer Cases in Million for the Years 2018, 2020, 2025, 2030, 2035 and 2040 World Diabetes and Population Statistics (2019, 2030 & 2045) Persistent Increase in Pharmaceutical R&D Bodes Well for Packaging Manufacturers Market Poised to Benefit from the Rapid Growth of Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Activity Global Pharmaceutical Contract Manufacturing Market Size (in US$ Billion) for 2019, 2022 and 2025 Contract Packaging Trend Augurs Well for the Pharma Packaging Market With Emerging Economies Becoming Hubs of Pharma Manufacturing Activity, Growth Potential in Store for Pharma Packaging Companies Glass Pharmaceutical Packaging Market: Sustained Growth in Store Increased Demand for Novel Glass Variants for Packaging Vaccines Efforts to Boost Manufacturing of Glass Vials and Prefilled Syringes for COVID-19 Vaccine Gain Traction Fears of Glass Vial Shortage Prompts Flurry of Industry Activities Glass Bottles: The Largest Product Type Glass Ampoules Emerge as a Preferred Packaging Option for Pharma Companies Silica Bottles Facilitate Targeted Drug Delivery Recyclability and Sustainability Increases Commodity Value of Glass, Paving Way for Use in Pharma Sector Concerns over Sustainability of Plastic Brings to Light the Importance of Glass for Pharmaceutical Packaging Companies Innovative Glass Packaging Solutions Help Improve Quality of Drugs SCHOTT Offers syriQ BioPure and SCHOTT TOPPAC Syringes Corning Creates Boron-Free Valor Glass VIALEX? Technology: An Innovative Glass Vial Glass Flakes: A Key Concern for the Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Manufacturers Aluminosilicate Glass Emerges as a Solution to the Issue of Glass Flakes Parenteral Packaging Market Drives Demand for Novel Packaging Solutions Parenteral Packaging Market by Product (in %) for 2020E Blister Packaging: The Mainstay of Pharmaceutical Packaging Blister Packaging on Rise in the Pharmaceutical Sector Strong Demand for Unit-Dose Packaging for Patient Compliance Supports Growth R&D Initiatives Set Perfect Stage for Market Growth Pharmaceutical Industry: A Promising Application for Flexible Packaging Global Flexible Packaging Market by End-Use (in %) for 2020 Flexible Packaging for Healthcare Market Breakdown by End-Use (in %): 2020 Pharmaceutical Packaging Sector Makes Widespread Use of Caps and Closures Self-Administration Drug Delivery Devices Fuel Market Growth Small Batch Productions Find Favor in Pharma Industry Increasing Use of Blow/Fill/Seal Technology in Pharmaceutical Packaging Applications Rising Demand for Integrated and Flexible Packaging Solutions in Pharma Industry Demand Continues to Grow for Ready-to-Use Packaging Systems Labeling & Serialization Benefits from Increased Focus on Preventing Counterfeiting of Drugs Global Number of Pharmaceutical Counterfeiting Incidents for Years 2000, 2005, 2010, 2015, 2019 & 2022 Tamper-Proof Packaging Gains Prominence in Pharmaceutical Industry Rise of Smart Packaging in Pharmaceutical Sector Boosts Market Prospects Smart Pharma Packaging Solutions Influence Market Prospects Digitization Facilitates Transformation Pharmaceutical Packaging Space AI and Data: Role in Inspection and Minimizing Non-Compliance for Pharma Packaging Sector Blockchain Comes into Spotlight to Fight Counterfeiting of Drugs Technological Advancements & Innovations Drive Growth in Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Intelligent Pharmaceutical Packaging Focus on Improving User Experience A New Hybrid Material for Packaging COVID-19 Vaccines and Other Biologics: Combining the Best of Glass and Plastic Sustainable Packaging: An Important Considerationfor Pharma Packaging Companies Strict Regulatory Standards for Packaging & Need to Eliminate Counterfeit Products Influence Market Development 4. GLOBAL MARKET PERSPECTIVE Table 1: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 2: World Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 3: World 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 4: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Plastics & Polymers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 5: World Historic Review for Plastics & Polymers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 6: World 15-Year Perspective for Plastics & Polymers by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 7: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Paper & Paperboards by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 8: World Historic Review for Paper & Paperboards by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 9: World 15-Year Perspective for Paper & Paperboards by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 10: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Glass by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 11: World Historic Review for Glass by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 12: World 15-Year Perspective for Glass by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 13: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Metals by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 14: World Historic Review for Metals by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 15: World 15-Year Perspective for Metals by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 16: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Other Materials by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 17: World Historic Review for Other Materials by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 18: World 15-Year Perspective for Other Materials by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 19: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Plastic Bottles by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 20: World Historic Review for Plastic Bottles by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 21: World 15-Year Perspective for Plastic Bottles by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 22: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Parenteral Containers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 23: World Historic Review for Parenteral Containers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 24: World 15-Year Perspective for Parenteral Containers by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 25: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Caps & Closures by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 26: World Historic Review for Caps & Closures by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 27: World 15-Year Perspective for Caps & Closures by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 28: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Blister Packs by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 29: World Historic Review for Blister Packs by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 30: World 15-Year Perspective for Blister Packs by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 31: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Labels & Accessories by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 32: World Historic Review for Labels & Accessories by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 33: World 15-Year Perspective for Labels & Accessories by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 34: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pre-Fillable Syringes by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 35: World Historic Review for Pre-Fillable Syringes by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 36: World 15-Year Perspective for Pre-Fillable Syringes by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 37: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pre-Fillable Inhalers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 38: World Historic Review for Pre-Fillable Inhalers by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 39: World 15-Year Perspective for Pre-Fillable Inhalers by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 40: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Other Product Types by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 41: World Historic Review for Other Product Types by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 42: World 15-Year Perspective for Other Product Types by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 43: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 44: World Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 45: World 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 46: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Contract Manufacturing by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 47: World Historic Review for Contract Manufacturing by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 48: World 15-Year Perspective for Contract Manufacturing by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 49: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Retail Pharmacy by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 50: World Historic Review for Retail Pharmacy by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 51: World 15-Year Perspective for Retail Pharmacy by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 52: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Institutional Pharmacy by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 53: World Historic Review for Institutional Pharmacy by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 54: World 15-Year Perspective for Institutional Pharmacy by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 55: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 56: World Historic Review for Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 57: World 15-Year Perspective for Other End-Uses by Geographic Region - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for USA, Canada, Japan, China, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa for Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 III. MARKET ANALYSIS UNITED STATES Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche /Trivial - Key Competitors in the United States for 2022 (E) Pharmaceutical Packaging Market in the US: An Overview Table 58: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 59: USA Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 60: USA 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 61: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 62: USA Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 63: USA 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 64: USA Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 65: USA Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 66: USA 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 CANADA Table 67: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 68: Canada Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 69: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 70: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 71: Canada Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 72: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 73: Canada Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 74: Canada Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 75: Canada 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 JAPAN Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/ Trivial - Key Competitors in Japan for 2022 (E) Table 76: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 77: Japan Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 78: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 79: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 80: Japan Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 81: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 82: Japan Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 83: Japan Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 84: Japan 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by End-Use - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Pharmaceutical Manufacturing, Contract Manufacturing, Retail Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Other End-Uses for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 CHINA Pharmaceutical Packaging Market Presence - Strong/Active/Niche/ Trivial - Key Competitors in China for 2022 (E) China?s Drug Contract Manufacturing Augurs Well for Packaging Companies Table 85: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 86: China Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 87: China 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Material - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastics & Polymers, Paper & Paperboards, Glass, Metals and Other Materials for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Table 88: China Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for the Years 2020 through 2027 and % CAGR Table 89: China Historic Review for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types Markets - Independent Analysis of Annual Sales in US$ Million for Years 2012 through 2019 and % CAGR Table 90: China 15-Year Perspective for Pharmaceutical Packaging by Product Type - Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales for Plastic Bottles, Parenteral Containers, Caps & Closures, Blister Packs, Labels & Accessories, Pre-Fillable Syringes, Pre-Fillable Inhalers and Other Product Types for the Years 2012, 2021 & 2027 Please contact our Customer Support Center to get the complete Table of Contents Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p05799351/?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. __________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Grand Theft Auto VI (GTA 6) may have a storyline taking place in Miami, Florida (Getty Images/iStockphoto) A new leak concerning the next game in the Grand Theft Auto series presumably called GTA 6 suggests that it will feature support for some kind of cryptocurrency. With an expected release date of either 2023 or 2024, the sequel to GTA 5 is expected to be a major departure from its record-breaking predecessor. The introduction of cryptocurrencies could come in the form of an in-game token that players can earn and spend, one report claims, which could also potentially be traded for other already-established cryptocurrencies like bitcoin. If implemented, it could spearhead the arrival of play-to-earn games, which the founder of Reddit predicts will comprise 90 per cent of the gaming market within the next five years. A separate rumour hints that GTA 6 could be set in Colombia, Cuba and Miami, marking a significant shift from previous single-city games like the Los Angeles-inspired Los Santos. GTA 6 is arguably the most eagerly anticipated video game in history, with fans waiting nearly a decade since the release of GTA 5 in 2013. Developers Rockstar Games made the first official announcement earlier this year that a sequel to GTA 5 is in the works, however it does not comment on any leaks or rumours surrounding its release. With the unprecedented longevity of GTA V, we kno many of you have been asking us about a new entry in the Grand Theft Auto series, the company wrote in a message on its website. With every new project we embark on, our goal is always to significantly move beyond what we have previously delivered and we are pleased to confirm that active development for the next entry in the Grand Theft Auto series is well underway. There is still no word on a release date, though there have been some hints made by Rockstar Games parent company Take-Two Interactive. In a video conference call with investors on 16 May, a slide showed that video game releases between 2023 and 2025 did not include GTA 6. There was a caveat, however, with a footnote stating that new releases would be added to the document once they are officially announced. Leading video games journalists, including Bloombergs Jason Schreier, have predicted that the release date for GTA 6 will be at some point in 2023. Rockstar Games has a history of delaying games after announcing them, as demonstrated by the sequel to Red Dead Redemption aptly named Red Dead Redemption 2 which was pushed back by almost a year before being released to critical acclaim. Insurance Coverage Insurance Coverage Southfield, Mich., June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- June 28th is National Insurance Awareness Day. Certainly, we may be aware that we have insurance, but we sometimes forget to assess whether we have the right insurance to cover our business. National Insurance Awareness Day offers an annual reminder to review, understand, and update our policies since the passage of time can bring greater or different needs. For example: Businesses that contract with other businesses, in which they agree to provide liability insurance coverage for the other businesses, might want to evaluate their additional insured endorsements since options may exist to extend this coverage. Businesses that assume their workers are mere independent contractors, not employees, may want to consider workers compensation insurance as these workers could, in the eyes of the law, might actually be employees. Businesses can assess their need for excess liability insurance based on their size, operations, and risks. Changes in the business can prompt changes in coverage. Entrepreneurs and self-employed professionals working from their homes can consider appropriate business insurance coverage, such as commercial general liability insurance, as homeowners policies typically have business pursuits exclusions that prevent coverage for business-related risks. Policies of insurance can be complicated contracts, and legal disputes occasionally arise involving interpretation of certain provisions within them, says Southfield attorney Julie Fershtman, who has litigated insurance coverage disputes in Michigan and other states for decades. Because policies can differ in their scope and in the exclusions that they offer, make no assumptions about your coverage, In recent years, another type of insurance available to businesses is cyber insurance. Cyber insurance often mitigates the costs and consequences of a data security incident or data breach and the potential liability that may result from it. Cyber insurance policies differ and are usually customizable. Foster Swift has provided information on these coverages: Cyber Insurance: Is it right for you? Story continues Evaluating insurance coverage and avoiding coverage disputes makes good business sense on National Insurance Awareness Day and every day. Now is a good time to communicate with your insurance agent to assess and update your coverages. Having an insurance coverage attorney review your current and proposed policies can help optimize your coverage, and if disputes should occur, seek knowledgeable counsel to guide you. Foster Swift has that expertise. Businesses with questions about their insurance coverage can contact Foster Swift attorney Julie Fershtman at 248.785.4731 or jfershtman@fosterswift.com, or another member of Foster Swifts insurance coverage team. ### Since 1902, Foster Swift Collins & Smith, PC has provided comprehensive legal services to businesses, municipalities, and individuals. The firm employs nearly 100 attorneys and over 100 support staff in five locations: Lansing, Detroit, Southfield, Grand Rapids and Holland. For more information about the firm, its attorneys and to access recent publications, visit www.fosterswift.com. Attachment CONTACT: Kimberly P. Hafley Foster Swift Collins & Smith 517-371-8112 khafley@fosterswift.com NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The Managed Print Services market will register an incremental spend of about USD 123.7 billion, growing at a CAGR of 8.58% during the five-year forecast period. A targeted strategic approach to Managed Print Services sourcing can unlock several opportunities for buyers. This report also offers market impact and new opportunities created due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Managed Print Services Market Download free sample report Key Highlights Offered in the Report: Information on how to identify strategic and tactical negotiation levels that will help achieve the best prices. Gain information on relevant pricing levels, detailed explanation on pros and cons of prevalent pricing models. Methods to help engage with the right suppliers and discover KPI's to evaluate incumbent suppliers. Get a free sample report for more information Insights Into Supplier Selection and Evaluation: Profile and service capabilities of the service provider, industry specialization of the service providers, reputation of service providers, and assessment of value-added services are some of the most critical parameters that buyers use to shortlist the suppliers in Managed Print Services. This report evaluates suppliers based on quality and purity test of product samples, production capacity, certifications and accreditations, and geographical presence. In addition, suppliers are also shortlisted based on business needs, technical specifications, operational requirements, security compliance, regulatory mandates, working environment, quality control, sla nuances, acceptance criteria, legal requirements, change management procedures, pricing models, and penalty clauses. For More Insights on Buyer Strategies and Tactical Negotiation Levers: www.spendedge.com/report/managed-print-services-sourcing-and-procurement-intelligence-report Key Drivers and Trends Fueling Market Growth: The pressure from substitutes and a moderate level of threat from new entrants has resulted in the low bargaining power of suppliers. Story continues Price forecasts are beneficial in purchase planning, especially when supplemented by the constant monitoring of price influencing factors. During the forecast period, the market expects a change of 2%-3%. Identify favorable opportunities in Managed Print Services 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. Some of the Top Managed Print Services Market Suppliers Listed in This Report: This Managed Print Services procurement intelligence report has enlisted the top suppliers and their cost structures, SLA terms, best selection criteria, and negotiation strategies. Xerox Corp Canon Inc HP Inc Smart Procurement Starts Here: SpendEdge's procurement intelligence platform is the go-to tool for companies looking to access latest procurement research insights and supplier data on an easy to use platform: Subscribe Now for FREE, to get instant access to over 1000 market-ready procurement intelligence reports without any additional costs or commitment. 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. Contacts SpendEdge Anirban Choudhury Marketing Manager Ph No: +1 (872) 206-9340 https://www.spendedge.com/contact-us SpendEdge Logo (PRNewsfoto/SpendEdge) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/managed-print-services-sourcing-and-procurement-report-by-top-spending-regions-and-market-price-trends-forecast-and-analysis-2022-2026-spendedge-301575252.html SOURCE SpendEdge SAN FRANCISCO, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- A new market study published by Global Industry Analysts Inc., (GIA) the premier market research company, today released its report titled "Optical Sensors - Global Market Trajectory & Analytics" . The report presents fresh perspectives on opportunities and challenges in a significantly transformed post COVID-19 marketplace. FACTS AT A GLANCE What's New for 2022? With Market Size Valued at $3.2 Billion by 2026, it`s a Healthy Outlook for the Global Optical Sensors Market Global competitiveness and key competitor percentage market shares Market presence across multiple geographies - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial Online interactive peer-to-peer collaborative bespoke updates Access to our digital archives and MarketGlass Research Platform Complimentary updates for one year Edition: 8; Released: January 2022 Executive Pool: 461 Companies: 43 - Players covered include ABB Ltd.; Alphasense Ltd.; ams AG; Analog Devices, Inc.; Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc.; Fotech Solutions Ltd.; Hamamatsu Photonics KK; OptaSense; Oxsensis Ltd.; Rjc Enterprises, LLC.; Rohm Semiconductors; Silixa Ltd.; STMicroelectronics; Teledyne DALSA, Inc.; Texas Instruments, Inc.; Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. and Others. Coverage: All major geographies and key segments Segments: Industry (Aerospace & Defense, Utilities, Oil & Gas, Medical, Construction, Consumer Electronics, Other Industries) Geographies: World; United States; Canada; Japan; China; Europe (France; Germany; Italy; United Kingdom; Spain; Russia; and Rest of Europe); Asia-Pacific (Australia; India; South Korea; and Rest of Asia-Pacific); Latin America (Argentina; Brazil; Mexico; and Rest of Latin America); Middle East (Iran; Israel; Saudi Arabia; United Arab Emirates; and Rest of Middle East); and Africa. Complimentary Project Preview - This is an ongoing global program. Preview our research program before you make a purchase decision. We are offering a complimentary access to qualified executives driving strategy, business development, sales & marketing, and product management roles at featured companies. Previews provide deep insider access to business trends; competitive brands; domain expert profiles; and market data templates and much more. You may also build your own bespoke report using our MarketGlass Platform which offers thousands of data bytes without an obligation to purchase our report. Preview Registry ABSTRACT- Global Optical Sensors Market to Reach $3.2 Billion by 2026 Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the global market for Optical Sensors estimated at US$1.4 Billion, is projected to reach a revised size of US$3.2 Billion by 2026, growing at a CAGR of 14.4% over the analysis period. Aerospace & Defense, one of the segments analyzed in the report, is projected to record a 17% CAGR and reach US$1.2 Billion by the end of the analysis period. After a thorough analysis of the business implications of the pandemic and its induced economic crisis, growth in the Utilities segment is readjusted to a revised 14.2% CAGR for the next 7-year period. Story continues The U.S. Market is Estimated at $432 Million in 2021, While China is Forecast to Reach $710.1 Million by 2026 The Optical Sensors market in the U.S. is estimated at US$432 Million in the year 2021. China, the world`s second largest economy, is forecast to reach a projected market size of US$710.1 Million by the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 19.1% over the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 10% and 12.8% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 11.4% CAGR. Oil & Gas Segment to Reach US$366.9 Million by the year 2026 In the global Oil & Gas segment, USA, Canada, Japan, China and Europe will drive the 14.3% CAGR estimated for this segment. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of US$116.8 Million will reach a projected size of US$297.1 Million by the close of the analysis period. China will remain among the fastest growing in this cluster of regional markets. More MarketGlass Platform Our MarketGlass Platform is a free full-stack knowledge center that is custom configurable to today`s busy business executive`s intelligence needs! This influencer driven interactive research platform is at the core of our primary research engagements and draws from unique perspectives of participating executives worldwide. Features include - enterprise-wide peer-to-peer collaborations; research program previews relevant to your company; 3.4 million domain expert profiles; competitive company profiles; interactive research modules; bespoke report generation; monitor market trends; competitive brands; create & publish blogs & podcasts using our primary and secondary content; track domain events worldwide; and much more. Client companies will have complete insider access to the project data stacks. Currently in use by 67,000+ domain experts worldwide. Our platform is free for qualified executives and is accessible from our website www.StrategyR.com or via our just released mobile application on iOS or Android About Global Industry Analysts, Inc. & StrategyR Global Industry Analysts, Inc., (www.strategyr.com) is a renowned market research publisher the world`s only influencer driven market research company. Proudly serving more than 42,000 clients from 36 countries, GIA is recognized for accurate forecasting of markets and industries for over 33 years. CONTACTS: Zak Ali Director, Corporate Communications Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Phone: 1-408-528-9966 www.StrategyR.com Email: ZA@StrategyR.com LINKS Join Our Expert Panel https://www.strategyr.com/Panelist.asp Connect With Us on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-industry-analysts-inc./ Follow Us on Twitter https://twitter.com/marketbytes Journalists & Media Info411@strategyr.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/with-market-size-valued-at-3-2-billion-by-2026--its-a-healthy-outlook-for-the-global-optical-sensors-market-301574786.html SOURCE Global Industry Analysts, Inc. Brazil will continue creating influence on the global marketplace profiting from the results the nation achieved from its participation at the recently concluded Expo 2020 Dubai. About 1,030 Brazilian companies that became part of their pavilion at the Expo, secured business deals of $648 million during the event and are expecting additional deals worth $3.4 billion in the next 12 months in food, cosmetics, furniture, aerospace, leather, oil and gas sectors, according to an official statement. The Brazil pavilion, being positioned among the five most visited pavilions of the Expo 2020, hosted 2.1 million visitors with an average of 11,700 visitors daily during the six-month-long event. We are determined to enhance the impact of the results created at the Expo Dubai with excellent opportunities for Expo 2025 Osaka-Kansai, said Elias Martins Filho, Commissioner General of Brazil Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai. Interactive experience The pavilion conducted 20 educational, cultural, and gastronomy exhibitions including 270 music shows, 460 dance performances, six cooking shows, 32 partner presentations, and 12 cultural and gastronomic exchanges with other pavilions offering visitors interactive experiences, he added. The pavilion presented 150 business agendas, signing six Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) with the participation of 805 business leaders, out of which 59 percent were from Brazil and the rest from other 39 countries. The Brazil Investment Forum held in Dubai by APEAX-Basil is expecting more than $1 billion worth of investments in several projects of global relevance, Filho further said. The Expo participation, spearheaded by the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (Apex-Brasil), has been a full-spectrum affair for Brazil for half a year marked by the visit of the Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, senior ministers, business and trade delegates and other high-level dignitaries. Hub of innovation During the Presidential visit, Brazil also conferred the countrys highest honour, the National Order of the Southern Cross on HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Filho said: Being a hub for innovation and sustainability for all six months of its stay at the Expo in Dubai, our pavilion created an innovative, immersive, and unforgettable experience for the world with every aspect of the Brazilian life. Expo 2020, being an incredible opportunity for the exchange of cultures from all over the world, the Brazil pavilion showcased the world a myriad of possibilities that a platform like Expo could offer. During the expo, the Brazil Pavilion also celebrated the achievement of being chosen as a country which houses three of the seven world wonders and nature attractions the Iguacu waterfalls, the Amazon, and Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro, built in 1931. New7Wonders, the organisation that leads the selection of the new seven wonders of the world and nature also unveiled Wonder Markers at the Brazil pavilion.-- TradeArabia News Service Melissa Mayer, director of Regional Services, Maryhaven The monster, fentanyl, struck again. Two bright, young Ohio State University students appear to have joined the heart-breaking list of Ohioans who died by accidental overdose. Although the investigation is uncomplete, it appears that someone laced Adderall, a drug intended to treat attention deficit disorder, with the synthetic opioid fentanyl a drug up to 100 times stronger than morphine. It may be that these students took Adderall to increase their ability to focus when studying. Whatever the cause, in less than a few hours, the fentanyl hidden in that drug took the lives of a pre-med student and a computer science major who would have no doubt been a great part of our collective future. Maryhaven Chief Operating Officer Adam Rowan recently spoke out about fentanyl in an op-ed written to support Ohio Senate Bill 296. Adam rightly pointed out that we can save lives by putting more Narcan kits on the street (medication that revives people from overdose) and giving more people test strips that alert users to the presence of fentanyl. Maryhaven leadership advocated for this legislation, in part, because our Columbus-based team resuscitates someone dying of overdose in our lobby monthly. Our experience tracks with national trends. Fentanyl contributed or caused more than eight of 10 overdose deaths in 2020. Make no mistake. Fentanyl is not just a big city drug problem, nor is it just about people who are addicted to drugs. It has infiltrated our community and communities all across the state. The Ohio Department of Health tells us that, for the last 15 years, unintentional drug poisoning surpassed motor vehicle crashes as the leading cause of injury death. And, Ohio experienced more unintentional drug overdose deaths in 2020 than ever before. No one who tries a drug even just one time is safe from the lethality of narcotic originally created in a laboratory for severe pain management. Anything you dont personally pick up from your pharmacy could kill you. Thats why I hope you will join me and others, set aside judgment and criticism, and encourage everyone we know to be safe. Story continues We should not hesitate to tell people that there is no such thing as a single, harmless drug use. The Ohio State University Office of Student Life sent this message to everyone on campus on after the students were found: While we strongly discourage any kind of drug misuse, if you, or someone you know, may choose to experiment with drugs be aware of the possibility of unexpected contaminates or how drugs may unsafely interact with alcohol. Contaminated drugs can result in a severe and unexpected reaction, including death, from only one use. Similarly, Jeff Klinger, CEO of the Central Ohio Hospital Council warned: Our emergency rooms are seeing more individuals (who) did not realize they were taking anything contaminated with fentanyl " A former Maryhaven client, Jeremy, stared down the wrong end of overdose by unknowingly using fentanyl. Jeremy now embraces recovery but he sadly shares that It seems like we bury a friend in recovery every week from overdose. As the regional director for Maryhaven, as a clinician and as a mom, I understand the human tendency to suspend our better judgment. We can tell ourselves nothing bad will happen if we try something just once. But the invisible can yield unexpected life-altering consequences. Lets get more fentanyl test strips and Narcan in the community and lets talk with our loved ones about what they cannot see. Melissa Meyer, MS, LPCC-S, is director of Regional Services for Maryhaven, Central Ohios largest and most comprehensive behavioral health services provider specializing in addiction recovery. This article originally appeared on Marion Star: Meyer: Fentanyl, one-time use myths and the need for Narcan kits BabyCozy BabyCozy hopes to extend parents' love to babies. Source: BabyCozy BabyCozy hopes to extend parents' love to babies. Source: BabyCozy BabyCozy's Bouncy Soft diaper. Source: BabyCozy BabyCozy's Bouncy Soft diaper. Source: BabyCozy NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Major mom care brand Momcozy has announced the launch of BabyCozy, as a sub-brand dedicated to creating high-quality products for babies. Coinciding with its launch, BabyCozy will launch its initial product, Bouncy Soft diapers. Made with premium soft and absorbent materials, the diapers are billed to be possibly the most comfortable on the market. Who is BabyCozy? As Momcozy has built its brand on helping moms, BabyCozy was created to extend parents love to babies through quality and caring products. Through thoughtful design, premium materials, and the highest quality standards, BabyCozys goal is to make parents jobs easier by bringing coziness and joy to their little ones. Bouncy Soft diapers crafted with care for babies comfort and health Made with premium materials and an eye for detail, BabyCozys Bouncy Soft diapers are already being lauded by some as the softest on the market, according to customers who have had early access to the diapers. Before even putting the diapers on their babies, parents would be happy to know that Bouncy Soft diapers are chlorine, fragrance, parabens, and phthalate free, keeping babies' skin safe. The top sheet's ultra-soft embossed cocoon bump design reduces skin contact by 45% for less friction and irritation. Made with 0.8D nonwoven microfiber (the finest on the market), the bottom layer is velvety soft to the touch and remarkably gentle on babies skin. The layers base film contains over 20,000 micropores to help babies skin breathe, further ensuring a comfortable wearing experience. BabyCozys commitment to softness does not come at the cost of performance. The FSC-certified plant-based pulp and polymer core effectively locks in urine and keeps babies dry for up to 12 hours, while minimizing the risk of lumping or faulting. Story continues The details also matter Bouncy Soft diapers leak guards feature a longer and wider design, offering greater leak protection so parents dont have to worry about the mess. In terms of fit, the diapers super wide waistband is secure yet unrestricted, so diapers can be snug without sacrificing the babys comfort. What are parents saying? One reviewer on BabyCozy's page said, "Upon opening the diapers I was amazed by how soft they were," while another raved that the diapers were "super soft and absorbent!" Reviewers also praised the diapers all-around performance, with another commenter stating that "they keep (my son) dry, hold really well without leaking, are super soft, and have no funny scents." Helping parents express their love As stated on BabyCozys website, Nothing compares to the love a parent has for their child. We want to help parents express that love while making their lives easier. We believe that one way for a baby to feel loved is to ensure their sense of comfort and security. This is why softness and absorption were the top priority when we created our diapers. BabyCozy Bouncy Soft diapers will be available July 5th on Amazon and BabyCozy.com. Photos accompanying this announcement are available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/eff96756-9d3f-40c8-b251-99a691e713d2 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/6535ac58-d276-4e41-8ea0-6824f76f544e CONTACT: Contact: jonathan.delamarter@ispiderpr.com The MULTISHAPE offers a simplified, personalized and premium grooming experience for frequent travelers. NEWARK, N.J., June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Panasonic launched the MULTISHAPE Modular Personal Care System, the first integrated grooming system on the market. The MULTISHAPE is a perfect grooming solution for frequent travelers whether it be for business or pleasure as they can customize it to fit their individual grooming preferences, allowing them to maintain or refresh their grooming routines, at anytime and anyplace, without compromise. Panasonic also announced the launch of a new, dedicated e-commerce site PanasonicMultiShape.com where consumers can purchase the grooming system. Panasonic MULTISHAPE Grooming System Featuring one of two rechargeable battery "main unit" handles and a premium selection of five attachments to purchase from as needed, the MULTISHAPE allows users to execute a streamlined, daily personal care routine with just one device. All users need to do is simply attach one of the five heads to the main unit. As a result, the MULTISHAPE is a cost-effective, sustainable solution as users will no longer need to purchase, charge or store multiple grooming tools. Customizable and Pre-Built Kits for a Tailored Grooming Experience Users will be able to select from the following five attachments and two main units to create their own custom kit: Beard/Hair Trimmer Head : Includes an adjustment dial with 39 length settings and two comb attachments to achieve 1-10mm or 11-20mm lengths. Beard/Hair/Body Trimmer Head : Includes an adjustment dial with 58 length settings, three comb attachments ranging from 1-30mm, and one dedicated body attachment for precise and gentle trimming as close as 0.5mm of sensitive areas like the underarms. 3 - Blade Shaver Head : To reduce the number of strokes required for a close shave, the individual Floating Blades move independently in three directions and gently follow the contours of the face and neck. The blades are positioned at 30 degrees and can groom away even the thickest stubble from the root, so users remain stubble free for up to eight hours. They won't blunt or cause skin irritation either. Finally, round-shaped outer foils fit uniformly against the skin, even under the chin for a close shave over the entire surface. Nose/Ear/Facial Trimmer Head : Designed with an advanced, double-edged cutting blade, users can efficiently trim away pesky nose and ear hair from all directions without any pulling. As users are trimming, a vacuum function suctions away hair so there's no scattering of cut hair in and around the ear or nose, making post-trim cleanup easier. Electric Toothbrush Head : Utilizing Sonic Vibration Technology to achieve a deep clean, the brush has a unique shape with tufts of flat, extra-fine bristles on both edges and in the middle of the brush to effectively and thoroughly clean the surface of and in between teeth. Li-ion Battery Main Unit : Operates up to 90 minutes* 1 on a one-hour charge and has an anti-slip coating for a firm grip. Ni-MH Battery Main Unit: Operates up to 50 minutes*1 on a one-hour charge. Designed with a matte coating for a firm grip. *1 Based on dry usage at 68-86 Fahrenheit; Average operating time when using the ER-CTN1 (Beard /Hair Trimmer). Story continues The blades on all the trimmer and shaver heads utilize durable Japanese stainless-steel blades that are designed to provide years of gentle and precise shaves. All heads and main units are designed for wet or dry use. In addition to a customizable kit, four pre-built starter kits are available for purchase: two versions of a Beard/Hair Trimmer Kit, which include the Beard/Hair Trimmer Head and one of the two main units, and two versions of a Beard/Hair/Body Trimmer Kit, which includes the Beard/Hair/Body Trimmer Head and one of the two main units. On-the-Go Grooming Solution Perfect for an on-the-go lifestyle and for traveling, the MULTISHAPE's light, compact design and detachable heads makes packing and storage effortless. The 3-Blade Shaver Head, Nose/Ear/Facial Trimmer Head, Electric Toothbrush Head and main unit all come with a protective cap to keep them clean. Both the customized and starter kits come with a travel pouch to keep all the modules organized together. Less Waste. More Style. As consumer styles and grooming preferences evolve, many of the multi-devices on the market are unable to meet individual needs or include attachments that aren't needed by the consumer. Sustainability is at the heart of the MULTISHAPE system since users only choose the attachments needed for their individual style, resulting in less waste. MULTISHAPE users can always add to their personal system in the future as their grooming routines change over time. The Panasonic MULTISHAPE will be available on PanasonicMultiShape.com for $120-$175, dependent on components, in August 2022. About Panasonic Corporation of North America Newark, NJ-based Panasonic Corporation of North America is a leading provider of Consumer Lifestyle technologies, as well as innovative Smart Mobility, Sustainable Energy, Immersive Experiences, and Integrated Supply Chain solutions. The company is the principal North American subsidiary of Osaka, Japan-based Panasonic Holdings Corporation. One of Interbrand's Top 100 Best Global Brands of 2021, Panasonic is a leading technology partner and integrator to businesses, government agencies and consumers across the region. Learn more about Panasonic's ideas and innovations at na.panasonic.com/us Panasonic North America Social Handles: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/panasonic Twitter: https://twitter.com/PanasonicNA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Panasonic LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/panasonic-northamerica YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/panasonicusa Panasonic Logo Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/panasonic-launches-the-multishape-the-first-ever-integrated-grooming-system-301574712.html SOURCE Panasonic Corporation of North America ReportLinker Piezoelectric Tiles Market Research Report by Material (Hard Ceramics and Soft Ceramics), Application, Region (Americas, Asia-Pacific, and Europe, Middle East & Africa) - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19 New York, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Piezoelectric Tiles Market Research Report by Material, Application, Region - Global Forecast to 2027 - Cumulative Impact of COVID-19" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06287009/?utm_source=GNW The Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market size was estimated at USD 28.93 billion in 2021 and expected to reach USD 30.68 billion in 2022, and is projected to grow at a CAGR 6.32% to reach USD 41.80 billion 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 Piezoelectric Tiles to forecast the revenues and analyze the trends in each of the following sub-markets: Based on Material, the market was studied across Hard Ceramics and Soft Ceramics. Based on Application, the market was studied across Commercial, Industrial, and Residential. 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 Piezoelectric Tiles 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 Piezoelectric Tiles 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 Piezoelectric Tiles Market, including APC International, Ltd., Argo Technology Co., Ltd., Beijing Oksultrasonic Group Co., Ltd, Boston Piezo-Optics Inc., CeramTec GmbH, CTS Corporation, Johnson Matthey Piezo Products, Mad City Labs, Inc., Ningbo Best Group Co., Ltd., Omega Piezo Technologies, Inc., Pavegen, Physik Instrumente (PI) GmbH & Co. KG, PI Ceramic GmbH, Piezo Direct, Piezo Solutions, Piezo Technologies, Sensor Technology Ltd., Smart Material Corp., Sparkler Ceramics, and SPK Electronics Co., Ltd.. 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 Piezoelectric Tiles Market? 2. What are the inhibiting factors and impact of COVID-19 shaping the Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market during the forecast period? 3. Which are the products/segments/applications/areas to invest in over the forecast period in the Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market? 4. What is the competitive strategic window for opportunities in the Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market? 5. What are the technology trends and regulatory frameworks in the Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market? 6. What is the market share of the leading vendors in the Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market? 7. What modes and strategic moves are considered suitable for entering the Global Piezoelectric Tiles Market? Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06287009/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 Prime Minister announces additional sanctions in support of Ukraine Prime Minister announces additional sanctions in support of Ukraine Canada NewsWire ELMAU, Germany, June 27, 2022 ELMAU, Germany, June 27, 2022 /CNW/ - Canada is committed to standing in unity to support the government and people of Ukraine in their fight for a peaceful, prosperous, and democratic future. We will continue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with Ukraine as it seeks to defend itself from Russian aggression. The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today announced that Canada will be imposing additional sanctions under the Special Economic Measures (Russia) Regulations, Special Economic Measures (Belarus) Regulations, and the Special Economic Measures (Ukraine) Regulations. These new actions, which build on the Government of Canada's already extensive sanctions regime, include: Imposing restrictions on six individuals and 46 entities linked to the Russian defence sectors, Sanctioning 15 Ukrainian individuals supporting the Russian occupation of Ukraine, and Sanctioning 13 government and defence individuals and two entities in Belarus. The Prime Minister also announced Canada's intention to introduce sanctions against state-sponsored disinformation and propaganda agents and entities controlled by senior Russian government officials, to counter the Kremlin's disinformation, which it has used to attempt to excuse its unjustifiable and unprovoked war in Ukraine Canada will also take additional and immediate measures to ban the export of certain advanced technologies that could improve Russia's domestic defence manufacturing capability, including quantum computers and advanced manufacturing equipment, associated components, materials, software, and technology. Canada has also banned the export of advanced technologies and goods that could be used in the manufacturing of weapons to Belarus, as well as the import and export of a broad range of luxury goods between Canada and Belarus. Story continues Finally, in coordination with the United States, United Kingdom, and Japan, the Prime Minister announced Canada's intent to impose a ban on the import of certain gold goods from Russia, shutting the commodity out of formal international markets and further isolating Russia from the international financial system. Quote "Canada is unwavering in the belief that Ukrainians deserve to live in peace. Vladimir Putin and his regime have caused untold pain and suffering in Ukraine and across the world. Together, with our G7 counterparts, Canada is stepping up our continuous and coordinated pressure to bring about the end of Vladimir Putin's war of choice." The Rt. Hon. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada Quick Facts Since Russia's illegal occupation and attempted annexation of Crimea in 2014, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,500 individuals and entities. Many of these sanctions have been undertaken in coordination with Canada's allies and partners. Since Russia's further invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Canada has imposed sanctions on more than 1,070 individuals and entities from and in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Associated Links This document is also available at https://pm.gc.ca SOURCE Prime Minister's Office NEW YORK, June 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the latest market research study published by P&S Intelligence, in 2021, the total revenue of the radiation-hardened electronics market was $1,539.1 million, which will reach $2,104.2 million by 2030, progressing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.5%. The extensive requirement for radiationhardened components for medical devices, aircraft, and nuclear power plants is propelling the growth of the industry. P&S Intelligence Logo The third-largest share in 2021 was held by APAC, and it will grow the fastest during 20212030. This is a result of the increasing focus of South Korea, India, and numerous other emerging economies on sufficing their increasing power requirement with the help of nuclear power plants. As stated by a government source, India produced about 6,700 MW of nuclear energy and a total of 755 billion units of electricity and reduced carbon emissions by about 600 million tons in the year 2021. Get the sample pages of this report at: https://www.psmarketresearch.com/market-analysis/radiation-hardened-electronics-market/report-sample The larger share in the radiation-hardened electronics market, in excess of 60%, is held by COTS variants, credited to their higher bandwidths. Furthermore, the development of the private spaceflight field is mainly pushed by open-system architectures, commercial design approaches, and COTS electronic technologies. Moreover, in the healthcare sector, companies are obtaining COTS products as an alternative to designing tailored solutions. The share of the RHBD manufacturing technique is the largest in the market, as it brings together numerous concepts, such as layout solutions and component configuration. This method allows for the reconfiguration of circuit operations for preventing cell failure in missions and helps in the improvement of reliability in severe environments. Furthermore, the major uses of radioactive materials are seeing the integration of electronic components made with the RHBD method. Story continues Regional Analysis of Radiation-Hardened Electronics Market North America's radiationhardened electronics market size is the largest because of the rise in the use of progressive technologies and contraction of components. This will expand the usage of radiation-hardened electronics for developing advanced healthcare, nuclear power, and space exploration solutions. Europe will grow at a stable pace in the market because of the heavy funding by the governments in the region for the development of enhanced space systems. APAC is also marking its presence in the global market, with new players and governments developing new space systems and investing in innovative radiation-hardened components for nuclear power plants and the medical sector, for prolonged life and increased reliability. Browse detailed report on Global Radiation Hardened Electronics Market Analysis and Demand Forecast Report 2022-2030 The significance of radiation-hardened electronics in space applications gives a strong push to the radiation-hardened electronics market; thus, this category will grow the fastest during 20212030. This will mostly be due to the growing worldwide ISR operations impelling stalwarts to offer sturdier components for spacecraft. Moreover, because of the rising number of internet users worldwide, the growing data volume is making the satellite spectrum crowded. For example, there were more than 5 billion internet users worldwide in 2021. Radiation-Hardened Electronics Market Segmentation Analysis By Component Mixed-Signal ICs Processors & Controllers Power Management Memory Sensors Field-Programmable Gate Arrays Application-Specific ICs By Manufacturing Technique Radiation-Hardening by Design Radiation-Hardening by Process Radiation-Hardening by Software By Product Type Commercial Off-the-Shelf Customized By Application Space Aerospace and Defense Nuclear Power Plants Regional Outlook North America Europe Asia-Pacific Rest of the World Browse More Related Reports Gallium Nitride Semiconductor Devices Market - Global Industry Growth and Demand Forecast Report 2030 Medical Radiation Detection, Monitoring & Safety Market - Global Industry Growth and Demand 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: enquiry@psmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.psmarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn Twitter Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1224988/P_and_S_Intelligence_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/radiation-hardened-electronics-market-to-surpass-2-104-2-million-revenue-by-2030--says-ps-intelligence-301575475.html SOURCE P&S Intelligence More than 180,000 meals will be provided from this partnership ALEXANDRIA, Va., June 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- On Monday, June 27th, more than 28 palettes of food will leave a Convoy of Hope warehouse in Missouri and begin a journey of hope a journey more than 5,500 miles long. The food, purchased through a $1 million donation from The Salvation Army, will relieve some of the significant food insecurity that has come about since the start of the Ukrainian crisis in February. (PRNewsfoto/The Salvation Army) The Salvation Army's long-standing presence in Ukraine began in 1993, meaning The Salvation Army was already part of the Ukrainian and neighboring communities in which they serve before the crisis began. Because of this, they were on the ground and able to respond immediately. Convoy of Hope's International Disaster Services team also immediately deployed to Poland in February and began working with Polish, Ukrainian, and Romanian partners to set up a supply chain network to send relief supplies into Ukraine. That network, partnered with The Salvation Army's community investment, was a perfect match. Where it has been safe to serve, The Salvation Army has pivoted programs to provide food, water, clothes, blankets, and emotional and spiritual care to those being displaced from their homes and who seek refuge - providing more than 25,000 refugees with food and shelter. "The Salvation Army has continued to house, feed, and provide hygiene supplies and other basic life necessities, as well as medical assistance and spiritual guidance to many of the millions of refugees fleeing Ukraine," said Commissioner Kenneth Hodder, National Commander for The Salvation Army. Sometimes this assistance has come in the form of a hot meal, clothing, bedding, a toothbrush and toothpaste and sometimes that assistance has come in the form of access to Wi-Fi or a phone, or especially a shoulder to lean on. Additionally, Convoy of Hope has worked with local organizations in Poland to provide hot meals for refugees coming across the border, as Poland has received the largest number of Ukrainian refugees. A warehouse was acquired in Lublin, Poland, with product being sourced locally, donated across Europe, and shipped from the United States via donated air freight and containers. Story continues "The Salvation Army has such an incredible history of meeting the needs of people," said Convoy of Hope President Hal Donaldson. "This generous donation will continue to do that, affecting the lives of Ukrainians in a powerful way and helping Convoy of Hope continue its long-term response to this conflict." Perhaps the biggest area of need continues to be food insecurity across the region as more than 10 million people have been displaced since this crisis began. "This partnership between The Salvation Army World Service Office and Convoy of Hope means that more than $800,000 in food is making its way to the region quickly and efficiently to help those most impacted by this crisis," Commissioner Hodder added. "More than 180,000 people will be provided with meals and The Salvation Army is beyond grateful to Convoy of Hope for joining with us in this service." About The Salvation Army USA The Salvation Army annually helps more than 25 million Americans overcome poverty, addiction, and economic hardships through a range of social services. By providing food for the hungry, emergency relief for disaster survivors, rehabilitation for those suffering from drug and alcohol abuse, and clothing and shelter for people in need, The Salvation Army is Doing The Most Good at 7,200 centers of operation around the country. In 2021, The Salvation Army was ranked No. 2 on the list of "America's Favorite Charities" by The Chronicle of Philanthropy. For more information, visit SalvationArmyUSA.org. Follow us on Twitter @SalvationArmyUS and #DoingTheMostGood. About Convoy of Hope Convoy of Hope is a faith-based organization with a driving passion to feed the world. With a long history as an early responder in times of natural disasters, Convoy of Hope has been a Four Star Charity as recognized by Charity Navigator every year since 2002. Convoy of Hope has served more than 193 million people since it was founded in 1994. For more information, please visit convoyofhope.org. Contact: Salvation Army Media Relations MediaRelations@SalvationArmyUSA.org Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-salvation-army-and-convoy-of-hope-partner-together-to-meet-the-needs-of-ukrainian-refugees-301575414.html SOURCE The Salvation Army Vast Resources PLC Vast Resources plc / Ticker: VAST / Index: AIM / Sector: Mining 27 June 2022 Vast Resources plc (Vast or the Company) Second Milling Circuit Completed at Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine Vast Resources plc, the AIM-listed mining company, is pleased to announce that the second milling circuit in the processing plant at the Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine (Baita Plai) has been completed six weeks ahead of schedule. The second milling circuit further optimises the operations at Baita Plai and doubles milling capacity at the plant. With two milling circuits fully functioning the two mills combined are capable of processing 14,000 tonnes per month. Andrew Prelea, Chief Executive Officer of Vast Resources PLC, commented: Our mining volumes are steadily increasing, and are expected to increase dramatically with the implementation and ramp up of long hole stope mining commencing from next month. The commissioning of this second milling circuit achieved six weeks ahead of schedule will support increased concentrate production moving forward. Our operations at Baita Plai are ramping up encouragingly and I am confident that this will be reflected in our future production and sales reports. Market Abuse Regulation (MAR) Disclosure Certain information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 as it forms part of UK Domestic Law by virtue of the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 (UK MAR) until the release of this announcement. **ENDS** For further information, visit www.vastplc.com or please contact: Vast Resources plc Andrew Prelea (CEO) Andrew Hall (CCO) www.vastplc.com +44 (0) 20 7846 0974 Beaumont Cornish Financial & Nominated Advisor Roland Cornish James Biddle www.beaumontcornish.com +44 (0) 20 7628 3396 Shore Capital Stockbrokers Limited Joint Broker Toby Gibbs / James Thomas (Corporate Advisory) www.shorecapmarkets.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7408 4050 Axis Capital Markets Limited Joint Broker Kamran Hussain www.axcap247.com +44 (0) 20 3206 0320 St Brides Partners Limited Susie Geliher / Charlotte Page www.stbridespartners.co.uk +44 (0) 20 7236 1177 ABOUT VAST RESOURCES PLC Vast Resources plc is a United Kingdom AIM listed mining company with mines, development projects and mining interests in Romania, Tajikistan and Zimbabwe. Story continues In Romania, the Company is focused on the rapid advancement of high-quality projects by recommencing production at previously producing mines. The Company's Romanian portfolio includes 100% interest in the producing Baita Plai Polymetallic Mine, located in the Apuseni Mountains, Transylvania, an area which hosts Romania's largest polymetallic mines. The mine has a JORC compliant Reserve & Resource Report which underpins the initial mine production life of approximately 3-4 years with an in-situ total mineral resource of 15,695 tonnes copper equivalent with a further 1.8M-3M tonnes exploration target. The Company is now working on confirming an enlarged exploration target of up to 5.8M tonnes. The Company also owns the Manaila Polymetallic Mine in Romania, which the Company is looking to bring back into production following a period of care and maintenance. The Company has also been granted the Manaila Carlibaba Extended Exploitation Licence that will allow the Company to re-examine the exploitation of the mineral resources within the larger Manaila Carlibaba licence area. Vast has an interest in a joint venture company which provides exposure to a near term revenue opportunity from the Takob Mine processing facility in Tajikistan. The Takob Mine opportunity, which is 100% financed, will provide Vast with a 12.25 percent royalty over all sales of non-ferrous concentrate and any other metals produced. Processing of stockpiled ore on site is expected to commence in mid-2022. In Zimbabwe, the Company is focused on the commencement of the joint venture mining agreement on the Community Diamond Concession, Chiadzwa, in the Marange Diamond Fields. GLOSSARY Dry Metric Tonnes Refers to the tonnage minus humidity to determine sales price Grade The relative quantity or percentage of ore mineral content in an orebody. Ore The naturally occurring material from which a mineral(s) can be extracted at a reasonable profit. Orebody A continuous well-defined mass of material to sufficient ore content to make extraction economically feasible. Skarn Lime-bearing siliceous rock produced by the metamorphic alteration of limestone or dolomite Wet Metric Tonnes Usually quoted in terms of production for shipping terms The tiny impoverished South American nation of Ecuador is battling to revive its flagging oil industry. The Andean country was floated as a solution for reduced U.S. oil supply because of President Joe Bidens decision to ban Russian oil imports in wake of President Vladimir Putins decision to invade Ukraine. While oil majors such as Shell as well as refiners Valero and Marathon, during March 2022, were sourcing Ecuadorean petroleum the impoverished South American country is incapable of filling the supply gap left by the removal of Russian oil. Ecuador, which has proven reserves of over 8 million barrels and was once an OPEC member, keeps experiencing major setbacks that are sharply impacting its petroleum industry. Even President Guillermo Lassos commitment to doubling the oil-rich Andean countrys production to 1 million barrels by 2025 and earlier reforms undertaken by his predecessor has done little to boost output. The latest protests by indigenous communities, sparked by rising fuel prices and a sharp increase in the cost of living, have escalated forcing the national government in Quito to implement a state of emergency. Those events, which have seen protestors storm oilfields in Ecuadors Amazon, forced state-owned oil company Petroecuador to declare force majeure across its operations. That will have a sharp impact on oil output for a country that is seeking to drive a post-pandemic economic recovery by boosting oil industry operations and production. The latest developments indicate that Ecuador will not achieve its forecast 2022 petroleum production target of 580,000 barrels per day, a nearly 22% increase over the 477,3000 barrels per day pumped for 2021. If anything, the latest production numbers and events demonstrate that earlier industry reforms, aimed at attracting greater investment to boost production, and Lassos commitment to expanding Ecuadors oil output are failing. For May 2022, Ecuador pumped an average of 456,000 barrels per day which was nearly double the 246,000 barrels per day extracted a month earlier but was 9% less than for the same period a year earlier. Story continues Source: Ecuador Agency for Control and Regulation of Energy and Non-renewable Resources, U.S. EIA. Production outages caused by failing infrastructure remain an ever-present hazard and were responsible for the marked dips in the output shown by the graph. The sharp production decline during April 2020 can be attributed to the shuttering of the Trans-Ecuadorian Oil Pipeline System (SOTE) and the Heavy Crude Oil Pipeline (OCP) which ruptured spilling nearly 16,000 barrels. During that event crude oil entered the Coca River threatening local water supplies and fishing, petroleum even eventually flowed into the Napo River a tributary of the Amazon. There were additional production outages when the SOTE and OCP pipelines were shuttered because of land subsidence in December 2021. The SOTE pipeline eventually ruptured but no oil spilled because it was empty after operations were suspended. Then in late-January 2022 landslides caused the OCP pipeline to rupture causing it to spill 6,800 barrels of crude oil into the surrounding environment, including the Coca River. That has once again caused considerable environmental damage and angered local communities. Land subsidence leading to outages and ruptures to the SOTE and OCP pipelines remains a constant threat that can lead to a sharp decline in Ecuadors oil production. Both pipelines crucially connect the Andean countrys oilfields in the Amazon Basin, where most upstream operations are located, to the Pacific port city of Esmeraldas. When the SOTE and OCP are out of service, because of maintenance or ruptures, drillers are forced to suspend operations, thereby sharply impacting Ecuadors oil output. This will remain an ever-present operational threat until the land subsidence issues in the region surrounding the Coca River are resolved. Those recent pipeline ruptures and oil spills are also causing community dissent against Ecuadors oil industry, especially in the Amazon, to accelerate leading to a rapidly disintegrating social license. This has come to the fore with the current protests sweeping Ecuador and the capital Quito. Last week indigenous protestors forced (Spanish) the Chinese government-owned PetroOriental, which operates blocks 14 and 17 in the Orellana Province in the Amazon taking 1,400 barrels per day of production offline. PetroOriental was the subject of an earlier lawsuit brought by the Indigenous Waorani from Ecuadors Amazon who alleged that the company was contaminating ancestral lands through the practice of flaring. After a court in the Amazonian province, Orellana ruled in favor of PetroOriental the plaintiffs vowed to appeal the decision. Related: India's Top Refiner Sees Oil Staying Above $100 This Year Attempts by protestors to enter the Petroecuador-operated Limoncocha oilfield in Block 15, which also impacted Block 61, forced Ecuadors national oil company to shutter operations, reducing production by a total of 1,500 barrels per day. The protests are intensifying with roadblocks, oilfield invasions, and other anti-government actions expected to weigh heavily on Ecuadors June 2022 crude oil output. According to government data national oil production for 16 June 2022 averaged 458,997 barrels which were 5,732 than for 1 June 2022 when Ecuador pumped 464,729 barrels of crude oil. Petroecuador declared force majeure for its operations on 16 June 2022 bringing oil exports to a halt. The protestors have vowed to continue their actions until a range of demands is met by Lassos administration, including a halt to further mining and oil projects. Such events indicate that Ecuadors oil production from that date will fall even further, potentially to the lows witnessed when the SOTE and OCP pipelines were shuttered. The industry fallout from the protests in Ecuador and the petroleum industrys rapidly disintegrating social license is further complicated by a February 2022 Constitutional Court ruling. The Andean countrys most powerful tribunals finding awarded indigenous communities final decision over oil and mining projects that affect their ancestral lands which cover up to 70% of Ecuadors oil-rich Amazon. For these reasons, Lassos plan to ramp up Ecuadors oil output to 1 million barrels per day is unachievable. Since June 2021, average monthly oil production, which has been less than 500,000 barrels per day, has been steadily declining only averaging 456,000 barrels daily for May 2022, or 9% less than a year earlier. A combination of oilfield invasions, road blockades, and other protests will cause further production declines over the short term. The recent Constitutional Court decision which gives indigenous communities the ability to veto oil projects impacting their lands, which lie in Ecuadors Amazon the countrys most oil-rich region, further weighs on the ability to expand petroleum industry operations. Those factors along with a history of heavy-handed state intervention in extractive industries are weighing heavily on Ecuadors appeal to foreign energy companies. It is for these reasons that foreign oil companies will continue to view Ecuador as a high-risk jurisdiction thereby deterring further urgently required petroleum investment. By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Read this article on OilPrice.com The US Supreme Courts reversal of constitutional protections for the right to an abortion has raised fears among civil rights groups and LGBT+ advocates that its ruling could lead to challenges against marriage equality and other rights previously defended by the court. A decision to revoke abortion rights from the high courts conservative majority on 24 June puts at risk all the liberty and autonomy rights secured by decades of case law both before and after Roe v Wade , said Jennifer Pizer, the acting chief legal officer with LGBT+ rights group Lambda Legal. The opinion authored by Justice Samuel Alito states that abortion rights are not rooted in the nations history and tradition and not mentioned in the constitution, therefore illegitimate, though he acknowledges that the list is extensive including the right to obtain contraception or marry a person of another race or sex. As LGBT+ advocates warned the nation about the far-reaching consequences of the Supreme Courts decision in its aftermath, Republican officials took to the airwaves on Sunday to justify the landmark ruling, and Democrats urged Congress and President Joe Bidens administration to fortify protections for abortion care. Trigger laws that make abortion illegal, designed to go into effect without Roe protections, were enacted in at least seven states over the weekend. The Republican governors of Arkansas and South Dakota defended their measures banning abortions even in pregnancies from rape or incest across Sunday morning news networks. Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren and US Rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez condemned the high courts decision and suggested there should be consequences. What makes it particularly dangerous is that it sends a blaring signal to all future nominees that they can now lie to duly-elected members of the United States Senate to obtain Supreme Court confirmations, said Ms Ocasio-Cortez, pointing to indications from Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch that they believed Roe was established law in their Senate testimonies. Story continues I believe lying under oath is an impeachable offense, she added. A CBS News/YouGov poll released on Sunday found that Democratic respondents are more likely to participate in the upcoming midterm elections in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling. By comparison, the percentage of Republicans who said the same was 30 points lower. The poll found that 59 per cent of Americans disapprove of the ruling, including 67 per cent of women. Fifty-six per cent of Americans believe it will make womens lives worse. A majority of those who disapprove of the ruling believe the Supreme Court will limit same-sex marriage next. The 1973 decision in Roe v Wade relied on protections granted in the Constitutions 14th Amendment, drafted in the Reconstruction-era aftermath of the US Civil War. The amendment prohibits states from [depriving] any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law granting so-called unenumerated rights central to the nations civil rights. But it is the concurring opinion of Justice Clarence Thomas to the ruling in Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization, the case at the centre of the latest battle for abortion rights, that has raised alarms for LGBT+ rights. Justice Thomas suggested that the court reconsider all of this courts substantive due process precedents including landmark cases involving same-sex marriages, gay sex, and contraception. Because any substantive due process decision is demonstrably erroneous... we have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents, Justice Thomas wrote. The question would remain whether other constitutional provisions guarantee the myriad rights that our substantive due process cases have generated. Those cases include Griswold v Connecticut, which ruled that states had no right to ban contraception; Lawrence v Texas, which struck down laws banning same-sex sex; and Obergefell v Hodges, which ruled that same-sex couples could legally marry. The Dobbs ruling could jeopardize the rights afforded to [LGBT+] people in the landmark Obergefell and Lawrence decisions to love who you love and be who you are without fear of criminalization, according to Amit Paley, executive director of suicide prevention and LGBT+ mental healh organisation The Trevor Project. Sara Kate Ellis with GLAAD, the largest LGBT+ media advocacy organisation, said Justice Thomas writing is a blaring red alert for LGBT+ people. We will never go back to the dark days of being shut out of hospital rooms, left off of death certificates, refused spousal benefits, or any of the other humiliations that took place in the years before Obergefell, she said. And we definitely will not go back to the pre-Lawrence days of being criminalized just because we are [LGBT+]. In their dissenting opinion, liberal Justices Stephen Breyer, Elena Kagan and Sonia argued that the three cases mentioned by Justice Thomas are all part of the same constitutional fabric, protecting autonomous decision making over the most personal of life decisions. So one of two things must be true. Either the majority does not really believe in its own reasoning. Or if it does, all rights that have no history stretching back to the mid-19th century are insecure, the justices wrote. Either the mass of the majoritys opinion is hypocrisy, or additional constitutional rights are under threat. It is one or the other. Justice Alito contended that his opinion should be understood to cast doubt on precedents that do not concern abortion. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham suggested he does not believe the Supreme Court will revoke protections for marriage equality and contraception, telling Fox News on 26 June that he believes Justice Alito set the right tone. He said nothing in this decision puts those cases at risk, he said. The reason he decided that Roe v Wade was wrongly decided is because it deals with the potential for life. He made a distinction between same-sex marriage and contraception, which I think will win the day over time. Lamda Legal said Justice Alitos assurances provide little comfort given the now-obviously-hollow assurances offered in Senate confirmation hearings that abortion rights are settled law. Make no mistake: [the] decision threatens all of these fundamental personal rights, Ms Pizer added. It is an extremist assault on the privacy, self-determination, dignity, and equality of every person in our country. Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the landmark same-sex marriage case that was decided in 2015, said in a statement following the ruling that the millions of loving couples who have the right to marriage equality to form their own families do not need Clarence Thomas imposing his individual twisted morality upon them. If you want to see an error in judgment, Clarence Thomas, look in the mirror, he said. Hong Kong: Students compete in law quiz The grand final of the Inter-School Law Quiz Competition for primary school students was held today, where five teams from different schools tested their knowledge and understanding of the Constitution, the Basic Law, the rule of law and Hong Kong's legal system. The competition was one of the rule of law education events under the Department of Justice's Vision 2030 for Rule of Law initiative, and also one of the celebratory events for the 25th anniversary of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's establishment. A total of 42 teams from 39 primary schools participated in the competition and five teams made it to the grand final. Participants studied the reference materials provided by the department to grasp a better understanding of the rule of law, thereby consolidating their law-abiding awareness. Addressing the event, Secretary for Justice Teresa Cheng praised the students' outstanding performance and expressed her pride and full confidence in the younger generation. She also hoped that all students will put in effort to study and contribute to society with the spirit of the rule of law. Ying Wa Primary School won the competition, while Fuk Wing Street Government Primary School and Yuen Long Public Middle School Alumni Association Tang Ying Yip Primary School came in second and third runner-up. This story has been published on: 2022-06-27. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. AD Ports Group, the leading facilitator of global trade, logistics, and industry in Abu Dhabi, has announced that it will host the 2022 edition of the World Union of Wholesale Markets Conference (WUWM). A major event for the fresh food industry, it will bring together high level public and private sector practitioners and experts from around the world in productive dialogues around major challenges that food systems are facing. Held in the Middle East for the first time, the event will take place at a crucial time, in which the issue of food security rose as a top priority for governments and communities around the world. Major challenges The current situation in Ukraine, staff shortages, border disputes, port congestions, increasing fuel prices, widespread food sourcing issues and the effects of climate change in food production are amid the major challenges facing the global food industry. With the theme Global food security in the XXIs: Risks, challenges and solutions to ensure resilient and sustainable fresh food supply chains WUWM Abu Dhabi 2022 Conference will bring together the major actors of the fresh food system to discuss innovative and effective ways to ensure more resilient and sustainable fresh food supply chains. In the GCC region nearly 80% of domestic food is imported, therefore WUWM Conference will offer an important opportunity to find pathways to strengthen regional resilience and network with key suppliers. Most secure nation Moreover, as part of the national Food Security Strategy, the UAE aims to become the most secure nation in the Global Food Security Index by 2051, with a comprehensive national system to enable sustainable food production using modern technologies and enhanced local production. Following this goal, in February this year, AD Ports Group announced that it had partnered with Ghassan Aboud Group to establish the regions largest multi-category wholesale food trading and logistics marketplace in Kizad. The event, which will take place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec) from October 20 to 22, aspires to make a tangible contribution to find global multistakeholder innovative solutions to facilitate access for all to healthy fresh food and tackle possibilities of food crisis. Saeed Al Bahri Salem Al Ameri - Director General of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) said: As a result of the directives of UAE leadership, and the joint efforts of local and federal government entities, and in partnership and collaboration with the private sector and the community, we have established an integrated food security system. The national strategy for food security represents a working agenda for all of us to ensure the efficiency in food production and achieving agile food supply chains, easing the food trade, supporting technology-enabled food production, and building a food eco system that can deliver safe food and deal with food risks and crises. Sharing expertise We are pleased to host the 2022 edition of WUWM Conference in Abu Dhabi, a platform where leading practitioners can share expertise and work with stakeholders from around the world to address critical challenges faced by the fresh food and agriculture sector today, he added. Captain Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, Managing Director and Group CEO, AD Ports Group added: Building a framework for food security is one of the most important roles that logistics and trade organisations can play, and AD Ports Group is proud to be making a significant contribution to this vital discussion by bringing the World Union of Wholesale Markets Conference to the Middle East for the first time ever. Under the guidance of our nations wise leadership, we are working with key partners to support a productive dialogue on collective responses to food security. In parallel, we are developing sustainable food supply systems and infrastructure that guarantees access to advanced quality control and safety measures, along with sustainable solutions not only for local, but also regional and international production and distribution, leveraging our unique and strategic location as a gateway to 4.5 billion consumers. Stephane Layani, Chairman of the World Union of Wholesale Markets, congratulated the UAE for taking the lead in the Region and welcomed this upcoming conference with great resolution for its outcomes: The whole world is at the gates of a possible severe food crisis. The WUWM Abu Dhabi 2022 Conference represents an opportunity for experts, stakeholders and practitioners of the sector to engage in a productive multi-stakeholder dialogue and make our best to find concrete innovative solutions to build greater fresh food supply chain resiliency in order to ensure food security worldwide in the forthcoming years and decades. Reinventing food architecture Eugenia Carrara, Secretary General of WUWM, said: In the post Covid-19 world we need to reinvent food architecture to succeed the transition of food systems into sustainability and resilience. Our members are working together to ensure safety, affordability, and sustainable access of fresh food for all through modern wholesale markets and more efficient food supply chains. We are pleased to be bringing this event to the Middle East region for the first time, recognising the important steps that nations like the UAE are taking to drive innovation and build resilient supply networks. It is more important than ever that we all work together to ensure food security so that everyone has access to food. Humaid Matar Al Dhaheri, Managing Director and Group CEO of Adnec said: Abu Dhabi hosting the World Wholesale Association Conference for the first time at Adnec reinforces the capitals leading position globally as a destination for business tourism. It embodies the role of the company in supporting many strategic sectors in the country, most notably the food security sector. We are confident that this international event will support our efforts by offering strategic platforms that improve the exchange of knowledge and experiences and create strong partnerships that support the development of this important sector in line with the goals and vision of our wise leadership for the next fifty years. Sustainable food systems WUWM is a non-profit world-leading international organisation of the fresh food sector aiming to promote sustainable food systems, food security and healthy diets. WUWM is a unique platform that gathers the most important fresh food actors of the world aiming to improve the fresh food supply chain structure, organisation and management. With 220 members (wholesale markets, retail fresh food markets and other main stakeholders from the fresh food sector), located in 40 countries and 5 continents, the organisation leads international efforts to ensure food security as well as to facilitate the transition of food systems to sustainability and resilience, ensuring healthy, guaranteed and accessible diets for everyone. WUWM members account for 50% of all the fresh produce (mainly fruits and vegetables) consumed in the world.-- TradeArabia News Service (Updates arrival date of Corcovado Lng, removes Eduard Toll) June 27 (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 30 Peru Dragon 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 Mu Lan 178,000 June 27 (L) N/A Zeebrugge Corcovado Lng 158,000 June 28 United States Zeebrugge Aristarchos 174,000 June 30 United States Zeebrugge Vladimir Vize 172,000 July 3 Russia Zeebrugge Golar Crystal 160,000 July 9 (L) France Zeebrugge Zekreet 137,000 July 11 Qatar Zeebrugge NETHERLANDS Lngc Golar Celsius 160,000 June 23 (A) United States Gate Maran Gas Pericles 174,000 June 28 United States Gate Lng Rosenrot 177,000 July 2 United States Gate Gaslog Westminster 156,000 July 12 Unites 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) Forms a strategic transatlantic technology and solutions partnership for the advanced design, engineering, and manufacturing sectors RICHMOND, Va., June 27, 2022 /CNW/ -- TriMech has acquired Solid Solutions Group, bringing together hundreds of technical specialists from across four countries, and expanding support for design engineers and manufacturers in North America, the UK, and Ireland. The combined company, which has people working in nine time zones, is the most comprehensive provider of software and services for the SOLIDWORKS and Dassault Systemes portfolio across their combined geographies. Both TriMech and Solid Solutions have a long history of delivering exceptional training, consulting, and support services, with a focus on expanding their capabilities to help take their clients businesses to the next level in design, simulation/analysis, process/workflow, and more. Marcel Matte, President and CEO of TriMech, said this move continues TriMech's effort to broaden the technology and business solutions it can deliver to its clients, who work in industries as diverse as automotive to aerospace, and mining to medical devices. "For more than two decades, each company's clients have trusted the advice and support we offer across every stage of the product development process. As we grow, we improve our ability to develop sophisticated, custom solutions that address even more of their challenges. This is one critical way we match up well with Solid Solutions. We both value the partnerships we have with clients who are navigating digital and business transformations." Shaping the industry The combined company, which has people working in nine time zones, is the most comprehensive provider of software and services for the SOLIDWORKS and Dassault Systemes portfolio across their combined geographies. Both TriMech and Solid Solutions have a long history of delivering exceptional training, consulting, and support services, with a focus on expanding their capabilities to help take their clients' businesses to the next level in design, simulation and analysis, process and workflow, documentation, product data and lifecycle management, as well as offerings for the production floor. Matte said both TriMech and Solid Solutions believe strongly in the value of serving as a one-stop technology solutions partner to clients of all sizes, including multinational corporations operating in North America, the UK, and other parts of Europe. Story continues "Our leadership teams have embraced a unique vision that maintains a strong focus on enhancing our core products and services while continually increasing our ability to deliver more for those who need it. Custom, process-specific solutions both within the engineering department and beyond are becoming increasingly important." Growing together with clients Solid Solutions is led by CEO Alan Sampson, who will become President of TriMech's UK and European business. The Solid Solutions management team will remain in place, and the combined company will continue to execute a strategy to expand its portfolio of solutions and services, both organically and through acquisitions. "We continue to evolve and grow in ways that benefit our clients," Sampson explained. "No matter how large, diverse, or complex they become, we want to have the offerings and experts to deliver the results they need for the next chapter in their development. That is why joining TriMech is also exciting for our team, who recognize all the opportunities they'll have to serve our clients in new ways." Solid Solutions' UK and European clients will eventually gain access to TriMech's services, including the ability to outsource engineering and advanced manufacturing projects to TriMech, and to use its dedicated and uniquely qualified recruitment team to quickly fill technical positions on their design and engineering teams where SOLIDWORKS and Dassault Systemes product expertise are critical. TriMech is a portfolio company of Sentinel Capital Partners, a U.S. private equity firm that invests in promising lower midmarket companies with EBITDA of up to $80 million. Solid Solutions joins TriMech following a two-year successful partnership with LDC, a leading UK mid-market private equity firm, during which the business grew organically and through acquisitions to increase its revenues by more than 35%. To support continued growth of the combined company, both TriMech and Solid Solutions are actively recruiting for a range of positions in the US and UK/Ireland. For more information, visit https://trimech.com/expansion-into-uk-with-solid-solutions-acquisition. Find TriMech online at TriMech.com, Solid Solutions at SolidSolutions.co.uk and Sentinel Capital Partners at SentinelPartners.com. About TriMech Founded in 1998 and headquartered in Richmond, VA, TriMech is a leading technology and business solutions partner for designers, engineers, and manufacturers. It works with top software and hardware partners, including Dassault Systemes, CNC Software, Stratasys, and Artec, and its experts provide computer-aided design and engineering software, additive and subtractive manufacturing solutions, and associated training, consulting, implementation, and staff augmentation services for clients across a variety of industries. Its tools support 3D modeling, simulation, virtual replication, and collaboration, as well as data management, configure-price-quote automation, product lifecycle management, and enterprise resource planning. With its acquisition of Solid Solutions, TriMech has grown to have more than 50 locations across four countries the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Ireland serving more than 30,000 clients with over 650 employees, including approximately 270 application engineers. For more information, please visit TriMech.com. About Solid Solutions Founded in 1998, Solid Solutions is the leading SOLIDWORKS provider in the United Kingdom and Ireland. It operates 23 offices, with headquarters in Leamington Spa in central England. With a core mission to support client excellence throughout the design, engineering, and manufacturing industries, its team offers software solutions and related training and consulting and has one of the world's most highly certified SOLIDWORKS support teams. For more information, please visit SolidSolutions.co.uk. Contact: Angie Droz 865.934.5304 Angie.Droz@TriMech.com TriMech 4991 Lake Brook Drive, Suite 300 Glen Allen, VA 23060 877.553.9001 - www.TriMech.com TriMech has acquired Solid Solutions Group, bringing together hundreds of technical specialists from across four countries, and expanding support for design engineers and manufacturers in North America, the UK, and Ireland. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/trimech-and-solid-solutions-unite-301575146.html SOURCE TriMech Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/June2022/27/c1291.html By Blake Brittain WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear Apple Inc's bid to revive an effort to cancel two Qualcomm Inc smartphone patents despite the global settlement of the underlying dispute between the two tech giants. The justices turned away Apple's appeal of a lower court's ruling that the Cupertino, California-based company lacked standing to pursue the matter because of the settlement. Apple had argued that it should be allowed to appeal because San Diego-based Qualcomm could sue again after the settlement ends. Qualcomm sued Apple in San Diego federal court in 2017, arguing that its iPhones, iPads and Apple Watches infringed a variety of Qualcomm mobile-technology patents. That case was one element of a broader dispute between the rivals. Apple challenged the validity of the two patents at issue at the Patent and Trademark Office's Patent Trial and Appeal Board. The parties settled their litigation in 2019, signing an agreement worth billions of dollars that allowed Apple to continue using Qualcomm chips in iPhones. The settlement also featured a license to tens of thousands of Qualcomm patents, including the two at issue, but allowed the patent board case to continue. The board ruled in favor of Qualcomm. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which specializes in patent law, dismissed Apple's appeal last year based on the settlement. The Federal Circuit rejected Apple's contention that its royalty payments and risk of being sued again justified hearing the case on the merits. Apple told the Supreme Court that it still faced the risk of litigation after the agreement expires in 2025, or in 2027 if the settlement term is extended. Qualcomm already sued once, has "not disclaimed its intention to do so again," and has a "history of aggressively enforcing its patents," Apple said. Qualcomm asked the justices to reject the appeal, arguing Apple had not shown any concrete injury that would give it proper legal standing. President Joe Biden's administration urged the Supreme Court to reject the appeal in a brief in May. (Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) (Bloomberg) -- Wise Plc said the Financial Conduct Authority has commenced an investigation into Chief Executive Officer Kristo Kaarmann almost a year after he was fined by HMRC for deliberately defaulting on his taxes. Most Read from Bloomberg The UK regulator is examining the regulatory obligations and standards to which Kaarmann is subject, according to a statement Monday. The executive intends to cooperate fully with the FCA in its investigation. Wise shares were down 1.4% as of 11:21 a.m. in London, having earlier fallen as much as 5.3%. Last year, Kaarmann was found to have either deliberately provided inaccurate documents, deliberately failed to comply with an obligation to notify HM Revenue and Customs about his circumstances or committed wrongdoing in relation to VAT or excise for the tax year ending April 2018, according to a listing of deliberate tax defaulters. Wises board will cooperate fully with the FCA as and when they require, while continuing to support Kristo in his role as CEO, chair David Wells said in the statement. The fintech conducted an investigation with an external legal counsel after Kaarmanns name was included on HMRCs list of individuals and businesses receiving penalties for a deliberate default regarding their tax affairs. After the investigation concluded in the last quarter of 2021, the board shared details of its findings, assessment and actions with the FCA, according to the statement. The FCA declined to comment. Wise said in the statement it will provide an update when appropriate but for now does not intend to make any further comment given the ongoing regulatory investigation. (Adds further detail of Wise response to final paragraph. An earlier version of the story corrected the spelling of the CEOs name in the headline.) Story continues Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2022 Bloomberg L.P. The Views big trip to the Bahamas to mark the daytime talk shows 25th anniversary kicked off on a less than celebratory note on Monday as the hosts weighed in for the first time on the Supreme Court decision that removed womens constitutional right to make decisions about their own bodies. As moderator Whoopi Goldberg explained at the start of the show, the news broke while the team was flying down from New York. Joy Behar, meanwhile, joked that she almost jumped out of the plane. Each co-host expressed their shock and dismaydespite plenty of warningthat we are now living in a post-Roe America. But it was Goldberg who had the strongest words, specifically for Justice Clarence Thomas, who opened the door in his opinion for the rollback of other fundamental rights for women, LGBTQ Americans and others. Samantha Bee Goes on With COVID to Raise Hell Over Roe Decision I want to make things very clear. Im very pro-life. Ive never been anti-life, Goldberg said near the end of the shows second segment about the decision. I want people to have the lives they want, but I dont want to force anybodyI dont want anybody coming in my house telling me how to raise my daughter and what she needs because they dont know. And I appreciate everybody's religion, but I do not subscribe to your religion. I dont ask you to subscribe to mine. And you do not have the right based on your religious beliefs to tell me because what's next? As Clarence Thomas is signaling, they would like to get rid of contraception. Do you understand, sir? No, because you dont have to use it! When Sunny Hostin chimed in to say that in addition to contraception, gay marriage and affirmative action are also on the menu, Goldberg replied, We were not in the Constitution either. We were not even people in the Constitution. You better hope that they dont come for you, Clarence! she told him. And say you should not be married to your wife who happens to be white. And you better hope that nobody says, You know, well, youre not in the Constitution, youre back to being a quarter of a person, because thats not going to work either! Story continues While Thomas declared in his concurring opinion to Justice Samuel Alitos majority opinion that we should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell, the decisions concerning the right to birth control, the decriminalization of gay sex and the legalization of same-sex marriage, he conveniently omitted the Loving v. Virginia case that made interracial marriage a constitutional right. Meghan McCain Inserts Herself Into Whoopi Goldberg Holocaust Controversy Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Company Logo Global Infrared Detector Market Global Infrared Detector Market Dublin, June 27, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Infrared Detector Market: Global Industry Trends, Share, Size, Growth, Opportunity and Forecast 2022-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global infrared detector market reached a value of US$ 437.3 Million in 2021. Looking forward, the publisher expects the market to reach US$ 737.4 Million by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 8.50% during 2022-2027. Keeping in mind the uncertainties of COVID-19, they are continuously tracking and evaluating the direct as well as the indirect influence of the pandemic on different end use sectors. These insights are included in the report as a major market contributor Infrared (IR) detectors are electronic devices that are used to detect infrared radiation to measure heat and detect motion. They consist of photodiodes or phototransistors and the sensor, which consists of mercury cadmium telluride, lead sulfide and indium antimonide in silicon. They are commonly available in thermal, microbolometer, indium gallium arsenide, photo (quantum) detector variants. IR detectors are widely used in flame detectors, gas analysers, gas warning devices, medical gas measurement technology for contactless precision temperature measurement. They are also utilized in smart homes, biomedical imaging, spectroscopy, people and motion sensing solutions. In comparison to traditionally used detectors, IR detectors can detect infrared light from a distance and have a compact size Infrared Detector Market Trends: The increasing demand for motion- and people-sensing devices is one of the key factors contributing to the growth of the market. IR detectors are installed in retail shops, homes, museums and libraries and are widely used in burglar alarms, security cameras, safety lighting and garage doors. Additionally, the increasing product utilization in the military and defense industry for surveillance, target detection and target tracking due to the compact size and ability to detect the light from distance is favoring the market growth. Moreover, various product innovations, such as the launch of novel infrared sensors for phone cameras, augmented reality (AR) glasses and driverless vehicles that enable the consumers to see through fog and smoke are providing a thrust to the market growth. Story continues In line with this, the widespread product adoption in industrial plants to monitor the functioning of boilers, motors, electrical peripherals and bearings is positively impacting the market growth. Other factors, including the increasing product deployment in smart homes, along with the rising utilization of IR detectors at airports and railway stations, are anticipated to drive the market toward growth Competitive Landscape: The competitive landscape of the industry has also been examined along with the profiles of the key players being Excelitas Technologies Corp., Hamamatsu Photonics K.K., InfraTec GmbH, Lynred, Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Nippon Avionics Co. Ltd., Omron Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, TE Connectivity, Teledyne Technologies Incorporated and Texas Instruments Incorporated Key Questions Answered in This Report: How has the global infrared detector market performed so far and how will it perform in the coming years? What has been the impact of COVID-19 on the global infrared detector 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 spectral range? What is the breakup of the market based on the technology? 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 infrared detector 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 Infrared Detector 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 Thermal Detector 6.1.1 Market Trends 6.1.2 Market Forecast 6.2 Photo Detector 6.2.1 Market Trends 6.2.2 Market Forecast 7 Market Breakup by Spectral Range 7.1 Short-wave Infrared 7.1.1 Market Trends 7.1.2 Market Forecast 7.2 Medium-wave Infrared 7.2.1 Market Trends 7.2.2 Market Forecast 7.3 Long-wave Infrared 7.3.1 Market Trends 7.3.2 Market Forecast 8 Market Breakup by Technology 8.1 Mercury Cadmium Telluride 8.1.1 Market Trends 8.1.2 Market Forecast 8.2 Indium Gallium Arsenide (InGaAs) 8.2.1 Market Trends 8.2.2 Market Forecast 8.3 Pyroelectric 8.3.1 Market Trends 8.3.2 Market Forecast 8.4 Thermopile 8.4.1 Market Trends 8.4.2 Market Forecast 8.5 Microbolometer 8.5.1 Market Trends 8.5.2 Market Forecast 8.6 Others 8.6.1 Market Trends 8.6.2 Market Forecast 9 Market Breakup by Application 9.1 Aerospace and Defense 9.1.1 Market Trends 9.1.2 Market Forecast 9.2 Automotive 9.2.1 Market Trends 9.2.2 Market Forecast 9.3 Consumer Electronics 9.3.1 Market Trends 9.3.2 Market Forecast 9.4 Industrial 9.4.1 Market Trends 9.4.2 Market Forecast 9.5 Medical 9.5.1 Market Trends 9.5.2 Market Forecast 9.6 Security 9.6.1 Market Trends 9.6.2 Market Forecast 10 Market Breakup by Region 11 SWOT Analysis 11.1 Overview 11.2 Strengths 11.3 Weaknesses 11.4 Opportunities 11.5 Threats 12 Value Chain Analysis 13 Porters Five Forces Analysis 13.1 Overview 13.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers 13.3 Bargaining Power of Suppliers 13.4 Degree of Competition 13.5 Threat of New Entrants 13.6 Threat of Substitutes 14 Price Analysis 15 Competitive Landscape 15.1 Market Structure 15.2 Key Players 15.3 Profiles of Key Players 15.3.1 Excelitas Technologies Corp. 15.3.1.1 Company Overview 15.3.1.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2 Hamamatsu Photonics K.K. 15.3.2.1 Company Overview 15.3.2.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.2.3 Financials 15.3.2.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.3 InfraTec GmbH 15.3.3.1 Company Overview 15.3.3.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.4 Lynred 15.3.4.1 Company Overview 15.3.4.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.5 Murata Manufacturing Co. Ltd. 15.3.5.1 Company Overview 15.3.5.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.5.3 Financials 15.3.5.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.6 Nippon Avionics Co. Ltd. 15.3.6.1 Company Overview 15.3.6.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.6.3 Financials 15.3.7 Omron Corporation 15.3.7.1 Company Overview 15.3.7.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.7.3 Financials 15.3.7.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.8 Raytheon Technologies Corporation 15.3.8.1 Company Overview 15.3.8.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.8.3 Financials 15.3.8.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.9 TE Connectivity 15.3.9.1 Company Overview 15.3.9.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.9.3 Financials 15.3.9.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.10 Teledyne Technologies Incorporated 15.3.10.1 Company Overview 15.3.10.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.10.3 Financials 15.3.10.4 SWOT Analysis 15.3.11 Texas Instruments Incorporated 15.3.11.1 Company Overview 15.3.11.2 Product Portfolio 15.3.11.3 Financials 15.3.11.4 SWOT Analysis For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tufa6k Attachment 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 The prolonged period of spiking gas prices has reversed heading into the July 4 holiday, and the cost to fuel up could keep dropping. Monday marked the second straight week with gas prices falling, the fuel tracker GasBuddy reported, with the national average dropping 8.8 cents to $4.88 for a gallon of regular gas. The national average is still 28.3 cents higher than a month ago and $1.79 more than a year ago, according to GasBuddys figures. Prices are much lower in the Fredericksburg area, with Mondays average standing at $4.68, down 18 cents in the past week, according to AAA. Local prices hit a record high on June 14 at $4.97. A month ago, local gas prices averaged $4.42. One year ago, the average local gas price was $2.91. Virginias average gas price was $4.72 on Monday, AAA reported. The states gas price fits somewhere in the middle nationwide. GasBuddy reported that the states with the lowest gas prices are Georgia ($4.37), South Carolina and Mississippi ($4.39). California ($6.30), Alaska ($5.58) and Nevada ($5.56) have the highest gas prices. GasBuddys head of petroleum analysis, Patrick De Haan, said in a Monday morning blog that the July 4 gas prices will be the highest ever for the holiday. Yet, he added that the cost of gas is dropping as the price of oil has faltered, ushering in the drop were seeing. The good news is we could also see a third straight week of decline. De Haan was cautious about the possibility that gas prices will keep dropping. Motorists should be wary that while the decline could continue for the week ahead, any sudden jolts to supply could quickly cause a turnaround, and risk remains that when the peak of hurricane season arrives, we could see a super spike at the pump. If you go The most popular way to visit Colorado National Monument is to drive the 23-mile Rim Rock Drive, between Grand Junction and Fruita. Overlooks along the way, as well as trailheads to descend to the valley floor. Vehicle entry $25. More tips and information at: www.nps.gov/colm/index.htm Executive performance evaluations will be increasingly linked to ability to manage cyber risk and almost one-third of nations will regulate ransomware response within the next three years, said research and advisory firm Gartner in a new report. In the opening keynote at the Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit in Sydney, Richard Addiscott, Senior Director Analyst and Rob McMillan, Managing Vice President at Gartner discussed the top predictions prepared by Gartner cybersecurity experts to help security and risk management leaders be successful in the digital era. We cant fall into old habits and try to treat everything the same as we did in the past, said Addiscott. Most security and risk leaders now recognize that major disruption is only one crisis away. We cant control it, but we can evolve our thinking, our philosophy, our program and our architecture. Gartner recommends that cybersecurity leaders build the following strategic planning assumptions into their security strategies for the next two years. Through 2023, government regulations requiring organizations to provide consumer privacy rights will cover 5 billion citizens and more than 70% of global GDP. As of 2021, almost 3 billion individuals had access to consumer privacy rights across 50 countries, and privacy regulation continues to expand. Gartner recommends that organizations track subject rights request metrics, including cost per request and time to fulfil, to identify inefficiencies and justify accelerated automation. By 2025, 80% of enterprises will adopt a strategy to unify web, cloud services and private application access from a single vendors SSE platform. With a hybrid workforce and data everywhere accessible by everything, vendors are offering an integrated security service edge (SSE) solution to deliver consistent and simple web, private access and SaaS application security. Single-vendor solutions provide significant operational efficiency and security effectiveness compared with best-of-breed solutions, including tighter integration, fewer consoles to use, and fewer locations where data must be decrypted, inspected and re-encrypted. 60% of organizations will embrace Zero Trust as a starting point for security by 2025. More than half will fail to realize the benefits The term zero trust is now prevalent in security vendor marketing and in security guidance from governments. As a mindset replacing implicit trust with identity- and context-based risk appropriate trust it is extremely powerful. However, as zero trust is both a security principle and an organizational vision, it requires a cultural shift and clear communication that ties it to business outcomes to achieve the benefits. By 2025, 60% of organizations will use cybersecurity risk as a primary determinant in conducting third-party transactions and business engagements. Cyberattacks related to third parties are increasing. However, only 23% of security and risk leaders monitor third parties in real time for cybersecurity exposure, according to Gartner data. As a result of consumer concerns and interest from regulators, Gartner believes organizations will start to mandate cybersecurity risk as a significant determinant when conducting business with third parties, ranging from simple monitoring of a critical technology supplier to complex due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Through 2025, 30% of nation states will pass legislation that regulates ransomware payments, fines and negotiations, up from less than 1% in 2021. Modern ransomware gangs now steal data as well as encrypt it. The decision to pay the ransom or not is a business-level decision, not a security one. Gartner recommends engaging a professional incident response team as well as law enforcement and any regulatory body before negotiating. By 2025, threat actors will have weaponized operational technology environments successfully to cause human casualties. Attacks on OT hardware and software that monitors or controls equipment, assets and processes have become more common and more disruptive. In operational environments, security and risk management leaders should be more concerned about real world hazards to humans and the environment, rather than information theft, according to Gartner. By 2025, 70% of CEOs will mandate a culture of organizational resilience to survive coinciding threats from cybercrime, severe weather events, civil unrest and political instabilities. The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the inability of traditional business continuity management planning to support the organizations response to a large-scale disruption. With continued disruption likely, Gartner recommends that risk leaders recognize organizational resilience as a strategic imperative and build an organization-wide resilience strategy that also engages staff, stakeholders, customers and suppliers. By 2026, 50% of C-level executives will have performance requirements related to risk built into their employment contracts Most boards now regard cybersecurity as a business risk rather than solely a technical IT problem, according to a recent Gartner survey. As a result, Gartner expects to see a shift in formal accountability for the treatment of cyber risks from the security leader to senior business leaders. TradeArabia News Service Colorado's two U.S. senators are urging the Air Force to address water contamination from "forever chemicals" in El Paso County. In a letter, U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper on Friday said polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have contaminated the Widefield aquifer, which provides drinking water to thousands of residents in Security, Widefield and Fountain, and supplies surface water to area ponds, some of which are used for recreational fishing. The two senators asked the Air Force to expand a pilot program that seeks to remove PFAS from water and cover contaminated areas in the county. They also requested the Biden administration to partner with Colorado in taking additional steps to address PFAS contamination resulting from military activities. We understand that multiple pilot projects are ongoing at Peterson Space Force Base to test technologies that can remove PFAS from groundwater and soils, Bennet and Hickenlooper wrote. Given the contamination discovered in the surface water of El Paso County linked to Air Force operations, we request that a pilot project be conducted at Willow Springs pond to test technologies which may be used to remove PFAS from surface water bodies. PFAS contamination in the Widefield aquifer south of Peterson Space Force Base affects some 80,000 people in the Security-Widefield-Fountain area. Discovered in 2016, more than $50 million in funding for Air Force environmental restoration and remediation has been spent, primarily on protecting drinking water for the affected communities. The senators' letter followed the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's warning this month that concentrations of forever chemicals in drinking water that are much lower than previously believed may pose negative health effects. The EPA announced the advisory, which drastically lowered the agencys recommendations on safe limits for drinking water, a day after another federal agency said residents of the Security-Widefield area in El Paso County near Peterson Space Force Base showed elevated levels of forever chemicals in their blood, compared to the national average. Studies suggest that high levels of PFAS ubiquitous chemicals used in industry that can be found in nonstick cookware, stain-resistant fabrics and carpets and cosmetics might lead to increased cholesterol levels, decreases in infant birth weights and higher risk of high blood pressure or preeclampsia in pregnant women, as well as increased risk of kidney and testicular cancer. In Colorado, the Fountain-Widefield-Security area is one of the states biggest PFAS contamination sites due to the long-term use of PFAS-containing firefighting foam at Peterson Air Force (now Space Force) Base beginning in the 1970s. Water and soil testing in 2016 by the Air Force revealed PFAS levels of 240,000 parts per trillion in soil samples and more than 88,000 parts per trillion in groundwater at seven locations on the base. The base is now a designated EPA Superfund site. Other PFAS contamination sites include Buckley Air Force Base in Aurora and the Suncor Refinery in Commerce City. Manufacturing of firefighting foam containing PFAS chemicals ended in the early 2000s, but tens of thousands of gallons still remain stored in fire departments nationwide and can still be used because the federal government has not issued regulations banning its use. Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country Sign Up View all of our newsletters. FILE PHOTO: The Luxottica name is reflected in a pair of sunglasses in this photo illustration taken in Rome February 4, 2016. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi/File Photo FILE PHOTO: Rows of Chinese and Hong Kong flags decorate a residential building, ahead of the 25th anniversary of Hong Kong's handover to China from Britain, in Hong Kong, China June 26, 2022. REUTERS/Lam Yik More than 20 destinations have confirmed their attendance as sponsors at the upcoming ITB China Industry MeetUp (IMU), a combined in-person and virtual travel event taking place in Shanghai. The exclusive and compact event format features an in-person event held on 21 September 2022, in Shanghai, and a two-week virtual event period between 14 28 September, placing a heightened focus on face-to-face networking opportunities and brand visibility as well as global market updates from international experts both at the event in Shanghai and online. All onsite and online sessions will be live-streamed and made available on demand for global audiences to follow. In addition to the European Travel Commission, which will once more have a large onsite brand presence, many destinations have already confirmed their participation, such as Austria, Catalonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Spain, Tahiti and Switzerland together with Graubunden, Laax and Zurich. Several IMU newcomers are also making their debut at the Industry MeetUp which launched its first edition in 2020, among them are Croatia, Los Angeles, the Netherlands, Sarawak, Taipei, and the UK. The Chinese market remains of huge importance for European tourism with impressive growth potential for the years to come. European destinations are ready and waiting for the restart of travel between China and Europe once the situation allows, said Eduardo Santander, Executive Director of the European Travel Commission. Looking towards the future travel resumption, we believe now is the time to invest and prepare for the recovery of Chinese outbound travel. European destinations and the ETC China Chapter keep our active presence in China and are excited to join the next ITB China event in September. This will be a great occasion to maintain our strong ties with the local travel trade and contribute to the strong positioning of Europe as a favourite travel destination for Chinese tourists. The in-person event in Shanghai offers direct on-site exchange and networking activities, a discourse and presentation lounge as well as an exclusive networking dinner to connect with high-level market players in a relaxed atmosphere. Meanwhile, the online event will also provide a hub for content sessions during its two-week long run, thus both onsite and online attendees will gain insights into international travel experiences and learn more about key factors for competitiveness in the post-pandemic era from Chinese and international industry experts through executive interviews, keynote speeches, expert dialogues and panel discussions. In addition, ITB China will conduct a comprehensive travel trends survey among its broad buyer database and selected international industry representatives. The results of the survey and the analysis of the expert contributions during the MeetUp will be incorporated in the ITB China 2022 Travel Trends Report. The report will be published after the conclusion of the whole event, presenting new challenges and opportunities arising from the changing mindsets of both Chinese and international travellers. Another highlight of the IMU are the new customizable and interactive mini-sites that are introduced to event sponsors to promote and highlight selected products, news, events, surveys or market activities to Chinese buyers online. Selected contents can then be linked to buyer incentive points that are included in the chosen sponsoring package. A transparent activity report and collected buyer leads will be made available after the event, providing supporting sponsors a measurable outcome. Sponsor registration ends on July 15, 2022. TradeArabia News Service Hundreds of current and former residents of the Mountain Shadows community in Colorado Springs turned out at the Flying W Ranch on Sunday for a gathering in commemoration of the 10th anniversary of the Waldo Canyon fire, which reduced the Western-style tourist venue to ashes on its way to destroying nearly 350 homes, forcing 30,000 residents to evacuate, and causing two deaths. It was a somber occasion, with remembrances of departed neighbors and friends. But it was also a celebration of resilience, determination, and the spirit of a community that has grown closer in the wake of a shared tragedy. The rebuilt ranch is packing in the crowds once again, and the neighborhood has been restored. But the devastation of a blaze that scorched 18,000 acres still lingers in the minds of many residents. Im really proud of what this community accomplished, said Eddie Hurt, former president of the Mountain Shadows Community Association. But I feel really solemn too, because two people lost their lives, and some of our neighbors and friends did move away. Thankfully, though, the majority of the community stayed." Hurt said he considered leaving the neighborhood despite the fact that he did not lose his home. The first year or two (after the fire), leaving was always in the back of my mind, Hurt said. Ultimately, the relationships he had built within the community, and the outpouring of support form the city, persuaded him to stay. The city was really supportive, and School District 11 was amazing, with the support they gave to our kids and the families, Hurt said. It made me realize I live in a special place. Several city leaders were in attendance, including Mayor John Suthers, former mayor Steve Bach, police chief Adrian Vasquez, fire chief Randy Royal, and members of the city council. Its important to pay respects to the people who suffered so much loss, said city council president Tom Strand. And (the commemoration) is a reminder of whats most important people, family, and the relationships in a community like Mountain Shadows. The Waldo Canyon fire left a permanent scar on Colorado Springs, Suthers said. Not just a burn scar on the mountainside, but on the lives of everyone here. It was a day none of us will ever forget. The fire and its aftermath brought to light some infrastructure deficiencies, most notably a shortage of escape routes and evacuation zones. Many neighborhoods had only one way out, and roads were clogged for hours as dozens of families tried to get away from their burning homes. When they were finally able to leave the neighborhood, many people struggled to find a place to stay as hotels were booked for miles around. Officials said the city is working on an improved evacuation plan and intends to bolster evacuation zones from 79 to more than 600. Id love to give everybody a helicopter and lift them all to safety, Strand said. But thats not realistic. What we can do, though, is put a solid evacuation plan in place, and were working hard on that. There were cheers and tears in almost equal amounts as neighbors remembered the devastation of 10 years ago but were determined to celebrate how far the community has come. Bach, who was mayor at the time of the fire, praised Mountain Shadows residents for rebuilding the neighborhood from the ashes, and for leaning on each other during a catastrophic time in their lives. Mountain Shadows is better than ever, said former mayor Steve Bach. I think you are closer than ever, and thats a beautiful thing. A crowd of about 200 people took to the streets on Sunday evening to "fight for bodily autonomy," in the wake of the Supreme Court's repeal of Roe vs. Wade. Demonstrators marched down North Washington Avenue, or Highway 65 North, to the Cerro Gordo County Courthouse where a handful of people spoke to the crowd. One woman said she had attended one of the first pro-choice marches in the 1960s, and still stands with the movement. Chair of the Democratic Wing Ding Randy Black spoke before the event, calling for attendees to go to the polls in November. His sentiment was somewhat rebuffed by event organizers who said voting is one tool, but community activism was the key to changing laws. The event didn't go without incident, as a tense interaction unfolded between a protester and a driver unhappy about a traffic hold-up as demonstrators crossed the street at the intersection of Third Street Northwest. The driver briefly exited his vehicle and yelled obscenities at the pedestrians, ultimately leaving without further incident. Last week in Cedar Rapids, a truck drove through a crowd of demonstrators, leaving several injured. That incident remains under investigation. On Friday, the Supreme Court issued a repeal of the nearly 50-year-old law, allowing individual states to determine the legality of abortions. While several states had legislation already on the books to ban abortions, Iowa's outlook has yet to be determined. However, a statement issued by Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) seemed to indicate the state would head in a similar direction. The Supreme Courts greatest moments have come when it allows America to embody more perfectly the enduring truth on which it was founded: that all human beings, without exception, are created equal. By that measure, todays historic decision is clearly one such moment. But the fight for life is not over. As governor, I wont rest until every unborn Iowan is protected and respected, Reynolds said Friday. Lisa Grouette is the Local News Editor and Photo Editor at the Globe Gazette. Reach her at 641-421-0525 or lisa.grouette@globegazette.com. Follow Lisa on Twitter @LisaGrouette Love 7 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. ONAWA, Iowa -- An Onawa teen could face up to 30 years in prison after a judge found him guilty of sexually assaulting two girls. District Judge Zachary Hindman ruled Jay Lee Neubaum guilty of three counts of third-degree sexual abuse for raping and assaulting one of the girls and raping the other. However, Hindman found Neubaum, 19, not guilty of seven other counts of third-degree sexual abuse that alleged he had sexually assaulted five other girls. "Evidence presented at trial by the state leaves the court with a reasonable doubt on each of those counts," Hindman said Friday as he read portions of his verdict in front of some of the girls, their families and supporters in Monona County District Court. Some of the families and the girls left the courthouse in tears, appearing shocked by the ruling. None of those present, or their families or supporters, wished to comment, a victims advocate said. Monona County Attorney Ian McConaughey also declined to comment until Neubaum's sentencing, which will be scheduled at a later date. Each of the three charges of which Neubaum was found guilty carries a 10-year prison sentence. Neubaum was charged with sexually assaulting six of the girls and forcing sexual contact with the seventh from August 2019 through March 2020 in and around Mapleton, Iowa, where Neubaum attended school. At trial, the girls, who ranged in age from 13-16 at the time the alleged incidents occurred, described how Neubaum forced himself on them. Neubaum denied the allegations. Neubaum waived his right to have a jury hear his case, and Hindman presided over his three-day trial in December. Hindman said that in the cases of the three guilty verdicts, the victims provided credible trial testimony and details of their accounts of the assaults "make intuitive sense," Hindman said. Neubaum's semen was found on the blanket of one of the victims, consistent with her testimony. At trial, McConaughey had argued the alleged assaults all followed a similar pattern, and each of the girls described how Neubaum got them alone, started kissing them against their will, pushed them down, forcibly removed their pants and underwear and sexually assaulted them. During her closing arguments at trial, Neubaum's attorney, Theresa Rachel, said the girls and other witnesses gave conflicting or inconsistent testimony, suggesting that one of the girls may have persuaded the others to make up their stories. Hindman said he did not find the girls colluded against Neubaum. But the judge agreed there were numerous inconsistencies in the testimony and statements given by the girls and other witnesses. "The question here is not whether the court suspects, or even strongly suspects, that Neubaum committed the offenses alleged in these counts," Hindman said in his 74-page ruling. "Rather, the issue that the court must resolve is whether the state has proven that he committed those offenses, and has so proven beyond a reasonable doubt. "... aspects of Neubaum's defenses to these charges ... are sufficient to leave the court with a reasonable doubt about each of those counts," Hindman said. Neubaum was not personally present at Friday's hearing but participated via video from the Anamosa State Penitentiary, where he is serving a 50-year prison sentence for second-degree murder for the Jan. 31, 2020, shooting death of 16-year-old Joseph Hopkins in Mapleton. A Monona County jury convicted him of the crime in May 2021. Hopkins, of Mapleton, was shot once in the forehead with a 12-gauge shotgun while he, Neubaum and two other teenage boys were working on a demolition derby car in a garage at the home of Neubaum's grandmother, with whom he was living at the time. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Covid-19 pandemic had wreaked havoc on several key industries around the world with tourism and culture being the most hit globally. Culture industry lost more than 10 million jobs in 2020 alone and witnessed a 20 to 40% drop in revenues across the sector, according to Unesco. The sector also saw a decline of 25% of its Gross Value Added (GVA) in 2020. However, while most of the sector suffered a sharp decline, online publishing and audiovisual platforms experienced growth due to increased reliance on digital content during the pandemic, stated Unesco in its report launched today (June 27) in co-ordination with The Department of Culture and Tourism Abu Dhabi (DCT Abu Dhabi). The co-publication "Culture in Times of Covid-19: Resilience, Recovery and Revival", gives a global overview of the impact of the pandemic on the culture sector since March 2020, and also outlines directions for its revival. It also identifies major global trends reshaping the culture sector and proposes new integrated policy directions and strategies to support the sectors revival and sustainability. Ernesto Ottone R., Unesco Assistant Director-General for Culture, said: "We have identified major reforms currently emerging around the world in response to the global crisis. It is essential to recognise the potential of the culture sector to fuel societal transformation and recovery across all development objectives and support integrated approaches to revive the culture sector." DCT Abu Dhabi Chairman Mohamed Khalifa Al Mubarak said: "While the report highlights the repercussions of the pandemic on the culture sectors globally, we are optimistic about how we, as an international cultural community, can move forward." "More significantly than the findings themselves is what the report proposes in terms of directions and strategies that will better shape the sector into a resilient and sustainable one for generations to come. Our partnership with Unesco and Abu Dhabis role in producing the report cements our commitment to generate solutions and policies that will strengthen the culture sector in the UAE and around the world," noted Al Mubarak. Using data from more than 100 industry reports, 40 expert interviews, and economic analyses, the publication underscores the need for an integrated approach to the recovery of the culture sector and calls for a re-framing of the value of and support for culture, as a critical foundation for a more diverse and sustainable society. The report also highlights broader shifts in cultural production and dissemination, notably due to the accelerated digitisation of cultural products during the pandemic. Revenues from the digital creative economy totalled US$2.7 billion globally in 2020, over a quarter of the sectors overall revenue, he added. According to Unesco, the pandemic has proven a threat to cultural diversity. The increased precariousness of the livelihoods of freelancers and cultural workers, combined with the exacerbation of already deep-rooted inequities in terms of gender and disadvantaged groups in society, have caused many artists and culture professionals to leave the field, undermining the diversity of cultural expressions. These inequities, combined with regional disparities, have severely undermined the production and distribution of cultural goods and services. For instance, in Latin America, 64 percent of freelancers in the culture sector lost more than 80% of their income as a result of Covid-19. The end of the pandemic presents a significant opportunity to reposition culture on the public agenda and enhance its value as a global public good, stated the report. The pandemic resulted in an enhanced recognition of the culture sectors social value and contribution to collective and individual wellbeing, as well as to sustainable development. In 2020, culture was included for the first time in the policy discussions of the G20 and the report argues that it is essential to grasp the global momentum, it added. The report comes a year after Unesco and DCT announced their work on the global study. They both explored how the culture sector is not simply recovered but transformed, drawing on lessons learnt during the pandemic. The publication launch and event also contributed to the preparation of the Unesco World Conference on Cultural Policies and Sustainable Development MONDIACULT 2022, which will take place in Mexico in late September 2022. For Unesco and DCT, this report represents the continuation of an ongoing collaboration on a series of strategic initiatives that support a joint commitment to advancing culture as a public good and protecting and promoting the diversity of cultural expressions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. About 100 people some of whom carried signs while others stood silently to show their support gathered Friday evening at the corner of 15th Street and 3rd Avenue in Rock Island to protest the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to strike down the 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion. Among them were Jennifer Ziegler, of Rockford, Ill., and Destany Metcalf, of Rock Island. Asked why she had come to the rally, Ziegler said, An intense anger, and outrage. Furious outrage. Thats what brought me down here. Metcalf said she was experiencing a wide mix of emotions regarding the ruling. Anger, obviously, Metcalf said, adding that she was scared for her future. Am I going to be able to marry my future partner who is the same sex as me, she said. Are we going to have access to contraceptives, which is a basic right, a basic need? I just want to show the world this isnt right, Metcalf said. The high court's ruling does not outlaw abortion, but it does leave the decision to the states, some of which have moved to allow legal abortion services, while others have moved to outlaw abortions. Gregg Johnson, one of three Democratic candidates vying to be the state representative for Illinois 72nd District, said Illinois had done a phenomenal job of protecting the reproductive rights for women. But while states scramble to determine their own abortion laws, Johnson said Congress should take action to protect abortion rights at the federal level. While states that maintain abortion services likely would be willing to let anyone come for such services, the reality is it likely wont work well. The reality is not everybody is going to be able to afford to come to Illinois, Johnson said. You have rural areas where they might have to drive eight to 10 hours, so its just not realistic, he said. Im certain that some states are going to try and stop people from crossing state lines for an abortion. And lets face it, this disproportionately affects people of color, Johnson said. Anytime they take these sorts of actions it disproportionately affects people of color. Not everybody is going to have the means to go to other states. Teresa Carlton of Davenport said she showed up at the rally to support the cause for women. I sure hope that we maintain pro-choice because I think everyones body is a choice, Carlton said. I truly believe that. Do I believe in abortion? I dont. But I do believe in a womans choice, she said. I would never have an abortion because thats me, Carlton said. But thats my choice and my free will, and I dont think anyone should mess with that. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 For N.C. House Speaker Tim Moore, it was long overdue and a major win for protecting life. In Gov. Roy Coopers eyes, it represents a right tragically ripped away. The June 24th landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and reversing the U.S. Constitutional right to abortion means these and other state leaders will be in a position to shape the future of abortion rights in North Carolina. Hours after the decision was handed down, lawmakers provided some insight into what that future will hold. In a statement Friday, Senate Leader Phil Berger said the Senate will take immediate action to ensure North Carolinas late-term abortion ban is reinstated. He added, Senate Republicans will determine whether other steps are appropriate to strengthen our pro-life laws, but I do not anticipate legislative action prior to adjournment. Moore said the legislature is unlikely to address abortion during the current session. He said lawmakers would wait until next year, after the elections. North Carolinians can also expect pro-life protections to be a top priority of the legislature when we return to our normal legislative session in January, Moore said. North Carolinas Democratic leaders intend to push back on efforts to curtail abortion rights. Gov. Cooper said in his statement that he would continue to trust women to make their own medical decisions as we fight to keep politicians out of the doctors exam room. Sen. Dan Blue, Democratic leader in the Senate, tweeted: Ive spent much of my adult life working to expand freedoms and protect rights. Today, in North Carolina, we trust women. We need to protect that trust by protecting the right to legal abortion care. We cant go back. The U.S. Supreme Courts action is very disappointing, and women should have the right to make their own personal reproductive decisions, State Senator Paul Lowe Jr. said. He is a Democrat who represents Forsyth County. A sobering moment The end of the federally protected right to abortion was a cause for celebration for at least some of North Carolinas state leaders. I am overjoyed with the decision by our Supreme Court, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a Republican, said in a statement. For decades we have been praying for a day like today, and it is finally here. I have experienced the pain of abortion in my own life and know the long-term effects it can have on families. Robinson has spoken about how his wife, Yolanda, had an abortion prior to their marriage. It was the hardest decision we have ever made, and sadly, we made the wrong one, Robinson said in a video he posted to social media. Robinson said now is the time for the state to carefully craft legislation that will safeguard the life and health of all our citizens, born and unborn. Not all Republicans shared Robinsons spirit of elation. Rep. Jay Adams, a legislator from solidly Republican Catawba County, said he has mixed feelings on the issue and called it a sobering moment. While he identifies himself as pro-life, Adams also said, I also have seen all of the ramifications of unwanted pregnancies over my lifetime, and I have a very broad view of the matter. He added, I recognize there are circumstances where people have extremely difficult decisions to make and I would prefer that they have some options, but Im not on the other side of the thing where I think its wholesale whatever you want to do up until birth of the child. State Senator Joyce Krawiec is a Republican who represents Davie and Forsyth counties. There is little chance that North Carolina will be able to pass any more restrictive abortion laws over the veto of Governor Cooper, she said. Republicans do not have veto-proof majorities. We need support from Democrats to override a veto, and that wont happen. The governor vetoed a bill to protect babies who survived an abortion attempt and no Democrats voted for the override. If a Born Alive Abortion Survivor bill couldnt pass, there is no chance of anything more restrictive being passed. Rep. Mitchell Setzer, who also represents part of Catawba County, said he opposes abortion with exceptions for rape, incest and to save the life of the pregnant woman. His initial reaction was one of uncertainty as to what the decision will mean for state law. I dont know where we stand at this moment as far as the general statutes in North Carolina, Setzer said. Do we default back to something from 1973 when Roe v. Wade was first issued? Theres questions. There will have to be legislative action, I am assuming, but I dont know what that will be. This is new for all of us. Both Adams and Setzer emphasized the sensitivity of the matter and said it would require a deliberate process. This is going to take a lot of work to arrive at some kind of consensus, Setzer said. Speculating on where things will end up, Adams said, I think that North Carolina is going to come up with something that is, it wont be satisfactory to the pro-choice people. I dont think it will be completely satisfactory to them. But on the other hand, it probably wont be satisfactory to the pro-life people to a certain extent. What lawmakers are saying I am overjoyed that the Supreme Court has finally overturned this egregiously wrong decision and recognized that abortion on demand was never a part of our Constitution. I will continue to fight to protect life in North Carolina and ensure that we are not a destination for abortion in this country, Republican Sen. Ralph Hise, N.C. District 47. Throughout history the Court has pushed the arc of history towards justice. Today, the court has broken its sacred promise to protect the basic constitutional rights of all Americans. Tomorrow, the defense of freedom moves to the states, and I am all in, Democratic N.C. Sen. Michael Garrett, N.C. District 27. It is a victory for pro-life advocates all over North Carolina. I expect when we go into the long session next year (in January) we will look at trying to determine what additional measures are needed for North Carolina, Republican Rep. Dudley Greene, N.C. District 85. The U.S. Supreme Courts action is very disappointing and women should have the right to make their own personal reproductive decisions, Democrat Sen. Paul Lowe Jr., N.C. District 32. I think Roe v. Wade was wrongly decided to begin with. I think the decision today is correct. It doesnt eliminate abortion it just returns the decision back to the states, Republican Rep. Hugh Blackwell, N.C. District 86. The Supreme Court decision today is historical. Roe v. Wade is one of the few decisions in history that has never been settled. Many on both sides, including many pro-choice legal minds have felt that this decision was wrongly decided. Even Ruth Badger Ginsburg, who was a big pro-choice supporter, is on record questioning this decision. North Carolina had a 20-week abortion ban that was stayed by the court because it was in conflict with Roe. Im not a lawyer so Im not certain of the entire process to reinstate the 20 week law. My understanding is that legal counsel is preparing a presentation to the court to have the stay removed, because of the Roe decision. There is little chance that North Carolina will be able to pass any more restrictive abortion laws over the veto of Governor Cooper. Republicans do not have veto proof majorities. We need support from Democrats to override a veto and that wont happen. The governor vetoed a bill to protect babies who survived an abortion attempt and no Democrats voted for the override. If a Born Alive Abortion Survivor bill couldnt pass, there is no chance of anything more restrictive being passed, Republican Sen. Joyce Krawiec, N.C. District 31. Todays decision in the Dobbs case overturning Roe v. Wade is a victory for the American republic. It returns power seized 49 years ago by unelected judges to its rightful place, with the elected representatives of each state, Republican Sen. Warren Daniel, N.C. District 46. I have always been a pro-life Christian, so with this ruling my prayers have been answered. This should have always been a states rights issue. As a legislator, I look forward to leading North Carolina as we become an anti- abortion state, Republican Rep. Jeff McNeely, N.C. District 84. Yokie Johnson, right, co-owner of the restaurant, MontAsia, talks with customers Jacob and Laci Karp in Fishtail, Montana on June 16. The main road into Fishtail was washed away by the recent floodwaters and Johnson worries the lack of traffic will hurt their business. Lindi OBrien sorts through personal mementos in the barn of her parents home badly damaged by the severe flooding in Fromberg, Montana. Lindi OBrien picks up a commendation plaque to her fathers police service from the barn of her parents home, which was badly damaged by severe flooding in Fromberg, Montana. Matt Holmes, right, drains a suitcase while packing up belongings with his son, Gavin, 9, as the family is forced to leave their home left damaged by severe flooding in Fromberg, Montana, on June 17. FROMBERG, Mont. With Yellowstone National Park pushing to reopen to tourists more quickly than anticipated after record floods pounded southern Montana, some of those hardest hit in the disaster live far from the famous parks limelight and are leaning heavily on one another to pull their lives out of the mud. Park officials said Sunday that they hope to have most of Yellowstone open within two weeks, as they use a $50 million infusion of federal highway money to accelerate road and bridge repairs. Theres still no timetable for restoring connections between the park and neighboring portions of Montana where the recovery is expected to stretch for months. In and around the agricultural community of Fromberg, the Clarks Fork River flooded almost 100 homes and badly damaged a major irrigation ditch that serves many farms. The towns mayor says about a third of the flooded homes are too far gone to be repaired. Not far from the riverbank, Lindi OBriens trailer home was raised high enough to avoid major damage. But she got water in her barns and sheds, lost some of her poultry and saw her recently deceased parents home get swamped with several feet of water. Elected officials who showed up to tour the damage in Red Lodge and Gardiner Montana tourist towns that serve as gateways to Yellowstone havent made it to Fromberg to see its devastation. OBrien said the lack of attention is no surprise given the towns location away from major tourist routes. Shes not resentful but resigned to the idea that if Fromberg is going to recover, its roughly 400 residents will have to do much of the work themselves. We take care of each other, OBrien said as she and two longtime friends, Melody Murter and Aileen Rogers, combed through mud-caked items scattered across her property. OBrien, an art teacher for the local school, had been fixing up her parents home with hopes of turning it into a vacation rental. Now shes not sure its salvageable. When you get tired and get pooped, its OK to stop, OBrien said to Murter and Rogers, whose clothes, hands and faces were smeared with mud. A few blocks away, Matt Holmes combed through piles of muck and debris but could find little to save out of the trailer home that he shared with his wife and four children. Holmes had taken the day off, but said he needed to get back soon to his construction job so he could begin making money again. Whether he can bring in enough to rebuild is unclear. If not, Holmes said he may move the family to Louisiana, where they have relatives. I want to stay in Montana. I dont know if we can, he said. Yellowstone will partially reopen at 8 a.m. Wednesday, more than a week after more than 10,000 visitors were forced out of the park when the Yellowstone and other rivers went over their banks after being swelled by melting snow and several inches of rainfall. Only portions of the park that can be accessed along its southern loop of roads will be opened initially and access to the parks scenic backcountry will be for day hikers only. Within two weeks officials hope to open the northern loop, after previously declaring that it would likely stay closed through the summer season. The northern loop would give visitors access to popular attractions including Tower Fall and Mammoth Hot Springs. Theyd still be bared from the Lamar Valley, which is famous for its prolific wildlife including bears, wolves and bison that can often be seen from the roadside. That would get 75 to 80% of the park back to working, National Park Service Director Charles Chuck Sams said Sunday during a visit to Yellowstone to gauge the floods effects. It will take much longer possibly years to fully restore two badly-damaged stretches of road that connect the park with Gardiner to the north and Cooke City to the northeast. During a tour of damaged areas on Sunday, park officials showed reporters one of six sections of road near Gardiner where the raging Gardner River had obliterated most of the roadway. Muddy water now courses through where the roadbed had been only a week ago. Trunks of huge trees litter the walls of the surrounding canyon. Park Superintendent Cam Sholly said 20,000 tons of material were being hauled in to construct a temporary, alternate route along an old road that runs above the canyon, so that employees who work at the park headquarters in Mammoth can get to their homes in Gardiner. Meanwhile, outside of the population centers that border the park, theres a maze of damaged roads that have left remote areas isolated. A key bridge that leads to the town of Fishtail collapsed, causing traffic to divert through a single-lane county road. There are about 500 people in Fishtail. Lee Johnson and his wife and daughter run the Fishtail restaurant MontAsia, so named because its a fusion of Malaysian and Montana cuisine. He said business has plummeted. When we opened for the first time after the flood, it started just dead. And you start to have that sense of dread creep in. Did I do all this, did I sink all this money in, have I started this business and people cant even get here anymore? Johnson said. Johnson and his Malaysian wife Yokie took over the lease on a landmark 124-year-old Fishtail building earlier this year, transferring their restaurant from another part of the state. For Yokie, the business was a dream come true. Not being from Montana, I wanted to own something, she said. Going into business with her family was her biggest goal. Yokie said running the restaurant gives her strength as she battles cancer. Im not sure how much time I have left, so the time I have left I want to be with my family, work with them every day, see them every day, she said. Johnson said he is humbled by the chance to support his wife and determined to keep the restaurant open while the flood damage is repaired. You hitch your wagon to this community and its just a matter of keeping up, he said. FAYETTEVILLE After debuting last summer, the dinosaurs at Sweet Valley Ranch are ready to wake from their slumbers. When they do, they'll greet visitors either happy or scared. The attraction, which started in early June, features animatronic dinosaurs with information and fun facts about each for people to read as they walk through or take a shuttle. Fred Surgeon, who owns the ranch with his wife Anita, said originally the event was just going to feature dinosaur statues, but he later decided it would be better for them to be more lifelike. The animatronic dinosaurs at the attraction are custom-made and shipped from overseas. Dinosaurs at the eight-acre attraction come in various sizes from the tallest standing at 14 feet tall and the smallest being about four feet tall. According to Surgeon, 40,000 people attended the 2021 debut. I was blown away by the support that we received from the immediate community Cumberland County, Moore, Robeson, Hoke but what really impressed me in addition to that was we had folks come in from Raleigh, Charlotte, Virginia, Tennessee, he said. That was just really inspiring and kind of validated that we were on to something. Of the ranchs seasonal attractions like its Halloween-themed Backwoods Terror Ranch or Tinys Corn Maze in the fall, Surgeon said Dinosaur World is the most popular. He estimates about 75,000 people will attend this years event. Surgeon said there will be 25 dinosaurs added this year, bringing the total number to more than 50. There will also be an ice age exhibit that will include animatronics of extinct animals such as the wooly mammoth and the dodo bird. Sweet Valley Ranch, which is located on more than 300 acres in Fayetteville, also added an exhibit featuring more than 100 live iguanas. With the detail that we try to put into Dinosaur World, we certainly are stepping that up this year, Surgeon said. Folks that came out last year, we know they had a good time but theres a reason for them to come back this year. Exploring Dinosaur World would take a little over an hour, Surgeon said but it could take even longer to see the new additional attractions. According to the Surgeons, their ranch, purchased in 2016, began as a place for Anita to have a few horses and for Fred to have a few goats. We ended up, over a two-year period from 2016 to 2018, with all of these different animals, Fred said. We actually have over 500 animals from five different continents. Anita said she was initially taken aback when her husband said he wanted to add a dinosaur attraction, but shes since grown to love it. Im really amazed, she said. Im enjoying it because we love having the people come out and see smiles on everyones faces. CHAPEL HILL Churches across the U.S. are tackling the big question of how to address homelessness in their communities with a small solution: tiny homes. On vacant plots near their parking lots and steepled sanctuaries, congregations are building everything from fixed and fully contained micro homes to petite, moveable cabins, and several other styles of small-footprint dwellings in between. Church leaders are not just trying to be more neighborly. The drive to provide shelter is rooted in their beliefs they must care for the vulnerable, especially those without homes. Its just such an integral part of who we are as a people of faith, said the Rev. Lisa Fischbeck, former Episcopal vicar and the board chair of Pee Wee Homes, an affordable housing organization building tiny abodes in Chapel Hill. Fischbeck led the Episcopal Church of the Advocate when it added three one-bedroom units on its 15-acre campus. The first residents, including the organizations namesake, Nathaniel Pee Wee Lee, moved into them in June 2019. Before that Lee, 78, had spent years sleeping in alleys, cardboard shelters and cars after medical issues ended his masonry career. Today he enjoys watching TV in his home, growing tomatoes and fishing in the nearby pond. I thank the Lord because this is mine and nobody can run me out, Lee said, breaking out in laughter as he sat on the porch of his little white house. Fischbeck said tiny homes can fit nearly anywhere, and an advantage to building them on church properties is they already have electricity, water and other infrastructure in place. I just feel so passionately that churches have space, she said. Just consider it. Its a dire need. The embrace of tiny homes as housing solutions can be found in both sacred and secular spaces. Within the Christian sphere, their use spans denominations. Often the tiny homes projects build on related ministries such as providing parking space for people living in their cars. Beneficiaries are generally welcome to attend worship services but not required to do so. Some churches projects are already up and running, while others are still working toward move-in day, like the Church of the Nazarene congregation in St. Paul, Minn., which is assembling a tiny house community for chronically homeless people with local nonprofit Settled. We do not have a lot of property, said Jeff ORourke, lead pastor of Mosaic Christian Community in St. Paul. We have just strived to use every square inch of property that we have to be hospitable. This spring in El Cajon, Calif., Meridian Baptist partnered with local nonprofit Amikas to begin building emergency sleeping cabins on a slice of its property that Rolland Slade, the churchs pastor, said is usually unoccupied except by tumbleweeds. Mothers with children a hard-to-shelter demographic can stay for 90 days and be connected with the citys housing safety net for more permanent options. Bathrooms and a communal kitchen are in a nearby church building. Folks have said to me that six cabins are not going to make a difference, and I wholeheartedly disagree, Slade said. Well make the difference for at least six women. If they each have a child, thatll be six children. For help with construction, operation and dealing with bureaucratic hurdles, churches often turn to community organizations like Amikas, Pee Wee Homes and Settled. Firm Foundation Community Housing, in the San Francisco Bay Area, is another. It was launched by the Rev. Jake Medcalf, the former lead pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Hayward, when the congregation built transitional tiny housing in its parking lot. Houses of worship not only have land to spare, Medcalf said, but are positioned to provide community in a way that really is humanizing and is a part of anybodys basic healing and recovery. In 2020, First Christian Church of Tacoma in Washington state became a host site for a tiny home community set up by the nonprofit Low Income Housing Institute. The nonprofit operates the village, allowing the congregation to contribute without overextending itself. We dont have a lot of money. We dont have a whole lot of people but we care a lot about it, and weve got this piece of property, said the Rev. Doug Collins, the churchs senior minister. Not everyone welcomes these projects into their neighborhoods. In Nashville, Tennessee, plans to put up tiny homes by Glencliff United Methodist Church prompted backlash and a lawsuit by some neighbors. Ultimately the Village at Glencliff prevailed, and today an arc of multicolored micro homes greet congregants as they pull into the churchs driveway. It specializes in helping people with medical issues, like William Green Bay Scribner, 37, who spent seven months recuperating there. Not only was he able to leave in better health, he said, village staff helped him land a more permanent apartment where he can host his young daughter overnight. For people with medical vulnerabilities like Scribner, housing is lifesaving, said the Rev. Ingrid McIntyre, a United Methodist minister and village founder. A nationwide survey, the last conducted without being impacted by the pandemic, found that about 580,000 people were homeless on a night in January 2020, according to the Department of Housing and Urban Developments Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress. The number, based on point-in-time counts, rose for the fourth year. So the tiny home movement on its own is too small to fix the whole problem, said Marybeth Shinn, a Vanderbilt University professor who has studied homelessness for decades. It would be hard to scale up to meet the overwhelming demand. Its good to help some people, but we need to figure out solutions that are going to help many more, Shinn said. Donald Whitehead, director of the National Coalition for the Homeless, said he supports churches using their spare space to help homeless people and sees tiny homes as a great emergency option, but added that homeless people deserve standard-size housing like everyone else. It can be included in a menu of resources that would help to address homelessness, Whitehead said. If theres an opportunity to build a regular home at the same price, we would prefer that people build the regular home. Meanwhile, churches also are finding tiny homes useful as temporary housing in the wake of natural disaster. Months after a deadly December tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, some renters were still displaced. Bread of Life Humanitarian Effort, a Churches of Christ nonprofit, stepped in to help. With buy-in from Mayfield congregations, the nonprofit used donations that were pouring in and started putting up tiny homes wherever they could secure permission including next to Northside Church of Christ. Youve got people that are hurting, said Joel Crider, Bread of Lifes treasurer. Its our Christian duty to look out for them. Chemours is seeking permission from North Carolina regulators to pump contaminated groundwater from underneath its facility near the Bladen-Cumberland county line, run it through filters that will remove 99% of the forever chemicals it contains and then discharge it into the Cape Fear River. The project would also involve the construction of a 1.1-mile-long underground wall that will be 70 to 80 feet tall and two feet thick meant to keep the contaminated groundwater from reaching the river a drinking water source for much of southeastern North Carolina. That groundwater is now the source for about 60% of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances PFAS for short commonly called forever chemicals, that are measured downstream. Under the operation of Chemours and previous owner DuPont, the Fayetteville Works plant has been linked with decades of water contamination in the region. That includes the contamination of groundwater underneath the plant, with 2017 samples at five wells near the river side of the plant showing between 11,800 and 61,300 parts per trillion of the compound commonly called GenX. During a recent public hearing, more than a dozen speakers criticized the proposed permit, their remarks ranging from general frustration toward Chemours to pointed technical critiques. Some called on state officials to require Chemours to remove more than 99% of the known PFAS from its discharge because other compounds have been found but not measured in the plants groundwater. Others argued that the stormwater system Chemours is proposing to build on the site to keep rainwater from carrying PFAS into the river should be able to handle more rain than the half-inch per day the company proposed. Chemours has visibly stepped up public relations in the region, running television commercials where the company describes itself as a good neighbor. As part of that effort, Chemours issued a petition calling on signees to help build the wall. Under the guise of community stewardship, Chemours is actively working to ensure that our community receives less than the full accountability that we deserve, Wilmington resident Lacey Brown said during the hearing. An organization called Clean Cape Fear and other advocates have been calling for more action against Chemours since 2017, when it was first reported that the company was discharging PFAS into the Cape Fear River. The N.C. Department of Environmental Quality suspended the companys water discharge permit in November 2017, but utilities downstream still regularly find PFAS that have been linked with the plant in their drinking water. The wall and groundwater treatment project were required under the terms of an October 2020 addendum to the consent order signed by Chemours, DEQ and environmental watchdog Cape Fear River Watch. The original consent order also required the company to build a thermal oxidizer that captures 99.99% of emissions from Fayetteville Works and destroys it through heat at extremely high temperatures. Julie Grzyb, the deputy director of DEQs Division of Water Resources, said she does not know of another system in the United States like the one Chemours is proposing. We dont have anything else to compare it to, but it will significantly reduce the PFAS currently entering the Cape Fear. Joe Hill, a Wilmington resident, said Chemours should be doing more beyond the groundwater barrier wall to prevent PFAS chemicals from reaching the Cape Fear River. He asked: What is really deserving of being protected here? The money that a company is able to create or the people that are directly affected by it? " " If you can fall asleep in any movie, is that a sign of a sleeping disorder? Flashpop/Getty Images No one shells out $15 per movie ticket to take a nap, yet many people can't helping falling asleep in movie theaters, even during loud, blow-em-up action films. What gives? Sure, movie theaters are dark and those plush, reclining seats are darn comfortable, but is that enough to cause a healthy adult to pass out in the middle of the afternoon? We reached out to Murray Johns, an Australian sleep doctor who invented the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), the global standard for measuring an individual's propensity dozing off during eight different daily activities. Patients are asked to rate from 0 to 3 their likelihood of falling asleep during the day while reading, watching TV, riding in the car, etc. For seven of the eight activities, you'd expect to stay awake (the exception being "lying down to rest in the afternoon when circumstances permit," i.e. siesta time), yet many of us still doze off. Advertisement In 2002, Johns collected sleepiness data from more than 2,800 adults in seven countries and used it to rank each activity on the ESS by its relative sleep-inducing power, or what he calls its "somnificity." According to the study, topping the list of most "somniferous" activities is lying down to rest in the afternoon (of course), followed by "watching TV," then "sitting and reading." Movie theaters don't show up until No. 6, "sitting, inactive in a public place (e.g. a theatre or meeting)," which has a somnificity score less than half of watching TV, but twice as sleep-inducing as sitting and talking with someone. Why are some daytime activities more somniferous than others? Posture plays a big role, Johns concluded. "A situation with high somnificity is one where you're not moving much. You might be sitting, but you won't be standing, and you won't be moving your head and neck in particular," says Johns. When the muscles in the head and neck relax, he explains, that sends signals to the brain to reduce something called the "secondary wake drive." And when that drive is reduced, sleep is more likely to take over. That's because sleepiness and wakefulness are products of two separate bundles of nerve cells in your brain that regulate the "sleep drive" and the "wake drive." Your sleep drive and wake drive exist in a yin-and-yang relationship, meaning they are mutually inhibitory. The wake drive inhibits the sleep drive and the sleep drive inhibits the wake drive. Whichever is dominant at any given moment determines whether you are awake or out cold. Most of the push and pull between the sleep and wake drives is hardwired by the circadian alerting system (or internal biological clock), which is programmed to keep us alert for roughly 16 hours a day and sleepy for eight hours. That's why jet lag is so disorienting, because our internal awake/sleep clock hasn't updated to the new time zone. But the biological clock only controls what Johns called the "primary wake drive." There's also a secondary wake drive, he believes, that's influenced by physical postures and activity levels. "When you stand up, the muscles and joints that are involved in maintaining your posture produce some contribution to the secondary wake drive," Johns says. "When you sit down, or perhaps more relevantly, when you lie down and close your eyes and stop moving, you reduce this secondary wake drive and that induces sleep." That partially explains why reading, or watching TV or a movie, can push us over the edge into Sleepytown. We're sitting still, head and neck relaxed. But why is TV-watching twice as likely to put people asleep? Probably because a lot of adults watch TV to wind down at the end of a long day, precisely as the wake drive is giving way to the sleep signals. (Many also watch TV lying down.) Going to the movies, on the other hand, is more of an "exciting" activity than a relaxing one. But why is it that some people fall asleep during absolutely any movie, even films with blaring soundtracks and endless explosions? In that case, it might be a sign of an underlying sleep disorder. Philip Gehrman is a sleep scientist and assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine. In his practice, he deploys the Epworth Sleepiness Scale as a tool for diagnosing sleep disorders "based on the idea that if you're well rested, you should be able to maintain wakefulness even in sedentary, quiet activities," Gehrman says. Gehrman says that falling asleep in the movies, even sometimes, is a sign of a sleep deficit. That deficit could be caused by simply being overtired or because of a sleep disorder. It's true that most of us simply aren't sleeping enough -- the National Sleep Foundation recommends seven to nine hours for adults 26-64 -- but others may suffer from more serious sleep disorders like sleep apnea that can profoundly disrupt sleep. One reason why older people are more likely to doze off in movie theaters is that you're more likely to have a sleep disorder as you age, says Gehrman. So, if you're one of those people who always starts to snore 10 minutes into the latest action flick, you might want to tell your doctor. Now That's Sleep-Inducing A British play called "Lullaby" was performed in 2011. Audience members wore pajamas and were given beds to lie on. The aim of the theatre piece was to send the audience to sleep during its performance. Montana's March for Reproductive Rights held on the Capitol grounds in Helena Sunday morning drew more than 1,000 protesters, angry, frustrated and scared, mobilizing in the wake of Friday's Supreme Court decision striking down Roe v. Wade. The group calls itself a grassroots organization that "formed organically on Facebook" in October, according to one of the group's moderators Reilly Neill. "We want to get folks registered to vote, get folks active and out in their communities," Neill said in an interview ahead of the march. The about 1,200 attendees, seemingly every one with a sharply worded sign, heard speeches from Rep. Mary Ann Dunwell, D-Helena, Justice Jim Nelson, congressional candidate Penny Ronning and poet Melissa Kwansy. Helena resident Brooke Hathaway, 20, said she came to protest because of her year-old child. "I had the right to choose to be a parent," Hathaway said. "It was a hard decision for me at a young age, but I got to make that choice." Helena resident Kalia Brown, 20, said she is "infuriated" and feels her "voice" was taken from her and every woman with the court's decision to eliminate the constitutional right to an abortion that was the law of the land for nearly a half-century. "If I'm proving I have a voice. It's my job to be here, standing with everyone else," Brown said. On Friday, the Supreme Court's Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision overturned the nearly 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling and eliminated the constitutional right to an abortion. In Montana, abortion remains legal, protected by a 1999 state Supreme Court case. The state does not have a so-called "trigger law" like all of its neighbors. The decision in Armstrong v. State, the 1999 case in Montana, held that abortion access is protected by Montanans constitutional right to privacy. Shannon Walden, a 62-year-old Fort Benton resident, said she made the drive Sunday to the capital city to show her support. "I'm pissed," Walden said. She said she hopes fellow attendees walk away from the march with renewed energy. "Don't give up hope," Walden said. "You're not alone." A common feeling among attendees spoken to was that the issue of reproductive rights is much more than simply a woman's cause. Doug Turman, 62, of Helena said he came to the protest with his wife. "She, like many of the women I know, are feeling disrespected, feeling invisible," Turman said. "They feel overlooked, almost assaulted, and need support." Bozeman resident Daniel Dutcher, 28, said he brought the protest signs he made last year to the march. "This goes so much further; it's about privacy in general," Dutcher said. "It's important to take a stand." Helena Police Department Sgt. Danny David confirmed the department had a light presence at the event, and that aside from one spat between a protester and counter protester in which no arrests were made, "it's been very peaceful." "For how many people are here, it's been quiet," David said. Montana Highway Patrol, tasked year-round with policing the Capitol, also kept watch over the protest. Love 53 Funny 10 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 9 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A few hours after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, nearly 30 people gathered Friday outside Helenas Planned Parenthood, holding a "praise service" to celebrate the decision. We are here to rejoice in the Supreme Courts decision to correct a wrong made over 50 years ago, and that life is being valued and protected, said Heather Buckley, one of the attendees at the noon event. Roe v. Wade, a 1973 Supreme Court decision, is best known for legalizing abortions nationally. It provided a framework for states to follow regarding abortion laws, but struck down laws banning abortions before "fetal viability." In Montana, abortion remains legal following today's decision, protected by a 1999 state Supreme Court case. The decision in Armstrong v. State, the 1999 case in Montana, held that abortion access is protected by Montanans constitutional right to privacy. The 30 people who gathered outside of Planned Parenthood were from the group Pro-Life Helena. Pro-Life Helenas goal is to make abortion unthinkable in our community, according to its website. The praise service on Friday was organized in conjunction with anti-abortion events taking place across the country. The group 40 Days for Life a nonprofit that aims to end abortion through methods like prayer, fasting and demonstrations in front of clinics that provide the service called for these events to take place across America as the Roe decision came out Friday. Attendees said they were glad the Roe decision had been overturned and decisions about the laws returned to states. It feels like unbelievable grace, said Peggy Sorden. Sorden said shed had two abortions in the 1970s, and she felt she was in a darker place than she had been after them. She said that she understands the fear of being a mother and the reasons someone would have an abortion, but that those reasons are based on lies. Sorden said culture has told young women that abortions are a good thing that doesnt have consequences, but in her experience, those are lies. Sharon Nason, another event attendee, said that even with Roes overturn, members of Pro-Life Helena will need to continue to pray, since Montanas laws still allow abortion. You can pass all the laws you want, but you need to change hearts, Nason said, adding that women who get abortions arent thinking about the long-term repercussions and that Pro-Life Helena provides resources for them. The Resources page of Pro-Life Helenas website offers up adoption services, a pregnancy crisis helpline, the national domestic violence hotline, along with resources for abortion pill reversal and abortion workers who want to leave the industry. Planned Parenthood of Montana offers a number of services, including reproductive health exams, pregnancy testing and services, birth control and testing for sexually transmitted infections and diseases. Only the Billings locations, Helena location and Great Falls locations provide abortion services. Martha Fuller, the president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of Montana, emphasized in an emailed statement today that abortion access in Montana didn't change with Roe's overturn. "We are proud to uphold (our) mission to provide patients with the health services they need and deserve, including abortion care," Fuller wrote. "Their doors are open and will continue offering the non-judgmental, high-quality care our patients depend on them for regardless of who they love, where they live, and how much money they make." According to the PEW Research Center, 61% of Americans favor the right to an abortion in all or most cases, while only 38% believe abortion should be illegal in all or most cases. Further, 7-in-10 Americans didnt want Roe v. Wade to be overturned, though this concern has become a reality. Love 18 Funny 0 Wow 3 Sad 1 Angry 18 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Today's highlight: On June 27, 2016, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its strongest defense of abortion rights in a quarter-century, striking down Texas' widely replicated rules that sharply reduced abortion clinics. On this date: In 1844, Mormon leader Joseph Smith and his brother, Hyrum, were killed by a mob in Carthage, Illinois. In 1880, author-lecturer Helen Keller, who lived most of her life without sight or hearing, was born in Tuscumbia, Alabama. In 1942, the FBI announced the arrests of eight Nazi saboteurs put ashore in Florida and Long Island, New York. (All were tried and sentenced to death; six were executed while two were spared for turning themselves in and cooperating with U.S. authorities.) In 1944, during World War II, American forces liberated the French port of Cherbourg from the Germans. In 1950, the U.N. Security Council passed a resolution calling on member nations to help South Korea repel an invasion from the North. In 1957, Hurricane Audrey slammed into coastal Louisiana and Texas as a Category 4 storm; the official death toll from the storm was placed at 390, although a variety of state, federal and local sources have estimated the number of fatalities at between 400 and 600. In 1974, President Richard Nixon opened an official visit to the Soviet Union. In 1991, Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, the first Black jurist to sit on the nation's highest court, announced his retirement. (His departure led to the contentious nomination of Clarence Thomas to succeed him.) In 2005, the Supreme Court ruled, in a pair of 5-4 decisions, that displaying the Ten Commandments on government property was constitutionally permissible in some cases but not in others. BTK serial killer Dennis Rader pleaded guilty to 10 murders that had spread fear across Wichita, Kansas, beginning in the 1970s. (Rader later received multiple life sentences.) In 2006, a constitutional amendment to ban desecration of the American flag died in a Senate cliffhanger, falling one vote short of the 67 needed to send it to states for ratification. In 2011, former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was convicted by a federal jury in Chicago on a wide range of corruption charges, including the allegation that he'd tried to sell or trade President Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat. (Blagojevich was later sentenced to 14 years in prison; his sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in February 2020.) In 2012, Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and former Irish Republican Army commander Martin McGuinness offered each other the hand of peace during a private meeting inside Belfast's riverside Lyric Theatre. A 22-year-old former Texas Tech University student from Saudi Arabia, Khalid Ali-M Aldawsari, was convicted in Amarillo of attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction; prosecutors said he had researched possible bombing targets, including the Dallas home of former President George W. Bush. (Aldawsari was later sentenced to life in prison.) In 2017, a new and highly virulent outbreak of malicious data-scrambling software began causing mass disruption across the world, hitting Europe and Ukraine especially hard. In 2018, Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose vote often decided cases on abortion, gay rights and other contentious issues, announced his retirement. In 2021, a historic heat wave in the Pacific Northwest pushed daytime temperatures into the triple digits, setting records in places where many residents were without air conditioning; the temperature in Portland, Oregon, reached 112 degrees. The U.S. track and field trials in Eugene, Oregon, were halted and fans were asked to evacuate the stadium because of the extreme heat. According to studio estimates, "F9," the ninth installment of the "Fast & Furious" movie franchise, took in $70 million in its first weekend, the biggest opening for a film since the pandemic began. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DECATUR Following a heated state redistricting process and a move from March to June, Macon County is on track for a mostly normal primary election day. Early voting has been steady, and overall turnout leading up to the June 28 election has been average for a primary year, according to Macon County Clerk Josh Tanner. Primaries generally have lower turnout, Tanner said. The presidential election that we went through in 2020 obviously had much higher turnout, he said. But for a primary, (this year has) been pretty steady. This year, Illinoisans are voting in June instead of March. In 2021, state officials shifted what would have been a March 15 primary to June 28 as lawmakers awaited the U.S. Census data necessary to redraw state and federal district maps. This years primary election posed a few issues for election officials, Tanner said. Officials first concern was simply making sure voters knew about the date change. Tanner credited local media with helping to send out information about the new date. One other point of confusion for many voters, Tanner said, is that many voters are in new districts and dont recognize the candidates on their ballots. We used to have one Congressional district, now we have two. We have five state representative districts, and we have three state senators. So we have more offices in Macon County than people are used to, he said. The most notable district changes for Macon County voters are in the countys U.S. Congressional districts. Illinois Democrats who controlled the states redistricting process last year drew current U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, R-Taylorville, into a new, heavily Republican-leaning district with Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, leaving the 13th District with no incumbent. The new 13th District excludes mostly rural areas in Central Illinois. It stretches from East St. Louis through Springfield, Decatur, and Champaign-Urbana. The new 15th District completely surrounds the 13th and includes communities like Vandalia, Lincoln and Quincy. While most of Decatur is in the 13th Congressional District, Macon, Mount Zion, and most other parts of the county are now in the 15th District. Other contested races include the Republican nominations for governor and for Macon County sheriff. The race for sheriff pits incumbent Sheriff Jim Root against Cody Moore, who retired from the Decatur Police Department. It was only after a lengthy court battle over some contested ballots in 2018 that Root was sworn into the position in May 2021. There is no Democrat currently on the ballot. Republican voters in two of Macon Countys five county board districts will have a primary, setting the stage for incumbent-heavy battles in the fall. The primaries are needed to whittle the list of Republican candidates down to three in the new District 4 and District 5. The new board district map, approved based on the results of the 2020 Census, saw the number of districts drop from seven to five, with each still represented by three board members. In the two districts where there will be primaries, there are numerous current board members who will be going head to head in November. In District 4, current Republican board members Kevin Greenfield, Jason Comer and Ryan Kreke are being challenged in the primary by Edward D. Yoder. Yoder is the son of Edward D. Yoder, the former Macon County treasurer who stepped down last year after more than 10 years leading the office. The top three vote-getters in the primary will go on to challenge current Democrat board members Marcy Rood and Patricia Dawson. In District 5, current Republican board members Debra Kraft, Gregory Mattingley and Linda Little are being challenged by Hubert Murray. The top three vote-getters in this race will go on to face current Democrat board member Shad Edwards. While calls to vote have increased following recent national news like the Supreme Courts decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Tanner said its difficult to mobilize voters during a primary election season. Primary voters are primary voters. They are people who vote in every election, he said. It is really hard to drive turnout up in a primary. Illinois runs an open primary system, which means voters must choose between a Republican or a Democratic ballot in the election. However, as Tanner stressed, pulling a ballot for either party does not mean a voter is registered with that party. Tanner also said some polling locations in the county are no longer open, so voters should check their voter ID cards to ensure they know which polling place to head to. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. A list of polling places in Macon County is available on the Macon County website at maconcounty.illinois.gov. Contact Taylor Vidmar at (217) 421-6949. Follow her on Twitter: @taylorvidmar11. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. DECATUR Efforts are underway to find another emergency medical transport provider after Hospital Sisters Health System confirmed Monday that it would close Decatur Ambulance Service as of Sept. 1. Founded in 1959 and purchased by HSHS St. Mary's in 2018, Decatur Ambulance Service has long been the sole provider of ambulance services in the city. It also serves Pana and Shelbyville. The hospital said it was working with city officials to secure another vendor to serve the community before the closure. Spokeswoman Jennifer Snopko said factors that drove the decision included the difficulty of finding qualified candidates for open positions and the cost of equipment and vehicles. "This decision was weighed heavily, as we have been proud and privileged to serve the residents of Decatur, Pana and surrounding communities," Snopko said in an emailed statement. "We are dedicated to ensuring that the community continues to have access to emergency care delivered at a high level." It was not immediately clear how many employees would be affected, and a Decatur Ambulance Service representative could not immediately be reached for comment Monday. As of February 2020, the company had a fleet of 19 ambulances staffed by 24 emergency medical technicians and 50 paramedics, who have a higher level of training. Deputy City Manager Jon Kindseth said city leaders were aware of the impending closure. "I think long story short, HSHS has been losing money under Decatur Ambulance Service," Kindseth said. "And I think that they've just kind of finally come to the end of the line to say that we can't continue to run the ambulance service and take a loss year-after-year." Kindseth said city officials have been working with HSHS and Memorial Health to find a replacement service to serve Decatur. This may come in the form of a request for proposal, though the city's only formal role is to issue licenses for ambulance companies to operate within city limits. "Our goal would be to try to get as many respondents to the solicitation for proposals," Kindseth said. "Competition is always a good thing. Whether it ends up being one one company or multiple companies ultimately getting licensed, we'll have to wait and see how those responses come back." State law requires large employers to give 60 days advance notice before mass layoffs. Despite the Sept. 1 termination notice, Kindseth said that HSHS has committed to keep the ambulance service around until there's a transition to a new provider. St. Marys and Decatur Ambulance Service leaders fought the move, arguing that the city did not need additional emergency transport, and that introducing another company would hurt the current business and put paramedics out of work. Decatur Ambulance Service leaders and employees also expressed serious concerns in 2015 when city officials considered the possibility of operating their own ambulance through the fire department. Nationally, emergency medical transportation providers have been having issues for years. The National Rural Health Association found in 2018 that a third of rural emergency medical services were struggling with inadequate funding. Decatur Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe, who is the executive director of philanthropy, advocacy and community relations at HSHS St. Mary's, declined comment, citing a conflict of interest given her job. Valerie Wells contributed to this story. The hospital system's full statement is below: After detailed research and discernment, HSHS St. Marys Decatur leadership has decided to dissolve the pre-hospital service line of Decatur Ambulance Service (DAS) in the coming months. We are working in collaboration with city officials to secure another vendor to service the community before the closure of September 1, 2022. Our objective is for the public to not see any disruption in service when the need for emergent care arises. This decision was weighed heavily, as we have been proud and privileged to serve the residents of Decatur, Pana and surrounding communities. We are dedicated to ensuring that the community continues to have access to emergency care delivered at a high level. The pre-hospital care environment is a specialized one. There are numerous external agencies whose sole business is in-the-field care and transport who can take over and continue to deliver this service at the expert level currently given. Factors that led us to this service closure include the current and very difficult landscape for filling open positions with quality candidates in this high-demand field and the ongoing cost of upgrading necessary equipment, vehicles and other supplies The colleagues of DAS deliver high-quality care and the performance of their duties has not impacted this decision and we truly thank them for their years of service. Colleagues will be considered to transition to open positions within St. Marys Hospital or other HSHS entities if they are qualified and want to remain with HSHS. In addition, there is high demand in the field of pre-hospital care and their skill and expertise could be an asset to any future agency in our area. Overall, weve laid a strong foundation of pre-hospital care in the community and we will continue collaborative discussions to open opportunities for additional pre-hospital businesses to join our community. Contact Brenden Moore at 217-421-7984. Follow him on Twitter at @brendenmoore13. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 1 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Women and LGBTQ people woke up on Friday to a world in which their rights to prevent pregnancies, have sex and marry could vanish with the stroke of a Supreme Court ruling. This dystopian, Handmaids Tale scenario isnt just liberal hyperbole, I hate to say. The U.S. Supreme Court opinion reversing Roe v. Wade released Friday took away the constitutional right to an abortion, leaving states to decide the issue. The 200-plus-page package delivered by the court also contains something even more chilling: a concurring opinion penned by Justice Clarence Thomas arguing the court should reconsider other rulings that codified rights to same-sex relationships and marriage as well as access to contraception. The court based Roe v. Wade and these other rulings Griswold v. Connecticut, Lawrence V. Texas, and Obergefell v. Hodge on the 14th Amendments due process clause. Under Thomas reasoning, Fridays ruling elicits the revision of all similar precedents. He wrote that ...we have a duty to correct the error established in those precedents. He spoke for himself, not the other five conservative justices, but his opinion is an implicit invitation for red states to pass laws that run afoul of those precedents in hopes of reversing them. His writing confirms fears that the overturn of Roe v. Wade is just the first shoe to drop in the courts usurpation of rights we thought were woven into the fabric of our society. The courts three liberal justices echoed that concern, writing in their dissenting opinion that no one should be confident that this majority is done with its work. For women who couldnt care less about the end of Roe v. Wade thinking theyd never have an abortion, anyway its time to start caring. Thanks to the 1965 Griswold v. Connecticut ruling, the middle-aged men who run most state capitols cannot prohibit you from accessing birth control. But, cmon, women take the pill like they take vitamins nowadays. Who would ban contraception? Probably people like the governor of Mississippi, who wont rule that out, or Republicans who tried to stop Missouris Medicaid agency from paying for the morning-after pill and IUDs. These are the kinds of politicians in control of many state legislatures, which, without constitutional protections, would be in charge of deciding what happens to contraceptives, same-sex relationships and same-sex marriage. That would create a divide in America, where your liberties are dictated by the state in which you live. Things could get even more absurd. In 2003s Lawrence v. Texas, the court ruled that a Texas law that made same-sex sexual activity a crime violated the 14th Amendments due process clause. Not surprisingly, Thomas dissented. Without that precedent, states would be allowed to arrest and prosecute people who engage in gay sex. That seems unlikely to happen in 2022. But its not paranoia to wonder what could happen in red states when you read the Texas Republican Partys 2022 platform: Homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice. We believe there should be no granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior. A world in which our rights could be taken so quickly used to feel like the stuff of literary fiction. But Thomas opinion reads more like a bad omen. Isadora Rangel is a member of the Miami Herald editorial board. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today A few passing clouds. Low 74F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few passing clouds. Low 74F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. BRISTOL, Va. The Bristol Virginia City Council is expected to approve the terms of a preliminary injunction order, related to litigation from Bristol Tennessee, during Tuesday nights meeting. On June 14, Bristol Tennessee filed a stipulation in U.S. District Court in Abingdon, requesting a preliminary injunction order to have Bristol Virginia take actions designed to ultimately resolve its complaint filed against Bristol Virginia for the operation of its landfill. Senior Judge James P. Jones then issued that preliminary order, which directs Bristol Virginia city leaders to take certain mutually agreed upon, specified actions to fix landfill issues. The order also sets out a timeline for those and other actions to occur and allows Bristol Tennessee access to the landfill. Bristol Tennessee filed its original complaint May 26, alleging the city of Bristol Virginia had violated the Clean Air Act and Resource Conservation and Recovery Act and hadnt taken the proper steps to resolve emission and odor issues with its landfill. It also filed a request for a preliminary injunction, asking the court to direct Bristol Virginia to immediately begin taking steps to address landfill issues. Specific details of the preliminary injunction were offered by the city of Bristol Virginia as a way to settle the case. Bristol Tennessee officials previously said the complaint will remain on file in the court until all issues are resolved. The preliminary order requires Bristol Virginia to take several steps recommended by an expert panel, convened by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, to address concerns with emissions and odors from its quarry landfill. Those include: 1. Install a sidewall odor mitigation system around the perimeter of the landfill in accordance with the expert panel report within one year of the preliminary order, or by June 14, 2023. 2. Install a dedicated system of thermocouples in the waste mass to monitor landfill temperatures in accordance with the expert report within 90 days of entry of the order and conduct monitoring until the landfill is permanently closed. 3. Cease the acceptance of all waste at the landfill within 90 days of June 14, 2022. 4. Install cover sufficient to meet the intermediate cover requirements of the Virginia Solid Waste Management Regulations within 90 days of entry of the order. 5. Submit a report to Bristol Tennessee setting forth how Bristol Virginia will accomplish implementation of all other recommendations cited in the expert report, including the permanent closure of the landfill. That report is due in August, within 60 days of entry of the order. 6. Allow Bristol Tennessee and its agents access to the landfill to confirm compliance with the above actions, upon reasonable notice and during regular business hours. Bristol Virginia also agrees to pay Bristol Tennessee $250,000 no later than July 10, 2022 as compensation for attorneys and expert witness fees related to the litigation, under the terms of the order. Additionally, Bristol Virginia and its consultants, SCS Engineers, have until July 6 to submit an action plan for the landfill to the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. The meeting begins at 6 p.m., at City Hall, 300 Lee St. Twitter: @DMcGeeBHC Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Finalists selected for next president of Northeast State A Tennessee Board of Regents Search Advisory Committee has selected four finalists for the next president of Northeast State Community College. The finalists will participate in campus visits including open forums with campus groups and the public July 11-14, the next step in the selection process. The finalists are: Dr. Robert R. Brandon - vice president of academic and student services at Southwest Virginia Community College in Richlands, Virginia. Brandon earned a Ph.D. in English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro in Greensboro, North Carolina; a Master of Arts degree in English at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee; and a Bachelor of Arts degree in English at Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia. Dr. Eric A. Heiser, provost at Central Ohio Technical College in Newark, Ohio. Heiser earned a Ph.D. in Education and Human Resource Sudies-Higher Education Leadership from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado; a Master of Arts degree in Adult and Postsecondary Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration, both from the University of Wyoming in Laramie, Wyoming; and an Associate of Science degree in business administration from Central Wyoming College in Riverton, Wyoming. Dr. Connie Marshall, interim president at Northeast State Community College in Blountville, Tennessee. Marshall earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee; a Master of Arts degree in Education and a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management, both from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee; and an Associate of Applied Science degree in health science-radiology from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee. Commissioner Jeff McCord, Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development. McCord earned an Ed.D. in learning and leadership from the University of Chattanooga in Chattanooga, Tennessee; a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in information systems from Kennesaw State University in Kennesaw, Georgia; and a Bachelor of Science degree in management from Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, Georgia. The finalists resumes and other information about the search process are posted on the Northeast State Community College presidential search page of the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) website at https://www.tbr.edu/hr/executivesearches/president-northeast-state-community-college Each finalist will participate in open forums with faculty, staff, students and the public who wish to attend. The forums are all scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Wellmont Regional Center for the Performing Arts on the main campus, with Heiser scheduled for July 11, Marshall on July 12, McCord on July 13, and Brandon on July 14. The forums will be streamed on the TBR website and the Northeast State Community College website. After the campus visits, TBR Chancellor Flora W. Tydings will gather input from the campus communities and forums, and meet with the finalists to select one candidate for nomination to the Board of Regents. Input and comments on the candidates may be submitted through an online survey that will be added to the search webpage above. The board will appoint the next president, during a special called meeting to be scheduled later. Lori Owenby was a park ranger at Riverbend Park when she and her colleague saw an unfamiliar creature fly by. Little did she know that this creature would lead her to collaborating with the Smithsonian Institution. Owenby said her colleague Dwayne thought the creature was a hummingbird based on its shape and flight. Owenby was confident the creature was a moth because of its striped pattern. They snapped photographs of the creature and discovered that it was a Titan Sphinx moth, which is native to South America. The photo by Owenby was the first and only record of the Titan Sphinx moth ever documented in the state. She said a storm system may be the reason the moth made it to North Carolina. The Smithsonian contacted Owenby about her Titan Sphinx moth sighting and asked her to start collecting moths. When I see a moth species that hasnt been recorded for North Carolina, I have little vials and I put them in the freezer, Owenby said. She packs the moths in dry ice and sends them to the Smithsonian where they let the moths thaw and then pin them on display. Her fascination with moths began when she was about 12 at Girl Scout camp. This was when she encountered her first Luna moth. I was fascinated; I was completely hooked. I wanted to learn everything about it, Owenby said. Owenby, a Conover resident, has worked for the Catawba County Parks system for 15 years and is now the park superintendent of the New Mountain Creek Park in Sherrills Ford. Being a park ranger wasnt always her first career choice. After she graduated from Bunker Hill High School, Owenby went to college to be a teacher. After working in a daycare she decided teaching wasnt her passion. She also worked for a furniture company for a while and she knew the job was not for her because she wanted to be outdoors. Owenby went on to get her associates degree at Catawba Valley Community College and then she started working part-time at Catawba Countys Riverbend Park. She has been a county employee since. Her passion for nature and birds started when she was young because she was always exposed to the outdoors. I love how everything is connected to each other, Owenby said. That little bluebird thats out here eats the worms and the mosquitoes that are flying around that are a nuisance to everybody else, but they need all that in order to survive so they can feed their babies. Owenby is an advocate for how important parks are for mental and physical health. Being at the park and listening to the birds, or going down to the water to watch the sunrise in the morning or the sunset in the evening is a very mentally healthy thing to do, Owenby said. She said she could see a difference in people who visit parks regularly. At Riverbend, I would see people start coming to the park and you could tell that they were stressed out, Owenby said. Then the more you saw them, you could see how much theyd loosened up. Her hope is to see kids playing and embracing the outdoors at Mountain Creek Park. A lot of kids have never even been in the woods. Theyve never been down to a creek and flipped rocks. They dont know how to pick up a salamander and they are scared of crawdads, Owenby said. I greatly enjoy getting kids out and letting them witness and experience nature, do hands-on stuff and say, Hey, this isnt that scary. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A North Carolina man now described as a serial killer shot and killed Nancy Rego of Charlotte and poisoned her 88-year-old mother in November 2017, according to federal prosecutors who handled the case. Daniel Printz, a Rutherford County handyman, also killed Gaston County resident Leigh Goodman, 61, in 2018 within days of meeting her, the U.S. Attorneys Office in South Carolina says. The remains of Rego and Goodman have not been found and likely never will be, authorities say. We believe and the evidence supports that Printz disposed of their bodies in a way in which they are unrecoverable, Assistant U.S. Attorney Derek Shoemake told The Charlotte Observer on Thursday. On Tuesday, Printz, 59, pleaded guilty in Spartanburg, S.C., federal court to kidnapping and homicide charges in connection with the August 2021 death of Edna Suttles, 80, of Travelers Rest, S.C. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. In his plea agreement with federal prosecutors, Printz also acknowledged a role in the death or disappearances of Rego, Sellers and Goodman but was not charged with additional crimes. Goodman, originally from Sarasota, Florida, lived a transient life, according to the Gaston Gazette. Neither Gaston County Police nor Gastonia Police were familiar with her, the newspaper reported. She was killed at (Printzs) property in Gaston County, and there was some evidence presented in court that she lived there for some brief period, Shoemake told the Gazette. Given her transient nature we cannot definitively say where she lived. Authorities warn that Printz may have killed others. He served more than a decade in prison after being convicted in Michigan in 1997 of kidnapping a woman there. Given the number of victims, South Carolina prosecutors could have sought the death penalty against Printz but opted for a mandatory life sentence after he agreed to cooperate with the investigation, including taking investigators to where hed buried Suttles body. At a Wednesday news conference in Greenville, S.C., Paul Davis, an assistant special agent in charge of the FBI office in South Carolina, said he hoped Printzs confession, conviction and sentencing offered some closure to the families of the victims who have been trapped in a continuous nightmare, spending every day wondering what happened to their loved ones. Social Security checks The additional details of Printzs killings do cast new light on the 5-year-old riddle of how Rego, 66, a longtime Charlotte massage therapist, disappeared five years ago on the very day her mother, Dolores Sellers, died. According to prosecutors, Sellers died on Nov. 8, 2017, after Printz gave her a lethal dose of prescription medication. Investigators say Rego was dating Printz at the time of her disappearance and had signed over her power of attorney to him in September 2017. According to investigators, she was shot and killed two months later. After she vanished, her family members texted and emailed with a person who purported to be Rego but refused to meet or speak with them, an FBI affidavit claims. An additional affidavit accompanying Printzs criminal complaint alleges he collected Regos Social Security check for years until his arrest last September in connection with Suttles disappearance. Suttles was last seen alive in late August, meeting with Printz outside a grocery store in Travelers Rest then driving away after he got into her car. Her body was found in May after Printz led investigators to her makeshift grave in rural Rutherford County. She too had been given a lethal dose of medication, prosecutors say. An FBI affidavit says Printz may also have used a plastic bag to suffocate her. During a September 2021 raid on Printzs home as part of the Suttles investigation, detectives with the Greenville County Sheriffs Office discovered Regos drivers license and passport. After Printzs arrest that day, Regos debit card was found in his wallet. No alarm bells The ties between Printz and the missing Rego first became public four years earlier when her car was involved in a June 2018 wreck. Printz was behind the wheel. The vehicle was towed, never picked up and eventually auctioned. A subsequent search of Printzs residence by the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office on Sept. 23 found even more links to Rego, including bank statements, credit cards, prescription medication, and a wallet belonging to her mother, court records show. On Oct. 9, Suttles hand bag, car keys and other personal effects were discovered in a bee box on Printzs property in the small Rutherford County town of Bostic. In an Oct. 13 interview with investigators in which he said he wanted to purge himself of his sins, Printz hinted at multiple killings, according to a FBI affidavit unsealed in March. In one example, Printz said he hypothetically helped a friend euthanize a family member, then apparently killed the friend when the friend had feelings of remorse and was going "to tell." During the same interrogation, Printz spoke of another friend whom he tried to help who also ended up dying. Printz disposed of the body so he could collect the friends Social Security, the affidavit says. Asked if Printz was referring to Rego in either instance, Shoemake referred the Observer to the public court documents in the case. Lisa Jones, who teaches college history in Charlotte and who knew Rego for 20 years, wonders why it took authorities so long to look into her friends disappearance. Her car was in an accident (four years ago) and no alarm bells went off? the former South Carolina probation and parole officer told the Observer last month. Did any part of law enforcement even know she was missing? The first missing persons report on Rego appears to have been issued last September, immediately after investigators found her personal items at Printzs home but almost four years after she disappeared. Preparations have begun on a new farm bill and thats the reason the House Agriculture Committee met on Wednesday, June 22, at the Longworth House Office Building. Presiding over the meeting was House Agricultural Committee Chair David Scott (D-Ga.). Dairy farmers are grateful for the work this committee did to reform the dairy safety net in both the 2018 Farm Bill and the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2018, shared Pennsylvania dairy farmer Lolly Lesher. Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC) worked as intended in 2021, paying out well over $1.1 billion to participating farmers nationwide, including nearly $89 million to Pennsylvania producers, as they continued to weather the COVID-19 pandemic. However, as valuable as the program has been, many farmers have not been able to fully benefit because DMC's underlying production history calculation is outdated. It is critical that farms like mine and my neighbors have an opportunity to update their production history to reflect current on-farm production. 2013 is far too long ago, and other farm safety net programs do not use such an outdated production reference. Many farms have grown to meet market demands or to allow their children to join the farm, continued the dairy producer who milks 240 cows. To that end, we thank this committee for enacting Supplemental Dairy Margin Coverage payments to compensate farmers for incremental production increases since 2014, accounting for a nearly decade-old production history formula. It is critical that this production history adjustment be carried over into the 2023 Farm Bill so that DMC remains a viable safety net, shared the co-owner of Way-Har Farms. Finally, we are grateful that, on par with producers of other commodities, dairy farmers, large and small, now have access to both a Farm Service Agency-run safety net as well as Risk Management Agency tools, such as Dairy Revenue Protection (Dairy-RP) and Livestock Gross Margin-Dairy (LGM-Dairy). These programs give all farmers the ability to adapt their risk management to their needs, shared Lesher. Lets look at the Class I mover Lesher then went into details about the change in the Class I mover calculation from the higher of to a monthly average of Class III and Class IV, plus 74 cents per hundredweight (cwt.). The new mover was enacted into law on the basis that farm-level revenue would be maintained, she said, then explained that market conditions didnt allow that to play out. The new Class I mover took effect in May 2019, but the COVID-19 pandemic dramatically undercut the revenue neutrality that formed its foundation, she continued. This undermined the orderly marketing of milk and represented a net loss to dairy producers of more than $750 million during the latter half of 2020, including over $141 million in the Northeast Order, which includes much of Pennsylvania, she explained. Work must also be done to avoid a repeat of this scenario in the future. Fundamentally, the current Class I mover saddles dairy farmers with asymmetric risk because it includes an upper limit on how much more Class I skim revenue it can generate for producers than the previous mover, but no lower limit on how much less can be generated than the previous mover, stated the Pennsylvania dairy farmer. Labor and labeling Lesher concluded her testimony on two important topics for dairy. However, those topics were outside the committees jurisdiction. First, dairy farmers across the country are facing acute shortages of workers even as they work to provide sustainable nutrition for all Americans at a time of rising food costs, said the Pennsylvania dairy woman. However, unlike the rest of agriculture, the dairy industry is unable to use the H-2A seasonal agricultural worker visa program because of the year-round nature of dairy production. We strongly urge Congress to enact long-needed legislation to allow dairy to meaningfully access H-2A, and to provide current agricultural workers and their families with permanent legal status. Separately, while this committee does not oversee the Food and Drug Administration, it is critical that the agency finally enforce dairy standards of identity to combat the proliferation of imitation products attempting to use dairy's positive reputation in the marketplace when these products are not nutritionally equivalent to real dairy, Lesher concluded. To read full transcripts of the testimony, visit Hearing: A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Dairy Provisions. To comment, email your remarks to intel@hoards.com. (c) Hoard's Dairyman Intel 2022 June 23, 2022 The area high school students who have been spending the past two weeks at Hope College for Canto! A Latinx Vocal Intensive will present a concert featuring their talents and a range of Latinx vocal music on Friday, July 1, at 6:30 p.m. in the Concert Hall of the Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts. The concert will be preceded by a Salsa Dance presentation and class that will take place in the lobby at 5:45 p.m. The public is invited to attend both the dance presentation and the concert. Admission is free. The vocal intensive, which began on June 20 and will culminate in the celebratory concert on July 1, has provided an opportunity for 12 Latinx students from the Holland area to receive high-level vocal training, as well as develop a deeper understanding of the historical context of Classical Latinx Music. A collaborative effort of Hope College and Latin Americans United for Progress (LAUP), the intensive is funded through an award from the Theres No Place Like Home initiative administered by Hope to link community organizations with Hope faculty and students to together address pressing social needs in the Holland area. The students have been studying vocal pieces composed solely by Latinx artists, both ancient and modern; have been receiving private voice lessons and rehearsing in small vocal ensembles; attending lectures and sessions discussing the history of Latinx music; engaging in conversations with professional Latinx classical musicians; and receiving mentorship from Latinx leaders in the community. The concert program will reflect the range of works that the students have been exploring, and will include solo and ensemble selections. Pieces and composers on the program will include: La Llorona, popular text, with music by Jose Barros, arranged by Alberto Carbonell (Colombia); Hanacpachap Cussicuinin, compiled by Juan Perez Bocanegra, T.O.S.F. (Peru); Son de la Vida (Son Veracruzano,), by Jose Galvan (Mexico); Te Quiero by Alberto Favero, arranged by Liliana Cangiano (Argentina); Gala del Dia, Carlos Guastavino (Argentina); Lua Branca, by Francisca (Chiquinha) Gonzaga (Brazil); Vos Nunca te Fuiste de mi Corazon, by Patricia Caicedo and Fernando Martinez (Colombia); Jurame, by Maria Grever (Mexico); and Por una cabeza, by Alfredo le Pera (Brazil). The ensemble conductor is Eric D. Reyes, assistant professor of music instruction and director of choral activities at Hope. The vocal instructor for the private lessons is Dr. Sarah VandenBrink, assistant professor of voice. Christina Krause, who coordinates accompanying for the Department of Music, is the collaborative keyboardist. Subtitled The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Community-Based Partnerships Presidential Initiative of Hope College and Holland, Michigan, the Theres No Place Like Home program was established in February 2020 through a grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Canto! A Latinx Vocal Intensive was one of five community-based partnerships to have received sub-awards through Theres No Place Like Home this past spring. The program previously supported three community-based partnerships with sub-awards in the spring of 2021 and another three in the summer of 2021, and anticipates announcing an additional round of awards this summer. Audience members who need assistance to fully enjoy any event at Hope are encouraged to contact the colleges Events and Conferences Office by emailing events@hope.edu or calling 616-395-7222 on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Updates related to events are posted when available in the individual listings at hope.edu/calendar The Jack H. Miller Center for Musical Arts is located at 221 Columbia Ave., between Ninth and 10th streets. NASA launched the first of its three rockets from the NT on Monday morning. Image: Shutterstock Australias first ever commercial rocket launch took place in the early hours of Monday morning as a NASA rocket took off from the Arnhem Space Centre just outside Nhulunbuy in the Northern Territory. It was first of three sounding rockets NASA is launching from the Arnhem Space Centre, a launch site outside Nhulunbuy that is operated by Equatorial Launch Australia. Michael Jones, CEO of Equatorial Launch Australia, said he was excited about what the launch means for Australias burgeoning space industry. Todays launch not only puts [Equatorial Launch Australia] at the forefront of global commercial space launch, it also confirms that we and Australia can provide access to space and this is just the beginning for us. The Arnhem Space Centre was built on Aboriginal land and has been developed in concert with the Gumatj Corporation and the local Yolngu people. We want our young people to see and take up the jobs and business opportunities that come from the growth of the Arnhem Space Centre over time, Djawa Yunipingu, Chairman of the Gumatj Corporation, said in a statement. Aboard Monday mornings suborbital space flight was an X-ray quantum calorimeter experiment from the University of Wisconsin. The calorimeter was carried to an altitude of around 300km where it collected data about X-rays from interstellar space before slowly making its way back down to Earth. We're pleased to announce the successful completion of Australia's first ever commercial space launch with @NASAExpeditions. The launch took place at 12:00am (ACST) and saw a BBIX rocket travel over 300 kms in space to observe the Alpha Centauri A & B constellations. pic.twitter.com/IB2CjxDsC1 Equatorial Launch Australia (@ela_space) June 26, 2022 Over the next two weeks, NASA will launch devices from the University of Colorado (Boulder, US) that measure how stars ultraviolet light interacts with the atmospheres of nearby exoplanets and so-far unknown parts of the stars ultraviolet light spectrum. Scott Bissett, Deputy Chief of NASAs Sounding Rockets Program Office, said the location in north-eastern Arnhem Land was the ideal testing environment for these experiments. For these three missions, were looking at southern hemisphere targets, he said. Theyre very expensive telescopes that wed like to get back so having a land-based range with a lot of wide-open area where we can bring these payloads back down on a parachute is critical. Along with being Australias first commercial space flight, the rocket launch was NASAs first from a commercial, non-government operated site. Head of the Australian Space Agency, Enrico Palermo, said it was a proud night for the Australian space sector. This is another signal that Australia is go for launch and will further cement our reputation as a nation that global space players want to do business with, he said. Comprehensive package of assistance to Ukraine to include complete transition to equipment, weapons of AFU according to NATO standards Stoltenberg A comprehensive package of assistance for Ukraine, which will be approved by NATO allies at the alliance summit in Madrid, will include support for Kyiv in the medium term to counter Russian aggression and in the long term to transition to NATO standards. This was announced in Brussels on Monday at a press conference on the eve of the alliance summit, which will be held in Madrid, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said. "At the Summit, we will agree a strengthened Comprehensive Assistance Package for Ukraine. This will include substantial deliveries of support. In areas like secure communications, anti-drone systems, and fuel. Over the longer term, we will help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era military equipment, to modern NATO equipment. And further strengthen its defence and security institutions," he said. Stoltenberg said that the Ukrainian government and people "continue to resist Russias brutal war of aggression. " "Their courage and commitment are an inspiration. And I welcome that President Zelenskyy will join us at the NATO Summit," the Secretary General stressed. He recalled that NATO and its allies provided substantial support to Ukraine after the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2014, with military and financial assistance, including training tens of thousands of Ukrainian forces. "All of this is making a difference on the battlefield every day," Stoltenberg is sure. Those inviting folks from Downton Abbey have figured a way to make more money and work less: Movies. Their latest, Downton Abbey: A New Era, lets everyone weigh in without doing a lot of heavy lifting. Its the perfect answer for fans wanting to see the British artistocracy. In these big-screen outings, theres a chance to stretch in ways the television series didnt allow. Here, they can be funny, they can have a quick moment of reflection and they can tell a story that doesnt take six hours to unfold. In the new Roaring 20s Mary (Michelle Dockery) agrees to let filmmakers shoot in the familys home. The actors are an odd breed, to be sure, but they also represent opportunity: downstairs folks see celebrity; upstairs folk get new fodder for their biting wit. The feistiest of them all the Dowager (Maggie Smith) gets to unleash her best lines on the actors (Dominic West and Laura Haddock) and their profession. While half the family is busy investigating the interlopers, another half is in the south of France, checking out a villa that, mysteriously, has been willed to the Dowager. How did she get it? Who is this man? And what, pray tell, could they have had in common? It all swirls like an Agatha Christie potboiler, particularly since the woman in question isnt talking. That film, meanwhile, is the source of more intrigue. Talkies threaten to shut things down until the director (Hugh Dancy) makes an offer to Mary to help them out. Its all too Singin in the Rain for its own good, but it does show how inheritance isnt the only way to gain wealth. (Could it be coincidence that Ralph Lauren was a big fan of Downton Abbey? Or do those French scenes look like his spring line come to life?) There are other questions that pop to mind, even though seams of the show are beginning to show. Writer Julian Fellowes loves to make viewers think its headed in one direction before taking a sharp left turn. He does this several times in New Era and never stops to apologize. Suffice it to say, there are crowd-pleasing moments for everyone. A same-sex relationship moves from a back burner to a front one; an exit looms for one of the regulars. Three weddings and funeral? Its definitely in the cards this time out. While actors like Joanne Froggatt and Laura Carmichael barely get screen time, theyre there when it matters. A New Era builds to those group scenes and makes sure they represent what fans want most. Downton, in fact, has become more user-friendly in its big-screen incarnation. British royalty visited in the last film; now its Americas turn. West and Haddock suggest big stars of the era but their behavior is less obvious. West, in particular, moves Downton closer to Bridgerton than anyone might have thought. Newcomers get a nudge every now and then when director Simon Curtis drops in key information about characters. Its all meant to keep the home fires burning and, yes, they do. A New Era may not be as progressive as it seems but it moves quickly and positions its characters for even more drama in the 1930s. Megan Garner, former town manager for Rural Hall, is seeking to dismiss an alienation of affection lawsuit that the ex-wife of the towns former fire chief has filed against her. The lawsuit accuses Garner of seducing and having sex with Andy Marshall, who was fired as the towns fire chief in December, partially because of the alleged affair. Jon B. Kurtz and Andrew Fitzgerald, Garners attorney, filed a motion to dismiss in Forsyth Superior Court on June 14. Garner specifically denies allegations, as she has previously in other court documents, that she had an affair with Andy Marshall. She also denies that she contributed in any way to the dissolution of the marriage between Andy Marshall and his ex-wife, Stacy Marshall. At all times material to this action, the relationship between Plaintiff and her husband had deteriorated to the point that they had failed to promote marital harmony between themselves, no marital harmony existed, and no affection existed between Plaintiff and her husband to be alienated by the alleged conduct of Defendant, the motion said. The alienation of affection lawsuit is part of the complex litigation between Garner and the town of Rural Hall. The town sued Garner in November after Garner and three council members John McDermon, Ricky Plunkett and Jesse Stigall abruptly resigned at a council meeting on Oct. 21, 2021. The town attorney, D. Barrett Burge, also resigned. Before the resignations, McDermon, Plunkett and Stigall approved a nearly $150,000 severance package, or settlement agreement, for Garner, who accepted a job as city manager for Graham in Alamance County the next day. The town filed an amended complaint in December, accusing Garner of having an affair with Andy Marshall, who reported to Garner, and violating the towns ethical codes. Garner filed a motion to dismiss and a counter claim in February, denying the affair. Garner said in court papers that she was driven out of her job due to a sex-based smear campaign against her. No official disclosed the amount of the settlement agreement, including the towns interim attorney, Randy James, until Garner filed her counterclaim in February. State law prohibits settlement agreements made on behalf of public officials from being confidential. James said he didnt disclose the settlement agreement because it was declared confidential and he wanted a judge to decide the issue. In the latest court filing, Garner said the alienation of affection lawsuit is barred due to a three-years statute of limitations. Stacy and Andy Marshall separated on April 4, 2019, and Stacy Marshall filed her complaint on April 1, 2022. Kurtz and Fitzgerald said Stacy Marshall carries the burden of proof to establish that tortious activity occurred within the three years of April 4, 2022. Upon information and belief, no such evidence exists, they said. Stacy Marshall alleged that Garner seduced her husband for months before their separation, starting in December 2017. That seduction, she claims, included giving Andy Marshall an unexpected raise in March 2018. The lawsuit also alleges that Garner went after Andy Marshall, despite Stacy Marshall being pregnant with the couples daughter. In Garners answer, she acknowledges knowing that Stacy Marshall was pregnant but denies she had an affair with her husband. The lawsuit alleges that Garner would make up excuses to come over to the couples house when Andy Marshall was there to bring gifts and would text her husband at all hours of the day. The towns lawsuit alleged that Stacy Marshall discovered text messages between her husband and Garner, and that when she confronted Andy Marshall, he admitted the personal dating relationship with Garner. The town also alleged that Garner dated two other unidentified firefighters and that Andy Marshall retaliated against subordinates in the fire department over his relationship with Garner. The lawsuit further alleged that Garner did not allocate enough money for the fire department, resulting in fire trucks having bad tires and mechanical issues. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Douglas County has reported Nebraska's first suspected case of monkeypox. The patient is a man in his 30s with a history of international travel, the Douglas County Health Department said in a news release. He is isolating at home and the health department said contact tracing is underway to find anyone else who may have been exposed to the disease. The case was identified by the Nebraska Public Health Laboratory, and a sample has been sent to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for confirmation. The case is part of more than 200 cases of the disease that officially have been diagnosed in the U.S. as part of a worldwide outbreak that began earlier this year. However, medical experts have speculated that case numbers here are much higher and being under-reported because of a lack of testing. As monkeypox infections are increasingly identified throughout the U.S. and the world, its critical we continue searching for it here in Nebraska, said Nebraska State Epidemiologist Dr. Matthew Donahue. Monkeypox is spread through close contact with someone who has a characteristic rash. Nebraskans should be aware of the rashs appearance, and we need individuals with that characteristic rash to talk to their health care providers so we can help arrange testing. In addition to the rash, which causes lesions that resemble pimples or blisters, monkeypox usually causes other symptoms that include swollen lymph nodes, fever, headache and body aches. Human transmission usually involves extended close personal contact or contact with materials contaminated with the virus. The disease is similar to smallpox, but usually produces milder symptoms. Reach the writer at 402-473-2647 or molberding@journalstar.com. On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz. Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Build your health & fitness knowledge Sign up here to get the latest health & fitness updates in your inbox every week! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 32-year-old Elk Creek man was arrested south of Lincoln on Sunday after he forced his girlfriend to drive along Nebraska 2 before assaulting her in a ditch after she tried to escape, according to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office. Cody Ringle had forced his 37-year-old girlfriend to drive a vehicle from Elk Creek toward Lincoln, Sheriff Terry Wagner said, and the woman stopped the car near 120th Street and Nebraska 2, where another man was changing his tire. After pulling over, Ringle went to help the man with his tire, Wagner said, and the woman took off running. Wagner said Ringle chased her down and was seen punching her in the face several times in the ditch. Another motorist stopped and gave the woman a ride to the nearby Sam's Club, where she called police, as Ringle fled the area on foot. He was arrested north of the area on suspicion of false imprisonment and third-degree domestic assault, along with an active Johnson County warrant, Wagner said. Ringle is being held at the Lancaster County Jail. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Amid a chronic staffing shortage that has left the Lincoln Police Department 40 officers short of its optimal operating capacity, the city has relied increasingly on employees logging overtime hours, according to data obtained via a public records request. The department, led by Chief Teresa Ewins since September, is funded to employ 366 sworn officers. But the staffing shortage which has persisted for more than a year has prevented the city from reaching that threshold. In December, the department was 25 officers short of its capacity, with 341 on the payroll. Before its latest academy class graduated onto field training Wednesday night, Lincoln employed 326 officers. "Always trying to make up for the loss of members is something that, you know we'll always be doing that," Ewins told the Journal Star. "It's just a fact." But the shortage has worsened since the chief's arrival in Lincoln, a reality that Ewins acknowledged while casting recent departures as a series of individual personal choices that have combined to leave the department understaffed. "Well, obviously, I'd rather be under 30 (officers short), but, life takes people places," she said. "We have somebody who took over the family farm. We had one that wanted to become a preacher. We had one that went into just needed to unplug and go try something new. "Those are life choices that people need to make." So as Ewins' command staff continues to alter hiring and recruitment processes in an effort to find a long-term solution to staffing woes, the department has relied on overtime as a stopgap. LPD employees including officers and civilians worked 25,642 hours of overtime from June 2021 through May of this year, a timeframe that saw the city shell out $1.4 million in overtime dollars alone, according to data obtained by the Journal Star. In the previous 12 months, the city spent $1.15 million on police overtime an amount buoyed by long hours in June 2020, when the city paid $142,912 in overtime dollars in a single two-week period as officers engaged with protesters over the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis. The Lincoln Police Department has grown increasingly reliant on overtime in 2022, according to the data. In April and May of this year, the city spent $278,030 on overtime over the course of four, two-week pay periods, including one period when overtime payments totaled $85,419. The police department has paid more than $60,000 for overtime hours in 11 pay periods since the start of 2019, according to the data. Eight of those instances have come since Ewins took over the department. "I feel fine about it," Ewins said of the department's recent overtime expenditures. "It's necessary. Paying overtime actually is cost savings in the long run when you have retirement and medical and everything else you have to pay. "As long as the health and welfare of our members is at the forefront of our conversation, money is not really the issue. We have the money because we are funded for those bodies." Ewins' primary concern as overtime hours increase is preventing burnout among the shrinking force responsible for policing the city, she said. "It gives the officers an opportunity to be compensated for working more, but we also know that, in the end, that will burn our police officers out," she said. "And we don't want to do that. And so we're being very cautious with that." The exact impact the officer shortage has on the public's safety isn't quantifiable, though Ewins stressed that the increase in overtime hours helps ensure police services aren't lessened by staffing issues. Still, she conceded, the department is not actively staffing its eight-officer traffic enforcement unit, already under scrutiny after a Memorial Day weekend crash on O Street killed two women and injured 20 bystanders there to watch cars cruise by. And, Ewins said, the department no longer has a team of two officers dedicated to community outreach, though she said overtime hours have been used to maintain some outreach efforts. Though Ewins repeatedly pointed to retirements and personal choices as the primary reasons employees have left the department since her arrival, at least four officers Sgt. Angela Sands and Officers Sara Khalil, Laura Oliphant and Carlos Santiago have been terminated since December. "I know when I joined, I was ecstatic," said Santiago, who was fired in December over what he described as a misunderstanding. "I was happy to be a part of the department. This was pre-Chief Ewins." Santiago was terminated after an incident at Capital Towing in which he mentioned he worked for LPD, he said, and an employee of the company interpreted his words as an attempt to avoid paying for services. Then a probationary officer still in field training, Santiago said he self-reported the incident to his supervisor and was fired less than a week later without hearing directly from Ewins. Months after his departure, which was initially crushing to Santiago, he questioned whether it was a bad thing after all. "The demeanor (of the department) just completely changed," he said. "It was kind of shocking. ... It's just like I wouldn't even want to be there at this point." At least three additional officers have left voluntarily in 2022, including former Sgt. Chris Vigil, former Officer Luke Bonkiewicz and former Officer Erin Spilker, who later filed a lawsuit alleging years of discrimination based on her sex. And two former officers Nicole Hruska and Bernardo Urrea Calambas left Lincoln in April for jobs at the Omaha Police Department. Neither responded to interview requests for this story. Sgt. Jeff Sorensen, elected the Lincoln Police Union president earlier this year, was not available for an interview. The department got a boost on Wednesday when 13 officers graduated from LPD's academy. They will move on to field training, a probationary period that can last six months, after which officers are cleared to patrol Lincoln's streets alone. At least two of the 13 graduates were lateral transfers, Ewins said, and had already started field training. Another 15 trainees will start at the department's 22-week academy in July, Assistant Police Chief Michon Morrow said, 30-40% of whom will be female trainees. All 13 of Wednesday's graduates are men. Ewins said the department will seek lateral transfers for an additional, fast-tracked academy class in-between the traditional July and January academies as her administration seeks new ways to keep pace with departures. "I think that staffing will work itself out," she said. "I feel very confident about that." The question, though, is when? "I would love to be fully staffed within the next year," Ewins said, "but that's not realistic, either." Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley Love 0 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. A 19-year-old man and 24-year-old woman, both from Lincoln, remain in critical condition Monday after they were shot in the Seacrest Field parking lot amid a gathering there early Sunday morning, according to police. Lincoln Police Capt. Todd Kocian on Monday offered few new details about the shooting, which occurred at about 2:30 a.m. Sunday. "I'm not sure exactly why everyone was there," said Kocian, who declined to identify the victims and said he wasn't sure how many people were in the parking lot before the shooting. Kocian said at least two vehicles entered the parking lot at 7300 A St. shortly before 2:30 a.m. in an apparent confrontation with a group that was already there. It's unclear why the two groups were feuding, he said. Kocian said he wasn't sure how many shots had been fired or if any shell casings were recovered. He said the department does not yet have a description of involved vehicles. Responding officers found the man with a gunshot wound near the scene of the shooting. They found the injured woman near 70th and O streets after she had left the scene in a vehicle. On Monday, Kocian said he wasn't sure if the pair of shootings should prompt concern about the safety of gathering at Seacrest Field. Parking lots there also serve Lincoln East High School, Den Hartog Field and one of the city's recycling centers. "I don't know if they're in any way, shape or form related, or if they're just random or coincidental," Kocian said. Reach the writer at 402-473-7223 or awegley@journalstar.com. On Twitter @andrewwegley Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. For the second time since the U.S. Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, protesters gathered at Memorial Park Sunday to call for access to safe and legal abortions. COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) Sri Lanka is sending two government ministers to Russia to negotiate for fuel one of the necessities nearly exhausted as a result of the Indian Ocean nation's economic collapse. The plan comes as Washington and its allies aim to cut off energy imports from Russia in line with sanctions over its war against Ukraine. Since its invasion in late February, global oil prices have skyrocketed, prompting a number of countries to seek out Russian crude, which is being offered at steep discounts. Power and Energy Minister Kanchana Wijesekera said the two ministers will leave for Russia on Monday to continue talks that Sri Lanka has been having with Russian authorities to directly purchase fuel, among other related issues. He urged people on Saturday not to line up for fuel, saying only small amounts will be distributed to limited numbers of stations through the coming week. He said until the next shipments arrive, public transport, power generators and industries will be given a priority. Residents have had to queue for hours and sometimes days to get fuel, sometimes resorting to burning charcoal or palm fronds for cooking. Wijesekera's comments came as a U.S. delegation is visiting Sri Lanka, seeking ways to help the island nation cope with an unprecedented economic crisis and severe shortages of essential supplies. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa held separate talks on Monday with diplomats from United States and Russia. Like some other South Asian nations, Sri Lanka has remained neutral on the war in Ukraine. However, Wijesekera said the Foreign Ministry and the Sri Lankan ambassador in Russia have been making arrangements for a fuel purchase. There is an advantage for us if we could buy oil directly from the Russian government or the Russian firms. There are talks going on, he told reporters Sunday. The shortages have led to protests against the government. The government has deployed armed troops and police at every fuel station. Sri Lanka says its unable to repay $7 billion in foreign debt due this year, pending the outcome of negotiations with the International Monetary Fund on a rescue package. It must pay $5 billion on average annually until 2026. Authorities have asked the IMF to lead a conference to unite Sri Lankas lenders. Last month, the country bought a 90,000-metric ton (99,000-ton) shipment of Russian crude to restart its only refinery, Wijesekera said. In an interview with The Associated Press in mid-June, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said the country would be compelled to buy oil from Russia and was trying to get oil and coal from traditional suppliers in the Middle East. If we can get from any other sources, we will get from there. Otherwise (we) may have to go to Russia again, he said. Wickremesinghe also said last week that the state-run Ceylon Petroleum Corp. was $700 million in debt and as a result, no country or organization was willing to provide fuel. On Sunday, the corporation hiked prices of gasoline by 22% to 550 Sri Lankan rupees per liter (about $5.80 per gallon), and diesel by 15% to LKR 470 per liter (about $4.95 per gallon). Wijeserekara said the hike was meant to be on par with the global fuel prices. Protesters have occupied the entrance to President Gotabaya Rajapaksas office for more than two months demanding his resignation, saying the primary responsibility for the crisis rests with him and his family, whom they accuse of corruption and mismanagement. The U.S. delegation led by Robert Kaproth, deputy assistant secretary of the Treasury for Asia, and Kelly Keiderling, deputy assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia, met on Monday with Rajapaksa, who briefed them about Sri Lanka's economic and social crisis and the progress of discussions with the IMF, according to the president's office. The U.S. Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, also joined the meeting. The U.S. has announced $120 million in new financing for small and medium-sized businesses, a $27 million contribution to Sri Lankas dairy industry and $5.75 million in humanitarian assistance to help those hit hardest by the economic crisis. Another $6 million was pledged in new grants for livelihoods and technical assistance on financial reform. Hours later, the Russian ambassador in Sri Lanka, Yuri Materiy, met Rajapaksa and discussed a wide range of issues including the export of tea to Russia, tourism, trade, oil, coal, gas and fertilizer, the president's office said in a statement. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Brothers Dean and Jared Lerwick, co-owners of the Pumpkin Creek Ranch southwest of Morrill, aim to bring a meat processing and packaging facility back to Gering. Gering was a natural fit for the Lerwick brothers operation, which will be dubbed the Pumpkin Creek Meat Company. Our family lives in that area, our ranch is in that area. Just talking with the other producers there, in terms of finishing operations and feed lots, its one of the largest areas in terms of animals in the nation, Jared Lerwick, who will be the meat companys director of sales, said. The facility will be located at 2605 Seventh St. Lerwick said he wanted to have a facility thats going to surprise people with how it looks, adding that it could uplift a blighted area. Because its not a big plant, its not going to be an eyesore, he said. The meat packing operation would be smaller than previous ones which used the same location. Depending on staffing, it could slaughter process between 400 and 800 animals per month. Lerwick estimated the Packerland facility at the same spot would process 400 in a day. The company will be staffed by around 10 to 15 employees to start, increasing up to 20 employees by the first year. Lerwick said he and his brother plan to hire local workers to help bolster the local economy. Theres a lot of money in the Panhandle at least that goes into Wyoming and Colorado in terms of processing there, Lerwick said. The cattle raised in the region are often taken out of state in order to be processed. Much of the meat is then sold back in the Panhandle. The supply chain is miles long when the animal is right next to your house, Lerwick said. He said people would like to own small ranches in the area, but for nearly two decades there hasnt been any places for them to process their animals close by. Lerwick said only a small portion of the cattle processed at the facility will be from the brothers ranch. Their meat company could help small ranchers market their own brands. All meat at the new facility will be USDA-inspected. Producers will be able to pay for custom cuts and ranchers will have ownership of the animal all the way until they sell the meat. Lerwick said other producers sell shares of animals which customers can pick up, but these cant be sold for retail. The issue has been processing, he said. Weve been on a wait list for two years ... theres been such a bottleneck. Were passionate about shortening supply lines. The Pumpkin Creek Meat Company received unanimous approval from the City of Gering Planning Commission during its June 7 meeting. Lerwick said they received support from citizens at the meeting as well. The final hurdle to cross will be the approval of the Gering City Council during their next meeting on Monday. If the council gives the facility its blessing, Lerwick said it could be up and running by this fall. Weve been working with a contractor, planning this for three years. Weve got everything ready to go, he said. ... I think this is something everybody can get behind. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 An inmate died on Saturday in Lincoln at the Nebraska State Penitentiary. Clyde Hicks, 91, had been serving a 15- to 20-year sentence for first-degree sexual assault of a child out of Hall County. Officials from the Nebraska Correctional Services said Hicks began his sentence on Sept. 15, 2016. The cause of death has not been determined. As is the case whenever someone in law enforcement custody dies, a grand jury will conduct an investigation. As is the case whenever an inmate dies in the custody of the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services, a grand jury will conduct an investigation. Reach the writer at 402-473-7228 or emejia@journalstar.com Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 1 Angry 0 Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. BURLINGTON A Burlington man allegedly sexually assaulted a group home resident. Brian K. Matheson, 38, of the 600 block of Foxtree Circle, was charged with a felony count of second-degree sexual assault and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct. According to a criminal complaint: At 10:22 a.m. on Saturday, an officer was sent to a residence in the 300 block of McHenry Street for a sexual assault. The residence is a group home for people with disabilities. Upon arrival, the officer met with a woman who said Matheson entered her apartment and sexually assaulted her. She told him to get out and he eventually left. The officer then spoke to another resident who said he and Matheson left the Log Cabin Tavern at 233 W. Jefferson St. around 2:30 a.m. and walked back to his apartment. He went to bed and Matheson was still up talking to his roommate. The officer spoke to Matheson who said he knew that everyone who lived in the building had a disability. He confirmed being at the bar until 2:30 a.m. and coming back to the residence, but he claimed he did not stay long and did not sexually assault a resident. Matheson was given a $1,000 cash bond in Racine County Circuit Court on Monday. A preliminary hearing is on July 6 at the Racine County Law Enforcement Center, 717 Wisconsin Ave., online court records show. While the Racine Police Department has shrunk, other departments including the mayors office have grown in staffing under Mayor Cory Masons administration. However, pubic safety budgets continue to slowly grow along with the administrations budget while the parks and public works budgets have gotten smaller over the past 15 years. Alderman Henry Perez, a retired Miami police officer and perhaps the only avowed conservative on the City Council, accused the city administration of double talk in their attesting that cuts to police were coming solely because of budget constraints and were otherwise unavoidable. In a commentary published in The Journal Times May 17, Perez wrote Our staffing is low. Several years ago we reduced the manpower staffing numbers to accommodate the budget. This in effect reduced the manpower in the police department by almost thirty positions. Then we claimed we were not defunding the police by adding back to the budget a handful of police positions. Dont let the double talk fool you. We have defunded the police by our actions We are losing officers to better paying and safer departments. We are in a recruiting campaign, yet, we only received approximately 30 applications. Kenosha, even with all their issues, had approximately 270 applicants. In an interview, Mason said Some of this rhetoric that is out there is Oh, these cuts must have happened a couple years ago during the defund police movement that was out there. All those changes that we made in our budget werent about reducing public safety budgets because of defund police movement. They were put in place because of Scott Walkers fiscal policies that hes imposed on cities now for 10-plus years. Thats why we had to reduce the number of officers. The number of officers in the Racine Police Department has decreased slightly faster than the citys population. From 1984 through last month, the number of officers fell from 211 to 171, a 19% decrease. Across those same 38 years, the citys population fell from 85,000 to 77,127, a 9.2% decrease. While the number of active police officers shrunk, the city administration staffing has grown from 15 to 20.6. The administrations budget has grown significantly too. In 2006, four years before former Mayor Gary Becker would go to prison, there were just three positions in the administration (the mayor, city administrator and a secretary) plus six in the attorneys office and another six in human resources. In 2016, the last full year under then-Mayor John Dickert, it was largely the same: the same three positions up top, the equivalent of 6.2 full-time positions in the attorneys office and 6.17 in human resources. Fast forward to 2022 and there were 5.29 equivalent positions in the administration (mayor, city administrator, chief of staff/communications director, the strategic initiatives/community partnership manager, an administrative assistant and a part-time student intern), plus 7.75 positions in the attorneys office and 7.56 in human resources. During an interview last month, Mason said that if positions are to be cut in future budgets under his administration, they may likely come from up top. Scott Kelly, chief of staff to state Sen. Van Wanggaard, tweeted June 20, If Cory Mason hadnt increased his office, parks, and finance department by over $1 million, they wouldnt have cut cops. In a statement in May, Kelly went into more detail: Masons comments are proven untrue by the 2022 budget, and what Mason did spend money on. Mayor Mason decided to cut the police/fire by $209,012 (and) $151,848 respectively. Instead he increased the following programs City Attorneys office: $172,483 Finance Department: $486,276 Public Works: $423,432 Parks: $554,130 Total increase in just these four offices: $1,636,321 Mason and the city council made the careless, conscious decision to de-prioritize public safety in their budget. The increase to the finance department alone is greater than the cuts they made to police/fire. Masons office itself saw its budget increase by over $50,000. Mayor Mason blaming the legislature for not funding public safety is nothing more than a political red herring. Ask yourself, ask the proverbial man on the street if theyd rather see a larger finance department or larger police force. For the better part of the 21st century in Racine, however, public safety budgets have grown, while the budgets for parks and public works have shrunk. Between the 2007 and 2020 City of Racine budgets: The public safety budget has grown by 11.1% (from $43M to $47.7M). The public works budget has shrunk by 11.8% (from $12.8M to $11.3M). The parks and recreation budget has shrunk by 7.13% (from $7M to $6.5M). The administration budget has grown by 31.8% (from $6.8M to $9.0M); in this context the administration includes the mayors office, city administrator, city council, human resources, health department, attorneys office, finance department, city assessor and city development. Cut, cut, cut Prior to the Mason administration, earlier attempts to cut police had failed. In 2003, Becker moved to fire 25 police officers at budget time in order to save $1.7 million, but reversed course after facing pressure from then-Police Chief David Spenner and union head Mike Kothe. Under Mason, cuts to maximum police staffing have gone through. No one was ever fired because of the cuts, but the max number of officers budgeted was reduced. In the last few years, a record increase in hiring hasnt been able to keep pace with a high rate of retirements and other departures. In 2019 while planning the 2020 budget, Mason and other city leaders saw city workers firefighters, cops, public works employees, parks and recreation workers, office staff and others protesting inside and outside City Hall when budget cuts led to drastic cuts to health insurance for current and retired employees. When Masons office proposed the cuts, he wrote in a commentary published in The Journal Times that other options are worse. Those cuts narrowly made it through the City Council by a vote of 8-7 . In the 2020 budget, which was laid out in late 2019 in tandem with the cuts to benefits, the max staffing of the Racine Police Department was reduced to 195 . No officers were fired, since five positions were then-unfilled, and $500,000 was saved. That same year, an in-house peer support wellness therapist was approved as a full-time position, at a cost of approximately $80,000 per year. That year, the city also created a human resources generalist position that would help and support public safety, then-City Administrator Jim Palenick said, at a cost of $100,000 per year. For the 2021 budget, as Mason put it, Were going to give everybody a haircut. After cutting health care of employees directly the year before all departments took an approximate 10% cut except police, which took a 3% Mason said. The capped number of officers reduced from 195 to 189. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 2 Sad 0 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. MADISON UW-Madison will begin demolishing two century-old buildings this week to make way for its new School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences. The Old Heating Plant, also known as the Service Annex, was built in 1908 in a neo-classical style; the Service Building next door followed shortly in 1910, according to The Buildings of the University of Wisconsin, a 1997 book by Jim Feldman. The pair of buildings stand on University Avenue between North Orchard Street and North Charter Street. For more than a century, the Service Building housed parts of UW-Madisons Physical Plant the Division of Facilities Planning and Management, responsible for operating and maintaining campus buildings, grounds and utilities. In the building, metalworkers, carpenters and plumbers worked and stored materials, according to Feldmans book. And in 1990, the Old Heating Plant stopped providing heat and became an annex for the shops. These buildings (were) designed by a well-known architect, with top-notch materials, said Bob Klebba, a board member of the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation and a co-chair of the groups advocacy commission. It was built to last forever. Jim Bogan, the interim executive director of the Division of Facilities Planning and Management, said the buildings have an impressive architectural charm, particularly since they function in a very active and physically demanding vocation. But on Monday, abatement and demolition work will begin on both buildings, said division spokesperson Lori Wilson. Construction on the $225 million School of Computer, Data and Information Sciences is expected to begin in 2023, and the building is slated to open in 2025, Wilson said. UW-Madisons 2015 campus Master Plan called for both buildings to eventually be demolished so when the announcement came last fall that the buildings would come down, it was not a surprise, Wilson said. We knew the site was going to be something else eventually, Wilson said. This is the right move to meet the needs of the university, and we support that, Bogan said. At the same time, this is a bittersweet move for many Physical Plant employees. Our staff members who have worked in these buildings were pretty well-adjusted to how they use the existing buildings, he said. They had a sense of unease about the announcement because its a change. Over time, the buildings have taken on unexpected roles, given that they were not purpose-built for facilities work in the 21st century, Bogan said. While the Service Building still housed a locksmith and welding shop before it closed, it also served purposes only tangentially related to the buildings original plans: A business operations and purchasing office, a customer service call center and a contract support office. Physical plant employees are genius at making these buildings work, Wilson said. To new quarters Physical Plant staff have moved out of the Service Building and Service Annex and are now distributed across campus, including at 30 N. Mills St., where other Facilities Planning and Management staff already work, Bogan said. Bogan said the university has begun the planning process to construct more space adjacent to 30 N. Mills to re-consolidate staff in one building. Were hoping campus turns the page to have this really important academic building on site, Wilson said, but also to have a facility that meets Physical Plants needs. The Madison Trust for Historic Preservation does not have an official position on the demolition, Klebba said. When the city approved UW-Madisons 2015 master plan, it allowed the university to move forward without public input on the demolition since it was included in the plan, Klebba said. A lot of people will be surprised to see this building go down because they did not realize the demolition was in a plan that was approved years ago, Klebba said. Irreplaceable That demolition will change the architectural face of campus, Klebba said, speaking in a personal capacity and not on behalf of the trust. Theres nothing that could replace the building as it figures into the collection of architecture on campus today, he said. Im sure whatever will be built will be nice, but it wont be built to the same standards that this building has, Klebba said. UW-Madison, Bogan said, will salvage the carved stone sign that reads SERVICE hanging above the doorway, in addition to exterior building-mounted lights, decorative exterior stone, interior wood doors and a number of other items as part of a plan developed with the Wisconsin Historical Society. Employees, retirees and former Physical Plant workers also had the opportunity to take bricks from the building at a commemorative event for the buildings in late May. There, former Chancellor Rebecca Blank spoke and current and former Facilities Planning and Management employees shared stories from their time in the buildings. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 1. Yes. It could give residents a reason to travel downtown and help revitalize the area. 2. Yes. It is, but only if the city commits to bringing in nearby restaurants and shops. 3. No. The city would be better served moving the annex to a more accessible part of town. 4. No. The proposed downtown location is in a blighted area. Consider other options. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say. It depends on what the city, county and architect come up with. Vote View Results 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. Vote View Results KEARNEY - From June 28-July 4, there will be free access to kearneyhub.com for all community members. Platte Valley Auto Mart is providing unlimited access as an investment in the journalism that makes a difference in our market. Every day our team of professional reporters, photographers and editors work to bring our community the most complete coverage. This important work is made possible through partnerships with community and business leaders like Platte Valley Auto Mart. Take this week to explore all the website has to offer, including the latest news, event calendars, recipes, photo galleries, videos and more. KEARNEY A Kearney man is serving a prison sentence for sexually assaulting a woman in Kearney. Nash J. Meyer, 23, is serving one to four years at the Nebraska State Penitentiary in Lincoln for felony first-degree sexual assault, which involves sexual penetration, of the woman on July 30, 2020. He was sentenced June 7 in Buffalo County District Court. Meyer faced one to 50 years in prison. Judge John Marsh gave him six days credit for time already served. Details of the case are sealed. There is no statute of limitations on sexual assault in Nebraska. In February, a jury found Meyer guilty of the charge. In March, he filed a motion for a new trial, which Marsh later denied. Meyer will be eligible for parole in November and could possibly be discharged in May 2024. He must register with the Nebraska State Patrol as a convicted sex offender. Students from area universities and colleges are reacting to the Supreme Courts ruling on abortion access in the United States and sharing their plans for future action. The ruling handed down Friday overturned the Roe v. Wade case that federally protected abortion for almost 50 years, now leaving it up to individual states to determine if abortion is lawful or not. In Wisconsin, an 1849 law banning abortion except in cases where the mothers life is at risk is currently in effect. Planned Parenthood locations across the state halted their abortion services June 24 in response to the ruling. Abortion access remains protected in the neighboring states of Minnesota and Illinois. Jessica Weis and Cassidy Daniel, co-presidents of Winona State Universitys Students for Reproductive Justice, said they will support grassroots organizations to fund abortion access and ensure reproductive freedom. We in Minnesota are protected by our leaders currently, Weis and Daniel said in an email to the Tribune. We are in solidarity with people impacted in all states that are ending abortion. Students for Reproductive Justice will also engage with the campus community and in political education. This is undermining bodily and reproductive autonomy, Weis and Daniel said. The most marginalized people will be harmed by this, due to lack of access to reproductive care. It is a racist patriarchal attack on people with uteruses; its atrocious. Grace Florence, chair of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse College Democrats, said the organization is deeply disappointed by the Supreme Courts ruling. The Courts decision will irrevocably alter reproductive rights in our state and across the nation, while opening the door for further limitations of our liberties, Florence said in an email. Florence said we must take the Nov. 8 election very seriously and people should turn their focus to electing officials who will fight for reproductive freedom and repealing the courts ruling. Regardless of partisan affiliation, Wisconsinites can coalesce around the idea that people deserve to control their bodies and make important personal decisions without government interference, Florence said. My heart goes out to all the women in this country today as we have adjust to losing our right to choose. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Want to see more like this? Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Local public safety officials from both sides of the Mississippi River are promoting the use of flotation devices. On the Wisconsin side, Gundersen Health System is partnering with local law enforcement agencies to promote three life jacket loaner stations in the area and reward children who practice water safety. In Minnesota, water patrol deputies from the Winona County Sheriffs Office are handing out gift certificates to children wearing their life jackets on the water. Megan Anderson, a Gundersen trauma injury prevention coordinator, said life jackets are an indispensable water safety tool. One of the biggest tips for drowning prevention is the use of life jackets, Anderson said. Gundersen is the lead agency of Safe Kids La Crosse Coulee Region, which Anderson coordinates. The coalition manages three life jacket loaner stations in the area, including at the West Copeland boat landing on the Black River in La Crosse and landings at Stoddard and Genoa. The life jackets can be borrowed free of charge. Anderson said the life jackets dont sit at the stations unused. She said theyre often used by boaters who realize they left their flotation devices at home. Whenever I visit a life jacket station, theres always some of them hanging up there wet, she said. La Crosse Police Department Sgt. Joe Wiegrefe said its not a good idea to launch a boat without flotation devices. Wisconsin law requires both a life jacket and a throwable flotation device for every person on board on a boat 16 feet or longer (smaller boats require just a life jacket). Children under 12 must wear at life jacket any time a boat is in motion, and anyone, regardless of age, must wear one while operating a personal watercraft. Violations result in a $155.50 fine, but Wiegrefe said tickets are handed out not as often as you might think. People are pretty good about stocking their boats with life jackets, he said. Most of the time, people have about five or six of them in their storage compartments. Troy Leibfried, Winona County Sheriffs Office water patrol deputy, prefers that anyone on a boat wear a life jacket with head support at all times. He said theyre designed to keep a persons head above water, even if theyre knocked unconscious. Most boats have a rim around them, so its easy to hit your head before you go in the water, Leibfried said. Law enforcement offers incentives for good behavior. The Wisconsin DNR is rewarding youngsters on the water by handing out coupons for free treats donated by local businesses. Its coordinated with the first-year Safe Kids La Crosse Coulee Region program, in which police officers in La Crosse and West Salem and the La Crosse County Sheriffs Office distribute coupons to children observed acting in a safe manner, such as wearing a bike helmet or crossing the street at the corner. Winona County has been rewarding children for over a decade. When a water patrol deputy sees someone wearing a life jacket, the officer issues a certificate good for a Flavorburst cone or small root beer at Lakeview or a cookie or donut from Bloedows. Wiegrefe said law enforcement and health care professionals will continue to promote life jackets and water safety. You never know whats going to happen on the water, he said. La Crosse Tribune reporter Steve Rundio can be reached at steve.rundio@lee.net. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. We continue the story of The Open Boat by Stephen Crane. As we told you last week, the story is based on true events. In eighteen ninety-six, Crane was traveling to Cuba as a news reporter. On his way there, his ship sank in the Atlantic Ocean. Crane climbed into the last remaining lifeboat. Three men got into the boat with him. They were the ships captain, the cook and a sailor named Billie. For three days, the men steered the small boat through high waves along the coast of Florida. At last, they saw land. Here is Shep ONeal with the final part of the story. A long stretch of coast lay before the eyes of the men. Slowly, the land rose up out of the mountainous sea. The men could see a small house against the sky. To the south, they could see a lighthouse. Tide, wind and waves were pushing the lifeboat northward. The men thought someone on land would have seen the boat by now. Well, said the captain, I suppose well have to attempt to reach the shore ourselves. If we stay out here too long, none of us will have the strength left to swim after the boat sinks. So Billie the sailor turned the boat straight for the shore. If we dont all get ashore, said the captain, I suppose you fellows know where to send news of my death? The men then exchanged some information. There was a great deal of anger in them. They thought: If I am going to be drowned, why, in the name of the seven mad gods who rule the sea, was I permitted to come this far and think about sand and trees? The waves grew stronger. They seemed always just about to break and roll over the little boat. The coast was still far away. The sailor said: Boys, the boat wont live three minutes more, and were too far out to swim. Shall I take her to sea again, captain? Yes! Go ahead! said the captain. The sailor turned the boat and took her safely out to sea again. Its funny those life-saving people havent seen us, one of the men said. Maybe they think were out here for sport! Maybe they think were fishing. Maybe they think were fools. Once more, the sailor rowed the boat and then the reporter rowed. Suddenly, they saw a man walking along the shore. The man stopped walking. He moved his hand in the air to wave at them. He saw them! Now he was running to the house. The captain tied a cloth to a stick and waved it. Now there was another man on the shore. The two men waved their hands in the air, as if they were saying hello to the men in the boat. Now, what was that moving on the shore? It was a bus a hotel bus. A man stood on the steps of the bus and waved his coat over his head. The men in the boat wondered what he wanted to say. Was he attempting to tell them something? Should they wait for help? Should they go north? Should they go south? The men waited and waited but nothing happened. The sun began to go down. It got dark and cold. They could no longer see anyone on the beach. The sailor rowed, and then the reporter rowed, and then the sailor rowed again. They rowed and rowed through the long night. The land had disappeared but they could hear the low sound of the waves hitting the shore. This was surely a quiet night. The cook finally spoke: Billie, what kind of pie do you like best? Pie, said the sailor and the reporter angrily. Dont talk about those things! Well, said the cook, I was just thinking about ham sandwiches, and A night on the sea in an open boat is a long night. The sailor continued to row until his head fell forward and sleep overpowered him. Then he asked the reporter to row for a while. They exchanged places so the sailor could sleep in the bottom of the boat with the cook and the captain. The reporter thought that he was the one man afloat on all the oceans in the world. The wind had a sad voice as it came over the waves. Suddenly, there was a long, loud swishing sound behind the boat and a shining trail of silvery blue. It might have been made by a huge knife. Then there was another swish and another long flash of bluish light, this time alongside the boat. The reporter saw a huge fin speed like a shadow through the water, leaving a long glowing trail. The thing kept swimming near the boat. He noted its speed and power. The reporter wished the men would wake up. He did not want to be alone with the shark. The reporter thought as he rowed. He was angry that they had come so close to land and yet might still die at sea. Then he remembered a poem that he had learned as a child. It was a poem about a soldier of the French Foreign Legion. The soldier lay dying in Algiers. Just before he died, he cried out: I shall never see my own, my native land. And now, many years after he had learned this poem, the reporter for the first time understood the sadness of the dying soldier. Hours passed. The reporter asked the sailor to take the oars so that he could rest. It seemed like only a brief period, but it was more than an hour later, when the sailor returned the oars to the reporter. They both knew that only they could keep the boat from sinking. And so they rowed, hour after hour, through the night. When day came, the four men saw land again. But there were no people on the shore. A conference was held on the boat. Well, said the captain, if no help is coming, we might better try to reach the shore right away. If we stay out here much longer, we will be too weak to do anything for ourselves at all. The others agreed. They began to turn the boat toward the beach. The captain told them to be careful that when the boat came near the beach, the waves would sink it. Then everyone should jump out of the boat and swim to the shore. As the boat came closer to land, the waves got bigger and more violent. At last, a large wave climbed into the air and fell on the small boat with great force. The boat turned over as the men jumped into the sea. The water was like ice. The reporter was tired. But he swam toward the beach. He looked for his friends. He saw Billie, the sailor, in front of him, swimming strongly and quickly. The cook was near him. Behind, the captain held on to the overturned boat with his one good hand. Soon, the reporter could swim no longer. A current was carrying him back out to sea. He thought: Am I going to drown? Can it be possible? But the current suddenly changed and he was able to swim toward the shore. The captain called to him to swim to the boat and hold on. The reporter started to swim toward the boat. Then he saw a man running along the shore. He was quickly taking off his shoes and clothes. As the reporter got close to the boat, a large wave hit him and threw him into the air over the boat and far from it. When he tried to get up, he found that the water was not over his head, only half way up his body. But he was so tired that he could not stand up. Each wave threw him down, and the current kept pulling him back to sea. Then he saw the man again, jumping into the water. The man pulled the cook to the shore. Then he ran back into the water for the captain. But the captain waved him away and sent him to the reporter. The man seized the reporters hand and pulled him to the beach. Then the man pointed to the water and cried: Whats that? In the shallow water, face down, lay Billie, the sailor. The reporter did not know all that happened after that. He fell on the sand as if dropped from a housetop. It seems that immediately the beach was filled with men with blankets, clothes and whiskey. Women brought hot coffee. The people welcomed the men from the sea to the land. But a still and dripping shape was carried slowly up the beach. And the lands welcome for the sailors body could only be its final resting place. When night came, the white waves moved in the moonlight. The wind brought the sound of the great seas voice to the men on the shore. How well do you understand this story? Quiz - The Open Boat by Stephen Crane, Part Two Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz For Teachers This lesson plan, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the strategy, predicting, to help students understand the story of four men struggling to survive in a small boat on the sea. ___________________________________________________________ Words in This Story afloat - adj. floating on water shark - n. a large and often dangerous sea fish with very sharp teeth row - v. to move a boat through water using oars In South Sudan, the arranged marriage of a young girl to an older man often brings the girls family wealth measured in cows. Some girls bring their families up to 100 cows. Each cow is valued at $1,000. Girls who are young, healthy and come from good families can bring much more. In 2018, one 17-year-old girl brought in 500 cows, two costly cars and $10,000 in an auction that made news around the world. She was then married to a man in his 50s. The auctions still happen although South Sudan now has a law requiring girls to be 18 before they are married. The law is often violated. Activists who are hoping to change this tradition wanted to bring up the issue of child brides being sold to older men, during a visit from Pope Francis in July. However, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church canceled the visit earlier in June because he is recovering from a knee operation. Francis was supposed to visit the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan from July 2 to 7. The Vatican said a new date would be set for the visit. Jackline Nasiwa is the leader of the Center of Inclusive Governance, Peace and Justice in South Sudans capital of Juba. She said families must sell their daughters so they get something to survive. South Sudan broke away from Sudan in 2011 with the hope of growth and peace, but that has not happened. The new country remains poor and is still recovering from a civil war that ended in 2018. Many people are hungry as a result of flooding and other problems brought by climate change. Food prices are increasing after Russia invaded Ukraine in February. One of the ways families can get money is by selling their daughters. As a result, the United Nations says South Sudan has the worlds fifth-highest number of child marriages. The U.N. says child marriage is a human rights violation that keeps girls from going to school and is a cause of poverty. The U.N. childrens agency, UNICEF, says that more than 30 percent of South Sudanese girls are pregnant before turning 15. But some girls are fighting back. Nyanachiek Madit is 21. She refused to be married to a much older man when she was 17. Her family wanted her to marry because school was too costly. I refused, she said. I didnt accept to get married because I am disabled. Madit said getting an education will help her in the future. Because she was born with a disability, she said, my education will be my leg later on. Her family did not make her get married but did not pay for school. A child group called Child Bride Solidarity heard Madits story and helped her pay for school in Juba. I am now happy, she said. The U.N. Population Fund warns that early marriage can cause death. South Sudan has one of the highest maternal death rates in the world. Over 1,000 women out of every 100,000 who have babies die during childbirth, the organization said. Chris Oyeyipo of the U.N. Population Fund talked during a Mothers Day event. You cannot have a healthy mother, you cannot have a happy mother, if you are marrying off your children and making them mothers, he said. The U.N. wants to end child marriage by 2030. But poor families in South Sudan see marrying off their daughters as a way to survive. Some families worry that sending girls to school exposes them to other dangers such as sexual assault. But activists who work to end child marriage say the young girls can be raped by their new husbands. Aya Benjamin is South Sudans minister of gender, child, and social welfare. As a girl, she saw some of her friends married to older men. She said, It is our collective responsibility to make sure our girls are allowed to enjoy their childhood. She said one of the ways to have a healthy society is to allow girls to be children, allow them to be themselves, let them grow up and let them go to school and allow them to decide what they want to be in life. Im Caty Weaver. 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 arranged marriage n. a marriage in which the husband and wife are chosen for each other by their parents auction n. a public sale at which things are sold to the people who offer to pay the most disabled adj. having a physical or mental disability assault n. a physical attack allow v. to permit someone to do some activity Companies across the world are re-examining their sources for many kinds of goods because of supply issues linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many businesses from multinational clothing makers to electronics manufacturers are considering other countries for imports as they move away from China. China was hit hard by the pandemic and the government established a zero-COVID policy. This led to widespread problems in the worldwide supply chain. Experts say that means countries in Southeast Asia and Latin America are becoming new go-to places for much-needed goods. Jayant Menon is a visiting representative with the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institutes Regional Economic Studies Program in Singapore. He told VOA that since the pandemic, Chinas traditional role as the worlds factory will be reduced. American and European multinational companies will now be looking for parts, labor, and factory processes elsewhere. Menon said, Countries like China that mismanage COVID will suffer greatly. He said that is because their zero COVID efforts have caused major problems for supply chains. When Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia were lifting pandemic restrictions, China set lockdowns in two major cities. The lockdowns affected factory orders and caused worker shortages, which raised product prices. Southeast Asia Nations such as Vietnam and Thailand were already taking business from China before 2020. This was largely linked to rising Chinese labor costs and higher taxes that resulted from a trade dispute between China and the United States. Menon said, I think Southeast Asia will clearly be a beneficiary of all this reconfiguration taking place. He said countries like Vietnam, and to a lesser degree Thailand and Malaysia, have already seen gains from restructuring of supply chains. Menon added that Vietnam has a lead because of its skilled workforce, pro-business reforms, and a network of free trade agreements. Electronics companies Samsung and Intel both operate in Vietnam, as do foreign-invested car factories. Rajiv Biswas is an economist with S&P Global Market Intelligence in Singapore. He told VOA that multinationals are likely to expand industrial abilities, or capacity, in multiple places. But, they are expected to stay in China for its market of a billion-plus people. Biswas said, They will still continue producing in China, but they will create additional production capacity in other hubs. Latin America In Latin America, especially its industrial hub of Mexico, products have been selling to the all-important U.S. market. Mexico is expected to keep benefitting from a process called near-shoring. This is based on the idea that since Mexico and the U.S. have a common time zone and similar culture and languages, it is easier for American businesses to do business there than in other places. Evan Ellis is a professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute. He said Brazil makes sense as a place to do business for companies in need of the countrys natural resources. Ellis said Brazil can also be a good market for companies selling cars. This is because the country has a market of 212 million people, many of whom live in middle-class cities. Ellis noted, however, that costs and local laws can cause difficulties for investors in Brazil. Im Gregory Stachel. Ralph Jennings reported this story for VOA News. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. _______________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story source n. where something comes from supply chain n. the systems and organization involved from manufacturing a product to providing it to a buyer role n. the job someone or something has in a particular situation mismanage v. to manage or control (something) badly beneficiary n. someone or something that benefits from something configure v. to arrange or prepare (something) so that it can be used hub n. the central and most active part or place benefit v. to be helped by something We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. Celebs react to Roe v. Wade overturning Michelle Obama, Taylor Swift and Halle Berry are among the army of outraged celebrities venting rage at the Supreme Court's scrapping of the constitutional right to abortion in the US. They joined president Joe Biden in hitting out after the lawmakers overturned the landmark Roe v Wade ruling - making terminations illegal for millions of American women. Mum-of-two Obama, 58, said amid fury erupting across America in the wake of Friday's (24.06.22) ruling: "I am heartbroken that we may now be destined to learn the painful lessons of a time before Roe was made law of the land -- a time when women risked losing their lives getting illegal abortions." Read more here: SEGA confirms Michael Jackson composed music for Sonic the Hedgehog 3 SEGA has finally confirmed that Michael Jackson composed the music for 'Sonic the Hedgehog 3'. Yuji Naka, the former head of Sonic Team at the Japanese video game company, appeared to confirm the long-time rumour that the late King of Pop - who died in 2009, aged 50 - created music for the 1994 video game whilst complaining that the soundtrack for the title has been changed in new compilation release 'Sonic Origins'. Yuji wrote on Twitter: "Oh my god, the music for Sonic 3 has changed, even though Sega Official uses Michael Jackson's music." Read more here: Sir Paul McCartney enjoys virtual duet with John Lennon at Glastonbury Sir Paul McCartney got "back together" with the late John Lennon during his Glastonbury set on Saturday (25.06.22). The 80-year-old musician - who is the event's oldest ever solo headliner - stunned the crowd at the Pyramid Stage when he sang a virtual duet with his late bandmate on 'I've Got A Feeling' thanks to the help of director Sir Peter Jackson, who helmed the recent Beatles documentary 'Get Back'. He said: "I've got a special little thing here. One day, Peter Jackson rings me up and says he can take John's vocals and isolate them so that you can play live with John on tour. He said do you fancy that?" Read more here: Billie Joe Armstrong is renouncing his US citizenship over the Roe v Wade ruling. The Green Day frontman, 50, says he is planning to move to Britain in the wake of the Supreme Court's decision on Friday (24.06.22) to reverse the landmark 1973 ruling, leaving terminations illegal for millions of women in America. He made the announcement while performing a concert in London on Friday night (24.06.22), with fans sharing his declaration on Sunday night. (26.06.22) He said about his homeland: "There's too much f****** stupid in the world to go back to that miserable f******* excuse for a country. "Oh, I'm not kidding, you're going to get a lot of me in the coming days." He also called the justices responsible for overturning Roe v Wade "p*****". Armstrong went on to yell at his gig at London Stadium, on the band's Hella Mega tour with Fall Out Boy and Weezer: "F*** the Supreme Court of America". He then played Green Day's anti-war anthem 'American Idiot', the title track of the group's album of the same name from 2004. The record was written under as a response to then-US president George W Bush leading America to invade Iraq after 9/11. Armstrong joins an ever-growing number of celebrities hitting out at the Roe v Wade reversal, including Jack White, Pearl Jam, Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Olivia Rodrigo and Lizzo. The 1973 Roe v Wade battled centred around 'Jane Roe', a pseudonym for Norma McCorvey. She was a single mother pregnant for the third time who wanted an abortion, and sued the Dallas attorney general Henry Wade over a Texas law that made it a crime to terminate a pregnancy except in cases of rape or incest, or when the mother's life was in danger - arguing the law infringed on her constitutional rights. Joe Biden blasted the ruling as "un-American" in an address from the White House on Friday (24.06.22), adding it was a "sad day for the court and the country" and calling the move "wrong, extreme and out of touch". MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A federal appeals court has ruled that for now, Juul Labs can continue to sell its electronic cigarettes on the U.S. market. The Friday ruling came in response to the company seeking a temporary emergency hold while it appeals a ban of its products that was issued Thursday by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The e-cigarette maker had asked the court to pause what it called an "extraordinary and unlawful action" by the FDA that would have required it to immediately halt its business, the Associated Press reported. When issuing the ban last week, the FDA said Juul's application left regulators with significant questions and didn't include enough information to evaluate any potential health risks. Meanwhile, Juul said it submitted enough information and data to address all issues raised. "Today's action is further progress on the FDA's commitment to ensuring that all e-cigarette and electronic nicotine delivery system products currently being marketed to consumers meet our public health standards," FDA Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said Thursday. "The agency has dedicated significant resources to review products from the companies that account for most of the U.S. market," Califf said in an agency news release. "We recognize these make up a significant part of the available products and many have played a disproportionate role in the rise in youth vaping." At one time, Juul controlled 75% of the e-cigarette market, the New York Times reported. The products include the Juul vaping device and four types of Juul pods: pods labeled Virginia Tobacco flavor at nicotine concentrations of 5% and 3%, and menthol-flavored pods at nicotine concentrations of 5% and 3%, the FDA said. The American Vapor Manufacturing Association (AVM), an industry trade group, hinted at the legal battle to come. "Measured in lives lost and potential destroyed, FDA's staggering indifference to ordinary Americans and their right to switch to the vastly safer alternative of vaping will surely rank as one of the greatest episodes of regulatory malpractice in American history," AVM President Amanda Wheeler said in a statement. The FDA has already banned the sale of fruit-flavored e-cigarettes after critics claimed the products targeted teens. Regulators have since been reviewing thousands of applications for vaping products after tightening their oversight of the electronic cigarette market. Juul can challenge the expected ruling one of three ways: appeal the decision through the FDA; file a challenge in court, or file a revised application for its products. Several years ago, Juul's fruity flavors and "hip marketing" were blamed for jumps in underage vaping. Among the criticisms were that Juul used young adult models, celebrities and social media influencers in its marketing campaigns. In response, the company stopped using models, suspended all advertising in the United States and shut down its Facebook and Instagram accounts. The company stopped selling its fruity and sweet flavors in 2019. In 2020, all manufacturers were required to submit their products to the FDA for review to stay on the market. They are considered a potentially less harmful alternative for adult smokers, but remain a concerning gateway to smoking for young people. Juul's submission to the FDA included only its menthol and Virginia Tobacco flavors. The company also pitched a new device that would only unlock for users who were 21 or older. Juul's popularity among young people is lower than it was in the past: It is now considered the No. 4 brand among high schoolers, according to a federal study released last September, the Wall Street Journal reported. Underage vaping in general has dropped since federal restrictions raised the age to buy any tobacco products to 21, the newspaper added. The FDA also plans to mandate the elimination of nearly all nicotine in cigarettes, saying it would upend the $95 billion U.S. cigarette industry. Tobacco companies could sue to fight it the ruling if it happens, the WSJ reported. More information Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on the dangers of vaping among teens. SOURCES: Associated Press; New York Times; Wall Street Journal Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad: June 25 The Washington Post says GOP support for gun bill offers hope for more reform Fifteen Republicans in the Senate and 14 in the House joined with congressional Democrats this week to break more than 25 years of inaction on gun safety. That these Republicans, many of whom had ratings of A or A-plus from the National Rifle Association, defied the gun lobby with their support of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act suggests they saw the political peril in doing nothing about the gun violence gripping the country. Indeed, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who voted for the bill, admitted as much when he said he hoped GOP support for the measure will be viewed favorably by voters as the party seeks to regain the majority next year. The public sentiment for gun safety that has steadily built with each mass shooting, finally forcing Republicans to drop their ironclad opposition, offers hope that the legislation, signed into law by President Biden on Saturday, will be the first and not last step in bringing some rationality to the nations gun laws. The 80-page bill, produced by a small group of Republican and Democratic senators in the aftermath of back-to-back mass shootings at a Buffalo grocery store and a Texas school, falls far short of the tough but common-sense measures long sought by gun-control advocates. There are no universal background checks, no ban of large-capacity magazines, no requirements for safe storage of weapons and no action not even raising the minimum age of purchase on assault weapons. That, though, does not detract from the significance of what was achieved. Among the worthwhile reforms: enhanced background checks for younger gun buyers to include juvenile and mental health records; incentives for states to adopt red-flag laws that allow guns to be temporarily confiscated from people deemed dangerous by a judge; tougher penalties on illegal gun purchases; and revision of a federal law intended to keep guns out of the hands of domestic abusers to close the boyfriend loophole. Those measures along with billions of new federal dollars to expand mental health programs and improve school safety will save lives. Credit for the hard work of fashioning a compromise that both sides could agree to goes to Sens. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and John Cornyn (R- Tex.), aided by Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Mr. Murphy had just been elected to the Senate in 2012 when a gunman killed 20 children and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in his home state and has been tireless in his pursuit of common-sense gun control despite many setbacks. Mr. Cornyns willingness to negotiate and his refusal to back down even when faced with withering criticism from former president Donald Trump, Fox News and his state GOP party is equally praiseworthy. So is his forthrightness in standing up to the NRA. We worked with the NRA, listened to their concerns, but in the end I think they simply they have a membership and a business model that will not allow them to support any legislation, Mr. Cornyn said. Passage of the bill came a day after the Supreme Court expanded gun rights by striking down a New York law limiting the carrying of guns in public. That ill-advised and dangerous ruling may have tempered any celebration over the gun bill, but it cant squelch the public sentiment that has risen up in support of rational gun-safety laws. June 25 According to the New York Times, the SCOTUS puts gun rights above human life The Supreme Court this week embraced a vision of the Second Amendment that is profoundly at odds with precedent and the dangers that American communities face today, upending the longstanding practice of letting states decide for themselves how to regulate gun possession in public. This decision reveals the vast gulf between ideologues on the court and those Americans ordinary people and their representatives in Congress who want this country to be safer from guns. As the high court issued its 135-page ruling, the Senate, across the street, approved an 80-page bipartisan bill that tightens restrictions on who can possess and purchase a gun. The House of Representatives passed the bill on Friday, and President Biden signed it Saturday. This breakthrough came after decades of virtually no congressional action on gun safety and was fueled by public outrage over a series of mass shootings, including the recent massacres in Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo. Gun enthusiasts and gun manufacturers have long sought a ruling like the one the court delivered on Thursday: Its decision in the case, New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, is an assertion that the Second Amendment trumps reasonable efforts to protect public safety. The United States as it exists today awash in insufficiently regulated, high-powered weapons and afflicted by staggeringly high rates of gun homicide and suicide is the society that their preferred policies have created. The best that gun control advocates can hope for after the Bruen ruling is what Congress passed: gradual legislative tinkering. In its 6-to-3 ruling, the supermajority of Republican-appointed justices struck down a century-old New York law that placed strict limits on handguns. But the decision will also affect similar laws in New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Hawaii and California. Many of those are states with some of the lowest rates of gun deaths in the country. Extensive research has shown that strict regulation of guns leads to fewer deaths. Relying on a highly selective reading of history, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote in his majority opinion that these gun restrictions violate the courts new interpretation of the Second Amendment. (It was only in 2008, with its decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, that conservatives on the court divined an individual right to bear arms hidden somewhere in the 27 words of the Second Amendment.) New Yorks law requires that a person seeking a concealed carry permit for a handgun must show a good reason for doing so, known as proper cause, which covers law enforcement officers and others who can demonstrate a reason to fear for their own safety. We know of no other constitutional right that an individual may exercise only after demonstrating to government officers some special need, Justice Thomas wrote. It is not how the Second Amendment works when it comes to public carry for self-defense. The majority left open the ability of states to ban guns from certain sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, but it cautioned that there is no historical basis for New York to effectively declare the island of Manhattan a sensitive place. What about, for instance, the subway, the site of a mass shooting in April? The court didnt say, as Justice Stephen Breyer noted in his dissent. That leaves an opening for the states to decide which spaces are off limits. Gov. Kathy Hochul of New York plans to call the Legislature back for a special session to address the ruling for just that reason. Lawmakers will consider legislation that could designate New Yorks public transit system a sensitive place, along with schools, parks, hospitals and office buildings, and buffer zones around them. The state should also institute extensive training requirements for concealed weapons permits. Lawmakers in several other states that will likely be affected by the decision said they were working to tweak their laws to meet the courts new standard for permissible firearms regulation. The justices bickered openly in their written opinions in the Bruen ruling, with the three liberals on the court pointing to various grim statistics on mass shootings and suicides, while Justice Samuel Alito asked what any of those deaths had to do with handgun regulations. Their discord reflects a grim truth about gun violence in the United States: It is several distinct and deadly crises happening simultaneously suicides by firearms, homicides related to domestic violence, gang killings and spectacular mass shootings. Cities, states and the federal government have approached these overlapping crises in various ways and with varying degrees of success. Broadly speaking, regulating guns saves lives. More guns and less regulation of them result in more deaths. The new legislation aims to tackle several types of gun violence at the same time. Called the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the law will enhance background checks for potential gun buyers under age 21, which might have helped thwart the mass shooting in Uvalde. It directs millions of dollars to states to put in place so-called red flag laws or other crisis intervention efforts, which will help stop domestic violence-related killings and suicides. It adds serious dating partners to the list of domestic abusers prohibited from buying guns, which is now limited to spouses and domestic partners. It also directs millions of dollars to mental health and school safety programs. The specifics of this bill matter. Of equal importance is the fact that the bipartisan legislation tackles an issue that has stymied Congress for decades. It isnt quite true, as some supporters of the new bill claim, that there hasnt been any gun control legislation passed in the past 30 years. Congress passed, and President Trump signed, a minor update to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System in 2018. But no legislation equal to the size of the problem has made it to a presidents desk. With this new law, however limited, lawmakers are at least responding to the fundamental mandate of every elected government to protect its citizens. Given the political paralysis in Congress on so many other issues, any progress on guns is progress worth making. June 24 The Wall Street Journal suggests that abortion will still be widely available in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision on Roe v. Wade Now that the Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade, abortion could soon become illegal in half of the country. Or so Democrats warn. But its impossible to know how the debate will play out in many states. And a study this month by the Guttmacher Institute, which supports abortion rights, suggests that the practical consequences for abortion could be far less severe. Many GOP states have increased abortion regulation in recent years, including parental consent and notification requirements for minors and mandated waiting periods. Yet abortions increased 8% nationwide between 2017 and 2020, according to Guttmachers abortion provider survey. More abortions arent something to celebrate, especially as births simultaneously declined 6% in the same period. But Guttmacher claims it may be a positive development if it means people are getting the health care they want and need. This is a tacit admission that stricter laws in GOP states havent stopped women from obtaining abortions. One reason is that left-leaning states have expanded access to abortion. Abortions increased by 25% between 2017 and 2020 in Illinois as more pregnant women came from surrounding states with more restrictive laws. Illinois in 2018 also began covering abortions with state Medicaid funds. Abortion providers responded to increasing demand by opening more clinics. Progressives claim traveling to other states to get an abortion will be a grave hardship for women. But the Guttmacher report suggests that thousands of women already do so. Many employers in recent months have also offered to cover the travel costs of employees in states where abortion is banned to get an abortion elsewhere. Abortions have also increased as local and national abortion funds increased their capacity and helped even more people pay for their abortions, the report says. Many pro-abortion rights groups have used the potential demise of Roe to boost their fundraising. The Supreme Courts ruling on Friday will be a fundraising boon for Planned Parenthood. States that are more likely to ban abortion already regulate it more strictly, so the Courts decision may have a smaller effect in those states. The Guttmacher report notes that because restrictions in recent years were adopted in states generally considered hostile to abortion rights already, they may not have played as much of a role as the measures expanding access in other states. This evidence from an abortion-rights group suggests that abortion will still be widely available in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision on Roe v. Wade. States will respond to the Courts decision in different ways, and thats the beauty of the U.S. federalist system. June 24 The Los Angeles Times says Roe being overturned should serve as a call to action - to fight to get it back In a dreaded and once-unfathomable decision, the Supreme Court on Friday overturned Roe v. Wade. Its a dark time in America as this once-revered institution has taken the rare and awful path of depriving people of their rights. With its 5-4 decision the court abolished the constitutional right to an abortion up to the point of viability of the fetus outside the womb, forcing the nation back 50 years to a time when state legislators decided whether to allow pregnant women control over their bodies. Or maybe the court has taken us back even further in time. Part of the justification for overturning Roe was because centuries of history indicate abortion was criminalized. When the majority says that we must read our foundational charter as viewed at the time of ratification (except that we may also check it against the Dark Ages), it consigns women to second-class citizenship, the three dissenting justices wrote. The decision was not a surprise, because a draft had been leaked earlier this year. But its devastating nonetheless that the Supreme Court has chosen to take away a constitutional right. The repercussions will be quick and severe: 13 states have trigger laws and others have pre-Roe bans still on the books. In Arkansas, Missouri, Kentucky, Louisiana and Mississippi the state that brought the case that led to the ruling Friday the ban will go into effect within hours of Roe being overturned. Even if we dont return to the time of back-alley abortions, whats ahead is uncertainty. For those living in states that outlaw or severely restrict the procedure, getting an abortion will now involve traveling hundreds of miles out of state to find care with all the attendant costs or obtaining medical abortion pills. But obtaining the drugs through the mail might be considered a crime under these state laws and subject to prosecution. Some states are considering how to ban the pills. As always, abortion restrictions fall heaviest on those who already have trouble accessing healthcare people of color, people in rural areas, disabled people and those with low incomes who have less ability to pay for the procedure as well as arrange for child care and time off from work while they go to another state for abortion care. This is not a simple matter of returning a controversial issue to the states to decide, as Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. makes it sound in his opinion. The Supreme Court is depriving people of the right to control their own bodies and allowing state politics to determine the existence of a fundamental liberty. Roe v. Wade guaranteed the right to choose a path to either end or continue a pregnancy. It is incalculable how much that freedom, that opportunity, that choice to control ones body shapes a persons life. And everyone, not just those who can get pregnant, should be outraged that the court would do more to ensure that people can carry a concealed gun in public than defend the right of Americans to make personal reproductive decisions. The three liberal justices who dissented in this decision Stephen G. Breyer, Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan ended their opinion with this heartbreaking coda: With sorrow for this Court, but more, for the many millions of American women who have today lost a fundamental constitutional protection we dissent. So be angry about what the court did. Feel betrayed that Brett M. Kavanaugh, Neil M. Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett all said during their Senate confirmation hearings that Roe was a precedent, which many took to mean they wouldnt seek to overturn it. The conservatives on the court have forced this nation back to an age that most Americans dont remember well, if at all. The work now falls on this generation to restore the right to abortion and personal freedom. What abortion rights advocates are doing and what everyone should be focused on is how to make abortion accessible across the nation in a post-Roe world. Dozens of organizations across the country are raising money to help needy people without means to travel for an abortion. A number of states have introduced motions to enshrine the right to abortion in their constitutions. California is one of them. Legislators here have also introduced bills to help fund abortions and thwart other states efforts to criminalize any of their residents when they seek abortions in this state. The Biden administration is exploring options to help women get abortions as well including declaring a public health emergency, which might protect doctors in states that allow abortion when they provide the procedure to people from states that dont allow it. The Food and Drug Administration already allows abortion pills to be shipped to a person after a telehealth consultation. There is a move afoot to get the Food and Drug Administration to declare that its federal authorization of the use and shipment of the drugs nationwide overrides any state trying to ban the sale or receipt of them. Sadly, the Womens Health Protection Act, a federal bill that would ensure the right to an abortion, was voted down in the Senate recently. This is just the beginning of a battle over reproductive rights in America, and possibly for other rights as well. In his concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that the court should reconsider landmark decisions on contraception, sodomy laws and same-sex marriage. If that seems unthinkable, consider how unlikely it seemed even a year ago that Roe vs. Wade would fall. Dark times, indeed. June 26 The Guardian The decision, when it came on Friday, was not a surprise. Even before the dramatic leak of Justice Samuel Alitos draft opinion last month, it was widely predicted that the U.S. Supreme Court would grab the opportunity presented by the Dobbs v Jackson Womens Health Organization case to rescind the decision made in 1973 in Roe v Wade. This, after all, was the purpose of President Trumps three Supreme Court selections and the culmination of a decades-long campaign by anti-abortionists to return to states the authority to ban the procedure. But the announcement still came as a shock. The U.S.s global influence means that the decision to remove a womans constitutional right to abortion there reverberates far beyond its shores. The speed with which multiple U.S. states reacted is disturbing; already, abortion has been outlawed in 10, with 11 more expected to follow shortly. While all women should be entitled to control their own lives and bodies, there are instances when denying this is particularly cruel. Americans who oppose forced pregnancy and birth now face the horror of rape and incest victims, including children, being compelled to become mothers. The U.S. is exceptional in its lack of federal maternity provisions; children as well as parents will suffer the consequences of unwanted additions to their families, with poor and black people the worst affected. Early signs are that the most extreme Republican legislatures could try to block girls and women from travelling out of state for treatment, and impose further restrictions on care delivered remotely including medication sent by mail. The potential for personal data stored online, including on menstrual apps, to be used against women is causing justified alarm. Having relied on Roe v. Wade to protect access to abortion for half a century, politicians can no longer do so. Abortion is now set to become a key issue in this autumns midterms. How this pans out will depend on public opinion; polling data suggest that 85% of Americans support legal abortion in some circumstances, and Democrats hope that this could work to their advantage. But the anti-abortion right is a formidable force. With hindsight, President Obamas decision not to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law, and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburgs choice not to retire when he could have nominated a replacement, look like disastrous errors. The three liberal justices who dissented said they did so with sorrow for many millions of American women and also for the court itself. With this decision, it has chosen to reopen deep wounds. The 14th amendment on which Roe v. Wade rested granted rights to former slaves, and is the basis for other crucial decisions including on same-sex marriage. By dismissing Roe v. Wade in the way that they did, and against the wishes of Chief Justice John Roberts (who argued to retain it, while allowing Mississippis 15-week rule to stand), the courts hard-right wing has seized control. Unprecedented division, and greatly increased hardship and risk for those denied safe healthcare, will be the outcome. While there is reassurance in noting moves elsewhere towards liberalization, U.S. anti-abortionists are far from unique, as tightened restrictions in Poland and the situation in Northern Ireland show. It is too soon to say whether Trumps justices and their backers have overreached from an electoral perspective. If there is an early lesson to be drawn, it is that once gained, womens rights must be constantly defended. END Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. BOISE, Idaho (AP) An Idaho public utilitys nearly two-decade effort to renew its license for a three-dam hydroelectric project on the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon Border is moving forward with federal regulators announcing plans to update an environmental study. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission this month said it will prepare a supplemental Environmental Impact Statement to consider new developments since it completed the 2007 document for Idaho Powers Hells Canyon Project. The commission expects to complete the supplemental review that includes a draft and public comments in late 2023. Brett Dumas, director of Environmental Affairs for Idaho Power, said the company wanted the supplemental impact statement to bolster the process against potential lawsuits. We felt if they didnt take this step, they would be taking some legal risk, Dumas said. Hells Canyon is a mile-deep canyon carved by the Snake River, much of it popular for recreation but inaccessible by road. The Hells Canyon Complex includes Hells Canyon Dam, Brownlee Dam and Oxbow Dam built from the late 1950s through the 1960s. The commission issued a 50-year license for the project in 1955, which expired in 2005. Idaho Power, starting in 2003, began trying to obtain a new 50-year license from the commission and submitted a relicensing application. It has been operating on annual renewal of the existing license since it expired. The dams blocked salmon and steelhead from traveling upstream, eliminating about 80% of spawning habitat for Snake River fall chinook and steelhead. The company compensates by paying for salmon and steelhead hatchery programs below the dams. Kevin Lewis, a consultant for Idaho Rivers United, said the 1955 license was created before environmental laws. So, clearly, its time for a new license and some mitigation on the project, he said. Dumas said obtaining a 50-year license would provide certainty to allow the company to begin on long-planned projects that include recreation and restoration work. Among the events that have happened since the 2007 impact study, Idaho and Oregon in 2019 reached an agreement that requires Idaho Power to spend $312 million on water quality and habitat improvements, and Idaho and Oregon each issued water quality certifications for the project under the Clean Water Act. Idaho Power had been caught in the middle of a fight between Oregon and Idaho. Oregon insisted on returning federally protected salmon and steelhead above the dams. Idaho officials didnt want salmon and steelhead, listed under the Endangered Species Act, above the dams that could lead to environmental lawsuits and force expensive mitigation work. The finished deal the two states reached involves a 20-year study with fish moved above Hells Canyon Dam, the lowest dam in the complex, but not above the other two dams that would allow fish into the middle section of the Snake River and into southern Idaho. After the 20-year study, officials will consider returning salmon and steelhead to that area. That section is considered poor habitat because it flows through environmentally degraded agricultural areas. Pollution leaving those agricultural areas, which are not controlled by Idaho Power, accumulates at the Hells Canyon Complex, elevating levels of methylmercury that accumulates in organisms and works its way up the food chain to fish. Methylmercury also travels downstream from the dams. Idaho Power ends up on the receiving end of a lot of pollution coming down from further up the basin, said Lewis. But their project is what collects and concentrates it, so they bear some responsibility here. He said he'd like to see the supplemental impact statement include more robust mitigation requirements than what is contained in the 2007 document. Idaho Power in July 2020 supplemented its license application to include an analysis of fish-related enhancement measures. In October 2020, the company also filed draft biological assessments with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Marine Fisheries Service. The supplemental Environmental Impact Statement will consider all those new details in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act, which requires federal agencies to analyze environmental effects of proposed actions before making decisions. Idaho Power has more than 600,000 customers in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon. The company has 17 hydroelectric facilities on the Snake River and its tributaries, with the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River providing about 70% of the companys hydroelectric generating capacity and 30% of the companys total generating capacity. Idaho Power has a stated goal of providing 100% clean energy by 2045 while keeping prices low and reliability high. Getting a new license for Hells Canyon is critical for that, Dumas said. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Two Madison men were sent to federal prison last week for being felons in possession of firearms, authorities reported. James Gillaum, 33, was sentenced to three years in prison by Judge James D. Peterson after pleading guilty to the gun charge on March 24, U.S. Attorney Timothy OShea said in a statement. Gillaum has been convicted of aggravated battery in 2008, burglary in 2011, and possession of heroin with the intent to deliver in 2013. On May 21, Gillaum pleaded guilty to an unrelated state charge of being a felon in possession of a firearm and was scheduled for sentencing on July 22, but didnt appear for his sentencing and a warrant was issued for his arrest, OShea said. On Aug. 22, Madison police arrested Gillaum in the area of State Street with a loaded 9mm handgun in his underwear, OShea said. Peterson ordered the federal sentence to run consecutive to that state gun case, as well as another case where Gillaum is charged with recklessly endangering safety and discharge of a firearm. In a separate case, James McGowan Jr., 23, was sentenced to two years in prison by Peterson after he pleaded guilty to the gun charge on March 30, OShea said in a statement. On Sept. 20, McGowan was out on bail in four state cases with charges including felon in possession of a firearm, felony bail jumping, armed robbery, drug possession, and third-degree sexual assault. Madison police were seeking McGowan because he had multiple warrants for his arrest and found him in an apartment parking garage with a loaded 9mm handgun in his waistband, OShea said. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Fire crews from multiple departments battled a blaze Sunday at a barn at UW-Madison's Arlington Agricultural Research Station. The fire was contained to one large structure that housed farming equipment and hay, and no people or animals were injured, said UW-Madison police spokesperson Marc Lovicott. Crews from the DeForest Fire Department responded to a report of a barn on fire about 4 p.m. at the research station at N965 Hopkins Road, Arlington, just north of the Dane County line off Highway 51. Multiple other local fire departments quickly arrived to assist, Lovicott said. Crews worked for about an hour to get the fire under control and continued to battle flare-ups, he said. The cause of the fire was under investigation, and a damage estimate was not known. The Arlington Research Station is operated by the UW-Madison College of Agricultural and Life Sciences. Sign up for our Crime & Courts newsletter Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. In the Aug. 9 Republican primary for the redrawn 33rd Assembly District, which includes northwest Rock County and the southern half of Jefferson County, Jefferson Mayor Dale Oppermann entered the race this spring with the support of the Wisconsin GOP. Meanwhile, Scott Johnson, a farmer and consultant, said that his campaign will not be beholden to the state GOP and accepts President Joe Biden as the legitimate winner of Wisconsins 2020 election. The seat, held by retiring Rep. Cody Horlacher, R-Mukwonago, is not a Republican lock: Three-term Rep. Don Vruwink, D-Milton, who currently represents the 43rd District, opted to run in the 33rd after the new maps brought his hometown of Milton into the new district. The Republican nominee faces Vruwink in the Nov. 8 election. The term is for two years. Scott L. Johnson Age: 68 Address: N3043 Hass Road, Jefferson Family: Married Job: Farmer, consultant Prior elected office: Fort Atkinson School Board, 1998-2014 Other public service: Co-founder, Delta Theta Sigma Educational Foundation, since 1980 Education: Bachelors degree in agricultural economics, business and industry, UW-Madison; attended UW-Whitewater masters program in school business finance; Wisconsin Rural Leadership Program Email or Website: friendsofscottljohnson@yahoo.com Dale Oppermann Age: 62 Address: 1117 Hillebrand Drive, Jefferson Family: Married with three adult children; three grandchildren Job: Mayor of Jefferson; sales representative, Milwaukee Plate Glass Company Prior elected office: Mayor, Jefferson since 2010; Jefferson City Council, 1994-2010 Other public service: Policy and Communications Leadership Council, Wisconsin Public Power Inc., since 2014 Education: No college degree Email or Website: DaleforAssembly.com Q&A How does your experience set you apart from your opponent? Johnson: I have demonstrated that I am a principled visionary leader. I have not spent tax dollars unwisely or burdened the taxpayer with unnecessary expenses. My knowledge and experience of education and agriculture, which are two of Wisconsins largest expenses and economic engines is crucial for a legislator. I will represent the people first and foremost, Dale will be beholden to the party as the party chose him. Oppermann: I have over 23 years of experience and a successful track record of serving as an elected leader in a local municipality. Utilizing a team approach, we have provided necessary services, made much needed improvements and kept local taxes to a minimum by employing fiscally responsible financial strategies along with bold foresight and vision. I am not familiar with Scott Johnson or his past experience. What makes you the best candidate to beat Rep. Vruwink? Johnson: I am a fiscal conservative Republican, I plan to govern, and help lead my party in getting things done properly. My party needs good leadership and to govern, get something done, dont gavel in and gavel out. Working across the aisle should be common. We share more in common than separates us as a community. We need to have fair nonpartisan legislative and congressional districts. We need to eliminate the dark money in politics. Oppermann: I am familiar with and familiar to the people of the 33rd Assembly District, having lived in Jefferson County my whole life. The Milton and Fort Atkinson areas are similar to Jefferson both in size and proximity. I listen to my constituents and I work hard to understand the issues and the opinions of the people who live here. While we may not agree on an issue, people can always be confident that their opinions will be heard and taken into careful consideration. What plan do you support, if any, for the future of the Wisconsin Elections Commission? Johnson: I plan to keep it. I do not understand the lack of statesmanship by our current legislators unwillingness to accept the outcome of an election. I want a nonpartisan group overlooking elections. I want them to develop ways to get more people to vote. I do not like wasting tax dollars on an investigation that cannot find any fraud, just to appease those who do not like the way the people voted. Everyone should vote, and everyone should have the opportunity to vote. Oppermann: I think that no matter what side of the aisle you are on, Wisconsinites want to know that our elections are secure and fair. As with any issue, once I am elected, I will look at all sides and figure out the best path forward for Wisconsin. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Covid-19 vaccine expiration warned due to slow vaccination The Ministry of Health has warned about the risk of Covid-19 vaccine expiration because of the sluggish vaccination in many localities. The Ministry of Health has asked cities and provinces to boost Covid-19 vaccination several times. However, according to a report from the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology, by June 23, some localities have not yet received the allocated vaccines, while many others have been slow in rolling out Covid-19 vaccination. A man receives Covid-19 vaccine. Illustrative photo Specifically, to date, Haiphong City and Quang Nam, Khanh Hoa, Binh Thuan, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Can Tho, Soc Trang, An Giang, Ca Mau, Bac Lieu and Hau Giang provinces have only achieved a vaccination rate for the third jab of below 50 percent. Under the Ministry of Healths instruction, localities need to encourage people to get vaccinated, and in particular speed up the third jab for children aged between 12 and 18. Cities and provinces also have to report the vaccine which has not yet been used by June 30 to the Ministry of Health. Madison is again looking to use its most potent financing tool to boost the Downtown, which city officials say is growing but needs support for State Street and its businesses, low-cost housing and infrastructure. Alds. Patrick Heck and Mike Verveer are proposing to create a tax incremental financing (TIF) district in the greater State Street area between Capitol Square and Lake Street. It would deliver funds for State Street amenities, repairs and upgrades; $4.2 million in grants to small businesses that suffered during the COVID-19 pandemic and destructive protests of 2020; and $15 million to help finance public elements of the proposed, roughly $140 million redevelopment of a State Street parking garage at 415 N. Lake St. Verveer, 4th District, is also seeking to change the boundaries of an existing TIF district west of the Square to produce an extra $8.2 million to bury power lines and make stormwater improvements in the West Wilson Street area. The reshaped district would also have $9.7 million in funds that could support private housing or commercial projects. With TIF, the city and other local taxing entities agree to freeze property values in an area. Tax revenues from growth are then invested in private development or public infrastructure. When investments are repaid, the district is closed and the higher-valued property is fully returned to the tax rolls. The city can also leave districts open an extra year to generate funds for low-cost housing. The State Street and West Wilson Street areas currently have multiple, big private projects under construction or planned that would serve as tax revenue generators for the TIF districts. The timing is absolutely ripe to get a new State Street TIF district, Verveer said. It would be foolhardy for the city to not take advantage of all the new construction thats happening now. After several difficult years, now is the time to invest both publicly and privately Downtown, said Jason Ilstrup, president of Downtown Madison Inc. Tax incremental districts, or TIDs, are a very powerful tool to help revitalize and reimagine spaces and places throughout our city. In the past 40 years, the city has used TIFs to transform Downtown, including the Monona Terrace Hilton hotel; the massive Block 89 redevelopment facing Capitol Square; Judge Doyle Square; pioneering condo projects, and a lot of public infrastructure. When a district is closed, any surplus funds are paid to the taxing entities, which include the city, Dane County, Madison schools and Madison Area Technical College. The main criticism of TIF is that it can amount to corporate welfare for private projects and that property taxes from big new developments could be used for other purposes during the years its being plowed back into the project. The TIF Review Board, which consists of the four taxing entities and must approve any new district, is scheduled to consider the new and expanded districts at noon on Tuesday. A boost for State Street The city has already tapped TIF to revitalize the State Street area. In 2003, the city opened TID 32 to help fund a complete remake of State Street; transform Lisa Link Peace Park, 452 State St.; and support the massive University Square housing and commercial project on the 700 block of University Avenue, as well as Ovation 309 project, which includes housing, commercial space and Fire Department administration offices at 309 W. Johnson St. The city closed the district in 2018. In 15 years, the value of property in TID 32 rose a whopping $546.7 million to $956.2 million. And after paying for all projects, it yielded a surplus $5.6 million that was shared among the taxing entities. The proposed State and Lake TIF district, called TID 50, would deliver $15 million to the public elements of the citys redevelopment of the State Street-Campus garage, which will include public parking and the citys first intercity bus depot. Under the plans, the existing 510-stall garage, built in 1964, would be demolished while a separate 542-space addition constructed at 420 N. Frances St. in 1982 would be connected to the new structure. The city is negotiating with Mortensen Development of Minneapolis to buy development rights above the new parking garage for a roughly $140 million, 12-story structure with 263 student housing units, including 100 low-cost beds, cafe, pool and other amenities, 590 public parking spaces, and the bus depot. To pay for the $49.7 million cost of the public parking/bus depot, the city would use the $15 million in TIF, Mortensons payment for the airspace above the garage, and some Parking Utility funds. TID 50 would also deliver $600,000 for State Street public amenities, repairs and upgrades, and $4.2 million for business improvement grants, facade improvement grants, a Pop-Up Shop program, a business ready program and commercial ownership assistance program. It provides $500,000 for administrative and professional costs and $300,000 for marketing, planning and market studies. Not only do we expect the TID proceeds to fund much of the replacement cost for the oldest portion of the State Street-Campus parking garage, but also to provide funds for boosting small-business opportunities and ownership in the area, particularly for those from communities of color, immigrants, women, LGBTQ, disabled and veterans, business and property owners, said Heck, 2nd District. The city expects to repay the $20.6 million in investments in a decade, although a district can legally be left open up to 27 years. Gateway to Downtown The proposal to amend the boundary of the Capitol Square West district, TID 45, created in 2015, would allow more investments Downtown. Already, the city has invested $13.3 million in the Anchor Bank mixed-use redevelopment at 25 W. Main St., and $2 million for improvements at the former AT&T building, 316 W. Washington Ave. The boundary amendment, which would expand the district from near the Square toward John Nolen Drive, would deliver $1.2 million to bury power lines on West Wilson Street, which is to be rebuilt in 2023, and $5.8 million in stormwater improvements in the areas of Broom and Hamilton streets. Burying transmission lines, which can only be funded by TIF under city rules, allows trees to be planted in the area and delivers significant aesthetic improvements to a gateway to the Downtown, Verveer said. Another $9.7 million in remaining development loan authority from the full district could be used to support lower-cost apartments in large housing projects envisioned at 131 and 139 W. Wilson St. or other private development projects, city officials said. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. An attorney involved in the effort to pass then-Vice President Mike Pence documents falsely stating Donald Trump won Wisconsin in 2020 is a victim of the radical left who needs to be supported, U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson said Friday in newly revealed audio. Johnsons comment came as the U.S. House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection continues to unpack a wide-ranging scheme to overturn the 2020 presidential election, which appears to involve former Dane County Circuit Court Judge James Troupis, whom Johnson defended on Friday. Cleta Mitchell is a hero, Johnson said on Friday at the Wisconsin Statewide Election Integrity Summit, referring to an attorney who advised Trump during his failed attempt to stay in power. There are so many people. The latest victim is Jim Troupis there are so many victims of the radical left that need to be supported. The Oshkosh Republicans comments came the same week texts revealed Troupis, who represented Trump in a failed effort to overturn Wisconsins 2020 election results, tried to get Johnson to pass documents falsely stating Trump won Wisconsin to Pence on Jan. 6. The Jan. 6 committee has revealed Trump was told repeatedly by his campaign advisers and Justice Department officials that there was no widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Yet Trump continued to lie to his supporters. Meanwhile, his attorneys were orchestrating false slates of electors in key swing states, including Wisconsin, to give Pence the pretext to disrupt the counting of electoral votes on Jan. 6. Pence refused to go along with the scheme. Asked why and how Johnson considers Troupis a victim, Johnson spokesperson Alexa Henning said Monday, The corporate media and the radical left are engaging in politics of personal destruction and its sick. Henning did not directly answer two questions about whether Johnson has been interviewed by the FBI or subpoenaed by any law enforcement entity. Troupis did not respond to the same question Monday. Text messages released last Tuesday by the Jan. 6 committee revealed Johnsons chief of staff told Pences aide that Johnson needed to pass those documents along to Pence as the vice president was set to confirm Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 election. Johnson initially denied any involvement in the attempt to hand off the documents. But the fallout continued when text messages revealed Troupis had first texted Johnson to pass along those documents to Pence. We need to get a document on the Wisconsin electors to you for the VP immediately, Troupis told Johnson at 11:36 a.m. Jan. 6, 2021, according to texts provided to conservative media outlet Just the News. Is there a staff person I can talk to immediately. Thanks Jim T. Johnson then put Troupis in touch with chief of staff Sean Riley before Riley contacted and was subsequently rebuffed by Pences aide. Those revelations came before Pences former chief of staff, Marc Short, told CBS Face the Nation moderator Margaret Brennan that Johnson was not directly involved in the scheme to pass those documents along to Pence. But Johnsons decision to connect Troupis and Riley after Troupis alluded to the Wisconsin elector document contradicts that claim. In a message to the Wisconsin State Journal on Sunday, Henning referred to Shorts comments and said, This is an extremely relevant piece of information that a senior aide more senior (than) the aide that our COS was corresponding with who is saying it was a staff-to-staff conversation and Sen. Johnson didnt have involvement. She did not explain the contradiction between Shorts statement and the Troupis-Johnson text messages. The only victims in this saga are the Wisconsin voters who Ron Johnson and the Trump campaign tried to disenfranchise by pressuring Mike Pence to overturn the 2020 election, American Bridge 21st Century spokesperson Brad Bainum said in a statement about Johnsons comments on Friday. Ron Johnson keeps proving hes totally untrustworthy and unfit to represent Wisconsin in the Senate. Get Government & Politics updates in your inbox! Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. SAXON Shane Wyzlic had plenty of excuses not to head into a war zone. There was a planned elk hunting trip to western Montana, a spring vacation to Florida, time on Lake Superior trolling for lake trout and many other ways to use some of the five weeks of vacation he earns each year from his job with the Social Security Administration in nearby Ironwood, Michigan. But the U.S. Navy veteran and former Saxon firefighter and first responder, who lives off a dirt road southeast of the Iron County Fairgrounds, was deeply moved in February after seeing the disturbing images coming from Ukraine during an unprovoked attack by Russia. And that's how he found himself in late March behind the wheel of a cargo van transporting medical supplies from Warsaw, Poland, to Lviv, Ukraine. The hauls on the return trips were women and children, fleeing for their safety. Wyzlic returned a second time in May and is hoping a third trip is in the cards. I've always been a caring person, but I guess that really came to light during this situation," Wyzlic said, as we talked in the home he built in 2003. "Just wanting to help people no matter who they are, their background, where they're from, that desire to assist and help someones life be better. Hopefully, I did that for some people." Wyzlic, 57, is the epitome of a single person making a difference in a faraway land. He used his own money to pay for his round-trip plane tickets, a $900 expense in March and $1,200 in May, and has raised $10,625 through a GoFundMe campaign set up by his sister, Stacey Wyzlic Wiercinski, in Hurley. The first $6,000 was for a used Mercedes Benz van with 300,000 kilometers on the odometer purchased in Poland for humanitarian aid trips into Ukraine. The remainder was used for medical supplies. "So the van was purchased with funds from people right here in this area," Wyzlic said. "So I posted on Facebook, 'Youre all part owners of a Mercedes.'" This would still be a compelling story and effort if Wyzlic lived in a larger community, say Madison, Milwaukee or Wausau. But he lives in one of the state's least populated counties amid the bear, deer, waterfalls, ATV trails and, at this time of the year, ferocious swarms of mosquitoes. Shortly after the war began, Wyzlic started researching non-government organizations that were helping the Ukrainian people. When he couldn't find one to his liking, he began searching Facebook. That's where he found Pomoc dla Ukrainy, a Polish-based group that serves as a central site taking and filling requests from those in Ukraine. After vetting the organization and exchanging messages with one of its leaders, Piotr Cezariusz, but never speaking with him on the phone, Wyzlic booked his first trip before telling family members. When Cezariusz picked Wyzlic up at the Warsaw airport, Cezariusz asked Wyzlic to drive so he could continue working his phone in a continued quest to find supplies. They stopped at a mall to "meet a guy" who had portable solar chargers and then bought the van before heading across the border into Ukraine. Wyzlic, who had departed Chicago at 10 p.m. on a direct flight and landed at 1:30 p.m. Warsaw time, didn't sleep again until he got to a hotel in Lviv at 2:30 a.m. Wyzlic, who now wears a copper necklace painted in the blue and yellow colors of the Ukraine flag and made by a Ukrainian jeweler in Ironwood, celebrates his Finnish heritage and has a home-built sauna in his backyard. He's also part Polish. "I tell you what, I could not be more proud of that quarter Polish I have in me because the Polish people, what they're doing, is absolutely remarkable," Wyzlic said. They walked away from college, they walked away from jobs, just to assist in any way possible. It's just remarkable how that country came together." Land and sea Born in Antigo, Wyzlic entered the U.S. Navy in 1983, the same year he graduated from high school in Ironwood, where he was raised just across the border from Hurley. After leaving the Navy and earning a business degree in San Diego, he moved to La Crosse, where he worked for Dairyland Power. He later transferred to Bayfield Electrical Co-op in Iron River before joining the Social Security Administration in 2002. We visited in Wyzlic's recreation room, located in a converted garage on the ground level of his home. It includes a bar, Green Bay Packers memorabilia, a treadmill and a shoulder mount of an 8-point buck. His home is located on 120 acres of a former farm amid stands of woodland and nearly 4 miles of snowshoe trails. The past owners of the property are buried on the land. One of them served in the Korean War so each Memorial Day, Wyzlic, who is vice commander of the local American Legion post, decorates the graves, which he stumbled upon a few years ago. An avid outdoorsman, Wyzlic lost two boats when in 2016 Saxon Harbor was destroyed as torrents of rain swelled Oronto and Parker creeks. The harbor reopened in 2019 after a $14 million reconstruction project, so Wyzlic and three others who had boats destroyed purchased used boats on Lake Erie. The armada spent seven days driving their boats, some as large as 39 feet long, north through Lake St. Clair, Lake Huron, through the Soo Locks and into Lake Superior. The trip was hampered by 8- to 10-foot waves on Lake Erie and 8-foot waves on Lake Huron. "It was white-knuckle," Wyzlic said. "The best conditions we had was on the worst lake of all, Lake Superior." More than money Clearly, Wyzlic isn't intimidated by adventure. His tours in the Navy included the Indian Ocean, Australia, the Philippines and Hawaii aboard aircraft carriers and cruisers. He was also in the Mediterranean in 1986 when the Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred. Wyzlic's experiences in Ukraine and Poland have created a different type of transformation for him 31 years after his eight years in the service came to an end. On his first trip, from March 24 to April 1, he had a dinner of soup, cabbage salad and homemade vodka in a bomb shelter in Lutsk, heard the air raid sirens blare in Lviv, and saw the destruction of buildings, burned vehicles and the remnants of Russian military equipment destroyed by the Ukrainian Army. He interacted with Ukrainian troops, handed out stuffed animals to children and listened to the moving music from a violinist playing in front of a Lviv fountain despite the threat of bombings. A package of peanut butter crackers purchased at the Walmart in Ironwood and given to a small boy in Ukraine is seared into Wyzlic's memory. You would have thought he got a prime rib dinner," Wyzlic recalled. "That someone could be so happy from peanut butter crackers was simply amazing. Wyzlic brought just a backpack with a few changes of clothes on his first trip, but when he returned a second time, departing from Duluth, Minnesota, on May 5, he was loaded down. He was able to secure 300 pounds of donated medical supplies from St. Luke's Hospital in Duluth that were divided into 30 boxes. The 12 bulletproof vests from the Ironwood Public Safety Department were transported in three suitcases. "I just knew that when (the war started) that monetary donations wouldnt be enough. Inside, I just knew I had to be there to assist in any way possible," Wyzlic said. "Hopefully I made a difference." Barry Adams covers regional news for the Wisconsin State Journal. Send him ideas for On Wisconsin at 608-252-6148 or by email at badams@madison.com. Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. KIGALI, Rwanda (AP) The African nations of Gabon and Togo have been admitted into the Commonwealth group of nations. We welcome them, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, whose government hosted a summit of Commonwealth leaders this week, told reporters Saturday. Gabon and Togo are Francophone countries that actively tried to join the bloc of 54 nations. The Commonwealth's titular head is Britain's Queen Elizabeth II. Prince Charles represented his mother at the summit in Kigali, the Rwandan capital. The admission of the two new members was a highlight of the summit. The meeting, which closes later Saturday, also raised more than $4 billion in pledges toward the fight against malaria and other tropical diseases. The summit took place place at an uncertain time for the British monarchy as well as the Commonwealth, whose relevance is sometimes questioned. Even as the Commonwealth appears attractive to prospective members, some existing member nations are discussing whether to remove the queen as their head of state. Elizabeth is the head of state of 14 Commonwealth realms, but Barbados cut ties with the monarchy in November. Several other Caribbean countries, including Jamaica, say they plan to follow suit. Charles told the summit Friday that free nations can make such decisions calmly and without rancor. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. SLOVIANSK, Ukraine (AP) Scores of civilians were feared killed or wounded in a Russian rocket strike Monday on a crowded shopping mall in Ukraine's central city of Kremenchuk, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post that the number of victims was "unimaginable," citing reports that more than 1,000 civilians were inside at the time of the attack. Images from the scene showed giant plumes of black smoke from a shopping center engulfed in flames, as emergency crews rushed in and onlookers watched in distress. Ukraine's state emergency service said at least 20 civilians had been wounded, and two of them died. Zelenskyy said the target presented "no threat to the Russian army" and had "no strategic value." He accused of Russia of sabotaging "people's attempts to live a normal life, which make the occupiers so angry." The alleged Russian missile strike carried echoes of attacks earlier in the war that caused large numbers of civilian casualties such as one in March on a Mariupol theater where many civilians had holed up, killing an estimated 600, and another in April on a train station in eastern Kramatorsk that left at least 59 people dead. "Russia continues to take out its impotence on ordinary civilians. It is useless to hope for decency and humanity on its part," Zelenskyy said. Mayor Vitaliy Maletskiy wrote on Facebook that the rocket attack "hit a very crowded area, which is 100% certain not to have any links to the armed forces." The attack came as Russia was mounting an all-out assault on the last Ukrainian stronghold in eastern Ukraine's Luhansk province, "pouring fire" on the city of Lysychansk from the ground and air, according to the local governor. Russian forces appeared to step up longer-range strikes on the country after forcing Ukrainian troops out of the neighboring city of Sievierodonetsk in recent days. Western leaders, meanwhile, pledged steadfast and continued support for Kyiv. NATO will agree to deliver further military support to Ukraine including secure communication and anti-drone systems when its leaders convene in Spain for a summit, according to the military alliance's secretary-general, Jens Stoltenberg. The battle for Sievierodonetsk and and Lysychansk is part of a stepped-up Russian offensive to wrest the broader Donbas region from Ukraine. Meanwhile to the west, the mayor of the city of Sloviansk potentially the next major battleground said Russian forces fired cluster munitions on the city after dawn, including one that hit a residential neighborhood. Authorities said the number of dead and wounded had yet to be confirmed. The Associated Press saw one fatality: A man's body lay hunched over a car door frame, his blood pooling onto the ground from chest and head wounds. The blast blew out most windows in the surrounding apartment blocks and the cars parked below, littering the ground with broken glass. "Everything is now destroyed. We are the only people left living in this part of the building. There is no power," said local resident Valentina Vitkovska, in tears as she spoke about the blast. "I can't even call to tell others what had happened to us." Overall, Zelenskyy's office said at least six civilians were killed and 31 others wounded as part of intense Russian shelling against various Ukrainian cities over the past 24 hours including Kyiv and major cities in the country's south and east, but not counting the attack in Kremenchuk. It said Russian forces fired rockets that killed two people and wounded five overnight in and near Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, and continued to target the key southern port of Odesa. A missile attack destroyed residential buildings and wounded six people, including a child, it said. In Lysychansk, at least five high-rise buildings in the city and the last road bridge were damaged over the past day, the regional governor said. A crucial highway linking the city to government-held territory to the south was rendered impassable by shelling. The city had a prewar population of around 100,000, approximately one-tenth of whom remain. Analysts say that Lysychansk's location high on the banks of the Siverskiy Donets River gives a major advantage to the city's Ukrainian defenders. "It's a very hard nut to crack. The Russians could spend many months and much effort storming Lysychansk," said military analyst Oleh Zhdanov. In other developments, in Germany's Bavarian Alps, leaders of the Group of Seven countries pledged to continue supporting Ukraine "for as long as it takes." In a joint statement on Monday after they held a session by video link with Zelenskyy, the leaders underlined their "unwavering commitment to support the government and people of Ukraine in their courageous defense of their country's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The U.S., meanwhile, appeared ready to respond to Zelenskyy's call for more air defense systems after Russian troops hit Kyiv with long-range missiles on Sunday. Washington was expected to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Ukraine. Britian's defense ministry said Russia is likely to rely increasingly on reserve forces in the coming weeks of the war. Analysts have said a call-up of reservists by Russia could vastly alter the balance in the war but could also come with political consequences for President Vladimir Putin's government. Karmanau reported from Lviv, Ukraine. Oleksandr Stashevskyi in Kyiv, Ukraine, contributed to this report. In the latest chronicles of Big Techs most contentious tycoon Elon Musk, chief executive of Tesla, founder of SpaceX and self-described free speech absolutist the illusion of a populist hero is flickering. Earlier this month, several workers at SpaceX were fired after issuing a letter criticizing Musk for his online antics, labeling him a frequent source of distraction and embarrassment and alluding to reports last month of sexual assault allegations. Its an odd move considering Musks repeated statements in favor of free speech. In a recent talk with Twitter employees, Musk reiterated his stance on free speech, saying we should allow people to say what they want. Musk has long capitalized on his absolutist position to fuel contrarian expressions, from sharing a Hitler meme to tweeting that pronouns suck. His antics suggest a kind of populist heroism, as if he works for the benefit of the masses. Earlier this year, Musk said calling billionaires bad people is dumb because they create products that make millions of people happy. But while Musk often portrays himself as a maligned man of the people, his record reveals hes hardly a populist ally. In 2019, Musk broke California labor laws in a bid to prevent Tesla factory workers from forming a union. Thats not to mention the companys omission of hundreds of worker injuries from its workplace reports. Musk also paid nothing in federal income taxes in 2018, though he has received $4.9 billion in many forms of government support to shore up his companies. And yet Musk, despite this record, enjoys a wide popularity beyond the fringes of the internet. Musk has amassed more than 99 million Twitter followers and enjoys a favorable view by half of Americans. In 2021, he was named Time magazines Person of the Year and is rated the 25th most popular public figure, according to YouGov, a global public opinion and data analytics company. Musk is rated just below George W. Bush, and even two slots above the pope. His appeal, in some ways, runs counter to the distrust most Americans have of billionaires. QUOTE His appeal, in some ways, runs counter to the distrust most Americans have of billionaires. How do we make sense of this dissonance? Its partially explained by the mythology of billionaire saviorism: that the needs of society can be addressed not through social safety nets but through a rich guys vision of grandeur. But Musk isnt a savior. At heart, hes an elite whose core interests contradict those of the public. Like the great majority of the uber-wealthy class, he supports the kind of fiscal policies that undermine social equality, such as reducing social spending and gutting of estate taxes. But such policies are widely unpopular among Americans, both liberals and conservatives. Polls show that about half of Republicans favor Medicare for All and believe the U.S. economic system unfairly favors the powerful. But Musk wont tell his fans that their interests are fundamentally at odds with his. He much prefers pretending he exists outside the periphery of Americas elite than face the real class divide between himself and the rest of society. Though most billionaires in the political arena generally dont seek the spotlight, which helps mask wrongdoing, Musk seems to have chosen another tack: create an iconoclastic public image that masks his personal financial agenda. Thats not to dismiss Musks technological innovations. His pioneering work in solar and electric cars offer legitimate solutions to the threat of climate change, which poses the greatest risk to the most vulnerable. But as rising inequality seeps further into our nation where in 2019 the top three people owned as much money as the bottom half of Americans combined and while the top 1% possess roughly a third of our countrys wealth billionaires such as Musk will continue to use their financial and political power to drive public policies for their benefit. Research shows the ultra-rich hurt democracy by secretly lobbying for corporate interests, such as privatizing Social Security. Critics love to dismiss critiques of powerful billionaires as divisiveness or toxicity, but such sentiments fail to see the point. Musk might try to intimidate his workers from unionizing, but thats hardly a surprise for a tech mogul. The only shock tragedy, really is that Musk seems to have successfully marketed himself as a populist, when behind the facade is a typical capitalist whose main agenda is perpetuating the system that has brought him billions. Lozano is an intern at the Los Angeles Times: @isaacalozano. Eighty-three years ago, Mr. Smith went to Washington. Last Tuesday, Lady Ruby did, too. Georgia election workers Ruby Lady Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Wandrea ArShaye Moss Shaye to her friends appeared last week before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. Like the title character in Frank Capras 1939 film, theyve always been guided by a simple value: serve the common good. Moss testified that she once enjoyed helping people vote. As an African American woman, it was especially important to her, because a lot of people, older people in my family, did not have that right. But she and her mom lost the joy of service when Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani plucked them from contented obscurity, and made them featured players in Trumps lie about an election fraud conspiracy. Trump called Freeman a professional vote scammer and hustler. Giuliani fixated on video of the mother passing the daughter what the latter identified under oath as a ginger mint to claim they were surreptitiously passing around USB ports as if they are vials of heroin or cocaine. The racist subtext of the language could hardly have been clearer. That the message was received is attested to by the deluge of racist threats that fell on the two women, threats so vile the FBI advised Freeman to leave her house. A Trump mob even pushed its way into the home of Moss elderly grandmother to effect a so-called citizens arrest. In a stunt that speaks vividly to their utter juvenility, they had pizzas repeatedly sent to the older womans door. Moss and Freeman say they live now in lingering fear, avoiding public places, declining to give their names to strangers. Do you know how it feels, asked Freeman in video testimony, to have the president of the United States to target you? Russell Rusty Bowers also went to Washington last week. The Republican speaker of the Arizona House testified alongside two Georgia election officials. He, too, described a life bound by simple values: keep your promises, dont cheat, tell the truth. He, too, went through hell. For refusing to support spurious claims of voter fraud Weve got lots of theories, he recalls Giuliani telling him, we just dont have the evidence he was hit with tens of thousands of hateful emails, voicemails and texts and subjected to weekly demonstrations at his house, where a panel truck displayed a video proclaiming him a pedophile. This, as his daughter lay inside dying of a terminal illness. Bowers was inexplicably, still is a Trump supporter. But, he testified, I do not want to be a winner by cheating. Again, simple values. Mr. Smith, you will recall, also held simple values. He ends up kicked in the teeth by The Way Things Are. He triumphs in the end its Hollywood, after all and the movie has gone on to become that classic one hates to love. Its cornier than Kelloggs, cheesier than fondue, yet, it endures because it speaks to aspirations at the very core of American identity to be decent, to be honorable, to be brave and to be good. Last Tuesdays hearing shrank the devastation wrought by Trump down to relatable dimensions of human lives and human loss, and that was important. But just as importantly, it illuminated the stark choice forced on us by his willingness to lie, cheat and steal his way to victory. Cynicism and idealism are mutually exclusive. We cannot be defined by both. We can be a nation bound by the aspiration to simple values. Or, no values at all. Pitts Jr. writes for the Miami Herald: lpitts@miamiherald.com. Preventing unplanned pregnancies ought to be common ground among anti-abortion and pro-abortion rights forces. Thats why a pragmatic new proposal from the nations doctors making birth control pills available over the counter instead of prescription-only should inspire broad support. The commendable call for this shift came during the American Medical Associations annual meeting earlier this month. The AMAs membership includes more than 250,000 U.S. physicians. The organizations over-the-counter push is timely, given the U.S. Supreme Courts overturning of a constitutional right to abortion last week, limiting access in many states. Making oral contraceptives easier to obtain, with effectiveness ranging from 91% to 99%, is a logical step. A doctors visit to obtain a prescription can be a hurdle to using birth control pills. Getting to clinic locations may be inconvenient, especially for those without transportation or too young to drive. Appointments may not be readily available. Being able to buy birth control pills as easily as ibuprofen or aspirin would reduce the number of steps needed to get them into the hands of those who need them. Its also worth noting that some forms of emergency contraception, such as Plan B, are already available without a prescription. Providing patients with (over-the-counter) access to the birth control pill is an easy call from a public health perspective as the health risks of pregnancy vastly outweigh those of oral contraceptive use, Dr. David H. Aizuss, an AMA board member, said in a statement. ... The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also supports over-the-counter status and has backed it for many years, according to a spokeswoman. It said the AMAs support makes a clear statement that physicians are united in their strong support for improved access to safe, effective birth control without requiring physician or pharmacist prescribing, which may present a barrier for individuals especially when time is of the essence. The AMAs call to action is aimed at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), where it says a regulatory pathway exists for switching oral contraceptives to over the counter. A manufacturer application for such a switch is required but is expected to be submitted before the end of 2022, an AMA spokesman said. The FDA declined to comment on whether an application has been submitted or is expected. Birth control pills are sold over the counter in many countries, including Mexico, most Asian countries and most of South America. At least one study suggests that women able to buy the pill over the counter had higher continuation rates than those who obtained the drugs through a clinic. Continuation is a way to gauge proper use vs. inconsistent use, with the latter undermining this contraceptive methods effectiveness. ... Minnesota is one of several states that have eased access to birth control pills by allowing pharmacists to prescribe them. Legislators did so in 2020, and the measure went into effect in August of that year. There is an age restriction 18 and up. In addition, pharmacists who decide to offer this must undergo training. Its not clear how many pharmacists completed training. The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy doesnt track it. In other states that have taken a similar step, a limited number of pharmacists have exercised this new capability. Only 11% of community pharmacies in California are prescribing [oral contraceptives] due to barriers such as reimbursement, liability, time available and lack of knowledge, according to a University of Minnesota report. Clearly, broader steps are needed to ease access. Over-the-counter availability would shift the responsibility of evaluating the risks of birth control pills from medical providers to individuals. Like any medication, there can be rare complications. For a complete list, go to tinyurl.com/w4k6tan4. But oral contraceptives have been available and studied for decades. In this digital age, women have the information they need to make an informed decisions. OTC status would empower them to make that critical and personal calculation. TWIN FALLS Echoing a similar sight in many cities across the nation, a protest march was held Sunday in Twin Falls, as people demonstrate their opposition to the U.S. Supreme Courts decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, allowing states to decide whether they will allow abortion. More than 100 marchers, many with signs, gathered at the North Five Points at Addison Avenue and Blue Lakes Boulevard and made a several-mile circuit lasting two hours. The route took them west along Addison to Washington Street, where they turned north and marched to Falls Avenue before returning along Blue Lakes. For Erica Cruz, being at the march was a way to be visible in opposition to the Courts decision overturning Roe v Wade. The overturning of Roe v. Wade isnt about saving lives, its about control and putting lives in Danger, Cruz said. My Great Grandmother died from a botched abortion. You hear people say all the time that the government shouldnt meddle in our lives. A gun has more rights than I do, and Im a gun owner. We are rolling back 50-plus years and its not going to stop here, Cruz said. Marchers obeyed traffic laws and remained on the sidewalks, stopping at intersections for cross traffic. Twin Falls Police monitored the march but did not interact with protesters. Love 9 Funny 3 Wow 1 Sad 4 Angry 6 The federal government prosecuted Merle Denezpi twice for the same crime. It also punished him twice: the first time with 140 days in a federal detention center, the second time with a prison sentence more than 70 times as long. Although that may seem like an obvious violation of the Fifth Amendments ban on double jeopardy, the Supreme Court last week ruled that it wasnt. As the six justices in the majority saw it, that puzzling conclusion was the logical result of the Courts counterintuitive precedents on this subject. The Fifth Amendment says no person shall be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb. But under the Courts longstanding dual sovereignty doctrine, an offense is not the same when it is criminalized by two different governments. That doctrine allows serial state and federal prosecutions for the same crime, opening the door to double punishment or a second trial after an acquittal. Although neither seems just, the Court says both are perfectly constitutional. The justices reaffirmed that view in a 2019 case involving a man with a felony record who was convicted twice and punished twice for illegally possessing a gun first in state court, then in federal court. Although the elements of the crime were the same in both cases, the majority said, the two prosecutions did not amount to double jeopardy because they involved two different sovereigns. Justice Neil Gorsuch strenuously dissented in that case. A free society does not allow its government to try the same individual for the same crime until its happy with the result, he wrote. Unfortunately, the Court today endorses a colossal exception to this ancient rule against double jeopardy. Gorsuch, joined by Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan, dissented again last week. Even the colossal exception created by the dual-sovereignty doctrine, he said, is not big enough to encompass the two cases against Denezpi, both of which were pursued by the federal government under federal law. In 2017, Denezpi and a woman identified as V.Y. in court papers, both members of the Navajo Nation, traveled to Towaoc, Colorado, a town within the Ute Mountain Ute Reservation where Denezpis girlfriend lived. V.Y. alleged that Denezpi sexually assaulted her during the trip, while he maintained that the encounter was consensual. After federal officials charged Denezpi with three crimes, he pleaded no contest to assault and battery, which is defined by tribal law but also punishable under the Code of Federal Regulations by up to six months in jail. A Court of Indian Offenses, part of a system established by the Department of the Interior, sentenced Denezpi to time served: 140 days. Accepting V.Y.s allegations as true, most people would view that penalty as excessively lenient, and federal prosecutors in Colorado evidently agreed. Six months after Denezpi completed his Interior Department sentence, the Justice Department charged him with aggravated sexual abuse, which resulted in a 30-year federal prison term. Mr. Denezpis first crime of conviction (assault and battery) is a lesser included offense of his second crime of conviction (aggravated sexual abuse), Gorsuch notes in his dissent. And no one disputes that, under our precedents, that is normally enough to render them the same offense and forbid a second prosecution. Six justices nevertheless approved the second prosecution, tracing the authority for the first conviction to a distinct sovereign: the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. But as Gorsuch notes, the first prosecution was not based on tribal law per se; it was based on a federal regulation that criminalizes violation of an approved tribal ordinance. Although the two convictions involved the same defendant, the same crime and the same prosecuting authority, Gorsuch observes, the Court implausibly concluded that the Double Jeopardy Clause has nothing to say about this case. Such reasoning amplifies the danger that Gorsuch decried in 2019, inviting the government to try the same individual for the same crime until its happy with the result. Jacob Sullum is a senior editor at Reason magazine. Syndicated by Creators.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Few issues within Americas dysfunctional health care system are more pressing than the astronomical price of insulin access to which is, for millions of Americans, literally a matter of life or death. Congress is finally moving toward approving legislation that would partially address the problem. But passage will rely on the willingness of some hesitant Republicans, including Sen. Roy Blunt of Missouri, to set aside their free-market absolutism and acknowledge that the apparent price-gouging going on isnt what markets are supposed to do. Almost two million Americans have Type 1 diabetes, which typically requires daily insulin shots. More than 30 million more have Type 2 diabetes, which often requires insulin therapy. In the past decade alone, the cost of that lifesaving insulin has tripled. Today, even insured patients, depending on the terms of their policies, can end up paying $300 or more monthly for their insulin, while uninsured patients can face monthly costs of well over $1,000. The situation has spawned horror stories of diabetics self-rationing with less insulin than theyre supposed to take, with sometimes tragic outcomes. The reasons for the price explosion are complicated and contentious, with the pharmaceutical and insurance companies and the wholesalers essentially blaming each other. An investigation by the Senate Finance Committee in 2020, headed by then-Chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, blamed them all. This industry is anything but a free market because of anti-competitive practices between those various players, Grassley said in a statement accompanying the committees report in early 2021. He called for bipartisan legislation and oversight to address this problem. The reins of the Senate have changed, but the bipartisan legislation Grassley called for has finally arrived. Sens. Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., this week unveiled a measure that would cap the monthly insulin costs for insured diabetics at $35. It doesnt cap costs for those who are uninsured a more complicated issue that would have to be addressed in broader legislation but its a start. The bill is similar to one the House passed earlier this year, but in addition to capping out-of-pocket patient expenses, it also targets distribution issues that are partly blamed for the price hikes. Blunt told The Washington Post this month that he wont rule out the bill until he sees it, but that generally Im not supportive of price controls ... Im supportive of competition and things that encourage competition. That may sound a solid free-market stance, but this particular market has clearly colluded to the detriment of its consumers some of whom have died because of it. We encourage Blunt and others with reservations to consider that when a given market becomes detrimental to its customers health, a hands-off approach by political leaders isnt conservatism, but abdication of responsibility. Reprinted from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, distributed by Creators.com. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Just about 10 years ago, after blogging for some years, I was invited by a Twin Falls editor to return to writing some of them as weekly newspaper columns. At the decade mark of doing that, Im reminded how things were back when. That first column, from May 2012, just ahead of that years primary election, seems pertinent for review now. Some of the names and roles have changed, but the basic points seem to hold up after a decade (especially with the primary election just past and the state party conventions ongoing). Does that mean Idaho is what Idaho was? Maybe not entirely, but in part, with some yawning distinctions and more similarities. You decide. Heres the column from a decade ago: Whatever else this seasons Idaho Republican civil war may be, it is not about conservatismwhatever that word may mean. It is not about philosophy. Just about all of the Republicans on the ballot this year for legislative office or higher in Idaho are small-budget, low-tax, strict Christian-oriented, business-backing candidates. In the scheme of things, their differences are far fewer than those between, say, mainstream Methodists and mainstream Presbyterians. Theres not a lot of daylight. Even if the view here is that the term conservative has been so thoroughly abused as to be beyond any coherent meaning or repair (almost like liberal in that sense), the people running for the Republican nomination in Idaho this year are, overwhelmingly, a consistent groupmore internally, ideologically, consistent than, say, the comparable cadre of Republican candidates in Washington or Oregon. As a matter of agenda, they all ought to be allies. But this turns out to be an ugly season of internal bomb-throwing, in which incumbent legislators of the same partyeven co-members of the small leadership groupare throwing (money) bombs aimed at politically destroying colleagues with whom they almost always vote in agreement in committee and floor. How to make sense of this? A lot of it probably has to do with the fact that there are so many of them, that Democrats are such a minor opposition that they find it hard to get worked up about them any more (on a state level, that is). And those personal dislikes are weighing large. Also the likelihood that primary turnout may be smaller and it may be possible for activists to have even more sway than they have had. There is, for example, a concerted (and complex) effort by House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Majority Leader Mike Moyle to defeat their fellow member of leadership, Ken Roberts. (That is made clear more by way of campaign money donations than by public statements.) Moyles comment: My goal is to make Kens life miserable because hes making my life miserable. It certainly isnt because the issue positions and voting record of Roberts is more than microscopically different from Moyles or Denneys. Its easier to declare that the opposition is somehow less conservative; but dont expect anyone to explain what that actually means. This is happening by way of a series of interlocking PACs, which by some reports include the Victory Fund, Idaho Land PAC, Gun PAC, Free Enterprise PAC, Idaho Association For Good Government (aka Nonini PAC) and Idaho Chooses Life. And, says a Spokesman-Review blog entry, Endorsements are being given and withdrawn, two Kootenai County GOP groups are clawing at each others right to invoke the name of Ronald Reagan, and independent groups are mounting their own campaigns, either boosting or bashing various GOP incumbents under names like Free Enterprise PAC and Idaho Prosperity Fund. This is a serious conflict, in that a number of political contests are on the line. But what have they to do with ideology? Only this, apparently: Some activists seem to be all out, searching for the extremes and interested in throwing bombs wherever possible, especially from within the legislature; and others are more interested in relatively stable governing. A difference in approach and world view, certainly, and attitude as well. But conservatism? Not unless a whole new definition is developed and commonly accepted for a word already degraded almost beyond meaning. Randy Stapilus is a former Idaho newspaper reporter and editor and blogs at ridenbaugh.com. He can be reached at stapilus@ridenbaugh.com. His new book What Do You Mean by That? has just been released and can be found at ridenbaugh.com/whatdoyoumeanbythat and on Amazon.com. Love 0 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 According to his students, when Eugene Chip Cross steps into the classroom at McDowell Tech, he brings his A game and then some. His A game is decidedly more than book knowledge, decidedly more than mechanical recitation of facts, statistics and business acumen. Among other things, they say that Cross brings real-world business experience, honed in local industries, passion for teaching and commitment to innovative and unique classroom learning experiences. His tableside chats with successful entrepreneurs and business professionals has been a signature experience for students in almost all of his classes, according to a news release. Those are just a few of the many reasons Cross was recently chosen to receive the 2022 Excellence in Teaching Award, also known at McDowell Tech as the Teacher of the Year Award. He was nominated for the award by very satisfied students who have been on the receiving end of his committed classroom experiences. Students told us that Chip goes above and beyond for his students, that they could tell by his words and actions that he is deeply committed to helping them be successful, both in the classroom and, later, as business professionals, said Judy Melton, dean of Arts and Sciences and a member of the screening and selection committee. Altogether, his unique model of bringing business professionals to the classroom, live or via zoom, has allowed students to engage and learn from more than 250 uniquely successful individuals, an experience that many have found more intriguing and motivating than reading chapters in a dry business textbook. Cross is known for promoting co-curricular activities in the classroom, as well as opportunities for civic and social engagement. He offers interested students an opportunity to participate in a Business Book Club, for example, and encourages student involvement in community service projects throughout the county. Recent students have volunteered at blood drives, the McDowell Fire, Rescue and EMS College and the McDowell Chamber of Commerce. They have also written letters of appreciation to health care professionals, served as judges for McDowell High Schools DECA business presentation competitions and tutored elementary school students. In Cross world view, successful business professionals give back to their communities, and he prepares students for that role during their educational program, according to the news release. Successful students in his program have sometimes completed professional business internships and three recent interns were hired by the companies for whom they interned within three months of those internships. Cross is a graduate of McDowell High School, Presbyterian College and holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from Clemson University. For 22 years, he held a number of managerial and supervisory positions at three different textile-related industries in McDowell County: Cross Cotton Mill, Marion Fabrics and Coats American. At one time or another, he held positions in those businesses as supervisor, department manager, plant manager, director of training and human resources manager. Later, Cross was director of leadership development for Western Carolina Industries, a 500-member Employers Association in western North Carolina, providing direct training opportunities to more than 10,000 individuals in more than 250 companies. In addition to serving as an instructor at the college for approximately 15 years, Cross served for three years as director of the MTCC Foundation, a nonprofit foundation providing financial support to the college. During his tenure, more than $250,000 was raised through gifts, donations and other fundraising efforts. Cross is an active leader in a variety of civic and charitable organizations throughout McDowell County. At various times, he has served on the board of directors for 17 community organizations, including McDowell Chamber of Commerce, McDowell County United Way, McDowell Hospital, South Mountain Childrens Home and the Rotary Club of Marion. Next year, he will serve as the membership chairman for Rotary District 7670 and in 2023-2024, he will serve as president of the Marion Rotary Club. Cross is a regular participant and volunteer recruiter for the Amazing Handshake Competition through Nebo Crossing Academy, a project that builds leadership and communications skills among students, as well as teaching professional etiquette for business. He has also been a frequent speaker in more than 150 church services through Gideons International, raising funds to support Bible distribution throughout the region and world. At his local church, he recently coordinated four food-packing days in partnership with Servants with a Heart, coordinating a team of 400 community members to pack more than 100,000 meals on each of the four packing days. Packages prepared by the local team have been distributed to the needy in both Nicaragua and Ukraine. He also organized an effort in the past year to distribute over 10,000 letters of appreciation to health care and emergency services personnel utilizing more than 50 community volunteers. Cross is married to Dr. Penny Cross, vice president for Learning and Student Services at McDowell Tech. Together, they have completed almost 46 years of service to McDowell Tech. Chip and Penny have two adult children, Ben and Rachel. They enjoy hiking with their dog, Honey, as well as jogging, camping, traveling, reading and being involved in church, family and community activities. It is a distinct honor to work alongside such caring, compassionate and committed faculty members such as Chip Cross, said MTCC President Dr. Brian S. Merritt. Our students academic, professional and social lives are richer for his teaching, leadership and mentoring skills, and we are lucky to count him as a member of our highly-qualified instructional staff. It is my pleasure to join Dean Judy Melton is congratulating Chip on his recognition as 2022 MTCC Excellence in Teaching Award Recipient. India has offered to set up production facilities for manufacturing light combat aircraft (LCA) as well as helicopters in Egypt as the Egyptian army contemplates placing orders. Sources who asked not to be named, told The Economic Times, the Egyptian Air Force has a requirement of close to 70 light combat jets, with a focus on local production and technology transfer. The Egyptian Air Force chief is reportedly expected to visit India soon. During the visit expertise in manufacturing as well as maintenance of aircraft fleet will be showcased. At present, Egypt operates a mixed fleet of US, French and Russian jets and has been keen on setting up aeronautical manufacturing facilities, The Economic Times reported. June 27, 2022 12:00 YEREVAN. The Ministry of Health on Monday released the latest information on the coronavirus vaccination process in Armenia. Accordingly, as of Sunday, a total of 2,213,980 inoculations against COVID-19 have been administered in Armenia, of which the first dose was 1,138,181, and the second dose1,012, 977. And 58,283 people in Armenia have already received their thirdboostershot against this disease. Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter African Ambassadors accredited to Morocco commended, Sunday in Rabat, the humanitarian approach permeating the Kingdoms migration policy and expressed their readiness to collaborate with Moroccan authorities on this issue. This came at a meeting held Sunday in Rabat during which officials from Moroccos foreign ministry and interior ministry briefed the African ambassadors on the tragic attempt by illegal migrants to force a border passage with the Spanish occupied city of Melilla, and projected videos showing violent attacks by the illegal migrants. Actually, early on Friday, nearly 2000 Sub-Saharan migrants armed with sticks, bladed weapons and even acid attacked Moroccan security forces at the border passage. adopted by the Kingdom, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, During the meeting, the dean of the diplomatic corps, Cameroonian ambassador to Morocco, Mouhamadou Youssifou, stressed that the African group greatly appreciates the gesture of HM King Mohammed VI for the supervision of migrants in Morocco, recalling the initiative of regularization, initiated in 2013 in favor of irregular migrants in the Kingdom. This migration policy of Morocco has earned HM the King to be designated by the African Union (AU) Leader of migration in Africa, he underlined in a statement to the press at the end of the meeting. After condemning the assault of illegal immigrants in Nador, Mr. Youssifou underlined that African diplomat stand, as in the past, alongside the Moroccan authorities to face this situation, which, he said, does not honor our countries and which does not honor Africa, in general. We are ready to support HM King Mohammed VI to find a lasting solution to the issue of immigration, he said, adding that the African diplomatic corps is ready to work with Morocco to create a synergy of actions with African countries. For his part, the Ambassador of Chad, Mahamat Abdel Rassoul, praised the Kings migration policy, recalling that the Sovereign has given His High Instructions to shelter all foreigners and migrants who work, study and live in Morocco. We live in Morocco and we know how the Moroccan brothers conduct their policy towards our students, our migrants and our workers in the Kingdom, he said, recalling that the AU had entrusted to the Sovereign the management of the very relevant and very sensitive migration issue. He also reaffirmed his countrys determination to help Morocco to implement the Royal vision aimed at making South-South cooperation the foundation of African unity. Echoing his colleagues, the Ambassador of gabon, Sylver Aboubakar Minko-Mi-Nseme, stressed that his country encourages the migration policy advocated by the Moroccan government under the leadership of King Mohammed VI. We are working with the Moroccan authorities to make our citizens aware of the fact that Morocco is only protecting its territory and that illegal immigration cannot be encouraged, he said. The Ambassador of Mali Mohamed Mahamoud Ben Labbat, praised the migration policy conducted under the wise leadership of King Mohammed VI. Minister-Counselor at the Embassy of the Union of the Comoros, Housni Mohamed Abdou, on his part hailed the Kings efforts to perpetuate the Kingdoms policy of openness and to make Morocco a land of reception. We are ready to collaborate with Moroccan authorities, said Mohamed Abdou, reiterating his countrys solidarity with the migration policy carried out by the Kingdom. Following the tragic incident, Spanish Prime Minister and Foreign Minister have both paid tribute to Moroccan security forces for their steady efforts to put an end to illegal migration and the exploitation of migrants by trafficking networks and gangs. Cell viability of amidino-rocaglate treated primary and hepatoma cells. PPHs and HepG2 cells were treated with (A) CMLD012073, (B) CMLD012118 and (C) CMLD012612 at concentrations ranging from 0.032 nM to 100 nM for 24 h (gray lines), 48 h (bright purple lines) and 72 h (dark purple lines). Depicted are non-linear fit response curves representative of two experiments with two replicates. Cell viability was monitored by MTT assay. CC 50 values were calculated using GraphPad Prism 8 software and 72 h values were plotted. n = 2 (except CMLD012118 treatment; n = 1). Credit: Antiviral Research (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105359 Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is widespread, and so far there is no effective drug to treat it. In the search for one, the so-called rocaglates have come into focus: plant compounds that can inhibit the replication of viruses. Researchers from the Department of Molecular and Medical Virology at Ruhr Universitat Bochum (RUB) have examined a library of chemically modified rocaglates for their antiviral effects, which was developed by a team from Boston. One group of active ingredients in particular stood out, a so-called amidino group. It was particularly effective in inhibiting viral replication. The team around Dimas F. Praditya, Mara Klohn and Professor Eike Steinmann reported their findings in the journal Antiviral Research from 18 June 2022. Plant compounds inhibit proliferation of cancer cells and viruses Rocaglates are a group of plant substances produced by various mahogany plants. They are known to have an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of some cancer cells. It was not until 2008 that their antiviral effects against RNA viruses were published for the first time; for example, they can inhibit the replication of Ebola viruses, HEV, Zika viruses and also SARS-Cov-2. The Boston team led by Professor John Porco Jr. has created a library of rocaglates with various chemical modifications. "The core structure of the total of 205 substances is always the same, and chemical groups of different sizes or flexibility have been attached to them," explains Mara Klohn. The Bochum group tested these 205 substances for their effectiveness against HEV in cell culture. To do this, the researchers used cancer cell lines and HEV genomes tagged with a reporter gene. Based on the amount of protein produced, whose blueprint is located in this reporter gene, they can precisely measure how successfully the virus replicates in the presence of various substances. Modified rocaglates have a stronger effect than natural ones The researchers used a so-called half-maximum inhibitory concentration to indicate how strongly a substance inhibits viral replication. The lower it is, the better the substance works. "The half-maximum inhibitory concentration of our three-best tested rocaglates is between 0.5 and 3 nanomolar," reports Mara Klohn. "By comparison, that of the natural rocaglamide silvestrol is three to seven nanomolar." A common feature of the top 3 rocaglates is an attached amidino group. Because rocaglates also have a cell-damaging effect that is particularly noticeable in cancer cells, the researchers also studied this toxicity in healthy porcine liver cells. "Here, the toxicity was lower than in cell culture, which is, after all, based on cancer cell lines," says Mara Klohn. Further studies would have to examine the efficacy and toxicity of the most successfully tested substances in the organism. "We could also try to further chemically optimize the best amidino rocaglates so that they have an even stronger effect against viral replication," she says, looking optimistically to the future. Hepatitis E The hepatitis E virus is the main cause of acute viral liver infections. An estimated 20 million people worldwide contract the disease every year, and around 70,000 of them die. Acute infections usually self-limiting in affected individuals with an intact immune system. In people with reduced or suppressed immune systems, such as organ transplant recipients or HIV-infected patients, HEV can become chronic. HEV is also particularly threatening to pregnant women. Ribavirin is the only agent currently in use, but it is not effective in all cases. Explore further Active substance raises hopes of curing hepatitis E More information: Dimas F. Praditya et al, Identification of structurally re-engineered rocaglates as inhibitors against hepatitis E virus replication, Antiviral Research (2022). Dimas F. Praditya et al, Identification of structurally re-engineered rocaglates as inhibitors against hepatitis E virus replication,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2022.105359 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Whether a woman is giving birth or a man is having a cancer biopsy, medical care is rarely straightforward. At any point, an unexpected complication can arise, particularly during treatments that require several steps. Yet physicians tend to have unrealistic expectations of the success of multi-step medical procedures, according to a new nationwide study conducted by University of Utah Health scientists and their collaborators. They say inflated estimates of success could adversely influence treatment decisions and lead to unintended harm to patients. In all, nearly 8 out of 10 physicians surveyed believed the chances of obtaining a desired outcome after a medical procedure were greater than the probability of the success of one or more steps leading to that outcome. The study, which appears in JAMA Network Open, highlights a serious logical disconnect among physicians who fail to consider that each step in the process has its own risks that can diminish the chances of success for the desired medical outcome, according to Scott Aberegg, M.D., a critical care pulmonologist at U of U Health. "All too often, doctors act as though the stars align more frequently than they actually do," Aberegg says. "They tend to focus on the desired outcome rather than the actual chances of success involved in each intermediary step. We can't continue making medical decisions that way. We need to base them on more realistic expectations." The study, conducted by Aberegg; Hal Arkes, Ph.D., of The Ohio State University; and Kevin Arpin, Ph.D., a forensic specialist at Travelers Insurance company in Connecticut, sought to determine how frequently a phenomenon called conjunction fallacy happens in medicine. Conjunction fallacy occurs when a person believes that a combination of events or statements is more likely than any one of its individual components. Suppose, for instance, that a doctor notices skin growth on a patient and has 80% suspicion that it is cancerous. There's also an 80% chance that the pathologist sees cancer on a biopsy specimen in the lab. The false assumptionthe conjunction fallacywould be that there's more than an 80% chance that the pathologist will see cancer on the patient's biopsy specimen. In reality, the probability that the pathologist will see cancer on this patient's biopsy is 64%, because first the patient actually has to have cancer and then the pathologist has to see it on the biopsy. "Many physicians simply aren't good at calculating probability," Aberegg says. "As a result, they commonly miss opportunities to make better treatment decisions." In their study, Aberegg and colleagues asked 215 obstetricians and pulmonologists to evaluate scenarios that they might encounter while caring for patients. For example, in one scenario, obstetricians were confronted with a 29-year-old pregnant woman in labor. However, the child is not positioned properly for a vaginal birth. In this case, the doctors were asked to estimate the probability that the child would move into a deliverable position and be born without the need for a C-section. Overall, 78% of the physicians who evaluated one of three scenarios in the survey estimated that the probability of the desired outcome would be greater than the likelihood of the two individual events required for it to occur. This is a mathematical impossibility, Aberegg says. "Our study shows that if you poorly estimate the probability of two events needing to happen to get the result you desire, then you could be putting your patients at unnecessary risk," Aberegg says. "In the case of the childbirth scenario, you could end up waiting around for a long time for that baby and end up having to do a C-section anyway. That delay could be harmful for both mother and child." All of the physicians who participated in the surveys had an average of 25 years of experience. Yet this expertise did not appear to prevent them from opting for the conjunction fallacies presented in the study. However, this isn't too surprising since previous research found that nearly 50% of medical students are prone to these types of probability errors, according to Aberegg. "There are enormous opportunities in medical education to improve the curriculum in terms of teaching the importance of probability in medical settings," Aberegg says. "Numbers are the most reliable source of correct decisions in medicine." Aberegg urges practicing physicians to not only rely on their experience but also do their best to stay up-to-date on the latest probability research published in medical journals about various conditions and procedures. Among the study's limitations is that the participants were asked for written responses that might have been different had they been providing care to real patients. However, Aberegg believes the study could have broad implications. "Our results are very strong," Aberegg says. "We're confident that they represent a generalized phenomenon in medicine. I'm interested in further cataloging more examples so that the full breadth of this potential problem can be exposed and hopefully resolved." Explore further Mysterious vaping illness characterized by fat-laden cells in the lung More information: Analysis of Physicians' Probability Estimates of a Medical Outcome Based on a Sequence of Events, JAMA Network Open (2022). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Analysis of Physicians' Probability Estimates of a Medical Outcome Based on a Sequence of Events,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18804 Dr. Manel Esteller and Dr. Aurora Pujol, coordinators of the research about epigenetic alterations associated with Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), a rare disorder that could appear in pediatric COVID-19. Credit: Josep Carreras / Leukaemia Research Institute Researchers from the Cancer Epigenetics group led by Dr. Manel Esteller at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute and Dr. Aurora Pujol, from the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), have identified an epigenetic signature associated with the development of the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) after a SARS-CoV-2 virus infection. The signature has been named EPIMISC, in line with previous studies on the epigenetics of COVID-19 from the same team. The SARS-CoV-2 virus infection and the development of the COVID-19 disease have been a serious health, social and economic problem in the last two years. The massive implementation of vaccines has allowed a certain recovery of normality, but there are still many unanswered questions. One of the puzzles of infection with the virus has been the remarkable resilience of children to exhibit severe COVID-19. However, a small percentage of the pediatric population affected by the virus has experienced a serious health condition called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), also known as pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS), which requires admission to intensive care unit (ICU) in around 60% of cases. In MIS-C, different parts of the body can become inflamed, including the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs. The factors associated with the appearance of MIS-C beyond the presence of the virus are unknown. In an article recently published in the journal eClinicalMedicine, the sister journal of The Lancet for rapid communication of clinical findings, Dr. Manel Esteller, Director of the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), ICREA Research Professor and Professor of Genetics at the University of Barcelona and Dr. Aurora Pujol, also an ICREA Professor and Head of the Neurometabolic Diseases Group at the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), and member of the Spanish Network for Rare Diseases CIBERER, demonstrate that there are epigenetic changes linked to the triggering of MIS-C, at least in the studied cohort population. "The COVID-19 disease in adults is characterized by difficulty breathing, while the studied rare syndrome associated with the same virus in children affects many more organs and can have severe consequences. As the bases for the disorder are unknown, we decided to compare the epigenome of healthy children, children with COVID-19 without MIS-C, and children with COVID-19 who experienced MIS-C," explains Dr. Esteller in relation to the article, and adds, "We found that MIS-C is characterized by a specific deregulation of epigenetic cellular programming that leads to a landscape of hyperinflammation that can damage tissues." The results of the study, signed by Dr. Veronica Davalos and Carlos A. Garcia-Prieto as first authors, showed that specific genes were affected in patients, such as those associated with the activation of T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, the recognition of antigens and coagulation. This pattern of epigenetic deregulation was also observed in Kawasaki Syndrome, another inflammatory disease that peaked in 2009 and possibly linked to infection with the influenza virus A H1N1. Interestingly, two of the 33 DNA methylation events that define the EPIMISC signature are also characteristic of adults without comorbidities who develop severe COVID-19 disease, as previously defined in the EPICOVID signature found by the same team last year. This fact confirms that both processes, MIS-C in children and severe acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults, are inflammatory post-infectious complications and could be treated in a different way than the initial phase of the viral infection. In this regard, researchers hypothesize that pharmacological inhibition of the CUL2 gene, a mediator of inflammation, could be useful for MIS-C patients since it is known to protect against hyperinflammatory responses. This is an unusual feature, and Dr. Pujol notes, "It is interesting to see that two disorders that exhibit similar clinical manifestations, MIS-C and Kawasaki, also share a common epigenetic signature, which is different to the epigenetic signature caused by other viruses including HIV." In the same line, Dr. Esteller concludes that "it seems that in both syndromes, MIS-C and Kawasaki, there is an exaggerated reaction of the children's immune system against a viral attack. Knowing the mechanisms triggering both diseases will give us better tools to diagnose and treat them." Explore further Researchers discover pathways to severe COVID-19 in children More information: Veronica Davalos et al, Epigenetic profiling linked to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): A multicenter, retrospective study, eClinicalMedicine (2022). Journal information: EClinicalMedicine , The Lancet Veronica Davalos et al, Epigenetic profiling linked to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C): A multicenter, retrospective study,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101515 Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Failures at NHS Lothian's hearing service for children has caused an emergency situation in the area, according to an Edinburgh researcher. Rachel O'Neill, who is based in the University's School of Education and Sport, said parents needed "a great deal more support." Rachel teaches the teachers of deaf children in Scotland on the postgraduate diploma in inclusive education. She says schools and nurseries should be on alert to spot children whose issues have not been diagnosed. The health board has apologized to the families of 155 children after a review of its pediatric audiology service. An investigation by the British Academy of Audiology (BAA) found "significant failures" in diagnosing and treating hearing loss over nine years at NHS Lothian. No evidence Its report said there was "no evidence" national guidelines and protocols on hearing tests for children had been followed or consistently applied "at any point since 2009." It said NHS Lothian staff were deviating from professional standards and that several profoundly deaf children were diagnosed too late for vital cochlear implant surgery. Rachel reports there is now "an emergency situation in the Lothians": "I have never in my professional career seen a situation as serious as this in deaf children's lives in one area. Parents need a great deal more support because they have missed out on years of regular talks to teachers of deaf children, speech therapists and finding out about deaf clubs and voluntary groups that can support them." Fresh concern The senior lecturer is also concerned that there could be another wave of children between the ages of one and five who have not been identified by the Lothian audiology clinic. "Nurseries and schools need to be on full alert to spot these children now," says Rachel, who is Deputy Head of the University's Institute for Education, Teaching & Leadership (IETL). "Some may be quiet and appear inattentive. Others will have been labeled as having behavior problems. Schools should refer back to audiology if they have any concerns. This needs a concerted approach." Restricted scope Rachel said the audit had only looked at the children who were most likely to have been affected. However, many children under the age of 10 with permanent deafness would not have been reviewed. Rachel estimates this would involve at least 700 children. Rachel and several Edinburgh students have created a blog about the NHS Lothian story to help ensure parents of deaf children have access to detailed information about the situation. Apology issued The children's audiology department was based at the Lauriston building in Edinburgh at the time of the failures. NHS Lothian apologized earlier this year following the publication of the BAA report in December, 2021. NHS Lothian's medical director, Dr. Tracey Gillies, has repeated the "sincere apology" to the affected families and assured them that lessons have been learned. "We will review all children where the audit and reviews by BAA have raised concerns and will share any identified assessments that were not carried out to the required standard," said Dr. Gillies. "We are working through these cases in order of priority and will also continue to work with other patients at their regular appointments." Explore further Deaf children with learning delays benefit from cochlear implants more than hearing aids Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The causes of intelligence impairment or epilepsy remain unexplained in more than 50% of cases. Together with international colleagues, researchers at Leipzig University Hospital have discovered two genes with mutations that cause neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Their findings have now been published in the journals Brain and The American Journal of Human Genetics. Human geneticists at Leipzig University Hospital often undertake complicated searches when trying to explain developmental disorders in children, because the cause is often not immediately identifiable. The earlier the onset of epilepsy or intellectual disability, for example, the more likely there is a genetic cause behind it. When investigating the cause, the experts look at the complete coding sequence of the human genome of the person affected. They can make a diagnosis in about 40 to 50 percent of cases. If the cause is still unclear, research programs sometimes perform genome sequencing on the parents of the affected child. The result is then compared with the coded sequence of the young patient. Researchers then determine whether new genetic changes are detectable in the child, or whether there are hereditary causes and the parents have passed on their predisposition to their offspring. Sometimes, though, scientists also detect changes in a gene that has not yet been linked to a certain disease. From clinical discovery to scientific database Two cases of developmental disorders in children with unknown causes have recently been identified at Leipzig University Hospital and researched with the help of international scientific experts. In the first case, a critically ill child with early-onset epilepsy, developmental disabilities, and microcephaly was sequenced along with the child's parents. The researchers, led by Dr. Konrad Platzer, found two genetic alterations in the so-called CHKA gene. This gene was not previously known to be a cause of disease. Using the GeneMatcher database, which is used by researchers worldwide to exchange information, the medical scientists in Leipzig found five other patients from four families with similar symptoms and the CHKA gene. Researchers from the University of Halifax in Canada helped to establish the link between the change in the gene and the disease. The experiments confirmed that the enzyme cascade is restricted by the mutations in the gene, which prevents important membrane components from being built. As a result, the patients all have similar symptomatologysevere developmental delay, epilepsy, movement disorder and microcephaly. "The CHKA gene belongs to the Kennedy enzyme pathway. This is a process controlled by enzymes in which a specific membrane component is built step by step. In this pathway, there are some genes that are already associated with disorders such as epilepsy. As such, it stands to reason that another gene in such a pathway would trigger a similar phenotype. However, we would not have been able to prove this without the help from Halifax," explains Dr. Platzer, a specialist at the Institute of Human Genetics at Leipzig University Hospital. New cause for developmental disorder A team of Leipzig-based human geneticists led by Dr. Henry Oppermann have successfully solved the second case of a developmental disorder. In their study, aimed at identifying and characterizing gene alterations in rare diseases, they enrolled a young patient and were able to identify a mutation in the ATP2B1 gene as a potential cause. Thanks to international collaborations with the Netherlands, New Zealand, Canada, Israel, Italy, the U.S. and France, another twelve subjects with a mutation in the ATP2B1 gene and a developmental delay were found via the GeneMatcher database. Together with the working group led by Professor Michael Schaefer, Director of the Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine and Professor Frank Gaunitz from the Department of Neurosurgery, the scientists investigated the influence of the mutations on the function of ATP2B1. The gene encodes a calcium pump that transports calcium ions out of the cell. Calcium is an important signaling molecule for neurons, since one of the things it controls is the release of neurotransmitters and synaptic transmissions. This means it is important for learning processes and the storage of sensory perceptions in memory. The experiments showed that the mutations in the subjects did indeed impair the pumping capacity of ATP2B1 and were thus causative for the developmental delay. "In summary, we were finally able to solve the Leipzig case and for the first time describe mutations in the ATP2B1 gene as a new cause of developmental delay," says Dr. Oppermann. The study findings from Leipzig will be of practical benefit to physicians around the world. The new genetic variants that have been identified as causes of developmental disorders have been added to international databases such as Clinvar. There, all doctors can check whether their patients have comparable changes in their genetic make-up and whether disease symptoms match. Explore further How a gene mutation leads to higher intelligence More information: Chiara Klockner et al, Bi-allelic variants in CHKA cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with epilepsy and microcephaly, Brain (2022). Chiara Klockner et al, Bi-allelic variants in CHKA cause a neurodevelopmental disorder with epilepsy and microcephaly,(2022). DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac074 Meer Jacob Rahimi et al, De novo variants in ATP2B1 lead to neurodevelopmental delay, The American Journal of Human Genetics (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2022.03.009 Journal information: Brain , American Journal of Human Genetics Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Young adolescents who are targets of cyberbullying are more likely to report suicidal thoughts and attempts, an association that goes above and beyond the link between suicidality and traditional offline bullying, according to new research from the Lifespan Brain Institute (LiBI) of Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) and the University of Pennsylvania. The findings were published today in JAMA Network Open. "At a time when young adolescents are spending more time online than ever before, this study underscores the negative impact that bullying in the virtual space can have on its targets," said senior author Ran Barzilay, MD, Ph.D., an assistant professor at LiBI. "Given these results, it may be prudent for primary care providers to screen for cyberbullying routinely in the same way that they might screen for other suicide risk factors like depression. Educators and parents should also be aware of the substantial stress bullying in the cyberworld places on young adolescents." Suicide rates among children have been steadily rising. According to the CDC, suicide was the second leading cause of death among individuals between the ages of 10 and 24 in 2018. The factors contributing to suicidality in children and adolescents are not fully understood, but research has shown that environmental stressors play a role. Traditional bullying and peer victimization are well established suicide risk factors among youth. In modern times, and particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic, a substantial proportion of peer interaction, including bullying, occurs online, through text messages or social media platforms. However, prior to this study, it was not clear whether being a target of cyberbullying is an independent risk factor for suicidality. To better understand whether cyberbullying is unique in its association with suicidality in early adolescence, the researchers collaborated with Anat Brunstein Klomek, Ph.D. at Baruch Ivcher School of Psychology at Reichman University in Israel. Together, the researchers analyzed data collected between July 2018 and January 2021 from the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development study (ABCD Study), a diverse sample of over 10,000 US children between the ages of 10 and 13. As part of the ABCD Study, participants filled out a cyberbullying questionnaire, which asked whether they had ever been a target or perpetrator of cyberbullying, defined as "purposefully trying to harm another person or be mean to them online, in texts or group texts, or on social media (like Instagram or Snapchat)." Traditional offline bullying was surveyed through a separate questionnaire, which broke down behavior into three categories: overt aggression, such as threatening or hitting; relational aggression, such as not inviting or leaving someone out; and reputational aggression, such as spreading rumors or gossiping. To determine suicidality, the researchers examined whether participants reported past or current suicidal thoughts or acts. Of the 10,414 ABCD Study participants included in the study, 7.6% responded that they had experienced suicidal thoughts or acts, 8.9% reported being targets of cyberbullying, and 0.9% reported cyberbullying others. The authors found that being a target of cyberbullying was associated with suicidality, whereas being a perpetrator of cyberbullying was not. That finding was distinct from traditional offline bullying, where being either a target or perpetrator of bullying is linked with suicidality. Additionally, the researchers found that being bullied online only partly overlaps with being bullied offline, supporting the notion that cyberbullying is a distinct phenomenon, independent of offline experiences of bullying. This may suggest that adolescents affected by cyberbullying are different from those affected by offline bullying. "Our findings suggest being a target of cyberbullying is an independent risk factor for youth suicidality," Dr. Barzilay said. "For policy makers wishing to optimize youth suicide prevention efforts, this study should further encourage interventions for those who are being bullied online." Explore further Transgender, sexual minority teens at high risk of suicidal thoughts and attempts More information: Association of Cyberbullying Experiences and Perpetration with Suicidality in Early Adolescence, JAMA Network Open (2022). Journal information: JAMA Network Open Association of Cyberbullying Experiences and Perpetration with Suicidality in Early Adolescence,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.18746 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Residents in predominantly Black communities are more likely than those in predominantly white communities to live near a hospital with a certified stroke center. But a new study shows that when residents in these Black communities have a stroke, they are at greater risk of receiving care at a less-resourced hospital, where their chances of recovery are slimmer. In their retrospective study, researchers led by corresponding author Renee Hsia, MD, MSc, of the Department of Emergency Medicine at UC San Francisco, tracked patient demographics of general acute-care hospitals in the United States that offered stroke certification over a 10-year duration. Of the 4,984 hospitals, 961 were stroke certified in 2009, versus 1,763 in 2019, the researchers reported in their study publishing in JAMA Neurology on June 27, 2022. Stroke center certification ranges from primary stroke centers, which provide standard care, to comprehensive stroke centers that can treat the most complex cases. Treatment at stroke centers is associated with lower rates of mortality and severe disability, according to recent studies that point to features such as rapid triage, specialized neurosurgeons, advanced imaging facilities and swift access to thrombectomy, a surgery to remove a blood clot from inside an artery or vein. The researchers found that residents of majority Black communities, which were served by 10% of the hospitals in the study, were 1.67 times more likely to live close to hospitals with specialty stroke centers, compared to residents of majority white communities. However, when adjusting for population and hospital bed capacity, these patients were 26% less likely to receive care there, the researchers stated. Greater demand for stroke care in Black communities "Black, racially segregated communities tended to cluster in areas with large populations, where stroke care must accommodate a much higher level of demand," said Hsia, who is also a core faculty member at the UCSF Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies. "Crowding may prevent patients from accessing the stroke center, and even if they do access it, they may not be able to be seen as quickly due to shortages of beds, critical care physicians, nurses and equipment." The researchers also found a significant disparity in access to stroke centers when they compared residents' resource levels. Residents in predominantly high-income areas were 3.4 times more likely to live close to a hospital with a certified stroke center compared with residents in predominantly low-income areas. Similarly, patients in rural areas were markedly less likely to be served by hospitals with certified stroke centers than those living in urban areas. The decision to open a new stroke center should take into account population size and underlying needs of the community that the center will serve, said Hsia. "Currently, the distribution of stroke care is more motivated by profit potential, rather than community need. We found that for many in low-income, minority and rural communities, specialized stroke services are not even an option. Policymakers may want to consider how they can reduce financial barriers for hospitals in these communities where certified stroke centers are needed." Explore further Nearly all people in the US are within an hour of life-saving stroke care Congenital heart disease affects about one in a hundred live-born children. Credit: Kinderspital Zurich Congenital heart disease affects about one in a hundred live-born children. In the US alone, about 40,000 children are born with congenital heart disease every year. About half of these patients require heart surgery during the first years of life. This type of surgery involves performing a cardiopulmonary bypass, or artificial heart-lung machine, that is needed to allow surgeons to operate on the heart. However, this machine can cause severe inflammation in the children, which may last up to several days after surgery. This inflammation is harmful to the patients, as it weakens the heart and may result in organ dysfunction and the need for ventilation in the ICU. To reduce these side effects, the addition of nitric oxide to the heart-lung machine has been discussed as a promising approach. No difference in ventilation needs Researchers at the University of Zurich, the University Children's Hospital Zurich and the University of Queensland (Australia) have now investigated whether the addition of nitric oxide to artificial heart-lung machines reduces infants' need for ventilation after surgery. "The randomized trial involved 1,371 children across six pediatric heart surgery centers in Australia, New Zealand and the Netherlands," says lead author Luregn Schlapbach from the University Children's Hospital Zurich. Published in JAMA, the findings show no difference in the ventilation needs of study participants who received nitric oxide and those who did not after heart surgery. The study authors thus conclude that the use of nitric oxide in cardiopulmonary bypass surgery does not improve the recovery of children following heart surgery. The trial was the largest interventional study in children with congenital heart disease performed to date. "Researchers will now analyze gene activation patterns in the study participants to find out which biological processes could be targeted in the futureincluding in terms of precision medicine," says Schlapbach. A follow-up study of the cohort into school age will also be conducted to understand the true long-term impact of nitric oxide gas intervention. Explore further Inhaled nitric oxide may reduce kidney complications from heart surgery More information: Luregn J. Schlapbach et al, Effect of Nitric Oxide via Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Ventilator-Free Days in Young Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Disease Surgery, JAMA (2022). Luregn J. Schlapbach et al, Effect of Nitric Oxide via Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Ventilator-Free Days in Young Children Undergoing Congenital Heart Disease Surgery,(2022). DOI: 10.1001/jama.2022.9376 The spatial distribution of percent Black residents in Louisiana. Credit: Guangxiao Hu, Nora Hamovit, Kristen Croft, Jennifer D. Roberts, and Deb Niemeier, University of Maryland. Disproportionately high COVID-19 mortality rates among Black populations in Louisiana parishes are the result of longstanding health vulnerabilities associated with institutional and societal discrimination, according to research conducted by an interdisciplinary team under the mentorship of University of Maryland (UMD) Clark Distinguished Chair Deb Niemeier and UMD Associate Professor of Kinesiology Jennifer Roberts in the School of Public Health. The team included doctoral students from three different programs at UMD, working together as part of an interdisciplinary fellowship program known as UMD Global STEWARDS, directed by Professor Amy R. Sapkota of the School of Public Health. "Our results suggest that structural racism and inequities led to severe disparities in initial COVID-19 effects among highly populated Black Louisiana communities, and that as the virus moved into less densely populated Black communities, similar trends emerged," the researchers concluded in a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences on Monday, June 27. Over the course of generations, discrimination in employment, education, housing, and access to medical care has led to higher risks of chronic illnesss (including asthma, diabetes, and obesity) among Black communities, as well as a higher likelihood of suffering a stroke, the authors noted. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have linked these factors to the likelihood of becoming severely ill from COVID-19. Both nationally and in Louisiana, Black communities encounter inadequate housing and lower rates of home ownership, reduced access to health care, and lower rates of employment. As exemplified by Cancer Alley, Black families are more likely to live in so-called "fence-line" neighborhoods, located near industrial facilities that expose them to pollutants, and typically encounter reduced air and water quality compared to white Americans. Black families are also more likely to be uninsured and face higher rates of unemployment. These and multiple other factors, all reflecting decades of institutional and societal bias, add up to a combination of stressors that undermine health and, in the case of COVID-19, have made Black communities particularly vulnerable. To obtain their findings, the team members identified the spatial distribution of social and environmental stressors across Louisiana parishes, and used hotspot analyses to develop aggregate stressors. They then tracked the correlations among stressors, cumulative health risks, COVID-19 mortality rates, and the size of Black populations across Louisiana. The results suggest that COVID-19 mortality rates initially spiked in Black communities with high population densities and moderate levels of aggregate stress. Over time, the rates also increased in less densely populated Black communities with higher levels of aggregate stress. "We find that Black communities in Louisiana parishes with both higher and lower population densities experience higher levels of stressors leading to greater COVID-19 mortality rates," the researchers wrote. "Our work using the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly as observed in Louisiana, makes clear that communities with high levels of social, economic, and environmental racism are significantly more vulnerable to a public health crisis." The study lead authors include UMD graduate students Kristen Croft (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering). Nora Hamovit (Department of Biology), and Guangxiao Hu (Department of Geographical Sciences). Allen P. Davis, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is a co-PI for the UMD STEWARDS program, which aims to bring together graduate students from a wide variety of backgrounds to work on collaborative projects. "Each student brings their own area of expertise to the table, resulting in synergy," Davis said. "That kind of synergy is something you might not get in other disciplinary studies." The value of such an approach was evident in the collaboration among the three students. "As a human geographer, my main focus was on the spatial disparities of structural racism and inequities and their effects on COVID-19 mortalities," Hu said. "Using hotspot analysis, we identified two groups of parishes with high or low population densities located at different regions of Louisiana. Our research provides policy makers with very useful insights about the disproportionate burden of Black communities and the nonstationary distribution of this disproportion across Louisiana." Hamovit performed the initial data analysis that yielded stressor index calculations, which Hu then utilized for hotspot analysis. "Because my Ph.D. research involves large and complex data sets I brought a strength of data organization and analysis to our team," Hamovit said. Croft played a key role in defining the research topic and utilized her background in stormwater research to pinpoint specific variables that could have a bearing on health. Faculty mentors included Niemeier and Roberts. Niemeier, who joined the UMD civil and environmental engineering faculty in 2020 as the inaugural Clark Distinguished Chair, is an internationally-recognized expert on the equity impacts of infrastructure and engineering decisions. She is a member of the National Academy of Engineering and, in 2021, was elected to the American Philosophical Society. Her work, which details how marginalized communities are affected by vehicle emissions, development patterns, climate change, and approaches to disaster preparation and recovery, has helped spur policy and regulatory reforms. More information: Assessing inequities underlying racial disparities of COVID-19 mortality in Louisiana parishes, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (2022). Journal information: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Assessing inequities underlying racial disparities of COVID-19 mortality in Louisiana parishes,(2022). doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2123533119 As an abortion care provider in Canada, I feel deep solidarity with colleagues south of the border and terror for their patients after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that the U.S. Constitution afforded protection to the right to abortion. Individual states now may ban abortion outrightand several already have. Abortion care affirms the dignity and autonomy of patients and translates into not only physical and mental health but also opportunity for education, employment, safety from violence, and parenting wanted children. Providers and policymakers in Canada can and must respond to U.S. abortion bans by expanding access to care here. Abortion law in Canada In Canada, abortion is completely decriminalized. Abortion is health care and is no more governed by criminal law than knee surgery or intravenous antibiotics. There are no legal limits on gestational age, or mandatory waiting periods or requirements that youth seek parental consent. Abortion in Canada is publicly funded like most physician- or hospital-provided services, with a few exceptions. And since 2017, all primary care providers, including family physicians and nurse practitioners, have been authorized (except in Quebec) to prescribe mifepristone for medication abortion, which is drug-induced rather than surgical. Because there is no abortion law in Canada, there is no law for conservative politicians to demand be reformed to limit access. There is no law that providers of care must tiptoe in between to avoid prosecution. Access to abortion care In the past seven years, logistical access to abortion in Canada has improved significantly: Even COVID-19 protections resulted in care expansion: as providers became more familiar with telemedicine, many felt comfortable moving to "no touch" or "low touch" medication abortion prescribing, without requiring blood work or ultrasound. Because pandemic inter-provincial travel restrictions limited the ability to refer patients elsewhere if they were past local gestational age caps, hospitals in several provinces made the necessary infrastructural and training adjustments to extend the gestational ages to which they would provide care. Inequalities remain But serious limits on abortion access in Canada remain. This is a huge country, and people living in rural, remote and underserved areas face enormous travel burdens to access care. These burdens are greatest for people facing poverty, intimate partner violence and racism from the health-care system. And access challenges may be greater if we suddenly see an influx of demand for care from U.S. patients. Because health care is administered at the provincial/territorial level, access and medical practices among the provinces/territories vary widely, and unjustly. This is the case for all kinds of health care, not just abortionbut abortion is basic and common care, not neurosurgery. Consider how there are 49 (surgical) abortion sites in Quebecby far the highest number of access pointsbut Quebec has the lowest rate of uptake of medication abortion because of rigid requirements about prescribing authority. Meanwhile, although there is only one surgical abortion site in P.E.I., more than half of abortions on Island are through medication. In Newfoundland, 95 percent of (publicly funded) surgical abortion takes place at the freestanding family practice clinic, Athena. Yet New Brunswick has kept a perverse piece of legislation on the books for decades, 84-20 Schedule 2 a.1 of the Medical Services Payment Act, denying public insurance for surgical abortion outside of a hospital building. One in three people in Canada with a uterus will have an abortion in their lifetime. The arrangements for care should not be so convoluted and unequal. Action to ensure access There will undoubtedly be escalating rhetoric from anti-choice politicians in the wake of the fall of Roe. Now is the time to leap forward in terms of access. Health-care providers, policymakers, activists and everyone in Canada can channel our horror into meaningful and specific actions to enthusiastically expand abortion services. Poverty, stigma, racism and gender violence are barriers to abortion in Canada. If we are worried about threats to access, these are what we need to fight. Explore further New study identifies small yet essential workforce providing abortions in the US This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Spanish lawmakers approved Monday a text calling for the medical use of cannabis to be widened, paving the way for its sale in pharmacies within the next six months. Spain currently allows only two drugs containing cannabis derivatives to be administered in hospitalsone to treat muscle stiffness linked to multiple sclerosis and another for epilepsy seizures. The text approved Monday by parliament's health commission urges health authorities to allow the sale in pharmacies of "extracts or standardised preparations of cannabis that do not have marketing authorisation today." It also calls for greater research in the field of medicinal cannabis. The text gives Spain's medicines agency AEMPS six months to implement the change. Around 50 nations around the world allow the use of cannabinoids to treat conditions ranging from the side effects of chemotherapy, endometriosis or for palliative care. The sale and consumption of cannabis for non-medical purposes will remain prohibited in Spain. Explore further Swiss to lift ban on medical use cannabis 2022 AFP Credit: CC0 Public Domain The United States Supreme Court ended the constitution right to obtain an abortion on Friday, a 63 ruling that overturned federal abortion protections established in 1973's landmark case Roe v. Wade. The decision, foreshadowed in leaked Supreme Court documents earlier this year, has significant implications for women's rights and public health. The decision follows a challenge to a 2018 state law that bans the overwhelming majority of abortions in Mississippi after 15 weeks of pregnancy. The case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, was argued before the Supreme Court in December. GW Today spoke to Amita Vyas, associate professor in the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and director of the GW Maternal and Child Health Center, about the consequences of ruling. Q: What was your first reaction upon hearing about the Supreme Court's ruling on abortion, a decision that overturns Roe v. Wade? A: We all knew this was coming after the leaked Supreme Court documents in May. That said, when one's fears become reality, there are a range of emotions. I don't think any of us could have been fully prepared for this day. Today, when the ruling was announced, I felt a bit of shock, heartbreak, and quite frankly anger. To think that the Supreme Court reversed nearly 50 years of a law that protected a person's fundamental right to make decisions about their own bodies and health. It is simply appalling. Q: Who is going to be most impacted by this decision? A: Make no mistake, every single adult and child in this country will be affected by this decision. That said, just as we have seen with the COVID-19 pandemicit is those who are already most vulnerable in our communities, especially our communities of color who will be most affected. Women/people living in low income communities with minimal resources to care for themselves and their families; people/women with limited access to high quality, respectful healthcare; and people/women who lack social support and safety nets around them. They will face the worst. Seventy-five percent of those seeking abortion care are low income patients and Black, Indigenous, and other people of color make up the majority of those seeking abortions. Today, we put their lives, well-being and their chances for economic mobility at risk. We know that people who continue on with their pregnancy because they are unable to obtain an abortion are more likely to live in poverty, remain with abusive partners, and experience economic and emotional hardships. I am also incredibly concerned for our young people, especially adolescent girls. Young people who may be forced to carry a child to term and give birth. What happens to her future, her dreams, her ability to lift herself up? We know the short and long term consequences for adolescents' health and well-being when they are forced to become parentsand none of it is good. Q: What do you see as the most significant short-term impact on public health? A: I worry about the women and adolescent girls all over the country who are in need of an abortion today and in the coming days and weeks. Who can they turn to for help and support? Many organizations are quickly mobilizing to support these women and girls, and we must do our part to support these organizations. Q: What do you see as the most significant long-term implication of this decision? A: Women and girls will die. Today's Supreme Court decision will not stop abortions. It will only make them less safe in states that severely restrict or ban them. We have witnessed that in our own history dating back from pre-1972 all the way to the early 19th century. Studies that have examined abortion policies and maternal death have found that states with greater abortion restrictions have higher maternal mortality rates. If we look back on our own history, we know that after abortion was legalized in this country that we saw a drop in maternal deaths because prior to Roe v. Wade women died accessing illegal and unsafe abortions. Right now the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate of any high-resource countryand it is the only country outside of Afghanistan and Sudan where the rate is rising. Black women are three times more likely to die in childbirth than white women in America. The overturning of Roe v. Wade will significantly increase those numbers. Some studies suggest that banning abortion nationwide would lead to a 21% increase in the number of pregnancy-related deaths overall and a 33% increase among Black women. Q: What do you see as being the role of public health leaders at this moment? A: The science has always been cleargreat harm comes to women and girls who are denied abortion care. Today's decision goes against all of the available scientific evidence we have. As public health practitioners, advocates and scientists, we must continue to produce good science and evidence, and ensure that it is bold and visible so that it can be used to make change that protects women and families. Wouldn't it be great if we had more public health voices and women's voices in our State Capitols? We need decisions to be made by women, and not for them, and we need every public health professional, no matter what their area of expertise, to realize that we all have a role in the work ahead. I have great hope in our public health students and traineesmost of whom never knew a world pre-Roe v. Wade. I have hope that they will lead the way to ensuring the reproductive rights of all. Explore further Access to safe abortions saves lives: WHO chief Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The first therapy to be developed specifically for post-traumatic headache significantly reduced related disability in veterans following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). It also reduced co-occurring symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) comparably to a gold-standard PTSD treatment. Moreover, the innovative treatment, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Headache (CBTH), was appealing to patients, showing low drop-out rates, and is easy for therapists to learn and deliver, increasing its potential to be broadly disseminated and to improve the lives of hundreds of thousands of service members and veterans. Those findings were reported today in JAMA Neurology by a team of investigators led by Don McGeary, Ph.D., of The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UT Health San Antonio). Their effort was part of the work of the Consortium to Alleviate PTSD, a group jointly funded by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. "We are excited by this development in the treatment of post-traumatic headache, which along with TBI is poorly understood and for which treatment options are so limited," said Dr. McGeary, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences in the university's Joe R. and Teresa Lozano Long School of Medicine. "To find the first major treatment success for post-traumatic headache, which is arguably the most debilitating symptom of TBI, and that the treatment also significantly reduces comorbid PTSD symptoms, is a major breakthrough." Both TBI and PTSD are signature wounds of post-9/11 military conflicts, and the two conditions commonly occur together. Post-traumatic headaches, or headaches that develop or worsen following a head or neck injury, become chronic and debilitating in a large percentage of those who experience a TBI such as a concussion, inhibiting their ability to engage in the activities of daily life. When PTSD is co-occurring, it can worsen the headaches and make them more difficult to treat. Effective treatments exist for PTSD but not for post-traumatic headache, which along with TBI, scientists are still working to understand. Migraine medications commonly used to alleviate the headache pain do not relieve related disability. They also often have unwanted side effects, and their overuse can worsen headaches. Dr. McGeary explained current theory that PTSD may be a "driver" of post-traumatic headache and the disability it causes. So the research team wanted both to study the interaction of the conditions and their treatment and to find a therapy effective for both. About the study Dr. McGeary and his colleagues developed CBTH by modifying a psychotherapy for migraine headaches. In this study, they evaluated its efficacy with co-occurring post-traumatic headache and PTSD symptoms. The study was conducted at the Polytrauma Rehabilitation Center of the South Texas Veterans Health Care System. Participants had clinically significant PTSD symptoms and headaches persisting more than three months following a TBI. They were randomly assigned to receive either CBTH, a leading PTSD treatment called Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), or the usual care provided at the VA Polytrauma Center. CBTH, which uses cognitive behavioral therapy concepts to reduce headache disability and improve mood, includes key components such as relaxation, setting goals for activities patients want to resume, and planning for those situations. CPT is a leading psychotherapy for PTSD that teaches patients how to evaluate and change upsetting and maladaptive thoughts related to their trauma, with the idea that, by changing your thoughts, you can change the way you feel. Treatment as usual at the VA Polytrauma Center is a high standard of care that can include injections, physical and occupational therapies, pain medications, acupuncture and massage, and long-term medical care. Research findings What researchers found at the end of treatment was that, compared to usual care, those receiving CBTH reported significant reductions in disability and in negative impact on function and quality of daily life. They also showed improvement in PTSD symptoms comparable to the group that received CPT. All of these treatment gains were maintained six months after treatment completion. CPT, on the other hand, led to significant and lasting improvements in PTSD symptoms, but on its own did not improve headache disability. "This was a surprise," said Dr. McGeary. "If theories about PTSD driving post-traumatic headache are correct, you'd expect CPT to help both PTSD and headache. Our findings call that into question." Interpreting outcomes Interestingly, CBTH did not reduce headache intensity or frequency compared to usual care. Dr. McGeary said its dramatic reductions on negative life impact are likely due to its building patients' confidence that they could control or manage their headaches, a concept known as "self-efficacy." That sense of control was key to helping patients "get their lives back," he said. "If you can improve a person's belief that they can control their headache, they function better," Dr. McGeary said. "That's because, when dealing with a long-term, disabling pain condition, people make decisions about whether they're going to actively engage in any kind of activity, especially if the activity exacerbates the pain condition. They make those decisions based on their perceptions of their ability to handle their pain." Dr. McGeary believes the planning component of CBTH is key to improving those perceptions. He said, "There's a big difference between saying 'I've got to go to this party. What am I going to do?', versus 'OK, I have a plan for this. I'm going to bring my sunglasses to block bright light. I'll bring a cold compress. I'll step away if the noise becomes too much.' Forming plans helps individuals feel like they have improved their self-efficacy when it comes to managing their headaches." Regarding relief of PTSD symptoms, Dr. McGeary said it's surprising that CBTH and CPT were comparable. He believes CBTH was more appealing to patients, so fewer dropped out and more received a full dose of treatment. CBTH requires fewer and shorter therapy sessionstypically eight sessions of 30-45 minutes each. CPT is a more challenging therapy and typically involves 12 sessions lasting 60-90 minutes each. Another benefit of CBTH is that it requires only two hours to train clinicians to deliver the therapy, compared to CPT, a complex treatment that requires significant training and acquired skill. That would make it relatively easy to increase the number of therapists available to treat veterans with post-traumatic headache and ease caseloads at clinics. Next steps Following up on this success with veterans in San Antonio, Dr. McGeary and colleagues are looking to replicate their findings in a more diverse sample. As part of a new study affiliated with the STRONG STAR Consortium, they will test the robustness of CBTH in a larger trial at multiple military and VA sites around the United States. Dr. McGeary explained, "We need more women, more racial and ethnic diversity, veterans as well as active military of different branches, with varying comorbidities, in different geographic regions attached to different hospitals and medical systems because we're comparing to usual care." Explore further Service dogs change lives of veterans with PTSD for the better Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain A major clinical trial, led by experts at the University of Nottingham working in partnership with several universities and NHS hospitals, has found that interrupting the treatment of vulnerable people on long-term immune-suppressing medicines for two weeks after a COVID-19 booster vaccination doubles their antibody response to the booster. The Vaccine Response On Off Methotrexate (VROOM) trial, which will have implications for people on immune-suppressing medicineswho are among the millions of clinically vulnerable patients advised to "shield" during the pandemicwas carried out in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Manchester, Imperial College London, the University of Oxford and Queen Mary University London. The study was run by the Oxford Clinical Trials Research Unit (OCTRU). The results of the study are published in The Lancet Respiratory Medicine. The study was planned to recruit 560 patients but recruitment was stopped early by the independent study oversight committees when interim results from the first 254 participants showed a clear result. Methotrexate is the most commonly used immune-suppressing drug, with around 1.3 million people in the UK prescribed this medicine for inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, and skin conditions such as psoriasis. Many of them were among the 2.2 million clinically extremely vulnerable people advised to shield during the first phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, depending on specialist advice and on their risk factors. While methotrexate is effective at controlling these conditions and has emerged as first-line therapy for many illnesses, it reduces the body's ability to fight infections and the ability to generate robust response to flu and pneumonia vaccines, including those against COVID-19. The VROOM trial looked at the impact of interrupting methotrexate treatment for two weeks after a COVID-19 booster vaccination on vaccine responses in adults with autoimmune inflammatory conditions. Patients older than 18 years in age were recruited from dermatology and rheumatology outpatients in 26 NHS hospitals across England and Wales. The trial evaluated temporarily stopping versus continuing methotrexate treatment immediately after the third-prime dose or booster of the COVID-19 vaccine. During the trial, 127 participants were asked to suspend methotrexate use for two weeks and 127 to continue using it as usual. The decision on who stopped or continued with methotrexate treatment was made by a computer programsimilar to tossing a coin or rolling a dice. The team compared the spike-antibody levels between the two groups four weeks and twelve weeks after they had received a COVID-19 vaccine dose. The spike-antibody blocks the virus from infecting cells inside the body. After 4 weeks and 12 weeks, the spike-antibody level was more than two-fold higher in the group where methotrexate was suspended for two weeks following vaccination, compared to the group who continued use. There was a worsening of disease control at week 4 in the suspended group, but that normalized by week 12. There was no impact on quality of life or general health. Given the initial findings of the study, the independent study steering committee advised to stop further recruitments into the VROOM trial. Participants who took part in the VROOM study are being invited to participate in an additional visit six months after their vaccination date. The spike-antibody level reflects the strength of the antibody response. The research team are currently examining the quality of the antibody response by measuring its ability to kill live SARS-CoV-2 viruses and other variants of concern such as Omicron. Chief Investigator Professor Abhishek, at the University of Nottingham and Honorary Consultant Rheumatologist at Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, said, "We are extremely pleased with the initial results of the VROOM trial. There was a doubling of the antibody response in patients who held off on taking methotrexate for two weeks. The improvement in antibody response was maintained over a 3-month period. There was a short-term increase in risk of flare-up of inflammatory conditions. However, most could be self-managed. "We also saw no adverse impact on the quality of patient's life following suspension of their medication. However, the study did not evaluate whether this strategy would result in fewer cases of COVID-19 or fewer hospitalizations due to COVID-19 as it was not large enough to detect these differences. "Implementing these results could vastly improve the protection provided by boosters against COVID-19 for millions of people living with these conditions. COVID-19 has left them vulnerable to serious illness, whilst still having to live with the painful and troubling effects of their conditions. We hope this evidence is the next step in helping them with their lives going forward." Professor Andy Ustianowski, NIHR Clinical Lead for the COVID-19 Vaccine Research Programme and Joint National Infection Specialty Lead, said, "Despite the majority of the UK population now being vaccinated, it remains as important as ever to continue ongoing research to ensure we can use vaccines effectively in different groups of patients. "These landmark results provide high quality evidence to help best protect millions of people with compromised immune systems, keeping them safer from the virus and their existing chronic conditions. "Thank you to all the participants who took part, we rely on their continued commitment to help us learn more and ultimately beat the virus." Joint lead applicant Professor Rosemary Boyton, Professor of Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Department of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London and Lung Division, Royal Brompton Hospital, Guy's and St Thomas's NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK, said, "This study is the first to report the effectiveness of a two-week interruption of an immunosuppressant drug called methotrexate immediately after COVID-19 booster vaccination to enhance antibody binding immunity against SAR-CoV-2. Our results showed a doubling of antibody levels, an increase that was sustained at 12 weeks. This has important implications for future vaccination strategy in this immunosuppressed patient group." OCTRU Academic Lead, Associate Professor Jonathan Cook, based at the University of Oxford, said, "It's pleasing to see the difference that a simple, cheap and modest adjustment to treatment can make. Clinical trials like VROOM are needed to help us understand how best to deliver vaccinations like a COVID-19 booster in different patient groups." Professor John Iredale, Executive Chair of the Medical Research Council, which partly funded the trial, said, "This important finding means many people who need to take immune-suppressing medicines now have a safe and effective way to improve their immune response to life-saving COVID-19 vaccines. This study shows yet again how the UK research community's world-leading ability to rapidly set up well-designed clinical trials can deliver the evidence needed to optimize medical interventions and save lives in the pandemic." Explore further COPD patients respond equally well to COVID-19 vaccine More information: Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine (2022). Effect of a 2-week interruption in methotrexate treatment versus continued treatment on COVID-19 booster vaccine immunity in adults with inflammatory conditions (VROOM study): a randomised, open label, superiority trial,(2022). DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(22)00186-2 Study website: vroom.octru.ox.ac.uk/ Journal information: Lancet Respiratory Medicine Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain An outbreak of monkeypox has grown over the last two months with more than 4,100 confirmed cases worldwide. Monkeypox cases in the U.S. have surpassed 200 cases in 25 states including California, Florida, New York and Texas. Health officials have begun vaccinations for those at risk. New York City opened a vaccine clinic last week. Cases of monkeypox are increasing across the U.S., and as health officials maintain the threat to the general population is low, efforts to vaccinate those at risk have begun. The disease, which is caused by a virus and was first identified in humans in 1970, according to the World Health Organization, has usually been seen in parts of Central and West Africa. Scientists think it has jumped occasionally from animals, probably rodents, to people. Since May 2022, there have been more than 4,100 confirmed cases of monkeypox reportedand one deathin 47 countries across Europe and South America, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the U.S., there have been more than 200 cases of monkeypox reported in 25 states as of Friday, the CDC says. States reporting cases include California, Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Texas, Utah, Virginia and Washington. Earlier this week, the Biden administration began shipping monkeypox tests to commercial laboratories including Aegis Science, Labcorp, and Quest Diagnostics to expand testing capabilities. The disease, which is rare, typically starts with flu-like symptoms including fever before muscle aches, chills and fatigue. It can progress to include a rash, often on the face and genitals. Monkeypox can spread through person-to-person contact with the rash, scabs or body fluidsand touching items such as clothing or bedding an infected person has used. Most people recover from monkeypox within weeks, but the disease is fatal for up to 1 in 10 people, the WHO says. Who needs a monkeypox vaccine? Those at highest risk for monkeypox in this outbreak are gay, bisexual or other men who have sex with men, health officials say. In the U.K., where Britain has the largest monkeypox outbreak beyond Africa, vaccines are now being considered for those at the highest risk: men who have sex with men and who have multiple partners, participate in group sex or attend venues where sex occurs on the premises. A survey of those infected in the U.K., found 96% were men who were gay, bisexual or had sex with other men. The CDC also recommends vaccinations for lab and medical personneland any other peoplewho might be exposed to monkeypox. What is the Jynneos vaccine? The Jynneos vaccine, approved in 2019 by the Food and Drug Administration for the prevention of smallpox and monkeypox in people ages 18 and older, requires two doses, four weeks apart. The CDC is also investigating a measure to allow the vaccine to be used in children. The Jynneos vaccine is considered safer than alternatives because it is made from a virus that is related to smallpox and monkeypox, but is less harmful. Research that led to its approval found Jynneos created an immune response similar to that of the smallpox vaccine. Research data suggests the vaccine is at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox, according to Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. However, it remains unknown how well the vaccine protects humans from getting monkeypox. Studies done in the Democratic Republic of the Congo found none of the 1,600 health care workers vaccinated developed monkeypox over two years, the journal Science reported. However, the research did not include a control group and one person did get monkeypox after the study period. The Department of Health and Human Services, within its Strategic National Stockpile, has more than 36,000 courses of Jynneos and expects to get about another 500,000 total delivered this year, according to the CDC. "The truth is, we don't know the efficacy of any of these monkeypox vaccines," Ira Longini, a biostatistician at the University of Florida who is advising WHO, told Science. Does the smallpox vaccine protect against monkeypox? The U.S. has 100 million doses of the smallpox vaccine ACAM2000, the CDC says. Research from Africa suggests the vaccine is at least 85% effective in preventing monkeypox, the agency says. However, the vaccine, which is delivered by multiple punctures of a bifurcated or forked needle rather than a shot, can have some side effects, according to the FDA, including the inflammation and swelling of the heart and surrounding tissue, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and the spread of the virus to the rest of the body or to others they come into contact with. The vaccine is not made from the smallpox virus, but from a poxvirus similar to smallpox. New York City is offering monkeypox vaccines; are other states? New York City's health department and hospitals have been administering vaccines to those who suspect they have come into contact with someone with monkeypox. The department last week opened a vaccine clinic eligible for all gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men who have had multiple or anonymous sex partners in the last two weeks. Other states and local agencies have also been working with the CDC on vaccinations, the agency says. The California Department of Public Health has requested and received vaccines from the stockpile to protect against monkeypox, the agency told U.S. TODAY in a statement. Across five counties in the state, 52 cases have been reported, the agency said. "Cases have primarily been among gay, bisexual, and other men and transgender people who have sex with men," the statement said. "Monkeypox is transmitted through close and intimate physical contact. Although the risk to the general public is very low, it is important to remember than anyone who has such contact with an infected person can get monkeypox. People with an unusual rash or skin lesion should contact their health care provider for an assessment." The CDC recommends contacting your health care provider if you have any symptoms of monkeypox, even if you don't think you had contact with someone who has the disease. Is there a treatment for monkeypox? Those who get monkeypox typically develop painful and itchy lesions, which eventually become scabs and fall off. Those infected begin experiencing symptoms seven to 14 days after exposure and can remain infectious for several weeks. The monkeypox and smallpox vaccines, when given within four days from the date of exposure, the CDC says, can prevent onset of the diseaseand possible lessen symptoms if given up to two weeks after exposure. However, there's no current proven treatment for monkeypox, according to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. But there are several antiviral medications used to treat smallpox and other conditions that may help patients with monkeypox infection. The antiviral drug Tecovirimat, developed to treat smallpox, has been approved for emergency treatment of viruses such as monkeypox. An antibody drug, Vaccinia Immune Globulin Intravenous (VIGIV), developed to treat side effects from smallpox vaccinations, and another antiviral drug, Cidofovir, used to treat eye infections in AIDS patients, are also available for emergency treatment of monkeypox and similar viruses. Another antiviral medication, Brincidofovir, could potentially be used to treat the disease and research continues into additional treatments and vaccines. Explore further EU buys 110,000 vaccine doses against monkeypox (c)2022 USA Today Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine are studying new ways to predict to prevent suicidality. The team recently published findings about the effectiveness of a new risk assessment tool in the Springer Nature journal Discover Mental Health. "One person dies by suicide every 40 seconds worldwide, but suicides are preventable tragedies," said Alexander Niculescu, MD, Ph.D., professor of psychiatry at IU School of Medicine Department of Psychiatry and lead author of the study. "This study shows our tool is highly predictive at identifying who is at risk and what can be done to decrease risk in a personalized way." The assessment tool was first used in the Sidney & Lois Eskenazi Hospital Emergency Department in Indianapolis four years ago on over 400 patients. The assessment is called Convergent Functional Information for Suicidality (CFI-S). It can be taken on paper or in a digital format and is a simple 22-item yes/no questionnaire focusing on psycho-social risk factors rather than biological markers, as are some of the other studies by Niculescu and his group. Unlike current clinical screenings, CFI-S does not ask about suicidal ideation, and generates a quantitative risk score. "Patients do not always want to answer questions specifically about suicidal ideation, because they may be afraid of being hospitalized," Niculescu said. "Because this tool leaves out those questions, it is easier to deploy in any setting and can be a complementary questionnaire to use with current standard clinical screenings." Researchers found that at four years follow-up, the CFI-S tool was 80 percent predictive of future suicidality. The predictive ability increased to 90 percent when using artificial intelligence and machine-learning approaches in collaboration with colleagues at University of Southern California. The study found top risk factors for suicide were feeling useless or unneeded, a history of suicidality and social isolation. "That is exciting, since many of these risk factors are addressable and correctable," said Niculescu. "We now have validated a simple quantitative tool that can identify and track risk and help providers develop a personalized suicidality risk mitigation plan for their patients. Widespread use of CFI-S for screening purposes can be a game changer in suicide prevention efforts worldwide." Other study investigators include Kyle Roseberry, MD, Yena Choi, MD, Laura Quast, MD, Madelynn Gaines, and George Sandusky, Ph.D. from IU School of Medicine; Jeffery Kline, MD from Wayne State University; and Mingxi Cheng and Paul Bogdan, Ph.D. from University of Southern California. Explore further Researchers report biomarkers and apps that predict risk of suicide More information: M. Cheng et al, Polyphenic risk score shows robust predictive ability for long-term future suicidality, Discover Mental Health (2022). M. Cheng et al, Polyphenic risk score shows robust predictive ability for long-term future suicidality,(2022). DOI: 10.1007/s44192-022-00016-z I am hugely disappointed that the British government is continuing to pursue its unlawful unilateral approach on the Protocol on Northern Ireland. This is not the way to find sustainable solutions to the genuine concerns of people and business in NI and only adds to uncertainty. I continue to urge the British government to return to constructive dialogue with the EU in pursuit of jointly agreed, long-lasting solutions. ENDS MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- Getting a COVID-19 booster shot can significantly increase an at-risk person's immunity and protect against the contagious Omicron variant. New research focusing on nursing home residents and their caregivers found a third dose of vaccine boosted antibodies by more than 85%, with high levels of Omicron-specific immunity. The study authors said the results underscore the importance of boosters for all older adults. "There are tens of millions of community-dwelling older adults similar to the nursing home population but are living at home," said lead author Dr. David Canaday, a professor of infectious diseases at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. "This data shows this group of frail, older adults with similar clinical and functional limitations would benefit immensely from a booster vaccination," he said in a university news release. Canaday noted that the data also shows that health care workers received a significant surge in antibody levels after a booster. Many are healthy, middle-aged adults similar to the general population. While nursing homes have been severely affected by the pandemic, about 1 in 8 of residents and 1 in 9 staffers had not been fully vaccinated, according to the AARP. This study included 85 nursing home residents and 48 health care workers in Ohio. They were tested after their initial vaccine series, as well as just before and two weeks after their booster shots. The findings build upon previous research published last fall that found nursing home residents and health care workers lost more than 80% of their immunity about six months after the two-dose vaccine series. Current vaccination recommendations from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say people age 5 and older should get a booster, and those 50 and older should get a second. Those who are 12 and up and are moderately or severely immunocompromised should also get a second booster. Researchers continue to study responses to the second booster shot in nursing home residents. The findings were recently published in the journal eBio Medicine. More information The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more information on COVID-19 booster shots. SOURCE: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, news release, June 22, 2022 You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. MONDAY, June 27, 2022 (HealthDay News) -- A U.S. Food and Drug Administration advisory panel will vote on Tuesday whether to recommend that updated COVID-19 booster shots be used this fall to protect against Omicron and its highly contagious subvariants. Because the virus mutates so quickly, the FDA may approve the new vaccine formulations as COVID-19 cases are expected to surge again this winter. Given how fast the virus changes, lengthy human trials may have to be abandoned in favor of more laboratory tests and animal tests, the New York Times reported. Human trials can take up to five months, which can make the vaccine obsolete before it's even released to the public, according to the Times. Both Pfizer and Moderna have been testing updated booster shots that target the Omicron variant, with early trial results showing the tweaked shots boost protection against Omicron. Since then, subvariants of Omicron have surfaced and are spreading. As of June 18, the BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants accounted for 35% of all U.S. infections. "Omicron is clearly in the rearview mirror," Dr. Peter Hotez, a vaccine expert with Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, told the Times. An Omicron booster isn't necessary unless it works against the newest Omicron subvariants, but "I havent seen evidence of that," he said. Even the FDA said in a briefing document prepared for the advisory committee meeting that the bivalent booster targeting both the original virus and Omicron is "already somewhat outdated." But Dr. Kelly Moore, president of Immunize.org, a nonprofit that works to increase vaccine rates, told the Times that an accelerated process is already used to update the flu vaccine each year. Although this is the first time the process would be used with COVID vaccines, they have been safely given to hundreds of millions of people, she noted. Updating them might call for "very well-educated guesswork," she said, that is "appropriate for the circumstances." Still, the chance exists that the virus will change again and make the updated vaccines ineffective. Dr. John Beigel, a clinical research director at the U.S. National Institutes of Health, told the Times, "They [the new vaccines] may be old news by the time the fall comes." Beigel said one option is to stick with the existing vaccines, which continue to provide robust protection against severe disease, while offering very little protection against infection. The advisory panel will likely split between those who believe a fall booster will be broadly necessary and those who would limit additional shots to high-risk individuals, the Times reported. Dr. Arnold Monto, a public health professor at the University of Michigan who chairs the FDA advisory panel, predicted that a broad swath of the population will be offered booster shots. "We know theres waning. We have to boost, and it's better to boost with something more relevant" than the existing vaccines, Monto told the Times. But Dr. Paul Offit, a vaccine expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a member of the panel, countered that idea. "Hospitalizations are down. Deaths are way down because we are protected against serious illness. That's what matters," Offit told the Times. Only those over 70 and those over 50 who have serious underlying conditions will likely need a fall booster shot because COVID can have serious consequences for these people, Offit added. More information Visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for more on COVID vaccines. SOURCE: New York Times You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Originally published on consumer.healthday.com, part of the TownNews Content Exchange. President Joe Biden is set to mark his second Fourth of July since taking office, and he's finding a far different political atmosphere today than a year ago. At this time last year, the United States had been making steady progress against the pandemic, and Biden said the country was closer than ever to declaring our independence from a deadly virus. But in the past year, two variants proved the coronavirus remained a threat, and Biden's presidency has become bogged down in other challenges, some of them outside of his control. His approval rating has fallen 20 percentage points between his first and second Independence Days, according to polls from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The worlds 7.7 billion humans, and countless other creatures, are living in a perilous era of conflict, poverty, prejudice and the human-caused destruction of the earth but there is reason yet to be hopeful. That was the message the legendary Jane Goodall, a force in science and activism, delivered to 1,000 or more people in Missoula on Sunday night. I see our species at the mouth of a very long and very dark tunnel, she said, decrying rampant environmental destruction, prejudice, greed, poverty and war. But theres a little star at the end of the tunnel: hope. To reach it, she said, humankind must struggle to overcome any obstacles in the way. Hope isnt just wishful thinking, its about action. Goodall, a world-renown activist and researcher specializing in the study of primates, delivered the remarks at the University of Montana Oval on campus. Her talk, Hope through Actions, was part of the schools Presidents Lecture Series. Goodall, 88, was already in Missoula on other business and was able to fit the appearance into her schedule, according to a university spokesperson. Goodalls appearance in the lecture series was also sponsored by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center and International Wildlife Film Festival. A native of England, Goodall completed a doctorate in ethology, the study of animal behavior, at the University of Cambridges Newnham College. Her 1966 thesis, Behavior of free-living chimpanzees, was a revolutionary study of primate behavior. The thesis, and Goodalls other work, shattered prior conceptions that primates exhibited little to no human-like characteristics. She showed that chimpanzees, in particular, make and use tools, form societies with complex social structures, and even engage in war against each other. Goodall has also spent decades fighting for animal and habitat protections. She is a United Nations Messenger of Peace; her Jane Goodall Institute, founded in 1977, advocates for protecting chimpanzees and improving environments for humans and other animals worldwide. But she recounted Sunday a journey from unremarkable beginnings, living in poverty in England and growing up during World War II. Childrens books were largely out of production during the war, she said, and her parents couldnt afford much of them anyway. With carefully saved pocket change, she bought a used copy of Tarzan of the Apes. She was taken by it. Obviously I fell in love with this glorious king of the jungle. And what did Tarzan do? He married the wrong Jane. Her mothers unyielding support was a countervailing force to the familys poverty, offering motivation in place of money. When she first sought to travel globally to immerse herself in the natural world, youre just a girl, thats what they said. But not my mother. Contrary to popular tales, Goodall did not dream as a child of researching chimpanzees after being gifted a stuff chimp at 2 years old. I never dreamt that I could do anything like study chimpanzees, she said. I would have studied mice to be out in the wild. A serendipitous introduction in Africa to pioneering primatologist Louis Leakey two days after his secretary quit led Goodall, then trained in secretarial work, to work with Leakey. He soon realized her prowess with wildlife observation and put her to work in the field. Her breakthrough observation came when she observed a chimp, David Graybeard, stripping a twig of its leaves and inserting it into a termite mound to fish out insects to dine on. The discovery is widely regarded as the first observation of non-human animals using tools, shattering centuries of scientific belief. Back then, science believed that humans and only humans used and made tools. Back then we were defined as man the toolmaker. Leakey eventually facilitated her entry into a doctoral program at the University of Cambridge, making her only the eighth person to enter the program without any prior degrees. Upon graduation, she immediately returned to the Gombe area, in present day Tanzania, to continue her research. I spent hours and hours in the forest, and when Im in the forest I feel a real spiritual connection with the natural world, she said. Somewhere in the crowd on the Oval, a dog let out a single, loud bark. See? she said. He knew he was agreeing. But without a dramatic change of course, humans will destroy that natural world, which, she reminded, is also humans only habitat. How bizarre that this most intellectual creature is destroying its own home, which is what were doing, she said. Its our home, and we are destroying it. And do you think theres been a disconnect between this clever brain and the heart? Only when head and heart work in harmony can we achieve our true human potential, and our human potential is huge. If people heed that message and put in a lot of work positive change could come about, she said in her final statement to the crowd: Just remember, every single one of you makes a difference every single day, and you can choose what sort of difference you make. Among the scores who turned out to see Goodall speak in the 84-degree sunshine was Clinton resident Ruby Kikkert, 75, who said she heard about the event from her daughter. I love Jane Goodall. Her last book was all about hope, which I think we all need right now, she said. Its nice to have something positive going on right now. In front of Kikkert was her granddaughter, Charlie Schmidt, sandwiched between five of her friends. Charlie, 10, said she was excited to hear Goodall speak because I like that she interacts with animals, I think thats really cool. And I like animals a lot. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 21 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The Missoula City-County Health Department is now encouraging widespread mask use of all individuals while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, as cases and hospitalizations due to COVID infection continue to climb. Last week, the county crossed into the Center of Disease Control and Preventions high-risk COVID category after hospitalizations matched levels not seen since February 2022, the health department said. On Monday, Missoula County reported 23 new cases of COVID, bringing it to 419 active reports. There have been 211 deaths among residents attributed to COVID infection. The seven-day positivity rate in the county is at 18.15%. There are currently 15 people hospitalized due to COVID infection in Missoula County, 12 of those are residents. The CDC recommends that residents living in high-risk areas wear well-fitting masks indoors, including in K-12 schools. Additionally, immunocompromised people or those at high risk for severe disease are encouraged to wear a respirator or mask, such as a KN95, for greater protection. Vaccines, boosters and therapeutics are also strongly encouraged to help lower Missoula Countys COVID-19 hospitalizations and ultimately lower the communitys COVID-19 risk level, the county health department wrote on Monday. All individuals over the age of 6 months are eligible for COVID vaccines at this time. There are also treatment options available for people who test positive for COVID, however time is of the essence. Residents are strongly encouraged to seek COVID-19 testing as quickly as possible if they start to experience COVID-19 symptoms. This is because COVID-19 therapeutics, Paxlovid and Molnupiravir, must be taken within five days of symptoms onset, the health department said. People can schedule a vaccine appointment or to find treatment options at missoulainfo.com. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 1 Funny 2 Wow 1 Sad 4 Angry 1 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Reproductive freedom was one of the key goals of the feminism of the 1960s and 1970s. The women who fought for those rights recall an astonishing decade of progress from about 1963 to 1973. It included the right to equal pay, the right to use birth control, Title IX in 1972, and then Roe v. Wade, guaranteeing a right to abortion. Now they are not only shocked at the rollback of that right, but worried that if a right so central to the overall fight for womens equality can be revoked, what does this mean for the progress women have made in public life in the intervening 50 years? For the past several weeks I have been contemplating an opinion piece that would have begun with I am ashamed of my country. Believe me, as a native Montanan who was raised by patriotic and loving parents, became a graduate of the University of Montanas Air Force Reserve Officer Training Program, and retired after 30 years as a veteran and senior member of the United States Air Force, I am aware of how astonishing that statement may seem to many, especially those who seem strangely wedded to the national disgrace embodied by Donald Trump and his acolytes. After listening to some of the evidence collected by the Jan. 6 committee and elsewhere, I have decided that a more appropriate approach would be, I am fearful for our countrys future." Make no mistake, I am ashamed of the degree to which our national body politic, to include several current office holders, has been willing to accept misogyny, pathological lying, narcissism, homophobia, aversion to truth telling, abject racism and wanton gun slaughter of innocent children. The Trump political machine has more in common with an organized criminal mob than any normalized political organization. My transition from ashamed to fearful has been propelled by the fact that at the end of the day, despite Trump's highly organized and widely supported attempted coup against our democracy, our republic held firm. We have many to thank for that victory. All 50 states and our territories held firm thanks to the efforts of Democrats and Republicans charged with administering their states electoral processes. Our election workers, despite unbelievable efforts to undermine their efforts with fear and threats of violence, did their jobs. The senior leadership of the military held the line. Our federal judiciary, to include many judges appointed by Trump, upheld the law and all but laughed out of court Trump efforts to change our nations electoral legitimacy. Senior officers of the Department of Justice rejected Trumps repeated requests to subvert the law. We need to thank those courageous Americans who upheld the legitimacy of the election. They were a mixture of Republicans, Democrats, and Independents national heroes all. Thus, I close with two thoughts. First, I fear that absent considerable engagement from all of you, we will not have the ability to withstand a similar assault, and it appears that such an assault is in the making. VOTE! Second, if despite the overwhelming evidence to the contrary, you support the notion of Stop the Steal, you are without a doubt a traitor to our country. Don Loranger lives in Missoula and is a retired U.S. Air Force Major General. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 14 Funny 2 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 1 Despite the fact that 70% of Americans want abortion to be safe and legal, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade on Friday. This points to a profound lack of democracy in this country. Is this attack really being driven by the religious right? Or is the corporate world using abortion to pit the people against each other? Here are a few factoids to make your head spin: In 1947 Prescott Bush, George H.W. Bushs father, was Treasurer of Planned Parenthood. In 1967 California Governor Ronald Reagan signed the countrys most liberal abortion law. In 1968 presidential candidate Richard Nixon advocated federal funds for family planning. In 1980 George H.W. Bush campaigned for president as a pro-choice Republican. Did the religious right suddenly become amazing lobbyists? Hardly. In 1968 evangelical magazine Christianity Today concluded that abortion is a very complicated moral issue. In 1971, the Southern Baptist Convention came out in favor of opening up access to abortion in many cases, and reaffirmed that position in 1974 and 1976. What changed was that the Republican Party started to use the religious right as pawns. Jesus said, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to get into heaven. What place does Christianity have in an economic system thats based on accumulating wealth and creating poverty? The sixth commandment says You shall not kill. Where does it fit in a country based on war and conquest? Though there have been theologians who justify wealth as reward for the Protestant work ethic, Christian and capitalist values are generally at odds with each other. How do you convince Christians to support corporate rule while turning them against movements they might otherwise support? Convince them that abortion is the number one evil, far worse than all others. The political movements of the 1960s were successfully challenging poverty, racism, misogyny, homophobia. The anti-war movement was vast. We were building a beautiful new world. We were advocating for political and economic democracy. We were challenging corporate power and that was not acceptable. The anti-abortion strategy is an amazing tool for dividing people. Divide us against each other so that we cannot effectively challenge the powers that be. Reagan, the Bushes and Trump opportunistically manipulated the religious right to that end. Attacks on reproductive rights force many activists to spend vast amounts of energy working to preserve those rights, energy that couldve been used on movement building. That energy comes at the expense of every other objective we could be working toward. But we cant let the Democratic Party off the hook. Democrats in Congress could have passed laws guaranteeing abortion rights anytime they had a majority in the last few decades. Instead, they sold out our welfare programs, health care, labor rights, schools, environment, and even threatened Social Security and Medicare during the Clinton and Obama administrations, counting on Republican attacks on reproductive rights to scare people into loyally supporting them. Our own Max Baucus prevented Medicare-for-All, meaning reproductive justice itself was off the table. As both parties reap the benefits of division, the wealthy get wealthier, poverty and homelessness increase, mass incarceration thrives and violence surges. The status quo is working just fine for the 1%. We will never safely preserve reproductive rights under capitalism. Where wealth is power, there is little democracy. And without democracy, all of our rights are in peril. Capitalists always use the tools at hand to maintain their power. Dividing people against each other over abortion is only one of them, and it has proven quite useful. Robbie Liben lives in Missoula and serves as the organizer for the Western Montana Democratic Socialists of America. You must be logged in to react. Click any reaction to login. Love 6 Funny 1 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 RALEIGH Eligible North Carolina children will receive additional benefits over the summer to ensure they have access to nutritious food. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services recently received approval from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to continue the Pandemic Electronic Benefits Transfer food assistance program through Summer 2022. The extension of Summer P-EBT will provide approximately $303 million in food assistance benefits to approximately 975,000 North Carolina children. For some kids, summer vacation means wondering where their next meal will come from, said NCDHHS Secretary Kody H. Kinsley. Children need healthy food to grow and learn, and we will continue to do everything we can to support this effort as part of the NCDHHS priority to improve child and family well-being. Students who received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program in May 2022 are among the groups eligible for the P-EBT program. Summer P-EBT benefits and the National School Lunch Program are such important ways we can continue our mission of supporting the growth and development of North Carolinas students, said Catherine Truitt, N.C. Superintendent of Public Instruction. We know that improving student performance and outcomes requires mobilization of student support services, and Im thrilled that we are able to continue providing this assistance to children and their families. Families can access important P-EBT information and updates on the P-EBT website at https://bit.ly/3OjSltt. Details on the benefit issuance schedule will be posted on the website and shared via social media, and the one-time benefit amounts will be added to the website once they are finalized by the USDA. The eligibility and benefit amounts for Summer P-EBT for students and for young children differ. Students who received free or reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program in May 2022 are automatically eligible for Summer P-EBT and will be issued a one-time payment in late July or early August. For families who receive Food and Nutrition Services benefits, these student benefits will be added to their existing FNS EBT card. If a student received P-EBT benefits during the 2021-22 school year, the benefits will be added to their existing P-EBT card. If the student did not receive P-EBT this school year, a new card will be mailed. To access Summer P-EBT benefits, a student who is not already approved for free or reduced-price meals needs to apply by Aug. 31. If approved for free or reduced-price meals, the student will be automatically eligible for Summer P-EBT. To apply, contact your students school or school district. Many have online applications. Young children under age 6 receiving FNS benefits and Child Care P-EBT benefits for the 2021-22 school year are automatically eligible for Summer P-EBT and will be issued a one-time payment in late July or early August. Young childrens benefits will be added to their households FNS EBT card. To access Summer P-EBT benefits, families with children who were 5 years old or younger at the start of the 2021-22 school year (Sept. 1, 2021) can submit and FNS application at https://bit.ly/3NicQp5 by Aug. 15. If approved for FNS, these children will also become eligible for Summer P-EBT and will receive those benefits in September or October. For more information on P-EBT, visit www.ncdhhs.gov/PEBT. North Carolinians interested in applying for FNS benefits can apply online at https://bit.ly/3OEEldB or through your local county department of social services. P-EBT is a federally funded, temporary food assistance program that helps families during the COVID-19 public health emergency. Summer P-EBT is an extension of school year 2021-22 benefits. P-EBT is administered by the NC Department of Health and Human Services in partnership with the NC Department of Public Instruction. As part of the growth and expansion program called Project Forward: Your Hospital, Your Future, UNC Health Blue Ridge will break ground on a six-story tower addition to the right side of its Morganton hospital at 11 a.m. Tuesday. The $118 million project will include a 220,560-square-foot tower addition that will include a new emergency department, critical care units and a rooftop helipad. Of the six towers that will be built, three of the floors will remain empty for future expansion. The current ICU dates back to 1983, said Jon Mercer, senior vice president and chief operating officer. It is past time for them to be updated, and the new rooms will be nearly double in size to the ones we have now. The new critical care unit will have 30 rooms in 35,964 square feet of space, a much-needed increase from the current 16 rooms and 7,380 square feet. The extra square footage will allow ample workspace for our care teams and have space for large, complex lifesaving equipment, Mercer said. Care partners will have comfortable space as well. The project also calls for a new parking lot to the left of the hospital, and renovations to the lab. One part of the project completed already is the sixth floor renovation in the Medical Office Building of the Cardiopulmonary Rehab Department. A ribbon-cutting and open house for that new space took place in late May. Visitors and patients to the Morganton campus are asked to use caution once construction begins near the emergency department entrance. Brasfield & Gorrie, one of the nations largest privately held construction firms, is the general contractor for the project, and DLR Group is the design firm. Health care is essential to building strong communities, and at Brasfield & Gorrie, building those communities is essential to our purpose, said Michael Byrd, regional vice president and division manager of Brasfield & Gorrie. We are honored to work with UNC Health Blue Ridge to improve the health care facilities in Morganton and in other communities across the state. We celebrate the systems investment in the communities it serves. Over the next two years, UNC Health Blue Ridge will invest $156 million into these projects. Construction on the Morganton campus is expected to wrap up in the spring of 2024. The new cancer center being built on the Valdese campus should be finished in late 2023. The case against a then-Montana Technological University student from Nevada, who was jailed for statutory rape on Jan. 27, 2020, has been dismissed. Caden Joseph Constable was 19 years old when Butte police arrested him for intercourse without consent with a girl more than four years younger than him. Under Montana law, a person under the age of 16 cannot consent to sexual intercourse. The felony charge carries a minimum two-year term but a four-year minimum if the offender is four or more years older than the underage victim. It carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or up to 100 years. Butte-Silver Bow Attorney Michael Clague said the charges against Constable were dropped because the state lost track of the victim. She got moved around, and we lost track of her, Clague said. We kept hoping wed be able to track her. He added that although there was probable cause to arrest Constable at the time, a witness is oftentimes needed in court. Butte police found the girl in Constables dorm room at Montana Tech on Jan, 25, 2020 at around 2:40 a.m. after they were informed by university security that she was believed to be a runaway and might be with Constable. He was arrested and later charged with allegedly having sex with the girl. Security at Montana Tech was tipped off by police in Elko, Nevada. Constable is from Spring Creek, Nevada, which is about 15 miles southeast of Elko in the northern part of the state. According to a January 2020 article written by The Standard, police at the time believed the girl knew Constable and came to Butte on her own. Constables defense attorney, Jeffrey Dahood, did not return attempts to reach him for a comment by the time of publication. Love 2 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 9 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Here in Butte, the Fourth of July festivities start out Sunday night, July 3, with the Big Bang Freedom Fest at Chester Steele Park, just west of St. James Healthcare. The popular event includes live music and food vendors. Fireworks on the Big M, sponsored by the Kenneally family and Town Pump Foundation, start at dusk. On Monday, July 4, the parade begins at 10 a.m. at the Butte Civic Center and proceeds south on Harrison Avenue. Buttes not the only town in southwest Montana celebrating Independence Day. Anaconda, Boulder, Deer Lodge, Dillon, Ennis, Georgetown Lake, Virginia City and Wisdom have their own celebrations planned. The details of those plans are listed below. Anaconda The American Legion sponsors a parade down Main Street starting at 2 p.m. Monday. Entrants should line-up behind the Anaconda-Deer Lodge County Courthouse. A fireworks show starts around 10:30 p.m., above Washoe Park. Boulder Short and sweet, but there will be a parade on Main Street Monday. At dusk, the Boulder Kiwanis Fourth of July fireworks will begin on Cap Hill in Veterans Park. Deer Lodge Head on over to the Old Montana Prison on Monday for a potluck dinner and fireworks display. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Dillon The Dillon Jaycees will be setting off their fireworks shortly after dusk Monday night from the ball fields. The public can view the display from Ray Lynch Park. Ennis The Ennis NRA Rodeo begins at 6 p.m. Sunday-Monday. Two days of the NRA-sanctioned rodeo will feature the top cowboys and cowgirls from the Northwest. General admission is $15 for adults and $10 for children. The annual Ennis Fourth of July parade starts at 10 a.m. Monday, on Main Street, and follows a route through historic downtown Ennis. This years theme is I Love Ennis and the grand marshals will be members of the Madison Valley Womans Club. At noon there will be the Veterans Memorial Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park. In addition, there will be a car show on the lawn at Sportsmans Lodge from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Also, Ennis Lions Club Fourth of July barbecue starts at 11 a.m. at Peter T's Park. The day concludes with a fireworks display at dusk in Virginia City. Georgetown Lake The annual Fourth of July parade starts at noon Monday just above 7 Gables Resort at 150 Southern Cross Road. Those attending are asked to not throw water balloons and/or spray parade participants or spectators. There will be prizes for first, second and third place. Virginia City The professional fireworks display begins at dusk Monday, from the Boot Hill area. All donations benefit the Virginia City Rural Fire Department Auxiliary. Wisdom Several events are on tap during the Big Hole Valley Fourth of July Celebration in Wisdom. The day begins at 6:15 a.m. Monday with the raising of the American flag and Pledge of Allegiance. A breakfast will follow at Fettys Restaurant with guest speaker Greg Fellows. The Main Street parade starts at 10 a.m., with a barbecue lunch at the Masonic Temple. Later, at the Wisdom Airport, country music will be featured, along with a softball game and a bonfire. The day concludes with a fireworks display. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Get local news delivered to your inbox! Subscribe to our Daily Headlines newsletter. Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. The worlds 7.7 billion humans, and countless other creatures, are living in a perilous era of conflict, poverty, prejudice and the human-caused destruction of the earth but there is reason yet to be hopeful. That was the message the legendary Jane Goodall, a force in science and activism, delivered to 1,000 or more people in Missoula on Sunday night. I see our species at the mouth of a very long and very dark tunnel, she said, decrying rampant environmental destruction, prejudice, greed, poverty and war. But theres a little star at the end of the tunnel: hope. To reach it, she said, humankind must struggle to overcome any obstacles in the way. Hope isnt just wishful thinking, its about action. Goodall, a world-renown activist and researcher specializing in the study of primates, delivered the remarks at the University of Montana Oval on campus. Her talk, Hope through Actions, was part of the schools Presidents Lecture Series. Goodall, 88, was already in Missoula on other business and was able to fit the appearance into her schedule, according to a university spokesperson. Goodalls appearance in the lecture series was also sponsored by the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Center and International Wildlife Film Festival. A native of England, Goodall completed a doctorate in ethology, the study of animal behavior, at the University of Cambridges Newnham College. Her 1966 thesis, Behavior of free-living chimpanzees, was a revolutionary study of primate behavior. The thesis, and Goodalls other work, shattered prior conceptions that primates exhibited little to no human-like characteristics. She showed that chimpanzees, in particular, make and use tools, form societies with complex social structures, and even engage in war against each other. Goodall has also spent decades fighting for animal and habitat protections. She is a United Nations Messenger of Peace; her Jane Goodall Institute, founded in 1977, advocates for protecting chimpanzees and improving environments for humans and other animals worldwide. But she recounted Sunday a journey from unremarkable beginnings, living in poverty in England and growing up during World War II. Childrens books were largely out of production during the war, she said, and her parents couldnt afford much of them anyway. With carefully saved pocket change, she bought a used copy of Tarzan of the Apes. She was taken by it. Obviously I fell in love with this glorious king of the jungle. And what did Tarzan do? He married the wrong Jane. Her mothers unyielding support was a countervailing force to the familys poverty, offering motivation in place of money. When she first sought to travel globally to immerse herself in the natural world, youre just a girl, thats what they said. But not my mother. Contrary to popular tales, Goodall did not dream as a child of researching chimpanzees after being gifted a stuff chimp at 2 years old. I never dreamt that I could do anything like study chimpanzees, she said. I would have studied mice to be out in the wild. A serendipitous introduction in Africa to pioneering primatologist Louis Leakey two days after his secretary quit led Goodall, then trained in secretarial work, to work with Leakey. He soon realized her prowess with wildlife observation and put her to work in the field. Her breakthrough observation came when she observed a chimp, David Graybeard, stripping a twig of its leaves and inserting it into a termite mound to fish out insects to dine on. The discovery is widely regarded as the first observation of non-human animals using tools, shattering centuries of scientific belief. Back then, science believed that humans and only humans used and made tools. Back then we were defined as man the toolmaker. Leakey eventually facilitated her entry into a doctoral program at the University of Cambridge, making her only the eighth person to enter the program without any prior degrees. Upon graduation, she immediately returned to the Gombe area, in present day Tanzania, to continue her research. I spent hours and hours in the forest, and when Im in the forest I feel a real spiritual connection with the natural world, she said. Somewhere in the crowd on the Oval, a dog let out a single, loud bark. See? she said. He knew he was agreeing. But without a dramatic change of course, humans will destroy that natural world, which, she reminded, is also humans only habitat. How bizarre that this most intellectual creature is destroying its own home, which is what were doing, she said. Its our home, and we are destroying it. And do you think theres been a disconnect between this clever brain and the heart? Only when head and heart work in harmony can we achieve our true human potential, and our human potential is huge. If people heed that message and put in a lot of work positive change could come about, she said in her final statement to the crowd: Just remember, every single one of you makes a difference every single day, and you can choose what sort of difference you make. Among the scores who turned out to see Goodall speak in the 84-degree sunshine was Clinton resident Ruby Kikkert, 75, who said she heard about the event from her daughter. I love Jane Goodall. Her last book was all about hope, which I think we all need right now, she said. Its nice to have something positive going on right now. In front of Kikkert was her granddaughter, Charlie Schmidt, sandwiched between five of her friends. Charlie, 10, said she was excited to hear Goodall speak because I like that she interacts with animals, I think thats really cool. And I like animals a lot. Love 1 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) One of Irans major steel companies said Monday it was forced to halt production after being hit by a cyberattack that also targeted two other plants, apparently marking one of the biggest such assaults on the countrys strategic industrial sector in recent memory. The Iranian government did not acknowledge the disruption or blame any specific group for the assault on the state-owned Khuzestan Steel Co. and Irans two other major steel producers, which constitutes just the latest example of an attack crippling the countrys services in recent months amid heightened tensions in the region. An anonymous hacking group claimed responsibility for the attack on social media, saying it targeted Iran's three biggest steel companies in response to the aggression of the Islamic Republic. The group, calling itself Gonjeshke Darande, shared what purported to be closed-circuit footage from the Khuzestan Steel Co. factory floor that showed a piece of heavy machinery on a steel billet production line malfunction and cause a massive fire. These companies are subject to international sanctions and continue their operations despite the restrictions, the group said, citing their links to Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. A steel mill in the central Iranian town of Mobarakeh said that its system was struck too, while the the state-run IRAN newspaper reported that another factory in the southern Iranian port of Bandar Abbas was targeted in the cyberattack. Neither plant acknowledged any damage or work stoppage as a result. Khuzestan Steel Co., meanwhile, said the factory had to stop work until further notice due to technical problems following cyberattacks. The company's website was down on Monday. However, CEO Amin Ebrahimi, claimed that Khuzestan Steel managed to thwart the cyberattack and prevent damage to production that would impact supply chains and customers. He said nothing of the explosion shown in the hacker group's footage. Fortunately with time and awareness, the attack was unsuccessful, the semiofficial Mehr news agency quoted Ebrahimi as saying, adding that he expected the company's website to be restored and everything to return to "normal" by the end of Monday. A local news channel, Jamaran, meanwhile reported that the attack failed because the factory happened to be non-operational at the time due to an electricity outage. Cyberattacks have become increasingly common in Iran in recent years. The country, long sanctioned by the West, has been slow to update its networks to counter the rising use of ransomware by criminals, as well as intrusions by state actors. In a major incident last year, a cyberattack on Iran's fuel distribution system paralyzed gas stations across the country, leading to long lines of angry motorists. The same anonymous hacking group, Gonjeshke Darande, claimed responsibility for the attack on fuel pumps. Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, a principal threat researcher at SentinelOne, said its still unclear who is behind the recent cyberattacks against Iran. But he said it's an escalation if the same groups are behind the alleged attack on the steel plants' industrial control system. Something has changed in the tone of these attacks, he said. Lior Tabansky, a cybersecurity expert at Israels Tel Aviv University, said that in the murky world of cybersecurity, its often difficult to separate genuine claims of responsibility from false flags. If it was indeed a cyberattack, suspicion would likely fall on Israel or the United States, he said. However, if I were an Iranian senior official and I had problems in my ministry of steel or whatever, the best way out is to say well, the Zionists or American imperialists are cyber-attacking me. Iran has previously accused the United States and Israel for cyberattacks that have impaired the country's infrastructure. Iran disconnected much of its government infrastructure from the internet after the Stuxnet computer virus widely believed to be a joint U.S.-Israeli creation disrupted thousands of Iranian centrifuges in the countrys nuclear sites in the late 2000s. Khuzestan Steel Co., based in Ahvaz in the oil-rich southwestern Khuzestan province, has a monopoly on steel production in Iran along with two other major state-owned firms. Founded before Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the company for decades afterward had some production lines supplied by German, Italian and Japanese companies. Service has been continuous except during the catastrophic Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s, when Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein sent his army across the border. However, crushing sanctions on Iran over its nuclear program have forced the company to reduce its dependence on foreign parts. The government considers steel a crucial sector. Iran is the leading producer of steel in the Middle East and among the top 10 in the world, according to the World Steel Association. Its iron ore mines provide raw materials for domestic production and are exported to dozens of countries, including Italy, China and the United Arab Emirates. Iran's crude steel production, however, was only 2.3 million tons last month, the WSA said. Its concurrent drop in exports has been largely attributed to sanctions-hit Russia flooding Iran's Chinese buyers with discounted steel after losing access to Western markets amid the war on Ukraine. Associated Press writers Alan Suderman in Richmond, Virginia, and Joseph Krauss in Jerusalem contributed to this report. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Italy is the latest country in the European Union to ban websites from using Google analytics to track its users. The Italian Data Protection Authority stated that Google Analytics violates the European Unions (EU) General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law. Italy is the third country within the EU to ban Google Analytics. Austrias Data Protection Authority was the first to block the service, followed by the French Data Protection Agency. The EU introduced GDPR in 2018. Google Analytics provides website managers with statistics on the online users visiting a site. Google Analytics assigns each website visitor a unique identifier to track them and provide website operators with statistics. European data privacy regulators have said this identifier constitutes personal data, and transferring it outside the EU violates the GDPR. The Italian SA wishes to draw the attention of all the Italian website operators, both public and private, to the unlawfulness of the data transfers to the USA as resulting from the use of Google Analytics, the regulator said. According to the Italian regulator, Google must disclose its data to US intelligence agencies if requested. The Italian data protection authority stated that Google is infringing on European users privacy since Google Analytics collects data that includes IP addresses and transfers this personal data to the US. The authority ordered website operator Caffeina Media Srl to comply with GDPR guidelines within 90 days. The Italian SA calls upon all controllers to verify that the use of cookies and other tracking tools on their websites is compliant with data protection law; this applies in particular to Google Analytics and similar services, the regulator said. Frances Data Protection Agency, CNIL, concluded that data transfers to the US are currently not sufficiently regulated and are therefore illegal. Although Google has adopted additional measures to regulate data transfers in the context of the Google Analytics functionality, these are not sufficient to exclude the accessibility of this data for US intelligence services, CNIL stated. CNIL ordered website operators to comply with GDPR requirements by stopping Google Analytics use or opting for a tool that doesnt transfer user data outside the EU. Now read: Internet service providers helped spyware company infect smartphones Communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni has announced that the South African government plans to give radio frequency spectrum to the State Digital Infrastructure Company. We accept the responsibility that we cannot leave our fate and the fate of the country in the hands of the telecommunications operators that are commercially driven, Ntshavheni stated. We hold as a department and government a State Digital Infrastructure Company that has a responsibility to make sure that all South Africans have access to technology. Ntshavhenis announcement adds a different perspective to a cabinet statement from March 2022. Cabinet approved a spectrum policy amendment on 10 March that removed the requirement to licence a national wholesale open-access network (WOAN). This created the impression that the government was considering shelving its plans for a WOAN a welcome development considering the model has not been proven and failed in Mexico. However, it now appears that the WOAN is merely being substituted for the State Digital Infrastructure Company (SDIC). Government aims to merge the existing networks of Sentech and Broadband Infraco to create the SDIC. The operator will have access to the excess capacity of government-funded ICT infrastructure, including the telecommunications networks of Eskom, Sanral, Transnet, Prasa, and Sanren. Responding to questions during a media briefing on Friday, Ntshavheni revealed that her department expects to release the new spectrum policy by end-July. Ntshavheni said they are in consultations and that the policy would indicate a provision for spectrum for the SDIC. Supporting regulations will come through for that, Ntshavheni assured. Radio frequency spectrum is the raw wireless network capacity operators use to communicate between their towers and mobile devices. The idea behind the WOAN was to give smaller service providers access to cellular network infrastructure built by a neutral wholesaler, rather than Vodacom or MTN. However, cellular industry experts have warned that it is technically infeasible. Government also didnt seem to appreciate that operators like Vodacom, MTN, and Telkom have poured hundreds of billions of rands into their networks since GSM services first launched in South Africa in 1994. Building a sustainable wholesale operator would require similarly substantial investments to hold its own in the South African market. The new spectrum policys end-July deadline coincides with the ANCs policy conference that is expected to take place at the same time. The ruling party published a policy discussion document ahead of the conference. It includes a universal broadband service and access policy, and a policy for promoting investment in telecommunications infrastructure. It states: This week, the United States may announce the purchase of medium- and long-range air defense systems for Ukraine. This was reported by CNN . It is noted that President Joe Biden recently stated that the United States will continue to supply Ukraine with "better missile systems and ammunition." A CNN source said that this week the White House will also announce additional supplies of military aid in response to requests from the Ukrainian side. In particular, the new military aid package will include additional artillery ammunition and counter-battery radars. Launchers SAM NASAMS Armed Forces of Lithuania Photo: Ministry of Defense of Lithuania Earlier, Ukrainian officials also asked for the transfer of modern air defense systems to NASAMS. We remind that back in April, the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that they were trying to replace the obsolete Soviet-made Buk -M1 SAM with the latest NASAMS. Such intentions were voiced in a video message on the official website of the Air Force Command on social networks. In late March, President Volodymyr Zelensky asked Norway to provide NASAMS mobile anti-aircraft missile systems and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. NASAMS systems are manufactured by a consortium of the American corporation Raytheon Technologies and the Norwegian group Kongsberg. The complex includes launchers, radar stations (radar) Raytheon AN / MPQ-64F1 Sentinel from the consortium of Raytheon and Kongsberg. AIM-120 rocket launch from NASAMS Photo: Aldrimer.no Raytheon is responsible for supplying its AIM-120 AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missiles for this system, and Kongsberg supplies the launchers. Each mobile launcher has six containers with anti-aircraft missiles. NASAMS SAM is in service or delivered to 12 countries. AIM-120 AMRAAM The range of the anti-aircraft system in the NASAMS II configuration using AIM-120C AMRAAM missiles is up to 25 km, and the range in height is up to 14-15 km. Read also: The escape of the Russians from Snake Island: photos of the evacuation and the abandoned equipment appeared "Loud sounds" were heard again in Belgorod, there is destruction and victims Lukashenko threatens to attack Kyiv with the Polonaise missile complex Defense forces of Ukraine destroyed one of the military bases in Melitopol The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the Russian ammunition warehouse in Popasnaya: a powerful explosion was caught on video Half a dozen T-72 tanks and two infantry fighting vehicles destroyed - Ukrainian artillery is working In Donbas, the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed the enemy anti-aircraft missile system "Pantsir-1S" with one blow Napas month of celebrating LGBTQ pride and equality continued last week, extending from a historic downtown theater to a city park and on to the sidewalks outside the public library. 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. Blue Note Napa, housed at the historic Napa Valley Opera House on Main Street, played host Wednesday night to a Pride dance its first such in-person celebration of Pride month since 2019, before the event shutdowns forced by the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds attended the dance, which featured the Napa disc jockey Rob DJ Rotten Robbie Doughty and starred the North Bay drag queens Lolita Hernandez, Lotus and Unieke Moore. Friday afternoon, families gathered for a Pride picnic held at Kennedy Park. The event originally was to include a Pride walk at the park, but organizers canceled the walk to allow picnic guests time to attend the demonstration later Friday in Napa against the U.S. Supreme Court ruling, released earlier in the day, that removed the protection of abortion rights created by the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision. On Saturday, the Napa County Library on downtown Coombs Street hosted the citys third annual Chalk for Justice gathering, organized by First 5s Rainbow Action Network. Participants created a variety of artworks in chalk on the themes of equality for sexual, racial and other minorities. Pride month commemorates the birth of the modern movement for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer rights with the riots and protests against a police raid of New York Citys Stonewall Inn in June 1969. More information about Napas remaining Pride events this week is available on the LGBTQ Connection website at lgbtqconnection.org/napa-pride-2022 Call it, for lack of a better phrase, the Gas Price Derangement Syndrome. Prices at the pump go up and down all the time, but when they take a sharp upward turn, motorists and the media take notice and like Pavlovs dog, politicians shun responsibility and promise to do something about it. The syndrome is particularly virulent in California because the state traditionally has the nations highest gas prices, largely due to high taxes and other unique factors. The current spike, roughly $2 a gallon over the last two years, is running true to form. In 2019, when gas was about $4 a gallon, Gov. Gavin Newsom asked the California Energy Commission to investigate rising gas prices, mirroring a similar step by then-Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger in 2006. The Energy Commission reported that, as any motorist knows, prices were notably higher at stations owned by major corporations than they were at independent stations. It raised the possibility of illegal price-fixing and Newsom asked the attorney general to investigate. That was two years ago, but no results have been announced. Gas prices continued to rise, with the most recent spikes attributed to post-pandemic demand outstripping pandemic-constrained supply and sharp increases in the global oil market in the wake of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. It is, however, an election year and politicians feel compelled to respond. This week, the speaker of the state Assembly, Anthony Rendon, created a special committee to investigate. Its not likely to be an objective inquiry since Rendon has already concluded that oil companies are engaged in price gouging and he wants the Legislature to stand up to the profiteers who are abusing a historic situation to suck profits from Californias wallets. Meanwhile, Newsom, Rendon and other California politicians are pledging to offset the increase in gas prices with some kind of cash payments to Californians who have experienced not only pain at the pump but other sharp hikes in the cost of living. However, they disagree on how much to spend and how it should be distributed. Republicans have been touting a suspension of Californias hefty fuel taxes for immediate relief. The state tax is now 51-cents a gallon, and its due to automatically increase by 3 cents on July 1. The GOP plan would not make a huge impact and has been rejected by Democrats who argue, with some validity, that oil companies might not pass on the cut to consumers. Oddly, however, President Joe Biden is on the verge of asking Congress to suspend federal gas taxes, at 18-cents a gallon, and is demanding that oil companies ramp up production, thus seemingly putting himself at odds with fellow Democrats in California. Truth is, the differential between California gas prices and those of other states has been studied in depth, particularly by Severin Borenstein, the states leading expert on the subject. Borenstein, director of the Energy Institute at UC-Berkeleys Haas School of Business, attributes the majority of the differential to Californias unique factors but in 2018, identified a mystery surcharge that was then about 22 cents a gallon. Thats actually not surprising, given that the cost of doing business any kind of business is higher in California than almost anywhere else, which manifests itself in higher consumer prices of all kinds. Maybe the latest investigations will turn up something that previous investigations and academic studies have missed. If they do, well certainly see triumphant press conferences, but if not, theyll just fade away until the next time Gas Price Derangement Syndrome takes hold. CalMatters is a public interest journalism venture committed to explaining how Californias state Capitol works and why it matters. For more stories by Dan Walters, go to calmatters.org/commentary. Japan PM says marginal price of Russian oil will be halved Czech fighters to guard Slovakian airspace General Milli: US is watching China very closely over Taiwan situation Egypt closes Red Sea beaches after shark attack Peskov: Kyiv will have to agree to the conditions of Russia Protests continue in Sudan against military rule in the country Shoigu briefs Putin about taking control of Luhansk territory Two people killed in Texas: 3 police officers wounded Iranian MFA: Any Turkish military operation in Syria will lead to instability in region Passenger bus plunges into ravine in Pakistan, killing 19 North Korea to further strengthen its military potential due to military cooperation between US, South Korea and Japan Hungary to accelerate its defense development program Bloomberg: Russia's redistribution of ownership of Sakhalin-2 will push Japan to compete with Europe Migrants stage shootout on Serbian and Hungarian border: 1 killed, several people injured German State Minister urges to maintain openness towards culture of Russia Ryanair airline head predicts rise in airfare over next 5 years European countries to help Greece in fight against forest fires The Sun: Chaos reigns at London Heathrow Airport Russia lifts entry ban for 47,000 citizens of Kyrgyzstan Armenian protester released on bail of AMD 2.5 million Paris airport workers set to go on strike again Missing private helicopter Robinson found in Russia: Pilot is alive Boris Johnson at focus amid another sex scandal around UK Conservatives Protests break out in Uzbekistan autonomous region over constitution reform plan Azerbaijan FM to visit Tehran Germany fears complete stoppage of Russia natural gas deliveries Armenian National Committee of America presents findings from fact-finding mission in Artsakh Bordachev: Russias surrounding area, where Armenia is also present, will be part of general conflict space Ministry aims to combine establishment of stable economy in Armenia with building of green economy Timofei Bordachev: Russia, Armenia are linked by one of worlds closest relations Political scientist: If Armenian authorities had goal to keep Berdzor they would have found way to keep it Mikhail Gorbachev hospitalized US, South Korea discuss Russia oil price cap New York state tightens rules for carrying weapons in public places Syria accuses Israel of rocket attack on Tartus Governorate Bulgaria President commissions finance minister to form new government 5 dead, 19 injured after two quakes jolt Iran in one day Libya protesters storm parliament, set part of building on fire Newspaper: What disrupted show planned in legislature by Armenia authorities? Newspaper: Even Armenia ex-President Sargsyan is used in having opposition MP join fellow opposition Albania in talks with NATO to build naval base Firefighters contain forest fire near Machu Picchu after 3 days US hypersonic missile system flight test fails WB approves creation of fund to combat pandemics Resistance Movement to have march on Armenian Constitution Day Australia and France announce new start in relationship Taliban supreme leader urges world to stop telling how to govern Afghanistan Indonesia and UAE sign free trade agreement Norway pledges 1 billion euros to help Ukraine for defense Armenian resistance movement holding march Erdogan: Turkey can re-export grain products from the Black Sea Armenian PM and Tashir group head discuss investments programs BREAKING digest: Armenian opposition MPs announce mass resignations Armenian opposition holding rally in Yerevan Armenia and Turkey agree to ensure possibility of crossing the land border as soon as possible Czech Republic takes over EU Presidency Armenian and Turkish representatives meet in Vienna Armenia National Assembly to convene special session on July 6 Russian billionaires lose almost $36 billion since 2022 Bloomberg: Kyiv is obliged to pay $1.4 billion of public debt by September Armenia Supreme Judicial Council acting head resigns Another opposition legislator resigns from position of deputy chair of parliament committee Turkey closes access to Deutsche Welle and Voice of America Another Armenia opposition MP resigns from post of parliament committee vice-chair Dollar, euro rise after long fall in Armenia Russia company head expresses hope that interesting projects will be implemented with Armenia Armenia opposition lawmaker resigns from position of National Assembly standing committee deputy chair Lavrov speaks on loss of NATO meaning after collapse of Warsaw Pact Finnish FM speaks on timing of country's entry into NATO Lukashenko says other post-Soviet countries should get closer to Union State of Russia and Belarus Dr. Akira Ishiyama is awarded with Armenia PMs letter of thanks Armenia parliament opposition: Authorities removal from power is inevitable EU Toivo Klaar welcomes Armenian and Azerbaijani efforts towards 'peaceful future' Putin: Moscow and Minsk, being pushed to speed up unification processes Armenia opposition legislator submits resignation from position of parliament standing committee chair Erdogan allows sudden start of military operations in Syria Armenia prosecutorial system several employees receive state awards Armenia opposition to have new MP Japan introduces electricity saving mode for first time in 7 years Germany economy minister visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Armenia opposition MP: Parliamentary opposition will resign from other administrative positions Armenia legislature majority faction member says there is heated battle within ruling party Catholicos, Israel envoy discuss preservation of Armenian heritage in territories that came under Azerbaijan control US and Japan conduct drills with strategic bombers 2 Armenia opposition MPs are recalled from their National Assembly leadership positions Armenia President nominates his Constitutional Court judge candidate Karabakh ombudsman: Aghavno village residents may move to Hin Shen, Mets Shen settlements State Department welcomes change of Israeli PM World oil prices are falling slightly Copper prices are falling Pashinyan to Trudeau: Armenia appreciates development of relations with Canada Armenia legislature holding special session, removing 2 opposition MPs from office is on agenda Converse bank will cover the insurance costs within the framework of program lending State Department announces reward of $10 million for reports on foreign interference in elections Armenia opposition movement staging protest outside parliament building Ukraine introduces visa regime for Russia Gold prices are falling Newspaper: Artsakh permanent representation in Russia closing? Newspaper: Armenia ruling, opposition wing representatives meet several times Kissinger outlines 3 possible outcomes of Ukraine conflict A special meeting of the Council of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia was convened, where it was decided that a special NA session will be convened Monday at 11am. The respective agenda has six matters, three of which are the election of three candidates nominated for the vacant position of judges of the Administrative Chamber of the Court of Cassation. The three other matters are the selection of two candidates nominated for the vacant position of judges of the Civil Cases Chamber of the Anti-Corruption Chamber of the Court of Cassation. Russia is almost impossible to disconnect from the global Internet, said Dmitry Peskov, special representative of Russian president, told RIA Novosti. We have prepared so that the Russian Internet will continue to exist, even if we turn it off, he said. Peskov clarified that in this case, local resources will continue to work, and connectors to the global Internet will be completed. Also, according to him, Russia is not going to fence off from the global Internet. Minister of Digital Development, Telecommunications and Mass Media of Russia Maksut Shadayev announced on June 7 that if the country is disconnected from European Internet traffic exchange points, Russia will redirect flows through Asia. On May 25, State Department spokesman Ned Price said that the United States was urging responsible organizations not to arrange massive Internet shutdowns in Russia so that the country's residents had free access to information on the Web. Turkey is ready for joint steps with Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to develop the Middle Transport Corridor between West and East, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavuoshoglu following the results of the first trilateral meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Transport of Turkey, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan on Monday in Baku, the Anatolian Agency reports. Cargo deliveries across the Caspian Sea are of great importance. We are ready to continue taking steps to increase the significance of this corridor. The growth of investments in the field of transport and logistics will improve the level of well-being in the entire region, the FM said. According to him, specific initiatives of Ankara on this issue have been brought to the attention of the participants of the trilateral meeting in Baku. The Turkish FM noted that amid regional processes, cooperation between Baku, Ankara and Nur-Sultan is of particular importance. Cavusoglu noted that the crisis in Ukraine demonstrated the importance of having safe and stable transport corridors. Therefore, it is very important to invest both in domestic infrastructure and expand opportunities in the region. According to him, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway projects, as well as the energy projects of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Trans-Anatolian gas pipeline are clear evidence of successful regional cooperation in the transport and energy sectors. He added that Ankara also supports the idea of opening the Zangezur corridor linking the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with the rest of Azerbaijan. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that the alliance will do everything possible to protect Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia from external threats, he told The Financial Times. We never share the details of operational plans, Stoltenberg said. But I can assure you that we have been able to protect countries bordering Russia for decades, adjusting our presence in light of the threat assessment. We have done that before and we will do it again. According to him, at the upcoming summit in Madrid on June 29-30, the members of the North Atlantic Alliance will take large-scale and important decisions to further strengthen collective security. Stoltenberg said these measures would radically improve NATO's defenses in the east. The new strategic concept will define goals and approaches for the 2030s, and will also make it possible to determine a sufficiently expanded plan for the defense of the eastern allies in response to the Russian threat. The Secretary General noted that he discussed the issues of increasing the military contingent in the Baltic countries with their leaders. For example, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said she was counting on a greater NATO presence. Stoltenberg added: Our main responsibility is to prevent any attack on Estonia or any other ally. Thats why we will take huge and important decisions at the summit to further increase our collective defence . . . to defend every inch of NATO territory as weve done for 72 years, he said. Artur Davtyan, an MP of the National Assembly (NA) of Armenia, on Monday submitted a petition to give up his parliamentary seat. 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 Davtyan submitted his resignation letter on June 27, read the respective statement by the NA speaker. 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. Davtyan is a member of the ruling majority "Civil Contract" Faction of the National Assembly. NATO will increase the size of its rapid reaction force by almost eight times to 300,000 in response to the era of strategic rivalry, said NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, AP reported. The NATO Response Force currently has around 40,000 troops, which can be quickly deployed if needed. Combined with other measures, including deploying forces to protect specific allies, the move is part of "the biggest reform of collective defense and deterrence since the Cold War," Stoltenberg said at a press conference ahead of this week's NATO summit in Madrid. Stoltenberg expects allies to make it clear that they consider Russia the most serious and direct threat to our security. NATO's new strategic concept also expects the alliance to address China's security concerns for the first time, he said. In Madrid, the allies will discuss how to respond to the growing influence of Russia and China. Allies will agree to provide additional military support to Ukraine during the summit, and NATO members intend to adopt a strengthened comprehensive assistance package, including the supply of secure communications systems and defense against drones. In the long term, the Allies aim to help Ukraine transition from Soviet-era weapons to modern NATO equipment, Stoltenberg said. Another central theme of the NATO summit will be the possibility of Finland and Sweden joining the alliance. Stoltenberg said that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson agreed to meet on the sidelines of the summit. There is a great potential for strengthening economic cooperation between Armenia and Greece, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said after his meeting with Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Dendias. Armenian-Greek relations are developing not only within bilateral but also on multilateral important platforms. In this regard, I would like to highlight three important dimensions. First of all, the cooperation within the framework of the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral format was at the centre of our discussions. We consider this important initiative an effective tool for establishing stability, security and peace in the region, and are hopeful that through joint efforts it will serve the vital interests of our three countries and peoples. As Minister Dendias noted we have very important and concrete agreements regarding this format. Of course, today we referred to the issues related to international and regional security and stability. I presented to my colleague in detail the situation created around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the position of Armenia on the processes aimed at establishing regional peace and stability, the negotiations on the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. I also touched upon issues related to the processes of the unblocking of the regional economic communications and transport infrastructure, the works within the Commission of delimitation and border security and overall the process on peace agreement. I stressed the key role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship in promoting the peace process for the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Armenia appreciates the position of Greece in support of the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict under the mandate and within the framework of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairmanship. I would also like to seize the opportunity and thank my good friend Nikos, who visited Yerevan during the 44-day war and expressed the sympathy of Greece and the Greek people to us in that crucial period. We will never forget that gesture of a strategic partner. Unfortunately, more than a year and a half after the ceasefire, Azerbaijan continues its provocative actions against Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, while the warmongering and expansionist rhetoric has become an integral part of the daily discourse of the leadership of Azerbaijan. Violating international humanitarian law and the obligations undertaken with the Trilateral Statement of November 9, 2020, Azerbaijan continues to hold the Armenian PoWs and civilians in captivity, while the fate of hundreds of missing persons, including dozens of enforced disappeared, remains unresolved. All the civilized countries of the world, I repeat, all the civilized countries, using all possible opportunities, should contribute, call and insist Azerbaijan to return our prisoners. Throughout the millennia-long history, the Armenian people have created wonderful churches and monuments that are an integral part of the global cultural heritage. Today, unfortunately, part of this heritage is in danger of imminent destruction. As a result of the state-sponsored, official policy of the Azerbaijani authorities, we have desecrated churches, shattered monuments annihilated of their Armenian trace in the territories fallen under the control of Azerbaijan. Unlike many other such unacceptable cases, we can not say that the world is silent. The world, indeed, talks, and has expressed itself very clearly. One bright example of that is the the decision of the UN Court of Justice to apply provisional measures in 2021, which obliges Azerbaijan to end this policy. We expect a clear, targeted and continuous response of the international community to this behaviour of Azerbaijan and emphasize the urgency of the involvement of relevant international organizations in Nagorno-Karabakh, especially the implementation of the UNESCO fact-finding mission, which will be a significant step towards preserving this heritage. And, of course, today I want to emphasize once again that peace is our principle, our policy and strategy. We are really aiming to build a peaceful, secure, stable South Caucasus, we hope that our neighbour will restrain from its expansionist aspirations, and will demonstrate a more constructive position on all issues, the statement reads. The White House has announced a conversation between U.S. President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in the coming weeks. We do expect that the President and President Xi will have the opportunity to engage over the course of the next few weeks. I cant put a particular timeframe on it. Its not going to be immediately after the G7, US national security adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters in Germany. China will be a major topic of discussion at the summit this week, he said. Were not looking to divide the world into rival blocks and make every country choose he said. We want to stand for a set of principles that are fair to everybody. And we want to ensure that were working with like-minded partners to hold China accountable to adhere to those rules. European Union countries have agreed to fill all natural gas storage facilities to at least 80 percent of capacity by next winter, as they prepare for the possibility of further cuts in supplies from Russia. The EU is trying to reduce its use of Russian energy amid the war in Ukraine and find other sources. A ban on Russian coal imports will go into effect in August, and an embargo on most oil from Russia will be phased in over the next eight months, AP reported. Moscow has cut gas supplies to several EU countries, including major importers Germany and Italy, and has also cut supplies to other members such as Poland and Finland. The EU Council adopted the gas storage rules after the European Commission made a proposal in March. The ruling also states that underground gas storage facilities across the EU must be 90 percent full by the winter of 2023-2024. At a summit in Brussels last week, the heads of state and government agreed to step up preparations for further cuts in gas supplies from Russia and to continue looking for other suppliers. The EU has already increased supplies from the U.S., Norway, Algeria and Azerbaijan. Some EU members do not have storage facilities, so the regulation stipulates that they must store 15 percent of their annual national gas consumption in other member states, giving them access to reserves in other EU countries. Cyprus, Malta and Ireland, which are not directly connected to the gas system of other members, received an exception, the council said, with the obligation ending at the end of December 2025. The council also agreed to increase the share of renewables in the bloc's energy mix to at least 40 percent by 2030, up from its previous goal of 32 percent. In addition, the goal to reduce energy consumption by 9% by 2030 becomes mandatory for all EU member states for the first time. Agnes Pannier-Runacher, the French energy minister, said the agreement is important to achieve EU climate neutrality by 2050, as well as to help reduce our energy dependence on Russia in the context of the war in Ukraine. Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war and civilians as hostages, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at the meeting with his Greek counterpart Nikos Dendias. Ararat Mirzoyan expressed gratitude for the warm reception and underlined that his visit reflects the fraternal nature of the relations between the two peoples and the high level of interstate relations. The Foreign Ministers expressed satisfaction with the intensive political dialogue and effective cooperation between Armenia and Greece and expressed readiness to deepen the existing cooperation. The sides touched upon the perspectives of development of bilateral relations in a number of strategic directions. Ararat Mirzoyan and Nikos Dendias exchanged views on the prospects of further expanding the cooperation in trade, economic, high technology, military, cultural, scientific, tourism and other spheres and outlined the steps to be undertaken in this direction. Touching upon the Armenia-Greece-Cyprus trilateral cooperation, the Ministers expressed confidence that the continuation of contacts and implementation of joint projects in this format will best serve the interests of the two sides. The sides discussed the possibilities for the activation of cooperation in the sphere of regional transport infrastructure, in particular the creation of the International Transport Corridor Persian Gulf - Black Sea. The political will to take concrete steps to complete this process was noted. The sides discussed the possibilities to strengthen cooperation in multilateral international organizations, including UNESCO. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Greece touched upon a number of issues related to the Armenia-EU partnership and the Eastern Partnership program. The Armenian side highly assessed the support of the Greek side to the recognition of the Armenian Genocide, underlining that Armenia continues its consistent efforts to promote the international agenda for the prevention of genocides. During the meeting the sides also touched upon issues related to regional security and stability. Mirzoyan presented his counterpart the situation around the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and the Armenian side's position on the processes aimed at establishing peace and stability in the region and the normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Mirzoyan underscored the key role of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs in advancing the peace process aimed at the settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and highly appreciated Greece's position. Touching upon the humanitarian problems that emerged as a result of Azerbaijani aggression against Artsakh. Mirzoyan also thanked the Greek government for providing humanitarian assistance. The Foreign Minister deemed unacceptable the Azerbaijani authorities' bellicose and provocative rhetoric and actions against Armenia and Artsakh, highlighting the fact that Azerbaijan continues to hold Armenian prisoners of war and civilians hostage, which is a gross violation of international humanitarian law. He highlighted the need to prevent Azerbaijan's consistent policy of distorting and destroying the identity of Armenian historical and cultural heritage in the territories under Azerbaijani control as a result of the 44-day war. Ararat Mirzoyan noted the relevance of involving relevant international organizations in Nagorno Karabakh, especially the unhindered implementation of UNESCO fact-finding mission. During the meeting, the sides also touched upon the latest developments in the process of the normalization of Armenian-Turkish relations. At the end of the meeting, the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Greece attended the signing ceremony of the Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in EU issues between the MFAs of the two countries. The Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Greece made press statements following the meeting. 'Xi may instruct Hong Kong on its future development' 'Xi may instruct Hong Kong on its future development' Hong Kongs sole deputy to the National Peoples Congress Standing Committee, Tam Yiu-chung, says he hopes President Xi Jinping will give instructions on Hong Kongs future development when he attends the handover anniversary ceremony on July 1. On a Commercial Radio programme on Monday, Tam noted that Hong Kong is half way through the 50 years of One Country, Two Systems promised by the central government. Its the 25th anniversary of the system. At least [we hope] there will be an overview, and the future development direction. Lets see if President Xi will give important instructions on One Country, Two Systems, I hope everyone would want to know more, he said. When asked if he expects the central government to state clearly how long One Country, Two Systems can last, Tam said the key is to ensure it gets back on the right, healthy track. Personally, I think this is not a difficult matter to handle. No one ever said 50 years is a deadline for changes. Its easy to resolve this matter. But whether the central government will give a clear time frame or will it offer a general direction or principle that we can work towards? I think its also a likely approach, said Tam. Xinhua News Agency reported on Saturday that Xi will attend the inauguration of the new term of SAR government, but unlike on previous occasions, it did not specify the length of his stay or details of his itinerary. Tam would not speculate on whether Xi will physically attend the ceremony or make alternative arrangements, saying its better to just wait for an official announcement. But a deputy to the National Peoples Congress, Ip Kwok-him, said he believes Xi will travel to Hong Kong for a brief visit unless the city sees a sudden surge in Covid-19 cases. Its been reported in the news that President Xi will attend some events, but it didnt say the dates of his visit. If, very unfortunately, Hong Kongs epidemic situation worsens drastically, I think its totally likely that President Xi will make his appearance and give his speech online, said Ip. Four dead as stands collapse in Colombia bullring A full three-storey section of wooden stands filled with spectators collapsed, throwing dozens of people to the ground. Photo: AFP At least four people were killed and more than 300 injured on Sunday when the grandstand at a bullring in Colombia collapsed during a popular event at which members of the public face off with small bulls, officials said. "There are four people dead at the moment two women, a man and a child," the governor of Tolima department, Jose Ricardo Orozco, told local radio after the incident in the central city of El Espinal. A full three-storey section of wooden stands filled with spectators collapsed, throwing dozens of people to the ground, according to images broadcast on social media. Another video taken by someone at the scene showed people trying to escape from the stands while a bull continues to roam in the arena. Hospitals in the region reported having treating about 322 injured people, four of whom are in intensive care, Tolima Health Secretary Martha Palacios said. Local civil defense official Luis Fernando Velez said they did not know how many people were still buried in the debris, but noted that the section of stands was full when it collapsed. The event was part of celebrations surrounding the San Pedro festival, the most popular in the region. "We will request an investigation of the facts about what happened," Colombia's outgoing President Ivan Duque said on Twitter, expressing his solidarity with the families of those killed and hurt. Orozco said the departmental government would move to ban the so-called "corralejas" in which residents try their luck in the ring, saying they were dangerous and promoted animal abuse. On Saturday, several people were injured in accidents at the corralejas in El Espinal, which is home to about 78,000 people, and is located about 150km from the capital Bogota. Another person died earlier this month after being gored by a bull during a corraleja in the town of Repelon. President-Elect Gustavo Petro, who will take office on August 7, joined Orozco in calling for the amateur bullfights to be banned. (AFP) The education program helps address the complexities driving sexually transmitted and blood borne infection (STBBI) rates in Saskatchewan and their impact on patient care. Content will include the clinical treatment and management of infections and will feature the involvement of HIV/HCV experienced care providers, organizations, and community members to create made-in-Saskatchewan solutions to the provinces unique environment and challenges. Critical to the past and continuing success of this program are faculty and staff in the Department of Medicines Division of Infectious Diseases at the USask College of Medicine. Infectious disease specialists Dr. Alex Wong (MD) and Dr. Beverly Wudel (MD) will oversee the creation and delivery of the medical education, with additional guidance provided by an advisory group of family physicians experienced in providing HIV and HCV care in clinics across the province. Were very pleased to have worked with our partners and colleagues already involved in delivering this important program to now be able to continue this critical work, said Dr. Jim Barton (MD), CME associate dean. This would not have been possible without the support of our provincial government. And we are happy to make this announcement today, on National HIV Testing Day in Saskatchewan. For the past 10 years, Saskatchewan has had the highest rate of new HIV and Hepatitis C diagnoses in Canada and the fastest growing rate of syphilis infections in the country, resulting in an urgent need to educate primary care providers to recognize, test, treat, and manage these infections in their clinical practices. The government is pleased to fund initiatives and programs that improve the capacity and confidence of health-care providers to diagnose and treat sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBIs), said Minister of Health Paul Merriman. Programs like the STBBI Treatment Education Program for Saskatchewan (STEPS) will help improve access to health-care professionals in more communities across the province, and reduce the stigma many feel around testing and treatment. Up to March 2022, the STBBI primary care provider education program was delivered by the Saskatchewan Infectious Disease Care Network (SIDCN) as the Primary Care Capacity Improvement: Treatment as Prevention Project, with four years of funding from the Public Health Agency of Canada, Harm Reduction Grant. This new STBBI program, renamed STEPS, will feature the continuation and growth of education originally offered by the SIDCN. I am so grateful that the amazing work that was being done will continuenow with the educational leadership of CME, the involvement of experienced medical experts and staff, the important guidance of existing project stakeholders, and the support of the Ministry of Health, said Dr. Satchan Takaya (MD), infectious diseases specialist. STEPS will build from and utilize resources used by SIDCNs past project. This will include the continuation of the popular HIV and HCV Virtual Classrooms that discuss testing, treating, and managing these infections in Saskatchewan. Based on feedback, a new Syphilis Virtual Classroom will be launched along with several other new presentations all related to addressing and managing STBBIs in the province. The program will be targeted to primary care providers, family medicine residents, nurse practitioners and registered nurses, as well as other allied health-care professions. A limited number of clinical mentorship opportunities will be available for physicians and nurse practitioners who can benefit from applying virtual classroom content in a clinical setting under the guidance of experienced HIV and HCV specialists and physicians. By housing a new STBBI program within CME, there is an opportunity to reach more learners and showcase the expertise and support of faculty from the Infectious Disease Department and Family Medicine. The program will also provide opportunities for collaborating with other STBBI stakeholders and strengthen the efforts needed to support front-line providers and improve access to clinically informed and stigma-free STBBI health care. New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI/NewsVoir): UK-based global conglomerate SRAM & MRAM Group and India-based, IMPS Educational Trust have announced their collaboration in the Educational vertical. As part of the joint venture, the collaboration will work extensively in the field of Ed-tech. With the agreement in place, the group will be investing heavily in the upliftment of education and Ed-tech in the existing industry. India is the second-biggest economy after China and there is a massive opportunity in the Ed-tech domain. Today, the education sector in India is at the cusp of disruption, with the AI-backed by Ed-tech to amplify the learning experience by transforming it into an interactive, customized way of knowledge sharing and retention while making it a fun exercise. SRAM & MRAM Group has been doing multiple projects all across the globe. Being a Tech company and with expertise in Blockchain and Fin-Tech industry, the tech giant will be the stepping into the education industry in India. With the rapid Ed-tech intervention, the education sector in India is picking up the pace and the sector is growing exponentially. Education today has become highly interactive, fun, and tailor-made, with the emerging technology and a wealth of information at one's fingertips. The collaboration between SRAM & MRAM Group and IMPS is aimed to bridge the gap - both in terms of knowledge and accessibility between education institutes and the right technology. The Indian Ed-tech industry is inching toward greater heights. With successful pilots across Cambodia and other parts of the world, the group intends to revolutionize education with emerging tech. IMPS Educational Trust was founded by Bablu Bhattacharjee, a Civil Engineer in the year 2000 with an ettle on imparting education in a seldsome way that can be perceived by each and every individual. The trust is an institution laden with commitments and a host of convenience and aspirations, focused on delivering quality education in North Bengal and surrounding geographies. The Trust is a part of a large family named "IMPS Educational Trust" owning institutions of the diversified domains such as educational institutes as well as hotels including: - IMPS College of Engineering & Technology: An engineering College managed by dedicated technocrats.- Doon Heritage School: An institute of repute to shape the future hopefuls providing a perfect ambience of learning.- A hotel with modern amenities, situated at a premium location in Siliguri to capture the essence of the native ambience of North Bengal.- An IT & Management institute having the state-of-the-art infrastructure to empower the manpower of an ever-growing industry. The Trust is on a Mission with its Vision to prepare dynamic and caring citizens to meet the challenges of a global society while retaining the traditional values. To be a centre of excellence in education, keeping with the rich cultural heritage of India, while stressing on simultaneous development of body, mind and soul, and dedicated to creating responsible and innovative global citizens who will be committed to the development of India. Speaking on the collaboration, Hemalata Arumugam, CEO, SRAM & MRAM Group, quoted, "We are very excited with this alliance. With this alliance, we are not only expecting a successful business but also see our role in nation-building along with cultural success. We intend to amplify the learning experience and transform education into highly interactive, fun, and tailor-made with the emerging tech. The IMPS Trust with their highly motivated and knowledgeable team will be a guiding path and add value to the SRAM & MRAM family." "We at IMPS Trust are ecstatic with the alliance; the association will help us grow and reach new heights while adding value to the SRAM & MRAM family," quoted, Mohammad Khalid Iqbal, Direct Sales Agents, IMPS Educational Trust. The multi-dimensional SRAM & MRAM Group is a leading investor in global markets, with its core interests in Agro-products and Information Technology, with footprints spread across multifarious services, verticals and operations viz., Neural Networks, Artificial Intelligence, Hedge Fund Management, FOREX Management, Hospitality Services & Solutions, Information Technology, Media & Publishing, Embedded Systems and Infrastructure, etc. On the other hand, the group has been investing heavily in the European and APAC markets. Ruma Chatterjee, Direct Sales Agents, IMPS Educational Trust said, "We are equally excited about this alliance. SRAM & MRAM Group has a great reputation when it comes to market leadership. We are hopeful of the alliance that will ascertain the right impetus for our growth plans and help us reach a bigger audience." IMPS Educational Trust was founded in the year of 2000 by Bablu Bhattacharjee a Civil Engineer with an ettle of imparting education in a seldsome way that can be perceived by each and every individual. It focuses on the upliftment of the youth through pragmatic and rational education. It passed through hitches and glitches to reach a height of glory. The Technical and Research discipline is quite intriguing in the universe of true education and can be compared with the best in the industry. The learning process and motivation with interest will enlarge the vision that will make individuals true professionals. For more information, kindly visit: www.impseducationaltrust.co.in. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Singapore, June 27 (ANI/PRNewswire): LIXIL, maker of pioneering water and housing products, announced the winners of the Asia Pacific Property Awards 2022-23 through its sponsor brands GROHE and American Standard at the International Property Awards (IPA) live gala event in London on June 23, 2022. The Asia Pacific Property Awards celebrate the highest levels of achievement in the architecture, interior design, real estate and property development sectors in the region. LIXIL also reaffirmed its support of the IPA by signing a new three-year sponsorship. The Asia Pacific Property Awards are one of the biggest and most recognized awards in the industry with over 1,200 entries received from countries across the region. Sponsored by LIXIL Asia through its power brands GROHE and American Standard for the fourth year, the Asia Pacific Property Awards is the largest branch of the International Property Awards (IPA). The IPA winners are judged rigorously by over 100 of their peers and industry experts on design, quality, service, innovation, originality, and commitment to sustainability. IPA winners are held up as industry role models for their commitment to excellence and hard work. The live IPA event was greeted with enthusiasm from winners and participants after a hiatus of two years, as pandemic travel restrictions eased across much of the world. Attendees had the opportunity to network and were treated to an exclusive LIXIL showcase booth of the latest American Standard and GROHE bathroom products and solutions. This year's edition saw a total of 594 winners from across the Asia Pacific in the Architecture, Interior Design, Real Estate, and Property Development categories. China garnered the highest number of awards (273) followed by Thailand (55). This was closely followed by Singapore (32). Other important markets including Australia (31), India (23), the Philippines (23) and Indonesia (15), also made a mark at this year's awards. (Link with the full list of winners https://propertyawards.net/winners/) Satoshi Konagai, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Asia Pacific, expressed, "LIXIL is honoured to be a partner and headline sponsor for the fourth consecutive year of the International Property Awards. Our partnership continues to beneficially highlight the outstanding work and talent of the best developers, architects and designers across the Asia Pacific. Our deepest congratulations go out to all the winners on their well-deserved success. As the region pivots to a post-pandemic world, consumers are increasingly spending more time in their homes and the bathroom has become a private retreat from the outside world. As consumers take better care of their health and wellbeing the bathroom is no longer a space purely dedicated to the everyday function of hygiene. The region's property industry will need to address this macro trend and the additional challenge to reimagine and optimize multi-functional spaces from existing rooms. In all these areas, LIXIL is working closely with the industry and greater community to create and introduce innovative and pioneering products that address consumer needs." Adele Tao, Leader, LIXIL Water Technology, Greater China, added, "We celebrate alongside the IPA winners as they spur the developer, designer and architect community to strive for excellence in their work to serve consumers. The global recognition and increased industry awareness around the IPA benefits past and present winners, as business partners and consumers can readily identify and work with the industry's best. LIXIL is pleased to reaffirm our support of the IPA with the signing of a new three-year sponsorship, and continue uplifting the architecture, interior design, real estate and property development sectors in the region. We look forward to working closely with all our partners in delivering products and solutions of global excellence across our portfolio of brands to make better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere" Patrick Speck, Leader, LIXIL Global Design, EMENA, commented "Partnering with property industry leaders is a consumer-centric thinking multiplier for LIXIL's portfolio of brands and product design. By working together, it brings LIXIL and our partners closer to consumers, the cultures and communities that we serve. For LIXIL's global design team, we combine this pooled knowledge with our own deep, thorough consumer research to create relevant, purpose-driven products and solutions that solve real-life challenges and add tangible value to consumers and the property industry." As a global leader in water technology, LIXIL serves over 1 billion consumers across the world with products and brands such as GROHE and American Standard. GROHE continued to uplift its steadfast commitment to sustainability and innovation by offering its four best-selling products as Cradle to Cradle certified variants (Gold Product standard), removing 37 million plastic items a year in the journey towards plastic-free packaging and redefining the customer experience through the online/offline GROHEX platform. American Standard, backed by over 140 years of pioneering legacy, continues to be recognized for its HygieneClean System, an industry benchmark for toilet hygiene safety, with its quadruple combination of powerful flushing, advanced rimless design, cutting-edge Aqua Ceramic, and highly effective ComfortClean anti-bacterial technology. American Standard also continues to work closely with architects, designers and developers to advance purposeful design and curate complete bathroom solutions for a diverse and rapidly developing region. LIXIL (TSE Code 5938) makes pioneering water and housing products that solve everyday, real-life challenges, making better homes a reality for everyone, everywhere. Drawing on our Japanese heritage, we create world-leading technology and innovate to make high-quality products that transform homes. But the LIXIL difference is how we do this; through meaningful design, an entrepreneurial spirit, a dedication to improving accessibility for all, and responsible business growth. Our approach comes to life through industry-leading brands, including INAX, GROHE, American Standard, and TOSTEM. With approximately 70,000 colleagues operating in more than 150 countries, we are proud to make products that touch the lives of more than a billion people every day. This story is provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PRNewswire) New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI/PNN): The suicide of a gynaecologist Dr Archana Sharma in Rajasthan earlier this year shook the conscience of not only the medical fraternity but of the entire nation. Charged with a case of murder (instead of medical negligence) and unaware of her legal rights, Dr Sharma took this extreme step after an FIR was lodged against her to avoid harassment from the police and others. The incident, as usual, created quite an uproar for some time, especially among the medical fraternity but failed to take any firm steps to avoid a repeat of the same. Most doctors across the nation are unaware of the relevant laws, especially the unique protection provided by the Supreme Court in criminal cases. The Institute of Medicine and Law (IML) launched the Dr Archana Sharma MedLegal HelpDesk service on May 8, 2022, together with a few national medical societies, to address this important issue. The helpdesk aims to provide legal aid and advice to healthcare professionals threatened with criminal action by the police. It will also educate doctors about their legal rights in such cases. IML will also train volunteers (doctors) under the 'Train-The-Trainer' program who could, in turn, conduct more training sessions and awareness programs among their peers. The institute is offering all these services free of cost as a tribute to this country's honest and hard-working medical fraternity. IML has also urged other medical societies, pharma companies, media, and organizations, especially from the healthcare industry, to come forward and be a part of this initiative. HiDoc Dr, the country's number one doctors' networking platform, has joined hands with IML for this noble cause. "We welcome and support the great initiative of the MedLegal Helpdesk. Unfortunately, many doctors are unaware of the laws and the legal protection they are eligible for. In 2005, the Supreme Court, in the landmark judgment in Jacob Mathews v/s State of Punjab, had provided specific protection to doctors in criminal proceedings, irrespective of whether they are initiated in the police station or courts," says Varun Gadia, COO, HiDoc Dr. "The medical fraternity has always been in the forefront serving and caring for people. Yet, they are also the ones to face the ruthless side. We strive for the betterment of this community and will stand by any initiative that safeguards the rights of our doctors," he adds. Dr Archana Sharma MedLegal HelpDesk aims to tackle this issue in three ways: 1. Legal Aid and Service Lawyers from the Supreme Court shall offer advice and consultation to doctors facing criminal actions. They may also speak to the police if needed. The legal team would immediately reach out to the aggrieved doctor to ensure minimum harassment. The lawyers would also help the aggrieved doctors in filing a 'contempt petition' before the Supreme Court in cases where the police action is contrary to or inconsistent with the directions given in the Jacob Mathews case. 2. Webinars for Medical Societies / Hospitals / Medical Colleges /Doctors' Groups To create awareness and educate the doctors about the concerned law, IML will organize webinars in medical societies, hospitals, medical colleges, or other doctors' groups. 3. Doctor-Volunteers (Train-the-trainer) IML will train volunteer doctors who would, in turn, spread awareness through training sessions amongst their peers. IML would provide content, judgments, slide decks, commonly asked questions, and other reference material on this subject. Every effort will be made to keep the trainers updated on the changes in law, judgments, and relevant information. As an esteemed partner, Hidoc Dr will be providing all the above services on its platform to its huge network of healthcare professionals. The company plans to start with the webinars and would also be appointing a contact person with a dedicated number who can be called by any aggrieved doctor threatened with police action. HiDoc Dr would also conduct training sessions for the healthcare professionals under the train-the-trainer program. One can avail of any of these services by sending a mail at legalhelpdesk@hidoc.co or call on the toll-free number - 1800-202-5091 For more details, visit https://legalhelpdesk.hidoc.co We at HiDoc Dr are proud to be associated with The Dr Archana Sharma MedLegal HelpDesk and stand by our community today and always. 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 27 (ANI/SRV): India Lesotho Business Council has been launched by the Indian Economic Trade Organization and the High Commission of Lesotho to accelerate the trade relationships between both countries. The MOU was witnessed by the Minister of Foreign Affairs Honorable Matsepo Ramakoae, Govt of Lesotho and was signed between the High Commissioner of Lesotho H. E. Lineo Irene Molise-Mabusela and the President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization Dr Asif Iqbal during the event which was attended by the business community in New Delhi. The President of the Indian Economic Trade Organization Dr Asif Iqbal welcomed the High Commissioner of Lesotho and pledged the commitment of support between the two nations for a robust partnership. There is a huge interest in India for Lesotho, a country with great scope for bilateral trading opportunities in MSME, Pharma and Manufacturing sector. This will also be useful for identifying business partners, collaborations, alliances, setting up industrial units, display Indian products and services and other related business activities as well as taking up issues to concerned authorities. The Council will put efforts to take full advantage of the Economic Cooperation Agreement between the two countries and organize various activities to educate and create a conducive business atmosphere in the Indian SME Investor Sector for better business growth and investment promotion. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lesotho said global trade relations were essential and it was gratifying to see the development of trade relations between India and Lesotho. "As a President of the organization, my goal is to build bilateral relations reach new heights between India and the Kingdom of Lesotho and our delegation will go in the month of August 2022. The focus will be on deepening and diversifying the relationship by identifying new synergetic areas for cooperation and collaboration", said Dr Asif Iqbal who is looking to connect the companies for business in Lesotho. The Indian delegation will explore opportunities in areas of contractual farming, poultry industry, meat processing and agricultural collaborations and also identify other opportunities for building up a robust infrastructure needs of the country. The High Commissioner also expressed great interest in supporting the trade relations between the two countries and invited the trade community to explore all the available choices for investors. There are about 1500 Indian expatriates and PIOs in Lesotho working as teachers, accountants and other professionals. Some of them are engaged in business as well. The community has a reasonably high economic profile in the country. There is an India-Lesotho Centre for Advanced Information Technology, a project fully funded by the Government of India, at the Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru. This story is provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV) US programme connects Vietnamese students and teachers More than 100 Access students, teachers, and US Embassy and Consulate staff from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia gathered in Quang Binh for a five-day Access Regional Summit focused on learning, team building, and service. Participants at the programme Hosted by Quang Binh University from June 21-25, the Summit encouraged students and teachers to develop plans for community service projects in their home communities and to share their work through social media. Speaking at the conclusion of the Summit, Charge dAffaires Marie C. Damour noted the commitment and compassion of the Access program teachers in the region as they guide their students to be thoughtful and active members of society. Charge Damour also acknowledged the importance of English as a bridge to connect people, saying The US State Department believes strongly in supporting youth through our English language programs." Sponsored through the US Embassy Hanois Regional English Language Office, the English Access Microscholarship Program offers 360 hours of free English language instruction to disadvantaged youth aged 13-21 in more than 90 countries. The aim of the program is to provide these students with English language proficiency, IT skills, and soft skills, which are essential to improving their access to educational, research, and employment opportunities after graduating. New Delhi [India], June 27 (ANI/PNN): India's leading logistics company Agarwal Packers and Movers - DRS Group, has announced its partnership with the movie 'Sherdil' starring Pankaj Tripathi. The company has launched a new video campaign, "Bharat Ka Bharosa - Bade Bhaiya," presenting Agarwal Packers and Movers DRS Group as the most reliable logistic services partner. The movie Sherdil describes the Pilibhit saga, covering the 2017 controversy where the government promised INR 10 lakh to the victims of man-animal conflict. The movie features Pankaj Tripathi as the protagonist named Gangaram, a simple village man, who wants to sacrifice himself so that his family can receive compensation. Commenting on the partnership Dayanand Agarwal, Founder - Agarwal Packers and Movers - DRS Group, said, "We are proud to associate ourselves with Sherdil. The message we wish to drive through this partnership is that just like Gangaram, Agarwal Packers and Movers - DRS Group is a trustworthy partner when it comes to logistics. Pankaj Tripathi, in the video promo, conveys how Agarwal Packers and Movers - Bade Bhaiya is the original packers and movers and is a reliable and trustworthy logistics partner. The company ensures this by making home relocation frictionless with specially designed vehicles to move cars, pets, furniture, and plants, along with other household items, in one go. 'Bade Bhaiya', Dayanand Agarwal, originally started Agarwal Packers and Movers in 1984. Starting with a single Logistics Van, Agarwal Packers and Movers has stuck to its leader's vision and brought about innovative solutions in the relocation business. Today, Bade Bhaiya has become the original, reliable partner in the home services and shifting market, with 1600+ locations across India. 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 27 (ANI/TPT): Recently, North India's first international-level MUN conference which is certified by the prestigious University of Windsor, Canada, The John's MUN's second edition was announced by Silver Fern Education Consultants. This will be the first in-person edition that will be held at the school campus of St. John's High School, Chandigarh. The conference will be held from July 22nd to July 24th and is organised by Silver Fern Education Consultants in association with University Living and CLAT Possible. The motto of the international-level conference is 'Evolution for Revolution' that translates into the Evolution of young minds to generate a revolution that creates a sustainable world. With the University of Windsor on board, this conference will encourage academic and scholarly research combined with global networking. Additionally, this year's John's MUN is also going to have a special team of experts from the University of Windsor flying in straight from Canada to oversee the conference. The University of Windsor is a renowned Canadian Public University having a long history of excellence in Canadian education. With over 380 delegates expected from over 80 schools across the world, the conference is all set to write its golden chapter in history. The conference is aimed at providing a strong and a credible platform for students to put across arguments on their country's behalf and act as helmsmen for their rights. The idea of the conference is derived from the Model United Nations, also referred to as Model UN or MUN, which is a barometer of the future delegates where students come up with solutions to international conflicts honing their diplomatic skills on similar lines to the United Nations. The John's MUN 2021 will be a harbinger of a raft of opportunities for the young minds who will be able to emanate their research, oration and debating skills, writing ability in addition to their adroitness in leadership. Participants will have to fill in an extensive registration form asking about their personal details, prior MUN experience, and a prompt to check the competent intellect of the student who is putting forward his preferred committee and portfolio preference. Talking about the idea behind organising The John's MUN 2021, Almasto Kapoor, the CEO of Silver Fern Education Consultants and Shivam Garg, the COO of Silver Fern stated, "For us, Education is the fundamental fulcrum of a society and it is something that not only decides the fate of students but country too. This healthy discussion and the exchange of ideas is something that will definitely fuel the human mind and will also bring forth the areas we need to work on. We would also like to add that if you're a student, this MUN will stretch your rationale on international relations and if you're a parent, your child will have a modified cognitive lens toward the global dynamics post this event." Silver Fern is one of the leading education consultants in India that provides premier international education counselling and support services and is also an authorised representative of over 450+ universities and colleges. Silver Fern and SJOBA after the previous year's immense success of the event are back with the offline mode of the same that will provide a platform for all attendees to substitute the virtual, distanced atmosphere with realism and solidarity by coming together to cogitate on the dilemmas of this world with the focus on freedom and the UN SDGs. This story is provided by TPT. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/TPT) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], June 27 (ANI/NewsVoir): In India, the independent and multi-brand auto businesses are in dire need for techno-enablement of operations for customer retention, service efficiency, profitability, productivity and business growth. Let us understand in detail as to why an Automation Application, for the multi brand after-market auto businesses is necessary today. Firstly, OEM's develop and maintain their own ecosystem of Auto repair shops across the geographies creating a restricted business opportunity for those neighborhood independent and multi-brand auto garages who have been operating for many generations in our small towns and cities. This ecosystem of restricted services and spares availability only with OEM authorized auto businesses is leading to a massive decline in the local multi-brand auto businesses and is binding the vehicle owners to rely only OEM based repair shops and authorized auto spare business outlets, leaving the vehicle owners with reduced choices in opting alternate services from their local auto garages. Hence, the multi-brand Auto Garages are unable to scale up to the present customer expectations and are losing their customers due to lack of affordable and scalable software applications to manage their multi-brand, family run garage businesses. Most of the currently available auto garage applications are found to be rigid in their size, cost and scale for small, medium and even for fairly large MULTIBRAND Auto Garages to successfully adopt technology for growth. Vehicle owners who genuinely want to avail quality and affordable services from their local auto technicians are expecting them to provide the same bespoke services as compared with their OEM counterparts but at lesser costs. Due to this, there is a dire necessity for the multi-brand auto garages to upgrade to a digital platform that matches with the OEMs and provide world-class service to their clients. This helps them to stop losing customers and their legacy of operations (since most of the MBO's are run for generations and deal with Servicing, Buying & Selling, Insurances, Spares, Warranties) due to the lack of an intelligent application. By using the Auto CRM app, you get the TECHNO-ability to connect with customers and business on daily basis with visibility and quality. It also provides new opportunities such as software reselling and you can now get new business leads through our Android add-on apps for a sustained growth. ITK Solutions with the support of Zoho has built the AutoGarage CRM, an ERP application keeping in mind to strengthen the multi-brand garages, the vehicle owners and the after-market spares business owners to be digitally enabled. The app helps multi brand auto garages in improving customer retention, service efficiency, profitability, productivity and business growth. Vehicle owners can use the Web and mobile apps that are multi-device accessible anytime anywhere. General public can use a free android app where they can avail the services from the auto businesses such as auto garages, auto spares, auto sales, auto insurance, auto battery services, wheel alignment centers, tyre and tube services etc., Finally, an ecosystem, where the family run local auto businesses do not become extinct. There is an opportunity as a new line of business in Software reselling for, Auto Spare parts dealers, Used Car Dealers, Auto Consultants by reaching out to their customers with a world-class software app. ITK offers a special approach, a 15 day free trial of their web applications and mobile apps, a free 10 hours of customization, helping the client to set up the software as per his niche requirements. For a test drive bit.ly/AGCRM_TestDrive For more details please visit the website www.autogaragecrm.biz and YouTube bit.ly/3QAv3B0 Zoho's Peter Balaji talking about AutoGarage CRM bit.ly/3ybbUhS Write to itksolutions@zoho.com for any assistance in downloading the software. 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 27 (ANI/NewsVoir): Pancham Dham Trust; Special Yagna was held at Indore city, Madhya Pradesh for the success of the Pancham Dham Nyas. The prayers called on Lord Shiva to spread peace around the world and help the successful completion of the Dham. The Dham is already receiving tremendous love and affection from the worldwide community. The Dharm Guru (Guruji Kumaran Swami) also thanked all those who have worked endlessly to make the recently conclude event a success, including all the prominent people associated with the conquest. The Dharm Guru also said he will be performing the puja in all the Indian states. The Puja was also offered for the torchbearers of Sanatana Dharma, Dr Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani and Indresh Kumar, Veteran RSS leader. The Pancham Dham movement is getting worldwide recognition and is well received by Religious Leaders, Saints, Rishis, Gurus, etc. People are coming forward and joining the conquest. People and the community leaders in attendance expressed their joy in performing the prayers for the construction of the Pancham Dhyan Nyas. Earlier in the month, the 5-day long journey began on May 31, 2022, and concluded on June 4, 2022. The fifth anniversary of the stone laying ceremony was held in presence of Saints, Rishis, Gurus, Politicians, Bureaucrats, Diplomats and people from all religions and faith from all over the world. Today, Pancham Dham has become the biggest cultural event in South East Asia. With the congregation of the Asian Diaspora at the event in Siem Reap, it is touted to become the future destination of every "Sanatana Dharma" follower in the world. The torchbearer of Sanatana Dharma, Dr Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani, since 1993, has been on a soul-searching journey of a lifetime. The unrelenting efforts by Dr Sailesh Lachu Hiranandani of 20 years of research led to the inception of the Pancham Dham movement. Veteran RSS leader and the torchbearer of Sanatana Dharma, Indresh Kumar has been vocal about his support for the 5th Dham initiative as well. He has been providing his never-ending support to the initiative taken by Pancham Dham and has decided to actively participate in the development of the 5th Dham. The event was organized under the guidance and leadership of Sailesh Vats. The construction and overall development of Pancham Dham Nyas Dhyan Kendra will also be undertaken under his supervision. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) Matthew McConaughey shared an eight-slide post on her social media account, responding to President Joe Biden regarding the nation's new gun control legislation. Matthew took to his Instagram handle and shared an eight-slide post. Captioning the post, "America... the land of AND," on Saturday, the 52-year-old actor called the bill "a reasonable and holistic step towards addressing America's gun violence epidemic." "This bill will save innocent lives by keeping guns out of the law-breaking and irresponsible hands that are trying to hijack the Second Amendment," one of the slides read in part. "While this bill isn't perfect, it is a shining example of a great American potential and political virtue: the act of compromise and validating an opposing viewpoint," he continued. McConaughey added that a country is a place "where we have Freedom AND Responsibility, Rights AND Duties, Opportunity, AND Obligations." "Our government took a step in the right direction. Now it's time for us to remind them AND ourselves what the best of our country is AND can be", he concluded. The "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act," also known as S. 2938, which enacts sensible gun regulations and allocates cash for mental health support and anti-violence initiatives, was signed into law by President Joe Biden on Saturday. "I'm about to sign into law a bipartisan gun safety legislation. And time is of the essence. Lives will be saved," before signing the legislation in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Biden informed reporters. According to a White House briefing, the bill "enhances certain restrictions and penalties on firearms purchases; promotes evidence-based best practices for school safety; authorizes grants to expand access to mental health services; and appropriates emergency funding for mental health resources and school safety measures". In recent weeks, McConaughey has participated in more than 30 sessions on Capitol Hill centred on the nation's gun control challenges. McConaughey spoke at a White House press conference earlier this month about the Uvalde, Texas, elementary school shooting on May 24, which resulted in the deaths of 19 pupils and two instructors, and what it means for the future of the country. (ANI) Alec Baldwin has announced an interview with ace director Woody Allen, who has faced backlash after his adopted daughter, Dylan Farrow, claimed he sexually abused her as a child. As per Variety, That backlash was recently renewed with the 2021 release of HBO docuseries 'Allen v. Farrow,' in which his daughter Dylan and her mother Mia Farrow further detailed the allegations they first came forward with, in 1992. The interview between Baldwin and Allen will take place on Instagram live, on Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. ET. "I love you, Woody. Instagram, I'm with Woody, Tuesday, 10:30. Be there," Baldwin said in a video post. Baldwin made the announcement on his Instagram profile on Sunday night, that read, "Let me preface this by stating that I have ZERO INTEREST in anyone's judgments and sanctimonious posts here. I am OBVIOUSLY someone who has my own set of beliefs and COULD NOT CARE LESS about anyone else's speculation. If you believe that a trial should be conducted by way of an HBO documentary, that's your issue." 'Allen v. Farrow' included an unseen home video of 7-year-old Farrow talking about the alleged assault shortly after she claimed it had occurred. During the #MeToo movement, his 2019 film 'A Rainy Day in New York' was dropped by Amazon Studios, with Hachette Book Group refusing to publish his memoir. However, Allen had denied the allegations, and labeled them as "untrue and disgraceful" in a statement following the release of the docuseries, as per Variety. Baldwin has also been the subject of recent controversy. In October, he held a 'prop firearm' that shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza on the set of the film 'Rust.' The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office's investigation into the incident is ongoing, along with a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the Hutchins' family against Baldwin, seven producers and other members from the crew of 'Rust.' (ANI) Neetu Kapoor, soon to be Mother-in-law, was shocked when PAPs congratulated the veteran actor for her new role in her house as she was unaware of the fact that her daughter-in-law Alia Bhatt announced her pregnancy on Instagram. In a recent viral video, Neetu Kapoor can be seen coming outside her vanity van, in a red dress, she held an umbrella in her hand, as it is raining in Mumbai right now. The paparazzo said, "JugJugg Jeeyo" in reference to her recently released film, to which she replied, "Nahi! Abi Shamshera" in reference to Ranbir's next release. The shutterbugs can be heard congratulating the 'JugJugg Jeeyo' actor for her daughter-in-law's pregnancy news, to which she first gave an awkward smile to the PAPs. After being asked, "How is she feeling?,' the 'Deewar' actor expressed her gratitude and said, "Thank you". She gave a hilarious reaction when the paparazzi commented "Junior Kapoor on its way" on the couple's pregnancy news. Later on, the 63-year-old actor stated, "Sabko pata chal gaya Dadi banne wali hun (Everyone got to know that I am going to be a grandmother)" to which a Pap responded, "Alia ne daal diya Instagram par (Alia has announced on her Instagram)", the actor was then seen giving a shocking reaction. 'RanAlia' fans also poured wishes on the 'Yaarana' actor. Meanwhile, on the work front, Neetu Kapoor was recently seen in Dharma Production's 'JugJugg Jeeyo' with Anil Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani. She can be currently seen as the judge of a dance reality show 'Dance Deewane Junior'. (ANI) Neetu Kapoor, soon-to-be Mother-in-law, was surprised when PAPs congratulated the veteran actor for her new role in her house as she was unaware of the fact that her daughter-in-law Alia Bhatt announced her pregnancy on Instagram. She got emotional when the shutterbugs asked about her feeling, the 'Deewar' actor expressed her gratitude and said, "Thank you". In a recent viral video, Neetu Kapoor can be seen coming outside her vanity van, in a red dress, she held an umbrella in her hand, as it is raining in Mumbai right now. The paparazzo said, "JugJugg Jeeyo" in reference to her recently released film, to which she replied, "Nahi! Abi Shamshera" in reference to Ranbir's next release. The shutterbugs can be heard congratulating the 'JugJugg Jeeyo' actor for her daughter-in-law's pregnancy news, to which she first gave an awkward smile to the PAPs. She gave a hilarious reaction when the paparazzi commented "Junior Kapoor on its way" on the couple's pregnancy news. Later on, the 63-year-old actor stated, "Sabko pata chal gaya Dadi banne wali hun (Everyone got to know that I am going to be a grandmother)" to which a Pap responded, "Alia ne daal diya Instagram par (Alia has announced on her Instagram)", the actor was then seen giving a shocking reaction. 'RanAlia' fans also poured wishes on the 'Yaarana' actor. Meanwhile, on the work front, Neetu Kapoor was recently seen in Dharma Production's 'JugJugg Jeeyo' with Anil Kapoor, Varun Dhawan and Kiara Advani. She can be currently seen as the judge of a dance reality show 'Dance Deewane Junior'. (ANI) Meanwhile, a post got viral on social media, where a condom brand poured their wishes on the 'Brahmastra' couple in a quirky way with an 'Ae Dil hai Mushkil' touch to it. Durex India, on their Instagram account, dropped a funny post as their marketing strategy, which reads, "Mehfil mein Teri "hum to clearly nahi the" congratulations", with reference to the song 'Channa Mereya' from 'Ae Dil hai Mushkil'. Sharing this hilarious post, Durex India captioned, "The JOMO is REAL! Congratulations Alia & Ranbir." Soon after the post was shared it got viral on social media and fans flooded the comment section with laughing emojis and praised the brand for their out of the box creativity. "Pun intended creatively" a user commented, followed by a lot of laughing emojis. "Swag hai congratulations me bi @durex.india superb," another user wrote. Durex never fails to gather all the eyeballs with its humorous memes and yet again the famous condom brand impressed the audience with its witty sense of humour. Ranbir and Alia tied the knot on April 14, 2022, at the 'Rockstar' actor's Mumbai residence 'Vaastu' in an intimate ceremony with closest friends and family members after dating for almost five years. (ANI) Mallika Sherawat and Rajat Kapoor-starrer 'RK' has got a release date. It will be out on July 22. Written and directed by Rajat Kapoor, 'RK'/'Rkay' is touted as a "quirky comedy." The film tells the tale of an anxious director (RK) who has finished shooting his new film, but things are not looking very bright at the edit table. He has an impending sense of doom. As luck would have it, his worst nightmare comes true when he gets a disturbing phone call from the editing room saying the protagonist of the film jumped out off the screen, wresting control of the movie's plot. Talking more about the film, Rajat Kapoor said, " Rk/Rkay is an idea that had been with me for the last 10 years almost. Slowly it evolved to find its present form. It's a mad film.. and I mean that in the best possible meaning of mad.It is unconventional, it is wacky and fun and has a distinct taste. Can't wait to share this with our audience.." The film produced by Priyanshi Films (Priyam Srivastava and Harshita Karkare)also stars Kubbra Sait, Ranvir Shorey, Manu Rishi Chadha, Chandrachoor Rai, Abhijeet Deshpande, Abhishek Sharrma, Grace Girdhar, and Vaishali Malhara in key roles. The film has already been screened and appreciated at several international festivals including Shanghai international film festival, River to River festival in Florence, Bucheon International Fantastic Film Festival, Austin Film Festival and Pune International Film Festival. (ANI) Bollywood actor Randeep Hooda, on Monday, shared a heartfelt post on his Instagram account and mourned the loss of Sarabjit Singh's sister Dalbir Kaur. Hooda portrayed the lead role in the biopic 'Sarabjit' which was released in 2016. It is said to be Randeep's one of the best performances of his career. Sharing a throwback picture, the actor captioned, "Ghar jaroor aana" (do come to my house) was the last thing she said. I went, only she had left. Not in the wildest dream could one imagine that Dalbir Kaur ji would leave us so soon. A fighter, child like, sharp and devoted to all that she touched. She fought a system, a country, it's people and her own to try save her beloved brother Sarbjit." The 'Laal Rang' actor shared his last memories with Dalbir Ji, "I was so fortunate to have her love and blessings and never to be missed Rakhi in this lifetime. Ironically the last time we met was when I was shooting in the fields of Punjab where we had created an Indo-Pak border. It was a chilly and foggy late November night but she didn't care about all that. She was happy we were on the same side of the border. "Khush raho, jug jug jeeyo" (be happy and stay blessed) she often ended most conversations with. I do feel truly blessed indeed. There just wasn't enough time Dalbir ji. I love you, I miss you and I shall always cherish your love and blessings.Om Shanti." In the throwback picture, the actor can be seen smiling and hugging Sarabjit Singh's sister. Dalbir Kaur passed away on Sunday morning due to a heart attack at her Amritsar residence at the age of 67. She was known as one of the bravest women, who fought for her brother Sarabjit Singh, who was strayed into Pakistan in 1990 in a drunk condition and was kept behind the bars for 23 years with many serious allegations against him. He died on May 2, 2013, in Pakistan jail following a brutal attack by one of the inmates. Later, the Pakistan High Court acquitted him of bomb blast charges. (ANI) Jazz -- a genre with the ability to embrace varied cultures -- has evolved exponentially in the past century-and-a-half and is today a major form of musical expression. But what is it that exactly gives a "jazzy characteristic" to a musical note? Some of its foremost practitioners, who assembled at this scenic beach town recently, have different ways of defining it. if it's "dance music" for one, "broad in its scope" for another, and a "vehicle to make people happy" for yet another, the search for what the musical form means to its practitioners remains elusive -- and yet it is so dear to them all. At the "Koktebel Jazz Party", organised here last month, jazzy instruments such as the saxophone, trombone, trumpet, and piano were played to the beats of different music styles to create different kinds of fusions as musicians from over 20 countries participated in the annual extravaganza. Jean-Paul Maunick, 61, a founding member of British acid jazz band "Incognito", quipped that jazz originated from the blues. "Blues is the music that people played to express their sadness, to tell stories about dire lives. Then jazz came along, which was more instrumental, more free, the music created for dancing. "Jazz is like the first dance music for me. Free dancing, where you show free expression. You throw your body but nobody is doing the same two steps. There is choreography if you want it, but most jazz music is about free dancing. The music, dancing and conversation between musicians is like that," he shared. For Maunick, jazz is not just "an intellectual thing" -- while it may be true that jazz is a "thinking man's thing", it is also a way "to just express yourselves". But is jazz all about dancing? It certainly is not, or at least that is how Rajeev Raja, the founder of Indo-Jazz music band from Mumbai, "Rajeev Raja Combine", perceives it. "It is not necessarily about moving. I wish to go back to the era when we used to listen to an entire album and keep listening to it. Jazz is very broad in its scope and execution. There certainly are elements like swing, but there is much more to it," he told IANS. At the festival, there were a group of American musicians who came together for the second time after performing first in Moscow. They performed under the label, New York All Stars. The drummer of New York All Stars, Carl Allen, grew up playing all kinds of styles but settled at jazz. "That's the kind of music that excites me. That's the kind of music that makes me happy. I try to use it as a vehicle to make other people happy. Everything is cyclical. A lot of things we hear now, people call it new but it is not really new It has been done before. It's just a process. It's always a cyclical process where people are putting together R&B, soul and jazz. That happened in the 1960s, 70s too," he told IANS. Music, as they say, cannot be contained within walls. It's definition too is broad and different for different people, or so it seemed at the three-day festival that aimed to celebrate all things jazzy. (Mudita Girotra was in Crimea at the invitation of the organisers of Koktebel Jazz Party. She can be contacted at mudita.g@ians.in) --IANS mg/ss/vm/tb/sac ( 583 Words) 2018-09-09-11:32:07 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his monthly 'Mann Ki Baat' broadcast on Sunday, mentioned Etikoppaka toys, bringing into focus Andhra Pradesh's famous craft and the efforts of local artisan C.V. Raju to bring innovations and restore the past glory of this 400-year-old art. Etikoppaka, a village 80 km from this coastal city, is famous for the trademark wooden toys. As Modi mentioned in his speech, these toys have no sharp edges. They are rounded on all sides and hence present little chances of an injury to children. Etikoppaka toys are known for their softness, rounded contours, polished colours and the overall craftsmanship. The artisans make wooden bowls, toy trains, idols of gods and goddesses, wooden cannons, bullock carts, spinning tops and many other toys. The mention of Etikoppaka by the Prime Minister is significant in the wake of growing demands for a ban on import of Chinese toys and the government's thrust on promoting local toys. Despite several challenges including the drop in demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the artisans in Etikoppaka are hoping that a ban on Chinese toys would revive the demand for their unique craft in the market. The pandemic has hit hard the traditional and eco-friendly wooden lacquer-ware and toy craft industry of Etikoppaka. About 300 families from the village, located near the banks of the Varaha river, have been dependent on the profession for over four centuries. Already facing numerous challenges, including competition from plastic toys and flooding of Chinese products in the market, they were hit hard by the pandemic with no fresh orders from traders and online retailers for the last five months. The artisans in the village used to produce toys worth Rs 20 to Rs 30 lakh every month but production came to a complete halt with the outbreak of Covid and resultant lockdown. The artisans are now looking for support from the government, and want it to extend financial assistance on the lines of 'Nethanna Nestham', a scheme for handloom weavers. The tensions with China and the demands from various quarters for ban on Chinese imports have given fresh hopes of revival to Etikoppaka artisans. With the Prime Minister stressing on local manufacturing of toys, they feel that Etikoppaka can regain its past glory by again emerging as a key hub of toy-making as they expect renewed demand for their products. The dumping of identical cheap Chinese wooden toys was a big challenge for the traditional artisans of this Andhra village as they could neither compete with their pricing, nor their marketing. The wooden lacquer craft toys or 'Etikoppaka Bommalu' has a long history said to be dating back to Bahamani times. The craft was originally started in Nakkapalli village but was later moved to Etikoppaka after the area's landlords resettled the artisans there. The artisans mainly use the wood from trees locally known as 'ankudu' (Wrightia Tinctoria) and lacquer, a colourless resinous secretion of a certain species of insects, collected by tribals from surrounding forests. Clarified lac is blended and oxidised with natural dyes and is applied to lathe turned wooden articles. However, the mushrooming of plastic toys, fierce competition from China and scarcity of raw materials such as wood due to shrinking forests threatened the very survival of this craft. Raju is one of the artisans who came forward to save the craft with their efforts to procure raw materials from the Forest Department. A local landlord himself, Raju negotiated with the forest authorities to make the wood more accessible. He encouraged the artisan families to participate in the government sponsored community forest management programme to grow more ankudu trees and other dye bearing species. He went to greater lengths to find organic dyes suitable for blending with lac and succeeded in obtaining a new range of attractive blends. Raju's innovations which also helped in product diversification, have been documented by the National Institute of Design (NID), Ahmedabad. According to the document, Raju initiated the process of creating a separate co-operative association of the artisans called "Padmavati Associates". His key strategy has been to strengthen local knowledge traditions of making vegetative dyes, develop new tools, techniques and methods for increasing shelf life of the dyes and generate new uses. In addition, he has also received the vegetative dying traditions for local textiles. He has developed many new toys for which market is slowly emerging in India and abroad. In 2002, Raju received the President's Award. He also won the National Innovation Foundation Award from the Union Department of Science and Technology, the Centenary Awards, the UNESCO Seal of Excellence and Lifetime Achievement Award from INTACH for reviving the Etikoppaka craft of making toys. Raju mentored and trained several artisans and continues to do this. He is now training tribal youths from Araku as the area has natural resources such as black berry and jackfruit trees for the wood and natural colours. Raju, who is the director of Padmavathi Associate of Artisans, has set a target of training 100 skilled artisans to produce Araku crafts using local material and native talent. One of them will be selected as master craftsman who will train more locals. --IANS ms/vd ( 872 Words) 2020-08-30-17:20:16 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Monday will hear petitions by rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde and the MLAs challenging the disqualification notices issued by Maharashtra Deputy Speaker to them and also the appointment of Ajay Choudhari as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and J.B. Pardiwala will hear the petitions filed by Shina and rebel MLAs led by Bharat Gogawali against the Deputy Speaker. Shinde claims to enjoy support of two-third members of the party. Maharashtra has been facing a political crisis after Shinde and rebel MLAs left the state, protesting against the alliance with the Congress and Nationalist Congress Party. The rebel MLAs have been camping in a hotel in Assam's Guwahati for the past few days. The Deputy Speaker had issued notices to the 16 rebel MLAs on the disqualification plea by Thackeray's team. Shinde claims the actions of the Deputy Speaker show he is hand in glove with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government. Shinde's plea said the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker is completely violative of Article 14 and 19(1)(g) of the Constitution, and also the illegal and unconstitutional action of the Deputy Speaker in recognising Choudhuri as the leader of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party (SSLP) despite the said request being admittedly made by a minority faction. The plea said the petitioner is aggrieved by the notice/summon dated June 25 which is grossly illegal, unconstitutional and in utter disregard of the judgment of this Court in the matter of Nabam Rebia & Bamang Felix Vs Dy. Speaker, Arunachal Pradesh Legislative Assembly in (2016). "That the seat of Speaker is vacant since Nana Patole resigned from office in February 2021. Thus, there is no authority who can adjudicate upon the disqualification petition under which the impugned notice has been issued to the Petitioner," it added. The rebel leaders urged the apex court to prohibit the Deputy Speaker from taking any action under the anti-defection law (10th Schedule of the Constitution) and issue direction against taking any action until the resolution for removal of Deputy Speaker is decided. "Issue a writ of prohibition/mandamus or any other appropriate writ, direction or order, directing Respondent No. 1 (Deputy Speaker) to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the Petitioners under Para-2(1)(a) of the Tenth Schedule of the Constitution of India pending before Hon'ble Speaker of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly and not take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of Deputy Speaker is decided," said the plea. Shinde claimed the MLAs' request to work as per party founder Balasaheb Thackeray was not heeded by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. "The requests made by the petitioner and other MLAs fell on deaf ears and were rejected by the Chief Minister. The petitioner as well as the other MLAs making such requests in turn started receiving threats from certain unscrupulous elements," he alleged in the plea. --IANS ss/vd ( 516 Words) 2022-06-26-22:20:04 (IANS) The polls for the formation of the new board of Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) witnessed lack of public response on Sunday with the polling percentage being recorded just around 57 per cent. As per the State Election Commission, this was the lowest polling percentage in any of the polls for formation of civic bodies in West Bengal. The polls for GTA were conducted on Sunday after a gap of 10 years. There were a lot of chaos since the State Election Commission announced the dates for elections for GTA. A number of hill-based parties boycotted the polls. Even the Gorkha National Liberation Front (GNLF) went to the extent of approaching the Calcutta High Court with the demand of postponing the elections, which was finally turned down by a single- judge bench of the court. However, the heat in the preparatory process in the polls was not evident on Sunday when the actual polling was taking place, as voters in general preferred enjoying the rain-soaked weather in the hills instead of travelling to the polling booths. There were reports of poll- related violence on Sunday and those who went for casting the votes did that in a rather festive mood. A total 277 candidates contested in the GTA polls on Sunday, out of whom 169 were independent candidates. Conclusion of the GTA polls was extremely crucial for West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, as political observers feel that formation of the new GTA board will push back the resurrection of agitation in the hills in demand for a separate Gorkhaland state or permanent political solution in the hills. According to political observers, barring this point, the state of West Bengal's ruling party in the GTA hills is almost nil as their leadership is also aware of the fact that they do not have that necessary organisational strength in the hills. Trinamool Congress' only aim is to keep the political forces divided on the issue of permanent political solution and formation of the new GTA board is absolutely necessary for that. --IANS src/pgh ( 352 Words) 2022-06-26-22:48:01 (IANS) The CPI-M-led Left Front in the recently concluded by-elections to the four assembly seats in Tripura has suffered a major setback, while the Congress with a solitary seat entered the state assembly after nine years. The ruling BJP's total strength of 36 members remained unchanged in the 60-member house. The new entrant -- Trinamool Congress could not create significant impact securing with just 2.85 per cent votes. In the June 23 by-polls, result of which declared on Sunday, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won three seats including that of Chief Minister Manik Saha who has been elected to the state assembly for the first time from Town Bordowali defeating Congress candidate Asish Kumar Saha by a margin of 6,104 votes. BJP candidate Malina Debnath won the Jubarajnagar seat defeating her nearest CPI-M rival Sailendra Chandra Nath by a margin of 4,572 votes while her party colleague Swapna Das (Paul) bagged the Surma (SC) seat thrashing her independent rival Baburam Satnami by a margin of 4,583 votes. The saffron party wrested the Jubarajnagar seat from the CPI-M while retaining the other two seats. In a significant political development, BJP-turned Congress leader Sudip Roy Barman retained his Agartala constituency for the sixth time in a row defeating his BJP rival Ashok Sinha by a margin of 3,163 votes. With the victory of Roy Barman, Congress re-entered the 60-member state assembly after nine years. The by-election is being termed by the political pundits as a "semi-final" before the 60-member Assembly elections, which is just eight months away. The focus of the by-elections was mainly on the Town Bordowali Assembly constituency where Manik Saha contested against five other candidates. Saha, BJP's state president and a Rajya Sabha member who assumed office on May 15, a day after Biplab Kumar Deb's resignation from the post of chief minister, contested the election for the first time. To fulfil the constitutional binding, he has to become a member of the Assembly within six months. The by-polls were necessitated after the resignation of three BJP MLAs including former Minister Sudip Roy Barman following the open revolt against Biplab Kumar Deb and the death of CPI-M legislator Ramendra Chandra Debnath. In the by-elections, the BJP got 44.90 per cent votes followed by CPI-M led Left Front 22.02 per cent, Congress 20.10. Though the Left parties in the overall vote percentage managed the second position, they went third position in the results in the three out of four seats. Political commentator and writer Sekhar Datta said that it was seen in the 2018 assembly polls, when the Left parties voted out by the BJP, that their (Left parties dominated by the CPI-M) massive political base erosion among the tribal, scheduled caste and other backward communities led to poor performance in the elections. "If the Left parties want to regain their political base, they must change their mindset and political strategies. They must bring more young, women, tribal and OBC leaders to lead the party," Datta told IANS. The Left Front governed Tripura for 35 years (1978 to 1988 and 1993 to 2018) until 2018, when the Left parties suffered a humiliating defeat by the BJP. Another political analyst and editor of a leading daily Sanjib Deb said that a third spectrum -- TIPRA (Tipraha Indigenous Progressive Regional Alliance) headed by Tripura's royal scion, Pradyot Bikram Manikya Deb Barman -- emerged in the state politics. "Until recent years, the politics of Tripura was dominated by the Left and non-Left parties. Now the new entrant TIPRA is taking the vote share, mostly tribal votes, of the three national parties - BJP, CPI-M and the Congress," Deb told IANS. In the Surma (reserved for the scheduled caste communities) seat, independent candidate Baburam Satnami, backed by TIPRA, secured the second position pushing the CPI-M into third position. (Sujit Chakraborty can be contacted at sujit.c@ians.in) --IANS sc/pgh ( 654 Words) 2022-06-26-23:12:03 (IANS) Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday chaired the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of the Ministry of Home Affairs on the topic "Forensic Science Capabilities: Strengthening for Time-bound and Scientific Investigation" at Kevadia town in Gujarat. Shah said the Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi attaches utmost importance to the internal and external security of the country and is committed to the public welfare by strengthening the systems for crime detection and prevention and effective law enforcement. The Ministry of Home Affairs under the guidance of the Amit Shah is committed to achieving a conviction rate of up to 90 per cent and providing a citizen-friendly and effective criminal justice system in the country. Shah stressed on the need for investigating agencies to be one step ahead of criminals in view of the use of technology by them and said that the Modi government in collaboration with the State Governments is working on a three-pronged approach to reforms in Police Investigation, Prosecution and Forensics. He said that this is the right time to focus on a technology-based and evidence-based investigation to achieve the targeted conviction rate. The Home Minister further emphasized the capacity building of constables up to high-level police personnel in the use of advanced testing techniques. He called for the establishment of an independent Directorate of Prosecution and an independent Directorate of Forensic Science in each State/UTs through the proposed comprehensive amendments to the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code and the Indian Evidence Act. Shah said that the Modi government is also working towards making forensic investigation mandatory in all cases of offences punishable with imprisonment for more than six years. He briefed the members of the Committee about the steps taken by the Central Government toward capacity building required to implement the proposed reforms. He said that the National Defense University has been established for training manpower of law enforcement agencies to train them in the use of new technology to combat crime, especially cybercrime, dark-net etc. Apart from this, hackathons are also being organized to attract the expertise and innovation of the youth in new technologies. The National Forensic Science University has been established to provide trained manpower for the forensic sector and the Central Government has requested the States to affiliate at least one college in each State with NFSU. Shah said that a Modus Operandi Bureau has also been set up to identify the pattern of crime for the prevention of crime. He informed that the members that the Central Government is providing funds to strengthen the forensic infrastructure across the country including setting up of Mobile Forensic Science Units in each district, and these units will serve at least three blocks in a district. He said that steps are also being taken to standardize forensic equipment, instrument calibration, and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in all FSLs in the country for high-quality forensic results. The meeting was attended by Members of Parliament, Ministers of State for Home Nityanand Rai, Ajay Kumar Mishra, Nishith Pramanik and Union Home Secretary along with senior officials of the Ministry of Home Affairs, NCRB and National Forensic Science University. (ANI) Union Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Sunday said that the Center and States are together engaged in the holistic development of the Northeast including Nagaland. Tomar visited the Central Institute of Horticulture in Nagaland and inaugurated a farmer's workshop and exhibition. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants that there should be holistic and balanced development and the benefits of the government's schemes should reach the eligible people including farmers right down to the grassroots level, which will improve their standard of living," the minister said at the inaugural ceremony. He asserted that the Central Government will continue to walk step by step and shoulder to shoulder with the states for the development of the Northeast. "It is necessary to transform agriculture into advanced farming for the benefit of the farmers in the country including the Northeast," Tomar added. In the programme organized by the Central Institute of Horticulture (Medziphema, Dimapur), the chief guest, Tomar said that if the Central and State Governments work together, then the results are bound to be good, and this is what is happening now. Emphasizing increasing production and productivity, the Agriculture Minister said that the income of brothers and sisters working in the agriculture sector should also increase, for this they should shift to remunerative crops, connect with technology, bring new technology to the farmers through R&D institutions, the common farmers should get the benefit of the scientific research and government funding should also reach them. "The Central Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi is working closely with the State Governments on all these issues," he said. Tomar expressed the hope that the farmers of this region will lead a new revolution in the development of horticulture. "The Northeast region has been a victim of neglect for a long time and due to its remoteness, it became difficult to get the benefits of schemes here, but after becoming the Prime Minister, Shri Modi has constantly paid attention to getting enough funds for the development of the North-East, ensured the Union Ministers visit this region regularly, the Prime Minister himself also came here several times so that the problems of the region continue to be resolved by the Government of India," he said. Tomar assured that the Central Horticulture Institute will remain here, it will not shift anywhere, there will be no shortage of funds for this and the Central Government will leave no stone unturned in its development. He said that by virtue of six agro-climatic zones with vast geographical variations present in the North-East Region, and Nagaland in particular, it has the potential to provide considerable scope and advantages for growing many horticultural crops as compared to other states. "There are huge possibilities. Nagaland also has great potential for the export of agricultural products due to its proximity to South-East Asian countries, it is necessary to increase productivity and ensure that the quality of agricultural products is of global standards. As a result, farmers will get a good price and their financial condition will improve and the agriculture sector will also contribute more to the country's GDP," he said. Further, he said that everyone is making efforts together to bring new technology to the farmers at low cost, he appreciated the efforts of the institute and the State Government in this direction. Agriculture Minister of Nagaland, G Kaito also addressed the gathering and spoke about the development of agriculture in the state. (ANI) Nikunj teaches underprivileged students of private and government schools on the pavement in Vadodara to spread awareness about the importance of education among children. "Around 95-100 children from KG to 10th standard come here to study. Some of them go to the government and private schools but their parents can't afford tuition, so I teach them for free," Nikunj told ANI. Apart from clearing the basic concepts in various subjects, he also focuses on language by making them write in Gujarati, English and Hindi. "I teach the students of standard 5-10 their syllabus and clear the basics of younger students; make them write in Gujarati, English and Hindi. Public helps us (financially) and I pay the school fees of 5-6 students," he added. Nikunj also said that the students whom he taught before are now helping him to teach others. (ANI) People danced to traditional beats as they participated in the Chennai Pride Parade, Tamil Nadu which was celebrated after a gap of two years owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1541203500364754944?s=20&t=xcEcqLZVWhRLaC2ZvHJQhg In Odisha's Bhubaneswar, people were seen carrying flags and wearing glitters on their cheeks, hundreds of lesbians, gays, bisexuals, transgenders, intersex, queers and allies walked during the Rainbow Pride Walk held in Bhubaneswar on Sunday. The main objective of the pride walk is to demand equal rights, social acceptance and dignified life in society. Through the walk, they also raise their voice against the humiliation and struggle they experience in society. The month of June is observed as Pride Month where participants having various sexual orientations participate in parades, to express pride in their sexual identity. (ANI) As the political turmoil continues in Maharashtra, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, who is currently camping in Assam along with other MLAs, on Sunday lashed out at the party for supporting the culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for the taking lives of innocent people. "How can Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That's why we took such a step, it's better to die," Shinde said in a tweet. He further said the rebel MLAs would consider it their destiny even if they had to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva. "Even if we have to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva, we will consider it as our destiny," he added. Hi remark came after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Raut termed the rebel MLAs "living corpses" and said that their "souls are dead". "40 MLAs in Guwahati are living corpses, their souls are dead. Their bodies will be sent directly to the Assembly for post-mortem when they come back. They know what can happen in the fire that has been lit here," Raut said while addressing party workers here. However, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that on May 20, CM Uddhav Thackeray had asked Eknath Shinde to become CM if he wanted to, but at that time he did drama and now just a month later, he rebelled. Notably, former minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who is now in the Eknath Shinde camp, had said that the MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. Interestingly, the Shinde faction named their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'. The naming of the group after the name of the Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray attracted sharp reactions from the Uddhav faction as the Chief Minister said that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder. Meanwhile, Shinde has approached the Supreme Court against the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker against rebel MLAs. The plea also challenges the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde. The petitioner, Shinde has sought to issue direction to Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs and also not to take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided. The Deputy Speaker, who is in charge of the House in the absence of the Speaker and has issued the notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner. (ANI) As the political turmoil in Maharashtra continues to unfold, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shide spoke to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray about the recent political situation in the state, confirmed MNS leader on Monday. The MNS leader further said that Shinde spoke to Raj Thackeray over the phone twice and also enquired about his health. "Rebel Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shide spoke to MNS chief Raj Thackeray over the phone twice. Shinde spoke to Thackeray about the recent political situation in Maharashtra and enquired about his health," an MNS leader confirmed. Earlier on Sunday, Shinde, who is currently camping in Assam along with other MLAs, lashed out at the party for allegedly supporting the culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for the taking lives of innocent people. Taking to Twitter the rebel MLA said that is why they took such a decision while adding "it is better to die" than follow such a decision. "How can Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That's why we took such a step, it's better to die," Shinde said in a tweet. He further said the rebel MLAs would consider it their destiny even if they had to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva. "Even if we have to die to follow the ideology of Hindutva, we will consider it as our destiny," he added. His remark came after Shiv Sena MLA Sanjay Raut called the rebel MLAs "living corpses" and said that their "souls are dead". "40 MLAs in Guwahati are living corpses, their souls are dead. Their bodies will be sent directly to the Assembly for post-mortem when they come back. They know what can happen in the fire that has been lit here," Raut said while addressing party workers here. However, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that on May 20, CM Uddhav Thackeray had asked Eknath Shinde to become CM if he wanted to, but at that time he did drama and now just a month later, he rebelled. Notably, former minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who is now in the Eknath Shinde camp, had said that the MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. Interestingly, the Shinde faction named their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'. The naming of the group after the name of the Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray attracted sharp reactions from the Uddhav faction as the Chief Minister said that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder. Meanwhile, Shinde has approached the Supreme Court against the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker against rebel MLAs. The plea also challenges the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde. The petitioner, Shinde has sought to issue direction to Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs and also not to take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided. The Deputy Speaker, who is in charge of the House in the absence of the Speaker and has issued the notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner. (ANI) Ahead of the meeting of top office-bearers of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) on Monday at the party's head office in Chennai on Monday, AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam has said that the meeting is a violation of the party by-law. Pannerselvam or OPS as he is known, added that meetings could be convened only with the approval of both coordinator and co-coordinator. This comes amid the battle for single leadership in the AIADMK between former Tamil Nadu chief minister and party co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and his former deputy CM and coordinator O Panneersevelam (OPS). In a statement, OPS, who is the treasurer of the party said that since as a coordinator of the AIADMK he had not given any approval to the meeting and in such a case if the meeting is convened, it will be in violation of the rule. "The meeting of headquarters functionaries was convened in contravention of party bylaw, adding that only the coordinator and co-coordinator are authorized to convene any party meeting. Under the AIADMK Law, Rule 20A (v) - the overall management responsibilities of the party are vested in the Co-ordinator and Co-Coordinator. Accordingly, any meeting must be convened with the consent of both parties. However, without the consent and signature of both parties, a notice has been issued in the name of the 'headquarters functionaries meeting "against the rules and regulations of the party," Panneerselvam said in a statement. "As the coordinator of the AIADMK, I did not give any approval to the above meeting. In such a case, the said meeting convened in violation of the rule is contrary to party law and rules. I would like to inform all the party workers that if any decision is taken at the above meeting convened outside the party legal framework it will not in any way restrict the party who are under the administration of the party coordinator and the party co-coordinator," he added. At the party's general council meeting on June 23, Tamil Magan Hussain was elected as the AIADMK Presidium Chairman. At the meeting all 23 resolutions put forward were rejected and it was decided to hold the next general council meeting of AIADMK on July 11, 2022, at 9.15 am. Notably, till 2016, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was the sole leader of the AIADMK. When Jayalalithaa passed away in 2016, the party decided to appoint OPS to the Chief Minister's chair. However, in February 2017, AIADMK suffered a crushing defeat in the state elections and Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's close aide, decided to take over the leadership. Subsequently, OPS was replaced as the chief minister by EPS. This caused a lot of turmoil in the AIADMK. As time passed by, OPS became the coordinator of AIADMK with EPS becoming the co-coordinator. AIADMK was being run as a party with dual leadership. But now, the call for a unitary leadership has intensified and all eyes are on the crucial general council meeting on July 11. (ANI) The overall pass percentage for Higher Secondary (Class 12) examination in the Arts stream this year is 83.48 per cent, 87.27 per cent in the Commerce stream and 92.19 per cent in the Science stream. "Congratulations to all students who passed the HS exams, results of which were declared today. May you all continue excelling in your academic pursuits. However, those who couldn't perform well shouldn't lose heart but keep trying. I'm sure you too will be crowned with success," tweeted Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. In the Arts stream, a total of 1,56,107 students appeared in the examination and 29,487 students have secured first division (60 percent marks and above), 52,944 students secured second division, and 47,893 students secured third division. In the Commerce stream, out of 15,199 students who appeared in the examination, 5018 students have secured first division, 5186 students secured second division and 3060 students secured third division. In the Science stream, out of 33,534 students, 20171 students have secured first division, 9833 students secured second division, and 911 students secured third division. This year HS examinations were held from March 15 to April 12. Around 2.15 lakh students appeared in the Higher Secondary Final Examination 2022 at 796 examination centres across the state in Arts, Science, and Commerce streams. Last year, the pass percentage in HS Science was 99.06 per cent, in Arts it was 98.93 per cent and in Commerce, it was 99.57 per cent. Earlier this month, the Board of Secondary Education Assam had announced Class 10 examination results. (ANI) Gupta said that he boycotted the programme as the poster of the state's CM Hemant Soren was missing from the event. While talking to ANI in Ranchi, Gupta said, "We went to the health camp in Khunti, it was a mega camp which was held by the Centre. There's a federal structure in the country but they didn't even put up a picture of the state's CM, it's politics, that's why I boycotted the programme." Union Tribal Affairs Minister Arjun Munda was the chief guest of the event. Governor Ramesh Bais had also attended the programme. (ANI) Three days ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, the Border Security Force (BSF) shot dead a Pakistani intruder near the international border in Jammu and Kashmir on Monday morning. In a statement, BSF informed that at about 12.10 am alert BSF troops noticed suspicious movement across the fence in the general area of BOP Baquarpur. "Our domination party in night noticed a person coming from Pakistan side aggressively towards the fence with an intention to cross the fence. BSF party challenged him to stop but he paid no attention to it and continued his movement towards the fence" the statement reads. It further reads that left with no option, BSF troops fired three rounds on the intruder due to which he fell down immediately ahead of fencing. Early morning BSF search party checked the area and found the dead body of a Pakistani intruder very close to the fence. Nothing recovered from him. The body is being handed over to Police for further disposal, it reads. Meanwhile, Doda Police along with security forces arrested a terrorist on Monday. The arrested terrorist has been identified as Fareed Ahmed, a resident of Koti Doda. The police have recovered one Chinese pistol, two Magazines, 14 live cartridges, and one mobile phone from his possession. As an increased security measure before the Amarnath yatra, a Police Party of PS Doda laid a Naka on the outskirts of Doda Town and intercepted a young man carrying arms and ammunition, said police. "The accused was taken into custody and a special team started an investigation into the matter it has come to the fore that Fareed Ahmad received arms and ammunition from one suspect in March and he was tasked to attack police personnel in Doda. However, due to timely and swift action Doda Police foiled this nefarious plot," added police. A case FIR under relevant sections of law has been registered in Police Station Doda and an investigation has been taken up. Initial investigation revealed that Fareed is highly radicalized and used to receive calls from terror commanders based across the border and was motivated to work for terror outfits in Kashmir valley and the Doda region. Further investigation into the matter is in progress, informed police. The Yatra will begin from June 30, which was earlier scheduled for June 29. (ANI) Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, rebel Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde has called a meeting of MLAs camping with him at a hotel in Assam's Guwahati on Monday at 2 pm, said sources. The meeting is called amid a Supreme Court hearing against the disqualification notices issued by Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal against rebel MLAs. The rebel leader also challenged the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as the Shiv Sena's legislative leader in the House in place of Shinde. The petitioner, Shinde has sought to issue direction to Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition under Rule 6 of MLA Defection Rules seeking disqualification of the rebel MLAs and also not to take any action on the same until the resolution for removal of the Deputy Speaker is decided. The Deputy Speaker, who is in charge of the House in the absence of the Speaker and has issued the notice dated June 25, 2022, in the disqualification petition against the petitioner. Earlier, Shide spoke to Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray about the recent political situation in the state. He spoke to Raj Thackeray over the phone twice and also enquired about his health. Shinde, who is currently camping in Assam along with other MLAs, on Sunday lashed out at the party for allegedly supporting the culprits of the Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for the taking lives of innocent people. "How can Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sena support people who had a direct connection with culprits of Mumbai bomb blast, Dawood Ibrahim and those responsible for taking lives of innocent people of Mumbai. That's why we took such a step, it's better to die," Shinde said in a tweet. However, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray claimed that on May 20, CM Uddhav Thackeray had asked Eknath Shinde to become CM if he wanted to, but at that time he did drama and now just a month later, he rebelled. Notably, former minister and Shiv Sena MLA Deepak Kesarkar, who is now in the Eknath Shinde camp, had said that the MLAs of the Shinde camp are ready to face the floor test in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly at any time, but first recognition should be given to Eknath Shinde faction. Interestingly, the Shinde faction named their group 'Shiv Sena Balasaheb'. The naming of the group after the name of the Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray attracted sharp reactions from the Uddhav faction as the Chief Minister said that those who left the party should not seek votes in the name of the party founder. (ANI) Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance has lost the majority in the house as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the house, said Maharashtra Minister Eknath Shinde in his petition filed in Supreme court. Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra triggered by a rebellion by a large section of Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently camping in Assam, Eknath Shinde has approached the Supreme Court against the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker against rebel MLAs. Two petitions have been filed, one by Shinde and the other by rebel MLAs, challenging the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker and the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party. The Supreme Court on Monday will hear the plea of Maharashtra Shiv Sena MLA and minister Eknath Shinde against the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker Narhari Zirwal against him and 15 other rebel legislators. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala will hear the cases which are listed as items number 34 and 35. The matters are likely to come up for hearing around 12.30 pm. They called the action to issue disqualification notices to them on June 21 as "illegal and unconstitutional" and sought a stay on it. They sought directions to the Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition against them. The Shinde camp claimed the move was illegal since disqualification can happen only for matters in the assembly and not for skipping a party meeting. The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp. They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families. Shinde, along with a sizable number of Shiv Sena MLAs is camping in a hotel in Assam's capital Guwahati as they rebelled against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government ruling Maharashtra. Shinde in his plea stated that the Deputy Speaker has lost his position as the MVA government has been reduced to a minority and in such a situation, he has no authority to invoke provisions of the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986, and send notices to him and 15 other MLAs, which form part of the breakaway group of 38 Sena legislators. Shinde in his petition said, "It is common knowledge that the current government in Maharashtra, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, has lost the majority in the House as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the House. However, the MVA government continues to misuse the office of the deputy speaker to ensure that they remain in power by whatever means." The plea said that the disqualification notices are classic examples of the Deputy Speaker acting hand-in-glove with the MVA government in an attempt to hastily disqualify Shinde along with his supporters, bypassing all cannons of law. Maharashtra has no Speaker since Nana Patole resigned in February 2021 to take over as Congress chief. Deputy Speaker Zirwal belongs to NCP. The 15 petitioners are - Bharat Gogawale, Prakash R Surve, Tanhaji Jaywant Savant, Mahesh S Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeepan A Bhumre, Sanjay P Sirhsat, Yamini Y Jadhav, Anil K Babar, Latabai C Sonawane, Ramesh N Bornare, Sanjay B Raimulkar, Chimanrao R Patil, Balaji D Kalyankar and Balaji P Kinilkar. (ANI) Soon after he received summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged there was a conspiracy to stop him from fighting a big battle and said that even if he is beheaded, he "will not take the Guwahati route." According to official sources, the ED has summoned the Shiv Sena leader for questioning, on Tuesday, in a money laundering case. The move comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra in which rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are camping in Guwahati. Raut further said that Balasaheb's Shivsainiks were fighting a big battle. "I just came to know that ED has summoned me. Good! There are big political developments in Maharashtra. We, Balasaheb's Shivsainiks are fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to stop me. Even if you behead me, I won't take the Guwahati route. Arrest me!" tweeted Sanjay Raut Raut has been asked to appear before the ED investigators at its regional office in Mumbai at 11 am tomorrow, said an official privy to the development. The summons has been issued in connection with the re-development of Mumbai's Patra Chawl. In April this year, the ED had also attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar, in connection with the redevelopment scam. Swapna is the wife of Sujit Patkar, a close associate of the Sena leader. The federal agency said its investigation revealed that around Rs 100 crore was transferred from the real estate company, HDIL, to the account of Pravin Raut, who in turn diverted part of these funds to various accounts of his close associates, family members, and business entities. Praveen Raut has been a director in an infrastructure company called Guruashish Constructions and is stated to be a subsidiary of the HDIL (Housing Development Infrastructure Limited), an accused in the case. Pravin Raut was arrested in the past by the Maharashtra police's economic offences wing. The ED's summon to Raut, who is considered to be a confidant of Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, comes amidst mounting trouble for the party in the wake of internal rebellion. The federal agency has also been probing Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case against Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut who was questioned last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the central probe agency. The agency is probing her role in the alleged bank loan scam with regard to the transfer of Rs 55 lakh funds by the wife of an accused in the case, Pravin Raut, apart from some other transactions. Last year, the ED had also attached Pravin Raut's assets worth Rs 72 crore in this case and has questioned him and his wife Madhuri Raut. The agency had alleged that Pravin Raut had "siphoned off "Rs 95 crore worth funds from the scam-hit bank in the garb of loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Raut who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Varsha Raut, wife of Sanjay Raut, as "interest-free loan." (ANI) Malayalam actor-producer Vijay Babu was on Monday arrested in connection with an alleged sexual assault case. He was arrested when he appeared before Ernakulam Town South Police Station for questioning. He is expected to be released on station bail very soon because he has been granted anticipatory bail by the Kerala High Court. Before releasing him, police will collect the evidence from the place of the alleged crime happened. Earlier in the day, Vijay Babu appeared before the probe officials in the Ernakulam Town South Police Station at 9.00 am. He appeared for the interrogation as per the direction of the High Court. The court had directed Vijay Babu to cooperate with the investigation and to refrain from tampering with the probe. It also directed him to not interact through or with any social or other media. There are two cases registered against him. One is the sexual assault case and the other one is for disclosing the identity of the complainant through social media. The complainant alleged that she had been sexually assaulted by Vijay Babu in a flat in Kochi. The offence was repeated by the accused more than once, she said in the complaint. The complaint said Babu committed the offence on the pretext of offering roles in movies to the woman. The actor said that he will stay away from the Executive Committee of the organization till he is proven innocent in the sexual assault case to save the association from 'disgrace'. Meanwhile, the Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes (AMMA) on Sunday said that any action against actor-producer Vijay Babu will be taken "as per the judgment of the court". Following the accusations, Vijay stepped down from the executive committee of the AMMA in May. AMMA president Mohanlal, its general secretary Edavela Babu, and its treasurer Siddique were among those who addressed a press conference. "This is a matter for the court to consider. Action will be taken if necessary as per the judgment of the court. We are waiting for the verdict of the court to come. Everyone is waiting for the verdict. He is a member of eight or nine clubs in Kochi. He has not yet been expelled from those clubs. AMMA is actually a club. AMMA will act in accordance with the court order," said Edavela Babu, General Secretary of AMMA at the press conference. Siddique said that the executive committee of AMMA has decided not to take any action against Vijay until the court decides. (ANI) With just three days left for the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra 2022, the installation of tents in the Baltal base camp for pilgrims nears an end. The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims leaves Bhagwati Nagar-base camp in Jammu. Yatra will begin on June 30, earlier it was scheduled for June 29. "Baltal holds about 1,200 tents already. Numbers are now being increased by 500 with help of the army, district administration & shrine board. Each of these tents can house 10 people. This generates a lot of employment opportunities for locals," said Camp Director NS Jamwal. Hundreds of tents are almost ready for the upcoming Amarnath yatra which will begin on Thursday after a gap of two years. About three lakh pilgrims are likely to take part in the pilgrimage to the cave shrine located in the upper reaches of south Kashmir. The Jammu and Kashmir government had cancelled the annual Amarnath pilgrimage due to the prevailing COVID-19 situation in 2020 and 2021. For the first time, the Amarnath Yatra was cancelled in 2019 a few days ahead of the revocation of Article 370, and 35A was withdrawn from Jammu and Kashmir and all travellers were asked to return as soon as possible. But this year everything is under control and the government fully gears up and makes all arrangements including tent facilities for pilgrims. It's a decades-old tradition that local people always provide tent facilities for pilgrims. Amarnath yatra is no less than a Mahotsav, as it gives business to the local people of the Kashmir valley. Because of the yatra, hundreds of people including pony man, shopkeepers and tenting agencies are earning their livelihood. "Kashmir is known for its hospitality and that's why for decades, instead of the government, locals are arranging stays for pilgrims," said a Baltal base camp director. The Amarnath shrine pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas. (ANI) Thiruvananthapuram cantonment police have registered a case against Swapna on Jaleel's complaint on June 8 this year seeking a probe into the charges made by Swapna Suresh against him in the Gold Smuggling Case and alleged that she conspired and made defaming statements against him. The police registered the case under Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with an intent to cause riot) and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) against her. Earlier on Thursday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) interrogated Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the Kerala Gold Smuggling Case for almost five and a half hours. On Wednesday, the federal agency also interrogated Suresh for five and a half hours. So, 11 hours has completed for interrogation on these two consecutive days. ED interrogated her with respect to her 164 statement at the court and allegations against Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan and his family became controversial. Suresh had revealed that she has declared in court the involvement of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, his wife, and daughter in the matter. 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. (ANI) The apprehended persons were identified as Nayan Kuri and Bidhan Kuri. According to the Karimganj district police, based on a tip-off, Karimganj police launched an operation in the Lakhicharan area near Karimganj town on Sunday night and apprehended two drug peddlers. "After receiving information about two drug peddlers, we sent our two people to buy drugs from them and caught the drug peddlers. We had recovered 10 soap cases containing 125 grams of heroin and Yaba tablets in possession from them. The market value of the seized drugs is estimated at around Rs 50 lakh," Partha Pratim Das, Additional Superintendent of Police of Karimganj district said. Meanwhile, a huge quantity of drugs, including 37 packets of Spasmo Plus tablets, and Tramadol tablets, were recovered in Assam's Nagaon. Based on a tip-off, police conducted a raid on the intervening night of 26-27 June. Accused persons have been apprehended, said police. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday questioned Bollywood actress Jacqueline Fernandez in connection with a money laundering case that involved jailed conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, sources informed. Fernandez appeared before the ED headquarters, following the summons of a federal agency to record her statement in the case. The move came nearly two months after the ED attached assets worth Rs 7.27 crore of Fernandez in April end in the case registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Investigation with regards to the tracing of proceeds of crime is currently being progressed, as Fernandez has been questioned in the case earlier too. ED is looking at various people who are directly or indirectly connected to this case. Reports suggest that the ED is looking into the possibility that money was invested abroad and it was led by conman Chandrasekhar, who is accused in 21 cases. This ED case is based on an FIR filed by the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing (EOW) against Chandrasekhar, who was contacting people by spoofing calls to dupe them as the numbers reflecting on their phones seemed to be from government officers and he claimed to be a government officer offering help people for a price. Adopting this modus operandi, ED has said, Chandrasekhar contacted Aditi Singh, wife of the former promoter of Religare Enterprises Shivinder Mohan Singh, by impersonating himself as Union Home Secretary, Union Law Secretary, the officer from the Prime Minister's Office and junior officials and extorted more than Rs 200 crore from her over a period of one year on the pretext of contribution to party funds. Shivinder Mohan Singh was arrested in October 2019 in a case related to the alleged misappropriation of funds at Religare Finvest Ltd. Chandrashekhar and his associates reportedly took money from Aditi after posing as government officials and promising to get bail for her husband. Chandrashekhar reportedly persuaded Aditi to transfer money by impersonating a central government official over a spoof call while he was lodged in Rohini jail and promised to manage bail for her husband. Both Chandrashekhar and his actor wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested by the Delhi Police in September 2021 for their alleged role in a duping case. ED investigation has also revealed that Chandrasekhar was running his illegal extortion business from Central Jail, Delhi in connivance with the Jail officials. Earlier, the ED had seized Chandrasekhar's sea-facing bungalow in Chennai, 26 cars, Indian currency, and valuables worth Rs 45 crore during various raids in the case. In this case, Chandrasekhar and eight other persons including his wife Leena Maria Paul were arrested under the PMLA. Subsequently, the prosecution's complaint was filed before a special court against all the nine accused. During the investigation, it was revealed that Chandrasekhar had given various gifts worth Rs 5.71 crore to Fernandez from the proceeds of crime generated by criminal activities including extortion. Chandrasekhar had put Pinky Irani, his long-time associate and co-accused in this case to deliver these gifts to Fernandez. The ED said, in addition to these gifts Chandrasekhar had also given funds to the tune of US Dollar 1,72,913 and 26,740 Australian dollars to the close family members of Fernandez out of the proceeds of crime through co-accused Avtar Singh Kochhar, an established and well-known international hawala operator. Chandrasekhar had also delivered cash to the tune of Rs 15 lakhs to a scriptwriter on behalf of Fernandez as an advance for writing a script for her web series project. This cash amount has also been attached by the ED. Another actress, Nora Fatehi was also questioned by the ED in connection with the same case. (ANI) Seetalvad and Sreekumar were granted remand in a case registered against them on charges of forgery and criminal conspiracy, among others. Earlier on Sunday, the Gujarat government decided to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the state's Anti-Terrorism Squad DIG Deepan Bhadran to investigate the role of Setalvad, Sreekumar and former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots. An FIR was lodged against Setalvad, Sreekumar and former IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt for giving false testimonies in connection with the 2002 Gujarat riots, a top police official said. The six-member SIT will include DCP (Crime) Chaitanya Mandlik, ATS SP Sunil Joshi, Deputy SP (Special Operations Group) BC Solanki, who will be the investigating officer, and a woman police inspector, among others, the official said on conditions of anonymity. The Gujarat Police Crime Branch on Sunday arrested Teesta Setalvad in connection with a case against her NGO which gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police. The action came after Union Minister Amit Shah in an interview with ANI said that Teesta Setalvad-run NGO gave baseless information about the 2002 Gujarat riots to the police. On Saturday, Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) team detained Setalvad from Mumbai in connection with a case on her NGO and later in the night she was taken to Ahmedabad. The Gujarat ATS team took Teesta Setalvad to the Santacruz police station. The Supreme Court had on Friday, dismissed as "devoid of merit" an appeal by Zakia Jafri in a plea challenging SIT's clean chit to the then chief minister of Gujarat, Narendra Modi and others in cases related to the riots. Zakia Jafri is the widow of former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who was killed in the riots. (ANI) Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Monday refused to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday for questioning in a money laundering case in connection with the re-development of Mumbai's Patra Chawl case and said that he would "seek time". He said that he prefers to stay with the party in the time of crisis and will seek time from Enforcement Directorate. "I knew ED is going to summon me, I won't kneel down. No matter what the rebel MLAs do, I will not go to Guwahati. I am Balasaheb's Shiv Sainik and I will stay with my party. I will not appear before the ED tomorrow. I will seek time from ED, but will definitely go after some time," Raut said addressing the media persons. Soon after he received a summons from the Enforcement Directorate, Sanjay Raut on Monday alleged there was a conspiracy to stop him from fighting a big battle and said that even if he is beheaded, he "will not take the Guwahati route." According to official sources, the ED had summoned the Shiv Sena leader for questioning, on Tuesday, in a money laundering case. The move comes amid the ongoing political crisis in Maharashtra in which rebel Shiv Sena MLAs led by Eknath Shinde are camping in Guwahati. Raut further said that Balasaheb's Shivsainiks was fighting a big battle. The official sources also informed that the Raut has been summoned by ED for questioning in a money laundering case in connection with the re-development of Mumbai's Patra Chawl case. Raut has been asked to appear before the ED investigators at its regional office in Mumbai at 11 AM, an official privy to the development said. In April this year, the ED had also attached immovable properties worth Rs 11.15 crore, including a flat at Dadar, held by Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha and eight land parcels at Kihim near Alibag, jointly held by the latter with Swapna Patkar, in connection with the redevelopment scam. Swapna is the wife of Sujit Patkar, who is a close associate of the Sena leader. The federal agency said its investigation revealed that around Rs 100 crore was transferred from the real estate company, Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), to the account of Pravin Raut, who in turn diverted part of these funds to various accounts of his close associates, family members, and business entities. Pravin Raut has been a director in an infrastructure company called Guruashish Constructions and is stated to be a subsidiary of the Housing Development Infrastructure Limited (HDIL), an accused in the case. Pravin Raut was arrested in the past by the Maharashtra police's economic offences wing. The ED's summon to Raut, who is considered to be a confidant of Shiv Sena chief and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, comes amidst mounting trouble for the party in the wake of internal rebellion. The federal agency has also been probing a Rs 4,300 crore PMC Bank money laundering case against Sanjay Raut's wife Varsha Raut, who was questioned last year under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) by the central probe agency. The agency is probing her role in the alleged bank loan scam with regard to the transfer of Rs 55 lakh funds by the wife of an accused in the case, Pravin Raut, apart from some other transactions. Last year, the ED had also attached Pravin Raut's assets worth Rs 72 crore in this case and had questioned him and his wife Madhuri Raut. The agency had alleged that Pravin Raut had "siphoned off" funds worth Rs 95 crore from the scam-hit bank in the garb of the loan, out of which he paid Rs 1.6 crore to his wife Madhuri Raut who subsequently transferred Rs 55 lakh in two tranches to Sanjay Raut's wife as "interest-free loan." (ANI) The Supreme Court on Monday granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by today, 5.30 pm. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, in its order, said, "As an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker, to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions today by 5.30 pm, stands extended till July 12. The petitioners or other MLAs are at liberty to submit their reply without prejudice to their rights in the writ petition." The top court has now posted the matter for hearing on July 11. The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days. On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. Maharashtra government's standing counsel also questioned the MLAs why they have not approached the Bombay High Court with the pleas. To this, Kaul responded that in any number of cases like floor test, or disqualification, the Supreme Court had passed the order and also "a minority of the legislative party" is subverting the state machinery, attacking MLAs' houses. They are saying that our dead bodies will be returned from Assam, the atmosphere is not conducive for us to exercise our rights in Mumbai, Kaul added. Threats have been given to these MLAs and it was said that bodies of 40 MLAs will arrive back in Mumbai, he added. Kaul further argued that the Deputy Speaker has no authority to deal with the issue till the question of his removal is decided. What is sought to be done in this matter is undue haste, violation of principles of natural justice, he added. The Bench also remarked that the issue before the Court is whether the Deputy Speaker can decide on disqualification petitions against the MLAs when there is a notice by the MLAs seeking the removal of the Deputy Speaker himself. Senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, appearing for the Uddhav Thackeray group, contended that Article 212 of the Constitution bars the court's scrutiny when the Speaker is deciding the issue. All internal management is barred from judicial scrutiny, he said. Two petitions have been filed, one by Shinde and the other by rebel MLAs, challenging the disqualification notice issued by the Deputy Speaker and the appointment of Ajay Chaudhary as leader of the legislative party. They called the action to issue disqualification notices to them on June 25 as "illegal and unconstitutional" and sought a stay on it. They sought directions from the Deputy Speaker to not take any action in the disqualification petition against them. The Shinde camp claimed the move was illegal since disqualification can happen only for matters in the assembly and not for skipping a party meeting. The Eknath Shinde camp has also challenged the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as the Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader by the Thackeray camp. They have also asked the court to direct the Maharashtra government to provide security to their families. Shinde, along with a sizable number of Shiv Sena MLAs are camping in a hotel in Assam's capital Guwahati as they rebelled against Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government ruling Maharashtra. Shinde, in his plea, stated that the Deputy Speaker has lost his position as the MVA government has been reduced to a minority and in such a situation, he has no authority to invoke provisions of the Members of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (Disqualification on Ground of Defection) Rules, 1986, and send notices to him and 15 other MLAs, which form part of the breakaway group of 38 Sena legislators. Shinde in his petition said, "It is common knowledge that the current government in Maharashtra, led by the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance, has lost the majority in the House as 38 of the members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party have withdrawn their support thus bringing it below the majority in the House. However, the MVA government continues to misuse the office of the deputy speaker to ensure that they remain in power by whatever means." The plea said that the disqualification notices are classic examples of the Deputy Speaker acting hand-in-glove with the MVA government in an attempt to hastily disqualify Shinde along with his supporters, bypassing all cannons of law. Maharashtra has had no Speaker since Nana Patole resigned in February 2021 to take over as Congress chief. Deputy Speaker Zirwal belongs to the NCP. The 15 petitioners are - Bharat Gogawale, Prakash R Surve, Tanhaji Jaywant Savant, Mahesh S Shinde, Abdul Sattar, Sandeepan A Bhumre, Sanjay P Sirhsat, Yamini Y Jadhav, Anil K Babar, Latabai C Sonawane, Ramesh N Bornare, Sanjay B Raimulkar, Chimanrao R Patil, Balaji D Kalyankar and Balaji P Kinilkar. The plea said on June 21, 2022, the majority members of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party held a meeting and a resolution was passed appointing Bharat Gogavale as the Chief Whip of the Shiv Sena Legislature Party and also reaffirmed the Shinde as the 'Gatneta'/Leader of the Legislature Party. Shinde said, "Sunil Prabhu, claiming to be the chief whip, no longer holds the said post and therefore (the deputy speaker) has no legal authority to maintain the said petition under the 10th Schedule of the Constitution of India." (ANI) Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Trubji area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam, informed the officials on Monday. "#KulgamEncounterUpdate: 01 more #terrorist killed (Total 02). #Operation going on. Further details shall follow. @JmuKmrPolice," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. An encounter broke out in the Nowpora-Kherpora, Trubji area in Jammu and Kashmir's Kulgam on Monday, the police said. Further details are awaited. Earlier in the day, Jammu and Kashmir's Doda Police along with security forces arrested a terrorist and recovered one Chinese pistol, two magazines, 14 live cartridges and one mobile phone from his possession. The terrorist has been identified as Fareed Ahmad, a resident of Koti Doda, said the police. As an increased security measure before the Amarnath yatra, a police party of Doda police station laid a Naka on the outskirts of Doda Town and intercepted a young man carrying arms and ammunition. he Jammu and Kashmir Police on June 23 said that a total of 118 terrorists have been killed in the Kashmir Valley this year. Out of these, as many as 32 foreign terrorists have been gunned down, police said. "So far, 118 terrorists including 32 foreign terrorists killed in Kashmir in the current year. Last year in 2021 total of 55 terrorists including 2 foreign terrorists were killed in the same period. Out of 118, 77 terrorists are from Pak sponsored LeT and 26 from JeM outfit," Kashmir Zone Police tweeted. Earlier on Monday, the security forces killed one unidentified terrorist in another encounter in the Tulibal area of Sopore town in J-K's Baramulla district. Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kashmir Vijay Kumar had 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 Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terrorists from Pakistan were killed yesterday itself. Another Pakistani terrorist was gunned down early morning today (Monday). A local terrorist from Shopian, Showkat was gunned down along with him," IGP Kashmir told ANI.(ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party has asked its leaders to conduct a 'Sampark Abhiyan' ahead of the BJP national executive meeting in Hyderabad on July 2 and 3. The saffron party has asked its leaders to spend 48 hours across all the 119 constituencies and then come straight to the national executive meeting on July 2, sources said today. All 119 members of the BJP national executive will be deputed to go to one of these assembly constituencies. The whole idea of this exercise is to get ground feedback and be acquainted with the local unit as well as understand the dynamics of the local area, sources said. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh has sent a letter for the same to all the members of the executive asking them to reach their respective constituencies at 10 AM on June 30. This comes at a time when Telangana will go for polls at the end of 2023 and the BJP sees a huge prospect to bring about a change from the ruling TRS government. Recent success in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation elections as well as the recent interaction of the corporators with Prime Minister Narendra Modi is said to be a huge turning point for the saffron party which is looking to make inroads in the Southern part of the country. The BJP's national executive meet will be a two-day affair on July 2-3 with Prime Minister Narendra Modi also being in attendance. A huge roadshow is being planned to welcome the Prime Minister from the airport to the national executive venue and a public rally by the Prime Minister is also being planned on July 3. (ANI) A special CBI court on Monday extended the judicial custody of Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain for the next 14 days in a money laundering case. Jain was produced from the hospital through video conference (VC). His counsel also joined proceedings through VC. Vacation Judge Neelofar Abida Perveen extended the judicial custody of Satyender Jain after hearing the submission of Enforcement Directorate (ED). Court directed that the accused will be produced on 11 July. Earlier in the day the accused was not produced in the court. The court had asked why he is not produced. Judicial custody can't be extended without the accused being produced. The investigation officer had informed the court that the accused was in judicial custody and was hospitalised. Thereafter the court has asked to produce through VC. Advocate Zohaib Husain and NK Matta for ED argued that the accused should be remanded further judicial custody as the investigation is still on. They argued that during the searches on two occasions on June 8 and 17 at different premises, several incriminating pieces of evidence were recovered. The evidence was being analysed and to be confronted with the people connected with the offence of money laundering. "We are in the process of filing of ED complaint (charge sheet)," they said. ED's counsel also argued that Jain's bail has been rejected by the court. He referred to the order rejecting bail application. The Court on June 18 had dismissed the bail plea of Satyendar Jain in money laundering case noting the seriousness of the allegation and investigation of the case is still going on. The Court also observed that it cannot be ruled out that the accused can influence the witnesses. Satyendar Jain was arrested on May 30, 2022, by Enforcement Directorate (ED). He was sent in judicial custody on 13 June, 2022 after ED interrogation. Special CBI Judge Geetanjali Goel of Rouse Avenue Court while dismissing the bail application, had said, " Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and the nature of allegation against the accused and that the application for bail does not pass muster even on the triple test for grant of bail at this stage, the application is dismissed being without merits." ED had registered the ECIR on 30 August 2017 on the basis of a case registered by the CBI on 24 August 2017 under Sections of Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code, against Satyendar Jain, his wife, and 4 other accused persons. CBI had alleged that the accused while posted as Minister in Delhi government during the period 14 February 2015 to 31 May 2017, acquired assets to the tune of Rs. 1,62,50,294 in his name and in the names of his family members, which were disproportionate to his known source of income. It was further alleged the accused's wife and other accused persons, who were his business associates, had abetted the above offence. It was also alleged that the accused had active control over three companies namely, M/s. Akinchan Developers Pvt. Ltd., M/s Paryas Infosolutions Pvt. Ltd. and M/s Manglaytan Projects Pvt. Ltd. and the said three companies received accommodation entries from Kolkata-based shell companies. It was alleged that though the accused resigned as Director in the companies in 2013, still he maintained active control on the said companies. It was further alleged that during the check period February 2015 to May 2017 an amount of Rs. 4.61 crores was received from shell companies and 1/3 of the same belonged to the accused and hence a disproportionate asset (DA) of Rs. 14760497 was alleged. (ANI) Opposition Presidential election candidate Yashwant Sinha on Monday thanked the parties for choosing him as their candidate for the polls which he called a big battle. "I'm thankful to all the opposition parties who came together and chose me as their candidate. It's being said that I am the fourth choice but I want to say even if I was at the tenth number, I would have accepted because it is a big battle," Sinha told reporters. Meanwhile, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, "All opposition parties unitedly supported Yashwant Sinha. Of course, we support the individual but the real fight is between two ideologies. RSS's ideology of anger and hatred is on one side, while the ideology of compassion of the other parties (Opposition) is on the other side." "Over 17 parties are backing us. In order to save Indian democracy, and to defend our Constitution, we must all be united in our fight against BJP. We are all rooting for Yashwant Sinha," said Congress' Mallikarjun Kharge said. Notably, Sinha filed his nomination for the presidential election at the Parliament in the national capital, in the presence of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference chief Farooq Abdullah, Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader and Telangana Minister K. T. Rama Rao, Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge. The election for the office of the President of India is scheduled for July 18 and the counting of votes, if needed, will be done on July 21. TRS on Monday announced support for joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the upcoming Presidential polls. Taking to Twitter, KTR had written, "President of @trspartyonline Sri KCR Garu has decided to extend support to the candidature of Sri @YashwantSinha Ji in the election for President of India Along with our Members of Parliament, I will be representing the TRS at the nomination today." Earlier on Friday, Sinha promised to raise his voice for farmers, workers, unemployed youth, women, and all marginalized sections of society, if he wins the election. In a letter to Opposition parties on Friday, Sinha thanked them for choosing him unanimously as their common presidential candidate and assured them that he will conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Constitution. "I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude towards you and leaders of all the Opposition parties for choosing me unanimously as your common candidate to contest the Presidential Election, to be held on July 18, 2022. I thank you for the trust and confidence reposed in me. I assure you -- and the People of India --- that, if elected, I shall conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Indian Constitution. In particular, as the Custodian of the Constitution, I shall not allow the light of democracy and secularism to be dimmed by the executive," Sinha said in a letter. Sinha was named as the common candidate of the Opposition for the Presidential elections on June 21. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had made the announcement of his name as the presidential candidate of the opposition during a meeting. The announcement came shortly after Sinha hinted at the acceptance of the proposal by a section of Opposition leaders to make him their presidential candidate. Sinha had quit the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2018 and joined the TMC last year. He was later appointed as the party's vice-president. However, NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu filed her nomination for the election on June 24. (ANI) The Union Ministry of Education on Monday released the Performance Grading Index for Districts (PGI-D) in the country for the sessions 2018-19 and 2019-20, which assessed the performance of school education system at the district level by creating an index for comprehensive analysis. In an official statement, the Department of School Education and Literacy (DoSE&L) said, "The Indian Education System is one of the largest in the world with about 15 lakh schools, 97 lakh teachers, and nearly 26 crore students from varied socio-economic backgrounds." DoSE&L had devised the Performance Grading Index (PGI) for States and released its report for the reference years 2017-18 to 2019-20. Based on the success of the State PGI, an 83-indicator-based PGI for District (PGI-D) was designed to grade the performance of all the districts in school education. "The data is filled by the districts through the online portal. The PGI-D is expected to help the state education departments to identify gaps at the district level and improve their performance in a decentralized manner. The indicator-wise PGI score shows the areas where a district needs to improve. The PGI-D will reflect the relative performance of all the districts in a uniform scale which encourages them to perform better," said the Ministry. It further stated that the PGI-D structure comprised a total weightage of 600 points across 83 indicators, which were grouped under six categories-- Outcomes, Effective Classroom Transaction, Infrastructure Facilities and Student's Entitlements, School Safety and Child Protection, Digital Learning, and Governance Process. "These categories are further divided into 12 domains, viz., Learning Outcomes and Quality (LO), Access Outcomes (AO), Teacher Availability and Professional Development Outcomes (TAPDO), Learning Management (LM), Learning Enrichment Activities (LEA), Infrastructure, Facilities, Student Entitlements (IF&SE), School Safety and Child Protection (SS&CP), Digital Learning (DL), Funds convergence and utilization (FCV), Enhancing CRCs Performance (CRCP), Attendance Monitoring Systems (AMS) and School Leadership Development (SLD)," it read. The ministry said, "PGI-D has graded the districts into ten grades viz., Highest achievable Grade is Daksh, which is for the districts scoring more than 90 per cent of the total points in that category or overall. The lowest grade in PGI-D is called Akanshi-3 which is for scores upto 10 per cent of the total points." The PGI-D 2020-21 is currently under compilation as the PGI-D 2018-19 and 2019-20 have provided insight into the intra-State comparison of the progress of School education. (ANI) Targeting the Centre, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said the government is giving airports to private parties for 50 years, but recruiting Agniveers on four-year contract. Gandhi alleged that PM Modi was making his friends a 'Daulatveer.' His remarks came after six airports were leased out to a private organisation by the centre. "The Prime Minister is making 'Daulatveer' by giving the country's airport to his 'friends' for 50 years and 'Agniveer' to the youth on a contract of only 4 years," tweeted Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi had earlier asserted that the government will have to withdraw the Agnipath recruitment scheme and the Congress party is with the youth in the agitation to save the future of the country. He said the Congress party across the country would be observing Satyagraha. "Today Congress party across the country is doing #SatyagrahaForYouth against 'Agneepath'. This Satyagraha will not stop until the youth get justice," he added. Earlier in a tweet, Gandhi alleged that China's forces are sitting on Indian land and said the defence forces should be strengthened. He attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Agnipath scheme which allows youth to serve in the armed forces for a period of four years. "China's forces are sitting on Indian land and the real patriotism is in strengthening the armed forces but you are it with new deception. In this struggle to save the future of the country, we are with the youth. I am saying again, you will have to take back Agnipath," he said. Congress held a 'Satyagraha' at Jantar Mantar in the national capital on Monday to protest against Agnipath scheme and ED summoning Rahul Gandhi in the National Herald case. A Congress delegation had met President Ram Nath Kovind on June 20 and submitted a memorandum which 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) After the Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha filed his nomination at the Parliament in Delhi on Monday, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday appealed all opposition parties to be united in the fight against BJP. "Over 17 parties are backing us. In order to save the Indian democracy, and to defend our Constitution, we must all be united in our fight against BJP. We are all rooting for Yashwant Sinha," said Kharge. Numerous opposition leaders including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah etc were present while Sinha filed for the nomination. In a letter to Opposition parties on Friday, Sinha thanked them for choosing him unanimously as their common presidential candidate and assured them that he will conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Constitution. "I am overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude towards you and leaders of all the Opposition parties for choosing me unanimously as your common candidate to contest the Presidential Election, to be held on July 18, 2022. I thank you for the trust and confidence they have reposed in me. I assure you -- and the People of India --- that, if elected, I shall conscientiously uphold, without fear or favour, the basic values and guiding ideals of the Indian Constitution. In particular, as the Custodian of the Constitution, I shall not allow the light of democracy and secularism to be dimmed by the executive," Sinha said in a letter. On June 21, Sinha was named as the common candidate of the Opposition for the Presidential elections. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh had made the announcement of his name as the presidential candidate of the opposition during a meeting. The announcement comes shortly after Sinha hinted that he has accepted the proposal made by a section of Opposition leaders to make him their presidential candidate.Sinha, who had quit the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2018, joined the TMC last year. He was later appointed as the party's vice-president. TRS on Monday also announced support for joint Opposition candidate Yashwant Sinha in the upcoming Presidential polls. Taking to Twitter, KTR wrote, "President of @trspartyonline Sri KCR Garu has decided to extend support to the candidature of Sri @YashwantSinha Ji in the election for President of India Along with our Members of Parliament, I will be representing the TRS at the nomination today."Earlier on Friday, Sinha promises to raise his voice for farmers, workers, unemployed youth, women, and all marginalized sections of society if he wins the election. NDA presidential candidate Draupadi Murmu filed her nomination for the election on June 24. The election for the office of the President of India is scheduled for July 18 and the counting of votes, if needed, will be done on July 21. (ANI) Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president and Congress MP A Revanth Reddy strongly criticised the Central government over the Agnipath military recruitment scheme and demanded its immediate rollback. Addressing a press conference at Gandhi Bhavan here on Sunday, Revanth Reddy said, "In the Agnipath system, Army jawans with four years of service will be discharged from the service and how they will survive. The scheme will create new problems for India's national security without solving its existing ones. Safety of India is under threat." Using derogatory remarks against BJP legislators for passing bills callously without looking at them, Reddy said, "You (BJP) have donkeys over 300 in Lok Sabha and you will keep them to pass the bills with a closed eye. You have to roll back this scheme (Agnipath) and we will make to bow you down. You should apologise to the people. You can't run anywhere." "I would like to remind PM Narendra Modi when you brought Kaala Kanoon (black bill). These 300 donkeys were in support of you. Lakhs of farmers agitated for 16 months and they didn't let you go forward. Remember that!," he said. The Congress MP said the Modi government is attempting to mislead the nation's youth by changing the recruitment policies for all three branches of the armed forces and by restricting enlistment to four years. 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 in June 2022, 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) Referring to the NDA presidential candidate Droupadi Murmu, Opposition's presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha said that the elevation of one person from a community will not ensure lifting the entire community. Hours after Yashwant Sinha filed his nomination papers for the Presidential election, he pointed out stark differences between the BJP candidate and his candidature while assuring that the numbers game is a developing situation and this may change on July 18. As far as crossing the majority mark in the Presidential election, slated to be held on July 18, is concerned, he said that the situation is developing. In an exclusive conversation with ANI, Sinha said, "You don't go to a fight thinking that you will always emerge victorious. You go into the fight because you believe in the fight itself. So for me, the fight is more important. I would like to tell you that as far as the numbers are concerned, it is a developing situation. There will be many changes between today and the 18th of July. Let us not go by the number today. What appears today may not be the situation on July 18." Hoping of Aam Aadmi Party voting for the Opposition's presidential candidate rather than supporting the Bharatiya Janata Party in the presidential polls. He said, "I cannot imagine AAP voting for the BJP. The choice in the selection is stark. I don't belong to any political party. I resigned from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before the Opposition made me its candidate. On the other hand, you have a candidate strongly supporting the BJP. Whosoever is the voter in the situation will have to choose between the BJP on one hand and a person who does not belong to any party." Upon being questioned about whether the BJP is trying to promote a particular community by appointing Droupadi Murmu as the BJP-led NDA's nominee for the election who hails from the tribal community, Sinha said, "My take is very simple. Elevation of one person from the community does not lift the entire community." The BJP-led NDA's nominee Droupadi Murmu on Friday filed her nomination papers for the 18 July presidential election, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi handing over the set of papers to Returning Officer PC Mody. Opposition presidential candidate Yashwant Sinha on Monday filed his nomination papers for the July 18 election. Sinha handed over four sets of nomination papers to Rajya Sabha Secretary-General P.C. Mody, who is the Returning Officer for the presidential election. Sinha was named as the common Opposition candidate for the presidential election on June 21. The elections to select the next President will take place on July 18 and the counting of votes, if needed, on July 21, the Election Commission of India (ECI) announced on June 9. (ANI) The Delhi High Court recently issued notices to the husband and the Delhi Police on a plea moved by a Muslim woman challenging a notice served under Talaq E Hasan. The petitioner has sought a direction to declare the notice void as it is Unilateral Extra-Judicial Talaq, arbitrary, irrational and contrary to Article 14, 15, 21, 25 and UN Conventions on Human Civil Rights. The vacation bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma on June 22, 2022, issued notice on the petition moved by Razia Naz. The matter has been listed on August 18, 2022, for further hearing. The petitioner has challenged the notice of June 2, 2022, served by her husband Shahenshah Alam Khan. The petition stated that the petitioner was married to Shahenshah Alam Khan, a resident of Panaji, Goa. It is alleged that the petitioner was subjected to physical and mental torture at the matrimonial as well as parental home as the demand for expensive gifts was refused by the petitioner and her family. The petitioner has claimed that her husband avoided any action against him and his familypreferred the route of Talaq-E-Hasan and gave her first notice for the same just to pressurise her to withdraw all legal action against him. The said Talaq-E-Hasan is not only arbitrary, illegal, baseless, abuse of law but also Unilateral Extra-Judicial act and directly infringement of the Articles 14, 15, 21, 25 and UN Convention, the petition stated. It also stated that the petitioner had filed a police complaint and a case under the domestic violence Act against her husband and his family. Thereafter the notice under Talaq E Hasan was served upon the petitioner. (ANI) Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Monday interrogated the prime accused of the Kerala gold smuggling case, Swapna Suresh for five and a half hours and summoned her again tomorrow. Suresh was interrogated for at least 11 hours on two consecutive days in the last week. "I am no one to give the counter (to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan). Let the interrogation get over... they (ED) have a lot of proof with them. There is a questioning tomorrow as well," Suresh said on her way back from the ED, reacting to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan's denial of the allegations. Suresh had accused Vijayan, along with his wife and daughter of their involvement in the matter. She had claimed that the baggage containing currency was sent to Vijayan when he was in Dubai in 2016 on the instructions of Sivasankar. 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. "Way back in 2016, Sivasankar contacted me while the Chief Minister was in Dubai. At that time, I was the secretary at the consulate. Sivasankar told me that the CM had forgotten a bag which should be delivered to Dubai immediately. As per the instruction of the consulate general, the bag was handed over to a diplomat at the consulate. When the bag was brought in by the consulate official, we realised that it contained currency. We have a scanning machine in the consulate. Then we have to scan whatever parcel arrives there. That's how it all started," she had said. Meanwhile, in her address to the mediapersons on Monday, the prime accused of the gold smuggling scam said, "Crime Branch has summoned me today based on the complaint of KT Jaleel and based on the statements of dignified personalities like Saritha S Nair. But I will not be able to go today because ED is questioning me today as well. I am going to ED now. Once they finish their interrogation, after that I will go to Crime Branch. I have already informed the Superintendent of Police and the concerned authorities." Thiruvananthapuram cantonment police have registered a case against Swapna on Jaleel's complaint on June 8 this year seeking a probe into the charges made by Swapna Suresh against him in the gold smuggling case and alleged that she conspired and made defaming statements against him. The police registered the case under Section 153 (wantonly giving provocation with an intent to cause riot) and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) against her. ED interrogated her with respect to her 164 statements at the court and allegations against Vijayan and his family became controversial. An affidavit submitted by Swapna Suresh alleged that 17 tonnes of dates imported to Kerala from UAE 'went missing' with 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, 2020. 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. 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 Delhi State Legal Service Authority on Monday launched Citizen Outreach Campaign Films to provide legal aid and assistance to the weaker sections of society and also to make them aware of their rights for their upliftment. Through citizen outreach campaign films, Legal Service Authority intends to reach out to the masses, showcasing short films on senior citizen rights, child sexual abuse, and domestic violence as well as an interactive video to make people aware of their legal rights as well as structure and functioning of DILASA. Citizen Outreach Campaign Films on Monday were virtually launched by Justice Vipin Sanghi, Acting Chief Justice, High Court of Delhi/Executive Chairperson, DSLSA, who was the Chief Guest for the program. During the programme, Justice Vipin Sanghi stated, "It is a great step towards empowerment of masses by reaching out to their doorsteps. These Citizen outreach films have been produced to capitalise on the continuously expanding digital landscape to advertise the initiatives of DILASA." The film also featured Bollywood Actor Juhi Chawla. Principal District & Sessions Judges of all District Courts, Principal Judges (Family Courts), Kanwal Jeet Arora, Registrar General (Officiating), Bharat Parashar, Member Secretary, Namrita Aggarwal, Special Secretary, Sushant Changotra, Additional Secretary, Harshita Mishra, Secretary (Litigation) and Officers of the Delhi Higher Judicial Service and Delhi Judicial Service attended the event along with other distinguished dignitaries. Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DILASA) not only provides legal aid and assistance to the weaker sections of society but also aims to make them aware of their rights for their upliftment. (ANI) The Committee has been constituted to recommend measures to improve the functional efficiency and financial revitalisation of these ESCOMs. Gurucharan, who met the Chief Minister on Monday, submitted the report. Accepting the report, Chief Minister Bommai instructed extension of the term of the committee to guide and assist the government in implementing the recommendations of the report. The committee has in its report highlighted the present condition of the ESCOMs and suggested measures to revamp the ESCOMs with medium and long-term initiatives, improving their efficiency and financial condition. The Chief Minister asked the officials to prepare an action plan to implement the report. Energy minister V Sunil Kumar, Chief Secretary Vandita Sharma and other senior officials were present. (ANI) Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraja Bommai said on Monday that a statue of Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda will be installed on the premises of Vidhana Soudha within a year. Speaking at the event to mark the 513th birth anniversary of Kempe Gowda at the Banquet Hall, Vidhana Soudha, the Cheif Minister responded to the demand put forth by Nanjavadhuta Swameeji, who spoke earlier. The Vidhana Soudha is located in the city of Bengaluru and was built by Kempe Gowda. So it is natural to desire that a statue should be erected on the premises of Vidhana Soudha. Our government will do it, he remarked. With regard to the revision of textbooks, he uttered, "While some of the contents have been revised, some others have been retained. The answers have been sent today to the questions raised by former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda." Dr CN Ashwath Narayan, Minister, and Vice-Chairperson, Nadaprabhu Kempe Gowda Heritage Area Development Authority, said that Bengaluru had become a convergent place of talents from across the world and was one of the top ten growing cities of the world. He also remarked that the previous Chief Minister Yediyurappa played a crucial role in implementing the Kempe Gowda statue installation project at Bengaluru International Airport. "Kempapura in Magadi taluk, the birthplace of Kempe Gowda will be developed. Kempe Gowda Study Centre will be established in Bengaluru Varsity. Bengaluru Habba will be celebrated in a grand manner as a three-day event and a coffee table book will be brought out in the honour of Kempe Gowda", he listed out. The first Kempe Gowda International Award was presented to Former Chief Minister SM Krishna, Infosys Founder NR Narayana Murthy and Former Badminton player Prakash Padukone carried a purse of Rs 5 lakh each along with a plaque. SM Krishna who attended the function was presented with the award. On behalf of NR Narayana Murthy, his wife Sudha Murthy, and on behalf of Prakash Padukone, his son Vimal received the award. On receiving the award, Krishna said, that the status of Bengaluru should be taken to new heights at the global level. Further, he added that the cities like Mysuru, Hubballi, and Shivamogga should grow. Remembering former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, he thanked Singh for naming the Bengaluru Airport after Kempe Gowda. He also announced that he would donate the cash of Rs 5 lakhs which he received with the award to the Ramakrishna Ashrama of Mysuru which laid a crucial role in laying the foundation for his studies. Comparing former CM Krishna to Bhishma of Mahabharata, Sudha Murty claimed that the city would not have attracted unless Kempe Gowda had laid the strong foundation for its growth. She also requested Chief Minister to develop cities such as Hubballi and Dharawad so as to generate employment locally. Saying, there were persistent attempts to divide and rule by creating a gap between Okkaliga and Veershaiva Lingayats in the state. Sri Nanjavadhuta Swameeji opined that people should not give room for such possibilities. During his tenure, BS Yediyurappa honoured Kempe Gowda with the utmost respect and fulfilled many demands. We need to preserve heritage spots in the way it is being done in England, he stated. (ANI) The number of deliveries in Golconda Hospital of Hyderabad has significantly increased after the launch of the KCR Kit scheme in the state, Deputy Surgeon Gynaecologist of the hospital, Dr Soujanya told ANI on Monday. "After the KCR kit scheme was launched, the delivery cases have increased in the hospital. Earlier the patients used to get money if the people arrived here for regular checkups, but now, since they are providing more facilities, they are opting for government hospitals for their regular checkups and delivery," Dr Soujanya said. The launched KCR kit scheme came into effect on 4 June 2017 for the pregnant women who deliver their children at the government hospital. The main aim of this scheme is to provide all the items that are necessary for a pregnant woman and her newborn baby. Under this scheme, the women expecting a baby are provided with the financial assistance of Rs 12,000 in four phases by the government and are given an additional Rs 1000, if they give birth to a girl child. The KCR Kits given by the state government contain Baby oil, Soap useful for the mother and child, Mosquito net, Dresses, handbags, Toys for children, Diapers, Powder, Shampoo, Sarees, Towels and Napkins, and a bed for the Baby. Appreciating the efforts of the government and the helpfulness of the kit, a patient, Jubariya Begum said, "This was my second delivery, sir (doctor) came in the morning and gave us the KCR kit. In the kit, there are a number of items related to the kid's concern like baby soap, baby shampoo, baby powder, etc." "We came here in an emergency so we could not bring anything...they also provided two good quality dresses for our child. We are poor we cannot afford all this but the government is providing us everything that a baby needs," she added. According to a staff member of the hospital, K. Saibaba, the kits are subjected to be given to the first and second child of the patient. The kit contains 16 items which would be useful for the mother as well as her newborn baby. "As soon as the woman gets to know about her pregnancy, she is supposed to register herself in a nearby hospital, as an aftermath of which Rs 3,000 will be credited to her account for the maintenance. Later, if she gives birth to the child in a government hospital, she gets Rs 5,000 for a girl and Rs 4,000 for a boy, besides the KCR kit which is worth Rs 2,000," Saibaba said. According to Saibaba, after discharging from the hospital, she gets vaccine drops after 45 days and Rs 3,000 from the government and when she visits the hospital again for the vaccine drops to the child after nine months, she gets another Rs 3,000 in her account from the Telangana government. This way, the government provides a total of Rs 13,000 to the new parents for the welfare of a baby girl and Rs 12,000 for that for the baby boy. The scheme is specifically for the poor women who cannot afford the treatments at private hospitals. (ANI) Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on Monday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge in the national capital. As per the information, it is believed that Soren met with Shah and Kharge to reach a conclusion on extending the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha's support for a presidential candidate. A meeting of the JMM leaders, including all the MLAs and MPs of the party, was held on Saturday, under the leadership of its supremo Shibu Soren, wherein it was decided that JMM's Executive President Hemant Soren will meet the Home Minister. Even though the meeting took place, the party's stand on the matter remained unclear. It would be interesting to know whom would the JMM support in the upcoming Presidential elections, as its ally United Progressive Alliance (UPA) has fielded Yashwant Sinha as the candidate, while the candidate hailing from the Santhal community, Droupadi Murmu, has been nominated by the BJP-led NDA. JMM has been pursuing a tribal political plank and Santhals have been the significant vote bank for the party. Shibu Soren, the party's president, emerged as a Guruji by agitating against Mahajani Pratha from Santhal and he spearheaded a separate state movement with the support of Santhals. A day after filing her nomination papers for the presidential election on June 24, Murmu had called up Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief and state Chief Minister Hemant Soren seeking his support. On June 25, the JMM had called a meeting of all its legislators to take a decision on whether they would support her in the presidential election. However, as per the sources, the meeting remained inconclusive. JMM was among opposition parties which earlier extended its support to former Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha in the presidential election. But, since the NDA named Murmu, a leader from the tribal community, pressure has been mounting on several opposition leaders including the Jharkhand Chief Minister to extend the support to Murmu as Jharkhand has a lot of tribal population that could affect their vote bank. The elections for the President of India will take place on July 18 and the results will be out on July 21. The term of present Rashtrapati Ram Nath Kovind concludes on July 24. (ANI) Another Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, Chhagan Bhujbal, tested positive for COVID-19 on Monday. Taking to Twitter, the NCP leader wrote, "My corona test is positive but keeping good health. I am undergoing medical treatment as per the doctor's advice and with the blessings of all of you, I will overcome corona and recover soon. People who have come in contact with me in the last few days should be careful." Earlier a day, NCP leader and Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar tested positive for COVID-19. On June 22, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray tested positive for COVID. Meanwhile, the political crisis in Maharashtra continues to intensify between rebel Shiv Sena MLAs and Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. The political turbulence in Maharashtra was triggered by the faction war in Shiv Sena after Minister Eknath Shinde flew to Surat with some MLAs and then to Guwahati where he claims to have the support of 38 MLAs of the party, thus achieving the two-thirds majority in the Shiv Sena. Today, the Supreme Court granted interim relief to rebel Shiv Seva leader Eknath Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, Maharashtra deputy speaker Narhari Zirwal sent notices to the 16 Shiv Sena rebel MLAs. The MLAs have to be present in Mumbai on Monday for the hearing of disqualification. According to sources, facing a revolt within his own ranks, Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was ready to resign on June 22 at 5 pm after it was clear that there was "no way out" of the political crisis facing the Maharashtra government but MVA allies convinced him not to resign. The sources said that Uddhav Thackeray was in touch with BJP leaders to find a way out of the political crisis facing the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government that includes the Nationalist Congress Party and Congress apart from Shiv Sena. (ANI) The actor was arrested on 14 May after a complaint was registered against her for allegedly sharing a 'derogatory' Facebook post about Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) President Sharad Pawar. The Bombay High Court has now directed the police to not take any coercive action against the Marathi actor. She was arrested after a case was registered against her under sections 500 (defamation), 501 (printing or engraving defamatory matter) and 153A (promoting enmity between two groups on the basis of religion, caste, etc), 505 (intent of mutiny) of the Indian Penal Code.As many as 15 cases have been filed in Maharashtra against the actor. In her post, Ketaki made objectionable statements about Pawar's appearance, illness and voice. The post contained phrases like "hell is waiting" and "you hate Brahmins", allegedly referring to Pawar whose party shares power in Maharashtra with the Shiv Sena and Congress. Maharashtra police have seized her laptop, computer hard disk, and other electronic evidence. (ANI) Amid the political crisis in Maharashtra, a group of Shiv Sena workers, armed with lathis and sticks, allegedly vandalised the office of Independent MLA from Gondia Vinod Agrawal on Monday. On Sunday, Home Minister Dilip Walse Patil said there is no major incident of disruption of law and order in the state. Earlier, Maharashtra Governor Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that he received a complaint from 8 MLAs, of Shiv Sena, 2 MLAs of Prahar Jan Shakti Party and 7 Independent MLAs stating that the police security of their families has been illegally and unlawfully withdrawn. Koshyari said, in the complaint, they have raised serious concerns about the safety of their homes and families in the context of the provocative and threatening statements being made by certain political leaders. On Sunday, top government sources said the Central government has provided 'Y+' category armed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) security cover to 15 rebel Shiv Sena MLAs, who are currently in Assam's Guwahati. The rebel Shiv Sena MLAs had moved to Guwahati from Surat and have claimed growing support of Shiv Sena MLAs. The rebel MLAs' leader Eknath Shinde had claimed on Wednesday that he has the support of 46 MLAs, including six to seven Independent MLAs. Shiv Sena has 55 MLAs in the Maharashtra assembly. In the latest jolt to the Uddhav Thackeray camp, Uday Samant joined the rebel group on June 26. He is the eighth minister from Shiv Sena to join the rebel camp. Both the Shiv Sena and the rebel group have been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state Governor that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply todisqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, in its order, said, "As an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker, to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions today by 5.30 pm, stands extended till July 12. The petitioners or other MLAs are at liberty to submit their reply without prejudice to their rights in the writ petition."The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader.The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days. On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. (ANI) AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam on Tuesday informed the Election Commission of India about the developments that took place during the party's General Council meeting held on June 23 and today's meeting of headquarters office-bearers and termed it as 'illegal and unlawful'. O Panneerselvam called the meeting a violation of bylaws and rules as such "meetings could be convened only with the approval of both coordinator and joint coordinator. This letter comes just a few hours after AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam's photo was torn from AIADMK banner by former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) supporters which was kept at AIADMK office. Later EPS camp clarified that we will keep a new banner soon and we should avoid such incidents in future. Now new banner with O.Pannerselvam face has been set up at AIADMK Head Quarters. In the letter, OPS said, "The election of presidium chairman at the general council and the headquarters functionaries meeting held on Monday were illegal and unlawful."After AIADMK's headquarters secretary (Edappadi K Palaniswami) called for a meeting of AIADMK headquarters functionaries at 10 am on Monday at party office in Chennai, O Panneerselvam said that the meeting has been called in contravention of the party's bylaw. OPS, in the letter, said that only the coordinator and co-coordinator have the powers to convene any party meeting and any decision taken in such meetings will not have any say over the coordinator and joint coordinator of the party. On June 24, the battle for single leadership in the AIADMK between former Tamil Nadu chief minister and party co-coordinator Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and his former deputy CM and coordinator O Panneersevelam (OPS) seems to have ended as OPS ceased to be the coordinator of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). AIADMK leader CV Shanmugam on Friday said that senior leader O Panneerselvam (OPS), who openly opposed the idea of a single leadership, has ceased to be the coordinator of the party.This comes after the general council meeting which was meant to adopt several resolutions on June 23 ended in vain. While speaking with media persons on June 24, CV Shanmugam said, "General Council Meeting of AIADMK happened yesterday. As of yesterday, in the AIADMK general council meeting, the earlier modified bylaw resolution was not tabled. So now automatically dual leadership has expired." This means, in a simplified version that, AIADMK's dominant Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) faction today asserted that the system of dual leadership, that vested powers on Coordinator O Panneerselvam (OPS) and Joint Coordinator EPS ceased to be in force, a day after the General Council stood firm on the single leadership demand. "Panneerselvam is only the treasurer of AIADMK and Edappadi K Palaniswami is the headquarters secretary of the party," added Shanmugham during the press meet where he was seen along with other senior AIADMK leaders like SP Velumani, D Jayakumar, C Vijayabaskar and others. Notably, till 2016, former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa was the sole leader of the AIADMK. When Jayalalithaa passed away in 2016, the party decided to appoint OPS to the Chief Minister's chair. However, in February 2017, AIADMK suffered a crushing defeat in the state elections and Sasikala, Jayalalithaa's close aide, decided to take over the leadership. Subsequently, OPS was replaced as CM by EPS. This caused a lot of turmoil in the AIADMK. As time passed by, OPS became the coordinator of AIADMK with EPS becoming the co-coordinator. AIADMK was being run as a party with dual leadership. But now, the call for a unitary leadership has intensified and all eyes are on the crucial general council meeting on July 11. (ANI) Parliamentary panel on Tuesday suggested a reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) for drugs and making available indigenous vaccines for affordable treatment of Cancer patients in the country, sources said. Officers from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare were present before a panel chaired by Samajwadi Party Member of Parliament in Rajya Sabha, Professor Ramgopal Yadav to discuss the critical issue of affordable treatment for cancer in India. Health secretary Rajesh Bhushan, Indian Council of Medical Research DG Dr Balram Bhargava, Director General Health Services Atul Goyal were among the officers present in the meeting today. A detailed presentation was made before the committee by the Ministry of Health. It said that out of 22 AIIMS that were working in the country, only six had facilities for cancer treatment. It was also being understood, sources said, that at least three of facilities for cancer treatment were available only on paper. Only in 13 centrally operated medical colleges, government ran cancer treatment facility. Sources said that a member of Parliament raised how the Chittaranjan National Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal was practically defunct. Now, despite the fact that there is an inflow of patients, it refuses to decline. Members also raised concerns about the increased price of cancer-related drugs and medicines. Despite the fact that the government claims that under certain conditions, these drugs are available at a subsidised rate, the members communicated to the Health Ministry that the situation on grassroots was not the same as being proclaimed. There was an urgent need to reduce the GST on such drugs and medicines, as suggested by the members. Members expressed their concern about the availability for facilities and urged to conduct a PET scan which is a crucial way to detect cancer. The members also urged the officers present in today's meeting to declare cancer as a Notifiable Disease at the earliest because it is turning out to be a huge concern for the common man with the increased treatment price and the stigma associated with it. A Notifiable Disease is any disease that is required by law to be reported to government authorities. The collation of information allows the authorities to monitor the disease, and provides early warning of possible outbreaks. Further, it was discussed that counselling for Cancer patients and their family members is the most important focus that the central government needs to look at. This has been suggested by some members in this meeting. Members were also informed by the officials that the HPV vaccine for treatment of cancer had reached its third trial stage. However, at this point, this matter is sub-judice. All the members in unison requested the central government to encourage the development of indigenous vaccines so that the treatment can be affordable and the availability of the vaccines can be ensured. The discussion is meeting will continue on Tuesday morning when some organisations including National Cancer Institute, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jhajjar, Haryana along with Dr Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati, Assam; Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata, West Bengal; and National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Gautam Buddha Nagar, Uttar Pradesh will present their suggestions before the committee. The Committee is already in receipt of research from Dr Bhubaneswar Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI), Guwahati and as furnished by Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute (CNCI), Kolkata. The background note on the subject also received from the Department of Health and Family Welfare and Replies to Questionnaire on the subject as furnished by TATA Memorial Hospital, Mumbai during the study tour of the Committee to Mumbai on 28t April, 2022 have been circulated to the members. In India, too, cancer is the leading cause of death, with 7.84 lakh deaths recorded in 2018, and 13.92 lakh cases reported in 2020, according to World Health Organisation. At the national level, an average total cancer care expenditure was around Rs 1,16,218, says an expert. In private hospitals, the total cost of cancer care was estimated to be Rs 1,41,774, whereas it was comparatively lower at Rs 72,092 in public hospitals. The state-wise pattern shows that the overall cost of cancer care in India varies from Rs 74,699 in Odisha to Rs 2,39,974 in the state of Jharkhand. In eight states, namely, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Haryana, the overall cost of cancer treatment was under Rs 1 lakh. However, cancer patients spent from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh on treatment in Punjab, Karnataka, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. In Jammu and Kashmir, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Assam, Himachal Pradesh and Jharkhand, cancer treatment cost over Rs 1.5 lakh. An important aspect that needs to be highlighted is the percentage share of medical and non-medical expenditure. About 90 per cent of the total cancer care expenses relate to medical care, which include expenses on doctors' consultancy, medicines, diagnostic tests, bed charges, and other medical services like blood transfusions and oxygen supplementation. The residual 10 per cent is on non-medical heads, which includes transportation, food, escort and transport for other family members. The state-wise pattern suggests that in two states, namely Chhattisgarh and Bihar, non-medical expenses contributed to over 20 per cent of all cancer expenditure, whereas, in nine states--Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Assam and Jammu and Kashmir, over 10 per cent of the expenses were on non-medical services. (ANI) Rajya Sabha chairman M Venkaiah Naidu has granted a further extension of one month (from June 22) to the Department-related Parliamentary Standing committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice for examination and report on 'The Mediation Bill, 2021', a parliament bulletin said on Monday. The Mediation Bill was referred to the standing committee for Parliamentary scrutiny in the last Winter Session of Parliament. Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar and BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi is the chairman of this committee. On the reason behind this extension, a source said, "The Bill has been thoroughly examined and we have consulted all possible stakeholders, therefore we need some more time to fine-tune the Bill before we can discuss it clause by clause and submit our report." The source further added, "This is the first time the judiciary have been taken on board for thoroughly discussing the merit of the Bill. Amongst those chief justices, we have met the Chief Justice of the High Court of Karnataka, Bombay, and Madras amongst others. We have also spoken to the public at large, to litigants and also to the advocates to take their view on the Bill." Several rounds of meeting to discuss the Bill have already taken place under the Chairmanship of Sushil Modi. The next round of the meeting is slated to take place on July 4. In December 2021, the Central government introduced the 'Mediation Bill, 2021' in Rajya Sabha for its further consideration in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Law and Justice on the demand of the Opposition parties. Earlier, on 5 November 2021, the Ministry of Law and Justice released a draft of this Mediation Bill, 2021 for public comments and consultation. The Mediation Bill is "to promote and facilitate mediation, especially institutional mediation, for resolution of disputes, commercial or otherwise, enforce mediated settlement agreements, provide for a body for the registration of mediators, to encourage community mediation and to make online mediation as acceptable and cost-effective process and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto". The Bill requires the persons to try to settle civil or commercial disputes through mediation before approaching any court or tribunal. A party may withdraw from mediation after two mediation sessions. The mediation process must be completed within 180 days, which may be extended by another 180 days by the parties. The Mediation Council of India will be set up. Its functions include registering mediators, and recognising mediation service providers and mediation institutes (which train and certify mediators) The Bill also lists disputes that are not fit for the mediation (such as those involving criminal prosecution, or affecting the rights of the third parties). The central government may amend this list. If the parties agree, they may appoint any person as a mediator. If not, they may apply to a mediation service provider to appoint a person from its panel of mediators. Agreements resulting from mediation will be binding and enforceable in the same manner as court judgments. (ANI) Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair has been sent to one-day police remand for allegedly hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community on Monday. Alt News co-founder Pratik Sinha was also present with Mohammed Zubair who was arrested Zubair on the charges of promoting enmity and insulting religious beliefs today. "Counsel for Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair had moved bail application which was declined by the court on grounds of "not finding merits." Delhi Police's application for 1-day police remand was granted by the court," said Delhi Police officials. He was booked under sections 153A (promotion of enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Delhi Police said. According to police, a complaint was received against the co-founder through Twitter regarding a tweet by Zubair. He was called for questioning today after which the IFSO unit of the Delhi Police Special Cell arrested Zubair, police said. He was evasive on the questions and neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation. Reportedly, the social media post by Zubair hurt religious sentiments after a picture (in tweet) showed where the signboard of a hotel 'Honeymoon hotel ' was changed to 'Hanuman hotel'. The present case was registered on basis of a post on Twitter by handling Hanuman Bhakt @ balajikijaiin where he showed his anger against another Twitter handle in name of Mohammed Zubair regarding the post "BEFORE 2014: Honeymoon Hotel. After 2014: Hanuman Hotel", informed Delhi police senior officials. "The said post of Mohammed Zubair containing pictures and words against a particular religious community is highly provocative and done deliberately which are more than sufficient to incite hatred among people which can be detrimental for maintenance of public tranquillity," said Delhi Police. Pratik Sinha, another co-founder at Alt News, commented on his colleague's arrest and wrote on Twitter, "Zubair was called today by special cell, Delhi for investigation in a 2020 case for which he already had a protection against arrest from High Court." "However, today at around 6.45 pm we were told he has been arrested in some other FIR for which no notice was given which is mandatory under law for the Sections under which he has been arrested. Nor FIR copy is being given to us despite repeated requests," Sinha said in a statement on the microblogging site. (ANI) A core committee meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Maharashtra unit was held on Monday to discuss the state's political situation amid the crisis faced by the MVA government due to the revolt in Shiv Sena. The BJP has decided that the party will follow the "wait and watch" approach. The meeting was held at the residence of former chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Maharashtra BJP chief Chandrakant Patil and other BJP leaders. "BJP core committee meeting was held. After the Supreme Court's order, the state's political situation was assessed and discussed. Eknath Shinde said that his faction is the original Shiv Sena, this too was discussed. We discussed what role should we assume in future in the current scenario," Sudhir Mungantiwar told reporters after the meeting. "After discussion, it was decided that we will wait and watch and a core team will come for a meeting once again, depending on the situation in the coming days. BJP will then take a decision in the interest of the people, in the interest of Maharashtra," he added. In a jolt to Uddhav Thackeray camp, Higher and Technical Education Minister Uday Samant joined the party rebels led by Eknath Shinde at Guwahati on Sunday The Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the rebel group have been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state Governor that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and JB Pardiwala, in its order, said, "As an interim measure, the time granted by the Deputy Speaker, to the petitioners or other similarly placed MLAs to submit their submissions today by 5.30 pm, stands extended till July 12. The petitioners or other MLAs are at liberty to submit their reply without prejudice to their rights in the writ petition." The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days.On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (ANI) Opposition parties have formed an 11-member campaign committee to steer the nationwide campaign of their presidential poll candidate Yashwant Sinha. The 11 members include Jairam Ramesh from Congress, Tiruchi Siva from the DMK, Sukhendu Sekhar Roy from the TMC, Sitaram Yechury from CPI(M), Ramgopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Praful Patel from NCP, Ranjit Reddy from TRS, Manoj Jha from RJD, D Raja CPI and Sudheendra Kulkarni from Civil Society. The committee will also have a nominee from Shiv Sena, which is battling a political crisis in Maharashtra. Yashwant Sinha filed his nomination papers on Monday. He said later that the numbers could change between now and July 18 when voting will be held in the presidential elections. The BJP-led NDA has fielded former Jharkhand Governor Droupdai Murmu as its candidate. "You don't go to a fight thinking that you will always emerge victorious. You go into the fight because you believe in the fight itself. So for me, the fight is more important. I would like to tell you that as far as the number is concerned, it is a developing situation. There will be many changes between today and the 18th of July. Let us not go by the number today. What appears today may not be the situation on July 18," Sinha told ANI. Sinha also highlighted that he cannot imagine Aam Aadmi Party voting for the Bharatiya Janata Party. "I cannot imagine AAP voting for the BJP. The choice in the selection is stark. I don't belong to any political party. I resigned before the Trinamool Congress (TMC) before the Opposition made me its candidate. On the other hand, you have a candidate strongly supporting the BJP. Whosoever is the voter in the situation will have to choose between the BJP on one hand and a person who does not belong to any party," he said. (ANI) Attacking rebel MLAs of the party who are staying at a hotel in Guwahati, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray accused them of "betraying" the party and said, "dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena". Thackeray, who was addressing Shivsainiks in Mumbai amid the political crisis faced by the MVA government in Maharashtra, said the party rebels were "enjoying" in Guwahati when Assam was dealing with floods in parts of the state. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". "Many people told us that Congress & NCP will betray us but our people betrayed us. Many MLAs who were watchmen, rickshaw drivers, and paan shopkeepers - we made them Ministers. On 20th May, Uddhav Thackeray offered him (Eknath Shinde) the CM post and he did drama," Aaditya Thackeray said. He said there was anger among party workers over the action of party rebels. "I can understand your zeal and strength, can even notice your anger. I've been visiting and interacting with Shivsainiks and I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing that the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena," he said. Aaditya Thackeray claimed that the food bill of rebel MLAs was to the tune of Rs 9 lakh per day and alleged they were taking private choppers. "They (rebel MLAs) went to Guwahati where there's a flood situation & many people are without shelter & food. They (rebel MLAs) are enjoying there. Bill for meals (for them) in one day is Rs 9 Lakhs, they are taking private choppers and enjoying there. Shame on them," he said. Referring to Income Tax searches earlier this year on party corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who is husband of Yamini Jadhav, a rebel MLA, Aaditya Thackeray said they had protested the action of the Income Tax Department but her remarks had brought tears to his eyes. "When there was a raid on Yamini Jadhav (rebel MLA) & Yashwant, we came out on streets. Y'day Yamini Jadhav said it was not needed. Many people had suggested to not give them chance but we gave them opportunity. What she said yesterday brought tears to my eyes," he said. The Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the rebel group have been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state Governor that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days. On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (ANI) As Maharashtra's major political crisis continued, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has summoned Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut in connection with the probe into an alleged money-laundering case of Rs 1,034 crore in the Patra Chawl land scam. Earlier, Raut confirmed the ED summons, slammed it as "a move to stop me" and dared the central probe agency to arrest him. "I have just learnt that the ED has summoned me. Good! There are major political developments going on in Maharashtra. We are the Shiv Sainiks of Balasaheb Thackeray and fighting a big battle. This is a conspiracy to deter me. Even if you shoot me, behead me or arrest me, I will not take the Guwahati route," said Raut. The ED has directed him to report to its office on Tuesday morning, but the Sena chief cpokesperson said he would seek more time in the matter. Earlier in April, the ED had attacked properties worth around Rs 9 crore linked with Raut's aide Pravin Raut and other assets of around Rs 2 crore belonging to his wife Varsha Raut. The development came close on the heels of the ED calling and interrogating Transport Minister Anil Parab last week for two days in connection with a money-laundering case probe into alleged violation of Coastal Regulation Zone rules for building a luxury hotel, Sai Resort in Dapoli, Ratnagiri district. The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) has slammed the series of actions by central agencies intended to destabilise and topple the three-party government of Shiv Sena-Nationalist Congress Party-Congress, for the past over two years. Last week, 200 acres of land and assets worth Rs 78 crore were attached by the ED in a case pertaining to an alleged illegal auction of the Jalna Cooperative Sugar Mill Ltd, controlled by an ex-Sena Minister Arjun Khtokar, as part of the continuing probe into the Maharashtra State Cooperative Bank case. Reacting to the development in the Raut case, Bharatiya Janata Party Mumbai ex-MP Kirit Somaiya said: "Your efforts to send my mother, my wife, my son and me to jail have miserably failed. Threaten us! Abuse us! Buta Hisaab to dena padega" (You will have to submit the account)". --IANS qn/vd A ( 383 Words) 2022-06-27-19:54:03 (IANS) A senior police official said that it was a separate case lodged against Zubair under sections 153-A and 295 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) in which he has been arrested. He will be produced before the Patiala House court. "Our team of The Intelligence Fusion & Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police's special cell has arrested him," said the official. The Special Cell will also write to Twitter to preserve his tweets of six months to one year. More details are awaited. --IANS atk/skp/ ( 126 Words) 2022-06-27-20:14:02 (IANS) A section of jewellers in Bangladesh are making a killing by smuggling in silver jewellery from India. According to a Customs official in Bangladesh, over 2,000 kg of silver ornaments are smuggled into the country from India every year, affecting the economies of both countries. Bangladesh is an importer of silver ornaments from countries like India, China and Vietnam. India is at the top of the list. India is a major exporter of silver jewellery and sends ornaments to China and other countries in the region. Exporters pay duties for the consignments they send. Countries importing silver ornaments, including Bangladesh, also charge import duties from importers. "In this way, both countries lose revenue. In Bangladesh, we also have a 5 per cent VAT on jewellery. Unscrupulous jewellers dealing in smuggled ornaments make customers pay this but do not reveal it in their records as the items they are dealing with are unaccounted for. Hence, they are making a killing both ways. Discussions have been held with India on joint operations to stop this smuggling," another official in Bangladesh said. Most of the silver ornaments cross the International Boundary (IB) between the two countries in south Bengal is through the North 24-Parganas district of West Bengal. Smugglers living in the borderline villages carry across several kilograms of silver ornaments for a mere Rs 1,000. Since June 14, the South Bengal Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) has seized 28.146 kg of silver ornaments in five operations. "This is just the tip of the iceberg. Smuggling through the zero-line villages can't be effectively checked with the manpower the BSF has. If BSF personnel stand guard at the zero line, movement into the villages from the Indian side can't be monitored. If this movement is monitored, the zero line is left unattended and villagers move across freely without any checks. Despite such challenges, we have succeeded in seizing silver ornaments. Several smugglers have also been apprehended but they are just couriers," a senior BSF official of the South Bengal Frontier said. Its not the South Bengal Frontier alone. West Bengal also shares the border with Bangladesh further north from Malda. Apart from this, states like Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram share borders with Bangladesh. Little or no information is available about silver smuggling along these borders. --IANS jayanta/pgh ( 401 Words) 2022-06-27-21:04:02 (IANS) Fact-checking website, Alt news' co-founder Mohammed Zubair was arrested in the national capital on Monday for allegedly hurting sentiments of a particular religious community, the police said. The police had registered a case after getting a complaint from a Twitter handle, where it was alleged that Zubair had tweeted a questionable image with a purpose to deliberately hurting religious sentiments. "Such tweets were getting re-tweeted and it appeared that there is a brigade of social media entities, who indulge in insult mongering thereby leading to a possible ramification on communal harmony and is overall against the maintenance of public tranquility," Deputy Commissioner of Police KPS Malhotra told IANS. On Monday, Zubair joined the investigation in a case that was registered at the Special Cell police station. During the probe, the police had given a status report, wherein the tweet by Mohammad Zubair was not found objectionable even though subsequent tweets after his tweet led to a series of questionable and derogatory tweets. "In the investigation of this case, he had been earlier examined and the investigation is on the verge of conclusion," the police officer said. However, earlier this month the police was alerted by a Twitter handle that Mohammad Zubair had earlier made an objectionable tweet and his followers on social media entities had amplified and created a series of debates and hate mongering in the thread. "He was examined in this separate case under sections 153A (doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295A (Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings) of the IPC and his role was found objectionable," Malhotra said. It was officially learnt that Zubair was evasive on the questions and also neither provided the necessary technical equipment for the purpose of the investigation nor cooperated in the investigation. "During investigation, the conduct of Mohammed Zubair was found questionable, which warranted his custodial interrogation to unravel the conspiracy in this matter," the senior police officer said. The official further said Zubair is being presented before the magistrate for seeking further police custody remand for the purpose of the investigation of the case. Pertinent to mention here that Zubair was the first person to share suspended Bharatiya Janata Party leader Nupur Sharma's alleged remarks against Prophet Muhammad during a TV debate. The controversial statement made by Nupur Sharma set off an international furore. Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology. Following the uproar, the Bharatiya Janata Party suspended Sharma and another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, who also allegedly made insulting comment against Prophet Muhammad on social media. However, soon after her comments, Sharma was targeted on social media and received thousands of death threats following which the police provided a security cover to her. --IANS uj/pgh ( 492 Words) 2022-06-27-21:22:03 (IANS) The fire brigade and police team reached the spot to rescue the trapped people from the debris. "A 4-storey building collapses in Naik Nagar. Fire brigade team, and police at the spot as the rescue operation continues," Pravina Morajkar, Corporator told media persons here. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), seven people have been rescued from under the debris and are now in stable condition. "Seven people rescued from under debris are in stable condition; 20 to 25 are likely to be trapped under the debris. Rescue operation on," the Corporator added. In another incident, a man died and 19 people were injured after a multi-storey building collapsed at Shastri Nagar in Maharashtra's Bandra West a few days ago. The deceased has been identified as Shahnawaz Alam, a 40-year-old man. "The building collapsed around 12.15 am. One person has died and 19 are hospitalised and are now safe. All of them are labourers from Bihar. The fire brigade and officers are present at the spot," Manjunath Singe, DCP Mumbai Police told media persons. (ANI) Mizoram shares a border with Cachar and Hailakandi districts of Assam where the flood situation still remains bleak. In a goodwill gesture, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga has assured that his government will provide all possible help to the flood victims of Assam. Zoramthanga taking to Twitter, said, "The Mizoram government will ensure all possible help. Mizoram will always be with #Assam in this trying time." Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressing his gratitude to the Mizoram Chief Minister tweeted, "Appeciate this noble gesture of Central Young Mizo Association to help the flood-affected people. An exemplary act coming from our neighbour!" --IANS tanuj/khz/ ( 144 Words) 2022-06-27-21:32:01 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), probing the different post-poll violence cases in West Bengal, has summoned the state's MSME & Textiles Department Minister, Chandranath Sinha in connection with one of the cases. CBI sleuths has asked Sinha to be present at the agency camp office in Durgapur on June 28 (Tuesday). He was summoned in connection with the murder of a local BJP worker in Birbhum district. Gourab Sarkar was murdered at Illambazar in the same district on May 2, 2021, soon after the results for the 2021 West Bengal assembly elections were announced. Chandranath Sinha is considered to be close to Trinamool Congress strongman and the party's district president in Birbhum, Anubrata Mandal, who is also under the scanner of CBI in the same case. Mandal has already faced a round of questioning by the CBI sleuths at the agency's office at Salt Lake in the northern outskirts of Kolkata. Besides, the post-polls violence case, Mandal is also under CBI scanner for his alleged involvement in the cattle and coal smuggling cases in West Bengal. The CBI is conducting the probe on the post- poll violence cases in West Bengal following an order of the Calcutta High Court on this count. The CBI has already questioned several persons in connection with the murder of Gourab Sarkar, especially those who contacted Mandal soon after the murder took place. Three Trinamool Congress MLAs namely Abhijit Singha from Labhpur constituency, Sekh Sahanawaz Jahan from Ketugram and Abhijit Roy from Manteshwar were among those who were questioned in this connection. According to CBI sources, after the questioning of all suspects on this count are completed, they will corroborate their statements with that of Anubrata Mandal. --IANS src/pgh ( 295 Words) 2022-06-27-21:42:02 (IANS) In a sharp attack on rebel MLAs amid the Maharashtra political crisis, Shiv Sena leader Aaditya Thackeray on Monday claimed that 15 to 20 MLAs, who are with Eknath Shinde's rebel camp are in touch with Shiv Sena and have urged the party to bring them back to Mumbai from Guwahati. He said that the rebel MLAs have sold themselves for lakhs and crores. "These MLAs have sold themselves for Lakhs and Crores or after their files were opened. MVA government will further continue. The power which has brought us here...we will come to power in Delhi too," said Thackeray while addressing Shivsainiks in Byculla, Mumbai He said that the rebels who are currently staying at a hotel in Assam, sold themselves when Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray was hospitalised. "When the CM was hospitalised, they (rebel MLAs) sold themselves. I would like to ask them, is there no humanity left? We trusted them," he added. "There are two groups of people in Guwahati - there's a group of 15-16 people who are in touch with us, some of them recently. The other group is the one that has run away, they have no courage and morality," the minister said. Further, he openly challenged the rebels in revolt and said that have the courage to resign and stand in front of them. "They conceived an entire conspiracy when CM (Uddhav Thackeray) was incapacitated as a CM to work 24x7; even then he was working. Whoever wants to come back, our doors are open...if those in revolt are truly courageous, resign and have the courage to stand in front of us," he said. He said the leader of the rebel group Eknath Shinde was offered the post of Chief Minister in May but "he did drama". "Many people told us that Congress and NCP will betray us but our people betrayed us. Many MLAs who were watchmen, rickshaw drivers, and paan shopkeepers - we made them Ministers. On 20th May, Uddhav Thackeray offered him (Eknath Shinde) the CM post and he did drama," Aaditya Thackeray said. He said there was anger among party workers over the action of party rebels. "I can understand your zeal and strength, can even notice your anger. I've been visiting and interacting with Shivsainiks and I can see there is a lot of anger among them. But there is one positive thing the dirt has gone out of Shiv Sena," he said. Aaditya Thackeray claimed that the food bill of rebel MLAs was to the tune of Rs 9 lakh per day and alleged they were taking private choppers. "They (rebel MLAs) went to Guwahati where there's a flood situation and many people are without shelter & food. They (rebel MLAs) are enjoying there. Bill for meals (for them) in one day is Rs 9 Lakhs, they are taking private choppers and enjoying there. Shame on them," he said. The Shiv Sena camp led by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and the rebel group has been seeking to outmanoeuvre each other. While the Thackeray group removed Shinde as leader of the legislative party and appointed a new chief whip, supporters of Shinde wrote to the state government that he continues to be the leader of the Shiv Sena legislature group. They also appointed a chief whip. The battle between the groups has now reached the Supreme Court which on Monday granted interim relief to Shinde and other MLAs to file their reply to disqualification notices issued to them by the Deputy Speaker of Maharashtra Assembly by July 12, 5.30 pm. Earlier, the Deputy Speaker had granted them time to file a reply by Monday, 5.30 pm. The apex court was hearing the petitions filed by the Shinde group challenging the disqualification notices issued by the Deputy Speaker to 16 rebel MLAs as well as the appointment of Ajay Choudhary as Shiv Sena Legislature Party leader. The bench also issued notices to the Deputy Speaker, Secretary of Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly, the Centre, Ajay Chaudhary, and Sunil Prabhu and asked them to file a reply within five days. On the request of providing security to 39 MLAs alleging threats to them, the Supreme Court recorded the statement of the standing counsel of the Maharashtra government, Rahul Chitnis, that adequate steps have already been taken and the state government will further ensure that no harm is caused to the life, liberty, property of the MLAs. During the hearing, senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul appearing for Eknath Shinde and others told the Supreme Court that the Deputy Speaker cannot proceed with the disqualification proceedings when the resolution seeking his removal is pending. (ANI) Inspector General of Police, Kashmir zone, Vijay Kumar visited Anantnag district on Monday to chair the final joint security review meeting of the Amarnath Yatra, officials said. Top officials from the army, paramilitary forces, and the state police, including the commander of the Victor Force of the Army's Rashtriya Rifles, the IG, CRPF, Kashmir Sector, the DIGs of the BSF, the ITBP, the CRPF and DIG, Anantnag, as well aas Besides all SSPs and COs of south Kashmir were also present. IGP Kashmir highlighted the eminent threat from terrorists and stressed for strengthening of the intelligence grid so as to neutralise them. He also discussed the other threat perceptions for Yatra as well as tourists and emphasised the establishment of a proper security grid. Taking a district-wise security review and stock of arrangements put in place for the Yatra, he also elaborated the role and responsibility of local police in all the four districts of south Kashmir. On the occasion, the senior officers of army and other security forces also made detailed presentations and shared their inputs and suggestions for strengthening the overall security grid and providing fool-proof security cover to the Yatries during their forward and return journeys. "Special attention was laid on regular briefing and de-briefing, cut-off timings, elimination of threat of sticky bombs/IEDs/grenade lobbing & drone attacks, security of parking areas, traffic management, ROP, implementation of SOPs etc," police said in a statement. "On the conclusion, IGP Kashmir emphasised that multiple checking points must be established for restricting unregistered Yatris from reaching the base camp to avoid chaotic situations. He also directed that all stakeholders be taken into confidence by creating synergy and cordial relations with them so as to achieve objective of conducting a successful Yatra." --IANS zi/vd ( 304 Words) 2022-06-27-22:10:03 (IANS) The Compact Color Biofinder, a cutting-edge scientific tool created by a team of researchers from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa may completely alter the way we look for evidence of extraterrestrial life, according to a new study. The findings of the research were published in the journal 'Scientific Reports'. Most biological materials, for example, amino acids, fossils, sedimentary rocks, plants, microbes, proteins and lipids, have strong organic fluorescence signals that can be detected by specialized scanning cameras. The research team reported that the Biofinder is so sensitive that it can accurately detect the bio-residue in fish fossils from the 34-56 million-year-old Green River formation. "The Biofinder is the first system of its kind," said Anupam Misra, lead instrument developer and researcher at the Hawai'i Institute of Geophysics and Planetology at the UH Manoa School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST). "At present, there is no other equipment that can detect minute amounts of bio-residue on a rock during the daytime. Additional strengths of the Biofinder are that it works from a distance of several meters, takes video and can quickly scan a large area." Though the Biofinder was first developed in 2012 by Misra, advances supported by the NASA PICASSO program culminated in the latest colour version of the compact Biofinder. Finding evidence of biological residue in a vast planetary landscape is an enormous challenge. So, the team tested the Biofinder's detection abilities on the ancient Green River fish fossils and corroborated the results through laboratory spectroscopy analysis, scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy. "There are some unknowns regarding how quickly bio-residues are replaced by minerals in the fossilization process," said Misra. "However, our findings confirm once more that biological residues can survive millions of years, and that using fluorescence imaging effectively detects these trace residues in real-time." The search for life--which may be existing or extinct--on planetary bodies is one of the major goals of planetary exploration missions conducted by NASA and other international space agencies. "If the Biofinder were mounted on a rover on Mars or another planet, we would be able to rapidly scan large areas quickly to detect evidence of past life, even if the organism was small, not easy to see with our eyes, and dead for many millions of years," said Misra. "We anticipate that fluorescence imaging will be critical in future NASA missions to detect organics and the existence of life on other planetary bodies." "The Biofinder's capabilities would be critical for NASA's Planetary Protection program, for the accurate and no-invasive detection of contaminants such as microbes or extraterrestrial biohazards to or from planet Earth," said Sonia J. Rowley, the team biologist and co-author of the study. Misra and colleagues are applying to have the opportunity to send the Biofinder on a future NASA mission. "The detection of such biomarkers would constitute groundbreaking evidence for life outside of planet Earth," said Misra. (ANI) The accounts of a famous market analyst on Chinese social media have been deactivated after he highlighted the country's catastrophic economic downturn and the consequences of government policy on the IT industry in recent weeks, as per the media portal. China has been silencing everyone who speaks either against the country's stern COVID policies or against those who point out at the debilitating condition of its economy. Hong Hao, the managing director and head of research at Bank of Communications (BOCOM) International (China's fifth-largest state-owned bank), was fired after posting on social media about massive capital outflows from the nation and making gloomy predictions about the Chinese stock market. The contents on the site had been banned. "The user is no longer permitted to use the account" as per a message made on the WeChat account. The message on the account went on to say that the account had "violated" government internet restrictions. No further details were provided as to what was the violation. China's economy is in shambles due to COVID-19 pandemic with many key sectors like construction and real estate bearing the brunt of the country's stern policy to contain the virus. The impact of the COVID-19 virus is seen right from the first wave in 2020. Due to growing expenses and a reduction in sales, many firms opted for a shutdown. There is no hope from the government as well. In order to avoid the debt caused by the fallout of China's COVID policies, the local governments are reducing public worker wages. China's economy slowed significantly, as the government steps in to curb real estate speculation. This harmed other industries as well. Consumer spending came down due to lockdowns and travel restrictions to combat the coronavirus, reported Financial Post. Repercussions of China's Zero-COVID policy have given a massive blow to other businesses like online enterprises as well. New restrictions are also affecting after-school tutoring services as waves of layoffs have been witnessed. The economic output from October to December last year was just 4 per cent more than the same time the previous year, as recorded China's National Bureau of Statistics. The economic output was also down from a 4.9 per cent increase in the third quarter, which ran from July to September last year. Firstly, the Chinese economy grew significantly in the first half of last year due to a rise in global demand for consumer electronics, furniture, and other home comforts. It drove China's exports to new highs, preventing the country's GDP from slowing. China's economic production was 8.1 per cent greater last year than in 2020, according to the government. However, after this spike, Chinese economy slowed down. A difficult situation lies in front of China as the economy is showing signs of a slowdown. (ANI) UNESCO is set to host the "Transforming Education" Pre-Summit on June 28-30, a meeting of Ministers of Education, policy and business leaders and youth activists, who come together to build a roadmap to transform education globally. This meeting is a precursor to the Transforming Education Summit (TES), to be held in September at the UN General Assembly in New York. This high-level summit was convened by the UN Secretary-General Antonio Manuel de Oliveira Guterres to radically change the approach to education systems after COVID-19 - especially for the most marginalised learners who are facing severe learning losses. The meeting will focus on 5 key areas of transformation: Schools, Life-long quality learning, Teachers, Connectivity and Financing education. A Youth-led Global Engagement Day will precede the pre-Summit on 28 June bringing together youth from around the world to center young voices in the conversation and provide opportunities for their perspectives on Transforming education to be heard and acted on. Participants in the Pre-Summit will include heads of State of Ethiopia and Sierra Leone; 140 Ministers and Vice-Ministers of Education; UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay; EU Commissioner for International Cooperation Jutta Urpilainen; Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed; UNICEF Executive Director Catherine M. Russell; Summit Special Advisor Leonardo Garnier; Co-chair of the Advisory Committee David Sengeh; Youth activists; Champions of education, and UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Salif Traore. "This is the moment to reverse the historical slide resulting from pandemic, climate and conflict disruptions, and to seek transformational changes around schooling, learning, teaching, technology, and financing of education," said UNESCO in its release. This meeting comes at a critical time when government spending on education everywhere is not keeping up with the growing crisis in learning. An estimated 40 percent of low- and lower-middle income countries have reduced their spending on education with the onset of the pandemic in 2020, with an average decline in real spending of 13.5 percent. Further, in 2020, 43 bilateral donors decreased their aid to education, while households in the poorest countries are picking up 39 per cent of the total cost of education compared to just 16 per cent in high-income countries, according to a report released today by the World Bank, UNESCO's Global Education Report and UNESCO's Institute for Statistics. "As the world slowly and painfully emerges from the devastating COVID-19 pandemic, which deeply affected education, and exactly midway through the 15-year period allocated to reach the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the time is right to take stock of where the world is with the Sustainable Education Goal--and to act," it added. The pre-summit aims to prioritize quality education as a global public good, just like clean air and water, health and safety. (ANI) Ahead of the local government (LG) polls, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan to complete the delimitation of constituencies in the federal capital territory within 65 days. This decision by the court comes at a time when according to the ECP, the federal government by changing the rules, was repeatedly trying to obstruct the elections. In case of non-cooperation from agencies with the ECP, the court stated that the commission may request the court for reopening of the case. The court on Saturday issued a written order on a petition filed by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz leader Tariq Fazal Chaudhry. The decision said that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is expected to complete the delimitation of 101 union councils in 65 days. The court said that the federal government and all agencies were expected to co-operate with the ECP in this regard, reported The Express Tribune. The cabinet approved to increase in the number of union councils to 101 and a gazette notification of the cabinet decision has been published under which the election schedule was to be issued only after the delimitation of 101 union councils, the verdict said while quoting the ECP. ECP has agreed to the delimitation of 101 union councils, the court said. The ECP has also said that constituencies had been demarcated thrice in Islamabad. The ECP had requested the court to direct federal government to cooperate with poll body in holding the local body elections in Islamabad. Meanwhile, at least two people including the brother of a PTI candidate were killed in the clashes that broke outside the polling stations in Pakistan's Sindh province, local media reported on Sunday. Divisional president PTI from Tando Adam, Mushtaq Junejo claimed, "I can confirm the death of Qaiser, brother of our party's candidate Asghar Gandapur in Tando Adam. Qaiser has been subjected to violence which caused his death." Qaiser's brother Zafar was contesting on ward-13 of the municipal committee, Tando Adam. The supporters blocked the Tando Adam road as the killing sparked a protest in the district, the Dawn reported. According to the media report, Director General Health Dr Juman Bahoto confirmed that the body was received in Tando Adam Taluka Hospital. He said, "The cause of death can be ascertained only after a post-mortem is conducted." Meanwhile, the counting of the votes in the first phase of local bodies' elections has begun after polling ended at 5 pm amid the aerial firing at polling stations, scuffles and deaths, the Dawn reported. The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) said that the voters at polling stations, where the voting process was suspended, will be given time equivalent to the period of disruption in the polling process. Dawn newspaper reported that there were reports of sporadic violence, with broadcasters airing footage of two groups attacking each other with sticks in Kandhkot. Voting for the first phase of local government elections was held in 14 districts of Sindh. (ANI) Pakistan political party Jamat-e-Islami (JI) Chief Hafiz Naeem-ur-Rehman has said that about four million women in Karachi, working in factories on a contract basis, are not given their due rights by their employers. The JI official said that mothers, sisters and daughters of Karachi are deprived of basic amenities. While addressing a women's convention in Karachi, he said that while seminars for women's rights are held from time to time, nothing practical is achieved. He further expressed hope that Jamaat-e-Islami will stand high in local body elections and will have enough mandate. The JI Karachi leader said that when JI will be in power, women will be respected and their problems will be solved, reported The Express Tribune. Highlighting Karachi's worst condition in regards to women, Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that JI was the only hope of 35 million people living in the city. He said that mothers, sisters and daughters of Karachi are deprived of basic amenities. Karachi is running the entire country's economy, but it is infested with the menace of corruption and looting un the hands of the few, he said while lamenting that the city also lacks an effective transportation system. Meanwhile, street crimes in Karachi have risen to unprecedented levels amid poor governance by the provincial authorities. As per the record shared by the authorities, a total of 1600 motorcycles were either snatched or stolen in the city during the holy month. In addition, over 1800 mobile phones and 121 four-wheelers were also stolen during Ramzan According to the Karachi Police, seven citizens were killed while 43 others got injured during street crime incidents in the metropolitan. Several attempts have been made by the police to curb the incidents. In its bid to address the law and order issue in Karachi, police are gearing up to put the suspects under electronic monitoring. The police prepared a draft law for e-tagging of street criminals with Additional IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, saying that 11,000 suspects will be placed under the radar. This is amid Pakistan's Global Gender Gap Index which has worsened over time. (ANI) The leaders of the Group of Seven on Sunday (local time) mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin over his shirtless, bare-chested horse-riding picture. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his Canadian counterpart Justin Trudeau could be heard on a video joking about their impending photoshoot, reported The Hill. "Jackets on? Jackets off? Shall we take our clothes off?" British Prime Minister Boris Johnson asked other leaders sitting around a table. "We all have to show that we're tougher than Putin." "We're going to get the bare-chested horseback riding display," Trudeau quipped, referencing a widely shared photo of Putin. "There you go! There you go! We've got to show them our pecs!" Johnson responded. Putin has often appeared shirtless in images disseminated by the Kremlin. Putin's predilection for going shirtless doing outdoor activities is part of his carefully crafted strongman image. The Russian president is also an accomplished Taekwondo practitioner, reported The Hill. The G7 leaders, Johnson and Trudeau joked about Putin during the first day of the three-day G7 summit in the Bavarian Alps, reported The Hill. Russia was kicked out of what was previously called the G8 in 2014 following its initial invasion of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula. The current G7 nations include the US, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France, and Japan. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden announced that the group will impose new import bans on Russian gold as a punishment for Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reported The Hill. US said that the G7 nations will ban the import of Russian gold with the aim of tightening sanctions screws on Moscow. As the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, President Joe Biden said, "Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday. A White House readout of Biden's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated Ukraine was a main topic of conversation. "The leaders underlined their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their continued provision of military, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to help Ukraine defend its democracy against Russian aggression," the White House readout said. "The leaders also discussed efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russia's war in Ukraine on global food and energy security," added the release. (ANI) Nepal's newly-inducted ministers of the cabinet will be sworn-in today at 11 AM (NST) by President Bidhya Devi Bhandari, the office of the President announced. Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on Sunday evening reorganized the Council of Ministers which was formed earlier on July 13, 2021. In the latest round of reorganization, the Nepali Premier replaced four ministers from CPN-Unified Socialist replacing them with the other four from the same party. Deuba made changes in the cabinet upon the recommendation of the ruling Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Socialist. "President Bhandari appointed four ministers and one state minister and assigned them with their portfolios at the recommendation of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba as per the Articles 76 (1) and 78 (1) of the Constitution of Nepal," the Office of the President stated. As per the list issued by President's Office, Jiban Ram Shrestha is named the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Metmani Chaudhary as the Minister for Urban Development; Bhawani Prasad Khapung, the Minister for Health and Population; and Sher Bahadur Kunwar, the Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security. Likewise, Hira Chandra KC is named the Minister of State for Health and Population. Member of the ruling coalition, the Unified Socialist party is in turmoil for the past few days after the party decided to recall four ministers and send new faces to the cabinet. A total of 10 leaders had earlier signed the eight-point demand expressing dissatisfaction with the leadership's recommendation for the reshuffle of the cabinet. Six of the signatories which included former Minister Ale had withdrawn their signatures while the rest are yet to withdraw their signatures and are making a last-ditch effort to secure their posts. The party's Central Committee meeting held on Saturday reiterated the party's position that the ministers would be recalled from the cabinet and new faces would be inducted into the Deuba-led cabinet. (ANI) US special envoy for Afghanistan, Thomas West, on Sunday pledged to help remove the banking problems in Afghanistan in a meeting with the Afghan Traders' Council in the UAE. Obaidullah Sadarkhail, head of the council explained the problems faced by Afghan traders to the US envoy West. He said that Afghan traders are currently facing troubles in their business due to banking issues, reported Tolo News. "They have clearly pledged that they don't sanction those traders who are carrying out food, fuel and medicine businesses and that they will work to solve the banking problems," he said. The council also raised the issue of Afghan frozen assets in the US and called for Washington to release the Afghan assets. Afghanistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs too called on the international community to lift sanctions on Afghanistan. "The Islamic Emirate is asking the world to give the Afghans the most basic right which is the right to life, and to do this by lifting the sanctions and unfreezing our assets," Abdul Qahar Balkhi, a spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told UK media. Meanwhile, the Afghan Traders Council in UAE urged the Taliban to remain committed to its agreement in Doha. The former head of the Union of Banks in Afghanistan, Seyar Qureshi, said that the release of the Afghan assets depends on the fulfilment of the Doha agreement signed between the Taliban and the US, reported Tolo News. "The formation of an inclusive government, respecting human rights, efforts to prevent the use of Afghanistan's geography against the US and its allies due to terrorism--these are some other matters which are not yet solved," he said. After the Taliban swept into power, nearly USD 10 billion worth of Afghan assets were frozen in Europe and US banks. Further, the deadly earthquake in Afghanistan has affected thousands of Afghans who are in need of clean water and food and are at risk of disease. At least 1,000 people were killed, 2,000 injured and 10,000 homes destroyed in Wednesday's earthquake. Helping thousands of Afghans is also a challenge for countries that had imposed sanctions on Afghan government bodies and banks, cutting off direct assistance, leading to a humanitarian crisis even before the earthquake. The United Nations and several other countries have rushed aid to the affected areas. Moreover, in the wake of a deadly earthquake, the Taliban has called for a rolling back of sanctions and lifting a freeze on billions of dollars in central bank assets stashed in Western financial institutions. (ANI) Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be addressing the leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Monday (local time) to press Western nations for accelerated sanctions on Russia. President Joe Biden and fellow world leaders huddled in the Bavarian Alps, will hear Monday from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as they mull the next phase of his country's grinding war with Russia, reported CNN. The conflict has been at the centre of the Group of 7 summit being held inside a century-old mountainside castle in Germany's Bavaria region. Leaders have decided on new steps to isolate Russia's economy, including a ban on new imports of Russian gold, and are pledging support for Zelenskyy as his country suffers setbacks in the east. Moreover, President Biden announced that the group will impose new import bans on Russian gold as a punishment for Moscow's ongoing invasion of Ukraine, reported The Hill. US said that the G7 nations will ban the import of Russian gold with the aim of tightening sanctions screws on Moscow. As the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of the G7 Summit, President Joe Biden said, "Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday. A White House readout of Biden's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated Ukraine was a main topic of conversation. "The leaders underlined their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their continued provision of military, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to help Ukraine defend its democracy against Russian aggression," the White House readout said. "The leaders also discussed efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russia's war in Ukraine on global food and energy security," added the release. "Here at this meeting of the G7, as well as at NATO, we will continue to do, collectively, everything we can to make sure that the Ukrainians have what they need in their hands to repel the Russian aggression," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in an exclusive interview with CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. There are other important topics on the agenda, including a new effort to counter China's infrastructure investments in the developing world that have extended Beijing's influence across the globe, reported CNN. The rising cost of energy, fears of global food shortages and the certain inevitability that war fatigue will set in have lent urgency to the discussions about where the conflict goes next. Meeting his host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, on Sunday, Biden sought to underscore the importance of sticking together. "Putin has been counting on, from the beginning, that somehow NATO and the G7 would splinter," he said. "But we haven't, and we're not going to." Meanwhile, Zelenskyy is also planning to address this week's NATO summit in Madrid, and has pressed the West for accelerated sanctions on Moscow and heavy artillery to beat back the Russian invaders, reported CNN. His entreaties will become more urgent following Sunday's missile hits on two residential buildings in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital that had enjoyed relative calm in recent weeks as the fighting moved eastward. High oil prices mean Russia is making more revenue from its energy exports, despite bans in Europe and the United States. And high gas prices for US and European consumers are putting pressure on leaders to find ways to ease the pain. Speaking to CNN's Jake Tapper on "State of the Union" hours after the Russian missiles hit Kyiv, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Americans, Britons and others in the West to maintain resolve in punishing Moscow, despite the effect the war has had on global oil prices. "I would just say to people in the United States that this is something that America historically does and has to do, and that is to step up for peace and freedom and democracy," Johnson said. "And if we let Putin get away with it, and just annex, conquer sizable parts of a free, independent, sovereign country, which is what he is poised to do ... then the consequences for the world are absolutely catastrophic." Russia was ejected from the then-G8 in 2014 after Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. (ANI) Children as young as 13 years old were among the twenty-two people found dead at an East London nightclub in South Africa during the early hours of Sunday morning. National police minister Bheki Cele said that even though he could not yet say what happened at the venue, some of the victims of the incident were only 13 years old, CNN reported. Cele added that samples from the bodies will be taken to toxicology labs in Cape Town for more advanced analysis. Cyril Ramaphosa, the President of South Africa, expressed his condolences to the families of the victims. "While the President awaits more information on the incident, his thoughts are with the families who have lost children as well as families who are awaiting confirmation of how their children may have been affected," CNN reported quoting a statement from the presidency. The statement added that President Ramaphosa expects the law to take its course following investigations into the tragedy. Twenty-two people were found dead at an East London nightclub in South Africa, reported local media. As the brutal scene unfolded on Sunday morning, agitated messages started coming in large numbers, requesting police, metro and ambulance assistance at Enyobeni Tavern in Scenery Park. The cause of the deaths is unknown as the case is under investigation. However, there have been speculations that the patrons were either exposed to some form of poison or an incident resulted in a large number being injured and killed in a stampede, reported DispatchLive, a South African daily. According to South African daily, several bodies were found dispersed, lying across tables, chairs and on the floor with no obvious signs of injury. Grief-stricken parents and family members were observed begging to enter the premises while calling out the names of their missing loved ones, the local media added. The investigation is still ongoing. (ANI) Korean investors on Monday filed a claim with the London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA) against the government of Pakistan over escalating costs of the Patrind Hydropower project. Korean investors filed a claim with LCIA against the government of Pakistan, seeking USD 94 million (Rs 19.6 billion) in compensation, reported Geo News. The issue came up after Imran Khan-led Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had failed to include escalating costs in true-up tariffs. National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) is currently dealing with transmission projects totalling Rs 421 billion. The Korean investors claimed that NTDC failed to evacuate electricity from the 147-megawatt Patrind Hydropower project for at least six months after the project's COD, as well as the cost of constructing a point from which the electricity was to be delivered to the national grid, according to a top official of the power division, reported Geo News. According to the Pakistan power division official, the investigation shows that NTDC did not object when the Korean company, Star Hydro Power Limited (SHPL) built the electricity delivery point that the state-owned entity did not want which led to increasing costs in the project. As per Geo News, when Shehbaz Sharif became Prime Minister, this matter was brought before him. He formed a committee to investigate out-of-court settlement options, arguing that the government's track record shows that it is frequently defeated in arbitration. A power division scribe wrote to NTDC and the PPIB (Private Power Infrastructure Board) asking why the Korean company that built the Patrind Hydropower Plant relocated LCIA and why NTDC failed to evacuate electricity on time. Both departments remained silent. In response to a question, the official stated that SHPL is an Independent Power Producer (IPP). It has invested in and developed the 147MW run-of-river Patrind Hydropower project on the Kunhar River near the village of Patrind in the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir district of Muzaffarabad. The project generates power for Pakistan's national grid. The project was developed on a BOOT basis under the government's Policy for Power Generation Projects 2002, with a 30-year concession period. SHPL was formed as a public limited company in April 2006 to develop and implement the project. SHPL's sponsors are Korea Water Resource Corporation (K-water) and Daewoo Engineering & Construction Company, which have acquired a 100 per cent stake in the company through the Singapore-based investment vehicle KDS Hydro. The Patrind Hydro Power Project has been in operation since November 2017. Hydropower projects have a three-tier cost-plus tariff determination process under the 2002 policy read with Nepra's Mechanism for Determination of Tariff Hydropower Projects, namely the Feasibility Stage, EPC Stage, and COD Stage true-up. A future course of action is being finalised by the attorney general's Office. Pakistan now prefers an out-of-court settlement because the authorities believe the NTDC and PPIB cases are weak, reported Geo News. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday shared an exhilarating video of how warmly he was welcomed in Germany. PM Modi arrived in Munich on Sunday to attend the G7 summit where he will hold meetings with G7 and partner countries and will hold discussions on issues ranging from environment, energy, to counter-terrorism. On the sidelines of the Summit, PM Modi will hold bilateral meetings with leaders of some of the participating countries. "I will be attending the G-7 Summit today in which we will discuss various important global issues. Here's a video taking you through highlights from yesterday including a special Bavarian welcome and a vibrant community programme," tweeted PM Modi. He was welcomed by a Bavarian band on his arrival in Munich. He was also welcomed by the Indian diaspora in Germany at the Audi Dome, Munich. Thousands of members of the vibrant Indian community in Germany participated in the event. It was one of the largest gatherings of the Indian diaspora in Germany post-pandemic. Hundreds of performers participated in the event performing India's traditional dances. The Audi Dome was embellished with the 'Vande Matram' song. The G7 Summit invitation is in keeping with the tradition of strong and close partnership and high-level political contacts between India and Germany. People from the Indian diaspora in Germany expressed happiness after Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the community at an event in Munich. "Whatever the respect we are getting in a foreign country only because of PM Modi," one person said. In his address to the Indian diaspora in Munich on Sunday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi underscored the country's achievements in a short span of time and said India is impatient to fulfil its dreams. "India is now ready, ready, impatient. India is impatient, for progress, for development. India is impatient for its dreams, for the fulfillment of its dreams," said PM Modi. "Today's India has come out of the mentality of 'it happens, it runs like this'. Today India takes a pledge to have to do, have to do, and have to do on time," said the Prime Minister. Prime Minister also lauded the contribution of the diaspora in promoting India's success story and acting as brand ambassadors of India's success. After attending the G7 Summit, Prime Minister will be travelling to United Arab Emirates (UAE) while coming back to India on June 28, 2022, to pay his personal condolences on the passing away of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the former UAE President and Abu Dhabi Ruler. He will also congratulate Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on his election as the new President of UAE. This will be PM Modi's first meeting with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan since his election as the new President of the UAE and the Ruler of Abu Dhabi. (ANI) Mongolian citizens bid a tearful farewell to the Kapilavastu relics of Lord Buddha on Monday after being on display for 11 days at Ganden Tegchenling Monastery in Ulaanbaatar. Following the Nalanda Buddhist tradition, the holy Buddha relics were brought in a religious procession to the main hall where a special prayer was offered especially by sangha members. The Indian sangha was led by 20th Bakula Rinpoche who carried the Holy Buddha relic brought from India while the Mongolian sangha was led by Khamba Nomun Han and the Mongolian holy Buddha relic was carried by Manjushree lama. In the main prayer hall, a ritual was offered by the sangha members. After performing the special ritual, both the Holy Buddha relics were brought together outside of the monastery where the general public offered their prayers. Khamba Nomun Khan delivered a speech in the Mongolian language and stated that Mongolia has been blessed by the presence of holy Buddha relics from India. As it was a religious ceremony, no political leader was present. Coinciding with bringing of Holy Relics outside of the monastery, a chakra surrounded the sun which brought happiness to all present as in Mongolian tradition it is considered a blessed symbol. Following the Buddhist tradition, the motorcade travelled through the monastery complex. The general public wished that the Holy Relics would visit Mongolia in the near future as they bid a tearful farewell to the holy Buddha relic. During the exposition of the Holy Buddha relic in Ulaanbaatar, on many occasions, the general public stopped the Indian delegation to thank India for holding the exposition. The public also requested the Indian sangha members to bless them. The teaching of the 20th Bakula Rinpoche in Peethub monastery was well attended by Mongolian devotees. Many Mongolian Buddhists visited the Peethub Monastery to seek blessings and connect with the lineage. Many older generation Mongolians who had earlier taken blessings from the late 19th Bakula Rinpoche were emotionally overwhelmed when they received blessings from the present Rinpoche. Buddhist devotees and the people in the Mongolian capital had given a rousing welcome to an Indian delegation led by Union Minister Rijiju as they arrived here with the Holy Relics of Lord Buddha. The four Holy Relics - known as the 'Kapilvastu Relics' were brought in two special bulletproof caskets on board an Indian Air Force aircraft by an Indian delegation led by Union Minister Rijiju. The Holy Relics of Lord Buddha which are considered one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism returned to Mongolia after 29 years are considered one of the most sacred relics of Buddhism. They were displayed at the Batsagaan Temple in Gandan Tegchenling Monastery complex in Ulaanbaatar for 11 days. In 2015, the Holy Relics were placed under the 'AA' category of Antiquities and Art Treasures which should not be ordinarily taken out of the country for exhibition, considering their delicate nature. However, upon the special request of the Mongolian government, the government made an exception and permitted the exposition of the Holy Relics in Mongolia to boost cultural and spiritual relations between the two countries. The four Kapilavastu relics will reach New Delhi today on a special flight. (ANI) Around 17,555 Tibetan people will be relocated away from high-altitude places in Nagqu City, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region under a relocation plan that aims to improve the living conditions of the people and protect the region's fragile ecosystem. In the next one and half months, the people will move from places with an average altitude of over 4,500 meters above sea level to more hospitable areas of about 3,600 meters in Shannan City, Xinhua reported. Regional forestry and grassland administration Director Wu Wei stated that the people in the city had lived in places with harsh weather and relatively backward production and living conditions, where the grassland degraded. "The relocation scheme reflects a people-centered development thought, taking consideration of both the ecological protection and people's demand for a better life," Wu added. More than 130,000 people in around 100 Tibet towns will be covered under the relocation plan in eight years, the media added. This comes after a recent White Paper of Tibet titled 'Tibet since 1951: Liberation, Development and Prosperity from Beijing' highlighted very clearly how there was no concern about the level of destruction to Tibet's environment, reported Tibet Press. The nature-bound systems of Tibet are now being shattered and destroyed by Beijing for their own benefit, not even giving an iota of thought to the inhabitants. Instead of acknowledging the environmental destruction in Tibet, it painted a good light on the government by wanting to take eco-friendly and sustainably motivated steps moving forward. All of these eventually lead to the drying up of rivers, glacial melting, thawing of permafrost, flooding, loss of grasslands and many more - all occurring due to the environmental destruction in Tibet under the hawkish eyes of president Xi Jinping, reported Tibet Press. Since the 1959 Uprising, the central government of China has been steadily tightening its grip on Tibet. In Tibet today, there is no freedom of speech, religion, or press and arbitrary detainments continue. Forced abortion, sterilisation of Tibetan women, and the transfer of low-income Chinese citizens threaten the survival of Tibetan culture. Although China has invested in infrastructure improvements for the region, particularly in Lhasa itself, it has also encouraged thousands of ethnic Han Chinese to move to Tibet resulting in a demographic shift. Furthermore, Beijing which currently governs Tibet sees the latter as a dump zone rather than a safe haven and does not provide the required resources to protect this very fragile but significant eco-system and unique biome, the local media reported. Tibet experiences the harsh reality of climate change through environmental destruction and degradation advocated by policies from Beijing. The melting glaciers of Tibet are worrying and troublesome for all the regions that depend on it as their ultimate source of water. Over 1.5 billion people across the continent of Asia rely on Tibet for their source of water since the largest rivers in Asia such as the Brahmaputra, the Ganges, the Mekong and the Yangtze all flow from Tibet. (ANI) Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to make his first foreign trip to Central Asian countries - Tajikistan and Turkmenistan- since the beginning of the February 24 conflict with Ukraine. Pavel Zarubin, the Kremlin correspondent of the Rossiya 1 state television station, said Putin would visit Tajikistan and Turkmenistan and then meet Indonesian President Joko Widodo for talks in Moscow. In Dushanbe, Putin will meet Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, a close Russian ally and the longest-serving ruler of a former Soviet state. In Ashgabat, he will attend a summit of Caspian nations including the leaders of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran and Turkmenistan, Zarubin said. Russian leader's first known trip abroad since ordering the invasion of Ukraine comes in the wake of multiple sanctions imposed on Moscow. Moreover, the G7 Summit being held in Germany will have a special focus on Ukraine as the leaders of the world's wealthiest nations gathered in the Bavarian Alps on the sidelines of the G7 Summit indicating Ukraine was a main topic of conversation. President Joe Biden said, "Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Earlier as well, Biden tweeted, "The United States has imposed unprecedented costs on Putin to deny him the revenue he needs to fund his war against Ukraine. Together, the G7 will announce that we will ban the import of Russian gold, a major export that rakes in tens of billions of dollars for Russia." Notably, these measures were initially flagged by the United Kingdom. However, a senior US administration representative who spoke on condition of anonymity told reporters that the G7 would make an official announcement on the gold import ban on Tuesday. A White House readout of Biden's meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz indicated Ukraine was a main topic of conversation. "The leaders underlined their commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as their continued provision of military, economic, humanitarian, and diplomatic support to help Ukraine defend its democracy against Russian aggression," the White House readout said. "The leaders also discussed efforts to alleviate the impacts of Russia's war in Ukraine on global food and energy security," added the release. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to address leaders of the Group of Seven (G7) on Monday (local time) to press Western nations for accelerated sanctions on Russia. The rising cost of energy, fears of global food shortages and the certain inevitability that war fatigue will set in have lent urgency to the discussions about where the conflict goes next. Zelenskyy is also planning to address this week's NATO summit in Madrid, has pressed the West for accelerated sanctions on Moscow and heavy artillery to beat back the Russian invaders, reported CNN. Russia was ejected from the then-G8 in 2014 after Russia's annexation of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea. Putin's last known trip outside Russia was a visit to the Beijing in early February during the opening ceremony of the Olympic Winter Games, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping unveiled a "no limits" friendship treaty. (ANI) Addis Ababa [Mali], June 27 (ANI/Xinhua): Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat has extended condolences over the death of more than 20 teenagers in South Africa. "Our hearts and prayers go out to the parents and loved ones of the teenagers who tragically lost their lives at a nightspot in South Africa over the weekend," Mahamat said in a Twitter post late Sunday. The AU Commission chairperson further emphasized that "we stand in full solidarity with the people and government of South Africa during this time of unspeakable grief and sorrow." On Sunday, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa mourned the death of "22 teenagers" at a tavern, or pub, in East London, Eastern Cape Province, in the early hours of Sunday. Ramaphosa is "concerned about the reported circumstances under which such young people were gathered at a venue which, on the face of it, should be off limits to persons under the age of 18," said a statement issued by the presidency. South African police have been investigating the case and the cause is unclear. The presidency's statement did not give the cause of the incident, saying the president is waiting for more information. There are both girls and boys among the victims, including a 13-year-old, Minister of Police Bheki Cele, who led a national delegation to the scene, told the media. Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality, which includes East London, earlier had said over 20 young people died in the incident. It is the "worst tragedy that has ever happened in our Metro," its mayor Xola Pakati said in a statement. (ANI/Xinhua) With the Covid-related supply disruptions and subsequent effects of the Russia-Ukraine conflict that exacerbated the situation, Pakistan's energy crisis is set to worsen in the near future as the cash-strapped country struggles to procure liquefied natural gas (LNG) at an affordable rate. This crisis comes as the spike in global energy prices has pushed Pakistan's electricity fuel costs by more than 100 per cent. Last week, the state-owned LNG Ltd cancelled an expensive offer it has received against a tender for four cargoes of LNG for July shipments. "Pakistan's energy crisis is set to worsen over the next several weeks as it struggles to procure LNG at an affordable rate when little is available in an international market that has been sorely affected by the political fallout of the Russia-Ukraine war," the Dawn newspaper said in an editorial. Musadik Malik, Pakistan's State Minister for Petroleum last week said the country's failure to find a bidder for LNG slots had forced authorities to shift to alternative sources of energy for power generation, which would take a month or so to yield results. "The situation is that we have carried out two rounds of tenders of three to four tenders each, but no one responded to them," Dawn quoted Malik as saying He made these remarks on the sidelines of a two-day conference organised by the Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ) at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA). "Since supply from Russia is suspended due to the war with Ukraine, European countries are also buying gas from everywhere it's available. As a result, LNG, which was priced at USD 4 two-and-a-half years ago, is no longer available for even USD 40. So, Russia's war [with Ukraine] created a real crisis," he said. The Dawn newspaper reported that the government plans to raise power tariffs by 47 per cent from July to recoup some of the losses being incurred on account of expensive fuel imports. The report added that LNG prices in Pakistan have already gone up significantly in recent months, despite most cargoes coming from cheaper long-term contracts with Qatar owing to expensive spot purchases by the present government in April to meet the power demand. The newspaper said the decision to reject the priciest LNG shipment was a prudent one. Earlier this month, the state-run LNG Ltd (PLL) had floated a tender for four cargoes -- one each in the first and second weeks, and two in the last week, of July. But no bidders came forward for the July 2-3, 8-9, and 25-26 delivery windows. Notably, this was the third futile attempt to have an LNG cargo in the first week of July. The earlier two tenders attracted only two and one bidders but none was technically responsive. (ANI) The ongoing water crisis in Pakistan has badly impacted the agriculture sector and agri-driven export industry as the situation is leading to severe drought in several areas of the country. Despite the grave situation, not much attention is being given by the Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan government. "There has not been sufficient focus on tackling the water crisis by investing in water governance, safeguarding water resources or building small and localized dams for water conservation," said Arif Jabbar Khan, country director for Water Aid Pakistan as quoted by Daily Times. "Institutional confusion over responsibilities for the provision of water and water management has been another important problem at the national and provincial level," he said. Notably, the crisis not only impacts Pakistan's agriculture sector, which contributes to 23 per cent of the nation's GDP, according to the media outlet, but is also an existential threat to energy and food security, and therefore national security. Pakistan is facing an extraordinary water shortage of around 50 per cent, the highest ever since 1991, according to the media reports. The water shortage in Sindh has been a great issue. Not only Sindh province but also Punjab province is facing up to 75 per cent water shortage. According to the data shared by the Punjab Irrigation Department, the Taunsa Barrage supplied only 6,700 cusecs. It is 73 per cent less than its requirement of 25,000 cusecs. Moreover, the Thal Canal was facing 75 per cent scarcity as 2,000 cusecs of water were released into it against the need of 8,000 cusecs. The Panjnad Barrage was also running with a 66 per cent shortage, receiving 4,300 cusecs against the requirement of 12,700 cusecs. Rasul Barrage was suffering 59 per cent water stress with a supply of 9,900 cusecs against the need of 24,200 cusecs. Both Sulemanki Barrage and Lower Bahawal Canal were facing 54 per cent shortage each, Sidhnai Barrage 51 per cent, Islam Barrage 50 per cent and Trimmu Barrage 43 per cent water scarcity. There was a 33 per cent water shortage in the Mailsi canal. Experts have been warning for months that 26 per cent less snowfall than last year in winter, followed by negligible rainfall in March and April, meant very serious water problems this year, yet it raised no red flags in Islamabad. (ANI) Amid the violence-marred, first phase of electoral procedures in Pakistan's Sindh province, several policemen who had been sent for duty during the local government polls complained of not being provided with food and accommodation. Sindh inspector general of police, Ghulam Nabi Memon said that a video went viral on Sunday in which cops were seen levelling allegations, the News International reported. The official said that an enquiry has been ordered into the claims of the policemen. The Superintendent of Police of Sohrab Goth Division, Muhammad Shoaib Memon has been appointed as the inquiry officer to probe the allegations. "The terms of reference of the inquiry include ascertaining real facts of the incident and finding whether the complaint was genuine or otherwise. The inquiry body has also been tasked with ascertaining the circumstances and background that led police officials to post videos and voice messages about the department's mismanagement on social media," the official said. The enquiry report would be submitted to the Sindh IGP. The official informed that orders have been given to fix the responsibility regarding poor planning, lack of supervision and command, negligence on part of the district police or mischief on part of the complaining cops, the News International reported. Notably, voting for the first phase of local government elections was held in 14 districts of Sindh on Sunday. While polling began in the morning in all 14 districts, reports of violence, scuffles and ECP mismanagement started pouring in from upper and lower Sindh regions. These clashes were said to emerge out of missing election symbols as well. Polling was suspended at various polling stations. Dawn newspaper reported that there were reports of sporadic violence, with broadcasters airing footage of two groups attacking each other with sticks in Kandhkot. At least two people including the brother of a PTI candidate were killed in the clashes that broke outside the polling stations in the province. Divisional president PTI from Tando Adam, Mushtaq Junejo confirmed the death of the Qaiser, brother of party's candidate Asghar Gandapur in Tando Adam. Qaiser's brother Zafar was contesting on ward-13 of the municipal committee, Tando Adam. The total number of registered voters is 1,149,2680. The election commission printed 2,950,000 ballot papers for the first phase of the Sindh LG polls. The 14 districts of four divisions -- Sukkur, Larkana, Shaheed Benazirabad and Mirpurkhas -- include Ghotki, Sukkur, Khairpur, Larkana, Qambar-Shahdadkot, Kashmore-Kandhkot, Shikarpur, Jacobabad, Naushahro Feroze, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mirpurkhas, Umarkot and Tharparkar. Polling, which began after 8 am was concluded by 5 pm without any break. (ANI) Amid the spike in illegal migration of radical Pakistanis to Europe, the security concerns of Israel is under threat as this time in Italy where over a dozen people of Pakistani origin (or nationality), were arrested in Genoa all a part of the "Gabar Group". Genoa is a warning for Italy and Europe, to pay closer attention to Pakistani migrants and asylum seekers, it also should be a red flag to Israel given the globalization of jihad. Israel has declared these groups to have close terroristic links stating that Europe could become a nursing ground for such cross-pollination of terror, given the hate for Israel that is found in Pakistan, the Times of Israel reported. When arrest warrants were issued for fourteen Pakistanis in Italy connected with the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo office in Paris in September 2020, Europe felt a sudden jolt as it confirmed the growing presence of Pakistani radicals in Europe. The people of Pakistani origin (or nationality) that were arrested in Genoa are said to be a part of the "Gabar Group". While Genoa comes as a warning for Italy and Europe, to pay closer attention to Pakistani migrants and asylum seekers, it has become a red flag to Israel amid perpetration of jihad on a global level. As per local media reports, a two-year-long investigation unravelled the active existence of a terrorist cell formed by young Pakistanis in several Italian provinces and in some European countries. Calling for terrorist attacks against those who insult the Prophet or Islam, the extremist sympathisers network across Europe through social media platforms calling for terrorist attacks against those who insult the Prophet or Islam. Moreover, Pakistani terror supporters have been under a constant watch in the UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany ever since the arrest of a Pakistani national, Zaheer Hassan Mahmood, for stabbing two persons outside the French magazine office in Paris in September 2020, Times of Israel reported. The magazine had published allegedly insulting cartoons of Prophet Muhammad. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan had openly supported militant organizations like Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) to take over the streets of Pakistan demanding the ouster of the French Ambassador. In December 2020, French authorities arrested four more Pakistani nationals who had prior knowledge of the attack and were encouraging Mahmood to carry out the attack through social media. Mahmood confessed to be a member of a proselytization group based in Pakistan, Dawat-e-Islami. He told his interrogators that he was influenced by the Dawat-e-Islami founder, Mullah Ilyas Qadri. Taking another example into consideration, the Barelvi group, which claims to be non-violent and non-political, became prominent in 2011 when one of its followers, Mumtaz Qadri shot the then Punjab Governor Salman Taseer. Many members of the group were found to be a part of the Barelvi militant group, Sunni Tehreek. The Pakistan military was anxious about the group and its activities within the armed forces, especially the Pakistan Air Force. In February this year, Spain arrested five more persons, all Pakistanis, for networking with the Paris attacker, the Times of Israel reported, citing sources. These persons were using social networks to urge compatriots to attack those who raise their voices against Islam and were later arrested in Barcelona, Gerona, Ubeda (Jaen), and Granada, it added. All of them admitted to being members of TLP, a group which had the support of the Imran Khan government as well as the army. With active and numerous followers in Spain, France, Greece and Italy, these men were circulating audiovisual material through Facebook and Tik-Tok which glorified terrorist attacks. According to the Italian ambassador to Pakistan, Andreas Ferrarese, as of February 2021, there are around 200,000 Pakistanis in Italy and only 140,000 are documented. This also gives rise to a large number of Pakistanis with European passports who can freely travel to Israel without visas, he said, adding that the growing networking of extremist groups in Europe may cause harm to Israel in the longer run. (ANI) Pakistan's former director-general (DG) of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Zaheerul Islam on Monday said supporting the Chairman of Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan was the need of the hour. A ceremony was held for Shabbir Awan, a by-election PTI contestant from PP-7 (Rawalpindi), by the former director-general in Kahota area Sunday, The News International reported. The media reports claimed that Islam expressed his support for the PTI and promised to run his election campaign. Several reports claimed that the retired Lt Gen Zaheerul Islam has entered the political sphere and joined a political party but he has not yet commented on these reports, the Dawn newspaper reported. A picture of Gen Islam was shared by journalist Saleem Safi on his Twitter account where Islam could be seen delivering a speech at a political event while standing at a podium emblazoned with PTI's flag. The information secretary of the party Fawad Chaudhry has dismissed the reports of the former ISI DG joining the political sphere. Chaudhry stated that the former ISI Director-General participated in the event to support a candidate of the party, who is also a relative of the retired general, for the upcoming Punjab Assembly by-polls. There was no truth to rumours that Gen Islam had joined the PTI, he was merely expressing support for a PTI candidate who happened to be a relative of the retired general, Dawn reported citing the PTI member. The former general was elected as the ISI chief from March 2012 to November 2014 and it was also speculated that he was a part of the negotiations during the party's sit-in outside the parliament. Earlier, voting for the first phase of local government elections was held in 14 districts of Sindh. The total number of registered voters is 1,149,2680. The election commission printed 2,950,000 ballot papers for the first phase of the Sindh LG polls. While polling began in the morning in all 14 districts, reports of violence, scuffles and ECP mismanagement started pouring in from upper and lower Sindh regions. These clashes were said to emerge out of missing election symbols as well. Polling was suspended at various polling stations. Voting will take place in the Hyderabad division -- part of lower Sindh -- along with provincial metropolis Karachi in the second phase on July 24. Hyderabad division has nine districts. (ANI) Pakistan has expressed its regret about not getting invited to the High-Level Dialogue on Global Development (HLDGD) which concluded last week in Beijing, media reports said on Monday. The event that was hosted by Chinese President Xi Jinping saw the participation of several countries including India. Russian President Putin also attended it. Xi Jinping chaired the dialogue of 19 countries and addressed it via a video link concluded on Friday. He delivered a speech titled "Forging High-quality Partnership for a New Era of Global Development." However, Pakistan remained absent from the meeting, the Dawn newspaper reported. "Regrettably one member blocked Pakistan's participation," the Pakistan Foreign Office said in response to media queries over the matter, without naming the country. According to Dawn, it is believed India blocked Pakistan's participation at the forum. On Monday, Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) said that a member of the BRICS "blocked Pakistan's participation" in a dialogue for non-member states held virtually on the sidelines of the event. "We do hope that future engagement of the organisation would be based on the principles of inclusivity keeping in view the overall interests of the developing world and in a manner that is devoid of narrow geopolitical considerations," Pakistan FO was quoted as saying by Dawn. "We appreciate China's role in promoting the interests of developing countries. Together with China, Pakistan has been a strong voice for global peace, shared prosperity and inclusive development. Pakistan is the current chair of G77+China and also part of group of friends of the Global Development Initiative (GDI)," the Pakistani spokesperson added. A group consisting of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa brings together five of the largest developing countries in the world, representing 41 per cent of the global population, 24 per cent of the global GDP and 16 per cent of the global trade. Last week, the leaders of all participating nations exchanged views on such major issues as strengthening international development cooperation and accelerating the implementation of the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. They discussed ways to promote development cooperation and reached important common understandings. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi has inspired India to dream big and has shown the world that if acted with determination and perseverance, even bigger dreams can be achieved, said Ambassador of India to the United States, Taranjit Singh Sandhu at an event in Chicago. The Indian Ambassador was speaking as the chief guest at the 'Sadhbhavana event' organised by NID Foundation. He launched two books, 'Heartfelt - The Legacy of Faith' and 'Modi@20: Realism Meets Livery' written on PM Modi, highlighting his relations with Sikhs, on the occasion. Taking to twitter, Sandhu said, "Delighted to participate in the Sadhbhavana event in #Chicago. Highlighted India's vision under PM @narendramodi's leadership for - India-US partnership, Diaspora in US & #India's neighbourhood - which I have had the opportunity to be closely associated with." The Indian Ambassador, in his speech, said that Prime Minister has played a key role in role in building trust between the two countries as he understands the potential of India-US relations. "America was seen by the Prime Minister as a very close friend and a strong partner, which was instrumental in turning the dreams and development aspirations of nearly 1.4 billion Indians into reality. India and the US conduct more bilateral military exercises with each other today than any other country," Sandhu said. Speaking about bilateral trade between the two countries, Sandhu said that India's bilateral trade with the US, which was USD 0 in the late 1990s, has now exceeded USD 20 billion. Similarly, our NG trade, which was USD 0 billion 5 years ago, is USD 20 billion today. Last year was historic in this direction when we achieved USD 160 billion in India-US bilateral trade. He continued, "Present India is a country of youth. Among 1.4 billion Indians, 50% are 26 years or younger and they are USA's best friends in India because these young people have energy and positivity. They look at America very positively. Over 2,00,000 Indian students are studying in the US, and two-thirds of them are in STEM fields, which is an important area for the US." Sandhu further said that PM Modi has become a voice of the developing nations, and has influenced the global decisions in developed countries. "From education and space research to providing COVID-19 vaccines to the whole world; from the COP26 Global Presidential Summit in Glasgow to the World Economic Forum's Davos Summit, PM Modi has truly guided the world," he added. Further, praising the NID Foundation, Sandhu said, "The book 'Heartfelt - The Legacy of Faith' by NID Foundation is a wonderful and sincere effort to display the respect and affection of the Prime Minister for Punjab and the Sikh community." "American oncologist Dr Bharat Barai's second book, 'Modi@20: Realism Meets Livery', is a compilation of a few chapters written by intellectual and domain experts, which talks about a unique governance model in Gujarat and the unprecedented transformation of the nation in the last 20 years," he added. He said that while the first book depicts the good governance model of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the second book describes the initiatives taken by the Prime Minister for the uplift of the Sikh community. Speaking on the occasion, Sri Sri Ravishankar lauded PM Modi for the initiatives taken by his government in eight years of his governance. He said, "India is at a very crucial stage of transformation, where from the development of infrastructure to reaching out to many other poorest sections of the society and to providing the ease of business to all, the progress and development made by the Prime Minister are phenomenal. I appeal to those who have not been to India in the last few years, please come to India and see the new, modern India." Stressing on the US-India relations, US Senator Ron Johnson said that US-Indo bilateral relations have improved since PM Modi came to power in India. He said that the USA has always considered India as its true ally. "At last month's Quarter Summit, our President Joe Biden reiterated that he is committed to further improving America's partnership with India. He appreciated India's global efforts for COVID-19 vaccination and believes that both the countries are working together in many areas and will continue to do so," Johnson added. Chief Patron of NID Foundation, Satnam Singh Sandhu also hailed PM Modi and termed him a wonderful leader, highly experienced strategist and a great humanitarian. He thanked him for the pro-Sikh work of the present government under his leadership. "Prime Minister's political and humane skills have ensured that the role of NRIs again becomes most important in India's path to becoming 'Vishwaguru' (world leader). On every visit to any country, PM always interacts with people from his Indian community and takes time to take stock of the problem or issues. The spirit of 'Vishwa Sadbhawana' has emerged from the love and respect of Prime Minister Modi for the people and humanity at the global level." During the event, dignitaries of USA and of Indian origin, including thought leaders, entrepreneurs, members of the US Senate, corporate leaders, academicians and spiritual leaders from around the world, including US Senator Ron Johnson, Indian spiritual leader Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Chancellor of Wisconsin-Parkside University, Dr Deborah L. Ford, Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly, Robin Vos; Chief Patron of NID Foundation, Satnam Singh Sandhu and prominent American businessman, Darshan Singh Dheewar and Member of Parliament of India Hans Raj Hans were present. (ANI)